《Wayfarer》


 Chapter 1: Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 1: Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    As the skies turned dark, rednterns lit up the Xiao manor. Festooned in red paper decorations, the manor seemed to be heralding a major wedding; people were bustling all over. Sizable groups of guards patrolled the interior and the exterior of the estate to deter any gatecrashers.


    Just then, an old man in blue slowly walked past the heavily guarded corridor to the doors within.


    He coughed, perhaps suffering from some sort of lung disease. Hunched over, he dabbed at his mouth with a handkerchief as he continued to cough intermittently.


    Behind him was a huge ck wolfdog, sorge it seemed like to be the size of a ferocious tiger. Muscles bulged all over its body, and it looked particrly fierce. Its eyes scanned its surroundings coldly, as though picking out a few choice humans as snacks. The guards that the duo passed by stood stiff with fear, not daring to bar their way.


    Finally, the old man arrived at the gate to the inner courtyard, where a dozen or so expressionless guards were standing, preventing any ess in and out. Only when the old man walked over did they seem to respond to his presence.


    The blue-d man coughed again, then turned to the captain of the guards. "How is the young master doing?"


    The captain of the guard bowed and replied, "Sir, he''s chased away all the servants and is refusing to speak. Neither will he ept the groom''s attire. He''s supposed to be weing the bride tomorrow, but he refuses to cooperate."


    The blue-d elder nced at the groom''s attire that the captain of the guards was holding. He furrowed his brows slightly. "Hand it over. I''ll have a chat with him myself."


    "Please, Sir, if you wouldn''t mind, the heir trusts you most out of all of us." The captain of the guards bowed again as he proffered the groom''s attire to the elderly man.


    A few guards immediately opened the gates to the inner courtyard, allowing the elderly man to step inside. The giant wolfdog continued to follow in his footsteps.


    As the guards shut the gates again, they let out identical expressions of relief.


    Within the courtyard, the elderly man patted the wolfdog''s head. "ckie, don''t stray too far from here, and don''t eat anything off the ground, you hear?"


    "Woof woof!"


    The wolfdog whined a few times, as though it really could understand what the old man was saying.


    All the servants within the courtyard had been chased out, leaving behind only the young man whom the elder had to convince: the heir to the house.


    Carrying the bundle of attire, the elder walked into an illuminated study.


    The doors to the study were wide open. Within were countless packed shelves, and at the very center sat a young man, a scroll in his hand, which he was reading by candlelight.


    The youth looked to be sixteen or seventeen, youthful yet with a hint of maturity. He had sharp brows and a steely gaze, and a handsomeness that belied his youth.


    He was reading very intently, and he didn''t even notice the elder stepping into the study. The elder put down the tray in his hand and waited patiently.


    After about half an hour, when the youth had finished reading his scroll, he closed his eyes and meditated on its contents for about an hour before he slowly opened his eyes once more.


    "Elder? You''vee?" The youth seemed rather surprised.


    "Young Master, you''ll be weing your bride tomorrow. Are you still going to read until the wee hours?" the elder joked.


    The youth put the scroll down and sighed softly. "Elder, will they really strip away my rights to this extent? Forcing me, Xiao Nanfeng, to marry against my will?"


    The blue-d elder frowned and shook his head. "Young Master, no one is making things difficult for you. I''m sure you understand that your parents have been dead for a decade by now, and the chief steward has always kept your best interests in mind."


    "My parents are missing! Who imed that they were dead?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered, enraged.


    The elder fell silent, waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to calm down before continuing the conversation.


    As though realizing that he too had gone overboard, Xiao Nanfeng sighed softly, lifted a gon of wine, and walked over to the elder.


    "Elder, I''m feeling rather upset today. Won''t you have a drink with me tonight?" Somewhat mncholy, Xiao Nanfeng poured out two cups of wine.


    The elder nced at Xiao Nanfeng and shook his head. "Young Master, I know how upset you feel, but you must understand that the dead cannote back to life! If the marquis were still alive, wouldn''t we have heard from him in the decade since? You were only six when he passed; now, you are a young man of sixteen. So much has changed within thest decade."


    "Indeed? Thisnd was my father''s, but its ownership has since transferred to the chief steward. And the chief steward himself? He was nothing more than a housekeeper, a butler! It was my father who conferred him authority. In the decade after he went missing, the chief steward has used me as a hostage to gather power for himself, to push away those who would have assisted me. The right to muster troops, to govern the people¡ªit''s all fallen to him! The manifold shops and businesses of the Xiao n have all be his private property, despite the fact that he''s nothing more than a servant! Are all of you going to sit there and do nothing as he continues to bully me?" Xiao Nanfeng grew more and more enraged as he spoke.


    The elder''s face fell. "Young Master, you can''t say anything of that sort around here! If word gets to the chief steward¡ª"


    "Oh? So I should let him run roughshod over me without saying a thing? Who among the servants is unaware that I, the young master of the Xiao n, have been imprisoned in the estate for years?" Xiao Nanfeng drowned his sorrows in a cup of wine.


    "The reason the chief steward has forbidden you from gallivanting all about is out of concern for your young age. He worries that there might be thugs, bandits, even assassins lying in wait for you. After all, the marquis had plenty of enemies. When you professed a desire to learn, he sought out esteemed schrs from all over to be your tutors, to provide you with every manner of scroll and record in thend. Hasn''t he provided you with all these documents in your study?"


    "But what can I do besides study? All manner of cultivation has been forbidden to me; all I have ess to is the most pedestrian of body cultivation techniques. Even you servants wouldn''t deign to hand a technique like this to your children! Allowing me only to read, to meditate; refusing me martial arts? For all my hard work, despite my sixteen years of age, I''ve only managed to reach the fifth stage of Acquisition! And you call this ''in my best interests''?!" Xiao Nanfeng scoffed.


    In lieu of replying, the elder downed the cup of wine Xiao Nanfeng had poured for him. His goal now was to apany Xiao Nanfeng so that he could vent his frustrations¡ªand after doing so, to submit to his fate.


    Xiao Nanfeng poured him another cup of wine.


    "However, I don''t regret the time I''ve spent reading. I''ve had batch after batch of tutors over thest decade, and I''m able toprehend even the most abstruse of essays. I''ve read and understood all 1,346 scrolls and documents in this study." Xiao Nanfeng swept a hand across the expanse of the shelves, a spark of pride shing through his eyes.


    "See? The chief steward has been helping you all along. When you marry the chief steward''s daughter, you''ll be a happy family together." The blue-d elder seemed to be trying to pacify Xiao Nanfeng.


    "A happy family? Elder, you''re aware of just what type of woman the chief steward''s daughter is, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed as he stared at the elder, who mirrored his actions. "The chief steward''s daughter is as beautiful as a fairy from the heavens..."


    "As beautiful as a fairy from the heavens? Ha! Her heart might as well be a scorpion''s, and she''s fickle-minded too! If I''m not mistaken, his daughter has already killed a fair few husbands that she married. She tortured her previous two husbands to death, and to prevent their families from raising a fuss, even killed them all wholesale! Isn''t that so?" Xiao Nanfeng sneered.


    The elder suddenly grew rmed. How had the young master learnt of this?


    "Young Master, please don''t worry. It won''t happen this time. You''re Young Master Xiao, after all, and with your status and reputation..." The elder drank another cup of wine, sweat beading on his forehead.


    "With mynd, my rights, my stores and businesses all having been taken away by the chief steward, all he needs now is an excuse to sweep away thest of my legitimacy. Isn''t that so? After all, thend here belongs to the Xiao n, to me! He''s nothing but a servant, without title or deed, so he''s set his sights on my very body. If I marry his daughter, then our families willbine into one, and he would have the legal standing to swallow up thest traces of the Xiao n!" Xiao Nanfeng stared coldly at the elder as he concluded his analysis.


    "Young Master, y-you¡ªyou must be misunderstanding! The chief steward would never..." The elder was momentarily at a loss for words.


    "Elder, if I remember correctly, my father saved your life, didn''t he?"


    Countless emotions shed over the elder''s face. In the end, he nodded firmly. "That''s right. The marquis saved my life. I owe him a lifelong debt of gratitude. My internal organs were damaged as a result of the wounds I suffered, and I was no longer able to fight. Instead, the marquis tasked me with caring for the beast cub that he retrieved from a spiritbeastir, ckie!"


    "Isn''t that so? My father noticed the extent of your injuries and knew that it would be difficult for you to apany him any longer. Instead, he allowed you to remain on the estate as a caretaker for a cub, feeding and clothing you, and even arranging a lucrative career for your son! You do bear the Xiao n a debt of evesting gratitude." Xiao Nanfeng''s smile slowly faded away.


    The elder''s demeanor, however, suddenly changed. "Young Master, let bygones be bygones! The marquis has been dead for a decade. What will harping on the past aplish? Don''t resist this marriage any longer¡ªthe chief steward has your best interests in mind!"


    "My best interests? Haha, is that so? Rearing me like a prized bird, taking advantage of my innocence and naivete, treating me like a hostage, scavenging all that he can from the Xiao n, and finally forcing me to marry his scorpion of a daughter, to squeeze everyst drop of value out of me? And you believe this to be in my best interests?!" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, which shed with anger.


    The elder frowned. The young master hadn''t given up his resistance after venting his frustrations; rather, he even seemed to be growing angrier. This wouldn''t do¡ªthe consequences would be unthinkable if the chief steward held him responsible.


    "Young Master, I urge you to calm down. You won''t be able to resist the chief steward''s might. Let us help each other¡ªif I turn on you, your circumstances might grow even more dire." The elder suddenly turned malicious.


    Unfazed, Xiao Nanfeng continued to re at him. "It looks like my father waspletely mistaken about you. You''ve forgotten all about the debt of gratitude owed to my n¡ªyou''re the chief steward''sckey, aren''t you?"


    "Young Master, I simply understand how the wind blows. With the marquis dead, the chief steward is the most powerful person around. I urge you again not to struggle. With your current level of strength, even an injured man like me could take you down with one hand. None of your studies will be able to help you." The elder seemed to have lost all patience.


    "Try it, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    The elder''s face turned dark. Dropping his servile facade, he suddenly rose up¡ªthen stumbled. The world seemed to be spinning around him, and power drained out of his body. He fell to the ground with a sudden thump.


    "Poison in the wine? Impossible. You''ve been under strict surveince for thest ten years, and there''s no chance you ever came into contact with any poison! Just what did you have me drink?" the elder murmured weakly.


    Still seated, Xiao Nanfeng red at him with piercing eyes. "You demean my studying and my education, but these scrolls have all I need. Is it that difficult to concoct poison? I simply had to mix together various foods that were ipatible with each other. Aren''t you aware?"


    "What? Impossible! No, you drank that wine too. How could you not be affected?" The elder seemed incapable of epting his present circumstances.


    "If I can concoct a poison, I can naturally concoct its antidote as well," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly. "Are you aware that you are about to die?"

 Chapter 2: Spiritual Power

    <h4>Chapter 2: Spiritual Power</h4>


    "Young Master, I don''t want to die! My grandson has just been born¡ªplease, on ount of the fact that I''ve looked after you all these years, spare my life!" the blue-d elder begged, his face frozen in shock.


    The poison was clearly potent and fast-acting; the elder''s breathing took on a stato rhythm. Unable to make any loud noises, he was forced to plead weakly for his life.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng only stared at the fallen elder coldly.


    "Elder, it''s true that the chief steward has been growing in strength. Many of the servants have chosen to side with him, and I don''t me them for doing so¡ªbut you''re different. You bear a lifelong debt of gratitude to the Xiao n. I wouldn''t have med you if you had done nothing during the decade of my duress, but I won''t turn a blind eye to the fact that you''ve been working for him. In order to get in his good graces, you monitor my every move. Whenever the chief steward restricts my freedom further, you''re there to persuade me to give in. Whenever I attempt to search for a cultivation manual, you hinder and stymie me from the shadows. And you think I''d be willing to spare someone like you?" Xiao Nanfeng nced coldly at the blue-d elder.


    "You''ve been faking your affection for me thesest few years? How long have you been brewing this n? How? You''ve been trapped in the estate all your life, and there''s no way you could have learned to plot and n like this! This is impossible!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s cold stare never wavered. Perhaps an ordinary six-year-old who had been imprisoned in such a manner for a decade wouldn''t have the experience or understanding to defy or resist the maniption, but he was different. He bore memories of his past life on Earth; he was no fool!


    "It''s been ten long years, Elder¡ªtime for my departure," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly said.


    Malice suddenly filled the elder''s face. As though sensing that Xiao Nanfeng truly would not spare him, his begging turned into intimidation instead.


    "Leave? How do you intend to leave? That''s impossible. The chief steward has entire patrols of guards around the estate¡ªaround the entire fiefdom atrge! Young Master, I urge you not to resist. We''ve gotten along well over the years. If you give me the antidote, I can pretend that nothing has happened, but otherwise, you''ll learn just what happens to those who offend the chief steward," the elder threatened.


    "We''ve gotten along well over the years, have we, Elder? Do you know why I''ve only gotten close to you all these years, why I''m cold to everyone else, why I won''t listen to anyone but you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "Why?" The elder felt a lingering sense of unease.


    "Because you''re thin, you''re frequently hunched over, you have a lingering ailment that causes you to cough often, and most importantly, because your physique matches mine," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Y-you, you, could you be nning to¡ª" The elder gaped in shock as he thought of a certain possibility.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and began peeling off the elder''s clothes. "That''s right. I''ll be pretending to be you and leaving the estate. I''ve listened to you all these years, allowing you to quickly ascend the ranks and be one of the chief steward''s most trusted staff. Those guards wouldn''t dare to offend you."


    The elder''s eyes widened. Had Xiao Nanfeng been nning his escape all along? Was he really a youth of sixteen? No¡ªhe had started nning this years ago, before he was even ten! How could this be?!


    "You won''t be able to leave. No, you can''t, you can''t!" the elder called out in shock and fear.


    "Why not? This is my estate, is it not?" Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly, inspecting the clothes he had just removed from the prone elder.


    The elder coughed again. "What can you do even if you leave? A poisoner''s art would only bring you endless trouble! You have no experience outside, and you''ve been sheltered for all sixteen years of your life. You don''t know what dangers await you; without a strong martial foundation, you''d quickly die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the elder. "Elder, are you trying to stall for time?"


    Just then, a ck shadow darted into the study.


    "Woof!"


    The ck shadow let out a ferocious roar, sending a gust of rank air straight toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s robes fluttered in the wind, but he didn''t retreat. Rather, he nced coldly at the ck wolfdog that had suddenly leapt into the study like a ferocious tiger.


    "Pounce on him, ckie!" the elder cried out.


    The unwee intruder was precisely the ck wolfdog that the elder had reared.


    Obeying the elder, the wolfdog bared its fangs as it headed toward Xiao Nanfeng. Its eyes shed red. Its face was fierce, its teeth sharp, as though it would tear apart the youth within moments.


    Just as it pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng, however, a sinister blue glow emanated from his eyes.


    The moment the ck wolfdog met his gaze, it shivered as though it had seen something frightening, then began to tremble in fear.


    "ckie! ckie? What are you waiting for?!" the elder cried out in shock.


    The ck wolfdog whimpered, retreating even as it trembled, as though it hadn''t heard the elder''s orders. It seemed terrorized by Xiao Nanfeng.


    The elder stared in shock at the wolfdog he had reared, then followed its line of sight toward Xiao Nanfeng. What could it possibly be scared of?


    "Your cultivation is only at the fifth stage of Acquisition, and ckie has far more qi than you do¡ªit''s already at the ninth stage of Acquisition! How did you manage to frighten it?!" the elder murmured, gobsmacked.


    Suddenly, the elder noticed the pale blue light emanating from Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze.


    "This is... spiritual power?!" the elder eximed, incredulous at the sight.


    "That''s right," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Impossible. Impossible! How could someone like you develop spiritual power? Your cultivation technique was one of the worst we could find¡ªa third-rate technique! How could you have developed spiritual power at Acquisition? Even the chief steward himself, at the peak of Immanence, has just developed spiritual power of his own!" the elder cried out, his shock palpable.


    "Humans can cultivate their bodies and souls separately. The physical body nurtures qi via dantians, whereas the soul nurtures spiritual power via the center of the forehead. What''s the problem?"


    "But you should only be able to sense spiritual power once your physical body bes sufficiently strong! We''ve been checking your physical cultivation carefully, and you''re only in the fifth stage of Acquisition. There''s no way you could have developed spiritual power, unless..." the elder trailed off, still doubting his eyes.


    "Unless what?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes were piercing as he nced at the elder.


    "Unless you somehow managed to pick up a spiritual cultivation manual from the top Immortal sects¡ªbut those manuals are prized treasures, and guarded jealously! How could you havee across any?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Why, it''s all thanks to all of you, for finding me so many scrolls and documents. You haven''t inspected them carefully, have you?"


    "Your spiritual cultivation manual came from one of these scrolls? Impossible, that''s impossible! The chief steward made sure to find you useless scrolls in order to render you weak and incapable! Medical studies and Taoist scriptures¡ªuseless, obscure, and abstruse... There couldn''t have been any cultivation techniques among them, not even physical cultivation and certainly not spiritual cultivation! Someone screened each scroll and document you received!"


    "And are you so certain that you''ve checked these useless, obscure, and abstruse Taoist scriptures carefully? That you''ve studied each one fully before handing it to me?" Xiao Nanfeng smirked.


    The elder''s eyes grew wide. Taoist scriptures were abstruse and near-impossible toprehend because of the elevated heights from which the Taoist masters viewed the world, and most could hardly make any sense of it. Who would spend time studying such scriptures? The screening was solely to ensure that these scrolls didn''t contain cultivation techniques, but who would have thought that a soul cultivation technique had snuck through? How could this be?


    "Useless scriptures, you say? Why, one man''s trash is another man''s treasure!"


    The elder''s face was a mask of despair. Xiao Nanfeng''s nning and deception was far beyond anything he had nned for. Was this truly the docile young master he had known for his entire life? Even ckie, the wolfdog, had been suppressed and transformed into a quivering heap from his spiritual power!


    The wolfdog was so frightened by the blue glow emanating from Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes that its body quivered in ce. Even when Xiao Nanfeng approached it with a dagger in hand, ckie didn''t dare move.


    "ckie, is it? My father retrieved you from a spiritbeastir as a pup, intending for you to grow alongside me, to be my pet, to escort me through my cultivation. The elder to whom you bonded was nothing more than a caretaker working on my behalf¡ªI am your true master. As a spiritbeast, you have more than sufficient intelligence to understand these principles. Yet all these years, you''ve never shown me the slightest shred of respect, and you''ve even colluded with your caretaker to take me down. Well, there''s no reason for me to keep you, then." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold.


    He thrust his dagger deep into the ck wolfdog''s head, causing it to keen as it died.


    At that point, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes returned to their original shade of color, his face turning pale. Evidently, the spiritual suppression he had enforced was very costly in terms of spiritual energy, and he was looking rather worse for wear.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the rapidly weakening elder as he put on the elder''s clothes and mussed up his hair until it looked like the elder''s. Then, Xiao Nanfeng hunched his back and covered his mouth with the elder''s handkerchief that he picked up from the ground, emting his shuffling and deep coughs.


    With the handkerchief covering half his face, in the faint evening illumination, it was impossible to uncover Xiao Nanfeng''s disguise.


    "Ahem, ahem! How does this eem? Do I look like you? Is there anything else I have to add?" Xiao Nanfeng nced coolly at the elder, his voice taking on a rougher and more mature cadence that mimicked the elder''s surprisingly well.


    The elder, meanwhile, was chilled to the bone. Xiao Nanfeng had clearly been observing his every action, his every movement carefully. He moved like him, and even his low, hoarse voice sounded like his.


    "No! You can''t leave!" the elder shouted at his body double.


    "Right, the poison I fed you won''t kill you. At worst, it''ll paralyze you for a few days," Xiao Nanfeng revealed.


    "It''s not lethal?" The elder''s eyes suddenly lit up with hope.


    "You''ve served me for a few years, after all¡ªor rather, you''ve kept me under guard and lied to me for a few years. How could I let you off so easily? I think it''s best if I leave you for the chief steward to deal with. I wonder what he''ll do with you, knowing that you allowed me to escape from his clutches? You turned your back on your former master and have been ingratiating yourself to the chief steward all this time. He won''t make your life difficult, will he?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The elder''s sudden hope was violently snuffed out, leaving abject fear behind. He understood Xiao Nanfeng''s importance to the chief steward. If Xiao Nanfeng were to go missing, considering the chief steward''s brutality, he would surely be subject to bone-chilling torture¡ªhe was no longer of any value whatsoever! Even ckie had perished. The chief steward might even strike at his family...


    "No! Kill me, Young Master, please, kill me!"


    If he were to die at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands now, the chief steward wouldn''t punish his family too, would he?


    However, Xiao Nanfeng only nced at the stricken elder coldly. "Elder, if you''ve chosen to ingratiate yourself to the chief steward, surely you must have faith in him. You''re in your current straits now because of your choices and actions. Isn''t that so?


    Xiao Nanfeng shut the doors to the study as he wandered out to the wider world beyond under cover of night.


    The elder''s voice had grown weaker and weaker. Paralyzed, he was unable to call out for assistance; only a deep sense of despair, remorse, and privation apanied his final hours.

 Chapter 3: Body of Yin

    <h4>Chapter 3: Body of Yin</h4>


    Amidst a fit of coughing, the gates to the inner courtyard swung open.


    The skies had darkened by then, and despite the rednterns that shone around the estate, it was difficult to make out fine details. Xiao Nanfeng was wearing the elder''s blue clothes, his body hunched over, his face covered with the elder''s handkerchief. He walked out coughing.


    "Sir, have you convinced the young master?" the captain of the guards couldn''t help but ask.


    Xiao Nanfeng feigned a cough and nodded amidst the faint darkness.


    The captain of the guards sighed in relief. The young master had finally given in!


    Mimicking the elder''s speech, Xiao Nanfeng said, "The young master is feeling rather vexed at the moment, so don''t bother him at the moment. Before the bride arrives tomorrow morning, have a servant help dress him for the asion." He coughed once more.


    "Yessir!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then walked away very slowly, as though waiting for something.


    Indeed, as he took a fifth step, the captain of the guards couldn''t help but ask, "Sir, will you be bringing your ck wolfdog with you?"


    "Just in case..." Xiao Nanfeng devolved into another coughing fit.


    Without turning back, he slowly walked off, waving at the guards with a hand.


    Only when he was far into the distance did the captain of the guards breathe out in relief. "He truly is prudent, to let the wolfdog remain in the inner courtyard to keep guard over the young master and prevent him from doing anything foolish. It seems like he''s thought of everything, so we don''t have to go check in on the young master until the next morning, just in case something goes wrong and the chief steward holds us ountable."


    Everyone believed that Xiao Nanfeng was still in the inner courtyard; no one could have expected that he was already on his way out of the manor.


    Along the way, the servants and maids all throughout the estate bowed down respectfully to him. Thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s years of obedience, the elder held a very high position in the fiefdom, and no one dared ost him.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked right out of the Xiao manor, the guard patrols not having deterred him one bit.


    After leaving the estate, shrouded in a patch of darkness, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but look back at the house he had lived in for six years and the prison for ten. After a long, interminable silence, he turned his head and vanished into the night.


    The next morning, countless guards rushed over to the Xiao manor and packed itpletely.


    Early at dawn, the servants of the manor had discovered the unusual circumstances of the young master''s study and reported it immediately. A huge group of soldiers and guards had immediately surrounded the manor, causing the atmosphere to be one of oppressive, stifled silence.


    Within the inner courtyard and surrounding Xiao Nanfeng''s study were a group of guards, staring fiercely at the paralyzed and frightened elder on the ground, along with a ck wolfdog carcass.


    When the guards heard the elder recount his story, they were all shocked. They looked at him as though he were a dead man walking¡ªafter having allowed for such a grievous mistake, he would not survive the chief steward''s punishment. How many people would die alongside him would depend on the chief steward''s mood.


    "Chief Steward, to think the young master was so skilled at deception... How long did he take to n out all this?!"


    "We were all deceived by the young master! The butler will have to die to atone for his crimes, of course, but what should we do about the young master?"


    "To think that the young master had been nning this all along¡ªhis mentality is fearful to behold. And he was lucky enough to pick up a spiritual cultivation manual, too! Who can tell me what technique he cultivated?"


    The chief steward looked grimly at a note on his desk, ignoring the indignant statements of the staff around him.


    Xiao Nanfeng had left the note behind before his departure:


    "Don''t die before I return to im your head."


    "Have you found him?" the chief steward finally asked, after a pregnant silence.


    "Chief Steward, the young master has had a night''s head start, and he may already be out of the city by now. My men have found no trace of him, but I''ve sent for hunting hounds to track him down," a captain replied.


    "Find him immediately, all of you!" the chief steward roared, unable to restrain his anger any longer.


    "Yessir!"


    The guards all rushed out of the study, leaving the petrified elder alone with the furious chief steward.


    The elder was still paralyzed, but he didn''t dare ask for help under the present circumstances. As the chief steward looked at him, he felt as though he had fallen into an ice cer.


    "You were responsible for screening the young master''s scrolls and documents. Just what spiritual cultivation technique did he learn?" the chief steward interrogated in a chilling tone.


    "I... I don''t know, Chief Steward," the elder replied, stammering.


    "Guards! Detain every member of this man''s family and interrogate them one by one!" the chief steward shouted menacingly.


    "Yessir!" A number of guards immediately rushed in from outside.


    "Chief Steward, please! I''ve been hardworking and loyal to you all these years¡ªplease spare my family, please! I''m willing to offer up all my wealth inpensation!" the elder begged.


    The chief steward said not a single word as he nced at the note in his hands. He was in an extremely bad mood, especially after learning that Xiao Nanfeng had somehow managed to get his hands on a spiritual cultivation manual. This could welle back to bite him in the future.


    Everything would have been under his control if not for this useless piece of trash before him, ruining his fame and reputation and leaving a huge mess behind. If he were to spare him, who wouldpensate him for his losses?


    Ten dayster, a ck sailboat passed downstream along a river.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, closing his eyes and absorbing the first ray of dawn light as it struck his body. Using a special breathing technique, he sucked in the dawn light along with the morning fog. After about half an hour, he spat out a mouthful of turbid air as he slowly awakened.


    "I suppose the hunting hounds have been released by now? Ha! Can they track me across water?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned somewhat disdainful.


    The boat continued to float downstream as Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a map from the cabin andpared it to the sights in the background.


    "I''ll be able to leave the Tianshu Empire in just half a month. The Taiqing Immortal Sect was where my father found his mentor. Father, you left me this ring... I wonder if your senior brother will still remember it?" Xiao Nanfeng rubbed at the golden ring of ancient make in his hand as he nced toward the map.


    After carefully ensuring that he was still on track, Xiao Nanfeng stowed the map again, then retrieved a manual from within his robes, <i>Body of Yin</i>.


    "With <i>Body</i> in your name, who would ever have thought you a manual for a spiritual cultivation technique? I truly have to thank you, <i>Body of Yin</i>, for giving me something to rely on all these years," Xiao Nanfeng marveled. "I know just how dangerous it might be to keep such a treasure by my side, but don''t worry, I''ll make sure your fame spreads far and wide."


    He read <i>Body of Yin </i>one final time, ensuring that he hadmitted it firmly to memory, then struck a match and set the manual ame.


    The manual burned quickly, leaving nothing but ash over the surface of the expansive


    river. The ash sank into its depths and vanished.


    "<i>Body of Yin </i>is an arcane spiritual cultivation technique. Despite having studied it for eight years, I feel like I only understand it on a superficial level, but somehow, I seem to be able to improve my understanding by studying other Taoist scriptures instead. The insights I glean from those scriptures are somehow applicable to <i>Body of Yin</i>, as though <i>Body of Yin </i>is some sort of outline or framework for the entirety of cultivation, and every piece of insight can slot into it in some manner or another. It truly is a marvel..."


    Xiao Nanfeng then retrieved an ordinary Taoist scripture from the cabin, which he read as he gnawed on some rations. It was a scroll he had purchased along the way, one which would have been obscure, imprable, and uninteresting to others, and yet Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be enjoying himself.

 Chapter 4: Ye Dafu

    <h4>Chapter 4: Ye Dafu</h4>


    One monthter, Xiao Nanfeng had left the Tianshu Empire and appeared in a town on the shores of the Eastern Sea.


    The second floor of a teahouse in town had arge number of scrolls and documents on disy to be sold, and Xiao Nanfeng was standing right there, going through each scroll carefully.


    "Sir, why don''t you have a look at these cultivation techniques? Our techniques are all the best of the best. They might be expensive, but they''ll help you raise your cultivation as quickly as possible."


    The owner of the teahouse relentlessly continued advertising to Xiao Nanfeng as he browsed, but Xiao Nanfeng happily ignored him. He was en route to an Immortal sect; would he really pick a technique from a small teahouse over that? Rather than look at the advertised techniques, he was much more interested in the dusty and weathered tomes that had been left untouched.


    "These Taoist scriptures seem to be rather battered..." hemented, frowning.


    The teahouse owner grimaced upon seeing what he was pointing to. "Those are specially discounted; they were part of my grandfather''s collection, and have been ced here ever since. It''s natural that they''ve umted wear and tear with age. If not for my grandfather having established rules against recing the stock, I certainly wouldn''t keep them on sale."


    These Taoist scriptures were abstruse and iprehensible, without any grounding in reality, and neither were they cultivation techniques. They had gone decades without being sold¡ªsurely the youth in front of him was asking just for fun?


    "How much for these scrolls?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The teahouse owner looked stunned. "You want them? Wonderful! Take them all for a tael of gold!"


    "Sir, you want a tael of gold for these ancient scrolls you haven''t sold in decades?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "My grandfather said he would take no less. You¡ªaren''t really going to buy them, are you?" the teahouse owner asked in surprise.


    "What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng waved a tael of gold at him.


    "Haha, you''re generous indeed, young sir! As thanks, please have today''s breakfast on the house," the teahouse owner cried out in delight.


    These battered old scrolls were taking up valuable shelf space. Now that they were finally gone, he could finally put up some new scrolls and manuals instead.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought his dozen or so Taoist scriptures that he had never before seen to a table by the window. He gged down a waiter, ordered something to eat, and began perusing them.


    Just as he was getting into the flow, mocking whispers suddenly came from the neighboring table.


    "That fool! He spent a tael of gold on a pile of trash, haha!"


    "Boss, I bet he can''t afford cultivation techniques and is hoping to strike it lucky with one of those trashy scrolls."


    "Boss, he''s definitely poor, for sure!"


    A dozen richly dressed youths were seated by a neighboring table, and they were heaping praise on a certain young man in white among them. The young man airily waved a paper fan, arrogance clear on his face, as he criticized the surrounding patrons. The other young men seemed to hang onto his every word, causing his ego to grow the more he spoke.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the young men speechlessly. Where had these foolse from? Weren''t they worried about offending those around him? And what did his scrolls have to do with any of them?


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored them and buried himself deeper in his scrolls, immersing himself in their nuance and insight.


    "Boss, will the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s ships really stop by today?" one young man asked their white-clothed leader.


    The leader airily waved his fan. "What? Don''t you trust me, Ye Dafu?" [1]


    "No, no, it''s just such a major event. We all believe you¡ªall our ns support the Ye n, and we young masters will certainly follow your lead as well," the young man wheedled.


    Ye Dafu, nodding in satisfaction, pointed out the window. "Do you see the carriages outside?"


    Everyone looked toward the window. Indeed, the town was bustling with activity as countless ornate carriages rushed toward it from all over, all gathering by the quay and causing a traffic jam in the vicinity.


    "Are these all people who will bepeting with us for slots to join the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Theckeys all looked rather aggrieved.


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect is renowned throughout the world for its strength. Is this not reasonable? You must know that even the emperor of our Tianshu Empire came from the Taiqing Immortal Sect himself," Ye Dafu eximed.


    "We have to be disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect!" oneckey shouted in anticipation.


    "The disciples of the sect are divided into two types, formal and nominal. Which sort of disciple you be will depend on your skill. Of course, I''ll be a formal disciple for sure," Ye Dafu bragged.


    "Ah? There are two types of disciples?" hisckeys pressed.


    "The initial selection will urter. There are three spots at which the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s ships will stop along the coast. Only those qualified to be disciples will be allowed on the ship and sent to Taiqing Ind. There, a second, more rigorous examination will be carried out to separate formal from nominal disciples," Ye Dafu exined.


    "You really are amazing, Boss! You know everything!" ackey praised.


    "Of course! The Ye n has a few disciples in the Taiqing Immortal Sect, so I''d know all this. The sect''s ships travel around the coast annually, so if we miss the recruitment today, we''ll have to wait a whole year. All of you had better give a good showing, you hear?" Ye Dafu boasted.


    "Don''t worry, Boss! We won''t disappoint you." Theckeys rubbed their palms in anticipation.


    "They''re here! The ships from the Taiqing Immortal Sect are here!" shouted an excited voice from outside the teahouse.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys all rushed toward the window for a good view, and Xiao Nanfeng also turned his head.


    Outside, far into the distance, was a ptial ship sailing toward the quay. "Taiqing" had been inscribed on the hull of the ship in an ancient script, conferring upon it a certain gravitas. The quay had been vacated for the day; the fishermen''s crafts had to give way for the arrival of the Taiqing Sect ship.


    "We greet the Immortal masters of the Taiqing Sect!" Voices of reverence rose and fell around the harbor.


    As the ship slowly sailed to shore, a number of robed disciples could be seen on deck, peering down at those that had gathered by the quay in anticipation.


    "Do you wish to join the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" a robed disciple shouted.


    "Yes!" the onlookers chorused


    "Those who have reached the sixth stage of physical Acquisition within ten years of age, or those who have reached physical Immanence within twenty, may board for free," the robed disciple continued.


    His voice spread to the nearby teahouse.


    "Boss, let''s head over now! We''d better not dilly-dally," ackey urged.


    "There''s no rush¡ªall those on the ship are merely nominal disciples," Ye Dafu replied leisurely.


    "He said that you can board for free if you''re at the sixth stage of Acquisition by ten, and Immanence by twenty? What does that mean?" anotherckey asked.


    "It''s a measure of talent and strength. Those talented enough to meet those thresholds will almost certainly be formal disciples after entering the Taiqing Immortal Sect, so they can naturally do what they want. The nominal disciples would hardly dare to make lives difficult for them."


    "In that case, Boss, does that mean you can board the ship at any point?" theckeys asked enviously.


    Ye Dafu grinned smugly. "Naturally."


    The robed man on the ship scanned the onlookers and continued, "All others interested in joining the Taiqing Immortal Sect must be below thirty years of age and will be recruited based on their talent and age. Line up by this quay¡ªonly the top three hundred will be recruited!"


    The prospective disciples immediately began lining up at the quay to be tested.


    "Boss, we should head over!" theckeys implored.


    "Very well. With your talent, all of you should do just fine," Ye Dafu replied confidently.


    Half theckeys trailed off in search of the recruiter; only two remained behind to finish their meal with Ye Dafu.


    "Eh, Boss? Doesn''t it look like that poor guy''s boarding the ship too?" oneckey pointed out.


    "Hmm?" Ye Dafu turned around to see Xiao Nanfeng having retrieved his rucksack and slowly putting the discounted scrolls he had just bought within it.


    "Sir, thanks for your hospitality thesest few days. I''ll be setting off now."


    "May you be apprenticed to a famed master," the teahouse owner replied courteously.


    Ye Dafu and his two remainingckeys eyed each other.


    "That poor bastard looks like he''s sixteen or seventeen, doesn''t he? He''s nning to board too? Without participating in the testing?" oneckey wondered in shock.


    "We didn''t have to participate because we met the base requirements for recruitment, but could he have done the same despite being three or four years younger?" the otherckey murmured.


    "Has he already reached Immanence with his physical cultivation?" Ye Dafu''s eyes widened.


    Ye Dafu himself had tremendous talent at cultivation, and his n bore great hopes for him. With hisckeys continuously praising and ttering him, Ye Dafu had grown bigheaded and confident of his genius¡ªbut if the youth before him had truly reached Immanence at such an age, didn''t that mean he was even more talented?


    1. ´ó¸» = Dafu, literally meaning ''great wealth''. ?

 Chapter 5: The Sea Voyage

    <h4>Chapter 5: The Sea Voyage</h4>


    After packing up his things, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t head straight to the quay. Rather, he stood by the teahouse window and looked toward it.


    A fair number of Taiqing Immortal Sect disciples disembarked from the ship and began testing the prospectives.


    The tests were conducted rapidly; a number of prospective disciples, with an advantage either in age or cultivation, received a wooden token that would allow them to board the ship.


    Xiao Nanfeng contemted his situation by the window. In terms of physical cultivation alone, he was quitecking¡ªafter all, he had been forced to cultivate a subpar technique, and he would need some other means of boarding.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s calm demeanor annoyed Ye Dafu and the others, who believed that his confidence stemmed from overwhelming strength.


    "How might I address you, traveler?" Ye Dafu walked over and cupped his hands at Xiao Nanfeng. If Xiao Nanfeng really were at Immanence at such a young age, he had to be even more talented than Ye Dafu himself, and would surely be a formal disciple of the sect. It wouldn''t be a bad idea to befriend him now.


    "You may call me ''poor bastard''," Xiao Nanfeng replied. <i>You psychos, if you keep running your mouth, you''ll offend someone you shouldn''t and be beaten to death one day. Stay away from me. I don''t want to associate with you!</i>


    Ye Dafu and his clique: ...<i>Thisd''s the type to harbor grudges, huh? We just made fun of him in private¡ªisn''t this sort of response a little too much?</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s attitude annoyed the three young men, but considering that he was at Immanence, he had the right to be upset. Rebuffed, the three young men sidled off.


    The testing at the quay proceeded rapidly, and it took little time for all three hundred qualifying prospective disciples to be chosen.


    Those that had qualified were naturally overjoyed; those that hadn''t were despondent.


    "All qualifying prospectives, we depart in two hours! This ship will wait for no one!" a Taiqing Immortal Sect disciple shouted.


    "Yessir!"


    By then, Ye Dafu''s trio had ambled to the quay, and his otherckeys quickly grouped around him.


    "Boss, look, I got a token!"


    "Me too, haha! We''ll be able to be disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect together!"


    Theckeys all returned to Ye Dafu and reported their sess¡ªall but one.


    "Boss, I, I wasn''t selected..." The young man seemed to be at a loss for words.


    "What?!"


    "I¡ªthe person in front of me was of the same cultivation, the same age, but his second uncle''s a nominal disciple at the Taiqing Immortal Sect! He got in through his connections with thest wooden token."


    The others were enraged on his behalf.


    "Boss, don''t you have connections in the Taiqing Immortal Sect too? Can''t you do something?" oneckey urged.


    Ye Dafu shook his head. "It''s toote. The tokens have all been given out, and they wouldn''t make an exception for us."


    "What now, then?" the poorckey cried out.


    "There were too many prospectives, and thepetition was stiff. You were unlucky, but fortunately you''re still young and can afford to wait a year," Ye Dafu replied, also vexed.


    The others frowned. If even their leader couldn''t do anything, what could the rest of them aplish?


    The unfortunateckey was just about to give up when they all saw a youth head into the teahouse with a token in hand.


    "Sir, I''ve retrieved the token you wanted," the youth told Xiao Nanfeng with a smile.


    Ye Dafu and the others gaped at the youth, who had just passed the testing and received one of the wooden tokens.


    Xiao Nanfeng passed him twenty taels of gold. "As promised. You have my gratitude."


    "I heard that the boarding fee is extremely expensive, and I wouldn''t have been able to afford the trip even if I was epted. With these twenty taels, I''ll be able to attend next year. I''m the one who should be thanking you," the youth replied.


    "A win for us both, then." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ye Dafu and his clique watched on, gobsmacked.


    They realized what Xiao Nanfeng had done, now¡ªhe had found a scalper to acquire a boarding token for him!


    With the token in hand, Xiao Nanfeng left the teahouse and walked toward the ship. He would be able to get to the Taiqing Immortal Sect now¡ªbut as for finding a master with hiscking cultivation, well, that was a problem forter.


    "You can do something like that?" oneckey cried out, disbelieving.


    "He''s not even at Immanence! He tricked us!" Ye Dafu shouted. "And he even dared to put on airs in front of us!"


    "Boss, if he was able to buy a token, could I do the same?" the unfortunateckey asked.


    "Quick, see if there''s anyone willing to sell their token," Ye Dafu urged.


    "Yes, Boss!"


    The clique dispersed all around the quay.


    Of course, this was a fruitless endeavor. Ye Dafu''sckeys found themselves spat and cursed at by the qualifying prospectives, who guarded their tokens fiercely.


    In the end, in order for the unfortunateckey to qualify, Ye Dafu and his clique had no choice but to surround Xiao Nanfeng before he could board.


    "Is something the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ye Dafu and hisckeys in irritation. <i>What''s the matter today? Why do these psychos keep following me around?</i>


    "Traveller, my name is Ye Dafu. I have a request to make of you, and I hope you''ll show me the courtesy of epting." Ye Dafu''s demeanor had rpsed to its usual arrogance.


    "What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, barely hiding his irritation.


    "One of my brothers failed to obtain a qualification token, and I''d like to purchase yours at a high price. You bought yours for twenty taels of gold, and I can offer you forty. You''ll be able to earn twenty taels just by waiting another year. What say you?" Ye Dafu offered confidently.


    "It''s none of my business. I won''t hand my token over to anyone," Xiao Nanfeng refused firmly.


    "Our leader''s the young master of the Tianshu Empire''s Ye n! You should be honored that he''s even asked a favor of you!"


    "Don''t you know about the Ye n?"


    "Crossing us won''t end well for you!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys continued harassing and pressuring Xiao Nanfeng. Ye Dafu wasn''t in a rush; he stared Xiao Nanfeng down like prey, as though he was certain thetter would give in. What could an Acquisition-stage youth do against him?


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the cocky young men with an odd expression on his face. He didn''t know who the Ye n was, and he didn''t care. Furthermore, it was hardly as though the Ye n''s influence would extend into the Taiqing Immortal Sect; if these rich lordlings thought that their background would mean anything, they were even more foolish than he expected.


    "Are you finished? If so, please make way. I''m about to board," Xiao Nanfeng told them expressionlessly.


    "Hey,d, didn''t you hear what we said? You think we can''t get rid of you?!" oneckey shouted.


    Ye Dafu''s face was one of cold arrogance. He had beenuded and praised throughout his childhood, and Xiao Nanfeng''s indifference had thoroughly incensed him. Ye Dafu and his clique surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, clearly intending to seize his token by force.


    "Try it, then. Will I lose my token today, or will one of you spill blood on the spot, I wonder?" Xiao Nanfeng red at them.


    Ye Dafu and the others reared back for an instant. How could he be so confident? Was he hiding his strength? Had they provoked someone they couldn''t afford to offend?


    But if that really were the case, why would he still need to purchase a token from someone else? That shouldn''t have been the case!


    Unable to get a good sense for Xiao Nanfeng, Ye Dafu''s group hesitated.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng seemed angry, he was actually remarkably calm. Considering his maturity, it was trivial for him to deal with this bunch of psychos¡ªa threat alone would be sufficient. Furthermore, they could hardly do a thing. He was right by the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s ship. If they were to steal the token right before the eyes of the sect disciples, the sect would be aughingstock.


    Indeed, the very next moment, a stern voice shouted, "What are all of you doing, starting a fight? If you don''t intend to board, scram!"


    The shout visibly quelled Ye Dafu''s group. They stared grudgingly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Sorry, you''ll have to wait a year," Ye Dafuforted his unfortunateckey with a sigh. "We''ll wait for you on Taiqing Ind."


    Theckey could only nod.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t in a rush. He waited for every member of Ye Dafu''s group to board before he walked up to the registration stand, where all prospective disciples would confirm their identity.


    "Nanfeng? Sixteen years of age, but only in the fifth stage of Acquisition?" the Taiqing Sect disciple responsible for the registration cried out in shock. How had he managed to obtain a token in the first ce?


    "I secured this token through my connections," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The disciple blinked. <i>This weakling has a strong backer in the Taiqing Sect? </i>This wasn''t someone he could afford to mess with, then!


    "The trip will cost twenty taels of gold," the disciple finally continued, ignoring his earlier outburst.


    Xiao Nanfeng still had twenty-five taels of gold in his pouch. He was quickly about to be destitute, but it was hardly as though he could avoid spending this money.


    Ye Dafu and the others were ring daggers at Xiao Nanfeng from across the deck as they watched him board, clearly still harboring a grudge.


    "We won''t be able to strike while on the ship. There''ll be plenty of chances to take care of himter, so keep an eye out," Ye Dafumanded.


    "Yes, Boss!" theckeys replied.


    This ship was rather simr to the cruise ships that Xiao Nanfeng had been on in his past life. The main deck was at the front, and a fishing area at the back. There were three floors of decks, the first and second floors of which were guest rooms, and the third of which was a parlor and dining room. Xiao Nanfeng''s room was on the first floor, a suite with four beds. Xiao Nanfeng''s bed was close to the window.


    He set down his luggage, made himselffortable in bed by the window, and began leisurely reading a Taoist scripture.


    As the ship set sail, the window revealed an endless sea, an expanse whose horizon couldn''t be seen. Xiao Nanfeng looked out for a while, but seeing nothing interesting, returned to his scrolls. Cryptic though the scrolls were, Xiao Nanfeng was reading them with great interest.


    Three other prospectives were in the suite¡ªcoincidentally, they were Ye Dafu''sckeys. As Xiao Nanfeng read, the three of them red daggers at him; it seemed he truly couldn''t avoid crossing paths with them.

 Chapter 6: Divine Fishing

    <h4>Chapter 6: Divine Fishing</h4>


    Two dayster, in the restaurant on the third-floor deck of the ship, Ye Dafu sat at the head of the dining table, surrounded by hisckeys as always.


    "What did you find about that brat?" Ye Dafu asked one of hisckeys.


    "I bribed a sailor and looked at his logs. He''s called Xiao Nanfeng. He''s sixteen, and at the fifth stage of Acquisition," oneckey volunteered.


    "Sixteen years old¡ªand only at the fifth stage of Acquisition? He was lying to us all this time, then?" Ye Dafu and hisckeys eximed.


    Everyone had guessed that Xiao Nanfeng was weak by then, but not to this extent.


    "Trying to enter the Taiqing Immortal Sect despite being this weak? Surely he wouldn''t even be able to be a nominal disciple! What''s he trying to pull?" Ye Dafu sneered.


    "Boss, the three of us are in the same suite as he is, and I think he''s quite strange," anotherckey ventured.


    "Strange?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.


    "That''s right. He hasn''t left the room for two days. He''s been studying the bargain scrolls that he got at the teahouse when we first met him¡ªhe only goes above decks at dawn to bask in the sun," theckey reported.


    "What scrolls are those?"


    "They''re a bunch of Taoist scriptures, the cryptic ones that talk about some nonsense and are impossible toprehend. Our heads hurt just trying to skim through them! Also, while he was out on the deck, I looked through his belongings. Except for rations, all he has are these tattered scrolls, and he only has two sets of clothes. I think he really is just a poor bastard."


    "A poor bastard? He wouldn''t even ept an extra twenty taels of gold for the token. He must be dreaming of bing a Taiqing Sect disciple¡ªfeh! If he''s penniless, he certainly won''t get far."


    "The fact that a poor bastard like him dared to get arrogant against us¡ªif I don''t beat him up, I''ll keep feeling annoyed whenever I look at him!" anotherckey groused.


    Ye Dafu nodded. It was clear that he was used to getting his way, and the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had made him lose face in front of his clique was particrly humiliating.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng was reading a scroll, the <i>Art of Divine Fishing</i>. It was no cultivation technique, but rather described an application of divine will as fishing bait by a fishing enthusiast.


    Xiao Nanfeng was almost certain that the "divine will" mentioned in the scroll was an obscure way of referring to spiritual power. If spiritual power had been referred to directly, someone would likely have bought the scroll long ago.


    "Divine fishing..." He had managed to cultivate spiritual power himself. Could he give the technique a try?


    By the time he finished the <i>Art of Divine Fishing</i>, then meditated on the contents of the text, it was evening. Xiao Nanfeng walked out of his suite and strolled around the main deck before arriving at the fishing area at the back of the ship.


    There were about a dozen youths patiently fishing.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the sailor responsible for supervising the area. "I''d like to borrow a fishing rod," he requested.


    "It''ll cost a tael of gold," the sailor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... <i>A tael of gold, just to borrow a fishing rod...?</i>


    Eventually, however, Xiao Nanfeng paid up. He wanted to confirm whether the spiritual maniption described in the Art of Divine Fishing were truly possible.


    He found a rtively isted spot far away from others, leaned by the railing, and tossed the fish hook into the churning sea.


    "Hey,d, you didn''t even put any bait on the hook!" a youth beside him couldn''t help remarking.


    Those around him also shot nces his way, but Xiao Nanfeng ignored them all.


    Instead, he closed his eyes. He diverted a skein of spiritual power from the center of his forehead, winding it down the fishing rod and toward the hook.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t see below the surface of the sea, but following the scripture, he concentrated on the skein of spiritual power he had drawn out from his mind and began to activate it.


    Last time, he had used spiritual power to physically suppress a giant wolfdog by transmitting and infusing the emotion of fear into it, forcing it to remain still. This time, the emotion he wanted to invoke was greed, avarice.


    No one but the fish noticed that Xiao Nanfeng''s hook was glowing with pale blue light. When the fish sensed the bundle of spiritual power, they immediately swam toward the hook.


    Despite the fact that the ship was traveling quickly, arge horde of fish had gathered around it.


    "Look at all the fish! Have we passed by a horde?" one of the fishing disciples suddenly remarked.


    "Quick, let''s see who gets the biggest catch!" another disciple suggested.


    A dozen disciples dropped their hooks into the sea at once, but despite the fish that were skimming the surface of the sea, none bit their hooks.


    "How could this be? There are so many fish¡ªwhy aren''t they biting? My bait''s specially made!"


    "That''s impossible! I can''t believe I''m not getting a single catch," another disciple whined.


    The bait all around the boat did smell good, but nothing was as appetizing as Xiao Nanfeng''s fish hook. To the fish, the bait was a bundle of spiritual power, an amazing treasure that would allow them to transform into dragons if only they could im it.


    The fish all swarmed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s hook, smashing into each other with their bodies in an attempt to seize the treasure before any of the others. None of the fish were willing to let the others seed; a few of the injured ones weren''t able to keep up with the ship, but more took their ce instead.


    The fish fought each other for the hook, none willing to relent.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s face had gone pale. "This is a really draining technique... I''ve already used up half my spiritual power, and I can''t keep going much longer. I suppose I''ll have to call it off soon if nothing bites."


    Just then, a ck shadow appeared from amidst the fish, a two-foot-long creature with the body of a wyrm. Its eyes glinted golden, and it gave off such a fearsome aura that the smaller fish immediately scampered away.


    The creature flicked its tail and sent two of thergest fish flying away with a smack.


    It roared once, causing the nearby fish to quake in fear, unwilling to draw near. The creature swam toward the hook.


    A shark, unwilling to let such a miraculous treasure out of its grasp, charged forward, but the monstrous creature sent a jolt of electricity at the shark. The shark twitched and spasmed as the jolt struck, then sank toward the bottom of the sea.


    The creature roared again, electrifying the water around itself and paralyzing the nearby fish. They retreated slowly in fear, fright evident in their eyes.


    Only when it saw no otherpetitors approach did the creature swim forward and regally bite down on the hook.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s rod suddenly grew taut, bending under the weight and force of the monstrous creature.


    "What? How could this be?"


    "So many fish, and they choose him?"


    "His hook doesn''t even have bait on it! Are these fish blind?"


    "It has to be a big fish if the rod''s curving to such an extent..."


    While the fishing disciples grumbled at their bad luck, Xiao Nanfeng happily tugged at the rod in his hands.


    An explosion of strength caused the creature to arc out of the water, into the air, and smash onto the deck.


    The creature let out a huge quantity of electricity as it struck the deck. It was giving off a faint golden glow.


    "Did I actually fish up a dragon? How ugly it looks!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    "An eel, such arge eel! And it''s golden?"


    "No, this is no ordinary eel. Its surface is brimming with golden light, so it has to be a spirit eel!"


    "A spirit eel, whose body contains a huge quantity of spiritual energy? An impossibly rare catch, and such arge one at that..."


    The fishing disciples looked toward each other in shock.


    The golden eel was writhing madly in an attempt to get back into the sea. Before Xiao Nanfeng could strike, however, the disciple who had been in charge of the fishing area pounced toward the eel with a sledgehammer directed straight at the eel''s head. The eel twitched, then went still.


    "You really are lucky," the disciple marveled. "This is a golden eel, worth hundreds of taels of gold."


    "A golden eel?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in shock.


    "Three hundred taels for the eel! Sell it to me, won''t you?"


    "I''ll pay three hundred and fifty taels!"


    "Four hundred!"


    The fishing disciples continued to outbid each other, but Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I apologize, but I want to consume it myself."


    "You want to consume it? You had better get it prepared quickly, then. It won''tst long like this, and the spiritual energy will rapidly dissipate. How about this? The crew will help you cook it and allow you to absorb as much of the eel''s remaining spiritual energy, but you''ll have to give us half of it," the disciple offered, smiling.


    "We have a deal!" Xiao Nanfeng agreed.


    It certainly wasn''t sensible to wait until they reached the ind proper. The eel would have begun to dpose by then, and if he agreed to this deal, he''d have at least half the eel for himself. Furthermore, it would be a good opportunity to ingratiate himself to the disciples manning the ship.


    "Excellent choice,d. We''re grateful for your generosity. Here''s a badge. Bring it to the third-floor restaurant tomorrow morning, and we''ll have the eel freshly prepared for you."


    Clearly, the other half of the eel would end up in the crew''s stomachs, but how it was divided would depend on individual merit.


    "Very good." Xiao Nanfeng epted the badge with a nod.


    "Why don''t you keep fishing a little? You might be able to catch another one," the disciple offered. He seemed to boast no small amount of authority; he directed the other crew members to bring the eel to the kitchen, then looked back at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Right, brother, how did you manage to catch a spirit fish with an empty hook? Please teach us!" The fishing aficionados all crowded around him, hoping to learn his trick.


    "It was all luck. I''m afraid I won''t be able to continue. Please, enjoy yourselves." Xiao Nanfeng bowed and departed.


    He had expended too much of his spiritual energy. It was shocking enough that he had seeded in catching a golden eel, and Xiao Nanfeng didn''t think he could go on much longer. Using this technique drained his spiritual energy at a remarkable rate.


    The other disciples allowed him to leave without much fanfare. Most believed that his catch had been out of pure luck, that there wasn''t much that could be learned from him.


    "If we keep fishing, we might be able to catch one of our own!"


    However, by the time they returned to their rods, they found that the schools of fish had all dispersed.

 Chapter 7: Restaurant Dining

    <h4>Chapter 7: Restaurant Dining</h4>


    The next morning, in the third-floor restaurant, Ye Dafu was seated by the window and watching Xiao Nanfeng, who was out on the deck meditating cross-legged. Hisckeys sat all around him as they all had tea together.


    "That brat really does seem strange, doesn''t he? Looking at his posture, it looks more like he''s cultivating rather than basking in the sun."


    "Are you sure, Boss? What sort of trash technique would need you to bask in the sun?" oneckey wondered.


    "I heard someone fished up a spirit fish yesterday?" Ye Dafu suddenly asked.


    "Everyone on the ship is talking about it. We went around digging for more information, but no one knows who did it. I even headed to the kitchen in hopes of buying some, but the cooks said that it was long gone." Oneckey shook his head, despondent.


    "What a pity! Despite being in the Tianshu Empire for so long, I''ve never had a chance to try spirit fish. I hear that these fishes'' spiritual energy is particrly pure and concentrated, bolstering physical cultivation and even nourishing the soul," Ye Dafumented.


    "Right? I heard it was an eel, one of the delicacies of the sea, with incredible texture! A golden eel, too..." oneckey swallowed a gulp of saliva.


    "A golden eel? Truly a pity!" Ye Dafumented again.


    As Ye Dafu and his clique were having tea and waiting for their breakfast to be served, oneckey suddenly eximed, "Eh, what''s that poor bastard doing here?"


    "Hmm?" Everyone looked over, only to see Xiao Nanfeng, having finished his morning regimen, step into the third-floor restaurant.


    The members of Ye Dafu''s clique all thought him poor, even destitute. He routinely spent all day cooped up in the suite, choking down dry rations that the rest of them turned their noses up at. What could he be doing in the third-floor restaurant? This was no ordinary restaurant¡ªit was dozens of times more expensive than usual ones, and those who weren''t financially stable knew to stay far away.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed his badge to one of the waiters, then walked over to a table by the window, not too far from Ye Dafu.


    "Didn''t you say he was poor? What''s he doing up here, then?" Ye Dafu frowned at ackey who was one of Xiao Nanfeng''s suitemates.


    "I, I don''t know! I checked his belongings, and he really doesn''t have any gold or silver, only a heap of dry rations. If he really were wealthy, what would he be doing in a four-person suite with the three of us? He should have had his own room on the second floor like you, Boss!"


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly turned to theckey who had spoken. "Don''t you think you''ve gone too far by searching through my belongings? And you''re even admitting it right in front of my face?"


    <i>Even I want to teach these psychos a lesson now...</i>


    Theckey was just about to retort when Ye Dafu interrupted him.


    "You''re Nanfeng, aren''t you? I remember you very well¡ªyou''re the upstart who stopped one of my brothers from boarding this ship. Do you know what happens to those who go against me?" Ye Dafu sneered.


    "Are you trying to start a fight with me, then?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "I''m well aware of the prohibition against fighting aboard, don''t you worry. We''ll have plenty of time to get to know each other better in the future."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as though he were looking at a fool. He thought Ye Dafu knew what he was doing, but he turned out to be a rich young master who hadn''t ever experienced a beating in his life! Barking dogs didn''t bite; Ye Dafu''s arrogance would eventually bring himself an enemy he couldn''t hope to ovee.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head, turning back to his table and ignoring these sheltered young men who had never experienced reality.


    His disdainful attitude might as well have been a dagger thrust into Ye Dafu''s prideful heart. <i>A youth at fifth-stage Acquisition, with no money to his name¡ªhow dare he disregard me so?!</i>


    "You''re poor, aren''t you? Don''t make a fool of yourself by stepping into such an establishment. Are you aware of how much things cost here? Let''s hope you won''t have to work as a kitchen boy to pay off your meal!" Ye Dafu taunted back.


    "Right, there''s no free rice porridge for the likes of you here!" hisckeys shouted,ughing.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored them all. How unlucky did he have to be to keep running into these psychos?


    Very quickly, a waiter served him.


    "Ah? I didn''t order this." Xiao Nanfeng eyed the lobster doubtfully.


    "Compliments of the chef, sir. This purple-breasted king lobster is an appetizer. We''ll have the main dish prepared for you immediately."


    Ye Dafu''s table went silent, as did the entire restaurant.


    The purple-breasted king lobsters were a specialty of the Taiqing Sect, so precious and expensive that even those rich enough to purchase them couldn''t get them on-demand. Ye Dafu had had an active reservation for his group for two days now and hadn''t heard a word¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng was getting one for free?!


    Ye Dafu felt as though he had just been pped. Comparing the ordinary fare on his table to the lobster on Xiao Nanfeng''s, he suddenly lost his appetite.


    Just then, the waiter presented Xiao Nanfeng with another huge dish.


    "This is the golden spirit eel that the head chef himself specially prepared for you. The bones have already been removed from the flesh. Please enjoy." The waiter bowed, then retreated.


    On Xiao Nanfeng''s table was a dish shining with faint golden light. Ye Dafu and hisckeys all widened their eyes at the sight. The golden glow wasn''t particrly bright, but everyone felt as though they had been blinded.


    "The spirit fish?"


    "The golden eel?"


    "How could this be?!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys felt a bout of despair ovee them.They had just been making fun of Xiao Nanfeng for not having any gold¡ªonly to find him eating even morevish fare than they could! Was this retribution? How could this be!


    Ye Dafu snorted and shook his head. "So what if he''s having some of that spirit fish? It''s all luck, it has to be! I bet he''s the one who made the catchst night¡ªit might be the only time in his life that he can enjoy such a delicacy."


    "That''s right. Considering his cultivation, even if he does make it to the Taiqing Sect, there''s no way he''d ever be taken in as a disciple!"


    "Right, even the nominal disciples of the sect have to be at the sixth stage of Acquisition, at the very least!"


    As they grumbled away, Xiao Nanfeng finished the lobster and eel. He rubbed his stomach and let out a satisfied burp. "Delicious!"


    Ye Dafu and his clique: ...


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s body shook.


    A gust of energy seemed to burst forth from his body, sending dust flying all over the floor. An aura emanated from him.


    Had he... reached the sixth stage of Acquisition?


    "The spirit eel, it has to be that spirit eel! He absorbed its spiritual energy and transformed it into qi, allowing him to break through!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "That means¡ªthat means that he now qualifies to be a nominal disciple in the Taiqing Sect!" one of theckeys eximed, with a look of dismay.

 Chapter 8: Zhang Lingjun

    <h4>Chapter 8: Zhang Lingjun</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was seated by a window and leisurely sipping tea, as was Ye Dafu not too far away. Simr though their circumstances were, their states of mind werepletely different.


    Xiao Nanfeng was jubnt about his recent breakthrough. He looked out the window at the endless expanse of the sea, rxed and at ease. He could sense that his spiritual power had grown far stronger than before.


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and the others were ring at Xiao Nanfeng and gulping down the expensive tea that had suddenly lost its taste.


    Just then, everyone heard cries from the deck.


    "Look! What''s that?"


    "Someone''s flying?!"


    Roused by themotion, Xiao Nanfeng, Ye Dafu, and the others leapt out of the window and onto the deck. Like the growing crowd, they watched two pinpricks of light in the distance,


    one blue and one red. They sh into each other again and again in the air, causing a huge ruckus. Within each orb of light was a human''s figure.


    "This is a battle between two powerhouses!"


    "What frightening strength! Look, that attack even caused the sea to cavitate!"


    "If their attacks were to strike our ship, we''d capsize, wouldn''t we?"


    "They''re... they''reing closer!"


    The disciples on the ship began to scream and shout; the two orbs of light were suddenly growing muchrger as they drew near. The auras of the twobatants and the shockwaves that resulted from their attacks caused the disciples to panic.


    Watching two mythicalbatants fight from afar was a delightful surprise, but watching them fight in close proximity was a disaster.


    "We have to stay away! Steer the ship away!"


    "If an errant attack strikes us, we''re all dead! We have to flee!"


    The deck was a mess, but Xiao Nanfeng ignored all the flustered disciples and sailors. He was worried, but there was nothing he could do¡ªbetter for him to get a close-up look of the fight, instead.


    The two orbs of light quickly shed by his eyes, and Xiao Nanfeng was able to make out the twobatants.


    The red orb of light was like a fireball, with a red-robed woman within. Even her oversized and baggy robes couldn''t hide her voluptuous body. Her long hair had gotten loose in the heat of battle, and a bloodstain marred her face. Even so, it was clear that she possessed incredible beauty even from afar.


    The blue ball of light contained an old man. The old man''s body, however, was transparent and faintly blue, and didn''t look as though it belonged to the physical world.


    "This is... spiritual power? How can this be?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng could see that the glowing blue mes emanating from the old man''s ball of light wasposed of spiritual power, and his transparent body was likely a construct of concentrated spiritual power as well.


    "The yin body described in <i>Body of Yin</i> is a spiritual body that manifests from spiritual matter. Could that man be in the form of a spirit?!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    Spiritual power was so rare that it was incredible for him to have cultivated it at such a young age, but his spiritual power was only a formless blue ball. On the other hand, this old man''s spiritual power had already formed a yin body. The disparity in spiritual power between them was like that between a small puddle and a hugeke, and it was clear just how advanced the twobatants were.


    With a huge crash, the ming woman smashed into the ship''s deck and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Haha, this ship''s full of prospective and nominal disciples headed for the Taiqing Immortal Sect. They''re just a group of mortals¡ªno one will be able to save you, Zhang Lingjun." The transparent old man roared inughter.


    "Dong Lin, why betray me? We¡ª" The woman coughed, then nced weakly at the floating yin body.


    "The reason I explored that hidden realm with you was solely for that superior yin pearl! You refused to hand it over, so I had no choice but to take it by force," the old man yelled out.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced toward the red-robed woman, who had a small white orb held in her hand. Like a snowball, it gave off gusts of cold air.


    "Dong Lin, are you aware of what will happen if you betray me?!" the red-robed woman shouted in grief and indignation.


    "Oh? What consequences might these be? Haha, you don''t expect anyone present will be able to save you, do you?" Dong Linughed coldly.


    He sucked in a deep breath, then yelled out. Sound waves infused with spiritual power sent pale blue ripples through the air and into everyone''s ears.


    Within moments, everyone on the ship was yelling out as they clutched at their heads in pain¡ªnot just the other disciples, but even Xiao Nanfeng himself. He felt as though his head had just been the target of a heavy blow, as though bolts of lightning had struck him time and again.


    "A spiritual attack? Stop it, Dong Lin, stop it!" the red-robed woman cried out desperately.


    Even she was clutching her head in pain.


    However, Dong Lin didn''t stop. As more and more ripples emerged from his mouth, person after person fell dazed to the ground, some even bleeding out of their orifices.


    "They''re only mortals! They won''t be able to withstand your spiritual attacks¡ªyou have to stop!" the red-robed woman, Zhang Lingjun, called out, even as she cradled her head.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s head was wracked with pain, but he fared far better than did the other disciples, who hadn''t developed any spiritual power at all.


    As everyone around him fell, Xiao Nanfeng circted his spiritual cultivation technique, Body of Yin, conjuring gust after gust of spiritual power from the center of his forehead in an attempt to block the spiritual attack.


    Ye Dafu and his clique had all fallen to the ground, as had all others on the deck he could see. Only Xiao Nanfeng barely retained consciousness.


    Even so, he couldn''t make it obvious that he was still conscious. Emting the others, he slumped to the ground and pretended to faint, though he was still looking all around him through slitted eyelids.


    Dong Lin stopped shouting once it seemed that all the bystanders had fallen unconscious. Only the red-robed woman remained upright, still clutching her head in agony.


    "They''re just a bunch of ants! You, on the other hand... I need to make sure no one tries to avenge you. This ship will sink down into the sea, and everyone here along with it." Dong Lin cackled. "Zhang Lingjun, you look down on me, don''t you? I''ve tried to express my interest in you many times, but you refused to even entertain the notion. You wench, you never expected such a day woulde, did you?"


    Dong Linnded on the ship and walked right up to her. Xiao Nanfeng finally got a good look at him¡ªhe really was a transparent man! He had had no idea that a yin body could be so strong.


    Dong Lin snatched the white orb out of Zhang Lingjun''s hand.


    The moment he touched it, it began giving off bursts of cold air. It froze ayer of his skin.


    "My yin body isn''t my physical body, and it''s still somewhat difficult for me to control this superior yin pearl..." he grunted.


    "Dong Lin, if you dare strike me now, others will chase you to the ends of the earth. You won''t be able to escape their retribution!" Zhang Lingjun cried out.


    "Who would know I was the culprit? But I have to say, Zhang Lingjun, it would be a waste to kill you so quickly. You''re a beauty, and your body is ravishing. Why don''t I make you a true woman before you die?" Dong Lin grinned deviously.


    "You? What are you going to do? You''re just a yin body¡ªyour physical body isn''t present! What are you nning?!"


    "Why do you think I haven''t already killed all those on this ship? I''ll have a physical body the moment I possess one of them, haha!"


    Just as Dong Lin let down his guard, Zhang Lingjun activated a jade talisman in her hand. It transformed into a blur of light that shot toward him.


    "What?!"


    In panic, Dong Lin pped away the talisman, which burst into me the moment it came into contact with his yin body. Rather than destroying it, Dong Lin''s moment of contact allowed the talisman to enter his body.


    His body suddenly erupted with mes. Cracks formed all over his yin body.


    Surrounded by mes, Dong Lin screamed shrilly in pain.


    Zhang Lingjun smiled in relief, thinking that she had seeded in her sneak attack, only to have Dong Lin suddenly m a palm against her body.


    Grievously wounded, Zhang Lingjun spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and stared at Dong Lin in shock.


    Somehow, he had managed to free himself from her talisman, dowsing the mes all over his yin body. Even so, he was stumbling as he walked, his body creaking and cracking, as though he were about to copse at any moment.


    "Zhang Lingjun, you dare attempt to destroy my yin body? You wench! Even if my yin body is heavily wounded, I''ll easily be able to possess these mortals who haven''t even developed a shred of spiritual energy. Just you wait and see, Zhang Lingjun, what I''ll do to you the moment I get a physical body."


    Dong Lin mmed another palm against her, causing all her clothes to explode from her body. The sessive wounds left her fluttering at the edge of consciousness. The moment before her vision turned ck, she saw Dong Lin trudge toward a fallen youth, his body all but falling apart.


    Then, Zhang Lingjun lost consciousnesspletely.


    Dong Lin looked back at Zhang Lingjun''s tempting body with rage and lust before dragging himself straight to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng stilled. <i>How can I be so unlucky? Why are you heading straight for me? There are so many other options around you!</i>

 Chapter 9: Superior Yin Pearl

    <h4>Chapter 9: Superior Yin Pearl</h4>


    Dong Lin''s condition was rapidly deteriorating. His yin body had been severely weakened, and it might copse at any moment. He would have to find a physical body to possess in order to stabilize his condition.


    "Zhang Lingjun, you wench! Just you wait!" Dong Lin called out fiercely.


    Possession was an art in and of itself. Someone too young would be incapable of having sexual intercourse with Zhang Lingjun, and someone too old might already have developed spiritual power, affecting howprehensive his possession was. If he were at peak strength, whatever spiritual resistance his unfortunate host could muster would be irrelevant, but now that his yin body was on the verge of breaking apart, it would be problematic for him to encounter a host with any spiritual power at all. However, spiritual power was hardly easy to cultivate; the younger the host, the less likely he was to have any.


    Dong Lin nced at the various unconscious bodies on the deck and homed in Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no time to react before Dong Lin''s yin body entered his physical body through the center of his forehead, where the soul was hosted. This wasn''t the first time Dong Lin had taken possession of another body, and he made his way in without any resistance at all.


    Given his past experience, he was aware that the interior of the forehead was, on a spiritual level, dark and turbid like primordial chaos. All he had to do was shatter the host''s will and im his body for his own.


    This time, however, Dong Lin immediately realized that he had miscalcted. The moment he entered Xiao Nanfeng''s soulspace, he knew something was wrong. The soulspace brimmed with blue light, like clouds of fog obscuring his vision.


    "Spiritual power? How could this be?!"


    Anyone who possessed spiritual power would be able to muster up a rudimentary defense against possession. Dong Lin''s yin body was on the verge of giving out; he was easy prey!


    Suddenly, the misty blue spiritual power transformed into a whirlpool, surrounding Dong Lin and worsening the injuries he had sustained. Xiao Nanfeng was taking the offensive.


    "Enough spiritual power to form a whirlpool? How in the world did you manage such a feat? Even an ordinary cultivator at the peak of Immanence would only have traces of spiritual power¡ªwhat''s wrong with you?!" Dong Lin was wracked with fear and shock.


    His yin body, at peak strength, was more than sufficient to obliterate Xiao Nanfeng''s consciousness. However, he was currently so grievously wounded, his yin body so unstable, that Xiao Nanfeng was able to pose a threat to him despite his nascent cultivation.


    "Damn it¡ªif not for Zhang Lingjun''s sneak attack, I wouldn''t have been so weak! Just who are you?" Dong Lin howled again.


    It was obvious in hindsight that Xiao Nanfeng had only been pretending to be unconscious. How had he been so lucky as to choose a host with spiritual power?!


    Xiao Nanfeng clutched his head in pain as he recited from Body of Yin. The bacsh from the spiritual attacks that he had marshaled sent waves of pain through his head.


    "Lad, you won''t be able to hold out for long. Just give up and let me out, and I''ll pretend as if nothing has happened!" Dong Lin shouted urgently.


    But would Xiao Nanfeng be tricked? <i>You''re already trapped in my soulspace, so why would I release you? Do you really think I''m so naive as to believe you would let me go if I were to free you?</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond to Dong Lin''s pleas or exhortations. Dong Lin grew more and more nervous¡ªhis condition was worsening by the second, and at this point, his body was held together by willpower alone.


    Suddenly, the snowball¡ªthe superior yin pearl¡ªin Dong Lin''s hands began to release gusts of cold air.


    "Damn it, what''s the matter now? What''s the superior yin pearl reacting to? I haven''t had time to im ownership of the pearl, and it''s going to weaken my body even further! Stop, stop! Lad, let me out! I swear that, as long as I survive, I won''t trouble you. Let me out, now!" Dong Lin shouted.


    It was difficult enough for him to resist Xiao Nanfeng''s advances, let alone suppress the pearl''s sudden activity. His life was on the line!


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to ignore him. Despite a splitting headache, he continued to grind at Dong Lin''s yin body that was on the verge of giving out.


    At the same time, the superior yin pearl began releasing ever more bursts of cold air, which sh-froze Dong Lin''s yin body. If he were at peak strength, he would easily be able to suppress the attack, but his cracked body''s defenses proved incapable against the sudden cold. It froze within moments.


    "No!" Dong Lin let out a mournful cry of despair.


    As gusts of icy air surrounded him, his yin body shattered like ice into countless shards of crystal.


    <i>Is he finally done for?</i> Xiao Nanfeng gasped, as though suddenly relieved of a heavy burden.


    The superior yin pearl fell to the floor of his soulspace, releasing a burst of icy cold that caused Xiao Nanfeng to shiver. Fortunately, it wasn''t enough to freeze his soulspace. The pearl then seemed to return to an inert state.


    At this point, within Xiao Nanfeng''s soulspace were vortices of spiritual power, numerous fragments of spiritual matter from Dong Lin''s yin body, and arge, pure white pearl of superior yin, floating at its center.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes, still unable to believe what had happened. Was the crisis finally over?


    He tried to extract the foreign matter from his soulspace several times, but was unable to do so.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng was confident that he was safe for the moment.


    He sucked in a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. The situation had been tremendously dangerous, but he had also profited far beyond his wildest expectations.


    The superior yin pearl that two cultivators of supreme strength were fighting over had ended up in his possession. Dong Lin, who had tried to possess him, was now dead, and fragments of his yin body were now secure in his soulspace.


    Although he was yet unable to retrieve anything out of it, he was certain that he would be able to do so. What he had to ensure was that no one else knew what had happened.


    Xiao Nanfeng got up and took a few deep breaths, then turned to look all around him.


    The disciples on the deck were all slumped over, having fainted, including Zhang Lingjun herself. That meant that no one was aware of his secret¡ªthat he could keep the pearl all for himself!


    What should he do next? Pretend to be unconscious? Yes¡ªand to pretend to wake up just like everyone else,ter!


    Before he enacted his n, however, he caught sight of Ye Dafu and the others not far from where he was standing. He frowned. Ye Dafu and his clique were essentially naive children, but they had been targeting him all throughout his journey. It was past time to teach them a lesson.


    "Rummaging through my belongings, trying to set me up, to steal from me¡ªI''ve had enough of all of you. And you even call me a poor bastard...? Well, me yourself for what I''m going to do next. All of you are the pride of your families, aren''t you? You''ve grown bigheaded andcent, but I''ll help you correct that. Don''t thank me. My fees are exorbitant, you''ll see."


    Xiao Nanfeng felt at their pockets and pouches, amassing a number of taels of gold and promissory notes.


    "Is this it? It can''t be¡ªaren''t you supposed to be the young master, the scion of the Ye n? You must have more money than this! Ah, a VIP key? Let me see. If you''ve rummaged through my belongings, surely you won''t mind if I do the same to yours."


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed up into Ye Dafu and hisckeys'' rooms, searched them thoroughly, and then returned the keys to their respective owners.


    Looking at the wad of banknotes he had collected, Xiao Nanfeng smiled at Ye Dafu. "As expected of Young Master Ye and hisckeys, eh? Enough banknotes to be exchanged for ten thousand taels of gold..."


    Xiao Nanfeng wrapped the banknotes in wax paper, sealed it, found some tools, took off his clothes, jumped into the sea, dug a small groove into the hull of the ship, and pinned the bundle of wax paper within it to ensure that it wouldn''t be lost on the voyage. He didn''t dare carry the banknotes with him personally in case he was searched for the theft.


    After all that, Xiao Nanfeng climbed back on board, wiped himself dry, and put on his clothes again.


    There was little time to waste. Worried that everyone would soon wake up, Xiao Nanfeng was just about to lie down and pretend to have fainted when he suddenly frowned. "Ah, I''ve forgotten something."


    He looked at Zhang Lingjun, who had fainted in the distance.


    Dong Lin had caused the majority of her clothes to explode off her body. Although her private regions were still covered, her fair white skin, voluptuous body, and long white legs were still visible to one and all. Despite Xiao Nanfeng''s exposure to the Inte in his past life, he felt as though he were about to have a nosebleed. After all, his hormones were surging right around now...


    "It would be better if she were to wake up before everyone else¡ªbut what if she remained unconscious long after others did? Would she grow furious at the state of her undress and kill everyone on the ship? No one on it would be a match for her..."


    If Zhang Lingjun were to wake up, a disaster might well unfold!


    What was he to do?


    Xiao Nanfeng thought of a n quickly. He simply had to drag her to one of the lifeboats and have her float away. That would save her the embarrassment and create some distance between her and the ship¡ªit would be enough to prevent her anger, wouldn''t it?


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath, took off his outer robes, and covered Zhang Lingjun up.


    Just as he did so, preparing to lift her up and into one of the lifeboats, Zhang Lingjun''s eyes fluttered.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He couldn''t be that unlucky, could he?


    Zhang Lingjun suddenly opened her eyes as Xiao Nanfeng froze. Their gazes met in silence; the air around them seemed to suddenly turn cold. Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead began beading with sweat.

 Chapter 10: Miraculous

    <h4>Chapter 10: Miraculous</h4>


    Zhang Lingjun, assuming the worst, schooled her features into a mask of rage.


    Seeing her response, Xiao Nanfeng was just about to defend his innocence, but it was already toote.


    Zhang Lingjun suddenly extended her right hand and seized Xiao Nanfeng''s nack. She exhaled qi and sealed Xiao Nanfeng''s own. "You''ll pay for this!"


    As she squeezed Xiao Nanfeng''s neck, she swiftly examined the status of her body.


    Fortunately, she quickly realized that, although the majority of her clothing was gone, nothing seemed to have happened; she was still virginal.


    In shock, Zhang Lingjun looked at the youth in front of her. Xiao Nanfeng was choking, unable to make any noise. His face was slowly turning purple.


    "What happened?" Zhang Lingjun asked, her tone frosty.


    Xiao Nanfeng pointed at his neck, then his mouth, motioning that he was unable to speak.


    Zhang Lingjun''s grip relented.


    Xiao Nanfeng coughed and wheezed. "I don''t know myself. I, I fainted just now, and when I woke up, I saw that everyone was unconscious. I noticed that your clothes were all gone, so I covered you up with my robes. I really don''t know anything."


    Zhang Lingjun''s face clouded over. Was this youth lying? She didn''t think so. It was true that he had covered her up with his clothes. Was he really trying to help her, to save her embarrassment?


    "Where''s Dong Lin, and where''s the superior yin pearl?" Zhang Lingjun red at Xiao Nanfeng, clearly not going to believe him so easily.


    "I really don''t know. By the time I woke up, all I saw was this," Xiao Nanfeng replied, his face sincere. He had been able to trick even the old and wily elder of the Xiao estate, and it would be overkill against Zhang Lingjun.


    Zhang Lingjun red at Xiao Nanfeng again. "You aren''t Dong Lin, are you? Have you possessed this youth with your yin body, intending to trick me?"


    "I really am not¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng forced out, sensing that Zhang Lingjun''s grip was tightening again.


    "How can I believe you? Why is it that no one else has awoken but you? You must be lying!" Zhang Lingjun used.


    Xiao Nanfeng coughed. "Could it be because I''ve cultivated some spiritual power?"


    "Spiritual power? You''re still a youth! How could you have spiritual power?"


    "It''s true. Here, look!"


    A thinyer of blue fog emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s soulspace, barely visible, but Zhang Lingjun could easily sense it.


    She captured the spiritual power with her other hand and inspected it carefully. With both her hands upied, Xiao Nanfeng''s robes fell off her body, revealing her snowy flesh again,


    but Zhang Lingjun didn''t much care. The youth before her had already seen her exposed body once, after all.


    Zhang Lingjun frowned. "This spiritual power is distinct from Dong Lin''s. You aren''t him. Did you really manage to develop spiritual power at such a young age?"


    Xiao Nanfeng pointed at his neck again as he keened in pain.


    Zhang Lingjun frowned and looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with aplicated expression on her face. Had she wrongly used him? Should she kill him on ount of the fact that he had seen her exposed body? No, he was trying to cover her up, to help her...


    Zhang Lingjun ultimately let go of Xiao Nanfeng, who slumped paralyzed to the ground as he gasped for air.


    With a wave of her hand, Zhang Lingjun covered her body up with a burst of white fog, revealing only her head. She stared coldly at Xiao Nanfeng,plicated emotions shing past her eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited silently for her judgment.


    Zhang Lingjun looked all around her, as though to ensure that Dong Lin really was gone, then stared at Xiao Nanfeng for a while longer, as though warring internally.


    After a long moment, the harshness faded from Zhang Lingjun''s eyes. "Forget all that you saw," she ordered.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in a frenzy of feigned fear. "I saw nothing, Miss! I remember nothing!"


    Zhang Lingjun snorted.


    She gathered the remnants of her clothes scattered all across the deck, then flew into the air. She quickly vanished over the horizon.


    Only when he could no longer see Zhang Lingjun''s figure did Xiao Nanfeng rx and let out a deep breath.


    He put on his robes, which Zhang Lingjun had discarded. Although they smelled faintly of a woman''s fragrance, Xiao Nanfeng hardly found himself caring. He returned to where he had been and feigned unconsciousness.


    As the ship continued to sail across the sea, some disciples finally started waking up.


    "Argh, my head hurts! What happened just now?"


    "Junior brother, wake up, quick, wake up!"


    "Argh, my head!"


    Considering the spiritual barrage they had all just ovee, those who awoke found their heads pounding.


    "Boss, are you awake? How are you feeling?" Ye Dafu''sckeys asked anxiously.


    "I won''t die, that''s for sure," Ye Dafu replied, kneading his head.


    As the other disciples woke up, so too did Xiao Nanfeng. He looked ''blearily'' at the others.


    "What just happened? What''s going on?" The disciples were all panicking.


    "Everyone, we were caught up in the battle between two superior cultivators. They both seem to have left. We''d better not stay here any longer in case we encounter any other sources of danger. Sail ahead at full speed!" a Taiqing disciple called out.


    "I remember now! Thest thing I remember was that mysterious transparent blue figure shouting, and then I fell unconscious..."


    "What incredible strength. Are they the legendary Immortals?"


    Many of the disciples, traumatized by the attack that had struck at their very soul, traipsed back to their rooms to rest.


    Xiao Nanfeng did the same, thinking back to the series of actions he had carried out. Only when he was confident that he hadn''t overlooked anything did he rx.


    He leaned by the side of his bed, then pulled out another Taoist scripture to peruse.


    As he did so, the superior yin pearl in his soulspace suddenly produced a faint gust of cold air.


    Though weak, it had the effect of enhancing Xiao Nanfeng''s meditation.


    He quickly finished the Taoist scripture and was about to pick up a second scroll when he realized something was wrong.


    "Surely not?" Customarily, he would spend some time meditating over the contents of a scroll he had finished to ensure that he had understood its principles. What was happening now?


    "Could I have understood that scrollpletely from my first read? Was it easier to read andprehend than any of the others? No, it can''t be¡ªit didn''t seem that different from any of my other scriptures. How could I have understood it so quickly?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered, with growing excitement.


    He pulled out another scroll of Taoist scriptures and began reading it.


    This time, he quickly sensed what effect the superior yin pearl was having on his mind. It seemed to release a burst of unusual cold air that could sharpen his thoughts and activate his mental faculties. While reading a scripture, his head was simultaneously clearer and more engaged than ever before.


    "Is this all because of that superior yin pearl?"


    Xiao Nanfeng finally realized just how miraculous the treasure he had obtained was. If it could produce such an effect as an auxiliary benefit, just how potent did its true strength have to be?


    Xiao Nanfeng clenched his fist tightly, a look of exuberance shing through his eyes. This treasure would turn him into a paragon of knowledge! He had to take a few deep breaths to calm down, to pretend as though nothing had happened.


    Suddenly, from outside his suite came a thundering roar from Ye Dafu.


    "Where are my banknotes? Where''s my money? Someone''s stole it all!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Boss, my money''s missing too!"


    "Impossible! I hid all mine under my pillow, but it''s gone now!"


    "Quick, we have to report this to the captain immediately. The thief has to be caught at any cost!"

 Chapter 11: Death is Normal

    <h4>Chapter 11: Death is Normal</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng understood that the spiritual aether present throughout heaven and earth could be used to strengthen the physical body, and with the right technique, also the soul.


    Spiritual cultivation involved suffusing one''s soulspace, essed via the center of the forehead, with environmental aether to generate spiritual power. Cultivating Body of Yin involved erging the soulspace to form a reservoir for spiritual power. The more advanced the cultivation, the deeper the reservoir, and the more spiritual power could be stored.


    With the help of the superior yin pearl, Xiao Nanfeng managed to fully grasp twenty Daoist scriptures within just three days, significantly improving the cultivation of Body of Yin. The reservoir of spiritual power in his soulspace had already expanded multiple times.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. Othersined about not having arge enough reservoir of spiritual power, but his problem was the opposite¡ªhis reservoir was growing so swiftly that it even outpaced the rate at which he was umting spiritual power.


    Just then, he heard the notes of a guqin from afar.


    The melodious sound of the guqin carried a hint of sorrow, resonating directly with the depths of the soul. Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power suddenly began to pulse abruptly.


    To his surprise, he discovered that the aether in his environment was actively resonating and being absorbed into his soulspace at almost twice the usual rate.


    "What''s going on? Who''s ying the guqin?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    Over the past three days, he had been immersed in his scrolls and documents, consuming dry rations whenever he felt any hunger. He paid no attention even to the sessive groups of people that Ye Dafu''s threeckeys brought to their suite to investigate the unusual disappearance of their gold.


    Whoever was ying the guqin outside was doubling the rate of his spiritual cultivation! He had to figure out just who it was.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked out of the suite and onto the main deck, only then discovering that the ship had stopped short. Many disciples were on deck, all looking far into the distance. Only Ye Dafu and hisckeys were still making a fuss, anxious expressions on their faces.


    "Sir, I''m telling the truth! Our banknotes have been stolen, totaling ten thousand taels of gold! Can''t you search the ship again?" Ye Dafu cried out, frustrated.


    "The ship''s just about to reach the shore. Once everyone disembarks, we won''t be able to reim our money!" one of hisckeys urged.


    Ye Dafu and his clique were surrounding a harried Taiqing disciple, the boatswain responsible for adjudicating affairs aboard the voyage.


    The disciple''s face shed with annoyance. "That''s enough!"


    Ye Dafu and the others fell silent.


    "You''ve made enough of a mess aboard the ship thesest three days. Don''t you think we''ve done enough? I even had the dog spirits search for your money. You''re aware of them, aren''t you? As long as they have your scent, they can find anything you''re missing¡ªbut there was nothing! How much longer are you going to make a fuss for? You aren''t trying to trick me, are you?"


    Ye Dafu and the others felt their hearts seize up. They would be crazy to be ying an borate joke for the cost of ten thousand taels of gold!


    "Alright, enough. I don''t have time to deal with any of you at the moment." The Taiqing disciple red at the clique, then stalked off toward the deck.


    Ye Dafu and the others looked at each other in frustration.


    "Boss, what if the sailors stole our money, then pretended that their dog spirits didn''t sniff a thing?"


    "Right! The sailors were the ones who woke up first, so..."


    "Boss, I''m sure of it! They must have taken our gold!"


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng walked right by their sides. Ye Dafu and his clique nced at him and then looked away. He clearly wasn''t a suspect.


    After all, what was there to suspect? He was at the sixth stage of Acquisition, and he ''woke up'' eventer than they did. The dog spirits had sniffed at the suite for quite some time to no avail, so he couldn''t have been the culprit.


    "Poor bastard, scram! You''re blocking my view!" Ye Dafu shouted in frustration. He had lost a great deal of gold and was upset with everyone around him.


    "You''re calling me a poor bastard? As if you have any money yourself!" Xiao Nanfeng taunted back.


    In rage, Ye Dafu was just about to rebuke him¡ªonly to btedly realize that all his money was gone. Even a poor bastard like Xiao Nanfeng was looking down on him now!


    Xiao Nanfeng moved away, ignoring the suddenly indignant young masters. He sought the source of the guqin, walking among the crowds toward the direction of the sound.


    A huge, idyllic ind appeared over the horizon, with mountains wreathed in mists and red-crowned cranes soaring overhead.


    "Have we arrived at the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Of course! But we can''t dock now. We have to wait for those before us first," the person standing beside him replied, peering at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Taiqing Ind was particrlyrge. Much of it was hidden from sight, still shrouded in mist, but they could see quite a few buildings around a harbor. Many disciples of the sect seemed to be gathered there.


    Around the ind were gathered dozens of ships, none of which seemed to be able to dock. They were all waiting as a huge, tattered ship slowly made its way to port.


    Everyone was paying attention to the ship. Arge number of Taiqing disciples stood vignt, their faces somber and sorrowful.


    "The Taiqing disciples are there to wee the battered ship, aren''t they?" Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    "Look! There are so many coffins on that battered ship!" a bystander cried out.


    The boatswain who had been lecturing Ye Dafu and the others announced, "That ship ferries the dead Taiqing disciples whose bodies are being brought back to rest. May they rest in peace!"


    "What? Don''t immortals live forever? How could they die?" The prospective disciples felt as though their worldview was being torn asunder.


    "Do you think that the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect are all deities? That they can all transcend mortal make, to live forever and freely? That you would be able to rx and enjoy yourselves after entering the sect? If you believe that nonsense, give up now. The path to transcending your fate is perilous and filled with danger. Any moment of inattention could lead to your death. All disciples are sent out to battle¡ªand though we try to teach them as much as we can, death is the norm."


    "What?!" the prospective disciples cried out, looking at the boatswain. Death was the norm?


    "Senior, may I ask who is ying that guqin?" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at a pavilion close to the harbor.


    Within the harbor was a thin, elderly man in gray robes, his hair white and scattered, his eyes almost fully luded like those of a blind man''s. He was ying a guqin. Arge group of Taiqing disciples surrounded him, treating him with respect and veneration, speaking in hushed tones to avoid disturbing him or the music.


    "That''s Elder Ku. He''s ying a requiem for the dead, to guide them to peace," the boatswain replied, sighing.


    "A requiem? Is it truly effective?" The prospective disciples looked toward the blind old man, not particrly impressed.


    None of them had developed any spiritual power, so they didn''t understand how impressive this requiem was¡ªnone but Xiao Nanfeng. This elder was a true master of his craft!


    "Requiem? Elder Ku?" Xiao Nanfeng focused on the elder from afar, eagerness shing through his eyes.


    If he could apprentice under Elder Ku, his spiritual cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds.


    "Alright, that''s enough. The sect will surely be busy interring the bodies of the dead, so we''re unlikely to be able to dock today. We''ll anchor the ship here and make for shore tomorrow," he instructed.


    "Yessir!" the sailors chorused.


    The prospective disciples on board were far less confident and ted than they had been. They brooded, their eyes filled with doubt and fear.


    In cultivation, death was the norm?

 Chapter 12: Zhao Yuanjiao

    <h4>Chapter 12: Zhao Yuanjiao</h4>


    Within a huge valley of Taiqing Ind were row after row of tombstones.


    The corpses that had been brought back from far across the sea were already interred. Standing before the gravestones were arge swathe of Taiqing disciples, grief and sorrow evident on their faces.


    A light drizzle wet their clothes, but no one seemed to mind. As theymemorated the dead, they looked toward a man with tattered, bloodstained clothes.


    The man was handsome, but his eyes seemed to harbor some deadly killing intent. He stood at the forefront of the crowd, giving off an imposing aura. Waving at the gathered disciples, he called out, "Let''s disperse. We''ve buried our juniors, and we''lle back to pay respects to them another day."


    "Yes, Senior Brother!"


    The disciples left in a pack, leaving just four disciples behind. Once everyone was out of earshot, the four of them turned back to him.


    "Senior Brother, how did you end up suffering such losses?" one asked.


    The senior disciple''s face turned grim. "The demonic sect has infiltrated our ranks. They had experts in an ambush along our intended route."


    "What? Demonic spies?!"


    "We suffered significant losses, but so did the disciples of the demonic sect. We caught one of their leaders and interrogated them, only to find out that they''ve had spies here for years. No one knows who they are¡ªand even more have been infiltrating recently. Apparently, there are even spies among the newest batch of recruits." The senior disciple grimaced as he tightly clenched his fist. "I, Zhao Yuanjiao, will uproot these spies even if I have to dig three feet underground!"


    "Senior Brother, what should we do next?"


    "We''ll head to the Hall of Immortal Recruitment." His hand on his de, Zhao Yuanjiao and his posse swept out of the graveyard and straight toward one of the halls of the Taiqing sect.


    The five of them arrived by the entrance to a humongous hall, the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.


    Several of the nominal disciples, seeing the five senior disciples'' arrival, revealed expressions of surprise. They immediately bowed. "We greet the Ascended Senior Brother!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao ignored them. He strode into the center of the hall, causing the nominal disciples gathered around to drop what they were doing. "Senior Brother Zhao, is there anything we can help you with here?"


    "Retrieve the reports on each prospective disciple for this recruitment period!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    The nominal disciple obeyed at once, not even stopping to question the nature of his request. The senior disciple who had been in charge of Xiao Nanfeng''s ship was also present, and he bowed as he strode up to Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Senior Brother Zhao, I was the boatswain responsible for the prospective disciples on this voyage," he reported.


    Zhao Yuanjiao peered at the reports. "I suspect that there are prospective disciples with fraudulent identities. Have someone verify the details of each prospective disciple and determine which among them are suspicious!"


    "Yes, Senior Brother!"


    Although the other disciples didn''t know what was going on, they couldn''t disobey a direct order from Senior Brother Zhao. They immediately prepared to carry out themand.


    There were a thousand prospective disciples, and it would be difficult to screen them all. In addition to ascertaining their names and cultivations, they also had to ensure that their background and identity matched what they had imed.


    The work took the entire night. None of the disciples could sleep, even Zhao Yuanjiao, who supervised the screening process the entire time.


    Before dawn, an annotated report found its way into Zhao Yuanjiao''s hands.


    Among the suspicious prospectives, one stood out.


    "Nanfeng? Sixteen years old, at the fifth stage of Acquisition? Who managed to obtain a boarding token via... his connections?" Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes.


    "Yes, that''s all that was recorded¡ªwith no information about his identity or background. He said that he had gotten on board with connections, so the disciples responsible for screening the prospectives didn''t ask him too many questions. However, while on the voyage, I checked him out and found that he had no such connections¡ªwe don''t know how he got his boarding token," the boatswain answered.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nced at the boatswain with displeasure. "Are you sox with iing disciples that a prospective can get on board just by reporting that he has connections?"


    "We, we..." The boatswain bowed, his forehead beading with sweat.


    If nominal disciples like them were to forbid ess to those who really did get in via connections, they might rouse the ire of someone they couldn''t afford to offend.


    "Do you realize how important proper recruitment is to the sect? If a spy or infiltrator gets in through this manner, the consequences would be unthinkable! Have you thought about your actions at all?!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    The nominal disciples in the hall all fell silent.


    Zhao Yuanjiao red at the boatswain. "It''s time to reorganize the ranks of the nominal disciples, I think."


    "Please, Senior Brother!" the disciple begged.


    "No connections whatsoever are to be permitted in the future. If anyone attempts the like, they''ll answer to me, and I''ll speak to their division leader myself!" Zhao Yuanjiao proimed.


    The disciples bowed their heads and remained silent.


    "Senior Brother, do you believe that this Nanfeng is the spy you''re looking for?" one junior disciple finally ventured.


    Zhao Yuanjiao considered the question. "I don''t know, but there''s surely something wrong with this prospective. Those spies intending to sneak into the Taiqing sect likely will have immacte backgrounds, so this list only represents the obvious suspects. If a spy exists, that spy is likely among those disciples with an established background, so you must all continue to remain vignt. Now, guide me to these suspects," Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" the boatswain answered.


    He apanied Zhao Yuanjiao to the harbor, who observed the sights from afar.


    The harbor was extremely crowded. The prospective disciples were disembarking and taking in the sights, while other Taiqing disciples were looking out for the talented or connected among them.


    Not long after, Xiao Nanfeng left the ship with his belongings in tow, following the crowd.


    "Senior Brother Zhao, that''s Nanfeng! During the voyage, he managed to fish up a golden spirit eel. I thought he was merely lucky, but it looks like he really might be problematic," the disciple stated.


    Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes and stared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked all around him as he disembarked. He looked innocent and helpless, but Zhao Yuanjiao had just fought his way out of a terrible battle that left many of his juniors dead. He harbored nopassion for anyone.


    "Shall we arrest and interrogate him, Senior Brother?" one disciple asked.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head. "There''s no rush. We can''t be certain whether he''s truly a spy. If he is, he''ll surely have associates. If we wait and catch him in the act, we might be able to fish out evenrger prey. Keep an eye on the other suspects¡ªI''ll tail Nanfeng myself."


    "Yes, Senior Brother!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao stared unblinkingly at Xiao Nanfeng, hoping to see someone interact with him.


    However, even after long moments, no such person showed up.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face turned grim. "A little sly, isn''t he? I''ll speak to him myself. If even that proves ineffective, I''ll arrest and interrogate him then."


    He sucked in a deep breath and walked up to Xiao Nanfeng from afar.


    He was well known within the sect, but not to the prospective disciples.


    Just as he stepped up to Xiao Nanfeng and was about to speak, Xiao Nanfeng whirled around and caught sight of him.


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned. Had he been discovered?


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Zhao Yuanjiao until thetter grew wary. Had his surveince been discovered? Could Xiao Nanfeng already know that he was among one of a few suspicious disciples under surveince?


    Was the demonic sect''s informationwork soplete? It seemed that he would have to check on the backgrounds of the nominal disciples of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, too...


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s gaze turned cold. He was right about to arrest Xiao Nanfeng when Xiao Nanfeng made his move.


    He offered Zhao Yuanjiao a gold ingot.


    "Hmm?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao hesitated. What was the meaning of this? This gold ingot seemed to be worth about four taels of gold.


    "Senior Brother, you look very much like a friend of mine. It''s my first time on Taiqing Ind, and I''m interested in making acquaintances and allies. Please ept this as a meeting gift." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhao Yuanjiao: ...<i>Meeting gift? Making a friend? Is this a bribe...? And you expect to hoodwink me with just four taels of gold? A single meal costs me a hundred taels¡ªdo you think I would care for this? Don''t you know who I am?</i>


    "Please, take it! Go buy yourself a few sets of clothes, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and stuffed the ingot into Zhao Yuanjiao''s hands.


    "???" Zhao Yuanjiao lowered his head and looked at the tattered clothes and cloak he was wearing. He had just returned from his travels yesterday, and hadn''t yet had time to change his clothes. Although the bloodstains had been washed clean by rain, he did look somewhat haggard and beggarly. He looked up again at Xiao Nanfeng. Did... did Xiao Nanfeng think him a beggar?!

 Chapter 13: Resolved With Money

    <h4>Chapter 13: Resolved With Money</h4>


    Fifteen minutes ago, all the prospective disciples had gotten off the ship. People filled the harbor. A few Taiqing disciples were already trying to recruit the best talent to their respective divisions, and Ye Dafu and his clique had surrounded one such disciple.


    "Third Uncle, everyone here is a brother of mine. They might not be as talented as I am, but we''d rather not be split up. I promised to help them all be formal disciples. Won''t you help?" Ye Dafu looked expectantly at his uncle.


    His clique all followed his gaze with unrestrained hope.


    Ya Dafu''s uncle frowned at Ye Dafu''s clique. He didn''t want to take in any of them, but his nephew was all but begging him...


    "So be it. Take these eleven tokens. All of you will be formally inducted as disciples of the Mortal division of the sect. Cultivation is a dangerous affair, and you all might as well stick together if you can." Ye Dafu''s uncle gave his nephew a princely gift.


    "Thank you, Uncle!" Ye Dafu''sckeys cried out in relief.


    Ye Dafu''s uncle nodded, then turned to leave. There were plenty of talented individuals he needed to try and recruit.


    "Boss, please take care of us while we''re in the sect." Ye Dafu''sckeys cheered, overjoyed by how easily they had been epted as formal disciples.


    Ye Dafu, his pride restored, looked all around him until he saw Xiao Nanfeng standing some distance away. For some reason, throughout the voyage, this youth had given him no small amount of grief. Now, looking at the forlorn Xiao Nanfeng and thinking back to how weak his cultivation was, a sense of overwhelming superiority suffused Ye Dafu, significantly improving his mood.


    "Did you see that,d? We won''t even have to participate in the second selection¡ªwe became formal disciples just like that. As for you, you don''t even know what the Taiqing sect is like. With your qualifications, even bing a nominal disciple would be difficult." Ye Dafu smiled smugly.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Ye Dafu an odd look. <i>Is he crazy? He''s trying to flex on me after I stole ten thousand taels of his gold? Does he need another lesson?</i>


    "Boss, there''s no need to stoop to his level! What would he know?"


    "Right, I heard that there''s always a batch of prospective disciples who are eliminated and sent back. He''ll surely be one of them!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys all began to heckle Xiao Nanfeng, as though wanting to vent all the difort and unluckiness they had suffered throughout the voyage onto him.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at all of them with a strange expression on his face. He had helped them out at the heavy price of ten thousand taels of gold, but they still seemed to be as obnoxious as ever...


    "Is it that difficult to understand the nature of the Taiqing sect?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Oh? Is there someone you know here, then?" Ye Dafu asked in surprise.


    "No, but gold will do the trick," Xiao Nanfeng informed them.


    Ye Dafu and the others: ...


    That sounded particrly ironicing from a youth who spent all day in his suite eating dry rations, who would rather buy discounted Taoist scriptures rather than actual techniques. Money was all he needed?


    Ye Dafu and his clique watched on as Xiao Nanfeng looked all around him. Suddenly, a man in tattered robes walked up to him. The man was none other than Senior Brother Zhao Yuanjiao, responsible for ferreting out the spies who had infiltrated the ranks of the Taiqing sect''s prospective disciples.


    When Xiao Nanfeng saw Zhao Yuanjiao''s tattered robes, his eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng firmly believed that, no matter where, there would be a disparity between rich and poor, even in an Immortal sect. It was a natural consequence of poption dynamics. For instance, the man in front of him was wearing tattered robes¡ªperhaps out of personal interest, but more likely because of his circumstances. Surely someone like this had to be a nominal disciple who wasn''t doing well for himself?


    Xiao Nanfeng reached into his pocket and handed him his remaining four taels of gold.


    "Senior Brother, you look very much like a friend of mine..."


    Not far away, Ye Dafu and the others widened their eyes. What was Xiao Nanfeng doing? Trying to bribe a disciple of the Taiqing sect with just four taels of gold? What would four taels of gold do¡ªdid the disciples of the sectck for money?!


    However, considering the disciple''s tattered robes... Ye Dafu and the others couldn''t help but consider the possibility that Xiao Nanfeng''s strategy really might be sessful. Just who was this person, to have been forced into such dire straits? Could he really be tempted by four taels of gold? He was a Taiqing sect disciple, after all!


    "Please, take it! Go buy yourself a few sets of clothes, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng stuffed the ingot into Zhao Yuanjiao''s hands. "Senior Brother, it''s my first time here, and I intend on apprenticing under a master of the Taiqing sect. Senior Brother, I have a few questions I''d like to ask. Might you be able to spare some time for me?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao raised an eyebrow. <i>So thisd hasn''t managed to discover my identity, after all? And he intends on trying to weasel information out of me with just four taels of gold? How ludicrous! Very well, very well¡ªlet''s see just what you''re up to!</i>


    "What would you like to know?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked, pocketing the four taels of gold.


    The reason he did so was to get Xiao Nanfeng to rx and make a blunder, but Ye Dafu and the others, witnessing this scene, thought something entirely different. <i>What''s going on with the world? Can Taiqing sect disciples really be bribed with just four taels of gold?!</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng had only been testing the waters. Four taels of gold was nothing in the grand scheme of things, after all, and he had been worried that this senior disciple would scoff at him and turn away. Well, if he had done so, Xiao Nanfeng would have written it off as an act of charity¡ªbut this senior disciple was actually willing to y along!


    "I''d like to learn some fundamentals about the Taiqing Immortal Sect, along with what the second round of selection would be like, if possible?" Xiao Nanfeng ventured.


    Zhao Yuanjiao patiently exined everything, anticipating that Xiao Nanfeng would eventually ask something that would give him away. "The Taiqing Immortal Sect takes in two sses of disciples: formal and nominal. Nominal disciples are responsible for the tedious affairs of bureaucracy and interactions with the mortal world. asionally, formal disciples will host public lectures to advise them in cultivation, but their sess isrgely limited. Formal disciples have the opportunity to apprentice under one of the Taiqing masters. The greater their aplishments, the more sect resources they enjoy¡ªbut simultaneously, the more battles they''re expected to participate in.


    "The formal disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect are divided into four divisions, named for heaven and earth. Each of the four divisions has a division leader. Today, the disciples of the four divisions are searching the crowd for the best talent among the new recruits. As you''ve seen, the cream of the crop hasrgely been picked clean already." Zhao Yuanjiao pointed all around him.


    Indeed, formal disciples were going through the crowd and asionally stopping and talking to a few promising recruits.


    "The fact that no disciple has approached you must mean that your talent is average, at best. You''ll have to participate in the second round of selection," Zhao Yuanjiao concluded


    "What qualities will the second round focus on?"


    "Cultivation isn''t only a matter of talent, but also of nature and will. Some cultivators aren''t particrly talented, but their nature and will are perfectly suited for cultivation. These qualities canpensate, to some extent, for otherwise meager or average talent. The second round of selection focuses on nature and will."


    "Nature?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly brightened. "May I ask what the test will involve?"


    "You''ll be listening to music," Zhao Yuanjiao replied. "The music will transport you to an illusory realm. Those who canst longest in that realm have the best nature and will."


    "Listening to music? Like the requiem that Elder Ku was ying yesterday?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired further.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s gaze suddenly turned piercing. "You''re aware of Elder Ku?"


    "Yes, I''d like to apprentice under him. Do you have any advice for me, Senior?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly narrowed his eyes. Elder Ku, was it?


    Zhao Yuanjiao was even more confident that Xiao Nanfeng was a spy, now. Elder Ku held a particrly special ce in the sect¡ªcould the demonic sect be trying to exploit this as a weakness? Indeed, that was their style!


    "It''s not too difficult," Zhao Yuanjiao replied. "The administrator of the second round of testing will be Elder Ku. If you persist to thest, you''ll be able to choose any master to apprentice under."


    "Really? I must thank you, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng bowed to him.


    Zhao Yuanjiao smiled, nodded, and left.


    In the distance, Ye Dafu and the others were stupefied. Xiao Nanfeng really had managed to get an incredible wealth of information¡ªand all for the price of four taels of gold! Could this be true?


    "See? All you need is money." Xiao Nanfeng calmly lectured Ye Dafu and his clique.


    Ye Dafu and the others: ... <i>That''s what we should be telling you! How can a poor bastard like you lecture us on money? We were far richer than you!</i>


    Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao made his way back to the Hall of Immortal Recruitment. A number of junior disciples followed behind him. One of them asked, "Senior Brother, is something wrong with that youth?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes. "Absolutely. I''m sure I''m not mistaken¡ªbut I won''t do anything to him just yet. I want to trap him and use him as bait to fish out the spies in our midst."


    "An amazing n, Senior Brother!" the junior disciples cried out.


    "He ims to want to apprentice under Elder Ku¡ªin an attempt to sneak into the sect''s vault of scriptures, I imagine. I''d like to see just how the demonic sect intends to help him with this task."

 Chapter 14: A Test of Nature and Will

    <h4>Chapter 14: A Test of Nature and Will</h4>


    Eight hundred prospective disciples were milling about the public square outside the Hall of Immortal Recruitment. Surrounding them were a group of formal disciples and prospectives that had preemptively been recruited, all of whom were present to observe the second round of selection.


    The remaining eight hundred recruits had middling talent, and further discrimination would be required to identify the best among them.


    Xiao Nanfeng was among their midst.


    He rubbed at the ring on his finger. It was a keepsake that his father had given him before he turned six. His father had himself been a disciple at the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and he had once mentioned that he had a senior brother with whom he had been bosom friends.


    With this ring, he would be able to prove his identity to a possible mentor who was the equivalent of his uncle. With this ring, he too could join the Taiqing Immortal Sect through his connections.


    As he rubbed his ring, Xiao Nanfeng fell deep in thought. <i>It''s been a decade since my father went missing, and a decade since I was first imprisoned. This supposed friend of my father''s never came searching for me¡ªso can I really trust him? </i>


    Doubt shed through Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes.


    Carefully, Xiao Nanfeng kept the ring once more. Until it was absolutely necessary, he didn''t intend to make use of this keepsake.


    He had some confidence that he would be able to pass through the second round of selection. After all, he had already begun spiritual cultivation and had some measure of spiritual power. This round of selection was eminently suited for him.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng was deep in his thoughts, a voice shouted from the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, "Everyone, listen up! The second round of selection will determine whether you end up a formal disciple, a nominal disciple, or disqualified entirely.


    "Your performance will be evaluated on a single criterion only: you must stand still where you are without moving a single step. The longer youst, the better your performance. Are you all ready?"


    "Yes!" Eight hundred prospective disciples rubbed their palms in anticipation.


    A blind gray-robed elder walked out of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment¡ªElder Ku, who had yed a requiem for the dead disciples just a day ago.


    "Elder Ku, please!" the disciple in charge of this selection round bowed to him.


    Before Elder Ku was a seat facing a table on which an incense burner had been ced. From his back, Elder Ku retrieved a guqin, which he ced on the tabletop. A disciple beside him lit a stick of incense in the burner.


    The prospective disciples looked toward Elder Ku, curious about the nature of their examination, as did Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t realize that two pairs of eyes were ring daggers at him.


    One pair naturally belonged to Zhao Yuanjiao, ring at Xiao Nanfeng as he sought to confirm the strength of a demonic spy.


    The other pair belonged to Ye Dafu. He and his clique were waiting impatiently for Xiao Nanfeng to make a gaffe.


    Elder Ku suddenly began to y.


    The sounds of the guqin caused everyone''s head to buzz.


    Everyone''s gazes were drawn toward the stick of incense burning before Elder Ku. The incense released a cloud of smoke, which grewrger andrger until it was the size of a tsunami, bearing down on the public square. With a sudden whoosh, the smoke covered up the air and the sun, as though swallowing the crowd up within moments.


    No one could see each other; everyone in the za seemed to have vanished. To his surprise, Xiao Nanfeng found that everything around him had turned into smoke, leaving him entirely alone.


    "What''s going on?!" many disciples couldn''t help shouting.


    Even so, they were unable to hear each other. The only thing that seemed to enter the unusual space which they had entered were the notes of Elder Ku''s guqin.


    Xiao Nanfeng instantly understood that the test had begun. He calmed down and looked all around him.


    Suddenly, the mist seemed to turn faint. The prospective disciples looked at the scenery around them¡ªthe ground underfoot seemed to have suddenly turned translucent.


    No, no¡ªthey were standing high in the air, thousands of feet aboveground! Were they standing atop the clouds? They looked down, through the cloud cover, to the Taiqing Ind far below, so small it might as well have been a speck of dust.


    "What, what am I doing up here? Is this magic? Immortal magic, transporting me to incredible heights?" someone cried out.


    The next moment, the fluffy clouds gave way. Everyone began to fall.


    "Help!"


    "I''m falling! Save me, save me, please!"


    "I don''t want to die!"


    Countless disciples began to shout and scream.


    Even Xiao Nanfeng was so scared that sweat drenched his back. If he were to fall from such heights, he would surely die!


    Outside the za, someone suddenly pped Ye Dafu and the other disciples'' backs. They startled, then blinked as they returned to reality, as though waking from a dream.


    "Stop shouting and making a fool of yourselves!" Ye Dafu''s third uncle red at him and his clique.


    Ye Dafu nced all around him nkly. He wasn''t high in the air at all! There was no smoke or mist around him; his surroundings were exactly the same as before. The blind Elder Ku was still ying the guqin.


    "Third Uncle, what, what just happened?!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "It was merely an illusion. Humans are naturally inclined to fear falling from great heights, and fear is debilitating. It''s a matter of who can see through the trial first," Ye Dafu''s third uncle exined.


    Of the eight hundred prospective disciples, many yelled from fright. Rapidly, however, they discovered the truth and calmed down. Only about a hundred or so, trapped in the illusion, fell to the ground in panic.


    Disciples from the Taiqing sect stepped into the public square and removed the paralyzed recruits from the testing grounds.


    "Third Uncle, they..." Ye Dafu eximed.


    "They''ve been eliminated. Those who fail the first trial won''t even be considered as nominal disciples. Their nature and will are ill-suited to cultivation, and they''ll be dismissed." Ye Dafu''s third uncle shook his head.


    "I... If you hadn''t woken me up, Third Uncle, I would have discovered that I was in an illusion, I''m sure," Ye Dafu emphasized.


    Ye Dafu''s third uncle looked at his nephew, but held his tongue to avoid giving him a heavy blow.


    Ye Dafu and his clique turned to their favorite target, Xiao Nanfeng, only to see that he was standing still, at ease, his face impassive.


    "That poor bastard passed the first trial?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "It has to be luck," hisckeys murmured, almost as if to assure themselves of that reality.


    Xiao Nanfeng did have a momentary bout of panic when he first thought he was falling from a great height, but he recovered quickly. After all, he had been on his fair share of roller coasters and drop towers in the past, and he quickly realized that this was simply part of the trial.


    Just then, he found that he had returned to the public square, but his surroundings were still covered by mist.


    <i>Is the test still ongoing? </i>Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself. Suddenly, from amidst the white fog, two figures appeared.


    "Nanfeng! Nanfeng, my son! You''ve finally shown up after all this time!"


    "You brat, why did you dy this long? Your mother and I have been waiting for you for a decade!"


    Two unbelievably familiar voices rang out from the fog, causing Xiao Nanfeng to shake. These voices¡ªthey had been dogging his dreams for years and years!


    A man and woman walked out of the white fog. The man was handsome, brave and valiant; the woman gentle and beautiful.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng saw the two figures, he was filled with longing.


    "Father? Mother?" Xiao Nanfeng''s body shook. <i>Do you know how much I''ve missed you in thest ten years?</i>


    Ten years worth of grievances, all at once¡ªXiao Nanfeng almost sumbed to the urge of running straight toward them.


    "Nanfeng, I''ve missed you so! Quick,e to me."


    His parents'' voices beckoned him over, suffusing Xiao Nanfeng''s body with warmth. Just as he was about to rush forward, however, he stopped short and looked at his father in disbelief. On his father''s wrist was... a gold watch?


    A gold watch?


    When he was little, he had dreamt that, considering how handsome his father was, if he were to put on a ck cloak, a golden wristwatch, and a pair of sunsses, he would surely fit the look of an arrogant CEO to a T¡ªbut that was just his imagination! There was no such thing as a golden wristwatch in this world, so how could his father be wearing one?


    "Is this all my imagination? It''s all fake? These are the demons I harbor in my heart...?" Xiao Nanfeng awoke from the illusion instantly.


    "Come over here, Nanfeng!" his mother shouted.


    "You brat, get over here!" his father urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. He took a deep breath and calmed himself down, then smiled sadly at his parents. "Father, Mother, if only you were real..."


    Xiao Nanfeng shut his eyes, blinking back tears, even as he calmed down. When he opened them again, his parents had dissipated into mist.


    "How amazing Elder Ku is, to be able to force me to face my greatest desires¡ªand how lucky I was." Xiao Nanfeng grew serious once again. He began to anticipate more and more what it would be like to have Elder Ku as his master.


    At the same time, beyond the testing grounds, Ye Dafu and his clique saw a strange sight.


    Of the prospective disciples in the public square, some wereughing madly, others crying in sorrow. Two hundred or so disciples rushed forward¡ªbefore being escorted off the grounds by Taiqing disciples.


    "Another two hundred, eliminated? Just what have they seen?" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "This is the second trial, that of the heart. Mental and emotional traumas will be brought back to life. Without sufficient intelligence and a resolute will, it''ll be difficult to pass this test," Ye Dafu''s third uncle exined.


    "Demons of the heart? Mental and emotional trauma? How can that poor bastard still be standing right there as though nothing has happened, then?!" Ye Dafu''sckeys shouted.


    Ye Dafu nced over at the testing grounds. Indeed, Xiao Nanfeng stood immobile, wholly unmoved.


    "He must be too young to have any mental traumas! Lucky brat," Ye Dafu called out disdainfully.


    "Those disciples who have passed the first two trials will at least be recruited as nominal disciples. The longer they persist, the more likely they''ll be to be formal ones."


    "In that case, everyone still present has already be a disciple of the Taiqing sect?" Ye Dafu stared at Xiao Nanfeng grudgingly.


    "Quite so. However, the third test won''t be straightforward," Ye Dafu''s third uncle continued.


    "What does the third test entail?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "It''s something that you might encounter further down the path of cultivation. The mere thought of it alone..." Ye Dafu''s third uncle shuddered.


    Within the illusion, Xiao Nanfeng looked at the white fog all around himself, waiting patiently for the next surprises to show themselves. Suddenly, tinkling femaleughter made itself heard from a distance.


    "Ah,e on! Come y with me!"


    A woman of peerless beauty emerged from the fog, a paragon of beautyposed of the ideal characteristics of all women. Wrapped in a thin, translucent shawl, she enticed and teased Xiao Nanfeng from a distance.


    All remaining trial-takers saw a vision of peerless beauty, exquisitely tailored to their sensibilities.


    Voluptuous women roamed around the trial-takers, teasing and nudging them.


    "Oh? Don''t you love me anymore? Won''t you help support me? I''ve twisted my ankle¡ªah, it hurts!" The beauty pouted, barely hiding a grimace of pain, causing hearts to flutter.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng remained immobile. Was this third trial one of beauty and charm? It was easier than thest two by far.


    Xiao Nanfeng was more or less immune to the beauty''s charms¡ªafter having been imprisoned for ten years, his will was as a honed de, and he had had significant experience in his past life on the Inte resisting the charms of such scantily d women. How could he be swayed by them now?


    "You wound me! You''re far too cruel!" the beauty cried out, her back to Xiao Nanfeng, weeping piteously.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to look at the beauty calmly¡ªuntil she suddenly turned around.


    Her peerless beauty suddenly transformed into a dposing mask of flesh and blood, and her eyes into bloody pits. Sawtooth-like incisors emerged from her mouth. She opened her jaws wide and pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The sudden transformation of a peerless beauty into a frightening monster shook countless disciples.


    One recruit after another stumbled back in shock, striking the ground hard as they retreated.


    This scene was more vivid than the worst nightmare that the disciples had ever encountered. The Taiqing disciples escorted all of them out.


    Fewer than two hundred disciples remained in the public square.


    "What did they see that was so frightening?" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "What''s going on? Why is thatd still soposed? He can''t have fallen asleep, right?" oneckey murmured, staring at Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief.


    Even if they hadn''t moved, many of the remaining disciples were so frightened by the beauty''s sudden transformation that their faces had turned pale and sweat was beading on their foreheads.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng remained wholly unperturbed. He had seen more than his fair share of horror films back on Earth, the worst of which was even more frightening than this illusion. The transformation from a beauty to a monster was among the most generic of tropes.


    He knew that this was an illusion; he could hardly be scared by such a low-level trick. The only thing that could be said about this illusion was that it was urring in 3D.


    Many of the trial-takers were so frightened that they seemed about to suffocate from shock. The monster''s bloody mouth was just inches from their face¡ªwho wouldn''t be scared by such a sight?!


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t. Indeed, he had been a connoisseur of horror films in his past life.


    "Is this it?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the monster in front of him with some pity.


    The third trial had been easier than the other two by far.

 Chapter 15: A Sudden Death

    <h4>Chapter 15: A Sudden Death</h4>


    In the public square of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, Elder Ku''s guqin continued to ring out.


    Those disciples who had been scared off by the first wave of the third trial were destined only to be nominal disciples. The remainder, who had passed all three trials and had had their nature and will proven, qualified to be formal disciples despite theircking talent.


    The disciples of the four divisions were carefully watching the recruits, wanting to snatch up the best of the bunch.


    Meanwhile, the horror of the illusion continued to ramp up.


    There were still a hundred or so recruits in the public square. Although their faces were pale and their foreheads beading with sweat, they continued to persist through the trial.


    Not longter, another recruit cried out, so scared he stumbled to the ground.


    "Why are they so scared even though they know it''s an illusion?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.


    His third uncle, not wanting to engender too manyparisons to his nephew and the truly talented, shook his head. "You were freed from the illusion, so you don''t understand just how frightening the third trial is. What lies within the third trial is so realistic that you''ll forget you''re in an illusion altogether. These disciples must have inordinate willpower to have made it this far, but even if they tell themselves that everything they see is fake, that won''t stop them from feeling an innate sense of fear."


    "But why''s that brat doing just fine, then? Could he have fallen asleep?"


    "Hmm? Which one?" Ye Dafu''s third uncle asked curiously.


    Ye Dafu pointed straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    His third uncle''s eyes lit up upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s vacant expression.


    "Senior Brother, I found someone good! Yes, that youth over there! Look at how expressionless he is even when faced with Elder Ku''s illusion!" Ye Dafu''s third uncle cried out.


    The senior disciple''s eyes grew wide when he saw Xiao Nanfeng. "Who is he?"


    "His name is Nanfeng. His cultivation is very poor¡ªhe''s only at the sixth stage of Acquisition," Ye Dafu replied, envy creeping into his tone.


    "Nanfeng? Quick, get his information. We''re iming this youth!" the senior disciple shouted.


    "Senior, didn''t you hear what I said? Nanfeng''s only at the sixth stage of Acquisition..." Ye Dafu murmured.


    However, the senior disciplepletely ignored him. He was staring intently at Xiao Nanfeng, whose demeanor remained perfectly unruffled. His eyes grew brighter and brighter. "To be able to remain so calm even with a malicious demon roaming around him¡ªincredible, incredible! We have to snatch him up at all costs!"


    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother! We''ll get him even if it costs us an Immanence cultivator in his teens!" a group of junior disciples swore.


    Ye Dafu: ... <i>What do all of you mean? You''d rather give up an Immanence cultivator in his teens? Me? You''d rather take that poor bastard over me? Why? He''s only at the sixth stage of Acquisition!</i>


    By that point, however, no one was paying attention to Ye Dafu''s sullen expression. They were all focused on Xiao Nanfeng.


    The other divisions'' disciples were also paying careful attention to these recruits. Xiao Nanfeng''s impassive expression quickly drew the eyes of many, who were watching him eagerly.


    As the guqin continued to y, the illusory realm grew more and more frightening. The recruits, unable to ovee the fear that overwhelmed them, began to move their bodies and wake up.


    Those who did so were immediately escorted out of the square and quickly surrounded by recruiters from the various divisions, ready to ept them as formal disciples.


    Soon enough, there were only thirty recruits left in the square, the targets whom all four divisions'' disciples would try to recruit at any cost.


    Xiao Nanfeng was among them, his expression still not having changed.


    The illusory mist continued to spread. Xiao Nanfeng looked all around him. The beauty from before, who had turned into an evil monster, had long since vanished. At this point, he wasn''t facing just a single monster, but a whole group of them.


    "Is this... a group of zombies?" Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned strange.


    Others might have begun to panic in fear, but Xiao Nanfeng was a horror movie aficionado. These decaying, bloodied faces, sawtooth-like incisors, and skeletal ws¡ªhe couldn''t help butpare them to the zombie flicks he had seen.


    Was this it?


    Xiao Nanfeng was starting to find the illusory trial not interesting, not frightening, but rather somewhat boring.


    However, in order to achieve a better performance, Xiao Nanfeng could only tough it out.


    Just then, he saw a ball of ck fog in the distance, with a pale white skeleton standing amidst the fog. It was motionless.


    "Ah? Isn''t this supposed to be a zombie movie? Where did that skeletone from?" Xiao Nanfeng was visibly confused.


    The appearance of the skeleton, which waspletely ipatible with the previous monsters to date, made Xiao Nanfeng feel as though he was in a parody.


    The next moment, he found that he could suddenly see the other 29 recruits. The others all noticed something amiss as well¡ªhad their illusions all merged?


    "What''s going on?" the recruits wondered.


    They didn''t know that, back in the real world, Elder Ku''s guqin suddenly trembled, and one string snapped.


    Everyone looked toward Elder Ku in surprise.


    The elder himself suddenly stood up.


    "What''s the matter, Elder Ku?" one Taiqing sect disciple stepped forward and asked.


    "Something''s wrong, something''s wrong!" Elder Ku cried out. "Have the recruits awoken?"


    "No, the thirty of them are still in the illusion. Oh, their expressions seem to have changed¡ªah, what''s wrong with that one?!" one disciple shouted.


    One of the thirty recruits suddenly made a face of extreme fear and shock. His mouth opened wide, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out.


    The recruit fell paralyzed to the ground.


    "Isn''t it an illusion? Why did he suddenly vomit blood?!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Several Taiqing sect disciples rushed forward to help him, but the recruit never awakened. He remained paralyzed on the ground, forcing the disciples to take a closer look.


    "He''s dead!" one of them shouted.


    "What? How could he have died? Aren''t they all taking part in a trial in an illusion?" Ye Dafu was taken aback.


    In the distance, the Taiqing disciples were themselves shocked by the events that had transpired.


    "Elder Ku, one of the recruits suddenly vomited blood and died!"


    "Elder Ku, the other 29 recruits still haven''t woken up."


    "Elder Ku, haven''t you stopped ying? Whenever you did so in the past, the illusion would stop! Why haven''t they woken up yet, and how did this one recruit die?!"


    The disciples responsible for administering the test were themselves shocked by the ominous turn of events, but Elder Ku most of all. "Bring me over. Don''t attempt to wake any of the recruits up, and don''t touch them at any cost."


    "Yes, Elder!"


    The disciples brought Elder Ku near the recruit who had perished. Elder Ku touched the victim, a pale blue glow appearing by his palm. After a moment, Elder Ku''s face suddenly nched.


    "Elder Ku? How did this recruit perish?" The disciples all looked toward Elder Ku nervously.


    Elder Ku didn''t reply. His face was taut with tension.


    Just then, another recruit vomited fresh blood and fell paralyzed to the ground.


    "Elder Ku, another victim! Another recruit has died!"


    "Don''t touch them!" Elder Ku instructed. "Do not touch the remaining recruits at any cost!"


    The situation was quickly spiraling out of control. This was only ever meant to be a test of nature and will¡ªhow had anyone died? Even those disciples watching from afar were shaken by the ordeal.


    "Elder Ku, how is it that people are dying within the illusion?" someone cried out.


    "An illusion is a representation of the world that I imposed and transmitted to their consciousness, or which I generated from their inner emotions and turmoil. Now, however, something is wrong with their consciousness," Elder Ku replied, taking a deep breath.


    Just then, when the thirty recruits had suddenly appeared within the same illusory realm, no one thought it a problem. After all, they had all been watching horror films individually for quite some time. Now that everyone else was with them, they would be even less afraid. None of the zombies would actually attack them, after all, so there was nothing to fear.


    Some of the recruits even began to chat with one another.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t do so¡ªhe was still staring at the unusual skeleton. He didn''t see it moving until it suddenly seemed to teleport to a recruit''s side.


    "Oh, what''s this? A skeleton? It''s not frightening at all. My father''s a coroner, and I''ve seen a lot of corpses since my childhood. Do you think you can scare me like this? Haha!" a recruit scoffed at the skeleton before him.


    Because they knew that this was an illusion, that everything they saw was fake, they were entirely unafraid of what might happen. The other recruits also began teasing the skeleton.


    The skeleton''s head suddenly moved and quietly stared at the youth who had ridiculed it. As heughed, the skeleton suddenly reached out and pierced through the youth''s chest, sending fresh blood spraying all over. Hisughter became a gurgle of blood; his eyes widened in disbelief.


    The youth spat out a mouthful of blood and pointed at the skeleton as though something unbelievable had happened.


    "Hey, there''s no need to try to pull a prank on us! As if we don''t know that nothing here can hurt us," someone joked.


    The youth whose chest had been impaled was unable to even speak. He coughed out more blood, then slumped to the ground.


    "Is he... is he dead? How could someone die in this illusory realm?" One recruit frowned, unable to believe what had just urred.


    Blood spilled out of the recruit who had been killed by the skeleton, a puddle that grewrger every second. The recruit''s body slowly morphed into pale mist, which the skeleton absorbed through its mouth.


    The corpse vanished, but the recruits''ughter had already stopped short. Had the ''dead'' recruit really died, or had he simply returned to reality?


    A sense of unease filled the air, but the recruits didn''t dare move. Could this still be part of the test?


    Only Xiao Nanfeng sensed something amiss. Unease filled his body. He didn''t want to stay in this realm any longer; he firmly took a step back, intending to leave the illusion.


    However, he remained in ce, as did the skeleton.


    "We can''t leave," Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "What?" Everyone turned to him.


    "I took a step back, but I can''t leave the illusion. Can any of you do so?" Xiao Nanfeng nced all around him, tension suddenly filling his body.

 Chapter 16: Shut Up and Listen

    <h4>Chapter 16: Shut Up and Listen</h4>


    Following Xiao Nanfeng''s urging, the other recruits all tried to leave the illusory realm¡ªonly to discover that they couldn''t.


    "Why can''t we leave?"


    "I can''t get out, either."


    "Damn it, isn''t this supposed to be an illusion?"


    The recruits continued trying to leave the illusion to no avail. The original zombie-like monsters slowly faded from sight in a puff of mist, leaving only the skeleton behind. It stood still and watched the recruits from a distance.


    Frowning, Xiao Nanfeng stepped back. The others also tried to flee, but the skeleton seemed to have the ability to teleport within this realm. Within moments, it appeared by another recruit''s side.


    No one saw it move.


    The recruit''s eyes grew wide. He mmed his palms into the skeleton, causing it to tremble slightly, but not enough to stop its sharp ws from piercing through his chest.


    "No, no! I don''t want to die!" the unfortunate recruit cried out, vomiting blood, before falling to the ground paralyzed.


    Had another person died?


    His body turned into a faint mist, which the skeleton slowly absorbed.


    The recruits hurriedly fled from the skeleton, frightened by its actions.


    By now, there was a faint ck aura hanging around the skeleton. It was expressionless and mute, but far more frightening than the zombies and evil monsters from before¡ªthe possibility of death seemed to loom over all the recruits.


    "Did they really die?" one recruit asked, his face a mask of terror.


    "Perhaps so, but isn''t it more likely that they''ve left the illusion? This is the second round of the Taiqing sect''s disciple recruitment process¡ªhow could anyone die?" Another recruit seemed to be desperately trying to convince himself of such a reality.


    Those around him rxed as well. That was true¡ªwhat if this was just part of the trials?


    "Would you bet on it?" Xiao Nanfeng called out coldly.


    Everyone looked toward him.


    "I don''t know whether this is part of the trials myself, but I did watch them all die¡ªand very painfully, at that. Furthermore, we''re no longer able to leave the trial. Your hypothesis might be right, but what if these recruits really are dead? Would you bet on it?" Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    After having been imprisoned for a decade, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to leave his fate in anyone else''s hands. Whether these deaths were real or fake, he had no intention of suffering through one.


    The recruits who heard him swallowed a gulp of saliva. That was true¡ªwere they willing to bet on it? That they would be alright even if they were killed by the skeleton? What a joke!


    The recruits shook their heads and looked warily at the skeleton.


    "Let''s work together and smash it apart!" someone cried out.


    "Alright, together as one!" the others yelled back.


    Dozens of recruits rushed the skeleton. No one had a weapon; they could only attack with their bare hands.


    As a dozen punches and kicks struck the skeleton, it began to shake¡ªbut it was too strong for the unarmed recruits to contend with. Two more recruits were struck down within moments. They copsed in a pool of blood.


    "We can''t let the skeleton keep killing us one by one! Everyone, keep fighting!" another recruit called out.


    Before he could say more, however, the skeleton had pierced through his chest, causing him to copse. It sucked up their ghostly remains as their bodies fell to the ground.


    "No, we can''t take it down! It''s too strong! Run!" Several of the weaker-willed recruits were so scared that they tried to flee.


    "No, don''t!" Xiao Nanfeng countermanded. "You won''t be able to outrun it."


    After the skeleton finished sucking up the three dead recruits'' remains, it shed and appeared right by Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    "Damn it!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    The skeleton''s ws swiped at his chest.


    In a moment of panic, Xiao Nanfeng willed his body to defend itself, invoking his spiritual power and manifesting a shield around his body as the ws struck him.


    Instead of piercing his chest, the skeleton''s ws struck the imprable barrier and flung him back with the momentum of the attack. Xiao Nanfeng fell to the ground, sweat drenching his back, shocked that he had survived the ordeal. When the skeleton had teleported to his side, he had thought himself about to die.


    <i>I can use spiritual power in this illusion?! That does make sense¡ªmy body here is just part of my consciousness! So I can control spiritual power with just my consciousness alone, and even use it to defend against what would be physical blows here?</i> Xiao Nanfeng intuitively understood the basics of his abilities.


    From rather close by, another scream rang out. The skeleton, stymied by Xiao Nanfeng, had shed over to another target and killed him.


    By then, the remaining recruits were in full-blown panic. Everyone tried to run, but the skeleton simply wasn''t an opponent that could be escaped. It ughtered one recruit after another.


    At the same time, back in the real world, more and more disciples had gathered around Elder Ku.


    "Another three have dead!"


    "Another one over here, Elder Ku! What do we do? We can''t let these talented recruits die here!"


    "Quiet, all of you!" Zhao Yuanjiao, who had rushed into the square, shouted at the disciples.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was only here to keep an eye out for Xiao Nanfeng, the ''demonic spy'', not expecting that there would be such a big ruckus.


    "All Taiqing disciples, guard the perimeter. Don''t let anyone in or out of the vicinity!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    "Understood!"


    After everyone quieted down, Zhao Yuanjiao turned back to Elder Ku and waited for him to exin the situation.


    "I can''t deal with the illusion at the moment. Their mental worlds should all be connected by now. They must have encountered¡ª-no, no! These recruits don''t even have any spiritual power. How they fare will be entirely up to their luck." Elder Ku seemed about to continue, but he stopped short and sighed instead.


    "An-Another death!" a voice shouted from afar.


    Within the illusion, more and more recruits were dying no matter how they ran. Terror overwhelmed them all¡ªwhat were they to do? Eight of them had already perished!


    "Everyone, gather by my side!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''smand was like a life preserver that had been thrown toward them as they drowned. Some listened to him without any hesitation, but others frowned. Xiao Nanfeng was a recruit just like them¡ªwhy would they listen to him?


    "If you don''t want to die, get over here now! I can help you live!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin anything. He understood that everyone''s minds were fatigued and near copse¡ªthey wouldn''t be able to take in an exnation. All he needed to do was issue forcefulmands to get their attention.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t confident that he would be able to rescue everyone, but he knew he had to give off that impression for others to believe him.


    Finally, upon hearing his secondmand, the remaining holdouts all charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    While they did so, another recruit died to the skeleton, but they all still ran toward him, hoping that he really did have a solution.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself had had no choice but to make such a move¡ªthe skeleton seemed to be growing stronger with every recruit it killed, and it would eventually target him again. His spiritual power was limited and wouldn''t allow him to defend against the skeleton for long. Before everyone perished, he had to get them to work together tobat the threat.


    "Do you really have a n?"


    "You''re not lying to us, are you?"


    "What do you need us to do?"


    Everyone looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Listen up!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    His attitude had to be firm and incontrovertible, or everyone would end up mired in an argument.


    As expected, given his attitude, everyone shut up and looked toward him with hope.


    "I don''t know how to get out, but if we want to live, we have to work together and take down that skeleton," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    Everyone nched. They had tried it once, but it was fruitless. They were about to dissent when Xiao Nanfeng shouted again, "Silence! That skeleton is clearly not invincible. When we attacked it just now, its body shook. All of you will focus on holding its limbs in ce while I attack its body and take it apart!"


    "But¡ª" Others still seemed to harbor doubts.


    "If you don''t want to die, obey mymands!" Xiao Nanfeng interrupted, without giving them the chance to finish.


    Once again, Xiao Nanfeng''s steadfast and domineering attitude forced everyone to calm down. He sounded confident in himself, far more than the others did¡ªcould this n really seed?


    The skeleton suddenly shed before them.


    "Strike!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Even if I have to die, I''ll drag this monster down with me!"


    "I don''t want to die! I''ll fight for my life!"


    "Damn it, I haven''t even started my journey of cultivation! I can''t die just yet!"


    Resolved, the group of recruits pounced toward the skeleton.


    The skeleton''s sharp ws pierced through one recruit''s chest, but no one shrank back.


    Everyone grabbed ahold of the skeleton''s limbs and head and held on with a deathly grip, even the recruit whose chest had been pierced. Despite the blood dripping from his mouth, he held on tightly and refused to let go.


    The twenty remaining recruits also held onto it with their lives, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to rush forward and punch its corbone. Strong though he was, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t able to do any damage to it. He squeezed the skeleton''s neck with both hands, but to no avail.


    The skeleton began struggling more and more violently.


    "I-I can''t hold on much longer! This skeleton is monstrously strong!"


    Xiao Nanfeng began infusing spiritual power into his palms. No one noticed that Xiao Nanfeng''s palms were brimming with blue light.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfeng''s palms red as all his spiritual power surged out through his palms.


    With a huge crack, everyone saw the skeleton''s neck break.


    The recruit holding onto the skeleton''s head fell to the ground with a thump.


    "What? It really broke?!" she yelled out excitedly.


    "We seeded!" everyone shouted, cheering.


    As the rest of the skeleton''s body fell to the ground, so did they¡ªin case it were to return to life.


    Suddenly, the skeleton transformed into a wisp of ck smoke that slowly dissipated through the air.


    Everyone sensed the illusory realm breaking down. The next thing they knew, they were blinking their eyes. They had returned to reality.


    They fell to the ground, paralyzed.


    "We really escaped, we really did!" the recruits cheered.


    "Elder Ku, they''ve all awoken!" one Taiqing disciple called out.


    "Have we really?" Xiao Nanfeng copsed to the ground, his limbs weak and his face pale.


    Was what they had experienced truly real?

 Chapter 17: Cursed Effigy

    <h4>Chapter 17: Cursed Effigy</h4>


    The remaining 21 recruits had all woken up. The moment they did so, they crumpled weakly to the ground. One among them was vomiting profusely, the one whom the skeleton had attacked at thest. He was deeply wounded, but he hadn''t died.


    "Elder Ku, they''ve all awoken!" one Taiqing disciple called out.


    "Quick, ask them what they encountered in that illusory realm!" Elder Ku urged.


    It was then that the recruits learned that those that had died in the illusion had also perished in reality.


    "How could this be? This trial was actually deadly?!"


    "Wasn''t it supposed to be a trial? How could recruits have died? That means, that means the rest of us almost died, too!"


    The recruits did want to join the Taiqing sect, but not at the cost of their lives! They were shocked to no end by their close shave with death.


    "Don''t worry. All of you have already been epted as formal disciples, and you''re one of us now. What happened today was an ident, nothing more."


    "Alright, juniors, what exactly happened within the illusion?"


    As the recruits calmed down, they began recounting the series of events that had urred.


    "A skeleton? A skeleton with bleached bones, you said?" Elder Ku''s face suddenly seemed to nch.


    "That''s right. If not for someone leading us against the skeleton, we would all have been killed, one by one. All twenty of us worked together to hold it down, but we only barely made it!"


    Elder Ku murmured to himself, "Has that cursed effigy finally returned...?"


    "Elder Ku? Do you know what that is?" one Taiqing disciple asked.


    "No one is to speak of what happened today. You are all sworn to secrecy!" Elder Ku called out gravely. He didn''t exin what the bleached skeleton meant, but his expression alone made it clear how serious this matter was.


    "Yes, Elder!"


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, was internally quite upset. They had almost died¡ªweren''t they going to receive an exnation as to what happened?


    "A cursed effigy...?" Xiao Nanfeng mouthed what he had overheard from Elder Ku.


    Just then, the remaining recruits all looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    One of them, still weak and quivering, got up and walked to Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    Everyone watched his actions in confusion as he bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you for your aid, Senior Brother! I won''t forget what you''ve done." The young man gave Xiao Nanfeng a deep bow and held that position for long moments.


    Xiao Nanfeng was a youth himself, and clearly younger than the bowing recruit. Even so, the recruit had addressed him as his senior. He understood that, if not for Xiao Nanfeng''s efforts in rallying all of them together, they would all have perished in that illusory realm.


    The other recruits who had survived that cmitous trial all mirrored the first recruit''s actions and bowed deeply to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you for saving our lives, Senior Brother!" they called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng got up and returned their bow without saying a word.


    At that moment, he was the center of attention. Everyone had mentioned a leader who had directed them to kill the skeleton¡ªand his name was Xiao Nanfeng!


    The Taiqing disciples all around the square looked toward him ardently. Xiao Nanfeng boasted peerless will and had disyed courage and leadership against an opponent far beyond him. He was clearly the top recruit of this batch.


    Even if his talent were below average, his nature and will were top-tier. This was a recruit that everyone wanted at any cost.


    There were only two groups of onlookers who were difited by this turn of events.


    The first was Ye Dafu and his clique, who felt as though they had just swallowed a fly. How angry, how incensed, how frustrated they were to see Xiao Nanfeng receive the reverence and adoration of all these disciples! How had he done it?


    The second was Zhao Yuanjiao. Zhao Yuanjiao, certain that Xiao Nanfeng was a demonic spy, frowned to see him having won all the disciples'' respect and regard. This spy seemed to be even more exceptional than he had anticipated.


    "You''re Nanfeng? I''m responsible for recruiting disciples for the Mortal division. I''ll rmend you to the division leader myself, and you''ll be provided with cultivation pointers from the best of the best!"


    "No, he''ll join the Earth division!"


    "Ha! The Heaven division has set its eyes on him. Don''t you dare fight us!"


    Everyone suddenly wanted a piece of Xiao Nanfeng. As Ye Dafu and the others watched all manner of senior disciples fight over him, they grew more and more enraged until they had to look away.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, looked toward Elder Ku. "Elder Ku, I heard one of the senior disciples mention that the top recruit of each batch would be able to choose a master with whom to apprentice under? I''m Nanfeng. Would you be willing to ept me as a student?"


    Everyone looked at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. Apprenticing under Elder Ku?


    Even Elder Ku himself seemed taken aback. "I''m old and blind. You want to apprentice under me?"


    "Yes, Elder Ku! Please, ept me as a student!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply toward him.


    Everyone quieted down and looked toward Elder Ku.


    Elder Ku took a moment to think. "You were the one who organized all the recruits against that cursed effigy? What prompted your actions?"


    Xiao Nanfeng replied, "I wasn''t thinking of anything special, Elder. I simply wanted to live. Rather than wait as the skeleton killed us one by one, why notbine our strength and chance it?"


    "You simply wanted to live? Very good, very good! An excellent answer. You did live, and you saved everyone else while you were at it. However, it''s been a long time since Ist took a disciple, and I don''t tend to have much time for apprenticeships. Neither can I see, so I wouldn''t make a good teacher. How about this? I''ll take you as a student in name for now. A yearter, if you still wish to apprentice under me, I''ll take you as an official apprentice," Elder Ku suggested.


    "Yes, Master! Your student Nanfeng greets you!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed down to Elder Ku once more.


    "The matter is settled, then. In a year''s time, if you wish to remain my apprentice, we''ll formalize the matter."


    "As you will, Elder!"


    The senior disciples who had wanted to recruit Xiao Nanfeng were all disappointed¡ªexcept for those of the Ascended division. Elder Ku was an elder for the Ascended, and even if Xiao Nanfeng chose not to remain Elder Ku''s disciple, he would still belong to the Ascended division himself.


    "Very well. The recruitment test is now over. Would you help me carry my guqin? It''s time for us to leave," Elder Ku told Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied respectfully.


    He hefted up the guqin with a snapped string and walked up to Elder Ku. Elder Ku waved a hand, causing a stork to descend from the heavens.


    "Call another one to fetch my new disciple," Elder Kumanded.


    The stork flew toward the mountains and quickly returned with another of its kind. The two storks lowered themselves, allowing Elder Ku and Xiao Nanfeng to mount them, before setting off.


    "Farewell, Elder Ku!" The Taiqing disciples bowed in respect.


    Elder Ku didn''t leave immediately. Rather, he said calmly, "The ident was caused by the re-emergence of that cursed effigy, and it will surely make a reappearance in the future as well. I regret that I can no longer participate in such trials for disciples as a result. Please find a substitute."


    "Elder Ku? You mean that the skeleton didn''t die? It''ll reappear?!" a Taiqing disciple cried out.


    "If it were so easy to kill, it wouldn''t be considered a cursed effigy. However, it''s grown significantly weakerpared to the past, but for it to have returned at all..." Elder Ku grimaced. "Report the incident to the sect master. He''ll be aware of what needs to be done."


    "Now, let''s go." Elder Ku patted the stork.


    The two storks pped their wings and flew off toward the fog-covered mountains of the Taiqing Ind.


    The elder and apprentice left, but the tasks of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment were far from over. Everyone was still shocked by the deaths of nine potential recruits.


    Ye Dafu and his clique were fuming mad. What right did a poor bastard like Xiao Nanfeng have to such good fortune? How could he have presented himself so well?


    Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes as he watched Xiao Nanfeng depart.


    "Senior Brother? That youth called Nanfeng, has he really apprenticed himself to Elder Ku? And Elder Ku''s bringing him straight to the vault of scriptures! What do we do now?" a junior disciple asked.


    "No matter. The vault of scriptures is filled with disciples among the Ascended division. Inform them to keep an eye out."


    "Yes, Senior Brother!"

 Chapter 18: Heaven on Earth

    <h4>Chapter 18: Heaven on Earth</h4>


    Mounted on storks, Xiao Nanfeng and Elder Ku flew into the skies. However, he was unable to get a full view of the Taiqing Ind proper, which was shrouded by fog and hence luded from view.


    He looked up at the distant seas, at the ten thousand taels of gold he had yet to im from the hull of the ship. However, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t too worried. He didn''t n on retrieving the money just yet, not while there was so much attention on him.


    The storks ferried master and disciple deep within the ind, to a patch of clear ground.


    The storks slowly descended. There were arge number of small single-story cottages and residences in the area. Thergest building, near the center of the enclosure, was four stories tall.


    "The Vault of Scriptures?" Xiao Nanfeng read off the que on the building. Was this where the Taiqing sect housed its collection of scriptures?


    The vault shone with golden light. Plenty of disciples walked in and out of it. A few disciples stood guard outside, maintaining order in the vicinity. This was where Elder Ku resided. Despite the fact that he had gone blind, he was clearly familiar with theyout of thend.


    The storks flew away from the enclosure as Elder Ku walked to the residences behind the vault. Xiao Nanfeng followed suit, still carrying Elder Ku''s guqin as he looked all around him.


    Behind the vault was the steep, rugged side of a mountain. From afar, he could hear the sound of chanting from a distance. About two hundred robed men and women were sitting cross-legged by the wall, facing the wall as they meditated.


    "They seem to be reciting... Taoist scriptures?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Oh? Can you discern that?" Elder Ku replied curiously.


    "Yes, Master. I''ve had some experience with them," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I live right here, listening to them chant all day and night. Are you willing to stay here with me? If not, I can have someone escort you to the Ascended peak. Ascended disciples reside there, and you can learn the fundamentals of cultivation with them," Elder Ku offered.


    "Stay here and listen to them chant all day?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at Elder Ku.


    "Indeed," Elder Ku replied calmly, as though this were a test for his new apprentice.


    At the same time, back in the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, Ye Dafu watched on as Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight, still somewhat upset at how he had upstaged them all.


    "Third Uncle, has that brat just leapfrogged past the rest of us?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Not quite. I suspect he won''t be able to stand Elder Ku''s living conditions," Ye Dafu''s third uncle replied, sighing.


    "Oh? Is there something wrong about it?" Ye Dafu''s eyes lit up.


    "It might as well be hell!" Ye Dafu''s third uncle replied, shuddering.


    "Hell? What do you mean?" Ye Dafu was veryforted by the idea that Xiao Nanfeng might not be having a good time. His face brightened the moment he heard that Xiao Nanfeng''s lifestyle would be hellish.


    "Elder Ku lives by the Vault of Scriptures, which neighbors the Cliff of Meditation. A group of disciples meditates there daily, chanting Taoist scriptures all day long... it''s a nightmarish ce to be for therge majority of Taiqing disciples!" Ye Dafu''s third uncle seemed to have had a traumatic experience himself.


    "What? Vault of Scriptures? Cliff of Meditation? Why is it a nightmare?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "The Taiqing sect has many rules. Anyone who flouts one will be punished and forced to recite scriptures by the Cliff of Meditation."


    "Recite scriptures? What sort of scriptures?" Ye Dafu still seemed perplexed.


    "There are 48,000 Taoist scriptures stored in the Vault of Scriptures. Disciples who are being punished have to find a scripture rted to andpatible with their cultivation, then recite it a hundred times by the Cliff of Meditation. Furthermore, the scriptures chosen can''t be repeated. Do you know how long each scripture is? The shorter ones are alright, but the longer ones¡ªanyone would go crazy. You won''t be allowed to leave until you''vemitted the scripture to memory." Ye Dafu''s third uncle shuddered. "I broke a vase identally one time, and I was forced to memorize two scriptures. It took me therger part of a month..."


    "What?! Reciting scriptures as punishment, and useless Taoist scriptures at that? Isn''t that crazy? I hate memorization! Who established such idiotic punishment?!" Ye Dafu shouted, his eyes wild.


    "The sect master, division leaders, and the manifold elders themselves..." Ye Dafu''s third uncle replied, staring at his nephew with an odd expression. <i>Can''t you think before you speak? You''ll offend everyone in the sect if you keep behaving in this way!</i>


    Ye Dafu stilled. "Ah, what I meant to say was, those who instituted such a punishment surely must be wise and virtuous sages, as expected of masters and grandmasters of the sect!"


    His third uncle rolled his eyes. His nephew was really getting rather thick-skinned!


    "We dislike these Taoist scriptures because they''re cryptic and near-impossible to understand, but the sect leader and elders always emphasize their importance. They think that a good understanding of such scriptures is even more important than cultivation techniques, so they''re forcing us to memorize them first. They im that we''ll be able to digest them slowlyter, that this is for our own good." Ye Dafu''s third uncle shook his head, sighing.


    "This is a joke, isn''t it? How can Taoist scriptures be more important than cultivation techniques?!"


    "Elder Ku lives right by the Vault of Scriptures, so Junior Brother Nanfeng will have to listen to countless disciples reciting scriptures at every moment of the day. Not only that, Elder Ku loves using the ssic punishment of the Taiqing sect¡ªmaking others recite scriptures, supposedly ''for their own good''! You can imagine just what Junior Brother Nanfeng''s life will be like now."


    Ye Dafu gaped. "It truly is hell! I''d surely go crazy if I had to live there and listen to them recite Taoist scriptures day and night..."


    "Isn''t that so?" his third uncle agreed.


    This was a widespread, and indeed the majority, view of the Vault of Scriptures held by the Taiqing disciples.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at Elder Ku with a gleam in his eyes.


    "This is a paradise! I would be delighted to stay here," Xiao Nanfeng replied, almost beatific with joy.


    "Hmm?" Before Elder Ku could say anything, those disciples forced to recite scriptures facing the Cliff of Meditation, having heard something ridiculous, all turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Who was that brat? What did he say? Paradise? Who was he trying to fool and tter?!


    Elder Ku was silent for a moment. He didn''t know whether Xiao Nanfeng really meant what he said, or if he was just trying to please him.


    "Master! Have you returned?" Suddenly, a young woman''s voice came from the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced over to see a young woman, who had been meditating in front of the Cliff of Meditation, jump up and greet Elder Ku.


    The young woman seemed to be in her twenties, of middling height, with a curvaceous body primly covered up by fitting ck robes. Her face was beautiful, her skin smooth, but her most striking features were her expressive eyes that crinkled with infectious charm when she smiled.


    "Yu''er? What are you doing here? I''ve told you, I''m not epting disciples! Don''t waste your time here¡ªgo apprentice under your division leader!" Elder Ku chastised, shaking his head.


    Yu''er replied hopefully, "I''d really like to learn the guqin under your mentorship, Elder Ku. I''m more than happy to cultivate with my seniors, but no one else can teach me the guqin!"


    Elder Ku shook his head. "My skills aren''t so easy to learn, I''m afraid. Furthermore, you''re already at the peak of Immanence, a crucial period for your development as a cultivator. Stop wasting time with me¡ªI won''t take you."


    "Elder Ku, how would you know whether I''m a good student without teaching me?" Yu''er refused to give up.


    Elder Ku shook his head. "That''s enough, I think. I can help you out if you have questions about cultivation, but let''s not speak further about apprenticeship."


    Yu''er still seemed to want to continue pleading with Elder Ku, but the disciples around her suggested, "Senior Sister Yu''er, why don''t you give up? You know how long it''s been since Elder Kust took a disciple. It won''t help no matter how many times you plead with him."


    "Junior Sister Yu''er, you know Elder Ku''s personality by now. He never goes back on his word, and he''s already refused you."


    A group of disciples were urging Yu''er to reconsider, but she red at everyone and stomped her feet. "Worry about yourselves first! Hmph!"


    Everyoneughed, but no one was mad. It was clear that Yu''er was beloved among the Taiqing disciples of the Ascended division.


    "Have you finished memorizing your scriptures?" Elder Ku asked.


    "I have, Elder! I have a great memory, and I can memorize a scripture just by reading it a few times. It''s no issue at all!" Yu''er boasted, smiling.


    "In that case, help Nanfeng arrange for amodations around here, please," Elder Ku instructed.


    Only then did Yu''er turn to Xiao Nanfeng. "Oh? Who''s this? Were you the one trying to tter Elder Ku just now? Let me warn you, this sort of thing doesn''t work on Elder Ku. And paradise, you say? I don''t think I know any other disciple shameless enough to say something like that, haha!"


    "I do mean it," Xiao Nanfeng replied seriously. "Living here would be a dreame true."


    Xiao Nanfeng did relish the idea of not having to spend money on Taoist scriptures, to have others recite scriptures for his enjoyment. Where else would he be able to find such an incredible paradise?


    "A dreame true? How shameless can you get? Lad, who are you? Why is Elder Ku arranging for you to stay nearby? Could you be a new nominal disciple? As I said, it''s useless for you to try to tter Elder Ku." Yu''er put her hands on her waist as she interrogated Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I just came from the public square of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, where I was fortunate enough to apprentice under Elder Ku. What I said wasn''t ttery¡ªI do mean it," Xiao Nanfeng reiterated.


    Yu''er''sughter abruptly stopped. Her face went still. "What? Elder Ku took you as disciple? How could this be?!"


    She had pleaded with Elder Ku countless times, but he had ignored her each time! She had thought Elder Kupletely resistant to the idea of taking another disciple¡ªbut why had he seeded where she had failed?


    The other disciples around all looked at Xiao Nanfeng with astonishment. The fact that Elder Ku had taken a new disciple was clearly extraordinary.


    "Elder Ku has a good eye," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    Yu''er red at Xiao Nanfeng for a long while, and then at Elder Ku in the distance. <i>Have we all been mistaken? Does Elder Ku like disciples that tter him? Look at the shamelessness of this fellow¡ª"Elder Ku has a good eye"? Is he praising Elder Ku, or praising himself?</i>

 Chapter 19: Xiao Nanfengs Foundations

    <h4>Chapter 19: Xiao Nanfeng''s Foundations</h4>


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, this is your room, along with a set of disciples'' robes and living supplies. As a formal disciple, you''ll have a stipend of a thousand taels of gold a year for your resource needs." On Elder Ku''s request, Yu''er unwillingly beckoned a few nominal disciples over to help set up a residence for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you, Senior Sister Yu''er!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    However, Yu''er only sniffed. Upon realizing that Xiao Nanfeng had be Elder Ku''s disciple, that he was living right beside Elder Ku''s cottage, her mouth puffed up in anger. Her envy and jealousy seemed poised to overflow from her body.


    "Elder Ku, if you can take him as an apprentice, why not me? How am I worse than he is?" Yu''er cried out.


    Elder Ku, who was repairing the snapped string on his guqin by a nearby table of stone, shook his head. "I epted Nanfeng as a student in name not because of his talent, but rather because he rectified an error Imitted today."


    "What error? I can fix it too!" Yu''er pursed her lips again.


    Elder Ku shook his head. He didn''t want to exin. Yu''er puffed up her mouth again, then red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng pretended not to see her. <i>How am I to me if Elder Ku doesn''t want to take you as his disciple? Why are you getting mad at me?</i>


    "Nanfeng, what stage of cultivation are you at? How is your foundation?" Elder Ku asked calmly.


    "Master, I''m at the sixth stage of Acquisition. I''ve never received formal training, and I only know one fist technique, "Marching Fist," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Sixth stage of Acquisition? You really are a novice, aren''t you? And "Marching Fist"? Isn''t that the most fundamental fist technique taught in the Empire''s army? This is all you know?" Yu''er gasped in shock.


    Elder Ku was willing to take such a novice as a disciple, but not me? Really?


    "''Marching Fist'', you say? Self-taught?" Elder Ku himself seemed rather surprised.


    "Yes, Master. My estate employed a few retired soldiers, and I learned this technique from them. I know none other," Xiao Nanfeng replied wryly.


    "Marching Fist" was the most basic of all fist techniques. It was all he knew because he had no other choice; the chief steward had forbidden it.


    "Who among you knows the fist technique ''Marching Fist''? I''d like to get a sense of Nanfeng''s fundamentals," Elder Ku called out toward the disciples reciting scriptures by the Cliff of Meditation.


    Before anyone could speak, however, Yu''er jumped in. "Elder Ku, I know this technique! Let me help!"


    "You?" Elder Ku frowned slightly.


    "Don''t worry, Elder, I won''t hurt your disciple. I''ll restrict myself to the sixth stage of Acquisition and help you test his fundamentals." Yu''er seemed very excited to participate.


    Elder Ku frowned again, realizing that Yu''er might be ill-disposed toward his disciple.


    "Master, may I be tested by a male senior? I''m unused to fighting against women," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stated.


    "What''s this? Are you looking down on women?!" Yu''er red, putting her hands on her hips as she made to berate him.


    "No, certainly not. I simply don''t wish to prompt any unnecessary physical contact, and would prefer that a male senior help test me."


    "Oho? Is that something you care about, then?" Yu''er sneered.


    Elder Ku seemed to have made up his mind. "Yu''er, you can help."


    "Very good, Elder! I''ll make sure to test his fundamentals thoroughly." Yu''er rubbed her palms gleefully as she walked up to him.


    "Nanfeng, defend yourself to the best of your ability," Elder Ku stated.


    "Yes, Master!"


    "Junior Brother, I''ll give you the first strike. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll go easy on you." Yu''er smiled with excitement as she provoked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, pushing off the ground like a loosed arrow and instantly approaching Yu''er''s side. Yu''er narrowed her eyes as she felt a surprising pressure emanate from him. Was he more skilled than he pretended to be?


    Yu''er made to strike, but Xiao Nanfeng twisted his body and kicked at her calf. She wobbled and her punch failed tond. Without giving her a chance to breathe, Xiao Nanfeng''s palm struck her back, mming her into the ground.


    <i>No!</i>


    However, it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng leapt into the air and dove down toward her, his knees heading straight for her head. If the attacknded, Yu''er would faint on the spot, at the very least.


    She shrieked.


    Before the attacknded, however, Xiao Nanfeng twisted his body andnded beside her, not inflicting any injury whatsoever.


    "Thank you for the bout, Senior Sister." Xiao Nanfeng bowed to her.


    The disciples reciting scriptures some distance away all stopped in shock as they gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Had that¡ªhad Xiao Nanfeng taken down Yu''er instantly? Yu''er wasn''t injured, but everyone knew that it would have been a crippling blow.


    "No, you, didn''t you say you weren''t going to hit women? And you still came at me so fiercely!" Yu''er eximed, crawling up with a mix of shame, anger, and embarrassment.


    "Senior Sister, I''ve read Martial Sage Wei''s <i>Mentality of Combat</i>, which describes the importance of focusing solely on the fight, rather than your opponent''s identity. Against men and women, young and old alike, express not pity or sympathy; neither think yourself inferior against a strong foe, nor superior against a weak one. Treat every bout with the fullness of your abilities," Xiao Nanfeng recited.


    "Ah? The Mentality of Combat?"


    "Excellent work," Elder Ku praised. "Yu''er, you''ve read this scripture more than once, haven''t you? Should you not also have internalized its teachings? If not for Nanfeng''s clemency, if your cultivation were the same level as his, you would have died."


    Yu''er flushed. She had been too careless.


    "That fight doesn''t count. I wasn''t ready. Let''s go again!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Master, may I be tested against another disciple? I worry that Senior Sister''s mood may affect her ability to fight, that she might go against her earlier promises and strike me harshly," Xiao Nanfeng requested, firmly but calmly.


    Yu''er red at him. "What do you mean? I''m a woman of my word. I won''t strike you with any blow beyond that feasible at the sixth stage of Acquisition, or with any technique except Marching Fist!"


    Sensing Yu''er''s anger, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward her with doubt writ clearly on his face.


    "Do you still doubt me?! Very well¡ªif I go back on my word, I''ll hand you three hundred taels of gold!" This was the first time in her many years at the Taiqing sect that anyone had treated her with such naked distrust! It was an insult beyond anything she had suffered.


    The disciples reciting scriptures stopped again as they turned to watch the fight between Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er instead.


    "Master, Sage Shan''s <i>Discourse on Inimical Behavior</i> states that the promises of those disying emotional instability are not to be trusted, and cautions that you should distance yourself lest you be caught unawares in their moods," Xiao Nanfeng recited again.


    "<i>Discourse on Inimical Behavior</i>? I had to memorize that once, and he does seem to be right..." one disciple murmured to herself, a strange look on her face.


    "Shut up! Or are you doubting my promises too?!" Yu''er red at the disciple who had spoken.


    "No, Senior Sister! Please, ignore what I said." The former disciple immediately looked abashed as she lowered her head.


    "Come on! My word is gold. Beat me, and I''ll give you three hundred taels!" Yu''er shouted at Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Master..." Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Elder Ku, wanting to extricate himself from this entire mess.


    "Nanfeng, fight once more with Yu''er," Elder Ku replied calmly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "Yes, Master!"


    "Lad, this time, I won''t let you catch me off-guard again! Come!" Excitement shed through Yu''er''s eyes as Xiao Nanfeng turned serious once again.


    "Let''s begin." Yu''er red and whizzed toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er exchanged blows once again. Both disciples were now at the same level of cultivation, and neither''s strength could overwhelm the other''s.


    Theyunched Marching Fists together in a flurry, each striking the other once and again, shing with elbows and legs, and stirring up dust all over.


    By now, the disciples all around them had lost all interest in continuing with their scriptures. Rather, they watched the bout with growing interest and wide eyes.


    "Did thisd really learn ''Marching Fist'' all by himself? And he can even fight on equal footing with Senior Sister Yu''er? We all know how muchbat experience she has¡ªthis is ridiculous!" one disciple murmured.


    "I would believe that he''s self-taught. Look, don''t his punches seem a bit stiff to you? But they''re incredibly urate, almost as though they''re examples straight from our manuals¡ªand he seems to be getting more and more familiar with Marching Fist on the fly."


    Indeed, despite his inexperience, Xiao Nanfeng''s precise and decisive blows were shocking to the gathered disciples. As the fight dragged on, Xiao Nanfeng slowly took the upper hand, having had time to limate to using the technique in actual fights.


    "This is impossible! He''s improving as we speak!" someone shouted.


    Yu''er grew more and more anxious. This time, she had paid her opponent her full attention from the get go, but why did she remain unable to take him down? This was impossible! She was certain she had far morebat experience than Nanfeng. How many fights to the death had she undergone? Meanwhile, it was clear that Nanfeng was aplete and utter novice. How could things be progressing in such a fashion?


    "Marching Fist, a fist technique that prioritizes swift, decisive punches that strike hard and true. Senior Sister, as described in Martial Sage Wei''s <i>Treatise of the Fist</i>, all things bear duality in yin and yang. Despite its outward appearance as a yang technique, the crux to Marching Fist is its supple and adaptive nature, which bolsters the speed and strength of the resulting punch. Your usage of Marching Fist has neglected its yin underside in favor of its yang appearance. You have exchanged infinite adaptability for a decisive, prating strike¡ªand in doing so, diverted from the core of the technique entirely!" Xiao Nanfeng criticized.


    "Martial Sage Wei''s <i>Treatise of the Fist</i>? I, I seem to have memorized that scripture once, but I never realized that it could be applicable in this way until now. That Taoist scripture actually rtes to amonce technique like Marching Fist?!" one disciple cried out.


    Elder Ku''s face was as impassive as ever, but he was internally amazed. Did his new disciple actually integrate the learnings from these Taoist scriptures into his techniques?


    As Xiao Nanfeng grew ever closer to mastery of the Marching Fist, Yu''er became even more vexed. How could this be? She had far morebat experience than he, so how was he beating her?


    Nanfeng''s fist technique had been stiff and untested at the beginning, but he seemed able tond each and every strike. She knew her punches were stronger¡ªso how did he stymie her with every blow? How could this be? <i>And he''s even lecturing me about fist techniques now? As if I need to learn anything about as basic a technique as Marching Fist!</i> In a sudden re of shame and anger, Yu''er couldn''t hold back any longer.


    "Five-Venom Prating Palm!" Yu''er found an opening in Xiao Nanfeng''s defense and struck his chest, sending him flying.


    Just as he was about to strike the ground, a palm appeared by his back and held him steady, dissipating much of the momentum from Yu''er''s attack.


    "Master?" Xiao Nanfeng looked at the elder who had saved him.


    "Are you alright?" Elder Ku asked.


    "Yes, Master. Thank you for the help."


    He turned to Yu''er with a wry smile. "You have bested me, Senior Sister."


    However, Yu''er wasn''t happy at all. She hmphed as she stomped on the ground. She had broken her promise, after all! Not only had she used a technique other than Marching Fist, she had even borrowed from her true strength!


    Had she won? No¡ªit was utter defeat.

 Chapter 20: Hegemons Fist

    <h4>Chapter 20: Hegemon''s Fist</h4>


    Yu''er, knowing that she had lost, was nevertheless forthright. She paid up immediately.


    "Here. I''m not too familiar with Marching Fist, and I wouldn''t have lost with any other fist technique, I can tell you that!"


    Yu''er stuffed banknotes worth three hundred taels of gold in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    To be frank, Xiao Nanfeng was surprised that she had kept her word. He had thought her merely an annoying troublemaker, but it was clear she had some redeeming qualities. Little wonder she was so beloved by her fellow disciples.


    "Thank you, Senior Sister."


    These three hundred taels of gold, along with the stipend he had received for officially bing a disciple, meant that he now possessed 1,300 taels of gold despite being penniless just earlier in the day.


    "No need for thanks. I offered this bet and lost. Have Elder Ku help with your injuries¡ªI used a technique I shouldn''t have, and it can harm your body if left untreated. I don''t want to ruin your cultivation," Yu''er warned, frowning.


    Although she was still upset to have lost to Xiao Nanfeng, she wasn''t malicious.


    "There''s no need to worry, Senior Sister. The residual impact of your blow has been neutralized by Master Ku." Xiao Nanfeng felt his measure of her rise by quite a few notches.


    "I didn''t neutralize all of it," Elder Ku said. "Did you manage to handle the rest on your own?"


    "Yes, Master."


    "Five-Venom Prating Palm is a technique of pure yin, and it''s difficult to neutralize in its entirety. What qi technique do you cultivate that would allow you to do so?" Elder Ku asked curiously.


    "Master, my qi cultivation is a little subpar. I hope you''ll be able to advise me. I''m currently using Rites of Dawn."


    "Rites of Dawn?!" Yu''er looked at Xiao Nanfeng in shock, as did the other disciples in the vicinity. What was he doing with such a technique?


    "Yes, Rites of Dawn. It''s a third-rate technique, I know," Xiao Nanfeng replied drolly.


    "Rites of Dawn? No, that can''t be. How old are you? You''ve reached the sixth stage of cultivation with Rites of Dawn?!"


    "I''m sixteen, Senior Sister, as you''re aware."


    "Impossible! How could you be at the sixth stage at sixteen? Don''t you know how difficult it is to cultivate with this technique? No sane person would do so¡ªit''s far too slow!" Yu''er still seemed gobsmacked.


    "I know, Senior Sister. Other techniques can absorb spiritual aether at any time in the day to generate qi, but Rites of Dawn requires dawn light, avable for only half an hour each day¡ªand only in fair weather, too. I know how difficult it is."


    "You do? Then why choose it?!"


    "I had no choice," Xiao Nanfeng sighed. <i>Do you think I wanted to learn Rites of Dawn? The chief steward refused to allow me to cultivate anything else but such third-rate techniques!</i>


    "And yet you still made it to the sixth stage of Acquisition at sixteen!"


    "Quite so. The first five stages of the technique are foundational and necessitate the use of dawn qi, but at the sixth stage and beyond, you can elerate your cultivation by consuming lifeforms of pure yang. An ordinary cultivator would take three decades of intense cultivation to reach the fifth stage of Acquisition with Rites of Dawn, and you im to have done it in half that time? How could you be sixteen?" Elder Ku asked.


    "I read a few Taoist scriptures that were of relevance, Master. Among them, Martial Sage Wu''s <i>Temporal Ode</i> allowed me to prepare my dantian in advance, allowing me to gather and store dawn qi more rapidly; Sage Shan''s <i>Record of Three Breaths</i> described how I canpress and condense such rarefied qi using a special breathing technique; Taoist Wushan''s <i>Meditations on Meditation</i>, which describes a manner of meditative thought that can effectively inte the size of my dantian for this purpose; and..." Xiao Nanfeng described the various scriptures he had read that he deemed relevant in great detail.


    Yu''er was dumbfounded, as were the senior disciples arrayed all around them. <i>Really? You used eight different Taoist scriptures to aid in your cultivation of this supposed third-rate technique? We read these scriptures too¡ªto think they could be used in such a fashion!</i>


    Even Elder Ku was astounded. The Taiqing disciples all around him were reluctant to even memorize the scriptures, let aloneprehend and internalize them, but his new disciple had done all that and was applying the scriptures in practice! Not only that, bybining all these scriptures, he had even managed an unprecedented twofold, even threefold, speedup in the cultivation of Rites of Dawn! His disciple... was far more impressive than even he had expected!


    "I had only managed to reach the fifth stage of Acquisition until a few days ago, when I managed to fish up a golden spirit eel on the voyage here. I ate half of it and managed to break through to the sixth stage," Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    "The first five stages of Rites of Dawn are foundational, but after that, you can consume food of pure yang in order to raise your cultivation. You were lucky!" Elder Kumented.


    "Master, I realize that this cultivation technique is limited in its speed. May I ask what technique you would advise instead?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Reaching the sixth stage of Acquisition at sixteen was certainly slower than average, but for a technique like Rites of Dawn, it was a rate utterly unheard of!


    Elder Ku shook his head. "Rites of Dawn is a difficult technique to cultivate, and one considered third-rate only because of this difficulty. However, the resulting qi is precious indeed, having incorporated and being constituted of sr energy¡ªit is qi of pure yang. It would have been far harder for you to neutralize Yu''er''s Five-Venom Prating Palm otherwise."


    "Qi of pure yang?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "That''s right. Qi of pure yang is exceedingly precious, and I would hardly advise you to scrap your cultivation and start from scratch. Once you reach Immanence, pick out another pure yang qi cultivation technique to further your cultivation. Cultivators of pure yang have a hard time at the beginning, but grow stronger the further they go," Elder Ku exined.


    "Master, you mean that my Rites of Dawn will be a good foundation for my cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Indeed."


    "Thank you, Master! I''ll keep cultivating hard!" Xiao Nanfeng felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His qi cultivation technique wasn''t weak, it really wasn''t!


    "Now that you''ve reached the sixth stage of Acquisition, you can consume some pure yang foods to hasten your cultivation. Ask Yu''er about this¡ªshe''s responsible for some kitchens on Taiping Ind, and has ready sources for such foods. You''ll be able to purchase a fair quantity as long as you have sufficient gold."


    "Thank you for the pointers, Master!" So Yu''er had some authority on the ind, too!


    "As for your Marching Fist?" Elder Ku frowned.


    "Yes, Master. I know I need to diversify my repertoire. Would you advise me?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Are you aware of Hegemon''s Fist?" Elder Ku asked, after a moment of thought.


    "Hegemon''s Fist? I believe I may have read about it. It was a fist technique created by some emperor a millennium back with incredible power and dominance. At its peak, one punch could decimate a thousand troops, two could smash mountains and rivers out of existence, and three could part heaven and earth. It''s a particrly powerful fist technique," Xiao Nanfeng recalled.


    "Exactly right. Hegemon''s Fist is a domineering technique, but one which few have been able to cultivate. Your Marching Fist is a far simplified version of such a technique and then spread among the masses. Despite this simplification, it''s been widely adopted within the army and elsewhere, a testament to its strength," Elder Ku exined.


    "Marching Fist is a simplified version of Hegemon''s Fist?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "Quite so. The Taiqing sect has a copy of Hegemon''s Fist, but it is exceedingly difficult to cultivate. Without sufficient intuition and understanding, you might as well go for another technique instead. Do you wish to give it a try?" Elder Ku offered.


    "Do you think I might be able to seed, Master?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, not particrly confident.


    "You have clearly mastered the foundations of Marching Fist, and I believe you do have some chance at sess. Seed, and you will have unparalleled strength; fail, and you would have wasted your time. The choice is yours."


    Xiao Nanfeng recalled the superior yin pearl that was currently in his soulspace. It had transformed his mind into that of a genius, allowing him to quickly andprehensively understand all manner of fist-rted Taoist scriptures. It was certainly worth a try.


    "Please, Master! I humbly beg your assistance in learning Hegemon''s Fist!"


    "Very good. We shall start tomorrow. Have you any further questions for me?" Elder Ku was very pleased with Xiao Nanfeng''s will and drive.


    "Master, I enjoy reading Taoist scriptures. May I have your permission to enter the vault and pick some out for myself?" <i>The Vault of Scriptures is right around the corner. This way, I won''t even have to spend money on scriptures any longer!</i>


    Yu''er and the senior disciples who were glumly reciting their chosen scriptures looked at Xiao Nanfeng as though he were a monster. What did he say? That he wanted to study those cryptic, arcane Taoist scriptures of his own will? Was he crazy?!


    Elder Ku himself was surprised, but considering how deftly Xiao Nanfeng had integrated a stunning number of scriptures into his cultivation and training, he was certain that his disciple truly was a schr with independent interest in learning. When he said that this was a paradise, he had meant it.


    "Very well! I grant you permission to enter the base level of the Vault of Scriptures at will. Have your fill of the 48,000 Taoist scriptures within." Elder Ku was very pleased.

 Chapter 21: The Top Guqin Master

    <h4>Chapter 21: The Top Guqin Master</h4>


    One monthter, deep within a prison of the Taiqing Ind, two convicts screamed on a torture rack as a hot brand was held to their chests.


    Zhao Yuanjiao watched from a tidy desk nearby.


    "Senior Brother, we''ve gone over and over the new recruits'' information until we found a few discrepancies that allowed us to catch these two demonic spies," a disciple reported.


    "Have you learned anything from them?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "They''re low on the demonic hierarchy, and they don''t know very much themselves. They im that certain nominal disciples will get in touch with them, but they don''t know their identities. They also im that the demonic sect has taken over at least one high-ranking position of the n."


    "To think that the demonic sect''s encroachment has grown so extreme..." Zhao Yuanjiao''s face grew dark.


    "Senior Brother, this is no small affair. Should we report it to the sect leader?" the disciple asked.


    "I''ve already done so. I have taken full charge of this investigation¡ªthey''ll pay for what they''ve done!" Zhao Yuanjiao promised. "Do not speak publicly of this. Continue investigating secretly, and figure out what these two spies know. I don''t believe that their knowledge is quite so dismal."


    "Yes, Senior Brother!"


    "Right, has anything happened at the Vault of Scriptures?" Zhao Yuanjiao looked toward the junior disciple.


    "Do you refer to Junior Brother Nanfeng, Senior Brother?"


    "Junior Brother? It''s far too early to call him that, not before we learn more about his background. What''s he been up to?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Are you aware of his fight against Junior Sister Yu''er, Senior Brother?"


    "I am. Yu''er is unfamiliar with the Marching Fist. When restricted to the same cultivation and to that sole technique, it''s normal that she would lose to thatd¡ªMarching Fist is all he knew, isn''t it? Does he really think that being able to recite a few Taoist scriptures is all that impressive? I''ve memorized more scriptures than he''s even aware of. Junior Sister Yu''er is honest to a fault, to have given him three hundred taels of gold just for losing," Zhao Yuanjiao criticized.


    "Senior Brother, Elder Ku seems particrly taken with his new disciple. He personally spent five days tutoring him in Hegemon''s Fist before entering secluded cultivation. Furthermore, despite Elder Ku''s tendency of punishing disciples with reciting scriptures, he hasn''t done that a single time to Xiao Nanfeng," the disciple reported.


    "Individual tutge, and five days in a row at that?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "Yes, Senior Brother! In the next twenty days since, he''s led a very structured life. He spends all morning practicing Hegemon''s Fist, and the afternoon and night reading in the Vault of Scriptures."


    "Reading in the Vault of Scriptures? Has he tried to ess the second floor?" Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes.


    "No, Senior Brother. He doesn''t qualify to do so, and he''s never made such an attempt. He seems to be spending all his time reading Taoist scriptures intently on the first floor. He''s obsessed with them."


    "Intently? Obsessed?" Zhao Yuanjiao nced at his junior in shock.


    Taoist scriptures were cryptic and near-impossible to understand. He had memorized his fair share of them, but would hardly im to understand the vast majority fully. Trying to read one deeply had, it was well known, a soporific effect. How could Xiao Nanfeng be obsessed with them?


    "Even to the point of forgetting to eat, Senior Brother," the disciple reported.


    Zhao Yuanjiao: ...


    "He''s read no fewer than three hundred Taoist scriptures over thest month, the majority of which deal with fist techniques," the disciple continued.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyebrows rose in skepticism. "What? Three hundred in a month? Ten scriptures a day? Are you trying to fool me?"


    "It''s true, Senior Brother!"


    "Doing so would be impossible even if he were just reading each one in a cursory fashion. He has to be feigning it¡ªhe''s just trying to mislead us," Zhao Yuanjiao concluded.


    "But... that''s what the disciple in charge of watching him reported, Senior Brother!"


    "Ridiculous. How many such scriptures could you read ''intently, as if obsessed'' for a month straight? He must have suspected that he''d be watched, so he''s trying to trick us all¡ªbut unfortunately for him, he''s overdone it. Ten scriptures a day? Does he think us all fools?"


    "Senior Brother, then..."


    "Keep tailing him. Track who he talks to andmunicates with¡ªthere''s definitely someone he''s in contact with. He''ll surely avoid our surveince to meet up with whoever his contact is. When that happens, seize and interrogate him straight away."


    "Seize him? But he''s Elder Ku''s disciple! We¡ª"


    "Seize him!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    "Understood!"


    The Vault of Scriptures, at daybreak: as he basked in a ray of dawn light, Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged, meditating and absorbing the qi of dawn. Half an hourter, as he spat out a mouthful of turbid air, he slowly opened his eyes.


    The sound of chanting and recitation surrounded him and left him in a state of bliss.


    Just then, a nominal disciple strode up to him with a lunchbox.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, you''ve been quite lucky! A batch of golden spirit eels was sent to the kitchen yesterday, and I''ve prepared a slightly smaller one ording to your preferences. This eel cost a hundred taels of gold," the nominal disciple reported.


    "Thank you."


    "No thanks is necessary, Senior Brother. I''m just a nominal disciple working under Senior Sister Yu''er. Please, just call me Tang!"


    Xiao Nanfeng handed Tang a hundred taels of gold. Over the course of this month, he had spent all 1,300 tales of gold of his stipend on food of pure yang, and this was thest of that stipend.


    As he sat by a dining table nearby and ate, he suddenly heard Yu''er''sughter from a distance. "I knew you''d be interested in this batch of golden spirit eels! But are you trying to make them all drool to death?"


    "Senior Sister? What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng turned in the direction of the voice


    to see Yu''er strolling over in tight-fitting robes, arge smile on her face.


    "I''m here to check up on just how much you''ve been spending, of course!" Yu''erughed again. "Look at those poor disciples reciting scriptures by the Cliff of Meditation. Recitation is punishment enough, but now they even have to bear with hunger pangs from the smell of your food! Have you spared them a thought at all?"


    As if on demand, several disciples'' stomachs rumbled all at once.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "My senior brothers and sisters can buy their own food, can''t they? It''s not as though they''re forbidden to eat while reciting their scriptures."


    Yu''er rolled her eyes. "The stipend is a thousand taels of gold for the entire year, but you''ve finished it all in just one month! What are you going to do for the rest of the year? Do you think the others are like you?"


    Upon hearing that, the disciples by the cliff all smirked at Xiao Nanfeng. He''d be eating mud for the rest of the year, at that rate!"


    "I don''t have a choice, Senior Sister," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "As you know, my cultivation will stagnate otherwise."


    "Well, I''m personally hoping you buy more¡ªthat''s how I make money, after all. I fought for this eel with my very life! I apanied a few other disciples out raiding an aquatic spiritir, and we found plenty of golden spirit eels there," Yu''er described proudly.


    "Ah? Did my hundred taels of gold end up lining your pocket, then?"


    "Not quite. The profits were evenly divided among us all based on our contribution. I only earned about a thousand taels," Yu''er replied. Her tone was modest, but her eyes wereced with pride.


    "You can make money and eat your fill of demonic lifeforms on these expeditions?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Oh? Is that a look of interest in your eyes? Would you like to go out exploring and making money with me?" Yu''er tempted Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered matters thoughtfully for a moment, then resolutely shook his head. "No, not yet. Given my current cultivation, I''d just be a walking target. Better for me to remain in the sect and practice diligently."


    "Che! You''ve already used up your 1,300 taels of gold. How do you intend to cultivate? Without any foods of pure yang, your cultivation will grind to a halt!"


    "There''s no need for you to worry, Senior Sister! Even without any such food, the Vault of Scriptures is right here waiting for me. Reading all these scriptures is enough to make me happy," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er: ...


    This was what irritated Yu''er most about Xiao Nanfeng. She had believed that Xiao Nanfeng was just trying to tter Elder Ku when he pronounced the Vault of Scriptures a paradise, but over the course of the month, she had witnessed him diligently reading Taoist scriptures all afternoon each day. <i>Reading is enough to make you happy? Are you crazy? This is clearly thick-skinned ttery!</i>


    "Did youe find me for a reason, Senior Sister?"


    "What, do I need a reason to speak with you? I had the best chef prepare your eel, and this is how you treat me?" Yu''er red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed his head. "I apologize, Senior Sister. If there''s anything I can help you with, please let me know."


    "Aha! I was waiting for you to say just that!" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Don''t worry, I won''t make things difficult for you. I simply want to apprentice under Elder Ku, and I''m hoping you''ll advocate on my behalf," Yu''er requested earnestly.


    "Is Elder Ku particrly skilled at the guqin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "You''re unaware?" Yu''er cried out.


    "I know that Master is extremely strong, but not to what extent. Could you tell me more?"


    Yu''er nced at Xiao Nanfeng with a strange expression on her face. "How lucky you are¡ªand you don''t even know it!"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Let''s put it this way: Elder Ku''s cultivation is founded on his understanding of the guqin. He''s the master of this field in the sect, and even the sect master would pale to him in his specialty¡ªoh, but I think there was someone in the past able topete on equal grounds with Elder Ku, but he hasn''t been heard from in years," Yu''er recalled.


    "Oh? Who?"


    "I think his name was... Xiao Hongye? Some elder of the Mortal division."


    "Xiao Hongye?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. <i>Isn''t that... my father?</i>

 Chapter 22: Apprehended on the Spot

    <h4>Chapter 22: Apprehended on the Spot</h4>


    "Why the face? Have you heard of him?" Yu''er asked curiously, sensing Xiao Nanfeng''s shock.


    "Not at all!" Xiao Nanfeng immediately shook his head. He didn''t want to expose himself just yet.


    "Why''d you make such a big fuss, then? Xiao Hongye''s a Mortal elder, whereas Elder Ku is an Ascended elder. ording to the seniors, the two of them were even bitter rivals for many years!" Yu''er gossiped.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He didn''t know what to say. His father was on one side, and his master on the other; responding at all could be impolitic.


    "You want to apprentice under Elder Ku because you enjoy the guqin?" Xiao Nanfeng deftly changed the topic.


    "That''s one aspect of it, but those who cultivate with the guqin also develop their spiritual cultivation far more quickly."


    "Spiritual cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.


    He had been right back on the ship! Elder Ku''s guqin had boosted his spiritual cultivation tremendously.


    "Don''t you worry about that just yet. You''re still in Acquisition, so work on your qi first. Once you reach Immanence, Elder Ku will surely tell you more. Ah, the more I think about it, the more angry I get! Why are you so much luckier than I am?!"


    As Xiao Nanfeng watched Yu''er pretend to wipe away unshed tears, his face spasmed.


    "Alright, Senior Sister, alright! If I have an opportunity to do so, I''ll request that Elder Ku take you on as a disciple. However, that''s all I can do¡ªand I don''t think Elder Ku will listen to me, either."


    "That''s all I need, Junior Brother! I''ll take your promise to heart." Yu''er instantly stopped ''crying'' and began to smile brightly.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. His senior sister could well be an actress.


    "Senior Sister, I''ve finished eating. I''d like to train my fist technique so as to fully absorb the golden spirit eel''s pure yang spiritual energy, so please wait up." Xiao Nanfeng stood up.


    He took a proper stance andunched a flurry of punches. It sounded as though thunder was rumbling in the distance.


    "Oh, is this Hegemon''s Fist? You''ve only been cultivating it for a month¡ªhow are you this good already? I remember that Elder Ku even had to correct your form and stance the first few days!" Yu''er cried out.


    "I''ve been reading many Taoist scriptures about fist techniques in the Vault of Scriptures, and I made a few small changes so that Hegemon''s Fist is more tailored to my individual strengths," Xiao Nanfeng exined, even as he continued to practice his punches.


    "You dare modify your techniques after just reading a few scriptures? What if you understood those scriptures wrongly?" Yu''er cried out.


    "That won''t happen," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    Yu''er frowned and gave him a strange look. "You''re quite good at bragging, aren''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued punching forward, each causing a miniature explosion of sound.


    "Just how far have you gotten with the technique?" Yu''er peered at Xiao Nanfeng. His modifications did seem to make the technique flow smoothly; there was none of the stiffness or awkwardness she had expected to see.


    "I''m just past the basics," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Past the basics? You''d need to fullyprehend the intention of the technique for that¡ªand you im you''ve done it in a month?!" Yu''er widened her eyes in clear disbelief. "Come, why don''t you let me help you train? I''d like to get a sense of your understanding."


    "That''s quite alright, Senior Sister. I''d prefer to train on my own." Xiao Nanfeng tactfully refused the offer.


    He still remembered what had happened thest time. If he were to upset her and be struck with another Five-Venom Prating Palm... <i>Master Ku isn''t here to help me this time. There''s no need for me to risk getting hit by you!</i>


    "Hmph! Ignoring my kind offer like that!" Yu''er wrinkled her nose, but didn''t prod Xiao Nanfeng further.


    Xiao Nanfeng executed Hegemon''s Fist thrice more before stopping.


    "You''re done?" Yu''er yawned, bored, when she saw that Xiao Nanfeng had stopped.


    "I''ve finished absorbing the spiritual energy of the golden eel." Xiao Nanfeng turned to Yu''er. "I intend to read in the Vault of Scriptures, Senior Sister. Would you like to join me?"


    "Of course not!" Yu''er shook her head violently the moment she heard those three dreaded words. "Go by yourself. Don''t forget about your promise to me, alright?"


    "Of course."


    "Right, I left two golden spirit eels for myself during myst expedition. I''ll share one with youter!" Yu''er called out with a smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Yu''er in surprise. It was little wonder everyone in the sect seemed to think favorably of her, if she were so generous.


    "Thank you, Senior Sister." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    Yu''er waved a hand at him happily, then vanished into the distance. <i>Now that I''m doing something for you, you''ll do something for me too, won''t you? Tit for tat!</i>


    After Yu''er left, Xiao Nanfeng took a bath in his cottage, changed into clean clothes, and then went to read in the Vault of Scriptures.


    In the afternoon, as he stepped out, he saw the nominal disciple Tang who had brought him his meal earlier in the day.


    "Senior Brother!" Tang''s eyes lit up upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng. "Senior Sister Yu''er told me to send you another golden eel. When would you like it to be delivered, Senior Brother? There''s a special pool in which we can temporarily store such eels within the sect, so you don''t have to worry about it dying in the short term."


    "Senior Sister Yu''er works really rapidly, doesn''t she?"


    "That''s right! She''s very fond of you, Senior Brother." Tang gave Xiao Nanfeng a grin. He continued, "Senior Brother, the senior disciples of the sect bring back all manner of lifeforms when they go out hunting down demonicirs, which we nominal disciples are in charge of selling and cooking. In addition to these golden eels, we have a variety of other demonic lifeforms as well. Would you be interested in any of them, Senior Brother?"


    "Hmm?" Xiao Nanfeng did seem tempted.


    "The golden eel that Senior Sister Yu''er left you is worth two hundred taels of gold. If any other lifeform catches your eye, Senior Brother, you need only pay the difference in price," Tang exined.


    "Where''s the kitchen?"


    "Right by the ind''s harbor. If you''re interested in getting a change of taste, Senior Brother, I''d be happy to show you around if you let me know in advance. You can pick out your preferred lifeform, and we''ll make sure to cook it well," Tang exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng was tempted. Right by the harbor? He had wanted an excuse to slip over there¡ª


    there were still 10,000 taels of gold waiting for him on the ship that had brought him here! By now, after over a month, likely no one was still paying attention to that theft.


    "Let''s head over immediately, then!" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Now? This urgently?" Tang frowned.


    "Is there a problem?" Xiao Nanfeng caught the change in Tang''s expression.


    "No, no problem at all¡ªbut I haven''t made preparations yet, Senior Brother. Weren''t you intending to head to the Vault of Scriptures instead?"


    "I''m happy to read the scripturester, and we don''t need to prepare, do we? Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng insisted. He had grown ustomed to his identity. As Elder Ku''s sole disciple, he had no need to stand on formality with nominal disciples.


    "Very well," Tang sighed, nodding. The two of them left the Vault of Scriptures and headed down a forested path. Their whereabouts were immediately reported to Zhao Yuanjiao.


    When Zhao Yuanjiao heard the news, he grinned. "Finally, after a month, he''s dropped his guard!"


    "As you suspected, Senior Brother, Nanfeng and a nominal disciple have headed off into the woods. They''re clearly nning something!" a junior disciple cried out.


    "Then our surveince hasn''t been in vain. Who''s the nominal disciple?"


    "He''s Tang, a rtively decent cook responsible for preparing spiritbeast meat. When Junior Sister Yu''er was searching for a nominal disciple to send meals to Nanfeng, Tang volunteered, and has been responsible for doing so for the whole month," the junior disciple reported.


    "So this is their ploy. Let''s see just what sort of prey we''ve caught with our bait, shall we?" Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes shed with coldness. "Summon the others. We''re going to apprehend Tang and Nanfeng!"

 Chapter 23: You Did It First

    <h4>Chapter 23: You Did It First</h4>


    Wavespped against the shore near a rocky outcropping. Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he turned back to nce at the unusual white mist they had just passed through.


    "Senior Brother, Taiqing Ind is filled with misdirection arrays to prevent any intruders from getting their bearings and protect the safety and secrecy of the ind. If they don''t know the way out, they''ll be trapped in circles within the arrays."


    "Isn''t this the harbor?" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the sea close by.


    "We''re taking a shortcut. If we take the usual routes, we''d have to wind around a few mountains. We''ll be able to reach the harbor quickly by following the coast. If you''re tired, Senior Brother, we can rest for a bit," Tang offered.


    "Let''s do so, then. It''s lucky that you''re familiar with the terrain of the ind, or this trip might have taken a lot longer." Xiao Nanfeng smiled as he sat on arge boulder.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve noticed that you''ve only had spiritbeast meat ever since entering the sect. Have you tried any other delicacies? I might be just a nominal disciple, but I did enter the sect a year earlier, and I''ve seen my fair share of top-grade products. For instance, this sk of spirit-infused alcohol isparable to the spiritbeast meat you''ve ordered in the past. Would you like to try a little, Senior Brother?" Tang unhooked a sh of alcohol from his waist.


    "Oh, spirit-infused alcohol?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Here, Senior Brother!" Tang warmly offered him the sk.


    Xiao Nanfeng uncorked it and took a few whiffs. "How fragrant!"


    "As to be expected of spirit-infused alcohol," Tang replied, smiling. "Please, help yourself, Senior Brother."


    Xiao Nanfeng tipped the sk up and took a big gulp. As Tang saw Xiao Nanfeng drink the wine, his lips curled upward and his eyes shed with anticipation.


    Suddenly, however, Xiao Nanfeng spat out the wine.


    "Ah? Senior Brother, you..." Tang was bbergasted.


    "This is far too spicy for me!" Xiao Nanfeng sniffed disdainfully at the sk as he returned it to Tang.


    Tang hesitated for a moment. <i>Spicy? </i>Looking at Xiao Nanfeng strangely, he ventured, "Senior Brother, is this your first time drinking wine?"


    "Ah, how did you know?" Xiao Nanfeng replied in embarrassment.


    Tang: ...


    Indeed, Nanfeng was only sixteen, and it was natural that he hadn''t had wine before. It made sense that he would denounce it as spicy.


    "Senior Brother, this is just how wine tastes," Tang replied, smiling wryly.


    "But it really is spicy!" Xiao Nanfeng shook his head immediately.


    "You have to drink it in big gulps, like this!" Tang lifted the sk and demonstrated, gulping down its contents.


    "Ah, it''s invigorating! Did you see? This is spirit-infused alcohol! All men drink, and this alcohol''s the best of the best! It elerates cultivation immensely, and spitting it out is a waste. Who knows? You might even seek me out at the harbor hoping to buy more!" Tang advised.


    "Really? Let me try again, please!" Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have been tempted.


    He downed another big gulp of alcohol¡ªbut instead of swallowing it, he spat it out again.


    Tang frowned. <i>You''re doing this intentionally, aren''t you?</i>


    "Sorry, I wasted it again. I''m still a little unused to alcohol, but I did manage to swallow half a gulp. I feel it burning down my throat," Xiao Nanfeng told Tang.


    Tang''s eyes lit up. "That''s right, that''s the feeling! Well? Do you feel invigorated?"


    "Ah, it really is spicy. I feel like my stomach''s burning up, but somehow there''s also a sensation offort," Xiao Nanfeng described.


    "Haha! Right, this alcohol is rather special, isn''t it?" Tang grinned in satisfaction.


    Then, he sneered at Xiao Nanfeng openly, as though waiting for something to happen.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stumbled, clutching his head in pain. "Why do I feel¡ªmy body, my stomach..."


    "Are you feeling weak all over, as though you can''t seem to muster up any strength?" Tang suddenly asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng stopped clutching his head. He slumped down by a nearby rock.


    "Tang? I can''t even seem to move. Am I drunk? What''s wrong with me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    Tang stared coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. "How can a cultivator at the sixth stage of Acquisition get drunk on such little alcohol? You''re not drunk, just poisoned."


    "Poison? What poison? Ah¡ªthe wine was poisoned? But why?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face shed with rm.


    "You''re no match for me, but I''m a cautious person, you see. We''re near the outskirts of the ind, and there''s barely anyone here. Even if you scream your throat hoarse, no one wille rescue you. Don''t me me too much, alright, Senior Brother Nanfeng?" Tang grinned.


    "No, didn''t you drink that alcohol too? Why are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "I had the antidote in advance, of course," Tang replied breezily.


    "Just what are you nning to do? I haven''t offended you, have I?" Xiao Nanfeng grew even more rmed.


    "Indeed not, but you hold a special position in the sect, you see. You''re Elder Ku''s only disciple. Don''t worry, I won''t kill you¡ªas long as you''re obedient. Make use of your identity as Elder Ku''s disciple to retrieve something from the fourth floor of the Vault of Scriptures for us," Tang whispered.


    "You¡ªjust who are you?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "That''s not important. What you should keep in mind is that you''ve been poisoned, and I''m the only one with the antidote. If you don''t listen up, your stomach will rot and you''ll die from the inside out. Even Elder Ku won''t be able to save you then. Now, do you want to live or to die? It''s up to you," Tang threatened.


    "Ah, you mentioned an ''us''? You''re working with someone else?" Despite his physical paralysis, Xiao Nanfeng still boasted a keen intellect.


    "Who I am doesn''t concern you. Now, do you want to live or to die?" Tang delivered an ultimatum.


    "I want to die, of course, but even if I chose death, would you be able to kill me?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenlyughed.


    "You!" Tang stood up, but before he could continue speaking, he suddenly felt a severe bout of dizziness. He stumbled and crashed onto the floor.


    Paralyzed, Tang let out a gasp of astonishment. "I consumed the antidote, so why..."


    Tang tried to mber up, but couldn''t muster the strength to do so.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng slowly stood up, his earlier ''symptoms'' having abated. He looked down at Tang coldly.


    "You faked it? No, that''s impossible! You drank the wine!" Tang cried out.


    "Didn''t I spit it all out? Have you forgotten already?" Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    Tang gaped. Hadn''t Xiao Nanfeng swallowed half and spat out the other? No, he had been lying even then!


    "You poisoned me? When?!" Tang cried out.


    Tang understood what had happened now. He had poisoned Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng had drunk nothing and had counter-poisoned him instead!


    "Don''t you know not to let unsealed drinks out of your sight?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Tang frowned. He had been paying attention to his sk all along. There had been no opportunity for Xiao Nanfeng to have poisoned it¡ªno, there had been a single moment!


    "Just now? While I was looking at you spit out the first mouthful of alcohol? But how did you know I would have drunk it?" Tang cried out.


    "I guessed. If there''s anything to me, it''s your poor acting skills. You wanted me to drink the poisoned alcohol, so you''d have to dispel my concerns. Of course, even if you hadn''t drunk the alcohol, I would have found a way to make you do so." Xiao Nanfeng stared coldly at Tang. "And I just so happened to have some paralytic poison on me. Tang, I had no quarrel with you, but you tried toy a trap for me. Spending a whole month to get to know me better, then luring me out like this... you''ve really nned this out, haven''t you?"


    "You¡ªwhen did you discover that I was here to harm you? My acting was perfect! How did you discover it?"


    "Do you think I''m unfamiliar with the terrain of Taiqing Ind just because I''ve only been around the Vault of Scriptures? Aren''t you aware that there are maps of the ind in the vault? Of course, there are some unmarked parts of the map, but do you really think I wouldn''t know the route from the vault to the harbor?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What?" Tang gasped.


    "Initially, I thought that we really were taking an unmarked shortcut, but at this point, don''t you think I would have realized that something was wrong?"


    "You were acting this whole time?"


    "You started it."


    "I... you..." Tang pointed at Xiao Nanfeng, not knowing what to say.


    He thought he was tricking Xiao Nanfeng, but he had been tricked himself! How was Nanfeng, a sheltered youth of sixteen, so good at discerning such trickery?!


    "Alright, that''s it. Who are you, and what are you nning to steal from the Taiqing sect?" Xiao Nanfeng red at Tang.


    "I won''t tell you." Tang red back with a determined look in his eyes.


    "You aren''t afraid of dying?"


    "When we infiltrated the Taiqing sect, we never expected to be able to leave alive," Tang scoffed.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stepped forward and pinched Tang''s lower jaw, curling his fingers and rummaging through his mouth until he discovered a small ck ball between Tang''s teeth.


    "You¡ªhow did you know about this?!" Tang gaped.


    "You seemed like a zealot, so I hazarded a guess. Honestly, I''m almost more surprised to find it than not," Xiao Nanfeng replied, staring strangely at him. He... had learned about this from period dramas in his past life.


    Tang: ...

 Chapter 24: Retrieving the Gold

    <h4>Chapter 24: Retrieving the Gold</h4>


    "Now, you won''t even be able to die if you want to! Unless you want me to torture you, reveal your identity immediately!"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked down at the paralyzed Tang.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng felt a premonition of danger. He quickly rolled to the side, but even so, a stone tossed from behind him scraped by his shoulder.


    The stone struck the ground with such force that it smashed a farrger rock into powder.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned around in shock to see a hulking man step forward. It was he who had tossed the stone.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder burned with pain, and his robes had turned tattered where the stone had scraped him. If he hadn''t dodged in time and had been fully struck by the projectile, he would have suffered a serious internal injury, perhaps even a fractured bone or two.


    "Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, his face dark.


    "Chen Hai, what took you so long?!" Tang cried out.


    The hulking man, Chen Hai, frowned slightly and looked toward Tang with displeasure. "You set off too quickly without informing the rest of us. If I hadn''te to check up on the disturbance out of curiosity, I''d likely have ended up cleaning your corpseter."


    "I was intending to entice him with the offer and slowly lure him into the trap, but he requested that we head to the harbor immediately! I didn''t have time to inform you," Tangmented.


    "And how did you end up poisoning yourself with your own alcohol?" Chen Hai''s frown deepened.


    "I-I was careless. Quick, catch him and don''t let him run!" Tang cried out weakly.


    "A cultivator at the sixth stage of Acquisition? You think someone like him can outrun me?" Chen Hai asked confidently.


    "Don''t getcent!" Tang urged. That was how he had fallen prey to Xiao Nanfeng''s wiles.


    "You''re really growing more and more cowardly. I''m two stages above him. Anything pales inparison to absolute strength." Chen Hai dashed forward and appeared right before Xiao Nanfeng in the blink of an eye, like a loosed arrow. He mmed a palm strike forward with incredible strength, but, forewarned, Xiao Nanfeng easily dodged.


    Chen Hai struck nothing but air.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng executed his own punch at the stumbling Chen Hai, so strong it caused the air to rumble.


    Chen Hai seemed to have expected the strike. He barked inughter, then met Xiao Nanfeng''s fist with his elbow in a dull thump.


    Bothbatants reeled back.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a few steps back before he regained his footing, his hand numb. Chen Hai only took a half-step back, but his body likewise trembled.


    "What incredible strength! Is thisd really only at the sixth stage of Acquisition?" Chen Hai gasped.


    "His cultivation technique is Rites of Dawn, and his qi is pure yang. Its quality is surely above yours, so be careful!" Tang cried out.


    "Qi of pure yang? No wonder he feels so strong. But all he knows is Marching Fist¡ªhe''s no match for me!" Chen Hai prepared to strike again.


    Both the men knew that Xiao Nanfeng had begun studying Hegemon''s Fist, but it had only been a month since he started. They wrote it off¡ªhow could Xiao Nanfeng have gotten anywhere with such an advanced technique in such a short time?


    With a malevolent aura, Chen Hai leapt into the air like a ferocious tiger,nding straight by Xiao Nanfeng''s side. His fists and legs shot unerringly at him.


    This time, however, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t avoid the attack. His previous confrontation made him aware of Chen Hai''s limits. Although Chen Hai was somewhat stronger than he was, the difference between them wasn''t an unassable one.


    Two fists shed against each other with a sound like rumbling thunder. Shockingly, neither seemed to be at an advantage.


    Rather than retreat, Xiao Nanfeng advanced. Heunched another punch straight at Chen Hai. Mockingly, Chen Hai met his punch with one of his own. He had been conserving his strength and waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to try to attack.


    However, just before the fists were about to collide with each other, Chen Hai''s palm passed through Xiao Nanfeng''s. Xiao Nanfeng had rendered his attack an illusion via a secret technique¡ªHegemon''s Fist, assassin form.


    "What?!" Chen Hai widened his eyes in panic as a fist appeared by his face. "No!"


    Struck squarely in the face, Chen Hai fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust and rubble.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward. He had broken Chen Hai''s nose with that punch. Blood was now dripping profusely down Chen Hai''s face, giving him a sinister appearance. However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop there. Heunched a kick toward Chen Hai''s head.


    Woozy though he was, Chen Hai instinctively sensed the impending danger. He rolled blindly, causing Xiao Nanfeng''s kick to miss his head, but his arm wasn''t quite so lucky. Chen Hai groaned in pain as he was kicked away, his arm clearly fractured and bent out of shape.


    Hended with another scream, but his nightmare didn''t end there. Xiao Nanfeng ran after him,


    attempting to get rid of his opponent while he was down.


    After being battered by a flurry of punches and kicks, Chen Hai was no longer able to fight. Even so, for the sake of caution, Xiao Nanfeng broke all four of Chen Hai''s limbs and crippled his ability to move. Only then did he stop, panting as he looked down at Chen Hai''s body.


    Not far away, Tang gaped in astonishment at Chen Hai, who was barely clinging onto life. Chen Hai was in the eighth stage of Acquisition! Even if he had been careless, even if Xiao Nanfeng possessed qi of pure yang, the fight shouldn''t have gone so poorly.


    "This can''t be Marching Fist. Were you hiding a technique all along?" Tang asked in shock.


    "Don''t you know? This is Hegemon''s Fist."


    "That''s impossible! You''ve only been studying it for a month. There''s no way you could have built such a strong foundation already!" Tang shouted. The repeated surprises that Xiao Nanfeng had disyed left him almost hysterical.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself felt as though he had survived an incredible ordeal. It was lucky that Chen Hai had only been in the eighth stage of Acquisition, and was careless besides. Otherwise, he could very well have fallen prey to the trap.


    He retrieved the poison pill from Chen Hai''s mouth, then force-fed both cultivators more of Tang''s paralytic wine.


    "What are you doing? Nanfeng, do you know who we are? Are you aware of the consequences of offending our organization?" Tang cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed far too practiced at this. Was his mentality and skills something a sixteen-year-old youth and nascent cultivator could possess?


    Before Tang could say anything more, Xiao Nanfeng knocked him unconscious with a punch.


    It wouldn''t do to remain here. Who knew if Tang and Chen Hai had any other aplices? Xiao Nanfeng dragged both men toward the harbor.


    He didn''t dare ask for assistance from anyone, worried that they too were part of the subterfuge.


    Following the map he had ingrained in his memory, Xiao Nanfeng quickly found the harbor. He saw from afar the ship that he had been on during the voyage.


    After he stowed the two unconscious disciples in a nearby forest, he took a deep breath, dove into the sea, and swam toward the ship.


    Not longter, he found the "tutoring fee" he had hidden in the hull of the ship¡ªbanknotes worth a total of 10,000 taels of gold.


    There was no one on the ship, so he climbed up, found a big piece of sailcloth, then swam back toward the harbor. Quickly, he returned to the forest.


    "You''re criminals, aren''t you? Why don''t you have more money?" Xiao Nanfeng searched both men''s bodies, but only found five hundred taels of gold, and no additional clue as to their identities.


    Almost regretfully, he kept the gold, then wrapped the two men in the sailcloth along with a bundle of sticks. He wasn''t interested in interrogating them; better to bring them back to Elder Ku instead.


    There were protective arrays all around Taiqing Ind that he didn''t know how to pass through, but the main route through the harbor was clear. He dragged the unwieldy sack to the popted harborfront, where he encountered a few disciples serving as guards in front of a huge valley.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng? What are you doing here? Are those spiritbeast carcasses in your sack?" a nominal disciple standing guard asked Xiao Nanfeng curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t recognize this disciple, but many recognized him for his outstanding performance duringst month''s recruitment selection.


    "Yes, I came to do a few errands," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    No one stopped him as he walked straight into the ind from the harbor.


    After heading through the main gates, however, he followed his mental map and took a few side routes to his destination rather than the main path. He encountered few disciples along the way, and when he saw them in advance with his spiritual perception, he dove into the trees to avoid them.


    To his surprise, his careful behavior let him overhear something he shouldn''t have.


    "Have you found him?"


    "No!"


    "Keep searching. We''ve been instructed to catch them at any cost, especially Nanfeng. Make a move immediately upon finding him¡ªdon''t listen to what he says."


    "Understood!"


    The disciples headed off in search of Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng''s eyelids twitched.


    <i>To seize me the moment they encounter me, in broad daylight? Is this the might of the organization behind Tang and Chen Hai?</i>


    Although he didn''t know exactly what had happened, Xiao Nanfeng was aware that the situation was clearly unfavorable for him. He couldn''t trust anyone at the moment; he had to find his master as quickly as possible.


    He continued making his way toward the vault while avoiding anyone he saw along the way. After two hours, he finally arrived at the vicinity of the vault. By then, those disciples responsible for tailing his activity around the vault had disappeared.


    Not all the disciples were in search of him; many Taiqing disciples weren''t aware of the matter at all. He spoke to no one as he rushed straight to the hall where his master had secluded himself.


    Frowning anxiously at the closed doors, he remembered that Elder Ku had warned him sternly that he wasn''t to be disturbed.


    "Master! Your disciple Nanfeng requests a meeting!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    However, no one responded. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know what to do. Was he to continue waiting?


    "I found him! Inform everyone immediately! Nanfeng''s right here!" a disciple called out from behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. Without Elder Ku protecting him, things would go very badly for him if he were caught.


    "I apologize for the intrusion, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng pushed open the doors with a burst of strength. To his surprise and relief, the doors hadn''t been locked.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the hall, but the moment he did so, the doors swung shut behind him with a huge bang.

 Chapter 25: The Cursed Effigy Again

    <h4>Chapter 25: The Cursed Effigy Again</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head. The interior of the hall was dark, and strange gray fog seemed to be omnipresent. He couldn''t peer into the depths of the hall.


    "Master? I''m Nanfeng. I apologize for the disturbance!" Xiao Nanfeng announced respectfully.


    However, no response came from within the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng was stepping forward when he suddenly halted, his eyes wide. He hade into the hall with a huge sack containing two people, but that sack was now gone!


    No, that wasn''t right. Xiao Nanfeng suddenly discovered two people beside him: Tang and Chen Hai. Hadn''t they been in the sack? Now, however, they seemed to have just awakened. They rubbed their eyes as they stood beside him. Even Chen Hai, whom he knew he had crippled, seemed to be uninjured again.


    "An illusion?!" Xiao Nanfeng guessed what was going on almost immediately.


    Beside him, Tang and Chen Hai suddenly noticed Xiao Nanfeng''s presence.


    "You!" Tang shouted.


    "You brat, I was too careless! I''ll definitely defeat you this time around!" Chen Hai shouted fiercely.


    "Are you that shameless? ept your defeat with dignity," Xiao Nanfeng retorted. Neither of the others seemed to have discovered that they were in an illusion.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes suddenly widened again as he noticed a faint ck figure emerging from the mist, growing ever closer. The next moment, its identity became clear: a bleached white skeleton surrounded by ck fog.


    "What''s this doing here again?!" Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew taut with fear. Wasn''t this the cursed effigy that he had destroyed during the recruitment test?


    Had it really revived? What could he do now?


    "Master, Master! Where are you? Save me!" Xiao Nanfeng ignored Tang and Chen Hai as he ran into the depths of the fog.


    "Haha, you know how frightening we are now, don''t you?" Chen Hai roared inughter. "Tang, let''s give chase!"


    "Hold on, what''s going on? Didn''t Nanfeng cripple your arms and legs? How could you have recovered so quickly?" Tang asked in surprise.


    "Hmm?" Chen Hai stilled for a moment.


    By then, the bleached white skeleton had appeared behind the two men, right by their backs, but neither of them had noticed a thing.


    "What''s going on? Why does the back of my head suddenly feel cold?" Tang froze.


    "You idiots, run! Are you trying to kill yourselves?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from afar.


    He hadn''t wanted to save them; rather, he couldn''t find a way out of the illusion, and having some additional support during such a dangerous encounter would only help him.


    Tang and Chen Hai, hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s shouts, suddenly seemed to sense something. As they turned their heads, they found themselves face to face with a huge skull, almost stered against them. The two men cried out in shock. "Ghost!"


    They stumbled back in fright. The skeleton raked at them with two sharp ws. One missed, but the other tore a chunk of flesh off of Chen Hai''s arm.


    "Argh!" Chen Hai clutched his arm in pain as he continued to retreat.


    "What''s this?!" Tang cried out.


    The two men ran away furiously, asionally turning back to nce at the skeleton that was standing still where they had found it.


    "I understand now¡ªthis is an illusion! There''s no other reason for how quickly your bones healed," Tang eximed. "And I know what that skeleton is now. It''s the cursed effigy that appeared during the recruitment test and killed nine prospective recruits a month ago!"


    "That cursed effigy?!" Chen Hai''s face nched.


    The effigy had been killing recruits left and right, and even Elder Ku hadn''t been able to do anything about it. <i>Is it our turn to die?</i>


    "It moved!" Chen Hai shrieked.


    The skeleton shed toward Xiao Nanfeng in the blink of an eye, so fast it almost looked as though it were teleporting.


    Tang''s face fell. Who could match its speed?


    Xiao Nanfeng, sensing the cold air gathering around him, knew that the skeleton wasing. He turned toward it and saw its sharp ws about to hit his back. Instinctively, he manipted his spiritual power and formed a barrier around himself.


    The skeleton''s ws knocked Xiao Nanfeng flying, but thanks to the spiritual power protecting his body, he hadn''t sustained an injury.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s supply of spiritual power was limited, and he wouldn''t be able to hold out for long. Could he run? No, he couldn''t beat the skeleton''s speed!


    Instead, he headed straight toward Tang and Chen Hai.


    Tang and Chen Hai: ???


    The skeleton slowly turned its head, staring coldly toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Stay away, you idiot! Scram!" Tang shouted.


    "The skeleton can kill all three of us," Xiao Nanfeng shouted. "Rather than let it do so, why don''t we work together and get rid of it together? If you don''t want to die, listen up!"


    "Ha! As if I''d ever listen to the likes of you!" Tang replied, ring.


    Just then, the skeleton shed behind Chen Hai.


    Its ws pierced through his back, and the bloody w tips emerged out of his chest.


    "N-No!" Chen Hai vomited out a mouthful of fresh blood with a bbergasted expression.


    The skeleton sucked at his body, which transformed into a cloud of fog that the skeleton swallowed.


    He was dead! Tang was certain that Chen Hai had just perished.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated, as did Tang. He understood very well that those who were killed by the cursed effigy here would perish in real life, too.


    "I was wrong. I''ll listen to you. Please help me!" Tang shouted.


    "We''ll suppress it together!" Xiao Nanfeng pounced forward and grabbed onto the skeleton''s neck. Likest time, he expelled spiritual power via his hands and tried to snap the skeleton''s neck to end this nightmare.


    Tang immediately obeyed Xiao Nanfeng''smand without thinking about it, hugging the skeleton tightly with both arms.


    However,st time, it had taken twenty recruits working together to barely hold the skeleton down. Tang and Xiao Nanfeng''s strength alone would be far from sufficient.


    With a huge bang, the skeleton broke free of Xiao Nanfeng and Tang''s grips, then sent them flying.


    "No, that didn''t work! Senior Brother Nanfeng, what do we do now?" Tang cried.


    The skeleton''s head turned toward the two of them again.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, you managed to save everyonest time, didn''t you? Can''t you repeat that feat again? If you save me, I''ll confess everything, everything!" Tang grabbed onto Xiao Nanfeng''s sleeve as though it were a life preserver.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. In order to live, Tang had immediately given up on all his pride.


    "Good luck, I suppose. I can''t do anything myself. We''ll both run and see who gets lucky." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head and ran off.


    His spiritual power might not be able to hurt the skeleton, but he would be able to protect himself temporarily. As long as he managed to contact his master before he ran out of spiritual energy, he would be fine. Dragging another burden with him would only slow him down.


    "No, Senior Brother! Wait for me! I want to go with you!" Tang cried out, chasing madly after him.


    "What? I thought you were going to kill yourself after I discovered your deception! If you don''t even fear death, how could you fear this skeleton? Hey, what are you doing? I told you not to chase after me!" Xiao Nanfeng red at Tang, who had caught up to him and was running together alongside him.


    Tang cried out, "It''s a misunderstanding, Senior Brother! That wasn''t a suicide pill, but rather a pill of false death I got from a senior in the demonic sect! If we''re caught, as long as we consume this pull, we''ll suddenly enter a state of false death. We''d be neglected once it was found that we had ''died'', and my seniors would do their best to rescue our ''corpses''. I don''t want to die, Senior Brother Nanfeng! Please, save me!"


    A pill of false death?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked that Tang had such a potion on hand.


    "I do have a means of getting out of here, but why should I tell you?" Xiao Nanfeng lied.


    "I was wrong, Senior Brother! I might not know many of the people who infiltrated the Taiqing sect, but I have a list of names right here! If I give it to you, will you help me escape? Please, Senior Brother!"


    Tang cried out. As they talked, the skeleton made its way behind them.


    Just as it was about to swipe at the two of them with sharp ws, a ck figure suddenly rushed out of the mist and shot toward the skeletal figure.


    It smashed into the skeleton, but not only was it unable to cause any injury, the skeleton sent it flying with a raised arm. As it fell, it exposed a bloody face; sawtooth-like teeth; and dposing ws.


    "Hmm?" Xiao Nanfeng was visibly shocked. Wasn''t this one of the zombie-like demons that his master had summoned during the trial?


    The guqin suddenly rang out from a distance. The dark demon rose up from the ground once more, pouncing toward the skeleton. Even more of its brethren spawned from all around, striking the skeleton from every direction.


    These demons were no mere illusions, and they had physical form within the illusion. As they smashed into the skeleton once and again, they finally managed to surround it.


    Tang was shocked by the sight.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The gray fog slowly faded away as a short, squat table appeared within sight. Elder Ku was ying his beloved guitar, his eyes closed.


    As the sound of the guqin grew louder, even more demons appeared. Although the skeleton''s sharp ws could tear apart each individual ghost, they flooded him to such an extent that he was rapidly swamped. Hugged tightly by countless demons, the skeleton was rendered immobile within moments.


    The guqin continued to y. The skeleton tried to struggle, but to no avail.


    "Thank you for saving us, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng wheezed, bowing.


    However, Tang didn''t feel any relief at all. It might be worse for him to end up in Elder Ku''s hands than the sect master''s.


    Elder Ku ignored Xiao Nanfneng and continued ying the guqin.


    "It''s been a few decades, but I''ve finally caught you!" Elder Ku''s voice was tinged with excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the skeleton that had been bogged down by Elder Ku''s summoned demons. Had his master gone into secluded cultivation in order to catch the cursed effigy?


    "Nanfeng? Excellent timing. You''ve managed to lure out the cursed effigy¡ªI don''t know how long it would have taken me otherwise. If I hadn''t sensed what was going on, I might have missed it entirely." Elder Ku beamed in triumph.

 Chapter 26: Embodiment of Reality

    <h4>Chapter 26: Embodiment of Reality</h4>


    "Master, have you been hunting down this cursed effigy all along?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, walking up to his master''s side.


    "Hunting down? I''ve killed it more than once, but it respawns every time. There''s no way to kill it permanently, so we have to seal it instead. Unfortunately, it''s sly and cunning, and avoids me whenever I''m prepared to deal with it," Elder Ku sighed.


    "You must be incredibly strong for it to fear you, Master." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Elder Ku shook his head. "No. At its peak, it would have been able to level a kingdom. If I had encountered it then, I would not have been able to do anything but run. A few events transpired to have caused it to grow so weak."


    "Weak?!" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the skeleton in shock.


    This skeleton, who had gone around killing recruits like a machine, was weak? Just how strong did it have to be at its peak?


    "It''s been many years since itst showed up, so I was shocked by its sudden reappearancest month. Fortunately, we managed to catch it before it regained its peak strength. Thank goodness¡ªa cmity might have ensued otherwise." Elder Ku took a deep breath. "But what are you doing here? I''m sure I told everyone that I was not to be disturbed."


    "Master, I apologize. I had no choice. There are a number of people trying to capture me outside the hall, and I had no choice but to seek shelter here."


    "What? Who dares?!" Elder Ku cried out.


    "This is one of them, Master. He lured me to the shore, tricked me into consuming paralytic poison, and tried to manipte me into listening to his demands and stealing a possession of yours, Master." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at Tang.


    Tang was so scared that he immediately knelt. "Senior Brother, I''vemitted a grave mistake! I was just obeying orders!"


    Elder Ku frowned gravely.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Further, on the way back, I encountered arge number of senior disciples trying to apprehend me. I only dared call out to you from outside the hall, Master, but as those disciples neared me, I was forced to enter to seek shelter."


    "Is that so?" Elder Ku''s eyes shed with coldness, with murderous intent that surrounded Tang. "Who dares act so boldly in the Taiqing sect?!"


    He had just taken in an impressive disciple¡ªwho was trying to target him? <i>No, this can be construed as an attack on me!</i>


    Tang seemed rather shell-shocked. Who else was trying to apprehend Nanfeng except for him?


    He wasn''t about to take responsibility for this!


    Tang exined, "Only two among our group were responsible for capturing Senior Brother Nanfeng. We don''t know anything about the rest."


    "Tang, didn''t you say that you would confess the names of those in your organization? Reveal their identities now!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly red at Tang.


    Tang probed, "If I do, will you let me go?"


    Elder Ku yed a note on his guqin. Immediately, a group of zombie-like demons surged toward Tang, causing him to pale in fright.


    "No, Elder Ku! I''ll confess everything, everything!" Tang cried out.


    "Now!" Elder Kumanded.


    Tang swallowed a gulp of saliva and recited eight names immediately.


    "This is all I know. I''m not high up enough in the organization to know more¡ªI don''t know about the others. There was also a Chen Hai, but he died within the illusory realm. Chen Hai''s at the eighth stage of Acquisition, but Senior Brother Nanfeng managed to defeat him with Hegemon''s Fist despite being two stages lower in cultivation!"


    "Oh? Nanfeng, you managed to defeat such an advanced opponent using Hegemon''s Fist, which you''ve only studied for a month?" Elder Ku seemed perplexed. He had taught Xiao Nanfeng Hegemon''s Fist himself, and he knew how unfamiliar his disciple was with the technique at the beginning¡ªso how had he grown enough to be able to use it effectively against a stronger opponent so quickly?


    "I apologize, Master, but it took me the whole month to get past the basics," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "The basics? It took you just a month to get the basics down?!"


    Hegemon''s Fist was known for itsplexity; without one or two years'' intense training, it was impossible to understand the demands of the technique.


    "Master, you allowed me ess to the first level of the Vault of Scriptures, and I''ve been deeply contemting the various fist-rted scriptures within. Among them, I identified eight scriptures that had some relevance to Hegemon''s Fist, among them <i>Treatise of the Fist</i>, <i>Hegemon''s Path</i>, and <i>Hagiography of the Hegemon</i>. These scriptures allowed me to easily integrate the insights of Taoist masters into my own realization of Hegemon''s Fist."


    Elder Ku: ...


    Any other disciple would have copsed under the mental strain of memorizing even half as many books in a month, but Xiao Nanfeng had read at least eight andprehended them to such an extent that he could integrate them into Hegemon''s Fist!


    Just what sort of incredible disciple had he taken in?


    "Although you barged into this hall for good reason, thew of the Taiqing sect must be upheld. Nanfeng, I hereby punish you with memorizing ten Taoist scriptures rted to qi of pure yang. I''ll have the disciples responsible for tending to the vault help you pick them out," Elder Ku continued.


    "Thank you, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up in anticipation. There would be disciples to help him find the best books for his cultivation! It would save him tremendous effort.


    Tang nced at Xiao Nanfeng, stupefied. Had he misheard? Why was Xiao Nanfeng thanking Elder Ku for this supposed punishment?


    "Do not tarry here overlong," Elder Ku warned. "I must seal that cursed effigy for good. Leave at once."


    "Master, there are plenty of disciples waiting outside to apprehend me," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "In the secondpartment on the left of my bookshelf, you''ll find an Ascended token with the authority tomand all disciples of the Ascended division. Use your qi to manipte the mechanism, in the order of intertwined heavenly stems and earthly branches, to retrieve it. With that token, no one will dare seize you," Elder Ku replied.


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed respectfully.


    "Now, I''ll free you both from this illusion. The cursed effigy is extremely weak at the moment, and can only influence your mental state, not reality. After you exit this realm, do not touch my physical body. Leave the hall at once," Elder Ku warned.


    He plucked a string of his guqin, and a wave of energy instantly enveloped Xiao Nanfeng and Tang. They vanished from the illusion and returned to their physical bodies.


    Xiao Nanfeng found himself holding onto a big sack, within which were Tang and Chen Hai, one unconscious and the other dead.


    Within the hall, Elder Ku''s physical body was seated by a stout table nearby, his hands on his guqin, motionless. Everything was still.


    As instructed, Xiao Nanfeng found Elder Ku''s Ascended token.


    He was just about to leave when his eyes suddenly widened in shock. A wave of fear chilled him, as though he had suddenly been transported to an icy cer. In a dim corner of the room was a bleached white skeleton quietly staring at him.


    <i>Has that cursed effigy managed to make its way to reality?!</i>


    He had just left Elder Ku''s illusion. How had the skeleton managed to escape? Hadn''t his master imed that it was unable to make its way to reality?


    The skeleton shed to Elder Ku''s side.


    "No!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The skeleton brandished its ws and made to strike at Elder Ku''s neck.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng leapt forward in shock, without any hesitation.


    Just as the ws touched Elder Ku''s neck, about to pierce through his flesh at any moment¡ª


    time seemed to pause. The skeleton''s ws didn''tcerate flesh. Rather, it held its ws still, as though waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to approach.


    Xiao Nanfeng was halfway there when he suddenly stilled, recalling what his master had told him: not to touch his physical body.


    Elder Ku wouldn''t have given him the warning for no reason. If the skeleton really could affect reality, it would already have struck¡ªwaiting wouldn''t make any sense. There was only one exnation: the skeleton was just a manifestation in his head, trying to lure him into doing exactly what his master had warned against.


    Though he remained worried, he ultimately stopped short of touching his master''s body.


    As expected, the skeleton didn''t attack.


    The skeleton turned to Xiao Nanfeng, the bones in its neck grinding as it did so, staring at him via vacant eye sockets.


    Xiao Nanfeng shuddered.


    When the skeleton made no further move, Xiao Nanfeng grew even more confident in his hypothesis. He bowed respectfully to Elder Ku, ignored the skeleton, and then left the hall with sack and token in tow.


    The skeleton watched on dumbly as Xiao Nanfeng left, frozen in shock. <i>Why are you leaving? Aren''t you going to stop me? Don''t you care about him?</i>


    As the doors to the hall shut tightly once more, the skeleton slowly retracted its ws, vibrating in anger. Wisps of ck smoke emanated from its skull.


    It remained silent for many moments longer before moving to the window. It red outside, wisps of smoke frothing from its jawbones, as though trying to curse Xiao Nanfeng from afar.

 Chapter 27: Righteous Yuer

    <h4>Chapter 27: Righteous Yu''er</h4>


    Not long ago, outside Elder Ku''s hall: arge number of Taiqing disciples had split up into two opposing factions, each of which was arguing with the other.


    Yu''er led one faction. Arge group of Taiqing disciples stood protectively around her, ring at members of the opposing faction. Yu''er wiped the blood from her mouth, anger evident in her fiery gaze.


    "Get over here, Ma Shan! How dare you hide behind Senior Brother!"


    "You''ll pay for bullying Yu''er! Come over here now, and I guarantee I won''t kill you!"


    Those disciples in Yu''er''s faction were ring daggers at a man in gray, Ma Shan.


    Ma Shan hurriedly hid behind Zhao Yuanjiao and argued, "Senior Brother, you have to take my side! We were trying to enter the hall in order to apprehend the spy, but not only did Yu''er physically bar our way, she even struck me! That''s how I ended up hitting her by ident."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded and looked coldly at Yu''er. "Yu''er, why are you stopping my men from apprehending a demonic spy?"


    "That''s ridiculous! How did Junior Brother Nanfeng be a spy? Senior Brother, can your men not tell right from wrong?!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Yu''er, I might not have evidence right now, but Tang and Nanfeng mysteriously vanished this morning. They have to be conspiring!"


    "On what grounds are you apprehending Nanfeng without any evidence, then?! I introduced Tang to Nanfeng. Why don''t you seize me, too? What if I''m a spy?" Yu''er retorted.


    "Ridiculous! Don''t make such a big fuss, Yu''er," Zhao Yuanjiao replied. "I simply want to interrogate any suspicious disciples before they can hatch dastardly plots."


    "Nanfeng is Elder Ku''s disciple," Yu''er replied coldly. "Has Elder Ku approved of your actions?"


    "I do things my way, and I don''t have to exin things to you. If I''m mistaken, then I''ll simply apologize to himter."


    "Well, you''ll have to get past me, first!" Yu''er didn''t seem to fear Zhao Yuanjiao at all, and she refused to relent.


    "Yu''er! You''re being ridiculous!" Ma Shan suddenly jumped forward. He taunted, "Senior Brother Zhao is Elder Ku''s disciple¡ªyou''re nothing more than an outsider! Why do you care so much?!"


    "You¡ª" Yu''er didn''t know how to respond, but she doubled down. "I don''t care! If you want to get past me, you''ll have to knock me down first!"


    "Don''t worry, Yu''er, we''ve got your back!"


    "Right! If you dare touch Yu''er, you''ll suffer the consequences!"


    Arge group of senior disciples had gathered protectively around Yu''er. She was a popr disciple around the ind, and that poprity served as her shield now.


    "Senior Brother, Yu''er''s gone mad! I think she really might be a spy too. Nanfeng''s in the hall right now. Elder Ku is vulnerable while in secluded cultivation, and if Nanfeng were to do anything... How about we seize them both?" Ma Shan suggested.


    "Don''t you dare!" the group of disciples protecting Yu''er retorted.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face grew grim as he watched the situation devolve.


    As the two sides continued in a stalemate, a calm voice suddenly called out from behind Yu''er, "Seniors, are you looking for me?"


    Everyone turned to see Xiao Nanfeng walk out of the hall with a huge sack.


    "Nanfeng! Where''s Elder Ku? Aren''t you going to have him adjudicate?" Yu''er smiled in delight upon seeing him, then asked in concern.


    "Master is still meditating and won''t be able to step out for the moment. Senior Sister, I overheard the entire conversation. Thank you for guarding me, and I''m sorry you were injured on my behalf. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll defend you now!" Xiao Nanfeng put down his sack and stood side by side with Yu''er.


    He hadn''t expected that Yu''er would be willing to go against arge group of Taiqing disciples for him¡ªshe really was loyal!


    "You daree out? Very well. Men, seize Nanfeng!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    "Yes!" Ma Shan and the others shouted. Just as they were about to charge forward, Xiao Nanfeng held up the token in his hand. "I bear the Ascended token! Who dares go against me?!"


    As he infused the token with his qi, a faint rainbow glow could be seen.


    Everyone froze, looking at Xiao Nanfeng''s token in shock.


    "The Ascended token? You''ve stolen Elder Ku''s Ascended token?!" Ma Shan called out.


    "That''s impossible! The Ascended token is guarded by an array. Elder Ku had to have voluntarily given it to him!" someone else shouted.


    "How did you end up with the token, Nanfeng?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "Master handed it to me, of course. This token bears the division leader''s authority! Will you not heed it? Are thews of the sect merely perfunctory?!"


    Before anyone else could speak, Xiao Nanfeng thenmanded, "All Ascended disciples, obey my order! Seize Ma Shan, the real demonic spy!"


    Ma Shan was one of the spies whom Tang had revealed when he confessed. It was precisely because he was a demonic spy that he had rushed to be the first person present at the scene, to even be willing to injure Yu''er so as to seal Xiao Nanfeng''s lips before he could reveal anything about the demonic infiltration.


    "You, you''re lying!" Ma Shan retorted.


    The disciples were all in an uproar. They looked toward Zhao Yuanjiao, Elder Ku''s most senior disciple. Despite the fact that Nanfeng held the Ascended token, he had been denounced as a demonic spy and was worthy of suspicion. The majority of the disciples chose to side with Zhao Yuanjiao instead.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face was a potpourri of emotions. After a moment''s thought, with a sh of determination, he finally shouted, "Nanfeng, you''re being unreasonable! How dare you use the Ascended token to besmirch a fellow disciple! Take him down!"


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng recognize the man in front of him¡ªit was precisely the disciple in a pile of tattered rags, that he had bribed with just four taels of gold! <i>Could he have been in disguise in order to get close to me?</i>


    Just then, Yu''er tugged on the sleeve of Xiao Nanfeng''s shirt. She whispered, "Even if you have Elder Ku''s Ascended token, don''t go overboard! Ma Shan might be vile, but if you nder him, it''ll only enrage Zhao Yuanjiao all the more."


    Xiao Nanfeng was speechless. He was telling the truth! Why didn''t anyone believe him?


    "Who''s this Zhao Yuanjiao?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    "He''s Zhao Yuanjiao, head disciple of the Ascended division, and Elder Ku''s most senior disciple," Yu''er whispered back.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his eyebrows. <i>My senior brother? Him?</i>


    Upon realizing Zhao Yuanjiao''s actual identity, Xiao Nanfeng knew that this was not a man he should make his enemy. He called out, "Within Ma Shan''s mouth should be a poison pill, no, a pill of false death. It''s given to demonic spies so that they can feign death and escape that way if their identity is discovered. Check his mouth and see if such a pill exists¡ªyou''ll see whether I''m lying or not!"


    Everyone looked toward Ma Shan, whose face immediately grew dark. He had no idea how Xiao Nanfeng knew even such a secret.


    "He''s lying, Senior Brother! You have to believe me!" Ma Shan howled.


    "Open your mouth!" Zhao Yuanjiao wasn''t a fool. Xiao Nanfeng''s additional information was so precise that it would easily be obvious whether he were lying, and the information was something he could verify at once.


    "Senior Brother..." Ma Shan''s eyes betrayed a jolt of panic.


    Zhao Yuan, sensing Ma Shan''s unusual behavior, immediately reached out and pinched his lower jaw.


    Ma Shan was forced to open his mouth wide as Zhao Yuanjiao squeezed his throat. He inspected Ma Shan''s mouth with his other hand and quickly pulled out a pill from between his teeth.


    Ma Shan turned ashen.


    Everyone was stunned. Was Ma Shan really a demonic spy?


    "How do you exin this?!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    "I, I¡ª" Ma Shan desperately thought of a way to extricate himself from this situation.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s gaze suddenly grew colder. "Were you the one who betrayed us a month ago? Who killed all those junior disciples?!"


    Ma Shan tried to defend himself. "Senior Brother, I''m not a demonic spy, really! I''m naturally timid, and this pill is meant to protect me from my enemies. I don''t know how thatd learned about it, but¡ª"


    Before Ma Shan could finish, Xiao Nanfeng interrupted him. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. You''re not the only demonic spy we know about¡ªthere are seven others who will be interrogated with you."


    "What did you say?" Ma Shan nched. Just what had Chen Hai and Tang revealed? How much information had they given away?!


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his Ascended token high into the air again. "Disciples of the Ascended division, listen up! Seize the remaining demonic spies. Their names are..."


    The disciples all looked toward Zhao Yuanjiao, who nced momentarily at Xiao Nanfeng before calling out, "What are all of you waiting for? Seize these spies!"


    At least for the moment, even though he still suspected Xiao Nanfeng, he would have to pay attention to and act on what Xiao Nanfeng had revealed.


    "Understood!" The disciples rushed off in search of the suspects.


    "Apprehend Ma Shan. Keep him in a cell for interrogation!" Zhao Yuanjiao instructed.


    "Understood!" A few remaining disciples immediately strode forward to restrain Ma Shan.


    "I''m innocent, Senior Brother!" Ma Shan called out, still attempting to im his innocence, but not daring to resist his capture.


    "Whether or not you''re innocent will be revealed in due time," Zhao Yuanjiao replied coldly.


    By now, he had calmed down. Although Ma Shan''s identity was yet unclear, Zhao Yuanjiao did suspect his guilt. As for Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao still didn''t trust him fully.


    "I''ve only heard your side of the story. I''ll need to head into the hall and ask Master to verify it." Zhao Yuanjiao nced askance at Xiao Nanfeng coldly.


    "Master''s at a critical period in his meditation. No one can disturb him at the moment!"


    "Move aside! Or are you trying to hide something by blocking my way?" Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes.


    "With this Ascended token, I defend this hall! No one is to step inside until Elder Kues out! Disobeying thismand will be considered going against the authority imbued within this token!" Xiao Nanfeng raised the Ascended token up high as he blocked the doors to the hall with his body.


    "And if I insist on entering?" Zhao Yuanjiao released his aura.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately felt a surge of energy, titanic in strength, pressing against his body and the doors. His forehead beaded with sweat. Just how strong was this senior brother of his?!


    Yu''er walked up to Xiao Nanfeng and helped relieve him of some of the strain. "Senior Brother, Nanfeng holds the Ascended token! Shouldn''t we submit to his authority?"


    "Yu''er, move aside! Otherwise, don''t me me for what happens next!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    Just as Zhao Yuanjiao seemed prepared to strike them both down, a gray-robed elder slowly walked out of the hall¡ªnone other than Elder Ku himself.


    "Master? You''vee out!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in relief.


    "It escaped once more! What a pity." Elder Ku sighed, frowning.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. The skeleton had escaped again?


    "Who escaped, Master?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked curiously.


    Elder Ku only shook his head, his face lined with regret, not offering any further exnation.


    "What were you arguing about just now?" Elder Ku asked calmly.


    "Master, this disciple is of unknown provenance and background. I suspect him to be a demonic spy!" Zhao Yuanjiao pointed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Master, I already exposed Ma Shan and the other spies, but he refuses to believe me!" Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was unconvinced. "Master, I suspect that this is all a ploy by the demonic sect upon realizing that I was about to capture Xiao Nanfeng. Since you trust him deeply, Master, the demonic sect''s more than willing to sacrifice a few ordinary spies to ensure his safety."


    Xiao Nanfeng shot Zhao Yuanjiao an odd look. <i>It sounds like you would make a far better novelist than cultivator¡ªwhat a convoluted plot!</i>


    "Master, during the first selection trial, this disciple lied and embarked on the voyage by iming to have had connections within the sect! However, I''ve confirmed that he has no such connections. The only possibility is that there were demonic spies helping him from behind the scenes. Furthermore, we''ve been unable to validate his identity, even now! Who''s to say that he hasn''t given us all a fake name?" Zhao Yuanjiao continued.


    "Oh?" Elder Ku furrowed his brows.


    "I spent twenty taels of gold to purchase a boarding token from a qualified applicant. Doesn''t that count as ''connections''? As for my identity, my parents vanished a decade ago. The servants all imed that they were dead, and they seized what was rightly owed to me by taking advantage of my age! I barely escaped from captivity, with no family and estate to my name. How could I have registered my identity? I hardly want to seek sympathy for my childhood and upbringing! As for my name, Nanfeng, I swear on my life that it was what my father left me," Xiao Nanfeng replied resolutely.


    He continued, "Ye Dafu, of the Mortal division, can corroborate my ims. As for you, Senior Brother, if you did suspect me, why not interrogate me outright? Why try to approach me under false pretenses in the form of a beggarly, impoverished disciple to trick me of my gold?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao froze. "When did I ever pretend to be beggarly or impoverished? When did I trick you of your gold? You stuffed it in my hands! Do you think I would care for four taels of gold?!"


    "Senior Brother, did you really trick Nanfeng out of four taels of gold? How could you eye such a paltry sum?" Yu''er gaped at him.


    Zhao Yuanjiao: ...<i>Can we drop the matter of these four taels of gold already?!</i>


    "Master, I swear that what I have said is the truth and nothing less. Please, Master, I hope you''ll verify this for yourself!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward Elder Ku.


    "Master, I''m certain there''s something wrong with this disciple. There''s something he''s hiding from us!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    "Enough!" Elder Ku shouted.


    Everyone fell silent.


    "I believe that Nanfeng is not lying, and that he is no demonic spy," Elder Ku stated firmly.


    "Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    "Thank you for vindicating me, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed to Elder Ku again.

 Chapter 28: Intense Jealousy

    <h4>Chapter 28: Intense Jealousy</h4>


    Two dayster, in the Vault of Scriptures: "Senior Brother Nanfeng, here are ten scriptures about qi of pure yang. Elder Ku requested that they be handed to you as punishment." One disciple who worked in the Vault of Scriptures handed Xiao Nanfeng a thick bundle of scrolls.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the proffered bundle with care. "May I choose a few more scrolls to memorize at the Cliff of Meditation?"


    The disciple: ???


    Momentster, he replied, "There are no rules against it, but you must perfectly recite all additional scrolls that you read. Furthermore, if the total number of scrolls reaches thrice that from your original punishment, you''ll only have to recite each scroll once."


    "Very well. Please pick out another twenty scrolls for me." Xiao Nanfeng nodded happily.


    "Are you certain?" The disciple was stupefied. Had he misheard?


    "What''s the matter? Is there a problem?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in confusion.


    "No, Senior Brother. You truly are a role model!" The disciple''s face spasmed as he gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. He hadn''t ever met someone else like Xiao Nanfeng before! Wasn''t he just making life harder for himself? Was he addled?


    "Thank you!" Xiao Nanfeng possessed the exceptional treasure of a superior yin pearl in his soulspace, and was essentially able to recall a scroll''s contents fully after just oneprehensive read. Not only that, he would even gain a full understanding of its contents. To him, these Taoist scriptures were the easiest way to grow stronger.


    He walked straight to the Cliff of Meditation, but his experience today seemed to differ significantly from those on other days.


    "Good morning, Senior Brother Nanfeng!"


    "Good morning, Junior Brother Nanfeng!"


    Countless disciples greeted Xiao Nanfeng along the way, their tones polite and respectful.


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed rather confused, but he still nodded politely to each one.


    "Aren''t you curious why they''re treating you so well?" Yu''er suddenly appeared by his side, close-fitting ck robes entuating her voluptuous figure.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "Senior Sister Yu''er, you''re here too! Please, elucidate matters for me."


    "Everyone''s heard about the fact that you embarrassed Zhao Yuanjiao," Yu''er replied, smiling.


    "So what?" Xiao Nanfeng was still confused.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao is the most senior disciple of the Ascended division, with the responsibility of imposing stringent discipline on us all. He''s very strict, and even the smallest mistake can lead to a stint at the Cliff of Meditation. He can distribute such punishments without the say-so of the division leader, and almost all disciples from all four divisions have gotten on his bad side in the past. Many even fear him, but they don''t dare resist him outright. You did what none of them could dream of doing, so they''re naturally positively inclined toward you," Yu''er exined.


    "But what''s wrong with reciting Taoist scriptures?"


    Yu''er''s smile froze on her face.


    "Senior Sister, I do also have to thank you for standing up for me that day," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Of course! I''m Ji Shiyu from the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I was taught better than to leave my peers behind in their time of need! As for you, you promised to help advise Elder Ku to take me as a disciple. Have you done anything on that front?"


    "Don''t worry. I''ll do my best, with full effort," Xiao Nanfeng replied seriously.


    Yu''er''s eyes brightened. "In that case, let me thank you in advance!"


    The two of them reached the Cliff of Meditation as they chatted.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were deep in conversation when Xiao Nanfeng suddenly felt a murderous, grudging aura drifting straight toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see eleven familiar faces not too far away.


    "Ye Dafu? What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Ye Dafu and his clique were gathered at the Cliff of Meditation, shooting murderous nces at him.


    Ye Dafu snorted, then turned around and ignored Xiao Nanfeng. His clique behaved in the same fashion.


    "What''s going on with all of you?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Didn''t you say yesterday that Ye Dafu and the others knew that you spent money to buy a boarding token? Zhao Yuanjiao confirmed the matter with them yesterday, but they didn''t tell the truth. Their lies annoyed Zhao Yuanjiao, so he punished them with reciting scrolls, haha!"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    No wonder Zhao Yuanjiao was hated by one and all¡ªa senior disciple of the Ascended division was disciplining new recruits from the Earth division! It would have been hugely embarrassing and shameful to Earthly disciples.


    "Ye Dafu, just what did you tell Zhao Yuanjiao?" Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but ask.


    Ye Dafu snorted and turned away, as though in great anger.


    "I heard that Ye Dafu and his clique spoke all sorts of nonsense and embellishments about you. Zhao Yuanjiao was very excited at first when he learned all about your failings, only to realize that Ye Dafu was lying through his teeth! That was what resulted in such a punishment," Yu''er exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...Ye Dafu had brought all this upon himself!


    "Right, I''ll be heading into the Vault of Scriptures. Have fun memorizing your scriptures, and don''t forget about what you promised me!"


    Yu''er chatted with Xiao Nanfeng for a while longer before leaving with a bounce in her step.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, I''m responsible for keeping an eye on the disciples serving their punishment here. Are these the thirty scrolls that you have to memorize?" A nominal disciple stepped forward.


    "That''s right. I''ll let you know when I''m finished."


    "Very good, Senior Brother." The disciple moved away.


    "Thirty scriptures? That''s even worse than us, Boss!" one of Ye Dafu''sckeys whispered.


    Ye Dafu and his clique all turned toward Xiao Nanfeng''s basket of scrolls.


    "Thirty scriptures, really? And here I thought he was having a far easier time than we did! Zhao Yuanjiao only punished us with a single scroll each, but he needs to memorize thirty! How long will that take him?" Ye Dafu suddenly found that his mood was much improved.


    "Right? It rxes me to see him being punished!" one of Ye Dafu''sckeys murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>Are all of you crazy? Are you aware that I enjoy this sort of thing?</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head and ignored Ye Dafu and the others. He pulled out a Taoist scripture and began reading through it.


    Ye Dafu and the others continued whispering to each other for a while before finally starting their memorization. Although they only had to memorize a single scripture, that was torturous enough.


    "Junior Brother, I''ve finished this scroll! I''d like to recite it, please." Xiao Nanfeng beckoned the nominal disciple responsible for overseeing the punishments over.


    "Ah? Senior Brother Nanfeng, you''re ready to recite it from memory after just reading through it once?" The nominal disciple seemed very shocked.


    "Hmm?" Ye Dafu and his clique all peered over.


    "That''s ridiculous. We haven''t even managed to memorize a single page, so how could he already be done with a whole scroll?" oneckey cried out indignantly.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng began to recite the contents of the scripture.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice was loud and stentorian. The overseeing disciple nced at the scripture as he followed along with Xiao Nanfeng''s recitation. He gaped. Was Xiao Nanfeng really able tomit things to memory after seeing them just once, getting not a single character wrong in the process?


    "This has to be fake. How could he have finished so quickly?"


    "But the overseeing disciple hasn''t stopped him..."


    Ye Dafu and his clique were so jealous that their faces were turning dark.


    Not long after, Xiao Nanfeng finished his recitation.


    "Perfect, Senior Brother Nanfeng. You haven''t gotten a single character wrong. Have you read this novel in the past?


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled without revealing anything. He began his second scroll.


    "He must have memorized all these scriptures before, he has to be!" Ye Dafu quickly found an excuse against his pronouncement.


    "You''re absolutely right, Boss. He got lucky back then¡ªhe still has 29 scriptures left," oneckey consoled himself.


    Preupied, Ye Dafu''s group continued to memorize the scripture they had each chosen.


    Less than an hourter, Xiao Nanfeng beckoned the overseeing disciple again. "Junior Brother, I''ve finished this scroll! I''d like to recite it."


    The overseeing disciple stepped forward with a strange look on his face.


    Ye Dafu and his clique turned to face him again. Surely he hadn''t memorized this second scripture beforehand!


    After hearing Xiao Nanfeng recite the contents of the second scroll without any mistakes whatsoever, however, Ye Dafu and his clique all scowled.


    They no longer had the presence of mind to keep memorizing scriptures. Instead, they turned straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    After Xiao Nanfeng finished his second scroll, he closed his eyes and thought about the matter for a few breaths before he began work on his third.


    The crowd, openmouthed: ...This had to be fake! It had to be an illusion!


    While Ye Dafu and his clique stubbornly rejected reality, the morning passed by.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had memorized a full five scriptures, getting not a single character wrong in the process. Yes, not five pages, but five scriptures! Ye Dafu and the others had been staring at Xiao Nanfeng all day, not even having finished a single color of their respective scriptures. By then, a number of disciples had gathered all around, staring at Xiao Nanfeng with reverence.


    "What''s so exceptional? He''s simply good at rote memorization. It''s not as though he actually understands what he''s memorizing. What''s there to flex?" A bout of intense jealousy emanated from Ye Dafu and his clique, so intense that others around them were ncing askance at them.

 Chapter 29: Horror Again

    <h4>Chapter 29: Horror Again</h4>


    Upon sensing the aura of intense jealousy emanating from Ye Dafu and his clique, Xiao Nanfeng''s face spasmed.


    "I''ll stop with these five scriptures and continue tomorrow¡ªI have to practice my fist technique in the afternoon. There''s no need to hover around watching, everyone." Xiao Nanfeng nced at the disciples marveling at him.


    The group of disciples scattered.


    "Boss, some people are only good at memorization¡ªbut what good will that do them? They''re bookworms, nothing more!"


    "Right, Boss, strength is what matters. Why get angry at a poor bastard like him?"


    Ye Dafu''s clique was simultaneously consoling their leader and themselves.


    "Senior Brother Ye? Your golden eel has arrived. The cost is two hundred taels of gold." A nominal disciple came over with a lunchbox in hand.


    Ye Dafu''s eyes brightened. He immediately stopped grousing, then generously handed over two hundred taels of gold.


    "Boss, you''re really willing to spend two hundred taels for this golden eel? Ah, look, it''s basically like the one that bastard fished up on the ship!" oneckey cried out.


    Ye Dafu''s jealousy had been wiped away. He smiled with satisfaction. "I specifically requested it from the kitchen. None of you got to try it on the ship, so let me treat you all this time."


    When Ye Dafu and his clique were informed of their punishment, Ye Dafu had anticipated finding Nanfeng here. That was why he deliberately sought out a golden eel from the kitchen in order to regain the reputation he had lost on the ship. Two hundred taels of gold for a meal was somewhat extravagant, but his pride was worth it!


    "Thank you, Boss!"


    "Haha, of course! It''s a pity that it''s only a medium-sized one. I saw an evenrger golden eel in the kitchen, with a tiny pair of horns sprouting from its forehead, worth five hundred taels of gold. I can''t afford it at the moment, but let''s try it together once I get more money!" Ye Dafu offered, with a hint of braggadocio.


    Just then, two more nominal disciples came by bearing a huge tter.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, this is the horned golden eel you ordered. After discounting the price of the golden eel Senior Sister Yu''er gifted to you, you need only pay three hundred taels of gold," one of them reported.


    "Thank you." Xiao Nanfeng handed them three banknotes.


    "Of course, Senior Brother!" the disciples bowed.


    They put down the tter, and Xiao Nanfeng dug in with gusto.


    Cultivators were known for their huge appetites. Xiao Nanfeng rapidly finished the eel''s head, then set aside the horned skull.


    Not far away, Ye Dafu and his clique fell silent as they looked at the horned eel skull that Xiao Nanfeng had just put aside.


    "Boss, that horned golden eel you were mentioning... it can''t be the one he''s eating now, can it?!"


    Everyone looked toward Xiao Nanfeng''s huge tter of golden eel, then at the small box that Ye Dafu and his tenckeys were sharing. Suddenly, their meal didn''t look quite so appetizing anymore.


    Ye Dafu''s face spasmed, then stung¡ªas though he''d been pped.


    The clique fell silent. The conversation at their table halted as they lowered their heads and ate quietly.


    They finished their meal in an ufortable, unfamiliar silence. Not far beside them, Xiao Nanfeng did the same, burping as he did so.


    "I bet the horned golden eel meat tastes less fresh and tender. Ours definitely has the better texture!"


    "Does he really think that eating arge eel will allow him to break through faster? That''sughable!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys were muttering away in jealousy.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly got up and began practicing a fist technique. His punches sounded like miniature explosions. Suddenly, a palpable aura emanated from his body, causing a cloud of dust to form over the ground.


    "Congrattions, Senior Brother Nanfeng! You''ve broken through again!"


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, are you in the seventh stage of Acquisition now?"


    "You broke through immediately after consuming this horned golden eel? Truly, you get what you pay for!"


    A group of nominal disciples in the vicinity congratted Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ye Dafu and his clique, not far away: ...


    That whole afternoon, Ye Dafu and the others were out of sorts. They failed to memorize even parts of the scriptures they had been assigned, so upset and disgusted were they by Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior.


    "We only get a stipend of a thousand taels each year! How does he have so much money? He must be doing it to spite us deliberately!" Ye Dafu cried out, clenching his fist.


    "Boss, we''ll take turns ordering a golden eel daily. Let''s eat it in front of him day after day!"


    "He''s a poor and small-minded bastard!"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to release a flurry of punches, giving rise to miniature explosions in the air.


    After eating a whole month''s worth of food of pure yang, he had umted enough qi to break through with this final meal. However, he thought himself still far too weak¡ªhe had to eat even more nourishing food! As for money? He still had 10,200 taels of gold left.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled in anticipation. He was in a pleasant mood, and even his training with Hegemon''s Fist seemed to be proceeding more smoothly.


    The next day, with dark circles under their eyes, Ye Dafu and his clique wasted another morning as Xiao Nanfengprehended five new scriptures. At lunch, they had a brief moment of satisfaction as they enjoyed a meal of an ordinary golden eel in sight of Xiao Nanfeng. In order to make sure he saw and heard them, they even raised their voices high.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored them, but a senior disciple seated nearby couldn''t watch on.


    "Eleven of you sharing an ordinary demon¡ªwhy are all of you so excited? You must have had hard lives in the past," hemented.


    Ye Dafu and the others: ...


    The third day, after Xiao Nanfeng finished digesting the horned golden eel he had had two days ago, he ordered another one. The sight was so shocking that Ye Dafu and the others sucked in a deep breath.


    "Spending a thousand taels, just like that? Is he trying topete with us for wealth? What will he eat for the next year, mud?!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Good! He can watch us eat golden eels instead!" hisckeys cheered excitedly.


    The fourth and fifth days, after witnessing Ye Dafu and his clique brag about their extravagant wealth, the disciples reciting scriptures at the Cliff of Meditation began to look at them with disdain. They had hardly ever seen a group of people so cocky¡ªand for no reason at all!


    The sixth day, Xiao Nanfeng handed over thest of his scrolls to the overseeing disciple. "I''ve finished all thirty scriptures. Thank you for your assistance, Junior Brother."


    The overseeing disciple was looking at Xiao Nanfeng with awe. "Senior Brother Nanfeng, your ability to absorb these scriptures is truly unparalleled!"


    "You overpraise me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head with a smile. "Surely many disciples in the sect can boast of something simr."


    "No, they''re different! I''ve never seen anyone with such an ability, Senior Brother! Senior Sister Yu''er can boast something simr, but it still takes her several reads in order to be able to recite a scripture smoothly. As for you, one try is all you need! You might be unaware of how difficult it is for other disciples to memorize these scriptures¡ªlook at Senior Brother Ye and the others. It''s been six days, and they haven''t even managed a single scripture among them. They''re far worse!" the overseeing disciple remarked.


    Not far in the distance, Ye Dafu raised his head. "What?! Praise him if you want, but why denigrate us? On what grounds? Are you crazy?!"


    His clique all gave the overseeing disciple a murderous re.


    The disciple stiffened. "I apologize, Senior Brothers! I have something to take care of at the moment, so I''ll be taking my leave now!"


    Ye Dafu and the others continued ring until the overseeing disciple had disappeared from sight.


    "Boss, it''s alright! We might not be able to memorize scriptures as well as that bookworm, but we''re rich! Our golden eel is about to arrive, so let''s eat it right in front of that bastard and vex him!" oneckey consoled.


    Ye Dafu rxed a little, his anger abating. He had to unt his wealth to Xiao Nanfeng daily to feelfortable.


    Just then, a nominal disciple brought Xiao Nanfeng a tter of horned golden eel once again, and he dug in with gusto.


    "Eh? Hasn''t he already eaten two such horned eels and spent a thousand taels of gold? Where did he get the money to buy the third?" Ye Dafu cried out in surprise.


    "I, I don''t know either..." Hisckeys seemed to be as perplexed as he was.


    "How does he have more money? Has he beenughing at us this entire time?!" Ye Dafu suddenly thought of a terrifying possibility.


    "Isn''t he a poor bastard? Or has he been pretending to be poor, waiting for us to make a fool of ourselves?!" oneckey cried out.


    At this point, everyone had nowe to the understanding that he had been richer than they were all along, that all their unting had only served to highlight them as fools, nothing more.


    The clique flushed red with shame and anger. Even when a nominal disciple brought more demon meat over, they found it hard to focus on their food.


    "Boss, he tricked us all! I can''t take this!" oneckey murmured.


    "Me neither¡ªwhat should we do?" Ye Dafu was suppressing his anger himself.


    "We''d better show him that he shouldn''t mess with us!" oneckey gritted out.


    The clique all looked toward Ye Dafu, waiting for their boss toe up with a n.


    Ye Dafu gnashed his teeth. "Alright, let''s finish memorizing our scriptures in the next two days, then, before we leave, teach that bastard a lesson!"


    "Yes, Boss!" hisckeys shouted.


    The eleven of them focused madly on their recitation.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng, who was still happily enjoying his meal, was startled by the sudden sound of chanting.


    "Eh? Why are they all so motivated now?" Xiao Nanfeng eyed them with suspicion.


    A momentter, he shook his head, ignored them, and continued practicing Hegemon''s Fist at his own pace.


    Hegemon''s Fist was unparalleled in strength and infinitely flexible. Only after he had gotten past the basics did he truly understand the potency of the technique. He didn''t find the practice at all boring, and neither did he notice a pair of eyes staring straight at him, unblinking.


    In a dark, hidden corner covered with a thin film of ck smoke, there was a bleached skeleton, the cursed effigy whom Elder Ku had been tirelessly searching for. It had somehow made its way into reality, walked out of Elder Ku''s hall, and now seemed to be nning something while eyeing Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 30: Cursed Intrusion

    <h4>Chapter 30: Cursed Intrusion</h4>


    Four dayster, in the dark of night, with a bright moon illuminating the sky, Xiao Nanfeng slowly fell into a dream as he listened to the scriptures being recited in the distance. Reading and practicing his techniques consumed a great deal of stamina and mental energy, and he had a good night''s sleep daily in order to replenish his reserves.


    Tonight''s dream, however, seemed rather unusual. Xiao Nanfeng found himself in a mountain valley, replete with the trappings of nature, with bright flowers, verdant blooms, and birdsong. He was rxed andfortable as he fished by a pond. Despite a long wait, no fish appeared¡ªbut he wasn''t in a hurry. He waited patiently until the pond water turned pitch-ck.


    In his dreamlike trance, however, he didn''t sense anything unusual¡ªuntil the rod suddenly grew taut. Had he caught something?


    His eyes brightened. He tugged on the rod, causing the ck pond water to ripple. Slowly, a bleached skeleton was pulled out of the pond''s surface.


    "Ah!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized the bleached skeleton immediately.


    "Is this my dreamscape?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Suddenly, the pond began to emit countless clouds of ck gas, which began filling the sky. The entire valley, starting with the pond, was turning ck.


    "I''m dreaming? I need to wake up, then, to wake up!" Xiao Nanfeng pinched himself.


    He used all sorts of techniques in an attempt to wake himself up, but found himself unable to do so.


    Within the pond, the skeleton''s head twisted. It pierced through the pond''s surface with its ws, attempting to climb out of it.


    "You¡ªhow did you get into my dreams?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered in shock and rage.


    He immediately infused spiritual power into his fishing pole, which pulsed with blue light, in an attempt to suppress the skeleton and send it back into the depths of the pond, but the skeleton was rising at a faster rate than he could push it down.


    Xiao Nanfeng even thought he saw the skeleton sneer at him. He shuddered, feeling as though a huge cmity had befallen him. "Damn skeleton, get out of my dream!"


    The skeleton slowly rose up from the pool, attempting to prate Xiao Nanfeng''s dreampletely. He was unable to leave, unable to awaken. Xiao Nanfeng had been forced into dire straits.


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s bedroom within the physical world, his body was deep asleep in bed. ck smoke suffused his bedroom, and in the midst of that smoke was the bleached skeleton.


    The bleached skeleton stared at Xiao Nanfeng until he was sound asleep before suddenly spreading its arms wide.


    The ck smoke in the room was immediately roused. It revolved quickly around Xiao Nanfeng''s bed like a miniature cyclone, lifting Xiao Nanfeng''s body from the bed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body floated calmly in the air, immobilized, still deep in sleep.


    The skeleton stared at Xiao Nanfeng for quite a while before stepping forward. It touched his arm with its head, then somehow began to meld into his body as it burrowed its way into his dreamscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body spasmed. His face distorted in fear and terror¡ªbut he was surrounded by ck smoke and unable to wake up.


    Outside his cottage was the continuous sound of chanting and reciting. All seemed to be quiet and peaceful; none knew what horrors were being unveiled in Xiao Nanfeng''s idyllic cottage.


    Just then, by the Cliff of Meditation, Ye Dafu was ring at one of hisckeys.


    "You''re the slowest at memorization¡ªall of us had to wait for you!" he cried out.


    "Boss, this is as fast as I can go! Any other time, it would have taken me twice as long to finish memorizing the scripture," theckey replied, aggrieved.


    "Forget it. Now that you''re done, we can all leave together. You all know what we''re doing next, don''t you?" Ye Dafu grinned.


    "Taking revenge on that damn bastard!"


    "Right! He''s long been a thorn to us."


    "What''s the n, Boss?"


    All hisckeys suddenly seemed energized. Ye Dafu nodded in satisfaction as he saw their anticipation and glee.


    "You see that brat''s cottage, don''t you? Right over there." Ye Dafu pointed at a certain window.


    "He''s inside?" oneckey asked.


    "That''s right. I''ve asked around thesest few days, and I''m confident that that room is his bedroom," Ye Dafu borated.


    "He''s sleeping now? Boss, you aren''t expecting us to charge into his bedroom and give him a beating, are you?"


    "With so many eyes all around us, we won''t be able to manage it unseen!"


    "Che! Look at this." Ye Dafu pointed at the ground


    to see a stack of eleven rocks Ye Dafu had gathered.


    "This is..."


    "I picked up these rocks thesest few days. They''re all spiked and hard. We''ll toss them through his window together and make sure he''s in pain for the next few days!" Ye Dafu smiled viciously. "We''ll run off the moment we hurl the rocks, so no one will know it was us."


    "Excellent n, Boss!"


    "That window''s made of paper. Considering our strength, our rocks would tear straight through and strike him in bed. Ha, if the rocks do hit, then..."


    "He''ll be bruised and bleeding all over! He might even end up paralyzed in bed for a few months."


    "Amazing n, Boss! We''ll leave the Vault of Scriptures immediately afterwards. We''re done with our punishment, after all."


    Ye Dafu''sckeys gathered around him.


    "Each of you will have one rock. Later, on mymand, we''ll throw them through the window together, then run off immediately!" Ye Dafu announced.


    "Yes, Boss!" In high spirits, everyone picked up a rock.


    They stared at the window, imagining Xiao Nanfeng''s prone body within the room. They were carefully choosing the best angle with which to strike.


    "Everyone, at once!" Ye Dafu whispered loudly.


    "May your head bleed!"


    "May your waist fracture!"


    "May your face turn swollen, and your body paralyzed!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys cursed as they threw their rocks through Xiao Nanfeng''s window.


    The eleven sharp rocks shot into his bedroom, tearing apart the window, as they struck his bed.


    The sudden sound of tearing paper and dull thumps caused quite a few disciples to look toward Xiao Nanfeng''s bedroom.


    In the darkness, the eleven young men nced at each other with smirks on their faces.


    "No one will suspect us at all! Come, let''s go!" Ye Dafu instructed.


    "Yes, Boss!" hisckeys chorused.


    The clique was just about to leave when a few robed men appeared behind them.


    "Did you just toss rocks into Junior Brother Nanfeng''s bedroom?"


    "Were you trying tounch a sneak attack on Senior Brother Nanfeng?"


    The disciples barred the way, preventing Ye Dafu''s clique from escaping.


    "What? When did you get behind us?!" Ye Dafu cried out, his face stiff. <i>Did you see us throwing rocks into that damn bastard''s window?</i>


    Ye Dafu''sckeys found their knees turning to jelly. What had happened? How had they been discovered?


    "Where do you think you are? The Vault of Scriptures is one of the most heavily guarded locations in the sect! Disciples are on patrol at every moment in the day. We''re disciples in charge of the night patrol, and we saw all of you huddling suspiciously together. Did you really dare attack Junior Brother Nanfeng?"


    The disciples who had been reciting scriptures all gathered to block Ye Dafu''s path.


    Ye Dafu and his clique pressed close against one another in fear. They thought that their n had been seamless! How had everyone found out? What were they supposed to do?


    They all looked anxiously toward Ye Dafu, who looked back at them in despair. <i>Why are all of you looking at me? I didn''t know there would be guards around!</i>


    There was a dull thump in Xiao Nanfeng''s bedroom.


    "Could something have happened to Senior Brother Nanfeng? Quick, let''s take a look!" A group of nominal disciples rushed over.


    Xiao Nanfeng really had been in danger. The cyclone of ck smoke had surrounded Xiao Nanfeng and caused him to float in mid-air. The skeleton''s head and shoulders had already melded into his arm as it attempted to dive into his dreamscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body spasmed. His face distorted in rage, anger, and fear, but he remained unable to wake up. At this critical moment, eleven sharp rocks were flung through the window.


    The rocks struck the cyclone of ck smoke, breaking its hold on Xiao Nanfeng. It shook violently, then dissipated.


    Xiao Nanfeng fell onto his bed from mid-air. As he did so, his body shook, and his eyes opened.


    He had awoken.


    Xiao Nanfeng gasped out in shock. He had managed to wake up right before the skeleton could make its way into his body! He looked all around to see traces of ck smoke in the air, not having dissipated fully, but the bleached skeleton was nowhere to be seen.


    His forehead beading with sweat, he immediately sat up straight. He looked all around and found a number of rocks littering the floor.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, are you alright?" someone called out from outside the cottage.


    Xiao Nanfeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly left his bedroom.


    "Senior Brother, are you alright? We''ve caught those who flung rocks into your bedroom," one nominal disciple immediately stepped forward and reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced quizzically at Ye Dafu and his clique, who were surrounded by arge group of hostile disciples.


    "J-Junior Brother Nanfeng, it was all a misunderstanding!" Ye Dafu cried out, an awkward expression stered on his face.


    "Right, it was all a misunderstanding!" hisckeys immediately added. <i>What can we do after being caught on the spot? Nothing butugh about it and hope for forgiveness. Damn it, why are we so unlucky?!</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ye Dafu and his clique. He ignored them all and headed straight for Elder Ku''s cottage.


    "Master, your disciple Nanfeng seeks an audience!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Ye Dafu and his clique gave each other shocked looks.


    "We''re done for. Thisd''s gone to report the matter to Elder Ku!"


    "Boss, we''re done for!" Ye Dafu''s clique looked anxiously at their leader.


    Ye Dafu himself was shaken. "What? He''s reporting this to the elder directly? It''s as if he''s calling his parents on us!"

 Chapter 31: Madam Rouge

    <h4>Chapter 31: Madam Rouge</h4>


    Within Elder Ku''s hall, Xiao Nanfeng had requested a private audience with his master. The doors to the hall were sealed shut as master and disciple discussed the cursed effigy.


    "Master, the cursed effigy almost managed to enter my dreamscapepletely! What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened in worry.


    Elder Ku was silent for a moment. He sighed. "It''s grown stronger!"


    "Stronger?"


    "For it to be able to manifest in reality suggests that its strength is going beyond that of the illusory. Otherwise, it would not have been capable of escaping the restrictions I had imposedst time," Elder Ku replied, his face distorting in concern.


    "Has it grown stronger by killing others?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. As you saw in various mental worlds, each person it kills will form a cloud of smoke, which it can absorb. That smoke represents a person''s soul, awareness, and spiritual power. It grows stronger by killing more people."


    "Just what is this cursed effigy? Why has it set its sights on me? There are so many other disciples around the Vault of Scriptures!" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "It was my fault. It had been targeting me," Elder Ku admitted wryly.


    "I''m sorry, Master?" Xiao Nanfeng still seemed confused.


    "I''m not certain of its origins, but I know that there are plenty of such cursed existences within hidden realms. Even if they''re killed, they can revive and regenerate indefinitely, and they represent a grave evil. I encountered this particr cursed being, Madam Rouge, within one such realm," Elder Ku exined.


    "Madam Rouge?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned. <i>Who gave the bleached skeleton such a feminine name? What madman did so?!</i>


    "Indeed. I once ventured into the realm which it had made its home. On a stone tablet was engraved its true name, ''Madam Rouge''. I''m not the first victim that it''s gone after¡ªbut all others whom it has targeted have died. I''ve thought of many possible ways of killing this Madam Rouge, but even if it ''dies'', it simply reappears after some time. It hadn''t shown up for quite a few years, and I thought it had finally let me go¡ªuntil its reappearance a month ago during the recruitment trials." Elder Ku sighed again.


    "Has this Madam Rouge now set her eyes on me, then?" Xiao Nanfeng shuddered.


    "Let''s have a look at your arm." Elder Ku''s face was deathly serious.


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled up his sleeve and held it up to the moonlight that filtered in through a window. On the exposed part of his right shoulder was the image of a skeleton''s upper half-body.


    "Ah, what''s this?!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    He tried to rub at the mark, and as he did so, it slowly vanished.


    "Master, I saw a mark on my shoulder¡ªthe upper half of a skeleton! But after I blinked, that mark vanished." Xiao Nanfeng was certain that this boded ill.


    Indeed, Elder Ku replied seriously, "You may have be its target. I was wondering why my mindscape had been so free of its pestilencetely¡ªbecause it''s made you its target instead!"


    "What? No! Why would it?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "If I may hazard a guess, you likely offended it during your previous confrontations with it. It''s particrly fond of revenge, and it''ll hound you until you die," Elder Ku analyzed.


    "Have I offended it...?" Xiao Nanfeng fell deep in thought. <i>I... may actually have done so. The first time we met, I broke its neck. The second time, I allowed Elder Ku to restrain it. The third time, I ignored its illusion and didn''t touch my master''s body, foiling its n.</i>


    "Master, I barely evaded its attack tonight. How should I deal with future attempts? No one can hear me if I scream in my dream. What should I do, Master?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Elder Ku glumly.


    Elder Ku hesitated. "Perhaps it''s only a passing interest? Don''t worry too much. It might lose interest quickly."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>Master, are you trying tofort me? Why am I only getting more and more frightened?</i>


    "I might be able to go a few days without sleeping, but if it keeps trying to attack me, I won''t be able to survive much beyond that. After all, it''s not as if I can avoid sleeping entirely! Won''t it strike the moment I start to dream?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "The dreamscape can only be essed during light sleep, but not during deep sleep. As long as you can enter deep sleep quickly enough, preventing yourself from dreaming, it won''t be able to ess your dreamscape. Over the next few days, I''ll use my guqin to lure its attention. Can you bear with it for the time being? The Vault of Scriptures contains quite a few records regarding deep meditation, which should be able to help you aplish this goal. Allow me to find one for you," Elder Ku suggested.


    "There''s no need, Master! I''ve already read three such scriptures," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Elder Ku: ...<i>Just how many scriptures has my disciple read over thest month?!</i>


    "Furthermore, strong though the cursed effigy might be, it''s not invincible. As long as your spiritual power is strong enough, it won''t be able to kill you in dreamscapes or illusions. Cultivate steadily and focus on growing strong, and no enemies will be able to hurt you easily," Elder Ku advised.


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Outside the hall, Ye Dafu and his clique had been seized by a group of enforcement disciples. They were waiting anxiously outside Elder Ku''s hall.


    "Is all this necessary? They were just a few small rocks, and he wasn''t injured at all!" Ye Dafu fretted.


    "Right, we didn''t mean to do it!"


    "How could he report such a minor matter to Elder Ku? What should we do?!"


    Ye Dafu and his clique despaired. They had intended to take revenge on Xiao Nanfeng while it was dark and no one could see them, but far too many had! What were they to do? They had been caught red-handed!


    With a bang, the doors to the hall swung open.


    Elder Ku and Xiao Nanfeng walked out with unhappy expressions.


    "They''re the ones, Master." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at Ye Dafu and the others.


    Ye Dafu and his clique stilled. Had Xiao Nanfeng really reported them?


    "Elder Ku, We can bear witness to the events. We saw them toss rocks through Junior Brother Nanfeng''s window into his bedroom. Fortunately, Junior Brother Nanfeng was unharmed." An enforcement disciple stepped forward and gave his testimony.


    "We did it as a prank, Elder Ku! We didn''t mean it!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Yes, Elder, we were only doing it as a joke! There won''t be a next time," hisckeys added.


    Elder Ku ignored them and turned to Xiao Nanfeng instead. "How do you want to deal with them?"


    "Master, would you do the honor of personally picking out two Taoist scriptures for each of them to recite based on their current cultivation, so as toy the foundation for their future?" Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "What? Memorizing more scriptures?!" Ye Dafu grew rmed. <i>We all just finished one scripture each! You''re sending us back to that hellish ce just for pelting rocks at you?!</i>


    "It''s for your own good," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    Although Ye Dafu and his clique had been seeking revenge on him, they had unintentionally helped him out. Xiao Nanfeng wanted to return the favor, and he had requested that his master personally assign them scriptures as a reward. Who else would be able to receive such personalized, expert guidance? Surely they would thank him!


    "You¡ªyou''re joking! How in the world is this good for me?!" Ye Dafu''s eyes looked as though they were about to burst into mes.


    "There''s no need to thank me. You deserve this," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding approvingly.


    Ye Dafu: ...<i>Deserve this? There''s nothing I hate more, and you want me to thank you for this?!</i>


    "Elder Ku, this is my fault. I struck your disciple with a rock. I''m happy to stand here and have him throw one back at me to get his revenge. Would that do? Please don''t force me to recite scriptures. I''ll even let him hit me multiple times!" Ye Dafu begged.


    "What techniques do you cultivate? How is your cultivation?" Elder Ku asked, ignoring their pleas. Clearly, he was intending to adopt Xiao Nanfeng''s suggestion.


    "Boss, we just escaped from a nightmare! Are we going to be forced back into it?" Ye Dafu''sckeys looked as though they were about to die.


    Considering how close Xiao Nanfeng was to Elder Ku, Ye Dafu knew that they wouldn''t be able to get out of this punishment.


    He stepped forward bravely. "Elder Ku, please allow me to take responsibility for my actions. I was the leader in charge of this prank! This has nothing to do with my brothers. They only listened to my ill-advised suggestions. Please let me shoulder the me, and not the others!"


    "Boss!" Hisckeys were ready to tear up.


    "Since this was your n, then I''ll pick out two scriptures for the rest of them and four for you," Elder Ku replied.


    Ye Dafu froze in shock. <i>No, no! Did I just get two more scriptures added to my punishment? Why? No!</i>


    "Thank Elder Ku," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Ye Dafu and the others: ...<i>Thank him? For what?!</i>


    Ye Dafu and his clique had no further recourse. Elder Ku personally picked out a few scriptures for each of them.


    Thus was a cmity averted. The eleven young men who had just been freed from the depths of meditation and recitation, teary-eyed, found themselves back in its embrace.


    The next morning, Ye Dafu and his clique recited their scriptures as they cursed Xiao Nanfeng, who was absorbing the dawn qi not far away. They were aggrieved, their eyes bloodshot, but none dared call out to him or curse him¡ªbecause Elder Ku was seated by his side.


    Xiao Nanfeng spat out a mouthful of turbid air and opened his eyes.


    "Demonstrate Hegemon''s Fist. I''ll give you a few pointers based on your current understanding of the technique," Elder Kumanded.


    "Yes, Master!"


    Xiao Nanfeng took a stance and released a flurry of punches, causing miniature explosions in the air. Dust clouds rose from the ground, not dissipating for long moments.


    "Gusts of heat... Have you managed to integrate the essence of pure yang with Hegemon''s Fist?" Elder Ku eximed in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Yes, Master. The scriptures about pure yang qi that you had me read dealt with such matters. So say the scriptures, ''Merge essence with qi, then qi with strength.'' This greatly enhanced the power of my technique and allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the essence of Hegemon''s Fist."


    Elder Ku: ...<i>You''ve already learned what I was about to teach you from these scriptures! How am I supposed to give you pointers now?</i>


    "Master, have I misunderstood something?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "No, your understanding is excellent. I''m very gratified, and you''ve saved me quite a bit of effort." Elder Ku could only nod with some exasperation. He couldn''t teach faster than Xiao Nanfeng could learn!


    "Master, would you be willing to select a few relevant scriptures for me? Whenever I head to the Vault of Scriptures, I feel as though I''m trying to pick a needle out of a haystack. Your advice would save me countless trouble, Master," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    Elder Ku nodded with satisfaction. Xiao Nanfeng ''s ability to study would serve him well in the long run.


    Not far away, Ye Dafu and the rest of his clique red at Xiao Nanfeng with disdain. <i>You bootlicker! As if you could get anything out of those cryptic, abstruse scriptures! Your pretenses are shameless!</i>


    "Right, Master, if you have any spare time, would you mind paying attention to Ye Dafu and the others? With your guidance, Elder, I''m sure they would be able to understand the scriptures faster." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at Ye Dafu and his clique.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys nched. <i>What? Haven''t you caused us to suffer enough? What are you pulling now? All we did was toss rocks into your bedroom! Aren''t you going to relent? You''re vicious, truly vicious!</i>

 Chapter 32: Yuers Apprenticeship

    <h4>Chapter 32: Yu''er''s Apprenticeship</h4>


    A monthter, by the foot of the Cliff of Meditation, as dawn broke, Ye Dafu and his clique finally finished memorizing their assigned scriptures.


    "Boss, you''re astonishing! We just finished memorizing two scriptures, but you''re already done with four!" oneckey cried out in astonishment.


    "Of course! Otherwise, I''d have to stay here and get annoyed whenever I see that bastard!" Ye Dafu red at hisckey.


    "Now that we''re done, we can go now! What about we try to teach that brat a lesson again?" oneckey asked.


    Everyone stared at the young man.


    "What, do you think we haven''t memorized enough scriptures? We can''t strike here!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Right¡ªwe don''t want to do this again!" the others echoed.


    The young man, thinking back to what he had suffered for thest month, also shuddered.


    "Don''t worry. There''ll be plenty of opportunities to get back at him for this," Ye Dafu promised, gritting his teeth.


    "Boss is right¡ªthere''ll be plenty of timeter!" theckeys cried out.


    Suddenly, as though sensing something, everyone turned toward Ye Dafu''s back. Three enforcement disciples were standing behind him, their ears pricked up as they listened in to Ye Dafu''s pronouncements.


    "You¡ªwhen did you guys get here?!" Ye Dafu shouted in shock.


    Hisckeys likewise sucked in a breath. Were enforcement disciples always so stealthy?


    "You''ve all finished your scriptures, then? Why are you huddling together again likest time? What are you nning now, another ''prank''? And what''s this about ''plenty of time'', now?" one enforcement disciple asked.


    Ye Dafu and his clique''s eyes grew wide with rm.


    "No, you must have misheard! We''re right about to leave. Now, right away, immediately!"


    "We haven''t been discussing a sneak attack on Nanfeng. Please don''t punish us with more scriptures!" oneckey urged, revealing the truth in his nervousness.


    "Shut your damn mouth!" Ye Dafu cried out, then turned to the enforcement disciples. "Senior Brothers, it''s past time for us to leave. Hope to see you again¡ªno, never again!"


    Ye Dafu fled, quickly followed by hisckeys. The enforcement disciples nced askance at each other. They had just been curious; why were Ye Dafu and his gang so scared?


    "They''re not about to attack Junior Brother Nanfeng again, are they?" one disciple wondered.


    All of them looked toward Xiao Nanfeng''s bedroom, where another horrifying event was unfolding.


    Xiao Nanfeng was in a deep sleep. ck smoke clogged the room, and a bleached skeleton stood by the head of the bed, quietly looking at Xiao Nanfeng as though waiting for something, standing silently for long moments.


    Xiao Nanfeng awoke from his deep slumber and opened his eyes, just in time to gaze into the skeleton''s empty eye sockets.


    He didn''t scream; he had grown used to the sight. His face merely twitched.


    "Madam Rouge? It''s been a month. If you keep standing guard over me like this daily, my heart won''t be able to take the burden. At the start, when I woke up, you and your ck fog would quickly dissipate¡ªyou''d hide from me. Now, however, have you grown used to it? You''re standing right in front of me. Aren''t you worried I''ll shriek and summon some disciples over?" Xiao Nanfengined to the skeleton in exasperation.


    The skeleton continued staring at Xiao Nanfeng, as though criticizing him for sleeping without dreaming, forbidding it from entering his dreamscape for an entire month.


    "I''d like to apologize for our previous few encounters, but you surely can''t me it all on me? You were trying to kill me, and I was only acting in self-defense. You''ve also already been bothering me for a month, and your presence has been a tremendous mental burden. Shall we consider us even?" Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    The skeleton remained unmoved. It stared grimly at Xiao Nanfeng. <i>''A tremendous mental burden''? You''ve been sleeping like a log the whole month.</i>


    "For you, I''ve even specially bought a stick of the finest incense. Please, let it guide you on your way, so that you don''t bother me any longer! I''m innocent!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    He lit up the fine stick of incense and stuck it in a burner. Pleasant smoke drifted from it, clouding the room.


    "How does this brand of incense smell?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the skeleton expectantly.


    The skeleton remained immobile. The incense was clearly ineffective.


    "It doesn''t suit you? Don''t worry, I''m sure I''ll find something you like. Next time, maybe," Xiao Nanfeng promised, patting his chest.


    The skeleton: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng left his room, ignoring Madam Rouge, who was left stewing in frustration.


    Deep sleep could replenish his mental reserves to a significant extent. Xiao Nanfeng began another day at full capacity.


    After washing up, he absorbed dawn qi, ate, and practiced his fist technique.


    Yu''er walked by in a cloud of dust. "I heard you were searching for me?"


    "That''s right! Ah, where did you juste from to be looking worse for wear?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I just came back from raiding another demonicir. It took a great deal of effort. I had just returned when I heard you were looking for me. What''s the matter? Have you grown so destitute that you''re looking to me for a loan?" Yu''er teased.


    "Go back to your cottage, wash up, ande back with a clean change of clothes," Xiao Nanfeng advised, shaking his head.


    "Oh? You''ve really gotten a big head, haven''t you? Telling me toe over, and then criticizing me for being poorly dressed? What''s the matter with you?" Yu''er ced her hands on her hips, a flicker of anger exuding from her eyes.


    "Do you think I''m that uncouth? As for why I''m asking you to wash up, what do you think? Don''t make me waste my efforts!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Yu''er blinked. Then, her eyes lit up and she grabbed a hold of Xiao Nanfeng''s sleeve in shock. "You¡ªdid you really seed?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Elder Ku has been in a good mood recently, and I''ve been asking him about you regrly. I''m happy to report that he''s finally agreed."


    "Elder Ku''s nning to take me as an apprentice? Haha, Nanfeng, I knew you could do it!" Yu''er hugged Xiao Nanfeng tightly, so much so that he started to cough. Only then did she run off.


    He looked strangely at her back. <i>Her body is petite, but she''s surprisingly forceful!</i>


    Yu''er rushed back quickly, cleaned and well groomed, her face radiant with joy.


    Elder Ku was seated beside Xiao Nanfeng, as if giving him pointers about his fist technique.


    "Disciple Yu''er greets her master!" Yu''er stepped forward and bowed down toward Elder Ku.


    "Yu''er, I haven''t been able to teach you the guqin in the past because of a cursed effigy associated with me, that could easily have corrupted you," Elder Ku exined.


    "A cursed effigy?" Yu''er seemed perplexed.


    "That''s right! However, it has been staying away from metely, a good portent indeed," Elder Ku replied, smiling.


    Beside him, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. <i>A good portent for you, maybe, but not for me! It''s been bothering me day and night instead.</i>


    "I can''t guarantee that the cursed effigy won''t return to bother me, so it might still be a very dangerous affair to learn the guqin from me. Will you still learn from me despite this danger?" Elder Ku asked calmly.


    "Yes, Elder Ku!" Yu''er replied resolutely.


    "Very well. Just like Nanfeng, I''ll take you as a student in name. Once I''mpletely freed of that cursed effigy, you may be an official apprentice. We''ll settle the details at that point," Elder Ku replied.


    "Yes, Master! Your disciple, Yu''er, greets her master!" Yu''er kowtowed in excitement.


    She then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Thank you, Junior Brother!"


    "I became Master''s disciple before you. You should call me Senior Brother," Xiao Nanfeng corrected, with a shake of his head.


    "Dream on! Thews of the Taiqing sect im that we second-generation formal disciples have seniority based on our cultivation, not on age! You''re still in Acquisition, so you can hardly be my senior brother. Instead, I''ll take you as my younger brother, haha!"


    "Yu''er, have you studied the guqin before?" Elder Ku asked.


    "I''ve secretly learned a bit of it in the past while reading in the Vault of Scriptures. Please advise me, Master," Yu''er replied seriously.


    "y a tune." Elder Ku pointed at his own guqin.


    "Yes, Master!"


    She set up Elder Ku''s guqin, prepared herself, then began to y.


    As the notes of the guqin rang out in the air, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly noticed that the trace spiritual aether in the environment had begun to resonate, but only a little.


    "Master, this is the limit of my abilities," Yu''er replied, once she had finished a song.


    "You''ve actually mastered the basics of melodic cultivation?" Elder Ku was rather surprised.


    "Only the basics, Master," Yu''er replied modestly, though she smiled at seeing Elder Ku''s astonishment.


    "That will save me plenty of work, in that case. Starting tomorrow, prepare a guqin for yourself. We''ll practice daily," Elder Ku instructed, satisfied.


    "Thank you, Master!" Yu''er kowtowed again.


    Elder Ku gave them both some advice, then headed into the Vault of Scriptures to pick out some scriptures for them both.


    "Junior Brother, you''ve finally fulfilled my wish! I''ve asked Zhao Yuanjiao countless times for his help, but he''s never eded, always pushing it off for some reason or another. He''s far more petty than you are!" Yu''er told him.


    "I''m d to have helped," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I managed to acquire quite a few demonic lifeforms during the raid, so I''ll split some with you and let you have a taste. Alright, I have to go buy a good guqin now." Yu''er was about to rush off with anticipation.


    "Senior Sister, haven''t you mastered the basics? Don''t you have your own guqin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I did master the basics, but not with the guqin in the past. I learned the flute," Yu''er exined quietly.


    "The flute?" Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised.


    "Right, I used to be excellent with the flute! I''ll demonstrate when we have a chance," Yu''er replied with satisfaction.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Yu''er pranced off in search of a good guqin, while Xiao Nanfeng returned to practicing his fist technique.

 Chapter 33: Reappearance of the Demonic Sect

    <h4>Chapter 33: Reappearance of the Demonic Sect</h4>


    Three monthster, Xiao Nanfeng turned seventeen. He was hoping that the bleached skeleton would have lost interest in him, but despite buying over a hundred brands of incense, Madam Rouge still guarded him from dusk till dawn, a true test of his spiritual power. Fortunately, he spent each day engrossed in Taoist scriptures, bolstered by the sound of the guqin, greatly augmenting his current spiritual power.


    "Nanfeng, it''s about to rain! Come seek shelter!" Yu''er urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes and turned to Yu''er with her guqin.


    "I was engrossed in your music, Senior Sister. You''re growing even more impressive than before," Xiao Nanfeng praised, walking under the eaves of a nearby cottage.


    "Of course! I''ll learn all of Master''s techniques sooner orter. When you reach Immanence and start your spiritual cultivation, I''ll use the guqin to help you bolster it," Yu''er offered generously.


    "Thank you, Senior Sister." Xiao Nanfeng smiled; he didn''t offer up more information.


    As they were talking, a young man walked up to them, an umbre in hand.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, Senior Sister Yu''er," the young man began respectfully.


    "Hmm?" Yu''er nced curiously at the stranger, not recognizing him.


    "Do you remember me, Senior Brother Nanfeng?" the young man asked.


    "You are..." Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. He thought the man seemed familiar somehow.


    "The day of the recruitment trial, we entered a shared illusion together. You saved us all, Senior Brother Nanfeng, from the bleached skeleton that attacked us. I am Chen Ran, here to pay my respects and thank you for saving my life again, Senior Brother."


    "Don''t worry about it," Xiao Nanfeng replied politely, recalling the affair.


    "I now work under Senior Brother Zhao Yuanjiao, and am here to present you an invitation on hismand," Chen Ran continued.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao? What''s he looking for Nanfeng for?" Yu''er frowned the moment she heard his name. Although Zhao Yuanjiao was also one of Elder Ku''s disciples, Yu''er wasn''t fond of him at all.


    "Tang, Ma Shan, and the other demonic spies that were caught over three months ago have been imprisoned for interrogation since, but it''s taken until now before they''re finally willing to divulge any information. They''ve brought your name up, Senior Brother Nanfeng, so Senior Brother Zhao''s hoping that you''ll be willing to participate in the interrogation as well," Chen Ran exined.


    "Ma Shan? Tang? They''re still alive¡ªyou''ve been interrogating them for so long? Why not simply kill a few? Surely the rest would speak up then," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "What?" Chen Ran stilled.


    "They''ve caused the deaths of far too many senior disciples of the Ascended division. Considering what they''ve done, surely there''s no need to respect their lives! Who''s responsible for the interrogation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Chen Ran looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in shock, not knowing how to exin things right then and there.


    "Nanfeng, not all the disciples of the demonic sect are malicious. There are only a few culprits that deserve to die. We only tend to imprison ordinary demonic sect disciples; as for Ma Shan and the others, I suspect that our seniors simply haven''t determined conclusively that they''re the culprits responsible for all the deaths from before," Yu''er exined.


    "Why are we so lenient regarding these disciples? Imprisonment as the sole punishment for sneaking into the Taiqing sect¡ªhow would that deter them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "Are you... unaware of the situation with the demonic sect?" Yu''er asked, peering at him strangely.


    "What situation?"


    "The demonic sect is more properly known as the Taiqing Demonic Sect," Yu''er exined.


    "The Taiqing Demonic Sect¡ªwhereas we''re part of the Taiqing Immortal Sect? What''s the rtionship between the two sects?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "As you''ve intuited, the two sects are rted. The elders of the demonic sect were all once part of the Taiqing sect. Allegedly, after a conflict two centuries ago, an internal schism split up the sect. The Taiqing Demonic Sect was formed as an offshoot containing members of the original Taiqing sect then. Because these disciples are likewise part of the Taiqing tradition, elders in both sects have treated such cases with leniency. The disciples themselves, after all, have no innate quarrel with one another, and imprisonment tends to be the default punishment except in extreme circumstances," Yu''er exined.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed perplexed.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, would you be willing toe with me?" Chen Ran asked.


    "Why doesn''t Zhao Yuanjiaoe himself? Is Nanfeng someone he can just summon at will? Tell Zhao Yuanjiao that, if he wants Nanfeng''s help, to ask for it himself!" Yu''er declined the ''invitation'' on Xiao Nanfeng''s behalf.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, Senior Brother Zhao is unable to spare the time at the moment. He''s entrusted me with a jade token. If I remain unable to convince you, I''m to show the token to Elder Ku to make him aware of the importance of the matter, then to have him persuade you to go," Chen Ran exined glumly, showing him the token.


    "Nanfeng, don''t worry about it. Have Zhao Yuanjiao fetch you himself. Hmph! He''s trying to pull rank on you, but who knows if the token is genuine? We won''t fall for it!" Yu''er cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. "I think I had better go, Senior Sister. Zhao Yuanjiao knows my identity now, and he won''t do anything to me. Furthermore, Elder Ku has just entered secluded cultivation again, and I can''t be bothering him for such trifling affairs."


    "Alright," Yu''er grudgingly replied.


    It was the eve of spring. Cold rain fell over their heads, sshing on their umbres, as they shivered under the spring chill.


    Chen Ran gossiped with Xiao Nanfeng as they embarked down a dpidated path.


    "Right over that mountain up ahead, Senior Brother Nanfeng. I really have to thank you for your assistance¡ªI don''t know what I would have done otherwise."


    "Does Senior Brother Zhao frequently give you pointers on your cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked.


    "Thanks to Senior Brother Zhao''s advice, I''ve just made it to the tenth stage of Acquisition. He praises you frequently, Senior Brother Nanfeng," Chen Ran replied, smiling politely.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s smile stiffened as he narrowed his eyes at Chen Ran. <i>Zhao Yuanjiao, praising me? Are you joking? Just a few days ago, when Zhao Yuanjiao came to speak with Master, he was still ncing at me warily...</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately grew rmed. Was Chen Ran to be trusted just because he was somewhat familiar?


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, please hurry up..." Chen Ran urged politely.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s response was a fist to the face. Chen Ran narrowed his eyes, then countered with one of his own.


    The two disciples shed against each other, and both stumbled back. The umbres they held burst into pieces from the force of the attack.


    "There really is something wrong with you!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He hadunched a sneak attack at Chen Ran; unless Chen Ran was already on guard, the punch would have rendered him unconscious.


    Chen Ran''s face turned dark. "What gave it away?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin. Instead, he told Chen Ran, "Even if you are a demonic spy, I''ve saved your life. This is how you repay me?"


    "I have no other choice. I am grateful for your assistance, but I can''t ignoremands from those above me, you understand. Now that you''vee this far, you might as well stay." Chen Ran showed no guilt nor difort. Rather, he blocked Xiao Nanfeng''s path to safety.


    "Commands from those above you? Who are they? Who set me up for this?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Trying to get me to reveal more information? I''ll let you know once I catch you."


    Chen Ran smirked. A b of stone shattered as he pushed off it, pouncing toward Xiao Nanfeng like a leopard. The two disciples struck each other with their fists once again. Xiao Nanfeng took three steps back before stabilizing himself, his fist sore and numb, whereas Chen Ran only took one step back.


    "Impressive. I''m at the tenth stage of Acquisition, but I''m barely stronger than you are. Are you at the ninth stage of Acquisition? No, you cultivate qi of pure yang. Are you only at the eighth stage?!" Chen Ran asked in shock.


    "It''s enough to take you down, at any rate!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed forward.


    "Is that so?" Chen Ran taunted, charging forward as well.


    The two disciples met each other fist for fist. Then, Xiao Nanfeng''s punch suddenly turned illusory. Another punch headed straight for Chen Ran''s face.


    "This¡ª?!" Chen Ran shouted.


    The fist hit him squarely in the face, sending him flying into the distance. He smashed against arge boulder. By the time he mbered up, he was a sorry sight. His face was covered with blood and dirt, and his nose broken.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt forward like a tiger.


    "Hegemon''s Fist, assassin form? I must have been caught off-guard. How could you beat me despite being two stages of cultivation weaker?" Chen Ran charged forward, his expression dark.


    "Didn''t Tang tell you? I defeated Chen Hai when he was two stages above me, too." Xiao Nanfeng punched forward again. Four punches headed toward Chen Ran, who suddenly stopped short. He didn''t know which ones were fake, and which were real.


    Once again, he was sent flying. He smashed into another boulder. His clothes were filthy as he got to his feet, his head ringing and the world spinning around him.


    "Do you members of the demonic sect have no better victim to target? Why do you pick on me each time? The sect might only imprison you, but I''ve never been one to go lightly on my enemies." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with frost.


    He kicked straight at Chen Ran''s head.


    "No!" Chen Ran barely avoided being kicked in the head, but Xiao Nanfeng managed to dislocate his right shoulder. He smashed into a pile of rubble.


    "Help! Someone, help!" Chen Ran shouted in pain.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>A demonic spy, daring to shout for help? You''re even more shameless than Tang!</i>

 Chapter 34: Arclight Villa

    <h4>Chapter 34: Arclight Vi</h4>


    Within a prison on Taiqing Ind were a group of a few unconscious Taiqing disciples. Ma Shan, Tang, and nine other disciples had escaped from imprisonment. They were standing outside the prison and watching the chilly rain, as though awaiting someone.


    "Senior Brother Ma Shan, although Chen Ran managed to drug these disciples unconscious and save us while Zhao Yuanjiao''s not on the ind, we''re still on enemy territory. We had better leave while we can, before anything unexpected happens!" Tang urged.


    "Oh? If you hadn''t ratted us out, would we have had to suffer like this?" Ma Shan retorted, his eyes zing.


    "As I exined, it was Chen Hai who ratted all of you out. I didn''t say a single word. It''s not my fault!" Tang replied.


    "Chen Hai''s already dead. Who can confirm what you said?" Ma Shan asked.


    "I really didn''t betray everyone! Please believe me. Furthermore, can''t we leave Taiqing Ind right now? What are we waiting for?" Tang urged again.


    "Nanfeng caused us to suffer for a few months, and Chen Hai died because of him. We can''t take this lying down. We''re going to take revenge for Chen Hai with his life," Ma Shan replied, clenching a fist.


    "Right, we can''t let him go this easily!" the other disciples cried out fiercely.


    "But this is Taiqing Ind! We''re still in dire straits." Tang continued trying to persuade his fellow disciples.


    "No matter. We''re right by the shore. Once Chen Ran tricks Nanfeng over and we kill him, we''ll be able to leave immediately," Ma Shan replied.


    "But will Chen Ran be able to trick him? Nanfeng''s sly and devious, and I have an uneasy premonition."


    "Chen Ran''s extremely cautious and good at acting. I''m sure he''ll be able to lure Nanfeng over," Ma Shan replied confidently.


    "Nanfeng''s very difficult to deal with," Tang murmured, frowning.


    "Oh? Do you think he can beat Chen Ran? I specifically asked Chen Ran to bring him over unharmed so that we can take our anger out on him. Otherwise, Chen Ran alone would be enough to deal with him!" Ma Shan added.


    Just then, a pained cry came from afar.


    "Help! Someone, help!" The shout could easily be heard amidst the rain.


    "Is that Chen Ran? Something''s gone wrong! We have to leave him and run!" Tang nched.


    "Run? What''s there to fear? If Chen Ran''s able to shout, that means that those attacking him aren''t unable to suppress him fully. There''s no need for the likes of us to run. Come, let''s have a look!" Ma Shan urged.


    The group of enemy disciples climbed up a small hill and saw the two disciples fighting from afar¡ªno, it wasn''t a fight any longer, but a one-sided assault.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s punches struck like bombs, and illusory afterimages misguided his opponent. Chen Ran screamed as he was pummeled.


    "What? How can Nanfeng be strong enough to defeat Chen Ran? This is impossible!" Ma Shan cried out in disbelief.


    "As I said, Nanfeng''s difficult to deal with! It''s only been a few months, and he''s already able to beat down someone at the peak of Acquisition. Come on, we have to leave!" Tang urged.


    Down below them, Xiao Nanfeng, who was prepared to give Chen Ran a killing blow, suddenly grew alert. He raised his head and saw the eleven figures on the small mountain, the familiar figures of Ma Shan and Tang among them.


    "This many aplices? Have Ma Shan and Tang both escaped from prison?" Xiao Nanfeng nched and ran.


    "Stop him!" Ma Shanmanded.


    Ten disciples dashed straight toward Xiao Nanfeng like prowling tigers.


    Tang watched them go, an uneasy expression on his face. "Are you all crazy? I''m not going to join you and get caught again." He turned around and ran toward the sea.


    "Are there any Taiqing disciples around? Enemy spies are trying to kill me! Help!" Xiao Nanfeng yelled out.


    However, they were in a rather remote location, and the sound of the waves and rain served to prevent anyone from hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s cries. He could feel those disciples behind him closing in.


    "Catch him!" The group of enemy disciples drew closer in the rain.


    If Xiao Nanfeng were to retrace his footsteps and flee through wide-open paths, he would be caught in no time at all. He had no choice but to scamper into the forest, making use of the obstacles in his path to hinder his pursuers.


    The ten disciples followed rapidly behind him. Xiao Nanfeng could even hear their footsteps. He didn''t dare shout any longer in fear of exposing his current position. He didn''t know how long he ran before he found himself surrounded by mist.


    "Why do I feel like I keep going around in circles? Am I trapped in an array?" Xiao Nanfeng nced around him in worry.


    When Ma Shan and the others saw the mist, they too thought to retreat. However, upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s footsteps before them, they didn''t want to back down just yet. Gritting their teeth, they continued chasing after him.


    Icy rain drenched his clothes, causing him to fill a chill all over. He wandered around for two whole hours in the mist. Just as he was about to grow vexed, he suddenly saw a vi appear in the valley up ahead. It was shrouded by mist, and a font of deste music seemed to be emanating from within.


    "Is there someone present? Wonderful!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward the source of the music.


    Regardless of who resided in that building, he would be safe¡ªas long as the resident was a Taiqing disciple.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no time to waste knocking. He mustered his strength and leapt up from the ground straight past the wall.


    "He''s in there! He jumped over the wall!" Ma Shan cried out.


    Upon seeing the name of the vi, however, the pursuing disciples all stopped short, not daring to proceed further.


    "Arclight Vi? Damn it, how did we end up here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt over the wall to find its interior saturated with fog.


    "Is someone around? Someone, please help!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Even so, no one within the vi responded. Xiao Nanfeng ran through the outskirts of the vi, only to find no one around.


    "Is it empty? Then where''s this musicing from?" Xiao Nanfeng followed the source of the music, still not seeing anyone in sight. However, he finally arrived at an inner courtyard of the vi from where the music emanated.


    "Is anyone there? Disciple Nanfeng seeks an audience!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He received no response save the music.


    Eventually, taking a deep breath, Xiao Nanfeng pushed open the gates into the inner courtyard. The interior and the exterior of the courtyard were two different worlds. A hot, steaming pool awaited him within. Beside the pool were all manner of nts and grasses, vibrant in color and intensity.


    Warmth and fragrance suffused Xiao Nanfeng, and he finally found the source of the music. Under the eaves of the inner courtyard, there was a small stove bubbling with tea. A woman sat ying the erhu, her eyes shut in peaceful repose. The deste notes wereing from the erhu.


    The woman seemed not to have discovered Xiao Nanfeng''s intrusion. She continued devoting her entire attention to the erhu. Her skin was snowy-white, her face exquisite, her neck thin and slender like a swan''s. Despite her closed eyes, she exuded a sense of elegance and purity. Her robes were royal blue. She seemed almost otherworldly, so unsullied by mortal affairs was she. In association with the flowers and nts that grew within the courtyard, she seemed like a queen of nature receiving the adoration of her subjects. Despite how many beauties Xiao Nanfeng had seen on-screen in his past life, he was shocked by her appearance.


    "Esteemed elder, I am one of the new disciples of the Taiqing Sect, Nanfeng. I apologize for the intrusion, but there are demonic spies making a fuss outside. Would you help me deal with them?" Xiao Nanfeng bowed respectfully.


    However, the woman seemed unmoved. She continued ying the erhu, as if she couldn''t hear Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Elder, can you hear me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again, more loudly.


    However, the woman didn''t seem to react. Even when Xiao Nanfeng walked closer to her, she continued ying the erhu without making any indication that she sensed his presence.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced curiously at the woman in blue, then asked one final time, "Elder, are you able to y the erhu despite being deaf?"


    When the woman remained as impassive as ever, Xiao Nanfeng confirmed his hypothesis. "Ah! I thought I had found a savior, but you''re deaf! It must be difficult for you to have learned to y the erhu without being able to hear¡ªand it''s little wonder your music is atrocious."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed to himself, not realizing that the woman''s face had spasmed a little upon hearing his words. However, she seemed unable to stop ying for the time being, and continued as though nothing were amiss.


    "Elder! Ah, perhaps not. If she can''t even sense my presence when I''m right before her, her cultivation must not be too advanced. Perhaps she''s still a junior disciple?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    Quiet though he was, the woman seemed to be able to hear him. Her face was as impassive as before, but a vein protruded from the back of her right palm as she exerted too much force for a single stroke of her bow.


    "I apologize for unintentionally intruding in your vi. Don''t worry, I''ll lure the demonic sect disciples away¡ªat the very least, your peaceful life won''t be disturbed." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    This woman would be unable to help him; he couldn''t count on her.


    Before he left, he nced askance at the teapot.


    "Might I have a cup of tea to ease the chill of the rain?" Xiao Nanfeng asked politely, eyes bright.


    The woman ignored him. Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, poured a cup of tea for himself, blew on it to cool it, then gulped it down.


    After having a few cups of tea, Xiao Nanfeng felt a warmth radiating throughout his belly. He was just about to put the cup down when he realized that there was a fresh red mark by the rim of the cup.


    He nced at the woman in blue''s red lips with a flush. Was this a cup she had used?


    "Forget it. I don''t mind too much. Let me help you clean the cup."


    He cleaned the cup using a vat of rainwater, then ced it where it had been. He didn''t realize that the woman''s forehead had begun to bulge with pale veins, as though she were growing furious.


    "Junior Sister, I''ll lure the demonic spies away right now. Take care!"


    He stepped outside the little cottage and shut the gates.


    The moment he did so, the woman in blue opened her eyes wide. Her beautiful eyes seemed to be ming, and an oppressive killing intent emanated from them.


    The teacup that Xiao Nanfeng had just used cracked, then burst apart.


    As the woman''s gaze swept through the yard, the flowers trembled, their petals closing up into buds, as though unable to bear the woman''s fiery gaze.


    It was clear that she had been enraged by Xiao Nanfeng''s actions.

 Chapter 35: Horrific Invasion

    <h4>Chapter 35: Horrific Invasion</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng walked out of the inner courtyard and toward the outskirts of the vi, but he was surrounded by fog all over. He almost lost his way a few times, but somehow wandered back to the front gates of the vi, near which he had first entered.


    He listened carefully by the gates for some time, checking that there was nomotion outside, before climbing the wall to take a look. Unfortunately, at some point, the fog all around them had grown even denser. There was barely any visibility; he couldn''t see anything.


    Gritting his teeth, he leapt down over the other side, but the moment hended, he grew rmed. "Something''s wrong!"


    The mist all around them abruptly disappeared, reced by a space shining with purple light.


    "Of course something''s wrong! I evenid a trap for you using a Talisman of Phantasmagoria. It''s a rare Taiqing treasure that isn''t avable for purchase. You''ve caused me to incur a huge loss!" an icy voice called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see ten men looking at him with fierce, malevolent expressions.


    "Ma Shan? How did you know I''de out from here?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell.


    "There are misdirection arrays around the Arclight Vi that cause you to lose your sense of direction, and most people will end up circling by the entrance. All we needed to do was to wait here. Nanfeng, you''ve really wasted quite a bit of our time¡ªbut even you won''t be able to escape from this illusory realm," Ma Shan informed him coldly, walking forward as heughed.


    "This is an illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    Illusory realms and dreamscapes were all representations of mental worlds. <i>I''ve been evading Madam Rouge all this time by going into deep sleep every day for months, not daring to enter my dreamscape¡ªbut now all of you have dragged me into one!</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng looked around in anger and mounting fear as he attempted to free himself.


    "Don''t bother struggling. The realm is sealed shut while the talisman is functional, and no one will be able to get out," Ma Shan taunted, seeing how flustered Xiao Nanfeng was.


    "You could have made a move in reality! Why bother with this illusory realm?!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    "This is Arclight Vi, after all. The Lady Arclight has never cared for the rivalry or enmity between the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic Sects, but are you aware of her temper? If anyone dares to disturb her while she''s in secluded cultivation, meditating on the arcane, the unlucky disciple will be tossed out of the vi, all four limbs broken. There''s never been an exception¡ªso you must be lucky indeed to have made it out unscathed! Fighting is prohibited in the vicinity of the Arclight Vi. Anymotion that disturbs the Lady Arclight will cause the perpetrators to suffer the same fate. Why do you think we had to waste such a talisman on you?" Ma Shan used, pointing at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The Lady Arclight?" Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.


    <i>Could that woman in blue have been the Lady Arclight? In secluded cultivation, meditating on the arcane? Was the reason she hadn''t spoken to me not because she was deaf, but because she was nearing a crucial breakthrough and couldn''t be disturbed? Was I reasonably polite to her back then?</i>


    "Cripple him, then we''ll leave! Make sure not to disturb the Lady Arclight," Ma Shan instructed.


    "Yes!"


    The enemy disciples pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You idiots¡ªdo you know how dangerous it''ll be to drag me into an illusion? Cancel it at once, or none of us are going to live!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    "Ha! You''re just trying to deceive us since you''re outnumbered. Do you think we''ll believe you?" one disciple cried out, charging straight at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold. He punched forward with a fist. The man''s chest caved in, and he was sent flying away.


    "What?!" the disciples cried out.


    What had just happened? This quickly¡ªand Nanfeng had won?


    "This is spiritual power?! You have spiritual power? Aren''t you at Acquisition?!" Ma Shan cried out in shock.


    In illusory realms, what mattered wasn''t physical strength, but rather spiritual strength. Under ordinary circumstances, no Acquisition-realm cultivator would bother training the soul and spirit, and Xiao Nanfeng should have been an easy target to take down¡ªbut he had just knocked someone with spiritual power flying! How could this be?


    Xiao Nanfeng struck down the rest of the disciples as he rushed at them.


    With a palm strike, he broke the arms of a man who had infused his limbs with spiritual power. The man was sent flying into the air as he coughed out blood and screamed.


    "Even an Ascension-grade cultivator?!" Ma Shan cried out.


    One man struck at Xiao Nanfeng''s back with a palm strike, but Xiao Nanfeng easily protected himself with spiritual power. He bent down and kicked at the man with his right leg, straight at his assant''s lower jaw.


    With a huge crack, the man was sent screaming backwards. Blood arced across the air. The man''s lower jaw had broken outright.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent his leg arcing in a sweep, knocking down all those around him. Despite the fact that they protected themselves with spiritual power, they were still sent flying with a single kick, their chests caved in.


    Xiao Nanfeng red viciously at his assants. "Didn''t you hear me? If you don''t cancel this illusion, I''ll kick your heads open!"


    He kicked another disciple in the head, sending him flying into the sky with a spray of blood.


    "Charge together¡ªwe''ll be able to kill him then!" Ma Shan cried out in fright.


    He had expected this ambush to have been perfect, but Xiao Nanfeng was far harder an opponent to take down than he had expected! In fact, he was winning against all ten of them!


    Xiao Nanfeng understood that he would have to cause them to fear for their lives if he wanted to get them to dispel the illusion.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to fight, faster and ever faster. He was no weaker than anyone present when it came to spiritual power, and his spirit-imbued Hegemon''s Fist was unparalleled in strength. When he attacked, a gust of wind flung his opponents back.


    Another three disciples were sent flying.


    Ma Shan leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng''s back and grabbed the back of his neck.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed as he flung both elbows to his back, causing Ma Shan to spray out a mouthful of blood as his chest copsed. He was knocked to the ground.


    The remaining disciples were no match for him, and he took them all down within a few rounds.


    "Can an Acquisition-realm disciple cultivate the soul?!"


    "This spiritual strength¡ªhe''s almost as strong as Zhao Yuanjiao! This is impossible!"


    The ten disciples fell to the ground, some coughing out blood, others with fractured limbs. They were ncing at Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment.


    "Dispel the illusion, now! Otherwise, you''ll all die!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered, stepping on Ma Shan''s back.


    "You''ve already won. Why are you in such a hurry? What are you afraid of?!" Ma Shan shouted, still vomiting blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng stomped on Ma Shan''s body, crushing his chest further.


    As he spat out another mouthful of blood, Ma Shan cried out, "Dispel the illusion!"


    Purple light shed all around them, but they remained within the illusion.


    "I told you, dispel the illusion! Didn''t you hear me? Or do you want to stay here with this madman? Go on, we''d better leave! Even if we end up being beaten up by the Lady Arclight, it''d be better than being embarrassed here by this brat. Dispel the illusion!" Ma Shan yelled at one of his juniors.


    "I already did!" the junior disciple replied, his eyes wide.


    "You did? Then why are we still within the illusion?" Ma Shan howled back.


    "It''s true! I really did it! I don''t know what''s going on either. Are we trapped here?" the disciple fretted.


    "We can''t get out?" Ma Shan spat out another mouthful of blood, perplexed.


    "It''s not that you can''t get out, but that you''re toote!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. "You idiots!"


    Ma Shan didn''t understand what was going on. Xiao Nanfeng had won, so why was he getting so upset now? He looked in the direction Xiao Nanfeng was facing, to see a cloud of ck smoke frothing in the air. A bleached skeleton was standing in the middle of that smoke.


    "Madam Rouge? You really havee, after all?" Xiao Nanfeng called out, a pained look on his face. He had spent three whole months avoiding his dreams and preventing it from entering his dreamscape. Today, however, he had finally failed.


    The skeleton itself had grown increasingly irate. Not only had it been unable to enter Xiao Nanfeng''s dreamscape, it had been thoroughly humiliated by the wide assortment of incense he had purchased. Now, it felt as though it were about to pay back three months'' worth of debt.


    It teleported over to Xiao Nanfeng''s front, then raked at his chest.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng imbued spiritual power into a fully charged attack.


    The skeleton stumbled back one step, as did Xiao Nanfeng.


    <i>After a few months of training, am I finally able to fight against Madam Rouge on equal footing?</i> Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    When he came to that realization, he suddenly felt that the skeleton was far less frightening than before.


    "Ha! So you have your limits, too? I''ll tear you apart again today!" Xiao Nanfeng continued his advance.


    Man and skeleton exchanged blow after blow. Xiao Nanfeng struck with Hegemon''s Fist, leaving countless afterimages behind, but the skeleton was rather speedy itself. It defended against each blow one by one. The two of them exchanged hundreds of blows, but neither could win decisively against the other.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng pounced toward the skeleton, but it shed away.


    "No! Stop!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, rushing toward where it reappeared. It thrust its ws into a fallen disciple''s head.


    The disciple screamed, then slumped over in a pool of blood. The skeleton sucked at his body, which transformed into a cloud of fog that the skeleton swallowed.


    "The cursed effigy that showed up during the recruitment trials? If it kills someone in an illusion, that person will die in reality, too!" one disciple shouted.


    "Gather around me, quick!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted. He pounced toward the skeleton, but the skeleton shed away to another fallen disciple.


    "No!" that disciple screamed, attempting to block its ws. However, if he weren''t even able to defend against Xiao Nanfeng in peak strength, could he hope to defend against the skeleton when wounded? He was killed immediately, then absorbed by the skeleton.


    "Another dead?" Ma Shan cried out.


    "Do you all want to die?! Help me defeat it!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again.


    He didn''t want to protect the enemy, but it would be far worse for the skeleton to grow stronger. That could tip the fight in its favor.


    However, the skeleton had the ability to teleport instantaneously within the illusion, and it shed right up to Ma Shan.


    "No, don''t! Save me, Junior Brother Nanfeng! I was wrong! Save me!" Ma Shan pleaded, running toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    However, it was far toote. The skeleton''s ws pierced through Ma Shan''s chest in a spray of blood. He died on the spot.

 Chapter 36: Thoroughly Entangled

    <h4>Chapter 36: Thoroughly Entangled</h4>


    The skeleton continued teleporting about even after Ma Shan''s death. In the blink of an eye, two more disciples perished.


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, we were wrong! Please save us!" Five wounded disciples rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng in fear.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to defend them when the skeleton blinked before him and swiped at his palms. Even with all his spiritual power, he was still forced back three steps before regaining his footing.


    "It''s growing this quickly?!" They had been fighting on equal footing just moments ago, but now it had already surpassed him in strength!


    The skeleton shed behind Xiao Nanfeng as rm bells rang in his head. He swung with the back of his elbows, but the skeleton moved so quickly that it caught his elbows with one w and mmed its w into his lower back with the other. With a dull smack, he was sent flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng grew very worried. If this were to continue, all his spiritual power would be used up.


    The skeleton, however, had different ns. It immediately tossed Xiao Nanfeng aside and shed to the side of the other incapacitated disciples. Two more were pierced through the chest.


    "Argh! Save me!" They fell amidst pools of blood.


    The skeleton sucked up the smoke that represented their souls and grew even stronger.


    "Help!" The remaining three disciples were so scared that their mental states were nearing copse. They fled in three different directions, giving the skeleton ample opportunity to take them down one by one. It shed to one enemy disciple''s side.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sweating heavily. He had been trapped within an illusion and wasn''t able to contact anyone on the outside. If the skeleton were able to kill everyone, he would be dead too.


    The skeleton killed one more disciple, leaving just one still fleeing.


    "It''s grown even stronger. I don''t have enough spiritual power to counteract it. What other forces might I call on? Would the superior yin pearl do anything here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng had no idea what else he could do. He knew that objects in reality wouldn''t manifest in illusory realms, but he still attempted to draw on the power of his only treasure.


    Within his physical body''s forehead, the superior yin pearl, suddenly sensing the flow of spiritual power, trembled almost imperceptibly. It didn''t pass into the illusory realm, but did give off a gust of cold air.


    The chilly air entered the illusory realm, along with a burst of spiritual power.


    Within the realm, an aura of frost suddenly formed around Xiao Nanfeng, which swiftly transformed into a howling blizzard.


    "It''s so cold!" Xiao Nanfeng shivered.


    The blizzard froze everything in sight. The frozen void then shattered, revealing a glowing opening.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng escaped through that opening.


    Subsequently, he felt a mental jolt, and his eyes suddenly opened. He awoke.


    Ayer of frost had formed over his physical body, making him shudder in the cold, but Xiao Nanfeng was exhrated. He had escaped from the illusory realm!


    "The superior yin pearl can help me escape from illusions? I can finally evade Madam Rouge, now?!" Xiao Nanfeng whispered to himself, his teeth chattering.


    Within the illusion, the skeleton killed the final survivor, then looked toward the opening of the illusion from which Xiao Nanfeng had escaped.


    As it sucked up thest unfortunate disciple''s soul, it shed to the opening, ck smoke wafted up from its forehead. Its jaws cked in anger.


    Back in reality, Xiao Nanfeng circted qi throughout his body, warming himself up, before checking his surroundings.


    The corpses of Ma Shan and the othersy all around him, and there was ash on the ground in the shape of a talisman.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced around him, as though having deduced something, before his face turned dark. His eyes shed with anger.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, I know you''re here!"


    His surroundings were silent.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, I know all this happened because of you! You''re surely around here somewhere¡ªor do you not dare own up to your actions?!"


    After a long silence, three figures finally walked out of the fog. Leading the trio was none other than Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao seemed perplexed. "How did you know?"


    "If I weren''t worried about disturbing Master, how would I have been tricked and lured out here by Chen Ran using your jade token? How dare you take advantage of Master in this fashion?! You''re really out of line!" Xiao Nanfeng chastised.


    "My jade token was stolen," Zhao Yuanjiao exined, frowning.


    "Stolen? More like you deliberately allowed it to be stolen! Do you know just what happened in that illusion? Are you aware of the consequences?!" Xiao Nanfeng continued, his rage unabating.


    "The Talisman of Phantasmagoria would only have trapped you for a moment. Within the illusion, they wouldn''t have been able to kill you, only to weaken and injure your soul. At the worst, you would be unconscious for a few days. You would hardly have died," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, unruffled.


    His two juniors went to examine the ten corpses before they suddenly recoiled.


    "Senior Brother, they''ve all died!" one junior disciple reported.


    "What? They''ve died?" Zhao Yuanjiao gaped in consternation. Only then did he discover that something was badly wrong.


    "Don''t be too confident in yourself. Don''t think that you have everything under control¡ªor if something goes truly wrong, you won''t be able to clear your name even in death," Xiao Nanfeng spat out coldly.


    "What happened within the illusion?!" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Think about how to exin this to Master instead!" Instead of giving Zhao Yuanjiao an exnation, he turned and stomped off, wading through the fog.


    Zhao Yuanjiao watched Xiao Nanfeng leave with a disturbed expression on his face. The fact that ten corpses had appeared when there should have been none¡ªsomething was badly wrong.


    "This n was perfect. Even Ma Shan and Chen Ran were caught unawares. You tricked them all, Senior Brother¡ªso how did Junior Brother Nanfeng discover the truth?" one junior disciple asked.


    "I have to admit that Nanfeng has an eye for details, to be able to uncover the truth from the tiniest clues," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "Not only that, hisbat prowess is truly shocking! A disciple at the eighth stage of Acquisitionpletely overwhelming one at the peak, the tenth stage¡ªI wouldn''t have believed it without seeing it for myself," the disciple continued.


    "Senior Brother, can we be confident that Nanfeng isn''t a demonic spy, now?" the other junior disciple asked.


    Zhao Yuanjiao pursed his lips. Over the course of thest few months, he had deliberately provoked Ma Shan and the others, stoking their anger with Nanfeng and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. He had pretended to leave the ind so as to manipte Chen Ran into rescuing the imprisoned disciples, hoping to get a sense of their attitude toward Nanfeng and hence to determine if Nanfeng really were a spy. Unfortunately...


    "We can''t be confident," Zhao Yuanjiao pronounced.


    "Senior Brother, aren''t you being a little harsh on Junior Brother Nanfeng? Even Elder Ku is vouching for his innocence..."


    "Nanfeng''s background is riddled with holes. There has to be something wrong with him, and I don''t n on leaving any suspicions unturned," Zhao Yuanjiao replied stubbornly.


    "Very well, but what do we do about these ten dead corpses?" the junior disciple asked.


    "They don''t have any interrogation value any longer, so their deaths mean little. Perhaps Nanfeng killed them all to prevent them from saying anything," Zhao Yuanjiao suggested.


    The two junior disciples gave Zhao Yuanjiao a funny look. You really think poorly of Nanfeng, don''t you?


    "Senior Brother, shall we leave the scene? The Arclight Vi is right by where we are, and I''m a little worried," a junior disciple suggested, ncing nervously at the vi.


    "Right, the deste music here always gets on my nerves. Can we leave, Senior Brother? If the Lady Arclight herself shows up, we''ll be in trouble," the other junior disciple added.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nced at the Arclight Vi with a measure of indignation. "The Lady Arclight? As if I would be afraid of her."


    Just then, the musicing from the Arclight Vi halted. All was silent until an overwhelming aura of killing intent surged forth from within the vi, causing the fog all around the vi to grow turbulent.


    "What frightening killing intent! Is the Lady Arclight nning on going on a killing spree?!" One junior disciple sucked in his breath.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve never, ever encountered such murderous killing intent from the Arclight Vi! I''m getting goosebumps all over!" The other junior disciple''s face was turning pale.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face likewise paled in rm. He hurriedly picked up four of the corpses. "What are you two waiting for? Let''s go!"


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" Flustered, the two junior disciples picked up the remaining six corpses as the three of them fled from the Arclight Vi.


    Four hourster, as Xiao Nanfeng returned to his lodgings, he had a hot bath, changed his clothes, and then requested another audience with Elder Ku.


    Within Elder Ku''s hall, Xiao Nanfeng recounted what he had just experienced.


    "What do you intend to do about the fact that Yuanjiao set you up?" Elder Ku was frowning.


    "Senior Brother was only doing so in an attempt to root out any demonic spies that had infiltrated the sect. I don''t mind¡ªlet''s drop the matter," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sighing and shaking his head.


    Did he really not mind? Of course he did! However, Zhao Yuanjiao was the most senior of Elder Ku''s disciples, and it would be improper to force his master into a quandary. <i>I''ll take revenge on my own¡ªthere''ll be an opportunity sooner orter.</i>


    Elder Ku patted Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder. "You''re a good child, but Yuanjiao has gone too far this time around. I''ll punish him severely."


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    <i>Haha! Master''s angry now, Zhao Yuanjiao¡ªyou''re going to suffer the way you deserve to!</i>


    "When you fought together against Madam Rouge, Ma Shan used some treasure to break out of the illusion, forming a portal? You took the opportunity to escape as Madam Rouge killed thest of them?" Elder Ku asked for rification.


    "Yes, Master!" Although Xiao Nanfeng respected his master, the superior yin pearl was toorge a treasure, and concerned too many secrets, for Xiao Nanfeng to be willing to reveal it just yet.


    Elder Ku gave him aplicated look. "You were the only living being in the illusion before you escaped, so that illusory realm belonged solely to you. It looks as though... Madam Rouge has entered your mindscape for good."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "However, you were lucky to have been able to escape. Perhaps this will be a blessing in disguise," Elder Ku consoled him.


    "What should I do now, Master?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    "What if you leave Taiqing Ind for the time being and return to the mortal world atrge? Perhaps Madam Rouge will lose interest in you," Elder Ku proposed.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>It spent a few months stalking me in an attempt to get into my mindscape. Would it really lose interest in me that quickly?!</i>


    "Don''t scare yourself too much. Things might improve for the better¡ªgo out and have a walk, eat your fill, drink your fill, and you might be better before you know it," Elder Ku advised.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Elder Ku in silence. <i>Why do I feel like you''ve given up all hope on me, Master?</i>


    "During this excursion, I have only one request to make of you," Elder Ku suddenly informed him severely.


    "Yes, Master!"


    "Keep thews of the Taiqing sect in mind at all times. Many disciples have already forgotten them, but I hope that you will follow the Taiqing teachings strictly and seriously," Elder Ku intoned.


    "The foundation of the Taiqing sect? The sect motto?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Be not party to evil; strive instead to be as a dragon!" Elder Ku proimed.

 Chapter 37: Crow Spirits

    <h4>Chapter 37: Crow Spirits</h4>


    Three dayster, in the morning, Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er, and a hundred Taiqing disciples left the Taiqing Ind by boat.


    They alighted by the shores of the Tianshu Empire, where nominal disciples were waiting for them at the harbor.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the other disciples continued on their way by horseback. That evening, they rested by a nearby forest.


    Yu''er and Xiao Nanfengy by arge tree as they discussed the expedition they were undertaking.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, that scumbag¡ªhe''s finally gotten what he deserves! Haha, Master punished him by making him memorize a hundred Taoist scriptures! I''m sure there are plenty of people by the Cliff of Meditation to have augh at him, but unfortunately for us, we won''t be able to witness it ourselves," Yu''ermented as she chewed on some dry rations.


    "Sorry to have dragged you out with me on this training, Senior Sister," Xiao Nanfeng apologized, tearing and chewing on his bun.


    "There''s no need for such politeness, not with me! I''m out of money, at any rate, and I was right about to head out to hunt down some spiritbeasts for money. Master tasked me with taking care of you¡ªit''s no problem at all. I''ll show you how to get rich quick!" Yu''er patted her rather curvaceous chest with confidence.


    "I heard that the spiritbeastir we''re meant to take down is called Mt. Crow?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "That''s right. The Tianshu Empire''s Marquis Wu [1] personally sent an invitation to the Taiqing Immortal Sect requesting that we rid the crow spirits of Mt. Crow, offering three million taels of gold as a reward. In addition, we''ll be able to keep all the crow carcasses we hunt down," Yu''er exined.


    "Marquis Wu?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Marquis Wu is the former crown prince of the Tianshu Empire, back when it was known as the Taiwu Empire. Unfortunately, the Taiwu dynasty fell after just three generations. Themon people, suffering, banded together and rebelled, resulting in havoc all over the world. Emperor Tianshu was one such rebellious warlord. After Emperor Taiwu perished in battle during an imperial expedition, the crown prince and his officials surrendered to Warlord Tianshu, swiftly allowing him to pacify the world once again. After Emperor Tianshu established his empire, Crown Prince Taiwu was given the title of Marquis and the rights over thisnd. Although thisnd is still part of the Tianshu Empire, Marquis Wu essentially has free rein over it," Yu''er summarized.


    "But along the way, we''ve seen all manner of refugees homeless and exposed to the elements. Marquis Wu''s fiefdom is still filled with the impoverished!" Xiao Nanfeng reflected, frowning.


    "Themon folk under Marquis Wu really are unfortunate," Yu''er replied, shaking her head.


    Just as the two of them were bemoaning the fate of themon people, a familiar face walked up¡ªYe Dafu.


    "Nanfeng, my third uncle instructed you to participate in scouting ahead, fifty miles ahead!"manded Ye Dafu smugly.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. Why was Ye Dafu everywhere he went?


    "Ye Dafu? Repeat yourself, won''t you? Who are you ordering to scout ahead?" Yu''er rolled up her sleeves, preparing to knock some sense into the unwee disciple.


    "My third uncle ordered Nanfeng to do so! You guys must not be aware¡ªthe leader of this expedition is my third uncle, Ye Sanshui!" Ye Dafu informed them smugly, then turned to a robed middle-aged man in the distance. He shouted, "Third Uncle, Nanfeng''s disobeying your orders!"


    Immediately, the resting disciples all around them looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The robed man walked over slowly, then frowned at Ye Dafu. "What''s the problem?"


    "Third Uncle, Nanfeng''s not willing to scout ahead!"


    "Ye Sanshui, you''re not nning to make life difficult for Nanfeng, are you? He''s here to y spiritbeasts with me, not to run errands for you!" Yu''er chastised the robed man.


    Ye Sanshui was unruffled. "Junior Sister Yu''er, I''m the leader of this expedition, and all disciples should be considered on equal footing. Everyone else is at Immanence, and only Xiao Nanfeng is an Acquisition-realm cultivator. In battle, others will be hard at work taking down the enemy, but he won''t be of any help. That''s why I assigned him some tasks that he can handle."


    "You''re clearly trying to get back at him in cahoots with Ye Dafu!" Yu''er asserted.


    Yu''er was very popr, and her words bore weight. The Taiqing disciples around them murmured to each other, causing Ye Sanshui to feel no small amount of pressure.


    "Ye Dafu, you''ll apany Nanfeng!" Ye Sanshu suddenlymanded.


    "Ah, me? Third Uncle, didn''t you say¡ª" Ye Dafu nched.


    "You''ll go if I tell you to go!" Ye Sanshui red at his nephew before he could divulge something inappropriate. Then, he turned back to Yu''er. "My nephew will apany him himself. Do you still think this treatment unfair?"


    Yu''er: ...


    In order to prove his ''innocence'', Ye Sanshui was willing to sacrifice even his own nephew. Yu''er could hardly object now.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the sullen Ye Dafu both ended up galloping ahead of the convoy.


    "Hmph! Nanfeng, count yourself lucky that you have me here with you. You won''t be as lucky in the future," Ye Dafu crowed, the moment they left the others behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ye Dafu. No matter where he went, he was unable to escape from this psycho!


    "You forced me to memorize a month''s worth of scriptures¡ªyou really are malicious, aren''t you? I''ve never, ever suffered something so vile. All I did was throw a rock through your window! I didn''t even hit you, but you made your master punish me anyway! Well, I have my own connections. My third uncle''s the leader of this expedition, and he''s the only Ascension-realm cultivator around! Scouting will only be the start of your nightmares," Ye Dafu warned Xiao Nanfeng happily.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>Ye Dafu, you really are an idiot. I had Elder Ku personally advise you on scriptures relevant to your cultivation!</i>


    "Scared, aren''t you? It''s useless. My third uncle''s word isw around here¡ªunless you can oust him. But how would you?" Ye Dafu continued, prattling away ceaselessly.


    Finally, Xiao Nanfeng was unable to bear him any longer. He turned to him and said calmly, "Is it that hard to oust your uncle?"


    "Ah? What did you say?" Ye Dafu visibly hesitated. This wasn''t how things were supposed to go!


    "You might consider Ye Sanshui a reliable ally, but it won''t be difficult for me to take him down," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng really was contemting doing so. If Ye Sanshui were to protect Ye Dafu all the way throughout this expedition, then it would be troublesome and problematic for him. Why not take the initiative?


    "You, you wouldn''t dare! I''ll tell on you to my third uncle. Just you wait!" Ye Dafu cried out, suddenly panicking.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark as he looked toward the horizon. He retrieved a bamboo tube from his satchel and sent fireworks into the air.


    "Why did youunch a signal? Are you trying to challenge my third uncle''s authority right now?" Ye Dafu cried out in disbelief.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He stared grimly before him. When Ye Dafu followed Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze to the horizon, his eyes widened.


    Taiqing disciples quickly rushed up to him upon seeing the signal in the sky.


    "What''s the matter, Ye Dafu?" Ye Sanshui asked. He was the first to arrive, and others followed quickly behind him.


    "It''s none of my business. He was the one who fired the signal!" Ye Dafu pointed toward Xiao Nanfeng immediately.


    "Look there!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Far in the distance, a small vige could be seen by a mountain hollow. The majority of the vigers had fallen, lying in pools of blood, as thousands of crows circled in the air. They swooped down and tore at the vigers'' flesh.


    "What? The crows are eating humans?!" a group of disciples cried out in shock and anger.


    "We have to take a look!" Ye Sanshui immediately led the convoy forward. Even hundreds of meters away from the vige, they could smell the thick, cloying stench of blood and death.


    "Those vigers have de wounds on their bodies. They were killed by others beforehand, and the crows were lured over to the carnage by the smell of blood," Ye Sanshui deduced, his face dark.


    "Those aren''t ordinary crows, but rather crow spirits. Look¡ªmany of them are half our height, and they''re about the equivalent of Immanence-realm cultivators!" Yu''er analyzed.


    "There''s even a golden crow spirit that''s as tall as I am. He''s likely the equivalent of an Ascension-realm cultivator!" Ye Sanshui''s eyes narrowed.


    Indeed, a golden crow spirit about as tall as a man was standing above the crown of a tree, surveilling the ground from above and asionally cawing, as if tomand the crow spirits to quickly finish their feast.


    As though sensing something, however, it suddenly turned its head and saw the cultivators from afar.


    Its eyes were bright red and seemed to be hiding a bestial viciousness. It cawed loudly, then puffed out its feathers and spread its wings toward the gathered cultivators, as if warning them to leave.


    A group of crow spirits, half a man''s height, emted their leader''s actions. They puffed up their feathers and cawed loudly at Xiao Nanfeng and the other disciples.


    "What arrogant spirits!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "These crow spirits might havee from Mt. Crow. We had better ignore them¡ªlet''s head to the city of Taiwu and meet up with our seniors from the sect, then take them down at that point. They''ll only have a few more days of peace," Ye Sanshui promised.


    Some disciples nodded out of fear for the demons, but even more were indignant. How could cultivators like them be scared of a few paltry crows?


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the strength of the crow spirits and the gathered cultivators. The cultivators weren''t weak; they stood a reasonable chance at winning. But Ye Sanshui was about to ignore the desperate vigers? This was an excellent opportunity to oust him as leader.


    "Leave? For what? These crow spirits are consuming human remains!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in usation.


    "Silence! The vigers have already perished. The majority of you are still weak, and if we charge forward now, we''ll surely suffer casualties," Ye Sanshui retorted.


    "And what about the dead? Are we going to watch on as these spirits feast on humans? We came here to hunt down the crow spirits of Mt. Crow¡ªand here they are! Should we hesitate because of fear? If you can hold that golden crow spirit back, the hundred of us could easily take down these bastards!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out righteously.


    Ye Dafu''s eyes bulged as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng. Was he really going to take this opportunity to oust his third uncle as leader of the expedition? He had already made his move! How dare he?!


    Ye Sanshui red at Xiao Nanfeng. "There''s no need to take this risk. I''m the leader of this expedition, and I''ve been tasked with keeping the rest of you safe. Don''t meddle in unnecessary affairs!"


    "Unnecessary? Ye Sanshui, as leader of this expedition, are these the values you wish to instill in us all?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Insolence! You dare lecture me?"


    "My cultivation might be no match for yours, but I''m a disciple of the Taiqing Sect! I have the responsibility of upholding the sect motto!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "The sect motto?" Ye Sanshui frowned.


    The gathered disciples focused on Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The motto of the Taiqing sect: ''Be not party to evil; strive instead to be as a dragon!'' If you allow those crow spirits to continue feasting on human bodies, are you not being party to evil? We should save those victims that might still be alive!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Ye Sanshui''s face twitched. <i>I just wanted to protect everyone, so how did I be a purported evildoer going against the motto of the sect?!</i>


    "I would be foolish to suggest fighting against unwinnable odds, but we have the numerical advantage! We could easily chase away this pack of crow spirits, so why won''t you make a move? Do you really qualify to lead us? Will you tarnish the motto of the Taiqing sect in vain?!"


    "You!"


    Despite Xiao Nanfeng''s insubordination, Ye Sanshui could hardly refute Xiao Nanfeng''s words outright.


    "Ye Sanshui, Nanfeng''s quite right. All of us are watching you. If you dare criticize Nanfeng unfairly, we''ll report you when we''re back in the sect proper. Just you wait!" Yu''er hollered.


    "You too?" Ye Sanshui turned to Yu''er in anger. He wanted to teach Xiao Nanfeng a lesson, but he didn''t know how to begin.


    "Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, why have wee to Mt. Crow? We''re here to hunt down their evil crow spirits! These demons are feasting on human flesh right before us, trying to scare us off¡ªwhy do we have to tolerate this behavior? We can easily take them on! Are you all afraid of these bastards?!" Xiao Nanfeng turned to look at the gathered disciples.


    "How can we let these spiritbeasts frighten us?"


    "Our sect motto forbids us from leaving without lending our aid!"


    "Would a hundred Immanence-realm cultivators fear such crows?"


    The majority of the senior disciples, their anger and pride sessfully stoked, unsheathed their weapons.


    "Senior Brother Ye Sanshui, are we to obey the sect motto?" Xiao Nanfeng nced toward him calmly.


    Ye Sanshui stilled. How could he answer no to that question?


    "Of course!" he agreed.


    "In that case, you can take on the golden crow spirit, while the rest of us handle the rest. What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Senior Brother Ye, we won''t back down against these beasts!" the gathered Taiqing disciples called out.


    Ye Sanshui''s face turned dark.<i> You''ve all fallen prey to Nanfeng''s words! </i>


    "Very well," Ye Sanshui replied, his face screwing up. He had no other choice.


    "In that case, everyone, we''ll ughter these arrogant spirits and march into the city of Taiwu with their carcasses!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Understood!" the disciples roared, preparing to march into the fallen vige.


    Only Ye Dafu nced at Xiao Nanfeng with shock and dismay. He really was nning to oust Ye Dafu''s third uncle from leadership!


    1. Wu (ÎÚ) means ''crow'', in line with the overall theme. ?

 Chapter 38: Purpleveil Poison

    <h4>Chapter 38: Purpleveil Poison</h4>


    Numerous though the crow spirits might be, there were few of them at Immanence, and the hundred Taiqing disciples were clearly the superior force.


    Ye Sanshui''s longsword, which had been strapped to his back, surrounded by a chilly aura, flew in a long arc straight toward the golden crow spirit.


    The golden crow spirit''s feathers puffed up as it extended its wings and wed at the flying sword, summoning huge patches of me as it did so.


    The flying sword was knocked back by the crow''s astounding force. It cawed in rage,manding its forces to kill these upstart humans.


    The crow spirits immediately stopped feasting on the fallen vigers. They cawed, stretched their wings, then bore down on the gathered disciples.


    "Kill!" The Taiqing disciples charged forward fearlessly, swords and des in hand. Theirbined attack formed a tsunami of force, scraping ayer of dirt off the ground and sending boulders flying.


    The golden crow spirit cawed ferociously, pping its wings and swooping straight for Ye Sanshui.


    "Die, foul beast!" Ye Sanshui called out, shing at it with his sword.


    The golden crow avoided the sword sh and spat out a huge fireball straight at Ye Sanshui. It moved so rapidly that it looked like a meteor from the heavens. Ye Sanshui cut apart the fireball in a huge explosion that sent him stumbling back.


    The golden crow roared and swooped toward him once again, engaging in closebat against him.


    Sword met w in a spray of blood. The fighting grew heated everywhere.


    "Senior Sister Yu''er, you don''t have to keep guarding me. Go y the beasts!" Xiao Nanfeng urged from the back.


    "If I go, what will you do? There aren''t that many Immanence-realm crow spirits, but there are plenty of Acquisition-realm ones. You won''t be able to fend them off," Yu''er warned.


    "Don''t worry, I intend on doing my fair share. I anticipate I''ll kill more crows than the average disciple," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "You? You didn''t even bring your sword with you! Are you going to rip the crows apart with your bare hands?" Yu''er frowned at him dubiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng revealed a fist-sized purple orb in his palm.


    "Before we set off, I bought this purpleveil poison orb to defend myself," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Purpleveil poison? What will you do with it? It''s not something you can ingest, and it''s filled with toxic poison! You spent three thousand taels of gold on this?" Yu''er rolled her eyes.


    "As long as it''ll be useful. Please, don''t stay too close to me. I''m about to make my move." Xiao Nanfeng consumed the antidote as he walked forward.


    He activated the pill with his qi. The purpleveil poison orb immediately emanated a huge cloud of purple mist that surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, watch out! I''ming!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Many disciples turned toward the voice.


    "Purpleveil poison? Who would buy something so costly? It''s three thousand taels of gold an orb! We might not even manage to make that much from a single raid," a senior disciple cried out.


    "Nanfeng, did you hear that? They''re calling you a wastrel!" Ye Dafu shouted in glee.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored their words and ran straight to where the crows were most densely located. The purpleveil poison orb was rather expensive, but its effects could be incredible if used appropriately.


    Dozens of crow spirits swooped toward Xiao Nanfeng, but their eyes began bleeding the moment they headed into the fog. Subsequently, they dropped to the ground headfirst, dead by the time they made contact.


    The purple mist that hung around Xiao Nanfeng was a lethal poison. The disciples around him quickly made way.


    The crow spirits had developed intelligence; upon seeing their brethren killed en masse, they immediately began to flee. Xiao Nanfeng chased after them with all his might, leaving countless crow carcasses in a trail behind him. Hundreds of ordinary crow spirits perished to the poison.


    "This is ridiculous! He''s killing them by the dozen!"


    "Purpleveil poison is... surprisingly useful?"


    "Three thousand taels of gold was a worthwhile investment!"


    The senior disciples nced at the scene with shock.


    "All you can do is deal with Acquisition-realm crows. What can you do against Immanence-realm ones?!" Ye Dafu called out from nearby, envy distorting his features.


    Just then, an Immanence-realm crow spirit cawed as it dove toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    The Immanence-realm crow spirit was half as tall as an ordinary human. It dove into the purple mist and, resisting the effects of the poison, flew straight toward his front.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng punched forward, the fist blurring into three as it shot forward.


    He took a few stumbling steps back from the force of the impact, and the crow itself froze for a few moments. It tried to continue attacking Xiao Nanfeng, but it suddenly spasmed as it moved. Its eyes wide with fear, it turned tail and tried to run.


    "The poison''s taking its toll on you now¡ªbut it''s toote to run!" Xiao Nanfeng leapt forward and grabbed onto its wing.


    The Immanence-realm crow spirit pped its wings desperately, but the poison running through its body sapped it of its strength. It was pulled to the ground. Xiao Nanfeng stepped on its body and tore off its wing as it shrieked.


    Yu''er watched on bbergasted. "He really can tear a wing off a crow spirit...?"


    Well, there was nothing for her to worry about, then! She charged forward, swinging her de.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s impressive feat caused many disciples to toss him surprised nces.


    "Purpleveil poison can be used in this manner...? It''s an amazing tool for massbat! You''d be able to make back three thousand taels of gold in no time at all. It''s an easy way to make profit!" An insightful disciple goggled at Xiao Nanfeng''s actions.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued chasing after the crow spirits. Ordinary ones fell to the poison on contact, and even Immanence-realm crows would fall after an initial attack.


    Within a short period of time, Xiao Nanfeng had managed to kill five Immanence-realm crow spirits. After seeing how vicious he was, the crow spirits began to flee at the sight of the purple mist that surrounded him.


    When no other crow spirit dared draw near, Xiao Nanfeng stopped channeling his qi into the purpleveil poison orb.


    The crow spirits circled in the air, cursing and cawing at Xiao Nanfeng, but none dared to get in his way. Xiao Nanfeng had left two thousand Acquisition-realm carcasses in his wake, and he had torn six Immanence-realm ones wing to wing.


    "I can''t believe it! An Acquisition-realm disciple managed to do this much?!"


    "I have to buy a purpleveil poison orb for myself next time. I can''t believe what Nanfeng just did!"


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng is truly incredible!"


    The senior disciples around him were all gobsmacked by Nanfeng''s disy of wit and strength.


    "What''s so impressive? If I had a purpleveil poison orb, I could do even better!" Ye Dafu murmured, trying to console himself.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng sighed in exasperation. He had made such a bigmotion that the crow spirits were now staying far away from him!


    He nced at the purpleveil poison orb in his hand, which had shrunk to half its original size. Xiao Nanfeng winced. "These crows had better be worth over 1,500 taels of gold, or I''ll have lost out..."


    Seeing that no crows were willing to appear around him, Xiao Nanfeng made his way into the vige instead.


    Several senior disciples had already arrived at the scene, expelling the remnant crow spirits and helping to clean up the corpses. However, the corpses hadrgely been mangled by the crow spirits.


    Xiao Nanfeng helped the senior disciples cover up the corpses with bedsheets, a palpable heaviness hanging over them all.


    "I have to thank all of you for helping me subvert Ye Sanshui. None will underestimate me after this fight, and neither will Ye Sanshui daremand me at will, but if I had a choice, I''d rather that your entire vige be well!" Xiao Nanfeng sighed as he covered up the corpses.


    "There''s still a living child here!" one senior disciple suddenly called out.


    "There are survivors? Quick, Senior Brothers, would you please check all the houses around? Rescue the living and confirm if these bodies scattered all around might still be alive. If they have a heartbeat, rescue them at once!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Understood!" a group of senior disciples chorused, almost by instinct.


    After they did so, they suddenly frowned. Who had given that order? They looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. It was him?


    The senior disciples felt a little annoyed to bemanded by their junior, but there was no time to be concerned about that now. They ran all about the vige, trying to save whatever survivors there were.


    Very quickly, children were fished out of rice vats, underground cers, bed bottoms, and wardrobes. The children were all crying in fear; some parents, worried about exactly this oue, had even gagged their children''s mouths with cloth and tied them up in order to hide them from the crow spirits.


    Fifteen children had been found throughout the vige.


    The Taiqing disciples sighed in relief as they looked at the crying faces.


    "If not for Nanfeng''s determination, these children would surely have been discovered and consumed by the crow spirits."


    "Nanfeng was right to have been so persistent. Imagine if we hadn''t listened to him!"


    The senior disciples looked at the children they had saved in relief. Unconsciously or otherwise, everyone began to approve of Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself was beyond relieved. Thank goodness Ye Dafu had tried to cause trouble for him. Thank goodness he had tried to challenge Ye Sanshui''s authority!

 Chapter 39: Punishing Spirits

    <h4>Chapter 39: Punishing Spirits</h4>


    "There''s still a viger who hasn''t died, right over here!" another disciple called out.


    "Where?" Everyone looked over.


    A man was lying in a pool of blood, his chest pierced through by a de. Peck wounds littered his body; his flesh was raw and bloody in more patches than not. Though grievously wounded, he was indeed still alive.


    "We can''t do anything! He''s too badly wounded."


    "We''d need a rejuvenation pill from the sect to save him, but it costs three thousand taels of gold per pill! We don''t have any on hand."


    "We won''t be able to save him without such a pill..."


    The senior disciples looked at each other in regret.


    "Senior Brothers, do any of you cultivate wood-attuned qi?" Xiao Nanfeng asked after inspecting the wounded body.


    "Wood-attuned qi? I do," one senior disciple volunteered.


    "Quick, channel your qi into the arteries and veins by his heart!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "What?" The senior disciple looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, perplexed.


    "Haven''t you read <i>Song of Rejuvenation</i> from the Vault of Scriptures? Aren''t you aware of how to emte the properties of a rejuvenation pill when you don''t have one?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "I¡ª" The senior disciple didn''t know how to respond. <i>How would I know? There are so many scriptures in the vault, and each one gives me a headache when I try to read through them! It''s not even rted to cultivation, and I''m no pillmaster, so why would I know about this?!</i>


    "Hurry up!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "Ah, yes!" The senior disciple stepped forward and channeled wood-attuned qi into the viger''s heart.


    "Who cultivates water-attuned qi?" Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the gathered disciples.


    "Me!"


    "Me too!"


    "The four of you, grab hold of the viger''s four limbs and prepare to channel your qi into it on mymand. Infuse it starting from his extremities, his limbs, and then toward the rest of his body following his arteries and veins. Help him break up any qi or blood clots in his body. Don''t do it just yet¡ªwait until I say so," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the four disciples replied.


    "Senior Sister Yu''er, you''ve already developed spiritual power. Please use that power to guard his head," Xiao Nanfeng instructed Yu''er, who had just rushed over.


    "Got it!" Yu''er stepped forward curiously.


    "We can start now. Wood qi to protect his heart, spiritual power to protect his head, water qi throughout his body to rejuvenate and revitalize him. Everyone, start channeling now!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    As the disciples channeled qi into the man''s body, he trembled violently. Large amounts of clotted blood poured from his wounds.


    "His heart rate''s increasing, and his heartbeats are strengthening! His vitality is improving!"


    "Remarkable! This is precisely the effect of a rejuvenation pill! Now that all the clotted blood has been removed from his body, his wounds can scab over."


    "His leg just twitched! Is heing to his senses?"


    "<i>Song of Rejuvenation</i>? Junior Brother, just how did youe across such a scripture?"


    The man''s miraculous recovery shocked everyone.


    "You''re channeling too much qi! Weaken the flow. And you, do you not have enough qi? Can someone rece this disciple?" Xiao Nanfeng instructed, his entire focus on the wounded viger.


    "Let me take over!"


    "I''ll follow your orders, Junior Brother."


    "Ah, this viger''s eyshes twitched! He''s about to awaken!"


    As the disciples channeled qi following Xiao Nanfeng''smand, the viger really did seem toe back to life. He widened his eyes and stared blearily at the disciples all around.


    "Don''t worry, we''re disciples from the Taiqing Immortal Sect! We passed by this vige and saved you," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The viger seemed stunned for long moments before suddenly recalling something. He began to panic. "The crow troops, the crow troops areing! They''re here for my fifth uncle. Quick, you have to let my fifth uncle know to run!"


    "The crow troops?" The disciples hadn''t heard of the term before.


    "The crow troops are the elite forces of Marquis Wu. Allegedly, there are even quite a number of Immanence-realm cultivators among the troops! It''s famous within the Tianshu Empire," Yu''er exined.


    "Please, I beg you, inform my fifth uncle! His name is Zheng Qian, and he''s visiting a friend at Dawangzhuang," the viger begged.


    "We don''t know of this Dawangzhuang," a senior disciple replied, frowning.


    "Ah? In that case, what can I, I¡ª" The viger still seemed rather disoriented.


    "His emotions are fluctuating wildly. The equilibrium of his body has been disturbed. Continue the treatment. If anyone starts to g, rece that person with a fresh disciple," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Got it!"


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, there''s another survivor here! Please have a look. How should we treat him?" another senior disciple bellowed from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately walked over, surrounded by a group of senior disciples. He had quickly be the heart of the group.


    From afar, Ye Dafu could no longer bear to watch Xiao Nanfengmanding everyone. He rushed toward a hill in the distance, where Ye Sanshui was facing off against the Ascension-realm golden crow spirit.


    Sword and me shed in explosion after explosion, causing rubble and clouds of dust to rise up. Many of the golden crow spirit''s feathers had fallen out, and sword wounds riddled its body. Ye Sanshui''s robes were charred, and he was rather badly burned in some areas.


    "Third Uncle, if you don''t hurry up and finish off the golden crow spirit, you''ll have lost your leadership in this expedition! Nanfeng''s about to seize your authority!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Shut up! Call some disciples over to assist me!" Ye Sanshui howled back.


    "I won''t be able to! Everyone''s listening to Nanfeng''s orders and helping to rescue the vigers! Third Uncle, you need to think of something!" Ye Dafu urged.


    Ye Sanshui froze. Just what had happened while he was fighting the golden crow spirit? Xiao Nanfeng inmand? An Acquisition-realm cultivator?


    Just then, the gold crow spirit spat out a huge fireball.


    "No!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    The huge fireball overwhelmed Ye Sanshui. The golden crow spirit took the opportunity to fly away toward the vige.


    However, it had just discovered something amiss. While it had been distracted and wounded by this upstart human, its flock of crow spirits had almost all been killed! What had happened?!


    As it flew toward the vige, the remaining crow spirits were all calling out to their leader, telling the golden crow that the human at fault was none other than that youth who was, even now, busy directing the other senior disciples around. It was he who had killed the majority of the crows!


    The golden crow spirit instantly grew furious. It spread its wings and almost immediatelynded by the vige.


    "Be careful! The golden crow spirit is here!" the disciples shouted.


    The golden crow spat out a huge fireball. It exploded in the middle of a group of disciples, sending them flying as they tried to rush toward shelter.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    However, it was already toote. The golden crow''s sharp ws grabbed onto Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder. With a p of its wings, it soared into the sky. The rest of the crow spirits all followed behind their leader.


    "Ye Sanshui, rescue Nanfeng with your flying sword!" Yu''er howled.


    "Senior Brother Ye, why aren''t you making a move? Use your flying sword!" a group of disciples urged.


    "I just fought off the golden crow spirit, and I''ve consumed too much of my reserves. I''m unable to chase after it at the moment," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "Ye Sanshui! Didn''t Nanfeng task you with stalling the golden crow spirit? How could you have allowed it tounch a sneak attack on Nanfeng? This was intentional, wasn''t it?!" Yu''er cried out anxiously.


    "How could you do something like this, Senior Brother Ye?"


    "How could you scheme against Junior Brother Nanfeng, Senior Brother Ye?"


    The majority of the disciples present began to criticize Ye Sanshui, who didn''t know what to say. He had fought the golden crow to a standstill, and he was all out of stamina!


    Furthermore, everyone was criticizing him openly. Did they not acknowledge his leadership?


    "We need to chase after it!" Yu''er cried out, dashing off into the distance.


    "Come, we have to go rescue Junior Brother Nanfeng!" A group of disciples followed suit.


    "Ye Sanshui, if anything happens to Nanfeng, you''d better watch out!" Yu''er roared before charging off.


    "Count me in. If anything happens to Junior Brother Nanfeng, we''ll report Ye Sanshui to the sect!"


    "Me too, me too!"


    A majority of Taiqing disciples followed after Yu''er, leaving Ye Sanshui stupefied. What had happened? Why had all the junior disciples gone mad? Had he done something wrong?


    Ye Dafu was astounded. Had Nanfeng really managed to oust his third uncle from his leadership position in so short a period of time?


    "What are all of you waiting for? Leave a few of you behind to rescue the vigers. The rest of you, give chase!" Ye Sanshui called out sullenly.


    "Understood!" the remaining disciples chorused.


    Ye Sanshui hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth, ignoring his injuries, and charging forward in the direction of the golden crow spirit. <i>What''s the matter today? Why am I so unlucky?</i>


    Meanwhile, the golden crow''s ws had pierced through Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder and carried him off past a few mountains, until he vanished from everyone else''s sight.


    The golden crow was rather badly injured, but it was still able to suppress Xiao Nanfeng''s qi with its spiritual energy. For some reason, it chose not to kill Xiao Nanfeng; instead, it seemed to be taking him to a certain location.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t despair. He grabbed the remaining half of the purpleveil poison orb that he still possessed.


    Though his qi was suppressed, Xiao Nanfeng still had ess to his spiritual power, which he infused into the orb.


    "Last time, I used the Art of Divine Fishing to fish up a golden eel. If I use the same method on the golden crow, surely the result would be simr?" Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    He infused spiritual power into the poisonous orb, which began to glow with blue light as it induced greed in those around it.


    The golden crow''s eyes seemed to catch a sh of light. It looked down to see a... pill glowing in blue?


    The golden crow ''recognized'' the pill immediately. It was a panacea for spiritbeasts. Not only would it be able to heal all its wounds in one fell swoop, it would even advance its cultivation by a significant margin! This was a pill it had dreamt of obtaining.


    The golden crow trembled in agitation. Under the hypnotic effect of Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power, the golden crow''s greed was magnified many times over. It had made up its mind to consume this pill.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurled the orb behind him as far as he could. Struck by the hypnosis, the golden crow thought that he was trying to ensure that it wouldn''t be able to eat it. It made a sharp turn, then caught the pill in its mouth and swallowed it whole.


    "As expected, beasts are beasts. Humans have far stronger willpower," Xiao Nanfengmented disdainfully.


    As the golden crow swallowed the pill, it began to release clouds of toxic poison, which instantly filled the crow''s body. Only then did it discover that something was amiss.


    The golden crow desperately tried to vomit up what it had swallowed, but the poison had already diffused into its body. As the poison took effect, it suddenly felt as though the world were spinning.


    It barely stabilized itself and began desperately trying to expel the poison from its body, inadvertently freeing Xiao Nanfeng from its control and suppression.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the opportunity to struggle free from the crow''s ws. With a quick tug, he climbed all the way to the golden crow''s head, then took out a dagger from his sleeve. He thrust the dagger straight into the golden crow''s brain.


    The golden crow shrieked in agony. It had been heavily wounded, poisoned, and now stabbed in the head. It offered up no resistance; a crow spirit, so strong as to already have congealed an inner core, perished ignobly in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    The golden crow''s body and Xiao Nanfeng fell swiftly toward the forests below...

 Chapter 40: Inner Core

    <h4>Chapter 40: Inner Core</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng fell from high in the sky, crashing down through a thick canopy of branches beforending heavily on the ground. He sprayed out a mouthful of blood andy paralyzed for long moments.


    "It hurts... but I won!" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the golden crow spiritbeast''s corpse beside him in relief. He arduously stumbled toward the golden crow''s carcass and pulled out his dagger from its head.


    "No wonder this dagger was worth three hundred taels of gold. It really is sharp¡ªahem, ahem!" Xiao Nanfeng fell into a fit of coughing.


    He sliced at the golden crow''s abdomen, causing huge quantities of fresh blood to ssh onto Xiao Nanfeng''s face. However, Xiao Nanfeng was beyond caring at this point. He rummaged through the crow''s abdomen, then quickly brightened. He retrieved the purpleveil poison orb that was now covered in blood and stomach fluids.


    "There''s still a sixth of it left, at least! This golden crow spiritbeast''s carcass is surely worth a thousand taels of gold, so I haven''t lost out!" Xiao Nanfeng carefully kept the remaining sliver of purpleveil poison.


    Suddenly, as though just having thought of something, Xiao Nanfeng continued digging through the crow''s abdomen. Not longter, he plucked out a small golden orb, which seemed to be burning with me. It was scorching hot and slowly dissipating into the air as it burned.


    "The inner core of a golden crow spiritbeast? This is truly a treasure!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The core''s energy had been consumed to a significant extent during its fight against Ye Sanshui, and was now dissipating into the atmosphere. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng could sense the tremendous energy of fire currently contained within the core.


    "Being wasteful is a sin, so I''ll distill your essence straight away!" Xiao Nanfeng nced expectantly at the core, then swallowed it whole, ignoring his wounds.


    As he ingested, a tremendous yang energy filled his limbs and bones. He felt warm and feverish all over, and the rampant energy running through his body caused him to spray out a mouthful of blood.


    "What tremendous power..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He hurriedly sat down cross-legged in meditation as he circted his qi in the manner of Rites of Dawn.


    A gentle, golden glow emanated from his body, and it almost seemed as though golden mes were being exuded from his skin. The mes burned his body, causing him a great deal of pain, but he gritted his teeth and continued the distition of the core.


    Two hourster, the golden glow suffusing him finally vanished. An incredible burst of qi came from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, causing the leaves and branches all around to shake and tremble.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes. "The ninth stage of Acquisition? The amount of yang qi contained within this core is truly immense!"


    Although he had broken through, the internal injuries he had suffered would take some time to heal. Xiao Nanfeng looked at the golden crow spiritbeast''s carcass, then covered it up with some nearby branches as he stumbled toward a smallke not too far away.


    He jumped into theke, washing off the bloodstains all over his body.


    Above his head, a few crow spirits cried out. Xiao Nanfeng raised his head as they flew by. Perhaps because it was dark and because he was mostly submerged in the water, they didn''t notice him.


    "Are they searching for the golden crow? I can''t stay here long, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Grandpa, isn''t that man rather strange? He''s actually bathing in theke! Doesn''t he sense how cold it is right now at the start of spring?" a little boy piped up.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned his head to the source of the voice, only to see an old man with a wicker basket for medicinal herbs on his back. By his side was a young boy, about ten years old.


    "Please don''t mind, young man. My grandson''s still young, and he hasn''t quite learned how to respect others. I apologize." The elderly man pulled the child close by.


    "No matter," Xiao Nanfeng replied, still coughing as he climbed back onto shore. He had washed the bloodstains off his body, but his clothes remained tattered.


    "Might I ask where this ce is?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired.


    "We''re in the wilderness up on the mountains¡ªthere''s no specific name for it. Our vige is at the foot of these mountains. What are you doing here, young man?" The elderly man smiled at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I was being chased by a wild beast, but I identally stumbled and lost my way. Since it''s almost nighttime, might I head to your vige with you to find lodgings for a night? I''m happy to pay," Xiao Nanfeng informed him.


    "There''s no need to worry about money. Be wee as a guest¡ªI''m happy to offer you a stay at my humble abode," the old man replied grandly.


    "Thank you!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    "I''m Wang. Just call me Old Wang."


    Within two hours, they had descended the mountain and reached the vige by its foot. Old Wang brought him toward a small cottage, whereupon an elderly woman weed them at the door.


    "You''re finally back! We have an honored guest," the old woman informed him, bustling him into the house.


    "An honored guest?" Old Wang seemed rather surprised.


    When she saw Xiao Nanfeng beside him, she suddenly grew far more reserved, then whispered a few words into Old Wang''s ear.


    "What? He''s here! We have to have a good drink tonight, then!" Old Wang suddenly seemed to grow animated. Then, he turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Ah, I''ve forgotten¡ªI have an honored guest here myself. Lad, how are your injuries? Let me show you to a guest room. I''ll bring you some medicinal alcohol and food in a bit. Why don''t you rest in my home overnight?"


    "That would be more than sufficient. Thank you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He was allowed the use of a guest bedroom, and Old Wang''s grandson brought him food, medicinal alcohol, and some clothes.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t rest. Rather, he sat cross-legged in meditation, shoring up his foundations. By the end of the night, Xiao Nanfeng hadpletely digested the golden crow''s inner core, healed his internal injuries, and advanced his cultivation.


    At dawn, Xiao Nanfeng spat out a mouthful of turbid air as he stood up.


    Suddenly, Old Wang''s grandson ran over. "Mister, Grandpa had mee get you for breakfast!"


    "I won''t be having breakfast, thank you. Please, hand this to your grandfather as a token of my appreciation. I''m going to be leaving now." Xiao Nanfeng passed the child a pouch of bits of gold.


    "Grandpa said not to take your money!" The child immediately refused the pouch. "Furthermore, if I take your money, I won''t be able to raise my head in front of my brothers any longer. I don''t want to ruin my reputation!"


    "Haha, your reputation? What sort of reputation?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly found this child very amusing.


    "That of the future vige chief, of course! I''ll inherit my grandfather''s position and be the vige chief of Dawangzhuang!" the child dered proudly.


    "Dawangzhuang? What Dawangzhuang?" Xiao Nanfeng''s smile froze on his face.


    "This vige is Dawangzhuang!" the child told him.


    "Really?"


    Yesterday, at the vige that had been invaded by crow spirits, the viger they had rescued from death''s door had mentioned Dawangzhuang, that the crow troops that had invaded their vige and ughtered them were chasing after a person called Zheng Qian, who had headed to the vige for a visit.


    "Of course! Is there a problem?" the child asked.


    There was a huge problem. How had he appeared in the vicinity of Dawangzhuang? Was this a coincidence? Had the golden crow coincidentally brought him to Dawangzhuang? Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t believe it. Perhaps it had been making for the vige itself!


    "Quick, I need to see your grandfather. There might be big trouble at the vige!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "What?" The child seemed perplexed.


    Suddenly, hoofbeats could be heard from outside the window.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced out the window to see fifty ck-armored warriors riding toward the vige.


    "There are children within the vige! You can''t ride through it on horseback." Quite a number of vigers were gathering near the entrance to stop the riders, but they only drew their des and beheaded those vigers in their way.


    "Murderers!" Shrieks rang out throughout the vige as a group of ck-armored warriors ughtered the vigers. The shrieks continued as over a dozen vigers were killed. All the remaining vigers were panicking.


    "All those who oppose the crow troops will be killed on the spot!" one ck-armored warrior howled out.


    "Killed!" the other warriors echoed, fifty of them in all.


    The vigers were cowering in fear from the sudden appearance of so many bloodthirsty warriors.


    "All you vigers, assemble in this za, now!" one warrior howled.


    Small groups of warriors spread out and guarded the various paths out of the vige. The fifty of them unsheathed their des and red fiercely at the trembling vigers. Any who dared to make a run for it were summarily beheaded.


    Xiao Nanfeng hid the child underneath the bed and walked out of the house before the ck-armored warriors burst through. Then, apanying the cowering vigers, he was herded toward the vige za.


    The vigers were shaking in fear, not daring to resist.


    <i>These are the crow troops that ughtered the previous vige? Ten Immanence-realm and forty peak Acquisition-realm cultivators?</i> Xiao Nanfeng considered his opponents carefully.


    "Please, warriors, don''t kill any more of us! I''m the vige chief. Our vige, Dawangzhuang, has been paying its taxes on time. We''ve not missed a single payment! I beg you to show clemency!" Old Wang pleaded.


    The captain of the troops red at Old Wang. "Where''s Zheng Qian?"


    "Zheng Qian? Who?" Old Wang shook his head, frightened.


    "I''ll ask one more time. Where''s Zheng Qian? If you refuse to answer me, I''ll kill everyone present," the captain of the troops warned, pointing his de at the vigers.


    "I, I don''t know..." Old Wang lowered his head in fear.


    "You don''t know?" the captain of the troops replied in a chilling tone. "In that case, all of you might as well die!"


    "Don''t kill us! Please, have mercy!" Many of the vigers were so scared that they began to kneel and weep.


    The ck-armored warriors ignored their pleading. They raised their des.


    "Hold it! I''m right here!" a voice came from beside Old Wang''s house.


    The entrance to an underground cer opened up as a middle-aged man in gray walked out.


    The man looked stern and unyielding, but also deeply exhausted.


    "Ah, why did youe out?" Old Wang nced at him regretfully.


    "Old Wang, I came to visit you yesterday intending to catch up with you, but I didn''t expect to bring trouble to your vige. They''re here for me, and I won''t be able to escape them," Zheng Qian replied, a wry smile on his face.


    Old Wang sighed again.


    "Sir Zheng, you''ve caused a hugemotion," the captain of the crow troops called out.

 Chapter 41: Zheng Qian

    <h4>Chapter 41: Zheng Qian</h4>


    Zheng Qian looked toward the shaking vigers. He suddenly bent down and bowed toward them. "I am Zheng Qian. I am deeply apologetic for having brought a disaster to your vige."


    The vigers nced at Zheng Qian in fear, anger, and resentment, but they didn''t dare speak.


    "Sir Zheng, all of us owe you our lives. You saved our entire vige that year, and we won''t me you for what you''ve done. You''ve spent all this time working hard for the public good, and you have our gratitude," Old Wang consoled him.


    Zheng Qianughed bitterly. "Even so, I brought this upon you all. Working hard for the public good? It might as well have been a joke. Old Wang, I don''t deserve your gratitude."


    Zheng Qian sighed and turned toward the warriors. "I''m the one you seek. Don''t make things difficult for these innocent vigers."


    The captain of the crow troops suddenly struck Zheng Qian''s abdomen with vicious force.


    Zheng Qian sprayed out a mouthful of blood and knelt on the ground in pain. He gaped at the captain, not having anticipated that he would be so vulgar as to strike him directly.


    "Ha! Do you really think yourself a noble just because I address you as Sir Zheng? Who do you think you are? You''re not fit tomand me!" the captain told him, a cold smile on his face.


    "You¡ª"


    "Break his qi cirction and pierce his corbones," the captainmanded.


    "Understood!" A group of ck-d warriors rushed forward. Their des shed deeply into Zheng Qian''s four limbs. Then, two giant hooks were forcibly pushed through his corbones. He slumped to the ground, blood fountaining out of him.


    He howled in pain, unable to resist the attack.


    "Stop it!" Old Wang shouted, rushing over.


    He was sent flying to the ground, smashing against a wall of a nearby house. As he fell, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, along with a few of his teeth.


    "Zheng Qian, the marquis himself instated you as an official, but rather than focus on your work, you attempted to betray him! Not only that, you even stole the marquis'' gold. You might as well be one of the marquis'' dogs. If you''re disloyal, if you''re recalcitrant, then there''s no reason to keep you alive any longer. Tell me where the money is hidden and I''ll give you a painless death," the captain of the troops bellowed fiercely.


    "Gold? Ha! All the gold I made for the marquis, he promised me he would use for themon folk. Instead, he spent it all on your crow troops. The people all over thend are dying, but he doesn''t care at all! No matter how much gold I make, the only ones that benefit are you. You''ll get nothing from me!" Zheng Qian replied resolutely.


    "You''re really looking to die, aren''t you?" The captain narrowed his eyes as he kicked at Zheng Qian''s prone body, sending him flying. His breastbone cracked from the impact, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.


    "Stubborn, aren''t you? Don''t worry. When we bring you back to Taiwu, you''ll wish you opened your mouth sooner," the captain of the troops threatened.


    Zheng Qian spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva at him.


    "As for these vigers you care about? You''ll see just what happens to those who betray the marquis. Troops, kill them all!" the captain ordered.


    "No!" Zheng Qian cried out.


    "No, don''t kill us!" the vigers pleaded, crying and shouting as they knelt on the ground.


    "Kill!" The warriors held up their des, preparing to unleash a ughter.


    "Hold it!" a voice called out, cutting through the cacophony.


    Everyone watched Xiao Nanfeng step out of the crowd.


    "What do you have to say?" The captain of the troops stared at him coldly.


    "You''re here to kill the vigers of Dawangzhuang, but I''m just a traveler. You''ve made a mistake," Xiao Nanfeng exined seriously.


    Everyone: ...<i>Who cares if you''re a traveler? Do you think they''d care?</i>


    "This young man is indeed foreign to our vige. He passed byst night and took shelter in my house. Warriors, this incident has nothing to do with him. Please let him leave," Old Wang begged, even as he continued to pant for breath.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Old Wang, astounded by his kindness. Old Wang was about to die himself, but was still willing to speak up in favor of a stranger he didn''t know! <i>Damn it. It''s a little dangerous, but I can tolerate this amount of risk. Let''s put on a show, then!</i>


    "Right, I''m only a bystander! Please, sirs, let me go!" Xiao Nanfeng walked toward one warrior.


    "Haha, so there really are idiots like you around in the world! me yourself for being unlucky¡ªkill him!" the captain of the crow troopsmanded.


    Before he had finished speaking, however, Xiao Nanfeng made his move. He punched toward the temple of the closest guard.


    His skull was smashed in as his temple exploded, sttering blood and brain matter everywhere. Before anyone else could react, Xiao Nanfeng had imed his de and tossed it at the enemy.


    The de struck a warrior standing beside Zheng Qian with such strength that it prated through his chest and pinned him against a wall.


    "I''ll kill you!" the captain of the crow troops thundered. Who could have thought that this seemingly harmless youth would suddenly kill someone?


    Xiao Nanfeng, who had just killed two of the warriors, rushed straight toward Zheng Qian and ran out of the vige carrying him.


    "Hold it!"


    "Kill him!"


    "Take him down!"


    A group of enraged warriors chased after Xiao Nanfeng.


    Dawangzhuang was at the foot of a forested mountain. Xiao Nanfeng carried Zheng Qian into the forest, rushing up the hill, with 48 ck-armored troops giving chase behind him.


    Zheng Qian, already wounded, vomited out fresh blood as Xiao Nanfeng inadvertently jostled him as he ran.


    "Lad, thank you," Zheng Qian coughed out.


    "I''m not here to save you, you scourge!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Not me?" Zheng Qian seemed astounded.


    "I did it to save Old Wang and his family!"


    "You¡ª" Zheng Qian coughed a few more times, unable to continue the conversation.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t borate. He headed deeper and deeper into the forest.


    Angry roars could be heard from behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng plodded on, feeling as though the warriors were closing in on him minute by minute. Although he cultivated qi of pure yang, he was still only an Acquisition-realm cultivator, and his strength would be weaker than that of an Immanence-realm one. Fortunately, a light rain began to fall, and mist descended on the forested mountain.


    "Zheng Qian, I''m going to sequester you here. Don''t make any noise¡ªI''ll lure them away," Xiao Nanfeng instructed in a whisper. After that, he found a particrly lush tree, leapt up onto its branches, and deposited Zheng Qian by its crown, shrouded by countless leaves.


    Then, he scampered back down into the underbrush.


    "Ouch!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted as he feigned a stumble.


    "He''s over there!" A group of warriors headed straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Atop the tree, Zheng Qian looked on with aplicated expression on his face.


    "This is the youth that Old Wang mentioned to mest night? He seems to be an Acquisition-realm cultivator. If he had forsaken us and run off alone, he might well have escaped, but he risked his life to carry me out to save Old Wang and the vige atrge... His courage is trulymendable," Zheng Qian murmured.


    Without Zheng Qian slowing him down, Xiao Nanfeng began to move quite a bit more rapidly, frustrating the warriors behind him.


    "Surround this entire mountain! We''ll split up and encircle our prey. Let''s see how far he can go!" the captain of the troopsmanded.


    "Understood!"


    The troops split up and beganbing through the entire forest, patch by patch.


    "There''s no one here!"


    "None here either!"


    "None¡ª" One warrior was halfway through a shout when a fist struck his face, causing him to scream as he was flung back.


    The scream was suddenly cut short.


    The warriors rushed over to see theirpanion dead on the ground, his corbone fractured.


    "He''s dead?" The warriors nched.


    "Captain, that brat''sunching sneak attacks at us! We have to be careful!" one warrior reported.


    From afar, another warrior screamed. With a crack, his scream was suddenly cut short.


    "That bastard! From his speed, he''s only at the peak of Acquisition¡ªand he dares try to take us down? Keep searching. I''ll skin him alive and kill his entire family!" the captain of the troops shouted.


    "Understood!" Everyone grew alert and vignt as they continued their search.


    In a forested mountain shrouded by mist, subject to a fine rain, a hunt was unfolding.


    Xiao Nanfeng was like a wraith in the night, appearing out of nowhere, finding Acquisition-realm targets that had gone astray, killing them, and then going back into hiding.


    "<i>On Mist-Sense</i> really does work out in practice! I can take advantage of the mist to manipte my spiritual power in the form of misty tendrils to sense the auras of those around me. These warriors are nothing more than bandits, leaving countless innocents in their wake! Today, I''ll take revenge for all those they''ve killed." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed. "As for the Immanence-realm cultivators, well, I still have a sixth of the purpleveil poison orb left."

 Chapter 42: Wiped Out

    <h4>Chapter 42: Wiped Out</h4>


    Deep in the forested mountains, the members of the Taiqing sect were out in full force, searching every nook and cranny.


    "Nanfeng''s only an Acquisition-realm disciple, while that golden crow has already congealed an inner core! We''ve searched all night long, but we still haven''t found a trace of him. I''m afraid... you had better prepare yourself, Yu''er," Ye Sanshui sighed.


    "Nonsense! If anything happens to Nanfeng, Ye Sanshui, I''m ming it all on you!" Yu''er howled, her eyes red.


    "I¡ªI urged against not involving ourselves in this affair, but Junior Brother Nanfeng insisted that we fight! If there''s anyone to me, it''s him for being so meddlesome," Ye Sanshui replied, frowning ufortably.


    "Ye Sanshui, how could you! Junior Brother Nanfeng''s simply following the sect motto. How could that be considered meddlesome?!"


    "That''s right! When we return to the sect, I''ll be reporting to my division leader that you imed the sect motto to be meddlesome!"


    "Count me in!"


    A group of junior disciples red angrily at Ye Sanshui, who stiffened. <i>I''m the leader of this expedition¡ªyou all should remember that! Show me the respect I deserve!</i>


    Just then, bright fireworks were sent into the air from afar. Everyone stilled.


    "That''s our signal. Did someone find Nanfeng?!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    "Has he been found? We need to head there immediately!" Yu''er galloped off on her horse.


    The fireworks were a clear indication that news about Nanfeng had been found, but who knew whether he was dead or alive?


    Tears filled the vige of Dawangzhuang. A number of vigers were crying their hearts out as they beheld the bodies of their newly deceased kin.


    Yu''er, Ye Sanshui, and others headed to the front of the crowd.


    "Senior Sister, this is Dawangzhuang. Junior Brother Nanfeng stayed in his home overnight." One junior disciple pointed toward Old Wang.


    "Is Nanfeng still alive?" Yu''er asked expectantly.


    "The golden crow spiritbeast had already congealed an inner core, whereas Nanfeng''s only an Acquisition-realm cultivator! How in the world did he manage to escape...?" Ye Sanshui seemed very perplexed.


    "Where is he? Where''s Nanfeng now?!" Yu''er asked, desperately clutching onto Old Wang''s clothes.


    "I''m afraid we''ve endangered him greatly. This morning..." Old Wang recounted what had happened earlier in the day.


    "The crow troops?!" Ye Sanshui nched.


    "Even the worst cultivator among the crow troops is at the peak of Acquisition! And they''ve all gone chasing after Nanfeng?!" Yu''er cried.


    "Yes, in that direction!" Old Wang pointed up the mountain.


    Yu''er screwed up her eyes in worry. She called out, "Quick, everyone, we have to rescue Nanfeng!"


    "Let''s go!" A veritable horde of Taiqing disciples charged up the mountain with their weapons in hand.


    By then, it was noon. The spring rains had stopped, and a bright sun hung in the air. Much of the mist had dissipated. Not long after Yu''er and her group entered the mountain, they saw cracked and broken branches, along with a few corpses on the ground. Clearly, a fierce fight had broken out earlier in the day.


    "Nanfeng? We''re here! Where are you?!" Yu''er cried out urgently.


    Everyone''s hearts sank. After all, Xiao Nanfeng''s opponent was the crow troops, whereas he was only an Acquisition-realm cultivator...


    "Senior Sister Yu''er! I''m over here!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from a nearby copse.


    "What?" The disciples turned toward the source of the voice in shock, only to see a figure walk out from amidst the dense foliage.


    "Nanfeng, you''re still alive?!" Yu''er rushed toward him in delight.


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, you''re unhurt! Thank goodness!" a group of senior disciples surrounded him.


    Nanfeng, however, was in a sorry state. He was covered with blood, and his robes were tattered and grimy.


    "What are all of you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed rather surprised.


    "Senior Sister Yu''er had us search for you all night long," a senior disciple said.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Yu''er, who blushed a little. She then asked, "There''s blood all over your body! Are you hurt?"


    "I''m alright, just a little exhausted," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "You''re alright...?" The disciples nced skeptically at the blood spattered all over Xiao Nanfeng''s robes.


    "I''m out of energy. Could you help me fetch Zheng Qian, hidden atop that tree?" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at a nearby tree.


    Only then did the disciples discover that a man coughing blood was hidden in it.


    "He''s Zheng Qian?" One of the senior disciples carefully climbed up and brought him down.


    "Zheng Qian? Nanfeng almost died trying to save you!" Yu''er shouted, ring at the bloody Zheng Qian.


    Zheng Qian gave Yu''er a strange look. He wanted to say something, but stopped short.


    "What are you looking at? It''s all because of you. You hid up in a tree and seem perfectly fine, but look at Nanfeng''s sorry state! Aren''t you ashamed of yourself?!" Yu''er continued her tirade.


    Zheng Qian: ...<i>My qi cirction has been ruined, my corbone pierced through, my breastbone cracked, and I''m bleeding all over! How is he worse off than I am? Furthermore, all the blood on his body''s from the crow troops! They''re the ones who have been suffering this entire morning¡ªthis valley might as well be hell on earth for them! If any of them were still alive, they''d flee at the sight of Xiao Nanfeng!</i>


    "I''m actually fine, Senior Sister," Xiao Nanfeng volunteered.


    "Fine? How could you be fine? The fact that you survived the assault from those crow troops is already a miracle! Right, where are they all now?" Yu''er suddenly asked.


    She had been so worried about Xiao Nanfeng that she had overlooked this fundamental question.


    "Ah, they''re all lying in this valley." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the valley where they were all located.


    "Lying?" Yu''er frowned. <i>Why lying?</i>


    A few senior disciples had begun scouting out the valley.


    "There''s a corpse here!"


    "There are some here, too."


    Simr shouts came from all over. Yu''er, Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the others widened their eyes, as though they were thinking about something wholly imusible.


    The corpses were all swiftly gathered, 48 of them in all. The Taiqing disciples sucked in a deep breath.


    "This can''t be true..."


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng killed them all alone?!"


    "How could this be? Junior Brother Nanfeng''s only at Acquisition!"


    The disciples all nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. This was impossible!


    Ye Dafu scrunched up his face and swallowed a gulp of saliva. He had been searching for an opportunity tounch a sneak attack on him, but how was he to do so now? Had he really killed all the warriors of the crow troop?


    "Nanfeng, did you kill all these cultivators?" Yu''er gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Have you all forgotten? I have a purpleveil poison orb. I poisoned quite a few to death," Xiao Nanfeng exined, kicking at a corpse.


    Indeed, the man was frothing from the mouth, poison having seeped into his body. He had died in pain and fear.


    "So it was all the purpleveil poison''s doing! That makes sense," Ye Dafu murmured, rxing.


    Only Yu''er and Ye Sanshui continued to nce at Xiao Nanfeng suspiciously. They were among the rare few people who had noticed that only about a dozen warriors had been poisoned; had Nanfeng killed the rest on his own?


    "Nanfeng, you''re going to suffer now! You''ve killed these crow troops that serve right under Marquis Wu, and we''re only here on his invitation! Now that you''ve killed his subordinates, he''ll surely hold a grudge for you!" Ye Dafu crowed.


    A palm mmed the back of Ye Dafu''s head.


    "Third Uncle, why did you hit me?!" Ye Dafu shouted, clutching his head.


    "Who would dare to report this to Marquis Wu? Who would want to do so? Nanfeng''s helping themon people by ridding the world of this gang of evildoers? You?" Ye Sanshui chided Ye Dafu.


    "Are you going to tell on Nanfeng? I''ll kill you now if so!" Yu''er drew her sword.


    "No, no! I-I was just saying..." Ye Dafu replied, swearing.


    "Ye Dafu, listen up. If news of Nanfeng killing this gang of demons spreads, you''ll be the first one I kill," Yu''er vowed, without giving him a chance to exin himself.


    "Right, if Junior Brother Nanfeng suffers for this, you will too!"


    "I''ll kill you if word spreads!"


    "Count me in."


    Ye Dafu: ...<i>How did I end up being the target? What if word spreads and I''m not responsible?!</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ye Sanshui in surprise. It seemed that he at least understood the big picture well, and wouldn''t allow Ye Dafu to do as he pleased. However, he did intend to seize leadership from Ye Sanshui.


    "Right, what happened to that vige that had been ughtered?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked.


    "The viger we rescued said that that vige was called Zhengjiazhuang. Everyone that has survived is in stable condition now," a senior disciple sighed. [1]


    "What? What happened to Zhengjiazhuang?!"


    "You don''t know? It''s all your fault. If Nanfeng weren''t here, everyone in Dawangzhuang might have perished, too!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Hold on, what happened to Zhengjiazhuang?!" Zheng Qian shouted.


    Yu''er frowned, but she recounted what had happened before the arrival of the crow spirits.


    "H-How? Second Brother, Fourth Brother, what have I done? I didn''t expect Marquis Wu would be so vicious, that I would bring ruin on the family. It''s all my fault!" Zheng Qian, barely holding on physically, was stunned beyond belief. He began crying in sobs and wails.


    "Sixteen children from Zhengjiazhuang and three vigers were saved. As for you¡ªyou knew there were enemies after you, so what were you doing looking for friends and rtives?" Yu''er sighed.


    "Some are alive? Where are they? No, no, I apologize. Thank you all for your assistance!" Zheng Qian forcibly suppressed his anxiety and kowtowed to the gathered disciples.


    Ye Sanshui was about to put on a benevolent act when Yu''er interrupted, "Why are you thanking us all? You should be thanking Nanfeng. If he hadn''t persuaded us to help out, we wouldn''t have headed to Zhengjiazhuang at all! And if he weren''t coincidentally at Dawangzhuang too, everyone here would have been killed by you!" Yu''er pursed her lips.


    Ye Sanshui twitched. <i>Yu''er, how am I supposed to ept his thanks now?!</i>


    Zheng Qian looked again at Xiao Nanfeng, kowtowing as his tears welled up. "I am ashamed to face you, my benefactor. If not for your assistance, my family and friends would have perished. I have to thank you twice over!"


    1. Zhengjiazhuang, literally Zheng family vige, with the implication that Zheng Qian''s family resides there and holds high status there. ?

 Chapter 43: Help Me Out

    <h4>Chapter 43: Help Me Out</h4>


    A dayter, at the entrance to Dawangzhuang, a crowd of surviving children and three vigers that had just awakened gathered by the entrance of the vige.


    "Fifth Uncle, if not for your protection, our entire n would have perished that year. Before he died, Father told me that you aren''t to me for this disaster. If anyone''s to me, it''s the world atrge¡ªit''s Marquis Wu, not you," one of the survivors weakly advised Zheng Qian.


    However, Zheng Qian only kowtowed to his remaining family again and again, tears sshing on the ground. He felt an infinite chasm of shame suffuse him, and he didn''t know how he would ever be able to apologize for what had been done.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the other disciples watched the scene from afar.


    "I remember who Zheng Qian is now. It''s a true pity," Ye Sanshui murmured, frowning.


    "Senior Brother Ye, you''re aware of Zheng Qian?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ve heard of him. He was the top schr of thest imperial examination of the Taiwu Empire, phenomenal at management and with sharp business acumen. When the empire fell and the Tianshu Empire took its ce, Emperor Tianshu tried many times to recruit him to his service, but to no avail. Zheng Qian''s loyalty to his empire meant that he was only willing to serve Marquis Wu, and he''s made him innumerable wealth over thest few decades. How did he end up going against Marquis Wu in the end?" Ye Sanshui recollected.


    "A genius manager and businessman, and loyal at that? A true talent..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself, giving Zheng Qian an appraising look.


    Xiao Nanfeng wanted to search for his parents, but this was a monumental task, one that he couldn''t afford to do alone. He would need to recruit the capable in order to help him umte wealth and power, and Zheng Qian''s resume was very impressive indeed.


    Just then, several senior disciples brought the golden crow spiritbeast''s carcass over.


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, you really are impressive! This golden crow had already congealed an inner core, but you were still able to take it down!"


    "Even as an Ascension-realm cultivator, Senior Brother Ye was unable to do anything against it, but you killed it! It''s truly impressive."


    Ye Sanshui: ...


    "It was all luck. The golden crow spiritbeast ingested my purpleveil poison orb, or it wouldn''t have died so easily," Xiao Nanfeng demurred modestly.


    "But the fact remains that you forced it to ingest poison!" Yu''er replied.


    "Third Uncle, if you don''t stop this sort of behavior, you''ll lose your leadership position entirely!" Ye Dafu whispered to Ye Sanshui.


    Ye Sanshui red at his nephew. <i>What can I do? Don''t you see that everything''s going in Xiao Nanfeng''s favor right now?</i>


    Just then, a junior disciple walked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, we''ve buried the fifty warriors of the crow troops. They had six thousand taels of gold on them in all, and their weapons and warhorses are worth an approximate four thousand. In all, you''ve made a bounty of ten thousand taels." A senior disciple handed him a wad of banknotes.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother!" Xiao Nanfeng took the proffered notes with a smile.


    Ye Dafu''s eyes turned green with envy.


    Just then, Zheng Qian and Old Wang walked up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I apologize for onlying to you sote, my benefactor. Only when I heard Sir Zheng mention it did I understand that you had run off with Sir Zheng in order to save Dawangzhuang. I owe you the deepest of gratitude." Old Wang kowtowed to him.


    "No, no, please get up. You allowed me to stay in your home for a night as a favor, and I was indebted to you." Xiao Nanfeng helped Old Wang up.


    "A paltry favor for my life! Benefactor, I might be an old man from a rural vige, but I know to be grateful. If there is anything I might do for you, please allow me to be of service," Old Wang stated.


    "Old Wang used to be an imperial physician during the times of the Taiwu Empire, and he''s an Acquisition-realm cultivator as well. When the Taiwu Empire fell, he returned to his hometown. Everyone here is part of his n, and I have to thank you for saving them, Benefactor. Otherwise, I would be too ashamed to face my old friend." Zheng Qian kowtowed again.


    "Do you have ns for the future?" Xiao Nanfeng asked them both.


    "Once I make ns for the rest of my n, I''ll change my name and go into hiding, I suppose," Zheng Qian replied, smiling wryly.


    "Sir Zheng, you won''t be able to escape. Marquis Wu will not take this affair lying down, I assure you, and will surely give chase. Where might you hide? I may have to make ns to move my n elsewhere, too..." Old Wang''s face was a mask of pain.


    "Zheng Qian, I have a proposal. Would you be willing to consider it?" Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "Please, Benefactor!"


    "I''d like to hire your services."


    "Ah?" Zheng Qian stilled, clearly not having expected such a request.


    "We will sign a contract for ten years of service, with no obligation beyond that. Further, I promise you will never be forced into anything hical. For these ten years, I will guarantee the safety of your n and that of Dawangzhuang," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "Ten years? Benefactor, it is an honor, but considering how many members are in our ns..." Zheng Qian trailed off.


    "I am a disciple of the Taiqing sect. I''ve inquired with my master, and there are plenty of deserted inds around Taiqing Ind, which are used for various businesses off-ind. I can rent out one such ind as a temporary residence for all of you, and even Marquis Wu will have to think twice about encroaching upon Taiqing territory. You may rx." Xiao Nanfeng dispelled Zheng Qian''s worries immediately.


    "Benefactor, in that case, I would be happy to serve you for a decade." Zheng Qian''s eyes brightened. He bowed in gratitude.


    "Old Wang, since you used to be an imperial physician, please help treat Zheng Qian. If you need any herbs or medical supplies, you may purchase them in my name from any Taiqing apothecary. As more people arrive on the ind in the future, I would like to task you with providing your services for them all," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "Of course, Benefactor. I''ll do my best!" Old Wang replied seriously.


    "Zheng Qian, I''ll give you these six thousand taels of gold, along with the warhorses and weapons of Marquis Wu''s crow troops. Use them to furnish the ind. I''ll have some nominal disciples guard you and bring you there soon enough."


    "Understood!" Zheng Qian epted the gold, and the two of them began preparing the rest of their ns for the travel ahead of them.


    Ye Dafu, by his side, widened his eyes in shock. "Has this poor bastard lost his mind? That much money, all at once?"


    The other disciples didn''t understand Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions, either. Even Yu''er grumbled, "Nanfeng, you''ve handed them all your money?"


    "I have other ns in mind," Xiao Nanfeng replied, in way of exnation.


    "What do you mean, other ns? You spent all that gold all at once! Why didn''t you leave a bit for yourself? You''re infuriating!" Yu''er grumbled.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled, but didn''t exin further. He needed manpower, and he knew how hard talented people were to obtain. Money could always be made easily, but talents might be lost to the world.


    The next morning, Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian had a private conversation.


    "Zheng Qian, conditions on the ind will surely be difficult at first. I approve your use of these ten thousand taels of gold to improve your lifestyle and to help ensure sustainable development. I don''t care much for gold; take this as a test to demonstrate your skill," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "I won''t disappoint you, Benefactor," Zheng Qian replied confidently.


    "Then I look forward to your progress. Alright, I''ve arranged for a group of nominal disciples to guide you. Prepare to be on your way." Xiao Nanfeng patted Zheng Qian''s shoulder lightly.


    Zheng Qian seemed to want to say more, but he hesitated as he grimaced. Eventually, he asked, "Benefactor, are you headed to the city of Taiwu?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "What''s the matter?"


    "The taxes that Marquis Wu levied on themon people were all used to improve the strength of the crow troops. He never cared about themon people''s suffering, and I grew so disappointed in him that I stole all the gold from his treasury before giving up my position and returning to my hometown," Zheng Qian began.


    "All of it? Really?" Xiao Nanfeng was astonished.


    "That''s right. I wasn''t able to bring it with me, but I made use of my authority to hide it while the marquis'' manor was being expanded, so as to make them think that I''ve stolen it all. Actually, it''s right under their noses, but no one knows of it."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. "It''s all there to be imed, then?"


    "Yes, precisely, and in a heavily guarded location to boot. Please allow me to divulge its whereabouts to you, Benefactor, that it might protect you in a time of need," Zheng Qian offered.


    "Protect me?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed perplexed.


    "I don''t know why Marquis Wu would invite you to raid Mt. Crow, but I know that he deeply loathes the Taiqing sect. How could he want to employ you, of all people?" Zheng Qian continued.


    "Oh?"


    "Marquis Wu is focused only on enhancing the strength of the troops under hismand, in an attempt to revive the Taiwu Empire. He hates Emperor Tianshu, and naturally also loathes the Taiqing Immortal Sect, to which Emperor Tianshu used to belong. Be ready for what may await you in Taiwu," Zheng Qian advised.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for long moments.


    Zheng Qian continued in a hushed tone, "The gold is located in..."

 Chapter 44: Heavenly Spring, Stellar Lake

    <h4>Chapter 44: Heavenly Spring, Ster Lake</h4>


    Ten dayster, a group of Taiqing disciples rode down an expansive, well-trodden path on horseback.


    After the incident at Dawangzhuang, Xiao Nanfeng had won the admiration and approval of all the disciples. With Yu''er''s strong, vocal support, he had even won a measure of trust and protection. Ye Sanshui could no longermand him easily at will, and Ye Dafu himself had grown far more reserved.


    "Look! We''ve reached Taiwu!" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    A big city appeared before them, "City of Taiwu" writrge on a signboard above the city gates. ck-armored guards stood before the gates, inspecting those entering and leaving in a disciplined, rigorous manner.


    Before the gates was a robed man looking out at the horizon. When he saw arge group of disciples on horseback, he immediately seemed to perk up.


    "He''s a nominal disciple of the Taiqing sect!" Ye Sanshui eximed, recognizing the robe immediately.


    "Greetings, Senior Brothers! You''ve finally made it. I''ve found apound in the city for everyone," the nominal disciple began.


    "Have the Ascension-realm senior disciples arrived? There should be a grouping to guard and provide support for the junior disciples," Ye Sanshui asked.


    "A few days ago, we received mail by stork stating that the Ascension-realm disciples had other tasks at hand and would be unable to make it. Rather, a few dayster, an elder from the sect would arrive as guardian!"


    "An elder?! Which elder?" Ye Sanshui asked in delight.


    "The elder was not named," the nominal disciple replied, shaking his head.


    "With an elder here to guard us, this expedition surely won''t be dangerous at all!" Ye Sanshui murmured in relief.


    Just then, a bout ofughter interrupted the disciples'' discussion. "Haha, the cultivators of the Taiqing sect have arrived! We''ve been anticipating you for days. Thank you for lending your assistance to Taiwu!"


    The disciples looked toward the city gates, where two males and one female were walking briskly out. The woman, youthful and beautiful, was dressed in red; the two men wore ck robes patterned with gold thread, both quite handsome. The one who hadughed was the man leading the trio. Behind them followed a ck-armored warrior.


    "We greet the heir of Taiwu," Ye Sanshui began, after a brief moment of hesitation. He was surprised that the marquis'' eldest son would personally greet them¡ªthe moment they arrived at the city, at that.


    "I am Xiang Kun, and I greet all you honored cultivators. These are my two siblings, my brother Xiang Wei and my sister Xiang Zhirou. By order of my father, I have been waiting for you cultivators at Taiwu, and have just received news from the city guards of your arrival. I brought my siblings with me to wee you all," Xiang Kun announced grandly.


    "Brother, Sister,e greet the cultivators!" Xiang Kun continued.


    "We greet the honored cultivators." Xiang Kun''s two siblings bowed respectfully.


    "Father has taken ill as a result of an old mdy, and he has had to enter secluded cultivation to recuperate. He''s entrusted me to deliver his apologies for not being able to wee all of you himself." Xiang Kun bowed.


    Ye Sanshui nodded. "Marquis Wu''s health should take first priority. We are more than pleased by this wee." For the marquis'' three children to greet them all in haste was a gesture of considerable respect.


    "Thank you for understanding, honored cultivators. I''ve had a banquet prepared for you all, and I hope you''ll all enjoy the feast," Xiang Kun continued warmly.


    "It would be a pleasure," Ye Sanshui replied, smiling.


    "In that case, everyone, please follow me!" Xiang Kun beckoned to the gathered cultivators.


    As the ck-armored soldiers opened the gates to the city, the cultivators trotted inside.


    Xiang Kun rode alongside Ye Sanshui, payingpliments to the Taiqing Immortal Sect the entire time and greatly improving Ye Sanshui''s mood. Xiang Wei and Xiang Zhirou rode alongside the cultivators, smiling as they maintained casual conversation.


    Yu''er murmured in surprise, "Considering the struggles of themon people we''ve seen along the way, I thought Marquis Wu would be a cold-blooded, heartless person¡ªbut his three children are far more amodating than I had anticipated!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head with a frown. "No, they''re much too passionate about this, and something''s wrong with their gaze."


    "What''s wrong? Their expressions look genuine," Yu''er replied curiously.


    "That''s precisely what''s strange. Their gazes are too... ardent. Perhaps they revere the strong, but even then, most of the seniors are only at Immanence. There are plenty of such cultivators even among the crow troops, and there''s no need for them to respect us in such a manner. This is unreasonable, don''t you think? Furthermore, the way they look at us, it''s almost as if..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off, frowning as he pondered an appropriateparison.


    "Like what?" Yu''er continued.


    "As if they''re about to eat us," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "But isn''t it a good thing for them to be passionate?" Yu''er rolled her eyes. As she pondered Xiao Nanfeng''sments further, however, Yu''er then nced critically at the three siblings. Indeed, they did seem to be far more ardent than they should have been.


    The group of cultivators arrived at the marquis'' manor.


    One hall was replete with food and drink. A number of musicians yed an apaniment in the background as beautiful maidens danced on stage. The banquet wasvish and impable.


    "Not knowing more about your tastes, honored cultivators, I arranged only for trivial entertainment. I hope you''ll not disdain it," Xiang Kun exined modestly.


    "No, this is gracious indeed!" Ye Sanshui was starting to get big-headed from all the ttery.


    The cultivators sat down and rxed as they enjoyed a sumptuous feast and fascinating entertainment.


    "The crow spirits have been causing havoc all over Taiwu and hurting countlessmon folk. We haven''t been able to do anything about them, but now that you''re all here, honored cultivators, we can finally rx. I''d like to thank everyone on behalf of my father, the marquis, for being present to deal with the threat of the crow spirits. A toast!" Xian Kun raised his cup with a smile.


    The Taiqing sect disciples all returned the toast with a cup of their own. Xiao Nanfeng sat behind the other disciples, mimicking their actions.


    "Nanfeng, why did you nudge me? I spilled all my wine!" Yu''er turned toward him with a frown, only to discover that Xiao Nanfeng''s cup was still full. "You haven''t drunk any of the wine? Are you afraid that they''d poison it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head and whispered back, "Have you seen that Xiang Wei and Xiang Zhirou are ncing shiftily at each other? I''m afraid this banquet isn''t all that it seems to be. It''s better to avoid drinking as much as possible."


    "Very well!" Yu''er was somewhat skeptical, but she ultimately chose to trust in Xiao Nanfeng.


    After three rounds of drinking and Xiang Kun''s modest and gentlemanly behavior, Ye Sanshui and the others had long since let down their guards. They confided in him, treating him like a gentleman.


    After the song and dance came to their end and the dancers stepped off stage, Xiang Zhirou rose to her feet.


    "Cultivator Ye, I often hear Father and my brothers mention the prodigious teachings of the Taiqing sect, and they particrly praise its methods of spiritual cultivation. I have grown interested in this discipline, and would love to seek some pointers." Xiang Zhirou addressed Ye Sanshui directly.


    Ye Sanshui, hearing her praise for the Taiqing sect, was very satisfied.


    "Lady Xiang, we''re happy to discuss the details of spiritual cultivation with you. Generally, cultivators only begin spiritual cultivation when their physical cultivation reaches Immanence and they have sufficient vitality and control over their bodies. Spiritual cultivation involves opening up a mindscape via the center of your forehead, a reservoir for spiritual power. The size of this reservoir dictates the strength of your spiritual power. Spiritual cultivation is generally split into four major stages: Heavenly Spring, Ster Lake, Lunar Deluge, and Yin Body."


    "May I ask what stage of spiritual cultivation you''re at, honored cultivators? And how about you, Cultivator Ye?" Xiang Zhirou smiled gently.


    "Taiqing disciples begin spiritual cultivation at Immanence with the help of our venerable elders. We''re all at the Heavenly Spring stage, though at distinct gradations of strength within that stage. Most of my juniors have only just excavated their heavenly spring, while mine is almost fully formed," Ye Sanshui exined, smiling proudly.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself was inspecting his mindscape. He found that his reservoir of spiritual power was shining with faint starlight, as though rippling in the manner of ake. Not only that, theke was of rather significant size. That meant that he had passed through the Heavenly Spring stage¡ªhe was already at Ster Lake, and a significantly developed one, too!


    "Is that so? I''ve learned a little of spiritual cultivation from my father via a technique that''s been passed down our family. I''m unaware of how advanced my spiritual cultivation is. Would you honored cultivators be willing to help me test it?" Xiang Zhirou continued.


    "Hmm?" Ye Sanshui raised his eyebrows. <i>You''re familiar with spiritual cultivation? Then you were just making a fool of us with your questions just now¡ªand you want to challenge us?</i>


    "Ridiculous! Zhirou, you''ve barely had any training. How can you hope topare with these honored cultivators? Don''t disgrace yourself¡ªget off the stage now!" Xiang Kun rebuked his sister.


    "Brother, it''s rare to have such an opportunity. Won''t you permit my request?" Xiang Zhirou begged.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the brother-sister duo appraisingly. He certainly didn''t believe that Xiang Zhirou hade up with this on the spot. This was something premeditated¡ªbut just what was their goal?


    "Honored cultivators, my sister remains unaware of her failings, and she believes that her paltry training in spiritual cultivation renders herself invincible. I apologize for her willful behavior!" Xiang Kun addressed the cultivators.


    However, he didn''t nullify Xiang Zhirou''s request, either. The ball was in Ye Sanshui''s court now.


    Considering how polite Xiang Kun had been, it was difficult for Ye Sanshui to chastise Xiang Zhirou openly, and the Taiqing sect was known for its advances in spiritual cultivation. If he were to refuse Xiang Zhirou now, wouldn''t it seem as though Taiqing disciples believed themselves inferior to a young noblewoman with limited training?


    "May I inquire as to the nature of your suggested test, Lady Xiang?" Ye Sanshui asked after a moment''s thought.


    "I''ve recently learned a new tune. I''d like to y it using my spiritual power. If you can listen to it until the end, it''ll be your victory," Xiang Zhirou suggested, pride seeping into her tone.


    "Sister, don''t be insolent!" Xiang Kun chided again.


    "Brother, haven''t you been telling me that the Taiqing sect''s spiritual cultivation techniques are unparalleled? Surely their disciples will be able to withstand one of my tunes?" Xiang Zhirou seemed to be trying to provoke Ye Sanshui and the others.


    "Very well! The Taiqing disciples would be happy to oblige, Lady Xiang," Ye Sanshui replied, with a hint of displeasure.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed Yu''er and whispered, "Xiang Zhirou''s test likely won''t be a trivial affair. Be careful!"


    "You''re the one who should be careful! You''re only at Acquisition, and you haven''t begun spiritual cultivation. Stay by my side and I''ll protect you!" Yu''er retorted.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment before giving Yu''er a strange look. He had already reached the Ster Lake stage of spiritual cultivation, and was far beyond his seniors. He wasn''t afraid of Xiang Zhirou at all, and certainly didn''t need Yu''er''s protection, but he smiled and nodded at her,forted that she would offer.


    He looked again at Xiang Kun, Xiang Wei, and Xiang Zhirou. The three siblings'' ardent gaze made him very wary. Just what were they nning to do?

 Chapter 45: Phoenix of the High Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 45: Phoenix of the High Heavens</h4>


    Xiang Zhirou sat cross-legged on stage, a guqin ced before her. Her gaze had lost all modesty; she stared at the Taqing disciples with a burning gaze of iparable arrogance.


    "Taiqing cultivators, brace yourselves!" Xiang Zhirou smiled sweetly. She plucked a string of the guqin. Instantly, a gust of spiritual power revolved around the hall, heading straight for the disciples'' brains.


    "How strong she is!" Yu''er murmured.


    That note alone caused many of the disciples'' heads to buzz. They nced around blearily, as though they were about to be transported into an illusory realm.


    Xiang Zhirou''s music headed toward a crescendo as wave after wave of spiritual energy struck the disciples'' souls.


    "Calm your heart and qi. Start circting your spiritual power, protecting mind and body, brain and heart!" Ye Sanshui instructed.


    He had discovered that Xiang Zhirou''s spiritual power was no weaker than his own¡ªbut she trained in the guqin, which was able to magnify her use of spiritual power!


    Everyone suddenly felt as though they were facing a great foe. No one had suspected Marquis Wu''s daughter of being so aplished in terms of spiritual cultivation and skill with the guqin. The only one who seemed unruffled was Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng had begun cultivating Body of Yin at Acquisition, and he had had significant spiritual power even before spending thest six months reading countless Taoist scriptures and bolstering his cultivation while Elder Ku and Yu''er yed the guqin. His spiritual cultivation had long since reached the Ster Lake stage, and he boasted a vast and mighty wealth of spiritual power. How could Xiang Zhirou''s meager reservoirpare? Even with her guqin, it was far too insignificant to have an effect on him.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent a small wisp of spiritual energy to his eyes, allowing him to see what others could not.


    As Xiang Zhirou plucked at the guqin, spiritual power gushed toward the disciples, conveyed by the music. Others might not even be able to see the sound waves, but Xiao Nanfeng could see transparent ck snakes materializing from the guqin.


    The ck snakes shone with an eerie, malicious light, each over a few feet long. They swarmed the Taiqing disciples, coiling around them and heading into their brains, bringing the disciples into a mass illusion.


    "Ah? What a beauty. Come, let me hug you. Ah, it really isfortable. Give me a kiss!" Ye Dafu''s voice broke through the music.


    His eyes were vacant as he grinned a lecherous smile, tearing his robes apart as he kissed the air. He was clearly under the influence of the technique.


    "Ye Dafu, wake up! This is the spiritual cultivation technique used by the former Emperor Taiwu! Master yourself!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    Xiang Zhirou, however, only smiled disdainfully. This was just the beginning. After Ye Dafu, the other disciples of the Taiqing sect quickly found themselves incapacitated. Their eyes nced vacantly around as they began to speak gibberish.


    Ye Sanshui was unable to attempt to wake Ye Dafu up himself, because cold sweat was already beading on his forehead. As more spiritual snakes coiled around him, he was struggling to hold out. Only the thought of his reputation stopped him from turning on Xiang Zhirou¡ªif he were to do so, it would be all but a surrender. He was an Ascension-realm cultivator who had been training in spiritual cultivation for years! How could he fail to withstand a noblewoman''s dilettante studies? The Taiqing sect would be aughing stock! He fretted anxiously as sweat drenched him.


    "Isn''t it boring to be ying alone? Allow me to join you!" Yu''er had observed Xiang Zhirou''s aggressive behavior early, gotten up, walked up to where the troupe had been ying, and dragged a guqin right to Xiao Nanfeng''s side. She was worried that Xiao Nanfeng would be affected by the technique, and insisted on protecting him by her side.


    As Yu''er began to y, her spiritual power flowed out. A pale blue phoenix ascended from the strings of the guqin, spreading its wings and striking at the ck snakes all around.


    Others might not be able to see the umtion and sh of spiritual power, but Xiao Nanfeng could see it all. The phoenix immediately took down arge group of ck serpents, rescuing the disciples that had been captured within an illusion. Subsequently, the phoenix headed straight for Xiang Zhirou.


    Xiang Zhirou gaped at Yu''er, not having anticipated her mastery over the guqin.


    The two women shed with their musical arts as the spiritual phoenix and snakes battled it out. Within moments, Yu''er had contained the majority of Xiang Zhirou''s spiritual attacks, and the disciples of the Taiqing sect were gradually awakening. They frowned as they stared at the two budding musicians.


    After Ye Sanshui was freed from the attacks, he wiped his forehead as he panted, staring incredulously at Xiang Zhirou.


    He had thought her to have an exaggerated opinion of her own abilities, but her spiritual cultivation was immense, as was her skill with the guqin. The magnification caused by thebination had been sufficient to threaten him. It was fortunate that Yu''er had been around, or he would have caused the sect to lose its standing today.


    "May I ask your name?" Xiang Zhirou nced toward Yu''er as she yed.


    "Beat me first!"


    The two women''s music marched urgently on.


    Xiang Zhirou had given up on attacking the others, and she was entirely focused on Yu''er. Countless snakes merged together into a titanic serpent ny meters long, which roared and shot straight at Yu''er.


    Yu''er began ying more and more quickly. She was under immense pressure. The phoenix that she had manifested no longer had an advantage in terms of size, and it seemed to be dwarfed by the serpent.


    The serpent roared, sending discordant sound waves radiating throughout the hall.


    The phoenix keened, not backing down.


    Yu''er was more skilled than Xiang Zhirou with the guqin, but her spiritual cultivation was somewhatcking. Her smaller reservoir of spiritual power meant that Xiang Zhirou was quickly gaining on her.


    Yu''er''s face turned pale. She had clearly consumed too much spiritual power, and her defense was starting to g.


    Ye Sanshui and the other Taiqing disciples saw Yu''er''s dire straits, but they didn''t dare disturb her, worried that she would lose concentration and be struck by bacsh. At the same time, they came to the realization that this banquet had been targeting them from the beginning.


    The phoenix''s mournful cry rang out from Yu''er''s guqin as it finally gave out. The ck serpent squeezed it more and more tightly, preparing to swallow it whole.


    This wasn''t a confrontation merely between the phoenix and the serpent, but also between Yu''er and Xiang Zhirou. Once the phoenix perished to the serpent, Yu''er would surely be struck by bacsh, causing damage to her soul.


    "It looks like I''m about to win, dear! So this is the extent of the Taiqing sect''s spiritual cultivation techniques? It seems to be rathercking," Xiang Zhirou murmured, smiling in contempt.


    The phoenix let out another anguished scream. Yu''er was at her limits. Her face turned pale; she was already preparing for the mental and spiritual bacsh. Just then, a burning palm ced itself against her shoulder.


    <i>Nanfeng? </i>Yu''er immediately grew anxious. She wanted to shout for Nanfeng to escape, to get away from her. Once the phoenix died, the serpent''s malicious spiritual power would flood toward her, striking everything in the vicinity¡ªnot just her, but also Nanfeng himself! He was only an Acquisition-realm cultivator; he couldn''t bear such an attack!


    "Don''t worry. I''m here to assist you," Xiao Nanfeng whispered softly.


    Xiao Nanfeng channeled an immense torrent of spiritual energy into her body through the point of contact at his palm. The spiritual power was of such quantity and quality that all the damage she had sustained was healed on the spot, and her own Heavenly Spring was refilled to beyond its peak.


    Yu''er gaped at what had just happened, but her instinct and training quickly took over. She became immersed in the music, in her guqin.


    A tidal wave of spiritual energy surged into the gasping phoenix. Countless pale blue mes lit up its body as it resurrected in a fireball of me.


    The phoenix of the high heavens shrieked. Tremendous sound waves erupted from Yu''er''s guqin, causing the porcin tes from the banquet to crack. Many of the disciples clutched their ears in pain as their ear membranes were disrupted.


    "I, I saw a pale blue phoenix!" Ye Dafu shouted from nearby.


    The resurrection of the phoenix had given off such tremendous spiritual power that it manifested as a physical phenomenon, allowing everyone to see a huge phoenix ascend to the heavens.


    "What?!" Xiang Zhirou cried out.


    The gigantic ck serpent that had been coiled around the phoenix was torn to shreds by the phoenix''s wings, and the phoenix''s frightening mes instantly burned all the ck snakes to a crisp.


    Xiang Wei, the second son of Marquis Wu, had been enjoying a gon of wine while watching his sister suppress the Taiqing cultivators. When the tides suddenly turned against her, he nched. "Be careful, Sister!"


    The strings of Xiang Zhirou''s guqin all snapped at once in an explosion of force that turned her hands bloody. However, she didn''t have the time to worry about her physical body¡ªthe wounds inflicted on her soul were far more debilitating. Her face instantly turned pale, and her prideful gaze lost its spark. A mouthful of blood sprayed out from her as she fell to the ground, paralyzed and unconscious.


    "Sister!" Xiang Wei rushed over in shock.


    Outside the hall, a group of ck-armored warriors reached out for their weapons, waiting to bemanded by those within.


    After the phoenix resurrected and tore apart the serpent, it flew back to Yu''er''s body and into the center of her forehead.


    "We''ve won! You''ve triumphed over her, Senior Sister Yu''er! You''re incredible!" a group of Taiqing disciples cheered.


    Yu''er, however, was panting for breath. She turned to Xiao Nanfeng, her eyes filled with disbelief. Had Nanfeng provided all that spiritual power? How could that be? Didn''t he have none of his own?


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled at Yu''er, relieving her and leaving her at ease.


    Yu''er still had plenty of questions, but she forced herself to hold them untilter.


    At this point, Xiang Kun and Ye Sanshui were both looking toward Xiao Nanfeng. They had more spiritual power than an ordinary Immanence-realm cultivator, and they could sense how precarious the situation had been¡ªas well as the fact that it was Xiao Nanfeng who had lent Yu''er his assistance.


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, you..." Ye Sanshui gaped at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. How could he have imagined that this junior disciple, who had been making ns to oust him from leadership, had such tremendous spiritual power?


    "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother, but I''m quite alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    "Third Uncle, what does this have to do with Nanfeng?" Ye Dafu asked, perplexed.


    Evidently, many of the Taiqing disciples at Immanence hadn''t understood the danger of the situation, nor that Yu''er had only won out because of Xiao Nanfeng''s timely assistance.


    Xiang Kun looked toward his sister, who was still unconscious. His smile froze on his face. "I apologize for the disturbance, honored cultivators. My sister has always been prideful and has overestimated her own abilities. Today, she has finally learned a lesson."


    After Xiang Zhirou''s disy of arrogance, however, no one looked kindly on Xiang Kun. The disciples murmured among themselves.


    "Senior Brother Ye, we''ve had our fill. Shall we head back to our residence to rest?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Ye Sanshui didn''t want to remain in the hall, either. He was just about to nod when a stentorian shout interrupted him.


    "None of you can leave!" Xiang Wei, cradling his sister''s body at the center of the hall, was ring at Xiao Nanfeng with anger and loathing.

 Chapter 46: Bells Chime

    <h4>Chapter 46: Bell''s Chime</h4>


    Xiang Wei''s shout caused the Taiqing disciples to frown. Not allowing them to leave? Did they intend to turn this into a physical confrontation?


    "Brother, apologize to the honored cultivators!" Xiang Kun immediately rebuked.


    "Brother, our sister has sustained a terrible spiritual injury! All her spiritual power was consumed, and her soul almost dissolved¡ªshe almost died!" Xiang Wei roared in rage.


    "Lord Xiang," Xiao Nanfeng began coldly. "When Xiang Zhirou attempted to seize my senior sister''s life, you watched on, rxed, as you drank your fill of alcohol. Only when your sister was injured do you make such a fuss¡ªdon''t you see the hypocrisy of your actions? Do you intend to seek retribution for what was done? Call the crow troops in from outside, then, and let''s see if we Taiqing cultivators can fight our way out!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the marquis'' children an ultimatum. If not for his assistance, Yu''er would have suffered Xiang Zhirou''s fate. This banquet had been a farce.


    "Stop us if you dare!" Ye Sanshui called out.


    The Taiqing disciples all drew their weapons.


    "Please, honored cultivators, don''t take offense. We mean no malice. My brother is simply distraught at our sister''s injury." Xiang Kun immediately got up and began to smooth things over. "The marquis'' manor will always be open to you, honored cultivators, and our goal was only to provide a warm reception after your long travels. My sister acted on her own ord and embarrassed herself in front of everyone; be assured that I will instruct her on proper etiquette. My brother has also grown pampered and spoiled. On behalf of them both, I apologize once more."


    Xiang Kun''s attitude did cause Ye Sanshui and the others to rx. If nothing else, there would be no bloodshed that night.


    "Brother, I can''t ept this! I demand a match with him to avenge our sister!" Xiang Wei pointed at Xiao Nanfeng, refusing to back down.


    "Nanfeng?" A group of Taiqing disciples looked curiously at Xiao Nanfeng. <i>Isn''t this Yu''er''s victory? Why is Xiang Wei targeting Nanfeng?</i>


    "Brother, don''t cause a fuss!" Xiang Kunmanded.


    Xiang Kun deftly rebuked only Xiang Wei''s manner and presentation, not the challenge itself. He too seemed to want to probe Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Junior Brother Nanfeng, ignore them. Let''s go! If anyone dares stop you, my sword shall cut them down!" Ye Sanshui shouted, standing by Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    Yu''er screwed up her face in anger as she took Nanfeng''s other arm, sandwiching him protectively.


    Xiang Wei, unrelenting, blocked their path.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at Xiang Kun and then at Xiang Wei as they performed their good cop, bad cop routine seamlessly.


    "Very well. I ept your challenge," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    "Nanfeng?" Yu''er began to worry.


    Ye Sanshui and the others likewise seemed anxious.


    Xiang Kun''s eyes lit up. Xiao Nanfeng was being far more cooperative than he had expected! He continued to feign a smile. "My brother is thoughtless and ignorant. I apologize for his behavior, and I hope you''ll not take him seriously."


    Xiang Wei waved a hand, motioning for a servant to bring him a guqin.


    "We begin, then! What stringed instrument do you y?" Xiang Wei asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the two brothers as he smiled coldly. They''re trying to probe my spiritual power, then?


    "I''m not familiar with the guqin. I''ll use a bell," Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    "A bell?" Everyone gasped.


    Xiao Nanfeng picked up a small mallet used to ring a set of chimes.


    "The bell is truly a beautiful instrument. I hope you''ll appreciate it¡ªthis is the first time I''ve ever yed the bell for others," Xiao Nanfeng continued. [1]


    Xiang Kun and Xiang Wei''s faces froze stiff. Xiao Nanfeng was cursing them, they were sure of it!


    "As you will," Xiang Wei granted. He called out, "Get ready. I''m starting now!"


    He plucked at the guqin.


    As a series of notes rang out, spiritual power surged around the hall. A huge ck snake manifested, twice the size of thergest that Xiang Zhirou had been able to summon. Sound waves were given physical form in reality. Xiang Wei was also at the Heavenly Spring stage, and superior even to his sister.


    "I, I can see a transparent snake!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    Xiang Wei yed the guqin at an elerating clip. As the snake manifested in reality, its tail shot out straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    A bell tolled, forming ripples of sound that disrupted the movements of Xiang Wei''s snake.


    The bell didn''t resonate exceptionally strongly, but it had been yed at exactly the right time to disrupt the rhythm of Xiang Wei''s music and cut apart the tether between Xiang Wei''s spiritual power and the snake he had summoned.


    The snake had been controlled by Xiang Wei, but now that the tether was cut, he had lost control. Xiang Wei nched.


    "No!" He found that he could no longer control the snake.


    "Be careful!" Xiang Kun cried out.


    The serpent dematerialized in a sudden explosion, forming sound waves that could be heard even in reality. Many of the disciples clutched their ears in shock.


    At the same time, as Xiang Wei suffered the bacsh of the preemptively disrupted summons, his face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. He seemed to wilt.


    "Lord Xiang, I hope you weren''t disappointed," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "You, you¡ª" Xiang Wei pointed at Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief.


    "Thank you for showing clemency, honored cultivator!" Xiang Kun rushed up and supported his brother.


    Xiao Nanfeng red coldly at the two disingenuous siblings. He hadn''t shown any clemency; the reason he chose not to use the guqin was because he couldn''t y it. Causing a bell to toll was far simpler, and all he had to do was infuse spiritual power into his mallet as he struck with it. He had managed to take Xiang Wei down in a single blow not because of his mastery over music, but because of the immense disparity in spiritual power, which allowed him to identify the crucial notes in Xiang Wei''s guqin that afforded him control over his summons.


    "Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, it''s past time that we depart!" Xiao Nanfeng called out, tossing aside the mallet.


    At this point, no one bothered with pleasantries. They turned to leave, following Xiao Nanfeng out the hall and ignoring the ck-armored warriors who were gripping their weapons in tension.


    Within the hall, Xiang Kun helped Xiang Wei up. He ultimately chose not tomand the ck-armored warriors to strike. Both of them shot baleful looks at the departing disciples.


    "Brother, thatd''s spiritual power is immense! I''m sure he must have extreme sensitivity to music as well, to be able to identify the w in my music so quickly!" Xiang Wei gasped, spitting out another mouthful of blood.


    Xiang Kun looked at his brother, then at his unconscious sister. His face turned dark and stern, but he consoled, "Don''t worry about it. You might have embarrassed yourself, but it''s not a problem. Our sister''s test has demonstrated that these cultivators have sufficient spiritual power for our needs¡ªthat''s enough. Furthermore, they''re in the heart of Taiwu now. They won''t be able to escape."


    "Yes, Brother!" Even so, Xiang Wei still seemed exceptionally vexed.


    Outside the marquis'' manor, all the disciples rxed imperceptibly as they stepped past the threshold and into the city proper. No one had expected that the banquet would have ended up so tense; neither did Ye Sanshui realize that Nanfeng boasted such skill. He no longer bore him any ill will for havingpeted against him for leadership.


    "Senior Brother Ye, I believe Marquis Wu to have had ulterior motives in inviting us to Taiwu. Shall we leave the city first? I''m afraid that there will be schemes against us as we embark on our mission¡ªor perhaps we might forget the matter altogether. Three million taels of gold is too little to be worth such risk," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed, looking toward Ye Sanshui.


    Xiao Nanfeng was cautious by nature and upbringing, and there was surely something deeply wrong at y.


    "Leave? I''m afraid not. The sect could afford to discard three million taels of gold, but sect decisions are difficult to overrule once made, and an elder will being to guide our way. When the elder arrives, we''ll have the power to contend against the marquis," Ye Sanshui replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng had initially wanted to urge everyone to leave, but he chose not to speak up. The skies were darkening, and it was likely that there were spies all throughout the city. Slipping away in the dark of night might be right what the marquis and his children had anticipated, and it would put them in greater danger.


    "Let''s wait for the elder''s arrival, then," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    A few nominal disciples served as their guide toward arge mansion furnished with necessities.


    At night, the disciples bathed and arranged for guard duty before going to sleep.


    Yu''er pushed her way into Xiao Nanfeng''s room.


    "What are you doing here, Yu''er?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "Nanfeng, you lied to me! Your spiritual power is immense!" Yu''er called out.


    "When did I lie to you? I never said that I didn''t have spiritual power!" Xiao Nanfeng defended himself.


    "Didn''t you?" Yu''er hesitated, then thought back to her conversations with him. She had made that assumption; he had never corrected her.


    "At any rate, you''ve tricked me for so long! I''m angry!" Yu''er pinched Xiao Nanfeng''s flesh.


    "Ouch! Alright, alright, I''ll apologize. Will that do?" Xiao Nanfeng begged, ying along.


    "That''s more like it!" Yu''er smiled happily. She didn''t ask just how strong Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power was, nor what technique he cultivated. She was simply happy that he had spiritual power at his disposal.


    "Did youe to me sote at night just to ask me this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course not! You used up a great deal of your spiritual power today to help me, and I came here to thank you," Yu''er replied seriously.


    "There''s no need," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "No, that won''t do! I''m already here, so please let me help you restore your spirit!" Yu''er urged.


    "Help me? How?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Didn''t I tell you? I''m very practiced with the flute!" Yu''er replied.


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng swallowed nervously.


    He was suddenly at a loss for words... [2]


    Then, Yu''er reached for her waistband and pulled out a long flute of purple bamboo, in and unadorned.


    "Start meditating. I''ll y my flute for you to excite the aether and help you replenish your reserves! Are you ready? I''m starting now," Yu''er urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    1. This is a pun that doesn''t trante well into English. The raw text is ËÍÖÓ, ''ying the bell'', and is homophonic to ËÍÖÕ, ''payingst respects'', referring to the practice of maintaining a vigil by a loved one''s side before their death. ?


    2. This is sexual innuendo. ?

 Chapter 47: Godbane Flute

    <h4>Chapter 47: Godbane Flute</h4>


    In the end, Xiao Nanfeng tossed all his stray thoughts aside. Still feeling a little unbnced, he sat down and prepared to make up for his depletion of spiritual energy earlier in the day.


    In truth, Xiao Nanfeng had already reached the Ster Lake stage of spiritual cultivation, and the spiritual power he had provided to Yu''er was just a small fraction of what he possessed. Considering Yu''er''s insistence, however, he could hardly refuse her.


    As the sound of the flute rang out, a gentle and melodious tune suddenly enveloped the entire manor, and even toward its four walls. At the same time, the spiritual aether began to resonate and vibrate at an incredible rate, causing the resting disciples to gasp in surprise.


    "Hm?" Xiao Nanfeng was so startled that he opened his eyes as well.


    The fluctuations in the spiritual aether were far more intense than they should have been¡ªalmost an order of magnitude more than when Yu''er had yed the guqin.


    "What are you waiting for? Close your eyes!" Yu''er called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng shut his eyes again, but he had clearly seen that a faint purple mist was emitted from the purple bamboo flute while Yu''er yed it. The mist shone with rainbow light, gentle and soothing. The flute had to be an incredible relic.


    Not only did the flute look mystical, it also produced an incredible effect. The closer one was to the flute, the greater the resulting spiritual fluctuations. Xiao Nanfeng felt as though a huge river of spiritual aether were flooding toward his forehead.


    The sterke in Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape roiled. As the spiritual aether entered his forehead, Xiao Nanfeng''ske reached full capacity within moments.


    He took a deep breath as he opened his eyes, and Yu''er stopped ying the flute.


    "I only yed for a little while¡ªhave you already recovered? This quickly?" Yu''er remarked in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He was silent for long moments before he asked, "Where did this flutee from? Why didn''t you use it during the fight against Xiang Zhirou?"


    "It''s a treasure my mother left me, and she called it the Godbane Flute. I haven''t ever shown it to anyone since entering the Taiqing sect¡ªyou''re the first!" Yu''er replied happily. "As for the fight, you helped me out before I was able to pull it out."


    "The Godbane Flute, you say? The fluctuations in the spiritual aether were almost as immense as when Master ys the guqin. This is a peerless treasure, one that you can''t show others easily. What if they try to take it from you?" Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    "I¡ªI didn''t think that far!" Yu''er blushed. "I simply wanted to help you."


    She knew how important it was to keep treasures hidden, of course, and the Godbane Flute was a supetive treasure. Others would surely eye it, which was why she had never revealed it even on Taiqing Ind. Today, however, she had been so touched by Xiao Nanfeng''s support that she wanted to repay him as much as she could.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced all around him before noticing that the table was made of bamboo. He quickly broke it apart and picked out a rtively intact piece of bamboo, then whittled it masterfully with his dagger to produce a yellow flute.


    "If the others ask about the flute, say that you were using this. If they don''t believe you, ignore them." Xiao Nanfeng handed Yu''er the bamboo flute.


    Yu''er fiddled with the flute happily. "I didn''t know you were a craftsman! You''re good enough to open up a flute shop and make a living that way."


    "Stopughing! There''s no way I''d ever be a flute seller. As for you, make sure to keep that flute hidden!" Xiao Nanfeng huffed.


    "That''s easy! No one will be able to find it," Yu''er replied confidently. She stuck the flute down her cor, between her breasts.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped at her as she did so. It was certainly a... secure... hiding spot.


    "Well? No one will be able to find it now, will they?" Yu''er grinned.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help ncing at her cleavage as he frowned. He murmured to himself, "How could it be? It''s such a long flute¡ªI don''t see how you could have fit it down the front of your robes..."


    Yu''er followed his gaze to her chest, then blushed. "No, no, it''s not what you''re thinking!"


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng still seemed perplexed.


    Yu''er''s blush deepened. "Well, it''s not as though I intended to keep it hidden from you. Come on, have a look!"


    "Have a look?" Xiao Nanfeng hesitated, shocked.


    Yu''er pulled a ne off her neck. The design was simple, but the pendant was exquisitely carved. When hung around her neck, the pendant was right above her chest.


    "This is a treasure that my mother gave me. Keep it a secret," Yu''er said solemnly.


    She flicked the pendant with her fingers, causing an imperceptible crack to open. A weak ck haze appeared where its opening was located, and the faintest outline of the Godbane Flute could be seen. Yu''er plucked out the flute from that opening.


    "Your pendant has a pocket space inside of it?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. He now understood where Yu''er had kept the flute.


    "This is a storage pendant my mother gave to me, and I keep all my possessions within. No one else will discover it," Yu''er replied confidently.


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully inspected the pendant. It was gold, with the image of a golden sunbird engraved on it.


    "Haven''t you seen such a pendant before? They''re precious, but not all too rare. Many of the senior disciples in the sect have ones of their own," Yu''er exined.


    "It''s the first time I''ve heard of them." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "I suppose most people would never have ess to such trinkets," Yu''er replied affably. "My pendant has a cubic foot''s worth of space, and I can put plenty of things inside."


    "Aren''t you afraid that I''ll steal your storage pendant?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You''re not other people, are you? I''d never tell the others. You''re the first one I''ve shown it to."


    "Does anyone in the sect have the ability to produce these storage pendants?" Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help asking. If the sect sold them, he would have to acquire one at any cost. They were simply far too convenient!


    "Making one isn''t difficult, but it requires an extremely rare material: inkze metal."


    Xiao Nanfeng noted the name of the material, then asked, "How do you use such treasures?"


    "Once you attune it to yourself, mark each item you want to ce within with your spiritual power. When you want to take it out, simply pull it toward yourself using that spiritual mark."


    "Attune?"


    "The first time you use a storage pendant, you''ll have to attune it to yourself with spiritual power. Therger the storage space, the greater the necessary power¡ªbut once the attunement isplete, it won''t cost much spiritual power to ess the space in the future."


    "How miraculous..."


    Considering howte it was at night, Yu''er stayed for just a while longer before she left. After all, they were two young adults of opposite sex, and it would be best to avoid any rumors.


    The moment Yu''er left, Xiao Nanfeng pulled out a ring that he kept in an inner pocket.


    This ring was something his father had given him when he was six, iming it to be a token which his senior brothers in the Taiqing sect would recognize. Xiao Nanfeng, however, had joined the sect on his own merits, without having shown anyone the ring. He had kept it close at hand the entire time.


    Yu''er had mentioned that many senior disciples of the sect had storage artifacts of their own. Could this token that his father left him be one too?


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to a candle and began inspecting the old-fashioned ring carefully.

 Chapter 48: The Beast Within

    <h4>Chapter 48: The Beast Within</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s ancient ring had been roughly engraved with the sketch of a nameless beast.


    Hesitantly, Xiao Nanfeng attempted to infuse spiritual power into the ring, which immediately absorbed it whole. The disappearance of that spiritual energy immediately caused Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes to brighten. Indeed, the ring his father had left him was no ordinary token!


    Xiao Nanfeng began to anticipate what he would find within. He summoned a huge wave of spiritual power from his sterke, which he fed to the ring.


    An even stronger suction gulped down the spiritual power, causing Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes to widen. The amount of spiritual power he had used was equivalent to Yu''er''s current capacity.


    "Still not enough? I''ll keep going, then!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew more and more intense.


    A flood of spiritual power surged into the ring, on and on. Eventually, the surface of the ring finally took on a golden sheen, but it seemed to require yet more spiritual power still.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s sterke upended itself, sending torrents of spiritual power out of his mind and into the ring. The golden light that emanated from the room lit up the entire manor.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead beaded with sweat. He had expended the majority of the spiritual power in his sterke, enough for a hundred storage pendants like the one Yu''er had! Was it yet insufficient?


    Rather than back down, he continued to infuse spiritual power furiously into the ring. He swore that he would attune it right that night.


    As he expended more and more spiritual energy, Xiao Nanfeng began to doubt his decision. His sterke had almost been drained, and his face was turning pale. It had been an impossibly long time since he hadst been drained of spiritual energy. Just how much did it take to attune this ring?!


    Suddenly, the ring trembled violently and began to hum. It had finally reached its capacity. It gave off a golden light that resonated with Xiao Nanfeng''s senses.


    Xiao Nanfeng clutched the ring tightly as the hum and golden light vanished.


    The ring seemed to be no different from before, but Xiao Nanfeng could sense that it had attuned to him.


    Xiao Nanfeng suppressed his excitement and sent a pulse of spiritual power into the ring. As expected, a small pocket of space suddenly opened up over the surface of the ring. Through the ck haze, he could vaguely see the space within.


    "I seeded?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    He took a dagger on the table, marked it with spiritual power, and then pushed it through the haze. The dagger was instantly sucked into the storage ring. With a tug on the spiritual tether, he retrieved the dagger easily.


    The consumption of spiritual power was so small as to be insignificant.


    "Just howrge is the space within the ring? Could Father have left me a clue as to his disappearance?" Xiao Nanfeng peeked in with anticipation, but the interior of the pocket space was so dark that he couldn''t see a thing.


    He gathered his spiritual power and sent it deep into the space within, wanting to see it clearly.


    However, the interior of the ring seemed almost like an endless chasm. Ten feet, thirty feet, a hundred feet¡ªit seemed endless!


    Suddenly, his spiritual power seemed to be caught by something on the far end of the pocket space. A mysterious force had sensed his spiritual power and was rapidlying closer. In the blink of an eye, it had shot out of the pocket space, heading straight for the center of Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead.


    "No!"


    Just then, the superior yin pearl located in his mindscape trembled. A gust of cold air formed a barrier in his mind. The mysterious force struck the barrier, which remained immobile. The bitter cold caused the force to dissipate.


    Xiao Nanfeng was very shocked. Through his spiritual power, he could ''sense'' an entity deep within the pocket space, with light in shades of red and gold, as though two big, rednterns had been strung up in that pitch-ck space. Lanterns? No, they seemed more like the eyes of a ferocious beast, the sclera red and the pupils gold and vertically slitted. The beast was ring at Xiao Nanfeng in an incredibly creepy manner.


    Xiao Nanfeng shuddered. The eyes, as though sensing that Xiao Nanfeng was looking at it, suddenly retreated back into the darkness unwillingly, vanishing from sight.


    Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. Cold sweat had drenched Xiao Nanfeng''s back. If not for the superior yin pearl''s timely assistance, he might already be dead.


    To have died to a ring, of all things, was something that he could not and would not tolerate. He could sense that the ring his father had left him was no ordinary storage ring¡ªafter all, Yu''er''s storage pendant had no such fearsome beast.


    He didn''t want to investigate what elsey within the ring, lest the beast show up again.


    However, neither could Xiao Nanfeng bear to not use the ring entirely. With the superior yin pearl in his mindscape, he was rtively safe. In the end, he gritted his teeth and began a series of experiments. He found that as long as his spiritual power didn''t extend deep into the depths of the ring, the beast wouldn''t show up. At the very least, the space within a hundred feet of the opening was safe.


    In the end, Xiao Nanfeng slid the ring onto the middle finger of his left hand.


    "At worst, I won''t go prying into the depths of the ring. I''ll just use it to store objects close to the opening!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face was pale. In order to attune the ring, he had exhausted almost all his spiritual power. He quickly got into a cross-legged position as he meditated and circted his qi in ordance with Body of Yin to replenish the spiritual power he had consumed.


    The next morning, Yu''er was surrounded by a group of Taiqing disciples.


    "Yu''er, just what were you doing in Nanfeng''s roomst night? You disturbed the spiritual aether, and I found that my spiritual power regenerated more quickly than usual!"


    "That''s right!"


    "Alright, alright, that''s enough! I was ying this flute. I didn''t bring a guqin with me, so Nanfeng broke a bamboo table and whittled this flute out of it," Yu''er exined, somewhat impatiently.


    The disciples all nced at the bamboo flute, unable to discern anything unusual about it.


    "Did you do anything else in Nanfeng''s room?" Ye Dafu called out, somewhat jealously. After all, Yu''er had paid a visit to Xiao Nanfeng alone in the middle of the night! Everyone was thinking about the question, but only Ye Dafu was foolhardy enough to ask it outright.


    "Ye Dafu! Nanfeng expended all his spiritual power in an attempt to save us all yesterday, and I was simply helping him regenerate that spiritual power. How dare you use us in such a vile manner? Is this the sort of thing that you think about?!" Yu''er retorted, scowling.


    The senior disciples felt a bout of shame ovee them. Yes, how could they have been thinking what Ye Dafu did? They certainly couldn''t afford to be seen that way¡ªwhich meant they had to openly dere their support for Yu''er instead.


    "Right! Ye Dafu, you were the first one to fall prey to Xiang Zhirou''s music! You''re a stain on the Taiqing sect''s reputation!"


    "Senior Sister Yu''er and Nanfeng have a perfectly tonic rtionship! How dare you use them of something so crass!"


    Ye Dafu: ...


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng slid open the door to his room upon hearing the ruckus outside. Everyone nced over.


    "Is something the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Everyone was silent. They looked at Xiao Nanfeng''s pallor and tiredness, as if he hadn''t rested the entire night.


    "Look! I told you all something went on in that roomst night!" Ye Dafu cried out, aggrieved.


    "Shut up!" Yu''er rebuked Ye Dafu again.


    However, the other disciples all gave Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er strange looks.


    "Nanfeng and I are innocent! Why are all of you looking at us like that?! Go on, shoo!" Yu''er shouted, waving her hands and scattering the other disciples.


    Some among them smiled meaningfully, while others were jealous or envious. Yu''er was popr among the disciples of the sect, and she was the subject of many a crush. Now, however, there seemed to be no hope for any of her prospective suitors...


    The disciples scattered, sighing regretfully at theck of substantive gossip.


    "What''s wrong with them all? Why are they all looking at us strangely?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s all your fault!" Yu''er blushed as she stomped her feet.


    "My fault?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed entirely confused.


    "Forget it. What''s the matter with you? Didn''t you regenerate all your spiritual powerst night? Why do you still look so exhausted?" Yu''er asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked all around him, then whispered to Yu''er, "Let''s talk inside."


    "Why can''t we talk outside?" Yu''er flushed faintly, but still followed Nanfeng into his room.


    "Look at this!" Xiao Nanfeng took a dagger out of his storage ring.


    Yu''er widened her eyes. "You have a storage artifact, too?"


    "Yes, I do. I spent too much spiritual power trying to attune itst night," Xiao Nanfeng confessed wryly. He didn''t reveal that there was a beast within the ring, afraid that Yu''er would be worried.


    "Don''t worry! I''ll y the flute to help you regenerate your spiritual power." Yu''er was very happy for Xiao Nanfeng.


    The senior and junior disciples outside the room, upon hearing the flute ying inside once more, felt as though their dreams had been shattered. They stumbled around in despair.

 Chapter 49: The Imperious Elder

    <h4>Chapter 49: The Imperious Elder</h4>


    Two dayster, in the morning, Xiao Nanfeng sat alone in his room as he meditated, focusing on restoring the spiritual power he had consumed. With the help of Yu''er''s flute and the Body of Yin, his spiritual power had recovered in just two days.


    Just then, a huge crash came from the outside.


    "Help!"


    "Inform the lords immediately! Tell them to run!"


    A huge crash resounded amidst a number of loud yells, as though a house had just copsed. Xiao Nanfeng could no longer meditate in peace; he stepped out of the room.


    A group of Taiqing disciples were rushing out of the manor in excitement.


    "Come quick, Nanfeng! The elder is here. She''s going mad because of our treatment at the marquis'' manor three days ago¡ªthere''ll be a good show now!" Without waiting for a response, Yu''er rushed outside.


    Another crash resounded, andrge plumes of dust filled the air.


    "Is the elder so temperamental...?" Xiao Nanfeng was somewhat surprised.


    He had expected the elder would head to the marquis'' manor and demand an exnation for the disrespect they had been shown, but not that there would be such a big fuss.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped outside the manor, only to find that the wall of an opposite mansion seemed to have been demolished with great force. Within a plume of dust were two ck-armored warriors, bloody all over, moaning and groaning in pain on the ground. Yu''er was nowhere to be found.


    "What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the nominal disciples hovering by the entrance to the manor.


    "The elder was speaking with a few senior disciples and discovered that we were being spied on from the neighboring mansion. In her anger, she struck the mansion¡ªcausing all this destruction with nothing but her sword sheath! She''s truly amazing!" a nominal disciple replied.


    It seemed as though this elder was surely one who wouldn''t take things lying down. Was she nning on bringing this fight all the way toward the marquis'' manor?


    Xiao Nanfeng looked down the road to see a trail of destruction, clouds of dust mushrooming up from copsed buildings and Taiwu guards and ck-armored warriors strewn across the ground. The elder struck down every subordinate of Marquis Wu she saw.


    All the Taiqing disciples had followed the trail to watch the show unfold. This elder was truly unafraid of any retribution!


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but wonder just who she was. With her around, Marquis Wu''s subordinates surely wouldn''t dare take them lightly.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward the ongoing destruction. Along the way, he heard the cries and groans of Marquis Wu''s subordinates, along with plumes of dust that roiled through the air.


    Just then, an old man in red stepped through the air and hovered above the dust, ncing down at the pandemonium below.


    "Elder of the Taiqing Sect, please calm down! Everything was a misunderstanding!" the red-robed elder advised, frowning.


    "A misunderstanding?!" a domineering voice called out from amidst the smoke. "You were the chief eunuch during Emperor Taiwu''s reign, weren''t you? Despite his death, are you stillpletely loyal to the Xiang n? I''m furious at what the Xiang n did while I wasn''t here¡ªif you know what''s good for you, you''d hand the three Xiang siblings over!"


    Clearly, the elder wasn''t about to spare the marquis. This was a show of power; she would take down the three Xiang siblings that very day.


    Upon seeing how recalcitrant the female elder was, the red-robed eunuch frowned. "Insolence!"


    The elder snorted back, sending a sword sh straight at him. A huge crash resounded in the distance. A few buildings nearby exploded, sending rubble and dust flying into the air, and blinding the onlookers from what was going on afar.


    A series of booms followed quickly after, and then loud screams.


    "The manor''s entrance has been smashed to pieces!"


    "Lords, please leave! She''sing!"


    "The chief eunuch can''t hold out any longer!"


    The disciples of the Taiqing sect watched the ruckus with mounting excitement, and even Xiao Nanfeng felt a sense of satisfaction.


    He anticipated that the elder wasn''t in a hurry to catch the Xiang siblings; rather, she wanted to make a big show of ying around with them like a cat with mice.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had run up to the entrance of the marquis'' manor.


    The walls had caved in from blunt force, and ck-armored guards were strewn all across the manor grounds, which had been turned to ruins.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened as he dashed into the manor.


    By then, the interior of the manor was a mess. Huge numbers of crow troops had been summoned from all over, but they remained incapable of holding back the female elder. Furthermore, they had beenmanded by their captains not to shoot at the elder.


    The female elder''s sword was deliberately sheathed; she injured, but did not kill, others. She was simply venting her frustrations¡ªbut if anyone dared to shoot her, that would be a different story altogether.


    The crow troops were in pain. All they could do was passively defend against the elder''s attacks as the three Xiang siblings fled.


    The only cultivator who was able to put up a fight against the female elder was the red-robed eunuch, but even at full strength, he was unable to suppress her. The aftermath of their fight destroyed countless buildings all around.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the chaos all around the manor. Rather than watch the show like his seniors, he headed straight for argeke within the manor grounds.


    The manor was in disarray and covered by clouds of dust. No one noticed Xiao Nanfeng as he dove into theke and swam toward its northeastern corner.


    Zheng Qian had told him where he had hidden the gold in Marquis Wu''s treasury¡ªit had been right under the marquis'' nose the entire time. Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng found a number ofrge, locked chests. With shining eyes, he pulled them all into his storage ring. There were fiftyrge chests in all, containing innumerable wealth. After ensuring that there was nothing else in theke, he swam back to thekeshore.


    "This elder has been tremendously helpful!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured. As he circted pure yang energy throughout his body, it heated up like a furnace, causing the water vapor sticking to him to evaporate. His clothes dried quickly.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t dare tarry for long. He headed straight for the other disciples.


    The marquis'' manor was luded with smoke, but he could easily identify the source of themotion with his ears. By the time Xiao Nanfeng arrived at a za, the fight was over.


    A group of Taiqing disciples had gathered there. Xiao Nanfeng squeezed into the crowd and finally caught sight of the female elder.


    Her back was to Xiao Nanfeng, and he couldn''t see her face. She was tall and statuesque, dressed in blue with a sheathed sword in one hand. She pointed at a group of people before her imperiously.


    Opposite the elder were countless warriors of the crow troops, now copsed on the ground, groaning and clutching their wounds. The red-robed eunuch who had been fighting against the female elder likewise clutched his chest as he spat out blood.


    Despite the eunuch''s severe injury, he continued to guard the three Xiang siblings, Xiang Kun, Xiang Wei, and Xiang Zhirou behind him. Blood trickled from the three siblings'' lips, and they were disheveled and dirty. Clearly, the elder had already taught them a lesson.


    The only one who was standing upright was a middle-aged man ofrge stature, but who seemed to be suffering from a severe illness. d in a fur coat, he shook and trembled. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed incessantly.


    "My wayward children have already been punished, honored cultivator. Please calm down! Ahem, ahem!" The middle-aged man seemed particrly weak. He bowed toward the elder as he coughed.


    This was none other than Marquis Wu.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. Was Marquis Wu really wounded, or just pretending?


    "I feel much better. Are all of you satisfied?" The female elder turned toward the Taiqing disciples.


    "Yes!" the Taiqing disciples chorused.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stiffened, having seen the female elder''s appearance.


    Back when Xiao Nanfeng was chased into the Arclight Vi by Ma Shan and the others, he had met a woman in blue ying the erhu. Xiao Nanfeng had thought her deaf and criticized her erhu performance; then used her teacup, saying that he didn''t mind; and even assumed that her cultivation was weak, addressing her as a junior sister...


    Xiao Nanfeng was so shocked that he felt as though he were about to suffocate. He hurriedly consoled himself, "She had been ying the erhu while blindfolded. Surely she can''t recognize me?" Xiao Nanfeng prayed silently.


    The Lady Arclight''s gaze swept across the gathered disciples. When she saw Xiao Nanfeng, her eyes suddenly turned chilly, but she didn''t pause on him. Finally, she turned toward Marquis Wu.


    Xiao Nanfeng, thinking that the Lady Arclight hadn''t recognized him, exhaled in relief.

 Chapter 50: Immortal Cicada Blades

    <h4>Chapter 50: Immortal Cicada des</h4>


    The Lady Arclightughed coldly at Marquis Wu. "Your three children are all at Ascension, but they attempted to deceive my sect''s disciples and embarrass them in a show of spiritual power. Whatever could I say..."


    "It was a joke, Lady Arclight, nothing more! I hope you won''t take their jests to heart. Ahem!" Marquis Wu replied, still coughing.


    "This was an invitation you tendered to the Taiqing Immortal Sect, offering three million taels of gold as remuneration for the services of my sect''s disciples. By sectw and custom, we im remuneration only after finishing the requested task, but considering this mockery, don''t me me for being unreasonable. Pay now or we''ll leave right away!" the Lady Arclight dered.


    "This..." Marquis Wu frowned. His face turned troubled as he sighed. "To be honest, I had prepared the remuneration long before the invitation was sent out, but shortly after doing so, a traitor in the manor stole all the gold in my treasury. I''ve already assigned my men to search for it, and they''ll report back soon."


    "You mean, you don''t have the gold right now?" The Lady Arclight''s voice was chilly.


    "Please allow me a few days'' grace to collect the required gold, Lady Arclight," Marquis Wu pleaded.


    The Lady Arclight shed him a cold smile. "If I remember correctly, the former Taiwu Empire boasted a number of peerless treasures, among them a set of paired flying swords, the Immortal Cicadas. I would value them at around three million taels of gold. To show your sincerity, why not use these swords as coteral? We can talk again once you''ve acquired the three million taels of gold."


    "The Immortal Cicadas? They''re a prized treasure of the Xiang n!" Marquis Wu gasped.


    "Are you unwilling to do so, then? In that case, we''ll be heading straight back to the sect." The Lady Arclight waved a hand at the gathered disciples.


    A series of emotions flitted over Marquis Wu''s face until he finally sighed. "So be it. I ask that you take care of the Immortal Cicadas until which time I can repay my debt to you."


    With a wave of Marquis Wu''s hands, two golden beams of light shed from his sleeve and floated before him. They were two one-foot-long golden cicada wings that were vibrating with a hum as they gave off a gentle golden glow. The des were so thin and light that they were almost translucent, but their surfaces were covered with a denseyer of golden runes. They gave off such killing intent that it could be felt even from afar.


    "The Immortal Cicadas are a paired male and female set. They need to be manipted with spiritual power, and are best given to a couple. Only then will they be able tomand the swords together and allow the swords to exhibit their maximum power. To which couple of cultivators should I pass these swords?" Marquis Wu looked toward the Lady Arclight.


    Marquis Wu''s suggestion that the des be handed over to a couple seemed to be out of a desire to keep them from the Lady Arclight herself.


    "Are you worried that I intend to im them for myself?" the Lady Arclight asked disdainfully. She turned toward the Taiqing disciples. "Are there any couples among you? Let them hold the swords for now!"


    The gathered Taiqing disciples nced at each other, vexed. These were flying swords, and top-tier ones at that! Why didn''t they have a partner of their own?!


    Vexed though the disciples might be, no one dared to countermand the elder. They looked around them, their gazes settling on Yu''er and Xiao Nanfeng. The other disciples stepped back, leaving the two of them standing side by side at the very front.


    "What are all of you doing? Nanfeng and I are innocent!" Yu''er cried out, stomping her feet in embarrassment.


    Nanfeng knew that the more they denied it, the more problematic their rtionship would seem. Why not let the other disciples think what they wanted? They would even get two swords out of it¡ªas long as Yu''er didn''t mind.


    Beside him, Yu''er suddenly stopped short. That was true: the misunderstanding would allow Nanfeng and her to get a flying sword each! It was only temporary, but that was no loss either way. Furthermore, she didn''t mind Nanfeng. Having made up her mind, she stepped forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng emted Yu''er.


    "We greet the honored elder!" the two disciples began.


    "What''s wrong with your voice, Nanfeng?" Yu''er whispered to him.


    "I had a little chillst night, so my voice is a bit hoarse!" Xiao Nanfeng was afraid that the Lady Arclight would be able to make out his voice, so he deliberately tried to modify it.


    The Lady Arclight looked at Xiao Nanfeng and smiled coldly at him, but she chose not to expose him in public.


    She nced askance at Marquis Wu. "Would you like to remove the spiritual mark on these two swords, or shall I do it?"


    "Allow me." With a wave of Marquis Wu''s hand, the pair of des began to resonate. Subsequently, the golden glow they emanated dimmed.


    "What are the two of you waiting for? Attune it with your spiritual power!" the Lady Arclightmanded Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    Both disciples began to extend their spiritual power to the Immortal Cicadas, which radiated with glowing light. Xiao Nanfeng suddenly felt an unusual sensation, as though his spiritual power had transformed into a transparent thread, one end of which was tied to his sterke, and the other end to the sword. As he controlled his spiritual energy, he was able to manipte the Immortal Cicada with his mind.


    As Xiao Nanfeng controlled the sword, it danced all around his body, so quickly that it looked like a beam of golden light.


    "The strength of these Immortal Cicadas is based on your spiritual power. Honored cultivators, please protect my treasured des." Marquis Wu nodded at Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll protect my Immortal Cicada for sure!" Yu''er happily yed with her sword.


    Marquis Wu''s smile turned stiff. He looked stricken by Nanfeng and Yu''er''s expressions; neither of them looked as though they would be willing to hand back the swords. "Honored cultivator, you must be mistaken. This is my sword, not yours¡ªI intend to take them back upon payment of my debt."


    "Marquis Wu, I''m a cultivator of my word. Now that I''ve taken your gold, or the equivalent thereof, I will surely aplish the task you''ve set out. If this is to happen again, however, I would not be so courteous," the Lady Arclight stated.


    Everyone turned toward her in shock. You''ve made a huge mess of the marquis'' manor and the city of Taiwu. You consider this courteous?!


    "Thank you for showing clemency," Marquis Wu replied, his face twitching.


    "We leave now. Prepare for a raid on Mt. Crow at once!" the Lady Arclight instructed the gathered Taiqing disciples.


    "Yes, Elder!" As the disciples returned to their rooms, Xiao Nanfeng continued to y with his Immortal Cicada for a little while before keeping it in his storage ring. Just then, his eyes grew wide. Deep within the darkness of his storage ring, the ferocious beast''sntern-like eyes lit up.


    The next moment, a burst of red light shot out from the beast and enveloped the sword. It trembled violently, and a pale blue humanoid-looking shadow burst out from it.


    "This is¡ªno!"


    Caught by the beam of red light, the shadow struggled madly to break free, but to no avail.


    The red light dragged the shadow deep into the depths of the storage space...


    "No! Save me, Marquis! Ah, argh¡ª!"


    The shadow let out just one chilling scream before vanishing entirely in the darkness.


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled out his Immortal Cicada again, only to discover that it looked exactly the same as before. What could that humanoid shadow have been?


    Xiao Nanfeng hypothesized, "Could that humanoid shadow have been a soul, deliberately hidden in the swords by the marquis? Had he refused to let the Lady Arclight near them because she would be able to detect something amiss? He seemed like a wimp, but to think he was nning all this...!"

 Chapter 51: Swords and Demons

    <h4>Chapter 51: Swords and Demons</h4>


    In the evening of the second day, a group of Taiqing disciples were rushing forward along a mountainous path with their swords unsheathed.


    "Nanfeng, why did you borrow my Immortal Cicada this morning? You acted so mysteriously and refused to tell me anything even when I asked!" Yu''er nudged Xiao Nanfeng curiously.


    "Marquis Wu mentioned that our swords had to be wielded by a couple in order to disy the greatest possible effects. I was analyzing your Immortal Cicada to see just how our swords meshed together and what it would take to be considered a couple," Xiao Nanfeng replied, making up nonsense.


    He was worried that something was wrong with Yu''er''s Immortal Cicada, as had been the case with his own. Indeed, just like his Immortal Cicada, Marquis Wu had imnted a soul into it. Fortunately, he had discovered it in time.


    Worried that Yu''er would be concerned about the imnted souls, as well as the beast within his storage ring, Xiao Nanfeng refused to divulge any details to her.


    "You really are bored, aren''t you?" Yu''er''s face was faintly red. She changed the topic. "Right, you''ve been acting weird these past few days too. Why do you keep hiding from the elder? Have you offended her before?"


    "How could that be? I don''t know her at all."


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Yu''er with shock. Did women all have such strong intuition?


    "Really? Could I be mistaken?" Yu''er nced at Xiao Nanfeng questioningly.


    "Let''s go! The elder''s over there, waiting for us!" Xiao Nanfeng changed the topic before Yu''er could say anything more.


    Only then did Yu''er nod as she looked toward the peak of a mountain in the distance.


    Atop the mountain, the Lady Arclight, dressed in her usual blue, stood with her sword in hand. From that vantage point, she looked down at Mt. Crow. The region boasted quite a number of other mountains, whose tips poked above the cloud cover. There were all manner of spirits on each mountain, predominantly crows. Flocks of crows darted through the clouds.


    She surveyed Mt. Crow, then turned to look at the Taiqing disciples making their way over. Her gaze fixated on Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Pretending to have caught a cold and turning his voice hoarse in an attempt to evade my detection? All who talk badly of me shall suffer. You said that my beast-luring melody sounded atrocious, didn''t you? Well, let''s see how you feel when you experience its effects, then."


    The Lady Arclight''s fingers reached toward the void. A few strings formed of spiritual aether suddenly appeared before her. As she plucked them with her fingers, the strings began to resonate in a mysterious melody, the notes of which she sent toward a flock of crow spirits in the distance.


    The crow spirits were just about to hunt for food when a sudden burst of music struck them. They were hypnotized by the music, causing them to sense countless voices cursing and raging at them, taunting and mocking. They immediately looked around in anger as they tried to identify the source of the voices.


    The music came from the Lady Arclight, but as a result of her spiritual hypnosis, the crow spirits targeted the Taiqing disciples instead, prioritizing Xiao Nanfeng specifically.


    They roared in outrage as they surged toward the Taiqing disciples.


    From afar, the Taiqing disciples saw a ck mass heading their way¡ªa flock of ck crows.


    "Crow spirits! Get ready for a fight!" Ye Sanshui shouted. He had been the first to discover the crow spirits.


    "Two golden crows and three thousand ordinary ones? This won''t be an easy battle!" one disciple called out.


    "I''ll handle one golden crow spirit. Yu''er, Nanfeng, you each have an Immortal Cicada in your possession, so you''ll take on the other! Everyone else, deal with the ordinary crow spirits!" Ye Sanshuimanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Some disciples looked at the Lady Arclight in the distance, but they knew that she was only there to serve as guardian and protector. Unless the disciples were about to die, she wouldn''t step in to interfere with their training.


    One golden crow led the flock. It spat out arge fireball.


    "Flying sword!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    In the blink of an eye, Ye Sanshui''s flying sword had shot forward. Its chilly aura counteracted the fireball. Then, it returned to Ye Sanshui''s hand. He struck at the golden crow with his sword, initiating the first in a series of fights.


    The second golden crow spirit flew toward the Taiqing disciples. Yu''er and Nanfeng immediately activated their Immortal Cicadas and rushed forward.


    The Immortal Cicadas were far superior to Ye Sanshui''s flying sword. A ray of golden light shot out as they shed toward the golden crow spirit in an instant.


    The golden crow spirit spat out a fireball that instantly engulfed Yu''er''s flying sword. Xiao Nanfeng dodged the fireball by steering his flying sword with spiritual power, piercing straight through the golden crow spirit''s chest.


    The golden crow spirit instantly glowed with golden light, shielding its body with spiritual power as it blocked Xiao Nanfeng''s sword, but the strength of the attack was such that the golden crow spirit was also knocked back. As expected, the attack was effective.


    The golden crow spirit howled in anger before pouncing toward the two cultivators once more. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er hurriedly defended themselves with their swords, though they were momentarily in a dire state.


    Xiao Nanfeng could actually have put more strength into his attack. As Marquis Wu had mentioned yesterday, the stronger one''s spiritual power, the stronger the flying sword they controlled.


    Just then, however, Xiao Nanfeng caught a snatch of music, which he vividly remembered. Wasn''t it the tune that the Lady Arclight had been ying on the erhu? He had called the music atrocious...


    Could these crows have been lured over by the Lady Arclight herself?


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but turn to the Lady Arclight in the distance. She was calmly standing at the peak of the mountain, seemingly looking at him with interest.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart thumped. <i>Could she have recognized me? Is she trying to seek revenge? I just said the truth¡ªwhy is she so petty? Well, I can''t appear to be too strong, or she might make it worse.</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng began to suppress his spiritual energy, using about as much as Yu''er. Although they seemed to be in precarious straits, neither could the golden crow spirit do anything to them.


    Xiao Nanfeng acted surprisingly realistically, pretending that he was giving it his all even as he watched out for Yu''er''s safety.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" At the same time, Yu''er was paying attention to him as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowly avoided arge fireball by the skin of his teeth.


    "I''m alright, Senior Sister! I''ll attract its attention while you find a way to deal with it!" Xiao Nanfeng called out as he dodged.


    Xiao Nanfeng attracted the golden crow spirit''s attention, manipting his flying sword and causing it to jump back and forth. He looked to be in a sorry state, but his sacrifice allowed Yu''er to be much safer as a result.


    Not far away, the hundred Immanence-realm disciples who were hard at work fighting ordinary crow spirits nced over at Xiao Nanfeng and watched him flee and scamper. Suddenly, they felt far better about themselves. They had been rather envious of the flying sword that Xiao Nanfeng had obtained for free, but it wasn''t all good, either. With greater power came greater responsibility, after all.


    From the mountain peak in the distance, the Lady Arclight watched on as Xiao Nanfeng fought. Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s battered and exhausted appearance, her lips curled up in a smile. She was very pleased.


    Two hourster, the fighting from afar came to an end. The crow spirits had been ughtered wholesale, but the Taiqing disciples were also starting to run dry in terms of stamina. There wasn''t a significant disparity in strength between the disciples and the crow spirits; they were all nearing their limits.


    Yu''er''s flying sword grew weaker and weaker, and the golden crow spirit no longer spat out any fireballs. Even so, they were still fighting each other ferociously. Xiao Nanfeng was covered in dirt and dust, and he looked as though he would copse at any moment.


    From afar, the Lady Arclight saw that her goal had been aplished. If this fight were to drag out any longer, someone might really die. She began to fly toward the disciples, prepared to rescue them.


    Just then, the nearly exhausted golden crow spiritunched a final counterattack at Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    "Nanfeng, I can''t keep going. I''m almost drained of spiritual power¡ªI can''t spur my flying sword forward any longer! Run!" Yu''er held up her de and prepared to defend against the golden crow spirit''s final onught, securing him the time he needed to escape, when Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes focused and he ced a palm on Yu''er''s back.


    A surge of spiritual energy poured into Yu''er''s body, causing the parched heavenly spring in her mindscape to be filled in an instant.


    Yu''er: ???


    She thought that she and Nanfeng had both run out of spiritual power, but now...


    "What are you waiting for? Make a move!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Yu''er stopped hesitating. She sent a torrential amount of spiritual power into her flying sword, which exploded in golden light and shot toward the golden crow spirit.


    The golden crow spirit seemed taken aback. <i>Hasn''t everyone expended their power? How did you manage tounch such an attack?!</i>


    The sword moved so rapidly that it was at the golden crow''s head within moments. The crow was so weak that it could no longer spit out fireballs; all it could do was muster a small shield of spiritual power around its head¡ªbut it could hardly withstand Yu''er''s flying sword at full power.


    With a clean snick, the sword broke through the barrier of spiritual energy and pierced straight through the golden crow spirit''s head.


    The golden crow spirit couldn''t believe that it had died in such an ignoble manner.


    "It''s dead! One of the golden crow spirits has died!"


    The remaining Taiqing disciples, spurred by the sess, immediately began fighting with renewed vigor. Meanwhile, the crow spirits, seeing one of their leaders killed, had their morale drained. They began to panic and were quickly defeated by the disciples.


    The other golden crow spirit, seeing that itsrade had perished, made a series of blunders. Ye Sanshui found an opportunity to get past its guard and thrust his sword through its chest.


    "Haha, take that!" Ye Sanshui grinned; he had won!


    The Lady Arclight, still flying over, suddenly stopped. She nced at the battlefield in the distance in shock. Had the tides turned before she could do anything?

 Chapter 52: Yuers Sixth Sense

    <h4>Chapter 52: Yu''er''s Sixth Sense</h4>


    In the end, the Lady Arclight didn''t fly over. The battle in the distance had reached its eventual conclusion. Yu''er and Nanfeng had in one golden crow spirit, and Ye Sanshui had sessfully in the other. As the remaining crow spirits fled in shock, the majority of them were taken down by the remaining disciples.


    As the battle came to an end, everyone slumped to the ground, panting for breath and simultaneously celebrating in joy. "We''ve won, haha!"


    Yu''er helped support a seemingly exhausted Xiao Nanfeng as they walked to the shade of a tree. She nced at him with confusion.


    "Nanfeng? Were you pretending to be in a difficult situation all this time? Why?" Yu''er whispered.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "Please don''t expose me, Senior Sister."


    "But why?" Yu''er seemed perplexed¡ªuntil her eyes suddenly lit up. "Ah, you''re trying to hide it from the elder, aren''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped. How had she guessed so quickly? Did all women have such a frightening sixth sense?


    "Alright, I won''t hide it from you any longer. You''re right. When Ma Shan and the others were chasing me back on Taiqing Ind, I identally barged into the Arclight Vi and saw the Lady Arclight trying to meditate on her cultivation while ying the erhu. I shouted for help, but she didn''t respond, so I thought she was deaf. I said something along the lines of, ''No wonder she''s ying the erhu so badly¡ªshe''s deaf!''" Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mention what else he had done, but this was sufficient to cause Yu''er to widen her eyes.


    "You¡ªdid you really say that?! Don''t you know that the Lady Arclight is known for being petty?" Yu''er asked, gobsmacked.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wearily. "How was I to know? I shouldn''t have run my mouth..."


    "The Lady Arclight thinks highly of herself, and I doubt she''s ever heard such a disparaging remark in her life. Well, I''m very interested to see what she''ll do, haha!" Yu''er suddenlyughed in glee.


    "You''reughing?!" Xiao Nanfeng was speechless.


    "Alright, I''ll help you hide it, but I''m sure she''s already found you out by now," Yu''er replied, continuing tough heartlessly.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Just then, Ye Sanshui and a group of senior disciples headed over.


    "Yu''er, Nanfeng, it''s all thanks to you that we were able to get through this safe and sound. You deserve one of the two inner cores from the golden crow spirits." Ye Sanshui handed one core to Yu''er.


    After all, it was Yu''er who had in the golden crow spirit with that final attack.


    "This is a fire-attuned inner core. Nanfeng, don''t you cultivate qi of pure yang? You could benefit from this much more than I could¡ªtake it!" Yu''er handed the core to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Yu''er knew very well that she had only seeded in ying the golden crow spirit thanks to Xiao Nanfeng, and she didn''t regret giving him the core at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t refuse the gift. He swallowed the core immediately¡ªafter all, the core was dissipating every second it was left exposed to the environment, and consuming it even a secondter would be a waste. Xiao Nanfeng began to distill the essence of the core immediately.


    "Look at how nice Yu''er is to Nanfeng! She gave him the core outright!"


    "Of course! They''re a couple, aren''t they? Look at how the Immortal Cicadas match harmoniously when held by a couple!"


    "They really seem to be on good terms with one another!"


    A group of senior disciples,rgely male, tossed Xiao Nanfeng envious looks.


    Yu''er''s face flushed red. "What would you know? Don''t speak nonsense. Nanfeng and I are innocent!"


    The disciples looked toward Yu''er in disbelief, causing her to stomp her feet in anger.


    "Alright, all of you, enough! Yu''er''s rather thin-skinned, so stop badgering her! If she ims that she and Nanfeng are innocent, take her words at face value. Now, go handle the crow spirits'' bodies! We''ll have a sumptuous feast tonight," Ye Sanshuimanded, resolving the situation.


    Everyone finally dispersed, but Yu''er only scowled at Ye Sanshui. <i>You might as well not have exined¡ªeverything seems like it''s only getting worse!</i>


    Once everyone left, Yu''er sat down by Nanfeng''s side in a huff, guarding him as he absorbed the golden crow spirit''s inner core.


    As he swallowed the inner core, burning yang energy erupted within Xiao Nanfeng''s body, rushing throughout his limbs and bones. However, this inner core was much like the one he consumed during his breakthroughst time, and was insufficient for another breakthrough. It only served to improve his cultivation to some extent. Quickly thereafter, Xiao Nanfeng woke up.


    "Senior Sister, why do you look so vexed?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s all your fault!" Yu''er rolled her eyes at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng, confused: ...


    Two dayster, after everyone had eaten their fill of crow spirit meat and returned to peak strength, they sat off deeper toward the mountain once more.


    The Lady Arclight nced at the disciples from a peak in the distance. With a twitch of her fingers, she lured another group of crow spirits toward the cultivators.


    Just like two days ago, a vicious fight broke out.


    The Lady Arclight enjoyed the show that Xiao Nanfeng put on.


    "I''ve always broken the limbs of anyone who dares trespass in the Arclight Vi. You were the only one who''s gotten off scot-free, all thanks to how quickly you ran off. Considering you''re Elder Ku''s disciple, I won''t break your limbs¡ªbut your troubles won''t end here. Look forward to what you have to face! The Lady Arclight''s eyes lit up as she enjoyed the scene of Xiao Nanfeng''s suffering.


    Just like two days'' ago, as everyone was about to run out of stamina, Yu''er again managed the feat of taking down one golden crow spirit with her sword, causing the tide of battle to turn sharply in favor of the Taiqing disciples.


    After the battle, she again handed the inner core to Xiao Nanfeng, causing the other disciples to give her suggestive nces. Yu''er was so angry that she red at them all in implicit threat.


    After another three days, the disciples faced a third batch of crows that the Lady Arclight had lured over. As Xiao Nanfeng consumed the third inner core, his cultivation finally changed qualitatively as he broke through to the peak of Acquisition. His pores seemed to gush out mes. After about half an hour, with a sudden whoosh, turgid air was expelled from his body as he breathed out.


    "Nanfeng, have you broken through to the peak of Acquisition?" Yu''er asked, happy for her junior.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes, feeling strength coursing all over his body. He nodded in satisfaction. "That''s right, I''m at the peak of Acquisition now¡ªI''m almost at Immanence! These cores are true treasures!"


    "So the Lady Arclight has been helping you out by luring these crow spirits over, then?" Yu''er smiled.


    Just then, the Lady Arclight flew over. She had been very happy about seeing Xiao Nanfeng suffering, but now that he had broken through, her good mood suddenly vanished. Yu''er''s words were like a dagger to her heart, causing significant damage to her joie de vivre. <i>Had all of what she had done thesest few days ended up helping Xiao Nanfeng? This was infuriating beyond belief!</i>


    "We greet the elder!" The gathered Taiqing disciples immediately bowed upon seeing the Lady Arclight.


    When Yu''er saw the Lady Arclight and btedly recalled what she had said, she knew that the jig was up. She stuck out her tongue at Xiao Nanfeng, as though praying for his good fortune.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Indeed, the Lady Arclight red at Xiao Nanfeng in anger and embarrassment. She huffed,


    but none of the other disciples knew why.


    When Xiao Nanfeng saw the Lady Arclight''s expression, he immediately realized that she had guessed whom he was.


    "May I ask if you have any directives, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling even as he inwardly grimaced.


    "Have you recovered from your cold?" the Lady Arclight replied, keeping a lid on her anger. Despite her sharp gaze, her smile was like a blooming flower, gorgeous in the extreme.


    "Thank you for your concern, Elder. I''m quite alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied somewhat awkwardly.


    "Your name is Nanfeng? Do you know what mistakes you''vemitted?" the Lady Arclight cut straight to the chase.


    Xiao Nanfeng was speechless for a moment. Wasn''t she done with him yet? What was she nning now?


    "Within the sect, Elder, I spoke tactlessly and offended you by ident. I apologize for the misunderstanding," Xiao Nanfeng replied, embarrassed.


    There was no point in hiding matters any longer, so Xiao Nanfeng admitted to his guilt.


    "A misunderstanding? I think not. You are aware of the rules of the Taiqing sect, I hope?" The Lady Arclight continued staring at Xiao Nanfeng with a cold smile on her face.


    "Yes, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The rules of the Taiqing sect required that he memorize scriptures for the misdemeanor of offending an elder.


    "Very good! You shall receive punishment in ordance with your deeds. I have a few Taoist scriptures within this jade token. Only when you memorize it all will you be allowed back into the sect!" The Lady Arclight tossed Xiao Nanfeng a jade token.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught the token and nced at it in surprise. The Lady Arclight instructed, "Check its contents with spiritual power."


    As Xiao Nanfeng did so, the contents of the token manifested in his mindscape. Countless Taoist scriptures appeared above his sterke¡ªthis small jade token boasted a thousand Taoist scriptures in all!


    "You must memorize all the scriptures within. I shall not relent even if Elder Ku begs for mercy on your behalf!"


    The Lady Arclight smiled coldly at Xiao Nanfeng, thinking of how agonizing it must be for him to suffer by memorizing these countless scriptures. Her mood finally improved once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the Lady Arclight a strange look. Are you sure this is punishment, not a reward?


    "Understood! I''ll redeem myself as quickly as I can, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng feigned a look of pain.


    "Elder, might this be problematic? Why not wait until we return to the sect? Nanfeng''s taking part in field training now, and there might not be time for him to memorize these scriptures..."


    The Lady Arclight raised an eyebrow as Xiao Nanfeng pulled Yu''er behind him.


    "Senior Sister, the Lady Arclight''s punishment is fair and just. I made a mistake, and I''ve owned up to it. There''s no need for you to help me plead for clemency." Xiao Nanfeng gave Yu''er a sharp look.


    Only then was the Lady Arclight satisfied. "It''s good that you''re self-aware. We''ll see whether or not you dare to speak so brazenly in the future."


    "I won''t, Elder! Rest assured that I''ll take this lesson to heart," Xiao Nanfeng replied sincerely.


    "Very good." The Lady Arclight smiled in satisfaction before heading toward Ye Sanshui.


    After the Lady Arclight had gone out of hearing, Yu''er burst out, "Nanfeng, why did you hold me back? This is clearly ridiculous, and even an elder can''t issue such disproportionate punishment! Let me go¡ªI''ll help you get justice!"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know whether tough or to cry as he pulled Yu''er back. "Don''t! You should know better than anyone that this isn''t a punishment to me!"


    "Ah¡ªwell, I suppose so."


    "I wonder if the elder has more such jade tokens? I''m hoping she has a few more, so don''t ruin my ns!" Xiao Nanfeng continued,ughing.


    Yu''er: ... <i>Are you deliberately giving in in an attempt to read more of the elder''s personal collection of scriptures...?</i>


    Even Yu''er began looking at the Lady Arclight strangely, almost pitifully.

 Chapter 53: A Cornered Beast

    <h4>Chapter 53: A Cornered Beast</h4>


    Rain fell in the mountains without any warning.


    The disciples took shelter in a cavern, while Xiao Nanfeng began perusing the scriptures in the Lady Arclight''s jade token. Reading by spiritual power was far more convenient than with parchment.


    The next day, at dawn, the torrential downpour finally stopped.


    "Elder, we''re not far from Mt. Crow now, and we might encounter huge flocks of crow spirits along the way. Do you have any suggestions or advice as to our formation?" Ye Sanshui asked the Lady Arclight.


    "They''re already here." The Lady Arclight pointed at the horizon, an umonly serious expression on her face.


    Everyone looked over to see huge flocks of crow spirits heading over, sorge in number that they seemed like thunderclouds in the sky. There were at least fifty thousand crow spirits, twelve of which were golden, and they were all led by a ten-meter tall giant golden crow, the size of arge house with its wings outspread.


    "That''s... a spirit king?!"


    "Why are there so many crow spirits? Is this the entire flock?!"


    "Twelve golden crow spirits, and tens of thousands of ordinary ones? They came prepared!"


    The Taiqing disciples all drew their weapons in shock.


    "Excellent! The crow spirit king is a cultivator at Spiritsong. It''s well worth the trip to obtain a Spiritsong inner core." The Lady Arclight''s eyes lit up.


    She flew into the air, straight toward the flock of crows.


    "Who dares block our way? For killing my descendants, you''ll perish!" The crow spirit king was actually able to speak a human tongue. It roared in outrage, sending a wave of energy toward the Lady Arclight.


    Rather than retreat, the Lady Arclight continued forging forward, blocking the waves of energy with her body as she drew her de.


    A beam of white light emitted from the Lady Arclight''s de, illuminating heaven and earth. Arge sh of white sword energy shot straight at the spirit king.


    Just as the sh was about tond, another sh appeared from the crow spirit king''s back, countering the attack.


    The two constructs of energy exploded in mid-air in a huge explosion, battering the nearby crow spirits.


    "Who''s there? Who''s hiding on the crow spirit king''s back?!" the Lady Arclight cried out.


    The crow spirit king suddenly spat out a huge fireball straight at the Lady Arclight, intending on swallowing her whole.


    "Wretched knave!" The Lady Arclight sent another sh of sword energy forward,


    causing the fireball to explode. However, the figure on the crow spirit king''s back took that opportunity to strike with yet another sword sh. The Lady Arclight hurriedly lifted her de in defense, but her defense, erected in haste, fell short. She stumbled back a hundred paces.


    Everyone had seen the sight¡ªthere was a figure on the crow spirit king''s back!


    "It''s... the red-robed eunuch that was at Marquis Wu''s manor?!"


    "Damn eunuch, what are you doing here?! Were you hiding your skills all this time?" The Lady Arclight red at the old eunuch on the crow spirit king''s back.


    "Didn''t expect this, did you, Lady Arclight?" the red-robed eunuch called out,ughing.


    The Lady Arclight''s face turned dark as she looked at the red-robed eunuch and the crow spirit king. "You''re in cahoots with each other? Then, Marquis Wu himself must also be..."


    She suddenly turned her head to see a group of people appear on a nearby mountaintop.


    The marquis stood at their center, with four ck-robed men behind him. To his sides were his three children, along with arge group of guards.


    "Marquis Wu? You''ve tricked us?" The Lady Arclight nched.


    Marquis Wu no longer pretended to be sick and frail. He looked calmly at the Lady Arclight. "Quite so. You almost destroyed my manor, and I''ll have you pay with your blood."


    "We''ll see about that!" the Lady Arclight cried back.


    She shot straight toward the marquis in a beam of light.


    Just then, one of the ck-robed men behind the marquis drew his longsword and headed for the Lady Arclight.


    A huge explosion rang out. Although the Lady Arclight wasn''t hurt, the attack impeded her forward progress.


    "Another cultivator at Spiritsong?" The Lady Arclight grew increasingly concerned.


    "Take her down alive!" the marquis suddenlymanded.


    "Yessir!" the four ck-robed men chorused.


    Not far away, the eunuch in red and the crow spirit king alsounched themselves at the Lady Arclight.


    The crow spirit kingunched another huge fireball at the Lady Arclight, while the eunuch in red sent an incredible sword sh in her direction, as did the ck-robed man who had acted just now.


    "Flee! Leave me!" the Lady Arclightmanded the Taiqing disciples, thenunched into an exacting defense against the group of cultivators in her way.


    Fire, light, and energy erupted in the air.


    The Taiqing disciples at the foot of the cliff were shocked stiff.


    "Split up and run!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. He pulled at Yu''er''s hand as they fled deep into the forested mountain.


    Everyone scrambled to flee as well, but the forests weren''t safe, either. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er quickly encountered a group of ck-armored warriors.


    "Crow troops?" Yu''er cried out.


    "Take them all down, as the marquismands!" one warrior shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada blurred into a beam of light, instantly killing the two warriors at the very front. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er rushed out of the enclosure and headed deeper into the forest.


    "Don''t let them get away!" a ck-armored warrior behind them shouted.


    The crow spirits in the air didn''t participate in the heated battle against the Lady Arclight. Rather, they chased after the fleeing Taiqing disciples, scouting overhead as the crow troops hunted them down onnd.


    On a mountaintop in the distance, the marquis'' three children watched the Taiqing disciples flee in grim satisfaction.


    "Have a crow general ferry me over!" Xiang Zhirou shouted.


    Instantly, a golden crow flew over andnded before Xiang Zhirou, allowing her to mber onto its back.


    "What are you doing, Sister?" Xiang Kun asked, frowning.


    "Don''t worry about me, Brother! This is a personal feud between me and that brat and wench. I''m going to catch them both myself!" Xiang Zhirou cried out confidently.


    "But their flying swords..."


    "Haha, Brother, have you forgotten? Father''s done something to those flying swords. If I head over and summon the sword spirits, their spiritual power will be crushed, and the swords will be under my control then! One of them is at Immanence, and the other at Acquisition. There''s nothing to worry about!" Xiang Zhirou crowed.


    "Let me apany you, Sister," Xiang Wei suggested.


    "No, I want to take revenge for myself!" Xiang Zhirou replied.


    "Father, I''ll be back in no time," Xiang Zhirou called out to Marquis Wu.


    Marquis Wu nodded, not paying much attention. He was focused on the Lady Arclight, as were the three ck-robed men behind him who had yet to make their moves. Their role was to ensure that she didn''t flee.


    "Crow General, set off!" Xiang Zhiroumanded.


    The golden crow took to the air.


    "Guard my sister!" Xiang Weimanded the nearby crows. A group of golden crows immediately flocked over.


    In a forest some distance away, beams of golden light were rapidly killing a group of ck-armored warriors. The golden light was clearly from the Immortal Cicadas; Xiang Zhirou had found her targets almost immediately.


    A group of crow spirits surrounded them, along with more and more ck-armored warriors.


    "Haha, you''re surrounded now, Yu''er, Nanfeng! Show yourselves and prepare to die!" Xiang Zhirou called out.


    Just then, a flying sword soared into the air, straight toward her.


    "Ha! Show yourself, sword spirit!" Xiang Zhirou cried out.


    Contrary to expectation, however, the Immortal Cicada didn''t stop or slow down. Rather, it shot forward straight at her.


    "What?!" Xiang Zhirou cried out.


    With a huge crash, the sword smashed into her chest. A jade pendant before her immediately gave off a pulse of blue light, forming a barrier of energy and blocking the Immortal Cicada''s attack.


    After the failed attack, the Immortal Cicada rapidly zoomed into another patch of forest and vanished from sight.


    Xiang Zhirou gaped at the pendant hanging over her chest. What had happened?


    "Find them! I want them to suffer a horrible death!" Xiang Zhirou howled.


    The crow spirits and ck-armored warriors shot into the forest in search of Xiao Nanfeng, but unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen.


    "We can''t find them, Miss!" the ck-armored warriors reported.


    "You can''t? I''m sure they haven''t gone far. Keep searching!"


    "Understood!"


    The crow spirits and crow troops once again began searching through the entire area,


    Hidden in a small shrub, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were hurriedly putting on the armor of the two crow warriors they had taken down.


    "Nanfeng, you really are quite something. I wouldn''t have thought of impersonating the crow troops!" Yu''er praised.


    "That''s not good enough. Here, I''ll help you with a disguise," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    A thin silver needle shed by Xiao Nanfeng''s fingers.

 Chapter 54: The Altar

    <h4>Chapter 54: The Altar</h4>


    "A disguise?" Yu''er cried out in shock.


    "That''s right. I read a medicinal tome about how to treat facial paralysis. By reversing the technique, I can manipte facial nerves to tighten or distort them, changing the structure of your face. It might hurt a little, so bear with it!"


    Xiao Nanfeng jabbed the needle quickly into several ces on Yu''er''s face.


    Yu''er hissed in pain, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop.


    "Alright, get used to your new appearance. I''ll do myself next," Xiao Nanfeng finally said.


    By making use of the reflection from a small puddle of water, Xiao Nanfeng quickly began pricking his own face.


    At the same time, Yu''er found a little puddle through which to look at herself. She almost screamed upon seeing her reflection. The figure reflected in the water certainly couldn''t be her! Her brows were permanently raised, her eyes nted downward, her face seemingly paralyzed. She was a sorry sight to behold; it was difficult to tell whether she was even male or female.


    "What happened to me, Nanfeng?!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Haha, you''ll return to your original appearance when you suffuse your facial nerves with qi, but try to keep the disguise up for now," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    Yu''er still seemed a little disdainful, but her life was clearly far more important.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng raised his head, shocking Yu''er. He was no better off than she was¡ªthey were both stupendously ugly!


    "Will this disguise be sufficient?" Yu''er asked.


    "Not quite. Let''s bury these corpses first so no one notices anything amiss," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    The two of them made a move, pushing the two corpses into a pit of mud, then covering it up and leaving the scene.


    From the air, the crow spirits caught sight of them, but they were dressed in the crow troops'' armor, so the crow spirits didn''t pay them any special attention.


    They didn''t head off in search of the other Taiqing disciples; it was hard enough for them to fend for themselves, let alone worry about others.


    As they found an isted crow warrior, the two of them swiftly took him down. They brought him to a secluded area within the forest. Yu''er kept guard as Xiao Nanfeng began to interrogate him.


    He infusedrge quantities of spiritual power into his eyes, then shot them out asser beams of blue light, inciting intense fear in the restrained warrior.


    The warrior didn''t dare resist, and he divulged everything he knew. Once the interrogation was over, Xiao Nanfeng beheaded him.


    "Have you finished the interrogation?" Yu''er asked.


    "We''d better find a few more warriors to interrogate and see what sort of different information we can pick up. I feel as though this battle won''tst much longer¡ªwe might not have much time left," Xiao Nanfeng strategized.


    Yu''er nodded, and the two of them headed off in search of their next victim.


    Two hourster, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er supported each other, their bodies covered in blood, as they met up with a group of injured crow warriors.


    One warrior was checking on the condition of the wounded.


    "The two of you really are badly hurt!" he gasped in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er''s armor each bore a few long scars that split their armor and revealed blood and flesh. The blood had dried and scabbed over, turning ck.


    "We encountered a few mad Taiqing disciples. Which camp are you from?" Xiao Nanfeng''s voice was hoarse and weak.


    "I''m from Camp A. Don''t worry, we''ve been lying in wait in this mountain for a few months for just this day. None of those Taiqing disciples will make it out alive!"


    "The two of us are from Camp B. We''re badly wounded, so we won''t take up any more of your time. Let''s have a drink sometime when everything''s over."


    "Go on, there are a few crow spirits over there to bring you back to camp to heal up," the warrior told them.


    The crow spirits each held onto a length of rope with their ws as the two ''wounded'' were brought away on a rope harness.


    In mid-air, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er had an aerial view of the ongoing manhunt through the forest.


    They could see that many of the Taiqing disciples had been struck down screaming. Quite a few had spat out fresh blood as they slumped on the ground, as though dead or close to it.


    They even saw Ye Sanshui surrounded by a group of crow spirits and ck-armored warriors, wounded all over, fallen to the ground with a pool of blood spreading from him.


    The Lady Arclight wasn''t faring well, either. She was at the center of a chaotic storm of attacks. They could hear her furious shouts, but the enemybatants had surrounded her and were peppering her with so many attacks that they couldn''t even see her. Regardless, it was clear that she too was suffering.


    Yu''er clutched her mouth, her eyes tinged with red.


    Xiao Nanfeng grabbed onto Yu''er''s hand, warning her not to reveal her emotions. They were too weak to make a difference in a fight of this extent. It wouldn''t be wise to chance exposing themselves.


    The crows ferried them for over two hours until they arrived at arge valley with tents. This was a camp for Marquis Wu''s troops, and quite a number of wounded had already been brought here for treatment.


    The crow spirits dropped Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er off, then flew away.


    A ck-armored warrior walked up to them.


    "Brother, which camp are you from? I don''t recognize your face." Xiao Nanfeng wheezed, taking the initiative.


    "I''m from Camp B. And you two? How''s the situation on the battlefield?"


    "We''re from Camp A. The battle''s almost over. Ahem, ahem! Quite a few of our brothers died." Xiao Nanfeng looked weak, but his features contorted in anger.


    "Damn these Taiqing disciples! If they''re going to be caught no matter what, why bother resisting?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er continued to support each other as they walked toward a group of wounded.


    Just then, the main fight on the battlefield concluded.


    The Lady Arclight, bleeding profusely, had her strength sealed away as shey paralyzed on the ground, a terrible sight to behold.


    "Marquis Wu, are you aware of the price of offending the Taiqing Immortal Sect? Your entire n shall perish in misery!" the Lady Arclight cursed.


    Marquis Wu only looked calmly at the Lady Arclight. "Rather, your group of disciples and you yourself perished out of greed while going against the crow spirits. What does it have to do with me?"


    "You!" the Lady Arclight cried out.


    She understood everything now. The bounty and request had all been a ploy to lure them over into Wu territory. All the crow spirits listened to Marquis Wu. The moment they headed toward Mt. Crow, their whereabouts had been carefully tracked. She thought that she had been ying around with the crow spirits, but they were the ones who yed her!


    Marquis Wu then turned to Xiang Zhirou, who was still stewing angrily. "How many times have I told you this before? Don''t look down on your opponents. That was how your grandfather lost his throne¡ªand you intend to repeat the same mistake? If not for that jade pendant, you would have perished."


    "I¡ªI!" Xiang Zhirou grimaced, but she had no rebuke. "Yes, Father."


    Marquis Wu refrained from chiding his daughter further. He asked, "What''s the situation like on the battlefield?"


    "Two hundred crow troops have perished, and three hundred are wounded. We''ve caught essentially all the Taiqing disciples except for Nanfeng and Yu''er, who have managed to flee," Xiang Kun reported.


    "To flee?" Marquis Wu''s eyes shed with a chill.


    "Yes. Our men are still searching for them, and they won''t be able to go far."


    Marquis Wu red at his son. "Why did wey an ambush for them here? We needed to capture them all. If even a single one gets away, our n is foiled."


    "We..." Xiang Kun frowned.


    "Crow King,mand the crows to keep watch over the skies. The two cultivators cannot be allowed to leave Mt. Crow," Marquis Wumanded.


    "Understood!" the giant crow king replied.


    "Qinglong, Zhuque, the two of you will stay behind and assist with the search. Dig up the ground if you have to¡ªI want to see those two cultivators'' bodies!" Marquis Wu then turned to the four ck-robed men behind him.


    Two of them stepped forward and bowed. "Yessir!"


    Marquis Wu then turned to the group of apprehended Taiqing disciples, all of whom had been tightly bound, and many of whom were bleeding all over.


    "If they''re dead, they''ll be worthless. We need to speed things up. Let''s head off immediately!" Marquis Wu cried out.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    Marquis Wu climbed up to the crow king''s back, while a group of golden crows served as steed for the three Xiang siblings and the eunuch in red.


    With the crow king''smand, the crow spirits grabbed the prisoners and began flying toward the huge valley in the distance,


    leaving the ck-robed men Qinglong and Zhuque, along with countless crow spirits and crow troops, in search of Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    They didn''t know that Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er had already arrived at the valley in question and were pretending to be among the wounded. They had headed toward a gigantic altar at the center of the valley, of ancient make, with countless arcane runes engraved on it.


    In addition to the wounded troops, there were quite a few ck-armored warriors standing guard over the altar, which seemed to be of no small importance.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were deliberating with each other about what to do next, a huge flock of crow spirits flew over, each carrying a restrained Taiqing disciple, and deposited them on the altar like sacrifices. Yu''er''s eyes widened in rage.


    Xiao Nanfeng grabbed Yu''er, motioning for her to calm down.

 Chapter 55: The Hidden Realm

    <h4>Chapter 55: The Hidden Realm</h4>


    The Taiqing disciples were tied up and ced on the altar, many severely injured and barely alive.


    At the center of the altar was the Lady Arclight, bloody all over. Her internal organs had been severely damaged, and she was coughing out blood. Sealsid out all over her body rendered her immobile.


    "Marquis Wu, what exactly are you nning?! Aren''t you afraid of follow-up investigations from the Taiqing sect?!" the Lady Arclight called out, ncing at a nearby mountaintop. There, Marquis Wu and a group of his subordinates were looking down coldly at the mountain valley.


    "I need arge quantity of spiritual power. Ordinary cultivators only begin cultivating spiritual power at the peak of Immanence, but the Taiqing Immortal Sect, an orthodox school of cultivation, begins such cultivation at the start of Immanence. The spiritual power of Taiqing disciples is pure and unadulterated, iparable to those of many other Immortal sects. As for the investigation, well, all of you will have died to a group of spirits more dangerous than you could handle. What does it have to do with me?" Marquis Wu smiled innocently.


    "What are you nning to do with our spiritual power?!" The Lady Arclight coughed out a mouthful of blood.


    "You''ll see right away," Marquis Wu told her, then looked toward a group of ck-armored warriors. "Activate the array!"


    "Yessir!" the warriors around the altar replied.


    The warriors brought over a hundred buckets of mysterious red liquid, then poured it over the altar, dyeing it a lurid blood red color. The altar squirmed and made a chugging noise, causing the red liquid to seep into its stone surface. The gray, faded altar turned blood-red.


    "This is..." A deep-seated unease filled the Lady Arclight.


    The runes on the altar suddenly emitted red light. From the intersection of the red beams materialized a translucent red whip, which seemed almost to take physical form.


    The whip snapped in mid-air, and its tip agilely darted into the center of the Lady Arclight''s forehead like a snake.


    The Lady Arclight cried out in pain, but she was helpless against the whip''s assault. A flood of blue spiritual energy was sucked out of her forehead and infused into the altar.


    "My spiritual power! Argh!" the Lady Arclight screamed. "Such a perverse tactic¡ªyou''ll suffer retribution for this!"


    She tried to struggle, but the seals ced all over her body made any resistance impossible. Tremendous pain filled her body, causing her to shriek in despair. In addition to her spiritual power, her vitality also seemed to be coursing out of her.


    Atop the mountain, Marquis Wu smiled coldly. He had no interest in conversing with the soon-to-be dead.


    With a sudden burst of energy, a hundred translucent red whips manifested from the altar, then shot straight toward the Taiqing disciples.


    "No!" they cried out in fear and shock. However, there was nothing they could do. The whips shot straight into the center of their foreheads and began leeching their spiritual power.


    The Taiqing disciples screamed.


    In the wounded camp not too far away, Yu''er turned her head away, not daring to witness the traumatic sight. She almost screamed out a few times, and Xiao Nanfeng hugged her tightly.


    Xiao Nanfeng was also visibly angry, but he was unable to intercede at this point. Marquis Wu had too many men in the vicinity. The moment he and Yu''er exposed themselves, they would end up suffering the same fate as those on the altar. He had to escape, return to the sect, ande back for revenge with the sect elders in tow!


    After about half an hour, the screams on the altar slowly diminished. Some of the disciples, grievously wounded,y still and unconscious after also having their spiritual power sucked away from them. The Lady Arclight herselfy still on the ground. It was unclear whether she was alive or dead.


    Just then, a red mist seeped out of the altar and slowly condensed into a blue portal of light, one that grewrger andrger until it transformed into a circr passageway ten meters wide.


    Spiritual energy gushed out of the passageway.


    "Spiritual energy¡ªsuch a dense outpouring of spiritual energy! Father, the entrance to the hidden realm has opened up. Just the atmosphere alone is a treasure!"


    Marquis Wu nced at the entrance to the hidden realm with eager anticipation. "This entrance will persist for a day at most. I wonder what the situation is like inside?"


    "Let me scout!" Xiang Kun couldn''t wait to rush in.


    "Although the ancient records state that the entrance is safe, you are a lord of this household, Lord Xiang. As a safety precaution, please let me take the lead!" the red-robed eunuch began.


    Only then did Xiang Kun calm down and nod.


    Marquis Wu instructed the eunuch, "Regardless of what you encounter, head back out and report in immediately."


    "Yes, Master!" the eunuch responded.


    The eunuch was a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, confident in his own strength and abilities. Even so, before entering the realm, he carefully protected his body with qi.


    The old eunuch vanished from sight in an instant.


    Everyone waited patiently for good news from the eunuch, but even after long moments, there was no sign of his return.


    "What''s going on? Why hasn''t the Chief Stewarde out?" Xiang Kun''s face turned dark.


    "Crow King, have your subordinates take a look!" Marquis Wumanded.


    "Very well." The crow king nodded, then cawed at the crow spirits in the air. They flew through the entrance en masse¡ªbut none flew back out.


    "Father, ording to the ancient records, shouldn''t this entrance be safe?" Xiang Kun asked impatiently.


    Marquis Wu was frowning himself. He had expended a great deal of energy merely on opening up the portal, and there was an object within that he had to acquire at any cost. If the entrance itself was so dangerous, what was the point?


    "Warriors, listen up!" Marquis Wu called out.


    "Yessir!" The ck-armored warriors paled, knowing what was about to happen. Everyone looked at the strange blue portal above the altar. Who knew what had happened to those that had entered the portal?


    Marquis Wu did want to send more subordinates to explore the hidden realm, but he didn''t want to sacrifice his carefully trained warriors, either.


    "The wounded troops will head in and scout the hidden realm. Everyone else will stand guard at the entrance!" Marquis Wumanded.


    ''"Yessir!" The ck-armored men nearby exhaled in relief, whereas the wounded soldiers'' eyes suddenly widened with fear. They were to be the scouts?


    The three hundred troops nced at each other, but they could hardly disobey orders from their direct superiors. Some of the unwounded soldiers even began to push and herd the wounded along.


    "Understood!" To avoid dying at theirrades'' hands, they could only step forward with trepidation.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were among them. They didn''t dare resist and reveal their identities, so they had no choice but to walk up to the blue portal above the altar. At their feet were Taiqing disciples paralyzed on the ground. Who knew how many of them were still alive?


    Yu''er nced at Xiao Nanfeng in worry. He forced himself to remain calm and consoled Yu''er, "I know it must be somewhat dangerous inside, but that doesn''t mean we''ll die. We simply need to be more careful when exploring it."


    Yu''er grabbed Xiao Nanfeng''s hand with some amount of fear. Not daring to expose themselves, they followed behind a group of wounded and stepped inside.


    The moment they did so, Xiao Nanfeng felt the spiritual energy in the background, dozens of times denser than in the material world. The wounded walked all the way through the dark tunnel before seeing light once more.


    The danger they had been expecting never surfaced, and everyone was able to make it to their destination safely.


    It was midday in the secret realm, with a sun hanging high in the air. The realm was filled with spiritual energy. There were towering mountains in the distance, and from afar, it felt as though there were beasts flying in the distance around the mountaintops.


    The crow troop warriors found themselves standing by a cliff. Below that cliff was a raging river, magnificent to behold.


    The old eunuch and crow spirits who had entered the realm before they did weren''t too far away. They were being chased by a group of palm-sized wasp spirits. The old eunuch was surrounded by a huge group of wasps, and he was fighting for his life in the air.


    Thergest of the wasp spirits was about half asrge as a human, and it was able to spit out mes of light at the old eunuch. In addition, the wasps had sturdy bodies resistant to ded weapons, countering the eunuch''s attacks and leaving him in a difficult situation.


    The thousand crow spirits, against an equally numerous group of wasps, were no opponent for them. They were forced to scatter and flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw that there were ten giant beehives situated by the cliff, each about the size of a small mountain.


    The old eunuch and the crow spirits had lured away the patrolling wasp spirits, allowing the three hundred wounded warriors to emerge from the portal unscathed.


    "While it''s safe, hurry and report back to the marquis!" one wounded warrior cried out.


    "Strike now!" Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    "Got it!" Yu''er was thinking the same thing.


    The two Immortal Cicadas flew toward the wounded warriors, who were shocked and tried to resist, but the strongest of them were only at Immanence, and they were all rather grievously injured. They found it difficult to even move, and they were no match for Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er. In the blink of an eye, with a sh of light, they were summarily beheaded.


    The three hundred wounded warriors fell to the ground in pools of blood.


    "Nanfeng, there are more wasps emerging from the hives! Should we run?" Worried, Yu''er pointed into the distance.


    Indeed, arge group of wasp spirits were poking their heads out of the hives upon smelling the iron tang of blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the ten mountain-like hives with a sudden glimmer in his eyes. "Yu''er, we''ll break these hives and lure the wasps all out."


    "You can''t be thinking of¡ª" Yu''er trailed off, her eyes widening.


    "That''s precisely it!"


    "Very well." She exchanged a nce with Xiao Nanfeng as the two of them spurred their flying swords toward the hives.


    As the hives fell to the ground in a tremendous crash, the Immortal Cicadas instantly returned to the two disciples'' hands as they ran for their lives toward the portal entrance.


    The wasps'' hives crashed into the ground and exploded before they could do anything about it.


    Countless wasps swarmed out and set their sights on Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    The whirring of their wings was like the rumbling of thunder. A huge cloud of wasps, angered beyond belief, swarmed toward the blue portal entrance.

 Chapter 56: Emergence of the Serpent

    <h4>Chapter 56: Emergence of the Serpent</h4>


    Outside the hidden realm, Marquis Wu and the others stared gravely at the entrance to the portal. Strong though the cultivators were, they didn''t dare charge headlong into unknown dangers. They were waiting for the scouts, who had gone in ahead, toe back with any information of use at all.


    Just as the cultivators were growing impatient, two wounded ck-armored warriors rushed out of the portal. They seemed to be in dire straits, but this was unimportant¡ªthey would have news about the hidden realm!


    "What happened?" Xiang Kun asked impatiently.


    "Wasps, countless wasps! Save us, Marquis!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out hoarsely.


    "Wasp spirits?" Everyone was startled.


    The marquis, however, only sighed in relief. Those that had entered the realm were just unlucky¡ªthey had encountered a group of spirits! That information was precious indeed¡ªa known danger was far better than an unknown one.


    Just then, a fierce buzzing that sounded almost like war drums could be heard from the portal, causing the cultivators that had grown rxed to tense up once again. Were the wasps emerging from the portal?!


    An ear-splitting droning emerged from the portal like the flood of water from a waterfall. A dense cloud of wasp spirits filled the entire valley, instantly swamping the ck-armored warriors nearby. They paled as they tried to run.


    The wasps had identified Yu''er and Xiao Nanfeng via their ck armor. When they emerged from the portal to see huge quantities of ck-armored warriors, they naturally categorized them all as enemies.


    The wasps struck at every ck-armored figure they saw. The entire valley was full of ck-armored warriors, and they were especially densely packed around Marquis Wu. As a result, arge swarm of wasps instantly shot toward the marquis.


    "Take this!" One cultivator in ck stepped forward and sent a gust of wind at the wasps, arge swathe of which were immediately sent flying. The strongest wasps, however, were able to avoid the attack and charged forward even more ferociously.


    The crow spirit king cawed in outrage and spat out arge wave of mes at the wasps.


    Most of the wasps were burned to a crisp, but therger and stronger ones didn''t fear the mes¡ªthey were fire-attuned creatures themselves.


    "Not good¡ªprotect the marquis'' children!" Another cultivator in ck stepped forward. Shockingly, he was also in the Spiritsong realm.


    Unfortunately, there were far too many wasps to deal with. They gushed out from the portal in a flood, and they were growing stronger and stronger. The strongest wasps were half as tall as a human and shockingly ferocious. They were all but impervious to des. Under their furious assault, the countless ck-armored warriors in the valley let out despairing cries.


    "Marquis! Save us!"


    "Baihu, Xuanwu, Crow King, don''t hold back. Kill them all!" Marquis Wu shouted.


    "Understood!" the two men in ck and the crow king charged toward the wasps,


    killing them in huge swathes. However, even more wasps surrounded them, causing even the Spiritsong-realm cultivators to start to panic.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were safe as could be.


    After they escaped through the portal and screamed for help, they didn''t attempt to flee. Rather, they ran toward the foot of the altar. Xiao Nanfeng pushed Yu''er down beneath him and covered her up with his body.


    As the wasps furiously charged toward everyone in sight, some also headed in Xiao Nanfeng''s direction. However, Xiao Nanfeng was furiously emitting spiritual power from his body to create a local hypnotic effect of disdain.


    The wasps nced disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng, then headed toward other targets instead.


    "Indeed, the techniques detailed in <i>A Spirit of Disdain</i> were really effective! Thank goodness for the jade token the Lady Arclight gave me," Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself in relief.


    "Nanfeng? The wasps... don''t seem to be attacking us?" Yu''er cried out in surprise.


    "Perhaps their eyesight is bad," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He didn''t have time to exin the specifics to her. He continued, "Once all the wasps have emerged, we''ll make a move immediately, tossing the elder and the other disciples into therge river running through the hidden realm. The wasps might be strong, but they surely won''t be able to take down the marquis. We''ll die if we stay here, but we may be able to survive in the hidden realm."


    "I trust you!" Yu''er''s head was buzzing madly, and she could hardly think. The fact that Xiao Nanfeng could remain so steadfast and calm was incredible to her.


    Finally, as another huge wave of wasps emerged from the portal, the entrance to the portal was momentarily clear.


    "We need to move, now!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The two of them jumped onto the altar and headed toward the Taiqing disciples.


    Fortunately, the wasps had only targeted the conscious cultivators. The Taiqing disciples, all of which were unconscious and half-dead, hadn''t attracted the attention of the wasps.


    "There''s no time. Pick them up and throw them through the portal as fast as you can!" Xiao Nanfeng picked up Ye Sanshui, cut apart his bindings with his flying sword, and tossed him through the portal. As Ye Sanshui was sent flying, the red whip connected to the center of his forehead snapped and dissipated in a cloud of mist.


    Yu''er likewise worked rapidly, helping Xiao Nanfeng toss the Taiqing disciples through the portal.


    By then, arge group of wasps had noticed them and were swarming over.


    "Continue, Yu''er! I''ll stop the wasps!" Xiao Nanfeng was just about to defend against them with his flying sword when a flute rang out from behind him. Yu''er had infused her spiritual energy into the flute, causing a blue phoenix to emerge from its head. It dove into the swarm of wasps,


    dazing any that it touched.


    Although Yu''er had sessfully slowed them down, this technique was particrly draining on her spiritual power. Her face quickly turned pale.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly continued to toss Taiqing disciples through the portal.


    "Father, look, the Immortal Cicadas! It''s those two bastards from the Taiqing sect! They''ve put on the crow troops'' armor¡ªdamn it, they must have been the ones to lure the wasps over here!" Xiang Kun cried out from the air.


    Marquis Wu had likewise been surrounded by wasps, but he was more than strong enough to defend against them while protecting his three children.


    "What?" Marquis Wu nced at the altar, only to see Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er toss thest of the Taiqing disciples through the portal before escaping into it themselves.


    "If there''s no more spiritual power being supplied to the altar, the portal will grow unstable!" Marquis Wu howled. He shouted in rage, "Everyone, charge into the hidden realm with me!"


    "Yessir!"


    Ignoring the assault of countless wasps, Marquis Wu himself ran straight for the portal.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng pulled Yu''er through the portal, simultaneously infusing her with a great deal of spiritual energy to replenish what she had consumed. Yu''er''s pallor retreated at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Along the way, they were chased by quite a few wasps, but their Immortal Cicadas and Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual defense cleared the way as they rushed into the hidden realm.


    "Jump!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, pulling Yu''er down the cliff with him.


    Beneath the cliff was a roaring river. Taiqing disciples were intermittently surfacing from its depths. All had been unconscious before being awoken by the shock ofnding in the cold river. Then, they were swept away by the tides.


    "Have they woken up? Thank goodness! Even if they''re still in danger, this is still far superior to dying on the altar," Yu''er murmured, simultaneously happy and worried.


    "They were all originally going to die. We''re too weak to stop the marquis and his troops, after all, and this is our limit. The wasps can''t stop the marquis and his men for long. We have to dive into the river and make our escape!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er had just done so when Marquis Wu and his three children arrived by the cliff, looking down at the roaring rapids below.


    Huge swarms of wasps surrounded them, but Marquis Wu ignored them all. He was ring at the figures that had vanished underwater in rage.


    "Father, they''ve escaped!" Xiang Kun shouted angrily.


    "Guard my children!" Marquis Wumanded his subordinates.


    "Yessir!" Two men in ck and the crow king surrounded the three Xiang siblings protectively


    as Marquis Wu flew toward a mountain range in the distance.


    By then, the Taiqing disciples had been swept away by the rapids.


    Marquis Wu sucked in a deep breath and executed a palm strike in mid-air. Countless illusory palms manifested in arge sphere all around him, simultaneously striking at the mountain peak.


    With a huge crash, the top of the mountain split apart, sending rubble flying into the river like a meteor shower.


    Sshes rang out where the boulders fell¡ªright as the Taiqing disciples floated through that region of the river.


    One disciple had awoken and was treading water when a huge boulder suddenly smashed into his head. He had already been weakened from before, and was caught wholly unawares. With a scream, he sank deep into the river, never to resurface.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er dove through the water, not daring even to chance a peek at what was happening above the surface. A boulder almost smashed into the two of them, but they barely managed to evade it.


    However, a figure deep within the river wasn''t so lucky. The boulder smashed right into its head.


    Xiao Nanfeng had thought the ck figure was a pile of rocks at the bottom of the river, but when the boulder smashed into it, it suddenly began to twist and writhe. The river water exploded forth, and Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er barely avoided being sent flying.


    It was now evident that what they thought to have been a pile of rocks was actually a pitch-ck snake¡ªno, it had four huge ws and long dragon''s whiskers! It was a serpent!


    The serpent had been resting deep within the river when a huge boulder suddenly smashed into its head. The boulder could hardly do any damage to it, but this was clear provocation! It was a local tyrant, one who ruled at the top of the ecosystem, and it had never, ever suffered such an ignoble attack.


    Its sixty-meter long body twisted as a huge wave appeared over the river. The serpent stuck its head out of the water, its eyes like two glowingnterns. It immediately noticed Marquis Wu hovering in the sky, continuing to chip away at a mountain. He was the culprit!


    The serpent roared as it flew into the air, surrounded by a huge screen of water that shot straight toward the marquis.


    "A serpent?" Marquis Wu was shocked. How had he managed to draw the attention of such a monster?


    In a sh, the serpent had appeared right before him. Its gigantic maw sprayed out frosty breath, freezing the space before itself. A howling blizzard spawned in the direction of Marquis Wu, causing currents of wind to manifest all around him.


    Marquis Wu roared in outrage and anger.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er had been by the side of the serpent as it flew out of the river, and its tail swiped straight toward them. It moved so quickly neither seemed able to dodge in time.


    "It''s over!" Yu''er cried out in despair.


    Just then, however, Xiao Nanfeng pushed Yu''er aside, almost by instinct. He was hoping that the force would allow the two of them to fall down on either end of the dragon''s tail and avoid its unintentional attack, but the tail''s movement was erratic. The tail flicked and hurtled straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, sending him flying through the air. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, crashed into the river, and was carried away.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out in shock, chasing after him, heedless of her surroundings.


    The rapids caused the two disciples to disappear in the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 57: The Dangerous Realm

    <h4>Chapter 57: The Dangerous Realm</h4>


    After being struck by the serpent''s tail, Xiao Nanfeng fainted, gravely injured. He floated along the river until the rushing rapids slowed and turned quiescent.


    Suddenly, as something bit his thigh, Xiao Nanfeng shuddered and awakened.


    He choked on water and immediately devolved into a violent fit of coughing.


    "I... I''m not dead? Where''s Senior Sister Yu''er?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out first in surprise, then in shock. He looked all around him, but Yu''er was nowhere to be seen.


    "Again? What''s biting me?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the water.


    He quickly swam to shore. As he mbered up onto drynd, he found that his trousers had been torn by something in the water. Momentster, as the ripples cleared, he saw a few silver fish finally swimming away, upset that their prey had gotten away.


    "Just a few ordinary fish, but even they could harm me. The river really is dangerous," Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself.


    He grew increasingly concerned about Yu''er''s safety, but could see no trace of her even as he stood by the shore and looked out at the river.


    Just then, he saw a figure floating downstream from afar. He rushed over, then dragged the waterlogged figure up to shore.


    "This is... a senior disciple? He''s dead?" Xiao Nanfeng''s heart sank. It was a Taiqing disciple''s lifeless body. Xiao Nanfeng sighed and buried him in a pit.


    "I hope Yu''er hasn''t suffered the same fate. Let me wait a little longer." Xiao Nanfeng began to worry about Yu''er once again.


    He walked along the river, trying to see if any other bodies had floated where he had. However, even after a long time, he didn''t see a single trace of anyone. Finally, as the skies turned dark, he found another figure floating along the river.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed up to the figure with bated breath, then dragged it to shore.


    His eyes widened in surprise. "The Lady Arclight?"


    The Lady Arclight''s blood had been washed clean by the river, but her clothes were tattered and torn as a result of the fierce battles she had suffered. Her snowy white skin and curvaceous figure were revealed to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank goodness she''s still alive!" Xiao Nanfeng rxed as he checked her heartbeat.


    The Lady Arclight''s breath was weak, and her face was pale and waterlogged. Perhaps because she was so grievously wounded, she showed no trace of waking up.


    "Petty though you might be, you''ve protected us all, and you''ve loaned me this jade token. I don''t mind taking care of you for a few days..." Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    ncing down at her tattered clothes, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Why was it that he always encountered unconscious women with their clothes in disarray?


    "I only have two changes of clothes..." he sighed.


    He took out a pair of robes and dressed the Lady Arclight, covering up her exposed extremities.


    Xuai Nanfeng didn''t notice that, while he was helping dress the Lady Arclight, her forehead creased in a slight frown. Perhaps she was simply unable to open her eyes because of how weak and exhausted she was.


    Xiao Nanfeng found arge, secluded tree and climbed up onto its branches along with the Lady Arclight. Through the dense foliage, he continued inspecting the surface of the river.


    The skies darkened, and a bright moon appeared. Moonlight reflected over the surface of the river. Everything appeared silent; small mosquitoes the size of fingers flew out of the weeds growing by the shore, skittering over its surface.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued watching theke, but no other bodies appeared. He knew nothing about the hidden realm, and so had to act with incredible caution. He remained immobile in the tree and observed silently.


    Past midnight, he saw a spirit emerge from the forest, hunting for food. Although he couldn''t make out the shape of the spirit in detail, its eyes were as bright as copper cymbals. It gave off a fierce and domineering aura, causing Xiao Nanfeng to cower.


    A leopard spirit three meters tall walked up to the river not far from Xiao Nanfeng''s vantage point, drinking the flowing water. It didn''t seem to have noticed Xiao Nanfeng, but even so, its body was tightly wound up, as though guarding itself against something. Suddenly, as though spooked, it hurriedly scampered back into the forest.


    Who knew what the leopard spirit had seen? The surroundings went quiet once again. Nothing else appeared, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t dare rx. He watched on with bated breath, d that there was ayer of dense leaves shrouding him and the Lady Arclight from sight.


    "The spiritual aether here is far more concentrated than it is outside, and the spirits are far more frightening," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    That night, although nothing happened, Xiao Nanfeng got a sense of just how frightening such hidden realms could be. Although he had the Immortal Cicada with him, he didn''t feel safe at all.


    The skies brightened once more, and Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the river once again. He had kept a vigil the entire night, and he didn''t believe that any more disciples would float down the river. With the Lady Arclight on his back, he headed quickly through the forest in search of a safe ce to make camp.


    The forest was dangerous, and Xiao Nanfeng was extremely careful as he scouted. He used his spiritual power to avoid danger time and time again. When he walked toward the entrance to a valley, however, he suddenly saw a golden tree within, only as tall as a person, but with three fist-sized golden fruits hanging on its branches. The fruit glowed golden, giving off a pale fragrance. Even smelling them from afar made one feel carefree and rxed.


    "This is... a golden sunfruit?!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He had learned of quite a number of natural treasures within the vault of scriptures, and he recognized these fruits as golden sunfruit with just a single nce. Golden sunfruit were particrly difficult to obtain. They were fruit of pure yang, and even in areas rich with spiritual aether, they might take a century to grow¡ªbut there were three right before him! If he were to consume them, his cultivation would advance tremendously.


    After a moment of excitement, however, Xiao Nanfeng grew wary once more. He looked all around him¡ªthere were frequently spirits keeping guard over such natural treasures, and the fact that there were no birds or beasts in the vicinity of these golden sunfruit meant that this was clearly the territory of a major spirit.


    Indeed, there was a huge cave by the side of the valley. A lumbering figure emerged¡ªa silver boar spirit, almost ten meters tall, huffing and showing off its sharp canines. Its beady red eyes red at Xiao Nanfeng, having discovered an unwee guest in its territory.


    The silver boar, clearly anticipating that Xiao Nanfeng was intending to steal its golden sunfruit, spat out a ball of frost straight at him.


    "An Ascension-realm spirit?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face nched as he hurriedly retreated. The Lady Arclight was still on his back; he couldn''t fight at the moment.


    With a huge boom, the region that Xiao Nanfeng had just vacated exploded in ayer of frost.


    Xiao Nanfeng ran off with the Lady Arclight still on his back. The boar spirit, seeing that its attack hadn''tnded, bellowed and charged forward.


    As Xiao Nanfeng ran, he manipted his Immortal Cicada to thrust toward the silver boar''s eyes. The boar cleverly shut its eyes and smashed into the sword with its head.


    The boar''s tough hide and bristly fur, along with its barrier of spiritual energy, allowed it to block the sword thrust fully.


    "What incredible defense..." Xiao Nanfeng darted into a dense patch of forest, deliberately choosing a region that was heavy with foliage. The boar spirit was massive, and it wouldn''t be able to gain much speed in such terrain.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had underestimated the boar spirit''s stubbornness. It bellowed again as it charged straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, even knocking down any trees in its path.


    "This boar spirit''s far too petty¡ªdoesn''t it realize that, while it''s chasing me, other spirits might take the chance to steal its golden sunfruit?!" Xiao Nanfeng muttered to himself. All he had done was nce at the fruits from afar!


    He sent his flying sword out again, but it simply struck the silver boar''s fur like metal against rock.


    Where the boar charged, trees would topple. The spirits hiding in the vicinity all began to scamper off.


    Xiao Nanfeng grew more and more anxious. He was running straight toward the river, intending to escape by diving into it along with the Lady Arclight. His eyes lit up as the river appeared before him, and he dashed forward even more quickly. When the boar spirit realized that it was trying to escape into the water, it roared in outrage, then spat out another ball of frost straight at him.


    The ball detonated not far from Nanfeng, expelling waves of energy that sent him and the Lady Arclight flying into the river in two big sshes. The boar spirit charged toward the shore and continued spitting out balls of frost at the two submerged figures.


    The river quickly froze over where the balls impacted its surface. The boar bellowed in outrage once again.


    Immediately upon entering the water, Xiao Nanfeng sealed his breathing. He didn''t dare resurface, not while the boar was right there by the shore¡ªbut his eyes suddenly widened. What about the Lady Arclight? He turned to his back, only to see that, although she was still unconscious, she seemed to be automatically holding her breath while underwater.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. He nced above him to find that the water had turned to ice for about a hundred meters around. The reeds and grasses by the surface had likewise frozen over, and the ck mosquitoes that flitted to and fro were spooked. They flew into the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng dove away from the frozen patch of river. Fortunately, the boar didn''t give chase via the river, causing him to rx. The worst was over.


    After quite some time, thinking that he had gone far enough from where he entered the river, Xiao Nanfeng peeped his head above the surface to check on the boar''s status¡ªonly to hear the boar bellowing in pain from the distant shore.


    What had happened?! He looked toward the direction of the bellow, only to see the boar rolling on the ground in agony. There was no gigantic beast attacking him¡ªonly a cloud of ck mosquitoes, the same ones whose habitat had just been wrecked by the boar. Xiao Nanfeng had seen them flitting above the riverst night, not paying them any mind¡ªuntil now.


    Countless mosquitoes surrounded the boar and continuously stung it with their sharp probosces, as though injecting some sort of poison. The boar''s body swelled up at a rate visible to the naked eye as it rolled on the ground in agony. Arge number of the mosquitoes were crushed, but there were so many of them that more quickly took their ce. In the end, injected with countless mosquitoes'' worth of poison, the boary paralyzed on the ground, unable to struggle any longer, as the remaining mosquitoes feasted on its blood.


    No, not just that¡ªthe ck mosquitoes'' poison was actually able to dpose the boar''s blood and flesh, allowing them to consume it in liquefied form. The huge boar shrunk as the mosquitoes slurped up the gooey mess, leaving nothing but a skeleton behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng finally understood what it was that had spooked the leopard, causing it to flee in fear¡ªit was none other than these mosquitoes! Even his flying sword had been unable to pierce through the boar''s flesh, but the mosquitoes'' probosces had easily been able to do it, and their poison was so corrosive it could even melt the boar''s flesh! To think that the tree he had been in was right by the river weeds, that he had spent all night by these mosquitoes'' side...


    Xiao Nanfeng felt a shudder creep all the way up his scalp.


    The ck mosquitoes flew off happily after consuming the boar''s flesh. During that time, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t dare to peek out of the surface of the river.


    There were monsters all throughout this hidden realm! Just what else was hidden within it?

 Chapter 58: Divine Network

    <h4>Chapter 58: Divine Network</h4>


    Only after the mosquitoes had flown far away did Xiao Nanfeng carefully help the Lady Arclight out of the water.


    Upon witnessing the boar skeleton once again, Xiao Nanfeng gulped. He hurriedly stowed the boar''s skeleton within his storage ring as he carried the Lady Arclight on his back straight toward the forest.


    He avoided some spirits that had rushed over upon hearing themotion, then headed toward the boar''sir. He skulked around the entrance to their, carefully listening for any soundsing from within, then emitted his spiritual power to perform another search. Only when he was entirely confident that there was no life within did Xiao Nanfeng slowly approach its entrance.


    Their wasrge and spacious, but had a trace odor of blood. The boar seemed to have been rtively cleanly, at least, and there was no excrement to be found. In fact, their seemed to contain nothing at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully inspected their to confirm that there were no signs of a second upant before he rxed.


    He then ced the Lady Arclight on arge rock so that she could rest, then took out the boar skeleton and ced it by the entrance to their, thinking that the boar spirit''s aura would be sufficient to terrorize the other spirits nearby.


    Having resolved the problem of shelter, Xiao Nanfeng then nced at the golden tree outside their¡ªand the three golden sunfruits on it.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to it. A fragrance enveloped his body infort.


    The golden sunfruit gave off a pale golden glow, shining all over. However, they weren''t fully golden¡ªwhere the fruit''s stem connected to the tree, they were still a little unripe.


    "No wonder the boar hasn''t consumed them yet... but I don''t have time to wait." Xiao Nanfeng plucked all three fruit at once.


    He returned to their and sat cross-legged in meditation as he consumed one of the golden sunfruit. The flesh of the fruit was extraordinarily tasty. It gave off an incredible burst of yang energy as he consumed it, far more so than the crow spirits'' inner cores that he had consumed.


    The energy of pure yang swept through Xiao Nanfeng''s limbs and bones, causing him to radiate with golden light. His pores emitted golden me.


    "Before I set off on this expedition, Master helped me pick out quite a few Immanence-realm techniques. The one he ultimately rmended was Divine Network. Cultivation before Ascension-realm involves a mortal body, and all such cultivation is foundational. The stronger one''s foundations, the greater the possibility of developing extraordinary talents. Divine Network is supposed to be incredibly difficult to cultivate, but all those who have seeded with it have gone on to be incredible masters..."


    Xiao Nanfeng began to circte his qi in the manner prescribed by Divine Network.


    His dantian suddenly glowed with resplendent golden light, The roiling pure yang qi emanating from his dantian divided into two streams, one up and one down. The stream of qi heading down passed under his groin and looped over his back, then rushed up his body via his spine.


    With a huge explosion, the two streams of pure yang qi rbined at his skull, sending a huge wave of spiritual energy emanating from his body. Xiao Nanfeng''s body, gleaming golden, seemed almost to give off a brief sh of rainbow light. Subsequently, dark impurities were expelled through his skin and pores.


    "Cultivation at Immanence requires that I unblock the ten divine conduits throughout my body. This is the first conduit, so I''ve reached the first stage of Immanence!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, opening his eyes. A golden gleam shot through his irises.


    "Each divine conduit is tethered to nine capiries, which are particrly fragile and difficult to unblock. As recorded in Divine Network, the more of these capiries I unblock, the stronger my foundations. I haven''t used up all the energy of the golden sunfruit, so let me unblock these capiries as well." Xiao Nanfeng concentrated on his body.


    Closing his eyes, he continued to distill the remaining yang qi from the golden sunfruit, forming skeins of energy that he sent toward his divine capiries.


    These capiries were particrly fragile and clogged rather severely. Using too little force would prevent the capiries from being unblocked; using too much would destroy them. Many cultivators didn''t dare to attempt to unblock their capiries, afraid that the bacsh from failure would permanently hinder their future cultivation.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, was different. Unlike the ordinary preliminary Immanence-realm disciple, he boasted spiritual power.


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully sent spiritual power into his body all around his divine capiries, strengthening them and cushioning them from impact. Simultaneously, he infused his spiritual power into his yang qi, carefully controlling the qi until the rambunctious energy was tame as could be, before starting to unblock his divine capiries.


    After an hour, he hadpletely unblocked his first capiry.


    "Let''s continue!" Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t wait to test out his newfound power.


    No wonder so many Taoist scriptures mentioned the importance of these capiries! After unblocking his first one, he began to sense the intimate connection between his divine conduit and capiry, which almost seemed to serve the same purpose. Could every capiry be thought of as a divine conduit, too?


    After another half an hour, a wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body again.


    "That''s the second capiry. Let''s continue!"


    "The third capiry..."


    "The sixth capiry!"


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng consume all the yang energy in the first golden sunfruit.


    Xiao Nanfeng consumed one more. Burning yang energy filled his body. He nned to unblock all nine capiries associated with his first divine conduit in one go.


    "The seventh capiry!"


    "The eighth capiry!"


    Only when he had unblocked all nine capiries did Xiao Nanfeng slowly open his eyes. By then, he felt as though he were emitting mes from every pore of his body.


    He had exhausted the majority of his spiritual power by then, but in exchange, he had unblocked his first divine conduit and all its tributary capiries.


    The Taoist scriptures he had read mentioned these capiries, but even the most talented cultivators at the first stage of Immanence could unblock only one or two of them. Xiao Nanfeng, however, had unblocked all nine!


    He didn''t consume the third golden sunfruit, because he had discovered that the benefit from consuming multiples of the same natural treasure was marginal, as though his body had developed a resistance against it. The second sunfruit had had a far weaker effect than the first, and the third would be weaker still.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the Lady Arclight, still unconscious and lying on a rock. He wasn''t petty; he peeled thest golden sunfruit and slowly fed it to the Lady Arclight. Despite the fact that she was unconscious, she was still able to swallow by instinct.


    As Xiao Nanfeng fed her thest piece of the sunfruit, the Lady Arclight''s tongue licked her lips before reluctantly slipping back into her mouth.


    "I''ve all but be your nanny!" Xiao Nanfeng grumbled.


    After consuming the golden sunfruit, the Lady Arclight''s pale face seemed to gain a measure of color.


    By then, it was already evening. Rather than head out of the cave to scout around, Xiao Nanfeng pulled out the Lady Arclight''s jade token and began to study the scriptures within.


    For one thing, he had to meditate and hence regenerate the spiritual power he had consumed, and for another, he wanted to confirm whether or not the boar''s carcass could indeed deter other spirits nearby from drawing close.


    This hidden realm was full of danger, and he wanted to be as cautious as he could.

 Chapter 59: The Toad Spirit

    <h4>Chapter 59: The Toad Spirit</h4>


    Ten dayster, within a forest, Xiao Nanfeng was facing off against a leopard spirit. The leopard spirit was on therger side, about three meters tall, and was giving off bouts of silvery light. It leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng as quickly as the wind.


    Xiao Nanfeng blocked the leopard''s attacks with fists brimming with golden light, but the leopard had seen its fair share of life-and-death fights. It wouldn''t give up so easily. After the initial attack, its tail whipped toward Xiao Nanfeng, sending him flying. Just as the leopard spirit was about to follow up on its sessful attack, the Immortal Cicada thrust into its head, emerged from its back, and flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s sleeve.


    "An Immanence-realm leopard spirit should taste quite good, shouldn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng happily kept its carcass in his storage ring.


    Just then, a buzzing could be heard from afar. Xiao Nanfeng nched as he hurriedly found a hiding spot. A group of ck mosquitoes were zipping through the air. All the spirits in their way quickly fled.


    "These mosquito spirits again?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Over the past ten days, he had been reading scriptures at night and scouting and hunting during the day. He would frequently encounter a group of mosquito spirits.


    Although the mosquitoes were individually weak, when they banded together, their strength was incredible. Essentially all Immanence-realm spirits would perish to theirbined assault, and even ordinary Ascension-realm spirits had to flee.


    The mosquitoesrgely remained by the river, which they considered their territory. Few would wander far from it, but the mosquito spirits in front of Xiao Nanfeng were clearly doing so. They were headed deep into the forest.


    "Ah, an Immanence-realm deer spirit¡ªno, that''s a person!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    There was a figure dressed in green armor, dragging a tied-up deer spirit behind him as he ran. The deer spirit had been drenched in an unknown fluid that gave off an overwhelming fragrance, one that had lured the mosquito spirits all the way over.


    The figure''s armor was very special. It was embedded with runes that glowed in blue light from head to toe, shielding himpletely. The mosquito spirits seemed unable to hurt the man inside the armor, and were only able to sting the deer spirit that he carried.


    Very quickly, the deer spirit turned to nothing more than a skeleton.


    Just as the mosquitoes were about to return to their territory over the river, far within the forest, another green-armored figure appeared, taking over the first man''s duty. The figure fled into the distance with another scent-coated deer spirit in tow.


    "Who are these people? Why are they deliberately luring the mosquito spirits over?" Xiao Nanfeng was very curious.


    Despite the danger inherent to the mosquito spirits, Xiao Nanfeng was spurred onward by curiosity. He wanted to know just what was going on.


    About two hourster, after three ryed deer spirits, he finally arrived at his destination, a huge pond with lotus flowers floating on it.


    The pond was beautiful, a bastion of natural beauty. At its center was a lotus flower the size of a millstone, which radiated multicolored light. Even from afar, its fragrance calmed the heart and mind.


    "A rainbow lotus? Even more precious than the golden sunfruit I found! Is that what these people are trying to get?" Xiao Nanfeng hid and observed from afar.


    The final green-armored figure tossed the deer spirit into the center of the pond,nding not far from the rainbow lotus.


    The mosquito spirits were all lured over in the form of a buzzing ck cloud, but the moment they were about to feast on the deer spirit, arge mouth suddenly emerged from the pond and swallowed the deer spirit whole.


    The mosquitoes buzzed in outrage, before they were suddenly lured over to the rainbow lotus by its appetizing scent.


    Just then, a pile of meat appeared from underwater. It exploded with a bang, like a fisherman''s. It spread out wider and wider in the air, thirty meters wide. The mosquitoes stuck to the web, which then contracted and retreated underwater.


    The group of mosquitoes in the air had all been cleared out.


    "What sort of spirit lies below the surface of the pond? It can even counter these mosquitoes?!" Xiao Nanfeng was amazed.


    As the water''s surface parted, a toad spirit with bulbous, poisonous tumors on its back emerged from the surface of the pond. It was particrlyrge in size; just the exposed half of its body was already three meters tall.


    The toad''s eyes lit up as it saw the sky full of mosquitoes. This was a rare treat. It opened its mouth, its tongue transforming into a web once more. Another patch of the air was cleared of mosquitoes, all of which had been sucked into the toad''s mouth.


    Excited, the toad happily extended its tongue again.


    The mosquitoes buzzed angrily. They were the rulers of thisnd; they were the ones who feasted on others! How dare this toad hunt them?!


    Arge number of mosquitoes flew toward the toad spirit andnded on its body. They stuck their probosces into its skin, injecting their unique poison into it¡ªbut to no avail. The toad itself was a creature of immense toxicity, and the mosquito poison did little to it.


    In fact, it was even more excited when it saw a huge cloud of mosquitoes rushing over¡ªit would be able to enjoy even more of the snacks it loved so much. It stuck out its tongue again and again, consuming the mosquitoes in bulk.


    "This toad is the mosquitoes'' natural nemesis! They''re finally about to be brought down, ha!" Xiao Nanfeng watched on with excitement.


    The mosquitoes, btedly realizing that they could do little to the toad, attempted to flee back out of the lotus pond.


    But how could the toad give up on such delicacies? Its mouth opened up as it emitted a terribly loud sound, like rumbling thunder.


    The aural attack struck the mosquitoes directly. The fleeing mosquitoes suddenly flinched and began buzzing around drunkenly, as though they had lost their sense of direction.


    "A spiritual attack...?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the toad in shock.


    The attack hadn''t struck Xiao Nanfeng, who was hidden quite some distance away. However, all the mosquitoes had been within range.


    The toad''s tongue snapped out once more, consuming the dazed mosquitoes. Just as the mosquitoes were about to awaken from the daze, the toad repeated the aural attack, then happily hopped around the pond eating them all.


    Even so, it remained unsatisfied. It hopped out of the pond, toward the shore, and began consuming even the straggling mosquitoes.


    The mosquitoes that had lorded over their domain were consumed almost entirely to thest. Xiao Nanfeng shuddered at the sight, growing increasingly wary of the toad.


    "The toad spirit has left the lotus pond, and it''s far weaker than before! Fire the spiritbane crossbows!" a voice shouted.


    Instantly, tenrge bolts, each glowing blue, shot out from the forest straight at the toad spirit.


    The toad spirit nced around warily, but it was toote. All ten bolts struck its body, sending a wave of energy around the point of impact. The toad''s skin was too thick, and eight of the bolts exploded without prating its body. Two of the bolts, however, embedded themselves in the toad''s stomach, causing copious amounts of blood to gush out.


    The toad spirit roared in outrage, then extended its tongue at a green figure in the forest.


    "Chop it off!" a voice ordered.


    A huge de struck the toad''s tongue, causing the toad''s attack to fail, but the tongue wasn''t chopped off. Its superior sticity caused it to rebound and snap back into the toad''s mouth.


    The toad cried out in pain. One of the poisonous tumors on its back shot out toxic poison straight at the figure that had attacked its tongue.


    "Be careful, Sir! Its toxic poison can prate the qi of an Ascension-realm cultivator!" someone shouted from within the forest.


    The man in green retreated quickly, but the poison stillnded on his de, which began to smoke as it corroded.


    "Continue firing the spiritbane crossbows while I fight with it. We''ll y this toad today! And get someone to pluck the rainbow lotus!" the armored fighter shouted.


    "Yessir!" a series of voices in the forest chorused.


    The green-armored fighter''s de struck the toad once again. At the same time, the spiritbane crossbows hidden in the forest fired at the toad. Clouds of dust rose into the air.


    "These are... natives of the hidden realm? And they speak the samenguage we do?" Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise.


    Just then, another fighter in green rushed toward the pond, threw out a few nks of driftwood, and stepped over them as he ran toward the rainbow lotus at the center of the pond.


    As he neared the lotus, the water in the vicinity began to ripple once more. A wet tongue emerged from the pond and struck the back of the man''s head.


    "Argh!" the person yelled.


    The tongue curled around the man and was pulled into a gaping mouth in the water, before being swallowed whole.


    "Sir, there''s another toad spirit in the pond!" a voice shouted.


    By the side of the rainbow lotus emerged a giant toad''s head, almost double the size of the first one. The second toad roared in outrage, causing all those who were attempting to seize the rainbow lotus to back down in shock.


    "A male toad and a female one? Two of them¡ªdamn it, our information wascking!" the lead armored warrior shouted in anger.


    "Sir, what do we do now?" a subordinate asked.


    "We have to seize the rainbow lotus at any cost. We''ve been given martial orders that can''t be disobeyed! Launch the re. We need assistance from Lord Wei!" the leader replied.


    "Yessir!"


    A firework re was sent into the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the re, then decided to turn tail and run.


    This group of cultivators was strong and organized. From the sounds of it, there would even be another grouping as support. If he were discovered, he wouldn''t be able to escape then.


    Xiao Nanfeng fled through the forest, but quick though he was, he couldn''t avoid the watchful gazes of two hidden scouts.


    "Who''s that?"


    "He''s not one of us, is he?"


    "Chase after him!"


    Two figures followed after Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 60: The Spirits Domain

    <h4>Chapter 60: The Spirits'' Domain</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng sensed that he was being followed not long after he began running. He continued to run, pretending not to have noticed a thing, as he sent out his spiritual power. When he realized that there were only two Immanence-realm cultivators, he calmed down.


    As Xiao Nanfeng observed the two scouts, so did they observe him.


    "From his speed, it looks like he''s at Immanence, too."


    "He still hasn''t discovered us¡ªhe''s just fleeing! I imagine he''s not very strong."


    "Let me test him, then!"


    As the two scouts conversed, one of them picked up a rock, infused it with qi, then tossed it toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng had been paying close attention to the figures behind him. When he realized that one had tossed a rock over, he infused qi into his right elbow and struck it.


    The rock shattered. Xiao Nanfeng pretended to stumble and to be injured.


    The two Immanence-realm cultivators, realizing how ''weak'' Xiao Nanfeng was, chased quickly after him. One leapt to his front and barred his way, while the other blocked his retreat. The two figures held long swords. One was tall, and the other short.


    "Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng feigned anger.


    "Are you from the Great Qi Empire?" the tall one asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng showed no sign of his confusion. He wasn''t aware of any such empire; was it from this hidden realm?


    "No, his clothes don''t look like ours. They''re more like the outsider''s, the one we caught beforehand," the shorter scout suddenly said.


    Xiao Nanfneg''s face fell. "An outsider? You''ve caught others dressed like I am?"


    He had since changed into Taiqing robes. Anyone who dressed like him had to be Taiqing disciples themselves!


    "Haha! We were the first to discover this outsider. If we catch him, he''ll be our ve!" The two scouts ignored Xiao Nanfeng''s question and taunted him instead.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned cold. ve?


    "He''s an Immanence-realm cultivator, too. Let me have a go at him!" The tall scout rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng and punched forward with a fist.


    Xiao Nanfeng met his fist with one of his own. Both cultivators were forced back a single step.


    "A mid-Immanence cultivator? Again!" The tall scout attacked once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised. He was only at the first stage of Immanence! When had he advanced to the middle stages? No, it had to have been because of the divine capiries he had unblocked! They had augmented his strength beyond his current cultivation.


    "Hmph!" Xiao Nanfeng charged forward as well.


    The two fists shed once and again. The two cultivators exchanged ten blows, neither giving in. Just then, Xiao Nanfeng activated Hegemon''s Fist. Four punches headed straight for the taller scout.


    "What?!" The enemy cultivator, flustered, failed to respond to the attack. He was struck in the nose and sent flying. Xiao Nanfeng chased after him, then kicked him with a foot.


    "No!" the tall scout screamed.


    However, it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng struck him in the chest, dealing him a grievous injury and causing him to spit out blood.


    Just then, the shorter scoutunched a sneak attack at Xiao Nanfeng from the back.


    He hadn''t merely been watching; rather, he had arranged things beforehand with the taller scout to make Xiao Nanfeng drop his guard. Once Xiao Nanfeng was invested in the match, he wouldunch a sneak attack from behind.


    Unfortunately, his opponent was Xiao Nanfeng. This sort of low-levelbo attack would do nothing against him. Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada was lying in wait. When the shorter scout suddenly struck, the Immortal Cicada shot toward his back. He thought that Xiao Nanfeng had dropped his guard, but in reality, Xiao Nanfeng was waiting for him to drop his guard instead.


    With a clean snick, the Immortal Cicada pierced through the shorter scout''s back and out his front with a fountain of blood.


    "A flying sword? You had a flying sword?!" The shorter scout pointed at Xiao Nanfeng in shock as he fell to the ground, having gasped hisst.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed him coldly before turning to the taller scout. His Immortal Cicada hovered right by the fallen scout''s neck.


    "Do-Don''t kill me!" the taller scout shrieked.


    "Where is this ce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This..." The taller scout hesitated, trying to buy time for himself.


    The Immortal Cicada stabbed into his shoulder and out his back in a spurt of blood.


    "Argh!" the taller scout cried out, clutching his wounded shoulder.


    "If you hesitate any longer, I''ll keep cutting you. Let''s see how long you canst like this, shall we?" Xiao Nanfeng called out imperiously.


    "We''re in the spirits'' domain, and I''m from the Empire of Great Yan!" the taller scout cried out.


    "The spirits'' domain? What is it? Tell me everything in one go¡ªor do you want me to force you to speak?" Xiao Nanfeng''s flying sword hummed.


    "No, I''ll tell you everything, everything! Ournd is divided into three domains, for humans, spirits, and the divine. This is the spirits'' domain. Wee from the Great Yan Empire of the humans'' domain. The other empire in the humans'' domain is the Great Qi Empire," the taller scout exined.


    "Empire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked for rification.


    "Once every century, divine envoys are sent out from the divine domain, inviting all Spiritsong-realm spirits and humans to the divine domain topete for tremendous opportunities, so during this period of time, the strongest spirits in the spirits'' domain will only be at Ascension-realm. As a result, the Great Yan and Great Qi Empires send out groups of cultivators into the spirits'' domain during this time to harvest natural treasures and capture all manner of spirits. We''re one such group, and our targets are the rainbow lotus and the toad spirit," the taller scout cried out, still trembling.


    "There aren''t any Spiritsong-realm spirits in the spirits'' domain at the moment?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. This information came as a huge relief. The spirits'' domain was already incredibly dangerous as is. If he were toe across a Spiritsong-realm spirit, too¡ªhe wouldn''t be able to do anything about it!


    "Our group has a hundred cultivators. Among them, Lord Wei and Lord Huo are at Ascension-realm, while the rest of us are at Immanence. I and the scout you just killed are among the weakest of the bunch, so we could only serve as scouts." The taller scout, afraid that Xiao Nanfeng would kill him outright, gave away whatever information he possessed.


    "Keep talking. Why do you call me an outsider?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Five days ago, we caught a cultivator whom we thought to be a spy from the Great Qi Empire. After some interrogation, we learned that he was actually from the so-called Taiqing Immortal Sect. Lord Wei mentioned that he was an outsider from beyond our world," the taller scout replied anxiously.


    "Why did you have to summon this Lord Wei with fireworks? Why wasn''t he participating in your operation?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "He..." The taller scout visibly hesitated.


    The Immortal Cicada sliced through his shoulder once again.


    "No, please! The outsider was close to death. Lord Wei wanted to figure out his cultivation technique, so he''s interrogating him right now. That''s why he wasn''t participating in the hunt!"


    "What?! If you don''t want to die, bring me to where he is immediately!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Not long after, the two cultivators arrived at a hidden valley.


    There were still a few figures in the valley. The tall scout''s eyes brightened. He was right about to call out for help when Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada pierced through his head and killed him instantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng skulked around the hidden valley. After careful observation, he found that it was guarded by just two Immanence-realm cultivators. Clearly, this Lord Wei had already been summoned by the re to help out against the toads.


    On a torture rack not too far away, Xiao Nanfeng saw the face of a familiar senior disciple, bruised and bleeding all over, at death''s door.


    "You haven''t finished talking about your spiritual cultivation technique¡ªkeep going! Are you going to pretend to faint? I''ll pull out another one of your fingernails to help wake you up, then!"


    "He really doesn''t look like he can take much more..." hispanion murmured.


    The two cultivators were deep in discussion with each other when they suddenly felt a sense of impending danger.


    One of them had no time to think or react before his head exploded. The Immortal Cicada pierced through the center of his forehead, then looped around toward the other target.


    "A flying sword?!" the other cultivator shrieked.


    With a roll, he avoided the Immortal Cicada, which crushed a rock before him. The cultivator was so scared that he ran off without a second thought, but what awaited him was a fist to the face.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched forward in outrage, straight at his nose. The person was sent flying into the trajectory of the Immortal Cicada.


    "No!" the cultivator screamed.


    The flying sword pierced through his head. He breathed hisst amidst a pool of blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother searching the two cultivators'' bodies. He ran straight to the rack and cut apart the chains holding him in ce.


    "Senior Brother? Senior Brother! Wake up, it''s me, Nanfeng!"


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized the senior disciple immediately. Although they hadn''t conversed much, Xiao Nanfeng knew that he was carefree and outgoing, with a penchant for jokes. Back in the city of Taiwu, when rumors about him and Yu''er had been flying left and right, he had made fun of them as well. Xiao Nanfeng knew that, although his tone was joking, his eyes were filled with kindhearted cheer and a sincere blessing.


    At this moment, however, this senior disciple''s fingernails and toenails had all been stripped off, his tendons and muscles cut apart, brand marks blistering his skin, and whip scars criss-crossing his body. Even opening his eyes was a struggle.


    Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s voice, however, he blearily opened his eyes, then smiled painfully.


    "Nanfeng? Tell the division leader that I didn''t give up any of the sect''s techniques. What information I revealed was all fake!" Having said all that, he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Senior Brother, I''ll help tend to your wounds!" Xiao Nanfeng prepared to infuse qi of pure yang into his body.


    "It''s useless. They made me swallow a poisonous insect, and it''s about to tear its way out of my body. It''s toote..." The senior disciple weakly gasped hisst as his chest was torn apart from the inside out. A speckled, rainbow centipede crawled out from his chest cavity.


    The senior disciple spat out a final mouthful of blood, looked at the world for thest time, and died.


    "Senior Brother!"


    Xiao Nanfeng killed the centipede with his Immortal Cicada. He infused his qi into the senior disciple''s body again and again, hoping against hope that it would be enough to resuscitate him. It wasn''t, and the senior disciple perished with vacant eyes wide open


    Xiao Nanfeng''s anger manifested as killing intent that radiated around him.

 Chapter 61: Revenge

    <h4>Chapter 61: Revenge</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng put on the blue armor of one of the corpses, buried his senior brother, before skulking back to the lotus pond and hiding some distance away.


    He knew that his strength alone would be no match for these cultivators, but he couldn''t help but return. Even killing a few wounded soldiers would make him feel better.


    Furthermore, this group of cultivators was taking part in a heated fight against two toad spirits. There could well be an opportunity for him while the two parties were fighting.


    By the time he returned, the fight was over. The majority of the armored cultivators had fallen to the ground, drained of their capacity to fight. Some were even unconscious or dead.


    The two leaders of the cultivator group had their hair in disarray and their armorrgely corroded away. They were bruised and bloody, a sorry sight to behold, but they looked strangely excited¡ªbecause they had won.


    The two toad spirits each had no fewer than ten bolts stuck in their bodies.


    The smaller female toad had her belly facing the sky, a huge wound marring it, revealing flesh and blood within. She seemed to be dead.


    The male toad was tied up in a huge ball of rope. It was immobile but still breathing; the faint rise and fall of its chest was visible. Even so, its eyes were closed, as though it had gone unconscious. On its back was a copper spike radiating blue light.


    "If not for the Spike of Dispersal, we might all have perished," one leader murmured with lingering fear.


    "The crown prince really did bequeath us with a marvelous treasure," the other leader replied happily.


    "I can''t believe it¡ªI almost died!"


    "Even the heaviest injury on our part is worth it. The crown prince only tasked us to recover the flower of the rainbow lotus, but that''s not all there is to the lotus! Its seeds can heal injuries, and might even allow us to improve our cultivation."


    "That''s right!" The two leaders nced at each other. Then, both turned and eyed the rainbow lotus with avarice.


    "Retrieve the rainbow lotus!" one of the leadersmanded. "No, dig it all up and bring the lotus seeds in the mud over as well, but be careful!"


    "Yessir!"


    Some of these least wounded cultivators shrugged off their armor and swam over. Everyone was focused on the center of the pond; none noticed an armored cultivator covered in blood sneaking up to the toad spirits.


    That cultivator was none other than Xiao Nanfeng. He had covered his face with blood so as to make him harder to identify, and he was wearing the same armor the other cultivators did! Who could have anticipated that a spy would pop up at this critical moment?


    Xiao Nanfeng stealthily inspected both toad spirits with his spiritual power. Although the female toad looked to be dead, her body seemed to still have a trace amount of vitality. For the moment, she was still alive. The male toad was brimming with vitality. Even the bolts stuck into its flesh hadn''t prated far; it had bunched up its muscles to prevent its internal organs from being injured. However, its spiritual power had been and remained dispersed.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent a wave of spiritual power into the male toad''s body.


    The male toad''s eyes flickered slightly as it caught sight of Xiao Nanfeng. Its eyes brimmed with malice, with anger and grievance.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately grew wary of the toad. Only when he confirmed that it wasn''t moving did he dare approach. He discovered that the spiritual power he had infused into the toad''s body had dispersed. The glowing spike that pinned the toad down was radiating some mysterious energy that dispersed its spiritual power.


    "A talisman?" Xiao Nanfeng blinked.


    He now understood that what was suppressing the toad spirit was precisely this copper spike.


    "Toad? I''m just like you. I have to take revenge on these cultivators. I can rescue you now, and I''m happy to fight with you to get rid of them together." Xiao Nanfeng sent this message to the toad spirit as a bundle of aural waves conveyed to the toad''s head by a burst of spiritual power.


    The toad spirit''s weak gaze shed with surprise. It let out a weak croak.


    Regardless of whether the toad had understood its meaning, Xiao Nanfeng decided to make his move. He leapt up to the toad''s back and removed the spike sealing it.


    "What are you doing?!" one armored cultivator cried out, seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s actions.


    By the time the other cultivators turned to the source of themotion, it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng had pulled out the spike and infused a huge wave of spiritual power into the toad''s body.


    The spiritual power immediately rejuvenated the toad spirit, as though it had just revived with full health. With a loud snap, it broke apart the restraints holding it down.


    "Be careful!" one of the Ascension-realm cultivators yelled out in shock.


    The toad spirit loathed the two Ascension-realm cultivators with all its might. The moment it broke free, it sent its gigantic tongue shooting out at the two leaders. One of them discovered the attack quickly and avoided it with a deft dodge, but the other wasn''t so lucky. He was immediately caught by the toad''s tongue.


    "Lord Huo!" the other leader cried out.


    As the toad''s tongue retracted, Lord Huo was swallowed whole into the toad''s belly.


    An Ascension-realm cultivator, killed in an instant? The culprit was the cultivator who had pulled out the spike pinning the toad down!


    "Seize him!" Lord Wei pointed furiously toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    After Xiao Nanfeng released the toad spirit, he knew it would be disadvantageous for him to remain. He shot toward the distant part of the forest.


    Just then, an armored warrior blocked his path and sent a sword sh straight at Xiao Nanfeng. As it was about tond, a sh of golden light appeared to his back, and the Immortal Cicada pierced through his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued running off far into the forest.


    "That''s a flying sword?! Quick, capture him!" one cultivator yelled out.


    A group of armored cultivators quickly surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, the toad spirit loosed a massive aural attack that struck at all the cultivators'' souls. Many of them clutched their heads in pain, as did those chasing after Xiao Nanfneg.


    The toad spirit''s spiritual assault dealt incredible damage to the gathered cultivators, but Xiao Nanfeng was unaffected owing to his wealth of spiritual power. He quickly shed at the frozen warriors with his Immortal Cicada. Countless warriors close by found their heads sliced off. Fresh blood fountained from their necks.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the toad spirit. Had it deliberately attacked in such a fashion because it had seen that he was surrounded and in need?


    "You dare¡ª!" Lord Wei thundered, pouncing toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched and continued heading deeper into the forest.


    The toad spirit suddenly leapt up and knocked into Lord Wei, who barely defended with his weapon. He was sent flying.


    "Impossible! You bastard, your spiritual power should have been dispersed by the Spike of Dispersal! How could you be able tounch an aural attack? How are you still so energetic?!" Lord Wei cried.


    The toad had been angered beyond belief, and it didn''t care for Lord Wei''s nonsense. It flicked out its tongue once again, straight at Official Wei.


    "Die, foul beast!" Lord Wei shed at the toad,


    A bloody scar appeared on the toad''s tongue, which it immediately retracted into its mouth. The toad leapt up again toward Lord Wei, who nched as he sent another sword sh at the toad¡ªbut one which was blocked by its bulk.


    Lord Wei was sent flying by the toad spirit. He vomited out a mouthful of blood in the air.


    "Quick, use the spiritbane crossbows to assist me!" he cried out.


    "Yessir!" Five armored cultivators moved a giant crossbow engraved with runes over. It began to glow with blue light. A giant bolt aimed straight at the toad spirit.


    "Loose!" one cultivator cried out.


    With a clean snick, the Immortal Cicada pierced through the cultivator responsible for loosing the bolt. It then struck at two of the other arches, causing the spiritbane crossbow to tter to the ground.


    "Be careful! A flying sword isunching sneak attacks at us!" one cultivator cried.


    In the distance, Lord Wei was struggling against the toad spirit.


    "Use the spiritbane crossbow, hurry!" Lord Wei howled.


    The armored cultivators didn''t know what to do. Half of their number had lost their ability to fight in the preceding battle, and a dozen or so had died. Of the remaining thirty, the majority were lightly or moderately wounded, and they considered themselves fortunate just to have avoided the sneak attack from the Immortal Cicada.


    In the end, half of their number were dispatched to operate three spiritbane crossbows to assist Lord Wei, while the other half would chase after Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention to sh with them head-on; rather, he lured them deep into the forest.


    The fifteen cultivators had just prepared to give up the chase and assist Lord Wei when the Immortal Cicada executed one more cultivator. The unlucky cultivator''s head was sent flying in a spray of blood, causing hisrades to nce at each other in shock.


    "If we don''t get rid of thatd, he''s going to keepunching sneak attacks on us. We have to charge into the forest and kill him!"


    "He won''t be able to escape. We''ll split up into groups of two!"


    With their sight disrupted by the thick foliage, however, how could they hope to catch up to Xiao Nanfeng, who was using spiritual power to bolster his senses?


    Not long after, as cries rang out from the forest, Xiao Nanfeng managed to kill two of the armored warriors.


    "It''s too dangerous to pair up. We''ll have four cultivators in a team, quick!" one personmanded.


    The remaining twelve cultivators formed three teams as they continued to search for Xiao Nanfeng, but he had long since evaded them. After luring them deeper into the forest, he looped back around and rushed toward the lotus pond, targeting Lord Wei.


    At that moment, Lord Wei had struck the toad spirit with a sword sh. The toad spirit howled in pain as both sides reached a stalemate.


    Just then, Lord Wei suddenly felt a tremendous sense of danger. He scanned his surroundings, but it was already toote. The Immortal Cicada had flown to the back of his neck.


    "Bastard!" Lord Wei roared. He used his full strength in an attempt to evade the attack, which brushed past his scalp.


    That dodge, however, left him out of position to deal with the toad spirit''s follow-up attack. It stuck out its tongue and curled it around Lord Wei.


    "No!" Lord Wei cried out in despair, before the toad spirit swallowed him whole.

 Chapter 62: The Golden Lotus

    <h4>Chapter 62: The Golden Lotus</h4>


    Had Lord Wei just been eaten? The dozen cultivators wielding spiritbane crossbows gaped. They too wanted to turn and run, but the toad spirit had been freed and was in outrage.


    The two Ascension-realm cultivators had been swallowed by the toad spirit one after the other, and the remaining cultivators weren''t able to work together. Xiao Nanfeng had killed a group, and another group was mired in the forest. The dozen or so remaining cultivators by the lotus pond were no match for the toad spirit and Xiao Nanfeng, who took them down within moments.


    Just then, the twelve cultivators who had been chasing Xiao Nanfeng through the forest rushed back to see a pile of corpses. They attempted to run, but the toad spirit and Xiao Nanfeng caught them all.


    With a series of cries, the twelve cultivators turned into corpses, killed to thest.


    There were still quite a number of arrows stuck into the toad spirit''s body, and Xiao Nanfeng''s own body was full of blood. The man and spirit had been bathed in carnage¡ªbut with their individual revenge taken, they slowly began to rx.


    They nced at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly turned tense. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know if the toad spirit would turn on him, and he prepared to retreat into the forest warily.


    The toad spirit, meanwhile, was staring at Xiao Nanfeng, thinking about how he should treat the man before him. After all, it was a man who had broken his family apart. Even though the man had saved it, it was still a human...


    "That toad spirit looks as though it might be dead, but I think there''s still some remnant vitality." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the female toad spirit in the distance.


    The male toad, seemingly understanding Xiao Nanfeng''s words, leapt toward hispanion.


    It nudged the female toad with its head, but it remained immobile. Fretful, the toad spirit stared at Xiao Nanfeng with eyes like copper cymbals.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly walked up to the female toad spirit''s huge body and caresssed its head. He used his spiritual power to examine its body, finding that, although it still had some residual warmth, it had lost all vitality.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "It looks like it''s toote. If we had dealt with the cultivators earlier, perhaps it might have survived..."


    The toad spirit''s eyes lost their glimmer. As it stared silently at itspanion''s body, it suddenly blinked, hopped into the pond, and drew the rainbow lotus over, along with its roots and a pile of pond mud. It stuffed the lotus into the female toad''s mouth, then slowly began pulling out the arrows from its back, one by one.


    The female toad swallowed the rainbow lotus involuntarily. Subsequently, its body began to glow in rainbow light.


    Momentster, the female toad slowly opened its eyes, though it remained frightfully weak.


    Xiao Nanfeng was gobsmacked. This rainbow lotus was far more mystical than he had realized¡ªit could revive even the dead!


    The two toads croaked at each other.


    As Xiao Nanfeng was about to depart, the male toad spirit leapt up and jumped right up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped back, guarding himself with his Immortal Cicada, as he prepared to flee into the forest.


    The male toad suddenly croaked, but no one could make out what it was trying to say.


    Subsequently, the toad pushed a pile of mud toward Xiao Nanfeng, which contained a golden lotus root. Although it was buried in pond mud, which tended toward the yin, the lotus root possessed tremendous yang energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng was quite surprised.


    "This is for me?" he confirmed.


    The male toad nodded, croaking again.


    "Thank you. I''ll ept with gratitude." Xiao Nanfeng picked up the golden lotus root.


    The male toad leapt back toward itspanion''s side, protecting the female toad.


    Xiao Nanfeng kept the golden root in his storage ring, then looked at the paired toads. "Hey, I''m going to be leaving now! These fellows aren''t cultivators to be trifled with. They''ve sent for stronger reinforcements, who will definitelye check up on what has happened. The two of you should leave immediately after recuperating!"


    The male and female toads looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, croaking at him in response to his warning.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng step back into the forest. He quickly arrived by a freshly made mound.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve avenged you now. All those cultivators will apany you in death, and you can rest in peace!"


    Xiao Nanfeng paid his respects to his senior brother, then darted through the forest and back into their of the boar spirit. It was turning dark, and many nocturnal spirits were about to start hunting for food.


    Finally, right before sunset, Xiao Nanfeng made it back to the boar spirit''sir. He used the water from the stream right outside their to clean the golden lotus root.


    Within their, the Lady Arclight remained unconscious. After ten days of Xiao Nanfeng''s caretaking, however, her face had recovered from its unusual pallor, and she looked far better than before.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced expectantly at the golden lotus root.


    "If, at the first stage of Immanence, I''m already on par with those at the fifth stage, what would happen if I kept breaking through?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He bit down on the golden lotus root, causing a gust of yang energy to spread throughout his body all the way toward his extremities. His pores glimmered with faint golden light. A faint corona surrounded him.


    He quickly converted all that energy into yang qi, which he used to unclog his second divine conduit.


    A golden thread seemed to be circting around his body, giving him a glimmer of divinity.


    After two hours, a burst of energy emanated from his body.


    "That''s the second divine conduit. I''m in the second stage of Immanence!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes were shining.


    He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and made use of the remaining yang qi to unblock his divine capiries as well.


    When Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he was running out of yang qi, he would take another bite of the lotus root and continue cultivating. One, two, three capiries...


    As Xiao Nanfeng consumed more and more of the lotus root, the energy in his body swelled as he unblocked one divine capiry after another.


    As dawn broke, another wave of energy swelled from his body.


    "All nine divine capiries were unblocked!" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes, which shone with beams of golden light.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt revitalized and full of energy, as though his strength had increased considerably.


    Large quantities of ck impurities had been exuded from his pores, and Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly cleaned himself up in the stream outside.


    There was only a tenth of the golden lotus root remaining. Xiao Nanfeng brought it toward the Lady Arclight.


    "It''s already been ten days. How long will it be before you wake up?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    He crushed the lotus root and gently ced it in the Lady Arclight''s mouth. She began to eat subconsciously. The lotus root was sweet and fragrant, and she consumed it all quickly. After she was done, she even licked her lips with her tongue, as if she wanted more.


    "You''re a glutton, aren''t you? Even though you''re unconscious, you''re basically about to drool after eating some food!" Xiao Nanfengughed, wiping at the Lady Arclight''s mouth with a handkerchief.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s smile suddenly froze. The Lady Arclight had opened her eyes and was giving him a death stare.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He had just been wiping her lips; had he suddenly wiped her eyes open, too?

 Chapter 63: It Tastes So-So

    <h4>Chapter 63: It Tastes So-So</h4>


    "Elder, have you awoken?" Xiao Nanfeng forced a smile.


    "Who did you say was a glutton?" The Lady Arclight red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. Wasn''t she unconscious? How did she know what I said? Was she just pretending to be unconscious?


    "Elder, you must have misheard. I called myself a glutton, saying that I was craving food after seeing you eat," Xiao Nanfeng fibbed.


    The Lady Arclight stared at Xiao Nanfeng aggressively, but her eyes shed with a series ofplicated emotions.


    "Elder, when did you wake up?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously. He had grumbled about the Lady Arclight quite often thesest few days, and was worried that she had overheard his inadvertent remarks.


    However, the Lady Arclight ignored him. Shemanded, "Lift me up so that I can get some air."


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly helped the Lady Arclight to her feet. She was silent as she walked to the entrance to their, not even inquiring as to the fact that she was wearing Xiao Nanfeng''s clothes.


    The more erratic her behavior, the more insecure Xiao Nanfeng felt.


    "There are many spirits in this hidden realm, and I don''t know how many of the senior disciples are still alive. Now that you''ve awoken, Elder, they can all be saved," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    The Lady Arclight turned to him. "You''re worried about yourpanion, aren''t you?"


    "I am worried about Senior Sister Yu''er, Elder, but also about my fellow disciples," Xiao Nanfeng replied in a politic fashion.


    The Lady Arclight rolled her eyes at him in disbelief, in a disy of sudden and unassuming beauty. Xiao Nanfeng was caught unawares and was suddenly enthralled.


    "I have been seriously injured by Marquis Wu, and I''m still in a very weak condition. However, my cultivation technique is rather unusual, and I''ll grow stronger by the time I do," the Lady Arclight exined.


    "Oh?"


    "If you still have the food you fed me, I''ll be able to recover more quickly," the Lady Arclight added.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. Was she talking about the golden lotus root, or the golden sunfruit from ten days ago? Just when had she woken up?


    Xiao Nanfeng wanted to rify things, but he didn''t dare to do so, because that could well destroy the facade of civility between them. He had grumbled quite often in earshot of the Lady Arclight, after all.


    "I''m hungry!" The Lady Arclight looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. Her tone was demanding and not particrly courteous.


    Xiao Nanfeng was speechless. <i>Is she really treating me like a nanny?</i>


    However, in order that she might recover her cultivation more quickly, that she might be able to help search for Yu''er more quickly, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to ede to her request.


    "I hunted down a leopard spirit yesterday. I''ll prepare it and return with the meal soon," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    The Lady Arclight nodded. She permitted Xiao Nanfeng to lead her to a nearby rock to rest. Xiao Nanfeng headed off into the forest and dragged out a leopard spirit.


    "Don''t you think I know about your storage ring? There''s no need to hide it. I''ve already learned about it over the past few days." The Lady Arclight pursed her lips as she leaned against the rock.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know that the Lady Arclight was secretly spying on him. He carefully prepared the leopard spirit''s carcass and began roasting it. Not longter, he served the Lady Arclight with roast leopard. Both of them consumed the meal quickly.


    "Did you like the taste, Elder? I marinated it with my own secret seasoning. I haven''t shared it with anyone else!" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    "It tastes so-so," the Lady Arclight replied, somewhat pridefully. However, she didn''t stop eating the roast skewers.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at her strangely. As he thought, she was a glutton. Why was it that she didn''t ask where she was, nor what was in her surroundings? Could she have known all this time?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart skipped a beat. Had she... had she been conscious all along? He then nced at the Lady Arclight, who was wearing his clothes, once again. If she really had been pretending to be unconscious...


    Forget it. It would hurt him more to ask. He was willing to keep up the pretense if she would, too.


    Both cultivators had a rather voracious appetite, and they finished the leopard spirit in a single meal. After they were finished, the Lady Arclight patted her stomach and burped, causing Xiao Nanfeng to turn and look at her.


    "What''s the matter? Keep finding more food. I need to consume good food so that I can recover more quickly and help you find yourpanion," the Lady Arclight told him blithely.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The Lady Arclight was truly gluttonous¡ªshe had consumed the major part of the leopard spirit''s carcass!


    "Help me inside. I''ve just woken up, and my body''s far too weak," she called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng helped the Lady Arclight into their. He had the feeling that the Lady Arclight needed help not because of weakness, but rather because she had eaten too much.


    She sat cross-legged on the rock and began to meditate.


    After Xiao Nanfeng stepped out of their, the Lady Arclight opened her eyes a crack, saw that Xiao Nanfeng had left, made a fierce expression, then licked at her lips, enjoying the remnant vor of meat. She was clearly very taken with his cooking.


    Over the next five days, the spirits all around them suffered greatly. Xiao Nanfeng had grown much stronger than before, and he was able to make use of spiritual power to avoid the strongest spirits. All manner of spirits were transformed into sumptuous dishes for Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight.


    "This is honeyed bear paw, Elder. What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the Lady Arclight with pride.


    How was it? The Lady Arclight felt as though she were almost about to swallow her tongue! Where did Xiao Nanfeng pick up how to cook so well? His cooking was unbelievably delicious¡ªwhen she returned to the sect, she intended to give the nominal disciples that served as her chefs a tremendous scolding. Just what had they been feeding her all these years?


    "It was so-so. I hope you can improve your cooking skills," the Lady Arclight informed him, lifting her head up slightly.


    "Only so-so?" Xiao Nanfeng was a little surprised.


    Back in his previous life, he had been very into cooking for a period of time and had spent significant effort learning how to cook well. He was quite confident in his abilities, and he would be preparing his own meals even within the sect if not for his devotion to cultivation.


    "You don''t believe me?" The Lady Arclight red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "No, of course not! You''re far more experienced than I am, Elder, and have naturally eaten better food. I had some spare time after hunting, so I made you a little toy to while away your time." Xiao Nanfneg retrieved an erhu from his back.


    He had been worried that the Lady Arclight would hold a grudge and try to make life difficult for him. She was too weak to do anything at the moment, but what about when she recovered her cultivation?


    In order to attempt to repair their rtionship, Xiao Nanfeng had personally crafted her an erhu based on materials he had found within the forest.


    The Lady Arclight took the erhu, then looked at Xiao Nanfeng with some surprise. Complicated emotions shed in her gaze. This was her first time receiving a musical instrument as a gift from anyone.


    "Elder, I''ve already cleared out all the spirits nearby, and you''ve recovered enough to walk on your own now. I''m going to take a long trip, and it might be evening by the time I''m back. Please take care of yourself!"


    The Lady Arclight nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng cleaned up after the meal, then left the valley quietly.


    The Lady Arclight sat by the exit to their and watched Xiao Nanfeng''s back, then the erhu in her hands. Her lips twitched and curled up. She felt the erhu carefully before slowly walking out of their.


    Xiao Nanfeng was headed for the lotus pond where the toad spirits had been, curious if anything had happened since.


    While he was still some distance from the pond, Xiao Nanfeng hid behind some trees and looked into the distance. He could see a few armored cultivators patrolling around the area.


    "It looks like the toad spirits have left, and the armored cultivators''panions have found them. I can''t stay in this region any longer¡ªit''s be far too dangerous," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He silently retraced his steps and left the area, designating this patch of territory as forbiddennd. It wasn''t too far from the boar spirit''sir, either, so thatir was no longer safe.


    On the way back, Xiao Nanfeng encountered a pheasant spirit, which he killed in no time at all.


    "Haha, we''ll have pheasant today! It''s one of my best dishes, so I''d like to see you call it ''so-so'' again¡ªI''ll make you swallow your tongue!" Xiao Nanfeng promised confidently.


    He rushed back toward their, but as he drew close, he found two crow spirits hovering in the air, cawing at the valley.


    "Has the valley been exposed...?"

 Chapter 64: Nanfeng from the Skies

    <h4>Chapter 64: Nanfeng from the Skies</h4>


    Two Immanence-realm crow spirits were leading ten ck-armored warriors into the valley of the boar''sir.


    "The crow spirits saw Taiqing disciples in this valley while scouting?"


    "Be careful¡ªdon''t getcent."


    The ten cultivators unsheathed their des and slowly approached the valley. On the waist of one man was cinched the head of a Taiqing disciple¡ªthey had found and killed one of them, and would im a bounty with that head.


    Within the boar''sir, the Lady Arclight was meditating when she suddenly heard a crow''s caw in the air. Her eyes shot open.


    "No!" She suspected that her location had just been found.


    Because of her previous abduction, her relics and treasured sword had all been taken from her, and she was still terribly weak. What could she do?


    Suddenly, she noticed the erhu that Xiao Nanfeng had given her.


    The Lady Arclight suddenly had an audacious thought. She would pretend to have recovered with the expectation of scaring away her enemies. Picking up the erhu, she hobbled to the front of the cave, then sat atop the boar spirit''s skeleton, closed her eyes, and began to y.


    The ten ck-armored cultivators had just walked up to the entrance to the valley when they heard a deste erhu tune from a distance. Nervous, they looked deep into the valley and saw the Lady Arclight.


    "It''s her?!" The ten cultivators sucked in a deep breath and ran from the valley in fright. They panted for breath with terrified expressions on their faces.


    "Damn it, what are these crow spirits thinking? Are they trying to get us all killed?!" one of them cried out.


    Clearly, the Lady Arclight''s n had been effective.


    "No, she hasn''t chased us here..." One of the cultivators quickly calmed down.


    "She must not have discovered us. What, do you want her to chase us down and kill us?!" another cultivator yelled out.


    "The marquis'' bounty imed that, as long as we can kill the Lady Arclight, we''ll get a promotion of three grades as an official, as well as a hundred thousand taels of gold! What if she did discover us... but hasn''t recovered from her critical injuries yet? What if she''s just trying to scare us away?" The cultivator''s eyes glimmered with greed.


    The other cultivators didn''t need much in the way of convincing. Three grades'' worth of a promotion, and a hundred thousand taels of gold...


    "It''s not impossible, but¡ª"


    "She was heavily injured, we all saw that! There''s no way she could have recovered so quickly!"


    "That''s true!" The ten cultivators looked at each other with mounting excitement.


    "Let''s go have another look!" another cultivator suggested.


    The ten cultivators made their way stealthily back to the valley, where they hid by its outskirts and watched the Lady Arclight y the erhu from afar.


    "That boar skeleton''s at least ten meters tall. It has to have been a spirit at Ascension-realm, at least. Could she have killed it?" one of the cultivators wondered, a frown marring his face.


    The other cultivators were silent in worry.


    "That boar skeleton might just be a coincidence. She''s surely very weak, or she would have sensed us with her spiritual power! If you''re still worried, let''s watch a bit longer. If she really is that strong, we''ll split up and run off immediately, but if she''s only trying to trick us, then we''ll strike at her and get rich together!"


    In the end, the cultivators'' greed won out over their fear. They patiently waited by the edge of the valley.


    By the entrance to their, the Lady Arclight continued ying her erhu. Though her eyes were closed, her hearing was incredible. She had been relieved that the cultivators were scared away initially, but now, they had returned and were watching her from afar.


    She couldn''t help but be nervous. She continued ying incessantly, but how long could shest? There would hardly be any reinforcements to aid her in this hidden realm. The longer she yed, the more she felt a sense of despair overwhelming her. She had yed for a full two hours, but those cultivators and the crow spirits hadn''t left. She felt as though she wouldn''t be able to feign healthiness much longer.


    The cultivators outside the valley nced at each other, excitement in their eyes. They had guessed that the Lady Arclight was simply bluffing.


    They nodded at each other, grabbed hold of their weapons, and began walking toward the Lady Arclight.


    "Die, Lady Arclight!" the leader shouted, shing at her with his sword.


    The Lady Arclight''s eyes were despondent. Was this indeed where she would die?


    Just then, a beam of golden light shed before her.


    The ck-armored cultivator that had raised his de stumbled back, a golden sword having pierced through his head and causing it to explode.


    "What?" Everyone nched.


    The flying sword swerved toward a second target. The cultivator was staring at the Lady Arclight, not expecting a sneak attack from behind. The moment hispanion was killed, he grew alert, but the Immortal Cicada was too quick. He didn''t have time to dodge.


    With a great explosion, the second man''s chest burst open in a shower of blood.


    All the cultivators quickly reacted, attempting to dodge the third sh of the Immortal Cicada. It smashed into a rock and caused it to explode into smithereens, missing its third target. The next moment, it flew toward the Lady Arclight''s side and whirled around her, preventing the cultivators from getting close.


    The cultivators nced around warily in search of the flying sword''s owner, only to see a figure at the entrance of the valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng had returned, descending out of nowhere like a heavenly soldier and rescuing the Lady Arclight from near-certain death. The crows in the sky cawed in rage.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced up at the scouting crows, then at the remaining eight ck-armored cultivators, especially the one with a Taiqing disciple''s head hanging around his waist. Killing intent emanated from Xiao Nanfeng in waves.


    "Apologies for startling you, Elder. Leave the rest to me." Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath.


    The Lady Arclight felt a sense of palpable relief, followed by deep worry. She knew that Xiao Nanfeng had just ascended to Immanence, but his opponents were eight Immanence-realm cultivators! Furthermore, they were wary of his Immortal Cicada. How would Xiao Nanfeng be


    able to fend off their attacks?


    "The marquis has ced a bounty on Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er. If we kill either of them, we''ll receive a promotion of two official grades and a bounty of fifty thousand taels of gold!"


    "ording to our information, he''s only at the peak of Acquisition."


    The eight cultivators, initially nervous, quickly found themselves blinded by greed. They shrugged off the fact that two of their number had died, confident that they would be able to defeat Xiao Nanfeng easily and im the bounty.


    Two of the cultivators struck immediately, one from the front and the other from the back, afraid that Xiao Nanfeng would escape. They wanted to im the bulk of the reward!


    Xiao Nanfeng targeted the one with his senior brother''s head cinched to his waist. Rather than retreat, he shot forward and punched at the cultivator, seizing the initiative.


    His opponent froze momentarily, then sneered in disdain as he too punched forward at full strength.


    The two fists met¡ªand the ck-armored cultivator''s fist exploded in a burst of flesh and blood. One finger was blown offpletely.


    The cultivator screamed. Before he could do more, Xiao Nanfeng had rushed forward, smashing his other fist into his neck. With an audible crack, the cultivator''s neck broke, cutting off his scream, as he died on the spot.


    "What?!"


    Before the cultivators could react, Xiao Nanfeng had already whirled toward his second target. He didn''t hide his skills; he activated Hegemon''s Fist once again.


    The four illusory fists caused the cultivator to panic. Within moments, his nose was struck by Xiao Nanfeng''s fist, and he was sent sprawling to the ground. Just as he was mbering back up, Xiao Nanfeng''s knee smashed into his head, cracking his skull and killing him instantly.


    A double kill!


    He moved far too quickly for an Acquisition-realm cultivator. By the time the opponents realized the truth, it was toote.


    "He''s not at Acquisition at all!" one of them shouted in fear.

 Chapter 65: Killing One and All

    <h4>Chapter 65: Killing One and All</h4>


    After Xiao Nanfeng killed two cultivators in session, he picked up a long de from the ground and struck at the remaining six.


    The six of them shied away in fear, none having expected Xiao Nanfeng to possess such insane strength. He had killed two people with his fists alone¡ªand they were Immanence-realm cultivators, too!


    As the cultivators panicked, Xiao Nanfeng appeared right by their sides.


    The scene from before had given them an innate fear of Xiao Nanfeng. When they saw him approach with a de, they instinctively defended.


    Just then, the Immortal Cicada appeared behind one of the cultivators like a shade, piercing through his chest with a clean snick. The cultivator''s chest exploded in a fountain of blood, shrieking in such a ghastly fashion that the other cultivators found their scalps prickling.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng tossed out his de at one of the cultivators in a raging torrent of energy. The cultivator managed to avoid the projectile, only to see the Immortal Cicada flying toward his forehead the next moment. Arge hole was drilled into his forehead on impact.


    The Immortal Cicada had killed yet another cultivator!


    Xiao Nanfeng had killed six of the cultivators in the blink of an eye, taking advantage of his initial momentum and the panic of the resulting cultivators. The remaining four were frightened beyond measure. They retreated quickly and nced at him warily, worried that he would continue his killing spree.


    They thought to flee, but Xiao Nanfeng cried out, "Are you trying to flee? It''s toote. Whoever runs first will be the target of my flying sword!"


    The four cultivators were paralyzed with fear. None dared move, worried that they would be the next target.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng walked toward the Lady Arclight, huffing out a breath. "I apologize for the dy, Elder, and for causing you a shock."


    "It''s not an issue." The Lady Arclight was shocked by the change in Xiao Nanfeng. His tremendousbat ability went beyond the expectations of the enemy cultivators¡ªand hers, as well. He was impossibly strong for a new Immanence-realm cultivator.


    "Elder, don''t you worry. For beheading my senior brother, I''ll make them pay. I''ll take their heads and use it as an offering for my deceased seniors!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, stepping forward and shielding the Lady Arclight protectively.


    "Crow spirits! Charge forward with me and kill him, now!" a ck-armored cultivatormanded the two Immanence-realm crow spirits hovering in the air.


    The two crow spirits cawed and struck at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng picked up a discarded de from the ground and shed at one of the crow spirits, which countered with sharp ws brimming with red light. It was sent flying from the confrontation, and the impact broke its right w. The other crow spirit had been flying toward Xiao Nanfeng when it was forced to evade the Immortal Cicadaing at it head-on. It flew up into the air to avoid the blow, but even so, arge number of its feathers were sliced off its body.


    The Immortal Cicada transformed into a beam of golden light that immediately ended the two crow spirits'' lives.


    Xiao Nanfeng then looked in the direction of the ck-armored warriors, only to find that they had fled while he was dealing with the crow spirits.


    "Tricking even their allies? They really are shameless." Xiao Nanfeng told the Lady Arclight, "I''ve already killed the crow spirits, and I doubt those cultivators will daree back here again. I''ll chase them down. Elder, please rest here. I''ll be right back!"


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed off in the direction of the four fleeing cultivators.


    As she nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s departing figure, the Lady Arclight''s heart thudded heavily. Although she had long since reached the Spiritsong realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s ster performance had shocked even her.


    For a moment, her thoughts were all over the ce.


    The skies darkened. Xiao Nanfeng had been gone for quite some time, and the Lady Arclight fretted as she nced in the direction in which he had departed.


    Suddenly, a lone figure appeared in sight. Xiao Nanfeng, dripping blood, like a god of killers, walked back toward the valley.


    The Lady Arclight couldn''t help but feel a sense of tremendous relief, but as Nanfeng walked closer, she schooled her features into impassivity and her natural pride.


    Two dayster, above the boar spirit''s valley, countless crow spirits were scouting in the air, and four golden ones had evennded in the valley proper. Arge number of ck-armored cultivators were dragging corpses toward the center of the valley for Xiang Wei''s perusal.


    "Second Master, we''ve checked the corpses. The wounds were all caused by a flying sword, likely the Immortal Cicada. On those other corpses were sh wounds from arge de. ording to the severity of the wounds, it''s very likely that the culprit was ate Immanence-realm cultivator. Those wounds were killing blows," one ck-armored cultivator analyzed, frowning.


    "The Immortal Cicada again? The crow spirits by the eastern region of the spirits'' domain im that there''s an Immortal Cicada over there wreaking havoc, likely that damn brat Yu''er. In that case, the Immortal Cicada here must belong to Xiao Nanfeng?" Xiang Wei narrowed his eyes.


    "That''s right, but Nanfeng''s cultivation isn''t strong enough to generate wounds of this magnitude. There has to be a second cultivator here!"


    "Crow Generals, have the crow spirits scour the area and try to find any sign of them. If they do, they''ll be richly rewarded!" Xiang Weimanded the golden crow spirits nearby.


    The four golden crow spirits cawed in acknowledgement.


    "Deal with the bodies. We''ll be on our way!" Xiang Weimanded.


    "Second Master, the crow spirits have discovered the pond, but there are quite a few Ascension-realm beasts in the vicinity. I''m afraid it''ll be dangerous," one of the ck-armored cultivators reported.


    "Aren''t you all Ascension-realm cultivators yourselves? We even have these four golden crow generals here, so what''s there to fear? Father has gone toward the divine domain topete for opportunities, so the three great natural havens of the spirits'' domain belong to us three Xiang siblings! Of course we have to im them. Let''s continue!" Xiang Weimanded.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    Deep within a hidden valley, the Lady Arclight had exchanged her Taiqing robes for blue armor, just like Xiao Nanfeng. Although the crow spirits would asionally spot them overhead, they weren''t recognized.


    The two of them ignored the scouting crows as they are Xiao Nanfeng''s roasted pheasant, prepared with a special marinade.


    "It tastes alright, though it''s a little light on vor," the Lady Arclight evaluated.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... Could she have been lying any more tantly? She had eaten the majority of the pheasant!


    "Elder, where are you bringing us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t know!" The Lady Arclight shook her head, tearing off a strip of meat from the wing of the pheasant.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ???


    "By the Spiritsong realm, you''ll develop extreme sensitivity to spiritual aether. It''s the most concentrated in that direction, and since we don''t have any other target, why not head there? The more dense the spiritual aether, the faster I''ll be able to recover." The Lady Arclight pointed past the hills in the distance.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng nced in that direction with some worry.


    There were quite a few giant birds hovering in the air above those hills. Perhaps the spiritual aether was denser in that region, but it was surely more dangerous, too! However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t object. He needed the Lady Arclight to recover more quickly so that she could help him find Yu''er.


    After the meal, the two of them set off once again. They encountered fewer and fewer Immanence-realm lifeforms and more Ascension-realm ones instead, all of whom seemed to be heading in the same direction as they were.


    Xiao Nanfeng cautiously any confrontations with the spirits by scouting ahead with spiritual power.

 Chapter 66: Draconic Veins

    <h4>Chapter 66: Draconic Veins</h4>


    Five dayster, Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight finally understood why the spirits were all headed in this direction.


    The two of them hid within a dense forest and nced out at argeke surging with spiritual aether in the distance.


    Theke was calm and quiet, yet exceedingly dangerous. By theke were dozens of Ascension-realm spirits, and more were making their way over even now.


    These strong lifeforms jockeyed for the best positions around theke.


    A ten-meter tall giant purple bird spat out a mouthful of lightning at an elephant spirit, which didn''t back down. It retaliated with a giant orb of frost. The tworge spirits began to fight with each other, and all just for an advantageous spot near the edge of theke. Despite their heated fight, neither was willing to approach theke directly.


    "There must be something good hidden within thatke," the Lady Arclight murmured, narrowing her eyes.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Just then, the environment seemed to shudder.


    "An earthquake?" the Lady Arclight wondered.


    The spirits by the shore of theke all stopped their squabbles and looked toward the water expectantly. Theke water frothed, and a golden glow seemed to be visible at the bottom of theke.


    With a huge ssh, the golden light exploded into thousands of fragments that scattered all over. Dozens of spirits pounced toward the fragments as they gobbled them up. However, there were too many fragments even for the ardent spirits. The fragments rushed out beyond the surface of the water, then circled theke as they danced through the air.


    In order to swallow up more of the golden fragments, the spirits struck at each other as they fought with their lives on the line. Fireballs, shards of ice, lightning, and wind des crashed into each other in a chaotic explosion of elemental energies.


    "That''s... a dragon?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    All the golden fragments were in the form of dragons, as though there were tens of thousands of little golden dragons fleeing through the air, which the spirits fought tooth and nail to devour.


    "A draconic vein! Could there be a huge draconic vein at the bottom of thiske?!" The Lady Arclight was astounded.


    "What''s a draconic vein?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s a special ss of natural veins that can umte an endless supply of spiritual aether. Under specific circumstances, these veins can emit draconic aether, a form of incredibly concentrated spiritual aether that takes on the shape of dragons," the Lady Arclight exined.


    Suddenly, her eyes brightened. "Look over there! Some draconic aether is floating to the shore, straight at us, and none of the spirits have noticed. Can you lure it over with your flying sword?"


    Xiao Nanfeng manipted his Immortal Cicada and sent it flying toward the golden dragon.


    The de skewered a small golden dragon, turned back toward the forest, and brought it straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The golden dragon was about a third of a meter long. It almost seemed to be alive, and was struggling to free itself from impalement.


    "What do you do with this aether? Eat it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right!"


    The Lady Arclight drew close, opened her mouth, and began to suck at the golden dragon, which transformed into a cloud of mist that she absorbed. The Lady Arclight immediately made a satisfied expression. Her beauty was stunning; Xiao Nanfeng was caught a little off guard.


    After quite some time, she happily opened her eyes, only to see that Xiao Nanfeng had lured another golden dragon over and was distilling its essence now.


    As the draconic aether seeped into Xiao Nanfeng''s body, it transformed into the purest spiritual aether, nourishing his physical self and partially transforming into spiritual power.


    After a long moment, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes. "This is amazing. One golden dragon had as much spiritual aether as an Immanence-realm lifeform!"


    "Consuming draconic aether is far superior to eating an Immanence-realm lifeform. The former can both augment your cultivation and fortify your physical body, eventually transforming it into one as strong and sturdy as a dragon''s," the Lady Arclight replied, rolling her eyes at him.


    "A true treasure." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up as he stared at theke.


    "Unfortunately, it''s hard to find such remnant draconic aether. The majority is in theke, too far away for us to do anything about." The Lady Arclight sighed in unwilling resignation.


    If not for her current weakness, she would be right there by theke shore, sending all those Ascension-realm spirits packing! All that aether would have been hers!


    "That''s not difficult," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. He sent the flying sword out of the forest and straight toward theke. The sword quickly pierced through a golden dragon, then flew toward a second one, a third one, a fourth one, and a fifth one.


    The Immortal Cicada skewered twenty golden dragons in a row before returning to Xiao Nanfeng with a full haul.


    The twenty golden dragons were particrly eye-catching. A giant purple bird''s eyes lit up as it flew over, but the Immortal Cicada quickly vanished through the trees.


    The giant purple bird roared in anger, spitting out a bolt of lightning and charring a patch of forest into smoldering earth. Unfortunately, the Immortal Cicada and twenty golden dragons had already vanished from sight. The giant purple bird, realizing that it was wasting its time, returned to theke shore and angrily began fighting for the remaining golden dragons.


    The Immortal Cicada zipped toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Just how much spiritual power do you have?" The Lady Arclight was startled by Xiao Nanfeng''s disy.


    The distance between theke shore and the forest where they were located was significant. For Xiao Nanfeng to be able to steer it there, agilely capture twenty golden dragons with it, then dodge the giant purple bird''s attacks and return... no cultivator at the Heavenly Spring stage of spiritual cultivation could have that much spiritual power and control!


    "Here, you take this. I''ll get the next batch while the spirits are fighting among themselves. There isn''t much draconic aether left," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "You have enough spiritual power to do this again?" The Lady Arclight seemed even more shocked.


    By the time the flying sword returned to theke, there was little draconic aether remaining, and thepetition over what was left grew even fiercer.


    Just as the elephant and bear spirits were fighting over a few golden dragons, a beam of golden light shed by and stole the aether they were fighting over. The two spirits immediately gave chase angrily, but the beam of light shed away into the distance. At the same time, sensing another opportunity, it skewered the golden dragons that the wolf and leopard spirits were fighting over as well.


    The fourrge spirits roared in outrage as they chased after the beam of light, but just as they were about to catch up, it shot into the forest and vanished from sight.


    The spirits spat out des of wind, mes, and chilly frost, destroying that patch of forest¡ªbut to no avail. It would take them a tremendous amount of energy to search through the depths of the forest, and they couldn''t give up on the remaining golden dragons above the surface of theke now. They roared once more in outrage before rampaging back.


    The beam of light was none other than the Immortal Cicada, which had returned to Xiao Nanfeng with a dozen or so golden dragons.


    "Phew! With four spirits giving chase at once, the Immortal Cicada barely made it back!" Xiao Nanfeng exhaled in relief.


    Copying the Lady Arclight, he inhaled the golden dragons, filling his body with spiritual energy in incrediblefort. However, if he wanted to continue breaking through, he would need even more spiritual energy.

 Chapter 67: Fighting Against Beasts

    <h4>Chapter 67: Fighting Against Beasts</h4>


    After half an hour, Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes and saw the Lady Arclight staring at him.


    "Just how much spiritual power do you have? You managed to send the flying sword to theke four times?!" The Lady Arclight had grown very interested in Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''m almost at my limit. What stage of spiritual cultivation are you at, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng feigned weakness and quickly changed the topic.


    "At Ster Lake," the Lady Arclight replied pridefully.


    "Wow! That''s amazing, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng praised. Indeed, this tactic worked very well on the Lady Arclight. She no longer asked about Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation.


    "Unfortunately, there''s barely any draconic aether left. It''s particrly valuable for healing and restoration, and I''ve already recovered to the level of an Immanence-realm cultivator," the Lady Arclight sighed.


    <i>Hmm? About to be able to beat me in a fight, then?</i>


    "Elder, look! Those spirits haven''t departed from theke. Rather, they''ve retreated and imed a patch of territory for themselves. Perhaps there''ll be another opportunityter. Why don''t we stay here for a bit longer?" Xiao Nanfeng pointed toward theke.


    "That makes sense!" The Lady Arclight''s eyes lit up. "If more draconic aether appears, let me have it all. Once my cultivation is fully restored, I''ll chase these lifeforms away and im thiske for myself. At that point, I''ll return the draconic aether I took tenfold!" The Lady Arclight patted Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>She''s really being rather demanding, isn''t she?</i>


    "Let''s celebrate by having honeyed bear paw tonight!" the Lady Arclight continued, her mood having improved greatly.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>Food, again? And you say you aren''t a glutton?</i>


    The two of them didn''t dare start a fire by theke. They silently left, found a deserted cave by evening, and cleaned it. Then, Xiao Nanfeng took out a spirit bear paw from a bear he had killed along the way, along with spirit bee honey, and began to cook.


    After having had her fill, the Lady Arclight sat cross-legged and began to meditate, distilling the remaining essence from the draconic aether she had absorbed, while continuously absorbing aether from the environment so as to restore her strength.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng took out the jade token the Lady Arclight had given him, then began reading through the Taoist scriptures within.


    The Lady Arclight snuck a peek at Xiao Nanfeng during a break, only to see him intently looking at the jade token. She frowned. "You''re memorizing a scripture?"


    "Yes, Elder. I haven''t finished going through the thousand scriptures in the token," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He nodded without raising his head.


    The Lady Arclight pursed her lips. "You¡ªYou don''t have to be so serious about it."


    She had punished Xiao Nanfeng with memorizing all thousand scriptures in the jade token before he could be permitted to return to the sect, but she now felt that that punishment was too harsh. She wanted to persuade him against the herculean task.


    "It''s quite alright. The scriptures here are rather interesting, and I''ll be able to memorize them quickly."


    The Lady Arclight was very conflicted. She wanted to retract her punishment, but her strong sense of pride prevented her from doing so. In the end, she said nothing, but the issue bothered her all night long.


    The next day, the two of them found a hiding spot early in the morning that allowed them a vantage point of theke. It took until evening before the ground rumbled again.


    "It''s here! I expected we''d have to wait quite a few days, too!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed.


    "Quick, the flying sword!" the Lady Arclight urged.


    With another huge boom, the draconic aether in theke transformed into tens of thousands of small golden dragons that swam through the air.


    The spirits surged toward the area where the dragons were most concentrated and began to fight over them. The Immortal Cicada joined their midst.


    Suddenly, the giant purple bird from the day before saw the Immortal Cicada and spat out a bolt of lightning at it in rage, causing a huge ssh in theke. Unfortunately, the Immortal Cicada was too agile for it. It flew into the forest at speed, with a considerable number of golden dragons skewered on its de. The giant purple bird roared in anger, but it was toote to give chase. It returned to theke and continued fighting for the draconic aether with the other spirits.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave all the draconic aether to the Lady Arclight, then sent the sword toward theke once again.


    At theke, the elephant spirit howled in rage. The draconic aether that should have belonged to it was snatched away once more! It sprayed out a ball of frost at the de, instantly freezing it, but the Immortal Cicada still managed to escape into the forest. The elephant trumpeted in growing anger.


    Xiao Nanfeng deposited the draconic aether with the Lady Arclight, wiped away the remaining shards of ice, then sent the Immortal Cicada to theke once again.


    It continued to steal the aether from the gathered spirits, sessfully enraging them all. Although the Immortal Cicada wasn''t taking arge share of the aether, this was undoubtedly a provocation. Who wouldn''t be angry at its antics?


    In the end, thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s considerable preparations, he managed to make eight flights with the Immortal Cicada. By thest flight, there were dozens of lifeforms surrounding the de and attempting to prevent it from escaping.


    The Immortal Cicada was struck by a bolt of lightning and almost fell into theke, but fortunately, Xiao Nanfeng possessed enough spiritual power to stabilize its flight. It barely managed to disappear into the forest, once again spawning a huge wave of cries and bellows from the gathered spirits.


    As the flying sword returned, Xiao Nanfeng caressed the engraved runes on the de that had grown dull with a pained wince.


    As the Lady Arclight finished distilling the draconic aether, she slowly opened her eyes. "Hmph! Once my cultivation recovers, I''ll beat them all up. You can make them all into food then!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the Lady Arclight with some doubt.<i> Is she nning on taking revenge for the Immortal Cicada, or just trying to make me cook for her?</i>


    "For that bear spirit, I''d like to have honeyed bear paws. For that giant purple bird, do what you did with the roast pheasant. For the elephant spirit, make teppanyaki. As for the leopard, braise it slowly and..."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The truth had been revealed. The Lady Arclight wanted his cooking; she didn''t care about his sword!


    Xiao Nanfeng swallowed thest batch of draconic aether himself, restoring the spiritual power he had lost in manipting the Immortal Cicada so much.


    "Draconic aether is truly amazing. My cultivation is recovering quickly. Let''s continue tomorrow!" The Lady Arclight looked at Xiao Nanfeng with excitement.


    "I feel like these spirits will focus on blocking and trapping the Immortal Cicada tomorrow, rather than on the draconic aether... We should take our time, or we might end up suffering for it," Xiao Nanfeng replied with some trepidation.


    "Don''t worry. I believe in your abilities!" The Lady Arclight patted Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>Is she trying to trick me into working for her?</i>


    "Even if the Immortal Cicada is lost, I''ll help you get a better flying sword in the future. Come, let''s have some roasted pheasant tonight!" the Lady Arclight urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...

 Chapter 68: Ambush

    <h4>Chapter 68: Ambush</h4>


    The Lady Arclight was exceptionally pleased to have much of her cultivation restored. She chatted with Xiao Nanfeng about dinner on their way back to the cave.


    As they approached the valley in which they had rested yesterday, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly felt a premonition of danger.


    "Be careful!" He tackled the Lady Arclight and sent both of them sprawling to the ground. Two arrows suddenly whizzed by where the two cultivators were standing.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight hurriedly hid behind arge boulder.


    "Even if you hadn''t pushed me, I would have been able to avoid that arrow. No one at Immanence can defeat me¡ªI''m stronger than you now! But look at this mess you''ve made," the Lady Arclight grumbled, wiping at the mud on her robes.


    "I apologize, Elder. My first thought was to protect you." Xiao Nanfeng scratched his head with some embarrassment.


    The Lady Arclight stilled. Her heart thrummed, and her dissatisfaction disappeared in the blink of an eye. Even the mud on her robes didn''t feel as bothersome anymore.


    "Hand me a de," she said softly.


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled out two longswords from his storage ring, passing one of them to the Lady Arclight. They carefully peeked out from the boulder toward the valley.


    "Young Master Wei, it looks like there''s no need for us to worry. The two of them were hard-pressed just avoiding those arrows, and it''s clear that they''re only at Immanence. That man isn''t Ye Sanshui, and that woman, well, with this sort of cultivation, clearly isn''t the Lady Arclight," a man analyzed from a distance.


    "In that case, there''s no need to hide. Show yourselves. Surround them so they can''t escape," a young manmanded.


    From all around them, out of the mountains and forests, came a group of blue-armored cultivators.


    Clearly, those two arrows had just been a test.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw that the young man who had spoken was standing rather far away, under the protection of over a dozen men. He held a white paper fan in his hand and was staring pridefully in the direction of Xiao Nanfeng. He was clearly the supposed Young Master Wei.


    "Come out, the two of you! Let''s have a chat!" Young Master Wei cried out, folding his fan.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight exchanged a nce, then stepped out from behind the rock. They looked around them. There were almost a hundred armored cultivators in all, dozens of whom were archers, along with five spiritbane crossbows.


    They had clearly been too obvious about stealing the draconic aether with Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada for them to have been caught in just a day.


    Clearly, this Young Master Wei had even nned out an escape route for if the two cultivators were at Ascension-realm. The spiritbane arrows would serve to distract them as the cultivators ran off.


    "Oh? And a beauty, at that! I''ve never seen someone so ravishing even in the capital!" Young Master Wei''s eyes lit up.


    The Lady Arclight''s eyes rimed over.


    "How do you know our names?" Xiao Nanfeng asked balefully.


    "I interrogated one of your seniors, of course! Who are you? Xiao Nanfeng? And I know this beauty too¡ªshe''s Yu''er, isn''t she? Just how many Immortal Cicadas do you have?" Young Master Wei nced at the two of them expectantly, not realizing his mistake.


    "Where is that disciple?" the Lady Arclight asked in a chilling tone.


    "Oh, him? He ignored me when I asked him a question, so each of us carved a bit of flesh out of his body. He resisted for quite some time, too¡ªit took us a few dozen cuts before he started talking. Unfortunately, my men aren''t terribly skilled. He died after a hundred or so cuts. It''s a pity," Young Master Wei sighed.


    "What did you say?!" The Lady Arclight burned with rage. This was a group of demons!


    "Oho? Angry, are you? If you don''t listen up, you''ll end up like him. The two of you are just Immanence-realm cultivators¡ªwhat can you do?" Young Master Wei scoffed at them.


    "How do you intend to deal with us, then?" The Lady Arclight''s grip on her de tightened. She swung it back and forth, killing intent emanating from her body.


    "Kneel down and recognize me as your master, then hand over your Immortal Cicada. I''ll spare your life then. Woman, you seem quite feisty, and I like that¡ªbut you better understand your circumstances. Treasure my goodwill and be my pet. That''s better than dying, isn''t it? As for this man, forget it. Send him to his senior brother!" Young Master Weimanded, tapping his fan against his palm.


    "Be careful!" the Lady Arclight shouted at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, five giant arrows shot toward where he had been standing, sending a spray of rubble into the air.


    The armored warriors, on seeing Young Master Wei''s signal¡ªthe tapping of his fan against his palm¡ªhad shot their crossbows at Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously, but he had dodged them all.


    "Hmph! You might have been able to dodge the attack once, but not twice. Leave that woman alive¡ªkill the man!" Young Master Weimanded.


    A rain of arrows shot toward the two cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight leapt up, twisting their bodies to avoid the attack.


    "What?" Young Master Wei''s face grew concerned. Dozens of arrows, but none of them hadnded? Not only that, Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada transformed into a beam of light that shot toward a spiritbane crossbow.


    "Be careful!" one of the cultivators cried out.


    With a huge boom, an archer''s head exploded, pierced clean through by the Immortal Cicada. Not only that, the force of the explosion had destroyed the spiritbane crossbow.


    "Something''s wrong! Loose your arrows, quickly!" Young Master Wei cried out. He had been taunting the two cultivators in order to distract them so that the crossbowmen could urately shoot at their targets¡ªso how had they dodged the arrows? This wasn''t going ording to n!


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight had deliberately exposed themselves, not knowing how many archers were hidden in the forest, nor where they were located. They had been feigning weakness so as to cause the archers to reveal themselves.


    Xiao Nanfeng had incredible spiritual power. The moment he discovered where they were firing from, the arrows were guaranteed not to strike him.


    Although the Lady Arclight''s spiritual power hadn''t recovered fully, she had considerable experience and numerous techniques at her disposal. The nce she exchanged with Xiao Nanfeng had allowed him to understand that she would be able to deal with the arrows herself.


    Both of them shot toward Young Master Wei.


    "Shoot quickly!"


    Another volley of arrows targeted the two cultivators, but they easily avoided them all.


    Just then, explosions resounded from the distant forest.


    "Young Master, something''s gone wrong! All the spiritbane crossbows have been destroyed!" one subordinate shouted.


    The spiritbane crossbows wererge and unwieldy, and it was particrly difficult for them to aim at a small human target. However, if the arrows didnd, they could even hurt Ascension-realm cultivators. This was a threat that Xiao Nanfeng prioritized handling.


    The Immortal Cicada caused all the spiritbane crossbows to explode into smithereens, then transformed into a bolt of light that shot toward Young Master Wei.


    "Protect the young master!" a group of cultivators cried out.


    One pushed Young Master Wei out of the line of fire, defending him even as the Immortal Cicada pierced through his body.


    The Immortal Cicada looped back toward Young Master Wei again. Another cultivator pushed him aside as his head exploded.


    "Quick, everyone, kill that cultivator! Once he dies, his sword will be useless! Kill him now and I''ll reward youvishly!" Young Master Wei cried out.


    Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight. Xiao Nanfeng prepared for their assault, but the Lady Arclight was faster.


    As Xiao Nanfeng beheaded one cultivator, a storm of swords manifested around the Lady Arclight. She killed three armored cultivators in the blink of an eye, in a shower of blood.


    "Nanfeng, protect yourself. I''ll handle them!" the Lady Arclight cried out. She charged into the horde of cultivators, revealing her frighteningbat prowess.


    Another eight heads were sent flying in an explosion of blood. Xiao Nanfeng gaped. Was the Lady Arclight this strong?


    He took a deep breath. As his de shed, countless armored cultivators were killed.


    "Loose more arrows, quickly!" one cultivatormanded.


    Another volley of arrows shot toward them, but neither Xiao Nanfeng nor the Lady Arclight were harmed. Rather, several armored cultivators fell to friendly fire.


    The two Taiqing cultivators rushed straight toward Young Master Wei. Xiao Nanfeng was still manipting his Immortal Cicada in Young Master Wei''s vicinity, killing a cultivator each time he struck.


    "Hold him back, hold him back!" Young Master Wei cried out in panic.


    He had thought that everything was under his control, but who would have known that death was drawing so near? The two enemy cultivators approached him, beheading his guards in a spray of blood. This was a hellscape!


    One strong cultivator managed to block Xiao Nanfeng''s swing. Their strength looked to be evenly matched¡ªbut the next moment, the Immortal Cicada pierced through his head, and he perished on the spot.


    Xiao Nanfeng was hardly invincible, but the Immortal Cicada was an incredible tool inbat. With it around, he would be invincible against any Immanence-realm cultivator. He was certain to behead an enemy with every sh of his sword.


    It went without saying that the same was true of the Lady Arclight, who seemed to have turned into a god of ughter. Where she struck, heads would fall.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight''s bodies were covered in fresh blood. They had killed dozens of cultivators each, and were growing close to Young Master Wei.


    As they approached, Young Master Wei''s legs turned to jelly.


    "Quick, fire a signal and inform my father, now!" Young Master Wei howled.


    As fireworks wereunched into the air, Xiao Nanfeng sent his Immortal Cicada chasing after it. The Immortal Cicada batted the projectile back down to the ground, where it exploded in a forest, the signal lost.


    Young Master Wei''s eyes filled with despair. "No¡ªhold them back, hold them back!"


    He had never imagined that these two cultivators would force him into such dire straits.

 Chapter 69: The Toad Spirit Again

    <h4>Chapter 69: The Toad Spirit Again</h4>


    Young Master Wei called out for his subordinates to stop the two cultivators as he ran for his life.


    "Be careful, Young Master!" one armored cultivator called out.


    The Immortal Cicada was rapidly approaching Young Master Wei''s head. He was sent flying by a tremendous force, but a red barrier that suddenly materialized over his body protected him.


    "That jade pendant by his waist is a defensive treasure whose defense the Immortal Cicada can''t prate. Don''t worry¡ªjust hold him back. Once we deal with everyone else here, we can handle him slowly," the Lady Arclight called out.


    She embarked on a killing spree once more.


    She looked like a martial god descending from the heavens, and her aura was so frightening that the armored cultivators fled and scattered wherever she went.


    "Don''t worry. He won''t be able to escape!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The Immortal Cicada resonated, knocking the fleeing Young Master Wei back. Young Master Wei had discovered that, with the flying sword around, he waspletely unable to escape, not even with his treasured jade pendant.


    "Don''t you dare run, any of you! If you do, the Wei n will ughter your entire house! Everyone, kill that man, do it now!" Young Master Wei howled.


    The cultivators who were fleeing nched, knowing that Young Master Wei was a man of his word. They had no choice but to quash their fear and turn toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight struck at the cultivatorsing their way. The Lady Arclight took down every opponent with a single blow; while Xiao Nanfeng could hardly be as efficient, he too was undefeated in conjunction with his Immortal Cicada.


    Within moments, dozens of corpses were scattered by the two cultivators'' sides.


    The remaining ten cultivators, regardless of how Young Master Wei threatened them, refused to approach Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight. They discarded the des and bows in their hands as they ran for their lives.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    The Immortal Cicada gave chase, killing a few cultivators from the back, leaving just a lucky few stragglers who managed to make it into the forest cover.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight waded over a pile of corpses as they walked up to Young Master Wei, who trembled in fear. "Don''t kill me! I''ll hand you anything!"


    "Take off your pendant," Xiao Nanfengmanded coldly.


    Young Master Wei nched. The pendant was his only defensive artifact! He gritted his teeth, eyes shing, as he unsheathed his de and struck at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Immortal Cicada smashed Young Master Wei back onto the ground.


    "That was meant to be a chance for you to surrender, but you refused it instead? Do you really think we can''t do anything against your pendant?" The Lady Arclight scoffed disdainfully.


    She stepped forward andunched a flurry of blows at Young Master Wei, ten in all. With a huge explosion, the jade pendant burst apart in a sh of red. The Lady Arclight''s final blow sliced Young Master Wei''s right arm off.


    "Argh!" Young Master Wei howled, clutching his stump of an arm. "What do you want? I''ll give you anything! Don''t kill me!"


    "Why don''t you have any Ascension-realm cultivators with you?" Xiao Nanfeng interrogated coldly.


    "I¡ª" Young Master Wei held his tongue.


    "If you don''t tell me, I''ll cut off your other arm," the Lady Arclight threatened.


    "I''ll talk! My father and the others are in the swamp in the southern valley dealing with the two toad spirits. All the Ascension-realm cultivators are there!" Young Master Wei replied in panic.


    "Then what are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "My men saw you using your flying sword yesterday, and we guessed that you had to be Nanfeng or Yu''er. Allegedly, neither of them has a particrly advanced cultivation, and my scouts found that that cave showed signs of being inhabited when exploring this territory. That''s why I showed up with some of my men. If there were an Ascension-realm cultivator with you, we would have run immediately¡ªbut if you were at Immanence, we would strike." Young Master Wei revealed everything in an instant.


    "So you were hiding this expedition from your Ascension-realm elders, hoping to im all the profit for yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "Yes. If I had waited for my father and the other senior cultivators to make a move, the flying sword surely would end up being passed to someone else, so..."


    Young Master Wei had been nning to take on this challenge for himself, only to btedly realize that he had bitten off more than he could chew.


    "Why have youe here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Allegedly, there''s a tremendous treasure in the area that was being zealously guarded by a frog spirit. The frog spirit has now gone to the divine domain, and His Highness mobilized various lords to discover where the treasure is located. However, they encountered two toad spirits, who killed my second uncle. This was a slight on my father, who mobilized to take revenge immediately with the other lords."


    "Where are they now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "In the swamp valley over there. I''ll lead you all over." Young Master Wei''s eyes shed with relief. <i>Once my father''s within sight, none of you will be able to escape!</i>


    "That won''t be necessary," Xiao Nanfeng replied. With a snick, he killed Young Master Wei in one blow.


    "These cultivators are all responsible for the torture of the Taiqing sect''s disciples. Those cultivators that ran off¡ªwe''ll have to stop them," the Lady Arclight warned.


    "They''re sure to be heading toward the swamp valley to report what happened. Shall we block them off there?"


    "Let''s go!"


    The two Taiqing cultivators rushed into the forest in the direction that Young Master Wei had pointed them in. They quickly caught up to two armored cultivators fleeing for their lives, who scattered upon realizing whom they hade across.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight killed them on the spot, showing them no mercy.


    Finally, at sunset, the two cultivators killed thest of the enemies who had escaped. They sighed in relief, then nced at each other in the moonlight. This was sufficient revenge for those Taiqing disciples that had been tortured to death, wasn''t it?


    Just then, the deep rumble of beasts could be heard from a distance. The two cultivators quickly headed toward the scene to investigate. As they climbed up onto a hillock, they were able to see what was going on by moonlight.


    They were adjacent to arge valley, the center of which was filled with clear water about half a human''s height deep¡ªa huge swamp, lush with weeds and aquatic grasses.


    Dozens of armored cultivators'' bodies could be seen in the swamp. Two hundred more cultivators were dragging dozens ofrge chains that bound two huge toad spirits.


    The two spirits bellowed in outrage, but they were entirely unable to free themselves. Except for the chains holding them down, there were three men each standing over their heads.


    The six men burned with blue me. The longswords in their hands had been thrust into the toad spirits'' heads, causing them to bellow in agony.


    "Bastards, let''s see how much longer you can hold out!" one man roared inughter.


    "n Head Wei, we''ve suffered tremendous losses trying to help you deal with these two bastards!" one of the other men called out.


    "Don''t worry. The Wei n won''t forget what you''ve done to help me avenge my second brother. My men have already begun investigating the matter of the flying swords. We will cede whatever im we have to them."


    "That''s not enough. The swords belong to a group of foreigners, and we want to enve them as well!"


    "Very well."


    On the hillock, Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight shared a nce.


    "These cultivators aren''t giving up on us, are they?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured darkly.


    The Lady Arclight also bit her lip, clearly frustrated by this turn of events. With these cultivators watching out for them, they would be unable to continue fishing for draconic aether.


    "Are these the two toad spirits you worked withst time?" she asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    "That''s right. The situation back then was rather unique¡ªbut this time, with six Ascension-realm enemy cultivators, if we strike, we may not be able to leave safely," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    The Lady Arclight''s eyes shed with frost, then she turned toward Xiao Nanfeng expectantly. "Just how much spiritual power do you have?"


    "Why?"


    "I have a method to deal with the enemy cultivators, but it needs a tremendous quantity of spiritual power. Perhaps if your spiritual cultivation were at Ster Lake..." the Lady Arclight trailed off, confidence shing through her eyes.


    "You want to lure the spirits over?" Xiao Nanfeng guessed her n quickly.


    "That''s right. Do you have enough spiritual power to support me?" the Lady Arclight asked expectantly.


    "I think I do. Let''s do it." Xiao Nanfeng nodded intently.


    "Really?!" The Lady Arclight''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the erhu he had made for the Lady Arclight, which she took immediately. She got into position and prepared to y. "Infuse spiritual power into my body and allow me to manipte it. The moment you start to run dry, let me know and I''ll stop."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He ced his hand on the Lady Arclight''s shoulder, sending spiritual power into her body like a raging river.


    The spiritual power was so immense that the Lady Arclight was caught unawares, causing a bout of spiritual power to seep out of her body, transforming into a gust of wind that blew through her hair in a sight of picturesque beauty.


    "How could your spiritual power be..." The Lady Arclight looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in shock.


    She had guessed that it would be impressive, but not to such an extent! His burgeoning spiritual power might very well beparable to what she had ess to at her prime. How could this be?

 Chapter 70: Inciting a Beast Stampede

    <h4>Chapter 70: Inciting a Beast Stampede</h4>


    "Is this enough spiritual power? I know it might be a little limited, but if you can make do...?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Lady Arclight: ...


    She very much wanted to ask Xiao Nanfeng how he hade by such tremendous spiritual power, but if she did so, wouldn''t it make her seem ignorant? Her pride forced her to swallow her questions.


    "We''ll start now!" The Lady Arclight began to y the erhu, a bit of stifled annoyance in her tone.


    A mournful, deste tune was emitted from the erhu. As the Lady Arclight infused her spiritual power into the music, blue ripples emanated from her.


    The Lady Arclight plucked at the strings of the erhu as the blue ripples spread toward the farawayke. They exploded in the air, and the music was magnified across theke.


    Dozens of lifeforms had congregated around theke, some conversing and exchanging pleasantries, while others battled and dueled each other. Time and again, they brought up the flying sword that had gued them thesest two days, discussing how to catch it tomorrow.


    Just then, sound waves infused with spiritual power struck their heads, filling their mindscapes with certain images.


    The spirits saw the flying sword that had gued them being controlled by a group of blue-armored cultivators,ughing as they pointed at the spirits and cursed at them. Theirughter became more and more riotous, their insults more and more scathing.


    Even an ascetic monk would be boiling mad, let alone a group of hotheaded spirits.


    The giant purple bird let out a blistering roar. All around theke, the other spirits echoed the giant purple bird''s cry, their eyes turning red as they looked around madly for these armored cultivators.


    The giant purple bird soared into the air for a better vantage point as it searched for the source of the spiritual power. Suddenly, it found something. The giant purple bird shrieked, motioning for the other spirits to follow it toward the armored cultivators who had dared to challenge them.


    The spirits all roared in response, following behind the giant purple bird as they trampled through the forest. Dozens of spirits, brimming with strength and righteous indignation, rushed off to kill the armored cultivators that had taunted and mocked them.


    Meanwhile, on the hillock by the swamp, the Lady Arclight continued ying the erhu, her eyes shut as she concentrated on the tune.


    "Do you think this tune is atrocious, then?" The Lady Arclight rolled her eyes at Xiao Nanfeng, but she didn''t seem angry.


    "It''s excellent, Elder." Xiao Nanfeng smiled awkwardly.


    Last time, he had criticized this tune for being discordant; this time, he wouldn''t run his mouth.


    "This is the Spiritsong of Beast Invocation. It''s not meant for cultivators but rather specifically for spirits, and the song itself is meant to be taunting and mocking. If you want beautiful melodies, well, I have none of those," the Lady Arclight exined.


    "No wonder!" Xiao Nanfeng understood the situation now. The music he had heard was meant to be taunting and mocking; how could it be melodious?


    "My cultivation is limited, and I likely can''t iste the sound and prevent it from spreading into the valley. Keep an eye out for any trouble. We''ll stop if the cultivators make a move," the Lady Arclight instructed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and turned toward the valley before him.


    The six Ascension-realm cultivators were attempting to break through the toad spirits'' defenses and deal them a killing blow when they frowned.


    "Do you hear something? An erhu, perhaps?"


    "How could there be an erhu here? And it sounds horrid, too!"


    "I feel like something might be wrong. Quick, we should kill these two toad spirits as fast as we can, now!" the leader shouted.


    None of the six understood what the music represented, but they all had an uneasy premonition. Nodding to each other, they concentrated in earnest. The blue light around them red, and the increased strength and density of attacks caused the two toads to bellow again in pain.


    However, the male toad suddenly shook. It understood the meaning of the melody. In its mindscape, it could see a group of armored cultivators taunting it with a flying sword, but the male toad wasn''t angry at all. In fact, it was even hopeful¡ªit recognized that sword, and its owner had fought with it a few days ago!


    Could that man havee once again?


    As it bore the pain of the assault, it croaked at itspanion in excitement, telling it not to give up, that help was on its way.


    The female toad spirit croaked back in understanding.


    "These two toad spirits are fighting back even harder than before! There has to be something wrong with that erhu. We can''t drag this out any longer. Keep suppressing these toad spirits. I''ll go find the source of the music and destroy it!" the leader called out.


    "Understood!" The unease that the cultivators was feeling grew stronger and stronger.


    Just then, a ray of golden light shot through the sky, seizing everyone''s attention.


    "It''s that flying sword?!" someone cried out.


    The flying sword descended from the heavens and rapidly cut apart one chain on the male toad''s body.


    "Damn it!" one cultivator shed at the Immortal Cicada with his sword in a sh of green light. Struck by the attack, the Immortal Cicada went flying into the swamp water, where it sank out of sight.


    "Where''s the flying sword? It vanished into the water?!"


    The six cultivators didn''t know that the appearance of the Immortal Cicada wasn''t intended to save the toad spirits, but rather to draw the other spiritbeasts'' attention.


    Just then, as the giant purple bird flew by the Lady Arclight''s hillock, she stopped ying the erhu and went into hiding along with Xiao Nanfeng. At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng sent the Immortal Cicada into the air to attract its attention.


    The giant purple bird saw the shining golden de from afar,pletely confident that this sword was the one that had gued it for days. It rushed into the valley and disappeared from sight.


    The giant purple bird flew toward the valley, where it noticed the same armored cultivators it had seen in its mindscape trying to take down two toad spirits! The flying sword had to be a treasure of these cultivators. If the toad spirits were under attack by the cultivators, then they were allies!


    The giant purple bird spat out a bolt of lightning at the cultivators, killing dozens of them and injuring dozens more, who fell into the swamp water.


    The cultivators cried out in shock. What was this spiritbeast doing here, and why was it attacking them?


    "We''ll take you down, fowl!" One Ascension-realm cultivator jumped into the air andunched a sword technique at the giant purple bird. An explosion knocked back both the cultivator and spiritbeast.


    The giant purple bird roared in outrage, spitting out another bolt of lightning, which the cultivator dodged.


    "n Head Wei, I''ll help you out. This fowl will die here!" another cultivator thundered.


    The two Ascension-realm cultivators leapt up with their des and executed two sword techniques at the purple bird, which defended against both at the cost of many of its feathers.


    It roared in outrage.


    "We''ll take you down right here, you fowl!"


    The two men leapt into the air again¡ªbut this time, things were different. In addition to the giant purple bird''s lightning, a flurry of fireballs, ice bolts, wind des, and other energetic constructs flew toward them as their eyes widened in rm.


    They were struck by the attacks and knocked down into the swamp, bleeding all over as they nced above them in shock.


    By the top of the valley, a few dozen spiritbeasts were eyeing them coldly. More and more Ascension-realm beasts arrived at the valley, ring at the gathered cultivators in outrage.


    "What''s going on? Where did all these spiritse from?"


    "Lords, there''s something wrong! There are far too many spirits gathered!" the armored cultivators cried out.


    The six Ascension-realm cultivators felt a tremor of fear run through them. One giant purple bird alone would be a trifling enemy, but what sort of situation was this?


    "These beasts have to have been lured over by the music just now! Someone''s trying to harm us!" the leader of the cultivators shouted.


    The giant purple bird had been injured by the techniques of the two cultivators, and it was in an enraged state. It roared, signaling for all the spiritbeasts to attack.


    The other beasts roared in unison, then charged toward the gathered cultivators.


    "No!" the armored cultivators cried out.


    "Quick, we have to run!" someone shouted.


    However, the rampaging beasts had no intention to let the cultivators go. A fierce battle broke out. The six Ascension-realm cultivators in the lead suffered the most concentrated attacks from the spiritbeasts.


    The two toad spirits, now freed from the cultivators'' suppression, flung off the chains holding them down. They nced at each other in unabated relief: they had been saved from near-certain death.

 Chapter 71: Encounter at the Frozen Cavern

    <h4>Chapter 71: Encounter at the Frozen Cavern</h4>


    With so many spirits around, Xiao Nanfeng was afraid that he would be exposed, so he didn''t attempt to retrieve the Immortal Cicada that was currently stuck underwater in swamp mud. He and the Lady Arclight hid within an earthen pit, covering themselves with soil and stone, so as to avoid detection.


    The pit was small and cramped, and the two of them were almost stered right by each other''s side. It was noisy and raucous outside; the screams and yells of unfortunate cultivators could be heard from afar. Within the pit, however, all was quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the heartbeats of the two cultivators.


    The Lady Arclight was somewhat difited. Her body was tense all over. This was the first time she had been in such close contact with a man. However, understanding the situation outside, she remained silent and immobile.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, the soil and stone in the pit in which the two of them were located were suddenly uncovered.


    The Lady Arclight, somewhat shy, cried out, "How could we have been discovered?"


    A huge wolf spirit appeared before them, baring its fangs with a fierce expression on its face.


    "A wolf''s senses are particrly acute. This wolf spirit must have sensed our scent," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, nching.


    The wolf spirit snarled at them in an earth-shattering howl. The tang of blood seeped out of its mouth, and a gray ball of energy formed within. A wind de was right about to manifest and strike them both.


    Just as they were preparing to escape, a web-like tongue appeared from behind them, instantly enveloping the two cultivators, dragging them back, and encapsting them within the toad''s mouth.


    The wolf spirit''s wind de dissipated. It stared fiercely at the toad spirit before itself. These two cultivators should have belonged to it! How could the toad spirit have snatched them away?


    The toad spirit stood firmly before the wolf, not afraid of it at all. Another toad spirit hopped up. The two toad spirits stared back at the wolf spirit.


    The wolf spirit had only discovered that there were humans within the pit, not that they were the master of the flying sword. Judging that it was no match for the two toad spirits, it gave them a fierce re before running off in the direction of the fleeing armored cultivators.


    The female toad croaked at her male counterpart, who eyed her and gave her a nce.


    There were still a lot of spirits all around. Rather than continue chasing the armored cultivators, the two toads hopped toward the swamp at the center of the valley.


    By then, the armored cultivators had either fled or been killed. Several of them were fighting over the armored cultivators'' carcasses. They eyed the toad spirits without any particr enmity, then rushed out of the valley in search of even more of the armored cultivators.


    The two toads eyed each other again, then swam deep into the valley. It was deeper within, and the water level eventually grew enough that their whole bodies were submerged. They continued swimming deeper and deeper, toward a pool.


    The pool was particrly deep. The two toads sank toward the bottom, but it took what seemed like an eternity before they got there. Curiously, there was a tunnel at the bottom of the pool that extended even farther into the swamp. As the toads swam through it, they finally arrived at their destination after a prolonged period of time: a white barrier that prevented the water outside from seeping within. The other side of the barrier was covered with fog.


    Without any hesitation, the two toad spirits crashed into the barrier¡ªonly to pop through it with little resistance. The barrier remained, still impermeable to water.


    After entering the space within the barrier, the male toad spirit spat out the contents of its mouth, Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight.


    When the two cultivators were initially caught by the toad spirit, Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. He instantly took out the copper spike he had retrieved from the toad spirit''s lower back during their first encounter. If it were attacking them, Xiao Nanfeng would be able to defend himself. Fortunately, the toad spirit only held them in its mouth without swallowing them. Xiao Nanfeng sighed and rxed.


    The Lady Arclight had remained motionless all this time, curled up in Xiao Nanfeng''s protecting hug until the toad spat them out.


    Once the male toad had spat them out, the two toad spirits surrounded Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight, croaking at them in happiness.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Big fellow, we meet again!"


    The two toad spirits nodded fervently. They knew that it was Xiao Nanfeng who had saved them back then.


    Xiao Nanfeng hadpletely won over the two toads, and they treated him like one of their own. The Lady Arclight was included in their number as Xiao Nanfeng''spanion.


    "Where are we?" The Lady Arclight looked all around her.


    They were in a huge mountainous cavern, about thirty meters tall and three hundred meters wide. The cave walls were covered in frost, as though they were in an icy cer. It was unbearably cold. The frost seemed to give off white light, illuminating the area within the cave. On a wall not far away was an entrance to the external world, with an impermeable barrier that prevented water from seeping in.


    The most notable object of interest within the cave was a thirty-meter tall frozen dragon''s head, which was embedded into one of the cave''s inner walls. It was snowy white and gave off a malevolent air.


    The dragon''s mouth opened wide, and the frosty aura in its mouth formed a ball of sleet about the size of a watermelon. The ball was slowly growingrger.


    Before the dragon''s maw were three fifteen-meter tall balls of frost, which radiated extreme cold. They seemed to have been spat out by the frozen dragon earlier.


    "This frost looks to be yin frost. This dragon''s head is actually gathering yin frost and storing it in the form ofrge spheres? This... should be a formation, if I''m not mistaken." The Lady Arclight looked all around her.


    "What sort of formation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m not sure, but this is certainly unnatural. Look at that dragon head''s right eye! The eye socket is empty; this is a single-eyed dragon. There has to be some meaning to this that I can''t grasp," the Lady Arclight replied, frowning.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the two toad spirits. "How did you discover this ce?"


    The two toad spirits pointed at a corner of the cave. There were marks on the ground that looked as though it belonged to a spirit that frequently cultivated there. Furthermore, on the frost by the wall, there were five humongous palmprints that looked much like the toad spirits''.


    "Those palm prints arerger than those of the toad spirits, and the prints can''t belong to them! Could it be the frog spirit, then? That Young Master Wei from before did mention that this used to be the territory of a Spiritsong-realm frog spiritbeast, which has gone into the divine domain in search of an opportunity. The other spiritbeasts we encountered outside must be here hoping to see if they can get anything out of it," Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    "In other words, thatke wasn''t the frog spirit''s true demesne? They found the wrong ce, whereas these two toad spirits, who are simr in nature, were able to pinpoint this location?" the Lady Arclight hypothesized.


    "If the frog spirit chose to make this ce its abode, there must be something unusual about it, mustn''t there?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the toad spirits, which nodded immediately.


    They bounded toward one of the giant frost spheres, fifteen meters tall and snowy white. Its interior couldn''t be seen, but Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight were both certain that there was something valuable about the spheres.


    The two toads ced both their palms on the frost sphere. An aura of frost quickly surrounded them, turning their skin sleet-white, as if they had been frozen stiff.


    "As expected, this is yin frost! Even these Ascension-realm toad spirits can barely counter it," the Lady Arclight eximed.


    The toad spirits held firm against the frost and gave it their all as they pushed the sphere forward, the sphere budging a little at a time. After a while, the two toad spirits released the sphere and took a break to wait for the frost to dissipate from their bodies before continuing the push.


    "Is yin frost so incredible that it prates even their defenses?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "Of course pure yin qi is strong! Don''t touch it. With your current cultivation, even a slight touch might cause you to be frozen solid," the Lady Arclight warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng naturally didn''t intend to brave such a risk. They watched the two toad spirits slowly push the sphere toward the frog spirit''s palmprints, one step at a time, exerting significant energy in order to do so.


    Eventually, Xiao Nanfeng discovered that, where the frog spirit''s palmprints were located, there was a subtle spike by the wall, three meters long and like the proboscis of a mosquito. Whether it was natural or manmade wasn''t obvious.


    The sphere rolled into the thin spike. As it did so, it burst apart in a burst of glowing golden light. Countless small golden dragons emerged from within the sphere, straight toward a slit in the spike.


    "Draconic aether?!" the Lady Arclight cried out.


    The two toad spirits attempted to catch the draconic aether, but they were toote for the initial burst. The leading dragons seemed to be attracted to the spike and immediately shot into the slit, prating it and causing the cavern to quake. The majority of the aether escaped through the spike.


    "I get it now. This cavern is right underneath thatke, isn''t it? The draconic aether that came from thatke was actually from this cavern, when these two toads smashed apart two of these frost spheres?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    The two toad spirits grabbed at the draconic aether, managing to seize hundreds of the golden dragons in all. They divided it into fourths, swallowing a portion each and handing the other two to the two cultivators.


    The two cultivators could tell that they were attempting to repay the two cultivators with the draconic aether. The draconic aether struggled to free itself, but the two toad spirits sealed them with their qi.


    "My thanks!" The Lady Arclight inhaled her portion immediately, swallowing almost two hundred golden dragons. Golden light burst forth from her body as she sat cross-legged and quickly began to meditate and distill the draconic aether.


    Xiao Nanfeng emted her actions, as did the two toad spirits. Golden light brimmed from them all.

 Chapter 72: A Sumptuous Banquet

    <h4>Chapter 72: A Sumptuous Banquet</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng distilled almost two hundred golden dragons into yang qi, which he sent into the third of his divine conduits. Another golden thread emerged from his body, revolving around it as radiant light exuded from his pores.


    After two hours, a gust of energy exuded from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, causing the chilly air all around him to shift.


    "The third stage of Immanence? I''ve unclogged my third divine conduit?" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes, blinking in satisfaction.


    Beside him, the two toad spirits were croaking happily.


    The Lady Arclight had been the first to awaken from her meditation, and she was currently looking at the spike with some vexation.


    "Those spiritbeasts outside are getting all this draconic aether..." the Lady Arclightmented.


    One of these frost spheres harbored tens of thousands of the small golden dragons, but they had only managed to seize a few hundred each. The remaining draconic aether had swam up above the surface of theke and been split by the spirits lying in wait.


    Xiao Nanfeng also thought it pitiful, but there was nothing that could be done. He consoled her, "Forget it. Those spiritbeasts helped us take down the armored cultivators, didn''t they? Let''s think of it like a reward for their hard work."


    "But¡ªten thousand golden dragons!" The Lady Arclight didn''t seem as though she could let it go.


    At the same time, she tried to pull out the spike from the cavern wall. The fact that it was able to pierce the frost sphere at all made it an incredible treasure.


    "There are a few palmprints here from the frog spirit. I suppose it must have tried to do the same, but it was unsessful," Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    "Hmph!" The Lady Arclight kicked at the spike in frustration, clearly not able to do anything against it herself.


    "The remnant fragments of this frost sphere are dissipating?" Xiao Nanfeng watched the fragments on the ground vanish.


    "With the frost sphere broken apart, the yin qi that was trapped within has been reimed by the array. This has to be a masterful design..." The Lady Arclight nced around her.


    The two toad spirits hopped up and down, intending to break apart the remaining two frost spheres to repay the two cultivators for what they had done.


    "Don''t move!" the Lady Arclight cried out.


    Ten thousand golden dragons had dissipated from that frost sphere, and she was bitterly upset about the treasure she had failed to gain. To break apart one such frost sphere again and waste the bulk of its draconic aether... The Lady Arclight didn''t want to contemte that thought at all.


    The two toad spirits looked toward the Lady Arclight in confusion.


    "Let me see if I can extract the draconic aether." The Lady Arclight walked up to one of the giant frost spheres.


    The fifteen-meter tall sphere looked almost like a small mountain, and the Lady Arclight was vanishingly small before it. However, she was a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, one possessed of many secret techniques.


    The Lady Arclight murmured a mantra, causing a wheel of light about the size of her hand to manifest before her. The interior of the wheel shed with countless runes. She pushed it toward the frost sphere, causing it to sizzle on impact, as though it were melting the frost. Unfortunately, the aura of frost around the sphere was too intense, and the light wheelsted only a little time before dissipating.


    Suddenly, the frost sphere shook as yin qi followed the path of the light wheel all the way to the Lady Arclight''s arm. She nched as she tried to retract the arm, but it was toote. Quickly, her entire body became covered with frost, turning her into a sculpture.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, stumbling toward her. He had underestimated the potency of the technique, however, and the yin qi began arcing into his body through the Lady Arclight''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened, but it was toote. He had immediately transformed into a snowman as frost surrounded him. Because of his momentum, Xiao Nanfeng ended up bumping into the Lady Arclight, but the two of them were both trapped within ayer of frost.


    The two toad spirits croaked anxiously beside them.


    Just then, all that frost surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, including the frost that had covered the Lady Arclight.


    In the blink of an eye, Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight recovered.


    "Are you alright?" asked the Lady Arclight, as she shook herself down. She didn''t even wonder how or why the frost had vanished; rather, she was worried about Xiao Nanfeng''s safety.


    "I... seem to be fine!" Xiao Nanfeng gaped as he touched himself.


    "Even I couldn''t withstand this frost. Why did you try to touch me? You should have let the toad spirits help!" the Lady Arclight grumbled.


    "I was worried they wouldn''t be able to respond quickly enough. An immediate response was necessary, and I didn''t want you to get hurt," Xiao Nanfeng replied, scratching his head with some embarrassment.


    The Lady Arclight was startled, her words ofint having vanished entirely from her mouth. She gave Xiao Nanfeng a nce filled withplex emotions, but she then quickly schooled herself within moments.


    The two toad spirits croaked at Xiao Nanfeng, as if inquiring what had happened to the frost.


    "Did you suck it all up?" the Lady Arclight asked, only then reminded of the unusual phenomenon that had urred.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a look at his mindscape, which was filled with spiritual power, along with a superior yin pearl. The superior yin pearl had absorbed all that yin frost.


    "This was yin frost, you said?" Xiao Nanfeng asked for confirmation.


    "That''s right, one of the rarest types of frost aura in the world. Didn''t I mention this before?" the Lady Arclight replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. No wonder the superior yin pearl was able to absorb yin frost¡ªtheir names suggested their simrity!


    "Do you have a treasure that counters yin frost?" the Lady Arclight guessed.


    "No, it was just a matter of luck!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Lady Arclight sighed. "Even if you did, it''s hardly as though I would steal your treasure..."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. The superior yin pearl was toorge a treasure, and concerned too many secrets, for Xiao Nanfeng to be willing to reveal it just yet.


    "Can you continue absorbing this frost?"


    "Let me try. Perhaps I''m still lucky enough," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Lady Arclight rolled her eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. Vexed though she was, her eyes seemed almost affectionate.


    Xiao Nanfeng ced a probing palm on the frost sphere. The Lady Arclight watched on seriously, a mantra on the edge of her lips. The moment Xiao Nanfeng failed, she would be there to rescue him.


    Xiao Nanfeng only knew how to agitate the superior yin pearl to release a bit of frost, and this was the first time he had used this effect in reverse. However, it didn''t seem to be tooplicated.


    With a huff, the yin frost surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape as it was absorbed by his superior yin pearl. Not longter, the frost sphere began to hum with a resonance. The frost by Xiao Nanfeng''s palm had beenpletely absorbed, causing a transparent domain to form.


    Countless runes shed over the domain, like a barrier preventing the frost from being sucked away, but the authority of the superior yin pearl easily superseded it. Within the barrier could be seen ten thousand small golden dragons, furiously struggling but unable to escape.


    "This barrier seems like the one by the side that prevents any pond water from flowing in. It was permeable to living creatures¡ªI wonder if this one will be the same?" The Lady Arclight''s eyes lit up.


    "There''s no rush. Let the two toad spirits handle this frost sphere while we deal with the other one. Additionally, let''s have them help us determine whether there are any hidden dangers." Xiao Nanfeng raised a hand, halting the Lady Arclight.


    The two toads croaked in excitement, more than happy to probe for danger.


    "Please be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng warned the two toads.


    The two toads nodded their heads. The male toad nudged the female toad aside, insisting that it take the lead just in case. Its palms touched the frost sphere''s barrier¡ªthen passed through them. Indeed, the Lady Arclight''s guess had been correct!


    The male toad squeezed its way into the sphere, where it joined the countless imprisoned golden dragons. It immediately opened its mouth and swallowed up hundreds of them.


    The male toad croaked excitedly at the female toad, who squeezed into the sphere as well. The draconic aetherpressed around them both. Just like its male counterpart, the female toad began to devour the draconic aether with mounting excitement. Golden light suffused them both as they croaked. Their environment was filled with draconic aether¡ªthis was the first time they had enjoyed such a sumptuous, exhrating meal!


    The two toads croaked at Xiao Nanfeng, informing him of their safety.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng release the sphere. Instantly, the barrier clouded over with frost once again, turning it opaque and snowy white. No longer could the details within the sphere be seen.


    "It''s safe inside. Let''s head to the other sphere," Xiao Nanfeng suggested expectantly.


    "Very well!" The Lady Arclight walked over and waited by its side.


    Xiao Nanfeng touched the other frost sphere, clearing out enough frost to reveal the transparent barrier and the countless golden dragons within. The two cultivators'' eyes lit up.


    "Let''s head inside!" the Lady Arclight cried out, stepping in.


    Xiao Nanfeng followed suit. The two of them vanished into the sphere, which zed over with ayer of frost once more. The cave was as quiet as it had once been.

 Chapter 73: Xiang Wei Breaks Through

    <h4>Chapter 73: Xiang Wei Breaks Through</h4>


    Within the frost sphere, Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight shared a nce. They began to inhale the draconic aether all around them immediately.


    As draconic aether entered his body, Xiao Nanfeng''s skin radiated multicolored light. Not long after, a burst of energy seeped out from him.


    "The first capiry of the third divine conduit unclogged! Let me continue!"


    "The second... the fifth... the ninth!"


    The moment he unclogged all his capiries, a burst of energy emanated from the Lady Arclight''s body, causing him to open his eyes.


    "Has she recovered to Ascension-realm already?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t pay the Lady Arclight any further mind. He continued absorbing the draconic aether as his cultivation inched forward. After another two hours, another swell of energy emanated from his body.


    "The fourth stage of Immanence! I''ll keep going. There are nine more capiries to be unblocked!" Xiao Nanfeng continued absorbing draconic aether.


    In the other frost sphere, the two toad spirits began to devour the draconic aether at an increasing rate. With their bodies and biology, they were able to consume essentially the entire sphere''s worth of draconic aether all at once.


    The two cultivators and spirits digested the impressive meal of aether as time passed all around them. It was already morning the next day.


    Outside the swamp valley, the spiritbeasts that had rampaged and taken down the armored cultivators had all vanished. In their ce were countless crow spirits.


    Xiang Wei stood high up in the mountains, wielding the longsword he had taken from the Lady Arclight. He looked coldly toward the valley below, where arge number of ck-armored cultivators were wading through the swamp, as if searching for something.


    "Second Young Master, the crow spirits report that a group of spirits cooperated to take down arge number of blue-armored cultivatorsst night in this valley," one ck-armored warrior beside him reported.


    "Right here, in this valley? I hope they haven''t discovered what I''m searching for." Xiang Wei frowned.


    "Second Young Master, are you sure that this is the ce?" the ck-armored warrior asked.


    Xiang Wei looked toward theke in the distance, then at the swamp below. "I''m certain. This is the location marked in the records. It has to be underwater in this swamp!"


    Just then, one ck-armored warrior wading through the swamp called out, "Second Young Master, we''ve found it!"


    "What''s the situation?" Xiang Wei''s eyes brightened as he confirmed the details.


    "There''s a pond here that''s exceptionally deep, so deep you can''t see its bottom!" the warrior replied.


    "Very good! You shall be richly rewarded for this discovery. Everyone, prepare to dive into this pond!" Xiang Wei called out.


    "Yessir!" the ck-armored cultivators chorused.


    Two hourster, the cultivators passed through the barrier in the underground tunnel and entered the frosty cavern where Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    "What arge dragon''s head! And two frost spheres...?" remarked the first cultivators who had stepped inside.


    Xiang Wei followed suit, apanied by no less than a hundred ck-armored cultivators, along with four golden crow spirits.


    "As established in the records, this is the ce! There''s a tremendous treasure to be found here!" Xiang Wei cried out.


    "Second Young Master, where might the treasure be?" one of his subordinates asked.


    Xiang Wei ignored him as he looked around the cavern. Suddenly, he nced up at the frost dragon''s eyes. The right eye was hollow, as if someone had scooped away his right eyeball.


    "Exactly as depicted in the records." Xiang Wei''s eyes lit up. He turned to one of the golden crows. "Crow general, ferry me up there!"


    The golden crow spirit ambled close, allowing Xiang Wei to ride it as it took off toward the dragon''s eye.


    Xiang Wei retrieved a small ck orb from his extradimensional storage.


    "This array-breaking pearl apanied the records we had of this ce. It won''t disappoint me, will it?" Xiang Wei carefully slotted the ck orb into the dragon''s right eye.


    Instantly, a huge amount of golden light emitted from the dragon''s eye and surrounded the ck pearl, which suddenly seemed to be activated. It generated a tremendous suction around itself, causing the frost all around the cavern to surge toward it, as though it were at the center of a tempest.


    "It''s working! The array-breaking pearl is dispelling this array!" Xiang Wei''s eyes lit up as hemanded the golden crow spirit to bring him back down to the ground.


    As the yin frost was sucked away from the cavern, the ck pearl turned white. It was like a snowball that grewrger andrger as it absorbed the sleet in the cavern. Even the dragon''s head was turning translucent, as though it were melting, and arge pair of copper doors could be seen deep behind its head.


    "This is the ce!" Xiang Wei''s eyes shone with excitement.


    The cultivators watched patiently as the ck pearl did its job. They nced curiously around the cavern, their attentionrgely focused on the two gigantic frost spheres near its center.


    As the seemingly interminable frost was sapped away, the frost spheres turned translucent, allowing the contents within to be revealed.


    Two toad spirits came into view first, followed by Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight. They had swallowed up all the draconic aether within the two frost spheres, and were all glowing with golden light. They looked radiant and holy.


    "Isn''t that the Lady Arclight?!" someone cried out.


    "The Lady Arclight? And that bastard?" Xiang Wei''s eyes widened.


    None of them had expected to encounter the Lady Arclight here. Everyone began to panic.


    They still recalled the Lady Arclight''s fearsome strength; Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, wasrgely unremarkable. ording to the Taiqing disciples they had caught and interrogated, Xiao Nanfeng had been an Acquisition-realm cultivator no less than a month ago. Even if he had managed to find some miraculous treasure, how strong could he have gotten since? All they had to worry about was his Immortal Cicada.


    "Second Young Master? Of the cultivators who killed our men in that valley a few days ago, one used an Immortal Cicada, and the other was atte Immanence. Could that have been the Lady Arclight?" one warrior postted.


    "That''s very possible¡ªso the Lady Arclight was only atte Immanence a few days ago?" Xiang Wei''s eyes lit up.


    "But it looks like they''ve just obtained some benefit... Surely their cultivation has gone up since?"


    Xiang Wei narrowed his eyes. "Quick, burst this sphere! While they''re deep in meditation, we''ll kill them all!"


    "Yessir!" One ck-armored cultivator shed at the frost sphere.


    Although much of the yin frost had been sucked away, there was still significant remnant frost around the sphere. The moment the ck-armored cultivator''s de touched it, he and his de were frozen stiff.


    "There''s something wrong with these spheres!" one cultivator called out.


    "Crow generals, destroy the spheres with your fireballs!" Xiang Weimanded.


    The four crow generals each spat out a gigantic fireball at the sphere in which Xiao Nanfeng was encapsted.


    The sphere quivered.


    "Good. Continue!" Xiang Wei''s eyes lit up.


    The four golden crow spirits were just about to continueunching fireballs at the spheres when two humongous tongues shot toward them. Two of the golden crow spirits were caught as the tongues retracted.


    Everyone turned to the other frost sphere in shock, where they found that the two toad spirits had awoken. The golden light had vanished from their bodies. Their tongues shot out of the sphere, enveloped two golden crow spirits, and swallowed them whole.


    Subsequently, they shattered their encapsting sphere, from which the frost energy had alreadyrgely been drained.


    "Be careful of these toad spirits!" one cultivator thundered.


    The two toad spirits suddenly leapt to Xiao Nanfeng''s frost sphere, defending it protectively with their bodies. Then, they looked toward the unwee cultivators with fierce res.

 Chapter 74: A Violent Battle

    <h4>Chapter 74: A Violent Battle</h4>


    "Second Young Master, something''s wrong. These two toad spirits swallowed two of the crow generals in one swoop. They''re likely extremely strong even among Ascension-realm lifeforms," one ck-armored cultivator whispered.


    "Don''t leave anything to chance. Everyone, strike at once!" Xiang Wei shouted. He drew the Lady Arclight''s longsword, causing frosty light to illuminate the cavern. A huge sword sh struck at the two toad spirits.


    The male toad, noticing the strength of this technique, cried out and charged forward, taking it on behalf of its femalepanion. However, even the toad''s defenses were insufficient to block a blow of this magnitude.


    The female toad cried out in shared pain, attempting to block the blow for its malepanion.


    However, there were quite a number of Ascension-realm cultivators among the ck-armored warriors. Four sword techniques wereunched at the female toad, forcing it to defend.


    The male toad was struck by Xiang Wei''s sword technique, another cultivator''s sword technique, and the mes from the remaining two crow spirits, which charged at its lower back.


    The male toad croaked in frustration. It had just swallowed huge quantities of draconic aether and bolstered its cultivation, so how could it still be suppressed? It struggled madly, causing a huge shockwave of energy.


    "The eight of us Ascension-realm cultivators are only barely holding back these two toads? They must be at the peak of Ascension!" one ck-armored cultivator cried out.


    "Continue at maximum strength! This sword bears divine might, so I''ll be able to kill this toad spirit and then deal with the other one soon enough! Suppress them both!" Xiang Wei shouted, clutching his sword tightly.


    "Yessir!" the five Ascension-realm ck-armored cultivators replied.


    "Everyone else, help out! Blind the toad spirit''s eyes!" Xiang Weimanded again.


    "Understood!" A group of Immanence-realm cultivators charged forward.


    The two toad spirits croaked. The tumors on their back burst open, scattering huge quantities of poison on the gathered cultivators, who found their skin and armor corroding away.


    The cultivators cried out and shrieked as they ran. Dozens of people died within moments, and about twice that were injured.


    Not only that, except for Xiang Wei, who was protected by a jade pendant that emitted a red energetic barrier, the remaining Ascension-realm cultivators and the two golden crow spirits were all keening in pain.


    "Second Young Master, this poison was able to break through our technique! It hurts!" one ck-armored cultivator yelled.


    "Just bear it a little longer. They''re only releasing this poison because they''re scared, but the more they do so, the weaker they be. Keep suppressing them. My sword will soon be able to break through their defenses. I''ll kill them all!" Xiang Wei promised.


    Indeed, Xiang Wei''s sword prated the toad spirit''s body even more deeply, causing the male toad''s face to distort in pain.


    "Didn''t you hear me? Everyone, keep up the pressure!" Xiang Wei shouted.


    ""Yessir!" All the ck-armored cultivators charged forward once again.


    Just then, a yell came from the back of the gathered cultivators.


    Everyone turned to see heads flying through the air and blood fountaining.


    "It''s Nanfeng! He''s emerged from one of the frost spheres!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was wielding a long de, murderous killing intent gushing out of his body. "Toads, hold on just a bit longer. The elder will wake up soon. Let me clear away these pests for you first!"


    The two toad spirits croaked in agony.


    "The Lady Arclight''s about to awaken? Damn it, break the frost sphere and kill her now while she''s still meditating!" Xiang Wei cried out.


    "Who dares?!" Xiao Nanfeng stood between them and the Lady Arclight.


    "Nanfeng? We''ll settle my debt against him today. Take him down. I want to skin him myself!" Xiang Weimanded.


    "Understood!" A group of ck-armored cultivators charged forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes glimmered with frost. He shed forward with the de in his hands.


    Countless swords were broken in half. Two heads were sent flying amidst countless cries. With a backward sh, Xiao Nanfeng ughtered the disarmed cultivators in a fountain of blood.


    "He''s already at the peak of Immanence? This is impossible!" one cultivator shouted.


    "In just a little more than half the month? Even with natural treasures, it''s impossible to raise one''s cultivation to that extent! He must have some secret he''s hiding. Seize him alive¡ªI''ll interrogate him personally!" Xiang Wei ordered.


    Another group of warriors rushed at Xiao Nanfeng, but he didn''t fear them at all. The longsword in his hand was like a reaper''s scythe. Where it swung, cultivators fell. He was more deadly than even the opponent Immanence-realm cultivators.


    Another dozen or so ck-armored cultivators were killed within moments. It was as though Xiao Nanfeng had transformed into an array of des, wreaking destruction wherever he went, causing the ck-armored cultivators that charged toward him to grow fearful.


    "In addition to dealing with Nanfeng, have a group of cultivators attack that frost sphere! Kill the Lady Arclight as quickly as you can!" Xiang Wei howled.


    "Don''t you dare!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes were edged with rime.


    He swung his de faster and faster, as though he had an inexhaustible well of stamina. Another few cultivators found their heads disced from their bodies. He targeted all those who attempted to rush toward the sphere.


    He seemed to have transformed into an invincible god of death. None could stand against him as he unleashed a dispassionate ughter. In the blink of an eye, dozens had died to his de. Of the remaining, some were covered with blood, and others, out of fear and shock, began to run away from him instead.


    Even Xiang Wei seemed gobsmacked. "How did you manage to raise your cultivation to such an extent in less than a month?"


    He very much wanted to catch and interrogate Xiao Nanfeng himself, but if he did, the toad spirits would be freed. That would only worsen the situation.


    "Damn it, take him down as quickly as you can!" Xiang Wei bellowed.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Xiang Wei as he continued to charge toward the gathered crowd.


    The remaining ck-armored cultivators were so scared that they fled from him, but how could they outrun Xiao Nanfeng? Having lost their will to fight, they were even more easily killed. Another dozen lost their lives.


    Xiao Nanfeng chased them down more and more quickly as the majority of their number died. Xiang Wei was unable to do anything. He was infuriated¡ªhow had the situation devolved like this? If he didn''t do anything, the tables might turn on him!


    Eventually, a few cultivators, their will to fight entirely broken, ignored whatever orders Xiang Wei gave them and fled through the underwater barrier, whereupon they were struck to the ground by a strong force.


    "Are there more people outside?!" The cultivators nced out in shock. On the outside of the barrier were four blue-armored men, who had blocked the ck-armored cultivators'' escape.


    "I thought we''d be able to take advantage of the two parties fighting each other by secretly following behind them, but we were discovered in the end," one blue-armored cultivator murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized them immediately. These four cultivators were the ones that had been chased by all the spirits gathered around theke¡ªhow had they managed to survive the chase, and what were they doing here?


    "Are you all from Dayan?" Xiang Wei asked. Clearly, he too had met members of their kind and learned about the world of this hidden realm.


    One of them looked toward Xiang Wei. "A foreigner? So you''re a disjointed group yourself! Don''t worry, we can help you out!"


    "What?" Xiang Wei replied.


    "I can help you kill these two toad spirits, as well as this pair of cultivators. We''ll split the treasure between us," the blue-armored man offered.


    "Why help me?" Xiang Wei narrowed his eyes at the man.


    "We''ve been exposed, so it''s hardly as though we can just wait out your fight now. Rather than have you be wary of us, why not cooperate? We bear these two toad spirits a grudge, as well as these cultivators who induced an attack on us from all the nearby spirits! They killed the majority of our men, and we''ll take revenge for them all!" the blue-armored man cried out.


    Xiang Wei frowned. He knew that the blue-armored man likely had ulterior motives, but this wasn''t important. The biggest threat was undoubtedly the Lady Arclight. It would be best to kill her first, then the toad spirits, and then to settle the score with the blue-armored men.


    "Very well. Kill that woman, and I''ll agree to the cooperation!" Xiang Wei called out.


    "So be it!" the blue-armored man replied. The four blue-armored cultivators rushed toward the frost sphere, each shing toward it with their weapons.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was being held back by two ck-armored cultivators. In fury, he killed them both within moments.


    By then, however, the four sword techniques had struck the frost sphere, causing cracks to form on its surface, as though it would shatter at any moment.


    "One more time! Kill her!" Xiang Wei howled.


    "Again!" the four blue-armored cultivators shouted.


    Just then, the Lady Arclight''s eyes opened. Her eyes radiated with golden light, immediately


    causing all the enemy cultivators to rear back.


    "Not good!" Sensing the threat, the four blue-armored cultivators began to strike even more rapidly.


    "Be careful, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "The Lady Arclight''s awake? Kill her, quick!" Xiang Weimanded.


    The Lady Arclight made a motion with her fingers, causing her sword to fly out of Xiang Wei''s grasp and into her reach. She broke the frost sphere easily.


    "Die!" The four blue-armored cultivatorsunched four separate techniques at her.


    The Lady Arclight narrowed her eyes as she shifted to the side, dodging the attacks.


    As the four men struck, the Lady Arclight appeared behind their backs, beheading them all with a swing of her sword. The four Ascension-realm cultivators were killed in just one strike!

 Chapter 75: The Copper Spike

    <h4>Chapter 75: The Copper Spike</h4>


    Now that it was no longer being pressured by the divine sword, the male toad spirit was free to unleash all its strength. The cultivators to its back, along with the two gold crow spirits, were sent flying. It then struck at the four ck-armored cultivators harassing the female toad spirit.


    The cultivators shouted in surprise.


    With a great thud, the four Ascension-realm ck-armored cultivators were sent flying, freeing both toad spirits. They croaked in outrage.


    Meanwhile, the Lady Arclight had killed four other Ascension-realm cultivators. Her frightening strength shocked Xiang Wei and the others.


    "Stop her!" Xiang Wei howled, before retreating toward the barrier.


    "Trying to run? It''s toote!" the Lady Arclight called out. She swung her divine sword, sending a tremendous sh of energy at Xiang Wei.


    "No!" Xiang Wei cried out. The jade pendant at his waist formed a barrier of red light around him, sending him flying. Simultaneously, the jade pendant cracked.


    "Second Young Master!" a group of ck-armored cultivators shouted.


    "Quick, stop her!" Xiang Weimanded.


    The Lady Arclight stepped toward them. "Stop me? With what?"


    The cultivators shed at the Lady Arclight, who smiled coldly as she moved, leaving a trail of afterimages behind. She evaded all their techniques as she shed by their sides, sending three Ascension-realm cultivators'' heads flying.


    "No, no! We have to flee!" The remaining two Ascension-realm cultivators left Xiang Wei behind as they attempted to run for their lives.


    However, as the Lady Arclight swung her divine de, she cut them both down by the waist before they could take even two steps away. They perished on the spot.


    The two golden crow spirits tried to escape as well, but the toad spirits were intent on exacting their revenge. They leapt up into the air and onto the two golden crow spirits, ignoring their desperate fireballs as they stuffed them into their mouths and swallowed them whole.


    Meanwhile, by the other side of the cavern, Xiao Nanfeng killed the final Immanence-realm cultivator.


    The only other cultivator left within the cavern was Xiang Wei. As he attempted to flee, the Lady Arclight walked right up to him and thrust her sword through his abdomen, shattering his jade pendant and the nascent red barrier that formed around him.


    Xiang Wei fell in a pool of blood, crying out in pain, "Don''t kill me, don''t kill me!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and the two toad spirits gathered around him.


    "What do you know about this hidden realm, as well as this cavern?" the Lady Arclight interrogated.


    "Don''t kill me! I''ll tell you everything! A chest has been passed down my n for generations, but it was locked with a secret technique that none of my ancestors were able to open, until a few years ago. Perhaps because the wood itself was rotting away, we were suddenly able to unlock the chest. Within the chest were several manuals that recorded how to ess this hidden realm, along with four special artifacts to be used in four ces containing natural treasures," Xiang Wei rattled off in fear.


    "Where are these manuals and these treasures?"


    "The manual is with my father. As for the special artifacts, my father and we three siblings have one each. Father''s special artifact is used in the divine domain, whereas ours are in the spirits'' domain. I obtained an array-breaking pearl, to be used in this frozen cavern, while the other two artifacts are with my brother and sister, who have gone to the other two locations of natural treasures."


    "What can be found in these locations?"


    "ording to the manual, the three natural treasures of the spirits'' domain are part of a divine emperor''s tombs, with countless divine instruments and treasures within. Which tomb is real, and which two are fake, is a matter of luck. The manual was written by one of the architects of these tombs, but there wasn''t enough detail within it to identify what lies within these tombs. This is all I know. Lady Arclight, please have mercy on me!" Xiang Wei begged.


    The Lady Arclight beheaded Xiang Wei in a sh of light. She had no intention of being merciful.


    After finally dealing with all the threats, the Lady Arclight and Xiao Nanfeng shot a nce at each other, rxing perceptibly.


    "Your cultivation seems to have improved quite a bit. You can take down an Immanence-realm cultivator without your Immortal Cicada now?" the Lady Arclight asked, rather surprised.


    "It''s hardly anything worth mentioning. I''m still far weaker than you are, Elder," Xiao Nanfeng replied modestly.


    "I''ve only recovered to Ascension, and I''m still quite far from my peak. If only there were another batch of draconic aether..." the Lady Arclight suddenly looked expectantly at the copper doors not far away.


    As the frozen dragon head melted, visible wisps of draconic aether could be seening from the cracks in the door.


    The two toad spirits croaked as they hopped over to the door and began inhaling the draconic aether seeping from it as they recuperated.


    "He said that this was an emperor''s tomb? What do you think?" the Lady Arclight asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I think there''s something problematic with it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "Oh?"


    "If I were an emperor, I would hardly want to see my grave disturbed. All the histories I''ve studied suggest that the tomb architects would be put to death alongside the emperors themselves in an attempt to prevent any sessive generations from uncovering them. For this architect to have sent a manual and these artifacts to the outer world atrge... I think there''s a ploy at y here," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    "There''s certainly danger, but I think there will be opportunity as well. At the very least, there''s the draconic aether I need right here." The Lady Arclight''s eyes gleamed.


    The two toad spirits also seemed to be very excited for the draconic aether within.


    "It''ll take some time for this frozen dragon''s head to melt. I''d like to search around the cavern for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng said. He rummaged through several of the more important cultivators'' bodies, finding only a few tokens of identification and misceneous objects. Xiao Nanfeng stored it all, along with some weapons, in his storage ring.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng found a copper spike.


    "Hmm?" He picked up that copper spike and inspected it with surprise.


    "This copper spike... came from the long spike that was used to break apart the frost spheres? It must be of rather decent quality," the Lady Arclightmented.


    "No, look!" Xiao Nanfeng showed her his right hand, which also contained a copper spike. The two copper spikes were identical¡ªthey were the ones that the blue-armored cultivators had used to suppress the toad spirits.


    Exactly the same? The Lady Arclight inspected both spikes carefully. On each spike was runic script that even she couldn''t understand. When she infused qi into them, they glowed with faint green light.


    "I heard one of the armored cultivators mention that these are called Spikes of Dissolution, a rare treasure bequeathed to them by their crown prince, which can dissipate the toad spirits'' spiritual power," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The toad spirits nodded, as if vindicating Xiao Nanfeng''s words.


    "The fact that these spikes are used in these formations must make them rather valuable. The crown prince of these blue-armored cultivators must not be aware of the secret behind these spikes¡ªthey have to be relics of some sort," the Lady Arclight exined.


    "I tried to infuse my qi and spiritual power into them, but nothing happened," Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    "There has to be something unusual about them, but we don''t have enough information to figure out how to trigger them yet. We''ll investigate more."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Not longter, the ck pearl that had sucked up all the frost in the cavern began to glow with white light. The frozen dragon''s head had meltedpletely, revealing the copper doors. The copper doors were engraved with the image of a huge phoenix, ancient and symbolic. A wisp of draconic aether seeped out through the crack, causing both cultivators to anticipate whaty beyond.


    "Push the copper doors open, spirits!" The Lady Arclight looked toward the two toad spirits, who nodded fervently. They had been eagerly awaiting this moment.

 Chapter 76: Divine Capital of Great Wei

    <h4>Chapter 76: Divine Capital of Great Wei</h4>


    The copper doors slowly slid open under the toad spirits'' imcable advance.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight held their hands over their weapons in preparation for any danger that might be lying in wait.


    With a huge ng, the copper doors were pushed open. Surprisingly, the draconic aether that had been seeping out from the cracks of the doors had vanished. The revealed interior was pitch-ck, like the wide maw of a beast.


    Just then, a blue sh of light was emitted from that darkness, shooting straight through the open doors.


    "Be careful!" The Lady Arclight pulled on Xiao Nanfeng as she attempted to retreat,


    but the light moved too quickly and was so bright that both cultivators had to avert their eyes. It even carried a tangible air current with it.


    With a huge crash, the two cultivators were sent flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng held on tightly to the Lady Arclight. Only after a considerable amount of time did theynd on some sort of terrain.


    The two cultivators stumbled before steadying themselves. The blue light surrounding them had vanished. They gaped at their surroundings in shock. They weren''t in the frozen cavern any longer!


    Before them was an imposing set of city walls, hundreds of meters tall. In the distance were mountains without end, and above them, a blue sky with white clouds and a midday sun. They had arrived in a brand-new location.


    "It''s an illusory realm!" Xiao Nanfeng realized immediately.


    "What a powerful illusion..." The Lady Arclight had noticed that her divine sword had vanished. She frowned as she looked at her surroundings. "And the two toad spirits have vanished too."


    "They might have been sent to a different location. Our physical selves are still in that cavern, defenseless. It''s exceptionally dangerous. We have to leave this illusion at once," Xiao Nanfeng informed her.


    "Apparently, yin frost can break out of illusory realms. You were able to absorb yin frost back in the cavern. Are you able to expel it now?"


    "Let me try." Xiao Nanfeng invoked his superior yin pearl and triggered a release of yin frost,


    forming a blizzard before him that struck the realm. Unlike before, however, the space didn''t shatter.


    "You can''t break out of it?"


    "I can''t. This illusion seems to be a bit different," Xiao Nanfeng replied gravely. He attempted the same procedure a few more times, but the illusory realm didn''t seem to budge at all.


    "Something''s wrong with this illusory realm. There must be some sort of artifact reinforcing this realm," the Lady Arclight analyzed.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked all around the illusory realm, as though trying to guard against something.


    "Don''t worry. The frozen cavern our physical bodies are in is difficult to find, and we shouldn''t be in danger in the short term. This illusion might be dangerous, but it could also present plenty of opportunities. We might be able to get out if we find one such." The Lady Arclight nced expectantly around her.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "That''s not what I''m worried about, Elder. If you see a skeleton around, you have to stay far away."


    Xiao Nanfeng was worried about another encounter with Madam Rouge. He had gained a rather significant amount of spiritual power over thest month, and he felt that he had a fighting chance against Madam Rouge, but the Lady Arclight was still weak! If she encountered Madam Rouge in her weakened state...


    "A skeleton?" the Lady Arclight asked curiously.


    "It''s a cursed effigy whose attention I''ve roused. When I became a disciple of the Taiqing sect..." Xiao Nanfeng exined what had happened as they walked.


    Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s description, the Lady Arclight turned serious. She had clearly heard about this cursed effigy before.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll be paying careful attention to what''s going on. There''s a gateway over there. Shall we have a look?" The Lady Arclight pointed at a distant location.


    "Let''s!"


    The two cultivators rushed toward the gateway, which was crowded with people. Some flew into the city with storks, while others left on basilisks. Several guards patrolled the vicinity riding tiger spirits.


    However, none of these figures could see Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight, who walked up to the city gates without provoking any sort of response whatsoever.


    "These figures are all illusory. As long as we don''t activate the illusion''s mechanisms, they won''t be able to notice us," the Lady Arclight exined.


    "The divine capital of Great Wei...?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed very surprised by the five words inscribed on a stone pir nearby.


    "The Empire of Great Wei? The Emperor Wei?" The Lady Arclight pondered this revtion.


    "You''re aware of Emperor Wei?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    The Lady Arclight rolled her eyes at him. "Who do you think you''re talking to? How could I not know Emperor Wei? Your Hegemon''s Fist was developed and spread by Emperor Wei himself. The year he devised that technique, all knew its might. He was one of the strongest cultivators in the world, and the empire he founded, the Empire of Great Wei, was as a beacon of light, a pir of the world. A thousand years ago, as a result of some unknown urrence, the empire was suddenly destroyed, and Emperor Wei has been missing since. Some suggested that he had been assassinated, and others that he had grown tired of mortal affairs and gone into seclusion."


    "Could this illusory array be rted to his disappearance?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Let''s head into the city and have a look for ourselves," the Lady Arclight suggested.


    The moment the two cultivators stepped into the city, they noticed a huge golden cloud floating above it, with what seemed like golden dragons flying in its midst.


    Hanging low in the air were giant floating inds, separated by waterfalls. A translucent rainbow fog shrouded the inds, and countless avian lifeforms darted among them. A few immortals, draped with rainbow light, were flying to and fro.


    The city itself harbored mountains and rivers. The tallest mountain in the north was shaped like a dragon''s head. Above that mountain were mist and clouds obscuring a group of buildings shining with golden light.


    "What arge city... Where would we start searching?"


    "Everyone in the city seems to be gathering toward that dragon''s head mountain. Let''s go take a look there." The Lady Arclight pointed before them.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The two cultivators headed straight for the mountain.


    The bottom of the mountain was filled with people. The two cultivators followed the crowd up the mountain, toward arge za that was heavily guarded. Officials stood in attendance, along with immortals dressed in all manner of attire.


    To the north was a huge pce, with the name "Great Wei Hall of Immortals" written on a huge que by the entrance.


    Before the hall were standing a man and a woman, the man garbed in a golden robe with draconic motifs, a crown on his head and a stern, majestic expression on his face. The woman''s robe had phoenix motifs. She was beautiful in her serenity, and she was looking at the man with infatuation.


    "Long live His Majesty!"


    "Long live Her Majesty!"


    The court officials and the gathered immortals alluded the pair who stood before them.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight hid behind the group of figures.


    "Rise, my court!"manded the man in a golden robe.


    "As you will, Your Majesty!" The courtly officials bowed.


    "This must be the Emperor Wei and his consort!" the Lady Arclight eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to nod when he suddenly felt a prick of danger, as though someone had just caught sight of him. He quickly looked around. There were too many people in sight, but as he activated his spiritual power, he locked in on a target.


    Among the courtly officials was a ck-robed man, his face obscured in darkness. The man was facing Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight, as though intending to take action. Coincidentally, however, Emperor Wei and the empress were looking toward him and making an inquiry. He had no choice but to turn back, bow, and reply.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng pulled the Lady Arclight away. They ran toward a secluded hall and into a corridor within, where they peeked at the outside through a window.


    "What have you discovered?" the Lady Arclight asked. At the moment, her spiritual power was weaker than Xiao Nanfeng''s, and she hadn''t noticed the ck-robed man''s nce.


    "Have you seen that ck-robed man? He''s not like the others. He can see us!" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the mysterious figure.


    The man had just finished responding to the emperor and empress'' questions, and then returned to his original position. He quickly looked toward where Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight had been, only to find that they had vanished. He quickly looked around in search of them.


    The two cultivators ducked down and hid, but the ck-robed man''s gaze seemed to be able to prate walls. He quickly identified where they were.


    "Have we been discovered?" The Lady Arclight nched.


    The ck-robed man made a gesture at their hall, causing its doors to suddenly m shut.


    "This isn''t good! He''s targeting us!" the Lady Arclight cried.


    Just then, all the windows in the hall suddenly vanished, as did its doors. The two cultivators were trapped in an isted chamber. The tiles on the ground began to shake and reverberate, a character appearing on each one.


    "What sort of mechanism is this? The tiles are engraved with characters. Elder, do you recognize these characters?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No, I''m not familiar with this. It might be diabolical in origin..." The Lady Arclight shook her head, frowning.


    Just then, twelve tiles on the ground formed a ring. The characters engraved on them glowed with golden light.


    "The twelve earthly branches!" The Lady Arclight grew even more wary. [1]


    The twelve golden characters trembled violently, as if something were trying to tear its way out of them.


    The first of the earthly branches broke apart. From a burst of golden light came a giant pitch-ck serpent, ten meters tall and unbelievably wide.


    The serpent reared up and nced down at the two cultivators with a fierce expression on its face.


    "How did you enter this illusion?" it asked in human speech, ring coldly at Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight.


    1. The twelve earthly branches refers to a set of twelve characters used tobel each of a set of twelve objects. For example, they might correspond both to the English ''one'' through ''twelve'' and ''January'' through ''December''. ?

 Chapter 77: Blue Lantern and You Shi

    <h4>Chapter 77: Blue Lantern and You Shi</h4>


    The ck serpent gave off a cold and dismal aura that imposed tremendous pressure on the two cultivators.


    "Elder, we identally entered this domain. Please forgive us. Would you be willing to send us out?" Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and requested politely.


    "I ask again: how did the two of you enter this realm?" The ck serpent gazed coldly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "We don''t know how, either. The cultivator who set up the formation outside must have left a means of breaking it. Someone did so unintentionally, causing two copper doors to be revealed. Out of curiosity, we pushed open the doors, but we had yet to enter before a sh of blue light sucked us into this illusory realm," Xiao Nanfeng replied, crafting a believable tale.


    "I hid a dragon-quelling spike outside the copper door. Only those who wield such a spike will be able to resist the blue sh''s annihtion of spiritual power, so only one person should have been able to make it inside. Why are there two? Could one of you have obtained another such spike from elsewhere?" the ck serpent asked coldly.


    The two cultivators nced at each other. These dragon-quelling spikes the serpent spoke of¡ªthey were the two copper spikes that Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight possessed, weren''t they? Could he have been the one who left Marquis Wu the records of the hidden realm, too?


    "Elder, we apologize for our unintentional intrusion. Would you be willing to send us out?" Xiao Nanfeng asked warily.


    From this ck serpent, Xiao Nanfeng could sense a dangerous aura. He didn''t want to deal with the serpent any longer. Furthermore, Madam Rouge might be awaiting him from afar, and he didn''t want to prolong his exposure to risk.


    "Send you out? Ha, haha! What perfect timing. The dragon-quelling spike was one piece of my n. It would have been fine if it hadn''te to fruition, but with the two of you here, why, things will be even easier for me." The serpent smiled with its fangs.


    "Elder, what do you intend to do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "With the two of you here, I won''t have to attempt to snatch the empress'' dragon-quelling spike any longer. I''ll simply take over your bodies and activate your spikes in order to escape from this illusion through them, haha!" The ck serpent roared inughter, then struck at the Lady Arclight.


    "What?" The Lady Arclight pped at the serpent with a palm, but she was sent flying by the collision instead.


    "How dare you!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes zed over with frost as he punched the serpent''s neck.


    The serpent stumbled and fell to the ground.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt up, clutching the Lady Arclight tightly as he punched at the walls of the hall, attempting to break out. However, none of the four walls budged. Even the bricks didn''t seem to be damaged.


    "Do you think you can escape from me in my array?" The serpent shook its head.


    "Elder, we offended you unintentionally. Please let us go," Xiao Nanfeng beseeched once more.


    "It''s toote. None of you will be able to escape now!" the ck serpent cried out. It pounced forward again, widening its maw.


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath, put down the Lady Arclight, and punched forward.


    Within illusory realms, everything depended on spiritual power, and he was confident in his own. Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique struck the ck serpent with a monstrous burst of energy. Man and serpent each stumbled back a few meters, clearly having struck each other withparable strength.


    "Ster Lake, and mid-stage at that? Lad, you might have a little strength, but you''re far too young to challenge me!" The ck serpent lurched forward once more.


    The man and serpent struck each other time and again, their shes sending ripples of energy throughout the hall, causing the Lady Arclight to stumble back.


    Even after striking each other dozens of times, neither party seemed to be relenting.


    This was the first time that Xiao Nanfeng had met such a troublesome foe. Could he really be unable to take down a single ck serpent despite his advanced spiritual cultivation?


    The ck serpent itself seemed annoyed. It thought that it would have been able to resolve this


    fight quickly, but the young man was annoyingly persistent.


    "Lad, you''re making me angry!" the ck serpent howled, puffing up in size.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes zed. The spiritual power in his palms suddenly doubled in density. As a wave of spiritual power emanated from his body, it transformed into blue me that surrounded him.


    "What? You have a technique that stimtes your spiritual power too?!" The ck serpent''s pupils widened.


    Xiao Nanfeng charged forward, grabbing the serpent by its lower jaw and tearing at it with fearsome strength. A tremendous storm erupted around him, causing the Lady Arclight to take multiple steps back.


    The two halves of the ck serpent''s body fell to the ground, its eyes still wide and shocked even in death. Then, the illusory carcass vanished in a cloud of ck smoke.


    "Nanfeng, how did your spiritual power suddenly overflow just now?" the Lady Arclight asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng was also very surprised by his newfound ability. Why had his spiritual power suddenly grown by leaps and bounds? It wasn''t any form of stimtion, but rather because there were still remnant portions of others'' spiritual power within his body.


    When a heavily injured Yin Body-stage cultivator had attempted to take over Xiao Nanfeng''s body, he had been stymied by the bacsh from the superior yin pearl he possessed. His yin body had been frozen into an ice sculpture, the remnants of which formed a huge pile of ice within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    While attempting to absorb the frost sphere''s frost aura with the superior yin pearl, Xiao Nanfeng had simultaneously tried to absorb the yin frost from the ice mountain. Just a little frost, which resulted from melting a small portion of the ice mountain, had given him unimaginable spiritual power.


    He had used the might of that spiritual power to take down the ck serpent.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to exin himself to the Lady Arclight when her face nched. She pointed before her and shouted, "Nanfeng, look!"


    The other golden characters embodying the other eleven earthly branches began to crack apart. From within emerged beast after beast. One was a six-meter tall ck tiger, which howled as it emerged. Just the shockwave from the roar alone caused the Lady Arclight to retreat.


    Another character split apart. Out came a ck rat as tall as two men. The rat''s eyes glinted with malevolence, and its aura was no weaker than that of the serpent that Xiao Nanfeng had taken down. It looked ready to pounce.


    Other beasts emerged from the remaining golden characters, one after another.


    "Lad, you killed one of my avatars in this formation? Commendable strength¡ªbut you must be exhausted of spiritual power after that forceful stimtion! Get ready to die," the ck tiger growled.


    The other ten ck lifeforms roared and howled and screeched, the killing intent surging forth from their bodies causing the Lady Arclight to pale.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath, preparing to melt more of that ice mountain in his mindscape to deal with these lifeforms.


    Just then, at the center of the hall, a cloud of ck fog formed. From within the fog stepped a ck-robed man. The ck-robed man waved a hand, scattering golden powder all over. The fierce ck beasts suddenly froze.


    "Is it him?" the Lady Arclight asked Xiao Nanfeng warily.


    "No, it''s not!" Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "What?" The Lady Arclight seemed confused.


    "This isn''t the ck-robed man from before¡ªit''s a different person. This one is slightly taller," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The Lady Arclight scrutinized the ck-robed man carefully, simrlying to the conclusion that this new man''s body shape was different from the other''s.


    "Come over here. I''ll bring you out." The ck-robed man''s voice was weathered but calm.


    "Thank you, Elder. Might I ask who you are, and why you''re rescuing us?" Xiao Nanfeng, however, hadn''t dropped his guard.


    The Lady Arclight stood by Xiao Nanfeng''s side, clearly approving of his attitude.


    The ck-robed man seemed rather aloof. He stared at the two cultivators for quite some time before replying, "I was the one who gifted Emperor Wei with these dragon-quelling spikes. Now that they have ended up in your hands, I recognize you as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight nced at each other. Clearly, they didn''t know enough about the dragon-quelling spikes.


    "I''ve temporarily cut the connection between You Shi and his avatars, but I can''t hold it for long. If you''re unwilling to leave with me, then forget it," the ck-robed man continued.


    "You Shi?" That had to be the other ck-robed man''s name.


    Although they still harbored many doubts, neither Xiao Nanfeng nor the Lady Arclight felt any sense of malice from the cultivator before them, and Xiao Nanfeng was rather confident in his strength. He nodded, then tugged on the Lady Arclight''s hand as they walked toward the man.


    "I''m Nanfeng, and this is an elder of the Taiqing Sect to which I belong, the Lady Arclight. Might I ask your identity?"


    "I am Blue Lantern," the ck-robed man replied. He touched the aether with a hand. The eleven fierce beasts before them were suddenly able to move once more, but they were ncing wildly around themselves, as though unable to see Xiao Nanfeng and the others.


    The ck tiger roared, "Come out,d! Just what did you do to cut my connection with my avatar? Show yourself!"


    The other beasts were also searching the hall for the two cultivators, vexed and frustrated.


    "Have they already escaped from the illusion? Damn it, I was just a few moments away from catching them! I should have dyed them and waited for my other avatars to draw near, at least for that female one! Damn it!" the ck tiger roared again.


    The beasts searched all over the hall and confirmed that no one was present before retreating back to the tiles from which they came. The golden light emanating from the characters winked out, then vanished.


    With the golden light gone, the hall returned to how it used to be. Windows and a door reappeared; everything returned to the way it used to be.


    "Elder, why couldn''t those beasts see us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s because you''re all atop my Compass of Fixation," Blue Lantern replied.


    The two cultivators looked at their feet to see rings of golden light around them, each inscribed with runic script. The golden rings revolved with varying speeds, forming what looked to be an arcanepass or astrbe.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight shared a nce of surprise. This Blue Lantern, whoever he was, was clearly skilled in the arcane arts!


    "Why did you help us just now, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You acquired my dragon-quelling spikes and met up with me. This is a matter of chance and opportunity. To all wielders of these spikes, for each spike, I grant a single wish," Blue Lantern exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight shared a nce again. These spikes could be exchanged for wishes, then?


    "Any wish, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Wish as you may, but if you ask for too much, beyond that which I can provide, I may refuse to satisfy it."


    "Could you give an idea as to the limit you would provide for a wish, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    "Try it and see," Blue Lantern replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...Try it? A small wish would feel like a waste, whereas arge wish might not get fulfilled. Xiao Nanfeng hesitated.


    "You may wish for me to send you both out," Blue Lantern informed them.


    The two cultivators'' gazes met again, but they held back their desire to leave the illusory realm immediately.


    "Elder, might we exchange our wishester?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    Blue Lantern looked at Xiao Nanfeng once more. "As long as you do it before I leave."


    "Before you leave? Are you nning on departing from this illusory realm, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I only entered this illusory realm after you opened the copper door and entered yourself. I came only to fulfill the wish of the departed, and do not intend to stay for long."


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped. Blue Lantern had sensed the copper door opening from afar and entered the illusory realm after they did? Just how strong was he? Was all that he said true?

 Chapter 78: Traitor of Great Wei

    <h4>Chapter 78: Traitor of Great Wei</h4>


    The two cultivators followed Blue Lantern out of the remote hall and returned to the za where they had once been. With the Compass of Fixation beneath them, no one could see any member of the trio.


    "Elder, do you know who established this hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Blue Lantern was a man of few words. He stared before himself for a long while before slowly replying, "Emperor Wei excavated this hidden realm using one dragon-quelling spike, which is now under the control of the empress. The empress is in control here."


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight nced at each other in shock. The empress was in control?


    Emperor Wei was in the middle of addressing the courtly officials. You Shi, the ck-robed man that had just attacked Xiao Nanfeng, was among their number. He respectfully bowed toward Emperor Wei and the empress.


    The empress was looking at her consort with a besotted expression on her face. It was filled with gentleness¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng could also sense a sliver of pain through her gaze.


    "Your Majesty, might I ask as to the reason for this summons?" You Shi spoke up.


    Emperor Wei looked toward You Shi with an icy gaze, as did all the members of court. It was as though he had suddenly be a pariah, an outcast. He was so scared that he subconsciously took a step back and looked at the empress.


    "Empress? Might I ask what I''ve done wrong?" You Shi immediately bowed toward the empress.


    He knew that she was the ruler of this illusory realm, that all those present here were only illusions and facsimiles. Their enmity toward him was the will of the empress.


    "The copper doors have just been opened. A man known as Blue Lantern reported to me that my consort''s truesoul failed to seek revival in the divine domain." The empress'' voice was tinged with sadness and destion.


    "Your Majesty? No..." You Shi cried out, as though expressing his sorrow toward Emperor Wei.


    The empress wiped at the illusion of Emperor Wei with a handkerchief. Her infatuation and gentleness transformed into irrepressible grief. She wanted to imprint her consort''s face in her memory, even if he were a fake.


    "You Shi, you''ve never believed that the emperor would return, have you?" The empress suddenly turned toward him with hatred.


    "Empress! Yes, I always have! I was willing to be interred with Emperor Wei, and my soul entered this illusory realm as a result. This was part of my belief that His Majesty would be able to return. Of course I would believe in him!" You Shi cried out. He then continued, "Your Majesty, I too am heartbroken at the fact that His Majesty''s truesoul revival was unsessful! Might I ask where Blue Lantern is? I can''t believe that His Majesty has failed in this undertaking. I insist on confronting Blue Lantern myself!"


    You Shi might not have been able to see Blue Lantern, but the empress certainly could. She looked at Blue Lantern, a hint of expectation in her eyes, in hopes that Blue Lantern had been lying to her.


    Not far away, Blue Lantern sighed and waved his hand. The Compass of Fixation to his feet vanished, revealing himself, Xiao Nanfeng, and the Lady Arclight.


    When You Shi saw them both, he was so excited that he was trembling. Neither of these cultivators had managed to leave! However, fearful of Blue Lantern, You Shi didn''t strike at them immediately.


    "Are you Elder Blue Lantern of the divine domain? I heard His Majesty mention your name frequently, stating that you were ever a guardian of the realm. Elder, you and His Majesty are acquaintances that have known each other for years, and His Majesty sings your praises whenever you are brought up in conversation. Just what happened to His Majesty during his excursion to the divine domain?"


    "You''ve already guessed the oue. What more is there to know?" Blue Lantern replied calmly.


    "How long ago was this? Why have you only shown up now, Elder? Has His Majesty only just perished?" You Shi asked urgently.


    The empress also looked toward You Shi hopefully.


    "Emperor Wei has been dead for quite a few years. I was entrusted to bring Her Majesty to another illusory realm as residence when this realm shows signs of breaking down. You are the one who caused such damage to it, aren''t you?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "No, no, it isn''t me!" You Shi cried out.


    "Don''t worry. I don''t intend to interfere in your affairs, and I don''t mean to criticize you. I am simply here to inform you that Emperor Wei has perished, and all hase to an end. Empress, will you venture to another realm with me?"


    The empress'' eyes were red with tears. She replied, "Before his departure, His Majesty told me that, if he were to fail, he would send Blue Lantern over with word. Why have you note sooner? Why have I had to wait for so, so long?"


    "Empress, His Majesty has since perished. Will you follow his will?" You Shi asked.


    The empress let out a pained smile. "I won''t go anywhere. I perished that year with the emperor, but my truesoul was unharmed. If the emperor''s truesoul has been destroyed, then there''s no need for me to live on, either."


    You Shi''s eyes widened as he fretted, "Empress, what about me?"


    "Are you finally afraid, now?" The empress'' eyes shed with hatred.


    "Your Majesty, what have I done? Please, inform me of my mistakes!" You Shi cried out.


    "His Majesty established this illusory realm for me but, worried that I would be lonely, asked for a thousand volunteers to be interred with me. All of you sent your yin bodies into this illusory realm to apany me for a millennium. For the first five hundred years, everyone served me well, but over the next five hundred years, you began to split into factions, to plot and scheme. I did not wish to see your confidence that the emperor would never return, and hence retreated into the depths of the pce, with only the illusion of the emperor keeping mepany. What have you done these five centuries past? Where is everyone? Why has no one responded to my call¡ªwhy are you the only one left?!"


    "I¡ª" You Shi was silent for long moments.


    "You''ve killed them all, haven''t you? You''ve distilled their essence for spiritual power! All these spiritual avatars that now popte the remote halls of this realm¡ªaren''t they all yours?!"


    You Shi was silent again. The empress had seen through everything; he didn''t know how to exin what he had done.


    "I don''t care about their deaths, because they lost my confidence five centuries ago. What I care about is the fact that someone has betrayed my consort a millennium ago! You Shi, have you been against my consort from the start?"


    "No!" You Shi cried out.


    "I could hear your conversation with the two of them in that remote hall. Whileying out this formation, you prepared a backdoor, a way out¡ªsending cultivators from beyond the array within, so that you might escape on your own! Had you been nning for His Majesty''s demise from the beginning? And yet you still pretended to be loyal and entered this grave with me!"


    You Shi''s eyes widened. "Your Majesty, I did set up a backdoor, but the chest within which I kept my records would only be essible after a thousand years! Am I not loyal enough for having dedicated a thousand years of my life to this realm?"


    "Loyal? Were you the one who stole my consort''s dragon-quelling spikes while he was weak? Was it you?!" the empress demanded.


    "I¡ª" You Shi hesitated again.


    "The others waited for five centuries, until they were certain that His Majesty had perished in his attempt at revival, before losing their loyalty in the Great Wei Empire. Even if my consort were alive, he would not me them. You, however, are different. You became disloyal even before my consort made his trek to the divine domain¡ªyou even killed the loyal retainers who were willing to suffer this millennium of waiting with me! For what purpose did you consume their spiritual power? To kill me and seize control over this realm, too?"


    "Your Majesty, I had no choice! If not for the backdoor, the copper doors might not have opened for ten thousand years! Would you have waited that long to learn of His Majesty''s demise?" You Shi made excuses for himself.


    "I would!" the empress replied, her eyes red.


    "You are the ruler of this illusory realm. You might be able to wait, but none of the rest of us can! Our spiritual power dissipates by the second. We would die if we were to keep waiting¡ªso why not struggle to live, instead? You can hardly me me for that!"


    "If you wanted to leave, you could simply have told me!" the empress cried out.


    "Would that have been effective? Before we were interred, His Majesty informed us that, before his return, nobody would be allowed to leave the illusory realm. Would you have let us go?"


    "I would!" the empress shouted.


    "What?"


    "Before my consort departed, he told me that he bore all of you his gratitude for being willing to apany me, instructing me to treat you well and not to kill a single person regardless of what happened. Had any of you mentioned your desire to leave, I would have let you go¡ªbut no one ever said a word to me!" the empress continued.


    "Your Majesty, would you be willing to allow me to leave, then?" You Shi''s eyes brightened.


    "All others but you! You betrayed His Majesty from the beginning, you even stole his dragon-quelling spikes, and you took advantage of his nning. You traitor to the empire¡ªhow dare you dream of leaving? On behalf of my consort, I''ll kill you first before joining him in eternal slumber!"


    "No, Empress! You¡ªhow much I''ve given for the Great Wei Empire, how many formations I''veid out! I''ve been loyal for countless years. You can''t treat me like this!" You Shi cried out.


    "His Majesty had you prepare three tombs, a sign of greatest trust in your character. You erected a backdoor in my tomb¡ªso what might you have done to that for His Majesty? You might even have corrupted his quest for a truesoul revival! You''ve betrayed my consort and desecrated his corpse. I won''t let you go. I promised my consort not to kill any of you, but with his departure, I need not hold myself to my vow any longer."


    "Empress, I haven''t! The only modifications I made was to this tomb. I never touched the other tombs, never! I didn''t desecrate His Majesty''s corpse," You Shi quickly eximed.


    "Empress of Great Wei," Xiao Nanfeng jumped in, "ording to the information I have obtained, the records he passed to the external realm describes four locations of natural treasures, to which were affixed four array-breaking treasures. This tomb was only one of them."


    You Shi: ...<i>Thisd dares foil my n?!</i>


    Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s ims, the Empress of Great Wei grew more resolute. With a wave of her hand, dark clouds suddenly filled the sky. A frightening aura resolved itself around You Shi.


    "Elder Blue Lantern, we are students of the same school of formations. Please, Elder, save me!" You Shi suddenly begged Blue Lantern.


    "As I''ve stated, I will not interfere in your affairs. I am only here to bring the empress away. Live or die, I shall not intercede," Blue Lantern replied.


    You Shi''s eyes lit up as he turned to the empress. "You won''t intercede, Blue Lantern? Then I can rx!"


    You Shi waved a hand, causing a thousand ck figures to rush out from the remote halls all around the realm and into his body,bining their strength with his own. You Shi''s aura grew rapidly as he attempted to resist the empress'' will.


    "Consort, bear witness: I have maligned no one. The formation master you trusted was a traitor to the realm!" the empress cried out, ncing at the illusion of Emperor Wei.


    "Empress, if the copper doors had been unopened, you would have been able to suppress me with power over the array, but now, this realm has grown weaker from repeated exposure to the external realm. You may be no match for me now. I hadn''t wanted to sour rtions with you. If you had let me go, everything would have been fine¡ªbut if you decide to sentence me to death, then let''s see if you have the power to back that up!" You Shi rushed toward the empress.


    With a wave of her hand, a huge bolt of blue lightning fell from the skies, forcing You Shi back and smashing a huge crater in the za before him.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the sky, only to see a giant copper spike hovering amidst the dark clouds, sending lightning shing down as punishment in ordance with the empress'' will.


    Bolts of blue lightning shot toward You Shi, who defended with a surge of ck aura. He was struck by a bolt of lightning, and the resulting shockwave caused the whole dragon''s head mountain to shake violently.


    "Did you see that? With the copper doors open, your power in this realm weakens. I can deflect the attacks with the gathered souls of all thousand loyal servants! Empress, you won''t be able to kill me today. The one who should die is you!" As You Shi defended against the rampaging lightning, he slowly began to walk toward the empress like a demon of the ages.


    The empress nced mournfully at the dragon-quelling spike in the air, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight. "My consort has perished, and all of heaven and earth has turned to grayscale for me. I loathe this traitor to the empire, but don''t have the will to make a move any longer. If I lend you my spiritual power, would the two of you be willing to rid this traitor on my behalf? I''ll repay your efforts," the empress promised.


    "I am Arclight, and I would be more than happy to rid you of this traitor, Your Majesty!"


    "I am Nanfeng, and I would be more than happy to rid you of this traitor, Your Majesty!"


    The two cultivators stood forward near-simultaneously. They had already developed a feud against You Shi, and had no intention of backing down now.

 Chapter 79: Defeating You Shi

    <h4>Chapter 79: Defeating You Shi</h4>


    The empress looked gratefully at the two cultivators.


    She chose the Lady Arclight as her champion. With a wave of her hand, a wave of blue energy shot straight into the Lady Arclight''s body, while the empress paled as power left her.


    A vast spiritual power instantly suffused the Lady Arclight''s body. A great gust of energy billowed out from her, causing the halls nearby to quake and tremble.


    "Damn brat! You''re going to go against me?!" You Shi thundered in rage. He struck down the shes of blue lightning that shot toward him as he approached, while the empress, realizing that the lightning was doing nothing against him, halted her attack.


    "Nanfeng, protect the empress. I''ll take care of this quickly!" The Lady Arclight''s fighting spirit red. She stepped forward and threw out a punch, one crackling with wind and storm. Like a long blue river, it shot toward You Shi, as if intending on drowning him whole.


    You Shi snorted, responding to the attack without any fear. ck aura ballooned around him as he met the Lady Arclight fist for fist. The waves of energy from the resulting explosion sent the courtly officials flying, and countless halls copsed from the impact. The entire za quaked.


    You Shi and the Lady Arclight each retreated a hundred paces. Neither hade out superior in that confrontation.


    "Lass, you think you canpete against me just because you received the empress'' spiritual power? You''re hardly skilled enough!" You Shi cried out, then made to strike at the Lady Arclight once more.


    With his right fist, he blocked the Lady Arclight''s punch, then rotated and swung his left fist toward her body. Simultaneously, the Lady Arclight struck his body with a palm. Both cultivators staggered back.


    "Again!" The Lady Arclight struck once more.


    Both cultivators mmed into each other in another wave of energy that caused plumes of dust to erupt from the ground. Rubble was sent flying as they battled all the way from the top of the mountain to its foot.


    The fight raged on, a trail of destruction cataloging it as they fought at the foot of the mountain. The whole capital of Great Wei became their battlefield.


    "You Shi''s fighting on par with the Lady Arclight... this isn''t good!" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "On par? No, she''s done for," Blue Lanternmented, shaking his head.


    "Would you share your thoughts, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Ultimately, all this spiritual power was loaned to thatss by the empress, and she won''t be able to draw out its full strength. Furthermore, You Shi is using a secret technique to collect the spiritual power that the twobatants have dispersed during the fight, so in a drawn-out confrontation, he will be the ultimate victor. Thess grows weaker over time; You Shi grows stronger over time," Blue Lantern continued cidly.


    Indeed, now that it had been pointed out to him, Xiao Nanfeng quickly noticed that the ck aura around You Shi was gathering the spiritual power that was being dispersed from the twobatants. The Lady Arclight had been fighting on equal terms with You Shi just moments ago, but she was already starting to g.


    She grew weaker and weaker, and was even sent flying from one confrontation. Blue spiritual power burst out of her and was sucked away by You Shi''s ck aura.


    "So what if you have the empress'' spiritual power? In the end, it''ll all belong to me. Now, take this!" You Shi punched forward.


    The Lady Arclight was mmed down into the za with a huge boom. The ground cracked as she fell to the empress'' feet. She spat out a mouthful of blood. Her injuries were severe, and she was bleeding all over.


    "I apologize for disappointing you, Empress of Great Wei," the Lady Arclight choked out weakly.


    The empress didn''t me the Lady Arclight for her failure. Rather, stark sadness appeared on her face. "Forget it! So what if I can''t rid the empire of a traitor on my consort''s behalf? We are but spirits condemned to death. Little have we to fight over..."


    The empress grew disconste; her failure left her without desire to push matters any further.


    "How are you, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly walked up to her.


    Killing intent billowed from him in waves. He subconsciously wiped at blood trailing from the Lady Arclight''s lip with his hand, causing her eyes to widen.


    "Well? Empress, you can''t stop me at all. Now, I''ll return you to your truesoul state¡ªand you two cultivators, don''t dream of running away!" You Shi cackled in the air.


    The empress caressed ''Emperor Wei'' beside her, then slowly closed her eyes. She was in no mind to continue fighting, and she did not fear death. Full of regrets, she prepared to explore the afterlife with Emperor Wei.


    From afar, You Shiunched a palm strike toward them, one which expanded as it traveled. It overshadowed the entire realm, as though intending to crush the empress, Xiao Nanfeng, and the Lady Arclight simultaneously.


    "You Shi''s current spiritual power must be at the peak of Lunar Deluge by now. He''sing¡ªNanfeng, seek assistance from Blue Lantern, quickly! Make a wish with your dragon-quelling spike!" the Lady Arclight called out, weakly tugging on Xiao Nanfeng''s sleeve.


    Not far away, Blue Lantern eyed the two cultivators, waiting for them to make a wish so that he might reim the spikes.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t look toward Blue Lantern. Rather, he helped the Lady Arclight to a sitting position, then gently told her, "I''ll take revenge for you, don''t you worry!"


    Xiao Nanfeng inclined his head at the approaching attack. He activated the superior yin pearl and began furiously absorbing the frost from the ice mountain in his head. It began to melt with a torrent of spiritual power.


    Within moments, spiritual power like a raging ocean flowed out from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. The frightening burst of spiritual power caused rubble to rise into the air, and the entire dragon''s head mountain began to shake. When he formed a fist, it eclipsed You Shi''s punch by half again its size, and a torrent of spiritual power apanied the attack.


    A howling storm billowed from him as the attacks collided, filling the air with rubble. The aftershock caused countless floating inds to shake, then to fall.


    Behind him, the Lady Arclight gaped in astonishment.


    You Shi''s palm technique burst apart. The bacsh from the attack caused both his hands and arms to bleed, and he himself was sent flying at great force. As he fell to the ground, he caused a small rockslide by the side of the dragon''s head mountain.


    "Impossible! Within my array, I could sense that your spiritual cultivation was at most midway through Ster Lake. How could you have grown so strong so quickly?" You Shi clutched his bleeding palms and looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment, then Blue Lantern. "Blue Lantern, didn''t you say you wouldn''t interfere? Why did you grant him so much energy?!"


    Blue Lantern ignored You Shi. He stared at Xiao Nanfeng silently. Had he interfered needlessly back then? This was the first time his judgment had been off.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself was staring at You Shi balefully. "You don''t have the qualifications to beat up my elder."


    He stepped forward andunched another punch, which You Shi met with one of his own. Another tempest of energy formed, and You Shi was sent flying down the mountain.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly gave chase, killing intent ring from him, in boundless anger and rage.


    The pale empress nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s back as she turned to the Lady Arclight. "My dear, my consort defended me in precisely this manner in our youth. You''ve chosen the right man¡ªhe''s worth your support and trust."


    The Lady Arclight blushed. "You misunderstand, Your Majesty! We''re not rted in that fashion."


    The empress, weary of life, chose not to continue arguing with the Lady Arclight. She sighed and cautioned, "Don''t miss this opportunity, then."


    The Lady Arclight: ...


    Afar, the fight raged on. Bothbatants took to the skies and punched at each other.


    Supported by tremendous spiritual power, they fought overnd and sky, causing countless floating inds above the capital of Great Wei to burst apart. The frightening shockwaves formed hurricanes all around the capital.


    The illusory realm was far weaker than reality, and it took little to break and shatter all manner of objects within. The grand and majestic capital was reduced to rubble and ruin within moments.


    You Shi grabbed Xiao Nanfeng''s right fist with his right palm, then countered Xiao Nanfeng''s left fist with his left palm. ck aura surged from him, as though intending to drain Xiao Nanfeng of his spiritual power.


    "So what if you have this much spiritual power? Hand it all over to me!" You Shi cried out.


    "Can you handle it all?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Just then, two more fists appeared before You Shi.


    "Four fists?" he cried out. "Hegemon''s Fist?"


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s two fists vanished from You Shi''s grip, and the two extra fists that Xiao Nanfeng had manifested merged together and struck him squarely in the face.


    You Shi was sent flying into the distance, crashing through the city wall in a plume of dust. The ck aura around him failed to devour Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power in time.


    You Shi emerged from the ruins. "I don''t believe it! Hegemon''s Fist is the signature technique of Emperor Wei. How could you know it?!"


    The two cultivators again began to grapple with one another. Xiao Nanfeng no longer had two fists before him, but rather eight arms. All eight looked real, as though any that managed to strike his opponent would manifest into reality, while those that were struck by his opponent would dematerialize into figments. Xiao Nanfeng''s mastery of this technique seemed to have grown even further. Under a fierce assault, You Shi was forced to retreat time and again as he was struck.


    Not only could You Shi not absorb Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power, his own spiritual power was dissipating under Xiao Nanfeng''s powerful blows. He was shocked beyond measure; as they continued to fight, Xiao Nanfeng''s skill seemed to grow by leaps and bounds. Soon enough, fists appeared all around him, as though he were a god of heaven, summoned to take down a devil incarnate.


    "Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist, turning the illusory into the real and back again, transforming endlessly and countlessly¡ªhe''s already reached mastery?!" The Lady Arclight gaped.


    "Hegemon''s Fist? How could it be? That''s my consort''s unique signature technique! Hebined the most superior of the fist techniques under heaven into Hegemon''s Fist, so how could this cultivator..."


    "Don''t you know, Empress? Emperor Wei''s Hegemon''s Fist has spread throughout the world. The Taiqing Immortal Sect, to which I belong, boasts aplete manual of his technique, but it''s far too difficult for most cultivators. Only Nanfeng has reached such incredible sess in recent history," the Lady Arclight exined.


    "Spread throughout the world...? Had my consort been nning this all along, prepared for a failed revival?" The empress'' eyes shed with grief once again.


    A rumble could be heard from the skies in the distance. Xiao Nanfeng had punched You Shi into the ground with a massive shockwave that caused it to crack and form a deep, bottomless gully. The ck aura around You Shi dispersed, his spiritual power all consumed.


    You Shi spat out blood as hey in the gully, no longer wielding anybat power. As he watched Xiao Nanfeng walk toward him, still brimming with killing intent, he howled, "No, no! If this were reality, I would be able to crush you instantly!"


    "Unfortunately for you, we''re in an illusory realm." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold as he mmed a foot into You Shi''s prone body, causing it to explode into a cloud of ck mist. The mist seemed to cry out in injustice before fading away for good.

 Chapter 80: Blue Lantern Splits the Dragon

    <h4>Chapter 80: Blue Lantern Splits the Dragon</h4>


    Within a ruined hall atop the dragon''s head mountain, a puff of ck smoke appeared, a skeleton within. Madam Rouge herself had appeared.


    She stood quietly by the hall, refraining from her usual ughter. She looked at the tremendous spiritual power wafting from Xiao Nanfeng as he beat up You Shi, unable to ept her target''s newfound strength. How was she meant to take down Xiao Nanfeng when he was this strong?


    She then looked toward the empress and the Lady Arclight. These two cultivators were rtively weak and would serve as nourishing food, but Blue Lantern was standing right beside them! It was somewhat wary of him, and chose not to reveal herself.


    Blue Lantern frowned and suddenly turned toward where Madam Rouge was standing, but she had since vanished. Even her signature ck smoke was gone.


    Blue Lantern stared curiously in that direction for quite some time, but Madam Rouge had sessfully evaded detection. He finally turned back toward Xiao Nanfeng''s fight, where he had just caused You Shi to disperse in a cloud of smoke.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt back toward the za, where he looked toward the Lady Arclight with care. She had gotten back to her feet, and clearly wasn''t in great danger. Only then did he rx.


    "Empress of Great Wei, I have defeated the traitor to your empire!" Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    "My gratitude. I have little to repay you with save this dragon-quelling spike in the air. Please im it once this realm has copsed." The empress'' eyes were still red. There was no happiness in her tone; the moment she received confirmation of her consort''s death, her emotions had deadened. With this final grudge resolved, she felt even more unmoored.


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense the empress'' destion and despair. He bowed in response, without speaking further.


    Blue Lantern looked at the empress once more. "Empress, this realm is about to copse, and Emperor Wei has met his demise. He entreated me to bring you to another realm. Please, follow me!"


    The empress raised her head, her eyes vacant. She shook her head. "With him dead, nothing is important to me anymore. Let this realm copse, and I with it. This is the final gift that my consort has left me."


    "Your Majesty, why don''t you apany Elder Blue Lantern to a new realm? Perhaps you might have a change of perspective then..." the Lady Arclight advised, before suddenly falling silent. The empress sought to die; would prolonging her life not be torture?


    The empress turned toward the Lady Arclight with some gratitude. "You are a good-heartedss. Though you were unable to defeat You Shi, I am still indebted for your assistance. Before my consort perished, he spread his Hegemon''s Fist throughout the realm. I can do little of that magnitude, but allow me to pass you, if nothing else, the fruits of my lifelongbor."


    The empress touched the Lady Arclight''s temple with a finger. The Lady Arclight trembled, then slowly closed her eyes. The empress'' body turned even fainter.


    "Elder, this is..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured in worry.


    "The empress is infusing her own spiritual power into thess, a beneficial endeavor without potential for harm. However, with this vital energy gone, the empress herself will notst long. This is for the better, perhaps¡ªwith only her truesoul remaining, it''ll be less work for me to take care of," Blue Lantern exined calmly.


    Indeed, the empress'' figure was turning more and more transparent, until she was only barely visible.


    "Allow me to make one final request of you. If it is convenient, ce my physical body by that of my consort, allowing us to be together even in death," the empress murmured. Suddenly, her near-transparent body popped like a bubble and vanished for good.


    Just then, Blue Lantern made a grabbing motion with his hand where the empress had fallen, catching a group of golden sparks in his palm. He bottled them, then kept the bottle in his sleeve.


    The dragon-quelling spike in the air, as though sensing the empress'' downfall, sent out a burst of blue light. The entire illusory realm dispersed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shuddered as he returned to his physical body.


    "Have we left the illusory realm?" His eyes lit up. He looked all around himself to discover that he was still lying outside the copper doors. The Lady Arclight was meditating beside him, while the two toad spirits had fallen unconscious by the doors.


    Within the doors were a thousand meditating cultivators, along with all manner of precious treasures and weapons. At a corner of the chamber was a giant dragon''s head that glowed with golden light. Cracks spiderwebbed from it. One shard fell from the head and transformed into a wisp of draconic aether. Above the dragon''s head was a copper coffin, with a ck-robed figure by its side¡ªBlue Lantern.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped through the copper doors as his surroundings rumbled.


    The thousand meditating cultivators were quickly turning into ash, dissipating in the air. In addition, the treasures and weapons were swiftly decaying.


    Xiao Nanfeng halted in surprise.


    "There''s no need to worry. These cultivators have long since perished. Without their spiritual power to prolong their lives, their physical bodies and all the material items within have been corroded by my dragon-quelling spike," Blue Lantern told Xiao Nanfeng, the former facing away from thetter.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. He had been nning to take a few of the treasures for himself. Even ordinary possessions from an empress'' tomb had to be valuable! There might even have been divine implements within¡ªbut were they all gone now, with only the coffin left intact?


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the interior of the chamber as he rummaged through the ruins.


    "Are you searching for this?" Blue Lantern revealed a dragon-quelling spike in his palm.


    "Yes, Elder! The empress bequeathed this spike to me before she passed," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "This is the token with which Emperor Wei requested me to bring the empress away, and I can''t hand it over to you," Blue Lantern replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...<i>Despite being an esteemed cultivator, are you trying to snatch away my treasure?</i>


    "However, within this spike remains a fraction of Emperor Wei''s strength, which I can pass to you. Where are your dragon-quelling spikes?" Blue Lantern continued.


    "Right here, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng immediately pulled out his spike before fully processing Blue Lantern''s words. "Your spikes," he had said¡ªXiao Nanfeng turned to see the Lady Arclight walking over.


    "Have you awoken, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    "The empress left me with a great deal of information, which I will not be able to process without prolonged secluded cultivation." The Lady Arclight cradled her aching head as she pulled out her spike and handed it to Xiao Nanfeng. "I leave this spike in your safekeeping."


    Having heard Blue Lantern''s words, she wanted to give Xiao Nanfeng a means of protecting himself.


    "Thank you, Elder."


    Blue Lantern drew a measure of golden energy from the spike he possessed, split it in two, and infused each portion into the two spikes in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands. They red with golden light before going dim again.


    "Much of Emperor Wei''s strength has been depleted, but what remains is now within the two spikes in your possession. Activate each spike with your qi to release that strength, each corresponding roughly to a single blow from a Spiritsong-realm cultivator. It''s not much," Blue Lantern assessed.


    "Thank you, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply. Although he was unable to acquire the dragon-quelling spike now in Blue Lantern''s possession, he had obtained aspensation the strength to safeguard him twice.


    "No matter," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Elder, has You Shi perished for good?" Xiao Nanfeng continued seriously.


    Blue Lantern nced at Xiao Nanfeng with a wry smile. "He''s a sly and crafty fellow. How could he have died so easily? You had better make preparations to defend yourself."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. You Shi hadn''t perished? Trouble would lie ahead, then...


    "Elder? The empress tasked us with reuniting her corpse with that of Emperor Wei. Might you know where it is?" the Lady Arclight asked.


    "Emperor Wei''s corpse is buried in the location with the strongest spiritual density within the spirits'' domain. When your cultivation recovers, you should be able to identify it easily."


    "Thank you for the information, Elder!" The Lady Arclight bowed toward him.


    "You''re not far from recovering to Spiritsong, are you?" Blue Lantern asked. He could clearly identify the state of the Lady Arclight''s cultivation at a nce.


    "I''m far from it, I''m afraid. I''ve only recovered to Ascension, Elder," the Lady Arclight reported.


    "Worry not. The remnants of this golden dragon''s head will suffice for you to recover to your peak¡ªand then to ascend beyond that," Blue Lantern replied, looking at the tattered head before him.


    "Elder, is this a draconic vein?" the Lady Arclight asked curiously.


    "A draconic vein of the earth is formless and shapeless. For it to have congealed into such a state is a deterioration in quality. You Shi divided it once and again out of greed and selfishness, sending it out into the wider world to attract attention. At this point, not even a hundredth of its initial spiritual power remains, and what exists is inferior in quality. Even so, this one dragon''s head is sufficient for you to recover fully to your peak, and to cause those two mutated toad spirits to step into the Spiritsong realm. Let me divide it among the four of you," Blue Lantern suggested, ncing at the toad spirits close by.


    "Thank you, Elder!" The Lady Arclight bowed once again.


    Blue Lantern waved a hand. The empress'' coffin slid to the ground, and the giant dragon''s head suddenly trembled and burst into a million small golden dragons. Blue Lantern manipted the aether with his palms,pressing them all into four glowing golden balls.


    Xiao Nanfeng infused spiritual power into the two toad spirits, waking them up. As they did so, they began to croak.


    "Shush! Don''t disturb the elder," Xiao Nanfeng whispered, his palms on the two toad spirits.


    They mped their mouths shut and looked toward Blue Lantern in confusion.


    "If you ascend to Spiritsong, head toward the divine domain immediately. An opportunity awaits you there. You must go!"


    "Yes, Elder!" The Lady Arclight nodded firmly.


    "In that case, we''ll see each other again in the divine domain." Blue Lantern made a pushing gesture, sending the four golden balls toward the two cultivators and two spirits. Meanwhile, Blue Lantern''s figure vanished in a wisp of smoke.


    "Farewell, Elder!" The two cultivators bowed deeply.

 Chapter 81: Croak and Warble

    <h4>Chapter 81: Croak and Warble</h4>


    Blue Lantern vanished in a puff of smoke, causing the two cultivators to gasp. So this was the might of an immortal! The next moment, they found their attention drawn to the four shining golden balls.


    "Toad spirits, this is a gift from the elder. Enjoy it!" Xiao Nanfeng called out, offering them two of the balls.


    The two toad spirits understood Xiao Nanfeng''s words and could sense the tremendous energy within the small golden balls. They swallowed them immediately. With a hum, resplendent golden light began to shine from the two toad spirits. Their expressions were ones of indescribable pleasure.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Lady Arclight swallowed their own small golden balls, too.


    Instantly, Xiao Nanfeng felt draconic aether surge throughout his body. He immediately sat cross-legged and began to meditate, distilling the essence within his body


    and transmuting the draconic aether into yang qi. All that energy rushed into Xiao Nanfeng''s fifth divine conduit, clearing out the blockage within. Radiant light glowed from his skin, which began to turn golden.


    After an hour, a gust of energy seeped out of his body.


    "The fifth stage of Immanence? And nine more capiries to be unblocked!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up with anticipation.


    After another hour, a dull thump came from within his body.


    "That''s the first capiry down. Let''s continue..." Xiao Nanfeng wanted to push himself to his limits from the very beginning.


    The second capiry... the fourth... the eighth... the ninth. After Xiao Nanfeng cleared out all his clogged capiries, he slowly opened his eyes.


    He had fully absorbed all the energy from the small golden ball, and he felt as though he were full of strength. More importantly, his skin had turned golden, as though he had been cast from gold.


    Upon ncing at his golden skin, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "A qi barrier? Allegedly, at and beyond the fifth stage of Immanence, you can line your entire body with qi to serve as ayer of defense. Is this how it''s done?"


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to cut his arm with a de. The de touched his arm with a clink, like the sound of metal against rock. Xiao Nanfeng began striking himself harder and harder, but it took a surprisingly long time before he began to feel pain.


    "Yang qi is truly amazing. Ordinary qi barriers would only be able to block the des of Acquisition-realm cultivators at this stage, but a yang qi barrier can block even that of an early-stage Immanence-realm cultivator!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    As Xiao Nanfeng reined in his qi, his golden skin returned to its original color.


    With satisfaction, Xiao Nanfeng looked around himself. The two toad spirits were still glowing with golden light, as though their bodies contained immense, boundless power. The Lady Arclight was much the same way. The golden light around her had swelled and formed golden me over the surface of her body.


    Xiao Nanfeng wondered, "Had Blue Lantern split the draconic aether up disproportionately? Did I gain the least draconic aether?"


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for another two hours before the male toad spirit''s body swelled and emitted a tremendous wave of energy, one that caused Xiao Nanfeng''s eardrums to hurt as it erupted.


    The golden light slowly retreated from the male toad spirit''s body as it opened its eyes. Its body had grown bulkier all around, and it seemed to be primed for explosive bursts of strength.


    "Croak, croak! Haha!" the male toad spiritughed in excitement.


    "Toad spirit? Was that... humanughter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked uncertainly.


    The male toad spirit quieted down and turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Its mood was ebullient.


    "Nanfeng, croak!" The male toad spirit waved its forelegs, as though it were trying to express something.


    "You just said my name! Have you already reached Spiritsong?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed bbergasted.


    The male toad spirit nodded fervently. "Croak, that''s right!"


    It now had the faculty for human speech, though it was yet unused to its newfound ability, and its speech still integrated elements of its toad nature.


    "Calm down for a moment and take your time. Try tomunicate with me using humannguage," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The male toad quashed his excitement and made a few abortive attempts before speaking again.


    "I, I think I can do it! My vocal cords have developed to a significant extent, and I can speak human speech now!" the male toad spirit croaked happily.


    "Have you really ascended to Spiritsong? Your golden ball had more draconic aether than mine did, didn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "Yes, I was only a step away from this new realm. That amount of draconic aether was just enough for my ascension. Of the four balls, yours had the least energy, and mine the second least. My wife, Warble, got more energy than the two of usbined, and it should have been enough to bring her to Spiritsong as well. Your wife had the most draconic aether," the male toad spirit stated.


    "My wife? Don''t talk nonsense¡ªif she overhears you, you''re done for! She''s the Lady Arclight," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood what Blue Lantern had done now. He was amazingly strong, and had been able to see at a nce how much everyone needed in order to reach the next stage of their cultivation. That was why he had divided the aether into fourths, allowing both toads to ascend to Spiritsong and the Lady Arclight to reach her peak once again and surpass it. He only needed the three Spiritsong spirits and cultivator to head into the divine domain, while Xiao Nanfeng was just a bonus.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng felt a pang of regret, he refused to be upset. Any draconic aether was more than he had expected to gain.


    "I heard you address your wife as Warble?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the male toad spirit.


    "Right, my name is Croak, and my wife''s name is Warble!" the male toad spirit introduced.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the toad spirit a strange look. <i>What curious names...</i>


    "Warble''s cultivation is significantly weaker than mine, and she needs to spend quite a bit more time to distill the draconic aether she received..." Croak nced at its partner with fond exasperation.


    "The Lady Arclight will likely take some time as well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then looked toward the copper door. "Shall we clean the ce a little? I wouldn''t want those corpses to start rotting."


    Croak nodded, then hopped out of the copper doors. ck aura emerged from its mouth, as it quickly gathered all the corpses together. It had no interest in the corpses any longer, not even to consume them.


    "Let''s bury them outside," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Croak nodded and followed Xiao Nanfeng out the tunnel, swimming past the barrier and up above it.


    The moment they emerged from the surface of the pond, they heard a great boom. A bolt of lightning struck arge group of crow spirits.


    The dozens of spiritbeasts that had gathered around the greatke were hunting a group of crow spirits. The spiritbeasts had discovered that the crow spirits were ignoring their warning to stay out of their territory. They had gathered atop this valley en masse over thest two days, causing the spiritbeasts to notice that something was amiss, and they were here to capture a few crow spirits to interrogate.


    The crow spirits tried to run, but the gathered spiritbeasts wouldn''t allow them to do so. They all fell to the ground, the majority dying instantly, and a rare few severely injured, clinging stubbornly to life as they awaited the spiritbeasts'' interrogation.


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised to see this scene as he emerged from the pond. They had all been taken down before he could exact his revenge!


    Xiao Nanfeng felt for the location of the Immortal Cicada with his spiritual senses, then summoned it. A golden beam of light shone from deep within the swamp mud, then flew over to Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    That action quickly attracted the attention of the gathered spirits, who recognized the Immortal Cicada instantly. Was this the true master of that de? The spiritbeasts howled in outrage as they struck at Xiao Nanfeng, intent on tearing him apart.


    "Do you think I''m still the same cultivator I used to be a few days ago? You''re all overestimating your own abilities!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Behind him, Croak slowly floated to the surface with the cultivators'' corpses. It swam up to Xiao Nanfeng, protecting him with its bulk, as it red fiercely at the gathered spiritbeasts.


    "Croak, these spiritbeasts are trying to cause trouble. Kill the ones you can¡ªthe elder wants to have a sumptuous feast. If you can take them down cleanly, I''ll be able to make dishes out of them easily."


    Croak naturally didn''t mind. Having just ascended to Spiritsong, it was still in a state of exuberance and confidence. If these spiritbeasts were to discover the cavern entrance within, they might very well disturb Warble''s ascension. Wasn''t it appropriate to get rid of them all?


    Croak leapt forward, emitting a fearsome Spiritsong-realm aura that caused the other spiritbeasts to rear back. They felt helpless¡ªthis toad was a Spiritsong-realm beast? How were they supposed to fight it?


    Croak''s huge body mmed into the spiritbeasts in the lead, causing their bones to crack as they were smashed into the foot of the mountain nearby. The ground rumbled.

 Chapter 82: Croaks Grill

    <h4>Chapter 82: Croak''s Grill</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t needed to do anything; Croak was taking care of all the spiritbeasts on its own. Even the giant purple bird''s lightning attack felt like little more than scratching an itch for Croak. Croak raised its head, its gigantic tongue snapping through the air and dragging it down to the ground. The giant purple bird screeched in fear as its spiritual qi was suppressed and its body restrained.


    "Croak, don''t swallow it! The elder wants to have some roast bird!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Croak obediently smashed the giant purple bird against the face of the mountain. Its head cracked, and it died on the spot.


    In fright, the remaining spiritbeasts each shot out their own attacks at Croak, peppering it with me and ice, wind and storm. Mud sprayed out from around its body, covering everything in sight, but these attacks weren''t able to get through its defenses. All they achieved was to annoy Croak with pinpricks of pain.


    Croak struck before all the mud had even settled, moving so quickly that the spiritbeasts could barely keep track of it. The wolf and bear spirits were sent flying. They struck the face of the mountain, shattering their skulls, and died on the spot.


    Croak caught another two spirits by their heads, then pped them together, causing them to slump to the ground. It leapt into the midst of the spirits, who scattered in fear. Croak suddenly croaked loudly, a wide-range spiritual attack.


    The spiritual power dazed some of the weaker lifeforms. Croak leapt toward each one and pped them to death, killing arge swathe of the spirits within moments.


    The remaining spirits fled into the forest, but Croak was too fast for them. A huge crack came from the distance as trees were sent flying into the air. Subsequently, the carcasses were tossed toward the swamp from afar, sshing muddy water everywhere.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately retrieved the inner cores from each carcass.


    By the time Croak leapt back, Xiao Nanfeng had already acquired dozens of these cores, which glowed with resplendent light.


    "Croak, you''re really amazing!" Xiao Nanfeng praised.


    "If not for the fact that you wanted to make a meal out of all these lifeforms, I would have poisoned them to death with a single breath attack. It wouldn''t have been so troublesome then!" Croak replied proudly.


    "These inner cores are going to dissipate quickly, so I''m going to swallow them all now. You''re not interested in them, are you? I''ll make a feast for everyone to thank you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Croak didn''t object. It was a Spiritsong-realm spirit now, and it cared little for some inner cores of Ascension-realm spirits.


    The inner cores were steadily losing energy while they were exposed to the environment. Although some weren''t pure yang, they still boasted particrly concentrated spiritual power. By swallowing them, Xiao Nanfeng would be able to distill their essence, making up for quality in quantity.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged on arge rock. Glimmers of golden light emerged from his body as tremendous energy filled his body.


    Two hourster, a gust of energy was expelled from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "The sixth stage of Immanence¡ªand more capiries!" Xiao Nanfeng continued resolutely.


    His body turned golden as he unblocked his divine capiries and his cultivation rose. The first... the fifth... the ninth!


    A loud bang could be heard as Xiao Nanfeng cleared out all his clogged capiries. He then slowly opened his eyes, feeling as though he was supercharged with strength.


    The golden glow over his body hadn''t dissipated. With his qi barrier active, Xiao Nanfeng tested the defense of his physical body and found that he was now able to block attacks from mid-stage Immanence-realm cultivators. His eyes shed with delight.


    "Have you finished?" Croak had been standing guard by his side all this time.


    "I''m all done. Let me handle the rest," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He began inspecting the spiritbeast carcasses, only to suddenly discover that a few Immanence-realm crow spirits hadn''t yet died. They had been knocked unconscious by Croak''s spiritual attack, and were now waking up. They pped their wings in fear as they tried to run.


    "Trying to run? Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng sent his Immortal Cicada whizzing toward the crow spirits,


    who fled in fright as they continued pping their wings in panic. Unfortunately, they were no match for the Immortal Cicada, which struck them down in a sh. One crow spirit remained, desperately gesturing without attempting to flee, pointing at the Immortal Cicada.


    The Immortal Cicada hovered before the crow spirit. It quailed in fright, but continued gesturing desperately.


    "It seems to be saying that it knows where a simr flying sword is located?" Croak guessed at the crow spirit''s meaning.


    Xiao Nanfeng hade to the same conclusion, which was why he hadn''t yet killed it.


    "You''ve seen the other Immortal Cicada? You know where Yu''er is?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The crow spirit bobbed its head up and down in fear, trying to avoid being killed by Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I won''t kill you. Heal up quickly, then guide the way. If I find Yu''er, I''ll spare your life."


    The crow spirit nodded desperately. It was only at Immanence, and couldn''t hope to resist.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued preparing the spiritbeast meat. He had promised to whip something up for Croak. He spent significant effort roasting a wolf spirit, then beckoned a confused Croak over.


    "Don''t swallow it whole! Tear chunks off bit by bit," Xiao Nanfeng told Croak.


    Croak cocked its head. It had always swallowed food down in one gulp. What was the point of tearing chunks off? Wasn''t that wasted effort?


    Because it trusted Xiao Nanfeng, however, it tore off a chunk of meat and did as he said. Suddenly, Croak fell still. Its eyes widened. This was the first time it had tasted its food, truly tasted it¡ªand this time, its food wasn''t something raw and bloody, but rather carefully roasted and seasoned by Xiao Nanfeng!


    "What''s this? Why does it taste so good?!" Croak croaked. It devoured the huge wolf spirit within moments, bones and all.


    "Is there more? I''d like to keep eating!" Croak begged Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. Was Croak another glutton like the Lady Arclight?


    In the end, Xiao Nanfeng roasted Croak an elephant spirit. The elephant was particrlyrge, and would provide sufficient meat to fill Croak''s belly. Xiao Nanfeng kept its ivory horns for itself.


    Croak leapt up and down and all around, the pleasant smell of roast meat hanging in the air. It had realized the pleasure of eating for the first time.


    Roasting the elephant was hard work. Just as Xiao Nanfeng finished, Croak leapt toward it and began stuffing his mouth.


    "Remember, don''t eat it all at once! Go slowly!" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked by Croak''s sudden antics. If it were to swallow the whole elephant in one gulp, he would have wasted his time!


    Croak reacted quickly. He was used to swallowing his food whole out of habit, and had almost done so again instinctively. It quickly began tearing at the roast meat, chewing and savoring it.


    It drooled as it did so, feeling as though it had never enjoyed food in this fashion ever before. This was delicious!


    Croak finished the food quickly, then continued staring at Xiao Nanfeng, hoping that he would prepare more roast meat.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. <i>Again?</i> "Alright, I think that''s enough. You should be full after consuming two spirits, and I''ve shown you how to roast your own food. When you find a spirit, you can roast it yourself¡ªjust make a spit and roast the meat over an open me. That''s it!" Xiao Nanfeng told Croak, not wanting to roast any more meat at the moment.


    Croak grumbled, "I might be full, but I can still keep eating!"


    "Maybe next time," Xiao Nanfeng replied, patting Croak. He cleaned up the vicinity, then brought the quaking crow spirit back to the underground cavern.


    The Lady Arclight and Warble were still deep in meditation, golden light glowing around them. As Xiao Nanfeng returned, the Lady Arclight opened her eyes.


    "Where have you been? Why were the two of you gone for so long?" the Lady Arclight asked.


    "You''ve woken up, Elder? Has your cultivation been restored?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "I''m not like this fellow," the Lady Arclight began, indicating Warble. "It''s trying to make a major breakthrough in its cultivation, and can''t be disturbed at this critical moment. On the other hand, I''m simply attempting to recuperate, and I don''t need to be in deep meditation. However, the empress left me a hefty amount of information, and I''m having a hard time processing it all. It might take me a whole month to do so, and I can''t do much of anything at the moment."


    "A whole month?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Has something happened?"


    "I just caught a crow spirit that seems to know where the senior disciples are located. I''m worried that a month will be too long a wait, and I''d like to help them out as quickly as I can," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "So there''s information about Yu''er, then?" The Lady Arclight peered at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng stiffened. First Yu''er, and then the Lady Arclight? How did female cultivators have such amazing intuition?


    "Including Yu''er," Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    The Lady Arclight nced at Xiao Nanfeng with aplicated expression on her face. "The two of you should go. We''ll be fine here."


    "That won''t do! You''re trying to recuperate, Elder, and you can''t be disturbed. What if a spirit barges in? I can''t let anything happen to you. I''ll leave both toad spirits here to guard you while I search for the senior disciples myself. I have the two dragon-quelling spikes with me, so I''ll be able to protect myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied resolutely.


    The Lady Arclight gave Xiao Nanfeng a gentle smile. "There''s no need. I can take care of myself."


    "I''ll only feel secure if I leave both toad spirits with you. Let''s leave it at that."


    The Lady Arclight was silent for a moment, then nodded.


    "Right, I forgot to tell you! These two toad spirits are called Croak and Warble." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at each spirit as he introduced them.


    "I''m Croak, Lady Arclight!" Croak introduced himself.


    "Croak, I''ll be leaving for the moment. Please help me guard the elder while she recuperates. I''ll cook you a feast when I return," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Leave it to me!"


    "Elder, please resume meditating. I''ll make you a sumptuous banquet too!" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The Lady Arclight nodded, then closed her eyes.


    As Xiao Nanfeng stepped outside the copper doors, he began cooking again with the best-quality ingredients he had selected. Croak watched on with growing anticipation, its eyes wide, drool leaking from its mouth.


    "All this is for the elder," Xiao Nanfeng told Croak. "Don''t get your hopes up. Come, I''ll teach you how to roast meat so you can do it for yourself!"


    Croak was somewhat unwilling to learn, but it still did so obediently.


    The crow spirit hiding by a corner of the chamber was trembling. It saw a huge toad spirit emting a human. It had erected a simple spit and was roasting a giant bear over roaring mes, a particrly strange and horrifying sight.

 Chapter 83: Mistakenly Entering the Chasm

    <h4>Chapter 83: Mistakenly Entering the Chasm</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng finished preparing dozens of dishes, a dull thump emerged from behind the copper doors, releasing a great wave of energy. Xiao Nanfeng and Croak hurriedly rushed back within.


    Warble was still surrounded with golden light; the tremendous wave of energy hade from the Lady Arclight.


    "There''s no problem. I just recovered to Spiritsong," the Lady Arclight told them.


    "You''re just in time, Elder. I just finished cooking. Have a taste!" Xiao Nanfeng brought the dishes over.


    The Lady Arclight looked at the dishes that Xiao Nanfeng toiled over with aplicated expression on her face.


    "I''m not hungry at the moment, and I''ll have a tasteter. You should set off now!" she instructed.


    "Now?" Xiao Nanfeng hesitated.


    "The more quickly you find them, the less danger they''ll be in. Don''t push yourself too hard¡ªbe cautious, and stay safe!" the Lady Arclight advised.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "See if you can take that snowball with yin frost gathered all around it with you. It might prove handy in case you encounter a strong foe."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded again.


    "I await your return. Now, go!" the Lady Arclight urged.


    "Take care, Elder! I''lle back to find you when you''re ready!"


    "You won''t be able to find me. I''ll find you instead," the Lady Arclight replied, smiling. As she smiled, it felt like a field of flowers had bloomed around her in captivating beauty, enthralling Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What are you looking at? Go, go!" The Lady Arclight blushed.


    "Yes, Elder!" Only then did Xiao Nanfeng step out through the copper doors.


    "Croak, I''ll leave the elder''s safety to you. Please don''t run off during this period of time," Xiao Nanfeng told the toad spirit.


    "Don''t worry! The Lady Arclight is here, and so is my wife Warble. I won''t be going anywhere," Croak promised.


    Xiao Nanfeng grabbed the snowball, now about three meters wide in diameter, and stowed it in his storage ring. Every second counted; who knew if his fellow disciples might be in danger?


    "Crow spirit, you''ve rested enough, haven''t you? Let''s get going!" Xiao Nanfeng looked at the crow spirit curled up in the corner of the cavern.


    The crow spirit didn''t dare refuse. It began flying through the tunnel, Xiao Nanfeng rushing along with it.


    After Xiao Nanfeng left, Croak suddenly turned to the Lady Arclight.


    "Lady Arclight, you aren''t hungry, are you? I can finish these dishes if you aren''t interested," Croak suggested, ncing at the Lady Arclight pleadingly.


    "Who said I wasn''t hungry?" The Lady Arclight immediately refused the offer.


    "Didn''t you just tell Nanfeng that you weren''t hungry?" Croak nced at the Lady Arclight with a confused expression on its face.


    "I wasn''t hungry then, but I''m hungry now! This is all mine¡ªdon''t dream of stealing it. Don''t you have that roast bear meat over there?" The Lady Arclight frowned.


    Croak nced at the fire pit outside. Because the fire had been too weak, Croak had used some of its qi to augment the fire, but it had burned the bear spirit to a crisp! It was charred all over, and Croak was losing its appetite just looking at it. How was it supposed to consume that burned husk?


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng and the crow spirit left the cavern, it was already dark outside. He didn''t want to tarry any longer, andmanded the crow spirit to ferry him through the air.


    There were many spirits roaming the forest at night, but only a rare few could fly in the air. In the dark, the man and crow flew quickly toward the eastern quadrant of the spirits'' domain, encountering few obstacles along their way.


    The crow spirit was tired after a long night of flight. They rested in a hidden valley. Xiao Nanfeng fed the crow spirit some Ascension-realm meat to keep up its energy.


    "Don''t worry. As long as you bring me to the other Immortal Cicada, I''ll let you go. Take an hour to rest, and then we''ll be on our way again," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    He needed to give the crow spirit hope for its freedom in order to make it work harder.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng took out the giant snowball. He thought for a moment. His most important treasure at the moment was the superior yin pearl, which he was only barely able to control at the moment. Even so, it had brought him tremendous gains. However, if he were to keep withdrawing yin frost from the superior yin pearl, would it slowly lose its effect?


    He wanted to preserve the condition of the superior yin pearl before he gained full mastery over it¡ªso if he consumed its yin frost, he should put some back. Wouldn''t the yin frost contained within the snowball be sufficient?


    He transferred the snowball''s yin frost straight to the superior yin pearl, quickly melting all the snow and leaving the original ck orb behind, pristine as it had once been.


    The orb was only the size of a fingertip. It was pitch ck, with three lines of text engraved on it.


    The first line, "Array-Breaking Pearl", the second line, "Absorbs frost", and the third line, "You Shi".


    "This is a treasure that You Shi made himself, the array-breaking pearl? It''s used solely to absorb frost?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself.


    As he infused spiritual power into it, the array-breaking pearl trembled, and a wisp of golden light was emitted from it. Subsequently, it generated a suction that absorbed all the frost aura in the vicinity before settling down again.


    "What a treasure!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up as he carefully stored it in his storage ring.


    After half an hour, when the crow spirit had replenished its stamina, it continued carrying Xiao Nanfeng due east.


    Along the way, whenever they encountered any Ascension-realm avian spirits, they would hide from them; if they encountered Immanence-realm ones, Xiao Nanfeng would kill them from afar with his Immortal Cicada. They flew in this manner for three days and nights, until a few crow spirits appeared in the distance.


    When those crow spirits saw a blue-armored cultivator riding on theirpanion, they all came to see what was going on. When they saw that Xiao Nanfeng was the rider, they squawked. Some of the crow spirits ran off immediately, while others began tomunicate with the crow that Xiao Nanfeng was riding.


    "You won''t be able to run!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold as the Immortal Cicada gave chase


    and killed all the other crow spirits.


    "You''d better not try to y any tricks on me. If you bring me to the other Immortal Cicada, I''ll guarantee your safety, but I won''t go easy on you if I find that you''re nning something," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    The crow spirit nodded immediately. However, it began to travel in a slightly different direction than before.


    "Why have you shifted directions?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    The crow spirit began to gesture as it tried to inform Xiao Nanfeng that the other crow spirits had given it updated directions.


    Xiao Nanfeng, vaguely understanding what it was trying tomunicate, settled back down, but he grew even more wary than before.


    That evening, the crow spirit brought Xiao Nanfeng to the mouth of a huge chasm, motioning for Xiao Nanfeng to enter.


    "The other Immortal Cicada is down here?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at the crow spirit. The chasm was pitch-ck even in the fading sunlight, and it looked particrly eerie. What was Yu''er doing down here?


    The crow spirit nodded fervently, beckoning at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Fly down with me!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The crow spirit, panicking, refused.


    "Well? Could a trap be waiting for me down there? Is that why you''re refusing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    In panic, the crow spirit began to squawk, as though calling out to itsrades nearby.


    "You were lying to me, then? There''s an ambush here, isn''t there?!" Xiao Nanfeng grabbed the crow spirit''s neck with a palm.


    "Loose!" a shout came from the forest nearby. A rain of arrows shot down toward Xiao Nanfeng and the crow spirit.


    "Were you intending to die alongside me?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in anger.


    He batted away as many of the arrows as he could with a de. Simultaneously, he activated his qi barrier, his skin glowing golden. His spiritual power was far above average, allowing him to deflect the majority of the arrows. Even so, he was flying in mid-air, and he wasn''t able to dodge them all. A few shot toward his body, striking his qi barrier with the sound of metal against rock. He felt a few pinpricks of pain, but ultimately wasn''t injured.


    The crow spirit, on the other hand, suffered greatly. It was struck by arge number of the arrows and cried out in pain as it fell toward the chasm deep below.


    Itsrades had told it to lure Xiao Nanfeng over to this location, that there would be arge group of crow spirits here to rescue it, but where were they? It couldn''t help but regret what it had done. It should have brought Xiao Nanfeng toward the other Immortal Cicada! Unfortunately, it wasn''t about to be given a second chance.


    Xiao Nanfeng, riding the crow spirit, likewise began to plummet into the abyss. As he did so, he saw a group of red-armored warriors shooting at him. They looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with visible confusion.


    "Red-armored cultivators? Could they be from the Empire of Great Qi? Why are so many of them guarding this abyss? There has to be something here!" Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself as he fell.


    The chasm was deep, but falling from this height wasn''t sufficient to injure Xiao Nanfeng. He crashed into the ground, causing huge plumes of dust to mushroom around him.


    He unsheathed his de and nced alertly around him, prepared for incipient danger. He could hear arge amount of scurrying. He spread out his spiritual power, sensing a group of lifeforms surrounding him.


    The dust slowly settled. Through the weak light filtering from high above, he could see the source of the sound.


    Centipedes¡ªthis chasm was filled with countless centipedes. A group of centipedes was already biting and tearing madly at the crow spirit''s carcass. The abyssal chasm was like a huge well. Centipede after centipede began poking their heads out from the tiny, dense cracks in the mountain walls that rose up all around him.


    The smallest were about as long as his arm, and therger ones could approach the size of a human. They swarmed around Xiao Nanfeng, their eyes shining with ck light. They couldn''t wait to swarm over him.


    However, as thoughmanded otherwise by a third party, they stayed far away, not daring to approach. From a cave to their back crawled out a golden centipede three meters long. As it did so, the other centipedes scurried aside to make way.


    With the golden centipede around, the other centipede spirits all quieted down. The golden centipede coiled its body up as it stared at Xiao Nanfeng from above, exuding killing intent.


    "Are you from the Empire of Great Yan?" the golden centipede suddenly asked.


    "You can talk in human speech? You''re a Spiritsong-realm spirit?" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    He secretly took out a dragon-quelling spike, prepared to defend himself.

 Chapter 84: An Exchange

    <h4>Chapter 84: An Exchange</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead beaded with sweat. If the golden centipede spirit really was a Spiritsong-realm beast, then this dragon-quelling spike might be ineffective against it.


    "Hasn''t the Yan emperor told you about the situation here?" the golden centipede spirit continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He suddenly realized that the golden centipede had mistaken him for a citizen of Great Yan because of the blue armor he was wearing!


    He suddenly recalled that, the first time he had encountered these blue-armored cultivators, they had been interrogating one of his seniors. One of their techniques was to imnt poisonous insects into their prisoners'' bodies, and his senior had died as a result of arge centipede breaking out of his chest.


    The poisonous insects that they had imnted were centipedes, and there was a huge nest of centipedes in front of him. Could there be a rtionship between these centipede spirits and the Empire of Great Yan?


    "I came on Lord Wei''s orders," Xiao Nanfeng replied, hiding his nervousness. "I apologize, but ess to information is limited in my current position, and Lord Wei said that I would learn what I needed to aftering here."


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t sure if his probing remarks would be of use. He clutched his dragon-quelling spike tightly in preparation for self-defense.


    The golden centipede spirit stared at Xiao Nanfeng, not easily believing his words. Unfortunately, Xiao Nanfeng had grown to be too skilled an actor for it.


    "Have you any proof?" the golden centipede spirit asked archly.


    Xiao Nanfeng mentally sighed in relief. His strategy had worked!


    "A seal from my lord," Xiao Nanfeng replied, reaching into his robes but actually essing his storage ring instead.


    Xiao Nanfeng proffered the seal, which the golden centipede spirit imed with a scythe-like w.


    Xiao Nanfeng was very relieved. Back in the frozen cavern, when the Lady Arclight killed all the cultivators around, including Xiang Wei''s posse and the four blue-armored cultivators, he had searched through the corpses and collected a few seals and some trifling bagatelles. Owing to his thriftiness, he had taken them all¡ªand one of the seals had the character Wei engraved on them.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know if this seal would be effective.


    "This is the seal of n Head Wei, which represents his authority and status! Why would he let someone like you carry it?" The golden centipede spirit scrutinized Xiao Nanfeng carefully as killing intent seeped out of its body.


    "Lord Wei had intended toe himself, but he was heavily injured and was unable to make the trip. He had mee on his behalf, bringing this seal with me to show his sincerity," Xiao Nanfeng replied carefully.


    The golden centipede spirit''s killing intent slowly retreated.


    "Heavily injured? More like he doesn''t dare to show up! You might as well be a scapegoat," the golden centipede spirit called out.


    At this point, it had gained a preliminary level of trust in Xiao Nanfeng. Certainly, a seal as precious as this wouldn''t easily have made its way into an outsider''s hands, but it still didn''t trust Xiao Nanfengpletely.


    "May I ask if you''re a Spiritsong-realm spirit?" Xiao Nanfeng probed.


    "Lad, don''t you know? The envoys of the divine domain have already shown up in the spirits'' domain, requiring all Spiritsong-realm spirit kings to fight for opportunities in the divine domain. None are allowed to remain," the golden centipede replied imperiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng let out a breath of relief. So you aren''t a Spiritsong-realm spirit! What a fright.


    "I apologize. I was misled by the fact that you were able to produce human speech," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    If the centipede was only at Ascension, he had nothing to fear. Even if they were to end up fighting, his dragon-quelling spike would be able to take down the spirit.


    "Our king, powerful as he is, strengthened all our bodies before he departed. I can naturally speak the human tongue. He has gone to the divine domain to seek power, and we are in charge here," the golden centipede replied proudly.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng nodded in understanding.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was inwardly hung up on the centipede''s use of "we", rather than "I". Were there other Ascension-realm spirits in the vicinity?


    "What did n Head Wei have youe here to do?" the golden centipede spirit asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood that this golden centipede was still trying to test him. If he answered poorly, all his earlier hard work would have been for naught.


    "Asking such a question is a discourtesy," Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly. "If you think my visit here is extraneous, I''ll leave immediately."


    The centipede spirits didn''t know that he hadnded in the chasm by ident, and were still suspecting him of attempting to pass himself as an envoy of Great Yan. However, Xiao Nanfeng''s threat of departure disrupted the golden centipede spirit''s ns, forcing it to reevaluate on the fly.


    "Farewell!" Xiao Nanfeng called out, then walked toward one of the walls of the chasm. With a leap, he shot up the cliff, then stabbed his de into the wall to serve as a foothold. He then prepared to jump up again in an attempt to climb out of the chasm.


    When the golden centipede spirit saw that he really was about to leave, it suddenly became anxious. What was it to do?!


    "Come back!" the spirit thundered.


    Countless centipede spirits appeared on the rock face around him and knocked Xiao Nanfeng down. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t retaliate; he deliberately allowed himself to fall, returning to the depths of the chasm once again.


    "What do you mean by this?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, seizing the initiative.


    "Is thisir a ce where you cane and go at will?" the golden centipede asked imperiously.


    "I risked my life to get past the red-armored cultivators'' defenses, only for you to try and interrogate me once and again. And when I leave, you stop me? Just what do you want?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The golden centipede spirit stared at Xiao Nanfeng, trying to uncover a w in his acting, but it was no match for the wily cultivator.


    "We have the object." The golden centipede finally relented. "Have you brought the items from Yan?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised. The cultivators of Yan were nning on executing a trade with the centipede spirits? Had he unwittingly found himself participating in some conspiracy? Why did this golden centipede spirit suddenly feel like a mafia boss?


    "I want to examine the goods first," Xiao Nanfeng replied, quickly getting into character.


    The golden centipede spirit seemed rather doubtful, but this was its territory, and it had nothing to fear here. It opened its mouth to reveal a small ball, which shed with ck light. Large chests flew out of the ball.


    "A storage treasure?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised. This was the first time he had seen a spiritbeast use the like.


    Twenty full chests were ced tidily on the ground. The golden centipede closed its mouth, swallowing the storage treasure once again.


    "This is what you want," the golden centipede announced.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced over. Each chest had been engraved withrge amounts of text, and tattered seals were attached to them. Xiao Nanfeng thought he could make out the character Qi. If the red-armored cultivators guarding the chasm were from Great Qi, could they have been standing guard because the centipede spirits had stolen their chests?


    "Aren''t you going to open it and have a look?" The golden centipede spirit continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. Many of the seals on these chests had been torn, clearly the work of the centipedes. The fact that they still hadn''t gotten the chests open...


    Xiao Nanfeng tried touching one of the chests. As expected, they were warded against thieves. When Xiao Nanfeng tried to open one, it glowed with golden light, repelling his hand.


    "You can''t open it, either?" The golden centipede''s eyes shed with exasperation.


    "Isn''t it normal that someone like me won''t be able to open these chests?" Xiao Nanfeng continued his act perfectly.


    "Alright, these are the chests. Where are the items that Great Yan has promised us? If you can''t hand over what we''re owed, we won''t let you go," the golden centipede spirit threatened.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...How was he supposed to know what Great Yan had offered in trade?


    He met the golden centipede''s gaze. In the end, he was unwilling to waste a dragon-quelling spike on the golden centipede spirit. Rather, he grabbed the first thing he could find, pulling out an Ascension-realm leopard carcass.


    "Oh? You have a storage treasure too?" the golden centipede asked in surprise.


    "Don''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, on guard.


    "This storage treasure was left behind by our king. As for yours..." the golden centipede spirit trailed off menacingly.


    "My storage ring was given to Lord Wei by the Yan emperor, and he''s loaning it to me for the time being. What, were you trying to snatch it away?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Upon hearing that it had been bequeathed by the Yan emperor, the golden centipede spirit snarled in frustration. In the end, it didn''t attempt to snatch the storage ring away, but it didn''t doubt Xiao Nanfeng''s status any longer. If not to ensure that the trade went smoothly, how could an Immanence-realm cultivator have the qualifications to own a storage treasure?


    "What do you mean by these carcasses?" the golden centipede spirit called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that this wasn''t what the centipede spirits had demanded, but this was all he had in his possession¡ªthe Ascension-realm carcasses that Croak had given him.


    Xiao Nanfeng took out twenty Ascension-realm carcasses in one fell swoop,ying them out in the depths of the chasm. The centipedes all around nced at the carcasses with stark interest, already jostling each other for position as they prepared to bite the meat off each one.


    "This isn''t what we negotiated," the golden centipede spirit replied sullenly.


    "Lord Wei stated that he would need to inspect the contents of the chest first. These carcasses aren''t meant as part of the trade, but rather given freely to all of you as a bonus. Once Lord Wei has confirmed that the chests have what he wants, you may im the trade goods from him."


    These spiritbeast carcasses were meant as a bonus, not as part of the exchange? The golden centipede was stupefied. When had n Head Wei be so generous?


    "This represents our utmost sincerity," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized. "As long as you don''t attempt to y any tricks, the Wei n would be happy to conduct trade with you. If you''re in a hurry, you can head to the Wei estate yourself to collect on the loan. You should know where they''re located, don''t you?


    The golden centipede naturally knew where the Wei n was, but these spirit carcasses were worth a significant amount. n Head Wei wasn''t known for his generosity; this seemed to be beyond him.


    "Lord Wei said that this was avish bonus for you centipedes, but that there will be plenty of opportunity for further coboration. What''s more, our men will have to remain in the spirits'' domain for some time, and we may need your further assistance. I hope you won''t reject that request then," Xiao Nanfeng added, dispelling the golden centipede''s confusion.


    Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s words, the golden centipede finally rxed.


    "Very well. We''ll ept this spiritbeast flesh, but Lord Wei has to hand over the trade goods he promised. Otherwise, we might swamp his manor with centipedes," the golden centipede spirit threatened.


    "It''s settled, then!" Xiao Nanfeng replied gaily. The trade between n Head Wei and the centipede had nothing to do with him.


    "Very good." Only then did the golden centipede nod and return n Head Wei''s seal to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the seal and all twenty chests, which he stored in his storage ring. "In that case, I''ll bid my farewell now."


    "There are men from Great Qi outside. Can you avoid them?" the golden centipede asked.


    "You won''t have to worry about that. I have an escort waiting." Xiao Nanfeng climbed back up the abyssal chasm once more.


    The golden centipede stared at Xiao Nanfeng, but didn''t stop him.


    "You over there, follow him and see what he does!" the golden centipedemanded a group of centipede spirits by one part of the chasm.


    The centipedes nodded immediately, darting into the rock wall and vanishing from sight. The other centipedes in the chasm stared piteously at the golden centipede, who finallymanded, "Eat your fill!"


    All the centipedes swarmed toward the spiritbeast carcasses, madly devouring the veritable banquet.

 Chapter 85: Reuniting with Yuer

    <h4>Chapter 85: Reuniting with Yu''er</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng climbed to the top of the abyssal chasm, he exhaled in relief. He had finally emerged from the spiritbeastir! Although he had lost the carcasses of twenty spiritbeasts, he had obtained twenty chests in exchange, a potentially worthwhile trade. However, he couldn''t remain here for long, lest those centipedes notice something amiss.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed as he looked up at the top of the chasm, where significant trouble awaited him. Rather than rush up, Xiao Nanfeng hid by a grassy ledge by the cliffside and waited patiently.


    Only when night descended and ayer of dark clouds covered up the bright moon did Xiao Nanfeng quickly scale the cliff. As he reached its lip, he peeked out to see that any foliage had been stripped bare. Fires lit up the exterior of the chasm, and red-armored cultivators were patrolling the vicinity, as though worried about a sudden attack from the centipede spirits.


    With spiritual power, Xiao Nanfeng scouted for the least densely part of the patrol, then immediately rushed up and over the cliff and into the depths of the forest.


    "Someone climbed out of the centipedes''ir! Quick, catch him!"


    "What? He fell inside and managed to make it out?"


    "Hold it! Don''t run!"


    A series of shouts rang out as countless red-armored warriors drew their weapons and pulled their bows taut as they looked around. Xiao Nanfeng''s back was simultaneously exposed to a whole swarm of cultivators.


    "Loose!" someone shouted. A rain of arrows shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, who didn''t dare remain. He could sense the aura of an Ascension-realm cultivator from afar.


    The arrows struck Xiao Nanfeng''s qi barrier, causing him pinpricks of pain, but not dealing anysting damage. Xiao Nanfeng ran into the depths of the dark forest, far from sight.


    The red-armored cultivators chased him deep into the forest, but could see little in the darkness. They didn''t have the reserves or mastery of spiritual power that Xiao Nanfeng did, and quickly lost track of him. The Ascension-realm cultivator hurried over, but by the time they did, Xiao Nanfeng had already run off.


    "Who was it?" the Ascension-realm cultivator asked.


    "A blue-armored cultivator who fell into the centipedes''ir in the evening. From the speed at which he ran, he seems to be a peak Immanence-realm cultivator," a red-armored warrior reported.


    "An Immanence-realm cultivator able to escape from the centipedes''ir? That''s not reasonable. Could he be in collusion with the centipedes within and the cultivators of Great Yan? Do they have our chests? Give chase, now!" the Ascension-realm cultivatormanded.


    "Yessir!" A group of red-armored warriors charged into the forest, but Xiao Nanfeng had already escaped. He quickly noticed that the red-armored cultivators were still trying to search for him, systematically checking each and every patch ofnd.


    "I was going to leave you alone, but it seems like you won''t extend the same courtesy to me! Well, don''t me me for this, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He didn''t intend to strike immediately. Rather, once they were far from their camp, he would capture and interrogate one for information.


    Only in the wee hours of dawn did the red-armored warriors finally split up. By now, they were far from their camp, and Xiao Nanfeng was just about to strike when the sound of fighting could be heard not too far away. He skulked over, only to see a few red-armored warriors fighting some ck-armored ones.


    "Damn it, it''s this group of ck-armored warriors again! Quick,unch the signal!" a howl came from a distance.


    Fireworks shot into the air with a huge bang. Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell. Was the red-armored faction about to make its way over?


    "We have to run!" the ck-armored warriors cried out. They scattered throughout the forest as the red-armored warriors gave chase.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw one ck-armored warrior manage to flee into the forest, with no one chasing after him. Xiao Nanfeng quickly tailed him silently. As they approached a valley, the man finally seemed to sense him.


    "Who is it? Come out!" the ck-armored warrior cried out. He turned to see a huge de about to strike his face.


    "No!" The ck-armored warrior defended with his own weapon, only to be sent flying. The de in his hand split in two as he sprayed out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, heavily wounded.


    "You, you''re Nanfeng?" the ck-armored warrior cried out in shock.


    "It''s good that you''re aware of me. If you don''t want to die, reveal all that you know about the situation here," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "I, I¡ª" The man''s eyes shed.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched his face with a thump. "Are you going to talk, or not?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up with blue light, sending a pulse of hypnotic fear straight at the unfortunate warrior. Only then did he start to rattle off all that he knew.


    Apparently, this group of ck-armored warriors was subordinate to Xiang Zhirou, and the natural treasure they were searching for was at the bottom of the centipedes''ir. Xiang Zhirou had charged into it with her forces, only to suffer heavy losses.


    They had just escaped from their when the red-armored warriors, with whom they had previously had conflict,unched a sneak attack on them and took over the patch ofnd beyond the chasm.


    Xiang Zhirou had no choice but to retreat with her forces, but she couldn''t give up on the centipedes''ir. She sent her crow spirits out to seek assistance from her two brothers as she had her troops scout the chasm from afar.


    This ck-armored warrior was one such scout, unlucky enough to have been discovered by the red-armored warriors and subsequently caught by Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The bottom of the centipede''sir is the location of a second natural treasure, recorded in You Shi''s manual? Is there a grave there, too?"


    "I, I don''t know!" the ck-armored warrior replied fearfully.


    "In that case, do you know where the Taiqing disciples are located?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I do, I do! Young Miss Xiang has caught a number of Taiqing disciples, just like those red-armored warriors. They''re imprisoned in their camp," the prisoner quickly replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "How about Yu''er? The one who possesses the Immortal Cicada."


    "General Yan and his troops were trying to capture the Taiqing disciples in that patch of forest, and sightings of the Immortal Cicada were reported there as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng was naturally overjoyed to finally receive news of Yu''er. "Lead the way!" hemanded.


    Deep within a patch of forest, Yu''er was fleeing for her life. Dozens of crow spirits were chasing after her, one of them even a gold crow spirit with a ferocious aura.


    "Bastards! My seniors in the Taiqing sect are surely going to take revenge for me!" Yu''er cried out, her eyes slightly red. From behind her came a mournful cry.


    "Junior Sister?!" Yu''er called out, fretting anxiously. She couldn''t even take care of herself at the moment, let alone her juniors. She was injured all over, and she wasn''t certain that she would be able to escape from this flock of crows.


    The golden crow spirit swooped down toward her, shooting out fireballs from its mouth. Yu''er was knocked to the ground in an explosion. She spurred the Immortal Cicada into the sky and blocked the golden crow spirit''s follow-up attack, but the dozens of regr crow spirits behind her took that opportunity to strike.


    "You damned bastards!" Yu''er swung her sword all around her, killing a number of the crow spirits, but not before the majority left even more scars and wounds on her body. The golden crow spirit shot forward.


    The Immortal Cicada smashed into its body, protecting Yu''er once again, but she was nearing her limit. She scrambled up and ran into the forest even as she stumbled.


    The crow spirits continued to give chase, pursuing her incessantly.


    Yu''er knew that she wouldn''t be able to hold out much longer. All she could do was escape into the territory of an Ascension-realm lifeform, taking advantage of its aura to terrorize the crow spirits and preventing them from approaching. She knew that this might cause her even more trouble, but she didn''t have any other choice.


    "If Nanfeng were still alive, the two of us working together would surely be able to kill you!" Yu''er cried out. However, thinking about how Nanfeng might well have perished, a deep sense of despair overtook her.


    Suddenly, she stumbled on a vine and fell to the ground.


    The golden crow spirit, sensing an opportunity, swooped forward once more, only to be blocked by the Immortal Cicada yet again. The Immortal Cicada wobbled as Yu''er ran out of spiritual power, while the other crow spirits all charged at her.


    Yu''er''s face grew more and more pale. At this point, she was almost incapable of swinging her sword. She was unable to mount a defense against the iing crow spirits. Death awaited her.


    "No!" Yu''er cried out in despair.


    Just then, a golden light shed by. The crow spirits charging at her had their chests burst apart in mid-air, causing them to perish on the spot.


    Golden light shed by Yu''er''s side with a gust of fresh air, blowing at the strands of hair around her face. The remaining crow spirits perished in an instant, leaving a gobsmacked golden crow spirit behind.


    "Another Immortal Cicada?" Yu''er''s eyes lit up as a heady sense of expectation filled her.


    Just then, a figure leapt down from a nearby knoll and struck at the golden crow spirit.


    "Nanfeng? You''re still alive?" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached a hand out for the Immortal Cicada he controlled. He manipted it with spiritual power and infused it with qi, causing it to shine with blinding light, its aura magnified to an extreme degree. It shot toward the golden crow spirit, which cawed in shock. Deterred by Yu''er''s Immortal Cicada, it could only defend with the dregs of the qi it possessed. Its qi barrier was shattered instantly. Before it could cry out, Xiao Nanfeng had bisected its body. Blood sprayed all over.


    As Xiao Nanfeng stood before her, protecting her from danger, Yu''er suddenly felt a sense of safety suffuse her. Her heart began to thump.

 Chapter 86: The Sealed Chests of Great Wei

    <h4>Chapter 86: The Sealed Chests of Great Wei</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng stowed the golden crow spirit''s carcass and helped Yu''er into the depths of the forest. They found a remote valley within which to rest.


    "Nanfeng, what are you doing here? I thought you were dead!" Yu''er gripped Xiao Nanfeng''s arm tightly, worried that if she let go, he would vanish.


    "How could I have died? I wouldn''t be able to bear leaving you behind, Senior Sister," Xiao Nanfeng replied jokingly.


    "Shoo!" Yu''er blushed and pped Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder, though her eyes shone with delight at the unexpected reunion. Joke as she did, though, Yu''er hissed as she sucked in a breath. She was wounded and hurting all over.


    "Senior Sister, swallow this golden crow''s inner core to heal yourself," Xiao Nanfeng offered, immediately turning serious.


    "This inner core is pure yang, and it''ll be particrly beneficial to your cultivation..." Yu''er visibly hesitated.


    "I don''t need it anymore. Please, take it!" Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    Yu''er had just discovered the tremendous growth in Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation. Although she didn''t know what had happened, it wasn''t the time to press him. She nodded and epted his kind gesture.


    Yu''er swallowed the inner core and began to heal her injuries with qi. Her face rxed. This was the first time in almost a month that she felt so at ease.


    Four hourster, Yu''er had just about recovered and was about to end her meditation when she suddenly smelled a delectable scent.


    Yu''er sniffed as she opened her eyes. "How fragrant! What could be so fragrant?"


    She turned to see Xiao Nanfeng roasting arge spiritbeast by a nearby stream.


    "Nanfeng, is this an Ascension-realm spirit?" Yu''er remarked in surprise.


    "Golden crows don''t taste that good. This is a goat spirit, but I haven''t finished roasting it. Do you want to clean yourself up first? There''s a small pond over there, and I''ve checked to ensure it''s safe." Xiao Nanfeng pointed further into the valley.


    Yu''er nced at the dried blood and scabs all over her body, thinking that she really was due for a bath.


    "Don''t look!" she warned, then ran off into the valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng quashed some of the irreverent thoughts in his head as he continued to roast the goat spirit.


    Not longter, Yu''er returned. She had washed up and changed into a set of clean ck robes, revealing her slim physique and curvaceous body. Her hair drifted in the wind. The sun shone down, illuminating her beauty for one and all. Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily enraptured.


    "What are you looking at?" Yu''er scolded, but her smile was filled with unmitigated happiness.


    "Senior Sister, the roast goat is ready. Please, have a try!" Xiao Nanfeng handed her a goat leg.


    Yu''er sniffed it. A wave of fragrance drifted toward her. She tore the leg into strips and began eating it daintily.


    "Nanfeng, your roast goat is amazing! It''s as tasty as the dishes my mother used to make!" Yu''ermented in delight.


    "Is she a good cook?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Of course! I''ve loved her cooking since I was a child," Yu''er bragged proudly.


    The two cultivators began devouring the feast.


    Yu''er had been running and fleeing for days on end, and having a good rest and a sumptuous meal were luxuries she had taken for granted.


    "Senior Sister, how have you been?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The day you fell unconscious after being struck by the serpent''s tail, I tried my hardest to find you, but didn''t manage to do so even after an entire day. I did find a number of junior disciples, who helped me search for you for a few days thereafter. I was going to keep searching by the river, but they convinced me that you were likely already back onnd, and that we would have more of a chance to find you in the forest.


    "After that, we were chased by the red-armored and ck-armored warriors. Just then, a group of ck-armored warriors and crow spirits found us, forcing us to scatter and flee. If I hadn''t encountered you, I''m afraid that..." Yu''er shuddered.


    She was worried about the group of disciples she had found; she didn''t know where they were now, and whether they were alive or dead.


    "Senior Sister, eat your fill first. Only then will you have the energy to seek revenge," Xiao Nanfeng consoled her.


    Yu''er nodded and continued eating the goat. She asked, "How have you been, Nanfeng? How have you grown so much stronger?"


    "I..." Xiao Nanfeng briefly recounted what he had done over this period of time.


    "You were with the elder?" Yu''er cried out in surprise.


    "The elder doesn''t need my protection any longer. I was worried about you, so I rushed over. Fortunately, I made it back in time," Xiao Nanfeng replied, realizing how precarious the situation had been.


    "Well, I''m d you have a conscience!" Yu''er wrinkled her nose yfully. Her eyes quickly shed with worry. Xiao Nanfeng had had an even more stressful and dangerous experience than she had.


    "You made a trade with the centipede spirits? Just what did they give you?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng showed her a chest, one carved with scripture. He tried to open it again, but was unsessful.


    "A sealed chest from Great Wei?" Yu''er''s eyes suddenly lit up.


    "You''re familiar with this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in astonishment.


    "I''ve seen such chests before in my father''s study. He once said that these chests were created by the Empire of Great Wei a millennium ago, specifically for storing treasures. There''s a special way of opening them," Yu''er recalled.


    "Oh? Can you open them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu''er put down her goat leg, wiped her hands, and inspected the chests carefully.


    "It really is identical! My father said that the treasure chests of Great Wei are filled with formations and can be used to seal, preserve, and maintain its contents in stasis. The chest itself is constructed out of some special material carved with seals to prevent external inspection and damage. You need to use spiritual power to activate and unlock these seals, and you''re meant to infuse spiritual power into some of the characters engraved in these scriptures. You can''t get the order wrong, so... Let me think..." Yu''er frowned as she concentrated on her memories.


    Then, she infused spiritual power into a few dozen characters represented in the scriptures, but the chest stubbornly refused to open.


    "I must have gotten the order wrong. Let me try again!" She tried a few more times before the chest suddenly glowed golden.


    "Is it open now?" Yu''er nced at the chest expectantly.


    The chest began to hum and resonate before frosty air dissipated from it. It opened a crack.


    "Did you seed?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "It really was a treasure chest of Great Wei!" Yu''er eximed happily.


    The two cultivators immediately opened the chest. There seemed to be countless formations within, glowing with pale white light. Frosty aura seeped out from the light, preserving two fruits glowing with silver light in the middle of the chest.


    "These are moonspirit fruits?" Yu''er seemed very excited.


    "Quick, let''s check out all the other chests!"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the other neen chests. Emting Yu''er''s technique, the two cultivators opened them all¡ªonly to find all sorts of natural treasures within.


    "I understand now. The empires of Great Yan and Great Qi must have been scouring the spirits'' domain for natural treasures, and this is what the red-armored warriors of Great Qi have found so far. They were intending to bring the chests back to the Empire of Great Qi, but the centipedes seized them all midway!" Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    "These are far more precious than the inner cores of Ascension-realm spirits!" Yu''er gasped.


    "Senior Sister, I couldn''t have opened these chests without your knowledge. Let''s split these treasures equally!" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Yu''er nodded.


    "Consuming the first of each of these natural treasures confers the greatest benefit. The more you eat, the weaker the effect bes. We can each take half of every unique natural treasure here, splitting the unique ones down the middle," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Very well!" Yu''er nodded.


    The two cultivators quickly finished the roast goat and cleaned up their surroundings. They found a hidden cave, then began distilling the essence from these natural treasures.


    As they consumed these treasures, their bodies began to glow with light. Golden light radiated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. As he consumed the treasures, they were quickly converted into yang qi and channeled to his seventh divine conduit.


    Indeed,ter stages of cultivation needed a tremendous amount of qi. Fortunately, these natural treasures were brimming with spiritual power, and contained more than double of what was in the dozens of inner cores that Xiao Nanfeng had eaten previously.


    Two hourster, a gust of energy was expelled from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "The seventh stage of Immanence! Let''s continue." Xiao Nanfeng took an expectant breath. Roiling energy continued on toward his divine capiries. Muted thuds came from his body as he concentrated.


    The first... the second... the fifth... the ninth! Xiao Nanfeng had just enough qi to unclog thest of his divine capiries. He opened his eyes as he released a breath.


    He tested his newfound defenses, only to discover that he could now withstand a blow from ate-stage Immanence-realm cultivator. His defenses had strengthened once again.


    With a deep exhtion, Xiao Nanfeng happily ended his meditation. His skin returned to normal, the golden coloration fading.


    Just then, a burst of energy emanated from Yu''er, scattering the rocks and pebbles on the cave floor. Multicolored energy radiated around Yu''er as she slowly opened her eyes in excitement.


    "Senior Sister, have you broken through to Ascension?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.


    "I have! Nanfeng, these natural treasures really were potent!" Yu''er eximed happily. Suddenly, the multicolored haze around Yu''er was sucked into her eyes, which shed softly with rainbow light.


    "Ah?" Yu''er shut her eyes and returned to meditation.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t understand what she was doing, but he waited patiently. After quite some time did Yu''er open her eyes again, confusion on her face. By then, the rainbow light had vanished.


    "Nanfeng, did you see rainbow light sh in my eyes just now?" she asked.


    "A bit, but it''s gone now." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "So I wasn''t mistaken! It really did happen," Yu''er murmured.


    "Is it rted to the technique you cultivate?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "No. It''s part of my family bloodline, but it''s not fully been unsealed yet," Yu''er replied, sounding somewhat vexed.


    "A family bloodline?" Xiao Nanfeng prompted.


    "From the looks of it, though, it''s almost unsealed. I''ll tell you more about it when it happens. For now, it''s my secret," Yu''er said happily.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Now that I''m an Ascension-realm cultivator, can we take revenge for our juniors?" Yu''er nced at Xiao Nanfeng expectantly.

 Chapter 87: Revenge on the Black-Armored Cultivators

    <h4>Chapter 87: Revenge on the ck-Armored Cultivators</h4>


    Within the forest, a group of ck-armored warriors had arrived at the scene of Yu''er''s fight. Although the golden crow spirit''s carcass had vanished, there were still quite a few regr crow spirit carcasses left.


    A group of crow spirits cawed madly in the air, as though angry at something.


    "Lord Yan, how could that brat''s single Immortal Cicada have allowed her to kill a crow general?" One ck-armored warrior looked toward his leader.


    Lord Yan nced at the bloodstains on the ground with a dark expression on his face. "I don''t know. It''s possible that she encountered some other Ascension-realm spirit, or that she was saved by a third party."


    "In that case, could she have been eaten by an Ascension-realm spirit?"


    "We can''t neglect any possibility. Not much time has passed, so if she''s still alive, she can''t have gotten far. The crow spirits will scout from the air, and all of you will search throughout the forest. Even if she''s dead, you have to retrieve the Immortal Cicada. Now, get to it!" Lord Yanmanded.


    "Yessir!" The ck-armored warriors quickly scattered throughout the nearby forest.


    At that point, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were hidden amidst a copse of trees as they nced at the group of ck-armored warriors.


    "He was the one who led the assault. We scattered and ran. The golden crow spirits chased me, while he chased our junior sisters. He must have killed them by now," Yu''er hissed.


    "A hundred or so Immanence-realm ck-armored warriors, and a group of regr crow spirits. We can take them down easily¡ªlet''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "I''m ready!" Yu''er replied.


    Two Immortal Cicadas shed through the air and toward a group of crow spirits, killing a whole swathe of them in a sneak attack.


    The other crow spirits fell into turmoil as they scattered and fled for their lives. However, the Immortal Cicadas were like two reapers'' scythes that culled their lives one after another. Blood sprayed through the air as the crow spirits'' carcasses fell to the ground.


    "An Immortal Cicada? Are they around?"


    "Two of them? Nanfeng''s here too!"


    "No wonder they were able to kill a crow general. Those damn brats¡ªthey killed a crow general together at Mt. Crow, and the paired des have been reunited again!"


    The group of warriors were in an uproar.


    "They must be nearby. Hunt them down!" Lord Yan thundered.


    The ck-armored warriors quickly began searching the vicinity. Just then, one Immortal Cicada suddenly dipped down, straight toward one unlucky warrior.


    "No!" the cultivator screamed. His chest was pierced by an Immortal Cicada, killing him on the spot.


    The Immortal Cicada rushed toward its next victim. Where it flew, the ck-armored warriors revealed identical expressions of fright. They attempted to run, but weren''t able to do so. Even more of their number perished.


    "Damn it, you brats! Show yourselves!" Lord Yan thundered.


    Yu''er and Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. One of them took care of the crow spirits in the air, while the other ughtered ck-armored warriors in the forest. When Yu''er ran out of spiritual power, Xiao Nanfeng quickly infused more into her body, allowing both their Immortal Cicadas to function at full power.


    Within moments, half the crow spirits were dead. The remaining crow spirits scattered and flew toward the horizon before the Immortal Cicada finally gave up the chase.


    Meanwhile, the other Immortal Cicada had killed over a dozen ck-armored cultivators before the rest began to hide deep in the forest.


    Only then did the two Immortal Cicadas fly straight toward Lord Yan.


    "Take this!" Lord Yan shouted. He struck one Immortal Cicada with his de, deflecting it, while the other Immortal Cicada shed at his chest. His eyes wide, he sent qi surging toward his chest as a protective barrier. The Immortal Cicada crashed into his body, sending Llord Yan stumbling back a few steps.


    Together, the two Immortal Cicadas disyed an unmatched prowess. The golden crow spirits had been killed in this manner, and he had no intention of suffering the same fate.


    "Find the two bastards, now!" Lord Yanmanded.


    The ck-armored warriors, trembling with fear, continued their search once again.


    "They''re over there!" One cultivator''s eyes suddenly lit up as she pointed toward a nearby patch of forest.


    "Quick, kill them! Now that they''re exposed, they''re dead, haha!" Lord Yan''s face lit up in crazedughter.


    What he didn''t know was that the two Taiqing disciples had intentionally shown themselves.


    Ignoring the ck-armored warriors heading toward them, they manipted their Immortal Cicadas to rush straight at Lord Yan, holding him back and preventing him from approaching them.


    The two ck-armored warriors in the forefront leapt right up to Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er''s sides.


    "Die, you two bastards!" that cultivator cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed forward with his de, bisecting the cultivator and simultaneously splitting his de in two.


    "What?" The ck-armored cultivators behind nched, not expecting Xiao Nanfeng to be so fierce.


    Xiao Nanfeng sneered at them. "It''s your turn, now!"


    While the ck-armored warriors were scattered throughout the forest, it would have been difficult to take them all down. Now that they had all congregated, however, it was trivial.


    "Kill them!" the ck-armored warriorsunched themselves at the two cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng met their des with his own. He killed with every swing of his sword, so quickly he was like a prowling tiger. He charged into the group of ck-armored cultivators, causing heads to fly wherever he appeared.


    Within moments, the dozens of cultivators that charged toward Xiao Nanfeng had all been killed.


    Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng kill dozens of cultivators on his own, the remaining ck-armored cultivators all sucked in a breath. Lord Yan, still observing from afar, was stupefied. Even while Xiao Nanfeng was fighting the ck-armored cultivators, he was still able to split his attention to hold Lord Yan back with his Immortal Cicada! It was clear that dealing with the ck-armored cultivators was hardly a challenge for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Attack Yu''er, quickly!" Lord Yan howled.


    "Who dares?!" Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to shield Yu''er.


    The ck-armored warriors suddenly seemed hopeful. Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior all but indicated that Yu''er was weaker than he was. As long as they could kill her, they could turn the tides.


    The ck-armored warriors leapt forward again, not knowing that Yu''er was deliberately allowing herself to serve as bait. Her cultivation was even stronger than Xiao Nanfeng''s, and she had little fear of them.


    Yu''er''s feigned fear caused the ck-armored cultivators to charge toward her recklessly, but what awaited them was a frightening storm of des in the same manner as Xiao Nanfeng.


    Another few dozen cultivators died to Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er''s joint assault, leaving just a scant few remaining. Those that were still alive began to panic.


    "Damn it!" Lord Yan cried out.


    He expended his qi tounch a blow at full strength, driving the Immortal Cicadas back. He strode forward, refusing to be kept at bay any longer. Even if he were to suffer a few heavy strikes, he wouldn''t mind. He desperately consumed his qi in an attempt to close the distance between him and the two cultivators quickly.


    With a huge expenditure of qi, he shed right in front of the two cultivators'' faces.


    "Die, you little bastards!" Lord Yan howled.


    In mid-air, Lord Yan was dealt a heavy blow by an Immortal Cicada, but he blocked it with a significant expenditure of qi. He intended to finish Xiao Nanfeng in a single blow.


    Then, Yu''er shed toward him. Lord Yan nced at her with disdain. An Immortal Cicada couldn''t hurt him, let alone an Immanence-realm cultivator!


    The next moment, however, he felt a massive sh of sword energy surging straight at his chest, an attack so strong that it was a match for his peak strength.


    "You''re not an Immanence-realm cultivator?" Lord Yan cried out, quickly attempting to dodge the attack.


    With a huge crash, Lord Yan was sent flying. His right leg was fractured in mid-air in a spray of blood, causing him to scream.


    He had growncent, not expecting that Yu''er had already advanced to Ascension. By using qi to block the Immortal Cicada and ignoring Yu''er''s blow, he had paid a heavy price.


    The two Immortal Cicadas headed over once again, shing at his body with Yu''er''s second sword.


    Lord Yan barely blocked Yu''er''s second sword and her Immortal Cicada, only to have Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada pierce through its head in a shower of fresh blood. Lord Yan died instantly.


    The remaining ck-armored cultivators, thinking that Lord Yan would win, were about to cheer. Before they could do so, however, the tides of battle had turned. Shock manifested on their faces as they tried to run.


    "You were so excited to kill us both, weren''t you? It''s toote to swim away now!" Yu''er cried out.


    The two Immortal Cicadas gave chase to the dozens of ck-armored cultivators left. They fell and died amidst frenzied yelling.


    Upon ncing at the forest floor filled with corpses, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er exchanged a nce. Although they had managed to avenge the fallen Taiqing disciples, the Taiqing disciples were hardly going toe back to life.


    "We have to leave for now!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er nodded. The two Taiqing disciples quickly left the scene.


    Not too long after, the fleeing crow spirits returned with a huge army. A golden crow spirit flew through the air. Two ck-armored cultivators stood atop two crows, clearly strong given their imposing auras. When they arrived at the scene and saw a whole patch of corpses, they were outraged.


    "Crows, find the assants who did this, hurry!"


    The crow spirits all scattered in an attempt to look for Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er, but the foliage was so dense that they couldn''t easily be found.


    By a secluded patch of forest, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er watched the crow spirit kings fly by, their eyes cold.


    "The fun''s only beginning. Aren''t they trying to kill us? Let''s have fun with them slowly," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, killing intent shing through his eyes.


    "Very well!" Yu''er had wanted to exact revenge for almost a whole month. After having been chased for all that time, she was now finally able to realize her goal.


    Over the next few days, the two cultivators would kill groups of ck-armored cultivators and crow spirits daily. They released their Immortal Cicadas while hiding in one location or another, killing and woundingrge groups of crow spirits and the scouting cultivators.


    Within a ck-armored camp in the valley, Xiang Zhirou listened to her subordinates'' reports with an ugly expression on her face.


    "Young Miss, those two bastards keep trying tounch sneak attacks at us. The crow spirits are the biggest targets, considering that they''re flying through the air. They don''t dare fly through the air any longer, and our warriors are suffering the same fate. If this is to continue, the situation will turn on us!" one ck-armored cultivator reported.


    Xiang Zhirou''s face was baleful. "What''s the situation like in the centipedes'' chasm?"


    The red-armored warriors are still guarding the entrance to the chasm. They seem to be worried about something, since they still haven''t made their move.


    "Have someone interact with them. If they''re willing to help us against the two brats, I''d be willing to provide assistance for the centipedes''ir," Xiang Zhirou replied.


    "Even though we''ve had a few altercations with them before...?"


    "There are no absolute enemies, only absolute profit. They want to capture foreigners in order to interrogate them about techniques beyond the hidden realm. They''re just a group of naive indigenous people. Tell them that we''d be happy to send over any Taiqing disciples we catch as gifts. As long as we can cooperate, I''m happy to ignore any slights and confrontations in the past," Xiang Zhirou continued coldly.


    "Understood, Young Miss!"

 Chapter 88: The Scapegoat Jiugong

    <h4>Chapter 88: The Scapegoat Jiugong</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er hid within a secluded bush deep in the mountainous forest.


    "Nanfeng, for some reason, I keep feeling as though someone''s been spying on us," Yu''er murmured.


    "Not someone¡ªsome centipede spirits," Xiao Nanfeng corrected,ughing.


    "What?" Yu''er reared back in surprise.


    "That golden centipede spirit must still be doubting my identity, to have his subordinates tail me. I''ve been keeping track of them with spiritual power, so don''t worry," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Yu''er nodded hesitantly, but it still made her ufortable to have spirits looming behind her back.


    "Before us lies the ck-armored warriors'' territory, but... they seem to be moving?" Xiao Nanfeng scouted afar with visible confusion.


    In a distant valley, the ck-armored warriors were packing up. Xiang Zhirou was lecturing a few of the warriors as the rest of the group prepared to depart.


    "We''ve killed half their number over thesest few days. Are they leaving because they''ve grown afraid of us?"


    "They still have a few Ascension-realm cultivators, so they shouldn''t need to fear us. If they''re leaving so suddenly, they must have some ulterior motive in mind," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    "Look, our juniors!" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    Several Taiqing disciples were being chased out of a tent. They all showed signs of having been tortured and were bloody all over. A few of the ck-armored warriors were whipping them to spur them onward.


    "As expected, there are a few senior disciples still alive." Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.


    "Nanfeng, we have to find a way to rescue them." Yu''er''s eyes shed with anticipation.


    "We must, but we can''t do it. There must be some reason for Xiang Zhirou to be moving her camp so suddenly, and we need to find some helpers to assist us." Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes as he nced into the distance.


    "We have helpers?" Yu''er turned to Xiao Nanfeng in surprise.


    "Of course we do. Come on!"


    The two of them headed away from the forest and into a distant, secluded valley. Only then did Xiao Nanfeng call out, "Come out, all of you!"


    Their surroundings remained silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing his Immortal Cicada to fly toward a patch of grass. A wave of killing intent surrounded it.


    "Do you want me to force you out with this de?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Only then did a centipede spirit, almost as long as a person, crawl out with a rustle.


    The centipede spirit hissed, causing a group of centipede spirits to emerge from the nearby undergrowth, surrounding Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not here to make trouble for you. You''ve been following me for a few days now, haven''t you? I''d like you to send word back to your leader," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The centipede spirit nced at Xiao Nanfeng with visible confusion. Itmanded the other spirits not to strike just yet.


    "You saw those ck-armored warriors too, and the fact that they''ve captured a few foreigners. The Empire of Great Yan also wants those foreigners, and I''d like to enlist your help," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The centipede spirit looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, waiting for him to borate.


    "Your leader promised to lend us minor assistance. Of course, we wouldn''t have you do all this for nothing. Feel free to set terms for your assistance, which Lord Wei will be happy to fulfill on your behalf. Of course, it can''t be anything too extreme," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The centipede spirit nodded, then darted into a hole and scrambled off.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er nced at each other. It was true that they were conspiring with the enemy, but it would be worthwhile if they could get a few of the senior disciples back as a result. As for the promisedpensation, well, the centipede spirits could ask for it from Lord Wei himself.


    The two cultivators continued spying on the ck-armored warriors as they moved camp. Two hourster, a giant golden centipede spirit crawled out of an upturned rock not far from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You want my assistance,d?" The golden centipede spirit stared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "My name is Nanfeng, and this is Yu''er. I left in a hurry that day, and forgot to make introductions to you in my haste. How might I address you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You''ve grown rather audacious in just a few days, haven''t you? You can call me Jiugong," the golden centipede spirit replied coldly.


    "Jiugong? Your subordinate has exined the situation to you, hasn''t it? Those prisoners are foreigners, and I''d like to bring them back to Great Yan, in order to interrogate them for critical information. Please bring them back alive," Xiao Nanfeng requested with a smile.


    "Ha! Those ck-armored warriors tried to invade ourir, only to be defeated and consumed by the rest of us. It will be difficult, however, to take them down outside their. There are what seems to be three Ascension-realm cultivators, along with one golden crow spirit. You aren''t deliberately trying to lead me to my death, are you?"


    "Yu''er and I can lead the Ascension-realm cultivators away, at least two of them. As for the remaining two, Jiugong, I trust that you can handle them. You have countless subordinates, and all you have to do is grab the prisoners and run. There''s no need for a life-and-death battle, and it shouldn''t be difficult," Xiao Nanfeng persuaded.


    Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng. It had learned about his battles through the eyes of its scouts, and it naturally believed that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to lure two of them away. However, it had no intention of agreeing so easily.


    "What benefits will you provide?" Jiugong asked.


    "Aren''t the twenty Ascension-realm carcasses I provided back in their enough?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Jiugong shook its head. That clearly wasn''t enough to satisfy its greed.


    "State your conditions, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    "I want Emperor Yan''s jeweled mirror," Jiugong replied, continuing to stare at Xiao Nanfeng.


    This was, once again, a trick. Emperor Yan had no jeweled mirror in the public eye; if Nanfeng were to agree immediately, it would prove that there was some issue with him.


    "Jiugong, I heard Lord Wei mention that Emperor Wei has six jeweled mirrors to his name. To which one are you referring?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, deftly sidestepping the issue.


    Jiugong: ...How was it supposed to respond to this question? It had made something up!


    "Jiugong, I''m only asking for your assistance because you''re a local power in the region. Ignoring the fact that you promised to aid us with a few small favors, I, on behalf of Lord Wei, have provided you withvishpensation for what you''ve done. Isn''t it rather unseemly for you to be attempting to trick us?" Xiao Nanfeng grumbled.


    Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng unflinchingly. "I can lend my assistance, but I want half of the contents of the twenty chests I gave you."


    "That''s beyond what I have control over." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "And you still want my help?" Jiugong refused to relent.


    "I can promise that Lord Wei will send you three more Ascension-realm carcasses as thanks for your assistance. What say you?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Three is far too insufficient. I want eight," Jiugong replied coolly.


    "That won''t do! I can only promise three," Xiao Nanfeng haggled.


    "Five, no less." Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well, but those foreigners have to be alive!"


    "Don''t worry." Jiugong was very satisfied by the oue of the negotiations.


    Two hourster, as Xiang Zhirou and her warriors walked toward a valley, two Immortal Cicadas whizzed into the air from afar. Countless crow spirits in the air were struck down and fell to the ground as the two Immortal Cicadas vanished again.


    "Young Miss, it''s those two bastards! They''re here again!" one ck-armored warrior shouted.


    "They''re asking for it!" Xiang Zhirou cried out. Shemanded, "Crow spirits, find them! They must be nearby."


    The crow spirits began scouting through the air. One crow spirit cawed in alert as the gathered cultivators saw Yu''er darting back into the undergrowth.


    "You''ve found them? Quick, seize her!" Xiang Zhirou howled in excitement.


    Xiang Zhirou herself gave chase. Two Ascension-realm ck-armored cultivators apanied her on either side, as well as the golden crow spirit.


    The forest was dense with foliage. Once Yu''er darted back into the forest, the crow scouts in the air were unable to catch sight of her. Quickly, however, Yu''er showed herself once more,c ausing the crow spirits to give chase.


    Some crow spirits rushed into the forest in an attempt to catch her, but they were unable to fly as quickly as she could run in the dense undergrowth. With her Ascension-realm strength, Yu''er was able to shrug them off in no time.


    "Get back here and stop running away, you bastard! Stop right there!" Xiang Zhirou howled from behind.


    Yu''er ran off at full speed with her Ascension-realm strength. She vanished and reappeared time and time again. Even Xiang Zhirou and her guards were unable to catch up to her, and she began pulling away from them.


    The hiding Jiugong grinned with excitement. "All the Ascension-realm cultivators have been lured away! It looks like I''ll get five Ascension-realm spiritbeast carcasses for doing nothing, then, haha!"


    Jiugong roared, causing centipedes to rush out of the valley in a rumble. Countless centipede spirits were rushing toward the group of ck-armored warriors, hundreds of which were as long as a person. They were going to kill them all!


    "Young Miss, help us!" the ck-armored warriors cried out in fright.


    Jiugong led the charge, quickly rushing toward the side of the few Taiqing disciples.


    "This is truly effortless, haha!" Jiugong roared inughter.


    Just then, a huge sword sh from a red-armored cultivator struck Jiugong''s body.


    Jiugong rapidly defended itself with spirit qi, but it was still sent flying. Several of its legs were chopped off.


    "What?!" Jiugong cried out.


    Three more red-armored warriors emerged, rushing toward Jiugong with fearsome techniques in hand.


    "Four Ascension-realm warriors? An ambush! Could it be the cultivators from Great Qi? Did that brat make me his scapegoat?!"


    The other three sword shes struck Jiugong and sent it flying, causing its carapace to crack. Blood flowed from its body.


    "Kill!" the four Ascension-realm cultivators shouted.


    A huge battle urred within the valley. Branches and rocks flew through the air; waves of energy shed with each other.

 Chapter 89: Talisman of Arcane Yin

    <h4>Chapter 89: Talisman of Arcane Yin</h4>


    That evening, Jiugong found Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er in a valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng had remained hidden all this time while Yu''er lured away Xiang Zhirou and the others. Because neither of them had fought their opponents head-on, they were perfectly uninjured. Jiugong, on the other hand, had suffered greatly. Half its scythe-like legs had been chopped off, and much of its armored carapace had been cracked. Countless weaker centipede spirits were holding it up as it stared at the two cultivators balefully.


    "Jiugong, they were far too sly for the likes of us, to have set up an ambush for us alongside the cultivators of Great Qi! I can''t take this lying down!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    Jiugong, hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s defiant words, wanted to vomit blood. He had been hiding throughout the fight and waspletely uninjured¡ª"take this lying down"? What damage had he even taken?!


    "Theyid an ambush for you, but you made me the scapegoat instead. How do you intend topensate me for this?" Jiugong red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Jiugong, I''m afraid you''re mistaken. This was a cooperative venture, and we delineated our tasks and responsibilities beforehand. How could you me me just because something has gone wrong? You should be ming the ck-armored warriors and the cultivators of Great Qi instead!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Jiugong stared balefully at Xiao Nanfeng. It felt that Xiao Nanfeng had to have guessed that there would be an ambush, and had deliberately allowed it to test the waters. If it hadn''t fled so quickly, it might very well have died on the spot. It hated those cultivators that had caused it to suffer to such an extent, as well as the man standing before him: Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Jiugong, I know that you suffered unduly today, but this isn''t my fault. The ck-armored warriors and cultivators of Great Qi are to me. How about this? I guarantee that I''ll still deliver the spiritbeast carcasses I promised in Lord Wei''s name, but we do have to figure out how to seize those foreigners."


    "You intend to have me fight them on your behalf?!" Jiugong refused to fall for Xiao Nanfeng''s antics.


    "Do you intend to let them off after harming you to this extent? I know I can''t! I''m cooperating with you. We''re allies, aren''t we?" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Jiugong continued staring at Xiao Nanfeng. It was very petty, and had no intention of forgiving those cultivators¡ªbut neither would it forgive Xiao Nanfeng for making it his scapegoat!


    "I want ten Ascension-realm spiritbeast carcasses!" Jiugong stated boldly.


    "I''ll definitely bring it up with Lord Wei, but how many he ultimately provides will be up to discussion between you and Lord Wei when he arrives. Will that do?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Jiugong: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng''s words promised nothing in effect, but Jiugong did feel a bit better after Xiao Nanfeng''s ''concession''.


    "Jiugong, I think we need toe up with a n against these malicious cultivators so we can get back at them!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng, unable to shake the feeling that he was trying to take advantage of it. If they were to continue this discussion, he might even convince it to do something wholly unfavorable to itself. If their negotiations broke down and they began a fight, it would be no match for the two of them in its current state, either. No, it had to heal its injuries beofre negotiating further.


    In a bout of vexation, Jiugongmanded his subordinates, "Hmph! Take me away!"


    "Jiugong, hold it! Won''t you let us discuss our battle n?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Jiugong left without turning back, bringing the remaining centipedes along with it.


    Once all the centipede spirits had left, Yu''er sighed. "Nanfeng, thank goodness you were so careful, or we might have all fallen into Xiang Zhirou''s trap."


    "Xiang Zhirou''s in cahoots with the red-armored cultivators. Saving our seniors is going to be moreplicated than I had hoped," Xiao Nanfeng told her seriously.


    "Do you have a n?" Yu''er was equally uncertain as to what to do.


    "Let''s sneak over and see if there are any holes in their defenses," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well!" Yu''er nodded.


    At night, the two cultivators snuck toward the outskirts of the centipedes''ir, stopping quite some distance away.


    "There''s heavy guard everywhere, and crow scouts in the air to serve as a patrol. We can''t get close," Yu''er murmured, frowning.


    "Do you hear that guqin?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked.


    Yu''er immediately quieted down. Indeed, from far away, by the side of the abyssal chasm, she could hear a few notes of a guqin.


    "It''s the tune Xiang Zhirou yed in the marquis'' manor. Could she be the musician?" Yu''er suggested.


    Just then, outside the red-armored cultivators'' camp, a group of red-armored cultivators were holding a reception for Xiang Zhirou.


    "Lord Luo, I must thank you for your help. You saved my subordinates from certain harm. Please, allow me to toast you," Xiang Zhirou said.


    Lord Luo was a middle-aged man with a rather handsome appearance. Although he was smiling, his eyes were shaded in a fashion that made it apparent he was no stranger to sordid acts.


    "For you to have delivered these Taiqing disciples to me has saved me a great deal of work. Allow me to toast you as well," Lord Luo replied with a smile.


    The two clinked their cups. Xiang Zhirou asked curiously, "Lord Luo, do you have an urgent need for cultivation techniques?"


    She was aware that the red-armored cultivators were interrogating the Taiqing disciples for their cultivation techniques.


    Lord Luo sucked in a deep breath. His face sunken, he began, "I won''t hide it from you. A millennium ago, arge number of our ancestors were Immortals, with aplete series of cultivation techniques to their name. However, this world''s divine domain, overbearing and tyrannical, sends an envoy over every hundred years, forcing all Spiritsong- and higher-realm cultivators to the divine domain to strive for some sort of opportunity. Few manage to survive, and the Immortals have perished over the course of generations. The cultivation techniques we inherited are no longerplete; and, perhaps because of nsid by the divine domain, the cultivation manuals passed down within each household from generation to generation have gone missing out of nowhere. Our favored heirs and scions, with the mostplete inheritances we can muster, have been repeatedly hardmed, injured, and crippled, leaving us with only half-baked cultivation techniques. Damn the divine domain!"


    "Oh?" Xiang Zhirou seemed very interested.


    "Your world must be rather exciting, mustn''t it?" Lord Luo stared at Xiang Zhirou.


    "My father has the ability to open portals back to my reality. If you are interested, Lord Luo, you may apany us out when my father arrives." Xiang Zhirou offered Lord Luo an invitation, but was simultaneously warding off Lord Luo with a mention of her father.


    Lord Luo hesitated, immediately suppressing his thoughts against Xiang Zhirou for the moment.


    "You sent word saying that you''re able to help us deal with the centipede spirits around here. They''re hidden deep underground. How do you n on dealing with them? I heard that you suffered great losses when invading theirir before!" Lord Luo seemed somewhat distrustful and wary of Xiang Zhirou.


    "It looks like your inheritance must be terribly iplete if you''re even having trouble with a group of spiritbeasts. Our earlier failure was out of carelessness; with your men around, it won''t be difficult to deal with the centipedes at all," Xiang Zhirou replied with a smile.


    "Is that so?" Lord Luo asked curiously.


    "If your men are ready, I can lure them out at once," Xiang Zhirou offered proudly.


    "Right now?" Lord Luo was clearly doubtful.


    "Bring me my guqin!" Xiang Zhiroumanded.


    A ck-armored warrior immediately brought a red guqin over, which he ced on the table before Xiang Zhirou.


    "This is a relic passed down my household, and this is the first time I''ve used it in front of an outsider," Xiang Zhirou informed Lord Luo primly. Subsequently, she began to y.


    A melodious tune rang out. The guqin, ancient and mysterious, began to glow with a soft red light. The sound of the guqin flowed into everyone''s ears. In a sh, everyone fell prey to the music. Their eyes grew wild as they panted and smiled lecherously, shrugging off their armor.


    Lord Luo broke free almost instantly, but his mind and body still bore lingering traces of the effect. He felt hot and bothered all over. He nced at Xiang Zhirou in shock. "Your cultivation is musical in origin?"


    "That''s right. You must have strong willpower to have been the first to regain your mental faculties, Lord Luo. Have your subordinates plug their ears. I''ll do my best to divert the music from them, but if they find themselves getting affected, have them bite their tongues to regain control over their bodies."


    Lord Luo''s eyes shed. His men''s cultivation techniques were all iplete, and faculty over music was far beyond them. He didn''t dare underestimate Xiang Zhirou and sentmands to his troops immediately.


    As the red-armored cultivators awoke from their temporary stupor, they nced at each other in amazement, then quickly plugged their ears. However, they were still able to hear some of the music. They nced at each other in nervousness and shock.


    Xiang Zhirou yed on and on. The music flowed in a long stream all the way down to the centipedes''ir, like translucent red snakes burrowing into the ears of the centipede spirits.


    The Taiqing disciples had been unable to resist the music, let alone these centipede spirits. They emerged from theirs deep below, in greater and greater quantities, in such numbers that the red-armored cultivators were shuddering, shaken.


    "My music can stimte the centipedes'' sexual impulses. Right now, they''re feeling very bothered and very groggy. Immanence-realm centipede spirits have essentially no spiritual power or resistance against this sort of effects, and they can be killed at will," Xiang Zhirou continued.


    Indeed, countless centipede spirits were slithering toward the red-armored cultivators, but they were doing so mindlessly and without any cohesion.


    "Kill!" a group of red-armored warriors shouted.


    They easily cut down wide swathes of centipede spirits, all but helpless against the music. This was the first time that the red-armored cultivators had had such unmitigated sess against the centipedes.


    "Very good!" Lord Luo nodded approvingly. This was a one-sided ughter! Xiang Zhirou''s assistance was indeed invaluable.


    Just then, a stentorian roar could be heard from below.


    A golden centipede spirit was crawling malevolently out of itsir. As it saw its subordinates being ughtered by the hundreds, it shot forward in anger.


    "A golden centipede spirit, at Ascension-realm, has manifested some spiritual power and can remain somewhat clear-headed against my music, but its reserves are far more limited than the likes of you, Lord Luo. Though it might retain control over their bodies, it will still remain hot and bothered, and difficult to calm down. It''ll be rash and reckless¡ªI trust you can handle it?" Xiang Zhirou asked.


    The golden centipede spirit scuttled forward, but it was met with four huge shes of sword energy. Heavily wounded, the centipede spirit cried out in pain as it fell.


    However, it wasn''t dead. It let out another ear-splitting bellow as it charged forward once more.


    Simultaneously, more golden centipede spirits emerged.


    "Another one? Two... five... eight of them?!"


    "How lucky we were! If not for the guqin luring them all out, we''d have perished if we had charged into theirir without any preparation!" The red-armored warriors sucked in a deep breath.


    The eight golden centipede spirits howled in outrage as they scuttled toward the top of the cliff, intending to tear apart the men before them.


    There were too many centipede spirits to deal with, even in their altered state of mind. The red-armored warriors weren''t enough; the ck-armored ones had to step in to weather the assault.


    "Lord Luo, there were far more centipede spirits than you had imagined, weren''t there? If not for my assistance, your men might all have died. I expect you''ll give me proper thanks?" Xiang Zhirou smiled.


    Lord Luo''s eyes shed. "Perhaps not," he equivocated. "We nobles of Great Qi, though fallen from power, still retain the treasures handed down by generations of ancestors."


    "Oh?" Xiang Zhirou leaned in with interest.


    Lord Luo slowly pulled out a golden talisman, imprinted withplex, arcane patterns of surprising intricacy.


    With some reluctance, Lord Luo caressed the talisman before gritting his teeth and infusing it with qi. Frost bubbled forth from the talisman, which Lord Luo dispersed with a wave of his hand. The talisman floated into mid-air. Frosty mist gushed out.


    "Talisman of Arcane Yin, Ipel you: release!" Lord Luo shouted.


    Great clouds of frost, like ake upturned, filled the air and surged toward the centipedes''ir.


    Those centipedes covered by the frost froze immediately. The eight golden centipedes were struck head-on and were frozen stiff. They tried to move, but the frost grew stronger and stronger around them. They had barely let out shrill screams before even their heads were frozen solid. The centipedes''ir down in the chasm had suddenly be a frozen cavern, causing all the cultivators above to look down in shock.


    Xiang Zhirou gaped. "You have talismans of such power?"


    Lord Luo smiled with pride. Their cultivation techniques might be iplete, but they had ess to rare treasures of a bygone age.

 Chapter 90: A Night of Frost and Fight

    <h4>Chapter 90: A Night of Frost and Fight</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er, lurking far away in the periphery of the centipedes''ir, listened to Xiang Zhirou''s music with concern.


    "A cloud of frost... are they fighting against the centipede spirits now? Can we take advantage of themotion to rescue our juniors?" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    "That''ll be difficult. They''re being very cautious and organized about this. The crow spirits are in the trees overhead, so if we get close, we''ll surely be discovered," Xiao Nanfeng whispered back.


    Yu''er frowned. "They''re not even focusing fully on the centipede spirits? To be able to have so many crow spirits on guard all around¡ªcould the centipede spirits be that easy to deal with?"


    Just then, a rock was upturned not far away from them. A huge hole appeared, causing both of them to suddenly tense up. A stiff lump of ice crawled out from the hole.


    "Jiugong?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in shock.


    It was, in fact, the heavily wounded Jiugong. Not only had it incurred significant injuries during the day, it had even been covered in frost at night. It was moving stiffly and greatly weakened.


    "My subordinates'' information was urate. You really are nearby¡ªgood! Quick, go attack the cultivator ying the guqin, as well as that talisman of arcane yin, quickly!" Jiugong urged.


    "What happened, Jiugong? What''s the situation like in the centipedes''ir?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Jiugong recounted everything, causing Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er''s faces to fall.


    "In other words, Xiang Zhirou''s guqin and a single talisman of arcane yin alone might take down all you centipedes, without the help of any of the Ascension-realm cultivators in their camp? Don''t you think we''d die if we tried to force our way over now?"Xiao Nanfeng challenged.


    "If you stop the music and destroy that talisman, we can surely recover! Those centipede spirits have been frozen stiff, but they''re not dead. Don''t you have flying swords? Use them!" Jiugong urged.


    "Why is it that you were unaffected by the music?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at Jiugong.


    Jiugong visibly hesitated, but had no choice but to reveal its secrets. "Before the king departed, it handed me a storage treasure with the additional effect of allowing me to remain calm at all times. I was immune to the effects of the music and hadn''t rushed out of their. I urged the other golden centipedes to surround the camp from the exterior, rather than attempt to break through the cultivators'' defenses, but they refused to listen. Hotheaded, they rushed straight out of their. I remained where I was, but was still frozen stiff by the frost."


    "Jiugong, let me have a look at this frost first." Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his ck orb.


    The ck orb had been specifically crafted by You Shi to absorb frost.


    "What''s there to see? This is arcane yin frost, which clings onto anything it touches. Without several days of intense effort, you won''t be able to remove it from your body. Will you help or not?!" Jiugong cried out.


    Just then, it found that the frost encasing its body was rapidly vanishing¡ªno, not vanishing, but being absorbed into the small ck orb in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    "This is..." Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment.


    "As expected, it''s effective!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Within a short period of time, all the frost had been absorbed from Jiugong''s body.


    "What sort of treasure is this?" Jiugong gasped.


    "A treasure bequeathed by Emperor Yan, of course. Don''t ask for more details. We will help," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Really?" Jiugong eximed.


    "Yu''er and I will deal with the frost and music, restoring all the centipedes to their prime. However, I have a condition. You''ll have to hand us all those foreigners, and they must be alive," Xiao Nanfeng stressed.


    "Don''t worry. If you help us out, I''ll guarantee their survival," Jiugong replied hopefully.


    "Bring us to the centipedes''ir. It''ll be easiest to start draining the frost from there," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "Let''s go, then!" Jiugong dug a tunnel back down to the centipedes''ir, onerge enough for Nanfeng and Yu''er both. The frost quickly assailed them, but Xiao Nanfeng''s orb was able to absorb it on the fly.


    As they pushed on against the blizzard-like frost, the two cultivators and the centipede spirit finally arrived at the bottom of the centipedes''ir.


    By then, the talisman of arcane yin had frozen the bottom of their solid. A mountain of centipede spirits had frozen over in a mountain. Even more frost was gushing down from above, poised to freeze all the centipedes around in one fell swoop.


    "Absorb!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, holding the ck orb out and infusing it with spiritual power.


    As the orb activated, it began sucking up all the frost aura in the vicinity. The arcane yin frost seemed to be weaker than the superior yin frost from before. Even after the orb absorbed all the frost at the bottom of the centipedes''ir, noyer of frost formed over it.


    Several of the centipede spirits began waking up, but they were still in a daze because of Xiang Zhirou''s music. Only one golden centipede was barely able to remain lucid.


    "You''re awake, Qigong?" Jiugong looked at the other golden centipede in relief.


    That centipede nced at Jiugong, then at the two humans.


    "Who are they?" Qigong asked coldly.


    Jiugong replied in the centipedes'' tongue, as though afraid that Xiao Nanfeng would overhear them. Qigong finally nodded, turning away from them and shooting an evil look at whaty above.


    As Xiao Nanfeng''s ck orb took effect, more and more of the centipede spirits were freed, but they remained in a daze owing to the effect of the music.


    "Didn''t you say you were going to deal with the guqin yer? Use your flying swords, quickly!" Jiugong urged.


    "There''s no need," Yu''er replied. She had retrieved her Godbane Flute at some point. She put it to her lips and delicately began to blow.


    A haunting melody filled the centipedes''ir. The centipedes, who were in a daze just moments ago, shook their bodies as they came to their senses. They howled at the air in rage.


    "Good, good! It''s time for our revenge. We''ll surround them from the outside and kill them to thest!" Jiugong cried out.


    The centipedes all around howled in response.


    "Jiugong, don''t forget what you promised me," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Listen up¡ªyou''re only to attack the red- and ck-armored fighters! There are a few foreign prisoners that you''re not allowed to touch!" Jiugong immediately added.


    The centipede spirits all nodded, then swarmed up out of the chasm and toward the cultivators above them.


    Up in the sky, Lord Luo continued generating frost with his talisman of arcane yin, freezing the chasm below. Billowing mist crept out of the chasm as countless centipedes were frozen.


    "Lord Luo, this is an amazing treasure!" Xiang Zhiroumented in shock.


    "I''ll freeze them for a while longer before storing this talisman again. By then, the centipede spirits below will be frozen so stiffly that a few rocks would shatter them all," Lord Luo replied, smiling.


    "With this favor done, Lord Luo, I hope you''ll help me with what you''ve promised as well." Xiang Zhirou looked toward the male cultivator.


    "You mean, searching for Nanfeng and Yu''er? Worry not. Once I reim our chests, we''ll devote ourselves to helping you search for these two cultivators. We''ll surely present you with their heads," Lord Luo promised.


    "Very good, milord," Xiang Zhirou replied with a smile.


    Just then, the two cultivators caught wind of a flute''s haunting melody. The music seemed like a bucket of cold water that quashed everyone''s flustered mood, freeing them from the influence of Xiang Zhirou''s music.


    "This flute¡ª" Lord Luo''s face contorted in a frown.


    "It''s Yu''er! She''s dispelling the effect of my guqin! Quick, you have to find her!" Xiang Zhirou cried out.


    "The flute seems to being from the bottom of the centipedes''ir," Lord Luo added, pointing downwards.


    "What?" Xiang Zhirou nched.


    "No, how could that be? Their should be frozen solid by now! How could she be there?!" Lord Luo cried out.


    Just then, the frozen mists dissipated, revealing the state of their. All that frost was surging toward a little orb¡ªno, the orb was sucking it all in, restoring the centipedes'' freedom.


    "Who''s that dispelling my frost yin?!" Lord Luo cried out.


    "Loose your arrows. Loose your arrows!" Xiang Zhirou screamed. A volley of arrows shot down toward the chasm. A few centipedes in the lead were pierced through, but the majority deftly avoided the arrows and shot forward in the blink of an eye.


    "Smash them with rocks, quickly!" Lord Luo cried out.


    The cultivators pushed rocks down the cliff, smashing the centipedes who were caught unawares.


    Just then, loud cries came from behind the cultivators.


    "Lord Luo, the centipede spirits have burrowed up behind us! We''ve been surrounded!"


    "So many centipede spirits... Save us, Lord Luo!"


    The cultivators were quickly surrounded by countless centipedes. They began to yell and scream as a battle took ce in earnest.


    The crow spirits joined in the fight, but there were so many centipede spirits in the vicinity that more just came crawling out whenever any were killed. Countless screams rang out.


    Xiang Zhirou was about to stop ying when a giant blue phoenix appeared and swooped down straight toward her, as though intending to rush into her body and tear apart her soul.


    "Damn Yu''er! I should have killed her from the beginning!" Xiang Zhirou thundered.


    She didn''t dare hesitate. She began plucking on the guqin more and more quickly, causing a huge serpent to emerge and rush toward the phoenix. With a burst of sound, the serpent and phoenix began to fight.


    "I''ll kill you all! Talisman of arcane yin, descend!" Lord Luo was likewise outraged at how the situation had devolved.


    The talisman suddenly grew ten times its original size as it shot down toward the chasm.


    Frost red from the talisman like a blizzard, so rapidly and strongly that even the orb couldn''t absorb it all.


    "Go!" Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, his eyes glinting with cold.


    He manipted the orb with spiritual power, sending it rising into the air, straight at the talisman of arcane yin. The talisman cracked as the orb struck it and sent it whooshing upwards. The frost beneath vanished, freeing all the centipede spirits.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in rm. As he infused his spiritual power into the orb, he suddenly lost control of it.


    "Something''s wrong with the orb!"


    The orb quickly expanded in size, then exploded in a huge bang in conjunction with the talisman of arcane yin. The huge explosion caused a bacsh in Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power, momentarily dizzying him.


    "You''ve destroyed my talisman of arcane yin?!" Lord Luo roared in outrage.


    Xiao Nanfeng quashed the disturbance to his spiritual power as his eyelids twitched. "This orb could self-destruct...? I was lucky it didn''t injure me more. This must be a trap that You Shi left behind so that others wouldn''t be able to steal his treasures. How malicious..."


    The orb had exploded along with the talisman of arcane yin. An aura of frost formed in the sky, congealing into snowkes that drifted down.


    The centipedes were nowpletely free to move. Enraged at the fact that they had almost frozen to their deaths, they struck at the gathered cultivators with the intention of taking them all down.


    The icy night was filled with the screams and yells of cultivators and spirits alike.

 Chapter 91: Spiritslaughter

    <h4>Chapter 91: Spiritughter</h4>


    High above the centipedes''ir, a great blizzard blew. The sounds of killing and death echoed down.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng, ignoring Yu''er and Xiang Zhirou''s musical duel, grabbed her and darted into the tunnel, fleeing from the scene.


    Just then, an enraged howl came from above. An Ascension-realm cultivator had rushed into the depths of the centipedes''ir. "For destroying my talisman of arcane yin, you thieves, prepare to die!" Lord Luo himself hade thundering down in rage.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had been too alert. He had escaped into thework of tunnels with Yu''er, vanishing from sight and preventing Lord Luo from being able to vent his anger. Simultaneously, countless centipedes surged toward Lord Luo. An incredible battle was underway at the bottom of the centipedes''ir.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er didn''t participate. Rather, they quickly backtracked, emerging in the forest and watching from afar.


    The battle raged on until the wee hours of dawn. Both sides suffered considerable losses. Some of the ck- and red-armored cultivators tried to escape, but all those that Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er caught side of, they stopped in ce.


    "Running, are you? It''s toote to run after killing the disciples of the Taiqing sect!" Yu''er cried out balefully.


    The two Immortal Cicadas struck a fleeing Ascension-realm cultivator, sending him flying back into the midst of the centipedes.


    "It''s those two damn brats! Crow generals, find them quickly!" someone shouted.


    However, neither Xiao Nanfeng nor Yu''er showed themselves. They repeatedly used their Immortal Cicadas to prevent the cultivators from fleeing, and simultaneouslyunched an assault against the crow spirits in the air, resulting in massive casualties.


    Finally, at daybreak, the battle ended. Only a lone few cultivators and crow spirits had managed to get away; the centipede spirits had won a Pyrrhic victory.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were surrounded by three golden centipede spirits, Jiugong among them.


    "Jiugong, why are you surrounding us like this? We saved you," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "You could have provided us more assistance, especially her. She''s an Ascension-realm cultivator, and if she had been in the midst of the melee, Sangong and Sigong wouldn''t have suffered such a terrible death!" Jiugong cried out.


    The majority of the nine golden centipede spirits had perished, let alone the ordinary centipede spirits. Although the centipedes had ultimately won, their victory was not without sacrifice.


    Xiao Nanfeng red at them. These centipede spirits were ingrates! If not for his and Yu''er''s assistance, they would all have perished to thest¡ªand now they wereining that he and Yu''er hadn''t provided enough help?


    "We''ve stopped your enemies from getting away with our flying swords. It took Yu''er a great deal of spiritual power to awaken all of you, and she was unable to fight at full strength. We did our best," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear these centipede spirits, but it wasn''t yet time to peel off his facade of politeness.


    Jiugong red at the two cultivators, its eyes dark.


    "How about the foreigners? Have you rescued them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No!" Jiugong replied.


    "No? You haven''t killed them, have you?" Xiao Nanfeng red at the centipedes.


    "There were no foreigners in the camp at all. There''s a wounded red-armored cultivator over there, whom we haven''t killed just yet. If you don''t believe us, hear it straight from him," Jiugong continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er immediately rushed over. Indeed, a group of centipede spirits were keeping guard on a heavily wounded red-armored cultivator, one that the centipedes had been interrogating.


    "Don''t kill me! I''ll tell you everything!" the red-armored cultivator called out in fright.


    "What happened to the foreigners?" Yu''er asked.


    "The ones that we brought back yesterday, as well as the ones we caught ourselves, were all sent away," the red-armored cultivator quickly replied, not daring to lie.


    "You shipped them off the same day you got them? How? Who supervised this? Are you trying to lie to me?!" Yu''er shouted.


    "It''s true! One of the lords themselves oversaw the entire process. Xiang Zhirou''s crow spirits sent them flying away," the red-armored cultivator replied.


    "Where?" Yu''er''s voice was vibrating with rage.


    "I don''t know," the red-armored cultivator replied.


    "Damn it!" Yu''er couldn''t help but be frustrated. She hadn''t expected that the red-armored cultivators would have shipped off the Taiqing disciples so quickly.


    "Don''t be so upset. At the very least, we know they''re still alive. We''ll catch and interrogate a crow spirit and figure out where they are now," Xiao Nanfeng consoled her.


    Yu''er nodded in exasperation.


    "I didn''t lie to you, did I?" Jiugong smirked.


    "In that case, let''s leave it at that. We should be leaving now, too," Xiao Nanfeng replied, inhaling deeply. He had no intention of brokering any more deals with these centipede spirits.


    "Leave? I should think not. There''s still a show waiting for you," Jiugong continued, its voice cold.


    "A show?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Just then, a group of centipede spirits surrounded Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er, then killed the red-armored cultivator.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er nced at their surroundings, feeling as though something was amiss. Jiugong''s attitude was highly problematic.


    "Jiugong, aren''t you aware of who I am? Do you intend on making an enemy of the Empire of Great Yan?" Xiao Nanfeng called out stridently.


    "An envoy of Great Yan? Ha! There''s a woman down there who ims that you''re all foreigners yourselves. I''m going to escort both of you down there to ascertain which of you is lying. She''s the woman who was ying the guqin back then. Don''t you want to talk with her?" Jiugong smiled with its teeth.


    "Xiang Zhirou''s still alive?" Yu''er cried out.


    "Now, please follow me!" Jiugongmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er nced at each other, intimately aware of Jiugong''s suspicions. The fact that Jiugong hadn''t attacked them yet meant that it couldn''t confirm the veracity of Xiang Zhirou''s ims, but neither did it trust them.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear the centipede spirits at this moment. After all, he still had two dragon-quelling spikes infused with power, and he was certain he could break his way out by force if necessary. Furthermore, the fact that Xiang Zhirou was still alive could welle back to bite him in the future.


    "You would believe a foreigner? Allow me to ay your suspicions, then!" Xiao Nanfeng replied imperiously.


    Jiugong and the other two golden centipede spirits traded nces, still unsure of whom to believe. Nevertheless, they brought the two cultivators to the bottom of the centipedes''ir, where Xiang Zhirou was nowhere to be found.


    "Where''s Qigong and that woman?" Jiugong questioned the centipede spirits gathered there.


    One Immanence-realm centipede immediately responded in the centipedes''nguage.


    "What? That woman tricked Qigong into believing that she could break that formation?" another golden centipede cried out.


    "I knew there was something fishy about the sudden invasion of the ck-armored cultivators. Leaving that woman alive and interrogating her was clearly the right choice. Is the aware of the secret of thisir?" Jiugong''s eyes shed.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er traded nces again. They instantly guessed that Xiang Zhirou, just like Xiang Wei, possessed one of the special artifacts left by You Shi. In exchange for her life, she had revealed that secret to the centipede spirits.


    "Let''s go, then! Even our king was unable to break this formation, and I don''t believe that that woman can do it. We''ll witness it for ourselves," Jiugong exhorted the two cultivators.


    They followed a group of centipede spirits into a cave at the bottom of the chasm, circling downwards, deeper and deeper, until they finally arrived at the mouth to yet another cave.


    Unlike the frozen cavern, this cave seemed to be the entrance to an active volcano, one iid with a huge pool ofva. The bright-redva red brightly. Fire in the shape of dragons looped around theva, preventing anyone from entering.


    Within theva, draconic aether asionally seeped out. Jiugong sucked it into its mouth.


    "There''s a formation embedded in thisva pool?" Yu''er seemed very surprised.


    "You two bastards, look what you''ve done to me!" Xiang Zhirou screamed upon seeing the two cultivators. She was bloody all over, and her hair was in grave disarray. She was cursing at the two cultivators like a ghoul. She looked to be so heavily wounded that it was difficult for her to even move.


    Behind her was a simrly wounded golden centipede spirit. It cried out, "Quickly! If you dare lie to me, I''ll toss you into thisva."


    "I''ll break the formation immediately," Xiang Zhirou replied, quieting down from abject fear.


    She took out a white orb from her bosom and infused a small quantity of spiritual power into it. It instantly glowed with golden light as she tossed it into the pool ofva.


    The white orb began absorbing all the draconic me around it, along with the boilingva.


    As all theva was sucked into the orb, the top half of a set of copper doors slowly came into view.


    "What in the world is that orb? How can it absorb all thatva?"


    "Could she really have broken the formation?"


    "A set of copper doors? Does it lead to treasure? What lies within?"


    All the remaining golden centipede spirits were murmuring in anticipation, as though sensing a huge opportunity awaiting them. They nced at Xiang Zhirou with ardent eyes.


    "How did youe to know that there was a formation here, and why do you possess something that can break it? Tell us immediately!" the golden centipede spirit cried out.


    Xiang Zhirou nced malevolently at Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er. "Kill them both and I''ll tell you everything. There are countless divine treasures behind these doors. I can im them for you, too."


    "Hmm?" The golden centipede spirits turned to Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er, clearly tempted¡ªnot by Xiang Zhirou''s offer, but rather to keep the information that treasure had been found in theirir secret, even to their allies in Great Wei.


    "You''re asking to die!" Yu''er''s eyes shed with frost as she spurred her Immortal Cicada toward Xiang Zhirou.


    "Save me!" Xiang Zhirou cried out.


    "Hold it!" the golden centipede beside her thundered. It still wanted to extract Xiang Zhirou''s secrets from her. How could it let her die so easily? It shielded Xiang Zhirou from Yu''er Immortal Cicada.


    Just then, another sh of golden light whizzed by its face¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada.


    "Insolence!" the golden centipede cried out. It was forced to retreat from Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada, allowing Yu''er''s Immortal Cicada to pierce through Xiang Zhirou''s body and kill her instantly.


    "You!" To her dying breath, Xiang Zhirou never once imagined that the two cultivators would be willing to go against the golden centipede spirits and kill her outright.


    "Do all of you want to die?!" Jiugong pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I should be the one asking that," Xiao Nanfeng replied, his eyes cold.


    The three golden centipede spirits were standing almost in a straight line. Xiao Nanfeng pointed a dragon-quelling spike straight at Jiugong. The frightening energy stored within transformed into a golden ray of light that shot toward its chest.


    "What?" Jiugong panicked, attempting and failing to dodge the light as it shot straight through its chest. Not only that, it prated the second and even the third centipede spirit, killing all three before they could react.


    Even then, the beam of light still possessed incredible energy. It drilled a hole into the wall of the cave with such force that a mess of loose rubble tumbled down from the top of the cavern.

 Chapter 92: The Red Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 92: The Red Emperor</h4>


    The three golden centipedes'' death shocked the remaining centipede spirits.


    "He has a treasure that lets him kill Ascension-realm spirits instantly? Avoid it and kill them!" the final golden centipede spiritmanded.


    Yu''er instantly shed at the golden centipede with her longsword, pinning it down while the two Immortal Cicadas whizzed toward him.


    "No!" the golden centipede shrieked, before its body was pierced through by both Immortal Cicadas and it fell dead right then and there.


    The regr centipede spirits behind it all shot forward, but Xiao Nanfeng instantly slew arge number of them with a swing of his sword.


    Yu''er followed suit, killing anotherrge swath, as the two Immortal Cicadas came back in action.


    The two cultivators rapidly slew the majority of the centipede spirits in the cave, leaving a scant few so afraid that they scuttled off for their lives.


    The two cultivators quickly cleaned the scene, stowing the golden centipedes'' carcasses in their storage rings. Xiao Nanfeng also found a ck orb in Jiugong''s mouth, the storage treasure that it had been using.


    Just then, a rumbling noise came from the other side of the cave. The tunnel through which they had entered had copsed.


    "These centipede spirits really are determined, aren''t they? They''re trying to trap us here," Xiao Nanfeng murmured disdainfully.


    "Let me clear the rubble away."


    "There''s no need to do so right away. Let''s wait for all the motion to stop first. I''ll confirm that everything is stable with my spiritual power." Xiao Nanfeng held Yu''er back.


    She nodded after a moment''s hesitation.


    By then, the small white orb had finished absorbing all theva from the pool. It was glowing with white light. The set of copper doors that had just been revealed were exactly the same as in the frozen cavern.


    The two cultivators hopped into the pit. Xiao Nanfeng picked up the white orb, which also had three lines of text: the first line, "Array-Breaking Pearl", the second line, "Absorbsva", and the third line, "You Shi".


    "Another treasure that You Shi made?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at the orb.


    "Nanfeng, is draconic aether leaking out from behind these doors? Just like what you described seeing..." Yu''er wondered in amazement.


    As he nced at the copper doors, Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. The previous set of copper doors had led him to extreme danger and incredible opportunity. When he defeated You Shi, he hadn''t even had to use the spiritual power frozen in his mindscape, and he didn''t fear simr illusory realms.


    "Shall we have a look?" Yu''er asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng mulled it over for a moment, then sucked in a deep breath. "Well, we''re already here, aren''t we? Of course we have to."


    "I can''t wait!" Yu''er smiled in anticipation.


    "Take this dragon-quelling spike."


    Yu''er had heard Nanfeng describe the use of these spikes. She took one from Xiao Nanfeng before the two of them pushed open the copper doors together, wary of any danger that might lie on the other side.


    With a huge ng, the copper doors opened.


    A blue sh of light struck both cultivators, just like before, sending them both flying. Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly grabbed Yu''er''s hand as they fell from the skies into another illusory realm. They quickly stood upright.


    "Here again?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.


    The sky was a clear blue, with a few white clouds hanging in the air. In the distance were towering mountains, and to his side was the three-hundred-meter tall wall. It felt as though he had returned to the same illusory realm as before.


    Yu''er nced all around her. "Could this be just like the illusory realm you and the elder entered?"


    "It''s exactly the same!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" Yu''er seemed quite surprised.


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to disperse some superior yin frost, but just as before, he was unable to do so.


    "Be careful if you see a skeleton around. The cursed effigy..." Xiao Nanfeng gave Yu''er aprehensive description of Madam Rouge.


    Yu''er nodded earnestly. "Don''t worry!"


    "Let''s see if anything has changed from before," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly arrived at the gates to the city, where the five words "Divine Capital of Great Wei" remained inscribed on a neighboring stone pir.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng led Yu''er into the city, which appeared to be the same as before. Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the dragon''s head mountain. Once again, it looked as though an event was in full swing. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er rushed toward the mountain and followed the crowds up.


    The za was still heavily guarded. Immortals had gathered at the illustrious venue, along with the manifold officials of court. The moment the two of them stepped into the za, Xiao Nanfeng felt a pressure surrounding him, as though he had been struck by countless gazes.


    "Who are you?" a voice shouted. One general had unsheathed a jeweled sword and was staring straight at Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er, who were trying to blend in with the crowd. Not only that, the court officials and pce maidens around all turned to look at the two cultivators with shock, then surprising eagerness.


    Rather than Emperor Wei and his consort, what awaited them at the pce was a huge draconic throne on which a red-robed woman was seated. She wore the emperor''s crown and was sipping on wine served to her by a group of pce maidens. She nced at Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er in confusion.


    "Two more cultivators have arrived in my illusory realm, it seems. Do they have dragon-quelling spikes with them? Bring them here!" shemanded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" A group of guards stepped forward and drew their weapons, pointing it at the two cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er warily strode up to the empress as everyone''s attention focused on them.


    "Nanfeng of the Taiqing Immortal Sect greets Her Majesty!"


    "Yu''er of the Taiqing Immortal Sect greets Her Majesty!"


    The two cultivators bowed toward the empress.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the woman before him curiously. Just who could she be?


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng saw a familiar figure.


    "You Shi? You really haven''t died?" Xiao Nanfeng grew rmed. You Shi was standing among the officials of court, but chains were draped all over his body. He looked particrly wretched.


    "Oh? Do you know You Shi?" the empress asked coldly.


    "I do, Your Majesty. Ten days ago, I fought You Shi off in another illusory realm. That You Shi killed all those who were buried with Emperor Wei and his consort, stealing their spiritual power and attempting toy im over the illusory realm by killing the empress as well. Thanks to a few chance encounters, his n was foiled. Furthermore, the activation of the copper doors was all part of You Shi''s secret n," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    He was trying to warn the empress about You Shi''s wrongdoings. Although he didn''t understand why this illusory realm seemed different from thest, it was clear that You Shi was a viin. He had to take the initiative and warn everyone of him!


    "Oh? You Shi, is that so?" The empress nced coldly at You Shi.


    "You Shi, what have you done?!" the other court officials shouted.


    You Shi, bound by his chains, got down on one knee. "Your Majesty, my avatars have indeedmitted grave ills. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"


    Surprisingly, You Shi didn''t deny the charges against him¡ªor perhaps, under these circumstances, he didn''t dare do so.


    "If not for my discovery of your misdeeds, would you have done the same here, too?" The empress''s gaze was colder than ever.


    "Please forgive me, Your Majesty! You''ve already chained me up for five centuries. I beg your clemency!" You Shi shouted, not even daring toe up with an excuse for himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at You Shi curiously. In other words, each of the two illusory realms held a different avatar of You Shi. The You Shi of the other realm hadmitted grave evils before almost seeding in his ultimate goal. Meanwhile, the You Shi of this realm, having just prepared to strike, had been caught red-handed and then chained up for five centuries. Was this empress that strong?


    "Describe what happened in the other realm inplete detail," the empressmanded Xiao Nanfeng.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng didn''t quite understand the circumstances of this illusory realm, he still dutifully recited what You Shi had done.


    "You Shi, do you acknowledge these crimes?" the empress asked.


    You Shi prostrated himself, not daring to lie. "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    The other officials of court hissed at You Shi, then red at him for his misdeeds.


    "Bai Ruoyi really is an idiot, isn''t she? She''s gentle and weak-willed. The first thing she thinks of under these circumstances is suicide¡ªwell, what''s there to be upset about? It''s just a man''s death. Is she really going tomit suicide over a man? I''ve had far more of a rxing time here than she ever did." Disdainful though her tone was, the empress seemed downcast as she downed her cup of wine.


    "I once heard that Emperor Wei had two consorts. May I ask if you are the other?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "Insolence!" a group of officials immediately cried out.


    The red-robed woman, however, didn''t seem to mind. She nced at Yu''er. "That''s right. We used to be an empress, but our consort died. The Empire of Great Wei''s rule has passed to us, and it is only natural that we take his position. We are the second emperor of Great Wei, and you may address us as the Red Emperor." [1]


    The Red Emperor''s coolness toward the two cultivators had vanished. She now seemed particrly affable to them, not even criticizing Yu''er for her impolite question and instead carefully exining her identity to the two of them.


    "We greet the Red Emperor!" Both Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er bowed down.


    The Red Emperor stood up and looked toward the sky, a cup in hand, with a dry smile crossed with augh and a frown.


    She poured the wine onto the table before her.


    "Your Majesty!" Countless officials slumped paralyzed to the ground, their eyes red with tears.


    Just like You Shi, they had apanied Emperor Wei and his consort into death. Their spiritual bodies had been present in this illusory realm for over a millennium. The fact that this was the oue they had been awaiting caused great pain and suffering.


    "What''s there to cry about? He might be dead, but we are still around!" the Red Emperor shouted. "We forbid you from crying. It''ll only bother us!"


    The officials tried their hardest to stifle their sobbing, but some were unable to do so.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the empress with a strange expression, not certain what she was thinking.


    1. The Red Emperor uses the royal ''we''. Also, to confirm, she is female but styles herself as Emperor. ?

 Chapter 93: The Black Lotus

    <h4>Chapter 93: The ck Lotus</h4>


    The officials cried in sorrow, but the empress ignored them. She downed another cup of wine. After a prolonged period of time, the officials finally settled down and looked toward the empress with wet eyes.


    "Even if he''s dead, we are still around. Let not our empire fall to ruins. You have all served us for a thousand years. Have you been upset about doing so?" The empress looked toward the many officials of court.


    "Serving you is our blessing, Your Majesty," the officials immediately replied respectfully.


    "Very good. We are deeply pleased with your loyalty." The Red Emperor stared at each official,


    none of whom seemed willing to meet her gaze. Clearly,pared to the other empress, the Red Emperor was far more practiced in exerting her strength.


    "Blue Lantern has just reported the death of our consort, the Emperor of Great Wei. Before our consort''s death, he established a deal with Blue Lantern. When this illusory realm is about to copse, he will bring us to another such realm for a long-term stay, where an evenrger empire awaits," the Red Emperor continued calmly, taking another sip of wine.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed. Blue Lantern was able to hide from ordinary sight. Could he be nearby?


    "Will you be leaving, Your Majesty?" Everyone looked toward the Red Emperor expectantly.


    "We are used to your service, and will be made difited by your absence. Will you all apany us to this other realm?" the Red Emperor asked.


    The officials nced at each other in hesitation.


    "Well? Didn''t you all im that serving us was a blessing? Why do you now hesitate to depart with us?" The Red Emperor smiled coldly.


    The officials murmured among themselves. An older official stepped forward out of their ranks.


    "Your Majesty, although I am more than willing to serve, I bear gratitude and loyalty toward Emperor Wei. I have served for a millennium, and ask for the honor of serving as guard and gravekeeper to Emperor Wei to live out my life. Please grant me this honor, Your Majesty!" The old official kowtowed.


    "Your Majesty, please grant us the honor of serving as guard and gravekeeper to Emperor Wei!" Suddenly, all the officials kowtowed as well.


    "Five centuries ago, thinking that His Majesty was dead, you acted with disloyalty against us. Now, however, you im to have regained sufficient conscience to serve as his gravekeeper? What a joke, what a joke!" The Red Emperor began tough.


    "Please grant us this honor, Your Majesty!" the officials chorused once more.


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng was suddenly filled with tension. He felt concentrated killing intent throughout the za. Although the court officials were kneeling in respect, many of them had reached out for their weapons, as though they were prepared to fight for their lives if they weren''t granted their freedom.


    The Red Emperor sneered at them. "Very well. We permit your request. If you wish not to serve, then scram! Leave this hill!"


    The officials all nced at each other, then at the Red Emperor, not having expected their freedom toe so quickly and at so slight a cost.


    "We promised our consort not to kill a single one of you. Even You Shi, despite his grave crimes, has only been detained for five centuries. We keep our word!" the Red Emperor pronounced.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" The officials were overjoyed.


    They quickly left the dragon''s head mountain, believing that they would be free the moment the Red Emperor left even if the illusory realm were to break down. Freedom, after an entire millennium!


    After the officials left, the Red Emperor turned to You Shi. Her gaze was icy cold. "You Shi, you really have a lot of guts, don''t you?"


    "Your Majesty, I am a loyal servant of Great Wei, but I didn''t want to be trapped in an illusory realm for eternity. I know I''ve done wrong, but please, understand my circumstances, Your Majesty!" You Shi begged.


    The Red Emperor stared at You Shi for some time before taking a deep breath. "Leave. We don''t want to see you ever again."


    You Shi stilled. The Red Emperor was willing to let him go? He raised his head to meet the Red Emperor''s icy gaze. He didn''t dare to question her. "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"


    Ignoring the chains still hanging over his body, he rushed out of the za and to the foot of the dragon''s head mountain.


    A cold smile shed over the Red Emperor''s face as she watched You Shi leave. She downed the wine in her cup before looking toward Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er once again, her gaze having grown much warmer than before.


    "You''re Nanfeng? You preserved Bai Ruoyi''s dignity before her death. She promised you to give you a dragon-quelling spike, but Blue Lantern took it? Let us reward you in her stead, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened, but rather than ept the reward immediately, he asked the question he had in mind instead. "Your Majesty, You Shi has done great wrongs, and those officials from before seemed to have harbored ill intent as well. Are you really going to let them off so easily?"


    "Who said I''ll let them off? They''ve been acting this way for a few days by now, though they were trying to feign innocence. You Shi must have informed them that the copper doors were about to open, and that the power we control in this realm will be weakened. We expect he was the one who encouraged them to fight us to the death. As thanks for their millennium of service, we had been nning to grant them their freedom, but they chose not to seize that opportunity. To go against us now¡ªthey''ve truly squandered our gift." The Red Emperor sniffed disdainfully as she continued to drink.


    "You intend to kill them, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We have better things to do with our spiritual power than waste it on these fools. If we want them killed, we hardly have to strike ourselves," the Red Emperor replied proudly.


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t quite understand.


    "Didn''t you bring a cursed effigy with you when you entered? It devours spirits, and it''s waiting for them right at the foot of the mountain. We imagine it''ll enjoy the feast," the Red Emperor replied, draining another cup of wine.


    She intended on having Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed effigy devour them all.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly nched. "Your Majesty, do you know where that cursed effigy is located?"


    "You don''t know where your own cursed effigy is?" the Red Emperor retorted.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The Red Emperor''s senses were incredible. Could she identify every being in the illusory realm so keenly, even Madam Rouge?


    "Your Majesty, that cursed effigy is anathema to me. Do you know how I might rid myself of it?" Xiao Nanfeng pleaded.


    The Red Emperor nced at Xiao Nanfeng for a moment. "Cursed effigies cannot be killed and may at most be sealed. Bai Ruoyi owes you a gift¡ªso let us bequeath you with a ck lotus. We and our consort obtained this in a hidden realm, and it should be more than sufficient to seal it away."


    With a twist of her fingers, the Red Emperor caused a pitch-ck lotus to appear on her palm. It revolved slowly, a ck hole in miniature.


    "We''ve removed any trace of myself from this ck lotus. If you infuse your spiritual power into it, you should be able to perform a preliminary attunement. Activate the ck lotus with your spiritual power to seal that cursed effigy. This ck lotus has a mysterious origin. We know not where ites from, and neither could we fully attune to it. Discover its intricacies for yourself," the Red Emperor instructed, handing over the lotus.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    The ck lotus seemed mysterious, and it appeared to be absorbing something all around it. Even Xiao Nanfeng''s vision was unable to prate its depths. As Xiao Nanfeng fed it his spiritual power, it trembled in recognition, melding into his arm. A ck lotus pattern appeared over his skin, which Xiao Nanfeng could activate with spiritual power.


    "Your Majesty, when will you leave this realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We are not in a hurry. We can wait for those spirits to perish and for you to seal that cursed effigy. It''s very sly, having disappeared from sight immediately after entering the capital, but we are sure it''ll be lured out by the thousands of spirits around. Search for it carefully. We will be waiting," the Red Emperor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned a little. <i>What does she mean, she''ll wait for me?</i>


    "Go, then!" The Red Emperor drained another cup of wine.


    Though she put on a calm facade, the fact that the Red Emperor hadn''t stopped drinking made Xiao Nanfeng guess that she was trying to numb herself from pain, that she was far more emotional than she appeared about the death of Emperor Wei. The fact that she was handing over such a precious artifact as the ck lotus made it seem as though she were preparing to give it all up.


    However, this wasn''t any of Xiao Nanfeng''s business. His foremost foe was Madam Rouge, and she had to be his top priority.


    "Your Majesty, might I ask if Elder Blue Lantern is around?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Are you looking for me?" A voice suddenly spoke from an otherwise empty patch of space.


    Blue Lantern''s figure slowly appeared. As Xiao Nanfeng had anticipated, he had indeed been present in hiding.


    The Red Emperor peered at Blue Lantern in an unfriendly manner, then turned away.


    "Elder, this is my senior sister, Yu''er," Xiao Nanfeng introduced.


    "Hmm?" Blue Lantern nced at Xiao Nanfeng, perplexed.


    "My senior sister likewise holds a dragon-quelling spike. May she also make a wish to you?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired.


    "That''s right," Blue Lantern nodded.


    "Very well. If my senior sister encounters any danger, Elder, please step in. We ask that you act for the cost of a dragon-quelling spike." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    Blue Lantern stared silently at Xiao Nanfeng, apparently having guessed what he was about to do.


    "Nanfeng, what danger could Ie across?" Yu''er frowned.


    "Senior Sister, I''ll be heading down the mountain to deal with that cursed effigy. The situation might be messy, and I won''t be able to help you if anything happens. You''re stillcking spiritual power, and it''ll be safer for you here!" Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    Yu''er''s physical cultivation was more advanced than Xiao Nanfeng, so she was vexed that he had to take care of her owing to the disparity in their spiritual cultivation. She knew, however, that Xiao Nanfeng was only acting for her own good. "You take care too," she replied.


    "I will, Senior Sister!" Xiao Nanfeng then bowed to the Red Emperor and Blue Lantern again.


    "Elders, please help me take care of my senior sister. I''ll return shortly."


    Xiao Nanfeng zipped down the mountain through the mists that covered its top.


    At the foot of the mountain, Xiao Nanfeng nced up at the mist above him. The capital seemed to be shrouded in mist, forming a sealed barrier that prevented anyone from leaving the capital.


    Within the city, the illusory citizens had all vanished from sight, leaving just a few scattered officials around. They nced at Xiao Nanfeng from afar.


    They were surprised to see Xiao Nanfeng descend from the mountain, then nced at him somewhat maliciously. They knew the Red Emperor''s personality, and it was strange that she would allow them to go so easily. Furthermore, it appeared as though she had sealed the capital grounds with mist. They grew more and more wary, then thought back to the dragon-quelling spike that Xiao Nanfeng had described. If they possessed his body, would they be able to leave the illusory realm in advance?


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng felt a premonition of impending danger. He instinctively punched forward.


    A plume of dust rose into the air as Xiao Nanfeng and his assant stumbled back.


    "You Shi?" Xiao Nanfeng nced coldly at his attacker.


    You Shi''s chains had already vanished. He was surrounded with dark aura.


    "Last time, did your spiritual power increase so dramatically because Blue Lantern gave you some?" You Shi asked coldly.


    "What are you trying to get at?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    You Shi smiled. Twelve golden characters appeared on the ground around him, then crumbled as twelve giant beasts crawled out from each one: a ck snake, a ck tiger, a ck dragon, a ck ox, and so on. Each possessed the strength of a spiritual cultivator at Ster Lake. They howled, the waves of energy seeping off their bodies causing Xiao Nanfeng''s clothes to shake.


    "I want your body. Kill him!" You Shi cried out.


    The first time You Shi saw Xiao Nanfeng, he had wanted to possess his body and escape from the illusory realm via the dragon-quelling spike that Xiao Nanfeng possessed. Clearly, he hadn''t given up on this notion.


    The twelve beasts howled as they pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng, intending to tear him apart. To You Shi, victory was as good as secured.


    "Why do you think you''ll be victorious?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully. He stepped forward. Burgeoning spiritual power surrounded him in the form of blue mes, causing the nearby houses to shake. His punch was like aet that struck the ck beast in the lead, the ck serpent.


    The ck serpent''s body dematerialized in a cloud of ck smoke, and the resulting energy that it gave off caused all the nearby buildings to copse.


    "What?!" You Shi cried out.


    The court officials that had been waiting for an opportunity to strike all gaped at the terrifying power of Xiao Nanfeng''s punch.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored their looks and continued to punch at You Shi''s remaining beasts. All that spiritual power he had consumedst time was only a third of the qi within the frozen mountain in his mindscape, and he still had plenty he could make use of.


    The ck tiger exploded, then the ck dragon, then...


    You Shi''s eyes widened as yet another beast burst apart. Sensing that the situation wasn''t in his favor, You Shi turned and attempted to flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched thest beast until it dissipated, then turned toward You Shi.


    "It''s toote to flee now!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    A huge first of spiritual power, charged with the power to destroy heaven and earth, smashed toward the fleeing You Shi.


    "Haven''t you used up the spiritual power that Blue Lantern gave you? No!" You Shi screamed.


    With a huge bang, You Shi dissipated in a cloud of ck smoke, leaving arge crater where he had been. The resulting wave of energy caused all the officials nearby to stumble back.


    They all sucked in a deep breath. They had been nning to ambush Xiao Nanfeng to im his dragon-quelling spike, but their faces suddenly twitched upon seeing his actions. If they really were to target him now, wouldn''t they end up being destroyed themselves?

 Chapter 94: A Tracking Rune

    <h4>Chapter 94: A Tracking Rune</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng stood amidst a pile of ruins as he looked coldly at his surroundings. The officials nched and turned away, fleeing from his sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t make a big fuss. He found a secluded pagoda overlooking the city and hid at its top as he waited for Madam Rouge to show herself.


    Simultaneously, he wondered about the Red Emperor''s n to kill all the officials by Madam Rouge''s hand. He certainly couldn''t countermand her decision, but Madam Rouge would grow far stronger after absorbing all these spirits. Would the ck lotus still be able to seal her then?


    Xiao Nanfeng infused spiritual power into his arm, summoning the ck lotus on his palm. Just then, he raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"


    At the center of the lotus was a ball of blue energy, roiling like smoke.


    "Spiritual power? But from where?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    He drew out a thread of spiritual power and inspected it. There were two types, one of which was identical to the spiritual power from the mountain of ice in his mindscape, and the other of which belonged to You Shi.


    "The ck lotus can passively absorb spiritual power from its surroundings?" Xiao Nanfeng was shaken. He considered the ball of spiritual power. Only a third of what he had spent had been recollected; the remaining two-thirds had been consumed to create a massive explosion.


    "During his fight against the Lady Arclight, You Shi had used a secret technique to collect the spiritual power that the Lady Arclight emitted during their fight. The ck lotus has this effect too¡ªand it''s stronger than You Shi''s, or it wouldn''t have absorbed his spiritual power too!" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    He understood the true value of this ck lotus now, and was growing more and more grateful to the Red Emperor for granting him such a boon.


    He unspooled a strand of You Shi''s spiritual power to inspect it. It suddenly trembled and shot into the back side of his right palm, where a mysterious golden rune suddenly shed into existence.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    When he passed over the area with his own spiritual power, he couldn''t even see the rune, but You Shi''s spiritual power activated it instantly. "Is this a tracking rune? You Shi must have left this mark when heunched a sneak attack on me!"


    He had read countless Taoist scriptures, and could easily guess the effect of this rune. It was far too well hidden, remaining inert unless You Shi''s spiritual power was used.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart thudded. As he continued to activate the rune with You Shi''s spiritual power, he found a ck thread connected to the rune, fading in and out of existence, as though tethered to some faraway location.


    "You Shi really does have a whole assortment of sinister secret techniques, doesn''t he..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He dematerialized the ck lotus and continued activating the tracking rune with You Shi''s spiritual power. He followed the thread out of the pagoda and toward its other end,


    being exceedingly careful to avoid any detection. He quickly arrived at the entrance to a temple, one that seemed to be deserted. Even when Xiao Nanfeng spread out his spiritual power, he couldn''t discover anything amiss. However, by the back of the temple, there was some mist that blocked his sight.


    "The tracking rune is leading me here. Could this mist be a formation to block usual methods of detection...?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Just then, an official of Great Wei snuck into the mist and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath, condensing a ck robe around himself out of spiritual power and covering himself tightly. At the same time, he sealed the tracking rune on the back of his palm with his own spiritual power. Then, he followed the official into the heart of the temple.


    The moment he entered, he heard a hubbub of conversation. Evidently, the mist was even able to block sound. Arge number of traitorous officials were gathered in the temple wearing all manner of clothing, some likewise garbed in a ck robe. Xiao Nanfeng stood at the back of his pack, not standing out.


    He nced around himself. A thousand spirits had gathered here, all of whom were focusing on the ck-robed man at the center.


    "You Shi?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Hadn''t he defeated You Shi? Who was this, then?


    Before You Shi was a stone tform brimming with ck aura. Countless runes shed and emerged from its midst.


    "Is everyone here?" You Shi asked.


    "Everyone who wants to be here is here. You Shi, start talking. Don''t waste time."


    "Right, weren''t you defeated by Nanfeng? How have you regenerated?"


    "Why did you suddenly contact us and tell us to gather here?"


    The officials made quite a fuss before finally quieting down.


    Only then did You Shi begin. "In Empress Bai''s illusory realm, I grew overly confident, consolidating all the spiritual power in the realm before being crushed by Nanfeng. I was unable to revive then, but this time, having learned my lesson, I tore my spiritual body in half at the cost of half my spiritual power, paying a hefty price indeed."


    "You formation-based cultivators really have all number of secret techniques..." one official murmured.


    "I did all this for you!" You Shi cried out.


    "Ha, for us? You mean, for yourself!" the official called back.


    "Don''t all of you want to get out? Don''t you want your freedom?" You Shi replied.


    The officials'' faces darkened.


    "All of you know how domineering the Red Emperor is. Do you really think she''d let you go this easily? She has to have a n in mind. Why else would she allow you to leave but seal off the capital?" You Shi argued.


    "What are you trying to say?" an official asked.


    You Shi clearly wasn''t the only one who had thought of this point; everyone else had, too.


    "There are two possible choices ahead of you. The first is to hope that the Red Emperor was either being foolish or merciful, and will actually spare all of you. However, you revealed killing intent in front of Her Majesty. I can''t imagine she would let you go easily¡ªcould you?" You Shi smiled coldly.


    "What''s the second choice?" someone called out.


    Clearly, the officials were aware of the Red Emperor''s personality, too.


    "The second choice is to follow me out," You Shi replied.


    "With the copper doors open, even if the Red Emperor''s control over the illusory realm has weakened, ourbined efforts would only result in heavy wounds for us and for the Red Emperor. We''re hardly guaranteed to win," one official replied.


    "No, that''s wrong. You Shi''s talking about Nanfeng and Yu''er," the official beside him interrupted.


    "Hmm?" Everyone turned to him.


    "That''s right. This illusory realm was created by Emperor Wei with a dragon-quelling spike, which suppresses us all. If we want to resist the dragon-quelling spike''s influence, we''ll have to get one of our own. Nanfeng and Yu''er each possess a dragon-quelling spike, so as long as we can take down one of the two of them, I can take over their bodies with a secret technique, then bring all of you out with me," You Shi exined.


    "Oh?" Everyone looked at You Shi, knowing that he wasn''t finished.


    "Yu''er''s by the Red Emperor''s side, and it''ll be difficult to deal with her, but Nanfeng''s down here with us. We can easily defeat him!" You Shi cried out.


    "Nanfeng''s spiritual power is at Lunar Deluge, at the very least. All of us have been suppressed to Ster Lake. How would we take him down?" one official questioned.


    "Do you think I sacrificed one of my two spiritual bodies because I was so desperate to catch Nanfeng? No, I did it so that I could test the limits of his spiritual power! His spiritual cultivation is at mid-stage Lunar Deluge. Strong though he might be, as long as I set up a formation in advance and borrow spiritual power from all of you, I''ll have a good chance of capturing him. Wouldn''t you agree?" You Shi nced at the crowd.


    The officials were momentarily silent. They knew that You Shi was capable of doing this. Their eyes lit up.


    One official, however, frowned. "Isn''t he supposed to be a very sly character? He''s already gone into hiding. How will we find him?"


    "That''s why it was worthwhile for me to have sacrificed one of my spiritual bodies," You Shi replied. "Not only did I get a sense of his strength, I also left a tracking mark on his body. You know my tricks¡ªfew can detect such a mark."


    "Oh? You can pinpoint Nanfeng''s location?" The officials'' eyes brightened.


    "That''s right. Do you see this runic tform before me? Using it, I''ll be able to lock in on Xiao Nanfeng''s location without a problem." You Shi pointed at the tform before him.


    "You really are devious, You Shi!" someone called out from the back.


    "I summoned all of you to ask if you''re willing to cooperate with me on this array to trap Nanfeng, take him over, and escape from this illusory realm," You Shi called out.


    You Shi understood their desperation very well. They had almost been so desperate as to take up arms against the Red Emperor; they wouldn''t care about Xiao Nanfeng''s life.


    "We''ll do it!"


    "Count me in. Kill Nanfeng and take over his body!"


    "Only with Nanfeng dead can we live. Let''s kill him!"


    The officials were all in agreement.


    Xiao Nanfeng, standing at the back of the crowd, nced at the spirits with growing anger. He hadn''t been nning on taking on the spirits, but they were conspiring to take him down! Well, turnabout was fair y.


    "Very good. Let me see where Nanfeng is hiding, then." You Shi smiled, satisfied.


    Everyone nced at the stone tform to see the runes floating amidst the ck aura revolve and rotate. One of them, which matched the one on Xiao Nanfeng''s palm, glowed with golden light. It swiveled on the tform, thennded right on the center of the tform. You Shi frowned, thinking he had made a mistake, before he suddenly realized what it meant. He looked all around himself in shock.


    "You Shi, where''s Nanfeng?" one official asked impatiently.


    "I''m right here," a cold voice came from the gathered officials'' back.


    "What?!" the officials cried out, whirling around.


    "No!" You Shi shouted in abject fear. He had never expected that Xiao Nanfeng would be in attendance!


    Killing intent surged around Xiao Nanfeng. These spirits wanted to kill him¡ªbut he''d take them down first!


    Xiao Nanfeng''s fist headed straight toward arge group of traitorous officials. The massive impact obliterated the temple. The shockwave that rippled outward crushed the nearby buildings as screams filled the air.

 Chapter 95: Im the Victim

    <h4>Chapter 95: I''m the Victim</h4>


    A dozen or so traitorous officials of Great Wei were obliterated by Xiao Nanfeng''s fist. Even more were sent flying amidst a series of screams.


    "Nanfeng? What''s he doing here?!"


    "You Shi, you were the one who called for this meeting. Is this your fault?!"


    Everyone began to yell at You Shi, enraging him. He was about to me them for having somehow leaked the information to Xiao Nanfeng, but they had made him the scapegoat instead!


    "Without taking over Nanfeng''s body, none of us are making it out. Don''t run away¡ªwe have to strike him together!"


    "Take him down together!"


    The spirits began to shout fiercely, rallying the others to their cause. They had wed their way, tooth and nail, to reach the vaunted heights of Immortals, and they still retained that ruthless nature. Though they knew that charging toward Xiao Nanfeng might lead to instantaneous death, none hesitated.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with Hegemon''s Fist, each fist surging with a river of spiritual power. Each punch struck down several spirits and sent even more flying, but the spirits continued relentlessly, as though attempting to exhaust Xiao Nanfeng of all his spiritual power.


    As Xiao Nanfeng released punch after punch, over two hundred spirits were vanquished. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem to have grown visibly weaker. The spirits turned anxious.


    "Everyone, lend me your spiritual power! My formation''s almostplete, quick!" You Shi shouted from the back.


    The octagonal forms of the Eight Trigrams appeared around You Shi, shining with blinding light.


    "Lend You Shi your spiritual power! His formation can augment all our strength!" the spirits shouted.


    A torrent of blue spiritual energy rushed toward You Shi, causing his body to glow with brilliant blue me.


    You Shi snarled. With a wave of his hand, the eight trigrams were torn apart. Fierce beasts rushed out.


    "Another formation? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With each punch, he sent dozens of spirits into oblivion. Their number dwindled rapidly.


    "Hurry up, You Shi! We can''t hold on much longer!" the spirits howled.


    "My body, the formation; eight dragons, the seal!" You Shi chanted.


    A giant blue dragon emerged in a burst of golden light. Spiritual power formed a raging storm. Rubble from the ruined temple rose into the air as the dragon keened. It shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, who punched at it with a fist.


    The resulting shockwave sent the spirits flying. Even the dragon was forced back.


    "That dragon''s only at the early stage of Lunar Deluge. It can''t keep up with Nanfeng!" one spirit cried out.


    "The eight dragons'' sealprises more than a single dragon. Go!" You Shimanded.


    The remaining seven res of golden light gave way to seven more fierce dragons, each appearing in a shockwave of energy. The eight dragons howled simultaneously as they charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted, forming a spiritual barrier around himself.


    The eight dragons smashed into the barrier, causing it to shake violently.


    "Lock!" You Shi called out.


    The eight dragons wrapped around Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual barrier, squeezing at it with all their might, causing it to shrink smaller and smaller as it began to crack.


    "We''ve got him!"


    "Quick, possess him!"


    "Kill him!"


    The spirits all around smiled in wild ecstasy as they saw their n seed.


    Only You Shi remained astounded. "How, how could this be? His spiritual power''s rampaging! Just likest time, he''s reached the level of ate-stage Lunar Deluge cultivator. No¡ª!"


    Just then, as Xiao Nanfeng once again absorbed a huge burst of spiritual power from the frozen mountain in his mindscape, roaring blue mes ignited around him. Countless energy gathered around his fist as he struck at the dragons'' heads.


    The eight dragons had twined around each other in forming a seal around Xiao Nanfeng, and they were struck head-on by the blow. Waves of energy spread from their heads to their tails. The tremendous pressure caused all the spirits to inhale collectively, as though realizing what was about to happen.


    "No!" Countless spirits tried to flee, but it was already toote. The eight dragons exploded simultaneously in an earth-shaking bang.


    Shockwaves swept through the temple, instantly obliterating countless houses and even some of the floating inds in the sky.


    The spirits present had all lent You Shi their spiritual power, and their defenses were as weak as they had ever been. Many of the spirits'' bodies dissipated from the shockwaves alone, and those that still clung to life were all vomiting blood as they fought to rein in what little spiritual matter they still possessed.


    Only You Shi had the power to defend against Xiao Nanfeng''s blow, but even he was bleeding from his mouth. He was sent flying. As he struck the ground, he attempted to turn and flee.


    "After having turned these spirits against me and failing, you''re now attempting to flee? Don''t you think it''s toote? Let''s see just how many more spiritual bodies you possess for me to destroy." Xiao Nanfeng suddenly appeared before him and threw a punch.


    "No! If I had the time to construct a stronger formation, I would surely have been able to seal and destroy you! How did you even crash this meeting? I won''t take this lying down!" You Shi howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s fist struck his ethereal body and tore it to shreds. It vanished in a cloud of ck smoke.


    By then, the explosion had subsided. Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the battlefield. All the dead spirits had already vanished, but there were still hundreds of spirits left. Xiao Nanfeng certainly didn''t want them to be food for Madam Rouge.


    He ran into their midst, killing official after official. Despite Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, the officials had been Immortals in life, and a few had secret techniques that allowed them to escape and flee from Xiao Nanfeng''s grasp.


    As he took down the final remaining spirit, Xiao Nanfeng surveyed the dust and smoke that rose around him. Only then did his rage slowly abate.


    Another third of the frozen mountain in his mindscape had been consumed, leaving a final third left. However, the miraculous power of the ck lotus had recycled a great amount of spiritual power from the fight, dramatically decreasing his expenditure.


    In a dark corner of the capital of Great Wei stood a skeleton wreathed in ck smoke, none other than Madam Rouge herself.


    She stared at Xiao Nanfeng from afar in long silence. She had barely made it into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, and he should have been quailing in terror as a result! But what had happened? <i>Why is he so strong that I don''t even dare to reveal myself to him?!</i>


    Puffs of ck smoke emerged from Madam Rouge''s skull, as though she were inordinately vexed.


    Given Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power, Madam Rouge refused to appear before him. Instead, she was forced to consume the fleeing spirits in hopes of augmenting her strength.


    With a poof, she vanished from sight.


    A weakened official had just escaped from Xiao Nanfeng''s one-sided ughter with a secret art, and was now fleeing through a dark forest.


    "This damned Nanfeng, a mere mortal¡ªhow dare he treat me so? Once I make it out of this realm, I''ll make sure he suffers for what he''s done!" the official cursed.


    Suddenly, he felt an aura of death surrounding him.


    "Who is it?!" He turned back in shock, only to find a skeleton by his back. He was about to shriek when the skeleton shed forward and pierced through his chest, tearing him apart and killing him on the spot. He dissipated in a cloud of ck smoke that the skeleton absorbed.


    The skeleton twisted her head and looked in another direction, as though able to sense another target. Silently, she shed toward another fleeing official.


    After Xiao Nanfeng''s ughter and carnage, he chose not to remain in hiding any longer. Heunched himself toward a floating ind, where he stood and surveyed the capital beneath him.


    asional screams came from the city atrge, but the few times that Xiao Nanfeng was close enough to respond, Madam Rouge had killed her target and left. He attempted to catch an official to use as bait for Madam Rouge, but they were too fast for Xiao Nanfeng to catch with their secret techniques¡ªuntil Madam Rouge caught them by surprise.


    Two dayster, Xiao Nanfeng''s mental state had vastly improved. The fact that Madam Rouge continued to hide from him made him feel as though she was far less of a threat than before. He stood in the most eye-catching part of the capital and waited for her to appear before him, but she never did.


    Suddenly, the mists above him began to fade.


    Xiao Nanfeng guessed that the Red Emperor had released the seal after sensing that all her subjects had perished.


    He exhaled, stopped waiting for Madam Rouge, and headed back up the dragon''s head mountain.


    There, he found the Red Emperor still drinking alcohol. Blue Lantern sat waiting in the vicinity, while Yu''er was seated cross-legged in meditation.


    "Were you unable to catch that cursed effigy?" The Red Emperor took another sip of wine as she looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I''m ashamed to admit not, Your Majesty."


    "It''s only to be expected. That cursed effigy is sly and cunning, with a surprising ability to move from ce to ce. Even with my control over the realm, I''m unable to pinpoint its location, so how could you have seeded? That said, I can sense that it feels no small amount of grievance toward you. Just how did you rouse its attention?"


    Blue Lantern also looked curiously at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I never did so actively, Your Majesty. I was always reacting passively in defense. I''m the victim here; ittched onto me because of its pettiness!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "How could that be?" Blue Lantern seemed disbelieving.


    Xiao Nanfeng briefly recounted his shes with Madam Rouge.


    Blue Lantern and the Red Emperor fell silent upon hearing his tale. <i>The first time you met, you beheaded it. The second time, you caused it to be caught. After that, you kept on burning incense for it despite the fact that it was no monk, Buddha, or religious icon. Are you trying to humiliate it? Are you really the victim here?</i>

 Chapter 96: The Red Emperors Companionship

    <h4>Chapter 96: The Red Emperor''s Companionship</h4>


    While the Red Emperor and Blue Lantern looked at Xiao Nanfeng in stunned silence, Yu''er awoke from meditation.


    "Thank you for your gift, Master." Yu''er bowed toward the Red Emperor.


    Xiao Nanfeng twitched. "Senior Sister, what did you just address Her Majesty as?"


    Yu''er whispered happily to Xiao Nanfeng, "The Red Emperor has deemed me worthy of bing her disciple. She''s my second master now, and she''s been imparting countless techniques to me!"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "Have you learned the technique?" the Red Emperor asked Yu''er.


    "I have, Master!" Yu''er replied respectfully.


    The Red Emperor nodded.


    "Thank you for your boon, Your Majesty." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply toward the Red Emperor.


    "I epted her as my disciple, not you. What''s there for you to be grateful about?" the Red Emperor replied. By then, the Red Emperor had given up all that the realm had to offer; she even stopped addressing herself with the royal ''we''.


    "I am grateful for the ck lotus bestowed upon me, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng corrected himself.


    The Red Emperor calmly sipped at her wine, as though caring little for the material things of the world.


    "Red Emperor? It is almost time to leave. Will you leave with me?" Blue Lantern began.


    "Leave? Whatever for?" the Red Emperor replied.


    "Haven''t we made a deal? I would wait for you to handle your affairs before you departed with me. With your officials dead, it''s time to make a move," Blue Lantern replied.


    The Red Emperor shook her head. "I am hardly finished with my affairs, and cannot leave with you."


    "What?" Blue Lantern suddenly had a premonition of difort.


    The Red Emperor looked toward Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er. "Nanfeng, Yu''er, I ask that you aplish a task for me: deliver my corpse to my consort''s grave, allowing us to be buried together. Will you ept?"


    "I will, Master!" Yu''er immediately agreed.


    "I am, Your Majesty, but I don''t know where Emperor Wei''s grave is located," Xiao Nanfeng replied with some reservation.


    "It matters not. My spiritual power remains, and I''ll apany you on your journey. If not for the dposition of my corpse over a millennium, I would be able to undertake this task myself otherwise," the Red Emperor sighed.


    "We will do our best, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    The Red Emperor smiled in satisfaction. She turned to Blue Lantern. "I had been intending to make you wait for a few days before having you bring me to my consort''s grave. With the two of them around, however, I don''t need you anymore."


    Blue Lantern: ...


    "For the moment, I cannot hand you the dragon-quelling spike that my consort promised you. If you still want it,e back once I''ve settled my affairs," the Red Emperor told him.


    Blue Lantern was silent.


    "I won''t see you out," the Red Emperor finished. The Red Emperor seemed to harbor a particr distaste of Blue Lantern, but she controlled her emotions well, showing him the barest veneer of politeness.


    Blue Lantern was silent for long moments before replying, "I will wait for you to settle your affairs, Your Majesty."


    Blue Lantern''s figure vanished in a wisp of smoke.


    "Your Majesty, Elder Blue Lantern appears exceptionally strong. Wouldn''t it be better to entrust your corpse to him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    The Red Emperor disdainfully eyed where Blue Lantern had departed. "Do you think he would help me freely?"


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for the Red Emperor to continue.


    "Did Blue Lantern lend his assistance when Bai Ruoyi suffered her crisis? Do you think he would aid me freely? Strong though he might be, he is no saint. Had he lent my consort his full assistance when he sought a rebirth in the divine domain, my consort could not have failed¡ªand yet fail he did. As for those dragon-quelling spikes, my consort paid an astronomical price for them, but Blue Lantern only allowed you to wish for your escape from the realm? Ha! He only wishes to obtain the greatest benefit at minimal cost, to trick you of the dragon-quelling spikes you now possess," the Red Emperor told them both.


    "But with his strength, wouldn''t it be trivial for him to steal our dragon-quelling spikes?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "Some restriction of the divine domain prevents him from doing so. Do not give him your spikes lightly, for these are your talismans against danger. With the spikes, Blue Lantern will not cause you trouble; without, you might well suffer." The Red Emperor shook her head.


    "Thank you for the warning, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng replied, a series ofplicated emotions flitting through his mind.


    "I would have to pay a price for Blue Lantern to guide my corpse to my consort''s grave, to grant him the treasures thaty within. Wherefore should I do so? Rather that I bequeath them to you two cultivators," the Red Emperor continued.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply once again.


    "Thank you, Master!" Yu''er added gratefully.


    The Red Emperor sucked in a deep breath before ncing around the illusory realm again, her gaze filled with a shred of bitterness, as though she had recalled some sorrowful scene. She lifted up her cup of wine, downed it all, then smashed it against the ground.


    The skies rumbled, and the illusory realm broke apart.


    Xiao Nanfeng jolted awake in reality. He was still standing before the copper doors, with Yu''er to his side.


    Whaty within the copper doors was just like the other empress'' tomb. Over a thousand cultivators sat meditating on the ground. Although they had just perished, cutting the connection between their physical bodies and spirits, the dragon-quelling spike had catalyzed the dposition of their bodies. The treasures in the tomb were also decaying rapidly.


    Atop a golden dragon''s head was a copper coffin containing the Red Emperor''s corpse. Beside the coffin stood her spirit: she had walked out of the illusory realm and into reality.


    "Come over," the Red Emperormanded.


    The two cultivators quickly walked up to the coffin.


    "Use the spirit-storing method I taught you to absorb what remains of this draconic vein. Store it within your body for now," the Red Emperor instructed Yu''er.


    "Yes, Master!" Yu''er nodded fervently.


    Opening her mouth wide, she began to suck in the air around the dragon''s head, which transformed into draconic aether. Because the head was cracked, however, a fair amount of the draconic aether escaped.


    "Nanfeng, my consort''s tomb possesses treasures more suited to you, so let Yu''er absorb the bulk of this aether. That said, considering how weak your cultivation is, you should collect as much of the stray aether as you can," the Red Emperor advised.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a strange expression on his face.


    The stray aether danced around the tomb, as though attempting to escape from the cavern through the walls. Xiao Nanfeng immediately used his Immortal Cicada to skewer them all, bringing them before him to be devoured.


    Very quickly, Yu''er absorbed the entirety of the golden dragon''s head. Her body glowed with golden light as the coffin floated to the ground.


    Xiao Nanfeng had also gathered an impressive amount of draconic aether. Rather than distill it immediately, he sealed it within his body and stood guard around Yu''er.


    Just then, a dragon-quelling spike slowly floated into the air and flew toward the Red Emperor. As she held the spike, blue light emanated from her body. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be concentrating on an incantation.


    Six hourster, a burst of energy erupted from Yu''er''s body as she slowly opened her eyes.


    "Senior Sister, have you broken through?" Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    "I''m already at the third stage of Ascension," Yu''er replied. "I sealed the majority of the draconic aether in my body following the method Master taught me." She continued curiously, "Why is your body glimmering with golden light?"


    "I was guarding you, and haven''t had the time to distill the draconic aether in my body," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Do it now, then! Don''t let all that aether dissipate. I''ll guard you now," Yu''er urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then sat cross-legged in meditation. He entered his mindscape, seeing the ck lotus floating silently above his sterke, nourished and being attuned to him via his spiritual power.


    Xiao Nanfeng rxed and began to distill the draconic aether in his body. His skin glowed with golden light. Two hourster, a burst of energy suffused him.


    "The eighth stage of Immanence..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, then began to unclog his divine capiries.


    Pops could be heard all over his body. The first... the fourth... the seventh... the ninth!


    With all nine divine capiries cleared, Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes. His qi barrier was radiant, and he sensed that his physical defense was strong enough to block a peak Immanence-realm cultivator''s blow.


    "Have you awoken?" the Red Emperor asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng reined in his energy and looked toward the Red Emperor along with Yu''er. She was clutching the dragon-quelling spike with one hand and touching the copper coffin with the other.


    "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    "When we arrive at my consort''s grave, retrieve my corpse from this coffin and ce it within my consort''s. Allow us to share in eternal slumber," the Red Emperor instructed.


    "Understood, Your Majesty!"


    "Your Majesty, you seem to have grown a bit more transparent than before...?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    "With my spirit unmoored, my spiritual power dissipates with every second. I am naturally weakening," the Red Emperor exined calmly. She didn''t seem to care.


    "Please allow me to provide you with some spiritual power," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The Red Emperor shook her head. "I''m not a spiritual body, just a truesoul with some remnant spiritual power. I won''t be able to make use of others'' spiritual power."


    "How long will you be able tost in this state, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng was worried that she wouldn''t be able to hold out.


    "This dragon-quelling spike still retains some of my consort''s strength. I established a small space within which to bide my time and slow my rate of decay. I shouldst until I see my consort for a final time," the Red Emperor stated.


    "Your Majesty, we''ll head to the grave as soon as possible," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    The Red Emperor nodded and was just about to enter the dragon-quelling spike when she raised her eyebrows and looked toward the sky.


    "Your Majesty, is something the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "A Spiritsong-realm crow spirit is interrogating a group of centipede spirits. It looks like it''sing for you," the Red Emperor said, her eyes brimming with red light. Despite the fact that they were far underground, it seemed as though she could see what was going on high above.

 Chapter 97: Escape Unharmed

    <h4>Chapter 97: Escape Unharmed</h4>


    "A Spiritsong-realm crow spirit? A crow king? What is it doing here?!" Yu''er cried out.


    "The crow spirits who fled a few days ago must have reported to it. This matter concerns Xiang Zhirou''s life, so the crow king has to have rushed over without any hesitation," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    "What do we do now, then?" Yu''er fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the other dragon-quelling spike, which Blue Lantern had infused with Emperor Wei''s strength.


    "Nanfeng, the crow king is interrogating the centipede spirits now. It must be aware that you''ve used a dragon-quelling spike to kill three of the golden centipede spirits, and it''ll surely be wary," Yu''er murmured, ncing at the spike.


    "We may still have a chance to take it down." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    The Red Emperor eyed Xiao Nanfeng. "Your spike doesn''t have enough power to do so."


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for the Red Emperor to continue.


    "Only if I simultaneously use the power in my dragon-quelling spike as you use yours can we kill the crow king, but in that case, I wouldn''t be able tost until my consort''s grave." The Red Emperor frowned.


    "Your Majesty, I don''t mean to use the dragon-quelling spike against the crow king," Xiao Nanfeng exined, shaking his head.


    "Is that not so?" The Red Emperor seemed perplexed.


    "All the treasures, weapons, and even people have decayed away from the dragon-quelling spikes, leaving only your coffin untouched, Your Majesty. It must be an exceptional artifact," Xiao Nanfeng prompted.


    "This is a coffin my consort himself created, and the immutable copper from which it was forged came from a hidden realm in the divine domain. It resists decay, but because it served little purpose other than to store my corpse, it was never made into a treasure. Even so, it can likely withstand a blow from an Immortal. Do you intend to hide in my coffin? It''s useless. The coffin is not sealed, and the crow king can easily force us out." The Red Emperor shook her head.


    "No, Your Majesty. I possess an artifact that I might be able to cause to explode and deal the crow king a critical injury," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Oh?"


    "Your Majesty, you have far more experience than I do, and your perception is unparalleled. Would you help me confirm if this array-breaking orb will explode when subject to a surplus of spiritual power?" Xiao Nanfeng pulled out a small white orb, which Xiang Zhirou had left behind.


    His ck orb had exploded in such fashion; wouldn''t the white orb do the same? To be certain, he asked the Red Emperor to identify it.


    "Something You Shi forged?" The Red Emperor narrowed her eyes and inspected the orb carefully.


    "You Shi has set up a formation in miniature sealing away a spark of tombguard inferno. Infusing your spiritual power into the formation can indeed trigger an explosion to severely wound the crow king. Do you intend to withstand the blow from within my coffin?" The Red Emperor looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is the only strategy I can think of, Your Majesty. Would you permit this intrusion?" Xiao Nanfeng pleaded.


    "My corpse will be buried with my consort, and I have no need for this coffin. You may have it," the Red Emperor replied, nodding with a brief sigh.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!"


    "What''s more, this set of copper doors is made of the same material, the divine domain''s immutable copper. Take it if you wish," the Red Emperor continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. He had almost missed the set of doors!


    "Senior Sister, will you preserve Her Majesty''s body?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Yu''er.


    Yu''er nodded, pushing open the coffin. The Red Emperor''s corpse was garbed in a luxurious red robe, her face flushed, as though she had merely been in deep sleep. When Yu''er lifted her corpse up carefully, however, she discovered that it was very light, as though all the bones in her body had broken. She gingerly stored the corpse in her storage pendant.


    "Your Majesty, please seal your spiritual power now. We''ll request your guidance when we make it out," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    The Red Emperor nodded, infusing her spirit into the dragon-quelling spike as she vanished. The spike floated to Yu''er''s hands. She carefully kept it.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately took down and stored the copper doors, then returned to the coffin and buried the orb in the ground.


    "Senior Sister, let''s step inside," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er nodded, blushing slightly. The coffin would be a tight squeeze for the two cultivators. Xiao Nanfeng paid little mind to it, focused as he was on the crow king''s imminent revival. He ced the lid carefully on top of the coffin, leaving a little slit for him to look out of. He tethered his spiritual power to the orb, wielding the dragon-quelling spike as he prepared for the uing danger.


    Not long afterwards, a huge crash came from the tunnel. A group of centipede spirits cleared away the copsed part of the tunnel as the crow king and a golden crow general crawled in.


    "A bunch of useless idiots¡ªall of you, and you still couldn''t protect the young miss? She was killed by those two brats! How am I going to exin this to the marquis? If you can''t find those two brats, don''t expect to get out of this alive!" the crow king threatened.


    The crow king''s dominating aura caused the golden crow to quail in fear. The centipedes were also trembling. They quickly arrived at the underground tunnel, where they immediately saw signs of the earlier battle, as well as Xiang Zhirou''s corpse.


    "Clean up the young miss''s remains!" the crow kingmanded.


    The golden crow spirit immediately flew over, carefully piecing together the remains of Xiang Zhirou''s body.


    Just then, the centipede spirits pointed at the huge crater where the pool ofva had been, along with the newly revealed passageway within. They guessed that Nanfeng and Yu''er had entered the passageway, but they were so fearful that they didn''t dare step down there themselves. They all turned to the crow king.


    "A bunch of useless idiots!" The crow king denigrated the other spirits again. It leapt into the huge pit, where it sensed everything within¡ªalong with the two cultivators hidden within the copper coffin.


    "You brats, do you think I can''t sense you in there? Do you need me to escort you out?" the crow king called out.


    It didn''t rush into the chamber within, knowing that Xiao Nanfeng had a treasure that could instantly kill an Ascension-realm spirit. It carefully stood by the outside of the chamber, carefully inspecting everything within for hidden danger.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng infused a torrent of spiritual energy into the orb.


    The orb trembled. The earth around it began to shake as the crow king grew alert.


    "Is there a trap?" The crow king carefully dug at the earth, revealing the orb.


    "This is..." Suddenly, it sensed a huge premonition of danger. Its face nched.


    "Something''s wrong!" It attempted to flee, but the orb exploded before it could. The fieryva within the orb was something even the Spiritsong-realm centipede king couldn''t withstand. After beingpressed once and again, the resulting explosion was frightening in scope and scale.


    The centipedes''ir exploded, not just the underground tunnel, but the entire chasm. Fire roared and zed, lighting up the night sky.


    Countless spirits hunting in the night suddenly found that it had turned bright. They raised their heads toward the source of the disturbance, only to see a huge mushroom cloud by the centipedes''ir. A wave of superheated air expanded outward from the centipedes''ir, causing all the trees in the vicinity to topple over. A gigantic earthquake caused the spirits to fall to the ground in sudden shock and fear.


    The centipede spirits at the epicenter of the explosion were all disintegrated, along with the golden crow spirit.


    "No!" the crow king screamed. Its protective barrier of spirit qi was obliterated by the explosion. All its feathers burned to a crisp as it guarded its body and curled into a small ball. Fire and smoke drowned it as the mountain exploded. The copper coffin was sent flying. Despite its protection, the vibrations that passed through the coffin alone were sufficient to cause both cultivators to spit out blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng shielded Yu''er with his body, blocking the force of the explosion near the coffin top with his back. Fortunately, the coffin top didn''t get blown away. The two cultivators were sent into the air before they crashed back down far into the distance.


    The force of the resulting crash finally disced the coffin top as the two cultivators were flung out of the coffin and struck the ground at great force. Xiao Nanfeng hugged Yu''er tightly, coughing up blood as his back bore the impact. He was disoriented by the forces that flung his body around, and his ears were buzzing.


    Yu''er, protected by Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace, wasrgely uninjured. She had been fearing the massive impact, but Xiao Nanfeng''s protection had been a source of surprising relief.


    When everything had quieted down, Yu''er looked around, only to find the groggy and semiconscious Xiao Nanfeng on the ground. "Nanfeng, how are you?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng, his head buzzing, didn''t respond to Yu''er.


    Yu''er quickly began to treat Xiao Nanfeng''s wounds with as much qi as she could infuse into his body. It took quite a while before he finally came to.


    "Are you alright, Senior Sister?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately asked.


    Yu''er was simultaneously touched and enraged. "You''re far more hurt than I am! Don''t move. Let me treat you!"


    "I''m alright. I just need to take some time to rest. Fortunately, I just had a breakthrough in my cultivation, or I wouldn''t have been able to block such a blow," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling as he consoled Yu''er.


    "Next time, don''t just shield me. Worry about yourself, too¡ªlook how injured you are!" Yu''er grumbled.


    "As long as you''re alright." Xiao Nanfeng smiled at her.


    Yu''er''s heart thumped. She fell silent as she handled his injuries. By then, they were far away from the source of the explosion, but they could still see the ze of fire extending beyond the forest cover.


    "I wonder if that crow king perished...?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    By the source of the explosion, within a huge firepit, the crow king arduously got to its feet. It hadn''t yet died, but all its feathers were gone, and it was charred ck all over. It bled from all its orifices, so heavily wounded that anyone would wince upon seeing it.


    "These two brats, daring toy an ambush for me...!" It coughed. "Were they able to withstand an explosion of this magnitude? Or could they have been intending to die with me? These crazed brats!" the crow king cursed weakly.


    It was far too weak in its present condition, and was worried that it would be hunted down by nearby spiritbeasts rushing here to see if there was anything of value. It didn''t dare remain. Arduously, it pped its wings and fled from the chasm.

 Chapter 98: The Serpent Once More

    <h4>Chapter 98: The Serpent Once More</h4>


    Dayster, Xiao Nanfeng''s injuries werepletely healed. The Red Emperor guided them straight in the direction of Emperor Wei''s grave.


    From afar, they could see a strange mountain, lush with trees and grasses, and filled with spiritual herbs. Spiritual energy weaved around its mist-filled peaks.


    From within the dragon-quelling spike in Yu''er''s hand came the Red Emperor''s voice. "My consort''s grave is within that mountain."


    "We''re here? We''ll head there immediately," Xiao Nanfeng replied, panting lightly.


    Just then, a dragon''s howl came from high above the peak. A ck serpent prated through the mists. Though it was still far away, the two cultivators could still feel its ferocious aura.


    "It''s the serpent that was in the river when we first entered the realm! It flicked its tail at you and struck you unconscious," Yu''er cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He naturally remembered that serpent.


    The serpent roared as it flew above a valley and sprayed out a blizzard over it. Shrieks and yells came from within the valley as countless crow spirits fled from the breath attack.


    The serpent ignored these ordinary crow spirits. It red in outrage at the giant crow spirit that flew out¡ªthe crow king. After a few days'' worth of recuperation, its wounds had gotten much better, and new feathers were growing out. Right then and there, however, it didn''t have the pride of a Spiritsong-realm spirit. Rather, there was a panicked, fearful look on its face.


    "Envoy, please calm down! I''ve been seriously injured by a few scoundrels, who even killed the young miss that I serve! I''m here to report the news to my master. Please, consider all the benefits that my master, the marquis, granted you and let me off this once," the crow king begged.


    "Are you incapable of understanding my words? No Spiritsong-realm spirit or cultivator is to remain within the spirits'' or humans'' domain, on penalty of death. Not only have you been lurking around here, you even emitted the aura of a Spiritsong-realm spirit. Should I view this as a threat? Do you not think me daring enough to eat you?" The serpent spat out another icy breath as it howled at the crow king.


    The icy breath chilled the crow king from head to toe, but it didn''t dare to resist.


    "Please calm down, Envoy!" another voice rang out. Xiang Kun had climbed up to the top of the valley and was bowing to the ck serpent.


    "Shall I cater my emotions to your whims, then? If you continue pleading for mercy on its behalf, I''ll eat you as well!" the serpent replied coldly.


    "Envoy, the crow king is here with treasure for you!" Xiang Kun hurriedly continued.


    "Hmm?" The incensed serpent''s eyes brightened upon hearing the word ''treasure''. It was exceptionally greedy but simultaneously prideful. Feigning disdain, it questioned, "Didn''t your father say that there were no more treasures? Where did you find more, then? Were you tricking me then, or are you tricking me now?"


    Xiang Kun handed over a blue bangle respectfully. "This bangle is a storage treasure, but one of umon quality. My father and I tried to unlock it, but to no avail. It might have belonged to an Immortal, and could be filled with countless precious pills and weapons."


    "Oh?" The serpent suddenly seemed interested.


    "This treasure could be very valuable indeed, but none of us were fortunate enough to be able to use it. We thought that only someone like you, honored envoy, would deserve such a treasure." Xiang Kun heaped on the ttery, which was clearly very effective on the serpent.


    It nodded. "You speak the truth. Come, show me the bangle."


    The blue bangle slowly floated over to the dragon''s w. A wave of ck energy shot into the bangle, which retaliated with blue light.


    "Hmm? This could well be a treasure indeed." The serpent seemed overjoyed.


    "If it may be of use to you, honored envoy, it would be well worth the effort of the crow king''s travel here," Xiang Kun replied with a smile.


    Even so, everyone could see the unwillingness on Xiang Kun''s face. The crow king itself was exasperated, knowing that Xiang Kun had given up this treasure in order to protect itself. However, there was little it could do against the serpent.


    "I am just and strict," the serpent began. "This trinket is worth little to me, but I''ll reluctantly ept considering your intentions." The serpent made a show of great mercy, causing Xiang Kun''s face to spasm. How shameless this serpent was!


    "Honored envoy, the crow king has sustained serious injuries and cannot readily fly. Would you permit it a few days to rest before it headed to the divine domain?" Xiang Kun pleaded at an opportune moment.


    The envoy, having just received a treasure which might well havee from an Immortal, was in an extremely good mood.


    "Considering your sincerity, I''ll let it slide this once. Recover quickly and head to the divine domain at once, or I''ll eat you," the serpent threatened. Its mood was buoyant.


    "Thank you, Envoy!" Xiang Kun and the crow king immediately replied respectfully.


    The serpent flew back to the misty peaks, ready to attempt to attune to the bangle.


    The crow king and Xiang Kun''s eyes shed with annoyance, but they didn''t dare say a word. They had no choice but to return to the valley.


    "If I''m not mistaken, that blue bangle belongs to the Lady Arclight. Marquis Wu must have snatched it from her when he caught her in that trap," Yu''er murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The serpent looked to be exceptionally greedy, and trying to snatch the bangle back from it wouldn''t be an easy task.


    Just then, from among the mists came the serpent''s booming voice. "All of you, listen up! I''ve set my sights on this mountain. From now on, no one is to approach it. I don''t care if you''re from Yan or Qi, or a foreigner from far beyond. All those who approach will be killed!"


    "What a domineering serpent..." Yu''er murmured.


    "It''s just a little loach," the Red Emperormented acidly from within her dragon-quelling spike. "To dare to take over the mountain containing my consort''s tomb¡ªit''s asking to die!"


    "A little loach?" Yu''er nced at the mountain in the distance. Who knew what the serpent would think about being called a loach?


    "Your Majesty, this little loach is no easy foe to take down. It would be difficult for us to force our way in," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "When we were interred, my consort arranged for a group of officials to stand guard over this tomb. Have they left after just a millennium? Otherwise, this loach wouldn''t have been able to usurp the mountain." The Red Emperor''s voice was filled with frustration.


    "Your Majesty, are you aware of any hidden routes into the grave while avoiding the serpent?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Hidden routes? Perhaps if those guards were here. They have a number of seals that my consort handed them, allowing them ess to the illusory realms within," the Red Emperor replied.


    "Seals? Your Majesty, might these be the seals?" Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a seal and ced it by the dragon-quelling spike.


    The seal was engraved with the character ''Wei'', and belonged to Lord Wei of Great Yan. Xiao Nanfeng had tricked the centipede spirits with this seal before. He had a hypothesis that he was uncertain of, that he would need the Red Emperor to verify. [1]


    The Red Emperor sent a thread of spiritual power into the seal, which glowed with blue light, surrounding the two cultivators and spike.


    The cultivators'' vision turned ck. As they blinked, they found that they had arrived in a newnd¡ªthe familiar city gates that they had already seen twice before.


    "This is... the divine capital of great Wei? This seal really can transport us in?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise. Beside him were Yu''er and the Red Emperor.


    "Why do you have a graveguard''s seal?" The Red Emperor looked at Xiao Nanfeng quizzically.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly exined how he hade across the seals.


    "In that case, all these graveguards have ignored my consort''s orders and either forgotten or discarded their duties? They''ve gone to the humans'' domain to make a name for themselves?" The Red Emperor''s eyes shone with frost. She shook her head and smiled wryly. "Forget it. It is hardly as though I have ack of traitorous officials."


    "Your Majesty, our physical bodies lie defenseless outside. Will that be dangerous?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can sense any dangers outside through the seal. Within the short term, there will be no danger," the Red Emperor affirmed.


    The Red Emperor was clearly not in a good mood as she stepped through the gates. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er followed behind her.


    Everything remained the same¡ªexcept for a pressure from the high heavens that seemed to impose restrictions around his body. His muscles bunched up in resistance, and he felt entirely ufortable.


    "Your Majesty, what''s going on? I feel like my spiritual power''s being dampened," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Mine too!" Yu''er added.


    The Red Emperor ignored the two cultivators as she looked up toward the sky. Her features turned despondent.


    The two cultivators followed her gaze. She was looking not at the inds that hung low in the air, but rather a golden cloud high above.


    "That golden cloud? I remember that it was present in your illusory realm and that of the other empress, Your Majesty. That golden cloud took the form of a flying golden dragon in both those realms, but not here..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.


    "Has the golden dragon of fortune really dissipated? My consort must truly be dead, then." The Red Emperor''s despondence was palpable.


    "Golden dragon of fortune?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    Yu''er exined from beside him, "That golden cloud is formed of a kingdom''s fortune, that of the Empire of Great Wei. I heard that the fate and fortune of a kingdom would congeal into the form of a golden dragon, one whose life is tethered to that of the emperor. While the emperor still lives, so too will the dragon."


    "Oh? In that case, this fortune isn''t part of the illusory realm, but of the Empire of Great Wei proper?" Xiao Nanfeng continued thoughtfully.


    The Red Emperor stared at the golden cloud for quite some time before her emotions manifested in the form of a weary sigh. "I should have expected this, and yet..."


    "Master!" Yu''er attempted to console the Red Emperor, but she didn''t know where to start.


    "Enough. Let''s go," the Red Emperor stated, shaking her head. "Once we head to his grave, I can pass you some of his treasures. Better that they go to you than to Blue Lantern or the others. Come, follow me!"


    The Red Emperor marched onward to the dragon''s head mountain. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er followed quietly behind, ncing at each other, sensing her deep-set pain.


    1. Wei (ÎÀ) means guard. Please note that this is distinct from the Wei in the Empire of Great Wei (Íþ). ?

 Chapter 99: Emperor Weis True Inheritance

    <h4>Chapter 99: Emperor Wei''s True Inheritance</h4>


    As the three figures arrived at the dragon''s head mountain, Xiao Nanfeng btedly discovered that this one was different from the other two. Compared to those in the two empresses'' illusory realms, the dragon''s head mountain here wasrger and loftier.


    This time, there was no one gathered by the foot of the mountain. The mists at the peak were even thicker, and an imposing figure stood on the za there.


    The figure, who stood with hands sped behind his back, seemed to be looking down on the entire world. Even from afar, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er felt a sense of tremendous pressure.


    Upon seeing that figure, the Red Emperor hesitated. Her nose wrinkled as tears wet her eyes. This was the Red Emperor''s first time crying since the two cultivators had encountered her. In that case, the imposing figure had to be the emperor of Great Wei.


    "Is that Emperor Wei? Didn''t he head to the divine domain to seek rebirth there?" Yu''er asked.


    The Red Emperor wiped at her tears and sucked in a deep breath. "It''s just a remnant of my consort, not my consort himself."


    Even the remnant alone, however, was sufficient to cause havoc on the Red Emperor''s emotions. She had to suck in many deep breaths to calm herself, forcing herself not to look at the figure at the peak of the mountain.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng found that the stairs leading up the mountain were exceptionally unusual. There were over a hundred open-air zas from the base of the mountain to its top. The sound ofbat could be heard within. Red- and blue-armored cultivators were repeatedly sent flying through the air.


    "Cultivators of Qi and Yan? As expected, they do have seals into this illusory realm. With whom are they fighting?" Yu''er frowned.


    "This is the ''za Stairway'' that my consort established. A hundred and eight different champions stand on each za, each of whom were once my consort''s enemies. My consort consolidated their fist techniques into Hegemon''s Fist," the Red Emperor exined.


    "Oh?" The two cultivators looked toward the Red Emperor.


    "When my consort went to seek rebirth in the divine domain, he established these champions and their zas, promising that any able to defeat all the champions and arrive at the peak of the mountain would gain my consort''s true inheritance," the Red Emperor continued.


    "Emperor Wei''s true inheritance?" Xiao Nanfeng was enticed.


    "Defeating them is no easy feat," the Red Emperor warned. "Your spiritual power will be restricted to their level."


    "A test of martial skill alone, with our spiritual powers equalized?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew brighter.


    "Are you a practitioner of Hegemon''s Fist?" The Red Emperor looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yes, Your Majesty! I''ve reached mastery with the technique," Xiao Nanfeng reported honestly.


    "Mastery? Ha!" The Red Emperor nced at him with some disdain.


    "Master, Hegemon''s Fist is an exceptionally difficult technique, and the vast majority of cultivators in the world atrge are unable toprehend even the basics. Nanfeng has done an incredible job at his level," Yu''er exined, trying to help her master understand Xiao Nanfeng''s achievement.


    "Show me your Hegemon''s Fist, then," the Red Emperormanded, stepping toward the first za. The two cultivators followed suit.


    There were no stairs between the first and second za, and there even seemed to be a barrier preventing ess to the second from the first.


    "Defeat the first champion and the stairs leading to the second za will appear," the Red Emperor exined.


    A ck-faced monk appeared before the three figures. His palms were sped in a gesture of peace, though his face was fierce and showed nopassion. Fighting spirit brimmed from him.


    "This is the first champion?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "This is the first opponent of notable strength that my consort encountered at the age of sixteen, ck Vajra," the Red Emperor introduced. "Nanfeng, have a try."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stepped up to the monk.


    ck Vajra''s eyes lit up as he pounced straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The twobatants'' fists met. With equal spiritual power, they were evenly matched. They shot toward each other once again, exchanging dozens of blows in a flurry.


    ck Vajra was a particrly strong cultivator, with vicious skills that targeted Xiao Nanfeng''s vitals. With Hegemon''s Fist, Xiao Nanfeng was able to hold him off and slowly gain the upper ground.


    Suddenly, as he discovered one of ck Vajra''s weaknesses, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. He struck ck Vajra in the chest, sending him flying into the distance. The moment ck Vajra struck the ground, he admitted defeat.


    "Amitabha!" ck Vajra sped his palms together once more and bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. Behind him came a rumble. The stairway to the second za had appeared.


    "Master, look! Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist was able to beat this ck Vajra!" Yu''er eximed happily.


    The Red Emperor looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. "What did you think?"


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment. "ck Vajra''s fist technique was certainly strong, but that weakness it revealed seemed unnatural. An ordinary person wouldn''t have done so."


    "That''s right. The real ck Vajra wouldn''t have exposed such a weakness, but this is only an eidolon generated by my consort with a wisp of spiritual power. He cannot think, and all he knows is this fist technique. With sufficient effort, any cultivator would spot this weakness and be able to defeat him." The Red Emperor nodded approvingly.


    "Oh? As long as you can identify these champions'' weaknesses, you can climb all the way to the top?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured thoughtfully.


    "The higher up the champion, the more intricate the fist technique used, and the harder it will be to find any weaknesses. My consort designed these eid for the purpose of instructing any trial-takers in Hegemon''s Fist," the Red Emperor exined.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng pondered the information carefully.


    "How go your studies of Hegemon''s Fist?" the Red Emperor asked.


    "It''s getting harder and harder. I used to spend great effort attempting to understand Hegemon''s Fist in its entirety, but the more I do so, the more mysterious it appears. Although I''ve reached mastery, I feel like there''s a vitalponent missing in my understanding, and I find it very difficult to advance whilecking it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning. This was in spite of his superior yin pearl.


    "You''recking experience," the Red Emperor exined. "You have learned the form of Hegemon''s Fist, but not its heart. It is as if you''ve built a tall tower with a hollow foundation, which might topple at any moment."


    "Please educate me, Your Majesty." Xiao Nanfeng nodded as he paid careful attention.


    "My consort developed Hegemon''s Fist by consolidating the fist techniques of these hundred and eight champions. You must inculcate these techniques in your study of Hegemon''s Fist," the Red Emperor instructed Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your Majesty, do you mean that this za Stairway itself is Emperor Wei''s true inheritance?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    The Red Emperor nced above her at the hundred-odd zas that dotted the mountain. "It is so. To get past these zas with ingenuity is to miss an opportunity. Fail, struggle, learn; with hard work alone will you reach the peak and gain that which you seek."


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath and turned toward the za expectantly. "Thank you for the instruction, Your Majesty. Please permit me to try again."


    "It is unfortunate that these fist techniques will take extreme investment to study andprehend. We have not the luxury of time," the Red Emperor sighed, frowning.


    "Your Majesty, it doesn''t take me much time to learn fist techniques. Please allow me to demonstrate." Xiao Nanfeng was very confident. With the superior yin pearl, he was able to memorize all that he saw with a single nce.


    "Oh?" The Red Emperor looked expectantly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward ck Vajra.


    Sensing the champion, ck Vajra immediately stepped forward. With a sh, the twobatants began fighting once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored ck Vajra''s weakness. He began to absorb his fist technique, exchanging blow after blow. Gradually, their fist techniques became near-identical.


    "Hmm? Such tremendous talent, to be able to memorize and replicate the fist technique in barely any time at all..." the Red Emperor murmured, staring at the astonishing sight.


    Within an hour, the twobatants'' fist techniques were all but copies of each other. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng''s technique still seemedcking in some form, and he was barely able to avoid being pushed back.


    "That''s enough," the Red Emperor called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly struck ck Vajra''s unnatural weakness and took him down, ending the fight.


    "Your Majesty, I''ve learned ck Vajra''s fist technique, but only to a superficial degree. Although it is far lessplex and demanding than Hegemon''s Fist, I''ll still take some time to reach his level of mastery," Xiao Nanfeng exined, frowning.


    "There''s no need. I can allow you to reach that level of mastery immediately," the Red Emperor promised.

 Chapter 100: Internalizing Fortune

    <h4>Chapter 100: Internalizing Fortune</h4>


    "Now?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the Red Emperor, confused.


    "A fist technique is divided into several stages ofprehension: the basics, mastery, and quintessence. What lies between each stage?" the Red Emperor asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    "A bottleneck," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "To ovee a bottleneck requires a great deal of experience in the form of time taken to experience the technique, study it, and then to actualize that understanding in the form of critical insight."


    "We term it ''karmic consequence''," the Red Emperor exined.


    "Karmic consequence?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed intrigued. He had seen this sort of description in Taoist scriptures before, but wasn''t this precisely a bottleneck?


    "There are many types of karmic consequence. The very nature of cultivation is to obviate such consequence and reach its vaunted peaks," the Red Emperor instructed.


    "I understand. This karmic consequence is what bars me fromprehending these fist techniques fully, but how can I ovee them quickly? How will you be able to help me, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "With fortune," the Red Emperor exined.


    "Fortune?"


    The Red Emperor looked up at the sky, at the golden cloud of fortune that belonged to the divine empire of Great Wei.


    "All the fortune I maymand,e!" The Red Emperor beckoned the cloud with a hand.


    The great golden cloud suddenly split into fourths. As the Red Emperor continued beckoning it, a fourth of the golden cloud whizzed toward the three figures.


    "Divide into two¡ªthere!" The Red Emperor waved a hand. The golden cloud again split into two, with each half sent into Yu''er and Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies respectively.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt a mysterious, miraculous sensation envelop his body. He suddenly entered a state of flow, as though he could reach out to grasp new heights that had been locked from him just moments ago.


    ck Vajra''s fist technique shed through his mind. It seemed to be covered in fog and mist, but in his exceptional state, Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he could pierce the mists and reach its heart. He suddenly gained brand-new understanding of the technique. Basics? No, he was already at mastery. As he continued piercing through the mists, he felt as though quintessence was just a reach away. Was this all there was to the technique?


    Yu''er, beside him, felt much the same way. Her eyes were glowing brightly as she unlocked discovery after discovery.


    "Focus! Do not expend fortune at will," the Red Emperormanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly shook himself, preventing him from wasting the fortune on intuiting other techniques.


    "Your Majesty, this is an unbelievable sensation," Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    "This is the nature of fortune, to allow you to bypass karmic consequence and improve your abilities smoothly. It is a treasure that all would fight over¡ªbut unfortunately, little fortune of the divine empire of Great Wei remains," the Red Emperor sighed.


    "This is more than sufficient, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng gasped. "I feel better than ever."


    "Try again," the Red Emperor instructed.


    "Yes, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He stepped again toward ck Vajra, who likewise stepped forward. The twobatants met each other fist for fist. This time, Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique gradually approached quintessence as they fought on equal footing.


    As Xiao Nanfeng consolidated his understanding, his eyes suddenly zed, and he sent ck Vajra flying out in defeat.


    "How do you feel?" the Red Emperor asked.


    "Although I ignored his exposed weakness, he''s nothing more than an eidolon. If I reach quintessence with his fist technique, I can defeat him. I expect I''ll be able to make my way up the za Stairway rapidly in this fashion," Xiao Nanfeng cried out in excitement.


    "This is all thanks to your ability to memorize and understand. Otherwise, without an appropriate foundation, how could you hope to bypass karmic consequence? Prepare to fight. This amount of fortune should be enough to make your way to the top."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng nced up the mountain expectantly.


    "Why not try to glean the intricacies of Hegemon''s Fist?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "Hegemon''s Fist is too abstruse, and the karmic consequence too severe. This amount of fortune isn''t enough to ovee it. Rather, my consort has divided the technique into its hundred and eight constituents, giving you the chance to assimte it bit by bit," the Red Emperor exined.


    "I''ll start advancing through the za Stairway immediately," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Wait for us to leave first." The Red Emperor shook her head.


    "To leave?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t understand.


    "My spiritual power is still dissipating bit by bit, and I can''t continue apanying you. I will return to the dragon-quelling spike to conserve my energy. When you reach the final za, call me out."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "As for you, Yu''er, Hegemon''s Fist is ill-suited to you. I''ve imparted you with countless secret techniques, so take advantage of this fortune to learn them well. You need not remain within the illusory realm, either. Head out and guard Nanfeng''s physical body."


    "Understood, Master!" Yu''er nodded.


    The three figures were about to split up when a sudden noise came from the distance.


    "Haha, what good timing! Three cultivators advancing the za Stairway, clearing the way for me!" The obnoxiousughter that apanied the voice caused the three of them to frown.


    They turned to see a ck serpent appear from not far away. It stepped onto the za on which Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    "It''s that loach?" Yu''er was shocked.


    "Hmm?" The serpent raised an eyebrow, as though having heard something disrespectful.


    Yu''er clutched her mouth tightly. After hearing the Red Emperor call the serpent a loach, she had begun to emte her master.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood before Yu''er as he looked toward the serpent. "You wish to ascend with me?"


    The serpent hadn''t heard Yu''er''s words clearly, and it was quickly attracted by Xiao Nanfeng''s question. It nodded condescendingly. "That''s right,d! I''ll give you a chance to get into my good books. Go, lead the way! I''ll reward you if you do so well, but if you refuse, I''ll eat you all."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...This serpent thought far too highly of itself¡ªand it was miserly, too!


    "You''re just a little loach. Who did you threaten to eat?!" the Red Emperor retorted. She was the Red Emperor! Weakened though she might be, no small serpent would be allowed to threaten her.


    This time, the loach heard the remark clearly. Someone had been insulting it, after all! It was an envoy of the divine domain, with the power to eat any spirit in the spirits'' domain with impunity. Who would dare show it such grave disrespect?


    "Oh? You must all be tired of living!" the serpent retorted. It swiped its tail toward the three figures, intending to teach them a lesson.


    However, the tail stopped short before the Red Emperor and Yu''er. Xiao Nanfeng had blocked it with a palm.


    "Insolence!" Xiao Nanfeng chided. Having received multiple boons from the Red Emperor, how could he allow the serpent to denigrate her?


    The serpent coiled its tail around itself, staring at Xiao Nanfeng in outrage. It had grown used to bullying others in the spirits'' domain, and it believed that all cultivators and spirits in the spirits'' and humans'' domain should obey its will. Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior was an insult!


    "Lad, I gave you the chance to badger me. Not only do you refuse me, you dare to strike me? Do you want to die?" the serpent threatened chillingly.


    "Beware of the consequences of trying to threaten someone you shouldn''t," Xiao Nanfeng warned the serpent coldly.


    The serpent goggled at Xiao Nanfeng. <i>Don''t you think that''s my line? Who''s the loser here?</i>


    "You must be tired of living. If you want to die, I''ll grant your wish!" the serpent shouted in rage. It flicked its tail toward Xiao Nanfeng once again, but Xiao Nanfeng actually caught it with a hand. No longer holding back, he struck the tail with ck Vajra''s fist technique, knocking it back.


    "You damn brat! Don''t you know who I am? Even a deity won''t be able to save you now!" The serpent pounced forward in rage.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear him. Frost in his eyes, he took a stand and struck the serpent''s ws. The twobatants seemed equally matched.


    "Come at me again if you dare! I''ve lorded over the humans'', spirits'', and divine domain for years, and I''ve had my fair share of fights. I''ve never lost¡ªand you think you can challenge me?!" The serpent swooped toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Man and serpent fought on equal ground. Though the serpent had the advantage in size, its spiritual power had been restricted by the realm, and was no stronger than Xiao Nanfeng here.


    The serpent used its ws, horns, tail, and body effectively as weapons as it shed against Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng was no slouch himself.


    "Impossible! I made it to the fifteenth za a century ago. How could I not be able to defeat you right here and now? This is impossible!" the serpent thundered.


    The serpent was a fearsome foe indeed, with techniques that surpassed those of any opponent that Xiao Nanfeng had met. The fight was a struggle for him, but his superior yin pearl, which conferred greater understanding, allowed him to learn its techniques quickly. The fortune of Great Wei allowed him to bypass karmic consequence, allowing him to identify one of the serpent''s weaknesses after just thirty minutes.


    As Xiao Nanfeng consolidated his understanding, his eyes suddenly zed, and he knocked the serpent out. It smashed into the ground in a cloud of dust.


    The serpent had been defeated! It mbered up with mounting rage.


    "Lad, you dare hit me? Don''t you know who I am? I''m going to eat all of you¡ªyou won''t be able to get away!" the serpent shouted, enraged.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He was preparing to defend against its counterattack¡ªhis victory was by the smallest of margins, and the serpent was strong in its own right.


    However, the next moment, the serpent vanished in a cloud of mist. It hadn''t struck Xiao Nanfeng as imed, but had rather run off.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Was it unable to take this loss lying down? Is it going to try to hunt us down in reality?" Yu''er asked, a strange expression on her face.

 Chapter 101: With Irresistible Force

    <h4>Chapter 101: With Irresistible Force</h4>


    The Red Emperor activated the seal with spiritual power. The three figures vanished in a puff of smoke, returning to reality, as the Red Emperor sealed herself within her dragon-quelling spike.


    They raised their heads to see the serpent flying through the air amidst the distant peaks.


    "Lad, you''re dead meat! I''ll eat you whole!" the serpent howled.


    A wave of spiritual power surged through the mountains and forests, causing the spirits within to clutch their heads in pain. Human yells punctuated thendscape.


    Hearing the yells, the serpent rushed over. The cultivators had bullied it within the illusory realm; it intended to take revenge in reality.


    The serpent swept through the forest, furiously striking at every human it could identify. Arge number of hidden cultivators cried out as they were ferreted out, sent flying by the serpent''s rampage.


    A few crow spirits in the air quailed in fear, fleeing from the scene, not daring to provoke the serpent.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power was vast enough to protect Yu''er. Neither of them were harmed; they hid where the serpent couldn''t find them.


    "This serpent''s really petty, isn''t it?" Yu''er remarked.


    "Ignore it. Let''s find a ce to settle down for now," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er nodded. The two of them found a mountain cave within which they could rest, then covered up the cave entrance. Even if the serpent wanted to find them, it would have a very hard time doing so.


    "Elder, rest here with Yu''er for now. I''ll do my best to learn all the fist techniques as quickly as I can, then fetch both of you while I ascend the za Stairway once more. I promise I''ll allow you to reunite with Emperor Wei''s remnant," Xiao Nanfeng stated firmly.


    "This seal can distinguish cultivators by spiritual power, and you''ll be transported back to the za from which you left. There''s no need to start from scratch," the Red Emperor exined.


    "That''s good to know. Your Majesty, Senior Sister, I''ll be leaving now. Take care," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged in meditation as he held onto the seal. The Red Emperor had instructed him on using it to ess the illusory realm as they headed to the cave. He constructed a spiritual facsimile of the seal and oveid it atop the real thing. The spiritual resonance produced a burst of blue light.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t infused too much spiritual power into the seal, so the light enveloped only him and not Yu''er as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt his body tremble as his spirit returned to the illusory realm, but he reappeared outside the divine capital of Great Wei.


    This was the first time Xiao Nanfeng was activating the seal himself, so he had to start from scratch. He could sense the presence of the seal clearly with his mind. When he confirmed that he was able to exit the realm at will, he stepped into the city and toward the first za, where he encountered ck Vajra once more.


    ck Vajra bowed, gesturing for him to start the fight.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and began the challenge. Within just a few dozen breaths, Xiao Nanfeng had defeated ck Vajra and headed toward the second za. Dealing with opponents he had already defeated once was trivial for Xiao Nanfeng.


    He stepped toward the second za, where he faced a Taoist wearing a robe of seven stars. A ferocious aura emanated from him.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed, as did the Taoist, before he rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The twobatants began to fight. Xiao Nanfeng''s superior yin pearl helped him learn the Taoist''s fist technique at an elerated rate, and the fortune of Great Wei resolved any issues with karmic consequence. Xiao Nanfeng''s understanding grew by leaps and bounds at an incredible rate, from basics to mastery and then to quintessence in just an hour. By that point, Xiao Nanfeng was able to use the fist technique better than the Taoist himself.


    The Taoist was sent flying in defeat.


    "Immeasurable talent." The Taoist bowed and departed.


    Behind the Taoist rose a new set of stairs, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to walk up to the third za.


    He rose steadily, one za after another, barely stopping to rest, winning fight after fight.


    Each champion boasted a different fist technique from varying schools of interpretation¡ªthe spiritual, the ghastly, the devout, and the righteous among them. Each taught Xiao Nanfeng something new.


    As he advanced through za after za, not only did Xiao Nanfeng learn the fist techniques of each of these champions, he also learned the manifold aspects of Hegemon''s Fist, as well as the origins of each stance within. His understanding of the technique evolved and deepened, bing more and morepatible with him as he strove toward quintessence.


    By the time he defeated the twentieth champion, he was certain that he could take on ten copies of himself from yesterday ande out victorious.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s sess did not go unnoticed by the group of challengers on the twenty-fifth za.


    There were two camps of cultivators there, one in red armor and the other in blue armor.


    "Isn''t thatd rather ridiculous? He''s going straight up through the zas without any breaks at all. How many days have we been here? We spend all our time taking turns trying to find the w, the weakness, in every champion''s techniques¡ªwhile thatd, working alone, is about to catch up to us in less than a day!"


    The two camps of cultivators were shocked by his rapid advancement. Among them, two elegantly dressed young men narrowed their eyes.


    "Crown Prince Yan, do you recognize him?" a red-robed man wondered.


    The other man, in blue, shook his head. "Do you not know him either, Crown Prince Qi?"


    The two men were none other than the crown princes of the empires of Yan and Qi.


    "Is he a foreigner, then?" Crown Prince Qi frowned.


    "It''s possible. There are ck-armored cultivators above us, too. They must beughing at us down here!" Crown Prince Yan was visibly irked.


    Indeed, on a za even higher up, a group of crow spirits had just been sent flying by a distant champion. Intense fighting was taking ce all around them. By the edge of that za, Xiang Kun was peering down at Xiao Nanfeng. His face was cold as he tracked Xiao Nanfeng''s progress.


    "If not for the fact that they''re being protected by a Spiritsong-realm crow spirit, we''d have taken them down already. This opportunity is meant for those of us of this realm, not these foreigners!" Crown Prince Qi remarked coldly.


    "Thatd down there barely managed to win against the honored envoy, and I have to acknowledge his strength. However, the fact that he''s still daring to continue this challenge after offending the envoy¡ªhe really is reckless," Crown Prince Yan opined.


    "Shall we inform the envoy?"


    "Trying to identify the weaknesses of these eid is too slow. If we continue in this manner, those ck-armored cultivators above us will surely get Emperor Wei''s inheritance first." Crown Prince Yan narrowed his eyes.


    "What are you nning, then?" Crown Prince Qi asked.


    "Thisd doesn''t seem to be working together with the ck-armored cultivators above us. Perhaps he might be able to guide us up." Crown Prince Yan''s eyes shed.


    "And if he''s unwilling?" Crown Prince Qi asked.


    "That''s not up to him, is it?" Crown Prince Yan narrowed his eyes.


    Crown Prince Qi considered Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "Very well. We''ll wait for him, then."


    The two camps of cultivators watched on patiently as Xiao Nanfeng advanced one za after another.


    After defeating a strange, drunken champion, Xiao Nanfeng climbed up the stairs leading to the twenty-fifth za. He waspletely immersed in analyzing Hegemon''s Fist in light of his recent experience and understanding. A palpable aura red up around him. He looked like an invincible god of war, his eyes seemingly deconstructing all the enemies before him with just a nce.


    He slowly walked up to the twenty-fifth za, where almost a hundred cultivators from Yan and Qi stopped him.

 Chapter 102: A Brutal Group Assault

    <h4>Chapter 102: A Brutal Group Assault</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was deep in contemtion when he noticed a group of cultivators blocking his way¡ªred- and blue-armored cultivators, neither of which he had had pleasant experiences with. His mood quickly fell.


    "Friend, I''m the crown prince of Qi, and he''s the crown prince of Yan. We''ve noticed your skill with these zas and would like to befriend you. You could be an honored guest of both our kingdoms, sharing glory with me and mine. Would you join us?" Crown Prince Qi offered, a winning smile stered on his face.


    The two crown princes were certainly willing to be courteous and polite if it could get them what they wanted.


    "I won''t," Xiao Nanfeng replied bluntly.


    Crown Prince Qi''s smile froze stiffly on his face. He hadn''t expected such abrupt refusal!


    "If there''s nothing else, get out of my way," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Crown Prince Qi''s face turned cold.


    "Lad, you really are insolent, aren''t you? The honored envoy''s looking everywhere for you¡ªand to think that you''re in here trying to climb the za Stairway! What do you imagine will happen if we tell the envoy that you''re here?" Crown Prince Yan smiled thinly. If Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want to cooperate, well, they had no choice but to threaten him.


    "Scram!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted. He still had almost a hundred zas to get through¡ªhe didn''t have time for this nonsense!


    Crown Prince Yan narrowed his eyes. If Xiao Nanfeng were to remain so recalcitrant... He shot a nce at a subordinate.


    "Haven''t you heard the crown princes? Lad, do you really want us to make your life difficult?" the subordinate shouted, blocking Xiao Nanfeng''s path.


    The two crown princes looked toward Xiao Nanfeng as their subordinates surrounded him. Without teaching him a lesson, it seemed as though he wouldn''t be properly obedient.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head at this farce. "I didn''t want to waste any time on you, but it seems like I have no choice but to do so."


    The two crown princes were stunned. That was their line!


    "Lad, are you crazy? Everyone''s spiritual power is identical here in this realm. There are a group of us, and only one of you. Don''t think we won''t beat you to a pulp!" one cultivator shouted, telegraphing a p toward Xiao Nanfeng''s face.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught his palm by the thumb and twisted it with an audible snap. The cultivator shrieked in pain and curled up into a ball, which Xiao Nanfeng then kicked off the za. He fell far below in a plume of dust.


    "What can you do?" Xiao Nanfeng sniffed at the cultivators disdainfully, prompting their disbelieving anger. They thought that Xiao Nanfeng had only won so readily because of his sneak attack, but was so big-headed that he believed he could sweep through all of them.


    "Charge at him together!" the two crown princesmanded. They needed to teach Xiao Nanfeng a lesson. With everyone''s strength set to the same baseline, numbers meant everything.


    The red- and blue-armored cultivators pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng, whose eyes turned cold. To him, this entire group of cultivators was full of weaknesses. So what if they had the numerical advantage? It would be trivial for him to take them all down.


    With an elbow, he sent one person flying away. Two hands tangled in two cultivators'' hair, then smashed their heads together. A flurry of fists shot out toward Xiao Nanfeng, which he deftly avoided with a slide. He smashed a fist into a cultivator''s lower jaw, then kicked another one flying.


    These cultivators all had ess to the same level of strength as did Xiao Nanfeng, but their technique was far worse. Xiao Nanfeng had mastered twenty-four distinct fist techniques on his way up, and his understanding now rivaled that of a grandmaster''s. How could he lose to such a ragtag group?


    He sent cultivators flying left and right with a flurry of punches and kicks, breaking their bones and knocking them down onto zas by the base of the mountain.


    Like an apex predator, Xiao Nanfeng swept through the gathered cultivators, knocking them all down.


    The two crown princes widened their eyes in shock. Within moments, they were the only two left on the za.


    "Shouldn''t we have been the ones beating him up? Why does it feel like he''s the one beating us up instead?" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    The two crown princes attempted to escape, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t give them the chance to do so. He stepped forward and kicked the two crown princes down toward the zas below. They gasped in pain.


    "You''re dead meat, brat!" Crown Prince Yan howled.


    "Let''s go!" Humiliated, Crown Prince Qi turned to leave.


    The group of cultivators vanished in a cloud of smoke as they left the illusory realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored them and turned to the za''s champion, a monk with a tall and broad stature, shining with golden light, like an arhat filled with divine might.


    The monk bowed.


    Two hourster, with a great thud, Xiao Nanfeng smashed the arhat into the ground. He had lost.


    The monk bowed once more. "Amitabha!"


    The stairs to the next za appeared before him. Xiao Nanfeng was just about to ascend when a voice called out from behind, "He''s right there! We were preparing to take him down for you, honored envoy, but we were no match for him! Envoy, he''s far too insolent!" Crown Prince Yan pointed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The group of cultivators from before had returned, apanied by a giant serpent.


    "Lad, you still dare enter this illusory realm?" the serpent cried out.


    The group of cultivators allughed at Xiao Nanfeng, certain that he would beg for mercy. After all, he had barely won against the serpent before. With their assistance, the serpent would easily win against Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You again? Didn''t I scare you off before? What are you doing here¡ªdo you want to be beaten up again?" Xiao Nanfeng was visibly impatient.


    The cultivators gaped at Xiao Nanfeng, who was even more arrogant than they had assumed.


    "Scared off? Says who? You''re the one hiding in reality, not daring to face me there!" the serpent retorted.


    "You lost to me. Why should I show myself to you?" Xiao Nanfeng sneered.


    The serpent seemed outraged. "I lost because I was careless and didn''t have time to use my dragon''s aura! I won''t let you go this time around¡ªwatch as I crush your spiritual avatar!"


    A frightening wave of energy emanated from the serpent''s body, causing everyone around him to feel a sense of abject fear.


    "Dragon''s aura?" Everyone took a few steps back.


    The serpent roared in outrage as it swooped down on Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. He stomped on the ground, boosting himself into the air and smashing into the serpent''s sharp ws. The forceful attack sapped away the serpent''s aura as its ws suddenly cracked. The serpent screamed in pain.


    It sent its tail whipping at Xiao Nanfeng, who easily dodged the attack. He grabbed the tail and began to whirl it about, as though he were the handle of the whip, and the serpent''s body the whip itself. He smashed the serpent into the ground, creating a huge crater. The serpent stumbled, dazed and shocked.


    It had fought with Xiao Nanfeng on equal footing just a day ago, so how had the difference between them grown so massive? Xiao Nanfeng hadpletely wrecked him!


    Xiao Nanfeng kicked the serpent''s lower back, sending it flying past the railing and down onto a za far below, just as he had done to the two crown princes. A plume of dust formed. The serpent had been soundly defeated.


    The cultivators who had been so arrogant just moments ago all looked at Xiao Nanfeng with bbergasted astonishment.


    "Does anyone else want to try me?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at all of them coldly.

 Chapter 103: Madam Rouge Ascends

    <h4>Chapter 103: Madam Rouge Ascends</h4>


    Chapter 103: Madam Rouge Ascends


    Xiao Nanfeng''s unbelievable victory caused the other cultivators to rear back. He was like a mountain against which they could not hope to contend. <i>Try again? To be beat up by Xiao Nanfeng, you mean?</i>


    The cultivators stepped back. One was even so frightened that he stumbled and fell from the twenty-fifth za to the one below.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted at the cultivators, turned, and began ascending once more.


    "Hold it! Stand right there! That didn''t count. I had to have overlooked something. You couldn''t have grown that much stronger than I am in just a day. We''ll go again!" the serpent howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the serpent, having no time to waste on it.


    "Champion, these other cultivators have nothing to do with me," Xiao Nanfeng began. The stairs behind him swiftly vanished; clearly, he had no interest in letting the other challengers hitch a free ride.


    The champion of the previous za, the arhat, blocked the serpent''s path. He bowed.


    The serpent howled, "I was careless! Fight me again if you dare!"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to nce at the serpent. "I''ll fight you if you can catch up to me."


    Ignoring the serpent, he walked up to the next champion.


    The serpent thundered, "Just you wait! I''ll kill you!"


    It turned to the arhat and leapt forward at him with a cry. Bothbatants fought viciously, but within thirty minutes, the serpent was smashed to the ground in defeat.


    "Ridiculous! Come over here and strike this monk with me. We''ll take the baldy down together!" the serpent thundered.


    "Envoy, we can''t fight with you. If we try to do so, the champion''s strength will increase multiple times. It''s a death sentence!" Crown Prince Yan eximed.


    "What?!" the serpent cried out in outrage.


    "That said, all these challengers are merely eid, and they strike only with fixed techniques. They''re far less flexible than real cultivators. As long as we find their corresponding weaknesses, we''ll be able to defeat them easily. We are unskilled and were unable to find the weaknesses of this arhat, honored envoy, but you may be able to do so easily," Crown Prince Yan suggested.


    "Fight against this baldy. I''ll identify his weakness," the serpent replied.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused. The cultivators took turns challenging the monk, each sent flying one after the other. The arhat was particrly strong, and even Xiao Nanfeng had taken twice the usual time to learn his technique.


    Finally, after the arhat had sent dozens of cultivators flying, the serpent''s eyes lit up. "I''ve found it! Let me have a go."


    "Yes, Envoy!" The cultivators retreated with a sigh of relief., as though they had just received a pardon


    The serpent charged forward with a cry, viciously attacking the arhat. This time, having discovered its eidolon-specific weakness, it was able to exploit it easily and win within half an hour as it flung the arhat to the ground.


    "Amitabha!" The arhat got up and bowed.


    Behind him appeared the stairs to the next za.


    "Haha, was that it? Come, watch me take down that damn brat!" the serpent cried out.


    "Yes, Envoy!" The cultivators happily ascended to the next za, but they saw no one but the champion there.


    Xiao Nanfeng had already made it further.


    "He''s made it to the next za in just a few hours?" Crown Prince Yan gasped in shock.


    The serpent was so angry that it smacked its tail against the ground. "Stop running if you dare, brat!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the serpent making a fuss down below. He was immersed inprehending a new fist technique.


    "How dare it ignore me!" The serpent''s features distorted in rage as it turned to the gathered cultivators. "What are you waiting for? Challenge that champion! I need to find their weaknesses to keep going!"


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    The cultivators once again took turns challenging the champion. After almost a hundred cultivators were sent flying, the serpent noticed the weakness, charged gleefully into battle, and finally won.


    The group of cultivators ascended to the next za, but Xiao Nanfeng had already gone beyond. Indeed, it had already been some time since he began challenging the za up ahead.


    The serpent''s features distorted once more. "What are all of you waiting for? Keep going!"


    "Yes, honored envoy!"


    The cultivators continued taking turns challenging each champion as the serpent watched on intently, finding weakness after weakness.


    It continued to give chase in this manner. After some time, however, it suddenly discovered that not only had it been unable to catch up to Xiao Nanfeng, the gap between them had only widened. Xiao Nanfeng was now two zas ahead!


    "Is thisd... who is thisd?!" The serpent''s eyes were wild.


    "Honored envoy, we''ve exhausted our spiritual power and are unable to continue," Crown Prince Yan panted weakly.


    "That quickly? Aren''t all of you too weak?" The serpent eyed them angrily.


    "Honored envoy, your spiritual cultivation is exceptionally advanced, and you can easily replenish the spiritual power you''ve consumed via your physical body. However, we''re fully drained and will need to recuperate for a day or so," Crown Prince Yan sighed.


    "A day or so? How would I be able to catch up to that brat then? Come over here. I''ll lend all of you some of my spiritual power. Keep fighting!" the serpentmanded.


    "Understood, envoy!" The cultivators had no choice but to continue fighting.


    The serpent and cultivators continued to challenge za after za, motivated by their desire to take revenge on Xiao Nanfeng. Unfortunately, the gap between them only widened. After a day and a night, Xiao Nanfeng was eight zas ahead of the serpent.


    By this point, the serpent was despairing.


    Not only were the cultivators incredibly tired, even the serpent felt helpless against this gap. "Just who is this brat? Only Elder Blue Lantern could ascend at such a rapid clip!"


    As the serpent and the cultivators wearily sat down to rest, another figure appeared at the foot of the dragon''s head mountain.


    A skeleton had emerged from the darkness, none other than Madam Rouge.


    She had been hiding in the divine capital all this time as she observed what was happening. By now, feeling as though she had seen all that she needed to, she stepped into the first za.


    The first champion, ck Vajra, showed no sign of surprise upon seeing a skeleton approached.


    ck Vajra bowed, then leapt toward Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge remained still, as though not having reacted to what was happening. Right as ck Vajra was about to punch Madam Rouge, however, she suddenly stuck out her right pointer finger. It appeared by the center of ck Vajra''s forehead in a sh, then pierced through his head.


    ck Vajra remained motionless after being instantly killed by the finger. Subsequently, it transformed into a cloud of ck smoke, which Madam Rouge absorbed.


    After that point, the first za became still and silent. ck Vajra never reappeared. The stairs leading up to the second za gradually came into existence.


    Madam Rouge stared carefully into the air for some time, as though able to see past theyers of fog and at the giant dragon-quelling spike hovering in the air. Once she confirmed that the spike wasn''t about to target her, she headed toward the second za. Rather than teleport, she walked slowly.


    Not longter, she killed and absorbed the second champion.


    Madam Rouge was slow and silent. Only when she had to kill did she act quickly. Her progress chasing Xiao Nanfeng toward the top of the peak was an inexorable advance.


    High above, the serpent and the group of cultivators chased Xiao Nanfeng for another two days and two nights before the serpent gave up. Xiao Nanfeng was fifteen zas above him at this point¡ªhow was it to seed?


    "Don''t you dare run, you brat! Are you fleeing because you don''t think you can beat me? Are you scared?!" the serpent yelled out.


    Everyone gave the serpent a strange look. Who else would have been able to say something so shameless?


    "Honored envoy, shall we continue?" Crown Prince Qi looked expectantly at the serpent.


    "Continue? Do you think we can catch up?!" the serpent thundered.


    The two crown princes nced at each other. Although they chafed at the serpent''s orders, they were making very good time toward the peak of the mountain, where a treasurey in wait. How could they give up on it? They had to seek the serpent''s assistance!


    "Honored envoy, that brat surely doesn''t have the same reserves of spiritual power that you possess. He''ll have to stop sooner orter. Why don''t we continue?" Crown Prince Yan suggested.


    "That''s right! He must have used a trick to get ahead so quickly. With our assistance, honored envoy, you''ll be able to trap and kill him easily when we catch up!" Crown Prince Qi added.


    The serpent nced coldly at the two crown princes. "Don''t you think I know what you have in mind? You''re trying to im the inheritance of the emperor who left his mark on this mountain, and attempting to take advantage of me to do so!"


    "Honored envoy, we really do think you invincible!" Crown Prince Yan replied respectfully.


    "Truly, honored envoy, your divine might cannot be suppressed. Only you deserve the emperor''s inheritance. We ask only that you allow us to share in the smallest fruits of yourbor."


    "You might be right, but why should I do you this favor? Even if I can''t catch up to that brat, I can wait at the top. The ck-armored cultivators have already gone beyond him. All I have to do is head out and enter the illusory realm in conjunction with the ck-armored cultivators. Why should I assist you, then?" The serpent nced at his ''helpers'' disdainfully.


    The two crown princes stilled, not having anticipated this response.


    Just then, someone shouted, "Your Highness, there''s another challenger approaching! It''s not a person. It''s¡ªa ghost?!"


    As the crown princes'' subordinates screamed, the serpent and the two crown princes turned to see Madam Rouge step onto their current za. ck aura surrounded her as her skull slowly moved, as though counting just how much food there was for her here.

 Chapter 104: The Cursed Effigys Strength

    <h4>Chapter 104: The Cursed Effigy''s Strength</h4>


    "Is this a skeleton? A ghost?" Crown Prince Yan asked the serpent in shock.


    The serpent stared at Madam Rouge in shock. "A cursed effigy? The cursed effigies aren''t allowed out of the divine domain. How could this one have escaped?"


    "Honored envoy, is this not a ghost? Do you know what it is?" Crown Prince Yan pressed.


    "Of course I do! I''ve never challenged them before, but I''ve seen my fair share of such skeletal cursed effigies in the divine domain. They always attempt to escape, only to be caught by Elder Blue Lantern and given a scolding," the serpent replied disdainfully.


    "A cursed lifeform from the divine domain?" Crown Prince Yan gasped.


    "How did this effigy make it up here? Did anyone notice?" the serpent asked.


    Everyone shook their heads. All of them had been paying attention to the champions they were facing; they didn''t have the time to look elsewhere. Furthermore, Madam Rouge''s progress had been deathly silent, and there had been nothing to attract their attention. No one knew how she had ascended.


    "What happened to all the champions below?" Crown Prince peered down beneath him.


    The cultivators suddenly felt a sense of difort.


    "Honored envoy, something seems to be wrong with this cursed effigy. It seems to be counting how many of us there are¡ªis it dangerous?" Crown Prince Qi asked.


    "Dangerous? Everyone''s spiritual power is identical here. The amount of spiritual power it canmand is just like yours. What''s more, these cursed effigies have rather stiff bodies and can only move awkwardly. The fact that it''s managed to make it this far must mean that something''s wrong with the za Stairway. What''s there to fear?" the serpent replied disdainfully. "Elder Blue Lantern has always forbidden me from interacting with cursed effigies in the divine domain, so now''s my chance. Go challenge it!"


    The cultivators rxed. They surrounded the cursed effigy curiously.


    "Let me see just what this skeleton can do, then!" A hulking man pped at Madam Rouge with a palm.


    Madam Rouge pierced his head with her w in a spray of blood, causing him to die on the spot. The cultivators that were eagerly awaiting their turn suddenly stepped back in fear.


    Then, Madam Rouge opened her jaws wide and sucked up the dead man''s spiritual avatar in a cloud of dark smoke.


    "Honored envoy, what''s going on? Didn''t you im it had limited mobility?!" one cultivator shrieked.


    "That man must have been careless," the serpent replied coldly.


    Suddenly, Madam Rouge left afterimages behind as she shed back and forth and all around. She suddenly stopped moving and appeared not far away.


    "What happened to everyone? Why aren''t they moving?" Crown Prince Yan gaped at the still cultivators around him. After a long moment, all their skulls slid off their bodies. They had all been beheaded by Madam Rouge in the blink of an eye.


    As Madam Rouge sucked in a deep breath, the cultivators all turned into dark clouds of mist that she swallowed.


    Only the two crown princes remained. They watched on with shock and fear, then began to retreat faster and faster.


    "Honored envoy, you¡ªstiff and awkward movement, you say?!" Crown Prince Yan yelled out.


    This skeleton was even more frightening than Xiao Nanfeng had been!


    The serpent was itself stunned. "This can''t be. The cursed effigies I''ve seen are far less strong!"


    When Madam Rouge finished absorbing all the mist, she turned to the serpent and the two crown princes.


    "It''sing over! Envoy, we have to run!" Crown Prince Yan shrieked.


    Unfortunately for them, Madam Rouge didn''t give them any time to react. She shed over to the serpent''s front.


    "You''re targeting me? Die!" the serpent howled.


    The serpent reacted quickly, sending its tail whipping toward Madam Rouge. It was confident that it would be able to take her down¡ªbut instead, Madam Rouge''s ws pierced through its tail, then grabbed it near its wound and began to tear the tail in half.


    The serpent''s tail forked and began to split all the way up its body. The serpent''s eyes widened. It shrieked. It felt as though it could see its doom, that it would die after being split asunder.


    "No! Elder Blue Lantern, save me!" the serpent shrieked.


    Suddenly, the serpent woke up in reality, its head beading with sweat, its heart thumping madly. It shook and trembled. It found itself within a valley, surrounded and guarded by blue-armored cultivators.


    The serpent had been grievously injured in terms of spiritual power, and it was exceptionally weak.


    Beside him, Crown Prince Yan immediately apologized. "Honored envoy, I am deeply sorry. I was so scared that I immediately left the illusory realm with my seal. You entered with me, so you were brought out as well."


    Crown Prince Yan had been so focused on running away that he had no idea what trauma the serpent had suffered. As Crown Prince Yan continued to beg its forgiveness, the serpent slowly came to.


    "I''m out? I''m alive, I''m alive!" the serpent shouted joyously.


    "Honored envoy? You don''t me me?"


    The serpent nced at Crown Prince Yan. He might not have been aware of the cursed effigy''s true strength, but the serpent had experienced how dangerous it was itself. That said, it naturally didn''t want Crown Prince Yan to sense its weakness.


    "I could have dealt with the cursed effigy, but you allowed it to run! Why shouldn''t I me you?" the serpent replied sullenly.


    "Honored envoy, your divine might overwhelms us all. I apologize for the inconvenience. Shall I send you back to the realm? I imagine it hasn''t gone far," Crown Prince Yan replied immediately.


    The serpent''s face turned stiff. Return to the illusory realm? What a joke!


    "Forget it. I won''t go back in. If you want to, do it yourself!" the serpent replied, then soared into the air. It was worried that Crown Prince Yan would send them both into the illusory realm again¡ªand this time, it might not be able to run.


    "Honored envoy, weren''t you going to find the ck-armored cultivators and enter the illusory realm through them? They''re over there¡ªyou''re flying in the wrong direction!" Crown Prince Yan shouted.


    The serpent turned to nce at Crown Prince Yan. Before the appearance of the cursed effigy, it would surely have done so, but after realizing just how dangerous the cursed effigy was, how could it attempt to brave the illusory realm again?


    "Scram! If you speak any more nonsense, I''ll kill you!" the serpent threatened malevolently.


    Crown Prince Yan''s face stiffened. It was trying to provide directions to the serpent¡ªhad he made a mistake? He watched the serpent leave with a baffled look on his face.


    "Your Highness, might I ask¡ªeveryone is dead!" one blue-armored cultivator cried out.


    "What?" Crown Prince Yan was perplexed.


    "Look!" the blue-armored cultivator pointed at the corpses arrayed all around them.


    Crown Prince Yan stepped forward. Indeed, all fifty of his subordinates had died.


    "Within an illusory array, even if your spiritual avatar is destroyed, the worst that can happen should be mental and spiritual depletion. How could they have died?!" the crown prince cried out.


    "Your Highness, might I ask what you encountered within the realm? I felt as though even the honored envoy was nervous and startled," his subordinate continued.


    What had they encountered?


    Crown Prince Yan immediately thought of the skeleton as his body shook. He understood what had happened, now. It wasn''t that the envoy didn''t want to go in¡ªhe didn''t dare to! Only then did the crown prince realize why the envoy had been acting so strangely. Was the skeleton that frightening?


    "Your Highness, what happened within the illusory realm? How could it have affected reality?" his subordinate pressed.


    Crown Prince Yan''s face grew rmed. He was very worried that the skeleton would make its way into reality.


    "Come on, we have to leave immediately. We can''t stay here any longer!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    In another valley, Crown Prince Qi had also discovered that the subordinates he had brought into the illusory realm had all perished. He was shocked and btedly realized what had happened.


    "The envoy misled us, iming that the skeleton was slow and awkward! It killed all my men¡ªdamn it!" Crown Prince Qi shouted.


    "What should we do, Your Highness?"


    "Leave. We have to leave this ce immediately," Crown Prince Qi replied.


    Back in the illusory realm, right before Madam Rouge was about to tear the serpent apart, it escaped. Gusts of ck air drifted up around her, a sure sign of her displeasure. She raised her head and looked up at the zas above.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng had just defeated another champion and was standing by the edge of the za. Wondering where the serpent was, it nced down, only to find himself staring right at Madam Rouge.


    "Madam Rouge? Do you think you can take me down just because my spiritual power''s suppressed here? Come on, then. I''ll be waiting for you at the top!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    He then turned around and ignored Madam Rouge as he headed toward the next za.


    When Madam Rouge saw Xiao Nanfeng''s disdainful nce, she was so upset that ck smoke poured out of her skull. She continued marching forward through za after za as she chased Xiao Nanfeng.


    Man and skeleton resumed their climb once more, neither noticing a group of people on zas even higher above them.


    Xiang Kun, the crow king, and a few ck-armored cultivators were ncing at the scene below from the edge of a za higher above.


    "Young Master, he killed the young miss and didn''t die even after that humongous explosion that day! Not only that, he''s climbing the zas rapidly." The crow king''s eyes were filled with anger and indignity.


    Xiang Kun snapped back, "If we can''t find where his physical body is, we''ll destroy his spiritual avatar right here and now. For killing my sister, I''ll make him suffer a fate worse than death!"


    "But his spiritual avatar won''t be easy to handle. Even the serpent was no match for him. Can we deal with him?" the crow king asked.


    In reality, it would surely be able to take down Xiao Nanfeng with its Spiritsong-realm cultivation, but Xiao Nanfeng was far stronger in technique than it was. It might be no match for him in this trial space.


    "Don''t we have You Jiu? You Jiu, how confident are you in destroying his spiritual avatar?" Xiang Kun nced at the middle-aged man beside him.


    You Jiu looked coldly back at Xiang Kun. Hatred glimmered in his eyes, but he didn''t say a word.


    "You Jiu, I rmend that you obey me. Your earlier resistance caused the crow king to expose himself and the serpent to catch him. I was forced to give up a treasure inpensation. If you attempt to resist again, I''ll cut off one of your lover''s arms. Try me if you dare," Xiang Kun threatened.


    You Jiu took a deep breath, then gazed at Xiao Nanfeng once again. "I have no confidence in doing so."


    "No confidence? You''re the one who''s been guiding us up this mountain, challenging the champion after discovering the champion''s weakness as we fight against him. You boast immense talent for fighting¡ªand you im to have no confidence against that brat?"


    "I see no w in his techniques. He''s learning the fist techniques of every single champion along the way, and his talent is monstrous. He''s far more skilled than any of them, and he disys none of the eid-specific weaknesses that the champions possess. I naturally have no confidence against him," You Jiu replied.


    "Don''t you dare lie to me!" Xiang Kun shouted.


    You Jiu shot Xiang Kun a cool nce. "I have no need to lie to you. I have seen no cultivator with a stronger talent for battle. I expect a 10% chance of victory against him, maybe less."


    "Only 10%?" Xiang Kun gaped.


    "Unless I reach the peak and receive the true inheritance of Emperor Wei, I foresee no better oue," You Jiu replied in exasperation.


    Xiang Kun smirked. <i>The true inheritance of Emperor Wei? Don''t you think I''d leave it for myself? You''ll get nothing.</i>


    "And that cursed effigy? Right, you people of this world aren''t aware of such things, are you? I mean that skeleton. How confident are you that you''ll be able to deal with it?" Xiang Kun asked again.


    "I don''t know. It doesn''t seem to have any techniques to its name. Its one advantage is speed. Without facing it myself, it''s hard to say just how I''ll fare¡ªbut if I receive Emperor Wei''s true inheritance, I''ll likely be able to deal with it." You Jiu shook his head.


    Xiang Kun nced coldly at You Jiu. Emperor Wei''s true inheritance was his, and it wasughable that You Jiu would try to contest it.


    "In that case, keep challenging the champions. We''ll aim to receive the inheritance before that bastard makes his way up," Xiang Kun replied.

 Chapter 105: You Jiu

    <h4>Chapter 105: You Jiu</h4>


    At the peak of the dragon''s head mountain, wreathed in mist, stood the imposing figure of Emperor Wei¡ªalong with a hidden ck-robed figure, yet another avatar of You Shi. You Shi stood at the final za as he watched the fights unfold before him.


    "The Red Emperor''s here, too? And she even gave Nanfeng a portion of the empire''s fortune?" You Shi gnashed his teeth.


    He took one step toward the za below his, but his body instantly began to hiss and give off smoke. He turned and nced hatefully at the remnant of Emperor Wei. "A thousand years, and this za Stairway''s still preventing me from descending? Well, I came prepared. As long as anyone approaches the peak of the mountain, I''ll be able to break through some of your restrictions at the cost of my spiritual power. Not only that, I''ll be taking your true inheritance with me."


    You Shi turned back to the zas below as he waited patiently for a few more days. "The sessor of the Specter King? And a cursed effigy? What a mess!" [1]


    As though nning something, You Shi fell deep in thought. This time, he had no intention of allowing anything else to go wrong.


    After a few days of fighting, Xiang Kun and his group had reached the hundredth za, but they spent over a full day there.


    "You Jiu, we''re almost at the peak. Why have we wasted so much time here? Don''t you know that bastard''s right about to catch up?" Xiang Kun eximed coldly.


    You Jiu frowned. "This champion''s weaknesses are too hard to identify."


    "All my subordinates are helping you test his techniques, and they''ve done three whole cycles already! And you im you can''t identify any of his eidolon-specific weaknesses? Are you doing this intentionally?"


    You Jiu shook his head. "This champion is the Specter King. You should all be aware of how strong he is."


    Before them was a ck-robed champion that gave off a phantasmal aura, bordered with white fog. It was as though he had a group of ghosts surrounding him.


    A ck-armored cultivator leapt toward the champion, who waved a hand and sent countless spirits of white fog rushing into the cultivator''s body. The ck-armored cultivator, as though possessed, fell paralyzed to the ground as he spasmed.


    "The Specter King''s abilities are sinister and strange, and he can induce spiritual paralysis to kill those around him in a formless fashion. None of the cultivators can even get close, and it''ll be difficult to find any weaknesses," the crow kingmented.


    "You once summoned a ball of white fog during one of your fights, didn''t you? Why does it seem as though this Specter King''s techniques are very simr to yours?" Xiang Kun suddenly turned toward You Jiu.


    "He''s the founder of my sect," You Jiu replied.


    "Oh?" Xiang Kun was clearly unaware of this connection.


    "I am far too inferiorpared to my esteemed ancestor, even his mere eidolon," You Jiu murmured, sighing.


    "Nanfeng''s right about to catch up. No matter what, you have to strike immediately. If you''re wounded, the crow king will help replenish your spiritual power. Go now!" Xiang Kun ordered.


    You Jiu shot Xiang Kun a cold re. He hated beingmanded in this fashion.


    "Do you want your sweetheart to die?!" Xiang Kun threatened.


    You Jiu sucked in a deep breath, quashed his anger, and strode toward the Specter King. He bowed deeply, a bow the king returned.


    Specters wreathed in white mist appeared over You Jiu''s body. As he waved a hand, they shot toward the Specter King, but the Specter King was far more practiced with this technique than was You Jiu. With a wave of the Specter King''s hands, even more specters formed.


    The sh of the two mirrored techniques formed waves of energy.


    "These specters can take physical form?" Xiang Kun gaped.


    "At its core, this appears to be a sinister fist technique. These specters are like qi constructs, but the technique is far too advanced for me to understand anything beyond that," the crow king analyzed.


    "Why does a native of this realm like You Jiu possess such an advanced fist technique? Compare this to the likes of all the other natives¡ªaren''t the natives'' techniques all iplete? What makes You Jiu the exception?" Xiang Kun asked.


    "There may well be something wrong with him. Despite being an Ascension-realm cultivator, he almost hurt me during our confrontation. When you acquire Emperor Wei''s inheritance, Young Master, let''s interrogate him further," the crow king replied.


    Not far in the distance, the twobatants'' specters shed against each other as the Specter King and You Jiu engaged in a melee. Their fight seemed like one between two specters, their bodies phasing in and out of existence, killing intent surging on both sides.


    "What a frightening assassination technique!" The crow king felt chills down its spine. An opponent of this sort at a simr level of cultivation would be a nightmare to face.


    Just then, a number of specters rushed into You Jiu''s body, sending him flying out as though paralyzed. He fell to the ground with a crash.


    You Jiu had lost.


    The crow king immediately stepped forward and transfused its spiritual power into You Jiu, allowing him to slowly recover from his paralysis.


    "Continue!" Xiang Kun demanded.


    You Jiu had no choice but to do so, but the result remained the same. The Specter King was overwhelmingly strong, and even a genius like You Jiu, supported by the near-boundless spiritual power of the crow king, was unable to defeat him.


    You Jiu challenged the Specter King a few dozen times and lost each fight, causing Xiang Kun to grow more and more annoyed.


    "Young Master, Nanfeng is here," a ck-armored cultivator warned.


    Indeed, Xiao Nanfeng had stepped up onto the Specter King''s za. Fighting spirit billowed out from him. He had mastered nearly a hundredplete fist techniques, and his aura had undergone an overwhelming transformation. His every action seemed to convey the essence of Hegemon''s Fist, and even his gaze had grown dominating.


    "Bastard, are you here to die?" Xiang Kun asked coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Xiang Kun as he focused on the strongest cultivator present: You Jiu, who was in the midst of fighting against the Specter King.


    Just then, several ck-armored cultivators attempted tounch a sneak attack on him from the back. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t even look back. Based on the air currents alone, he could sense their positions. He dodged instinctively and sent an arm arcing back.


    The ck-armored men clutched at their bleeding throats as they stumbled to the ground, gaping in shock. They hadn''t even seen Xiao Nanfeng''s strike clearly.


    "What?" Xiang Kun nced at Xiao Nanfeng in rm.


    Xiao Nanfeng finally looked toward Xiang Kun. "Xiang Kun, is it? It''s time to settle the score between us."


    "Crow king, You Jiu, get over here!" Xiang Kun shouted.


    With a great crash, You Jiu was soundly defeated by the Specter King once more. The crow king restored his spiritual power before both of them were called to Xiang Kun''s side.


    ck-armored cultivators surrounded Xiao Nanfeng. Above his head, crow spirits swooped back and forth, cawing loudly.


    "For killing my sister, even if I can''t destroy your physical body right now, I''ll make you suffer so much pain you''ll wish you were dead. Everyone, take him down!" Xiang Kunmanded.


    The crow spirits and ck-armored cultivators rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, whose eyes glimmered darkly. He stepped forward and punched at his opponents. Dozens of fists appeared in the air around him, striking the cultivators'' and crow spirits'' weak spots as they were sent flying. They knelt on the ground and coughed out blood as pain wracked their bodies.


    Xiao Nanfeng grabbed the crow king by its sharp ws and began to pull them apart. A wave of spiritual power surged toward the crow king''s body as it felt its body split.


    "No!" the crow king shouted.


    Just as it was about to be torn apart, a horde of specters in white mist flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng release his hold on the crow king as he punched at the flying specters.


    The specters dissipated with a huge gust of energy as a ck figure appeared before him, his finger like a sword as it struck at Xiao Nanfeng''s throat.


    "Insolence!" Xiao Nanfeng smacked at the finger with a punch, forcing the figure back two steps.


    You Jiu''s assassination attempt had failed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at You Jiu with narrowed eyes. This cultivator boasted no small amount of skill to have determined his weakness so quickly while he was distracted by the crow king.


    Xiang Kun and the crow king, who had barely escaped an ignoble death, retreated in fear. Xiang Kun shouted, "You Jiu, you almost made it! Go on, kill him quickly, or I''ll kill your sweetheart!"


    You Jiu scowled. He had no choice but to strike at Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Are the rest of you idiots? Go on, help You Jiu take down that bastard!" Xiang Kunmanded.


    The remaining ck-armored cultivators and crow spirits struck at Xiao Nanfeng with fear and trepidation, but to him, even theirbined efforts couldn''t match half of You Jiu''s.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s fists struck like a rain of arrows, sending the ck-armored cultivators and crow spirits flying. None of them had managed to deal any damage to Xiao Nanfeng.


    This shocking result gave Xiang Kun and the crow king chills. How had Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique developed to such an extent?


    Just then, You Jiu struck at Xiao Nanfeng once more. Specters wreathed in white mist blocked Xiao Nanfeng''s line of sight as You Jiu phased through his guard straight toward his heart.


    Xiao Nanfeng easily dispersed all the specters with a rapid-fire attack, but he only barely managed to send You Jiu flying as well.


    You Jiu spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air as he fell to the ground, his injuries severe.


    The crow king hurriedly replenished his spiritual power, restoring him to his peak again.


    "Continue, You Jiu! Kill him!" Xiang Kun urged. He had no intention of giving up here. How could he let Xiao Nanfeng have Emperor Wei''s true inheritance? All he could count on now was You Jiu.


    "I can''t beat him," You Jiu replied as he got up.


    "Fight him anyway! Go now!" Xiang Kunmanded.


    You Jiu''s eyes red with resentment. Did they intend on treating him like livestock? If not for the fact that they had captured his sweetheart, he would teach them a lesson.


    Exasperated, You Jiu had no choice but to walk toward Xiao Nanfeng once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He more or less had an understanding of You Jiu''s plight.


    It would be useless for Xiao Nanfeng to kill Xiang Kun now. In this realm, he was only a spiritual avatar, one who could awaken in reality and run away at any time. On the other hand, if he could cooperate with You Jiu...


    "Well? Come on!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Countless specters shed against Xiao Nanfeng''s fists in a cloud of dust. You Jiu attempted to strike at Xiao Nanfeng several times, but was sent flying by his fists each time.


    The two cultivators shed against each other on seemingly even footing. Everyone thought that You Jiu had finally managed to hold out against Xiao Nanfeng, but You Jiu himself was growing more and more rmed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s fists suddenly summoned bursts of white mist with specters within. His footwork had be as strange as You Jiu''s. The two cultivators slowly synchronized, as though each were a mirror image of the other.


    "Y-you''re learning my fist technique?!" You Jiu cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng was indeed doing so, and his mastery was growing at a rapid clip. In just an hour, he had reached quintessence. He noticed a weakness that You Jiu revealed in mounting terror and swiftly took advantage.


    You Jiu was sent flying, smashing into the ground once more. He had lost again.


    The cultivators and spirits gaped at the sight. In just an hour, he had learned You Jiu''s technique and defeated him with it! How could this be?


    "Your technique is wed. My technique can augment what yours is missing," Xiao Nanfeng told him.


    You Jiu narrowed his eyes, as though understanding Xiao Nanfeng''s hidden intent. However, he schooled his features and didn''t reveal anything.


    1. The characters for Specter are ÓÄÁé (''you ling''). ÓÄ is shared by Specter, You Shi, and You Jiu, likely suggesting some sort of connection between the three. ?

 Chapter 106: You Shi, Freed

    <h4>Chapter 106: You Shi, Freed</h4>


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng was ncing at You Jiu, he sensed a sudden premonition of danger. He threw a fist behind him but was still sent flying by a tremendous force. As he did so, he realized that the za''s champion had attacked him from the back.


    "The Specter King?!" everyone gasped.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He hadn''t attacked the champion, so why was the champion attacking him? Something was wrong!


    The Specter King continued to attack Xiao Nanfeng, manifesting hundreds of specters that shot out toward Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously. Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, then retaliated with the same technique.


    The entire za filled up with specters. Xiao Nanfeng and the Specter King phased in and out of existence, leaving naught but afterimages behind. The spectators watched in shock.


    "You Jiu, what are you doing? Take Nanfeng down while he''s got the champion''s attention! Give him a lethal blow now, or I''ll kill your sweetheart!" Xiang Kun howled.


    You Jiu had no choice but to leap toward Xiao Nanfeng, appearing swiftly behind him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew cold, thinking that You Jiu was about tounch a sneak attack on him. With a huge crash, You Jiu was sent flying by the Specter King. He copsed onto the ground.


    "I can''t find an opening!" You Jiu coughed out blood.


    "Trash!" the crow king thundered.


    The Specter King suddenly seemed to grow twice as strong as before, causing Xiao Nanfeng to stumble back. Subsequently, the Specter King''s strength fell back down as it fought on equal terms with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood what was going on now. You Jiu hadn''t been targeting him, but rather the Specter King. In other words, he had understood the hidden message that Xiao Nanfeng was trying to convey.


    Rxed, Xiao Nanfeng began to fight with the Specter King more and more intensely.


    The spectators were forced back by the specters of mist. They fled, none having discovered that Xiang Kun had been surrounded by a group of specters himself. His eyes widened in fear as his body became paralyzed. His arms turned pitch-ck, and that color seemed to be spreading throughout his body. Though rmed, he was unable to make a sound. He began to despair.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng continued to learn from the Specter King''s techniques, which were moreprehensive than You Jiu''s own. Xiao Nanfeng mastered them quickly and soon began to fight on equal footing with the Specter King.


    Just then, an unexpected voice rang out, "Nanfeng, the fortune that the Red Emperor gave you isparable in extent to that owned by a number of new empires, and all you''re doing with it is learning fist techniques? What a waste!"


    "You Shi? So it was you that incited this champion into attacking me." Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell.


    Not far away, You Shi stood still. ck aura surrounded him. "What''s the use of learning fist techniques rather than formations? Specter Kings,e!"


    Beneath You Shi appeared fourrge characters denoting the four cardinal directions. They shone with radiant golden light. Suddenly, four ck figures emerged from the light, each one looking exactly like the Specter King.


    "This is..." Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "Go!" You Shimanded.


    Another four Specter Kings surrounded Xiao Nanfeng. The five Specter Kings on the field summoned thousands of specters wreathed in white mist, shocking all the spectators.


    None of them discovered that Xiang Kun, who had been surrounded by a group of such specters, had now turned pitch-ck. His eyes were rmed, his body paralyzed, as darkness consumed him.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had begun growing ustomed to fighting five Specter Kings at once. His initial seriousness had evolved into rtive ease.


    "You Shi? Is this all you''ve got? The four Specter Kings you summoned with your formation only capture the shape of the original, not its soul. They''re far weaker," Xiao Nanfeng criticized.


    He obliterated one of the Specter Kings with a punch.


    You Shi''s face darkened. "Kill him!" hemanded the summoned Specter Kings, which swiftly shot toward Xiao Nnafeng.


    With three more bangs, they were blown apart by the force of Xiao Nanfeng''s punches. Much of the mist on the battlefield dissipated, leaving the Specter King and Xiao Nanfeng.


    Momentster, the Specter King champion himself was sent flying in defeat.


    All the specters vanished. Behind the Specter King was a staircase toward the next za.


    "How could this be? He won?!" Everyone gaped in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced toward the enemy cultivators and was just about to speak when a skeletal w pierced through You Shi''s back and out his chest in a spray of blood and flesh.


    "What?" You Shi nced at his chest in consternation.


    "It''s the skeleton. It caught up!" the cultivators cried out.


    You Shi had been badly positioned and was standing right by the stairs leading up from the previous za. It was little wonder that the skeleton that had just walked up from it had killed him immediately.


    "Madam Rouge?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew rmed. Although he was confident in his own abilities, Madam Rouge had killed her way up the za Stairway as well, and her strength had to have grown by leaps and bounds. She was surely far more dangerous than You Shi.


    "W-What?" You Shi couldn''t believe that he had been attacked from the back.


    Madam Rouge''s sharp ws tore him apart. He perished on the spot, then transformed into a cloud of smoke that Madam Rouge swallowed whole.


    "Damn it! We can''t stay here any longer. We''ll die in reality if it kills us. Leave!" the crow kingmanded without any hesitation.


    The crow king, Xiang Kun, and his subordinates all departed, leaving a number of ck-armored cultivators and You Jiu behind.


    "Captain, activate the seal and send us out, quickly!" the remaining ck-armored cultivators yelled.


    Clearly, Xiang Kun''s party had two or more such seals. The officer of the team held one seal and was responsible for bringing You Jiu and the others in and out of the illusory realm.


    However, at that moment, the ck-armored cultivators'' captain was lying on the ground, twitching all over, seemingly in delirium. He waspletely unable to activate his seal.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. He guessed that these were the symptoms of possession by specters. Was this something that You Jiu had orchestrated?


    He looked toward You Jiu, who looked back at Xiao Nanfeng. The twobatants understood each other with just a nce.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave You Jiu a look. He nodded before appearing behind the ck-armored cultivators.


    "What? Are you trying to rebel, You Jiu?!" the ck-armored cultivators cried out.


    With a huge crash, the cultivators were sent flying, some of the unluckiest straight toward Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge''s ws were as quick as lightning. It transformed into a cloud of smoke, which she absorbed. Except for Capital Wu, who was still lying on the ground in delirium, the other ck-armored cultivators were all killed in the blink of an eye.


    Just then, Madam Rouge suddenly shed right before Xiao Nanfeng. The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge shed against each other.


    Back in reality, within a small valley, the crow king and a group of cultivators woke up in reality.


    "We survived! Thank goodness!" the crow king gasped.


    "Some haven''t woken up..." one cultivator murmured.


    "Hmm?"


    The cultivators looked around to see that You Jiu and the others were still deeply unconscious.


    "What are they doing? Why haven''t theye out yet?" The crow king frowned.


    The group of cultivators prodded Captain Wu''s prone body, but he remained unconscious and unable to awaken.


    "They''re dying!" one cultivator suddenly shouted.


    The unconscious cultivators began to die as blood dripped out of all their orifices, leaving only Captain Wu and You Jiu behind.


    "Young Master, something''s wrong!" the crow king reported.


    "Argh!" Xiang Kun suddenly shouted as he clutched his head.


    "Young Master? What''s wrong?" the crow king asked, stepping forward.


    "I''m alright." Xiang Kun slowly opened his eyes. However, his tone had be slightly different. With his head lowered, none could see his face. He smirked coldly. His gaze had transformed into that of another person entirely.


    "Young Master, this ck spike in your hand has transformed into copper!" the crow king remarked.


    Xiang Kun had been holding onto a dragon-quelling spike that seemed to have been pitch-ck until now, when it reverted to its original color.


    "There is no issue," Xiang Kun replied, keeping the spike.


    "ording to the historical records, this ck spike is used to break the formation sealing away a natural treasure around this location, likely the tomb of Emperor Wei. The illusory realm is far too dangerous now that the cursed effigy is around. Shall we attempt to find the entrance to the tomb?" the crow king asked.


    "There''s no rush. I''ll be entering secluded cultivation for some time. Do not disturb me," Xiang Kun warned.


    Ignoring the baffled cultivators, Xiang Kun stepped into a tent and began to meditate.


    As he stroked the dragon-quelling spike, Xiang Kun smirked. "Nanfeng, you must think that I, You Shi, have already perished to that cursed effigy. Ha!"

 Chapter 107: You Jius Request

    <h4>Chapter 107: You Jiu''s Request</h4>


    The skeleton''s ws struck Xiao Nanfeng in a burst of energy, sending him stumbling back.


    "How are you so strong? Shouldn''t your spiritual power be suppressed by the realm?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell.


    Madam Rouge ignored Xiao Nanfeng as she shed toward him, striking him with incredible force. Xiao Nanfeng was barely able to block her blows thanks to his mastery of Hegemon''s Fist.


    "It should be as strong as you are," You Jiu suddenly said from close by.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    My specter''s eyes can see that its spiritual power is on par with yours, but it''s using some technique unknown to me to augment its strength and knock you back," You Jiu continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved an arm, causing countless specters wreathed in white mist to surge toward Madam Rouge. However, she moved too rapidly for them. Any specters that asionally interacted with it quickly dissipated with a shake of its bones.


    "An advanced fist technique indeed..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Madam Rouge''s fist technique was superior to Xiao Nanfeng''s for the moment, but the difference was minimal considering Xiao Nanfeng''s recent achievement. Killing intent filled the arena. The frightening melee caused even You Jiu to stumble back.


    "What''s your situation?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    You Jiu''s eyes brightened. "They''ve kidnapped one of mypanions. Because I almost rescued her once, in an attempt to guard against me, they''ve detained her somewhere far from their camp, with crow spirits serving asmunication between the two locations. Please save mypanion, and you will have my deepest gratitude."


    "You''re an Ascension-realm cultivator?"


    "I am!" You Jiu anxiously awaited Xiao Nanfeng''s response.


    Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. You Jiu had to be a frightening force in reality, if the Spiritsong-realm crow king was so on guard even against a cultivator one full realm lower.


    "If you haven''t lied to me, I''ll do my best. On a sessful rescue, I''ll send you a signalprising three bursts of thick smoke or res."


    "Thank you," You Jiu replied gratefully.


    "You''d better leave now. It''s been too long, and they might be suspicious," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Do you need any help?" You Jiu asked. If Xiao Nanfeng were to perish to the cursed effigy, he wouldn''t be able to help him out.


    "I don''t."


    You Jiu nodded, aplicated expression on his face. He didn''t hesitate. His arms morphed into ws as he raked at his own body, sending blood sshing and exposing raw flesh. Then, You Jiu pped the spasming Captain Wu, who suddenly came to his senses.


    "We need to leave!" You Jiu cried out, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    Captain Wu, who had awoken only to see You Jiu''s terrible appearance, immediately activated the seal and sent both of them out of the illusory realm.


    Except for the still champion, only Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge were left in the za.


    Xiao Nanfeng was repeatedly pushed back and suppressed by Madam Rouge''s fist technique, but he was rapidly improving and learning from her. Whenever Madam Rouge struck, each of her bones vibrated to a different extent, causing her to generate an unusuallyrge force.


    After six hours, having been struck by Madam Rouge countless times, Xiao Nanfeng finally finished memorizing Madam Rouge''s fist technique. To learn it to the same level of mastery as she possessed, however, would require far more fortune than Xiao Nanfeng was willing to spend. His fortune had to be used to develop Hegemon''s Fist to its fullest extent, and he couldn''t squander it here.


    "Let''s end it now!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    A burst of ck light emanated from his palms and surrounded Madam Rouge, slowing down her movement as if she were mired in a swamp, until she seemed to be frozen solid.


    Xiao Nanfeng had summoned a ck lotus from his arm, which now floated above Madam Rouge''s head as it gave off ck light that formed a seal around her.


    "I will soon reach the quintessence of Hegemon''s Fist. If you had waited just a few more days, I wouldn''t have needed to use this relic¡ªbut as impatient as you were, I have no choice but to use it now."


    Madam Rouge arduously lifted her head to look at the spinning ck lotus above her. ck aura surged from her body, as though she were experiencing intense frustration.


    "Seal!" Xiao Nanfeng infused spiritual power into the ck lotus at full strength.


    Madam Rouge''s figure quivered. She seemed about to be sucked into the ck lotus without being able to do anything about it. Clearly enraged to the extreme, she mimed tearing Xiao Nanfeng apart.


    Suddenly, Madam Rouge''s bones inted as strength exploded from her.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched her in shock and dismay. "What are you doing?!"


    Just then, the skies rumbled. The outline of a giant copper spike in the air shed into existence, as though triggered by Madam Rouge''s burgeoning energy, in an attempt to suppress her.


    With a huge boom, Madam Rouge self-destructed.


    The huge explosion formed waves that sent Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus flying. He crashed against the nearby za. The ck lotus revolved around him, protecting his body.


    Madam Rouge had vanished, having exploded into a pile of smoke that dissipated in the air.


    The dragon-quelling spike, no longer sensing Madam Rouge''s aura, likewise disappeared from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood up and looked all around himself, but Madam Rouge was nowhere to be seen. "Did she self-destruct? Is she dead?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. His master had once warned him that cursed effigies wouldn''t be able to die. In other words, Madam Rouge was sacrificing her body in order to escape.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the ck lotus in his palm. "Madam Rouge would rather self-destruct than be sucked into this ck lotus? Is she that scared of this relic?"


    Xiao Nanfeng grew even more curious about the mysteries of the ck lotus. He stored it once again, calmed himself down, and stepped up onto the next za. He was going to continue ascending the stairway.


    Madam Rouge''s sudden growth in strength made him feel a pressing sense of danger. He had the premonition that, the next time he saw her, she would have be even more dangerous.


    Back in reality, in the ck-armored cultivators'' tents, You Jiu and Captain Wu suddenly woke up.


    "Crow King, they''re awake!" a cultivator quickly called out.


    The crow king instantly appeared before them. "What took you both so long?"


    "I don''t know. I seem to have been possessed by those white-mist specters, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, I saw that You Jiu was critically injured, slumping before me while vomiting blood," Captain Wu reported.


    You Jiu immediately added, "Captain Wu was knocked unconscious by Nanfeng''s white-mist specters. The cursed effigy was chasing after us, having killed everyone else. I almost died to the cursed effigy. As I left, I saw Nanfeng getting chased by it. It was far too strong! I barely managed to resuscitate Captain Wu and flee."


    The crow king narrowed its eyes at You Jiu. "Don''t mess with me."


    You Jiu''s face was cold. "You''ve sealed my cultivation. What would I be able to do?"


    "You''re exceptionally dangerous, and you almost wounded me in the past. I can''t treat you lightly. I''ll impose another seal on your body," the crow king informed him. A huge quantity of red light surged from the crow king''s ws and into You Jiu''s body. You Jiu shrieked in pain. The red light had made it difficult for him to even move.


    "Chain him up and watch over him!" the crow kingmanded.


    "Yessir!" a group of ck-armored cultivators quickly escorted You Jiu away.


    Just then, Xiang Kun emerged from a tent¡ªno, he had been possessed by You Shi.


    "Young Master, we''d better not enter the illusory realm while the cursed effigy is on the loose. Shall we try to find Emperor Wei''s tomb first?" the crow king asked.


    "Emperor Wei''s tomb is within that mountain. Keep guard over here. I''ll take a few men in to have a look myself."


    The crow king was a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, and You Shi was worried that it would notice that something was amiss if it remained by his side.


    "Very well. If the serpent were to notice that I''ve recovered from my injuries, it would surely force me to the divine domain at once. Be careful, Young Master," the crow king replied.


    You Shi nodded, then left with a small group of his subordinates.

 Chapter 108: Quintessence of Hegemons Fist

    <h4>Chapter 108: Quintessence of Hegemon''s Fist</h4>


    The champions of the final few zas all boasted fist techniques of immense strength, and Xiao Nanfeng spent a total of two days getting past them.


    At this moment, he was standing in thest za, his eyes closed as he reflected on what he had learned to date. Rays of golden light poured out of his body, and a thousand arms sprouted amidst the light. Each arm moved independently of the others, sketching out a fragment of the manifold techniques that Xiao Nanfeng had now mastered. The thousand palms gave off intense pressure.


    Not only had Xiao Nanfeng managed to master all hundred and eight fist techniques, he had even coalesced all that understanding into the quintessence of Hegemon''s Fist.


    "We are pleased by your mastery of Hegemon''s Fist." A booming voice rang out by Xiao Nanfeng''s ear.


    Xiao Nanfeng reined in his spiritual power. The thousand arms bathed in golden light ovepped and condensed into his two physical arms. As the golden light receded, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes.


    Before him stood a man dressed in a dragon''s robe, with a crown on his head¡ªEmperor Wei. The emperor gave off an aura of tremendous majesty.


    "Thank you for imparting your fist technique to me, Your Majesty. Please give me a moment. An old acquaintance of yours has been waiting to be reunited with you. Allow me to lead her in." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply, then vanished in a cloud of smoke. Within moments, he had returned with the Red Emperor by his side.


    The Red Emperor''s body suddenly grew taut with tension as her eyes turned wet.


    "Hong''er?" Emperor Wei couldn''t suppress his delight. [1]


    The Red Emperor took a few tentative steps forward. She caressed Emperor Wei''s face, her voice choked with emotion. "Remnant that you be, do you still remember me?"


    "You are part of my every thought," Emperor Wei replied warmly. The two figures embraced each other, sharing a long moment of affectionate silence.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited patiently, standing not too far away.


    The Red Emperor seemed to have far too much that she wanted to convey to Emperor Wei, but at that moment, caught tightly in his embrace, it felt as though words were entirely unnecessary.


    The two reluctantly separated from each other after prolonged contact, but even as they drew apart, the Red Emperor held firmly onto his hand, refusing to let go.


    "This is Nanfeng, who has mastered your Hegemon''s Fist. You need not make further assessment of his nature. Blue Lantern has already left with Bai Ruoyi''s truesoul, and he mighte for mine at any moment. He might evene up with an excuse to take all your possessions for himself. Nanfeng helped Bai Ruoyi maintain her dignity to herst, and he gave me the power to confidently reject Blue Lantern''s offer of assistance. I did not need to give up my pride or mysting regrets to beg for his help. Give him your inheritance. Don''t leave anything for Blue Lantern," the Red Emperor implored.


    Emperor Wei was silent for long moments before he nodded. "As you will, my consort."


    A golden ball of light manifested in Emperor Wei''s palm, arge engraved seal slowly revolving within it.


    "Nanfeng, take this Seal of Great Wei and head to my consort''s tomb. His entire inheritance is there, and only with this seal can you im it," the Red Emperor told him seriously.


    "Thank you, Your Majesties!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply to both esteemed figures. Then, he solemnly imed the golden ball of light, which he absorbed into his mindscape. It floated above his sterke.


    "Your Majesty, while ascending the za Stairway, I encountered You Shi yet again. Although he was killed by the cursed effigy I brought in with me, I''m afraid that he might still have other spiritual avatars around." Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened.


    "Consort, will you hand over control of this realm to me?" the Red Emperor asked Emperor Wei.


    "Of course." Emperor Wei didn''t hesitate at all.


    A burst of blue light shot out of Emperor Wei''s body and into the Red Emperor''s.


    Emperor Wei suddenly turned much more transparent than before. Clearly, what he had done had cost him. Meanwhile, the Red Emperor glowed with blue light. A dragon-quelling spike materialized in the air above her, resonating with the energy she now gave off.


    With a wave of the Red Emperor''s hand, the remaining nine champions transformed into a cloud of mist that gathered around Emperor Wei. The champions had been formed with his spiritual energy, and could naturally now replenish his expenditure.


    With another wave of the Red Emperor''s hands, the dragon-quelling spike in the air began to release pulses of blue light that encapsted the world. The light quickly vanished.


    "I have confirmed that You Shi retains no spiritual avatars in this realm," the Red Emperor stated.


    "I understand, Your Majesty." Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a frown.


    He hade up with another hypothesis, but he didn''t want to waste more of the Red Emperor''s time, so he said nothing.


    "I won''t be leaving. The dragon-quelling spike which I made my residence still possesses a measure of my consort''s energy, which you can activate and shoot out with spiritual energy. You are intimately familiar with how strong it is. Come to my consort''s tomb along with Yu''er. I''ve already told her where it''s located," the Red Emperor continued.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Go, then." The Red Emperor''s expression was calm and cid.


    She stood by Emperor Wei''s side in a moment of unadulterated peace.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply to both members of royalty before his body dissipated in a cloud of mist. He awoke in reality.


    Yu''er hurriedly stepped forward. "What happened, Nanfeng? Where''s my master?"


    Xiao Nanfeng ryed what had happened within thest few minutes. Yu''er sighed. "If only Emperor Wei and the others were still alive..."


    "Senior Sister, thank you for working hard to guard me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "There''s no need to stand on formalities with me. Furthermore, over thest few days, Master has been imparting me with all the techniques she knows. I''ve been doing quite a bit of work, and I''m now at the fifth stage of Ascension." Yu''er puffed out her chest proudly.


    "Are you still feeling ufortable?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, ncing at her worriedly.


    When Empress Bai Ruoyi passed on all her techniques to the Lady Arclight, she had developed a splitting headache that she wouldn''t be able to recover from for a month. Surely the Red Emperor''s inheritance was no less inferior than Empress Bai''s?


    "Don''tpare me to the Lady Arclight. I bear fortune," Yu''er replied proudly.


    "You really are strong, Senior Sister," Xiao Nanfeng praised. Yu''er''s sixth sense was far too developed. How could she have guessed whom he was thinking of?


    "I''ll reach Spiritsong in no time. At that point, please address me as Lady Yu''er."


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "You really are strong, Lady Yu''er."


    "That''s not bad." Yu''er''s eyes lit up with satisfaction. For some reason, she felt a need topete against the Lady Arclight.


    "We need to head to Emperor Wei''s tomb as quickly as possible. I wonder if the serpent is already standing guard there? We have to have a look. On our way back, we''ll see if You Jiu was lying to me," Xiao Nanfeng nned.


    "Who''s You Jiu?" Yu''er asked in confusion.


    As the two cultivators moved aside the rock blocking the entrance to the cave, Xiao Nanfeng exined to Yu''er what had happened there. Yu''er roared in outrage. "Xiang Kun really doesn''t have a trace of humanity in him!"


    The two cultivators left the mountain cave and headed toward the peak within which Emperor Wei''s tomb was. Suddenly, a blizzardunched at the mountain''s peak struck near the foot of the mountain.


    "Haven''t you heard me? All those who attempt to approach will be shot and killed! There are only a few of you. How dare you attempt to sneak your way in?" the serpent howled as it dove down into a valley.


    The two cultivators sighed. Although they didn''t know who had incited the serpent''s assault, it was clear that the serpent had no intention of allowing others to approach the peak.


    The two cultivators had no choice but to avoid the mountain as they strategized. They found that the crow spirits were streaming back into two locations of the valley. One was the ck-armored cultivators'' camp; the other had to be what You Jiu had mentioned.


    There was a cave within the valley, filled with patrolling guards. While one of them went to relieve himself, Xiao Nanfeng, dressed in ck suddenly appeared behind him and knocked him unconscious. Xiao Nanfeng dragged him to a secluded location outside the valley and began interrogating him, confirming that what You Jiu had described to him was, in fact, the truth.


    "There''s only a single Ascension-realm ck-armored cultivator by that cave. I''ll handle him. The other ten at Immanence, I''ll leave to you," Yu''er volunteered.


    "Got it. There are still a few crow spirits patrolling by the cave, and I promised You Jiu that I''d rescue his sweetheart. Just in case they attempt to harm hispanion, I think you should change into the ck armor as well."


    "Alright!"


    After some preparation, the two cultivators emerged with ck armor. They lowered their heads so that the crow spirits nearby wouldn''t notice anything amiss. Only when they were close to the mouth of the cave did a patrolling guard notice that they seemed unfamiliar.


    "Who are you?" he questioned.


    The other guards by the cave looked over, but by then, the two cultivators were so close that they couldn''t alert anyone even if they wanted to.


    Yu''er rushed deep within the cave, while Xiao Nanfeng stood by its mouth. His Immortal Cicada shed, beheading a significant number of the guards.


    The crow spirits shrieked as Xiao Nanfeng followed Yu''er into the cave.


    A huge bang could be heard from within. The Ascension-realm cultivator had taken up arms against Yu''er, but he was weaker and had been sent crashing against the wall of the cave.


    "They must be here for that woman. Quick, take her hostage!" the Ascension-realm cultivator shouted as he vomited blood.


    The other ck-armored cultivators in the cave all rushed toward the woman in a corner of the cave, but Xiao Nanfeng cut them all down with his Immortal Cicada. They perished on the spot.


    At the same time, Yu''er struck the Ascension-realm cultivator once more.


    "No!" the man screamed shrilly. He died right then and there. All the ck-armored cultivators had fallen. Only then did the crow spirits arrive to investigate themotion.


    "Kill them!" The two cultivators quickly eliminated all the crow spirits that had flown into the cave.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er rushed out, startling the crow spirits outside. They fled, intending to raise an rm.


    "Immortal Cicada, go!" both cultivators shouted.


    Swathes of crow spirits were cut down with every cleave from the two flying swords. One golden crow spirit swooped down, intending to hold the two of them off, only to be struck by their Immortal Cicadas. Its feathers fell out, and blood stained its heavily wounded body. It turned to flee in fear.


    The two cultivators rushed back into the cave, where they found that the female hostage was unconscious. Her body was ice-cold, and she was terribly weak.


    There was no time to waste. Yu''er cradled the unconscious woman as the two cultivators ran away from the cave. Xiao Nanfeng had prepared three res in advance, which he now lit up to send three clouds of ck smoke into the air.


    1. ºì (''hong'') for red, as in Red Emperor. ¶ù (''er'') is amon diminutive added to a person''s name to signify affection. Consider the English equivalent John ¡ú Johnny. ?

 Chapter 109: Beheading the Crow King

    <h4>Chapter 109: Beheading the Crow King</h4>


    You Jiu''s cultivation had been sealed by the crow king, and his physical body had been chained. He sat quietly by a corner of his tent. Two days went by in rtive peace, and he couldn''t help but feel anxious.


    Just then, three clouds of ck smoke were sent into the air from afar. The sudden phenomenon caused the gathered ck-armored cultivators to grow alert.


    At the same time, a group of crow spirits fled back to the camp, a golden crow spirit among them seemingly heavily wounded and bleeding all over. They cawed loudly, summoning the crow king.


    "What''s the matter?" the crow king asked, frowning.


    The wounded golden crow quickly recounted what had happened at the cave.


    "Nanfeng? Didn''t he die to that cursed effigy? And Yu''er? They still dare show themselves? Did they encounter you all by coincidence? Very good, very good. I won''t let them get away this time!" The crow king soared into the air, heading straight for the other valley.


    A group of crow spirits apanied their king in an imposing retinue, serving as scouts to prevent Xiao Nanfeng from hiding.


    You Jiu''s eyes lit up. It was clear that Xiao Nanfeng had seeded. He took a deep breath; then, his whole body trembled. With a few dull clinks and nks, You Jiu freed himself of his seals with a secret technique.


    "What are you doing?" one ck-armored guard shouted, noticing the disturbance. He turned to see You Jiu stand straight up, the chains binding him having fallen to the ground. You Jiu was free!


    "You Jiu''s going to run!" the ck-armored guard shouted in fear.


    You Jiu shed to his side, thrust a finger through the center of his forehead, and snatched his weapon away.


    "Catch him! No, dy him! Quick, inform the crow king immediately!" one cultivator shouted.


    You Jiu''s eyes shed with frost. He shed from one cultivator to another. Screams filled the forest. You Jiu''s suffering and resentment from his captivity transformed into explosive force. At that moment, he seemed the very personification of death.


    The crow king rushed to the mountain cave where Xiao Nanfeng had been, but he and Yu''er had long since vanished.


    A few crow spirits that had remained by the cave immediately reported all that had happened.


    "You useless pieces of trash! Did you just watch Xiao Nanfeng flee into the forest without doing anything?" the crow king thundered.


    The crows squawked and cawed in grievance. They were too fearful of the Immortal Cicadas to give chase, and had lost track of Xiao Nanfeng as a result.


    The crow king stared at the three smoking clumps of wet grass. It suddenly grew rmed. "Did Nanfeng release these plumes of smoke?"


    The crow spirits nodded immediately.


    "He kidnapped You Jiu''s sweetheart and even sent a signal with these res. Could he be in cahoots with You Jiu? Damn it!" The crow king reacted instantly, taking to the skies again and heading straight back to base camp, where You Jiu was located.


    "You Jiu, you''re dead meat now! I was wondering just why you spent so long in the illusory realm¡ªso it was to broker an alliance with that bastard! Damn it!" the crow king thundered in rage.


    It flew quickly back to camp, but by the time he had returned, all the ck-armored cultivators, nearly two hundred of them in all, had perished. Corpses were strewn all over; the camp had be like hell itself.


    The crow king was shocked. It had left for just a moment. How could You Jiu have killed them all so quickly? How was that possible? Even though the few Ascension-realm cultivators had left with the young master, even if all the ck-armored cultivators remaining were only at Immanence, he shouldn''t have been able to do so this fast! Were there no survivors?


    Not only that, the crow spirits that hadn''t left the camp were all killed. The ground full of corpses and carcasses left the crow king shaking.


    Suddenly, from a pile of carcasses nearby, one crow spirit seemed to p its wings.


    The crow king rushed over, but just as it was about to approach, a de shot out from within a stack of bodies, straight toward the crow king.


    "You dare!" The crow king swiped at the de in outrage, shattering it. Countless white-mist specters emerged from all around, surging into the crow king''s body.


    The crow king roared in shock and fear. It hadn''t realized that this was a trap that You Jiu had carefullyid for it. It had fallen into his clutches! A ck figure rushed toward it.


    Sweat drenched the crow king. The touch of the white-mist specters affected its control over its spiritual qi, but even so, it was a Spiritsong-realm cultivator. With what qi it could control, it quickly formed a barrier around its body.


    The ck figure sent a white-mist specter passing through the crow king''s barrier of spiritual qi. The specter was holding onto a long de, which pierced into the crow king''s chest.


    "I''ll kill you!" the crow king thundered in outrage.


    Countless mes surged forth from its body, knocking the ck figure away. The ck figure scampered into the forest as the crow king chased after him, wings outspread. A long de was stuck into its chest, and fresh blood seeped from it. It had almost been dealt a lethal blow by the ck figure.


    It was obvious that the ck figure was You Jiu.


    "You Jiu? Damn it! You have to die today!" the crow king shouted.


    The crow king was simultaneously enraged and terrified. You Jiu''s assassination techniques were extraordinarily fearsome. If it were to leave him be, the young master would certainly perish, and the crow king could well be beheaded for such an oue.


    As it saw the ck figure flit through the forest, the crow king gave chase. It spat out a torrent of me, burning everything in the vicinity to ash. Billowing smoke filled the air, and even the ordinary crow spirits were repulsed by the dense smoke.


    Fire and smoke filled the valley as cultivator fought against spirit.


    Four hourster, the fight was over. You Jiu was, ultimately, restricted by his cultivation. He fell to the ground, heavily wounded and bloodied all over, unable to muster any further resistance. The crow king stood before him, victorious but barely so.


    There were no fewer than ten des stuck into the crow king''s body, and much of its feathers had been torn off or blown apart. It too was covered in blood.


    "You Jiu? You''re the first cultivator to have forced me to such dire straits in Ascension-realm. You damn bastard, you''ll die here and now!" the crow king shouted.


    "Almost. If that de had been just a little to the side, I would have torn apart your heart!" You Jiu coughed weakly.


    "If not for those strange white-mist specters, you wouldn''t even have been able to break through my defenses. Die, bastard!" The crow king swiped at You Jiu with its sharp ws.


    Just then, however, all its feathers stood on end. It could sense a tremendous threat enveloping its body, and it instinctively protected itself with its remaining spiritual qi.


    A huge golden sh struck the crow king''s wing, causing it to scream in pain. Yu''er had appeared out of nowhere wielding the Immortal Cicada, tearing apart the crow king''s barrier of spiritual qi and slicing half its wing off.


    "You damn brat! Die!" the crow king howled. It swiped its sharp ws at Yu''er, gritting its teeth against the pain. She defended with her Immortal Cicada.


    The ws broke through her qi and struck the body of the Immortal Cicada, causing it to shatter.


    "What?!" Yu''er gasped. The ws'' momentum continued undiminished, and they sent Yu''er stumbling back.


    Just as the crow king was about to continue its assault, a beam of golden energy pierced through its skull, causing its head to explode in a shower of blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng had unleashed the energy within another dragon-quelling spike, sessfully killing the crow king while Yu''er distracted it.


    Before the crow king perished, it turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. Even in death, it couldn''t believe that he had killed it. Its eyes widened, capturing Xiao Nanfeng''s visage as it fell in a pool of its own blood.


    "How are you, Senior Sister?!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed forward.


    "I''m alright, but my Immortal Cicada has been shattered," Yu''er replied, an aggrieved look on her face.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.


    Suddenly, the crow spirits all over began to squawk and caw in panic, none of them able to believe that the crow king would die so suddenly. They didn''t know what to do next.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada rose into the air and took down huge swathes of the crow spirits. There were two more golden crow spirits among their number, but they were so shocked that they didn''t dare attack. Rather, they flew off in fear.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng turn to You Jiu, who had copsed in a pool of blood. He frowned. "Didn''t you see my signal? Why did you start fighting against the crow king?"


    "Right! If I hadn''te to save you, my Immortal Cicada wouldn''t have been destroyed, either!" Yu''er''s cheeks puffed up in exasperation.


    You Jiuy weakly in his blood with a wry smile on his face. "I once sessfully assassinated a Spiritsong-realm n head. I underestimated the crow king''s strength."


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised. Was You Jiu that skilled at assassination?


    "How''s mypanion? Ahem, ahem!" You Jiu coughed out even more blood.


    "We saved her, but she''s currently unconscious. Let''s leave this ce for now in case the serpent appears," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Let''s," You Jiu replied.


    On the mountain peak where Emperor Wei''s tomb was located, the serpent looked afar at the crow spirits'' valley, which was being ravaged by a firestorm. Even after four hours, it hadn''t gone to investigate¡ªnot because it didn''t want to, but because it couldn''t. The serpent had been bound to the ground with several chains of energy. It was unable to move; it looked around in shock.


    "Xiang Kun? You? How could you be able to manipte the formationsid out over this mountain peak? That''s impossible!" the serpent cried out.


    "You were here to absorb spiritual power, while I was there breaking a formation. We could have each aplished our own goals¡ªso why were you trying to stop me? Do you want to die?" You Shi asked coldly.


    The serpent was frightened. From Xiang Kun''s gaze, it could sense an utterck ofpassion, as though Xiang Kun were really willing to kill it¡ªall while it was unable to resist.


    "Xiang Kun, no, Sir Xiang, I didn''t mean anything by it! Please forgive me. I''ll do anything you want, anything!" The serpent immediately cowered in fear.


    "Young Master, you really are amazing to be able to manipte all these formations with your artifact! This serpent forced the marquis to give it countless treasures. You must be about to reim them!" one ck-armored cultivator cried out.


    "I''ll hand it all back, all of it! I hid the treasure in a secret location. I''ll bring you all there," the serpent offered.


    You Shi nced coldly at the serpent. If not for the fact that he wanted to take advantage of the ck-armored cultivators and not reveal his identity, he would already have killed the serpent.


    "Very well. Detain it here. We''ll deal with it on the way back. Let''s keep working on the formation," You Shimanded.


    "Yessir!" the ck-armored cultivators chorused.


    The group of cultivators departed, leaving the serpent shaking with fear.


    "What''s going on? I''m supposed to be an envoy of the divine domain, invible and profoundly powerful! How could I have been insulted and snubbed in turn by that damn champion-killing brat, that cursed effigy, and even Xiang Kun? Am I dreaming? This can''t be happening!" The serpent mmed its head against the ground, as though attempting to wake from a dream.

 Chapter 110: Ten-Year Guard

    <h4>Chapter 110: Ten-Year Guard</h4>


    The three cultivators headed to another mountain valley, where they had temporarily deposited You Jiu''spanion.


    "She was like this when we rescued her," Xiao Nnafeng exined.


    You Jiu''spanion was unconscious, icy-cold all over and in a severely weakened state.


    You Jiu clutched his wounds as he rushed over.


    "Thank goodness she''s still alive." You Jiu sighed in relief.


    He seemed to have guessed that hispanion would have been in such a state, and wasn''t unduly concerned. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng and gave him a deep bow. "Thank you, sir. I am yours tomand."


    "In that case, I''ll cut to the chase. You Jiu, I need a bodyguard, and I''d like to request that you take on that role for a ten-year stint. Will you ept?"


    You Jiu gave Xiao Nanfeng a doubtful look. For hispanion''s safety, that was a wholly reasonable price to pay, but... <i>Does he know anything about me? How can he be willing to make me his bodyguard even though we just met this very day?</i>


    "Ten years? I will ept, Sir, but will need some time to settle my affairs before I may depart," You Jiu replied.


    "Naturally. I could never have brokered such a deal if not for the circumstances at y," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    It was true that Xiao Nanfeng knew little about You Jiu, but he had saved both his life and that of hispanion. He was rightly deserving of repayment, and this was his best option at the moment. The fact that You Jiu was willing to obey Xiang Kun to such an extent for the fate of hispanion meant at least that he was someone who was loyal and faithful.


    "You are well within reason to do so, Sir. If I might make another request, however..." You Jiu nced hopefully at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What is it?"


    "The reason I struck at the crow king wasn''t just because of the grudge I bore it, but also because I wanted its inner core. Mypanion is unconscious because she suffers from an unusual frost-based terminal illness, the effects of which can only be ameliorated by treasures of pure yang. The inner core of the crow king is one such. I would like to im the crow king''s inner core, Sir, and am willing to double the duration of my service to do so," You Jiu pleaded.


    "No wonder you fought so intensely..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Just then, the ground rumbled.


    You Jiu hurriedly shielded his unconsciouspanion, gritting his teeth despite the pain wracking his body. The rumble continued for quite some time before btedly stopping.


    "It''s the mountain where Emperor Wei''s tomb is located. Could something be wrong?" Yu''er nced toward the mountain with worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "We must head there immediately."


    Yu''er nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to You Jiu. "I was intending to use the crow king''s inner core to advance my cultivation, but yourpanion''s illness should take priority. You may have it as part of your fee, tendered in advance¡ªI don''t need any additional service on your part."


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the crow king''s carcass, quickly pulled out a resplendent inner core from it, and handed it to You Jiu.


    You Jiu was aware that Xiao Nanfeng was attempting to buy his loyalty with this precious gift, but even so, he was touched by his new employer''s gesture.


    "Worry not, Sir. I won''t disappoint you," You Jiu vowed.


    "In that case, take some time to rest and recuperate. I''lle back for youter," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Sir, have you received Emperor Wei''s inheritance?" You Jiu continued.


    "Hmm?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at You Jiu.


    "Considering your skill, Sir, I suspect you have seeded. I have critical information for you. Sir, you must im the Seal of Great Wei. If you can sessfully gainmand over the empire of Great Wei, the entirety of the humans'' domain shall also belong to you."


    "The entirety of the humans'' domain?" Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise.


    You Jiu nodded. "I cannot tell you more information, Sir, or I will be divulging the secrets of the organization to which I belong. If you can im the Seal of Great Wei and truly be the sessor of Emperor Wei, however, I will reveal everything to you then."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He left with Yu''er, confident that You Jiu would be able to protect himself even in his critically weakened state.


    The two cultivators darted through the forest.


    "You Jiu promised to guard you for double the duration. Why would you be against it? That was an inner core of a Spiritsong-realm spirit king! You just gave it to him for nothing?" Yu''er asked, frowning.


    "Who knows if he''ll even guard me for ten years? It''s far too early to be thinking about an extension. A promise like this is worthless, even if he pledges to protect me for ten times the duration. Furthermore, I think that something may have gone wrong with Emperor Wei''s tomb, and I would hardly be able to focus on cultivation for the moment. Rather than allowing the inner core''s essence to dissipate, why not do him this favor?" Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Will he really protect you for ten years?" Yu''er asked with some concern.


    "I don''t know. We''ll see, I suppose."


    "If he dares break his promise, I''ll teach you a lesson on his behalf!" Yu''er clenched her fists tightly, her eyes shining with confidence.


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "If that really is the case, I''ll have to rely on you." His face turned serious. "Something''s wrong. The serpent should have shown itself by now after such arge disturbance."


    "Could it have caused the earthquake just now?" Yu''er wondered.


    "We need to be careful," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Yu''er nodded.


    The two of them rushed straight toward the mountain, but they saw no trace of the serpent along the way.


    "This shouldn''t be the case... Master told me that there should be a misdirection array by the entrance. How could it have vanished?" Yu''er wondered.


    There was an extremely visible cave by the foot of the mountain.


    "Is that the entrance to Emperor Wei''s tomb?" Xiao Nanfeng asked Yu''er.


    "That''s right, but where have all the arrays and formations gone? Master said that this formation was particrly powerful, that You Shi himselfid it the year it was created. Even an ordinary Immortal would have a hard time dispelling it..." Yu''er''s frown deepened.


    "Let''s go in and have a look." Xiao Nanfeng was growing increasingly worried that there would be something wrong with the Seal of Great Wei.


    "There are plenty of formations in the cavern. Follow me. I know how to avoid them." Yu''er took the lead.


    The two cultivators unsheathed their weapons and walked carefully into the cavern. The cavern stretched for a long distance, and there were many branching paths ahead of them. Yu''er had been tutored by the Red Emperor herself, and she knew the route ahead.


    "Someone''s dispelled all the arrays along the way..." Yu''er murmured.


    The two cultivators walked deeper and deeper through the tunnels leading from the cavern. Not too longter, they heard a noiseing from the other end. They stered themselves by the walls of the tunnel as they slowly inched forward.


    The other end of the tunnel led to anotherrge cave, three hundred meters in diameter. In the air was a light source illuminating it, a remnant of some formation or another. Embedded deep in the cave was a huge pair of copper doors engraved with draconic patterns. Six figures stood before the copper doors: Xiang Kun and five ck-armored cultivators.


    "Young Master, we can''t open these doors!"


    "Young Master, don''t you have a formation-breaking artifact? You managed to dispel so many formations on the way here. Can you open this pair of doors too?"


    The five ck-armored cultivators gathered around Xiang Kun as he inspected the doors carefully.


    "Who is it?" one of the ck-armored cultivators suddenly shouted.


    Everyone looked toward the entrance to the tunnel, where a bolt of golden light was headed straight for the six figures.


    "Be careful!"


    The golden light moved so rapidly that the cultivators couldn''t dodge in time. It arrived before Xiang Kun, who made an abortive gesture and managed to get his body out of the way, but his legs were blown off in the resulting explosion.


    "Argh!" Xiang Kun gasped in pain.


    "Young Master!" The ck-armored cultivators ran to help him even as they stared warily at the entrance to the cave, only to see Yu''er and Nanfeng slowly walk out.


    "Nanfeng, this is the final dragon-quelling spike with the power of Emperor Wei imbued in it! We''re still so far away¡ªyou were all but guaranteed to miss. Why did you use it then and there?" Yu''er seemed perplexed.


    The beam attack was as strong as a single blow from a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, and it could easily kill a group of Ascension-realm ones if used properly. It was rather a waste for him to have used it just to destroy Xiang Kun''s legs.


    "I was hoping that the preemptive strike would deal You Shi a lethal blow while he was still acting in an attempt to trick me. Once he''s on his guard, this attack might not have had any effect. It''s a pity that I only managed to destroy his legs rather than kill him outright." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "You Shi? Isn''t that Xiang Kun? What acting?" Yu''er was stunned.


    The five ck-armored cultivators were equally perplexed. What nonsense was Xiao Nanfeng talking about?


    At that point, Xiang Kun stopped letting out pained cries. His face spasmed. "How did you discover my identity?"


    "What?" The five ck-armored cultivators nched as they stepped away from their ''young master''.


    "You perished too quickly at the cursed effigy''s hands. Furthermore, I was fighting against the Specter King, and I could see all his white-mist specters," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "You¡ª" You Shi nched. He had hidden Xiang Kun from sight with white-mist specters when he possessed him. He thought that he had pulled it off perfectly, but Xiao Nanfeng had discovered what he was doing far in advance!


    "If I''m not mistaken, the reason you didn''t open this pair of doors was because you were waiting for me, hoping to mislead me with your newfound identity," Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    "Ha! So what if that''s the case? Will you be able to leave?" You Shi called out. He was feeling rather upset¡ªhe had nned a great deception, only for Xiao Nanfeng to nip it in the bud.


    "Nanfeng, something''s wrong with the aura around here. We had better leave!" Yu''er cried out, feeling a great sense of danger envelop her.


    "We can''t. If I''m not wrong, You Shi has co-opted, rather than dispelled, the formations in this area," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    Suddenly, the tunnel from which they had entered roiled with ck smoke that seeped into the tunnel and surrounded everyone.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell. He shouted at the five ck-armored cultivators, "He''s not Xiang Kun. Xiang Kun''s already dead¡ªhe possessed him! What are all of you doing, staying so close to a man like that? Do you want to die?!"


    The five ck-armored cultivators, stunned, quickly ran from You Shi.


    Within moments, there was a clear line of sight between You Shi and Xiao Nanfeng. With his legs gone, it was difficult for You Shi to move. Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada shot forward in a beam of light, straight toward You Shi.

 Chapter 111: When It Rains, It Pours

    <h4>Chapter 111: When It Rains, It Pours</h4>


    Xiang Kun, whom You Shi had possessed, was only an Ascension-realm cultivator. Without any subordinates around and with both his legs broken, he could hardly avoid blows from Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada.


    The Immortal Cicada shed precisely at You Shi''s head. Part of the energy was absorbed by his qi barrier, but the remainder created a deep wound in his head that spurted out blood.


    However, You Shi somehow managed to trap the Immortal Cicada in ce in Xiang Kun''s body


    "He''s still alive. Let me have a go at him!" Yu''er drew her sword and made to rush over.


    Xiao Nanfeng held her back. "Don''t. It''s dangerous!"


    You Shi suddenly self-destructed. A wave of energy surged toward everyone. Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal Cicada, caught in the epicenter, shattered.


    "Is he crazy?!" All the cultivators were sent flying by the explosion.


    "Is hemitting suicide?!" Yu''er cried out.


    "He''s not dead. He''s simply forfeiting Xiang Kun''s physical body, and ruining my Immortal Cicada along with it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    ck wind swirled within the cave. The blood mist into which You Shi had exploded reformed as a bloody outline of a person, almost like a sinister avatar.


    "Nanfeng, just how many of my ns have you ruined in such a short period of time? Even the formation that Iid out here won''t have much of an effect because I''ve lost my physical body. You really are my nemesis, aren''t you?" You Shi''s voice was wrathful.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the five ck-armored cultivators. "Did you see that? He killed your young master. He''s the enemy here¡ªyours and mine alike. We might have a grudge against each other, but we can table that forter. What we need to do now is live on by working together to defeat him. Otherwise, we''re all dead!"


    The five ck-armored cultivators frowned, but they eventually all nodded, understanding the severity of the situation. They drew their des and pointed them toward You Shi.


    The five cultivators all rushed toward You Shi simultaneously.


    "You five fools¡ªI left you all alive so you could help cover up my identity, but I don''t need you anymore. I set up my formation around you, so your bodies are now under my control. Do you still think you can go against me? Die!" You Shi shouted.


    The five ck-armored cultivators instantly exploded and formed five clouds of bloody mist that surrounded You Shi.


    "Is this the power of formations? To have killed five Ascension-realm cultivators instantly..." Yu''er cried out.


    "Well? Nanfeng, what other tactics do you n to use against me?" You Shiughed coldly.


    "Were you deliberately waiting here for me? You knew I was going toe?" Xiao Nanfeng called back.


    "The Red Emperor herself was assisting you, so I''m sure you would have been able to gain his approval. Emperor Wei must have given you the key to his inheritance."


    "You knew?"


    "I was the architect of these tombs. Wouldn''t I know what they contain? The Seal of Great Wei within this cave can''t be retrieved without the approval of Emperor Wei. Well? Take out the proof of approval, or I''ll have to wrest it from you," You Shi threatened.


    With a wave of You Shi''s hand, the mist of blood shot toward Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    Yu''er struck with her sword, but her technique passed straight through the mist without being able to interact with it.


    "These five clouds of mist¡ªthey''re ethereal?!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Superior yin frost!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Arge quantity of superior yin frost surged out from his mindscape, forming a wall of ice that blocked the blood mist''s advance and freezing them solid.


    "There really is something wrong about you. I was right to be this cautious."


    You Shi waved an arm, activating the formation. ck wind gusted out from all around them, heading straight for the five clouds of blood mist. The mist radiated red light as though it had suddenly grown far stronger. It melted the superior yin frost and continued heading straight for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Yu''er retrieved her Godbane Flute and began to y. Five blue phoenixesposed of spiritual power shot out from her mindscape and toward the five clouds of mist, scattering them.


    "Is this blood mist a form of spiritual avatar?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "The flute is a relic, but she''s too weak to take advantage of its true strength. These phoenixes are going to copse at any moment. My formation provides me with an inexhaustible supply of spiritual power, and I''ll have limitless strength. No one will be able to rescue you now, haha!"


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng stepped toward the five clouds of blood mist.


    "Nanfeng, it''s dangerous. Don''t go!" Yu''er fretted.


    With her attention diverted, however, the phoenixes began to fuzz away. She hurriedly continued ying the flute.


    "I''d like to try it. These clouds of blood mist might be easier to get rid of than you''d think," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    He extended his left palm at a cloud of blood mist.


    "My blood soldiers have even trapped and killed Immortals in the past! What could you do against them?" You Shi sneered disdainfully.


    "Store!" Xiao Nanfeng activated his storage ring, which began to glow with umbral light.


    "Ha, haha! Nanfeng, are you crazy? Don''t you know that storage treasures only store non-living objects? No spiritual avatar could ever be kept in one. Did you really think such a foolish idea would work?" You Shi roared inughter.


    Just then, however, a bestial roar came from Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring.


    The roar was a spiritual attack that struck the soul. Yu''er''s spiritual phoenixes dissipated under its might, whereas the clouds of blood mist that the phoenixes had been holding back were sucked toward the ring.


    "What? I can''t control that blood soldier anymore. What do you have in your storage ring?!" You Shi cried out.


    He hurriedly activated the formation he had been working on to infuse tremendous strength into his blood soldiers. They grewrger andrger, but remained unable to free themselves from Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring. The beast within tore at the blood soldiers ravenously, and it seeded in dragging them in bit by bit.


    Another bestial roar came from the ring. You Shi thought he could see a bloodthirsty maw swallow up his blood soldier. Not only that, after the beast ate the particrly nourishing spiritual meal, it began to suck at its surroundings with even greater force.


    The other four clouds of blood mist, which had been fighting against Yu''er''s spiritual phoenixes, were all dragged toward the ring. They tried to escape, but to no avail. The beast''s bloodthirsty maw swallowed them all.


    "No, no! How could this be?!" You Shi cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng then pointed the ring straight toward You Shi. The beast within, discovering yet another prey, let out an excited howl. The howl shook the entire cavern as frightening suctiontched onto You Shi.


    "No, no! This is impossible!" You Shi howled in panic.


    The suction dragged him ever closer to the ring as the beast within exerted incredible force.


    "No! My formation, to me! Transfer all the energy back!" You Shimanded.


    From every corner of the cavern came a torrent of ck energy straight toward You Shi''s blood-mist body. You Shi grew to a hundred times his original size, withmensurate strength besides. He became a blood giant that pressed against the boundaries of the cavern¡ªbut even so, he was unable to escape from the beast. Slowly but surely, he was being sucked inward.


    "No! How could this be? This can''t be happening!" You Shi cried out.


    One of his feet had already been sucked inside. He scrabbled for purchase with dear life, but nothing was effective. Despair wracked his soul.


    "A cursed effigy? That beast''s a cursed effigy, and not the skeleton from before, either. Only a peak existence could exert such power. Nanfeng, just who are you? How could you be inmand of so many cursed effigies?!" You Shi howled.


    With a boom, You Shi waspletely sucked into the ring and devoured by the beast within.


    The beast looked at the outer world through the ring, its eyes like two huge rednterns, as though trying to identify its next prey. When it stared at Xiao Nanfeng, its horrifying bestial aura drenched his back in sweat.


    Xiao Nanfeng shut off his connection to the ring, closing it up and isting the beast once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng panted for breath. He had the feeling that the beast within the ring very much wanted to devour him. He had used the ring in hopes that the beast within might be able to help him out, not expecting that it would go so far as to consume the five clouds of blood mist, along with You Shi himself.


    "Nanfeng, how could there be a beast in your storage ring?" Yu''er asked cautiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng made a face at her. "I don''t know, either. It''s been in there all this time."


    "You Shi said that the beast was a cursed effigy?" Yu''er frowned.


    "A cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He hadn''t even dealt with Madam Rouge yet. Why had another cursed effigy appeared? What''s more, this one had a particrly frightening ability. Would it be safe for him to continue using this storage ring? What if the beast were to run out one day and swallow him up?


    "Where''s your storage ring?" Yu''er suddenly asked.


    "Isn''t it¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stopped short.


    His storage ring had vanished and transformed into a tattoo around Xiao Nanfeng''s middle finger on his left hand instead. At this point, he wouldn''t be able to remove the ring even if he wanted to¡ªbut its storage functionality was still active.


    "Could the cursed effigy in your ring have done this? Is it deliberately preventing you from removing the ring because it''s unwilling to leave you?" Yu''er asked in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...

 Chapter 112: Seal of Great Wei

    <h4>Chapter 112: Seal of Great Wei</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for long moments after seeing that tattoo-like storage ring.


    "Is this ring permanently bonded to you now?" Yu''er was very concerned for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Forget it. There isn''t a huge difference between being haunted by a single cursed effigypared to two of them. I just have to get used to it."


    "That''s a positive attitude you have," Yu''er replied, a strange look on her face. She didn''t know how tofort Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. A positive attitude was all that he could have. It wasn''t as though he could choose to get rid of the cursed effigy, after all. Fortunately, the Red Emperor had given him a ck lotus that could seal such effigies. He wasn''t in dire straits yet.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected his surroundings. The beast in the ring hadn''t just devoured You Shi; it had also swallowed up the majority of the energy imbued in You Shi''s formations. The copper doors had previously shown signs of being inscribed with a formation, but those signs had now all vanished. Xiao Nanfeng picked up a dragon-quelling spike by the front of the copper doors.


    "This must be the array-breaking artifact that Xiang Kun had in his possession. To have entered the illusory realm with a dragon-quelling spike in tow... no wonder he was possessed by You Shi," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, sighing.


    "Nanfeng, shall we open the doors?" Yu''er asked.


    "Let''s do it."


    The two cultivators slowly pushed the doors open.


    This time, no sh of blue light was emitted. The interior was just like in the Red Emperor''s tomb. The moment the doors were opened, the countless treasures within corroded and decayed.


    Within this cave was another golden dragon head, but this one was severely diminished. Draconic aether was rapidly dissipating through the surroundings.


    "No wonder this mountain peak had the highest density of spiritual qi¡ªit all came from the draconic aether in the tomb! You Shi manipted all three draconic aether veins. He truly is a traitor to the crown!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


    Above the golden dragon''s head was arge copper coffin, within which was clearly Emperor Wei''s corpse.


    Directly overhead was a floating dragon-quelling spike, which was surrounded by a blue glow.


    "Is it that spike that created and maintained the za Stairway?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "Your Majesty, my senior sister and I have arrived," Xiao Nanfeng called out to the spike.


    The spike shook and the blue light red in response, but the Red Emperor didn''t show herself.


    "Master is apanying Emperor Wei for thest moments of her life. I suppose she doesn''t want to be disturbed," Yu''er murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in understanding. He looked toward the final object in the chamber, a golden seal ced atop a stone pedestal, with a coiled dragon engraved around it. It was shining with a pale golden glow, and even the dragon-quelling spike''s corroding aura didn''t affect it.


    "Is this the emperor''s seal of the divine empire of Great Wei?" Yu''er wondered.


    "ording to Emperor Wei, it''s called the Seal of Great Wei, and is part of the inheritance he left to me." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the seal and reached out for it. The seal didn''t budge.


    "As the Red Emperor said, without receiving the acknowledgement of Emperor Wei, it''s impossible for me to move it. No wonder You Shi was waiting outside the doors to trick me even though he could easily get in..."


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the golden orb of light that Emperor Wei''s remnant had passed to him. The orb possessed an imprint of the Seal of Great Wei. As Xiao Nanfeng ced it against the seal, the orb melded with it. The Seal of Great Wei shone with blinding golden light that swelled toward Xiao Nanfeng, as though it were attuning to him.


    The golden dragon coiled around the seal seemed toe to life. It keened once as the seal transmitted countless information straight into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, turning his thoughts sluggish as he attempted to process it all. Even so, he shouldered the burden. This was part of Emperor Wei''s inheritance. Countless secret techniques that Emperor Wei had left behind were now making themselves known to Xiao Nanfeng, as though opening up a brand-new dimension to him.


    Xiao Nanfeng even discovered that a golden cloud had been ced within the seal, the fortune of the empire of Great Wei, which he had seen once before in the illusory realm.


    With the seal''s acknowledgement of Xiao Nanfeng, that fortune naturally belonged to him. Xiao Nanfeng would be able to absorb it at any moment.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes.


    "Nanfeng, have you already processed the inheritance? This quickly?"


    "Emperor Wei has far too many secret techniques for me to absorb so quickly, but the seal has acknowledged me as its master. I discovered a method of preserving spiritual aether among Emperor Wei''s collection. We can''t waste the draconic aether that''s here."


    "I was just about to bring that up! It''s such a waste to see all this draconic aether dissipating. Master told me that all the draconic aether here was yours, but it doesn''t look like there''s much left. I have more sealed away in my body than is out here..."


    "Make sure the coffin is stable, please," Xiao Nanfeng requested, as he activated the technique he had just learned to store spiritual aether. The eight divine channels and seventy-two divine capiries that he had unblocked activated at full force, giving rise to a tremendous suction that targeted the golden dragon''s head.


    With a huge crash, the golden dragon''s head transformed into a golden river that Xiao Nanfeng swallowed whole.


    "You''re absorbing that draconic aether even faster than I am!" Yu''er gasped.


    The copper coffin slowly floated to the ground. Yu''er caught it and held it in her hands.


    Not too longter, Xiao Nanfeng hadpletely absorbed the golden dragon''s head, and all the draconic aether remnant in the cave was absorbed into his dantian.


    "Senior Sister, I need to be in secluded cultivation for some time."


    "I''ll guard you. Don''t worry." Yu''er nodded at once.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the Seal of Great Wei in his palm as he sat cross-legged.


    On the mountain peak where Emperor Wei''s tomb was located, following You Shi''s death, the might of the formations he had created began to dissipate. The chains of energy that held the serpent down dimmed.


    With a crack, the serpent broke free.


    "What''s going on? Why did that formation suddenly weaken?" The serpent looked at its surroundings in surprise.


    The mist around the mountain peak was rapidly dissipating, and it vanished within moments.


    "The formations all around the emperor''s tomb are gone!"


    The serpent soared into the air and circled the peak as it found the entrance to the emperor''s tomb.


    "Did Xiang Kun do all this? He managed to break that formation and enter the emperor''s tomb?" The serpent narrowed its eyes.


    It was a little fearful of Xiang Kun; after all, it had almost died at his hand.


    "No, there''s nothing to be scared of! The only reason he was able to trap me was because of the copper spike in his possession, which could manipte the formations all around the mountain. Now that they''re gone, he won''t be able to do anything against me! These puny upstarts¡ªI''ll take revenge, I''ll eat them all! And now that the emperor''s tomb is open, there must surely be treasure inside. It''s all mine now!" The serpent, having recovered its confidence, excitedly swooped down toward the entrance to the tomb.


    As it headed inside, it discovered a series of forked paths. It tried to sense the right path with spiritual power, but the walls within still bore traces of You Shi''s formations. They prevented the serpent from sensing anything.


    "I hate mazes," the serpent muttered.


    It had developed a trauma against the formations in this mountain, and it didn''t dare try to break through by force. All it could do was dart through one path after another, attempting to find the right path forward.


    Simultaneously, two giant toad spirits were headed straight for Emperor Wei''s tomb. The Lady Arclight stood at the head of one of the toad spirits.


    "Lady Arclight, can you find where Nanfeng is?" Croak asked anxiously.


    The other toad, Warble, rolled its eyes. "How many times have you asked that question on the way here? Aren''t you getting tired of it?"


    "Warble, I''m serious! Nanfeng makes amazing roast meat. I haven''t been able to eat right ever since!" Croak replied, drooling as it spoke.


    "Was it really that good? What you''ve been making thesest few days is so bitter I can barely choke it down. I feel like I''m consuming lethal poison whenever I eat it," Warble replied, clearly disbelieving.


    "It''s true! You''ll see what I mean if you try it just once, when we find Nanfeng!" Croak desperately wanted to prove to its mate that it wasn''t lying, but Warble refused to believe it. Croak sighed.


    "Lady Arclight, can you find where Nanfeng is?" Croak repeated.


    Warble rolled its eyes once again upon hearing Croak''s near-constant refrain.


    The Lady Arclight frowned. "Nanfeng has gone to rescue the Taiqing disciples, which means he has to have shed with the ck-armored cultivators. As long as we find them, we can interrogate them as to Nanfeng''s whereabouts. Otherwise, we can catch a few crow spirits."


    "Right, Lady Arclight, you''re really smart! Nanfeng left on a crow spirit. We can just ask them!" Croak''s eyes lit up.


    "We''re headed to Emperor Wei''s tomb at the moment. Marquis Wu''s three children have been searching for it, so we should be able to find ck-armored cultivators and crow spirits there. We''ll learn of Nanfeng''s situation after that." The Lady Arclight frowned in worry.


    "A crow spirit!" Croak pointed toward the distance.


    The Lady Arclight''s eyes lit up. Indeed, there were a few crows in the air! They might be native to the realm rather than from Mt. Crow, but any chance was better than none.


    "Take them all down!" the Lady Arclightmanded.


    Croak zed over to find two golden crow spirits that had escaped after the crow king''s death, along with the ordinary crow spirits that they led. They were flying through the nearby forests in an attempt to report for Xiang Kun, but hadn''t been able to find him.


    As a fearsome aura suddenly appeared in their vicinity, they turned their heads, only to find themselves smacked into the ground and grievously wounded by a gigantic toad spirit.

 Chapter 113: Shameless!

    <h4>Chapter 113: Shameless!</h4>


    Draconic aether gushed into Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian, but hisck of an advanced cultivation prevented him from being able to seal and store it all. He could only distill and convert part of it into pure yang qi, which he directed to unclog his ninth divine conduit.


    A gust of energy erupted from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he unclogged it, followed swiftly by the nine divine capiries connected to it. As his aura grew stronger, his ability to store draconic aether increased¡ªbut this wasn''t enough yet. He continued distilling draconic aether and sending the resulting pure yang qi toward his tenth divine conduit.


    Just then, arge serpent''s head appeared by the entrance to the cave.


    The serpent, having wound its way through the interconnected tunnels, had finally arrived at the emperor''s tomb. Because it had been trapped by You Shi''s formation earlier, however, it was behaving particrly carefully, only barely poking its head out to inspect its surroundings. After waiting for some time and confirming that only Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were present, it quickly regained its confidence.


    "You brat, isn''t that the Seal of Great Wei in your hands? That''s not something you deserve to have. It belongs to me, to me! Hand it over!" The serpent was so excited that its body was vibrating.


    It sprayed its frost breath through the copper doors, still acting far more cautiously than usual, just in case there were traps lying in wait for it. It intended to freeze the two cultivators first.


    "Wake up, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out, shielding Nanfeng protectively. She cut at the frost with her de.


    Huge quantities of frost surged into the cave. Yu''er deflected a small fraction, but only enough to protect her and Nanfeng. The rest of the cave began to freeze.


    From Yu''er''s hasty defense, the serpent quickly discovered that she was only an Ascension-realm cultivator and rxed.


    "Haha! One of you is at Ascension, and the other at Immanence! And you dared to insult and humiliate me? I''m going to eat you both!" the serpent howled. Its aura magnified. Yu''er steeled herself against the frightening wave of dragon''s might and the resulting pressure that entailed.


    Just then, a beam of golden light flew out from behind her and struck the serpent on the head. It was sent flying with a bleeding wound on its head.


    "You!" the serpent cried out. It fell to the ground after striking the wall of the cave with such force that everything seemed to shake.


    The Seal of Great Wei floated in the air, giving off radiant golden light and mounting pressure.


    "Nanfeng? Was that you?" Yu''er cried out.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had opened his eyes. With a finger, he motioned for the Seal of Great Wei to strike the dragon once more.


    "You were acknowledged by Emperor Wei and became his sessor? He even allowed you to attune to the Seal of Great Wei? Impossible. You''re only an Immanence-realm cultivator, while I''m at Spiritsong! I''m far more powerful and mighty¡ªthat seal should be mine!" the serpent howled.


    It tried to flee, but the Seal of Great Wei was faster. The seal hurtled toward its head once again.


    The serpent was mmed into the ground, its scales breaking off as the wound on its head grewrger. Blood sttered on the ground.


    The seal radiated with pressure, crushing the serpent''s head. It felt as heavy as a mountain; the serpent was unable to move its head at all. Its tail swished madly, but it couldn''t free itself. It felt as though its head was about to explode.


    As its skull cracked, blood sprayed out of its mouth.


    "Kill it, Nanfeng! Let''s have some serpent meat!" Yu''er cried out.


    The serpent''s face fell. These two cultivators were even worse than You Shi!


    "No, spare me, please! I just came to see what themotion was. I respect both of you; this doesn''t have anything to do with me! Don''t eat me. My meat would be stringy and sour. Please, let me go¡ªI''ll do anything you want! I have all manner of treasures that I can offer to you. Just spare my life!" the serpent shouted, its earlier arrogancepletely having vanished.


    The seal steadily rose into the air and floated toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nanfeng, are you going to let it go? Why not just smash it dead?" Yu''er cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng stored the seal once more. The Seal of Great Wei''s strengthy in consuming the fortune that was within it. The seal, which he could lift with just one hand, had grown countless times heavier with the power of fortune, allowing him to deeply wound the serpent.


    The consumption of fortune was a rtively minor affair, but stored within the seal was part of Emperor Wei''s inheritance, which he had not yetmitted to memory. After smashing the serpent''s head with the seal twice, he could sense a nascent instability in the inheritance within the seal. If he were to continue suppressing the serpent, he might very well cause that inheritance to dissolve into nothing.


    To kill the serpent at the cost of Emperor Wei''s inheritance was far from worthwhile.


    The serpent fled for its life, quickly darting back through the tunnels. "You brat! Don''t think I''ll forgive you just because you''ve let me go. Just you wait. Once I recover, I''lle settle my score with you again!"


    "See? You can''t sympathize with this serpent¡ªit''s shameless!" Yu''er cried out angrily.


    Just then, a huge thud came from the tunnels.


    The serpent was knocked back with overwhelming force. It mmed against a cave wall.


    "What?" Yu''er cried out.


    "Who justunched a sneak attack on me?" the serpent cried out, vomiting out even more blood.


    Three figures emerged from the tunnel: Croak, Warble, and the Lady Arclight.


    "Two toad spirits? You dare?!" the serpent cried out in outrage.


    The Lady Arclight saw Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er instantly. Her eyes brightened.


    "Nanfeng? Yu''er? Are you both alright?"


    "Elder? What are you doing here? Yes, we''re alright. Nanfeng has received Emperor Wei''s inheritance and was in secluded cultivation when this serpent suddenly barged into the cave, trying to steal Nanfeng''s spoils! Nanfeng grievously wounded it with the Seal of Great Wei," Yu''er quickly reported.


    "Hmm?" The Lady Arclight looked toward the serpent with frost in her gaze.


    The serpent nched. "You''re together?"


    The Lady Arclight didn''t respond. She unsheathed her sword and struck at the serpent.


    As sword shes bombarded the interior of the cave, a huge number of the serpent''s scales were crushed and scattered. In rage, the serpent shot straight toward the Lady Arclight.


    "Croak, Warble, help the elder!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Got it." Warble leapt over.


    "Nanfeng, serpent meat tastes good, doesn''t it? If we take it down, you''ll make some roast serpent meat for us, won''t you?" Croak croaked excitedly.


    The two toad spirits rushed toward the serpent together.


    The cave rumbled as thebatants smashed into it with such force that everything quaked. However, the remnants of You Shi''s formation preserved its integrity, and it showed no signs of copsing.


    "Why are you biting me, you damn toads? I''m too disgusted at the prospect of even eating you, but you dare bite me?!" the serpent howled.


    "I want roast serpent meat, teppanyaki serpent meat, stewed serpent meat, steamed serpent meat!" Croak croaked, saliva leaking out of its mouth as it mmed into the serpent.


    Croak had never had a chance to try meat prepared with these techniques, but it still remembered vividly the dishes that Xiao Nanfeng had made for the Lady Arclight before his departure. It had drooled so much that its mouth had almost gone dry, and it had been dreaming of those delicacies ever since. That was why it was desperately mming the serpent against the wall, exacerbating its injuries as it vomited out more blood.


    "Damn it! If not for the Seal of Great Wei, none of the three of you would be able to hurt me¡ªno, what''s this sword you have? Why is it so strong? How could it have hurt me? Argh!" the serpent screamed.


    Yu''er stood in front of Xiao Nanfeng, still guarding him. As she watched the serpent''s downfall, she pumped her fists up in excitement, wishing that she too could participate.


    Xiao Nanfeng clutched the Seal of Great Wei in his hands and returned to his meditation.


    Within moments, the tenth divine conduit had been unclogged, and pure yang qi surged toward his nine final divine capiries. Xiao Nanfeng''s body began to rumble.


    The first... the third... the seventh... the ninth.


    As the final capiry was unblocked, Xiao Nanfeng''s surroundings shone with scintiting golden light. With all ny divine capiries cleared, a strong and overwhelming loop of gic energy surged around him. The qi grew multiple times over, and it felt as though he could even make the transition to Ascension at the moment.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng instead chose to temporarily suppress his cultivation instead. He hadn''t yet chosen an Ascension-realm technique to study, and was in no rush to break through. His current cultivation sufficed to store all the draconic aether in his body, which he did using Emperor Wei''s secret technique. This draconic aether would be core to his further cultivation,


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected the contents of the Seal of Great Wei again, confirming that nothing was damaged, before he steadily opened his eyes again.


    By now, after suffering from thebined assault of the two toads and one cultivator, many of its scales had been torn from its body. It was impaled by a sword through the middle of its body and pinned against the ground, with one toad spirit crushing it on either side. It was a sorry sight to behold.


    "Please! I''vemitted a terrible mistake. Please let me go. If you keep jumping up and down on me, I really will die. Spare my life, please!" the serpent begged.


    "It''s not dead yet. Keep going!" Croakmanded.


    "Do you think I won''t be able to kill you without my sword?" The Lady Arclight''s eyes shed with frost.


    She drew yet another sword, which glowed with blinding white light, as though its strength were being magnified multiple times over.


    "No! Master Blue Lantern, save me!" the serpent cried out instinctively, feeling the pall of death overwhelm it.


    Just then, a cloud of ck fog appeared, along with a figure in a ck robe. Blue energy sealed the Lady Arclight''s de.


    "Have mercy, young woman," the ck-robed figure said.


    "Elder Blue Lantern?" The Lady Arclight hesitated, then stopped what she was doing.


    "Elder!" Croak and Warble immediately behaved themselves.


    The serpent, as though finally having found its savior, cried out with snot and tears, "Master Blue Lantern, they''ve robbed Emperor Wei''s tomb! I advised them not to with the best of intentions, but they turned on me and began to beat me up! I had them head to the divine domain, but they refused to go, and were even trying to kill me! I''m an envoy that you yourself dispatched to this territory. What they did to me reflects badly on you, too! Please, administer justice on my behalf!"


    Upon hearing the serpent''s shameless lies, everyone frowned and red at it. It truly would do anything for its life!

 Chapter 114: Bleeding the Serpent

    <h4>Chapter 114: Bleeding the Serpent</h4>


    Blue Lantern was silent for long moments. He ignored the serpent.


    "I apologize. My discipline was not up to par, and it''s made a fool of itself. Would you spare it on my behalf?" Blue Lantern looked at the gathered crowd.


    "Master Blue Lantern, I''m being serious! I never provoked them. They''re the stubborn, domineering ones!" the serpent cried out.


    Blue Lantern was silent once more. It was clearly familiar with the serpent''s personality.


    The Lady Arclight hesitated. With Blue Lantern having spoken, she had no choice but to let it go. She was about to ede when a voice interrupted, "Hold it."


    Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng, who was walking up to them.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the serpent. They had already taken it down; why should they release it freely?


    If they did so, the serpent would only remember that Blue Lantern had asked for clemency on its behalf, and it would only hate them all the more. Considering its personality, they would never be able to reim the Lady Arclight''s storage bangle. Better to offend it and reim what belonged to them instead.


    "Elder, I heard from the serpent that Spiritsong-realm cultivators could be allowed to abstain from heading to the divine domain. Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Indeed?" Blue Lantern suddenly turned serious. His chilly aura pressed against the serpent.


    "How dare you besmirch my name! When did I ever say anything of the sort? Master Blue Lantern hasmanded me to send all Spiritsong-realm spirits and cultivators into the divine domain. Don''t you know that?" the serpent thundered.


    "Didn''t you allow the crow king to remain? It''s an Immortal-realm spirit. Why did you permit it to reside here long-term?" Xiao Nanfeng''s smile widened.


    "The crow king? It was injured. I allowed it to recuperate before heading over. This is no vition of the rules!"


    "You did it because of a bribe, didn''t you? Doesn''t that mean I can bribe you so as to avoid heading to the divine domain, too?"


    The serpent scowled in frustration. It shouldn''t have epted that bribe in full view¡ªwhat it had done was now causing problems for itself!


    "Liar! Xiang Kun offered me that storage bangle out of respect. It has nothing to do with my permitting the crow king to rest before heading to the divine domain," the serpent quickly replied.


    "Are these matters entirely unrted? Many people saw you take that bribe. It shouldn''t be difficult to find a few witnesses. Do you think it''s that easy to hoodwink Elder Blue Lantern?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The serpent froze. Blue Lantern had given it freedom and allowed it to do what it wanted, but his ownmands were to be followed to the letter. It didn''t dare make any more excuses.


    "Elder Blue Lantern, that storage bangle belongs to the Lady Arclight. We simply want to take back what''s ours," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The serpent cried out in outrage, "You must be crazy! Do you intend on stealing my treasures? Dream on!"


    "Take out the bangle and we''ll see whether you''re lying or not," Xiao Nanfeng challenged.


    Blue Lantern stared at Xiao Nanfeng for some time before turning to the serpent. "Is he telling the truth?"


    "No, he isn''t! Master Blue Lantern, don''t believe him!" the serpent cried out.


    Blue Lantern stared at the serpent for long moments, a chilly air surrounding him. The serpent began to panic.


    "Serpent, if you continue trying to hoodwink Elder Blue Lantern and refusing to take out that bangle, he''ll stop minding you," Xiao Nanfeng added.


    The serpent''s eyes grew wide. If Blue Lantern were to leave, it''d be dead meat!


    "Master Blue Lantern, I did im a storage bangle, but it surely doesn''t belong to them! He''s lying to you. Here, Master, have a look!" The serpent immediately gave in.


    It spat out a blue bangle. The Lady Arclight''s eyes brightened. With a wave of her hand, the bangle shook off all its dust and flew straight toward her.


    "This storage bangle is clearly extraordinary. I wasn''t able to open it, and neither can she! It certainly doesn''t belong to her," the serpent affirmed.


    However, as the Lady Arclight slid the bangle over her wrist, an aurora-like light appeared. She retrieved a few objects from the ring and ced them back inside. Clearly, the bangle belonged to her.


    The serpent: ... <i>What, it really is hers? They''ve scammed me! I''ve lost out on a high-quality storage relic!</i>


    Blue Lantern snorted at the serpent, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll deal with itter. Will you free it now?"


    "Of course, Elder. However, I''d like to seek reparations for the damage that it has caused us. Please bear witness, Elder," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What? Haven''t you already reimed that bangle? Aren''t you satisfied yet? What damages have I caused you? You''re the one who has damaged me!" the serpent thundered.


    "Youid im to the mountain peak in which Emperor Wei was buried and monopolized the draconic aether from the tomb. Is that not so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ve taken over the peak entirely and have been for a while. What does that have to do with you?" The serpent red.


    "The Seal of Great Wei has recognized me as its ruler, and I''m the sessor of Emperor Wei. All this belongs to me, including the draconic aether you absorbed. You''ve snatched far too much from me. Don''t you think I deservepensation?


    The serpent: ...


    The serpent thought itself shameless enough, but it could hardlypare to Xiao Nanfeng. Even after bing the sessor to Emperor Wei, he was still thick-skinned enough to ask for the draconic aether that had seeped out of the mountain while the serpent was there!


    "Furthermore, because of your bribe, which went against Elder Blue Lantern''s orders and allowed the crow king to remain in the spirits'' domain, my senior sister''s flying sword, along with my own, were destroyed by the crow king. Are you going to take responsibility?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The serpent''s face stiffened. "What does your flying sword being destroyed have to do with me? You''re deliberately ming this on me!"


    "If you had listened to Elder Blue Lantern and chased the crow king into the divine domain, my senior sister''s flying sword wouldn''t have been destroyed at the crow king''s hands. We would have been able to free ourselves from the real Xiang Kun more easily, and my sword would never have been destroyed! That''s why I''m seekingpensation for these injuries incurred," Xiao Nanfeng replied resolutely.


    "Dream on! Who can provide evidence for your ims?" the serpent thundered.


    It had always been the one scamming those around itself, rather than the other way around. This sort of incident was far too indirect¡ªand yet Xiao Nanfeng still had the gall to try to seekpensation from him!


    "Elder Blue Lantern, I can prove to you that what I said was true, but I''ll need quite a bit of time," Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    "There''s no need. I know you''re not lying," Bluentern replied coolly


    Not far away, the serpent''s face fell. "Elder Blue Lantern, please believe me! I''m your envoy, not him! Why would you believe him over me? He''s speaking nonsense!"


    "He''s not wrong. If you didn''t allow the crow king to remain here, their flying swords wouldn''t have been destroyed. I tasked you with sending every single Spiritsong-realm cultivator to the divine domain at once. Don''t you remember what I said?" Blue Lantern replied.


    "I, I¡ª" the serpent''s face fell. not knowing what to do.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Blue Lantern in shock. All of what had happened had been done with particr privacy. How could Blue Lantern know it all? Was he surveilling just about everything?


    "You may ask for suitablepensation for the losses you incurred as a result of his actions," the elder replied. However, Arclight and these two toad spirits have reached Spiritsong, and they must head toward the divine domain at once," Blue Lantern replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell. The reason he had scammed the serpent wasn''t to ask forpensation, but to use that precedent to allow the Lady Arclight to avoid heading to the divine domain for the moment. Unfortunately, Blue Lanterns seemed to have seen through his n and blocked him.


    "Master Blue Lantern, they''re just a group of foreigners! You don''t have to treat them well. What could they do against you?" the serpent anxiously persuaded.


    "If you''ve done something wrong, you should be punished for it. You clearly have the means topensate them for your misdeeds. Do you insist on my doing it on your behalf? Are those treasures more important than thews I''ve set down?"


    The serpent: ...


    Blue Lantern was very clear: it would have to provide its ownpensation.


    "Whatpensation do you want, brat?" The serpent huffed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "My flying sword and my senior sister''s flying sword were destroyed because of our actions. Justpensate us with one flying sword each, at least the quality of what we lost. That shouldn''t be too hard, should it?


    The serpent: ... <i>You call this ''shouldn''t be too hard''? These are flying swords, rarest of the rare, and you want two of them at once! Do you even know how rare your flying swords were?</i>


    The serpent eyed Blue Lantern, only for him to ignore it. In exasperation, it spat out a slender ck rapier, carved with exquisite floral patterns. It was clearly a rare treasure.


    "This is the only flying sword I have. Master Blue Lantern said that this was once used by a female immortal. Take it if you want!" The serpent eyed the treasure longingly, not wishing to let it go.


    Serpents valued treasures like their lives. Even when Xiang Kun had trapped it in an array, it refused to free itself with one of the treasures it had coted. It felt as though its heart was bleeding after paying yet another of its treasures to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "On ount of Elder Blue Lantern''s request, I''ll take this flying sword for now. Don''t forget¡ªyou owe me another flying sword," Xiao Nanfeng reminded it.


    "What? Look carefully. This is a sword an Immortal used! It''s far superior to your dinky flying swords from before. And you still want more?!" the serpent roared in outrage, barely suppressing its desire to tear Xiao Nanfeng to bits.


    "Senior Sister, attune yourself to this flying sword for now. See if the serpent is lying." Xiao Nanfeng proffered the sword to Yu''er.


    Yu''er''s eyes brightened. She sent a wisp of spiritual power into the sword, but it remained inert.


    "Oh, what''s this? It''s refusing my attunement¡ªbut I have a heart attunement technique that Master just taught me. I''ll try again." Yu''er immediately made a few cryptic gestures as she infused spiritual energy into the sword again.


    The sword suddenly shook, then glowed with dark red light. The entire cave was suddenly filled with sword energy, dense and ethereal, almost like ripples in the air. The waves of sword energy shimmered with light, bathing all that it touched in killing intent. This flying sword was far superior to the Immortal Cicadas.


    "What an amazing sword!" Yu''er caressed the de lovingly.


    "How could this be? Is this flying sword crazy? I''ve been trying to attune to it for decades, but it''s been nothing more than scrap metal all that time! How could you have suddenly activated it?" the serpent cried out.


    Everyone gave the serpent a strange look. It really was shameless, wasn''t it? It had only given the sword away because it was unable to attune it to itself.


    "No, this won''t do! I''ll switch this treasure out for another one. Quick, hand me back that flying sword!" the serpent cried out.


    Yu''er cradled the handle of her new flying de, ignoring the serpent''s words.


    "Don''t forget, you still owe me a flying sword," Xiao Nanfeng reminded the serpent.


    The serpent: ...


    It was so angry it might well spit out blood. It had already lost two treasures¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng was still hounding it for more! Was there anyone else more shameless in the world?


    "Thank you for being just and righteous, Elder." Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward Blue Lantern.


    Not far away, the Lady Arclight pulled her de from the serpent''s body. Now freed, it quickly slid behind Blue Lantern and stared at Xiao Nanfeng with unbridled hatred.


    Blue Lantern gave Xiao Nanfeng a searching look. "Nanfeng, you realize that this serpent is my envoy?"


    Clearly, Blue Lantern was a little ticked off by his antics.


    "Nanfeng dealt with things smoothly and logically, with reason and evidence. What has he done wrong? Blue Lantern, don''t you think you should manage your subordinates better rather than ming Nanfeng? Nanfeng is the sessor of Emperor Wei¡ªand don''t you forget how much he did for you back then."


    The dragon-quelling spike nearby trembled weakly as the Red Emperor made an appearance.


    "Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Master!" Yu''er cried out.


    The Red Emperor''s spiritual avatar was growing fainter and fainter, but she still continued to protect Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 115: Croak the Frank

    <h4>Chapter 115: Croak the Frank</h4>


    "Emperor Wei did help me with many tasks, but I repaid him in kind," Blue Lantern replied primly.


    The Red Emperor red at Blue Lantern, a hint of malevolence in her fiery eyes.


    "I know you begrudge me for not securing Emperor Wei''s revival, but I owed him not. What''s more, I was bound by ancient pact. He could count only on himself," Blue Lantern added.


    The Red Emperor snorted.


    She turned away from Blue Lantern and looked toward the crowd.


    "And you must be Bai Ruoyi''s sessor," the Red Emperor murmured, appraising the Lady Arclight.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately introduced the Red Emperor to the Lady Arclight.


    "I am Arclight, Your Majesty!" The Lady Arclight bowed.


    "Bai Ruoyi''s personality and force of will might be weak, but her eyes are as good as ever, I see," the Red Emperormented.


    She turned toward Emperor Wei''s coffin, then fell silent for a long moment. "Nanfeng, Yu''er, please bury my corpse with my consort''s."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the two cultivators chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to Emperor Wei''s coffin and gently pushed open its lid, revealing his corpse within. Though it had remained in the coffin for a millennium, it hadn''t decayed or deteriorated, and it looked as though he were merely sleeping.


    Yu''er retrieved the Red Emperor''s corpse from her storage pendant and very carefully ced it to the side of Emperor Wei.


    The Lady Arclight revealed yet another copper coffin, within which was the corpse of Empress Bai Ruoyi.


    "Your Majesty, Empress Bai also requested that I bury her corpse with that of Emperor Wei," the Lady Arclight exined, bowing once more.


    The Red Emperor nced at Bai Ruoyi''s corpse. She turned slightly away, not saying anything¡ªbut not objecting, either.


    "Go on, Elder," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    The Lady Arclight nodded, then carefully retrieved Bai Ruoyi''s corpse from the coffin and ced it on the other side of Emperor Wei.


    Emperor Weiy with his two empresses by either side of him in formal repose.


    "Rece the lid," the Red Emperormanded, her eyes closed, emotions welling out of her.


    With a snick, Xiao Nanfeng slowly covered the coffin lid.


    The Red Emperor touched the copper coffin with a hint of disappointment. She turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Nanfeng, store our bodies securely. Once we leave this realm, bury us again somewhere."


    "Your Majesty, do you have any requirements as to where?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "As long as it''s not within this hidden realm. Blue Lantern can sense anything within it, and I have no intention of having him disturb me ever again," Hong Xi sighed.


    Blue Lantern remained silent not far away, ignoring the Red Emperor''s criticism.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, blinked in understanding. The Red Emperor seemed to be trying to hint at something to him.


    "Of course, Your Majesty. I will endeavor to take good care of your physical bodies." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply, then stored the coffin in his storage ring.


    "Yu''er," the Red Emperor continued.


    "Yes, Master!" Yu''er bowed.


    "Head to the divine domain with them," the Red Emperor instructed.


    "Ah?" Yu''er gasped in surprise.


    "The draconic aether in your dantian cannot be stored for too long. Within two months, you must distill it. By that point, you will have reached Spiritsong, and Blue Lantern would force you into the divine domain then. Rather than head there alone, better that you apany Arclight and these two toad spirits."


    "Must I, Master?" Yu''er seemed somewhat unwilling.


    "Such has been the rule for a millennium. You must go; Blue Lantern will not remain still otherwise. Some did refuse in the past, before they died mysteriously."


    Everyone turned to Blue Lantern, who remained silent.


    "Yes, Master," Yu''er replied, frowning.


    "Your Majesty? May I apany them to the divine domain?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You? The draconic aether sealed in your body is insufficient for a Spiritsong advancement, I should think. You would be but a burden," the Red Emperor evaluated. "If you want to head to the divine domain, you must be a Spiritsong-realm cultivator in order to protect yourself. Of course, if you reach Lunar Deluge with your spiritual cultivation, that too would be sufficient. Your spiritual power is vast, but I don''t believe the majority is yours."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I understand, Your Majesty. I thank you for your pointers."


    The Red Emperor gazed at the crowd before focusing on the serpent behind Blue Lantern. She smirked. "Little loach, you''ll have no future with Blue Lantern. He might sell you off one of these days."


    The serpent''s head was stiff. Only then did it understand the Red Emperor''s identity. Although she was growing weaker as she waned, it hardly dared to contradict her.


    "You must be j-joking, Your Majesty," the serpent finally replied awkwardly.


    "Let me advise you. Following Nanfeng would be far better than following Blue Lantern."


    The serpent froze. Was the Red Emperor getting muddled in her old age? <i>Me, following that brat? I want to kill him!</i>


    "Red Emperor, your spiritual power hasrgely dissipated. It''s time to depart," Blue Lantern said calmly.


    The Red Emperor waved her hand, sending the dragon-quelling spike floating in the air to Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    "Keep this dragon-quelling spike. Give the one in my tomb to Blue Lantern. That''s the one promised to him by my consort. Don''t mistake one for the other," the Red Emperor warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then handed one dragon-quelling spike to Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern simultaneously retrieved a small bottle, which he held out to the Red Emperor''s unspooling avatar. She didn''t resist; her spiritual matter flowed into the bottle.


    "So she''s just like any other old spirit, isn''t she? I wouldn''t have been so shocked if I had known!" the serpent immediately remarked.


    "The Red Emperor is not someone you can disparage," Blue Lantern replied coldly.


    The serpent immediately shut its mouth.


    Blue Lantern then turned to the Lady Arclight. "It''s time for you to head to the divine domain."


    "Elder, may I make them a farewell banquet?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern didn''t object. He turned to the serpent. "Once they''re finished with their meal, you''ll escort them to the divine domain."


    "Ah? Me?" The serpent was surprised by the suddenmand.


    Blue Lantern vanished in a cloud of ck smoke, leaving the serpent and Xiao Nanfeng behind.


    The serpent immediately stiffened up. It threatened, "Don''t you dare do anything to me! If you do, Master Blue Lantern will hold you ountable. I-I''ll wait for you all outside!"


    It quickly rushed out of the cave.


    "Croak, Warble, go hunt down some spirits. I''ll make you something good to eat," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Of course, of course! Warble, let''s go!" Croak was drooling as it happily dragged its mate out of the tunnels.


    Xiao Nanfeng, the Lady Arclight, and Yu''er also headed outside.


    By a nearby stream, Xiao Nanfeng began to prepare the spiritbeast meat he had stockpiled. Croak and Warble quickly returned withrge spiritbeasts that they had hunted down, then cleaned them under Xiao Nanfeng''s supervision.


    Not longter, Xiao Nanfeng had finished preparing a variety of roast meat. Croak quickly handed Warble a roasted golden crow.


    "Taste it, Warble. I wasn''t lying to you. This is tasty, isn''t it?" Croak croaked.


    Warble ate a bite with some skepticism¡ªand then its eyes opened wide as vor exploded in its mouth. It swallowed up the whole roasted crow in one gulp.


    "No, not like that! That''s too wasteful. Do it slowly, or you''ll finish eating too fast!" Croak cried.


    "Hand me yours," Warblemanded.


    Croak: ...


    Was Warble really going to steal its share? It hadn''t even had a bite! Even so, it didn''t dare refuse. With tears in its eyes, it passed its roasted golden crow to Warble, then hurriedly found another serving of roast meat.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng passed the two women the roasted crow king that he had just finished preparing.


    Yu''er and the Lady Arclight both enjoyed the meal, but for some reason, both of them were behaving in a rather reserved fashion. They ate daintily, one small bite at a time.


    The two women had a pleasant chat, but each seemed to be preupied. Their beauty was stunning.


    "Elder, do you have more of these jade tablets with Taoist scriptures recorded in them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, pulling out the jade tablet that she had given him once upon a time.


    "Aren''t the thousand scriptures in there enough for you?" the Lady Arclight asked.


    "I''ve already memorized them all," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "What?" The Lady Arclight was stunned.


    "When did you do that, Nanfeng?" Yu''er was equally astonished.


    "It''s what I did whenever I had free time. I''ve finished them all, but I''d like to read more such scriptures, Elder. Please lend me more if you have any."


    Nine jade tablets appeared in the Lady Arclight''s palm. "The Vault of Scriptures boasts 48,000 Taoist scriptures. Disciples below Spiritsong are given ess only to copies on parchment, but those elders at Spiritsong and above are provided with these tablets. Each contains a thousand scriptures."


    "Nanfeng, you aren''t going to memorize these 9,000 scriptures, are you?" Yu''er frowned in concern.


    "Perusing them will help me advance my spiritual cultivation more quickly. I might be able toe find you both in the divine domain soon enough," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Have you already reachedte-stage Ster Lake?" the Lady Arclight asked in surprise.


    "Your rate of spiritual cultivation really is remarkable!" Yu''er added.


    "Even so, it won''t amount to anything until I get to Lunar Deluge," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "I''ll do my best to keep searching for the whereabouts of the senior disciples. The two of you should take these two dragon-quelling spikes. Keep them close to you: if you encounter any danger, you can use these to request assistance from Blue Lantern. Protect yourself at all costs, even if it means you have to give up on an opportunity." Xiao Nanfeng held one spike out toward each of them.


    The two women considered Xiao Nanfeng before nodding.


    "Croak, Warble?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the two toad spirits.


    "What''s the matter?" Croak''s face was wretched.


    It was halfway through eating its roasted centipede when Warble snatched that away, too. Not only had Warble eaten its own share, it had even consumed the majority of Croak''s share, too. Croak was furious, but it didn''t dare to get angry at its mate.


    "Nanfeng, is there any more roast meat?" Warble asked, drooling.


    The two toad spirits were eyeing the roasted crow king that Nanfeng and the two women were sharing.


    "Can you really eat that much in one go?" Xiao Nanfeng gave them a strange look. They had already eaten over twenty Ascension-realm spirits! Were they still not satisfied?


    "I can keep going," Warble replied firmly.


    Croak pouted. It had only eaten three of the twenty; Warble had eaten all the rest!


    "Protect my elder and senior sister during their trip to the divine domain, will you? When you return, I''ll make as much roast meat for you as you want," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "As I want?" Warble''s eyes lit up as its drooling intensified.


    "Don''t worry! Warble and I will protect your two wives," Croak replied bluntly.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The Lady Arclight and Yu''er both red at Croak until it ducked its head.

 Chapter 116: Sky of Ten Suns

    <h4>Chapter 116: Sky of Ten Suns</h4>


    After sending Yu''er and the Lady Arclight off, Xiao Nanfeng blocked the entrance to the emperor''s tomb and entered secluded cultivation.


    He had to quickly memorize Emperor Wei''s inheritance, which included countless techniques. Some of the techniques had been cultivated by none other than Emperor Wei himself, but he had no firsthand experience with others. The techniques were carefully marked and organized.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s honed memory, boosted by his superior yin pearl, allowed him to record it all within just a few days.


    "Emperor Wei''s inheritance contains quite a few Ascension-realm techniques, but this one, Sky of Ten Suns, looks to be the most suited to me..."


    Sky of Ten Suns was a cultivation technique with particrly demanding requirements. The cultivator needed pure yang qi, along with all hundred divine channels¡ªthe ten divine conduits and ny divine capiries¡ªunblocked. Only then could the cultivator bear the might of the technique. Apparently, Emperor Wei had learned of such a technique from a tablet in a hidden realm. By then, he had already be an Immortal. Multiple times throughout his life, he had regretted not having learned the technique as an Ascension-realm cultivator.


    The technique was particrly demanding in terms of spiritual power, but it boastedmensurate might in exchange.


    Xiao Nanfeng distilled the draconic aether that he had sealed into pure yang qi and began to cultivate the technique.


    The pure yang qi divided once and again into a hundred streams, flooding Xiao Nanfeng''s divine channels. As more and more of the draconic aether was consumed, the qi flowed ever more rapidly. Its speed grew to such an extent that, when a small trickle of current vaporized, howling winds formed around Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    The sealed draconic aether was almost entirely consumed upon circting this technique. The hundred streams of qi moved as rapidly as bolts of lightning. Suddenly, they converged on one spot with a bang that caused the very heavens to rumble.


    A golden fireball formed at the center of the collision, illuminating Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian and generating a wave of mes over his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself seemed to have transformed into a golden sun, roaring with me and resplendent with light.


    "External manifestation of qi? Have I reached the first stage of Ascension?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    The golden mes that surrounded his body would be a strong defense against spiritual and physical attacks alike. He flicked his right index finger and sent a puff of me at the cave wall. The resulting explosion expanded the cavern with a bang, the golden mes remaining for a prolonged period of time on the cave walls.


    Xiao Nanfeng reined in his gic energy, snuffing out the mes all around him and sending their energy back toward his dantian. All his draconic aether had been consumed; a scorching golden sun now floated in his dantian.


    The golden sun gave off an unusual suction that resonated with his hundred streams of qi. They began to absorb the spiritual aether in the environment rapidly, funneling it all toward the golden sun. The sun served as a furnace that was able to convert all strength into pure yang qi.


    "Sky of Ten Suns? Will I be forming ten suns in my body, then?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    He could sense a vast, frightening amount of energying from just the one sun he had already condensed.


    Xiao Nanfeng cleaned up his surroundings and walked out of Emperor Wei''s tomb. As he did so, two figures rushed over from the forest, You Jiu and his sweetheart. By now, they had recovered from their injuries.


    "Sir, have you managed to obtain the Seal of Great Wei?" You Jiu asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng summoned the seal, which radiated with golden light.


    You Jiu immediately retrieved a badge and activated it. Upon sensing the seal, it trembled violently, causing his eyes to light up.


    "You Jiu greets the sessor of Emperor Wei!"


    "You Ba greets the sessor of Emperor Wei."


    The two cultivators bowed deeply toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You Jiu? You Ba? Are your names nicknames?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously. [1]


    "Senior Sister, please keep an eye out on the surroundings. I''ll exin all this to Sir Xiao," You Jiu requested.


    The woman nodded, then headed toward a higher vantage point on the nearby mountain.


    "Sir Xiao, we''re the spectral guards of the Hall of Specters. A thousand years ago, Emperor Wei established the Hall of Specters to provide oversight over the officials of Great Wei, along with intelligence about the realm atrge. Our foremost t is loyalty toward Emperor Wei and his sessors," You Jiu exined.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng pondered the information carefully.


    "The same t is shared by the two royal families of the humans'' domain, as well as the bulk of the ns there," You Jiu continued.


    "Tell me about the humans'' domain," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "A thousand years ago, there were many mortals in the humans'' domain, none of whom had particrly advanced cultivation techniques. What little they learned was a result of the high spiritual density that filled this realm. Afterwards, when Emperor Wei was to be buried in the spirits'' domain, he designated a group of gravekeepers to watch over the three great tombs that had been erected. The gravekeepers had remained loyally in the spirits'' domain until a centuryter, when all Spiritsong- and higher-realm cultivators were invited to the divine domain in search of an opportunity or another. By the time they returned, however, nearly half had perished. Allegedly, every century since, the divine domain would invite them once more."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, having learned of this to some extent.


    "The gravekeepers who returned, worried that they would all die out if this were to continue, leaving no one to guard Emperor Wei''s three tombs, thought to summon new gravekeepers from the humans'' domain. Worried that these sessors would be disloyal, however, they instead chose to start their own families, passing down these ts from generation to generation. All descendants of gravekeepers would be gravekeepers themselves, and they would submit to the authority of Emperor Wei or his sessor."


    "What happened next?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "After the first generation of gravekeepers died in the divine domain, their descendants'' loyalty wavered. No longer did they want to guard the tombs; rather, they fought for dominion of the humans'' domain, eventually forming two great empires and many major ns that took over the entire region."


    "Oh?"


    "The two royal families, along with the descendants of the major ns, grew more and morewless. They even tried to form crews to rob the tombs. The Hall of Specters killed them all, but was quickly beset by the major ns. It suffered tremendous losses and was almost entirely destroyed. The sect leadermanded for us to pretend that we truly had been destroyed. We moved undercover to the humans'' cities, where wey in wait, stealing and destroying the techniques of each n, and assassinating their sessors so as to destroy thepleteness of their respective inheritance. We did this to weaken their overall strength and to continue our surveince against them as we waited for Emperor Wei or his sessor to descend and judge them for their crimes. The Hall of Specters has continued to guard the tombs of Emperor Wei, and I was assigned to such a duty.


    "In that case, the Hall of Specters has been running surveince on the royal families and the major ns all this time?" Xiao Nanfeng was suitably impressed.


    "Quite so. However, a millennium has passed, and even several of our number have grown restless," You Jiu replied, smiling wryly.


    "Oh?"


    "You Ba''s father is the current head of the Hall of Specters. Because he''s a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, however, he was forced to head to the divine domain. Our head is loyal to Emperor Wei and can quash any disturbance, but if he doesn''t return, the Hall of Specters might truly suffer."


    "How strong is the Hall?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The Hall has nine divisions, represented by the numbers one through nine. I lead the ninth division, and am therefore called You Jiu. The eight spectral guards You Yi through You Ba lead the other eight divisions. I am among the top three guard leaders in strength," You Jiu replied confidently.


    "Several of my senior brothers have gone missing in this realm, and I believe they may have been caught by the major ns in the humans'' domain. Can the Hall of Specters help me find them?"


    "I will do my best, Sir."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Just then, You Ba leapt down from her vantage point high above. "We have a problem, You Jiu."


    "Is there someone in the forest? Who?" You Jiu prepared himself as he looked over.


    A hundred or so ck-robed men suddenly walked out of the forest, each brandishing a sword. Killing intent suffused them.


    "Spectral guards? Is that You Liu?" You Jiu seemed to recognize one of their number.


    One of the ck-robed cultivators revealed himself to be a middle-aged man with a sinister air around himself.


    "You Jiu? You Ba? You''re both here. And behind you must be Nanfeng. Who has the Seal of Great Wei, him or either of you?" You Liu''s eyes shed with excitement.


    "What do you want?" You Jiu called out coldly.


    "There''s a refrain in the humans'' domain: he who bears the Seal of Great Wei controls the world. I''d like to see what it''s like to control the world," You Liu replied, grinning with excitement.


    "Did the serpent spread this news in the humans'' domain?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    You Liu cackled. "So you are Nanfeng, then? Do you have the Seal of Great Wei?"


    "Come and get it if you dare," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "As you wish!" You Liu''s cackle grew louder.


    "You Liu, have you forgotten about the ts of our Hall? Sir Xiao is the sessor to Emperor Wei. Do you intend to foment rebellion?!" You Jiu cried out.


    "Haha! Don''t be naive, You Jiu. It''s been a thousand years, and it''s long past time for the ts to be changed. The old sect master really was foolish, wasn''t he? The Hall of Specters boasts tremendous strength. Why should we skulk in the darkness? We could easily be the third great empire of the humans'' domain, but he''s been clinging on to the ts! Considering his wounds, there''s no way he would return from the divine domain. The Hall of Specters shall change with the times, and I advise that you change with it."


    "You dare! And all you spectral guards¡ªdon''t you forget the oaths you swore! Are you going to rebel too?!" You Jiu cried out.


    "They''ll only listen to mymands," You Liu called out. He turned to the ck-robed cultivators. "All of you, listen up. Seize the Seal of Great Wei!"


    The ck-robed cultivators ran straight at Xiao Nanfeng''s party.


    "Protect Sir Xiao, Senior Sister!" You Jiu shouted.


    He shot toward You Liu, who was leading the charge.


    Their two des shed against each other. Manifold spirits formed all around them, dashing into You Liu and sending him stumbling back.


    "Talented, aren''t you, You Jiu? Has the sect leader even deemed fit to pass you his secret technique? He must be intending to groom you to be his sessor. Unfortunately for you, I secretly learned the technique too!" You Liu


    The tempo of the fight grew more and more rapid. Although they used the same set of techniques, You Jiu was the more talented and experienced fighter, and he continued to push You Liu back.


    Meanwhile, a group of the ck-robed cultivators had rushed up toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Those who betray the Hall of Specters shall die!" You Ba shouted.


    She stood in front of Xiao Nanfeng, shielding him with her body. Her sword shed at a group of the iing cultivators.


    1. °Ë (ba) and ¾Å (jiu) are respectively ''eight'' and ''nine''. ?

 Chapter 117: Not Taught Lightly

    <h4>Chapter 117: Not Taught Lightly</h4>


    The ck-robed cultivators werergely at the peak of Immanence, but three among them were at Ascension. Although You Ba was extremely strong, she was still unprepared to handle such arge group of cultivators at once. Meanwhile, You Jiu grew stronger and stronger as he fought.


    "You''ve lost, You Liu!" he cried out.


    You Liu was sent flying, defeated by You Jiu.


    "Impossible! You''ve only been cultivating for two decades. How could you have beaten me?!" You Liu cried out.


    "The penalty for betrayal is death!" You Jiu thrust his de straight at You Liu.


    "No!" You Liu cried out.


    The disparity in strength left You Liu entirely unable to resist. Just as the attack was about to end his life, a sword was tossed through the air, blocking You Jiu''s de and forcing him back.


    Another ck-robed cultivator had appeared to guard You Liu, and there were many more white-mist specters around him than around You Liu himself.


    "You Er? You''vee too?" You Jiu''s face fell as he recognized the new interloper.


    "You Jiu, we''ve fought before, and you were no match for me. The sect leader certainly isn''t going to return, and the Hall of Specters is about to undergo a dramatic transformation. If you choose to serve me, I''m willing to give you everything you could want," the ck-robed man offered.


    You Jiu''s face clouded over. He knew that You Er was strong, so he didn''t dare take it easy. "Senior Sister, bring Sir Xiao away, quickly!"


    "You intend to leave? I don''t think so. The Seal of Great Wei shall be mine today," You Er proimed, pouncing toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    You Jiu hurriedly blocked his path. The two men transformed into a series of spectral afterimages, and sparks from their swords filled the air.


    "Be careful, You Jiu!" You Ba cried out.


    You Liu wiped away the blood by his mouth and smirked. "Don''t you think you should be worrying about yourself instead?"


    He rushed straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hold it!" You Jiu cried out.


    However, You Er hadtched onto You Jiu and was preventing him from getting away.


    You Liu shed before Xiao Nanfeng. "Lad, the Seal of Great Wei isn''t something you''re qualified to possess!"


    "Be careful, Sir Xiao!" You Ba cried out.


    "It''s toote. His arm''s about to break, and he''s going to be a cripple," You Liu replied.


    Over twenty white-mist specters flew at Xiao Nanfeng as You Liu thrust his sword at Xiao Nanfeng''s arm, intending to chop it off and grievously wound him.


    "Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, punching at the hilt of You Liu''s sword and causing it to miss. Simultaneously, golden mes red up over his other hand. Using his hand as a de, he shed at You Liu.


    You Liu''s arm was chopped off, along with the sword he held. Arm and swordnded on the ground with a tter.


    "Argh!" You Liu cradled his bleeding stump as he screamed in pain. "Aren''t you an Immanence-realm cultivator?"


    "Are you so gullible as to believe everything that others say?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    After a moment''s hesitation, You Liu''s face shed viciously. "Charge!" hemanded.


    The twenty or so white-mist specters that You Liu had spawned instantly shot into Xiao Nanfeng''s body, paralyzing him in ce.


    As he continued to cradle his wound, You Liu said, "So what if you''re an Ascension-realm cultivator? You''ve still been struck by my attack! For the loss of my arm, I''ll strip you of all your limbs!"


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You! How could you still be speaking?!" You Liu''s eyes widened. "Impossible! You''ve suppressed my white-mist specters and held them off right at the surface of your skin?"


    "Take them back!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The white-mist specters rebounded, growing stronger in the process, as they shot back toward You Liu.


    "Impossible! How could you know our techniques? No!" You Liu shouted.


    The specters were even faster than when You Liu had sent them toward Xiao Nanfeng, and they rushed into You Liu''s body within moments.


    You Liu vomited out fresh blood as he slumped to the ground, unable to move. His eyes clouded over with fear. "How could you have learned this technique? How could you? It was strong enough to destroy my muscles and bones! This is impossible!"


    "If you''re not skilled, you shouldn''t try to pull off a coup," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    With You Liu frozen stiff, the ck-robed cultivators around sensed that the tide was turning against them. Some ran off immediately.


    "Running off already? Weren''t you here to catch me?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    He summoned two hundred white-mist specters, each flying into the group of ck-robed cultivators.


    "No! How could this be? How could he be in control of so many white-mist specters?! No!"


    The Immanence-realm cultivators were struck by the attack instantly and fell to the ground as they vomited out blood. Like You Liu, their bodies had locked up in paralysis. The three Ascension-realm cultivators only froze for a moment before regaining their mobility, but that moment of hesitation had been deadly. You Ba struck at the three of them in session as they fell amidst pools of their own blood.


    "Impossible!" You Er cried out, still fighting against You Jiu.


    How could all his men have fallen? Not only that, You Jiu wasn''t losing out to him!


    "You Jiu, let me help you!" You Ba cried out.


    "There''s no need. He can handle it himself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What?" You Ba was shocked.


    Although You Jiu did seem to be on the losing end at the moment, he was gradually growing stronger even as You Er grew weaker. His strikes began to force You Er back.


    "This is impossible! You were no match for me shortly before this. How could you have grown strong enough to suppress me so quickly?" You Er cried out.


    Though he didn''t want to believe it, You Er began to take more and more damage, and his stamina was starting to falter.


    In shock, You Er cried out, "You have spectral eyes? They can see through an opponent''s weaknesses¡ªbut they''ve never appeared in our bloodline ever since the founder, the Specter King himself! How could you possess them?!"


    You Jiu''s sword thrust straight through You Er''s heart as he fell to the ground amidst a pool of blood.


    "No! This won''t do. I still haven''t established my own empire, and neither have I united the world! I still haven''t¡ª" You Er screamed in despair.


    You Jiu shed at You Er again, killing him for good.


    He walked back to Xiao Nanfeng. "I apologize, Sir Xiao. That was the internal unrest in the Hall of Specters I was talking about."


    "Power and authority, is it? Have you ever dreamt of taking the Seal of Great Wei for yourself and uniting the world?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    You Ba gave Xiao Nanfeng a wary nce, sensing the interrogative nature of this question.


    You Jiu smiled wryly. "To be frank, Sir Xiao, I did harbor such a notion in the past, but I know that trying to unite the world is a fool''s dream. I wanted to obtain the Seal of Great Wei for another reason."


    "Sir, You Jiu doesn''t mean what he''s saying. Please don''t me him!" You Ba jumped in.


    "It matters little. Indeed, You Jiu''s response makes him sound even more honest for it. Who hasn''t thought of ruling over the entire world before? I don''t me You Jiu for it¡ªbut even without my presence, it would have been very hard for You Jiu to im the seal," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    You Jiu seemed confused.


    "Do you remember what I told you at the za Stairway?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    You Jiu nodded slowly. "That my fist technique was wed, Sir Xiao?"


    "That''s right. Your fist technique iscking, and thecking portion precisely counters what you currently know. I suspect that the Specter King did so as a means to control his subordinates."


    You Jiu frowned. "No wonder I was never able to beat the Specter King during the trial! He''s always mentioned that no spectral guard has ever been able to get past that za."


    You Ba was likewise shocked by the revtion. She nced at Xiao Nanfeng with deep longing, as though hoping that he would be able to teach them what was missing.


    "Deal with these cultivators first," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He didn''t teach You Jiu theplete technique; it wasn''t something to be taught lightly.


    You Ba and You Jiu nodded in tacit understanding when they saw that Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of borating, but it was hard to hide the look of disappointment on their faces.


    As for the remaining cultivators, You Jiu interrogated You Liu for some time, then killed them all. He handled the matter cleanly and decisively.


    "Sir Xiao, as you guessed, the serpent headed to the humans'' domain and spread the word that you received the Seal of Great Wei. The major ns of the humans'' domain are all starting to make their move, and there''ll likely be more people like You Liu here to stop you," You Jiu began worriedly.


    "That''s fine. We''ll head to the humans'' domain immediately."


    "Yessir!" the two cultivators chorused.


    The three of them headed toward their destination. Not longter, they caught three spirits and mounted them to speed up the journey.


    As they rode, Xiao Nanfeng took out a jade tablet and began reading the Taoist scriptures within.


    Although he had acquired the countless techniques of Emperor Wei''s inheritance, the majority had to do with physical cultivation. There were quite a few spiritual ones too, but Xiao Nanfeng found that all of them paled inparison to his Body of Yin.


    The cultivation of Body of Yin required a deep understanding of all manner of spiritual cultivation, and studying these Taoist scriptures was the fastest route to that understanding. Xiao Nanfeng had never given up on scriptures as a result.


    Dayster, a huge city appeared within sight of the three cultivators.


    "We''ve arrived at the humans'' domain, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu called out.

 Chapter 118: You Jius Principles

    <h4>Chapter 118: You Jiu''s Principles</h4>


    Dayster, within a small cottage in a city in the humans'' domain, Xiao Nanfeng sat on a chair enjoying the dawn breeze as he sipped on cold tea and studied his Taoist scriptures. He seemed to be particrly content.


    Just then, You Jiu walked up. "Sir!"


    Xiao Nanfeng put down the jade tablet and looked toward You Jiu. "Is there news?"


    "My subordinates have found that the king of Qi has caught a few Taiqing disciples, but their exact whereabouts remain unknown," You Jiu reported.


    "Oh?"


    "The divisions of the Hall of Specters are assigned to different tasks and shoulder different responsibilities. You Yi has always been the one in charge of overseeing the royal family of Qi. If he''s willing to cooperate, we''ll surely get much more detailed information," You Jiu exined.


    "You Yi? The strongest member of the Hall of Specters, an Ascension-realm cultivator?" Xiao Nanfeng confirmed. [1]


    "Yes, You Yi''s very strong. He''s undefeated among cultivators at Spiritsong and lower," You Jiu replied.


    "Keep talking."


    "Sir, we''ve been traveling stealthily, but since I''ve begun reaching out to the spectral guards, some among the Hall of Specters have anticipated our arrival. They found me and asked to meet with you, especially You Yi. He ims that he wants to greet and pay obeisance to you in ordance with the n ts."


    "Let theme, then. I''ll await them here," Xiao Nanfeng replied, having a sip of tea.


    "They may being with ill intent," You Jiu warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "You''re my bodyguard now, aren''t you? I''m confident you''ll be able to protect me."


    You Jiu hesitated,plex emotions flitting across his face, before he nodded firmly. "I''ll do my best, Sir. I''ll have theme by in two days."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and returned to his scriptures.


    After You Jiu left, Xiao Nanfeng looked appraisingly in the direction in which he had left, deep in thought.


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye. As Xiao Nanfeng was reading in the courtyard, a group of ck-robed cultivators slowly walked in.


    "They''re here, Sir," You Jiu announced.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng put down his jade tablet to look at the seven cultivators before him. In addition to You Jiu and You Ba, there were five other men of varying appearances.


    "You Yi greets the sessor of Emperor Wei," a hulking man began.


    "You San greets the sessor of Emperor Wei!"


    The five unknown division leaders were all respectful, but they seemed to be staring at Xiao Nanfeng with some ulterior motive in mind.


    "You wanted to see me? For what reason?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "After the sect leader headed to the divine domain, I was left responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Hall of Specters. When I learned that you had received the acknowledgement of Emperor Wei and became his sessor, I wanted to confirm it for myself," You Yi said, smiling.


    The other four cultivators nodded.


    "And after that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "If you truly are Emperor Wei''s sessor, Sir, we will naturally serve you as our leader. While the sect leader is gone, you maymand us as you deem fit," You Yi replied.


    The other four men were in agreement.


    Xiao Nanfeng manifested the Seal of Great Wei. Imbuing it with his gic energy, it began to glow with golden light. The five men''s eyes lit up as well.


    "This is the Seal of Great Wei as passed down to me from a millennium ago. Do you recognize it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "Sir, may I have a closer look?" You Yi''s breathing grew flustered.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. There were quite a number of red gs about these five men.


    "That''s not necessary. If you don''t recognize the Seal of Great Wei, it''s pointless." Xiao Nanfeng dematerialized the seal with a flip of his palm.


    "Sir, I simply haven''t confirmed the authenticity of the seal. I just need a closer look!" You Yi cried out.


    "I think not. You Jiu, send the guests out," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Everyone, you promised me not to make a fuss. You can leave now," You Jiu said.


    You Yi''s face suddenly turned cold. "Leave? We''re going to make our move!"


    Four of the ck-robed men surrounded Xiao Nanfeng in an instant, each with a red orb in their hands. The red orbs suddenly manifested in the form of four ming dragons that shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    With a great explosion, Xiao Nanfeng was surrounded by mes.


    "Sir!" You Jiu unsheathed his sword and made to rush toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to be halted by You Yi''s sword.


    "You Jiu, now''s not the time for you to act. Your rmendation has done us a great service, haha!" You Yiughed. His sword shes, which came at You Jiu in droves, forced him to stumble back.


    You Ba shed at You Yi, intending to save You Jiu, but You Yi was so strong he could take them both two-on-one.


    "You Wu, You Qi, didn''t you promise that you''d protect the sessor of Emperor Wei with us? Aren''t you going to stop what you''re doing?!"


    Two of the ck-robed menmanding their ming dragons smirked, ignoring You Jiu. They had clearly decided to switch sides at this critical moment.


    "You Jiu, you might be a genius at fighting, but your cultivation is inferior to mine. Neither of you are a match for me!" You Yi sneered.


    You Yi was strong enough to hold back both You Jiu and You Ba.


    "You Ba, don''t worry about me. Save Sir Xiao, quickly!" You Jiu howled. He charged forward rashly and knocked You Yi aside so that You Ba could free herself.


    "Got it!" You Ba rushed off toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "It''s toote. These four fire dragons'' strength are such that even a Spiritsong-realm cultivator won''t be able to escape. He''s trapped¡ªand this is just the beginning." You Yi continued to pressure You Jiu as he spoke.


    As the four ming dragons surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, a gigantic blood-red bell fell from the skies, enclosing the four fire dragons and Xiao Nanfeng within.


    "The divine artifact of Great Yan, the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell? How could it be with you¡ªyou''re working with Great Yan?!"


    Three of the ck-robed cultivators were infusing their spiritual power into the bell, and the fourth blocked You Ba''s way. As they shed, You Ba was forced back again and again.


    Within the bell, however, Xiao Nanfeng remained at ease. The Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell was an astonishing artifact, but strong though it was, it could hardly stand against the Seal of Great Wei.


    The Seal of Great Wei had easily suppressed even the serpent, and it was trivial for it to destroy the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell. However, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t in a hurry to do so. Rather, he activated Sky of Ten Suns at full strength, furiously absorbing the fiery dragons'' mes from the vicinity. Simultaneously, he was attempting to overhear the conversations urring outside.


    "You Jiu, you''re no match for me. Give up. You''re a talented individual whom I admire, so as long as you''re willing to be loyal to me, I can give you all that you want." You Yi fended off You Jiu with his sword.


    "You Yi, you''re worried about your subordinates, aren''t you? Before you came, I had you surrender all your subordinates as hostages to my men. If you dare do anything to Sir Xiao, your subordinates will all die. Is that the oue you want?!" You Jiu shouted.


    "I don''t mind. If they die, I can always train a new batch¡ªand I have more subordinates than just those, anyway," You Yi replied, sneering.


    "What?!"


    "Aren''t you curious how I managed to borrow the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell in the first ce?" You Yi''s sword technique was rapid and prating, and he was fully suppressing You Jiu.


    "The Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell is the divine artifact of Great Yan, and there''s no way they''d loan it to an outsider¡ªunless, unless you''re part of Great Yan''s royal family!" You Jiu''s pupils suddenly contracted.


    "That''s right. My other identity is the eldest son of the king of Great Yan," You Yi replied.


    "What? You¡ª" You Jiu cried out in shock.


    "The Hall of Specters was responsible for destroying the inheritance of all the major ns. Do you really think it was able to do so without anyone''s knowledge? Five hundred years ago, the royal family of Great Yan discovered that the Hall of Specters had yet to be destroyed entirely, and it hatched a n to put a spy into the Hall. I was the product of centuries of hard work, and had almost be the sect leader¡ªbut the old sect leader must have sensed something. He remained on guard against me, or I would have taken over before his departure to the divine domain," You Yi spat out, seemingly still aggrieved about what had happened.


    You Jiu nched. "The crown prince of Great Yan? No wonder you had ess to the artifact."


    "Not just that. The strongest cultivators of Great Yan are making their move outside, and your subordinates won''t be able to help you. Give up now!" You Yi exhorted.


    "The crown prince of Great Yan? Is that why you volunteered to spy on the royal family of Qi? You''re intending to take advantage of the Hall of Specters to assassinate them and take down both factions?!" You Jiu suddenly cried out.


    "You have good eyes, don''t you? Once the Hall of Specters and the royal family of Great Qi perish together, I''ll use the Seal of Great Wei to conquer the entire realm in the name of Great Yan. I''ll unify the humans'' domain¡ªand all thanks to you, You Jiu, for reiming the Seal of Great Wei for me!" You Yi sent a sword sh at You Jiu.


    "You won''t seed!" You Jiu rushed over, his sword moving faster and faster¡ªonly to be suppressed by You Yi''s brute strength.


    "I am foremost among all cultivators at Spiritsong and below, and you? You might be second. Submit to me, and I''ll give you everything you want. I know who you are. Your father was once an important official of Qi, who offended the royal family by pleading for mercy for themon people. His whole n was ughtered, leaving naught but you. The sect leader took you in; you want nothing but to take revenge on the royal family of Qi. I''ll give you that opportunity. What say you?" You Yi attempted to persuade You Jiu even as he fought.


    "You know that much?" You Jiu cried out.


    "Isn''t that why you volunteered to guard the emperor''s tomb? You wanted to get the Seal of Great Wei and use it tomand the destruction of Qi. I know your motives and your objectives¡ªand I do appreciate your talent. If you''re willing to submit to me, I''ll help you aplish your heart''s desire. And as for this man, Nanfeng, you must be helping him for some reason or another. He''s about to be burned to ash by the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell, but that relic has the special ability of being able to collect souls. I can even give you his spiritual body. What do you think?"


    You Ba, fighting some distance away, couldn''t help but stagger at the offer. Her fighting gradually slowed.


    Xiao Nanfeng listened to the conversation from within the bell, his eyes frosting over.


    "You truly are frightening!" You Jiu cried out, spitting out blood as he was struck by You Yi''s attack.


    "You Jiu, by now, Nanfeng''s dead. If you''re willing to lend me your assistance now, all this could be yours," You Yi cajoled.


    "It''s a tempting offer, I have to admit, but my father was willing to die rather than give up on his principles. If I betray Sir Xiao, how will I ever face my father in death? The sect leader took me in as an orphan, and the first lesson he taught me was to keep my promises. I have promised to be Sir Xiao''s bodyguard, and I intend to keep that promise. I won''t use his trust in me to betray him, even if I have to fight to the death with you!" You Jiu cried out, charging forward and putting his life on the line.


    His sudden blow tore a huge wound in You Yi''s body.


    "You Ba, what are you waiting for? We have to keep fighting! He saved your life¡ªdon''t betray that trust!" You Jiu cried out.


    You Ba flushed with guilt and embarrassment, then struck at another ck-robed cultivator.


    "Stubborn fool! Perish, then!" You Yi thundered.


    "Even if I die, I''ll do my best to take you down with me. Your subordinates won''t live, either¡ªand who''s to say you''ll be able to kill me?" You Jiu retorted.


    The two men began to fight even more viciously than before.


    1. Ò» (yi) means one, with the natural connotation of top or first in this context. ?

 Chapter 119: Sect Leader You Jiu

    <h4>Chapter 119: Sect Leader You Jiu</h4>


    As expected of a kingdom''s prized relic, the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell boasted a near-inexhaustible supply of me. The four ming dragons zed ardently with overwhelming strength.


    If not for the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had chosen to study Sky of Ten Suns, it was all but guaranteed that he would have be a pile of ash.


    His hundred divine channels shook as the endless mes were forcibly absorbed into the golden sun in his dantian. The golden sun was like a huge furnace that burned away all the impurities of the me, then distilled it to form new pure yang qi. The golden sun in Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian grewrger andrger.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body absorbed the fire from all around him. To him, this was no hell, no predicament¡ªbut rather a haven within which he could develop his new technique to the utmost.


    The four ming dragons cried in agony. So much me had been sucked from their bodies that they were turning translucent, but the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell was a font of me. It quickly replenished what had been consumed.


    Outside the bell, the three ck-robed cultivators were still infusing all their spiritual power into the bell. They were clearly growing impatient and exasperated.


    "Hasn''t Nanfeng died yet? Why does it feel like it''s getting harder to activate the relic?"


    "Look! The bell seems to be... melting? Is that Nanfeng''s doing?!"


    "The Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell was forged from a piece of me essence and contains a near-inexhaustible source of fire. How could Nanfeng ever do any damage to it?"


    The three cultivators continued to infuse their spiritual power into the bell, but in just two hours, it had grown so thin, like a cicada''s wing, that they could even see the mes within the bell.


    "How could this be?" one ck-robed cultivator gasped.


    The bell copsed with a huge crash from the inside, as though it had sumbed to the endless mes. The three cultivators were forced back from the impact and the shock.


    The four ming dragons that the bell summoned were rapidly shrinking, revealing Xiao Nanfeng at their heart. He opened his mouth and sucked in the mes and even the dragons themselves.


    "He ate the four ming dragons?"


    "No, he ate the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell? Impossible!" the cultivators cried out.


    A wave of energy burst from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, shielding him in a fiery barrier that forced the cultivators back.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at his dantian, only to see that a second golden sun had formed within it. Both were orbiting his dantian and releasing an immense aura of me. He felt that he had grown at least twice as strong as before.


    "The second stage of Ascension?" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes, which shone with golden light.


    "Kill him!"


    The three ck-robed cultivators, after a momentary shock, shed toward Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously.


    Xiao Nanfeng dodged, then punched forward. Dozens of ming fists materialized in the air and shot straight toward the three men.


    "No!" To their shock, they were unable to block the fists.


    All three men were sent flying, grievously injured. They vomited out blood in mid-air as they copsed to the ground.


    Their bodies swelled all over from Xiao Nanfeng''s punches. His single attack had disrupted their qi cirction and scorched their skin until it was bright red all over.


    "Didn''t the serpent im that he was only an Immanence-realm cultivator?!" the three ck-robed men cried.


    They couldn''t even run away; Xiao Nanfeng had crippled them all.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the three of them and turned toward the otherbatants.


    You Ba was fighting against one ck-robed cultivator. Both of them were injured and battered, but worst of all was You Jiu in the distance. His cultivation was inferior to You Yi''s, and he was being suppressed on every metric. Blood drenched him, and the peeling flesh all over his body was a gruesome sight to behold. Even so, he had left a bevy of wounds all over You Yi''s body as well.


    When Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the bell, everyone was shocked.


    "Impossible. How could he have escaped from the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell?!" You Yi cried out.


    "Sir Xiao, you''re still alive! Please, help me protect You Ba," You Jiu eximed in delight.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, sending countless white-mist specters surging out toward You Ba''s opponent.


    "No!" the ck-robed man screamed.


    He was instantly surrounded by the specters. As they charged into his body, he froze up. You Ba cut off one of his arms and was about to deal him a killing blow when You Jiu cried out, "Not yet, Senior Sister! Let Sir Xiao decide how we should deal with him."


    You Ba nodded tersely, but cut off both his legs in grievance


    before turning to support You Jiu. However, Xiao Nanfeng was even faster than she was. He instantly appeared behind You Yi.


    "No!" You Yi cried out.


    With a bang, as Xiao Nanfeng struck the center of You Yi''s back, thetter froze up. He was unable to move, as though his internal organs had been shattered by Xiao Nanfeng''s strike.


    "What sort of fist technique is this...?" You Yi spat out blood as he fell paralyzed to the ground, staring at Xiao Nanfeng with disbelief.


    You Jiu shed at You Yi''s prone body,pletely crippling him.


    "Thank you for the assistance, Sir Xiao." You Jiu bowed respectfully despite his wounds.


    "You''ve done well as a bodyguard."


    You Jiu smiled wryly. Was that so? Not at all. Xiao Nanfeng had resolved the problem himself; he had barely done anything.


    "I''m far too weak," You Jiu replied.


    "No, you''re not. Considering that your cultivation was weaker than You Yi''s, the fact that you held on for so long is admirable. Improving your cultivation is only a matter of resources, which you can easily supplementter," Xiao Nanfeng consoled him.


    "How should we deal with them?" You Jiu asked.


    "Sir, we were mistaken! You Yi forced us into cooperation!"


    "Sir, we''re willing to assist you with all our effort. Please, spare our lives!"


    The other four ck-robed cultivators begged for mercy.


    "Can Imand the Hall of Specters with the Seal of Great Wei?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked severely.


    You Jiu bowed and kowtowed. "I greet my lord."


    "Very well. I hereby dere you the new sect leader of the Hall of Specters. You shall oversee its entire operation," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    "As for these traitors, I''ll leave them to you."


    "Yessir!"


    You Jiu drew his sword as he walked over to the wounded ck-robed cultivators, his gaze cold.


    "Don''t kill me, You Jiu! I taught you the sword in the past. You can''t kill me!" one of them shouted.


    Blood sprayed through the air as the four cultivators died to You Jiu''s sword.


    "No! You can''t kill me! If I die, the royal family of Great Yan will never forgive you!" You Yi cried out.


    The next moment, with a clean snick, You Jiu killed You Yi as well.


    "Sir, there''s still some fighting outside. You Ba and I will handle it," You Jiu reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Go."


    You Jiu and You Ba rushed out of the cottage.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched You Jiu as he departed. He wasn''t sure if You Jiu would be truly loyal to him, but his actions and speech had at least deepened Xiao Nanfeng''s trust in him.


    Outside the cottage, You Jiu''s subordinates were being killed by strong cultivators from Great Yan. With You Jiu and You Ba''s appearance, however, the tide of battle quickly turned in their favor.


    Cries resounded as one Great Yan cultivator after another died to You Jiu and You Ba.


    "You Jiu, Sir Xiao is tremendously strong. Has he really just reached Ascension?" You Ba gaped.


    You Jiu suddenly stopped short and turned to You Ba, his face cold.


    "You Jiu, w-why are you looking at me like that?"


    "I had you contact You Wu and You Qi, and you imed to have settled affairs with them. You promised that they would help me protect Sir Xiao. And this was the result of that promise?" You Jiu challenged her.


    "They betrayed me at thest minute¡ªthere was nothing I could have done. They promised me that they would serve Sir Xiao just as we do," You Ba replied.


    "Senior Sister, don''t treat me like a fool. Your fighting against You Qi¡ªwere you just trying to test each other and drag things out? How could you do this? Were you waiting for Sir Xiao to die?!"


    "No, of course not! Why would I?" A sh of panic skirted over You Ba''s face.


    "Sir Xiao might be young, but he''s intelligent and resourceful. What I''ve noticed, he surely has too. Why do you think he only praised me, speaking nothing of you? When you came to assist me, why was it that he rushed ahead of you? Don''t you understand?"


    "No, I didn''t! I, I¡ª" You Ba was flustered and speechless.


    "Fortunately, you hindered Sir Xiao only by inaction, not by explicit interaction. Otherwise, he would never have spared you. Furthermore, did you realize that he only saved you on my request? Don''t be foolish, Senior Sister. What are you thinking? Sir Xiao saved your life¡ªare you really going to be this ungrateful?"


    "I..." You Ba began to tear up.


    "Why would you do this, Senior Sister?" You Jiu asked again.


    "He saved me because you asked him to. The one I needed to thank was you, not him. I wanted you to gain the Seal of Great Wei, to learn theplete technique of the Specter King, to gain power and might, to conquer the world. I didn''t want you to be trapped under his aegis for a decade as a ve..." You Ba couldn''t help the tears from flowing down her face.


    You Jiu couldn''t help but soften. He smiled wryly. "You only witnessed him saving you because of me. Were you unaware that he saved my life too? Isn''t my life worth ten years of service?"


    You Ba stilled. Regret shed in her eyes.


    "You were attempting to take advantage of You Yi''s ploy to free me from service, interrogate Sir Xiao''s spiritual avatar, and hence im his secrets, but were you aware of just how fragile the n was? If Sir Xiao had perished, I would be under You Yi''s control. Compared to Sir Xiao, You Yi is far inferior in terms of generosity, intelligence, means, skill, and potential. The Seal of Great Wei holds immense value in the humans'' domain, yes, but did you notice that Sir Xiao just gave me a disdainful nce when I brought this up?"


    "What?" You Ba was shocked.


    "It was apparent to me that the humans'' domain alone was far too insignificant to be worth Sir Xiao''s attention. He must have set his sight on something even loftier, so much so that I feel like a frog in a well. Do you really think he was unable to see through your antics, that you were trying to kill You Qi to prevent him from revealing the truth? Sir Xiao saw it all; he''s only ignoring it on my ount. That''s why he left You Yi and You Qi for me to handle¡ªit''s a token of generosity. I would be a fool to continue to pretend that I don''t know anything," You Jiu exined.


    "H-How could that be? Is he really that perspicacious?" You Ba cried out.


    "You Ba, from now on, don''t bother with the affairs of the Hall of Specters. I''ll reim your name as well. You are freed from the Hall of Specters," You Jiu told her calmly.


    "What? I, I¡ª" You Ba''s panic was reflected in her eyes.


    "You''ll always be the woman I love most in the world. Once the situation stabilizes, let''s get married¡ªbut I don''t think you should involve yourself with the Hall of Specters any longer, both for me and for you," You Jiu replied sternly.


    You Ba''s eyes shed with a series ofplex emotions, but in the end, she nodded lovingly. "I''ll listen to you."


    "Good." You Jiu smiled in relief. Just then, however, he nched. Above the cottage in which Xiao Nanfeng was located, a golden glow appeared. Countless arcane runes revolved within it.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction? This isn''t good!" You Jiu cried out.

 Chapter 120: I Am Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 120: I Am Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    A golden glow appeared above Xiao Nanfeng, and countless arcane runes revolved within it.


    A huge sword sh emanated from the golden glow, striking at Xiao Nanfeng. The ground quaked and the cottage copsed as a plume of smoke rose into the air.


    A number of figures jumped down into the cloud of dust.


    "Find me Nanfeng''s body!" a voice called out.


    "It''s not here, Sir!" one cultivator reported.


    "Impossible. Immortal''s Destruction boasts a strength equivalent to a Spiritsong blow. How could he have dodged that blow in such a short period of time? Keep searching. We must recover the Seal of Great Wei!" the ice-cold voice replied.


    "Yessir!" everyone chorused.


    "You want my seal?" Xiao Nanfeng''s voice came from within the cloud of dust.


    As a brisk wind blew by, a young man was revealed within the dust, his back dripping with blood¡ªnone other than Xiao Nanfeng.


    He had dodged the lethal blow in the blink of an eye, but even so, the frightening burst of energy had scraped his skin. The power of a Spiritsong blow was immense, and even the ncing damage would have killed an ordinary Ascension-realm cultivator. It was only because Xiao Nanfeng possessed a powerful barrier of pure yang qi that he had survived.


    "You aren''t dead? That''s impossible!" the enemy cultivators shouted.


    "You really are lucky to be able to dodge even such an attack," the enemy leader remarked.


    "It''s you?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He recognized the enemy leader immediately. He was the one who hadmanded the red-armored cultivators outside the centipedes''ir, who had allied with Xiang Zhirou to deal with them together. When the centipedes attacked them en masse, he had eventually managed to escape.


    "Lad, you daree to my territory? After destroying my talisman of arcane yinst time, you won''t be able to escape now!" The man leapt forward, his face fierce. He sent a sword sh arcing at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Overconfident, aren''t you?" Xiao NAnfeng called out.


    He shifted to the side and avoided the sword sh, then punched forward. Dozens of ming fists appeared, all striking the man''s body and sending him smashing into the ground.


    A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out of his mouth. Fist indentations were visible all over his body, as though he had been dealt such serious blows that he was now immobile.


    "Sir Luo!" his subordinates shouted.


    "Impossible. It''s only been a month. How could you have grown so much stronger?!" Sir Luo cried out.


    "We''ll charge at him together!" His subordinates rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t turn around. He called out calmly, "Leave them alive."


    The cultivators were at a loss as to whom Xiao Nanfeng was speaking to when arge group of white-mist specters suddenly rushed into their bodies. The cultivators stood stock-still, paralyzed, as a sword shed at them from behind. They fell to the ground in pools of blood.


    "How could this be? Who attacked us from the back?!"


    A ck figure walked up from behind them.


    "Sir Xiao, the leader of these men is the head of the Luo n, as well as the lord of this city. We must have made toorge amotion and lured them over," You Jiu reported.


    "n Head Luo? I was about to find you, but it seems as though you''ve found me instead. Where are the Taiqing disciples?" Xiao Nanfeng interrogated.


    n Head Luo had been responsible for seizing and transferring the Taiqing disciples that Xiang Zhirou had captured, and he surely knew everything.


    "Do you really think I''d tell you? Dream on!" Lord Luo replied.


    "The Hall of Specters has trained interrogators, doesn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked You Jiu.


    "Of course, Sir Xiao. Hand him over to me. I''ll make sure he speaks. We shouldn''t stay long here, and the Hall of Specters has other properties within the city. Please follow me, Sir Xiao," You Jiu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He was certain that the Hall of Specters was more adept at interrogation than he was.


    You Jiu summoned a group of subordinates to clean up the mess. Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu left the ruins of the cottage and headed to another one elsewhere within the city.


    By the time he showered and had a change of clothes, most of Xiao Nanfeng''s wounds had already been healed to a significant extent.


    The next morning, You Jiu stopped by to report to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Sir Xiao, the interrogation is finished," he began.


    "Oh?"


    "n Head Luo wasvishly rewarded for bringing the Taiqing disciples he had captured to court as a gift to the royal family of Qi. As a result, he was rewarded by a talisman to manipte the Immortal''s Destruction. After hearing of themotion we had caused yesterday within the city, he came over to inspect what was going on. Coincidentally, he saw you deal severe damage to You Yi with a fist. Although he didn''t recognize You Yi, he was able to confirm that you were an Ascension-realm cultivator. Worried that you would manage to escape, he hurriedly used that talisman to stop you. He was hoping for a speedy battle that would allow him to im the Seal of Great Wei that you possess," You Jiu exined.


    "The talisman of Immortal''s Destruction?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with interest.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction is a divine relic of the Qi kingdom, which was once a relic of Great Wei. It was once used to pass judgment on the unworthy, and even to kill rogue Immortals. It possesses immense strength. These talismans serve to designate a target within fifty kilometers of the relic; the resulting attack is near-instantaneous," You Jiu continued.


    "Fifty kilometers!" Xiao Nanfeng was stunned.


    "That''s right. We''re within range of the capital of Great Qi, so it was able to attack us directly. Allegedly, the Immortal''s Destruction was even stronger in the past."


    "A remarkable treasure, then."


    "These treasures were the property of the Empire of Great Wei. In principle, the royal family of Qi and the various ns are all gravekeepers who were allowed to use these treasures but who do not own them. As the sessor to Emperor Wei, Sir Xiao, these treasures ought to belong to you," You Jiu exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng clearly seemed to be interested in the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "Has he offered all the Taiqing disciples he captured as tribute to the royal family of Qi?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No. He''s retained an Ascension-realm Taiqing disciple, who is currently in his manor," You Jiu exined.


    "Ye Sanshui?" Xiao Nanfeng was visibly surprised.


    "I''ve already arranged for my subordinates to keep a careful eye on the Luo manor," You Jiu replied. "Should we attack, Sir Xiao?"


    "Do so," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yessir!"


    Four hourster, in the Luo manor, Xiao Nanfeng stepped over a pool of blood and through the entrance of one of the Luo n''s secret chambers.


    You Jiu pushed open the door to the chamber, letting in a ray of sunlight. The chamber was filled with all sorts of torture implements. On a rack hung a man whose skin was more blood than not. His face had been branded so many times it no longer looked like that of a human.


    The moment the door to the chamber creaked open, the man shuddered and revealed a fearful expression.


    He trembled upon seeing the ray of sunlight, his eyes blinded to such an extent that he could barely open them. All he could see was someone walking into the chamber, shining in sudden radiance.


    "Ye Sanshui? Are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    The man shook. His eyes grew wet with tears. Despite his weakness, he was tense with excitement. "General Xiao, you''ve finally returned! I''ve finally been able to meet you."


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "What did you call me?"


    "General Xiao, Xiao Hongye!" Ye Sanshui replied weakly. His eyes closed, and he spoke no more.


    You Jiu stepped forward and examined Ye Sanshui''s body. "Sir Xiao, he seems to have been in an extreme state of mind for a prolonged period of time. Now that he''s finally rxed, his mind''s taking the opportunity to shut down and rest, causing him to faint. There should be nosting damage given sufficient rest and recuperation."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Bring him to my residence."


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng mulled over Ye Sanshui''s words. Xiao Hongye was his father''s name; Ye Sanshui had mistaken him for his father.


    Three dayster, Ye Sanshui slowly awoke.


    He blinked blearily, almost jumping up and opening his eyes wide in preparation for self-defense. However, the aches all over his body caused him such pain that he fell back down into bed. Only then did he discover that he was no longer in the hellish torture chamber where he had been found, but rather an ordinary house. He crawled up arduously and saw a pond outside the window, with a person seated by its side enjoying the dawn breeze as he sipped tea. He held a jade tablet in his hand, as though studying a Taoist scripture.


    Ye Sanshui''s eyes lit up in delight. He vaguely remembered who had saved him.


    He gingerly made his way down the bed and grabbed hold of the walking stick that had been ced by its side. He limped his way out of the house; then, upon seeing the figure by the pond, Ye Sanshui''s eyes turned wet once more.


    "General Xiao, is it really you?" Ye Sanshui''s voice was thick as he choked back tears.


    By the pond, hearing themotion, Xiao Nanfeng turned around. He was somewhat surprised to see Ye Sanshui''s agitated expression.


    "Senior Brother Ye? Have you awoken?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ye Sanshui froze. His joy and excitement turned to disbelief.


    "Nanfeng? What are you doing here? Where''s General Xiao?" Ye Sanshui asked urgently.


    "General Xiao? Who? I was the one who saved you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Impossible. I was sure I saw General Xiao!" Ye Sanshui objected.


    "You must have been too weak and drifting in and out of consciousness," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "I was the person you saw."


    Ye Sanshui still found himself somewhat unable to believe this fact. He scrutinized Xiao Nanfeng carefully for quite some time, but the longer he looked, the more surprised he became.


    "You''ve changed drastically. You look so much like General Xiao¡ªnot just your temperament, but even your face! You, you¡ª" Ye Sanshui gave Xiao Nanfeng an astonished look.


    It had only been two months since they had been separated, but the constant fighting and killing, along with the za Stairway that Xiao Nanfeng had climbed, had transformed him dramatically.


    "You must be mistaken," Xiao Nanfeng said again, smiling.


    "No, I can''t be. You look so much like General Xiao. You¡ªcould you be..." Ye Sanshui trailed off.


    "Could I be what?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "General Xiao''s son was called Xiao Nanfeng, as are you! He should be seventeen this year, and you''re seventeen too. You look so much like General Xiao, so¡ª"


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows. He had given his name as ''Nanfeng,'' without the surname Xiao, in order to avoid any remnant trouble that the Chief Steward might cause, but he was now strong enough to protect himself. No longer did he have to go by a pseudonym. [1]


    "That''s right. I''m Xiao Nanfeng."


    1. Xiao Nanfeng''s name is ÏôÄÏ·ç, and the pseudonym he used was ÄÏ·ç. This should be read as Nan Feng (surname Nan, first name Feng), but keeping track of this is confusing enough that I chose to stick with Nanfeng throughout. ?

 Chapter 121: What Happened That Year

    <h4>Chapter 121: What Happened That Year</h4>


    When Xiao Nanfeng confirmed his identity, Ye Sanshui hesitated, worried that Xiao Nanfeng was lying to him.


    "Senior Brother Ye, what benefit could I derive by pretending to be Xiao Nanfeng?" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    Ye Sanshui frowned. Eventually, he sighed. "I was too careful. Indeed, what good would it do you to mislead me about your identity?"


    "Being careful is a good thing," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "How did you end uping to the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Ye Sanshui asked curiously.


    "Senior Brother Ye, were you very familiar with my father?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, instead of replying.


    "Familiar? We fought a war together! It''s a pity it didn''tst for long. The troops of the Ye n were under themand of General Xiao, ever since my father''s generation."


    "Is that so? Senior Brother Ye, could you have a seat and tell me about my father?"


    Ye Sanshui nodded, sitting down by the pond.


    "General Xiao was the junior brother of Emperor Tianshu, both of whom were elders of the Taiqing Sect. The year that the Taiwu Empire fell to internal revolt, the two of them set off together to found their own kingdom. They managed to seize control over what wouldter be the Tianshu Empire. At first, General Xiao was the more famous, with countless subordinates to his name. However, there could only be one emperor of thend; in respect to brothership and seniority, General Xiao stepped down from contention and helped Emperor Tianshu unify Taiwu. He was then granted the title of Marquis and thergest plot of titlednd in the Tianshu Empire. Emperor Tianshu himself had said many times that he would share the world with Marquis Xiao; they seemed to be particrly close with each other," Ye Sanshui recalled.


    "Oh?"


    "Even after the founding of the Tianshu Empire, there were still many rebellious soldiers from the previous dynasty that had yet to be wiped out. Other empires in the vicinity were eyeing the nascent Tianshu Empire. Marquis Xiao himself led troops to suppress internal rebellion and defend against external invasion, securing peace for the empire. At the time, he was an undefeated legend, fair and just, who would reward any sess and provide detailed guidance with regards to cultivation to his subordinates. Countless officers benefited from his advice, and all praised him for what he did."


    "How did my father go missing?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed, frowning.


    "You don''t know?" Ye Sanshui was shocked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "All I heard was that my parents went missing on the battlefield, never to be heard from since."


    "No, that''s just the story that was told to the public. I know the truth." Ye Sanshui shook his head immediately.


    "Oh?"


    "I learned of this from my elder brother. Allegedly, your mother had suffered an assassination attempt. I don''t know about the severity of the injuries she incurred."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened.


    "Marquis Xiao mentioned that he was going to bring your mother to a certain hidden realm in hopes of her revival. That was why he left so suddenly, leaving no word behind."


    "Revival? Again?" Xiao Nanfeng grimaced.


    He suddenly had an uneasy premonition. Emperor Wei had entered the divine domain of this realm in hopes of the same¡ªbut didn''t revival imply that she had died?


    "What''s the matter, Young Master?" Ye Sanshui asked curiously.


    Subconsciously, Ye Sanshui had even changed his mode of address toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "It''s nothing. Keep going," Xiao Nanfengmanded, quashing the worry he felt. He urged himself not to specte. What if he were overthinking things? What if his mother''s ''revival'' just implied straightforward recuperation?


    "After Marquis Xiao left, he felt that it would be too dangerous to take you along with him, so he entrusted you to Emperor Tianshu. Emperor Tianshu agreed at once, promising that he would treat you like his own son, safe from any danger.


    "Emperor Tianshu himself promised my father that he would protect me? Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng gave Ye Sanshui a disdainful expression.


    "Did he not?" Ye Sanshui began to frown.


    "You said that my father had many officers to his name? Why hadn''t I seen any of them over the past decade?"


    "Because the assassin who critically injured your mother had to be none other than one of Marquis Xiao''s trusted officers," Ye Sanshui replied, his face distorting.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.


    "We still don''t know who was responsible, but at the time, we were certain that the only people with the opportunity tomit the crime were among Marquis Xiao''s most trusted officers. Emperor Tianshu worried that you would be in danger if any of these officers had ess to you, so hemanded them to leave Marquis Xiao''snds on threat of death. Only Marquis Xiao''s housekeeper would remain, tasked with overseeing your development. Simultaneously, he had Marquis Xiao''s trusted officers keep an eye on each other in case the traitor attempted to sneak into Marquis Xiao''snd. That''s why the Ye n, along with the other ns beholden to Marquis Xiao, never met you," Ye Sanshui exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew dark. He could sense the web of a great conspiracy revealing itself around him.


    "Young Master, shouldn''t you have been living in the marquis''nds? How did you end up at the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and why have you been deliberately hiding your surname?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath before exining what he had suffered over thest decade.


    "What? A mere housekeeper¡ªhow dare he!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    "I won''t forgive him," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "It can''t be. An entire decade? Emperor Tianshu has forbidden all of Marquis Xiao''s officers from checking up on you, the Xiao heir, but he had to be aware of your circumstances! Why did he do nothing? How could he¡ª"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He had been wondering all this himself, but he needed facts and more information to bolster his case.


    "Over thest decade of Marquis Xiao''s disappearance, I heard my elder brother mention that Emperor Tianshu has been doing his best to win over Marquis Xiao''s troops, including the Ye n. Could it be that..." Ye Sanshui nched as he thought of a fearful possibility.


    "We''ll deal with real-world affairs once we get out of this hidden realm," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    His mother, assassinated; the killer, yet unknown; him, under de facto house arrest for a decade. How could Emperor Tianshu have done nothing? All this seemed to be extraordinary. Xiao Nanfeng was concerned that he had more on his te to worry about than the Chief Steward himself.


    "Young Master, the Ye n benefited greatly from Marquis Xiao''s benevolence, and my father''s will states unequivocally that we shall remain forevermore his retainer. The Ye n will surely intercede regarding what has happened to you. I swear this on my father''s name," Ye Sanshui began formally.


    "There''s no need to go to such lengths, Senior Brother Ye."


    Ye Sanshui shook his head firmly. "I apologize for having offended you in the past, not knowing your identity. Please forgive me, Young Master. You have even saved my life twice over. I may be a stick-in-the-mud, but never shall I be considered disloyal. Your will is mymand."


    "Rest first," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ye Sanshui didn''t seem to be joking, but Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t trust him fully, either. There were many secrets that he bore, and he had to be careful beyond measure.


    "Yessir!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly.

 Chapter 122: Conference for Merit Evaluation

    <h4>Chapter 122: Conference for Merit Evaluation</h4>


    A monthter, within the cottage that Xiao Nanfeng had made his home, You Jiu was giving him a report.


    "Sir Xiao, I''ve finished restructuring the Hall of Specters, and I''ve taken control of You Yi''s former forces. The entirety of the Hall of Specters will obey yourmand, my lord.


    "Have you found where the Taiqing disciples are being kept?"


    "We''ve identified those who are in possession of a Taiqing disciple, but it''s much harder to gauge whether these disciples are still alive." You Jiu frowned.


    "Organize a conference in my name across the humans'' domain for the gravekeepers, evaluating their performance and rewarding their efforts for a thousand years of service. Send an invitation to every n head who is a gravekeeper''s descendant," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Are you nning to make your move against all the major ns, Sir Xiao?" You Jiu gaped.


    "No. I only wish to rescue the Taiqing disciples," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "I understand, Sir Xiao!"


    In a pce hall of Great Yan, the royal family''s retainers were gathered around Crown Prince Yan as they read a notice.


    "Crown Prince, this announcement was pasted in secret on all four gates of the cityst night, and news of it has spread all over. This Nanfeng intends to organize a conference of merit? What a joke," one cultivatormented disdainfully.


    Crown Prince Yan frowned. "Not just the four gates of the capital of Great Yan¡ªall thirty six of its cities as well."


    "What? Who could have done all that within a single night? The culprit had to have help. Who could it be?" The man frowned.


    Crown Prince Yan let out a long sigh. "I have to assume that the worst may have happened to my older brother."


    "What brother? Your Highness, aren''t you the eldest son of the king?" another cultivator gasped.


    You Yi''s existence was a deeply held secret.


    As Crown Prince Yan motioned to a confidante and nodded, that confidante quickly revealed information about You Yi to those gathered in the hall.


    "The Hall of Specters still hasn''t fallen? In that case, could Nanfeng have taken it over?!" the cultivators asked.


    "Nanfeng? The culprit who foiled Great Yan''s n of unifying the humans'' domain," Crown Prince Yan spat out.


    "Your Highness, His Majesty is headed to the divine domain, and you''ve been left in charge of the kingdom. We have pledged to support you. Will you be attending this conference of merit?" someone asked.


    "The spectral guards lie skulking in the dark, a hidden danger to us for as long as they persist. My brother had wielded significant authority within the Hall of Specters, and we were able to rest easily¡ªbut these spectral guards are now under the control of Nanfeng. They''ll be of tremendous danger. To prevent us from being assassinated in the future, and to clean up this threat once and for all, we have to attend," Crown Prince Yan surmised.


    "Yes, Your Highness!"


    "Additionally, inform the major n heads of the existence of the Hall of Specters. I suspect that, if they were to find out that it was the Hall of Specters who had been responsible for killing their heirs and destroying theirplete inheritances, they''ll surely attend as well," Crown Prince Yan instructed.


    "Yes, Your Highness!"


    Within a pce hall of Great Qi, Crown Prince Qi had likewise summoned his retainers to deal with Nanfeng''s meeting.


    "A conference of merit? Rewarding and punishing gravekeepers for their actions in thest millennium? Haha, does he really think we still live in the past? What gravekeepers? Does he really think that the seal of Great Wei will allow him tomand the world? What a fool, what a fool.."


    "I''ve already dispatched my men to search for his whereabouts. Once I''ve found him, I''ll torture him myself and make him reveal Emperor Wei''s inheritance."


    "Haven''t those Taiqing disciples you tortured imed that Nanfeng was just an Acquisition-realm cultivator a few months ago? Even if he''s received Emperor Wei''s inheritance, he certainly won''t be too strong as is."


    The gathered cultivatorsughed and joked, all taking it lightly but Crown Prince Qi and a few farsighted retainers.


    "A month ago, the Luo n was destroyed. Don''t you remember?" Crown Prince Qi called out.


    The retainers'' faces went still. The destruction of the Luo n was still imprinted in everyone''s minds; n Head Luo was even granted a talisman to control the Immortal''s Destruction, but his entire n was still destroyed! There hasn''t been any word from him, so it''s likely that he''s perished."


    "This is an invitation sent by Crown Prince Yan. Have a look," Crown Prince Qi informed everyone.


    The cultivators scanned the text of the letter. Crown Prince Yan naturally hadn''t mentioned the fact that You Yi had been nning to attack Qi, but only that Xiao Nanfeng had taken control of the Hall of Specters, which had been responsible for a massive purge while on the Luo estate. n Head Luo had gone missing ever since.


    "No wonder n Head Luo''s disappearance was so mysterious. The spectral guards have to be the culprit. The Hall of Specters is filled with people¡ªn Head Luo''s single Immortal killer talisman must not have been enough!"


    "The revival of the Hall of Specters? It''s been a millennium. Why are these crazed fools still loyal to the sessor of Emperor Wei?"


    The foremost cultivators of the humans'' domain realized that Xiao Nanfeng was no force to be trifled with.


    "Your Highness, will you be attending Nanfeng''s conference of merit?" Everyone looked toward Crown Prince Qi.


    "Of course. Gather all our manpower. We''ll destroy the Hall of Specters once and for all, capture Nanfeng, and interrogate him about Emperor Wei''s inheritance. If he''s so daring as to invite us all, well, he''ll have to suffer the consequences," Crown Prince Qi proimed.


    "Yes, Your Highness!" all his retainers chorused.


    "But Nanfeng''s notice states that the conference will be held at Mt. Liangjie in a month''s time. Mt. Liangjie is precisely at the border of Yan and Qi. The Immortal''s Destruction can''t reach that far," one cultivator murmured in worry.


    "We have a month to prepare, don''t we?" Crown Prince Qi''s eyes glinted with frost.


    The cultivators nodded. One month was sufficient to move the Immortal''s Destruction where they needed it to be.


    Within a cottage, Xiao Nanfeng continued reading the Taoist scriptures in his jade tablets, making every second count, as the recovered Ye Sanshui stood before him.


    "Young Master, when I headed out today, I heard themon people mention that you would be challenging the royal families of Yan and Qi, along with the major ns of both kingdoms, all by yourself?" Ye Sanshui couldn''t help but want to confirm something so ludicrous.


    "Even themon people are aware of this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously, putting down the jade tablet.


    "The news must have been leaked by the major ns. Their servants aremon people, and it''s not difficult to have news spread that way. All the major ns appear to be anxiously preparing for the conference, gathering their strength in preparation to kill you. The two royal families also view you as a great nemesis," Ye Sanshui reported.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng nodded in understanding.


    "Young Master, there are many Ascension-realm cultivators among them. Won''t it be dangerous for you to host this conference?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "That''s just a facade," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "My main objective is to rescue the scattered Taiqing disciples."


    "Oh?" Ye Sanshui was shocked.


    "Senior Brother Ye, if you''re interested, feel free to apany me to the conference."


    "Ah? Of course!" Ye Sanshui nodded, aplicated look on his face.

 Chapter 123: Take the Initiative

    <h4>Chapter 123: Take the Initiative</h4>


    Almost a monthter, arge number of officers and soldiers had gathered by a certain valley. They were intermittently checking on a cloud of white mist in the center of the valley, where something particrly precious seemed to be hidden.


    A group ofvishly garbed cultivators were just about to have a meal within arge tent.


    "Inspect the food to ensure that it hasn''t been poisoned," one manmanded.


    "Please rx, Your Highness. The food has been carefully prepared and kept under constant supervision. There won''t be any issue with it," one subordinate reported.


    "Tomorrow''s that conference. My brothers have already headed to Mt. Liangjie, 25 kilometers away, in anticipation of it. Nothing can go wrong here," the second prince emphasized.


    "With us here guarding the Immortal killer, nothing will go wrong. Even if Nanfeng shows up, he won''t be strong enough to charge into our camp." The subordinate smiled.


    "Nanfeng''s nothing to be concerned about, but don''t underestimate the spectral guards," the second prince warned.


    "We have over thirty Ascension-realm cultivators here, along withrge numbers of elites with spiritbane crossbows in hand. What''s more, Your Highness, you can activate the Immortal''s Destruction at any time. No matter how many people the Hall of Specters sends, they''ll all be dead," the subordinate replied confidently.


    "You''re being overly cautious, Your Highness. There''s no one in the vicinity. No matter how skilled the members of the Hall of Specters are, they wouldn''t know that we''re hiding out here," another subordinate advised.


    Only then did the second prince rx. "It is indeed a secluded spot, entirely free of human influence. Who chose it?"


    "n Head Hou, Your Highness. The crown prince himself confirmed the decision. The Hounds are nearby, and n Head Hou is intimately familiar with the geography of the region. He rmended it himself."


    "Oh? And where is the rest of the Hou n?"


    "n Head Hou has headed over to Mt. Liangjie along with the crown prince, leaving his two sons around. His children are only Immanence-realm cultivators, and they don''t have the right to sit with us. They''re having their meal over in that camp."


    "Invite them to dine with us," the second princemanded his guards.


    "Yessir!" One guard marched over, then returned shortly after.


    "Your Highness, n Head Hou''s children aren''t in the camp," the guard replied respectfully.


    "Ridiculous! I''ve ordered that no one is to step away from the camp, and any who flout this order will be put to death! Aren''t they aware of this? Where are they?"


    "ording to the guards by their tent, they just headed out to the nearby forest on ount of a stomach upset. They haven''t returned yet."


    "A stomach upset? n Head Hou''s children really are weak, aren''t they?"


    The group of people all began tough even as the second prince frowned. "Something seems off."


    "Your Highness, their upset stomach is inconsequential. We have dozens of Ascension-realm cultivators here, elite officers familiar with spiritbane crossbows, and you, Your Highness, who can operate the Immortal''s Destruction. We''d be able to steamroll the entirety of the humans'' domain. Even the spectral guards from the Hall of Specters would be no match for us," someone joked.


    Just then, a rumble came from outside.


    "Has something happened?" The second prince was palpably nervous.


    Everyone unsheathed their des and rushed out of the tent. They saw countless birds flying out of the far end of the valley. The rumble continued as it approached more and more closely.


    "What''s themotion? I''ll take a look!" someone volunteered.


    Suddenly, huge quantities of water emerged from the other end of the narrow valley, carrying boulders and logs with them as the rapids rushed forward. The water seemed poised to fill the valley.


    "A flood? How could there be a flood? Why hasn''t anyone reported anything?" the second prince cried out.


    "We have scouts all over the forests and on the mountains! Why haven''t they sent any word?"


    "Damn it, the Immortal''s Destruction is going to be destroyed by the flood! Quick, cart it off!"


    "We can''t. The Immortal''s Destruction has been fixed in ce, and all its formations have been activated. No one will be able to move it in the short term. Your Highness, we need to evacuate!"


    "Ridiculous!" If the Immortal''s Destruction is taken out ofmission, none of you will live. Go save it!" the second prince ordered.


    By then, the flood had already struck the foremost cultivators. The camp was quickly destroyed by the flood, and many officers and soldiers were immediately submerged.


    On a nearby mountaintop, a group of ck-robed cultivators were staring at the flooding valley down below. Beside these cultivators was a well-dressed middle-aged man.


    "Sir, I''ve lured them into the valley and destroyed the levee as requested. No longer will I be wee in the Empire of Great Qi, it seems." The man smiled wryly.


    "n Head Hou, you were a pawn that You Yi put in ce in Qi, prepared to betray it at any moment. Once your identity was revealed, that would have been it. Don''t think that you''ve sacrificed much for our cause¡ªrather, we''re the ones saving you from your continued deception," Xiao Nanfeng replied,pletely dressed in ck, shaking his head.


    "Quite right, sir. I''ve been a loyal gravekeeper from the beginning; I only allied with Yan because I had no other choice at the time. I hold the ts of the sect as the highest principles I follow. I am ever loyal to Great Wei!" n Head Hou dered.


    "May you retain that loyalty," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly. He did not at all believe n Head Hou''s simpering words, but he was willing to leave him a little ck considering that he was cooperating with the n.


    "Of course, Sir, of course!" n Head Hou immediately replied.


    "The seal on your cultivation will be removed after matters are over. Don''t think of doing anything fishy," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Of course not, Sir! I''m not in a hurry. I can wait patiently."


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, and n Head Hou immediately retreated.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked down at the flooding valley. The regr cultivators had been carried away by the current, leaving only a group of Ascension-realm cultivators who were still struggling against the flood. They were struck by the logs and boulders conveyed by the waters as they swam for their lives toward the Immortal-killing relic.


    "Sir Xiao, we''ve dealt with all the scouts they ced in the vicinity and prevented any word from reaching them. It''s all thanks to the conference you set up that we were able to deal with the Immortal''s Destruction once and for all," You Jiu reported.


    "The flood will recede soon enough, but they must have exhausted their qi trying to deal with the situation. Don''t let even a single Ascension-realm cultivator escape," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Don''t worry, Sir Xiao. I''ve had my subordinates keep careful track of that, and even of the Immanence-realm cultivators washed away by the flood. None will escape," You Jiu promised.


    "Let''s go, then. We can strike at them together. Be careful of that second prince; he surely has a means of aiming the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "I won''t give him a chance to use it, not with how chaotic the situation is," You Jiu pledged, his eyes glinting with frost.


    The two cultivators descended the valley. They were among the strongest cultivators in the human domain, fully rested, and executing a sneak attack. The fate of the trapped cultivators was as good as settled.


    In just mere moments, almost a dozen cultivators had been killed. The second prince had even fallen to You Jiu''s de through his back before he had a chance to use his talisman.


    "You''ve killed the second prince?!" someone cried out.


    Before he could continue speaking, arge number of white-mist specters flooded his body. Nearly half the Ascension-realm cultivators had been killed, now.


    "We have to flee!" one of the survivors shouted.


    The group began swimming to shore as quickly as they could, but suddenly, crossbow bolts brimming with blue light sent them flying back into the river. Many spat out blood as they were struck, their eyes wide.


    "Spiritbane crossbows! There''s an ambush in the forest!" the cultivators cried out.


    The spiritbane crossbows within the forest continuously shot out volleys at the gathered Ascension-realm cultivators, making it impossible for them to even consider attacking You Jiu and Xiao Nanfeng. All they could do was watch on and wait as Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu reaped their lives.


    "Surrender or die!" You Jiu shouted.


    "Surrender or die!" the spectral guards in the forest echoed.


    The remaining Ascension-realm cultivators had expended the bulk of their qi and been dealt heavy wounds by the spiritbane crossbows. They didn''t dare resist. As Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu drew near, they began to surrender one after another.


    The next day, at the foot of Mt. Liangjie, the crown princes of Yan and Qi, along with the heads of the major ns in both kingdoms, were coldly watching a group of ck-robed cultivators arrive. They had been present and waiting for quite some time.


    "Some sincerity," Crown Prince Yan began. "They invited all of us here, but are thest ones to show up. Crown Prince Qi, it looks like they don''t respect you one bit."


    "Crown Prince Yan, if you keep inciting me to attack them first, you''d better not eye my spoils when I do do soter," Crown Prince Qi replied, smiling coldly at him.


    "I look forward to seeing your performance," Crown Prince Yan replied, mirroring his smile.


    Crown Prince Qi felt as though Crown Prince Yan had something up his sleeve, but so did he. He didn''t mind much.


    The crowd narrowed their eyes at the ck-robed man in the lead, none other than Xiao Nanfeng himself. His face was cool and calm, showing no sign of fear whatsoever.

 Chapter 124: All This is Nonsense

    <h4>Chapter 124: All This is Nonsense</h4>


    At the foot of Mt. Liangjie, Xiao Nanfeng nced at the cultivators arrayed all around him. Crown Prince Qi was a font of pride, Crown Prince Yan cold and aloof, and the group of n heads mocking to varying extents.


    "Is everyone here? Let''s get started, then," Xia


    "Where''s your Seal of Great Wei,d?" Crown Prince Yan asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng manifested the Seal of Great Wei. As he imbued it with his spiritual power, it began to glow with golden light. The various n heads each imbued spiritual power into their n seals, which resonated and began to tremble. This was immediate confirmation that Xiao Nanfeng did bear the authentic Seal of Great Wei.


    Xiao Nanfeng stored the seal once again. "As sessor to Emperor Wei, I have invited everyone here to discuss the merit afforded the gravekeepers over thest millennium."


    "Our merit over thest millennium? Ha! And who are you to judge us so?"


    "I speak of the gravekeepers'' merit over thest thousand years. You''re not a gravekeeper¡ªwhat are you concerned about?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Crown Prince Qi: ...


    "I know of your ts, that you should have made all your future heirs and descendants into gravekeepers themselves, but worry not. I have be the sessor to Emperor Wei, and I don''t intend to hold you strictly to those ts. I speak solely of the first-generation gravekeepers," Xiao Nanfeng rified.


    "What does that have to do with us?" Crown Prince Qi asked coldly.


    "As the descendants of the first-generation gravekeepers, you have the right to understand their actions and the merit therein."


    "Oh?" The crown princes and n heads sneered, as though wary that Xiao Nanfeng was attempting to hatch some n or another.


    "The first generation of gravekeepers was conscientious and assiduous in their duty of guarding Emperor Wei''s tomb, even despite the travails of the divine domain. They remained focused on their duties, on guarding the emperor''s tombs, and even grooming their descendants to take on the same responsibilities. For their loyalty and dedication, they should be rewarded," Xiao Nanfeng continued seriously.


    "Hmm?" The crowd was taken aback.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s praise wasn''t something they had been preparing to deal with.


    "How will you reward us, then?" Crown Prince Yan called out.


    "The first generation of gravekeepers should be rewarded, not you," Xiao Nanfeng corrected.


    Crown Prince Yan: ...


    "The first generation of gravekeepers should be rewarded, but not the second generation and beyond. From then on, Emperor Wei''s tombs were ransacked; this was something all ns whose representatives are here participated in. I''m sure you''re all aware of this matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, almost rhetorically.


    Everyone stared coldly at Xiao Nanfeng, clearly feeling no guilt about the matter.


    "Robbing an emperor''s tomb is a crime of treason. Descendants of honored officials though they might be, all such gravekeepers could, in principle, be punished with the eradication of their bloodline," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Oh?" Everyone stared disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "However, Emperor Wei has fallen, and the divine empire of Great Wei is no more. We need not adhere so strictly to matters ofw. The first generation of gravekeepers should be rewarded for their actions, but the subsequent generations were responsible for grave misdeeds. Shall we annul the rewards owed to the first generation and the punishment owed to the subsequent generations, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked seriously.


    The gathered cultivators looked at each other, not understanding just what it was that Xiao Nanfeng was trying to do. Did he convene this conference just to tell them that they would neither be rewarded nor punished for their actions? They cared not for such matters.


    "So what?" Crown Prince Yan called out.


    "Next, we''ll discuss the treasures and pills taken by the gravekeepers," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Did you say all this as an excuse to im our relics and treasures?" Crown Prince Qi roared inughter.


    "Ha! Do you think we''d give you our possessions? You must be an idiot." Crown Prince Yan added.


    The n heads smirked at each other and sneered at Xiao Nanfeng. Clearly, none of them were going to engage with such an unreasonable request.


    "The treasures, relics, weapons, and pills of the first-generation gravekeepers belong to them and them alone. I make no im to such property, and I speak not of them," Xiao Nanfeng rified, shaking his head.


    The cultivators nced at Xiao Nanfeng, still not understanding his point.


    "I speak of the relics owned as public property of the divine empire of Great Wei, the Immortal''s Destruction, the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell, the Divine Immortal Whip, the Immortal-Punishing Hammer, the Immortal Warehouse, the Spirit-Vanquishing Immortal Pagoda, and so on. Such relics were loaned to the various governing bodies of the empire of Great Wei, and the gravekeepers have no im over them. Now that all of you have distanced yourselves from the divine empire of Great Wei, and I have be the sessor of Emperor Wei, these relics are owed to me," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Are you joking with us?" The n heads all began tough at Xiao Nanfeng in mockery.


    "Do you know where these relics are currently located?" Crown Prince Qi asked.


    "I am aware. Except for the Immortal''s Destruction and the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell, all the other relics have been brought to the divine domain by your ancestors, then left there as they perished."


    "Then what do you expect us to return?" one n head challenged.


    "The Hall of Specters bears records that im that the first generation of gravekeepers did not bring these relics with them as they answered the summons of the divine domain, knowing that these relics were too vital to the function of the empire to be reced. Their descendants, however, had no such qualms. They took the relics with them and lost them in the divine domain."


    "So what?" the n head asked again, furrowing his brows.


    "Shouldn''t you return these relics that you''ve lost? If someone borrows gold from you and spends it all, does that free them of the responsibility to return the gold to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The gathered n heads: ...


    "The first-generation gravekeepers'' merit defrays subsequent generations'' wrongdoing; merit and demerit has been tallied. We speak now of loans and repayment. Is there a problem?" Xiao Nanfeng looked at the gathered cultivators.


    Everyone: ...


    They all understood Xiao Nanfeng''s point now¡ªhe had made such a big fuss about merit all in order to reim these artifacts!


    "Those relics were lost not by these n heads, but by their long-dead ancestors. im those relics from them!" Crown Prince Qi called out.


    "Their ancestors may be dead, but their estates can be used to repay this debt in kind. For the price of these relics, I demand all that they own in the humans'' domain." Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of giving in.


    "You want us all to go bankrupt to repay you?" The n heads sneered.


    "I understand now. You''re intending to use this preposterous notion of loans to force the gathered n heads to help you unify the humans'' domain!" Crown Prince Yan eximed.


    "And to think we devoted so much effort nning against conspiracy and contingency!" Crown Prince Qi huffed inughter. "All this just to hear your childish delusions?"


    "Ridiculous in the extreme." The n heads had no intention of repaying this ''loan''.


    Just then, a re shot into the air from afar, startling the gathered cultivators. More and more res erupted all over the mountains and forests, causing the cultivators'' eyes to widen.


    "The Taiqing disciples I brought to threaten Nanfeng¡ªsomething''s happened to them!"


    "That''s my subordinates'' re. Did something happen to mine too?"


    "Nanfeng had to be dying intentionally. That''s why he made such a big fuss about nothing!"


    "Has his goal always been the Taiqing disciples that we brought with us to threaten him?!"


    The cultivators understood what had happened quickly. They turned on Xiao Nanfeng together.


    "I had no choice, after all. Your officers and soldiers would be far too wary otherwise. They keep the Taiqing disciples under constant surveince, and my people would have had a hard time rescuing them. With me revealing myself here, however, they would focus on me instead. All that nonsense was worth it, wasn''t it? I rescued all those hostages I came here for." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Everyone gaped in shock, then fury. This whole conference was just a sham!

 Chapter 125: The Serpents Misstep

    <h4>Chapter 125: The Serpent''s Misstep</h4>


    "You dare trick me? Seize him!" Crown Prince Qi thundered.


    "Seize him!" the various n heads echoed.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng dashed forward and right up to Crown Prince Qi in the blink of an eye.


    "Be careful, Your Highness!" One of his subordinates stepped forward to protect him, but he was of no use whatsoever. Xiao Nanfeng sent him flying with an elbow.


    As he struck Crown Prince Qi in the face, a jade pendant that thetter was wearing shone with red light, forming a barrier that shielded his body. However, Xiao Nanfeng was far too strong. The barrier shattered as Crown Prince Qi was sent flying, grievously injured, with fresh blood pouring from his lips.


    "Use your relics!" the n heads shouted.


    Three talismans burning with inexhaustible fire surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, trapping him within a sea of zing fire so intense that the n heads were forced to stagger back.


    The next moment, however, Xiao Nanfeng opened his mouth and swallowed the zing fire whole.


    "Impossible! That talisman has been passed down my n for generations. Even after a millennium, how could he withstand such an attack?!" one n head cried out.


    "All I''m doing is rescuing my seniors, whom all of you have kidnapped and tortured¡ªand you consider yourself maligned by my actions, so much so that you''d try to kill me? Die, then." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with frost.


    He struck the n head in the face, caving his skull in and killing him on the spot.


    "Talisman of Arcane Wood!"


    "Talisman of Radiant Gold!"


    "Talisman of Arcane Yin!"


    A dozen more talismans shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, running the gamut of elements. It seemed as though the gathered cultivators were trying to destroy him whole.


    "Resplendent Sun!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A barrier of fire formed over Xiao Nanfeng''s body, radiating waves of heat that forced the gathered cultivators back. The countless talismans that sent orbs of energy flying at him quickly had that energy absorbed and diminished by the fiery barrier.


    Explosions rang out all around Xiao Nanfeng as he seemed to transform into a golden sun.


    "How could this be?!" the n heads cried out.


    mes burning all over his body, Xiao Nanfeng struck back at the n heads that had attacked him.


    "He''sing! Do something!" the n heads cried out, shing at him with their swords.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s mes easily blocked the blows. As he retaliated with a punch, one n head exploded into fiery smithereens.


    The remaining n heads'' eyes widened. They howled at each other, "Go on, attack!"


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted, then unleashed a ughter. He killed all the n heads that had tried to kill him with a single punch each. Killing intent billowed from him.


    Suddenly, a chain looped around Xiao Nanfeng''s fiery barrier. More such treasures encircled him, hindering his mobility.


    "We''ve trapped him!" the n heads cried out in excitement.


    "Everyone else, kill the members of the Hall of Specters! Don''t let any of them escape!" Crown Prince Qi roared, wiping at the blood that trickled from his lips as heughed.


    "Have the warriors ambushed in the forest make their move. Kill them all!" the n heads shouted fiercely.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted. He waved a hand, sending a beam of golden light piercing through the artifacts keeping him in ce. The golden glow shone with innumerable runes.


    "This is¡ª"


    "No! It''s the talisman that controls the Immortal''s Destruction?!"


    "How could it be?"


    As the cultivators shouted in shock, a huge sword sh shot straight toward them. The n heads who were struggling to restrain Xiao Nanfeng were struck by the technique. They exploded and dropped dead on the spot.


    Their relics immediately went out of control, whizzing around and sending blood sshing all over.


    "No, impossible! That was a blow from the Immortal''s Destruction!" Crown Prince Qi cried out.


    He immediately activated his own talisman and targeted Xiao Nanfeng, but his talisman didn''t seem to be functional.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned upon seeing Crown Prince Qi''s actions. Without any hesitation, he sent another blow from the Immortal''s Destruction straight at him.


    "Run, Your Highness!" one n head screamed.


    Crown Prince Qi looked up above him to see a beam of golden light raining down. Runes shed, and a sword technique shot downwards.


    "No!" Crown Prince Qi yelled out.


    With a great bang, Crown Prince Qi and the two cultivators beside him dropped dead in a ghastly explosion of blood.


    The n heads all backed away in fright.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Crown Prince Yan. "Release him, or you''ll be the next target."


    The n heads were confused. Who was Xiao Nanfeng talking about?


    Crown Prince Yan''s face was a mask of fear. "Aren''t you going to show yourself? Or are you going to wait for me to die first? The Immortal''s Destruction that you want is in his hands. If you want it, im it for yourself!"


    Crown Prince Yan''s howl left everyone baffled.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng continued waiting patiently.


    The Hall of Specters had sent word that Crown Prince Yan had written to Crown Prince Qi proposing an alliance to take down Xiao Nanfeng together. He would surely have guessed that Crown Prince Qi would surely move the Immortal''s Destruction close by, but the fact that he proposed the alliance anyway must have meant that Crown Prince Yan had a backer of his own, one which would give him a guaranteed victory.


    The only other yer on the board, who Xiao Nanfeng instantly thought of, was the serpent. The serpent had spread the news that he had obtained the Seal of Great Wei, inciting them to attack him. It had long been the mastermind behind this whole series of affairs, and Crown Prince Yan''s mysterious backer was likely it as well.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng was starting to grow wary, a sword sh shot toward him. The sword sh was countered by the golden light from the Immortal''s Destruction, and the resulting explosion caused a tremendous amount of smoke and dust to form. The n heads were sent stumbling back; some even tried to take the opportunity to escape.


    "All of you, stay where you are!" a cold voice called out.


    shes of sword qi struck the surroundings, wounding the legs of the n heads who attempted to flee. They fell to the ground screaming.


    The dust faded to reveal a red-robed man¡ªno, a red-robed eunuch, the very same one from Marquis Wu''s manor. In conjunction with Marquis Wu, he had once wounded the Lady Arclight severely.


    "You?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in shock.


    "Hoh! Lad, fortune must have blessed you, if you''ve even managed to acquire the Seal of Great Wei," the eunuch remarked, chuckling.


    "This can''t be. Crown Prince Yan, is he your backer? Could you be mistaken?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at Crown Prince Yan.


    Crown Prince Yan looked back at Xiao Nanfeng, entirely confused.


    "Who are you waiting for,d?" the eunuch asked coldly.


    From some distance away, hiding under forest cover, the serpent had been spying on affairs at Mt. Liangjie. By now, it was growing rather annoyed.


    "Is everyone in the humans'' domain a piece of trash? Can''t any of them fight him? None have even forced him to use the Seal of Great Wei and drain its fortune! How am I supposed to deal with him now?" the serpent grumbled.


    It did want to deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but it feared the strength of the Seal of Great Wei. That was why it had been skulking behind the scenes all this time, fanning the mes of conflict.


    "Serpent, are you a coward as well as an ingrate?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted. "Show yourself!"


    The serpent cursed, "Who would show themselves? I epted a small bribe from the crow king, but you managed to leverage that to steal two important relics from me as a result! And this old fellow''s a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, too. If I show myself, wouldn''t you have another chance to scam me? Dream on!"


    Just then, a voice called out from beside the serpent. A spectral guard shouted, "The serpent''s hiding here!"


    Everyone turned toward the forest where the serpent was located.


    The serpent''s face twitched. Was the entire wilderness crawling with spectral guards?


    "It''s not me. You''re mistaken. I''m not the wise and majestic serpent envoy!" the serpent shouted back. Then, surrounding itself with a significant quantity of frost qi, it soared into the heavens and out of sight.


    That spectral guard: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The old eunuch: ...


    Everyone had guessed that that was the serpent, but who would have expected it to flee all of a sudden? Just what was he afraid of?


    "Serpent, you really are a coward, aren''t you? It''s futile. Just you wait. Once I see Blue Lantern again, I''ll have you cough up some more treasures." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with annoyance. He turned to the old eunuch, who had clearly shown up with an ulterior motive in mind.

 Chapter 126: A Strand of Red Rope

    <h4>Chapter 126: A Strand of Red Rope</h4>


    "Alright. Now that that serpent envoy''s gone, it''s time for us to discuss business," the old eunuch suddenly stated.


    "Business?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. Had the old eunuch not approached with an intense aura to kill him?


    "You must have acquired Emperor Wei''s inheritance along with the Seal of Great Wei. Have you memorized it all?" the old eunuch asked, his eyes focused intently on Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What do you want?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "The marquis wants Emperor Wei''s inheritance," the eunuch replied, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Indeed, everyone knew that Emperor Wei''s inheritance had to be of extraordinary value. This old eunuch really was loyal to Marquis Wu, wasn''t he?


    "If you haven''t memorized it fully, I can give you a bit of time to do so. Forget nothing, or you''ll die a painful death," the old eunuch threatened.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a strange look. Did the eunuch really think he was all that strong?


    "Elder, won''t you strike? He controls the Immortal''s Destruction. Didn''t you say that you wanted that relic? Why are you being so polite toward him?" Crown Prince Yan asked.


    The old eunuch looked toward Crown Prince Yan with a smirk on his face. "The Immortal''s Destruction will belong to me sooner orter. The inheritance of Emperor Wei in his head is far more important. We can''t make a mistake at this stage. Crown Prince Yan, don''t you have another Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell? Loan it to me."


    "What?" Crown Prince Yan was shocked.


    "There''s a second Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Crown Prince Yan.


    "The Red Dragon''s Immortal Belles in a matched pair, one male and the other female. I expect the majority of you aren''t familiar with this secret," the old eunuch murmured.


    "H-How did you know?!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    "You told me yourself." The old eunuch smiled.


    "Impossible! Why would I?"


    "You even told me that you were intending to kill Nanfeng in conjunction with Crown Prince Qi. Crown Prince Qi would surely bring out his Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell. The best-case scenario would be if he and Nanfeng died simultaneously; otherwise, if only one were to survive, you''ll have me kill that party. Finally, after I strike, you''llunch a sneak attack on me with the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell and trap me within. Have you forgotten?" The old eunuch smiled again.


    "Impossible!" Fear filled Crown Prince Yan''s face.


    His n was a secret he had never revealed to anyone. His intention was to destroy all his enemies with this conference, im the Seal of Great Wei, kill Crown Prince Qi and the various n heads, and then take over the humans'' domain.


    How could the old eunuch have learned of the secret n that Crown Prince Yan had never told anyone?


    "Lend me the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell," the old eunuch asked again.


    "I don''t have it!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    Suddenly, the old eunuch made ae-hither gesture with his fingers. A red bell quickly flew out from Crown Prince Yan''s robes toward the old eunuch.


    "No! My Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell! How could you control it? Come over here!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    However, the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell seemed not to hear any of his orders at all. It quickly fell into the old eunuch''s hands.


    "Impossible. How can you control the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell?!"


    "Weren''t you the one who helped me forge it? Have you already forgotten?" The old eunuch smiled.


    "I never did! How did you manage this?!" Crown Prince Yan cried out in disbelief.


    "You have. Manipting the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell requires a specialized secret technique and hand gesture. You told me everything in a detailed fashion," the old eunuch emphasized.


    Crown Prince Yan gaped at the old eunuch. He felt like his head was a mess. Was he going crazy, or was the old eunuch going crazy? He had never revealed any of the secrets of the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell. Why did the old eunuch im that he had, and how was he able to control it for himself?


    The old eunuch ignored Crown Prince Yan and turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Alright. Do you remember what I told you?"


    "What do you want?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Recall all that you learned from Emperor Wei''s inheritance. Don''t forget anything. Once my master returns from the divine domain, hand it all over, missing nary a word," the old eunuch warned.


    With a wave of his hand, the bell grew magnified in the air. Roaring mes filled the air in the vicinity of the bell and headed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re asking to die," Xiao Nanfeng replied, his eyes shing cold.


    A golden glow emanated from the Immortal''s Destruction and sent a sword sh straight at the old eunuch.


    "It''s useless. I''m a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, and as strong as the Immortal''s Destruction is, its strength is limited." The old eunuch soared into the air, meeting the sword sh with a twist of his de. Another huge cloud of dust and smoke formed.


    Just then, the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell appeared over Xiao Nanfeng''s head. As it tolled, mes surged forth. Xiao Nanfeng was trapped within.


    "Sir Xiao!" The spectral guards all around the forest rushed forth in a panic.


    "You Immanence-realm cultivators think you can save him? I think not!" the old eunuch snorted.


    A wave of spiritual power struck all the spectral guards, causing them to shout and scream as they fell unconscious.


    "Enjoy your stay in there,d, haha!" The old eunuchughed in satisfaction.


    Had Xiao Nanfeng been trapped? No, he had done it intentionally. The Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell was like a snack for his new cultivation technique¡ªhe had no reason to refuse it.


    It would be trivial to defend against the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell with the Seal of Great Wei, but doing so would surely cause the old eunuch to store the bell away instead. That would be a significant loss.


    Within the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell, four fiery dragons circled Xiao Nanfeng. This time, they didn''t burn Xiao Nanfeng with fiery breaths; they simply prevented him from moving. It was evident that the eunuch didn''t want to kill him, at least not just yet.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and sucked in the mes from all four fiery dragons.


    The four dragons roared in outrage, their bodies billowing with me.


    Huge quantities of spiritual fire filled the two golden suns in Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian, making him feel unbelievablefort.


    "Let me out, eunuch!" Xiao Nanfeng beat on the interior of the bell at full strength.


    "Haha! Lad, as long as you don''t struggle, the mes within won''t burn you. Stay still and wait for the marquis'' return," the old eunuch advised, very pleased by the performance of the relic.


    "Let me out! I''ll kill you, eunuch!"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to curse the old eunuch, but he made sure not to go too overboard in case the eunuch really did get so insulted that he reimed the bell once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued sucking up the mes from the four fiery dragons as he beat on the interior of the bell. His mood was improving drastically.


    "Keep shouting," the old eunuch suggested,ughing coldly. "I enjoy hearing others'' helpless shouts!" He turned toward Crown Prince Yan. "Where are you headed, Your Highness? We still have outstanding business."


    Crown Prince Yan, feeling as though the situation was quickly growing out of his control, was attempting to flee. However, the old eunuch''s tremendous aura suppressed him. He froze stiffly, knowing that, if he were to take one more step forward, the old eunuch would kill him the spot.


    "E-Elder, haven''t we had a bountiful coboration thesest few days? I can help you set up a meeting with whoever you want, and when you imed that you wanted the Immortal''s Destruction, I held you with that, too!


    "You did well, but you aren''t as strong as Nanfeng," the old eunuch replied.


    "What?" Crown Prince Yan seemed confused.


    "Have a look at him and what he''s aplished. This conference he organized, for instance¡ªessentially all the key members of the royalty and the major ns are here today, responding to his summons. What I want is this sort of effect. Why didn''t you think of that notion?" the old eunuch smiled.


    "What do you mean?" Crown Prince Yan felt a visible sense of unease, as did the major n heads all around. They were hoping to leave the mountain.


    "As I said, no one is allowed to leave. Didn''t you hear me?" The old eunuch smirked.


    With a wave of his hand, endless white fog formed all around him, encapsting the surroundings. At this point, no one would be able to escape.


    "E-Elder, what are you nning on doing?!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    "Elder, you can tell us everything you need! We''ll do our best to help," the n heads echoed


    I do have a task for all of you. There''s no rush¡ªit''ll be ready within moments." The eunuch smiled again.


    When everyone saw the old eunuch''s frightening smile, they couldn''t help but shudder violently. Some backtracked and tried to run out through the fog.


    "As I said, no one is allowed to leave," the old eunuch repeated again


    A sh of sword energy whizzed by, wounding the legs of all the n heads. They fell to the ground. The old eunuch appeared before them, sealing their cultivation and rendering them incapable of movement.


    "What are you doing, Elder?!" the n heads cried out.


    The old eunuch carefully retrieved a small container that had been sealed away. He infused spiritual power into the runes on its surface, breaking the seal and retrieving its contents. A red thread emerged from within, almost like a snake. It swam out of the container, looked around itself, and then spat out countless ethereal red lines straight at the mindscapes of each n head.


    "Argh!" the n heads shouted in pain.


    They tried to get rid of the red lines connecting their mindscapes to the thread, but the ethereal lines were impossible to remove.


    "Elder, what are you doing? My head hurts!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    "It won''t hurt after a while," the old eunuch replied, smiling coldly.


    The red lines suddenly broke off from the main thread, then burrowed into each cultivator''s mindscape like wriggling snakes.


    "I can''t take it! Help!"


    "My head!"


    The n heads rolled around in pain.


    Suddenly, one n head shot up. His eyes became vacant. He looked toward the old eunuch robotically and called out, "Master!"


    "What? This red thread can control another cultivator''s consciousness?!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    "Not control¡ªit''s simply a form of possession. I did it to you too. Don''t you remember? It was only a very mild form, though¡ªbut I can bind your soul properly this time. From now on, you''ll listen to mymands. I am your only master¡ªno, the marquis is your only master." The old eunuch smirked.


    "What? You''ve controlled my consciousness like this in the past?!" Crown Prince Yan shouted.


    "What else? Of course I did."


    Not far away, another n head screamed. Her eyes turned vacant as she was sessfully possessed by the red thread, losing her self-consciousness and transforming into the old eunuch''s puppet. She addressed the old eunuch as master.


    The other n heads frantically struggled for dominance over the thread.


    "It''s useless. Your spiritual power is far too weakpared to mine. If not for the fact that this sort of possession can damage your memories, I''d possess Nanfeng too. It''s a pity¡ªI''ll have to wait for a while before I can do that," the old eunuch sighed.


    "Why? Elder, I''d give you anything you wanted! Why would you treat me like this?!" Crown Prince Yan cried out.


    "You''re only trying to take advantage of me. You told me as much," the old eunuch replied disdainfully.


    "No, no! There''s more I can do for you. I can help you upy Qi and make you its ruler!" Crown Prince Yan offered.


    "Do you think I care about something as pitiful as your humans'' domain? The empire of Great Yan, of Great Qi? Is this meant to be a children''s game? Is this all thend you have? Even the marquis'' current estate is farrger than the entirety of the humans'' domain. The only reason you squabble about this territory is because you don''t know what it''s like beyond this hidden realm," the old eunuch replied disdainfully.


    "What are you trying to do? Why control us, then?" Crown Prince Yan didn''t understand what the old eunuch had in mind.


    "The humans'' domain might be small, but it wouldn''t be a bad training ground," the old eunuch replied.


    "What?" Crown Prince Yan was shocked.


    "I havee to the humans'' domain on the marquis'' orders to see if this territory might be useful for stationing and training troops. We''re trying to revive the Taiwu Empire, you see, and it''d be easy to detect troops training in the marquis''nds. This would be an ideal ce for us¡ªwe''ll im the humans'' domain for ourselves!" the old eunuch proimed.


    "Y-You!" Crown Prince Yan shouted.


    "You''re all frogs in a well, not having seen the wider world for yourselves. What would you know? It''s all thanks to thatd for organizing this conference that I was able to nab all of you in one go. Once the possession isplete, the entirety of the humans'' domain will be mine. It''s a pity that Crown Prince Qi was killed by thatd. There might be a little trouble down the line, but it doesn''t matter now, haha!"


    "No, no!" Crown Prince Yan quailed in fear.

 Chapter 127: Killing the Old Eunuch

    <h4>Chapter 127: Killing the Old Eunuch</h4>


    By the forest beyond Mt. Liangjie, the spectral guards had just rescued a group of Taiqing disciples and sent them toward a certain valley. Ye Sanshui was carefully examining each disciple''s injuries. Fifty had been saved in all, but many had been tortured beyond recognition. Some had even been crippled, infuriating Ye Sanshui beyond belief.


    "Thank you for rescuing us, Senior Brother." Several of the Taiqing disciples who were still somewhat lucid felt as though they had been granted a new lease on life.


    "I wasn''t the one who saved you. It was the young¡ªit was Nanfeng. Thank him," Ye Sanshui immediately corrected.


    "It was Nanfeng?" The disciples nced at each other in shock, then gratitude.


    "Although all of you are heavily injured, once we return to the sect, the elders may be able to help you recuperate and treat your wounds. If nothing else, you''re all still alive," Ye Sanshui consoled.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    "Where''s Nanfeng now?" one disciple asked. "I''d like to thank him in person."


    "Nanfeng''s currently meeting with all the n heads at the moment. He''s already arranged a ce to stay for us all, so just follow behind me," Ye Sanshui instructed.


    "Understood!" The disciples nodded gratefully.


    At the foot of Mt. Liangjie, the soldiers of the two kingdoms had rushed up to the white fog covering the area.


    "Save us!" the n heads cried out from within.


    "Quick, the n heads are in danger! We have to rush inside!" the soldiers shouted.


    A huge sword sh shot at them from within the mist, killing the soldiers in the vanguard instantly.


    "Those who charge forward will die!" the old eunuch''s voice boomed from within the fog.


    The soldiers turned to each other in fear, then backed away in unison. Even so, more soldiers appeared, intending to rush into the mist to save their n heads.


    Just then, a few n heads walked out of the mist, causing the gathered soldiers to bow respectfully.


    "Guard the perimeter and prevent anyone from entering," theymanded.


    "Yessir!"


    The soldiers at the foot of the mountain had quickly divided into two factions, one of which intended to charge into the mist to save the n heads, and the other of which was guarding the mist from the first faction.


    Though more and more soldiers were gathering by the foot of the mountain, there were also n heads continuously walking out of the mist and ordering their soldiers to guard the interior instead.


    Within the mist, the few n heads remaining that were stubbornly resisting the mental possession let out expressions of despair.


    "Elder, if you let me go, I''ll give you anything!" Crown Prince Yan begged.


    "If I control you, I''d get the same thing," the old eunuch replied, scoffing.


    "No!" Crown Prince Yan clutched his head in agony.


    Finally, even he was unable to hold out any longer. He suddenly copsed. By the time he mbered back up, his gaze was soulless.


    "Master!" Crown Prince Yan bowed toward the old eunuch.


    The old eunuch smiled, then turned to the remaining n heads. Eventually, everyone sumbed to the mentalpulsion. He unsealed their cultivation and had them order their subordinates to stand down.


    Very quickly, all the n heads and the crown prince returned and bowed toward the old eunuch. "Master!"


    "All of you, listen up. You''re still the n heads of your respective families. You won''t speak of what has happened today to anyone. If anyone doubts who you are, kill them. Obey my every instruction and kill those who stand against you," the old eunuchmanded.


    "Yes, Master!" the crowd chorused.


    The old eunuch nodded in satisfaction, then turned toward arge ze not far away. The Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell within the mes seemed to be... thinning?


    "Hm?" The old eunuch raised an eyebrow. "Lad, are you still alive?"


    Xiao Nanfeng, still within the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell, had reached the final stage of absorption of the relic. He had no time to waste answering the old eunuch''s question. He opened his mouth wide and sucked, causing the bell to grow thinner, to the point of transparency.


    "Something''s wrong with the bell. Rise!" the old eunuchmanded.


    The Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell hummed and attempted to rise before it simply copsed. Roiling mes surged toward Xiao Nanfeng, who absorbed it all into his abdomen.


    "What?!" the old eunuch cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body burst with me. A wave of superheated air shot toward the old eunuch, who quashed it with a palm. "You''ve eaten the Red Dragon''s Immortal Bell¡ªand advanced your cultivation as a result?!"


    "Thanks to you, I now have my third sun," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    He was now in the third stage of Ascension, and three suns filled his dantian. His strength surged.


    "A technique passed down from Emperor Wei''s inheritance? His inheritance must be a treasure indeed. Lad, I was going to let you ept your fate in peace¡ªbut now, it looks like I''ll have to cripple you." The old eunuch thrust a sword at Xiao Nanfeng, sending countless arrows of sword qi cutting at Xiao Nanfeng''s limbs.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted, waving an arm and sending a burst of golden light forward.


    The Seal of Great Wei formed a golden shield of spiritual power that deflected the old eunuch''s attack.


    "What?!" the old eunuch cried out.


    The Seal of Great Wei sped up, moving faster and faster. Sensing that something was amiss, the old eunuch instinctively attempted to dodge, but the Seal was too fast for it. It smashed into the old eunuch''s head with zing speed.


    The old eunuch''s head caved in as he was rammed into the ground.


    "How can you control the Seal of Great Wei?!" the old eunuch cried out, not having died despite the serious injury.


    The Seal of Great Wei smashed into his head once again in a fountain of blood. The old eunuch''s limbs spasmed, but the pressure from the Seal only mounted.


    "Impossible! The Seal of Great Wei can only be controlled with fortune. How could you have a source of fortune to control the Seal? Impossible!"


    "Haven''t you considered that Emperor Wei''s inheritance might include some of that very fortune?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "Impossible! All the fortune would have dissipated after Emperor Wei''s death. You im that he left you this fortune? Then he must be alive¡ªor not yet fully dead!"


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.


    Emperor Wei''s inheritance contained no information about the founding of a kingdom, and he was unaware of such esoteric principles and fate and fortune. The old eunuch''s words made him entertain a possibility that he had previously discarded.


    "How could there be any fortune left? This can''t be. This was beyond the scope of my nning!" the old eunuch cried out.


    A gigantic sword sh split the old eunuch''s body into two pieces.


    Xiao Nanfeng had immediately targeted the old eunuch with the Immortal''s Destruction, worried that he might have found a way to escape if things were to drag out. He inspected the old eunuch''s corpse to confirm that he was actually dead before storing the Seal of Great Wei again.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced all around him. The n heads and crown prince he had controlled stood stock-still, as though they were wooden dummies. It was a sinister sight. Xiao Nanfeng frowned, temporarily ignoring them as he picked up the box that the old eunuch had grabbed. He could hear the n heads'' shrieks and screams from within the bell. The old eunuch had to have controlled them all with something within this box.


    "He was nning something, after all!" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The box had had many protective sealsyered over it, but the eunuch had destroyed them all before his death.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know why he had done so, it was clear that it was meant to be a way of dealing with Xiao Nanfeng. He carefully took out a length of rope, red as blood and equally sinister, from within the box.


    "We greet our master!" The n heads all around suddenly bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the red rope in his hand as he stared at the crowd in confusion. Were they all puppets that would listen to him as long as he held the rope?


    "Why did the old eunuch try to destroy this box?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned in contemtion.

 Chapter 128: The Sinister Red Rope

    <h4>Chapter 128: The Sinister Red Rope</h4>


    There had to be some deeper meaning behind the old eunuch''s actions, but Xiao Nanfeng was unable to guess it. He tried to examine the rope with qi and spiritual power, but it seemed like an ordinary rope to both those senses.


    "We await yourmand, Master!" The crowd bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng once again.


    Thoughtfully, Xiao Nanfeng ced the red rope on the ground. The crowd no longer stared at Xiao Nanfeng, but instead the red rope. It was clear that the ''master'' they were referring to was none other than the rope itself.


    "What a sinister relic..." Xiao Nanfeng''s blood chilled.


    Suddenly, having an idea, he pointed the mouth of his storage ring straight at the red rope.


    A bestial roar emanated from within the ring as the beast made its presence known. It seemed to be widening its bloodthirsty maw. A suction came from the ring, attempting to forcibly drag the red rope into it.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately shut the mouth of the ring.


    "So you do have a soul, after all! Can youmunicate? If you don''t speak, I''ll put you inside my ring," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    The red rope was immobile, in every aspect a regr rope except in color.


    Xiao Nanfeng tried to cause the rope to react in a variety of ways, but none of them were sessful. Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but doubt himself. Had he been mistaken?


    "Your Highness, is everything alright?" Soldiers called out from beyond the mist, worried by the silence.


    The n heads and Crown Prince Yan all looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He hadn''t developed an understanding of the principles by which the red rope controlled them all, and he didn''t dare use the rope too much. He had an uneasy premonition.


    "Don''t reveal anything that has just happened. Calm your subordinates down and tell them that that old eunuch was trying to kill everyone. I saved all of you; out of gratitude, you no longer hold a grudge against me. Crown Prince Qi has perished. There are still cultivators from the royal family of Qi here, aren''t there? Deal with the matter yourself," Xiao Nanfengmanded tentatively.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    With the old eunuch''s death, the mist all around them began to dissipate, revealing the countless soldiers standing on guard outside. They were pointing their spiritbane crossbows straight into the mist warily.


    "Your Highness! Crown Prince!"


    "n Head!"


    "Third Prince!"


    The soldiers rxed as they saw their masters safe and sound.


    "I owe you my life, Sir. Please, forgive my offenses today." Crown Prince Yan was the first to speak up.


    "I owe you my life, Sir. Please, forgive my offenses today." The n heads all echoed the statement, bowing sincerely to Xiao Nanfeng.


    The n heads'' attitude caused their soldiers to gape, none of them having expected such an oue.


    "Let''s end the conference now, then. We''ve finished dealing with the issue of merit. If there''s anything else, I''ll contact all of you once more," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    He was internally shocked. Had the red rope actually managed to take over everyone? This was sinister, far too sinister!


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    They looked toward their own subordinates. "We leave now!"


    "Ah? Y-yessir!" The soldiers were still confused, but they could hardly disobey a direct order.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyelids twitched. Were these n heads really listening to him?


    Despite the death of Crown Prince Qi, the third prince of Qi left with his and his brother''s retinues. Only the subordinates of the n heads that Xiao Nanfeng had killed seemed ill at ease, ring resentfully at Xiao Nanfeng. In Crown Prince Yan, Third Prince Qi, and the other n heads'' presence, however, they hardly dared make a fuss. In the end, they left with the crowd, leaving just Xiao Nanfeng and a few unconscious spectral guards behind by the foot of Mt. Liangjie.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the red rope in his hand, fearful of what it portended. Couldn''t Marquis Wu have controlled them all from the very beginning, when they entered his manor?


    "No, there has to be some critical weakness to this red rope''s possession that I''m not aware of," Xiao Nanfeng surmised.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt that the red rope was incredibly dangerous, but he couldn''t bear to just discard it, either. He decided to leave it by his side. The red rope seemed to possess a soul, and he was unable to leave it in his storage ring for fear that the beast would consume it. Even so, he could hardly carry it out in the open.


    He retrieved a chest of Great Wei, one of the ones he had obtained in barter with the centipede spirits. Even an Ascension-realm cultivator would be unable to open it. He ced it inside and activated its seal, then finally rxed.


    Xiao Nanfeng checked the old eunuch''s body once again. Except for a red longsword, there were no other treasures to be found.


    By then, all the n heads had left with their soldiers in tow. You Jiu rushed to the foot of the mountain with a group of his subordinates.


    "Sir Xiao, I was guarding the Immortal''s Destruction when I received word that the fight was over. What''s going on?" You Jiu asked.


    "Everything''s been resolved at the moment. Keep a careful eye over the n heads of the humans'' domain."


    "Yessir!" Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t answered his questions, but You Jiu would carry out his orders despite his confusion.


    "Where''s the Immortal''s Destruction?"


    "Right here!" You Jiu activated his storage treasure, summoning a huge ck altar out of nowhere. It shed with runic script and glittered with golden light.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction needs to be situated on a plot ofnd. It can draw energy from the ground, manifesting divine des that can even kill Immortals, hence its name. After you invoked its power several times, Sir Xiao, the life in that valley has been decimated. The nts and trees have wilted, and even boulders and rocks have turned to powder," You Jiu reported.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng pondered the information carefully.


    "The Hall of Specters'' records state that the Immortal''s Destruction canunch attacks strong enough to kill Immortals if ced over draconic aether veins. Sir Xiao, please be careful with the relic," You Jiu warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly.


    "Sir Xiao, we''ve rescued all living Taiqing disciples. Would you like to take a look at them?" You Jiu asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''ve tasked Senior Brother Ye with looking after them all. I still have business to take care of, so I won''t be returning for the short term."


    "Yessir!"


    After leaving Mt. Liangjie, Xiao Nanfeng returned to his cottage and began studying the Taoist scriptures he had ess to. He had reached a critical threshold in his spiritual cultivation; if not for the fact that he had to rescue the senior disciples of the Taiqing sect, he would have secluded himself.


    Starlight illuminated his sterke, which had grown vast over the course of thest two months. Xiao Nanfeng had reached the peak of Ster Lake¡ªor rather, he had hit that threshold two months prior. Despite his best efforts and studies, however, all he managed to do was to make his sterkerger. He was unable to make the transition into Lunar Deluge.


    "A karmic consequence, perhaps...?" Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows slightly.


    He retrieved the Seal of Great Wei. Unless it were necessary, he didn''t want to make use of the remaining fortune he had ess to, but he also needed to advance past this threshold.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged in meditation as he circted a small wisp of fortune throughout his body, maintaining his hold on it as he attempted to bypass karmic consequence.


    Although Xiao Nanfengprehended all the Taoist scriptures he had read, thatprehension came at multiple levels, superficial and otherwise, just like when he first began learning Hegemon''s Fist. Eachyer ofprehension built on the others, and the wisp of fortune he held gave rise to new and critical insights.


    His sterke surged. This time, instead of growingrger, the stars within theke grew more numerous.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He knew that he had made the right move.


    Just then, by a corner of Xiao Nanfeng''s cottage, the chest in which he had kept the red rope emitted a burst of red light. The seals on the chest werepletely eliminated as the chest opened a crack. A length of rope, red as blood, sent one end peeking out before slithering out whole.


    The red rope had been so sly as to ignore Xiao Nanfeng, even against the threat of the ferocious beast within Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring. Although Xiao Nanfeng was on guard against the relic, even he had underestimated its strength. This chest wasn''t able to contain the red rope at all.


    The red rope''s senses were surprisingly strong. It noticed that Xiao Nanfeng was at a critical period in his cultivation, and took advantage of the opportunity to strike.


    It floated to Xiao Nanfeng''s side silently, snaked up its body so lightly that his clothes didn''t even flutter, and encircled Xiao Nanfeng''s neck.


    The red rope tightened¡ªthen squeezed. It grew taut, one end hanging on the beams in the ceiling, and the other looped around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck. Xiao Nanfeng was pulled up into the air, as though hanging himself. Even so, he didn''t wake up. He allowed the red rope to form a noose around his neck and swing him in the air.

 Chapter 129: Lunar Deluge

    <h4>Chapter 129: Lunar Deluge</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng watched the stars in his sterke grow more numerous, he suddenly felt a sharp yank on his neck.


    <i>Something''s wrong!</i> He could sense that he had been lifted into the air. By the time he stabilized himself andnded on the ground, he found himself in a domain enshrouded by mist.


    "Is this an illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    With no hesitation, he summoned a cloud of superior yin frost, which he was just about to use to shatter the illusion before him when a gale blew by. The superior yin frost dispersed, not having been able to bring him out.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked over to the source of the disturbance, only to see Madam Rouge stepping into the mist. Had it been the one to induce that breeze?


    "You again?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He summoned even more superior yin frost, but another gust of wind dispersed it and prevented Xiao Nanfeng from escaping.


    "Madam Rouge, you really are getting arrogant, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed as he pounced toward her.


    Just then, a length of red rope appeared from nowhere, looped around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck, and hung him in the air.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately grew rmed.


    He tore off the length of rope as he fell to the ground.


    As the length of red ropended, it suddenly grew to over a hundred times its original size. Its body was coiled up, as though it were a huge python. With a tremor of the rope, the mist all around the domain turned a sinister red.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. "You were the one who dragged me into this illusion?"


    He had guessed that the red rope had managed to escape from the chest, but not that it would be so strong as to be able to create an illusory realm and drag him inside as well. Madam Rouge must have taken the opportunity to add insult to injury.


    The red rope didn''t speak. Rather, it coiled around Xiao Nanfeng, inspecting him carefully.


    Xiao Nanfeng was preparing to manifest his ck lotus within the illusory realm and seal the red rope when he suddenly stopped moving. His physical body was in trouble.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body was still dangling from a beam in the ceiling. The red rope around his neck had grown tighter and tighter, but the qi within his body served as innate protection. The three zing suns in his dantian moved along his hundred divine channels, shrouding his body in golden light and zing me that surrounded the red rope on his neck.


    Even so, with great effort, the red rope was able to suppress the me.


    The red rope and zing me were at a stalemate when a thin red thread suddenly emerged from the main body of the red rope, heading straight for Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead, as though to possess him.


    With a sudden hum, a ck lotus appeared right outside his mindscape, preventing the red thread''s intrusion.


    The red rope seemed particrly annoyed, and it vibrated incessantly. With his three suns protecting his body and the ck lotus protecting his spirit, however, Xiao Nanfeng was perfectly safe from the red rope''s assault.


    The red rope had no other recourse than to deal with Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar within the illusory realm instead.


    Within the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng was btedly able to sense that the ck lotus was already defending against something, and he gave up on the notion of summoning it into the realm.


    As he stared at the thick coil of rope before him, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. "You aren''t another cursed effigy, are you? Just you wait and see what I''ll do when I get out of here."


    He punched at the red rope, which defended by tightening its body andunching its bulk at Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique, dispelling it. The red rope''s momentum was undiminished as it struck Xiao Nanfeng and sent him flying out, too.


    "You were pretending to be dead, but you''re actually this strong! Let''s go again," Xiao Nanfeng challenged it coldly.


    At the same time, he melted a portion of the remaining third of the frozen spiritual power in his mindscape, then punched at the red rope again. This time, the technique, bolstered by spiritual power, formed a huge fist that struck the red rope.


    The resulting shockwave caused the red mist to disperse instantly, and the red rope itself was sent flying. It scattered into a hundred fragments, which reformed into the original red rope.


    "To be able to regenerate your body like that... you really are a cursed effigy, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward it in shock.


    The gigantic red rope shot toward Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted back.


    The red rope exploded when struck by Xiao Nanfeng''s technique and transformed again into a hundred fragments. As theynded on the ground, they quickly began to reform once again.


    "Infinite regeneration?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in shock.


    The red rope moved rapidly and quickly coiled around Xiao Nanfeng''s body. Within moments, he had been trapped in its center. The red rope grew tighter and tighter, as though intending to coil Xiao Nanfeng to death.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted, struggling as he bolstered himself with spiritual energy.


    With a great boom, the red rope that had coiled around Xiao Nanfeng had been destroyed. Even so, its fragments were rapidly surging together as the rope reconstituted itself.


    "That old eunuch deliberately freed you in hopes that you would destroy me, didn''t he?"


    Xiao Nanfeng and the red rope continued their fighting.


    Although the red rope was able to regenerate, Xiao Nanfeng discovered that it grew weaker each time it did so.


    At the same time, not far away from the mist, Madam Rouge was carefully grabbing onto a fragment of red rope. She arduously put it to her mouth and swallowed it, belching out a puff of red smoke. Her weak body seemed to suddenly have received nutrients.


    Madam Rouge didn''t stop there. She manipted the fog to cover her tracks as she followed behind Xiao Nanfeng, who was obliterating the red rope over and over again. Madam Rouge consumed those fragments bit by bit.


    The red rope, fighting in earnest, discovered something amiss. Not only was it continuously having to reform its body, its fragments were slowly disappearing!


    The red rope suddenly paused its attack as it attempted to find where its missing fragments had gone. Xiao Nanfeng likewise stopped. He had finally consumed thest of the spiritual power stored in the frozen mountain, and he had no more he could use.


    Although he did have some reserves that the ck lotus had collected and processed, it wouldn''tst for long. Furthermore, Madam Rouge was skulking in the depths of the realm.


    "Red rope, if we keep fighting like this, we''ll both lose out. Shall we call it a truce? Let me out of this illusory realm, and we won''t bother each other any longer," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    The red rope continued searching for its missing fragments, clearly not interested in epting Xiao Nanfeng''s offer.


    Seeing that the red rope was ignoring him, Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Let me be frank, then. Another cursed effigy is present in this illusory realm, waiting for the two of us to tire each other out so she can take advantage."


    The red rope trembled in outrage, finally understanding what had happened to the missing fragments of its body. The other cursed effigy had eaten them!


    The red rope flicked its body, dissipating the mist that had hung over the realm and revealing a cloud of red mist in the distance. Within that cloud of red mist was a bleached white skeleton.


    The red rope shot toward Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge, having eaten some fragments of the red rope, had grown significantly stronger. She nced at Xiao Nanfeng with vexation, as though ming him for revealing her presence. Rather than taking the red rope''s blow head-on, she shed away toward the mists further in the distance.


    The red rope continued chasing after her. Both of them vanished into the mists.


    Sensing an opportunity, Xiao Nanfeng again gathered a cloud of superior yin frost, with which he attempted to break out of the illusion. Suddenly, however, howling winds formed around him and dissipated the frost, preventing Xiao Nanfeng from escaping.


    "Even though she''s being chased by the red rope, is Madam Rouge still unwilling to let me go?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He knew that, although he had sessfully incited a confrontation between the red rope and Madam Rouge, as long as he remained within the illusion, he would have to face them both eventually.


    "In the end, I can''t keep relying on others'' strength. I have to grow strong enough to be able to break out of this realm myself. Fortune, keep helping me nullify my karmic consequences!" Xiao Nanfeng turned back to his scriptures.


    At the same time, within his mindscape, the starlight in his sterke began to re. Gradually, the entireke began to gleam with pulses of spiritual light.


    Subsequently, all that starlight gathered by the middle of theke, which seemed to be gestating something particrly mysterious.


    After two whole hours, with a huge bang, all the starlight transformed into a glowing orb that slowly floated above the surface of the water. It shone with radiant light, illuminating everything around it.


    It looked as though a full moon had suddenly emerged from behind floating clouds, shining so brightly as to illuminate the sea underneath.


    "A full moon hanging overhead, a swell of water underneath¡ªI must have reached Lunar Deluge!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Within the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar grew several times stronger. His spiritual power was tinged with a silvery-white glow, magnifying his strength.

 Chapter 130: Cursed Slave

    <h4>Chapter 130: Cursed ve</h4>


    "To think it would have consumed almost half my remaining fortune..." Xiao Nanfeng felt a pang of loss. Even so, he rxed. "At the very least, I''ve finally reached Lunar Deluge. I wonder if this full yin moon from Body of Yin has any special properties?"


    Just then, apanying a huge explosion, the mists afar dissipated and revealed the red rope.


    Sensing that Xiao Nanfeng''s aura had suddenly advanced in strength, it grew wary of him. After giving up its chase of Madam Rouge, it shot straight back toward Xiao Nanfeng. Unfortunately, its opponent was far stronger than now.


    "Let''s see just how strong this moon is, then." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed.


    He punched forward, a silvery-white fist that struck the red rope head-on.


    In a shower of silver light, the red rope exploded into a thousand fragments, a tremendous improvement from before. It had lost the confrontation spectacrly.


    The red rope couldn''t have expected that Xiao Nanfeng would grow an order of magnitude stronger during the two hours it spent chasing Madam Rouge.


    Not only that, Madam Rouge suddenly appeared and sucked up the vast majority of the red rope''s spiritual fragments. Each of those fragments was extremely weak, and could offer no resistance against Madam Rouge.


    Roiling ck smoke erupted from Madam Rouge, a clear sign that her spiritual power had increased dramatically.


    "You took advantage of my victory, I see." Xiao Nanfeng''s face darkened.


    Madam Rouge gave Xiao Nanfeng a horrific rictus of a smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed as he leapt toward Madam Rouge.


    This time, however, Madam Rouge had learned from her earlier mistakes. She chose not to block Xiao Nanfeng''s attack; her body shed and vanished out of sight.


    The illusory realm broke apart as Xiao Nanfeng woke up in reality, only to find that he had been hung while unconscious.


    "This damned rope!" Xiao Nanfeng tugged angrily on it, loosening it and causing it to fall from the beams of the ceiling. Xiao Nanfeng alsonded on the ground.


    He snatched up the length of rope, which now seemed just as ordinary as before.


    "Madam Rouge is growing more and more sly¡ªthis isn''t a good sign. As for this red rope, is it pretending to be dead again?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he scrutinized it carefully.


    Just then, a voice could be heard from up close. "Let me have a look at that red rope."


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head. A ck-robed man had appeared before him out of nowhere.


    "Elder Blue Lantern? What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He looked toward the doors of the cottage, which had remained shut. Had Blue Lantern appeared out of thin air?


    "The serpent just came to tell me that a new Spiritsong cultivator appeared in the humans'' domain. I was wondering who it was that could hide from my senses, only to find him dead by the time I arrived. You killed him," Blue Lantern stated.


    "Elder, do you mean that old eunuch from before?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "So there was a cursed effigy that was helping him hide from me. Is it this? May I have a look?"


    Xiao Nanfeng offered him the red rope. "Elder, this artifact is particrly sinister."


    Blue Lantern inspected the red rope for a while. "Its cursed spiritual power appears to have vanished entirely..."


    "Its spiritual avatar was consumed by the cursed effigy that''s been stalking me," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Elder, this red rope used to be able to control others'' consciousness. How does this sort of artifact operate?"


    "Control? No¡ªit''s possession. The cursed effigy used its own cursed spiritual power to possess others. By the time they were possessed, they had already died." Blue Lantern shook his head.


    "Dead? How could it be? I saw Crown Prince Yan and the various n heads acting normally even after being possessed."


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "No, they''re dead. A small wisp of cursed spiritual power in their consciousness gives them the appearance of being alive. They just perished, so it would be difficult to identify any unusual characteristics."


    "What about afterwards?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Those possessed by cursed spiritual power are known as cursed ves. Their consciousness has been eroded by the curse, and they''ll soon be nothing more than ves for the cursed effigy. As time passes, their physical bodies will rot and deteriorate, and their mental faculties will grow weaker and weaker. In the end, they''ll be walking corpses that turn to dust once thest of their power is used up," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Cursed ves?"


    Xiao Nanfeng recalled that he had encountered such entities during the Taiqing recruitment trials, which he had thought of as zombies and evil spirits.


    "Elder, this red rope was eaten by the skeleton cursed effigy in an illusory realm. Is it dead?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Cursed effigies can''t be killed," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Humans have spiritual power, and cursed effigies have cursed spiritual power. The red rope within the illusion was none other than its cursed spiritual avatar, just like humans'' spiritual avatars. With enough time, its cursed spiritual avatar will regenerate, especially since it has a physical presence in the form of this rope." Blue Lantern handed it back to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "So this red rope is the equivalent of a human''s body? Can it be destroyed?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "If the red rope is destroyed, it''ll simply regenerate elsewhere. Furthermore, why would you want to destroy the rope? With it in your possession, you''ll be able tomand those cursed ves."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. Was this rope still able tomand the n heads and crown prince?


    "Elder, under what circumstances will the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar regenerate?" Xiao Nanfeng asked worriedly.


    "This red rope has suffered significant damage, so it''ll be decades before its avatar respawns. You need not worry," Blue Lantern replied in a consoling fashion.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Could he not worry? He was already in possession of three cursed effigies; any more, and he would be able to form a full group to y mahjong with.


    "Elder, none of the cursed effigies seem able tomunicate with me verbally despite their clear intelligence. Why is that?"


    "Cursed effigies are bound by pact. Unless they''re in their own hidden realms, iplete cursed effigies cannot speak. The red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar was iplete, and that skeleton stalking you has been greatly diminished. Naturally, neither were able tomunicate with you."


    "Thank you for the information, Elder." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Since this red rope''s cursed spiritual power is gone, you may use it as an ordinary artifact. The skeleton, however, is another matter entirely."


    "Elder, are you able to draw the skeleton cursed effigy away from me?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    "I am bound not to actively help those in need, but may do so for the price of one dragon-quelling spike."


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Your wishes are particrly precious, Elder, and I wouldn''t want to waste them at will. Will you let me continue thinking about it?"


    "As you will. How fares your cultivation? Your spiritual cultivation has reached Lunar Deluge, hasn''t it?"


    "I was fortunate enough to just have ascended, Elder," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a nod.


    "In that case, you too must enter the divine domain. This is aw of this hidden realm, and a significant opportunity awaits you there. You must go, and you must go early." Blue Lantern''s tone was resolute.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Furthermore, the two female cultivators and toad spirits aren''t doing too well in the divine domain themselves. You''ll be able to help them out," Blue Lantern continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Elder, can you send me there?"


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "Walk your own path. I''ll have the serpente fetch you. Prepare to be on your way."


    Blue Lantern''s body flickered as he vanished in a cloud of ck smoke.

 Chapter 131: A Heart-to-Heart with Madam Rouge

    <h4>Chapter 131: A Heart-to-Heart with Madam Rouge</h4>


    Ten dayster, Xiao Nanfeng frowned at the patch of fog before him, epassing an area about five kilometers in diameter, if that.


    "Go on in. Within is the divine domain. Master Blue Lantern made it very clear that I had to watch you enter," the serpent urged from his side.


    "This is the extent of the divine domain, five kilometers in diameter?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "What do you know? You''ll understand why when you''re inside," the serpent replied disdainfully, as though talking to a country bumpkin.


    "Do you know where my senior sister and the elder are?"


    The serpent''s eyes brightened as it puffed up its chest. "I know the divine domain best out of anyone, but who''s to say I''m willing to divulge my secrets? I won''t do it for free, unless¡ª"


    "In that case, you don''t know either? Forget it, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head and sighing.


    The serpent stiffened. "When did I say I didn''t know? I''d hardly tell you anything unless you gave me something for my information."


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes at the serpent. Its roundabout manner made it evident that it had no idea of their current location; it was only trying to scam Xiao Nanfeng!


    "Did Elder Blue Lantern say anything more?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "None. He instructed me to watch you enter¡ªthat''s it. How long are you going to keep standing here? Don''t make me wait. I want to enter as well!" the serpent called out impatiently.


    "You, too?"


    "Of course! There''s an incredible opportunity lying in wait in the divine domain once every century. I was too young thest time, but I gained the right to participate this time around. However, Master Blue Lantern''s been keeping me outside all this time. He''s finally permitted me to enter, and enter I will! I''m far more familiar with the interior of the divine domain than you are, and I''ll surely be able to find that opportunity," the serpent boasted.


    "In that case, let''s head in," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    He stepped through the heavy fog, followed swiftly behind by the serpent. They walked for roughly two kilometers to arrive at a dark space. A blue moon hung in the air, shining down and draping everything in a coat of blue, causing the divine domain to look incredibly mysterious.


    As he nced at the endless expanse of the horizon, an astonished expression appeared on Xiao Nanfeng''s face. From the outside, it looked as though the fog was over a domain about five kilometers wide. He had already walked two kilometers in, so he should be nearing its center. Why was there still such a wide expanse before him?


    "Is the divine domain not situated in physical reality?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the serpent.


    "Of course. What would be divine about it otherwise?" the serpent replied disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows.


    "Hmm? Why does the divine domain feel funny? There''s a different sensationpared to before..." the serpent murmured.


    "In what way?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I won''t say," the serpent huffed, then flew toward the distant mountains.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He watched as the serpent left him, not in particr urgency to head deep into the divine domain. Rather, he inspected his surroundings.


    Golden mes zed on his palm. The strength of his physical body hadn''t been suppressed or weakened. He snuffed out the mes and continued his testing. Blue spiritual power emanated from his palm, transforming into silver mes with force of will.


    "Hmm? The force of spiritual power seems to be magnified in this divine domain," Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    He punched at a nearby pile of mud, causing it to explode instantly and form a giant crater.


    "How could this be? This is a strength I was only ever able to disy within illusory realms. What''s so special about the divine domain that allows me to replicate it in reality?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    This was far stronger than even his pure yang qi, which was something that shouldn''t ever happen in reality.


    "And I can even exercise my spiritual power with physical techniques? Could this be a liminal realm between the real and the illusory?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    While he was deep in thought, he suddenly saw a fleeing figure from afar.


    "Madam Rouge? Stop right there!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, giving chase to the bleached skeleton.


    Xiao Nanfeng was certain that this had to be a liminal realm. Although Madam Rouge was sly and sinister, she was only ever able to interact with others in illusory realms. She had appeared in reality before, but only as a projection with no physical body.


    This time, however, Madam Rouge knocked down a few trees as she teleported away.


    Xiao Nanfeng was extremely strong when energized with spiritual power, and he instantly jumped before her.


    As though she were panicking, Madam Rouge fled and shed away once more. However, her teleportation was limited by range, and she seemed unable to use her ability in quick session. Xiao Nanfeng was easily able to catch up.


    He sent her flying with a palm strike. ck smoke spouted from Madam Rouge''s skull, not having expected that Xiao Nanfeng would bring her to a ce like this. She was caught unawares, her body exposed.


    Sheunched a flurry of attacks at Xiao Nanfeng in shock and anger.


    Xiao Nanfeng defended against those blows handily.


    Although Madam Rouge had consumed the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar, her strength was still far inferior to Xiao Nanfeng''s. Furthermore, Xiao Nanfeng had reached quintessence with Hegemon''s Fist, and he easily trounced her.


    Madam Rouge was sent flying time and again.


    She was exasperated, but there was nothing she could do. She almost wanted to self-destruct and kill Xiao Nanfeng in the aftermath.


    Madam Rouge was mmed against a huge boulder.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward, pinning her wrists down with his hands and pressing them against the boulder above her head. Simultaneously, he held down her madly kicking legs with a kneecap.


    More ck smoke emerged from Madam Rouge''s skull, as though she were still struggling to get free from him.


    "Don''t move. Let''s have a chat," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Madam Rouge''s pitch-ck, skeletal eyes glimmered with red light. She seemed infuriated by Xiao Nanfeng''s actions. Her aura constricted, as though she were about to self-destruct.


    "Self-destruction can''t befortable, can it? And do you think you have enough power to harm me as is? Just calm down and let me talk with you. I''ll release you once I''m done," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Madam Rouge''s swelling stopped. Even so, she continued looking at Xiao Nanfeng with her eyes shing red, angry and resentful.


    When Xiao Nanfeng saw it calm down, he rxed. "Madam Rouge, we''ve been fighting for quite a while, and we''ve never had a chance for a conversation like this. I''d like to take the opportunity to discuss our grudges against each other and see if there''s the potential for reconciliation."


    ck smoke puffed out of Madam Rouge''s head. Clearly, she had no intention ofpromise.


    "That''s right. We''ve shed against each other several times, but you always suffered as a result of those shes. However, I''d like you to think back to when you were able to benefit from interacting with me," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Madam Rouge red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Whenever you tried to kill me, you were killed or forced to flee, weakening yourself in the process. On the other hand, whenever you didn''t try to kill me, you were able to gain tremendous benefits. Don''t you agree? The grievously wounded officials of the Red Emperor, the champions of the za Stairway, the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar¡ªyou had a feast on all those asions, didn''t you?"


    Madam Rouge continued ring at Xiao Nanfeng. If not for the fact that he had pinned her down, she would have pped him on the face. She had fought for all those victories with her life on the line!


    "Let''s have bygones be bygones, Madam Rouge. Look: I''m growing stronger over time, whereas your strength waxes and wanes."


    Even more ck smoke puffed out from Madam Rouge''s head. The reason its strength waned was all because of Xiao Nanfeng!


    "Why don''t we stop fighting now? I''ll help catch you some cursed effigies in the future, and you''ll promise not to target me. What do you think?"


    Madam Rouge still red fiercely at Xiao Nanfeng, clearly not intending to agree so easily.


    "Look, I''m being rather sincere, aren''t I? I could have taken this opportunity to disperse all your gathered power again, but I chose to sue for peace. Why don''t we each take one step back? It''ll help us all. If you need any assistance, I''d be happy to help. Isn''t it lonely for you the way you are?"


    Even more ck smoke poured out from Madam Rouge''s head, as though cursing him for his pity.


    "To express my sincerity, I''ll be letting you go right now."


    Xiao Nanfeng jumped back, freeing Madam Rouge.


    She continued to re at Xiao Nanfeng, her grudge clearly unresolved.


    "Madam Rouge, we don''t bear such great enmity against each other. We can be friends," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    Madam Rouge''s eyes pulsed with red light. This was the first time she had met a fool who wanted to befriend her, but what else was she to do? This was a fool she couldn''t beat!


    Madam Rouge teleported some distance away, but this time, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t give chase.


    "Madam Rouge, please consider my offer!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    From afar, Madam Rouge vanished amidst the mountainous forest.


    Xiao Nanfeng exhaled in relief. He didn''t want to settle things with Madam Rouge, either, but he didn''t have a choice. Cursed effigies couldn''t be killed, and there would be no end to the fighting if it were to continue.


    He didn''t fear Madam Rouge, but he had to keep the future in mind. He did want to get married and have children, after all¡ªwhat if Madam Rouge began to harass his wife and children? Better to sue for peace with her now. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to truly be friends with her; he just wanted her to stay away.


    The ck lotus was something Madam Rouge feared, but its utility wasn''t guaranteed. However, it was precisely because of the ck lotus that he had the confidence to negotiate with Madam Rouge.


    "Well, it was a good start," Xiao Nanfeng reflected.


    He spun around, taking in the sights. During his fight with Madam rouge, he didn''t know how far into the divine domain he had gone.


    "It''s so quiet as to be frightening. I made such a bigmotion just now, so why hasn''t anyone or anything shown up?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Just then, a pitch-ck hand broke out from underground and caught Xiao Nanfeng''s heel.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...

 Chapter 132: The Cursed Effigies of the Divine Domain

    <h4>Chapter 132: The Cursed Effigies of the Divine Domain</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng nched, kicking at the hand and scattering earth and rock. He freed himself from the grasping hand, only to have another one take its ce.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately leapt aside, frowning as he nced at the earth. A humanoid figure scrabbled out from within, its face rotten, its eyes vacant, its hands skeletal. No part of its body was healthy, and he gave off a dark aura of rot and decay. He was clearly touched by evil and much like the zombies that Xiao Nanfeng had seen on television in his past life.


    "A cursed ve?" Xiao Nanfeng guessed immediately.


    The cursed ve roared and pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng, who retaliated with a punch and sent it stumbling back.


    "This ve''s even stronger than Madam Rouge!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The cursed ve seemed to bear no intelligence whatsoever. It continuously and rapidly attacked Xiao Nanfeng. Unfortunately, it knew no skills, and Xiao Nanfeng quickly sent him flying into the distance.


    "This cursed ve was unharmed even from one blow of my fist! It must have been strong in life¡ªbut just a single cursed ve won''t be able to take me down," Xiao Nanfeng sneered disdainfully.


    Just then, the ground all around him began to surge. A dozen or more cursed ves appeared from underground, twisting their heads before pouncing toward him together.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng sent one cursed ve after another flying, but they quickly rushed back, seemingly unhurt. Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He had no intention of wasting time here; fighting against these cursed ves was meaningless. What could he do even if he were to win?


    Just then, a ck figure shot toward him from afar,nding by his feet.


    "Serpent?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Damn it, what''s with the divine domain? Where are all these monstersing from?!" the serpent yelled.


    Dozens of cursed ves were chasing after the serpent. Just like the cursed ves that Xiao Nanfeng had encountered, they wereyered with dirt and earth, as though they had just climbed up from underground. They roared as they continued charging toward Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent.


    "Serpent, didn''t you run away? Why are you back now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked while he held the cursed ves back.


    "Who said I ran away? I was hiding nearby watching you¡ªand I saw you being intimate with that skeleton! You must have rather obscene taste," the serpent remarked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. "Are you crazy? Who was being intimate with a skeleton?!"


    "You even pressed that skeleton against that boulder over there and kissed her! I saw it with my own eyes!" the serpent retorted.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He had merely been having a pleasant conversation with Madam Rouge. Was the serpent crazy? Its eyes were clearly dysfunctional, as was its mind!


    "What''s up with these cursed ves?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, quashing his anger and changing the topic.


    "How should I know? I was hiding right over there when a group of these monstrosities emerged. Ah, isn''t that the king of Yan? No, it was the king of Yan from a century ago, who passed away in the divine domain!" The serpent pointed at a certain cursed ve. "But how did he end up bing one of these monsters?"


    "These are cursed ves, lifeforms that have been controlled by cursed effigies. Aren''t you aware of their existence?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "How should I have known that? I thought that this was part of Master Blue Lantern''s arrangements! I haven''t seen more than a few cursed ves over thest century, so where did these ones alle from?" The serpent was gobsmacked.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent continued to hold back the cursed ves.


    "No wonder the Red Emperor imed that I''d need to be at least at Lunar Deluge or Spiritsong before entering the divine domain. These cursed ves are dangerous in suchrge numbers," Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    The serpent retreated in a certain direction, and Xiao Nanfeng followed suit.


    "What are you doing, following me? Scram!" The serpent shooed Xiao Nanfeng away.


    "I''m just heading my own way. What''s it to you?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Nonsense! You know I''m familiar with the divine domain, so you''re trying to take advantage of my expertise! Well, I''m not standing for it. Stop following me around. I''ll be able to get out in no time!" the serpent shouted.


    It whipped its tail against Xiao Nanfeng, whose defense stalled him for long enough that he was surrounded by the cursed ves. The serpent took the opportunity to escape into the forest.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t too worried. Despite the strength that these ves possessed, they moved slowly and sluggishly, like zombies.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to retrieve a treasure to rid himself of these cursed ves when he was suddenly reminded of the Red Emperor''s hint.


    He took out a dragon-quelling spike, which glowed with blue light. The cursed ves all stopped short and began to retreat.


    "Oh? These spikes really are talismans!" Xiao Nanfeng approached one of the cursed ves with the spike in hand, causing it to retreat as if in shock.


    Just then, a ck figure flew out of the forest with a scream,nding not far away from Xiao Nanfeng. The serpent had returned.


    "Weren''t you running away? What''s the matter now?"


    The serpent thundered, "Didn''t you see? I was forced back! Mind your own business¡ªdon''t think I''ll help you just because I''m right here!"


    From within the forest came dozens more cursed ves, chasing after the serpent.


    "Do you think I''m that easy to bully? I''ve been in the divine domain longer than you have. Who knows where you even came from? Die!" the serpent roared.


    Once again, it was sent flying.


    Over forty cursed ves were attacking the serpent simultaneously, grievously wounding it. Its scales shook, bent, and cracked. Some of the ves were sent flying, but they didn''t fear pain whatsoever, and their bodies were unbelievably sturdy. They continued to ravage the dragon.


    "Damn it! It''s lucky I''m thick-skinned. I bet I''m faring much better than thatd¡ªhe must be dead by now!" The serpent peered at its side, only to see Xiao Nanfeng standing in ce, a dragon-quelling spike in hand. He nced all around himself in a rxed fashion. No ve was willing to draw close to him. The serpent goggled.


    "Why aren''t you attacking him? Why are you only attacking me? This is unfair!" the serpent howled.


    The ves ignored the serpent and continued attacking it at maximum strength, as though they intended to kill it on the spot.


    The serpent, facing unfair treatment the likes of which it had never felt before, was dealt a physical, as well as a mental, blow.


    "Master Blue Lantern! Please, save me!" the serpent shouted.


    No matter how it shouted, however, Blue Lantern never appeared.


    "Lad? Ah, no, Sir Nanfeng, please save me! I treated you poorly in the past, but I''m repenting for my actions now!"


    Xiao Nanfeng walked away as the serpent attempted to draw near. "Didn''t you want me to stay away from you?"


    "No, I was wrong! Help me, please!" The serpent continued rushing closer.


    "Hold on. I''m trying to investigate why these cursed ves are attacking us," Xiao Nanfeng told the serpent.


    "Hold on? I''m already bleeding all over! Won''t you help me out?" the serpent cried.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the serpent''s pleas. He wanted to figure out why the ves were attacking them.


    Suddenly, he discovered a figure quietly watching him and the serpent from a mountain peak close by. Under the illumination of the full moon, that figure¡ªno, that humanoid skeleton¡ªstood out in the background.


    "Could it be Madam Rouge? No, this serpent looks to berger. It''s not her. That must mean that it''s another cursed effigy?"


    The cursed effigy was staring at the bottom of the valley. Seeing that Xiao Nanfeng held a dragon-quelling spike, it suddenly leapt into the air andnded before him. The cursed ves all around retreated instantly, as though deferential to the cursed effigy.


    "Hey, you! You cursed effigy over there, we''ve met in the divine domain before, haven''t you? Master Blue Lantern even chided you! Quick,e help me!" the serpent shouted, as though sensing a lifeline.


    The cursed effigy turned toward the serpent. Blue light shed in its eyes. It suddenly spoke. "Blue Lantern? He has no right tomand me."


    "What?" the serpent gasped.


    "Lie down. These ves won''t take your life¡ªrather, they''ll hand you a tremendous opportunity," the skeleton stated.


    "I don''t believe you!" the serpent thundered.


    "Ignorant fool. Attack him at full strength," the skeletonmanded.


    The cursed ves roared as they began to attack the serpent even more furiously.


    "What? You''re the one controlling all these ves?!" the serpent cried out, before they swarmed all over its body and hid it from sight.


    The skeleton then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "You too bear a great opportunity. Follow me!"


    "What opportunity?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t believe the skeleton one bit.


    "Just follow me. I don''t have time for all this nonsense," the skeleton replied.


    "There''s no need!" Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    He had a dragon-quelling spike in hand, and none of the cursed ves in the vicinity were willing to get close to him. He didn''t fear this skeleton.


    "That''s not up to you," the skeleton replied.


    He leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng, who retaliated with a fist. The resulting sh gave rise to a tremendous explosion, causing bothbatants to stumble a few steps back.


    "What incredible strength," Xiao Nanfeng remarked, frowning.


    The skeleton charged toward him again, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear it. With Hegemon''s Fist, he would be able to win any confrontation.

 Chapter 133: Madam Rouges Request for Help

    <h4>Chapter 133: Madam Rouge''s Request for Help</h4>


    The skeleton was itself a master of an advanced fist technique, but one inferior to Xiao Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted. He struck the skeleton''s neck with a punch, causing it to break and sending its head flying.


    Just then, all the cursed ves stopped attacking the serpent and instead guarded the beheaded skeleton.


    "I''ve been rescued!" the serpent cried out in glee. It had wounds all over its body.


    "I saved you. Don''t forget that," Xiao Nanfeng reminded him, turning his head.


    The serpent: ...


    "Dream on! You aren''t going to make me thank you!" The serpent scowled.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mind. He asked, "Where''s the exit to the divine domain?"


    "The exit? Hmm? Where''s the mist we passed through?" the serpent suddenly cried out.


    Mountain peaks dotted the horizon; there was no sign of the mist through which they had entered.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be familiar with the divine domain? Why don''t you know anything?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "How should I know? The divine domain wasn''t like this in the past. Everything''s changed!" the serpent replied.


    Just then, the skeleton stood up, picked up its fallen head, and ced it on its neck once again.


    "You broke my neck? Do you know how much cursed spiritual power I''m going to lose as a result?!" the skeleton thundered.


    "Next time, I''ll break all the bones in your body, not just your neck," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    Knowing that it was no match for Xiao Nanfeng, the skeleton suddenly howled into the air. The howl echoed through the skies.


    "It''s summoning itspanions. Take it down with me!" Xiao Nanfeng called out to the serpent.


    By the time he turned his head, however, the serpent had already flown off.


    "You do that yourself! I''m not going to help you¡ªdream on, haha!" The serpent wasughing as it shot away.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Just then, dozens of cursed ves appeared in the air, pouncing on the serpent. Two skeletonsmanded the ves from above, striking at the serpent and dealing it a grievous wound.


    The serpent mmed down into a valley in the distance.


    "Save me, Sir Nanfeng!" the falling serpent cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    By then, it was so far away that, even if Xiao Nanfeng wanted to help it, he couldn''t do anything. What''s more, it seemed as though there were no benefit to helping someone like the serpent.


    Xiao Nanfeng put the serpent out of mind¡ªthe skeleton before him was charging forward once again.


    Man and skeleton exchanged blows. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t drag the fight out; rather, he turned and ran into the forest. He could see that more reinforcements wereing by air, including cursed ves and skeletons.


    He had a few treasures with which he could deal with the skeletons, but there was a price to be paid for each one. He didn''t want to use his trump cards this early.


    "Stop right there! Don''t move!" The skeletons chased after Xiao Nanfeng.


    Their motion was no different from that of ordinary people, unlike Madam Rouge, who could teleport.


    Xiao Nanfeng moved faster than they did, and he quickly left them behind. He hid in the forest and observed as the cursed ves spread out through the mountain in search of his whereabouts.


    "They''re all over the mountain and wilderness. What sort of opportunity might await me here?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Suddenly, a bundle of ck smoke appeared before Xiao Nanfeng, slowly forming into the word e''. Then, the ck smoke drifted off in a certain direction.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. He didn''t understand how the ck smoke''s owner knew where he was hiding. Curiously, he followed the ck smoke past several mountains before arriving at a small valley. Within the valley was the sound of vigorous fighting.


    He snuck into the valley to see dozens of cursed ves attacking Madam Rouge simultaneously. Atop arge boulder not far away was arge skeleton overseeing the fight.


    "To think that the divine domain would see the likes of a cursed effigy from afar. In what era were you created? I might have heard of your name before," the skeleton began.


    Madam Rouge ignored it as she continued to defend against the cursed ves'' onught, though in a somewhat imperfect manner.


    "Don''t you know that cursed effigies can''t leave their own hidden realms? Did you leave because your leader was preparing to descend back to the mortal realm? But you seem to be rather too weak. It''s disappointing," therge skeleton criticized.


    Madam Rouge was so incensed that her jaws ttered.


    "Since you''re in our territory now, you won''t be able to escape. Hand me your cursed spiritual power, and I''ll make them go easy on you," therge skeleton ordered.


    Madam Rouge naturally ignored the skeleton as she continued to fend off the cursed ves'' attacks. Eventually, after being dealt several heavy blows, it rushed up to therge skeleton.


    Therge skeleton struck, forcing Madam Rouge to stumble back. Even so, she had managed to pluck off one of its fingers, which she immediately swallowed.


    "You dare injure me? Die!"


    All the cursed ves suddenly leapt toward Madam Rouge, whose body began to crack. She was trapped with countless cursed ves all around her. Unless she self-destructed, she wouldn''t be able to escape.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood what was going on now. Madam Rouge had to have a way to pinpoint his location, and that bundle of ck smoke had to be a request for help from Madam Rouge! That was certainly a good sign.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck immediately, transforming into a beam of light as he shot toward the tall skeleton.


    The tall skeleton, noting the sudden intruder, punched at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng spun to the side, dodging the skeleton''s fist as he punched its neck.


    Therge skeleton''s neck cracked, and its head was sent flying. In shock and rage, itmanded a group of cursed ves to strike at Xiao Nanfeng. As Xiao Nanfeng brandished the dragon-quelling spike in his hand, the cursed ves immediately stepped back.


    Before therge skeleton could reattach its skull, Xiao Nanfeng quickly punched its four limbs, disassembling it.


    "You''ll die for this, brat!" therge skeleton howled.


    It let out an ear-splitting bellow, as though summoning other cursed effigies over.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng rushed over to Madam Rouge and saved her from amidst a pile of cursed ves.


    "Leave!" he urged.


    However, Madam Rouge shook herself free of Xiao Nanfeng''s hands and rushed toward the bones on the ground.


    Opening her mouth wide, she sucked up therge skeleton''s bones.


    "Stop it, you bastard! That''s my cursed spiritual power!" therge skeleton''s skull raged.


    The cursed ves all around her leapt straight at her, but Xiao Nanfeng shielded Madam Rouge with his dragon-quelling spike.


    Therge skeleton attempted to struggle, but Madam Rouge was consuming its body extremely rapidly.


    "Just you wait. I''lle back, and when I do, none of you will get away!"


    Therge skeleton''s skull let out a final scream before Madam Rouge ate that whole, too. Finally, the cursed ves it was controlling stopped moving.


    "We have to leave. More cursed effigies are on their way," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Madam Rouge and Xiao Nanfeng left the scene as anotherrge group of cursed ves and skeletones descended from the skies. By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge were long gone. They had found a nearby hidden valley.


    "Well? We cooperated well, didn''t we?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled even as he guarded against Madam Rouge.


    A screen of ck smoke appeared before Madam Rouge. Words formed on it. "I simply didn''t want to hand them my cursed spiritual power," she wrote. "It wouldn''t have been hard for me to escape."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. The fact that Madam Rouge was willing tomunicate with him was an excellent start.


    "You''re right, but I was ultimately helping you, wasn''t I? See, I''m sincere." Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    "You can be sure I''m aware of what you''re nning. You were forced topromise with me because you can''t do anything about me otherwise. Furthermore, don''t imagine that you saved me just now. I''m not at the point where I''d need to be saved by an Ascension-realm hunter. Don''t expect my gratitude, either. My grudge against you had not been fully resolved. Just you wait." Madam Rouge seemed to be growing more angry.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched.


    "Give me a cursed king''s token," Madam Rouge requested.


    "What''s that?"


    "These ''dragon-quelling spikes''. Hand me one, and I guarantee that I won''t drag those around you into our feud. I won''t target your two wives. Quickly!" Madam Rouge urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look. It was, however, a good sign that Madam Rouge was negotiating with him.


    "What''s this cursed king''s token? Why didn''t the ves back there dare to gather around it?" Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a dragon-quelling spike, but he didn''t hand it over to Madam Rouge.


    "Are you unaware even of that? There''s a group of cursed effigies in the vicinity, along with their king, the cursed king. The cursed king''s token can easily suppress the might of all the cursed ves in the vicinity. Who would dare countermand his order?


    "But Blue Lantern stated that all these dragon-quelling spikes were his..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "That chattering fool? He''s a cursed ve, too," Madam Rouge continued forming characters in the air.


    "Blue Lantern is a cursed ve?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped in shock.


    "He should be one of the cursed king''s ves, a rather advanced one who hasn''t perished just yet. Even so, it doesn''t matter. A cursed ve is a cursed ve, dead or alive. His life hangs in the bnce; one errant thought from the cursed king could easily end it. Are you going to give me a cursed king''s token or not?" Madam Rouge finished.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He began to doubt Blue Lantern''s promise of a wish given what Madam Rouge had stated; she seemed the more reliable source.


    "I''ll hand you this dragon-quelling spike in hopes that you''re willing to drop your grudge." Xiao Nanfeng offered the dragon-quelling spike to Madam Rouge.


    "To drop my grudge? Dream on! I''lle back and deal with youter when I''ve grown stronger."


    The ck smoke that served as Madam Rouge''s pen dissipated as Madam Rouge dashed into the forest and vanished.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Did I end up helping my enemy, then...?"

 Chapter 134: The Revival of Emperor Wei

    <h4>Chapter 134: The Revival of Emperor Wei</h4>


    After Madam Rouge left, Xiao Nanfeng avoided the cursed effigies and cursed ves all around, then spent almost half a month searching.


    Over the course of those two weeks, the skies never changed. The divine domain remained in perennial night, the moon hanging fixed in the air. Though once it seemed like a realm of fantasy, the unchangingndscape now felt sinister and ghastly.


    Even after half a month, Xiao Nanfeng found no trace of Yu''er and the others. Except for the cursed effigies and ves, there was nothing present.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart sank, but he continued his search unwaveringly.


    That day, he found his way into a valley, where he suddenly felt as though he were being watched.


    "Who is it?" Xiao Nanfeng jolted and looked all around him.


    ck fog was roiling in through the valley, as though arge number of cursed ves were making themselves known. On a rock not too far away sat arge skeleton who seemed to have been waiting for quite some time. It gave Xiao Nanfeng a cursory inspection.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his dragon-quelling spike in self-defense. He was intending to leave the region when the skeleton stepped toward him, a tremendous aura swelling from its body.


    Xiao Nanfeng began to retreat more quickly, but the skeleton was even faster. He reached Xiao Nanfeng immediately. As he punched forward, hundreds of fists shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with the exact same technique.


    The twobatants'' fists all struck each other, but the skeleton''s fists were stronger. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying from the impact.


    The skeleton plucked the dragon-quelling spike from Xiao Nanfeng''s hands at incredible speed.


    Xiao Nanfeng stumbled a few steps back as hended on the ground. He was shocked. The skeleton''s Hegemon''s Fist was in no way inferior to his.


    The skeleton nced at the dragon-quelling spike intently.


    Just then, a ck-robed cursed ve leapt toward Xiao Nafneng, who began fighting against it. Waves of energy billowed out from the valley, and howling gales formed.


    By then, ck fog had enshrouded the valley, forming what seemed like a barrier. Themotion within the valley was localized to it and wouldn''t spread beyond.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He knew that he had met a strong foe, one whom he could fight only on equal footing even if he used all his strength. What''s more, there were dozens of cursed ves all around, who hadn''t yet made their move.


    He focused on the cursed ve before him. Your techniques are identical to You Shi''s. Are you You Shi?


    The cursed ve suddenly jumped away, stepping aside and no longer charging forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, then nced at all the cursed ves arrayed around him. Finally, he turned to the cursed effigy, a bold hypothesis having taken root.


    "Are you Emperor Wei?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The skeleton slowly turned to Xiao Nanfeng. As though in praise, it said, "As expected of thed that Hong''er praised. You''re skilled and quick-witted."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. This response was essentially an affirmative.


    "Your Majesty, Emperor Wei, have you been sessfully revived?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "You''ve epted our inheritance. Shouldn''t you address us as Master?" the skeleton replied, staring at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng dipped his head and bowed to the skeleton. "Disciple Xiao Nanfeng greets his master."


    The skeletal Emperor Wei nodded in satisfaction. "You must be an exceptional talent to have met the criteria for cultivating Sky of Ten Suns, which even we regretted not having encountered earlier. Your spiritual power holds a strange weight¡ªI expect your spiritual cultivation technique is rather extraordinary, as well."


    "I was simply a little lucky, Master. I have a fewrades who have gone missing from me in the divine domain, and I haven''t been able to find them. Would you be willing to lend me your assistance?"


    "Do you mean your two wives and the two toad spirits?" Emperor Wei asked calmly.


    My wives? Xiao Nanfeng hesitated awkwardly. Their rtionship had hardly reached that stage! But it would be improper to correct his master...


    "Have you seen them, Master? I''m worried about their safety."


    "Don''t worry. Hong''er and Bai''er are looking after them," Emperor Wei replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "The two empresses? Have they also seeded in their revival?"


    "We are in the form of a cursed effigy; Hong''er and Bai''er have also be the same. There''s no need to mince your words," Emperor Wei replied.


    "No wonder you had Elder Blue Lantern bring them to the divine domain¡ªthis was your n all along, Master! But why didn''t Elder Blue Lantern exin things clearly? Both empresses were extremely upset to hear of the failure of your revival," Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Blue Lantern is a cursed ve belonging to the cursed king. All he sees, hears, and says, the cursed king will know. It''s inconvenient for him to do or say too much," Emperor Wei exined.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned, then continued curiously, "Master, I''ve never understood what a cursed effigy or a cursed king are. How do they form? Would you please enlighten me?"


    "You need not know of such matters at present." Emperor Wei shook his head, clearly unwilling to divulge such information.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Why would Emperor Wei be reluctant to do so?


    "Hand us your Seal of Great Wei," Emperor Wei continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng did so. As Emperor Wei held it in his hand, the seal suddenly glowed with golden light, as though recognizing its former master.


    "The fortune within¡ªyou''ve used some of it?" Emperor Wei seemed rather displeased.


    "I was forced to use some of it up to advance to Lunar Deluge," Xiao Nanfeng admitted.


    Emperor Wei was silent for some time. "Very well. Some fortune remains, and it''ll do. At the very least, you''ve brought a dragon-quelling spike here to repay the loss of fortune."


    "This is the dragon-quelling spike that created the za Stairway. The Red Emperor made very sure that I would hand the other spike to Elder Blue Lantern, not this one. Is there something special about this one?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "This is the only unique dragon-quelling spike. Hong''er called on the fortune of the kingdom within the illusory realm governed by this spike, and it would be easy for the cursed king to see that we hadn''t died. This secret must be kept, or all that we''ve done would go to waste. Luckily, Hong''er guessed our intent by the end and warned you in time."


    "The dragon-quelling spikes that Elder Blue Lantern collects will be handed straight to the cursed king, then? And the cursed king can figure out what happens in the illusory realms that each spike governs? Further, Master, your n needed even both empresses to be kept in the dark?" Xiao Nanfeng asked a series of questions.


    "Precisely." Emperor Wei nodded.


    "In that case, Master, you were aware of You Shi''s actions and nned around them as well?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. He had just confirmed that You Shi had also be a cursed ve. The fact that he still retained memories of his techniques in life meant that he couldn''t have been dead for long.


    "His actions could hardly have fooled us, and we modified some of his array-breaking relics," Emperor Wei replied.


    "You really are amazing, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked and simultaneously worried. Emperor Wei would be a dangerous opponent indeed. His ability to analyze and control the future was incredible, and he might even have plotted this meeting a thousand years ago.


    "How else could we have founded and managed a kingdom?" Emperor Wei replied. He looked at the dragon-quelling spike in his hand, then slowly put it in his mouth and swallowed it.


    "Master, is that... edible?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    These spikes were so strong as to be able to corrode countless other treasures, as Xiao Nanfeng had seen from the ruins of the three monarchs'' tombs. Why was Emperor Wei eating it?


    After consuming the relic, Emperor Wei suddenly glowed with blue light. His bleached bones turned the color of copper. He stretched his body; where bones struck each other, they made the ng of metal. He seemed to have transformed into a sinister copper skeleton.


    "This cursed king is particrly stingy, refusing to give even the slightest quantity of cursed spiritual power to its subordinates. The cursed effigies that it maintains are therefore only unadorned skeletons. Fortunately, with this dragon-quelling spike, I too can control the basic elemental power that the cursed king possesses."


    The next moment, as Emperor Wei''s skeleton trembled, the copper color bleached from his bones.


    "Are these dragon-quelling spikes made from the cursed king''s cursed spiritual power?" Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    "That''s right. I was intending to have the serpent know of these spikes'' power and take advantage of its greed to bring all these spikes into the divine domain, but your interference made things even easier. Your two wives brought two of the spikes into the divine domain, which would have been sufficient¡ªbut with this third spike, the n can reach perfection," Emperor Wei replied with satisfaction.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. It seemed as though Blue Lantern were in cahoots with Emperor Wei, after all.


    "Nanfeng, as our disciple, we have an important task for you. Would you aid us?"


    Emperor Wei''s tone was incontrovertible, as though he would force Xiao Nanfeng into it if he were to refuse.


    "Of course, Master. How may I help?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Help us seize the cursed king''s undead might," Emperor Wei replied.


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t quite understand.


    "All those who enter the divine domain will be brought to the cursed king to await his favor. The others have all been sent there, and our preparations areplete. We need only wait for the cursed king''s weakest moment; then, you will strike alongside us. Rx: you need not do much," Emperor Wei exined.


    "As you will, Master!"


    Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he would be unable to avoid such a responsibility. Rather than refuse Emperor Wei now, he might as well go along with the n.


    "If you perform satisfactorily, we shall reward you with the inheritance of empire, assisting you with the construction of a divine empire of your own," Emperor Wei promised.

 Chapter 135: The Divine Undying King

    <h4>Chapter 135: The Divine Undying King</h4>


    Dayster, following Emperor Wei''s lead, a group of cursed ves held Xiao Nanfeng ''hostage'' as they headed to a valley filled with blue mist.


    The moment they entered the valley, Xiao Nanfeng saw an ancient altar with arge copper coffin ced on top of it. By the altar was a stone tablet, on which the three words ''Divine Undying King'' were written.


    Below the tablet, Blue Lantern stood motionless, as though waiting for something.


    On the ground beside the copper coffin were dozens of figures, including Yu''er, the Lady Arclight, Croak, Warble, Marquis Wu, his four ck-robed subordinates, and even some frog and centipede spirits, along with several Spiritsong-realm cultivators from the humans'' domain. There were eighteen cultivators and spirits in all, all of whom were unconscious. A cursed effigy stood by the side of each one, with their cursed ve subordinates arrayed behind them.


    The atmosphere of the altar was particrly sinister. All remained silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at Yu''er and the Lady Arclight in worry, but his face remained expressionless. He had learned that the cursed effigy beside Yu''er was the Red Emperor, and that beside the Lady Arclight was Empress Bai Ruoyi.


    Emperor Wei gestured for Xiao Nanfeng to head to an empty patch ofnd. Emperor Wei and his cursed ves stood guard by Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    It looked as though each cursed effigy would be responsible for one outsider to the divine domain.


    Just then, another skeleton made its appearance. Its group of cursed ves dragged a serpent along with it. The serpent had been chained up and was unconscious.


    The moment it entered the valley, however, its eyes twitched. It had been feigning all along!


    The serpent quickly dropped its charade upon seeing Blue Lantern.


    "Master Blue Lantern! I''ve finally found you. Please, save me! These cursed effigies have sealed my cultivation. Please, Master!" the serpent howled.


    "Quiet," the skeleton beside it hissed. "Keep making a fuss and I''ll kill you."


    "Master Blue Lantern, look! It''s going to beat me to death! I''m your envoy, aren''t I?!" the serpent called out desperately.


    "You''re asking for it!" The skeleton, wholly enraged, made to hit the serpent.


    "That''s a serpent that our master specifically said he wanted. If you beat it up, how will you answer to our master?" Blue Lantern suddenly addressed the skeleton.


    "It''s been a nuisance to me for days. It''ll finally be quiet around here with it unconscious." The skeleton still seemed poised to strike.


    "That''s not a viable tactic. The master benefits most from the conscious. There isn''t much time left, so hold out a little longer. I''ll persuade it toe around," Blue Lantern offered.


    The skeleton snorted, but it folded its arms and didn''t strike.


    The ves itmanded tossed the serpent not far from Xiao Nanfeng.


    The serpent fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, unable to move because of the restraints all over its body. The skeletons and cursed ves standing guard all around allowed it to sense that something was wrong.


    "What''s the matter, Master Blue Lantern? Isn''t there supposed to be a huge opportunity here in the divine domain? Why have you brought us here? It feels like we''re about to be sacrifices! I don''t want to die!" the serpent cried out in fear.


    "Be patient. An opportunity awaits," Blue Lantern continued.


    "This can''t be! There''s clearly something wrong¡ªMaster Blue Lantern, I''ve served you for a century! You aren''t going to kill me and eat me after so long, are you? I''m still young, and I don''t want to die!" the serpent cried out, sniffing and tearing up.


    "With your constitution, I doubt you''ll die. Rx," Blue Lanternforted it.


    "But what sort of opportunity would require hands and feet to be bound?" The serpent was clearly disbelieving.


    "Just wait patiently. If you continue to make a fuss, I''ll ignore you too," Blue Lantern replied, clearly starting to get impatient.


    "Master Blue Lantern, I''m scared! I feel like I''m in a ughterhouse. You have to save me, you have to! Master Blue Lantern, you won''t watch me die, will you?!" The serpent seemed incapable of holding back.


    "Shall we knock it unconscious? It''s too loud." Blue Lantern addressed the skeleton behind the serpent.


    The skeleton nodded and was just about to strike when the serpent hurriedly dropped its act. "No, don''t! I''ll listen to you and wait quietly."


    The skeleton: ...


    Blue Lantern: ...


    A beating averted, the serpent nced around itself. It couldn''t help but feel that something bad was about to happen. It quickly noticed Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Ah, it''s you? Why aren''t you being bound? Why aren''t you unconscious?" The serpent started making a fuss again.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Master Blue Lantern, why doesn''t he need to be bound?!"


    "He listens to orders, and doesn''t need to be restrained," Blue Lantern replied calmly.


    "I do too! If you release me, I''ll be obedient as well!" the serpent cried out.


    Blue Lantern: ...


    The gathered skeletons: ...


    Clearly, no one believed it.


    The serpent continued making a fuss for some time until it saw the skeletons behind it raise their fists, prepared to give it a beating. Only then did it quickly stop.


    After repressing itself for some time, the serpent quietly whispered to Xiao Nanfeng, "What are they up to?"


    "I don''t know." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "You don''t? Then why are you so cooperative?" the serpent asked, astonished.


    "I''ll be treated better if I am, of course," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent looked bbergasted. Was Xiao Nanfeng a fool? It was clear that something bad was about to happen to them!


    "Calm yourself. I''ve asked around in the humans'' domain. Generally, half of the Spiritsong-realm cultivators make it out alive. In that case, we too have a good chance of surviving," Xiao Nanfeng consoled it.


    The serpent froze stiff. "That''s making me even more scared! Stop trying to console me. If half of us make it out alive, what happens to the other half?"


    "Whether you live or die is fated. Just ept it," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    The serpent''s eyes grew as wide as bronze cymbals. What sort of nonsense was that? It didn''t want to die!


    "Master Blue Lantern, I''m your envoy! Are you really going to watch me die just like that? I don''t want to die. Won''t you let me go?" the serpent begged.


    Blue Lantern was unmoved.


    When the skeletons around raised their fists once more, the serpent hurriedly stopped talking.


    It was incensed, but it had no choice but to wait patiently. Even Master Blue Lantern was unwilling to help it any longer; it felt as though its life was over. What was it to do?


    In exasperation, the serpent turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Its face twitched.


    Xiao Nanfeng had retrieved a jade tablet and was attentively reading it. How could he be soposed as to be reading for leisure?


    "What are you reading?" the serpent asked incredulously.


    "It''s not as though there''s anything else to do, so I''m reading a Taoist scripture to enlighten myself. Would you like to borrow some? I have more," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    The serpent sucked in a deep breath. <i>Enlighten himself? Doesn''t he know what sort of ce this is? He''s reading when he''s about to die? Is he crazy?</i>


    "To think that a hero among dragons like myself, unparalleled in wit and intelligence, would suffer such a fate. I can''t bear it!" the serpent murmured to itself piteously.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face spasmed. This serpent really was thick-skinned, wasn''t it?


    Xiao Nanfeng had learned from Emperor Wei about what was to happen next. It wasn''t as though he could resist it, so why not calm himself down and wait? The more scriptures he read, the stronger his spiritual power would be. There was little else he could do, after all.


    The waitsted ten whole days, by which point the serpent had lost all the energy it had. It fell to the ground, slumping over in exhaustion and desperation. It wouldn''t even have minded being unconscious¡ªat the very least, that would stop it from being so afraid.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng finished yet another Taoist scripture, the blue moon in the sky suddenly glowed with light.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent raised their heads at once, only to see the moon falling to the ground.


    "Master Blue Lantern, the moon''s falling! Let me go!" the serpent cried out.


    Blue Lantern ignored it and bowed to the falling moon. "You''ve returned, Master."


    The skeletons all around likewise bowed.


    The moon grew smaller as it fell, before finally crashing into the copper coffin and passing through its lid. The coffin radiated with light as a tremendous aura made itself known. Pressure suffused the gathered crowd, making them fearful.


    To Xiao Nanfeng''s senses, the aura radiating from the copper coffin was so strong as to be heavenly or divine. Nothing Xiao Nanfeng did would be able to counter its might.


    "So few, this time?" a deep and resounding voice came from the coffin.


    "The portal from the hidden realm to the wider world atrge has been closed since antiquity, and only the cultivators and spirits of the realm have made it here. Fewer and fewer wille each time; this time around, thanks to hints left behind by a traitor to Emperor Wei, foreigners have made it into the realm, bolstering the size of the group," Blue Lantern replied respectfully.


    Two dragon-quelling spikes had been ced on top of the copper coffin. They slowly melted through its lid, allowing the cursed king within to understand the secrets they held.


    "It matters not. My requirements were too strict. This time, I''ll be lenient. Pick out at least one among these people to be my cursed ve. Then, they''ll be able to take turns either guarding the realm with you or stepping beyond it to serve my will," the cursed king continued.


    "What? The so-called opportunity is to be a cursed ve? I don''t want it! Let me go!" the serpent cried out in shock.


    "Silence! Do not interrupt our master," Blue Lantern shouted.


    Killing intent surrounded the serpent, causing it to quail. Was this the true face of its master, Blue Lantern?


    "Why are you the only ones here? Where are the other cursed effigies?" the cursed king continued.


    The cursed effigies nced at each other before shaking their heads. None knew.


    "I saw them a few days ago, but my senses extend only to the humans'' and spirits'' domain. You have not deemed it fit to extend my senses to the divine domain, Master," Blue Lantern replied.


    Bright light exploded from the copper coffin, which illuminated the air and then every aspect of the divine domain therein.


    At the same time, Madam Rouge, who had just finished consuming a cursed effigy in a distant part of the divine domain, felt a blue light strike her. She trembled before vanishing from sight. The blue light swept past where she had been, then returned to the valley in which the copper coffin was kept.


    "A foreign cursed effigy tied to thisd, robbing my servants of their cursed spiritual power? It avoided my gaze quickly," the cursed king said.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood what was going on now. The cursed king could learn about what had transpired in the hidden realm through Blue Lantern''s eyes.


    The cursed king wasn''t angered by Xiao Nanfeng; its subordinates were all cursed effigies that would be able to regenerate themselves eventually.


    "Master, everyone is present. You may have your pick of your ve," Blue Lantern began, bowing respectfully.

 Chapter 136: The Man of Copper

    <h4>Chapter 136: The Man of Copper</h4>


    Blue light emerged all across the altar as the cursed king began to pick out his ves in formalized ritual. The lid of its coffin opened slowly. Blue smoke rose up from within as everyone felt a sense of fear overwhelm them.


    An arm extended out from within the coffin, gripping its edge. It was tinged with the luster of copper, and a grinding sound could be heard as its muscles bunched up.


    "Is the cursed king going to show himself?" Xiao Nanfeng watched on intently as the cursed king sat upright from its coffin, then stood up.


    A hulking man appeared, long hair scattered over his shoulders, with an imposing aura around him. The man had copper skin, as though he were formed entirely out of copper. He floated into the air, thennded on the altar. His gaze swept over the gathered crowd, considering the humans and spirits who might be suited to be his cursed ves.


    "Master, we''ve temporarily rendered the cultivators and spirits who resisted most severely unconscious. They''re all eminently qualified," Blue Lantern exined, bowing once more.


    The man of copper nodded in satisfaction. "Well done. I''ll test them for myself."


    "Yes, Master!" Blue Lantern bowed respectfully.


    The skeletons took a half-step back, allowing the cursed king a full view of the cultivators and spirits present.


    "I don''t want to be a cursed ve, Sir! Won''t you let me go?" the serpent cried out anxiously.


    "Silence," Blue Lantern hissed.


    This time, the serpent didn''t do as Blue Lanternmanded. It continued to beg, "Sir, I''m innocent! I''m an envoy of the divine domain, and I deserve preferential treatment!"


    "A hundred years ago, I picked you out because you have the bloodline of an ancestral dragon. I held high expectations for you," the copper man said calmly.


    "The bloodline of an ancestral dragon? What''s that? Do I have a notable background, then?" the serpent cried out.


    "A notable background? Not quite. The ancestral dragons have long since vanished from the realm. You''re one of its descendants many generations down the line, its bloodline diluted over and over again, nothing more than a mongrel," the copper man continued.


    The serpent''s face was stiff. "Are you praising or criticizing me? I can''t tell!"


    The copper man ignored it; rather, he shook.


    Countless avatars appeared from behind the copper man, each a copper man himself. It was as though the cursed king had just summoned twenty clones.


    "What sort of technique is this?!" the serpent cried out.


    The next moment, a copper avatar shot toward the serpent.


    "No! Don''te over!" the serpent cried out.


    The copper avatar shot into its mindscape and vanished from sight. All around the serpent, the same thing was happening to the remaining avatars.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t an exception. One copper avatar morphed into a beam of light that shot into his mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent stood motionless, as though having transformed into statues. In the end, only the original copper man remained, surveying his surroundings.


    Suddenly, the cursed king looked toward Emperor Wei. "Oh? It looks as though three pieces of trash have somehow managed to hoodwink my subordinates."


    "What?" Blue Lantern stepped forward, seemingly confused.


    Just then, Emperor Wei struck. He smashed a fist into Blue Lantern''s head, sending him flying to the ground, unconscious.


    "Insolence!" the gathered skeletons thundered.


    "Charge!" Emperor Wei cried out.


    "Kill him!"


    The skeletons that the Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi had be instantly shot toward the cursed king, smashing their fists into its body. However, the cursed king didn''t move at all. He nced at them, his eyes cold. With a shake of his body, he sent the two skeletons flying.


    "Are the three of you trying to foment a rebellion?!" The other skeletons leapt toward Emperor Wei''s trio.


    Emperor Wei, the Red Emperor, and Bai Ruoyi''s cursed ves howled, then struck at the cursed effigies.


    "Fools! Cursed ves, attack together!" the remaining cursed effigiesmanded.


    The cursed ves of Emperor Wei andpany began to give off a tremendous aura as they sent the other cursed effigies and other cursed ves flying out of the valley. Simultaneously, they charged forward and kept them outside, preventing them from disturbing the fight within.


    Just then, Emperor Wei waved an arm, gesturing at the unconscious Marquis Wu. A ball of golden fluid flew out of his body, transforming into twenty golden talismans marked with the character ''…d'', blocking the connection between their physical body and mindscape.


    This was a special treasure that You Shi had left for Marquis Wu, which Emperor Wei had manipted without You Shi''s knowledge.


    "A Buddhist seal? It looks like you came prepared. But do you think you''ll be able to seal my cursed spiritual avatars just with these?" the cursed king shouted.


    "Not for long, but all I need is a little time," Emperor Wei replied.


    "Are you Emperor Wei? You''ve grafted your truesoul to a cursed effigy, then suppressed its original truesoul? Foolish. This is an ersatz technique, one that won''t be able to make you true cursed effigies," the cursed king critiqued.


    "As long as we continue to suppress their truesouls, their bodies will be ours tomand. We''d be no different from cursed effigies, then!" Emperor Wei retorted, leaping and striking at the cursed king.


    "Cursed effigies can revive after death, but not the likes of you. Now, die!" The cursed king punched at Emperor Wei.


    Emperor Wei''s eyes shed blue, and his skeletal fist took on the color of copper. It met the cursed king''s fist in an explosion of energy that produced a howling storm.


    "Your fist is bolstered by my cursed spiritual power¡ªyou''ve distilled my dragon-quelling spike?!" The cursed king shot forward andunched a flurry of attacks at Emperor Wei, whose body rapidly turned to copper. After transforming into a copper skeleton, he began to fight the cursed king in earnest.


    "Hong''er, Bai''er, seal the coffin!" Emperor Wei instructed.


    "Got it!" The two skeletons began to rece the coffin''s lid.


    The coffin rumbled, as though a fierce beast were attempting to make its way out from within. When the two skeletons saw that they too were about to be overwhelmed, they also transformed into copper skeletons and continued holding down the lid.


    "Let''s see how strong an emperor of the divine can be, then," the cursed king thundered.


    The fight between him and Emperor Wei grew more and more intense. They soared into the air; at the same time, the Seal of Great Wei fell from overhead in a devastating explosion that unleashed a howling storm. The two supreme cultivators dealt each other astonishing blows.


    Xiao Nanfeng was waiting patiently, his mindscape sealed by the Buddhist seal.


    Emperor Wei had told him of the dangers he might face, and he had been prepared. A copper avatar had flown into his mindscape and raised his head to see a bright silver moon hanging over a starlitke. It was calm and idyllic.


    "Such a bright moon¡ªthis must be an artifact of some incredible spiritual technique! Very good, very good! This shall be my new cursed ve!" the copper avatar cackled.


    It flew up toward the glowing moon at a rapid clip. Just as it was about to hit the moon, a ck lotus appeared from behind. It smashed into the copper avatar, causing it to stop short. Arge quantity of ck light surrounded the avatar.


    "An ambush? Ridiculous. Ad at Lunar Deluge has no chance of oveing me," the copper avatar remarked disdainfully.


    It punched forward, blocking the ck lotus'' light. Its punch was filled with such strength that it seemed as though it were about to shatter the lotus whole.


    Suddenly, with a hum, silver light from the moon poured into the ck lotus, causing it to double in size. Even more ck energy surged out from it and struck the copper avatar''s fist, leaving it leaden and unable to move.


    "Impossible. How can this ck lotus block my cursed spiritual power? There has to be something wrong with it!"


    The copper avatar drew on more of its reserves. Even as Xiao Nanfeng desperately infused the ck lotus with spiritual energy, it seemed unable to hold out any longer. The ck lotus'' energy thinned, as though the copper avatar''s fist were about to break through.


    "What incredible strength..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, starting to worry for the first time.


    Suddenly, he noticed something amiss. As he shifted his perspective, a strange sight was revealed: the superior yin pearl, which had bolstered his mind, had undergone a transformation.


    He had never been able to induce the superior yin pearl to do anything beyond adding and removing superior yin frost from it, but now, a crack had appeared in the snowy-white pearl''s surface. The crack was curved, almost as though it were grinning.


    The revealed ''mouth'' was growingrger andrger, exposing white sawtooth-like fangs.


    Xiao Nanfeng was extremely shocked. The superior yin pearl suddenly shed over to the ck lotus'' side, sending it flying before biting down on the copper avatar.


    "What? Argh!" The copper avatar screamed in pain.

 Chapter 137: The Superior Yin Pearl, a Cursed Effigy

    <h4>Chapter 137: The Superior Yin Pearl, a Cursed Effigy</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed open in his physical body. He had been startled awake.


    "It can''t be! The superior yin pearl''s a cursed effigy too?!"


    He had been preparing to use the ck lotus to seal the copper avatar when it was sent flying by the superior yin pearl''s sudden appearance.


    "Impossible. I must be mistaken. How could the superior yin pearl be a cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng forced himself to remain calm as he closed his eyes once more and returned to his mindscape.


    Within it, he found that the superior yin pearl, which had remained inert and aloof all this time, had already torn off the copper avatar''s left arm and swallowed it.


    "Damn it, what kind of cursed effigy is this? It can even seal my cursed spiritual power? I''ll destroy you!" the copper avatar howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Even the cursed king was calling it a cursed effigy; he couldn''t lie to himself any longer.


    The superior yin pearl chased furiously after the copper avatar, its canines biting down on its thigh.


    "Argh!" the copper avatar howled, jumping up in pain.


    It used its remaining right fist to strike at the superior yin pearl, prating it and hitting its core.


    "What?!" the copper avatar cried out.


    No, he hadn''t prated it¡ªa second mouth had appeared on the superior yin pearl''s surface and bit down on the copper avatar. The superior yin pearl had two mouths?


    "No!" the copper avatar cried out.


    The superior yin pearl''s two mouths ground the copper avatar''s fist and thigh into mush, then swallowed them.


    The copper avatar had freed itself at the cost of a hand, an arm, and a leg.


    "Damn it! Launching a sneak attack on me while I''m weak? Just you wait. Once my main body''s spiritual avatar gets here, you''ll be destroyed!" The disabled copper avatar fled toward the exit of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, where the ''…d'' symbol from a Buddhist talisman was slowly spinning, as though blocking the copper avatar''s way.


    "Break!" The copper avatar smashed into the talisman with its head, but the superior yin pearl got there first. It shed before the talisman, opening its mouth wide and biting down on the copper avatar''s head.


    "No! Scram!" The copper avatar desperately struck the superior yin pearl with the stump of its remaining arm, barely freeing itself at the cost of half its head.


    The superior yin pearl continued to give chase even as the copper avatar screamed and fled.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched the sight in silence. The superior yin pearl really was a cursed effigy, after all. He couldn''t help but feel conflicted. He hadn''t even managed to convince Madam Rouge to leave him alone, and the beast in his storage ring was still rampaging. Now, he found out that he had yet another cursed effigy in his midst. What was he to do?


    Just then, Xiao Nafneng discovered that the ck lotus was floating near the entrance to his mindscape after being knocked aside by the superior yin pearl.


    "There''s still the ck lotus, at least. I have one ordinary treasure," Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.


    The next moment, the ck lotus began to devour the golden talisman inscribed with a …d character.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    This talisman was a treasure that Emperor Wei had been preparing for many years, and it surely had a significant amount of strength. However, how in the world could the ck lotus be devouring it?


    It rapidly consumed the talisman whole. Concentrated ck smoke wafted from it, as though it had grown far stronger than before. It seemed poised to fly toward the superior yin pearl and fight for scraps of the copper avatar''s ruined body.


    "ck lotus, don''t scare me, will you? You can''t be a cursed effigy too!" Xiao Nanfeng''s heart was thumping.


    The ck lotus trembled for a while before finally settling down.


    "Thank goodness. It looks like the ck lotus is normal, after all!" Xiao Nanfeng breathed out in relief.


    With the superior yin pearl in his mindscape, the half-eaten copper avatar surely wouldn''t be able to escape from its clutches.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. He wanted to establish a safeguard against the superior yin pearl, but he was hardly strong enough to do so. If the superior yin pearl wanted to harm him, it could have done so at any time¡ªso there had to be some reason it wasn''t.


    "There''s too little information at the moment. I can''t guess what the superior yin pearl''s objective is¡ªforget it, I''ll just research it slowly in the future." Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly, then opened his eyes in reality. He walked up toward Yu''er.


    Although Emperor Wei had told him that the Red Emperor had given Yu''er protections against such possession, he still felt obligated to check up on her. He manifested the ck lotus in reality, then held it up against Yu''er''s mindscape.


    The ck lotus quickly absorbed the golden talisman as Xiao Nanfeng spurred it forward to investigate whaty within.


    Yu''er''s mindscape had a sterke in it, over which hung a red, misty cloud that was tangling up a copper avatar. However, the red cloud seemed to be no match for the copper avatar, and was about to be torn to pieces.


    "Go!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The ck lotus floated up to the copper avatar before a ck cloud began to billow from it.


    "What''s this?" The copper avatar frowned at the ck lotus before attacking it and sending it flying.


    The ck lotus was forced back by the copper avatar''s assault. Despite Xiao Nanfeng furiously infusing spiritual power into the ck lotus, it was unable to hold back the copper avatar.


    "This is too slow." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He lowered his head and touched his mindscape to Yu''er''s. Billowing spiritual power passed from his mindscape into hers at the fastest possible speed.


    The ck lotus surged. Its power grew stronger, and slowly began to hold the copper avatar back.


    "Do you think this treasure will be enough to save her? I think not!" The copper avatar grinned maliciously.


    It flew out of Yu''er''s mindscape and headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng''s, intending to destroy his will first.


    The ck lotus immediately surged with potent ck smoke that tangled around the copper avatar, as though unwilling to let it flee so easily.


    "You won''t be able to hold me back. Hah!" the copper avatar roared.


    It tore aside the ck air, rushed out of Yu''er''s forehead, and entered Xiao Nanfeng''s.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    By then, the superior yin pearl had just finished consuming the first copper avatar whole. It was happily belching superior yin frost when another copper avatar appeared within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    The superior yin pearl paused, unable to believe its good luck. More food! It shed over to the second copper avatar.


    "What''s this?!" the copper avatar cried.


    Before it could react, the superior yin pearl had bitten down on its arm and tore it off.


    "A cursed effigy? What sort of cursed effigy is it? Damn it!" the copper avatar shouted.


    The superior yin pearl, vibrating with excitement, blocked the copper avatar''s way out and began to hunt it down.


    The copper avatar nced at the superior yin pearl in shock. It was far more dangerous than the ck lotus it had escaped.


    Xiao Nanfeng was frowning at what was happening within his mindscape, not having expected this resolution. He extracted the ck lotus and removed himself from Yu''er''s mindscape. As he did so, she suddenly opened her eyes.


    "Ah!" Yu''er cried out.


    She and Xiao Nanfeng''s foreheads were touching, their eyes meeting. Considering how close they were, she instinctively pushed Xiao Nanfeng away.


    "It''s me! Senior Sister, are you awake?" Xiao Nanfeng stood up.


    Upon seeing that it was Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er blushed red. She pursed her lips. "Nanfeng? Were you taking advantage of me?"


    "I had no choice, Senior Sister. Are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly exined himself.


    "I''ve been following my master''s instructions to condense a defensive red cloud with spiritual power. I was never unconscious, but if not for you, I might have been unable to resist the copper avatar''s incursion." Yu''er shuddered.


    "As long as you''re alright." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in relief.


    "No, not just yet. The defensive red cloud hasn''t dissipated yet, and if I don''t do anything about it now, it might explode. I''ll have to remain in my mindscape a while longer."


    "I''ll check up on everyone else, then."


    Yu''er nodded, then closed her eyes again.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the Lady Arclight, devouring the golden talisman with his ck lotus, then sending it into her mindscape.


    The Lady Arclight''s sterke was farrger than Yu''er''s, and there was plenty of white mist over it that was tangling up the copper avatar. She was in a far better situation, but wouldn''t be able to hold out for much longer either.


    "Elder, it''s me, Nanfeng! I''ll take care of it!" Xiao Nanfeng sent the Lady Arclight a mental transmission.


    With a hum, the ck lotus appeared above the copper avatar''s head, then began to surge with ck smoke, sealing its actions.


    "Nanfeng, this particr avatar is very strong. Be careful," the Lady Arclight transmitted back.


    "Don''t worry. My ck lotus will be able to hold it at bay."


    The Lady Arclight discovered that Xiao Nanfeng was right; it really had been able to do so. She quickly rxed.


    "Nanfeng, how do you have so much spiritual power? And how are you sending so much spiritual power into my mindscape so quickly?" Shocked, the Lady Arclight subconsciously opened her eyes, then immediately shut them again. She was so embarrassed that a wave of red flooded her head. So that was how he was doing it!


    "I apologize, Elder, but the situation called for it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Lady Arclight pressed her lips tightly together.


    "A cultivator at Ster Lake, and one at Lunar Deluge? Even when I''m about to kill you, the two of you are still ying at being a couple? Die!" the copper avatar howled.


    It dragged the ck lotus out of the Lady Arclight''s mindscape and into Xiao Nanfeng''s.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately got up. The Lady Arclight opened her eyes again in worry. "Did that copper avatar end up in your mindscape?"


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes and inspected his mindscape with a strange frown. He quickly shook his head. "I''m alright, Elder. Don''t worry."


    "But your ck lotus won''t be able to withstand the copper avatar for long!"


    "Trust me, I''m fine," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    After the Lady Arclight prodded him to her satisfaction, she nodded. "Alright. I need to return to my mindscape to scatter that white cloud above my sterke."

 Chapter 138: The Copper Mans Tribulation

    <h4>Chapter 138: The Copper Man''s Tribtion</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng had a strange expression on his face because his forehead was, once again, a mess.


    The third copper avatar had dragged the ck lotus back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, thinking that he would be an easy target, but it quickly realized that something was wrong. There was a white orb in this mindscape that had turned toward it after eating half a copper avatar''s body, baring its sharp canines.


    "A cursed effigy? What sort of cursed effigy is this?!" the third copper avatar cried out.


    Even the superior yin pearl was taken by surprise. What was going on today? It swallowed up the remainder of the second copper avatar''s body and quickly leapt toward the third.


    The third copper avatar''s eyes grew wide. Sensing the imminent danger, it tried to flee¡ªbefore it was sent flying by the superior yin pearl. The superior yin pearl then bared its fangs at the ck lotus before knocking it away, as though threatening it.


    The ck lotus hesitated before giving up on that copper avatar, allowing the superior yin pearl to enjoy another feast. It began hunting down the copper avatar in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for long moments. "ck lotus? You¡ªyou aren''t a cursed effigy too, are you?"


    The ck lotus showed no sign of understanding Xiao Nanfeng''s words, but he wasn''t a fool. By now, there were far too many hints that it was what he feared.


    "I really have enough cursed effigies to fill a mahjong table, then..."


    As he watched the superior yin pearl bite off the arm of the third copper avatar, Xiao Nanfeng found himself shaking internally. What was he to do? He couldn''t allow them to bully each other! The superior yin pearl was the most domineering; the ck lotus, on the other hand, was being bullied.


    He sucked in a deep breath. "Come on. I''ll help you find more copper avatars."


    No matter what, he couldn''t let one of the cursed effigies grow too strong. Although the superior yin pearl hadn''t yet hurt him, who knew what might happen in the future? He had to cultivate an opponent for the superior yin pearl.


    Although the ck lotus was weak, it showed that it was willing to listen to Xiao Nanfeng, and it was very obedient. It was well worth raising.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the ck lotus from his mindscape and rushed toward Croak.


    "Absorb it quickly," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    The ck lotus absorbed the golden talisman on Croak''s forehead as it gave off even more concentrated energy.


    The ck lotus immediately dove into Croak''s mindscape.


    Emperor Wei had taught Croak some technique to avoid mental possession, and there was ck fog in its forehead that was holding a copper avatar at bay. However, from the looks of it, Croak wouldn''t be able to hold it back for long.


    "Croak, it''s me! Let me help you out." Xiao Nanfeng sent Croak a mental transmission.


    Croak, who had been close to giving out, quickly rallied upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s voice. It immediately dispersed its ck fog and allowed the ck lotus to fly up to the copper avatar''s head, where it instantly began to send ck smoke surging out toward the copper avatar.


    "A spiritual treasure?" The copper avatar punched at the ck lotus in rage.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t touch Croak''s forehead with his own¡ªhe didn''t want this fourth copper avatar to be food for the superior yin pearl as well.


    As Xiao Nanfeng continued to channel spiritual power into the ck lotus, the copper avatar slowly became mired in the ck fog.


    "You? Lad, what happened to the copper avatar I ced in your mindscape? Why haven''t you been controlled yet? How are you able to help this toad spirit?"


    Sensing that something was amiss, the copper avatar dragged the ck lotus with it as it rushed out of Croak''s mindscape.


    As it emerged, it saw Emperor Wei fighting against the cursed king. Two copper skeletons were holding its coffin down far below them, and the cursed effigies all around had been chased out of the valley.


    "Emperor Wei? Die!" the copper avatar thundered.


    The ck lotus continued to restrain the copper avatar, but it continued to struggle as it attempted to fly into the air.


    Just then, white light surged forth¡ªan orb of light,plete with sawtooth canines. It bit down on the fourth copper avatar and dragged it into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    The fourth copper avatar: ...


    The ck lotus: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face spasmed. "This superior yin pearl is really..."


    ck fog poured from the ck lotus, as though having reached the apex of anger.


    Xiao Nanfengforted it. "Don''t worry, there are other copper avatars around. Come, let''s find the next one."


    The ck lotus flew toward Warble''s forehead, sucked up the golden talisman, and then into its mindscape.


    The fifth copper avatar quickly rushed out of Warble''s mindscape, only to have history repeat itself. The superior yin pearl conjured up a mouth with its yin frost, then dragged the copper avatar into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus were both silent for long moments. Had they wasted their time again?


    "Nanfeng? What just happened? What dragged that copper avatar away?" Croak asked, not understanding what was going on.


    Warble slowly opened her eyes as well. She looked toward them curiously.


    "It''s nothing important. Go cultivate," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Croak and Warble nced at each other, then nodded. Although they were confused, ck fog was roiling within their mindscape, and they would have to deal with it.


    The ck lotus was extremely enraged. This time, without Xiao Nanfeng saying a word, it floated up into the air.


    A cyclone of ck fog billowed around it as it absorbed all the golden talismans from their forehead.


    "You''re going to release all the copper avatars at once?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    ck tendrils of fog shot into the fifteen exposed foreheads.


    "You dare harm my physical body?!" a loud roar came from one unconscious cultivator.


    A copper avatar flew out of her mindscape.


    The ck lotus snatched it up with a tendril of ck fog, then floated toward Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "What are you doing?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    It zipped inside, then dragged the copper avatar in with it¡ªno, ten copper avatars! The ck lotus immediately went into hiding by his sterke, exposing the half-eaten copper avatar that the superior yin pearl was consuming.


    "What cursed effigy is this? It''s devouring our avatars!"


    "Take it to pieces!"


    "Make it vomit out everything it''s eaten!"


    The group of copper avatars all attacked the superior yin pearl simultaneously, causing a series of explosions within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. The tremendous destruction caused waves to form over the surface of his sterke.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t interrupt the fight at all¡ªhe felt as though his head were about to explode.


    Just then, the ck lotus stealthily appeared,unching a sneak attack on one copper avatar and dragging it into the depths of his sterke.


    "It''s... using tactics?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned despite the pain.


    Suddenly, it understood why Madam Rouge had been so unwilling to be sealed by the ck lotus, so much so that it would rather self-destruct.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. The superior yin pearl and ck lotus were duking it out within his mindscape, ignoring him, its proper owner!


    "No, wait a minute. The ck lotus only dragged in ten copper avatars. What happened to the other five?"


    He opened his eyes to find that the possessed cultivators and spirits, even with the copper avatars extracted from them, seemed pale and lifeless. They were likely dead.


    A copper avatar poked out of each of Marquis Wu and his four subordinates'' mindscapes. The five of them broke the ck lotus'' tendrils of fog, each holding on to a length of red rope, as they stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock.


    "What''s in your forehead,d?" one copper avatar asked fiercely.


    They had all seen the ck lotus drag ten of their number into his forehead, shocked by the sight. Even though their main body was fighting with Emperor Wei overhead, none went to lend him assistance; to them, Xiao Nanfeng seemed like therger threat.


    "That ck lotus didn''t seem very strong at all. How could it have dragged ten of us inside?" one copper avatar questioned.


    "Avoid his forehead. Restrain him first," anothermanded.


    "That''s right. As long as we don''t enter his forehead, he''s nothing more than a puny cultivator at Lunar Deluge. Killing him would be like squashing an ant."


    "Take this!"


    The five copper avatars rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''te over!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Are you scared now? It''s toote!"


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng extended his left hand and opened up his storage ring.


    A roar came from the beast trapped inside. Tremendous suction overwhelmed the five copper avatars, sucking them and even the red rope they held within the storage ring.


    "A cursed effigy! There''s another one within the ring?"


    "Multiple cursed effigies all over his body¡ªis he tired of living?"


    "Why is this cursed effigy so strong? That''s impossible! Is this a cursed king?!"


    "Stop what you''re doing, brat!"


    The five copper avatars cried out in shock and panic, but the beast within the ring had noticed the delicious feast outside. It was overjoyed; it certainly wasn''t about to stop. It sucked and sucked, dragging the five copper avatars closer into the ring.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I warned you. I''m not afraid of you¡ªI''m afraid they''ll grow too strong for me after eating you."


    "No!" the five copper avatars cried out. They were simultaneously sucked into Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring.

 Chapter 139: An Accursed Equilibrium

    <h4>Chapter 139: An ursed Equilibrium</h4>


    Emperor Wei''s cursed ve subordinates were all incredibly strong, and they were able to chase the other cursed effigies and ves out of the valley.


    "Impossible! How could these ves be so strong?"


    "Damn it, scram!"


    The battlefield outside the valley was a mess as the two sides fought for domination.


    Madam Rouge silently appeared by a tree near the outskirts of the battlefield. It watched the fighting ur quietly, then raised its head to look at Emperor Wei and the cursed king fighting in the air. Ghostly red light shed across her eye sockets as she pounced toward a skeleton that had been suppressed.


    "What?!" the skeleton cried out.


    With an audible crack, the cursed effigy''s head was broken off its neck and swallowed down Madam Rouge''s throat. By the time its cursed ves looked over, Madam Rouge had vanished with the rest of its body in tow.


    A strange scavenger had made an appearance on the battlefield. Not too long after, she had stolen all their bodies away.


    After consuming them all, their cursed ves turned immobile. You Shi and the other ves tore them to pieces.


    They then tried to give chase after Madam Rouge, but she was so fast that they couldn''t catch up to her. All they could do was report back to the valley.


    On the altar within the valley, the skeletons that the Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi had transformed into were still holding down the copper coffin. Whatevery within was shrieking and attempting to batter the lid down. The two women looked up at the sky, worried about Emperor Wei. Only when the cursed ves flocked over did they turn tomand them.


    "Hold down this coffin," the Red Emperormanded.


    The ves immediately leapt toward the copper coffin, holding it down tightly and freeing the two women, who immediately flew up into the air as they joined in the aerialbat.


    Xiao Nanfeng was conflicted; his mindscape was now a battlefield from which he couldn''t extract himself. He was unable to participate as the cursed effigies ughtered the copper avatars.


    The ck lotus had grown significantly stronger after devouring all of Emperor Wei''s golden talismans, and it was more than adept at strategy and tactics. The superior yin pearl grew tired as it defended against the copper avatars, while the ck lotusunched sneak attacks one after another.


    Not too longter, only two of the ten copper avatars remained.The final two, scared, hurriedly attempted to escape out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, but the superior yin pearl and ck lotus quickly blocked their path. The superior yin pearl revealed sawtooth-like canines, biting down on one avatar and swallowing half its body. The base of the ck lotus also formed a mouth, one which swallowed up the final avatar.


    A burst of white fog appeared around the superior yin pearl, and a burst of ck fog from the ck lotus. The two cursed effigies stood off against one another, their fog sizzling as it came into contact with its contrasting counterpart. The two effigies seemed to be sizing each other up.


    "The superior yin pearl has swallowed ten copper avatars, while the ck lotus swallowed up five copper avatars and twenty golden talismans. Who''s stronger? Fight and see¡ªit''ll be best if you both destroy each other, too," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    However, to his disappointment, the two cursed effigies didn''t attack each other. As though forming a pact, each flew off.


    The superior yin pearl flew into the air and orbited the silver moon like a satellite, as though iming the moon above for itself.


    Meanwhile, the ck lotus headed into the sterke. As it floated in its very center, the reflection of a dozen ck lotuses filled theke. It was iming theke for itself.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "They''re forming a truce? And... dividing me up?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape had quieted down, but a battle continued to rage on in his ring. The five copper avatars attempted to ward off the beast within, but it took quite a while before the ring settled. The beast had devoured all five avatars and lengths of red rope. It shone with ck light.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly shut the opening to the ring, but it was useless. The beast within seemed to have grown strong enough to be able to tear its way outside.


    It howled, one w peeking out and swiping at the ground before Xiao Nanfeng, forming a crater in the ground. The resulting gale winds scoured Xiao Nanfeng''s face.


    The w seemed to belong to a feline, but it wasposed not of flesh but rather of a shadowy substance. It was particrly sinister.


    The beast appeared to be unable to free itself entirely from the ring; it could only extend one shadowy w outward. The w continued to swipe at nothing, as though attempting to seize Xiao Nanfeng¡ªbut thetter was prepared, and had stretched his arm forward so that the beast was unable to turn around and target him.


    The beast within the ring roared and howled loudly before the shadowy w turned into a pitch-ck human arm.


    "This beast can transform?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    A human arm would be far more flexible than a beast''s w. The arm attempted to flex around in order to grab Xiao Nanfeng, a shocking sight to behold. It suddenly grabbed onto Xiao Nanfeng''s wrist, whereupon its fingers turned sharp and stabbed into his flesh.


    "Spiritual power, activate!"


    A sh of silvery-blue spiritual power formed a barrier against the ck fingers, but Xiao Nanfeng could still sense intense paining from his arm. Just as the fingers were about to prate his qi barrier, a gust of yin frost suddenly appeared, forming a mouth with sawtooth-like teeth and biting down on the ck hand.


    The beast within the ring roared, then quickly retracted its arm.


    The teeth followed the ck arm into the ring. After a while, when the beast had finished destroying the teeth, it extended a ck arm out again. This time around, a gust of superior yin frost immediately appeared from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, forming a mouth that encircled the ring in clear warning.


    The two cursed effigies held each other in abeyance. The beast seemed outraged, but in the end, it retracted its arm.


    Everything returned to normal, but Xiao Nanfeng understood that it was all only a facade. None of the three cursed effigies would go down lightly; they were clearly intending to manipte him in some form. However, none of them were able to overwhelm the other two; they were forced into a temporary equilibrium.


    "Don''t the three of you want to keep fighting and see who''s superior?" Xiao Nanfeng tested the waters.


    None of the three effigies responded to him, causing him to sigh.


    At this point, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but think about how much cuter Madam Rouge seemed. At the least, she was willing tomunicate with him, and her enmity and grudges were clearly delineated. On the other hand, these three cursed effigies were unwilling to give him any information, as though they were all old hands at this.

 Chapter 140: Emperor Weis Downfall

    <h4>Chapter 140: Emperor Wei''s Downfall</h4>


    A windstorm in the air swept across the valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately raised his head, only to see that the aerial battle had concluded.


    The Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi had much of their bodies chipped away. Arge pile of treasures floated by the cursed king''s side, many having shattered over the course of the battle. Even a corner of the Seal of Great Wei had been turned to powder.


    The cursed king seemed to have two heads¡ªone of its own, and the other of which belonged to the skeleton into which Emperor Wei had transformed.


    "Divine undying king though you might be, it looks like I''ve won this match, haha!" Emperor Wei''s skull roared inughter.


    Itbined with the cursed king''s head as they touched.


    "I knew you were up to no good when you came to find me back then, but to think you would be willing to wait for an entire millennium before you struck. If I weren''t this weak at the moment, and if I hadn''t just formed twenty avatars, you would never have seeded," the cursed king howled.


    "That year, I begged you to assist in my revival. You promised your assistance if I were to defeat you, but you never set a timeline for that offer. Now, you''ve lost, and everything you own is mine. Don''t try to find an excuse to squirrel out of this defeat¡ªI''ll only look down on you the more you try. Don''t resist. Hand over your body, and I''ll promise to return it to you a millenniumter when I leave it," Emperor Wei informed the cursed king coldly.


    By then, their two skulls had merged into one cohesive whole, as if they had be the same skeleton.


    "Has Master won?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured, watching from down below.


    In the air, the Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi clenched their fists tightly, jubnt and exhrated by their consort''s victory.


    "Stealing my power and expecting me not to resist? Emperor Wei, do you think me such a fool?" The cursed king grimaced fiercely.


    "I''ve calcted and forestalled everything you could possibly do. Your soul is at the nadir of its strength. You can''t hold me back now. Give up, and give in. I''ll only borrow your body for a thousand years¡ªmy word on it," Emperor Wei proimed.


    The cursed king''s body glowed with golden radiance as Emperor Wei''s possession nearedpletion.


    "Don''t struggle any longer, you divine undying king! This cursed spiritual avatar now belongs to us. We¡ªwhat? What are you doing?!" Emperor Wei shouted in a panic.


    "What''s the matter, Consort?" The Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi immediately drew near.


    "Don''te over!" Emperor Wei shouted.


    Suddenly, a wave of energy burst out of the cursed king''s body.


    "You''re self-destructing? Are you crazy?" Emperor Wei howled.


    Cracks were propagating throughout the body; it seemed about to split apart.


    "I am. Even if my cursed spiritual avatar dissipates, I won''t allow you to seed. Do you think you''ve won? No! Don''t forget that you have a debilitating weakness. You''re not a cursed effigy at heart, but rather a parasitic truesoul! Cursed effigies can revive from the dead, but you can''t!" the cursed king taunted.


    "No!" Emperor Wei cried out.


    Not only was the cursed king''s body splitting apart, so too were the Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi''s bodies.


    "Do you know what price I had to pay to transform into a cursed effigy in the past? Do you think that we cursed effigies are all easy to manipte? I lived far before your time, fool! Do you think your little tricks can seize everything I am, everything I own? Ha! Even the heavens were unable to im me for themselves. Who do you think you are?!" the cursed king bellowed.


    "I promised you that I would only borrow your body for a thousand years. Why would you self-destruct? It''d take you ten thousand years, maybe even longer, to reconstitute yourself. Don''t you see how this is a losing proposition?!"


    "I could wait ten thousand years if I had to. Enve me? Don''t even dream of it. We might both lose, but you''ll never win!" the cursed king cried out triumphantly.


    Its body cracked, dissipating blue mist. The specter of Emperor Wei could be seen from within it. He tried to grab onto the blue mist all around him, but to no avail.


    "No!" he shouted desperately. His thousand-year n had gone up in smoke! Emperor Wei couldn''t ept this reality.


    As he self-destructed, the cursed king''s subordinates and even the two empresses were likewise obliterated. Blue fog exploded from their bodies, revealing the spectral figures of the Red Emperor and Bai Ruoyi.


    The two women flew toward the raging emperor.


    "Forget it, Consort. I''ve had a thousand years to process my death. Even if we can''t live forever, we can die together. I''ll apany you on thisst journey. We won''t be lonely along the way," the Red Emperor stated.


    "Consort, to be able to witness you at thest was all that I could hope for. I''ll apany you as well," Bai Ruoyi added, smiling.


    The two women tugged on each of Emperor Wei''s arms, consoling him. Their eyes, though sad and regretful, were simultaneously calm and satisfied.


    The emperor slowly calmed down.


    "I don''t know how long ago this mental instability started to ur. I had been prepared to fail a thousand years ago¡ªso how could I be so upset about it now? Hong''er, Bai''er, thank you for being by my side all this time. I regret I was unable to protect either of you."


    Emperor Wei hugged both women. Frank though his words were, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of resigned destion.


    "This isn''t bad, Consort." The Red Emperor smiled sadly.


    "Consort, together we lived, and together we shall die. I have no regrets," Empress Bai Ruoyi said.


    Emperor Wei patted both women on their back, quashed his destion, and regained full lucidity.


    "Give me a moment."


    The two women looked at each other in confusion as Emperor Wei gathered all the blue fog in an exercise of spiritual power, reforming himself as the cursed king temporarily.


    "Blue Lantern, you''ve assisted me for a thousand years. Though I might have failed, I keep my word to thest. Be a ve no more!" Emperor Wei shouted, pointing at the unconscious Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern''s body cracked and filled with blue smoke. He immediately shriveled, but he regained consciousness.


    Blue Lantern unsteadily got to his feet. He raised his head to the air and witnessed what had befallen Emperor Wei, as though understanding all that had transpired since his unconsciousness.


    "Thank you, Emperor Wei." Blue Lantern bowed down in a doddering fashion. He had been entirely freed from the cursed king''s control.


    Emperor Wei then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Nanfeng."


    "Yes, Master! Master, a group of cursed effigies have gathered around me. Would you be able to help me eliminate them?"


    Emperor Wei shook his head. "There''s no time. Nanfeng, I must admit that when I took you as disciple, I intended to make use of you. That was why I refused to tell you about the truth behind these cursed effigies."


    "I guessed that, Master, but I don''t me you any longer." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    Emperor Wei stared at Xiao Nanfeng for a long moment before sighing. "Very good, very good. If nothing else, I will leave a disciple behind in the world."


    The damaged Seal of Great Wei flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nanfeng, the Seal of Great Wei has been all but destroyed, and the fortune within used up. Even so, I''ve left you a kingdom founding technique within, Imperial Court of Heaven. May you build a kingdom free from strife, beyond the likes of which this world has ever seen, breaking the curse of the strong. Do not be a cursed effigy forced to skulk in the darkest corners of the world," Emperor Wei spoke, smiling wryly.


    Xiao Nanfeng epted the damaged seal. "Yes, Master! I promise I''ll spread your inheritance and make it known far and wide!"


    The copper body dispersed, revealing the specter of Emperor Wei once more.


    Emperor Wei''s specter held firmly onto the Red Emperor with one hand and onto Bai Ruoyi with the other. He flew toward the altar down below. "Nanfeng, bury my consorts'' and my coffin on this altar. I don''t wish to go anywhere any longer. Let us end it all here."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved Emperor Wei''s coffin from his storage ring. He uncovered it, allowing Emperor Wei, the Red Emperor, and Bai Ruoyi''s specters to seep into their bodies with one final sigh.


    Xiao Nanfeng then moved the cursed king''s coffin, which had quieted down, aside, then cleared the immobile cursed ves from the altar. He ced Emperor Wei''s three-person coffin in the center, then erased the words ''Divine Undying King'' from the stone tablet by the side of the altar, recing them with the names of Emperor Wei and his two consorts.


    "May you rest in peace, Master." Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward Emperor Wei.


    Blue Lantern, lurching forward, likewise bowed toward Emperor Wei.


    Just then, a mocking voice came from mid-air.


    "A millennium of nning all for naught. A divine emperor, yet to inherit a heavenly body, dares to scheme against me? Did he really think me so easy to defeat?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he raised his head. "Didn''t the cursed king self-destruct?"


    "Impossible! How could he have revived so quickly?!" Blue Lantern cried out.

 Chapter 141: The Divine Undying Blade

    <h4>Chapter 141: The Divine Undying de</h4>


    The blue fog in the air reformed into a copper man.


    "What? It had to have self-destructed, or Emperor Wei wouldn''t have perished! How could it have revived so quickly? Something must be wrong," the wizened Blue Lantern gasped. He looked up at the copper man in the air in disbelief.


    "Why, I have you to thank for that, Blue Lantern. The cursed spiritual avatar with which I possessed you was just dispelled by Emperor Wei as he stole my power. This cursed spiritual avatar congealed the spiritual power I dispersed upon self-destructing, reforging my body anew and skipping over ten thousand years of slumber," the cursed king exined coolly.


    "What?!" Blue Lantern cried out in despair.


    "As for you, Blue Lantern, for betraying me and working together with Emperor Wei, death is the least you deserve." It pped downward with an open palm, manifesting a huge palm of force that fell from the sky and struck Blue Lantern.


    With a boom, Blue Lantern was knocked t onto the ground, his ck robes torn to pieces, blood blooming all around him. He had lost all hisbat strength and had be incredibly weak.


    The cursed king then turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "All who catch the attention of a cursed effigy are doomed to die. You, on the other hand¡ªyou have the attention of three cursed effigies, all of whom appear to be cursed kings! How are you still alive? Do you harbor some great secret?" The cursed king red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What, do you want a piece of me too? Try it and see what happens!" Xiao Nanfeng called out coldly.


    "You''re trying to lure me over so your cursed kings can do battle with me, aren''t you? Do you think that they can handle me? Their cursed spiritual power has all dissipated, leaving just a relic form behind¡ªand they''ve only just revived. They can''t stray too far from your body, and I can kill you without having to get close up!"


    Just then, a figure appeared behind the cursed king. Madam Rouge raked the cursed king''s back with her sharp ws, which pierced through his body.


    "What?!" The cursed king grabbed at the skeletal ws that protruded from his chest.


    Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. He didn''t expect that Madam Rouge would appear all of a sudden, and he quickly ran toward the cursed king without any hesitation. He didn''t believe his words at all. He had easily destroyed the twenty copper avatars; the main body could hardly be much worse.


    Arge quantity of ck fog sprayed out of Madam Rouge''s body, forming a series of words.


    "Don''te over. Although the cursed king has revived, it''s still in an extremely weak state. It''s trying to bluff you. Don''t let the cursed effigies in your body snatch my prey. He''s mine!"


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated, then stopped short. Was Madam Rouge going to join the fight for food now too...?


    "Another cursed effigy¡ªand another cursed king? How are you still alive?!" the copper man thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The copper man pped at the skeletal ws protruding from his chest, sending them away from his body.


    Madam Rouge pushed the attack, grievously wounding the copper man.


    "If I weren''t so weak at the moment, you''d never be able to push me back like this!" the copper man shouted, then struck at Madam Rouge.


    The two cursed effigies'' attacks shed, releasing tremendous explosions of energy. They flew higher into the air, and the shockwaves from their attacks destroyed many a mountain range.


    "You have my cursed spiritual power, too? You''ve eaten my dragon-quelling spikes? Damn it! No!"


    A huge crash came from afar. The copper man dragged itself out of a pile of ruins, but his right arm had already been torn off. Madam Rouge, chasing after it from behind, swallowed the copper arm in her hands.


    The fight had clearly tipped in Madam Rouge''s favor. She grew faster and more agile, appearing right by the copper man''s side as she cut another piece of his body off.


    "Hold it! I''m the divine undying king, ruler of this hidden realm! You have no right to insult me like this!" the copper man howled.


    Madam Rouge shed behind it, raking at its neck and beheading it.


    "Argh!" The copper head attempted to flee as Madam Rouge devoured the rest of his body. In a sh of light, she caught up to the disembodied head.


    "Lad, you''ll surely die to these cursed effigies! I curse you to suffer an ignoble death!" the copper man screamed.


    As Madam Rouge opened her mouth wide, she swallowed the copper man''s head. Roiling ck smoke manifested around Madam Rouge, who seemed to have grown far stronger. She luxuriated in her newfound strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed up to her. "Madam Rouge, the three cursed effigies in my body seemed poised to strike, but I suppressed them so they wouldn''t be able to snatch your prey from you! I''m on your side!"


    Madam Rouge, surrounded by ck smoke, grew enraged upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s words. She formed characters in the air with the smoke that hung around her.


    "They''re in the midst of digesting a significant portion of cursed spiritual power¡ªhow could they be poised to strike? They wouldn''t have emerged as long as you remained far from that copper man. Do you think I''m that easy to trick? Just you wait¡ªI''ll deal with you sooner orter!"


    Then, Madam Rouge shed away and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    It seemed as though it would be rather difficult for him to get close to Madam Rouge...


    Just then, the entire divine domain shook. A few mountain peaks copsed in andslide, and the sky tore apart. It looked as though the entire domain were crumbling down.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched as he flew back to the mountain valley from before.


    "Elder Blue Lantern, are you still alive?" Xiao Nanfeng asked urgently.


    He had no idea where the exit to the divine domain was; his one hope was that Blue Lantern would be able to point him in the right direction.


    Blue Lantern coughed, weak to the extreme. Even so, he was still alive for the moment. His hat had fallen to the side, revealing a weathered, bleeding face.


    "You''re still alive? Thank goodness! Elder, how do we leave the divine domain? It''s about to copse!" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    "Wait patiently. We''ll be able to leave soon," Blue Lantern wheezed.


    "If we keep waiting, the divine domain will copse!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "That''s exactly what we''re waiting for," Blue Lantern exined.


    "What?"


    "The divine domain is an illusory realm that the cursed king set up. It''s perfectly normal for such a realm to copse after his death."


    "This is an illusory realm? How could our physical bodies have made it in, then?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed perplexed.


    "Who told you that physical bodies can''t enter illusory realms?" Blue Lantern retorted.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "The only illusory realms you''ve encountered before this one must have been too weak to support physical bodies. The most advanced realms of this sort can merge seamlessly with the physical world."


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment before he nodded.


    Suddenly, he noticed the copper coffin by the altar. He asked Blue Lantern, "Is the copper man''s cursed spiritual avatar inside this coffin?"


    "That''s right. With the cursed king''s spiritual power entirely consumed, his cursed spiritual avatar has be a cursed effigy. Even though it''s not moving any longer, you''d best not touch it. It could revive at any moment," Blue Lantern advised.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Blue Lantern and walked up to the copper coffin, moving the lid aside to reveal a long copper de within. The design of the de was simple and unadorned. It gave off sinister blue mist.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out for it.


    "Don''t touch it! It''s a cursed spiritual avatar, and a cursed king''s avatar, at that! If you touch it, once it revives, you won''t be able to free yourself from it," Blue Lantern advised again.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I think I''m beyond that point by now..."


    Blue Lantern froze stiff. Indeed, he didn''t know how to advise Xiao Nanfeng any longer. An ordinary person tangled up with a cursed effigy would surely suffer a fate worse than death, including him. The cursed king had turned him into a cursed ve, forcing him to guard the hidden realm for eons. On the other hand, Xiao Nanfeng was already under the influence of multiple cursed effigies; would another one make such a big difference?


    "Elder, if you don''t want this de, I''ll happily take it for myself." Xiao Nanfeng reached into the coffin.


    Blue Lantern was silent. Even if the alternative was being beaten to death, he would never touch the de.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the de and began to swing it around experimentally. The ground before him furrowed.


    "An excellent de!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Blue Lantern gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. He only knew of cursed effigies toying with people; this was the first time he had seen a person toying with cursed effigies. At this rate, Xiao Nanfeng would surely die.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Blue Lantern''s shock. Indeed, he was worried about all the cursed effigies that had gathered around them, but he didn''t have the strength to deal with them at the moment. What he could do now was to introduce new enemies to them, forcing them to guard against each other and giving him time to grow.


    The copper de''s cursed spiritual power had been consumed by the four cursed effigies that hung around Xiao Nanfeng, and it would naturally seek revenge against them. Having the copper de around him gave Xiao Nanfeng an unexpected sense of security instead.


    "This cursed king was known as the divine undying king, and you need to be prepared for its revival at any moment," Blue Lantern advised again.


    "In that case, I''ll call this de the Divine Undying de!" Xiao Nanfeng happily swung the de around.

 Chapter 142: Killing Marquis Wu

    <h4>Chapter 142: Killing Marquis Wu</h4>


    In the divine domain, the earth shook, the mountains trembled, the rivers copsed, and the sky was torn asunder.


    Xiao Nanfeng kept the cursed king''s coffin and guarded Yu''er and the others until the void hadpletely copsed.


    The divine domain turned to ash as Xiao Nanfeng andpany appeared outside it.


    Before them was and of fog that demarcated the limits of the divine domain, but that fog was quickly dissipating.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Blue Lantern, Yu''er, the Lady Arclight, Croak, Warble, the unconscious serpent, and Marquis Wu and his four subordinates made it out.


    "Elder Blue Lantern, why are we the only ones who made it out?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Only the living will survive. Everything else has disappeared," Blue Lantern exined.


    "But what about my master''s corpse, and those cultivators'' and spirits'' bodies? They belong to physical reality. How could they have vanished just like that?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed incredulous.


    "That''s just how it has been," Blue Lantern replied, shaking his head.


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows. He couldn''t help but feel that Blue Lantern was hiding something from him.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced all around himself. Marquis Wu and his four subordinates were still alive; not only that, they suddenly stood up, unsheathed their weapons, and stared coldly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You weren''t unconscious? You were feigning it all along?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "To think there would be such a devious brat like you among the Taiqing disciples. You truly are fortunate, aren''t you? You''ve imed Emperor Wei''s inheritance and have somehow survived close proximity to a whole slew of cursed effigies. You must be hiding a secret." Marquis Wu narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Marquis, shall we take him down?" one of Marquis Wu''s subordinates asked.


    "Be careful. He has powerful cursed effigies that he has some control over. Take him down, along with Arclight and Yu''er," Marquis Wumanded.


    "Yessir!" Marquis Wu''s four subordinates shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Take this!" Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and kicked a figure at the four cultivators.


    "You brat! What did you kick me for?!" the serpent thundered.


    The serpent had also been pretending to be unconscious. As Xiao Nanfeng kicked it toward Marquis Wu''s four subordinates, it was forced to whip at them with its tail, blocking their sword techniques.


    "Serpent, I saved your life from the copper man. It''s your turn to repay the favor!"


    "I didn''t ask for you to save me. I refuse! I won''t help the likes of you!"


    "I think you will. I''ve told my cursed effigies that if I die, you''re the reason to me, that they should start harassing you instead," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The serpent stiffened. It thought that it was shameless, but Xiao Nanfeng had it beat. Who could havee up with such a shameless n?!


    "Of course I''ll help you out!" the serpent replied, seething internally. "You did help me, after all. I was just joking with you." The serpent roared as it charged toward Marquis Wu''s four subordinates.


    "Ha! We only pretended to be weaker than the serpent in order to investigate the divine domain. The serpent won''t be able to hold my subordinates back¡ªbut I won''t waste time with you."


    Marquis Wu shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, who sent a beam of light at him.


    "You can''t evennd a direct hit!" Marquis Wu scoffed disdainfully.


    Just then, he felt a sense of tremendous threat. He looked up to see golden runes appear above him in a wave of golden light. "Something''s wrong!"


    A sword sh shot toward Marquis Wu''s head. He immediately defended himself as he stumbled back.


    "A human treasure¡ªthe Immortal''s Destruction?" Marquis Wu''s hair, struck by the blow, fell over his shoulders. He unsheathed a longsword.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng activated another talisman to control the Immortal''s Destruction.


    Marquis Wu smirked coldly. He wasn''t afraid of the talisman; he shot into the air and struck down the golden glow of the Immortal''s Destruction before it could manifest as an attack.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction is useless to those of us at Spiritsong," Marquis Wu jeered.


    He shot toward Xiao Nanfeng again, only to find a sword technique shooting out from behind Xiao Nanfeng and straight at Marquis Wu''s face.


    Marquis Wu was forced to block with his longsword as he stumbled back.


    "Have you awoken, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    The Lady Arclight had protected Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The Lady Arclight?" Marquis Wu''s face turned cold.


    "Stand behind me, Nanfeng." The Lady Arclight stepped forward.


    "I''ll help you out, Nanfeng!" Yu''er''s voice came from behind him.


    "We''re awake, too." Croak and Warble leapt forward.


    Four Spiritsong-realm cultivators shielded Xiao Nanfeng.


    Marquis Wu''s face turned dark. "Do you think you can win just because you have the numerical advantage?"


    Not far away, the serpent screamed. It was sent flying by Marquis Wu''s four subordinates. "How could this be? You were far weaker before!"


    The four subordinates strode up to Marquis Wu''s side and pointed their swords at Xiao Nanfeng''s group.


    "As I said, we were only pretending to be weak¡ªbut we don''t have to pretend any longer. Five against five, is it? None of you will leave this ce alive." Marquis Wu brandished his sword.


    "This doesn''t have anything to do with me! I''m just passing by!" The serpent immediately stepped aside.


    "Five against four, then? Lady Arclight, your cultivation has improved to some degree, but you''re still no match for me¡ªand as for these two toad spirits and Yu''er? You must have just entered Spiritsong. Even my subordinates can take you down handily. The one I feared most was Blue Lantern, but he''s just an incredibly frail old man now. Once I capture all of you, I''ll take my time to interrogate you all." Marquis Wu cackled inughter.


    Blue Lantern''s secrets, Emperor Wei''s inheritance, the empresses'' inheritance¡ªall this information would be incredible treasure. Victory was within his grasp, and all of it would be his!


    "A frail old man, you say? Survive this, then," Blue Lanternughed.


    He extended his quivering right hand and snapped his fingers.


    Wheels of light appeared all around Blue Lantern, each encircling a series of golden runes. A giantpass surrounded the area, sucking in the mist that was about to dissipate and shrouding all the cultivators in its wake.


    "Is this a formation?" Marquis Wu raised his eyebrows as he nced around him with a sense of unease.


    "Nanfeng, I''ve gathered the remaining fragments of the divine domain to form this illusory space. You can use your spiritual power within, but do it quickly before the space breaks down!" Blue Lantern wheezed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. He drew the divine undying de, imbued it with spiritual power, and sent a hundred-meter-wide sword sh at Marquis Wu. Where the de passed, a howling storm formed.


    "What?!" Marquis Wu cried out.


    "Be careful, Marquis!" his four subordinates shouted.


    The five cultivators raised their weapons as one to block Xiao Nanfeng''s devastating blow.


    Despite their preparation, the five cultivators were sent flying, and a deep furrow was left in the ground where the attack had struck.


    Marquis Wu and his four subordinates fell to the ground, bleeding and wounded all over.


    "How could you have such strong spiritual power?!" Marquis Wu cried out, stumbling to his feet.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother to respond. He leapt forward and shed down with his de. The cursed relic was particrly powerful, and Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power was multiplied in strength in an overwhelming attack.


    "Assist me!" Marquis Wu urgently shouted.


    His four subordinates arduously got to their feet, only to be blocked by the Lady Arclight, Yu''er, Croak, and Warble.


    Marquis Wu was sent flying once more, the longsword in his hand shattering. He fell to the ground, bleeding all over, then stumbled up and tried to run.


    "It''s toote!" Xiao Nanfeng shed before him andunched a third strike.


    "No!" Marquis Wu wailed in despair, before being cut in two. The two halves of his body were sent flying. Theynded outside the domain of mist.


    Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the mists in shock.


    The domain had only been about five hundred meters wide. Beyond it, Marquis Wu would easily have been able to kill him; the situation had almost reversed.


    Marquis Wu''s eyes grew wide as his corpse thudded on the ground. He died with his eyes wide open, clearly having realized that he had only been a few steps away from salvation.


    The mists continued to diminish; thest traces of the divine domain wouldn''tst for long.


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng returned within the mists, the battle was over. Marquis Wu''s four subordinates, already heavily wounded by Xiao Nanfeng, were easily killed by the remaining cultivators.


    The Lady Arclight killed one, Croak and Warble mmed into two, and finally, the serpent caught thest one and allowed Yu''er to pierce him dead with one blow.


    "Did you see that,d? I helped you kill an enemy. We''re even, now! Don''t let your cursed effigiese near me!" the serpent told Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the serpent. Only after checking that everyone was unharmed did he rx.


    The mists faded as the illusory realm vanished once and for all, leaving a pile of bodies on the ground.


    "Thank you, Elder." Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Blue Lantern, who gingerly sat upright.


    He shook his head. "I''m too weak to do more. There''s no need for thanks. We got rid of them together."

 Chapter 143: The Riddle of the Red Rope

    <h4>Chapter 143: The Riddle of the Red Rope</h4>


    From Marquis Wu and his subordinates'' bodies, Xiao Nanfeng found four rather high-quality swords, five lengths of red rope, and Marquis Wu''s storage bangle.


    "I participated too. I should get a share of what''s in this bangle!" the serpent eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the serpent. He took the five lengths of red rope and walked up to Blue Lantern. "Elder, what''s with this red rope?"


    Blue Lantern inspected the red rope carefully for some time before frowning. "This is... a cursed effigy''s spiritual avatar?"


    "That''s right. When the copper avatars left Marquis Wu and his subordinates'' bodies, I clearly saw that they each held a length of red rope in their hands." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "It looks like you can join them together. Try it," Blue Lantern suggested, handing the rope back to him.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at their frayed ends, then joined them all in a chain. They wound together instantly.


    "Oh? They really can be joined together¡ªand I have a length of red rope here, too!"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the red rope that the old eunuch had used, thenbined it with the other five pieces. As all six pieces joined together, they glowed with red light.


    "This is theplete form of the cursed spiritual avatar," Blue Lantern asserted.


    "Marquis Wu split his red rope into six pieces?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That has to be the case. Marquis Wu and his subordinates defended against the copper avatars'' possession with that rope, and they were astute enough to have feigned being unconscious ever since. And..." Blue Lantern frowned.


    "And what?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s been three thousand years since I left the hidden realm. Has the outside world changed to such an extent?" Blue Lantern sounded mystified.


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t quite understand.


    "Three thousand years ago, any cultivator catching the eye of a cursed effigy would be the the start of a catastrophe. All cultivators of my time feared cursed effigies, but what''s going on now? Marquis Wu and his Spiritsong subordinates even dared cut a cursed effigy into pieces¡ªand as for you, well, you''re even more extreme." Blue Lantern shook his head in bewilderment.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "You must be joking, Elder. The world atrge fears cursed effigies; I''m an unfortunate exception."


    Blue Lantern was silent for long moments before nodding. "Quite so. Marquis Wu is far more wary of ying with fire than you are. This red rope isn''t a cursed king, only a regr cursed effigy."


    "How can you tell, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the red rope dubiously.


    "If it were a cursed king, the red rope would be far stronger. That said, this is no ordinary cursed effigy either," Blue Lantern announced seriously.


    "Could you borate, Elder?"


    "As you saw, cursed kings can take on various forms, but ordinary cursed effigies tend to appear as skeletons."


    "So what''s special about this red rope?"


    "A cursed king can give its subordinates cursed spiritual power of a special form, such as the divine undying king''s dragon-quelling spikes. Consuming these spikes transforms an ordinary skeleton into a copper skeleton."


    "In that case, this red rope''s king granted its subordinates a special form of spiritual power that transformed them into red ropes?"


    "That''s right. I suspect this is only one of many such red ropes that exist," Blue Lantern exined.


    "What does this prove?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Cursed kings tend to hoard their spiritual power jealously. Only under one condition do they tend to distribute it to their subordinates en masse."


    "What condition?"


    "When a cursed king is intending to return to the mortal world and contend for the realm."


    "Elder, you mean that there are many such red ropes beyond the hidden realm, which are securing power and territory for their king?"


    "That''s right. Marquis Wu might have been one of the targets, but he managed to divide it into six pieces and use its power to his own ends, instead. Of course, it''s also possible that the red rope formed some sort of pact with Marquis Wu. I wouldn''t know the details."


    Xiao Nanfeng beheld the red rope as he contemted this new information.


    "Elder, many cursed effigies have attached themselves to Nanfeng. Is there a way to remove them?" Yu''er asked urgently.


    "Elder, you have tremendous knowledge and experience. You must be able to help, surely?" the Lady Arclight immediately added.


    "Elder, you once told me that you could help me remove these cursed effigies if I were to wish it on a dragon-quelling spike. I don''t have any such spikes any longer, but would you ept some recement instead?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at Blue Lantern hopefully.


    Blue Lantern gave him a pained smile. "An ordinary cursed effigy that hasn''t possessed you, I could remove¡ªbut I can''t do anything about cursed kings."


    The two women fretted, but the serpent wasughing in schadenfreude.


    "Is it that difficult to deal with cursed kings?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "If I could do so, would I have been trapped in this realm as ve to a cursed king for three whole millennia?" Blue Lantern sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "How can I defend against them, then?"


    "You''ll be able to suppress them if your spiritual power is stronger than theirs," Blue Lantern replied.


    "That might be possible¡ªbut how strong are they, Elder? Can you give me an idea? How strong was the copper man?"


    "We faced the copper man at the nadir of its strength, which was what ultimately gave Emperor Wei a fighting chance. The copper avatars that it produced were all atte-stage Lunar Deluge. The copper man was originally at Yin Body, but after being forced to self-destruct, its cultivation temporarily dropped tote-stage Lunar Deluge as well. That was when your skeletal cursed king took it down," Blue Lantern recalled.


    "Late-stage Lunar Deluge?"


    Xiao Nanfeng recalled that the four cursed kings attached to him had had a hard time dealing with the copper avatars at first¡ªthey too had been aroundte-stage Lunar Deluge in strength.


    "Be careful. Now that they''ve regained consciousness, as it were, they''ll be able to recover quickly as long as they have sufficient spiritual power and cursed spiritual power," Blue Lantern warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng recalled Madam Rouge mentioning that the cursed kings had yet to finish digesting the copper avatars they had consumed. Once they did so, they might very well ascend to Yin Body.


    He was at early-stage Lunar Deluge; if the cursed kings were to reach Yin Body, they would be one full realm above him. It wasn''t an insurmountable difference.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Elder," Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    "It''s no secret."


    "Elder, you''re heavily wounded at the moment. Would you like to join us as you recuperate?" Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "Very well." Blue Lantern epted the invitation graciously. He seemed to have more to say to Xiao Nanfeng, but didn''t want to do so with so many people around.


    "Senior Sister, Elder, shall we return as well? I''ve rescued the remaining Taiqing disciples, though they''re still heavily wounded. Would you have a look at them?"


    The two women nodded, though they were still frowning.


    "There''s no need to worry so much," Xiao Nanfeng consoled them. "I simply have to grow stronger than the cursed effigies."


    "It''s hardly so easy to advance your cultivation," the Lady Arclight replied, frowning in worry.


    "When we return, let me ask my mother to see if she has any ideas," Yu''er suggested, refusing to give up.


    "Please don''t spread word of this information. I''m worried that others will take advantage of it to target me if they find out," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t mention your name." Yu''er nodded seriously, as did the Lady Arclight.


    "Croak, Warble, let''s have a feast of roast meat. I''ll supply the manpower, but you''ll have to provide the food, alright?"


    "I''ve been waiting for you to say that!" Croak croaked happily.


    Warble nodded, already starting to drool.


    "Serpent, why are you staring at me?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "What treasures are in Marquis Wu''s bangle? Aren''t you going to split it? I deserve a share," the serpent announced in a thick-skinned fashion.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...

 Chapter 144: The Undying Heavenly Doors

    <h4>Chapter 144: The Undying Heavenly Doors</h4>


    Ten dayster, in an idyllic cottage within the humans'' domain,


    Xiao Nanfeng told You Jiu, "Thank you for guarding the Immortal''s Destruction all this time."


    "Of course, Sir Xiao. I apologize that I was unable to find any draconic veins to enhance the power of Immortal''s Destruction."


    "You''ve already done very well. I''ll be demonstrating a fist technique. Watch carefully and learn it well."


    You Jiu''s eyes widened as Xiao Nanfeng demonstrated a fist technique slowly and carefully, exining its most vitalponents as he did so.


    "This is the Specter King''s fist technique? It''s¡ª" You Jiu eximed in shock.


    "That''s right. I''m imparting you with theplete technique now," Xiao Nanfeng informed him seriously.


    Although he didn''t know if You Jiu werepletely loyal to him, he could sense that You Jiu had been sincere about his ten years of service. You Jiu had been dedicated and diligent to date, and there were many affairs with which he would need You Jiu''s help in the future. This was a reward, as well as a responsibility.


    You Jiu''s eyes were shining as he memorized the technique.


    "I was unable to save the old sect leader of the Hall of Specters. He''s dead, and the Hall is now yours."


    You Jiu sucked in a deep breath, suddenly understanding Xiao Nanfeng''s intent. "Don''t worry, Sir Xiao. I''ll do my best."


    "A few dayster, I''ll be leaving this hidden realm. Bring trustworthy subordinates with you as we leave. Make your preparations now," Xiao Nanfeng warned him.


    You Jiu nodded. "Yessir!"


    After You Jiu left, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved Marquis Wu''s storage bangle. He had already cracked its protections, but unfortunately, there were no treasures of great value within¡ªonly a few recovery-rted pills, materials for forging, and information about countless officials of the Tianshu Empire.


    He studied the information, then took out the battered Seal of Great Wei and carefully considered Emperor Wei''s inheritance within.


    "Imperial Court of Heaven, a technique for founding a kingdom and amassing its fortune from the natural world atrge¡ªthen using that fortune to absolve oneself of karmic consequence and be a divine emperor? As for founding a kingdom, does it make sense for me to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he contemted his future ns.


    Just then, a ck-robed figure descended from the sky, startling Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Elder Blue Lantern? Have you recovered already?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the ck-robed figure that had just appeared.


    "A little. Enough for me to explore the world beyond the realm, at least. I don''t want to return to this undying realm after three millennia of suffering." Blue Lantern nodded.


    "This hidden realm is known as the undying realm?"


    "It was built by the divine undying king, so it''s naturally called the undying realm. Before I left, I wanted to bid my farewell to you. Emperor Wei saved me from a terrible fate, and I owe him a debt. Unfortunately, he''s already perished, and I won''t be able to repay that debt to him. I implore you, his only sessor, to ept that debt on his behalf."


    "Me?"


    "I am intimately familiar with formations and have some knowledge of the majority of all that exist in this world. Take thispass of white jade. Crush it, and I''ll sense it and head to you immediately. To you, I promise to aplish a task within my means." Blue Lantern carefully passed Xiao Nanfeng apass.


    "My thanks, Elder." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    "This is a hidden realm established by the divine undying king, and it''s filled with traces of his presence. If he is to revive, he''ll do so here. I would be able to help you construct a gateway into and out of this realm if you aren''t afraid of him."


    "Oh?"


    "I forged the altar leading into this hidden realm as well, but it looks as though it can only be operated one more time. Once the altar''s destroyed, it won''t be easy to enter and leave this hidden realm at will. I''ll make a durable gateway that will allow you ess if you''re in its vicinity," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Please, Elder. I need ess to this hidden realm," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "The gateway will require dimensional truegold and imbued material of this realm. You must provide these materials," Blue Lantern continued.


    "What''s dimensional truegold, and what counts as imbued material for this realm?"


    "The Seal of Great Wei is made of dimensional truegold, and immutable copper is the unique material that the divine undying king can condense with his cursed spiritual power. You possess all that you need, I believe."


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment before removing a pile of objects from his storage ring.


    First was the Seal of Great Wei. It had been badly damaged in the battle between Emperor Wei and the copper man. Xiao Nanfeng now cleared away the remaining imprints on it.


    Next was the Red Emperor''s coffin and the copper doors out of which her tomb was forged, as well as the cursed king''s coffin. All this was made of immutable copper.


    "What else do I need, Elder?"


    "This is sufficient." Blue Lantern waved a hand. Eight golden characters floated up from the ground around him, radiating golden light that condensed into the form of a golden furnace.


    "This is...?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s an eight-trigram furnace that I manifested via a formation," Blue Lantern exined.


    With a wave of his hand, he sent the immutable copper and the Seal of Great Wei into the furnace, then shut its lid with a bang.


    As Blue Lantern murmured a few mantras, countless spiritual aether from the environment surged toward the furnace, which roared with mes so intense they dyed the skies red.


    A few cultivators attempted to rush into the cottage upon seeing the unusual phenomenon, but Xiao Nanfeng sent them all out. Blue Lantern couldn''t be disturbed while undergoing such a critical undertaking.


    The furnace burned for seven whole days. It ttered and nked as Blue Lantern was sapped of all his energy.


    As he uncovered the lid of the furnace, a ray of golden light shot out. Within the light was a huge doorframe shaped like a memorial arch. Four characters were engraved on them: the Undying Heavenly Doors.


    They fell to the ground. Mist emanated from the gaps in the door, and it was impossible to see whaty within.


    "Let''s have a look," Blue Lantern suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped through the doors and passed through a cloud of mist before arriving before a gigantic altar, which he had seen upon entering the realm for the first time.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked back through the mist and into the cottage in which Blue Lantern was located.


    "Elder, these doors are amazing! I even managed to walk out of the hidden realm easily." Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    With a wave of Blue Lantern''s hand, the doors shrunk to the size of a palm. He ced them in Xiao Nanfeng''s care.


    "Activate them by infusing them with spiritual power," Blue Lantern informed him.


    "Thank you, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng carefully retrieved and stored the gateway.


    With another wave of Blue Lantern''s hand, the eight-trigram furnace transformed into eight orbs of light that crawled back into the eight golden characters Blue Lantern had created on the ground. With another wave of his hand, they all vanished.


    "I promised the serpent to bring him to the draconic pce of the Eastern Sea. It''ll apany me, and I have other means of leaving the hidden realm. I won''t have to travel alongside you," Blue Lantern continued.


    "I''ll be leaving the hidden realm shortly as well. Elder, I''m a disciple of the Taiqing immortal sect, which is located on an ind in the Eastern Sea. If you need my assistance, Elder, find me there." Xiao Nanfeng bowed respectfully.


    Blue Lantern nodded, flew into the air, and vanished over the horizon.

 Chapter 145: Encountering Ye Dafu Again

    <h4>Chapter 145: Encountering Ye Dafu Again</h4>


    Ten dayster, Xiao Nanfeng and a group of Taiqing disciples arrived at the shore of arge river.


    Not far away, the Lady Arclight and Yu''er had already flown up to a cliff.


    The gathered Taiqing disciples nced at them with admiration and envy. One whispered, "Senior Sister Yu''er has reached Spiritsong already? That''s crazy!"


    "Address her as Elder Yu''er!" Ye Sanshui corrected. "Thews of the Taiqing Immortal sect state that disciples who reach Spiritsong can be given the title of Elder. Although we haven''t yet returned to the sect, you aren''t to offend her. Are you aware of the sect''s customs?"


    "Understood!" The disciples of the Taiqing sect acknowledged their mistake immediately.


    "That cliff''s how we entered this hidden realm. We''ll be able to leave it now. Senior Brothers, let''s climb this mountain," Xiao Nanfeng proposed, smiling.


    "Yes, Senior Brother Nanfeng!" the disciples replied.


    Everyone remembered how Xiao Nanfeng had saved them all right here. They had even learned that Xiao Nanfeng had managed to ally with some force in the hidden realm to save them all for a second time despite the tremendous dangers he had to ovee. With Ye Sanshuiuding and praising Xiao Nanfeng''s actions, everyone felt a debt of true gratitude to him.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, ording to the sect''s customs, seniority is determined by cultivation. You''ve already broken through the third stage of Ascension, and you are considered a senior disciple," Ye Sanshui corrected.


    "Me, a senior disciple? I apologize, I''m not quite used to it yet." Xiao Nanfengughed in embarrassment.


    Everyone joined in theughter, but none envied him. Their gratitude dwarfed the rest of their emotions by far.


    "This was a dangerous trial indeed¡ªbut as a result of oveing their struggles, ten junior disciples reached enlightenment and broke through their bottleneck to reach Ascension. Senior Brother Nanfeng, when we return to the sect, if there be aught youmand, I will aplish it to the best of my ability," Ye Sanshui pledged.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, if there be aught youmand, we will aplish it to the best of our ability!" the gathered Taiqing disciples proimed.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed at everyone. "My thanks."


    As they continued ascending the mountain, Ye Sanshui whispered to him, "Young Master, I haven''t revealed any news of what you''ve really been up to within the hidden realm, but I don''t know how much the others have learned over the course of their captivity."


    "Thank you for the trouble." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "It''s only reasonable that I do so¡ªbut it is upsetting that my nephew isn''t among the survivors," Ye Sanshui replied wearily.


    "I am sorry to hear that, Ye Sanshui."


    "Young Master, you might not know this, but Ye Dafu is the only heir of his generation of the Ye n. I intended to bring him on this expedition so that he could get a sense of the real world, only to have him perish in the hidden realm. I haven''t even been able to find his body. I don''t know how I can ever make it up to my brother."


    "It really is a pity."


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t much like Ye Dafu, who surrounded himself with a group of fools and frequently ran his mouth, but he didn''t deserve to die, and he had helped against Madam Rouge''s incursion into his mindscape. He had used his red rope tomand all the major n heads in the humans'' domain to search for Ye Dafu, but there was no news whatsoever. Ye Dafu had perished without a trace.


    Ye Sanshui let out a long, weary sigh.


    Just then, a shocked cry suddenly came from high up the cliff. "Elder, is it you? I''ve finally found you! Have you seen my third uncle?"


    The unexpected shout caused Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui to be taken aback. What a familiar voice!


    "It''s Dafu? He''s still alive?!" Ye Sanshui gasped.


    "Ye Dafu truly leads a charmed life..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The Taiqing disciples rushed up the cliff.


    They quickly reached the cave entrance from which they had entered the hidden realm. There were wasp hives all around them. The wasps were buzzing angrily around their hives, but they didn''tunch an attack against the cultivators. They were fearful of Yu''er and the Lady Arclight, who had evidently used some technique which the wasps were scared of.


    Not far away, Yu''er and the Lady Arclight were inspecting an altar. Ye Dafu was crying out beside it.


    "Third Uncle, are you still alive? Thank goodness! I thought you were dead and even erected a gravestone for you!"


    There was a mound of mud in the distance, with the words "Grave of Ye Sanshui" written on a rock before it. Ye Sanshui''s lips twitched.


    His attention, however, swiftly turned to Ye Dafu. His nephew''s face was bloated, his eyes swollen until they were little but slits. His body swelled to a tremendous size.


    "Ye Dafu? What in the world happened to you?!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "These wasps have been stinging me daily, refusing to stop until my entire body has swollen up," Ye Dafu cried out, pointing at the hives nearby.


    "But... why didn''t you run?"


    "That day, we all fell into the roaring rapids beneath this cliff. Fortunately, I caught onto a weed and managed to avoid being washed away. Not long after, I saw a huge number of crow troops and crow spirits enter the hidden realm. I only dragged myself to shore once they left. I knew that this was the entrance to the hidden realm, and you would have to return here if you wanted to leave, so I waited nearby¡ªbut it''s been months! Do you know how I lived all this time? These wasps find me no matter where I try to hide, chasing me away. If I don''t leave, they sting me. I''ve already gotten a lot better thesest two days¡ªI was worse off before," Ye Dafuined.


    "You managed to survive being stung by these wasps for months on end? It''s a miracle! And¡ªyou seem to have reached Ascension?!" one Taiqing disciple cried out.


    "My cultivation technique is rather unusual. The more I suffer, the more pain I''m in, the faster my cultivation grows," Ye Dafu exined.


    "...that sort of technique exists?"


    "Have you all forgotten? The Buddhist tablet erected in the domain of the Taiqing sect''s mortal division, with a technique engraved on it!"


    "Indomitable Body?" one disciple cried out.


    "Indomitable Body? Allegedly, Marquis Xiao¡ªno, Elder Xiao Hongye¡ªbrought it back from a hidden realm. It''s a technique cultivated by ascetic Buddhist monks, but it''s a particrly unusual technique that requires ninefold ninefold trials just for a minor advancement. Although the peak of this technique is an indomitable body, cultivating it requires endless pain and torture. It''s too slow for most disciples to want to learn it. Why did you end up doing it?" Ye Sanshui cried out in surprise.


    "Well, I mulled it over, and I thought that such cultivation techniques where you just need to get beaten to advance can be quite strong, so I memorized it secretly. Since I was being stung by so many wasps daily, I decided to start cultivating it¡ªand it paid off, didn''t it? Don''t you want to try it too?" Ye Dafu announced proudly.


    Everyone stared at Ye Dafu''s swollen form. Thinking about how he had ended up in this manner after being stung by wasps for months¡ªtheir lips twitched as they immediately shook their heads.


    "No wonder even the wasps were looking at you funny..." Ye Sanshui murmured.


    Everyone looked around. Indeed, the wasp spirits stared at Ye Dafu with disdain as they avoided him.


    "What''re you all looking at? Come sting me if you dare! You haven''t done it for three days. Are you afraid? Try me!" Ye Dafu rolled up his sleeves and began bellowing at the wasp spirits, who all shook their heads and flew off.


    "Why does it feel to me like he''s growing fond of these wasp stings? Is he upset at not being stung?"


    "I heard that those who cultivate Indomitable Body begin to enjoy being hurt..."


    "Has he transformed into a pervert...?"


    The Taiqing disciples backed away from Ye Dafu.


    "Are you a masochist?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped at Ye Dafu.


    "Who''s a masochist? I''m doing this in order to cultivate! Don''t you dare ruin my reputation¡ªI haveckeys to lead! You might have saved me before, but you also caused me to be punished with memorizing countless scriptures. We''re even now! If you keep spouting nonsense, I''ll smack you, you brat!" Ye Dafu red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ye Sanshui walloped his nephew on the head.


    "Who are you calling a brat? Don''t you know who he is? Address him as¡ªas Senior Brother!" Ye Sanshui barely caught himself. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want his identity known in public.


    "Third Uncle, you''ve changed! Why are you siding with him now?" Ye Dafu cried out, feeling wronged.


    "I side with whoever''s in the right. Senior Brother Nanfeng saved your life. Are you going to disregard that and disrespect him? If I tell your father about this, he''ll wallop you to death!" Ye Sanshui threatened.


    Ye Dafu: ...


    As the Taiqing disciples interacted with one another, the Lady Arclight called out from nearby, "The formation''s been activated. Everyone,e over here and channel your spiritual power into the altar. It''s time for us to leave this hidden realm."


    Everyone surged forward.

 Chapter 146: Leaving the Hidden Realm

    <h4>Chapter 146: Leaving the Hidden Realm</h4>


    By the wasp nests was a in, unadorned altar. When Xiao Nanfeng and the others first entered the hidden realm, it had been covered with dust and ignored. Now, however, it was entirely revealed to the cultivators.


    The Lady Arclight and Yu''er were each channeling spiritual power into one corner of the altar, which began to sputter with red light.


    "Multiple people need to channel spiritual power into the altar to activate it. Everyone, do so now!" the Lady Arclight instructed.


    "Yes!" The cultivators began infusing their spiritual power into the altar.


    The altar needed a hundred cultivators'' spiritual energy to activate, but there were only around fifty Taiqing disciples.


    Xiao Nanfeng, who was aware of this problem, was easily able to resolve it. He could supply the remaining fifty portions of spiritual power, because his ck lotus had arge stockpile of spiritual power absorbed from Emperor Wei and his court officials.


    As huge quantities of spiritual power poured into the altar, red mist appeared over its surface and slowly formed a blue tunnel about as tall as a person.


    "An exit!" the cultivators cried out excitedly.


    Just then, an ominous crack could be heard from the altar.


    "It''s cracking apart!" one disciple shouted.


    The cracks propagated, one into two, two into four, four into eight¡ªwithin moments, the whole altar seemed as though it would shatter at any moment. The blue passageway shook violently, poised to copse.


    "Leave now! Hurry!" the Lady Arclightmanded.


    The cultivators swarmed out, none daring to hesitate.


    The ominous cracking intensified.


    As the final cultivator ran out of the passageway, the altar was destroyed with a huge explosion. The red mist and blue portal winked out.


    The cultivators returned to the valley from which they had first entered the undying realm.


    As the blue portal vanished, the connected altar in the physical world also exploded with a huge bang. The cultivators stared at the destroyed altar and the copsed portal with lingering fear.


    "We were almost trapped in there for life..." Ye Dafu whispered.


    "We''ve escaped, we''ve finally escaped!" Many of the Taiqing disciples had rapturous looks on their faces.


    While they celebrated, however, some of the disciples rapidly scaled the mountains all around them to keep an eye out on their surroundings. After trial and tribtion, the disciples had uniformly grown more wary, and they didn''t intend on making any low-level mistakes like before.


    "Come over here, Nanfeng," the Lady Arclight began.


    "Yes, Elder?"


    The Lady Arclight handed Xiao Nanfeng a blue token. "This is my authority as an elder made manifest. I entrust you with it. Take it back to the sect. If anyone dares to trouble you, show them this. It will allow you tomand disciples of the Earth division."


    "Elder, aren''t you returning to the sect with us?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Lady Arclight looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with some regret, but her gaze was resolute. "I''ll be leaving for some time, and will return to the sect as quickly as I can."


    She then turned to the gathered disciples. "Have you all heard my words? I have conferred my authority on Nanfeng. If anyone dares doubt my token, record it down. I''ll deal with those people when I return."


    "Yes, Elder!" everyone replied.


    "You shouldn''t encounter any danger on your way back to the sect. Go quickly!" the Lady Arclight instructed.


    "Yes, Elder!"


    The Lady Arclight gave Xiao Nanfeng a final searching look, thenunched herself into the air and vanished over the horizon.


    Yu''er watched the Lady Arclight leave. Biting her lip, she pulled Xiao Nanfeng aside.


    "What''s the matter, Senior Sister?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Nanfeng, I''ll be leaving as well. Return on your own, and make sure to be safe," Yu''er warned.


    "Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "The Lady Arclight must have gone off in search of a solution for the cursed effigies that have attached themselves to you. As your senior sister, I have to do something as well. Hold on tight. I''ll return in a few days!" A sh of jealousy flitted over Yu''er''s gaze.


    "You must be overthinking things, Senior Sister. The elder likely has other things to concern herself with. What''s more, I can handle my cursed effigies on my own. There''s no need to worry," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No need to worry? You have a whole host of cursed kings in your body, enough to im your life at any time! Return to the sect and ask your master if there''s a solution. I''ll be going back home to ask my mother for assistance. She mentioned that she had dealt with cursed effigies in the past, and she might have a solution."


    "There''s no need to be so anxious." Xiao Nanfeng patted Yu''er''s shoulder. If even Blue Lantern was unable to resolve this problem, what could Yu''er''s mother do?


    "You''reughing? I''ve been so worried thesest few days¡ªand you''re not even treating it like a problem? The Lady Arclight''s gone off on her own, I''ll talk to my mother, and you''ll talk to your master and the other sect elders. With the three of us working together, we''ll surely find a solution," Yu''er replied sternly.


    "But..." Xiao Nanfeng still wanted to persuade her to stay.


    "It''s decided, then! I''ve been wanting to visit home, anyway."


    Yu''er turned to the disciples. "Ye Sanshui, when you return to the sect, make it known on my behalf that if anyone dares to make life difficult for Nanfeng, I''ll deal with them when I return."


    "I will," Ye Sanshui replied, somewhat flummoxed.


    Yu''er flew into the air and vanished from sight.


    "With both elders gone, what will we do next? What if we encounter the crow king and Marquis Wu? We can''t beat them!" Ye Dafu fretted.


    "They won''t appear again." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "What, I''m supposed to believe you? You have no awareness of danger at all! You¡ª"


    Ye Dafu yelped as someone hit his head again.


    "Third Uncle, why did you hit me?!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "What Senior Brother Nanfeng says goes. Don''t talk nonsense," Ye Sanshui chided.


    "...are you my third uncle, or his?"


    "Come on. It''s time to return to the sect," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Yes!" the Taiqing disciples chorused.


    "Third Uncle, Xiao Nanfeng secretly told me at the start of this expedition that he was going to steal your leadership position¡ªand everyone''s listening to him now! He''s usurped your position!" Ye Dafu whispered, trying to spark conflict between his third uncle and Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ye Sanshui blinked. "It''s only right that Senior Brother Nanfeng leads us all. I''m very d I can support him."


    Ye Dafu stared at Ye Sanshui, bbergasted. "Third Uncle, has he brainwashed you?"


    Ye Sanshui pped Ye Dafu''s head again. "I told you, listen to Senior Brother Nanfeng! What''s with all this nonsense?"


    "No, I have to write to my father! Nanfeng might have hypnotized you, Uncle, and I need Father to snap you out of this!" Ye Dafu gulped.


    "If you call your father over, he''ll only beat you up for not respecting your elders," Ye Sanshui replied.


    "But it doesn''t make sense! You''repletely different from before. Nanfeng''s cultivation is barely above mine, and it''sparable to yours! Why are you acting so deferential? Does he have some other identity?" Ye Dafu whispered.


    Ye Sanshui, worried that his nephew would make a mess of things, eventually told Ye Dafu the truth.


    "You owe Senior Brother Nanfeng''s father a life debt. When your mother gave birth to you, your parents were surrounded by thousands of troops, and Nanfeng''s father rushed thousands of miles to save your family from martial unrest. What do you think?" Ye Sanshui hissed.


    "When I was born, his father saved my family? C-Could he be..." Ye Dafu''s eyes opened wide.


    He had finally guessed who Xiao Nanfeng was. His eyes bulged.


    "Be quiet. The young master''s in some danger, and it''ll be best to keep his identity secret for as long as possible. Don''t expose him," Ye Sanshui warned.


    "Why didn''t you tell me this beforehand, Third Uncle? I always thought that Senior Brother Nanfeng was a paragon of virtue, endowed with wisdom, poise, and presence¡ªbut you caused me to misunderstand him!" Ye Dafu grumbled.


    Ye Sanshui''s face spasmed.

 Chapter 147: The Disaster of the Sea Serpents

    <h4>Chapter 147: The Disaster of the Sea Serpents</h4>


    Dayster, as the Taiqing disciples arrived at the city of Taiwu, they found a number of nominal Taiqing disciples stationed there ncing at them in surprise.


    "Seniors, thank goodness you were able to make it back! Considering you were all gone for the better half of a year, the sect has sent investigators to Taiwu," one nominal disciple reported.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "By the third month of your departure, we reported yourck of contact to the sect. Perhaps because an elder was leading your party, the sect didn''t take action until just a few days ago, when a stork from the sect bore word stating that an elder would being by sea with a group of disciples in tow, here to investigate your disappearance. We would be responsible for meeting them here¡ªbut all of you came back before their arrival!"


    "Which elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Elder Zhao Yuanjiao."


    "Zhao Yuanjiao? Isn''t he a senior disciple in the Ascended division? Has he reached Spiritsong and be an elder?" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Yes!" the nominal disciple replied.


    "As Elder Ku''s most senior apprentice, he should be helping out Senior Brother Nanfeng, rather than hindering him at every turn! I hate this sort of person¡ªhow can someone like him ascend to Spiritsong? This isn''t just!" Ye Dafu grumbled.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Ye Dafu a strange look. The sudden transformation in his attitude disconcerted him.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, don''t you worry. I, Ye Dafu, am a man of integrity. I''ll stand by your side and teach Zhao Yuanjiao a lesson if he dares to target you!" Ye Dafu patted his chest.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... Was this really Ye Dafu? Why did it feel as though he had been possessed?


    "Teaching who a lesson? Just don''t create trouble for your senior brother!" Ye Sanshui rapped Ye Dafu on the head.


    "Why are you beating me, Third Uncle? I''m just trying to deepen my rtionship with Senior Brother Nanfeng and make up for what I did in the past! Can''t you see?" Ye Dafu whispered.


    Ye Sanshui gave his nephew a strange look. <i>Even when you''re whispering, your words are still so loud and clear¡ªare you trying to ensure that the young master hears them?</i>


    "Please don''t hold it against him, Senior Brother Nanfeng," Ye Sanshui apologized, scratching his head.


    "No, it''s quite alright." Xiao Nanfeng rxed.


    He understood that Ye Sanshui had to have revealed his identity to Ye Dafu. Although Ye Dafu was boastful and big-headed, he did know how to distinguish right from wrong¡ªor he wouldn''t have umted so manyckeys. The fact that Ye Dafu wanted to reconcile with him would hardly be a problem.


    "We won''t be waiting for Zhao Yuanjiao," Xiao Nanfeng decided. "Prepare some horses. We''ll be riding back to the sect with haste."


    "Understood!" the nominal disciple immediately replied.


    Some of the disciples needed care as quickly as possible, with wounds and illnesses that might very well lead to permanent debilitation if left untreated. The disciples rode all the way to a harbor by the Eastern Sea.


    There, more nominal Taiqing disciples were waiting for them. The disciples arranged for passage on a ship toward Taiqing Ind.


    After a day''s voyage, someone on deck suddenly shouted, "Halt!"


    Everyone walked up on deck to find flotsam drifting toward them. On one of thergest pieces of flotsam was the word ''Taiqing''.


    "A ship from the Taiqing sect? Could there have been trouble at sea?" someone cried out.


    "Where could the disciples on board be? We have to search around!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    The Taiqing disciples rowed toward the source of the flotsam on small canoes, but there was nothing to be found. Everything had been swallowed up by the sea.


    "We don''t have a lead, Senior Brother."


    "We''ll head upstream against the current," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" the nominal disciples replied.


    "Senior Brother, the sea is vast, and these currents may change at will. With just this flotsam to go off of, it''ll be nearly impossible to find any survivors," Ye Sanshui murmured, frowning.


    "I know, but it won''t hurt to take this slight detour. If we can''t find anything, we can give up then."


    "Very well!"


    The ship sailed against the current for a day and a night. Just as the disciples were about to give up, someone suddenly shouted, "Senior Brother, that''s a signal re from the Taiqing Sect!"


    On an ind not too far away, from time to time, there would be a burst of fireworks into the air. It was particrly eye-catching.


    "A signal from Taiqing disciples! Are they trapped on that ind? We have to rescue them!"


    "Hold on!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "What''s the matter, Senior Brother?"


    "Be careful. There''s something underwater that''s quickly approaching us," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The disciples looked into the water in shock.


    The sea was choppy, and whaty beneath the surface couldn''t be seen. The disciples nced skeptically at each other, but Xiao Nanfeng was certain. He had sensed danger with his spiritual power.


    "Quick, steer the ship away!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Just then, something collided against the ship and caused it to shake.


    "Snakes, so many snakes! It''s a sea serpent!" someone cried out.


    The disciples looked down again to see countless ck-and-white sea serpents rapidly swimming toward the ship. They swam fiercely and furiously, as though intending to kill everyone on board. Meanwhile, stronger sea serpents were smashing into the ship from underneath, causing it to toss and shake.


    "Are these serpents crazy? Are they trying to destroy our ship?!"


    "Move it!"


    "Kill them!"


    The disciples quickly drew their weapons and shed at the serpents that were mbering around the ship. Some even lowered lifeboats in order to attack the serpents as they popped out from beneath the surface of the water. Under theirbined assault, the serpents above the surface were all killed; the remainder didn''t dare emerge.


    "They''re still attacking the ship from underwater, but we can''t strike them back!"


    "I''ll head underwater and have a look," Ye Dafu suddenly volunteered.


    "Are you crazy? These sea serpents are highly venomous, and a single bite might kill you. Do you want to die?!" Ye Sanshui immediately held Ye Dafu back.


    "I''ll be fine. My Indomitable Body will protect me!"


    He dove into the water, where a group of sea serpents immediately noticed him. Within a short period of time, he floated back up to the surface. By the time he was dragged back onto the ship, there were indents on his skin from serpent fangs, and his entire face was ck and purple all over. He was clearly suffering from acute poisoning.


    "Don''t die, Dafu!" Ye Sanshui was shocked stiff.


    "Can he be saved?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "I''m quite alright. This venom is warming my body up, and it''s surprisinglyfortable. I''ll have to raise a few sea serpents of my own and have them bite me daily!" Ye Dafu seemed positively excited by the idea.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Ye Sanshui: ...


    Everyone: ...


    Ye Dafu really was a masochist!


    "There were many six-meter long sea serpents underwater. For some reason, they''re furiously attacking our ship. I even saw a fifteen-meter one swimming over from afar!" Ye Dafu immediately reported.


    "Six-meter long sea serpents are at Immanence, while fifteen-meter long ones are at Ascension," Ye Sanshui murmured.


    "Could the other ship have been destroyed in this manner too?"


    "These sea serpents are highly venomous. Except for Ye Dafu, we''d all be taken out ofmission if they were to bite us."


    "Sea serpents are far more agile than we are in the water. We can''t afford to fight them there."


    The disciples were in a frenzy as more and more sea serpents continued to strike at the ship. It was toote to even try to steer it away now.


    "Five Ascension-realm disciples will deal with that Ascension-realm sea serpent along with Ye Dafu. Ye Sanshui, you''ll lead the others to y the remaining sea serpents," Xiao Nanfeng finallymanded.


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    "Senior Brother, the sea serpents are underwater. Do we need to dive down?" Ye Sanshui seemed rather hesitant.


    "There''s no need. Bring me a fishing rod, quickly!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Got it!" One nominal disciple rushed over with a fishing rod.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately tossed the hook into the sea, devoid of any bait. He infused the hook with huge quantities of spiritual power in the manner prescribed by Art of Divine Fishing. The sea serpents found themselves enticed by a treasure that would allow them to transform into a dragon.


    They instantly gave up on attacking the ship and swarmed toward the fishhook, biting and tearing at each other in an attempt to get to the treasure first. Their bodies were quickly exposed in the shallows.


    "Have these sea serpents all been hypnotized?!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng''s spiritual technique is truly incredible!" The other disciples were astounded.


    "Strike!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Kill them!" Ye Sanshui and the disciples drew close on lifeboats. They shed at the serpents, killingrge groups of them with every swing. Fresh blood dyed the sea red.


    Ye Dafu and five senior disciples struck at the Ascension-realm sea serpent in a frenzy of blows, causing the surface of the sea to roil.

 Chapter 148: Encountering Zhao Yuanjiao Again

    <h4>Chapter 148: Encountering Zhao Yuanjiao Again</h4>


    The disciples quickly took down the ordinary sea serpents. Ye Dafu and his group, fighting six on one, defeated the Ascension-realm sea serpent as well.


    "Die!" Ye Dafu howled. He thrust his de through the serpent''s neck, causing it to screech in pain.


    "Die!" the other disciples howled. Fivebined sword shes killed the Ascension-realm sea serpent instantly.


    "Third Uncle, I''ll treat you to some Ascension-realm meat!" Ye Dafu happily dragged his spoils back onto the ship.


    "Dafu, are you alright...?" Ye Sanshui couldn''t help but worry about his nephew.


    Ye Dafu had bite marks all over his body, which was swelling up in ck and purple. He looked as though he might keel over at any moment.


    "It does hurt a little. This Ascension-realm sea serpent''s venom is even stronger than the others'', but I''m not afraid of poison. I''ll be just fine in a few days. Third Uncle, I''m growing stronger! I can even kill Ascension-realm spirits now!" Ye Dafu crowed.


    "Stronger? You''re the only one who ended up being bitten! Why did you go for its head rather than its tail?" Ye Sanshui scolded his nephew.


    The five Ascension-realm disciples who had attacked the Ascension-realm sea serpent alongside Ye Sanshui felt a bout of shame. It was because Ye Dashui had taken all the bites that they were perfectly fine.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng wanted me to lead the group. Of course I had to fight from the front! Don''t worry, I''m just fine." Ye Dafu patted himself on the chest.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched the exchange with some interest. No wonder Ye Dafu was able to rue a group ofckeys despite his obvious ws! He never backed down and led from the front.


    "Ye Dafu, I have an antidote you can have." Xiao Nanfeng handed him a pill he had retrieved from Marquis Wu.


    "It''s alright. I''ll be back to normal in just a few days, Young¡ªSenior Brother!" Ye Dafu replied in excitement.


    Ever since he learned of Xiao Nanfeng''s true identity, Ye Dafu had been far more courteous to him than before. He had been wanting to deepen his rtionship with Xiao Nanfeng, and he was overjoyed that Xiao Nanfeng would suddenly make him an overture.


    "Better to recover sooner," Xiao Nanfeng replied, handing the bottle to Ye Dafu.


    "ept the gift from your senior," Ye Sanshui whispered, nudging him.


    "Then I''ll ept with gratitude!" Ye Dafu shouted. He swallowed the pill in the bottle in one gulp. "Oh, it tastes good!"


    "Steer the ship away for now," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Despite the distress res, Senior Brother?" a disciple asked.


    "The ship''s toorge and visible a target. We''ll hide it away first."


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    The ship sailed to a nearby ind where it docked. The disciples stood on the ind as they looked toward the distress res in the distance.


    "Senior Brother, is it necessary for us to hide this far away?" Ye Sanshui asked curiously.


    "It is. There are many serpents in this stretch of the sea, and the ones we encountered were only a small fraction of their number," Xiao Nanfeng warned. He was able to sense everything clearly with his spiritual power.


    "What?!" everyone cried out.


    "Ascension-realm disciples, please apany me to have a look at the scene. Ye Sanshui, stay on this ind and prepare to receive us," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Senior Brother, I''d like to go with you," Ye Sanshui volunteered, worried about the danger.


    "Better if you''re here to guard the Immortal''s Destruction on my behalf," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ye Sanshui nodded seriously, understanding Xiao Nanfeng''s intent.


    "Ye Dafu, you''re suffering from severe poisoning. You should stay and recuperate."


    "I''m fine! I''d rather go with you, Senior Brother. I like being bitten by serpents¡ªit''sfortable!"


    Everyone goggled at the maniac.


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng replied, giving Ye Dafu a strange look.


    Xiao Nanfeng erected the Immortal''s Destruction by the shore of the ind, then began swimming toward the ind afar with the gathered disciples.


    The twelve disciples made for a particrly small target, and Xiao Nanfeng continued to scout ahead with his spiritual power to ensure that no harm would befall the group. They quickly arrived at the ind with distress res and swam ashore from a secluded part of the ind.


    The ind was deste and seemed to be nowhere extraordinary. A few hills were present on the ind, but there were no living creatures in the vicinity.


    The group of disciples walked halfway up one hill and saw a valley from which the res were being sent.


    There were dozens of Taiqing disciples in the valley, many of whom had been stricken with serpent venom. Their eyes were closed as they recuperated and meditated; a small group of cultivators were erecting small gs to form a barrier formation that would defend against the serpents beyond.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao? How unlucky! What''s he doing here?" Ye Dafu cursed.


    At the center of the formation were arge group of Taiqing disciples, all surrounding Zhao Yuanjiao. His entire body was ck and purple, as though he were suffering from an extreme case of poisoning.


    "Senior Brother, there are so many serpents!" one junior disciple cried out.


    Beyond the barrier were thousands of sea serpents. The tworgest were golden-hued and each thirty meters long. Their bodies were coiled, their expressions fierce. Even from afar, the disciples could sense the frightening aura they gave off.


    The two golden serpents struck the barrier simultaneously. It flickered violently, as though it would dissipate at any moment.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, now that my venom''s coursing through your body, you won''t survive for long. Come out here and die!" one of the golden serpents hissed.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his group, hiding within a forest from afar, frowned.


    "This golden serpent can speak? It must be at Spiritsong¡ªa serpent king?!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Are both golden serpents at Spiritsong?" the other disciples wondered, worried.


    "Senior Brother, we won''t be of any help. We''d better leave now. It''s not worth it to give up our lives for Zhao Yuanjiao. Shouldn''t we try to inform the elders as quickly as possible instead?" Ye Dafu seemed rather fearful.


    Just then, a group of sea serpents swam up to the two golden serpents, as though reporting something.


    "There was another Taiqing ship in the vicinity and shed with you? They already know about the situation here? Quick, we can''t dy any longer!" one golden serpent called out.


    "We''ll invoke ourtent potential and break through this barrier with force!"


    "Alright!"


    Huge quantities of blood mist erupted from the two golden serpents. As their strength grew by leaps and bounds, the two golden serpents smashed into the barrier.


    The other serpents all did the same in synchrony. The ground and hills on the ind quaked and rumbled. After two whole hours of that assault, the barrier broke apart.


    The Taiqing disciples who had been maintaining it for as long as they could all stumbled back, vomiting blood from the bacsh of the attack. They fell to the ground.


    "Don''t leave even a single one alive. Kill them all!" one golden serpentmanded.


    The serpents swarmed into the valley.


    "They''ve breached the barrier! They''reing over now..."


    "Are we going to die here? No!"


    "Kill them!"


    The Taiqing disciples struck at the gathered serpents, ignoring their wounded bodies.


    Just then, Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes opened wide as he drew his sword. A huge sword sh flew toward the golden-orb serpent, sending it flying.


    "You think to resist despite the fact that you''re at your wit''s end? Die!" The other golden serpent leapt toward Zhao Yuanjiao, sending him flying. He fell back again and again in the two-on-one fight.


    "Who sent you? How did you know what route we would take? Why are you attacking us?!" Zhao Yuanjiao howled as he fought.


    "Do you think we''d tell you? Die!" one golden serpent replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao fought the two serpents at significant risk to his life.


    "Save us, Elder!" The Taiqing disciples in the valley were having a hard time resisting the serpents'' incursion as well.


    Thousands of serpents were swarming toward them. Even if there were only a few dozen Ascension-realm ones, they were unable to defend against the overwhelming force. It looked as though everyone was about to perish to the serpents.


    "Charge!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao harbored bad blood, but he was still a disciple of Elder Ku. Everyone present bore witness; he had no choice but to do what he could. How would he face his master otherwise?


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" The disciples charged down the valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the divine undying de in his hand. He shed forward, instantly killing a wide swathe of sea serpents and cutting apart the two Ascension-realm ones as well.


    "What?!" The disciples stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock, none having imagined that he was such a strongbatant.


    "Is that Nanfeng?" Cries came from within the valley.


    As Xiao Nanfeng swung his de once again, another huge swathe of sea serpents was wiped out.


    Noticing the threat posed by the neer, the sea serpents quickly changed their target and surged toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    Roiling me burst forth from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, surrounding him like a glowing sun and burning the Immanence-realm sea serpents to a crisp. The Ascension-realm ones blocked the majority of the me, but they too were forced back¡ªjust in time to be struck by Xiao Nanfeng''s divine undying de.


    Xiao Nanfeng was a juggernaut. Where he roamed, the sea serpents fell. Against these serpents, he seemed all but invincible.


    The Taiqing disciples trapped within the valley stared out in surprise.


    "That''s Nanfeng?"


    "I managed to seize and take him down half a year ago. How did he suddenly grow so strong?"


    "Just what happened in the intervening six months?!"


    The disciples all cried out in surprise.


    Ye Dafu and the others charged forward behind Xiao Nanfeng, but there was nothing for them to do but to kill the stragglers that Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t managed to. It was surprisingly rxing.


    "No wonder you were able to establish a rtionship with the strong within the hidden realm. I didn''t know you were this strong, Senior Brother!"


    "Our senior brother is amazing!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys were gobsmacked.


    Ye Dafu stared open-mouthed at the carnage Xiao Nanfeng had unleashed. "Father once told me that, if I were to meet Marquis Xiao and his family, that I would be beaten to death for showing any disrespect. Was Father trying to protect, rather than to scare me? I was crazy!"

 Chapter 149: Killing the Golden Serpent

    <h4>Chapter 149: Killing the Golden Serpent</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng unleashed a field of ughter, killing all the sea serpents wherever he went. He took down half of their number by himself, causing the rest of the sea serpents to flee as he drew near.


    The two golden serpents who had been attacking Zhao Yuanjiao had also noticed Xiao Nanfeng. They stared at him with naked hatred.


    "I''ll continue attacking Zhao Yuanjiao. Go eat that brat!" one golden serpent cried out.


    "Got it." The other golden serpent flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng had been paying careful attention to the two golden serpents as he fought. When he saw one of them heading his way, he took a deep breath.


    "Senior Brother, you have to run! That''s a Spiritsong-realm golden serpent!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Run? None of you will be able to run now. I''ll eat you all!" the golden serpent roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, sending a bolt of golden light flying out toward the golden serpent. Enraged, the serpent leapt up and bit down on that golden light, crushing it between its teeth.


    "This¡ªisn''t a relic?!" The golden serpent felt a measure of unease, but it was toote. A huge construct of sword energy descended from the heavens and smashed into its maw.


    The golden serpent was sent flying in a shower of blood.


    "You dare consume a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction?" Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback, but he quickly prepared for yet another blow.


    The golden serpent, bleeding from its head, arduously mbered back up. By then, however, another burst of golden light had appeared overhead. As Xiao Nanfeng''s talisman glowed, another sword sh descended from the heavens.


    "No!" the golden serpent howled.


    The barrier of spiritual qi that it erected with its wounded body was blown apart as the sword sh from Immortal''s Destruction pierced through its skull and cleaved significant portions of flesh off its body.


    Before the serpent recovered, another blue sh struck precisely where thest attack had.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s divine undying de unleashed tremendous power before the golden serpent was able to muster a defense, beheading it in a rain of blood. Even as it died, the golden serpent couldn''t believe that it had lost to an Ascension-realm foe.


    All the Taiqing disciples gasped, their eyes wide with disbelief.


    "He can kill a Spiritsong-realm spirit...?"


    "It''s only been half a year. How did he get so strong?!"


    The cultivators were shocked; the sea serpents were terrified. They all looked toward the other golden serpent.


    "Die!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared.


    "No!" the other golden serpent shrieked.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s sword pierced through the other golden serpent''s head, blowing it up. The serpent died instantly.


    With their two leaders defeated, the remaining sea serpents tried to flee toward the valley in terror.


    "Hold it!" the Taiqing disciples cried out, giving chase at once.


    "Stay!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted. "Get your injuries treated first!"


    Only then did the Taiqing disciples stop short, sheathing their swords and gathering around Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao himself fell to the ground, his face still a mess of ck and purple. The venom hadn''t beenpletely purged from his body. Even so, he didn''t rush to get it treated. He gaped at Xiao Nanfeng, who was walking over.


    "Do you need me to help tend to your injuries, Senior Brother Zhao?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Zhao Yuanjiao stared at Xiao Nanfeng, aplicated expression flitting through his eyes. "You made me waste so much effort on you."


    "Sorry?" Xiao Nanfeng raised his eyebrows in confusion.


    "Your name is Xiao Nanfeng¡ªyou''re General Xiao''s son!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. How had Zhao Yuanjiao learned of his identity?


    Everyone stared at Xiao Nanfeng in confusion.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, are you crazy? When did Senior Brother Xiao lie to you? He said his name was Nanfeng, and it is!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Everyone turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. Indeed, there didn''t seem to be a problem. So what if Xiao Nanfeng''s surname was Xiao?


    Zhao Yuanjiao continued to re at Xiao Nanfeng, ignoring Ye Dafu. He seemed particrly frustrated.


    "Ye Dafu''s right. My name is Nanfeng. Why are you making such a fuss about this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "If you had stated your real name, I wouldn''t have mistaken you for a demonic spy! Do you know how much manpower I devoted to investigating you?!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao thought that Xiao Nanfeng was a highly ced demonic spy and had put a great deal of effort into figuring out his background. When the truth was revealed, however, he realized that all his effort had gone to waste.


    "You''ve uncovered my identity?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao snorted in anger.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, Senior Brother Nanfeng has just saved your life. Shouldn''t you be thankful to him instead? If he hadn''t been able to get here in time, you would be dead!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    Thus reminded, the Taiqing disciples who had been trapped on the ind turned to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior Brother Nanfeng."


    Zhao Yuanjiao still red at Xiao Nanfeng in outrage. He didn''t thank Xiao Nanfeng, but his enmity had vanished.


    "Ye Dafu, I trust that you can handle matters here. I''ll return ande back with the juniors on our ship," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Senior Brother, we can handle it! You don''t have to deal with the hassle," a group of junior disciples immediately volunteered.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Only I can dismantle the Immortal''s Destruction. Just wait here for a moment."


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao sat cross-legged in meditation as he attempted to purge the poison from his body. He watched on as Xiao Nanfeng left, curious about the surprising growth in Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation, but he was prideful enough that he could hardly ask Xiao Nanfeng about it. He could only nce at him coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng left the ind and swam through the ocean until he reached a hidden cove by a cliff, then waited patiently.


    Very quickly, a huge head bobbed out of the water¡ªit was Croak.


    "Nanfeng, that was a big fight back there on the ind! Why didn''t you ask us to help?"


    "They were just a few small snakes. I could handle them easily, so there''s no need to trouble you. Croak, thank you for following behind me." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "No need for thanks. Right, You Jiu and Warble are still by that ind back there. You Jiu seems concerned about your junior disciples and said he would watch over the Immortal''s Destruction for you. Do you want to call him over?"


    "No, it''s not necessary. I do have a task I need to trouble you all with, though," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Croak cocked its head.


    "Did you see the group of sea serpents that escaped from the ind?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course! I ate a few, too. But they weren''t as tasty as your cooking. When will you make a feast for me again?" Croak drooled as it spoke.


    "Once everything''s settled, I''ll whip up a feast. I''ll even get the best chef I know to help me out." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Great, great!" Croak croaked excitedly.


    "You don''t have to follow me anymore. Track these serpents and see where they''re headed. I suspect that it''ll be dangerous, so be careful. Don''t attack them or expose yourselves. Once you find theirir, have You Jiu lead you back to me. He knows how to contact me."


    "Got it!"

 Chapter 150: Zhao Yuanjiaos Identity

    <h4>Chapter 150: Zhao Yuanjiao''s Identity</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng dismantled the Immortal''s Destruction and led everyone onto the ship, which continued sailing toward Taiqing Ind.


    Xiao Nanfeng consumed and distilled the inner cores of the serpents that he had in. Unfortunately, his technique required so much spiritual qi to advance that even the golden serpent''s inner core was unable to fuel an advancement.


    Two dayster, Xiao Nanfeng, along with Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui, feasted on the sea serpent that had just been prepared for them.


    "Spiritsong-realm sea serpent meat is truly a delicacy! Thank you for your generosity, Young Master. This meat would fetch a hefty price elsewhere¡ªbut you''re treating us to it?" Ye Dafu wolfed as much of it down as he could.


    Ye Sanshui red at Ye Dafu. "Control yourself! Be more respectful of the young master."


    "It''s alright. Please, have your fill. I''d like to thank you for helping me out. This is nothingpared to the help you''ve done me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Young Master, we''ve coddled Dafu from birth, so he''s rather irreverent and always runs his mouth. I apologize for any offense that he''s given you in the past. Please forgive him," Ye Sanshui beseeched.


    "No, no! I simply wasn''t aware of Young Master Xiao''s identity. If I had known that he was the marquis'' son, I wouldn''t dare create any trouble for him at all! Marquis Xiao is the man I respect most in the world, and if my father were to find out that I bullied his son, he''d surely beat me to death!" Ye Dafu corrected.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Ye Dafu.


    "Marquis Xiao saved my family when I was born, then saved me again while I was small. Just like my third uncle, I came to the Taiqing Immortal Sect because I wanted to follow in Marquis Xiao''s footsteps, and I learned Indomitable Body because I trusted that a technique that he himself used has to be great. Young Master, don''t you worry. Your business is my business. If anyone dares to cause trouble for you, I''ll surely be on your side!" Ye Dafu patted his chest.


    Ye Sanshui clicked his tongue. "The young master doesn''t need your help anymore, not when he''s this strong! You have to offer help to people in need for them to remember you."


    "But I wasn''t aware of the young master''s identity back then!" Ye Dafu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu. He knew that Ye Sanshui was trying to resolve the previous conflict between the two of them, but Xiao Nanfeng had never been that angry with Ye Dafu to begin with. He had invited them both to dine with him as a means of reconciliation.


    "What''s past is past. I''ll have a lot on my te in the future, and I hope I''ll be able to count on the two of you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Of course, Young Master! I''ll do my best." Ye Sanshui''s eyes brightened as he realized that Xiao Nanfeng was willing to let bygones be bygones.


    "Don''t worry, Young Master. I, Ye Dafu, am a man of my word! You can count on me to help a brother out." Ye Dafu thumped his chest.


    Ye Sanshui kicked Ye Dafu under the table, reminding him to control himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mind; in fact, he admired Ye Dafu''s frankness.


    "Did you manage to figure out what I wanted to know?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I did, Young Master. We only spent half a year in the hidden realm, which isn''t too long as things go. Under most circumstances, the sect wouldn''t be providing us with assistance or checking in on us just yet. Zhao Yuanjiao volunteered to find us¡ªand I suspect it was because he wanted to find you," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "Why is that?"


    "Zhao Yuanjiao''s strict and stern, cold and aloof, but he still has a good reputation within the sect. What he does is by the books, and he owes your father, Marquis Xiao, a tremendous favor. Once he figured out your identity, he was certainly very annoyed, but he wouldn''t have wanted you to die."


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised.


    "Young Master, you should know that the nominal disciples of the Taiqing sect are stationed far and wide throughout the mortal world, dealing with worldly affairs for the sect."


    "That''s right." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Among these nominal disciples is a group known as the ckguards, which is responsible for spying and gathering intelligence. Most ckguards are nominal disciples, but their identities are kept hidden and obfuscated. They''re responsible for keeping track of affairs around the world atrge."


    "Oh?"


    "The ckguards were created by the previous leader of the Ascended division of the Taiqing sect, and they handle a tremendous flow of information. Naturally, they hold significant status within the sect as well."


    "How is Zhao Yuanjiao connected to these ckguards?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The previous Ascended leader was Zhao Tianjue, Zhao Yuanjiao''s father."


    "Oh?"


    "The year that Emperor Tianshu conquered the world and established an empire, countless elders and disciples of the Ascended and Mortal divisions helped Emperor Tianshu establish his territory. The Ascended division leader, Zhao Tianjue, was among them. However, Emperor Tianshu met particr resistance while founding his kingdom, and Zhao Tianjue was unfortunately killed in battle."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "With Zhao Tianjue''s death, I imagine many people were eyeing his ckguards."


    "That''s right, Young Master," Ye Sanshui replied. "Many elders wanted to take over the ckguards, and even the sect leader seemed tempted to do so."


    "What happened next?"


    "Your father, Marquis Xiao, blocked everyone''s greed. He imed that the ckguards were founded by Zhao Tianjue and none other. Although some of its members were nominal disciples, not all were. Zhao Tianjue had invested countless wealth and energy into his ckguards to get them where they were, and no one was to selfishly im his hard work for themselves. He motioned that the leadership of the ckguards be bequeathed to Zhao Tianjue''s son, Zhao Yuanjiao. As long as Zhao Yuanjiao didn''t betray the Taiqing Immortal Sect, no one was to seize the ckguards from him. However, at the time, Zhao Yuanjiao was still a rtively weak cultivator, and it was decided that Elder Ku would serve as the leader of the ckguards in the interim before Zhao Yuanjiao reached Spiritsong," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "My master, Elder Ku?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "That''s right. Elder Ku took Zhao Yuanjiao as disciple and shielded him from undue influence while serving as interim leader. With Zhao Yuanjiao at Spiritsong, Elder Ku must have passed the leadership of the ckguards to him."


    "So that''s how he learned of my identity?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I suspect that that''s the case. He must have learned of your identity, realized that what he did was uneptable, and rushed off in search of you out of concern for your safety," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "No wonder..." Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly.


    He understood why Elder Ku had been so adamant that he wasn''t a spy when Zhao Yuanjiao made his suspicions known. His master had known his true identity from almost the very beginning!


    "It''s a pity that Zhao Yuanjiao''s luck is so mediocre. When we first arrived at the Taiqing Immortal Sect, the disciples under hismand were almost ughtered to thest by a demonic sect. This time around, he was almost killed by a swarm of serpents. It doesn''t look like takingmand of the ckguards has helped him out," Ye Dafu murmured, snickering.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered what Ye Dafu had said thoughtfully. Was it just a matter of bad luck? Perhaps not.


    "Young Master, you may not be able to hide your identity for long," Ye Sanshui said, concerned.


    "It''s alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently. He now had the strength to protect himself even if his identity were revealed.


    Three dayster, the ship docked at the harbor of Taiqing Ind.


    The disciples got off the ship eagerly, breathing in the familiar air and taking in the familiar sights. Their experiences in the hidden realm had been harrowing, and many of them still had lingering traumas about what had happened. News of their return quickly spread throughout the sect.

 Chapter 151: Encountering Zheng Qian Again

    <h4>Chapter 151: Encountering Zheng Qian Again</h4>


    The return of the Taiqing disciples caused amotion at the harbor.


    "Senior Brother, what happened to your arm?!"


    "Junior Brother, where are the senior disciples that went spirit-ying with you? Why haven''t they returned?"


    The disciples of all four divisions gathered to wee the returning disciples, only to be taken aback by their sorry and haggard appearance. Ye Sanshui, as the original leader of the expedition, hurried toward the sect to provide a detailed ounting of events.


    "Let''s go!" Zhao Yuanjiao marched off.


    Those in his retinue nced awkwardly around as they saw him leave.


    They bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Senior Brother, we''ll be heading off now. Please let us know if we can be of service."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded as they apologetically left, rushing off to catch up to Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Ye Dafu frowned. "Zhao Yuanjiao''s really bad with people, isn''t he? Those not in the know might even think that you''ve bullied him, Senior Brother Xiao! You saved him, but he''s still acting like that toward you¡ªis he crazy?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mind. He looked at his familiar surroundings with a contented expression on his face.


    "As for the rest of you, stop hanging around. If you have amputated or broken limbs, you''ll have to use a ''limb regeneration pill'' to restore those limbs. The longer you wait, the more difficult and arduous the recovery. Buy them now!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The disciples nodded. "Thank you, Senior Brother."


    The disciples rushed off toward an apothecary not too far away from the harbor. The other Taiqing disciples, seeing the scene, murmured and pointed at Xiao Nanfeng curiously. Only when others exined what had happened within the realm did they turn back to Xiao Nanfeng with shock on their faces.


    "Boss, you''re finally back!"


    "Boss, thank goodness you''re alright. I heard that almost half the expedition died!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys rushed over upon hearing the news that the expedition had returned.


    "I''m talented beyondpare. How could anything have happened to me? I even broke through to Ascension," Ye Dafu bragged.


    "You really are amazing, Boss!" Ye Dafu''sckeys murmured in admiration.


    "Of course! I killed countless spirits within the hidden realm, including whole hives of wasps, and saved manymon folk by doing so," Ye Dafu added, nodding sagely.


    The disciples all around gave Ye Dafu a strange look as they heard his boasts.


    "Boss, why are you with that brat, Nanfeng?"


    "Boss, did you teach that brat a lesson?"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys leaned in to hear the juicy gossip.


    Ye Dafu''s face stiffened. "What nonsense are you talking about? Call him Senior Brother Nanfeng. If any of you dare to disrespect him in the future, I''ll give you a beating!"


    "Boss, did he hypnotize you?"


    "Boss, didn''t you im that you''d discriminate against him throughout the journey?"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys didn''t understand his sudden change of heart.


    Ye Dafu: ...


    He had no choice but to drag them to an isted corner and exin things clearly to them. Theckeys returned with their eyes beaten ck and blue.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, I''ve exined everything to them. In the future, they''ll treat you the same way they treat me. I swear they won''t offend you again!" Ye Dafu proimed.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, we apologize for our past misdeeds. Please forgive us," Ye Dafu''sckeys wheezed.


    Ye Dafu''sckeys didn''t get upset that Ye Dafu had gotten physical with them; rather, they believed that he was being serious, and indeed did improve their attitude toward Xiao Nanfeng tremendously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ye Dafu''sckeys strangely. Were they all masochists like he was? Did they all speak with their fists? Indeed, there was a reason they had be hisckeys...


    "Half a year ago, I had a group of peoplee to live on a nearby ind. Do you know where they''re located?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the crowd.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, is their leader a man named Zheng Qian?" one of Ye Dafu''sckeys asked.


    "That''s right." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    Zheng Qian was one of the people he had rescued from the crow troops, a past schr of the Taiwu Empire with tremendous talent at administration and umting wealth. Xiao Nanfeng needed talented people in his employ, and had offered Zheng Qian a ten-year position.


    "I just saw him. He''s at the apothecary up in front. He''s made quite a few visits in order to buy a pill or another, but he hasn''t been able to do so," oneckey reported.


    "Is the pill particrly rare?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I''m not sure, but it looked as though someone was deliberately making life hard for him."


    "Lead the way," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys nodded, bringing Xiao Nanfeng to the nearby apothecary. There was a group of disciples gathered outside the apothecary, the wounded and disabled ones that Xiao Nanfeng had sent to buy pills. They were arguing with the shopkeep in charge.


    "Why won''t you sell us any limb regeneration pills? We''ll pay!"


    "They''re not Taiqing disciples, just a group of foreigners! Why would you prioritize selling the pills to them?"


    "I demand a limb regeneration pill!"


    The Taiqing disciples were making a big fuss.


    "Seniors, it''s not that I''m unwilling to sell them to you. These limb regeneration pills are particrly difficult to concoct, and I only have twenty in stock¡ªall of which have been reserved. Won''t you wait for the next batch?"


    "The next batch? That''s going to take more than a month! What if our injuries worsen and our limbs won''t heal? Will you take responsibility?!"


    Even so, the shopkeep was adamant and refused to budge.


    Zheng Qian stood outside the apothecary, dressed in gray. He frowned at the spectacle outside, his face dark. He watched on coldly.


    "Mr. Zheng, as you can see, these limb regeneration pills are in short supply. You won''t be able to purchase any in this batch, and likely not the next batch as well." A man in purple was smiling at Zheng Qian.


    Zheng Qian looked at the man without saying a word.


    "I advise you to think things through carefully. There are some people you simply can''t afford to offend. If you''re willing to listen obediently, I''d happily hand you the limb regeneration pills you want¡ªbut if you continue to resist, then I suppose your friends and rtives will have to remain disabled for life. Will they know it''s all your fault, I wonder?" The purple-robed man smiled.


    Zheng Qian''s expression darkened, but he spoke not a word. He turned away from the man and refused to interact with him.


    Seeing Zheng Qian''s indifferent response, the man frowned as well.


    "Let me give you one final warning, then. If you remain as stubborn as you have been, it won''t just be your friends and rtives who have missing limbs¡ªyou will too. I wonder if you''ll be so prideful when your four limbs have been cut off?"


    Zheng Qian red at the purple-robed man. "Did your lot smash their limbs?"


    "And here I thought you didn''t know how to speak! So what if it was us? If you''d like to be disabled too, I can grant your wish." The purple-robed man gave him a malicious smile.


    Zheng Qian was outraged, but he understood that the man was trying to provoke him to get him to strike first. Once he did that, he would lose all hope of establishing himself on Taiqing Ind, and his opponent would be able to use it as an excuse to take him down.


    Zheng Qian took a deep breath, reined in his anger, and marched off.


    "Why are you leaving? Don''t you want some limb regeneration pills? Let''s talk terms, then!" The man in purple reached out to grab Zheng Qian.


    Zheng Qian frowned. He felt as though he wouldn''t be able to make it back to the ind today.


    Just then, a figure appeared by Zheng Qian''s side and punched at the man''s palm.


    "What?" the man cried out. He was flung backwards and sent sprawling against the ground.


    "Who did this?!" a group of cultivators in purple cried out in outrage, drawing their weapons.


    Xiao Nanfeng had appeared by Zheng Qian''s side.


    "Benefactor?" Zheng Qian''s eyes lit up.

 Chapter 152: The Elders Token

    <h4>Chapter 152: The Elder''s Token</h4>


    "Insolence!" The cultivators in purple surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, their weapons drawn.


    Zheng Qian frowned. "These cultivators arewless. Benefactor, you have to leave at once!"


    "Matters here aren''t settled yet. Why should I leave?" Xiao Nanfeng rejected Zheng Qian''s suggestion.


    "What are all of you doing? Make a move if you dare!" Ye Dafu jumped out from the crowd and pointed at the cultivators in purple.


    "Who dares provoke our senior brother?!" The disabled Taiqing disciples, hearing themotion, likewise stepped forward in defense of Xiao Nanfeng.


    The cultivators in purple, now with their numerical advantage stripped from them, couldn''t help but frown.


    "What strength! Who dared tounch a sneak attack on me?" The purple-d leader slowly got up from the ground.


    "What division of the Taiqing sect do you belong to?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "He''s not a disciple, but rather a guard of the most senior disciple of the Mortal division," Ye Dafu quickly replied.


    "Oh?"


    "The most senior disciple of the Mortal division is the third prince of the Tianshu Empire, and he has a group of guards protecting him at all times. That''s them," Ye Dafu exined.


    "So these aren''t Taiqing disciples to begin with? Why doesn''t anyone stop these foreign troublemakers, then?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "We work for His Highness, and our reputation is his reputation. You''ll suffer for daring tounch a sneak attack on me!" the purple-d leader cried out, leaping toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Insolence!" The disciples attempted to block the attack, but Xiao Nanfeng was even faster than they were. He shed right by his opponent''s side and sent him flying even faster than before. He smashed into a huge tree.


    "This is the Taiqing Immortal Sect, not the Tianshu Pce. How dare a foreignery a hand on a Taiqing disciple? Strike again and I''ll have you leave your head behind, too," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    The man coughed out blood as he stood up. Clearly, Xiao Nanfeng had held back the first time. The second time around, after confirming that the man wasn''t a Taiqing disciple, Xiao Nanfeng had been much more decisive.


    "Sir!" The purple-d cultivators immediately rushed over to him.


    Some brandished their weapons at Xiao Nanfeng, not sure what to make of him.


    "Swing it at me and see what happens." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with killing intent.


    "Sheathe your des!" the purple-d leader called out, his face dark. He continued to cough out blood. He knew that his opponent wouldn''t go lightly on his subordinates; if they really did attack him, they might well be in.


    The subordinates retreated behind their leader.


    "Zheng Qian called you his benefactor, so you must be Nanfeng. Just you wait. The third prince will hear of this," the purple-d cultivator warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng scoffed, then turned to Zheng Qian. "Zheng Qian, I heard that some people were hindering you from buying pills. Is it them?"


    "Benefactor, a few days ago, some of my friends and rtives were assaulted and had their arms broken. I''ve been attempting to purchase some limb regeneration pills, but they''ve bought out the entire stock each time! In my conversation with their leader, he revealed that he might have been the culprit. They''re intending to force me to work for the man they serve," Zheng Qian asserted.


    "Oh?" Were these cultivators here to steal his talent?


    The purple-d leader called out coldly, "Mr. Zheng, I advise you to be more careful with your speech. What does this assault have to do with us? I spoke in anger; do not take my words seriously."


    Zheng Qian frowned, but refused to quibble with the man.


    Xiao Nanfeng btedly discovered that the purple-d leader was far less impulsive than he appeared to be. It was very possible that the man had been trying to test his strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the purple-d cultivators and turned to Zheng Qian. "How many limb regeneration pills do you need?"


    "Eight, but they''ve reserved them all, and I¡ª"


    "Where is the shopkeep?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, I am the shopkeeper responsible." An elderly man immediately walked forward.


    "Are there limb regeneration pills avable?"


    "A batch of twenty has just been produced, but they''ve been reserved by a senior disciple from the Mortal division."


    "Then they are avable. Bring them over."


    The elderly man hesitated, wondering if he had stated things clearly enough.


    "Senior Brother, this batch of limb regeneration pills has been reserved," the elderly man emphasized.


    "Do you not understand me? Bring them over," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    The elderly man hesitated, looking at the leader of the cultivators in purple.


    "We reserved the limb regeneration pills first. If he dares hand them over to you, that would be a vition of sect custom and disrespect to the disciples of the Mortal division," the purple-d leader began.


    "The only reason you''re buying these limb regeneration pills is to target Zheng Qian. How dare you be so arrogant about hoarding precious sect resources? Do you not see my injured juniors, who desperately need such pills immediately?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "That''s right! My arm has already been broken for two months, and it might never recover unless I ingest such a pill immediately. Are you trying to cripple me for life?"


    "So what if you represent a senior disciple of the Mortal division? Is he going to take responsibility if I end up crippled for life?"


    "I''ll fight you for these pills if I must!"


    The gathered Taiqing disciples clearly had no intention of giving up on this batch of limb regeneration pills, but the old shopkeeper of the apothecary was firm. "I apologize, but rules are rules. This batch of pills has been reserved by a senior disciple of the Mortal division, and I can''t do anything about it."


    He was well aware that the ordinary Taiqing disciples were far less influential than the third prince of the Tianshu Empire; he could hardly afford to offend thetter, even at cost to the former.


    "If you can''t do anything about it, then you had better leave your position. There are plenty of nominal disciples around who can serve as shopkeep," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I apologize, but my position is of sufficient importance that only sect elders can remove me from it. Unless you have an elder present or an elder''s token, then¡ª"


    The old man was about to continue talking when he suddenly stopped short. An elder''s token had appeared in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    "This is¡ª!" the old man eximed.


    "Using the Lady Arclight''s token on you is a waste, but I do need to prioritize my junior disciples'' treatment. You''ve been removed from your position," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    "No! You can''t use an elder''s token so casually. You must have stolen this!" the old man cried out.


    "We can all bear witness that the Lady Arclight conferred this token on Senior Brother Nanfeng herself," the disabled disciples called out.


    "What? How could this be?" Flustered, the old man turned to the cultivators in purple. He had been assisting them in making life difficult for Zheng Qian, and they had a tacit ord. Now that he was in trouble, he eyed the purple-d leader as though asking for help.


    "Don''t bother looking toward them. They''re a bunch of foreigners, who have no say in internal matters of the sect," Xiao Nanfeng continued coolly.


    The elderly man stiffened and looked around in mounting panic.


    The purple-d leader narrowed his eyes, pretending not to see the old shopkeeper''s expectant gaze. He didn''t dare to make a move, not when an elder''s token was in y. If he dared nder the elder''s token, that could be viewed as willful vition of the sect rules. Even the third prince wouldn''t be able to save him then.


    "Juniors, go pay for your limb regeneration pills. Leave eight behind for my friend, please." Xiao Nanfeng looked around at the group of disciples that had gathered around him.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother!" The disciples surged forward.


    Zheng Qian sighed in relief. His friends and rtives were safe.


    "Nanfeng? Just you wait!" The leader of the purple-d cultivators sniffed haughtily as he left. He was unable to prevent Xiao Nanfeng''s actions now; all he could do was leave. The other cultivators in purple followed suit.


    "A bunch of phonies! Feh!" Ye Dafu called out.


    "Ye Dafu, help me out. Keep an eye on them," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    Ye Dafu immediately nodded, arranging for hisckeys to take turns spying on the purple-d cultivators.

 Chapter 153: Isle of Xiao

    <h4>Chapter 153: Isle of Xiao</h4>


    Zheng Qian and the various disabled disciples obtained the limb regeneration pills they desperately needed, and they were all tremendously thankful to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Go treat your injuries, juniors," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" The junior disciples immediately departed.


    "Zheng Qian, I''m about to pay a visit to my master. Please apany me."


    "Elder Ku isn''t at the Taiqing sect presently, or the cultivators in purple wouldn''t have dared to target me," Zheng Qian replied, smiling bitterly.


    "Oh?"


    "A month ago, Elder Ku told me that he had reached a threshold with his cultivation and would have to leave Taiqing Ind for the time being as he searched for a ce to break through."


    "He''s right. Elder Ku did leave Taiqing Ind a month ago," one of Ye Dafu''sckeys confirmed.


    "In that case, Zheng Qian, you''ve already met my master?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "That''s right. Elder Ku even served as guarantor in your name to allow me to borrow two million taels of gold from the Taiqing sect."


    "Two million taels of gold in my name?" Xiao Nanfeng was astounded.


    "I heard that Zheng Qian''s been using this money to buy ves and children from all around thisst half year. The Isle of Xiao has almost been filled to its brim!" one of Ye Dafu''sckeys added.


    "Trading in ves and children?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Zheng Qian nced at Ye Dafu and the others, hesitant to speak with them around.


    "Ye Dafu, please keep an eye on the cultivators in purple with your group. Zheng Qian and I will be around the harbor, soe find us againter," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Got it!" Ye Dafu nodded and left with hisckeys in tow.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian walked toward a remote location by the harbor.


    "I suppose I should address you as Young Master Xiao, Benefactor," Zheng Qian began.


    "You know my identity now, too?" Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised.


    Zheng Qian nodded. "Yes, Benefactor. When I arrived at Taiqing Ind, Elder Ku summoned me and exined who you were. He arranged for us to live on an ind, the Isle of Xiao, that originally belonged to your father, the one over there."


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward where Zheng Qian was pointing. There was a ratherrge ind far away, lush and vibrant with life.


    "When Elder Ku heard about my circumstances, he guessed at why you had hired me. He said that there was no longer anyone trustworthy within Marquis Xiao''snds, and had me borrow two million taels of gold from the sect so that I could assist you in developing a stable foundation of wealth and power," Zheng Qian exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Master really did do me a tremendous favor."


    "Over thest six months, I''ve been recruiting forces and equipment on your behalf. Marquis Wu''snds are poorly kept, and there are countless orphans roaming the territory who would starve to death otherwise. I decided to take them in and inculcate them from childhood as a rtively cheap andpletely loyal workforce. In addition, I wrote to several officials I knew well who were displeased with Marquis Wu''s martial governance and refused to associate with the corrupt, greedy, and self-serving officials that filled his court. They were willing to join me on my behalf, but the constant flow of people seems to have made it appear as though I were trading in ves," Zheng Qian exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded thoughtfully. "I really must thank you for your effort, Mr. Zheng."


    What Xiao Nanfengcked most now was a strong foundation. Zheng Qian had done an astonishing amount to help him shore that weakness up; he had made up for Xiao Nanfeng''s effort to save him multiple times over.


    "Of course, Benefactor. I know that you will treat these people with kindness and generosity, far more than they would receive in Marquis Wu''s domain," Zheng Qian replied respectfully.


    "Do you have enough money?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Zheng Qian smiled wryly. "I''ve almost used up the two million taels of gold, but I''ll do my best to find a sustainable source of revenue quickly. It would be best to pay back the loan as quickly as possible¡ªthe third prince of Tianshu has already started to pressure me using the loan as an excuse."


    "Don''t worry. I''ve brought back the three million taels of gold from Marquis Wu''s treasury." Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    "You have?" Zheng Qian''s eyes lit up.


    Zheng Qian had been pursuedrgely because of this tremendous sum of gold. He hadn''t expected that anyone would be able to retrieve it from Marquis Wu''s manor, but Xiao Nanfeng had done so!


    "Don''t worry about gold. I can get more than three million taels if that''s not sufficient," Xiao Nanfeng continued confidently.


    The storage bangle he had obtained from killing Marquis Wu had quite a few treasures. None caught his eye, but they could fetch a rather significant sum if sold. Furthermore, he had sole ess to the divine undying realm, and selling the resources within would alleviate any problems with gold at least in the short term.


    "In that case, I can rx." Zheng Qian sighed in relief.


    "Tell me more about what the third prince of Tianshu is doing."


    "Na Lanfeng, the third prince of Tianshu and the most senior of the disciples of the Mortal division, tried to recruit me after hearing of my sess with managing the Isle of Xiao. When I refused, he had his men threaten me and thwart my ns. While Elder Ku was on the ind, he didn''t dare do much with brute force, but it''s been getting worse since Elder Ku departed. Benefactor, he''s a very difficult foe to deal with," Zheng Qian remarked in worry.


    "Nn Feng? Don''t worry about him. Focus on your responsibilities."


    "Understood!"


    "Since my master isn''t here at present, there''s no reason for me to stay. Apany me to buy a few things. Then, we''ll head back to the Isle of Xiao together," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Of course!" Zheng Qian nodded.


    After half a year, Zheng Qian felt that Xiao Nanfeng had changed tremendously. His strength, presence of mind, and aura had all improved. Zheng Qian found him far harder to predict and analyze than before.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian headed to the apothecary, a weapons store, a relic store, and a misceneous goods store in a big loop around the ind.


    The news that the apothecary''s shopkeep had been summarily deposed by Xiao Nanfeng quickly spread throughout the harbor. By the time Xiao Nanfeng reached the shops on his itinerary, the shopkeepers treated him with the utmost politeness. The reason he brought Zheng Qian along with him was so that they would recognize him and associate him with Xiao Nanfeng, so no one would dare to make things difficult for Zheng Qian in the future.


    Xiao Nanfeng bought quite a few items from each store. Zheng Qian noted the shopkeepers'' sudden deference.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys returned shortly after.


    "Senior Brother, we''ve finished our investigation! Those cultivators in purple headed deep into the mountains to meet someone unknown to us, but their ship is currently in the harbor. I overheard that they would be heading to the Isle of Nn," Ye Dafu whispered.


    "The Isle of Nn?"


    "The Isle of Nn is the ind that the sect ceded to Emperor Tianshu. Emperor Tianshu doesn''t live there, of course, and Nn Feng is its current custodian. The cultivators in purple will likely report to him this evening."


    Following Ye Dafu''s finger, Xiao Nanfeng could see an ind in the distance, one not too far away from his Isle of Xiao.


    "Senior Brother, Nn Feng is known to be very difficult to deal with. Please be careful!" Ye Dafu warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned for a moment before looking toward Ye Dafu. "Ye Dafu, you''ve always said that I could ask you for help with anything. I do have a request¡ªdo you dare ept it?"


    "Anything youmand, Senior Brother!" Ye Dafu pledged.


    "I''d like you to kidnap those cultivators in purple and bring them over to me," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    "What? Kidnap Nn Feng''s guards?!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "That''s right. I had a conflict with them today, so it''d be suspicious if I were to do it myself. I need to make sure that I have an alibi while it takes ce, so you''ll have to do it on my behalf. Will you do so despite the risks? If not, I''ll think of something else."


    "Naturally, Senior Brother! I brought back a batch of sea serpents as pets for fun, and it looks like they''lle in handy. Senior Brother, I''ll make my move tonight after they sail off."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ye Dafu in surprise, not expecting such an immediate response.


    "I''ll count on you, then." Xiao Nanfeng nodded solemnly.


    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother!" Ye Dafu patted his chest.

 Chapter 154: The Xiao Academy

    <h4>Chapter 154: The Xiao Academy</h4>


    As night fell, a small ship sailed away from Taiqing Ind and toward the sea, vanishing from sight. The cultivators in purple were seated in the cabin, discussing matters over alcohol.


    "Sir, you said that the third prince found that Nanfeng''s not someone to be trifled with?" One cultivator in purple turned to their leader.


    "That''s right, but there''s no need to worry. Regardless of just who he is, the third prince surely trumps him in status. We''ll report back to the third prince, then head back to Taiqing Ind in force and kidnap him secretly. He''ll have no choice but to do as we demand then," their leader stated, smiling coldly.


    "How will we kidnap him if he remains on Taiqing Ind?"


    "He''ll head to the Isle of Xiao sooner orter, and we can make our move then. As for Zheng Qian, he doesn''t know what''s good for him. It''s a tremendous honor for the third prince to have taken an interest in him, but for him to snub the third prince? Does he really think that the third prince needs him?" the leader criticized.


    "Zheng Qian really is stubborn, isn''t he?" the other guards nodded.


    "How long can he remain stubborn for? We''ve already broken his friends and rtives'' arms. Next time, we''ll kill them and see if he obeys us then. He has his eyes on a woman, doesn''t he?" The leader of the guards cackled.


    "He does. A spy reports that she''s a former colleague he''s very close to."


    "Find an opportunity to head to the Isle of Xiao and kidnap that woman. I want Zheng Qian toe begging at me."


    "Sir, you''re intending to im that woman before he can, then?"


    "Haha!"


    As the guardsughed, their leader suddenly jolted upright.


    "What bit me?" He looked at his leg and pulled a sea serpent off it.


    "Snakes! They''re all over!" the guards cried out.


    Somehow, the cabin floor was now full of sea serpents that were furiously attacking them.


    "Who''s sailing the ship? How could they not have noticed these snakes?!"


    "They''re venomous! Kill them!"


    Shouts came from the cabin.


    Outside the cabin, Ye Dafu and hisckeys were dripping seawater as they stood above deck. The cultivators in purple that had been responsible for manning the ship had all been knocked unconscious.


    "Boss, are we going to get in trouble forunching a sneak attack on the third prince''s guards? We''re deliberately provoking him, after all..." oneckey asked worriedly.


    "I told you, you didn''t have toe with me if you were scared. It''s toote to get cold feet now!" Ye Dafu red at theckey who had spoken.


    "Of course we have toe help you, Boss! But the leader of these guards is an Ascension-realm cultivator, and he looks to be stronger than you. Can we take him down?"


    "I told the sea serpents that if they''re able to poison all the cultivators in the cabin, I''ll free them. They''ll surely do their best to poison everyone. We need to take down these guards at any cost. It''s the first big task that Senior Brother Xiao has left to us, and we can''t make a mistake," Ye Dafu replied.


    Just then, the door to the cabin suddenly opened up as the leader of the guards rushed out. His face was purple and ck; he had clearly been poisoned.


    "You?!" The leader of the guards drew his de and swung it at them.


    Ye Dafu retaliated with his own de. The two cultivators shed against each other and took a step back.


    "Don''t let the rest of the guards run away. Stop them!" Ye Dafumanded.


    "Yes, Boss!" Ye Dafu''sckeys rushed toward the guards, all of whom had been poisoned and were far weaker than normal.


    "You fools! Ye Dafu, for daring to make the third prince your enemy, not even your father will be able to save you!" the leader of the guards roared, heading straight for him.


    The two cultivators began to fight furiously. Ye Dafu had only just reached Ascension. Even though the leader of the guards had been poisoned, Ye Dafu was still no match for him, and he quickly suffered wounds as they shed.


    "I still haven''t be an Immortal, and I still haven''t found a wife! I can''t die yet!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Getting cold feet now? It''s toote. Die!" the leader of the guards roared.


    Ye Dafu''s de shattered on impact as he let out a chilling cry.


    "Boss!" Hisckeys all turned to him.


    Just then, the leader of the guards was sent flying. He spat out blood in mid-air. All his clothes had been destroyed by the force of the punch; he fell back onto deck with his body curled up, grievously wounded and incapable of moving.


    Everyone looked toward the man who had saved Ye Dafu in shock.


    "Senior Brother? Didn''t you want an alibi to free yourself from scrutiny? What are you doing here?" Ye Dafu gaped.


    Xiao Nanfeng had just rescued Ye Dafu with a punch. He was still dripping wet, as though he had just swum over.


    "Zheng Qian''s covering for me, so I don''t have to show myself anymore."


    Xiao Nanfeng helped Ye Dafu up, then rushed at several of the guards who tried to flee by jumping into the sea. He took them all down instantly.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, you''re really amazing!" Ye Dafu''sckeys cried out.


    "Thank you for your help, everyone," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Nanfeng? Why did you attack us?!" the leader of the guards asked weakly, still coughing out blood.


    "I''m here to investigate who it was that attacked the friends and rtives of mypanion, Zheng Qian. Come with me," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "You dare make an enemy of the third prince?" the leader of the guards shouted.


    "This is unrted to the third prince. I''m simply investigating a crime that happened to mypanion," Xiao Nanfeng reiterated.


    He didn''t care if the third prince had ordered it; he wasn''t about to let any attacks to his friends and family go unpunished. Going after the guards in the day, however, would have drawn too much attention.


    "Who can sail a ship? Steer it toward the Isle of Xiao," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "I know how! I''ll do it!" Many of Ye Dafu''sckeys volunteered at once.


    At the same time, by the Taiqing harbor, Zheng Qian had arranged for a small ship to bring ''Xiao Nanfeng'' toward the Isle of Xiao.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian met up on the Isle of Xiao in the middle of the night.


    They had trussed up the purple-d cultivators with rope, and Zheng Qian had had them brought in for interrogation. Because it was dark, Xiao Nanfeng''s original n of inspecting the ind had to be deferred; he and Ye Dafu''sckeys were brought to guest civilian houses to rest overnight.


    The next morning, Xiao Nanfeng was woken up by the sound of children reading out loud.


    Zheng Qian led Xiao Nanfeng to what seemed like a hundred greenhouses, each of which was filled with children. There had to be almost ten thousand in all, reading a wide variety of books.


    "This many children?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    Zheng Qian smiled wryly. "Please don''t mind, Benefactor. There are far too many orphans in Marquis Wu''s territory, and I had them brought over here by ship. It''ll let them survive without any cost but the shipping fees and the cost of their food, which the Isle of Xiao can provide with its fertilend. They''re more than self-sufficient after just half a year."


    "I don''t mind that you''ve rescued them all, but I''m concerned you may not be able to take care of them."


    "We can! There are plenty of refugees that have chosen to leave Marquis Wu''s territory, and they''re primarily responsible for taking care of these orphans. We have a whole suite of tutors, many of whom were past schrs, and a group of officials who can''t bear to see the rampant corruption and grievances dealt to those in their homnd. With their careful attention, I''m sure we''ll be able to give these children aprehensive education."


    As Zheng Qian and Xiao Nanfeng walked by, the tutors stepped out of the greenhouses, bowing gratefully to Zheng Qian.


    "Everyone, this is the benefactor who''s freed you all from Marquis Wu''s oppressive regime. I was only able to help get you out on his orders, at great cost! He''s the one you have to thank," Zheng Qian introduced.


    "Thank you, Benefactor!" The tutors and officials bowed solemnly toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you for your hard work." Xiao Nanfeng returned their bow.


    "It''s not a problem at all," the tutors replied.


    "Everyone, stop your reading. Get up and thank your benefactor!" one of the tutors announced.


    The children who had been obediently reading raised their heads and nced curiously at Xiao Nanfeng. They had suffered lives on the streets, and were well aware of just how precious their current environment was. They worked and studied hard in hopes that these privileges would remain theirs for good.


    "We greet our benefactor!" the older children chirped, bowing.


    The younger children emted their actions. "We greet our benefactor!"


    "Alright, that''s enough bowing. I am Xiao Nanfeng. I hope you''ll work hard on your studies and education. I would be grateful if you could lend me your support in the future; if not, it would still serve you well to learn a trade that you might ply," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Thank your benefactor!" the tutors announced.


    They were all grateful for the generosity that Xiao Nanfeng had shown¡ªa generosity that needed no repayment, at that.


    "Tutors, schrs, I leave these children in your care."


    "Don''t worry, Benefactor. We''ll do our best to teach them what we can!"


    "Benefactor, it''s a bit shabby at present, but we''ve established the skeleton of an academy here. Why not erect one in your name¡ªwith you as the head of the academy, and all these children as your students?" Zheng Qian suggested.


    "Very well. Let it be known as the Xiao Academy. The students here will learn of politics and governance, cultivation and military tactics, and even management and economics. Mr. Zheng, I''ll leave you in charge of finding suitable professionals and administering examinations," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "I will give it my all." Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    "Let''s see what else is on the ind, then."


    Zheng Qian nodded, leading the way toward the other facilities on the ind.


    Zheng Qian was truly a genius at management. He had brought over 30,000 civilians to the ind in all, but everything was still running spick and span. In addition to the Xiao Academy, there were cksmiths responsible for forging all manner of equipment, farmers for crops and medicinal herbs, physicians that could treat all ails that befell the inders, chefs, construction workers, and even patrolmen. It was truly a society in microcosm.


    Under Zheng Qian''s guidance, Xiao Nanfeng gained a measure of the ind as a whole. Many were refugees from the Taiwu Empire, who were very satisfied with their new standard of living and who felt immense gratitude toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng, for his part, thanked them and encouraged their continued diligence.


    "Benefactor, we''re continuously improving our standards of living. The inders gathered here will be able to help you quickly take over Marquis Xiao''s territory, but the development of the ind has been and remains a significant expenditure for the moment, despite my best efforts to the contrary."


    "Any problem that can be resolved with gold is minor. Mr. Zheng, you''re truly phenomenal. I''m blessed to have you here," Xiao Nanfeng praised.


    Zheng Qian demurred, "If not for you, Benefactor, I would already be gone from this world. I have promised you a decade of assistance, and I intend on giving it my all."


    "There''s no need for such courtesy, Mr. Zheng. I note merely the truth. Regardless of where you head in ten years, I guarantee that you will leave my employ as at least an Ascension-realm cultivator, with the benefit of long life that apanies such achievement," Xiao Nanfeng promised solemnly.


    Zheng Qian was somewhat disbelieving. Guaranteed Ascension-realm cultivation? Wasn''t that a bit too excessive?


    "You said that there were even grounds for drilling troops and patrolmen? Let''s have a look," Xiao Nanfeng suggested, smiling.


    "Of course!" Zheng Qian nodded.

 Chapter 155: Nalan Feng

    <h4>Chapter 155: Nn Feng</h4>


    "Have you interrogated those cultivators in purple from yesterday?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I did. They were the ones who attacked my friends and rtives. Even though I set up a patrol, I still couldn''t stop them from sneaking onto the ind," Zheng Qian replied, sighing.


    "There''s too big of a difference in cultivation between your lot and those guards, and there aren''t any wards on the ind. It''s only natural that you wouldn''t be able to stop them."


    "Not only that, some of the refugees on the ind have turned against us and be their spies. If not for the fact that we ferreted them out during this interrogation, the oue could have been disastrous. This is my failing," Zheng Qian reported.


    "It''s enough that you were able to identify this information. Don''t worry and take it slow. It''s already amazing that you were able to do so much in just half a year," Xiao Nanfeng consoled.


    Zheng Qian could sense the magnanimity in Xiao Nanfeng''s tone. Touched, he nodded gratefully.


    Just then, the two of them arrived at arge field. They could hear shoutsing from the distance.


    "Kill!" thousands of fighters shouted as one, so loud it seemed to shake their very souls. Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian perked up subconsciously.


    "Do you feel it? By howling in conjunction like this, you''ll be able to raise your morale while lowering the enemy''s. Once you advance your spiritual cultivation, you''ll be able to scare any opponent to no end just by shouting. They''d be dead meat then!" Ye Dafu exined proudly.


    Around three thousand fighters were gathered around Ye Dafu, heeding his every word. They were all excited after having learned to howl in synchrony.


    "That''s not enough! If you want to fight, you''ll have to get into formation. Come, I''ll teach you about my n''s formations!"


    "No, no, his n''s formations are useless! Learn from my n''s."


    Ye Dafu''sckeys were eagerly teaching the gathered fighters.


    As Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian approached, the rambunctious fighters quieted down and rushed toward them.


    "Mr. Zheng, where did you find all these talented instructors? This is the first time I''m learning about these military formations, military tactics, and military howls! They''re amazing!" one fighter shouted.


    As they were heaped with praise by the enthusiastic fighters, Ye Dafu and hisckeys quickly grew vain. They reveled in the praise.


    "Everyone, this is your benefactor," Zheng Qian introduced.


    The fighters immediately bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "We greet our benefactor!"


    These fighters were all refugees who had learned of their benefactor''srgesse in saving them all from Marquis Wu''s territory. Everyone was immensely grateful to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Keep working hard. The ind''s safety will depend on all your hard work," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Yes, Benefactor!" the fighters replied.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys walked over.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng, these fighters would all make amazing soldiers!"


    "They must have great insight to have identified how talented we are."


    "They have amazing intuition! The veterans in my estate are all blind¡ªthey don''t understand how skilled I am at military leadership."


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys were directly praising the fighters but, more importantly, obliquely praising themselves. They were all from martial households and had been taught the art of war, but their knowledge was superficial and patchy considering theirck of actual experience. As a result, they could hardlypare to the more established members of their households, but what they knew waspletely foreign to the fighters, who were in awe of their knowledge. Their vanity was assuaged.


    "If you think well of these fighters, would you be willing to help me train them?" Xiao Nanfeng offered, smiling.


    Zheng Qian had intimated to him just how little training these fighters had, and it would surely be a mess if they were to train themselves. Although Ye Dafu and hisckeys were hardly skilled, they surely knew more than the fighters themselves did.


    "Train them? Us?" Ye Dafu''sckeys were astounded.


    "That''s right. Their original generals will be your deputies, and you''ll be in charge of their training. Help me create a powerful fighting force. You don''t have to oversee their day-to-day training; just assign that to your deputies. Check up on them from time to time and examine their progress. Of course, I won''t ask that you do it for free. I''ll provide ample remuneration," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Do you really think we can?" Ye Dafu''s tone was rather strange.


    He clearly knew that he wasn''t as experienced as he professed, and he was worried that failure would make him aughingstock.


    "I''m sure that there are only a few people with such insight into the art of war within the Taiqing sect. Don''t be modest¡ªI trust that you''ll do a better job than anyone else." Xiao Nanfeng praised Ye Dafu and hisckeys, ignoring his throbbing conscience.


    He had no choice; they were the only cultivators from military households that he knew. He wouldn''t have been able to find better candidates.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys nced at each other. They thought highly of themselves, and Xiao Nanfeng''s praise quickly went to their head.


    "Senior Brother Xiao''s correct. In the Taiqing sect, whose understanding of military tactics could surpass us?"


    "That''s right, that''s right! No one could hardly im to be superior to us. Even our elders haven''t uncovered our talent. Why don''t we demonstrate it to them by training a strong force?"


    "Boss, we can''t waste our top-tier talent! It''s a gift from the gods that we can''t squander!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys pleaded with him to support them.


    Zheng Qian, beside them, widened his eyes. Didn''t they realize that Xiao Nanfeng was just praising them to be polite? Were they so conceited as to take him at his word?


    "Alright, we''ll do it. These fighters should consider themselves lucky that we''re willing to give them pointers. We''d only do so for you, Senior Brother Xiao¡ªno one else would be worth our time!" In the end, Ye Dafu epted the offer.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at him strangely. Had they really taken his praise seriously? They weren''t going to make a mess of his fighters, were they?


    "I''ll thank you in advance, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding his head with some regret.


    "Leave it to us, Senior Brother Xiao!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys promised.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the gathered fighters. "Starting tomorrow, I''ll be passing on some cultivation techniques at the Xiao Academy. I expect to see all you fighters there."


    "Yessir!" The fighters'' eyes lit up.


    "Senior Brother, we can''t pass on sect techniques at will!" Ye Dafu whispered worriedly. "It''s a mandate of the Taiqing sect."


    "Don''t worry. The techniques I''ll be passing them aren''t from the sect, but rather the hidden realm."


    His offer was meant to confer the fighters with his favor. It would be a waste of talent for Zheng Qian to establish a strong foundation, only to have the schrs and fighters eventually leave his employ. He wanted all these fighters for himself.


    A haze of smoke hung over the Isle of Nn.


    A cultivator in purple sat by the edge of arge za, ying the guqin at a fric pace and summoning countless cranesposed of spiritual power. The cranes were particrly fierce. They flew toward a youth in yellow, seated at the middle of the za. A red line marked the youth''s forehead as his aura manifested around him. With will alone, he resisted the cranes'' incursion.


    The guqin grew more and more frenzied. The cranes merged together into a huge white crane that shot at the youth''s forehead. A gust of energy erupted around the youth''s body as he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face flushing red.


    "Your Highness, are you alright?" The guqin yer rushed forward in worry.


    The youth forcibly mastered his body and wiped at the blood seeping from his lips. His face contorted in a frown. "Mr. Qin, I''m still not quite there yet."


    The cultivator in purple, Mr. Qin, gave his liege a wry smile. "Your Highness, it''s not so easy to break through to Spiritsong. It''s best to take it slowly."


    "Zhao Yuanjiao was able to advance, so I have to do the same. Or must I bow to him if I see him? Take a break. We''ll continue momentarily," the third prince Nn Fengmanded.


    "Just ignore him. He has plenty of enemies, doesn''t he? He almost perished at sea. Were your men responsible, Your Highness?" Mr. Qin asked curiously.


    The third prince narrowed his eyes. "There are plenty of people who want him dead. If not for Elder Ku''s protection, he would hardly have lived until now. There''s no need for me to strike."


    "I heard that he was only able toe back safe and sound because Nanfeng rescued him?"


    "Nanfeng? That''s Xiao Hongye''s son, Xiao Nanfeng. So he actually managed to escape from the Xiaonds and apprenticed under Elder Ku? How lucky," Nn Fengmented.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? I heard he even ughtered a Spiritsong-realm sea serpent," Mr. Qin added.


    "Don''t get fooled. He obtained a treasure from a hidden realm known as the Immortal''s Destruction, which he used to kill the golden serpent. He''s only been in the Taiqing sect for a year, and his foundations are hardly firm. He won''t be a threat," Nn Feng critiqued disdainfully.


    "But I heard that he''s already at Ascension, and is particrly strong even among Ascension-realm cultivators as well."


    "So what if he''s at Ascension? He only got there because few knew of his identity. He''s all but exposed now, and his father had quite a few enemies in the past. Those enemies will surely seek him out. He''s even nning to develop a group of skilled workforce on the Isle of Xiao to reim his territory¡ªha! Who knows how long he''ll even survive? It''s just a pity that Zheng Qian''s stubbornly continuing to help him out."


    "Your Highness, my subordinates had a conflict with Xiao Nanfeng on Taiqing Ind, and their whereabouts are currently unknown," Mr. Qin reminded him.


    "Isn''t it obvious? Xiao Nanfeng must have kidnapped or killed them. All our spies on the Isle of Xiao have been removed. There could hardly be any doubt."


    "But we have no proof."


    "What proof do we need? If I say he''s responsible, then he is. If he seizes my cultivators, then I''ll do the same to his. Find an opportunity to seize Zheng Qian. I''ll give him one final chance. If he continues to refuse stubbornly, kill him. Better that than to have him continue helping Xiao Nanfeng," Nn Fengmanded, smiling coldly.


    "Yes, Your Highness!" Mr. Qin replied.

 Chapter 156: A Strange Interrogation

    <h4>Chapter 156: A Strange Interrogation</h4>


    Ten dayster, as night fell, a hidden valley in the Isle of Xiao was lit up with a bonfire.


    The chefs on the ind were preparing spiritbeast meat. Two huge toad spirits were seated close by, staring at the roast meat on a spit with eyes the size ofnterns. They were drooling madly.


    Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu had just finished setting up the Immortal''s Destruction and camouging it.


    "Sir Xiao, the spiritual aether around the Isle of Xiao is far more dense than at sea. There''s something unusual about this ind, and it might be able to increase the power of the Immortal''s Destruction by a fair amount," You Jiumented curiously.


    "It''s an ind that my father left behind, so there naturally has to be something special about it. That said, the spiritual aether here can''tpare to that on Taiqing Ind. Spiritual aether is even more prevalent there."


    "Could Taiqing Ind be built on some vein of draconic aether, then?" You Jiu asked curiously.


    "I''m not so sure about that. Right, when you went to hunt down the sea serpents, did you figure out where theirir was?"


    You Jiu nodded. "It''s arge spiritbeast cave, one filled with sea serpents, Even from afar, Croak could sense a few Spiritsong-realm sea serpents. There might be even more in their midst. It felt particrly dangerous, so we didn''t go near it."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell.


    "However, we did see a ship heading into it," You Jiu recalled.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. These serpents were in cahoots with humans? There had to be something exceptional about this spiritbeast cave.


    "Sir Xiao, do we need to continue keeping watch on the serpents?" You Jiu asked.


    "Not at the moment," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    You Jiu nodded.


    Just then, Croak''s urgent voice came from afar. "Isn''t the meat finished yet? I can smell how fragrant it is! Can''t we eat already?"


    "These two fish can be eaten, but they''re a little hot. As for the others, they''ll have to wait," one chef replied, quaking. This was the first time he was serving two humongous spirits. If not for Xiao Nanfeng''s presence, he would long since have been stared stiff.


    "We''re not afraid of heat!" Croak leapt over excitedly, but Warble snatched both fish first.


    "Warble, there are two fish! Let''s have one each," Croak said expectantly.


    "No! Wait for the next set." Warble had no intention of giving up her spoils. She kept both fish firmly in her grip.


    Croak was almost in tears.


    "Don''t worry, Croak. With so many chefs around to cook for you, you''ll surely be able to eat your fill." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Croak nced at Warble, disagreeing. With a wife as gluttonous as Warble, would it really get to eat anything?


    "There''s a lot of spiritbeast meat, but Warble could eat it all..." Croak croaked.


    Just then, one of Ye Dafu''sckeys, drenched, rushed into the valley.


    "Senior Brother, something''s wrong!" he cried out.


    When he saw the two humongous toad spirits, however, he trembled with fear.


    "Don''t worry, they''re my friends. What''s the matter? Why are you the only one who made it back?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Mr. Zheng was captured!" Ye Dafu''sckey cried out.


    "What? Didn''t I have you apany Mr. Zheng? It was just a simple trip to Taiqing Ind. Who would dare attack him?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark.


    "No one dared to do so on Taiqing Ind proper, and we were still guarding Mr. Zheng while he was on his way back. During the voyage, we were ying serpent biting in the cabin, but one of the sea serpents escaped. I dove into the sea to catch that serpent, but as I was swimming back, I saw a figure descending from the sky andnding on the ship. I didn''t dare draw near. A bout of fighting ensued from the ship, and then it diverted from its original route and headed toward the Isle of Nn instead. I swam back," Ye Dafu''sckey reported.


    "ying serpent biting...?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he attempted to dissect the im for any inconsistencies.


    "We all emted our boss, Ye Dafu, and started cultivating Indomitable Body. He taught us that we would be able to cultivate more quickly if we were bitten by the sea serpents, so we tried it on the voyage back¡ªno, that''s not the point, Senior Brother! Everyone''s been captured!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ye Dafu''sckey strangely. Ye Dafu seemed to be a masochist; was it the same for hisckeys?


    After hearing his exnation, however, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t doubt him.


    You''re certain that the cultivator descended from the skies, and the ship steered toward the Isle of Nn?" Xiao Nanfeng confirmed.


    A cultivator that could fly without any relics had to be at least at Spiritsong.


    "Yes, he descended from the skies. I was watching the ship as I swam here, and I''m certain it was headed to the Isle of Nn. What do we do now? Will everyone be in danger?" theckey fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Zheng Qian had gone to Taiqing Ind to bring back a new batch of orphans. He had specifically asked Ye Dafu to escort Zheng Qian as a safety precaution¡ªbut trouble had struck anyway.


    "Sir Xiao, is the Isle of Nn difficult to deal with?" You Jiu asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Isle of Nn is protected by a ward, and I''m unfamiliar with the situation within. Barging in blindly will be dangerous, but we have to rescue Zheng Qian and Ye Dafu."


    "What if I were to sneak in for reconnaissance?" You Jiu asked.


    "You? If you''re caught, you''ll be in great danger." Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He believed You Jiu capable, but...


    "Stealth is the most crucial skill learned in the Hall of Specters. You can rx, Sir Xiao," You Jiu replied confidently.


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment before nodding. "Don''t do anything unnecessary once you manage to get inside. I''ll meet up with you as quickly as I can. Just ensure that they''re not in mortal danger."


    You Jiu nodded solemnly.


    Xiao Nanfeng discussed the details of the n with You Jiu for a while longer before thetter vanished in a sh.


    "I''ll write a letter to Ye Sanshui, back on Taiqing Ind. Give it to him at your fastest speed. If you can''t find him, open the letter and follow the instructions within. Do it quickly, understand?" Xiao Nanfeng''s tone was serious.


    "Ah? Of course, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Croak, Warble, don''t eat too much. There might be fighting ahead, and I''ll need your help," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Don''t worry, I can digest these fish easily," Warble replied, but it did listen to Xiao Nanfeng. It stopped fighting over the food and even handed half of the roast fish in its hands to Croak.


    Croak took the fish with tears in its eyes. It had finally gotten some of this food! It couldn''t help but be grateful to this Mr. Zheng for being kidnapped at such an opportune time. Otherwise, trying to snatch food from Warble would have been a tremendously difficult task.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng was off writing a letter for Ye Dafu''sckey to deliver.


    You Jiu rushed toward the Isle of Nn''s harbor at his fastest speed. He could see a group of guards surveilling the harbor from afar.


    Using his many years of experience as an assassin, he caused a diversionarymotion before slipping by the guards in a disguise, entering the Isle of Nn proper.


    The moment he did so, the hairs on You Jiu''s neck stood on end. He felt as though he had been marked by something dangerous¡ªthe arrays that warded the ind. The arrays targeted all those who were on the ind, ready to strike them at any moment.


    You Jiu didn''t dare reveal himself, and he became even more cautious. Taking advantage of his experience, he quietly took down and interrogated a few guards, after which he learned of Ye Dafu and the others'' location. He silently crept inside the prison in which they were detained.


    From afar, he could hear their shouts.


    "Beat me if you dare! I won''t reveal anything. Beat it out of me if you want!" Ye Dafu bellowed.


    A whip shed through the air.


    "Argh!" Ye Dafu cried out, then continued, "Haven''t you eaten? Put more strength into your blows!"


    "Looks like it''ll take a beating to loosen your mouth. Continue whipping him!"


    "Argh! Ah, argh!" Ye Dafu''s cries rang out through the underground prison.


    "Well? Were you the ones who captured our men? Are they still alive?" the interrogator shouted.


    "I''m not going to say anything. Keep whipping me if you dare!" Ye Dafu hollered.


    "Beat him!"


    "No, beat us! Don''t beat our boss!" Ye Dafu''sckeys cried out.


    "Beat all of them!"


    The sound of whips echoed through the prison. Ye Dafu and hisckeys cried out with every whip, but they adamantly refused to speak.


    You Jiu nced at them strangely. "Are these cultivators so loyal that none of them would give in...?"


    He crept closer, skulking through the darkness and watching the interrogation from afar.


    A group of cultivators in purple were whipping Ye Dafu and hisckeys. They shook and trembled, but continued to refuse to talk.


    "Whip them, harder! Whip them within an inch of their lives!" the lead interrogatormanded.


    Ye Dafu''s body shook as he received the beating. Subconsciously, he murmured, "Ah, it''s so rxing..."


    "What did you say?!" the cultivator whipping Ye Dafu paused, wondering if he had misheard.


    "I didn''t say anything! Keep going!" Ye Dafu shouted. His pained expression and loud cries finally dispelled the cultivator''s doubts.


    "Sir, something''s wrong! I saw him smiling lecherously just now!" one of the guards shouted.


    Ye Dafu''s eyes widened, hurriedly schooling his expression into one of pain. Pretending to cry, he begged, "It hurts, it hurts! Don''t beat me anymore!"


    "Don''t hit our boss! Hit us!" hisckeys cried out.


    "Beat them all!" the leader of the guards demanded.


    The whips cracked as the interrogation continued.


    You Jiu, still watching from afar, began to frown strangely. He could clearly see that Ye Dafu had been enjoying his beating¡ªand hisckeys, as well. Though the pain made them gnash their teeth, they then subconsciously revealed an expression of bliss and rxation. How could these cultivators be enjoying the interrogation? Were they all perverted?!

 Chapter 157: Attacking the Isle of Nalan

    <h4>Chapter 157: Attacking the Isle of Nn</h4>


    Aboard arge ship, Xiao Nanfeng gripped the railings tightly as he watched the mists surrounding the Isle of Nn not far away. He knew that the mists represented a huge formation protecting the ind.


    He nced at the surface of the sea, where the two toad spirits were waiting to strike on hismand¡ªthen suddenly noticed a small boat closing in.


    Two figures jumped toward Xiao Nanfeng''s ship¡ªYe Sanshui, who had suddenly rushed over, and Ye Dafu''sckey, who had been responsible for delivering him the message.


    "Young Master, what''s Dafu''s status now?" Ye Sanshui asked anxiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the mists and sucked in a deep breath. "He should still be alive."


    "Really?" Ye Sanshui''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He had a pact with You Jiu. Although he didn''t encounter any of You Jiu''s men, You Jiu had left a signal for him by the shore. Apparently, the interior of the formation was particrly dangerous, and the people that Nn Feng had kidnapped were still alive.


    "What''s the situation on your end?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I did everything as ordered," Ye Sanshui reported immediately.


    "Then we''ll head to that ind!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The ship quickly sailed toward the harbor of the Isle of Nn. From afar, the guards on patrol on the ind grew wary.


    "Who''s there? Stop now!" the guards called out.


    "Disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Xiao Nanfeng, requests to meet Senior Brother Nn Feng!" Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    "His Highness has no time for the likes of you," a guard replied, clearly having been ordered to do so in advance.


    Xiao Nanfeng called out, "You dare state that he''s busy without even reporting my request? Will you take responsibility if a time-sensitive sect matter falls through because of your insolence?"


    The guard stiffened, but bit back a retort. "Hold on."


    He rushed deeper into the ind to report Xiao Nanfeng''s arrival.


    He quickly returned with another guard behind him, a cultivator in purple, with an aristocratic air about him. The cultivator stepped toward shore, beyond the protective formation, as the guards all bowed.


    "He was the one who descended from the skies yesterday and seized Boss and Mr. Zheng!" Ye Dafu''sckey quickly whispered, pointing at the man.


    "He''s Mr. Qin, who reached Spiritsong three years ago. He''s particrly skilled with the guqin," Ye Sanshui reported.


    "Mr. Qin? Where are my people?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    Mr. Qin smirked. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. What do I have to do with the disappearance of your men? His Highness is in secluded cultivation and won''t be meeting anyone."


    "And if I insist?"


    "You can try it."


    A tremendous aura formed around Mr. Qin, causing the sea to shake and ripple as Xiao Nanfeng''s ship barely avoided drifting away.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. A beam of golden light shot out toward him.


    "Immortal''s Destruction, is it? Pick your target wisely¡ªI''m hardly like that idiotic serpent," Mr. Qin called out.


    A fist manifested from the formation of protective mist around the ind, which shot toward the beam of golden light.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened. You Jiu''s information was right. The protective formation around the Isle of Nn was impressive enough that it could manifest a Spiritsong-level blow without any strain whatsoever.


    The fist technique appeared to be as strong as previous strikes from the Immortal''s Destruction; was his trump card going to fail him here?


    Just then, the golden light surged and redoubled in intensity. Ayer of golden light red around the de of the Immortal''s Destruction, and its aura coalesced around it.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    "What? How could that de have the strength of ate-stage Spiritsong cultivator? Something''s wrong!" Even Mr. Qin was taken aback.


    With a huge crash, the de shattered the fist of mist and continued toward Mr. Qin.


    Overconfident as he had been, Mr. Qin wasn''t poised to defend against the sudden blow. He hastily lifted both arms into the air before him.


    With a huge crash, that part of the harbor beneath his feet splintered and cracked. Fragments of stone and wood were sent flying, leaving a huge furrow in the ground.


    Mr. Qin gasped in shock as blood sprayed out of his mouth. He was sent flying to the ground.


    "Sir!" The guards ran to help the bloody Mr. Qin as they retreated behind the protective mist.


    "Senior Brother, how did the Immortal''s Destruction suddenly be so strong?" Ye Sanshu gaped.


    Xiao Nanfeng was also confused. How had the Immortal''s Destruction grown so much stronger? A blow of this caliber would have easily killed the golden sea serpents in one hit!


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly turned to look at the distant Isle of Xiao, a conjecture in mind. It wasn''t the Immortal''s Destruction that had changed, but rather that the Isle of Xiao was different from the othernds he had encountered. The Immortal''s Destruction absorbed thetent power of thend for its attacks¡ªif there were a draconic vein underground, its attacks would grow far stronger.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but be thankful for this unexpected boom.


    "Show yourself, Nn Feng!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    However, the formation remained tightly shut. Mist and smoke drifted; no one responded.


    "Young Master, what do we do? None of them are showing themselves!" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "That''s exactly what I was hoping for." Xiao Nanfengunched the Immortal''s Destruction once and again, sending golden des raining down on the formation of mist.


    The des weren''t able to break apart the formation, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t give up. He continued releasing more and more attacks.


    Loud booms shook the Isle of Nn. The tremendous power of the attacks caused huge waves to form in the ocean, and the entire ind was rumbling.


    Within the array, Nn Feng stood standing in a za, his gaze cold as he watched destruction rain down from overhead.


    "This is far stronger than I expected," Nn Feng murmured, his eyes shing with greed.


    "Your Highness, don''t head out! Xiao Nanfeng''s gone crazy. He might really kill you at this rate!" Mr. Qin warned, coughing as a result of his injury.


    "Of course not. I''m very pleased that he''s attacking the Isle of Nn, in fact. I''m the seniormost disciple of the Mortal division of the sect, and I have the right to discipline ordinary disciples. My position is second only to an elder, and the sect strictly prohibits intrasect fighting. Not only has he dared to strike at me in the public eye, he''s even trying to kill me. Ha! He''ll be expelled from the sect in no time, even if Elder Ku attempts to shield him." Nn Feng smiled coldly.


    Themotion quickly drew the attention of many disciples. Those standing at the harbor of Taiqing Ind could hear a series of boomsing from afar.


    "Look over there! What''s that?"


    "Is someone attacking the Isle of Nn?"


    "That sword technique looks frighteningly strong¡ªit has to be, if we can hear the racket all the way from here. Could it be a Spiritsong-realm expert?"


    "Nn Feng''s still on the ind! Is someone trying to assassinate him?!"


    "Quick, inform the elders and division leaders immediately! Someone''s trying to kill Nn Feng!"


    The disciples of the Taiqing sect burst into motion, and word of the attack quickly spread all over the ind.


    Nn Feng and Mr. Qin''s initial calmness gave way to shock.


    As the barrage of blows from the Immortal''s Destruction continued to rain down, the array shook and distorted, and cracks even began to appear on its surface.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction is far stronger than expected. It''s about to break through the array!" Mr. Qin cried out.


    "Damn it¡ªwhere are the division leaders and elders? Are they blind? Haven''t they noticed themotion here yet?" Nn Feng cursed.


    "Your Highness, once Xiao Nanfeng breaks through the protective formation and attacks you directly..."


    "We can''t just sit here and wait. Mr. Qin, use your guqin to disrupt Xiao Nanfeng until the elders get here," Nn Fengmanded.


    Mr. Qin nodded firmly.


    He sat cross-legged in meditation as he retrieved a guqin and began to y it. Spiritual power surged around him; his wounds were merely physical, and his spiritual prowess was unaffected. Invoking his spiritual cultivation at full strength, he summoned a white crane over thirty meters tall, which flew out with the music.


    The spiritual crane released a fearsome aura, one which caused the gathered purple-d guards to shake and shudder after just one look. It flew into the air, passed through the protective array, and shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s ship.


    Ye Sanshui fretted anxiously.


    "Young Master, the Immortal''s Destruction is making too much of amotion. If the elders and division leaders of the sect make an appearance, things might not go in your favor!"


    "That''s why I had you follow the instructions in my letter," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    "Ah?" Ye Sanshui hesitated as he considered the actions he had performed in a brand-new lens.


    "If not for the strength of this array, I wouldn''t have had to make such a bigmotion. This is the only way to save Mr. Zheng, Ye Dafu, and the others. I need Nn Feng to think that I''m making a tactical error so that he''s assured of his victory. Only then will he let down his guard and not immediately kill off Mr. Zheng and Ye Dafu to destroy the evidence of his crimes."


    Ye Sanshui stilled, then nodded gratefully.


    Just then, the cry of a crane could be heard from up above as a huge construct of spiritual power descended toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is Mr. Qin''s signature spiritual attack! This white crane is supposed to be particrly strong and difficult to defend against, even at Ster Lake!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was unmoved. His spiritual cultivation had long since reached Lunar Deluge. What could this ordinary spiritual crane do against him?


    Within the formation, Mr. Qin grinned maliciously. "Your Highness, would there be a problem if I were to turn Xiao Nanfeng into a gibbering fool?"


    "We''re acting in self-defense. Even if you kill him, you could hardly be med."


    "In that case, I won''t hold back. Die!" Mr. Qin called out.


    The white crane shrieked fiercely and shot straight at Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "No!" Ye Sanshui was paralyzed with fear from the aura surrounding the white crane, but Xiao Nanfeng easily grabbed the crane by the neck and held it tightly, impeding its motion.


    "What?!" Ye Sanshui was shocked.


    The white crane''s meager spiritual power paled inparison to that in Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "How could this be? My crane seems to be behaving sluggishly...?" Mr. Qin remarked.


    Sensing that something was amiss, he began to y more and more rapidly on his guqin, pouring all his spiritual power into his music. The white crane glowed with radiant light as it attempted to free itself from Xiao Nanfeng''s grip. Its frightening aura of spiritual energy forced Ye Sanshui and the others to flee.from it.


    "You overestimate your capabilities," Xiao Nanfeng muttered.


    His other hand, surging with spiritual power, curled into a fist. As his spiritual power wrapped around the crane and he squeezed, the crane burst apart into a storm of spiritual power that raged all around Xiao Nanfeng.


    At the same time, all of the strings on Mr. Qin''s guqin snapped at once.


    Suffering from tremendous bacsh, Mr. Qin''s face paled until it was bloodless. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he fell paralyzed to the ground.


    "Mr. Qin?!" Nn Feng cried out.

 Chapter 158: Its All Mr. Qins Fault

    <h4>Chapter 158: It''s All Mr. Qin''s Fault</h4>


    Ye Sanshui and the others stared gobsmacked at Xiao Nanfeng. They had been forced back just from the crane''s aura, but Xiao Nanfeng had easily caused the entire crane to explode!


    The outburst of spiritual power caused waves to swell in the sea all around them. Ye Sanshui suddenly gained an understanding of Xiao Nanfeng''s monstrous strength that went far beyond the likes of his.


    Xiao Nanfeng paid no heed to their gasps; he continued activating the Immortal''s Destruction time and time again.


    Golden swords struck the Isle of Nn like meteors, causing the cracks in the protective mist to propagate. It looked as though the array was about to break down at any moment.


    "Senior Brother, the elders of Taiqing Ind are flying over!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    From afar, countless figures in ck were heading straight toward the Isle of Nn, moving so quickly that the water parted beneath them.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as heunched attacks with the Immortal''s Destruction more and more quickly.


    The protective mist around the ind finally exploded, transforming into a raging storm.


    Instantly, Xiao Nanfeng noticed Nn Feng and Mr. Qin on a za not too far away. His eyes cold, he sent another attack from the Immortal''s Destruction straight toward them.


    "Insolence!" an incensed shout came from behind Xiao Nanfeng, but it was already toote. The attack shot toward the two cultivators on the za. Nn Feng tried to avoid it, only to find that its target was Mr. Qin


    "Hold it!" Nn Feng cried out. Just as the attack was about to strike Mr. Qin''s unconscious body, a ck figure appeared before Nn Feng, reaching toward the air and suspending the imminent blow.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    A ck-haired, middle-aged man appeared in sight, his mien severe, his eyes stern with rage. As he squeezed, the golden de of the Immortal''s Destruction burst into a shower of qi.


    Killing intent surged from the man and coalesced around Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Disciple Ye Sanshui greets the Ascended division leader!" Ye Sanshui stepped forward and bowed down toward the man in ck, forestalling the conflict.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. This was the Ascended division leader, Zhao Tianheng?


    "How dare you make such a fuss here!" Zhao Tianheng shouted at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ten more figures descended from the sky amidst howling gales, surrounding Nn Feng.


    "Nn Feng, are you alright?"


    "Who dares attack the Isle of Nn? Don''t you know where you are?!"


    The elders were outraged, clearly very concerned about Nn Feng. Many of them brimmed with killing intent, causing Xiao Nanfeng''s back to be drenched with sweat.


    "Disciple Ye Sanshui greets the honored elders of the sect." Ye Sanshui, steadfast under pressure, bowed toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Ye Sanshui? You dare collude with an outsider to attack the Isle of Nn? Are you intending to betray the sect?"


    "How will we answer to Emperor Tianshu if Nn Feng is injured?!"


    "No matter who you are, even if you''re a disciple of the Taiqing sect, your actions today have condemned you!"


    "Do you think to bully those of the Mortal division? Lad, do you have a death wish?!"


    The elders roared at Xiao Nanfeng in outrage, an elder of the Mortal division the most ferocious among them.


    Xiao Nanfeng calmly waited for their tirades to end before he took a deep breath and bowed. "Son of Xiao Hongye, Xiao Nanfeng, greets the Ascended division leader and gathered elders."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s introduction caused even the rampaging elders to be taken aback. Clearly, Xiao Hongye was a name known to one and all.


    The killing intent surrounding Xiao Nanfeng abated, though notpletely. The elders didn''t take Xiao Nanfeng''s assertion on faith; rather, they stared at him dubiously.


    "You im to be the son of Elder Xiao Hongye. Have you any proof?" Zhao Tianheng asked coldly.


    The elders all looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Hongye was an important figure, and impersonation of a man of such stature would be taken seriously.


    Just then, one of the elders spoke up. "I can verify that he is Xiao Hongye''s son."


    The gathered elders saw Zhao Yuanjiao stepping forward.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao bowed toward Zhao Tianheng. "Uncle, this is my master''s second disciple, Xiao Nanfeng, as well as the son of Elder Xiao Hongye. The ckguards Imand have investigated his background fully."


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s support was within Xiao Nanfeng''s expectations; he had tasked Ye Sanshui with securing his helpst night. He even knew that Zhao Yuanjiao was the nephew of the Ascended division leader, and from the looks of it, both men were helping him by ying contrasting roles.


    "What? He''s Elder Ku''s disciple, along with the son of Elder Xiao Hongye?" The elders were all shocked.


    The four elders of the Mortal division, who had been the most outspoken inmbasting Xiao Nanfeng, now held their tongues. Xiao Hongye had vanished for eleven years, but his status within the Mortal division was no inferior to that of Emperor Tianshu. They didn''t know whom to support in this fight between their direct descendants.


    "Even if he is Senior Brother Xiao''s son, and even if he is Senior Brother Ku''s disciple, that doesn''t allow him to act as he pleases. Is he intending to kill a fellow disciple in cold blood?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "Disciple Nn Feng pleads for intercession from Division Leader Zhao and the gathered elders. If not for your timely arrival, Elder Zhao, I would already have been struck dead," Nn Feng began, choosing the most opportune time to take control of the narrative.


    "Is that the case?" The gathered elders frowned at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and replied, "Elder Zhao, you intercepted my blow, so I''m sure you must have sensed that I was striking at this Mr. Qin, not Nn Feng. I deny any charges of attacking a Taiqing disciple."


    "Oh?" The elders turned to Zhao Tianheng, waiting for his judgment.


    Nn Feng frowned. He too looked at Zhao Tianheng expectantly.


    Zhao Tianheng stared at Xiao Nanfeng for some time before shaking his head. "I did not feel as though that attack was targeting anyone in particr."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Zhao Yuanjiao a raised eyebrow, as though asking why his uncle had suddenly dropped the ball.


    However, Zhao Yuanjiao didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng. His face fell. Was something wrong?


    The elders looked toward Xiao Nanfeng suspiciously.


    "If Elder Zhao was unable to discern whom I was attacking, then there is no proof that I was targeting Nn Feng," Xiao Nanfeng concluded, making the best of his situation.


    Zhao Tianheng was a little surprised. He thought that Xiao Nanfeng would attempt to argue the point a little longer, but he had turned things in his favor regardless.


    "Are you attempting to distort the truth now that there''s no evidence?" Nn Feng suggested.


    "I am doing no such thing. It''s evident that I was fighting Mr. Qin, and you were simply in the way," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What?"


    Everyone nced at Nn Feng curiously. What Xiao Nanfeng had stated didn''t seem to agree with what they had observed.


    "If you don''t believe me, Elders, I''m sure there are plenty of witnesses around," Xiao Nanfeng continued calmly.


    The elders immediately did so, performing a logical investigation without tantly favoring one side or another. Neither the guards in purple nor Ye Sanshui dared hide what they knew, and they reported everything they had witnessed.


    Just then, Mr. Qin began to stir. His face was pale as he heard the witness ounts. "That''s nonsense! I wasn''t sparring with him. He was attacking the Isle of Nn!"


    "Mr. Qin, don''t be ridiculous. The elders of the Taiqing sect have been summoned, and you won''t be able to deny a thing."


    "What''s there to deny? I''ve only spoken the truth. You''re the unreasonable one, and you tried to kill His Highness!" Mr. Qin shouted.


    "Let me help jog your memory. I arrived at the Isle of Nn, reporting my name and identity, then expressing my desire to meet Nn Feng. Your guards rudely refused me, but I patiently corrected them and continued waiting for Nn Feng. Then, you showed up. Do you contest my summary?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "As I said, His Highness refused to meet you, but you insisted on doing so," Mr. Qin replied.


    "What I said was, ''And if I insist?'' I''d appreciate it if you paraphrased me precisely, considering our circumstances. I was inquiring as to how you would resolve this matter, but you suddenly challenged me, and I epted the challenge. You were simply a worse fighter and unable to defeat me," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "That''s nonsense! I never challenged you," Mr. Qin cried out.


    "Not only did you unleash your aura, causing the waves to buffet my ship and force it back, you provoked me by iming that I could try attacking you. Is that not so?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Mr. Qin was bbergasted. He was only attempting to frighten Xiao Nanfeng¡ªwho would have expected him to take that invitation literally? Had Xiao Nanfeng been nning this from the beginning?


    "Elders, this was a challenge made by a foreign cultivator to me on Taiqing sectnds. In order to preserve the dignity of the sect, I epted the challenge and, fortunately, won," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The elders gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. He was clearly attacking the Isle of Nn, but his analysis had thoughtfully positioned him as the victim. Who would be able to argue against preserving the sect''s dignity? This was a trapid out for Mr. Qin!


    "Mr. Qin? Xiao Nanfeng came to the Isle of Nn to visit Nn Feng as part of regr sect business. Not only did you deliberately make things difficult for Xiao Nanfeng, you even challenged him. Why did you do so?" Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly asked.


    Everyone looked toward Mr. Qin.


    Mr. Qin was bbergasted. He was the victim here, and he was the one who had suffered! How had he be the instigator?

 Chapter 159: Zheng Qian, Who Can Protect Himself

    <h4>Chapter 159: Zheng Qian, Who Can Protect Himself</h4>


    "Then why did you destroy the protective formation around the Isle of Nn?" Nn Feng asked coldly.


    He suddenly realized that Mr. Qin had fallen for Xiao Nanfeng''s trap, but there was nothing he could do now. To continue arguing this point would only make matters worse.


    "Mr. Qin attacked me from within the protective formation, forming spiritual cranes with his guqin. If not for my own spiritual treasures, I may well have died to him. I was acting in self-defense to prevent his continued assault," Xiao Nanfeng replied easily.


    "Self-defense? You were trying to kill me!" Nn Feng asserted coldly.


    "Nn Feng, we''re both disciples of the Taiqing sect. I hope you won''t malign me like this¡ªthe elders and division leader are all present; there''s no need to air our grievances in front of outsiders," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    The cultivators goggled at Xiao Nanfeng. To Nn Feng, Xiao Nanfeng was the outsider!


    "Mr. Qin is my subordinate, not an outsider," Nn Feng replied coldly.


    "Then did he secretly kidnap my friends and even my fellow Taiqing disciples on your orders?!" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "Mr. Qin abducted Taiqing disciples?" The elders all shot sharp nces at him.


    "To contextualize matters, the reason I requested to meet with Nn Feng tonight was in order to ask why his subordinate had kidnapped my friends and fellow Taiqing disciples. Was Nn Feng responsible, or was it an independent ploy by Mr. Qin? In the end, Mr. Qin struck at me out of guilt before I was able to meet with Nn Feng. I had no choice but to counterattack in self-defense," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Is that true?" The elders looked toward Nn Feng.


    "Of course not! It''s all nonsense. I''ve never kidnapped Taiqing disciples, nor his friends!" Mr. Qin denied the im categorically.


    Nn Feng didn''t speak. He felt difited by the events that had transpired. Everything seemed to be going ording to Xiao Nanfeng''s n...


    "We can find out whether it''s true or not with a cursory check," Zhao Yuanjiao suggested, continuing to support Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is the Isle of Nn, property of Emperor Tianshu! Who dares infringe on his domain?!" Mr. Qin yelled out.


    Everyone turned to Nn Feng.


    Nn Feng could clearly sense that something was amiss. Although he had the ability to invoke his father''s authority and prevent this investigation, he might very well fall into Xiao Nanfeng''s trap again as a result.


    "Investigate, then," Nn Feng replied coldly.


    "Your Highness? How could you..." Mr. Qin was momentarily flustered.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, you''d better search the ind thoroughly," Nn Feng continued.


    He didn''t prohibit Zhao Yuanjiao from carrying out his search because he had carefully hidden away Ye Dafu, Zheng Qian, and the other Taiqing disciples. He was certain that no one would find any trace of anything in the short term, and he had no intention of letting Zhao Yuanjiao search the ind for too long.


    "If you can''t find anything, I''ll make sure to report this incident to Emperor Tianshu, iming that elders of the Taiqing sect have been deliberately making things difficult for the third prince," Mr. Qin replied coldly.


    Despite the momentary surprise, he wasn''t scared, either. He too was confident that Zhao Yuanjiao wouldn''t be able to uncover where Ye Dafu and the others were located.


    Zhao Yuanjiao ignored him and prepared to begin his search.


    "Senior Brother, let me apany you. I saw Mr. Qin ncing at a certain direction just now, so let''s head that way!" Xiao Nanfeng jumped down from the ship.


    Mr. Qin frowned. He hadn''t done so¡ªwhat nonsense was Xiao Nanfeng talking about?


    Nn Feng brought Zhao Yuanjiao toward a series of thatched huts. There was nothing else present in that direction but lumps of grass.


    The elders frowned, not understanding what Xiao Nanfeng was trying to aplish, but Nn Feng and Mr. Qin''s eyes were both twitching. Xiao Nanfeng was headed right in the direction of the hostages! Nn Feng red at Mr. Qin, as though to berate him for giving away crucial information, at least ording to Xiao Nanfeng. Mr. Qin''s lips twitched¡ªhe had hardly been looking in that direction!


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the thatched huts, at the mark that You Jiu had left behind. His eyes brightened.


    "Here? There''s nothing here. I''ve already inspected this area with my spiritual power, and there''s no underground cer either." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "Don''t be so certain," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "Oh?" Zhao Yuanjiao focused on the scene before him. He waved a hand, scattering the piles of grass and revealing... nothing.


    Xiao Nanfeng mmed down with a palm, causing mysterious golden runes to emerge from the ground.


    "A formation? Could it have tricked my spiritual senses?" Zhao Yuanjiao was taken aback.


    Zhao Yuanjiao struck the formation, shattering it and cratering the ground. A tunnel was revealed, brightly lit within, and cries of help could be heard from where they were standing.


    "Outrageous!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared.


    Ye Dafu and the others had all been gagged, silenced by a group of cultivators in purple. The moment the tunnel was revealed, the cultivators shied back, aware that something had gone badly wrong.


    "Bring my friends and disciples out, will you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked calmly.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s fearsome aura brooked no resistance from the cultivators, who were forced to march out with Ye Dafu and the others.


    "Senior Brother, you''ve finallye to save us! If you were any slower, they would have beaten us to death!" Ye Dafu howled, the moment he was released.


    "Look at how badly they beat us!" Ye Dafu''sckeys cried out.


    Whereas Ye Dafu and hisckeys had been badly whipped and beaten, Zheng Qian waspletely and strangely unhurt, as though he hadn''t been tortured at all.


    When the elders saw the wounds on Ye Dafu and the other disciples'' bodies, their faces all turned dark as they looked toward Mr. Qin. The only reason they hadn''t made an overt move was because of Nn Feng''s presence.


    "Do you see that, Nn Feng? This is how your subordinate has been behaving in your absence. He must have lied to you and secretly kidnapped and tortured these Taiqing disciples, tarnishing your name and that of Emperor Tianshu! If not for the fact that he nced over here, I would never have noticed the discrepancy. He''s not worthy of your trust," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    Mr. Qin was frowning in anger. He hadn''t ever nced in that direction, and Xiao Nanfeng was clearly trying to defame him. However, none would believe him if he tried to argue that point.


    Nn Feng red at Mr. Qin, but he didn''t criticize him. He narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. "I had him kidnap them all."


    "Oh?" Everyone turned to Nn Feng.


    "Mr. Qin was only trying to defend me, and he''s not to me for this. Ye Dafu and the others were responsible for kidnapping my subordinates, causing them to die. As the seniormost disciple of the Mortal division, I have the right to interrogate and discipline them. They''ve only suffered a few superficial injuries, whereas my subordinates have died. You, Xiao Nanfeng, killed my subordinates and instigated this dispute. How dare you criticize me?"


    The elders turned to Xiao Nanfeng, frowning at the usations that Nn Feng had heaped on him.


    "Nn Feng, what proof do you have that I killed your subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Proof? Mr. Zheng told me everythingst night. Ask him if you don''t believe me," Nn Feng replied coldly.


    Everyone looked toward Zheng Qian, including Ye Dafu and the others.


    "Senior Brother, we didn''t say anything despite being half-beaten to death! On the other hand, Zheng Qian revealed everything the moment they interrogated him. He''s not a loyal subordinate¡ªhe''s an opportunist, and he even imed that he was going to serve Nn Feng!" Ye Dafu shouted shamelessly.


    Ye Dafu''sckeys all heckled Zheng Qian.


    "Mr. Zheng, is that true?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Zheng Qian bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I did."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Nn Feng. "Your subordinates were the ones at fault. They snuck into the Isle of Xiao and crippled those on my territory. Ten days ago, they even threatened Zheng Qian and made things difficult for him on the Taiqing Ind proper. Many disciples can attest to my im. Are you aware of this?"


    "I just learned of it. I will certainly punish my subordinates who have been in the wrong and make just rpense for what they''ve done. You, however, had no right to kill them," Nn Feng replied.


    "They chopped off the arms of those under my employ. Do you intend to punish them simrly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "Do you doubt my word?" Nn Feng replied imperiously.


    "I eagerly await it, in fact." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He turned toward the ship behind him and called out, "Ye Sanshui, bring out those men in the cabin!"


    "Ah? Yes!" Ye Sanshui replied from above deck.


    Nn Feng''s heart thumped. Unease suffused him.


    A group of detainees were brought down from the ship, the purple-d cultivators that Xiao Nanfeng had caught.


    "What? They haven''t died? Zheng Qian, you lied to us!" Mr. Qin shouted.


    Nn Feng red at Zheng Qian in disbelief. Zheng Qian had been lying deliberately in order to protect himself and dy until Xiao Nanfeng arrived with a n in mind.


    Ye Dafu and the others also gaped at Zheng Qian. Had Zheng Qian been lying all this time? He hadn''t betrayed Xiao Nanfeng, after all?


    "Your Highness, please save us!"


    "Your Highness, they tortured us. We had no choice but to confess!"


    The cultivators in purple were overjoyed, thinking that they were about to be saved, not realizing how dark Nn Feng''s face had be.


    "Nn Feng, I hereby return your subordinates to you. None perished; I was only carrying out my investigation as to the truth of the incident, which has since been made clear. I have written testimony of their confessions. Do you wish to have a look? I eagerly await your brand of justice," Xiao Nanfeng continued, smiling.


    The tables had turned; this was aplete victory for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Nn Feng red at Zheng Qian and Xiao Nanfeng. He was now certain that Zheng Qian had lied to him in his confessionst night. He had had no opportunity toe up with a n with Xiao Nanfeng¡ªto think that they were so in sync that they could still have trapped him regardless!


    The elders gazed at Xiao Nanfeng appraisingly. Some even murmured, "As expected of Xiao Hongye''s son..."


    Mr. Qin walked forward, his face contorted with displeasure. "Your Highness, I failed to discipline these subordinates of mine. They failed to listen to yourmand, took matters into their own hands, and acted recklessly in trespassing on the Isle of Xiao and brutalizing the people there. Allow me to discipline them on your behalf."


    Taking responsibility for all the misdeeds, Mr. Qin drew his de and cut off each of the prisoners'' arms in a spray of blood and agonized screams.

 Chapter 160: Zhao Yuanjiaos Actions

    <h4>Chapter 160: Zhao Yuanjiao''s Actions</h4>


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Zheng Qian¡ªhow well you cooperate with each other," Nn Feng spat out.


    He had never suffered such an ignominious defeat. Bitter cold shed in his eyes; he wasn''t intending to let matters drop so easily.


    "Senior Brother Nn Feng, don''t you have more to say to me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "And what might that be?"


    "An apology," Xiao Nanfeng replied seriously.


    "You want me to apologize to you?" Nn Feng scoffed in derision.


    An apology would imply that he were bowing down to Xiao Nanfeng, and he had no intention of doing so.


    "Your subordinates infiltrated my ind and attacked those under my purview. Not only that, they deliberately targeted my friend, Zheng Qian. Mr. Qin kidnapped Zheng Qian and even Taiqing disciples to interrogate them. Don''t im that this has nothing to do with you, either¡ªif you do that, I''ll settle matters with them individually," Xiao Nanfeng continued, not giving in at all.


    He had already made an enemy of Nn Feng; there was no reason to hold back. Zhao Yuanjiao had given him a look that meant that he had settled things. In that case, Xiao Nanfeng intended to make Nn Feng pay. An apology was only an excuse to try to get him angrier.


    Nn Feng red at Xiao Nanfeng. "And if I refuse?"


    "If you refuse, and in doing so refuse to correct the wrongs you have wrought, how could you serve as the seniormost disciple of a division of the Taiqing sect?" Nn Feng replied coldly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve already destroyed the protective formation that shields the Isle of Nn. Do you still intend to push things further? Do you im no fault of your own?" Zhao Tianheng suddenly asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow at Zhao Tianheng. What was going on? He was a disciple of the Ascended division. Why would Zhao Tianheng be siding with Nn Feng? Could Zhao Yuanjiao not have convinced his uncle?


    "Division Leader, I''ve been wronged, and my friends unfairly treated, disparaged, imprisoned, whipped, and vited. I seek only an apology in redress. Surely this is no outrageous request?"


    "What grievances you have may be reported and addressed by the sect. You, on the other hand, chose to beat down the equivalent of Nn Feng''s door. He''s the seniormost disciple of the Mortal division, and does possess the right to oversee and discipline ordinary disciples. His actions are within the scope of his purview, and while his inappropriate handling of affairs has been revealed, it remains that an ordinary disciple like you has no right to question him. Or do you think you can do whatever you please just because you have the moral high ground? Not only have you destroyed the formation surrounding the Isle of Nn, you even add insult to injury by demanding an apology in submission. I shall not simply bear witness to such a ludicrous oue. The name and reputation of the Taiqing sect might even suffer for suchwlessness!" Zhao Tianheng criticized.


    The elders nodded. There was a strict division of rank within the sect, and it would be inappropriate for the seniormost disciples of a division to bow down to an ordinary one. If this were to be canonical, they elders might even have to apologize to ordinary disciples out of a moment''s carelessness as well!


    "Uncle, Xiao Nanfeng is no ordinary disciple," Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly stated.


    "How so?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is the seniormost disciple of the Ascended division, matching Nn Feng in status. It is only reasonable that Nn Feng apologize to his equal for disrespect shown," Zhao Yuanjiao continued.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng is the seniormost disciple of the Ascended division?" The elders gaped.


    The position of seniormost disciple was no ordinary title. It granted the disciple the ability tomand the disciples of the division in ce of the division leader of the sect, withmensurate authority to boot.


    "Not only does such a position require the approval and acknowledgement of the majority of the disciples in the division, it must also be epted by the associated division leader. How could his position be valid without my knowledge as the leader of the Ascended division?" Zhao Tianheng asked coldly.


    "By the Ascended token," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    Zhao Tianheng raised an eyebrow. "Senior Brother Ku handed you the Ascended token, and instructed for Xiao Nanfeng to be made the seniormost disciple of the division?"


    "Yes, Elder! Such a token possesses authority equivalent to the division leader''s in your absence. Elder Ku designated Xiao Nanfeng as the seniormost disciple with the Ascended token while you were coincidentally away on business. I vouch that this is true on the basis of this token that I wield," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, holding up a token for all to see.


    The elders stared at each other, knowing of the politics in y. Elder Ku, who bore the Ascended token, had no less authority than Zhao Tianheng despite not being a division leader.


    "Why are you only telling me this now?" Zhao Tianheng asked coldly.


    "I''ve been in secluded cultivation to recuperate from my injuries, and was unfortunately forced to dy news of the matter. At this point, the majority of the disciples of the Ascended division have gathered by the za outside the Hall of Immortal Recruitment. Any who wish to do so may voice concerns or allegations regarding Xiao Nanfeng''s candidacy, and they may challenge him in public," Zhao Yuanjiao reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather shaken himself, not expecting that Zhao Yuanjiao had promised to make him the seniormost disciple of the Ascended division without reporting the matter to Zhao Tianheng. Were the two of them at odds with one another?


    Zhao Tianheng narrowed his eyes at Zhao Yuanjiao and said coldly, "Then we''ll head to the za by the Hall of Immortal Recruitment. I''d like to see just how many Ascended disciples will support Xiao Nanfeng''s appointment."


    Zhao Tianheng flicked his sleeves in annoyance, then flew through the air back to Taiqing Ind.


    Behind Zhao Tianheng, two more elders of the Ascended division soared into the air after him.


    The remaining elders nced at each other withplicated expressions on their faces. This had been a fight between Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Feng. How did this uncle and nephew pair end up getting involved? What was going on?


    "Nn Feng, will you apologize now orter?" Xiao Nanfeng continued to provoke Nn Feng.


    Nn Feng narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng, having guessed what was going on. All this nonsense about Elder Ku''s orders before he left¡ªElder Ku hadn''t even known about the stupendous growth in Xiao Nanfeng''s strength by then! All this had to be a ploy that Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao had devised startingst night.


    "Apologize? Ask me again once you''ve be the seniormost disciple of the Ascended division," Nn Feng scoffed.


    "My master has long since appointed me the seniormost disciple of the division. What''s there to question? This will be just for show. Would you like to participate, too?" Xiao Nanfeng offered with a smile.


    Nn Feng''s face turned dark. He refused to speak.


    "Senior Brother, since Nn Feng refuses to admit guilt, I''ll wait a little while longer. Let''s head to the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment and exin everything to the junior disciples, then lead them back here to witness Nn Feng''s apology." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, continuing to fan the mes of conflict.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    "Ye Sanshui, please help escort Mr. Zheng and Ye Dafu back to the Isle of Xiao for treatment. I''ll return shortly."


    Ye Sanshui nodded gingerly, as though he were seated on a carpet of nails. The fact that he was standing with Xiao Nanfeng meant that he hadpletely offended Nn Feng.


    "Elders, in case you''re freeter, I''ll invite you all to watch a spectacle right here."


    The elders traded nces with each other. Just how brash could this young disciple get?


    As Xiao Nanfeng and his retinue departed, the elders of the Heaven and Earth divisions flew back to the Taiqing Ind. Only four Mortal elders remained, frowning at Nn Feng.


    "Nn Feng, Xiao Nanfeng won''t be an easy opponent."


    "He''s the son of Elder Xiao Hongye, and it would be improper for us to show you too much favoritism. We apologize."


    The four elders bowed.


    Nn Feng shook his head. "No matter. I didn''t expect him to be such a tough opponent, either. If you wouldn''t mind, could you help Mr. Qin restore some of his spiritual power?"


    "Of course." The four elders nodded at this simple request.


    The four elders immediately transferred some of their spiritual power to Mr. Qin, gradually restoring some color to his face.


    "Thank you, Elders. Please, head toward the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment to keep an eye on Xiao Nanfeng. I''m worried that Zhao Yuanjiao will help him cheat through this process. I''ll arrive shortly after," Nn Feng stated.


    The four elders nodded again as they flew off toward Taiqing Ind.


    Once everyone was gone, Nn Feng''s face turned dark.


    "Your Highness, I didn''t reveal any hint about the location of the underground cer at all, but Xiao Nanfeng was able to pinpoint its location immediately. Something''s wrong," Mr. Qin reported.


    "Could someone have informed him?" Nn Feng asked, frowning.


    "That''s unlikely. We only began hiding the prisoners when he started attacking the array, and we were keeping tabs on him all along. How could anyone have informed him of anything in the meantime?" Mr. Qin asked, frowning.


    Nn Feng hesitated. "Could he have determined where the prisoners were kept from the gaze of my other subordinates, then deliberately pinned it on you?"


    "It''s very likely. Your Highness, this Xiao Nanfeng isn''t a trifling foe!" Mr. Qin warned.


    "To haveid out a n like this in just one night¡ªI do have to admit that he''s capable. If not for my giving in to him just now, I might have lost significant reputation. Alright. Reset the array," Nn Fengmanded.


    "Yes, Your Highness!" the cultivators in purple all around them replied.


    Once again, mists filled the Isle of Nn. The formation that Xiao Nanfeng had broken reformed once again. Despite the damage to the formation, its core had been unaffected, and the formation could be restored at any time. The reason Nn Feng hadn''t done it earlier was to use it to feign weakness.


    "Your Highness, I don''t know how Xiao Nanfeng managed to destroy my spiritual crane. If he can do this, he might not have trouble dealing with the appointment ceremony and challenges from any Ascended disciples. He really may be the seniormost disciple of the Ascended division, and matters will be far more challenging to deal with then," Mr. Qin stated in worry.


    "I won''t let him be the seniormost Ascended disciple. Now that he''s headed toward Taiqing Ind, the Isle of Xiao must be undefended.


    "You mean to have me head to the Isle of Xiao right away?" Mr. Qin asked.


    "Indeed. Otherwise, why would I have had the elders restore your stamina? While he''s gone, retrieve the Immortal''s Destruction and kill Zheng Qian," Nn Fengmanded.


    "It''s a trivial matter, but would it be too obvious? You might be the subject of suspicion then, Your Highness."


    "This is clearly an attack perpetrated by Xiao Nanfeng''s enemies; it has nothing to do with me. And once Xiao Nanfeng loses possession of the Immortal''s Destruction, he won''t have the power to do anything," Nn Feng opined disdainfully.


    "Yes, Your Highness!" Mr. Qin replied.


    At sea, Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian split up. Zheng Qian and his retinue sailed back to the Isle of Xiao, whereas Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao joined Ye Sanshui''s small boat toward Taiqing Ind.


    "Why did you taunt Nn Feng and anger him by demanding an apology?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked as they sailed.


    "It''s easy for an enraged person to make mistakes. I intend to counterattack at Nn Feng," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "How?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "You''ll see. It''s too early to reveal that just yet."


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned at Xiao Nanfeng, feeling as though he was up to something big, but he couldn''t quite figure out what.


    "Senior Brother, I asked if you would help me smooth the transition to be the seniormost Ascended disciple. Why didn''t you report to Division Leader Zhao Tianheng?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "He''s had someone in mind for this position. If I didn''t dere this publicly, it would never have been your turn," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, smiling coldly.


    "Oh?"


    This uncle-nephew pair seemed to be scheming against each other...


    As though sensing Xiao Nanfeng''s curiosity, Zhao Yuanjiao sucked in a deep breath and exined, "Who do you think would take over my ckguards if I were to die?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Was Zhao Yuanjiao wondering if his two recent assassination attempts had been orchestrated by his uncle, Zhao Tianheng?

 Chapter 161: Oppression by Five Thousand Scriptures

    <h4>Chapter 161: Oppression by Five Thousand Scriptures</h4>


    Within a hall on Taiqing Ind, Zhao Tianheng looked at the Taiqing disciples gathered before him, his face dark.


    "Master, in the middle of the night yesterday, Zhao Yuanjiao arranged for the majority of the junior Ascended disciples to wait by the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment in the morning, iming that there would be a big announcement. I didn''t expect that this announcement would be the designation of a new seniormost disciple," one disciple began, frowning.


    "That''s right. We weren''t aware of what was going on, so we didn''t dare disturb you in the middle of the night, Master. We were intending on reporting the disturbance to you today, but were dyed because of the incident at the Isle of Nn," another disciple reported.


    Zhao Tianheng frowned. "I returned from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce because I heard that he had be an elder and that the seniormost Ascended disciple position was now vacant. I had intended to fill that position with one of you, but it looks like Xiao Nanfeng has taken advantage already."


    "Master, Elder Ku left Taiqing Ind over a month ago, and he couldn''t have been aware that Xiao Nanfeng had already reached Ascension by then. Zhao Yuanjiao has to be feigning Elder Ku''smand, surely?" one disciple asked.


    "So what? When Senior Brother Ku returns, he''ll surely enforce it," Zhao Tianheng replied coldly.


    "Master, not all is lost just yet. The seniormost Ascended disciple needs both the confirmation of the division leader as well as of the ordinary disciples of the division. If Xiao Nanfeng is rejected by the majority of disciples, he won''t be able to fill the position," one disciple reported.


    "Rejected?" Zhao Tianheng narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.


    "Don''t worry, Master. We won''t let Xiao Nanfeng be the seniormost Ascended disciple. He won''t be able to gain the disciples'' approval!" the disciples promised.


    Zhao Tianheng was silent for long moments before he eventually nodded.


    By the time Zhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng arrived at the za by the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, thousands had gathered¡ªdisciples of the Ascended division, along with curious onlookers from those of the other three divisions.


    Before Xiao Nanfeng arrived, word of what had happened at the Isle of Nn had spread throughout the ind, and the vast majority of the disciples were curious about him.


    "Senior Brother Nanfeng''s actual name is Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "His father''s Xiao Hongye, of the Mortal division? Allegedly, Xiao Hongye was among the strongest cultivators of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    "Xiao Nanfeng attacked the Isle of Nn and survived unscathed? I can''t believe it!"


    As rumors continued to spread and discussion grew, Zhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the scene.


    Not far away, Zhao Tianheng and the other elders had gathered. They were now observing Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I announce that Xiao Nanfeng has been recognized by the Ascended token and appointed to the position of the seniormost disciple of the Ascended division. I have invited all Ascended disciples to witness this asion," Zhao Yuanjiao began, raising the Ascended token high up into the air.


    Everyone quieted down and turned toward Zhao Tianheng, overseeing this event from the very front.


    He sipped a cup of tea and said calmly, "Let''s get started, then."


    "Yes, Division Leader!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    He turned toward the thousands of disciples gathered on the za.


    "Disciples of the Ascended division, my master, Elder Ku, has appointed Xiao Nanfeng as the seniormost Ascended disciple. I hereby reiterate that nomination. All those who dissent may challenge him now!" Zhao Yuanjiao announced, then headed toward a seat that had been prepared for him by the side of the za.


    Everyone''s attention turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Standing in the heart of the za, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the countless Taiqing disciples that had gathered around him. He took a deep breath. "I am Xiao Nanfeng, appointee to the position of seniormost Ascended disciple. I intend on treading the same path as Elder Zhao Yuanjiao, protecting the Ascended division of the sect and amply demonstrating its strength. I stand before you ready to answer any doubts regarding my qualifications."


    Zhao Yuanjiao was respected, if not quite popr. Although many of the Ascended disciples harbored doubts, they didn''t express them outright on this asion so that Zhao Yuanjiao didn''t lose face.


    Xiao Nanfeng had also rescued arge number of Taiqing disciples, all of whom spoke well of Xiao Nanfeng and who had encouraged their friends to do so as well.


    Even so, there were always going to be naysayers.


    "I''m a regr disciple of the Ascended division. You''ve only been in the Taiqing Immortal Sect for a year or so. On what grounds are you qualified to be the seniormost Ascended disciple?" One disciple stepped forward, drawing everyone''s attention.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized the disciple at once. Zhao Yuanjiao had described the faces of several disciples who intended to contend for his position, and he was one such. He had an incredible memory, essentially eidetic in nature.


    "Do you imply that this position is not one of merit, but of how long ago you''ve joined the sect?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "No. The seniormost Ascended disciple must at least have the ability to critique the cultivation of junior disciples, and must possess outstanding intuition in understanding of scripture," the disciple replied.


    "You''ve only been in the sect for a year. How can you advise us? How can you prove your abilities?"


    "How many scriptures have you memorized in just a year? Not very many, I imagine!"


    A group of Ascended disciples suddenly began to criticize Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Scriptures, you say?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "What are you smiling for?" the initial naysayer asked, frowning.


    "Do you think memorizing scriptures is a necessary qualification for being the seniormost Ascended disciple, then?"


    None of the disciples spoke of understanding such scriptures, because understanding could very well differ between cultivators on different paths. As a result, the standard metric was the number of memorized scriptures.


    "You must know at least five hundred scriptures by heart to have a basis for advising your juniors, surely. How do you intend to take on this position otherwise?" the naysayer demanded.


    "Five hundred?" The disciples in the za were stunned.


    That was a ridiculous requirement! Even disciples who had been in the sect for three whole decades might not have memorized that many.


    "You''re right, but I feel like you''re setting the bar too low," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Hmm?" The naysayer was surprised by Xiao Nanfeng''s response.


    "Five hundred is hardly sufficient. I believe the position requires an understanding of five thousand scriptures, at the very least."


    "Five thousand?" The disciples all around goggled at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Was he joking? Memorizing five thousand scriptures, rather than just having read through them?


    "Are you mocking me?" the naysayer asked coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s words were clearly unrealistic. Who would be able to memorize five thousand scriptures? Even the gathered elders could hardly make such a lofty im!


    "Here are five jade tablets, lent to me by the Lady Arclight of the Earth division, with a total of five thousand scriptures within. Any of you may pick a scripture from within these tablets and ask that I recite or analyze its contents." Xiao Nanfeng smiled as he proffered five jade tablets to one and all.


    "That¡ª" The naysayer was starting to panic.


    He thought that Xiao Nanfeng had said something ridiculous in an attempt to bypass his challenge, but what was going on? Was Xiao Nanfeng really offering up five thousand scriptures to be tested on?


    "You''ve memorized all five thousand scriptures here?" one elder asked in disbelief.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s im was so astounding that even the elders couldn''t help but doubt his word.


    "Scriptures might not be cultivation techniques, but they represent the crystallization of the thoughts of countless Taoist masters. I consider them no less precious than cultivation techniques, and the sect itself holds the forty-eight thousand scriptures of the Vault of Scriptures as its foundation. My master, Elder Ku, has long since imed that the existence of these scriptures alone would sustain the sect. With deed and action, I have demonstrated my adherence to this principle. I was fortunate to have started my studies from childhood, and the Lady Arclight has kindly allowed me ess to her collection of scriptures. With this in mind, I am confident that I can advise the various disciples of the Ascended division. I shall hand these tablets to the elders that they may verify my ims." Xiao Nanfeng passed the five tablets to five elders.


    Silence befell the za after Xiao Nanfeng''s pronouncement. The five elders had been chosen at random, and not all of them were part of the Ascended division. Many had met Xiao Nanfeng for the first time today, and would hardly aid in helping him cheat. Unless Xiao Nanfeng were absolutely confident in his abilities, he could hardly hope to seed in this gambit. Could he really have memorized five thousand scriptures?


    The five elders were astounded. To confirm that Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t been bragging about his abilities, however, they nodded and began to pick out scriptures with which to test him.


    "Are you familiar with the Recollections of the Vast Sea?" one elder began.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Among the five tablets are five such scriptures written by Martial Sage Wei, Sage Mingyue Xin, Sage Zhulong, Sage Tan Hai, and Sage Hao Yu. These are respectively the thirteenth scripture of the first tablet, the 892nd scripture of the second tablet, the 426th scripture of the third tablet, the 235th scripture of the fourth tablet, and the 724th scripture of the fifth tablet. Though these sages discuss the same natural phenomenon, the insight they glean from it are considerably different. Allow me topare their perspectives..."


    Xiao Nanfeng began to deim from the five distinct scriptures, causing even the arrayed elders to goggle at him. Was he trying to embarrass them for theirck of knowledge?


    As Xiao Nanfeng recited, the elders interrupted and stopped him, because it was almost immediately evident that he did possess understanding of all five scriptures that he had discussed.


    The elders continued picking out scriptures with which to challenge him, only to have Xiao Nanfeng point out that there were multiple sharing the same name across the five thousand scriptures he had studied. Precise to a fault, Xiao Nanfeng recited and analyzed the scripturesparatively.


    As the elders continued their questioning, they began to hesitate. The more they asked Xiao Nanfeng questions, the more they seemed to reveal their own ignorance.


    The za was entirely silent. The Taiqing disciples, who had initially been unimpressed by Xiao Nanfeng''sck of experience, reputation, and age, had no choice but to change their perception of himpletely. Five thousand scriptures¡ªwas he really a mortal?


    Even Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes were twitching. He had asked trusted juniors of his to help Xiao Nanfeng out, but it didn''t seem as though that would be necessary...


    Zhao Tianheng himself was frowning deeply. His disciple with the strongest memory had been crushed in an instant.


    What Xiao Nanfeng didn''t reveal was that he had memorized andprehended ten thousand scriptures.


    As the silence dragged on, Xiao Nanfeng smiled and addressed the naysayer who had sparked this examination. "I remain far from memorizing all forty-eight thousand scriptures of the Vault of Scriptures. I shall continue reading and memorizing these scriptures in the days ahead that I might prove myself worthy of the position of the seniormost Ascended disciple."


    The naysayer pursed his lips and stared at Xiao Nanfeng, wondering if that was meant to be a veiled insult. He sucked in a deep breath, quelling his panic, and scurried back into the crowd without saying another word.

 Chapter 162: The Crowds Acceptance

    <h4>Chapter 162: The Crowd''s eptance</h4>


    None of the Ascended disciples dared question Xiao Nanfeng on his understanding of scripture any longer. All of them were shaken; this candidate seemed to be even more impressive than Zhao Yuanjiao had been.


    "Being able to memorize scripture is only evidence of a good memory. The seniormost Ascended disciple is responsible for leading expeditions and raids on spiritibeastirs, requiring physical strength andbat ability," another disciple began.


    Everyone turned to the disciple who had stepped forward from the crowd. Xiao Nanfeng recognized him from Zhao Yuanjiao''s description as well. He too was another contender for the position of seniormost disciple.


    "Then let''s fight. You may begin," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    The disciple hesitated, not anticipating that Xiao Nanfeng would be so agreeable. He nodded and replied, "I''ll test your strength, then."


    The disciple leapt right up to Xiao Nanfeng and threw a punch. Xiao Nanfeng countered with one of his own. The two fists met in a burst of energy.


    "What? He blocked Senior Brother Wu''s fist? Senior Brother Wu''s atte-stage Ascension!"


    "Senior Brother Wu has an impable fist technique, one that allows him to trump countless disciples at the same level of cultivation. Xiao Nanfeng won''t be a match for him."


    "Even Elder Zhao Yuanjiao once remarked that Senior Brother Wu''s fist technique isn''t any inferior to his own. Xiao Nanfeng''s going to lose."


    The disciples murmured to each other in discussion as the fight progressed.


    Senior Brother Wuunched an exacting flurry of punches at Xiao Nanfeng.


    It would be trivial for Xiao Nanfeng to defeat him, but what he needed now wasn''t a rapid victory. Rather, he needed to convince the disciples that he was suited for the position. He chose to take it slowly.


    It looked as though Senior Brother Wu was an incredible fighter, forcing Xiao Nanfeng to repeatedly defend and dodge under his furious assault.


    "As expected, Xiao Nanfeng''s only been in the sect for a year. His fist technique can''tpare to Senior Brother Wu''s."


    Zhao Tianheng and the gathered elders, on the other hand,narrowed their eyes. Given their advanced cultivation, they could tell that, even though Xiao Nanfeng only seemed to dodge, he was doing so with ease and grace. On the other hand, although Senior Brother Wu looked like he was overwhelming his opponent, he seemed to be burning with impatience.


    "Something''s off..." an elder murmured.


    As they fought, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly took the initiative. He began to counterattack, beating Senior Brother Wu with his own technique.


    "This has to be a coincidence!" Senior Brother Wu cried.


    The disciples were confused by Senior Brother Wu''s shout until he continued fighting with Xiao Nanfeng. Only then did they discover something amiss.


    "Why does Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique look so much like Senior Brother Wu''s?"


    "It''s not just mere simrity¡ªtheir fist techniques are identical! How could this be?"


    The disciples were in an uproar upon seeing the mirror match taking ce. It was as though Senior Brother Wu were fighting against his mirror image.


    "Impossible! I learned this fist technique during an expedition. It was created by a nameless master right before his downfall, and no other person would know of it. How could you be using it right now?!" Senior Brother Wu gasped.


    "There''s some intricacy to this fist technique, but it''s not too difficult to learn," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What?!"


    The spectators were equally surprised. "He learned Senior Brother Wu''s fist technique while fighting against him? How could this be?"


    Despite the disciples'' disbelief, the evidence was right before their eyes.


    "For this stance, don''t use all your energy when punching forward. Conserve about a third of your strength, so that you can flexibly switch to a different stance depending on your opponent''s actions, like this," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent Senior Brother Wu flying as his attack suddenly transformed. It seemed as though he understood the fist technique even better than Senior Brother Wu himself.


    "How could you know about my technique? This is impossible!" Senior Brother Wu cried out again, leaping forward.


    "As for this stance, its strength lies not in the power of your fists, but rather your lower body. Twist your waist in order to generate explosive strength¡ªlike this."


    Xiao Nanfeng sent Senior Brother Wu flying once more. The exact same technique seemed far stronger in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    "How could this be?!" Senior Brother Wu cried out again. He continued charging at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "As for this stance, it''s one of the more subtle ones. Its strength lies not in the fist, but rather in the wrist. Watch carefully."


    The za was silent once more. Everyone stood dumbfounded as Xiao Nanfeng instructed Senior Brother Wu on his own technique.


    Senior Brother Wu himself was outraged and despairing as Xiao Nanfeng defeated him time and time again with the exact same stances he was using, pointing out all his deficiencies.


    Xiao Nanfeng was oppressively strong¡ªnot necessarily in terms of cultivation, but rather of psychology. He could instantly learn your fist technique, use it to defeat you, and even instruct you on your shorings. Was he truly only an Ascension-realm youth?


    The elders seated by the za were themselves watching with disbelief. This was beyond even their capabilities; only division leaders and the sect master himself could aplish such a disy.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes were twitching. When he received Xiao Nanfeng''s letterst night, he thought that Xiao Nanfeng had been attempting to im the position of seniormost disciple through nepotism¡ªbut from the looks of this unbelievable talent, he would win it fair and square.


    By then, Nn Feng had arrived on Taiqing Ind. He was standing in the middle of the crowd and observing the fight.


    "How could this be? A grandmaster of the fist..." Nn Feng murmured.


    Once again, Senior Brother Wu was sent flying back. However, Xiao Nanfeng had reined in his strength, allowing Senior Brother Wu to stabilize himself after stumbling back just a few steps.


    "I''ve taught you about your deficiencies in this fist technique. Where those stances are intrinsically wed, you''ll have topensate for them with other fist techniques. Otherwise, you''ll be at a stark disadvantage against an expert," Xiao Nanfeng lectured.


    Senior Brother Wu''s face flushed red. He felt shame well up from deep inside, as though he had been stripped bare. His opponent had even pointed out some unique physiological deficiencies that he bore, then suggested certain tonics and concoctions to make up for them. It was humiliating and embarrassing, but what could he say? Xiao Nanfeng was right on all counts! He had no choice but to scurry back into the crowd.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you must have learned Senior Brother Wu''s fist technique from somewhere! I don''t believe that you''re so skilled as to be able to intuit it on the spot. I have a fist technique imparted by the division leader himself, and wish to test it against yours," another disciple called out.


    A new fight began in earnest.


    Xiao Nanfeng unhurriedly continued his didactic lecture. His intention was to make all the Ascended disciples recognize his expertise on all counts, rather than to have them ept him as the seniormost Ascended disciple on ount of Zhao Yuanjiao. His fellow disciples'' techniques were far simpler than Emperor Wei''s Hegemon''s Fist, and hisprehension was more than sufficient to analyze and dissect them.


    Silence reigned as Xiao Nanfeng fought. Everyone watched on with bated breath, even Zhao Tianheng himself. He hade up with this fist technique, and there were minor details he had kept secret from his disciples. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng was able to point out and rectify them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s more than qualified to be the seniormost disciple."


    "I have to agree. The seniormost disciple is responsible for advising us on our cultivation, and I feel like Xiao Nanfeng''s advice would be even more detailed than the elders''."


    "I would respect a seniormost disciple like Xiao Nanfeng."


    As Xiao Nanfeng instructed a third cultivator on her fist technique, the majority of the Ascended disciples were convinced of his strength. Some had even begun addressing him by the title of seniormost disciple.


    "Seniormost disciple of the Ascended division? I think not!" Nn Feng''s eyes shed coldly.


    If Xiao Nanfeng were to seed in this gambit, he would demand an apology from him with the disciples of the Ascended division in tow. He could certainly refuse to see Xiao Nanfeng, but that would be akin to admitting defeat!


    Nn Feng nced around himself before suddenly spotting a certain Ascended disciple. He stepped forward quickly.


    "Junior Brother Qi, you''re one of Division Leader Zhao''s most prized disciples, and I recall that Division Leader Zhao has high expectations for you. Haven''t you been wanting to be the seniormost disciple? Why not take on the challenge?" Nn Feng asked.


    The Ascended disciple, Junior Brother Qi, frowned. "I would like the position, but I''m afraid my fist technique is no match for Xiao Nanfeng''s. I would only end up aughingstock."


    "I can help you win," Nn Feng promised, smiling.


    "Oh?"


    "You don''t have topete in terms of the fist. You can challenge him with a relic or treasure, too," Nn Feng advised.


    Junior Brother Qi''s eyes widened fractionally. He nced at Nn Feng in anticipation.


    "I''ll lend you a treasure that guarantees your victory," Nn Feng promised.


    He retrieved a wooden box with runes carved on every inch of its surface. Nn Feng whispered something to the box, as though giving itmands, before handing the box to Junior Brother Qi.


    When Junior Brother Qi took hold of the box, he noted that it felt as though there were something living moving inside.


    "What''s inside this box?" he asked.


    "Something that will let you win. As long as you open this box before your fight against Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll be victorious. Don''t worry, Xiao Nanfeng won''t die¡ªat worst, he''ll be unconscious for a year or so," Nn Feng whispered.


    Junior Brother Qi stared at Nn Feng for some time. He was aware of the enmity between Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Feng, and he was confident that Nn Feng wouldn''t want Xiao Nanfeng to be the seniormost Ascended. In that case, this box really might be the key to his victory.


    Junior Brother Qi''s eyes narrowed viciously. If it did render Xiao Nanfeng unconscious for about a year, then by the time Xiao Nanfeng woke up, he would likely have be the seniormost disciple himself.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Nn." Junior Brother Qi caressed the wooden box as though it were a treasure.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng sent another junior disciple flying.


    "Is anyone else interested in challenging me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, ncing all around.


    However, no other Ascended disciple was willing to take the stage. They would only lose if they epted his challenge, and be publicly shamed along with it.


    The crowd was silent. Zhao Yuanjiao sucked in a deep breath. "With all challengers defeated, from now on, I dere Xiao Nanfeng¡ª"


    "Hold it!" A voice suddenly interrupted Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Senior Brother Qi stepped toward the center of the za. "If you would do the honor of instructing me, Junior Brother Xiao."

 Chapter 163: Reappearance of the Red Rope

    <h4>Chapter 163: Reappearance of the Red Rope</h4>


    "Senior Brother Qi?"


    "Senior Brother Qi''s the official apprentice of the division leader, and he''s monstrously strong."


    "I always thought that he would be the next seniormost Ascended. This should be an interesting fight."


    The disciples whispered to one another. It was clear that this Senior Brother Qi was a name known to one and all.


    "Of course, Junior Brother!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Senior Brother Qi shed a brief smile. "We haven''t yet fought, and who is to be the seniormost disciple hasn''t yet been decided. Don''t you think you''re being a little too hasty, Junior Brother Xiao?"


    "Actions speak louder than words," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    "On expeditions against foreign enemies, a fist technique need not be the crux to victory. In many circumstances, a treasure or relic will have decisive impact. Do you agree?"


    "What are you trying to get at?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "With my master here, and various junior and senior disciples gathered, I''d like to rify things in advance in case others challenge me for being underhandedter," Senior Brother Qi replied, smiling.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I intend to use a treasure. Be careful," Senior Brother Qi replied.


    "A treasure?" The disciples all around were astounded.


    Wasn''t Senior Brother Qi aware that Xiao Nanfeng was in possession of the Immortal''s Destruction? The other disciples had chosen to fight with solely their fist techniques to avoid him winning with the advanced treasures in his possession. What was Senior Brother Qi intending to do...?


    "A treasure? You may try it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Senior Brother Qi retrieved a wooden box, one which caught everyone''s attention.


    "Just now, the seniormost Mortal disciple Nn Feng lent me this treasure," Senior Brother Qi exined.


    Everyone fell silent, then turned to Nn Feng in surprise. What pettiness!


    Nn Feng froze stiffly, not expecting that Junior Brother Qi would divulge his identity and reveal his pettiness for everyone to see.


    Junior Brother Qi eyed Nn Feng. "Thank you for the loan of your treasure, Senior Brother."


    Upon hearing from Nn Feng that this treasure would render Xiao Nanfeng unconscious for a year, Junior Brother Qi had been preparing this contingency. He knew that Zhao Yuanjiao and Elder Ku would surely make life difficult for him while Xiao Nanfeng remained unconscious, and he had no intention of taking responsibility for this. He simply wanted the benefits of winning.


    Nn Feng, having guessed Junior Brother Qi''s intentions, realized that he had been duped. Even so, under the crowd''s watchful gaze, he could hardly do anything but reveal an embarrassed smile.


    "Junior Brother Xiao, I''m going to get started," Senior Brother Qi announced, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a strange look. This was a rather malicious¡ªno, a rather foolish¡ªdisciple, wasn''t he? His actions would only offend both his backers and Nn Feng. Even if he were to win, no one would think highly of him.


    "Come, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.


    Senior Brother Qi opened up the box, which shone with red light.


    A wave of red light crested toward Xiao Nanfeng, making him feel as though he had been struck by a tsunami. He had no time to counterattack; all he could do was defend with a barrier of spiritual qi.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng found himself sent flying by the red light. As he fell from the sky, he quickly stabilized himself, then looked all around. The Ascended disciples, and indeed the za itself, had vanished. All that remained was thick fog.


    "An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng was just about to break out of the illusion when he suddenly sensed a particrly strong aura before him. He raised his head to see a sixty-meter long red rope floating before him.


    The red rope twisted as it released a tremendous aura, like a python poised to strike. It looked ready to strike at Xiao Nanfeng at any moment.


    "A cursed effigy? A red rope?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    He too possessed a cursed effigy in the form of a red rope, and he could easily recognize its twin. Xiao Nanfeng was very surprised that Nn Feng was in possession of a cursed effigy himself.


    The red rope twisted its body and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar.


    His eyes cold, Xiao Nanfeng punched forward, the tremendous force of the blow causing the red rope to quiver and retreat. Clearly, Xiao Nanfeng''s current level of spiritual power was stronger than the rope''s.


    The red rope roared and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng again, who counterattacked without any fear whatsoever. The red rope was sent flying into the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t chase after it. Rather, he inspected the status of his physical body. He could barely sense pure yang qi shielding his physical body from harm. He was just about to break out of the illusion when he heard Junior Brother Qi''s shrill cry from a distance.


    "Help! Save me!" Senior Brother Qi cried out.


    His head cocked in confusion, Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the fog to see what was going on.


    In reality, a different scene was taking ce.


    All the disciples saw a sh of red light as Senior Brother Qi opened the box. The red light was exceptionally strange; it formed a hemispherical dome about fifteen meters in radius, encapsting Xiao Nanfeng and Senior Brother Qi.


    Bothbatants froze stiff.


    "Are they in an illusory realm?"


    "Is the wooden box''s effect to create an illusory realm?"


    "Nn Feng''s rather smart, isn''t he? He knows that he won''t be able to beat the Immortal''s Destruction, so he intends to fight Xiao Nanfeng in an illusory realm!"


    "What such illusions test is spiritual power. Xiao Nanfeng''s only been in the sect for a year. He can''t have improved his spiritual cultivation much in that time, could he?"


    The disciples began to discuss matters with each other once again.


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned in worry, while Zhao Tianheng took a sip of his tea with satisfied pleasure.


    Just then, an object emerged from the wooden box.


    "What''s that?" someone cried out.


    It was a red rope that swam agilely out of the wooden box like a serpent, heading straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What sort of treasure is that? It can move on its own within the domain of the red hemisphere!" someone cried out.


    The elders'' eyes widened. They all looked toward Zhao Tianheng, guessing that it might be a cursed effigy.


    Zhao Tianheng raised an eyebrow at Nn Feng. "Nn Feng, have you subdued this treasure?"


    Considering Nn Feng''s status, Zhao Tianheng didn''t point out that this was a cursed effigy. Rather, he was asking obliquely if the cursed effigy would kill Xiao Nanfeng.


    "There''s no need to worry, Division Leader Zhao. I''ve subdued this treasure, and it listens to mymands. You can think of it like an Immortal-restraining rope," Nn Feng exined.


    "An Immortal-restraining rope?" The disciples all around him nced at the red hemisphere curiously.


    This rope didn''t seem like an Immortal-restraining rope, which had to be controlled with mantras...


    The next moment, the red rope had swum over to Xiao Nanfeng''s side and coiled around him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body began to re with me. The three suns within his body, sensing the imminent danger, automatically released their energy to protect their master. ming waves of energy surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, forcing the closest disciples to retreat.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s qi barrier is particrly potent!"


    "The seniormost disciple''s barrier is really impressive!"


    Many disciples praised Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, but the red rope didn''t seem afraid of the mes. It formed asso around his neck and drew taut, distorting the ming barrier of qi, which shrank to protect Xiao Nanfeng''s neck. Thesso grew tighter and tighter as the qi by Xiao Nanfeng''s neck fought valiantly to protect him.


    One end of the red rope rose into the air, pulling Xiao Nanfeng''s body upward.


    Everyone''s eyes widened in rm¡ªit looked as though Xiao Nanfeng wasmitting suicide before their eyes.


    "Is this cursed effigy trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng?!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out, stepping forward.


    "Step down, Zhao Yuanjiao! If you disrupt their illusory confrontation by force, you might very well hurt both disciples," Zhao Tianheng shouted.


    "Uncle, that''s a cursed effigy, one that can kill others!"


    "Nn Feng has confirmed that he has subdued that red rope, and it won''t kill Xiao Nanfeng. Back down. If Xiao Nanfeng is in life-threatening danger, I''ll step in myself," Zhao Tianheng replied coolly.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was frustrated. He was certain that something was amiss, but Zhao Tianheng was clearly siding with Senior Brother Qi. He couldn''t do anything, because he couldn''t prove that Xiao Nanfeng was indeed in life-threatening danger.


    Not far away, Nn Feng smirked to himself. He wouldn''t kill Xiao Nanfeng, certainly, but wounding his spiritual avatar and forcing him into aa for a year or so was a trifling affair. He was confident in the red rope''s strength.


    The za was silent as everyone watched the fight y out with bated breath.


    Within the illusion, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. What he saw after passing through the fog wasn''t just the red rope and Senior Brother Qi, but also Madam Rouge as well.


    Madam Rouge had torn off half of Senior Brother Qi''s body and swallowed it, leaving half of his body remaining. Unable to escape from the illusory realm, Senior Brother Qi cried out in fear.


    "Save me, Senior Brother Xiao! Save me!" Senior Brother Qi panicked.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng ignored Senior Brother Qi. He looked toward Madam Rouge, understanding that he was likely no match for her as is without calling on the power of his own cursed effigies.


    "What horrible luck. This Nn Feng must be crazy to use a cursed effigy on me. Madam Rouge''s going to gain a windfall again," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    Xiao Nanfeng schooled his features and hid his inner thoughts. He smiled in a friendly manner. "Madam Rouge, look! I''ve brought you another cursed spiritual avatar, a feast! I hope you enjoy your meal and will take this as a sign of my dedication to you!"


    Madam Rouge nced disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng, forming words with her signature ck smoke. "Liar. I can see your fight taking ce in the za in physical reality. You''re trying to trick me."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...

 Chapter 164: An Ancient Turtle

    <h4>Chapter 164: An Ancient Turtle</h4>


    Zheng Qian, Ye Dafu, and the others were escorted back to the Isle of Xiao by Ye Sanshui.


    The moment they stepped ontond, Zheng Qian waved everyone toward a valley on the ind.


    "Where are we headed, Mr. Zheng? We''re still wounded, and need treatment!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "If you want to live, you have toe with me. Quickly!" Zheng Qian shouted.


    "What?" The cultivators didn''t know what was going on, but they obediently followed behind Zheng Qian.


    Before they split up at sea, Xiao Nanfeng had informed Zheng Qian of his preparations and given him a few talismans for controlling the Immortal''s Destruction. He was well aware that, while they were visible at sea and within sight of strong cultivators of the Taiqing Ind, the men tailing them wouldn''t dare to make a move. Now that they were in the Isle of Xiao with foliage blocking any sight from afar, the men would have no such reservations.


    Indeed, Mr. Qin had been following behind the cultivators, flying through the air and hiding amidst the fog. He stared at Zheng Qian and the others, waiting for them to head under cover. He smirked. "Zheng Qian, His Highness gave you an opportunity to serve under him, but you chose to follow Xiao Nanfeng instead, fool that you are!"


    His body flickered as he chased after Zheng Qian. He watched as they entered a valley, following close by. The valley was lush with vegetation and there were no guards around, but Mr. Qin remained particrly cautious.


    "Why did they head into this valley so urgently?" Mr. Qin wondered.


    Suddenly, as he saw the huge Immortal''s Destruction close by, his eyes lit up.


    "Wonderful. I won''t even have to waste time searching for the Immortal''s Destruction." Mr. Qin leapt toward Zheng Qian.


    "Who is it?!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted, sensing the imminent danger.


    Zheng Qian nched as he hurriedly retrieved a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "You won''t have time to use the Immortal''s Destruction against me. Die!" Mr. Qin thundered.


    He struck with incredible speed, confident that he would be able to take Zheng Qian down in time. Zheng Qian, scared stiff, fumbled in his fluster.


    Just then, Mr. Qin felt a premonition of danger. He raised his head and saw a burst of golden light, replete with runes.


    "What? Zheng Qian hasn''t had time to activate the Immortal''s Destruction..." Mr. Qin cried out.


    The de shot toward Mr. Qin, who dodged and was dealt only a ncing blow.


    He fell to the ground and was just about to climb back up to continue his assault of Zheng Qian when a giant tongue enveloped him.


    "What?!" Mr. Qin cried out again.


    The tongue retracted, bringing Mr. Qin into Croak''s mouth.


    Croak swallowed him whole.


    "What just happened?"


    "What a frightening toad spirit!"


    "Be careful, Mr. Zheng!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys panicked as they attempted to protect Zheng Qian. Zheng Qian was likewise shocked when he saw Croak''s massive form, but he quickly calmed down.


    "Don''t worry. On the way back here, Sir Xiao told me about this toad spirit, whose name is Croak. It was waiting here for the enemy to fall into our trap. That was Mr. Qin, I believe? Croak ate him," Zheng Qian informed everyone.


    "Croak?" Ye Dafu and his group nced toward the humongous toad spirit in shock.


    "Xiao Nanfeng said that there would be a bad enemy here who would show up and attack you. I didn''t think he would be so easy to take down!" Croak patted its stomach happily.


    Zheng Qian smiled. He didn''t exin that Croak had only had such an easy time because Zheng Qian was using himself as bait.


    Beyond the Isle of Nn, Warble slowly emerged from the depths of the sea. Fog shrouded it and covered its bulk as it waddled toward the ruined harbor. The hugemotion quickly alerted the guards around.


    "Spiritbeast attack! Inform His Highness immediately!" one guard cried out.


    Warble made a huge warbling noise that resonated through the air.


    A spiritual attack propagated in the form of sound waves, momentarily stunning the guards. They cried out in pain as they clutched their heads, then fainted.


    Warble ignored the guards and headed straight for the formation.


    Strangely enough, the formation didn''t impede Warble''s advance. It passed straight through.


    The moment Warble breached the formation, voices could be heard from afar. "There''s something wrong with the entrance to the formation! Everyone there is unconscious. It''s an enemy raid!"


    By then, You Jiu had dealt with all the guards at the entrance to the formation.


    "Warble, we have to move quickly. Don''t let them send out a signal," You Jiu urged.


    Warble struck with another ulting warble, causing the guards all around to shriek in pain once again. Even an Ascension-realm cultivator would be hard-pressed to withstand the barrage of sound, let alone the Immanence-realm guards. They quickly fell unconscious.


    Warble leapt into the air, hopping all around and releasing more of its eponymous warbles.


    Within moments, essentially everyone on the ind fell prey to Warble''s devastating sonic attacks. After that, there was only silence.


    "Haha, aren''t I strong?" Warble croaked happily.


    You Jiu warned, "Be careful. Although Nn Feng has brought the majority of his Ascension-realm subordinates along with him, there are surely a few left on the ind. They may not be unconscious and might even be lying in wait for us. Watch out."


    Warble nodded seriously. It flew into the air and carefully watched its surroundings, waiting for any cultivators to appear out of hiding.


    Indeed, some Ascension-realm cultivators had been pretending to be unconscious as they clutched their heads in pain, clear-headed despite the sonic attack. They wanted to send word beyond the ind, but after seeing Warble floating in the air and surrounded by mist, they didn''t dare move.


    Warble''s frightening, bestial aura suppressed the entire ind as You Jiu rushed toward certain specific locations on the ind to steal all of Nn Feng''s umted wealth and treasures before rushing off toward the prison.


    Within the prison were arge group of captives that Nn Feng had captured. You Jiu quickly unchained and uncuffed them.


    "Thank you, hero!" a few Ascension-realm captives rasped weakly.


    You Jiu ignored them. The only reason he was releasing these captives was to cause trouble for Nn Feng. Once they escaped, they would surely take revenge on him.


    You Jiu continued toward his next target, a mountain cave which harbored the centerpiece of the formation. He intended on taking the formation of mist with him.


    When he arrived at the mountain cave, he didn''t rush inside. Rather, he flicked his hand at its entrance, releasing a cloud of white mist.


    A pained cry came from within the cave.


    You Jiu narrowed his eyes. Indeed, there were guards pretending to be unconscious within. He continued to manipte his white mist, sending it further within the cave, as he walked inside. Within moments, he had dealt with all the guards.


    When he saw the core of the formation for himself, You Jiu gasped.


    Within the cave was a huge pit with a copper spike embedded into each of its five walls. The copper spikes were radiating beams of white light into the sky through a skylight-like hole at the top of the cave. The beams of white light manifested in the form of a huge formation.


    Tied to the five copper spikes was a chain that was tethered to a turtle, its eyes shut as though in repose. It looked ancient and weathered. Its head and four limbs were all securely chained, and there was even a golden fist on its back. That fist gave off waves of scorching heat, as though suppressing the ancient turtle. The five copper spikes, along with the fist, seemed to be absorbing the turtle''s essence and transforming it into the formation of mist that protected the ind.


    "What sort of formation is this...?" You Jiu gasped.


    "Lad, were you intending on leaving with the formation?" a voice asked.


    You Jiu''s eyes widened as the ancient turtle slowly opened its eyes. "You''re still alive?"


    "Of course I''m still alive. You''re not alone, are you? There''s a spiritbeast outside with you? Good, very good! Pull out these draconic spikes and the formation will naturally disperse. Then, take it away along with me. I can''t move at the moment. Bring me with you, and I''ll provide you with a transformative opportunity," the turtle wheezed.


    You Jiu hesitated for a long moment before sucking in a deep breath. "Alright, I''ll take you with me."


    In the end, he decided to do so. Regardless of whether the turtle was a blessing or a cmity, he believed that he would be able to suppress it with the Immortal''s Destruction if he had to.


    You Jiu pulled out the five copper spikes with a huge rumble, causing the formation of mist outside to dissipate. He rushed out of the cave with the five spikes and the ancient turtle.


    Warble hesitated upon seeing You Jiu, not expecting that he would return with a turtle of all things.


    "We leave now!" You Jiu shouted.


    Warble helped shoulder his load, bringing You Jiu with it toward the distant sea.


    As they fled, res flew into the air above the Isle of Nn. The cultivators who had been pretending to be unconscious hurriedly sent signals to Taiqing Ind now that Croak''s aura had disappeared¡ªbut by then, it was already toote.

 Chapter 165: Compensating Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 165: Compensating Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    In the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, within the illusory realm in which Xiao Nanfeng was trapped, Madam Rouge headed straight for the red rope.


    The red rope roared and shot forward, but Madam Rouge punched it and caused it to explode into ten lengths of red rope. The fragments tried to rbine, but Madam Rouge sucked up half of them in one breath.


    "What? How could this be?!" the remaining five strands of red rope cried out, trying to flee, but Madam Rouge appeared before them and punched at them again.


    The lengths of red rope fragmented further. Madam Rouge sucked them up and absorbed them whole.


    "No!" the red rope shrieked in despair.


    "Madam Rouge''s going to grow much stronger again..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    By the time Madam Rouge finished her meal and looked toward Xiao Nanfeng again, he was already escaping through a hole he had made with superior yin frost.


    "Madam Rouge, if there''s more cursed spiritual power in the future, I''ll let you know. We''re growing rather familiar with each other now, aren''t we? You don''t have to see me out." Xiao Nanfeng fled faster than a rabbit, darting into the hole and vanishing from the illusory realm.


    Madam Rouge: ...


    "Senior Brother Xiao, wait! Take me with you, please!" Senior Brother Qi cried out.


    Before he could say anything more, Madam Rouge killed him with a swipe of her ws, then absorbed him whole in a fit of rage.


    Back in reality, countless Taiqing disciples saw Xiao Nanfeng being raised into the air by the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    Suddenly, the red rope quivered. Then, as though having lost all its strength, it fell limp to the ground, Xiao Nanfeng falling with it.


    As hended, Xiao Nanfeng woke up. His eyes gleamed brightly as they opened.


    "The seniormost disciple''s awake!" someone shouted in excitement.


    "Congrattions, Senior Brother Xiao!" Countless Ascended disciples cheered Xiao Nanfeng''s victory.


    As Xiao Nanfeng tossed aside the red rope around his neck, Zhao Yuanjiao sighed in relief. Meanwhile, Zhao Tianheng raised an eyebrow at Nn Feng, as though asking him why his cursed effigy was so weak.


    "How could he be awake?!" Nn Feng cried out.


    He knew how potent the red rope was¡ªeven a cultivator atte-stage Ster Lake would be no match for it. How could Xiao Nanfeng bepletely unaffected?


    On the other hand, Junior Brother Qi''s body shook as he sprayed out a mouthful of blood and fell paralyzed to the ground.


    "What''s the matter, Senior Brother Qi?!" Some disciples familiar with him rushed forward and inspected his body, only to cry out in surprise, "Elders, Senior Brother Qi is dead!"


    "What?" Cries rang out from all around them.


    "Qi Zhong is dead?" Zhao Tianheng frowned gravely as he rushed forward. He inspected Junior Brother Qi''s body and found that all signs of life had left him. He was well and truly dead.


    "What happened? How did he die?" Zhao Tianheng suddenly red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Uncle, you must be mistaken. Xiao Nanfeng was never in contact with Qi Zhong; how could his death be rted to Xiao Nanfeng? It was clearly that cursed effigy, that red rope, which killed him. Shouldn''t you be interrogating Nn Feng instead?" Zhao Yuanjiao stated. Then, he turned to Nn Feng. "Nn Feng, how could you do this? All Xiao Nanfeng wanted from you was an apology. Even if you refused to apologize, how could you be so malicious as to try to kill him with a cursed effigy?"


    "I never did so," Nn Feng replied stonily. "I simply lent a treasure to Junior Brother Qi, and I don''t know what happened within the illusory realm myself."


    "Do you think all of us are blind? Only a cursed effigy could kill someone within an illusory realm. If your red rope didn''t cause Junior Brother Qi''s death, what could have?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked coldly.


    All the Taiqing disciples gathered at the za looked toward Nn Feng doubtfully.


    "I''m not sure myself," Nn Feng replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was about to continue interrogating him when Zhao Tianheng interrupted, "That''s enough. We need a clear understanding of the facts to determine who the culprit is. Xiao Nanfeng, show me that red rope."


    Zhao Yuanjiao pursed his lips angrily.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed the red rope to Zhao Tianheng, who carefully analyzed the red rope in conjunction with the gathered elders.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what happened within the illusory realm?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "Within the illusion, I saw the red rope grow to about sixty meters in size, like a giant python. It was tremendously strong and attacked both me and Junior Brother Qi. We split up and ran, and I was fortunate enough to escape," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "How did you escape? Why didn''t you take Qi Zhong with you?" Zhao Tianheng demanded.


    "My escape was facilitated by a technique my father taught me, and it would only have been able to bring me out of the illusion. I regret that I cannot divulge more information regarding this private technique," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Uncle, shouldn''t you be concerned about the murder enacted by the cursed effigy? Xiao Nanfeng can hardly be expected to share his secrets!" Zhao Yuanjiao added helpfully.


    "The spiritual avatar of this cursed effigy has vanished. Isn''t it natural that I would ask about the events in the illusory realm?" Zhao Tianheng retorted coldly.


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned, but didn''t speak further.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you know why the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar has vanished?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "I don''t, Division Leader Zhao."


    Zhao Tianheng red at Xiao Nanfeng, unable to shake the suspicion that Xiao Nanfeng was hiding something from him, but he had no evidence with which to press further.


    "Nn Feng, how do you exin this?" Zhao Tianheng turned to Nn Feng.


    "Division Leader Zhao, my uncle lent me this red rope. He told me that he had subdued the cursed effigy within; I would trust him with my life. There must have been some anomaly that caused the red rope to kill a cultivator," Nn Feng exined quickly.


    "Your uncle?" Zhao Tianheng raised an eyebrow, clearly having heard of him.


    "I would be a fool to kill a junior brother in in sight on such an asion. How could I, the seniormost Mortal disciple, engage in such an act? I beseech you to investigate the matter carefully, Division Leader Zhao!"


    Nn Feng himself was very upset. He had no evidence to vindicate himself of the suspicion of murder. Regardless of the oue today, his reputation in the Taiqing sect would drop dramatically.


    "Division Leader Zhao, I know you must be upset about the loss of your disciple, but Nn Feng''s right. He would never intentionally kill someone in so public a fashion."


    "There must be some reason that the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar has vanished, and we shouldn''t me Nn Feng for it without understanding what has happened."


    "That''s right. I''m willing to vouch for Nn Feng. Qi Zhong''s death is unrted to him."


    "I too will vouch for Nn Feng."


    "I too will vouch for Nn Feng."


    A considerable number of elders stepped forward to protect Nn Feng.


    "A Taiqing disciple has died! Do you think your word would be enough to deflect me?" Zhao Yuanjiao castigated them.


    "A cursed effigy killed them, not Nn Feng. The truth is yet unknown. How do you intend to assign me?" one elder retorted.


    "Indeed. Our word should suffice until more evidence is found," another elder added.


    Zhao Yuanjiao fumed. He turned to Zhao Tianheng. The dead disciple was his prized apprentice. Surely he didn''t intend on letting Nn Feng go?


    Zhao Tianheng stared at Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Feng for some time. "It''s certain that a cursed effigy was the culprit, but the truth of the matter hasn''t been decided. Only by obtaining the cursed spiritual avatar of the red rope will we be able to uncover the truth. I will personally take charge of investigating this matter, and none shall be maligned before the facts are known. I do not intend to penalize either Xiao Nanfeng nor Nn Feng for the time being."


    "Thank you, Division LEader Zhao!" Nn Feng immediately bowed.


    "You speak wisely, Division Leader Zhao." The gathered elders also bowed.


    Only Zhao Yuanjiao continued staring at him coldly. He could sense that Zhao Tianheng was deliberately favoring Nn Feng¡ªand to such an extent that he didn''t even seem to care about his own disciple''s death.


    "Division Leader Zhao, there''s a matter I would like to bring up," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly began.


    "Yes?" Zhao Tianheng frowned.


    "I heard that cursed effigies are particrly vengeful. The moment they fix their sights on someone, they''ll relentlessly hound them until their target is dead. I escaped from the red rope, so I assume this applies to me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Everyone was stunned.


    "Nn Feng caused me to be the target of that cursed effigy, and I should bepensated ordingly. At the very least, he owes me a treasure that can counter a cursed effigy. Otherwise, am I to simply ept the gue that he has inflicted upon me?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    Everyone: ...


    Nn Feng red at Xiao Nanfeng. Was Xiao Nanfeng attempting to defraud him of a treasure?


    "Uncle, cursed effigies do have such properties. Xiao Nanfeng was introduced totent danger as a result of Nn Feng''s deliberate actions, and Nn Feng must take responsibility," Zhao Yuanjiao surmised.


    Zhao Tianheng gave Xiao Nanfeng aplicated look. Xiao Nanfeng really did intend to press every advantage, didn''t he? Zhao Tianheng couldn''t get away with being overly partial toward Nn Feng in the public eye.


    "What say you, Nn Feng?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "I have no treasure that may counter a cursed effigy, except for that red rope that the division leader now possesses," Nn Feng replied, suppressing his rising anger.


    He had no intention of giving Xiao Nanfeng a treasure.


    "In that case, Nn Feng, why not show me all your treasures? I''ll pick a few aspensation," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Nn Feng turned away from Xiao Nanfeng, ignoring his suggestion.


    "Division Leader Zhao, why don''t you help me persuade Nn Feng topromise? After all, he was ultimately responsible for today''s affairs, and he could hardly shirk responsibility. An Ascended disciple died because of his actions, and his irreverent attitude is a clear sign of disrespect toward the Ascended division. Division Leader Zhao, owing to your position, I urge that you seek justice on our behalf," Xiao Nanfeng immediately turned to Zhao Tianheng.


    Zhao Tianheng: ...


    He suddenly discovered that Xiao Nanfeng was both difficult to deal with and rather shameless, at that.


    After a prolonged silence, Zhao Tianheng finally took a deep breath. "This length of red rope is the physical manifestation of the cursed effigy. If its cursed spiritual avatar shows up, you may use it to discuss terms with the cursed effigy. Let''s leave it at that."


    Zhao Tianheng stuffed the length of red rope in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... Wasn''t Zhao Tianheng being far too partial toward Nn Feng in the public eye?

 Chapter 166: Seniormost Disciple Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 166: Seniormost Disciple Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    "Thank you, Division Leader Zhao." Xiao Nanfeng kept the red rope. He didn''t make further demands; it would be pointless if Zhao Tianheng were going to be so protective of Nn Feng.


    Zhao Tianheng gave Xiao Nanfeng a skeptical look, then motioned to his official apprentices. "Carry Qi Zhong''s body and follow me."


    "Yes, Division Leader!" his apprentices replied.


    Zhao Tianheng stepped through the air and away from the Hall of Immortal Recruitment. He had no words of praise or encouragement for Xiao Nanfeng, and clearly no interest in making even the slightest overture between division leader and seniormost disciple.


    "All disciples of the Ascended division, mark my words! Today, despite the unfortunate intercession of a cursed effigy that has taken the life of Qi Zhong, we have witnessed the appointment of a new seniormost disciple, Xiao Nanfeng! If none other doubt his ability, then may he guide our division to greater heights," Zhao Yuanjiao proimed.


    The Ascended disciples nced at each other. Although Zhao Tianheng''s dislike for him was obvious, Xiao Nanfeng''s actions had overwhelmed them and convinced them of his strength. No one raised any further objections.


    "I greet the seniormost Ascended disciple!" one disciple began.


    "We greet the seniormost Ascended disciple!" The first disciple''s words were echoed countless times over.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward the gathered crowd. "And I thank all of you for your recognition."


    "We greet the seniormost Ascended disciple." The disciples of the other three divisions likewise paid their respects,


    and Xiao Nanfeng returned their gesture in kind. Zhao Yuanjiao himself showed Xiao Nanfeng around, introducing him to his most trusted subordinates among the Ascended division. The convivial atmosphere between the seniormost disciples of past and present released much of the tension that the Ascended disciples held.


    Only Nn Feng retreated to the side, his face dark.


    "The seniormost Ascended disciple? It''s just a title, nothing more. Wait until Mr. Qin steals your Immortal''s Destruction away. We''ll see what you can smile about then!" Nn Feng murmured coldly.


    Just then, one of Nn Feng''s subordinates nched. "Your Highness, something''s wrong with the Isle of Nn."


    Nn Feng turned to the horizon to see res from the Isle of Nn rising into the air.


    "The ind''s been attacked. Something''s wrong!" Nn Feng cried out.


    He hurriedly enlisted the help of several elders from the Mortal division, who brought him flying through the air straight toward the ind.


    When Xiao Nanfeng saw Nn Feng depart in a hurry, his eyes lit up. "You Jiu must have seeded, then..."


    "Nn Feng''s leaving. Aren''t you going to ask for a public apology?" Zhao Yuanjiao whispered.


    "Forget it. He''s already been punished, if this is any indication," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nced at Nn Feng thoughtfully.


    "Thank you for your help, Senior Brother," Xiao Nanfeng added, smiling.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was silent for long moments, unustomed to making small talk. He simply nodded.


    "Senior Brother, could I get your guidanceter on how to make reports to the various peaks? I have urgent business to attend to right now in the Isle of Xiao."


    Once again, Zhao Yuanjiao simply nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward the gathered Ascended disciples. "Junior Brothers, I must return to my ind at present. I''ll host a celebration in the future."


    The Ascended disciples bowed as they saw their new seniormost disciple off.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed toward the harbor, where he had prepared a ship in advance.


    The ship brought Xiao Nanfeng straight toward the Isle of Xiao. Although he had countermeasures nned for Nn Feng''s actions, he was still worried about potential incidents.


    Meanwhile, Nn Feng, with the assistance of a group of Mortal elders, quicklynded on the Isle of Nn. They hurriedly began to investigate the situation on the ind.


    "A Spiritsong-realm beastunched a sneak attack on you, someone stole all the wealth and riches that the ind possessed, freed the convicts, and even imed the ind''s protective formation?!" one elder cried out.


    "It had to be Xiao Nanfeng!" Nn Feng thundered.


    "Nn Feng, I know that Xiao Nanfeng has tarnished your reputation, but surely you can''t me everything on him?" One elder frowned.


    "He was responsible¡ªI understand it all now! He was deliberately provoking me so as to lure me to Taiqing Ind and weakening the defenses here. Then, he had his subordinates raid this ind! He was forcing me to apologize in order to infuriate me and cause me to make unwise decisions!"


    "But why would a Spiritsong-realm spirit assist him?" another elder asked.


    "It must be a trump card he held in reserve. And¡ªthis means that something has likely happened to Mr. Qin." Nn Feng''s face nched.


    He calmed down quickly and dissected Xiao Nanfeng''s n. Xiao Nanfeng had attacked the Isle of Nn on behalf of Zheng Qian, so how would he have allowed Zheng Qian to return to the Isle of Xiao without being prepared for an ambush? Mr. Qin was in grave danger!


    "What''s wrong with Mr. Qin?" the elders asked.


    Nn Feng couldn''t reveal what he had done. Commanding Mr. Qin to raid the Isle of Xiao was underhanded and improper, after all.


    "Elders, I am certain that Xiao Nanfeng has raided this ind. Would all of you be willing to help me reim what is mine?" Nn Feng asked the elders anxiously.


    The elders nced at each other, frowning.


    "Nn Feng, have you any evidence of that im?" one elder asked.


    Nn Feng grimaced. If I had definite evidence, would I need your help?


    "Your subordinates are unconscious, but none are dead. This incident would only be ssified as theft, nothing more serious. Were it before today, we could well have investigated the Isle of Xiao on your behalf; after all, Xiao Nanfeng was just an ordinary disciple then. Now, however, things have changed. Xiao Nanfeng has been instated as the seniormost Ascended disciple, a symbolic position that trumps that of the majority of elders. Without any evidence, with nothing but suspicion, barging into the territory of a seniormost disciple would be a difficult decision. It would be eptable if we did find evidence, but highly awkward otherwise. The moment he reports it to the sect leader, we elders would all be punished," one elder exined.


    "But I''m certain that this theft was his doing!" Nn Feng cried out. He was very worried about Mr. Qin''s safety.


    "Let''s assume that he was responsible. Would he be foolish enough as to leave his spoils in the Isle of Xiao?" one elder countered.


    Nn Feng frowned. He knew that the elders wouldn''t be willing to help him search the Isle of Xiao now, but he quickly calmed down. Perhaps if he were to do so, he would y right into Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    "I understand. Thank you, everyone," Nn Feng replied, taking in a deep breath.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s father was the best of friends with yours. There''s no need for such enmity between the two of you¡ªwhy not try to resolve matters amicably? Otherwise, things might be quite difficult for us, stuck between a rock and a hard ce as we are," one elder replied.


    The others all nodded. Xiao Hongye and Emperor Tianshu had been the most prominent elders of the Mortal division, and it would be inconvenient for them to go against the son of either elder. Although Xiao Hongye had been missing for a decade, if he were to suddenly return and see them oppressing his son, they would surely suffer.


    "I am aware. Thank you once again." Nn Feng nodded, his face still dark.


    Xiao Nanfeng had rushed back to the Isle of Xiao at great speed. He stood on a promontory as he observed the Isle of Nn.


    "Benefactor, Nn Feng won''te again," Zheng Qian promised, smiling.


    "If he did, we might very well earn more gold off him. It''s a shame," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Benefactor, he''s the third son of Emperor Tianshu. If the right of enmity between the two of you deepens, I worry that it will prove disadvantageous to you," Zheng Qian remarked.


    "I wasn''t the one who wanted to be enemies with him. He incited everything. The fact that I had You Jiu spare his subordinates'' lives is more than enough clemency. These titlednds of the Xiao n belong solely to me. I might respect Emperor Tianshu, but that doesn''t mean that I have to cede my authority to Nn Feng. Furthermore, the future sess of thesends will depend not on others'' alms, but rather on our own strength," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I will give it my all." Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    "Go on. Tell You Jiu and the others to head back onto the ind. I wonder how many more refugees you''ll be able to save with their spoils," Xiao Nanfeng instructed, smiling.


    Zheng Qian walked excitedly alongside Xiao Nanfeng to a valley nearby.


    Two hourster, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu all gathered there. Everyone was staring at an ancient sea turtle chained to five copper spikes. A golden fist on the turtle''s shell prevented it from moving.


    "A sea turtle spirit?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    The sea turtle looked all around before settling on Xiao Nanfeng. "This operation on the Isle of Nn was your idea, wasn''t it?"


    "How might I address you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You can just call me Old Turtle. I heard someone mention that you used the Immortal''s Destruction to break through the protective formation around the Isle of Nn. Can I have a look at a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was a little surprised by the turtle''s request, but obliged it.


    The ancient turtle''s eyes shed with surprise. It then smiled. "How lucky you are, young cultivator. This is the Immortal''s Destruction of the divine empire of Great Wei, isn''t it?"


    "Oh? You recognize it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    The ancient turtle nodded, then sighed wearily. "I thought the attacks were somewhat familiar, and seeing this talisman has confirmed my suspicions. It''s been so long since I''ve seen it."


    "Oh? You''ve seen the Immortal''s Destruction before?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    The ancient turtle nodded. "More than a millennium ago, Emperor Wei borrowed a number of treasures from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. The Immortal''s Destruction was one such. I was still a youngling at the time, and I was responsible for polishing that treasure daily."


    "The Eastern Sea Draconic Pce?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He recalled that Blue Lantern had left for that pce along with the serpent.


    "The Eastern Sea Draconic Pce was the jewel of the sea a millennium ago, whose name was famous throughout the world. Now, however, it''s a pile of ruins." The ancient turtle sighed.


    "Oh?"


    "I was captured by Emperor Tianshu precisely because of its dereliction. Do you see this golden fist to the back of my shell? It''s an ardent seal by Emperor Tianshu himself, which has been suppressing my strength ever since," the ancient turtle continued.


    "Why did Emperor Tianshu capture you?"


    "Although the draconic pce has be a pile of ruins, everyone knew that it was once adorned with countless treasures. The ten thousand dragons of the pce may have died, but their treasures live on. All the sects of the Eastern Sea, all the spiritbeastirs, and even the powers in the surroundingnds, eye the ruins for treasures. Everyone wants what lies within, and they''ve been capturing and interrogating the spirits in the region about the location of the pce''s treasure. I was one such spirit," the ancient turtle exined.


    "You survived Emperor Tianshu''s interrogation?"


    The ancient turtle shook its head wryly. "If I knew the location of the treasures, I would im them for myself. How would I have ended up in such straits? Emperor Tianshu knew that he would get nothing from me, but he was reluctant to free me in case I knew any important information. I''ve been trapped in the Isle of Nn since."

 Chapter 167: The Red Fog Formation

    <h4>Chapter 167: The Red Fog Formation</h4>


    The ancient turtle''s description evoked pity in the crowd. Xiao Nanfeng prudently asked, "You told You Jiu that you would hand us a transformative opportunity as long as he brought you away from the Isle of Nn?"


    "I had been exaggerating, of course, out of desire to flee the Isle of Nn. As is, I am bereft of all but a few ordinary spiritbeast cultivation techniques. I wouldn''t have been able to live up to my word¡ªif not for the fact that you possess the Immortal''s Destruction of the divine empire of Great Wei. I can provide you with critical information about its usage, which none but I am aware of. Emperor Wei couldn''t have known about it that year he borrowed it, either."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction can absorb the energy of the earth. If used correctly, it can extract a draconic vein fully as well," the ancient turtle began.


    "You mean that the Immortal''s Destruction can absorb draconic aether?"


    The ancient turtle shook its head. "It can strip all the energy in a draconic vein and manifest it fully."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "I can sense a minor draconic vein underneath this Isle of Xiao, and one underneath the Isle of Nn as well. If you''re interested, I can teach you how to use the Immortal''s Destruction in this manner."


    "What are the consequences?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "The consequences? You can either absorb all the draconic aether for yourself, or transform all of that aether into a massively supercharged attack. Guess how strong it''ll be." The ancient turtle smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng was stunned. The cost was considerable, but the benefit equally extreme.


    "Please enlighten me," Xiao Nanfeng asked, his eyes brightening.


    The ancient turtle smiled. "I can''t do anything while suppressed by this golden fist."


    Xiao Nanfeng understood that this was a negotiation of terms.


    "Of course. Please allow me to free you, elder," Xiao Nanfeng replied smoothly.


    The ancient turtle nodded.


    "Sir Xiao, this golden fist bears extreme heat. It''s a particrly unusual seal. Warble and I have tried to dispel it, but we weren''t even able to touch it," You Jiu informed him.


    "Once you try to attack the fist, it''ll start burning up like mad! It burned my hands," Warble immediately added.


    "This ardent seal was applied by Emperor Tianshu himself, and breaking it is no easy feat," the turtle concluded.


    Xiao Nanfeng prodded the golden fist gingerly with a finger. Indeed, the moment he touched it, a tremendous wave of fire shot into his body, intending to burn him to a crisp.


    You Jiu and Warble might not have been able to withstand the mes, but Xiao Nanfeng was different. The moment the me shot into his body, the three suns in his dantian glowed with resplendent light, then began to absorb the mes and transform them into pure yang qi.


    "Ah? You''re fine? Do you cultivate pure yang qi?" the turtle remarked in surprise.


    "Is pure yang qi necessary to unseal you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The turtle gave him aplicated look. "This ''ardent seal'' was formed out of pure yang qi by Emperor Tianshu. As an Ascension-realm cultivator, you wouldn''t be able to bear the mes unless you possessed pure yang qi of your own.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    "This ardent seal boasts so much pure yang qi that it might take you more than a month to unseal mepletely, but the fact that it''s possible at all is enough." The ancient turtle appeared to be tremendously excited about the possibility of freedom.


    "It might not take that long," Xiao Nanfeng replied, concentrating.


    He spurred forth the three suns within his body at full strength, causing tremendous suction to envelop the golden fist. zing mes shot out of the fist and were sucked into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    A tremendous eruption rocked the valley, which was aze with me. The golden fist released such overwhelming fire that You Jiu, Zheng Qian, and the others were all forced back.


    "How could this be?! You''re only at Ascension. How can you withstand such tremendous quantities of pure yang qi?!"


    "Rise!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a huge boom, the golden fist rose up from the ancient turtle''s back and floated into the sky. It transformed into arge fireball that encapsted Xiao Nanfeng, burning everything around him. If not for Croak and Warble suppressing the fire, it could very well have burned the entire valley.


    Everyone was shocked.


    The ancient turtle grew serious. "Could he be cultivating some sr technique? It has to be something of that nature. How bold¡ªdoesn''t he know that he could very well burn himself to death with the slightest incaution? Emperor Tianshu was a madman, and he is too!"


    After two whole hours, Xiao Nanfeng finished absorbing the seemingly endless mes given off by the golden fist. A wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, ttening the grass and shrubs around them.


    "Have you broken through, Xiao Nanfeng?" Croak asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a contemtive frown. He was now in the fourth stage of Ascension, with a fourth sun in his dantian. Simultaneously, he had gleaned just how frightening Emperor Tianshu was.


    "Elder, do you feel morefortable now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Thank you,d," the ancient turtle replied with satisfaction.


    It slowly stretched as white fog emerged from its body, cracking open the chains that fettered it.


    Xiao Nanfeng tensed slightly, but his smile remained stered on his face.


    "Elder, these five copper spikes were responsible for manifesting a protective formation around the entirety of the Isle of Xiao. Can they still be used in this manner?"


    "These five copper spikes are known as the dragon-inducing pirs, and are a notable treasure in their own right. They can extract draconic aether from the ground to form a protective ward, but require sources of special attributes whose form the ward will take on," the ancient turtle exined.


    "What counts as such a source?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What did you think of the protective formation you attacked on the Isle of Nn?"


    "That formation could manifest fists to block the attacks from the Immortal''s Destruction and form a sturdyyer of defense, almost like..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.


    "Like a turtle''s shell?" the ancient turtle asked jokingly.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "I was the source, the battery, for the previous formation on the Isle of Nn. The dragon-inducing pirs that sent draconic aether through me caused it to take on the protective nature of turtleshell, as well as the destructive power of the golden fist. These are examples of the special attributes you seek."


    "In that case, without you and the golden fist from before, elder, can these pirs not disy the same strength they had before?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "If you have treasures with special attributes, you could incorporate them to form a new defensive formation."


    "Other treasures?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured thoughtfully.


    There were a few small relics within Marquis Wu''s storage treasure, but none of them had interested Xiao Nanfeng. How could they provide any special attributes?


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a length of red rope. "Elder, does this count?"


    The ancient turtle nced at the rope with surprise. "This... is the avatar of a cursed effigy?"


    "That''s right. This red rope has to boast some special attributes, doesn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The turtle frowned. "It would work, but the moment the cursed effigy''s spiritual avatar were to return, it would control the entire formation."


    "That''s not a problem. We''ll use it," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    Madam Rouge had consumed the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar, and it would take an incredible amount of time for a new spiritual avatar to condense.


    The turtle appeared to have some reservations, but it still nodded. "We can try it."


    Following the turtle''s instructions, Xiao Nanfeng ced all five pirs within a mountain cave, then broke a hole through the ceiling to form a skylight of sorts. He ced the red rope there in the very middle, chained it, and furiously began to activate the copper pirs.


    The copper pirs absorbed a significant portion of energy from the draconic veins underground. All that energy shot toward the red rope, taking on its properties, before being re-absorbed by the copper pirs. Red light shot into the air and manifested in the form of a hemispherical dome of red fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng modted the radius of the hemisphere via the copper pirs. The domain of red fog expanded until it epassed the whole of the Isle of Xiao. From afar, that thinyer of red fog looked particrly bright and beautiful.


    "Is this it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s it. You can test its effects, if you''d like. There are five entryways for this formation, which are the only way in." The ancient turtle smiled as it pointed out where the entryways were located.


    "Let me have a try!" Croak volunteered.


    It flew out of the ind, passing through the red fog and into the sea. The formation didn''t stop it from leaving. When Croak then turned around and began heading back ind, however, the moment it passed through the red fog, it felt as though its neck had caught on something.


    A length of red rope had appeared out of nowhere and hung Croak in the air. Croak didn''t resist; it allowed the rope to lift it up, as though it weremitting suicide.


    "Something''s wrong. Croak isn''t moving. Break the array, quick!"Warble shouted.


    A cloud of red fog had appeared by the five copper pirs. Following the ancient turtle''s instruction, Xiao Nanfeng de-activated the formation. The red fog dispersed, along with the length of red rope around Croak''s neck. It fell from the sky and awakened in shock.


    "Scary!" Croak croaked.


    It rushed through an open entryway of the formation and back toward where the cultivators had gathered.


    "What was going on? Why didn''t you resist?" Warble asked.


    "I fell into an illusion. A length of red rope choked me. I couldn''t break free!" Croak shuddered.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others nced at the red fog surrounding them. Even Croak, a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, had been defenseless against the attack. Wasn''t the formation far stronger than it had been in the Isle of Nn?


    "The draconic vein on this ind is too small to be able to provide much support to the formation, and it can only block Spiritsong-realm cultivators at most. You''ll still need to be careful," the turtle said.


    "That''s more than enough, elder. Thank you for your guidance." Xiao Nanfeng was very satisfied.


    With this formation of red fog, the Isle of Xiao would be far safer than it had been before.

 Chapter 168: Instructing the Juniors

    <h4>Chapter 168: Instructing the Juniors</h4>


    On the Isle of Nn, Nn Feng watched the red fog gather around the Isle of Xiao in the distance with an ugly look on his face.


    "Your Highness, I''m afraid Mr. Qin won''t be returning. Xiao Nanfeng''s far stronger than our intel suggested," one subordinate began.


    Nn Feng clenched his fists tightly, hatred ring through his eyes. He knew that he had been too careless, but this was a hefty price to pay.


    "Your Highness, we''ve lost the protective formation around our ind. The red fog around the Isle of Xiao must be that same formation, repurposed by Xiao Nanfeng," the subordinate added, frowning.


    "I''m well aware," Nn Feng gritted out.


    "Could we reim it with the help of the Taiqing elders?" the subordinate pressed.


    "It''s useless. No one has seen the foundation of the formation, and we won''t be able to prove it''s ours."


    "But¡ªYour Highness, surely we have to do something?"


    Nn Feng was silent for long moments before shaking his head. "Xiao Nanfeng''s far stronger than I anticipated. Even Mr. Qin fell to him. The Isle of Xiao surely boasts an incredible defense. We can''t risk raiding it again."


    "Oh?"


    "That said, so what if we can''t? The elders were unable to help me because of Xiao Nanfeng''s identity as Xiao Hongye''s son, but that''s a double-edged sword. His identity might intimidate the elders, but not Xiao Hongye''s enemies. If they were to learn that Xiao Hongye''s son was right before them, would they let him go?" Nn Feng smirked.


    "Your Highness, you mean..."


    "Divulge Xiao Nanfeng''s identity to the forces all around the Eastern Sea. Let them seek him out for revenge. We need only sit back and wait." Nn Feng''s smile grew wider.


    "Yes, Your Highness!" His subordinate''s eyes brightened.


    "Make sure not to expose your identity."


    "Yes!"


    Dayster, on the Isle of Xiao, Xiao Nanfeng was giving pointers to a junior disciple while a group of Ascended disciples watched on.


    "Your fist technique is powerful butcks toughness. The quintessence of this technique isn''t overwhelming power, but rather the potential of it. Wind up your punch and leave it that way, forcing your opponents to evade it of their own will¡ªand strike them with your other fist then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He knocked the junior disciple out of the arena, reining in his strength so that his opponent wouldn''t be hurt.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother! That''s amazing. I''ve been using this technique wrong all this time! I feel like I''ve grown at least twice as strong as before."


    "The fist technique you chose suits you very well. I''ve corrected the mistakes in your understanding, but you''ll have to practice more in the future. In addition, let me rmend you two scriptures that can make your techniques stronger: Martial Sage Wu Taidou''s Discourse on Might, and Martial Sage Ming Yuexin''s Analects on Forecasting," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    Xiao Nanfeng patted him on the shoulder. "Keep it up. I think you have great potential, and I look forward to seeing how you''ve improved."


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" The junior disciple was exhrated.


    "Let''s stop here. I still have to study scripture in the afternoon. In the future, I''ll advise you all in the mornings, but only those disciples you introduce to me. I hope you''ll be prudent in whom you choose to bring over¡ªI wouldn''t want to have to deal with disciples who try to correct me at every turn," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    The junior disciplesughed as well. "Of course, Senior Brother! We''ll only bring disciples positively disposed toward you."


    "Alright, it''s time for all of you to start training. I''ll have to discuss matters with Zhao Yuanjiaoter."


    "Farewell, Senior Brother!" The disciples bowed toward him in gratitude.


    As Xiao Nanfeng left, Zheng Qian stepped forward. "Honored cultivators, we''ve prepared a lunch for you. Please follow me."


    "Thank you, Mr. Zheng, but we''ve already wasted so much of Senior Brother Xiao''s time. How could we impose?"


    "We''ve learned a tremendous amount today. I feel like I might be able to break through at any moment. Senior Brother Xiao''s advice is truly incredible! I wouldn''t want to take up any more of his resources."


    "It''s a pity that we aren''t able to help Senior Brother Xiao. Please, you don''t have to do anything special for us, or we''d feel bad," the Ascended disciples replied politely.


    Zheng Qian only smiled. "This is a lunch that Sir Xiao specially had prepared for all of you. Please don''t refuse."


    "Well..." The disciples still seemed rather ufortable epting Xiao Nanfeng''s generosity.


    "If there''s something you wish to do for Sir Xiao, I might be able to suggest something," Zheng Qian volunteered.


    "Oh?"


    "Sir Xiao has taken in a great deal of orphans and is teaching them the basics of cultivation. They''re all students of his, and they''ll be helping him out in the future. Unfortunately, there are too many of them for Sir Xiao to instruct all at once. If you would be willing to lend your assistance and teach them a fewbat techniques, that would be more than sufficient."


    "Of course! I''m free this afternoon, anyway."


    "Certainly. Senior Brother Xiao gave us crucial insight for our advancement. Teaching beginners is far simpler inparison."


    "Go on, let''s go! We''ll work those children hard." The Ascended disciples promised their help.


    "Thank you, honored cultivators," Zheng Qian replied.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng met with Zhao Yuanjiao at a certain pavilion.


    Zhao Yuanjiao watched the Ascended disciples head to the fields to teach basic fist techniques to children with aplicated look on his face. "Do you intend to bribe all my trusted subordinates?"


    "I''m the seniormost Ascended disciple, and it''s only right that I take the time to advise them on their cultivation. I''m hoping they grow stronger myself so they can lend me their support." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "You intend on having them help you reim your territory?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The territory that my father was granted has been taken over by interlopers, and it''s been greatly diminished since. Even if I were to return and im it rightfully, I wouldn''t be able to control it. All I can do is amass my strength and wait for an opportunity. With the help of my junior brothers, I''ll be able to reim it quickly."


    "You''re taking advantage of them?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I treat people with sincerity. I certainly wouldn''t intentionally send anyone to die on my behalf, and I''ll make my goals clear while asking for their assistance. This will be entirely voluntary, and I''ll provide amplepensation for those who are willing to help. Advising them on their cultivation is only one of many services I''m willing to provide."


    Despite Zhao Yuanjiao''s frown, he didn''t make another attempt to stop Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Right, Elder Zhao, did you bring me the jade tablets?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    Zhao Yuanjiao handed him ten jade tablets.


    "Thank you! It must be nice to be an elder. These jade tablets are incredibly convenient."


    "There are ten thousand scriptures here. Can you really read all of them?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly fell silent, because Xiao Nanfeng had demonstrated publicly that he, in fact, could. He had tremendous eidetic ability.


    "Elder Zhao, thank you for these scriptures. I also have something to discuss with you. I found their of the sea serpents that attacked you before."


    "Oh?"


    "I can guarantee that the information''s from a reliable source, but there''s likely incredible danger awaiting you there. Do you have a map of the sea? I can show you the location so you might investigate it first. Before you head there, let me know. I may be able to help you."


    Zhao Yuanjiao retrieved a map, which Xiao Nanfeng marked on his behalf. He rushed to investigate it.


    Ten dayster, on Taiqing Ind, Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu were suddenly waid by a group of Mortal disciples.


    "Is something the matter, Senior Brothers?" Ye Sanshui asked in worry.


    During the fight between Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Feng, everyone had learned that the uncle-and-nephew duo had stood on the side of Xiao Nanfeng. They had been criticized and scolded by many a Mortal disciple, so much so that they frequently chose to avoid interacting with senior Mortal disciples altogether.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng teaching fist techniques to Ascended disciples?" one Mortal disciple asked.


    "Ah? That''s right," Ye Sanshui acknowledged.


    "I knew it! How infuriating!" that Mortal disciple said angrily.


    "What''s the matter, Senior Brother?"


    "What else? A few Ascended disciples have been growing too arroganttely. Their strength was originally on par with ours, but they''ve suddenly grown much stronger since. They challenged our juniors and beat them all!"


    "I heard that many Ascended disciples even broke through a bottleneck after being advised by Xiao Nanfeng."


    "If only the seniormost Mortal disciple would advise us as well..."


    The disciples grew angrier and angrier. Ye Sanshui wisely chose not to speak. After all, siding with Xiao Nanfeng was tantamount to betraying the Mortal division, and he didn''t know how to console them all.


    "Senior Brothers, if you''d like to get advice from Senior Brother Xiao, I could rmend you all to him," Ye Dafu suddenly suggested.


    Everyone paused and looked toward Ye Dafu.


    "Be quiet, Dafu! How could these seniors seek advice from Senior Brother Xiao?" Ye Sanshui chided.


    "It''s true, Third Uncle! I brought this up to Senior Brother Xiao, and he said that he would be willing to teach anyone we rmended. I could certainly rmend these senior brothers to him."


    Ye Sanshui was about to continue chastising Ye Dafu for hisck of propriety when the senior disciples'' eyes lit up. Although they were disciples of the Mortal division, Nn Feng had never shown any interest in them, and they cared little for him. With their rivals having shot past them in cultivation, they were feeling intense pressure to catch up. The elders and division leader didn''t have time to advise them. Why not give Xiao Nanfeng a chance?


    "Ye Sanshui, how could you say that? Senior Brother Xiao might be the seniormost Ascended disciple, but we''re all Taiqing disciples, aren''t we? It''s not as though we haven''t shown him respect."


    "Right! We wouldn''t mind if you didn''t want to rmend us, but how could you stop Ye Dafu from doing so as well?"


    "We''d like to experience Senior Brother Xiao''s prowess for ourselves."


    The senior disciples'' behavior left Ye Sanshui gobsmacked. These Mortal disciples weren''t here to cause trouble for him?


    "Then it''s settled, Senior Brothers! I''ll introduce all of you to Senior Brother Xiao," Ye Dafu promised.


    The gathered Mortal disciples thanked Ye Dafu profusely.

 Chapter 169: Hanging Together

    <h4>Chapter 169: Hanging Together</h4>


    A dozen or so more nightster, Nn Feng nced toward the Isle of Xiao from the Isle of Nn, his face dark.


    "Your Highness, arge group of Mortal disciples have been entering the Isle of Nn over thest two weeks. The situation isn''t looking good," one of his subordinates reported.


    "I know. Xiao Nanfeng''s trying to win their gratitude and amass power for Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s extending his reach to Mortal disciples. Won''t you do anything about it, Your Highness?" Nn Feng''s subordinate asked.


    "What''s there to worry about? He''s about to die," Nn Feng replied disdainfully.


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    "Are you certain that someone will attack the Isle of Xiao tonight?"


    "Don''t worry, Your Highness. News that Xiao Nanfeng is Xiao Hongye''s son has spread throughout the Eastern Sea. It might take a while for action to germinate as a result, but there will surely be those here to seek revenge from him. I''ve received word from a reliable source that the third-in-charge of the Bloodkill bandits will be spearheading a raid on the ind tonight."


    "The Bloodkill bandits?" Nn Feng asked.


    "The Bloodkill bandits are renegade disciples from the major sects, who have been plundering and looting all over the Eastern Sea before they were ughtered by Xiao Hongye. Only a few stragglers made it out alive, and they''ve been hiding from Xiao Hongye ever since. After learning that he''s vanished and that his son has appeared, they''ve been raring to seek revenge."


    "A group of pirates?" Nn Feng frowned.


    "Don''t underestimate these pirates, Your Highness. The Bloodkill bandits boast two Spiritsong-realm cultivators, and their third-in-charge is at the peak of Ascension. They''re all very strong, and even if Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t die, he''ll surely suffer a heavy blow. Ah, they''re here! Look over there, Your Highness!"


    Under the moonlight, a ship slowly appeared under cover of fog, difficult to spot in the darkness. If Nn Feng and his subordinate hadn''t been waiting attentively, they wouldn''t have noticed that the ship was approaching the Isle of Xiao.


    "Only the third-in-charge? Are they aware that the Isle of Xiao is guarded by a protective formation?" Nn Feng frowned.


    "Don''t worry, Your Highness. This third-in-charge used to be a disciple skilled with formations, and he should be able to break through."


    "Then I await their sess."


    Nn Feng and his subordinates waited patiently all the way until the next morning, at which point they saw the Bloodkill bandits'' ship being dragged away.


    "What''s going on? Where are the Bloodkill bandits? Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates are iming their ship! Why isn''t anyone stopping them?!"


    "They''re¡ªright there!" Nn Feng''s eyes narrowed.


    His subordinates sucked in deep breaths. Illuminated by the dawn light were fifty lengths of red rope hanging from the heavens, each looping around the neck of a pirate. The pirates swung in the air, dead.


    "Who are these people? Committing suicide on someone else''s doorstep in the middle of the night¡ªwhat are they thinking?!"


    The Taiqing disciples who had sailed to the Isle of Xiao early in the morning were the first to notice the fifty hanging pirates.


    "These are all... Bloodkill bandits?"


    "These piratesmit all manner of evil deeds in the Eastern Sea, and they even tried to raid one of our ships once. Good riddance!"


    "I heard that Elder Xiao Hongye almost wiped out the Bloodkill bandits in the past. Could they havee here to seek revenge from Senior Brother Xiao?"


    All the Taiqing disciples could talk about were the pirates. They nced askance at the protective formation around the ind, which had apparently killed them all.


    In the end, it was Zheng Qian who exined that the formation had been constructed with the help of the red rope that Nn Feng had given to Xiao Nanfeng aspensation. The Taiqing disciples ahhed in understanding even as theyughed at Nn Feng for giving Xiao Nanfeng such a treasure.


    In a certain valley on the ind, the ancient turtle looked toward the hanging pirates and turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Are you certain that these people are rted to Nn Feng?"


    "Didn''t we catch and interrogate one of the piratesst night? You were present too," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "They received an anonymous tip to seek revenge on you. How did you judge that this was rted to Nn Feng?"


    "I guessed." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The turtle: ...


    "Elder, don''t you need to recuperate from your wounds? Why do you care about the enmity between me and Nn Feng?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I simply feel upset on your behalf. You know who''s targeting you, but you can''t do anything about it on ount of yourck of evidence. It''s a pity, isn''t it? Are you just going to let Nn Feng walk all over you like that?"


    "Others aren''t fools. Just because I don''t say anything doesn''t mean that they won''t guess what''s going on. No matter how covertly Nn Feng does things, the Taiqing disciples will figure it out sooner orter. Nn Feng''s reputation will fall, and mine will rise." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "But Nn Feng''s targeting you, isn''t he? Don''t you want revenge? I could help you," the ancient turtle advised.


    "I''m not in a rush, elder, and I don''t intend to strike at the moment."


    Xiao Nanfeng did want to deal with Nn Feng, but after seeing how stridently the elders defended Nn Feng during their confrontation, he understood that it would be pointless to try to do so directly.


    The fact that the ancient turtle before him was repeatedly attempting to fan the mes of conflict made Xiao Nanfeng wary. It couldn''t be plotting anything good.


    In the next dozen or so days, more and more people attempted to raid the Isle of Xiao, but they were all found hanging in the air the next morning. One among them was a Spiritsong-realm pirate, whose death drew the attention of arge group of Taiqing disciples.


    Everything on the ind proper remained functioning as per normal; the residents'' lifestyles were unaffected.


    Xiao Nanfeng spent the morning imparting fist techniques to a group of Taiqing disciples, then proposed avenues for further study.


    "Let''s stop here. Make sure to practice what you''ve learned well. If you don''t make a breakthrough, don''te back," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" everyone chorused.


    Finally, one Ascended disciple couldn''t help but speak up. "Senior Brother Xiao, we caught a few Bloodkill bandits today at sea. They were all nning to sneak onto the Isle of Xiao to kill you, but they were too slow! When they saw their second-in-charge hung up, they were so frightened that they tried to escape. They said that, more than a month ago, someone secretly sent word to their hideout that you were Xiao Hongye''s son and that the Isle of Xiao boasts tremendous wealth and treasure, inducing them to attempt to assassinate you!"


    "That''s right. We calcted when this could have happened. For them to have received word of your identity that early, someone from the Taiqing sect had to have leaked the information."


    "Senior Brother Xiao, I suspect that this was Nn Feng''s doing. How could he be so malicious?"


    The Taiqing disciples conversed with each other, causing the few Mortal disciples to nce around awkwardly.


    "There''s no proof. You''d better not speak of this, lest trouble find you, too," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "But..." The disciples seemed discontent to leave matters be.


    "I appreciate your thoughts, but these assassins have failed to harm me so far. Furthermore, my father''s enemies would havee to seek me out sooner orter. Don''t worry about this matter, and don''t disturb the peace. It doesn''t have anything to do with you, and I wouldn''t want all of you to be dragged into my personal business," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Even so, the disciples were still upset. They were tremendously grateful to have received Xiao Nanfeng''s personal tutge¡ªbut now, he was now being targeted by an obvious culprit and could do nothing other than to grit his teeth and bear it! Not only that, he was still careful not to involve them in the matter. They were infuriated by Nn Feng''s actions and spoke out against his qualifications as the seniormost Mortal disciple. Even the Mortal disciples present weren''t shameless enough to defend him.


    A month passed in this fashion, and more and more people came to hang themselves in the Isle of Xiao. The affair had caused a considerablemotion throughout the sect, but Xiao Nanfeng chose not to investigate. As such, no elders stepped in, though rumors abounded; the matter became a hot topic for small talk and idle gossip.


    One day, as Nn Feng and several of his subordinates disembarked on Taiqing Ind and headed toward the Vault of Scriptures, he suddenly found themselves avoided by the disciples around him. Some Mortal disciples even made expressions of disgust as he crossed their sight.


    "These disciples usually fawn over you in order to get into your good graces, Your Highness. What''s going on today?" one of his subordinates asked.


    Nn Feng watched the crowd of disciples avoid him as if he had been struck by the gue. His feet stilled as he came to a realization.


    "What''s the matter, Your Highness?" His subordinates quickly stepped forward.


    "I''ve fallen into one of Xiao Nanfeng''s schemes again." Nn Feng nched.


    "What?"


    "Over thesest two months, Xiao Nanfeng has never once criticized me. He has focused solely on teaching fist techniques to disciples of all divisions, not only acquiring their gratitude but also their pity as he feigns weakness and fosters hatred against me." Nn Feng narrowed his eyes.


    "I heard some rumors too, but without any evidence, what could he do?" one subordinate asked.


    "You don''t know anything. He''s trying to buy their hearts. Don''t you see?" Nn Feng replied coldly.


    "What could that achieve?"


    "He knows that many elders within the sect favor me and are willing to shield me. If he targets me, they''ll surely pressure him. He has no allies among the elders and would only make a fool of himself¡ªbut things are different now. He has the hearts of the majority of the Taiqing disciples, and he''s surely poised to strike at me!"


    "What? How could that be? He wouldn''t dare!" one subordinate replied in disbelief.


    Back on the Isle of Xiao, Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian were having tea at a pavilion.


    "Can we strike now, Benefactor?" Zheng Qian asked.


    "It''s almost time. We''ll give Nn Feng a lesson he won''t forget anytime soon. I have no interest in allowing him to continue scheming against me," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly, having a sip of his tea.


    "Now that the majority of disciples support you, few would me you even if you were to do something beyond the pale," Zheng Qian agreed, smiling.

 Chapter 170: A Stormy Day

    <h4>Chapter 170: A Stormy Day</h4>


    On a dreary evening a few dayster, winds raged across the sea and dark clouds filled the horizon like a prelude to an incipient storm.


    The waves grewrger andrger, until the ships sailing at sea began to rock perceptibly. On deck, Nn Feng looked toward the Isle of Xiao in the distance, his face dark.


    His scheme against Xiao Nanfeng had failed to hurt his target; rather, his own reputation hadpletely tanked.


    "Your Highness, if Xiao Nanfeng''s poised to strike at you, aren''t you in dire straits? Should we inform the second prince about what''s going on?" one of Nn Feng''s subordinates asked.


    "There''s no need to inform my second brother. I''m certain that Xiao Nanfeng''s going to attack me, but I''m not so weak as to be incapable of handling him," Nn Feng replied disdainfully.


    Just then, a wave swelled by their side. A frightening aura revealed itself from the sea.


    "There''s something down there!" one subordinate cried.


    With a huge crash, a massive object smashed into the ship. It splintered and cracked.


    The cultivators aboard cried out in shock. Many of the weakest fell into the sea. Nn Feng and his subordinates hurriedly drew their swords, manifested their own sword techniques, and shot them toward the massive object.


    The cultivators were all sent flying.


    "A Spiritsong-realm sea turtle?!" they cried out.


    Nn Feng narrowed his eyes. This was the ancient sea turtle that had been suppressed within the Isle of Nn! Xiao Nanfeng had rescued it. Was it seeking revenge now?


    "Xiao Nanfeng had youe, didn''t he? He''s nning to use you to kill me!" Nn Feng cried out in rage.


    The sea turtle didn''t respond. It only roared as it shot toward Nn Feng.


    "Protect His Highness!" Nn Feng''s subordinates cried out.


    However, they were no match for the ancient turtle. It pped its flippers against the surface of the sea, spawning a few water dragons that sent them flying away. The turtle widened its maw, as though about to swallow Nn Feng whole.


    "Save me!" Nn Feng cried out.


    In the water, his strength was considerably reduced, and his sword technique seemed to do no damage against the turtle. It looked as though he were about to perish.


    Just then, a huge de of qi shot down from the heavens, apanied by an enraged roar. "Die, foul beast!"


    The de struck the turtle''s shell in a flurry of sparks. The ancient turtle raised its head to see three figures in the air, all Taiqing elders.


    The other two elders each shot their own des of qi at the ancient turtle, badly wounding it. It fled deep into the sea.


    "Get back here, you foul beast!" the two elders shouted, diving into the sea and chasing after it.


    Above the surface, huge waves continued to form.


    One elder protected Nn Feng as he gathered all the shipwrecked cultivators, saving them all. The two other elders who had gone off chasing the ancient turtle quickly returned, both incensed.


    "Has the ancient turtle fled, Elders?" Nn Feng asked anxiously.


    "It was far too sly. It prepared an escape route ahead of time."


    "We wounded it, but it still evaded us." The two elders were extremely upset.


    "Thank you for guarding me from afar, Elders. Were you not around, I might have been badly injured or even killed," Nn Feng replied, standing on a piece of flotsam.


    The three elders gave Nn Feng a strange look. One of them asked, "You specifically asked that we guard you during this voyage. How did you know that someone was going to attack you today?"


    "I wasn''t sure that it would be today, but I knew it would be in the near future. If I said that Xiao Nanfeng arranged for that sea turtle to kill me, would you believe me?"


    The elders were all intelligent, and they could make their own deductions based on what Nn Feng had revealed. Xiao Nanfeng had borne the brunt of Nn Feng''s assault for two months. After receiving the protection of the sect disciples, he was finally making his move. However, Nn Feng was no slouch either. He had predicted this eventuality and prepared for it beforehand.


    "Without any proof, that''s not an usation you can level," one elder warned.


    Nn Feng sucked in a deep breath. "Xiao Nanfeng has no proof that I was the one responsible for getting his enemies to attack him. Why is everyone ming me, then?"


    "Well, that¡ª"


    "It''s because everyone knows that there''s bad blood between Xiao Nanfeng and me, and I''m the most likely suspect. If I were attacked, wouldn''t he be the most likely suspect, too?" Nn Feng countered.


    The elders were silent.


    "I am the seniormost Mortal disciple. If others keep besmirching my reputation, it reflects badly not just on me, but on the entire Mortal division. Elders, please assist me," Nn Feng requested.


    The three elders looked at one another. One of them finally said, "We can''t help you verify anything, but we''ll make it known that you were attacked and reveal our eyewitness ounts. Whether or not others will think that Xiao Nanfeng was responsible is out of our control."


    "That''s more than enough. Thank you, Elders." Nn Feng''s eyes brightened.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew how to garner pity; so too did Nn Feng. The revtion that he had been attacked by the ancient turtle would mark the start of his retaliation.


    "In that case, you should return to Taiqing Ind with me," one elder suggested. "A storm is approaching, and if you continue heading toward the Isle of Nn, you may suffer a further attack from that turtle spirit."


    Nn Feng nodded in gratitude.


    On the Isle of Xiao, by an entryway to the formation of red fog, the ancient turtle swam back carrying wounds. Xiao Nanfeng, Croak, and Warble were all waiting for it.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, look at all these injuries I incurred! This is the price I had to pay for trying to attack Nn Feng alone," the turtle grumbled.


    "Elder, there was no choice. If Croak and Warble had apanied you, they would have caused too much of amotion, and they might even have sparked investigation from the Taiqing Immortal Sect proper. That would be a disaster," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Then why didn''t you have them go? Why me?" the turtle refused to relent.


    "They''re far less agile than you are at sea. It would be easy for them to strike, but not to get away. Even you suffered minor injuries; Croak and Warble might not have been able to return," Xiao Nanfeng exined patiently.


    The turtle harrumphed.


    "Elder, it''s rare for there to be such a storm brewing. If not now, then when? Once we extract the draconic veins from the Isle of Nn, you''ll be able to make use of them to recuperate," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    "You''re finally willing to do so? But why did you have to scare Nn Feng back onto Taiqing Ind? He wants to kill you. Why didn''t you kill him?"


    "Elder, I''ve already exined. Nn Feng will seek the protection of the elders that support him. Unless we chase them back onto Taiqing Ind, they''ll apany him to the Isle of Nn and remain there with him. How would we be able to strike then?"


    The turtle stared at Xiao Nanfeng for some time, but it had no rebuttal.


    "Elder, the storm is approaching. Once the waves reach toward the sky and the air is filled with mist, the Isle of Nn will be out of sight to one and all. Even if there''s a disturbance, it''ll be drowned out by the sound and sight of the storm. The heavens themselves are helping us. We''ll be heading off immediately," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Just you and the two toad spirits?"


    "They can protect me from any danger. It''s best not to make too many people aware of this. I''ve already packed up the Immortal''s Destruction. Please instruct me on how to make use of the Immortal''s Destruction to extract draconic veins, elder."


    Feeling as though Xiao Nanfeng had been trustworthy and reliable in his dealings with it to date, the turtle rxed and nodded.


    Suddenly, something came to mind. "Isn''t it a bit early to be heading out, though? The storm hasn''t even started."


    "It''ll be arriving soon. The earlier we head out, the sooner we can get they of thend, and the sooner we can resolve any unexpected emergencies," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    The ancient turtle was silent for a long moment before it finally agreed. "Follow me."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He mbered onto Croak''s back, and the two toad spirits then followed the ancient turtle toward the Isle of Nn.


    Two hourster, as dark clouds took over the sky and all sight was restricted, with a resounding boom of thunder, the storm began to fall in earnest. Huge waves struck the inds in the vicinity.


    Taiqing Ind, however, was full of hubbub. The news of Nn Feng''s return after an assassination attempt by an ancient turtle spirit quickly spread throughout the ind, and the Taiqing disciples were all discussing the news.


    "It had to be Xiao Nanfeng''s doing!"


    "Do you have any proof? How dare you besmirch Senior Brother Xiao''s name! What if Nn Feng did it himself to garner sympathy?"


    "Then how do you prove that Nn Feng was responsible for spreading word of Xiao Nanfeng''s identity? You have no evidence, either."


    Nn Feng had found a few trustworthy disciples to help defend his name at this critical moment and turn the tide of public opinion in his favor. His gambit paid off. Many fell deep in thought, and agreed that Xiao Nanfeng might indeed be responsible for the assassination attempt. Despite the storm, the ind was abuzz with activity.


    By that time, Xiao Nanfeng had arrived on the Isle of Nn.


    "Let''s kill everyone here," the ancient turtle hissed.


    "Elder, why don''t we let Croak strike? Its sound waves are a debilitating wide-range attack, and it won''t take Croak long," Xiao Nanfeng suggested instead.


    The turtle was silent for some time before finally nodding. "Do it quickly, then."


    "Croak?" Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Croak.


    Croak quickly shrouded itself in fog and leapt into the air, summoning wave after wave of sonic energy that struck directly at the souls of the cultivators on the Isle of Nn.


    "The spiritbeast from before! It''s back!"


    "My head hurts!"


    "A distress signal, quickly!"


    Nn Feng''s subordinates clutched their heads in pain as they fell unconscious. Some gritted their teeth and attempted to send a signal re into the air, but Croak batted it down whenever they attempted to do so. Furthermore, given the raging storm, no one on Taiqing Ind would notice the signal re regardless.


    Croak''s spiritual attacks were extremely effective, and the pained cries on the ind quickly stopped.

 Chapter 171: The Ancient Turtles Objective

    <h4>Chapter 171: The Ancient Turtle''s Objective</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng, Croak, Warble, and the ancient turtle stood in a giant valley on the Isle of Nn, drenched by the pouring rain.


    "Elder, will this suffice?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''ll do. Where''s the Immortal''s Destruction?"


    Xiao Nanfeng reached for his storage ring and pulled out the Immortal''s Destruction, whose base was a circr tform about thirty meters in diameter, with nine steps leading up. Countless arcane runes floated above its surface, with four coiling dragon pirs in each of the four cardinal directions. A pool of golden light brimmed in its center, manifesting in the form of talismans with which the artifact could be controlled.


    The turtle flew up to the Immortal''s Destruction and smiled in satisfaction. "Indeed, it''s that relic from my youth."


    "Elder, please extract the draconic veins quickly in case the elders of Taiqing Ind make their way over," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The turtle nodded.


    As it murmured an incantation, white spiritual serpents snaked out from its back and shot toward the eyes of the four coiling dragons on the relic. Golden chains suddenly spat out of their mouths, and the turtle directed them deep into the ground.


    With a loud thud, the four golden chains snaked deep into the ground. The Isle of Nn began to shake.


    The mountain peaks on the ind began to copse one after another as Xiao Nanfeng wove around the falling boulders.


    Suddenly, a dragon''s cry came from deep underground.


    The loud cry shook heaven and earth, and the seawater in the vicinity of the ind began to roil, forming huge waves like those of a tsunami. Much of the buildings on the ind were struck and crushed.


    Just then, the four golden chains retracted from underground, dragging a translucent golden dragon, radiant with light, along with it. The dragon had to be at least six hundred meters long, and its massive body came with overwhelming strength. As it whipped its body around, howling gales and yawning waves formed in its vicinity.


    "The draconic vein!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He had seen a draconic vein back in Emperor Wei''s tomb, but all the energy had been drained out of that one. How could itpare to this draconic vein, which still possessed the vitality of a living dragon?


    The golden dragon furiously twisted its body as it attempted to flee, but the four golden chains trapped itpletely.


    "Come!" the turtle shouted.


    The golden dragon shrieked as the four chains dragged it toward the Immortal''s Destruction and pinned it down. It roared in agony.


    "Elder, how can the Immortal''s Destruction be so strong?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "These four draconic chains are formed from the draconic veins'' energy. It''s equivalent to using its own energy against itself."


    "I see. Thank you, elder. Let''s divide up the draconic vein, then." Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward.


    The ancient turtle suddenly smirked. "Divide? Did I say I would divide the vein with you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stopped short and nched. "What? Are you nning on betraying us? Croak, Warble, attack the turtle quickly!"


    Croak and Warble shot out their tongues, but the turtle''s smile only grew wider. It activated the Immortal''s Destruction, sending three more golden chains out of the coiling dragons toward the young man and the two spirits. Croak and Warble''s tongues were deflected as the chains wrapped around them like living serpents.


    The third chain coiled around Xiao Nanfeng so quickly that he couldn''t resist it.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the two toad spirits were immediately restrained.


    "Elder, do you intend on swallowing up this draconic vein all by yourself?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The turtle sneered. "If not for the fact that I was worried about the potency of the Immortal''s Destruction, I''d long since have struck. In the end, I had to wait all this time for you to get ready.


    "You''ve been acting all this time? Your goal is to snatch my Immortal''s Destruction?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "That''s right. The Immortal''s Destruction of the divine empire of Great Wei is an incredible treasure that can easily extract draconic veins from deep underground. Even within the draconic pce of the Eastern Sea, it was one of the highest-grade treasures. You really didn''t know how strong it was, did you? I didn''t have the right to obtain the Immortal''s Destruction back then¡ªbut now, to think it would havended in my hands so many yearster! Very good, very good. With the Immortal''s Destruction, all of the draconic veins around the Eastern Sea shall be mine. I''ll be able to recover from my wounds in no time!"


    "This is how you repay us for saving you?" Xiao Nanfeng called out coldly.


    "That''s right. What can you do about it? me yourself for being fools. Now, this draconic vein is mine, and the Immortal''s Destruction is mine too. I do have to thank you all, haha!" the turtleughed.


    "You piece of trash! We shouldn''t have saved you," Warble warbled angrily.


    "Let me go! Fight me one on one if you dare!" Croak croaked.


    The two toad spirits heaved and struggled, but they were unable to free themselves from the golden chains.


    "Don''t struggle, Croak, Warble. These Immortal-binding chains grow tighter the more you do so. Stay still and all they''ll do is bind you without exerting much force," Xiao Nanfeng informed them.


    "Hmm? I never told you the name of these chains. How would you know what they are?" The ancient turtle narrowed its eyes.


    "That''s because¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng began.


    Suddenly, a bright burst of purple light shot out from his back and encapsted him and the turtle.


    The turtle''s eyes widened as it attempted to retreat, but as it did so, it found itself in another location entirely. The storm vanished, leaving flecks of purple light and thick fog.


    "This is¡ªthe Talisman of Phantasmagoria? This is an illusion?!" the turtle cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked out from the fog. "That''s right. To ensure that there would be noplications, I prepared ten such talismans to form this illusory realm, thinking that it would be stable enough to hold you. I was going to share this draconic vein with you, turtle, but you were intending to steal my Immortal''s Destruction!"


    Xiao Nanfeng btedly realized to his surprise that the ancient turtle''s spiritual body wasn''tpletely like its physical one. Its spiritual body boasted a pair of draconic horns and was of tremendous size. Even so, it was pitted with holes and perforations, old wounds from a previous era.


    The turtle stared at Xiao Nanfeng fiercely. "You prepared ten such talismans, and you im that you were going to share the draconic vein with me? More like you nned to betray me too!"


    "I was simply being on guard. If you had fulfilled your promise and taught me how to use the Immortal''s Destruction, I would have shared the draconic vein with you. However, you''ve set your sights on stealing everything I have. In that case, I have no choice but to enact a different n. Your spiritual body is filled with wounds, and I doubt you can do much of anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I''ve more than enough strength to get rid of you. I do want everything you possess¡ªyour Immortal''s Destruction, your draconic vein, and the formation of red fog on the Isle of Xiao! Die!" the turtle shouted fiercely, leaping forward as Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with a fist.


    A storm of energy formed around the twobatants, who were surprised to see themselves equals in strength.


    "Lunar Deluge? Your physical cultivation''s only at Ascension. How could your spiritual cultivation be at Lunar Deluge?!" the turtle cried out.


    "There''s much more you don''t know. Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shot forward.


    The turtle and Xiao Nanfeng shed against each other. Both were at Lunar Deluge, and the frightening strength that they gave off sent storms raging through the illusory realm.


    Back in physical reality, the old turtle and Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies were shrouded in purple light. Croak and Warble, still trapped within the Immortal-binding chains, couldn''t move. They fretted as they waited.


    Just then, a figure appeared not far away: You Jiu.


    "You Jiu? What are you doing on the Isle of Nn? Save us and kill that turtle!" Croak cried out.


    "Hold on a moment. Others will rescue you shortly."


    "What?"


    You Jiu hurriedly released a signal re into the air.


    "No one''s going to be able to see anything in this storm! Who are you trying to reach?" Croak asked in confusion.


    "Don''t say anything. Regardless of who shows upter, say nothing, got it?" You Jiu vanished into the valley.


    Croak and Warble stared at each other in confusion. Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t revealed the full n to them, worried that they would be unable to keep a secret.


    At the same time, not far away at sea, a ship was being buffeted on all fronts. As wave after wave surged underneath it, the ship shook and rocked, as though it could be overwhelmed at any moment.


    A group of Taiqing disciples stood on deck and watched Zhao Yuanjiao anxiously.


    "Elder, have you found it?" one Taiqing disciple asked.


    "I''m searching. Don''t be anxious. In this storm, with such low visibility, it''ll take me longer to find my way," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, frowning.


    Zheng Qian bowed to the gathered Taiqing disciples. "Honored cultivators, thank you for being willing to assist us even in such inclement weather."


    "Of course, Mr. Zheng! Our cultivation has all grown rapidly thanks to Senior Brother Xiao''s pointers. He invited us to celebrate on the Isle of Xiao tonight¡ªonly to have a situation like this ur! Will you exin what happened to the junior disciples while we have the time?" one Taiqing disciple asked.


    "This evening, a sea turtle suddenly barged into our formation while an entryway was cleared. It snatched away the Immortal''s Destruction, and Sir Xiao gave chase immediately after noticing the theft," Zheng Qian recollected.


    "A sea turtle? Where from?"


    "I don''t know either. Sir Xiao has two spiritbeast friends who have been helping him protect the Immortal''s Destruction. However, they were weaker than the sea turtle and injured by it. They''ve chased after the turtle along with Sir Xiao, and I don''t know what has happened to them." Zheng Qian seemed very worried.


    "Senior Brother Xiao will be fine. The heavens will bless him, I''m sure of it!"


    "But he''s being attacked by a sea turtle spiritbeast! They''re innately strong, and they have a decisive advantage at sea. I''m worried that Sir Xiao will suffer. All the guards on patrol on the ind have all chased after the turtle. I don''t know if they''ve managed to find him," Zheng Qian fretted.


    "Look, a signal! Quick, steer the ship over there!" Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly cried out.


    Everyone saw a sh of light from afar, barely visible beyond the fog. The outline of an ind came into view.


    "It''s the Isle of Nn!" someone cried out.


    "Full speed ahead!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    The ship shot forward as quickly as it could. By the time theynded, five more ships had joined them: reinforcements led by Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui, numbering almost three thousand fighters from the Isle of Xiao in all.


    "Quick, that''s Senior Brother Xiao''s signal! We''ll head over there together!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    As the disciples disembarked, they were stunned by the sight before them. The Isle of Nn had undergone a tremendous change. All the buildings had copsed, along with countless peaks. All those on the ind had fainted, and it looked as though a flood had ravaged the area.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s over there!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted, flying toward a valley at the center of the destruction.


    Everyone rushed over to see Xiao Nanfeng, two toad spirits, and a giant golden dragon all chained up. Beside them, a sea turtle spirit seemed to have been manipting the Immortal''s Destruction but it had itself been trapped in an illusory realm from Xiao Nanfeng''s use of the Talisman of Phantasmagoria.


    "It''s this sea turtle!" Zheng Qian cried out angrily.


    "How dare this bastard!" the disciples thundered.

 Chapter 172: Dividing Up the Dragon

    <h4>Chapter 172: Dividing Up the Dragon</h4>


    Back in the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng and the sea turtle''s fight continued to rage on as howling storms battered them both.


    "You''re at the initial stage of Lunar Deluge? No, that''s impossible. How could you be able to resist me for so long? It''s been an hour. Why hasn''t your spiritual power shown any sign of waning?" the sea turtle cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng only smiled coldly. His ck lotus had the power to absorb dissipated spiritual power and recycle it, and he hadn''t expended much as a result. Furthermore, he was dragging the fight out and hadn''t used his full strength.


    Just then, a cloud of ck smoke appeared in the air around the fog. Within it stood a bleached skeleton.


    "A cursed effigy?" The sea turtle raised an eyebrow at Madam Rouge, who had suddenly appeared.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. "Don''te over!"


    The sea turtle hesitated. Was this cursed effigy so frightening that Xiao Nanfeng would panic to such an extent?


    The next moment, Madam Rouge shed over. It swiped with its ws, one headed for Xiao Nanfeng, and the other for the turtle.


    "This cursed effigy moves so quickly!" the sea turtle cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng knocked the sea turtle flying, saving it from harm, even as Madam Rouge''s ws grazed him. The sea turtle felt as though it had been spared from sudden death, but it didn''t know why Xiao Nanfeng rescued it.


    Xiao Nanfeng cried out anxiously, "Don''t kill him! I''m trying to frame the sea turtle. If you kill him, I won''t be able to do so!"


    The sea turtle was taken aback. What was going on?


    Madam Rouge pped Xiao Nanfeng with a palm and sent him flying. Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Run, turtle! Don''t let it catch up to you!"


    The sea turtle nced at Xiao Nanfeng uprehendingly. <i>Weren''t we fighting against each other? Why are you helping me?</i>


    "Can''t you just remove the talismans to end this illusion?" the sea turtle asked.


    "It''s useless. Cursed effigies can stabilize illusory realms, and removing the talismans now won''t do any good. Just run!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The turtle: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng ran off in the opposite direction of the sea turtle. "Madam Rouge, ignore it! Come after me!"


    The sea turtle remained confused as to just what Xiao Nanfeng was talking about. <i>What does he mean by framing me?</i>


    Madam Rouge, whose grudge against Xiao Nanfeng was far deeper, chased right after him. They vanished from sight.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng, who had run into the fog, summoned a ck lotus on his palm. Although the ck lotus had taken over Xiao Nanfeng''s sterke, it at least respected his authority and showed up when he requested its help.


    Madam Rouge stopped short, staring at the ck lotus. She knew that it wasn''t an easy foe to be trifled with. She gave up on Xiao Nanfeng and turned away, shing through the fog.


    "Oh no¡ªthe turtle!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng chased after Madam Rouge, shouting, "Madam Rouge, have mercy! Eat itter if you must, but let me frame it first!"


    Suddenly, from afar, the turtle cried out in shock.


    "Damn it!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward the turtle even more quickly. He stepped through the fog to find that Madam Rouge had torn away the lower half of its body. The turtle was panicking as it watched Madam Rouge suck up that half of its body and consume it whole.


    "Why is this cursed effigy so strong?!" the turtle cried out.


    "Let me help you!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed over.


    The sea turtle roared. "Xiao Nanfeng, stop acting! You''re together, aren''t you? Didn''t it chase after you? Why are you still fine? Are you trying to trick me? You won''t seed!"


    The sea turtle suddenly self-destructed.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. "Why did it suddenly self-destruct like that?"


    Madam Rouge formed words with the ck smoke surrounding her. "By self-destructing, it was able to take advantage of the power of the resulting explosion to crack the illusory realm and have a wisp of spiritual power escape back to reality. You''re rather stupid, aren''t you?"


    Upon reading this, Xiao Nanfeng immediately activated the Talisman of Phantasmagoria and returned to reality. This time, surprisingly, Madam Rouge didn''t stop him.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng woke up, he heard the turtle''s pained cries.


    Zhao Yuanjiao had just beheaded the turtle, causing its head to fly through the air as it cried out one final time.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. Thankfully, he had dyed long enough for his audience to show up. He had sessfully framed the sea turtle!


    "Senior Brother Xiao, are you alright?!" the Taiqing disciples shouted.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother," Xiao Nanfeng said to Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gave him aplicated look. Xiao Nanfeng had informed him of all this in advance, and he was feeling rather embarrassed about his acting.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait! I''ll get my revenge on you sooner orter!" a fierce shout rang out.


    The turtle''s head didn''tnd on the ground¡ªrather, it suddenly shot into the air and escaped through the storm.


    "Hold it!" Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes widened in rm as he gave chase.


    Lightning shed through the air and the stormy winds grew stronger and stronger. Zhao Yuanjiao and the disembodied turtle vanished in the dark of night.


    "What happened here, Senior Brother Xiao?" one Taiqing disciple asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced all around at the disciples. In addition to the three thousand fighters from the Isle of Xiao, there were almost a hundred Taiqing disciples who had forged close bonds with Xiao Nanfeng. He didn''t mind sharing the spoils of this encounter with them.


    "We were trapped by that sea turtle spirit. If not for all of you arriving in the nick of time, we might very well have suffered a terrible fate. Carry me over to the Immortal''s Destruction, if you will," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Alright!"


    The group of disciples lifted up Xiao Nanfeng''s chained body and brought him toward the coiling dragon.


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes and felt at the coiling dragon with his spiritual senses. He had left trace amounts of spiritual power there. Although the turtle''s actions were furtive, the groundwork he hadid out in advance allowed him to identify the crux of what the turtle had done.


    A few more chains emerged from the Immortal''s Destruction, but they quickly retracted again. Xiao Nanfeng had been testing out how to control them, but without proper technique, it was easy to make mistakes. Eventually, he was able to control his newfound skill.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly caused the chains around his body to retract.


    "This is how you do it! If the turtle hadn''t demonstrated how to do it, I would never have found out about such a concealed,plicated secret..."


    Emperor Wei''s inheritance had described the Immortal''s Destruction in some detail, including the use of the Immortal-binding chains, but how exactly to get the Immortal''s Destruction to produce such a result was glossed over. He had only learned of it from the ancient turtle.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a few more tries to free Croak and Warble as well.


    Some of the Taiqing disciples watched Croak and Warble in surprise, but the majority found themselves attracted to the draconic vein.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, what''s this translucent dragon that''s brimming with golden light? Why does it feel like such a powerful source of spiritual power?" one Taiqing disciple asked in surprise.


    "This is a draconic vein. It''s all the sea turtle''s fault. I was unable to stop it," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "The sea turtle spirit stole your Immortal''s Destruction to unearth this draconic vein?" one disciple gasped.


    "That''s right. It''smitted a grave crime," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, can we return this dragon back underground?" another disciple asked.


    "We can''t. Once I release the chains, it''ll dissipate into draconic aether. Even the Immortal''s Destruction won''t be able to seal it away for long," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng was telling the truth. A draconic vein was an incredible treasure, but it couldn''t be preserved long-term. Once he forcefully began to absorb draconic aether from the dragon, its form would dissipate. He didn''t have the ability to preserve the draconic aether unlike Blue Lantern and You Shi, so rather than waste it, he might as well split it with everyone in his faction.


    "What? It''ll dissipate? Wouldn''t that be a waste?" one disciple asked.


    "Senior Brother, if we can''t return it to its original state, rather than let it dissipate, why don''t we split it?" Ye Dafu made a suggestion that had been nned and memorized in advance.


    Everyone looked at Xiao Nanfeng expectantly.


    "We shouldn''t be wasteful, after all. Why don''t we divide the dragon among us, then?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Alright!"


    Just then, Zhao Yuanjiao descended from the skies.


    "Elder, did you manage to catch the sea turtle''s head?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head, fuming. "It got away¡ªand very quickly, at that."


    "That''s fine, Elder. Come join us¡ªwe''re about to split this dragon!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Zhao Yuaniao hesitated, not having expected things to progress quite so quickly. However, having known of Xiao Nanfeng''s objective in advance, he nodded.


    "Everyone, absorb only as much as you canfortably take in. Don''t engorge yourself too much," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt up to the dragon''s head, opened his mouth, and began to suck. With a huge rumble, draconic aether emerged from the dragon''s head and flowed into his mouth. As though sensing that its body was copsing, the golden dragon cried out¡ªbut that didn''t deter everyone from digging in. The disciples, fighters, and spirits shot forward and absorbed the feast. You Jiu did the same, skulking among the disciples.


    They furiously absorbed draconic aether from the golden dragon''s body.


    This draconic vein possessed perhaps millions of portions of draconic aether, butrge though that number was, it was rapidly dwindling as the cultivators divided the dragon up. Xiao Nanfeng used a special technique to seal the draconic aether within his body until he was at maximum capacity, then stopped short.


    The six-hundred-meter long dragon was quickly divided and consumed. Everyone''s bodies radiated golden light as they sat cross-legged in meditation, using that draconic aether to break through bottlenecks in their cultivation.


    Even the freezing rain couldn''t extinguish their ardent desire to grow stronger.


    Four hourster, Xiao Nanfeng''s body creaked as a tremendous wave of energy emanated from it. He opened his eyes wide. "The fifth stage of Ascension!"

 Chapter 173: Having Slain the Turtle

    <h4>Chapter 173: Having in the Turtle</h4>


    The next morning, the storm had cleared and the sea was calm once again. The disciples of Taiqing Ind, however, were anything but calm. After just a single night, the whole ind had learned of the assassination attempt on Nn Feng.


    Thanks to Nn Feng''s trustworthy subordinates, many had been convinced that the assassination attempt was Xiao Nanfeng''s doing.


    Nn Feng, surrounded by a group of elders, marched up to the main hall of the Ascended faction and requested an audience with its leader, Zhao Tianheng.


    "The assassination attempt on Nn Feng reflects poorly on the sect. Please investigate the matter thoroughly, Division Leader Zhao."


    "Xiao Nanfeng is the most likely culprit. You won''t shield him just because he''s the seniormost Ascended disciple, will you?"


    Some elders, wary of Xiao Hongye''s identity, didn''t want to make life difficult for Xiao Nanfeng, but not all elders feared Xiao Hongye. Those who were enemies with Xiao Hongye naturally supported Nn Feng, and they were more than willing to step forward to demand an investigation into Xiao Nanfeng.


    Zhao Tianheng considered the request. "Nn Feng, are you certain that Xiao Nanfeng was responsible for dispatching that sea turtle as an assassin?"


    "After my ind was raided and my protective formation vanished, the Isle of Nn suddenly gained a protective formation of its own. Isn''t it clear who the culprit is?" Nn Feng said.


    "Do you have any evidence?" Zhao Tianheng asked, frowning.


    "I''ve found a clue about the spirits that raided my ind¡ªthe sea turtle. The fact that my formation subsequently appeared on the Isle of Xiao must mean that this sea turtle is rted to Xiao Nanfeng. Pleaseunch a thorough investigation of the Isle of Xiao, Division Leader Zhao," Nn Feng requested.


    To Nn Feng, it was obvious that the sea turtle was working with Xiao Nanfeng. Rather than me an unknown spiritbeast for raiding the Isle of Nn, it would be better to pin the me on the sea turtle. That would make the tenuous link between Xiao Nanfeng and the sea turtle far more obvious and cast Xiao Nanfeng in the worst possible light.


    "You mean to say that Xiao Nanfeng was responsible for the sea turtle''s raid on the Isle of Nn, stealing the protective formation around it, and also for its assassination attempt on you?" Zhao Tianheng rified.


    "I''m certain," Nn Feng replied.


    "Division Leader Zhao, it''s obvious that the sea turtle and Xiao Nanfeng are in cahoots with each other. We need to investigate the Isle of Xiao now, while they haven''t gotten their guard up,and prevent the sea turtle from escaping!" one elder asserted.


    "Even if the sea turtle were to run, the Isle of Xiao would surely still possess evidence that the sea turtle had been there. We need to rush over before they can destroy that evidence and uncover the truth!" another elder added.


    Zhao Tianheng was about to nod when an Ascended disciple rushed into the hall.


    "Master, Elder Zhao Yuanjiao, Xiao Nanfeng, and a group of disciples are requesting an audience! They''ve killed a giant sea turtle and have brought you their carcass," the disciple reported.


    "What?" The elders stiffened.


    They had just imed that Xiao Nanfeng was working with the sea turtle spirit¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng had killed the sea turtle? That didn''t make any sense! The elders'' faces flushed red as Nn Feng gazed disbelievingly at the disciple who had rushed in.


    "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "He''s at the za outside the Hall of Immortal Recruitment. He wasn''t certain if you were in secluded cultivation, Master, and requested that I send word first. I''ll lead them over right away!" the disciple continued.


    "There''s no need. I''ll head over," Zhao Tianheng replied, getting up and walking out of the hall.


    He too had expected that Xiao Nanfeng and the sea turtle were in cahoots with each other. He was nning on agreeing to Nn Feng''s request and earning his goodwill¡ªonly to have Xiao Nanfeng kill the sea turtle! This waspletely beyond his expectations.


    "Let''s go have a look," the elders said immediately.


    "Elder, would you please send for the three elders who were guarding me at sea yesterday? They wounded the sea turtle when it attempted to assassinate me, and they''ll be able to confirm if it''s the same one that Xiao Nanfeng killed," Nn Feng requested of a certain elder.


    "Very well. You really are thoughtful, Disciple Nn! Perhaps Xiao Nanfeng deliberately found a different sea turtle to kill after the failed assassination attempt yesterday." The elder''s eyes brightened as he flew out of the hall.


    A crowd quickly formed around the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.


    The za was filled with Taiqing disciples surrounding a headless sea turtle carcass.


    "As I said, Senior Brother Xiao is innocent! How dare you besmirch his reputation and im that he was responsible for instigating the sea turtle to attack Nn Feng?"


    "I had something to do yesterday, or I would have joined the rest of you at the Isle of Xiao and enjoyed the infusion of draconic aether... Ah, how unlucky I am!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, if there''s more draconic aether in the future, call me over!"


    The Taiqing disciples murmured to each other about what had happened. Many attempted to ingratiate themselves with Xiao Nanfeng after learning that their fellows had absorbed a great deal of draconic aether and received a considerable boost to their cultivation.


    "Division Leader! Elders!" someone shouted.


    A group of figures descended from the sky.


    "We greet Division Leader Zhao and the gathered elders," the Taiqing disciples bowed and chorused.


    The moment Zhao Tianheng arrived at the za, he saw the sea turtle spirit''s headless body. The carcass was clearly fresh, and its massive size and the density of spiritual qi within its body made it clear that this was an impressive specimen.


    "What''s going on?" Zhao Tianheng immediately asked.


    "Let me exin, Uncle." Zhao Yuanjiao began to describe what had ''happened'' in detail. "Last night, this sea turtle raided the Isle of Xiao and stole the Immortal''s Destruction. Subsequently, it barged onto the Isle of Nn and extracted the draconic vein from underneath the ind..."


    "Oh? The Immortal''s Destruction can extract draconic veins?" Zhao Tianheng raised his eyebrows at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The elders all turned toward the Isle of Nn. Though it was a considerable distance away, their enhanced sight allowed them to make out the disturbed terrain of the ind.


    Just then, the three elders that had been responsible for protecting Nn Feng also arrived. They confirmed the wounds on the sea turtle''s carcass.


    "That''s right. This is the sea turtle that was responsible for attacking Nn Feng yesterday."


    "This is a wound from my sword technique. This has to be the right sea turtle!"


    The three elders'' testimony rified the matter: Nn Feng''s assassination attempt had nothing to do with Xiao Nanfeng, after all!


    Nn Feng, however, was frowning more and more deeply. He was certain that the sea turtle had to be in cahoots with Xiao Nanfeng because Xiao Nanfeng had rescued it. Even the assassination attempt was likely masterminded by Xiao Nanfeng. But what could have happened to cause Xiao Nanfeng to kill the sea turtle?


    And¡ªthe draconic vein of the Isle of Nn had been extracted and devoured by these disciples?!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you requested an audience with me. What for?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "Division Leader Zhao, I''d like to ask for your help in adjudicating the matter. In addition, I wish to apologize to Nn Feng," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Hmm?" Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng in surprise.


    "Although we worked together to avenge Nn Feng by beheading the turtle and rescuing arge number of his subordinates, the draconic vein had already been extracted and was about to disperse. To avoid wasting the precious resource, we divided and consumed it among ourselves. Even so, we did take advantage of Nn Feng''s resource, and we''re here to formally apologize to him."


    Nn Feng felt as though his heart were being constricted. He cursed internally, "A formal apology? unting it, more like! You bandits divided up my wealth and want me to recognize you for it? That was a draconic vein!"


    The other Taiqing disciples, however, disagreed.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, you had no other choice. If you hadn''t absorbed the draconic aether, it would have dissipated. There''s no need to apologize!"


    "You saved arge number of Nn Feng''s subordinates. He should be thanking you, instead!"


    "If you hadn''t killed the sea turtle, it would have continued trying to attack Nn Feng. You saved his life!"


    The elders fell silent, none knowing how to bolster Nn Feng''s reputation. Xiao Nanfeng was being widely hailed as a hero for what he had done; if they were to disparage him now, their own reputations would suffer.


    Even Zhao Tianheng looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with surprise. Zhao Tianheng could see just how much of a masterstroke his actions had been.


    First, Nn Feng wouldn''t be able to use this draconic vein as an excuse to cause trouble for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Second, Xiao Nanfeng waspletely free from suspicion of the im that he had been the mastermind for the sea turtle''s assassination attempt on Nn Feng. The little authority and trust that Nn Feng had just regained was wiped out once more.


    Third, although it was framed as an apology, it was clear that Nn Feng owed Xiao Nanfeng far more than he had lost. If he were to dare to continue targeting Xiao Nanfeng, he would be a heretic in the court of public opinion.


    Nn Feng, realizing that Xiao Nanfeng had gotten the jump on him again, could do nothing but suppress his anger in in sight of the gathered disciples.


    "Forget it," Nn Feng spat out.


    "Thank goodness!" Xiao Nanfeng smiled in apparent relief.


    "I''m feeling somewhat ufortable," Nn Feng stated. "I''ll be taking my leave for the moment." He stalked off, worried that he wouldn''t be able to suppress his instincts and end up in a fistfight with Xiao Nanfeng if he were to stay any longer.


    As Nn Feng left, Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zhao Tianheng. "Division Leader, thank you for mediating this affair."


    Zhao Tianheng gave Xiao Nanfeng a piercing look. He nodded, then left himself. He found Xiao Nanfeng deeply unpleasant, and had no interest in pleasantries.


    As the elders likewise departed, the za was left with only the gathered Taiqing disciples, who surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Everyone, I''ll be organizing a banquet tonight with sea turtle spiritbeast meat!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" his juniors replied excitedly.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t attempting to unt his newfound wealth to Nn Feng, but rather to highlight the fact that he had a treasure capable of extracting draconic veins, so as to gain the support of more Taiqing disciples. He was already making preparations in advance for the next stage of his n.


    A few dayster, on the Isle of Nn, Nn Feng stared at the formation of red fog surrounding the Isle of Xiao and sensed the palpable loss of spiritual aether in his vicinity. His eyes grew more and more murderous.


    Beside him was a schrly middle-aged man in white. The man clutched his mouth with a handkerchief and asionally coughed into it.


    "Are you alright, Mr. Wen?" Nn Feng asked.


    "It''s an old mdy. Ahem! Your Highness, you''ve met a master of maniption," the manmented, dropping his handkerchief and giving Nn Feng a slight smile.


    "Mr. Wen, thanks to your instruction, I''ve reined in my temper and allowed myself to analyze things carefully, methodically, and logically. Although I can tell when Xiao Nanfengys ns against me, I can''t ever seem to best him. It''s agonizing!" Nn Feng cried out.


    "You won''t be able to beat him, Your Highness," Mr. Wen replied.


    "Mr. Wen, he killed your student, Mr. Qin. Aren''t you upset? why don''t you help me deal with him?" Nn Feng asked expectantly.


    Mr. Wen shook his head. "I know nothing about his background or the resources at his disposal. How would I fight against him? Don''t be blinded by hatred, Your Highness."


    "Isn''t that already known? He has two Spiritsong-realm toad spirits and the Immortal''s Destruction. What else could he possess?" Nn Feng argued.


    "That''s all that he''s revealed. Furthermore, I''m only passing by at the moment. I still have to make ns for the project at the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, and I don''t have time to stay to help you." Mr. Wen shook his head in polite rejection.


    "Could he have more trump cards up his sleeve?" Nn Feng asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s ns havee to fruition, and his reputation is soaring. How do you intend topete with him? The fact that he didn''t kill any of your subordinates this time is a warning. If you continue to scheme against him, he mighte at you with lethal force," Mr. Wen warned.


    "Would he dare strike at me?" Nn Feng frowned.


    "What do you think?" Mr. Wen smiled.


    Nn Feng nched. He suddenly felt chills down his back. Given Xiao Nanfeng''s strength and wits, he absolutely had the ability to cause Nn Feng to vanish off the face of the earth.


    "Your Highness, focus on strengthening yourself, not on taking down others. One''s foundation rests always in one''s own strength. Join me at the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. The second prince has already excavated some of the treasure within, including a certain number of divine implements. Heading there will surely benefit you more than staying here," Mr. Wen suggested.


    "You''ve already managed to find treasure from the Draconic Pce? Mr. Wen, you''re amazing! Father has had trusted subordinates searching about the region for years, but none of them were able to find a way in. You haven''t been there for much time at all, but you''ve already found treasure!" Nn Feng cried out.


    "It won''t be a secret for long. News that an entrance to the Draconic Pce has been found will surely attract the attention of the strongest cultivators in the region. We''d better head over there now and stay ahead of the crowd," Mr. Wen said, smiling.


    "I''ll listen to you, Mr. Wen!"


    "As for Xiao Nanfeng? Don''t worry about him. He''s already caught the attention of many influential people, and there''ll be plenty of trouble lying in wait for him," Mr. Wen continued confidently.

 Chapter 174: Bandit Suppression

    <h4>Chapter 174: Bandit Suppression</h4>


    On the Isle of Xiao, Ye Dafu cried out excitedly, "Young Master, look! I''m already at the third stage of Ascension, and my third uncle broke through to the fifth stage! These draconic veins are amazing."


    "Young Master, we''ve all reached the peak of Immanence. If there''s another draconic vein around, we might be able to break through to Ascension!" Ye Dafu''sckeys added.


    "And what about you, Mr. Zheng?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''m rathercking, but my cultivation has improved tremendously as well. I''m at mid-Immanence now, and the three thousand fighters havergely reachedte Acquisition. The effect of a draconic vein is truly beyondpare," Zheng Qian replied, smiling.


    "This is just the start. Don''t worry, Mr. Zheng. You''ll be able to reach Ascension in no time at all!"


    Zheng Qian smiled and nodded in anticipation.


    "Young Master, do you intend on extracting another draconic vein? The one in the Isle of Xiao, perhaps?" Ye Dafu''s eyes brightened.


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Ye Sanshui rapped Ye Dafu on the head. Was his nephew an idiot? Who would want to extract their own draconic vein when there were so many out there?


    "I heard that Nn Feng left Taiqing Ind," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ye Sanshui nodded. "He left yesterday."


    "Good. I won''t have to worry about him scheming against me, then. I don''t have time to waste on him." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in satisfaction.


    Ye Sanshui, on the other hand, gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. Don''t you think your positions are reversed? You''re the one who''s been scheming against him!


    Ye Sanshui voiced his concerns. "Young Master, I''m worried that he won''t take what we''ve done lying down."


    "What''s there to be worried about, Third Uncle? We''ll reach Spiritsong sooner orter by following Young Master Xiao. If he dares to target my father, I''ll have my father seek Young Master Xiao''s aegis! After all, Father always imed to be loyal to Marquis Wu. We don''t need to bear with Nn Feng!" Ye Dafu said disdainfully.


    Ye Sanshui: ...


    "Ye Dafu''s guess is on the mark. I do intend to extract another draconic vein," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "What?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Really?" Ye Dafu and the other cultivators suddenly grew excited.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right. I''ve already discussed it with Elder Zhao. A few dayster, we''ll set off. I''d like you to return to Taiqing Ind and help me advertise. Tell them that I''ll be raiding a bandits'' den. The ind where we''re headed should have a draconic vein, which I intend to extract. All those who are willing to apany me and listen to my orders can share in the vein, but all other rewards from the raid shall be mine. If you''re interested, register now¡ªwe''ll be setting off within a few days."


    "Of course!" Ye Dafu and the other disciples cried out excitedly.


    In a hall of the Ascended division on Taiqing Ind, Zhao Tianheng had a sip of tea as he listened to a disciple''s report.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses for a bandit raid¡ªand there are almost three thousand disciples registered to join him?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    There were only a few thousand formal disciples of the Taiqing sect, and a significant fraction remained out in the mortal world on sect business. Had Xiao Nanfeng won the support and admiration of the majority of the formal disciples in just a few short months?


    "Yes, Master! The number would be evenrger had he not restricted the expedition to those beyond Acquisition," the disciple continued.


    Zhao Tianheng frowned. "He''s really a troublemaker, isn''t he?"


    "Over thest few months, although he''s only been teaching fist techniques to Ascension-realm disciples, those same disciples heap immense praise on Xiao Nanfeng when they teach Immanence-realm disciples themselves. As a result, Xiao Nanfeng enjoys a sterling reputation among the ordinary disciples. Furthermore, about a hundred Ascension-realm disciples were able to absorb draconic aether and gained huge advances to their cultivation. The other disciples covet the opportunity to enjoy some draconic aether of their own."


    "So the Immortal''s Destruction can unearth draconic veins? It''s an incredible treasure, that''s true, but is Xiao Nanfeng strong enough to defend it? Ha!" Zhao Tianheng narrowed his eyes, then continued, "Do you know where they''re headed?"


    "I''m not sure, but I have a guess, Master."


    "Oh?"


    "During this period of time, the second- and third-in-charge of the Bloodkill bandits brought their crews in a raid on the Isle of Xiao, attempting to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng, only to end up being hanged to death. I suspect that Xiao Nanfeng will be leading the Taiqing disciples to eliminate the Bloodkill bandits once and for all."


    Zhao Tianheng nodded. That was in line with his suspicions.


    Dayster, on arge ind in the Eastern Sea, arge number of malicious-looking men sat in a hall as they faced their leader.


    "Boss, something''s wrong," one of them began.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I noticed someone flying by an ind to our south, an outcropping of rock without anything of interest whatsoever. What would a Spiritsong-realm cultivator be doing there? Could our enemies be spying on us from afar?"


    The boss of the Bloodkill bandits considered the information. "It''s already the third wave."


    "The third wave of what?"


    "What the boss means is that there are already three groups of people focused on us, the Bloodkill bandits," one of the other men stated.


    "More groups? Who could they be?!"


    "Do you remember the Isle of Xiao?" the boss of the Bloodkill bandits asked.


    "The Isle of Xiao?" The bandits reacted with surprising fear.


    "The second- and third-in-charge both perished there! Boss, do you think Xiao Nanfeng''s still not satisfied? Is he going toe attack us next?!" someone cried out.


    The boss of the Bloodkill bandits nodded. "I just received word that Xiao Nanfeng''s leading arge group of Taiqing disciples our way here to eliminate us. They''ll arrive within a few days."


    "What? He''s really going to fight us head-on?" The bandits were shocked and angry.


    "Boss, you said that there were three groups of people going after us. Are the other two Xiao Nanfeng''s helpers?" one bandit asked.


    The boss shook his head. "They''re waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to deal with us first."


    "To attack him once he''s done with us?"


    The boss nodded. "They''re likely eyeing his Immortal''s Destruction."


    The bandits perked up.


    "I told the second- and third-in-charge not to try to seek revenge on Hong Xiaoye''s son, but they insisted on going. Not only did they perish, they''ve even dragged the rest of us into this mess. What a bunch of idiots," the boss of the Bloodkill bandits cursed.


    "Considering the situation, why don''t we lie low for the moment?" one bandit suggested.


    "Lie low? How? I''m the only one who can leave. Haven''t you seen that they''ve been wrecking all those ships leaving our ind? We''re bait, and they''re not going to let us go easily," the boss hissed.


    "Then¡ª" The bandits began to panic.


    "The father''s a catastrophe and the son is too. Damn it. On what grounds?!" The boss of the Bloodkill bandits pped his armrest in vexation.


    Five ships from the Taiqing Sect sailed across the Eastern Sea. From high above, Croak and Warble scouted in their vicinity, guarding against any who sought to tail the fleet. Aboard one ship, Xiao Nanfeng looked out at the wide expanse of the sea, his hands gripping the railing tightly.


    Ye Dafu rushed over. "Young Master, are we headed in the wrong direction?"


    "Who said so?" Xiao Nanfeng turned his head andughed breezily.


    "Some senior disciples are saying that the Bloodkill bandits aren''t in this direction!" Ye Dafu fretted.


    "And who said we were heading for the Bloodkill bandits?"


    "Ah..."


    "Young Master, aren''t we headed to eliminate the Bloodkill bandits?" Ye Sanshui asked in surprise.


    "Who said that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    "Didn''t you say it?" Ye Dafu seemed wholly confused.


    "I said that we were going to eliminate a group of bandits, but not necessarily the Bloodkill bandits," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Ah?" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "We''re headed to Thousand-Serpent Ind," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Where''s that?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Remember when we encountered a group of serpents attacking Zhao Yuanjiao while returning to the Taiqing sect?"


    "Of course! You easily ughtered them all and even killed a giant golden Spiritsong-realm serpent!" Ye Dafu recalled.


    "That''s right. These serpent bandits have attacked an elder of the Taiqing sect, and there''s no reason to leave them be. Our goal is to exterminate these serpents."


    "Exterminating... serpent bandits?" Ye Dafu''s eyes grew wide.


    "The sea serpent spirits you brought backst time were very important. Zhao Yuanjiao sent them to the Mortal elders and had an antidote prepared. With this antidote, none of us will have to fear their venom. Later, I''ll have you distribute the antidote to everyone."


    "Of course!" Ye Dafu nodded.


    "Here they are." Xiao Nanfeng handed over a bundle of pills. "Ye Sanshui, you''re reliable and trustworthy. Please help Ye Dafu out. Distribute the antidote as quickly as possible. We''ll have about half a day at most before wend on the ind."


    "Yes, Young Master!" Ye Sanshui replied.

 Chapter 175: Natural Bane

    <h4>Chapter 175: Natural Bane</h4>


    The Thousand-Serpent Ind was a spiritbeastir, and the ind itself was swarming with countless sea serpents.


    At the moment, there were a group of guests on the Thousand-Serpent Ind.


    They resided in a ptialplex within a valley, but their luxurious amodations couldn''t keep them from showing trepidation wherever they went. Venomous snakes slithered all around them¡ªover their eaves, their wells, and even their bedframes.


    The guests didn''t dare move around; instead, they huddled together.


    "Tang, you''d better not provoke these sea serpents!" one of them called out.


    Tang''s face contorted. "When have I ever provoked these sea serpents? Stop saying that! It''s hardly as though I enjoy causing trouble!"


    If Xiao Nanfeng were present, he would immediately recognize Tang as the demonic spy who had attempted to kidnap him with the help of a paralytic poison. Instead, Xiao Nanfeng had turned the tables on him, which caused a significant fiasco in conjunction with Zhao Yuanjiao''s investigation.


    "What do you mean, you don''t enjoy causing trouble? You''re disaster incarnate, a cmity!" the person beside him said.


    Tang grew furious. "Don''t nder me!"


    "Who''s ndering you? Have you forgotten why you were sent to the Taiqing Immortal Sect? It''s because everyone who teamed up with you died, and no one wanted to work with you anymore! That''s how you ended up as a spy in the Taiqing sect¡ªand then you caused arge number of them to die, too! We''ve lost a tremendous amount of progress in infiltrating the Taiqing sect."


    Tang frowned. "As I said, it''s not my fault! Each time, I tell them not to risk it, but they never listen to me. In the Taiqing sect, I told them not to be in a rush to deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but they insisted¡ªand now they''re dead. When we finally broke out of prison, I tried to persuade them to leave Xiao Nanfeng be and to escape from the ind, but they insisted on seeking revenge. In the end, they all died while trying to catch him. It''s not my fault that they refused to listen to me!"


    "You cursed them!" the first speaker asserted.


    Tang sighed. "It doesn''t have anything to do with me."


    "You''re an omen of cmity. Stay away from me!" one person beside him shouted.


    Everyone distanced themselves from Tang.


    Tang looked at them angrily. Are you all crazy? Why do you keep throwing around false usations?!


    Just then, a voice called out from close by, "An omen of cmity? I don''t believe it."


    Everyone turned to find a cloud of ck fog not too far away. Within the cloud was a man with dark blue skin, his eyes scorching and radiating killing intent.


    "Elder!" Everyone bowed respectfully.


    The Pestilence Sage suddenly turned his gaze toward Tang. "They call you an omen of cmity who brings misfortune to yourpanions: ridiculous. I cultivate the ghostly arts, and no sinister or macabre affair could be novel to me. I alone chart my fate, not the heavens above. The more extreme the curse, the more it shall enhance my cultivation. Are you an ill omen for yourpanions, Tang? Curse me, then."


    Tang stiffened as he bowed. "Sage, I could never hope to surpass your divine might."


    "Haha, haha!" The Pestilence Sageughed in satisfaction.


    Just then, a boom suddenly rang out nearby as a giant golden serpent was sent flying toward the cultivators.


    The golden serpent smashed through arge portion of the ptialplex. Behind it was a monk whose body was radiating with golden light. There were still chains on the monk''s body, as though he had just emerged from captivity.


    "Pestilence Sage, help me stop him! I''ll summon the other golden serpents immediately!" the giant golden serpent cried out.


    "You really are weak, aren''t you? Forget it. I''ll deal with him myself," the Pestilence Sage said disdainfully.


    By then, the radiant monk had closed in on the serpent. His eyes grew cold. "The Pestilence Sage of the Taiqing Demonic Sect? You''re allied with these demons? I''ll eradicate all of you today and cleanse thend!"


    The radiant monk sent a palm strike at the Pestilence Sage, who smirked and met the palm with one of his own.


    The two palms struck each other with equal strength. The next moment, however, the radiant monk gasped. "What? A spiritual palm strike?!"


    The Pestilence Sage''s hand had curled into a w, somehow prating past the radiant monk''s palm and thrusting into his body. Though his physical body remained uninjured, an expression of intense horror appeared on his face.


    Blue light emanated from the radiant monk''s body¡ªhis spiritual avatar, which the Pestilence Sage was extracting from his physical body.


    "Stop it!" the radiant monk shouted.


    However, it was toote. His spiritual avatar had been sucked into the Pestilence Sage''s mouth.


    "No! Don''t eat me, don''t!" the radiant monk''s spiritual avatar yelled.


    With an aborted scream, the spiritual avatar was swallowed whole by the Pestilence Sage. His physical body fell to the ground in a plume of dust.


    "Is he dead?" the golden serpent asked in shock.


    The Pestilence Sage swallowed. ck smoke roiled from his body as he gave the serpent a sinister smile. "I''ve eaten his soul. How do you expect him to survive?"


    The golden serpent''s eyes widened in fear.


    "No need to thank me. Find your king quickly. I don''t want to wait here for too long," the Pestilence Sage continued.


    Still in shock, the golden serpent nodded, swallowed up the radiant monk''s body, then slithered off.


    "Sage, you''re truly amazing! Would you be willing to ept me as your disciple?" Tang asked.


    "We can discuss that more after matters here are aplished," the Pestilence Sage replied. He looked disdainfully at Tang, without any inclination to take him on as a disciple.


    "Elder, what are we doing here at the Thousand-Serpent Ind?" one cultivator asked curiously.


    "These serpents didn''t seed at their task, so I''m naturally here to interrogate them. The n was to kill Zhao Yuanjiao, so why is he still alive? It''s been a few months since then. Why haven''t they continued attacking him?" the Pestilence Sage asked.


    "I heard that Zhao Yuanjiao has been hiding on Taiqing Ind, and there hasn''t been an opportunity to strike," one cultivator murmured.


    "And so what? Zhao Yuanjiao''s been weeding out troublemakers among the ckguards. If this drags on any longer, he''ll be able to make them into his own elite force," the Pestilence Sage warned.


    "Of course, Sage. I was a spy on Taiqing Ind, and I''m well aware of Zhao Yuanjiao''s capabilities. He''s a deep schemer, and we''ll have to deal with him early before he can grow into his own." Tang nodded.


    "Exactly right, Tang. However, I''ve gathered this group of sea serpents not just to deal with Zhao Yuanjiao, but also Xiao Nanfeng."


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng?" Tang nched.


    "I''ve just received news that Xiao Nanfeng has be the seniormost Ascended disciple and enjoys a particrly elevated reputation within the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I''ve been tasked to take him down as well. Tang, you''re familiar with Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you? You''ll lead the way when the timees."


    Tang stiffened. "We can''t, Sage!"


    The Pestilence Sage cocked his head at Tang.


    "Sage, I fully agree with your decision to take down Zhao Yuanjiao, but I''m worried about Xiao Nanfeng. There''s something strange about him," Tang immediately added.


    Everyone stared at Tang. That was what they all said of Tang; this was the first time they had heard Tang say that of someone else!


    "It''s true!" Tang stressed. "He was already able to break a cursed effigy apart while in mid-Acquisition. While in an illusory realm with him, I saw him take down a cursed effigy that even Elder Ku was stymied by. Despite how careful I am, he''s managed to foil me multiple times. Furthermore, I''ve since discovered that, except for me, all those who opposed him have died¡ªeven Ma Shan and the others, who were far stronger than he was to begin with! There''s something strange about Xiao Nanfeng. It''s better to stay away."


    "Weren''t you the one who cursed them?" one of the other cultivators asked.


    "Not by me, but by Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The other cultivators clearly didn''t believe Tang.


    "Sage, I strongly rmend that we avoid Xiao Nanfeng. If he''s around, we have to leave. Otherwise, cmity will befall us all. Please believe my intuition!"


    "Are you crazy? I, the Sage of Pestilence, avoiding a puny Ascension-realm cultivator?"


    "Please, Sage, you have to believe me!" Tang cried out.


    Everyone stared at Tang. You might have lost to Xiao Nanfeng a few times, but how could he have traumatized you so severely? The Pestilence Sage could easily take down even Spiritsong-realm cultivators, let alone an Ascension-realm one!


    "Oh? I wouldn''t have been interested in him if not for how you''re building him up. Such cmity is perfect for advancing my cultivation. I''ll have to take on Xiao Nanfeng myself," the Pestilence Sage replied.


    "Please, Sage, there''s no need! There''s really something wrong with him!"


    "Not enough to best me," the Pestilence Sage replied.


    Just then, a sea serpent shouted, "An intruder! All serpents, prepare to face the enemy!"


    Countless sea serpents slithered toward the outskirts of the ind.


    Another voice could be heard from afar. "Croak, Warble, strike now! All disciples, charge ahead with me, Xiao Nanfeng! Kill these sea serpents!"


    "Kill!" an ear-splitting shout rang out from all over.


    The Pestilence Sage, Tang, and the other cultivators blinked. Xiao Nanfeng... was here?


    "He''s really here? Something is strange about him, isn''t it?" someone cried out.


    "Is it really Xiao Nanfeng? How convenient!" the Pestilence Sage eximed.


    Only Tang stiffened. "Xiao Nanfeng''s as sinister as ever. Sage, please, we have to flee. Something''s wrong!"


    "Silence! Apany me to take down Xiao Nanfeng. I''d like to see just how ominous someone has to be for an omen of cmity like you to be so scared." Despite Tang''s repeated pleas, the Pestilence Sage was unbelievably excited.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    Tang frowned in worry. Thest few times he had gone up against Xiao Nanfeng, the others around him had been equally cocksure and confident¡ªand now they were all dead.

 Chapter 176: Cursed to Death

    <h4>Chapter 176: Cursed to Death</h4>


    Five ships had secretly arrived by the outskirts of the Thousand-Serpent Ind.


    "There are threerge valleys in the Thousand-Serpent Ind that serve as gateways in and out. We''ll split into three groups and attack them simultaneously. Don''t allow even a single sea serpent to escape," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "What if they escape to sea?" Ye Dafu asked, frowning.


    "Elder Zhao Yuanjiao borrowed the ''Thundersea Mountain Formation'' from the sect on our behalf, which can block off water ess to the ind. As long as the sea serpents can''t fly, they won''t be able to escape, and the formation will even form a lightning underwater to force the sea serpents back to shore," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The disciples were all very curious about this formation.


    "Croak, Warble, and Elder Zhao will handle all sea serpents at Spiritsong-realm and above. Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, the two of you will lead the three thousand fighters of the Isle of Xiao into two of the three valleys," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Young Master, they''re only atte-stage Acquisition! Will they be enough?" Ye Dafu asked in worry.


    "I''m aware. The three thousand Taiqing disciples will apany both of your groups and support my three thousand fighters," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "What?" Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui gaped.


    "The goal of this expedition is to train these fighters. They do need practical experience, after all," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "What about the third valley?" Ye Dafu continued.


    "I''m right here," Xiao Nanfeng asserted confidently.


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui''s eyes widened as they realized what Xiao Nanfeng meant. Was he going to take on a third of the sea serpents by himself?


    "Young Master, won''t it be dangerous?" Ye Sanshui asked carefully.


    "The matter is settled," Xiao Nanfeng replied crisply. "Ye Dafu, make sure yourckeys are leading the troops well. I''ve requested that three thousand disciples be present to support your efforts, so don''t lose too many of my fighters."


    "Don''t worry, Young Master. We''ll bring them all back!" Ye Dafu promised.


    "In that case, let''s begin," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui began their preparations in earnest. The ships quickly divided into three groups and sailed toward three different points on the ind. Sea serpents rushed out to attack them, but the cultivators had all consumed antidotes and didn''t fear serpent venom. Following themand, they jumped ashore.


    "Kill!" Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui shouted, leading the charge. Everyone brandished their weapons at the sea serpent.


    At the same time, over three hundred pirs of lightning formed around the Thousand-Serpent Ind. Purple lightning shot out of each pir and linked together to form a wall thirty meters tall all around the Thousand-Serpent Ind.


    The sea serpents who attempted to escape from the ind by swimming were quickly forced back ashore.


    At the same time, a golden serpent took to the air and howled, "An intruder! All serpents, prepare to face the enemy!"


    Xiao Nanfeng stood by the entrance to one of the valleys in the Thousand-Serpent Ind. As he looked at the golden serpent in the air, his eyes grew cold. He shouted, "Croak, Warble, strike now! All disciples, charge ahead with me, Xiao Nanfeng! Kill these sea serpents!"


    "Kill!" the Taiqing disciples shouted. Croak and Warble swooped down from the air, smashing the flying serpent against a mountain peak.


    Zhao Yuanjiao hovered even higher above them as he overlooked the scene. When another golden serpent emerged, he swooped down and shed at it with his de. The resulting tremor shook the entirety of the Thousand-Serpent Ind.


    The Pestilence Sage and his subordinates quickly arrived at the peak of a mountain as they surveyed the battlefield.


    Croak and Warble were dealing with three golden serpents together, while Zhao Yuanjiao handled two on his own. As the Spiritsong-realm cultivators fought, the ground cracked and the mountains rumbled.


    By the entrances to two of the valleys on the ind stood Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui, along with arge group of Taiqing disciples and fighters from the Isle of Xiao. They fought against tens of thousands of sea serpents. The fact that all the cultivators were immune to their venom greatly hindered the sea serpents; with every swing of their weapons, countless serpents died.


    The entrance of the final valley was even more of a bloodbath. Xiao Nanfeng stood alone, his divine undying de in hand. The sword technique he executed was fifteen meters wide, and it cut apart all that was in sight.


    The sea serpents roared in outrage as they slithered toward Xiao Nanfeng, but none of them, not even the Ascension-realm ones, were a match for his weapon. They were instantly cut in half.


    Xiao Nanfeng alone boasted the destructive strength of thousands of fighters from the Isle of Xiao.


    A protective barrier of me formed around him, incinerating any sea serpent that managed to get close.


    "Is this really Xiao Nanfeng? How could he have such strength?!"


    "How can he wreak such havoc alone?"


    "Even Ascension-realm sea serpents die in a single blow. He must be strong enough to defeat Spiritsong-realm sea serpents, too!"


    The demonic sect disciples were all astounded by what they could see.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, is it? He does have some skill, I''ll admit," the Pestilence Sage said.


    "Sage, I wasn''t wrong, was I? There''s something strange about Xiao Nanfeng. Just a year or so ago, he was only in Acquisition. Now, he''s able to kill Ascension-realm cultivators easily. We''d better run," Tang continued to urge.


    "In the end, though, he''s only an Ascension-realm cultivator. I can easily kill Spiritsong-realm cultivators, so why should I be afraid of him?" the Pestilence Sage continued.


    "Sage, why don''t you defeat Zhao Yuanjiao instead?" Tang suggested again.


    "Do you presume to instruct me?" the Pestilence Sage asked coldly.


    Tang stiffened.


    "I''m very fond of sinister people. In fact, I''ll eat his soul right now. I wonder how it''ll taste?" The Pestilence Sage snorted as he flew toward Xiao Nanfeng in the distance.


    "No, Sage, please!" Tang shouted.


    "Silence! It would be trivial for the sage to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Just watch," a group of demonic sect disciples hissed.


    The Pestilence Sage rapidly approached Xiao Nanfeng from the back.


    As Xiao Nanfeng swung his de at the iing sea serpents, he suddenly felt a threat heading his way from the back, which broke apart his barrier of me in an instant. Startled, and without the time to swing his de behind him, he had no other choice but to thrust his left palm backwards in a reverse strike.


    The Pestilence Sage himself was shocked that Xiao Nanfeng''s barrier of me was able to dispel his own barrier of ck smoke. However, he didn''t care about that too much¡ªhis victory was imminent. He wed forward, as if to drag Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar from his physical body.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng struck at him with a palm.


    "You overestimate yourself," the Pestilence Sage murmured, scoffing.


    All those who had attempted to match him palm for palm had their spirits extracted. Xiao Nanfeng would die in the same manner. Roiling frost qi surged from his w toward Xiao Nanfeng''s palm.


    Just then, ck light burst forth from the storage ring on a finger on Xiao Nanfeng''s left palm. A pitch-ck palm emerged from that ck light.


    The Pestilence Sage frowned. What sort of technique was that?


    The palm grabbed ahold of his ghostly w and tugged.


    "What?!" the Pestilence Sage cried out.


    Suddenly, the Pestilence Sage was sucked into the storage ring by the pitch-ck palm, leaving behind a withered, dark-blue husk of a corpse. The withered corpse struck the ground with an audible thud, causing Xiao Nanfeng to look around in surprise.


    "What was that just now...?"


    Because everything had happened in the sh of an eye, he hadn''t had a clear look at his attacker. All he could sense was the ferocious beast in his ring suddenly striking at his assant.


    Xiao Nanfeng picked up the dark-blue husk of skin on the floor. It looked like a human doll of sorts.


    "An intable doll? Where did thise from? Why does it look so ugly?" Xiao Nanfeng was confused by its sudden appearance before he suddenly frowned at his storage ring. "Just what did you drag into the ring?"


    "Help!" the Pestilence Sage cried out from within his storage ring.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Had the beast nabbed another powerful spiritual avatar?


    He looked at the intable doll in his hand. In that case, this could very well be a valuable possession. He didn''t have time to inspect it carefully at the moment; rather, as though he were rolling up a carpet, he rolled up the intable doll and hung it by his waist.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out again, continuing to massacre the sea serpents in his vicinity.


    The demonic disciples, watching the scene from high up on a mountain peak, saw the Pestilence Sage ready to peel Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar away from his body¡ªonly to have his own be extracted in an instant. Then, Xiao Nanfeng rolled up the Pestilence Sage''s corpse and hung it by his waist.


    "Is he really an Ascension-realm cultivator? He has to be joking. He''s pretending to be weak, isn''t he?!" one disciple cried out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s grown even more sinister! I told you not to provoke him, but none of you listened. See? The sage ignored my warnings and ended up dying!" Tang cried out. He trembled as he backed away.


    Suddenly, everyone looked toward Tang and retreated from him.


    "What now?" Tang shouted.


    "You were the one who cursed the Pestilence Sage to die."


    "Right. Any of Tang''spanions will die a gruesome death!"


    "The sage didn''t believe in the curse and chose to keep Tang beside him. In the end, he too perished!"


    The cultivators stared at Tang in abject fear.


    Tang frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng was the one who killed the sage. What does it have to do with me? You heard me advise the sage not to strike! He refused to listen to me."


    The demonic disciples shook their heads. They were still staring at Tang in shock. "Omen of cmity, omen of cmity!"


    "Are you all blind?! This has nothing to do with me!" Tang cried out.


    "Omen of cmity, omen of cmity!" The chant grew even louder.

 Chapter 177: More Cursed to Death

    <h4>Chapter 177: More Cursed to Death</h4>


    While the demonic disciples chanted "Omen of cmity!" at Tang, a tremendous aura suddenly surged behind them. Everyone turned around in shock to see a giant golden serpent swim toward them, its eyes fierce.


    "What are you doing here, serpent?" one of the disciples asked in fright.


    "I just digested that radiant monk''s body and distilled his essence. What happened to the ind while I was gone? Where''s the Pestilence Sage?" the serpent countered.


    It was surprised by the cmity that had struck the ind, but responded calmly. Rather than charge forward into the melee, it wanted to figure out just what resources were at the disposal of the invaders. <i>The Pestilence Sage is an ally; why isn''t he helping out? Could he have fled because of the danger?</i>


    "The sage is dead. His corpse is by that person''s waist," Tang began.


    The golden serpent nched. The Pestilence Sage had died? Just how strong did his opponent have to be?!


    When it saw the figure to whom Xiao Nanfeng was pointing, however, it was shocked.


    "Are you certain the Pestilence Sage died to him?" the golden serpent asked in disbelief.


    "It''s true! The sage was unable to do anything before he was killed in just a single blow. His spiritual avatar was extracted from his body!" The demonic disciples nodded and recounted what had urred.


    The golden serpent narrowed its eyes. "Impossible. He has the strength of a cultivator at the peak of Ascension, but he''s not at Spiritsong yet. The difference between realms is massive; there''s no way he could have killed the Pestilence Sage. I see how it is. He must possess a treasure that targets the spirit."


    "Oh?" The demonic disciples considered this new piece of information.


    "The serpent king told us that the Pestilence Sage is particrly skilled at making ghostly avatars of himself, and this body that perished is only one of his avatars. His opponent''s treasure must have countered him perfectly," the golden serpent exined.


    "Countered him perfectly?" The demonic disciples nodded at this exnation.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s only an Ascension-realm cultivator, and he isn''t as strong as I am. We''ll charge down there and kill him together," the golden serpent suggested.


    "But..." The cultivators were still hesitant given what had happened to the Pestilence Sage. They didn''t want to risk their lives!


    "Xiao Nanfeng might have killed an avatar of the Pestilence Sage, but the Pestilence Sage himself is surely still alive. That skin of his is particrly precious, and I''m sure he''ll reward you handsomely for it. On the other hand, if you refuse my request to help him retrieve it, he''ll punish you for inaction," the golden serpent warned.


    The demonic disciples continued to hesitate.


    "We can''t! Xiao Nanfeng''s in a giant golden serpent before, don''t you remember? He possesses the Immortal''s Destruction and can attack anywhere on the battlefield with just a moment''s thought. Do you all want to die? Don''t you see how quickly he''s ughtering the serpents down there?" Tang cried.


    The giant golden serpent peered at Tang with a chilly gaze. It was well aware of the strength of the Immortal''s Destruction¡ªone of itspanions had died to it. It was attempting to lure these disciples down into the fray as its targets.


    "I can block the Immortal''s Destruction," the giant serpent boomed. "The Pestilence Sage told me that you possessed a certain formation, Nightfall of Demonic Fog, that can allow you to lude an opponent''s senses. Use this formation on Xiao Nanfeng and he won''t be able tomand the Immortal''s Destruction urately. I''ll eat him in a single gulp and help you retrieve the Pestilence Sage''s skin. Well?"


    The disciples'' eyes brightened, thinking that the golden serpent''s n was wless. If they struck, they would surely be able to kill Xiao Nanfeng!


    "We''ll do it!" they shouted.


    "No, don''t! Have you already forgotten how the Pestilence Sage died? Xiao Nanfeng''s sinister, I told you!" Tang cried out.


    "You''re the sinister one, Tang. Stay away from us. You cursed the sage to death. This time, we won''t let you apany us," one disciple threatened.


    Tang wanted to continue arguing, but the golden serpent red at him fiercely, as though it would eat him if it said anything more.


    "But he, he really is sinister!" Tang''s voice grew weaker and weaker. Given the oppressive pressure, he didn''t dare attempt to persuade them any longer.


    "We charge now!" the golden serpent shouted.


    "Now!" the disciples echoed, rushing down the mountain.


    Below them, Xiao Nanfeng alone was holding back tens of thousands of serpents. The ground was littered with the bodies of the sea serpents, whereas he was perfectly uninjured. Gradually, the serpents all around began to shrink back in fear. A mountain of serpent carcasses stood before them.


    "Stay right there. Don''t you dare run!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, chasing after them.


    Just then, the hairs on his back suddenly stood on end. He felt tremendous pressure. He turned to see a golden serpent charging his way.


    "Another golden serpent?" Xiao Nanfeng swung at it with his de.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent stumbling a few steps back, only stabilizing himself after he crushed a boulder underfoot. However, he reacted quickly and counterattacked with the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "Ha!" The golden serpent grinned fiercely as it prepared a barrier all around its body. It was propelled backwards from the impact, but the strike didn''t break its barrier.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" The golden serpentughed.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, tossing his divine undying de toward the serpent. At the same time, heunched another attack with the Immortal''s Destruction. Xiao Nanfeng intended to use both weapons in sync in order tobat the giant golden serpent.


    Suddenly, a cloud of ck fog suddenly surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, obscuring his sight.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s initial volleynded with pinpoint uracy, both his de and the blow from the Immortal''s Destruction striking the serpent and causing it to stagger back.


    "Serpent, we''ve activated the Nightfall of Demonic Fog! Xiao Nanfeng can''t see us any longer, and his spiritual power won''t be able to sense us, either. Can you identify his location?" one demonic disciple asked, the sound permeating through the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. He attempted to probe his surroundings with spiritual power. Indeed, the demonic fog was able to disrupt his spiritual power, but his spiritual cultivation was bolstered by the radiant moon of his Lunar Deluge. It felt as though there were a bright moon illuminating the sky, one which only he could see. Where it shone, he could see everything within the fog clearly.


    There were dozens of robed men with gs in their hands as they erected this formation. They stood with a g in one hand and a drawn de in the other as a contingency. Clearly, they were unable to discern Xiao Nanfeng''s location within the fog as well.


    "Are these people crazy? They''re intending to turn this into a blind free-for-all?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself. "No, I would have more to lose if I hadn''t progressed this far with my spiritual cultivation. It''s to cancel out my advantage with the Immortal''s Destruction."


    "All you need to do is to maintain this fog. I can sense where he''s located," the serpent hissed.


    It emitted countless tiny particles of ice that revolved around its body and shattered against every cultivator''s barrier. The particles had little strength of their own, but were able to provide much-needed sensory information for the serpent within the fog. Furthermore, the serpent''s hiss would disrupt Xiao Nanfeng''s ability to hear.


    "I''ve found him! I''m going to eat him now!"


    The golden serpent slithered behind Xiao Nanfeng, then struck at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. <i>Are these demonic disciples trying to help me...? </i>He deftly avoided the serpent''s attack, thenunched a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction straight into its mouth.


    By the time the golden serpent realized that something was amiss, it was already toote. Golden light had erupted in its mouth as the Immortal''s Destruction struck it.


    The golden serpent shrieked in pain, its mouth a bloody mess.


    Suddenly, it felt a threatening sensation epassing it, but its eyes were blinded by the demonic fog, and it couldn''t discern in which direction the threat wasing from. Once more, it sent sprays of ice into the air, but it was toote. Another bolt from the Immortal''s Destructionnded, breaking through its barrier and injuring its neck. Xiao Nanfeng was able to ''see'' clearly despite the demonic fog, and his divine undying de struck at almost the same time.


    The golden serpent was beheaded amidst the fog of darkness.


    Even to its death, the golden serpent couldn''t believe that it had died in such a fashion.


    "Serpent? What''s the matter? Have you already eaten Xiao Nanfeng?" one demonic disciple asked, suddenly struck with an uneasy premonition.


    "It''s dead. Now, it''s your turn to die," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "What?!" the disciples cried out.


    Waiting for them was a charged blow.


    "Mercy! Please don''t kill me!"


    "I''m a Taiqing disciple too! Don''t kill me!"


    "Spare us, Senior Brother!"


    The demonic disciples screamed piteously, but Xiao Nanfeng ignored their pleas. The remaining disciples scrambled to escape as Xiao Nanfeng methodically caught and killed each one.


    Some of the ones who had run away fastest suddenly looked up. Their eyes grew wide as a bolt from the Immortal''s Destruction split them in two.


    From the mountain peak, Tang watched as the ck fog dissipated, revealing the golden serpent''s prone carcass. The demonic disciples were likewise lying in pools of blood, and Xiao Nanfeng was chasing thest few remaining. He clutched his face in shock. "I told you, Xiao Nanfeng''s a sinister fellow! Don''t provoke him¡ªbut all of you did it anyway!"


    Within the valley, the demonic disciples that were about to die shouted in despair, "Tang, it''s all your fault!"


    Tang''s face spasmed. "What do you mean, it''s all my fault?!"


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Before the others died, they too said the same thing.


    "Tang, I''ll haunt you for the rest of your life!"


    "Tang, you omen of cmity!"


    Xiao Nanfeng killed all the remaining demonic disciples. Standing amidst a pile of corpses, he frowned. "What does this have to do with Tang?"


    As if sensing something, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly looked up toward a mountain peak. His gaze met Tang''s constipated expression.

 Chapter 178: The Cooperative Tang

    <h4>Chapter 178: The Cooperative Tang</h4>


    When Tang saw Xiao Nanfeng looking his way, he nched and fled.


    However, he was far too slow for Xiao Nanfeng, who stored the golden serpent''s inner core and leapt up the mountain. He appeared before Tang in an instant.


    "Spare me, Senior Brother! I did nothing. I even tried to persuade everyone else not to provoke you. It''s none of my business!" Tang cried out.


    The divine undying de halted before Tang''s face. The resulting gust of wind caused his clothes to shake.


    "Tang? It really is you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "I''ll tell you everything, Senior Brother, everything!" Tang cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Tang with an odd look on his face. He hadn''t begun his interrogation, had he? Why was Tang being so cooperative?


    "Who else is with you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There''s no one left. You killed them all, Senior Brother," Tang replied, shuddering.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected his surroundings with spiritual power and confirmed Tang''s assertion.


    Even so, he didn''t rx. He ced his de by Tang''s neck as he looked all around. "Do you have rope?"


    "I''ve tied myself up," Tang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked behind him to see that Tang had bound his wrists with a tight knot.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve restrained the qi in my dantian, and all you have to do to seal my cultivation is to strike me here. Go on, seal my cultivation," Tang urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng was growing more and more shocked. What had happened to Tang?


    "What was going on just now? I was the one who killed them, so why did they call you an omen of cmity? Why do they me you for their deaths?"


    Vexed, Tang began, "They''re maligning me, Senior Brother! Don''t believe what they say!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew stony. "Answer what I ask."


    "They said that I''m an omen of cmity, having cursed..." Tang didn''t dare hide anything from Xiao Nanfeng. He recounted all that had happened. When he was finished, he added, "Senior Brother, considering how wise and knowledgeable you are, surely you won''t fall prey to such mysticism too?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for some time before he finally nodded. "They do have a point. You did curse all those around you to their deaths. Perhaps you are an omen of cmity, after all."


    Tang: ...


    "Stay right there. I have more to ask you in the future. If you dare run, I''ll break your legs," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    "Of course, Senior Brother! It''s safest around you considering the situation unfolding around the ind. I won''t go anywhere else," Tang vouched.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him as he surveyed the battlefield from his vantage point high above the ground.


    The sea serpents of the ind, seeing that Xiao Nanfeng had easily killed the giant golden serpent, were so scared that they were fleeing instinctively without putting up any form of defense.


    Zhao Yuanjiao, despite fighting two giant golden serpents by himself, seemed to have the upper hand. Croak and Warble were taking on three giant golden serpents and not losing out. By the other two valleys of the ind, Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui were leading the fighters of the Isle of Xiao in a melee, and they had made it as far as the serpents''ir. The Taiqing disciples were staying back and providing aid where necessary. Although the three thousand fighters were somewhat weak in terms of cultivation and fighting technique, their military training and formations allowed them to take on stronger foes without incurring much damage.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng saw a group of sea serpents gather by a faraway valley, prepared to ambush the fighters. He sent a bolt from the Immortal''s Destruction over, decimating the group and forcing them to flee. The fighters charged forward and took down any stragglers remaining.


    The entire ind seemed to be mired inbat.


    The cultivators fought from dawn to dusk. In the end, Zhao Yuanjiao was the first to seize victory. With a resounding bang, he killed the second golden serpent. Meanwhile, Croak and Warble had finished dealing with two serpents. They each bit an end of thest serpent and tore it apart in an explosion of blood.


    The fighting finally came to a close at dawn the next day.


    At that point, the weary but victorious fighters helped Xiao Nanfeng bring the serpent carcasses up onto their ships, heaping them as high as mountains.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao began to interrogate Tang.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, Elder Zhao, this really has nothing to do with me! I''ve only just reached Immanence, and I''m only a minor yer in the politics of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. There are many secrets I''m not privy to, and I wouldn''t know about the spies that have infiltrated the sect, either. I only left with the Pestilence Sage because he suddenly told me he admired my abilities!" Tang cried out.


    Unfortunately, what he did know was rather useless.


    "At the very least, it''s clear that these repeated assassination attempts on you were no coincidence, Elder Zhao. The Pestilence Sage must know the truth."


    Zhao Yuanjiao looked at the skin of the Pestilence Sage''s avatar, which he had imed. He gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "I heard that the Pestilence Sage''s ghostly arts are particrly difficult to deal with. How did you manage to defeat him?"


    "Was he? Those might just have been rumors." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    The ferocious beast within his storage ring had taken the Pestilence Sage down in one fell swoop. How could he be strong? The beast only boasted tremendous strength against spiritual avatars, not physical bodies.


    "Is the Pestilence Sage actually weak, then?" Zhao Yuanjiao wondered.


    Tang nced askance at them. He was aware that the Pestilence Sage was as strong as he imed to be, but he didn''t dare contradict their words. If he were to draw their ire, he was worried that they would simply kill him. Better to be quiet and invisible.


    "Elder, let''s not worry about the Pestilence Sage at the moment. How much longer can we stay on the ind?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Zhao Yuanjiao hesitated. "I received word that the serpent king of the Thousand-Serpent Ind left for the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce with arge retinue of golden serpents, and they likely won''t return for the short term. We should still have plenty of time, but the serpent king will be a difficult foe. I heard that it''s already reached Wingform."


    "Wingform?"


    "The realm that lies above Spiritsong. The four division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect are at Wingform," Zhao Yuanjiao exined.


    "Tang mentioned just now that the Pestilence Sage came here for discussions with the serpent king to take us down. We made the right choice ining here today."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded, then continued, "What should we do with Tang? Kill him?"


    "Elder, Senior Brother, I''m innocent! Don''t kill me. I''m a Taiqing disciple too!" Tang cried out in fear.


    Xiao Nanfeng peered at Tang. "Keep him."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother! I''ll be obedient, I swear!" Tang couldn''t help but heave a sigh of relief.


    "Why not kill him?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "He''s an omen of cmity, and I''m going to have him curse our opponents," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao: ...


    Tang: ...


    "An omen of cmity? It''s just a coincidence. You''re not that superstitious, are you?" Zhao Yuanjiao gave Xiao Nanfeng a skeptical look.


    "I know it might well be a coincidence, but this world has deities and the divine, doesn''t it? Who''s to say that an omen of cmity can''t exist? If he really is one, we might save significant effort in our future ventures. More importantly, he hasn''t hurt us in any way, and as a Taiqing disciple himself, I''m willing to be lenient. Wouldn''t it be better to treat him as an omen of cmity and hand him to our opponents?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s skeptical look deepened, but he didn''t say more.


    "Are you an omen of cmity, Tang?" Xiao Nanfeng asked Tang.


    Tang stiffened. He very much wanted to deny the usation, but his life was on the line! He had no choice but to cooperate. As his face twitched, he said, "Senior Brother Xiao, I''m shocked you were able to tell so readily. That''s right. I''m an omen of cmity."


    Zhao Yuanjiao: ...


    He could see that Tang was deliberately trying to please Xiao Nanfeng, but Tang had only reached Immanence and didn''t seem as though he would be a danger. Zhao Yuanjiao intended to let matters slide this once.


    "Tang, I expect you to make use of this curse on my enemies," Xiao Nanfeng informed him gravely.


    Tang''s face twitched. "Of course, Senior Brother."


    "Alright, then. You can leave now," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Ah?" Tang stilled. He was being freed?


    "Or do you want to stay?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ll leave, I''ll leave! Thank you, Senior Brother!" Tang cried out gratefully.


    Tang walked out of the hall disbelievingly. When some Taiqing disciples saw him leave, they made to catch him when he shouted, "Senior Brother Xiao let me go! Don''t stop me!"


    Indeed, upon hearing that it was Xiao Nanfeng''s decision, no one barred his way.


    "You''re letting him go just like that?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I wanted to free him, but I couldn''t think of a better excuse to do so than to y into the whole ''omen of cmity'' affair."


    "That was intentional, then?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked curiously.


    "I only managed to defeat an avatar of the Pestilence Sage by luck. The next time, he''ll be prepared. I need to be ready for him as well."


    Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes. "You intend to have Tang describe our attitude to the Pestilence Sage and make him think that we''re underestimating him?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Far safer to have the Pestilence Sage treat us like we''re fools. Even if Tang fails, we don''t lose anything by trying."


    Zhao Yuanjiao gave Xiao Nanfeng another odd look, but he nodded.

 Chapter 179: The Ferocious Black Dragon

    <h4>Chapter 179: The Ferocious ck Dragon</h4>


    Everyone on the Thousand-Serpent Ind gathered in one of its expansive valleys.


    "Mr. Zheng, I see your cultivation has advanced again!" Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    Zheng Qian smiled. "It''s all thanks to the inner core from that giant golden serpent you bestowed upon me, Benefactor."


    "You''ve worked very diligently on my behalf, Mr. Zheng, and this spiritbeast core is worth far less inparison. There''ll be some draconic aether ahead, too, so be prepared to absorb it."


    Zheng Qian nodded gratefully.


    "When are we starting, Young Master? We can''t wait!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng reared back in rm. "What''s the matter, Ye Dafu? Why''s your face pitch-ck? Were you poisoned?"


    "No, we''re alright," Ye Dafu replied, smiling in embarrassment.


    Not only was his face pitch-ck, all of hisckeys'' faces were, too. The snowy-white teeth they revealed were particrly striking inparison.


    Ye Sanshui clutched his forehead and looked at the cultivators disdainfully. He exined, "Please don''t mind them, Young Master. Dafu and the others didn''t take the antidote."


    "Weren''t there enough?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There were, but we think that being bitten by these serpents is ratherfortable. Our bodies are tingly all over, as if we''re on fire! It''s like there are electric currents passing over our skin. I can''t describe howfortable it is!" Ye Dafu exined, luxuriating in pain.


    Hisckeys nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng was speechless. Those that cultivated Indomitable Body really did be perverts!


    "Alright, I''ve set up the Immortal''s Destruction. I''ll be excavating the draconic vein now," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Great!" all the disciples replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the Immortal''s Destruction and used the technique that he had learned from the ancient turtle to activate the Immortal''s Destruction. Four Immortal-binding chains appeared from the four pirs of coiling dragons. As Xiao Nanfeng imbued them with energy, the chains soared into the air, then dug underground. They elongated and burrowed down, down, and further down.


    Everyone held their breaths and waited until the chains grew taut.


    A dragon''s cry came from deep underground.


    "A draconic vein!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    A huge tremor caused the entire Thousand-Serpent Ind to start shaking. The mountains all around them began to copse as the tremors grew wilder.


    The gathered Taiqing disciples shielded themselves from the iing boulders and rocks.


    The shaking grew so wild that tsunami-like waves formed all around the ind.


    "Four Immortal-binding chains aren''t enough? I''ll send out more, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured in shock.


    Another four chains dove deep underground. All eight chains grew taut as the dragon''s cries grew more and more pained. The ind''s shaking increased in severity as the final few mountains copsed.


    "Rise!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A huge dragon emerged from underground, releasing an incredible amount of resplendent light despite the fact that it was daytime.


    "A huge draconic vein!"


    "It has to be at least nine hundred meters long¡ªtwice as long as the first one!"


    "What a huge dragon!"


    Cries rang out all around Xiao Nanfeng as the dragon was exposed to the world.


    The first draconic vein had been about six hundred meters long, but it was far slimmer than this one here. The vitality radiating off this draconic vein was such that it continued to buck and struggle wildly despite being restrained by eight chains.


    "Tighten!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The eight chains drew taut as they retracted, forcing the dragon to the ground beside the Immortal''s Destruction.


    It continued to rampage wildly, but the Immortal''s Destruction held firm and bound it tightly.


    Everyone''s gaze grew ardent. Those who had absorbed draconic aether before knew that it was a tremendous treasure, and they eagerly awaited their chance to get another share.


    Everyone waited for Xiao Nanfeng''smand.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the gathered crowd, his gazending on You Jiu, who was hidden among the disciples. You Jiu nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng had informed all the disciples that he would share the draconic vein with them, but that they would have to cede their shares of all the other spoils of battle, including the five giant golden serpents that Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and Warble had killed. Xiao Nanfeng had given all their Spiritsong cores to You Jiu, who had risen to the peak of Ascension as a result. He was now informing Xiao Nanfeng that he was prepared for the Spiritsong breakthrough.


    "Elder, Croak, Warble, juniors¡ªlet''s dig in!" Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    He leapt up to the dragon''s head and began to suck up the draconic aether.


    The draconic vein roared in outrage.


    "Alright!" Everyone jumped toward the restrained dragon in excitement.


    Over six thousand people split the humongous draconic vein, consuming millions of portions among them. There was more than enough for them to surpass the limits of their cultivation.


    The draconic vein grew smaller and smaller as the cultivators dug in.


    However, no one noticed the dragon''s eyes glimmering with hatred.


    The dragon looked all around itself before focusing all its attention on Xiao Nanfeng. It had nowhere to vent its concentrated hatred.


    In the end, that hatred slowly condensed and manifested itself as a dense ball of ck fog, which shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s mouth along with a portion of draconic aether.


    As Nanfeng finished absorbing all the draconic aether he could stand, the dragon was consumed in its entirety.


    Everyone''s bodies glowed with golden light as they prepared for a breakthrough to their cultivation.


    You Jiu sealed the draconic aether in his body and quickly retreated behind the crowds.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself sat cross-legged and began to advance his cultivation. Draconic aether surged into his dantian and was distilled into pure yang qi.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng noticed that one wave of draconic aether was pitch-ck. The ck aether exploded in his body as Xiao Nanfeng appeared in the middle of a cloud of fog. Everyone around him had vanished.


    "An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in surprise.


    A dragon howled above him. He looked up to see a three-hundred-meter long ck dragon swooping down at him, eyes alight with fury, killing intent billowing from its body.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng cried.


    "Die, vile thief!" the ck dragon roared.


    The ck dragon mmed down with a tail. Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he met the attack with a punch.


    A huge gale formed at the point of contact as Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying.


    "How could this be?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. His spiritual cultivation was at Lunar Deluge! How could he be no match for the ck dragon?


    As the ck dragon surged forward again, Xiao Nanfeng hastily defended.


    He was sent flying each time, clearly no match for the ck dragon. The ck dragon itself was relentless, as though it wouldn''t give up until it had killed Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Madam Rouge, I''ve brought you a big meal! Come taste it!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    A cloud of ck fog appeared nearby, and Madam Rouge along with it. She shot toward the ck dragon rapidly.


    As though it could sense her, the ck dragon turned in her direction. The hatred in its eyes grew more intense. Another cursed effigy? Die, you cursed thing!"


    It whipped its tail toward Madam Rouge, who attempted to defend with her ws. However, even she was sent flying. She crashed against the ground.


    "Is this ck dragon that strong? Even Madam Rouge isn''t its opponent!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The ck dragon roared as it swooped toward both of them again.


    Even with Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge defending against it together, they were no match for it. It was too strong, and its devastating strength was such that Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar was about to disintegrate.


    "Madam Rouge, how do we deal with this?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out urgently.


    Madam Rouge formed words with her characteristic ck smoke. "This is no meal. You lied to me¡ªyou''ll pay for this!"


    Her body flickered and vanished.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. "Madam Rouge, how could you run? Are you really going to desert me?"


    Madam Rouge ignored Xiao Nanfeng''s pleas.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Colluding with cursed effigies is certain to lead to downfall¡ªand your downfall is now," the ck dragon roared.


    It sent Xiao Nanfeng flying once more. The tremendous momentum caused it to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Elder, can''t we talk through things calmly? Are you the will of the draconic vein? I didn''t know that you had already developed a consciousness. I apologize for my actions, and I''m willing to help save you," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "I''m not the draconic vein, merely a parasite. You harbor the red rope, and you must die!" The ck dragon shot forth.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Was it attacking him only because of the red rope?


    He had two lengths of red rope in his possession. He had used one to set up the formation around the Isle of Xiao, and he carried the other with him.


    "Elder, you''re mistaken. That red rope tried to kill me, but I destroyed its cursed spiritual avatar. The length of red rope that I possess is merely the spoils of my victory. I detest the red rope too!"


    The dragon''s tail suddenly stopped short right before it struck Xiao Nanfeng. A gust of wind blew by, causing the fog to dissipate.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced toward the ck dragon in shock. As expected, that was the source of its enmity!


    "Elder, I promise that I speak true. I''ve already destroyed the cursed spiritual avatars of two lengths of red rope, and Madam Rouge, whom you met earlier, was my friend. I sealed the red rope''s spiritual avatar in an illusory realm, and she was responsible for consuming it."


    Xiao Nanfeng called out again, "Madam Rouge, bear witness for me!"


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s surroundings were silent. Madam Rouge chose not to show herself.


    The ck dragon stared at Xiao Nanfeng from the air, ring at him. "Describe your encounter with the red rope. If you dare lie, I''ll destroy your spiritual avatar immediately. I may not be able to kill you like a cursed effigy, but I can promise that you''ll be unconscious for at least a decade."

 Chapter 180: The Downfall of the Draconic Palace

    <h4>Chapter 180: The Downfall of the Draconic Pce</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng, who was already on inimical terms with the red rope, happily told the ck dragon everything he knew. He didn''t dare embellish the tale, worried that the ck dragon might have some ability to detect lies.


    "You said that you entered an illusory realm and met Blue Lantern?" The ck dragon frowned in confusion.


    "You know Elder Blue Lantern?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The ck dragon continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng, revealing neither friendship nor enmity toward Blue Lantern.


    "Carefully describe every opponent you encountered in this illusory realm," the ck dragonmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed a little confused, but did as the ck dragon instructed.


    When he finished, the ck dragon fell deep in thought, then continued to re at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Elder? The red rope has nothing to do with me. I can take responsibility for all that I''ve said," Xiao Nanfeng said sincerely.


    The ck dragon was silent for long moments as it verified that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t lying. The killing intent that had shrouded Xiao Nanfeng vanished as though it had never existed.


    "Lad, can you manifest the form of the serpent you encountered in this illusory realm with fog?" The ck dragon''s tone had grown far less antagonistic.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t certain why the ck dragon cared so much about the obnoxious serpent, but he did as instructed.


    "Its features are inherited from the empress, and its forehead, the emperor! It must be¡ªthe Eastern Sea dragons haven''t gone extinct! Your Majesty, I''ve found it! Our n lives on!" The ck dragon''s eyes suddenly filled with tears of passion.


    Xiao Nanfeng was bewildered.


    The ck dragon suddenly bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I apologize for what offense I gave you, Benefactor."


    "Why do you address me as a benefactor?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You rescued the crown prince, and are naturally a benefactor to me," the ck dragon replied.


    "Crown prince? That¡ªthat obnoxious serpent?!"


    Within the illusory undying realm, the serpent had betrayed his trust time and again. Xiao Nanfeng considered it an ingrate. Blue Lantern had once mentioned that it had the bloodline of an ancestral dragon. Could that serpent be the crown prince of the dragons of the Eastern Sea?


    "Benefactor, it''s all thanks to you that the crown prince was able to survive in the cursed king''s presence," the ck dragon continued.


    "Elder, that serpent''s temperament is nothing like that of royalty. How could it be the crown prince which you speak of?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The crown prince was yet an unhatched dragon when it was escorted out of the draconic pce; its childhood must have been arduous for it to be so unwilling to trust others. It had no instruction in the matters of royalty, and offended you as a result. For you to have repaid grudge with charity, Benefactor, by saving its life from the cursed king, I owe you the deepest of gratitude." The ck dragon bowed again.


    "Elder, there''s no need for this. I don''t even know who you are!"


    "You address the ninth elder of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, Long Jiu. Two centuries ago, the draconic pce was ascendant among the forces of the Eastern Sea¡ªperhaps not to the point of hegemony, but at least rulership of all aquatic territory, with connections fostered to preeminent forces around the world."


    "I heard that it''s be a barren region," Xiao Nanfeng ventured cautiously.


    The ck dragon dipped its head with a weary sigh. "Cmity struck two centuries ago, leaving the dragons of the Eastern Sea near extinction."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The draconic pce of the Eastern Sea was responsible for sealing away a cursed king, a fraction of which is the red rope you bear. All was peaceful until a traitor released that cursed king, which rapidly grew stronger with the resources of the pce. Its subordinates spread throughout the pce and manufactured countless cursed ves, taking down the majority of our strongest fighters, including us dragons. Its goal was to entirely control our race and use us as the springboard to contend for the world. By the time we discovered its ploy, it was toote. It had already gained control of almost all us dragons," the ck dragon spat out bitterly.


    "As extinction loomed over the horizon, the dragon emperor enacted a massive ritual to seal the draconic pce in hopes of perishing together with the cursed king, intending to trap it until all its cursed spiritual power dissipated. That day is the nadir of our history. Before the seal could fully take effect, the dragon emperor expelled the truesouls of the draconic elders and whatever dragon eggs remained out of the pce, in order that the bloodline of the Eastern Sea dragons might remain. For some reason, the egg containing the crown prince ended up in the illusory realm of which you speak," the ck dragon exined.


    "Hold on. How do you know that that serpent has to be your crown prince?"


    "No other dragon would be ck in coloration¡ªall others could only be white, purple, blue, and so on. Only the crown prince and crown princess are ck dragons. In this realm, the ck dragons boast the most concentrated of the bloodlines of antiquity. Furthermore, the spiritual image of the dragon that you manifested boasts a certain characteristic that only we elders are aware of. I cannot be mistaken in this. The crown prince is no serpent; its horn has simply yet to manifest on ount of its age."


    Xiao Nanfeng was very shocked to think that such a shameless serpent could be the crown prince of the Eastern Sea dragons.


    "Benefactor, might I make one request of you? Would you deliver an item to the crown prince?" the ck dragon beseeched.


    "Blue Lantern brought it to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. Can''t you go find it on your own? Why do you need my assistance?"


    "Would that I could do so. Death has imed me; only my truesoul remains free from its clutches. Even so, my spiritual power continues to dissipate. Without the draconic vein as host, I do not anticipate to survive until such a meeting."


    "The Red Emperor was able to seek shelter in a dragon-quelling spike to protect against the decay of her truesoul and spiritual power. I have this red rope which might serve as a host for your body. Elder, if you would reside in it, I could bring you to the serpent," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Long Jiu shook his head. "The decay would persist, if slower. I see no purpose in remaining in my current state. Rather that I leave more of my spiritual power and inheritance for the crown prince. Please fulfill this request, Benefactor."


    Xiao Nanfeng was astonished. Was Long Jiu intending to sacrifice itself for the crown prince?


    "Why are you willing to trust me, Elder? Aren''t you worried that I might im your inheritance for myself?"


    "Benefactor, the crown prince owes you its life. Nothing I possess could match that value. Even were you to im all that I own aspensation, I would dly pay the price."


    Aplicated look shed across Xiao Nanfeng''s face.


    "Benefactor, I bore witness to your extraction of the draconic vein with the Immortal''s Destruction. I have little else with which to repay you but a map of the distribution of draconic veins across the Eastern Sea."


    It spat out an orb of light, one which recorded a vast expanse of sea, with markers to indicate the presence of draconic veins throughout.


    "Two centuries have passed, and I know not how these veins may have evolved in time. Benefactor, I trust you will confirm this map for yourself. All that I am, I shall forge into a token. I humbly request that you hand it to the crown prince. If ever I reincarnate, I pledge to serve you as repayment of deed and action." The ck dragon''s voice resonated with gratitude and sorrow.


    ck rays of light shot forth from the dragon''s humongous body. That light condensed and refracted around its core. Long Jiu''s body began to unravel.


    Touched, Xiao Nanfeng sighed, "Long Jiu, if I see the serpent again, I''ll bring it your token."


    "Thank you, Benefactor," a voice could be heard from the ck light.


    "Elder, please wait. Who was the traitor of the pce? Does the traitor still live? Allow me to convey this information to the serpent."


    The ck dragon''s voice grew weaker. "The prime minister, an ancient turtle! I know not whether it still lives. Beware the turtles!"


    In an explosion of ck light, the dragon''s body dissipated entirely, leaving a pitch-ck token that fell to the ground. Xiao Nanfeng picked it up, noticing that the two words Long Jiu were engraved on it.


    "The prime minister, a turtle, released the red rope from captivity and doomed the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce? I know an ancient turtle, Elder. Are you familiar with it? I can manifest an image of it for you," Xiao Nanfeng asked the draconic token.


    Unfortunately, by then, the token had lost all trace of life. Nothing responded to Xiao Nanfeng''s question.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. He sighed. "Rest in peace, Elder."


    He stored the token, then carefullymitted the map of the draconic veins to memory. After confirming that he was able to recall each detail, he waved his hand over it and caused it to dissipate.


    Xiao Nanfeng released yin frost and broke out of the illusion.


    He startled awake in reality, then took out Long Jiu''s token from his mindscape. Sensing the surge of draconic aether through his body, however, he dared not distract himself. He closed his eyes and continued distilling the draconic aether once again.


    Four hourster, Xiao Nanfeng''s body resonated as a huge gust of energy was expelled from it. He opened his eyes.


    "The sixth stage of Ascension!"


    A sixth sun had formed in his dantian.


    At the same time, all throughout the valley, cultivator after cultivator was breaking through. Energy surged through the valley as the cultivators opened their eyes in joy.


    Deep within the sea, an explosion of energy formed huge waves that broke its surface. A ck figure emerged and floated into the air: You Jiu, who had broken through his bottleneck and reached Spiritsong.


    You Jiu stood high above the sea, his face briefly a mask of exhration that was swiftly wiped away as he schooled his emotions. He turned toward Xiao Nanfeng in heartfelt gratitude.

 Chapter 181: A Full Haul

    <h4>Chapter 181: A Full Haul</h4>


    Six ships sailed across the Eastern Sea.


    Five of them were filled with the carcasses of sea serpents, whereas thest was the one that Tang and the other demonic disciples had sailed to the Thousand-Serpent Ind. Xiao Nanfeng had seized it, and it was now filled to the brim with Taiqing disciples and the three thousand fighters of the Isle of Xiao.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood above deck as he smiled at the gathered cultivators. "Juniors, I apologize for the cramped conditions."


    "No, it''s quite alright, Senior Brother!" Joyous shouts came from the crowd.


    Everyone knew that the sea serpent carcasses and treasure that they had obtained from the Thousand-Serpent Ind would belong to Xiao Nanfeng, but their nces were more of admiration than envy.


    As cultivators, it would be trivial for them to gainrge quantities of gold from the mortal world atrge, but cultivation was different. Even an exorbitant amount of gold couldn''t buy advancement at higher realms.


    "Senior Brother, there''s no need to be so polite. Don''t you know? Of the two thousand or so Immanence-realm disciples, three hundred made it straight to Ascension. Of those in Ascension, many made it tote-stage Ascension. We''ve all benefited tremendously, and these cramped conditions are hardly a price worth mentioning," Ye Sanshui replied.


    "That''s right. Thank you for your generosity, Senior Brother!" one disciple cried out.


    "Thank you for your generosity, Senior Brother!" the other disciples echoed.


    "It''s not a problem," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "This is only the beginning. Once you''ve all solidified your cultivation, we''ll head out on another expedition and excavate another draconic vein. We''ll eat our fill!"


    The Taiqing disciples'' eyes brightened as they pumped their fists up in excitement.


    "Long live our senior brother!" one disciple called out.


    "Long live our senior brother!" the other disciples echoed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s reputation, at least among the gathered cultivators, had reached an acme. What other senior brother would do so much for their juniors?


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the jubnt cultivators. He didn''t know how many of them were truly sincere regarding their praise, but it was immaterial. He was certain that the promise of profit alone would be sufficient to cause the vast majority of the disciples to stick with him in mutual benefit.


    He chatted a little more with the disciples before heading toward the bow to look toward the sea.


    "Benefactor, there was a tremendous amount of draconic aether this time. The majority of our three thousand fighters have ascended to Immanence, and the minority that haven''t are just a push away," Zheng Qian replied, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Mr. Zheng, I hope you''ll make good use of these five ships'' worth of sea serpent meat. Don''t waste them."


    "The ten thousand or so students of the Xiao Academy will start consuming a diet of spiritbeast meat once we return. I promise that none of the meat will be wasted. These children started cultivating earlier than the norm, and they''ve been working very hard on your behalf, Benefactor. Some have tremendous talent, and I''m sure they''ll more than exceed your expectations."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "No matter how strong their talent in cultivation, they must also gain a firm foundation in terms of culture and civics. Their growth is more important to me than that of the three thousand fighters of the Isle of Xiao. Nothing can go wrong."


    Zheng Qian nodded solemnly. "I understand, Benefactor."


    Zheng Qian had the uncanny feeling that Xiao Nanfeng''s aspirations went far beyond a single territory.


    Back on the Thousand-Serpent Ind, Tang watched as Xiao Nanfeng''s ships vanished over the horizon. He pursed his lips.


    "Why didn''t he invite me to partake in the draconic vein, too? I''m a Taiqing disciple myself! Stingy bastard," Tang cursed, so envious that he felt as though he might spit out blood.


    Just then, a blue figure descended from the heavens and appeared beside Tang.


    Tang turned. His features lit up. "Sage! I was trapped in the enemy camp and barely escaped. You''ve finallye for me!"


    Another avatar of the Pestilence Sage had arrived. His skin was ghostly blue like before, and he had a dark look on his face.


    The Pestilence Sage nced at the ruined ind. "What happened here? How did the Thousand-Serpent Ind end up in this state?"


    Tang revealed everything that he had witnessed, though he naturally reced his cooperation with fierce resistance and Xiao Nanfeng''s release of him with a battle of wits that led to his eventual escape.


    "So there was a draconic vein under the Thousand-Serpent Ind!" the Pestilence Sage remarked.


    "Isn''t it normal for there to be a draconic vein, considering how rich the spiritual aether is around here?" Tang asked curiously.


    "You know nothing! Not all locations rich in spiritual aether possess draconic veins. I and a group of other people searched around in far too many ces, wasting countless treasures and ascension materials, to barely manage to excavate a draconic vein. To think that Xiao Nanfeng would be so lucky as to find one in the first ce he looked!" The Pestilence Sage frowned.


    "You''ve excavated a draconic vein too, Sage? I didn''t think you could do so without an Immortal''s Destruction," Tang eximed.


    "Do you think it''d be reasonable for that to be the only way to extract a draconic vein? There are plenty of methods, but every method exacts a price. ces with draconic veins tend to be the foundation for sects, and obviously no sect would allow for the excavation of its draconic veins. We searched through eighteen different locations rich in spiritual aether before finding a single draconic vein¡ªand the treasures we lost to excavate eighteen times ended up being thrice the value of the draconic vein we found in the end," the Pestilence Sage spat out.


    "That must have been a great loss," Tang murmured.


    The Pestilence Sage red at Tang, but didn''t deny his conclusion.


    "Does Xiao Nanfeng not need to expend anything in terms of resources to excavate a draconic vein? Then this must be a very powerful artifact indeed." The Pestilence Sage narrowed his eyes.


    "Sage, you aren''t going to attempt to steal Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal''s Destruction, are you? He''s too sinister. We''d better not provoke him," Tang replied worriedly.


    "He is¡ªhe even has a cursed effigy in his storage ring. But now that I''ve figured out his trump card, do you think he''ll be able to get rid of my avatar the same way?" the Pestilence Sage asked pridefully.


    "That giant golden serpent shared your opinion before Xiao Nanfeng killed it the same way," Tang pointed out.


    "Can a giant golden serpentpare to my might?" the Pestilence Sage continued, ring at Tang.


    Tang shut up.


    "Don''t worry. I''m hardly a careless fool. I''ve already suffered once at his hands. We''ll wait for the serpent king to return and let it take the lead, then pick up the spoils," the Pestilence Sage replied confidently.


    "''We'', Sage? Must I go? Sage, please allow me to remain behind. I''m scared!" Tang cried out.


    "There''s someone even you, an omen of cmity, fear?" the Pestilence Sage replied disdainfully.


    Tang: ...


    "I do not need disobedient subordinates. Do you not intend to participate?" The Pestilence Sage red at Tang with killing intent.


    Tang stiffened. "I''ll go wherever you go, Sage!"


    Only then did the Pestilence Sage nod in satisfaction.


    Dayster, on an ind neighboring the Bloodkill Ind, Zhao Tianheng stood robed in ck, frowning as he stared at pinpricks of me from the Bloodkill bandits'' camp.


    "Division Leader, it''s already been a few days. All the bandits are making a fuss. Where''s Xiao Nanfeng''s ship?" a ck-robed man beside him asked.


    Zhao Tianheng frowned. He was anxious as well. If not for the possibility of acquiring the Immortal''s Destruction, why would he have spent a few days staking out the Bloodkill bandits'' territory?


    "Perhaps they got lost," Zhao Tianheng attempted to convince himself.


    "Even if they did, surely it wouldn''t cause such a long dy?"


    "Then go scout and see," Zhao Tianhengmanded in frustration.


    The ck-robed man was just about to leave when another one descended from the sky.


    "Is there news about Xiao Nanfeng''s ships?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "Division Leader, we guessed incorrectly. Xiao Nanfeng was nning to attack the Thousand-Serpent Ind, not Bloodkill Ind!" the cultivator spat out.


    "The Thousand-Serpent Ind? Weren''t they nning on taking down bandits?" Zhao Tianheng asked.


    "Serpent bandits, not human bandits! Xiao Nafneng and the other disciples have already returned to the sect. The expedition was aplete sess. They brought back five whole ships'' worth of sea serpent carcasses, and they even excavated the draconic vein on the ind. Many of his group have broken through."


    "What? We''ve spent a few days out here in the elements for nothing?! If they weren''t going toe to Bloodkill Ind, why did they have to mention bandits?" the other ck-robed cultivator cursed.


    Zhao Tianheng was equally upset himself. Not only had he been unable to carry out the sneak attack, Xiao Nanfeng had made a fool of him. What blistering shame!


    "What do we do now, Division Leader?"


    "Return to the sect, of course." Zhao Tianheng''s face was cold.


    The two cultivators sighed and followed behind Zhao Tianheng as they took to the skies. Their figures quickly vanished in the endless blue expanse.


    Torches filled Bloodkill Ind.


    Once the pirates learned that they were being targeted, they attempted to flee daily. If they couldn''t sail out with their ships, they would swim¡ªbut whenever they made it to the sea, they would suffer a huge impact, faint, and float back to Bloodkill Ind. They had spent thest few days in abject fear and were going crazy.


    "If I''m going to die anyway, I''d rather use up all my treasures!"


    "That''s right. They''re not going to be able to im my possessions. I''ll burn down everything I have so they don''t get anything!"


    "Burn down everything! Don''t leave anything behind!" the other pirates shouted, approving of the notion.


    Chaos reigned on Bloodkill Ind. When the boss of the Bloodkill bandits returned to the ind and saw it covered with ayer of smoke, he frowned.


    "Extinguish the fire immediately!" he shouted.


    "Boss, you don''t have to persuade us to do anything. After all, we''re about to die. This treasured scroll would be worth a fortune in the mortal world, but I''m using it as kindling! I''ll be able to flex my wealth once, at least."


    "And I cut up this divine pear and consumed it with meat broth."


    The Bloodkill boss stiffened. "Xiao Nanfeng''s ships aren''ting, and those parties hoping to prey on us have all departed as well. You''re all safe."


    The bandits looked toward their boss in shock. You''re only telling us this after we''ve burned all our possessions?!


    "My treasured scroll¡ªall my belongings!"


    "My divine pear... what bastard told me to burn it?!"


    "My treasures!"


    Wailing howls filled Bloodkill Ind.

 Chapter 182: Resurgence of Danger

    <h4>Chapter 182: Resurgence of Danger</h4>


    Ten dayster, in a hall in Taiqing Ind, Zhao Tianheng was staring at a map before him, deep in thought.


    "Division Leader, you said that this was a map of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce? Have they really managed to unseal it?" one elder asked curiously.


    "That''s right. Mr. Wen passed by Taiqing Ind not too long ago and provided me with this map. It describes some of what they''ve discovered through the excavation," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "Division Leader, if we can already enter the pce, why don''t we head in and fight for the opportunities that are present?" the elder continued.


    Zhao Tianheng paused. "Don''t be blinded by green. The Eastern Sea Draconic Pce boasts great opportunities and simultaneously great danger. We have to be prepared before heading in to avoid ignominious deaths."


    "You''re right, Division Leader. Do you mean to acquire the Immortal''s Destruction beforehand?"


    "The Draconic Pce contains draconic veins, and the Immortal''s Destruction can augment our strength considerably. We must acquire the Immortal''s Destruction," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "Yes!"


    "What has Xiao Nanfeng been up to recently?"


    "After the three thousand Taiqing disciples that apanied him consumed draconic aether and experienced a big boost to their cultivation, they''ve been praising him nonstop. Arge group of Taiqing disciples now heads to the Isle of Xiao regrly to help Xiao Nanfeng instruct his posse."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s making use of his status as seniormost disciple to have Taiqing disciples cultivate his own forces? This is an abuse of power," Zhao Tianheng replied, frowning.


    "The Taiqing disciples are doing it voluntarily," the elder added, a strange look on his face.


    Zhao Tianheng: ...


    "Division Leader, Xiao Nanfeng has remained on the Isle of Xiao since his return to Taiqing Ind. It would be particrly dangerous for us to attempt to steal the Immortal''s Destruction from him, considering our identities," one elder added, frowning.


    "We don''t have to do it ourselves. Someone will do it for us," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "Oh?"


    On the Isle of Xiao, Xiao Nanfeng stood atop a vantage point high above and looked down toward the massive schoolyard where arge group of Taiqing disciples were teaching the ten thousand orphans of the Xiao Academy.


    "Benefactor, although these children didn''t receive any draconic aether, the sea serpent meat is itself very nourishing. Their cultivation has all improved by a significant margin."


    "How much of the sea serpent meat remains?"


    "Because there are so many orphans, and because they''ve been working hard on cultivation, they haverge appetites. They''ve consumed about half the meat we have," Zheng Qian reported.


    "That''s eptable. Have them eat all they want if it''ll let them grow more quickly."


    Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng saw a ck figure sh by. He immediately continued, "Mr. Zheng, go tend to your duties. I have something to take care of."


    Zheng Qian nodded and departed.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly walked toward a secluded valley on the ind, where a man in ck awaited him.


    "Why have youe back, You Jiu?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Sir Xiao, you had me keep an eye out on the Thousand-Serpent Ind. You were right," You Jiu reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng listened attentively.


    "After you left, the Pestilence Sage was the first to arrive on the ind. He and Tang waited for five days until the serpent king and five golden serpents returned to the ind. When the serpent king learned about what had happened, it attempted to take revenge immediately, but the Pestilence Sage stopped him."


    "Oh?"


    "Last night, they conspired to deal with you, Sir Xiao. Because I was worried about being caught, I didn''t dare approach too closely. All I heard was the Pestilence Sage saying that he hade up with a n and had discussed matters with others to nab us all in one fell swoop."


    "One fell swoop? The Isle of Xiao might be a little distant from Taiqing Ind, but it''s under its purview. If there''s amotion, the elders of Taiqing Ind will surelye support me. Do they intend on attacking us?"


    "They made their move this morning. Thest thing I heard was that they were headed toward a so-called ''town of Destion''. The serpent king sensed my stealth and searched around for me, but I left quickly enough that I was not discovered."


    "The town of Destion?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.


    "You know of this ce, Sir Xiao?"


    "Zhao Yuanjiao has been ferreting out the spies among the ckguards, and most of them have been caught by now. A few days ago, the spies revealed some unexpected information. Zhao Yuanjiao, intending to take them down in one fell swoop, secretly left Taiqing Ind." Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark.


    "Could he have gone to this Town of Destion?"


    "That''s right."


    "So this is a trap targeting Zhao Yuanjiao?" You Jiu eximed.


    "From the looks of it, yes. Before he left, he told me that, even though it might be a trap, it would be a rare opportunity to im full control of the ckguards for good. He said he would be careful, but I hadn''t expected the trap to be so dangerous. Even the serpent king, a Wingform-realm spirit, will be present..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.


    "Sir Xiao, should we inform the elders of the Taiqing Sect?"


    "Without any proof, the elders would hardly believe us. Furthermore, it''s very likely that Zhao Tianheng is in cahoots with these enemies. If I report the news, it might startle them and worsen Zhao Yuanjiao''s predicament."


    "In that case, what should we do?"


    "Inform Croak and Warble immediately, then set off for the town of Destion. Aid Zhao Yuanjiao if you can, but prioritize your own safety."


    "I understand, Sir Xiao!"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a map and pinpointed the location of the town of Destion for You Jiu. He believed that, considering You Jiu''s caution, he would surely be able to bring Croak and Warble there and back.


    After You Jiu left, Xiao Nanfeng raised his head to look at the formation of red fog that surrounded the ind. "This won''t be enough to deal with the serpent king. I''ll need to make further preparations."


    The town of Destion was a small town by the seaside within the Tianshu Empire, and there was a small storefront run by nominal Taiqing disciples in town.


    That evening, however, the town was covered by a huge white fog. Within the fog, all the buildings of the town had been leveled; the ce was a mess of corpses and ruins.


    By the outskirts of the town, a sixty-meter long purplegold serpent was giving off tremendous killing intent as it stared at the ruins of the town. Behind it were countless giant golden serpents, along with the Pestilence Sage and his group of demonic disciples.


    "Come out here, Zhao Yuanjiao!" the giant purplegold serpent thundered.


    The shout caused the ruins of the town to shake, but no one responded.


    "Has this Zhao Yuanjiao reached mid-Spiritsong? He wouldn''t have been able to escape from your grasp otherwise, serpent king," the Pestilence Sage murmured.


    "Has he already run off?" the serpent king asked the Pestilence Sage.


    "As a precaution, I set up a formation around the area before we struck. The formation will alert me if any living being leaves it, but I haven''t received any such alerts. Zhao Yuanjiao must still be around," the Pestilence Sage replied confidently.


    "But we''ve already searched the town a few times over, cutting apart every living being we''ve encountered. He''s nowhere to be found," the serpent king''s voice seethed.


    "My formation can''t be misled. He must be hidden within a pile of ruins, or perhaps some pit, with a treasure that can shield him from our spiritual senses."


    "Even if he can hide now, he won''t be able to get away forever. I''ve poisoned him with my venom, and he''ll die within two days even if he were to continue suppressing it without receiving treatment. If he were to consume the antidote, we''d be able to sense him. I''d like to see him try to get away," the serpent king spat out.


    "Two days? That''s far too long! We''ve already promised Zhao Tianheng to destroy the Isle of Xiao today. He''ll cover for us. We can''t miss this opportunity," the Pestilence Sage replied.


    The serpent king''s eyes narrowed in anger. "You''re right. Zhao Yuanjiao''s only an aplice to the destruction of my ind. Xiao Nanfeng''s the mastermind, and he''s the one I''ll kill at any cost. Everyone on the Isle of Xiao will die."


    "In that case, what are we waiting for? We''ll depart immediately."


    The serpent king red at the Pestilence Sage. "I''ll safeguard the Immortal''s Destruction once we acquire it."


    The Pestilence Sage frowned, as if to argue.


    "The matter''s settled," the serpent king replied brusquely. It turned to its subordinates. "The five of you will stay and guard this area. Once Zhao Yuanjiao appears, kill him immediately."


    "Yes, king!" the five serpents roared in reply.


    "Let''s go. We''ll kill Xiao Nanfeng now, destroy his Isle of Xiao, then return and continue searching for Zhao Yuanjiao," the serpent king stated.


    The Pestilence Sage nodded.


    "Sage, might Ie with you? I''m very scared. Xiao Nanfeng''s far too sinister!" Tang begged.


    "Your subordinateins about this day in and day out. Are you sure he''s not a spy that Xiao Nanfeng dispatched? Why not let me eat him," the serpent king hissed.


    Tang nched, not daring to speak.


    "There''s no need to worry. He won''t betray me. Among my subordinates, he''s the only one who dares to contradict me, and he''s very important to me as a result. He keeps me on my toes, and I admire him."


    Tang gave the Pestilence Sage an odd look, murmuring to himself, "So why don''t you ever listen to my warnings? How many times have I said not to provoke Xiao Nanfeng? You never took what I said into consideration, and you expect me to die along with you!"

 Chapter 183: Slaying the Serpent King

    <h4>Chapter 183: ying the Serpent King</h4>


    As night fell, a brilliant moon appeared in the night sky. In a hall on Taiqing Ind, Zhao Tianheng frowned at an elder before him. "You said that Xiao Nanfeng''s invited disciples from all divisions for an overnight training session for fist techniques?"


    "That''s right. In the past, few disciples would stay on the ind overnight, but there might be three thousand there at present."


    Zhao Tianheng frowned. "Could Xiao Nanfeng have guessed that something was up?"


    "Division Leader, do you mean to suggest that Xiao Nanfeng invited so many disciples over in order to have them help safeguard the Isle of Xiao?" the elder eximed.


    Zhao Tianheng''s face was dark. "Those Ascension-realm disciples will hardly be enough for the assants that will appear tonight. It''s a fool''s dream."


    "Division Leader, are the assants here solely to deal with Xiao Nanfeng?" The elder frowned.


    Zhao Tianheng was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "They''ll destroy the whole ind."


    "Then the three thousand Taiqing disciples...?"


    "It''s all Xiao Nanfeng''s fault. It has nothing to do with us," Zhao Tianheng replied coldly.


    The elder''s heart thumped. He was shocked that Zhao Tianheng''s desire for the Immortal''s Destruction could trump the lives of thousands of Taiqing disciples.


    On the Isle of Xiao, bonfires burned tall and wide as disciples gathered.


    By the bonfire, Xiao Nanfeng instructed cultivators in the way of the fist¡ªTaiqing disciples and the inhabitants of the ind alike. The atmosphere was surprisingly festive.


    "The fist technique I''ve just demonstrated is the Lifesaving Trio. It only has three forms, but these forms might just manage to pull you out of a sticky situation and help you survive in times of need. Have you all learned it?"


    "Yes! Thank you for your instruction, Senior Brother!" the Taiqing disciples all around shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng was far too different from the seniormost disciples of the other three divisions. Not only did he go on expeditions and allow everyone to consume draconic aether to boost their cultivation, he publicly imparted fist techniques to all disciples so that they might improve their repertoire of skills. The Ascended disciples felt proud of their division, whereas those from the other three divisions were mentallyparing him to their own seniormost disciples and finding themcking.


    "Now, everyone, give it a go in the za!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The Taiqing disciples surged forward, eager to test themselves. They quickly discovered the strength of the fist technique and were motivated to test it again and again.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked to the side to take a break. Someone quickly brought him refreshments.


    "Benefactor, the signal res are prepared. They may be fired at any time," Zheng Qian reported.


    "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zheng. As long as we can get past tonight, when Zhao Yuanjiao and the others safely return tomorrow, we''ll have nothing to worry about in the future."


    Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    As the two of them were conversing, Ye Sanshui rushed over. "Young Master, as you predicted, there''s fog descending on the ind!"


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately stood up. The raid he was worried about was going to take ce, after all. Huge clouds of fog appeared in the sea all around them, covering up the Isle of Xiao.


    "Something''s wrong. Fire the res!" Zheng Qian cried out.


    res shot into the sky like fireworks, startling the sparring Taiqing disciples. They stopped what they were doing and looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What''s the matter, Senior Brother? Why are you firing signal res into the air? Is there a problem?" the disciples asked.


    "There''s an enemy raid. Prepare forbat!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. He rushed off into the forest.


    Beside him, Ye Sanshui added, "Everyone, there''s fog forming all around the ind. Something''s wrong. It must be a formation intended to entrap the Isle of Xiao."


    "Who dares?"


    "They dare raid the territory of the Taiqing Sect?"


    The Taiqing disciples drew their des and looked warily around them.


    Ye Sanshui immediatelymanded the three thousand fighters of the ind to protect the other inhabitants.


    Fortunately, everyone on the ind was gathered here, and there would be no need for a panicked search.


    The res made huge, resounding explosions as they soared into the air, but the fog seemed to prevent any light or sound from making it to the Taiqing Ind.


    Just as the search for the raiders grew underway, a huge sound came from the air. Everyone raised their heads.


    A giant purplegold serpent was attempting to break through the formation of red fog. Arge number of red ropes spawned from the formation and wrapped around the serpent.


    "A sea serpent, sixty meters long? Could it be a serpent king?"


    "The protective formation around the Isle of Xiao is tremendously strong. It was even able to kill the second-in-charge of the Bloodkill bandits, a Spiritsong-realm expert!"


    "But can it hold out against a serpent king?"


    As the cultivators watched on in shock, the serpent king loosed a howl that shook heaven and earth.


    With its frightening strength, it instantly broke the dozen or so ropes restraining its body. It shot through the formation and into the ind proper.


    The fearsome aura radiating from the serpent king covered the entire ind like a tsunami. The disciples cried out.


    "What a fearsome aura. I can''t breathe!"


    "This aura is as devastating as the division leader''s. Could it be a Wingform-realm spirit?"


    "A Wingform-realm spirit? It could kill us all by itself!"


    "Quick,unch more signals! We have to make the division leader aware immediately!"


    The Taiqing disciples were all running around in panic, but the serpent didn''t target them. It headed toward a mountain peak and mmed its tail down, causing the mountain range to crumble. A cave copsed, and a startled cry rang out from within.


    "The formation of red fog''s gone! The serpent king has destroyed the formation!" a cultivator cried out.


    The serpent king rose into the air and looked down at the cultivators from high above.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, show yourself¡ªand perish!" the serpent king roared, sending a wave of terror at the gathered cultivators. Many were forced back, and arge number stumbled and fell to the ground. They felt an overwhelming sense of despair. The serpent king''s aura alone was too much for them to handle. Were they going to die?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you don''t show yourself, I''ll start killing these brats!" the serpent king roared, then shot toward them.


    Against the serpent king''s fearsome aura, many disciples instinctively began to cry out in despair. "No!"


    "I''m right here, bastard!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from afar.


    The serpent king stopped short and turned toward where Xiao Nanfeng''s shout hade from.


    Xiao Nanfeng shouted once again, "Rise!"


    A quake rumbled through the entire ind as a draconic vein was excavated from the ground by the Immortal''s Destruction. It was six hundred meters long and resplendent with golden light.


    "A draconic vein?" the cultivators gasped.


    The serpent king frowned. It knew that excavating a draconic vein took quite some time. The fact that Xiao Nanfeng had done it so quickly meant that he had nned this ahead of time and was simply waiting for the serpent king to appear.


    "You knew that I wasing? You made preparations? But so what? You won''t be able to do anything but die!" the serpent king roared, swooping down toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze turned cold as he activated the Immortal''s Destruction. Four more Immortal-binding chains appeared from the relic, whipping toward the serpent king.


    The serpent king wove between them to dodge even as he shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, moving so rapidly that he was able to close in in almost no time at all. Even so, though it managed to avoid three of the Immortal-binding chains, it was struck by the fourth.


    "No!"


    The Immortal-binding chains dragged it into the air, where the other three chains quickly caught up to and tangled themselves around it.


    The serpent king was well and truly bound.


    "Great!" the cultivators all around shouted in excitement.


    "You think these chains can hold me? Dream on. Break!" the serpent king roared.


    As shining purplegold light exploded from the serpent king''s body, the chains began to strain and break. They wouldn''t be able to hold onto him for long.


    "The serpent king''s going to escape! It''sing!" Shouts came from the gathered cultivators.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng remained calm. "I was never intending to trap you, only to hold you down."


    He tossed out a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction, which struck the serpent king squarely on the head. The serpent king suddenly felt a premonition of tremendous danger. It raised its head sharply.


    The draconic vein transformed into a ball of golden light, which shot toward the Immortal''s Destruction and condensed into a three-hundred meter long supersized sword sh.


    "You''ve expended the entire draconic vein for this one attack? You''re crazy! No!" the serpent king roared in outrage.


    It struggled to break free, to avoid this incredible attack. If it were free, the attack would never have been able to hit him, but restrained as he was, he wouldn''t be able to flee. The attack from the Immortal''s Destruction descended.


    With ast-ditch effort, the serpent king finally freed itself of all its bindings. It attempted to escape, but it was toote. The attack struck him head-on.


    "No!" the serpent king shouted in despair.


    A blinding golden light cleaved down from the serpent king''s head, bisecting it.


    The attack continued forward, its destructive energy not dampened in the slightest. Even the mountain that had just copsed was now smashed into smithereens. Huge boulders were flung through the air as the entire Isle of Xiao shook. The cultivators wobbled and fell.


    Everyone was astounded by the might of this single blow.


    "The demon has been destroyed. I apologize for themotion," Xiao Nanfeng announced from afar.


    Everyone turned to him in shock. That had been a Wingform-realm spirit¡ªand it had died in just a single blow!

 Chapter 184: The Ghosts Parade

    <h4>Chapter 184: The Ghosts'' Parade</h4>


    At sea, beyond the Isle of Xiao, the hugemotion resulted in tsunami-like waves that sent a piece of raft in the ocean flying high into the air before it crashed back down with a tremendous ssh.


    "Be careful, Boss!" one cultivator on the raft eximed.


    "I''m fine. Damn it, that was arge wave." Ye Dafu''s voice could be heard from the other side of the raft.


    Two figures were hidden beneath the driftwood.


    "Boss, just like the young master said, the Isle of Xiao has been shrouded by fog! Is it a formation?" Ye Dafu''sckey asked.


    "I thought it was ordinary fog, but it''s clear from themotion that there''s a huge problem. What are all of you waiting for? Fire the signal re!" Ye Dafumanded.


    Hisckeys hurriedly lit a re and shot it into the air. It exploded in the air in a series of fireworks, particrly bright against the night sky.


    That signal re was just the start. All around the ocean, more and more res rose into the air. Xiao Nanfeng had been prepared for the raid, and had had Ye Dafu and the others hide out in the ocean to signal the Taiqing Ind immediately if something were to go wrong.


    On a mountain peak by the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Zhao Tianheng continued to spy on the Isle of Xiao. Theck of visibility at night meant that the chance of discovery was low, and the fog that surrounded it made it impossible to discern what was happening on the ind.


    "Division Leader, if the Isle of Xiao does manage to get a signal re out, should we respond?" one elder asked in worry.


    "Don''t worry. They won''t be able to shoot out a re," Zhao Tianheng replied confidently.


    "Oh?"


    "The area within five kilometers of the ind will be shrouded by the formation, and nothing within will be able to pass without. I''ll call myself Xiao Tianheng if he can get a signal out," Zhao Tianheng continued.


    Just then, a re rose into the air around the outskirts of the Isle of Xiao.


    "Quick, look! There''s a distress signal out at sea. It''s the highest-grade distress signal from the sect!"


    "There are so many more! Look over there. The Isle of Xiao is there!"


    "Has something happened to the Isle of Xiao? We have to inform the elders immediately!"


    The night guardsmen around the ind let out startled cries.


    When an elder of Taiqing Ind noticed the signal re, she immediately shot toward it. A second, third, and even more elders rapidly followed.


    Atop the mountain, Zhao Tianheng sputtered, "The Pestilence Sage is useless! How could they have managed to send out a distress signal out of the formation?!"


    gs had been ced down in the ocean surrounding the Isle of Xiao, serving as markers for the formation of fog. The central marker was on arge ship at sea.


    The ship was filled with demonic disciples who were manipting a circr tform wreathed in fog. It gave off rays of ck light that connected to the formations at sea.


    Tang and the Pestilence Sage stood at the bow of the ship, able to clearly see what was going on on the ind.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s more decisive than I thought. He gave up on the draconic vein of the Isle of Xiao for a decisive blow," the Pestilence Sage remarked.


    "Sage, the serpent king is dead. We have to flee now, too!" Tang urged.


    "Flee? What for? The serpent king''s death means little. It was just a spiritbeast," the Pestilence Sage replied.


    "Ah?"


    "The Immortal''s Destruction is a true treasure. I''ll im it for myself this very day!" The Pestilence Sage''s eyes lit up with greed.


    "Sage, the Immortal''s Destruction is exceptionally dangerous. The serpent king was a Wingform-realm lifeform, and it still perished to Xiao Nanfeng! Let''s not take the risk," Tang fretted.


    "The serpent king''s death is because Xiao Nanfeng gave up an entire draconic vein in exchange for a supercharged attack. The Isle of Xiao doesn''t have a second such vein, and his Immortal''s Destruction is all but useless now. He''s dead," the Pestilence Sage continued confidently.


    "But even without a draconic vein, the Immortal''s Destruction can still summon regr-sized des! Xiao Nanfeng used these des to kill the two giant golden serpents back then. Furthermore, you said that his ring traps a cursed effigy within, and he also has two strong Spirit-realm toads protecting the ind. We can''t take the risk!" Tang urged.


    "That''s why I set up this formation. I want his Immortal''s Destruction to lose effect and for him to have no chance to summon the cursed effigy in his storage ring. I''ll make those two toad spirits defenseless. I''ll y him today, then im the Immortal''s Destruction for myself!"


    Tang was anxious. He was certain that targeting Xiao Nanfeng was a bad idea, but the sage refused to listen to him no matter what he said.


    "Sage, there was a hugemotion just now. We might not be able to get away if the Taiqing elderse to check it out. We had better leave now while we can!" Tang continued.


    "Don''t you know that this formation can block sound and light? Unless someoneunches signal res from outside the formation, there''s no way the elders will know to check on the ind. That''s why we scouted the vicinity and ensured that no ships were present. There could hardly be a signal released," the Pestilence Sage replied confidently.


    Just then, a loud thump came from beyond the formation as a signal re rose into the air¡ªno, not just one, but a whole group of them, exposing the raid for all to see.


    The Pestilence Sage: ...


    Where did these signal rese from?


    "Look over there! Some Taiqing disciples are releasing signal res from underneath some driftwood! Xiao Nanfeng''s nned all this in advance!" Tang cried out.


    The moment Ye Dafu and the others finished firing the signal res, they dove back down into the ocean. The Pestilence Sage roared in frustration.


    "Sage, we''ve been exposed! We have to run!" Tang fretted.


    "There''s no need. Some elders within the Taiqing Sect will cover things up for me. They want the Immortal''s Destruction even more than I do. This is a rare opportunity to strike, and I have to acquire the Immortal''s Destruction at any cost," the Pestilence Sage replied, gnashing his teeth.


    He walked up to a tform of fog that the gathered demonic disciples had activated, reached in, and retrieved a scroll which he quickly unfolded. ck air rushed out and surrounded the formation, dyeing it ck.


    "Release the Ghosts'' Parade!" the Pestilence Sagemanded.


    Sinister howls and shrieks resounded from within the scroll, causing everyone around to tremble.


    At the same time, on the Isle of Xiao, Xiao Nanfeng''s ughter of the serpent king left everyone astounded.


    "Senior Brother, you''re amazing!"


    "I can''t believe it!"


    The Taiqing disciples all began to cheer, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t drop his guard. There was still thick fog in the vicinity. He clutched his de with one hand and a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction in the other as he stared warily at his surroundings.


    Just then, a gust of ck smoke shot straight at him.


    "Everyone, beware!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "What?" Everyone looked at their surroundings in shock.


    The ck smoke that apanied the fog sent everyone flying. The disciples shrieked and shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly broke them all off. "Everyone, gather around me! This is an illusion."


    When the disciples got to their feet, they looked at their surroundings in shock. Their weapons had vanished, and their environment was wholly different from before. Dense, concentrated fog surrounded the disciples, giving off a sinister feeling.


    "There are thousands of us here! How could we all have entered an illusion together?"


    "It must have been because of the formation. What sort of illusion is this?"


    "Look! What''s that?"


    Everyone turned to see a fifteen-meter-tall malevolent specter not too far away from them. It had a horn on its head, and its eyes and skin were a bright, burnished red. ck smoke poured from its mouth. As it stepped forward, a destructive aura emanated from it, making all the disciples feel as though they were suddenly unable to breathe.


    Not only that, more and more horned red ghosts emerged from the fog, each the size of a small mountain, resulting in mounting pressure for the gathered disciples. They bared their fangs and drooled at the sight of so many cultivators.


    "What are these? They''re all so frightening!"


    "This is the Ghosts'' Parade, a treasure of the Taiqing Immortal Sect that was taken by the demonic branch."


    "I heard my master mention that each ghost in the Ghosts'' Parade is at Ster Lake. A hundred such ghosts¡ªthey''d be undefeated within the illusory realm!"


    Many of the more knowledgeable disciples recognized the treasure at once, and they were shocked by its strength. They felt as though they were doomed.


    Within the sect, those who had reached a spiritual cultivation of Ster Lake were elders by andrge. Facing these ghosts would be like facing a hundred elders, an impossible affair.


    The disciples quickly noticed another strange figure in the illusion¡ªthe Pestilence Sage.


    The Pestilence Sage stood in the distance, a scroll in hand. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, will you surrender to me, or are you going to force me to strike?"


    The Pestilence Sage threatened Xiao Nanfeng as he waved the scroll in his hand. Simultaneously, dozens of malicious specters shot toward Xiao Nanfeng and the gathered disciples as thoughmanded.


    "No!" the Taiqing disciples screamed in despair.


    The Pestilence Sage, believing victory to be at his fingertips, smiled more and more widely.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him an odd look, thinking to himself, "Is the Pestilence Sage an idiot?"


    If the Pestilence Sage had chosen to attack him in reality, he would hardly be able to do anything about it, but for the sage to have struck in an illusion...


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward and punched at a horned red ghost, his body seeming frail and weak inparison to their mountainous forms.


    "You won''t give up until you''ve had a taste of their strength, I see!" The Pestilence Sageughed.


    "Be careful, Senior Brother!" the Taiqing disciples shouted.


    With a huge bang, however, the malicious specter before Xiao Nanfeng dispersed in a gale of wind. Everyone reared back in shock, as if they were dreaming.


    They couldn''t understand just how Xiao Nanfeng''s tiny form was able to best such a huge ghost with just a single punch.


    "It can''t be! Again!" the Pestilence Sagemanded.


    He suddenly felt an uneasy premonition. Tang''s warning echoed in his head: "Sage, Xiao Nanfeng''s very sinister!"

 Chapter 185: Cursed to Death Again

    <h4>Chapter 185: Cursed to Death Again</h4>


    With the release of the signal res, the Taiqing elders hurried over to the Isle of Xiao.


    The first elder who arrived saw that the Isle of Xiao had been covered with ayer of unnatural fog, clearly part of a formation.


    "Insolence! Who dares raid Taiqing Ind?!" The elder mmed a palm into the fog. Suddenly, ck smoke gushed out, forming into the head of a giant ghost that snapped and bit at the elder. The elder nched and retreated.


    "Something''s wrong with this ck smoke. Does it have the power to drag others into an illusory realm? What a sinister formation!" the elder cried out.


    Another elder appeared behind him. "Be careful! This is the Ghosts'' Parade!"


    "What?" The elder seemed confused.


    "I''m sure of it: this is the Ghosts'' Parade! Using the Ghosts'' Parade as the basis for a formation will generate an illusory realm, one that will suck you in if you attempt to barge into it.


    More elders arrived, one after another. They probed the formation and determined that this was, in fact, the Ghosts'' Parade.


    "The Ghosts'' Parade? I heard that it was a treasure in the possession of the Pestilence Sage of the demonic sect! Was he the one who set up this formation?"


    "I heard that Xiao Nanfeng slew a group of demonic disciples when he was at the Thousand-Serpent Ind a few days ago. Could the Pestilence Sage be here to seek revenge?


    The elders conferred with each other and determined the crux of what had happened.


    "What are you waiting for? We have to get inside!" one elder shouted.


    "Don''t risk it," a voice suddenly interrupted.


    Everyone looked to the speaker, an elder in blue.


    "Everyone, although the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Taiqing Demonic Sect have split into two distinct sects, they both belong to the Taiqing umbre. A treaty binds us together: our philosophies might be distinct, but we''re forbidden to kill each other out of personal grudges. Otherwise, both sects will be punished. That''s why we''ve only ever detained demonic spies, rather than kill them outright. Am I wrong?"


    "That''s right, but the demonic sect has hardly kept their word these past few years. What''s more, they''ve grown so bold as to head into our territory and raid us in this fashion! The Isle of Xiao currently harbors arge group of Taiqing disciples, and their fates are yet unknown. Do you intend to hinder us from rescuing them?"


    "You''re right that the younger generation of demonic disciples has been overly rash, but the Pestilence Sage has kept to his word. I believe that he''s here to seek revenge because Xiao Nanfeng killed his disciples, and he''s unlikely to harm the rest of the disciples in question. Elders, there''s no need to worry too much about their safety," the blue-robed elder replied.


    The other elders considered his argument and thought it reasonable. Their worry for the disciples abated.


    "What''s more, everyone here is at Ster Lake. Upon entering this formation, we''ll be on equal strength with one of the ghosts within. We won''t be able to stop the assault of a hundred of them¡ªand our spiritual power might be greatly diminished, too. We need to be prudent," the blue-robed elder advised.


    The elders hesitated, having lost much of their urgency and impetus.


    "But are we to just watch on as the demonic sect ravages Taiqing territory?" one elder asked.


    "With all of us gathered here, the Pestilence Sage won''t be able to escape. If he dares do something beyond the pale, he''ll pay the price¡ªbut there''s no need for us to rush into internecine strife at the moment."


    "We might not be able to counter the Ghosts'' Parade, but the four division leaders can surely do so. Only the Ascended division leader is in the sect at present. Where''s Zhao Tianheng? Why hasn''t he arrived yet?" one elder asked.


    "The division leader is in secluded cultivation and unable to make his way here," the blue-robed elder replied smoothly.


    "Surely we can''t just do nothing? Even if we can''t break the formation, we can destabilize its construction and damage it that way. Everyone, summon the seawater from nearby and erode the base of the formation! This is the territory of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. How dare cultivators of the demonic sect raid it?" one elder suggested.


    "Let''s do it!" the other elders replied.


    About a dozen elders struck at once, sending waves of power into the ocean and forming huge waves. Some elders even activated their relics and directed them toward the ocean. As the waves struck the formation, thick fog shook and cavitated, as though destabilizing.


    However, no elder risked barging in.


    Some distance away from the elders was a cloud of white fog, stealthed in the distance and flickering in and out of visibility.


    Two figures stood within it, one of whom was Zhao Tianheng.


    "Division Leader, my senior brother, the blue-robed elder, has stalled the other elders and dyed their pursuit for the Pestilence Sage¡ªbut if the Pestilence Sage really does kill Xiao Nanfeng, with all these elders around, we might not be able to rescue him," the other person by his side worried.


    "And why should we rescue the Pestilence Sage?"


    "Ah¡ªaren''t we cooperating with him?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is the seniormost Ascended disciple. If he were to die, his treasures would naturally go to the Ascended division. When that happens, remember to exact revenge for Xiao Nanfeng and im the Immortal''s Destruction for the Ascended division," Zhao Tianhengmanded coldly.


    "Y-Yes, Division Leader!"


    Back on the Isle of Xiao, within the illusory realm, as Xiao Nanfeng punched a ghost so heavily that it exploded, everyone looked toward him in shock.


    "A ghost at Ster Lake, defeated in a single blow?"


    "Could Senior Brother Xiao''s spiritual cultivation already be at Ster Lake?"


    "It can''t be! He defeated it in one blow. He has to be atte-stage Ster Lake at the very least!"


    The disciples were shocked and simultaneously excited about the possibility of being saved.


    As Xiao Nanfeng caused another ghost to explode, he shot toward the Pestilence Sage.


    The Pestilence Sage''s eyes widened. "Impossible. How could he have such tremendous spiritual power? Block him, block him!"


    The ghosts shrieked as theyunched themselves at Xiao Nanfeng and shielded the Pestilence Sage.


    "Ha. Do you think you''ll be safe hiding behind these ghosts, Pestilence Sage? You dare cause trouble for me, but not to face me head-on?"


    "Kill him!" the Pestilence Sage screeched.


    Two ghosts punched forward with huge fists, prepared to obliterate Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out with his hands and stopped their fists in mid-air.


    The Taiqing disciples gulped in shock, awed by the spiritual prowess that Xiao Nanfeng was demonstrating. The two Ster Lake ghosts'' faces contorted in pain as Xiao Nanfeng grabbed onto their fists. They were even forced to their knees.


    "Im-Impossible!" the Pestilence Sage cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt forward and kicked at both ghosts, causing them to dissipate in puffs of red light.


    "Attack him together!" the Pestilence Sagemanded.


    The malevolent ghosts shot forward. Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, no longer pulling his punches. He kicked at each ghost that drew near, each kick apanied by a red puff as a ghost dissipated. Within moments, the ghosts vanished in resplendent explosions.


    The entire illusion was silent. The Pestilence Sage and the Taiqing disciples were astounded by the disy of strength they had just witnessed.


    The Pestilence Sage nced skeptically at the scroll of Ghosts'' Parade that he held, disbelieving how weak it was against Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Pestilence Sage, is that the treasure that controls this illusion? The Ghosts'' Parade? It doesn''t seem strong at all!" Xiao Nanfeng scoffed disdainfully as he walked up to him.


    The Pestilence Sage''s features distorted. "No wonder you dared to ce a cursed effigy in your storage ring. Your spiritual cultivation must be immense. Did Ku Jiang teach you the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s transcendent spiritual cultivation technique? That old fogey, doesn''t he know that that technique can''t be imparted to regr disciples?"


    "For daring to insult my master, you''ll die!" Xiao Nanfeng charged toward the Pestilence Sage.


    The Pestilence Sage gave him a grim smile. "Lad, do you think you can take me on just because you''ve defeated these ghosts? We''ll meet again in the future. I''ll return."


    The Pestilence Sage waved the scroll in his hand, as though intending to dispel the illusion.


    Just then, his body shook. It stopped moving. He widened his eyes as he looked disbelievingly at his chest, where a skeletal hand had just pierced through it from the back, along with copious amounts of fresh blood and organs. He was unable to move any longer.


    "Don''t kill him yet, Madam Rouge!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, leaping forward.


    He didn''t want to save the Pestilence Sage; rather, with the illusion not yet dispelled, if Madam Rouge were to go on a killing spree, the thousands of cultivators behind him would all be in danger.


    The Pestilence Sage, hearing Xiao Nanfeng calling for the skeleton, thought he understood everything. He frowned mightily. "You know each other? There''s a second cursed effigy in your possession? No!"


    With a tremendous rip, Madam Rouge bisected the Pestilence Sage''s body, which transformed into a cloud of smoke that she absorbed.


    As Xiao Nanfeng leapt toward her, she sent him flying. However, Xiao Nanfeng barely grabbed the scroll that the Pestilence Sage had dropped as he perished, and he immediately attempted to activate it.


    The scroll burst into ck smoke as the illusory realm copsed.


    In an instant, everyone returned to reality, to the za where a magnificent bonfire burned. Xiao Nanfeng stood by the Immortal''s Destruction, with the Wingform-realm serpent carcass beside him.


    "We''ve escaped!" the disciples cried out, exhrated.


    "The culprit has been caught, but the fog formation remains. Juniors, please help me search the area in case there are any aplices," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, Senior Brother!"


    On arge ship in the ocean, Tang and the other demonic disciples fretted as they nced at a cloud of thick, concentrated ck smoke before them.


    Suddenly, the ck smoke dispersed, revealing the Pestilence Sage''s body within.


    "Did you win, Sage?" Tang asked urgently.


    The Pestilence Sage''s body deted like a balloon, crumpling into nothing more than skin. The disciples nched and stepped forward to investigate.


    "Did the sage die again? We''re in danger!" a disciple cried out.


    "I knew it! Xiao Nanfeng''s far too sinister to provoke. Sage, if only you had listened to me! There''s a group of elders outside waiting for this formation to dissipate. We have nowhere to run. What should we do?!" Tang cried out.


    "Tang, did you curse the sage to death again?!" one disciple heckled.


    Tang stiffened. <i>What do you mean, ''again''?</i>

 Chapter 186: The Public Demonic Trial

    <h4>Chapter 186: The Public Demonic Trial</h4>


    Beyond the Isle of Xiao, as the elders continued buffeting the formation with seawater, its foundations finally crumbled at the first light of dawn.


    As they waved their hands, the elders called on wind to speed up the dissipation of the thick fog. The destruction on the Isle of Xiao came within sight.


    The majority of the mountain peaks on the ind had crumbled, and a wide furrow across the ground, shocking in size and intensity, caught the eye. A ship at sea continued to spew out roiling mist, as though a formation was still active on board.


    Dozens of elders shot over.


    "Who dares raid the Taiqing Immortal Sect?!" the elders roared, their auras exerting immense pressure on the ship.


    The figures on board bowed down respectfully.


    "Ye Sanshui of the Mortal division greets the gathered elders!"


    "We greet the gathered elders!"


    The dozens of familiar disciples arrayed before them caused the elders to stop short. They looked around in surprise.


    "You? Weren''t there enemies attacking the Isle of Xiao?" one elder asked.


    "All those who did have been caught and brought to the ind," Ye Sanshui reported.


    "But there''s a formation on this ship. Were you the ones holding us back?" one elder interrogated.


    The elders red stonily at the Taiqing disciples, not expecting the interference to be from such a source.


    "The seniormost Ascended disciplemanded us to stabilize the formation for the time being so that his public trial wouldn''t be disrupted," Ye Sanshui replied.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng caught the invaders and had you continue to maintain the formation they set up so we couldn''t enter?" an elder summarized.


    Ye Sanshui sucked in a deep breath. "The seniormost Ascended disciple said that the elders outside the formation could have rushed in to save everyone if they truly wanted to do so. If they didn''t intend to do so, then why let them in now?"


    "Insolence!" The elders frowned mightily.


    Ye Sanshui lowered his head and said nothing. The other disciples on the ship did the same. They all knew about the unusual nature of the formation, and the fact that the elders had chosen not to do so. As a result, they naturally lost faith in them.


    "You said that Xiao Nanfeng''s holding a public trial?" One blue-robed elder seemed rmed.


    "Yessir!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly.


    "We must have a look, then!" the elder urged.


    The other elders headed straight into the Isle of Xiao.


    The location of the public trial was obvious; everyone had gathered there.


    By the time the elders arrived, they saw countless Taiqing disciples ring stonily at a group of demonic disciples that had been tied up. They were kneeling on the floor in fear and despair.


    "Tang, you''ve condemned us all!" The demonic disciples red at Tang, aggrieved.


    Only Tang was unbound and allowed to roam freely.


    "It''s none of my business! I told all of you not to attack time and again, but you refused to listen to me. Otherwise, the situation wouldn''t have turned out this way. From start to finish, I never participated in this raid, and I didn''t even help with the formation! Senior Brother Xiao is aware of this, which is why he''s allowed me to go free," Tang replied.


    "You''ve cursed us all!" the demonic disciples cried out.


    They had long heard that Tang was an omen of cmity, and they were now feeling the effects of his curse. They were all finished, all of them except Tang!


    "Enough. Carry out the sentence!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" A group of junior disciples walked behind each of the demonic disciples, their swords bared.


    "Spare us, Senior Brother Xiao! Have mercy on us! We''re from the same Taiqing Sect!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic Sects were initially two branches of the same sect. We can''t kill each other! Please, just detain us!"


    The demonic disciples cried out for mercy, but Xiao Nanfeng stared unflinchingly at them without any sign of relenting. "Detaining you would only foster grudges and cause other demonic disciples to think that the Taiqing Immortal Sect is too soft and merciful. Today, I intend on enacting a new order. Kill these demonic disciples who dared to prey on the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect!"


    The Taiqing disciples were poised to make their move when shouts came from afar. "Hold it!"


    Everyone saw arge group of elders flying over. The blue-robed elder in the lead was in shock.


    "We''re disciples of the Taiqing Demonic Sect! Please save us, elders!" the demonic disciples cried out.


    Many of the elders in both the Immortal and Demonic sects cared about the alliance between the two sects, and they were lenient even with disciples of the other sect. To the demonic disciples, these elders looked like their saviors.


    "Didn''t you hear me? Kill them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "No one move. Who dares defy the sect''s customs?!" the blue-robed elder called out.


    The Taiqing disciples nced at Xiao Nanfeng and at the gathered elders alternatingly, unsure how to proceed.


    "Elders,st night, we sent out a distress signal, but none of you came to our assistance. After we barely made it out with our lives, you now attempt to stop us from punishing the culprits?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t all of you alright? Hand me the invaders. I''ll interrogate them myself," the blue-robed elder replied.


    "There''s no need. We''ve already had a public trial. More than two thousand junior disciples witnessed their confession. These demonic disciples imed that they were in cahoots with high-ranking elders from the Taiqing Immortal Sect to ughter us all. If not for my own strength, we would all have perishedst night," Xiao Nanfeng informed the elders.


    "What?" The elders nched.


    "You suspect us of being in cahoots with them?" the blue-robed elder shouted.


    "I don''t suspect¡ªI know. Elders, rather than stop me, I believe you should consider who among your number might view our lives as nothing but fodder, who might be colluding with foreign powers," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    "Insolence!"


    "Elders, I don''t intend to malign anyone, but we do have testimony and evidence of several traitors," Xiao Nanfeng continued, refusing to give in.


    Some Taiqing disciples presented a transcript of the interrogation. When the elders received copies of the documents, they frowned deeply, then nced at each other in uncertainty and unease.


    "Do you intend to stake everything on the words of some demonic disciples? How do you know they aren''t lying?" the blue-robed elder immediately replied.


    "In that case, if they''re deliberately misleading the investigation and ndering the honored elders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, why leave them alive? I have sentenced them for their crimes. I ask that you not interfere, honored elders," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You have no such authority. They are demonic disciples and subject only to the judgment of us elders," the blue-robed elder replied.


    "Are you aware that a Wingform-realm spirit joined them to attack the Isle of Xiao? If not for a lifesaving treasure, all of us would have perished at their hand. The motto of the Taiqing Sect is to not be party to evil. Elders, these raiders should be killed. Of that there is no question. The fact that they are Taiqing disciples themselves is all the more reason that they should be punished for their actions. For colluding with evil spirits and hurting their brothers and sisters, their fate is sealed."


    "You intend to ughter demonic disciples in public? Do you want the tenuous alliance between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Taiqing Demonic Sect to turn into an outright schism?" the blue-robed elder questioned.


    "They went against the alliance''s principles first. Should we allow the demonic disciples to kill us as they please? Do our lives not matter? Forgive me this, Elder, but it is precisely this sort of erroneous thinking and judgment, this partiality toward the demonic disciples, that they dare to bully us, to coerce us, to raid us at will! I do intend to execute these disciples publicly so that the demonic disciples are aware that there are consequences to their actions! As seniormost Ascended disciple, Imand that all Taiqing disciples kill those who dare vite the sect''s core principles! Kill them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Those who dare vite the sect''s core principles shall be killed!" the Taiqing disciples echoed, their emotions rising to a fever pitch.


    Over thest few years, many disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect had died at the hands of the demonic disciples. The elders had been reluctant to impose any punishment heavier than detainment, and the ordinary disciples had grown infuriated by this treatment. When Xiao Nanfeng gave voice to this resentment, the anger that they had suppressed for long years exploded at once.


    "Kill!" the enforcers cried out, swinging their swords down.


    "No!" the demonic disciples shouted in horror.


    "Kill!" the rest of the Taiqing disciples echoed.


    The gathered elders stepped back in surprise. The killing intent that emanated from over two thousand Immortal disciples was potent enough to shock even the elders.


    The demonic disciples'' heads were sent flying in streams of blood.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you aware of the consequences of this malfeasance?" the blue-robed elder threatened.


    "Elders, I understand you have the authority to supervise and manage ordinary disciples, but ordinary disciples may veto yourmands if they feel that thosemands vite the core principles of the sect, pending a public sect inquiry into the situation. I urge that any elders who view my actions as inappropriate denounce me publicly and initiate this inquiry," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "You!" The blue-robed elder red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    A public inquiry? What sort of joke was that? Over two thousand Taiqing disciples stood on Xiao Nanfeng''s side; a public inquiry would only cast the elders in a worse light.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, your actions have doomed the alliance between the two Taiqing sects!" the blue-robed elder thundered.


    The other elders were frowning severely. The public execution of these demonic disciples would exacerbate the rift between the two sects and might even tear them apart.


    "These ''allies'' who only backstab us are more dangerous than enemies. My intention in killing these disciples isn''t to create a rift between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Taiqing Demonic Sect, but rather to remove rogue elements from the two sects from y. Only then can our alliance be solidified. I understand that you elders refuse to strike in consideration of the alliance with the demonic sect¡ªso let me kill them! These disciples gave testimony that there were elders among your number colluding with them to bring harm to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I beseech you honored elders to determine who these traitors might be!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The elders nced at each other. The position of elder was an honored and revered one, and they were upset that Xiao Nanfeng, ostensibly of lower status, wasmanding them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you will take responsibility for what you have done," the blue-robed elder spat out.


    "Absolutely, Elder. I will not malign a single demonic disciple, nor kill the innocent. For example, I have not struck this demonic disciple, Tang, who was not part of the proceedings. Indeed, I intend to treat him like a friend and host."


    Everyone looked toward Tang, who stiffened at being suddenly called out. <i>Why is he putting me on public disy? Am I going to be famous as an omen of cmity in both sects?!</i>


    The elders red at Xiao Nanfeng before departing as one.

 Chapter 187: Elder Ku Tears Down the Notice

    <h4>Chapter 187: Elder Ku Tears Down the Notice</h4>


    On the Isle of Xiao, as Xiao Nanfeng ingested the Wingform-realm serpent king''s inner core, tremendous energy erupted from his body, causing it to glow in golden light.


    After a full two hours, a gust of energy seeped out of his body and he opened his eyes.


    "The seventh stage of Ascension? It feels like a waste to have exchanged a whole draconic vein for this paltry amount of energy," Xiao Nanfeng sighed as he exhaled.


    He got up and walked out of the room, where You Jiu was waiting for him.


    "You''re back!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Master, we rescued Zhao Yuanjiao. He really is skilled. Even poisoned, he was able to take down two giant golden serpents by himself. The remaining three, Croak and Warble tore apart. They''re at the back of the mountains now, moring for cooks to make them roast serpent meat," You Jiu reported, smiling.


    "Well done." Xiao Nanfeng mirrored his smile. "Where''s Zhao Yuanjiao?"


    "In the cottage beside the Xiao Academy. Please go have a look at him."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then immediately set off. When he arrived, he saw that Zhao Yuanjiao''s body was pitch-ck all over. He was meditating as he recuperated, with a group of Taiqing disciples nearby to guard him.


    "Senior Brother Xiao!" Everyone bowed upon seeing him.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "How''s Elder Zhao?"


    "The serpent king''s poison is too concentrated. It may take Elder Zhao significantly more time to expel it all," one disciple reported.


    "In that case, please don''t leave his side. Guard Elder Zhao alertly."


    "Of course, Senior Brother," the disciples replied.


    They were Zhao Yuanjiao''s confidantes and trusted subordinates to begin with, and they would naturally take on this duty.


    "Something''s wrong, Senior Brother!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced over to see Ye Sanshui and a group of Taiqing disciples rushing over.


    "What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "The Ascended division leader has notified everyone that he''s going to be stripping you of your position as seniormost Ascended disciple," Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "What?!" The Taiqing disciples in range of hearing all looked toward Ye Sanshui angrily.


    "The division leader put up a notice?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Yes, Young Master! It states that you deliberately and intentionally vited inter- and intra-sect rtions, destroyed the alliance between the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic Sects, behaved disrespectfully toward elders, disregarded sectmandments, and represent a negative, corrupting influence for Taiqing disciples. As a result of the above judgment, you were found unsuitable for the role of seniormost Ascended disciple and stripped of your status!"


    "What nonsense! When has Senior Brother Xiao been a negative, corrupting influence? Should we Taiqing Immortal Sect disciples watch on as demonic disciples kill ourrades?"


    "Senior Brother Xiao is only maintaining the reputation and prowess of the Taiqing Immortal Sect!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao''s the only disciple I''ll recognize as the seniormost disciple!"


    The disciples all around began to vent in outrage.


    "Stripping me of my position...?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be deep in thought.


    He had already obtained the respect and eptance of the majority of the Taiqing disciples. Even if his position were stripped from him, he could stillmand the vast majority of them. Why would Zhao Tianheng make this move now, despite the loss of reputation that he himself would suffer as a result?


    "You can''t lose that position!" a voice shouted hoarsely, then devolved into a fit of coughing.


    Everyone turned to see Zhao Yuanjiao having awoken despite the strain to his body. He spat out a mouthful of ck blood.


    "Senior Brother?" Xiao Nanfeng rushed forward to help him up.


    "You can''t let him strip you of your position," Zhao Yuanjiao rasped. "You might not have the status of an elder, but you share some privileges that elders possess. You may oversee and manage ordinary disciples, and, more importantly, choose the sect responsibilities that you undertake. You may refuse tasks otherwise assigned to you. If you lose that privilege, sect elders could target you by assigning you some particrly dangerous quests, which you are bound to undertake. You''ve offended quite a number of elders with what you''ve done, and you''ll suffer if you lose your status as seniormost disciple."


    "What? The division leader''s trying to target Senior Brother Xiao, isn''t he?" The disciples gasped.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. So this was Zhao Tianheng''s intention! To strip him of authority, and then to bully him at will...


    "Elder Zhao, is it possible to make the division leader retract his decision?" one Taiqing disciple asked anxiously.


    "The position of seniormost disciple of a division is a role of symbolic importance, and only refutations from certain high-ranking positions in the sect will be acknowledged. For instance, the initial appointment of a seniormost disciple requires the division leader''s confirmation and a defense against any challengers among the ordinary disciples. Simrly, the deposition of the same requires the division leader''s confirmation and a public notice. This time, however, the deliberation doesn''t involve any ordinary disciples, but rather the elders themselves. The public notice will be up for ten days. If over half the elders disagree with the deposition, it will be nullified," Zhao Yuanjiao continued.


    "Are Ascended elders the only ones who can weigh in?" one disciple asked.


    "The matters of the Ascended division are only to be determined by those of the Ascended division. Unless the division leader interferes, no other can change this rule. Ahem! Quick, bring me over to Taiqing Ind. I need to pay a visit to each of the Ascended elders and help Xiao Nanfeng secure his position," Zhao Yuanjiao wheezed, arduously getting up.


    "Count me in. I''ll apany Elder Zhao to pay a visit to the various elders!"


    "Count me in!"


    "I''ll go as well!"


    Many junior disciples prepared to speak up on Xiao Nanfeng''s behalf.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng continued to frown. He didn''t think anything woulde of the disciples'' visits. The fact that Zhao Tianheng had put up this notice meant that he was confident he could get the support of over half the elders. Even if Zhao Yuanjiao and the other disciples were to go around begging, there was likely little they could do.


    Even so, he wanted to see how the elders reacted in order to n his next move.


    On a mountain peak of Taiqing Ind, Zhao Tianheng looked down at the ind from above, at the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment which was now filled with people.


    "To think that Xiao Nanfeng has won the hearts of so many in such a short period of time. The entire za''s in an uproar, and the disciples of every division are criticizing this notice for being unjust. Division Leader, your actions are likely to be spoken ill of," one eldermented.


    "Of course I''m aware, but what else can I do? I won''t be able to hold off going to the draconic pce for long. Although Xiao Nanfeng might have lost his formation of red fog, he''s acquired the Ghosts'' Parade. Using that as a basis for the defenses around the Isle of Xiao might even be an overall improvement. The Taiqing disciples all treat him like a star, and he doesn''t leave his ind. How else would I be able to im the Immortal''s Destruction?" Zhao Tianheng replied coldly.


    "The Pestilence Sage and the others were too useless. We even dyed the other elders for them, but they all perished," the elder murmured, sighing.


    "What''s done is done. The majority of the Ascended elders listen to me, and those that don''t don''t dare to offend me. In ten days, once Xiao Nanfeng''s deposed as the seniormost disciple, assign him a dangerous task that requires him to leave the sect."


    "Understood!" the elder replied.


    Suddenly, cheers rang out from the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.


    "Well done!" Countless disciples began to cheer.


    "Someone tore down the division leader''s public notice? How could that be? Who would dare do so without the approval of half the Ascended elders?" the elder cried out.


    Zhao Tianheng narrowed his eyes. "We''ll see who dared to do that."


    Zhao Tianheng soared into the air as he headed for the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.


    At the za, the Taiqing disciples cheered for Xiao Nanfeng as Xiao Nanfeng nced at the person who had torn down Zhao Tianheng''s notice.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "We greet Elder Ku!" countless Taiqing disciples called out.


    Zhao Yuanjiao smiled even as he coughed up blood.


    Elder Ku turned toward Xiao Nanfeng and nodded at him. "Nanfeng, I''m very pleased to see that you''ve won the hearts of so many."


    "Thank you, Master."


    Elder Ku was still blind, but he turned unerringly in a certain direction.


    Everyone looked in that direction to see Zhao Tianheng flying over. Perhaps because of themotion, arge number of elders who had been paying attention to the scene were likewise approaching.


    "When did you return, Elder Ku?" Zhao Tianhengnded and asked.


    "I just did. I heard themotion over here and came to check it out." Elder Ku smiled.


    Zhao Tianheng stared at the public notice that Elder Ku held in his hands. He frowned. "Elder Ku, do you know what it is that you hold?"


    "Oh? You mean this? It''s just an unreasonable public notice. I took it down so that it wouldn''t ruin the n''s atmosphere," Elder Ku replied, a small smile still on his face.


    The za quieted down. Everyone stared at Elder Ku in disbelief. Zhao Tianheng had motioned to depose Xiao Nanfeng as seniormost disciple because he was a ''negative, corrupting influence.'' Elder Ku was staunchly defending his disciple, and even throwing Zhao Tianheng''s usation back at him!


    The elders that had rushed to the scene gasped in astonishment. Was this a feud between the higher-ups of the Ascended division?


    Zhao Tianheng gave Elder Ku an incredulous look. "Elder Ku, have you forgotten the rules of the sect? The division leader''s public notices can only be taken down with the objection of over half the elders of the division. Although you may possess the Ascended token, my judgment takes priority while I''m at the sect. You have no right to do so."


    Everyone stared at the two cultivators with bated breath. Zhao Tianheng was the Ascended division leader, but Elder Ku held the Ascended token. The sh between the two bigshots of the division could well lead to internal conflict.


    Elder Ku smiled. "Before the sect master headed out, he passed me his token and told me that I would be able to arbitrate all matters within the n in his absence. I believe this would be an appropriate use of the sect master''s token, no?"


    Everyone''s eyes bulged as they stared at the token in Elder Ku''s hands. Elder Ku had clearly won the confrontation¡ªnone could find fault with him in this contest of power!


    Zhao Tianheng red at the sect master''s token, aggrieved. You should have mentioned that from the get-go!


    "If you believe this to be unreasonable, then in ordance with sectw, you may invite the division leaders of the other three divisions to contest my judgment," Elder Ku offered, smiling.


    Zhao Tianheng had a nasty look on his face. His public notice had been unpopr from the start. If he were to make a fiasco out of this, it would only put him in dire straits.


    "There''s no need, Elder Ku. I was clearly too rash. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be taking my leave," Zhao Tianheng replied stiffly.


    He whirled around and took to the air. The other elders greeted Elder Ku, then departed themselves.


    Another cheer rang out in the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.

 Chapter 188: Sectstarter

    <h4>Chapter 188: Sectstarter</h4>


    In Elder Ku''s hall by the Vault of Scriptures on Taiqing Ind, Elder Ku mmed his palm against Zhao Yuanjiao''s back, sending a multicolored radiance into his body. Within moments, Zhao Yuanjiao spat out a mouthful of ck blood.


    As the ck bloodnded on the ground, the floor began to sizzle and corrode away. Zhao Yuanjiao''s face slowly regained its color.


    "The venom has been expelled. You''ll be fine after a few days'' rest," Elder Ku told him.


    "Thank you, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied gratefully.


    Elder Ku turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "As for you, you''ve encountered quite a lot while I was gone, haven''t you?"


    "I dide across a chance encounter of my own, after surviving trial and tribtion. Senior Sister Yu''er and I both obtained an inheritance from Emperor Wei and his two empresses. Senior Sister Yu''er is making a trip home for the time being," Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    "I know." Elder Ku nodded.


    "You do, Master?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Someone told me the details. I''m aware of your situation now." Elder Ku nodded.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment, then nodded as well.


    Elder Ku had been in charge of the ckguards before he passed its leadership to Zhao Yuanjiao, and he certainly had his own sources of information.


    "How long have you been my apprentice?" Elder Ku asked.


    "I''m eighteen, Master, and you''ve been my master for over a year," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Not quite," Elder Ku demurred. "Do you remember what I told you? I only took you as my student in name for a year. After a year, if you were still willing to take me as master, I would officially ept you as my apprentice."


    "You have always been my master, Elder Ku, and I don''t intend to change my mind now," Xiao Nanfeng replied resolutely.


    Elder Ku shook his head. "You do not yet know the price of taking me as master. The Taiqing Immortal Sect has two types of formal disciples. The first and moremon ss is represented by ordinary disciples taken in by various elders in the sect, who may be instructed in the majority of the sect''s techniques by division leaders, elders, and senior disciples. Though they can learn much, they don''t represent the core disciples of the sect. The second and rarer ss is represented by apprentices to those such as me, a sectstarter. These are core disciples of the sect, who will be groomed to be sectstarters themselves."


    "Sectstarters?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Perhaps you are yet unfamiliar with the history of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. At its peak, the Taiqing Immortal Sect was foremost among all sects in the world."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "At the time, the path of cultivation was dominated by three main sects, the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing, and the Taiqing Sect was foremost among them. The divine Taiqingnds were considered the greatest force in the world."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Elder Ku an odd look. I haven''t even seen a single Immortal in the sect, and it''s already considered the top sect in the world?


    "Subsequently, however, the divine Taiqingnds suffered a great cmity and began to wane. Since then, it has transformed into the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Perhaps after nearly ten thousand years, few remember the divine Taiqingnds, but the core disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect shall never forget this piece of history. They have been working hard in an attempt to restore Taiqing to its former glory. Two centuries ago, we had one such opportunity. We pooled all our resources to foster the emperor of a divine empire, with the understanding that he would, in turn, support the Taiqing sect. Unfortunately, the bacsh from that divine empire wiped away all our hard work, and the Immortals of the sect were ughtered to thest. The only survivors were the weakest disciples of the sect. If not for the aid from those of the Yuqing divinends, we too would have been eradicated." Elder Ku gave Xiao Nanfeng a wan smile.


    "Two centuries ago?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched.


    Although Elder Ku had recounted this history only briefly and without emotion, Xiao Nanfeng could guess how terrible that battle two centuries ago had been.


    "When the Taiqing Immortal Sect fell, we had no choice but to leave the world stage and retreat to the Eastern Sea, regaining our bearings on the Taiqing Ind. As a result of our failure, a schism developed within the sect. Some cultivators believed that we had made a fundamental mistake; they refused to back down, to rest, to recuperate. Rather, radicalized, they denied the sect''s teachings and chose to step down a different path. They broke away from us and formed the Taiqing Demonic Sect," Elder Ku continued.


    "So that was how the schism developed..."


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect was founded on Taiqing Ind by a group of cultivators who had survived the great war two centuries past: the sectstarters. All resources within the sect are open to sectstarters, but they in turn bear a tremendous burden, to restore the Taiqing Immortal Sect to its former glory."


    "Oh?"


    "I am a sectstarter. Your father, Xiao Hongye, was a sectstarter. The four division leaders are sectstarters, and the majority of elders are sectstarters. Emperor Tianshu himself is a sectstarter. For the rejuvenation of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, the sect provided resources to help Emperor Tianshu found the Tianshu Empire. Many disciples of the Ascended and Mortal divisions fell in the process, but the project was a sess, and the empire was founded. Thus did the Taiqing Immortal Sect break out of its predicament."


    "The sect freely gave of its resources to Emperor Tianshu, and many of its disciples died. What did it gain as a result?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Fortune," Elder Ku exined.


    "Oh?"


    "Cultivation gets harder the farther you go. The ultimate goal that all forces aspire to is fortune. The governance of an empire can umte fortune, and we sects need fortune in order to prosper. The sect fully supported Emperor Tianshu in exchange for a steady source of fortune. Sectstarters obtain fortune from Emperor Tianshu annually, especially the sect master and the four division leaders. Once they receive this fortune, they divide it among the sectstarter elders. The Ascended division leader also holds the honorary post of the Ascended Marquis within the Tianshu Empire, and the Mortal division leader, the Mortal Marquis."


    "No wonder almost all the elders sided with Nn Feng when I had a confrontation with him. Even Zhao Tianheng clearly favored him¡ªand now I know why," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "That''s right. They benefit from the Tianshu Empire, and they''ll naturally support Nn Feng." Elder Ku nodded.


    "If the sect grows reliant on a certain empire''s fortune, wouldn''t it ultimately be a vassal to that empire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Elder Ku shook his head. "A sect can support multiple empires simultaneously, providing a diverse stream of fortune for the sect. The Taiqing Immortal Sect is owed the Tianshu Empire''s fortune by right of aid and inception. The sectstarters of the Heaven and Earth divisions are focused on a different battlefield, one apart from the Tianshu Empire. They too have managed to obtain fortune for the sect."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "That said, this behavior carries inherent risk. The cmity from two centuries ago was when we invested our full strength into supporting a divine empire. The negotiations fell through, however, and we suffered from bacsh as a result¡ªa bacsh potent enough to almost destroy the entire sect."


    "So this is how precious fortune is," Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Formally taking me as your master will necessitate that you be a sectstarter as well, with the heavy burden of revitalizing the sect. Considering what you''ve done with the Isle of Xiao, I doubt you''ll be content with just minor holdings. If you choose not to take me as your master and remain an ordinary disciple, you''ll have far more freedom to do what you want. At the very least, if you decide to start an empire of your own, you need not share your sesses with the sect. On the other hand, if you insist on taking me as your master, the sect will fully support you and dedicate resources to you, with the expectation that you repay the sect with fortune," Elder Ku informed Xiao Nanfeng seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. "Thank you for the warning, Master. My father was a sectstarter, and I am bound to follow in his footsteps. I was only able to get this far because of your support and protection, and I do not intend on forgetting my roots. Xiao Nanfeng greets his master and pledges to repay the sect with what fortune he may receive."


    Elder Ku smiled. "Very well. At noon tomorrow, we shall hold an initiation ceremony to formally induct you as my disciple and confer upon you the status of sectstarter. From then on, those within the sect who dare interfere with you shall be treated as rebels."


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The next day at noon, over twenty elders showed up outside the Vault of Scriptures, including Zhao Tianheng himself. Everyone had been invited by Elder Ku to witness the induction of his newest apprentice.


    Thousands of ordinary disciples had gathered around the za as well. They didn''t understand the importance of the ceremony, thinking only that Elder Ku was a stickler for propriety.


    The elders in the sect, who had ess to far more information, were well aware of the importance of this ceremony.


    Zhao Tianheng sat not too far away, slowly sipping tea. He said not a single word from the start of the ceremony all the way until its end. An ugly look marred his face.


    "Disciple Xiao Nanfeng acknowledges his master." Xiao Nanfeng proffered a cup of tea to Elder Ku, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times, formally sealing the rtionship between master and disciple.


    Elder Ku finished the tea, then smiled. "Rise."


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng got up and bowed.


    Elder Ku stood up and faced the twenty or so elders he had invited. "Everyone, I apologize for the short notice, and for dragging you out of secluded cultivation. I ask that you witness Xiao Nanfeng''s induction as a sectstarter of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and as my official apprentice. His safety is of paramount importance to the sect. If cmity befalls him, the sect master and four division leaders shall investigate the situation thoroughly."


    "Understood!" The gathered elders nodded withplicated expressions on their faces.


    "Division Leader Zhao, you are the only division leader in the sect at present. I ask that you witness this asion and lead by example." Elder Ku smiled at Zhao Tianheng.


    Zhao Tianheng''s eyes twitched. Was this meant to be a warning from Elder Ku for him to not target Xiao Nanfeng any longer?


    "Please rx, Elder Ku. Xiao Nanfeng is a sectstarter now. He shall be protected by me and mine," Zhao Tianheng promised.


    "Let it be so!" Elder Ku smiled.


    Although the ceremony had been simple, from that day onwards, Xiao Nanfeng''s status in the Taiqing Immortal Sect had irrevocably changed. Even if he were toe into conflict with a division leader, it would no longer be considered a grave misdemeanor.


    The induction ceremony was simultaneously grand yet simple. After everyone else was sent away, Elder Ku led Xiao Nanfeng into the Vault of Scriptures.


    "The Vault of Scriptures has four floors. The first contains scriptures; the second, techniques; the third, secrets; the fourth, the core inheritances of the Taiqing sect. Ordinary disciples may only ess the second floor at most, and ordinary elders, the third floor. Only sectstarters may ascend to the fourth floor. Follow me and allow me to show you the true wealth of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed respectfully.

 Chapter 189: Taiqing Yin Body

    <h4>Chapter 189: Taiqing Yin Body</h4>


    Within the Vault of Scriptures, Xiao Nanfeng followed closely behind Elder Ku. The first floor of the Vault of Scriptures contained 48,000 scriptures, and Xiao Nanfeng was a familiar face here. After he began using jade tablets, however, it had been a long time since hest visited the Vault of Scriptures


    The master and disciple quickly headed up to the second floor, where a few Ascension-realm disciples were tidying up countless scrolls. Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and noted that they all seemed to be techniques and forms.


    "There are over ten thousand cultivation techniques here, but none out of the ordinary. There''s nothing much to look at. Come on," Elder Ku said.


    Xiao Nanfeng was astounded. Ten thousand cultivation techniques? The Taiqing Immortal Sect really had a humongous collection!


    Xiao Nanfeng followed Elder Ku up to the third floor. There were only three elders guarding the floor, and Xiao Nanfeng could feel immense strength seeping out of their auras.


    "Three Spiritsong-realm elders," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Elder Ku!" The three elders stood at attention and bowed toward Elder Ku.


    "Elders, this is my official apprentice and a sectstarter. He may start perusing the techniques here; please allow him to do so," Elder Ku informed them.


    "All the resources of the sect are open to sectstarters. We''ll naturally support him to the best of our ability," one elder replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng noticed that the third floor of the Vault of Scriptures contained no physical copies of scrolls, but rather countless jade tablets.


    "The scriptures of the first floor and cultivation techniques of the second floor are stored here in duplicate in the form of jade tablets. In addition, there are a number of strong techniques on this floor. Have a look around at your convenience," Elder Ku instructed.


    "Yes, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Without any hesitation, Elder Ku continued onward to the fourth floor, his final destination. Xiao Nanfeng followed closely behind him, understanding that this was where the true treasures of the sect had to be kept.


    No guards could be seen on the fourth floor; rather, there was a hemispherical barrier that blocked ess onto it.


    "This barrier is one of the greatest treasures of the sect, which even Immortals would have a hard time bypassing. Here, follow me in." Elder Ku ced a hand on the barrier.


    He had a secret technique for unlocking this otherwise impermeable barrier. With a wave of his hand, a small slit opened up, allowing the two cultivators to walk in.


    Xiao Nanfeng held his breath. He understood that a barrier that could block even Immortals had to be a treasure beyondpare. What could it be guarding within?


    As they stepped inside, however, Xiao Nanfeng was shocked to find that it was empty save for a tattered praying mat.


    "This is...?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The foundation of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, the praying mat on which the Taiqing Grandmaster once sat," Elder Ku exined.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    Elder Ku bowed respectfully toward the mat, and Xiao Nanfeng emted his actions.


    "Grandmaster, disciple Ku Jiang and disciple''s disciple Xiao Nanfeng greet the grandmaster. Xiao Nanfeng shoulders the burden of restoring the Taiqing sect. I humbly ask that he be allowed ess to the sect''s inheritance."


    "Disciple Xiao Nanfeng greets the grandmaster," Xiao Nanfeng echoed.


    However, the praying mat showed no sign of acknowledgment, causing Xiao Nanfeng to look around in confusion.


    "Sit on the mat," Elder Ku continued. "You have ten days to select an appropriate technique, and you only have one such chance every decade."


    Still somewhat perplexed, Xiao Nanfeng did as instructed.


    Suddenly, red light burst from the praying mat.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt himself sent flying by the red light. In a sh, he appeared atop the surface of a sea, one that stretched for thousands of kilometers in every direction. There seemed to be beacons of red light scattered all around, like stars that glowed with resplendent light. Above his head was a red moon that hung mysteriously in the air.


    "This is an illusion," Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    As he floated on the surface of the sea, he looked all around himself, not understanding what made this illusory realm so special. Just then, a burst of starlight floated past him. The red light condensed into the form of characters in the air.


    "This is... a cultivation technique!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    As he read the technique, he suddenly came to a realization. "I''ve seen this technique before. It was in Emperor Wei''s inheritance!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ran toward another starburst, revealing another technique. The new technique was equally deep and potent, no inferior to the first one, but this one wasn''t recorded in Emperor Wei''s inheritance.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the wide expanse of the sea. There had to be tens of thousands of starbursts floating around. Could each one be an equally impressive technique?


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. He suddenly understood why his master had told him not to focus on the cultivation techniques avable on the second floor. Compared to this sea of arcane techniques, those ten thousand techniques of the second floor seemed meaningless.


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect''s inheritance doesn''t seem to pale inparison to Emperor Wei''s¡ªno, it has far more cultivation techniques! Could the Taiqing Immortal Sect really have been a force even more potent than the divine empire of Great Wei?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    The sea was boundless, the starlight resplendent. Did each sectstarter have an opportunity to search for a technique suitable for them?


    Xiao Nanfeng began his search in earnest. There were cultivation techniques for the body and for the spirit, and Xiao Nanfeng even found a technique to generate avatars of himself, which seemed to be the same one the Pestilence Sage cultivated.


    Xiao Nanfeng memorized it, then headed off in search of other techniques.


    He didn''t care for all the techniques that he encountered; with Emperor Wei''s inheritance in hand, his ability to discern true treasures had grown by leaps and bounds. Even ''ordinary'' advanced techniques were of little interest to him; he only cared for certain extraordinary techniques.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng stopped short. He had noticed how simr the illusory realm''s sea and the red moon overhead were to something he had observed before, and at great length.


    "A vast sea, and a red moon overhead¡ªisn''t this like the sterke and overhanging moon in my mindscape?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He looked up at the sky, at the mysterious red moon above him. The moon in his mindscape boasted a purer and more intense spiritual power than his sterke. Could there be a treasure high above for him to find?


    He stepped into the air, giving up on the sea, and began to travel toward the moon.


    The moon was distant, surprisingly so. It took him three long days of travel to approach it. As he drew closer, Xiao Nanfeng found a striking simrity between the red moonlight and that in his mindscape. The only difference seemed to be the color.


    He reached out toward the red moon, which trembled before bursting into radiant light, illuminating the entirety of the illusory realm.


    Subsequently, text began to form by the side of the red moon, manifesting in the form of an arcane technique.


    "The Taiqing Yin Body?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    There was no time to waste. He began to memorize it immediately. The scripture took him two full days to memorize.


    "Why does this Taiqing Yin Body appear so simr to the Body of Yin that I cultivate? No¡ªthey''re different, but there seems to be some mysterious rtionship between them..."


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged in meditation. He had lost any interest in returning to the sea below to pick out more cultivation techniques. Numerous though they were, they all paled inparison to the Taiqing Yin Body.


    Furthermore, it felt as though he could glean the contents of the Taiqing Yin Body at an elerated rate by staying beside the red moon. He didn''t want to give up such a rare opportunity, because he didn''t have much time.


    After a few days passed, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly felt his body shake. He was sent out of the illusory realm and woke up in his physical body in a jolt. Elder Ku had been guarding him all this time.


    "Have you awoken? Thank the grandmaster for the gift of perusing the cultivation techniques," Elder Ku instructed.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately got up and bowed to the praying mat alongside Elder Ku.


    "What did you think of the Taiqing sect''s collection?" Elder Ku asked, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "I understand now why the fourth floor of the Vault of Scriptures is essible only to sectstarters. I benefited tremendously."


    "What cultivation techniques did you obtain?" Elder Ku asked.


    "I headed toward the red moon and learned the Taiqing Yin Body."


    "Oh? That''s surprisingly lucky of you." Elder Ku was surprised.


    "But the red moon''s visible to everyone. Surely it shouldn''t be too difficult to ess?"


    Elder Ku shook his head. "Not all cultivators who approach the red moon can gain ess to the technique. This is a peerless technique of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and I was only able to receive it on my eighth visit into the realm."


    "Do you know why, Master?"


    "My hypothesis is that everyone''s soul is different, and only those withpatible souls can learn and employ this technique. The red moon grantspatible techniques to cultivators whoe its way. There must be some marker in your soul that''s attuned to the Taiqing Yin Body in some manner."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded hesitantly.


    "Yesterday, I told you that, two centuries ago, the Yuqing sect stepped forward to protect the final remnants of the Taiqing sect. The price that we had to pay was precisely the Taiqing Yin Body technique¡ªbut even after all these years, none from the Yuqing sect have been able to learn it." Elder Ku smiled.


    "Are other sects interested in our techniques?"


    "The Yuqing sect, which boasts a long and illustrious history like ours, is well aware of the lineage of the Taiqing sect, and of how precious the Taiqing Yin Body is."


    "Oh?"


    "Allegedly, tens of thousands of years ago, the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing grandmasters simultaneously received a technique of iparable strength, known as Body of Yin. Unfortunately, after the three grandmasters learned the technique, they imed that it possessed a sinister omen that would result in cmity on whoever learned the technique. As a result, they destroyed the copies they had obtained, then each produced a Taoist scripture encapsting their insight into the technique: the Taiqing Yin Body, Yuqing Yin Body, and Shangqing Yin Body."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened. His cultivation technique was precisely the Body of Yin. What was this sinister omen supposed to be? Surely Elder Ku wasn''t attempting to trick him?


    "Master, do you know who created this technique?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    "I don''t. Allegedly, the three grandmasters attempted to find out as well, but no information was forting. They even interrogated countless cursed effigies, but even those effigies possessed no knowledge of the technique''s mysterious creator."

 Chapter 190: Crimson Starlight

    <h4>Chapter 190: Crimson Starlight</h4>


    After exiting the Vault of Scriptures, Xiao Nanfeng began to cultivate in the nearby cottage in which he had once resided.


    Perhaps because of the simrity and connection between Body of Yin and Taiqing Yin Body, Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation of the technique proceeded at a rapid clip. Within two days, crimson starlight began to appear in the sterke in his mindscape.


    The silver starlight that had filled his sterke seemed to sh with the new crimson starlight that had formed, as though the two colors of starlight were attempting to stake their im over contested territory. As a result, ripples and waves formed within the otherwise cidke.


    "Condensing the crimson starlight is taking too much of my spiritual power." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He could sense that the technique was unlikely to result in any bottlenecks, and would eventually allow him to condense a red Taiqing moon, much like the one he had witnessed. However, the required spiritual power to do so would be immense.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly opened his eyes. "I need to excavate another draconic vein in order to nourish my spiritual power. I have to advance this cultivation technique as much as possible."


    He had the unusual feeling that the Taiqing Yin Body would be particrly important to him.


    He got out of the cottage to see Elder Ku seated in the distance, ying the guqin. Xiao Nanfeng immediately walked over, stood beside his master, and waited patiently.


    "How goes your cultivation of Taiqing Yin Body?" Elder Ku suddenly asked, abruptly cutting off his tune.


    "My foundations allowed me to progress rapidly, Master. I''ve managed to condense a few motes of crimson starlight," xiao Nanfeng reported.


    "The Taiqing Yin Body is remarkable and exceptional among spiritual cultivation techniques because the crimson starlight it generates can absorb whatever starlight exists from any other spiritual cultivation technique and elevate the quality of your spiritual energy," Elder Ku informed him confidently.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him an odd look. The silver starlight in his sterke showed no such signs of absorption.


    "Master, I can sense that I need an immense source of spiritual power to further my cultivation. Fortunately, I recently learned of the locations of draconic veins around the Eastern Sea, and intend to excavate them to further the technique. Master, would you like to apany me to absorb draconic aether?"


    "I have no need," Elder Ku replied, shaking his head. "I recently broke through and received a heavenly boon that I still have to digest fully. Furthermore, at my stage of cultivation, advancement by pure energy alone is all but impossible. I thank you for the invitation, but it will be best if you head there alone."


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then continued, "Master, I''d like to invite my fellow disciples to join me, but the Isle of Xiao may be understaffed for defense in that case. I''m worried that others will attempt to attack or otherwise undermine it in my absence. Would you be willing to keep an eye on it?"


    "With me around, nothing shall happen to the Isle of Xiao. Go with ease," Elder Ku replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed and departed. He immediately had Ye Dafu put up a recruitment notice for raiding bandits and excavating draconic veins. The news of the notice spread remarkably quickly throughout Taiqing Ind, causing an uproar among all sect disciples.


    Dozens of Taiqing disciples stood outside a hall on Taiqing Ind, all waiting for Zhao Tianheng and two elders within.


    "Division Leader, everyone has gathered and is ready to set off, but why are we leaving so quickly?" one elder asked.


    Zhao Tianheng had a sour look on his face. "I thought that Mr. Wen would only give a map to me, but some other elders of the Mortal division received it too. Thesest few days, Mortal elders have been leaving with their trusted disciples in tow. Why have none of you informed me of this?"


    "We didn''t know either." The two elders looked glumly at Zhao Tianheng.


    "Forget it. We''ll set off for the draconic pce immediately," Zhao Tianhengmanded.


    "Division Leader, are we going to give up on the Immortal''s Destruction?" one elder asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s a sectstarter now, and Ku Jiang''s shielding him protectively. How do you intend to obtain the Immortal''s Destruction? Don''t cause problems for me," Zhao Tianheng spat out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng just sent out a notice about recruiting disciples for another bandit raid. Many disciples im that he''s headed to Bloodkill Ind to get rid of the Bloodkill bandits," the elder reported.


    Upon hearing about Bloodkill Ind again, Zhao Tianheng grew furious. He had waited around Bloodkill Ind for days on end, exposed to the elements, for Xiao Nanfeng to strike¡ªonly to have Xiao Nanfeng head somewhere else entirely!


    "He''s very tricky," Zhao Tianheng spat out. "Or have you forgotten his misdirection fromst time? He''s not going to be heading to Bloodkill Ind. It''s all a ruse."


    "Of course, Division Leader. Without your foresight, we might have been tricked and wasted our time."


    "What''s more, wouldn''t Ku Jiang join him on this expedition to excavate draconic veins? Don''t dream of it. We''ll head straight to the draconic pce," Zhao Tianheng reiterated.


    "Yes, Division Leader!"


    Five dayster, Zhao Tianheng''s ship slowly sailed through a wide expanse of sea toward a region covered in thick fog.


    "Division Leader, does the entrance to the draconic pce lie ahead?" one elder asked.


    "It''s right here. We''ll head in immediately," Zhao Tianheng said expectantly.


    "My junior brother hasn''t yet returned from delivering a message. Should we wait for him first?" an elder asked.


    Just then, a figure flew through the air and slowlynded on deck.


    "What took you so long to deliver a message?" Zhao Tianheng seemed somewhat displeased.


    "Division Leader, I was sending word to the Taiqing Demonic Sect, and happened to pass by Xiao Nanfeng and his group at sea," the elder reported.


    "Oh? What a coincidence. Where did they head this time, then?" Zhao Tianheng asked curiously.


    "To Bloodkill Ind, Division Leader. When I passed by, they were raiding the Bloodkill bandits."


    Zhao Tianheng: ...


    "Didn''t the Division Leader im that they wouldn''t be going to Bloodkill Ind?" one elder gasped.


    "It seems like they were forthright about their intentions this time, and Elder Ku didn''t join them."


    Zhao Tianheng''s face puckered. He was so mad he felt as though he could spit out blood. Although he couldn''t make a move against Xiao Nanfeng directly, he could do so covertly. If he had known that Elder Ku hadn''t apanied Xiao Nanfeng to Bloodkill Ind, he could certainly have snuck over. It would have been a tremendous opportunity to im the Immortal''s Destruction for himself¡ªbut he had missed it!


    On an ind at sea, Tang stepped off a ship and onto the harbor. When the gathered demonic disciples saw Tang, they nched.


    "That omen of cmity is back!"


    "How dare he show himself?"


    Tang walked up to a suite of halls on the ind. Along the way, all the demonic disciples that passed by gave him identical looks of shock and terror. They fled as though treating him like a leper.


    "Senior Brothers, please listen to me! This doesn''t have anything to do with me!" Tang cried out.


    However, no one paid any attention; they were too busy running away.


    "Calm yourselves down!" the Pestilence Sage thundered from the central hall.


    The surroundings immediately quieted down.


    Tang took a deep breath, then ran into the hall.


    "Sage, I have returned," Tang said apprehensively.


    The moment he entered the hall, he saw the Pestilence Sage seated at the front, looking toward him with cold eyes and an even colder gaze. The demonic disciples all around gave him a disdainful look.


    "How dare you return," the Pestilence Sage spat out.


    "Sage, I believe that Xiao Nanfeng must have released me in order to destroy my rtionship with you. With your foresight and magnanimity, Sage, I''m sure you won''t fall prey to his evil ns!" Tang replied.


    "I certainly don''t intend to implicate others in my vendetta against Xiao Nanfeng. You, on the other hand, really do seem to be sinister." The Pestilence Sage gave Tang aplicated look.


    "Sage, it''s clear that anyone who forms a team with Tang will suffer greatly. He''s an omen of cmity, and we can''t allow him to stay in the sect!" one demonic disciple cried out.


    "Quiet! When have I ever asked for your opinion?" the Pestilence Sage retorted coldly.


    The demonic disciple quailed and fell silent.


    "All of you, listen up. From today onwards, Tang will be my disciple, the disciple of the Pestilence Sage. I do not intend to spare any who make up rumors about him." The Pestilence Sage red at everyone in attendance.


    "Yes, Sage!" the demonic disciples replied in shock.


    "All of you can leave. Tang, stay behind," the Pestilence Sage continued.


    The disciples quickly left the hall, leaving just the Pestilence Sage and Tang behind.


    "Sage? Why did you suddenly decide to take me as a disciple?" Tang cried out.


    "Isn''t that what you always wanted? What, are you unwilling to do it now?" the Pestilence Sage asked coldly.


    "Of course not, Master. Please allow me to kowtow to you." Tang bowed and kowtowed, but he had an uneasy premonition.


    "Your cultivation is too weak. I''ll hand you a pill to raise it for the time being. Two dayster, we''ll head to the draconic pce and fight over Immortal weapons."


    "To the draconic pce?" Tang cried out.


    "No nonsense. Eat your pill first," the Pestilence Sagemanded.


    Tang had no choice but to consume the pill. As he swallowed it, a gust of energy shot toward his dantian, turning his skin a ghostly blue.


    "This pill is too potent! I can barely handle it," Tang cried out in pain.


    The Pestilence Sage pped at his lower back to help dissipate the excess medicinal energy. Not long after, Tang''s body bubbled with energy. His cultivation had improved by an immense degree.


    "Thank you, Master!" Tang cried out.


    "Go rest. We''ll head off in two days, so don''t run around," the Pestilence Sage instructed.


    "Yes, Master!" Tang replied, then left the hall.


    As he saw Tang leave, the Pestilence Sage''s lips widened in a malevolent smile.


    Tang returned to his cottage and closed the door. His excitement vanished. He rubbed at his skin, but the ghostly blue color refused toe off.


    "I''m doomed. The Pestilence Sage really thinks I''m an omen of cmity, and he''s trying to take over my physical body. He wants to im it for himself! What should I do?" Tang fretted.

 Chapter 191: Excavating Dragons, Killing Demons

    <h4>Chapter 191: Excavating Dragons, Killing Demons</h4>


    A great ughter had just taken ce on Bloodkill Ind as its bandits fell to the ground in pools of blood. Before the Taiqing disciplesy a group of weeping women.


    "They were innocent women kidnapped from the mortal world atrge to satiate the bandits'' sexual urges."


    "One bandit confessed that they torture countless women to death on an annual basis. This batch just got here."


    "Their families were all killed by the bandits. If we hadn''t arrived on time, they too might have suffered the same fate."


    Ye Sanshui and the others were exining these women''s background to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "All of you can get up. We''ve ughtered the bandits to thest, and we''ll bring you back to your homes. If you have nowhere to go, you can stay on my Isle of Xiao," Xiao Nanfeng consoled them.


    "Thank you, benefactors!" The women kowtowed to the gathered disciples.


    Ye Sanshui and the others helped tend to the unfortunate women


    as Zhao Yuanjiao frowned and walked up to him. "Why did you suddenly decide to attack the Bloodkill bandits? Didn''t you say you were nning to give everyone the wrong impression again? Weren''t we headed for a spiritbeastir?"


    "Elder, are there many forces skulking around?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I just had a look. There are at least three separate forces stationed on the inds nearby, likely all Spiritsong-realm or higher in strength." Zhao Yuanjiao nced toward the inds in the distance.


    "When you, Croak, and Warble struck the bandits simultaneously, themotion shocked them and caused them to miss the best opportunity to strike. Fortunately, given what happenedst time, no Wingform-realm cultivator is willing to risk getting killed, but some Spiritsong-realm ones refuse to give up." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Oh?"


    "Now that our formation''s all set up, however, there''s no need to worry about them any longer."


    "So you didn''t have to attack Bloodkill Ind at all, did you?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "I know. I wasn''t nning on it, but I had no choice. Our route was exposed, so I had to stop here and prepare a defense. Of all the ces around the Eastern Sea, Bloodkill Ind has the most easily essible draconic vein. The other draconic veins are all under guard by factions of immense strength," Xiao Nanfeng informed him.


    "Our route was exposed? When?" Zhao Yuanjiao turned serious.


    "This morning. I suddenly discovered that a group of sea spirits have been tailing us."


    "Sea spirits?" Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes.


    "No strong ones, but I can''t imagine it''ll take them long tomunicate with those who put them up to this. We were tight on time, so I had Ye Dafu and the others quickly establish a formation while we were taking on the Bloodkill bandits. Let me handle the rest."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded and waited alertly.


    "Raise the formation!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Got it!" Ye Dafu called back from afar.


    With a huge crash, fog gushed out of the surroundings of Bloodkill Ind, reaching into the sky andpletely surrounding it.


    Three monks on a small ind nearby, seeing the fog surround Bloodkill Ind, frowned.


    "Should we strike, Senior Brother?" one monk asked.


    "We can''t. They have three Spiritsong-realm cultivators. If we strike now, we might not be able to seize the Immortal''s Destruction. Furthermore, if I''m not mistaken, that formation is the Ghosts'' Parade that he just acquired. Heading into it would be no different frommitting suicide."


    "In that case, what should we do?"


    "We won''t be able to fight individually. Contact the other forces nearby and see if they''re willing to cooperate."


    "Yes!"


    Just then, a dragon''s shriek rang out from the ind.


    It was so loud as to be audible from where the monks stood. Bloodkill Ind suddenly began to vibrate, and waves radiated out from it. The forces all around were shocked.


    "They''ve begun excavating the draconic vein!"


    "The next step is to absorb draconic aether from it... How are they always so lucky? Why can they find these draconic veins no matter where they go?"


    "Wait for them to dispel the formation. We''ll strike then."


    While the forces waited, theymunicated with each other and nned out the subsequent cooperation. After about six hours, Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Dispel the formation!"


    The formation of fog surrounding Bloodkill Ind immediately dissipated, revealing the three thousand Taiqing disciples and three thousand fighters from the Isle of Xiao within, as well as Bloodkill Ind, whose mountains had all copsed.


    "Juniors, clean up the ind. Pack up whatever fits on the ships and bury the corpses that don''t. We''ll leave Bloodkill Ind immediately!"


    "Yes, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    The cultivators that had been lying in wait stared at Xiao Nanfeng and nced at each other, as though preparing to coordinate a strike.


    Just then, a huge wave erupted from the sea around the ind. A gargantuan lifeform appeared, startling everyone.


    "What arge octopus spirit!" one cultivator cried out.


    A thirty-meter octopus spirit had appeared, emerging from the depths of the sea and floating above its surface with an aura suffused with killing intent.


    "A Spiritsong-realm octopus spirit?" Zhao Yuanjiao raised an eyebrow.


    More waves formed as octopus after octopus emerged from the sea, each thirty meters long. There were more than two dozen in all.


    "More than two dozen Spiritsong-realm octopus spirits...?" One monk gulped.


    The Taiqing disciples drew their des in fear,


    but the seawater was still raging. A sixty-meter long octopus emerged. Its killing intent surged like a violent gale, sending the Taiqing disciples stumbling back.


    The forces all around the ind likewise reared back in shock.


    "A Wingform-realm octopus spirit king!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    Croak and Warble let out warning croaks.


    The spirit king''s aura was so intense that even Croak and Warble were hesitant to step forward.


    Atop the octopus spirit king''s giant head was a sea turtle, one with a particrlyrge head and a particrly small body, which gave off a very lopsided feeling. The sea turtle was smiling in a conceited fashion as it looked down on Xiao Nanfeng from afar.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? We meet again," the sea turtle called out.


    "You? The old turtle? You can regrow your body starting with just a head?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "It''s all thanks to you! We''ll settle our score today," the ancient turtle spat out.


    "Prime Minister Turtle, aren''t you being too cautious? I said that we could strike four hours ago, but you insisted on waiting all that time!" the octopus spirit kingined.


    "This kid''s even more cautious than I am. I didn''t want to wait four hours either, but I had no choice. You might be able to ignore that formation of fog they put up, but your subordinates wouldn''t be able to bear it. What''s more, there was still a draconic vein on the ind. Haven''t you heard how the sea serpent king perished? I had to wait until theypletely digested the draconic vein. Four hours is a worthwhile price to pay for your life."


    "Prime Minister Turtle, you really have taken everything into ount!" the octopus spirit king ttered.


    "Naturally. If you help me with this task now, a few dayster, when the prawn soldiers and crab generals meet up with me, I''ll bring you all to the draconic pce. If you listen to me, I can guarantee you an Immortal weapon. You''re aware of what treasures the draconic pce possesses, aren''t you?" the turtle enticed.


    "Thank you, Prime Minister Turtle!" The octopus spirit king''s eyes shed with greed.


    "Now, seize Xiao Nanfeng for me!" the turtle cried out.


    The octopus spirit king puffed up its body and replied proudly, "Don''t worry, we''ll ughter everyone present. None of these cultivators will escape. It''s been too long since my subordinates have had such high-quality flesh. Kill them!"


    The twenty Spiritsong-realm octopus spirits howled and shot forward.


    "The formation!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The formation that was just winding down started up again. Fog filled the air around Bloodkill Ind.


    "Head inside now! This is the Ghosts'' Parade formation, and your subordinates won''t be able to bear it," the turtle urged.


    The octopus spirit king shot inside the fog.


    The moment it did so, it sensed ck fog heading its way, as though attempting to drag it and the ancient turtle into the illusory realm. The ancient turtle spat out a mouthful of red light, shielding itself.


    It had suffered tremendously thest time it was dragged into an illusion against its will, and had specially learned a technique to prevent that situation from happening again.


    Just then, four golden chains wrapped around the octopus spirit king.


    "Why are there Immortal-binding chains here? Something''s wrong!" the turtle cried out.


    On the other end of the chains was the Immortal''s Destruction, which had been covered up beneath earth and stone. Tremendous radiance shot into the air, exposed anew¡ªa six-hundred-meter long golden dragon, bound with four Immortal-binding chains and buried underground. Its maw had been mped tightly shut, preventing it from making any noise. Thus revealed, it began to struggle and growl, as if sensing that its end was near.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you haven''t absorbed the draconic vein at all? You were just pretending to have done so in an attempt to trick me?!" the ancient turtle cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction straight toward the octopus spirit king.


    The octopus spirit king roared in outrage, summoning an incredible surge of strength, with which it broke the chains binding itself. However, it was all toote. The draconic vein glowed with radiant light, transforming into a sword sh of unparalleled size, as it shot toward the spirit.


    "No!" the octopus spirit king howled.


    The attack cleaved its head and bisected its body in a shower of blood, killing the octopus spirit king on the spot. The resulting shockwave even caused the ancient turtle''s body to explode.


    "No!" the ancient turtle shrieked.

 Chapter 192: Prime Minister Turtle

    <h4>Chapter 192: Prime Minister Turtle</h4>


    The immense strength of a supercharged blow from the Immortal''s Destruction took down both the octopus spirit king and the ancient turtlemanding it. Ity syed on the ground, blood frothing from its mouth, so badly injured it was incapable of moving.


    Only then did the ancient turtle notice that everyone was trapped in the illusory realm. The twenty octopus spirits stood stiff like wooden carvings.


    "So you are the Prime Minister Turtle, after all?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He tossed a talisman toward the turtle, and an ordinary shot from the Immortal''s Destruction rained down.


    "I won''t let you go, Xiao Nanfeng!" the ancient turtle screamed.


    Suddenly, its body self-destructed in a wave of energy, deflecting the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "Did itmit suicide? No¡ªit''s running away. Stop right there!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    The dust of the explosion cleared to reveal the turtle''s uninjured head, which shot into the air and flew away. It moved so rapidly that Xiao Nanfeng was unable to keep up, and quickly escaped beyond the perimeter of the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Just how many techniques does this turtle have for escaping?"


    The twenty Spiritsong-realm octopus spirits suddenly deted, their spiritual avatars having been torn apart by the malicious ghosts of the Ghosts'' Parade. They were now in deepas.


    "Deactivate the formation," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The disciples controlling the formation from afar immediately stopped what they were doing, and the other disciples swiftly woke up.


    The Taiqing disciples charged forward and killed the paralyzed octopus spirits, then cheered.


    As the fog retreated again, shouts could be heard from the neighboring inds.


    "The octopus spirit king is dead? That was a Wingform-realm spirit!"


    "Except for that turtle''s head that flew away, all the other invaders were killed!"


    Upon hearing the cheers from afar, the forces that had gathered to seize Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal''s Destruction were shocked to see what he had aplished. Even so, they didn''t retreat. They had more or less guessed what had happened: Xiao Nanfeng had taken advantage of the draconic vein to kill the octopus spirit king. The cultivators grew even more enamored with the Immortal''s Destruction.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the neighboring inds and called out, "Fellow cultivators!"


    His voice spread across the inds as the cultivators perked up.


    "I know why you have gathered here, and I know you''ve seen what happened to the spirits that attempted to attack me. I, Xiao Nanfeng, will not show mercy to any invaders," he announced coldly.


    The hidden cultivators nced disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng, ignoring his threat.


    "On ount of the fact that none of you have done anything yet, I''m willing to let you all go free. Otherwise, if you intend to challenge me, I won''t stop until I''ve taken you down."


    The hidden cultivators'' scorn all deepened. Xiao Nanfeng''s threat was meaningless to them; none of them took it seriously.


    "Senior Brother, who are you talking to?" a Taiqing disciple asked.


    "Wait and see," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    The disciples waited patiently, as did the hidden cultivators on the distant inds. Two monks hidden on one ind whispered to one another.


    "Senior Brother, this Xiao Nanfeng''s an arrogant sort, isn''t he?"


    "Arrogant cultivators are those that face the most gruesome deaths. They only have three Spiritsong-realm cultivators among them, and their arrogance stems from the formation they possess. I don''t believe that Xiao Nanfeng and his posse will remain on that ind¡ªand the moment they leave the formation, we''ll strike together. Our tripartite alliance has eight Spiritsong-realm cultivators in all. They won''t be able to hold out against us," the other monk replied, smiling coldly.


    "What if they remain in the formation and turtle up?"


    "That''s why I had our junior brother return to the monastery to summon our master. Our master''s a Wingform-realm cultivator, and he''d easily be able to take down Xiao Nanfeng. We''d be able to ignore the alliance and im the Immortal''s Destruction for ourselves, too."


    "So Xiao Nanfeng''s doomed regardless of whether he leaves the ind or not?"


    "That''s right. We''ll take him down today, one way or another!"


    Just then, the two monks suddenly felt a presence by their backs. They sweated as two whitemist specters shot into their body, causing them to freeze.


    A de shed past their necks, sending two heads flying.


    You Jiu had appeared behind him, a legendary assassin trained in the skills of his trade. It was trivial for him to take down two cultivators of the same realm who weren''t paying attention to their surroundings.


    You Jiu stored the two bodies and headed toward the next ind.


    Two hourster, a scream from a distant ind caused the remaining cultivators to nch.


    "What''s the matter, Junior Brother?" one cultivator called out.


    However, no one responded on the ind where his junior brother had been. He immediately flew toward the source of the disturbance to check it out.


    Simultaneously, Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Croak, Warble, strike now."


    The two toad spirits soared into the air toward the distant inds.


    "Quick, everyone! Take down these two bastards first!" the cultivator who had exposed himself shouted.


    However, only two cultivators appeared to intercept Croak and Warble. They shed at the two toad spirits, but were unable to break through their sturdy defense. The two spirits spat out a mouthful of poisonous fog that forced the two cultivators back.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shot into the air and gave chase.


    "Where''s everyone else? Show yourselves! What happened to cooperating?"


    "Come on, show yourselves!" the fighting cultivators shouted, but no one else emerged from the neighboring inds. The three of them were forced to take on Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and Warble by themselves.


    With a resounding crash, the fighting began in earnest.


    "Where''s everyone else? Why are there only three Spiritsong-realm cultivators?"


    "Are they lying in wait until the fighting is over?"


    The Taiqing disciples seemed flummoxed at what was going on.


    "Alright, that''s enough. Everyone, embark on the ships. We''ll leave immediately." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He was certain that You Jiu had taken care of the rest of the cultivators.


    Although the disciples remained worried, they trusted in Xiao Nanfeng and obeyed hismands. The ships sailed back into the sea.


    In the end, the three Spiritsong-realm cultivators were unable to evade defeat and death. Croak, Warble, and Zhao Yuanjiao killed them all.


    As the ships vanished into the distance, a few hourster, two strong auras appeared around Bloodkill Ind.


    "Where are they? Didn''t you say they were here?" one radiant monk asked.


    "I don''t know where my senior brothers went either, Master. Look! I can prove that I was telling the truth. The draconic vein on Bloodkill Ind has been excavated!" one monk said.


    The radiant monk was staring at the scene in a perplexed fashion when two more strong auras appeared.


    "Wingform-realm?" the radiant monk eximed in surprise.


    "So I wasn''t the only one who went back to fetch my master. The other forces'' cultivators did, too!" the other monk gasped.


    The two strong cultivators red at each other, but their prey had long since vanished.


    Under Xiao Nanfeng''smand, the ships sailed toward the octopus spirits''ir.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng returned to his cabin for secluded cultivation.


    As he nced at the spiritbeast inner cores before him, Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "It would be difficult to distill these cores into spiritual power¡ªI suppose I should attempt to improve my cultivation."


    He swallowed the inner core of the octopus spirit king, but it was insufficient to break through. After that, he swallowed all twenty inner cores of the Spiritsong-realm octopus spirits as well.


    Six hourster, Xiao Nanfeng''s body creaked as a tremendous wave of energy emanated from it. He opened his eyes wide.


    "The eighth stage of Ascension!"

 Chapter 193: Avatar of the Red Moon

    <h4>Chapter 193: Avatar of the Red Moon</h4>


    A dayter, Xiao Nanfeng stood on deck and beheld the sea before him.


    "Young Master, this is the octopus''ir. There are countless octopi within," Ye Sanshui said, walking up to him.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the inds dotting the sea, octopi breaching the surface of the water and ncing eagerly at the approaching ships. Clearly, they were practiced with taking down ships that sailed over their waters.


    "Mr. Zheng, you''ll be responsible for activating the Ghosts'' Parade. Ye Dafu and the others will help you set up the formation. Have the Ghosts'' Parade strike at the octopus spirits'' souls before the junior disciples make their move," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Of course!" Zheng Qian nodded.


    "Everyone else, guard the perimeter!"


    "Got it!" Voices of agreement rang out through the ship.


    Ye Dafu and the others quickly began setting up the formation as the junior disciples of the Taiqing Sect boarded smaller boats and cleared away the octopus spirits, giving Ye Dafu and the others room to work. When strong octopus spirits came to assail them, Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and Warble stepped forward to force them back.


    The formation was quicklypleted.


    On Zheng Qian''smand, the formation activated. Roiling fog filled the patch of sea. The mysterious ck energy shone with light that prated through the seawater and filled the entire region.


    Countless octopi were dragged into the illusion.


    Within the illusion, Zheng Qian manipted the Ghosts'' Parade,manding the hundred malicious ghosts to leap toward the octopus spirits.


    Croak and Warble continued to swim outside the formation, herding the octopus spirits into the array.


    Within a day, all the octopus spirits were badly hurt in terms of spiritual power. They floated up to the surface of the sea in a daze.


    "Deactivate the formation. Kill the spirits!" Xiao Nanfeng thenmanded.


    As the formation dissipated, the fog cleared up to reveal countless octopus spirits that had floated up to the surface of the water. The Taiqing disciples, obeying Xiao Nanfeng''smand, steered over with their boats and began killing them all.


    The spirits werepletely unable to resist, and they were easily ughtered to thest.


    Subsequently, the cultivators dragged their carcasses onto the fleet of ships.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng''s expedition consisted of over a dozen ships. Even so, they were packed to the brim, like mountains in miniature.


    With everythingplete, Xiao Nanfeng headed to a rocky promontory and set up the Immortal''s Destruction. Then, he sent Immortal-binding chains deep into the ocean.


    As everyone waited expectantly, a dragon''s roar rang out through the sea. Everyone clenched their fists in anticipation.


    "Rise!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A thousand-meter long giant golden dragon was dredged up from the depths of the sea. This particr draconic vein was evenrger than that on Thousand-Serpent Ind.


    Everyone held their breaths.


    Xiao Nanfeng jumped onto the dragon''s head. "Everyone, dig in!"


    The six thousand cultivators cheered and howled in excitement.


    As Xiao Nanfeng began to absorb draconic aether, everyone joined him in the feast.


    The draconic vein roared in outrage as its body was stripped away.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated his aether-storing technique in full force, absorbing as much of the draconic aether as he could. It took a surprisingly long time for him to reach the peak of what he could withstand. By that time, the huge draconic vein had been all but consumed. Everyone''s bodies glowed with golden light as they sat cross-legged and began to meditate, seeking a breakthrough in their cultivation.


    Xiao Nanfeng did the same. He sent all the draconic aether surging toward his mindscape and activated Taiqing Yin Body at full strength. As all the draconic aether was distilled into spiritual power and flooded his sterke, more and more bursts of crimson starlight formed, until there were roughly equal proportions of silver and crimson starbursts in Xiao Nanfeng''s sterke.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng continued creating crimson starbursts. When they reached a critical threshold, all the crimson starbursts suddenly gathered near the middle. With a boom, theybined into a red moon that slowly floated out of the water and into the air. The crimson light that it gave off illuminated Xiao Nanfeng''s entire mindscape.


    Simultaneously, the radiant silver moon already in the air erupted with silver light, as though to counteract the Taiqing red moon. The two colors of moonlight shed against each other in a bizarre rumble.


    The superior yin pearl and ck lotus seemed to have noticed something amiss, too. They detached themselves from the silver moon and sterke respectively, wondering just what Xiao Nanfeng had done to create this red moon.


    Both moons grew brighter and brighter, as though neither was willing to submit to the other, almost as if they would choke each other to death.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. He hadn''t expected such an oue. How had the two moons be rivals?


    Suddenly, they smashed into each other in a burst of silver and red spiritual energy. The crash was severe enough that Xiao Nanfeng''s head began to buzz.


    He quickly stabilized both moons with his spiritual power; fortunately, neither resisted his grasp. The moment he relented, however, the two moons smashed into each other again.


    Neither moon seemed able to tolerate the other, as though they wouldn''t back down until one of them were defeated.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brain was throbbing. He too was shocked by what had happened. There was no record of such an anomalous event in either Body of Yin or Taiqing Yin Body.


    The situation devolved into a stalemate. Xiao Nanfeng was unable to calm down either moon; he had no choice but to retain control over both of them to ensure that they didn''t smash into each other. He would have to enter secluded cultivation to resolve this unexpected dilemma.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes.


    Before him, many Taiqing disciples had already gotten up. four of them were even floating in the air. When they saw Xiao Nanfeng awaken, they dropped down to the ground.


    "Thank you for your generosity, Senior Brother Xiao." The four disciples bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng respectfully.


    "You''ve all reached Spiritsong?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Yes, Senior Brother Xiao! Without this draconic aether, it might have taken us months or even years to reach this level of cultivation," the four disciples replied excitedly.


    "In that case, you''re all to be considered elders of the sect. There''s no need to call me Senior Brother any more. My name will suffice." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The four disciples shook their heads. One of them began, "You''re our senior brother no matter what, even if we reached Spiritsong before you, Senior Brother Xiao! Furthermore, we believe that you''ll reach Spiritsong in no time yourself."


    The other three disciples nodded resolutely.


    "As you will." Xiao Nanfeng nodded and smiled.


    The four disciples bowed again in gratitude. As the other Taiqing disciples awoke, they nced at the four disciples in admiration and envy.


    Reaching Spiritsong was equivalent to bing a high-ranking member of the Taiqing Immortal Sect; Xiao Nanfeng had essentially elevated these four disciples to a status most ordinary disciples could only dream of.


    "Elder, I need to enter secluded cultivation for some time. Please guard the ships as we return to the sect," Xiao Nanfeng requested of Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "No problem."


    Xiao Nanfeng stored the Immortal''s Destruction and stepped toward one of the ships. He entered the cabin and began secluded cultivation.


    The four Spiritsong-realm disciples immediately flew toward Xiao Nanfeng''s ship and guarded him.


    On the ind, the Taiqing disciples gradually awoke one after another. They were all exhrated by their gains¡ªtheir cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds.


    They wanted to thank Xiao Nanfeng, but couldn''t find him.


    When everyone woke up, Zhao Yuanjiao instructed them all to board the ships immediately. The fleet of ships sailed back toward the Taiqing Immortal Sect.


    Within the cabin, Xiao Nanfeng devoted all his attention to manipting the two moons in his mindscape. He used every trick he could think of, but the two moons refused to submit to his control¡ªor to each other. The moment Xiao Nanfeng rxed, they began to smash into each other once more. The resulting cacophony caused Xiao Nanfeng''s head to buzz.


    "Things can''t keep going like this. The two moons won''t be able to get along in harmony, so I have no choice but to separate them," Xiao Nanfeng eventually muttered, sighing.


    He retrieved the ghostly blue skin that the Pestilence Sage''s avatar had left behind. It had taken a tremendous amount of work for the Pestilence Sage to make such a skin, and it was a treasure in and of itself.


    "I did manage to learn a secret technique from the Vault of Scriptures. Should I attempt to condense an avatar myself, then?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the skin expectantly.


    He tentatively manipted the red moon out of his mindscape. The red moon eded, but only after sweeping up arge cloud of water from his sterke.


    Wreathed in his spiritual power, the red moon was covered in a sheen of water and gave off gorgeous crimson light. Xiao Nanfeng sent the red moon into the mindscape of the ghostly blue skin.


    The skin radiated with light. Its original ghostly blue color retreated as it swelled up, manifesting in the form of a human body.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw the avatar before him, made with sinister arts, transform from the Pestilence Sage into him as the crimson light shone down from the red moon.


    "These skins are supposed to slowly transform into whoever''s spiritual power nourishes them, but it should be a process that takes several years. How could the transformation have happened instantly? Could there be something unusual about this red moon?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    He frowned at the avatar. Except for its clothes, which were different, everything else looked exactly like him. The red moon rxed as it grew used to its new environment, and the crimson light faded away.


    Xiao Nanfeng manipted his avatar with surprising ease.


    "It feels like a natural extension of my body... What a strange, fascinating sensation. However, this skin doesn''t look to be of particrly high quality. Well, let''s go test it out."


    He had his avatar put on the same clothes that his main body wore. Then, with his main body seated in his cabin, he piloted his avatar outside.

 Chapter 194: The Sinister Red Moon

    <h4>Chapter 194: The Sinister Red Moon</h4>


    On deck, Xiao Nanfeng''s clone slowly emerged from his cabin.


    The four Taiqing disciples bowed, then retreated to their own ships. Xiao Nanfeng roamed around the deck, encountering Zheng Qian, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Ye Dafu along the way. None of them discovered anything amiss.


    "Come help me out, Croak!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Croak had been ying with Warble at sea. When it heard Xiao Nanfeng''s summons, it immediately flew over.


    "What''s the matter?" Croak asked curiously.


    "Bring me to an uninhabited ind," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    Croak didn''t understand why Xiao Nanfeng wanted to do so, but brought him through the air anyway.


    Man and spirit vanished across the horizon. The cultivators on board seemed uncertain as to what Xiao Nanfeng was doing, but no one paid him much mind.


    On a deste ind, Xiao Nanfeng began practicing Hegemon''s Fist. His punches struck with the force of howling gales. His control of his avatar was near-perfect; it was almost like his own body.


    He punched a rock to smithereens.


    "No, something''s wrong. This body is that of a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, and I should have that level of strength as well. Why is my avatar''s strength so restricted? It''s only at the eighth stage of Ascension!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng executed punches repeatedly, but his strength remained stubbornly stuck at the eighth stage of Ascension¡ªand an ordinary one, at that, not the enhanced strength that his original body possessed.


    "Is it because of the Taiqing red moon?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why did youe all the way here to practice your punches?" Croak asked.


    "Train with me, Croak," Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Croak seemed a little unwilling. "With how weak you are?"


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and punched toward Croak, but Croak easily stopped his fist with its palm. His strength was insufficient to break through Croak''s defense, but Croak stilled. Surprise shed in its eyes.


    "Why was your body giving off red light when you punched forward?" Croak asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. There was no such thing¡ªwas there? Was there something different about his fist technique?


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Croak defended against the blows, not retaliating at first. As Xiao Nanfeng continued to attack, however, Croak''s eyes suddenly turned bright red. Then, momentarily panicked, it struck erratically at Xiao Nanfeng, but was unable to hit him.


    "Die!" Croak howled.


    Croak''s palms mmed toward arge boulder; Xiao Nanfeng barely dodged in time.


    "Calm down, Croak!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Croak shook. As though waking from a dream, its eyes cleared up. It panted and nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. "What happened?"


    "That''s my question. What happened to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I saw red lighting out from your body. You gradually vanished from sight, leaving many evil ghosts behind. They surrounded me and were about to tear me apart and eat me. I didn''t know what to do, so I just hit them..." Croak replied, shuddering.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Croak an odd look. "Are you certain?"


    "Of course! The red lighting from your body felt evil."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "In that case, you must have suffered from some sort of hypnosis that affected your mental state. And that was from my punches...?"


    "What sort of technique was it?" Croak asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng ruminated on what had happened. His clone''s strength was restricted by that of his main body, but his clone''s attacks had some sort of hypnotic power that could counteract his otherwise deficient strength. That had to be from the red moon.


    "It''s a technique I just learned¡ªand this is an avatar of mine," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Croak gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "An avatar? I can''t tell! It looks just like you."


    "It''s a little special. Bring this avatar back to the Isle of Xiao, then return to the ship and join my main body as we head back to the ind. I don''t want anyone to know that I have an avatar just yet," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Croak nodded, then flew into the air with Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    As it flew, Xiao Nanfeng pondered about the unusual aspects of his avatar. Suddenly, he looked toward the back of his right palm, where a ck dot was located.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He was certain that that ck dot hadn''t been there moments ago. The ck dot was like a ck mole, and it had arrived out of nowhere. He sent spiritual power throughout his body, confirming that there was nothing else unusual about it.


    His avatar returned to the Isle of Xiao with Croak, then disappeared into the ind without showing himself again. Two dayster, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body returned with the rest of the fleet, causing yet anothermotion.


    The disciples goggled at the octopus spiritbeast carcasses, piled so high they formed mountains. Over five hundred Immanence-realm disciples had advanced to Ascension-realm, and the remaining disciples had all grown in one way or another, significantly raising the overall strength of the sect. Four disciples had even advanced into Spiritsong-realm and be elders, causing a huge stir even among the higher-ups in the sect.


    Xiao Nanfeng rested for a day in the Isle of Xiao, then paid his respects to his master Ku Jiang the next day.


    He sat beside Ku Jiang and poured him a cup of tea.


    "You''re making quite a name for yourself, aren''t you?" Ku Jiang smiled, taking a sip.


    "More like I''m bing a threat," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling wryly. "I expect many have taken notice of me."


    Ku Jiang nodded. "It''s good that you understand. Being able to excavate these draconic veins isn''t too rare a skill; others can do so even without the Immortal''s Destruction with the help of a few formations. However, the locations of draconic veins are hard to determine, and even areas flourishing with spiritual aether might not possess such veins. However, you easily and urately excavated two draconic veins in range of the sect, then three more in session across the Eastern Sea. Spies have been trying to investigate you, and you''ve even aroused the attention of a number of elders within the sect."


    "I understand, Master. I''ve told everyone it was a coincidence, and I don''t intend to excavate more veins again in the short term. This time, a Wingform-realm spirit attacked me. The next time, Wingform-realm cultivators will surely be lying in wait. I don''t intend to make myself a target." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Very good." Ku Jiang nodded.


    "Master, I heard my senior brother, Elder Zhao, state that the draconic pce of the Eastern Sea has been opened up, and that elders from the sect are heading there. Is that right?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "Indeed. Countless opportunities await those who seek the draconic pce, and many have naturally been tempted."


    "Master, I believe that a tremendous danger lies in wait there. I encountered the truesoul of an elder of the draconic race during my travels, and he told me about the downfall of the draconic pce. That year..." Xiao Nanfeng recounted the betrayal that led to the draconic pce being sealed away.


    "A cursed king in the form of a red rope?" Ku Jiang raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, Master. The draconic pce will be tremendously dangerous. Please let the elders be aware of this," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Ku Jiang was silent for some time. "With sufficient opportunity, they wouldn''t care about the danger."


    "Please at least inform them of the threat, Master?"


    Ku Jiang nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng chatted with his master a little more, then headed for the Vault of Scriptures.


    For the next month, Xiao Nanfeng traveled only between Taiqing Ind and the Isle of Xiao.


    During that time, Xiao Nanfeng locked down the Isle of Xiao, preventing ess from any Taiqing disciple.


    The ck dot on his avatar''s palm grew muchrger during that period of time, and countless more ck dots appeared all over its body.


    "Is this... livor mortis?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    After a month''s worth of observation, Xiao Nanfeng finally realized that his clone was rapidly decaying.


    "Has this red moon been causing the decay all along?"


    His master had never mentioned having his physical body decay; what could be happening? Xiao Nanfeng meditated for three days, focusing on his mindscape and carefully probing at the red moon. Finally, he discovered something unusual.


    "I was mistaken. It''s not corroding the avatar, but rather squeezing it dry of its vitality!"


    Xiao Nanfeng tried to stop the red moon from doing so, but nothing he tried was effective. He could only watch on as his avatar continued to decay.


    "What a sinister red moon..."

 Chapter 195: The City of Shuntian

    <h4>Chapter 195: The City of Shuntian</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was unable to stop the decay of his avatar. This sinister red moon had to be hiding some secret that he had yet to discover.


    As his main body continued studying scripture, his avatar slowly walked out of the cottage and toward the za where the Xiao Academy was located. The students had just undergone a particrly demanding exam that tested the knowledge they had learned over the past year.


    The eight hundred or so children stood quietly as their tutors and Zheng Qian pored over the results of their examination.


    When they saw Xiao Nanfeng heading their way, Zheng Qian handed him a list.


    "Benefactor, the results of the examination are out. Eight hundred students passed," Zheng Qian said, smiling.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng scanned the list.


    "These eight hundred students grew up in rtively wealthy households and had been tutored in their childhood. It was onlyter that they encountered cmity and became refugees. They''ve suffered a great deal and have worked particrly hard in their studies this past year. Their results prove that," Zheng Qian stated, pointing at the students.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, satisfied. "Those who have suffered know how precious an ordinary life can be."


    "The youngest among them is thirteen, and the oldest is sixteen. They''re all still kids." Zheng Qian smiled.


    "Even so. I was no older when I escaped from Marquis Xiao''s estate. I trust in their abilities."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s praise clearly excited them all.


    "Students, I''m very d that you''ve all passed this examination. I have some affairs that I''d like for you to handle. Is anyone willing to take on this responsibility?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "Of course, Principal!" the students chorused.


    "Very well. I''ll leave it to you, then."


    "Principal, might I ask about this task?" One of the tutors stepped forward.


    "Benefactor, these are tutors for the children that I picked out from among my colleagues. They''re all excellent administrators and schrs. I haven''t informed them about any specifics; they''ve grown fond of the children over the course of their studies together, and they''re worried that the students'' lives might be in danger," Zheng Qian exined.


    "A curiosity on my part," the tutor replied immediately. "You''ve saved us all, Benefactor, and we are yours tomand."


    "I''d like for all of you to be officials," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Officials?" everyone gasped.


    "That''s right. Mr. Zheng and I will be leading all of you to a certain ce to serve as officials there. I ask that you all cooperate with Mr. Zheng, learn about the people''s livelihood and logistics in the area, and train these eight hundred students to be qualified officials," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "Of course, President!" The tutors were surprised by the request, but they agreed without any hesitation.


    "Benefactor, the ship is ready. We may set off at any time," Zheng Qian reported.


    "In that case, let''s leave at once."


    "Of course!" Zheng Qian nodded.


    Zheng Qian informed everyone about the specifics of the n as they headed toward the harbor.


    The Isle of Xiao had been locked down from the outside world and was shrouded by a formation of fog. Everyone got onto the ship and hid in the cabins as it sailed out from the Isle of Xiao, along with Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    Simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body walked out of his cottage, got onto a small boat, and had the crew sail toward Taiqing Ind.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he disembarked on Taiqing Ind. He could sense more than one malicious gaze directed toward him, but they had vanished by the time he looked around.


    "Many are waiting for me to leave Taiqing Ind to deal with me, aren''t they? Have I been too ostentatious, or are these all Father''s enemies, attempting to kill me before I grow into my prime?" Xiao Nanfeng considered the various possibilities.


    He ignored the gazes directed his way as he walked toward the Vault of Scriptures to pick out some new scriptures. The figures continued to focus on Xiao Nanfeng, none realizing that he was simply providing cover for his avatar and the students.


    The ship on which Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was located sailed to a remote location of the sea, with nothing in sight. Suddenly, two humongous figures dropped down from the air: Croak and Warble.


    "Everyone, onto the vine mesh!" Zheng Qianmanded.


    A huge vine mesh unfurled, and the eight hundred students mbered onto it.


    "Time to go, Croak, Warble!" Xiao Nanfeng rode atop Croak''s head.


    Croak and Warble grabbed the four ends of the mesh and pulled it taut. With a heave, they dragged the eight hundred people into the air, above cloud cover, and toward a distantnd.


    Croak and Warble flew extremely quickly, arriving deep within mountainous territory in just a day. They stopped by a valley.


    "We''re at Mt. Crow now. I''m so tired! I''ll need two meals of roast meat to get my energy back after this." Croak squatted on the ground.


    "The roast meat should already be prepared for you. You know where to go¡ªhead there yourselves. It''s roast octopus," Xiao Nanfeng informed them with a smile.


    "What? Roast octopus again? I might vomit if I ate any more of that..." Croak grumbled.


    "You''reining about roast meat? I find their tentacles quite tasty, myself," Warble criticized.


    Croak sighed as Warble dragged him off into the distance, where they slowly vanished over the horizon.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng summoned a set of small copper doors in his palm, the undying heavenly doors that Blue Lantern had forged for him before his departure. As he activated the doors, they expanded in size andnded on the ground in a burst of white fog.


    "Follow me!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Everyone nced curiously at the doors as they followed Xiao Nanfeng through them.


    They passed throughyers of fog before arriving by a small hill from which they could see thend around them.


    "Eh? Why is there a city over there?"


    "Wasn''t this unpopted wilderness? Everything''s changed!"


    "All the mountain peaks are different, too. And there are so many people over there!"


    The eight hundred students pointed at the distance in shock.


    A huge city had appeared there, but it had clearly seen better times. The better part of the infrastructure had copsed, as though a huge war had just taken ce. There were even countless corpses lying in pools of blood outside the city grounds.


    "Principal, where are we?" one student asked curiously.


    "This is the undying realm, a hidden realmposed of two great empires, the Yan and the Qi, and seventy-two cities in all. The city before you is the city of Shuntian," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Just then, a man drenched in blood rushed out of Shuntian. Only when they drew near did the students recognize Ye Dafu and hisckeys, who seemed to have just taken part in a fierce battle. They hadn''t had the time to clean themselves up.


    "Young Master, you''re finally here! We''ve already taken down Shuntian, but the interior of the city''s a mess," Ye Dafu hollered.


    "Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Follow me!"


    Everyone headed into the city behind Ye Dafu.


    Shuntian had just been seized, and there were parts of the city that were still on fire. Thick, concentrated smoke spiraled into the air. No citizens took to the streets; in their ce were dead soldiers scattered across the ground, as well as some patrolling fighters. As the students headed toward them, they realized that the patrolling fighters were all from Taiqing Ind, who had apparently been here for quite some time.


    Ye Dafu led Xiao Nanfeng straight to the governor''s manor, where Ye Sanshui and others were lying in wait.


    "Thank goodness you all arrived on time, Young Master. I''ve sent for the heads of the leading industries in the city, but they''re too scared to talk. I don''t know how to pacify them," Ye Sanshui admitted.


    "The city needs to keep running, and we have to restore all affected production lines. The livelihood of the citizens is at stake, and Mr. Zheng is an expert in this area. Mr. Zheng, I''ve handed you the details about this city''s operations a month ago, and you should be familiar with them by now. I''ll have to trouble you to lead everyone through the effective governance of these cities, starting with this one. I''ll also remain here in case you need consultation for major events," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "Yes, Benefactor!" Zheng Qian responded.


    "Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, lead your troops to patrol the vicinity and support Mr. Zheng. We can''t have any further disturbance."


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng then walked toward a hall not too far away. The ck-robed You Jiu stood there waiting for him.


    "Let''s talk inside, Sir Xiao," You Jiu said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and walked into the hall with You Jiu.


    "When I brought you back to the undying realm, the Hall of Specters reported that the empires of Yan and Qi were in upheaval. How''s the situation now?"


    "There''s fighting going on everywhere within the humans'' domain," You Jiu replied.


    "Oh?"


    "Half a year ago, when we left the hidden realm, Crown Prince Yan and a prince of Qi became the new kings. They were bloodthirsty and violent, as were the heads of the various ns. Sometimes, seized by their instincts, they would eat human organs and drink their blood in public, as if they were demons."


    "They''ve already died." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "They''re cursed ves now, and no different from demons."


    "As for the heads of the various ns, they''ve been acting strangely and violently, and have been mutting members of their family. The members of their ns have tried to rebel, to eliminate them and take their ce, but of course the heads wouldn''t sumb without a fight. The resulting internal strife has left the ns in disarray. Simrly, the two royal families have suffered internal dissent among their ranks, and a number of ambitious cultivators are fomenting unrest. In just half a year, the humans'' domain is near copse."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "But," You Jiu continued, "Sir Xiao, this isn''t necessarily a bad thing for us. You could take advantage of the tumult to save the humans'' domain and establish yourself."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He had been nning on the like, but hadn''t expected the day toe so quickly.

 Chapter 196: Struggle for Conquest

    <h4>Chapter 196: Struggle for Conquest</h4>


    A monthter, within the undying realm, in the governor''s hall of the city of Shuntian, Xiao Nanfeng asked, "How are the eight hundred students faring, Mr. Zheng?"


    "They''re still only a group of children at heart, and they frequently make mistakes. However, they''re very persistent, and they quickly learn from their mistakes. Under my colleagues'' guidance, they''ve been developing quickly, and are almost capable of governing the entire city on their own now." Zheng Qian smiled at the aplishment.


    "Very good. Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui are prepared to take down more cities. Will the logistics be able to keep up?"


    "There are plenty of former officials from Shuntian present. If we take advantage of them, we should be able to keep things running. It''s just that these officials are a mixed bag. Some are talented but self-serving, and I''m worried that..." Zheng Qian trailed off.


    "I understand. Of the lists you handed me, you''ve already struck off the most corrupt officials. The remaining all have minor problems of their own, be they greed or lust, and don''t meet your exacting ethical standards. Considering our need for manpower at the moment, however, as long as they don''t overstep their bounds, I''m willing to overlook things. I''ve given my official approval in writing," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zheng Qian frowned, but didn''t object. He was well aware of thebor shortage. The eight hundred students wouldn''t be enough considering how many cities that Xiao Nanfeng intended to take over.


    He thought for a moment. "Benefactor, if we want to quell the unrest quickly, we need to establish our status."


    "I''ve already sent my subordinates to the kings of Yan and Qi. They''ll make an official promation on my behalf," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I know that you canmand them because they''re cursed ves, Benefactor, but considering the strife in both empires, they can hardly protect their own territory. If they announce that they''ll be ceding their territory to you, it might even cause the opposite effect. The various prowling forces will take that as an excuse to denounce and attack us," Zheng Qian replied in worry.


    "I don''t intend to have them submit, only to acknowledge that I''m the sessor of Emperor Wei."


    "Oh?"


    "Half a year ago, news of this affair spread throughout the humans'' domain, but it was all hearsay. I''m taking advantage of the two kings'' promations to make this information known as fact."


    "In that case, Benefactor, you intend to be... a king?" Zheng Qian cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zheng Qian nced at him solemnly. "No matter the era, rulers are acknowledged by their status. Only with the backing ofw and order, of righteousness, can theymand their soldiers to charge ever onward, to nurture obedience rather than rebellion from officials of the empire, to pacify the public. The humans'' domain might be in disarray at the moment, but the kings of Yan and Qie from established bloodlines. They have the right of lineage and legacy. If you wish to take control of the humans'' domain, Benefactor, you must acquire a status above theirs. They are kings; therefore, you too must be a king. Only then can you unseat them, absorb the talents under their control, andy im to the world."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "What do you think? We''ll issue a promation that the humans'' domain is the territory of the divine empire of Great Wei; that the royal families of Yan and Qi, as well as the families of the various ns, are descendants of warriors of Great Wei who have been responsible for securing thend on Emperor Wei''s behalf. Emperor Wei has gifted the humans'' domain to me, his sessor, and named me King Xiao."


    Zheng Qian bowed down formally. "Official Zheng Qian greets his king!"


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "There''s only the two of us here, Mr. Zheng. No need for such formality."


    Zheng Qian shook his head. "Your Majesty, rules of decorum must be upheld to ensure the hierarchy is understood. From today onwards, all those under my employ shall address you as King Xiao."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Zheng Qian an appraising look. "As you will, Mr. Zheng."


    "King Xiao, I advise that you issue this promation at greatest haste. Spread it far and wide, that all manner of talent might rally under your banner in these chaotic times."


    "We''ll do so once the kings of Yan and Qi have issued their promations." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Good. Your Majesty, I should warn you that, once your promation is issued, you will be a target." Zheng Qian seemed to be growing more excited as he spoke.


    "The humans'' domain is far smaller than the holdings of Xiao. What battles take ce here will only serve as a warm-up for the territory we must establish control over in the future. Get used to it, Mr. Zheng," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "Yes!"


    In the court of the kingdom of Yan, officials were in an uproar.


    "Your Majesty, considering the chaos rampant throughout the kingdom, how could you proim Xiao Nanfeng the sessor of Emperor Wei? Your Majesty, you have to rescind the promation immediately!"


    "Your Majesty, that Xiao Nanfeng''s an ambitious thug. He''s already imed the city of Shuntian. We can''t acknowledge him at this critical period!"


    "Your Majesty, we need to rally and regain control over Shuntian!"


    King Yan red coldly at his officials. "We are aware of these concerns. We have issued this promation deliberately."


    "What?" the officials cried out.


    "The traitors of Yan are trying to foment rebellion, and we won''t be able to quell it all. Some among the empire are even colluding with the enemy to take us down. Do you think us foolish? We have established an alliance with Xiao Nanfeng, inviting him to bring his troops into Great Yan to take down those who might rebel. They shall perish as honorless curs," King Yanmanded.


    The officials of court stared at their king, taken aback.


    "Your Majesty, doing so will only expand Xiao Nanfeng''s influence in the empire!" one official cried out.


    "Silence! We will pay any price to quell the rebellions in the empire. Do you plead for those rebels? Are you in cahoots with them?" King Yan demanded.


    The official nched and immediately pleaded for mercy. The other officials, seeing this, were hesitant to speak themselves.


    "Enough. If there''s nothing else, go figure out how to take down the rebellious troops. Dismissed!" King Yan shouted.


    The officials of court looked at each other before retreating despondently.


    The same scenario took ce not just in the court of Yan, but also in that of Qi.


    The fact that Xiao Nanfeng was the sessor to Emperor Wei had been set in stone. Everyone soon learned of it.


    At the same time, King Xiao raised his banner, and Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui simultaneously took down two cities in turmoil. The ruling ns in the city even assisted the two cultivators in the takeover, causing King Xiao''s name to spread far and wide.


    The major ns, still suffering from internal turmoil, did not have the energy to target Xiao Nanfeng. The smarter among the minor ns, sensing a change in fortunes ahead, quickly began to gather information about this mysterious King Xiao.


    In Yan, officials began to warn of Xiao Nanfeng''s increasing threat in daily sessions of court, calling for King Yan to attack Xiao Nanfeng''s troops. King Yan ignored these warnings. After dismissing court, he headed straight for a hall at the back of the pce,


    where a number of rebellious officials were in custody.


    "Brother, I was wrong. I heard that you had turned into a demon¡ªI was hoodwinked! I won''t rebel further. Please, let me go," one trussed-up prince shouted.


    King Yan''s eyes suddenly glowed with red light. His expression turned primal. Two fangs emerged from his mouth as he pounced forward and bit down.


    "No, Brother, don''t eat me! You really have be a demon! No¡ª!"


    "Help!"


    "Demon, demon!"


    The other detainees screamed in fear, but the hall was soundproofed. No one outside knew that King Yan had transformed into an evil monster who was eating humans'' raw organs and drinking their blood, as though he were a beast.


    Suddenly, a cloud of red fog emerged from King Yan''s head. The vague outline of a red rope could be seen.


    "I''ve regenerated, haha, I''ve regenerated! Marquis Wu, that damn bastard, cut up my cursed spiritual avatar into seven portions and forced me to expend my spiritual power to control these cursed ves! But that ultimately became the key to my revival: all these cursed ves have my spiritual power in them, and they''ve sped up my recovery. Now that I''m back, everyone will die!" the red rope cackled.


    The cloud of red fog retreated back into King Yan''s body. He shuddered as his eyes shone with ferocity, as though possessed by the red rope.


    King Yan stood up and closed his eyes, as though thinking.


    After a prolonged period of time, he opened his eyes once again.


    "So all my cursed ves are in positions of power in this domain? Good, very good! All cursed ves, listen up! Seize all those with spiritual power, send them into an illusory realm, and devour their spiritual avatars to strengthen your own. I''ll reap what all of you have gathered in one fell swoop," King Yanmanded.


    Simultaneously, King Qi and the heads of the major ns, distant though they might be, felt their bodies shake. They bowed respectfully as though possessed. "Yes, Master."


    King Yan smiled in satisfaction. He turned toward the remaining detainees in the hall, his eyes glinting maliciously.


    "Demon! Stay away!" they cried out.


    King Yan cackled. "Unfortunately for you, my cursed spiritual avatar isn''t here, and my scant reserves make it difficult to drag you into an illusory realm. Even so, I''m still iming all your souls."


    King Yan pressed a palm down on one unfortunate victim''s forehead. Red light emerged from his palm and shrouded the man, who shook and fell unconscious. He had entered an illusory realm.


    Within the illusory realm, the prisoner discovered that he was free. He quickly ran into the distance, but a red rope suddenly appeared from the thick fog that covered the area. It trapped him and suffocated him to death. When the prisoner was dead, a mouth appeared from the rope and sucked up the prisoner''s soul.


    King Yan''s eyes opened wide as he woke up. The detainee he held slumped to the ground, no longer breathing.


    "Don''te over!" the remaining detainees screamed.


    King Yan cackled. "It''ll be over in no time. I need some nourishment, you see."


    "No!" Screams echoed within the hall deep inside the pce.


    The same situation was unfolding within the pce in which the king of Qi resided, as well as the estates of the heads of all the major ns.

 Chapter 197: Changing Avatars

    <h4>Chapter 197: Changing Avatars</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stepped outside the Vault of Scriptures on Taiqing Ind, with another ten jade tablets in hand. He had already finished the scriptures that Zhao Yuanjiao had loaned him, and his concentrated and dedicated effort over this period of time had resulted in an explosive growth in his repertoire.


    "Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao!"


    As he walked out of the Vault of Scriptures, all the disciples he encountered greeted him. He replied with a smile and a nod.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce has opened. Did you hear about it?" one disciple stepped forward and asked.


    "You know about it too?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised.


    This was the sixth conversation of this sort he had had today.


    "That''s right. We''re not the only ones who know, either. Word has spread throughout the sects of the Eastern Sea, and strong cultivators have been heading in in search of treasure," the disciple said expectantly.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, are you going to spearhead an expedition? We''re all happy to join you."


    "That''s right! If you lead an expedition, Senior Brother Xiao, we''ll all join you. We can''t just watch the other sects'' disciples take everything of value, can we?"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, are you going to head there?"


    Everyone watched Xiao Nanfeng expectantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Has everyone learned of this?"


    "Yes!" The disciples all nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Something seemed amiss. Two months ago, when Zhao Yuanjiao told him the news, he had stated that only a few elders in the sect were aware of this secret information. Now, however, it seemed that everyone was aware of it.


    Had the news spread far and wide in just two months? Something seemed amiss. Even those who learned of the news should have kept it to themselves so they could get a head start. How could everyone have learned about it?


    Xiao Nanfeng felt certain that there had to be some conspiracy at y.


    Looking toward the expectant Taiqing disciples, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "I don''t intend to head to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce at the moment."


    "Ah?" The Taiqing disciples'' faces fell in disappointment.


    "I know that many of you are tempted, but the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce boasts both great opportunity and great danger. I advise you not to go, at least not for the time being. Of course, the decision is ultimately up to you."


    The Taiqing disciples turned serious.


    "As you say, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "I''ll listen to you, Senior Brother Xiao."


    Many of the disciples nodded, but others frowned unwillingly, or even in disdain.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t make any further remarks. He had already warned them against heading to the draconic pce; if they insisted, he wouldn''t stop them.


    He continued his rigid schedule studying the near-endless scriptures of the Vault of Scriptures. As a result of his umted knowledge, he had reached mid-stage Lunar Deluge, both with his main body and with his avatar as well.


    In the governor''s manor back in the city of Shuntian in the undying realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was looking into a mirror.


    He had been in the undying realm for two months, and livor mortis had set in all over his rapidly decaying body. It looked as though it wouldn''t survive much longer.


    "The stronger my spiritual power, the faster the decay? I''ve only used this body for three months or so. How could it already be wearing out?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly.


    Because of the red moon, his avatar''s physical strength was restricted to that of his main body, and its maximum limit would be the eighth stage of Ascension. Considering the decay, however, his physical body could hardly produce that level of strength any longer. He felt that, if the situation were to persist, his avatar could copse at any time.


    "It''s a pity. I don''t think I can use this avatar any longer..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at his storage ring, the one that Marquis Wu had once possessed. He had given it to his avatar to wear. His avatar pulled out another skin, the other one that the Pestilence Sage''s avatar had left behind when it perished.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I had better save this one in case of emergencies."


    He put the skin aside, then retrieved a length of red rope.


    "I wonder if I can forge the cursed spiritual avatar of a cursed effigy into a body for my avatars...?" Xiao Nanfeng fell deep in thought.


    He sat cross-legged as he manipted the red moon in his mindscape. The red moon slowly flew out with all its spiritual power in tow. Simultaneously, his avatar turned pitch-ck and rapidly decayed, then burst into a cloud of ck fog that dissipated in the hall.


    That part of Xiao Nanfeng''s consciousness attached to the red moon was shocked, but he didn''t have the time to be worried about the physical body of his avatar, which had since decayed. He would have to find another body as soon as possible.


    The red moon, surrounded by spiritual power, headed toward the red rope. Xiao Nanfeng had a backup n in mind: if the transfer wasn''t sessful, he would head straight into the other skin that he had obtained from the Pestilence Sage.


    With a buzz, the transfer was sessful. The red moon passed into the interior of the red rope, which suddenly seemed toe to life. It twisted and morphed. As the red moon released crimson light, the red rope grew limbs and a head, transforming into a human body.


    In no time at all, the red rope had taken the form of Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly stood up and looked at himself in a mirror. He was certain that the red rope hadn''t taken on his form; rather, the red moon had forged the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar into him.


    "What in the world...?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    He retrieved the storage ring from the decayed body, found a new set of clothes inside, and put them on. Xiao Nanfeng looked hale and hearty, with no sign of livor mortis at all.


    "Why does it feel like the red moon is even more sinister than a cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    He tidied up his surroundings as he familiarized himself with his new body. He felt the same way as when he had first manifested an avatar three months ago: the body felt just like his own, and it was natural to manipte. Even so, he was still restricted to a physical cultivation at the eighth stage of Ascension.


    "There doesn''t seem to be much of a change." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Suddenly, almost instinctively, he activated his qi and saw it slowly condense into the form of a red rope. The qi seemed almost ethereal in form and took on the shape of a red rope. He whipped it forward; it passed through the wall and wrapped around a pir outside the hall.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    He retracted the rope, sending it flying back. The wall in front of him, however, was entirely undamaged. The red rope seemed to have manifested in spiritual form, able to pass through the wall without causing any damage to it.


    "Is this the special property of a cursed effigy, or some sort of unique mutation caused by thebination of the red moon and a cursed effigy? Can I create spiritual and physical attacks at will, then?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    He suddenly raised his eyebrows and nced underground. "Is this a coincidence, or is someone scheming against me? I just recently entered secluded cultivation, but there are already assassins at my door..."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s umonly strong spiritual power allowed him to sense the disturbances underground.


    Two ck-d cultivators were digging a hole underground.


    Xiao Nanfeng manifested an ethereal red rope and tossed it underground. It passed throughyers of earth and wrapped around one cultivator in a sinister fashion.


    "Argh!" the cultivator cried out.


    He was pulled up toward the earth above him. As his body smashed into the earth, it was as though he had been struck by a giant boulder. His flesh pulped and his bones broke.


    He was dragged all the way up out of the floor, whereupon he spat out a mouthful of blood andy paralyzed on the ground, heavily injured.


    The earth caved in, burying the other man in the tunnel alive.


    "No!" the cultivator who had been buried alive furiously dug at the earth, attempting to escape from the mouth of the tunnel.


    "It''s toote!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Another ethereal rope passed through the ground, grabbed the cultivator, and sent him hurtling up into the hall. By the time he emerged, he too spat out a mouthful of blood andy paralyzed.


    "Two Immanence-realm cultivators..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "King Xiao? Has there been an assassination attempt?" Worried voices came from outside the hall.


    "Come in!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A few spectral guards rushed into the hall to see tworge holes through the floor, along with two bloodied bodies. They were shocked, but it was more or less clear what had happened.


    "Please pardon us, King Xiao!" the guards cried out.


    They were responsible for keeping guard over the governor''s manor, but had failed in their duties and allowed assassins to get close to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, You Jiu rushed over, having heard themotion. He was shocked to see what had happened.


    "Sir Xiao, something''s wrong. We have treasures that can detect seismic activity and underground motion around the governor''s manor, and we would have known if they were digging a tunnel underground. However, we didn''t sense anything at all."


    "You Jiu, investigate what happened. Interrogate these two cultivators and figure it out."


    "I understand, Sir Xiao!"


    When You Jiu and the others left with the assassins, Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the ethereal red rope in his palms.


    "This red rope can pass through physical matter, but not living matter with souls. What an interesting technique," Xiao Nanfengmented, very pleased with his discovery.


    Five dayster, You Jiu reported back to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Have you figured out what was going on, then?"


    "Those two ''assassins'' used to be grave robbers who came here to steal our wealth. They had a secret technique for digging holes underground, which was able to avoid our detection," You Jiu reported wryly.


    "Just thieves?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.


    "That''s right. I didn''t think the matter would be so simple, so I interrogated them a few more times, but this was the conclusion. Here''s the transcript of their testimony," You Jiu said, handing over a sheaf of notes.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Not assassins, butmon thieves?


    "Sir Xiao, the governor''s manor isn''t protected by a formation, and simr matters might keep happening. Although we''ve secured the treasures of King Yan, King Qi, and the various family heads, none of them are of particrly high quality. However, I remember that King Yan''s capital-defending formation is rather well-made. Shall I use the red rope tomand him to give it to us?" You Jiu asked.


    "Very well. Be careful along the way." Xiao Nanfeng handed You Jiu another length of red rope.


    "Don''t worry, Sir Xiao. I''m the only Spiritsong-realm cultivator left in the undying realm. Who would be able to threaten me?"


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng nod.

 Chapter 198: You Jiu in Danger

    <h4>Chapter 198: You Jiu in Danger</h4>


    After Xiao Nanfeng saw You Jiu off, he headed toward the main hall of the governor''s manor, where Zheng Qian, Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the others were awaiting him.


    There were many officials in the pce: both the tutors and students from the Isle of Xiao, along with many officials originally from the area, which Xiao Nanfeng had promoted.


    "We greet King Xiao," the cultivators chorused, bowing as Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the seat of honor and smiled at the cultivators. "I''ve gathered everyone here today in order to discuss what we should do next.


    "Young¡ªKing Xiao, a month ago, we took down two more cities. Our army has expanded to ten thousand troops, and we''re ready to strike on a moment''s notice. The cities all around are mired in chaos, so it would be trivial to take them down. Myckeys can each lead a battalion and conquer them. Please give the order!" Ye Dafu requested expectantly.


    "Silence," Ye Sanshui hissed. "Those troops that you''ve recruited are a mess. Do you think they cany siege to cities?"


    "Third Uncle, it''s only been a month! Don''t you think I''m already doing very well by being able to train my troops to such an extent? You should know that the cities around us are in a mess, and they''re even more disorganized than we are!" Ye Dafu replied sullenly.


    Xiao Nanfeng was far more rxed with regards to Ye Dafu and hisckeys than Ye Sanshui. Ye Dafu and hisckeys were Ascension-realm cultivators that were cultivating Indomitable Body. They were like tanks on the battlefield, and they led their troops from the front. It would be trivial for them to take down a few disorganized cities.


    What he was worried about was logistics and the transfer of power after they took down those cities.


    "Everyone, do you think our logistics can keep up after just a month of training?" Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the schrs and officials.


    "We''ll do our best," the officials immediately replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Zheng Qian, who frowned. "King Xiao, you''ve just added arge group of officials to our ranks. With these officials, we could keep expanding, but there hasn''t been enough time to vet everyone''s background carefully. I''m worried that..."


    Everyone nched, understanding Zheng Qian''s meaning. They weren''t necessarily reliable; there could well be spies among their number.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "There''s no need to worry, Mr. Zheng. I''ve just received news that King Yan and King Qi have been summoning talented officials and generals to court, then secretly killing them. It''s causing an uproar across both empires, and everyone''s hard-pressed just to fend for themselves. They don''t have the wherewithal to install spies in our ranks. The death of an empire is almost always caused by traitors within¡ªand to think that these traitors were the kings themselves! Even if there were spies among our number who were loyal to the two kingdoms, I''m sure that they would quicklye to see how we stand inparison to the two kingdoms."


    Some of the officials pursed their lips and fell deep in thought.


    Xiao Nanfeng faced the officials and began, "The humans'' domain is in turmoil, and demons have taken over the ranks of royalty. If not now, then when? All of you are officials who have dedicated your life to themon people. You know well that those people in the cities we govern enjoy far more stable and robust lives than their counterparts in the two empires. We act in ordance with the will of the heavens and for the benefit of themon people. Do you all agree?"


    The officials didn''t dare refute Xiao Nanfeng''s words. They replied, "Yes, King Xiao! We will lend you our full support!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The spectral guards sent him reports on the officials daily, and he was well aware of how they stood. He needed their support now, however, and chose not to expose several officials whose loyalties were in question. Everything was in his control, and he had to take over the humans'' domain as quickly as possible. If the officials didn''t act on their desires, he would ignore them; those that did would face the spectral guards. Once the humans'' domain had been unified, he would be able to take the time to pass out reward and punishment.


    "I understand, Your Majesty." Zheng Qian nodded.


    "In that case, let''s'' follow the n we''ve established, continue taking down these cities, and expanding our territory. Ye Sanshui will bemander-in-chief, and Ye Dafu his second-inmand. Send out the troops immediately. Mr. Zheng, you''ll be in charge of assigning officials to the new cities that w e take down."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The cultivators got to work. Xiao Nanfeng personally took responsibility for a fewrge undertakings. He appeared in front of the soldiers and fighters, raising their morale. After a city was taken down, he quickly arrived at the scene to reward the top-performing soldiers and pacify themon people.


    Xiao Nanfeng employed arge number of officials from the area. For one, those eight hundred students of his wouldn''t be enough for this venture, and they would serve aspetition and encouragement for the students.


    In just half a month, Xiao Nanfeng''s holdings grew by five cities to a total of eight. The eight cities had all started restoring their functionality, and countless minor ns and talents had left the two empires and migrated to Xiao Nanfeng''s territory. Xiao Nanfeng was deeply in need of the talented, and he admitted them all.


    What he needed now was speed, to gain control over arger patch of territory as quickly as possible. The eight hundred students, having learned on the job for three months, had grown far more mature. They might not yet be skilled enough to handle administrative affairs on their own, but Xiao Nanfeng trusted in their abilities. He arranged high-ranking positions for them all and even assigned some spectral guards to protect them.


    Every day, Xiao Nanfeng received reports on the officials'' and students'' actions. The eight hundred students were uniformly bullied, many of whom were stymied by local officials, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to step in. If they weren''t able to deal with even these provincial tricks on their own, how would they be able to handle more territories in the future? They were young and yet naive; it would be best to expose them to the intricacies and intrigue of official affairs as soon as possible. After all, any officials harboring malicious intent could be killed at any time. Anything was worth it if it meant that these eight hundred students could grow rapidly.


    Xiao Nanfeng even had the spectral guards record incidents of cunning students oveing the scheming officials and distributing them among the students, who were encouraged and inspired to learn from their betters and administer the same strategies themselves.


    During that period of time, the only thing that worried Xiao Nanfeng was that You Jiu hadn''t reported back from the pce of King Yan. Although he had the spectral guards check on the matter daily, there was no sign of You Jiu at all.


    "How goes the investigation on King Yan''s pce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked a spectral guard.


    "Half a month ago, a pir of red light shot into the air from the depths of King Yan''s pce. The next day, the pce''s formation activated, sealing off regions of the pce from the likes of us. We haven''t been able to gain ess," one spectral guard stated.


    "Continue the investigation. Interrogate those officials who can enter and exit the pce at will," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes!"


    Suddenly, another spectral guard rushed into the hall. "King Xiao, we''ve found our head! He was found unconscious outside the city, and we''ve just brought him in."


    "What? Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng immediately stood up.


    The spectral guards led him toward a distant hall, where a group of spectral guards were tending to You Jiu''s injuries.


    "King Xiao!" Everyone bowed as he arrived.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately checked up on You Jiu. Not only was You Jiu unconscious, his entire body was bruised ck and purple, and his bones were cracked. He looked to be in particrly bad condition.


    "You Jiu''s spiritual power has been all but drained, as has the qi in his dantian. What in the world happened?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He carefully infused a little spiritual power into You Jiu, allowing him to slowly open his eyes.


    "You''re awake, Head?" the spectral guards cried out.


    "Sir Xiao, I lost the length of red rope you handed me. Please punish me," You Jiu replied weakly.


    "That''s not important right now! Recuperate," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Sir Xiao, will you help me check if there''s any trace of the red rope cursed effigy left on my body?" You Jiu asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was amiss.


    "All of you, retreat," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, King Xiao!" Everyone retreated out of the pce.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached for a Talisman of Phantasmagoria, then brought You Jiu into an illusory realm.


    Within the illusory realm, You Jiu''s spiritual avatar was battered and wispy. His avatar looked almost obliterated; his limbs were missing, and what remained of him was a ghastly sight.


    "There''s no trace of anything left behind from the red rope," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    He deactivated the Talisman of Phantasmagoria and returned them to reality.


    "Thank goodness. I haven''t be a cursed ve," You Jiu replied thankfully.


    "Just what happened to you when you headed to the capital of Yan? How did you end up in such straits?"


    "I had initially gone to King Yan to make him cede his formation to me, but a burst of red light suddenly emitted from his body and shot toward the red rope in my hand. The red rope seemed toe to life and tangle around me. Meanwhile, King Yan fell to the ground dead," You Jiu reported.


    "Oh?"


    "Sensing something amiss, I attempted to tear the red rope, but I was unable to do so. It coiled around my neck and shone with red light. Knowing that disaster was about to strike, I hurriedly flew away from the pce. By the time I reached a patch of forest, I was unable to defend against the red light any longer and was sent into an illusory realm," You Jiu recalled.


    "Has that red rope cursed effigy already regenerated? It must be weak if it took that long to drag you into an illusory realm." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Yes, Sir Xiao! Within the illusory realm, the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar was stronger than mine, but only by a limited amount. Our fightsted for over ten days before my spiritual avatar dissipated. Just as it was about to devour my avatar, I self-destructed, wounding it with explosions from my arms and legs. It was very badly injured; perhaps worried that I would continue self-destructing, it gave up on targeting me and expelled us both from the illusory realm. It flew away unsteadily, whereas I attempted to make my way back as quickly as possible. However, by the time I reached the outskirts of the city, I was exhausted and lost consciousness. I expect others carried me back," You Jiu continued.


    "As long as you were able to return. The rest isn''t important," Xiao Nanfeng informed him.


    "Sir Xiao, I believe that that red rope will surely attempt to seek out other cursed ves to regain more of its spiritual power. It''ll grow quickly in no time, and the bnce of power in the humans'' domain will shift once more."


    "It''s already been shifting. ording to your description, King Yan died half a month ago, but news of this hasn''t spread out of the empire of Great Yan. I expect that the royalty of Yan have chosen to keep the matter a secret; they intend to quell the rebellions all over the empire."


    "Ah?"


    "It''s not a matter. We''re stronger than they are, and their resistance will be futile. The enemy we have to take care of at any cost is that red rope. Rest well and let me handle it," Xiao Nanfeng informed him.


    "Yes, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu lowered his head, abashed.

 Chapter 199: Fishing for the Red Rope

    <h4>Chapter 199: Fishing for the Red Rope</h4>


    In the governor''s manor of the city of Shuntian, Xiao Nanfeng was listening to reports from a group of spectral guards. He turned serious. "They''ve all gone missing?"


    "Yes. King Qi and the various family heads whom we were spying on all vanished overnight, as though it were pre-arranged," the spectral guards reported.


    You Jiu sat slumped by a nearby chair, his face pale. "Sir Xiao, this red rope''s sly and cunning. It must have been worried that we would assassinate those cursed ves."


    Xiao Nanfengmended thoughtfully, "The fact that it was so anxious that it would even give up on controlling this batch of cursed ves and the authority they represent must mean that it''s exceptionally weak, and that it needs the cursed spiritual power that these ves possess."


    "If it secretly transforms more people into cursed ves, it''ll be difficult to fend against it," You Jiu said worriedly.


    "Considering how weak it must be, it wouldn''t do so recklessly. Inform all spectral guards to lie low for the time being. Don''t attract its attention," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Yessir!" the spectral guards replied.


    "If it goes into hiding, it could reappear at any moment as a threat. Ordinary people won''t be able to defend themselves. If only I hadn''t sustained this injury, or¡ª!" You Jiu cursed.


    "Focus on regaining your strength. I''ll be able to force it to resurface no matter what." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with confidence.


    "Oh?" You Jiu nced at Xiao Nanfeng curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the spectral guards some furthermands, then headed to the front yard where Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the other fighters were holding a celebratory banquet.


    "I mmed open the city gates with a palm. The guards rushed at me before I could do anything, and I simply stood there and let them strike at me. They weren''t able to do anything! Did you all see? Nothing can prate through the absolute defense of Indomitable Body!" Ye Dafu bragged.


    Hisckeys echoed his sentiments while the other officers cheered. Ye Dafu and hisckeys were always in the vanguard, and the fighters trusted in their strength and leadership. They were able captains who led by example.


    "King Xiao!" Ye Sanshui cried out, seeing Xiao Nanfeng approach.


    "King Xiao!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted.


    The fighters all bowed.


    "Everyone, thank you for your hard work. Allow me to toast you in celebration," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "To King Xiao!" Everyone raised their cups high and downed the alcohol.


    "Ye Dafu, I heard that you and your group were invincible," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "King Xiao, I''m not bragging, you see, but..." Ye Dafu perked up and was about to continue bragging when Ye Sanshui immediately interrupted, "Dafu, don''t get conceited!"


    "No, no, it''s fine. I''d like to hear about the fight," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "King Xiao, you''re in for a treat! Why, we..." Ye Dafu animatedly described the battle they had just won.


    Hisckeys echoed him and added thoughts and descriptions of their own.


    In their households, they had all been unfavored children of their generation. The fact that they had led troops to victory was an incredible aplishment for them, and they wanted to share their sess with the entire world.


    Ye Sanshui sighed in exasperation. His nephew and his nephew''sckeys were truly incorrigible. When he saw Xiao Nanfeng listen attentively to their tall tales, however, he was shocked. At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng looked like a natural ruler.


    "King Xiao, I''m not bragging! If Mr. Zheng didn''t stop us because the logistics wouldn''t be able to keep up, we''d keep fighting non-stop!"


    "All of us can lead troops now, not just our boss! We''ve all reached Ascension-realm. It''d be trivial for us to take down city after city! We''ve been recruiting from the masses, and we control tens of thousands of troops among us all. We could easily swallow up all the cities while they''re suffering from internal turmoil," Ye Dafu''sckeys added.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at them. "And if I were to have all of you lead troops to take down the neighboring cities? Would you be willing to set off right away?"


    "Of course! We''re good at fighting, and we don''t even have to govern them when we''re done!" Ye Dafu and the others pledged.


    "Very good. I''ll deal with governance and logistics. The battlefield is yours. This will be a celebratory banquet, as well as one to bring in fortune. After you finish the banquet, set off with your troops immediately. Take down as many cities as you can as quickly as possible. Will you take on this responsibility?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ye Dafu and the others nodded fervently. "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "Then let me toast you again to wish you good fortune. The next time you return, rewards shall be distributed to everyone." Xiao Nanfeng lifted his cup up high andughed.


    "To King Xiao!" The fighters raised their cups and downed them in one gulp.


    The string of victories that they had experienced was enough to make morale soar. All the cities in the humans'' domain were suffering from internal schisms, and many enemy troops even surrendered without a fight.


    The army wasposed not just of the three thousand fighters of the Isle of Xiao, but also of many enemy soldiers who had voluntarily defected and joined the Xiao troops. They were intelligent and ambitious; the string of victories heralded the rise of King Xiao. This was an excellent opportunity to earn merit in anticipation ofvish rewards toe.


    The banquet ended quickly as Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and the troops headed off in earnest to prepare for the next invasion.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had a conversation with Zheng Qian about his n going forward.


    Zheng Qian gave him a wry smile. "King Xiao, it''s not difficult to take down a city. What''s difficult is the logistics and governance afterwards. If we''re at all incautious, the people might revolt."


    "There are talents from all over seeking to rally under my banner. Now that we''ve taken control of even more cities, more talents will emerge as well. Not all will be loyal, nor all talented, but we''ll get by. Don''t be too strict at the moment. Keep a record of everyone''s deeds. We''ll start by stabilizing the life of themon people, then eradicating those that have abused their status and position. By then, the new students from the Xiao Academy will be poised to take over," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well," Zheng Qian conceded, sighing.


    "To be frank, the true purpose for the invasion is to lure out that red rope cursed effigy. It''s our most dangerous opponent; the empires of Yan and Qi are nothing inparison."


    Zheng Qian nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."


    Ten dayster, in a secluded valley, King Qi and the heads of the various ns gathered. Not far beside them was a huge tree on which a length of red rope was hung. The cultivators walked up to the tree and calmly hung themselves, dying and leaving behind nothing but a pile of corpses.


    The red rope absorbed all the cursed ves'' cursed spiritual power and began glowing faintly with red light. Then, it transformed into the appearance of a middle-aged man in red.


    "I''ve reimed all the cursed spiritual power that remains, but Marquis Wu, that bastard, destroyed most of what I possessed. I''m so weak now that even dealing with a Spiritsong-realm cultivator is taxing," the man spat out.


    He nced at the corpses filling the valley, then flew out of the valley.


    "What''s done is done. At least my cursed spiritual avatar is back. I just need to kill some more people to regain my strength."


    He flew toward a city in the distance, where he set his eyes on a certain n.


    The head of the n had gone missing, and the power structure of the n was in wild disarray. Traitors to the n had seized power and were celebrating their victory.


    The man in red waited patiently until it was dark.


    After the banquet was over, one of the higher-ranking elders in the n returned wearily to his home. The moment he pushed open his door, however, he saw an unfamiliar man waiting for him.


    "Who are you? What are you doing here?" The old man nched, then shouted, "Assass¡ª"


    Suddenly, a length of red rope tightened around the elder''s neck and pulled him into the room. The door mmed shut.


    The man in red had trapped the elder''s neck in asso.


    "Please, spare me!" the elder cried out.


    The man in red stepped on the elder''s body and questioned, "I''ve waited outside your manor for an entire day, but I haven''t seen a single Ascension-realm cultivator. Does your household not possess any?"


    "We..." The elder hesitated, not knowing how to respond.


    "Forget it. I''ll just make you a cursed ve. You won''t be able to hide anything from me then," the man in red continued.


    A strand of red thread flew out of the man in red''s mindscape and shot toward the elder''s mindscape. The elder''s body was wracked with pain, but he was unable to make any noise because his lips had been sewn shut.


    Not long after, the elder''s eyes turned dim. He no longer struggled. When the man in red freed him, he bowed down respectfully. "At your service, Master."


    "Do you have Ascension-realm cultivators in your household?" the man in red asked again.


    "Master, the old n head recently vanished. His brother just swept aside all obstacles to take over as the new n head, and we''ve just had a celebratory banquet for him. He''s an Ascension-realm cultivator, but is not in the city at the moment. There are no other Ascension-realm cultivators in the city."


    "Why wasn''t he present for the banquet?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng of the city of Shuntian has beenmanding his troops to invade cities furiously. He split his troops into thirteen separate forces for thirteen different cities¡ªand took them all down! He''s already in control of twenty-one different cities of Yan and Qi. His strength is growing far too quickly."


    "Oh?"


    "The new n head received an invitation from the royal family of Yan to participate in a secret meeting. All the Ascension-realm cultivators of the humans'' domain were invited to participate in order to take down Xiao Nanfeng. Unfortunately, he had to miss the banquet in order to participate."


    "In other words, the Ascension-realm cultivators of this domain have all gathered together?" The man in red''s eyes lit up.


    "Yes, Master."


    "Very good!"

 Chapter 200: The Whip of Order

    <h4>Chapter 200: The Whip of Order</h4>


    Almost thirty cultivators had gathered in a hall within the capital of Yan. Each of them was poised and clearly ustomed to power. All were focused on the man in a draconic robe who sat before them.


    The man was reading a missive. Suddenly, he mmed it down on the table and gritted his teeth. "Xiao Nanfeng, that damned bastard!"


    "Your Majesty, what has infuriated you so?" one cultivator asked.


    "A few days ago, our kingdoms simultaneously proimed that the previous kings of Yan and Qi had been controlled by Xiao Nanfeng using demonic arts, forcing them to acknowledge Xiao Nanfeng as the sessor of King Wei and to invite him into their kingdoms for a hostile takeover. We swore to muster a cooperative defense against the demonic mastermind Xiao Nanfeng to thwart his n of dominion. Do you remember this?" the new kingof Yan asked.


    "Has Xiao Nanfeng issued a promation as well?"


    "Indeed. ording to him, the kingdoms of Yan and Qi have been taken over by opportunistic traitors who killed the former rulers of Yan and Qi. Xiao Nanfeng further ims that he''ll avenge those rulers and is summoning all valorous fighters in his crusade against evil!"


    "Ridiculous!"


    "The pot calling the kettle ck!"


    Angry shouts rang out through the hall.


    "Calm down, everyone. There''s no point in getting angry. We need to figure out how to resolve the problem," a man in ck shouted over themotion.


    "n Head Hou, you''re quite right. Rather than get upset, we should think about how to resolve the situation. Xiao Nanfeng has already taken down twenty-one cities, and he''s invading more and more at a rapid clip. If we allow this to continue, our kingdoms will be destroyed," King Yan stated.


    "I fought against them on the frontlines. The enemymanders, Ye Dafu, and Ye Sanshui, are atte-stage Ascension. In addition to them are a group of generals who, like Ye Dafu, radiate golden light when they fight. No weapon can take them down. They fight like ferocious beasts, unstoppable in their charge," one noble cried out.


    The other n heads all spoke of their own worries and frustrations.


    "This meeting was convened by n Head Hou. n Head Hou, what do you think?" King Yan looked toward the man dressed in ck.


    n Head Hou nodded. "I was the one who contacted the royal families of Qi and Yan to organize this meeting. Does anyone intend to surrender to Xiao Nanfeng''s army?"


    "We own all thend in this domain. Why should we surrender to him?"


    "Giving up our authority? Forget it! We won''t surrender!"


    The heads of each n made their stance clear.


    "If no one is willing to surrender, then we have to take action. There are twenty-eight of us here, twenty-eight Ascension-realm cultivators, and we can easily take down their leader!" n Head Hou suggested.


    "Take down their leader?" The other n heads nched.


    "n Head Hou, have you forgotten how strong Xiao Nanfeng is? We saw how strong he was for ourselves by the foot of Mt. Liangjie. He has the Immortal''s Destruction in his possession as well. Who among us would be a match for him? How would we assassinate him?" one n head gritted out.


    "I never proposed assassinating Xiao Nanfeng. Let''s assassinate Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the other generals."


    "Oh?"


    "As long as Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates perish, his troops won''t be able to continue invading our cities," n Head Hou asserted.


    The others considered this proposal and thought it sound.


    "After that, we''ll be able to retaliate and reim all the cities that we''ve lost. Without any Ascension-realm generals, how will he stop us?" n Head Hou smiled.


    The other n heads nodded.


    "And once Xiao Nanfeng has been stripped of all his generals, we can easily think of ns to deal with him. Someone wille up with something, I''m sure. The most important thing at present is to dampen his momentum. What do you think, everyone?"


    The n heads nodded again, then turned to King Yan and the representative of King Qi.


    "Since there are no objections, then you''ll all head out immediately and attempt to assassinate Ye Dafu and the others," King Yanmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    "I rmend that we work together rather than splitting up. Better that we be slow and prioritize our safety. Although they have fewer Ascension-realm cultivators, theirs are all very strong," n Head Hou continued.


    "I''ll thank everyone in advance for your assistance, then!" King Yan stated.


    The banquet was aborted midway through as the n heads began concocting ns instead. Four hourster, they were on their way.


    The party took only two days to arrive outside a certain city. They patiently waited within a forest for nightfall.


    "ording to our reports, Ye Dafu lives in the governor''s manor of this city. We''ll sneak inside and attack him at full force, then leave once we seed," one n head said.


    Everyone nodded and began polishing their weapons.


    "n Head Hou, are you alright? You''ve been looking rather anxious these past two days," one of the other n heads asked.


    "I''m fine." n Head Hou wiped at the sweat on his head and smiled. Even so, he was visibly anxious as he looked all around him.


    Just then, ethereal red rope looped around a n head''s neck. The n head was just about to scream when the red rope tightened and dragged him up toward a branch above.


    "Who is it?!" someone shouted, having noticed something amiss.


    Everyone nced around them, brandishing their swords and gaping as they saw the man hanging from the tree. Only n Head Hou ran off without any hesitation, firing a re into the air as he did so.


    "n Head Hou, what are you doing?" someone thundered.


    Just then, dozens of lengths of ethereal red rope shot toward the gathered n heads.


    "What?!" The n heads swung their swords at the rope, but the rope was too fast for them all. They were all hung.


    "What''s this?"


    "n Head Hou''s a traitor!"


    The n heads shouted and screamed, but they were quickly brought into an illusory realm. Their physical bodies hung motionless.


    A man in red appeared by the tree and looked at the hanging cultivators in satisfaction. "All of you really enjoy running around, don''t you? I rushed toward the capital of Yan but found no one there. It took me a few tries before I finally caught up to you."


    The man in red turned and looked toward n Head Hou, who had rushed into the forest. He smirked. "Do you think you can run? None can hide from me."


    The man in red sent a rapidly elongating length of rope toward n Head Hou.


    "Help! Save me!" n Head Hou cried out, innate fear taking over his mind.


    He deflected the red rope with a golden glow, one that sent a sh from the Immortal''s Destruction toward it.


    The blow from the Immortal''s Destruction destroyed the red rope and saved n Head Hou''s life.


    "A heavenly de? From Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal''s Destruction?" The man in red was stunned for a moment before he nched. "You''re in cahoots with Xiao Nanfeng! Is this a trap?!"


    He quickly shot out another length of red rope at n Head Hou.


    "Save me, King Xiao!" n Head Hou screamed.


    Another length of red rope appeared from afar and struck the man in red''s technique.


    The man in red turned to where the attack hade from. A man was rushing over and appeared by n Head Hou in the blink of an eye¡ªnone other than Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re finally here, King Xiao! I''ve lured him out!" n Head Hou eximed.


    "Good. Leave now and let me handle the rest."


    "Yes, yes, at once!" n Head Hou ran off without even turning back.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the man in red. "So you''re the cursed effigy? You''ve taken human form? Trying to find you has been quite the challenge."


    Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the man in red.


    The man in red, sensing that something was amiss, attempted to flee through the air, but Xiao Nanfeng hooked the man in red''s leg with a length of red rope. Simultaneously, he sent a talisman from the Immortal''s Destruction straight at him.


    The man in red whirled to the side, barely dodging the blow. Xiao Nanfengssoed the man in red with his other hand.


    "Impossible! How can you use the Whip of Order?" the man in red shouted, using the same technique as a counter.


    The two techniques shed in the air in a wave of energy. The man in red stilled.


    "What? You''re only ate-stage Ascension-realm cultivator? Do you really think I''m that weak?" The man in red suddenly grew much bolder.


    "Then why run?" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    The man in red stared at Xiao Nanfeng, then, as though making up his mind, he smiled and pounced at him, so fast he appeared within the blink of an eye.


    The man in red mmed a palm toward him, which Xiao Nanfeng countered with one of his own. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. The man in red seemed surprised.


    "What''s wrong with your body? Why is it glowing with red light?" He shot forward again.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent another sh from the Immortal''s Destruction at him as he clutched the Talisman of Phantasmagoria in one hand. He held the man in red at bay; he was able to bring him into the illusion straight away, but considering how shocked the man in red was by the red light he emitted, he felt as though he could wait a little longer.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent stumbling back.


    "It''s growing brighter! What sort of technique is this? The red light''s blinding my eyes!" the man in red eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and continued to attack. Just then, an unusual sight urred.


    The man in red gasped. "Come out, Xiao Nanfeng! Stop hiding. Why''s everything turning red? Get out here!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was standing right by his side. He nced at the man in red in surprise. "What incredible hypnotic power the red moon possesses! Even cursed effigies aren''t immune..."


    The man in red attacked at random, smashing apart the rocks and boulders in his vicinity¡ªbut he seemedpletely unable to see Xiao Nanfeng beside him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed as he made to toss a talisman from the Immortal''s Destruction at him, but the man in red seemed to see something monstrous then. He thundered, "No! Illusion of Red Fog!"


    A cloud of red fog burst from his body and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng''s body was sent flying. As hended, he found thick fog rising all around him.


    "An illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He wasn''t afraid of illusory realms; he was stronger in them than in reality.

 Chapter 201: Toward the Draconic Palace

    <h4>Chapter 201: Toward the Draconic Pce</h4>


    Thick fog surged within the illusory realm. Xiao Nanfeng could hear deste screamsing from within the fog.


    "Don''t kill me! Help!"


    "Help!"


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed into the fog to see over twenty cultivators herded together by a giant red rope. The red rope, like a python, opened its maw wide, ignoring the cultivators'' screams, and swallowed them all.


    The red rope twisted its head. When it saw Xiao Nanfeng, it shrunk back. "Xiao Nanfeng? Don''te over. Do you know who sent me?"


    The red rope, recognizing the threat that Xiao Nanfeng possessed, didn''t dare strike carelessly.


    "Why should I care who sent you?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted disdainfully.


    "If you dare do anything to me, the king would never let you go," the red rope threatened again.


    "If I were to see your cursed king, I could deal with him as well," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "The king was the premier cultivator in the world thirty thousand years ago, as well as the creator of the Whip of Order. He wields the fundamental force of order, and he has already awakened. He is soon to reach his peak¡ªand when he does, the entire world shall belong to him. The king would never let you go if you were to attack me," the red rope continued, even as it retreated.


    "Do you think I''ll believe you? If it were truly the premier cultivator of the world, how could it have been sealed away in the Eastern Sea?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "How did you know we were sealed in the Eastern Sea? No, you don''t understand. Every ten thousand years, the world suffers a cmity that wipes away all Immortals. We only survived because our king transformed us all into cursed effigies. Now, he has awakened and shall control the world once again. No one can stop him. If you attack me, the king will know," the red rope shouted fiercely.


    Xiao Nanfeng forged forward, not believing the red rope''s words. Spiritual power massed around him as if he were about to punch the red rope into shreds with a fist.


    The red rope cried out anxiously, "Don''te closer! I used to be an Immortal in the past. If not for those dragons'' schemes, how could I havended in such dire straits?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to continue when a skeleton punched the red rope.


    The red rope exploded into shards. A skeleton rushed forward and sucked it all up.


    "Madam Rouge?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at the skeleton before him in disbelief.


    Madam Rouge turned to him and formed work with her signature ck smoke. "What nonsense the two of you were talking about."


    "How could you show up here? This is an avatar of mine. Shouldn''t you be by my main body instead?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Madam Rouge scoffed. "I''m not like the other cursed effigies in your body. I live in your mindscape. Although you might have two bodies, you only possess one consciousness and one mindscape. I can naturally appear in any illusion any of your bodies are in."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He wasn''t in control of this illusion, and he didn''t have ess to superior yin frost to break out of it. Was he finally trapped with Madam Rouge?


    "Are you afraid,d? Haha!" Madam Rouge cackled, continuing to form words with her ck smoke.


    "Afraid? What would I be afraid of? I treat you like a friend, Madam Rouge. Surely you''d recognize that?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Despite his smile, Xiao Nanfeng was very wary of her. He prepared for a life-and-death struggle.


    "A friend? Who, me? I''m in control of this illusion. You won''t be able to get out. It''s time to settle our score." Madam Rouge shed to Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched at Madam Rouge with Hegemon''s Fist. His fist glowed with crimson light. As his attack met hers, a cloud of dust mushroomed out from the point of impact. Xiao Nanfeng retreated.


    His face fell. He was still quite a bit weaker than Madam Rouge at the moment, and he was in danger.


    However, Madam Rouge didn''t continue to strike. She red at him.


    "Madam Rouge, as I''ve stated, our initial conflict was a misunderstanding. For you to have followed me after so long¡ªwhy, it''s almost like I jilted you! We don''t bear such deep enmity against each other, do we? Can''t we settle this some other way?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He was still tense and prepared for a fight, but he did hope he would be able to convince Madam Rouge.


    This time, Madam Rouge didn''t charge forward. With her ck smoke, she asked, "Can you promise to uphold any condition I might ask for?"


    Xiao Nanfeng stilled. What? Madam Rouge was actually willing to negotiate with him?


    "What are those conditions?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in a guarded fashion.


    "Retrieve something for me, and I''ll consider the score between us settled. What say you?"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    This was a good sign. Madam Rouge wasn''t being unreasonable and asking for him to kill himself. Retrieving an object couldn''t be too hard, could it? And she likely wouldn''t strike before he had sessfully done so.


    "If you perform this task for me, I won''t hound you any longer."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. "That''s fine. We''re friends, aren''t we? I''ll take care of it."


    "Aren''t you going to ask what I want, or where it''s located?"


    "That''s irrelevant. You''re a friend, so I''ll help you no matter what." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. <i>I offer my aid, not a guarantee of sess. If it''s too difficult or I fail to do so, you surely wouldn''t me me, would you?</i>


    "It''s in the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. When will you set off?" Madam Rouge asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s smile slipped. Out of the frying pan and into the fire... The Eastern Sea Draconic Pce was the stronghold of the red rope. If he headed there now, wasn''t he essentiallymitting suicide?


    "Don''t worry. Once you reach the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, I can guide you to the object''s location."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Didn''t you say that we were friends, that you would take care of such a trifling affair? Well? Do you intend to go back on your word?" Madam Rouge threatened.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. Madam Rouge hadid a trap for him!


    "That''s right. We are friends, and I''ll be happy to take care of this for you. However, as you know, I''m busy with administration at the moment, and I have to be here to take care of the affairs of my nascent kingdom. I''ll head there once I''m finished over here," Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    "Even if you don''t go, your avatar won''t survive for much longer."


    "Oh? Why not?"


    "This red moon that you''ve cultivated is particrly odd. It''s been devouring the vitality of your physical avatar. I know not whether this is an omen of good or evil, but the situation will only worsen. Cursed avatars possess a great deal of vitality, but the red moon is about to absorb it all. You''ll have to continue changing avatars repeatedly, so you might as well go to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce now and get lengths of red rope as backup. If you can catch the cursed king, then you''ll be set for life."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... <i>Is it trying to lure me to kill myself? Catching a cursed king? I''m not invincible, you know!</i>


    "I have the divine undying de. That''s the cursed spiritual avatar of a cursed king, too..." Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh? That one? Try it. I guarantee you that it''ll immediately awaken and kill you if you try to send your avatar into it."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... <i>Is it trying to scare me?</i>


    "Will you go, or will you not?"


    "I''ll go, of course! You''ve made it clear how important this is to you. We''re friends, and I''m more than happy to help you." Xiao Nanfeng patted himself on the chest.


    Madam Rouge suddenly fell silent. She felt as though Xiao Nanfeng had epted the request too quickly; something was wrong.


    "I''ll handle affairs here as quickly as I can, and we''ll set off shortly. Now that we''re friends and I''m helping you out, will you help me out when I''m in danger, too?"


    Madam Rouge stared at Xiao Nanfeng. <i>Is he trying to make me his helper?</i>


    "That will depend on your performance," Madam Rouge replied with ck smoke.


    "Of course! You''ve seen my ability to get things done, haven''t you? Would you dispel this illusion for now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked politely.


    Madam Rouge waved a hand. The illusion cracked as Xiao Nanfeng woke up in his avatar.


    He let out a long breath, then suddenly frowned. "What''s wrong with Madam Rouge? Why was she so willing to negotiate with me today? Was there something I hadn''t noticed?"


    Madam Rouge seemed to be able to see Xiao Nanfeng''s form in reality while remaining in his mental world. She was smirking.


    "How foolish. He could have broken out of the illusion himself with the red moon''s power. Luckily, I stopped fighting him in time, or he would have realized this secret¡ªdamn it, I got too used to speaking with him with my smoke! I''m starting to vocalize my thoughts that way now, too!" Smoke had twisted into words before her.


    Madam Rouge quickly waved a hand and scattered the smoke. She continued staring at Xiao Nanfeng''s visage.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a stroll around the forest and picked up a length of red rope on the ground, the cursed spiritual avatar of that red rope cursed effigy.


    Just then, Ye Dafu and the others, having heard themotion, rushed over.


    "King Xiao, where''s the cursed effigy?" Ye Dafu asked worriedly.


    "Everything''s resolved. See if there''s anything else in the vicinity," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Yes!"


    Everyone scouted around the vicinity and quickly discovered a pile of corpses. By then, n Head Hou, who hadn''t run off too far, rushed back.


    "They must be the n heads who were preparing to assassinate Ye Dafu and the other generals. Have they all died?" n Head Hou cried out.


    "Who are you?" Ye Dafu and the others stared warily at n Head Hou.


    "I''ve been loyal to King Xiao since long ago. Aren''t you aware? I was responsible for helping King Xiao obtain the Immortal''s Destruction," n Head Hou immediately asserted.


    Ye Dafu and the others turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Evidently, only the spectral guards were aware of his identity.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "n Head Hou, you''ve done very well. You''ll be rewarded once the invasion is over."


    "Thank you, King Xiao!" n Head Hou immediately replied.


    He understood that he had sessfully pledged his allegiance to Xiao Nanfeng. The Hou n might have lost its former prestige and authority, but it would be safe in the uing transfer of power.

 Chapter 202: Ku Jiang Strikes

    <h4>Chapter 202: Ku Jiang Strikes</h4>


    Two monthster, by the front of the Vault of Scriptures, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was giving advice to a few disciples about their fist techniques as a group of other disciples watched on. They were chatting about the news that they had learned.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, thank goodness we listened to you and didn''t head to the draconic pce! Otherwise, we would really have suffered."


    "I heard that lots of sects sent delegations into the pce, but only a scant few were able to escape."


    "Over thesest few months, at least tens of thousands have entered, haven''t they?"


    The disciples shuddered as they conversed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He was about to enter the draconic pce himself. Was it still so dangerous?


    Just then, a deep, resonant toll came from the ind.


    "This is... the bell of the Ascended division? It only rings when something big has happened. All Ascended disciples have to gather at once!" one disciple eximed.


    Ku Jiang, hearing the bell, walked out from the hall in which he had been undergoing secluded cultivation.


    "Crane, to me!" Ku Jiangmanded.


    A crane flew over to serve as Ku Jiang''s mount.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed over.


    "Head to the Ascended peaks at once!"


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ku Jiang summoned another crane to serve as Xiao Nanfeng''s mount. The master and disciple flew into the air toward the main peak of the Ascended mountain range, where a hall was located. On the za before the hall was a giant bell that was tolling loudly. More and more Ascended disciples arrived.


    Zhao Yuanjiao and a group of other elders were the first to make it there. Elders from the other three divisions also showed up, curious about themotion, and countless disciples did as well. The za quickly filled up.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ku Jiang walked up to the front of the za, where a male cultivator was tolling on the bell at full strength. He was wounded all over and vomiting blood even as he struck the bell. On his shoulders was a sash radiating rainbow light, but it had clearly seen better days. It was pitted with countless holes.


    "What''s the matter, Elder Chen?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked the cultivator.


    "The division leader has been trapped within the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. He used this Immortal relic that he had just obtained to send me out of the pce to seek assistance. Elders, I beseech you to rescue the division leader at once," Elder Chen shouted.


    "An Immortal relic?" The elders'' eyes lit up as they looked toward the rainbow sash.


    "Assistance? Just what sort of trouble did you encounter? How could the division leader be trapped?" Zhao Yuanjiao gasped.


    "Monsters. There are so many monsters within the pce, but Immortal relics as well! All the cultivators have gone crazy for them. Because we obtained one such relic, the monsters started to chase us. Many of us were killed or wounded," Elder Chen replied, shuddering.


    "Monsters? Immortal relics?" the elders gasped. Their eyes, however, were expectant.


    "Elder Ku, the division leader has been trapped by a group of monsters. He''s using his authority as division leader to summon aid. Please help!" Elder Chen held out a token.


    Everyone could recognize the token as Zhao Tianheng''s personal token that symbolized his authority as division leader.


    "Master, the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce is a trap. You can''t enter!" Xiao Nanfeng pleaded.


    He didn''t want his master to take the risk. No one could guarantee their safety within the pce; Immortal relics were well and good, but they meant nothing if you were to lose your life in the process.


    Ku Jiang shook his head. "This is the token of the division leader himself, and all disciples of the Ascended division are honorbound to provide assistance. Very well. All Ascended elders who are within the sect and not in secluded cultivation, apany me to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce!"


    "Understood!" all the elders in the za replied.


    "Please be careful, Master," Xiao Nanfeng stressed.


    Ku Jiangughed. "You really have been patient, haven''t you? Not even stepping outside Taiqing Ind once. Those eyeing you from afar must be suffering by now.


    "Master, you know about my enemies too?"


    "Before I leave, allow me to help you deal with them."


    Ku Jiang walked over to a tform by the side of the za, retrieved a guqin, and began to y.


    Dozens of ghostly blue dragons manifested in the air from the spiritual power of Ku Jiang''s guqin. Each was sixty meters long. They keened, releasing a frightening aura like that of a storm.


    "What tremendous spiritual power!" the cultivators eximed.


    As Ku Jiang continued to y, the dragons divided into three groups and shot toward the distant sea.


    They smashed into three rocky outcroppings by the horizon, destroying thempletely and forming giant, tsunami-like waves.


    Dozens of cultivators were sent flying into the air from those inds, many vomiting blood as they clutched their chests. The dragons continued attacking relentlessly, forcing them back.


    "Ku Jiang, we''ve not stepped into Taiqing territory. How dare youunch a sneak attack on us! Are you trying to challenge the Jingang temple?!" a radiant monk in gold thundered.


    The roar, apanied by a titanic wave, hurtled toward Taiqing Ind.


    "He''s a Wingform-realm cultivator!" Zhao Yuanjiao gasped.


    "This is Taiqing Ind. Do you think I''ll allow you toy an ambush right outside of it? Curb your arrogance!" Ku Jiangmanded.


    He began to y more and more quickly. Two ghostly-blue dragons shot toward the radiant monk, sending him flying into the sea. A huge wave formed as hended.


    "Ku Jiang, don''t go overboard. Do you think that I, Xu Kong, am an easy target? Draconic Submission!" Golden light exploded from the monk as his palms seemed to magnify by a tremendous amount.


    Each of his palms caught a ghostly-blue dragon as he smiled in conceit.


    "Explode!" Ku Jiangmanded.


    The two dragons exploded right by the monk''s side, causing Monk Xu Kong to let out a chilling scream.


    Giant waves formed in the sea as Monk Xu Kong was sent flying out, his robes tattered. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    Ku Jiang continued to y,manding the dragons in the vicinity to attack him.


    "Are all of you here to watch the show? Get rid of these dragons! Ku Jiang''s doing this on behalf of Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng killed my disciples, as well as yours! Are none of you going to strike but me?" Monk Xu Kong thundered.


    Of the dozens of other figures present, two more stepped in. They each forced back a group of dragons before them.


    "The rest of you, leave!" one cultivator said.


    They held back the dragons long enough for their Spiritsong-realm disciples to escape.


    The fight continued in full force. Monk Xu Kong and the other two cultivators continued to suppress the dragons, but they would explode and deal the cultivators a serious injury.


    "The other two cultivators are Wingform-realm, too..." Zhao Yuanjiao gasped,


    "Three Wingform-realm cultivators,ying an ambush for Xiao Nanfeng? Surely this isn''t proportionate!" the elders gasped.


    "They''re all enemies of Elder Xiao Hongye, and they can sense Xiao Nanfeng''stent potential. They''re worried that he''ll grow into a threat, so theyid an ambush for him despite the disparity," Zhao Yuanjiao analyzed.


    The elders nodded inprehension.


    "Enough is enough," Ku Jiang stated. "Swords, arise!"


    Three swords of spiritual power manifested around Ku Jiang''s guqin, each a brilliant blue and sixty meters long. They shot toward the three Wingform-realm cultivators, who were busy holding off the ghostly-blue dragons. The swords caught them unaware; they hastily shielded themselves.


    However, the swords smashed through their defense and cut off one of their arms each in a spray of blood.


    "What? How could your cultivation be so strong?!" Monk Xu Kong gasped.


    The three cultivators caught their lopped-off arms and stared in shock at Ku Jiang from afar.


    Ku Jiang had won against them one-on-three! Just how strong did he have to be?


    "We''d better leave," one of the Wingform-realm cultivators cried out.


    "What? We can''t. We''ve been here for months. Are we going to go back with nothing? Even if I can''t take down Xiao Nanfeng, I''m going to destroy his Isle of Xiao. We can''t let him grow any stronger!" Monk Xu Kong stated.


    "Right, destroy his Isle of Xiao first!" another of the cultivators agreed.


    The three cultivators shot toward the Isle of Xiao.


    "Stubborn fools. Swords, arise!" Ku Jiangmanded again.


    The ghostly-blue dragonsbined into nine shining swords that chased after the three cultivators, but the three cultivators flew to the Isle of Xiao in no time at all.


    "No! All those people on the Isle of Xiao!" Zhao Yuanjiao gasped.


    "Break!" the three Wingform-realm cultivators shouted,unching their attacks simultaneously at the Isle of Xiao.


    The thick fog surrounding the Isle of Xiao was wholly unequipped to stop three simultaneous Wingform-realm blows. It dissipated in an instant.


    The three gigantic palms, each the size of a mountain, smashed into the infrastructure on the Isle of Xiao.


    The buildings and houses on the ind were crushed. The entire ind shook from the force of impact. Rocks and boulders rose into the air, and a windstorm ravaged the ind.


    "All the people on the Isle of Xiao¡ª!" the Taiqing disciples cried out.


    The elders, however, gasped in disbelief. Their eyesight was good enough to see details of the ind proper.


    "Impossible. There''s no one on the ind!"


    "Aren''t there supposed to be a few tens of thousands of people there? Where have they gone?"


    The elders cried out in surprise, as did the three Wingform-realm cultivators.


    "Where are they?" Monk Xu Kong yelled.


    Just then, the nine ghostly swords caught up to them, broke through their defenses, and chopped limbs off their body. Their arms and legs burst into bloody mist.


    The three cultivators protected their head and organs as they flew away.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where are your people?!"


    "Tens of thousands¡ªhow could they all be gone?!" the three cultivators howled as they fled.


    All the elders looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in amazement. How had he orchestrated this disappearance? It was almost more impressive than Ku Jiang''s three-on-one fight.


    "Master, what is the extent of their injuries?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''ll take months for them to recover. You won''t have to worry about them for the time being. Better that I not kill them in in sight; otherwise, the sects to which they belong might seek revenge on Taiqing Ind while I''m gone."


    "Thank you, Master." Xiao Nanfeng nodded in gratitude.


    "As for you, I''m more surprised that you managed to move away everyone on the ind ahead of time," Ku Jiang remarked.


    Xiao Nanfeng exined, "The Isle of Xiao isn''t a suitable ce for them to live any longer, so I''ve been slowly sending them off in batches."

 Chapter 203: Heading to the Draconic Palace

    <h4>Chapter 203: Heading to the Draconic Pce</h4>


    After Elder Ku''s summons, a group of elders from the Ascended division stepped forward and prepared to apany him to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. At the same time, a huge toad spirit flew toward Taiqing Ind.


    "You''re leaving Taiqing Ind?" Elder Ku asked curiously.


    "Everyone on the Isle of Xiao has already moved. I''ll return once you''re back, Master," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Elder Ku nodded. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was still worried about bing a target.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt up onto Croak''s head. "Croak, let''s go!"


    Man and spirit flew toward the Isle of Xiao, packed up the formations there, then vanished over the horizon.


    Croak flew very quickly. Within a day, he arrived at the entrance to the undying realm.


    That day, within the governor''s manor of the city of Shuntian, Ye Dafu and his group gave Xiao Nanfeng their reports.


    "General Ye Dafu has taken the capital of Yan and imed the kingdom of Yan!"


    "General Ye Sanshui has taken the capital of Qi and imed the kingdom of Qi!"


    "Your Majesty, King Xiao, we congratte you on uniting the humans'' domain."


    The officials of Xiao Nanfeng''s court bowed down to him.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Prepare a banquet and await the return of the troops."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "Now that the generals have conquered all the cities of the humans'' domain, I''ll be counting on everyone present to take over management and governance duties," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "We shall do our best, Your Majesty!"


    The officials were particrly buoyed by the news; some even began addressing Xiao Nanfeng as Your Majesty.


    To be precise, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t yet a king; he was, at the moment, just a nobleman of the divine empire of Great Wei. Everyone was aware that the divine empire of Great Wei was no longer extant, however, and were anticipating that Xiao Nanfeng would establish a kingdom in fact and rule as king.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had always demurred.


    After the officials were dismissed, they sought out Zheng Qian to have him bring this matter to Xiao Nanfeng. After all, once Xiao Nanfeng became a king, they would be officials of court in practice as well.


    Zheng Qian brought up the matter while he and Xiao Nanfeng were walking toward a military drill ground outside the city.


    "King Xiao, many officials have asked me to request that you initiate a founding ceremony to im your kingdom in fact."


    "It''s not yet time. I''m still missing a seal that can control and manipte fortune," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "I expect I''ll be able to acquire the materials to make one shortly. Before that, govern the domain well."


    There were plenty of treasures in the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, and likely materials that would allow him to forge a seal as well.


    Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    "We shall abolish the institution of very in the humans'' domain. It''s a boon for all those in power, of course, but hell for the ves. Emancipate them all. Register their identities, give them each a plot of fertilend, their freedom, their respect, and a future," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Zheng Qian nodded, sighing. "King Xiao, you will surely win the heart of the people."


    "At the cost of a lot of work on your part," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "To work on behalf of the people is a worthwhile cause, though I expect it may not proceed smoothly considering the political power these veowners possess," Zheng Qian replied, smiling.


    "It''s best to make such changes while the humans'' domain itself is changing hands. Transfer everything to a new legal system; if any dare protest, punish them thoroughly. I don''t expect much resistance, but I want you to carefully peruse the legal treatises I gave you and implement the policies within as quickly as possible."


    "King Xiao, I''m amazed by the code ofw that you''ve written. It is truly a work of rigor and exquisite detail. I''ve read it all, three times over, and am newly amazed each time," Zheng Qian sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Some of the more technical details still need to be ironed out, but it should suffice for the time being."


    The tome The Imperial Court of Heaven which Emperor Wei had given him mentioned how he was meant to harvest fortune from empire. Fortune was the people''s hearts made tangible. The recognition and eptance of the people was the simplest and most direct source of an empire''s fortune.


    Xiao Nanfeng had referred to various codes ofw back on Earth when designing a set for his nascent kingdom. He intended to preserve the rights of the citizenry as much as possible.


    As he conversed with Zheng Qian, the two of them reached the drill ground.


    Over thest few months, Croak and Warble had been ferrying the people from the Isle of Xiao over to the undying realm.


    The students of the Xiao Academy had just undergone another rigorous examination, from which a thousand schrs had graduated.


    "We greet the principal!" Everyone bowed down.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the thousand schrs. "Has Mr. Zheng already exined what all of you will be doing next?"


    "Yes, Principal!" the schrs replied in excitement.


    "You''re luckier than many former officials of the two kingdoms, and will directly be ced in positions of power. That said, being an official is no trifling affair. In what follows, you will face a bitter war of administration against those who seek to subvert your authority," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "We aren''t afraid, Principal!" the schrs shouted.


    "Then I await your performance."


    "Yes, Principal!"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued speaking with the schrs for some time, then personally bequeathed each schr with a certificate of appointment to government office.


    "They don''t know how much unrest this new code ofw is going to cause," Zheng Qian murmured, smiling.


    "They''ve been warned," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "The first batch of schrs is limatizing to their roles already. These officials are like the rising sun, invigorating this decaying empire and restoring its lifeblood."


    "King Xiao, you expect great things of them, I see."


    "They''re my students, after all. I look forward to their future."


    These schrs would remain forever loyal to Xiao Nanfeng, and he intended to cultivate them with care.


    That evening, after working for an entire day, Xiao Nanfeng returned to his residence. He opened a set of undying heavenly doors.


    On the other side, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stepped through the doors.


    He kept the doors again as his avatar undressed. Its body had decayed to a serious extent.


    As his main body guarded his avatar, his avatar retrieved thest length of red rope and transferred the red moon into it. The discarded body quickly decayed into a cloud of ck smoke that dispersed through the air.


    The avatar, now in a pristine body, tidied up, opened the undying heavenly doors, and walked out.


    In what followed, Xiao Nanfeng intended to govern the undying realm with his main body. Though he had received invaluable guidance from Emperor Wei''s inheritance, the Imperial Court of Heaven, he would have to understand, study, and intuit these principles in practice for himself.


    After his avatar departed, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stored the undying heavenly doors.


    Outside the undying realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s clone hopped onto Croak''s head.


    "Croak, lead me to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Croak leapt into the air and flew toward the Eastern Sea. The location of the draconic pce had been exposed to all the sects nearby, and Xiao Nanfeng was naturally aware of its location. In just two days, they arrived at a patch of thick fog over the surface of the sea.


    "We''re here. Let me off here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Croak flew toward the fog with Xiao Nanfeng, who unloaded a skiff and stepped onto it. He waved goodbye to Croak and put on a veiled bamboo hat that would hide his appearance. He didn''t want to expose himself.


    Steering the skiff, he sailed toward the fog, knowing that the entrance to the pce was almost in reach.

 Chapter 204: Filled with Immortal Relics

    <h4>Chapter 204: Filled with Immortal Relics</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s skiff floated toward the side of the fog, where countless boats and ships had already gathered. They were visibly hesitating about whether to enter its midst.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s small skiff drew little attention; there were far too many simr ones already present.


    Just then, a bloodied man emerged from the fog, holding on to a jeweled pagoda shining with radiant light. The treasure was pitted and pockmarked from age, but it was clearly no ordinary relic.


    "Master, there really are treasures within the draconic pce! This is a jeweled pagoda we just retrieved. However, it''s exceptionally dangerous within. Some of my junior and senior brothers have been injured, and others were separated from us," the bloodied man cried out, raising the jeweled pagoda up high.


    "An Immortal relic? Hand it over!"


    "Immortal relics should be the possession of the virtuous. You have no right to it!"


    Dozens of cultivators flew toward the bloodied man, intending to snatch the corroded pagoda away.


    Just then, a frightening aura descended from the heavens, suppressing the dozens of cultivators that had tried to steal the relic. They raised their heads with shock. A white-robed man floated in the air, radiant with multicolored light, giving off an aura of such strength that none of the cultivators could move.


    "An Immortal!" cries rang out from all over.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself gaped. Did the draconic pce boast treasures of interest even to Immortals?


    "Insolence!" the Immortal shouted.


    With a wave of his hand, the cultivators were sent flying into the sea in a series of sshes. They spat out mouthfuls of blood as they struck the water at speed, but none dared to go against the Immortal.


    The bloodied man sneered at the crowd as he flew toward the Immortal.


    "Master, this is the Immortal relic." He handed over the pitted, pockmarked pagoda.


    The white-robed Immortal inspected the pagoda carefully. "The legendary jeweled Immortal pagoda? I saw it once three centuries ago within the draconic pce. How could it have corroded to such an extent?"


    "I don''t know, Master, but more and more strong cultivators have been entering the pce. I even saw countless sea spirits as well. They were all fighting over the Immortal relics."


    The white-robed Immortal considered this information. "Over the past few days, I saw a few Immortals sneak into the draconic pce. Did you see them make a move?"


    "I didn''t see any other Immortals. The draconic pce was toorge, and we were chased by others almost as soon as we entered. We spent the majority of our time panicking and trying to escape, and were lucky just to have found this relic."


    The white-robed Immortal sighed, then sucked in a deep breath. "Everyone, apany me into the draconic pce."


    "Yes, Immortal!" Calls of assent came from many of the ships present.


    As the white-robed Immortal stepped into the fog, he was apanied by arge number of ships.


    The temptation of these Immortal relics was massive. In addition to the white-robed Immortal''s faction, many of the other forces charged in as well, unwilling to lose out against those that went before them. Of course, many of the ships, even thergest ones, still remained motionless as though worried about something.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood in his skiff as he considered what he had learned. "The situation at the draconic pce is growing more and more chaotic... I wonder how Master and the others are doing?"


    After a moment''s contemtion, Xiao Nanfeng joined the other boats and ships as he sailed into the fog. He was slow and didn''t fight to take the lead; even so, someone noticed him.


    There was a ratherrge, unassuming ship that had anchored by the edge of the fog. Three figures flew out of the fog andnded on it, one of whom was Nn Feng.


    The fact that Nn Feng was able to fly unaided through the air was a clear sign that he had reached Spiritsong.


    Before Nn Feng stood a thin, tall man. His features were graceful, almost feminine, and his aura weighty. He looked toward Nn Feng. "I''ll drop you off here, Feng''er. Have Mr. Qi bring you back to the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    Behind Nn Feng was a man in ck, Mr. Qi.


    "Uncle, why can''t I stay in the draconic pce? I''m a Spiritsong-realm cultivator now, and I''d be able to help you," Nn Feng asked, unwilling to leave.


    The man shook his head. "Mr. Wen noticed something amiss. Something is about to unfold in the draconic pce. We won''t be able to guard you if you stay."


    Nn Feng sighed in exasperation. "Alright, Uncle. It''s past time I settled my score with Xiao Nanfeng."


    The thin, tall man turned to Mr. Qi. "Mr. Qi, you must protect Feng''er at any cost."


    Mr. Qi bowed. "With me around, no one will be able to harm the third prince."


    "Rx, Uncle. I''m a Spiritsong-realm cultivator with an Immortal relic now. I could hardly be harmed," Nn Feng replied confidently.


    The thin, tall man nodded, then flew back into the draconic pce.


    Therge ship on which Nn Feng and Mr. Qi sailed hovered around the edge of the fog, then steered away from it.


    They quickly saw a man leaving the pce with a pitted jeweled pagoda in hand, arousing the white-robed Immortal''s attention. The white-robed Immortal and arge group of cultivators headed into the fog.


    "Do they think it''s that easy to obtain these Immortal relics? They must not be aware of the dangers within," Nn Fengmented with a disdainful look.


    "My teacher''s nning is truly without w. The strongest cultivators of the sects of the Eastern Sea are raring to enter the draconic pce, not realizing that they would only serve to further my teacher''s aims," Mr. Qi replied, smiling.


    "Mr. Wen is truly amazing to have caused such amotion and transformation to the draconic pce. It''s all thanks to him that my cultivation has grown so rapidly, and that I acquired two Immortal relics besides." Nn Feng took out a mirror with a smirk on his face.


    "Your Highness, there are too many cultivators gathered here. It''s better not to reveal any treasures needlessly," Mr. Qi warned.


    "Worry not. This Immortal relic, the Mirror of Truth, dispels all illusions and disys no manifestation when its power is used. Let me see if anyone''s sneaking an Immortal relic out. If their cultivation isn''t up to snuff, we can intercept and kill them to gain more relics ourselves." Nn Feng''s eyes shed with anticipation.


    He shone the Mirror of Truth at everyone in the vicinity. Many who were shrouding themselves in fog appeared in in sight in the mirror, and their treasures and weapons shone with mysterious light.


    "It''s a pity. There''s no one hiding an Immortal relic," Nn Feng spat out, somewhat dissatisfied.


    Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Him!"


    "Who?" Mr. Qi asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng! He''s rather full of himself, isn''t he? Daring to approach the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce alone... why, he''s asking to be killed." Nn Feng smiled fiercely.


    Xiao Nanfeng was on a small skiff that blended in with the crowd. Although he was veiled, the Mirror of Truth revealed his appearance inly.


    "That''s Xiao Nanfeng?" Mr. Qi eximed in surprise.


    "Mr. Qi, apany me to take him down," Nn Fengmanded.


    "Third Prince, there''s no need for this. The draconic pce boasts tremendous danger; his life is already at risk. Furthermore, my teacher has specifically sent us out because of the imminent upheaval." Mr. Qi frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng humiliated me. I''d grind his bones to dust and dismember his corpse if I could. I won''t be satisfied if he just dies within the draconic pce. I want to end his life myself! What''s more, he possesses the Immortal''s Destruction, an Immortal relic of umon strength. If it were to be left in the draconic pce, someone else would get lucky instead," Nn Feng spat out.


    Mr. Qi''s eyes brightened. "It might not take us too long to take him down if we work fast. Fortunately, I know some special techniques for torture that will aid you in ying with him before his death, Your Highness."


    "Haha, very good, Mr. Qi! Let''s go!" Nn Feng nodded in satisfaction.


    The two cultivators flew back into the fog as they chased after Xiao Nanfeng.


    In the distance, as Xiao Nanfeng sailed into the fog, he discovered that the seawater was morphing into rapids. A huge whirlpool dragged at all the ships and boats in the vicinity, like a mouth about to devour them all.


    "Master, that whirlpool is the entrance to the draconic pce!" a voice rang out from behind. The white-robed Immortal swung his robes and sent their ship careening through the fog and into the mouth of the whirlpool. The other boats and ships were caught up in its wake and sucked in as well, including Xiao Nanfeng. He felt as though the whirlpool were dragging him toward the depths of the sea. Countless cultivators were spun around and around in a daze as they screamed.


    It took an interminable amount of time for the teleportation to end.


    With a huge crash, everyone and their ships were sent seemingly crashing into the floor of the sea before stopping sharply.


    Xiao Nanfeng spat out a mouthful of blood from the impact, as did many of those around him.


    They stood up to discover that there was no water here at the seafloor; the silty ground beneath their feet was pitch-ck and covered with ruined ships. It was apparent that all the ships entering the draconic pce were annihted in this manner.


    Above them was arge barrier shining with light, illuminating the space that had been shrouded by endless fog. Beyond the barrier was roiling seawater.


    "That''s the underwater barrier protecting the draconic pce. We''ve entered!" Many cultivators let out excited smiles.


    More and more cultivators sank toward them, as though having been transported in out of nowhere.


    The white-robed Immortal, led by disciples who had mapped out the area, quickly flew into the thick fog.


    The forces in the vicinity, on the other hand, mutually wary of each other, tried to group up.


    Xiao Nanfeng chose not to form an alliance with anyone. He rushed into the fog and left the area.


    Just then, Nn Feng and Mr. Qi appeared.


    "Where is he? He ran into the fog?" Mr. Qi shouted.


    "Don''t worry. With the Mirror of Truth, he won''t be able to escape," Nn Feng replied confidently.


    He held the mirror up to his surroundings. The thick fog surrounding them vanished in the ss, and he quickly found Xiao Nanfeng in the distance.


    "He''s right there. Chase after him!" Nn Feng cried out.


    "He won''t be able to get away." Mr. Qi smiled in a sinister fashion.


    The two cultivators rushed off in Xiao Nanfeng''s direction.

 Chapter 205: Slaying Nalan Feng

    <h4>Chapter 205: ying Nn Feng</h4>


    The draconic pce was filled with fog. Rumbling noises came from many directions.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued forward silently toward one source ofmotion nearby. He saw dozens of cultivators fighting against a humongous creature, the skeleton of a giant, pitch-ck dragon that was almost a hundred meters long. It seemed as though it were alive, and particrly ferocious at that. It swiped forward with one w, instantly spearing the chest of a male cultivator flying through the air. The man was ripped to pieces and fell to the ground dead.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. That had been a Spiritsong-realm cultivator! How could he have died so easily?


    "I can''t. I can''t hold on any longer!" one cultivator shouted.


    "Keep fighting! This monster won''t be able to regenerate its strength. The more it fights, the weaker it bes. It used to have the strength of an Immortal, but it''s the equivalent of a Wingform-realm cultivator now at best. We''ll be able to exhaust it to death!" another cultivator shouted.


    "Once we kill it, we''ll be able to get an Immortal relic. With all of us here, we''ll surely seed!" another cultivator shouted.


    The skeletal dragon roared and began to rampage.


    The cultivators all around were sent flying into the air, but they continued to attack. Madness and rage filled their eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood watching from afar, not entering the fray.


    "Are these cultivators mad? How would killing this skeletal dragon reward them with an Immortal relic? It''spletely unarmed¡ªit doesn''t even have a storage ring! Where would such a relice from?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Just then, a gigantic radiant palm descended from the skies.


    The palm pressed down on the skeletal dragon''s head, causing it to roar as it was rendered immobile against the seafloor.


    Everyone gasped and turned to see a white-robed Immortal floating in the air and staring coldly at the gathered cultivators.


    "This monster is mine to handle now. Leave," the white-robed Immortalmanded.


    The cultivators didn''t know what to do. Wary of the Immortal''s strength, they didn''t charge forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized this Immortal as the one who had been the one to lead the charge into the draconic pce.


    "Master, an Immortal relic is sealed within the body of each monster. If you kill it, the relic will appear. Master, please kill it quickly!" the scout from earlier yelled out, rushing forward.


    The white-robed Immortal looked toward the skeletal dragon and frowned. "This monster''s a little strange. Regardless, if it drops an Immortal relic... well, I''d like to see how that could be the case."


    The white-robed Immortal''s palm exerted tremendous strength as the skeletal dragon''s bones cracked. It keened in despair; its body was about to be entirely crushed.


    Just then, the white-robed Immortal nched and looked up at the sky. "Who is it?"


    A bright-red whip suddenly snapped and appeared through the thick fog, appearing so rapidly it was right in front of him before he could make a move.


    The white-robed Immortal pped at the whip, but the whip smashed his palm technique apart and wrapped around him.


    "Impossible!" the white-robed Immortal cried out, struggling furiously.


    No matter how he tried, however, he was unable to escape.


    As the whip retracted, the Immortal was sent catapulting forward into the fog and quickly vanished from sight. All that remained of him was a loud, shrill scream¡ªand then nothing.


    "Where did Master go? What was that red whip?" a cultivator cried out.


    "I, I don''t know!"


    "We have to chase after it. Save Master immediately!"


    A group of cultivators gave chase after the white-robed Immortal.


    The group of cultivators that had initially been fighting the skeletal dragon smirked. "So what if he''s an Immortal? This is the second Immortal I''ve seen that''s been snatched away by the red whip. This area is forbidden to Immortals. Serves him right for trying to steal our relic!"


    "What? There were other Immortals who were forcibly extracted by a red whip, too?" the cultivators around all eximed.


    "The Whip of Order..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He knew the same technique but at a far reduced strength.


    Just then, a bestial howl rang out. The skeletal dragon had regained its freedom and was preparing to strike at the gathered cultivators.


    "Let''s continue!" one cultivator howled.


    The fight resumed in earnest.


    Xiao Nanfeng was nning to continue observing the fight from the depths of the fog when he suddenly felt a threat close by. He rushed off.


    "Get back here!" Nn Feng shouted from behind.


    With the Mirror of Truth in hand, Nn Feng gave chase after Xiao Nanfeng. He and Mr. Qi were both Spiritsong-realm cultivators, and it was trivial for them to catch up.


    They quickly shot out from the fog and arrived overhead. Just then, purple light surrounded them both.


    Nn Feng and Mr. Qi''s eyes widened as they blocked the light with their palms, but it was toote. They were knocked back by the light and fell to the ground in shock. How could Xiao Nanfeng have bested them?


    Seeing the purple light all around them, however, they quickly understood what was going on.


    "The Talisman of Phantasmagoria? This is an illusion?" Nn Feng raised an eyebrow.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly appeared from within the purple light.


    "Nn Feng? Why have you been following me?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at the two cultivators.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I was justing over to greet you after sensing your presence. Why have you dragged me into an illusion?" Nn Feng replied, smiling.


    He had guessed that there had to be some reason for Xiao Nanfeng to bring them here. He was cautious by nature; rather than resisting him openly, he was stalling for time as he attempted to break out of the illusion.


    "Why waste time? Let''s cripple him first!" Mr. Qi, overconfident in his spiritual power, wasn''t aware of the danger he was in.


    He swept his arm forward, manifesting dozens of chess pieces around himself. Each piece burst into me, then shot toward Xiao Nanfeng like meteors.


    "Insolence!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold as he punched forward. A mountain-sized fist crushed the chess pieces and instantly arrived before Mr. Qi.


    "You''re at the peak of Ster Lake? No, you''re at Lunar Deluge! Impossible!" Mr. Qi shrieked.


    Mr. Qi''s spiritual avatar exploded in a rain of light.


    "Mirror of Truth!" Nn Feng cried out.


    A beam of white light shone into the illusory realm, splintering it as it broke apart. Both cultivators reappeared in reality.


    Nn Feng grabbed hold of a mirror as he floated in the air, looking warily at Xiao Nanfeng. Beside him, Mr. Qi had gone unconscious after his spiritual avatar had dissipated. He fell to the ground.


    "How could your spiritual cultivation be so advanced?" Nn Feng cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng red at Nn Feng. "You''re here to cause trouble, aren''t you?"


    Nn Feng scowled. He didn''t dare underestimate Xiao Nanfeng any longer. Rather, he was filled with a growing sense of excitement. The fact that Xiao Nanfeng had such an advanced spiritual cultivation meant that he was hiding some tremendous secret in addition to his possession of the Immortal''s Destruction.


    Nn Feng didn''t hesitate. Wielding the Mirror of Truth in one hand and a longsword in the other, he shed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nn Feng, even ignoring the fact that you were tailing and skulking around me, yourpanion tried to kill me. I''ve only left him unconscious, but if you continue to attack me, I''ll do far more than that," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    He blocked with a longsword, but was sent flying from the impact.


    "And here I thought you were all that! It looks like your only talent is in spiritual cultivation; your physical cultivation is still at Ascension-realm. In that case, you won''t be leaving here today." Nn Feng brandished his longsword as he charged forward again.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated another Talisman of Phantasmagoria, but Nn Feng used the Mirror of Truth simultaneously. A beam of white light struck the purple light and nullified its effect.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying with another sh.


    "You must be hiding a lot of secrets. Not only do you have the Immortal''s Destruction, your spiritual power is immense. And what''s this red light emerging from your body? Today, all your secrets will be mine! Haha!" Nn Feng charged forward again.


    Xiao Nanfeng was forced to parry and retreat once and again. Nn Feng''s sword shed at Xiao Nanfeng''s chest, leaving a huge, gaping wound. Blood sprayed out; Xiao Nanfeng had barely avoided being gutted.


    "You''re trying to kill me?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with frost.


    "Later. I''ll cripple you first, then torture and interrogate you. You won''t be able to stop me, even with this mysterious red light around your body. This is the difference in our strength. Xiao Nanfeng, for humiliating me in the Taiqing Immortal Sect, I''ll skin you alive!"


    He broke Xiao Nanfeng''s longsword with another sh, sending Xiao Nanfeng stumbling back until he crashed against a boulder. The boulder exploded from the force of the impact.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng continued charging forward. He attempted to guard against Nn Feng''s blows, but he still took wound after wound.


    "Are you crazy? Do you think you can do anything despite the disparity between us? What gives you such confidence?" Nn Feng shed forward again.


    This time, however, Nn Feng suddenly sensed the red light around Xiao Nanfeng reach a climax. It grew so bright that he had to avert his gaze; then, Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight.


    Nn Feng looked around wildly. "Come out, Xiao Nanfeng! Do you think hiding amidst this red light will work? Get out here!"


    He swung his longsword all around him, but he failed to notice Xiao Nanfeng by his side.


    Xiao Nanfeng wiped at the blood trickling from his lip. He had allowed Nn Feng''s blows tond as he waited for the red moon''s hypnosis to take effect on Nn Feng. Now that it had seeded, he shed at Nn Feng from the back.


    Though Nn Feng whirled around, it was toote. His arm was cut off in a spray of blood.


    Nn Feng cried out in pain, then threatened again, "Xiao Nanfeng, for daring to strike at me, the Tianshu Empire will never forgive you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Nn Feng and shed forward again.


    Although Nn Feng was unable to see Xiao Nanfeng, he could sense killing intent draw near. Without any hesitation, he kept the Mirror of Truth and summoned a golden orb. He activated it, causing it to form a golden barrier around his body. Xiao Nanfeng''s sh struck the barrier like metal scraping against rock.


    Nn Feng''s scalp buzzed. He understood that he had just escaped a killing blow.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck again. Nn Feng had attempted to kill him, and Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of relenting now.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, this is an Immortal relic. You won''t be able to prate it. I''ll take revenge for what happened today a hundred times over!" Nn Feng flew into the air, attempting to escape.


    "Do you think you can get away?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold.


    He sent a red whip snapping at Nn Feng, passing harmlessly through the barrier and curling around his neck.


    "What?!" Nn Feng cried out.


    With just one arm, which was upied with controlling the Immortal barrier, Nn Feng was incapable of freeing himself from the red rope around his neck. He had no choice but to fly as fast as he could.


    Xiao Nanfeng refused to relent. He held on even as Nn Feng dragged him forward.


    He would fight to thest. He couldn''t let Nn Feng get away now!


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt up into the air as he pulled on the red whip. Simultaneously, the red whip loosened itself from Nn Feng''s neck and whirled around the golden orb in his hand instead.


    Xiao Nanfeng tugged the golden orb away, causing the barrier to dissipate. Xiao Nanfeng''s sword struck Nn Feng''s body.


    Nn Feng was sent crashing down. He released his energy to form a makeshift barrier against Xiao Nanfeng''s blow, but blood sprayed out of his stump of a shoulder as a result of the blow. His face grew pale as his barrier flickered. Xiao Nanfeng struck at an opening.


    Nn Feng''s head was sent flying.

 Chapter 206: For Fortune

    <h4>Chapter 206: For Fortune</h4>


    After killing Nn Feng, Xiao Nanfeng finished off Mr. Qi as well. He disposed of the two cultivators'' corpses, then checked his spoils.


    Mr. Qi''s treasures were all ordinary, and Xiao Nanfeng had no interest in them. Nn Feng had quite a few treasures in his storage ring, but the majority was only of passing interest to Xiao Nanfeng. There were only two treasures of note.


    One was a mirror, the back of which was engraved with the words ''Mirror of Truth.'' As he infused his qi into the mirror, truth was revealed on its ssy surface.


    "No wonder they could find me. If I shine this mirror at my surroundings, the fog all around appears to dissipate!" Xiao Nanfeng yed with the Mirror of Truth with growing interest.


    The back of the mirror looked as though it had been corroded, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mind. He stowed the treasure carefully.


    The other Immortal relic was the golden orb that had formed a barrier around Nn Feng.


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully inspected the golden orb to discover spots of rust around its surface. It was pitted and filled with holes.


    "An Immortal relic, Nn Feng said? But the strength of this barrier only looks to be around the peak of Spiritsong, if that. No, it''s likely because of the corrosion. How strange. Are all the Immortal relics of the draconic pce corroded in this fashion? The pagoda from before was like that too..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He could sense that the golden orb''s interior had been badly corroded, and the formations within it were damaged. If he wielded it carelessly, it might even explode on him.


    "I have to be particrly careful with this..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    As Xiao Nanfeng carefully manipted it, it began giving off radiant, multicolored light, giving it the appearance of a true relic.


    Suddenly, his muscles bunched up. He looked up to see a monstrous creature appearing through the fog¡ªthe skeletal dragon that a group of cultivators had been attacking.


    The skeletal dragon was drenched with blood and its bones were cracked. It looked as though it would fall to pieces at any moment. However, the fact that it had arrived before him made it evident that it had won the fight against the cultivators, all of whom were either dead or running.


    The skeletal dragon red at Xiao Nanfeng, gusts of killing intent emerging from its nostrils.


    The skeletal dragon roared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I haven''t bothered you at all! Why are you roaring at me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and ran for it, but the skeletal dragon was too fast. It shot toward him within moments, then raked at his back. Xiao Nanfeng nched as he immediately activated the golden orb to form a barrier around him.


    The force of the skeletal dragon''s attack, however, had been fully transferred to his body. He smashed into a mountain in the distance, sending rubble all over.


    The mountain copsed and buried him within it. He held his breath and didn''t dare move, hoping that the skeletal dragon would ignore him and fly away.


    Unfortunately, the skeletal dragon seemed to be fully focused on him. It swiped its tail at the mountain, smashing apart the rocks in the rockslide, as it continued to attack Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Are you crazy? I''ve been trying to hide from you, but that doesn''t mean I won''t fight! Talisman of Phantasmagoria!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    A huge surge of purple light shot toward the skeletal dragon, but as it struck its body, the light was absorbed by its pitch-ck skeletal frame. The skeletal dragon waspletely unaffected.


    "Why didn''t it work?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and ran, but the skeletal dragon''s attention was fully focused on him. It rushed to his back, causing Xiao Nanfeng to activate the golden orb again.


    He was sent flying once more. If not for the barrier formed by the golden orb, he would have suffered greatly from the skeletal dragon''sst two blows.


    Just then, the golden orb vibrated violently, and the multicolored light flickered. Clearly, the orb wouldn''t be able to take many more such blows. Meanwhile, as the skeletal dragon continued to smash into Xiao Nanfeng, the cracks around its body grewrger as well.


    "Is this dragon crazy? Why is it so focused on me?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to run. He encountered a few cultivators along the way, but the skeletal dragon ignored them. It focused solely on Xiao Nanfeng and continued to attack him.


    The chase proceeded for a whole hour. Xiao Nanfeng felt as though the golden orb was about to break, but he still hadn''t managed to hypnotize the dragon with the red light under his control. He knew that he would suffer when the golden orb broke once and for all.


    His eyes slitted, Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the skeletal dragon.


    The skeletal dragon roared and bit forward at Xiao Nanfeng. Just as its teeth were about tond, Xiao Nanfeng dropped his shield, activated the tattered formations within the golden orb, and then threw it into its mouth.


    The golden orb suddenly radiated with light, then burst apart.


    Xiao Nanfeng had chosen to detonate the Immortal relic to kill both it and the skeletal dragon.


    With a huge rumble of energy and spray of fire, Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying from the impact and struck the ground some distance away.


    He sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood as hended, having been dealt a serious injury from the shockwaves that were the aftermath of the attack.


    In the distance, the skeletal dragon''s head exploded. Its body fell to the ground and dissipated in a cloud of ck smoke.


    "That monster''s dead!"


    "Thatd destroyed an Immortal relic?"


    "Decisive, isn''t he?"


    Cries rang out from around Xiao Nanfeng. Clearly, many cultivators had heard themotion and were lying in wait for an opportunity to descend. They emerged only after Xiao Nanfeng had finished off the skeletal dragon.


    "Quick! Where''s the Immortal relic?" One cultivator rushed toward where the skeletal dragon had fallen.


    Dozens of cultivators apanied him. They were just about to reach the center of the explosion when a frightening aura descended from the heavens.


    Subsequently, dozens of green rays struck the greedy cultivators.


    The cultivators were sent flying amidst a cacophony of screams. Dust billowed from the ground. The cultivators fell paralyzed as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.


    "Who''s there?!" Everyone looked toward the air, where a huge, sixty-meter-long figure was descending from the sea above.


    "A Wingform-realm sea spirit!" the cultivators cried out.


    "What a gigantic lobster," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The new opponent was arge lobster spirit, with two antennas that looked like draconic horns. It was fierce and clearly belligerent.


    "A green lobster king! The king of the green lobster sea spirits!" one cultivator shouted, recognizing the threat.


    Just then, another group of green lobsters appeared from all around. Many were Ascension-realm, but two, floating in the air, were clearly at Spiritsong. They were backed up by sheer numbers. Killing intent filled the air as they brandished their green pincers and encircled the cultivators.


    "Don''t eat us!" the cultivators cried out.


    The green lobster king red at the cultivators disdainfully before turning to Xiao Nanfeng. "Lad, you''re rather daring to be using Immortal relics within the pce. Don''t you know that these skeletal dragons hate those who use Immortal relics in their vicinity? They''ll give chase forever."


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately grew rmed.


    No wonder that skeletal dragon had been eyeing him! It was because he had been protecting himself with the Immortal relic.


    "At least you knew to destroy the relic. I''m surprised you weren''t killed yourself, though." The green lobster king chuckled.


    "I''m new to the draconic pce and know little of its rules. Thank you for the advice, lobster king," Xiao Nanfeng replied, bowing.


    "Advice? Haha. Very well. You''ll follow behind me as I give you more advice." The green lobster king mocked Xiao Nanfeng,ughing as though it had heard a funny joke.


    It flew toward the center of the explosion. Xiao Nanfeng followed behind curiously; the other lobster spirits didn''t bar its way.


    At the center of the explosion, as the fragments that formed the skeletal dragon dissipated away, were two items: a length of red rope and a longsword glowing with radiant light.


    "An Immortal longsword? These skeletal dragons really can produce loot when they die? What''s going on? How is this possible?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    The Immortal relic had been corroded almost to the point of unusability. The hilt of the sword was entirely gone, and the de itself was pitted nearpletely.


    "Another corroded Immortal relic, and to such an extent...?" the green lobster king spat out.


    It grabbed the Immortal sword with its pincers, stared at it, then tossed it toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Take it."


    "Me?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised.


    He was shocked that the green lobster king would be so charitable.


    "Right. Keep it with you. You''ll be responsible for luring other skeletal dragons around to attack you," the green lobster king continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He had clearly thought too highly of the green lobster king, who intended to use him as bait!


    "Can I have that red rope instead?" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the red rope that the Immortal relic hadnded on.


    The green lobster king seemed taken aback. "You want that red rope?"


    "I do. If you don''t mind, could I have both of the relics?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The green lobster king nced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. "Take them if you''d like. This is the first time I''ve seen someone dare to provoke the red rope in my few months here."


    "What do you mean?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Just then, one cultivator that the green lobster king had badly injured began, "Whenever a skeletal dragon is defeated, an Immortal relic and a length of red rope are dropped. Those who im the Immortal relic will be beset upon by other skeletal dragons, and the majority of those who im the red rope will be strangled to death. Aren''t you aware?"


    Xiao Nanfeng stilled. <i>How would I have known? This entire ce is weird!</i> However, it was evident that even the green lobster king was rather fearful of the red rope.


    "Then I''ll thank you for your generosity, lobster king. Red is my lucky color." Xiao Nanfeng took the red rope and cinched it around his waist.


    The cultivators all around: ...


    The green lobster king: ...


    Did he not understand what they said? Everyone avoided these lengths of red rope; he thought they would bring him fortune?

 Chapter 207: The Ancestral Dragons Hall

    <h4>Chapter 207: The Ancestral Dragon''s Hall</h4>


    Everyone fell silent as they looked at the red rope cinched to Xiao Nanfeng''s waist. Even the green lobster king thought that Xiao Nanfeng was dead meat.


    It clearly knew that the red rope was a cursed effigy, but it hadn''t stopped Xiao Nanfeng from picking it up, and it hadn''t dared to malign it. It was worried that the red rope would overhear what it said and end up being targeted instead.


    "Do you know what I''m doing here, then? All of you, follow me!" the green lobster kingmanded.


    "No, please! We''re only passersby. Please let us go!"


    "We''re innocent. This has nothing to do with us!"


    The cultivators let out identical looks of panic.


    The green lobster king snarled. "You''ve encountered me, haven''t you? That''s fate. If you want to resist, I''ll kill you all right now."


    "We¡ª" The cultivators fretted anxiously.


    The green lobster king''s horns suddenly released a cloud of greenish-brown fog that surrounded the cultivators.


    "No!" they cried out.


    The fog rushed into their chests as the cultivators shook.


    "I''ve marked you all with my spiritual power. Don''t try to run. Within the draconic pce, I''ll be able to sense you no matter where you are. If you run, I''ll kill you. On the other hand, if you listen to me obediently and participate in three fights against the skeletal dragons, I''ll free you."


    The hunters stared at each other in despair.


    "You, detain them. The rest of you,e catch more cultivators with me," the green lobster kingmanded.


    "Understood!" a Spiritsong-realm lobster spirit replied.


    It, along with twenty ordinary lobster spirits, detained the cultivators as the green lobster king and its other subordinates left.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the brown spots of fog imprinted on his chest. Was this sufficient for tracking him? He sent a wave of spiritual power at it, washing it away.


    However, with the lobster spirits in his vicinity, he didn''t dare make a move.


    "Do you know where the lobster spirits are bringing us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the cultivator by his side curiously.


    "Where else? The Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, of course. You''ve really ruined us. This is the second time I''ve been caught by a sea spirit. Why am I so unlucky?!" the cultivator grumbled.


    "What''s the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "You really are new, aren''t you? You don''t even know about this?"


    "Please enlighten me," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "The draconic pce is made up of threerge halls, each of which is guarded by countless skeletal dragons. The Ancestral Dragon''s Hall is one of the halls. Spirits surround the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, but they don''t have the numbers to take down the skeletal dragons standing guard. As a result, they hunt down cultivators and other scattered spirits from all over to serve as cannon fodder¡ªthat''s us," the cultivator finished.


    "Where did the skeletal dragon I took downe from?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Someone must have lured it out from one of the halls. That''s why it was alone," one cultivator said.


    "It''s all your fault! If we hadn''t seen you take down that skeletal dragon, we wouldn''t have been caught."


    "You already have an Immortal relic, don''t you? Why are you wasting time here at the draconic pce?"


    The cultivators cursed Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He had no intention of responding to these idiotic cultivators; if anything, they were to me for trying to take advantage of his kill.


    Xiao Nanfeng had already wiped clean the spiritual mark that the green dragon king had left on his body and could leave at any time, but he did want to check out the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall..


    Along the way, the ground that Xiao Nanfeng saw was pitch-ck, as though anything on top of it had been burnt to a crisp. There were also the ruins of other buildings nearby, which seemed to have been destroyed as well. Everything around the draconic pce appeared to have decayed away.


    The cultivators traveled for two days and were resting in a valley when the red rope around Xiao Nanfeng''s waist suddenly made a move.


    As though alive, the red rope emitted a burst of scarlet light that surrounded Xiao Nanfeng and brought him into an illusion. Thick fog surrounded him; he looked warily around. A roar came from within the fog.


    "No!" a pained scream rang out. A wave of energy swept aside the fog and revealed Madam Rouge, who was devouring fragments of red rope that had just been scattered.


    "You work quickly!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The red rope cursed effigy had been trying to attack him, but Madam Rouge had eaten it before it could do much of anything.


    After Madam Rouge swallowed up thest of the red rope, she turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "This cursed spiritual avatar must have been sealed away for many years. It''s incredibly weak. You had better find other lengths of red rope instead."


    "Do you know what''s going on here, Madam Rouge? Why is it that Immortal relics and lengths of red rope spawn after we defeat these skeletal dragons? And why did it take two days for this length of red rope to revive?"


    Madam Rouge was silent for a moment, as though contemting whether or not to tell Xiao Nanfeng the information he sought.


    "Madam Rouge, we''re friends, aren''t we? What''s more, even if you don''t tell me, I''ll be able to uncover the truth sooner orter. Aren''t you just wasting my time by withholding this information?" Xiao Nanfeng coaxed.


    Madam Rouge was silent again before she replied, "If my guess isn''t mistaken, the Eastern Sea dragon king attempted to take the red rope cursed king with it as it died."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "Do you know what the draconic pce was like in the past?" Madam Rouge asked.


    "What was it like?"


    "There was coral and radiant light everywhere. Immortal trees and herbs grew out of every corner of the pce; treasures were everywhere to be found. This was where the draconic veins around the Eastern Sea were most concentrated, and they were present to such an extreme that physical fog formed from draconic aether wasmonce. Now, however, the draconic pce is but a shell of its former glory. All is ash. The draconic aether here is even less concentrated here than outside. It''s clear that the dragon king must have expended everything in and around the draconic pce for a curse of extreme proportions."


    "A curse?"


    "This curse must have separated the red ropes'' cursed spiritual avatars from their cursed effigies."


    "Oh?"


    "These skeletal dragons are formed from curses, and they seal away the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatars. The Immortal relics serve as lynchpins that suppress the cursed spiritual avatars'' might. After two centuries, everything has begun to corrode thanks to the curse."


    "And what about the red rope''s cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "The curse must have sealed it somewhere else. It''s consistently being corroded by the curse. Only with the cursed spiritual avatars free can the cursed effigy itself escape, return to its physical body, and regenerate. The aura of the curse is strongest ariynd here. Even if the red rope is free, the curse will continue to suppress it.


    "Is this curse that incredible?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "You can catch these cursed spiritual avatars and I''ll devour their souls. We can split these lengths of red rope up," Madam Rouge suggested.


    "Is this what you wanted me to im in the Eastern Sea draconic pce? Just a few more cursed spiritual avatars from these lengths of red rope?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    It was difficult enough for him to deal with Madam Rouge as she was; the problem would only deepen if Madam Rouge were allowed ess to countless red ropes'' souls. This didn''t seem to be a winning proposition.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll let you know what I need from the pce when it''s time, but this isn''t in conflict with my ns. What''s more, aren''t we friends? Friends should help each other for a win-win situation."


    Xiao Nanfeng goggled at Madam Rouge. Wasn''t that what he had said in the past to trick Madam Rouge? She was using those tricks on him now!


    "Don''t forget to catch more red ropes," Madam Rouge requested.


    Then, she broke the illusion apart, causing Xiao Nanfeng''s consciousness to remain to his physical body. He didn''t see that Madam Rouge had a tiny smile on her face.


    Xiao Nanfeng woke up in physical reality. He pursed his lips at hearing what Madam Rouge had to say. She was rather thick-skinned, wasn''t she?


    Suppressing his negative emotions, he stored the red rope on his waist.


    "Alright, that''s about enough time to rest. We''ll be continuing. Move faster, now!" the lobster spirits shouted.


    The cultivators had no choice but to stand up in exasperation. Just like Xiao Nanfneg, they were Ascension-realm lifeforms. It would be impossible to resist them for the time being.


    "Eh, what happened to the red rope around your waist?" One cultivator discovered that something was amiss.


    "I don''t know myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied, feigning confusion. "It was gone when I woke up and looked for it. Have you seen it?"


    The cultivators gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look before one of them finally spoke up. "How lucky you are, for that red rope to escape on its own."


    "The red rope is a cursed effigy. Count yourself lucky that you''re still alive."


    "Be quiet! Have you forgotten how vengeful these spirits are? Don''t let it target you, next!"


    "Right, don''t mention it anymore!"


    The cultivators chatted with each other. Clearly, it wasmon knowledge that the red rope was a cursed effigy. They didn''t dare speak poorly of it, just like with the green lobster king.


    After another day, the lobster spirits led the detained cultivators toward the outskirts of the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    From afar, the fog seemed to be shrouding a humongous hall shining with radiant light. Thick fog surrounded the hall, and the roars of dozens of skeletal dragons, along with the shouts and screams of countless men and spirits alike, could be heard from within. The sounds alone were testament to the strenuous fighting.


    Just then, there was a huge boom. Another skeletal dragon had been taken down. The fog dissipated, revealing hundreds of wounded and dead cultivators and spirits. They were still on a battle high and inordinately anxious about the rewards. They had just managed to take down another skeletal dragon.


    As the skeletal dragon''s body burst apart, an Immortal relic glowing with rainbow light and a length of red rope slowly fell to the ground.


    "This Immortal relic doesn''t seem to have corroded too much! Let me im it," one cultivator shouted in excitement.


    "Nonsense! All the Immortal relics belong to I and the other sea spirits. You have no im to them," a sea spirit thundered.


    The sound of fighting rang out anew as thick fog covered the scene.


    "Are they all blind? They''re going for a broken Immortal relic rather than that length of red rope? It''s mine, then!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Everyone in his surroundings turned toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly froze, realizing that he had been too excited. He continued, "Ah, my red rope ran off, so I''d like to get a new length to y with."


    The cultivators and spirits goggled at Xiao Nanfeng. Did he not fear death?

 Chapter 208: The Serpent Playing Dead

    <h4>Chapter 208: The Serpent ying Dead</h4>


    Dayster, Croak and Warble flew across the Eastern Sea with Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, You Jiu, Ye Dafu, and a hundred other cultivators besides.


    "Where are we headed, King Xiao?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.


    "I know a certain green lobster king that''s gone on an expedition, and it''s willing to gift me the draconic vein embedded in itsir," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "We''re taking down air of lobster spiritbeasts?" Ye Dafu''s eyes lit up.


    "Lobster meat!" Croak croaked.


    "Ye Dafu, you''ll be responsible for surrounding their with a formation. Mr. Zheng, you''ll manipte the Ghosts'' Parade to strike and batter them. You Jiu, you''ll guard the perimeter and serve as a line of defense. Croak, Warble, you''ll lead the charge against the lobster spirits. Everyone else will join you in killing them," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    At the same time, in a region of particrly thick fog within the draconic pce, the green lobster king scuttled forward with the hundreds of cultivators and spirits it had caught. It looked at the thick fog before itself.


    "I am a lobster of my word. Fight these skeletons thrice, and I''ll let you go free. Today''s the first time, and we''ll strike immediately. Lad, you! Go use your Immortal relic in the fog and lure a skeletal dragon over," the green lobster kingmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar walked out from the crowd. Over thesest few days, he had seen how devastating such fights could be. He carefully retrieved the broken Immortal relic and infused a small amount of spiritual power into it, causing it to shine with radiant light.


    He stepped into the thick fog and quickly lured a skeletal dragon over. The skeletal dragon looked on fiercely. It roared and caused arge quantity of fog around itself to dissipate.


    It gave off a thick, viscous ck aura. Just a little of the killing intent that it emanated made the cultivators feel as though they were unable to breathe.


    "Is this the aura of an Immortal? How are we supposed to fight such a monster?!" one cultivator cried out in panic.


    Most of them were Ascension-realm cultivators. For them to challenge an Immortal was like having ants challenge an elephant. They were doomed!


    "Good work. Continue luring it over!" the green lobster king called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved the Immortal sword in his hand, as though challenging the skeletal dragon, then retreated.


    The skeletal dragon roared in outrage and chased after Xiao Nanfeng, moving so rapidly that it appeared behind him in no time.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately caused the Immortal de to self-destruct, then tossed it behind him.


    The Immortal de exploded with roaring mes, causing the skeletal dragon toe to a halt. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by the force of the explosion.


    "Who told you to destroy the Immortal de now?!" the green lobster king thundered.


    "You said to do so at an opportune time," Xiao Nanfeng countered,nding on the ground and continuing to run.


    "Ridiculous! I told you to make it self-destruct after pitching it into the dragon''s maw. Are you incapable of following simple instructions?" the green lobster king raged.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. There was no time to do anything of the sort. This was an Immortal-realm skeletal dragon. Considering its speed, if he hadn''t caused the sword to self-destruct when he did, he would already have been consumed.


    This green lobster king was deliberately sending him to his death; he wasn''t about to fall prey to its antics!


    The skeletal dragon roared and charged forward angrily, but Xiao Nanfeng''s speed was nothing to scoff at. Thanks to the destruction of the Immortal relic, he had enough time to run all the way behind the green lobster king, causing it to gnash its teeth.


    "Raise the formation!" the green lobster kingmanded.


    From the fog appeared a radiant chain that tangled around the skeletal dragon and forced it to stop short. It roared in outrage as a plume of dust rose into the air from its thrashing.


    "It''s been restrained by an Immortal chain! Now, everyone, attack!" the green lobster king continued.


    "Kill!" All the cultivators and spirits charged toward the skeletal dragon.


    The skeletal dragon wasn''t particrly intelligent; all it could do was struggle on the spot. A viscous ck energy seeped out of its body.


    The skeletal dragon roared in outrage, but the Immortal chain was doing its work. It gradually grew weaker under the cultivators''bined assault.


    "Don''t stop. Keep attacking at full force. This skeletal dragon can''t regain its strength, so it''ll grow weaker the more it''s attacked. Once it drops to the level of a Wingform-realm spirit, there''ll be nothing to worry about. If any of you cks off, I''ll kill you!" the green lobster king continued.


    Suddenly, the skeletal dragon roared. Shards of bone shot out of its body like spears, pinning almost a hundred cultivators against the ground.


    They screamed in pain, having lost much of theirbat ability.


    "This is one of its Immortal techniques. The more it uses it, the faster it weakens. If you haven''t been killed, keep attacking the skeletal dragon! All of your bodies have been marked. If you dare run, I''ll kill you!" the green lobster king shouted.


    Even the wounded had no choice but to continue charging forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the threat, stepped into the fog, and ran off.


    Considering the thick fog in the vicinity, no one would notice him in the heat of battle. He had wasted more than enough time with the green lobster king in order to get a better sense of the situation, but he had gained what understanding he needed by now. There was no reason to stay any further; he had to collect what lengths of red rope he could find.


    There were rumbles everywhere; the green lobster king wasn''t the only group fighting these skeletal dragons. Other spirit kings had their own makeshift battalions, and there were almost twenty skeletal dragons engaged in the vicinity of the fog. Elemental lightning, fire, and wind could be sensed all over.


    With the Mirror of Truth, Xiao Nanfeng could keep an eye on the battlefield atrge. Many of the weakest cultivators, forced into being cannon fodder, had long since perished.


    Suddenly, he saw a length of red rope that had been discarded by ruins around which a battle had taken ce. His eyes lit up as he rushed over.


    "These cultivators really don''t know how precious this red rope is, do they?" Xiao Nanfeng retrieved it immediately.


    As he rushed through the battlefield, he collected ten lengths of red rope in no more than two hours.


    Xiao Nanfeng beamed. "I made the right choice ining here. It''s amazing. There''s red rope all over!"


    He walked over to the site of another battle, where a skeletal dragon had been trapped by an Immortal chain. Hundreds of cultivators were attempting to weaken the skeletal dragon with theirbined efforts, and there were corpses scattered all across the ground. Xiao Nanfeng recognized one of them.


    "Serpent?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    It was the shameless serpent that he had first encountered in the undying realm, which Xiao Nanfengter found out was the dragon prince of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce.


    At this point, however, the serpent was a sorry sight. It was bloody all over and was lying in a pool of blood, no longer breathing. There were countless bone spears embedded in its body. It looked so wretched that Xiao Nanfeng almost didn''t recognize it.


    "So this is how the Eastern Sea dragon n meets itsst... Well, I haven''t had a chance to try dragon meat yet. Maybe I''ll have a taste." Xiao Nanfeng sighed,


    then tugged on the carcass, intending to send it into his storage ring.


    "Ouch! Who''s pulling on my whiskers?!" The serpent suddenly opened its eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng was so startled that he released the serpent immediately.


    "You? What are you doing here?" The serpent stared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re not dead?"


    The serpent twisted its body. The bone spears ttered as they fell to the ground. Many had been clenched under its armpit, making it look as though they had prated its body¡ªbut it was just an illusion. It wasn''t hurt at all!


    Xiao Nanfeng then looked at the desated corpses around the serpent. He understood what was going on now. The serpent had smeared the blood from these corpses on its own body.


    "You were pretending to be dead!"


    "Shush," the serpent hissed.


    "What are you doing here? Where''s Blue Lantern?"


    The serpent sighed in grievance.


    "Master Blue Lantern told me he was going to bring me to the draconic pce in search of great opportunity. We had just arrived when we encountered a skeletal dragon. The moment Blue Lantern struck and destroyed it, he was grabbed by a red whip and taken away, leaving me alone in such a dangerous ce!"


    "And then what happened?"


    "What else? Do you know how much I''ve suffered all this time?" The serpent grew angrier and angrier as it spoke.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed, guessing its plight. The shameless serpent had likely been caught by a spirit king to be used as cannon fodder.


    "How pitiful." Xiao Nanfeng clicked his tongue.


    "Hold on, those spirit kings mark all their prisoners with spiritual marks! Only those marked cultivators are allowed onto the battlefield. You''re not with us, so what are you doing here? Aren''t you afraid you''ll be caught?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin. He said, "I''m searching for something."


    "For what?"


    "For this. You''ve been here for some time, haven''t you? Where do you think I can find more of these?" Xiao Nanfeng showed the red serpent a few lengths of red rope.


    The serpent reared back as if electrified. "Do you want to die? You''re picking up these lengths of red rope? Take them away from me, away!"


    "It''s fine. Rx," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    The serpent was still jittering. It seemed to have had some traumatic experience with these red ropes during this period of time.


    "Serpent, why are you pretending to be dead again? Strike with me!" a giant crab spirit shouted from the distance.


    When the serpent turned and saw the crab''s furious expression, it stiffened, then turned back toward Xiao Nanfeng. "It''s all your fault! I''ve been exposed again."


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be seen. He had already escaped back into the fog.


    The serpent stiffened, not having expected that Xiao Nanfeng would run off and leave him behind.


    "Who are you talking to? Get over here now. Do you want me to beat you to death?!" the crab spirit howled.


    The serpent was almost on the verge of tears. "Xiao Nanfeng, that damn brat! Nothing ever goes right when I''m around him!"


    "Get over here now!" the crab spirit howled again.


    The serpent, aggrieved, had no choice but to slither back to the crab spirit and begin fighting the skeletal dragon again.

 Chapter 209: Another Encounter with Prime Minister Turtle

    <h4>Chapter 209: Another Encounter with Prime Minister Turtle</h4>


    Amidst the thick fog, Xiao Nanfeng was silent as it looked toward the battlefield the serpent had been forced to charge into.


    "It''s just a red rope. What are you so worried about?" Xiao Nanfeng asked disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a token, the one that the dragon n''s elder, Long Jiu, had given him. He had sealed the rest of his spiritual power and his own inheritance within.


    "The serpent has a terrible personality, but Long Jiu''s not bad. It even gave me a map of the draconic veins around the Eastern Sea. Before it died, it instructed me to hand this token to the serpent. Should I..." Xiao Nanfeng contemted what to do.


    Suddenly, a sense of danger pervaded the air. He turned to see a skeletal dragon flying toward him, roaring. He nched and was just about to run, but the dragon was too fast. He gritted his teeth, ready to cause the Mirror of Truth to implode while he took advantage of the distraction to run.


    Just then, however, the skeletal dragon stopped right by Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t understand what was going on. He held the Mirror of Truth warily, suspicion in his eyes. However, the skeletal dragon''s killing intent had vanished.


    It looked toward Xiao Nanfeng for a bit longer before suddenly lowering its head, as though bowing down to him.


    "What''s going on? Why is it bowing?" Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily difited.


    He quickly guessed that there had to be something causing the skeletal dragon''s behavior to be erratic¡ªand he suddenly looked toward the token in his hand. He held it up and tentatively walked toward the skeletal dragon, which slowly retreated so as not to bar Xiao Nanfeng''s path.


    "It really is because of this token!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly cried out.


    He knew that the sea spirits were attacking the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall not just because of the Immortal relics that were present within each skeletal dragon, but also to get into the hall to retrieve the treasures within.


    With this token, couldn''t he enter the hall without any fighting whatsoever?


    He suppressed his budding excitement, holding the token up high as he walked deeper into the mist. As expected, the skeletal dragons didn''t bar his way.


    Not longter, two more skeletal dragons, sensing a foreign presence, shot forward. Upon seeing the token Xiao Nanfeng held high, however, they immediately lowered their heads and bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart soared. "This n really will work!"


    He stepped into the interior of the fog and quickly arrived at arge za filled with thick fog. He shone the Mirror of Truth into its midst to reveal hundreds of skeletal dragons lying within the za.


    Not only that, there were hundreds more skeletal dragons flying overhead.


    Xiao Nanfeng was astounded by the scene. "And those spirit kings still think they can make it here? Dream on..."


    All the dragons he passed by bowed down to him, causing his anticipation to grow.


    He quickly arrived at the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, a towering building radiating with multicolored light.


    The doors to the hall were slightly ajar. Xiao Nanfeng could vaguely see an object within giving off clouds of purple energy. It was clearly a treasure of immense value.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly attempted to step inside, but he was blocked by a barrier that had suddenly manifested at the entrance to the hall. The barrier too was radiating with multicolored light, and Xiao Nanfeng''s strength was insufficient to break through it.


    Xiao Nanfeng manifested his ethereal red rope in an attempt to retrieve the treasure from a distance, but the moment the red rope formed, a burst of ck air came from the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall and surrounded dozens of the skeletal dragons, which roared and pounced toward him under the ck air''s control.


    He hurriedly dispelled the technique, causing the ck air to vanish and the skeletal dragons to return to their original dormancy.


    "I can''t use this technique here, then?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    There were countless treasures within the hall, but he wasn''t able to enter! He tried many different techniques and searched for other entrances to the hall, but to no avail. When he tried to strike the barrier with his spiritual power, an ethereal dragon''s head manifested and roared at him.


    "Could it be because I''m not a dragon? Hold on. The serpent''s the dragon prince. Could it bring me inside?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He retreated through the fog and returned to find the serpent, retracing his steps with the dragon token held high in his hand.


    However, all he found was a pile of battered corpses lying in pools of blood. There wasn''t even a red rope present; clearly, the serpent and crab spirits had slunk back in defeat.


    Xiao Nanfeng checked the corpses in the vicinity and found no trace of the serpent.


    "Considering how shameless it is, I doubt it''se to any harm. They must have retreated. I need to find the sea spirits'' camp, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    He spent some time searching through the fog to see many wounded cultivators retreating from the battlefield under the supervision of the sea spirits. He immediately tore apart his clothes and pretended to be badly injured, then snuck into their midst.


    The wounded cultivators were quickly brought toward a giant valley in the distance. There were thousands of injured there. After the massive battle, many of them were seriously wounded and trying to heal their wounds. Xiao Nanfeng would have to find the serpent among all these cultivators.


    By the sides of the valley and atop the cliffs were sea spirits that served as guard and patrol. There was an ornate hall at the top of the mountain, where a group of spirit kings were unting their spoils of war.


    "A waterquelling pearl? Green Lobster, you''ve been pretty lucky this time around."


    "I''ll trade you an Immortal sword for that pearl."


    "Not interested! Do you think I''m a fool? Why would I trade this precious artifact for your pile of trash?"


    The other spirit kings all surrounded the green lobster king, but they quickly fell silent. A ny-meter-long turtle had just emerged from the hall.


    "Prime Minister Turtle!" All the spirit kings bowed respectfully.


    "Who obtained a waterquelling pearl? Show me," the turtlemanded.


    The green lobster king stepped forward and respectfully handed over the pearl.


    "Indeed, this is a waterquelling pearl. It''s unfortunate that there''s only one. The draconic pce possessed a hundred and eight at its peak and was able to affect the climate itself," Prime Minister Turtle eximed, shaking its head and sighing.


    "Prime Minister, if you''re interested, please allow me to hand this to you as a gift." The green lobster king was clearly reluctant to part with the pearl.


    The turtle shook its head. "Don''t worry. I have no intention to seize your Immortal relics. What you im will belong only to you. Furthermore, I can also help you repair some broken Immortal relics. I have only one request: that you take down the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall as quickly as possible."


    "Understood!" all the spirit kings replied.


    At the bottom of the valley, Xiao Nanfeng nced toward Prime Minister Turtle in shock. "That ancient turtle? How could it have grown a new body so quickly? Why does this body seem so powerful? It can suppress even the gathered spirit kings! Could it already have reached the peak of Wingform-realm?"


    As though sensing something, the turtle suddenly looked down toward the valley. Xiao Nanfeng immediately hid among the crowd, hiding from the turtle''s stare. He had no intention of exposing his identity right then and there.

 Chapter 210: Respect the Hierarchy

    <h4>Chapter 210: Respect the Hierarchy</h4>


    Back in the Eastern Sea, in the green lobster king''sir, Xiao Nanfeng stored a mountain of lobster corpses into his storage ring. His storage ring was like a bottomless pit, one that couldn''t be filled up.


    "King Xiao, some lobster spirits got away, but not too many," Ye Dafu reported.


    "Forget it. Have a look around your surroundings, then modify the formation," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Yes!"


    The cultivators activated the formation, causing thick fog to appear from the sea and shrouding the small rocky outcropping from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated the Immortal''s Destruction as four Immortal-binding chains shot into the sea.


    A dragon''s cry resounded as huge waves formed in the sea. A six-hundred-meter-long draconic vein was excavated from the sea and dragged up toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Now!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    All the cultivators rushed forward in droves.


    As the dragon roared in outrage, the cultivators devoured it in its entirety. Croak and Warble rapidly absorbed draconic aether from the dragon, not wasting any emissions it gave off. The hundreds of cultivators fully divided it up.


    Everyone''s bodies glowed with golden light as they meditated and prepared to break through on the ind.


    Two hourster, Xiao Nanfeng''s body resonated with energy. A wild burst of energy spread out from him. He opened his eyes. "The ninth stage of Ascension..."


    The other cultivators steadily opened their eyes as well. They were all overjoyed, especially the spectral guards. It was their first time partaking in the magic of the draconic veins, and they were undeniably excited.


    "Hold on. There''s arge draconic vein by the blue crabs''ir as well," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly shouted.


    "More?" The cultivators instantly grew excited again.


    Back in the valley within the draconic pce, where Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was located, despite the thousands of injured troops, Xiao Nanfeng quickly found the serpent.


    It was curled up by the corner of a mountain as it recuperated from its injuries. By its side were a group of crocodile spirits that were eyeing it.


    "What''re you looking at? I''ll eat you if you daree over. don''t think that you''ll be able to take me down just because I''m injured. Try me if you dare!" The serpent red at the crocodile spirits.


    It was clear that they were all cannon fodder, but they bore enmity toward each other''s group as well.


    In the end, the crocodile spirit slunk away, thinking that they were no match for him.


    "You really have a lot of enemies, don''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng walked over, smiling.


    "You again?" The serpent red at Xiao Nanfeng with anger.


    "Why are you being so rude?" Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the serpent.


    "If not for you tricking me, I wouldn''t have had to fight! You almost got me killed!" the serpent spat out.


    Its body was battered and wounded all over; this time, its injuries didn''t seem to be feigned.


    "You can''t me me, either. me yourself for having no legs and moving too slowly."


    The serpent: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng''s words were deliberately inmmatory. It wished it could choke Xiao Nanfeng to death.


    "What''re you here to do?" The serpent red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked back at the serpent. Would it be appropriate to hand it the token now and bring it treasure-hunting with him? He didn''t think so. The serpent was an ingrate that likely wouldn''t thank Xiao Nanfeng for what he did¡ªit might even consider Xiao Nanfeng foolish.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly thought that he would have to correct the serpent''s mode of thinking. He would certainly give him the draconic elder''s token, but not without cost. The serpent would have to bleed for it.


    "I think there''s a problem with your manner of handling things," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    The serpent stared at Xiao Nanfeng with shock. "You came all the way here just to tell me this?"


    "I need to rest for a few days after such a strenuous fight, after all. I''m bored, so I came to chat with you. We''re all recuperating, aren''t we?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The serpent twitched. "You''re talking nonsense. Don''t you think I can tell that all your supposed wounds are fake? You haven''t suffered a single injury. I doubt you have good intentions in mind."


    "See? That''s your problem. You think everything''s out to get you, so even if something good were to happen, you wouldn''t be able to react to it." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The serpent: ...


    "Look at you. Once an envoy of the divine domain¡ªbut now, relegated to nothing more than a ve. Haven''t you ever wondered how that happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "How else? It''s because I couldn''t beat these spirit kings," the serpent replied disdainfully.


    "That''s not true. You don''t have to be in dire straits just because you''re weak. Look at me! You knew how weak I used to be. How was it that I could still survive and even thrive in the undying realm?"


    "You¡ª" The serpent wanted to curse at Xiao Nanfeng for exaggerating, but after thinking about it some more, it gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Xiao Nanfeng... did end up with immense power within the undying realm.


    "This is a time of strife, where the strong will devour the weak. Individual strength is powerful, but that''s hardly the only relevant metric. For instance, those crocodile spirits from before were well aware of the power of teamwork. They''re your enemies, aren''t they? I heard them say that they were going to rally all your enemies to take you down together. Do you think you''d be able to withstand theirbined assault?"


    "They dare?" The serpent''s face distorted.


    "That''s the benefit of having an alliance. I was able to ally with Emperor Wei within the undying realm, with Blue Lantern, with cursed effigies, and was ultimately able to take down the undying cursed king," Xiao Nanfeng borated.


    The serpent scowled. <i>Is he trying to brag to me?</i>


    "Now look at this draconic pce. With an alliance, I''ll be able to take over the entire pce and crush all resistance. Do you believe me?"


    The serpent''s face spasmed. Xiao Nanfeng''s relentless bragging left it wholly ufortable.


    "You''re only an Ascension-realm cultivator, aren''t you? Who would ally with you? Taking over the draconic pce? Dream on!" The serpent looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief.


    Just then, within Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring, a red rope poked out. It had just regenerated; the storage ring, unable to store living objects, had pushed it out of storage.


    The red rope quickly tangled around Xiao Nanfeng and shone with red light, bringing him into an illusory realm.


    Before Xiao Nanfeng could see what the illusory realm looked like, however, a wave of energy had dispersed the fog to reveal Madam Rouge smashing the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar to pieces, then absorbing its fragmented remains.


    "Go on, get out. Dupe the serpent some more¡ªI like watching it." Madam Rouge''s signature ck smoke resolved into words.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... <i>Is Madam Rouge watching what''s happening in my life like a television broadcast?</i>


    As the illusion fell apart, Xiao Nanfeng woke up in reality.


    The serpent had shot back and was looking at the red rope looped around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck in abject fear.


    "Don''t worry. This is my friend, and we''re just ying around," Xiao Nanfeng exined, pulling the red rope from his neck.


    The serpent gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "You''re ying with fire! That''s a cursed effigy!"


    "It''s just a cursed effigy. I''ve yed with them before. What''s there to be worried about?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The serpent hesitated. It suddenly remembered that Xiao Nanfeng had had a bunch of cursed effigies even in the undying realm. Indeed, he seemed to be able to fully ignore the danger that these cursed effigies possessed.


    The serpent swallowed a gulp of saliva and considered Xiao Nanfeng again. "Have you really formed an alliance with the red rope cursed effigy?"


    "Alliance? What alliance? I''m friends with the red rope, and friends help each other," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent gave him an odd look. Why did it feel so weird to see Xiao Nanfeng bragging?


    "Well? We''re no longer in an era of one-on-one fighting. Finding a suitable ally is necessary for conquering a region and obtaining the greatest benefits," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Liar! You must have signed some sort of unfair agreement with that cursed effigy. As a cursed effigy, it wouldn''t give you any benefits at all!" The serpent remained unconvinced.


    "Says who? This length of red rope prepared me a gift. Look."


    With his main body having ascended in cultivation, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar could do the same. He attempted the breakthrough now.


    A wave of energy gusted out of Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and spread to his surroundings.


    "The ninth stage of Ascension? Y-You''ve broken through? The red rope helped you?!" the serpent eximed.


    "That''s right. We''re friends, you see. Isn''t it normal that the red rope would help me?" Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.


    "Impossible. Why would they give you such benefits? I don''t believe it!" The serpent felt as though its worldview was starting to distort.


    "You don''t believe me because you have no friends. Even as a divine envoy, you were hoodwinked and taken advantage of. On the other hand, I''m different. I enjoy making friends, and I help them out. Likewise, they help me raise my cultivation. Friends help each other; that''s the basis for sess in this era," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I don''t believe you!" The serpent stubbornly tried to resist Xiao Nanfeng''s corruption.


    "Believe it or not, that''s the truth. You know how many people the red rope has killed. Why hasn''t it killed me, then? Look at how docile it is in my hands! It doesn''t resist me at all." Xiao Nanfeng began to stroke the red rope right before the serpent.


    The serpent: ...


    "The red rope even told me that it was a little embarrassed at only being able to provide me with such a small bump to my cultivation. Once I digest my recent breakthrough, it''ll help me raise my cultivation further¡ªin about a day or so. See? This is how easy it is to raise your cultivation."


    "Impossible. Are they crazy?" The serpent couldn''t ept this ''reality''.


    "You''re a lone wolf. How would you understand the bonds of friendship? Just wait and see. It''s not like I''m leaving, anyway," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent stared at Xiao Nanfeng nkly. Stubborn though it was, it was slowly sumbing to Xiao Nanfeng''s persuasion. The first time it had encountered Xiao Nanfeng, he was just a pitiful weakling. Because of his penchant for alliances, however, his cultivation had soared. As for the serpent itself, it had spent two centuries fighting on its lonesome¡ªand what hade out of it? Could it really have been mistaken?


    "Of course, even alliances follow a hierarchy. Anyone who wants to join us will have to respect the hierarchy, tomit to following the rules and submit to your elders," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "I''m not going to submit to you. Dream on!" the serpent cried out stubbornly.


    "Don''t worry, I wasn''t going to propose anything like that. Even if you were interested, I wouldn''t want you as my junior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent: ...

 Chapter 211: First Step into Spiritsong

    <h4>Chapter 211: First Step into Spiritsong</h4>


    A dayter, on the Eastern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body took down another spiritbeastir and excavated a six-hundred-meter-long draconic vein.


    "Let''s dig in!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Yes!" the cultivators replied in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng was the first tounch himself at the dragon. As roiling draconic aether entered the cultivators'' bodies, they began glowing with golden light.


    Six hourster, a wave of energy burst from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. He opened his eyes wide. "The tenth stage of Ascension. I''ve reached the peak of Ascension!"


    zing golden mes emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. It was as though there were ten suns revolving around him, causing the cultivators to be taken aback.


    "Just what sort of technique does King Xiao cultivate? Why does it seem as though that Ascension-realm technique is even stronger than most Spiritsong-realm techniques?" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Come on. We''ll head to the next draconic vein!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Got it!" everyone cried out in excitement.


    Back in the valley within the draconic pce, where Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was located, the serpent recovered from its wounds as it considered what Xiao Nanfeng had said. It had been reflecting on its own actions in the past, but it didn''t consider any of what it had done a mistake. Even if others had died, it had been able to remain alive. What was wrong about that?


    On the other hand, Xiao Nanfeng''s theory of alliances sounded eminently reasonable. His cultivation had skyrocketed over the serpent''s own, and he was clearly in far better straits. How had its life be such a mess?


    Confused and worried that Xiao Nanfeng was trying to hoodwink it, it wanted to confirm whether Xiao Nanfeng was truly telling the truth. A day would pass quickly; Xiao Nanfeng had imed that the red rope would provide him with enough spiritual aether to reach Spiritsong. Whether that was true would have to be seen.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar shook. A tremendous wave of energy emitted from him.


    "The peak of Ascension!" the serpent cried out.


    It was confident that Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t eaten a thing in the past day, and there was no source of spiritual aether he could have consumed. How could his cultivation have improved out of nowhere? That couldn''t be¡ªunless the red rope he held really did help him.


    "What''re you shouting about? Haven''t you ever seen someone break through?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The serpent swallowed a gulp of saliva. "Did you really ascend because the red rope helped you?"


    "That''s none of your business." Xiao Nanfeng ignored the serpent.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng flung out a hand. A length of red rope shot out from his palm andssoed a crocodile spirit that was acting suspiciously in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled the crocodile spirit over and stepped on its body with his foot.


    "You dare spy on me?" Xiao Nanfeng interrogated.


    "No, you''re mistaken!" the crocodile spirit cried out. "I was spying on the ck serpent!"


    The serpent gaped at the red rope in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand. It recognized this technique. A few months ago, it had seen the red rope cursed effigy use it. There could be no doubt¡ªXiao Nanfeng really had formed an alliance with the red rope! Not only did the red rope help him raise his cultivation, it even helped him seize anyone spying on him. Had everything he said been right?


    "If I say that you''re spying on me, then you''re spying on me. Give me something worthwhile in exchange for your life, or you''ll be my dinner tonight," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    The crocodile spirit didn''t expect that Xiao Nanfeng would be so unreasonable. It spat out stubbornly, "Our king is a Spiritsong-realm spirit. You had better let me go now, or you''ll be dead when it shows up!"


    Xiao Nanfeng drew the noose tight around the crocodile spirit''s neck until its eyes were bulging and it was gasping for breath.


    "Stop, stop! I have a treasure. Take it!" the crocodile spirit cried out.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng let the crocodile spirit go. It spat out a pearl. Xiao Nanfeng inspected it. "It''s of ordinary make. Forget it. I''m feeling rather generous today, so you can go."


    Xiao Nanfeng let go of the crocodile spirit, which immediately scampered away into the crowd.


    The serpent stared at the pearl in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand. It suddenly felt unbelievably jealous. This sort of casual banditry was the life of its dreams! Back in the undying realm, it had to be cautious about what it was doing when it snatched others'' relics, but Xiao Nanfeng was doing it publicly and directly! Was this what he could do with the backing of a cursed effigy? That had to be an amazing feeling...


    The serpent suddenly smiled. "How does one go about joining your alliance?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced disdainfully at the serpent. "Why do you care?"


    The serpent''s face twitched. It quashed its anger and continued smiling politely. "I''m just asking. We''re already old friends, aren''t we? One of my friends might be interested, so I''d like to learn about the procedure."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned around and ignored the serpent.


    The more Xiao Nanfeng ignored it, the more desperate the serpent became. It didn''t want to form an alliance with Xiao Nanfeng; it wanted an alliance with the cursed effigy! However, with no one to rmend it, how was it to form such an alliance? What was it to do? Xiao Nanfeng was benefiting tremendously right before him!


    Two dayster, at another spiritbeastir on the Eastern Sea, after Xiao Nanfeng and a group of cultivators slew the spirits there, they excavated a twelve-hundred-meter long draconic vein.


    "What a tremendous vein!" Ye Sanshui was astounded.


    "Absorb it all. Don''t waste it," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Don''t worry, King Xiao. Even if we gorge ourselves to death, we won''t waste a single drop of aether!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped toward the dragon''s head. Everyone was waiting for him to dig in.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had reached the peak of Ascension, and was about to break through to Spiritsong. He chose not to switch his cultivation technique; he would continue cultivating Sky of Ten Suns. The technique was far deeper than he thought, and the more he cultivated with it, the more mysterious it seemed to be.


    As he activated the technique, the ten suns within his body began to revolve furiously, forming a tremendous suction like that of a ck hole within his body. He bit down on the dragon''s head and arge part of its body.


    Everyone was shocked. Xiao Nanfeng had devoured almost ten times his usual amount in that one bite.


    "Dig in!" Croak cried out.


    Croak and Warble opened their maws wide and feasted on the dragon with gusto. Everyone else did the same. In almost no time at all, the draconic vein was consumed in its entirety¡ªthough everyone felt as though their bodies were bulging.


    Radiant light shone blindingly from them all as they distilled the aether into qi and used it to further their cultivation.


    Xiao Nanfeng glowed the most brightly. His ten suns burned furiously as he absorbed the draconic aether and transformed it into pure yang qi.


    More and more pure yang qi filled his body, until he was barely able to tolerate more. Suddenly, like fog condensing into rain, some qi condensed into a single drop of pure yang origin qi.


    Then, as though sparking a chain reaction, all the remaining qi condensed quickly into origin qi. All the qi that was straining Xiao Nanfeng''s body to the utmost had all liquefied, but more and more continued to pour in from the draconic aether that was still filling Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that this wasn''t the true form of the Spiritsong evolution.


    The Spiritsong realm, also known as the Spiritbloom realm, involved the gestation of a nascent spirit in one''s dantian. The presence of this nascent spirit would allow for many supetive powers that represented the first key step in transcending mortality.


    Right then and there, countless origin qi was rushing toward one of the suns in his dantian. With a great explosion that drained almost all the origin qi in his body, the sun burst with golden light which emanated from his body and illuminated the world.


    At that moment, he could feel a miraculous golden bloom at the heart of that sun, a nascent spirit that was giving off tremendous vitality.


    "The gestated spirit¡ªI''ve hit the first stage of Spiritsong!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Under ordinary circumstances, cultivators only gestated a single nascent spirit in their dantian, but from the looks of it, Xiao Nanfeng would be gestating ten.


    All the energy from his body had been wiped out to spark this transformation. Fortunately, there was plenty of draconic aether remaining, which he absorbed into his body and transformed into pure yang origin qi, filling up his supply of energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes to see Croak and Warble giving him a strange look.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, have you hit Spiritsong? How could you have caused such a tremendous disturbance? Everyone around you was sent flying from the force of the energy leaving your body!" Croak eximed.


    "My technique''s simply a little unusual," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He infused energy into his nascent spirit. A strange force caused him to float. It was a mysterious, fascinating sensation.


    "Is this what flight feels like? It''s like I''m levitating!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Just then, four of the spectral guards shook as a tremendous wave of energy emanated from each of them. They awoke in shock.


    "King Xiao, we''ve reached Spiritsong!"


    Ye Sanshui''s body underwent the same transformation.


    "King Xiao, I''ve reached Spiritsong as well!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    Ye Dafu, who had reached the peak of Ascension, had been overjoyed by his performance before learning that so many of those around him, including his own uncle, had surpassed that achievement. He sighed in pride and exasperation.


    "Mr. Zheng, it looks like I''ve fulfilled my promise to you ahead of time." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zheng Qian eximed, "King Xiao, I never expected to reach Ascension so quickly. You have my gratitude."


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to continue talking when You Jiu flew through the barrier of fog. He was the first to awaken after the breakthrough in his cultivation; after he woke up, he went out patrolling alertly.


    "Master, something''s wrong. There''s a group of people spying on us from afar. We''ve excavated three draconic veins in a row thesest few days and have attracted the attention of those from nearby sects," You Jiu reported.


    "Only from afar? That means that they''re not too confident in their own strength. They must only be at Spiritsong. However, they''ll likely summon Wingform-realm cultivators soon enough, so we can''t be too ostentatious for the near future. We''ll stop here rather than take on more risk. Let''s solidify our cultivation for the time being," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    The cultivators packed up and were quickly on their way.


    Back in the draconic pce, the serpent grew more and more anxious for two whole days as it continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    Suddenly, energy surged around Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, then spread out all around him. The earth and rocks in the vicinity were sent flying.


    "The first stage of Spiritsong?!" the serpent eximed.


    The serpent wasn''t envious any longer. It was irritable and anxious. If this was what being part of an alliance was like, who would want to work by themselves? Getting the support and backing of as powerful a cursed effigy as the red rope... Just look at Xiao Nanfeng! How much had he benefited from this alliance? If it were to hesitate any longer, Xiao Nanfeng might drain the red rope dry of resources!


    "I, I''ve thought it through! You''re right. My friend''s very interested in joining your alliance. How can it join?" the serpent asked politely.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond, but he was inwardly pleased. The serpent had been hooked; it was time for the next step of his n.

 Chapter 212: The Qitian Alliance

    <h4>Chapter 212: The Qitian Alliance</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng nced disdainfully at the serpent. "Do you think it''s that easy to join this alliance?"


    "What conditions are there? My friend''s very interested," the serpent continued expectantly.


    "What friend? Have ite talk to me itself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent froze. The ''friend'' it was talking about was itself, of course! It took a deep breath, then braced itself. For the promise and allure of these benefits, it would give up even its dignity.


    "Actually, I''m interested in your alliance, too. I''d like to join," the serpent corrected itself, smiling.


    "And this ''friend'' you''re talking about? It''s not you, is it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The serpent smiled. "It''s all the same, the same!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced askance at the serpent, then stretched out his right hand and rubbed his fingers, as though counting gold.


    "What do you want?" The serpent looked confused.


    "You don''t understand me? Forget it, then. Pretend I said nothing." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    The serpent spasmed. Of course it understood what Xiao Nanfeng was doing! It had made a simr gesture countless times back in the undying realm. Xiao Nanfeng wanted a bribe before he would speak. The serpent had been nning to join this alliance for benefits, but would it have to shell out something of its own to do so? How would that do?


    "We''re old friends, aren''t we? Why don''t you tell me the rules? I''m not very smart, you know, so if you could lead the way for me..." the serpent trailed off.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the serpent. "If not for the fact that you''re familiar with Blue Lantern, I would have ignored you."


    "Ah, well..." The serpent''s smile grew forced. Inwardly, it was cursing at Xiao Nanfeng. <i>Once I be a member of this alliance and get my just benefits, I''ll deal with you!</i>


    "Our alliance is shrouded in mystery. Anyone who wishes to join the alliance has to be rmended by another member. Every member of the alliance is either influential or has the potential to be influential in the future," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Oh?" The serpent''s eyes lit up.


    "Do you see this red rope?" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the red rope in his hand.


    The serpent nodded immediately. "Is it a senior member of the alliance?"


    "A senior member? Ha! If I hadn''t rmended it, it wouldn''t even have been able to join," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "What do you mean?" The serpent was shocked.


    "It''s new to the alliance, and it was only able to join on my rmendation. Otherwise, it would hardly have qualified," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    The serpent gasped as it looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. Was he joking? This was the red rope cursed effigy¡ªand it wouldn''t even have qualified to enter the alliance if not for Xiao Nanfeng?


    "Are you aware of why my cultivation increased so rapidly thesest few days?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Could the red rope have been doing it to get into your good graces, as a bribe? To have you invite it into this alliance?" the serpent gasped.


    "You''re rather bright." Xiao Nanfeng nodded agreeably.


    The serpent was bbergasted. "Are you trying to trick me? What sort of alliance would be so powerful that even a cursed effigy would have to give a bribe to enter?"


    "If you don''t believe me, it''s your loss. I don''t care what you think," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent: ...


    It was infuriated by Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior, but it had seen clear evidence of the alliance''s ''generosity''! It couldn''t give up now.


    "What''s the name of your organization?" the serpent asked.


    "That''s a secret. How could I tell an outsider so easily?"


    The serpent was speechless. If you''re epting bribes, then surely it isn''t a secret?


    "Alright, then. I know the rules. Would you be willing to rmend me?"


    "That''s up to you." Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the serpent.


    The serpent gave him a pained look, then spat out some rather corroded pearls and pushed them over to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "These are the Immortal relics I obtained over the better half of a year. Will they do?" the serpent asked expectantly.


    "What, just these corroded relics? I remember you obtained a whole bunch of treasure in the undying realm." Xiao Nanfeng was visibly displeased.


    "The Immortal relics I found in the undying realm were all corroded. They''ve broken and can''t be repaired. The only Immortal sword I had which was in good condition, I had to surrender to your wife, Yu''er. If I had any strong artifacts, why would I have ended up in such sorry straits?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the serpent in clear disbelief.


    "It''s true! How about this? I have one more Immortal relic. Have a look." The serpent spat out another corroded de.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "That''s it! This is all I''ve got. Alright, alright, I have one final relic. Here, take this de!" the serpent cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s mounting pressure forced the serpent to give up its fifth and final Immortal relic.


    "This is it. If you don''t believe me, forget it. Return all my relics to me. I won''t join this alliance!" The serpent was so agitated that it was despairing.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately imed all five relics. "Forget it. I was just curious. Why did you take it so seriously?"


    The serpent red at Xiao Nanfeng. How could there be anyone in this world more thick-skinned than I am?


    "You''ll help rmend me to this alliance now, won''t you?" the serpent asked expectantly.


    "There''s no need. I''m their spokesperson, so you can ry allmunication to me. I''ve agreed to let you join," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The serpent twitched. Had it exchanged five Immortal relics for nothing more than Xiao Nanfeng''s words?


    "What''s the alliance called?" it asked, suppressing its anger.


    "Its name?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He hadn''te up with one yet.


    "Any organization has a name, surely?" The serpent was starting to get suspicious.


    "Of course it does. This alliance is known as the Qitian Alliance. Every member''s future aplishments will shake heaven and earth alike. From now on, you''re a member of the Qitian Alliance, too.


    He hade up with the name on the spot; the alliance was made up, anyway, and it didn''t matter what it was called.


    "The Qitian Alliance? That''s a rather strange name..." The serpent gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look.


    "You don''t know anything, do you? What''s so strange about it? Don''t join it if you''re not interested."


    The serpent stiffened. "Of course I''ll join! I only meant to say that it was a rather domineering name."


    It had already spent its relics to get in; of course it''d join now!


    "That''s more like it." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Aren''t you going to introduce me to the other members of the alliance?"


    "What for? You''ve just joined, and no one else is familiar with you. They''re all leaders of their respective fields. Do you expect them to waste their time on the likes of you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked disdainfully.


    "That''s not what I meant! At least tell me who they are," the serpent replied.


    "They don''t want me to. You''ll learn their identities eventually."


    The serpent frowned. It sensed that something was amiss. "Are you lying to me?"


    "You don''t believe me? Then why did you join the Qitian Alliance?"


    "I do believe you! But there should be some wee gift for joining, don''t you think? You''ve managed to get so many benefits. Isn''t there anything for me? Aren''t we friends? Look at what dire straits I''m in!" the serpent eximed.


    It was growing visibly wary. Given its personality, there was no way it would ept receiving nothing for its investment of five Immortal relics! If Xiao Nanfeng really were trying to scam it, it would force a fight with him and im all the relics he had taken even if it exposed them both!


    Xiao Nanfeng, as though sensing its intentions, begrudgingly nodded. "Give me a moment. I''ll talk to them and have theme up with a newbie gift pack for you."


    "A newbie gift pack?" The serpent pondered this unfamiliar phrase.


    It saw Xiao Nanfeng sit cross-legged in meditation, silently mouthing words, as though engaging in long-rangemunication with another party.


    The serpent stared at Xiao Nanfeng with bloodshot eyes, intending on capturing each and every motion that he made so that it could be certain he wasn''t duping it.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes wide.


    "Well?" the serpent asked.


    "I''ve just had a talk with the alliance members. They''re willing to sponsor you a newbie gift pack. You really are lucky!"


    "Oh?"


    "One member, skilled at divination, has proimed that you are of noble bloodline," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Divination? They''re all scams! How could this be worth anything? You aren''t trying to trick me, are you?"


    "You know nothing! Do you think someone like you has the right to disparage these alliance members?!" Xiao Nanfeng chided.


    The serpent felt as though Xiao Nanfeng really was trying to deceive it.


    "Afterwards, the diviner shared the information with an elder skilled at manipting spacetime. That elder reached into the depths of time, that long river of eons, and obtained a treasure for you in my name," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The serpent gaped. What sort of ridiculous im was this? Why would a cultivator of such miraculous means work with someone like Xiao Nanfeng? This was growing more and more absurd!


    "This token, right here." Xiao Nanfeng shed it before the serpent''s eyes.


    Long Jiu''s token appeared in his hand.


    "Didn''t you just take it out of your storage ring?" the serpent asked coldly.


    "You know nothing! The elder ced it inside my storage ring. He''s still observing us from afar, so don''t offend him by saying something you shouldn''t," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The serpent: ...


    By then, the serpent was convinced that Xiao Nanfeng was trying to trick him.


    Xiao Nanfeng held out Long Jiu''s token and infused some spiritual power into it, causing a blue spiritual orb to manifest itself. Xiao Nanfeng was extracting the inheritance that Elder Long Jiu had left behind, leaving in the token only a small portion of Long Jiu''s spiritual power. He would have to use the token to get into the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, after all.


    "Come on. This is for you. It contains a tremendous amount of spiritual power, the inheritance of a dragon elder, and information about your background. Absorb it all," Xiao Nafneng instructed.


    The serpent made a face. It didn''t intend on believing Xiao Nanfeng''s lies any longer, but surely the absorption wouldn''t be dangerous. It would have a look to see whaty within before exposing Xiao Nanfeng as a fraud.


    Just as it touched the orb of blue light, it exploded and epassed its body, then shot into its mindscape.


    "What?!" the serpent cried out.


    Countless information filtered into its brain.


    "Ah? Ah! The inheritance of a holy dragon sage? Immortal draconic techniques? And this spiritual power¡ªthis is the inheritance of an entire draconic n! Is this real? Could this be? Oh, thank you, thank you, elder of spacetime, elder of divination! I''m rich!" The serpent was so shocked that its body was trembling.


    What Xiao Nanfeng had imed had to be the truth! This was unbelievable. Joining the alliance had been the right choice! This newbie gift pack was incredible. The serpent absorbed as much of the inheritance as it could.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat down beside the serpent, wiping at the five Immortal relics he had just obtained, as he gave the twitching serpent an odd look. If this inheritance really were all that amazing, how had Long Jiu died such an ignoble death? How did the dragons go extinct? The serpent clearly wasn''t worldly; that was why it was so easy to fool.

 Chapter 213: Ao Zhou

    <h4>Chapter 213: Ao Zhou</h4>


    A dayter, the serpent finally opened its eyes again.


    "I''m the crown prince of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce? And my name is Ao Zhou..." The serpent was dumbstruck by the revtions that it had just uncovered.


    "Simmering Porridge? Who gave you that name?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. [1]


    "It''s Ao Zhou, not Simmering Porridge! The dragon king himself named me. Hold on. Long Jiu''s inheritance mentioned that it handed its token to you. There was no mention of any elder skilled with spacetime or the like!" The serpent Ao Zhou stared at Xiao Nanfeng with renewed doubt.


    "Didn''t I tell you? That elder imed this newbie gift pack in my name. Are you doubting that elder?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Ah, no! If you had obtained Long Jiu''s inheritance, you would never have given it to me. Please don''t get upset, Elder! I was just joking," Ao Zhou hastily said to the air.


    "The elders state that members of the Qitian Alliance should help each other. Now that you''ve received help from an elder, it''s time that you provide some help of your own," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Naturally. What may I do?" Ao Zhou replied excitedly.


    "Retrieve something from the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall."


    "What? The Ancestral Dragon''s Hall? You''re all but asking me tomit suicide! How am I supposed to make it into the hall with so many skeletal dragons standing guard?"


    "Don''t worry. I''ll handle the dragons. You just have to unlock something," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Really? It''s that simple? How would you be able to handle the skeletal dragons? You must be joking!"


    "You''ll see. As for you, didn''t you say you were the crown prince of this dragon pce? Aren''t you upset to see it in a pile of ruins?"


    "What''s there to be upset about? Do you think I''m going to take revenge for the draconic n? I''ve never met any of them, and they didn''t raise me. Why should I be upset? I honor their heritage simply by adopting the name Ao Zhou. That''s all I''ll do!" Ao Zhou replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly recalled that the serpent was an ingrate; it would take a Herculean effort to change its personality.


    Suddenly, Ao Zhou nched. "If you hadn''t reminded me, I would have forgotten. With all the dragons dead, I''m the rightful sessor to the draconic pce. All the Immortal relics here should belong to me. All these cultivators and spirits here to steal my treasures... damn it, it''s all mine!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the serpent an odd look. Not only was it an ingrate, it was a shameless one at that. It was fortunate that he had made up the Qitian Alliance and was able to use it as a means of manipting the serpent, or it would never have been willing to head to the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall with him.


    "How are your injuries?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m fine now. That inheritance possessed countless techniques and spiritual power. My spiritual cultivation has advanced immensely. Ha!"


    With a pop, a crab-shaped cloud of smoke burst from Ao Zhou''s body. It was dissipating the spiritual mark that the crab spirit king had left on its body.


    "How dare this crab spirit subdue me and force me to be cannon fodder! I''m going to eat it raw!" the serpent cried out.


    "Eat whom?" a voice suddenly asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent turned to see a group of crocodile spirits surrounding them both¡ªnot just crocodile spirits, but also ms, green lobster, and other scattered spirits. There were Spiritsong-realm spirits among them.


    "Serpent, it''s time to settle our score," the m spirit ground out.


    "For stealing my Immortal relic, I''ll skin and eat you!" the green lobster spirit threatened.


    "You''re dead, serpent!" thergest crocodile spirit shouted.


    "Insolence! I''ll eat you all!" Ao Zhou retorted. He turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll handle two of the Spiritsong-realm spirits, and you take thest one."


    All the spirits turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "King, he even used the red rope tosso me and almost choked me to death! He snatched my precious pearl, too. They''re in cahoots with each other!" One small crocodile spirit pointed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Red rope?" the sea spirits flinched.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? The red rope''s a cursed effigy. Why would it help them? He must just have a treasure that looks like the red rope." The crocodile spirit king pped the small crocodile spirit that had spoken.


    The spirits turned back to Ao Zhou and Xiao Nanfeng, ring fiercely at them.


    "Which one do you want to take on? You can pick first," Ao Zhou told Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. The serpent truly was shameless; these were its own opponents! Why should he participate?


    "And who are you? I don''t know you," Xiao Nanfeng told the serpent.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    The spirits: ...


    "I don''t care if all of you fight, but don''t block my way. I''m going to be leaving first." Xiao Nanfeng flew off into the distance.


    The serpent widened its eyes. It didn''t think that anyone could be more shameless than itself, but Xiao Nanfeng had proved it wrong! Was he really just going to leave like that?


    The sea spirits didn''t stop Xiao Nanfeng. Who wouldin about having one fewer opponent? The serpent was already very strong on its own; there would have been no need for them to ally with each other otherwise.


    "Attack!" the crocodile king shouted.


    The sea spirits leapt toward the serpent.


    "You dare? I''ll teach you all a lesson!" the serpent howled.


    A fierce battle took ce in that valley as a cloud of dust and shale was sent into the air. The spirits'' eyes turned red with bloodlust.


    The other cannon fodder in the valley nced curiously at themotion. A fight between Spiritsong-realm cultivators tended to cause a ratherrge disturbance, after all.


    Xiao Nanfeng strolled into a group of cultivators. He knew that the serpent''s fight would necessarily draw the attention of the Wingform-realm spirits at the top of the mountain, and he had no intention of exposing himself. Furthermore, his old acquaintance, Prime Minister Turtle, was there as well.


    Atop the mountain, the green lobster spirit king and crab spirit king walked out.


    "Who dares to fight here? If they have the energy to fight, they should be using it on the skeletal dragons!" the green lobster king spat out.


    "It''s that ck serpent! Damn it. Every time we fight a skeletal dragon, it pretends to be dead. So this is what it does with all its excess vitality? Its antics caused me to fail to kill a skeletal dragon a few days ago, and now it''s making a fuss over here?" The crab king was growing incensed.


    "Let them fight. If they kill the serpent, we''ll have a feast. ck serpents are a rare delicacy, after all," another spirit said from beside them.


    Although the Wingform-realm spirits grumbled and cursed, none of them seemed to have any intention of stepping in.


    Themotion was so intense that even Prime Minister Turtle stepped out.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Prime Minister, the cannon fodder''s fighting with each other. Better to let them continue. Once they expend their excess energy, they''ll be more obedient to us in the future," one spirit stated,ughing.


    "Prime Minister, look at that ck serpent! The draconic race used to prize the nobility of the ck dragons. This serpent might not be a dragon, but it''s at least a distant cousin to one. If you''re interested, how about we ughter it as a feast in your honor?"


    The turtle naturally didn''t care about the petty squabbles of these cannon fodder. It was about to nod when its eyes suddenly narrowed. "The resemnce¡ªit''s uncanny."


    "What?" the spirit kings asked.


    "This ck serpent looks just like the old dragon king. I almost thought that it was still alive¡ªbut no, that''s impossible. The Eastern Sea dragons have gone extinct. No longer will they trouble us." The turtle shook its head.


    Just then, in outrage, the ck serpent cried out, "I am the crown prince of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, Ao Zhou! How dare you knaves disrespect me? Die!"


    "Hah! If you''re the crown prince of the dragons, then I''m the Eastern Sea dragon king!"


    "And I''m an ancestral dragon, haha!"


    Taunts rang out from all around the ck serpent.


    Even the Wingform-realm spirits at the top of the mountain wereughing.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Are you crazy? Just run if you can''t beat them! Exposing your identity like that..."


    Atop the mountain, the turtle''s eyes narrowed again. "The crown prince of the Eastern Sea dragons...?"


    "Prime Minister, are you talking about that ck serpent? It''s just making things up. I see that type of spirit all the time," one spirit king said, roaring inughter.


    However, the turtle had seen the visage of the old dragon king in Ao Zhou''s countenance. This couldn''t be a coincidence.


    "Seize it! Now!" the turtlemanded.


    The spirit kings hesitated, but immediately flew toward the ck serpent. The turtle itself joined in the fray.


    The appearance of the Wingform-realm spirit kings sent the fighting spirits crashing into the ground.


    "What?!" they cried out.


    "What''s your problem, crab spirit king? Weren''t you going to sit back and watch us settle our own business?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    A group of spirit kings surrounded Ao Zhou as Prime Minister Turtle flew toward the serpent.


    "Prime Minister Turtle?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    It was clearly still ignorant of the fact that the extinction of the dragon n was all due to the turtle right in front of it.


    "What did you say? That you were the crown prince of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce?" Prime Minister Turtle asked.


    Suddenly, all the cultivators'' attention were focused on the ck serpent. They knew that this Prime Minister Turtle called the shots, and that all the spirit kings listened to it. Was it interrogating the ck serpent?


    Sensing that something was amiss, Ao Zhou hastily replied, "I-I was just joking."


    "Just joking? Haha, it didn''t seem that way to me. I''ll ask you again. Are you the crown prince of the draconic pce? If you dare lie to me, I''ll kill you at once," Prime Minister Turtle threatened.


    All the cultivators gaped at Ao Zhou. There had to be something unusual about the ck serpent''s identity for Prime Minister Turtle itself to be interrogating it. Could it really be the crown prince of the draconic pce?


    Ao Zhou could sense the killing intent in Prime Minister Turtle''s tone. It knew that, if its response were inadequate, that the turtle might really kill itself.


    However, it didn''t despair. It had just joined the Qitian Alliance, and there were a group of elders prepared to back it up. Why would it fear Prime Minister Turtle? He was an old servant of the draconic pce, nothing more.


    The ck serpent drew a breath and puffed out its chest. "I was prepared to interact with all of you in the guise of an ordinary serpent, but since you''re aware of my identity, I won''t feign ignorance any longer. That''s right. I''m the sessor to the draconic pce, the crown prince Ao Zhou."


    The cultivators all around gaped at Ao Zhou. Was it telling the truth?


    "It really is you, then. You were still a dragon egg back then. Haha, haha! I can''t believe it. You were alive all this time?" Prime Minister Turtle suddenly roared inughter. <i>The crown prince of the dragons would be vital for unlocking the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall¡ªand it was right here!</i>


    "The crown prince of the dragons?" The cultivators all around were shocked by the pronouncement.


    Ao Zhou, not realizing the trouble he was in, preened at the attention. "Prime Minister Turtle, aren''t you going to kneel in my presence?"


    Xiao Nanfeng palmed his face. Was the serpent crazy? Did it think that turtle was still a loyal servant?


    1. A pun. °¾Öà (= "simmering porridge") has the same pronunciation as °½ÖÜ (= "Ao Zhou", the serpent''s name). ?

 Chapter 214: Breaking Out

    <h4>Chapter 214: Breaking Out</h4>


    The cultivators sucked in a breath. The crown prince of the Eastern Sea dragons wasmanding Prime Minister Turtle to kneel? Wasn''t it being too arrogant?


    Two centuries ago, Prime Minister Turtle was nothing more than an old servant to the royal family of the Eastern Sea dragons. It would have been perfectly within reason for it to kneel to a core member of royalty¡ªbut how about now, two centuriester?


    All the cultivators stared at the two spirits, as did the Wingform-realm spirit kings.


    "What are you looking at? Have you forgotten your identity? Aren''t you going to kneel upon seeing me, your rightful crown prince? Don''t make me p you!" Ao Zhou chided.


    Prime Minister Turtle pped the serpent and sent it smashing into the ground. A plume of dust appeared.


    Ao Zhou sprayed out a mouthful of blood and cried out, "You dare hit me?!"


    Prime Minister Turtle made a gesture with a flipper, causing the blood that Ao Zhou spat out to congeal into a ball of blood.


    "And so what if I did? Do you think nothing has changed from two centuries ago? Who do you think I am, tomand me to kneel?" Prime Minister Turtle replied acidly.


    "Aren''t you an old servant of my family? You''re disrespecting your superior!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "The times have changed. The draconic n has fallen¡ªand I''m in the position of power, now!" Prime Minister Turtleughed.


    "You!"


    "I thought that the royal dragons had all perished. I had given up hope on trying to find any of the royal bloodline, but to think that one would appear right by my doorstep! The heavens have truly blessed me, haha!" Prime Minister Turtle continued.


    "What? What are you nning?!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t kill you, at least not just yet. You''ll be very safe with me."


    Within the crowd, Xiao Nanfeng had already retrieved a corroded Immortal relic and was nning to cause it to self-destruct. When he heard that Ao Zhou would be safe for the time being, however, he stopped short.


    All the spirit kings'' attention were focused on Ao Zhou, so he was naturally going to raid Prime Minister Turtle''sir and see if there were any treasures that it had kept hidden away.


    Xiao Nanfeng retreated from the crowd and vanished from sight.


    Meanwhile, Ao Zhou didn''t back down. He replied proudly, "Kill me? You don''t stand a chance. Do you think I''m here alone? Haven''t you investigated my background?"


    The turtle raised an eyebrow. "Are there other Eastern Sea dragons still alive?"


    "Ha! Are those the only allies you can think of? Even if there were other Eastern Sea dragons around, I wouldn''t want to associate with them. I have my own backers. If you dare strike me, none of you will live to see tomorrow!" Ao Zhou threatened.


    Prime Minister Turtle narrowed its eyes. "You have backers?"


    "Of course!" Ao Zhou promised. "If I reveal who my backers are, all of you will wish you were dead."


    Prime Minister Turtle frowned. It turned toward the spirits that Ao Zhou had been fighting with. "Which of you have seen this ck serpent''spanions?"


    "We all saw him. He was still here moments ago," the sea spirits immediately replied.


    "Prime Minister Turtle, the crown prince''spanion looked like this!" A crocodile spirit conjured an image out of fog.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" the turtle eximed.


    "Isn''t that the Ascension-realm kid I caught not too long ago? He''s not dead?" the green lobster king eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s here as well? Search for him. Everyone, find thisd! The cultivator or spirit who brings him to me will bevishly rewarded," Prime Minister Turtle promised,ughing in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s appearance was quickly conjured all over the valley, allowing everyone to familiarize themselves with his appearance. Many cultivators were shocked.


    "I just saw him over here. Where did he go?"


    "I saw him too!"


    Cries rang out from all over, but none could find any trace of Xiao Nanfeng any longer.


    At the top of the mountain, by a dark, hidden corner of the hall in which Prime Minister Turtle resided, Xiao Nanfeng had just bound two small spirits with red rope. He turned to see his appearance conjured out of fog in the valley below.


    "This serpent''s crazy. Why is he dragging me into this? Does he think I can actually fight them off?" Xiao Nanfeng gave it a strange look.


    Ignoring the cultivators looking for him, Xiao Nanfeng dealt with the two small spirits, then used his spiritual perception to avoid encountering any of the other spirits nearby. He snuck into Prime Minister Turtle''s residence.


    The residence was guarded, of course, but even the guards didn''t expect that anyone would dare to raid it with Prime Minister Turtle and the spirit kings right in the vicinity.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual perception was particrly strong, and he quickly examined every corner of the hall. He found a small tortoiseshell barrier in a side room, within which were five corroded Immortal relics. A golden sheen of light covered the relics, as if repairing them.


    "Prime Minister Turtle''s repairing these relics for the spirit kings?"


    Xiao Nanfeng reached for the barrier, but his hand couldn''t pass through.


    He experimented with all sorts of techniques, but the barrier was hard and sturdy. Not only was he unable to break it quietly, it seemed linked to the mountain somehow and was fixed in ce. It couldn''t be budged at all.


    "Then let me try the red rope..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    With a buzz, his ethereal red rope passed through the tortoiseshell barrier without any obstruction whatsoever. It sessfully picked up the Immortal relics within. Xiao Nanfeng retreated the red rope¡ªbut although the red rope could enter the barrier, the relics couldn''t leave it.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. The relics were right before his eyes, but he couldn''t im them! He would have to destroy the barrier, but if there were amotion, he would be exposed.


    "Or... perhaps?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes suddenly brightened.


    Just then, Prime Minister Turtle brought Ao Zhou back to his residence.


    The doors to the hall mmed shut. Prime Minister Turtle hadn''t managed to find Xiao Nanfeng, but he didn''t want to make his objective for kidnapping Ao Zhou known to the other spirit kings.


    "You old bastard, I''m backed by an elder of spacetime! You''re dead! I have the same status as the red rope cursed effigy. If you dare attack me, you''ll suffer for it!" Ao Zhou howled.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? An elder of spacetime? The red rope cursed effigy? That''s my ally. I and the red rope were the ones who killed all you dragons," Prime Minister Turtle retorted disdainfully.


    "Impossible! You have to be lying. The red rope is my ally!" Ao Zhou shouted back.


    "You''re crazy! Forget it. I can''t be bothered to argue with you. I''m going to be taking some blood from you. Divine Turtle Seal!" Prime Minister Turtle intoned.


    A golden turtle seal formed around the serpent''s body, ying it and extracting the fresh blood that spurted out.


    "Argh! Save me! Elder of divination, elder of spacetime, elders of the Qitian Alliance! Save me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "No one can save you. The draconic pce is forbidden to Immortals, and I''m the strongest spirit here below Immortal-realm. No one is my opponent¡ªno one can save you." Prime Minister Turtle roared inughter.


    "Red Rope! We''re both members of the Qitian Alliance now, aren''t we? Come save me! The other elders might not be around, but you have to be! Please, save me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "The red rope? Dream on."


    Just then, a length of ethereal red rope rushed out from nowhere and tangled around the serpent''s body.


    "What?" Prime Minister Turtle''s eyes widened.


    One sharp end of the red rope snapped toward Prime Minister Turtle''s flippers.


    The blow wasn''t particrly strong; it was meant to convey the red rope''s ''emotions'', to make Prime Minister Turtle think that the red rope was chiding it for what it had done. The turtle released the serpent.


    "Red Rope! You''re finally saving me?" the serpent cried out, bloody all over.


    It was dragged into a side room, causing the turtle to look over.


    He saw Xiao Nanfeng grabbing ahold of the serpent and activating a corroded shield relic, from which radiant light burst forth.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Saving me the effort of looking for you, I see, and trying to impersonate the red rope''s techniques too? You won''t be getting away today!" Prime Minister Turtle shouted in excitement.


    "Catch me if you can." Xiao Nanfeng sneered.


    As the turtle leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng, it suddenly felt a sense of danger. The five Immortal relics within the tortoiseshell barrier were tangled up with a length of red rope. The red rope suddenly glowed with light, causing the five Immortal relics to light up as well.


    "You''re going to destroy them? Don''t!" the turtle shrieked.


    The five Immortal relics suddenly burst apart. The resulting explosion destroyed the tortoiseshell barrier, and the entire hall was drowned in roaring mes.


    Prime Minister Turtle, right beside the tortoiseshell barrier, suffered grievous injuries. It shrieked in agony.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent were protected by the Immortal shield, but after the devastating blow, it looked as though it could break at any moment.


    The serpent screamed.


    Outside the hall, many cultivators were still reeling in shock at the crown prince of the Eastern Sea dragons'' reappearance and subsequent capture by Prime Minister Turtle when they suddenly saw the hall, along with the mountaintop, explode in a mushroom cloud.


    The Wingform-realm spirit kings outside the hall were sent flying, and the explosion was so intense that even they spat out mouthfuls of blood. A few smaller spirits imploded in an instant.


    The cannon fodder at the bottom of the valley were likewise sent flying from the shockwaves that resulted from the explosion.


    After that, everyone saw a multicolored shield burst into a shower of fragments to reveal Xiao Nanfeng and the serpent within. They too were stunned and disoriented, butrgely uninjured.


    The bloodied serpent seemed to barely be clinging on to life.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you bastard! You used my body as your shield! You''ve almost killed me!" the serpent cried out, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    "I just saved your life. Are you going toin about that? You ingrate!"


    The serpent looked at him aggrieved. "Should I not be upset that you''ve used me as a shield?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall with the serpent in tow.


    "Seize them!" Prime Minister Turtle roared from the epicenter of the explosion.


    However, all the spirit kings, taken aback by the sudden explosion, were slow to respond to the turtle spirit''smands. By the time they did, Xiao Nanfeng had already flown into the distance. He was right by the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    "I''m right here, you turtle bastard! Catch me if you can!" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    Then, he rushed into the fog with the serpent.


    Only then did Prime Minister Turtle emerge from the epicenter of the explosion, its body bruised, battered, and bleeding. Angry beyond measure, it roared, "I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you both!"


    It furiously gave chase. The spirit kings followed after it.


    The cultivators in the valley were taken aback. "That''s Xiao Nanfeng? Is he that strong?"

 Chapter 215: The Divine Purple Rock

    <h4>Chapter 215: The Divine Purple Rock</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng charged through the foggy outskirts of the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall along with the bloodied Ao Zhou. Suddenly, a skeletal dragonunched itself at them.


    "A skeletal dragon!" Ao Zhou cried out. "We''re done for!"


    Xiao Nanfeng held Long Jiu''s token up high. The skeletal dragon hastily reined in its killing intent and bowed, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to continue forward unimpeded.


    "What? What''s wrong with this skeletal dragon?" Ao Zhou demanded.


    "As I said, I can handle the skeletal dragons. You just have to worry about unlocking the hall. What''s there to shout about?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    A few more skeletal dragons emerged, but all of them retreated upon seeing Long Jiu''s token.


    "Is it because of this token? Long Jiu''s an elder of the dragon n, and a ck dragon at that. He''s my uncle, and this is the token he gave me!" Ao Zhou suddenly cried out.


    Seeing the value of Long Jiu''s token, it instantly wanted to im it for itself.


    "What did Long Jiu say in its inheritance?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It said to hand his token to me," Ao Zhou stressed.


    "It also said that I could take it if I wanted to, didn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng scoffed.


    "How did you know?" Ao Zhou gasped.


    "The elder of spacetime told me, of course. What an ingrate you are! I just saved your life again, and the first thing you do is try to snatch my belongings! Don''t you know that this sort of anti-alliance behavior is to be punished by torture in the Qitian Alliance?!" Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    Ao Zhou''s face stiffened. It immediately corrected itself. "I was just kidding, kidding! You really can''t take a joke, can you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes, marveling at the serpent''s thick skin.


    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Turtle and a group of spirit kings had reached the outskirts of the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    "Did they enter? Are they trying tomit suicide? The skeletal dragons within will crush them!" the green lobster king shouted.


    "Prime Minister, we can''t head in any further!" the crab king warned.


    A giant skeletal dragon emerged from the fog and rushed toward them, shooting out countless bone spikes. The spirit kings retaliated in defense as they hastily retreated.


    Only when the spirit kings had retreated did the skeletal dragon slowly fly back into the fog.


    "They must have some secret that''s allowing them to enter the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall."


    "Is it because of that dragon? But the ck serpent didn''t show any such ability in the past..."


    "Could they have set their sights on the treasures inside the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall?!"


    The spirit kings fretted anxiously.


    Prime Minister Turtle calmed down as its rage dissipated. It stood on the outskirts of the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall and stared at the fog before it. "What''s in the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall belongs to me, not anyone else. Better that they enter now and scout on my behalf!"


    As they approached the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, Ao Zhou saw all the skeletal dragons they encountered bow down and retreat at the sight of Long Jiu''s token. It was astounded by the relic. What it wouldn''t give to have the token in its possession!


    As the two of them arrived at the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, they were greeted by the sight of open doors. However, a barrier was present that contained the dense, roiling purple air within the hall.


    "Alright. Unlock the barrier!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed the serpent.


    "What lock?"


    "The one at the entrance to the hall. I''d like to get inside," Xiao Nanfeng told the serpent.


    Ao Zhou nced at the hall. No matter how foolish it was, the sight of the roiling purple smoke made it evident that there had to be a treasure of tremendous value within. Although it didn''t know how to unlock the barrier, it didn''t want to simply help Xiao Nanfeng out for no material benefit, either.


    "I don''t know how to unlock it. And look at my sorry state! I don''t even have any strength to move, let alone help you." Ao Zhou fell limply to the ground.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. He had expected the serpent to pull something of this sort.


    "Elder of Spacetime, I ask for your attention! Look at how uncooperative Ao Zhou is. Why don''t we kill it?" Xiao Nanfeng spoke to the air.


    Ao Zhou immediately jumped up in shock. "Stop talking nonsense, Xiao Nanfeng! I was just resting. How dare you besmirch my name! I''m an active member of the Qitian Alliance, and I keep my word. If you kill me, who will unlock this barrier? Are you going to take responsibility for dying the elders'' ns?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Ao Zhou touched the barrier, trying to think about how it might be able to unlock it, but the moment its blood was smeared on the barrier, it began to sizzle.


    "So that''s how this barrier functions¡ªthe Ancestral Dragon''s Hall can only be opened by one with the bloodline of an ancestral dragon!"


    "What? It''s that simple?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "More blood!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Ao Zhou gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look as it smeared the blood all over its body on the barrier. The barrier began to melt, just like hot iron against snow.


    "The barrier''s weakening. Quick, continue!" Xiao Nanfeng urged expectantly.


    "That''s all the blood I''ve got!" Ao Zhou replied.


    "What about the blood in your body?"


    Ao Zhou: ... Why did breaking open this barrier need so much blood?


    "Here, borrow my Immortal dagger for now." Xiao Nanfeng handed Ao Zhou one of the Immortal weapons that it had given to him.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    It had no choice but to cut itself with the dagger, causing fresh blood to spurt out.


    "What am I doing?" Ao Zhou cursed Xiao Nanfeng. "I was doing just fine recuperating on my own, but now you''re having me hurt myself!"


    "Don''t be too upset. asional bloodletting is good for the body," Xiao Nanfeng consoled the serpent.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    The serpent continued smearing its blood on the barrier to weaken it, but it seemed stubbornly resilient. Even as the barrier weakened, it was regenerating at a rapid rate.


    "How long is it going to take you? Open the cut wider and spray out more blood at once!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Ao Zhou scowled. "Look at how much blood I''ve already used! I''m going to die if this keeps up."


    "You won''t! At worst, you''ll have anemia. Hurry up. The barrier''s regenerating, so if you''re slow, you''ll end up wasting even more blood. Why don''t I help?" Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward.


    He scored the serpent''s flesh with the dagger, causing blood to gush out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you trying to disembowel me?!" Ao Zhou roared.


    "I''m sorry, my hand slipped. It was a mistake. Fortunately, you''re still alive," Xiao Nanfeng consoled.


    "My stomach!" Ao Zhou howled.


    "Ah, look! The barrier''s open. I''m going to hop in now. I''ll see you once you''ve sewn your wound shut!"


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the dagger and hopped into the opening in the barrier.


    Ao Zhou clutched his stomach wound and cried out, "Are you so shameless as to take that dagger too? Look at how badly injured I am! I need something to console myself with."


    Ao Zhou darted in through the opening as well before it sealed shut once more.


    The moment Ao Zhou stepped inside, however, it felt a frightening pressure descend. The pressure was so strong that it was rendered immobile.


    It looked into the hall. There were no other partitions within; the entire hall was onerge, enclosed space. A blood dragon hovered in the air¡ªnot a true dragon, but a dragon formed from liquid blood. Its eyes were shining red. It didn''t seem intelligent, but the titanic killing intent that wafted from its body was more than sufficient to suppress Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou.


    The blood dragon was curled around a giant purple rock, which gave off waves of purple fog. Some ck fog was steaming at the base of the rock where it touched the floor, but it seemed to be sealed by the rock and unable to drift into the air.


    "What''s that?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "There''s some text over there!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly eximed.


    On a wall nearby were words in an ornate, calligraphic script.


    "After the ancestral dragon reigned supreme over the world for millennia, in order to avoid the cmity that urs every ten thousand years, it led the strongest cultivators to the other shore of the universe. During the journey, however, the entire expedition was vanquished, and the ancestral dragon''s soul obliterated. All that remained and made it back was a portion of its blood, along with a divine purple rock. The ancestral dragon''s resentment, unquenched, shall guard over this rock and the draconic pce for eternity."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou exchanged a nce with each other.


    "So this blood dragon is formed of the ancestral dragon''s blood?" Ao Zhou was amazed.


    "What could this rock be, to foster such resentment from a being like the ancestral dragon? How could it be producing this purple aura?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, these treasures all belong to the draconic pce,and I''m its sessor! They''re all mine!" Ao Zhou suddenly cried out.


    "Control yourself! All this belongs to the elder of spacetime. Without his assistance, would you ever have been able to make it here? All this was nned by the elder himself, and he''s about to reap the fruits of all thatbor. Are you going to try to im what''s his for yourself? Are you tired of living?!"


    Ao Zhou was shocked stiff. Its anger dissipated in a sh.


    "As a member of the Qitian Alliance, you have to be aware of its rules. It''s fine for you to snatch what belongs to others¡ªwe might even be willing to help you do so¡ªbut if you set your eyes on the possessions of those within the alliance, you''ll be punished."


    Ao Zhouughed nervously. "Of course not, of course not! I was just joking. I can''t believe you treated me seriously. I would never try to challenge the elder of spacetime. I was just trying to liven up the atmosphere."


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips disdainfully. If not for the existence of this ''elder'', the serpent would surely have fought him to the death for these treasures.

 Chapter 216: From Beyond the World

    <h4>Chapter 216: From Beyond the World</h4>


    The blood dragon coiled around the giant purple rock gave off such intense killing intent that Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou couldn''t draw near.


    "Where''s the elder of spacetime? Isn''t he going to im the fruits of hisbor?" Ao Zhou asked.


    Ao Zhou felt as though its heart was dripping blood as it saw the treasures slip away from its grip. Better that the eldere sooner and im them for himself quickly so he didn''t have to look at them!


    "He''s tasked me with iming the treasure," Xiao Nafneng replied.


    "You aren''t lying to me, are you? Does this elder really exist?" Ao Zhou frowned at Xiao Nanfeng.


    It was naturally alert and wary. Although it did believe in the existence of the elder of spacetime, it hadn''t met the elder in person. This was enough for it to retain a shred of suspicion.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes at Ao Zhou and remained silent. After some time, Ao Zhou began tough. "Ha, haha, I''m just joking! You really can''t take jokes, can you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... He knew that Ao Zhou was clearly suspicious, but didn''t dare to make its suspicions known.


    He continued trying to shift his body slowly to approach the giant purple rock. Suddenly, as though sensing his presence, the blood dragon twisted. Its head turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    The blood dragon roared in outrage. A wave of killing intent shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, who barely defended with a corroded Immortal sword. The blood dragon smashed into the sword and instantly knocked Xiao Nanfeng flying. He struck a wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Haha! It''s not easy to im this treasure, is it?" Ao Zhouughed at Xiao Nanfeng''s misfortune.


    Xiao Nanfeng gritted his teeth. The blood dragon was astonishingly potent. It couldn''t even get close to the giant purple rock.


    Suddenly, he found the Immortal de in his hand sizzling.


    "Ah!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    A few drops of blood from the blood dragon had sshed onto the relic, which were now corroding it further.


    "The ancestral dragon''s blood can corrode even an Immortal relic? It''s that strong?"


    He reached out and gingerly touched a drop of blood, but before he made contact, the blood suddenly flew toward his fingertip and seeped into his skin. His finger quickly decayed¡ªno, transformed. It was drying up and growing into a sharp w.


    "What?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    It took all his willpower to force out the drop of ancestral dragon''s blood and slowly return his finger to normal.


    "The ancestral dragon''s blood was transforming my body into that of a dragon!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    How could that be? The physical body of this avatar had been forged from a cursed effigy, a fragment of the red rope! This blood was far too potent for the likes of him.


    The ancestral dragon''s blood was able to corrode Immortal relics, and the blood dragon refused to let anyone draw near. If he wanted to im the giant purple rock, he would have to absorb the ancestral dragon''s blood¡ªbut if he did so, he would transform into the form of a dragon, much like Ao Zhou.


    "Why are you staring at me?" Ao Zhou frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng shuddered. "How ugly!"


    Ao Zhou frowned. Instantly upset, it roared, "Who are you calling ugly? Xiao Nanfeng, you have no sense of aesthetics!"


    "Don''t get so worked up. I''m not calling you ugly. I''m saying I''d be ugly if I were to transform my appearance into yours," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Ao Zhou held its tongue while it processed Xiao Nanfeng''s words, then frowned harder. Wasn''t that the same thing? If you''d be ugly if you transformed into me, then you''re just calling me ugly!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re dead!" Ao Zhou roared.


    "Stop! Calm down. The elder of spacetime is sending me a mental transmission. Don''t interrupt," Xiao Nanfeng quickly said.


    Ao Zhou immediately fell silent. It looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with furrowed brows. "Don''t lie to me."


    "The elder of spacetime told me he''s giving me the ancestral dragon''s blood as a gift."


    "What? To you? What about my share?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "Do you want some ancestral dragon''s blood, too?"


    "Of course! Are you going to give me some?"


    "Try absorbing these few drops first." Xiao Nanfeng passed the few drops on the surface of the de to Ao Zhou.


    As Ao Zhou absorbed the blood, the surface of its body glowed with mysterious ck light.


    "How do you feel?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s amazinglyfortable. It''s purifying my body and refining my bloodline. This must be the equivalent of some immense treasure that can elevate my talent and constitution!" the serpent cried out.


    "What else can it do besides transform you into a dragon?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Isn''t that amazing enough?" Ao Zhou retorted.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He didn''t want to transform into a dragon! He was perfectly happy with his human form. Dragons looked ugly, and with the red moon harbored in his mindscape, any body would corrode away sooner orter.


    "I''ll share half the dragon''s blood with you. How about that?"


    "Really?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "I will, but you''ll have to seal the other half away. I want to give it to the other elders of the Qitian Alliance as a gift," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Deal! It''s settled!" Worried that Xiao Nanfeng would go back on its word, Ao Zhou leapt toward the blood dragon immediately.


    Sensing another aura draw near, the blood dragon howled and charged forward. A wave of killing intent surrounded Ao Zhou, but it didn''t relent. How could it give up on such treasure?


    Ao Zhou''s head shed against the blood dragon''s. The blood, seemingly having found an outlet, surged into Ao Zhou''s body and caused it to radiate with light.


    Ao Zhou was exhrated at the thought of receiving the massive boon.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a weird look. "I allowed you to absorb half the dragon''s blood, not for you to kiss it! Aren''t you being a bit wild with your lip-to-lip contact?


    Ao Zhou''s feeling of exhration was immediately wiped away.


    "I''m not kissing it," Ao Zhou hissed. "I''m absorbing the ancestral dragon''s blood! Can''t you see?"


    "I see it alright. Your saliva''s leaking out. Disgusting!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    Somehow, it wasn''t feeling happy despite the boon it had just obtained.


    "Forget it. I''ll absorb it all first. I won''t waste time bickering with a country bumpkin!" Ao Zhou cursed inwardly.


    As it continued to absorb the ancestral dragon''s blood, Ao Zhou''s body began to growrger. A pair of dragon''s horns sprouted from its head at a rate visible to the naked eye. At the same time, its body began to molt as ayer of dragon scales formed around itself. It had even grown one sizerger.


    "The ancestral dragon''s blood is causing my body to evolve, haha! My cultivation''s growing stronger, too. I''ll be able to evolve into Wingform-realm in no time!" Ao Zhou roared.


    With Ao Zhou holding back the blood dragon, Xiao Nanfeng was able to close in on the giant purple rock.


    He walked up to it and stroked its surface, then tried to move it.


    However, the giant purple rock seemed to be incredibly heavy. Even with Xiao Nanfeng''s Spiritsong-realm strength, he was unable to cause it to budge.


    "Move it!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly shoved the rock, but it remained immobile.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He felt at the surface of the rock with his hands and attempted to use spiritual power to examine its interior¡ªonly to find that his spiritual power was unable to seep into the rock at all.


    "Just what is this rock made of? How could it behave so strangely? If only I could see what was going on inside..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Just then, the resistance against his hand vanished. Xiao Nanfeng stumbled and fell into the rock.


    "Ah? Where''s Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Zhou eximed from nearby.


    As it continued absorbing more of the dragon''s blood, it approached the giant purple rock, knocking on its surface. However, nothing happened. Xiao Nanfeng had vanished out of nowhere.


    The interior of the giant purple rock was like a void. Xiao Nanfeng stared warily at his surroundings.


    There was gray fog all around him, as well as pinpricks of purple light that illuminated the void in simultaneously dismal and mysterious tones.


    Suddenly, a skeleton appeared beside him¡ªnone other than Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge stared at Xiao Nanfeng with astonishment. With her signature ck smoke, she asked, "How did you get in here?"


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, confused.


    "How did you enter the interior of this rock? That''s impossible. No one has done it before!" Madam Rouge''s exmation mark was a clear sign of her shock.


    "Aren''t we in an illusory realm? How else are you here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course not. The only reason you can see me is because I formed a projection of myself with my cursed spiritual power. How did you get in here?" Madam Rouge asked again.


    "I don''t know how, either. Perhaps it''s because of the red moon, or because my avatar''s body was formed from a length of the red rope.


    "Impossible!" Madam Rouge replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The divine purple rock of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce is well known. Ever since the ancestral dragon brought it back, all have tried to plumb its depths¡ªbut none have seeded. The dragons'' own analysis was fruitless, and they had to recruit experts from all over the world to help study it. However, no one could give a firm conclusion. All that''s known is that this divine purple rock has a tremendous ability to suppress," Madam Rouge stated.


    "To suppress?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, beneath this rock are the cursed spiritual avatars of countless lengths of red rope. I''m also aware that even the red rope cursed effigy was no match for the divine purple rock back then."


    "Oh?"


    "That''s why it''s impossible that you''re here because of the red rope," Madam Rouge concluded.


    "Could it be because of the red moon?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, the founder of the Taiqing Sect once came to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce to investigate this rock as well, but he returned without any sess. He was in possession of the same red moon, but he wasn''t able to enter its interior. It can''t be rted."


    "What other reason could there be? There''s nothing else that''s special about my avatar," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Madam Rouge was deep in thought. In the end, however, she shook her head. "This divine purple rock was found from beyond the world. It''s not from this. That''s why no one has been able to analyze it."


    "From beyond the world?" Xiao Nanfeng stilled.


    "Why would you be the exception? Could there be some other object beyond the world that you possess which would resonate with it? Are you still hiding some great secret?" Madam Rouge demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for long moments. He didn''t possess an object beyond the world; rather, he himself was foreign to it. He came from Earth. In other words, his truesoul belonged to Earth, not to this world to which he had appeared in. Could the divine purple rock have responded to that facet of his identity?


    "Could the rock have acknowledged me on ount of my ravishing looks?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested a preposterous reason.


    Madam Rouge stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock and astonishment. It took her some time before she formed more words with her smoke. "You really are thick-skinned!"

 Chapter 217: Suppressing the Turtle Spirit

    <h4>Chapter 217: Suppressing the Turtle Spirit</h4>


    Madam Rouge circled Xiao Nanfeng as she carefully inspected him, but could find no reason why the divine purple rock had acknowledged him.


    "Madam Rouge, has the divine purple rock attuned to me? What use does it have?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge was upset that she couldn''t figure out the link between the divine purple rock and Xiao Nanfeng. She scowled at his question. "You''ve really gotten lucky. This divine purple rock is a top-tier material for sealing and suppression. Weren''t you going to make a seal for your kingdom? This rock would be perfect as raw material for it."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "As for how to do that, you can figure that out yourself. Hmph!" Madam Rouge shed away from the scene.


    She was infuriated that Xiao Nanfeng was hiding some massive secret from her.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Without Madam Rouge to give him pointers, Xiao Nanfeng began to explore the interior of the divine purple rock. Except for patches of gray and sudden blooms of purple light, however, there was nothing exceptional or unusual about it. He sat in meditation, his eyes closed, as the red moon''s light expanded throughout the space. His spiritual power explored the new domain, but it was sorge that he couldn''t detect any border or edge whatsoever. Instead, he felt as though the gray fog in the region was particrly amenable to him.


    He was even able to control it with his thoughts alone.


    "What a strange purple rock. It can react to my will? Could it really be because my truesoul is from Earth, or perhaps that my truesoul interacted with some primordial essence that even I''m not aware of as I transmigrated? Could that essence be of interest to the divine purple rock, or allow me to manipte it?" Xiao Nanfeng pondered.


    Regardless of what the situation was, it was clearly in his favor. He continued to attempt to familiarize himself with the rock.


    Back in the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, as Ao Zhou absorbed more ancestral dragon''s blood, it continued to stare at the divine purple rock. It made a face. "Could Xiao Nanfeng have died? If he did, then all this blood would belong to me!"


    Ao Zhou happily continued to absorb the blood. It didn''t notice that, as more of the blood was consumed, the radiant multicolored glow emanating from the hall began to flicker. It seemed as though there were some deep connection between the hall and the blood.


    The spirit kings and Prime Minister Turtle, standing by the outskirts of the hall, noticed the disturbance at once.


    "The lighting from the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall is flickering. Could something be wrong with it?!" one spirit king shouted.


    Prime Minister Turtle narrowed its eyes. "They''ve entered the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall and been acknowledged by the ancestral dragon''s blood."


    "What ancestral dragon''s blood, Prime Minister?" The spirit kings seemed confused; they clearly didn''t know any of that information.


    "Guard the perimeter," Prime Minister Turtle instructed, without exining things further.


    "Understood!" the spirit kings replied.


    "Prime Minister Turtle, are you going to head inside? There are countless skeletal dragons along the way. You won''t be able to make it in!"


    Prime Minister Turtle smiled coldly. "Don''t be so certain."


    "Oh?"


    Prime Minister Turtle flew toward the fog surrounding the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    "Be careful, Prime Minister!" the spirit kings shouted.


    They quickly saw a skeletal dragon blocking its way.


    "Explode!" Prime Minister Turtle caused an Immortal relic to explode, destroying the skeletal dragon. It defended itself by retreating within its shell. After the explosion subsided, it continued flying forward to the hall.


    Another skeletal dragon approached.


    "Explode! Explode! Explode!" Prime Minister Turtle repeated its actions and destroyed all the skeletal dragons blocking its path as it rapidly approached the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    The spirit kings were forced back by a patrolling group of skeletal dragons.


    "Prime Minister Turtle doesn''t seem to care about those relics at all. It''s already destroyed more than a dozen Immortal relics! It was the prime minister of the draconic pce in the past,so it must have secretly seized all these relics before escaping!"


    "If I had so many Immortal relics, I would be able to get close to the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, too..."


    "The skeletal dragons have only been forced back for a moment. They''ll surround the turtle again. If it can''t enter the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, it''s going to die!"


    The gathered spirit kings didn''t understand what Prime Minister Turtle was trying to do.


    They would have been surprised to find that Prime Minister Turtle had already made it to the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall. It had extensive knowledge of the region and was able to quickly approach the barrier.


    "I would have needed to destroy all the skeletal dragons in order to dispel the barrier around the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, but the ck serpent has saved me significant trouble. Its blood will be the key to breaking through this barrier. Break!" Prime Minister Turtlemanded.


    Blood seeped out of its flippers, the same blood that it had previously extracted from Ao Zhou. It smeared the blood on the barrier in the shape of a formation.


    The barrier quickly began to sizzle and melt. Just as a hole was about to form in the barrier, dozens of skeletal dragons shot toward Prime Minister Turtle and attacked it together.


    "Explode!" It continued to explode Immortal relics to push the skeletal dragons back, but even so, it sustained quite a few injuries in the process. Tiny cracks propagated along its shell.


    With a pop, a small hole opened up in the barrier. Prime Minister Turtle hurriedly squeezed inside. Only when the barrier regenerated did the skeletal dragons outside stop their attack.


    Prime Minister Turtle sighed in relief. It was covered with blood, and its shell was a spiderweb of cracks. All this was unimportant, however; the important thing was that it had finally made it in.


    It raised its head to see what was happening within the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng had vanished, and Ao Zhou was absorbing the ancestral dragon''s blood. Its aura was growing stronger and stronger. A dragon''s horns had emerged from its head, and its body was expanding continuously as its skin molted.


    "You brat, the ancestral dragon''s blood is mine! Spit it out," Prime Minister Turtlemanded, pping at it with a flipper.


    As though having sensed the attack in advance, Ao Zhou''s eyes immediately opened wide as a fierce aura seeped out from it. It countered with a swipe of its dragon''s ws.


    A huge explosion resounded as a frightening wave of energy shot all around the hall.


    "How did you make it in here, you old codger?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "You''ve already grown a horn and reached Wingform-realm in such a short period of time? As expected of the ancestral dragon''s blood. It''s a waste for you to have absorbed any of it. You don''t deserve it," Prime Minister Turtle retorted, charging toward the serpent.


    "I''ll kill you!" Ao Zhou howled.


    It swallowed up the remaining blood and shot toward Prime Minister Turtle. They began to fight each other in the hall. Both spirits were now at Wingform. Wind and storm formed around them as they essed their full power. mes licked the air.


    "You''ve just reached Wingform. You''re no match for me!" Prime Minister Turtle shouted.


    "I simply haven''t distilled all the ancestral dragon''s blood yet," Ao Zhou replied. "I''ll grow stronger as I fight. Die, you old codger!"


    "All your ancestral dragon''s blood belongs to me. I''m going to kill you!"


    Their attacks enveloped the hall. Neither had any intention of going easy on the other. Huge wounds formed all over their bodies.


    Prime Minister Turtle was at the peak of Wingform-realm. Despite its serious injuries from the skeletal dragons, it wasn''t an opponent Ao Zhou could defeat as is. Two hourster, Ao Zhou finally fell to the ground in a spray of blood, struck down by one of Prime Minister Turtle''s blows. Prime Minister Turtle stomped on its prone body with a foot, leaving it incapable of moving.


    "You''ll die for this!" Ao Zhou cursed, struggling to free itself.


    "No, you''re the one who will die. Your father deserved it. The turtle n has served the dragon n for generations. How many years has it been? We deserve merit for our loyalty, if not our hard work! But when I identally consumed a little ancestral dragon''s blood, your father destroyed my physical body as a punishment, leaving only my head behind. My millennia of cultivation, all ruined in an instant!" Prime Minister Turtle cried out.


    "You''ve consumed ancestral dragon''s blood before?" Ao Zhou gaped.


    "Haha! How could I have known about its miraculous properties if I hadn''t drunk it? I know that, if I drink it all, I''ll be able to transform into a dragon myself, an ancestral dragon. I was even willing to release the red rope cursed effigy in order to im the blood for myself. I''m in cooperation with the red rope to destroy you dragons. At that point, after consuming the ancestral dragon''s blood, I''ll transform into the ancestral dragon. I''ll lead a new n to glory myself¡ªI''ll start a new dragon n!" Prime Minister Turtle announced.


    "You''re a turtle. There''s no way you can be a dragon," Ao Zhou asserted.


    "You know nothing! That''s what the ancestral dragon''s blood is for. Not only can it transform the body, it can even transform the soul. My spiritual body has already grown draconic horns. I''m going to be the new ancestral dragon. Even your father died to me. Do you really think you can stand up against me? You''re courting your own death! Have you already eaten Xiao Nanfeng? You''re trying to monopolize this blood, aren''t you? You''re still too naive!" Prime Minister Turtle criticized, stomping down with force.


    "What are you doing? No!" Ao Zhou howled.


    Ao Zhou''s bones were crushed underneath Prime Minister Turtle''s feet. Prime Minister Turtle lifted up Ao Zhou''s body with its flippers and bit down on it.


    "Argh!"


    Ao Zhou screamed as Prime Minister Turtle bit off its tail in a spurt of blood. The turtle spirit was going to devour it whole!


    "Save me, Xiao Nanfeng! Elders, help!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "No one can save you now. I''m going to eat you right away and finish distilling the ancestral dragon''s blood filling your body. It''ll all be mine, haha!" Prime Minister Turtle roared out.


    Just then, the divine purple rock suddenly floated into the air, causing the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall to quake. The floor of the hall suddenly surged with countless ck smoke.


    "What?!" Prime Minister Turtle nched as it looked toward the disturbance.


    The divine purple rock was falling from the air and smashing toward Prime Minister Turtle.


    "Impossible! How is the divine purple rock moving of its own ord?!"


    Prime Minister Turtle punched at the rock, only to have its flipper burst in a shower of light. The divine purple rock smashed down with incredible force, striking Prime Minister Turtle''s lower back, crushing its shell, and turning the better half of its body into mush. It was pinned down against the floor.


    Prime Minister Turtle began vomiting out blood as it saw Xiao Nanfeng staring coldly at it from above the divine purple rock.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? How can you control this rock? That''s impossible!" Prime Minister Turtle howled.

 Chapter 218: Prime Minister Turtles Death

    <h4>Chapter 218: Prime Minister Turtle''s Death</h4>


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve emerged from the rock!" Ao Zhou cried out in shock.


    It was exhrated that it had avoided certain death at Prime Minister Turtle''s hands.


    "Where''s my half of the ancestral dragon''s blood?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    Ao Zhou stiffened, then pointed at Prime Minister Turtle. "It stole it all!"


    Prime Minister Turtle, the lower half of its bodypletely destroyed, was beyond angry. Upon hearing Ao Zhou besmirch its honor, it grew even more infuriated. "Nonsense! You''ve swallowed it all yourself. If I managed to obtain half of the ancestral dragon''s blood, would I be in such a sorry state?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Ao Zhou again. It was obvious that it was lying.


    Ao Zhou, knowing that it was in the wrong, nevertheless replied, "You can''t me me. That turtle was going to steal the ancestral dragon''s blood. I was forced to swallow it all to protect it!"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes at the shameless Ao Zhou. "You''ll have topensate me, then."


    Ao Zhou pursed its lips. It had no intention of spitting out what it had already consumed.


    "No one can manipte this divine purple rock. How could you have done it, Xiao Nanfeng?!" Prime Minister Turtle cried out.


    "Don''t you have better things to worry about, Prime Minister Turtle? You''re about to die. How did you manage to raise your cultivation to the peak of Wingform in such a short time?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Do you think I wanted to do it? If not for you twice destroying my physical body, how would the sea turtle spirits all have gone extinct?!" Prime Minister Turtle spat out.


    "What does that have to do with me? You repaid my kindness with malice. If not for my people having saved you, you would still have been trapped on the Isle of Nn. You''ve threatened and plotted against me multiple times¡ªand now you''re even besmirching my name."


    "Your kindness? Nonsense! I was unfortunate enough to have been caught by Emperor Tianshu, but I would have been able to escape from the formation myself after some time. I didn''t need your help! My physical body might have been weak while in its infancy, but it was specifically designed to be able to grow into strength by absorbing the draconic vein situated under the sea turtle spiritbeastir. If I had been able to absorb it whole, I would have reached an apex¡ªbut you ruined my body! I was unable to devour the whole draconic vein by myself, so I had to sacrifice the other members of my race. You killed them all!" Prime Minister Turtle cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. "You excavated the draconic vein by the sea turtle spiritbeastir, had all the sea turtles devour it together, and then devoured all the sea turtles?"


    "It''s all your fault!" Prime Minister Turtle roared.


    Ao Zhou cried out, "What? You devoured your entire n, and you''re trying to me it all on Xiao Nanfeng? You''re shameless. Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll help you take care of him!"


    Ao Zhou, having swallowed up all the ancestral dragon''s blood, was trying to find a quick way to make it up to Xiao Nanfeng. Better yet, it was enemies with Prime Minister Turtle, and it would be able to take revenge and repay Xiao Nanfeng''s favor in one fell swoop!


    Prime Minister Turtle sneered. "Take care of me? I think not. I''ll eat you all and use the ancestral dragon''s blood to evolve into an ancestral dragon myself. I''ll revive the draconic race!"


    "Your physical body''s already been destroyed. What makes you think you''re able to do anything? I''ll eat you whole!" Ao Zhou howled, biting at Prime Minister Turtle''s head.


    "It''s toote. Xiao Nanfeng has moved the divine purple rock, freeing what it once sealed. You''ve all lost, haha!" Prime Minister Turtle roared.


    "What?" Ao Zhou felt a flicker of unease.


    It turned to see ck smoke filling the hall. shes of red light were emitted from the smoke.


    Suddenly, the red light illuminated the hall. Ao Zhou was sent flying. It smashed into the ground, then quickly scrambled back up.


    "Ah? My tail''s back to normal!" Ao Zhou cried out happily.


    "We''re in an illusion," Xiao Nanfeng warned from close by.


    Ao Zhou turned to see fog rising into the air. Xiao Nanfeng was staring straight ahead, where thousands of sea turtle spirits were ring fiercely at them. In the lead was the giant Prime Minister Turtle, with a pair of dragon''s horns on its head. It looked particrly fearsome.


    "Is this really an illusory realm? Where did all those sea turtlese from?" Ao Zhou gasped.


    "They''re the spirits of my n. They donated their physical bodies to me, and I''m temporarily storing their souls on their behalf. I''ve promised to make them all dragons to establish the draconic race anew. Once I eat the two of you, I''ll be able to fulfill that promise," Prime Minister Turtleughed coldly.


    "Prime Minister Turtle, you seem even weaker than you were before. Do you really think you can be my opponent?"Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "You tricked mest time. This time, nothing will save you now¡ªbecause I have your worst nightmare working with me!" Prime Minister Turtle boasted.


    "These small turtles? How would they be our nightmare?" Ao Zhou taunted.


    "Not my turtles, but those!" Prime Minister Turtle pointed behind itself.


    From the thick fog, countless dots of red light appeared. One dot swam forward and revealed itself to be a length of red rope the size of a python.


    There were thousands of lengths of red rope, each filled with killing intent.


    "Cursed effigies? Three thousand of them?!" Ao Zhou cried out in shock.


    Prime Minister Turtle turned toward the red rope. "Honored cursed effigies, the seal is gone. You are all free. This man and dragon are my enemies. I ask that you help me kill them both."


    The lengths of red rope stared at Prime Minister Turtle, then at their surroundings.


    "Eat!" one length of red ropemanded.


    "Eat!" the other lengths of red rope echoed.


    The red rope swarmed toward the sea turtles and began to feast on them.


    "Save us, King!"


    "Don''t eat me! Don''t eat me!"


    "King, didn''t you say you were going to transform us into dragons? Why are we getting eaten? No!"


    The sea turtle spirits shrieked as they fled, but they were surrounded by red rope and unable to escape. The red rope quickly devoured them.


    "No, no, you''re all mistaken! Please, honored effigies, those are my subordinates! I''m Prime Minister Turtle, and I''ve forged an alliance with your cursed king. We''re allies! You can''t eat them!" Prime Minister Turtle cried out.


    "Allies? Who do you think you are? We were just taking advantage of you. Now that we''re free, you''re useless to us. We were sealed away for two centuries and have exhausted most of our cursed spiritual power. We''ll reim some with these subordinates of yours right now!" the leader of the red rope shouted. It bit Prime Minister Turtle.


    "No! You can''t eat me. The red rope cursed king promised to aid in my draconic transformation, to take over the world with me! You can''t eat me!" Prime Minister Turtle shouted.


    However, the lengths of red rope boasted overwhelming strength. They swarmed its body as it attempted to retaliate, but to no avail. It was taken down in no time.


    "No!" Prime Minister Turtle screamed.


    Within moments, the red rope, working together, tore the turtle''s spiritual avatar into shreds, then devoured it all. Even to its death, it couldn''t believe that this was how it would die after scheming for all these years.


    The death of Prime Minister Turtle likewise spelled doom for the sea turtle spirits that it harbored. All of them became fodder for the red rope.


    From afar, Ao Zhou cried out in shock. "What are we going to do? All this red rope¡ªwe''re done for!"


    "Silence!" Xiao Nanfeng hissed.


    Ao Zhou was just about to run when it suddenly turned to find a skeleton standing right beside it, none other than Madam Rouge.


    "It''s you!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    It still remembered when Xiao Nanfeng was challenging the za Stairway. This skeleton had almost torn its spiritual avatar in half! It jumped back in shock upon seeing Madam Rouge.


    "Madam Rouge, can you handle this red rope?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with some worry.


    There were far too many lengths of red rope, after all. Would Madam Rouge be able to handle it if they swarmed her?


    "What do you think?"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... There was no need to think; Madam Rouge''s tone was proof enough!


    "Madam Rouge, let me help you suppress them, then! We''re friends, and we can help each other," Xiao Nanfeng immediately volunteered.


    The red rope weren''t fools; they wouldn''t only attack Madam Rouge. Rather than wait passively as the red rope attacked him, why not take the initiative and have Madam Rouge owe him a favor?


    Madam Rouge was silent for a moment. It naturally saw through Xiao Nanfeng''s n, and it certainly didn''t want to owe Xiao Nanfeng a favor. As Xiao Nanfeng charged forward, she followed suit.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? The red rope''s probably at Lunar Deluge already! Do you want to die?!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    The gigantic length of red rope in the lead was already shooting forward. As Xiao Nanfeng punched forth, it glowed with red light.


    With a boom, however, it was sent flying. In mid-air, it exploded into a dozen or more fragments.


    "What? How could your spiritual power be so strong?!" Ao Zhou widened its eyes in disbelief.


    Madam Rouge did the same, shattering another length of red rope.


    "This cursed skeleton, too? Could it be the elder of spacetime? No, the elder of spacetime can reach into the river of time itself! It has to be stronger than this¡ªbut surely it''s one of the other elders of the Qitian Alliance?" Ao Zhou murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge destroyed red rope after red rope as she absorbed them all.


    "Skeletal Elder, Xiao Nanfeng, save me!" Ao Zhou shrieked, fleeing toward the two of them.


    "You''re dead! We''ll charge together!" one length of red ropemanded.


    "Charge!" all the other lengths of red rope echoed.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched forward with Hegemon''s Fist, blocking the red ropes''bined assault. Although he could hold his own, he still couldn''tpare to Madam Rouge. She was able to destroy a length of red rope with every punch, then absorb its fragments to grow even stronger. Her aura was such that the red rope even began to quail from her.

 Chapter 219: Fortune Follows the People

    <h4>Chapter 219: Fortune Follows the People</h4>


    Back in the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng had stopped moving. After Madam Rouge devoured about five hundred lengths of red rope, what remained stopped trying to fight back and began to flee instead.


    However, Madam Rouge had tampered with the illusory realm, and none of the lengths of red rope were able to escape. She continued to teleport between the lengths of red rope, then scattered their cursed spiritual avatars with a punch. Fragments of red rope filled the air; from afar, they looked like crimson fireworks.


    Ao Zhou nced at the incredible sight of crimson fireworks blooming all around itself.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, this is an elder of the Qitian Alliance, isn''t she? Will she attack us too?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng shared the same concern. Although he was in cooperation with Madam Rouge, Madam Rouge''s strength would surely grow considerably after consuming three thousand lengths of red rope. Would she still need his help then? Madam Rouge wouldn''t hurt him, would she?


    Before Madam Rouge made her move, however, he would be able to continue hoodwinking Ao Zhou.


    "See that? Every member of the Qitian Alliance is a cultivator of immense strength. You''re the only one who''s as weak as a chick," Xiao Nanfeng chided the serpent.


    Ao Zhou stiffened. "Aren''t I stronger than you are?"


    "Are you? If I hadn''t suppressed Prime Minister Turtle just now, you would have been eaten to death. If you still think you''re stronger, we can fight each other right now and see who the winner is. Would you like to have a go?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Forget it!" Ao Zhou''s face twitched.


    It knew that its spiritual power was no match for Xiao Nanfeng; only its physical cultivation was superior. Furthermore, it was counting on Xiao Nanfeng to prevent Madam Rouge from eating it, so there was no reason to go against him for now.


    As the final firework went off, Madam Rouge finished her meal.


    She shed over to the two of them.


    Ao Zhou was so scared that he rushed behind Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng himself grew alert.


    "What are you hiding for? Do you think Madam Rouge will hurt us? She''s not an ingrate like you! She''s my friend," Xiao Nanfeng chided.


    Madam Rouge: ...


    She knew that Xiao Nanfeng was deliberately extolling her virtues topel her against doing otherwise. She red at Xiao Nanfeng for some time, then manifested a series of words. "Xiao Nanfeng, I know what you''re doing. If you don''t seed at my task, there will be consequences."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Then, Madam Rouge waved a hand and broke the illusion.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou returned to reality.


    "I''m awake? Thank goodness. I was so scared!" Ao Zhou shuddered.


    Xiao Nanfeng arduously sent the giant purple rock into his storage ring. Although he was able to manipte the rock now, it would take him an inordinate amount of time to attune it before he could use it in an agile manner.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what did that Madam Rouge want with you?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "It''s an exchange between members of the Qitian Alliance. There''s no need for you to learn about the details. Rather, you should be thinking about how topensate me for the ancestral dragon''s blood," Xiao Nanfeng replied pointedly.


    "I don''t have anything topensate you with! Look at me. I''ve lost my tail, and my bones are crushed! What a sorry state I''m in!" Ao Zhou attempted to evoke sympathy from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I don''t care. Figure it out yourself. Otherwise, I''ll drain you of your blood and extract my portion of ancestral dragon''s blood from you!"


    Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up. It immediately spat out a vat and began to drain its blood into it.


    "You should have told me earlier! Here, look. There wasn''t even a full vat of ancestral dragon''s blood before, but I''m giving you a full vat now. It''s more than sufficient to cover your half of the deal," Ao Zhou immediately replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I want the ancestral dragon''s blood, not yours."


    "The ancestral dragon''s blood has beenbined with mine. My blood is the ancestral dragon''s blood. This is it!" Ao Zhou emphasized.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened. "You''re processing the ancestral dragon''s blood and preparing to swap out your own blood in the process, aren''t you? That''s why you don''t care about losing your own blood any longer. Your blood isn''t particrly precious or worth distilling, so you might as well try to hoodwink me by giving me blood of inferior quality."


    "What? How could that be? Am I that sort of dragon?" Ao Zhou retorted. It sighed inwardly. Xiao Nanfeng was far too shrewd to be tricked by such means!


    "Forget it. I don''t have the attention to spare on you right now. I''ll record it in the ledger. You canpensate meter."


    "In the ledger?" Ao Zhou''s face stiffened.


    "The internal ledger of the Qitian Alliance. Anyone who attempts to defraud another member of the alliance will be subject to forty-nine cuts over their heart," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    "What? What sort of alliance is this? Why are the rules so strict?"


    It had still harbored doubts about whether the Qitian Alliance was real before Madam Rouge showed up. It had witnessed the ''friendship'' between them, and had no choice but to believe in this new reality. If not for the Qitian Alliance, why would a cursed effigy of supreme strength like Madam Rouge work together with them? It would have no choice but to pay off its debt to Xiao Nanfeng!


    Xiao Nanfeng reached over for the vat of Ao Zhou''s blood and stored it.


    "What? Aren''t you going to record this transaction in the ledger? What are you doing with my blood?" Ao Zhou immediately asked.


    "This is interest."


    Ao Zhou: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng was even more of a scammer than it was!


    Xiao Nanfeng then headed to Prime Minister Turtle''s carcass and searched it over, but the divine purple rock''s suppression ability was so frightening that it even shattered Prime Minister Turtle''s inner core. All he retrieved from its carcass was a storage orb.


    "Is this all that Prime Minister Turtle possessed? It doesn''t even have an Immortal relic in its storage orb¡ªjust a bunch of ordinary trinkets!" Xiao Nanfeng scowled.


    He didn''t know that Prime Minister Turtle had possessed countless Immortal relics, but had destroyed them all in the process of entering the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    "I deserve a share of these ordinary trinkets as well. I''m a member of the Qitian Alliance, and I stalled Prime Minister Turtle to give you the chance to suppress it. Furthermore, you weren''t the one who destroyed its spiritual avatar. These trinkets might not be worth much, but they''re better than nothing. I want some too!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng pocketed the storage orb. "Forget it. You can have Prime Minister Turtle''s carcass instead. It''d help you with your transformation, at least."


    "Why are you suddenly being so nice?" Ao Zhou seemed a little hesitant, as if this were a trap.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Prime Minister Turtle''s carcass. Its body had been mashed into meat paste by the divine purple rock. Only its head was intact, but Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t stomach the thought of consuming something like it. He''d do Ao Zhou a favor and give it to him instead. [1]


    At that point, the barrier surrounding the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall suddenly faded away, and the multicolored glow emanating from the hall dimmed considerably.


    Outside the hall, the skeletal dragons immediately sensed the presence of an outsider. They rushed over and howled at Xiao Nanfeng. He immediately raised Long Jiu''s token up high as the skeletal dragons bowed and slunk out.


    "Oh? These dragons aren''t targeting me any longer! Could it be because I''ve grown these dragon''s horns? Or because I consumed the ancestral dragon''s blood?" Ao Zhou wondered.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Be careful."


    "Of what?"


    "Don''t you remember? The ancestral dragon''s blood is charged with its desire for vengeance. The blood actively attacked us when we first saw it, but you managed to absorb it without a hitch. Haven''t you felt any of the ancestral dragon''s emotions?"


    "I haven''t. Perhaps it''s because of my good looks. Maybe the ancestral dragon''s remaining grudges were pleased with my looks and the reappearance of an heir to the Eastern Sea dragons."


    Xiao Nanfeng red at Ao Zhou. The serpent was more thick-skinned than anyone else he knew!


    "Alright, I''ll be leaving now. Are you going to apany me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I won''t! There are countless skeletal dragons out here to serve as my guards. It''s better for me to distill and refine that ancestral dragon''s blood right here. Look at how injured I am! I''ll be safest here."


    "In that case, I''ll be leaving first. Think carefully about how you''ll pay back your debt to me."


    Ao Zhou didn''t reply. Only when Xiao Nanfeng had left the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall and vanished into the depths of the fog did it nce disdainfully at where Xiao Nanfeng had vanished. I absorbed the blood fair and square. What''s there to repay? Ridiculous!"


    Deep in the fog, Xiao Nanfeng nced back toward the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall. He sighed in relief. "Ao Zhou''s rather easy to fool, isn''t it? However, it''s a Wingform-realm lifeform. If it were to guess that the Qitian Alliance was fake, I''d likely not be able to make it out of its grasp. Better for me to stay away."


    Outside the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, the spirit kings had been paying careful attention to the depths of the fog. When they saw the radiance emitting from the hall weaken, they were all shocked.


    "Something must have happened. Prime Minister Turtle must have obtained the primary treasure within!"


    "We''d better have a look ourselves to see if there are any treasures we can pick up."


    The spirit kings rushed into the fog, only toe face to face with countless skeletal dragons that were keeping guard. Within moments, explosions rang out from all over.


    Xiao Nanfeng avoided the explosions and secretly snuck out of the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    "The draconic pce has threerge halls, and the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall is only one of them. With Long Jiu''s token and Ao Zhou''s blood, I should check out the other two halls." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with anticipation as he headed into the depths of the fog.


    Within the undying realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was holding court. After tremendous effort, he had managed to weed out the worst of the officials. As the children of the Xiao Academy continued to grow and to learn the art of being an official, the entire world was undergoing tremendous change around them.


    The abolition of very, in particr, seemed to upend the status quo.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body sat within a hall. Suddenly, he felt a series of golden dots of light surging toward him out of nowhere. They shot into his body, making him feel unbelievably warm andfortable.


    "This is... fortune?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Beside him, Zheng Qian''s eyes brightened. "Congrattions, King Xiao. Your edict to abolish very has sparked gratitude among the former ves, and that gratitude is now umting in your body as fortune."


    "Fortune? From the people''s will?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    He knew that this day would eventuallye, but hadn''t expected it to arrive so quickly.


    After seeing Zheng Qian off, he closed his eyes and began to sense the fortune in his body. There wasn''t much fortune, but it was more than enough to begin eroding at his karmic consequence.


    He used that fortune as he contemted important scriptures that he had already read. He felt as though his understanding of those scriptures had been renewed and given novel perspectives that he had never considered. His spiritual power grew rapidly as the two moons of his mindscape shone even more brightly.


    1. ¹êÍ· (lit. turtle''s head) refers to the ns of the penis. ?

 Chapter 220: Tangs Appeal for Help

    <h4>Chapter 220: Tang''s Appeal for Help</h4>


    Within the draconic pce, Xiao Nanfeng flew within the fog toward a destination that he had nned out in advance. Because of the monotony of his surroundings and the density of fog that obscured his vision, it was very difficult to sense whether he was going in the right direction. It took him several days to arrive at his destination, the Crystal Hall.


    The exterior of the Crystal Hall was simr to that of the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall. From afar, one could see thick, roiling fog surrounding a hall that glowed with multicolored light. The sound of battle emerged from the fog from time to time.


    Some cultivators happily left the fog with new Immortal relics in tow, while others escaped with wounded bodies.


    Once again, Xiao Nanfeng put on a veiled bamboo hat as he headed deeper into the fog. He avoided the raucous fights all around and carefully proceeded alone.


    Within moments, he encountered a skeletal dragon. As Xiao Nanfeng raised Long Jiu''s token high into the air, the skeletal dragon bowed and retreated to the side.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued heading deeper into the fog, but even after a prolonged period of time, he hadn''t reached the Crystal Pce. He stopped short.


    "Am I... going around in circles?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    He made a mark on the ground and continued on his way. Not long thereafter, he returned to the mark.


    "There''s a formation that''s preventing me from getting close to the Crystal Pce!"


    He retrieved the Mirror of Truth and shone it at his surroundings, but its potency was limited. Although it could clear away the fog in his surroundings, it wasn''t able to get rid of it all, and neither could it help him deal with the formation.


    He found a skeletal dragon and raised Long Jiu''s token high up in the air. "Bring me to the Crystal Hall."


    However, the skeletal dragon didn''t seem to understand what he was asking. He could direct it forward, but it didn''t seem to have an innate sense of location otherwise.


    "These skeletal dragons really are just dummies," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, sighing.


    He ambled around for almost an entire day without any sess. Even when he took to the air, nothing happened. The formation around the Crystal Hall had to be incredibly strong.


    He had no choice but to head to one of the fights in the vicinity, following the noise that could be heard through the fog, in an attempt to seek information from the cultivators nearby. He quickly found corpses strewn across the ground.


    "Die!"


    With a great explosion, a skeletal dragon burst into pieces. An Immortal relic and a length of red rope appeared from thin air.


    "An Immortal sword¡ªand of surprising quality, at that!"


    "As per our agreement, I get the spoils this time!"


    "Everyone in your sect is dead. Do you really think you can challenge us for the weapon? Die!"


    "The Immortal sword should belong to whoever can keep it!"


    Dozens of cultivators were embroiled in an internal feud; among them was a familiar face, Tang.


    Tang didn''t participate in the fight. He stayed crouched by the side, hugging arge banner as he swallowed a gulp of saliva.


    Not longter, the fighting ended. They had all killed each other.


    Tang walked up to the middle of the battlefield and picked up the Immortal sword. He didn''t seem happy at all. Rather, he frowned in exasperation.


    From within the fog, Xiao Nanfeng gave Tang an odd look. "How fortuitous..."


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to step forward when three more figures emerged from the fog. One of them was the Pestilence Sage, with two demonic disciples trailing by his side.


    "Tang, you''ve cursed them all to death again!" one demonic disciple cried out.


    "Tang, you really are an omen of cmity¡ªand it''s growing stronger and stronger! This is the fifth time you''ve managed to kill a team of dragon hunters without even doing anything, and you even get an Immortal relic each time!" the other demonic disciple eximed.


    Tang ignored the two disciples. He bowed toward the Pestilence Sage. "Master, this is the Immortal relic I obtained this time."


    The Pestilence Sage imed the Immortal sword and looked at Tang with glowing eyes. "Well done, Tang."


    "I didn''t do anything, Master," Tang replied, almost wearily.


    "That''s what makes it even better. It means you truly are cmitous, haha!" The Pestilence Sage seemed to be in an excellent mood.


    The more excited the Pestilence Sage became, however, the more worried Tang was.


    "Master, please take this soul-iming banner as well." Tang passed the ck banner he had been wielding to the Pestilence Sage.


    The Pestilence Sage handed the banner to one of the disciples, then considered the Immortal sword. It was an excellent weapon, and he decided to keep it for himself. Then, heughed. "Let me examine your body."


    "My body hasn''t changed, Master," Tang replied, his face full of fright.


    The Pestilence Sage ignored him and pped his palm against Tang''s shoulder. Tang''s body suddenly glowed with ghostly blue light, as did his skin.


    "Very good, very good! Your cultivation has reached the peak of Ascension. Providing you with countless treasures to aid your physical cultivation has been worthwhile." The Pestilence Sage nodded in satisfaction.


    Tang tried to smile, but the overall effect was worse than if he had cried instead. The happier the Pestilence Sage was, the worse his future would be¡ªthe Pestilence Sage might be attempting to take over his body soon.


    Just then, the Pestilence Sage nced into the fog. "Do you think you can hide from me?"


    The Pestilence Sageunched a palm strike that shot toward Xiao Nanfeng within the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng blocked the palm strike with one of his own, but his body was forced back.


    "There really was someone hiding there!" a demonic disciple eximed.


    "What? How could that be? Tang, shouldn''t you have cursed everyone to death?" the other demonic disciple asked curiously.


    Tang: ... He hated being called an ''omen of cmity'', but at this point, it wasn''t worth his breath to exin himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s veiled hat prevented anyone from realizing who he was. He didn''t intend to stay; he crept away into the fog.


    "Do you think you can leave after seeing our secrets?" the Pestilence Sage suddenly shouted.


    He flew toward Xiao Nanfeng andunched another palm strike, which glowed with blue light. This was the technique that allowed him to grab at another cultivator''s soul.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t dare take this technique lightly. Crimson moonlight surged from one palm as he released an ethereal length of red rope with his other.


    The ghostly palm struck the palm of crimson moonlight in a wave of energy that sent Xiao Nanfeng''s hat flying. The Pestilence Sage''s palm was ultimately unable to ovee the crimson moonlight, and he was forced to cancel the technique.


    "It''s you, Xiao Nanfeng!" the Pestilence Sage shrieked.


    "Senior Brother Xiao?" Tang''s eyes suddenly lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s ethereal red rope struck at the Pestilence Sage''s neck, causing him to nch. He immediately attempted to dodge and pull away the red rope around his neck, but it tangled around his arm instead. Xiao Nanfeng tugged sharply on the rope, causing him to stumble.


    The Pestilence Sage shed at the red rope with the Immortal sword he had just obtained, but the sword passed cleanly through without hitting a thing.


    "Impossible!" the Pestilence Sage cried out. He ignored the pain radiating from his arm as he shed at Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, die!"


    "Do you think you''re the only one with an Immortal relic?" Xiao Nanfeng also retrieved an Immortal sword radiating with multicolored light, which he swung at the Pestilence Sage.


    "You have an Immortal sword too? But you''re weaker than I am!" The Pestilence Sage continued his sh, confident in his imminent victory.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "What? That''s an Immortal relic. Don''t you intend to keep it?!" the Pestilence Sage cried out.


    He would never have expected that Xiao Nanfeng would waste an Immortal relic on trying to kill him. Was he crazy? With his arm tangled up by the ethereal red rope, he couldn''t get away!


    The explosion that struck the Pestilence Sage mushroomed into a cloud of dust and debris. The resulting shockwave sent Xiao Nanfeng reeling back.


    He fell to the ground in a plume of dust. The shock from the explosion caused him to spray out a mouthful of blood, but the Pestilence Sage fared far worse. Caught in the center of the explosion, he had perished without leaving any trace of his body behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng wiped at his mouth disdainfully. He had no interest in fighting opponents equivalent to him in strength when he could run instead. Dying was too great a risk. This, on the other hand¡ªhe had destroyed his Immortal sword, but was able to im the one that belonged to the Pestilence Sage instead. He hadn''t lost out at all!


    Xiao Nanfeng walked over and picked up the Immortal sword, then turned to his surroundings. To his surprise, Tang had killed the other two disciples.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Tang and was just about to leave.


    "Hold on, Senior Brother Xiao!" Tang cried out. "I know about Elder Ku and Zhao Yuanjiao."


    Xiao Nanfeng whirled around. "What did you say?"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, please save me. If you don''t, I''m going to be dead!" Tang pleaded.


    "Do you know where Zhao Yuanjiao and my master are?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, I heard the Pestilence Sage state that Zhao Tianheng set up a trap for Zhao Yuanjiao and Elder Ku," Tang immediately reported.


    "Oh?"


    "I have no other choice but to ask you for help, Senior Brother. Please, save me! I''ll do anything!" Tang begged.


    "What''s the matter? Aren''t you free to do what you want?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Not at all!" The Pestilence Sage wants to forge me into one of his avatars. He''s sealed my entire body with all sorts of secret techniques, and he can find me no matter where I go. He''s about to kill me and take me over, I''m certain! What you exploded was just one of his five avatars. He still has two bodies left!" Tang continued.


    "Why would the Pestilence Sage want to take over your body?"


    "He ims that I''m an omen of cmity, that I have a rare constitution that he wants!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a strange look. "Are you really an omen of cmity?"


    "I..." Tang didn''t know what to say.


    Anyone who had teamed up with him recently had perished, after all...


    "Senior Brother, as long as you save me, I''ll listen to you for good! I''ll be loyal to you and do anything you want," Tang pledged.


    "What? Are you going to try to curse me to death, too?"


    Tang stiffened. Indeed, considering his... status... it would hardly make sense for Xiao Nanfeng to want to take him up on his offer, but what else could he give him? Tang didn''t know what to do.


    "I can help you deal with the Pestilence Sage, but you''ll have to tell me everything you know about the draconic pce, including any information about my master and Zhao Yuanjiao," Xiao Nanfeng finally said.


    Tang''s eyes brightened. "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!"

 Chapter 221: Xiao Nanfeng the Wastrel

    <h4>Chapter 221: Xiao Nanfeng the Wastrel</h4>


    "The area around here has been surrounded by arge formation that Zhao Tianheng established," Tang began.


    "Oh?"


    "I heard that this was something that Mr. Wen of the Tianshu Empire set up. He and the men of the Tianshu Empire were the first to enter the draconic pce, and they used the Immortal relics they obtained to set up formations around the halls of the draconic pce, the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall excluded. The formations are supposedly extremely strong, and no one else can get inside."


    "Mr. Wen set up these formations using Immortal relics, you say? Why is Zhao Tianheng maintaining them, then?"


    "Mr. Wen is at the other hall, so he left the formations around the Crystal Hall to Zhao Tianheng. It''s allegedly a gift to the Taiqing Immortal Sect as gratitude from Emperor Tianshu, though Zhao Tianheng''s reaping much of the benefit for himself. Mr. Wen doesn''t care. The Pestilence Sage was helping Zhao Tianheng and attempting to break open the barrier surrounding the Crystal Hall to retrieve the treasure within," Tang continued.


    "You mean that Zhao Tianheng''s already made it past the skeletal dragons'' defenses? How?"


    "I heard that Mr. Wen gave him a token, Long Ba''s token, which used to belong to the eighth elder of the draconic n. It stops the skeletal dragons from attacking him."


    "To think Mr. Wen would have such a treasure..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The advantage that he had by possessing Long Jiu''s token would be greatly reduced as a result.


    "Zhao Tianheng and the Pestilence Sage tasked us with collecting souls from the vicinity via this soul-iming banner. It can absorb the souls of the recently deceased into the fabric. I heard that Zhao Tianheng''s trying to break the barrier protecting the Crystal Hall with them."


    "In that case, Zhao Tianheng''s request for assistance was just part of his scheme?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark.


    "I don''t know exactly what''s going on, but I heard the Pestilence Sage mention that Elder Ku and Zhao Yuanjiao were lured deep into the formation and trapped in there," Tang reported.


    "How can I get deep into the formation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t know, but the Pestilence Sage surely does."


    "In that case, I''ll help you take care of him first."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    Two hourster, Tang fled through the fog with the soul-iming banner in tow. Suddenly, a figure stopped him¡ªthe Pestilence Sage.


    "Tang? What are you doing here?" the Pestilence Sage asked coldly.


    "Master? You''re finally here! I barely managed to escape from Xiao Nanfeng''s clutches. Thank goodness you''re around!" Tang eximed in relief.


    The Pestilence Sage kicked Tang to the ground, causing blood to spray out of his mouth.


    "Master, what''s the matter? What have I done wrong?" Tang''s face was a mask of fear.


    "You''re a good actor, aren''t you? You''re conspiring with Xiao Nanfeng to ambush me!" The Pestilence Sage sneered.


    "Master, you must be mistaken. How could I ever do such a thing?" Tang instantly grew far more alert, but his acting was excellent. He didn''t reveal any of the emotions that he was feeling.


    "You knew that I''ve been working on your body. Haven''t you considered that I could hear everything you said and did?"


    "Y-you can?!"


    "I''ve all but finished preparing your body. Of course I have a secret technique to keep an eye on you. You and Xiao Nanfeng n on ambushing me in the valley ahead, and he''sid out a trap for me there. You''re responsible for luring me into the valley, aren''t you?"


    "M-Master, please spare me!" Tang begged.


    "It looks like I can''t keep you any longer. If I do, you might deliberately hurt yourself to ruin this body. In that case, I''ll have to take it over today!" the Pestilence Sage hissed.


    He ced both palms on Tang''s head, causing him to freeze. Ghostly blue light filled his body as his eyes widened in fear.


    "Nascent spirit, emerge!" the Pestilence Sagemanded.


    He spat a golden orb of light out of his mouth and forced it into Tang''s. Tang was unable to resist. Despair filled his gaze. The Pestilence Sage''s aura weakened, as though he had transferred his essence directly into Tang''s body.


    "Soul swap!" the Pestilence Sage continued.


    A ghostly blue orb emerged from the Pestilence Sage''s mindscape and crept toward Tang''s. With the transferplete, Tang would bepletely possessed.


    Just then, an Immortal sword appeared out of nowhere, cutting off the Pestilence Sage''s arms. An ethereal red rope formed around Tang and pulled him away from the ghostly blue orb.


    As the orb snapped back into the Pestilence Sage''s mindscape, he suddenly shook and opened his eyes.


    Tang gasped in surprise. "Senior Brother Xiao? What are you doing here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shoved Tang behind him as he looked toward the armless, wilting Pestilence Sage.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Shouldn''t you be in that valley over there? What are you doing here?" the Pestilence Sage eximed.


    "What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He shed forward with the Immortal sword in his hands. The Pestilence Sage tried to flee, but he had just transferred his nascent spirit into Tang''s body and was in a drastically weakened state. With both his arms gone, how could he hope to defend against Xiao Nanfeng''s sword?


    The Pestilence Sage''s body was chopped in two and sent flying.


    "You were acting all along? You never headed to that valley¡ªyou were hiding beside Tang all this time! How did you know?!" the upper half of the Pestilence Sage''s body cried out.


    The Pestilence Sage thought that he had uncovered a n to ambush him, but that was all misdirection!


    "Do you think you''re the only one who knows how to forge these avatars?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    He shed at the Pestilence Sage''s body vertically, killing his fourth avatar.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, you knew that the Pestilence Sage was able to spy on our conversation, so you deliberately misled him?" Tang was taken aback.


    How could Xiao Nanfeng have guessed such a secret?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s current body was that of an avatar itself. He naturally suspected that the Pestilence Sage could have the ability to listen in on their conversation, and had nned around it as a result.


    "The nascent spirit that the Pestilence Sage gave you should be able to help you break through in your physical cultivation. Distill it now. If I''m not mistaken, the Pestilence Sage''s final avatar will be making its way here shortly."


    "Understood!" Tang replied.


    Just then, a radiant Immortal sword shot out of the thick fog straight at Xiao Nanfeng. It struck Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal sword in a gust of wind.


    Xiao Nanfeng stabilized himself and looked into the distance, where the Immortal sword flew back into the clutches of a figure¡ªthe Pestilence Sage''s final body.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve destroyed all my avatars. Prepare to die!" the Pestilence Sage roared.


    "Come at me, then!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    However, the Pestilence Sage didn''t rush over heedlessly. He seemed to be considering something as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng and made sure he didn''t escape.


    "This is your main body, isn''t it? You must have quite a few treasures in addition to the Immortal sword in your hand. Are you here to donate all your belongings to me?" Xiao Nanfeng mocked, trying to taunt his opponent.


    "Laugh away. You''ll die soon enough," the Pestilence Sage retorted.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. He felt that something was amiss. The Pestilence Sage had to be nning something considering how calm he was. Xiao Nanfeng''s top priority had to be to escape.


    Suddenly, he heard skeletal dragons bellowing. Ten of them emerged from the fog and flew up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Behind the dragons, a demonic sect disciple held a token high up in the air. He flew toward the Pestilence Sage. "Sage, I''ve herded these dragons over from that valley!"


    The ten skeletal dragons roared in outrage as a frightening aura descended. They snarled menacingly, as though intending to kill everyone present.


    The Pestilence Sage grabbed the token from his disciple''s hand, causing the dragons to bow to him.


    "Long Ba''s token! Senior Brother Xiao, run!" Tang shouted.


    "Run? Do you think you''ll be able to escape? Xiao Nanfeng, you might have avoided certain doom by not heading into the valley, but you won''t be able to escape now. You''ll die today, right here, right now! Dragons, kill him!" the Pestilence Sagemanded, raising Long Ba''s token high up in the air.


    The skeletal dragons roared and swooped down toward Xiao Nanfeng and Tang.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, we''re dead," Tang cried despairingly.


    "Haha! Of course you''re dead. Even Wingform-realm cultivators wouldn''t be able to survive such an assault. Ten skeletal dragons would be enough to take down an Immortal. No one will be able to save Xiao Nanfeng¡ªbut as for you, your body will be mine! Kill Xiao Nanfeng!" the Pestilence Sagemanded again.


    "No!" Tang shouted. Was this to be the end?


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the Pestilence Sage an odd look. He retrieved Long Jiu''s token.


    The ten skeletal dragons stopped short; the air disced by their incredible speed swept over Xiao Nanfeng and Tang in the form of a gale.


    "What? You have one of these tokens too?!" the Pestilence Sage cried out.


    "And here I thought you had some amazing trump card¡ªbut it was just this?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    He cocked his arm back and sent the Immortal sword in his hand flying toward the Pestilence Sage in a beam of light.


    The Pestilence Sage narrowed his eyes and shed at the sword. The next moment, however, his eyes grew wide. "You''re destroying this Immortal relic too? No!"


    The Immortal relic exploded in a mushroom cloud. The demonic disciples by the Pestilence Sage''s side were blown apart. The Pestilence Sage tried to avoid the blow, but he was far toote. Despite immediately trying to protect his body, he was grievously injured. He fell to the ground, blood gushing from all over.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Tang were sent flying by the shockwave from the explosion, but they were sufficiently far away from the explosion that they merely coughed out blood. Once the shockwave dissipated, Xiao Nanfeng walked over to the Pestilence Sage.


    He was clutching a corroded Immortal sword as hey in a pool of his own blood, gasping for breath. He looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment. "That was an Immortal relic. Don''t you realize what a waste¡ªyou wastrel!"


    How could he have expected that Xiao Nanfeng would fight in such an underhanded manner?

 Chapter 222: Entrance to the Crystal Hall

    <h4>Chapter 222: Entrance to the Crystal Hall</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng stared disdainfully at the Pestilence Sage. If he could win with that one trick, why would he waste time fighting? It was true that he had sacrificed an Immortal relic by doing so, but he would be able to im his opponent''s spoils!


    Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s expression, the Pestilence Sage realized the mistake he had made.


    "You''re right, Xiao Nanfeng. I shouldn''t be so stingy. These relics might be valuable, but victory is more important," the Pestilence Sage spat out.


    Tang''s eyes widened. "Be careful, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    The Immortal sword in the Pestilence Sage''s hands suddenly pulsed, as if it were about to explode. The Pestilence Sage had learned from Xiao Nanfeng and was using the same tactic on him.


    Suddenly, a length of ethereal red rope struck the Pestilence Sage.


    "Die!" the Pestilence Sage shouted. He attempted to throw the Immortal sword toward Xiao Nanfeng and Tang, but he failed to do so. The Immortal sword remained stubbornly stuck to his hand.


    "What?!"


    The ethereal red rope had bound the Immortal sword to the Pestilence Sage''s hand right before he could strike.


    "No!"


    Another mushroom cloud erupted with the Pestilence Sage at its center. mes formed a shockwave of energy as they burst forth, sending Xiao Nanfeng and Tang flying again. They spat out more blood, having sustained a serious injury.


    However, they were certain that the Pestilence Sage was even worse off.


    After the explosion cleared, the two cultivators wiped at the blood by their mouths and mbered back up. Where the Pestilence Sage had oncein, there remained only a crater. Nothing was left of the Pestilence Sage''s body.


    "He''s finally dead!" Tang gasped in relief.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Is he really gone?"


    He had intended to ask the Pestilence Sage about how to enter the Crystal Hall, but the Pestilence Sage had died too readily!


    He hurriedly began to search for the possessions that the Pestilence Sage had left behind. It took him a considerable amount of time to find Long Ba''s token and the Pestilence Sage''s storage ring. He immediately checked the ring to see if it contained any information about the array, but the ring only had a few ordinary treasures and various articles that the Pestilence Sage had on him.


    "Where are the Pestilence Sage''s Immortal relics? Why aren''t there any?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Even if he couldn''t find any guidance to unlock the Crystal Hall, a few Immortal relics would be enough treasure¡ªbut there was nothing!


    "I heard that any Immortal relics that the Pestilence Sage obtained would be given to Zhao Tianheng to reinforce the formation around the Crystal Hall," Tang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Thank you for saving me, Senior Brother Xiao. If you''re willing to have me, I would be d to be your follower." Tang bowed deeply toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You want to be my follower?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, a strange look on his face.


    Who would want an omen of cmity like you around them?


    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother. I don''t intend to remain by your side. I could serve as your spy in the demonic sect," Tang exined.


    "A spy? With your reputation? I can''t imagine the demonic disciples don''t run screaming from you. How would you be an effective spy?"


    "As long as you''re willing to help me, Senior Brother Xiao, it won''t be difficult."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, then raised his eyebrows. "You intend to pass yourself off as the Pestilence Sage?"


    Tang nodded. "I''ve been trying to imitate the Pestilence Sage''s speech and mannerisms, and I believe I can do so well. Furthermore, the nascent spirit he transferred to my body will allow me to reach Spiritsong rapidly. Many of the demonic disciples are aware that he wants to take over my body, so it wouldn''t be a surprise."


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that Tang had to be eyeing the Pestilence Sage''s possessions.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, if you help me pass myself off as the Pestilence Sage and secure my standing in the demonic sect, I''llmit to assist you whenever you need my help," Tang pleaded earnestly.


    The death of the Pestilence Sage would surely be subject to investigation by the demonic sect. Rather than being apprehended and interrogated, it would be better to pass himself off as the Pestilence Sage. Only Xiao Nanfeng would be able to help him do so, because all his possessions were in his storage ring.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the proposal. There didn''t seem to be any downsides to this n. As long as Tang was willing to cooperate with him, he would be aware of any actions the demonic sect intended to take against him, and he would have insurance against Tang''s betrayal.


    "Very well. I can pass you the Pestilence Sage''s storage ring. Do you know how to use his possessions?"


    "I do. Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" Tang replied gratefully.


    "I''ll give you one more thing as assistance," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed over a ghostly blue skin, which the Pestilence Sage''s avatar had left behind when he failed to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng had had two of the Pestilence Sage''s skins, but he had already used one, and this was the only one left. With all the red rope cursed spiritual avatars in his possession now, however, the Pestilence Sage''s skin had vanishingly little utility to him.


    "This is... the skin that the Pestilence Sage used for his avatars? If I make an avatar out of it, no one would doubt me!" Tang''s eyes lit up in shock.


    "The Pestilence Sage''s storage ring contains his technique for creating new avatars. You don''t need any help with the rest, do you?"


    "I don''t. Thank you, Senior Brother!"


    "You should find a ce to break through. Once you leave the draconic pce, contact me again."


    "Understood, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    Tang was a particrly cautious and attentive individual. He looked through the battlefield again, tidying everything up, wiping away any traces of the Pestilence Sage''s actions, and even destroying the soul-iming banner. Only then did he leave the patch of thick fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched Tang leave, then prepared to continue searching for the way into the Crystal Hall.


    Suddenly, a cloud of ck smoke formed before him. A skeleton appeared in the cloud.


    "Madam Rouge? You''re appearing in reality now?" Xiao Nanfeng tensed up.


    "I''m still in your mindscape. I''ve just used some cursed spiritual power to make a projection of myself," Madam Rouge replied with her ck smoke.


    "Oh?"


    "I can sense that what I want is over there. im it for me as quickly as possible." Madam Rouge pointed in a certain direction.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked where she was pointing. "Is what you want in the Crystal Hall? I don''t know how to get inside..."


    "It''s just a formation, and a rather shabby one at that. I can provide assistance."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He hadn''t realized that Madam Rouge would be able to solve this headache-inducing problem.


    He rested for a little while, healing up from any injuries he had sustained from the explosion of the two Immortal swords, before heading past the formation and toward the Crystal Hall with Madam Rouge''s guidance.


    Indeed, Madam Rouge''s eyes were as incredible as she imed. With her guidance, he easily made it through the formation and toward the entrance of the Crystal Hall.


    From within the fog, he could see that the Crystal Hall was formed of countless crystals in every shade of color, and it looked particrly extravagant and eye-catching. A rainbow formation sealed the Crystal Hall away, just like the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, preventing anyone from entering.


    Right outside the Crystal Hall was an altar which sent beams of white light drifting toward heaven, likely the source of the formation that had formed around the area. For some reason, the skeletal dragons avoided the area. The fog seemed patchy and disorderly outside the Crystal Hall, thick and concentrated in some regions and sparse in others.


    Beside the altar were dozens of elders. Xiao Nanfeng recognized several as Taiqing elders.


    In the lead was Zhao Tianheng. He threw a soul-iming banner onto the altar, which extracted strands of ghostly blue light from the banners. Once all the blue light had been absorbed, he tossed the banner to a waiting elder.


    "Division Leader Zhao, aren''t these souls enough?" The elder frowned.


    Zhao Tianheng shook his head. "Far from it. I''m afraid I''ll have to trouble you all to collect more."


    "Very well." The elder nodded in a resigned fashion.


    Just then, as though sensing something, Zhao Tianheng raised an eyebrow. "Who''s there?"


    He summoned the altar''s power to create a howling gale that blew apart the fog.


    Everyone nced over to see Xiao Nanfeng standing there alone.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" Many of the Taiqing elders recognized him on sight.


    "Senior Brother Xiao!" Four elders walked out from their midst in excitement.


    These four elders had once been ordinary disciples of the Ascended division who had since reached Spiritsong after devouring draconic veins with Xiao Nanfeng. They had left with Elder Ku to help with the rescue effort.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded at the four elders and stepped forward. "I am Xiao Nanfeng. I greet the division leader and the gathered elders.


    "You''ve reached Spiritsong?" Zhao Tianheng''s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in shock.


    Everyone was astounded. Many of the elders were aware that Xiao Nanfeng had been an Acquisition-realm cultivator just two years ago. How had he reached Spiritsong so quickly? His rate of cultivation was astounding!


    "It was a matter of luck," Xiao Nanfeng averred.


    He was inwardly shocked. Zhao Tianheng''s sight was formidable, to be able to discern Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation at a nce despite the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had been reining in his aura.


    "The formation around here is designed to distract, confuse, and mislead, in order to prevent anyone from approaching. How did you enter?" Zhao Tianheng asked coldly.


    "I don''t know myself. I didn''t encounter any formation along the way. I simply walked in. Perhaps I was just lucky?"


    Zhao Tianheng knew that Xiao Nanfeng was lying, but it was difficult for him to press him further given the presence of dozens of elders.


    "Since you''vee, don''t wander around," Zhao Tianheng warned.


    "Don''t worry, Division Leader. I came here to find my master and senior brother. Honored elders, have any of you seen them?"


    The cultivators suddenly nced at each other nervously.

 Chapter 223: The Lacking Taiqing

    <h4>Chapter 223: The Lacking Taiqing</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense that something was amiss from the expressions of the gathered elders. He immediately looked toward the four elders that had stepped forward to greet him.


    "Didn''t all of you apany Elder Ku here? Where has he gone?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "Elder Chen led us straight to the Crystal Hall. The moment we entered, however, arge group of skeletal dragons osted us. In order to lure the dragons away, Elder Ku ended up being separated from us. Just as we were about to escape from the region around the Crystal Hall, Division Leader Zhao Tianheng suddenly showed up and led us here," one elder stated.


    "Oh?"


    "Division Leader Zhao said that he had been trapped by the skeletal dragons some time ago, and had sent Elder Chen back to the sect to request assistance while he was trapped. However, Mr. Wen of the Tianshu Empire rescued him while we were still en route. Mr. Wen also set up a huge formation around the Crystal Hall, which can be controlled with this altar. Mr. Wen ceded control over the altar to Division Leader Zhao, iming that all treasures we obtain here would be the property of the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic Sects," the elder continued.


    "The majority of the cultivators here are elders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and a few are from the Taiqing Demonic Sect," the elder by his side added.


    "Where is my senior brother, Elder Zhao Yuanjiao, then?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    All the Ascended elders that had apanied Elder Ku here were present and ounted for save Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao killed Elder Chen, and he''s now being detained in that cage of white fog over there."


    The elder pointed toward a dense cloud of white fog that was all but solid; Xiao Nanfeng would never have guessed that there was anyone within.


    "What? Why would Elder Zhao kill Elder Chen?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "We don''t know either. We saw Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly go crazy. He killed Elder Chen and wounded countless others beside, and we barely managed to restrain him."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed as he stepped toward the cage.


    "What are you doing, Xiao Nanfeng?" Zhao Tianheng suddenly shouted.


    All the Taiqing elders looked toward him.


    "Division Leader, I just heard that my senior brother, Elder Zhao, has been maligned. I wanted to check on him," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Maligned? Zhao Yuanjiao killed another elder in sight of us all. Who has maligned him?"


    "Zhao Yuanjiao has hurt several other elders as well. His punishment is rightly deserved!"


    "He''s been controlled by a cursed effigy. If not for Division Leader Zhao''s insistence that we detain him, we would already have killed him."


    A number of elders defended Division Leader Zhao''s decision.


    "Division Leader, it is within my rights to request an audience even with prisoners and convicts. I would like to see my senior brother for myself," Xiao Nanfeng told Zhao Tianheng.


    Zhao Tianheng stared at Xiao Nanfeng. "Do as you will. I too hoped that Yuanjiao was innocent, but everyone saw himmit the act."


    Zhao Tianheng activated the altar, causing the white fog to disperse and revealing a pir shining with red light. Zhao Yuanjiao, soaked in blood, was tethered to the pir.


    Beside him was an Ascended elder, which Xiao Nanfeng recognized. He was one of Zhao Yuanjiao''s trusted confidantes. His hand was likewise on the pir. Both his eyes and Zhao Yuanjiao''s were shut. They stood motionless.


    "What are they doing?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao may be controlled by a cursed effigy. Elder Huang is detaining him within an illusory realm and simultaneously attempting to awaken his psyche," one elder replied.


    "I want to look into the illusory realm," Xiao Nanfeng said, taking a deep breath.


    "You''ll be able to step inside if you make physical contact with that pir. Senior Brother Xiao, I''ll join you," the elder replied.


    "And we''ll guard you," the other three elders said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and reached out for the pir. The red light from the pir enveloped him as he suddenly felt as though he were falling. Hended in a foggy illusion.


    Within the illusion, Zhao Yuanjiao was chained by arge boulder. His expression was fierce; he roared like a wild beast. Even when Xiao Nanfeng walked up to him, he showed no sign of recognizing him.


    "What are you doing here?" a voice came from close by.


    It was Elder Huang, who was responsible for guarding Zhao Yuanjiao. He held a whip in his hand and was looking toward Xiao Nanfeng and the other elder in surprise.


    "Division Leader Zhao allowed me in to check on Zhao Yuanjiao''s condition. Elder Huang, you may leave now," the elder apanying Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    Elder Huang didn''t stop them, but he didn''t leave the illusion, either. He stood close by and watched the two cultivators quietly.


    Xiao Nanfeng noticed the whip wounds all over Zhao Yuanjiao''s body. "Elder Huang, have you been whipping my senior brother?"


    Elder Huang nodded. "Zhao Yuanjiao has gone crazy, and he may have been possessed by a cursed effigy. This whip is a treasure that unlocks this illusory realm and has the ability to agitate one''s mind. I''m using it in an attempt to awaken him."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, but he didn''t argue with Elder Huang. He slowly walked toward Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "You had better not get too close. He''s chained up, but his spiritual power is immense. If you get too close, he may attack you," Elder Huang warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and walked straight up to Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao roared, pouncing toward Xiao Nanfeng with chains in tow. He bared his teeth, as though intending to devour him.


    "Be careful, Senior Brother Xiao!" the apanying elder called out.


    Elder Huang smirked coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng calmly struck Zhao Yuanjiao with a palm, sending him mming into the ground. He was unable to move while Xiao Nanfeng held him down.


    "What? How could this be? Is your spiritual cultivation more advanced than Zhao Yuanjiao''s?" Elder Huang gasped.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He held Zhao Yuanjiao down. "Wake up, Senior Brother! What''s going on?"


    Xiao Nanfeng had encountered far more than his fair share of cursed effigies, and it was apparent at a nce that Zhao Yuanjiao hadn''t been possessed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao roared at Xiao Nanfeng, but showed no signs of awakening.


    "I told you, it''s useless! You had better stay away from him," Elder Huang urged, seemingly growing more flustered.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Elder Huang. "Lend me your whip."


    Elder Huang gave him a look. "It''s useless! I''ve tried it many times, but I was unable to awaken Zhao Yuanjiao at all."


    "Let me have a try," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    Elder Huang grimaced. He seemed unwilling, but ultimately passed the whip to Xiao Nanfeng.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng held the whip, he could sense how unusual it was. He infused a bit of his spiritual power into it, causing it to release arge quantity of red light.


    "What? How can you activate this whip?" Elder Huang cried out.


    "Hm? Senior Brother Xiao, we tried to use the whip as well, but it never released red light when we did it!" said the elder beside him.


    "Quick, give me back the whip!" Elder Huang shouted, preparing to wrest it out of Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent Elder Huang flying with a flick of his wrist, then coiled the whip around Zhao Yuanjiao''s spiritual avatar.


    Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly shook. His bestial expression suddenly vanished, and he seemed to grow far more clear-headed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What are you doing here?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "Thank goodness you''ve woken up, Senior Brother. It looks like I was right. Someone has put you under apulsion." Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    Elder Huang panicked and attempted to run into the fog.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He snapped the whip in his hand. The whip grew taut around Elder Huang''s neck as Xiao Nanfeng dragged him close by.


    "Let me go!" Elder Huang cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched Elder Huang, sending him crashing to the ground as he sprayed out a mouthful of blood. His chest had copsed; Xiao Nanfeng had crippled him with just a single punch.


    "Watch over him," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The elder beside him held Elder Huang''s wounded body down with a foot as Xiao Nanfeng walked back up to Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Without the red light from the whip, Zhao Yuanjiao had reverted to a bestial form once more. Xiao Nanfeng coiled the whip around him and restored his lucidity again.


    "What''s going on, Senior Brother?"


    "Zhao Tianheng put me under apulsion. He detained me here. When others visit me, I won''t be able to control my spiritual avatar and will turn bestial and belligerent. Once they''re gone, Elder Huang will restore my lucidity for a moment and interrogate me about how to control the ckguards. I''ve only managed to survive until now by not telling him anything."


    "Oh?"


    "Although I can''t control my actions, I''m aware of everything that happens around me," Zhao Yuanjiao added.


    "Zhao Tianhengpelled you to kill Elder Chen? Isn''t Elder Chen one of Zhao Tianheng''s confidantes?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I was the one who killed Elder Chen. They struck at me together, and I resisted as much as I could. I managed to kill Elder Chen, but I was no match for Zhao Tianheng and fell prey to hispulsion. The fuss I made was enough to draw the attention of arge group of elders, and Zhao Tianheng took the opportunity to force me to injure some of them. Then, he took me down and detained me here."


    "In that case, Zhao Tianheng deliberately requested the sect''s assistance as part of a convoluted scheme to target you? Might he be responsible for Master''s disappearance as well?" Xiao Nanfeng questioned coldly.


    "I don''t understand why he would go this far for these ckguards. Why would he do something so malicious, so underhanded?" Zhao Yuanjiao gritted out.


    "Senior Brother, to clear your name, we need to remove thispulsion and expose Zhao Tianheng in public. This whip can only temporarily suppress thepulsion, and only in this illusory realm. Do you know how thepulsion can be removed?"


    "It''s useless. My spiritual cultivation technique is The Lacking Taiqing, a technique created by a grandmaster of the sect in ages past that derives from the Taiqing Yin Body. Others who cultivate the same technique and possess more spiritual power can forciblypel those weaker than they are, a form of spiritual suppression. Zhao Tianheng cultivates the same technique, so unless my spiritual power can eclipse his, it would be impossible for me to free myself of hispulsion," Zhao Yuanjiao replied in vexation.


    "The Lacking Taiqing? Based on the Taiqing Yin Body?" Xiao Nanfeng confirmed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly frowned. "Hold on. This whip should only work for those who are acknowledged by Zhao Tianheng, and you certainly wouldn''t have received that. Could it be that you also cultivate The Lacking Taiqing?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. He cultivated Body of Yin, from which the Taiqing Yin Body, and hence The Lacking Taiqing, derived.


    "Senior Brother, if you have more spiritual power than Zhao Tianheng, will you be able to break free of thepulsion? What if I were to transfer my spiritual power to you? Would that work?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao sighed and shook his head. "It won''t be sufficient. He''s already at Lunar Deluge, and you could hardly have more spiritual power than he does. You won''t be able to help me unless you can bring Master back here."


    "Lunar Deluge? I don''t think it''s impossible, then." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up with confidence.

 Chapter 224: Laying a Trap for Zhao Tianheng

    <h4>Chapter 224: Laying a Trap for Zhao Tianheng</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng tentatively sent a burst of spiritual power into Zhao Yuanjiao''s body.


    His spiritual power surged like a roaring river. It flooded Zhao Yuanjiao''s body and caused him to tremble. Red light gushed out of his body, and an arcane rune seemed to re in its depths.


    "How could this be? Your spiritual cultivation is at Lunar Deluge, too?!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "Focus, Senior Brother!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Zhao Yuanjiao held back his shock as he sent the spiritual power straight at the rune, cracking and dispelling it with the sudden surge of energy. Zhao Yuanjiao''s body trembled and rxed.


    "Well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ve broken thepulsion. It''s all gone now." Zhao Yuanjiao gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "How could your spiritual cultivation be at Lunar Deluge?"


    "If Zhao Tianheng can reach Lunar Deluge, why not me?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "He has two hundred years of cultivation under his belt, along with a significant influx of fortune from the Tianshu Empire to wipe out his karmic consequence! That''s how he made it to Lunar Deluge. How many years have you been a cultivator?"


    "What, can''t I get some fortune of my own?" Xiao Nanfeng''s smile widened.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head in disbelief.


    "Senior Brother, Zhao Tianheng has maligned you of attempting to hurt fellow sect members. It''s a huge crime, and you have to prove your innocence," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "The situation''s against me right now. Even if I were to argue against Zhao Tianheng immediately, it wouldn''t be effective. It might even alert him and cause him to retaliate. We have to find Master. I''ll continue pretending to be crazed. You have to find him as soon as possible."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Zhao Tianheng will learn of Elder Huang''s injury in no time at all, considering how alert he is. He might notice that something is amiss sooner than you think. If I still haven''t found Master by then, you''ll be in danger."


    "There''s no other choice. How else can we go against him? You might be superior in terms of spiritual cultivation, but he''s the division leader. If you make a move against him, he''ll decry you and use it as an excuse to kill you!"


    "Don''t worry too much about it. Let me think up a strategy. Stay here for a moment," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "What are you doing?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked, perplexed.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the thick fog until he was far from sight.


    "Madam Rouge? Are you here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge suddenly popped into existence before him.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I''d like to enlist your help."


    Madam Rouge was silent for a moment. "Do you really intend to treat me like a hired thug?"


    "No, Madam Rouge! You won''t have to attack anyone at all. I''m eyeing your superior control over illusory realms and your ability to lock them down, in particr. If I bring a group of people into this illusory realm, could you trap them within so I can put on a show?"


    "Do you intend toy a trap for that Zhao Tianheng?" Madam Rouge asked, suddenly far more animated.


    "I do. He''s tried to scheme against me multiple times, and I intend on crippling him. However, I''m acting without any justification. I have some ns in mind, but I need someone to vouch for my innocence," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Shameless, aren''t you?" Madam Rouge replied.


    "I''m simply acting in self-defense," Xiao Nanfeng argued.


    Madam Rouge: ...


    "Don''t worry. I have some Talismans of Phantasmagoria, and I''ll be able to bring all the Taiqing elders into the illusory realm. You simply have to trap them here and not let Zhao Tianheng discover them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "It''s not necessary. After swallowing three thousand red rope cursed effigies in the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, it''s a piece of cake for me to bring some Ster Lake cultivators into an illusion. There''s no need for your talismans. You handle Zhao Tianheng and I can do the rest," Madam Rouge stated with her ck smoke.


    "Thank you! I''ll figure out how to get into the Crystal Hall once we take care of Zhao Tianheng," Xiao Nanfeng pledged.


    Madam Rouge nodded, then vanished in a sh.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt far more at ease with Madam Rouge''s promise. Madam Rouge still needed his help to reim whatever she sought within the Crystal Hall, so it was unlikely that she would attempt to kill anyone recklessly before then.


    Back outside the Crystal Hall, Zhao Tianheng continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body. Although he believed that Xiao Nanfeng could hardly be able to break Zhao Yuanjiao free of hispulsion, he was cautious by nature. Even when other elders sought him out for a conversation, he seemed rather distracted.


    Suddenly, the elder that had entered the illusory realm with Xiao Nanfeng woke up in shock.


    "Fellow elders,e quick! Help me stop the fight. If we''re toote, Senior Brother Xiao is going to kill Elder Huang!"


    "What?!" the three elders guarding Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Hold on. What''s going on inside?" Zhao Tianheng shouted.


    The elder was visibly anxious and hesitant to reveal what he knew.


    "Say it!" Zhao Tianheng called out impatiently.


    Everyone looked over.


    The elder frowned. "When Senior Brother Xiao was inspecting Zhao Yuanjiao''s body and found whip marks all over, he was enraged that Elder Huang would strike Zhao Yuanjiao. He began to beat up Elder Huang, who begged and pleaded for mercy, iming that the whip could awaken Zhao Yuanjiao''s psyche. However, Senior Brother Xiao refused to believe him and continued to pummel Elder Huang. Elder Huang tossed me the whip and had mee seek help."


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng''s beating up Elder Huang?"


    "Elder Huang''s talking nonsense! If he could have awakened Zhao Yuanjiao, why wouldn''t he have done so already?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s a hooligan!"


    The elders angrily criticized Xiao Nanfeng. They wanted to see what was going on for themselves within the illusory realm.


    Only Zhao Tianheng frowned. He knew that Elder Huang hadn''t been ''talking nonsense''¡ªbut was a beating all it took for him to reveal such an important secret? How useless he was!


    "Enough. Wait here. I''ll have a look myself," Zhao Tianheng dered firmly.


    "Division Leader, let us apany you!" The elder who had just emerged from the illusion seemed unwilling to remain outside.


    "Didn''t you hear me? None of you are to enter the illusion. I''ll handle it myself," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "Understood!" The elders sighed, but none would defy Zhao Tianheng''s direct orders.


    Zhao Tianheng stepped forward, touched the red pir, and entered the illusion.


    The elders murmured and pointed.


    Just then, a burst of red light emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body, shining far more brightly than the red pir and illuminating his surroundings.


    "What?" all the elders eximed.


    They felt a falling sensation as the burst of red light struck their skin. When theynded, they looked all around them in surprise. They seemed to be in the sky.


    "Where are we? Shouldn''t we be outside the Crystal Hall?"


    "Look down there. That''s Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao, and Zhao Tianheng as well! Is this an illusory realm?"


    "We''ve entered the illusion too?"


    The elders quickly recognized where they were, but there seemed to be a transparent barrier beneath them that prevented them from drawing near.


    "What''s going on? Why is this illusion so strange? I can''t seem to get down there!"


    "Division Leader Zhao, we''re over here!"


    "Can''t they hear us or see us?"


    "Have we been trapped here in the middle of the air?"


    No matter how loudly or vigorously the elders shouted, Zhao Tianheng didn''t seem to hear a thing. However, strangely enough, they could hear the conversation unfolding down below.


    The moment Zhao Tianheng entered the illusory realm, he saw that Elder Huang had been knocked unconscious.


    In addition, the chains around Zhao Yuanjiao''s body had been taken down. He was already clear-headed. Xiao Nanfeng stomped on Elder Huang with a foot, as though still in rage.


    When the two cultivators saw Zhao Tianheng enter the illusion, they were instantly on guard.


    "You''ve awoken?" Zhao Tianheng narrowed his eyes at Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Zhao Tianheng, I''m your nephew! Not only did you gang up on me, you evenpelled me and manipted me in an attempt to kill the other elders! You''re vicious and cold-hearted. Don''t our familial bonds mean anything to you?" Zhao Yuanjiao gritted out.


    Zhao Tianheng stared at Zhao Yuanjiao for some time, then turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "The rune ofpulsion is gone. Were you the one who did it?"


    Zhao Tianheng''s question shocked the elders. Had he been the mastermind of Zhao Yuanjiao''s madness?


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted, not providing an exnation.


    "How could you possess more spiritual power than I do? It hardly looks as though you have such strength. I suppose I''ll find out for myself," Zhao Tianheng said.


    He cocked his arm as he prepared to punch Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Be careful!" Zhao Yuanjiao warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and struck at him with a palm. His spiritual technique cracked and almost shattered; it was evident he was no match for Zhao Tianheng. Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s body shook as spiritual power suddenly welled up around him. His technique glowed with blinding light as it dispersed along with Zhao Tianheng''s own. He stumbled back a few steps before he regained his footing.


    "You possess two types of spiritual power? I get it now. You must have some spiritual treasure that allows you to store someone else''s spiritual power and make use of it. And here I thought you were strong! But your cultivation''s only at Ster Lake, and you were only able to remove Zhao Yuanjiao''spulsion because of that spiritual treasure." Zhao Tianheng sneered.


    Having tested the limits of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, he was confident in his own victory.


    "Senior Brother, we have to escape and expose Zhao Tianheng''s scheme!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    He tried to activate the whip, but it seemed to have lost its effect. They were trapped in the illusion.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "While you were exchanging blows, Zhao Tianheng did something to the whip. It won''t let us leave the realm anymore. He''s trapped us!" Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately grew rmed.


    "What could you do even if you were to escape? Do you think the elders would believe me, the division leader, or two arrogant upstarts? Don''t be fools!" Zhao Tianheng said disdainfully.

 Chapter 225: A Mouthful of Blood in Anger

    <h4>Chapter 225: A Mouthful of Blood in Anger</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng throttled Elder Huang''s neck and threatened, "Zhao Tianheng, let us out of the illusory array, or I''ll break his neck!"


    "You''re not a cursed effigy. Even if you break his neck, only his spiritual power will be affected¡ªhe won''t die. Do you think that this is enough to threaten me? Don''t make meugh!" Zhao Tianheng shot forward.


    "Be careful!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed. He struck in defense.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. He had no choice but to drop Elder Huang and punch at Zhao Tianheng.


    Zhao Tianheng sent Zhao Yuanjiao flying with a single blow. As Zhao Yuanjiao struck the ground, he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    As for Xiao Nanfeng, he fared even worse. His fist technique was demolished instantly. Zhao Tianheng''s palm technique grabbed ahold of Xiao Nanfeng''s body and lifted him up into the air. It seemed as though he would be able to crush him in an instant.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked heavily wounded and had even ''fainted''. He hung motionless in the air.


    "Ha! Do you think you ever had a chance against me? Don''t bother leaving. I''ll send you on your way!" Zhao Tianhengughed.


    "Hold it. Let go of Xiao Nanfeng!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared, clutching his injured chest.


    "And why should I? He knows my secret. He has to die!" Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "No! He''s a Taiqing sectstarter, and you''ll cause problems for yourself if you kill him. You can''t kill him. No one would believe him, and he can''t threaten you. Let him go and I''ll promise you everything," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Oh? Anything?" Zhao Tianheng suddenly narrowed his eyes. "How about your ckguards?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face contorted. His eyes sparked with vengeance, and he seemed incredibly unwilling to agree.


    "Didn''t you say you would promise me anything? You won''t even hand over the ckguards? If you had done so earlier, the rtionship between the two of us wouldn''t have grown so tense," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "Why are you so insistent on taking control over the ckguards? They might be a potent organization, but you surely have far more power as the Ascended division leader of the Taiqing Sect. Why do you care so much about it?" Zhao Yuanjiao spat out.


    "You don''t know anything. Well? Are you going to agree? If you don''t, I''ll destroy Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual avatar right now. Then, I''ll find an opportunity to ruin his physical body as well, not giving him any opportunity to revive. Sectstarter or not, it doesn''t matter. I''m the mastermind here. I can make him die without leaving a trace behind, and no one will ever know what happened," Zhao Tianheng promised.


    "I know you won''t let me go, and I don''t expect you to. If you''re willing to let Xiao Nanfeng go, however, I might agree with your request. Before that, you need to tell me why you care so much about the ckguards that you''re willing to kill your own nephew. I won''t be satisfied without knowing that much."


    Zhao Tianheng red at Zhao Yuanjiao, his eyes cold. Sensing victory at his fingertips, however, he seemed to rx.


    "If there''s anyone to me, it''s Emperor Tianshu," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "Emperor Tianshu?"


    "Your father, Zhao Tianjue, was the leader of the ckguards and helped Emperor Tianshu expand his empire. He perished in battle. In addition to providing some fortune to the Taiqing Immortal Sect annually, Emperor Tianshu specially sets aside a portion of fortune for the leader of the ckguards. He told me this himself. You and I are both sessors to Zhao Tianjue, and whichever one of us bes the leader of the ckguards can im a Marquis-level parcel of fortune from the capital of the Tianshu Empire annually," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "A parcel of fortune? You''d kill me for that?" Zhao Yuanjiao roared.


    "Do you know how much fortune there is? It''s been umting for decades. It''s a tremendous amount of fortune, far more than you can imagine. It would suffice to bring me straight to a spiritual cultivation of Yin Body. Do you know what that''s like? Immortals are the peak of physical cultivation¡ªand deities the peak of spiritual cultivation! If I manage to reach Yin Body, I''ll be on the level of an Immortal myself. That''s not just a parcel of fortune, but an opportunity to be a god myself. Do you understand now?" Zhao Tianheng replied coldly.


    "Don''t you get an allowance of fortune every year already? It''s only a matter of time before you be a god regardless. Why the hurry?" Zhao Yuanxiao asked.


    "The Tianshu Empire does provide a significant amount of fortune to the Ascended division annually, but that has to be divided among arge group of elders. How much of that would I be able to obtain? How long would I have to wait? You make it sound easy, but do you realize how much time it would take? Furthermore, without absolute strength, even someone like Ku Jiang dares to go over my head. I have to imagine I''m the worst off among all the division leaders of the Taiqing Sect! I must obtain the ckguards at any cost. Zhao Yuanjiao, do you intend to hand them over?" Zhao Tianheng asked coldly.


    "Where is my master?" Zhao Yuanjiao pressed.


    Zhao Tianheng shook his head. "You''ve asked too many questions. I''ve already answered you and exined why I wanted the ckguards. Do you still not intend to cede control, or tell me who your direct subordinates are? In that case, I''ll crush Xiao Nanfeng in an instant.


    "You!" Zhao Yuanjiao hesitated.


    "Tell me!" Zhao Tianheng roared.


    A gust of killing intent emanated from him, forcing Zhao Yuanjiao to retreat.


    Zhao Yuanjiao stepped back with pursed lips, but he didn''t speak.


    "You don''t intend on saying anything? Don''t me me for this, then. Explode!" Zhao Tianhengmanded.


    He squeezed his projected palm together, attempting to crush the ''unconscious'' Xiao Nanfeng.


    The explosion he expected, however, didn''t materialize. Not only was Xiao Nanfeng perfectly fine, Zhao Tianheng''s projected palm even made a cracking noise.


    "What? You''re not unconscious?" Zhao Tianheng gaped.


    Xiao Nanfeng had opened his eyes and stretched out his hands as he slowly pushed Zhao Tianheng''s palm open.


    "Who said I was unconscious?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What? How could your spiritual power have increased to such a degree? And there''s only one type of spiritual power! Is it yours? Wasn''t your spiritual treasure providing you with spiritual power? That''s impossible. Aren''t you at Ster Lake?" Zhao Tianheng eximed.


    "Who told you that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He ripped apart Zhao Tianheng''s projected palm, sending him stumbling back.


    "Impossible. You''ve only cultivated for a couple of years! It''s impossible for you to be at Lunar Deluge. You have to be tricking me somehow!" Zhao Tianheng howled.


    He shot toward Xiao Nanfeng once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold as he punched at Zhao Tianheng. A mountain-sized fistunched straight at him. Even if Zhao Tianheng refused to believe it, the truth was irrefutable¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power was so strong that he had to be at Lunar Deluge.


    "I get it now. You made use of two different types of spiritual power to feign weakness and trick me. That spiritual power came from the elder conspiring with you. This was all a scheme!" Zhao Tianheng punched at Xiao Nanfeng again.


    His fist met Xiao Nanfeng''s in an explosion of red light that formed a mushroom cloud in the air, dispelling the clouds in the sky and causing the mountain peaks in the vicinity to copse. The ground quaked; the sky shook.


    The elders in the air stared gobsmacked at the sight below them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s at Lunar Deluge too? Impossible!"


    "Even Zhao Tianheng can''t stand against him. His spiritual cultivation is stronger than Zhao Tianheng''s?"


    "Impossible!"


    The gathered cultivators all cried out in surprise.


    They watched on as Xiao Nanfeng barrelled through the mes that resulted from the explosion, then punched forward once more. Zhao Tianheng was forced to defend himself hastily as another red cloud mushroomed into the air.


    Zhao Tianheng screamed shrilly. The punch had sent him crashing into the ground, which cratered beneath him. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. Once I leave this illusion, you''ll be dead. Illusion, break!" Zhao Tianhengmanded.


    However, the illusory realm that was reinforced by Madam Rouge herself wouldn''t give way so quickly. Red light shed around Zhao Tianheng, but he was unable to step out of the illusion. He remained standing right where he was.


    "What? I can''t get out?" Zhao Tianheng eximed.


    "You''ll stay right here!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, leaping forward at him.


    Zhao Tianheng was sent flying with another punch. He crashed straight through a mountain beforeing to a halt.


    His body was bruised, battered, and bleeding.


    "You''re at mid-stage Lunar Deluge? I understand now. You must have obtained countless amounts of fortune in that hidden realm that enabled you to raise your spiritual cultivation to such an extent. How could you have been so lucky?" Zhao Tianheng eximed.


    "Zhao Tianheng, for your own selfish desires, you''ve schemed against the elders of the sect, your own nephew, and various Taiqing disciples. You havemitted grave crimes and don''t deserve the position of the Ascended division leader. I shall expose your crimes and sins to the Taiqing sect and have you be stripped of your position and sentenced!"


    Xiao Nanfeng punched forward again, sending Zhao Tianheng flying through the air and smashing into the ground in a furrow.


    Despite the grievous injuries, despite his battered spiritual avatar, Zhao Tianheng grinned maliciously.


    "Expose my actions? Haha, who would believe the likes of you? I''m the Ascended division leader. It''s my word against yours. So what if you destroy my spiritual avatar? There are dozens of elders outside who will protect my physical body. Once I wake up in reality, I''ll ce an internal bounty on you in the Taiqing sect. You''ll be pursued no matter where you run. As long as I deny what I''ve said, who would be able to sentence me to my crimes? Who would serve as your witness? Haha!" Zhao Tianheng roared inughter.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head to the air. "Elders, would you serve as my witnesses?"


    "What?" Zhao Tianheng nched. Something was wrong.


    The air, which was empty moments ago, suddenly shed with red light. Dozens of elders appeared within sight, all of them falling down to the ground.


    "What are all of you doing here?!" Zhao Tianheng eximed.


    The elders were staring at Zhao Tianheng with naked disdain.


    "Elder Zhao Yuanjiao, I apologize for having maligned you."


    "None of us could have imagined that Zhao Tianheng was so malicious."


    "Such a cultivator is like a festering tumor for the sect. We will surely take him down and report this matter to the sect leader himself!"


    The elders vouched for Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Tianheng suddenly felt the world spin around him. He understood that he had truly fallen prey to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao''s scheme. He grew so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood in anger.

 Chapter 226: Zhao Tianheng Goes Mad

    <h4>Chapter 226: Zhao Tianheng Goes Mad</h4>


    Zhao Tianheng''s crimes were numerous, and he had admitted to them all. He would never be allowed to remain a division leader of the sect.


    Many among the dozens of elders were close acquaintances of his, but none dared to speak up for him in the light of these revtions.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, youid a trap for me!" Zhao Tianheng cursed.


    "You were the one who did these deeds. No one maligned you. Await sect adjudication, Uncle," Zhao Yuanjiao spat out.


    "Elders, to avoid Zhao Tianheng''s continued resistance, I intend on deeply wounding his spiritual avatar to render him unconscious before judgment can be passed on him back in the sect. Would that be appropriate?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the gathered elders, all of whom remained silent. No one spoke up for Zhao Tianheng; all tacitly agreed with Xiao Nanfeng''s judgment.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped toward Zhao Tianheng and made to strike at him, but Zhao Tianheng smiled bitterly. "I''ve treated many of you well in the past. Now that I''m in trouble, are none of you going to stand up for me? Very well, very well. Remember that you forced me to do this!"


    "Forced you to do what? Do you expect the elders to be in cahoots with you in your depravity? me yourself!" Xiao Nanfeng mmed his palm down.


    "Explode!" Zhao Tianheng shouted.


    "Be careful!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out. "He''s going to self-destruct!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he hurriedly made a defensive stance.


    The explosions from Zhao Tianheng''s self-destruction sent the elders flying. They were badly injured, to the point of vomiting out blood. The illusion cracked and copsed under the force of the explosion, then shattered.


    Everyone woke up in reality.


    As Xiao Nanfeng awoke, he saw that the red pir trapping Zhao Yuanjiao had cracked, and the red light that the pir had emitted had now vanished. He immediately helped unbind Zhao Yuanjiao from the pir before looking toward his surroundings. The elders were all dizzy and disoriented, having incurred some spiritual damage from Zhao Tianheng''s explosion.


    They forced themselves to remain alert as they scanned their surroundings for Zhao Tianheng, who had escaped toward the altar.


    Because Zhao Tianheng had destroyed his own spiritual avatar, he had suffered the worst of the spiritual damage. Under ordinary circumstances, he should have be unconscious, but he somehow still seemed to have ess to a minor portion of his spiritual power. Even so, he was clearly dazed. His eyes were puffy and closed, as though his mental state had deteriorated to the point where he couldn''t keep them open.


    He forcibly extracted a burst of ethereal blue energy from the altar and infused it within his body. Shaking, he suddenly regained some energy.


    "Zhao Tianheng, are you crazy? Those souls aren''t pure spiritual power¡ªthey''re fragments left behind from countless cultivators, filled with grudges and vengeance! You''re going to go crazy!" an elder shouted.


    "I cultivate The Lacking Taiqing, which allows me to nullify all manner of grudges. These soul fragments aren''t enough to render me mad." Zhao Tianheng''s eyes shone with a tinge of madness.


    "Even if you cultivate The Lacking Taiqing, even if you aren''t going to go crazy, so many grudges all at once will leave you insensate. If you lose yourself in those emotions, you''ll transform into a demon!"


    "As long as I don''t lose my position as division leader, so what if I be a demon?" Zhao Tianheng''s mouth twisted into a rictus.


    "What?" an elder gasped.


    "If you''re all dead, no one would be able to report back to the sect. I''d still be the Ascended division leader, then," Zhao Tianheng replied.


    "You want to kill us all? Are you crazy?!" the elder shouted.


    "I''ll start with you!" He shot over.


    "No!" The elder tried to defend himself with his sword, aided by the help of those elders around him,


    but Zhao Tianheng was a Wingform-realm cultivator, beyond what Spiritsong-realm elders like them could handle. Arge group of elders were sent flying, whereas the elder that had been trying to dissuade Zhao Tianheng was beheaded with a swing of his sword.


    "Zhao Tianheng''s gone crazy!"


    "Everyone, charge at him together!"


    "The Taiqing sword array!"


    The elders rallied as they charged toward Zhao Tianheng, but a number of elders turned tail and ran off toward the fog. They had no intention of trying to beat a Wingform-realm cultivator.


    A group of elders were sent flying amidst frenzied shouts. They were bloody all over. Another elder was cleaved in twain, sending blood and flesh flying in a gruesome sight.


    "Zhao Tianheng''s turned into a demon!" the elders cried out.


    "We can''t escape. Zhao Tianheng''s done something to the formation around the altar. He''s sealed us all in with him!" The elders who had tried to escape likewise found themselves trapped.


    Zhao Tianheng looked around with a murderous glint in his eyes. He suddenly saw Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao retreating into the distance.


    "You won''t be able to get away, Xiao Nanfeng!" Zhao Tianheng chased after him.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned back and sent a long, glowing de shooting straight at him.


    "An Immortal relic? A corroded relic won''t be able to stop me. Die!" Zhao Tianheng shed at the relic.


    Just then, the relic suddenly exploded.


    A burst of fire red up as the resulting shockwave sent Xiao Nanfeng flying. He struck the ground heavily. Zhao Tianheng, who had been charging toward him, was flung back a significant distance. He too smashed into the ground, bloodied and bruised.


    "The Taiqing formation, now!" A group of eldersunched abined attack at Zhao Tianheng, who roared in outrage.


    The elders were sent flying. One elder''s head exploded as she died on the spot, but the sacrifice had allowed them to chop off one of Zhao Tianheng''s arms.


    Zhao Tianheng clutched the stump of his arm as he spat out blood and retreated to the altar.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you deliberately destroyed your Immortal relic?!" Zhao Tianheng cursed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Are all Wingform-realm cultivators this hard to kill?"


    "We have to strike at once. Zhao Tianheng''s gone crazy, and he''s sealed us all in here with him. Either we strike now, or we die!"


    "He''s been wounded. We can take him down. The Taiqing sword formation, now!"


    "Kill!" A group of elders charged forward.


    Just then, brilliant light fell from the skies. Some elders were struck by the light and sent flying, while others'' bodies simply exploded in mid-air in a shower of blood.


    The light rained down on Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao. Even though Zhao Yuanjiao blocked the majority of the light, both disciples were seriously injured by the attack. They fell to the ground.


    The source of the light was ten glowing Immortal swords, each slightly corroded but still bearing overwhelming power. One blow was sufficient to grievously injure everyone.


    "An Immortal sword!" the elders cried out.


    "No¡ªthey''re all around us!" another elder eximed.


    Thirty Immortal relics floated around the altar, forming a cordon that prevented any escape.


    Ten of the relics hovered around the elders. They were the ones that had struck the elders down.


    "These are the Immortal relics that we''ve obtained over thest few days. Zhao Tianheng''s controlling them all with the formation! He''s trying to kill us!"


    "Zhao Tianheng, do you really intend to kill us all?!"


    Zhao Tianheng let out a sinister smile. "I''m a man of my word, after all. Kill!"


    On hismand, the ten Immortal swords shot toward the elders. Everyone despaired. Each attack from an Immortal sword had the strength of a Wingform-realm cultivator. How were they supposed to defend against such an onught?


    "No!" the elders cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved an Immortal relic, prepared to destroy it to deflect the attacks.


    Just then, a guqin rang out from the distance.


    Ten ethereal blue glows shot toward the ten Immortal relics in a burst of energy.


    The ten Immortal swords were sent flying back. The elders gasped in relief, overjoyed at having survived imminent death.


    "The guqin? It must be Elder Ku!"


    "Elder Ku, save us! Zhao Tianheng''s gone crazy!"


    "Elder Ku!"


    All the elders rushed toward Elder Ku, who was slowly approaching from one side of the barrier.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao ran forward to greet Elder Ku.


    "Zhao Tianheng, I knew you were greedy for strength and power, but never did I imagine that you would have grown so corrupt. Are you willing to kill your kin just to preserve your power? You''re no different from a demon," Ku Jiang execrated.


    "Ku Jiang, haven''t you died yet?" Zhao Tianheng eximed.


    "Thanks to you, I''ve been trapped within this formation for days¡ªbut I was freed when you manipted the formation to serve your own ends. Zhao Tianheng, with the power vested in me by the sect master''s token, I strip you of your authority as Ascended division leader. You shall be apprehended and taken back to the sect with me, further judgment pending," Elder Ku informed him coldly.


    The majority of the elders rushed toward Ku Jiang, ncing at the Immortal relics surrounding them warily. Elder Ku was the strongest among them, and being around him produced no small sense of safety. At the same time, they shot looks of hatred at Zhao Tianheng. His actions and clear willingness to kill other Taiqing cultivators weren''t something that could be resolved just by stripping his status as division leader.


    "Surrender? Await sect judgment? Ku Jiang, what kind of person do you take me for? Since you haven''t been killed by the formation, I''ll kill you now!" Zhao Tianheng shouted.


    Ten Immortal swords shot straight at Ku Jiang.


    Ku Jiang sat cross-legged as he began to y his guqin. Sword shes shot out from him in a steady stream, taking down the Immortal swords. The confrontation between the two cultivators loosed shockwaves throughout the formation. Two sword shes managed to skirt by the Immortal swords and headed straight toward Zhao Tianheng.


    Zhao Tianheng''s eyes widened as he activated the formation and brought more Immortal relics into orbit around him, blocking Ku Jiang''s spiritual attack.

 Chapter 227: The Red Moon Shining

    <h4>Chapter 227: The Red Moon Shining</h4>


    Ku Jiang''sbat ability was shocking. He seemed almost invincible when he yed the guqin, and easily defended against the assault from even ten corroded Immortal swords. Not only that, he even had the attention to spare tounch sneak attacks on Zhao Tianheng.


    The elders rxed. It looked as though they would be safe!


    Zhao Tianheng''s back was drenched with sweat. "Ku Jiang, how are you so strong with the guqin?"


    If he hadn''t defended himself in time, the two des that Ku Jiang had shot his way might very well have killed him.


    "Zhao Tianheng, you''re an experienced cultivator who survived the cmity from two centuries ago. How did you end up in such straits? I''ll give you one final chance. Surrender now and return to the sect with me to await your sentencing," Ku Jiang repeated.


    "My sentencing? Dream on. Either I''ll live today, or you''ll die! Since we''ve gotten to this point, there''s nothing to discuss any further. All Immortal relics,e to me!" Zhao Tianheng howled, activating the altar.


    Beams of light shot through the fog. Another twenty Immortal relics had appeared.


    Ten relics formed a barrier that sealed the exterior of the Crystal Hall, while ten revolved protectively around Zhao Tianheng. The remaining thirty Immortal relics, gleaming with light, shot toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Be careful, Elder Ku!" the cultivators cried out.


    Thirty Immortal relics represented an incredible force.


    However, Elder Ku somehow managed to block it all with his guqin.


    Ethereal blue swords rained down on the arena, shing repeatedly against the thirty Immortal relics. The entire arena was buffeted with frightening waves of energy that caused what seemed like the entire world to shake.


    Ku Jiang formed more and more des with his spiritual power that shot toward Zhao Tianheng.


    "Impossible!" Zhao Tianheng cried out. Could your spiritual cultivation already have reached the peak of Lunar Deluge?"


    "Zhao Tianheng, if you refuse to repent for your ways, then don''t me me for what I''m going to do.


    Another wave of swords shot toward Zhao Tianheng, causing the Immortal relics orbiting him to tter and shake.


    Zhao Tianheng began to panic. He knew that his downfall hade, but he wasn''t willing to surrender so easily.


    He looked toward the altar beside him. His eyes shed with hesitation, but he quickly made up his mind. He spread his arms wide.


    "All you souls, enter my body! The Taiqing Moon shall cleanse all impurities!" Zhao Tianheng shouted.


    A surge of ethereal blue power was emitted from the altar and transferred into Zhao Tianheng''s body.


    "Is The Lacking Taiqing such a strong technique that it can devour souls at will?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "No. No one can do so, not even with The Lacking Taiqing. Having too many soul remnants in your body will pollute your souls with their grudges. The Lacking Taiqing can cleanse a considerable fraction of those impurities, but certainly won''t catch them all. Zhao Tianheng may have been able to preserve his rationality for the time being, but it''s not a situation that willst. He''s going to be crazier and crazier¡ªhe really is going to turn into a demon!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "Then why would he do so?"


    "Infusing all these souls into his body will allow him to temporarily boost his spiritual power and reach Yin Body," Zhao Yuanjiao exined.


    "Yin Body?"


    After Zhao Tianheng absorbed all that ethereal blue energy, he suddenly sat cross-legged in meditation. His body shook until a burst of red light emerged from it.


    "Immortal relics, seal the void!" Zhao Tianheng proimed.


    All the Immortal relics shot into the air and merged into the formation connected to the altar, causing the glow that came from it to grow even brighter.


    Everything within the formation was sealed.


    "What''s he doing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.


    "He''s isting this space from the outside. The pce is forbidden to Immortals and deities. Anyone who steps in will be dragged away by the red rope, and this is the only way he can both disy his deific prowess without being interrupted midway," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    Ku Jiang plucked at his guqin, sending a blue sword straight toward Zhao Tianheng.


    Zhao Tianheng''s eyes were still closed, but a transparent blue palm suddenly emerged from his body and caught the sword. It squeezed, causing the sword to shatter into spiritual fragments.


    "What? How could this be? Elder Ku''s guqin des have the strength of Wingform-realm cultivators. How did Zhao Tianheng shatter it so easily?!" an elder eximed.


    Suddenly, red light burst forth from Zhao Tianheng''s body. The light encapsted the arena, causing everyone to tense up. A red crescent appeared to the back of his head and slowly floated into the air, illuminating whaty within the formation.


    "The Taiqing Crescent! His spiritual cultivation has really reached Yin Body..." Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    A blue, transparent figure emerged from the red crescent, taking on Zhao Tianheng''s form. The blue Zhao Tianheng stepped down from the crescent moon and entered his physical body.


    "This is Zhao Tianheng''s spiritual avatar?"


    "His spiritual avatar manifested in reality..."


    "No, it''s his yin body! He temporarily reached Yin Body and manifested a yin body of his own!"


    The elders murmured to each other in shock.


    "Is this what a yin body feels like? Ha, haha! What an amazing feeling. Whoever dares stop me shall die!" Zhao Tianheng''s eyes glowed red as he howled.


    He seemed to have lost his mind. All that remained of him was a furious desire to kill, to ughter. Even from afar, his killing intent surged forth in a wave.


    Elder Ku immediately began to y in earnest, sending dozens of blue swords at Zhao Tianheng.


    The ethereal form of Zhao Tianheng swiped at the swords with a careless flick of his arm, blocking them all and sending a gust of energy back at the elders. Many were sent flying from the impact.


    The strength of a yin body was beyondpare. Many of the elders began to despair once more.


    "Why haven''t I been affected?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Even Zhao Yuanjiao had been sent flying, but he felt just fine.


    Where the crescent moon shines lies the intersection of reality and illusion. In this liminal space, spiritual power blossoms in strength. You''ve reached Lunar Deluge and are stronger than the others, so you could block the attack," Ku Jiang exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped at the red crescent above him. "In other words, the strength of the Yin Body stage lies in being able to manifest the moon in your mindscape in physical reality? Where the moon shines is where the real and the illusory intersect¡ªso a yin body can disy the might of a spiritual avatar in an illusory realm?"


    "Quite so. The apex of spiritual cultivation is deific manifestation. Your domain extends as far as the moon shines; within your domain, you shall be as a deity."


    "I''ll kill you. I''ll kill you all!" Zhao Tianheng roared.


    "And though a deity Zhao Tianheng may now be, he has lost his spirit and self. He will be nothing more than a demon of ughter, controlled by unkable greed. Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, you are not to follow in these footsteps," Ku Jiang lectured.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    "Elder Ku, he''sing! He''sing!" the elders cried out in shock.


    Zhao Tianheng was rapidly approaching. He sent a palm mming down, one so strong all the elders felt as though they were about to be crushed. They trembled in fear.


    Just then, Ku Jiang swiped at the palm with his own. To everyone''s surprise, Elder Ku''s palm managed to block Zhao Tianheng''s attack.


    "Elder Ku, y-your palm!" the elders eximed.


    Elder Ku was seated cross-legged in meditation. His palm was an ethereal palm that had emerged from his body.


    Subsequently, a blue, transparent figure emerged from Elder Ku''s physical body.


    "Another yin body?"


    "Elder Ku''s reached a spiritual cultivation of Yin Body? He''s be a deity!"


    "So Elder Ku was this strong..."


    The gathered cultivators all cried out in surprise.


    Behind Elder Ku''s ethereal form was a red moon¡ªbut rather than a crescent, it was a full moon.


    The red moon looked very much like Xiao Nanfeng''s own, but it was even stronger and gave off more intense crimson light.


    The surroundings grew bright from the light radiating off the red moon.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body wasn''t blind. When he opened his eyes, overwhelming light shone from them, shocking the elders. He stepped forward and threw a punch, one which Zhao Tianheng''s yin body mirrored.


    The two fists expanded to the size of mountains and crashed into each other as howling gales were released from the point of impact. Everyone was sent flying, even Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ku Jiang''s punch was so strong that Zhao Tianheng''s yin body was rapidly splintering. It seemed as though there were countless ck, ghastly figures screaming within his yin body, which were expelled from it with Ku Jiang''s punch. The ck figures dispersed into the air as they were released from Zhao Tianheng''s grip.


    Zhao Tianheng screeched in pain. He was sent flying. A huge cavity had formed on the chest of his yin body where Ku Jiang''s fist had struck him. At the same time, finger-sized ck, ghostly heads emerged from the cracks in his yin body, screaming and biting on Zhao Tianheng''s body in torturous bursts of pain.


    "What are those ghostly heads?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The grudges that linger in others'' souls. Zhao Tianheng forcibly absorbed their soul fragments and inherited these grudges. He believed himself capable of suppressing their basal instincts, but it was only ever a stopgap. As his power wanes, those grudges will strike at him with a vengeance, a fate worse than death," Ku Jiang''s yin body replied.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body slowly returned into his physical body, along with the red moon.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Tianheng''s yin body was still screaming. He had clearly been defeated after just a single blow.


    "He looked strong, but was that all just a guise? How could a single hit have taken him down?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "He lost not to me, but to the bacsh from the soul fragments he absorbed. If he had reached Yin Body under ordinary circumstances, he would naturally be able to fight with me for far longer. Unfortunately, his stopgap measure is too weak to be of any relevance. Such is the nature of shortcuts in the path of cultivation," Elder Ku exined.

 Chapter 228: The Crescent Blade

    <h4>Chapter 228: The Crescent de</h4>


    "I''ll kill you, I''ll kill you all!" Despite the pain that wracked his yin body, Zhao Tianheng repeated the same mantra over and over again.


    "Elder Ku, has he truly gone crazy?" one elder asked.


    "Zhao Tianheng has be a demon. He''s suffering from the bacsh of the grudges of countless vengeful souls. Serves him right!" another elder eximed.


    As the ck ghosts devoured Zhao Tianheng''s yin body, their own bodies would swell. When their bodies reached a breaking point, they would pop and vanish in a cloud of smoke, their vengeance exacted and spent.


    Gradually, Zhao Tianheng''s yin body was reduced to a fraction of its former glory, and the red crescent in the air had likewise been devoured. As more of the ck ghosts vanished, however, the yin body regained a semnce of reason and retreated into Zhao Tianheng''s physical body.


    Zhao Tianheng opened his eyes blearily, but he was barely able to keep them open. His mental faculties had been greatly reduced.


    "Zhao Tianheng, if you had been willing to ept sentencing, you would only have been stripped of your position and given appropriate punishment. However, you''vemitted wrong after wrong. There''s no turning back now. The cardinal sin of the Taiqing Immortal Sect is indiscriminate ughter of its own disciples," Elder Ku intoned.


    "Only the sect master has the right to judge me. None of you can kill me!" Zhao Tianheng wheezed.


    "Take him down," Elder Ku instructed.


    "Understood!" A few elders charged forward and held Zhao Tianheng down.


    "Yuanjiao, im the Tianjue de. It used to belong to your father and is particrly precious. He has no right to it any longer," Ku Jiang continued.


    "Yes, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao retrieved Zhao Tianheng''s de and passed it to Ku Jiang.


    "The Tianjue de? Ha! It''s an old sword, nothing more. Zhao Tianjue bequeathed this de to me on his deathbed, causing me to miss out on the opportunity to control the ckguards! He deserved to die!" Zhao Tianheng spat out, enraged even in weakness.


    "I pity him for having as malicious a brother as you," Elder Ku replied chillingly.


    Even detained, even with his power spent, Zhao Tianheng''s eyes still seemed murderous.


    "The ckguards are nothing inparison to this treasure. The Tianjue de was the most valuable possession of his life. It was once known as the Crescent de, and was an artifact that Zhao Tianjure retrieved after countless struggles and incredible effort from a hidden realm. Do you even know anything about its worth?!" Ku Jiang shouted.


    "The Crescent de? What in the world are you talking about...?" A tremor passed over Zhao Tianheng''s body.


    "The spiritual technique you cultivate, The Lacking Taiqing, was devised by the third grandmaster of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and the Crescent de was his treasured sword. With this sword, your advancement in The Lacking Taiqing would have grown by leaps and bounds. In acknowledgement of your fraternity, Zhao Tianjue chose to leave this sword to you rather than to his beloved son, hoping that as his uncle, you would be willing to take care of him well after his father''s death.You, however, ignored the treasure that was left in your possession and attempted to scheme against his son! A fool like you doesn''t deserve this de," Ku Jiang pronounced.


    "Impossible. This is just an ordinary sword. You''re lying to me!" Zhao Tianheng eximed.


    "You must not have unsealed it. It can only be unsealed by one who cultivates the Taiqing Yin Body," Ku Jiang replied.


    A sh of red light emerged from Ku Jiang''s palm as he sent it sweeping down the de''s length.


    With a whirr, the Crescent de suddenly released blinding red light. Crescent moons shot out of the de, epassing its surroundings. The sudden keenness of the de unleashed tremendous pressure on the cultivators around it, as though it could slice them all apart in an instant.


    Ku Jiang sheathed the de, causing the red crescents to vanish. Everyone let out a breath of relief, as though they had just survived some monstrous foe.


    "What an incredible sword! As expected of a treasure of the Taiqing sect."


    "Even if these Immortal relics were pristine, none of them couldpare to this treasure!"


    "Zhao Tianheng is truly an idiot. He''s had such an incredible weapon lying around without knowing anything about it!"


    The elders shook their heads at Zhao Tianheng''s behavior.


    "Impossible!" Zhao Tianheng shouted in despair.


    "Only those who cultivate The Lacking Taiqing can use the Crescent de to its full power. Yuanjiao, take the sword," Elder Kumanded.


    "Yes, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao happily beheld the Crescent de.


    Despite Zhao Tianheng''splete exhaustion, he showed no sign of remorse upon seeing Zhao Yuanjiao im the sword. Rather, his eyes narrowed in malice.


    "Zhao Tianheng, you''re getting what you deserve now! For killing so many elders and attempting to kill even more, you''ll surely be sentenced to death!" the elder restraining Zhao Tianheng taunted.


    Zhao Tianheng snarled. "To death? We''ll die together, then!"


    "You don''t even have the ability to control your body anymore. How do you intend to resist? For killing my junior brother, you''ll suffer. I''ll petition to administer the sentence myself!" the elder gritted out.


    "Silence! Stop provoking him!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly eximed.


    Everyone felt an uneasy premonition. They raised their heads to see the fifty Immortal relics in the air shining with light.


    "He has control over the altar. Even if he isn''t in contact with it, he can still exercise some amount of rough control. He''s chosen to destroy the formation and all the Immortal relics within!" one elder suddenly cried out.


    The fifty Immortal relics exploded simultaneously in a fearsome explosion.


    "We''ll die together!" Zhao Tianheng roared.


    "No!" all the elders shouted in despair.


    The formation was devoured by fire. A tremendous explosion erupted by the entrance to the Crystal Hall, causing even the thick fog surrounding the area to be dispelled.


    Arge number of skeletal dragons within the fog were sent reeling as well. By the outskirts of the Crystal Hall, many cultivators from other sects who were still attacking the skeletal dragons en masse were likewise struck down by the shockwaves from the explosion.


    The cultivators gasped as they looked toward the heart of the explosion. They saw a mushroom cloud of gigantic proportions filling the air. The strength of the explosion left them all jittery.


    "Was that an Immortal who struck?"


    "Has the Crystal Hall exploded?!"


    The cultivators looked into the distance in shock.


    After the explosion, however, the fog slowly reappeared around the Crystal Hall.


    A huge crater formed right outside the hall, but the barrier protecting the hall waspletely unharmed.


    Countless elders slumped to the ground in pools of blood, the majority of whom had suffered grievous injuries from the kamikaze explosion. Although they had attempted to muster asplete a defense as they could, it was useless. Some of the weakest elders died on the spot; even those that survived were at death''s door.


    Ku Jiang was the only one who reacted in time, shielding Zhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng. The three of them suffered far minor injuries inparison; they spat out mouthfuls of blood, but that was it.


    "Thank you, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng shuddered at the destruction that Zhao Tianheng had wrought.


    Ku Jiang was silent for long moments. "Zhao Tianheng deserved to die."


    Just then, killing intent descended on them all. Without the protective barrier of the formation, the skeletal dragons that had been kept away now headed toward the Taiqing cultivators with renewed vigor.


    "There are too many skeletal dragonsing!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    "Don''t worry," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He raised Long Jiu''s token high into the air, forcing the fastest skeletal dragons to stop short in a gale.


    "Senior Brother, gather the elders around me!" Xiao Nanfeng immediately instructed.


    "Understood!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "This is draconic strength. You have the token of a draconic elder?" Ku Jiang eximed.


    "I obtained this by chance, Master, and it was why I dared to explore the draconic pce alone," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Ku Jiang nodded and didn''t press further.


    By then, Zhao Yuanjiao had managed to gather all the elders together.


    "Master, another eight elders have died, and the others are hanging only by a thread. Although I''ve performed emergency treatment, they won''t be able tost much longer without any support from pills and the like. I''ve secured all their storage treasures as well." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "These storage treasures are artifacts that the elders have left behind in death. Bring them to the sect and we''ll figure out how to deal with them. As for the elders that are still alive, treat them immediately. We''ll bring them back to the sect at once," Ku Jiang exined.


    "Yes, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "Master, how do you intend to leave the draconic pce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    The formation around the draconic pce is one of gigantic proportions. We simply have to retrieve a single Immortal relic from the pce to allow us to leave from whichever barrier lies around it. Fortunately, I''ve imed a rather corroded Immortal relic for myself during my travels. Now, follow me!" Ku Jiang instructed.


    "Master, please leave without me. I still have unfinished business in the draconic pce, and cannot leave for the time being.


    "You''re going to stay?" Ku Jiang confirmed.


    "Please don''t worry, Master. I have the ability to protect myself."


    "Very well. Be careful," Ku Jiang warned.


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ku Jiang and Zhao Nanfeng headed into the air with the elders in tow. They passed throughyers of fog and quickly arrived at the formation surrounding the entirety of the territory around the draconic pce. Ku Jiang retrieved a corroded Immortal relic and activated it slightly. Thne, he touched the barrier with that blueprint in hand. The seawater stilled, wrapped all the cultivators within, and caused them to vanish instantly.


    Only after Xiao Nanfeng sent everyone off did he inspect his surroundings. Unfortunately, there was nothing left behind. Even the altar had been destroyed entirely.


    "What a powerful barrier there is around the Crystal Hall, to have survived intact even despite such an explosion..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Madam Rouge''s projection appeared once more. She looked toward the multicolored barrier gleaming before her. Her eyes lit up in red.


    "What I want is right inside. Bring me in there, now!" Madam Rouge wrote.


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense Madam Rouge''s anxiety. He didn''t hesitate. He walked up to the barrier and touched it. It seemed just like the one outside the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall.


    "I wonder if this will work?"


    He retrieved a vat of dragon''s blood, the interest that he had taken from Ao Zhou. He smeared the blood over the barrier, whereupon it began to sizzle and melt, just like hot iron against snow.


    "It will!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up as he smeared more blood over the barrier.

 Chapter 229: The Tattered Heavenly Dao Scroll

    <h4>Chapter 229: The Tattered Heavenly Dao Scroll</h4>


    The barrier around the Crystal Hall sizzled as dragon''s blood dissolved it.


    "Why is this barrier so thick? It''s even thicker than the barrier around the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall! Do I even have enough dragon''s blood for this...?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Fortunately, just as he was about to run out of dragon''s blood, a hole had formed in the barrierrge enough for him to pass through.


    He wiped the remaining dragon''s blood around the edges of the hole, then leapt through.


    The hole closed up just as his body made it all the way in, sealing the interior of the Crystal Hall from the outside once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng gasped in relief. He had almost faltered at a critical threshold, but fortunately, he had made it in the end.


    The interior of the Crystal Hall shone with glimmering light. Everything seemed to sparkle. The entire hall appeared to beposed of precious crystals. The pirs of coiling dragons, an enormous dragon throne¡ªeverything formed of lustrous, shining crystal. The hall wasvish and ostentatious.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t enraptured by the crystal. He knew that the most precious object had to be whaty in the middle of the hall¡ªand perhaps the most dangerous, too. A huge mirror stood there, the height of two men, with countless crystals embedded on its back. It was particrly exquisite. A piece of tattered yellow cloth hung over the mirror''s surface, covering all of it up. Where the cloth had frayed or formed holes, Xiao Nanfeng could see a small portion of his reflection. A lurid red dragon had been painted on the cloth''s surface, and it seemed particrly sinister.


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense a strong aura of intimidation imbued into the cloth. The blood dragon painted on it seemed to give off tremendous killing intent, as though warning him not to draw near.


    "This yellow cloth is a talisman, isn''t it? Is it sealing this mirror away?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured curiously.


    Rather than step forward, Xiao Nanfeng carefully inspected the mirror and its surroundings. He searched the walls in case they held any hints. Unfortunately, there was no helpful text this time around.


    "Madam Rouge, what''s this mirror?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge''s projection appeared again. She wrote, "You must be quite cautious if you haven''t touched that mirror yet."


    "Of course not! The barrier around the Crystal Hall is a few times thicker than around the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall. The treasures within must be even more dangerous. I could easily get into trouble if I were to act rashly. What is it that you want?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge didn''t speak. She carefully examined the mirror in silence.


    "What''s the matter? Is something wrong with this mirror?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    It took some time before Madam Rouge wrote to Xiao NAnfeng, "The draconic pce is trulyvish. It has an incredible assortment of treasures¡ªeven something like this."


    "Are you talking about the mirror, or this yellow cloth with a painted dragon?"


    "Yellow cloth?" Madam Rouge scoffed. "Do you know what this is?"


    "Isn''t it just a bolt of tattered cloth? Is there more to it?"


    "It''s a scroll of the Heavenly Dao."


    "The Heavenly Dao?"


    "In primordial times, when the Heavenly Dao still existed as a physical entity, it was apanied by a scroll on which thews of the physical world were written down and made manifest. Supernatural cultivators, weapons, treasures, events¡ªall would be recorded on the scroll. When the Heavenly Dao subsequently copsed, the scroll was destroyed and lost in the annals of history. I can''t believe it''s here. Despite having been destroyed, the scroll still possesses tremendous potency. The dragons were somehow able to find it. They used it as a medium to create a talisman inscribed with the blood of ten thousand dragons, all just to seal this mirror."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes opened wide. "Really? This tattered bolt of cloth? The dragon painted on it bears the blood of ten thousand dragons? Is this mirror stronger, or the scroll of the Heavenly Dao?"


    "The mirror is iplete, as is the scroll of the Heavenly Dao. They''re counteracting one another," Madam Rouge replied.


    "Madam Rouge, is the object you want this mirror?" Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    "Are you willing to reim this mirror for me?" Madam Rouge asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. Madam Rouge had said ''reim'', not ''im''. Did this mirror use to belong to her?


    "Madam Rouge, we''re friends, aren''t we? Of course I''d help you. You can have the mirror, and I''ll take the scroll of the Heavenly Dao," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Madam Rouge stared at Xiao Nanfeng before writing, "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. Why had Madam Rouge agreed so readily? Was there a problem with the scroll?


    "This scroll of the Heavenly Dao might be tattered, but it used to contain the manifestws of the natural world. It is an extraordinary material, and you may forge it into a code ofws for your kingdom."


    "A code ofws?" Xiao Nanfeng gave Madam Rouge a doubtful look.


    "Don''t you intend on establishing a kingdom? Not only will you need an imperial seal to store fortune, you''ll need to establish a code ofws that governs your kingdom. This scroll will house that code ofws, enact its will, and absorb fortune to manifest thosews in reality. It is the hallmark of a kingdom, which can seal deities and Immortals even as it nurtures themon people. Those who enter your kingdom shall be subject to its code ofws in pact and practice; those who vite it shall be punished ordingly. Your kingdom''sws are that which will govern whether it might persist for perpetuity," Madam Rouge wrote formally.


    "I do intend on establishing a code ofws, but considering how tattered this scroll is, would it be effective for this purpose?" Xiao Nanfeng worried.


    "Just sew it up and you''ll be able to use it."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look.


    A code ofws, something sacrosanct to a kingdom, imbued onto tattered cloth stitched back together...


    "Are you unwilling?"


    "No, I am, I am. I''ll patch it. As long as it''s functional, I don''t care how it looks."


    "Then let''s get started. The dragon painted on this scroll wasposed of ten thousand dragons'' worth of blood, and the resulting talisman is exceptionally strong. It can only be nullified with dragon''s might of equivalent caliber."


    "Dragon''s might of equivalent caliber? How?"


    "Why were Long Ba and Long Jiu''s tokens able tomand the skeletal dragons? It''s because they contained the might of two elders of the draconic n. They might not be as strong as the might of the dragon king, but the elders of the draconic n were likewise able tomand tens of thousands of dragons in their prime. The dragon''s might within these two tokens should barely suffice for your needs. Try it."


    "I understand," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He retrieved Long Jiu''s token and ced it on the talisman. The talisman began to move. Blood-colored light emanated from it and struck Long Jiu''s token, which sent out clouds of ck light. The ck light suppressed the blood light; both sources of light dissipated.


    "It really does work!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for two whole hours as the red and ck light gushed out of the token and the talisman, then fizzled away.


    Suddenly, with an audible snap, a crack formed in Long Jiu''s token. The majority of the dragon''s might imbued within it had been consumed, and the token itself was falling apart. However, the blood dragon painted on the scroll of the Heavenly Dao had also faded to a surprising extent.


    After another hour, Long Jiu''s token finally vanished in a cloud of ck fog as all the dragon''s might within it was consumed. That ck fog absorbed more bloody light as it vanished entirely.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved Long Ba''s token and held it up to the talisman.


    Another two hours passed before Long Ba''s token vanished in a cloud of ck smoke as well. By then, the blood dragon on the scroll of the Heavenly Dao had been entirely consumed.


    All that remained was a bolt of tattered cloth that hung loosely over the mirror.


    Without the blood dragon rendering the mirror a talisman, it began to p and furl, as though it could fall from the mirror at any moment.


    "Can it be removed from the mirror now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It can be hidden within your sterke. I advise you to immediately wrap any valuables on your body within it, bundle it up, then store it in your sterke."


    "Why?"


    "Something unexpected may happen."


    "Something unexpected? What?"


    Madam Rouge refused to exin. "Either trust me or don''t."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I feel like you''ve hoodwinked me..."


    "After you store the scroll securely, all you need to do is stand before the mirror." Madam Rouge waited patiently for Xiao Nanfeng to do so.


    Xiao Nanfeng thought it best to follow orders.


    He removed the scroll from the mirror, which seemed perfectly ordinary. However, without any hesitation, he wrapped up all his treasures within the scroll and surrounded it with his spiritual power, as Madam Rouge had suggested, before storing it in his sterke. The scroll, like an ownerless possession, sumbed to Xiao Nanfneg''s will without any hesitation.


    "Now what?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He turned around to find that Madam Rouge had vanished.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He felt as though the ''unexpected thing'' that Madam Rouge had mentioned was just about to take ce.


    He carefully examined the mirror, but it didn''t seem exceptional at all.


    Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes. His reflection in the mirror was smiling in a sinister fashion.


    He was certain he wasn''t smiling; why was his reflection giving him such a ghastly smile? Goosebumps formed all over his body.

 Chapter 230: The Red Rope Cursed King

    <h4>Chapter 230: The Red Rope Cursed King</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s reflection in the mirror gave him a sinister smile, causing goosebumps to rise up all over his body. It was so disturbing that he had to suppress the desire of mming his palm into the mirror.


    An ordinary cultivator would already be panicking, but Xiao Nanfeng used to enjoy horror flicks in his past life. He had seen a simr situation countless times before. Even the cursed effigies all around him couldn''t scare him; would he be scared of his own reflection?


    The only reason he hadn''t yet left was because Madam Rouge had told him to stand in front of the mirror.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s reflection was surprised that he could remain so calm.


    It gave him a malevolent grin as it reached out with both hands, almost as though it was about to emerge from the mirror and choke Xiao Nanfeng to death.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Is this your first time ying such a role? That''s not scary at all. You had better darken the surroundings. There''s too much light in this hall, which ruins the atmosphere you''re trying to create. You won''t be able to scare me like this."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s reflection stiffened.


    Madam Rouge was giving Xiao Nanfeng a strange look from within his mental space. She knew how frightening the monster-in-the-mirror was, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed immune to its behavior.


    "Also, why would you transform into me? Who would be scared by their own reflection? You must never have scared anyone before if you don''t even understand such simple logic. You should transform into an ugly monster, not someone as handsome as I am! Even if you tried to scare someone else, I''m sure they wouldn''t be frightened," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The monster-in-the-mirror twitched, as though cursing Xiao Nanfeng and decrying his assertions. It had never encountered someone so self-absorbed!


    The monster-in-the-mirror roared in vexation.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. That was precisely what he wanted. Even Madam Rouge was so scared that she had run off. There had to be something exceptional about this monster, and he had to get it to reveal more information. Otherwise, he might not be able to take it down. If it refused toe out, he would just have to continue agitating it.


    "See? You couldn''t even take a few words of criticism! Your mental state is far too frail. You''ll have to work harder. Putting your looks aside for the moment, you at least have to improve your expression¡ªand the atmosphere! You might not be able to control the atmosphere beyond the mirror, but you can at least control the atmosphere within it. Add more ck fog to your back, then summon a few ghostly hands grasping at something before them. Yes, just like that!"


    ck fog suddenly appeared in the mirror, along with ghostly figures that looked particrly threatening. It was as though malicious ghouls were emerging from hell itself.


    "Exactly! Have a look for yourself. Doesn''t the effect seem much better? In addition, make sure your expression isn''t too exaggerated. You won''t be able to scare anyone by roaring like that. That''s too passe. You need to smile in a sinister fashion¡ªbut not how you were smiling before. It was too exaggerated, and it didn''t look mysterious or severe. Try to make your eyes look a little more sullen," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    The monster-in-the-mirror couldn''t take it any longer. It roared, "What do you mean, more sullen? Do you want to die? I don''t need anyone to teach me how to scare others!"


    "But you don''t look scary at all," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The monster-in-the-mirror was so angry that its spleen was aching. It was here to scare others, not to have an acting lesson!


    "Aren''t you going to step outside? You aren''t trapped within the mirror, are you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    The monster-in-the-mirror scowled, affirming Xiao Nanfeng''s guess.


    "You can''t step out? You should have told me¡ªI was scared! Hold on. I''ll drag a chair over so we can chat. It must be difficult for you to have been trapped for so long. Let me help soothe your lonely heart," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The monster-in-the-mirror: ...


    "King, he''s crazy! Let me kill him!"


    "He''s too infuriating. King, I''ll take care of him!"


    "Kill him!"


    A series of voices suddenly came from the mirror, causing Xiao Nanfeng to grow rmed. Were there multiple monsters within? He had to continue agitating them so they would provide more information!


    "What, were you acting out all those voices? You''re not a good actor, but a surprisingly good ventriloquist! It''s great that you''re able to amuse yourself in this manner during your long captivity."


    The monster-in-the-mirror seemed unable to bear with Xiao Nanfeng''s antics any longer. Its hands suddenly passed through the mirror and grabbed ahold of Xiao Nanfeng''s neck, then lifted him into the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "You can leave the mirror, after all? Why didn''t you say anything?"


    "You brat! Don''t you fear me at all? Aren''t you even a little afraid? You damn brat!" the monster-in-the-mirror roared.


    "Please, let''s talk calmly!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. He hadn''t expected that the monster-in-the-mirror really could attack him directly.


    However, it was already toote. The monster suddenly pulled him into the mirror.


    The interior of the mirror was pitch-ck, with ck fog surrounding him. There were a few figures in the fog that looked somewhat like ghosts. Before him was a mirror frame from which he could see light shining outside. He tried to rush out, but the mirror frame was a barrier that prevented any egress.


    "You really are full of nonsense, aren''t you?" an ice-cold voice came from the ck fog to his back.


    The figures within the fog had stepped forward. They were all dressed in red. They looked toward him, mocking and disdainful, as though he was nothing but their prey. Without their king''smand, however, they were holding back for the moment. Behind them were gigantic red rope cursed effigies that surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately understood what was going on. All these figures were lengths of red rope; had they been sealed within the mirror? They called Xiao Nanfeng''s reflection ''king''. Could this king be the red rope cursed king?


    He peered outside to see a figure standing in the realm beyond the mirror frame¡ªhis physical body.


    "Am I a spirit at the moment?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly guessed.


    "Of course. Your physical body shall now be mine, haha!" his body turned and said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. He understood what was going on now. The red rope cursed king had pulled his spirit into the mirror as it emerged and took over his physical body. He felt very strange. He was in the form of a spiritual avatar, but his red moon and sterke were in his avatar''s mindscape too! How could this be?


    The red rope cursed king suddenly frowned. "Hold on. There''s something funny about your body. Why doesn''t your mindscape have any remnant spiritual power?"


    It tore apart its clothes to find livor mortis settling in across its body. It quickly transformed Xiao Nanfeng''s body into a length of red rope.


    "This isn''t your physical body. You''ve lied to me!" the red rope cursed king shouted from outside the mirror.


    In an instant, all the cursed effigies looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. He was surrounded by killing intent, causing him to freeze up.


    Just then, Madam Rouge appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng. She pulled him deeper into the ck fog, knocking aside a few red ropes, and then vanished.


    "Something''s wrong. Capture them!" the red rope cursed kingmanded from outside.


    "Hold it!" Countless lengths of red rope began chasing after Xiao Nanfeng.


    The red rope cursed king stood outside the mirror in vexation. However, he seemed to have something more important to do. Rather than head straight back toward the mirror, it rushed toward the Crystal Hall.


    It struck the barrier in a bang. It was impossible for him to leave.


    "Break!"


    The red rope cursed king struck at the formation around the Crystal Hall again, but it remained immobile. Even the explosion of fifty Immortal relics was unable to do any damage to the barrier, let alone with a decaying body that Xiao Nanfeng had used.


    "Damn it! There must be some other way out," the red rope cursed king gritted out.


    He walked around the Crystal Hall but found no other exits.


    "If I had enough time, I would be able to break through the barrier, but I don''t have time right now. Damn it!" the red rope cursed king cursed. The next moment, it calmed down. "No. If thatd from before was able to enter the Crystal Hall, there must be a way out. I just have to find him."


    It walked back up to the mirror.


    "Someone,e swap souls with me! I want to return to the mirror," the red rope cursed kingmanded.


    Within the mirror,


    Madam Rouge dragged Xiao Nanfeng into the ck fog, then teleported into a wide-open in.


    "Howrge is the interior of this mirror...?"


    "A world has been gestated within this mirror. Here, the real and the illusory intermingle. You are now a spiritual avatar. I helped you affix your red moon, sterke, and spiritual avatar together so you would enter with them all in your possession. As for your physical body, I trust you don''t mind losing it. It was about to decay, anyway, and you just have to take over another cursed spiritual avatar with your red moon."


    "That was the red rope cursed king, wasn''t it? Why did it want to pull me in here?"


    "This mirror has a certain rule associated with it: one who wishes to leave must drag in another in exchange. For his cursed spiritual avatar to leave, someone new must be dragged in."


    "Oh?"


    "I never expected that you would be immune to its fear. That will save us significant trouble."


    "Why did it want to scare me?"


    "It didn''t want to bring you into the mirror. It views the mirror as its own home, and it doesn''t want any idents to ur. As a cursed king, it has the ability to skirt by some of its rules. Rather than a direct spirit-to-spirit exchange, it would be able to bring in the fear you exude rather than your spirit itself, allowing it to go free without your being able to ess its realm."


    "Wouldn''t it have been dangerous for me if it had seeded? Madam Rouge, you told me nothing in advance. You weren''t trying to kill me, were you?"


    "I simply wanted to ensure that you would cooperate. I predicted what it would do, and if it were to bring only your fear into this mirror, I would have taken advantage of the situation to enter along with your fear and your soul. That would have damaged you to some extent, however."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look. "To some extent? You didn''t exin anything to me in advance, Madam Rouge. It''s clear that I would have suffered major losses ording to your n!"


    Madam Rouge was silent.


    "Madam Rouge, I treated you like a friend. How could you be trying to scheme against me at every turn? It''s lucky I watched my fair share of horror movies!"


    "So what if you sustained a few injuries? You obtained the scroll of Heavenly Dao! As long as you aren''t dead, you''ll be able to recuperate."


    Xiao Nanfeng was stunned speechless. So this was why you were willing to give me the scroll of Heavenly Dao so readily! It was payment in advance for my medical fees!


    "What are these horror movies of which you speak?"


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes, not telling her anything.

 Chapter 231: Whose Acting is Better

    <h4>Chapter 231: Whose Acting is Better</h4>


    Madam Rouge continued teleporting Xiao Nanfeng away. They quickly evaded the lengths of red rope chasing after them.


    Along the way, Xiao Nanfeng saw the carcass of a giant whale, then a crab, and even a squid.


    "What an unusual habitat. Can sea creatures enter the mirror too?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The draconic race used to use this mirror as a prison. Within it are detained all manner of convicts that the dragons have caught, and sea spirits are only a portion of them. Within thest two centuries, however, their souls have been consumed by the red rope instead, leaving only their carcasses behind," Madam Rouge wrote back.


    They quickly arrived at a mountain on the ins, one carved out of red crystal. It shone with a lustrous gleam and illuminated the area nearby in red.


    "What''s up with this mountain?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge ignored Xiao Nanfeng. She took her time inspecting the crystal mountain. ck smoke wafted from her body, a sign of her rage.


    "They''re over there! I see them!" a shout came from afar.


    "Madam Rouge, they''re catching up!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Madam Rouge teleported away with Xiao Nanfeng in tow. They vanished in an instant.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked around in shock. They had appeared in the middle of a desert.


    "Madam Rouge, you teleport so far within this world of the mirror. You must have traveled ten thousand miles in an instant¡ªwe''re in the middle of a desert!"


    "That was the firstyer of the mirror world. The fact that the crystal mountain ispletely red means that the red rope cursed king has fully taken control over it. No wonder it was unwilling to drag you inside," Madam Rouge wrote.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    He followed Madam Rouge. Along the way, they saw the carcasses of more spirits.


    "These carcasses arerger than the ones we saw on the firstyer, and they seem stronger as well..."


    "Of course. The mirror world has eighteenyers, each boasting stronger and stronger spirits."


    "Eighteen such small worlds?"


    Madam Rouge was clearly very familiar with the mirror world. She teleported him from ce to ce. They quickly arrived at another red crystal mountain.


    "Damn that cursed king! He''s taken over the secondyer, too?"


    She teleported Xiao Nanfeng to a tundra next.


    "This must be the thirdyer." Xiao Nanfeng nced curiously at his surroundings.


    Within this thirdyer, there were spiritbeast carcasses and even the corpses of a few cultivators.


    "The red rope must have grown stronger after feasting on all these souls for two centuries..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured worriedly.


    "They''re countless times stronger than the red rope in the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall," Madam Rouge wrote back.


    They again found a crystal mountain emanating red light, frustrating Madam Rouge to no end.


    She continued teleporting farther and farther with Xiao Nanfeng, from oneyer to the next. Along the way, they found the corpses of even more cultivators, some of whom had carved their wills on t nes on nearby mountains. However, he had no time to investigate thoroughly. Madam Rouge continued dragging him toward the next crystal mountain.


    Only when they reached the eighteenth and finalyer of the mirror world did something stand out.


    The crystal mountain before them wasn''t red all over; it was only pink.


    Madam Rouge seemed unbelievably excited. She touched the pink crystal in excitement.


    "Is there anything special about the pink crystal? What use does it have?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We''re short on time. The red rope cursed king has already gained control over seventeenyers of the mirror world. It might catch up to us at any moment. Guard me and defend this crystal mountain to the best of your ability," Madam Rouge wrote quickly.


    Then, she reached forward and caused a pink glow to spread from the mountain. It reached Xiao Nanfeng''s body, causing it to radiate a tremendous quantity of pink light.


    "That''s not an issue, but what''s with this pink glow?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Madam Rouge was so short on time that she didn''t bother speaking further. She stepped deep into the mountain, which began to rumble. The crystal mountain was suddenly growing smaller and smaller. At the same time, the pink glow radiating from it intensified. The entireyer of the mirror world seemed to be illuminated in a shade of pink, and everything began to quake.


    "This crystal mountain must control the world somehow..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    "Has the mirrormaster returned?" a tremulous voice asked from behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng whirled around to see a gigantic crocodile spirit make its way over to him.


    "Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked warily.


    The crocodile spirit looked toward Xiao Nanfeng and smiled. "I am the crocodile king. Lad, you seem to be rather close to the mirrormaster."


    "The mirrormaster? Madam Rouge?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It is she. Were you unaware?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I don''t know anything about this ce, only that we''re inside a mirror''s internal world. What do you know about this mirror?"


    "This mirror is a cursed effigy¡ªor, more urately, the spiritual avatar of a cursed effigy," the crocodile spirit exined.


    "Another cursed effigy? Doesn''t the draconic race know better than to use a cursed effigy as a prison?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "The dragons learned of this when they came into possession of the mirror, but no one knows where the cursed effigy''s soul is," the crocodile spirit replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised, but he was still cautious and guarded with respect to the crocodile king. "What are you doing here, Elder?"


    "I was tricked by the old dragon king. He invited me for a banquet at the draconic pce, but instead detained me along with the red rope cursed king within this mirror. Allegedly, he intended for me to deal with the red rope from this internal world. To think I thought the dragon king was my friend¡ªbut he wanted me dead!" The crocodile king suddenly roared in outrage.


    Xiao Nanfeng cocked his head. From the looks of it, the dragon king wasn''t anyone virtuous.


    "Elder, you must be exceptionally strong to have survived for two centuries down here."


    "Strong? Against a cursed king? Hardly. I don''t dare to face them, and I''ve nevere into contact with the red rope. If I hadn''t used all my strength to reach the eighteenthyer of this internal world and to hide from the cursed king, I would be done for by now."


    "Oh?"


    "The red rope cursed king has never made it here, and it won''t be able to. The only one who can find this ce is the mirrormaster. That''s how I knew that the mirrormaster had returned the moment you arrived here. Is her name Madam Rouge? Once she takes control of the mirror again, we''ll be safe!" the crocodile king cheered.


    "Let''s wait a little, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The crocodile king shook its head. "I''m afraid that won''t do. When Madam Rouge merges with the crystal mountain, amotion will be felt all over the mirror world. It will shatter my protection around this part of the eighteenthyer of space. If the red rope cursed king catches wind of this, we''ll all be done for."


    "Oh? What should we do, then?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Hand my inner core to Madam Rouge and have her stabilize my protections in the region." The crocodile king spat out an inner core glowing with golden light. The core seemed to be engraved with countless runes, and it looked like an arcane artifact.


    "Elder, your inner core is far too precious for the likes of me. Why don''t you pass it to Madam Rouge yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "This crystal mountain is exceptionally rigid. It''s a specialized cursed spiritual avatar, and only cursed spirits may enter within it. I cannot get inside. The pink light that Madam Rouge covered you with is a measure of her trust in you. Only you can get into the mountain, ignoring its defenses, thanks to the pink light around you," the crocodile king stated.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, imed the crocodile king''s inner core, then walked toward the crystal mountain.


    "Madam Rouge, have you heard what the crocodile king elder said?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    However, the crystal mountain only continued to shrink in size. Madam Rouge didn''t respond.


    "You should bring it in. While she''sbining with the crystal mountain, I wouldn''t expect her to be able to hear you," the crocodile king suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and was just about to bring the crocodile king''s inner core within when he suddenly halted.


    "What''s the matter?" the crocodile king asked.


    "I have a few treasures of my own. I intend to bring them in together and lend them to Madam Rouge. Please wait," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Treasure? What treasure could you possess? She has to face the red rope cursed king. Ordinary treasures will do no good," the crocodile king criticized.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a bundle of yellow cloth.


    Upon seeing that cloth, the crocodile king gasped. "Is that the scroll of Heavenly Dao?"


    "It is! It''s rather convenient for carrying things around, isn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng nodded approvingly.


    The crocodile king goggled at Xiao Nanfeng. <i>Is he trying to brag to me?</i>


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a storage ring from within the bundle.


    A divine purple rock appeared before him.


    The crocodile king''s eyes widened. "Is this the divine purple rock of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce? How could this be? How can you move it?"


    "It''s just a rock. Why wouldn''t I be able to move it? I have plenty of artifacts of this caliber," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The crocodile king nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. <i>He is bragging to me, isn''t he?</i>


    The crystal mountain grew smaller and smaller, until it was only about ny meters tall. Xiao Nanfeng attempted to lift the mountain with his hands. With a rumble, perhaps owing to the pink glow surrounding his body, the crystal mountain didn''t resist him. He managed to lift it up.


    "What are you doing with the crystal mountain?" the crocodile king asked, frowning.


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the crystal mountain aside, causing it to vanish.


    The crocodile king was astounded. It leapt forward in rage. "What have you done?"


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly flung the crocodile king''s inner core aside. The inner core transformed into a red rope andunched itself toward Xiao Nanfeng along with the crocodile king. However, Xiao Nanfeng and his possessions had all vanished. The only thing that remained was the gigantic divine purple rock. The crocodile king smashed into it with surprising force, but it remained perfectly immobile.


    The crocodile king merged with the red rope. It howled, "Lad, you''ve tricked me again! Where are you? Get out here!"


    From where he stood within the interior of the divine purple rock, Xiao Nanfeng let out a disdainful look. "This red rope spirit king transformed into a crocodile spirit in an attempt to trick me, but its smile was just like the smile it made when it pretended to be my reflection. How does it think it can trick me with such horrible acting skills? Ha!"

 Chapter 232: The Humanoid Madam Rouge

    <h4>Chapter 232: The Humanoid Madam Rouge</h4>


    In the interior of the divine purple rock, the crystal mountain continued to grow smaller. Madam Rouge, ensconced within, didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng''s attempts tomunicate.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t particrly worried about the danger outside. Everything could wait until Madam Rouge had awoken.


    He retrieved a red rope cursed effigy from his storage ring, then sent his avatar, with embedded red moon and sterke, within. Very quickly, the cursed effigy took on his form. He activated the storage ring and pulled out a set of clothes, which he quickly put on.


    He did prefer the feeling of having a physical body, after all.


    Suddenly, he found the crystal mountain drifting away.


    "The interior of the divine purple rock is huge. If you go too far, I won''t be able to find you!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He hurriedly drew the crystal mountain back. By then, it was only sixty meters tall, and still shrinking steadily as it emitted a pink glow.


    He was just about to store the scroll of the Heavenly Dao when he gasped. The cloth was shining with yellow light.


    "It''s restoring itself...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Light concentrated where the cloth was frayed, ripped, or had holes as it repaired itself at a cial rate.


    "Could it be the gray fog and purple light within this space?"


    The interior of the divine purple rock was surrounded by gray fog dotted with purple light. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know what they were, but he was very surprised that they were able to repair the scroll of Heavenly Dao.


    Suddenly, his eyes brightened. He began to call on a technique from the manual The Imperial Court of Heaven. He would take advantage of the fact that the scroll was in a badly damaged state, with its will fragmented, to infuse his own will into the cloth and gain full control over it.


    He sat in meditation, one hand holding onto the cloth, and the other onto the crystal mountain.


    As he attuned to the scroll of the Heavenly Dao, he could sense a vast expanse of starry sky, one which had been torn apart. Chaotic, shattered regions of space formed vortices in its midst. As his mind wandered, he could sense that the remaining stars seemed to follow some deep pattern he was yet unable toprehend, as though charting out the Heavenly Dao. However, because of the shattered space, the pattern had been broken, the resonance lost. Now, however, gray fog and violet light were starting to restore the damaged regions.


    "Would I be able toprehend the Heavenly Dao once this scroll is restored...?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Despite the fact that the pattern was currently broken, despite the fact that everything was all but iprehensible to him, the starry sky still captivated his senses.


    He didn''t know how long he spent ncing at the celestial sight. He was jolted awake when something squirmed in hisp.


    The crystal mountain had vanished, reced by the figure of a woman. Hershes were long, her nose pert, her lips full and lush, her features delicate and gorgeous, her neck white and pale, her corbone slender, her skin like snow. Xiao Nanfeng blushed red.


    Suddenly, the woman opened her eyes and met Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze, startling him. His eyes widened.


    The woman shot into motion, pping him with a palm in embarrassment. "What are you looking at, Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. As he floated in the air, he saw the woman wave an arm. Peach blossom petals shrouded her body. By the time he regained his footing, the petals had transformed into a long dress of the same color that covered her body from top to bottom, lending her the aura of an Immortal.


    "A-Are you Madam Rouge? You can speak now?" Xiao Nanfeng was astounded.


    The woman stared at Xiao Nanfeng. "What did you see?"


    "Only the peach blossoms," Xiao Nanfeng quickly replied.


    Before he could finish, Madam Rouge had struck him again with her palm, sending him flying.


    "No, no, don''t misunderstand me! I''m talking about your dress, not what you thought it was! Please, calm down," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her. [1]


    "Stop talking nonsense!" Madam Rouge''s face flushed red as she struck him again.


    Xiao Nanfeng spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying.


    "Please, be reasonable! You''ve seen me change my clothes before, haven''t you? I was just shocked by your transformation!"


    "I never watched you change your clothes!"


    Madam Rouge red at Xiao Nanfeng, but she was a beauty even so.


    "Madam Rouge, you''re a stunning beauty." Xiao Nanfeng wiped at the blood trickling down his lips.


    "Did you think I was a skeleton?" Madam Rouge replied coolly, still upset about what had happened.


    "Don''t be so angry. We''re friends, aren''t we? I wasn''t staring at you intentionally. You hit me until you drew blood, didn''t you? As an esteemed cultivator, you must surely be magnanimous in spirit," Xiao Nanfeng ttered her.


    Madam Rouge red at Xiao Nanfeng again, but she was so beautiful that even her re made her look breathtaking.


    "Why don''t we think about how to deal with the red rope cursed king outside? Not only did it try to pretend to be my reflection as I entered the mirror world, it took the form of a crocodile spirit and tried to convince me to harm you." Xiao Nanfeng immediately changed the topic as she recounted what had happened.


    Madam Rouge was still a little upset, but she quickly calmed down. She frowned. "The red rope cursed king might have controlled seventeenyers of this mirror world, but it won''t be able to control this eighteenthyer."


    "What''s the difference?"


    "The crystal mountains of the other seventeenyers were empty, which was why it could step within and take over. On the other hand, the eighteenthyer''s crystal mountain contains a portion of my cursed spirit. It''s my artifact, and it can''t take over as owner. It tried to make use of your ignorance about this space to take over thisst bastion, but you saw through its tricks."


    "Are you now able to speak because you''ve absorbed the portion of your cursed spirit within this crystal mountain and restored your soul?"


    "Of course!" Madam Rouge replied.


    "You look far more pleasing to the eye now," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Madam Rouge red at Xiao Nanfeng again, but her beauty overwhelmed any threat that she made.


    "We should consider how we can get rid of that red rope cursed king. Are you able to beat it in your current state?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge frowned. "I can''t. The cursed spiritual power Imand is far less than when I was at my peak, and far less than what the red rope cursed king currently has ess to. I may have imed the eighteenthyer of the mirror world, but it controls the first seventeen, as well as the mirror on the whole. I wouldn''t be a match for it in my current state."


    "And with my help?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge gave him a strange look. "All his red rope subordinates are atte-stage Lunar Deluge, and they''re stronger than you are. What use would you be?"


    "I have the divine purple rock, which can suppress a cursed king. I have a red moon, which can hypnotize the red rope cursed effigies. Why wouldn''t I be able to help? The red rope cursed king looked down on me and was stymied twice. Are you going to emte it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge blinked, then nodded thoughtfully. "You''re right. You really may be able to y a decisive role."


    "In that case, let''se up with a n and prepare to strike."


    Madam Rouge stared at Xiao Nanfeng for a little longer before she eventually smiled. "Very well."


    She seemed to have forgotten about the awkwardness from before¡ªor perhaps she didn''t mind it as much as she imed.


    Outside the divine purple rock, the crocodile king transformed into the figure of a red-robed male, the red rope cursed king. He looked irritably and balefully at the divine purple rock.


    "Is there a pocket space within this rock? You''ll have toe out sooner orter," the red rope cursed king muttered.


    He waited patiently as his red rope subordinates gathered around him, bowing respectfully and standing to the side.


    After what seemed like forever, the divine purple rock pulsed. A woman stepped out and appeared to its side.


    The red rope cursed king eyed her. "Are you Madam Rouge? Have you taken control over the crystal mountain of thisyer?"


    Madam Rouge snapped back, "If you intend to steal my cursed spiritual avatar, dream on."


    The red rope cursed king stared at Madam Rouge, then suddenly grinned lecherously. "Madam Rouge? I would be happy to leave you your spiritual avatar. I seek a cursed queen by my side, a position that has been vacant for far too long¡ªand you''re the perfect candidate."


    "Why would I ever choose you?" Madam Rouge retorted.


    "I was the premier cultivator of my era thirty thousand years ago, and I controlled much of the known world. I would be more than qualified a match for anyone. We are both cursed monarchs, you and I, and we would surely be able to rule the world if we worked together." The red rope cursed king walked forward.


    "A length of frayed rope. You can barely defend yourself, and yet your ambitions clearly haven''t faltered. You¡ª" Madam Rouge continued disdainfully.


    Just then, the red rope cursed king suddenly waved an arm. Eight long red whips appeared from the void and snapped toward her. What he had suggested was a ploy¡ªhe had been deliberately trying to anger Madam Rouge, then strike while she was distracted.


    Madam Rouge''s body fell apart after being struck by the eight whips. Mirror fragments tinkled as theynded on the ground.


    "What? That wasn''t her actual body!" the cursed king eximed.


    A huge mirror suddenly appeared in the air. Within the mirror was Madam Rouge.


    "Red Rope, isunching sneak attacks all you can do?" Madam Rouge sneered at the cursed king from within the mirror.


    The red rope cursed king''s eyes were cold. With a wave of his arm, he sent eight whips snapping at the mirror, smashing it into nine fragments.


    "Another fake body?" The cursed king was growing infuriated.


    The nine fragments each restored themselves, forming nine mirrors floating in the air. Madam Rouge appeared in each one, causing the cursed king''s subordinates to be taken aback.


    "It looks like eight Whips of Order won''t be enough. Why don''t you guess which mirror contains my actual body?" Madam Rouge chuckled.


    "Break them!" the cursed king howled.


    Another Whip of Order formed. The nine Whips of Order struck the nine mirrors and smashed them all.


    Suddenly, the nine mirrors fragmented further into dozens of mirrors, each of which contained Madam Rouge.


    "Be careful!" The red rope cursed king suddenly nched.


    One of the mirrors had approached his subordinates. Madam Rouge reached out and dragged a subordinate within the mirror.


    "Save me, King!" the red rope screeched.


    "Break!" the red rope cursed king shouted.


    His Whips of Order struck that mirror, which shattered. By then, Madam Rouge and the red rope had teleported to another mirror. With a squeeze of her hand, the red rope exploded into a cloud of red mist, which Madam Rouge sucked up and absorbed.


    "Red Rope, your subordinates have rather decent cursed spiritual power. I wonder how yours tastes? I think I''ll be able to recover to a significant degree by eating you," Madam Rouge concluded.


    1. ÌÒ»¨ (lit. peach blossom) is an oblique way of referring to theher regions. ?

 Chapter 233: Suppressing the Cursed King

    <h4>Chapter 233: Suppressing the Cursed King</h4>


    When a mirror shattered, its fragments would transform into ever more mirrors. The red rope cursed king and his subordinates were shocked by the sight unfolding before them.


    The red rope cursed king''s face turned dark. "If not for the fact that my cursed spiritual avatar is being suppressed by the dragon king''s grudges, you would never be able to withstand my full might!"


    "The key is that your cursed spiritual avatar isn''t here. What you''re saying is pointless," Madam Rouge replied.


    The next moment, countless mirrors appeared behind the cursed king''s subordinates, dragging them inside.


    "Save us, King!" the red ropes shouted in fear.


    The red rope cursed king narrowed his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the remaining lengths of red rope vanished from sight, clearly having been sent away. As for those that Madam Rouge had seized¡ªthose were doomed.


    "Do you really think I won''t be able to take you down just because I don''t have any red rope cursed spiritual avatars with me? I control seventeenyers of this mirror world, and I canmand far more of the mirror''s strength than you can. Mirror, I summon you!" the red rope cursed king called out.


    A mirror suddenly appeared around the red rope cursed king, as though he too had be a man in a mirror.


    Madam Rouge swallowed the cursed spiritual avatars of the red rope subordinates she had seized, then looked toward the red rope cursed king seriously.


    "You control only the strength of oneyer of the mirror world. How could you hope to be my opponent? Mirror, shatter!" the red rope cursed kingmanded.


    The mirror in which the red rope cursed king was located exploded into a glittering sea of fragments. Each shard transformed into a mirror in its own right. Emting Madam Rouge, the red rope cursed king appeared in every mirror.


    In barely any time at all, the sky all around was filled with mirrors. Madam Rouge and the red rope cursed king appeared within each one, manipting their mirrors to attack their opponents''.


    Mirrors exploded all across the sky. As their mirrors exploded and regenerated, they would be just a little smaller. More and more mirrors appeared, growing smaller and smaller. From afar, it looked like there were fragments glowing in red and pink trying to wrest control of the sky from each other, like two rivers shing.


    A tempest formed as they struck each other.


    From the river of red shards came the red rope cursed king''s deviousughter. "As expected of the mirrormaster, you''re able to defend against eightyers'' worth of energy with just the one that you possess. Unfortunately for you, however, I can control seventeenyers'' worth of energy. You''re done for. I''ll suppress you from now on!"


    The storm of red fragments doubled in size. It struck and surrounded the pink fragments, as though preparing to absorb them all.


    Just then, the pink fragments exploded into ever smaller fragments, breaking out of the enclosure and forming arger one around the red fragments instead.


    ''It''s useless. The more you destroy these mirror fragments, the smaller they''ll be. You''ll only get a temporary burst of strength for doing so, then grow weaker once it dissipates. Madam Rouge, you''ve lost. Haha!" The red rope cursed king''sughter spread through the air.


    "Hurry, Xiao Nanfeng!" Madam Rouge cried out from within the pink shards.


    "What?" The red rope cursed king suddenly sensed something amiss.


    Just then, the divine purple rock fell from the air, suppressing the shards in the region. It gave off a huge wave of violet light, suppressing all the fragments and causing them to fall still.


    "Lad, you really can control the divine purple rock? How can this be?!" the red rope cursed king cried out. It seemed to be in a particrly wretched state.


    "Well done! He''s been suppressed now," Madam Rouge shouted in excitement.


    From above the divine purple rock, Xiao Nanfeng asked, "And what about you, Madam Rouge?"


    "She''s been suppressed too. Lad, free us both!" the red rope cursed king thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the red rope cursed king as he waited for Madam Rouge''s response.


    "I''m fine. Suppression is bearable. I can''t move, but neither can he," Madam Rouge replied.


    "How will we deal with him, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You can''t. Don''t move the divine purple rock, or he''ll be able to escape," Madam Rouge warned.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell.


    "There''s only one method now. I need to be stronger, to surpass him in strength, in order to take him down and reim control over this mirror world.


    "How can I make you stronger?"


    "By allowing me to devour souls. Help me find and catch the red rope scattered all over the mirror world. I''ve sensed the signatures of three thousand of them. If you can take them down and bring them all to me, I''ll be able to suppress the red rope cursed king," Madam Rouge stated.


    "My subordinates are all atte-stage Lunar Deluge, while he''s only at mid-stage Lunar Deluge! It''d be lucky if he didn''t get himself killed," the red rope cursed king muttered disdainfully.


    "Got it," Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly.


    The red rope cursed king frowned. "Lad, do you have some other treasure?"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He asked, "I don''t know where the three thousand lengths of red rope are. How can I find them?"


    "Don''t you have a Mirror of Truth?" Madam Rouge asked.


    "This?" Xiao Nanfeng pulled out the mirror he had obtained from Nn Feng''s corpse.


    "That''s right. I don''t know who forged that Mirror of Truth, but it was surely done within this mirror world. It''s able to prate the fog because it''s been infused with my cursed spiritual power. You''ll be able to use this mirror to pass through the eighteenyers of the mirror world and find the lengths of red rope. I''ll show you how."


    "Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded immediately.


    Following Madam Rouge''s instructions, he activated the Mirror of Truth, which shone with a pink glow. The mirror showed scenes from all eighteenyers of the world and highlighted the locations of all the cursed effigies within.


    The next moment, with a hum, he vanished on the spot. He arrived at the seventeenthyer of space, where an isted length of red rope was located.


    When Xiao Nanfeng appeared, the red rope looked up and discovered him. It transformed into a red-robed man who began tough upon seeing him.


    "Haha, you brat! No wonder I wasn''t able to find you. So you''ve already made it to thisyer of the mirror world! I made the right decision ining here. If I can escort you to the king, I''ll have established great merit!" The red-robed man shot forward.


    Their fists met, and Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. However, the red-robed man stumbled back as well. Xiao Nanfeng had made use of Hegemon''s Fist to throw a hundred punches at the red rope. His opponent had blocked one, but the remaining ny-nine hadnded.


    He was inferior to the red-robed man in strength, but hisprehension of Hegemon''s Fist and resulting understanding of fist techniques as a whole went far beyond the man''s.


    The cultivator and cursed effigy charged at each other again, wounding each other with a tremendous bang.


    "Your fist technique might be strong, but a thousand punches from you would hurt less than one from me. You''re done for!" the red-robed man crowed confidently.


    Before long, however, the red-robed man grew rmed. "What''s all this red light? Where have you gone? Get back here!"


    Xiao Nanfeng stood to the side. "You''re the one who''s done for. You''ve been struck by the hypnosis of my red moon."


    As the red-robed man attacked his surroundings haphazardly, Xiao Nanfeng took the opportunity to strike at his weak spots. Try as he might, his opponent couldn''t touch him at all.


    Two hourster, the red-robed man finally copsed, grievously injured. He was no longer able to fight.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to bring the man to Madam Rouge when he noticed a few spiritbeast techniques carved on a stone wall nearby.


    He found that there were a few spiritbeast carcasses in the area. Clearly, the spiritbeasts that had been trapped here had left their techniques behind before they died. Those spirits that were trapped in this seventeenthyer of the mirror world had to be at the peak of strength; they had only fallen because their foes were cursed effigies. There were quite a few techniques; among them, The Divine Golden Toad had the most text.


    "The Divine Golden Toad? This would be perfect for Croak and Warble." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He had the ability to memorize all that he saw at a nce, and quickly took down the whole technique. The others were rtively ordinary; he didn''t care for them. He activated the cursed spiritual power in the Mirror of Truth and returned to the divine purple rock.


    "Madam Rouge, I''ve dealt one length of red rope. How might I pass it to you?"


    "ce it on a pink mirror shard."


    Xiao Nanfeng deposited the red-robed man on a shard of pink mirror. The man transformed into fragments of red rope and was absorbed by Madam Rouge. Xiao Nanfeng looked into the mirror shards and could vaguely see Madam Rouge squeezing the rope until it burst apart into a cloud of mist, which she absorbed.


    "Well done. Continue taking on his subordinates!" Madam Rougemanded, very pleased.


    "You dare, you brat!" the red rope cursed king roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and teleported away with the Mirror of Truth. He had to continue hunting down more lengths of red rope; he didn''t have time to exchange barbs with the cursed king.


    At the same time, in the undying realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body summoned Croak and Warble, then imparted The Divine Golden Toad to them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where did you find this technique? It''s very strong. Almost like it was made just for me!" Croak eximed.


    "We were both cultivating by instinct. This technique could help us reach Wingform at any moment," Warble added, with growing excitement.


    "With this technique to guide you, if I were to excavate another draconic vein, could you break through to Wingform?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The two toad spirits'' eyes lit up. Croak nodded. "I can, but we absorbed a vein not too long ago. Didn''t you want to wait?"


    "The danger''s over. It''s time to keep going. We''ll be heading toward another spiritbeastir immediately," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

 Chapter 234: Stunning a Wingform-realm Cultivator

    <h4>Chapter 234: Stunning a Wingform-realm Cultivator</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng sailed across the Eastern Sea with a group of cultivators to more spiritbeastirs.


    As they flew, You Jiu reported, "Sir Xiao, after we excavated three draconic veins, the Immortal sects all over the Eastern Sea began searching for us, but to no avail. They''re all trying to take down spiritbeastirs and excavating draconic veins now. Perhaps they''ve been nning this for a while, but none wanted to be the first to try it."


    "There are quite a few spiritbeastirs in the region, but not all of them have draconic veins associated with them," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    He had a map of draconic veins throughout the Eastern Sea, a princely gift from Long Jiu. None of the Immortal sects would be as knowledgeable as he was about their location.


    "I''ve received reports that the Immortal sects have expended a great deal of treasure and raw materials to excavate two draconic veins," You Jiu replied.


    "We won''t have to worry about them. If all these Immortal sects were only able to excavate two draconic veins in this time, they''ll barely get anywhere. Indeed, it''s better if they join in, so we don''t stand out," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Their fleet sailed into a certain region of the sea.


    The carcasses of some sea spirits were scattered across its surface, and there were fleets piled high with sea spirits sailing away. An Immortal sect had raided the spiritbeastir. Some of its disciples were heaping the carcasses onto the ships, while others were gathered on a rocky ind carting shattered gemstones around. They were shouting at each other and clearly in a bad mood.


    "This sect raided the spiritbeastir and expended a great deal of treasure in an attempt to excavate a draconic vein, but they failed. Are we going to waste our time here?" You Jiu asked.


    "They failed because they were unlucky. There is a draconic vein in the area, but it''s fifteen kilometers south of where their altar is," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" You Jiu was taken aback.


    "Right by that ind. Prepare the formation immediately!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    The Taiqing disciples had arrived at the scene quietly. Fog surrounded their fleet, making it difficult for the other cultivators to discover their identity.


    They began preparing a formation following Xiao Nanfeng''s orders. The region was quickly enveloped with thick fog, drawing the attention of the cultivators nearby.


    "Senior Brother, there are others setting up a formation over there!"


    "What? They''re not trying to take advantage of us, are they? I''ve already inspected that region over there. There''s nothing there!"


    "Surely they aren''t aiming for the draconic vein in the region?"


    "The draconic vein? There isn''t one around, I''m sure of it! We''ve checked the whole region exhaustively. The spiritual aether is densest where we are. If we couldn''t find a draconic vein here, how would they find one over there?"


    The cultivators mocked the ignorant neers, but otherwise left them alone. Instead, they focused on heaping their fleet with the spoils of the raid.


    However, some of the cultivators, perhaps out of curiosity, remained behind to observe the neers from afar.


    That evening, the inds suddenly began to shake. A tsunami formed, followed by the keening of a dragon from deep underground.


    "A dragon! They''ve excavated a draconic vein?!"


    "A draconic vein? That''s ours!"


    "Inform Master, quickly!"


    The cultivators gasped in surprise as they sent word to their masters and elders.


    Meanwhile, amidst the thick fog, a nine-hundred-meter long draconic vein was unearthed. Everyone looked at it expectantly.


    "Croak, Warble, this draconic vein is all yours. I need you both to break through," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Croak and Warble leapt forward in excitement.


    "The Divine Golden Toad!" The two spirits simultaneously invoked the technique they had just learned.


    Their bodies suddenly expanded in size. One toad began to devour the dragon''s head; the other, its tail. They used the technique they had just learned to absorb draconic aether furiously, swallowing it all up and storing it to be digested.


    The draconic vein was sorge that both toads werepletely stuffed. They radiated with golden light as they fell into meditation.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood beside them and waited patiently as You Jiu returned from beyond the fog.


    "Sir Xiao, these cultivators were too cautious. If we had made a move, we would have been able to kill the majority of them, but things would have been disastrous if even one got away. In the end, Imanded everyone to stay their hand. Half of them have gone to summon their masters or elders," You Jiu reported, frowning.


    "That''s fine. We just have to dy until Croak and Warble break through. Let''s go. We''ll take the rest of them down together," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu silently headed toward those cultivators observing them from afar, then quickly dealt with them in the span of an hour. Xiao Nanfeng flew back through the fog and continued guarding Croak and Warble as they broke through.


    Four hourster, a number of figures began to emerge from over the horizon. A blue-robed man was in the lead, the blue light emanating from him so intense that the entire sky was tinted a shade of blue. Furthermore, because of how rapidly he was flying, the wind around him parted the ocean in two. The aura surrounding him was even more imposing than that around Croak and Warble. He headed straight toward the middle of the thick fog.


    "Hold it!" a shout came from the fog, echoing around the inds.


    The blue-robed man narrowed his eyes and didn''t stop. "What manner of conniving, cowardly cultivator are you, to dare to steal the draconic vein of the Flying Immortal Sect?"


    He seemed to be intending to head right into the fog to see what was going on within.


    "Sir, I rmend you have a look at what lies on the ind to the south first," the voice continued speaking from within the fog.


    The blue-robed man turned, then stilled. His face darkened, and those cultivators following behind him were shocked stiff.


    "Master, everyone''s been captured!"


    "Have they been killed? No, they''re all unconscious!" the cultivators cried out in surprise.


    In the distance, the disciples of the Flying Immortal Sect had all been hung up in the air. Beside them were a group of figures covered in fog, their weapons bared, poised to kill the unconscious cultivators at any moment.


    The blue-robed man cried out, "You dare take my disciples as hostage? Do you intend to make enemies of the Flying Immortal Sect?"


    "If we did, your disciples wouldn''t be hanging in the air. They would be dead¡ªand there would be no chance that any would have survived to bring word back to you," the voice continued.


    The blue-robed man frowned. "Just who are you?"


    "Don''t worry about that. We bear you no malice. We''ve been eyeing this location for years now, and just recently locked in on the location of the draconic vein. We were going to wait for word from the draconic pce, but your sect reached these inds first. On ount of the fact that we''ve had some dealings with the Flying Immortal Sect, I chose not topete with you, to wait until you failed to excavate the draconic vein and were about to return to your sect before we made our move."


    The blue-robed man narrowed his eyes, as though analyzing the veracity of the statements.


    "Your lot missed the draconic vein by your own doing, and our im has nothing to do with yours. There is no basis behind your anger. Furthermore, me and mine have already absorbed the draconic vein. What would you have achieved by barging in? Your disciples have been spying on us impolitely, but we reprimanded them not. We cared not even when they sent word to you¡ªagain on ount of the rtionship between our sects. But those cultivators hanging there weren''t satisfied even with that. They attempted to sneak into my formation, and have reaped their just punishment. I chose not to have them killed to maintain rtions between our sects. I hope you respect that decision." The voiceing from the thick fog was almost maic.


    The blue-robed man frowned. He was a little upset that others had taken the draconic vein, but that wasn''t his main reason foring. He was more interested in how the other party had precisely located the draconic vein. Was there some esoteric technique in y?


    That would be the most important thing to get out of all this. With a means of locating draconic veins, the sect would be replete with draconic aether in no time, allowing for the birth of a few cultivators of immense strength that would instantly elevate the sect.


    Why were Wingform-realm cultivatorsying an ambush for Xiao Nanfeng after he had excavated just a few draconic veins in a row? Were they all just enemies of his father? No. Their main purpose in ambushing him was to figure out how he had identified the locations of these draconic veins.


    How did the mysterious group of people ensconced in the fog before him know about the draconic vein here? They hade to this region and precisely unearthed the draconic vein right after the members of the Flying Immortal Sect had failed. He couldn''t help but be suspicious.


    Even so, he was hesitant to strike after the information that the voice had revealed.


    "Just who are you? What rtionship do you have with the Flying Immortal Sect?" the blue-robed man continued.


    He clearly didn''t want to leave just like that; he wanted to see whaty within the fog.


    "I''ll warn you once again. If you continue to offend us in this manner and disrupt my disciples from breaking through, then don''t me me for taking action." Killing intent drifted out from within the fog.


    The blue-robed man understood whaty unspoken: he hade here to safeguard his disciples as they absorbed the draconic vein to break through.


    The blue-robed man thought things over for quite a while. In the end, he was unwilling to leave matters be.


    "You im some rtionship with the Flying Immortal Sect, but you refuse to reveal your identity. You''re just trying to dy things, aren''t you? I suppose you must all just be Spiritsong-realm cultivators," the blue-robed man probed,ughing coldly. He drew close to the fog, attempting to get a sense of their strength.


    Just then, a tremendous aura emerged from within the fog, transforming into a wave of energy that shot out from within.


    "The aura of a Wingform-realm cultivator¡ªsomeone''s broken through to Wingform!" The blue-robed man nched.


    A group of Spiritsong-realm cultivators, even those bearing some rtionship with the Flying Immortal Sect, could be easily taken in for interrogation. With a Wingform-realm cultivator in their midst, however, things would be trickier.


    Just then, another potent aura could be felt from within the fog.


    "Another Wingform-realm cultivator?" The blue-robed man was taken aback.


    He could sense that these were two different auras; two new Wingform-realm cultivators had appeared within the fog. If they really were to fight, he would suffer greatly. If what the voice said was right, and these two new Wingform-realm cultivators were the disciples of the owner of the mysterious voice, then there had to be three Wingform-realm cultivators within! He suddenly felt the desire to turn and run.


    "Since you hail from the Flying Immortal Sect, I shall not trouble you. Mind your disciples," the voice spoke again.


    The blue-robed man''s eyes shed with unwillingness, but he had no choice but to bear with it. "How might I address you, sir?"


    The voice in the fog simply didn''t respond. The formation peeled away, but the figures within continued to manifest thick fog around themselves with an enchantment. They flew into the air, along with those guards that had been poised to kill the Flying Immortal Sect disciples. The group of cultivators vanished across the horizon as though they had never been present.


    The blue-robed man watched them depart with a frown on his face.

 Chapter 235: Rapid Improvement

    <h4>Chapter 235: Rapid Improvement</h4>


    At another spiritbeastir on the Eastern Sea, by the time Xiao Nanfeng and his group arrived, there were still a few scattered sect disciples from other Immortal sects cleaning up and iming their spoils. Xiao Nanfeng ignored them andmanded the Taiqing disciples to quickly establish a formation and manifest thick fog all around them.


    "Sir Xiao, two other Immortal sects have raided this spiritbeastir, and they''ve taken care of all the sea spirits in the vicinity. Both sects spent a great deal of treasure in an attempt to excavate a draconic vein, but unfortunately, they both failed.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "They were searching in the wrong ce. Who can they me but themselves?"


    He activated the Immortal''s Destruction and sent Immortal-binding chains deep into the sea. The ground quaked, and a tsunami formed in the region. Another nine-hundred-meter draconic vein was unearthed from the ground. The dragon keened; the disturbance could be heard all over the region.


    "Croak, Warble, this time, you''ll be responsible for guarding me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the two toad spirits replied.


    "You Jiu, we''ll share this draconic vein. Everyone else will await the next one," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu immediately began to absorb the draconic vein.


    The draconic vein was particrlyrge, and despite Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu''s best efforts, they had only managed to absorb four-fifths of it before they simply couldn''t hold any more of the aether. The remaining fifth was divided among the rest of the cultivators.


    Draconic aether surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s body and was immediately distilled into pure yang origin qi. All that qi was channeled into the second sun in his dantian as he prepared to gestate his second nascent spirit.


    The hugemotion attracted the attention of quite a few cultivators around. They came to investigate what was going on, but with Croak and Warble releasing their Wingform-realm aura, most were too intimidated to step further. A few rash cultivators did so regardless, wading fearlessly through the thick fog before Croak and Warble instantly dealt with them.


    Word of the unusualmotion spread. In just four hours, Wingform-realm cultivators that had heard about the news arrived. Sensing Croak and Warble''s auras, however, the Wingform-realm cultivators ultimately chose to avoid a confrontation.


    Blooms of energy emerged from within the fog as more and more cultivators broke through.


    "The second stage of Spiritsong!" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes.


    He had formed his second nascent spirit and was pleased with the aplishment. He patiently waited for You Jiu to finish meditating.


    A burst of energy erupted from You Jiu as he slowly opened his eyes. He smiled wryly. "Sir Xiao, I was just a little bit away, but was ultimately unable to break through to Wingform."


    "Then we''ll keep going. Come! To the next draconic vein!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes!" the cultivators replied in excitement.


    The cultivators sailed off once again.


    With Croak and Warble at Wingform-realm, Xiao Nanfeng and his group didn''t have to be worried of being ambushed or attacked any longer.


    At another spiritbeastir, the cultivators smoothly and efficiently excavated another draconic vein.


    A burst of energy erupted from Xiao Nanfeng as he gestated a third nascent spirit.


    Meanwhile, You Jiu finally overcame his bottleneck in a tremendous burst of energy. He had reached Wingform.


    With three Wingform-realm cultivators guarding them, Xiao Nanfeng and his group grew bolder and far more confident.


    They excavated two more draconic veins. Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation had reached the fifth stage of Spiritsong in half as many days. Only then did they return to the undying realm.


    "King Xiao, aren''t we going to continue? This feels great! I''m already at the third stage of Spiritsong, and all my brothers have reached the peak of Ascension. King Xiao, if we can excavate a few more draconic veins, they''d all reach Spiritsong¡ªand we could all be elders in the sect together! We''d support you as division leader," Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Silence!" Ye Sanshui chided his nephew, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "I apologize, King Xiao, but my nephew continues to speak without any forethought."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and shook his head. "It''s no matter. Ye Dafu''s not wrong. If I can be the division leader of the Taiqing Sect, I would not refuse."


    "Ah?" Ye Sanshui hesitated.


    "See, Third Uncle? Even King Xiao agrees with me. At this rate, once my brothers all reach Spiritsong, we''d have a dozen elders on our side. King Xiao will surely be able to reach Wingform by then. If King Xiao announces the news of Zhao Tianheng''s death, given his influence in the sect, it would hardly be a far cry for him to be made the Ascended division leader. Furthermore, Elder Ku would surely support him too!"


    Ye Sanshui: ...


    "We can speak of sect matterster. Unfortunately, we won''t be able to continue," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Why not?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "We''ve excavated five draconic veins in a short period of time. Do you think we''d be able to keep going with so much attention around us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. We took advantage of the fact that information takes time to spread to excavate five draconic veins quickly. Now, however, the Immortal sects must have an idea as to what we''re doing. If we were to keep excavating more veins, they''d rally together against us, and even Croak and Warble wouldn''t be able to hold them back then." Ye Sanshui nodded sagely.


    "I see. I was thinking of things too simply." Ye Dafu nodded seriously.


    "Of course, there''s a more important factor. Not every spirit king at the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce has air atop a draconic vein, and we''ve excavated all the ones there are in the vicinity," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "There aren''t any left?" Ye Dafu was taken aback.


    "There are, but they''re situated under the Immortal sects'' inds. Do you intend to raid them?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Ah? Forget it, then!" Ye Dafu''s face stiffened.


    That was akin tomitting suicide. Each Immortal sect was helmed by the strong and guarded by multipleyers of defensive formations.


    "That''s it, then. We''ll head back and digest our gains from this expedition," Xiao Nanfeng informed them all.


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    "Don''t worry, King Xiao. Even without draconic veins around, We''d be able to support you better then!" Ye Dafu pledged.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was somewhat taken aback.


    "We cultivate the Indomitable Body, after all. Every time we suffer or hurt ourselves, our cultivation will increase by leaps and bounds. We''ve devised a method for helping each other improve at a rapid rate," Ye Dafu informed Xiao Nanfeng excitedly.


    "How?"


    "By being beaten," Ye Dafu said.


    "What?"


    The disciples who had overheard the conversation all looked over, thinking that they must have misheard.


    "We take turns beating each other up to within an inch of our lives. That''s how our cultivation has been shooting up rapidly!" Ye Dafu exined.


    Beside them, Zheng Qian gasped. "I received reports not too long ago about a group of men shining in gold furiously beating each other in a valley. Was that you?"


    "That''s right. Our principle is that, if we don''t want to be beaten to death, we have to beat our opponents to death!"


    Everyone stared at Ye Dafu in shock. Were these disciples crazy...?


    "The more we get beaten, the more addicted we be. By now, I feel ufortable if I go without being punched for a day!"


    "I like being beaten too. I was almost beaten to deathst time!"


    "My cultivation improves rapidly after I get beaten. It''s really effective!"


    "Right, it''sfortable, too!" Ye Dafu''sckeys bragged.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others stared at these perverts in shock. What had the Indomitable Body done to them?


    Ye Sanshui palmed his face. At that moment, he even wanted to dissolve his familial ties with Ye Dafu. His nephew was simply far too embarrassing!


    Back in the draconic pce, in the mirror world, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was facing off against a length of red rope.


    As his main body''s physical cultivation improved, so too did that of his avatar. His improved physical cultivation would affect his spiritual power as well, strengthening him to some extent in the mirror world, but not enough to overwhelm the red rope directly. Fortunately, the hypnosis of his red moon was startlingly effective.


    In the end, he took down the red rope cursed effigy and brought it to the divine purple rock, where Madam Rouge devoured it.


    "Lad, you must be finding it harder and harder to take down my subordinates now. With more of them going missing, they must have be alert. They won''t head anywhere on their own. Things will only be more dangerous for you¡ªuntil they beat you to death!" the red rope cursed king warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and turned to the mirror fragments glowing in pink. "Madam Rouge, are you certain that the red rope cursed king can''t send mental transmissions to his subordinates anymore?"


    "You''ve done as I told and consumed half the cursed spiritual power in the Mirror of Truth to seal the entrance to thisyer of the mirror world, and they won''t be able to enter. Naturally, they can''tmunicate with the red rope cursed king, either," Madam Rouge replied.


    "Good. As long as they don''t die, it''s only a matter of time before I take them all down." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "As long as they don''t die?" Madam Rouge seemed confused.


    "They''re all only atte-stage Lunar Deluge, and I can handle them for now. If they were to listen to the red rope cursed king''smands and devour each other to reach Yin Body, however, I would surely falter. Without the cursed king''smands, I doubt they would do something so extreme on their own."


    "But these lengths of red rope are already wary, aren''t they? If they gather together, how will you take them down?"


    "I''ll take it slowly. There''s no rush," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Before Madam Rouge could speak, the red rope cursed king interrupted them. He sniffed. "Your physical cultivation might have improved a little, but the difference is insignificant. You''ll never take them down!"


    "I just need to cultivate a little more." Xiao Nanfeng smiled at him.


    The red rope cursed king frowned. Xiao Nanfeng was exaggerating, surely. What would be the point of trying to raise his cultivation now?"


    "Madam Rouge, give me a bit of time."


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the internal space within the divine purple rock.


    "Has he really gone into secluded cultivation? As if he''d manage to get anything done like that," the red rope cursed king scoffed.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to infuse his spiritual power into the Scroll of Heavenly Dao as the mysterious space slowly repaired it.


    He was in cultivation, but not with his avatar¡ªit was his main body doing all the work. By then, his main body had returned to the undying realm and was hard at work understanding,prehending, and intuiting more scriptures. At the same time, the people of the undying realm were generating a constant influx of fortune that allowed him to gain a deeper, moreplex understanding from multiple inteyered perspectives.


    Four monthster, Xiao Nanfeng turned neen. He put down the final jade tablet in his hands. He had finished reading all 48,000 scriptures from the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s Vault of Scriptures,mitted them to memory, andprehended them at a superficial level at the very least. Over these four months, all the fortune that he had managed to gain from the countless people in his kingdom were all spent for improvedprehension.


    As his knowledge of scripture broadened and deepened, he made tremendous progress with both his Body of Yin and Taiqing Yin Body.


    Suddenly, a blinding halo of white light formed behind his head.


    "Late-stage Lunar Deluge!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    At that point, his avatar put down the slowly regenerating Scroll of the Heavenly Dao and stepped out of the domain of the divine purple rock. Spiritual power suffused his body, and a red moon manifested to the back of his head, so bright that the red rope cursed king was gobsmacked.


    "Impossible. He''s only been in secluded cultivation for four months. How could his spiritual cultivation have improved to such an extent?"


    "Red Rope, your subordinates are dead!" Madam Rouge crowed.

 Chapter 236: Destroying the Cursed King

    <h4>Chapter 236: Destroying the Cursed King</h4>


    Somewhere within the mirror world, a group of red rope was gathered together, all having transformed into men and women d in red.


    "We still can''t enter the eighteenthyer of the mirror world. I wonder how our king is doing?"


    "He''s surely alright. Otherwise, why hasn''t Madam Rouge appeared to find us yet?"


    "We have to keep hunting down that brat. He was picking off us stragglers one by one. He has to be able to enter the eighteenthyer of the mirror world."


    "After we interrogate him, I''ll eat his soul!"


    Suddenly, the red rope all turned in a certain direction.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode forward, a red moon shining behind his head. Fighting spirit blossomed around him.


    The cursed effigies'' eyes lit up as they gave him malevolent looks.


    "He seems to have reachedte-stage Lunar Deluge, just like us!"


    "Catch him and don''t let him run off this time!"


    The cursed effigies shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Two hundred of you in all? I''ll start with you, then!" Xiao Nanfeng leapt into their midst.


    The red-d cursed effigies shot forward with tremendous strength and momentum, like that of a roaring river. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng was like a tornado, leaving devastation and destruction in his wake. He punched forward with Hegemon''s Fist, his fists raining down on the cursed effigies like meteors.


    Frightening shockwaves destroyed the mirror world around them, sending rocks and boulders into the air. The skies darkened; it looked like an impending apocalypse.


    The cursed effigies howled in anger.


    Thirty thousand years ago, these followers of the cursed king had ruled over a huge territory, and they were the strongest cultivators of their time. They would be able to take down any ordinary cultivator even now, but Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique bore the essence of that developed by Emperor Wei himself. It was tremendously strong, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to take on two hundred by himself.


    More and more red-robed cursed effigies were sent flying by Xiao Nanfeng, scattering around him as he spun like a tornado.


    "Impossible. I was a martial sage in my time. How could his fist technique be stronger than mine?"


    "I was amander for 800,000 troops! How could I lose to him?"


    "The king himself gave me pointers on my fist technique! How could I lose?"


    The cursed effigies got up again and charged at Xiao Nanfeng, but as they continued fighting, countless arms manifested around Xiao Nanfeng, each almost seeming to take on physical form. They were entirely suppressed.


    "A thousand-armed deity? A thousand-handed Buddha?"


    "No, it''s different. His technique seems to be even more powerful than that..."


    "What''s all this red light?"


    The cursed effigies were bbergasted.


    None of them shrunk back. They continued to fight with Xiao Nanfeng in a battle that dragged on and on. Eventually, they noticed something was amiss. The red light surrounding Xiao Nanfeng grew more and more intense, until all they could see was dyed red. Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight.


    "Something''s wrong. Where is he?"


    "How could he have vanished amidst this red light? Something must be wrong with it!"


    "It''s some form of hypnosis. We''ve all been struck by it!"


    The cursed effigies nced around at each other in shock, but they had already fallen prey to Xiao Nanfeng''s techniques. They weren''t even able to locate each other. The entire world seemed to be filled with red.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck the cursed effigies down, one after another.


    He brought all of them toward Madam Rouge, allowing her to elevate her cursed spiritual power ever further.


    "Stop! If you dare to continue capturing my subordinates, I''ll make you suffer a fate worse than death!" the red rope cursed king threatened.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and checked his Mirror of Truth to find the locations of more cursed effigies.


    The cursed effigies themselves could never have imagined that Xiao Nanfeng would have grown so strong in just four months. Even if they banded together, it was useless. Within just a dozen-odd days, Xiao Nanfeng had dealt with all three thousand effigies.


    Madam Rouge''s strength grew tremendously as she absorbed them all. Her pink mirror fragments suddenly expanded in size, and the eighteenthyer of the mirror world was tinted pink.


    "Alright, Xiao Nanfeng. Retrieve the divine purple rock. I''ll be able to deal with things from here. Hide within it immediately once you free us both."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfengmanded the divine purple rock to unseal the mirror fragments,


    allowing the pink and red shards to escape.


    "You damn brat! I''m going to kill you!" the cursed king roared.


    It hated Xiao Nanfeng, and that hatred had been stewing for four months. The moment it was freed, it sent its mirror fragments shooting straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The pink fragments immediately moved to protect him, causing a storm of shards and splinters to erupt in the vicinity. Unfortunately, while the pink fragments were able to block the majority of the red ones, a few managed to evade its defenses and strike Xiao Nanfeng''s back.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng was already stepping into the divine purple rock, but he was just a bit toote to avoid the attack entirely. Arge number of fragments pierced through his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng yelped in pain even as he entered the divine purple domain fully.


    He was safe within. Only then did he start inspecting the damage. His physical body had been grievously injured and was shot through in a thousand spots. He was bleeding profusely.


    "What a powerful cursed king! I was just caught by a small portion of the attack, but that was already sufficient to ruin my body. Well, at least it won''t be getting off easy, either."


    He wasn''t too worried about the injuries he had sustained, because this was only one of his avatars, which could be reced at will. He retrieved another red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar and transferred his consciousness over, fully ''healing'' all injuries.


    He wasn''t in a hurry to step outside. Rather, he patiently waited for a few days before doing so.


    The moment he emerged, he could see that the eighteenthyer of the mirror world had been shattered. It was filled with countless mirror fragments, and fire and smoke were still zing. Clearly, Madam Rouge and the red rope cursed king had had a formidable fight.


    He looked all around for traces of Madam Rouge and quickly found her. She was nearby, holding a mirror in her hand. Within the mirror was a long length of red rope, howling at her.


    "Madam Rouge, have you won?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened as he walked over.


    "I''ve trapped him. It''s time to deal with him now," Madam Rouge replied pridefully.


    "You damn brat! How are you unaffected? You''ve swapped bodies again! You infuriate me!" the red rope roared.


    "As I said, you''re done for. Did you think you would be able to im my cursed spiritual avatar?" Madam Rouge demanded.


    She pinched her fingers together. Sharp spikes of crystal protruded from the mirror and pierced through the entire length of red rope, which screamed.


    "Madam Rouge, let''s talk about things. We''re both cursed kings, and there''s no need for us to fight to the death. What''s more, you''re still quite weak at the moment. We don''t have to be enemies! I could let the deaths of my three thousand subordinates slide. Consider it a gift from me to you. Release my soul, and I''ll forgive your offenses!" the red rope cursed king offered as he screamed.


    "Forgive my offenses? Well, I have no intention of forgiving your offenses," Madam Rouge replied coolly.


    She opened her mouth wide and began to suck at the contents of the mirror. It vanished in a cloud of ck smoke, which she absorbed.


    "No! You can''t consume this spiritual avatar of mine. Don''t you know how much work it took me to manifest it?!" the red rope cursed king howled.


    Madam Rouge ignored him. She continued to absorb the contents of the mirror, as though intending to devour him whole.


    "Just you wait. My main body has been released from its seal. I''ll kill you both, both of you! Don''t think that you''ll be able to get away. Everyone in the draconic pce will die, die!" the red rope cursed king cursed.


    The next moment, it and the mirror werepletely transformed into a cloud of ck smoke that Madam Rouge devoured.


    Her body glowed with a sudden burst of pink light.

 Chapter 237: All Dead

    <h4>Chapter 237: All Dead</h4>


    Madam Rouge shut her eyes as she distilled the cursed spiritual power she had just absorbed. Pink light emanated from her, and it almost seemed as though sakura blossoms were drifting to the ground.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for almost a day as Madam Rouge absorbed her pink glow entirely into her body. She slowly opened her eyes.


    "How does it feel to absorb a cursed king''s spiritual avatar?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s just like when you excavate and absorb a draconic vein," Madam Rouge replied, pleased.


    "No wonder you enjoy devouring cursed effigies, then! The red rope cursed king mentioned that this was a ''subordinate avatar''. What''s that?"


    "It''s like the rtionship between your avatar and your main body. It possesses a main spiritual avatar that''s stronger and more dangerous," Madam Rouge exined.


    "In other words, the red rope cursed king has now set his sights on us?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "That''s right." Madam Rouge nodded.


    "What will we do, then? Considering how angry he was, he''ll surely hound us until we''re dead."


    "What else? Just as he wants to kill me, I want to kill him. We just have to deal with its main spiritual avatar," Madam Rouge replied breezily.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "Can you handle it now?"


    "I don''t know. I''m far from my peak strength, after all, but the red rope fell prey to the dragon king, and he must be weakened as well. I don''t know who among us is stronger, but I intend on devouring its main spiritual avatar." Killing intent zed in Madam Rouge''s eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "For now, I need to reforge this mirror and distill all the cursed spiritual power I just devoured again. I''ll be in secluded cultivation for some time. Leave now and bring my mirror away from the Crystal Hall," Madam Rouge instructed.


    "Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can sense that something is amiss outside. For some reason, the Crystal Hall''s about to be destroyed. Furthermore, the red rope cursed king mentioned that its main spiritual avatar has been freed. It''ll surely try to take revenge on us, so you have to hide from it until I''m ready to take it down."


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly stored the divine purple rock.


    Madam Rouge waved a hand, summoning a mirror-like entryway with someone looking like Xiao Nanfeng standing on the opposite end.


    Madam Rouge dragged that person into the mirror.


    "You? Where''s the king?!" the person eximed.


    That person had been a red rope cursed effigy that the red rope cursed king had sent out of the mirror in order to return inside himself. Madam Rouge grabbed at the cursed effigy''s spiritual avatar and pulled it out of Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body, then devoured it. She gave Xiao Nanfeng the skin of his physical body back.


    Then, with a wave of her hand, she expelled Xiao Nanfeng from the mirror world. He returned to the Crystal Hall.


    "Quick. We have to leave!" Madam Rouge called out.


    The mirror with Madam Rouge inside quickly shrunk until it was palm-sized. Itnded in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave it a strange look, but kept the mirror.


    He looked all around the hall to discover that it was cracked all over. The crystals were close to shattering, and the barrier around the Crystal Hall was thin and barely still functional.


    "What? What could have happened over thest few months? Even the Crystal Hall is about to copse..."


    He walked up to the barrier and pushed it hard. The barrier shattered¡ªand an ominous creak came from the hall. The sudden force had elerated the copse of the Crystal Hall, and countless shards of crystal began to fall from the building.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he leapt out of the Crystal Hall just in time. Therge hall copsed into a pile of ruins.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s mouth was agape. The Crystal Hall had resisted even the destruction of fifty Immortal relics! How could it have grown so weak in the intervening period?


    Quickly, Xiao Nanfeng noticed that something was amiss. He pricked his ears up and listened for any sound, but none was forting from the thick fog, which had grown silent. He could not hear the sound of any cultivators fighting, and even the skeletal dragons protecting the Crystal Hall seemed to have vanished.


    "Why is it so silent? Why aren''t there any cultivators attempting to break down this barrier if the skeletal dragons have vanished?"


    He warily stepped into the thick fog, still not seeing any traces of the skeletal dragons along the way. He walked into a region of scant fog and looked up at the sky. He was no longer able to see the seawater beyond the barrier outside the pce. Rather, the outside of the barrier had been covered by ayer of red fog, which gave him a sense of tremendous unease.


    He suddenly stopped short. He had found some people¡ªbut they didn''t seem to be alive.


    Afar, there were almost a hundred cultivators hung up in the air, red ropes looped around their necks. The red ropes trailed up to the red fog hanging by the protective dome around the draconic pce.


    It was as though a hundred cultivators hadmitted mass suicide.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked closer and realized that all hundred cultivators were dead, their faces filled with fear, shock, and pain.


    Not only that, all their treasures had corroded away, and much of their bodies as well. Some had decayed to such an extent that their bones were visible.


    "This is... a Taiqing disciple!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, recognizing an essory specific to the sect on one corpse.


    He didn''t touch the corpses; rather, he continued walking toward the edges of the barrier.


    The world was silent. No voices could be heard from afar, but the farther he walked, the more astounded he was. There were hung cultivators everywhere.


    A hundred, two hundred, a thousand, two thousand, ten thousand, twenty thousand¡ªmore, and more, and more. All he could see were hung corpses.


    "Disciples from all the Immortal sects, all dead?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The unease he was feeling rapidly magnified. He wanted very much to leave the draconic pce, but the film of red fog surrounding the barrier dissuaded him from approaching.


    He charted a path straight toward the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, finding only death along the way. No one else seemed to be alive.


    Dayster, he arrived at the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, where the same sight could be seen. Cultivators and spirits were hung in the air, none spared, and the skeletal dragons had all vanished. Even the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall itself had copsed into ruins.


    Death permeated the pce.


    "Is there no one alive? A few tens of thousands of cultivators and spirits, all dead..."


    He looped around the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall without stopping. ording to the information he had picked up on months ago, he flew toward the final hall of the draconic pce, hoping that there would be others alive there to inform him what had happened in the meantime.


    The Eastern Sea Draconic Pce was divided into three halls: the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall, the Crystal Hall, and the Seaquell Hall.


    He spent days traveling to the Seaquell Hall, but unfortunately, the same scene was repeated there. The sight of the bodies was particrly sinister.


    "Could I be the only one alive in the entirety of the draconic pce...?"

 Chapter 238: Blue Lantern and the Dragon King

    <h4>Chapter 238: Blue Lantern and the Dragon King</h4>


    In the undying realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was listening to a report from You Jiu.


    "The spectral guards have finally discovered some information about what''s going on, but it took them some time to capture people who knew more," You Jiu began.


    "What did they say? What happened to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Two months ago, by the entrance to the Seaquell Hall, the soldiers of the Tianshu Empire activated a formation to begin killing skeletal dragons rapidly. The crux to their method was to destroy Immortal relics and use the resulting explosion to kill the dragons. Then, they would reim the Immortal relics in the dragons'' bodies and continue destroying them. They did so for a full month, finally clearing out the skeletal dragons by the entrance to Seaquell Hall. Thus, the soldiers of the Tianshu Empire were able to get inside," You Jiu said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "The skeletal dragons must bear some connection to the halls they guard. If all the skeletal dragons are gone, the barrier to the Seaquell Hall would dissipate... This must be a n hatched by that Mr. Wen. What incredible decisiveness. They must have spent thousands of Immortal relics to aplish this..."


    "A day after they entered Seaquell Hall, they immediately departed from the draconic pce. Everyone knew that they had to have obtained something good. Just then, a ray of red light burst into the air above Seaquell Hall. Many followed after it. As it arrived at the other two halls, the skeletal dragons in the vicinity all exploded, releasing countless Immortal relics and red rope. Everyone fought over them."


    "A ray of red light? The cursed king''s main spiritual avatar?" Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened.


    "ording to the informant we found, the red light rapidly vanished, but as the skeletal dragons erupted, ayer of red fog slowly formed across the top of the pce. It spread quickly, but few cultivators paid it any mind. The informant, realizing that something seemed amiss, gave up on the Immortal relics and escaped before the red fog could cover up the draconic pce."


    "Smart." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Only a few cultivators were able to escape. None remaining did. Some cultivators even headed back in to investigate, but none ever returned."


    Xiao Nanfeng thought about the information he had just received. "I see. Thank you for your hard work."


    Back in the draconic pce, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar finally figured out what had happened as he stared at the hung bodies everywhere.


    "The red rope cursed king''s main spiritual avatar was unsealed and quickly killed everyone within the draconic pce thereafter. Has he taken full control over this territory? Will any cultivators die as they step in from the outside?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The cultivators who had been hung had surely tried to escape, but no one had seeded. The red fog hanging around the barrier could not be ordinary; he didn''t dare to touch it himself.


    The Seaquell Hall had copsed into a pile of ruins. He looked around himself. "Am I and the red rope cursed king the only souls here? If it were to find me¡ªthe oue would be disastrous."


    He rummaged through his storage ring and retrieved apass of white jade.


    Blue Lantern had given this to him as a parting gift, and he had promised that, if Xiao Nanfeng were to crush thepass, Blue Lantern would find him as quickly as possible and lend him assistance once.


    "Blue Lantern brought Ao Zhou to the draconic pce before being dragged away into the fog by a Whip of Order. I don''t know if he''s alive. If he''s dead, thispass would be useless, regardless. Why don''t I try it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng crushed the white jadepass in a sh of golden light which quickly vanished.


    He stood patiently and waited, but no response seemed forting. After some time, however, golden light suddenly burst from his feet.


    The golden light formed concentric wheels, each manifesting runic text. He stood in the middle of thepass-like construction, which began to revolve.


    "Blue Lantern isn''t dead! He''s responding to me!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Just then, the red fog, seemingly having noticed themotion, sent hundreds of strands of red rope down toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face stiffened. "Blue Lantern, look at what you''ve done!"


    Xiao Nanfeng had been carefully staying away from the red fog, but the moment the goldenpass activated, it had attracted the red fog''s attention. He was going to die!


    Just then, the ck silt at his feet copsed. The center of the goldenpass had transformed into a hole. A cloud of ck fog surrounded him and dragged him in.


    The hole then vanished, as though it had never been there, and the golden light from thepass dissipated as well.


    The hundreds of strands of red rope in the air struck the ground and sent clods of silt flying into the air, but to no avail.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to be dragged down into the earth. He knew that Blue Lantern had to be responsible for this, so he wasn''t particrly concerned. This mode of transportation was particrly interesting. Where he fell, a hole would form; above him, the hole would immediately close up as ck silt filled it.


    "Blue Lantern''s techniques really are sinister..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    After quite some time, Xiao Nanfeng found himself in a giant, cavernous space underground.


    Countless ck smoke seeped around the cavern, with some red light peeking out that illuminated his surroundings. A red giant, almost three hundred meters tall, had noticed him.


    "You brat, you''re here too? Die!" the red giant roared, punching toward him.


    Even from afar, Xiao Nanfeng could sense the potency of that punch. It tore apart the void; a frightening amount of killing intent surged toward him.


    "The red rope cursed king!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    A pitch-ck palm reached toward him, blocking the red giant''s fist. A ck giant appeared and careened toward the red one, knocking him flying. As the red giant flew backward, a Whip of Order quickly seized him and dragged him into the depths of the ck fog.


    "You brat, I''ll be back in no time. You''re dead, haha!" the red giant cursed as he was dragged away.


    The ck giant waved a hand, bringing Xiao Nanfeng over to his shoulder.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng realize that the giant had the look of Blue Lantern.


    "Elder Blue Lantern? Is that you? What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "You''re at the draconic pce, too? How do you know the red rope cursed king? Why does he hate you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng had yet to reply when a voice came from the source of the red light. "Blue Lantern? This is the ''hope'' you were talking about? Thisd''s only at Spiritsong, isn''t he? How do you think he can help? Were you mistaken?"


    "I''m not mistaken," Blue Lantern replied. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "You haven''t answered me. How do you know the red rope cursed king?"


    "I destroyed the red rope cursed king''s subordinate avatar at the Crystal Hall, arousing its hatred," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Impossible. You''re just a Spiritsong-realm cultivator. How could you take on the red rope cursed king¡ªlet alone destroy his subordinate avatar?" The voiceing from the source of the red light was clearly dubious.


    "I wasn''t the one who took it down, but I was responsible for its defeat. What''s so special about cursed kings? It''s not the first time I''ve destroyed them. There''s a group of cursed kings surrounding me back home, too." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Ridiculous! Blue Lantern, what''s the meaning of this?" the voice continued irritably.


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "He''s being quite serious. I''m aware that there are a few cursed kings that seem to be deeply entangled with him. He was the one who caused the destruction of the undying cursed king, too."


    "Blue Lantern, you know what our situation is. I don''t have time to joke around with you." The voice was audibly vexed.


    Blue Lantern stepped toward the source of the red light and finally saw the identity of the voice which had been talking to him.


    It was a length of red rope almost three thousand meters long. It was submerged within ck fluid, which seemed to have been freed from the constraints of gravity and hung around the rope. Around it was a pile of decaying bones. Xiao Nanfeng recognized the clothing around one such pile. It was the Immortal that had entered the draconic pce alongside Xiao Nanfeng, who had been seized by a Whip of Order through the fog the moment he had made a move.


    "So this is where all the Immortals have been taken? You''re the one who has been using the Whip of Order? Elder Blue Lantern, who is this? Not the red rope cursed king, surely?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Two eyes shining with red light formed and focused around Xiao Nanfeng, as if attempting to prate him. The vast killing intent emanating from the rope caused him to hesitate.


    "He''s the Eastern Sea Dragon King, but only his truesoul is left. It''s much like what happened with Emperor Wei. He''s seized possession of the red rope cursed king''s cursed spiritual avatar," Blue Lantern replied.


    "The dragon king? Ao Zhou''s father?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    The red rope stared at Xiao Nanfeng. "You''ve seen my son?"


    "You saw the serpent? How did you know it was called Ao Zhou?" Blue Lantern asked as well.


    "I met Elder Long Jiu, who passed me his token and informed me of the situation at the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. Later, when I arrived at the pce, I encountered Ao Zhou and saved him from Prime Minister Turtle. I brought him toward the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall and helped him distill the ancestral dragon''s blood. When Prime Minister Turtle tried to eat him, I suppressed the turtle with a treasure and saved its life again." Xiao Nanfeng summarized his encounter with the serpent in a straightforward fashion.


    The killing intent around the dragon king dissipated. "Is that so? I apologize for the offense. I thank you for lending your aid to my son multiple times."


    "However, the draconic pce is like a necropolis right now. Everyone has been hung, and I don''t know if Ao Zhou''s still alive." Xiao Nanfeng described what he had seen.


    "My son is still alive. I don''t know where he''s located, but I can sense his vitals with a draconic technique. He must have escaped from the draconic pce in the end."

 Chapter 239: Underground Fighting

    <h4>Chapter 239: Underground Fighting</h4>


    In the subterranean space, Xiao Nanfeng could sense Blue Lantern shielding him against the invasive ck smoke.


    "What''s this ck smoke? It feels a little like the smoke that cursed skeletal dragons give off when they die," Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This is cursed smoke. The skeletal dragons are manifestations of cursed smoke, which possesses tremendous corrosive strength. This underground space is a source of cursed smoke that I made by consuming all the treasures in the draconic pce. It''s been two centuries since. I was trying to make use of this space to corrode away the red rope cursed king''s spiritual avatar, but it''s useless. Its cursed spiritual avatar can regenerate," the dragon king spat out.


    "It won''t work, Dragon King. If cursed effigies were that easy to destroy, they wouldn''t be called cursed effigies," Blue Lantern said.


    The dragon king looked toward Blue Lantern. "Blue Lantern, you said that there was hope. Are you referring to him? I''m grateful that he saved my son, but you can''t joke about these things. We don''t have many chances left."


    Blue Lantern was silent for a moment. "He''s weaker than I am when ites to formations, but I can''tpare to his understanding of fist techniques. He might still need morebat experience, but I''m certain few could surpass him in that domain. He has obtained the true inheritance of Emperor Wei. You''re aware of the fist technique that he created, aren''t you?"


    "Emperor Wei? Thatbat-addicted freak?" The dragon king was taken aback.


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    The dragon king turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Lad, I''m counting on you, then."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we''ll need your help," Blue Lantern said.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave them a strange look. "Elder Blue Lantern, the white jadepass is a pledge that you''ll assist me, isn''t it? How did I end up helping you?"


    "We have no choice. I''ll make up for thepass at ater date. You must defeat the red rope cursed king," Blue Lantern said.


    "I''m not familiar with the specifics. Could you exin what''s going on to me?"


    "In the past, the dragon king used the three halls of the draconic pce to suppress the spiritual avatars of all the cursed effigies within. The skeletal dragons could corrode the spiritual avatars of the ordinary red rope cursed effigies, whereas the dragon king''s truesoul would take over the cursed king''s spiritual avatar and bring it to the cursed source in preparation for destroying it. Unfortunately, this cursed king is particrly skilled. It was the top cultivator in the world from thirty thousand years ago, after all, and has plenty of extraordinary techniques. Despite the suppression of its strength, it has been resisting us," Blue Lantern said.


    "Oh?"


    "Despite the suppression, it''s been able to control this cursed spiritual avatar, causing its cursed spiritual power to seep out and exacerbate the grudges that the dragon king''s truesoul bears. The dragon king effectively went mad and was left with his basal instincts. That was why he instinctively grasped all Immortals entering the draconic pce. I too was caught, and I almost died at his hand. It took me a tremendous amount of effort to cleanse all those grudges and restore his rationality."


    "And what about now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The moment the dragon king''s rationality was restored, the cursed king''s soul was freed from suppression. Aware of the situation around here, it immediately killed everyone in the draconic pce and seized their souls to bolster its spiritual power. Then, it sent all the cursed spiritual power it gathered from its subordinates here in an attempt to snatch back its cursed avatar. We''ve been defending against its incursions. Thanks to the dragon king''s permission, I now have the ability to control the cursed smoke in the region and manifest myself in the form of this ck giant to fight against the cursed king, but the cursed king itself has manifested its gathered strength in the form of a red giant."


    "From what I saw of the fight just now, it''s no match for the two of you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "The dragon king can''t participate in the fight. His truesoul resides in the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar. The moment ites in contact with the red giant, its strength will be sapped away, strengthening the red giant further. It had no choice but to seal its entire body with cursed smoke to prevent the same thing from happening again. Thesest few days, I''ve been the one fighting against the red giant."


    "I saw the red giant get dragged away by a Whip of Order. Was that the dragon king''s attack?"


    "That''s right. The dragon king did so in order to protect you and send the red giant away. The red giant''s probably trapped aboveground right now, but it''ll free itself in no time and absorb its restraints. It''lle back stronger than before," Blue Lantern exined.


    "You mean..."


    "We''ll pass the cursed smoke here to you and have you fight the red giant. Your fist technique is stronger than mine, and you''ll be able to suppress it," Blue Lantern said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He was in a rather unenviable condition. If he didn''t agree to Blue Lantern''s request, then Blue Lantern could kill him just by inaction.


    "Let''s do it quickly, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Blue Lantern and the dragon king traded nces. The dragon king''s eyes brimmed with red light as the ck fog all around them suddenly grew active.


    "Go!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    With a rumble, the ck smoke around Blue Lantern''s body surged toward Xiao Nanfeng. The cursed smoke surrounded Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he transformed into a ck giant that grew everrger. He felt his whole body coursing with strength, and he was growing stronger every second as more smoke gathered around him.


    Blue Lantern''s giant form quickly dissipated away as all his smoke was transferred to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Make sure you can control this cursed smoke," Blue Lantern advised. Blue light shone around him, defending against the ck smoke that encroached from all around.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had transformed into a three-hundred-meter tall giant. ck smoke solidified around him. As he stomped on the ground, a frightening surge of energy erupted around him.


    "What tremendous strength!" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "Well?" the dragon king asked in concern.


    "I''m fine. I just need to take some time to get used to this."


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly began to invoke Hegemon''s Fist. He was somewhat unable to control all this energy well; the excess energy sent Blue Lantern flying. As he continued practicing, however, he gradually limated to his newfound strength.


    "It''sing back!" the dragon king called out.


    The red giant returned with a vengeance, howling gales blowing away the ck smoke around it as it charged toward the dragon king.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward and threw a fist at him.


    The giants'' attacks unleashed a shockwave of tremendous strength at the point of impact. Both the red giant and Xiao Nanfeng stumbled back.


    "It''s you, you damn brat! Haha, are you all crazy? Passing the cursed smoke to a wimp like him?" The red giantughed.


    "Is your strength already on par with that of the cursed smoke?" Blue Lantern gasped.


    The dragon king gritted out, "How are you growing so quickly?"


    "I''ve only reimed the strength that I''ve dispersed. I''m only going to grow stronger from here. On the other hand, your cursed smoke is dissipating more and more with every moment, and you''re only going to get weaker. Don''t worry. I don''t intend to let go of any of you," the red giant threatened.


    "That remains to be seen, doesn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He shot forward again. The red giant''s eyes turned cold. "You brat, you''ve caused me to lose my subordinate avatar. I''ll crush your head!"


    The fight between the two giants continued in earnest. Countless fists emerged from the ck fog. The red rope cursed king, once the top cultivator of its era, naturally possessed a fist technique ofmensurate strength. Each of its blows would have been able to kill an Immortal.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique was no trifling affair. He had reached quintessence with Hegemon''s Fist, and could take on the giant without any fear whatsoever. In the tempest that rose up around the two giants, Xiao Nanfeng manifested more and more arms around him.


    The entire underground space began to fill with wind and me. Mushroom clouds formed and dispersed where their fists struck. Fire red up; shockwaves of frightening might shook the region.


    Blue Lantern was forced back time and again. If not for the dragon king shielding Blue Lantern, he would have been grievously injured just from being in close proximity to the fight.


    "He really has gained Emperor Wei''s true inheritance. Good, very good!" the dragon king murmured.


    "I''m afraid things aren''t looking good," Blue Lantern suddenly said.


    "Why not?" the dragon king asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique might beparable in strength for now, but it''s not mistaken, either. The cursed smoke is just going to keep dissipating, and Xiao Nanfeng will gradually weaken over time. He''s going to be on the losing end once that happens."


    The dragon king nced at the twobatants carefully. Indeed, at the heart of the explosion, although Xiao Nanfeng was able to block the red giant''s fist techniques, because of the gradually weakening power of the cursed smoke, his defense slowly seemed to falter.


    "How could this be? Everything I''ve done¡ªis it all going to be for naught?" The dragon king was clearly unwilling to ept this oue.


    Just then, the red giant suddenly shouted, "Hold on, what''s going on? Why is everything filled with red light? Lad, what have you done?!"


    "Red light?" The dragon king and Blue Lantern looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in surprise.


    Only the dragon king and the red giant were shining with red light; Xiao Nanfeng''s surroundings were ck with cursed smoke. Where was this supposed red lighting from?


    The red giant stumbled back as it exchanged blows with Xiao Nanfeng, escaping from his grasp.


    "No, this is hypnosis! You brat, you''ve hypnotized me! I''ll break thispulsion!" the red giant roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng certainly wasn''t going to allow him to do so. He rushed forward and pummeled the red giant, sending him flying with every punch. Red energy pulsed from its body as the red giant attempted to dispel the hypnosis, leaving it vulnerable to Xiao Nanfeng''s attacks.


    From afar, it looked as though Xiao Nanfeng was beating the red giant to a pulp, causing the dragon king and Blue Lantern to gape in shock.


    "What did Xiao Nanfeng do? What hypnosis?" the dragon king asked Blue Lantern.


    "I don''t know either. All I know is that he''s a disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect." Blue Lantern shook his head.


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect? Could it be the Taiqing red moon? Has he already reached Lunar Deluge?!" the dragon king eximed.

 Chapter 240: The Dragon Kings Request

    <h4>Chapter 240: The Dragon King''s Request</h4>


    Within the tempest, Xiao Nanfeng invoked the cursed smoke as he continued to pummel the red giant. With every punch with his golden fists, dust mushroomed up from the impact. mes filled the arena.


    "What sort of hypnosis is this? Why is it so difficult to deal with? And what are all these monsters hiding in the red light?!" the red giant cried.


    More and more red substance peeled away from the red giant as Xiao Nanfeng pummeled it; its strength was decreasing rapidly. Although Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed smoke was weakening as well, the red giant was weakening faster. Xiao Nanfeng had gained a decisive advantage.


    The dragon king and Blue Lantern nced at each other, neither having expected things to develop so smoothly. Were they really going to win?


    "Is it really the Taiqing red moon?" the dragon king eximed.


    "What''s so special about this red moon? Why is it so sinister? How can it hypnotize even cursed effigies?" Blue Lantern asked curiously.


    "I heard a rumor once, but I don''t know if it''s true," the dragon king replied.


    "Oh?"


    "There''s something wrong with the Taiqing Yin Body. All disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect who have cultivated the technique ended up cultivating to death," the dragon king continued.


    "Cultivating themselves to death? What sort of technique is this?" Blue Lantern replied, frowning.


    "I don''t know. They apparently overwhelm all opponents at the same stage of cultivation, but many cultivators who might otherwise be tempted were wary of this rumor." The dragon king shook his head.


    Just then, the red giant roared, "Break!"


    Even more red substance exploded from the red giant''s body. It grew far dimmer than before, almost transparent, as it suddenly took a few steps back. It had regained clear-headedness again.


    "Lad, what a frightening hypnotic power you have. You''re only at Lunar Deluge, and yet you were able to force me to such straits¡ªeven if my cursed spiritual power is weak, this should have been impossible. How did you do it?!" the red giant demanded.


    "You were able to free yourself? I''m shocked. Here Ie again, then!" Xiao Nanfeng charged forward.


    The twobatants struck each other in mid-air. By then, the red giant''s strength had all but dissipated. The explosion caused even more of the red substance to explode and disperse.


    The red giant''s eyes grew cold. It shouted, "Burst!"


    More red substance burst from the red giant''s body, forming a shockwave of energy that sent Xiao Nanfeng reeling. At the same time, countless rope-like strands of red light shot out of the red giant''s body toward Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Possession!" the red giant shouted.


    "Be careful of its cursed spiritual power! It''s going to try to make you into a cursed ve!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    Just then, a mirror appeared by Xiao Nanfeng''s chest, forming a whirlpool that absorbed all the strands of red rope.


    "What mirror is that?" Blue Lantern eximed.


    The undying cursed king had made him a cursed ve using a simr technique, which he had once considered unable to defend against. Xiao Nanfeng, however, had handled it with ease.


    "Seal!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A beam of purple light descended from the heavens and struck the translucent red giant.


    "No!" the red giant screamed.


    The divine purple rock had suddenly appeared and crushed the red giant beneath it.


    "The divine purple rock of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce? How could this be?" Blue Lantern was bbergasted.


    Just then, a red figure struck Xiao Nanfeng from the back, but Xiao Nanfeng came prepared. He punched toward the new assant.


    The frightening burst of energy forced Blue Lantern back.


    His eyes opened wide. "Dragon King, what are you doing?!"


    The red figure that had shot toward Xiao Nanfeng was none other than the dragon king.


    "Cursed smoke, disperse!" the dragon kingmanded.


    The ck smoke around Xiao Nanfeng''s body dispersed, suddenly fleeing from his body, as he transformed back into his original form. The ck giant vanished.


    "Dragon King, are you crazy? Why did you attack Xiao Nanfeng?" Blue Lantern demanded.


    "He''s not trying to attack me, but rather to seize control over the red giant," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The dragon king continued charging toward the divine purple rock. Just then, a mirror appeared before the rock, glowing with pink light. The light struck the dragon king''s head and forced him to a halt.


    The dragon king stopped short. He wasn''t injured, but seemed to have suddenlye to his senses. He was no longer charging forward relentlessly.


    The mirror took on the form of a woman: Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rougeughed coldly. "The Eastern Sea Dragon King? Have you awoken? Are you intending to seize the red rope cursed king''s main spiritual avatar? You should know that it was waiting for you to do just that."


    "What? What happened to me?" The dragon king was taken aback.


    "Think carefully about what you just did and why you did it. How did that notione to mind?" Madam Rouge asked.


    The dragon king fell deep in thought.


    Blue Lantern''s eyes widened. He asked Xiao Nanfeng, "Who is she?"


    "She''s Madam Rouge. You''ve seen her before," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Blue Lantern frowned before he suddenly grew rmed. "The cursed effigy that was hounding you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right, but she''s be my friend since."


    Blue Lantern gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. This was the first time he had seen anyone make friends with a cursed effigy. Was there something wrong with thisd?


    He continued looking at Madam Rouge with suspicion. The dragon king was deep in thought. He asked, "Why did the dragon king suddenly try to seize the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar?"


    "Someone schemed against him¡ªand here he was, thinking that he was scheming against others all along. Ha!" Madam Rouge sneered.


    "What?" Blue Lantern was astounded.


    "Could the dragon king have known about my excursion into the pce? Was he just acting in front of us?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked.


    "Oh? How did you guess?" Madam Rouge seemed surprised.


    "I exined how I saved Ao Zhou to the dragon king, but he believed me too readily without even asking about any of the details. Ao Zhou is his son, after all. How did he enter the Ancestral Dragon''s Hall? How did he acquire the ancestral dragon''s blood? How did I kill Prime Minister Turtle? The dragon king didn''t care for any of that, which surprised me." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Blue Lantern frowned as well. He had noticed that the dragon king seemed to trust Xiao Nanfeng too readily, but they were too short on time for him to consider that train of thought more deeply. However, that detail had now be relevant.


    "That''s right. The draconic pce is full of cursed smoke, which the dragon king can control. He can sense anything where the cursed smoke persists, and he naturally knew of you and Ao Zhou''s entrance into the draconic pce. You caused a hugemotion, after all, which would override whatever mentalpulsions the red rope cursed king had sparked," Madam Rouge exined.


    Blue Lantern''s face gradually grew dark. He turned toward the dragon king. "Dragon King, were you aware of Xiao Nanfeng? Were you acting all this time?"


    The dragon king ignored Blue Lantern and looked at Madam Rouge. "Am I still being affected by the red rope cursed king?"


    "You''re in its subordinate avatar. What do you think?" Madam Rouge countered.


    The dragon king stared at the divine purple rock for some time before suddenly shuddering and retreating in fear.


    "Could the red rope cursed king have a second subordinate avatar? Is it the cursed spiritual avatar that the dragon king''s truesoul is inhabiting?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "What else? All the dragon king has left is his truesoul. How could it have survived for two whole centuries? It must have existed in cohabitation with the cursed king''s subordinate avatar, suppressing its will with his own. He thought that the will of the cursed king would remain suppressed for good, but he never considered the possibility that he had been influenced by it all along. All that nonsense about being overwhelmed by grudges was just a sign that the dragon king''s will would soon be unable to suppress the cursed king''s. Blue Lantern helped awaken the dragon king, but he''s still subject to the cursed king''s influence," Madam Rouge continued.


    The dragon kingughed bitterly. "I understand. It''s been influencing me all this time. When Blue Lantern dragged Xiao Nanfeng into this underground area, for some reason, I suddenly thought of taking advantage of Xiao Nanfeng''s ability to control the divine purple rock to suppress the cursed king''s main spiritual avatar, and then to cohabit it. That way, I would be able to avoid dying and the cursed king''s revenge simultaneously. However, I was worried that Blue Lantern would stop me, so I pretended not to recognize Xiao Nanfeng. Fortunately, Xiao Nanfeng was cooperative. When the cursed king''s main spiritual avatar was sealed away, I suddenly developed thepulsion to rush forward, afraid that I would miss my opportunity. I was lost in a cloud of desire."


    "If you couldn''t even suppress the cursed king''s subordinate avatar, what do you think would have happened if you had linked up to its main avatar?" Madam Rouge smiled.


    The dragon king shuddered.


    "Let me state things more clearly. The moment it realized it was about to fall to Xiao Nanfeng, that it would only be the butt of a joke if it were to resist, it surrendered and allowed Xiao Nanfeng to seal it with his divine purple rock. It intended to thread a narrow path toward victory, exhausting all its cursed spiritual power to magnify its subordinate avatar''spulsion toward you. It forced you to make a move. If I weren''t here to break you out of yourpulsion, you would already have merged with its main avatar. This would have damaged it a little, and it might be forced to enter a period of slumber, but it would regenerate in no time. You would have been unable to resist it at all by that point."


    The dragon king slumped to the ground.


    "If you wish to cohabit with a cursed effigy, you must exercise extreme caution. People have seeded, but you aren''t that skilled," Madam Rouge criticized.


    "What should I do now? Please advise me, Elder." The dragon king looked toward Madam Rouge hopefully.


    "Advise you on what?" Madam Rouge frowned.


    "I won''t allow it to revive. It has damned the entire draconic race, and I don''t intend to give it the opportunity to harm my son. I want to destroy it once and for all. Elder, you''ve transformed into a cursed effigy yourself. You must know how to deal with it. Please advise me!" The dragon king suddenly bowed toward Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge smiled. "That''s trivial. I''ll eat it."


    "No, Elder! If you were to swallow its cursed soul, it would revive elsewhere sooner orter. I wish to end it once and for all. Please assist me, Elder," the dragon king begged.

 Chapter 241: From Glory to Ash

    <h4>Chapter 241: From Glory to Ash</h4>


    "No one will be able to deny me my future. I''m a cursed king,never to be killed or destroyed! I''ll regenerate ande back. Just you wait. I won''t forget what any of you have done, and none of your descendants or rtives shall live on, either. You''ll all die!" the red rope cursed king roared from beneath the divine purple rock.


    Blue Lantern''s eyes twitched, while the dragon king stared at the cursed king with hatred.


    "I can''t stand listening to this any longer. Xiao Nanfeng, free it from the divine purple rock," Madam Rougemanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and unsealed the cursed king. The red rope cursed king''s main spiritual avatar attempted to flee in a beam of red light.


    "Do you think you''ll be able to escape? It''s toote!" Madam Rouge cried out.


    With a wave of her arm, she summoned a mirror before the beam of red light that absorbed it fully. Then, she pinched her fingers as the mirror transformed into a cloud of smoke and flew toward her mouth.


    "Madam Rouge, do you intend to start a feud between us? I''ll take you down the moment I regenerate!" the red rope cursed king screeched.


    "You won''t regenerate," Madam Rouge replied disdainfully.


    She absorbed the smoke into her mouth. The next moment, a radiant pink glow emanated from her body.


    Blue Lantern looked at Madam Rouge anxiously.


    "Don''t worry," Xiao Nanfeng consoled him. "Madam Rouge is my friend, and she won''t eat you."


    Blue Lantern: ...


    He had never seen someone interacting with a cursed effigy in such a friendly manner.


    "Elder, you told the red rope cursed king that it wouldn''t be able to regenerate any longer. Could you have some special technique for doing so?" the dragon king pressed.


    "Consigning it to eternal damnation is all but impossible, but it''s easy to prevent it from regenerating. Simply meld its cursed spiritual avatar into Xiao Nanfeng''s red moon," Madam Rouge suggested.


    "What?" the dragon king eximed.


    "Into my red moon? Why?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised himself.


    "I know not whether this red moon of yours is a blessing or a curse. My instincts tell me that it''s problematic, that there''s a cursed air around it. I rmend you meld the red rope cursed spiritual avatar with it and counter curse with curse. That may be of benefit in the long run," Madam Rouge stated.


    "Counter curse with curse?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    The dragon king said, "The elder is correct. I have long heard rumors that those who cultivate the Taiqing red moon die to it in the end."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face spasmed. "Please don''t curse me, Dragon King."


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect has persisted for tens of thousands of years, and there should have been plenty of cultivators who have managed to cultivate this red moon. Who among them still live? Have they not all died in their prime?" the dragon king asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "And you should be aware of the downside to this red moon of yours," Madam Rouge added.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a frown. The red moon would continuously absorb his body''s vital energy and cause it to decay. As a result, he would have to swap out his bodies every now and then. As his spiritual cultivation increased, the red moon sapped away even more of his vitality, meaning that he needed to rece his bodies more and more often.


    "Cursed effigies naturally absorb vital energy from the world around them, and can help mitigate the downside of your red moon," Madam Rouge continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. That was trulypelling.


    "In that case, would I be able to forge the red rope cursed king''s spiritual avatar into a physical body?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You can try it. Then, when the red rope cursed king regenerates and returns to its spirital avatar, it''ll share a body with you and eat you right up."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face stiffened. That wouldn''t do! He wasn''t afraid of an ordinary cursed effigy, but a cursed king would be far harder to deal with.


    "How exactly did cursed effigiese about? Why can they not be destroyed? Madam Rouge, how did you transform into a cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We were just regr mortals to begin with. Every cultivator that has transformed into a cursed effigy first had to reach the apex of cultivation. With the peak of our strength, we would set up an altar, sacrificing countless treasures and fortune in order to establish a link to a world away. An object from the world away would appear on the altar¡ªperhaps a mirror, a rope, a lotus, and so on, filled with cursed spiritual power. By attuning to this object, once we perish in battle, the cursed spiritual power within it will revive us indefinitely. When that first happens, our bodies merge with the object and transform us into cursed effigies¡ªcursed kings. When cursed kings share a portion of their cursed spiritual power with their subordinates, they can turn into cursed effigies as well, but will remain under the control of the cursed king," Madam Rouge recalled.


    "In other words, this kilometer-long red rope that forms the red rope cursed king''s body came from this¡ªthis world away?" Xiao Nanfeng rified. [1]


    "Quite so. The red rope cursed king attempted to seize my cursed spiritual avatar with a subordinate avatar of its own; I intend to let it taste the feeling of losing its own avatar instead. Meld it to your red moon. If it regenerates, it will surely be trapped in your red moon, which can hypnotize it. I can even sense a great and sinister evil hidden in the red moon that would deter its regeneration."


    "Don''t scare me, Madam Rouge. What do you mean, a great and sinister evil?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You''re well aware," Madam Rouge replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "To meld a cursed king''s spiritual avatar into the moon that forms at the Lunar Deluge stage of spiritual cultivation? Is that possible?" Blue Lantern asked, frowning.


    "It is a little difficult, but not impossible. We simply need to draw on all the cursed smoke in the draconic pce," Madam Rouge replied.


    "All the cursed smoke...? Madam Rouge, why does it feel like you want to make my red moon even more sinister?" Xiao Nanfeng sounded particrly worried.


    "Will you agree to this, Dragon King?" Madam Rouge suddenly looked toward the dragon king.


    The dragon king nodded. "I thank you for the knowledge, Elder. As long as the red rope cursed king will remain incapable of regenerating, I would sacrifice everything."


    "Very good. Let''s begin, then!" Madam Rouge pped her hands together.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed. "Madam Rouge, why do I feel like you''re treating me like ab rat?"


    "You must be mistaken. This is for your own good," Madam Rouge replied, her face genial.


    That cid expression, however, shook Xiao Nanfeng to no end. He had to be right. Madam Rouge was treating him like ab rat!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, the elder is correct. Your Taiqing red moon will kill you sooner orter, so you might as well take this gamble," the dragon king urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng cursed the dragon king mentally. Stop cursing me, you dimwit!


    Blue Lantern nodded. "You hardly lose anything by trying it. You''re already hounded by a whole bunch of cursed effigies, and another one makes little difference."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    None of these cultivators had his best interests in mind!


    Although Xiao Nanfeng was still hesitant, after weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately agreed to the experiment.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged. The dragon king''s body flickered, causing a half-draconic, half-rope ball of red light to emerge from the kilometer-long red rope, the amalgam of the dragon king''s truesoul and the cursed king''s subordinate avatar.


    "Cursed smoke, I invoke thee!" the dragon kingmanded.


    Clouds of cursed smoke surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Madam Rouge caught the end of the red rope and stepped into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, inducing the cursed smoke to gather around his red moon.


    "Go!" Madam Rougemanded, tossing the red rope toward the red moon.


    The red moon seemed particrly resistant to the red rope and refused to let it draw near, but thebined efforts of the dragon king and Madam Rouge swamped it with cursed smoke.


    The red moon immediately glowed with incandescent light, as though furiously struggling to break free. However, there was so much cursed smoke that it filled Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    Madam Rouge waved a hand, summoning countless mirrors to reflect light toward the red moon and suppressing its struggle.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Despite his best efforts, the red moon was still struggling furiously. His back was drenched in sweat. It was suddenly apparent just how sinister the red moon was. The others might not be able to see it, but he could sense that the red moon was dripping blood all over as it was forced into submission.


    "What''s the matter with this red moon? Could it really be so sinister as to kill all cultivators who manifest it? No choice but to be ab rat... I hope this idea of countering curse with curse really works, so I have some way of dealing with the red moon if it ever tries to retaliate against me," Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    A tremendous quantity of ck smoke, like a raging river, shot into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. Simultaneously, the draconic pce began to shake and rumble as pitch-ck mountain peaks copsed.


    "The countless treasures umted by the draconic pce over tens of thousands of years, all distilled into cursed smoke¡ªand all that cursed smoke just to affix the red rope cursed king''s spiritual avatar to Xiao Nanfeng''s red moon. What frightening expenditure," Blue Lantern sighed.


    "My draconic pce, once the jewel and glory of the world, now reduced to naught but ash and rubble!" The dragon king gazed at the destruction of all he had wrought. "If I may ask a favor of you, please look after my son when he''s in need."


    Blue Lantern sighed again and nodded.


    The destruction of the draconic pce caused a hugemotion, with aftershocks that spread all the way from the seabed to the surface of the sea. Countless disciples from every sect in the region were paying attention to the disturbance. They saw the water ebb and surge violently, forming huge, tsunami-like waves.


    "Has something happened to the draconic pce again? Is anyone willing to go down there and have a look with me?" someone cried out.


    The disciples all around looked at the speaker as though he were a fool. No one had managed to return from the draconic pce recently. Now that such amotion had urred, who would dare risk certain death?


    Most of the smarter disciples were already fleeing, but there were eventually one or two brave souls who dove deep into the sea.


    The gigantic whirlpool that represented the entrance to the pce had vanished. The cultivators slowly approached the draconic pce by swimming down. From afar, they could see a crack appear on the barrier surrounding the pce, as if the whole formation around it were about to break apart.


    1. This ''world away'' (±Ë°¶ÊÀ½ç) is steeped in Buddhism. It distinguishes our mortal world, with a rigid cycle of life, death, and reincarnation, from this other, ascended world freed from this cycle and from mortal concerns entirely. ±Ë°¶ is part of the title of this novel in Chinese, illustrating the importance of this idea to the narrative atrge. ?

 Chapter 242: Into Thin Air

    <h4>Chapter 242: Into Thin Air</h4>


    The cracks over the barrier around the draconic pce began to propagate like a spiderweb. The barrier cracked and creaked for three days, until it was one good push away from shattering entirely.


    Over those three days, the surroundings of the pce continued to shake violently, drawing the attention of more and more advanced cultivators. However, none dared to step into the pce.


    Finally, with the entire barrier filled with cracks, it burst apart.


    Seawater rushed into the draconic pce. The surface of the Eastern Sea seemed to cavitate, an awe-inspiring sight. At the same time, countless waves of energy emerged from the depths of the sea, forming giant sea dragons. A tsunami the likes of which had never been seen formed over the sea. All the ships still in the region were destroyed and obliterated by the growing storm.


    The seawater churned so violently that all the aquatic lifeforms spat out blood.


    Only Immortals were able to steady themselves despite the forces buffeting them every which way and clearly see what was happening at the seafloor.


    Standing in the middle of a particrly wild current, an Immortal draped in rainbow light eximed, "All the ck silt of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce is gone! Wasn''t the draconic pce formed from a foundation of ck silt and rock? How could it all have vanished?"


    "That ck substance is cursed smoke. Impossible. The cursed smoke of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce was the result of tens of thousands of years of umted treasure. How could it all have vanished?" Another Immortal gasped by the first one''s side.


    As the draconic pce continued to copse, a few Immortals warily approached and began to examine their surroundings.


    No one realized that, in a deepsea valley, the dragon king was infusing thest of the cursed smoke into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "Elder, has the procedure been a sess?" the dragon king asked expectantly.


    "It has. The kilometer-long red rope has beenpletely affixed to Xiao Nanfeng''s red moon," Madam Rouge replied from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Wonderful. Wonderful!" the dragon king eximed. His body began to shake.


    "What''s the matter, Dragon King? Your spiritual avatar''s shaking. Could the red rope cursed king''s subordinate avatar be vying for control over your body again?" Blue Lantern asked.


    The dragon king only chuckled. "It doesn''t matter anymore. Blue Lantern, please take care of my son."


    "You...!" Blue Lantern''s eyes widened as he suddenly considered a possibility.


    Just then, a ghastly howl came from within the dragon king''s body. "You fools! Return me my cursed spiritual avatar!"


    "Red Rope, you''ve brought doom to the draconic n. Today, on behalf of all the Eastern Sea dragons whose deaths you''re responsible for, I''ll im your life. Explode!" the dragon kingmanded, his voice tinged with resolve and grief.


    "No!" the red rope cursed king shouted.


    Suddenly, the dragon king''s spiritual avatar burst into countless fragments.


    The shadow of a pitch-ck dragon seemed to appear from within the explosion. With a flick of his tail, he rushed out of the valley and charged into a wave of seawater that threatened to drown it. He passed straight through, right toward the copsing Eastern Sea Draconic Pce.


    By then, whirlpools and eddies had formed around the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. The underwater trenches and mountains were copsing, and thest of the Eastern Sea draconic n''s riches were being destroyed.


    The shadow of the ck dragon looked toward the destruction, hazy images resolving into existence in his mind.


    In his mind, the draconic pce radiated with light and fortune. Its floors were embedded with gems; its walls were made of crystal. All the spirits of the Eastern Sea came to pay tribute and their respects. Its treasuries and armories were filled with peerless treasures. Crab, lobster, and prawn soldiers and warriors maintainedw and order under the guidance of whale generals. Shark spirits patrolled the region, ms frolicked in ponds and pools, and the descendants and children of the dragons were heaped with jewels and ying with each other amidst the coral. The elders of the dragon n were gathered around the dragon king of the Eastern Sea, who had invited the top Immortals of the era for a banquet in which they would discuss the affairs of the world atrge.


    Immense glory and a weighty history¡ªnow, naught but ash. The shadow of the ck dragon exuded a sorrow steeped in memory. He keened in despair and in grievance, then vanished in a shower of golden light that dissolved into the ruins of the pce.


    The Immortals who had approached the pce, hearing the cries of that august, majestic dragon, were so shaken that they no longer dared to approach. They shrank back from the whirlpool.


    Within the deepsea valley, Blue Lantern watched as the ck dragon''s figure departed and vanished into glowing starlight. He knew that the dragon king''s truesoul had truly dissipated, following his final desire to see the dragon pce with his own eyes once more. With that nce, however, came immense sorrow rather than peace.


    "Fare thee well, old friend." Blue Lantern sighed.


    Seawater poured down toward them from above.


    The valley had been the underground space in which they were located, but theplete exhaustion of the cursed smoke had returned the seafloor to its original appearance, that of a narrow valley. However, the seawater was no threat to Blue Lantern, who waved a hand, summoned apass, and formed a barrier to block it all.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained cross-legged in meditation as Madam Rouge flew out of his mindscape.


    Suddenly, arge quantity of red fog appeared out of nowhere and tangled around Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What?" Blue Lantern was astounded as well.


    The red fog manifested as a length of red rope that began to tighten around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck as it released glowing red light.


    "When the dragon king self-destructed, the cursed king''s subordinate avatar would have suffered a great deal of damage, but it wouldn''t have been destroyed along with the dragon king. You didn''t notice?" Madam Rouge asked, as if she had been observing what was going on all along.


    Blue Lantern smiled wryly. "I didn''t notice anything amiss when I inspected the surroundings. I thought that the cursed king''s subordinate avatar really had been destroyed. I was watching as the dragon king departed from this world, upset by my loss. It''s my fault. Please, save Xiao Nanfeng."


    "There''s no need." Madam Rouge shook her head and stopped Blue Lantern from proceeding onward.


    "Oh?" Blue Lantern seemed perplexed.


    "It''s a convenient way to test how effective thebination of the red rope and red moon is, I suppose. Will it be able to hold back the red rope cursed king''s weakened subordinate avatar?" Madam Rouge wondered.


    "Are they in an illusory realm now?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "That''s right. What''s more, the red rope cursed king has sealed the illusory realm from us, attempting to bar us from entry. Howughable. Does it think it knows more about these illusory realms than I do?" Madam Rouge scoffed disdainfully.


    Within the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng jolted up to find himself surrounded by fog.


    "Another illusion? Madam Rouge, why have you brought me here?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    A chilly voice came from within the thick fog. "Brat, where''s my cursed spiritual avatar? Why does it feel muted to my senses now?"


    The surrounding fog burst apart to reveal a man in red.


    "The red rope cursed king? You''re not yet dead? No, this is your final subordinate avatar, the one that was cohabiting with the dragon king! Where is he?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow, as though having guessed the dragon king''s fate.


    "You''re about to die. Are you sure he''s the one you want to be worrying about? He dealt so much damage to me that he deserves to have his soul crumble away like it did. Now, it''s your turn. Return me my cursed spiritual avatar!" the cursed king roared out.


    Its body flickered as it immediately appeared before Xiao Nanfeng and punched forward. Xiao Nanfeng met it fist for fist.


    A huge mushroom cloud formed at the point of impact. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "You''re at Yin Body?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "If not for that old codger''s self-destruction, which ruined the bulk of my strength, I would be far stronger. I''m only barely at Yin Body, aren''t I? It''s more than enough to deal with you, though. Brat, you''re dead." The red rope cursed king shot forward again.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. "Rope,e to me!"


    A length of red rope descended from the air and tangled around the red rope spirit king.


    "What?!" the cursed king eximed.


    This was his technique! How could it have affected him?


    "You can cast the Whip of Order, and one bearing the strength of ate-stage Lunar Deluge cultivator, at that? It''sughable for you to try to defeat me with my own technique, however. Break!" the cursed king gritted out.


    It broke free of the red rope and continued charging toward Xiao Nanfeng, but the next moment, it noticed that something was amiss. It stopped short and looked up into the air, where ayer of red fog had formed. The red fog glimmered brightly, shining with the light of a crimson moon, immediately sending warning bells ringing in its head.


    "No! This is my technique. You couldn''t have grasped it.


    "Come!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, waving a hand in invocation.


    With a huge rumble, hundreds of red ropes formed from within the fog. They shot toward the cursed king.


    The cursed king nched and punched forward with a fist.


    Dozens of lengths of red rope exploded into fragments, but dozens more still remained. They tangled around the cursed king and wrapped him up like a dumpling.


    "No! How have you gained control over the cursed spiritual power in my avatar? Impossible!" he eximed.


    "Rise!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Dozens of lengths of red rope tugged on the cursed king''s body and dismembered it into five pieces.


    The cursed king, destroyed by its own technique?


    "Impossible. Explode!" the five fragments of its body roared.


    Each fragment self-destructed, taking down all the red rope along with it. The fragments then flew toward each other in an attempt to merge together, but countless more red ropes emerged from the sky and tangled around the fragments.


    "Release me!" the fragments thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng, who seemed to just have acquired this power and was now carefully exercising it, ignored the fragments'' shouts.


    Each of the dozens of fragments slowly filled out and transformed into dozens of cursed kings, each with two lengths of red rope attached. One tied up each body and the other hung around their necks, its other end attached to the red fog up above.


    It looked as though dozens of cursed kings weremitting suicide together.


    The cursed kings gaped in disbelief. "No. This is my technique, my cursed spiritual power! It''s mine!"


    The red rope around the cursed kings'' necks grew so tight that they popped, as if they were about to be asphyxiated the very next moment.


    The cursed king could never have imagined that it would lose to its own technique. It felt as though its neck was about to break, but it couldn''t resist at all.


    "No!" the cursed king screamed in destion.

 Chapter 243: Farewell

    <h4>Chapter 243: Farewell</h4>


    Madam Rouge stepped into the illusory realm and looked at the red rope cursed king that was slowly being hung to death.


    "Ha! I bet it would never have imagined losing to its own technique." A trace of surprise shed through Madam Rouge''s limpid eyes.


    "What should we do now that it''s trapped? Strangle it directly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Leave it to me," Madam Rouge replied.


    "Madam Rouge, just what did you do to my cursed spiritual avatar? Why is he in control of it?!" the red rope cursed king raged.


    "Break!" Madam Rougemanded, snapping her fingers.


    Dozens of lengths of red rope were sliced apart with a mirror as thin as a cicada''s wing. They absorbed all the avatars of the cursed king into their surfaces.


    "No, no! What are you doing?!" the cursed king demanded.


    "Red Rope, your era is over," Madam Rouge dered.


    The mirrors exploded in clouds of mist and were absorbed through Madam Rouge''s mouth.


    "No, no!" the cursed king yelled out in despair.


    It seemed to have realized something, but was unable to resist at all. Madam Rouge swallowed it up, then began to shine with pink light once again.


    "Alright. All the cursed spiritual avatars of the red rope cursed king have been handled. This spiritual avatar is yours from now on." Madam Rouge smiled at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Why are you looking at me funny?" Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look.


    "What do you mean, funny? I do have to praise you, Xiao Nanfeng. You''re the first cultivator I know of that''s managed to pilot a cursed spiritual avatar without actual spiritual possession." Madam Rouge smiled.


    "What do you mean?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "In the past, others also tried to meld cursed spiritual avatars to the moons they cultivated through spiritual cultivation. No one had seeded, but your red moon is as sinister as expected. Of course, I have the cursed smoke to thank for that as well. You''ve enhanced my understanding of cursed spiritual avatars again," Madam Rouge remarked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew stiff. "You didn''t know whether it would work, either? You really were experimenting on me? Madam Rouge, I saved your life and helped you reim your cursed spiritual avatar! How could you treat me like this?"


    "It was for your own good," Madam Rouge replied seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    <i>Why does Madam Rouge''s expression seem so familiar? Did I use this exact expression when trying to hoodwink her in the past? Is she learning from me?</i>


    "What happened to those cultivators who failed?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "I don''t know if anyone managed to seed, but all the failures I knew of ended up having their moons explode, as did their bodies," Madam Rouge recalled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened.


    "Don''t be too worried. Didn''t you seed? Furthermore, this is just an avatar of yours. Even if you were to fail and your red moon destroyed, you would still have your main body. I was just trying to help you. I have my own principles." Madam Rouge patted Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder.


    "You really are a good friend, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched.


    Madam Rouge suddenlyughed in a particrly exuberant fashion.


    "Why are youughing now?" Xiao Nanfeng grumbled.


    "I learned it all from you. Xiao Nanfeng, when you tried to trick me, this was the exact expression you wore. I feel great now that I''ve been able to do the same to you."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Although Xiao Nanfeng was a little upset, he knew that Madam Rouge no longer bore him any enmity.


    "Are there any side effects to the red rope''s cursed spiritual avatar being melded to my red moon?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t know. You''ll have to investigate on your own," Madam Rouge replied, shaking her head.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent. He continued to console himself. "Forget it. At the very least, I''ve grown stronger again. That can''t be a bad thing."


    "Lunar Deluge is a rather awkward stage of cultivation. Only in an illusory realm can you disy your full power; in reality, you are often encumbered. Reaching Yin Body would unlock a tremendous amount of flexibility and power. That is what you have to strive for," Madam Rouge suddenly said.


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look. "Why are you telling me this now?"


    Madam Rouge rolled her beautiful eyes at him. "I''m giving you some advice on how to improve before I leave. Otherwise, you might be too self-absorbed."


    "Before you leave? You''re leaving?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What''s wrong? Haven''t you been wanting me to leave? Shouldn''t you be happy that I''m finally doing so?" Madam Rougeughed.


    "I was joking. Why would I ever be upset to have you around?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge''s smile widened. "I know what you''re thinking, so your tricks won''t work on me. As I said, if you were to bring me to the draconic pce and allow me to im what I wanted, I''d leave you be. I''m saying farewell to you now."


    "This quickly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, shocked.


    "I need to return to my own hidden realm and reim what belongs to me." Madam Rouge''s eyes turned stern.


    "Why don''t I join you?" Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    Madam Rouge shook her head. "You? I''m afraid not. You haven''t be a deity via spiritual cultivation or an Immortal via physical cultivation. Some zones are forbidden to mortals; you would perish there."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Madam Rouge an odd look. Was he still that weak?


    "As for the cursed kings in your orbit, I can sense that they all want something from your body. However, you haven''t matured, so they can''t strike just yet. All cursed kings obtain something different from the world away, and the nature of their cursed spiritual power is different. I''m unfamiliar with these ones, but if you don''t want to live under their shadow, you had better ascend to Yin Body quickly."


    "Yin Body?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "You must be a deity in order to gain the qualifications tomunicate with them. This Whip of Order you possess can only be used in illusory realms before you reach Yin Body; once you do, you''ll be able to use it even in reality."


    "I will." Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously.


    "In that case..." Madam Rouge reached out with a slender finger and ced it by the underside of Xiao Nanfeng''s jaw.


    "What''re you doing?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "See you next time,d." Madam Rouge smiled.


    Her finger scratched at Xiao Nanfeng''s lower jaw, causing him to shiver. Was she teasing him?


    Then, the illusory realm shattered into fragments. Xiao Nanfeng woke up in reality.


    "Wait, Madam Rouge!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    However, there was only a barrier holding back the water above him. Madam Rouge was nowhere to be seen. Blue Lantern gave him an odd look.


    "Where''s Madam Rouge?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "She said she was going to leave, and she did. Didn''t she bid you farewell?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "Has she really left? She shouldn''t have..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed in vexation.


    In the past, Madam Rouge had tried to kill him daily, and he would naturally be relieved to be rid of her. Now, however, their circumstances had changed.


    "Are you implying that I''m the one who should have?" Blue Lantern replied grumpily.


    He didn''t have to shield Xiao Nanfeng from the elements. Who would be happy to hear Xiao Nanfeng criticizing them so?


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "No, no, I''m not talking about you. What''s more, you''re different from Madam Rouge. She''s a beauty, and you''re just an old man!"


    Blue Lantern''s face twitched.


    "Has the dragon king''s truesoul dissipated?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It has. It''s a pity. He never got to see Ao Zhou a final time," Blue Lantern replied, sighing.


    "Better that they didn''t. They might regret it more if they did right before the dragon king''s death," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Blue Lantern was silent for a moment before nodding.


    "What do you intend to do next, Blue Lantern?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "You seem to have be rather disrespectful."


    "I''m of the same generation as Madam Rouge now, so it''d be unsuitable to call you Elder. Furthermore, I do believe you owe me a tremendous favor for my help," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Blue Lantern frowned.


    "We''ve fought together multiple times, Blue Lantern, and suffered through life-and-death struggles together. Since you don''t have a ce to stay, why not be a guest at my ce?" Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    Blue Lantern was silent for a long moment before he asked, "You''re preparing to take over the world, aren''t you? Do you intend to enlist my help as support?"


    "Of course not! I''m just inviting you to join me as a guest," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    Blue Lantern stared at Xiao Nanfeng. He was well aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s n¡ªto invite him over as a ''guest'', and then to ask for his help while he was there. Did Xiao Nanfeng think he was that easy to trick?


    "I''d rather not, thank you. This ispensation for your white jadepass. When you smash it, I''ll assist you with one task within my capabilities." Blue Lantern handed him another white jadepass.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He wasn''t yet strong or charismatic enough to enlist Blue Lantern''s help for his own goals, but he had forged a stronger connection with him. The fact that Blue Lantern was willing to ept casual address from him was a good sign.


    "Very well. Please feel free to find me at any time." Xiao Nanfeng was already satisfied with this oue.


    Blue Lantern seemed a little surprised, having expected Xiao Nanfeng to try to push things further. Xiao Nanfeng was more decisive than he had thought.


    "Until next time, then," Blue Lantern said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Blue Lantern waved a hand, causing the bubble surrounding Xiao Nanfeng to pop. Huge quantities of seawater gushed down.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern were cultivators of considerable strength, and they were easily able to deal with the seawater. They swam quickly toward the surface of the sea. Blue Lantern shot up, broke through the surface, then disappeared from sight.

 Chapter 244: Recruiting Taiqing Disciples

    <h4>Chapter 244: Recruiting Taiqing Disciples</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng could see countless cultivators gathering in the sky above the sea where themotion had urred. Ships were sailing forth, salvaging the decayed corpses that were floating up after the draconic pce''s destruction. Xiao Nanfeng ignored them all. He covered his body in fog, preventing others from seeing his appearance, as he silently departed.


    Once he was in rtive istion, he shot into the air and returned to the undying realm within two days.


    Entering the undying realm via his undying heavenly doors, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and avatar swapped a few items before separating once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar would be stationed in the undying realm for the time being. In addition to governance, he also had to continue attuning to the Scroll of the Heavenly Dao and to the divine purple rock for use as an imperial seal, following the approach dictated in The Imperial Court of Heaven.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body had important affairs of his own to handle.


    He flew for some time before seeing Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui waiting for him on a mountain peak in the distance.


    "King Xiao!" Both cultivators grew serious the moment they saw him.


    "You must have waited for quite a while. Let''s set off," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied. They shot into the air and flew toward Taiqing Ind.


    "King Xiao, many of my brothers have broken through. They''ll be in Spiritsong at no time at all!" Ye Dafu announced excitedly.


    "Oh? Your strategy for rapid cultivation really does work, after all?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ye Sanshui''s face spasmed. Over thest few months, he had been observing Ye Dafu and hisckeys training with each other. They were crazy idiots, the whole lot of them, torturing themselves in order to grow stronger! They took turns beating each other up so heavily that they ended up syed on the ground, their limbs all out of sorts. Even then, the ''victims'' continued to scream, "Ah, that feels good! Harder!" Ye Sanshui shuddered and didn''t dare observe the scene further.


    "Of course it''s effective. We train daily and get ufortable if we miss even a day. The feeling of being ganged up on is divine," Ye Dafu replied, smiling as he reminisced.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Ye Dafu a strange look.


    "That''s enough. Enjoy your cultivation yourself. I don''t want to hear it!" Ye Sanshui chided.


    "Third Uncle, you could consider scrapping your technique and joining us in cultivation. Indomitable Body is remarkably strong. We''d help you out," Ye Dafu suggested.


    "Scram!" Ye Sanshui shouted. He didn''t want to be a pervert like his nephew!


    "Third Uncle, are you sure? You''re losing out on the chance to be a cultivator the likes of which the world has never seen!"


    "If you keep talking nonsense, I''ll beat you up!" Ye Sanshui red at his nephew.


    "Really?" Ye Dafu seemed overjoyed.


    Ye Sanshui: ...


    He ignored his nephew, who was steadily growing more perverted, and turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "King Xiao, has something happened within the sect?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I left my master a method to contact me. He sent word recently that Zhao Yuanjiao is about to be the Ascended division leader. All elders who are able to return are invited to do so to bear witness to his initiation. I naturally have to be there.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, the Ascended division leader? A strong ally, then. That''s great news!" Ye Dafu stated.


    "King Xiao, did you have another reason in mind for taking us back to the Taiqing sect?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right. Things in the undying realm are on track now, and the officials we''ve trained are growing into their roles. It''s time for me to reim my territory."


    Ye Sanshui''s eyes lit up. "King Xiao, are you going to reim your titlednds?"


    "It''s been three years since I left home. I think it''s time I paid a visit and settle some scores." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes glinted coldly.


    "On yourmand, King Xiao, we''ll immediately take down all the disloyal servants in your employ." Ye Dafu rubbed his palms gleefully.


    "The disloyal servants mean nothing to me. I need to chase away all those who haveid im to my family''snd and properties, reiming what is rightfully mine."


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui nodded firmly. Ye Sanshui stated, "We are at yourmand, King Xiao."


    "The titlednds of the Xiao n have been overrun with hooligans. When we return to the Taiqing sect, I intend to recruit disciples from the sect to march for mynds and help me secure my borders. You will be responsible for the recruitment," Xiao Nanfeng informed them.


    "That''s trivial, King Xiao," Ye Dafu replied with a smile. "You know how popr you are within the sect."


    "We''ll handle the matter at once, King Xiao." Ye Sanshui nodded.


    "I''ll leave it to you, then."


    The three cultivators were all at Spiritsong, and they reached Taiqing Ind within a day.


    The moment they descended, arge number of Taiqing disciples noticed them.


    "It''s Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao made it out alive from the draconic pce! Thank goodness."


    Arge crowd of Taiqing disciples gathered around them. Xiao Nanfeng''s hard work in the sect over the course of the past year hadn''t been in vain; the majority of the Taiqing disciples considered Xiao Nanfeng their leader.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, we just received word that the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce haspletely vanished, and the decaying bodies of countless cultivators are floating on the surface of the sea!


    "Essentially no cultivators from any sect were able to make it out. Thank you for advising us against heading there, Senior Brother Xiao. Otherwise, we might have been among those corpses."


    "When the elders informed us that you were at the draconic pce, we worried about you. Thank goodness you''re fine!"


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed at everyone. "Thank you for your concern."


    "Of course, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, you''ve reached Spiritsong! Are you going to be an elder now?" one Taiqing disciple fretted.


    The other disciples murmured at each other in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I did reach Spiritsong, and I will have to give up my position as seniormost disciple. That said, you''ll still be willing to follow my lead, won''t you?"


    "Of course!" many of the disciples replied immediately.


    "Even in the future, I''d be happy to advise you on your cultivation. Ask me if you''re confused about anything. I don''t intend to treat you differently just because I''m an elder now."


    "Yes, Elder Xiao!" The Taiqing disciplesughed in relief.


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed just like the friendly and amiable seniormost disciple that he had been.


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui, meanwhile, had been neglected by the burgeoning crowd. Indeed, they had even been pushed aside.


    "I''m an elder too. Why hasn''t anyonee to talk to me?" Ye Dafu sighed.


    He had been preparing to unt his newfound status, but he was upset to realize that no one was paying him any attention.


    "Perhaps they don''t know that we''ve reached Spiritsong and think that King Xiao flew us back here," Ye Sanshui replied.


    "Really? Should I resolve the confusion, then?" Ye Dafu asked.


    Ye Sanshui''s eyes twitched. "Don''t make a fool of yourself! You''re an elder of the sect now, so show some reserve."


    "What? But I''m proud of what I''ve done, and I want others to know!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Deal with it!" Ye Sanshui retorted coldly.


    Ye Dafu: ...


    "What''s more, don''t reveal how we improved our cultivation so quickly. That might cause additional trouble for King Xiao," Ye Sanshui whispered.


    "Of course, Third Uncle! I''m not a fool!"


    Ye Sanshui stared at his nephew for some time, then sighed heavily. In the end, he chose not to correct his nephew''s misconception.


    The disciples walked over to the za by the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.


    "What are you doing here, Senior Brother Xiao?" a Taiqing disciple asked.


    "I''m about to issue a quest and would like to invite disciples of the sect to aid me in my objective," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What quest, Senior Brother Xiao?"


    "I''d like to reim my titlednds. I''m afraid that there will be significant resistance to my doing so, and I''ll need quite a lot of manpower to assist me. To this end, I''ll be issuing an elder''s quest. All who wish to join me may do so," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "What are the requirements? Can Ie?" one Taiqing disciple immediately piped up.


    "Anyone beyond mid-stage Immanence will be epted, but you''ll have tomit to working with me for at least a year. Furthermore, this quest will be tough and dangerous, and there''ll be plenty of difficult battles in wait."


    "For a year? I''m happy to oblige and assist you, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "I''m willing too. How do I sign up?"


    "I''ll help you, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    The Taiqing disciples surrounding Xiao Nanfeng all cheered.


    "Thank you, everyone." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in acknowledgment.


    There were quests issued by other elders at the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.


    In the Taiqing sect, quests that had been screened and approved could specifically appoint the help of certain disciples, but the majority were open-ended recruitment notices that were voluntary in nature.


    After Xiao Nanfeng submitted his quest notice, the za immediately filled up with disciples racing to register.


    Some felt that Xiao Nanfeng would certainly repay themvishly for their efforts. After all, Xiao Nanfeng treated them all to draconic aether when they went on expeditions to excavate draconic veins, and this would surely be no different. The majority, however, chose to sign up in gratitude for what Xiao Nanfeng had done for them.


    It was evident just how much Xiao Nanfeng had given to the sect over the past two years.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s notice was instantly swarmed with disciples, and more were approaching the za with every second. The notices put up by other elders, however, wentpletely untouched.

 Chapter 245: Nalan Yunhai

    <h4>Chapter 245: Nn Yunhai</h4>


    Arge number of Taiqing disciples came to register for Xiao Nanfeng''s quest. Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu were momentarily overwhelmed by the attention, but they were quickly able to rx. Arge number of Ascended disciples voluntarily helped Xiao Nanfeng maintain order and manage registration.


    Xiao Nanfeng was d everything was proceeding smoothly when he heard amotion from afar.


    "I''m here to rescind my participation in this quest. I''m going to help Senior Brother Xiao instead!"


    "You can''t! You''ve already registered. How could you go back on your word?"


    "This is a voluntary quest, not a mandatory one from the sect. Why can''t we decide not to participate?"


    "We''d like to give up, too!"


    A hugemotion ensued; a fight almost broke out at the scene. It drew the attention of many of the cultivators.


    "Those recruiters are armored warriors. Are they from outside the sect?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "I recognize one of them," Ye Sanshui replied immediately. "He''s Mr. Shu, a subordinate of the second prince of the Tianshu Empire."


    "Oh? Go figure out what''s going on, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui sidled over to investigate the situation and quickly returned. "King Xiao, it''s the second prince of the Tianshu Empire. On the Tianshu Emperor''s orders, he''s here to participate in the appointment ceremony for the new Ascended division leader, and he''s releasing a quest along the way."


    "The second prince of the Tianshu Empire? Is that Nn Yunhai?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yes, King Xiao! He''s the official apprentice of the Mortal division leader, and allegedly a cultivator at the peak of Spiritsong. He''s another elder of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and he returned to the sect about half a day before we did. His quest is to recruit Taiqing disciples to fight in a war alongside him," Ye Sanshui reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, but warning bells rang in his head. He had just dealt with Nn Feng; the appearance of this Nn Yunhai surely couldn''t be a good sign.


    "Alright. Keep recruiting more disciples. I''m headed to the Vault of Scriptures to greet my master."


    "Yessir!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly.


    In a pavilion on one of the Mortal division mountains in Taiqing Ind, a group of cultivators dressed in distinct styles guarded a white-robed youth within. The white-robed youth was leisurely having tea while conversing with two Taiqing elders.


    "Are you both certain that Junior Brother Xiao Nanfeng was only at early-stage Spiritsong?" he asked.


    "Nn Yunhai, we were present at the scene ourselves. We can easily estimate Xiao Nanfeng''s strength. Astoundingly, his spiritual cultivation has reached Lunar Deluge, but his physical cultivation is only at early-stage Spiritsong. We''re certain," one Taiqing elder replied.


    Nn Yunhai frowned in thought before he nodded. "Thank you for the information, elders."


    "Of course. If there''s nothing else, we''ll be heading off now."


    "My thanks." Nn Yunhai got up to see them off.


    After they left, Nn Yunhai''s face turned dark.


    "Your Highness, do you think Xiao Nanfeng''s responsible for the third prince''s disappearance?" one of his subordinates asked.


    Nn Yunhai replied coolly, "Uncle sent Third Brother out of the draconic pce, but he and Mr. Qi returned to it. One of the crew said that he heard Third Brother mention Xiao Nanfeng''s name. I imagine he must have pursued Xiao Nanfeng in."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s at Lunar Deluge. If he used the Talisman of Phantasmagoria, it would be possible for him to deal life-threatening damage to the Third Prince," the subordinate affirmed.


    "It''s not his spiritual cultivation. Mr. Wen gave Third Brother two Immortal relics before he departed, one to shield himself and the other a mirror-type relic that would specifically free him from illusory realms. Xiao Nanfeng might be at Lunar Deluge, but he wouldn''t be able to exert his strength outside of illusions. On the other hand, his physical cultivation, which has reached Spiritsong, could be a threat." Nn Yunhai narrowed his eyes.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has only been away from his titlednds for three years. How could his cultivation have improved so rapidly? It''s impossible!" Nn Yunhai''s subordinate murmured.


    "He must have some tremendous secret." Nn Yunhai''s eyes shed with greed and malice.


    "We haven''t heard of Xiao Nanfeng thesest few months. Could he have perished within the draconic pce?" his subordinate wondered.


    Just then, a cultivator rushed over.


    "I''ve returned, Your Highness."


    "Why are you here, Mr. Shu? Did something go wrong with the recruitment?" Nn Yunhai asked.


    "It did. All our recruits have been swiped," Mr. Shu replied, smiling wryly.


    "Who? Who would dare?" Nn Yunhai demanded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng? He escaped from the draconic pce?" Nn Yunhai eximed.


    "He''s right there. You can see him from this mountain, Your Highness." Mr. Shu pointed toward the distance.


    Nn Yunhai looked toward the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment below them.


    Indeed, the disciples there were in an uproar. Meanwhile, after Xiao Nanfeng gave Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu their updatedmands, he had left and headed deeper into a mountain.


    "Your Highness, that''s him. He just issued a quest. He''s far too well-known and popr within the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Many of the disciples we recruited have refused us in order to work for him instead." Mr. Shu recounted what had happened in the za.


    Nn Yunhai smirked. "Attempting to reim Marquis Xiao''s titlednds? What a joke. He doesn''t know what happened to it, does he?"


    "Your Highness, what should we do now that Xiao Nanfeng''s still alive?" Mr. Shu asked.


    "Father wants me to track down the location of my missing brother. Xiao Nanfeng''s the most suspicious lead we have, and I don''t intend to let him go. It''s inconvenient for us to strike while he''s on Taiqing Ind. We''lly an ambush for him once he leaves."


    "If we do, we''ll have to kill him afterwards to ensure secrecy. But what if he doesn''t have anything to do with the third prince''s disappearance?" Mr. Shu asked.


    "Then he only has bad luck to me," Nn Yunhai replied calmly.


    "And if he were to request the aid of his master, Elder Ku, to head toward Marquis Xiao''s titlednds with him? We wouldn''t be able to strike in that case," Mr. Shu continued.


    Nn Yunhai frowned. Mr. Shu''s hypothetical situation was quite usible. Nn Yunhai gripped the balustrade of the pavilion as he looked toward the za.


    "Who are those disciples helping Xiao Nanfeng out? They seem rather familiar." Nn Yunhai frowned.


    "They''re Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu. The Ye n has always been loyal to Marquis Xiao, and they''re subordinates of Xiao Nanfeng. Allegedly, they even helped him target the third prince. They returned to Taiqing Ind alongside Xiao Nanfeng," Mr. Shu said.


    "From the Ye n? They might know a few secrets, then. Lead them to me quietly. We''ll start with them," Nn Yunhaimanded.


    "Yes!"

 Chapter 246: Hong Lie

    <h4>Chapter 246: Hong Lie</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng walked toward the Vault of Scriptures, arge number of Taiqing disciples greeted him on the way. He nodded to them all.


    As he approached Ku Jiang''s residence, he found the doors wide open. There were three figures deep in discussion: Ku Jiang, Zhao Yuanjiao, and a middle-aged man with a muscr physique.


    "Master, Senior Brother, I''ve returned," Xiao Nanfeng called out from outside the door.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes lit up as he smiled.


    Ku Jiang smiled in relief. "Enter."


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the hall.


    "You''re Xiao Nanfeng?" The middle-aged man suddenly stood up and considered him.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the man a quizzical look. "This is...?"


    "Nanfeng, this is the Mortal division leader and your senior uncle, Hong Lie," Ku Jiang replied.


    "I greet Senior Uncle Hong." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    "You''ve grown so big! Your father wouldn''t recognize you if he were to return now, I''d bet." Hong Lie smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Hong Lie. Was this the senior brother that his father had mentioned, with whom he had a lifelong bond? He had initiallye to the Taiqing Immortal Sect in hopes of seeking assistance from Hong Lie, but had ultimately chosen not to do so because he was on guard.


    "I''ve heard about your situation over thesest few days. I would never have expected that you were in such dire straits. Now that I''m aware of it, I don''t intend to let you suffer any further," Hong Lie replied seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and nodded, but didn''t reply. In the decade in which he had been a captive of the Xiao manor, Hong Lie hadn''t appeared even once¡ªand now, his protection would be extraneous.


    "Have you really not heard even a single rumor of Nanfeng''s straits these past years?" Ku Jiang asked.


    "Senior Brother Ku, given my rtionship with Xiao Hongye, do you really think that I''d stand by and do nothing if I knew that his son was being mistreated?" Hong Lie asked.


    "In other words, Nn Qiankun deliberately hid his malicious treatment of Xiao Nanfeng from you?" Ku Jiang pressed.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood to the side and watched as his master stood up for him.


    Hong Lie shook his head. "He wouldn''t. Would Nn Qiankun¡ªEmperor Tianshu¡ªbe so petty? Why would he mistreat Xiao Hongye''s son? There would be no reason to do so, and it would only invite petty rumors."


    "How could that exin Nanfeng''s decade of mistreatment in the Xiao manor, then? He''s easily able to survey hisnds, and he pledged to take care of Xiao Hongye''s son on his behalf. Despite all that, without Nanfeng''s own wiles, he would be nothing more than a crippled cultivator by now," Elder Ku dered.


    Hong Lie considered the situation carefully. "We''ve been remiss. Nn Qiankun and I have been busy with a big affair. We return only asionally, and he only has an avatar in the Tianshu Empire. It''s likely that something has happened to that avatar, but now that we''ve returned, that problem will easily be resolved."


    "His avatar? That''s no excuse. What you''ve revealed indicates that Nn Qiankun cared not for this obligation and responsibility that he bears to Xiao Hongye. Has he forgotten that, if not for Xiao Hongye''s voluntary withdrawal, he would never have be Emperor Tianshu? Xiao Hongye cared little for fame and power, but that doesn''t mean that others can im what belongs to him. He entrusted you with his son, and yet..." Elder Ku trailed off, a cold smile on his face.


    "As I said, something must have gone wrong. This would never have happened otherwise. Don''t use us of being malign, Ku Jiang. I, Nn Qiankun, and Xiao Hongye were the three pirs of the Mortal division, and we are sworn brothers. There''s no way that we would turn against one of our own. As an outsider, you have no right to judge us," Hong Lie replied.


    Ku Jiang''s smile turned brittle as it widened. "I have no right to judge the rtionship among the three of you, but Nanfeng''s my disciple now. I intend to fight for what belongs to him. You im to bear a deep and abiding rtionship with Xiao Hongye, but your neglect has caused Xiao Nanfeng to suffer. I ask you now: Do you intend to speak up to help him reim what is rightfully his?"


    "What do you mean?" Hong Lie frowned.


    "We''ll leave the matter of Xiao Hongye and his wife''s disappearance aside for now. If I''m not mistaken, before Xiao Hongye left, he requested that all the fortune owed to him from the Tianshu Empire to be left for his son''s cultivation. Are you aware of this matter?" Ku Jiang demanded.


    Hong Lie frowned. "I''m aware of it. I heard Xiao Hongye mention this in the past."


    "Nanfeng has never received any fortune from the Tianshu Empire. Will you speak up on Nanfeng''s behalf?" Ku Jiang asked.


    "I''ll ask Nn Qiankun about this myself. Nanfeng will be granted what fortune he is owed." Hong Lie nodded firmly.


    "Furthermore, the titlednds of the Xiao n have been beset by rogue cultivators. Armies of the Tianshu Empire have supposedly been heading there to quell the disturbance, but aren''t they just splitting up the Xiaonds among themselves? Do they really think Marquis Xiao dead, never to return?" Ku Jiang continued.


    Hong Lie''s frown deepened. "I don''t know enough about what''s going on there. I''ll look into that as well."


    "Hong Lie, something''s wrong with Nn Qiankun," Ku Jiang finally said.


    "Senior Brother Ku, you must be overthinking things, surely?"


    "You must have heard of Zhao Tianheng''s attempted assassination of Zhao Yuanjiao, at least? Nn Qiankun told Zhao Tianheng that whoever controls the ckguards will receive the portion of Zhao Tianjue''s fortune owed to him. That was why Zhao Tianheng embarked on his disastrous n to kill his nephew. I naturally will act in Yuanjiao''s defense, so zhao Tianheng would have to go against me and possibly even attempt to foment internal unrest within the Ascended division."


    Hong Lie narrowed his eyes. "Zhao Tianheng was narrow-minded and acted with evil and malice. How can Nn Qiankun be med for his actions?"


    "You don''t believe me? You''re on good terms with Nn Qiankun, aren''t you? In that case, I ask that you reim the fortune due Xiao Nanfeng by means of Xiao Hongye, and the fortune due Zhao Yuanjiao as the head of the ckguards. If you can reim the fortune rightfully owed to my disciples, I''ll drop the matter entirely."


    "Senior Brother Ku, do you harbor doubts about Nn Qiankun?"


    "Do not forget what happened two centuries ago. The Taiqing Immortal Sect paid a heavy price to found a divine empire, but that empire tossed us aside. Our sect was almost destroyed as a result. Two centuriester, we''ve ovee that hurdle. Countless cultivators from the Ascended and Mortal divisions gave their lives and bodies to found this Tianshu Empire. We must ensure that history does not repeat itself," Ku Jiang stated.


    "Nn Qiankun isn''t that kind of man," Hong Lie replied.


    "I hope I''m overthinking things as well." Ku Jiang had no intention of giving in.


    Hong Lie was clearly ruffled by the repeated usations leveled at Nn Qiankun.


    Xiao Nanfeng had been listening in to the conversation from the side. He couldn''t be certain of Hong Lie''s motives or personality, but he hade to the realization that, despite his master''s inability to see, he seemed to understand the heart of the conflict better than anyone else.


    "Nanfeng, Yuanjiao will be promoted to the Ascended division leader tomorrow. ording to the customs of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, the appointment of a new division leader requires the affirmation of the sect master, along with the acknowledgment of the majority of the division''s elders and disciples. The elders will not be a problem; I leave you in charge of the disciples," Ku Jiang stated.


    "Of course, Master. Leave it to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ku Jiang nodded.


    "Master, I have returned in part to attend Senior Brother Zhao''s appointment ceremony, but also to report to you that I intend on recruiting Taiqing disciples to head to and regain control of my titlednds after the ceremony."


    "Oh? Have you already issued a quest?" Ku Jiang asked.


    "Yes. I have trustworthypanions recruiting disciples at the Hall of Immortal Recruitment."


    Hong Lie frowned. "Elder Ku has intimated to me that your titlednds are in a state of chaos and disarray. It would be difficult to do anything with the help of just a few dozen disciples."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I believe I should be able to enlist the help of a few thousand disciples."


    "A few thousand disciples?" Hong Lie raised his eyebrows.


    There were fewer than ten thousand disciples in the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Did Xiao Nanfeng really think so many would respond to his call? Was he serious?


    "Don''t you know?" Ku Jiang replied. "This isn''t the first time that Nanfeng has led a thousand-member expedition."


    "I had almost forgotten." Hong Lie blinked, thenughed as he turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Both you and Nn Yunhai are recruiting disciples. I suppose the majority of the Taiqing disciples will be working with one of you two."


    "Perhaps," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. He didn''t think Nn Yunhai would find himself with many recruits at all.


    "Nn Yunhai is investigating Nn Feng''s disappearance in the draconic pce. I heard of your feud with Nn Feng. Did you encounter him within the draconic pce?" Hong Lie asked.


    "No, never," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "That''s a pity. Too much has urred in the draconic pce ofte. Nn Feng never made it out of the draconic pce, and I fear the worst." Hong Lie frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond. He stood quietly to the side.


    "Nn Yunhai''s a decent man, and he once intimated that he intends to lead an army to help quell the unrest in yournds. You might get along well," Hong Lie added.


    Xiao Nanfeng certainly didn''t believe this, but he didn''t discredit the notion outright. He only nodded and smiled.


    "On the contrary, Nn Yunhai seems like a rather deceitful young man. How would he help Nanfeng? More like he wants to im the Xiaonds for himself!" Ku Jiang shook his head and said precisely what Xiao Nanfeng thought.


    "Senior Brother, how could you besmirch a younger-generation cultivator like that? Nn Yunhai''s a generous young man with honorable intentions. What good would the Xiaonds do him?"


    Just then, an anxious voice came from outside the hall. "Elder Ku, Disciple Ye Sanshui requests to meet Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Enter," Ku Jiang said.


    Ye Sanshui rushed over to Xiao Nanfeng. "Has something happened at the Hall of Immortal Recruitment? What are you doing here?"


    "Perhaps because he noticed how many disciples we''ve recruited, Nn Yunhai secretly seized Dafu. I don''t know whether he''s dead or alive. Senior Brother Xiao, what should we do?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Hong Lie''s eyes widened. He had just praised Nn Yunhai''s generosity¡ªwhat was going on now?


    "Ridiculous! How could Nn Yunhai do such a thing?" Hong Lie demanded.


    Only then did Ye Sanshui notice Hong Lie''s presence. He immediately bowed. "I greet the division leader."

 Chapter 247: Ye Dafus Might

    <h4>Chapter 247: Ye Dafu''s Might</h4>


    Two hours ago, at the za of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment, the nominal disciples handled registration for the quest as Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui maintained order. As more Ascended disciples volunteered to help, however, Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui found themselves without anything to do.


    Just then, a man walked up to the two of them.


    "Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu? Senior Brother Xiao had mee find you. Please follow me."


    "Has Senior Brother Xiaomanded you to lead us somewhere?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng had just left them in charge of the registration. Why would he now send someone to take them away?


    "Yes! Senior Brother Xiao didn''t tell me about the specifics, only that the matter was urgent. Please hurry," the cultivator repeated.


    Ye Sanshui frowned. He wasn''t familiar with the person before him, but there were thousands of disciples in the Taiqing sect. He certainly wouldn''t know all of them, but these were strange circumstances.


    "Third Uncle, let''s go. We''re in the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Who would dare ambush us here? Senior Brother Xiao must have something important to task us with," Ye Dafu urged.


    Ye Sanshui was silent for a moment. "You can go check out the situation. I''ll wait here."


    The cultivator frowned. "Senior Brother Xiao wants you both to go."


    "Really? Where did you encounter him?" Ye Sanshui asked, frowning.


    The cultivator inwardly frowned. He was here to trick them; he had just made up a reason and had no details with which to back it up. He didn''t dare nudge Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui further.


    "Forget it. I''ve conveyed Senior Brother Xiao''s words to you. If you''re willing toe, follow me. Otherwise, we''re done." The cultivator strode away.


    "Third Uncle, what if Senior Brother Xiao really is trying to find us? If you''re worried, you should stay here. I''ll go have a look," Ye Dafu volunteered.


    Ye Sanshui frowned at his nephew, but nodded.


    He watched Ye Dafu follow the man toward the mountains. It was strange, he thought, that Xiao Nanfeng would summon someone to fetch them considering he had just left and was apparently headed to see Elder Ku.


    "Everyone, do any of you know that junior disciple?" Ye Sanshui asked those around him.


    The disciples all shook their heads. None of them knew him.


    Ye Sanshui''s brows furrowed. Something seemed amiss. He asked even more disciples in the vicinity, but no one knew his identity. It was true that there were arge number of Taiqing disciples, but surely at least one or two would know of him?


    He quickly left a few Ascended disciples in charge of the registration as he chased after Ye Dafu,


    but Ye Dafu and the mysterious cultivator were far away by now. He had had to ask disciples about whether they had seen his nephew, which took up even more time.


    Simultaneously, Ye Dafu followed the mysterious cultivator toward a few side paths by the other side of the mountains. There was quickly no one within sight.


    "Where are you bringing me? Why are we headed somewhere so remote? Didn''t Senior Brother Xiao head to the Vault of Scriptures? This isn''t the way there!" Ye Dafu frowned.


    "Senior Brother Xiao didn''t go to the Vault of Scriptures. Just follow me. We''re almost there."


    Ye Dafu, secure in the fact that he was within the Taiqing Immortal Sect, or perhaps in his improved cultivation, cast aside his doubts for the moment.


    After some time, they entered a fog-wreathed valley, with gs for a formation at its mouth.


    Ye Dafu finally sensed something amiss. He asked, "Are you trying to trick me?"


    At the same time, the cultivator, who was standing to his back, drew a copper bat and smashed it toward Ye Dafu''s head.


    A thunk rang out, and the copper bat bent almost in half. Ye Dafu, on the other hand, seemed perfectly alright. The cultivator gaped at the bat that had now been contorted into a ¼¸ shape, unable to believe that Ye Dafu''s skull was so hard.


    Ye Dafu''s eyes widened. "You tried to attack me! You are a liar, after all! Who are you?"


    Ye Dafu grabbed at the man''s face, causing him to retreat.


    "Your face has fallen off!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    He had peeled ayer of skin from the man''s face.


    "What''s up with you? Aren''t you supposed to be an Ascension-realm disciple?" the man thundered.


    With the man unmasked, Ye Dafu quickly recognized him. "You''re Mr. Shu!"


    He was the man who was recruiting Taiqing disciples at the Hall of Immortal Recruitment on Nn Yunhai''s behalf!


    "You recognize me?" Mr. Shu asked coldly.


    Ye Dafu, sensing that something was deeply wrong, attempted to flee.


    "Running, are you? Can you get away? A formation has been set up in this valley. You won''t be able to escape. Just you wait!" Mr. Shu shouted, chasing after him.


    Ye Dafu feinted. After leading fighters in battle for a year in the undying realm, he had developed keen senses on the battlefield, and he had spent another half a year beating and getting beaten by hisckeys. He cocked a fist and punched Mr. Shu at full force.


    "What?!"


    Mr. Shu attempted to block the punch, but he was clearly slower than Ye Dafu. Ye Dafu''s punch hit him squarely on the head, caving his skull in in a shower of blood.


    Ye Dafu gaped at his fist. "Isn''t Mr. Shu supposed to be in Spiritsong? How could he be so weak? All my brothers are at the peak of Ascension, and I beat them up daily. This hasn''t ever happened before..."


    Just then, cries came from the periphery of the fog.


    "He killed Mr. Shu!"


    "Is he a Spiritsong-realm cultivator?"


    A group of cultivators emerged from the fog, brandishing their weapons and surrounding Ye Dafu.


    Ye Dafu nched and attempted to run out of the valley, but the two cultivators behind him clearly had no intention of letting him go. They struck at him with their des.


    Ye Dafu''s body glimmered with golden light as he transformed into a man of gold. He bore the sword shes with his bare skin, then punched forward with both fists, prating through the men''s chests and killing them on the spot.


    "How could he be so strong?!" the remaining cultivators shouted.


    "Use the Immortal web!" someonemanded.


    A rainbow sh surrounded Ye Dafu. A giant web had formed out of nowhere and trapped him inside.


    "Damn it. Break!" Ye Dafu tore at the web, but it was too resilient even for the likes of him.


    "This is an Immortal web we obtained from the draconic pce. Do you think you''d be able to get free? Dream on!" the cultivators jeered.


    "Help! Save me!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    Meanwhile, Nn Yunhai led a group of men after Mr. Shu. When they came across Mr. Shu''s caved-in head, they looked toward Ye Dafu with murderous res.


    "Ye Dafu, I''ll kill you!" Nn Yunhai roared.


    "Your Highness?!" Ye Dafu nched.


    Ye Sanshui continued after his nephew''s trail. After asking arge number of disciples along the way, he finally figured out the route that Ye Dafu had taken. He saw a fog-wreathed valley not too far away, without any sounding from it. By the edges of the fog, he could barely make out arge g.


    "A thundercloud formation? This is a treasure that belongs to Nn Yunhai, and it can hide all noise andmotion from within. Dafu''s been tricked!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    He was just about to rush in when he stopped short. Nn Yunhai was clearly up to no good, and he might be ambushed if he headed in as well. Without any hesitation, he shot off toward the Vault of Scriptures.


    Not too longter, Ye Sanshui returned with Xiao Nanfeng, Ku Jiang, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Hong Lie.


    "Ye Sanshui, I hope you''re not making things up," Hong Lie warned.


    "Division Leader, I would never put my nephew''s life in peril. Please aid me!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    "I know what sort of person Nn Yunhai is. He would never strike you or your nephew out of jealousy or envy. He isn''t an idiot. Why would he do so within the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Hong Lie still seemed reluctant to believe Ye Sanshui''s ims.


    "Perhaps Nn Yunhai has never respected the sect," Ku Jiang replied calmly. "Xiao Nanfeng''s far too popr for him to deal with within the sect, but no one cares about Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui. If they were to vanish quietly, who would think to suspect him? Who would dare investigate the second prince of the Tianshu Empire?"


    "Senior Brother, you''re prejudiced against Nn Yunhai," Hong Lie replied.


    "Whether my prejudices are justified will be revealed within moments. This thundercloud formation was a gift from you to Nn Yunhai, wasn''t it? You should be able to activate it too. I hope you don''t intend to send him word just because you''re his master," Ku Jiang warned.


    "I, Hong Lie, am a man of my principles. Would I do something so wretched?" Hong Lie retorted.


    He murmured a mantra and reached out for one of the gs of the formation. The formation shuddered, and voices leaked out.


    "Help! Don''t hit me anymore!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Are you going to tell us what we want to know, then?!" a cultivator thundered.


    "Yes, yes, just beat me a little more and I''ll tell you everything! Continue, continue¡ªah, no, stop, don''t beat me anymore! Help!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "You dare trick us? You''re asking to die, aren''t you? Beat him! Use the lightning!" Nn Yunhai roared.


    A huge rumble spread throughout the valley.


    "Ah, I can''t stand it anymore! It''s toofortable! No, help! Save me!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    Hong Lie''s eyes widened. He reached out toward the formation. "Halt at once!"


    The fog in the valley quickly dispersed, revealing a group of cultivators surrounding a pitch-ck pir. Ye Dafu had been strapped to the pir and was surrounded by crackling lightning.


    As the fog dispersed, everyone turned and looked at the source of themotion. They nched.


    Even Ye Dafu stopped shouting.


    Ku Jiang stood expressionless. Zhao Yuanjiao''s gaze was cold, and Hong Lie''s furious. Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui fell silent. Upon seeing Ye Dafu''s expression, they immediately realized that he was enjoying the torture. They hade too early!

 Chapter 248: Shoring Up Foundations

    <h4>Chapter 248: Shoring Up Foundations</h4>


    Nn Yunhai felt as though he were about to explode. He thought it would be trivial to capture two ordinary disciples, especially with the help of his trusted aide Mr. Shu. However, not only did Mr. Shu only lure Ye Dafu over, he was even killed by a punch from Ye Dafu!


    Then, they had caught Ye Dafu with an Immortal web and started torturing him. Ye Dafu refused to say a single thing, and they were just about to ramp up the torture when Hong Lie caught them all red-handed. Why were things going so poorly for him today?!


    "Master!" Nn Yunhai bowed respectfully toward him.


    His subordinates all stepped to the side, not daring to speak.


    "What are you doing, Nn Yunhai? Who allowed you to beat up Ye Dafu?" Hong Lie shouted.


    "Master, I was worried about the disappearance of my third brother, and I wanted Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu to help with the investigation. However, when Ye Dafu showed up, he killed my trusted aide, Mr. Shu, and many of my subordinates besides. Out of anger, I caught and began to interrogate him," Nn Yunhai exined.


    Only then did Hong Lie see Mr. Shu''s corpse, along with those of Nn Yunhai''s subordinates.


    "And you think using my name to lure Ye Dafu here is appropriate? You''re a swindler and schemer. You could have asked him to assist with the investigation in public, not in the middle of a remote valley using torture. Ye Dafu defended himself valiantly. The me for Mr. Shu''s death rests on you, not on him," Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    Ye Dafu, who was enjoying the beating, suddenly looked up. <i>I was in the right?</i>


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if I were to ask you in public, would you have told me anything? Did Nn Feng''s disappearance in the draconic pce have anything to do with you?!" Nn Yunhai thundered.


    This was clearly the first time he had been criticized directly to this extent, and he was deeply difited by Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I stand by my im that I never actively antagonized Nn Feng, and have always only been acting in self-defense. I know not where he went after leaving the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and what would his disappearance in the draconic pce have to do with me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "He wasst seen chasing after you," Nn Yunhai replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng had yet to speak up when Zhao Yuanjiao interrupted. "Nn Yunhai, do you really think Xiao Nanfeng will be easy to bully? What nonsense. Your tactics are hical and your arguments facetious. You intended to beat up Ye Dafu until he admitted to whatever crimes you fed him, then take the opportunity to besmirch Xiao Nanfeng''s name and im his titlednds! How despicable."


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, this is nder and calumny," Nn Yunhai gritted out.


    "Oh, is it? There are three armies in the Xiaonds. You were the ones who dispatched them there, weren''t you? The information was recorded by my ckguards. Or shall I confirm myself whether the generals of the three armies are employed by the Tianshu Empire?" Zhao Yuanjiao demanded.


    Nn Yunhai nched. Zhao Yuanjiao had clearly hit the nail on the head.


    Even Hong Lie began to frown, deeply disappointed in his disciple.


    "Nn Yunhai, listen up. I intend to stand up for my junior brother, Xiao Nanfeng. If you dare to attempt to assassinate him, I''ll chase you to the ends of the world. This I swear!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, you overstep your boundaries," Hong Lie gritted out.


    Zhao Yuanjiao looked toward Hong Lie and took a deep breath. "Senior Uncle Hong, I acknowledge and respect you as my uncle in seniority, but starting tomorrow, I shall be the Ascended division leader. I have the right and responsibility to protect those of my division."


    Hong Lie grimaced, then turned toward Ku Jiang. "Senior Brother Ku, is this what your disciples are like?"


    Ku Jiang smiled cidly. "Hong Lie, I think it''s clear who has the better disciple, isn''t it?"


    Hong Lie frowned. Was Ku Jiang mocking Nn Yunhai.


    Nn Yunhai cried out, "Zhao Yuanjiao was only able to be Ascended division leader thanks to Elder Ku! How else could hepare to me?"


    "Silence! Reflect on your misdeeds. Or do you think yourself superior to others? Zhao Yuanjiao is stronger than you are," Hong Lie chastised.


    "Stronger than I am? Has he reached Wingform?!" Nn Yunhai gasped.


    "Why did Nn Qiankun decide to send you and your brothers to the Taiqing Immortal Sect? It''s so you might develop properly in mind, soul and body, to study scripture, work hard to improve your cultivation and shore up your foundations. Only then will you be able to ascend without any bottlenecks. Otherwise, what good will resources do you? If your foundation isn''t shored up, you would only ever be stuck at the peak of Spiritsong. While Zhao Yuanjiao started off weaker, Senior Brother Ku forced him to recite scripture and to develop his foundations. He does not have the bottlenecks you do," Hong Lie criticized.


    Nn Yunhai was fuming. Not only had his master caught him torturing a disciple today, Zhao Yuanjiao, whom he had always looked down on, had actually managed to surpass him. Envy filled his mind.


    "Thankfully, nothing happened to Ye Dafu. Otherwise, I would never have spared you. Return to your rooms and memorize the scriptures I assigned for you," Hong Liemanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Hong Lie was far too protective of his disciple. Nn Yunhai''s actions merited far more punishment. Was he only going to have to recite scripture?


    Nn Yunhai quashed his anger and beckoned his subordinates. "We leave now!"


    His subordinates dismantled the formation and retrieved the fallen corpses, then set off alongside him.


    Zhao Yuanjiao wanted to pursue matters further, but Ku Jiang beckoned him to stop.


    Only Ye Dafu watched Nn Yunhai and his group leave with longing, as though seeking to continue the torture.


    When Ye Sanshui loosened Ye Dafu from his bonds and saw his nephew''s expression, he twitched. How had his nephew be so perverted?


    Hong Lie turned to Ye Dafu. "Ye Dafu, do you cultivate the Indomitable Body?"


    "How did you know, Division Leader?" Ye Dafu gasped.


    "I saw the golden Buddha-like glowing from your body and hazarded a guess. Impressive. You''ve made it to Spiritsong with that technique?" Hong Lie frowned.


    "The Indomitable Body was a technique from a tablet that Xiao Hongye retrieved from a hidden realm with Buddhist undertones. A few days ago, that tablet was struck by lightning and destroyed," Ku Jiang added.


    "What? That tablet was destroyed?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "It was turned entirely to rubble, as though it had chosen to summon that bolt of lightning in order to disintegrate itself. The technique is particrly sinister, and most people aren''t able to learn it at all. Once they reach Ascension-realm, they''ll be gued with demons of the heart that need to be suppressed with Buddhist scriptures. Many have tried to learn the technique, but were forced to start from scratch upon reaching Ascension because they were unable to ovee the resulting demons. How did you make it to Spiritsong?" Hong Lie asked curiously.


    Ye Dafu stilled. He had done so by being beaten, of course, but that wasn''t something he should disseminate widely, was it?


    "I never encountered any demons of the heart. I naturally ascended to Spiritsong without reaching any bottlenecks at all," Ye Dafu reported honestly.


    "Really? Have you experienced nothing out of the ordinary?" Hong Lie seemed perplexed.


    "Nothing at all. I''ve simply enriched my hobbies. In fact, I feel like I''ve grown far more energetic after cultivating the Indomitable Body."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui gave Ye Dafu a strange look. Was getting beaten up his hobby? The more he was beaten up, the more energetic he felt...?


    "Really? How strange. Perhaps your temperament is perfectly suited to the technique." Hong Lie shook his head and dispelled his confusion. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Nanfeng, I''ll make sure to instruct my disciple well. Do not take Nn Yunhai''s actions to heart."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled, but chose not to reply.


    "Hong Lie, we''ll have to prepare for the appointment ceremony tomorrow. Let''s end it here for now," Ku Jiang said.


    Hong Lie naturally understood that Ku Jiang was dissatisfied with the punishment he had levied on his disciple, but he had no intention of changing his mind. He nodded. "Very well. It''s been a long time since I wasst here, and I have a number of tasks to take care of within the Mortal division."


    Hong Lie exchanged a final few pleasantries with the cultivators before he left.


    "Ye Dafu, you and Ye Sanshui will return to the Hall of Immortal Recruitment and continue to recruit more disciples," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    Only Ku Jiang, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Xiao Nanfeng were left at the scene.


    "Master, it''s clear that Hong Lie was deliberately shielding Nn Yunhai from further repercussions. How could you let things go just like that?" Zhao Yuanjiao clearly still seemed upset.


    "It''s better that you let it go. Nn Yunhai''s here to attend your appointment ceremony as the representative of Emperor Tianshu. If you continue harping on the matter, you''ll be offending not Nn Yunhai, but the emperor himself," Ku Jiang exined.


    Zhao Yuanjiao scowled, but he eventually nodded.


    "Senior Brother''s cultivation has really risen rapidly. I can''t believe he''s already at Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    Ku Jiang was silent. He quashed his desire to reply that Xiao Nanfeng''s rate of cultivation was by far the more monstrous.


    "Master''s right. Scriptures are the foundation of cultivation. He''s been forbidding me to rise up in cultivation so that I can focus on the foundations. All I needed to reach Wingform was an opportunity; nothing else barred my path." Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    "Master, will you help me shore up my foundations too?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Ku Jiang expectantly.


    Ku Jiang ignored Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng was even more proficient with scripture than Zhao Yuanjiao; what more did he need in terms of foundations?


    Within a hall of the Mortal division, Nn Yunhai looked at the corpses of his subordinates with an ugly expression on his face. "Zhao Yuanjiao, at Wingform? Ha! He was as slow as a snail back then, but he''s surpassed me since!"


    "No matter how strong Zhao Yuanjiao is, he''s tethered to Taiqing Ind. How could hepare to you, Your Highness?" one of his subordinates consoled.


    Nn Yunhai looked toward the Vault of Scriptures, his face cold. "So what if he''s at Wingform? Let''s see if he can survive tomorrow''s ordeal first."


    "Is something going to happen during the appointment ceremony tomorrow?" Nn Yunhai''s subordinates asked.


    Nn Yunhai turned away, not providing further exnation. It was clear that he knew of a secret plot.

 Chapter 249: Raid of the Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 249: Raid of the Immortal</h4>


    The next day at noon, countless disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect gathered outside the Vault of Scriptures.


    Thousands of Taiqing disciples stood at the back of the za, while dozens of elders stood at the front. Xiao Nanfeng was among them.


    By the entrance to the Vault of Scriptures were five seats designated for the sect master and the four division leaders.


    Hong Lie was seated in the Mortal division leader''s spot, but the other four seats were yet empty.


    Ku Jiang stood before the sect master''s seat, holding the sect master''s token and a letter in hand.


    "The sect master is in the middle of a mission and will be unable to return to the sect. He has specially written a letter acknowledging the appointment ceremony and requesting that I lead it in his stead," Ku Jiang dered.


    "We obey the sect master''s token!" everyone chorused.


    An elder stepped forward.


    "The Heaven division leader has affairs to take care of at the Imperial Court and is unable to return to the sect for the ceremony. He has arranged for me to take part on his behalf." The elder bowed to the crowd and sat in the Heaven division leader''s seat.


    Another elder stepped forward.


    "The Earth division leader is dealing with important matters in the Tianshu Empire and is unable to return to the sect for the ceremony. He has arranged for me to take part on his behalf." this elder likewise bowed to the crowd and sat in the Earth division leader''s seat.


    Once everyone was seated, Zhao Yuanjiao came forward and bowed to the gathered elders and disciples.


    Ku Jiang raised his letter up high. "After cmity struck the Ascended division, its division leader Zhao Tianheng perished in the aftermath. The Ascended division cannot be without a leader. I, Ku Jiang, have written to the sect master on behalf of the elders of the Ascended division, nominating Zhao Yuanjiao as the new division leader. The sect master has approved of this selection."


    The Heaven division representative stood up and announced, "The Heaven division is in support of this nomination."


    The Earth division representative stood up and announced, "The Earth division is in support of this nomination."


    Hong Lie stood up and announced, "The Mortal division is in support."


    Xiao Nanfeng and the other Ascended elders all said, "The Ascended elders are in support!"


    Then, the countless Ascended disciples gathered all said, "The Ascended disciples are in support!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao had received unanimous support.


    Ku Jiang took a deep breath. "Now, on behalf of the sect master, I appoint Zhao Yuanjiao the Ascended division leader!"


    "We congratte the Ascended division leader, Zhao Yuanjiao!" everyone chorused.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, pay your respects to the founding grandmaster of the sect!" Ku Jiang continued.


    Zhao Yuanjiao bowed toward the Vault of Scriptures. "Disciple Zhao Yuanjiao thanks the Taiqing Grandmaster for his inheritance. I hereby swear that, as the new Ascended division leader, I will bring the Ascended division to ever greater heights."


    The fourth floor of the Vault of Scriptures bore the relics of the grandmaster of the sect, including the praying mat on which the grandmaster himself had sat. As a result, the major ceremonies of the sect werergely carried out by the Vault of Scriptures as a nod to legitimacy.


    Thus, Zhao Yuanjiao officially became the Ascended division leader.


    Just then, a voice came from the sky.


    "The appointment ceremony for the Ascended division leader? It looks like I''m not toote. For Zhao Tianjue''s son to be a division leader¡ªthe Taiqing Immortal Sect really is decaying by the day, isn''t it?"


    A frightening aura descended from the heavens like a storm. Countless Taiqing disciples were forced back.


    "Who is it?!" Everyone nced toward the sky with surprise.


    The defensive formation around Taiqing Ind had activated, automatically forming a transparent barrier that prevented a man outside from entry.


    The man exuded multicolored light, and a golden wheel floated by his back. He looked arrogantly down at the Taiqing Immortal Sect, baring his teeth.


    "That''s an Immortal?"


    "What a frightening aura!"


    The Taiqing disciples were taken aback.


    "Xiang Pojun? You''re still alive?!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared.


    "Xiang Pojun? Where have I heard that name?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned in recollection.


    "Xiang Pojun is the younger brother of the former Emperor Taiwu and Marquis Wu''s uncle. He was Zhao Tianjue''s final opponent before Zhao Tianjue''s untimely death. I thought he was dead¡ªbut not only is he still alive, he''s even be an Immortal!" Ye Sanshui whispered to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The Taiwu Empire, which the Tianshu Empire toppled? Xiang Pojun of the Xiang n?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, I almost perished at your father''s hands that year¡ªbut now I''m back. It''s time for me to take revenge for the destruction of the Tianshu Empire. The Ascended and Mortal divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect assisted Nn Qiankun in ruining the Xiangs. Starting with all of you here, I''ll take down the Ascended and Mortal divisions of the Taiqing sect bit by bit!" Xiang Pojuan roared.


    He mmed a palm down on the barrier with a technique so powerful it overshadowed the sun itself.


    Roaring mes emerged from the palm as the formation trembled. An Immortal''s might was immense. The aftershocks from the technique caused a storm to spring up in the region and the waves of the sea to rise up to a titanic extent.


    "The formation won''t be able to hold out much longer. What should we do?!" The Taiqing disciples began to panic.


    From close by, Nn Yunhai smirked momentarily before he schooled his expression. He seemed to have known that Xiang Pojun was about to attack, and had already made preparations to flee.


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect''s defensive formation doesn''t seem to be very strong," Xiang Pojun remarked.


    He mmed down again with his palm, sending mes flying. A crack appeared in the formation, as if it would be unable to withstand the Immortal''s attack for much longer.


    "Xiang Pojun, you attack us at your peril!" Hong Lie shouted, rising into the skies.


    "Hong Lie? Just you wait right there. Once I destroy this formation, none of you will be able to escape. You''ll pay for the downfall of the Xiangs!" Xiang Pojun roared.


    "That won''t be necessary. I''ming out," Hong Lie stated.


    He stepped beyond the formation and struck at Xiang Pojun with a fist.


    "Insolence!" Xiang Pojun retaliated with a fist of his own.


    The two cultivators met in the air. The shockwave from their confrontation formed a mushroom cloud of immense proportions. The frightening waves of energy that resulted buffeted the formation as it shook violently.


    At the center of the storm, Hong Lie''s body radiated with multicolored light, and a golden wheel formed by his back.


    "What? Has the division leader be an Immortal too?!" Many of the Taiqing disciples were overjoyed by the sudden revtion.


    "Hong Lie, an Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng was bbergasted.


    "Hong Lie, you went to that ce too?!" Xiang Pojun thundered.


    "So you took advantage of the situation and obtained a pure yang blessing as well. Did you think that would enable you to show yourself here at the Taiqing Immortal Sect? Do you really think my sect this weak? Break!" Hong Lie roared.


    The two Immortals smashed into each other and formed yet another gigantic mushroom cloud. Fires zed so strongly around them that the entire sky was red.


    "The might of Immortals is truly extraordinary. Without the division leader, we would all have died today..." Ye Dafu murmured.


    Though he enjoyed being beaten, he still had his limits. The Immortal fight unfolding above him was beyond what he could bear. He knew that a single blow would be enough to obliterate him.


    "Hong Lie, do you think you''d be able to protect the Taiqing Immortal Sect alone? I didn''te here by myself today." Xiang Pojunughed and continued, "Crow Immortal, I''ll take care of Hong Lie. You kill them all!"


    Caws suddenly filled the sky.


    Dozens of golden crow spirits swooped down from the clouds. Their leader was sixty meters tall and wreathed with golden me. A rainbow glow surrounded it. It shot toward the ground like a zing sun.


    "An Immortal spirit! That crow spirit is an Immortal, too!" one cultivator gasped.


    The crow Immortal smashed into the formation in a burst of mes. Its frightening strength caused cracks to spread all over the formation, which looked as though it could fall apart at any moment.


    The crow immortal cawed, summoning a more intense storm of me all around itself. It smashed into the formation again, causing the cracks to propagate further. The formation looked poised to shatter at any moment.


    The crow spirits that followed behind were particrly strong themselves. There were three thirty-meter-tall crow spirits with a Wingform-realm aura, along with dozens of Spiritsong-realm crows.


    "Xiang Pojun and these crow spirits¡ªjust where have they been all this time? How did they acquire such strength?" Zhao Yuanjiao wondered.


    Xiao Nanfeng had taken out the Immortal''s Destruction without any hesitation. He shouted for Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui to help him set up.


    "Activate all the formations that the sect possesses!" Ku Jiangmanded.


    Formations activated all around the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and the za outside the Vault of Scriptures filled with fog.


    "All disciples below Spiritsong, hide in one of these smaller formations!" Ku Jiangmanded.


    "Understood!" Most of the ordinary disciples rushed toward the formations that had sprung up.


    "All elders, prepare for battle!" Ku Jiang continued.


    "Understood!" The dozens of elders drew their own weapons, a serious look on their faces.


    "Nanfeng, I''ll leave you to guard my physical body." Ku Jiang made his final preparations.


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ku Jiang suddenly sat down cross-legged. A huge quantity of red light emerged from his body. The next moment, an ethereal blue figure emerged from Ku Jiang''s body, a red moon behind its head shining brilliantly. This was Ku Jiang''s yin body.


    After a relentless assault by the crow spirits and the crow Immortal, the defensive formation around the ind finally crumbled away in a ze of smoke. The crow Immortal roared and swooped down toward the Vault of Scriptures. The killing intent that radiated from its body was shocking enough that everyone took a step back.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body shot into the air. He extended a blood-red palm upward, positioned toward the crow Immortal.


    Another gale-wind storm formed in the air. Ku Jiang, using his tremendous reserves of spiritual power, sapped the crow Immortal''s momentum and deflected it.


    A fight between deities and Immortals was far too frightening. Even the resulting shockwaves alone were beyond what ordinary cultivators could handle. If the fight were to take ce at ground level, the Vault of Scriptures would quickly be a pile of ruins, along with the mountains in the vicinity. Ku Jiang needed to lead the fighter away from Taiqing Ind, so he had chosen to climb further and further from the sect.


    Even so, the danger wasn''t yet over. With the defensive formation around the entire ind broken, the three Wingform-realm crow spirits led dozens of Spiritsong-realm crow spirits swooping down. The battle was just starting.


    The killing intent that the crow spirits gave off transformed into a storm that terrorized the Vault of Scriptures.


    "Go!" The Taiqing elders had no intention of backing down. They charged at the crow spirits.

 Chapter 250: Consecutive Wingform Kills

    <h4>Chapter 250: Consecutive Wingform Kills</h4>


    Zhao Yuanjiao was the first to soar into the air, striking with his Crescent de. Dozens of crescent shes manifested in the air and shot toward the crow spirits.


    The Wingform crow in the lead cawed and spread its wings. Fire descended, swamping and overwhelming the crescent des. Zhao Yuanjiao roared and shot into the mes, his sword and momentum forcing the Wingform-realm crow spirit upward.


    However, there were two more Wingform-realm crow spirits left. They pped their wings, summoning fire as hot asva. The elders that shot toward them were flung away, screaming as they smashed into the ground.


    "Ye Dafu, take good care of my master''s physical body. Ye Sanshui, continue preparing the Immortal''s Destruction!" Xiao Nanfengmanded, then took to the air.


    He wanted to protect his master''s body as tasked, but if the elders were to be injured, the remaining crows would stillunch themselves toward him. In order to ensure that his master''s body wouldn''t be affected by the battle, he had no choice but to take down the two remaining Wingform-realm spirits.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, shing at one of the Wingform-realm spirits.


    The divine undying de caused many of its golden feathers to fall, but was unable to cut through to its flesh. The Wingform-realm crow roared in outrage, its feathers puffing up and sending a torrent of me straight toward Xiao Nanfeng. Its ws were like sharp spears that stabbed at Xiao Nanfeng and sent him flying.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng cultivated an impressive technique and harbored the power of ten suns within his body, he was only a Spiritsong-realm cultivator. As a result, he wasn''t able to deal any serious injuries. The Wingform-realm crow spirit rushed at him and caused him to falter.


    From the side of his eye, he could see that the elders facing the other Wingform-realm crow spirit were faring worse. Its feathers were like spears that shredded their barriers and caused blood to spray into the air.


    The Wingform-realm crow spirit was relentless. It shot forward once again, as though prepared to ughter the elders in one fell swoop.


    "No!" the elders cried out in despair.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng tossed out a corroded Immortal relic at the crow.


    The Immortal relic exploded in a huge fireball that consumed the Wingform-realm crow spirit.


    The elders, having avoided the imminent crisis, shouted, "Thank you, Elder Xiao!"


    "Take it down while it''s still injured!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" The elders all leapt at the stunned crow spirit.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, had his own foe to take down. The Wingform-realm crow spirit before him was swooping forward again.


    "Thinking of helping others even when you''re about to die? Take this!" The Wingform-realm crow spirit''s sharp ws struck like a row of Immortal spears.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched and defended with the divine undying de. The sh of de and w caused mes to spark to life all around them. A huge wave of energy sent him flying back.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t dare rest. He immediately charged toward the crow spirit again.


    "You overestimate your abilities," the crow spat out, swooping at him once again.


    Within the mes, as de and w collided, Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying again. His current strength only allowed him to defend himself against the crow, but he did manage to sessfully stall it from attacking the others.


    "Save us, Elder Xiao!" a shout came from afar.


    The other Wingform-realm crow spirit had recovered from the explosion. Though it was wounded, it was still a Wingform-realm spirit. It roared in outrage, suppressing the elders and leaving their lives in the bnce.


    "Explode!" Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng destroyed the final Immortal relic that Ao Zhou had given him.


    The Wingform-realm spirit was once again swamped with mes, and the elders saved.


    The Wingform-realm spirit around Xiao Nanfeng shot forward again. "Two Immortal relics for a group of people who are about to die? Are you worried that it''ll team up with me to take you down? Please. I alone will suffice!"


    The Wingform-realm crow spirit sent Xiao Nanfeng flying yet another time. He smashed into the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "King Xiao, the Immortal''s Destruction is ready!" Ye Sanshui shouted from within the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up as he tossed a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction straight at the Wingform-realm crow spirit flying toward him.


    "What''s this?" The Wingform-realm crow spirit was caught off guard.


    A sh of energy descended from the heavens and struck the crow spirit''s neck, so strong that it was akin to an attack from a Wingform-realm cultivator.


    The crow spirit''s protective barrier shattered. The sh of energy broke through its feathers and through skin and flesh. Blood fountained out as the energy finally dissipated.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng followed up with his divine undying de, precisely where the crow spirit had been wounded.


    "No!" the Wingform-realm crow spirit cawed in despair.


    Its head was sent flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng had taken down the Wingform-realm crow spirit in the blink of an eye. The other Wingform-realm crow spirit had just recovered from the disorientation from the explosion to see itspanion dead.


    "You bastard!" the crow spirit cawed. Brilliant, incandescent me sparked into life around it.


    "Go!" Xiao Nanfeng threw another talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction at the second crow spirit.


    The crow spirit tried to flee, but perhaps because of the damage it had sustained from two consecutive explosions, its actions were a little sluggish. It was unable to avoid the blows. The heavenly de broke through its defense, tearing off a flurry of feathers and leaving a gaping wound on its body.


    Xiao Nanfeng followed up with the divine undying de.


    The crow spirit cawed in outrage and swiped at Xiao Nanfeng, sending him flying. Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have sustained grievous injuries, and blood was pouring out of his mouth. Even so, his blow hadnded true. The divine undying de had dealt so much damage that the crow spirit''s internal organs could be seen.


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed another talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction at the injured crow spirit, who was unable to dodge.


    "No!" it cawed.


    The heavenly de struck precisely where its wound was located and even tore off one of its wings.


    Not daring to stay any longer, it tried to flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng, gritting his teeth and ignoring his wounds, charged forward and howled, "Kill!"


    Blue light illuminated the heavens as Xiao Nanfeng''s sh took the life of the second Wingform-realm crow spirit.


    "Elder Xiao killed two Wingform-realm crow spirits in a row!"


    "He''s incredible."


    Everyone in the vicinity was shocked.


    Xiao Nanfeng floated down to the ground, bleeding all over. Without any hesitation, he rushed to the Immortal''s Destruction and sat down beside Ku Jiang''s physical body.


    "How are you, King Xiao?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Ye Dafu, bring me the two Wingform-realm crow spirits'' inner cores so I can recuperate. Ye Sanshui, you''re in charge of the Immortal''s Destruction. Defend me and my master," Xiao Nanfengmanded, even as more blood seeped out of his mouth.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    As Ye Dafu rushed toward the two Wingform-realm crow spirits, some Spiritsong-realm crow spirits tried to attack Xiao Nanfeng, but they were dealt with by the Immortal''s Destruction.


    A few more attacked, but repeated des of energy appeared in the air and killed crow spirit after crow spirit. Eventually, they didn''t dare to attack any further.


    "King Xiao, the Immortal''s Destruction has grown far stronger. One de is equivalent to an attack from a Wingform-realm cultivator. That''s never happened before!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Naturally. The draconic vein that lies under Taiqing Ind is farrger than those we''ve excavated. The Immortal''s Destruction draws from the energy of these draconic veins, so it grew stronger as a result," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Ye Dafu quickly returned with two shining inner cores. "King Xiao, I''ve brought the cores back!"


    "You''ve been injured?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Ye Dafu''s clothes were the worse for wear.


    "I''m fine. A few crow spirits tried to scratch my itches."


    A Spiritsong-realm crow spirit had tried to attack him when he imed the Wingform-realm spirits'' inner cores, but Ye Dafu''s physique and cultivation technique meant he didn''t have to worry at all. The ws never even broke his skin.


    "Ye Dafu, operate the Immortal''s Destruction with Ye Sanshui and guard the perimeter," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng swallowed both Wingform-realm inner cores and began to recuperate.


    Ye Sanshui and his nephew stayed by Xiao Nanfeng and Ku Jiang''s side, operating the Immortal''s Destruction against any threats that came his way. As for the remaining crow spirits, the elders were more than sufficient to take care of them.


    Without the threat of the Wingform-realm crow spirits, the elders quickly imed the upper hand and forced the crow spirits high into the air beyond the Taiqing Ind.


    Nn Yunhai red at Xiao Nanfeng within the thick fog. He had been preparing to escape along with some others, but Xiao Nanfeng had actually managed to y the two Wingform-realm crow spirits with his Immortal''s Destruction. With the tides having turned, it would be inappropriate for him to flee now. All the elders were fighting, and he had to do the same.


    However, when the elders saw Nn Yunhai, many of them let out looks of disgust. They avoided him and were unwilling to fight side by side with him.


    "What''s wrong with these elders?" Nn Yunhai frowned.


    One of his subordinates suddenly asked, "Your Highness, will we need to use the Immortal web?"


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes shed as he realized what the reason was.


    "Are these elders criticizing me for not saving them with my Immortal web? Damn it. Why did Xiao Nanfeng have to sacrifice his relics?" Nn Yunhai glowered.


    It was no secret that he possessed an Immortal web. Immortal relics were precious by nature, no matter how corroded, and no one would destroy them just to fend off a foe. No one would have criticized him for not contributing enough if not for Xiao Nanfeng''s valiant efforts in destroying two Immortal relics to save the gathered elders. Inparison, Nn Yunhai looked far more selfish and self-interested.


    Now that the elders had taken the upper hand, they didn''t need Nn Yunhai''s support any longer. No matter what Nn Yunhai did, he wouldn''t be able to change their thoughts on him.


    "Well done, Xiao Nanfeng," Nn Yunhai spat out. "Well done!"

 Chapter 251: The Spirits Imperial Court

    <h4>Chapter 251: The Spirits'' Imperial Court</h4>


    Two hourster, after Xiao Nanfeng distilled the essence of two Wingform-realm inner cores, he had recovered from the worst of his injuries.


    Without the threat of the Wingform-realm crow spirits, and with many Spiritsong-realm crow spirits killed by the Immortal''s Destruction, the elders were able to take control of the fighting. They forced the crow spirits to the sea, then surrounded and killed them. There was enough breathing room that the most seriously injured elders could return to the ind proper and rest.


    "Die!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared from high in the air.


    "No!" the final Wingform-realm crow spirit shrieked.


    Everyone looked up to see Zhao Yuanjiao soaring into the sky, brandishing his sword in one hand. Dozens of crescent des appeared around his sword in the form of afterimages, striking the Wingform-realm crow spirit like a meteor. The Wingform-realm crow spirit disintegrated in a spray of flesh and blood.


    After Zhao Yuanjiao slew the final Wingform-realm crow spirit, he quickly joined the elders. The Spiritsong-realm crow spirits, already at a disadvantage, easily fell to the elders'' and Zhao Yuanjiao''sbined assault. The remaining crow spirits tried to flee, but were unable to do so before they were taken down.


    A firestorm continued to rage around Hong Lie and Xiang Pojun, mired in an intense fight. Suddenly, Xiang Pojun cried out. Another huge mushroom cloud rose into the air as Xiang Pojun was sent flying. He was bloody all over and grievously injured. He fled into the distance.


    "Stay right here!" Hong Lie chased after him.


    "Hong Lie, just you wait. I''lle back and seek my revenge. When I do, none of you will be able to escape. Crow Immortal, let''s leave!"


    Xiang Pojun fled in disgrace, his raid on Taiqing Ind eminently unsessful. Hong Lie chased after him.


    "The crow Immortal won''t be leaving with you," Ku Jiang announced from another ming battlefield.


    "No!" the crow Immortal cawed in despair.


    The mes abruptly extinguished as Ku Jiang''s Yin Body floated through the air, carrying the crow Immortal''s corpse in his hands.


    The elders had already returned to the za outside the Vault of Scriptures. Although many of them were injured, their overwhelming victory brought a smile to everyone''s faces.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body left the crow Immortal''s corpse on the za for everyone to look at.


    Meanwhile, he returned to his physical body, which woke with a start.


    "Nanfeng, I saw your fight. Very well done," Ku Jiang said.


    "It''s my duty to protect the sect," Xiao Nanfeng replied as he got up.


    "For your willingness to discard even Immortal relics in defense of the sect, I award you the inner core of this crow Immortal. im it yourself," Ku Jiang said.


    "Thank you, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The crow Immortal was dead, but its body still exuded waves of spiritual energy. With his spiritual power, Xiao Nanfeng quickly identified where the crow Immortal''s inner core was kept and imed it with his divine undying de.


    As he cut a precise incision in the crow Immortal''s carcass and rummaged through its flesh, he quickly found and held up an inner core radiating with light.


    Everyone gasped and took in a breath. They were astounded by the treasure, but none were jealous. They had all seen Xiao Nanfeng destroy two Immortal relics in defense of the elders, and they all judged him worthy of receiving the crow Immortal''s inner core.


    "Go distill it now before its spiritual energy dissipates," Ku Jiang said, loading the crow Immortal''s carcass into his storage ring.


    "Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng stored the Immortal''s Destruction and walked to his nearby residence. Although the fight had been intense, there were formations everywhere that protected thend from damage. Neither the Vault of Scriptures nor the surrounding buildings had been damaged.


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui imed the spoils from their kills, then stood guard outside Xiao Nanfeng''s cottage as he meditated.


    "Yuanjiao, how are everyone''s injuries?" Ku Jiang asked.


    "All the elders are hurt to varying extents, but no one died," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "You are the Ascended division leader, and I leave you in charge of dealing with the aftermath of this raid," Ku Jiang stated.


    "Yes, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    Meanwhile, Hong Lie returned to the ind. Although there were traces of blood on his body, he didn''t seem to be injured. Even so, he was clearly upset. He had failed to catch up to Xiang Pojun and allowed him to run off.


    "Hong Lie, let''s talk." Ku Jiang motioned at his residence.


    Hong Lie nodded and followed Ku Jiang into the hall. Before he departed, he nced at Nn Yunhai in disappointment.


    Nn Yunhai, upset and annoyed, left with his subordinates.


    As the Taiqing disciples cleaned up the mess in the za, they chatted with each other.


    "Thank goodness I chose not to take part in Nn Yunhai''s quest. I saw him preparing to run away just now."


    "He didn''t even care about our lives at all! What sort of elder is he?"


    "I heard he had some Immortal relics that he didn''t even use. If not for Elder Xiao sacrificing two of his Immortal relics, many of the elders would be grievously injured or dead."


    What had transpired during the fight made it obvious whom they should work with.


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s cottage, as he swallowed the gleaming inner core, tremendous energy filled his body.


    "What incredible strength!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Roiling energy transformed into pure yang origin qi and shot toward his dantian. Golden radiance manifested around his body, igniting into me. His cultivation was improving rapidly.


    Four hourster, a gust of energy was expelled from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng widened his eyes, but then frowned. "The sixth stage of Spiritsong? Did the crow Immortal consume too much of its spiritual qi before it died? I was expecting a more significant effect..."


    Xiao Nanfeng changed his clothes and stepped outside of the cottage, where he found ten elders waiting by his doorstep.


    "We greet Elder Xiao." The elders bowed.


    "Is there anything I might do for you, elders?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed somewhat confused.


    These ten elders were from all four divisions, and he had no affiliation with any of them.


    The elders nced at each other. One smiled. "Elder Xiao, we''d like to thank you for your sacrifice in saving us. We know that you''re recruiting Taiqing disciples to reim your titlednds. Are you in need of any Spiritsong-realm disciples of the sect?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. "Of course! Are you all willing to apany me?"


    "If you''ll have us, Elder Xiao, we would be happy to participate in your expedition. We ask only for equitable treatment and basic amenities."


    The other elders nodded. They were thankful to Xiao Nanfeng for saving their lives, and were all willing to lend him their assistance.


    "Elders, I am truly thankful for your gesture." Xiao Nanfeng was ted.


    He had umted a fair bit of strength and power, but who would mind having more?


    "The gratitude is ours, Elder Xiao," one elder immediately replied.


    Including the four elders who had reached Spiritsong while apanying him on his draconic vein excavations, there were now fourteen in all who were willing to apany him to hisnds. Xiao Nanfeng suddenly felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.


    He arranged travel ns with the elders, who returned to their own residences to pack up, before heading toward Ku Jiang''s hall.


    Within, Ku Jiang was deep in discussion with Hong Lie.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng announced himself as he walked into the hall.


    Ku Jiang nodded at Xiao Nanfeng, then turned toward Hong Lie. "Why didn''t you mention this earlier?"


    Hong Lie sighed, then smiled wryly. "Nn Qiankun was the one who found the ce, and I was only along for the ride. Shouldn''t this sort of opportunity belong to those who found it? Who would publicize it outright?"


    "It''s clear that you weren''t the only one who did so. The Xiang n has found it too¡ªno, they might have found it even earlier. Right before the Taiwu Empire was destroyed, the strongest members of its royal family suddenly went missing. That''s where they must have gone. Xiang Pojun''s just one of the missing cultivators. The rest must have returned as well. This is no trifling matter." Ku Jiang frowned.


    "Could you be overthinking things? If they''re all back, why was Xiang Pojun the only one who came here? The other cultivators of the Xiang n could well be dead."


    "Don''t be too optimistic about that," Ku Jiang warned.


    "Master, has Xiang Pojun not perished?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    Ku Jiang nodded after some hesitation. "Xiang Pojun was only injured, and he managed to flee. Nanfeng, I expect you''ll meet significant resistance on your quest to reim your titlednds."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "Xiang Pojun''s return suggests that other members of the Xiang n may have returned as well. They''ve obtained tremendous benefits from the hidden realm, and they''re now particrly dangerous."


    "A hidden realm? Whose?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Fifty thousand years ago, a three-legged golden crow formed an imperial court of the spirits and was crowned emperor. That empire''s expanse swelled to the entire world; it seemed invincible. However, a cmity that struck around the same time caused the imperial court of the spirits to vanish thereafter."


    "An emperor of the spirits..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "There''s been a persistent rumor that this emperor managed to create a hidden realm and entombed himself within. Others said that he transformed into a cursed effigy and was awaiting his revival in order to take over the world once again. Allegedly, the entrance to this hidden realm is located somewhere within the Taiwu Empire," Ku Jiang continued.


    "In other words, the Xiang n has found the entrance to this hidden realm? Their strongest cultivators all entered the hidden realm, leaving a power vacuum in the Taiwu Empire and enabling its destruction?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    "That is what I suspect. Xiang Pojun suffered grave injuries from Hong Lie, but he''ll be back to normal in just a few days. Who knows how many other Xiang n members might have returned in addition to Xiang Pojun?" Ku Jiang frowned.


    "Master, you also mentioned that Emperor Tianshu has entered the hidden realm and obtained an opportunity?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    Hong Lie, by the side, nodded. "That''s right. Nn Qiankun is in control of the entrance to that hidden realm. From the looks of it, though, there are at least two entrances, and Xiang Pojun is in control of one of them."


    "The Tianshu Empire will be besieged once more, then..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Nanfeng, considering the unrest, I urge you not to return to yournds. The Xiang n will surely treat it as a target," Hong Lie advised.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head with a smile. "Xiang Pojun isn''t enough to scare me. No one will prevent me from reiming my titlednds!"

 Chapter 252: Dealing with the Chief Steward

    <h4>Chapter 252: Dealing with the Chief Steward</h4>


    In the city of Yongding, within the titlednds of the Xiao n in the Tianshu Empire, the Xiao manor was hosting a banquet.


    As the skies darkened, generals and soldiers alike were gathered by the front yard of the manor, drinking and feasting to their hearts'' content.


    "I toast Young Master Xiao on his advancement in cultivation!" one warrior shouted.


    "We toast Young Master Xiao on his advancement in cultivation!" The other warriors echoed the gesture, smiling as they nodded at a young man not far away.


    The young man smiled and toasted them in return. From time to time, he nced at a middle-aged man beside him.


    "Chief Steward, you are to thank for the astounding improvement in Young Master Xiao''s cultivation. We toast you as well!" The warriors turned toward the middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man seemed to be in somewhat of a drunken stupor. He looked toward ''Young Master Xiao'' and smiled. "I thank you. My son is truly talented in cultivation, and will surely amount to greatness in the future."


    ''Young Master Xiao'' nched and whispered, "Chief Steward, you''re drunk."


    The Chief Steward shook his head andughed. "Worry not. The soldiers and generals gathered here are my most loyal subordinates. They''re here to congratte your brother, and they''re toasting and praising you only as a manner of courtesy. Your brother won''t be attending the banquet, but I''ll still celebrate on his behalf. My son might have the might of an Immortal, haha!"


    "Congrattions, Chief Steward. Congrattions, Young Master Xiao!" the soldiers and generals repeated.


    "Haha, haha!" the Chief Stewardughed gaily.


    The banquet was particrly lively, but there was a table of soldiers by the far corner of the yard that remained surprisingly quiet. Because it was evening and they were in a region with littlemplight, their silence went unnoticed.


    The soldiers at that table seemed to be frozen stiff, unable to move. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. They were looking at a young man drinking by himself in abject fear. Seeing his appearance by moonlight, they shuddered.


    The young man swallowed a gulp of wine and looked at the soldiers that were unable to move. "The Chief Steward''s impersonating me with his own son? Could none of you tell all this time?"


    Although the young man before him looked slightly different, it was apparent that he was Xiao Nanfeng. However, none of them were even able to open their mouths to speak. Their expressions remained fearful.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the soldiers and turned toward the Chief Steward, who put down his cup of wine andughed. "I didn''t intend to make a big deal about my son''s breakthrough, but to think that you''ve all learned of it and are here to congratte him! How did you know?"


    The soldiers and generals nced at each other. "Chief Steward, could you be mistaken? Weren''t you the one who invited us to attend?"


    "Nonsense! Why would I summon all of you back all at once? What are you talking about?" the Chief Steward asked somewhat jokingly.


    "I have an invitation from you, Chief Steward. You stated not to let anyone else know of this, that only your most trusted subordinates have been invited, and not to divulge any news about the banquet. Here, I''ve brought the invitation over," one cultivator said.


    "I have the same invitation."


    "Me too!"


    The soldiers pulled out their individual invitations. None had revealed any information, adhering strictly to the invitation''s demands.


    The Chief Steward''s eyes widened as he looked at the invitations. The alcohol-fuelled haze vanished from his body as he instantly awoke.


    "How could this be? Didn''t youe of your own ord? You all even jointly signed a letter requesting a banquet to celebrate my son''s aplishment. You mentioned that you were prepared with gifts, that I would get a surprise during the banquet!" The Chief Steward suddenly stood up, eyes wild.


    "A joint letter? There was no such thing..." The soldiers and generals looked at each other in shock.


    Everyone could tell that something was deeply amiss.


    "How did this banquete about, then? Steward Chen was the one who organized it. Where''s Steward Chen? Show yourself!" the Chief Steward demanded.


    The servants nced at each other, but Steward Chen didn''t step forward. After some time, one servant volunteered, "Chief Steward, Steward Chen is missing."


    "What?!" the Chief Steward eximed.


    Astounded, the warriors all clutched their weapons in shock.


    "I was the one who organized this banquet, but it looks like it''s not to your liking," Xiao Nanfeng announced, holding a cup of alcohol in one hand.


    Everyone turned to him.


    When they saw Xiao Nanfeng, the warriors were shocked to no end. They began to panic, and the warriors closest to him even upended many of the dishes at their tables in panic. Porcin shattered.


    "Wh-Who are you?!" the Chief Steward thundered.


    "Chief Steward, it''s been three years. Don''t you recognize me?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Protect Young Master Xiao. Escort him away! Protect him!" the Chief Stewardmanded.


    He had recognized Xiao Nanfeng and had guessed that he was here to seek revenge, but he had no choice but to protect the legitimacy of ''Young Master Xiao'' beside him. Not only was ''Young Master Xiao'' his son, he was also the safeguard for the Chief Steward''s apparent morality.


    That Xiao Nanfeng had been able to organize a banquet like this spoke to a wealth of preparation. He couldn''t stay here any longer.


    Just as the Chief Steward was about to escape with ''Young Master Xiao'', a beam of light shot forth from Xiao Nanfeng''s back¡ªa qi-infused arrow whose target was ''Young Master Xiao''.


    "No!" the Chief Steward eximed.


    ''Young Master Xiao'' was shot through the head and sent flying. The momentum of the arrow was such that he was pinned against a wall and struck dead on the spot.


    "Son! No!" the Chief Steward bellowed.


    Only then did the warriors see Ye Dafu standing behind Xiao Nanfeng. He had shot an arrow at the fake Young Master Xiao and killed him instantly.


    "Chief Steward, do you remember the note I left you before my departure?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    The Chief Steward nched as he recalled the note that Xiao Nanfeng had left him. ''Don''t die before I return to im your head.''


    After just three years, Xiao Nanfeng had returned to seek revenge.


    "Kill them. Kill them all!" the Chief Steward pointed at Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Dafu, a look of hatred zing on his face.


    "Kill!" the warriors howled, charging forward.


    By now, they too understood that they had fallen for Xiao Nanfeng''s trick. The fact that they were invited at all meant that Xiao Nanfeng was targeting them. Either Xiao Nanfeng would die, or the rest of them would. There was no third option. They charged forward fiercely, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear this group of Immanence-realm warriors. He didn''t even stand up. He eyed the warriors coldly.


    Ye Dafu used his bow as a club as he struck at the gathered soldiers, sending them flying out and smashing against the walls in the Xiao manor. They crumpled to the base of the wall in a heap, either dead or grievously injured.


    Quite a few warriors didn''t bother to strike at all. They turned tail and ran. However, as they leapt above the walls to the manor, feet suddenly appeared to kick them back inside.


    They crashed into the yard like falling meteors, upending the banquet tables.


    The Chief Steward had no intention of dragging out this losing fight. Ignoring even his son''s corpse, he attempted to flee.


    However, a leg kicked him from amidst the darkness, sending him wheezing back into the center of the courtyard. The Chief Steward fell in a spray of blood as he looked at the man who had kicked him.


    "Ye Sanshui of the Ye n? What are you doing here? Aren''t the Ye n''s troops not allowed into these titlednds?!" the Chief Steward eximed, vomiting out blood.


    "Chief Steward, are you? In gratitude for your brother dying in his ce on the battlefield, Marquis Xiao heaped benefit after benefit upon you, trusting you with his life and allowing you to manage his estate. You, however, blinded by ambition, manipted Young Master Xiao and attempted to usurp his authority. You deserve to die!" Ye Sanshui proimed.


    The Chief Steward nched. Without any hesitation, he retrieved a bamboo tube and activated it, sending fireworks into the air above the Xiao manor. He was signaling and calling for help.


    He was relieved that Ye Sanshui hadn''t been in time to stop him when Xiao Nanfeng put down his cup of alcohol. "Use whatever other transmission tools you have. Whatever forces youmand, whichever helpers you might have¡ªsummon them. Don''t worry, the night is yet long. We have plenty of time."


    "What?!" The Chief Steward''s eyes twitched.


    He never expected that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t mind¡ªno, was even encouraging¡ªthat he was summoning whatever reinforcements he had. Ye Sanshui didn''t make a move, either. He stood close by and watched the Chief Steward quietly.


    The Chief Steward immediately retrieved two more bamboo tubes and sent them into the air as well.


    Meanwhile, not too far away, Ye Dafu''s fight against the warriors had ended. They had all been taken down.


    "King Xiao, I''ve handled all these traitorous warriors! If I hadn''t looked at their files, I wouldn''t have expected them to be this evil. After Marquis Xiao went missing, they''ve been bullying themon people and killing any who dare go against them. They''vemitted all sorts of evil and have ruined his good name. A quick death is more than they deserve," Ye Dafu gritted out.


    "King Xiao? Aren''t you supposed to be a disciple in the Taiqing Immortal Sect? When did you be a king?" The Chief Steward clutched at his chest.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "You knew I was a disciple in the Taiqing Immortal Sect? Your informationwork''s not too bad, I suppose. We''ll just have to see if your helpers can save you."


    Just then, a white-robed young man appeared from the sky. White light radiated from him, and he gave off an overwhelming aura as hended.


    "Spiritsong-realm?!" Ye Dafu raised an eyebrow.


    "The Chief Steward''s eldest son, a Spiritsong-realm cultivator? How could it be?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "All the cultivation resources that my father left for me were given to the Chief Steward''s eldest son instead. Of course he could reach Spiritsong," Xiao Nanfeng exined, ring at the neer.


    The white-robed male grew incensed as he took in the corpses in the yard and the fake ''Young Master Xiao'' pinned dead against the wall. "Second Brother? Who killed my second brother?!"


    "Kill them, my son! It''s Ye Sanshui, third son of the Ye n, and his son! They''re Ascension-realm cultivators. Get rid of them now!" the Chief Steward shouted.


    Ye Sanshui stomped on the Chief Steward, causing him to spray out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "You''ll die for that!" The white-robed man leapt toward Ye Sanshui.

 Chapter 253: Killing the Thieves

    <h4>Chapter 253: Killing the Thieves</h4>


    As the white-robed man swooped down toward the ground, he saw Xiao Nanfeng. His eyes narrowed. He figured out what was going on instantly.


    "You didn''t die in the draconic pce?" the white-robed man asked.


    He shot a flying sword at Xiao Nanfeng, decisively giving up on saving his father, the Chief Steward, and turning to Xiao Nanfeng instead. He intended to take down Xiao Nanfeng quickly while thetter was unprepared.


    "Like father, like son. Do you think you can do much to me when you''ve just reached Spiritsong? You''re far too confident in yourself," Xiao Nanfeng called out, chuckling.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood still as Ye Dafu shot forward and shattered the sword with a fist.


    "What? You''re not an Ascension-realm cultivator?!" the white-robed man cried out.


    He shed at Ye Dafu with his sword, but Ye Dafu leapt forward and punched it aside. The fist struck his chest, sending the white-robed man flying back as he sprayed out a mouthful of blood.


    He wasn''t able to counter Ye Dafu''s attacks at all! He was so scared that he ran off immediately.


    "You won''t be able to escape!" Ye Dafu shouted, chasing him into the air.


    The two cultivators tussled in the air. The white-robed man crumpled under Ye Dafu''s vigorous assault. He fell to the ground in a heap, right by the Chief Steward''s side.


    "Impossible!" The white-robed man spat out a mouthful of blood as he attempted to flee again, but Ye Dafu dropped down from the skies and smashed a knee into his chest. The white-robed man''s chest caved in, and the yard itself cracked from the tremendous impact. The white-robed man lost all his strength.


    "Impossible. How could he be a Spiritsong-realm cultivator? Could Xiao Nanfeng have be a Spiritsong-realm cultivator as well?!" the Chief Steward shouted in fear.


    "Father, your information is a year out of date. I just learned that he had reached Spiritsong while in the Eastern Sea draconic pce. I thought that he had died there, but to think he would still be alive...!" the white-robed man cried out weakly.


    "Impossible. He didn''t receive a single portion of the resources that Xiao Hongye left behind. How could he have reached Spiritsong so quickly?!" the Chief Steward eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the white-robed man. "You haven''t changed from before, have you? Cruel, traitorous bastards. If you had seeded in sneaking up on me and killing me, you would have been able to supnt me with a fake heir. Unfortunately, you''re far too weak to seed!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you return! What are you here to do?!" the white-robed man cried out, shame flitting across his expression.


    "To take back all that belongs to me, and to kill you bastards. When my parents went missing, weren''t you the one who led a group of fighters into my manor and killed all my maids so I wouldn''t be able to escape? I''ll start with you, then. Perhaps your death willy them to rest," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ye Dafu brandished his longsword and prepared to behead the white-robed man.


    "No! You can''t kill me!" the white-robed man shouted.


    "Hold it!" a voice came from afar.


    A flying sword zipped forward in a beam of light straight at Ye Dafu.


    Ye Dafu dodged to the side and retaliated with a sh, sending a huge wave of energy into the air and knocking the flying sword aside. A gray-robed man caught it in his hand.


    "Save me, Senior Brother!" the white-robed man cried out.


    Three gray-robed men had suddenly appeared in the air. Killing intent emanated from them.


    "Let go of my junior brother!"


    "Is that Xiao Nanfeng? Didn''t he die in the draconic pce?"


    The three cultivators nced at the courtyard, gobsmacked.


    "Aren''t you three elders from the Taiqing Demonic Sect? Do you intend to meddle in my n''s affairs?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, let go of my junior brother. He''s an elder of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, and the two Taiqing sects are bonded by alliance. You can''t kill him. Let him go!" the gray-robed cultivator in the lead called out.


    "On ount of the fact that we''re from sister sects, I''ll pretend I didn''t see that flying sword. I''m dealing with n business. If you interfere, none of you will leave here today," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Insolence!" a gray-robed man replied.


    "Ye Dafu, continue!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    Ye Dafu shed at the white-robed man.


    "No!" the white-robed man howled.


    "Hold it!" The three gray-robed cultivators shot into the courtyard, but three more figures showed up from outside the yard, holding the gray-robed cultivators back.


    Ye Dafu beheaded the white-robed man in a fountain of blood.


    "My son! Xiao Nanfeng, how could you? You''ve gone too far!" the Chief Steward yelled.


    "Indeed? I can still hear my maids'' cries in my head. They did nothing wrong but treat me well. Your son considered that enough of an offense to kill them all¡ªand not just them, but their whole families as well. Are my actions any worse than his? I have merely sought revenge on behalf of the innocent," Xiao Nanfeng spat out.


    "You¡ª" The Chief Steward''s face was a mask of fear.


    In the air, the three gray-robed cultivators were likewise startled by Xiao Nanfeng''s decisiveness.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve killed an elder of the Taiqing Demonic Sect! Do you intend to break the alliance between the two sects?!" one of the gray-robed cultivators shouted.


    "And you elders, do you intend to join Xiao Nanfeng in this madness? You''re destroying the alliance by your actions!" another gray-robed cultivator used.


    One of the elders on Xiao Nanfeng''s sideughed coldly. "I''ve never seen such shameless cultivators. The demonic sect must be in decay."


    "Elders, if they continue to attack, don''t hold back. I''ll take responsibility for anything that happens here."


    "Understood!" the elders replied.


    The three gray-robed cultivators nced at the courtyard. The situation didn''t look good; they might not win in a direct attack.


    "Very well, very well! Just you wait! Let''s go!" one gray-robed elder shouted. The three of them turned to leave.


    In the end, the elders working alongside Xiao Nanfeng honored the pact between the two sects and allowed them to leave freely.


    "Tell your division leader that these are Xiaonds. Disrupting the lives of the citizenry without my permission will be treated in the same manner as banditry¡ªthe punishment is death!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted at the fleeing elders.


    The three gray-robed elders whirled around and gave Xiao Nanfeng a malicious re, clearly not taking his words to heart.


    "Cultivators, please! You can''t go! Save me!" the Chief Steward shouted.


    The three gray-robed elders ignored the man. In an instant, they were nothing more than dots on the horizon.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng turn back to the Chief Steward. "Well? Do you have any other helpers? If not, I''ll be sending you on your way."


    The Chief Steward felt all his hair stand on end. Death was about to embrace him.


    "Please, Young Master, spare me. You can''t me me for this. It was the emperor''s brother-inw who reached out to me. Otherwise, no matter how bold I was, I would never dare to betray the Xiao n. The emperor''s brother-inw is the division leader of the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, and he revealed to me that Marquis Xiao was dead. If I were to listen to him, he would protect me from repercussions from the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and he would even take my son as disciple. He forced me to rece all the officials in the Xiaonds with his men. I was forced to do all this. Please spare me, Young Master!" the Chief Steward cried out.


    "What he did, I''ll hold him ountable¡ªbut even if you were forced into this, you were never ordered to kill the soldiers loyal to my father, nor their families. You split up Xiaonds and gifted it to other nobles in order to broker alliances, power, and wealth. Well done, Chief Steward. You''ve ruined thesends and its people. For those crimes alone, a thousand deaths wouldn''t be able to restore justice to the world."


    The Chief Steward''s eyes clouded in despair. He could sense Xiao Nanfeng''s killing intent. Was this it?


    "Daughter, why haven''t you appeared? Daughter!" the Chief Steward howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t in a hurry to kill the Chief Steward. He was waiting for the Chief Steward to reveal all his trump cards. Killing the Chief Steward would be trivial, but rooting out all his hidden forces would have been far trickier otherwise.


    Just then, a ball of burnished copper shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Who dares?!" Ye Dafu shouted, rushing into its path and sending it flying back.


    Simultaneously, four more Spiritsong-realm cultivators descended from the sky and toward the courtyard. "Kill!"


    Three Taiqing elders met them inbat as Ye Dafu rushed toward the figure who had thrown the copper ball at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The eight cultivators fought each other in a ze of fire and fury. The entire city of Yongding was roused by themotion. The fight lit up the sky.


    By a rooftop not too far away appeared a hulking man holding on to a gorgeous woman.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You''ve killed my older and younger brothers? You''re done for." The woman''s eyes were like pearls infused with malice.


    "Daughter, save me, save me!" the Chief Steward called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the woman with a sneer. "As for you, is this the newest cultivator besotted with you? How blind he is."


    The hulking man smirked. "Is this the man who fled his impending marriage with you three years ago? What a pity. He must not have experienced how you are in bed, or he would never have been willing to run, haha!"


    "Husband, he''s killed my brothers and captured my father. won''t you help me kill him and rescue my father?" the woman pouted.


    "Of course, of course!" The hulking manughed and turned to the Chief Steward. "Do you see that, old man? The Taiqing Demonic Sect doesn''t care about your survival. We''re the ones you can rely on."


    "Save me, General Ma! I''ll cooperate with all your demands. Just save me!" the Chief Steward cried out.


    "You should have done so long ago. You''ve been trying to straddle both us and the Tianshu Empire, thinking to gain benefits from both sides, but that''s a losing proposition. If not for how much fun your daughter has been, I''d have left you for dead long ago," the hulking man stated bluntly.


    "Of course, of course, General Ma! If you save me, I''ll help you establish an altar and excavate the draconic vein here!" the Chief Steward immediately promised.


    Xiao Nanfengughed in anger. "This General Ma must be one of the leaders of the bandits in thesends. How devious you are, Chief Steward. Your son stands with the emperor''s brother-inw, while your daughter''s in cahoots with one of the leaders of the rebels. No matter what, you''ll be safe."


    "Lad, do you really think that thesends belong to you? Nn Qiankun''s a bandit to begin with, and Xiao Hongye didn''t obtain thesends through righteous means. We''re only reiming what should have belonged to us. Are you going to give it up, or make me send you on your way?" the hulking man asked.


    "Kill him, Husband! Don''t let him live." The woman eyed Xiao Nanfeng maliciously.


    "You really are a good match for him, aren''t you? If nothing else, I suppose I could kill you both together," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Just then, a beam of golden light appeared by their heads. The hulking man looked up, his eyes widening. "Something''s wrong!"


    The beam of golden light manifested in the form of a heavenly de that descended toward the couple. The hulking man, attempting to save himself, pushed the woman toward it.


    "Ah!" the woman yelled.


    She was split in two and killed on the spot. The house beneath them copsed in a shower of rubble and dust. The hulking man barely avoided the blow.

 Chapter 254: A Stampede for Revenge

    <h4>Chapter 254: A Stampede for Revenge</h4>


    General Ma avoided the attack and red at Xiao Nanfeng. "You brat, you think you can kill me? Die!"


    He charged straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Insolence!" Ye Sanshui shouted, drawing his sword and defending his liege.


    The two cultivators crashed into each other in a huge explosion of energy. Ye Sanshui seemed a little weaker in terms of explosive strength, and General Ma was able to force him back. However, hemanded Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal''s Destruction. He tossed a talisman at General Ma, and a heavenly de shot down toward him.


    "Again?" General Ma defended with his sword.


    The heavenly de struck him and sent him smashing into the ground. He had blocked the blow, but at great cost. His hair came unbound and scattered across his shoulders.


    "Again!" Ye Sanshui sent a third heavenly de shooting at General Ma, who was prepared and managed to sessfully dodge the attack. The de crashed into the ground in a plume of dust.


    "These des might be strong, but they''re meaningless if they can''t hit me. Die!" General Ma shot forward again.


    "Ye Sanshui, we''ll assist you!" Two more Taiqing elders joined in the fray.


    They blocked General Ma''s way and began to attack him. To avoid any possibility of friendly fire, Ye Sanshui chose not to use the Immortal''s Destruction again. He joined in the fray; the three cultivators attacked General Ma in sync. The advantage turned against him.


    General Ma avoided the attacks as he shouted, "Are you Taiqing elders crazy? Xiao Nanfeng''s just a brat, wet behind the ears! Why would you listen to his orders?"


    The elders snorted, ignoring the foolish cultivator.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked up at the sky. "General Ma, there must be more of you here in the city. Where are they? Have them show themselves!"


    General Ma, hemmed in by the elders, shouted into the distance in frustration. "Show yourself, Commandants! Take down Xiao Nanfeng at once!"


    Three figures emerged from the city, headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "We''ve been waiting!"


    Five cultivators emerged from right outside the Xiao manor.


    "Another five Taiqing disciples? Impossible. Have they all gone crazy?!" General Ma eximed.


    "Kill!" the Taiqing elders eximed.


    The melee grew more and more intense as more cultivators joined the fray. Roaring mes bathed the city. Against the twelve Taiqing elders'' onught, General Ma and his men were quickly forced on the defensive. They incurred wound after wound.


    "They were prepared for this. We''ve been ambushed, and our camps must have been exposed as well. We have to leave Yongding immediately. Now!" General Ma shouted.


    Arge group of Immanence- and Ascension-realm cultivators quickly began to flee toward the city gates.


    "It''s toote!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Suddenly, thousands of Taiqing disciples appeared by the city gates.


    "Kill!"


    The Taiqing disciples charged forward in a stampede, as if there were thousands of soldiers and horses waiting for them. The sound of fighting rang out through the city.


    "Thousands of Taiqing disciples?" General Ma eximed in mounting fear. "This must be half the sect. How did you do it, Xiao Nanfeng?!"


    "What a coincidence. I was only here to seek revenge on the Chief Steward, but it looks like I''ll be able to deal with a stain on thesends now as well," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    "Impossible! You brought half the Taiqing Immortal Sect to kill a weakling like the Chief Steward? Do you think me a fool?" General Ma roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng chose not to exin himself. He looked toward the battlefield.


    Ye Dafu was the first to achieve sess inbat. He smashed straight through the chest of a Spiritsong-realm cultivator in a spray of blood. The cultivator''s corpse fell to the ground; he was dead even before itnded.


    "Let me help you, Third Uncle!" Ye Dafu rushed over to where Ye Sanshui was located. They attacked General Ma together.


    "Flee!" General Mamanded.


    The cultivators in the air, grievously wounded, scattered and attempted to flee.


    When they arrived at the city walls, however, they found even more elders barring their way. The neers forced them back.


    "Just how many elders from the Taiqing Immortal Sect are here? Why are there more?!" they cried out in despair.


    Sixteen elders were surrounding the seven of them. At this rate, they would all die here!


    General Ma was struggling to take on four cultivators at once. As he attempted to flee, he saw that even more reinforcements were arriving on the enemy side. His morale gged. Was this the end for him?


    General Ma gritted his teeth. He turned back, blocking the enemy cultivators'' blows with his back. The injuries he sustained caused fresh blood to spray out of his mouth. He was badly injured, but he didn''t care. He rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, aware that dealing with him would be the crux of resolving this problem.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, die!" General Ma roared, shing at Xiao Nanfeng with this sword. The sh cut apart the void and summoned a howling gale. It looked as though it might bisect Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Be careful, King Xiao!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    "The peak of Spiritsong, are you? Have a taste of my Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t even reach for a weapon. He struck with his unarmed fist.


    The fist technique blocked the sh in its entirety¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng didn''tunch just the one punch. Dozens of punches filled the air, all targeting General Ma.


    "Impossible!" General Ma eximed.


    The punches struck him all over; he had had no time to block. His body caved in; his limbs were syed. Shards of bone and fresh blood scattered around him. Losing all his strength, he slumped to the ground like a bag of skin and bones.


    Xiao Nanfeng had deliberately controlled the strength of his Hegemon''s Fist; otherwise, General Ma would already have been dead.


    "It took you just a single punch to take down General Ma?!" the Chief Steward eximed.


    "You''ve ruined me, Chief Steward!" General Ma cried out.


    The four elders who had been chasing after General Ma stopped short.


    "Elder Xiao, you''re incredible!" two of the elders gasped.


    The four of thembined had been having trouble with General Ma, but Xiao Nanfeng had taken him down with just a single punch!


    "Elders, please protect the disciples that are fighting in the city. Don''t let them be hurt by those bandits."


    "Understood!" The elders flew into the city.


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui watched over the Chief Steward and General Ma.


    "All you bandits, listen up! I, Xiao Nanfeng, rightful heir to thesends, have returned. I don''t wish for more carnage. This is your one opportunity to redeem yourself. Kneel down and submit, and you shall be spared. Resist, and be killed!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted. His voice reached the entire city.


    "Kneel and be spared. Resist and be killed!"


    The Taiqing disciples took up the chant. Many of the rogue cultivators shuddered in fear and knelt down on the ground at once, though others continued to resist.


    With the downfall of General Ma, the tide of battle turned overwhelmingly in Xiao Nanfeng''s favor.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I rmend that you submit now. The Xiang n''s cultivators have returned, and the Tianshu Empire will soon be destroyed. You won''t be able to save your titlednds. The Chief Steward may have lured us to our deaths today, but we have Wingform-realm cultivators and spirits at our disposal. You won''t be able to withstand their might!" General Ma threatened.


    "Is that your best argument? I''ve killed Wingform-realm spirits before, and my senior uncle even deeply wounded Xiang Pojun a few days ago. My master killed a crow Immortal. I suppose you''re not aware of these things yet," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Impossible. You''re lying!" General Ma shouted, even as he continued to cough out blood.


    "Nothing''s impossible. The Taiwu Empire is a relic of the past. Even with the aid of the Taiwu Empire, you scattered sect masters were unable to ovee the might of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Tianshu army. What makes you think you can muster a resurgence now? They lost that year, and their reappearance now will only bring them shame." Xiao Nanfeng sneered disdainfully.


    "Times have changed. You won''t be able to stand against the might of the Xiang n," General Ma threatened.


    "You don''t have to worry about that. Rather, I''m curious why so many of you have gathered in the city of Yongding."


    "The Chief Steward tricked us. He invited us to excavate a draconic vein, but he was just a filthy liar!" General Ma seethed as he nced at the Chief Steward.


    The Chief Steward couldn''t help but respond in kind. "I never tricked you. I was considering joining your side. I even had my son invite three disciples of the emperor''s brother-inw over, prepared to use their heads to serve as proof of mymitment. I was prepared to help you excavate the draconic vein that lies beneath the city of Yongding. How could I have known that Xiao Nanfeng would return now? It''s your fault for being unable to deal with a piece of trash like Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "You''re the piece of trash!" General Ma retorted.


    "Who do you think you are? Why would Spiritsong-realm cultivators like them need your help to excavate a draconic vein?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the Chief Steward in disbelief.


    "Everyone knows that the city of Yongding harbors a draconic vein, but no one knows how to excavate it. All who try die a terrible death; I am the only one who knows the solution," the Chief Steward dered.


    "Oh?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you agree to release me, I''ll tell you this secret and enable you to im the draconic vein for yourself. Well?" the Chief Steward asked expectantly.


    "Do you think I''d ept?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Chief Steward''s gaze turned despondent. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t about to free him. Not daring to antagonize him, however, he turned toward General Ma again. "General Ma, it looks like I''ve overestimated you. You can''t even deal with Xiao Nanfeng. What a piece of trash you are!"


    General Ma was so angry that he spat out more blood. "And who do you think you are to criticize the likes of me?"


    "You piece of trash. I was going to join your side and help you ovee the Tianshu Empire, but you were too useless!"


    "If I weren''t in such a sorry state, I''d be able to punch you to death with a single fist. Think about how you tried to please me before¡ªyou dare humiliate me now? You''re nothing more than a traitor ted for death!" General Ma roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "Chief Steward, are you trying to stall for time with this argument?"


    The Chief Steward nched and looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief. "You really were pretending to be a fool all along, then."


    "Don''t worry. I don''t intend on killing you so quickly. I''m waiting for you to summon more reinforcements. To think that you had even more trump cards up your sleeve¡ªI really am quite impressed." Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes at the Chief Steward.


    Just then, a shrill scream came from the rear yard of the Xiao manor.


    The scream was sharp and piercing, sending chills down everyone''s back.


    "Finally!" The Chief Steward looked toward the source of the noise expectantly.

 Chapter 255: The Frightening Shadow

    <h4>Chapter 255: The Frightening Shadow</h4>


    "What? What caused that scream?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Stand guard over the Chief Steward and General Ma," Xiao Nanfengmanded Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui.


    Then, he headed toward the rear yard.


    There, You Jiu was searching all around the yard for something, sword in hand. Before himy a pile of headless corpses, clearly servants and maids of the manor given their attire. They had died a ghastly death.


    "What''s going on, You Jiu?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    "Master, by the time I noticed something amiss, all these corpses were already on the ground, their heads gone. I saw a figure and stabbed at it, but I missed," You Jiu reported.


    "Missed? Even you? Could it be some Wingform-realm assassin?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I don''t know. I only saw a shadow."


    "Oh?"


    "Right there! It appeared again." You Jiu suddenly pointed in the distance.


    A servant was quivering as he stood, not daring¡ªor perhaps unable¡ªto move. Under the moonlight, his shadow lengthened. Another figure''s shadow emerged from within it, as though the figure had originally been concealed within the servant''s shadow.


    "What? How could this be? A transparent man? No, someone''s using some sort of technique that confers limited invisibility. The moonlight has revealed their shadow," Xiao Nanfeng concluded.


    "Kill!" You Jiu shot forward, de in hand.


    His qi spread out all throughout the yard but didn''t sense any foreign presence. Even when You Jiu thrust his de into the shadow, nothing seemed to happen.


    "Be careful, You Jiu!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly shouted.


    The shadow''s hands extended to grab onto You Jiu in a sinister fashion. You Jiu immediately dodged aside, causing the shadow to miss. Then, it suddenly bulged, transforming from a two-dimensional outline to a three-dimensional shadowed figure. It grabbed onto the servant''s head and twisted, wrenching it off in a fountain of blood. The servant died on the spot.


    "What''s this? A shadow spirit?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    You Jiu shot forward once again.


    However, You Jiu''s sword passed straight through the shadowy figure without seeming to hurt it at all.


    You Jiu nched and retreated again.


    The shadow, now supremely confident, didn''t seem to be worried about sneak attacks any longer. It suddenly opened its mouth wide to reveal rows of sawtooth-like teeth that made the cultivators retreat in fear. It ced the servant''s head between its teeth and chomped down in a spray of blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu felt chills go down their backs.


    After the shadow consumed the head, it suddenly smiled at the two cultivators in a chilling and sinister fashion, then slumped back down into a two-dimensional outline and reached out for them.


    "Run!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.Both cultivators immediately leapt back. The shadow didn''t give chase; to it, the entire Xiao


    manor was its prey. There was no need to give up on the whole forest for two leaves. It rushed elsewhere in the manor, causing servants'' cries to ring out in the distance.


    "Everyone in the Xiao manor, get out!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    The spectral guards had seized control of much of the manor, but they couldn''t afford to stay with this shadowy monster roaming around. Everyone had to leave, or those who encountered it would die.


    "You Jiu, your attacks are ineffective against that shadow. Leave with everyone, quickly!"


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew back to the front yard andnded before the Chief Steward, stomping down on his prone body with a foot. "What sort of monster is that? You released it, didn''t you?"


    The Chief Stewardughed. "Xiao Nanfeng, didn''t you say you weren''t going to kill me, that you were waiting for me to expose my trump cards? This is myst one. Stop it if you can!"


    "Tell me what that is. If you don''t, I''ll kill you right now." Xiao Nanfeng applied more pressure to his foot, causing another mouthful of blood to spray out of the Chief Steward''s mouth.


    The Chief Steward, realizing that Xiao Nanfeng really would make good on his threat, had no choice but to reveal some information to drag things out. "It''s the cursed effigy that''s been sealed in the old well in the forbidden courtyard. Of the three res I sent up, the third one was responsible for informing the guard watching over the well to release the seal."


    "The old well that my father forbade me from going near? What cursed effigy is sealed inside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t know. I only know that your father was forced to seal it with the power of the old well and the draconic vein. He told me that, if it were to be unsealed, it would kill everyone in the city. It''s tangled up with the draconic vein. If a cultivator were to try to excavate the draconic vein, its ability would allow it to control the head of that cultivator. Only by releasing it can the draconic vein be excavated," the Chief Steward replied.


    "You dared to release that cursed effigy without knowing what it is?!" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    Madness shed in the Chief Steward''s eyes. It was clear that he intended to die with Xiao Nanfeng if he couldn''t beat him.


    "What''s that cursed effigy like?" Ye Dafu asked curiously from the side.


    Suddenly, fresh blood sshed onto Ye Dafu''s face. Ye Dafu turned in shock to see a humanoid shadow by his side near the ground. The majority of its body was still two-dimensional, but its hands had turned three-dimensional and bulged out from the ground. It tore General Ma''s head from his body.


    General Ma never imagined that he would die in such a sinister fashion. His face was a mask of fear, but there was nothing he could do. He watched on as the shadow widened its mouth, revealed its sawtooth-like teeth, and crunched down on his head in a spray of blood.


    "What sort of monster is this? Die!" Ye Dafu shouted, shing at it with his sword.


    The energy from the attack left a furrow on the ground in a spray of earth and stone, but the shadow seemedpletely unaffected. Like a shadow, nothing seemed to be able to interact with it.


    "Impossible. Why can''t I touch it?!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Suddenly, the shadow''s hands reached for Ye Dafu''s head.


    "No!" Ye Dafu bellowed.


    Ye Sanshui kicked his nephew away, but it was useless. The shadow hadtched onto Ye Dafu and was continuing to clutch his head. Even as Ye Dafu was struck aside, his neck extended as the shadow pulled, intent on tearing his head off his body.


    "Save me!" Ye Dafu cried out in horror.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed at the shadow with the divine undying de, chopping off its hands. Ye Dafu barely avoided a gruesome fate.


    "Curse against curse¡ªit''s effective!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The divine undying de was a cursed spiritual avatar, and it did manage to strike the shadow when nothing else had seeded.


    The shadow''s chopped-off arms reattached to its body; no wounds were visible where they joined up.


    As though enraged, the shadow ground its teeth and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng. It let out a howl.


    "Kill!"


    The divine undying de bisected the shadow at the waist, but its two halves quickly rbined as it continued charging at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t let it touch you, King Xiao! The moment it struck me, I was unable to move!" Ye Dafu called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He swung his de ever faster, dicing the shadow up with dozens of shes, but each of those shadowy fragments rbined as though they were alive. The shadow''s hands reached out for Xiao Nanfeng''s head from every direction.

 Chapter 256: Divine Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 256: Divine Emperor</h4>


    The shadow wasn''t particrly strong, but its abilities were particrly sinister. Only someone like Xiao Nanfeng, who hadplete faith in his abilities, was able to counter its blows with the divine undying de. However, the shadow seemed to have be infuriated as a result of Xiao Nanfeng''s actions and relentlessly chased after Xiao Nanfeng for his head.


    "Ye Sanshui, get out of here immediately. Cover the entire Xiao manor in the formation of red fog, now!" Xiao Nanfeng tossed a small orb at him.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui caught the orb, a storage treasure with materials for the formation within.


    "You think you''ll be able to take down that shadow with a formation? The year your father sealed it, he said it was a cursed effigy, that ordinary formations would have no effect against it. Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve got its attention now. You''re dead, haha, haha!" The Chief Steward suddenly began to roar inughter.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced disdainfully at the Chief Steward as he continued to fend off the shadow.


    Meanwhile, Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu began to set up the formation in earnest.


    "Any elders skilled with formations, I need your help!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    A group of Taiqing elders flew over to Ye Sanshui.


    The formation of red fog that had once surrounded the Isle of Xiao had defended against quite a number of raiders, but had eventually been destroyed with the serpent king''s attack. The five dragon-inducing pirs were all damaged, but Xiao Nanfeng had had an elder skilled with formations reforge them.


    As for the red rope that was used for the formation, Xiao Nanfeng had amassed quite arge length of it from the draconic pce.


    With the elders'' support, the formation of red fog surrounded the Xiao manor. This time, however, its orientation had been reversed so that it would be easy to get in but difficult to get out.


    Xiao Nanfeng fought with the shadow for quite some time, but as the formation finished and the shadow shot toward him, Xiao Nanfeng dodged aside. The shadow struck the boundary of the formation of red fog.


    The shadow cared little about the formation. As the Chief Steward had stated, there were few formations that could rein in a cursed effigy. Just as it was about to continue charging at Xiao Nanfeng, a strand of red rope suddenly appeared amidst the fog and looped around its neck. It was hung up in the air.


    The shadow roared in outrage, unable to believe what had happened. It began to struggle, but the red rope was relentless.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. "Alright. I can rx now."


    Once Xiao Nanfeng discovered that the shadow could be struck by cursed objects, he quickly came up with a n. His fight with the shadow was intended to stall it; he wasn''t afraid of the shadow, but rather its ability to escape. If the shadow were to go into hiding, he would have a hard time finding it again.


    After all, Xiao Nanfeng was surrounded by cursed kings. He wouldn''t fear a single shadowy cursed effigy.


    The shadow reached out and tore off its own neck, escaping from the red rope''s restraints.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. "You''re willing to go that far?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smacked at the shadow''s head with the divine undying de, sending it flying into the red fog and causing it to be hung up in the air once again.


    The shadow''s body was about to leap over to its head when it too was surrounded by a loop of red rope.


    The shadow roared in outrage as it tried to dash forward, but it wasn''t strong enough to ovee the red rope.


    With a bang, the shadow''s body and head exploded. It burst out from the domain of red fog, returned to safety, and then reformed into a shadow again.


    The shadow roared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Try that again if you dare. I bet that''s not something you can do freely!" Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    The shadow slunk back. Xiao Nanfeng was right: self-destruction came at great cost. It bared its teeth at Xiao Nanfeng and howled at it, deeply frustrated.


    "Kill him! Kill him!" the Chief Steward urged from close by.


    The shadow cursed effigy was his final trump card. If even it couldn''t do anything against Xiao Nanfeng, he would be dead!


    The shadow red at the Chief Steward, then shot toward him.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The shadow ignored Xiao Nanfeng as it shed over to the Chief Steward''s head.


    The Chief Steward was shocked, but he didn''t despair. Rather, he raised his right hand to reveal an ornate ring on his finger.


    Even so, pain continued to surge up his neck. He felt as though this was the end.


    "Impossible. Didn''t Xiao Hongye say that this ring could curb the sealed cursed effigy? Why isn''t it working? Save me!" the Chief Steward shouted.


    With a pop, the Chief Steward''s head was plucked off his body in a shower of blood. Even till death, he couldn''t believe that he would have lost his life to the monster he had unsealed.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng notice that the Chief Steward''s ring looked exactly like the storage ring that he possessed. Did the Chief Steward have a fake version of the ring?


    "Chief Steward, a quick death is far too light a punishment for your crimes," Xiao Nanfeng spat out, somewhat frustrated.


    The shadow ate the Chief Steward''s head, replenishing its reserves of energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the shadow, but it reared back with some fear. It continued to step back even as it howled at Xiao Nanfeng, as though warning him not to draw near.


    "Rather alert, aren''t you? It''s a pity that you''re far too dangerous for me to keep by my side," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached into his mindscape and drew out the ck lotus.


    From the Chief Steward''s actions, it was easy to guess that the beast in his ring should have the ability to deal with the shadow before him, but that beast refused to listen to his orders. Why would he hand the shadow to the beast?


    "Senior ck Lotus, you''ll be able to strengthen yourself by devouring cursed effigies, won''t you? I''d like to thank you for assisting me when I was in need. Please take this shadow cursed effigy as an offering to strengthen yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck lotus shone with inner light. The shadow quivered as the light struck it. It retreated in fear, attempting to run, but its surroundings had been sealed by the formation of red fog. There was no way it could escape.


    "Senior ck Lotus, shall I tear it apart for you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck lotus trembled. A word formed in ck light in mid-air: "OK."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. Was the ck lotus going to startmunicating with him, too? That was a good sign, if things with Madam Rouge were any indication.


    "Very well, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng shot forward at the shadow, which dodged Xiao Nanfeng''s de as it growled at the ck lotus.


    "You won''t be able to escape! Come, I''ll make a meal out of you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted as he shed forward.


    Just then, a ck shadowy paw emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring and batted away the divine undying knife. It moved even faster than Xiao Nanfeng did and grabbed the shadow by the neck. It struggled furiously, but was unable to free itself from the palm, not even when it plucked off its own head.


    "What are you doing here?!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    The beast from within the ring had emerged to steal his prey.


    "Divine Emperor? You''re here? Please, spare me, Divine Emperor!" the shadow shrieked in fear.


    The ck lotus flew toward Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Senior ck Lotus, I''m sorry. The beast in the ring is far too unreasonable. I can''t suppress it at the moment," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck lotus formed a few more words with ck light in the air.


    "I don''t me you. Thank you for thinking of me, but I won''t be taking this shadow cursed effigy. It''s a subordinate of the cursed king in your ring. You should be careful¡ªit''s trying to take over your physical body."


    The ck light vanished in the blink of an eye as the ck lotus proceeded unimpeded into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, then vanished.


    Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. The ck lotus was far more friendly than the other cursed kings in his orbit. It was even giving him a warning! He would have to try to forge a deeper rtionship with it.


    He had long since guessed that the beast in the ring was trying to harm it, but he wasn''t afraid.


    Meanwhile, the beast was slowly pulling the shadow in the ring. Xiao Nanfeng could see the beast''s eyes within shining in red light. It opened its maw wide, revealing sawtooth teeth even more frightening than the shadow''s. It was a scene that would spark nightmares.


    Was the beast going to swallow the shadow up?


    "Spare me, Divine Emperor! The Spirit Emperor had mee find you. I didn''t do anything! You and the Spirit Emperor established the Imperial Court of the spirits together back then. His Majesty would never make things difficult for you¡ªHis Majesty wanted to invite you to return, and I was only acting on orders! Please spare me, Divine Emperor! I''m only a messenger! No, no!" the shadow shrieked.


    It was swallowed up by the beast in the ring.


    The beast crunched down on the cursed effigy, then swallowed it whole. It slunk back into the depths of the storage ring.


    Everything returned to normal, but Xiao Nanfeng suddenly had many questions running through his mind. The beast in his ring was known as the "Divine Emperor"? What a name. The ck lotus had mentioned that the shadow cursed effigy was one of its subordinates. Why would the Divine Emperor eat it?


    Furthermore, why would the Divine Emperor''s subordinates listen to that Spirit Emperor, whoever that was?


    "The Imperial Court of the spirits... the one created by that three-legged golden crow fifty thousand years ago?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped. He murmured to himself subconsciously, "Xiang Pojun and Hong Lie both became Immortals in the hidden realm that the Spirit Emperor opened up. Could this ring that my father left me be leading me there, too? Is that where Father vanished?"


    At longst, Xiao Nanfeng had found a clue about his father''s disappearance.

 Chapter 257: Taking Down the City of Yongding

    <h4>Chapter 257: Taking Down the City of Yongding</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the Chief Steward''s corpse and retrieved his ring.


    "It''s precisely the same as my storage ring from before." Xiao Nanfeng considered this discovery.


    He was certain that the Chief Steward had to have overheard his father mention that the ring could suppress the shadow cursed effigy, but the Chief Steward didn''t know that his father had made a fake copy of the ring as well. How did it end up in the Chief Steward''s hands?


    Xiao Nanfeng stowed the ring. "We''re done here. Ye Sanshui, dispel the formation!"


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied from beyond the barrier.


    Momentster, the formation of red fog dissipated as Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and a few other elders streamed into the yard.


    "King Xiao, what happened to the cursed effigy?" Ye Sanshui asked in worry.


    "I''ve handled the problem. Thank you for your help. Now, please go protect the sect disciples," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators returned to the battlefield.


    By the time the first ray of dawn struck the city of Yongding, the battle was over. All the rogue soldiers had either surrendered or been killed. The citizenry hid behind locked doors and windows as they listened to themotion on the streets.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and infused his qi into his voice, magnifying it so it could be heard throughout the city. "Citizens of Yongding, I am the son of Xiao Hongye, Xiao Nanfeng! When my father vanished thirteen years ago, my rogue servant the Chief Steward imprisoned me. Three years ago, I escaped from the prison that my home had be. Today, I return having exacted revenge with cultivators and disciples of my sect. I have reimed my rightfulnds and property. I apologize for the disturbance that urredtest night as I effected the takeover. Please, do not panic, and do not fear. The Chief Steward is dead. I, Xiao Nanfeng, have returned!"


    The citizens were all shocked by the pronouncement.


    "The Chief Steward''s dead? How could it be?"


    "He''s a demon who kills without batting an eye. His death is deserved, I say!"


    "Young Master Xiao''s back? The real Young Master Xiao?"


    A susurrus of whispers could be heard all around the city, but no one dared step out just yet. Who knew what the reality would be? Could these years of terror, this regime of fear, truly be over?


    Two dayster, near the surface of where the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce had once been located, fleets of ships were dredging up corpses from the sea. Although the corpses had decayed, many still had some distinctive features that would allow the various sects to identify the corpses of the disciples.


    On one ship, Nn Yunhai nced at a tall, thin man standing before him. "Uncle, has Third Brother''s corpse been found?"


    "Not yet. I hope Yunfeng''s still alive, but it''s an unlikely possibility." The tall, thin man shook his head. "How many disciples did you manage to recruit from the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    Nn Yunhai''s face scrunched up. "I wasn''t very sessful. You were right. Xiang Pojun really did attack Taiqing Ind."


    "Even if Xiang Pojun were to head to Taiqing Ind, he wouldn''t be able to destroy it. Hong Lie''s be an Immortal, and Ku Jiang has even managed to reach Yin Body. At best both parties would be hurt," the tall, thin man replied.


    Nn Yunhai shook his head. "Xiang Pojun suffered a terrible defeat, and the Taiqing Immortal Sect barely sustained any damage.


    "Oh?" The man seemed quite surprised.


    "Not only that, I saw Xiao Nanfeng when I was there," Nn Yunhai continued.


    "What? He''s still alive?" The man''s eyes lit up.


    "Why does it matter, Uncle?"


    "Nonsense! I was the one who sent Yunfeng out of the Draconic Pce. How am I supposed to ount for his disappearance to your parents? I''ve been worried sick about it thesest few days. Thank goodness Xiao Nanfeng''s still alive. He can bear responsibility on my behalf. I''ll catch and interrogate him¡ªyou haven''t done so already, have you?"


    Nn Yunhai shook his head, then recounted what had happened during Zhao Yuanjiao''s appointment ceremony.


    "Killing a Wingform-realm crow spirit? Ha. Don''t be scared by Xiao Nanfeng. He was only able to aplish such a feat thanks to the Immortal''s Destruction and the draconic vein on Taiqing Ind. Without either of those factors, he would hardly have been a match for them. After all, he''s only a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, and the gap between cultivation realms is massive."


    Nn Yunhai nodded. "He has the support of arge number of Taiqing elders, and I was unable to strike."


    The man narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps you might not be able to, but I''m around. Does he think that he''ll be able to reim his titlednds? Unfortunately for him, thosends have already changed ownership."


    As the two men spoke, another man flew over andnded by their side. He was one of the Taiqing Demonic Sect elders that had been prepared to save the Chief Steward''s eldest son.


    "Master, something''s happened at the city of Yongding," the man said.


    "Hmm?"


    "Yesterday morning, Xiao Nanfeng officially reimed the city of Yongding, and the Chief Steward was killed on the spot." The man recounted what he had witnessed at Yongding.


    "Xiao Nanfeng headed there this quickly? And he even reimed the city of Yongding?" Nn Yunhai was astounded.


    The tall, thin man''s face turned dark. "Irrelevant. So what if he killed the Chief Steward and dealt with the rogue soldiers? Does he think he''ll be able to govern a city just with those Taiqing disciples that have joined him? What a joke. He doesn''t have suitable manpower for the task."


    "No, Master, that can''t be. Before I came, I found that Xiao Nanfeng had already prepared arge number of officials, who were deftly taking over the governance of the city following Zheng Qian''s orders."


    "What? Arge number of officials? From where?" The man was clearly doubtful of Xiao Nanfeng''s capabilities.


    "I don''t know, Master. The officials are rather weak themselves, but Xiao Nanfeng has assigned Taiqing disciples to serve as their guards. They''re currently wiping any traces of the Chief Steward from the city, and they''ve removed all the people that we have stationed there. He seems to have a surprisingly deep understanding of theplicated power structures in Yongding."


    "It looks like Xiao Nanfeng has been nning this for quite some time..." Nn Yunhai remarked.


    The tall, thin man''s frown deepened. "Three years? How has he done so much in three years? Where would he have found these officials?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is truly full of secrets. He won''t be able to reim thend, would he?" Nn Yunhai asked, worried.


    "Don''t joke around. We''ve all but split Xiao Hongye''snds among ourselves by now. What''s more, the rogue soldiers of the Xiang n are particrly active in thosends. He won''t be able to reim them at all. Just taking down the nearby cities would require an inordinate amount of manpower."


    "As you say, Uncle!" Nn Yunhai nodded.


    "Stay here and keep searching to see if Yunfeng''s corpse can be found. I''ll return to Yongding now and check on Xiao Nanfeng myself."


    "Uncle, be careful. Arresting Xiao Nanfeng in public won''t be good for your image," Nn Yunhai warned.


    "Don''t worry. I don''t intend on making a move myself, but no one can me me if a group of rogue soldiers seize Xiao Nanfeng." The man chuckled coldly.


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes brightened as he nodded. "Then I''ll await your good news, Uncle."

 Chapter 258: Xu Kong and Xu Ming

    <h4>Chapter 258: Xu Kong and Xu Ming</h4>


    A monthter, two monks sat opposite each other in a small pavilion, having in tea as they chatted.


    If Xiao Nanfeng were present, he would immediately have recognized one of the monks as one of the three Wingform-realm cultivators that had been lying in wait to ambush Xiao Nanfeng outside Taiqing Ind, whom Ku Jiang had dispatched before heading to the draconic pce. That monk was Monk Xu Kong of the Jingang Temple.


    Monk Xu Kong had been dealt a devastating spiritual injury by Ku Jiang''s guqin, and had been recuperating ever since. By now, his wound had healed.


    Monk Xu Kong put down his cup and asked curiously, "Senior Brother Xu Ming, why are you suddenly bringing up General Ma today? Do you intend to seek revenge for him?" [1]


    Monk Xu Ming shook his head. "General Ma''s not particrly strong. He thinks that he''s all that just because he was once a soldier of the Xiang n, and he''s been trying to reap benefits all over as a result. He secretly brought his subordinates to Yongding without us in an attempt to excavate the draconic vein there, not thinking that Xiao Nanfeng would return and take him down. He has only himself to me. Why would I care?"


    "That''s true, but he''s ruined our n. Senior Brother, we''ve epted a writ from the Xiang n to take over thesends within a certain period of time. Xiao Nanfeng''s return has upended our consolidation of power. This will be disadvantageous for us!" Xu Kong frowned.


    "A writ? Xu Kong, you cultivate to distance yourself from the mortal world. Be not deceived by these matters of empire and dynasty."


    "What''s wrong with a writ? Is that so difficult to ept? All that we''re doing is in order to preserve the Jingang Temple. Look at the Taiqing Immortal Sect! When they arrived at the Eastern Sea two centuries ago to avoid cmity, they were a weaker force than we were. They''ve only experienced such rapid growth because of their support of Nn Qiankun and the establishment of the Tianshu Empire. Look how quickly they''ve grown! The fortune that the Tianshu Empire receives goes in part to them, fostering stronger and stronger cultivators. Should we be ashamed of doing the same by supporting the Xiang n? If we can secure a source of fortune for the Jingang Temple, I''ll do anything," Xu Kong replied.


    Xu Ming frowned. "Xiang Pojun suffered a humiliating defeat when he went to attack the Taiqing Immortal Sect over a month ago."


    "So what? He''s not the only cultivator from the Xiang n that''s returned. He''s in secluded cultivation now while he recuperates. If we can seed in the meantime, we''ll demonstrate our importance. With the Taiqing Immortal Sect as an example, many forces have decided to support the Xiang n. Because Xiao Hongye once offended us, we chose to assist the Xiang n regain control over Xiao Hongye''snds. I was deeply injured by Ku Jiang when I attempted to capture Xiao Nanfeng by Taiqing Ind. I''ll take revenge for both new and old wrongs now," Xu Kong continued.


    "Xu Kong, beware of vice," Xu Ming warned.


    "Don''t speak to me of vice, Senior Brother. Strength is what can quash these desires. If either of us were to be Immortals, if we could steamroll over these problems with strength and power, no vice would exist. What causes vice is ack of strength; it is power and impetus that drives me forward," Xu Kong replied.


    Xu Ming considered Xu Kong''s argument and found it reasonable.


    "We work now to reim the Xiang n''s empire not simply for fortune, but also for the promise that they made us. You''ve seen their gains from the hidden realm of the Spirit Emperor. They''ve promised us that, if we help them reim theirnds, they''ll lead us to that realm so we too can benefit from that opportunity. We could be Immortals, Senior Brother! Aren''t you tempted?" Xu Kong asked.


    Xu Ming frowned. Of course he was.


    "Other generals have sought me out asking us to seek revenge on General Ma''s behalf, but you''ve always forbidden it. Why?" Xu Kong asked.


    "Do not be impatient. We need to n things through carefully before acting; the generals do notmand us. Although I''ve forbidden you from seizing Xiao Nanfeng, we''ve had spies watching his every move. Are you aware of what he''s done recently?" Xu Ming asked.


    "I am. He''s managed to source arge number of officials and has restored proper governance to the city of Yongding. He''s exterminated the Chief Steward''s influencepletely, freeing wrongfully convicted prisoners, abolishing all superfluous taxes, and purging corruption at any cost. In just a month, he''s won the hearts of the people, who now consider him a wise and virtuous ruler."


    "He''s rather adept at buying people''s hearts." Xu Ming frowned.


    "Although he hasn''t attacked other cities yet, he''s been drilling troops outside of Yongding. Over thest month, he''s sent for a hundred thousand troops. ording to my investigations, they came from a ce known as the undying realm. It seems that he''s been cultivating arge stockpile of talent and troops within this hidden realm. The troops at his disposal are making the cities nearby very wary, and many of the cities that we control have asked for aid over thest month, hoping that we''ll deal with the threat of Yongding," Xu Kong continued.


    "Now that his hidden realm is exposed, can''t we take it over?" Xu Ming smiled.


    Xu Kong''s eyes widened. He smiled in excitement. "Senior Brother, you''re going to seize his hidden realm?"


    Xu Ming nodded. "If we had known about all his trump cards, I would have struck a month ago when General Ma died. We needed to wait, however, because this information wasn''t yet avable to us."


    "Oh?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t mean much, and neither do the dozen or so Taiqing elders that have apanied him here.Even the Immortal''s Destruction isn''t meaningful without the support of underground draconic veins. From the fact that General Ma was able to defend against the heavenly des during their fight, it''s clear that the draconic vein in Yongding is only strong enough to muster peak-stage Spiritsong-level blows. There are other reasons I''ve forbidden your involvement so far," Xu Ming continued.


    "Are you worried about Ku Jiang, Hong Lie, Zhao Yuanjiao, and so on?" Xu Kong asked.


    "That''s right. They''re the most dangerous cultivators we have to fear. If they were hiding in Yongding to ambush us, we would have suffered," Xu Ming replied.


    "You''re right, Senior Brother. I hadn''t thought things through." Xu Kong nodded firmly.


    "We don''t have to worry anymore, however." Xu Ming smiled.


    "Oh?"


    "Just now, Ku Jiang and Hong Lie have invited a number of elders from the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic Sects to apany them toward the capital of the Tianshu Empire in order to seek the fortune owed to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao via their fathers."


    Xu Kong''s eyes brightened. "How did you learn of this, Senior Brother?"


    "I''ve had people watching Taiqing Ind. With Zhao Yuanjiao standing guard over Taiqing Ind and Hong Lie and Ku Jiang headed toward the capital of the Tianshu Empire, there''s nothing for us to worry about. No threats await us in Yongding."


    "So you''ve been nning this all along, Senior Brother! You forbade me from dealing with Xiao Nanfeng because you were waiting for confirmation?"


    "Remember this: victory and defeat on many battlefields are decided not by fighting, but by logistics and espionage that take ce behind the scenes. Seize windows of opportunity where they arise," Xu Ming instructed.


    "I understand, Senior Brother!" Xu Kong nodded.


    "This is a rare opportunity that may note again. We shall move to Yongding and take down Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Senior Brother, we''re both Wingform-realm cultivators. One of us would be more than sufficient. Isn''t it too much for us to both go?"


    "Don''t forget how the serpent king perished on the Isle of Xiao. The Immortal''s Destruction can excavate an entire draconic vein and convert all that strength into a supercharged attack that would threaten us. We havemitted to making a move, so we should attack at full force to seize victory in one strike," Xu Ming continued.


    Xu Kong nodded firmly. "You''re right, Senior Brother. I wasn''t being thoughtful enough!"


    "Go on. We''ll take down Xiao Nanfeng quickly before Ku Jiang and Hong Lie can respond."


    "Got it!" Xu Kong replied.


    The two cultivators soared into the air and headed toward Yongding.


    Last night, in the Xiao manor at the city of Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng had been sitting in his study as he faced Zheng Qian, Ye Sanshui, and Ye Dafu.


    "King Xiao, I was just about to get a drink with my brothers thiste at night. Why have you suddenly summoned us here?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "How are your troops?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "They''re all trained and drilled. We''ve prepared all the battle ns, and we''re just waiting for yourmand, King Xiao. The troops have been urging us about when they''d get a chance to see action," Ye Dafu replied,ughing.


    "We strike now. Ye Sanshui, you''ll serve asmander. Ye Dafu, vicemander. This is a token of my authority. Commandeer the troops and all the Taiqing disciples following the battle n that you passed to me. We move overnight. I want to hear your battle reports at greatest haste," Xiao Nanfeng stated bluntly as he passed them the tokens.


    "What? Now?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Understood, King Xiao!" Ye Sanshui immediately eximed.


    "Go, go!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Ye Dafu was still confused when Ye Sanshui dragged him out of the study.


    "King Xiao, why the urgency? Has something happened?" Zheng Qian asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''ve just received word that something big is about to happen. The emperor''s brother-inw is a rather adept strategist."


    "Oh?"


    "His intention is tomand the rogue forces to attack the city of Yongding without ever showing his face himself," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "The leader of the rogue forces are the two Wingform-realm monks of the Jingang Temple, aren''t they? They''re going to raid us?" Ye Sanshui was so rmed that he stood right up.


    "The two monks Xu Ming and Xu Kong of the Jingang Temple have made their move. They''ll arrive either tonight or the next day," Xiao Nanfeng affirmed.


    "In that case, we might face more threats yet. There''s also the emperor''s brother-inw, who''s hiding in the background. He stands to gain tremendously from this battle," Zheng Qian deduced.


    "As sharp as ever, Mr. Zheng. We''ll need to make a move as well. Mr. Zheng, hide and protect yourself. I''ll kill them both," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Oh?" Zheng Qian was shocked.


    1. Xu Kong (Ðé¿Õ) = void, Xu Ming (ÐéÃ÷) = purity ?

 Chapter 259: The Empty City

    <h4>Chapter 259: The Empty City</h4>


    Outside the city of Yongding, by the peak of a mountain shrouded by fog, were a group of cultivators. At their lead was Nn Yunhai''s uncle, the emperor''s brother-inw. Among the cultivators behind him was the Pestilence Sage.


    Of course, the real Pestilence Sage had been killed by Xiao Nanfeng while within the draconic pce, and this ''Pestilence Sage'' was naturally Tang in disguise. Tang, the omen of cmity, had be one of the emperor''s brother-inw''s trusted confidantes since escaping from the draconic pce.


    "Where were youst night, Pestilence Sage? You were missing for some time," another cultivator questioned.


    Tang ignored that cultivator and turned to the emperor''s brother-inw. "Division Leader, you said that we would be dealing with Xiao Nanfeng. I''ve been focusing my attention on Yongding, and I noticed something amissst night. Although we''ve learned that Xiao Nanfeng was about to march forth with his troops, that information is now out of date: his troops set outst night."


    "I''m very d the Pestilence Sage took the initiative to scout for unformation, unlike the rest of you. Aren''t you aware of the enmity that the Pestilence Sage bears toward Xiao Nanfeng? Do you really think he would be sharing our intelligence with Xiao Nanfeng? Do you all have pigs'' brains?" the emperor''s brother-inw demanded.


    The other cultivators scowled, but they ultimately lowered their heads and didn''t dare to defend themselves. Tang almost shuddered. He really had been passing information to Xiao Nanfeng, but fortunately, the emperor''s brother-inw hadn''t thought anything of that rumor.


    "Pestilence Sage, you seem to have grown somewhat weaker," the emperor''s brother-inw continued, with some concern.


    "I was badly injured by Xiao Nanfeng during an altercation in the draconic pce, and am still recovering from those wounds," Tang immediately replied.


    The emperor''s brother-inw smiled. "Worry not. Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to escape from cmity. You''ll be able to take your anger out on him in no time."


    "Division Leader, is it true that the two monks Xu Kong and Xu Ming will be assisting us?" Tang asked with anticipation.


    "Their rogue soldiers are just a group of hodgepodge cultivators, and we''ve managed to infiltrate quite a number of them. I''ve had them consistently requesting that the two monks join in. They bear Xiao Hongye and his son a deep grudge. If not for their concern about Ku Jiang and Hong Lie''s potential presence in Yongding, they would have struck long since."


    "Oh?"


    "Since they''re worried about Ku Jiang and Hong Lie, I''ve helped them ensure that Ku Jiang and Hong Lie won''t be around. If the two monks still refuse to take action like doddering old fools, I''ll truly look down on them then."


    "I am deeply impressed by your nning, Division Leader!" Tang stated, an adept bootlicker as always.


    The emperor''s brother-inw smiled in pride and satisfaction.


    "That said, I didn''t expect that Xiao Nanfeng would dispatch all hundred thousand of his troopsst night in an attempt to catch us off-guard. Laughable, I say."


    "It''s a pity. If we had known, we would have been able to catch Xiao Nanfeng ourselves without needing the assistance of those two monks." Tang frowned.


    "It matters not. We''re not in a rush, and can afford to wait," the emperor''s brother-inw replied with a confident smile.


    Within the city of Yongding, two ck-robed men stepped into a crowded street. They were none other than Xu Ming and Xu Kong.


    Although the guards of Yongding would verify the identities of those who passed through the city gates, it was trivially easy for two Wingform-realm cultivators to pass such checks.


    They frowned as they took in the changes to the city. A group of children were chasing each other through the streets.


    "A month ago, themon people wouldn''t even dare speak loudly on the streets. Now, however, children are running amok, and even adults are running their mouths. It feels like we''re in a different city entirely. How has Xiao Nanfeng effected such change so quickly?" Xu Ming eximed.


    "This is crazy. The guards are even helping push coal carts, retrieving kits from trees, helpingmon matrons lecture rash, rowdy fops? They''re the least respected city guards I''ve ever seen. They have no authority to their name. This is ridiculous!" Xu Kongmented.


    "You must be new to the city of Yongding! Our lord is different from those old, corrupt officials in your cities. Young Master Xiao is sympathetic to the plight of themon people. The guards aren''t to take a single coin from us, and they work on behalf of themon good. Aren''t you envious? Haha, at the very least, I''ve never seen such an amazing lord. If anyone dares to attack Yongding, I''ll volunteer to join the frontlines in defense. Our lives are truly blessed. Long live Young Master Xiao!" a seller of stinky tofu called out beside them.


    "Hear, hear! Young Master Xiao helped clear my brother-inw''s name and reputation, and his family intends to erect a memorial for him."


    "Young Master Xiao has announced his recruitment of talents from all over the world to help him govern and reim hisnds. I intend on seeing if I qualify in just a moment."


    Themon people''s exchange caused Xu Kong and Xu Ming''s faces to darken. They crept away.


    "How frightening. All this in a single short month? We can''t let Xiao Nanfeng keep this up. Otherwise, by the time his troops arrive at our cities, themon people will revolt and push open the gates to wee them in," Xu Kong cursed.


    "Worry not. We''re here to catch Xiao Nanfeng today," Xu Ming replied.


    "Senior Brother, I can''t believe Xiao Nanfeng would trap himself like this and send out all hundred thousand of his troops, dividing them into ten groups and sending them toward ten different cities simultaneously. He''s leaving Yongdingpletely unprotected. Why don''t we head straight for the Xiao manor?" Xu Kong asked.


    "It''s precisely because he''s dispatched all his troops that it''s suspicious," Xu Ming replied.


    "You''re worried that there''s an ambush?"


    "Precisely."


    "But Ku Jiang and Hong Lie are both at the capital of the Tianshu Empire, and Zhao Yuanjiao''s guarding Taiqing Ind. What other backer could he have? He''s surely trying to mislead us," Xu Kong asserted.


    "Better to be safe than sorry. It won''t hurt us to be careful. Recklessly charging into the Xiao manor is the worst possible option for us; we shouldy low until we''re prepared to strike decisively. We''ll sneak up toward the Xiao manor so that we can deal with any ambushes that might arise. If there are none, then we can simply capture Xiao Nanfeng and be done with it," Xu Ming stated.


    "Understood!" Xu Kong nodded.


    The two cultivators crept up toward the Xiao manor, thinking that they had secured victory.


    Although there were guards around the Xiao manor, they weren''t able to do anything against the two Wingform-realm cultivators. Given their enhanced hearing, they were even able to hear Xiao Nanfeng talking from within the manor. The two monks smirked at each other as they snuck in.


    Just then, they heard Xiao Nanfeng''s words to his subordinate in full. "Are you certain that the monks Xu Kong and Xu Ming will appear today?"


    Xu Kong and Xu Ming nched. They were certain they had entered the city in stealth. How did Xiao Nanfeng know they were here?


    "Is there an ambush, Senior Brother?"


    "Stay calm," Xu Ming whispered.


    The two monks checked their surroundings as they continued to listen in.


    Within the Xiao manor, You Jiu and Xiao Nanfeng were putting on a show for the two monks. The city was filled with spectral guards, who had almost immediately noticed their appearance within the city. You Jiu himself had discovered them as they drew near, and he quickly reined in his aura and alerted Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng had prepared a few contingencies, and the monks sneaking into the city was one of the scenarios he had considered.


    You Jiu was there both to help Xiao Nanfeng put on a show and to protect him from the two monks.


    "Don''t worry, Elder Xiao. The Taiqing Demonic Sect is prepared to strike the moment Xu Kong and Xu Ming arrive. We''ll capture them and kill them together." You Jiu pretended to be a disciple of the Taiqing Demonic Sect.


    "And the emperor''s brother-inw?"


    "He arrived yesterday, and is waiting by the mountain to the south of the city. We''ve already set up a formation around the pce with Immortal relics. Once Xu Kong and Xu Ming step inside, they''ll be trapped. The division leader himself wille and kill them, dealing with the rogue soldiers in the Xiaonds once and for all. That said, Elder Xiao, we expect you''ll honor your word and hand those cities to the division leader," You Jiu confirmed.


    "I, Xiao Nanfeng, am a man of my word. I sent my troops outst night so Xu Kong and Xu Ming would drop their guard and sneak into the city. They''re dead meat," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "To think the Jingang Temple would attempt to take over thesends¡ªthey really are seeking their own downfall!" You Jiuughed.


    The conversation stopped there, but outside the Xiao manor, the two monks found themselves sweating.


    "How did they know we wereing?" Xu Kong asked.


    "Ku Jiang and Hong Lie did head to the Tianshu capital. My disciples have confirmed that with their own eyes. But if they knew we wereing here, we must have fallen for their trap. Could some of our troops be their spies?" Xu Ming wondered.


    "Thank goodness you were so cautious, Senior Brother. Otherwise..." Xu Kong shook his head.


    "We leave now. They likely have multiple contingencies for us. Perhaps the entire city is filled with Immortal formations which will be activated the moment we show ourselves," Xu Ming said.


    Xu Kong nodded. Considering that they had already been exposed, it would be foolish for them to consider making a move now.


    The two monks slunk back out of Yongding, then headed to investigate the mountain that You Jiu had mentioned.


    They cautiously circled the mountains and forests in the vicinity to ensure that there was no ambush before sneaking up toward a mountain whose peak was shrouded in fog.


    They were easily able to identify the cultivators at the peak of the mountain.


    "They really are here¡ªthe Tianshu Emperor''s brother-inw, along with a few Spiritsong-realm elders from the Taiqing Demonic Sect. They''ve been waiting for us!" Xu Ming narrowed his eyes.


    "Senior Brother, there are no ambushes in the area. Shall we strike?" Xu Kong''s gaze promised violence.


    "They were attempting to kill us once we attacked Yongding. It''s a pity that they''ve underestimated us. We can counter-attack them, instead!" Xu Ming nodded.


    "Shall we strike?" Xu Kong asked again.


    "Kill them all in one decisive blow," Xu Ming stated.


    "Understood!"


    At the peak of the mountain, Emperor Tianshu''s brother-inw nced toward Yongding. "Why aren''t those monks here yet?"


    Suddenly, he nched. Life-threatening danger nketed him.


    "Oh, we''re here!"


    "Kill!"


    Xu Kong and Xu Ming struck simultaneously, their staffs careening down toward the mountaintop from the high heavens.


    "No!" the demonic elders cried out.


    "Bastards!" the Tianshu Emperor''s brother-inw roared.


    mes erupted across the top of the mountain as its peak copsed in a shower of rubble. Smoke began to rise up.

 Chapter 260: Prey Hunting the Predator

    <h4>Chapter 260: Prey Hunting the Predator</h4>


    Back in the Xiao manor in the city of Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng walked out to his yard and saw the smoke billowing up from the mountaintop on a mountain to the south of the city. He smiled contentedly.


    Zheng Qian rushed in from outside the manor. "King Xiao, you took a tremendous risk in using yourself as bait. What if something were to happen to you? We wouldn''t know what to do!"


    "There''s no need to worry, Mr. Zheng. Even if the monks had struck, Croak and Warble haven''t shown themselves yet, and I do possess the Immortal''s Destruction. I wouldn''t have been in danger, but why not save yourself some trouble if you can?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "It''s a blessing that your n was a sess, King Xiao. Xu Kong, Xu Ming, and the emperor''s brother-inw have started fighting each other. Now if only they would kill each other simultaneously," Zheng Qian replied, smiling.


    "Perhaps not, but I''ll certainly take advantage of the fight." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed.


    "Please be careful, King Xiao."


    "Your safety is more important, Mr. Zheng. Stay hidden for the time being. I''ll return shortly."


    "Of course!" Zheng Qian nodded.


    "Spectral guards, I task you with protecting Mr. Zheng to the best of your ability." Xiao Nanfeng was still a little worried for his chief administrator.


    "Understood!" the spectral guards replied from all around him.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng step out of the Xiao manor.


    Afar, Xu Kong and Xu Ming, having been made aware of the ''ambush'', specifically lured the emperor''s brother-inw away from the city of Yongding as they fought.


    "What are the two of you doing here? How did you know I was here? Why aren''t you targeting Xiao Nanfeng?!" The emperor''s brother-inw, badly injured, asked the monks three questions in rapid session.


    "Do you really think we''re that easy to fool?"


    "Die, Cui Haisheng!"


    Xu Ming and Xu Kong''s staffs seemed to be imbued with divine authority. After they smashed into the mountaintop, they shot toward the emperor''s brother-inw, Cui Haisheng, sending him flying. He barely blocked the blow, but his subordinates were all vomiting blood or had broken bones from the impact. One unlucky cultivator was even squashed into a pancake.


    Such was the might of a Wingform-realm cultivator.


    Cui Haisheng could never have imagined that his plots would backfire on him so spectacrly.


    "You two bald donkeys¡ªhow dare you attack me! Die!" Cui Haisheng shed at them with a radiant longsword.


    "Be careful. It''s an Immortal relic!" Xu Ming cried out.


    Xu Kong was sent flying as a result of the attack, but his staff managed to strike Cui Haisheng once again. Cui Haisheng spat out another mouthful of blood as his clothes were reduced to tatters and he was sent flying.


    "Senior Brother, he''s wielding an Immortal weapon from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. It''s corroded, so it''s not particrly strong." Xu Kong smiled as he wiped at the blood by his lips.


    "Luohan Suppresses the Dragon!" both monks shouted, rushing over toward Cui Haisheng.


    Cui Haisheng retaliated with a sh of his sword.


    The two staffs suppressed the Immortal sword as Cui Haisheng tossed another Immortal relic at the two monks.


    "Explode!" Cui Haishengmanded.


    A huge mushroom cloud formed where the two monks were.


    "Cui Haisheng, you''re detonating your Immortal relics? How shameless!" Xu Kong thundered, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    Xu Ming likewise sprayed out a mouthful of blood as he smashed at Cui Haisheng with his staff.


    Cui Haisheng, badly injured, sprayed out a mouthful of blood as well.


    The three cultivators had grown incensed with each other, and they attacked relentlessly. Explosions bloomed in the air, so violent it felt as if the whole world were shaking. Although Xu Ming and Xu Kong had the numerical advantage, Cui Haisheng boasted arge supply of Immortal relics. When he was unable to ovee the monks'' attacks, he would detonate another Immortal relic to sap away at the two monks'' strength.


    After an hour, all three cultivators were injured to a rather significant extent. Although they could keep fighting, it was doubtful that anything conclusive would result from it.


    "Cui Haisheng, though you were the one who schemed against us first, if we keep fighting, others might take advantage. We''ll stop here and fight again another day!" Xu Ming howled.


    "I''ll deal with both of you in the future," Cui Haisheng roared back.


    Both parties retreated in opposite directions from the firestorm that the battlefield had be.


    Just then, Cui Haisheng saw two huge tongues appear behind Xu Ming and Xu Kong likes.


    The tongues enveloped the two monks and sent them into the mouths of the two toads lying in wait.


    "What? An ambush? Weren''t Xiao Nanfeng''s two toad spirits supposed to be at Spiritsong? Why are they giving off Wingform-realm auras?!" Cui Haisheng cried out.


    Just then, a longsword stabbed through the back of his heart and out through his chest.


    "Impossible!" Cui Haisheng gasped.


    He understood everything immediately. Xiao Nanfeng was attempting to take advantage of the fight between him and the two monks to seize them all. He couldn''t have expected that Xiao Nanfeng had had two Wingform-realm spirits as subordinates¡ªno, the assassin to his back had to be a third Wingform-realm cultivator. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to prate Cui Haisheng''s qi barrier.


    "No!" Cui Haisheng cried out in fear.


    You Jiu twisted his de, bisecting Cui Haisheng''s body.


    At the same time, a huge explosion came from within Warble''s mouth. It was consumed by fire.


    Xu Ming escaped from the mes, but he had lost an arm and a leg, and his body was rapidly dposing as a result of the gastric acid from Warble''s stomach. He was a terrible sight to behold.


    "I''ve been injured, Croak!" Warble clutched its mouth in pain.


    "You dare hurt my wife? Die!" Croak roared, leaping toward the monk.


    Croak was keeping the monk Xu Kong captive in its mouth cavity, and it didn''t dare to extend its tongue. Even so, it was tremendously strong. It mmed into Xu Ming, sending them both smashing into the ground. Audible cracks could be heard all through Xu Ming''s body. He immediately picked himself up and flew away as fast as he could.


    When he saw Cui Haisheng''s bisected body, he immediately understood what had happened. He had fallen for Xiao Nanfeng''s trap.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll pay for this! I''ll send you to hell!" Xu Ming howled, vanishing in a sh of light.


    "Hold it!" Croak chased after the monk.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll send your rogue soldiers into hell first!" Xiao Nanfeng howled back, standing atop a nearby mountain.


    Xu Ming gave Xiao Nanfeng a furious look from afar as he vanished over the horizon.


    Warble clutched its mouth for quite some time. Its vitality meant that the wound healed quickly, but it was outraged by what had happened. It turned to see the two halves of Cui Haisheng''s body squirming. His upper half was attempting to flee with his lower half, but Warble immediately extended her injured tongue and swallowed Cui Haisheng up before You Jiu could attack him further.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll pay for this!" Cui Haisheng roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Cui Haisheng as he turned toward Warble. "Warble, don''t forget to spit out the treasures from his storage ring."


    "Got it!" Warble replied.


    Croak returned shortly after, a despondent look on its face.


    "Did you catch him, Croak?" Warble asked.


    "That monk ran away too fast!" Croak spat out. It had clearly failed.


    "You''ve just reached Wingform, so it''s natural that you can''t outrun these cultivators who have been at Wingform for years. You were only able to take them down so easily because they were already injured," Xiao Nanfeng consoled them.


    "But he hurt my wife!" Croak was terribly upset.


    "Don''t worry. You''ll have plenty of opportunities to deal with himter. There are benefits to having him get away, too. I''ll treat you both to a good feast." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "What feast?" Croak and Warble were instantly excited.


    "I promise you''ll like it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, his smile widening.


    You Jiu headed over with Cui Haisheng''s Immortal de. "Master, we''re rather far from Yongding. I doubt anyone will notice us."


    "We won''t be able to hide the fight. After all, what we slew was only one of Cui Haisheng''s avatars. His main body would be quite a bit more difficult to kill." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "His avatar?" You Jiu eximed.


    "Cui Haisheng is the brother-inw of Emperor Tianshu. Of course he''d get the benefits afforded his station. Furthermore, Cui Haisheng was one of the men who helped Emperor Tianshu establish his empire to begin with. Considering that Hong Lie has already be an Immortal, do you think it makes sense that Cui Haisheng would be so easy to defeat?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    You Jiu frowned. "We''ll have to suffer his revenge, then."


    "His revenge? He was already going to try to take me down, so it''s not as if anything has changed. Killing one of his avatars will reduce his overall strength, and does benefit us still," Xiao Nanfeng replied, not overly concerned.


    "I understand, Sir Xiao!"


    "Alright. Inform everyone that we''ll be having a feast!"Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Yessir!" You Jiu''s eyes lit up.


    A certain city''s gates were flung wide open.


    Fresh blood spilled on the ground within and without the city. Corpsesy scattered; thick smoke roiled. A huge battle had just ended as Ye Dafu imed the city for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ten thousand troops took over the city. Although themon people were somewhat frightened, they rxed upon hearing that the soldiers were from Xiao Nanfeng''s army.


    Over the course of thest month, a significant amount of information had filtered in from Yongding, causing themon people to treat Xiao Nanfeng''s rule with cautious optimism.


    Indeed, the soldiers did nothing untoward as they streamed into the city, causing themon people to rx.


    A group of officials that had apanied the soldiers quickly took over the governance of the city, which began running smoother than before in no time.


    Ye Dafu sat in the governor''s manor with a look of palpable excitement. "We were still on our wayst night, but we captured the city by noon! I''m getting faster and faster at this, haha!"


    "I wonder how the other troops are faring?" one Taiqing disciple asked.


    "They''re being led by my third uncle and my brothers, so it''s only natural that they would be slower, but with Taiqing elders around to guide the way, I''m sure they''ve all but taken down their respective cities as well."


    "Elder Ye, I noticed that the governor''s manor has a well-stocked wine cer. Shall we have a celebration? There are other officials responsible for administration, after all." The Taiqing disciple smiled in anticipation.


    Ye Dafu was just about to agree when a ck-d man suddenly appeared by the door to the manor. Ye Dafu recognized the man as a spectral guard immediately. He had everyone wait while he met with the guard, but the guard only passed him a letter before vanishing from sight.


    Ye Dafu opened the letter. His eyes widened. "We''ll have alcoholter. Summon all the Taiqing disciples. We''re leaving immediately!"

 Chapter 261: Uprooting

    <h4>Chapter 261: Uprooting</h4>


    There was arge ind in the Eastern Sea. A stone tablet had been erected by the harbor, on which were the two words "Jingang Temple." The ind was surrounded by fog, and a formation flickered in and out of existence.


    As night fell, a red-robed monk carrying two unconscious male disciples flew through the formation as he murmured a mantra.


    A stone Buddha stood on the ind, before which was a broad za where a number of monks had gathered.


    The red-robed man flew into the za and tossed the two disciples down.


    "These are two Taiqing disciples I found practicing turtle-breathing in the sea near Taiqing Ind. I caught them and brought them here. It saved me quite a bit of time. Start interrogating them," the red-robed monkmanded.


    "Understood!" the monks in the za replied.


    The two Taiqing disciples were trussed up as the monks interrogated them for information about Taiqing Ind.


    Just then, a scarred monk walked over.


    "Senior Uncle!" The monks bowed respectfully.


    "Continue your interrogation. Don''t worry about me." the scarred monk waved a hand, beckoning for the monks to get back to work.


    "Understood!"


    The scarred monk told the red-robed monk, "You''ve already kidnapped more than a few Taiqing disciples from beyond Taiqing Ind. Be careful not to get caught."


    "Don''t worry, Senior Uncle. I''ve been very careful about things. The Taiqing Immortal Sect only ever loses one or two disciples at a time, and they won''t discover anything amiss for the short term. More importantly, my master has tasked me with keeping track of the Taiqing Sect''s activities. The best and most urate way of doing so is to interrogate Taiqing disciples directly." The red-robed monk smiled.


    "Your master''s being too cautious in Xiao Hongye''snds. What threat could thatnd possibly pose? If it were me, I''d sweep through the cities by myself and seize all thatnd," the scarred monk replied dismissively.


    The red-robed monk bowed his head and smiled. "Please calm down, Senior Uncle. Master''s aware of the enmity that you bear toward Xiao Hongye, and he''s worried that you''ll incite retaliation from the Tianshu Empire.


    "Those are extraneous concerns. It''s true that I bear Xiao Hongye enmity, but he''s already gone missing. Why would I act rashly? With the return of the Xiang cultivators, uprisings are urring all over the Tianshu Empire. Who would have the time to pay attention to Xiao Hongye''snds? My two senior brothers are Wingform-realm cultivators who can take on any opponent. Why waste so much time trying to capture Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "They were worried that Ku Jiang and Hong Lie might be stationed in Yongding, but that problem has been solved. If I''m not mistaken, Master and Senior Uncle Xu Kong will be back with Xiao Nanfeng at any moment now," the red-robed monk replied.


    Just then, golden light shed through the formation overhead as a bloodied figure fell to the ground beside the two monks, smashing into the stone floor.


    "Who is it?!" Everyone turned to themotion.


    "Master? Is that you?!" the red-robed monk eximed.


    "What? Is that Senior Brother Xu Ming?!" the scarred monk eximed.


    The bloodied figure in front of them had lost one arm and one leg, and his skin was dposing and peeling off. It was almost impossible to recognize Xu Ming''s features, but the silhouette he struck was clearly that of Xu Ming.


    "What happened to you, Senior Brother?!" The scarred monk hurriedly gave Xu Ming first aid.


    "Inform the abbot immediately!" someone cried out.


    Countless monks gathered by the za. The abbot of the Jingang Temple, radiating with holy light, rushed out and assisted the scarred monk in tending to Xu Ming''s body.


    Two hourster, Xu Ming slowly awakened.


    "Senior Brother, you''re awake! Who injured you this badly? I''ll kill him!" the scarred monk cried out.


    "How did you end up so badly injured? Where''s Xu Kong?" the Jingang abbot asked.


    Xu Ming was silent for long moments. Then, spitting out a mouthful of blood, he began, "Abbot¡ªSenior Brother, I apologize. I fell prey to Xiao Nanfeng''s trap, and Junior Brother Xu Kong perished."


    "What?!" the monks shouted.


    Xu Ming''s face contorted in malice as he recounted what had happened.


    "Cui Haisheng hoodwinked you, and Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of that? Xiao Nanfeng''s truly a demon that belongs in the underworld like his father," the scarred monk thundered.


    "Abbot, as I escaped, Xiao Nanfeng promised that he would kill all my subordinates in the Xiaonds. I don''t care about the rogue soldiers, but quite a number of disciples from the Jingang Temple are in their midst. Xiao Nanfeng has the support of three Wingform-realm cultivators, and he''ll surely take advantage of his victory to take them all down. The Jingang Temple is going to suffer huge losses if we don''t do anything," Xu Ming fretted.


    "We''ll head over there immediately and rally the Jingang disciples. He won''t seed!" the scarred monk cried out.


    "Calm down, Xu Fa," the abbot replied.


    "Senior Brother Xu Kong is dead, and Senior Brother Xu Ming is badly hurt! How am I supposed to calm down? Abbot, I''m going to head over there right now and raze Yongding to the ground!" the scarred monk cried out.


    "You''ll go nowhere," the abbot replied.


    "Why not?" the scarred monk gritted out.


    "Xu Fa, the abbot''s right. If you rush over in this state of mind, you might be trapped in one of Xiao Nanfeng''s schemes," Xu Ming wheezed, coughing out blood.


    "I''m just trying to take revenge for you! How could you be against that?" The scarred monk seemed difited by the resistance to his n.


    "We''ll surely take revenge for Xu Kong, but we have to remain calm. We can''t be trapped by Xiao Nanfeng again. You won''t go anywhere," Xu Ming demanded.


    The scarred monk scowled.


    The abbot thought for a moment. "Have Xiao Nanfeng''s two toad spirits reached Wingform? That would exin everything. I see."


    "What do you mean, Abbot?" Xu Ming asked.


    "Recently, someone has been continuously excavating draconic veins under spiritbeastirs. The sects of the Eastern Sea have been trying to figure out who the culprit was, but no one had any insight. Now, however, it''s all but certain that Xiao Nanfeng was responsible. The news that he was at the draconic pce was just a red herring. He''s actually been excavating draconic veins with his toad spirits! To think he would have such precise knowledge about the distribution of draconic veins across the Eastern Sea... He has a lot of secrets, doesn''t he?" The abbot narrowed his eyes.


    "I see." Xu Ming nodded.


    Although there was no definitive evidence, he believed in the abbot''s deduction.


    "Abbot, what should we do about Xiao Hongye''s titlednds? Will the Jingang Temple disciples be recalled?" Xu Ming asked.


    "Why would they be recalled? We''ve chosen to fight against the Tianshu Empire, and we''ll have to get used to death and loss. When the Taiqing Immortal Sect helped Nn Qiankun establish the Tianshu Empire, many of its elders perished, including the Ascended division leader Zhao Tianjue. Despite those deaths, they ultimately managed to found their empire. We might have encountered a setback, but if we can im eventual victory, then everything will have been worthwhile. Not for nothing will Junior Brother Xu Kong have died. We simply need to take revenge. I''ll personally apany you to the Xiaonds. Xiao Nanfeng has three Wingform-realm subordinates, but ording to your description, they''ve only entered Wingform recently. They don''t represent a huge threat," the abbot concluded.


    "I think so too. As long as we can capture Xiao Nanfeng, we''ll be able to take our revenge and gain ess to the undying realm that he controls. We''ll even be able to figure out his secrets regarding the draconic veins around the Eastern Sea." Xu Ming nodded.


    "Time is of the essence. Recuperate now. I''ll be summoning the disciples of the temple to return to the Xiaonds with us. We must hurry," the abbott said.


    "I understand!" Xu Ming nodded firmly.


    "And what about me?" the scarred monk asked.


    "Xu Fa, you''ll stay here and guard the sect," the abbot replied.


    "What?!" The scarred monk glowered,


    but the abbot refused to change his mind. He was forced to remain.


    Xu Ming consumed a great deal of spiritual pills. Deep in meditation, he urged his limbs to regrow. Within half a day, his skin was shedding and being knitted anew as well.


    However, his new limbs were still extremely weak, and it would take a significant amount of time before they would be as flexible and easy to manipte as his original ones.


    The next day, at daybreak, the abbot of the Jingang Temple, Xu Ming, and some Spiritsong-realm monks flew across the sea, dragging thousands of Jingang disciples behind them in arge.


    Meanwhile, on a rocky ind shrouded by fog not too far away, Xiao Nanfeng and thousands of Taiqing disciples were watching the Jingang procession leave.


    "King Xiao, you were right. The Jingang disciples are headed to the Xiaonds with thousands of monks. I suppose we''ll have much on our tes for the long run," Ye Sanshuimented, smiling wryly.


    "If they intend to seize mynds, then I shall do the same to them first. The Jingang abbot himself has set off. There''s no one skilled left except for the monk Xu Fa. We''ll sneak in, excavate the draconic vein, and raise our cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng informed everyone.


    "Understood!" thousands of Taiqing disciples cried out.


    They had just imed ten cities in the Xiaonds before Xiao Nanfeng suddenly summoned them all. They expected that Xiao Nanfeng was going to have an ordinary feast; none of them could have imagined that Xiao Nanfeng would bring them all to feast on a draconic vein instead. What a pleasant surprise!


    "It won''t be easy to break through the Jingang Temple''s protective formation, will it?" Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "No, it''s trivial." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Any time a disciple walked in or out of the Jingang Temple, there would be an opportunity to strike. Many Jingang disciples were crossing in and out, and You Jiu had already snuck in.


    A huge crash resounded from within the temple as the main formation shattered.


    "Senior Uncle Xu Fa, something''s wrong! Someone has destroyed the ind-protecting formation!" a disciple eximed.


    "What? Who?!" The scarred monk''s roar could be heard from afar.


    Two huge spiritsnded on the ind. Croak and Warble had appeared as vanguards.


    Huge quantities of dust filtered into the air.


    "Go on. We''ll im the ind for ourselves!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the Taiqing disciples cried out in excitement.


    The Spiritsong-realm elders, ferrying thousands of Taiqing disciples in a huge, began to swarm the ind.


    "It''s Xiao Nanfeng¡ªhe''se with thousands of Taiqing disciples! Help!" The Jingang disciples began to panic.

 Chapter 262: Destroying the Jingang Temple

    <h4>Chapter 262: Destroying the Jingang Temple</h4>


    Seated in the za overlooked by a huge stone Buddha at the Jingang Temple, Xu Fa grew madder and madder the more he stewed. "Bring all the Taiqing disciples we''ve caught over!"


    Dozens of Taiqing disciples were brought to the za. Their clothes were tattered and bodies wounded. Many of them were bleeding and bruised, some even unconscious.


    "Hang them all up!" Xu Famanded.


    The Taiqing disciples were trussed up in the air.


    "Spare us, spare us!"


    "Don''t beg for mercy. They''re not going to let us go after they''ve captured us. Listen to me. We can''t tell them anything about the Taiqing Immortal Sect¡ªnot our sect techniques, nor what''s going on within the sect. If you divulge that information, you''ll just perish even more quickly!"


    The Taiqing disciples tried to encourage each other.


    "I don''t need any more information from you. Xiao Nanfeng has caused the death of my senior brother, Xu Kong. I''ve been forbidden to take revenge on him, so I''ll take things out on you instead," Xu Fa told them chillingly.


    "You''re going to kill us?" The Taiqing disciples nched.


    "Not so easily. An ancient rite of torture in Buddhist sects is to have eagles consume raw flesh from the victims'' bodies as sacrifice, as penitence, to extirpate sin. Today, your flesh shall feed the eagles I''ve been raising. Monks, release the eagles!" Xu Famanded.


    The monks began to cut off chunks of flesh from the Taiqing disciples'' bodies and toss them at the eagles circling the za.


    "It hurts!"


    "Don''t kill me! Don''t hurt me anymore! Argh!"


    Screams and cries rang out.


    "Isn''t the Jingang Temple a Buddhist sect, beholden to the teachings of mercy and grace? What''s the meaning of this torture? What Buddha could you possibly pray to? You''re no monks¡ªyou''re demons!"


    "Even Buddha harbors anger, steely, righteous anger from which the name Jingang derives. We castigate and punish evil in the name of Buddha, ridding the world of demons and spirits. Against sinners like you, we will never be merciful. This punishment is meant to cleanse you of sin and rid you of bad karma. Amitabha!"


    "We''re not the demons. You are, you are!"


    "The Taiqing elders will surely seek revenge on our behalf."


    "The disciples of your sect shall be punished for what you''ve done!"


    The Taiqing disciples howled in outrage, knowing that pleading for mercy would do them no good.


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect doesn''t even know that you''ve been captured. How would they be able to seek revenge? Why don''t you pray that they attack the Jingang Temple? Well? Have them show up right here and now!" Xu Fa taunted.


    Just then, a boom rang out from deep within the ind on which the temple was situated. The ind shook and quaked. The formation around it dissipated into the air.


    "Senior Uncle Xu Fa, something''s wrong! Someone has destroyed the ind-protecting formation!" a disciple eximed.


    "Who dares attack the Jingang Temple? Insolence!" Xu Fa thundered in outrage.


    He soared into the sky, heading toward the foundations of the temple''s formation, when he suddenly sensed two tremendous auras before him.


    Xu Fa hesitated and looked up to see two tongues descending toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s two toad spirits¡ªthat bastard!" Xu Fa cried out.


    Xu Fa deflected the two toad spirits'' tongues with a palm technique, but the toad spirits'' bulk, falling under the effect of gravity, smashed into him like meteors. The three Wingform-realm cultivators and spirits tangled together and began to fight. The mountain peaks of the Jingang Temple copsed in plumes of dust.


    "Activate the other formations now!" Xu Fa cried out as he fought.


    However, by then, You Jiu and the spectral guards had already infiltrated the ind. The evil monks would not have the opportunity to set up any further defenses. Screams rang out all across the ind.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng and thousands of Taiqing disciples swarmed onto the ind and above the central za. They were shocked to see dozens of Taiqing disciples being hung in the air, chunks of flesh cut of from their bodies in macabre torture.


    "Junior brothers!"


    "These evil monks¡ªthey''ve been torturing our juniors!"


    "Die, you vile monks!"


    The thousands of Taiqing disciples roared as they charged forward.


    The majority of the disciples of the Jingang Temple had left to invade the Xiaonds, leaving only a few expert cultivators and arge number of weaker disciples behind in the temple proper. How could they be any match for the enraged Taiqing disciples?


    "Kill!" the Taiqing disciples chorused.


    The Taiqing disciples who had been strung up and left out for the eagles, who thought that death would surelye for them that day, couldn''t help but cry as they saw salvation over the horizon.


    "Save us, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, they''ve been interrogating us about you!"


    "They want to know about what''s going on in the sect, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    The Taiqing disciples had endless grievances that they wanted to share with their saviors.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others cut them down and rescued them, then handed them pills for their injuries. Swaddled in nkets and tended to with devotion, they couldn''t help but feel at ease for the first time since they were caught.


    "Ye Sanshui, set up the Immortal''s Destruction," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Ye Sanshui and his group quickly began to set up the artifact as Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward Xu Fa.


    Xu Fa was a mid-stage Wingform-realm cultivator, and even Croak and Warble working together were unable to take him down.


    "Die, foul spirit!" Xu Fa howled. His palms mmed toward the skies as he struck at both toad spirits.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng imbued a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction and sent a sh of energy crashing down from the skies. It was surprisingly strong, bearing the might of a Wingform-realm cultivator.


    The sh struck Xu Fa on the head, prompting a frenzied cry. Simultaneously, You Jiu thrust a sword through his lower back.


    "No!" Xu Fa cried out.


    With Croak and Warble striking at him simultaneously, Xu Fa was unable to defend himself. You Jiu bisected his body, and Croak and Warble each swallowed half of it.


    The fights elsewhere on the ind quickly ended, leaving just Taiqing disciples roaming freely.


    "Hurry, everyone!" Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the othermanders urged the Taiqing disciples to scour the Jingang Temple for any treasure, which were to be brought to the central za with the overlooking Buddha.


    Before they had arrived at the ind, Xiao Nanfeng had informed everyone that all the spoils would go to him; they would be used to reward the troops conquering cities in the Xiaonds. What the cultivators would gain from this expedition was none other than draconic aether.


    No one minded such a distribution of treasure. Gold, silver, relics¡ªnone of that couldpare to draconic aether. For a cultivator, raising one''s cultivation was the utmost priority.


    With all the loot taken care of, Xiao Nanfeng activated the Immortal''s Destruction and sent eight Immortal-binding chains burrowing deep underground.


    Not too longter, a dragon''s cries could be heard from underground.


    The moment he saw that the Immortal''s Destruction had had the power of a Wingform-realm cultivator, Xiao Nanfeng knew that the draconic vein under the Jingang Temple had to be extraordinary.


    The entire ind shuddered and a whole mountain range began to topple. A tsunami formed in the sea surrounding the ind.


    A dragon cried out as a huge rumble resounded across the ind. A fifteen-hundred-meter-long draconic vein was excavated and pulled out from underground, revealed in full disy on the za.


    "What arge vein!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out.


    This was the first time they had seen a draconic vein of such magnitude. Fifteen hundred meters! It was longer and far wider than any they had seen to date.


    Many salivated upon seeing the draconic vein in its full glory, but no one leapt forward. Everyone was waiting for Xiao Nanfeng''smand.


    "Not only can draconic aether enhance your cultivation, it can heal any injuries that you might have. All injured disciples, make sure to get your fill. Now, everyone, dig in!" Xiao Nanfengmanded with augh.


    "Yes, Elder Xiao!" everyone cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng was the first to absorb draconic aether from the huge draconic vein. Everyone else followed suit. Thousands of disciples imbibed the draconic aether, not willing to waste even a single drop of it. The draconic vein bellowed in despair.


    Croak, Warble, You Jiu, and even a group of spectral guards wearing Taiqing robes and disguised as Taiqing disciples, absorbed their fill.


    As everyone took in what draconic aether they could, the draconic vein was quickly drained.


    Everyone glowed with golden light. They sat cross-legged in meditation.


    Xiao Nanfeng distilled the draconic aether in his body into pure yang qi and sent it gushing toward the suns in his dantian.


    Four hourster, a gust of energy was expelled from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "The seventh stage of Spiritsong..." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes opened in a gleam of light.


    The seventh nascent spirit had been gestated in his seventh sun.


    Croak, Warble, You Jiu, and the others were likewise experiencing breakthroughs of their own. What most pleased Xiao Nanfeng was that another four Ascension-realm disciples had made their way into Spiritsong. They were overjoyed and testing out their newfound powers of flight¡ªand, to Xiao Nanfeng''s surprise, all of Ye Dafu''sckeys had reached Spiritsong as well.


    Among those at the peak of Immanence, a full three hundred had managed to make it into Ascension. The new scope of their powers astounded them.


    "I knew I made the right decision in following Elder Xiao!"


    "I''ve benefited more from a month with Senior Brother Xiao than ten years cultivating alone. Senior Brother Xiao is truly generous!"


    "I''ve reached Ascension too, haha!"


    The disciples were jubnt as they probed their newfound strength. Soon, everyone had awoken from meditation.


    "Alright. We''ll be returning to Yongding immediately. Be careful on the way back. I, Croak, and Warble will be setting off first," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the disciples replied.


    They knew that Yongding was currently an empty city; danger could strike at any moment. Croak and Warble were Wingform-realm lifeforms who would be able to bring Xiao Nanfeng back to Yongding at greatest speed to prevent any raiders from taking advantage of the situation.


    Xiao Nanfeng, You Jiu, Croak, and Warble rose into the air and vanished across the horizon.


    Ye Dafu and thirty or so Spiritsong-realm elders dragged the remaining Taiqing disciples in arge and followed behind.

 Chapter 263: Yuer Again

    <h4>Chapter 263: Yu''er Again</h4>


    Outside the city of Yongding, where a mountain had copsed, Emperor Tianshu''s brother-inw Cui Haisheng appeared.


    During the fight yesterday, Cui Haisheng had been killed by You Jiu and then eaten by Croak and Warble, but that was only one of Cui Haisheng''s avatars. Cui Haisheng''s reappearance meant that he wouldn''t take this insult lying down.


    He could vaguely hear some noiseing from underneath the rubble that the mountain left behind. He waved a hand and cleared it away to reveal several Taiqing Demonic Sect elders.


    However, the elders were in terrible shape. Their limbs were broken and contorted, and one had even been tted until his body was like a pancake.


    "You''re finally here, Master!" one elder eximed, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    "None of you managed to get away?" Cui Haisheng frowned.


    "When the two monks'' staffs struck us all, my junior brother died instantly, and the rest of us were terribly injured. If not for the Pestilence Sage risking his life to save us, we might all be dead," the elder reported.


    Tang blearily opened his eyes. "I must repay your trust, Division Leader. Everyone else here is your disciple. How could I run away on my own?"


    Tang knew that Cui Haisheng was a schemer. Although he had publicly stated that the Pestilence Sage couldn''t possibly be passing information to Xiao Nanfeng, it was still something that Cui Haisheng would look into. That was why he didn''t choose to escape; rather, he pretended to risk his life for Cui Haisheng''s disciples. After all, this body of his was just an avatar, and its death would not hurt him unduly.


    Tang''s terrible appearance now, along with the testimony of Cui Haisheng''s own disciples and the well-known grudge that the Pestilence Sage had against Xiao Nanfeng finally dispelled thest of Cui Haisheng''s suspicions.


    Cui Haisheng immediately retrieved arge quantity of pills. "Thank you for your hard work, Pestilence Sage. Everyone, take these pills and recuperate."


    "Thank you, Division Leader." Tang epted the pills gratefully.


    Just then, a figure flew toward Cui Haisheng.


    "Division Leader, we''ve investigated matters thoroughly. All the Taiqing disciples have vanished from the ten cities that Xiao Nanfeng took down, and Xiao Nanfeng hasn''t been seen in Yongding."


    "Where could Xiao Nanfeng and all the Taiqing disciples have gone?" Tang asked weakly.


    Cui Haishengughed. "Where else? He knows how to take advantage of victory. If I''m not mistaken, he''s either trying to attack our base of operations here or the headquarters of the rogue soldiers that have infiltrated his territory. He''s trying to augment his advantage from turning us against each other."


    The disciples nodded. "As you say, Division Leader!"


    Two more figures emerged.


    "Division Leader, we''ve just confirmed that Xiao Nanfeng isn''t heading to our base of operations."


    "Division Leader, we''ve confirmed that Xiao Nanfeng isn''t heading to the rogue soldiers'' headquarters, either."


    Cui Haisheng frowned. "What? Impossible. Are you certain?"


    "We''ve had constant surveince at these locations, Division Leader. There''s no mistake about it," one of Cui Haisheng''s subordinates reported.


    Cui Haisheng''s gaze clouded over before he suddenly opened his eyes wide. "I know where he is now. How bold, how audacious! He''s attacking the Jingang Temple itself!"


    "What?" everyone eximed.


    "That''s where he is. There''s a draconic vein under the Jingang Temple. That''s why everyone''s gone¡ªthey''re all going to absorb the draconic vein!" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    "Isn''t he afraid that they''ll take revenge?" Tang asked.


    "Revenge? There''s no treasure without risk. His father was just like him in his prime. When the Taiqing Immortal Sect was working to take down the Taiwu Empire, his father raided the Eastern Sea at dawn and the Taiwu capital at dusk, taking full advantage of theg time before enemy troops could muster and retaliate to whittle them all down. Xiao Nanfeng''s just like his father. He''ll be a tough nut to crack," Cui Haisheng cursed.


    "A draconic vein is quintessential to a sect''s growth. It can gather spiritual aether to itself and enrich thend around it for generations. He''s intending to drain the Jingang Temple''s draconic vein for a one-time boost to his forces'' strength?" Tang eximed.


    "No wonder his cultivation has been climbing so rapidly. He has to be the mystery cultivator that''s been excavating draconic veins across the Eastern Sea a few months ago!" Cui Haisheng continued.


    "Division Leader, how should we deal with him?" Tang asked.


    "If he wants to reim his titlednds, he''ll need plenty of generals¡ªbut officials and administrators are even more important. It''s hard to establish an empire and harder still to sustain it. Without outstanding officials, his governance would surely falter."


    "Do you intend to attack his officials, Division Leader?" Tang eximed.


    "That''s right. All his officials must be in Yongding right now. Perhaps his chief official, Zheng Qian, is in his manor right now. He''s off destroying the Jingang Temple''s foundations. Why shouldn''t we do the same to his?"


    Cui Haisheng flew toward Yongding.


    He reached out and conjured a cloud of fog to hide himself, intending to kill as many of Xiao Nanfeng''s officials as he could before Xiao Nanfeng returned.


    He approached the Xiao manor from the air, spreading his spiritual power in order to get a sense of the Xiao manor and its surroundings. He quickly sensed arge number of officials and conjured a gigantic palm to squash them all t.


    Just then, he saw a red-d figure in the Xiao manor looking up at him. "Cui Haisheng? You''vee, after all."


    "What?!" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    He soared into the air and immediately activated his defenses, as though a threat of unparalleled dangery below.


    "And you''ve even shrouded yourself in ayer of fog as well. That isn''t like you." The red-d figure smiled.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You haven''t gone to the Jingang Temple? What are you doing here?!"


    Could his hypothesis have been wrong? Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t at the Jingang Temple. He had been preparing an ambush for him! Cold sweat broke out on Cui Haisheng''s back.


    "This is my home. Where would I be if not here?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    This wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, but rather his avatar. He had guessed that Cui Haisheng might attempt to take revenge, so he had left his avatar in the Xiao manor as a deterrent.


    "Is this an ambush?" Cui Haisheng''s eyes sparked with frost.


    "An ambush? Of course not. I''m just weing you. For Marquis Cui himself to make an appearance¡ªwhy, I should be honored. Would you like to join me for a drink?" Xiao Nanfeng offered generously.


    Cui Haisheng had titlednds of his own within the Tianshu Empire, and was likewise a marquis in his own right.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s shout boomed throughout the city. Themon people raised their heads and looked up at the sky curiously.


    "You''re mistaken, Xiao Nanfeng," Cui Haisheng replied, his voice cold.


    As long as he refused to admit his identity and had usible deniability on ount of the fog disguising his appearance, Ku Jiang wouldn''t be able to use it as an excuse to cause trouble for him.


    "Am I mistaken? Then who might you be, sir, to be hovering around my city of Yongding? Who might you be to impersonate Marquis Cui and attempt to raid my manor?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Cui Haisheng red at the manor below him. He was certain that there was an ambush waiting. He couldn''t stay here any longer.


    <i>Hold on. What if this is only his avatar?</i> Cui Haisheng wondered. Cui Haisheng rapidly came up with a new hypothesis. What if this was Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and all this was a ploy to get him to leave?


    "Who are you, sir? Why are you refusing to respond to my questions? What are you doing here in Yongding?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Cui Haisheng very much wanted to swoop down toward Xiao Nanfeng, but he was worried that Xiao Nanfeng''s three Wingform-realm subordinates would be in his manor waiting for him. Even so, he didn''t want to leave, either. What if all this was just a trick?


    Cui Haisheng retrieved a guqin, deciding to test the waters a bit longer. He would remain some distance away and attack the Xiao manor with his guqin from afar.


    As he plucked at the guqin''s strings, a giant ethereal stork manifested and flew toward the Xiao manor.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Cui Haisheng wasn''t an easy opponent. A single stork would be easy to dispel, but Cui Haisheng would only grow more and more aggressive as time passed. If that happened, theck of cultivators in the Xiao manor would be exposed.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to y along. All he could do was hope that he could dy things long enough that his main body would be back in time to repel any potential ssault.


    Just then, a flute could be heard from close by.


    A phoenix''s cry emanated from within the city of Yongding as a magnificent ethereal phoenix soared into the skies to meet the giant stork.


    The two ethereal birds struck each other in the air and dissipated. Their bodies vanished in a howling gale that buffeted the city.


    "Who''s that?" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng jumped up to a rooftop and saw a red-robed woman ying a flute not far from the Xiao manor. She had been the one to summon the phoenix and block Cui Haisheng''s blow.


    "Yu''er?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 264: Hong Lie Arrives

    <h4>Chapter 264: Hong Lie Arrives</h4>


    The beauty ying the flute outside the Xiao manor was none other than Xiao Nanfeng''s senior sister, Yu''er.


    When they had finally emerged from the undying realm, Yu''er had been worried about the gue of cursed kings around Xiao Nanfeng. She had returned home in search of a means by which the cursed effigies could be separated from Xiao Nanfeng, and he had heard nothing of her for an entire year.


    Yu''er stopped ying the flute and gave Xiao Nanfeng a hmph. She scrunched up her pert nose. "Call me Senior Sister, you hear?"


    She tried to hide her smile, but was ultimately unable to. Her tinklingugh reminded one of a field of blooming flowers. A deepset joy could be seen in her eyes.


    There was no more time for pleasantries, however. Yu''er immediately turned her attention back to ying the flute. She summoned an evenrger ethereal phoenix to attack Cui Haisheng.


    Cui Haisheng frowned. He strummed his guqin, sending another crone swooping down toward Yu''er''s phoenix. The two birds dissipated in another explosion. This time, however, when the phoenix exploded, an ethereal sword emerged from its body and shot toward Cui Haisheng.


    "What?" Cui Haisheng frowned as he hurriedly defended with a palm.


    Cui Haisheng blocked the attack, but the shockwave that resulted blew away the fog shrouding him to reveal his gobsmacked expression.


    Cui Haisheng''s brows furrowed as he realized that he had been exposed. "The Godbane de? You y the Godbane Flute? How are you rted to Han Bingdie? Why do you have her flute?!"


    Yu''er shouted, "Cui Haisheng, I advise that you leave now. If you dare attack Nanfeng any longer, don''t me me for any retaliation you might face."


    Cui Haisheng called back, "Lass, you must be one of Han Bingdie''s juniors. Even she addresses me as Division Leader. How dare a young girl like you try to stop me?"


    Cui Haisheng cared less that he had been revealed than being spoken to so rudely by a junior, let alone one supporting Xiao Nanfeng, who had destroyed his avatar.


    "Cui Haisheng, why have you attempted to close in on my manor in disguise?" Xiao Nanfeng drew close to Yu''er protectively. "Do you mean me ill?"


    More and more of the people of Yongding were looking up in the air in vexation and annoyance. They had only had two days of peace¡ªand now more people were here to make trouble for Young Master Xiao!


    When Cui Haisheng saw themon people of Yongding ring at him, he frowned. He had been exposed. Unless he killed the whole city, he wouldn''t be able to hide his presence.


    Even so, how could he just leave without retaliation? Even if he couldn''t kill the two cultivators in public, he at least had to injure them severely in order to take revenge.


    "I heard that a powerful musician has recently joined your employ," Cui Haisheng replied, making up an excuse. "I''m here to get a measure of her skills myself." Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak further, he began ying the guqin in earnest.


    Almost a hundred ethereal storks flew out from his guqin''s strings straight toward Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    Yu''er devoted herself to ying her flute and conjured a hundred ethereal phoenixes, but none were asrge as the storks.


    The storks attacked in earnest as the phoenixes cried out. Within moments, the phoenixes had dissipated under their furious assault. It was clear that Yu''er was disadvantaged in terms of spiritual power. The phoenixes burst apart to reveal a hundred des, but the storks defended against them all.


    Yu''er''s face turned pale as she spat out a mouthful of blood. The attack had caused severe strain to her soul.


    "Lass, you''re trying to y the Godbane Flute despite the fact that you''re only at Ster Lake? Aren''t you afraid of bacsh?" Cui Haisheng chuckled.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng ced a hand on Yu''er''s shoulder, transferring a torrent of spiritual power into her body. Yu''er''s pale face regained its color as her mindscape was flooded with energy.


    Without any hesitation, she continued ying the Godbane Flute. Roiling spiritual power shot out with her music, transforming into a phoenix ten times the size of the ones she had manifested to date. As it spread its wings, pale blue mes emerged all around itself. The mes'' aura alone was sufficient to vanquish many of the storks.


    "Impossible!" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    He began to y the guqin more and more furiously, causing the remaining storks to mass together into a giant stork. However, that stork was only half the size of Yu''er''s phoenix. The phoenix swooped toward the stork, enveloping it in mes. The phoenix tore it to shreds.


    Cui Haisheng spat out a mouthful of blood from the bacsh. He gaped at the ming phoenix, which was already closing in on him and filling his surroundings with me.


    "Impossible!" Cui Haisheng eximed again. He struck at the phoenix with all his spiritual power.


    A huge explosion urred in the air, almost like the explosion of an Immortal relic. A mushroom cloud emerged from the mes.


    Cui Haisheng was sent flying, his clothes tattered. The phoenix exploded to reveal a huge sword that destroyed Cui Haisheng''s guqin, broke through his protective qi barrier, and stabbed deep into his flesh.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power,bined with the Godbane Flute, is sufficient to harm me?!" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    "Didn''t you want to learn about music, Cui Haisheng? Shall we continue?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Again!" Yu''er began to y the Godbane Flute once more, summoning another ethereal phoenix.


    Cui Haisheng''s eyes red with violence as he drew a blood-red Immortal sword. Xiao Nanfeng immediately felt uneasy: the aura that emanated from the sword was far too intense. It might well be a pristine Immortal sword.


    "Be careful, Yu''er!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He transferred another portion of spiritual power to her as Yu''er summoned one more ethereal phoenix.


    "sh!" Cui Haisheng intoned.


    The crimson light emanating from the sword illuminated the heavens. It struck the ethereal phoenix head-on, obliterating it, and continued forward, its momentum barely affected. Cui Haisheng seemed to be intending to kill Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er simultaneously.


    Just then, a golden fist appeared in the air, shattering the glow of the Immortal sword and forcing Cui Haisheng to stumble back.


    "Who is it?!" Cui Haisheng cried out.


    "Have you had enough, Cui Haisheng? Imagine the left division leader losing to a junior of a younger generation in a contest of music, then trying to kill that junior with an Immortal sword!How shameless could you get?!" a voice came from afar.


    A resplendent man in gold had arrived and was ring daggers at Cui Haisheng¡ªnone other than Hong Lie himself.


    "Hong Lie? What are you doing here?" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    "Cui Haisheng, do you want the whole world to mock the Tianshu Empire for its spies and traitors?" Hong Lie demanded.


    Cui Haisheng pursed his lips. He knew that Hong Lie''s appearance meant that he wouldn''t be able to hurt Xiao Nanfeng any longer. He red at Hong Lie, wanting to reveal that he was the victim in this altercation, but was ultimately unable to ovee his pride.


    "You have no authority to govern my affairs, Hong Lie."


    Cui Haisheng whirled around and flew off. Before he did so, he red at Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er once again.


    "Cui Haisheng, hear you well: if you dare cause trouble for Xiao Nanfeng again, I''ll maul you to death!" Hong Lie roared.


    Cui Haisheng red hatefully at Hong Lie from afar before he vanished over the horizon. How angry he was about what had happened today!


    Only then did Hong Lie fly down toward Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er.


    "I greet my senior uncle," Xiao Nanfeng replied, bowing.


    Yu''er gaped, but bowed as well. "Senior Uncle, I''m Yu''er."


    Hong Lie nced at the two young cultivators andughed. "Are the two of you about to get married? Are you in such a hurry that you haven''t even informed the sect of your ns?"


    Taken aback, the two cultivators traded nces. They were both wearing red, and their pairing did seem rather striking.


    "Of course not! It''s not like that, Senior Uncle." Yu''er blushed furiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Hong Lie in surprise. To his knowledge, Hong Lie was a stoic and reserved cultivator. He hadn''t expected his sense of bawdy humor.


    "It''s impressive that you managed to destroy one of Cui Haisheng''s avatars. Haha, seeing how mad he was makes me want tough. Excellent work!" Hong Lie praised.


    "How did you know, Senior Uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "Ku Jiang told me. He received word that you had just undergone a huge fight. He''s busy at the moment, so he sent me over to help support you."


    "I apologize for making you and Master worry, Senior Uncle."


    "What for? I''m happy to be here. Haha, you really are impressive. You hid three Wingform-realm cultivators up your sleeve and managed to take down Cui Haisheng¡ªand he can''t even reveal what happened out of shame! Just thinking about it makes me smile."


    "I had no choice," Xiao Nanfeng replied wryly.


    "Don''t worry. You were acting in defense of yournds. You had full right to do what you did. If anyone attempts to criticize you for it, Ku Jiang and I will speak up on your behalf," Hong Lie replied definitively.


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in relief.


    Only then did he truly feel confident in his father''s im that his father and Hong Lie had and would put their lives on the line for each other.


    "Lass, that''s the Godbane Flute, isn''t it? How are you rted to Han Bingdie?" Hong Lie asked Yu''er.


    "Han Bingdie''s my mother, and Ku Jiang is my master," Yu''er reported.


    "Oh?" Hong Lie''s eyes widened. Heughed. "She''s your mother? And Ku Jiang''s your master? What irony, haha!"


    "Senior Uncle, is Yu''er''s mother a famous cultivator? Cui Haisheng seemed to know quite a bit about the Godbane Flute as well," Xiao Nanfeng probed.


    "Of course. Han Bingdie''s an elder of the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, and she almost became the left division leader herself. No¡ªshe gave up on the position, allowing Cui Haisheng to take advantage. The Godbane Flute''s a peerless treasure of the left division of the sect, and it''s been Cui Haisheng''s dream to possess it. It''s only natural he would be so mad."

 Chapter 265: Envoy Ying

    <h4>Chapter 265: Envoy Ying</h4>


    Yu''er was invited to the Xiao manor.


    Despite her yearlong absence, she and Xiao Nanfeng quickly warmed up to their reunited selves. She sat by the side of the hall and began eating from a tter of spiritual fruit. She seemed to have a lot to say to Xiao Nanfeng, but that would be a private conversation once Hong Lie was gone.


    "Senior Uncle, this is what happened yesterday." Xiao Nanfeng recounted the fight from yesterday.


    "The monks of the Jingang Temple fought over treasure with your father back in his heyday, and they''ve been aiming for revenge ever since he taught them an unforgettable lesson. Good that you''ve killed them, and the destruction of the Jingang Temple is good riddance. Cui Haisheng deserves what has happened to him, too, but he did end up doing something good for us," Hong Lie replied,ughing.


    "Something good?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "If not for Cui Haisheng''smand, the demonic sect elders would never have supported our confrontation against Nn Qiankun. Yesterday, the elders of both Taiqing sects gathered at the capital and made a big fuss. Ultimately, Nn Qiankun handed over the fortune owed to you and Zhao Yuanjiao, and Ku Jiang even helped you fight for more benefits," Hong Lie replied, smiling.


    "Oh?"


    Hong Lie handed over a golden seal and an imperial edict to Xiao Nanfeng. "This is your father''s seal, which contains the fortune owed to your father over the past decade or so. In addition, this edict permits you to retain the fortune in the Xiaonds for five years without having to pass it on to the capital. This ispensation for his dereliction of duty thesest few years."


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that, regardless of how much authority individual nobles wielded, all the fortune derived from theirnds would have to go to the capital to be partitioned by the emperor. Now, however, Emperor Tianshu was permitting him to harvest five years of fortune on his ownnds for himself¡ªa tremendous boon.


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle," Xiao Nanfeng replied with true emotion.


    He was well aware that, if not for Hong Lie and Ku Jiang''s efforts in securing his deservedpensation, Emperor Tianshu surely wouldn''t have relented to this extent.


    "There''s no need to thank me. Five years might seem like a long time, but it won''t be easy for you to finish reiming yournds and amassing fortune by then," Hong Lie warned.


    "That''s more than enough." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Senior Uncle, has my master returned to the sect?"


    Hong Lie eyed Yu''er by his side, then shook his head. "An esteemed guest has appeared in the Tianshu Empire, and he''s apanying that guest at the moment."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was somewhat taken aback.


    "Senior Uncle, I suppose you must be talking about my mother?" Yu''er smiled.


    Hong Lie gave her an odd look. "You knew?"


    "Of course!" Yu''er nodded. "It''s only been a few days since I left her.


    "To think your mother would have you join the Taiqing Immortal Sect... and that you would take Ku Jiang as your master. What a twist of fate," Hong Liemented.


    "No, it''s nothing like that. My mother told me that I was to apprentice under none other than Ku Jiang. He would be able to teach me the guqin; she said that no one else could be as reliable."


    "Your mother''s as blunt as ever, I see. What, am I unreliable?" Hong Lieughed.


    "I''m just parroting what my mother said, Senior Uncle. Why don''t you ask her if you want to learn more?" Yu''er smiled mischievously.


    Hong Lie shook his head. "Forget it. I won''t gossip about your mother and Ku Jiang, either, lest they berate me when I see them again."


    "Don''t, Senior Uncle! You can''t just whet our appetites like that! What''s the rtionship between my mother and Master? My father always makes a face when he hears his name, but neither of them are willing to tell me anything. Won''t you?" Yu''er stared at Hong Lie expectantly.


    "Don''t ask me. Ask them yourself," Hong Lie replied wearily.


    "But you''ve already started speaking of it! Please, Senior Uncle, if you leave things like that, we''ll end up making things up. It''d be even worse if Master were to catch wind of it," Xiao Nanfeng advised, simrly curious.


    Hong Lie gave them a wry grin. "It''s not much. Ku Jiang courted Han Bingdie in the past, but he was rejected.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    He had never expected his stoic master to have such a sad past. Could he have bawled his eyes to blindness?


    "Is that why Master tried to foist me off on someone else with all sorts of reasons when I initially asked to take him as master? Could he have guessed my identity? Was he worried about dredging up bad memories?" Yu''er suddenlyughed.


    "That''s why it''s so ironic that you''re his disciple now."


    "It just goes to prove how charming my mother is." Yu''er didn''t seem ruffled. "Do you know what she''s doing in the Tianshu Empire, Senior Uncle?"


    "She wants to enter the spirit emperor''s hidden realm, and is asking Nn Qiankun to lead her in. Considering her status, Nn Qiankun surely has to ept, and Ku Jiang will be apanying her as well. He won''t be returning for the short term and wants me to pass on word for you to be careful of Cui Haisheng, Nanfeng," Hong Lie stated.


    "Don''t worry, Senior Uncle. I won''t have any problems protecting myself at present." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then asked, "Do you know where my father has gone, Senior Uncle? Is he in that hidden realm too?"


    Hong Lie shook his head. "I''m not sure, but I''m certain he''s alright. He''ll return sooner orter."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He hadn''t found the information he wanted.


    "Did your father give you a ring before he left? One that looks like this." Hong Lie conjured the image of a ring with a small mantra.


    Yu''er''s eyes brightened. She was aware that that was Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring, and a cursed king was stored within.


    "Is this ring important?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yesterday, Nn Qiankun suddenly asked about the ring. I was there when your father found it in a hidden realm, so I''vee to ask you about it in Nn Qiankun''s stead," Hong Lie replied.


    "Why does Emperor Tianshu want the ring?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "You''ve seen it, then?" Hong Lie''s eyes brightened.


    "Where''s the ring?!" A shout came from outside the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er nced toward the unwee interruption. Hong Lie frowned to see a ck figure suddenly appear in the hall.


    "What''s this?" Yu''er eximed.


    The shadow was two-dimensional andy t on the ground. Suddenly, a bulge appeared from within as the shadow manifested in three dimensions as a ck-robed man. The interior of the robe was pitch-ck, revealing nothing.


    "A cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng instantly grew alert.


    "Envoy Ying, you''ve followed me here?" Hong Lie''s voice was threatening. [1]


    "If there''s an issue, ask Nn Qiankun about it yourself. I don''t have time to exin. I''m here to reim that ring. Lad, it''s in your possession, isn''t it?" Envoy Ying asked coldly.


    Hong Lie frowned at the realization that Nn Qiankun had known, had possibly evenmanded, Envoy Ying to tail him.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body frowned as he looked toward his storage ring.


    "Divine Emperor, a shadow cursed effigy has appeared in my manor, calling himself Envoy Ying. Even my senior uncle, an Immortal, didn''t realize that he was being tailed. It seems to be of extraordinary strength. It''s trying to find you. Do you want to meet it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked his ring.


    The ring was silent.


    "If you do, my avatar will have it wait there. I can head there immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    A deep, exasperated growl came from within the ring.


    "If you don''t want to meet it, Elder, then I''ll refuse the invitation on your behalf."


    The ring was silent again.


    Back in the Xiao manor, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar ignored Envoy Ying. He asked Hong Lie, "Who is he, Senior Uncle?"


    Hong Lie ultimately chose not to make a move. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "That ring isn''t anything good. If you do have it, I''d advise you to give it up so they don''t try to hound you for it."


    Xiao Nanfeng could see that Hong Lie was guarded and wary of Envoy Ying. He nodded. "I do have that ring, but I haven''t been able to figure out anything about it. Please have a look, Senior Uncle."


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the fake ring he had taken from the Chief Steward''s corpse, which the Chief Steward had attempted to use to control the shadowy cursed effigy he had summoned. However, he had failed. Although the ring was only a replica, it looked exactly like the real thing.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the ring, Envoy Ying snatched it from him.


    "No, this isn''t it. It''s just an ordinary ring," Envoy Ying dered immediately.


    Hong Lie had a look at the ring for himself and frowned. "What''s different about it? I''m certain this was the ring that Xiao Hongye and I obtained that year.


    "Hong Lie, are you trying to put on an act for me?" Envoy Ying demanded coldly.


    "Who''s acting? Do you think I''d have the time to make you a fake ring within moments?" Hong Lie demanded.


    Envoy Ying fell silent. It had been tailing Hong Lie all this time, and could confirm that Hong Lie had done nothing to it. It turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "My father gave me this ring without saying anything more. If you''re able to find my father, please feel free to discuss it with him," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Envoy Ying fell silent.


    "Envoy Ying, you''ve seen the ring for yourself. If you dare hurt Nanfeng, don''t me me for being discourteous," Hong Lie threatened.


    "Hmph!" Envoy Ying transformed into a two-dimensional shadow and vanished once again.


    "Senior Uncle, who''s this Envoy Ying?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s a cursed effigy from the spirit emperor''s hidden realm. I''ve only barely interacted with it; Nn Qiankun was the one in charge. I can''t imagine that he would dare to bring it outside. Be very wary," Hong Lie cautioned.


    Xiao Nanfeng thought he sensed an undercurrent in Hong Lie''s tone. Could Hong Lie know that the ring was fake? Had he deliberately been feigning ignorance to hide the secret?


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly. "Thank you for the advice, Senior Uncle."


    "Alright. I still have to deliver Zhao Yuanjiao his fortune, so I''ll be leaving now. I''ll help make sure that Envoy Ying''s gone, too." Hong Lie smiled, pleased by Xiao Nanfeng''s wariness.


    "Take care, Senior Uncle!"


    Hong Lie nodded and turned to Yu''er. "Good eye,ss. I''m looking forward to your wedding."


    "What are you talking about, Senior Uncle? I''m going to report you to my mother!" Yu''er stomped her foot as her face flushed red.


    Hong Lieughed and flew out of the hall.


    1. Ying (Ó°) = shadow ?

 Chapter 266: Yuers Thoughts

    <h4>Chapter 266: Yu''er''s Thoughts</h4>


    After Hong Lie left, Xiao Nanfeng turned to Yu''er.


    "Yu''er, you''ve been gone for an entire year. If not for Master telling me not to worry whenever I asked about you, I might have issued a quest rallying disciples to find you."


    "As I said, you should call me Senior Sister." Yu''er feigned anger.


    "Alright, alright, Senior Sister! I''m so d to see you back." Xiao Nanfengughed.


    "That''s more like it!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er looked at each other with delight.


    "What caused you to spend so much time at home?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Ah, it''s all my father''s fault. He prevented me from leaving, or I would have returned far earlier. Fortunately, my mother pitied me and secretly brought me with her when she left." Yu''er smiled. "Don''t worry. Now that I''m back, I''ll be able to take care of you."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Senior Sister, I''m not the same newbie cultivator I was before."


    "What''s different? You''re still my junior brother, and you''ll always be my junior brother. I''m already a Wingform-realm cultivator now. Surely you''re not stronger?" Yu''er preened.


    "A Wingform-realm cultivator, Senior Sister? How have you advanced so quickly?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You received Emperor Wei''s inheritance, and I received the Red Emperor''s Inheritance. Should I have been any slower?" Yu''er retorted.


    "Ah, you''re quite right, Senior Sister. You''re amazing!" Xiao Nanfeng congratted her.


    Yu''er was very pleased with Xiao Nanfeng''s response.


    "Right, has the Lady Arclight returned as well?" Yu''er suddenly asked.


    "She left almost right after you did, and I haven''t heard from her since," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er frowned thoughtfully.


    "Why did your father forbid you from returning?" Xiao Nanfeng changed the topic.


    "Oh, don''t mention it. My father''s an old stick-in-the-mud. I won''t listen to him. What''s up with the ring that you gave that Envoy Ying, or whoever that was?" Yu''er asked.


    "It didn''t look like anyone good. I could hardly have given up my treasure to it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" Yu''er frowned. "But isn''t there a cursed king in your storage ring? Wouldn''t it be good if they could deal with each other?"


    "I''ll find another method of dealing with the cursed kings in my orbit. I don''t want to involve yet another cursed effigy." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    Yu''er frowned thoughtfully. "That might be troublesome. When I returned home and asked my parents about your situation, they were shocked and thought I had caught the attention of a cursed king. When they learned what was going on, they rxed. Eventually, my father was the one who proposed a solution."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "My father said that cursed kings are far stronger than ordinary cursed effigies, and it''ll be very difficult to get rid of them. However, if you can identify any weaknesses that these cursed kings have, you can counter curse with curse¡ªa cursed object, or even another cursed effigy," Yu''er replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered this information carefully.


    This was how he had dealt with the shadowy cursed effigy that the Chief Steward had summoned. Furthermore, Madam Rouge had been the one to deal with the red rope cursed effigy that he had encountered previously. It was certainly a workable strategy.


    "Conveniently, the Red Emperor''s inheritance mentioned that your titlednds contain a dragon-quelling spike. Do you remember them?" Yu''er asked.


    "Of course. These dragon-quelling spikes are physical manifestations of the undying cursed king''s cursed spiritual power, which Emperor Wei used to establish a few illusory realms for the Red Emperor and Empress Bai''s truesouls. Later, Emperor Wei ate the dragon-quelling spikes in our possession," Xiao Nanfeng recalled.


    "That''s right. A millennium ago, they left one dragon-quelling spike here," Yu''er exined.


    "Oh?"


    "Before Emperor Wei and the others entered the undying realm, they found a group of cursed effigies in the vicinity. Worried that they would disrupt his ns with the undying realm, Emperor Wei used a dragon-quelling spike to seal them here. In addition, he summoned a draconic vein to provide a source of energy to maintain the seal. If we can find that dragon-quelling spike, we might be able to use it to counter the cursed kings around you," Yu''er suggested.


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng pondered the information carefully.


    "However, after so long, who knows where the dragon-quelling spike might be? It should still be roughly in the vicinity, so I''ll help you search for it while I''m around," Yu''er said.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "How did you end uping right when I needed help, Senior Sister?"


    "What do you mean, right when you needed help? I''ve already been in Yongding for a few days."


    "What? Why didn''t youe find me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I won''t tell you." Yu''er''s face blushed. She refused to exin more.


    "Ah, there''s a stall selling amazing stinky tofu near the south of the city. I''ve been queueing up for it daily. It only opens at a fixed time and has limited portions daily. I think it''s open by now. Come and apany me, won''t you?" Yu''er suddenly said.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. What would themon people think if they saw him, the ruler of thesends, queueing up for stinky tofu? Might it be a problem?


    Considering Yu''er''s shining eyes, however, he nodded immediately. "Alright."


    Yu''er happily dragged Xiao Nanfeng out of the manor as they headed toward the stinky tofu stall to the south of the city.


    As expected, there were already a few people queueing up even as the old seller was just starting to set up his stall.


    "Ah, it''s Young Master Xiao!"


    "He''s here to buy fried stinky tofu too?"


    "Old Wang, quick, make some tofu for the young master!"


    The customers who had arrived in advance all made way for Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er. They shot friendly nces at Yu''er.


    "Was she the one who helped Young Master Xiao get rid of Marquis Cui? She''s beautiful, like a true Immortal."


    "Who else would be a match for our young master?"


    "What a perfect couple."


    The customers began to whisper to each other, but Yu''er''s senses were far too sharp not to catch those hushed whispers. She blushed red and grumbled to Xiao Nanfeng, "I forgot that everyone knows who you are now. I shouldn''t havee out with you."


    Xiao Nanfengughed as he ordered two portions of stinky tofu.


    "Lass, I helped you ask about the information you were looking forst time. Young Master Xiao hasn''t yet gotten married. His reputation''s perfect, and no one knows of any vices that he has. He''s a proper gentleman, and only someone like you would be a fitting match for him. How lucky you are!" The stinky tofu seller smiled as he praised Xiao Nanfeng right in front of Yu''er.


    Yu''er flushed. She pped her face in consternation.


    "So you''ve been trying to dig up information about me thesest few days?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    Yu''er flushed red. "I don''t want the tofu anymore!"


    She fled from the scene.


    Xiao Nanfengughed as he waited for the tofu to be prepared. He paid and chased after her once he had imed the tofu.


    Within Cui Haisheng''s hideout in the Xiaonds sat Tang and several demonic sect elders, all of whom had been brought back. A group of demonic disciples stood in the middle of the hall, eyeing Cui Haisheng with bated breath.


    "Who could have divulged our ns?" Cui Haisheng demanded.


    Yesterday, not only had he failed to trick Xu Ming and Xu Kong intounching a sneak attack on Xiao Nanfeng, Xiao Nanfeng had even taken advantage of them to destroy one of Cui Haisheng''s avatars. This was outrageously humiliating and a clear sign that there was a traitor in their midst. Otherwise, how could Xiao Nanfeng have learned of the n?


    Everyone present knew of the n, and Cui Haisheng intended to find the traitor among them.


    Everyone shuddered as they shook their heads vehemently, each iming innocence.


    "Division Leader, I suspect that none of the disciples gave away the n," Tang began.


    "What did you say, Pestilence Sage?" Cui Haisheng eyed Tang coldly.


    "Ku Jiang and Zhao Yuanjiao control the ckguards, and they likely have spies among the rogue soldiers. Those must have been the ones to divulge the information. The fact that demonic elders would suddenly reach out to Ku Jiang must have alerted him, causing him to pass that information to Xiao Nanfeng," Tang hypothesized.


    "Right, right!" everyone eximed.


    "Division Leader, we''ve been with you for ages. How could we betray you? Please, none of us are to me!" Tang urged again.


    "What the Pestilence Sage said makes sense," everyone agreed.


    They were particrly relieved and thankful to Tang. Otherwise, if Cui Haisheng didn''t manage to ferret out a culprit, they would all suffer as a result.


    Cui Haisheng frowned and considered the Pestilence Sage''s words carefully. Finally, he nodded. "The Pestilence Sage is right. Ku Jiang must have realized that something was amiss and schemed with Xiao Nanfeng. Damn that Ku Jiang!"


    Everyone sighed in relief.


    "That said, all of you had better listen up. If any of you dare betray me for Xiao Nanfeng, I won''t forgive you," Cui Haisheng threatened.


    "Don''t worry, Division Leader. We''ll never side with Xiao Nanfeng!" Tang pledged.


    "We won''t!" everyone echoed.


    Cui Haisheng red at the cultivators, but didn''t press further.


    "Division Leader, now that Xiao Nanfeng''s back, would it be problematic for us to remain in his territory and fight with his troops? Would Ku Jiangin to Emperor Tianshu about this?" Tang brought up.


    Cui Haisheng shook his head. "Emperor Tianshu wouldn''t care. Just make sure to handle the tasks I give you well."


    "Understood!" Tang nodded, not daring to probe further.


    After everyone was dismissed, Tang returned to the Pestilence Sage''s manor to recuperate. He locked the door and immediately took out a storage treasure.


    "I wonder what Xiao Nanfeng gave me? He actually went to excavate the draconic vein under the Jingang Temple without me¡ªand to think I almost gave my life to help him!" Tang grumbled.


    The next moment, Tang''s eyes lit up. Within the storage treasure were the carcasses of two Wingform-realm crow spirits. Considering Tang''s current cultivation, he would be able to benefit immensely by consuming them.


    "Senior Brother Xiao''s this generous? I''m rich! Is this how well spies are treated?" Tang eximed. Suddenly, he fell deep in thought. "How strange. Senior Brother Xiao just had a single look at me before ushering me to stay by Cui Haisheng''s side. Could I have cursed Cui Haisheng''s avatar to death?"

 Chapter 267: At the Foot of Mt. Swallowtail

    <h4>Chapter 267: At the Foot of Mt. Swallowtail</h4>


    The rogue soldiers'' headquarters within the Xiaonds was located at Mt. Swallowtail, and countless soldiers were always milling about the region.


    The abbot of the Jingang Temple and Xu Ming had just arrived at the foot of the mountain in a rush. However, there was no sign of any ambush by Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xu Ming asked his subordinates if anything had happened, but none of the cities under their control had been attacked.


    "Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng going to raid this area? Or could he have been trying to mislead us to raid Cui Haisheng''s headquarters instead?" the abbot of the Jingang Temple asked.


    "I''ve had spies keeping an eye on Cui Haisheng''s headquarters, and they haven''t reported anything amiss. I don''t think they''ve been attacked by Xiao Nanfeng, but just in case, I''ve sent some scouts to check again," Xu Ming said.


    Both monks were rather disturbed by the fact that Xiao Nanfeng''s actions weren''t what either of them had expected.


    A Jingang disciple quickly approached them to report on the situation at Yongding.


    "You''re certain that one of Cui Haisheng''s avatars headed to Yongding before being chased away by Hong Lie?" Xu Ming asked, frowning.


    "Yes, Senior. I didn''t dare tarry, so I rushed back immediately to report the news. All the Taiqing disciples are gone, too."


    Xu Ming shot up with a frown. "Something''s wrong. Xiao Nanfeng said he was going to attack this ce. He wouldn''t have done that for nothing. If he hasn''t gone to attack Cui Haisheng, where could he be? Could he have attacked the Jingang Temple?!"


    "What?!" the abbot eximed.


    "I''m not certain, but doesn''t it look like that could be the case?" Xu Ming began to panic.


    Just then, a red-d monk flew over.


    "Master, Abbot, something''s wrong!" The red-d monk was clearly agitated and panicked.


    "What''s wrong? Why have youe?" Xu Ming grew more and more worried.


    "After I split up with you, I went to spy on Taiqing Ind. When I suddenly saw the Taiqing disciples I had kidnapped and brought to the Jingang Temple returning to the Taiqing Ind to recuperate, I knew that something had to be amiss. I rushed back to Jingang Temple and saw... I saw..." the red-d monk shuddered in fear.


    "What did you see?!"


    "The Jingang Temple has been destroyed and reduced to rubble. All the disciples are dead. The mountain peaks of the temple have copsed. Everything''s a mess, and it looks like the draconic vein has been excavated," the red-d monk rattled off in a frenzy.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really was there!" Xu Ming''s body grew ice-cold.


    "Did you see Xu Fa?" the abbot pressed.


    "No. Senior Uncle Xu Fa wasn''t in the ruins of the temple. Even his corpse was nowhere to be found," the red-d monk whispered.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve gone too far. Forever do I brand you an enemy of the Jingang Temple!" Xu Ming roared out, so furious that he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Master!" The red-d monk rushed forward to support Xu Ming.


    Xu Ming was about to head off to seek revenge when the abbot held him back. "What are you trying to do, Xu Ming? Head to Yongding? Hong Lie might be waiting there for you. Do you intend to magnify the losses of the Jingang Temple?"


    Xu Ming wilted. His expression was one of grievance, rage, and despair.


    "Be not anxious. Xiao Nanfeng will pay for what he''s done to Xu Kong and Xu Fa, but you can''t let anger overwhelm you. We''re worried about the Immortals that are backing up Xiao Nanfeng, but we have Immortal backers of our own. We just have to wait until Xiang Pojun leads secluded cultivation," the abbot of the Jingang Temple said.


    "But Xiang Pojun lost to Hong Lie! He¡ª"


    "He may have, but he can easily seek the aid of more members of his n. The Xiang n''s reserves are deep, whereas we are in rather dire straits," the abbot replied.


    "Xiang Pojun''s still in secluded cultivation, and the other members of the Xiang n refuse to acknowledge us. Are we just going to wait?" Xu Ming demanded.


    "What''s wrong with a little wait? Xiao Nanfeng has excavated the draconic vein that serves as the roots of the Jingang Temple. In that case, let''s take advantage of the opportunity to dig up his roots as well. We can excavate the draconic vein within hisnds," the abbot replied.


    "Excavate a draconic vein?" Xu Ming gaped.


    "You''ve chosen to make Mt. Swallowtail your headquarters. This ce is rife with ambient spiritual aether, and it''s very likely that there''s a draconic vein here. It used to be where a sect had been encamped before it was destroyed by the Tianshu Empire and thesends passed to the Xiao n. Xiao Hongye was reluctant to excavate the draconic vein here¡ªwell, we''ll do it for him. Xiao Nanfeng strengthened his subordinates with the draconic vein of the Jingang Temple, so we''ll do the same on his territory. The majority of the disciples are right here, after all," the abbot said.


    "Very well. We''ll excavate the Xiao vein while waiting for the Xiang n," Xu Ming replied, gnashing his teeth.


    A monthter, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and Yu''er had arrived by the outskirts of Mt. Swallowtail. They nced at the fog-shrouded mountain and forest from far away.


    "Nanfeng, are you certain that this is the ce?" Yu''er whispered.


    "The Red Emperor left far too little information. My troops have taken down another thirty cities over thest month, but they never found a location simr to that of your description. I considered taking a different approach. All the dragon-quelling spikes had been located by draconic veins. Can''t we just search for the draconic veins in the Xiaonds? Perhaps there''s one by this mountain," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "But isn''t this mountain the rogue soldiers'' headquarters? Do you intend to fight your way in? They''ve surrounded the mountain with a powerful formation. We can''t get in!" Yu''er frowned.


    "They''re trying to excavate the draconic vein over here."


    "Oh?"


    "My spies reported that there hadn''t been a formation here until a month ago, when the Jingang Temple''s abbot brought the majority of the temple''s disciples here and dispatched the other rogue soldiers to the frontlines. They''re clearly trying to take revenge for what I did," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "You really are beset by enemies on all fronts, aren''t you? Cui Haisheng''s eyeing the city of Yongding, and he''s forcing you to keep Croak and Warble in reserve in case of an attack. You im to be here to search for a dragon-quelling spike¡ªbut you''re really trying to save your draconic vein, aren''t you?" Yu''er teased.


    "Cui Haisheng''s a maniac. Not only has he been eyeing the city of Yongding, he frequently attempts to dress up in ck and probe its defenses. Don''t worry. I''ll be able to rid myself of him soon."


    "What now, then? What if they''ve already excavated the draconic vein by Mt. Swallowtail?" Yu''er asked.


    "They can''t have. I''ve had my scouts surveying the area. There haven''t been any earthquakes or anything of the sort recently, so they must not have found where it is."


    "But how are we going to make it through that formation?" Yu''er asked worriedly.


    "Why would we? We''re just here to search for the draconic vein and the dragon-quelling spike. There''s no need for us to enter."


    "Oh?" Yu''er was rather surprised by Xiao Nanfeng''s response.


    Just then, a pile of earth and rock was upturned, revealing a tunnel dug by a giant pangolin. The pangolin''s head appeared from the near end of the tunnel.


    "Is the tunnel ready?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The pangolin nodded rapidly, as though attempting to please Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is a pangolin spirit! Why does it listen to you?"


    "About half a year ago, Croak and Warble had nothing to do in the undying realm, so they took over the spirits'' domain. Of course, they only did so because they were hungry and wanted to eat more roast spiritbeast meat. Some spirits, afraid that they would end up as food, chose to submit and serve Croak and Warble. This pangolin spirit is one of the Ascension-realm spirits that did so, and it leads a group of Immanence-realm small pangolin spirits that are particrly loyal."


    "They''re helping you dig tunnels through the mountain, then?" Yu''er eximed.


    "That''s right. Over here and by Cui Haisheng''s headquarters." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Yu''er gaped. "You really are evil!"


    "I''m simply dealing with bandits in my territory. It''s nothing but self-defense," Xiao Nanfeng replied primly.


    "But they''ve alreadyid down the formation. Won''t they sense any tunnels being built in their vicinity?" Yu''er asked, worried.


    "I had the pangolins dig the tunnels two months ago, so their tunnels predate the formations."


    "Oh?" Yu''er was taken by surprise once again.


    "Come on. Let''s head inside!"


    Yu''er nodded, allowing the pangolin to lead the way deep into the tunnel. They even passed by an underground aquifer along the way.


    "We''re likely right below the enemy encampment¡ªbut far deeper below the surface than I''d expect. We must be hundreds of meters, maybe even kilometers, underground!" Yu''er frowned.


    "That''s how we can avoid detection for sure," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The two cultivators arrived at arge underground cavern, a round hall about thirty meters tall and three hundred meters in diameter.


    "Have the surroundings been reinforced?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the pangolin.


    The pangolin nodded. "Even an earthquake won''t cause a cave-in. There''s arge formation up above. If we dig further, we might trip it."


    "This is more than sufficient, thank you. It''s going to get dangerous around here, so you and all the others should leave immediately. I''ll take care of things."


    "Yes, King Xiao!" The pangolin left via another tunnel.


    "You''ve treated these pangolins'' throats to allow them to talk?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Of course. Otherwise, it''d be difficult tomunicate."


    "If you aren''t going to continue digging upwards, what''s the point of hollowing out this space?" Yu''er seemed confused.


    "We''re going to excavate the draconic vein before they do, of course." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    He retrieved the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "You''re going to excavate the draconic vein from underground?"


    "Don''t worry. The surroundings have been reinforced, so we''ll be safe. It''s just that things might be problematic when we leave hereter." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

 Chapter 268: Stealing the Vein

    <h4>Chapter 268: Stealing the Vein</h4>


    Hundreds of meters underneath the foot of Mt. Swallowtail, Xiao Nanfeng was setting up the Immortal''s Destruction. Suddenly, the earth shook, causing the underground cavern to vibrate. Some chunks of rock fell from above.


    "An earthquake?" Yu''er eximed.


    "No. They''re about to excavate the draconic vein now! Quick, help me set up the Immortal''s Destruction!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    At the same time, directly above them at the foot of the mountain, arge number of monks were infusing their energy into arge altar. All sorts of treasures were heaped atop the altar, providing it with a tremendous supply of energy and causing the center of the altar to radiate golden light.


    The monks cried out in excitement, "Abbot, Senior Uncle, we''ve found it!"


    Xu Ming sighed in relief. "Senior Brother, it took us three full altars'' worth of spiritual treasures to find the draconic vein."


    "It''s worth it as long as we can excavate the draconic vein. We''ll start to drag it out now," the Jingang abbot continued.


    "Understood!" All the monks infused their spiritual qi into the altars.


    Beams of golden light burst forth from the altars and shone deep underground. The beams of light suddenly focused, as if they had caught something, and caused the mountain and surrounding forests to shake violently. Then, a dragon''s keen came from deep underground.


    "Rise!" the Jingang abbot shouted.


    Mt. Swallowtail copsed, as did the nearby mountain ranges, resulting in a huge earthquake all around them.


    A nine-hundred-meter-long draconic vein was pulled out from underground andy bound and exposed on the altars.


    The draconic vein struggled and roared, but was unable to break free of the altar''s restraints.


    "The draconic vein has emerged!" The monks were all cheering in excitement.


    "Only nine hundred meters long?" Xu Ming was a little disappointed.


    Everyone turned to the Jingang abbot. They were waiting for hismand before they began to devour the draconic vein.


    "Something''s unusual about this draconic vein!" the abbot suddenly cried out.


    "Why is there a copper spike on the head of this draconic vein?" Xu Ming eximed.


    "Could it be a treasure?" The abbot''s eyes lit up.


    "Surely not," Xu Ming replied. "These treasures might be even more valuable than the draconic veins themselves, but they generally only form around draconic veins of massive size. This draconic vein is only a small-scale nine-hundred-meter-long one. How could it have gestated a treasure?"


    Xu Ming and the abbot found it difficult to believe that a treasure had formed, but they were both overjoyed. The abbot plucked out the copper spike from the draconic vein''s head.


    The copper spike appeared to have been linked to the draconic vein''s head with a formation. When it was torn off, the formation shattered and caused the draconic vein to howl in pain.


    "What sort of treasure is this? A copper spike¡ªand there''s a ck dot on it giving off some unusual ck smoke! Abbot, something feels wrong. This copper spike''s more like a seal than a treasure, but the seal has just been broken. Whatever''s inside might being out!" Xu Ming cried out.


    More and more ck smoke surged out from the copper spike and rose into the air. As it struck the formation''s barrier, it suddenly spread out, as if to dye the white fog that the formation produced ck.


    The abbot nched. He too sensed something amiss. He tried to seal the copper spike once again, but the ck smoke continued to rise furiously into the air and dyed its surroundings dark.


    "Abbot, there''s something cursed about this smoke. Could there be a cursed effigy within? We can''t keep it!" Xu Ming cried out.


    The abbot frowned. Although he was unwilling to just throw away a potential treasure, the risks outweighed the benefits. He tossed the copper spike aside and used a mantra to temporarily form a hole in the formation so the copper spike could fly out.


    However, the copper spike, as though dragged back by the smoke it was releasing, didn''t fly out too far. It hovered by the top of the formation''s barrier above the cultivators'' heads, causing a growing sense of unease.


    "We''ll ignore the copper spike for now. Once we devour the draconic vein, we''ll leave immediately. Understood, everyone?" the abbot shouted.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    Just as the disciples were about to absorb the draconic vein, eight golden chains emerged from underground and bound it.


    "What''s that?!" the Jingang disciples shouted.


    "The Immortal-binding chains of the Immortal''s Destruction?" Xu Ming gasped. "Is Xiao Nanfeng here?"


    "He''s going to steal the draconic vein for himself!" the abbot suddenly shouted.


    Thebined force of the Immortal-binding chains shattered the altar''s bindings and dragged the draconic vein underground. It vanished from sight immediately.


    "No! That''s ours!" the cultivators shouted.


    "They''re underground? When did they have the time to dig a tunnel?!" Xu Ming cursed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, show yourself! I''ll kill you!" the abbot thundered.


    Xu Ming and the abbot struck the ground with devastating blows, causing the altars to break apart and reveal a huge pit.


    Based on where the chains had vanished, they could identify Xiao Nanfeng''s approximate location. They were enraged and quickly struck at the ground, excavating a pit of earth and rock within moments.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng was dragging the draconic vein deep into the underground tunnel that the pangolin spirits had constructed.


    A draconic vein was an unusual existence that could pass through earth and rock as though they barely existed. Only a small amount of earth and rock would be dragged in alongside the vein¡ªbut it was sufficient in this case to cause a minor cave-in of the cavern.


    "There''s more rumbling above us..." Yu''er frowned.


    "Those monks above must be trying to dig their way into this cavern. Quick, we have to absorb the draconic vein quickly before they get here. We''ll absorb it and store the excess draconic aether in our bodies," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "I''m ready!" Yu''er replied.


    The two cultivators shot toward the draconic vein and began to absorb it.


    The dragon keened, but it was unable to resist their specialized technique. The Red Emperor herself had taught it to them to store a great deal of draconic aether in their bodies for future use.


    Perhaps because Yu''er was the stronger cultivator, she absorbed the draconic aether more rapidly than Xiao Nanfeng did. Within moments, the two cultivators had finished absorbing the entire draconic vein. They glowed with immense golden radiance, their bodies stuffed with draconic aether.


    "You''re amazing, Senior Sister. You absorbed more of the aether than I did!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Of course I did!" Yu''er replied happily.


    "We won''t have time to distill the draconic aether at the moment. We''ll do soter. We have to leave now!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He stored the Immortal''s Destruction and was just about to escape with Yu''er.


    However, because of the earthquake, quite a few of the tunnels seemed to be clogged.


    "We can''t leave?" Yu''er nched.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll find a ce to hide within the tunnels. Rein in your aura. They might not be able to find us. Quickly!" Xiao Nanfeng pulled Yu''er into a pit.


    Just then, arge hole appeared in the ceiling of the cavern as something drilled down into it.


    "We don''t have time. The Jingang Temple has a relic designed specifically for drilling underground!" Yu''er nched.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" A roar came from the other end of the spike as the drill crashed straight down toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to defend with the divine undying de, but a sword overtook him. The sword''s technique shattered in a sh of red light, but it had sessfully defended against the drill.


    "You can block the drill?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at Yu''er in shock.


    "As I''ve said, I''m powerful now. Come, we''ll break our way out!" Yu''er promised.


    Just then, the drill finally breached the ceiling. The Jingang abbot stared into the hole, a murderous aura around him. Beside him, Xu Ming also red at the two cultivators.


    "It''s just the two of you?" Xu Ming snarled. "Then you''re both dead. I''m going to take revenge for Xu Fa and Xu Kong!"


    Yu''er sucked in a deep breath as she attempted to pull Xiao Nanfeng away.


    "It''s toote to leave. Die!" the Jingang abbot shouted.


    Yu''er met his attack with a sh of her sword.


    A howling storm formed where the two attacks shed against each other. Xu Ming attacked with a staff, which Xiao Nanfeng countered with his divine undying de. He took a single step back as he stabilized himself.


    Perhaps because Xu Ming''s injuries hadn''t fully healed, or because Xiao Nanfeng had grown into his strength, Xiao Nanfeng found himself capable of blocking a blow from Xu Ming.


    "We have to leave!" Yu''er urged.


    Yu''eer might be strong, but the Jingang abbot was stronger.


    The two cultivators attempted to flee toward the surface as they defended against the two monks.


    "Dream on!" the monks roared.


    Huge crashes resounded from deep underground. The resulting shockwaves caused everything in the vicinity to shake, and the neighboring mountains began to topple.


    Meanwhile, the formation surrounding Mt. Swallowtail had turned pitch-ck.


    The copper spike was still floating in the air, but there was no longer any ck smoke being released from it. Whatever had been sealed inside the copper spike had emerged in its entirety.


    "Wh-What''s that?!" a monk cried out.


    Where the ck smoke around the formation was most concentrated, a two-dimensional shadow emerged and suddenly bulged to form a three-dimensional shadowy figure. It was another shadowy cursed effigy!


    "We''ve finally escaped from this damn nail. It''s been a thousand years, but we''re free now, haha!" The shadowy cursed effigies let out bouts of crazedughter.


    "Haha, haha!" That sameughter echoed all around them.


    There wasn''t just a lone shadowy cursed effigy, but dozens of them. They had been trapped for a thousand years, and were now particrly excited about having been freed. Theirughter sent shivers of unease down the spines of the thousands of Jingang disciples below them.


    "Run. We have to run!" the disciples shouted in fear.


    "It''s been a thousand years since we''ve feasted. Good timing, all of you¡ªnone of you will get away!" one shadowy cursed effigy shouted.


    "None of you will get away!" the other shadowy cursed effigies echoed.


    They shot toward the Jingang disciples below them.


    "No! No!" the Jingang disciples within the formation screamed mournfully.

 Chapter 269: Destruction of the Jingang Temple

    <h4>Chapter 269: Destruction of the Jingang Temple</h4>


    Deep underground, Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er, Xu Ming and the abbot continued to fight. The ground caved in as the four of them were forced up aboveground.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were on the losing end of things; the two monks were easily able to suppress them.


    Xiao Nanfeng had predicted such a situation. When he slew Cui Haisheng''s avatar, he had obtained a corroded Immortal relic. He was waiting until they were out of the cavern to destroy it and escape from the two monks.


    After a protracted fight in which Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er both sustained some injuries, the four cultivators emerged from underground.


    "We couldn''t use our strongest techniques underground. Now, it''s time for all of you to die!" the Jingang abbot shouted fiercely.


    "No¡ªhold it, what''s going on? Senior Brother, look!" Xu Ming eximed.


    The abbot was stunned as he nced at his surroundings. The formation had somehow turned pitch ck, with only the barest traces of sunlight filtering in. The interior of the formation was particrly dark and gloomy.


    Thousands of Jingang monks were lying in pools of blood, their heads missing.


    Not far away were about another hundred Jingang disciples, all of whom seemed to have been rendered immobile. They had identical expressions of despair stered on their faces.


    When they saw the four cultivators emerge from underground, however, hope blossomed.


    "Abbot, save us!"


    "Master, save us, save us!"


    The remaining Jingang disciples cried and shouted for help.


    Behind each of them was a pitch-ck three-dimensional shadowy figure. The shadowy cursed effigies suddenly grabbed onto the cultivators'' heads with both hands, then wrenched.


    The disciples'' heads were simultaneously plucked from their bodies in a fountain of blood. The scene was macabre and horrifying.


    The shadowy cursed effigies opened their mouths wide, revealing sawtooth-like teeth, as they crunched down on the heads. Blood spurted.


    "No!" Xu Ming cried out.


    The shadowy cursed effigies turned to the remaining cultivators, still frozen in ce, as they repeated their actions.


    "Save us!" the remaining cultivators cried out in despair.


    Chills crept down Xu Ming and the Jingang abbot''s backs. There had been thousands of Jingang disciples within the formation. Had they all died...?


    "Die, vile monsters!" the Jingang abbot howled, rushing over to defend thest of the disciples.


    All the shadowy cursed effigies looked over, but the only emotion that filtered out from their pitch-ck eyes was disdain. Many of the cursed effigies didn''t even stop what they were doing; they continued to devour the disciples'' heads. On the other hand, a few cursed effigies grinned at the four neers, revealing their teeth, as they shot over.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. He knew very well just how frightening these shadows were, and there were dozens of them within the formation. This wasn''t a fight they could win.


    "We have to run!" Xiao Nanfeng fled into the air with Yu''er in tow.


    By then, the abbot hade in contact with the cursed effigies. He struck at them with his staff, but it passed straight through the shadows and smashed a pit in the ground instead.


    The abbot''s eyes widened. He reacted surprisingly quickly, evading the shadows'' counterattacks, before striking¡ªand missing¡ªagain.


    Several cursed effigies shot toward him, but he barely evaded their attacks.


    The shadowy cursed effigies only had strength and speed equivalent to a Spiritsong-realm cultivator, but their ability to phase out of material existence was overpowering. The abbot''s attacks were useless against them.


    "This is impossible," the abbot muttered as he attempted to evade the shadowy creatures.


    "Save me, Senior Brother! This cursed effigy infused its cursed spiritual power into my body and sealed my qi. I can''t move!" Xu Ming shouted.


    Xu Ming had been caught as well. Behind him stood a shadowy cursed effigy reaching out for his head.


    The abbot''s eyes widened as he shot over and mmed a palm into Xu Ming''s body. Xu Ming trembled and was sent flying backwards, freed from the cursed effigy''s control.


    Xu Ming sprayed out a mouthful of blood. The palm strike had been potent and had ruptured blood vessels all over his body. He looked gruesome.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother." Xu Ming shuddered.


    "I was worried I wouldn''t be able to dispel the cursed spiritual power in your body. All I could do is rupture your qi pathways and reforge them. You''ll have to recuperateter. Come on, we have to go now!" The abbot grabbed Xu Ming and rose into the air.


    By then, all the Jingang disciples had been killed. Despite their anger, the two monks knew that these cursed effigies would be difficult opponents indeed. The only thing they could do now was run.


    The shadows growled as they chased after them.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er made it to the formation barrier.


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to sh at the barrier.


    It shattered, but the ck smoke surrounding the formation didn''t dissipate. The ck smoke had formed a hemispherical dome that nketed the region. Xiao Nanfeng cut at the smoke with his divine undying de, and though he seeded, the edges of the cut adhered to the de as though he had attempted to cut a puddle of liquid. There was no opening through which he and Yu''er could escape.


    "Nanfeng, let me try," Yu''er suggested.


    "You''d better not. This ck smoke is extremely unusual, and I suspect that there are shadows roaming within it as well. Don''t touch it," Xiao Nanfeng warned her, pulling her back.


    Just then, the two monks also approached.


    The abbot smashed at the barrier with his staff. The ck smoke fused to it, traveling down the staff and taking advantage of the contact to spread to the abbot himself. A cursed effigy emerged from the ck smoke and gripped onto the abbot''s neck.


    "It''s infused its cursed spiritual power into my qi channels and dantian! I can''t move!" the abbot eximed.


    "Let me help you, Senior Brother," Xu Ming immediately volunteered.


    "You''ve been weakened¡ªyou can''t do anything. Go retrieve that copper spike. Hurry!" the abbot cried out.


    Meanwhile, a group of shadows swarmed toward the abbot.


    "Senior Brother!" Panicking, Xu Ming hesitated and then turned back toward the abbot.


    "Go!" the abbot howled.


    Xu Ming shot toward the copper spike.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er were evading a group of shadows themselves. Suddenly, Yu''er''s eyes lit up. "The dragon-quelling spike!"


    Xu Ming grabbed ahold of the floating dragon-quelling spike, which seemed to harbor a mysterious force that was able to suppress the shadows. As he caught it, the ck smoke retreated from him.


    Suddenly, a shadow emerged from the formation of ck fog. rmed, Xu Ming stabbed at the shadow with the dragon-quelling spike, sending it flying. It struck the ground, but didn''t seem to be injured. It got back up in no time.


    "This spike can damage the shadows!" Xu Ming eximed.


    The abbot cried out, unable to hold on any longer.


    Xu Ming turned to see a shadow having wrenched off the abbot''s neck and ced it within its mouth.


    "Senior Brother!" Xu Ming cried out.


    However, it was toote. The abbot of the Jingang Temple had perished, and his corpse fell to the ground. Xu Ming was the final survivor of the temple. In panic, Xu Ming shed at the barrier with the dragon-quelling spike, puncturing a hole in itrge enough for him to escape.


    He was just about to do so when he saw Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er rushing toward him, as though attempting to escape through the hole he had created.


    Upon seeing them, Xu Ming''s eyes turned blood-red.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Look what you''ve done to the Jingang Temple. I won''t let you escape. Dream on!" Xu Ming howled.


    He cradled the dragon-quelling spike as he struck at the two cultivators with his staff.


    The sh forced them back; the dy caused the hole in the barrier to close up once again.


    "Xu Ming, these are mynds, and that dragon-quelling spike in your hands is mine as well," Xiao Nanfeng stated coldly.


    "This is called a dragon-quelling spike? You know of it? That must mean you were aware of the cursed effigies in the region, too. Why didn''t you say anything? Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve killed all the Jingang disciples here. I can leave at any time, but I won''t let either of you do so. These shadows can''t hurt me any longer. I''ll kill you both!" Xu Ming howled, his mental state deteriorating by the second.


    He struck at the two cultivators with his staff again. "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    He firmly believed that this attack would be sufficient to send the two cultivators into the midst of the cursed effigies. He would have them perish right then and there, without any opportunity to escape. He struck at full force.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, didn''t respond as he expected. He pulled Yu''er back, unwilling to fight against a madman, and tossed out an Immortal relic.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "What?!" Xu Ming eximed.


    The corroded Immortal relic exploded in mes that swamped Xu Ming. Although Xu Ming attempted to dodge the explosion, he failed to do so, perhaps due to his injuries, and was sent flying from the impact. The dragon-quelling spike in his hand flew toward the ground.


    "My dragon-quelling spike!" Xu Ming eximed in fear.


    He forced himself to ignore his injuries as he shot toward the spike, but it was toote. A group of shadows enveloped him and infused cursed spiritual power into his body.


    "No!" Xu Ming howled in despair.


    He waspletely unable to move, and he couldn''t do anything against the shadows. He could sense them tugging on his head; his neck was about to give out.


    As the mes dispersed, he could see that Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er had also been beset by shadows, but Xiao Nanfeng''s divine undying de was somehow able to cut them and send them flying.


    "What? Your de can counter these cursed effigies? That''s impossible!" Xu Ming cried out.


    With a pop, Xu Ming''s head was pulled off his neck. His eyes were filled with indignation and rage, but there was nothing he could do to stop the shadows from swallowing his head.


    Blood spurted from the shadows'' mouths as the final cultivator of the Jingang Temple perished.

 Chapter 270: The Divine Emperors Bell

    <h4>Chapter 270: The Divine Emperor''s Bell</h4>


    Outside the city of Yongding, Cui Haisheng and Tang stood hidden as they spied on the city from afar.


    "Division Leader, you''ve been sneaking into Yongding daily and leaving the moment youe into contact with the toad spirits. Might I ask why? I don''t understand your actions," Tang admitted curiously.


    As Xiao Nanfeng had suggested, he was doing his best to spend more time with Cui Haisheng. He had volunteered to apany Cui Haisheng when he made a move, as he did now.


    "I naturally have my reasons for doing so," Cui Haisheng replied confidently.


    "Oh?" Tang asked.


    "Aren''t you aware of what happened at Mt. Swallowtail? Can''t you tell?" Cui Haisheng asked.


    "There was news from a month ago that all the Jingang Temple disciples have gathered by Mt. Swallowtail and dispatched all the other rogue soldiers to the frontlines. Not only that, they''ve shrouded Mt. Swallowtail in a formation. What have they been doing? Trying to¡ªexcavate the draconic vein there?!" Tang''s eyes widened.


    Cui Haisheng nced at Tang and murmured, "You really are intelligent, aren''t you? All my disciples must have stones for brains if they don''t understand what''s going on."


    "You overpraise me, Division Leader," Tang hastily replied.


    Cui Haisheng continued, "Xiao Nanfeng excavated the draconic vein that lies under the Jingang Temple. Xu Ming and his group, not daring to venture to the city of Yongding, have no other means of retaliation but to attempt to excavate the draconic veins of the Xiaonds. One objective is to productively spend the time they would otherwise waste while waiting for Xiang Pojun to undergo secluded cultivation; another is to lure Xiao Nanfeng over."


    "Lure Xiao Nanfeng over? For an ambush?" Tang asked.


    "That''s what I think. Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation iscking, and what he needs most are these draconic veins. If he finds out that his draconic veins have been stolen from under his nose, would he be able to bear it?" Cui Haisheng smiled.


    "I certainly wouldn''t," Tang acknowledged.


    "Exactly. I''ve been raiding the Xiao manor thesest few days, but Xiao Nanfeng hasn''t shown himself. I suspect that he''s already gone to Mt. Swallowtail. Of course, he might still have some avatars around, but they''re likely too weak to show themselves," Cui Haisheng continued.


    "Oh?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng can''t afford to give up on the draconic vein under Mt. Swallowtail, and he certainly won''t give up on the city of Yongding. Therefore, as long as I remain around Yongding, he''ll have to leave some of his strongest subordinates in the vicinity¡ªhis two toad spirits, at the very least. The forces that he can bring with him to Mt. Swallowtail will be weaker than they otherwise have been. If Xu Ming and the others make sufficient preparations, they might be able to kill Xiao Nanfeng right then and there," Cui Haisheng stated expectantly.


    Tang nched. "Division Leader, you''re nning on taking advantage of the Jingang monks to kill Xiao Nanfeng? And supporting them in their venture?"


    "No, I n on making a move myself as well."


    "What?" Tang eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s like a cockroach. He''s very intelligent, and I''m worried that Xu Ming and the others won''t be able to get rid of him or will only be able to wound him seriously. I''ve prepared a backup by Mt. Swallowtail to deal him a finishing blow if Xiao Nanfeng escapes from the mountain heavily injured."


    "You have cultivators lying in ambush by Mt. Swallowtail? You really have nned for everything, Division Leader!"


    Cui Haisheng smiled haughtily. "My ns have no ws."


    Within the formation of ck smoke at Mt. Swallowtail, Xiao Nanfeng struck at the shadows attacking him as he protected Yu''er.


    "Has Xu Ming died?" Yu''er eximed.


    "He deserves it," Xiao Nanfeng spat out.


    "But what should we do now?"


    "Don''t worry. Let''s start by getting the dragon-quelling spike." Xiao Nanfeng continued to swat at the shadows with his divine undying de as he made a beeline for the spike.


    The dragon-quelling spike emanated an aura that prevented the shadows around them from approaching it. Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the spike and grabbed it with his free hand.


    "Shadows, you won''t be able to hurt me," Xiao Nanfeng called out. "Why don''t we call a truce?"


    "A truce? You''ve been humiliating us by swatting us with your de. Do you think we''d settle for a truce? Lad, you and this girl here will both die today!" a shadow seethed.


    The other shadows showed their teeth as they shot toward him.


    "You won''t give up? Don''t me me for this, then," Xiao Nanfeng warned them.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward his left hand. "Do you want to make a move? Otherwise, I''ll handle them myself."


    The shadows stilled. Was thisd mad? Why was he speaking to his left hand?


    Yu''er was also giving Xiao Nanfeng a surprised look. What had Xiao Nanfeng done to his left hand in the past year?


    Suddenly, the ring on Xiao Nanfeng''s left hand''s middle finger flew into the air and released a huge cloud of smoke.


    "What''s this?" The shadows felt that something was deeply amiss.


    A pitch-ck figure appeared from the ck smoke. It had no features that distinguished it as male or female, but there seemed to be a crown-like halo of smoke around its head. It gave off a frightening aura.


    "You''re a shadow, too? What division are you from?" one shadow asked.


    The crowned shadow suddenly reached out with a pitch-ck hand and flicked at the ring hovering in the air. The ring shot up into the sky and transformed into arge, golden bell.


    The ornate bell was engraved with all manner of spirits, tens of thousands of them in all. Their likeness had been captured by this all-epassing relic.


    "The Divine Emperor''s bell? You''re the Divine Emperor?!" The shadows were astounded.


    The bell tolled. Golden sound waves emanated from the bell and swept across the formation. About thirty shadows were forced out of the barrier around the formation.


    The shadows were taken aback by the sudden attack.


    The Divine Emperor howled, causing the shadows to tremble as they retreated in fear.


    The Divine Emperor caught the nearest shadow and opened its maw, revealing rows upon rows of sinister fangs. It bit down on the shadow.


    "No! Please spare me, Divine Emperor!"


    "Divine Emperor, we didn''t want to betray you. We had no choice! The Spirit Emperor forced us to defect!"


    "Don''t kill me, Divine Emperor! Don''t¡ªsave me!"


    The shadows all shouted in fear, but the Divine Emperor ignored them all. It swallowed up the shadow it had caught, then shot toward another one.


    "No, don''t! Please, save me!"


    "Spare me, Divine Emperor!"


    The shadows began to flee. They struck the formation of ck smoke, but it had been reinforced and shielded from them by the Divine Emperor''s bell. Unable to escape from the formation, they scattered all over, but none were faster than the Divine Emperor.


    One after another, the shadows were consumed.


    Some of the shadows shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, attempting to hold him hostage, but Xiao Nanfeng swatted them toward the Divine Emperor.


    "No!" the shadows howled.


    Yu''er''s eyes widened. "You''ve reached an agreement with the cursed effigy in the ring? It''s willing to help you?"


    "It''s not helping me," Xiao Nanfeng corrected. "Rather, it wants to consume these shadows itself¡ªand if it doesn''t make a move, someone else will."


    "Who? Who else would dare to eat these cursed effigies?" Yu''er eximed dubiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the dragon-quelling spike up to his mindscape. "Senior ck Lotus, I apologize for not having anything good with which to wee you. Please at least have this dragon-quelling spike."


    The dragon-quelling spike was sucked in.


    "Nanfeng, that dragon-quelling spike was meant to be used to deal with cursed kings. How could you have given it to a cursed king to eat?" Yu''er fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Don''t worry. I know what I''m doing."


    The moment he imed the dragon-quelling spike, he had attempted to activate its true strength. However, despite the fact that he was already at Spiritsong, he was unable to do so. Rather than go around carrying a useless dragon-quelling spike and rousing the distaste of the cursed kings in his orbit, why not develop rtions further with the ck lotus?


    Yu''er gave him a strange look. "Have you managed tomunicate with them, then?"


    "Actually, they''re quite easy to talk to," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er gave him a wide-eyed stare. What sort of situation was this? Her parents would never believe that such a feat was possible.


    "How did you do it, Nanfeng?" Yu''er shook her head in disbelief.


    "Perhaps I was lucky in that all the cursed effigies I''ve encountered are fundamentally good," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He didn''t dare brag about himself. It would be better to praise the cursed effigies around him instead.


    Yu''er''s brows furrowed. Weren''t cursed effigies uniformly evil?


    Just then, a palm struck at Xiao Nanfeng''s back. The attack happened so quickly that even Xiao Nanfeng was caught unawares.


    "Be careful!" Yu''er shouted, pushing him aside.


    The palmnded on Yu''er''s body, sending her flying back as she coughed out a mouthful of blood.


    "Yu''er!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The moment she pushed him, he realized that something was amiss. He immediately leapt toward her and grabbed her prone body.


    Yu''er had fallen unconscious.


    "Who''s there?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    A ck-robed figure had emerged not far away.


    The figure floated in the air and chuckled coldly. "You dare trick me,d?"


    "Envoy Ying? What are you doing here?"


    "I''ve been following you, of course. I knew you had to be hiding something up your sleeve. The ring you gave me was nothing more than a replica. As I suspected, I would be able to find the true ring by tailing you. Haha!" Envoy Ying guffawed, pleased that its n had worked.


    "You''ve been following me? How strong are you? Why couldn''t Hong Lie detect you?"


    "Hong Lie? Ha! As if he could keep an eye on you all day long." Envoy Ying scoffed in disdain.


    "What have you done to Yu''er?"


    "Don''t worry, I''ve just injected some cursed spiritual power into her body. She won''t die just yet. It''s your turn now."


    Xiao Nanfeng retreated, still holding onto Yu''er. He knew that Envoy Ying had to be particrly strong. Even the Divine Emperor had refused to meet with it upon hearing that it was present.


    "You won''t be able to escape,d. You cultivate pure yang origin qi, don''t you? You must have an impressive physical body if even the Divine Emperor is interested in it. I''ll im it for myself, haha!" Envoy Ying floated closer and closer.


    By then, more than half of the shadows had been devoured by the Divine Emperor. When they saw Envoy Ying, they immediately flocked toward him.


    "Save us, sir! Save us!"


    The Divine Emperor roared and swiped at them, dragging a whole slew of shadows to its side. The Divine Emperor seemed to be particrly anxious as it swallowed them all.


    Envoy Ying''s face grew tense. It gave up on trying to capture Xiao Nanfeng and appeared before the Divine Emperor instead.

 Chapter 271: Slaying the Envoy

    <h4>Chapter 271: ying the Envoy</h4>


    Envoy Ying blocked the Divine Emperor''s path. The Divine Emperor had just devoured a whole swath of shadows, and ck smoke was pouring out of it.


    "Your loyal subordinate greets the Divine Emperor. Your Majesty, these small spirits, under themand of the Spirit Emperor, have been searching for you for a thousand years. Unfortunately, they were so useless that others managed to seal them. Divine Emperor, please consume them to your heart''s content. I only ask that you apany me back to the Spirit Emperor afterwards, who has been pining for you for a millennium." Envoy Ying bowed and smiled toward the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor was surrounded by ck smoke, making it impossible to discern its gender or expression. It stared at Envoy Ying and growled.


    Envoy Ying''s ck robe billowed.


    "Divine Emperor, your faculty of speech has been sealed, but the Spirit Emperor will be able to remove that seal as long as you''re willing to return. You and the Spirit Emperor once conquered the world together, and the Spirit Emperor won''t make things difficult for you. Please return with me," Envoy Ying pressed.


    The Divine Emperor stared at the envoy for a moment longer before waving an arm.


    The barrier of ck smoke tolled as the Divine Emperor''s bell fell from the skies.


    Envoy Ying''s eyes widened as he reached out, arm outstretched. He struck the bell and prevented it from falling.


    "Back then, a millennium ago, we were mistaken from the beginning. We scoured the world and failed to find the Divine Emperor''s bell, never suspecting that you would have transformed it into a ring and remained in the hidden realm. Divine Emperor, you shouldn''t have left the bell. The seal on your body will cause tremendous damage if you do so, and I would never have expected that the cursed spiritual power of a paltry hundred small shadows would have been enough to lure you out. Are you so weak that you''re enticed by these scraps?" Envoy Yingughed.


    With Envoy Ying holding the bell, the Divine Emperor couldn''t return within.


    The Divine Emperor, clearly frustrated, struck at Envoy Ying with a palm, but Envoy Ying easily blocked its blow.


    "Divine Emperor, you''re extremely weak in your current state. Don''t force yourself to fight. Come back with me." Envoy Ying grabbed at the Divine Emperor,


    who caused the bell to toll. A golden sound wave, charged with killing intent, struck Envoy Ying and encapsted it. Its body shook violently,


    The Divine Emperor took the opportunity to approach its bell.


    "Divine Emperor, I won''t let you hide within it any longer. You''ll have to return with me today!" Envoy Ying demanded.


    It struck the Divine Emperor once again and prevented it from escaping into the bell.


    In rage, the Divine Emperor punched at Envoy Ying with a fist of ck smoke. It simultaneously caused the bell to toll repeatedly, sending sound waves to attack and disorient Envoy Ying.


    Both cursed effigies gushed with ck smoke. Fearsome killing intent filled them.


    "Divine Emperor, at your peak, ten thousand copies of me would be no match for you, but you''ve been severely weakened. I suggest that you stop calling on strength beyond your means. I''ve found you¡ªso don''t think of running. Return with me!" Envoy Ying demanded again.


    Earth and rock flew into the air as the confrontation between Envoy Ying and the Divine Emperor caused gale winds to arise around them. The formation of ck smoke that had initially been present dissipated aftering in contact with the energy that the two cursed effigies were giving off. Smoke and dust filled the air; visibility was low.


    Xiao Nanfeng carried Yu''er in his hands as he watched the fight unfold. It was clear that the Divine Emperor would be no match for Envoy Ying as the fight dragged on. Even with the help of its bell, the Divine Emperor was barely able to defend itself.


    He looked at Yu''er. She was still unconscious, and blood seeped out of a corner of her lips. Yu''er had suffered like this in order to save him¡ªand he fully intended to take revenge on Envoy Ying.


    "Senior ck Lotus, is it possible for me to help the Divine Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked.


    Within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, the ck lotus was floatingfortably on his sterke after having consumed the dragon-quelling spike. It was rather surprised to hear Xiao Nanfeng''s question.


    The ck lotus emitted clouds of ck light that formed words in mid-air. "The Divine Emperor harbors malicious intentions regarding your physical body. Why would you save it? Wouldn''t it be better for you to escape now and free yourself of its influence?"


    "I understand that that''s the most logical course of action, but that Envoy Ying has hurt me as well. Compared to the Divine Emperor, I dislike Envoy Ying more. Furthermore, it hurt Yu''er, and I want to take revenge on her behalf," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The ck lotus continued, "If you intend to meddle in their fight, you''ll offend Envoy Ying. It won''t be able to die, so when it escapes and plots revenge against you, you''ll be in big trouble."


    "I can handle trouble. Please help me, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng begged.


    "You intend to put your life on the line for thess in yourp? She hasn''t devoted her heart to you for nothing, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "Senior, there''s nothing between Yu''er and me."


    The ck lotus clearly didn''t believe Xiao Nanfeng. "The divine undying de is the cursed spiritual avatar of the undying cursed king and bears tremendous power. In your hands, however, it''s just an ordinary weapon. Do you know why?"


    "Please enlighten me, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "The divine undying de possesses no cursed spiritual power and is naturally unable to disy its cursed might. Conveniently, after consuming this dragon-quelling spike, which contains remnants of the undying cursed king''s cursed spiritual power, I can help you activate the true might of the de once."


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    "Don''t thank me just yet. This cursed spiritual power will trigger your de''stent powers, but it might cause the undying cursed king to awaken as well. If you use this power, you may have even more trouble on your te. Are you certain you want it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the unconscious form of Yu''er. His eyes shed resolutely. "Please assist me, Senior."


    "You''re really willing to gamble your life for this woman? Very well."


    The ck lotus emitted a blue gas which slowly seeped out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng held onto Yu''er with one hand as he caught the gas with the divine undying de with the other.


    When it came in contact with this gas, the de absorbed it all like cotton absorbing water. Then, it gleamed with blinding blue light. A mysterious power could be sensed shimmering over the de''s surface.


    Xiao Nanfeng carried Yu''er on his back, strapping her to him withrope. Then, wielding the gleaming divine undying de, he shot into the battlefield between Envoy Ying and the Divine Emperor.


    Dust filled the air, and visibility was low. By following the source of the ck smoke, however, Xiao Nanfeng easily found the two cursed kings.


    Envoy Ying had one palm outstretched toward the heavens while the other suppressed the Divine Emperor. ck smoke whirled around him in a tempest.


    The Divine Emperor blocked Envoy Ying''s palm with both palms of his own. It seemed to be in dire straits.


    "Divine Emperor, I learned this technique from you. Do you remember how many legends you bested in the past with just this technique alone? Do you think I''ve been able to capture its essence?" Envoy Ying asked.


    The Divine Emperor roared in outrage.


    "Your struggles are futile. You''re simply too weak as is to be a match for me. Let''s stop here. Come return to the Spirit Emperor with me," Envoy Ying demanded.


    The Divine Emperor continued to growl, but it was incapable of resisting much longer against Envoy Ying''s strength. Its body was about to contort and bend.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng leapt forward.


    Envoy Ying, sensing another presence, immediately turned and saw Xiao Nanfeng. "Are you crazy,d? You want to save the Divine Emperor even though he''s eyeing your body? And you dare strike at me with such paltry cultivation? Could you even break through my qi barrier? You overestimate your capabilities. Just you wait. I''ll deal with youter, haha!"


    The ck smoke that roiled around Envoy Ying struck Xiao Nanfeng like a tempest.


    Xiao Nanfeng stilled. He was incapable of blocking even that ck smoke, but the de in his hands was a different matter entirely. It cut apart the barrier in a sh of blue light.


    "What? Impossible!" Envoy Ying cried out.


    A gleaming blue sh split apart everything in sight: countless ck smoke, earth and rock, and dust


    "No!" Envoy Ying cried out in horror.


    Its body was split in twain.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell absorbed half of Envoy Ying''s body into itself. The Divine Emperor, meanwhile, bit down on the other half.


    "Argh!" Envoy Ying was able to scream even with only half his organs.


    Then, the Divine Emperor swallowed it whole.


    Had Envoy Ying been killed? Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but be relieved¡ªthe divine undying king hadn''t managed to recur. On the other hand, all that cursed spiritual power in the dragon-quelling de has been consumed in just one blow. Isn''t that far too short?


    The Divine Emperor suddenly turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "There''s no need to thank me, Divine Emperor. Just don''t hang around me any longer. Farewell!" Xiao Nanfeng strode off immediately.


    However, the Divine Emperor only returned to its bell, which trembled and stilled. It vanished from sight.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. A storage ring appeared on his left hand''s middle finger once again. The Divine Emperor had returned.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. "Divine Emperor, please don''t repay my kindness like this. I saved you from captivity."


    The Divine Emperor ignored Xiao Nanfeng. Suddenly, however, it extended a pitch-ck palm toward Yu''er.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched and blocked the Divine Emperor with his de. "Strike me if you dare, not her!"


    The palm ultimately stopped some distance away from Yu''er, then curled. A cloud of cursed spiritual power was drawn out from her body, then vanished into the ring along with the palm.


    Then, Yu''er shook. She seemed to be waking up.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled in relief. He immediately apologized. "Senior, I''m sorry. I misunderstood your gesture. Thank you, thank you!"


    The Divine Emperor didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng''s apology. Instead, he could vaguely hear chewing and gnawing sounds from within the ring as it consumed the other half of Envoy Ying''s body.

 Chapter 272: Slaying the Crane Spirits

    <h4>Chapter 272: ying the Crane Spirits</h4>


    "Ahem!" After inhaling some of the dust and smoke around, Yu''er slowly opened her eyes in a fit of coughing.


    "Senior Sister, are you awake?" Xiao Nanfeng exhaled in relief. He helped her down from his back and ced her on arge clean rock.


    Yu''er opened her eyes in a daze, as though attempting to recall how it was that she had ended up unconscious. Then, thinking back to the attack she had seen heading toward Xiao Nanfeng, she instinctively drew her sword and shielded Xiao Nanfeng behind her. "Be careful, Nanfeng!"


    That she was still looking out for Xiao Nanfeng right after waking up made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. "Don''t worry. Envoy Ying, who tried to attack me, has been dealt with by the Divine Emperor."


    "What? That was Envoy Ying? The cursed king in your ring dealt with it?!" Yu''er gaped.


    She knew just how frightening Envoy Ying was. How strong did the Divine Emperor have to be to manage to take him down?


    Yu''er nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s left hand''s middle finger, where the tattoo of the storage ring had reappeared. It was clear that the Divine Emperor was still guing Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What will you do, Nanfeng?" Yu''er worried.


    "Don''t worry. The Divine Emperor won''t trouble me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Yu''er rolled her eyes yfully. If her parents had heard such a ridiculous im, they would surely think it nonsense. What cursed effigy didn''t kill all those around them?


    "If there''s no danger, we should leave now," Yu''er said.


    "No, let''s cultivate and break through right now," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "I''ll guard you first. Distill the remaining draconic aether in your body," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Yu''er didn''t know why Xiao Nanfeng was so insistent on doing so now, but she nodded and entered a meditative state. Golden light red around her.


    The smoke and dust all around them seemed about to dissipate, but Xiao Nanfeng conjured up arge quantity of white fog in its stead. Their surroundings turned hazy.


    After two hours, Yu''er''s body released a tremendous wave of energy as she opened her eyes.


    "Have you distilled all the draconic aether in your body?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course," Yu''er replied, smiling.


    "Great. My turn next. Use fog to shroud our surroundings, like this," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Yu''er immediately realized that their surroundings had to be unsafe, that there might well be an ambush waiting for them. She nodded and conjured more fog in their surroundings.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged as he began to distill draconic aether into pure yang origin qi, which he channeled into the eighth sun in his dantian.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body glowed with golden light as an eighth nascent spirit gestated within his eighth sun.


    Two hourster, a gust of energy seeped out of his body. He opened his eyes.


    "The eighth stage of Spiritsong? What a strange cultivation technique you have. It takes you this much energy to increase your cultivation by just a minor stage?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "I''m building up my strength at the moment. It''s not yet time to show my true power," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    Yu''er huffed in exasperation.


    "We''ll likely have another fight up ahead," Xiao Nanfeng warned her.


    "Oh? Do you think Cui Haisheng has an ambush prepared for us?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I do think so. Cui Haisheng has been raiding Yongding daily thesest few days. It''s to ensure that I have to leave Croak, Warble, and You Jiu in Yongding to safeguard it from his advances so that I would have to fight Xu Ming in a disadvantaged state. He wants me to die here, but he would never have expected that you''ve reached Wingform too, Senior Sister. We''re in peak condition right now."


    "Damn that Cui Haisheng," Yu''er cursed, vexed.


    "I expected an ambush, but the fight between the Divine Emperor and Envoy Ying was too intense. I''m worried that it may have scared the ambushers, so I covered the region in fog to prevent them from realizing what''s going on," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "You want to lure them over?" Yu''er asked, her eyes brightening.


    "Exactly, Senior Sister. We''re in peak condition now, so there''s nothing we have to fear from the likes of them. Shall I pretend to be badly hurt?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "You really are devious, aren''t you? I like it," Yu''er replied excitedly.


    Four crane spirits hovered in the air above Mt. Swallowtail.


    The crane spirit in the lead was thirty meters tall and exuded the strength of a Wingform-realm spirit. Behind it were three Spiritsong-realm cranes.


    They were staring at the formation around Mt. Swallowtail. The entire mountain had shook and rumbled before the white fog of the formation turned to ck. Then, sky and earth alike shuddered. A storm brewed on the horizon. Finally, a beam of blue light had pierced through the heavens before everything returned to normalcy. Where the smoke and dust had dissipated, however, it had been reced with thick fog.


    "Elder, what''s going on down there? Is Xiao Nanfeng really fighting against the Jingang disciples at the moment?" one Spiritsong-realm crane asked.


    The Wingform-realm crane stared at whaty below it for quite a while before replying, "There''s sure to be a huge fight going on. Perhaps they''ve used some powerful treasure. It''s a pity that the smoke, dust, and now fog have gotten in the way."


    "Elder, Xiao Nanfeng is Ku Jiang''s disciple, and he''s also protected by Hong Lie. Is it really alright for us to target him?"


    The Wingform-realm crane was silent for long moments before shaking its head. "If anything happens, Cui Haisheng will take the me. There''s nothing to be worried about."


    Just then, a male cultivator drenched in blood suddenly emerged from the fog¡ªnone other than Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s clothes were badly damaged, and injuries criss-crossed his body. He clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood, as though drawing on hisst reserves to flee.


    The four cranes'' eyes lit up as they swooped toward him.


    "Who''s there?!" Xiao Nanfeng reared back, drawing his de and guarding against the four spirits. When he saw them approach, he shouted, "What are you crane spirits doing here?"


    The four crane spirits had surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, but owing to the disturbances in the region, didn''t immediately strike.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what did you encounter within the formation?" the Wingform-realm crane questioned. "Why aren''t there any Jingang disciples chasing after you?"


    "You know me? Are you here to ambush me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Answer us immediately, or face the consequences," the Wingform-realm crane threatened.


    "Would you let me go if I did? Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng coughed out a mouthful of blood.


    The four cranes looked at him coldly and disdainfully.


    "If I''m not mistaken, you''re part of the cranes that help support the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s mail system. Several cranes specially help my master, Ku Jiang, make his way around the world. You''re part of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and I advise you not to make a serious mistake. I am a sectstarter of the sect, and you should know the importance of my status," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.


    "A sectstarter? Considering how wounded you are, do you think you''ll be able to make it out of here alive? If you''re unwilling to tell us what happened within, then we''ll find out ourselves. We have nothing against you; we''re simply acting on orders¡ªand someone wants your life," the Wingform-realm crane baldly stated.


    It pped its wings as two Spiritsong-realm cranes rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The two cranes cut at Xiao Nanfeng with their steely wings, intending on killing him in one blow.


    "Those who attack the sectstarters of the sect shall die!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold as he shed at the attackers with his de.


    "Something''s wrong," the Wingform-realm crane shouted. "If he really is badly wounded, he wouldn''t be able to swing his de so solidly. Be careful!"


    Xiao Nanfeng beheaded the two crane spirits in the blink of an eye. Their blood spurted into the air.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you lied to me! Die!" The Wingform-realm spirit spread its wings in outrage,unching a barrage of feathers like throwing knives straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "As for you, you''re a traitor to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Your punishment is death!" a voice eximed from Xiao Nanfeng''s back.


    Yu''er shot forward with a red Immortal sword, shattering the Wingform-realm crane''s feathers as she charged toward it.


    "What?!" The Wingform-realm crane attempted to defend itself as the Immortal sword sliced off much of the Wingform-realm spirit''s feathers, and even part of its wings.


    The Wingform-realm spirit howled in pain.


    Only then did it see that the fog surrounding Mt. Swallowtail had vanished, leaving behind ruined, scarred ground and a bevy of corpses wearing the robes of the Jingang monks. Their heads were nowhere to be seen; their corpses looked ghastly.


    Yu''er struck at the Wingform-realm crane again. Her strength was incredible.


    "You''ve destroyed the Jingang Temple? Everyone there is dead, but you''re uninjured? Impossible!" the Wingform-realm crane eximed, spreading its wings as it attempted to flee.


    "It''s toote for you to get away!" Yu''er shot forward even more quickly. She shed right up to the crane and struck it down.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng caught up to thest Spiritsong-realm crane and bisected it with his de as it trembled. Blood spurted all around him.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng then turned to the Wingform-realm spirit, cutting it down alongside Yu''er.


    The Wingform-realm spirit, badly injured, was sent flying in a streak of blood.


    "Impossible. How could you be so strong?!"


    The Wingform-realm crane attempted to flee, but it was sandwiched by Yu''er before it and Xiao Nanfeng behind. It had no choice but to defend against their attacks.


    "Master told me that, two centuries ago, despite the cmity that befell the sect, cultivators gave their lives to protect you. Even so, you dare to betray the Taiqing Immortal Sect? Death is what you deserve!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.

 Chapter 273: The Pestilence Sage is the Best Disciple

    <h4>Chapter 273: The Pestilence Sage is the Best Disciple</h4>


    The Wingform-realm crane was weaker than Yu''er or even Xu Ming. Yu''er''s furious assault quickly whittled it down. Its body was filled with wounds, and its feathers had been stripped away.


    "Please, I''m only here because of Cui Haisheng''s request. He''s the mastermind, and I haven''t hurt either of you. Can''t we just drop this matter entirely?" the Wingform-realm crane pleaded.


    It had no choice but to do so, after all. Yu''er was a stronger cultivator on all fronts, and although Xiao Nanfeng was only at Spiritsong, he was unusually strong. It was unable to escape from either direction.


    "If Nanfeng really had been injured, you would have taken his life, wouldn''t you? Do you really think begging will work now? Dream on. Die!" Yu''er shouted.


    Yu''er''s Immortal sword gleamed with radiant light, as though there were a thousand arrows simultaneously shooting toward the Wingform-realm crane.


    "No!" The Wingform-realm crane defended to the best of its ability.


    With a bang, its qi barrier exploded, shattered by the des of light. Its chest was speared clean through by Yu''er''s sword.


    Summoning its full strength, the crane expelled the sword from its body and attempted to retreat in a shower of blood,


    but a sh of blue light sent its head flying. It stared gobsmacked at Xiao Nanfeng. It had taken on this responsibility in an effort to please Cui Haisheng, but had ended up losing its life as a result.


    "You could have remained an auspicious spiritbeast of the Taiqing sect¡ªbut you''d rather be one of Cui Haisheng''sckeys instead? Serves you right," Xiao Nanfeng murmured disdainfully.


    "Nanfeng, are there other ambushes in the region?" Yu''er asked.


    "None that I can sense, but there are surely still a few spies around. It doesn''t matter. I''m prepared for them." Xiao Nanfeng smiled grimly.


    He shot a re of light into the air. Very quickly, dozens of figures appeared from within a nearby forest.


    "King Xiao? All thatmotion shocked me. The fighting must have been intense," Ye Dafu said.


    "Ye Dafu, clean up the battlefield and retrieve the storage rings of the cultivators here¡ªXu Ming, the Jingang abbot, and so on. In addition, give the four inner cores of these cranes to Zheng Qian. He''s been working himself to the bone recently," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "At once, King Xiao," Ye Dafu said.


    "Work quickly. Once you''re finished, return to Yongding at once."


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    "Let''s go, Senior Sister!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed into the air with Yu''er in tow.


    "Why are we in such a rush?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "The battle isn''t over yet. We''ll take down Cui Haisheng as well!"


    Yu''er opened her mouth wide. "You''re intending to get rid of all your enemies in one fell swoop?"


    "Last time, while I was at Jingang Temple, he attempted to raid Yongding. This time, he predicted that I would be at Mt. Swallowtail and set up an ambush for me. If I don''t retaliate, he certainly won''t learn his lesson. This time, I intend to strike him where it hurts and scour mynds clean of all obstruction."


    Yu''er nodded in excitement as she flew back toward Yongding with Xiao Nanfeng at full speed.


    On a mountaintop outside Yongding, several demonic elders and Cui Haisheng were spying on the city.


    Although Tang seemed rxed, he was particrly nervous, because he had learned from Cui Haisheng that he had dispatched a number of strong cultivators to ambush Xiao Nanfeng. Wouldn''t Xiao Nanfeng be dead meat?


    He wanted to head to Yongding and tell Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar what he had learned, but with so many cultivators around, he hardly had the opportunity to do so.


    "Division Leader, I feel like Xiao Nanfeng won''t die so easily," Tang said.


    "Pestilence Sage, what nonsense are you talking about? The division leader has nned for everything, every possibility! How could Xiao Nanfeng make it out alive? He''s guaranteed to perish this time!" a demonic elder retorted.


    "What do you mean, Pestilence Sage?" Cui Haisheng asked.


    Tang nodded. "Division Leader, Xiao Nanfeng isn''t a fool. He might be able to predict our ns. What if he''s made preparations in advance and is nning to take us down instead? We might suffer significant losses."


    "Oh?" Cui Haisheng narrowed his eyes at Tang.


    "Division Leader, I don''t know why, but I have a bad premonition. I feel as though we can''t stay here any longer, that it might be dangerous for us if we do. We had better leave," Tang advised.


    "Pestilence Sage, if your intuition were truly urate, you wouldn''t have lost your avatars to Xiao Nanfeng back then."


    "Everything''s under the division leader''s control. Do you intend for him to give up on this scheme? You aren''t trying to let Xiao Nanfeng''s toad spirits go aid him, are you?"


    The other elders were suspicious of Tang, who began to panic. That was exactly his n, but he could hardly admit to it. He didn''t dare make any further suggestions.


    Cui Haisheng nced at Tang and frowned. He felt as though there was something amiss about Tang; his suggestion would only have helped Xiao Nanfeng. However, without any evidence for his suspicions, there was no need to make an usation now. Better to wait until Xiao Nanfeng was dead before checking the Pestilence Sage''s background carefully.


    Just then, a cold gleam shot toward Cui Haisheng''s lower back.


    The hair on Cui Haisheng''s neck stood on end as he felt a sensation of impending death. He flung himself to the side as he activated his defenses fully.


    Suddenly, a sword pierced through his qi barrier and tore a huge wound under his armpit. Blood spurted as the sword struck bone and revealed his ribs.


    The attack had urred far too quickly. If not for his strength and reflexes, it would have struck him in the heart.


    "You dare!" Cui Haisheng howled, striking at his assassin with a palm.


    A ck figure was sent flying.


    Simultaneously, however, an Immortal sword, a cursed de, and four huge toad palms struck at Cui Haisheng.


    Cui Haisheng''s eyes widened as the mountaintop on which he was situated burst into pieces. Tang and the other demonic elders, struck by the shockwaves that arose in the aftermath of the attack, coughed out blood and found their limbs broken and bent.


    As fire and wind raged around him, Cui Haisheng drew an Immortal de and barely parried the attack. Even so, his hair was in disarray, his clothes tattered, blood flowing freely all over his body. His internal organs had been badly damaged.


    "You''ve returned, Xiao Nanfeng?!" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu had surrounded Cui Haisheng.


    Despite the pristine Immortal sword in Cui Haisheng''s hand, he wasn''t sure if he would be able to escape death given the caliber of the cultivators that surrounded him.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, unleashing the first blow.


    Cui Haisheng''s eyes grew frosty as he counterattacked Xiao Nanfeng, but Yu''er''s sword was faster than his de. It struck Cui Haisheng in a long arc, prepared to behead him the very next moment. Cui Haisheng immediately whirled his sword toward Yu''er, then tossed a corroded Immortal relic at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Cui Haisheng blocked Yu''er''s deadly blow as the explosion from the Immortal relic forced Xiao Nanfeng back. Even so, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu''s attacks allnded. Struck by three heavy blows, Cui Haisheng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he was sent flying. His left arm exploded, revealing bone and hanging limply by his side.


    "Die!" Cui Haisheng roared.


    He simultaneously destroyed four corroded Immortal relics, tossing them at Croak, Warble, You Jiu, and Yu''er. Four fireballs erupted around the four Wingform-realm cultivators as Cui Haisheng fled in the direction of Xiao Nanfeng.


    However, he saw that Xiao Nanfeng had destroyed a corroded Immortal relic of his own.


    "No!" Cui Haisheng shouted fearfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng had obtained arge number of corroded Immortal relics from the storage ring that his avatar carried, which were now being used against him. This was a disaster!


    Yu''er, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu were on guard for these Immortal relics thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s reminders, and they easily dodged the resulting explosions. However, Cui Haisheng had attempted to flee at such speed that, even if he were to try to dodge, his momentum would carry him forward regardless.


    With a huge bang, Cui Haisheng was caught directly in the explosion. His qi barrier shattered, and his injured left arm turned even more gory.


    Cui Haisheng nched. He knew that this was the end, that he was dead. Why had he listened to his idiotic disciples instead of the Pestilence Sage? The Pestilence Sage had done more for him than his disciples ever did!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if I have to die, I''ll bring you along with me!" Cui Haisheng howled.


    He caused the pristine Immortal sword in his hand to explode. The destruction of a fully functional Immortal relic resulted in an explosion of incredible magnitude.


    "Flee!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, his eyes widening.


    However, Cui Haisheng moved even more quickly than Xiao Nanfeng did as he tossed the Immortal sword at him.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Sir!" You Jiu shouted.


    A huge mushroom cloud formed where Xiao Nanfeng had once stood. The resulting shockwave buffeted Cui Haisheng, already grievously injured. He couldn''t even activate his qi barrier any longer; how could he survive an explosion of this magnitude?


    He could vaguely glimpse Xiao Nanfeng bringing out a huge chunk of purple rock. Before he could see whether his nemesis had died for real, he was swallowed up by a giant tongue and trapped within Croak''s mouth.


    As the explosion dissipated, Yu''er and the others ventured into the superheated smoke, only to see the giant purple rock disappear from sight and reveal a perfectly undamaged Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''m alright. Don''t worry about me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Croak, Warble, and You Jiu all heaved a sigh of relief as they stopped short. Only Yu''er continued flying toward Xiao Nanfeng, unshed tears in her eyes. When she confirmed that Xiao Nanfeng really was alright, she embraced him tightly.

 Chapter 274: Raiding Jingtao

    <h4>Chapter 274: Raiding Jingtao</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken by surprise, but he was warmed by the gesture. He patted Yu''er on the back, calming her down. Yu''er slowly rxed.


    Suddenly, she found that she was being hugged by Xiao Nanfeng. Her face blushed red as she pushed him aside. "Don''t take advantage of me, Nanfeng!"


    She felt a surprisingly sharp pang of loss as she pushed him aside, but she shook her head and began to inspect his body all over. "Are you really alright?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was simultaneously touched and moved toughter. "Don''t worry. I wouldn''t be able to bear leaving you all alone."


    "You!" Yu''er''s face flushed crimson.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the beauty before him, the tears still glimmering in her eyes. Moved, he grabbed her hands.


    "W-What are you doing?" Yu''er panicked as she attempted to free herself.


    "Come. I''ll treat you to a sumptuous meal," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er stopped struggling. "What meal?"


    "You''ll see once we get there. Follow me!" Xiao Nanfeng said, tugging on Yu''er''s hand as he flew toward a forest in the distance.


    You Jiu, Croak, and Warble followed swiftly behind. They vanished into the forest.


    Yu''er was a little anxious at the thought that she would be enjoying a private meal with Xiao Nanfeng, but when she noticed the increasing group of people following behind them, she realized that something was amiss.


    "Are we really going to have a sumptuous feast?"


    "What else?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er pinched Xiao Nanfeng''s waist. "It had better be good, or I''ll teach you a lesson."


    "Trust me, it''ll be great!" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    Behind them were Croak, Warble, You Jiu, and Ye Dafu and hisckeys, who had just finished cleaning up the battlefield at Mt. Swallowtail. They soared into the air in a secluded location. Once they reached the clouds, they flew forward at a rapid clip


    for four hours, until they stopped by a mountaintop. Afar was a huge city, one several timesrger than Yongding, with tall walls and a formation of fog protecting it.


    "This is the city of Jingtao, in Cui Haisheng''s titlednds? Isn''t this his home?!" Yu''er eximed.


    "That''s exactly right. Hasn''t he been eyeing Yongding? I''ll give him a taste of his own medicine." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You''re going to raid Cui Haisheng''s home after killing him?" Yu''er eximed.


    "That was just one of his avatars. His main body has been in Jingtao all this time."


    "Really?"


    Just then, a ck-robed figure flew over from afar. The figure bowed upon drawing near.


    "King Xiao, four hours ago, Cui Haisheng roared in outrage as a frightening aura emanated from his estate. He left with the Wingform-realm cultivators in the city and simultaneously activated a formation that enveloped it," the figure reported.


    "I knew that killing his avatar would be able to agitate him to this extent. Well, now that he''s gone, let''s enter Jingtao." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "But the formation..." Yu''er trailed off in worry.


    "We don''t need to be concerned about that. The spectral guards have infiltrated Jingtao for some time, and they''ve been spying on those cultivators responsible for maintaining the formation. We''re well aware of how to deal with it by now. Come on, let''s go!"


    The group of cultivators flew toward Jingtao. When they were in position, You Jiumanded, "Strike now!"


    The spectral guards in the city struck at once. The formation around Jingtao shattered in almost no time at all.


    "Someone''s trying to destroy the formation around the city!" a citizen eximed. "Catch those infiltrators!"


    The cultivators of the city flocked around in a mess.


    As Xiao Nanfeng and his group flew over the city, a number of patrolling guards shot forward to stop them.


    "Who are you? Halt!" one guard shouted.


    Ye Dafuunched himself at the guard and sent him flying.


    "An enemy raid!" Even more guards flew into the air, but none of them were any match for Ye Dafu and hisckeys. They struck the guards down one after another, and the arrows shot toward them were unable to even prate their qi barrier.


    The guard that had been sent flying rushed up to a middle-aged man in a small cottage.


    "Sect Master Qi, enemies have attacked us. They''re all Spiritsong-realm cultivators, and we can''t stop them. Please lend aid, Sect Master Qi!" the guard begged.


    Sect Master Qi looked toward Xiao Nanfeng and the other assants. His eyebrows twitched. "They knew that Cui Haisheng would leave? They''re taking advantage of his absence to raid his city¡ªno, I''m afraid I won''t be able to help."


    "Sect Master Qi, didn''t you promise the marquis that you would aid in Jingtao''s defense?" the guard pressed.


    Sect Master Qi''s eyebrows twitched again as he shook his head. "If they were only at Spiritsong, I would be more than happy to help out, but there''s a group of Wingform-realm cultivators out there as well. Do you intend for them to kill me?"


    "But, but¡ª"


    "They aren''t attacking people indiscriminately, only forcing you guards back. I won''t be able to stop them. The best thing you could do now is inform Cui Haisheng immediately. Don''t bother attacking them and sacrificing yourself needlessly.


    "But..." The guard was visibly struggling as to what he should do.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng and his group had arrived by a well-defended za filled with guards. Ye Dafu and hisckeys, however, dealt with them all in no time.


    They then began to set up the Immortal''s Destruction. Xiao Nanfeng activated it and sent eight Immortal-binding chains burrowing deep into the ground.


    As the ground rumbled, a dragon howled from deep underground. Jingtao shook as though struck by an earthquake.


    "Rise!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A gigantic fifteen-hundred-meter-long draconic vein was excavated from underground.


    "What an enormous draconic vein. It''s almost the size of that from the Jingang Temple!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Cui Haisheng''s the emperor''s brother-inw, after all. How could his estate''s draconic vein be inferior?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er seemed very worried. "Nanfeng, if Cui Haisheng''s main body has brought a number of strong cultivators to Yongding, won''t it be in danger?"


    "Don''t worry. It''s very safe. I''ve taken precautions," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "Really?" Yu''er seemed surprised, but she trusted in Xiao Nanfeng''s abilities. She didn''t question him further.


    "Dig in!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The cultivators and spectral guards dun in with gusto.


    Following Xiao Nanfeng, they began to absorb the draconic aether. The draconic vein keened as its bulk was consumed. It disappeared very quickly as the cultivators'' bodies glowed with golden light.


    Outside the city of Yongding, the furious Cui Haisheng and dozens of his Wingform-realm subordinates approached the city in a haze of power. Cui Haisheng was determined to take revenge for the death of another avatar.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re dead meat! Even if Emperor Tianshu were to punish me, I''ll kill you today!" Cui Haisheng roared.


    The other Wingform-realm cultivators beside him unleashed their killing intent as they descended toward Yongding.


    Their descent, however, was quickly blocked by a hemispherical dome of fog around the city.


    "A formation? How?" one Wingform-realm cultivator eximed.


    Two of Cui Haisheng''s subordinates struck at the formation with a palm, which grew to the size of mountains on impact with the formation.


    However, the formation only trembled. It easily blocked the two cultivators'' blows.


    "Impossible. We''re both at Wingform. Why can''t we break through this formation?" one cultivator eximed.


    "This is an Immortal-grade formation, one that a sect might use in its own right! How could Xiao Nanfeng have such a treasure?!" the other cultivator shouted.


    "No, something''s wrong. There hadn''t been a formation even a day ago. It''s only been four hours. Who set this up? Something''s wrong," Cui Haisheng intuited.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar walked out of the Xiao manor and into his courtyard. He looked up at Cui Haisheng and the others.


    "Cultivators, if I''m not mistaken, you must be the sect masters or elders of some sects across the Eastern Sea. My feud with Cui Haisheng,rge though it has grown, is an internal matter of the Tianshu Empire; outsiders have no bearing on it. It''s true that Cui Haisheng has been trying to pester me in every way possible, but even then, all that he''s done is make a fuss in mynds with the disciples of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. On the other hand, your presence is much more meaningful. If you dare take part in this internal struggle between Cui Haisheng and me, I''ll let the entire world know. It would give me more than adequate reason to lead an army to invade your sects," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "You dare?!" the two cultivators that had struck the formation shouted.


    "I was able to annihte the Jingang Temple, and I can well do the same to your sects. If you dare strike, I promise I''ll do so. Rogue bandits like the cultivators of the Jingang Temple will be killed without mercy!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "You!" The two cultivators nched.


    "You might not know this yet, but the Jingang Temple has been eradicated fully. All the Jingang disciples at Mt. Swallowtail have just been killed. Would you like to experience that treatment for yourselves?"


    "What?!" the two Wingform-realm cultivators eximed.


    The sects they represented were weaker than the Jingang Temple. If even the Jingang Temple had been annihted, would their presence here lead to the downfall of their sects? They instantly began to panic as they looked toward Cui Haisheng.


    "Do you really think Cui Haisheng will protect you? Don''t you know why he''s here?" Xiao Nanfeng continued disdainfully.


    Everyone considered what Xiao Nanfeng had stated carefully. Cui Haisheng had already lost two avatars to Xiao Nanfeng. Would he really be able to protect their sects?


    "Are you scared just because of a few threats? If we kill him right here and now, there''s nothing he can do against us!" Cui Haisheng shouted at the two Wingform-realm cultivators.


    Even so, the cultivators remained uneasy. Although they acquiesced to Cui Haisheng, their domineering air had vanished. They intended to leave themselves an escape route.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, this is the Jingang Temple''s main protective formation, isn''t it? Were you nning to kill my avatar from the beginning?" Cui Haisheng demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at him coldly. "Cui Haisheng, if you didn''t intend to harm me, you wouldn''t have perished."

 Chapter 275: Nalan Changkong

    <h4>Chapter 275: Nn Changkong</h4>


    Cui Haisheng''s nning had been one step behind Xiao Nanfeng''s at every turn, and it had cost him unimaginable losses as a result. His mind was filled with anger.


    He could tell that the figures behind him, nominally his allies, wanted to retreat. They didn''t fear Xiao Nanfeng, but rather Ku Jiang and Hong Lie''s revenge.


    "The Jingang Temple''s main, Immortal-grade formation¡ªdo you really think that it can stop me? Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll die today, no matter what!" Cui Haisheng dered.


    He retrieved four corroded Immortal relics and tossed them at the formation as they glowed with blinding light.


    As one, the four Immortal relics exploded in a huge mushroom cloud. The surging energy resulted in an earthquake that could be felt all across the region.


    Cui Haisheng''s allies widened their eyes. Sacrificing four corroded Immortal relics just to destroy this formation? They might not be in perfect condition, but they were still Immortal relics!


    As the smoke and dust from the explosion dissipated, the city of Yongding could be seen. Many of themon people were fleeing with their hands protectively shielding their heads. Countless cracks had appeared all across the surface of the barrier, as though it would shatter at any moment.


    "Is this all that the Jingang Temple''s main formation amounts to? Break!" Cui Haishengmanded, mming a palm toward the formation.


    Cui Haisheng''s palm technique boasted tremendous strength, no weaker than the explosion of a single corroded Immortal relic. The formation shattered, the energy dissipating into the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng was exposed before Cui Haisheng.


    "Shield me! Block the four Wingform-realm cultivators around Xiao Nanfeng from interfering. I''ll deal with Xiao Nanfeng myself!" Cui Haisheng dered.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    They shot toward the Xiao manor. Cui Haisheng''s face was a mask of anger. He mmed forward with a palm, as though intending to turn Xiao Nanfeng into a pancake.


    Just then, a man radiating golden light appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng and sent a palm mming toward Cui Haisheng.


    The two palms met in a storm that manifested all around them. The golden man''s other hand curled, redirecting the force of the nascent storm up toward Cui Haisheng''s helpers. The cultivators nched as they stopped short and made to defend against the iing attack. Cui Haisheng, overpowered by a significant margin, was sent flying back quite some distance before he stabilized himself.


    "Hong Lie? What are you doing here?" Cui Haisheng thundered in rage.


    Hong Lie had somehow appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Cui Haisheng, have youe all this way in an attempt to kill Nanfeng? You really are gettingwless, aren''t you?" Hong Lie retorted.


    "Senior Uncle, I''m a sectstarter of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Cui Haisheng attempted to kill a sectstarter of the sect. Please assist me!" Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    Cui Haisheng nched. He understood what was going on now. Hong Lie had to have been in hiding and was waiting for him to make a grave mistake.


    The reason Hong Lie hadn''t shown himself when Xiao Nanfeng killed Cui Haisheng''s avatar was because he was waiting for Cui Haisheng''s main body to appear and take on Xiao Nanfeng in person.


    The cultivators in Cui Haisheng''s camp sighed in relief. They were very d they hadn''t chosen to continue fighting against Xiao Nanfeng, or Hong Lie would have had an excuse to deal with them as well.


    "Cui Haisheng, you''ve publicly pledged to kill a sectstarter of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and have taken action toward this end. This is punishable by death, but on ount of your identity as a division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, that punishment can be waived. Instead, I''ll strip you of your cultivation." Hong Lie rose into the air.


    "No! Hong Lie, you tricked me! I object!" Cui Haisheng howled.


    However, Hong Lie had already appeared before Cui Haisheng and mmed a palm toward his body. Cui Haisheng attempted to defend himself. The resulting shockwave caused mes to re up all around them, but because Hong Lie had controlled his strength, all that energy had been directed upward rather than downward into the city.


    Cui Haisheng spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying through the clouds. Hong Lie gave chase.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the cultivators that had apanied Cui Haisheng. He smiled. "Everyone, do you intend to continue attacking me?"


    The cultivators nched as they turned tail and ran.


    Was this a joke? Who knew what other cultivators were hiding in the Xiao manor? Hong Lie was deterrent enough. If they really did dare to strike, they would be killed!


    They were astounded by Xiao Nanfeng''s n. They quickly understood what had happened. Xiao Nanfeng had been hiding Hong Lie as a trump card all along, waiting for Cui Haisheng to make a grave mistake that would allow Hong Lie to administer a punishment from which Cui Haisheng would never recover.


    In the air, Cui Haisheng continued destroying one Immortal relic after another. These explosions were able to deter Wingform-realm cultivators, but proved to be of little use against Immortals. Hong Lie waved a hand and deflected the explosion.


    "Cui Haisheng, you''ve had ess to as many resources as I do, and yourtent talent isn''t any worse than mine. However, you''ve never been able to be an Immortal. Do you know why? It''s because you aren''t focused or dedicated enough. You keep ying with these shy techniques, like avatars. It''s true that having more avatars will help you aplish more tasks, but they also require you to divert your cultivation resources, your fortune, your focus. So what if you have an army of avatars? If you can''t be an Immortal, it''s all useless!" Hong Lie shouted. "Break!"


    "No!" Cui Haisheng screamed.


    He was sent flying into the air once again, blood streaking from his body. His bones were shattered, and he vomited out a constant stream of blood. He had been weakened to an incredible extent.


    In a sh, Hong Lie had beaten him until he was unable to move.


    The allies he had brought with him shuddered, but no one dared to step forward and help him.


    Hong Lie strode up to Cui Haisheng. "Did you forget what I told youst time? You still dared to attack Xiao Nanfeng? To prevent you from targeting him again, I suppose I''ll have to cripple you permanently."


    Hong Lie stuck out a finger that gleamed with golden light, preparing to paralyze Cui Haisheng for good.


    "No! No!" Cui Haisheng shouted in fear.


    He waspletely unable to resist; Hong Lie really would cripple him.


    "Be merciful, Uncle Hong!" a voice shouted from afar.


    A beam of rainbow-colored energy separated Hong Lie from Cui Haisheng. A white-robed man recalled the energy as he flew over, then pulled Cui Haisheng behind him.


    "Changkong?" Hong Lie frowned.


    "The crown prince of the Tianshu Empire, Nn Changkong!" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he considered the new arrival.


    This could be no coincidence; Nn Changkong had to have been watching the scene y out from afar. There might even have been more schemes involved that he wasn''t privy to. If he hadn''t invited Hong Lie over in advance, he could very well have perished that day.


    "Uncle Hong, please, be merciful. Cui Haisheng''s my uncle, after all. How would I be able to face my parents if I allowed him to be crippled?" Nn Changkong bowed to Hong Lie smoothly.


    "What are you doing here?" Hong Lie frowned.


    Nn Changkong immediately replied, "Father told me about a misunderstanding between Uncle and Xiao Nanfeng, and he arranged for me to stop by to mediate. I didn''t expect to arrive sote that the situation had devolved to this extent by the time I did. Uncle Hong, Father''s aware of the dispute, and he hasmanded Uncle never to bother Xiao Nanfeng in the future. I''m sure that Uncle won''t disobey Father''s orders. Please, Uncle Hong, won''t you do Father a favor and let the matter drop here?"


    "Your father really said that?" Hong Lie frowned.


    He didn''t believe that Nn Changkong had just arrived at the scene, which implied that he had to have been in hiding. His sudden interruption now was indeed suspicious.


    "I would never dare falsify an imperial edict," Nn Changkong replied with a smile.


    "Perhaps not, but you could certainly dy it. If you had arrived earlier, none of this would have happened," Hong Lie pointed out with some dissatisfaction.


    "I really did just arrive," Nn Changkong emphasized.


    Hong Lie red at Cui Haisheng, shuddering behind Nn Changkong. Although he did want to help Xiao Nanfeng cripple Cui Haisheng for good, he would have to show Nn Qiankun adequate respect as well.


    "I don''t think Cui Haisheng will stop causing trouble for Xiao Nanfeng," Hong Lie asserted with a frown.


    "I will serve as guarantor for Uncle myself. If he causes more trouble for Xiao Nanfeng, I shall suffer the punishment on his behalf. I''ll cripple my own cultivation," Nn Changkong pledged.


    "Changkong, you¡ª" Cui Haisheng cried out.


    "I''ve made my pledge, Uncle. Please don''t make life difficult for me," Nn Changkong told Cui Haisheng.


    Cui Haisheng''s eyes shed with a series ofplicated emotions. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Very well. I''ll listen to you."


    Nn Changkong smiled in satisfaction and turned toward Hong Lie. "Uncle Hong, will this suffice? As long as Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t target Uncle in the future, Uncle won''t actively target Xiao Nanfeng either."


    Hong Lie pursed his lips and was silent for long moments before he finally nodded. "Then I''ll let the matter drop here."


    Nn Changkong smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Hong."


    Hong Lie inclined his head.


    "Father also had a request for me to convey, Uncle Hong. He specifically asked for your help," Nn Changkong continued.


    "What is it?" Hong Lie asked.


    "The return of the Xiang n has caused rogue soldiers to rise up all over the empire. Lords governing their titlednds have all mobilized their troops to suppress these rebellions, all save those in Marquis Wu''snds. Thosends are currently ungoverned, and Father would like you to take care of the rogue soldiers therein personally."


    "Marquis Wu?" Hong Lie frowned.


    "Marquis Wu, who vanished in the undying realm after entering it in conjunction with Xiao Nanfeng and the others," Nn Changkong confirmed. "Marquis Wu was the crown prince of the previous dynasty, and his status is particrly sensitive. That was why he was titled a marquis to begin with. The Xiao n has been eyeing hisnds, and they''re in grave disarray. This is Father''s imperial edict and summons. Uncle Hong, I humbly request your assistance." Nn Changkong bowed to a slight extent.


    Hong Lie took the edict and the corresponding token. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "I understand."


    "In that case, I won''t bother you any longer. Uncle is grievously injured and will need treatment immediately. I''ll be seeking medical attention for him," Nn Changkong exined.


    "Go," Hong Lie replied.


    Nn Changkong bowed and departed with Cui Haisheng. Cui Haisheng''s allies followed swiftly behind as they scurried away.

 Chapter 276: Summoning Cursed Effigies

    <h4>Chapter 276: Summoning Cursed Effigies</h4>


    In the city of Jingtao, after the cultivators finished consuming the draconic vein, golden light glimmered from their bodies.


    "It''s time for us to leave," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stated.


    "Understood!" The cultivators immediately departed from Jingtao.


    Within the city, Sect Master Qi, a Wingform-realm cultivator, frowned and sighed.


    "Sect Master Qi, what should we do?" one guard asked anxiously.


    Sect Master Qi shook his head. "We can''t do anything. They''re too alert, and I haven''t had a chance tounch a sneak attack on them. We''ll just have to wait for Cui Haisheng to return."


    After Xiao Nanfeng and his group of cultivators left Jingtao, they found a secluded valley within which to distill the draconic aether they had gained in hopes of making a breakthrough to their cultivation.


    Everyone had profited enormously from the venture. Draconic aether billowed out from each cultivator as they processed it to improve their cultivation.


    After four hours, a wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "The ninth stage of Spiritsong? You''re closing in on Wingform, Nanfeng!" Yu''er eximed happily.


    "It''s a pity that we don''t have any more time, or I''d excavate all the draconic veins underneath Cui Haisheng''snds," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    "Cui Haisheng must be cursing his luck for having ever crossed you," Yu''er replied,ughing.


    "He deserves it!"


    "Will Yongding be alright if Cui Haisheng''s main body is heading there himself?" Yu''er suddenly asked in worry.


    "I invited Senior Uncle Hong to join me at Yongding. What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng gave Yu''er a sly smile.


    Yu''er''s eyes lit up. "Cui Haisheng''s in for trouble again, then!"


    "The Xiaonds will finally be at peace for now," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    Back in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar invited Hong Lie back into the Xiao manor.


    "I had no choice. Nn Qiankun isn''t someone I can afford to offend, but don''t worry. Cui Haisheng won''t cause you any more trouble." Hong Lie had a sip of his tea.


    "This oue is more than sufficient for my needs." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "That said, it''s rather a waste to have lost Yongding''s main defensive formation just to lure Cui Haisheng here," Hong Lie stated, frowning.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Not a waste at all. I''ve already imedpensation from him for the destruction of my city''s defensive formation."


    "You''ve taken Jingtao''s?" Hong Lie eximed.


    "I have. I only had a limited amount of time, so my main body was only able to reim one of his formations, however."


    "Haha, well done, well done!" Hong Lie praised,ughing.


    "I have you to thank, Senior Uncle. Now, there are no longer any threats remaining in mynds. I''ll be able to reim it all in no time."


    "Don''t be too excited just yet. The return of the Xiang cultivators are going to spark conflict between Immortal sects and the Tianshu Empire. All the titlednds of the Tianshu Empire are in chaos. A huge war''s brewing on the horizon," Hong Lie stated soberly.


    "Senior Brother Zhao also sent word to me that the ckguards have identified many Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea participating in the offensive against the Tianshu Empire," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "That''s right. The Tianshu Empire has been expanding far too rapidly in thest few decades, and the Immortal sects are feeling threatened."


    "Oh?"


    "When the Taiwu Empire fell, many rogue forces arose in the aftermath, sponsored by the various Immortal sects. However, the Taiqing Immortal Sect was the one that eventually rose to dominance. Because the Tianshu Empire was initially only a minor source of fortune, the major Immortal sects didn''t make a big fuss. In these past few decades, however, the Tianshu Empire has expanded considerably, inrge part due to your father''s advances. Your father yed a significant role in iming the majority of the empire''snd, bringing it from a fledgling force to a major power in its own right. The amount of fortune that it governs has increased significantly as well."


    "Causing the various Immortal sects to grow envious of the Tianshu Empire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Hong Lie nodded. "That''s exactly right. It''s not just the fortune, either, but the tremendous opportunity afforded by the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. I''ve be an Immortal, as has Nn Qiankun. In fact, your father was the first to be an Immortal that year. The birth of so many new Immortals is threatening to the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea. If the Tianshu Empire is allowed to continue developing at this rate, it might very well be a divine empire."


    "A divine empire?"


    "Indeed. The Immortal sects weren''t able to establish their own empires and stake im to the fortune that derives from thesends. They certainly wouldn''t miss the next opportunity: the Tianshu Empire''s advancement into a divine empire, which would give rise to a wealth of fortune. The Xiang n''s return to the world stage and their potential to re-establish their fallen empire has divided the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea into two factions. One supports the Xiang n and intends to win merit by helping re-establish the fallen empire to share in the new Taiwu Empire''s fortune. The other faction supports the Tianshu Empire and intends to pave its advancement to a divine empire, winning merit by helping quash any rebellion and opposition in their way. Everywhere''s a mess right now," Hong Lie concluded.


    "It really is a mess, isn''t it? I saw a number of sect masters working with Cui Haisheng and was rather surprised." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "The Xiang n won''t take the destruction of the Jingang Temple lightly. You had better watch out," Hong Lie warned.


    "Don''t worry, Senior Uncle. Rather, I''m afraid your task to quell any rebellions in Marquis Wu''snds won''t be as simple as it seems."


    "Rx," Hong Lie replied confidently.


    "Once I finish handling affairs here, Senior Uncle, please feel free tomandeer some of my forces," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Very well! I''ll await your support." Hong Lie smiled.


    He didn''t much need the support, but Xiao Nanfeng''s offer did warm his heart.


    In the city of Jingtao, as Nn Changkong returned with Cui Haisheng and was taken aback by what had happened to the city, Cui Haisheng hurriedly attempted to figure out what had happened.


    Upon learning that Xiao Nanfeng''s main body had taken advantage of Cui Haisheng''s hasty departure to excavate his draconic vein and steal his city''s defense formation, Cui Haisheng grew so angry that he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, either you''ll die or I will!" Cui Haisheng snarled.


    "Uncle, have you forgotten your promise to me? If you continue making trouble for Xiao Nanfeng, won''t I be aughing-stock?" Nn Changkong warned.


    Cui Haisheng frowned. "Changkong, why did you make such a guarantee to Hong Lie?"


    "If I didn''t, would he have let you go?" Nn Changkong retorted.


    Cui Haisheng''s frown deepened. In the end, he sighed.


    "Furthermore, even without Uncle Hong''s presence, you likely would have fallen to Xiao Nanfeng regardless," Nn Changkong continued.


    "What? Impossible. Xiao Nanfeng brought his entire group to Jingtao. Who else would be around to defend Yongding?" Cui Haisheng retorted disbelievingly.


    "What about the cursed effigies?" Nn Changkong asked.


    "The cursed effigies?"


    "Who do you think killed the Jingang disciples at Mt. Swallowtail?" Nn Changkong asked.


    "Wasn''t it Xiao Nanfeng?" Cui Haisheng asked. Then, as he thought more deeply, he continued, "No, that can''t be. I was holding Xiao Nanfeng''s Wingform-realm subordinates back. Only he and thatss could have gone to Mt. Swallowtail¡ªso how did all the Jingang disciples die? Not a single one escaped!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t the one who killed the Jingang disciples. A cursed effigy did so. There''s a strong cursed effigy by Xiao Nanfeng''s side. You might be able to deal with him, but what about the cursed effigy?" Nn Changkong asked.


    "How strong is it?" Cui Haisheng suddenly grew nervous.


    "Even Envoy Ying was killed by that cursed effigy. What do you think?" Nn Changkong replied.


    "What? Even a cursed effigy as strong as Envoy Ying?"


    Nn Changkong stood up and bowed to his back. "Envoy Ying, my uncle''s a trustworthy man, and your future ns will require the involvement of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Would you like to meet with him?"


    The shadow of a hand climbed out of Nn Changkong''s shadow.It wasn''t attached to a body.


    "This is Envoy Ying?" Cui Haisheng eximed in surprise.


    "Cursed effigies can''t be killed. Envoy Ying acted prudently and cut a piece of its body off before making a move against Xiao Nanfeng¡ªand that prudence paid off." Nn changkong turned toward the hand. "Envoy Ying, did you know that Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed effigy would be so dangerous? Just who could that cursed effigy be to merit such caution from you?"


    The hand was, surprisingly, able to talk. It replied, "Its name is the Divine Emperor. I almost had it in my grasp, but Xiao Nanfeng ruined my ns."


    "The Divine Emperor?" Nn Changkong asked curiously.


    "You don''t need to know its identity. All you need to know is that it''s the cursed effigy that the Spirit Emperor is looking for."


    "Very well." Nn Changkong nodded, then continued asking, "You mentioned that you''ll need someone to spread news all over the world on your behalf. Who are you attempting to contact?"


    "I should report to the Spirit Emperor now that I''ve found the Divine Emperor, but the Spirit Emperor should be in secluded cultivation right about now. I intend to wait a little longer. The Spirit Emperor has assigned countless shadow cursed effigies around the world in hopes that they would find traces of the Divine Emperor, and I''ll need your help to contact them and announce that the Divine Emperor has been found. They should all gather here and help me capture the Divine Emperor," Envoy Ying replied.


    "Don''t worry. Although the Taiqing Demonic Sect is waning, we still have disciples scattered all over the world. Passing word will be an easy task," Cui Haisheng promised.


    "Very good," Envoy Ying replied with satisfaction.


    "I have only one request. Once you capture the Divine Emperor, please help deal with Xiao Nanfeng on my behalf as well.


    "Don''t worry. The Divine Emperor has its eyes on Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body, and Xiao Nanfeng will be dead meat. Of course, if the Divine Emperor doesn''t kill Xiao Nanfeng, I will," Envoy Ying promised.


    Cui Haisheng''s eyes twitched. So Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed effigies wanted to kill Xiao Nanfeng too? These cursed effigies really weren''t existences to be trifled with.


    "Uncle, I trust this will be satisfactory?" Nn Changkong smiled.


    Cui Haisheng nodded, very pleased with what he had learned. "We''ll deal with Xiao Nanfengter, then."

 Chapter 277: Xiao Nanfengs Killer to be Granted Nobility

    <h4>Chapter 277: Xiao Nanfeng''s Killer to be Granted Nobility</h4>


    The next day in Jingtao, Tang and several demonic elders were sent to Cui Haisheng. Blood streaked down their bodies, and many had broken missing limbs. They were a sorry sight to behold.


    "Division Leader, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t make things difficult for us. He released us and allowed us to return," one elder reported.


    "Division Leader, I apologize for being inept. I was unable to share in your burdens and caused the loss of another of your avatars," Tang professed.


    Cui Haisheng pursed his lips as he considered the cultivators before him. If only he had taken Tang''s suggestion! He had truly lost a great deal as a result.


    "How do you think I should target Xiao Nanfeng in the future?" Cui Haisheng asked his trusted confidantes.


    "There''s something strange about Xiao Nanfeng, and provoking him won''t end well. Why not let the rogue forces deal with him? We''ll wait and bide our time. Furthermore, Division Leader, you''ve promised Nn Changkong not to act. Surely you wouldn''t renege on that promise?" Tang asked.


    "Ridiculous. Why should we be scared of Xiao Nanfeng? You''re making it sound as though the Division Leader''s afraid of him."


    "Right, Hong Lie''s going to have to head to Marquis Wu''snds to quell the rebellions there in no time. Xiao Nanfeng will lose his backer then. What''s there to fear?"


    "How can we allow Xiao Nanfeng to get away scot-free for what he has done?"


    The elders could see Cui Haisheng seething with rage, and their proposed retaliation would surely meet with praise from Cui Haisheng.


    However, Cui Haisheng''s question was a test. None of his subordinates knew how to advise him; they were simply trying to tter him and get in his good books. Only the Pestilence Sage had shown any sign of independent reasoning at all. He was the only one who was truly loyal, who was weighing the pros and cons for Cui Haisheng!


    "You bastards. You''re still trying to provoke me even at this juncture? If not for all of you egging me on, how would I have suffered such tremendous losses?" Cui Haisheng shouted.


    "Ah...?" The cultivators stiffened in unease.


    "Pestilence Sage, I apologize for doubting you. You''ve held onto your beliefs despite everyone else''s doubts, and I''m d about that," Cui Haisheng told Tang warmly.


    The cultivators were taken aback. Something had to be wrong¡ªwhy was the division leader praising the Pestilence Sage? Tang himself was shocked. He had said what he did in order to help dy matters and give Xiao Nanfeng more time to prepare, and he had been expecting criticism. Why was Cui Haisheng praising him instead?


    "Division Leader, you think too much of my advice. I''ve only presented my own opinions, and they may be entirely wrong," Tang replied with trepidation.


    "No, you''re quite right. If you have any suggestions in the future, I grant you leave to make them known. You shall not be punished for your thoughts. From now on, you''re my most trusted subordinate," Cui Haisheng replied.


    Tang grew rmed. What was going on? What had caused Cui Haisheng to think this way?


    "Here are some pills for your wounds. Once you recover, you''ll work on tasks under my supervision. I''ll focus my attention on helping you improve your cultivation," Cui Haisheng told Tang.


    Tang: ...


    The other demonic elders: ...


    Cui Haisheng''s sudden endorsement of the Pestilence Sage had taken everyone by surprise.


    Back by Mt. Swallowtail, the rogue fighters stared gobsmacked at the destruction all around them.


    "The news from Yongding werepletely true. Xiao Nanfeng really did kill everyone from the Jingang Temple!"


    "What should we do now? Xiao Nanfeng has begun dispatching his troops again. Are we to continue guarding against his assault?"


    "What''s there to block? His two toad spirits have taken to the battlefield as well. If we encounter them, we''ll all be dead meat."


    "It''s over! We''re done for!"


    The rogue fighters felt fear overtake them. They had never considered their future with such despair.


    "We''ll go report to the Xiang n," one of the generals suggested.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    A dayter, the rogue generals gathered outside a pavilion in a mountain valley. They bowed respectfully to the two people within, one of whom was Xiang Pojun. The other was wreathed in a cloud of white fog that left their appearance hidden.


    "King Pojun, the Jingang Temple has been annihted, and Xiao Nanfeng''s troops have taken control of the region. We can''t do anything against them. Please help us take down Xiao Nanfeng," one general reported.


    Xiang Pojun frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng? Xiao Hongye''s son?"


    "Yes!" the generals replied eagerly.


    Xiang Pojun''s eyes were filled with anger, but he restrained himself upon ncing at the shrouded figure by his side.


    "Does the like of Xiao Nanfeng require my personal attention? Aren''t you all rather useless?" Xiang Pojun demanded.


    "We..." The generals nced at each other, not knowing how to exin themselves.


    "Inform the sect masters of the Immortal sects who have chosen to ally with us. Haven''t they been wanting a chance to serve the Xiao n? This is their chance. Whoever kills Xiao Nanfeng will be granted the Xiaonds for themselves upon the refounding of the Xiang empire. Furthermore, disciples of their sect shall be permitted to join me in heading to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm to partake in a transcendent opportunity," Xiang Pojun continued.


    "Nobility and titlednds for killing Xiao Nanfeng?" The generals'' eyes zed with ardor.


    "If any of you can kill him, my promise will hold as well," Xiang Pojun added.


    "Understood! Thank you, King Pojun!" the generals shouted with excitement.


    They knew that Xiang Pojun''s promise would surely prompt the top cultivators of each Immortal sect to strike. Although they were no match for Xiao Nanfeng in a fair fight, perhaps they would get lucky and catch him unawares.


    "Go!" Xiang Pojunmanded.


    "Understood!" The generals departed.


    Only Xiang Pojun and the shrouded figure remained.


    "You''ve finally learned how to remain calm," the figuremented.


    Xiang Pojun humphed. "I don''t care that the Jingang disciples are all gone. There are plenty of cultivators willing to give their lives for the Xiang n."


    "You made the right choice in not attacking Xiao Nanfeng yourself. Xiao Nanfeng''s under the protection of Hong Lie. If you fail again, you''d have to expend a great deal of time and effort to recuperate. Attacking Taiqing Ind on your own was a terribly irrational move," the figure critiqued.


    "Forget it. Don''t dig up the past," Xiang Pojun replied, feeling somewhat ufortable.


    "This time, let the Immortal sects have a go at Xiao Nanfeng. Meanwhile, you Xiang cultivators shall have to find a means of curbing shadow cursed effigies. The fall of the Tianshu Empire will be minor inparison to full control over the transcendent opportunity in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. That''s what''s really important," the shrouded figure emphasized.


    Xiang Pojun nodded, then asked, "Did you manage to retrieve that object from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce?"


    "From Seaquell Hall? Naturally. It''s currently in Nn Qiankun''s possession, but he trusts me deeply. Once you''re done with affairs here, I can easily trick him out of it at any time," the shrouded figure promised.


    "Very well!" Xiang Pojun nodded.


    Two monthster, at the Xiao manor in the city of Yongding, Yu''er was ready to pull out her hair as she cradled a jade tablet. "Nanfeng, will it really be useful for me to memorize these scriptures? I''m about to go crazy!"


    "You have an eidetic memory, don''t you? Memorizing these scriptures should be a piece of cake." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''m not like you! It takes me two or three reads before I canmit it to memory, and quite a few more times to replicate it with ease," Yu''er replied, sighing.


    "Haven''t you always wanted to reach Lunar Deluge? There isn''t a shortcut to spiritual cultivation. You need the perspective of the countless ancients who have gone before you, and these scriptures already represent a tremendous shortcut. I''ve picked out these scriptures specially for you, and they''ll help with your cultivation tremendously," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "How do you know which scriptures suit me? What if there are more you aren''t aware of?"


    "I''ve considered all 48,000 scriptures of the Taiqing Vault of Scriptures. I guarantee these are the most suitable."


    Yu''er''s eyes widened. "You¡ªcouldn''t have memorized all 48,000 scriptures?!"


    "More or less," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Yu''er''s lips widened into an O. She gasped in disbelief. "That many? In just a year?"


    "Many of the scriptures share simr ideas and concepts. As long as you find themon thread that runs between them, it won''t be difficult toprehend them all."


    Yu''er rolled her eyes. "You don''t know how much I''m itching to beat you for saying that."


    "Go on, work harder. You''re already atte-stage Ster Lake. Perhaps you''ll be able to reach Lunar Deluge before you be an Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "An Immortal? Me?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Who else? You have the Red Emperor''s inheritance and my full support. It would hardly be difficult for you to be an Immortal."


    Yu''er got up and felt Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead. "Do you have a fever? Why are you talking nonsense? Bing an Immortal¡ªwhat a joke!"


    "With sufficient draconic veins, is it really such an impossibility?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "And where would you acquire these veins? It''s hardly as if we would excavate the ones in yournds¡ªand it wouldn''t be enough, regardless," Yu''er replied, smiling.


    "Don''t worry. There''ll be plenty within reach soon enough." Xiao Nanfeng grinned back.


    "Oh?"


    Just then, Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui arrived in clouds of dust.


    "King Xiao, this morning, we took down the final city in the Xiaonds," Ye Sanshui reported.


    "King Xiao, we''ve taken down a hundred and twenty cities in just four months. It''s an even faster pace than within the undying realm!" Ye Dafu crowed.


    Both cultivators were still somewhat bloody, their clothes clearly having seen better days. Ye Sanshui had de wounds all over his body¡ªand he was themander! If he was hurt to this extent, how badly did the other fighters suffer?


    "The frontline warriors must have suffered," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "After Cui Haisheng left, taking all his subordinates with him, the cities under his control surrendered to us easily. However, the rogue fighters have been getting more and more daring, and there have even been a few Wingform-realm ones showing up. If not for Croak and Warble, we would have suffered tremendous losses. Furthermore, the spectral guards'' assassination of key figures have helped us catch our breath. Despite all this, thest few weeks of battle have been particrly rough," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "It''s because of strong cultivators from some Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea!" Ye Dafu cried out. "They don''t dare to attack Yongding, so they set their sights on our fighters instead. They''re doing so in an attempt to lure you out, King Xiao, then gang up on you. If not for their appearance, we would have been able to fully clear out any remnant influence across the Xiaonds a month ago. They''ve killed two hundred Taiqing disciples, and even more are wounded."


    "Xiang Pojun put a noble title on the line for my head, didn''t he? I''ve been keeping track of those Immortal sects that have sumbed to the temptation to strike at me. It''s time to pay them back, I think," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "Oh?" Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui asked.


    "The fighters have helped me reim the Xiaonds in their entirety, and it''s time to divide up the spoils of war. I, Xiao Nanfeng, have no intention of neglecting any meritorious retainer. This is a record of merit that Mr. Zheng prepared. We''ll be dividing portions of draconic veins up ording to this record." Xiao Nanfeng passed the record to the two cultivators.


    The two cultivators'' eyes widened as they nced at the record.


    "King Xiao, you''re preparing to attack the Immortal sects themselves?!" Ye Dafu eximed.

 Chapter 278: Attacking Sanyuan Island

    <h4>Chapter 278: Attacking Sanyuan Ind</h4>


    There was an ind known as the Sanyuan Ind within the Eastern Sea, and the Immortal sect that had been founded on it was the Sanyuan Immortal Sect.


    The disciples of Sanyuan Ind were rushing back into the ind, and its defensive formation had been fully activated. They nced anxiously into the distance.


    "It''s Xiao Nanfeng! He''se to attack Sanyuan Ind with an army at his back. What are we to do?!"


    "I warned our seniors not to mess with the Xiaonds¡ªthis was precisely what I was afraid of!"


    "The Jingang Temple was destroyed just a few days ago. Is Xiao Nanfeng intending to annihte us, too?"


    Cries of fear and shock filled Sanyuan Ind.


    The valley that led into the Sanyuan Immortal Sect proper had been surrounded by thousands of fighters. Yu''er, Croak, Warble, Ye Dafu, and Ye Sanshui floated in the air outside the ind, theirbined auras so strong that the fog that should have been produced by the defensive formation to ward the ind was nowhere to be seen.


    Xiao Nanfeng was at the forefront of the army, d in white, his hands sped behind his back. He hovered in the air as he looked down at Sanyuan Ind.


    "Aren''t you going to show yourself, master of the Sanyuan Sect?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    His voice echoed around the entire ind.


    Arge number of Sanyuan disciples had gathered on a za of the Sanyuan Ind. They were ncing anxiously at a robed elder, the master of the Sanyuan Sect.


    The Sanyuan sect master had a perturbed expression on his face. He knew that his actions now could mean the end of the sect entirely. He took a deep breath and advanced. "I am the Sanyuan sect master, and I once worked together with Elder Ku Jiang of the Taiqing Immortal Sect tobat spirits together. Might I ask why you''vee to Sanyuan Ind?"


    "Not long ago, two Wingform-realm cultivators, iming to be elders of the Sanyuan Immortal Sect, along with a group of disciples under theirmand, unleashed indiscriminate ughter in my Xiaonds. Are you aware of this, Sect Master?"


    The Sanyuan sect master''s face shed with a series of emotions. This sort of thing wasn''t something he could hope to exin away; he had no choice but to nod. "They were two of my juniors, who were incited into bing pawns in the struggle of empire. They made the wrong decision. One now lies dead, and the other is grievously injured. Young Master Xiao, is this not sufficient punishment for their misdeeds? Would you settle for this on ount of my former dealings with Elder Ku?"


    "Sanyuan Sect Master, it''s true that I ought to give you special consideration on ount of your dealings with my master, but the disciples of the Sanyuan Immortal Sect ughtered a fair number of my subordinates in mynds. Such a deed cannot go unpunished. They were killing my people in order to hunt me down. You should be aware of that," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    The master of the Sanyuan Sect frowned. It was apparent that his prior dealings with Elder Ku wouldn''t suffice to smooth things over. The Sanyuan Immortal Sect was poised to suffer a ruinous blow that day.


    "All must bear responsibility for their actions. Your two junior brothers attempted to seek an opportunity for the Sanyuan Sect''s ascension. I don''t fault them for it, but since they''ve failed, they''ll have to suffer the consequences of failure," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What consequences?" the Sanyuan sect master asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng had brought an entire army over to the sect,including a fair few Wingform-realm cultivators. On the other hand, he was the only Wingform-realm cultivator in the Sanyuan sect. How was he to stop them? Would the sect be destroyed that very day?


    "I''m not fond of ughter, but I won''t simply take this lying down. Your disciples will have to pay for killing and injuring my subordinates and provide justpensation. Do you think this reasonable?"


    The Sanyuan sect master''s eyes brightened. Was Xiao Nanfeng not going to destroy his sect? He waited expectantly for Xiao Nanfeng to continue.


    "What sort of payment, Young Master Xiao?" the Sanyuan sect master asked.


    "I want neither your life nor your treasures. I ask for the draconic vein of the Sanyuan Immortal Sect aspensation," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "The draconic vein? That''s the foundation of the Sanyuan Immortal Sect. How could I hand that over?!" the Sanyuan sect master thundered.


    "This isn''t a negotiation, but a notice."


    "You¡ª!" the Sanyuan sect master cried out.


    "Don''t think that I''ll be deterred just because of your defensive formation. I could break it at any time," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Suddenly, the defensive formation around the Sanyuan Immortal Sect burst apart.


    "Sect Master, something''s wrong! The foundation of the defensive formation has been destroyed! Someone''s infiltrated the Sanyuan sect!" A shout came from afar.


    Chaos filled the entire ind.


    "Calm down, please. I don''t intend to harm anyone here, and neither will my subordinates strike without my say-so," Xiao Nanfneg shouted.


    The disciples of the Sanyuan sect quieted down and turned to their sect master.


    The Sanyuan sect master gritted out, "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve killed all my disciples that participated in the raid on yournds. Isn''t that sufficient?!"


    "They deserve to die for what they''ve done, and I repaid shed blood with blood. However, that''s not the end of the story. They attacked mynds as representatives of the Sanyuan Immortal Sect. If they had been victorious, the Sanyuan Immortal Sect as a whole would benefit; since they failed, the Sanyuan Immortal Sect must take responsibility. If I were out for blood, the Sanyuan sect would have been destroyed by now."


    "The Sanyuan Immortal Sect wasn''t the only sect that raided yournds. Why are you only targeting us?" the Sanyuan sect leader cried out.


    "Don''t worry. I intend to pay them all visits," Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly.


    "What?" the Sanyuan sect leader eximed.


    He knew that Xiao Nanfeng had a whole army behind him, but even so, that was an ambitious n. Did Xiao Nanfeng really intend to make an enemy of all the Immortal sects who had attacked him?


    "Sanyuan Sect Master, I''ll seal your cultivation and im the draconic vein of the sect aspensation for your sect''s attack on mynds. I, Xiao Nanfeng, hereby promise to drop this matter and not to harm any of your disciples if you agree to these terms. What say you?"


    The Sanyuan sect master hesitated. He knew that, if he were to attempt to resist, Xiao Nanfeng could easily destroy the entire sect, let alone strip the sect of its draconic vein.


    "How will I be able to believe you? What if you seal our cultivation and then kill us?" the Sanyuan sect master continued to argue.


    "I''m a man of my word," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Furthermore, you have no other option."


    The Sanyuan sect master''s eyes twitched as the disciples all around stared at him. Clearly, none of them wanted to die.


    The Sanyuan sect leader, finally having convinced himself that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t go back on his word, gave a long sigh and nodded.


    You Jiu suddenly appeared behind the Sanyuan sect master, giving him a shock. He immediately understood that, if he had refused, a sword would have taken the man''s ce instead.


    You Jiu sealed the sect master''s cultivation with a secret technique. Then, all the Sanyuan disciples were herded to an open za where they too had their cultivation sealed.


    Ye Sanshui and the others quickly set up the Immortal''s Destruction, which Xiao Nanfeng activated. In no time at all, the ground began to rumble. A tsunami formed in the sea around the ind. A fifteen-hundred-meter-long draconic vein was excavated from underground. Everyone eyed it with ardor.


    The disciples of the Sanyuan sect nced at each other in remorse, but what could they do? They had been the aggressor to begin with. It was already generous beyond belief for Xiao Nanfeng to im the draconic vein without hurting them.


    "Dig in!" Xiao Nanfengmanded, taking the lead.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    The draconic vein keened in agony, but there was nothing it could do against the cultivators. Xiao Nanfeng and his army of cultivators quickly devoured the dragon. Their bodies glowed with golden light. They sat cross-legged as they began to distill the draconic aether.


    Four hourster, in resounding booms of energy, the cultivators broke through in session.


    A huge wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he opened his eyes. "The tenth stage of Spiritsong!"


    "Senior Brother, I''ve broken through into Spiritsong!" a Taiqing disciple eximed.


    He wasn''t the only one. Eight Taiqing disciples in all had reached Spiritsong after absorbing this draconic vein, and hundreds had reached Ascension. Everyone had improved their cultivation by an astounding extent, and they were all jubnt.


    Meanwhile, the Sanyuan disciples gritted their teeth, resentful and indignant. That had been their draconic vein!


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and walked up to the Sanyuan sect master.


    "Young Master Xiao, do you intend to break your word?" The Sanyuan sect master frowned.


    His cultivation had been sealed; he wouldn''t be able to stop Xiao Nanfeng at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Worry not. I keep my word."


    "What are you doing, then?"


    "Just sharing a piece of advice: go where your talents will be valued. What do you think you''d be able to gain from the Xiang n besides an empty promise? Furthermore, do you think they''llpensate you for your losses?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Sanyuan sect master''s lips thinned. The Xiang n cared little of their survival.


    "Meanwhile, look at those cultivators on my side," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The Sanyuan sect master''s eyes twitched. Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates really were lucky to be able to apany him everywhere as they devoured more draconic veins. Their cultivation was rising at an incredible pace!


    "Alright, it''s time for us to leave. Please think my words through carefully, Sanyuan Sect Master." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, then instructed his subordinates, "Set up the Sanyuan Immortal Sect''s defensive formation again so others won''t attack them for the time being. Now, everyone, we''ll be heading to the next Immortal sect and excavating more draconic veins. You''ll be rewarded well for your merit on the battlefield. We leave now!"


    "Understood!" the soldiers shouted in excitement.


    The defensive formation of Sanyuan Ind was activated once again as Xiao Nanfeng soared into the air. A group of Spiritsong- and higher-realm cultivators hauled the remaining cultivators with them in arge as they vanished over the horizon.


    As Xiao Nanfeng and his army vanished over the horizon, the disciples of the Sanyuan sect let out the breaths they had been holding. Many of them felt humiliated and wronged, but others considered the whole incident carefully.


    "Sect Master, did we make the wrong decision in supporting the Xiao n? Will theypensate us for our losses? Look at how well Xiao Nanfeng''s army is faring¡ªthey''re actively being rewarded for their sesses. Look at how many draconic veins they''ve absorbed! If only we had chosen to side with Xiao Nanfeng instead..." one Sanyuan disciple murmured.


    Everyone around them fell deep in thought.


    High up in the sky, Yu''er flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and said, "Nanfeng, I almost thought you were going to wipe out the entire sect."


    "It wouldn''t have been difficult, but those disciples of the Sanyuan sect who weren''t present on the ind would bear me a lifelong grudge thereafter. They won''t be able to deal with me directly, so they''d attack any Taiqing disciple they can find instead. The Sanyuan sect by itself is no major threat, but we''re going to be attacking many more sects as well. I wouldn''t want to cause trouble for the Taiqing Immortal Sect," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Won''t they hate you regardless?" Yu''er asked.


    "They will, but they were the instigator to begin with. This is just punishment, and I chose not to destroy their sect. I don''t expect they''ll act in too crazy a fashion, and their hatred will be limited to me, not ordinary Taiqing disciples."


    Yu''er processed Xiao Nanfeng''s words and gave him a strange look. "Why does it feel like you''re itching for a beating?"

 Chapter 279: Returning with a Haul

    <h4>Chapter 279: Returning with a Haul</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and his army made his way to the second Immortal sect.


    The strongest disciple present on the ind was only at Spiritsong, and Xiao Nanfeng easily excavated another draconic vein.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his army absorbed the draconic vein right in front of this second sect''s disciples, then continued to cultivate and break through.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed the draconic aether in his body into pure yang origin qi, which he sent toward the ten suns in his dantian.


    The ten suns gave off tremendous quantities of heat. After four hours, Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes.


    "Nanfeng, you haven''t broken through to Wingform?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Something''s wrong. Although the draconic aether I just absorbed wouldn''t have been sufficient to bring me to Wingform, the new pure yang origin qi that I distilled hasn''t improved my cultivation one bit."


    "Is something wrong with your technique?" Yu''er fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a frown. He cultivated Sky of Ten Suns, which he had initially thought to be an incredible technique that would pay off in the long run. It had taken massive quantities of qi to cultivate, and Xiao Nanfeng had been expecting a qualitative improvement in his strength upon reaching Wingform¡ªbut now he was stuck! What was going on?


    "Hmm?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly frowned.


    He sat cross-legged in meditation as he stepped into his mindscape. The ck lotus cursed effigy was writing a message in his mind with ck light.


    "Senior ck Lotus, do you know what''s wrong with my technique?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    The ck lotus produced more words with ck light. "The Divine Emperor sent me a mental transmission that exins why you''ve reached a bottleneck with your technique."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    "It told me that the reason your nascent spirits are unable to hatch, as it were, is because your technique is of particrly high quality. Your nascent spirits have taken on the me aspect of a three-legged golden crow. There are plenty of cultivators who can gestate a nascent spirit with such properties, but ten at once would be an incredible feat."


    "How might I hatch the nascent spirits, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, hopeful that the ck lotus would have a solution.


    "Pure yang origin qi is insufficient. You''ll need to supplement it with quintessence of srfire."


    "May I ask what quintessence of srfire is?"


    "There are plenty of techniques all over the world that can produce quintessence of srfire, but those techniques all simply emte the srfire found in reality. True srfire cannot be produced by ordinary cultivation; ites from the heart of the sun and represents the source of all me. There is nothing that true quintessence of srfire cannot burn."


    "But where would I find it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked. That was his top priority.


    "Hong Lie and Xiang Pojun have it," the ck lotus replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng thought back to what he knew of them.


    He suddenly remembered that, when Xiang Pojun first arrived at Taiqing Ind in an attempt to raid it, not only did his body shine with rainbow light, there was a golden wheel to his back. The same was true of Hong Lie.


    "Those golden wheels of light floating behind them¡ªthat''s quintessence of srfire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "That''s right. They likely obtained it in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm."


    "Thank you for the information, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "There''s no need to thank me. I''m just passing on a message. The Divine Emperor bade me tell you," the ck lotus wrote.


    "I understand," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes and looked toward his storage ring. Despite the setback, he didn''t feel bad. The fact that the Divine Emperor had proactively offered his assistance was a good omen indeed.


    "Well, Nanfeng? Do you have a solution to the problem with your technique?" Yu''er asked urgently.


    "Don''t worry, I have some leads now." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Good!" Yu''er nodded.


    She wasn''t privy to the details of Xiao Nanfeng''s technique, and didn''t ask about it further.


    This time around, even more Taiqing disciples reached Spiritsong, and hundreds had made it to Ascension. All of Xiao Nanfeng''s allies were benefiting tremendously.


    "We leave now!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    They helped the disciples of the second Immortal sect reactivate their defensive formation before leaving with Xiao Nanfeng. They quickly arrived at a lofty ind in the Eastern Sea. There were no Immortal sects here, just arge quantity of Taiqing disciples and soldiers from the Xiao manor.


    "Alright, swap your positions now!" Ye Sanshuimanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    There were only a limited number of draconic veins, and not everyone would be given the opportunity to continuously absorb them. Rather, the number of opportunities that each fighter possessed was tied to their merit in battle. The group of cultivators behind Xiao Nanfeng had earned the right to absorb two draconic veins. They would now have to return to the Xiaonds and begin guarding the various cities that Xiao Nanfeng now had under his control, so that the spies installed everywhere wouldn''t know of Xiao Nanfeng''s secret n.


    The Xiaondsprised over a hundred cities, and Xiao Nanfeng''s army was formed of roughly the equivalent of two hundred missing fighters from each city. In the short term, no one would suspect anything.


    Thousands of cultivators left for the Xiaonds, while a new group of thousands followed behind Xiao Nanfeng as they prepared to head to the third Immortal sect.


    A huge battle broke out in the third Immortal sect, but Croak, Warble, Yu''er, and You Jiu quickly dealt with all resistance.


    Once again, they sealed the disciples'' cultivation, then excavated another fifteen-hundred-meter-long draconic vein. Everyone eyed it with ardor.


    "This time, I won''t absorb any draconic aether. All of you should help yourselves," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    The fighters were surprised by Xiao Nanfeng''s words. They confirmed his intention once and again before Yu''er finally took the lead. Everyone else swarmed toward the draconic vein after her, easily devouring it.


    Everyone was working hard on trying to break through. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he plotted how to obtain the quintessence of srfire that Xiang Pojun possessed.


    After four hours, everyone broke through in session.


    A frightening wave of energy was expelled from Ye Sanshui''s body, causing howling gales to spawn all around him in a hugemotion.


    "Third Uncle, have you reached Wingform?!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Ye Sanshui himself couldn''t believe it. He had been an Ascension-realm cultivator just a few years ago, but after bing one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates, he had since risen to the upper echelons of strength! He would never have dared to dream of being a Wingform-realm cultivator a few years ago...


    "Thank you for your investment in me, King Xiao." Ye Sanshui bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng in gratitude.


    "As themander of my forces, you''ll have thergest share of draconic aether. There''ll be more toe, too." Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    "Yes, King Xiao!" Ye Sanshui replied in excitement.


    Outside the city of Yongding, several Wingform-realm cultivators were skulking around as they stared at Yongding''s defensive formation from afar.


    "What''s going on these past few days? They''re only letting people out of Yongding, not in."


    "Xiao Nanfeng must be nning something. Has he noticed that we''ve been sneaking around the outskirts of Yongding?"


    "Any who manages to im Xiao Nanfeng''s head will be made a marquis, but it won''t be an easy prize to obtain. When we tried to lure him out for a fight individually, not only did we fail, the toad spirits under hismand devastated our number with sneak attacks."


    "What if we kill more Taiqing disciples and see if Xiao Nanfeng makes a move?"


    "If you do so, the Taiqing Immortal Sect will start killing your sect''s disciples, too. Hong Lie might even show up at your sect raring for a fight. You try it if you want!"


    "Forget it, then."


    "The best strategy is for us to cooperate. Otherwise, we''d only end up staring at each other and waiting for someone to make a move."


    "Cooperate? Who would Xiao Nanfeng''s head go to, then?"


    The cultivators stared at each other, none willing to cooperate, when a blue-robed man suddenly flew over.


    "Senior Uncle, Xiao Nanfeng attacked Sanyuan Ind with an army!" he cried out.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng''s raiding us again?" a nearby cultivator eximed.


    "As usual, I was sending word back to the sect yesterday when I found that the defensive formation around the ind seemed to be sealed off. Only when I approached did I learn what had happened. He even excavated the draconic vein on the ind!" the blue-robed man reported.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng annihted my Sanyuan Immortal Sect?!"


    "No, Senior Uncle," the blue-robed man quickly replied. "Everyone''s fine. No one was even injured."


    "What? What nonsense. How could that be? He even excavated the draconic vein!"


    The blue-robed man recounted what he had been told in great detail.


    "Does he take us for fools? Isn''t he afraid that we''ll join forces to stop him?!"


    "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng''s tricked us! If something has happened to the Sanyuan Immortal Sect, what about our sects?!" The other cultivators nched, each rushing into the air and flying back across the Eastern Sea to their own sects.


    By that time, however, Xiao Nanfeng had returned victorious to Yongding.


    They had raided six Immortal sects and excavated six draconic veins.


    Not only did Ye Sanshui reach Wingform, so too did his nephew, Ye Dafu. The other cultivators hadn''t earned enough merit to take part in absorbing all six draconic veins, but even so, two Taiqing elders had reached Wingform, over thirty cultivators had reached Spiritsong, and more than a thousand had reached Ascension.


    The spectral guards had likewise reaped great benefits.


    "Nanfeng, what if these six Immortal sects band together against us?" Yu''er asked in concern.


    "It doesn''t matter how many of them cooperate. We''ve already grown strong enough not to fear them," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "King Xiao''s quite right. I''ve made more improvement in my cultivation than I otherwise would have in decades of hard work. I''m more afraid that the Immortal sects will stoping¡ªhow else would we be able to seize their draconic veins?" one fighter quipped.


    "Haha!" Everyone nearby began tough.


    Meanwhile, cultivators of six major Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea unsealed their disciples'' cultivation and seethed in anger at what had happened.


    They had failed to im Xiao Nanfeng''s head and suffered grievous losses in the meantime.


    However, shockingly, what the six Immortal sects were most concerned about wasn''t how to take revenge on Xiao Nanfeng, but whether the Xiang n would provide thempensation for their losses¡ªwhether the Xiang n would care at all, and whether or not it made sense for them to continue working for the Xiang n at all.

 Chapter 280: Hong Lies Death

    <h4>Chapter 280: Hong Lie''s Death</h4>


    To celebrate the remation of the Xiaonds, there was a huge banquet in every city within. The banquet in the Xiao manor was bustling with excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng had even invited Hong Lie for a private banquet; only the two of them were present. They drank and reminisced about the past in a secluded dining hall.


    "Where''s your wife, Nanfeng? I haven''t seen her today," Hong Lie said, giving him a sly smile.


    "I haven''t gotten to that point with Yu''er yet, Senior Uncle," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Haha, but you do intend to, then?" Hong Lie teased.


    Xiao Nanfeng dipped his head as he smiled. He could sense that, despite initial appearances, Hong Lie did treat him sincerely and intimately. His jokes reflected that sentiment.


    "Yu''er''s in secluded cultivation. She''s preparing for her ascension into an Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Hong Lie gave Xiao Nanfeng a look, then sighed. "You really are audacious to have raided six Immortal sects. You were lucky. If you had failed¡ªif they had been even a little wary¡ªyou wouldn''t even have been able to get through their defensive formations."


    "I knew they would be rxed at the time, so I rushed over to their territory while they were distracted. Fortunately, I seeded. I hope they''ll learn their lesson and think twice before attacking me in the future," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    "And what about your territory? You''re not particrly stringent on security in and out of Yongding, are you? It''d be easy for them to sneak inside. What if they emte you?" Hong Lie asked.


    "Security? What for? I don''t even activate the defensive formation around Yongding unless absolutely necessary," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "Unlike the Immortal sects, who are afraid of cultivators attacking them, I fully wee any attacks. I''ll kill all enemy cultivators and im their sects'' draconic veins aspensation."


    Hong Lie gave Xiao Nanfeng a weird look. "You really are as audacious as your father. Aren''t you afraid that the six Immortal sects you attacked will gang up against you?"


    "I''m still young, after all, and it''s only normal that I''d be rash and impudent. As for those six Immortal sects, they''re nothing major," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Hong Lie didn''t know whether tough or to cry. "Don''t go around saying that, now, or you might anger the sect masters and elders of those sects to death!"


    "With you around to protect me, Senior Uncle, they wouldn''t dare try anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied jokingly.


    Hong Lieughed. "Don''t try to tter me. I don''t have much time to help clean up your messes, so if they ally with each other and I''m not by your side, you''ll have to deal with a six-pronged assault on your own."


    "I won''t," Xiao Nanfeng promised. "I''ll dy until you cane rescue me."


    Hong Lie rolled his eyes at him.


    "Senior Uncle, there''s no need to worry. I wouldn''t be afraid of facing them all at once," Xiao Nanfeng continued confidently.


    Hong Lie blinked. "Are there other cultivators in your orbit who have reached the peak of Wingform?"


    "Croak and Warble are at the cusp of a breakthrough, and they''re both in secluded cultivation right now. They''ll be Immortals in their own right in no time," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Hong Lie shook his head. "The Immortal ascension is hardly as straightforward as you think. Mortality is a fundamental concept, and subverting it is no trivial task. If not for the opportunity I obtained in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, I wouldn''t have seeded."


    "With effort, one can achieve anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You don''t believe me? Try it, then!" Hong Lieughed, then sighed. "You might have offended six Immortal sects, but you''ve also added dozens of elders to the ranks of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, four of whom are now at Wingform. It''s a huge improvement in the overall strength of the sect, and you''ve truly contributed a great deal. Ku Jiang would surely be very pleased to learn of the news."


    "Then I''ll surprise him when he returns from the hidden realm," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Why didn''t youe find me when you first arrived at the Taiqing Immortal Sect? I would have quickly imed you for myself instead of allowing Ku Jiang to obtain such a bargain," Hong Lie joked.


    "Senior Uncle, you''re bosom friends with my father, and there''s already a strong connection between us. I didn''t think it would be necessary to affirm or deepen the connection as master and disciple. It''s all thanks to you that everything in mynds has proceeded as nned. I know that you''ve recruited plenty of subordinates in Marquis Wu''snds, Senior Uncle, but you''ll have to expend significant effort to investigate their backgrounds, and it''ll be difficult to assign any task of importance to them for the time being. I''ve had Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu reorganize the army anew and asked Mr. Zheng to spare what officials we can. Within the next few days, they''ll head toward Marquis Wu''snds and be under yourmand," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well. Since matters in yournds are all but settled, I won''t stand on courtesy. Marquis Wu''snds really are a mess, and I''ll be d to have trusted subordinates under my employ," Hong Lie replied.


    "Senior Uncle, I''ve had some reports that Immortals from the Xiang n have appeared in various ces, but none of them are personally participating in the battle to re-establish their empire. Furthermore, I''ve heard that they''ve brought back more than one crow Immortal from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, and the majority of the crow spirits have gone missing. Do you know what''s going on?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, they''re trying to find something to deal with the shadow cursed effigies," Hong Lie analyzed.


    "Oh?"


    "Re-establishing their empire isn''t a priority for the Xiang n. Rather, they want to seize every opportunity they can from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, and these opportunities are guarded by huge numbers of shadows. If they want to be able to im them, they''ll have to find some means of dealing with the shadows."


    "No wonder." Xiao Nanfeng nodded in understanding.


    "Once I deal with the rebellious troops in Marquis Wu''snds, I''ll bring you to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and fight for those opportunities as well," Hong Lie continued resolutely.


    "Doesn''t Emperor Tianshu control the entrance into that hidden realm? Will he really let me in?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in concern.


    "How could he not? Your father was the one who discovered it first. He wouldn''t have been able to gain control over it if not for your father, either," Hong Lie replied, gulping down a cup of wine.


    "It might not be easy." Xiao Nanfeng didn''t harbor high hopes for the suggestion.


    "At worst, I''ll give up on whatever merit I might gain for quelling these troops. I promise I''ll get you into that hidden realm," Hong Lie replied seriously.


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle." Xiao Nanfeng toasted Hong Lie with a cup of wine.


    He could sense Hong Lie''s warmth and affection toward him; it was clear that his father had made the right decision in establishing close friendship with Hong Lie.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Hong Lie drank to their hearts'' content as they discussed past and future.


    After seeing Hong Lie off, the Xiaonds, now finally at peace, were allowed to develop under Mr. Zheng''s masterful hand.


    Two monthster, in the Xiao manor, Xiao Nanfeng held his father''s seal in his hand. The fortune that his father had left him had beenpletely exhausted to supply progressively deeper insight into fundamental scriptures for his cultivation, and both his spiritual cultivation techniques were showing signs of breaking through. However, he wasn''t quite there yet.


    Fortunately, after reiming the Xiaonds, the citizens'' gratitude at proper governance in the manner of the city of Yongding, after so many years of rampant violence and corruption, was already producing a significant amount of fortune for Xiao Nanfeng. All that fortune gathered in his seal, allowing him to continue paying off his debt of karmic consequence. He believed that, in no more than a few months, he would be able to develop a yin body.


    Just then, Zheng Qian rushed over.


    "King Xiao, we''ve received battle reports from Marquis Wu''snds. Apparently, Xiang Pojun has returned." Zheng Qian passed him a sealed letter.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng scanned the letter curiously.


    "There are a tremendous number of rogue fighters in Marquis Wu''snds. Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui have been having a hard time with our troops. It''s been two months, but we''ve only had middling results to date, with significant casualties on both sides. To think that Xiang Pojun would challenge Hong Lie now..." Zheng Qian murmured.


    "Xiang Pojun? He''s lost to Senior Uncle before. Why would he challenge him again? There has to be something amiss." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "We don''t know the results of that confrontation just yet. I expect we''ll hear more by tonight," Zheng Qian said.


    Just then, a beam of light shot into Xiao Nanfeng''s manor at such great speed that the manor guards quickly massed around the intrusion. When they saw that Ye Dafu was the source of the light, the guards rxed.


    "King Xiao, something''s gone very wrong. Division Leader Hong Lie was killed in battle!" Ye Dafu fretted.


    "What?!" Zheng Qian eximed.


    "Repeat yourself. Who perished in battle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked incredulously.


    "Hong Lie, division leader of the Mortal division! He perished at Xiang Pojun''s hands," Ye Dafu eximed. He was at a loss for words.


    "Impossible. My senior uncle possesses overwhelming might, and he easily took on Xiang Pojun once before. How could he have died? You must be joking!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s true! This morning, Xiang Pojun suddenly appeared in the air above our city, iming to want to challenge Hong Lie in order to wipe clean the shame of his initial defeat. Hong Lie epted the challenge, and the two Immortals shed violently in the air, spawning bursts of me and wind around them. We could barely see what they were doing, and they headed farther and farther afield as they fought. We dispatched a few messengers to send word of the confrontation as several cultivators observed the battle. Late in the afternoon, a huge explosion rang out in the air as two bursts of me suddenly split apart from one another. Xiang Pojun vomited out blood and was sent flying. We thought that he had lost and were about to cheer when we saw that Hong Lie had also fallen to the ground, vomiting out blood himself," Ye Dafu reported.


    "And then?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "Xiang Pojun was rescued by a group of rogue cultivators, while we surrounded Hong Lie protectively. We saw that there was a terrible hole in the back of his head that was bleeding profusely. As we rushed forward, he suddenly slumped over. The light around him winked out; his eyes turned vacant. He was no longer breathing."


    "How could that be?"


    "Golden light manifested in the form of words in Hong Lie''s mindscape, saying, ''Take me back to the sect. Have Xiao Nanfeng return.'' Third Uncle and the others are bringing his corpse back to Taiqing Ind, and he had me inform you of the disaster," Ye Dafu continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body turned cold. Two months ago, Hong Lie had been joking around with him right here in Yongding. How could he have died so suddenly, so rapidly?


    "Ye Dafu, are you certain? What if it was only a heavy injury?" Zheng Qian asked worriedly.


    Ye Dafu shook his head at Zhang Qian, not providing further exnation. It was clear that he believed that Hong Lie was truly dead.


    "King Xiao, Hong Lie''s body might be dead, but a sliver of his truesoul remains. He wants to see you one final time," Ye Dafu continued.


    "Come on, then. We have to get back to the sect!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.

 Chapter 281: The Mortal Division Leader

    <h4>Chapter 281: The Mortal Division Leader</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed back to Taiqing Ind as quickly as he could alongside a bevy of Mortal-division elders who had just received the news.


    "Elder Xiao!" The moment Xiao Nanfeng arrived, Taiqing disciples swarmed toward him.


    "Where''s my senior uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "At the Mortal division''s Hall of Immortals."


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward a distant peak, the main peak of the Mortal division. The mountain was lush with vegetation and spiritual aether, and the hall at the mountaintop was known as the Mortal Hall of Immortals. Arge group of Taiqing disciples was already gathered by the za outside the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng, ovee with unease, rushed into the hall.


    At the center of the hall was a coffin, and around that coffin stood Zhao Yuanjiao, Ye Sanshui, and other familiar faces.


    "Nanfeng, you''ve returned," Zhao Yuanjiao began mournfully.


    "King Xiao, the division leader has been ced in the coffin," Ye Sanshui said, forlorn.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode forward and looked into the coffin. Hong Lie''s face was waxen. Hey unmoving, without any sign of life whatsoever.


    "Impossible. Senior Uncle, Xiang Pojun surely was no match for you. How could you have died?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He inspected Hong Lie''s body carefully, but there was no sign of vitality at all remaining. Even his mindscape was empty, as though all the spiritual power had drained out. This was nothing more than a corpse¡ªand a particrly decayed one, at that.


    "Sce, Nanfeng," Zhao Yuanjiao sighed.


    "Senior Brother, have you received any additional information from the ckguards? Xiang Pojun was no match for Senior Uncle. I''m sure of it. Why would he challenge him regardless? And how did Senior Uncle die?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head. "I don''t know anything myself."


    Xiao Nanfeng clenched his fists tightly, killing intent blooming in his eyes.


    Suddenly, amotion could be heard from outside the hall.


    "Division Leader, Emperor Tianshu is here!" an Ascended disciple reported, rushing into the hall.


    A group of Taiqing disciples immediately stepped out to greet the guest.


    "We greet Elder Nn." Many Taiqing disciples bowed in respect and reverence.


    A man wearing a robe with a dragon motif in white-and-gold brocade stepped into the hall. The man was tall and sturdy, with a broad face and a golden mole at the center of his forehead. He exuded an aura of majesty.


    The man looked toward the coffin the moment he entered. As he gazed at the corpse within, his face turned chilly.


    "Xiang Pojun, you''ll die for this!" The man exuded a fearsome killing intent.


    "Elder Nn, please avenge the division leader!" the Mortal elders cried out, their faces steeped in sorrow.


    "Nn Qiankun? Why have you only sent one of your avatars here?" Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly demanded.


    Everyone in the hall looked toward Zhao Yuanjiao in surprise, not understanding the vehemence in his tone.


    Nn Qiankun turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. "What are you trying to say?"


    "Hong Lie met an untimely end while helping you quell the disturbance in Marquis Wu''snds. He is your senior brother and your division leader. Shouldn''t your main body be able to leave the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm at any time? Is this the depth of the respect you deem fit for this asion?" Zhao Yuanjiao criticized.


    Nn Qiankun red coldly at Zhao Yuanjiao, but didn''t offer an exnation. The hall was silent. Some felt that Zhao Yuanjiao was making a mountain out of a molehill, but others were deep in thought.


    Just then, a burst of golden light emerged from Hong Lie''s corpse.


    "Senior Uncle?!"


    The elders in the hall widened their eyes in astonishment. Could Hong Lie still be alive?


    Nn Qiankun gaped as Hong Lie slowly opened his eyes. His body floated out from the coffin.


    "Are you alright, Division Leader?!" countless Mortal disciples cried out.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Nn Qiankun''s faces slowly began to fall.


    "This is just an echo," Zhao Yuanjiao exined with a frown. "Division Leader Hong Lie, as an Immortal, can prevent his truesoul from dissipating for a period of time. His spirit has shattered; he is truly dead."


    "What?!" the cultivators eximed.


    "Senior Uncle, I''vee toote," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    Hong Lie turned to Nn Qiankun, then to Xiao Nanfeng, as though taking the opportunity to consider the people he cared for most in the world.


    "Senior Brother, my main body is bringing Ku Jiang and Han Bingdie into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and is trapped in the Spirit Emperor''s swamp for the time being," Nn Qiankun exined.


    "Senior Uncle, who killed you? I don''t believe that Xiang Pojun could be the sole culprit. Who else was there?!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Hong Lie nced at Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun again before he slowly stated, "Nn Qiankun, do you remember the oath that you, I, and Xiao Hongye swore in the Mortal division two centuries ago, after the cmity that befell the sect?"


    Nn Qiankun''s eyes shed with difort as he nodded. "The three of us swore to defend the Taiqing Sect''s Mortal division, to never do anything that would go against the Mortal division. We live as it lives; we fall as it falls."


    "May you never forget this oath," Hong Lie echoed.


    Nn Qiankun''s eyes were faintly red as he nodded. "This oath is ever in the back of my mind, Senior Brother."


    Hong Lie handed his storage ring to Nn Qiankun.


    "This ring possesses something you want. There''s nothing else I can leave to you. Please take care of this," Hong Lie said.


    "Senior Brother!" Pain traced out lines around Nn Qiankun''s eyes.


    "Take it andmit what you said to heart," Hong Lie said.


    Nn Qiankun sighed and imed the storage ring.


    Then, Hong Lie turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Come over here, Nanfeng."


    "Senior Uncle!" Xiao Nanfeng called out, heading forward. His eyes throbbed with red veins.


    Hong Lie patted Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder and smiled wryly. "It looks like I won''t be able to keep my promise to you, after all. Don''t me me, will you?"


    Hong Lie had once promised Xiao Nanfeng that, after he dealt with the rogue forces in Marquis Wu''snds, he would bring Xiao Nanfeng into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm in search of transformative opportunities¡ªbut that promise wasn''t one that could be kept any longer.


    "Of course I won''t me you, Senior Uncle. I don''t care for that opportunity at all. Senior Uncle, is there anything I might assist you with in death?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, his eyes filled with sorrow.


    "Yes. A request you must fulfill," Hong Lie stated.


    "Anything, Senior Uncle," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I want you to inherit my position and serve as the Mortal division leader!" Hong Lie eximed.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    Nn Qiankun also frowned. Countless Taiqing disciples gathered within the hall were shocked by the pronouncement.


    "Will you carry out myst wishes?" Hong Lie asked, squeezing Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder.


    "Of course, Senior Uncle." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Very good! This is the Mortal token. I hereby pass it to you. You do not need the sect master and the other division leaders'' approval as long as the majority of the Mortal-division disciples ept you. From today onwards, you shall be the Mortal division leader," Hong Lie announced.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the Mortal token with aplicated expression on his face. "Yes, Senior Uncle!" [1]


    Hong Lie patted Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder, then looked toward the countless elders of the Mortal division that were present in the hall.


    "From today onwards, Xiao Nanfeng will be the Mortal division leader. If anyone objects, make your objection known now. Otherwise, in ordance with sect customs, obey your new division leader," Hong Lie proimed.


    "We greet the new division leader!" Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and the other disciples shouted.


    The Mortal-division disciples hadrgely joined Xiao Nanfeng on his expedition, and they were more than happy to ept him as their new division leader.


    A few elders looked toward Nn Qiankun. Seeing that he didn''t object, they too bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "We greet the new division leader."


    Nn Qiankun didn''t say anything; he didn''t object. He looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with aplicated expression on his face.


    "Is it possible to save you, Senior Uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng refused to give up.


    Hong Lie nced at Xiao Nanfeng and shook his head. "Nanfeng, don''t try for the impossible. My soul has shattered, and my truesoul is about to dissipate. Nothing can save me now. On the other hand, you have to believe that your father will return. He''s an absolute genius; if not for the cmity that struck the Taiqing sect, his talent would have been more than sufficient to see him be the sect master. He''lle back sooner orter, I''m sure of it."


    As he spoke, Hong Lie''s physical body dissipated in a cloud of golden mist.


    "Senior Uncle!" Xiao Nanfeng reached out for Hong Lie''s physical body, but for some reason, it had dissipated without a trace.


    "Senior Brother!" Nn Qiankun stepped forward and attempted to gather the mist as well, but it slipped by his fingertips.


    Within moments, Hong Lie''s corpse had vanished entirely, leaving only a dissipating cloud of golden mist behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng kowtowed toward the mist. "Fare thee well, Senior Uncle."


    "Farewell, Division Leader!" All the disciples of the Mortal division kowtowed, pain and sorrow writrge on their faces.


    The golden mist vanished entirely, leaving nothing but Hong Lie''s clothes behind.


    Nn Qiankun bowed slightly toward Hong Lie.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself gathered up Hong Lie''s clothes and arrayed them properly in the coffin, then reced its lid.


    Over the next few days, more and more of the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect returned to send Hong Lie off.


    A weekter, Hong Lie''s coffin was officially interred, after which point Nn Qiankun left Taiqing Ind.


    Xiao Nanfeng officially became the Mortal division leader as Ye Sanshui and the others worked hard behind the scenes.


    After two days, Xiao Nanfeng stood alone before Hong Lie''s cenotaph. He poured a cup of wine over the ground.


    "Don''t worry, Senior Uncle. I''ll avenge you for your murder, no matter who''s responsible." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes red with killing intent.


    Suddenly, Zhao Yuanjiao appeared beside him.


    "Senior Brother, have you discovered something? Why did you deliberately antagonize Nn Qiankun that day in the Hall of Immortals?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Xiang Pojun''s one reason for Hong Lie''s death, but I believe there are other culprits," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "I think so too. Xiang Pojun was no match for Senior Unclest time. There''s no way he would have been able to win this time, let alone kill him before he could escape or shield himself. I''m sure someone assassinated Senior Uncle during his fight with Xiang Pojun. Please, Senior Brother, if you know anything, let me know. I can control myself." Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao broke the terse silence. "I believe Nn Qiankun may know who the other culprit is, but he hasn''t revealed that information."


    "Oh?"


    Was this why Zhao Yuanjiao had provoked him initially?


    "Hong Lie chose to destroy his physical body because he didn''t want anyone to investigate or dig deeper into his death. Perhaps he might know who the other culprit is as well," Zhao Yuanjiao continued.


    "Senior Uncle knew?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "When I inspected his corpse, I found three bloody holes at the back of his head. Do you remember?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "I do!"


    "When your mother suffered an assassination attempt years ago, there were three bloody holes on the back of her head as well," Zhao Yuanjiao revealed.


    "What?!"


    "The reason your parents left you in such a hurry that year¡ªyou must have heard some rumors about it, haven''t you? I was going to find a good opportunity to tell you. I had a look at the ckguards'' records and found some pertinent information. Your mother appeared to have died from her assassination attempt, and your father left with her iming to be seeking to ressurrect her. I don''t know whether she''s dead or alive, but the marks that the killer left behind perfectly matches those I observed on the back of Hong Lie''s head," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He clenched his fists tightly. "You mean that the assassin could well be someone from the Tianshu Empire, someone whom Nn Qiankun knows and might even be protecting?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "The Tianshu Empire has be a hotbed of danger. Even Hong Lie has died. I feel a deep sense of unease. Hong Lie may have discovered some conspiracy before his death, and the reason he appointed you as Mortal division leader is to provide you with any protection he can."


    Xiao Nanfeng felt a sense of danger and anger ovee him.


    1. The notion of master (ʦ¸¸, lit. teacher father) as father is ingrained in Chinese. Xiao Nanfeng usually uses ʦÊå (lit. teacher father''s-younger-brother, referring to his master''s junior brother in cultivation) to refer to Hong Lie. In this case, he addresses Hong Lie as ʦ²® (lit. teacher father''s-older-brother, referring to his actual father''s senior brother in cultivation). In this manner, he emphasizes his intimate connection to Hong Lie via his father rather than the more impersonal one via Ku Jiang. ?

 Chapter 282: The Three-Legged Golden Crow

    <h4>Chapter 282: The Three-Legged Golden Crow</h4>


    News of Hong Lie''s death quickly spread throughout the Tianshu Empire, and even to the Immortal sects that were participating in the confrontation between empires. Every cultivator who learned of the news was shocked.


    An Immortal dying just like that? Such was the scale of the confrontation between empires¡ªa moment''s carelessness could lead instantly to death.


    On the other hand, some cultivators viewed Hong Lie''s death as an opportunity.


    Strong cultivators of six Immortal sects had gathered in a hall of the Sanyuan sect. Two months ago, Xiao Nanfeng had excavated the draconic veins of each sect, and they had been too fearful of Hong Lie to retaliate. With Hong Lie''s death, however, everything had changed.


    The strong cultivators of the six sects looked toward a ck-robed man standing before them.


    "Everyone, rx. I''ll snare Xiao Nanfeng. None of you will be too fearful to strike if he''s alone, will you?" The ck-robed figure smiled.


    The cultivators of the six sects fell silent, weighing the odds.


    "I ept," one of them stated.


    "I ept as well."


    The other cultivators all agreed quickly. They were all bound together now; there would be no turning back.


    By the entrance to the Mortal division''s Hall of Immortals stood Ye Sanshui and Xiao Nanfeng.


    "King Xiao, news of Hong Lie''s death has spread throughout the Tianshu Empire. The Tianshu Empire has issued a bounty on Xiang Pojun: whoever ims his head will be granted the title of Marquis and the formernds of Marquis Wu," Ye Sanshui reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. His eyes narrowed with displeasure.


    Hong Lie ced great importance on fraternal bonds, and he considered Nn Qiankun one of his closest friends. He had helped Nn Qiankun establish the Tianshu Empire and would still continue helping him out without a second thought if he needed it.


    Now that Hong Lie was dead, although Xiang Pojun was unlikely to be the sole culprit responsible, not only had Nn Feng done nothing to investigate his death further, all he had done was ce a bounty on Xiang Pojun. He hadn''t even made a move to avenge his senior brother himself.


    "At the moment, several marquises of the Tianshu Empire have sent an army toward Marquis Wu''snds, intending to take advantage of the opportunity to swallow up thosends for themselves. They''re going to im the cities that we''ve conquered, and the frontlines are suffering. Should we continue our assault against the rogue forces there?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "Those are thends that my senior uncle conquered. I won''t hand them over to anyone. Emperor Tianshu imed that whoever kills Xiang Pojun will be granted Marquis Wu''snds, didn''t he? We''ll take thosends for ourselves, then. I''ll kill Xiang Pojun myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ye Sanshui nodded. "Understood!"


    "All of you should return to Marquis Wu''snds and defend the cities we''ve conquered. Don''t let thest few months of hard work go to waste. If anyone dares to w at our territory, we''ll break their arms off," Xiao Nanfeng pledged.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    "King Xiao, will you return with us?" Ye Dafu asked from the side.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I can''t. My new position as division leader of the Mortal division requires that I deal with many administrative matters personally. Return by yourselves for now."


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    After Xiao Nanfeng sent off his subordinates, he handled the most pressing affairs before entering secluded cultivation in the Mortal division''s Hall of Immortals.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the Mortal token that Hong Lie had given him. He tapped on it, revealing a hidden mechanism that exposed a small golden orb.


    "That day, Senior Uncle handed a storage ring to Nn Qiankun, capturing his attention before passing this token to me. He had me put my hand over this hidden mechanism to hide it from view. Was it to stop Nn Qiankun from learning what lies within? What is this?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    As he squeezed on the golden orb, a burst of golden me erupted from it. The me wasn''t particrlyrge, but it generated an incredible amount of heat, so much that the protective formation within the hall activated. The small me seemed as though it would burn everything around it to a crisp.


    "What a frightening me¡ªit''s even burning my pure yang origin qi!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Just then, the ck lotus projected a message into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. "This is quintessence of soulfire."


    "Quintessence of soulfire?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He understood why Hong Lie had tried to hide this now. The rest of his treasuresbined couldn''t have been more precious than this one orb. Was Hong Lie worried that Nn Qiankun would seize the quintessence from him?


    Xiao Nanfeng was touched. Without any hesitation, he absorbed the quintessence of srfire into his dantian.


    His dantian wasposed of ten suns, each with a nascent spirit gestating within¡ªbut all the spirits were in a dormant state.


    As the quintessence of srfire entered the first sun and surrounded the nascent spirit, it was immediately suffused with vitality and glowed with blinding golden light. The nascent spirit was quickly developing as it absorbed all the energy from the sun. The sun slowly winked out as the nascent spirit took on the form of a three-legged golden crow about three meters tall.


    The three-legged golden crow cawed and flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s body. It released wisps of me that formed a halo of fiery light, like a golden sun, that floated behind Xiao Nanfeng and gave him an awe-inspiring appearance.


    "The nascent spirit has been born¡ªI''m a Wingform-realm cultivator now!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "The first stage of Wingform..."


    The three-legged golden crow illuminated the hall in blinding light. Its eyes were particrly lifelike; Xiao Nanfeng''s mind could control the crow and see through its eyes.


    The three-legged golden crow wasn''t a spiritbeast, but rather a pure, unadulterated elemental spirit of fire.


    Xiao Nanfeng recalled the three-legged golden crow into his dantian as the hall dimmed and returned to its original appearance. He immediately stepped out of the hall and flew toward an isted region of the sea, where he released the three-legged golden crow again.


    The three-legged golden crow flew out of his dantian and cawed. The skies darkened within fifty kilometers of Xiao Nanfeng¡ªnot because the sunlight was shrouded by clouds, but rather because all that sunlight had been attracted to the three-legged golden crow.


    The sunlight transformed into pure yang elemental force, causing the crow to glow radiantly. Then, arge quantity of golden mes poured out of its body, as though it had transformed into a golden sun itself. It filled up Xiao Nanfeng''s body with its elemental force, causing him to be surrounded by ayer of mes as well.


    Wielding his de, Xiao Nanfeng shed at a small rocky ind.


    The ind was split in twain, and the resulting shockwaves caused huge waves to form in the surrounding sea. Where Xiao Nanfeng''s de had struck the rock, mes began to spread and continued to persist long after the attack.


    The crow spread its wings atop Xiao Nanfeng''s head, transferring even more sunlight into pure yang elemental force, refilling the energy that Xiao Nanfeng had consumed in his attack and simultaneously tempering his physical body.


    "This crow is only a fledgling right now, isn''t it? If it were to keep growing, it''d surely be stronger. Sky of Ten Suns¡ªone sun alone already has such incredible might. Imagine having ten of these crows!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed expectantly.


    He tested his strength carefully, familiarizing himself with his newfound powers, before recalling the crow and returning to Taiqing Ind.


    He began to pore over documents that described the Mortal division''s history and secret information privy only to the division leader, as though waiting for something.


    Two dayster, while Xiao Nanfeng was perusing a document, a Mortal elder stepped into his office.


    "Division Leader, I¡ªthere''s some information that I''m not certain if I should discuss," the elder began.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I''ve been observing you for some time, and have confirmed that you bear a deep and abiding bond with former division leader Hong Lie. There''s a private matter I wish to bring to your attention regarding the former division leader."


    "What is it?"


    "The former division leader Hong Lie has a son."


    "Oh?"


    "However, his son''s still very young, and the former division leader was afraid that making his existence known could result in incidents. He''s been raising his son outside the sect. Now that the former division leader is dead, I''d like to get your thoughts on raising him in the sect proper."


    "Where is Hong Lie''s son?"


    "I can take you there, Division Leader. Would you apany me?"


    "Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "We had best keep this matter secret in order to prioritize the safety of Hong Lie''s son," the elder warned.


    "Just the two of us, then. Let''s go!"


    "Please follow me, Division Leader." The elder led the way, smiling faintly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked as he nced at his back.

 Chapter 283: Loyalty to the Sect

    <h4>Chapter 283: Loyalty to the Sect</h4>


    A Mortal elder brought Xiao Nanfeng across the Eastern Sea to a deserted ind.


    "There''s no one here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The elder gave him a look of disdain as he shouted, "I''ve brought Xiao Nanfeng here! All of you,e out!"


    Six figures emerged from the ind and surrounded Xiao Nanfeng. The elder hurriedly hid behind them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are easy to fool, aren''t you?" One of the cultivatorsughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at them all. "Everyone, as I told you allst time, the score between us was settled. Do you intend on picking a new fight with me?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve raided our sects and imed our draconic veins for yourself. Do you think you can unterally im that the score between us is settled?" one cultivator demanded.


    "You''re alone today. You won''t be able to flee!" another cultivator shouted.


    The strongest cultivators of the six Immortal sects had surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t panic. He looked toward the elder who had led him here with a smile. "Are you aware of the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s punishment for those who conspire to kill a division leader?"


    The elder''s eyes twitched as he replied, "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t try to scare me. If you''re dead, who would know that I was the one that tricked you?"


    "You do know, after all! In that case, we''ll have a small chatter," Xiao Nanfeng told him coolly.


    "A small chat?" For some reason, the elder suddenly felt a sense of unease.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re about to die. Are you going to keep pretending that everything''s going ording to your n? You''re alone, and the six of us are all Wingform-realm cultivators. You''re dead!" a man taunted, then charged forward.


    Just then, a sword shed at him from behind. Sensing the killing intent, the man dodged to the side¡ªand had his arm cut off in a spurt of blood.


    "Sanyuan Sect Master? Why have you backstabbed us?!" the man shouted, clutching at his stump of an arm.


    Another cultivator betrayed the rest of the group, suddenly attacking the figure beside them and chopping off their leg. Frenzied shouts filled the air.


    "What are you doing, Sage Hong''e? Weren''t we going to take down Xiao Nanfeng together? What have you done?"


    The sudden appearance of two defectors among the six-man alliance shocked the Mortal elder, who hastily retreated from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "It looks as though I was too lenient on all of you. To think you''d all be so foolish," Xiao Nanfeng stated coldly.


    "Quick, let''s take down Xiao Nanfeng! He''s only at Spiritsong. Once we kill him, all this will be over. We''ll deal with the Sanyuan Sect Master and Sage Hong''e''s betrayalter," one cultivator suggested.


    "Who dares?!" The two traitors charged at the conspirators, but there were four remaining conspirators, even if two of them had been seriously injured. They still possessed the numerical advantage.


    One of the conspirators appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Be careful, Young Master Xiao!" the Sanyuan Sect Master cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold as he raised the divine undying de up high. Everything within five kilometers of him suddenly darkened as golden me blossomed around him. His sh was like a beam of sunlight that illuminated thend.


    The Wingform-realm cultivator that had been darting toward Xiao Nanfeng was cleft straight down the middle. He had never expected that Xiao Nanfeng would be so strong; he couldn''t even defend himself against Xiao Nanfeng''s attack. His eyes filled with remorse, but it was already toote.


    The darkened skies and ground returned to their usual brightness. The mysterious phenomenon that marked Xiao Nanfeng''s attack left everyone shocked.


    They didn''t know that the light had only been absorbed within five kilometers of Xiao Nanfeng because he hadn''t manifested the three-legged golden crow outside his body. If Xiao Nanfeng had done so, all the light within fifty kilometers would have been absorbed.


    Even so, what he had done was already unbelievable.


    "Wingform-realm¡ªhe''s a Wingform-realm cultivator!" one of the conspirators shouted.


    "He must have just be a Wingform-realm cultivator, but how could he already be this strong? This is impossible!" another conspirator cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward another Wingform-realm cultivator that was charging toward him. The cultivator paled and turned to flee in fright.


    "Isn''t it a bit toote to be running?" Xiao Nanfeng executed another downward sh, causing the skies to turn dark as a ray of golden light shot down once again. The cultivator defended with his sword, but Xiao Nanfeng''s sh easily shed through the sword, the qi barrier surrounding the cultivator, and the cultivator''s shoulder.


    The cultivator shrieked in pain and fell to the ground.


    In just two shes, one cultivator had been killed and the other crippled. The remaining conspirators'' eyes widened in fear.


    The Mortal elder turned to flee, but Xiao Nanfeng appeared before him within moments.


    "We haven''t had our chat yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The elder''s eyes widened. "Division Leader, I was forced to do this. Please, Division Leader, spare me!"


    "Don''t worry. Tell me the truth and I''ll spare your life," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Yes, Division Leader, I''ll tell you everything!" the elder cried out.


    Meanwhile, the two traitors fought and easily won against the two heavily injured conspirators.


    "Why have you betrayed us, Sanyuan Sect Master?" one conspirator wheezed.


    The Sanyuan sect master replied, "Can''t you tell? We''ve chosen to side with Young Master Xiao. We reported this assassination attempt long before it urred. The young master warned you to choose the right side in this confrontation after excavating your sect''s draconic vein, didn''t he? It''s toote for regrets now."


    "Xiao Nanfeng killed your junior brother! How could you side with him regardless?" another conspirator howled.


    "My junior brother? He was acting in his own self-interest and volition when he brought his disciples to the Xiaonds for indiscriminate ughter. He almost caused the destruction of the entire sect, and his death was entirely deserved. Furthermore, he even dared to fool around with my wife behind my back," the Sanyuan sect master cursed.


    "What?" The conspirator despaired at what the Sanyuan sect master had revealed.


    "Why did you choose Xiao Nanfeng over Nn Yunhai? Why?" another conspirator gasped.


    "What''s the difference between Nn Yunhai and the Xiang n? All they''ve made us are empty promises. Should we have gone from working under the Xiang n to working with Nn Yunhai? Haven''t you all seen the state of Young Master Xiao''s troops?" the Sanyuan sect leader asked disdainfully.


    "But Nn Yunhai''s the second prince of the Tianshu Empire, and Xiao Nanfeng''s just the heir to nobility within it. Why would you choose him?" the conspirator argued.


    "If you''re only looking at such superficial factors when making a decision, you''ll bring your sect to ruin," the Sanyuan sect master warned.


    "You all..." The three defeated conspirators were stunned.


    The Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e walked up to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed. "Young Master, do you have use for these cultivators?"


    "No."


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    They strode up to the three wounded conspirators.


    "Young Master Xiao, I''m willing to surrender. Please, Young Master Xiao¡ª"


    The three Wingform-realm cultivators were in in an instant. The Sanyuan sect master handed their storage rings to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Young Master Xiao, please consider what we''ve done today as our two sects'' pledges of allegiance. I hope you''ll provide us with the support we need to be of use to you." The Sanyuan sect master bowed.


    "The Xiao n is more than happy to wee both your sects. Let us let bygones be bygones. I look forward to your support." Xiao Nanfeng smiled courteously at the two sect representatives.


    The two cultivators'' eyes brightened. Xiao Nanfeng''s reconciliatory attitude would allow them to rx.


    The Sanyuan sect master replied, "Of course, Young Master Xiao. The Sanyuan Sect will give its all in support of your ventures. I intend to convene the entire sect and await further orders from you."


    "Go find Ye Sanshui. I''ve had him informed of your cooperation."


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the Mortal elder, who had been shocked stiff by the events that had transpired.


    "Division Leader, Nn Yunhai was behind this. He''s reached Wingform-realm. He wants to assassinate you and have us nominate him as the new Mortal division leader. Please, Division Leader, spare me. I was forced into this!" the elder cried out.


    "Calm down. As long as you tell the truth about what happened, I''ll spare your life. Return to the sect with me," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, Division Leader!" The elder didn''t dare to resist at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew into the air with him in tow.


    "Farewell, Young Master." The Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    After Xiao Nanfeng had left, Sage Hong''e let out a breath he had been holding. "To think that the young master would be so strong¡ªimagine if we had chosen to work against him."


    "You''ll be d that you made this choice in the future, I''m sure." The Sanyuan sect master smiled.


    "Our sects opposed him in the past. Will Young Master Xiao really trust us with his ventures?" Sage Hong''e posed a question that had been on his mind.


    "Of course," the Sanyuan sect master replied confidently.


    "Oh?"


    "Young Master Xiao is in great need of talent and will surely use us as examples. If he shows that he''ll take in our sects and treat us well despite our prior opposition, we''ll serve as living advertisements for his faction and entice more sects into the fray," the Sanyuan sect master told the sage.


    "Wouldn''t Emperor Tianshu be wary of his increasing presence, then? What if he bears down on Xiao Nanfeng and the rest of us?" Sage Hong''e continued.


    "Sage Hong''e, don''t you see? That''s exactly what the young master wants."


    "What?" Sage Hong''e seemed taken aback.


    "Don''t you think Young Master Xiao is angling to be a monarch himself?" the Sanyuan sect master hinted.


    "You mean that he''ll establish his own empire¡ªand begin to amass fortune for himself?!" Sage Hong''e eximed.


    "Why, I didn''t say anything. I just postted a likely possibility. Now that you''ve made your choice, however, don''t try to fish around. It won''t end well, and you might even implicate me," the Sanyuan sect master warned.


    Sage Hong''e nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation. He bowed toward the Sanyuan sect master. "Thank you for the advice. You''ve been a big help in rifying my future ns."


    The Sanyuan sect master smiled. "Let''s go, then. We''d better spread the news to our disciples and make sure that nothing goes wrong. As members of the founding sects of Young Master Xiao''s kingdom, we''ll be able to im a greater share of fortune for ourselves."

 Chapter 284: The Traitors Public Trial

    <h4>Chapter 284: The Traitors'' Public Trial</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and the elder returned to the Mortal division''s Hall of Immortals in Taiqing Ind, whereupon Xiao Nanfeng rang the Mortal division''s bell and summoned all Mortal disciples present on Taiqing Ind. Disciples from the other three divisions also showed up to figure out what was going on.


    Zhao Yuanjiao stood beside Xiao Nanfeng, staring coldly at the elder whom Xiao Nanfeng had brought back to the sect.


    "Elder Cang Xi, do you need me to speak on your behalf?" Xiao Nanfeng prompted.


    Everyone turned to the Mortal elder. His cultivation appeared to have been sealed; his aura was weak.


    Elder Cang Xi frowned. Was this meant to be a public trial?


    "Don''t worry. As I''ve promised, if you tell the truth, I''ll spare your life," Xiao Nanfeng reiterated.


    Elder Cang Xi''s heart sank. What Xiao Nanfeng''s words implied was that, if he were to lie or dissemble, he would be put to death.


    "I''ll tell the truth. I swear it. I''vemitted a grave crime and colluded with others to trick the division leader into leaving the ind. We were attempting to assassinate the division leader," Elder Cang Xi began.


    "What? You dare!"


    "Elder Cang Xi, have you forgotten the sectws?!"


    "Attempting to assassinate a division leader is a crime punishable by death!"


    The Mortal disciples all began to criticize Elder Cang Xi.


    "Who were your aplices?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Elder Cang Xi stiffened. He was reluctant to speak.


    "As I said, you''ll have to reveal everything you know for your life to be spared. Furthermore, I''m aware of your aplices. If you divulge their identities publicly, I''ll spare them. If you don''t, and I ferret them out, they''ll be put to death," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    The za fell silent as the disciples watched on with bated breath. Many were shocked and resentful at Elder Cang Xi, but several cultivators suddenly had a look of fear about them.


    "I''ll do it, I will! I''ll reveal the identities of my conspirators," Elder Cang Xi replied. "There are four elders and twenty Ascension-realm disciples involved. They are..."


    "Elder Cang Xi, don''t malign me! When did I ever be your aplice?" one named elder shouted in fear.


    Elder Cang Xi gave him a wry smile. "It''s useless to try to defend yourself now. The division leader knew everything from the beginning. The Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e turned traitor. You won''t be able to hide your involvement. Furthermore, you still have the letters and writs from the second prince on your body, don''t you? Will you be able to destroy that evidence while everyone''s attention is on you? I''m saving your lives right now."


    "What?!" the elder eximed.


    Indeed, in his storage ring was a letter from Nn Yunhai that described what they had to do after killing Xiao Nanfeng and even included a description of the benefits and guarantees they would receive upon doing so. That evidence would be found from just a cursory search.


    "Are you trying to destroy evidence, Elder Cang Ming?!" a voice suddenly yelled out.


    One elder had turned away from the crowd and had retrieved a letter from his storage ring. Qi red from his hands as he made to destroy the letter, but a fellow cultivator beside him snatched the letter away.


    "Return that to me!" Elder Cang Ming cried out.


    However, the cultivators all around him had drawn their des and were pointing them at him. They were enraged by the shocking crime that they had just heard about.


    It turned out that Xiao Nanfeng had long since assigned his subordinates to surround the cultivators that Elder Cang Xi had pointed out. They wouldn''t have a chance to hide or resist at all.


    "Not only have you colluded with outsiders to kill me, you''ve prepared all manner of false evidence that you intended to nt on Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui. You would then im that they were in collusion with Xiang Pojun and were ultimately responsible for Division Leader Hong Lie''s death. That would prevent them from being candidates for the next Mortal division leader. You really have prepared for all these scenarios, haven''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng used.


    "Elder Cang Xi, what''s this? Why have you been talking nonsense?!" one named elder shouted.


    "I didn''t reveal anything! The division leader found out all this information himself!" Elder Cang Xi shouted back.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head. "Do you still refuse to admit to your crimes? Do you need me to detail what all of you have been doing over the past few days?"


    The named elders and disciples nched. They suddenly recalled that Zhao Yuanjiao was in control of the ckguards, and they had surely been under surveince for quite some time. Their ''secrets'' were nothing but a joke.


    "Division Leader, I was corrupted by others andmitted a grave crime as a result. Please forgive me."


    "Division Leader, we''ve made a horrible mistake. Please spare us!"


    The disciples and elders knew that there would be no point to arguing any longer.


    The Taiqing disciples in the za stared at them angrily. Some even spat at the named culprits.


    Some of the more thoughtful disciples had pieced together yet more information. Although Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t named Nn Yunhai as the mastermind, that was an obvious conclusion based on what had been revealed to date. Nn Yunhai was trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng and im the title of division leader for himself!


    Indeed, if not for Xiao Nanfeng, many would have thought Nn Yunhai the natural choice for division leader. However, Xiao Nanfeng''s fame and reputation within the Taiqing Sect was sky-high, and no one would be able to challenge him on those fronts.


    "ording to sectw, those who conspire against their division leaders and attempt to prey on other sect disciples are to be put to death," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Division Leader, you promised not to kill us!" Elder Cang Xi cried out in fear.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued, "That would be your rightful punishment under sectw, but I''m willing to give you a chance. You''ll be stripped of your cultivation technique and expelled from the sect instead."


    The cultivators bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Division Leader!"


    If their cultivation techniques were stripped from them, they could still start over from scratch. As long as they lived, they would have hope.


    "Division Leader, thank you for your clemency, but¡ªwith our cultivation stripped, what if other Taiqing disciples were to attack us out of anger?" Elder Cang Xi hurriedly asked.


    How many disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect had benefited from Xiao Nanfeng''srgesse? Just one rogue disciple attacking them could kill them all.


    "Don''t worry. The other Taiqing disciples won''t grantly vite sectw like all of you. I''ve promised to spare your lives, and I intend to keep that promise. In addition, I''ll have an escort bring you to your master, Nn Yunhai," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "Thank you, Division Leader!" the elders and disciples eximed.


    Within moments, all twenty-five of them had been subdued and had their dantians smashed into smithereens. Their cultivations had been crippled and all their possessions confiscated.


    Xiao Nanfeng arranged for a group of Taiqing disciples to escort them away.


    "Expel these cultivators. The Mortal division will be free from undue influence after this," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Nanfeng, are you really going to free them that easily?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "They won''t live for long," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Oh?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned, perplexed.


    Five dayster, by the entrance to arge hall within the Tianshu Empire, a group of Taiqing disciples brought the twenty-five crippled cultivators to Nn Yunhai.


    "Nn Yunahi, here''s a record of their testimony. They im that you were responsible for instigating them to kill the Mortal division leader. Please have a look. The Taiqing Immortal Sect will announce this matter to the world," the Taiqing elder in the lead said.


    Nn Yunhai scanned the testimony. His eyes twitched.


    Announce the matter to the world? That wouldn''t do at all. It would be the greatest scandal that he, Nn Yunhai, had been a part of. He was the second prince of the Tianshu Empire, and any scandals involving him would draw the entire world''s scrutiny and criticism. Emperor Tianshu would be called an ingrate, and the rogue forces in the empire would spread and distort word of the affair.


    "I''m not familiar with these people. How could I have instigated their assault? This is libel!" Nn Yunhai asserted.


    "The division leader considered this possibility and had me ask you how you''d like to deal with them," said the Taiqing elder responsible for the escort.


    "For attempting to assassinate the division leader, these cultivators should be killed. How dare they attempt to malign me? They have to be killed to restore the authority and honor of the Taiqing Immortal Sect," Nn Yunhai proimed.


    "Your Highness, you were the one who told us to do this!"


    "Your Highness, you can''t kill us! We were only acting on your orders!"


    "We might have been stripped of our cultivation, Your Highness, but we can easily cultivate anew. You just have to provide us with cultivation resources! Your Highness, you can''t just cut us off like this!"


    The cultivators cried and shouted at Nn Yunhai, whose eyes shed with disdain. <i>You don''t have any value to me anymore. Why should I waste precious cultivation resources on the likes of you?</i>


    The Taiqing elder in charge of the escort continued, "The division leader mentioned that something seemed to be amiss about this incident. As the second prince of the Tianshu Empire, how could you do anything that would damage the honor and reputation of Emperor Tianshu? That''s why the division leader said that, if you were to discredit their testimony, you would be free to conduct an independent investigation. These cultivators will be left for you to deal with at your own discretion, and we''ll reveal their oue to the world atrge. Conveniently, these cultivators wanted toe find you."


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes twitched. If he were to let these cultivators go, wouldn''t it be akin to sheltering them? Wouldn''t he be advertising that he was, indeed, the mastermind behind the affair?


    The Taiqing elder in charge of the escort turned to the twenty-five culprits. "The division leader has kept his word. The Taiqing Immortal Sect is no longer affiliated with any of you."


    "We..." The twenty-five conspirators, now suddenly panicking, looked toward Nn Yunhai hopefully.


    "Farewell, Elder Nn." The Taiqing elder inclined his head slightly toward him before leaving with the rest of the disciples.


    Only Nn Yunhai and the twenty-five conspirators remained by the hall.


    "Your Highness, we''ll surely serve you well!" Elder Cang Xi pledged tentatively.


    Nn Yunhai red at the twenty-five crippled cultivators and ignored them. He shouted, "Guards!"


    "Yes, Your Highness!" A series of guards marched over.


    "These traitors to the Taiqing Immortal Sect have conspired against their division leader and were expelled from the sect as a result. In addition, they''ve besmirched my name and honor, and are responsible for straining the rtionship between the Tianshu Empire and the Taiqing Immortal Sect. They''vemitted grave wrongdoings and deserve death. Hang them outside the city walls and announce what they''ve done to the world," Nn Yunhaimanded.


    "You can''t kill us, Your Highness!"


    "I know of Xiao Nanfeng''s secrets! I know how he managed to take down the six Immortal sects. Please, Your Highness, spare us!"


    "Your Highness, we were only obeying your orders! Spare us, Your Highness!"


    "No!"


    The twenty-five conspirators continued to beg and plead for mercy, trying to make Nn Yunhai understand their worth, but Nn Yunhai ignored them all. What these cultivators had done would soon be revealed to the world, and he had to sever any remaining ties he had with them before the truth was revealed.

 Chapter 285: Xiang Pojuns Raid

    <h4>Chapter 285: Xiang Pojun''s Raid</h4>


    Atop a gatetower, Nn Yunhai and Nn Changkong stood side by side as they nced at the twenty-five corpses hung outside the city walls.


    "Yunhai, who had you kill these cultivators?" Nn Changkong gave his brother a stern look.


    "Elder brother, these cultivators revealed the plot to kill Xiao Nanfeng! I had to sever any ties with them immediately. Otherwise, Father''s reputation would have been impacted."


    "How foolish," Nn Changkong replied.


    "What?"


    "They do deserve death, but that''s not a punishment you can mete out. That penalty has to be imposed by the Taiqing Immortal Sect itself, not you. They betrayed their sect for you, but you chose to kill them. Ignoring whether that would even sever your ties to them, don''t you realize just what this means for your reputation?" Nn Changkong demanded.


    "My reputation?" Nn Yunhai''s face stiffened as though he had just realized something.


    "You''re willing to betray and kill even your own followers. You''re merciless and struck them down when they were suffering because of you. Who would be willing to work for you in the future? Who would dare?"


    Nn Yunhai gulped.


    "Look at Xiao Nanfeng. He''s willing to ept even a sect that opposed him previously, the Sanyuan Immortal Sect. He''s willing to be merciful even against those Taiqing elders that attempted to assassinate him. Everyone''s praising his benevolence and integrity. Are you aware of how many sects in the region are considering working with him?"


    Nn Yunhai''s face twisted in disgust. "He did this intentionally. He''s reaping a good reputation at my expense!"


    Nn Changkong shook his head. "There wouldn''t have been a problem if you hadn''t killed these cultivators."


    "Those Taiqing elders serving as escort told me they were about to reveal this affair to the world atrge, so I panicked. Xiao Nanfeng must have told them to tell me that¡ªit was to get me to mess up!" Nn Yunhai cried out.


    "Why would you do something so foolish to begin with?" Nn Changkong demanded. "Attempting to assassinate the new Mortal division leader immediately after Hong Lie''s death?"


    "Brother, the Taiqing Immortal Sect ims too much of the Tianshu Empire''s fortune on an annual basis. If I were to be the Mortal division leader, I would be able to reim some of that fortune," Nn Yunhai exined.


    "It''s true that the Taiqing Immortal Sect has imed far too much fortune from us, but this isn''t something for you to worry about. You wanted a source of fortune for yourself, didn''t you?"


    With his n exposed, Nn Yunhai could only smile wryly. "Brother, you know that I only managed to advance to Wingform-realm because of some fortune that Mother passed to me, allowing me to absolve karmic consequence. I was momentarily blinded by greed and attempted to im more fortune for myself."


    "You had better think of how to exin this to Father," Nn Changkong told him.


    "Brother, please help persuade Father not to me me. There''s nothing wrong about trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng, is there? The only problem was that I failed. Xiao Nanfeng''s been attempting to conquer Marquis Wu''snds, and is even starting to recruit the disciples of other Immortal sects. His ambition shines through, and we have to quash him before he grows too strong!" Nn Yunhai frowned.


    "As I''ve told you repeatedly, he''s Xiao Hongye''s son. We can''t target him openly. What would the world think if this were how we treated the descendant of Xiao Hongye, an instrumental figure in establishing this empire in the first ce? Which Immortal sects would dare to work for us then?"


    "But we can''t let him just continue expanding like this!" Nn Yunhai cried out. "He''s growing far too quickly. At this rate, he''ll be a gue to the Tianshu Empire. Furthermore, it''s likely that he was the one who killed our third brother!"


    Nn Changkong took a deep breath, then whispered, "Don''t worry. He won''t live much longer."


    "What?"


    "Uncle has been helping Envoy Ying reim countless shadow cursed effigies, and the work is still progressing. These cursed effigies all have umon strength, and they''ll attack Xiao Nanfeng together soon enough. He''ll surely die then," Nn Changkong promised.


    "Truly? Why didn''t you tell me, Brother? I wouldn''t have schemed against Xiao Nanfeng if I had known!" Nn Yunhai cried out.


    "Forget it. The matter is settled. We''ll talk more once we return. Come, follow me!" Nn Changkong announced.


    "Where to?"


    "The Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm."


    "Oh?"


    "Not just you, but also the Wingform-realm cultivators in all the sects that have chosen to ally with us, as well as various marquises of the empire. Mr. Wen said that everything''s ready, that it would be time to im the opportunities in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm," Nn Changkong said.


    "Are all the strongest cultivators going to head inside? How will we fight them, then? What if the rouge soldiers take advantage of the opportunity to make a fuss?" Nn Yunhai asked.


    "The Xiang n''s gathering Wingform-realm cultivators to enter the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm as well. They want to im the opportunities within for themselves. As a result, the Tianshu Empire will be rather peaceful for the short term."


    "In other words, our battle with the Xiang n will take ce in the expedition grounds from now on?" Nn Yunhai asked.


    Within a valley, a group of cultivators, each frowning, surrounded Xiang Pojun.


    "Pojun, you cause trouble wherever you go. Can''t you give it a rest? Last time, you attempted to raid Taiqing Ind with just a crow Immortal. This time, you challenged Hong Lie to a duel. Aren''t you aware of just how weak you are?" one cultivator demanded.


    "But I did manage to kill Hong Lie," Xiang Pojun retorted. "I''ve dealt with a threat to us all."


    "Were you the one who killed Hong Lie? Aren''t you aware that someone else took advantage of you?"


    "I know. I received word that Hong Lie had been cursed, and that the curse could take effect at any time. However, as an Immortal, Hong Lie could dispel the curse if he noticed it in advance. I deliberately fought him to distract him. Of course, he only died because of a sneak attack from the cursemonger, but who''s to say that it would have happened if I weren''t there? I was heavily injured by Hong Lie again, so treat me kindly, won''t you?"


    The cultivators frowned, nced at each other, and sighed.


    "Forget it. Since you''re injured, we''ll leave you in charge of guarding the entrance to the hidden realm. Come back in when you''ve recuperated," the cultivator continued.


    "You''re all heading back into the hidden realm? This quickly?" Xiang Pojun eximed.


    "We''ve obtained something to deal with the shadow cursed effigies. Or are you expecting us to wait until the Spirit Emperor leaves secluded cultivation?"


    "Very well." Xiang Pojun nodded.


    "Now, we''ll be heading into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm with all the Wingform-realm cultivators we''ve gathered in order to fight for the opportunities within it. Don''t send out too many troops ormit them too heavily to battle. It''d be best if you maintained the status quo¡ªrather than focus on expansion, stabilize our current territory and wait for us to return. Then, we''ll destroy the Tianshu Empire."


    "Don''t worry. I understand." Xiang Pojun nodded.


    Ten dayster, in Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, Ye Sanshui returned to report on what was happening on the frontlines.


    "Are the disciples of those other two Immortal sects willing to listen to your orders?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Their two sect masters are personally inmand of their troops. They treat me with extreme respect and work particrly hard on the battlefield," Ye Sanshui reported.


    "Good, very good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "King Xiao, I''ve returned secretly because I noticed something amiss and wanted to report to you directly." Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "Oh?"


    "Ten days ago, the other marquises'' forces retreated from Marquis Wu''snds, and the rogue forces are abstaining from fighting instead. They''re defending theirnds instead of actively attacking us. It''s as though everyone has suddenly deserted the battlefield. I''m worried that there''s some hidden ploy in y," Ye Sanshui continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a smile. "Don''t worry. It''s not a conspiracy. The Tianshu Empire''s troops are doing the same thing."


    "Oh?"


    "The majority of the Wingform-realm generals andmanders have been sent away, leaving only the Spiritsong-realm ones behind," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Where have they all gone?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "ording to the ckguards, Emperor Tianshu and the Xiang n are respectively bringing their own Wingform-realm cultivators into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm in search of the opportunities that lie within.


    "In other words, the rogue forces'' defenses will be drastically weakened?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "That''s right. You don''t have to worry about anything. Work on iming all of Marquis Wu''snds and bringing it under your control¡ªand do it as quickly as you can!"


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    Struck by this rare opportunity, Ye Sanshui immediately rushed to the frontlines and fielded arge army to start the conquest immediately. The two new Immortal sects, wanting to make a good showing, participated as well.


    In just slightly over a month, the Xiao troops had taken over all the cities in Marquis Wu''snds.


    Within a valley, the recuperating Xiang Pojun was having a sip of clear tea as he nced toward a group of kneeling, injured soldiers and generals outside the pavilion.


    "King Pojun, we''ve done our best, but the Xiao troops have plenty of Wingform-realm cultivators that we can''t defend against. Many of the senior brothers of the sect have died, and we''ve lost all the cities in Marquis Wu''snds. Please, King Pojun, take revenge for my fallen brethren!" the wounded soldier in the lead cried out.


    Xiang Pojun seemed surprised. "The Xiao troops? Xiao Nanfeng''s army?"


    "That''s right. He''s Xiao Hongye''s son and Ku Jiang''s disciple. Before Hong Lie''s death, he even transferred the position of the Mortal division leader to him. When King Pojun attacked the Taiqing Ind, Xiao Nanfeng slew two of the Wingform-realm crow spirits he brought over in a row," the wounded soldier reported.


    "Xiao Hongye''s son? He''s not in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm? Very well. We''ll settle scores both new and old now. The debt that Xiao Hongye owed me that year, I''ll im from his son. Where is he now?" Xiang Pojun asked coldly.


    "He''s in Yongding," the wounded soldier replied, shocked that Xiang Pojun would make a move himself.


    "Hand mepiled information about the city of Yongding," Xiang Pojun requested carefully.


    "Yes, King Pojun!" a cultivator immediately rushed over with relevant information.


    Xiang Pojun nced at the dossier carefully before he smirked. "The city of Yongding only has two Wingform-realm toad spirits. How many Wingform-realm cultivators might be hidden within? They''re just rabble. Come, apany me to level Yongding to the ground!


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.

 Chapter 286: The Divine Emperors Aid

    <h4>Chapter 286: The Divine Emperor''s Aid</h4>


    In one room of the Xiao manor in Yongding, Yu''er was seated cross-legged in meditation when she suddenly sensed someone approaching her. She opened her eyes in surprise to see Xiao Nanfeng closing in¡ªand blushed.


    "Nanfeng, I''m in secluded cultivation. What''re you doing here?" Yu''er asked.


    "I''m here to summon you out of secluded cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng told her seriously.


    Yu''er frowned. She sensed that something was amiss. "What''s wrong?"


    "Senior Uncle Hong Lie is dead."


    "What? Who killed him?!"


    "Xiang Pojun."


    "Xiang Pojun? That''s impossible. He''s no match for Senior Uncle. How could he have killed him?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng told Yu''er about his suspicions and his discussion with Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "You mean to say that there are other culprits responsible?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right. I intend on figuring out who they are. I apologize for disturbing you, but Yongding''s about to be the site of a major battle. I need your help," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Is someone going to attack Yongding? Who?"


    "Xiang Pojun."


    Yu''er jumped up. "You intend to fight Xiang Pojun? He''s an Immortal! To an Immortal, all mortal cultivators are but ants¡ªeven if they''re at Wingform-realm."


    "I know, but I have no choice but to fight. He''sing for Yongding."


    "Why would he suddenly attack Yongding?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "It must be because my father killed quite arge number of the strongest Xiang cultivators back in his heyday. The Xiang n must view me as a nuisance. The only reason they haven''t yet attacked is because Senior Uncle was here to defend me. Now that he''s dead, the rogue forces that have lost to ours must haveined to Xiang Pojun. It''d be easy to get him to attack me."


    "Then you have to run!" Yu''er eximed.


    "Run? I won''t. I have to avenge my senior uncle, and I intend to do it with Xiang Pojun''s head."


    "He''s an Immortal!"


    "I know. Emperor Wei''s inheritance describes Immortals in some detail, and I know just how strong they are. That said, I do have a slim chance of victory."


    "Oh? Have you¡ªcould you already have manifested your yin body?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m still not quite there yet."


    "How, then?"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the divine purple rock, whose appearance had been molded.


    "This object looks almost like a seal¡ªan imperial seal?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "It''s a purple seal forged from a treasure I obtained from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, and I''ve managed to attune it to some extent, though notpletely. There''s an internal space within it that can trap an Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "You intend to lure Xiang Pojun within?" Yu''er''s eyes brightened.


    "That''s right. I''ll deal with Xiang Pojun. While I''m defending against him, you''ll strike his body simultaneously, causing him to budge, as I pull him into the internal space of the purple seal."


    "But so what if you can trap him? If he sets his sights on you, you won''t be able to escape. A moment''s carelessness could kill you," Yu''er eximed.


    "I''ll think of a way to dy him."


    "Dy him? And then what?" Yu''er didn''t want Xiao Nanfeng to take the risk for an uncertain oue.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He was just about to exin that he still had a trump card up his sleeve when his fingertip trembled. A wisp of ck smoke emerged from his storage ring.


    The ck smoke formed words. "I will aid you."


    "What''s this?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. The Divine Emperor was willing tomunicate with him!


    "Thank you, Divine Emperor," xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    Yu''er''s eyes widened. She quickly understood what was going on. The cursed king in Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring had just sent him a message. Was it going to help?


    Yu''er gasped. "Have you really managed to form a rtionship with these cursed kings?"


    A dayter, the weather outside the city of Yongding was clear and sunny. All seemed peaceful for miles around.


    Just then, a tempest descended from the skies.


    Howling winds churned up dust and dirt, blowing themon people all about. They fell scattered to the ground.


    "Who''s there?!" a city guard demanded.


    "That''s¡ªan Immortal!" a cultivator cried out.


    A man with a cape of radiant light emerged, stepping across the sky. He nced down with an arrogant expression on his face. He was, of course, none other than the Immortal Xiang Pojun.


    Beside Xiang Pojun was a group of wounded cultivators.


    "King Pojun, that''s the Xiao manor. Xiao Nanfeng is surely within!" One cultivator pointed at the Xiao manor in the distance.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, show and prostrate yourself to King Pojun!" another cultivator shouted, high and mighty.


    "Show yourself, Xiao Nanfeng!" the other cultivators echoed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, d in red, slowly walked out of his manor. He showed no fear; his expression was ice-cold.


    "You''re Xiao Nanfeng? You look just like Xiao Hongye," Xiang Pojun stated.


    He could still remember how the Xiang n had suffered a terrible defeat at Xiao Hongye''s hands. A sudden burst of anger filled him.


    "I''m Hong Lie''s nephew, as well," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Hong Lie''s nephew? You''re trying to frighten me with the name of a dead man?" Xiang Pojun chuckled.


    "You are no match for my senior uncle. Who else took part in killing my senior uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "What, do you intend to seek revenge for Hong Lie?" Xiang Pojun taunted.


    "More or less. Now that you''ve shown yourself, you might as well stay."


    "Haha, you really are an impudentd, aren''t you? Do you think you can do anything against me despite having just reached Wingform-realm?" Xiang Pojunughed uproariously.


    "We''ll find out, won''t we?"


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt into the sky and flew toward Xiang Pojun, who gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "Do you really think you can take me on?"


    An ordinary cultivator would be so scared as to kneel down and beg for mercy. Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, was taking the fight right to him. Something had to be amiss. Xiang Pojun frowned in wariness.


    As Xiao Nanfeng flew into the sky, he shouted, "Guards, activate the defensive formation around the city and protect themon people!"


    "Yes, King Xiao!" Shouts could be heard from within Yongding. A huge, hemispherical dome formed around the city.


    "Please be alright, Young Master!"


    "What can we do? That''s an Immortal!"


    "Can the young master win?"


    Many of themon people looked up at the sky in worry.


    There were spies from a number of different forces within the city, all of whom thought Xiao Nanfeng crazy to be challenging an Immortal alone as nothing but a Wingform-realm cultivator.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew up to Xiang Pojun. "Xiang Pojun, who else was responsible for my senior uncle''s death?"


    "Lad, you actually dared to fly over here? Who''s backing you? Did you have an ambush nned?" Xiang Pojun asked cautiously.


    He nced around him, but even with the senses of an Immortal, he couldn''t sense anything amiss.


    "That can''t be. You must have some incredible relic up your sleeve." Xiang Pojun narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    He didn''t think that Xiao Nanfeng would do something so reckless without a n. For him to be voluntarily approaching meant that he had something that could threaten Xiang Pojun.


    "You''re quite right. I do have a treasure. I wonder if you can handle it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng extended his right hand. A ring was in his palm. It quivered and floated into the air, whereupon it transformed into a golden bell that flew rapidly toward Xiang Pojun.


    "The Divine Emperor''s bell?!" Xiang Pojun recognized the artifact immediately.


    "You''re aware of it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Is this really the Divine Emperor''s bell? Allegedly, it can suppress even the Spirit Emperor. It''s a relic that even an Immortal has a hard time handling. To think I would be able to seize it from you¡ªhaha!" Xiang Pojun roared inughter.


    He snatched at the bell, which tolled once. A golden soundwave struck Xiang Pojun''s palm.

 Chapter 287: Fighting Xiang Pojun

    <h4>Chapter 287: Fighting Xiang Pojun</h4>


    As an Immortal, Xiang Pojun easily neutralized the soundwave, but those around him were sent flying from the impact.


    "The Divine Emperor''s bell is a relic known for being difficult to control. Xiao Nanfeng, I bet you''re only barely able to wield it. Now it''ll be mine!" Xiang Pojun dered.


    Xiang Pojun mmed his palm toward the bell. Rather than remain still, however, the bell began to shake more and more violently. It transformed into the size of a small mountain and sucked Xiao Nanfeng and Xiang Pojun up into its dome.


    Everything was pitch-ck.


    "What a relic. There''s even an internal space within it!" Xiang Pojun radiated multicolored light as his eyes lit up.


    Just then, a ck shadow suddenly appeared behind him.


    "A shadow cursed effigy? Ha! Disperse," Xiang Pojun called out, forming a multicolored barrier of light around him. The shadow was knocked flying.


    That shadow was none other than the Divine Emperor itself.


    The Divine Emperor seemed rather annoyed to have been knocked away. It reached out with a hand. The tolling of a bell rang out in the pitch-ck space like a bolt of thunder from the heavens.


    Xiao Nanfeng clutched his head in agony¡ª and he had only been subject to a small portion of the sound. The majority passed through Xiang Pojun''s barrier and struck him directly, causing his body to shiver and freeze.


    "Divine Emperor, he''s not moving! Have you brought him into an illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor spelled out ''Yes'' with ck smoke, then attacked Xiang Pojun again. However, the radiant barrier around Xiang Pojun seemed to have grown thicker and was able to withstand the attack.


    "Senior, I know that other shadow cursed effigies are able to bypass cultivators'' qi barriers. What''s causing the problem here?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The Divine Emperor pointed at a golden jade ornament on Xiang Pojun''s chest, which was infusing waves of golden light into his radiant barrier.


    "Is that jade ornament a cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Only a cursed effigy was able to block another cursed effigy. That golden jade ornament had to be a relic of umon strength to block the Divine Emperor.


    "It''s a charm of the Spirit Emperor, containing quintessence of srfire and special cursed spiritual power," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the ornament again in surprise.


    "The soundwave illusion won''tst for too long, and he might wake up at any moment. My body''s in tatters, and my strength is weak. I can''t break through his defense. You''ll have toe up with a method on your own," the Divine Emperor wrote.


    "Senior, would you send me into the illusion as well?"


    The Divine Emperor gave Xiao Nanfeng a curious look.


    Xiao Nanfeng borated, "I intend on dying him within the illusion as my main body searches for allies who might be able to break the barrier."


    The Divine Emperor was silent for a moment before nodding and waving a hand.


    A soundwave of incredible strength struck Xiao Nanfeng and knocked his body flying. By the time he stabilized himself, there was thick fog surrounding him.


    "I''m in the illusion now!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    A huge explosion rang out within the fog, and a frightening tempest blew the fog away, exposing Xiang Pojun.


    Xiang Pojun looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with a smirk. "Well? You can''t break through my qi barrier, can you?"


    "You know what''s going on outside?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "My body''s protected by a barrier of Immortal qi strengthened with a relic. Your tricks are useless against me. Your spiritual cultivation is more impressive than your physical cultivation, isn''t it? Mid-stage Lunar Deluge, if I''m not mistaken. It is an aplishment, but you''re still far inferior to me," Xiang Pojun stated.


    "Let''s try it and see, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward Xiang Pojun, who met his advance with a fist.


    The two cultivators'' fists met in a huge explosion of energy, causing both of them to stumble back.


    "You''ve already reachedte-stage Lunar Deluge? Impossible! How old could you be?!" Xiang Pojun eximed.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, charging forward.


    "So what if you''re atte-stage Lunar Deluge? I''ll still beat you," Xiang Pojun continued, chuckling coldly. He shot forward as well.


    The two cultivators began to fight in earnest, a howling gale forming around them as they marshaled frightening amounts of energy. The void that made up the illusory realm began to vibrate.


    "You''re not atte-stage Lunar Deluge, but at Yin Body? No¡ªyou''re not there yet. There''s something funny about the golden light around your body." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "What a domineering fist technique. If not for the Spirit Emperor''s charm providing me with spiritual power, you might have been able to best me." Xiang Pojun was astounded.


    Not only did Xiao Nanfeng have impressive spiritual power, his fist technique was exceptionally strong. If not for the gold-flecked spiritual power that Xiang Pojun possessed, he would already have lost.


    "The Spirit Emperor''s charm can even be used in an illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    As the two cultivators continued to fight, Xiang Pojun eximed, "Red light? What''s all this red light brimming from your body? Show yourself, Xiao Nanfeng! Where have you hidden yourself?!"


    Just then, a beam of golden light struck Xiang Pojun''s forehead. He shook and awakened from the hypnosis. He could see Xiao Nanfeng again now that the red light had vanished.


    "You were hypnotizing me? You do have quite the assortment of tricks. If not for the Spirit Emperor''s charm, I might really have fallen to you," Xiang Pojun thundered.


    "You''re rather lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "And you''re not,d. I''d like to see just how long you can hold out against me." Xiang Pojun charged forward again.


    Whenever the two cultivators shed, arge cloud of dust would form. The two cultivators were near-equal in strength, and neither could seize a decisive advantage over the other.


    As they continued to fight, Xiang Pojun grew progressively more shocked and frustrated. He was determined to take Xiao Nanfeng down here and now.


    As the two continued to sh, Xiang Pojun suddenly widened his eyes. "What''s wrong with my physical body? Lad, have you been stalling for time?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "Are you only discovering that now?"


    "Once I leave this illusion, you''re done for!"


    He immediately gave up on dealing with Xiao Nanfeng and began to punch at the void instead, intent on destroying the illusion.


    Just then, a length of red rope descended from the sky and wrapped around his neck. He was strung up as though he had hung himself.


    "What?!" Xiang Pojun cried.


    He wrestled with the rope, but a few dozen more lengths appeared all around him and tied him up. He struggled to move.


    He raised his head to see a red cloud hanging overhead, such a lurid red that it looked as though there were some cursed spiritual power brewing within.


    "What sort of spiritual treasure is this? Why does it seem like a cursed effigy?" Xiang Pojun cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    The rope around his neck tightened as though about to choke him on the spot. His face turned pale, and he was unable to free himself from the bondage. In frustration, he shouted, "Spirit Emperor''s charm, listen to mymand! Save me, crow deity!"


    Golden light bloomed around Xiang Pojun''s chest as a thirty-meter tall ming crow spirit appeared.


    "Crow deity, if you kill Xiao Nanfeng, I promise to sacrifice ten thousand human lives to you," Xiang Pojun called out.


    The crow deity cawed, satisfied with the exchange. Its wings outstretched, it shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yin Body? No¡ªits spiritual power is a mess, a hodgepodge of spiritual power from different sources. It''s a fake!" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "As long as it has the strength of a spirit at Yin Body, that''s more than enough to take you down," Xiang Pojun replied.


    The crow deity appeared before Xiao Nanfeng in the blink of an eye. Its sharp ws struck at him like pointednces, preparing to pierce him through.


    Just then, even more loops of red rope fell from the red cloud, tangling up the crow deity. The crow deity began to struggle furiously, but the red rope was stronger.


    "It can hardly do anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The loops of red rope tugged at the crow deity''s head, wings, and ws, tearing its body apart as it cawed and shrieked madly.


    Xiang Pojun''s eyes widened.


    "Impossible. How could you have defeated the crow deity?!" Xiang Pojun howled.


    "I''ve even taken down a cultivator at Yin Body, let alone this chimera. Xiang Pojun, it''s your turn now," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    The loops of red rope took hold of Xiang Pojun''s limbs and neck, tightened, and then began to pull. Waves of pain wracked his body.


    "No!" Xiang Pojun cried out.


    His spiritual avatar was torn into five pieces in a shower of blood. The scene was a gory sight to behold.


    "I would have done this earlier if I weren''t stalling for time. You''re far weaker than I am in an illusory realm." Xiao Nanfeng smirked.


    Xiang Pojun''s spiritual avatar persisted despite his dismemberment. His head nched. "Something''s broken through my physical body''s qi barrier? That''s impossible!"


    "Nothing''s impossible. You''re done for now, Xiang Pojun." Xiao Nanfeng continued to have the red rope tear Xiang Pojun''s body apart.


    Xiang Pojun knew that, if he were to allow this to continue, he might not even be able to escape. He roared in indignity. "Break!"


    Xiang Pojun''s spiritual avatar self-destructed. The tremendous force of the explosion caused a huge cloud of dust to mushroom up as the illusion splintered and cracked.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Xiang Pojun''s bodies shook as they returned to physical reality.

 Chapter 288: Slaying an Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 288: ying an Immortal</h4>


    High in the sky above the city of Yongding, the cultivators that had apanied Xiang Pojun were in shock. They expected that Xiang Pojun would have been able to kill Xiao Nanfeng instantly, but he had been trapped by a bell! They were all unprotected outside the bell; what if someoneunched a sneak attack on them?


    Indeed, what they feared came to pass. You Jiu appeared behind them and slew half of their number in a single sh.


    "Save us, King Pojun!" The remaining cultivators fled, but Croak and Warble had been waiting for them. They ate the cultivators one after another, killing them all.


    Within the city, themon people who had been fearing the Immortal incursion were shocked by what they were seeing. Had the Immortal been dealt with so simply?


    The Divine Emperor''s bell had tolled twice before it shrank down and flew to the side. Two figures were apparent: the red-d Xiao Nanfeng and Xiang Pojun, their eyes closed and their bodies immobile. A barrier of rainbow light surrounded Xiang Pojun''s body and drew everyone''s attention.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell floated not far away, humming as it maintained the illusory realm.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body floated into the air from the Xiao manor. Beside him stood Yu''er, Zhao Yuanjiao, Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, two Wingform-realm Taiqing elders, the Sanyuan sect master, and Sage Hong''e.


    "Everyone, strike at the barrier around Xiang Pojun''s body simultaneously!" Xiao Nanfeng''s main bodymanded.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    "Now!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The twelve Wingform-realm cultivators struck at once with swords, fists, and palms.


    The frightening assault formed a mushroom cloud of extreme proportions above the city of Yongding. The resulting shockwaves sent tremors through the ground.


    Even the defensive formation around the city was buffeted by the shockwaves in a shocking disy of power.


    At the center of the explosion, the radiant barrier flickered violently, as though it were almost about to crack, but barely survived intact.


    The Wingform-realm cultivators gaped.


    "Are Immortals that strong?" Croak asked.


    "I''m at the peak of Wingform-realm. I thought I was just a step away from bing a toad Immortal, but isn''t this toorge a gap?" Warble added.


    "Let''s try again." Yu''er refused to give in.


    "The jade ornament in front of his chest released a burst of golden light to augment the radiant barrier''s defenses. That was why we couldn''t break through. Even if we were to try again, it''d be useless." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "No, not quite! The radiant barrier was flickering violently. We just need a bit more strength," Xiao Nanfeng''s main body said.


    "But how? We''ve already been using our strongest attacks!" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the outskirts of the city. "Mr. Zheng, let''s do it!"


    "Got it!" Zheng Qian replied. He had been stationed in a patch ofnd shrouded by fog.


    Just then, thend around Yongding began to rumble as a dragon''s keen emerged from underground. The mountains around Yongding copsed, and many of the buildings within the city began to shake.


    "Nanfeng, are you going to excavate the draconic vein under Yongding, too?!" Yu''er eximed.


    "You intend to sacrifice the whole draconic vein for an empowered sh?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed out a talisman from the Immortal''s Destruction as he shouted, "Everyone, get ready!"


    Golden light radiated through the sky. A sh of incredible proportions shot straight toward Xiang Pojun.


    "Now!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Kill!" the cultivators chorused.


    In conjunction with the golden de, all the cultivators attacked the rainbow barrier around Xiang Pojun''s body simultaneously.


    A frightening burst of energy lit up the sky, and a fiery mushroom cloud formed around the point of impact. The resulting shockwaves leveled the mountains around Yongding and covered up the sky in ayer of dust and grit. It was as though evening had suddenly dawned.


    After the huge explosion, the radiant barrier shattered and revealed Xiang Pojun''s exposed body.


    "We seeded!" Yu''er eximed.


    "Kill!" The cultivators charged over.


    Just then, the Spirit Emperor''s charm shed with golden light once more, forming a golden barrier that protected Xiang Pojun''s physical body.


    The barrier blocked everyone''s attacks.


    "What? Another barrier? Was all our hard work for naught?!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    "No, hold on! That bell made it within the barrier!" Yu''er eximed.


    The moment the barrier had dissipated, the Divine Emperor''s bell had shrunk in size and stered itself to Xiang Pojun''s head like a hat. The new golden barrier hadn''t excluded the bell from its interior.


    "Something''s rather suspicious about this bell, isn''t it? How can it move on its own?" Zhao Yuanjiao wondered.


    "Look! It looks as though there''s something inside the bell!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    A pair of pitch-ck hands slowly formed around the rim of the Divine Emperor''s bell. The Divine Emperor himself was reaching out as he ced both hands lightly above Xiang Pojun''s forehead.


    "Isn''t that a shadow cursed effigy?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    He had barely avoided having his head plucked off his body by a shadow cursed effigy in this manner, and he was very familiar with what the shadow was nning.


    "Has the cursed king made its move?" Yu''er, knowing the truth, watched on in anticipation.


    At the same time, within the illusory realm, Xiang Pojun''s spiritual avatar self-destructed, causing him to wake up in his physical body with a start.


    However, all his spiritual power had been consumed by his self-destruction, and his truesoul had sustained significant damage as well. He was barely able to open his eyes with what few mental faculties remained operational at the moment.


    In this state, he waspletely unable to harness the Immortal energy within his body. His sole thought was to flee from this ursed ce.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, once I recover my spiritual power, all of Yongding will perish alongside you!" Xiang Pojun howled as he fled.


    The next moment, however, he found himselfpletely unable to move. There was a pair of pitch-ck palms on his head. He suddenly sensed something deeply amiss.


    "Impossible. Is this a shadow cursed effigy? How could it have closed in on me? Spirit Emperor''s charm, save me! Save me! No¡ª" Xiang Pojun shouted.


    However, it was toote for him now. With a pop, the Divine Emperor plucked Xiang Pojun''s head off his body. His struggles seized, and the golden barrier around his body dissipated.


    His eyes were still open in shock and disbelief. Even Hong Lie had fallen to him. How had he perished to a group of Wingform-realm cultivators?


    The Divine Emperor tossed Xiang Pojun''s head to Xiao Nanfeng, then vanished alongside the Divine Emperor''s bell. It had transformed back into a storage ring tattooed on Xiao Nanfeng''s finger.


    The cultivators gaped at what they had witnessed¡ªthe fall of an Immortal.


    There still seemed to be at least a remnant fragment of Xiang Pojun''s soul in his head, for it attempted to flee from Xiao Nanfeng''s captivity. However, as Xiao Nanfeng sent his own spiritual power into the head, that remnant spiritual power was wiped out. Xiang Pojun hadpletely died.


    With a wave of Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, the Spirit Emperor''s charm and Xiang Pojun''s storage treasures flew into his hands.


    Xiang Pojun''s corpse was radiating light as the Immortal energy dissipated. Croak swallowed up the corpse as its body began to glow with light. It sighed in rxation.


    Xiao Nanfeng held Xiang Pojun''s head as he looked toward Zhao Yuanjiao. "Senior Brother, thank you for lending me your support during my time of need. Let''s return to the sect and sacrifice Xiang Pojun''s head to put Senior Uncle to rest for good."


    "Of course!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, along with a group of Taiqing disciples, quickly flew out of Yongding and toward Taiqing Ind.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had woken up. He looked toward the Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e. "Sect masters, thank you for your assistance."


    "Of course, Young Master Xiao. We''re part of the Xiao forces now. Your aid is our responsibility."


    The two sect masters were still agape at what had just transpired. They had struggled for a long time before finally agreeing to help deal with Xiang Pojun, and they wouldn''t have dared to strike if they hadn''t seen him trapped in an illusion with his physical body immobile. Fortunately, they had seeded.


    Their shock only heightened their respect toward Xiao Nanfeng. Regardless of how Xiao Nanfeng had managed to kill Xiang Pojun, his sess indicated that his faction was growing rapidly in strength; it was strong enough to kill an Immortal. They were relieved that they had chosen to ally with Xiao Nanfeng early.


    "Your contribution will be recorded and a reward given at ater date. For the moment, the Taiqing disciples among the troops will likely have to return to Taiqing Ind to pay their respects to Division Leader Hong Lie again. For the time being, Marquis Wu''snds will be only sparsely defended, and I''ll need to trouble you both to contribute to the defense," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yes, Young Master!" The two cultivators bowed.


    They were filled with hope for their sects'' future, giving them the motivation and incentive to prove themselves. They immediately headed off toward the frontlines to join in the defense.


    After that, Xiao Nanfeng returned to the city with Croak, Warble, and You Jiu.


    The defensive formation around Yongding had been deactivated again, and the guards on patrol in the city were quickly tabting the damage caused by the earthquake from the excavation of Yongding''s draconic vein as they rescued themon people from disaster.


    Themon people cheered for Xiao Nanfeng. None made a big fuss; given what they knew of their young leader, they were certain that Xiao Nanfeng would arrange for everything.


    The spies in Yongding had chills go down their spine upon seeing the ughter of an Immortal. Momentarily at a loss, they hurried out of Yongding and began spreading word of what had happened.


    The news of another fallen Immortal spread quickly throughout the Tianshu Empire, and then the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea. Several sects that had been intending to participate in the internecine conflict between empires past and present hesitated as they turned toward Yongding.

 Chapter 289: Hong Lies Memorial

    <h4>Chapter 289: Hong Lie''s Memorial</h4>


    Months ago, the backyard of Cui Haisheng''s manor in Jingtao had been deemed a forbidden area. Screams and shouts could be heard from the region from time to time, and the household servants and guards stayed as far away from it as they could. Just looking in the direction of the backyard would give them chills as they shuddered in fear.


    Every day, there were countless headless corpses that had to be retrieved from the backyard. Those who had been assigned such a responsibility returned from it shaking and shivering; some even suffered a major illness.


    Tang''s eyes twitched as he headed to the backyard himself.


    "Damn it, Cui Haisheng! He told me he was going to help me raise my cultivation, but he ran off to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and ditched me. I even have to take care of Envoy Ying!" Tang clutched a letter as his heart thumped.


    As he stepped into the backyard, he found it surrounded by ck smoke. His body suddenly turned chilly. Dozens of shadow cursed effigies had surrounded him and were reaching out for his head with their ws, as if about to pluck it from his body.


    Tang gulped and held his letter up high. "I''m here to report to Envoy Ying! There''s news about the Divine Emperor."


    Only then did the cursed effigies retract their ws and shift aside.


    Tang took a deep breath as he walked deep into the backyard. Along the way, he saw more and more shadow cursed effigies wandering their domain.


    A group of shadows were dragging dozens of cultivators into a small courtyard. The cultivators were screaming in fear.


    The shadows all around, sensing prey, pounced toward them.


    "Save us! Help!"


    "Please, let me go! I was just strolling through the streets! Don''t kill me!"


    The cultivators screamed and wept, but any resistance was futile. The shadows quickly plucked off their heads and ate them whole. Then, they tossed the headless corpses into a corner of the courtyard for the servants to clean up.


    Tang''s scalp prickled. No wonder Cui Haisheng had run off; who could bear such a scene? Cui Haisheng had appointed him as Envoy Ying''s messenger instead. He felt as though he might be eaten at any time.


    Tang walked up to the hall and called out tentatively, "Envoy Ying, I have word about the Divine Emperor."


    "Enter!" Envoy Ying shouted from within.


    Tang walked into the hall to see a ck-robed figure swallowing up a shadow cursed effigy.


    The ck-robed figure was none other than Envoy Ying. Despite the fact that only a hand from its body had remained, its body hadpletely regrown by now. Not only that, whereas the other shadow cursed effigies were eating people, it was eating the shadow cursed effigies themselves.


    Tang shuddered. Envoy Ying was far more fearsome than those mindless shadows.


    "News from Xiao Nanfeng? Describe what happened," Envoy Ying said.


    "A report from the city of Yongding mentions that Xiao Nanfeng and a group of cultivators killed Xiang Pojun. What happened was..." Tang recounted the series of events leading up to Xiang Pojun''s death.


    "Xiang Pojun''s dead?" Envoy Ying eximed.


    "He is. Yongding''s too dangerous at the moment, and Xiao Nanfeng bears fearsome power. Envoy Ying, we can''t afford to antagonize him."


    "Can''t afford to antagonize him? What nonsense. Didn''t you exin what happened? Xiang Pojun died because of the Divine Emperor. All Xiao Nanfeng and his group did was break the qi barrier around Xiang Pojun," Envoy Ying replied disdainfully.


    "Isn''t that a matter of concern in and of itself?" Tang asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s de is rather strange, but it likely needs a dragon-quelling spike to unlock its full strength. Without these spikes, there''s nothing to be concerned about," Envoy Ying replied disdainfully.


    "In that case, when are you going to deal with Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor?" Tang asked.


    Envoy Ying thought for a moment. "Soon enough. Once I recover to the level of an Immortal. I suppose he''ll live for a few more days."


    "Understood!" Tang replied.


    "Leave," Envoy Ying said coolly.


    Tang left the hall, trembling with fear.


    Three dayster, by Hong Lie''s cenotaph on Taiqing Ind, Xiao Nanfeng was leading a memorial service for Hong Lie attended by countless Taiqing disciples. Before his grave was ced Xiang Pojun''s head and a series of tributes.


    Xiao Nanfeng poured a cup of wine over his grave.


    "Senior Uncle, I''ve avenged you. May your truesoul rest peacefully in heaven," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Rest in peace, Division Leader Hong Lie!" the Taiqing disciples cried out. They kowtowed toward Hong Lie''s grave.


    Hong Lie had been the Mortal division leader ever since the Taiqing cmity, and he had kept the entire division running since; his achievements couldn''tpare to, say, Zhao Tianheng. Taking revenge for Hong Lie had therefore been one of the Taiqing Sect''s main priorities, and this memorial service to report and honor that revenge had drawn the attention of countless Taiqing disciples.


    After the ceremony, as the disciples scattered, a robed official walked up to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Division Leader Xiao, Emperor Tianshu has received your envoys and is aware of your deeds. However, His and Her Majesties, along with the crown prince, have departed for the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and were unable to make it to the ceremony. I was sent to deliver the news in their stead. Please forgive the discourtesy."


    "Not Nn Qiankun''s main body, nor even his avatar?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "We had just received news that Ku Jiang and Han Bingdie were in a bout of danger within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, and His Majesty''s avatar had left to help them out. Please forgive the discourtesy," the official repeated.


    Zhao Yuanjiao continued to frown, but didn''t grumble any longer.


    The official turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Emperor Tianshu has proimed that whosoever kills Xiang Pojun shall be given the title of Marquis and control over Marquis Wu''snds. Upon learning that the Xiang forces had cooperatively killed Xiang Pojun, His Majesty dered that the merit for the kill shall be awarded to Marquis Xiao, and Marquis Wu''snds shall likewise be Marquis Xiao''snds."


    The official handed an imperial edict to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What? You''re not granting Xiao Nanfeng the title of Marquis?!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed angrily.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out and held Zhao Yuanjiao back. "His Majesty is right. After all, I wasn''t the one who slew Xiang Pojun myself."


    Zhao Yuanjiao fumed at the official.


    "Thank you for being understanding, Young Master Xiao." The official smiled.


    "On behalf of my father, allow me to thank Emperor Tianshu." Xiao Nanfeng imed the edict formally.


    "If there''s nothing else, I shall confirm delivery of the edict." The official bowed and departed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao waited until the official left before turning to Xiao Nanfeng with a scowl.


    "Nanfeng risked his life to avenge our Senior Uncle, but this edict imed that Emperor Tianshu''s bounty was to thank for it! Nn Qiankun is shameless," Yu''er fumed.


    "Not only that, instead of granting Nanfeng the title of Marquis, Nn Qiankun''s assigning the merit to his father. It would be improper and irreverent for Nanfeng to contest his father for the merit, meaning that Nn Qiankun gets to skimp on fortune," Zhao Yuanjiao added.


    "Skimp on fortune?" Yu''er sounded perplexed.


    "When a cultivator is granted the title of Marquis, the title is traditionally awarded alongside a considerable sum of fortune. Since Nn Qiankun isn''t granting Nanfeng that title, then he won''t have to pay out the fortune, either."


    Yu''er spat in disgust. "What a schemer! He''s worse than you, Zhao Yuanjiao."


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned at Yu''er.


    "Nanfeng, do you think Nn Qiankun was lying when he said that he couldn''t attend this memorial?" Yu''er turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I don''t care whether or not he makes it. It''s sufficient that he sent an official to report back on what happened."


    "Oh? Why?" Yu''er asked.


    "There''s likely another culprit responsible for Hong Lie''s death in addition to Xiang Pojun, and I believe Nn Qiankun is sheltering that culprit. The culprit may well be in the Tianshu Empire. This memorial is partially intended as a signal to Nn Qiankun that we''re done with the investigation, that we won''t pursue this killer any longer," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Will Nn Qiankun believe us?" Yu''er asked.


    "It doesn''t matter¡ªour attitude toward the situation is enough. We''ll continue the investigation slowly, but nothing will happen in the short term. Perhaps the killer will rx and drop their guard as well," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "This killer''s identity must be exceptional," Yu''er said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. "Senior Brother, how has your cultivation advanced so quickly despite your remaining in Taiqing Ind? You''ve already reachedte-stage Wingform-realm."


    "You have your draconic veins, and I have my ckguards. They reported to me about an Immortal estate left behind after the Immortal''s death. There were a few treasures and opportunities within, some of which allowed my cultivation to grow at a rapid clip," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "Oh?"


    "It''s a very safe location. I won''t be able to use up all the treasures, and some are already starting to dissipate. I''ve already had some of my confidantes in the Ascended division and the most important ckguards head there to try their luck. Would you two like to do the same?"


    "An Immortal''s abode..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "Keep this secret, you hear? I''m only telling you about it. You''re wee to bring some trusted subordinates to join me."


    Yu''er''s eyes filled with anticipation.


    "Senior Sister, you should head there with Croak, Warble, and You Jiu. They''ve been at the peak of Wingform for some time. Perhaps the treasures in this abode will suffice to evoke the Immortal transformation," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "You''re not going?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I''d like to see if I can find the entrance to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm."


    Zhao Yuanjiao gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Had Xiao Nanfeng advanced to the point that these treasures meant nothing to him?


    "Don''t misunderstand me, Senior Brother. I cultivate an unusual technique, and ordinary aether won''t be able to advance it any further. I need to find an opportunity within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. As you know, even draconic aether won''t make my cultivation budge," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "Can you find an entrance leading into it?"


    "I''m sure that Xiang Pojun''s charm is the key, but I haven''t uncovered all its secrets."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded again. "Be careful, then."


    "Nanfeng, what if I apany you to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm instead?" Yu''er offered.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There''s no need. You should head to the Immortal''s abode. Croak, Warble, and You Jiu will protect you. If you manage to be an Immortal, you cane over and help me then."


    Yu''er nodded with some reluctance.

 Chapter 290: The Red Moon Yin Body

    <h4>Chapter 290: The Red Moon Yin Body</h4>


    A monthter, in the Xiao manor in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he nced at the Spirit Emperor''s charm in his hand. "Divine Emperor, this charm has quintessence of srfire within it, so why can''t I extract it?"


    ck smoke seeped out of his storage ring and formed words: "If you want to die, keep striking the charm with your spiritual power."


    "Is something wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor ignored him.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    What was going on? A month ago, the Divine Emperor had been more than willing to help take down Xiang Pojun, and Xiao Nanfeng had thought that it would be open to furthermunication. Why was it suddenly being so unresponsive?


    Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to set the Spirit Emperor''s charm aside for now.


    By this time, he had finished examining all the items in Xiang Pojun''s storage artifacts. There was plenty of treasure, but nothing that could help advance his cultivation. There were quite a few relics, but none that caught his eye.


    Suddenly, he stilled. Something had happened to his avatar.


    His avatar was currently situated in the internal space of the divine purple rock, simultaneously attuning to it and molding it into the shape of a seal, and attuning to the Heavenly Dao Scroll and attempting to repair it. Something in his avatar''s mindscape had shattered with a bang.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar immediately sat cross-legged in anticipation. "Nn Qiankun''s decision did end up being beneficial to me, after all. By ceding Marquis Wu''snds to my father, he''s granted me ess to a shocking amount of fortune tithed by themon people. Have I already made a breakthrough with the Taiqing Yin Body?"


    Within his mindscape, his sterke was surging with waves. A full red moon hung high overhead, bathing his mindscape in resplendent crimson light.


    As Xiao Nanfeng meditated and channeled his qi in ordance with the Taiqing Yin Body, the waters of his sterke rose into the air and began pouring into the red moon.


    His sterke was like a raging ocean, but the red moon managed to drain it dry.


    The crimson light that it gave off slowly diminished, and the moon quickly turned pale¡ªthen entirely colorless, as though in a lunar eclipse.


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense something gestating in the moon, something that drew his consciousness within. He had the strange feeling of suddenly bing a fetus in the womb, the spiritual power around him nourishing him as he rapidly grew within the red moon. He could feel his body turning more and more mature.


    An indeterminate amount of time passed. As his growth seemed to peak, he tore at the shell surrounding him. Once wasn''t enough. Ten times, a hundred times¡ªit took him almost a thousand attempts to finally break out of the shell.


    A gap had been torn out of the red moon. Red light shone out from the gap and lit up Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape once again. A red figure slowly crawled out of the gap bearing Xiao Nanfeng''s appearance. Unusually, however, the body appeared to be translucent.


    The red, translucent Xiao Nanfeng walked out into the mindscape. He looked at his hands. "Yin Body? This is my yin body? I''ve be a deity..."


    Behind him, the gap in the red moon widened until it spanned the entire moon, which had returned to its original appearance.


    Because it had just birthed a yin body, however, the tremendous consumption left the red moon looking rather pale.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body stepped out of his mindscape, apanied by the red moon floating behind his head. Xiao Nanfeng was amazed by the scene.


    "Except for the translucent aspect, this yin body looks very much like my physical one. It even has its own mindscape..." Xiao Nanfeng felt his yin body.


    He reached out and infused his remnant spiritual power from his physical body into his yin body. At the same time, his physical body decayed rapidly and vanished in a cloud of ash.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body punched forward experimentally. A huge storm formed on impact, but that storm only extended about fifty kilometers from him before it was suddenly cut off.


    "This is a deity''s domain¡ªwhere the red moon shines, my yin body can exert influence in physical reality!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He left the purple seal''s internal space and strode over to a room in the Xiao manor. The red moon behind his head released an incredible burst of light as the spiritual aether within fifty kilometers flocked toward his yin body.


    Simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body began to guard his avatar.


    It took three whole days for spiritual aether to continuously gather around Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body and be distilled into spiritual power to replenish what had been consumed. Not only had all the spiritual power been replenished, his sterke had grown to ten times its original size. In addition, the red moon behind his head had grown even more lustrous and lurid.


    His yin body had turned from translucent to opaque, almost as though it were a physical body in its own right.


    Just then, ck smoke continuously seeped out of Xiao Nanfeng''s main body''s ring.


    "Has your avatar reached Yin Body? Why is your yin body different from others''?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "Different? How?"


    "At the Yin Body stage, yin bodies should be transparent. Only by reaching the realm of True Yin will you be a deity proper. A yin body needs an incredible source of vitality to manifest solidly like a physical body. Your avatar clearly hasn''t reached True Yin, so how can its yin body have developed to such an extent?"


    Xiao Nanfeng could guess why. The red moon was responsible¡ªit had merged with the cursed spiritual avatar of a cursed king, which was able to generate its own vitality.


    The red moon needed an incredible amount of vitality to sustain itself, and the red rope cursed king''s spiritual avatar met that need. Not only that, it had apparently given his yin body sufficient vitality to make it look as solid as a physical body.


    "My red moon is different from others''," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The Divine Emperor fell silent. It had thought Xiao Nanfeng strange from the beginning, but this level of peculiarity was beyond what it couldprehend.


    "There is something wrong with your spiritual cultivation technique," the Divine Emperor dered.


    "My avatar cultivates the Taiqing Yin Body, one of the premier spiritual cultivation techniques of the era. It has one major w: it''s particrly demanding in terms of physical bodies. I had a lot of trouble keeping up its supply in the past, and I imagine it''ll only get worse at Yin Body." Xiao Nanfengughed.


    "And why would you need a physical body?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "What else would I do? Let it float around as a soul? I¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly cut himself off as he realized something.


    "Before Yin Body, your spirit needed a physical body as a vehicle to ess the physical world, to protect the spirit, and to conserve spiritual power. Now, however, you''ve be a deity. What need have you for a physical body? Your avatar''s strength is in spiritual cultivation."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the Divine Emperor''s words for some time before nodding. "You''repletely right, Senior. Why would my avatar need a physical body? It just feels strange not to use one all of a sudden."


    "Your red moon carries an ominous aura. It is particrly sinister, and there is something deeply problematic about it. If you continue pursuing its cultivation, something horrible may descend," the Divine Emperor continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s lips twisted. What was ominous about his red moon? He had already cultivated a yin body¡ªwasn''t it toote for such a warning? How could he start from scratch now?


    "Believe me as you will." More words formed.


    "I don''t disbelieve you, Senior. Might you have a solution for me?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired.


    However, the Divine Emperor ignored Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Was the Divine Emperor just proud or indifferent? Would it only talk to him when it was feeling in the mood for it?


    A month ago, it had helped Xiao Nanfeng deal with Xiang Pojun. Was that its way of showing its gratitude for Xiao Nanfeng''s help with Envoy Ying? Would it go back to ignoring Xiao Nanfeng now that it had repaid its debt?


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed and decided to ignore the Divine Emperor for the time being. He happily studied his yin body, which had conjured a set of red robes from spiritual power. He sent his red moon back into his mindscape and found that, under ordinary circumstances, there was no need to expose it at all. He was still able to manifest a small deific domain around himself even with the red moon internal to his body.


    His avatar had reached Yin Body, but his main body had yet to break through. He could sense that the silver moon of his main body was very close to advancement, but not quite there just yet. He wasn''t in a rush. As he amassed more fortune, his main body would quickly reach Yin Body as well.


    Two nightster, outside the city of Yongding, a series of shadows continuously appeared by a hill and stationed themselves all over in an orderly fashion. They were looking respectfully toward a ck-robed figure at the peak of the hill, Envoy Ying.


    Tang stood beside Envoy Ying, shocked by the thousands of shadow cursed effigies that had gathered around him. An army of such shadows might well be able to take down an empire. If they all surged toward Yongding, wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng going to die?


    "Lad, I''m here to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Why have you followed me?" Envoy Ying asked coolly.


    "The division leader informed me that, because he was otherwise upied, I was to witness Xiao Nanfeng''s death on his behalf," Tang stated.


    Tang was hardly going to say that Xiao Nanfeng had instructed him to spy on the shadows; Cui Haisheng would be his excuse.


    "Is Cui Haisheng scared of us? He''s more of a coward than you are," Envoy Ying replied disdainfully.


    "I''m afraid too, Senior," Tang admitted.


    Envoy Ying snorted. It looked toward the shadow cursed effigies all around the mountain. "See the city of Yongding before you? If the Divine Emperor is captured, I''ll let you eat your fill. The whole city will be yours."


    The thousands of shadows roared in excitement.


    The Divine Emperor is in the Xiao manor over there," Envoy Ying continued. "Now, let''s get started."


    The shadow cursed effigies roared again, then shot toward the Xiao manor in Yongding as beams of ck light.

 Chapter 291: The Red Ropes Might

    <h4>Chapter 291: The Red Rope''s Might</h4>


    In the deep of night, dark clouds covered up the moon, luding even the incident moonlight.


    Thousands of shadows crept through the darkness like fish in water, skulking into Yongding and swarming toward the Xiao manor.


    At the same time, cultivators from all manner of Immortal sects had headed to Yongding to evaluate Xiao Nanfeng''s suitability as a leader to whom they might pledge their allegiance. As a result, the Xiao manor was under surveince at all times.


    The shadows might have been able to trick the city guards and themon people, but the cultivators from Immortal sects quickly noticed something amiss.


    "What''s that? It moved so quickly. Was it a shadow?"


    "The rumored shadow cursed effigies? I heard that they were roaming around Jingtao and seizing any cultivators in the area."


    "There are so many of them. How could there be this many?!"


    A few of the cultivators were so shaken that chills ran down their backs. They knew just how frightening shadow cursed effigies were. A single one could destroy a small Immortal sect; these droves left them with fear and despair.


    "They''re headed toward the Xiao manor!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s been targeted by the shadow cursed effigies. He''s dead meat!"


    "We have to leave. These shadows might ughter the entire city of Yongding!"


    The cultivators hurriedly gathered their disciples and prepared to flee.


    Just then, the first shadow arrived at the Xiao manor. It widened its mouth, revealing sawtooth-like teeth. Its eyes gleamed. The Spirit Emperor forbade them from wholesale ughter in public, but Envoy Ying had promised that they could eat all the humans of this city if they took down Xiao Nanfeng. It could eat its fill!


    The shadow cursed effigy leapt over the gate, ready to enter the Xiao manor and unleash carnage.


    Just then, a length of red rope fell from the skies and looped around its neck in a sinister fashion. It drew taut and caused the shadow to hang in the sky as if it weremitting suicide.


    The shadow struggled furiously, attempting to tear apart the red rope, but the red rope seemed nigh impervious to damage. The more the shadow struggled, the tighter it grew, until it was keening in pain as it contorted its body.


    The other shadows that had approached the Xiao manor were suffering the same fate. Loops of red rope had fallen from the sky and tightened around their necks.


    Within moments, there were a few dozen shadows hanging in the air and furiously struggling.


    "Save us!" the shadows cried out.


    "This red rope¡ªit''s a cursed effigy!" the other shadows eximed.


    The shadows stopped short and looked up at the sky in surprise.


    The fleeing cultivators within the city were astonished by what they were seeing.


    "Senior Uncle, look at the Xiao manor!"


    "Red rope? The red rope cursed effigy from the draconic pce?"


    "Not just the shadows, but the red rope, too? What''s going on with this cursed city?!"


    The cultivators panicked all the more when they saw the red rope.


    The shadow cursed effigies were only rumored to have caused the disappearance of cultivators in Jingtao, but the red rope cursed effigies were the nightmare of all the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea. How many cultivators who had braved the perils of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce had died because of the red rope? The sects had reimed the decaying corpses of their strongest cultivators; none knew precisely what had happened at the draconic pce, but everyone guessed that the red rope cursed effigies were to me. The red rope was even more frightening than the shadows!


    Some cultivators fled even more quickly, but others halted in their tracks.


    "No, look! The red ropes seem to be protecting the Xiao manor!" someone eximed.


    "What?!" Arge number of cultivators looked dubiously at the speaker.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng, d in red, leapt into the air and onto the roof of the manor. He stood with his hands sped behind his back as he nced down at the shadows surrounding his manor.


    "Are you here for me?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The shadows outside the manor howled, dozens of them shooting forward in beams of light, straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Lengths of red rope continued to fall from the sky, urately looping around the shadows that were rushing into the manor. All the shadows that had recklessly charged forward were hung up in the air.


    The other shadows stopped short and gaped. Some attempted to save their immobilizedrades, but all that tried were hanged themselves.


    Just then, the dark clouds surrounding the bright moon floated away. Silver moonlight illuminated Yongding, allowing the cultivators all around to see a red cloud floating above the Xiao manor, lurid and garish. Red ropes peeked out of it, ready to dart down and loop around the necks of any interlopers.


    "Envoy Ying, aren''t you going to rescue your subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    All the shadow cursed effigies looked expectantly toward a hilltop outside the city. Envoy Ying was standing there and observing the scene in shock.


    The moonlight revealed hundreds of shadow cursed effigies hanging in the air, struggling in pain. Thousands more waited outside the Xiao manor, not daring to cross the threshold, as Xiao Nanfeng taunted Envoy Ying.


    Envoy Ying remained silent for some time as it confirmed that the red cloud covered only the area around the Xiao manor. Only then did it fly into Yongding.


    "Red Rope? This affair is between us and Xiao Nanfeng. Don''t meddle needlessly lest you create unnecessary trouble for yourself," Envoy Ying demanded.


    He believed that the red rope cursed effigies were helping Xiao Nanfeng of their own volition.


    "These red ropes listen to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    "Are they crazy? Cursed effigies, obeying a mortal cultivator?" Envoy Ying clearly doubted Xiao Nanfeng''s words.


    Within the city, countless cultivators were overhearing the conversation in shock. Cursed effigies looked down on ordinary cultivators; perhaps a rare few had been ''subdued'' by one cultivator or another, but only for mutual cooperation and benefit.


    "Has Xiao Nanfeng secured the assistance of these cursed effigies?"


    "How would he dare? They could easily turn on him!"


    "It does seem sinister, but if they really are willing to help Xiao Nanfeng conquer the world, who would be a match for him?"


    Whispers abounded all around. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin what he meant, because no one would ever believe that he had truly subdued the red rope cursed effigy.


    "Go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Dozens of lengths of red rope shot straight toward Envoy Ying.


    Envoy Ying thundered, "Red Rope, if you continue to assist Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll be making us your enemies!"


    Envoy Ying punched toward the red ropes, destroying dozens of lengths of rope, but even more multiplied and came his way from all directions.


    At the same time, the red cloud in the air began to expand rapidly. Where it spread, red ropes fell from the sky. Envoy Ying grew progressively more flustered as it defended against the red ropes'' assault.


    Suddenly, a length of red rope managed to get past Envoy Ying''s guard and looped around his neck.


    Envoy Ying jerked in shock.


    He was stronger than the red rope and able to tear it away from his neck, but the next moment, even more lengths looped around its limbs and neck. All the rope tugged on Envoy Ying at once.


    "No!" Envoy Ying shouted.


    However, it could do nothing as the red rope tore its body apart.


    "Charge at Xiao Nanfeng! Make the red rope retreat and defend him, now!" shouted the dismembered parts of Envoy Ying''s body.


    All the shadows leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng, whereupon a red moon emerged behind his back. It grewrger andrger, brighter and brighter, until it illuminated all of Yongding.


    "A red moon in the sky¡ªYin Body?!"


    "Is there a cultivator at Yin Body in the Xiao manor? Is it Ku Jiang?"


    "No, perhaps it''s Xiao Hongye."


    "This is the Taiqing red moon! No matter who it is, the cultivator must be one of the strongest members of the Taiqing Immortal Sect!"


    The cultivators in the city were stunned by the appearance of a cultivator at Yin Body. They considered many possibilities, but none even dared to contemte the notion that Xiao Nanfeng could have reached Yin Body himself. That would have been ridiculous.


    Reaching Yin Body required a colossal amount of resources, and most cultivators would never reach such a realm in their lifetime.


    They were aware that the red moon''s master likely cultivated the Taiqing Yin Body. Allegedly, it was an abstruse cultivation technique that was harder toprehend and harder still to cultivate. Reaching Yin Body with the Taiqing Yin Body would be a titanic feat, and Xiao Nanfeng was far too young to have aplished it.


    As the red moon floated into the sky and into the red cloud, it began to grow even more rapidly. Red rope fell from the cloud in torrents¡ªfrom a few dozen lengths to hundreds of lengths in one fell swoop.


    The shadows leading the charge toward Xiao Nanfeng found themselves trussed up and hung in the air.


    Another few hundred shadows fell prey the next moment.


    "Save us, Envoy Ying!"


    "I''m choking!"


    "Release me, Red Rope!"


    In an instant, almost three thousand shadows were hanging in the air.


    The red rope seemed to be able to multiply indefinitely. Roughly half the shadows remained freed, but they refused to step forward. Even Envoy Ying seemed to despair, unable to believe what had taken ce.


    "Red Rope, you have the power of an Immortal? Why would you help Xiao Nanfeng?!" Envoy Ying''s head shouted.


    The red rope continued to fall from the skies. Another thousand shadows were hung in the air.


    The remaining shadows were shocked beyond belief. Realizing that their target was no easy prey but instead a frightening predator, they turned tail and ran.


    "Hold it right there!" Keep rushing forward! The red rope''s cursed spiritual power must have a limit. As long as you can exceed that limit, there won''t be any more red rope. Don''t run!" Envoy Ying shouted.


    "Don''t worry. None of them will be able to escape. They''ll all apany you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The red moon in the air released piercing crimson light that overshadowed even the actual moonlight in the night sky.


    Everyone saw a frightening sight.


    The red cloud expanded furiously, growingrger andrger until it covered up all of Yongding. A thousand lengths of red rope descended from the red cloud and hung up another thousand shadows.


    The remaining shadows fled even more quickly, and the fastest had already made it to the city walls when even more red rope looped down and caught the few straggling shadows remaining.


    Screams and shouts from the shadow cursed effigies filled the night sky.


    Themon people, awakened by themotion, carefully peeked out of their windows and looked up toward the sky. A red moon shone down at them; red clouds hovered majestically in the sky. Pitch-ck shadows hung from thousands of lengths of red rope, almost like a mass suicide. The scene was simultaneously eerie and imposing.

 Chapter 292: The Spirit Emperor and the Divine Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 292: The Spirit Emperor and the Divine Emperor</h4>


    On a hilltop outside Yongding, Tang was gobsmacked as he watched what was urring in Yongding. "I knew it! Xiao Nanfeng''s even more sinister than I am. He managed to take down that whole group of shadow cursed effigies! Thank goodness I''m his spy, or I would have been done for. He''s far more of an omen of cmity than I am!"


    Just then, a ck-robed figure jumped up the mountain andnded in front of Tang.


    Tang nched. "Who are you?" he asked warily.


    "Sir Tang, King Xiao has instructed me to provide you with a reward for your information this time, along with your rued sry."


    This wasn''t the first time such a thing had happened; Xiao Nanfeng was very pleased with the information that Tang had brought him, and hadvishly rewarded Tang as a result.


    "Oh? Another reward from King Xiao?" Tang''s eyes brightened.


    The ck-robed figure ced his storage artifact against Tang''s. Both cultivators worked together to transfer arge quantity of treasure from one storage artifact into the other.


    "The reward and sry have been delivered. King Xiao has new orders for you: report to Cui Haisheng and apany him. You need not do more; just stick around them," the ck-robed figure continued.


    He jumped down the hill and vanished from sight. Tang happily checked the treasure that had been deposited into his storage artifact.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really is generous. These treasures might suffice to advance my cultivation into Wingform!" Tang''s eyes lit up, but he quickly frowned thereafter. "But as a ''spy'', all I do is eat, y, chat, talk¡ªisn''t it a little indecent?"


    Meanwhile, in the Xiao manor, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body frowned as he considered the oue of the fight. "Therger I expand my deific domain, the more spiritual power I consume... That fight didn''tst very long, but it drained a surprising amount of my spiritual power."


    The Divine Emperor suddenly emerged from his ring.


    It was silent for some time, clearly not having expected that Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar would have such incredible strength after advancing to Yin Body. Indeed, the strength that Xiao Nanfeng had disyed would have been able to threaten the Divine Emperor himself.


    After some time, the Divine Emperor finally formed words with ck smoke. "There''s a cursed king in this red moon of yours?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin the melding of the red rope to his avatar''s red moon to the Divine Emperor. Rather, he smiled. "Divine Emperor, these shadows came in search of you, and I''ve bagged them all. Please ept this offering."


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out. A loop of red rope appeared with the five pieces of Envoy Ying''s body.


    "Divine Emperor, I must have been crazy to work against you. Please spare me!" Envoy Ying''s head cried out.


    The Divine Emperor ignored it, reached out for the five pieces of its body, and swallowed them all.


    With a wave of its hand, Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring transformed into the Divine Emperor''s bell once more, with its mouth facing up.


    "Toss them into the bell," the Divine Emperor instructed.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent the shadows into the bell.


    "Spare me, Divine Emperor!"


    "Divine Emperor, we were only acting on orders! Please spare us!"


    "No!"


    The shadow cursed effigies screamed, begged, and pleaded, but none paid them any attention. They were unable to escape while restrained by the red rope, and it took only an instant for them to all be tossed inside the Divine Emperor''s bell.


    The Divine Emperor itself jumped into its bell, which then transformed back into a ring tattooed on Xiao Nanfeng''s finger. From within, Xiao Nanfeng could barely make out the Divine Emperor''s growls and the shadows'' pleas within.


    As Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar got down from the roof, the red cloud in the sky shrank in size until it vanished into the Xiao manor alongside a red moon.


    Even after no trace or tint of red light remained, the cultivators within the city were still staring at the Xiao manor, unable to believe what had just happened. They gulped down mouthfuls of saliva.


    "I thought killing Xiang Pojun was Xiao Nanfeng''s limit, but to think that there was such a frightening existence in the Xiao manor too..."


    "Even cursed effigies have fallen to the Xiao manor. Just how strong are Xiao Nanfeng''s forces?!"


    "I have to report to my sect at once. We''ve underestimated Xiao Nanfeng by toorge a margin. There''s a very strong chance he can establish a kingdom or empire of his own."


    "I have to inform my sect immediately! We can''t ce all our eggs in the Xiang n''s basket. Xiao Nanfeng bears great potential as well."


    Two dayster, while Xiao Nanfeng was investigating the Spirit Emperor''s charm in his study, a hoarse voice suddenly said,


    "Hand me the Spirit Emperor''s charm. I''ll open it for you."


    The hoarse voice was of no certain gender, but Xiao Nanfeng could sense that it wasing from his storage ring.


    "Divine Emperor, can you speak now?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Not yet. I''ve simply grown strong enough to disable a portion of my curse. I can vibrate the air to produce sound. Hand me the Spirit Emperor''s charm, and I''ll open it for you."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. "Senior, I dealt with the shadows not because I wanted your assistance, but because I couldn''t stand their behavior."


    "You don''t want my help? Forget it, then."


    "No, please, help me!" Xiao Nanfeng hastily stuffed the Spirit Emperor''s charm into his storage ring.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s attempt to develop a rtionship with the Spirit Emperor met with questionable sess, but at the very least, he would benefit from his actions.


    The Divine Emperor induced the ring to transform into its bell once again.


    The mouth of the bell was pitch-ck. Suddenly, roaring mes red up from within as a frightening aura emerged from it. Xiao Nanfeng tensed as if encountering an enemy.


    "Divine Emperor, are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    The roaring mes were being tightly contained by the Divine Emperor''s bell. If the artifact weren''t present, the entire manor might well have gone up in mes.


    Just then, a male voice could be heard from within the bell.


    "I''ve finally found you! Divine Emperor, are you finally willing to meet with me again?" The man sounded unbelievably pleased.


    "Spirit Emperor, this isn''t your pce, and you''re only a fragment of will. Don''t try anything," the Divine Emperor warned.


    "Divine Emperor, you''re far too cold toward me. Don''t you remember how we took on the world together? We reigned supreme, just the two of us! How did we end up like this?" The man''s voice was tinged with annoyance.


    "You instigated it, Spirit Emperor. You wanted to establish the spirits'' Imperial Court, and I assisted in your endeavor. We defeated countless cultivators to im you your throne¡ªand then you turned on me!" the Divine Emperor hissed.


    "Don''t you know why I wanted to establish an Imperial Court to begin with? It was so I could deserve to be by your side! And I did it, I became the top cultivator in the world, the heavenly monarch of the spirits! Why did you still refuse to look at me seriously? Am I that inferior?" The man''s voice bordered on obsession.


    "Not between us," the Divine Emperor dered.


    "Why not? I''m male, and you''re female. I''m yang, and you''re yin. Even our cursed spiritual avatars are two halves of the same. Don''t you see howpatible, how attuned we are to each other? Why won''t you ept me?!" the man howled.


    "As I said, not between us. Spirit Emperor, if you still consider me a friend, give up on your desire," the Divine Emperor replied coldly.


    "Why not? Is it because you''re a human, and I''m a spirit? There are plenty of human-spirit couples, and I can transform into a human myself! What''s the matter? I don''t want you to just be a friend. I want to marry you!" the man continued stubbornly.


    "It''s not because you''re a spirit. It''s because I treat you as a friend, and I simply can''t develop romantic feelings for you."


    "A friend? Ha! Do you mean a pet? It''s true. You were the one who rescued me from a serpent when I was young. You kept me by your side, feeding me and treating me like a pet. You were very kind to me, but I don''t want to be your pet. I want to marry you! All I did, I did for you¡ªbut you still think I''m nothing more than that little spirit you saved that day, don''t you?" the man cried out.


    "Listen to me! I don''t look down on you. I treat you like a close friend, and I simply don''t have any romantic feelings for you. That won''t change no matter what you do. Now, dispel your will. I''m going to im what''s within this charm," the Divine Emperor said coldly.


    "You want me to back down? I won''t do it. You''ll have to destroy me!" the man replied stubbornly.


    "Be destroyed, then!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    "You''re really going to strike me? Just you wait. I know where you are now. I''ll have my spiritse im you as my bride. You''ll have to agree to marry me!" The man''s tone brooked no refusal.


    "You asshole!" the Divine Emperor cried out.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell tolled, causing the intense aura and the male voice to vanish.


    Then, the Spirit Emperor''s charm flew out of the Divine Emperor''s bell.


    "Lad, I''ve destroyed the fragment of the Spirit Emperor''s will in his charm. You can im the quintessence of srfire within and unlock the entrance to the hidden realm now," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng was still stupefied by the conversation he had overheard. Was that the Spirit Emperor''s voice? Who could have expected such a rtionship between the two monarchs of yore?


    "Well? Get to it! Or are youughing at me?" the Divine Emperor urged.


    "Ah, no, it''s nothing. I''m just happy, that''s all," Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly replied.


    "What''s there to be happy about?" The Divine Emperor seemed particrly vexed.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. No wonder the Divine Emperor had been so erratic toward him. A woman''s thoughts were impossible to predict!


    "Senior, I''m happy about having received the quintessence of srfire, not about your personal affairs," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The Divine Emperor snorted. Her bell transformed into a ring on Xiao Nanfeng''s finger once again.

 Chapter 293: The Southern Heavenly Gate

    <h4>Chapter 293: The Southern Heavenly Gate</h4>


    After the Divine Emperor handled the Spirit Emperor''s charm, it became scorching hot. Golden mes emerged from it.


    "Quintessence of srfire!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He inhaled the mes, which split off from the charm, entered his body, and were absorbed into the second sun in his dantian.


    The sun quickly shrank in size as it fed all its energy into the nascent spirit in its core. Four hourster, a crow cawed within his body. mes burst out and ignited all around him.


    "The second nascent spirit has hatched. I''m in the second stage of Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He walked out of the study and soared into the sky. He flew for some time until he reached an uninhabited region of the sea.


    As he strode on the surface of the sea, two three-legged golden crows emerged from his body and flew into the air. They cawed, absorbing the sunlight within fifty kilometers around and transforming it into pure yang elemental force, which they stored within their bodies. Within a short amount of time, coruscant wheels of ming light encircled the two golden crows.


    Xiao Nanfeng spent a significant amount of time testing his strength and confirming that he had grown twice as strong as before. Then, he returned to the Xiao manor, satisfied with his progress.


    Upon reaching his study, he pulled out the Spirit Emperor''s token and poked around at it. "So this is the key to entering the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm?"


    He activated the charm in a burst of golden light, which hovered in the air about three meters away. It expanded toward its surroundings and formed a huge portal.


    The portal was wreathed in fog. A huge signboard was barely visible through the portal, on which was written "Southern Heavenly Gate."


    "The Southern Heavenly Gate? Could the Spirit Emperor''s pce lie within this hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed with anticipation.


    "Are you trying to kill yourself?" the Divine Emperor demanded from within his storage ring.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. He deactivated the charm, and the portal winked out of sight.


    "Senior, I''ve reached a rather awkward stage of progression with cultivation. I need quintessence of srfire to advance further. Does the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm possess more srfire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There''s plenty within, but the hidden realm is full of danger. Considering your cultivation, you''d die within moments. Perhaps your avatar at Yin Body could survive a little longer," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "Senior, would you be willing to guide me? I''d like to find some quintessence of srfire, and you can eat your fill of the shadow cursed effigies! And perhaps we might take down the Spirit Emperor together, too?" Xiao Nanfeng coaxed.


    The Divine Emperor: ...


    She couldn''t help but feel as though Xiao Nanfeng was overestimating his capabilities, that they would end up dying to some hidden danger together.


    "Senior, I overheard your conversation with the Spirit Emperor. He''s not going to give up. He''ll seek you down sooner orter. Rather than wait passively, why not take the initiative and take him down? You wouldn''t have to worry about anything afterwards," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "You really are cavalier, aren''t you? That''s a cursed king!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "So what? We''ve taken down cursed kings before. Don''t worry. I''m on your side. We''ll be able to deal with the Spirit Emperor for sure!" Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    The Divine Emperor: ...


    The Divine Emperor was certain that Xiao Nanfeng was bragging, but she considered his circumstances more carefully. Xiao Nanfeng really was sinister; who else could survive being haunted by a group of cursed kings for so long?


    Seeing that the Divine Emperor was ignoring him, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and said seriously, "Senior, I know that the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm will be particrly dangerous, but I simply don''t have the luxury to grow at a more sedate pace. I expect the future to be particrly dangerous for me. The Nn and Xiang ns are busy seeking opportunities in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and don''t have the time to deal with me just yet, but the moment they return, they''ll want to get rid of me. I need to fight for every second I have. I need to grow stronger, strong enough to defend myself. Quintessence of srfire is my most expedient way forward. I need to enter the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. Please assist me."


    "Die if you want," the Divine Emperor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. He understood that the Divine Emperor was agreeing to his request. He smiled. "Thank you, Divine Emperor!"


    The Divine Emperor sniffed.


    She was like a frozen mountain that kept others at bay, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t care. As long as the Divine Emperor was willing to help, he would have a much easier time of things.


    No one among the Xiang or Nn n would know the details of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm better than the Divine Emperor herself.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar walked over, activated the Spirit Emperor''s charm, and opened the portal once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body made to head within.


    "Isn''t your avatar going to join us?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "I overheard your conversation with the Spirit Emperor, Senior, and he''s aware of the location of the Xiao manor now. He''ll surely send more shadows over, and my avatar will have to stand guard over the city," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You really are trying to kill yourself, aren''t you?" the Divine Emperormented.


    "I have no choice, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied with augh. "Could you tell me about the hidden realm?"


    "Let''s see if you can survive first," the Divine Emperor replied coolly.


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng sounded confused, but the Divine Emperor refused to divulge more information. Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to step into the hidden realm. Meanwhile, his avatar reined in his spiritual power, and the portal into the realm vanished.


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body passed throughyers of fog before he witnessed the signboard for the Southern Heavenly Gate once again.


    "All fog? Why does it look like how the draconic pce used to be?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Before the Southern Heavenly Gate was arge za filled with countless scars from swords and des. It seemed dpidated, but there were still a hundred guards standing in the za.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The guards didn''t have physical bodies; they were in the form of white skeletons. Some of their skulls weren''t human in origin; many were beastmen. They were extremely tall on the whole, and some of the skeletal guards spanned dozens of meters in height. They held polished bone weapons and were standing at attention.


    Suddenly, one skeletal guard spotted Xiao Nanfeng and howled.


    All the guards in the vicinity turned toward Xiao Nanfeng and echoed the howl.


    Then, their bone weapons in tow, they charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior, what cursed effigies are these? Do you want to devour them? Shall I send them into the storage ring for you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor didn''t respond.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and thought to himself, "Isn''t the Divine Emperor being a little standoffish? Won''t these guards help her? Does she not want them?"


    Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to deal with the guards himself. He reached out for his divine undying de, but failed to grab anything out of his storage ring.


    "Senior, why are you blocking my ess into the storage ring? My de''s inside¡ªI need to fight!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Even so, the interior of the ring stubbornly remained inessible to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned stiff. "Senior, you aren''t trying to kill me, are you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng could only fight the guards with his bare fists.


    His fist met a skeletal guard''s bone de in an explosion of energy. Both he and the guard stumbled back; they were ofparable strength.


    "These guards are only Wingform-realm? Thank goodness." Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.


    He was particrly confident in his fist technique. He shot forward again and activated Hegemon''s Fist. A flurry of punches shot forward like raindrops, instantly causing the skeletal guard to explode in a shower of bone fragments.


    "I can do this!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed confidently.


    By then, he had been surrounded by a whole group of skeletal guards.


    There were a hundred skeletal guards in all of varying strength, the weakest at Spiritsong and the strongest at Wingform. Xiao Nanfeng took down one guard with every punch of his Hegemon''s Fist. Before long, all the guards had been smashed into bone fragments.


    "They''re not afraid of dying at all. They don''t even seem to have even basic intelligence. Are they cursed effigies?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the Divine Emperor curiously.


    The Divine Emperor still didn''t respond. He frowned dubiously.


    Suddenly, a howling gale swept by. The bone fragments scattered over the ground mysteriously rbined into the same skeletal guards that had previously been present.


    The guards had a few more cracks running down their bodies, but even those cracks were rapidly self-repairing. The guards twisted their heads, as if havinge to life again.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent. "Did I waste all my energy taking them down...?"


    The skeletal guards howled at Xiao Nanfeng once more, and another huge battle was about to break out.


    Xiao Nanfeng had two choices: turn back and have his avatar open the portal to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm so he could escape, or charge forward and break through.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng obliterated the guard barring his way, snatched his bone de, and rushed into the Southern Heavenly Gate. The skeletal guards behind him didn''t give chase, causing him to sigh in relief. He had made the correct decision.


    "Senior, weren''t you going to guide me? If not that, at least open up my storage ring for me, won''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly.


    Even so, the Divine Emperor did not respond. Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to continue heading onward, swinging his bone de.


    The Spirit Emperor''s pce was surrounded by fog and iparably expansive in size. Within the Southern Heavenly Gate were mountains, streams, and halls. Many of the halls had copsed and were nothing more than ruins.


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng chanced upon another patrol of skeleton guards. They strode around in an orderly fashion with expressionless faces, a sinister sight to behold.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately hid and waited for the skeleton patrol to leave.


    Considering that the pce was surrounded by fog, Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t have been able to see a thing even from a high vantage point. Rather than fly, Xiao Nanfeng searched around the region in hopes of finding another living person.


    He walked for a few days in that manner, climbing past hills and mountains. He met many skeleton patrols along the way, which he carefully avoided, until he heard the sound of cultivators fighting in the distance.


    "Quick, let''s take down this ve together. Its halberd is an Immortal relic!"

 Chapter 294: At the Foot of Mt. Tianzhu

    <h4>Chapter 294: At the Foot of Mt. Tianzhu</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng crept closer to the battlefield following the source of themotion. The battlefield was a huge valley with five cultivators surrounding a bone giant.


    The bone giant was wielding a halberd glowing with rainbow light.


    "This bone giant''s at the peak of Wingform. Even with an Immortal halberd, I doubt it''s a match for these cultivators," Xiao Nanfeng surmised, hiding some distance away.


    The five cultivators were all at Wingform, and one of them even wielded an Immortal sword. They were clearly strong, and the cracks on the bone giant''s body grew more and more numerous.


    The Wingform-realm cultivators'' fight should have spawned clouds of dust and wind, filling the air with mes. However, there seemed to be a mysterious strength within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm that absorbed all the remnant shockwaves from battle, causing the battle to look like an ordinary scene.


    Xiao Nanfeng could see that there was a blue-d man in the distance who didn''t dare to close in on the battlefield. As a shard of rock flew toward him, he hurriedly retreated in shock. He seemed only to be a Spiritsong-realm cultivator.


    "Be more careful! Don''t destroy that halberd. If it''s damaged, its strength will be greatly restricted!" the blue-d man called out.


    "We know!" the five Wingform-realm cultivators replied impatiently.


    The blue-d man''s eyes shone with excitement. "Another Immortal relic! We really are lucky."


    Just then, a fist struck his head, dazing him and causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood. He turned around.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what are you doing here?" He gasped out his assant''s name before falling unconscious in a slump.


    Xiao Nanfeng dragged him off.


    Not too longter, the five Wingform-realm cultivators finished taking down the bone giant. They excitedly retrieved the Immortal halberd.


    "Mr. Hua, let''s get going. This divine ve will restore itself momentarily!" one of the cultivators called out.


    However, as the cultivators whirled around, they found that Mr. Hua had vanished from sight.


    Two hourster, by another valley, the blue-d man slowly awoke to see Xiao Nanfeng close by.


    "Y-Young Master Xiao?" the blue-d man eximed.


    "If I''m not mistaken, Nn Yunhai has four strategists in his employ, named for the four arts. You must be Mr. Hua," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling. [1]


    "I am honored to have caught your attention, Young Master Xiao. Might I ask why you''ve caught me?"


    Mr. Hua was inwardly rather shaken. Mr. Qin, Mr. Qi, and Mr. Shu had all died because of Xiao Nanfeng. Now, it seemed as though it would be his turn.


    "Tell me about the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, and I''ll let you leave."


    "Anything, Young Master Xiao," Mr. Hua replied cooperatively.


    "What is this ce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I heard others im that these are the ruins of the Spirit Emperor''s pce from the past. This hidden realm is filled with thick fog all year round, and the fog seems to possess some mysterious power that allows it to absorb the remnant shockwaves from all battles that ur in the realm. Furthermore, no one can fly too high into the sky. If they head deep into the fog, they''ll vanish."


    "Vanish? Where to?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "No one knows. Regardless, no one who headed toward the sky has made it back."


    "Continue."


    "There are many skeletal lifeforms here known as divine ves. They have no intelligence and only basicbat ability. They patrol the region without any rest and are affected by the mysterious power in the area. They can regenerate even after being destroyed, and several bear Immortal relics."


    "Why are they patrolling?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "We don''t know, either. At any rate, they attack any outsiders theye across," Mr. Hua replied.


    "Continue."


    "I don''t know much about the hidden realm myself. I entered following the second prince in search of opportunities for advancement. At the moment, we''re hunting down Immortal relics. Someone discovered that this bone giant was wielding an Immortal halberd and reported to His Highness, who assigned me and five Wingform-realm cultivators to reim it."


    "Oh? Where have Nn Yunhai and the others gathered?"


    "They''re in the peach orchard."


    "The peach orchard?"


    "Yes, Young Master Xiao. ording to His Highness, a tremendous opportunity awaits within. However, there are shadow cursed effigies around, and we can''t head in at will. We''ve been exploring the fog around the peach orchard in search of Immortal relics. Once we''ve gathered enough, we''ll fight our way in."


    "Which strong cultivators are by Nn Yunhai''s side?"


    "They''re from various Immortal sects, and their names are..." Mr. Hua divulged the information at once.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He had read reports and records that made him aware of they of thend around the Eastern Sea. These cultivators were all Wingform- and Spiritsong-realm cultivators, and they posed little threat to him.


    "Bring me there," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "Young Master Xiao, there''s too much fog around. I don''t know where we are. If you bring me back to the valley where you found me, I can lead the way from there."


    Xiao Nanfeng eded to his request, quickly bringing Mr. Hua to the valley in which they had fought the bone giant.


    The five Wingform-realm cultivators had long since left. The bone giant, its Immortal halberd missing, had somehow obtained a bone de and was patrolling around with it.


    Mr. Hua seemed to possess an inordinate fear of Xiao Nanfeng. He answered all his questions volubly, without any resistance whatsoever.


    It took three whole days of walking before Xiao Nanfeng encountered a white, glossy mountain with even thickness all around. It extended high into the air, and its peak couldn''t be seen beyond the fog.


    "That''s Mt. Tianzhu. It''s made of some very hard material. We can''t do anything to it. Even if we chip off a fragment with an Immortal relic, the damage repairs itself very quickly. Just like the divine ves, the mountain seems to be able to regenerate. It''s very sinister."


    "How tall is it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Those who have climbed up the mountain have vanished just like those who flew into the air. None of us dare to climb it."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "The peach orchard''s right at the foot of the mountain. Do you see that region surrounded by ck fog? That''s where the orchard is." Mr. Hua pointed into the distance.


    Indeed, at the foot of Mt. Tianzhu was arge region ensconced with ck fog. It was adjacent to but seemingly mutually impermeable with the white fog surrounding the rest of the region.


    "The ck fog hides the peach orchard, and His Highness'' camp is right around the orchard. I''ll lead you there," Mr. Hua offered.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly red at Mr. Hua. "You''re lying to me, aren''t you?"


    "I''m not! I''m telling the truth. The peach orchard is right there!"Mr. Hua eximed.


    "No, something''s wrong. You''ve told me everything I wanted to know along the way. Perhaps you fear me and yet want to live, so you don''t dare to lie or resist, but not only did you point out Nn Yunhai''s camp, you even offered to lead me there. You''re being far too solicitous. Aren''t you afraid of offending Nn Yunhai? Or are you deliberately trying to lure me there?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I, I¡ª" Mr. Hua nched. He seemed to be regretting his original attitude.


    "Mr. Hua, I''ve sealed your cultivation. I control whether you live or die. Aren''t you afraid of death? What''s your game here?" Xiao Nanfeng kicked Mr. Hua down and pointed his bone de at his body.


    The fear suddenly cleared from Mr. Hua''s face. He smiled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ve told you the truth at every juncture. Over the past three days, you''ve secretly crept away twice, likely to find others and interrogate them to ensure that I''m telling the truth. And, indeed, I have."


    "What''s your n, then?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "This is the peach orchard, and the second prince''s camp is here. So too is the Xiang Immortals'' camp. They''re aware that you''ve killed Xiang Pojun as well, but haven''t had the opportunity to seek revenge. Now, however, they do."


    Just then, a voice shouted from afar, "He''s here! Xiao Nanfeng''s here!"


    "Inform King Tang that we''ve found Xiao Nanfeng!" a shout came from a nearby mountain.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he realized that those were subordinates of the Xiang n. The King Tang that they had referred to was a Xiang Immortal, Xiang Tang.


    "How did they know I was here? Ah, I see. You have an avatar, don''t you? Nn Yunhai realized that I wasing thanks to your avatar, and has even sent word to Xiang Tang. He''s going to take advantage of the Xiang cultivators to kill me!"


    Mr. Hua''s eyes twitched. "You could guess even that?"


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng beheaded Mr. Hua with a sh and immediately began to flee.


    1. The four arts, ÇÙÆåÊé»­ (Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua; the zither, the game of go, calligraphy, and painting), are four fields in which a well-educated schr of ancient times is supposed to gain a measure of expertise. ?

 Chapter 295: Xiao Nanfeng, Real and Fake

    <h4>Chapter 295: Xiao Nanfeng, Real and Fake</h4>


    A group of figures stood atop a mountain beyond the peach orchard.


    In the lead was Nn Yunhai, with a woman in purple beside him. The woman was svelte and stunningly beautiful.


    "What do you think of my n to take advantage of the Xiang n, Qiangwei?" Nn Yunhai smiled proudly at the woman.


    The woman''s eyes glimmered with disdain, but she hid it well. She praised him effusively. "Your Highness, you''ve clearly considered things through. Xiao Nanfeng isn''t a simple foe. Why not take advantage of others to get rid of him? We have men among Xiang Tang''s forces, after all. This would be the perfect time to take advantage of them."


    "You really do know me well. Don''t be Mother''s servant any longer. I''ll petition her to im you as a concubine." Nn Yunhai smiled at the woman as one of his hands reached out for her slender waist.


    The woman pressed his hand against her body and infused a measure of charm into her voice. "Your Highness, if you grant me the position of concubine, I will be yours tomand¡ªbut not just yet."


    Nn Yunhai''s heart thumped. He found the woman more and more pleasing to him. He caressed her hand and replied confidently, "You won''t have to wait for long. I''ll make sure to im you from Mother."


    "I''ll wait for you, then!" The woman smiled gently.


    She was teasing Nn Yunhai to make him more and more besotted with her; he clearly couldn''t sense the faint disdain in her eyes.


    "Father and the others should have allowed me to the hidden realm earlier. Look at how behind I am! I even need you to protect me this time around. It''s truly..." Nn Yunhai shook his head in displeasure.


    "Don''t worry about it, Your Highness. Otherwise, how could I have been able to reunite with you?" the woman asked gently.


    "That''s true. I wouldn''t have discovered how beautiful you''ve grown. Qiangwei, how did you be an Immortal?" Nn Yunhai asked curiously.


    "Her Majesty awarded me with a peach, which allowed me to advance into an Immortal. Because of my familiarity with the peach orchard, Her Majesty assigned me to help you find one more," Qiangwei replied.


    "A peach? Eating a peach can make you an Immortal? How can we acquire one?" Nn Yunhai asked curiously.


    "You''ll find out soon enough, Your Highness," Qiangwei replied, without divulging the secret.


    "Oh?" Nn Yunhai was slightly perplexed.


    Just then, shouts rang out from the fog. Someone seemed to have discovered Xiao Nanfeng and was summoning Xiang Tang.


    "Mr. Hua, has it begun?" Nn Yunhai looked toward his retinue.


    A man stepped forward, bearing an uncanny resemnce to Mr. Hua.


    "Your Highness, Xiao Nanfeng has been surrounded by Xiang Tang''s men, but he has also in my avatar," Mr. Hua reported.


    "Once Xiao Nanfeng''s dead, I''ll reward youvishly topensate you for your losses," Nn Yunhai replied, unconcerned.


    "Thank you, Your Highness!" Mr. Hua bowed.


    Qiangwei narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.


    Within the fog, Xiao Nanfeng slew Mr. Hua''s avatar and rushed off into the fog. However, he was toote to avoid the pursuit of several Wingform-realm cultivators.


    "You won''t get away, Xiao Nanfeng!" A Wingform-realm cultivator charged forward and shed at him with his sword.


    Xiao Nanfeng met the attack with his bone de, causing a wave of energy to spread out around them. The Wingform-realm cultivator was sent flying, his sword-hand numb from the impact.


    "What incredible strength!" the cultivator eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned in annoyance. His bone de wasn''t of high quality, and he didn''t dare use all his strength. Otherwise, that cultivator would already have been cut in half.


    Another cultivator shed at Xiao Nanfeng, who counterattacked with his bone de. The cultivators were sent flying as he took the opportunity to flee.


    He didn''t dare remain. He fled into the fog, knowing that an Immortal was chasing after him. It wouldn''t be worth it to continue wasting time fighting with these cultivators.


    "Stop right there!" a group of Wingform-realm cultivators howled, charging forward.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng only ran off even more quickly. He could sense a frightening aura approaching from the distance, and he knew that it had to be an Immortal.


    Before the Immortal could arrive, he finally made it deep into the fog and vanished from sight.


    The Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm was filled with patrolling divine ves, and he didn''t dare rush about recklessly. If he were to end up fighting the divine ves while the Immortal was chasing after him, he wouldn''t be able to flee. He found the ruins of a secluded hall and hid deep within, reining in his aura.


    "What a close call! That Immortal almost caught up to me," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Suddenly, a group of cultivators closed in on the ruins where he was hiding. Xiao Nanfeng nched, as if he had been caught, and was just about to continue running away when the cultivators'' conversation stopped him in his tracks. He nced at them through a slit in the rubble.


    "King Tang, we''ve caught Xiao Nanfeng. How should we deal with him?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped. He was right there. How could they have caught him?


    He could see a group of cultivators gathering in the distance. Standing at their forefront was a young man draped in rainbow light, killing intent shing in his eyes. It was clear that he was the Immortal Xiang Tang.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you dare enter the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm? For killing my brother, the only punishment is death!" Xiang Tang dered. "Hang him!"


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    A bloodied figure was hung up on a pir from the ruins. The figure''s face was a mess of blood and bruises, and it was clear that the figure was barely still alive.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed. "Did they really catch a ''Xiao Nanfeng''?"


    "King Tang, Xiao Nanfeng was exceptionally strong. He even hurt me!"


    "He was strong, but fortunately, I was stronger. Even so, he almost got away!"


    Xiang Tang''s subordinates were cursing the ''Xiao Nanfeng'' hanging in the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face spasmed. "Are these cultivators all this shameless? I almost killed that man with a sh of my sword¡ªbut he''s still bragging about his skills?"


    "King Tang, how should we deal with Xiao Nanfeng?" one subordinate asked.


    "For killing my brother, I won''t let him die so easily. He''ll suffer every moment before his death!" Xiang Tang dered.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The torture began. Flesh was sliced off chunk by chunk from the false Xiao Nanfeng''s body. He cried out in pain.


    Someone seemed to have cut off his tongue. He could only howl gutturally, unable to speak. Xiang Tang watched on with great satisfaction and interest.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the group of cultivators an odd look. Just who were they torturing? How cruel!


    "King Tang, Xiao Nanfeng''s lost too much blood and flesh. He''s about to die!" someone called out.


    "Not so quickly. Feed him a limb and qi regeneration pill and have him regrow his flesh and replenish his blood. We''ll continue the torture afterwards," Xiang Tang said.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    Very quickly, ''Xiao Nanfeng'' began yelling out anew.


    Xiang Tang continued to force-feed ''Xiao Nanfeng'' pills to help him regenerate his lost blood and flesh as the torture continued for a whole day and night.


    The real Xiao Nanfeng was now deeply confused. "Just who is this? Surely his tongue must have regrown after consuming the pill? Why isn''t he defending himself?"


    "Continue! Don''t let him die," Xiang Tang demanded.


    ''Xiao Nanfeng'' continued to scream.


    Just then, one of Xiang Tang''s subordinates ran over and reported, "King Tang, we''ve just seen Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates and two toad spirits. They''ve caught some of our cultivators!"


    "Oh? Xiao Nanfeng came with quite a few helpers, did he? Well, none of them will be able to get away now. You lot here, continue the torture and defend the perimeter. The rest of you, follow me and catch the aplices in my brother''s murder. We''ll torture them all together!" Xiang Tang howled.


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    Several cultivators remained and continued torturing ''Xiao Nanfeng'' while Xiang Tang and the rest of his retinue departed.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on in speechlessness. He realized what was going on now: Xiang Tang and his party really were just acting.


    "Xiang Tang''s no brutish fool. He knows that Nn Yunhai has spies among his subordinates and is trying to take advantage of him, so he''s set up a counter-scheme to lure Nn Yunhai in!" Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    The sound ofbat filtered in from afar as Xiang Tang and his group chased after Xiao Nanfeng''s ''subordinates.''


    Just then, a ck-robed figure appeared beside ''Xiao Nanfeng'' and shed at the cultivators administering the torture.


    A fight broke out beside ''Xiao Nanfeng''.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "Is this ck-robed figure supposed to be You Jiu? ''Croak, Warble, and Yu''er'' lured Xiang Tang away so ''You Jiu'' could rescue me? They really are aware of how my subordinates operate, aren''t they?"


    "King Tang, someone''s here to save Xiao Nanfeng! Please,e back!" the torturers yelled out.


    However, Xiang Tang and his subordinates had already rushed off chasing after the ''toad spirits'', and weren''t aware of the conflict happening around ''Xiao Nanfeng''. Just as ''Xiao Nanfeng'' was about to be rescued,


    Nn Yunhai''s disdainful voice rang out from afar, "How could you let Xiao Nanfeng escape despite how weak he is now? You really are a group of useless fools!"


    Another group of cultivators charged forward to attack ''You Jiu'' and ''Xiao Nanfeng''.


    Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei had appeared at the scene not too far away, as though they had been waiting for some time. They wanted to see ''Xiao Nanfeng'' die for themselves, but when it looked as though he was about to be rescued, they had no choice but to step in.


    Today would be the day that ''Xiao Nanfeng'' died.


    The real Xiao Nanfeng, watching everything y out from afar, was agape. "Nn Yunhai really was baited out¡ªhas he fallen for Xiang Tang''s trap, then? How melodramatic!"

 Chapter 296: An Epic Show

    <h4>Chapter 296: An Epic Show</h4>


    Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei struck with a group of their subordinates. Within moments, they defeated the cultivator acting as You Jiu and retrieved the bloodied ''Xiao Nanfeng''.


    The torturers fled in shock, but Nn Yunhai''s subordinates quickly gave chase.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, wouldn''t it have been far better to stay in Yongding? And yet here you are in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. You truly have a death wish, don''t you? Where''s my third brother, Nn Feng? Did you kill him?" Nn Yunhai demanded.


    The fake Xiao Nanfeng suddenly knelt down and began to point insistently toward his tongue, as though trying tomunicate something.


    "His tongue''s been cut off, and he can''t speak?" Qiangwei guessed.


    "Hold on! His face might be bruised and swollen, but the contours don''t match Xiao Nanfeng''s. He''s someone else!" Mr. Hua eximed.


    "What?!" the cultivators eximed.


    Qiangwei retrieved a pill and had ''Xiao Nanfeng'' ingest it. Simultaneously, she infused rainbow light into his mouth, allowing his tongue to regrow quickly.


    "Your Highness, it''s me! I was undercover as Xiang Tang''s subordinate. You ordered me to induce him to kill Xiao Nanfeng, but he found out long ago that I was a spy. He didn''t manage to catch Xiao Nanfeng; rather, he used me as bait. He killed my avatar and hung and tortured me here as bait for you. You''ve fallen for their trap!"


    The cultivators nched.


    Just then, Xiang Tang shot toward Nn Yunhai from afar alongside three cultivators d in multicolored light.


    "Nn Yunhai? And you wench over there¡ªdid you really think I would be tricked so easily? You''re dead meat now, haha!" Xiang Tang shed at Nn Yunhai with his de.


    "Protect His Highness!" Qiangwei cried out.


    She drew her de and met Xiang Tang''s attack.


    The sh of weapons spawned a shockwave of energy in the air, tossing aside the weaker cultivators all around.


    Xiang Tang''s initial assault failed, but he didn''t give up. He shed at Qiangwei again, who rapidly blocked. Sparks red from their weapons.


    "Xiang Tang, you''d rather scheme against His Highness than avenge your brother?" Qiangwei shouted.


    "Xiao Nanfeng escaped from my clutches. What would you have me do? Rather than be upset at the loss, why not take the opportunity to kill Nn Yunhai? He''s the second prince of the Tianshu Empire. Killing him would be more meaningful." Xiang Tang roared inughter.


    "You!" Qiangwei nched.


    "Save me, Qiangwei!" Nn Yunhai shouted from afar.


    Although his subordinates had surrounded and protected him, his opponents were simply too strong. Three skeletal giants glowing with rainbow light were rampaging through the group. Each attack would kill a single cultivator. They were furiously attacking those around them, and were right about to approach Nn Yunhai.


    "Use your Immortal relics as bombs to protect His Highness!" Qiangwei shouted.


    The cultivators tossed out their Immortal relics and destroyed them in mid-air. The resulting explosions barely held back the three skeletal giants in abeyance.


    Qiangwei turned to Xiang Tang. "You''ve lured three Immortal divine ves over? Are you trying to kill us all?!"


    "No, not at all. All my subordinates have retreated, after all. You''re the only ones who will suffer from the assault." Xiang Tang smirked.


    Qiangwei grimaced to see Nn Yunhai in dire straits. Even the exploding Immortal relics wouldn''t suffice to hold the bone giants back for long. Meanwhile, Xiang Tang was holding her back from lending them support.


    "Head to the peach orchard! Divine ves can''t enter. You''ll be safe once you get inside!" Qiangwei cried out.


    "Flee!" Nn Yunhai howled in desperation.


    Nn Yunhai and what remained of his guards rushed toward the peach orchard surrounded by ck fog.


    Xiang Tang narrowed his eyes. He hadn''t anticipated that Nn Yunhai would flee toward the peach orchard.


    "The peach orchard is filled with shadows. Are you trying to kill them even more rapidly?" Xiang Tang sneered.


    "You''ve never been in the orchard, have you? How do you know that what awaits them is a group of shadows?" Qiangwei sniffed with disdain.


    Xiang Tang frowned. He felt as though he had miscalcted. He struck Qiangwei and knocked her aside, then rushed off toward Nn Yunhai.


    "Hold it!" Qiangwei shouted, giving chase.


    The two Immortals began to fight once more. Qiangwei held Xiang Tang back to buy time for Nn Yunhai.


    Before they reached the peach orchard, a cultivator asked, "Your Highness, isn''t the orchard filled with shadows? Can we really enter?"


    "Qiangwei wouldn''t harm me. Follow me!" Nn Yunhai shouted.


    Nn Yunhai led the cultivators into the peach orchard surrounded by ck fog. The next moment, the three Immortal divine ves halted, as though there were some mysterious strength restricting them from entering.


    Just then, Xiang Tang sent Qiangwei flying toward the three Immortal divine ves, who instantly began to attack her.


    "No!" Qiangwei cried.


    She was hardly strong enough to fight one-on-three, and quickly began to suffer.


    Meanwhile, Xiang Tang left the battlefield. He considered his options. What was he to do? Should he chase Nn Yunhai into the peach orchard? Indeed, he wouldn''t be satisfied until he saw him dead!


    "Everyone, head into the peach orchard with me!" Xiang Tang shouted.


    He followed Nn Yunhai''s tracks within. His subordinates, who hadin hidden, rushed out and followed him in.


    "Hold it!" Qiangwei shouted anxiously.


    Unfortunately, it was no use. Surrounded by three Immortal divine ves, she couldn''t halt Xiang Tang''s advance at all.


    After all the cultivators had rushed into the peach orchard, Qiangwei allowed one divine ve to deal her a heavy blow as she escaped from their assault and rushed into the peach orchard herself.


    When the three divine ves looked around to see everyone gone, they twisted their heads, patrolled the area once, and then left the region.


    Only after everyone had vanished did Xiao Nanfeng finally climb out of the ruins within which he had been ensconced.


    "That woman, Qiangwei... Why did she smile in such a sinister fashion as she charged into the peach orchard? Could she have been nning all this? Was she acting, too? Was her goal to lure Xiang Tang within? From the looks of it, even Nn Yunhai was caught in her trap. She''s a dangerous one," Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    He strolled toward the corpses of the cultivators who had been killed by the divine ves. They had plenty of treasure on them¡ªtwo Immortal swords in addition to their storage artifacts¡ªand left Xiao Nanfeng rather pleased with his haul.


    Just as he was about to reach for the next corpse, it moved.


    "Oh? Feigning death, I see. Let me finish the job, then." Xiao Nanfeng was about to sh at the cultivator with his Immortal sword.


    "No, please! Young Master Xiao, spare me! I was simply too injured to move. I wasn''t ying dead!" The cultivator hastily stood up and begged for mercy.


    "Oh? Mr. Hua, we meet again." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed.


    "Young Master Xiao, what a coincidence..." Mr. Hua trailed off awkwardly.


    Why was he this unlucky?!


    "This isn''t another avatar, is it?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "No, Young Master Xiao! This is my main body. Please spare me. I was only acting on orders. I''m innocent!" Mr. Hua pleaded.


    "In that case, what should I do about your attempt to trick me? If I hadn''t escaped quickly, I would already have died. Why don''t you pay for your transgression with your life?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No, don''t kill me! I''ll providepensation in terms of Immortal relics! His Highness and a part of his subordinates have entered the peach orchard, but another part is still searching for Immortal relics in the vicinity. They haven''t returned, and they likely have a big haul by now. I can bring you to their camp and allow you to ambush them there," Mr. Hua cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips and considered the offer for a moment before he nodded. "Lead the way!"


    "Please, follow me!" Mr. Hua eximed.

 Chapter 297: The Blood Peach

    <h4>Chapter 297: The Blood Peach</h4>


    Guided by Mr. Hua, Xiao Nanfeng headed to Nn Yunhai''s camp. The camp was protected by a formation and was adjacent to the peach orchard wreathed in ck fog.


    "Young Master Xiao, please wait here patiently. The cultivators wille back shortly, and you''ll be able to im their Immortal relics then. I''ll guard you well," Mr. Hua said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced askance at Mr. Hua and ignored him. Instead, he began stripping away the camp''s formation.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the formation for himself quickly.


    Mr. Hua''s face stiffened. "Young Master Xiao, what are you doing? Without this formation, the cultivators will be on the alert as they return to camp. How will you im their Immortal relics then?"


    "Isn''t this formation an Immortal relic on its own?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "But aren''t you going to snatch the Immortal relics from the returning cultivators? You''ll sacrifice arge number of Immortal relics for this one formation!" Mr. Hua eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Mr. Hua a disdainful look. "Mr. Hua, you''re trying to take advantage of those cultivators to kill me, aren''t you?"


    "Ah? Of course not! I''m on your side," Mr. Hua pledged.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t believe him at all. If the Wingform-realm cultivators were to return, they would surely be wielding those Immortal relics themselves. Furthermore, since they were in a group, Xiao Nanfeng could find himself on the losing end with just the slightest bit of carelessness. Why bother taking such a risk?


    "Good," Xiao Nanfeng replied, then continued to strip away the formation.


    As Xiao Nanfeng removed the final piece of the formation''s foundation, the formation copsed.


    Mr. Hua frowned. He understood now that Xiao Nanfeng had had no intention of attacking the returning cultivators at all. His rescue n would be useless!


    Just then, the ck fog around the peach orchard expanded rapidly to cover Xiao Nanfeng and Mr. Hua.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He dragged Mr. Hua toward the boundary of the ck fog, but they seemed to be trapped within as though the ck fog were a formation in and of itself.


    "Mr. Hua, you dare scheme against me?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    "I didn''t! I don''t know what''s going on myself!" Mr. Hua gasped out as Xiao Nanfeng squeezed his neck.


    "Weren''t you the one who set up this formation? Are you still refusing to tell the truth?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Immortal Qiangwei was the one who set up this formation! She only had use over when she had everything prepared, so we''re unaware of the specifics of the formation ourselves. Please, Young Master Xiao, free me! Spare my life! My neck''s going to break¡ª!" Mr. Hua pleaded


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Mr. Hua for some time, ascertaining that he wasn''t lying, before slowly letting go of him.


    "Tell me more about that woman, Qiangwei," Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "She''s one of Her Majesty''s servants. Allegedly, she consumed a peach from the peach orchard and became an Immortal. She''s with us in order to help His Highness acquire such a peach for himself," Mr. Hua eximed, even as he clutched his injured neck.


    "How did Qiangwei manage to get a peach herself?"


    "I don''t know. She refuses to tell us anything, and she hides a lot even from His Highness. However, Her Majesty sent her, and no one dares doubt her intentions."


    "Why is the empress so certain that Qiangwei will be able to help Nn Yunhai obtain a peach?"


    "I don''t know myself." Mr. Hua shook his head.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. His intuition was telling him that something was amiss about Qiangwei.


    Suddenly, a pair of pitch-ck arms appeared behind Mr. Hua and grabbed him.


    "Ah? Save me! Help!" Mr. Hua eximed.


    The pitch-ck arms dragged him into the darkness, whereupon he vanished.


    The hairs on the back of Xiao Nanfeng''s neck stood on end. He could sense that whatever was in the shadows had set its sights on him as well. A pair of arms seemed to close in around him. Without any hesitation, he darted away, but the arms chased after him rapidly.


    "Since you''re in here now, don''t bother trying to escape, hehehehe!" Maliciousughter surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    "A shadow cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    He was just about to defend himself with the ck lotus in his mindscape when the Divine Emperor''s arm suddenly emerged from his storage ring and felt around the darkness until it grabbed ahold of the shadow''s neck.


    "What?!" the shadow eximed.


    It was dragged into the storage ring with a whoosh.


    "Divine Emperor? No¡ªplease spare me, Divine Emperor!" the shadow cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the opportunity to im his divine undying de. With his trusted weapon in hand, he felt far more prepared.


    The Divine Emperor seemed to be interrogating the shadow within the ring. Not too longter, the shadow shrieked in despair¡ªand then everything was silent.


    "Divine Emperor, you''ve finally shown yourself! Don''t you know what a hard time I had without the divine undying de?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "I thought you would have retreated after being unable to retrieve the divine undying de from this storage ring at the Southern Heavenly Gate, but you were so foolhardy as to make your way in regardless! Not only that, you even found the peach orchard. Are you truly unafraid of death?"


    "Is it hard to find this ce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "You were lucky. Otherwise, I would have suffered because of you."


    "What do you mean, Divine Emperor?"


    "In order to punish me and the Spirit Emperor, the heavens themselves forged this hidden realm into a prison. The dead spirit kings of the spirits'' Imperial Court were remade into divine ves to serve as our wardens. Except in a few special designated areas, the appearance of a shadow cursed effigy will immediately trigger heavenly punishment."


    "In other words, all the shadows are prisoners, and the peach orchard is a prison? You and those shadows outside the hidden realm broke out of prison, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You can understand it that way. We''re cursed effigies, and even the heavens can''t kill us. All they can do is imprison us. The reason you were unable to open your storage ring is because I sealed myself in. Otherwise, if any fragment of my aura had leaked out into the realm, countless divine ves would havee after you. I would be fine, but you would surely have died."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her an arch look. "In other words, despite the fact that I was unable to retrieve my divine undying de, I should thank you for what you did?"


    The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face spasmed. Wasn''t this all the Divine Emperor''s fault for not making things clear to begin with?


    "Senior, since we''ve entered the prison¡ªI mean, the peach orchard¡ªwould you be willing to lead the way? I''d like to harvest some peach trees and bring them out of the hidden realm."


    "I was trapped in the Divine Emperor''s Hall until your father broke into it a few years ago. I took advantage of the opportunity to flee from the realm. I''m not familiar with the peach orchard. I wonder what it''s be after fifty thousand years?"


    "Surely you''re more familiar than I am, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "Rein in your aura first," the Divine Emperormanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng did so. Clouds of ck smoke emerged from the ring.


    "I''ve covered you up in cursed spiritual power. Other shadows should no longer be able to sense you. Now, follow my directions."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued walking in the pitch-ck environment following the Divine Emperor''s directions.


    "This orchard seems far bigger on the inside than the outside," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Of course. This ce is like the divine domain of the undying realm. Reality and illusion have melded together. Although your body''s not at Yin Body, you can use spiritual power like qi here. In other words, your strength has been magnified tremendously."


    "Oh? That''s wonderful news!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Along the way, they could make out the contours of a few mountains and streams. There were a few boulders here and there, but no nts at all, let alone peach trees.


    asionally, they would encounter a few shadows. The Divine Emperor caught them with a hand, interrogated them, and then swallowed them.


    "Five kilometers of peach trees, all ruined? What have these spirits done to my peach trees while I was imprisoned?!" the Divine Emperor cried out.


    "Senior, please remain calm. Mr. Hua mentioned that there were still peach trees around here. Let''s look around carefully," Xiao Nanfeng persuaded.


    The Divine Emperor was still somewhat upset, but she continued to guide the way. Not too longter, Xiao Nanfeng could hear screamsing from a valley in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he climbed up toward a nearby mountain and looked toward that valley.


    Within the valley was a pitch-ck pond, with water like ink. By the pond was a peach tree about the size of a small mountain and lush with branches and leaves. Peach blossoms bloomed in a scene of remarkable beauty.


    On the peach tree was a fist-sized peach right at its top. It was blood-red and glowed with faint crimson light, almost like a jewel.


    "A peach!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "No¡ªthat''s a blood peach. Didn''t I chop off this spirit tree that year? How could it still be around?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Just then, a series of screams could be heard from underneath the blood peach tree.


    "No, please let me go! Please, I beg of you!"


    "Spare me, King Tang!"


    "Help us, Immortal Qiangwei!"


    Xiang Tang and Nn Yunhai''s subordinates had all been trapped under the peach tree, immobilized by shadows.


    The blood roots of the peach tree burrowed out from underground in a sinister fashion, squirming as though they were alive. They wrapped around the cultivators. The tips of the roots thrust into the cultivators'' prone bodies and absorbed their blood and flesh.


    The cultivators shrieked in fear, but they werepletely unable to resist. Their bodies dried up and shriveled as the roots drained them of nutrients, all of which gathered in the blood peach at the very top of the tree.


    The blood peach grewrger andrger as it gave off a more alluring crimson glow.


    "Using cultivators as fertilizer¡ªthis is a demonic tree, isn''t it? That woman, Qiangwei¡ªcould she have consumed such a blood peach to be an Immortal herself? Isn''t she repulsed?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 298: Unexpected Disaster

    <h4>Chapter 298: Unexpected Disaster</h4>


    The cultivators were all at Wingform- or Spiritsong-realm, and they would be core disciples or elders of their sects outside of the hidden realm. Within, however, they were nothing more than weaklings. Their bodies were quickly drained of all vitality until they were nothing more than dehydrated corpses. The shadows restraining them finally let go.


    The blood peach of the peach tree had more than doubled in size, and it now radiated crimson light.


    "Xiang Tang, Qiangwei, and Nn Yunhai are all absent. Where are they?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "They''re nearby, hidden in the darkness. Just like you, they''re observing that peach tree," the Divine Emperor whispered.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng nced around himself in a guarded fashion.


    Qiangwei and Nn Yunhai were hidden in another part of the mountain range, shrouded by ayer of ck smoke.


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes twitched as he nced at the blood peach tree. "Qiangwei, aren''t we going to rescue them? Half of those cultivators are my subordinates!"


    "No, we can''t! They''re all to be fertilizer for the blood peach tree. As long as you be an Immortal, there''ll be plenty more cultivators willing to follow your lead. The deaths of these cultivators won''t mean anything," Qiangwei replied coolly.


    "Be an Immortal? Could you have be an Immortal by consuming a blood peach like that one there?" Nn Yunhai eximed.


    "How else?"


    "You¡ªaren''t going to make me eat such a peach, are you?" Nn Yunhai''s brows furrowed.


    "This blood peach was prepared specifically for you. Once you ingest it, you''ll be able to be an Immortal."


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes shed. He struggled internally to ept this reality, but in the end, the desire for a shortcut to be an Immortal won out.


    "But there''s a group of shadows in the vicinity. Will we be able to seize the blood peach for ourselves?" Nn Yunhai asked.


    "I''m familiar with these shadows, and they''ll cooperate with me. You should be concerned with the fact that the blood peach isn''t yet mature. There''s still an importantponent of the fertilizer missing," Qiangwei said.


    "Ah? You mean, Xiang Tang?"


    "That''s right! Those cultivators'' vitality will be able to bring you to the peak of Wingform-realm at most. To be an Immortal, the blood peach tree must use an Immortal''s body as fertilizer. It took me tremendous effort to lure Xiang Tang in here."


    "You knew of Xiang Tang''s n from the beginning? You were using me as bait to lure him in?" Nn Yunhai grimaced.


    He felt as though he was ying the role of a fool; Xiang Tang and Qiangwei had both managed to manipte him into doing their bidding.


    "Your Highness, how did Xiang Tang discover your spy? It''s because he has a spy among your subordinates as well. I didn''t want to raise a fuss and alert him, so I kept the secret to myself. All of what I''ve done has been to make you an Immortal, Your Highness. Please forgive me," Qiangwei said immediately.


    "What? Xiang Tang has a spy among my subordinates?" Nn Yunhai nched. "Who?"


    "You don''t have to worry about that anymore, Your Highness. He''s be fertilizer for the blood peach tree by this point."


    Nn Yunhai was still rather upset. His n to set Xiang Tang against Xiao Nanfeng had been little more than a joke!


    "But where''s Xiang Tang?" Nn Yunhai finally asked, ignoring his annoyance for the time being.


    "I don''t know myself. He''s been bypassing the shadows somehow, which caught me off guard. However, since he''s in this peach orchard, he won''t be able to make it out. Once he exposes himself, he''s dead meat."


    "Xiang Tang''s right there!" Nn Yunhai eximed, pointing into the distance.


    "Oh? He found his way here, too? And he''s even revealing himself?" Qiangwei seemed surprised as well.


    A figure floated in the air, none other than Xiang Tang himself.


    Xiang Tang stared at the blood peach tree with unabashed glee. "What a treasure. This must be how that wench, Qiangwei, became an Immortal! The blood peach itself pales inparison to the tree. If I bring it back to the Xiang n, wouldn''t the Xiang n be able to produce an endless supply of Immortals?"


    A few cultivators that had yet to die suddenly sensed hope in the form of Xiang Tang. They begged weakly, "King Tang, please save us!"


    Xiang Tang ignored the cultivators, clearly indifferent to their survival. He simply wanted the blood peach tree.


    "Catch him!" a shadow suddenly growled.


    A group of shadows shot toward Xiang Tang.


    "Catch me? Ha!" Xiang Tang shed them a cold smile. "Do you know what happened to all the shadows that have tried to catch me along the way here?"


    The moment the first shadow approached him, Xiang Tang punched at it. The shadow vanished.


    "What? He has a treasure that can handle the shadow cursed effigies?" Qiangwei eximed.


    Xiang Tang continued to punch at the shadows, which vanished one after the other. All the shadows that closed in on him were absorbed by the treasure in his hand.


    "A dragon-quelling spike!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed from afar.


    Xiang Tang held a dragon-quelling spike in his hand, which was absorbing the shadows one after another.


    The shadows stopped short as they nced at the spike in surprise.


    "Is that copper spike a cursed effigy?" one shadow eximed.


    "That''s right. Only cursed effigies can counter other cursed effigies. To deal with you lot, the Xiang n spent quite some time searching for a batch of cursed effigies with a power that counteracts yours. This dragon-quelling spike''s a relic of considerable strength, isn''t it? Come at me if you dare!" Xiang Tang taunted.


    "Charge at him together!" the shadows growled as they shot forward.


    However, Xiang Tang was even faster than they were. He shot toward the shadows like a beam of light, repeatedly absorbing them into the spike.


    "You''ve been trapped for far too long, haven''t you? All of you are weaklings!" Xiang Tangughed as he easily took down the shadows.


    The shadows were about as strong as Wingform-realm cultivators. No matter how fast they were, they could hardly hope topete against an Immortal in speed.


    Within a short amount of time, all the shadows had been absorbed into the dragon-quelling spike. Xiang Tang''s surroundings quieted down.


    Xiang Tang stepped through the air and smiled in a rxed fashion as he turned toward his surroundings.


    "Where are you, Qiangwei? Weren''t you going to lure me into the peach orchard? Here I am. I have to thank you for cooperating with these shadows to reveal this peach tree to me. Otherwise, if I had charged in on my own, I might not ever have found it, haha!" Xiang Tang roared inughter.


    Nn Yunhai widened his eyes as he whispered to Qiangwei, "Did he know of your n?"


    Qiangwei frowned, her face dark. "How does he know so much about the peach orchard? He had a cursed effigy that countered these shadows, but pretended to be fearful of the peach orchard all this time? What a schemer."


    Xiang Tang continued to taunt Qiangwei from the air, as though attempting to uncover her location. Just then, he stopped short. His eyes lit up as he grinned with malice. "Found you."


    Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei nched as they prepared to muster a defense,


    but the next moment, they were both taken aback. Xiang Tang had shot toward a different direction entirely.


    Xiao Nanfeng, seeing Xiang Tang head toward him, scrunched up his face in annoyance.


    "Are you mad? Go attack Qiangwei if she''s the one you''re interested in. Leave me alone!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He had no choice but to defend against Xiang Tang''s attack with his de.


    Sparks shed as Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by a tremendous force. Xiang Tang stilled.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What are you doing here?" Xiang Tang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng stabilized himself and replied, "If you didn''t know it was me, why were you attacking me?"


    Xiang Tang frowned. He hadn''t expected this turn of events, either. He thought he had found Qiangwei, but he had ended up with Xiao Nanfeng instead!


    "What are you carrying with you? Why is the dragon-quelling spike reacting to your presence?" Xiang Tang demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward his divine undying de. He understood what had happened, now¡ªhis de had revealed his location. He was hoping to see Xiang Tang and Qiangwei take on each other, but things had suddenly turned in Qiangwei''s favor!


    "You''re not a bad constion prize. I have to take revenge for Xiang Pojun, anyway. Xiao Nanfeng, die!" Xiang Tang shouted, charging forward at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes as he swung his divine undying de at full strength.


    The de met the fist in a scorching explosion of mes. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying again, and Xiang Tang himself stilled.


    "Haven''t you just stepped into Wingform-realm? Why is your strength on par with cultivators at the peak of Wingform? Something''s very strange about it¡ªit''s not much different from mine. You''ve almost managed to gain an Immortal''s strength! How did you do it?" Xiang Tang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered what Xiang Tang had said. He had made use of his spiritual power to defend against Xiang Tang''s blow. He was at the peak of Lunar Deluge, just barely brushing against the threshold into Yin Body. In this ce where reality and illusion melded together, his spiritual power bolstered his strength significantly.


    "You don''t need to know." Xiao Nanfeng charged forward.


    "You dare?" Xiang Tang''s eyes shed.


    The two cultivators exchanged blows once again as Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. In terms of strength, he was still no match for Xiang Tang.


    "Is it because of spiritual power? Have you already reached Yin Body,d? Even so, you''re weaker than I am. You''ll die today!" Xiang Tang dered.


    "Says who?"


    Xiao Nanfeng sheathed his de and charged forward with a punch.


    Xiang Tang was taken aback. "You''re going to fight me with your bare fists? Are you trying tomit suicide?"


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Compared to the de, Xiao Nanfeng was far more proficient with the fist. Since he couldn''t win against Xiang Tang with strength, he might as well switch to his specialty.


    "Insolence. Die!"


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

 Chapter 299: The Spirit Emperor Appears

    <h4>Chapter 299: The Spirit Emperor Appears</h4>


    Xiang Tang punched forward disdainfully, his fist as heavy as a mountain and bursting with strength. Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed as he executed Hegemon''s Fist, filling the air with his fists. They shot toward Xiang Tang like a thousand rockets fired in unison.


    "What?!" Xiang Tang eximed.


    The stream of fists smashed into Xiang Tang in explosions of force. Although Xiang Tang had managed to repel Xiao Nanfeng, he had taken a few dozen blows as a result.


    "Hegemon''s Fist? Impossible. How could your Hegemon''s Fist be so strong?" Xiang Tang eximed.


    He had studied Hegemon''s Fist as well, but his understanding of the technique could hardlypare to Xiao Nanfeng''s own. How could it be possible for Xiao Nanfeng to conjure up thousands of punches with just one fist? Even an Immortal like him was taken aback upon seeing the air full of punches!


    "Are all Immortals this weak?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The two cultivators exchanged blows again. The more Xiao Nanfeng fought, the morefortable he became. At the start, Xiang Tang had easily knocked him flying, but now, he was fighting on equal footing with the Immortal. Shockingly, as he familiarized himself with Xiang Tang''s fist technique, he gradually gained the upper hand.


    Xiao Nanfeng knocked Xiang Tang flying with a punch.


    "Impossible. No mortal could ever be a match for an Immortal. How could you be this skilled? Die!" Xiang Tang roared,unching himself forward once more.


    After exchanging countless blows, hundreds of punches struck Xiang Tang''s head and sent him flying once again. He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.


    Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei, both hidden in the distance, gaped.


    "How could Xiao Nanfeng have be so strong?" Nn Yunhai asked disbelievingly.


    "It must be because of spiritual power. Within the peach orchard, spiritual power isparable to physical qi. His spiritual cultivation must be infinitesimally close to Yin Body," Qiangwei dered.


    "Is his advantage in terms of spiritual power alone?" Nn Yunhai asked, frowning.


    "His fist technique, too. It''s frightening to behold," Qiangwei whispered.


    In the distance, Xiang Tang wiped at the blood by his mouth. His gaze turned chilly. "I thought I wouldn''t need my full strength to deal with a mortal like you. You asked for this."


    He drew a de and shed at Xiao Nanfeng. A sword sh dozens of meters wide shot straight toward him like a huge wave.


    Xiao Nanfeng dodged to the side and blocked the rest of the qi with his fist. He was sent flying, but he stabilized himself immediately. Then, he shot toward Xiang Tang once more.


    "Even Qiangwei was unable to dodge my de. How could you have done so?!" Xiang Tang eximed.


    "There''s nothing special about it, is there? It''s simply a bit stronger than usual." Xiao Nanfeng charged forward.


    As Xiao Nanfeng drew near, Xiang Tang''s features twisted in a scowl. "Die!"


    He waved his de rapidly and sent countless shes of energy toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with his fists, tearing apart the energy as he gradually grew used to Xiang Tang''s attacks and closing in on him.


    "Impossible! I''m an Immortal, the peak of all cultivators! How could you challenge me?!" Xiang Tang shouted.


    The des of energy shot toward Xiao Nanfeng in the form of towering waves, but Xiao Nanfeng easily tore them apart and approached Xiang Tang.


    Xiang Tang nched. Countless punches met his face.


    "No!" Xiang Tang cried out.


    He was sent flying once more. Even with an Immortal''s qi barrier, two of his teeth had been punched right out of his mouth. He was a sorry sight to behold.


    Xiang Tang fell to the ground, a barrier of rainbow light shimmering into existence around him. He gaped at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. Even at full strength, he was no match for Xiao Nanfeng!


    "Xiang Tang, your understanding of the fist and the de are far too weak. You''ve lost!" Xiao Nanfeng dered, charging forward with a smile.


    Xiang Tang flew into the air, wiping at the blood by his mouth as killing intent surrounded him.


    "An Immortal''s might isn''t for the likes of you to disparage," Xiang Tang replied.


    He retrieved the dragon-quelling spike and infused his qi into it, causing it to expand in size into a three-hundred-meter-long gigantic spike that struck Xiao Nanfeng.


    A frightening aura descended, causing even the ground to sink from the enormity of the pressure it exerted. Xiao Nanfeng mmed into the ground, his organs badly injured. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Is the dragon-quelling spike that strong?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Without any hesitation, he swung his divine undying de.The resistance that it encountered caused his hands to go numb, and he barely avoided losing its grip on it. Taking advantage of the knockback, he barely avoided the dragon-quelling spike''s attack.


    The spike shot into the ground, leaving a furrow hundreds of meters deep. The ground and rocks in the vicinity cracked and split open. Xiao Nanfeng flew back, sustaining another injury to his body.


    "You won''t be able to escape now. Die!" Xiang Tang demanded.


    He activated the dragon-quelling spike and sent it toward Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Using your artifacts because you can''t beat me without them, are you? Do you really think you''re the only one with artifacts?" Xiao Nanfeng gave Xiang Tang a disdainful look.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring flew out of his finger and transformed into a giant bell. It tolled as it enveloped Xiao Nanfeng with its mouth, protecting him from the dragon-quelling spike, which struck its surface.


    A metallic cling echoed throughout the entire orchard. mes red up all around the Divine Emperor''s bell.


    The dragon-quelling spike''s attack had been fruitless.


    "The Divine Emperor''s bell? Let''s see just how long you can remain hiding in there. Die!" Xiang Tang demanded.


    The dragon-quelling spikeunched blow after blow at the bell, but the bell seemed imprable. The situation frustrated Xiang Tang to no end.


    Within the mouth of the bell, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the Divine Emperor in surprise. He suddenly smiled. "Thank you for the assistance, Divine Emperor!"


    The Divine Emperor was surrounded by ck smoke. She looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief. "You really are a puzzle, aren''t you? You can defeat an Immortal despite not having reached Yin Body? You must have an unparalleled spiritual cultivation technique."


    "I simply got lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. He didn''t want to expose his spiritual cultivation technique, Body of Yin.


    "No, there is something unusual, isn''t there? If your avatar''s at Yin Body, how could your main body not be at that stage too? The only exnation is that your main body''s spiritual cultivation technique is even more sinister than your avatar''s..." the Divine Emperor trailed off. She scrutinized Xiao Nanfeng carefully.


    "How could that be? You must be overthinking things, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng immediately replied.


    "No, I''m not! There are far too many oddities about you. Your Taiqing red moon bears a particrly concentrated aura of misfortune, and it''ll lead to a frightening horror on the horizon that even I would have a headache trying to resolve. Could your main body''s spiritual cultivation hide an even more sinister truth? You''re asking to die!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "Are you sure you''re not overthinking things, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    "Believe me as you will," the Divine Emperor replied, refusing to exin further.


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to press her when the Divine Emperor suddenly tensed up.


    "What''s the matter? Is the dragon-quelling spike about to prate your bell?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It could never," the Divine Emperor replied proudly.


    "Could Xiang Tang have another artifact that could threaten it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. "No. Xiang Tang''s done for."


    "What?"


    "Xiang Tang''s dead meat. He''s here."


    "Who?"


    "The Spirit Emperor!" the Divine Emperor whispered.


    On the outside, Xiang Tang repeatedly struck at the Divine Emperor''s bell with the dragon-quelling spike in mounting frustration.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, get out here!" he howled.


    However, no response came from the Divine Emperor''s bell. Not far away, by the blood peach tree, Qiangwei silently appeared. She respectfully bowed toward the ink-ck pond water, as though giving an ount of events to someone.


    Suddenly, the water shook violently as a ball of golden me emerged from it.


    A ten-meter-tall three-legged golden crow was at the heart of the me. Its body shone with golden luster, as if it had been forged of gold. It spread its wings and flew into the air.


    "You''ve returned, Divine Emperor?!" The golden crow''s voice was tinged with excitement.


    "Who is it?" Xiang Tang whirled around in surprise, only to see the golden crow shing straight toward him.


    "You dare attack the Divine Emperor? You''re done for!" the golden crow cawed.


    With a p of its wings, raging mes shot toward Xiang Tang.


    "The Spirit Emperor?" Xiang Tang cried out, having guessed who was present.


    He immediately activated his dragon-quelling spike and dissipated the mesing straight at him.


    The golden crow''s eyes shed with killing intent. It shed at the dragon-quelling spike with a golden wing, cutting the spike in half and sending its two halves flying. As it fell to the ground, the shadows that had been absorbed by the spike broke free and fled.


    "Argh!" Xiang Tang shrieked.


    The strength of the golden crow''s wings had been immense. Not only had the dragon-quelling spike been cut in half, so too had Xiang Pojun''s body.


    "No!" Xiang Tang shouted. The top half of his body attempted to flee.


    "It''s toote to run!" Qiangwei shouted, flying right up to him and blocking his path.


    With a palm, Qiangwei sent that half of Xiang Tang''s body into the ground.


    The shadows that had just been freed swarmed Xiang Tang. They restrained him within moments.


    "Feed Xiang Tang to the blood peach tree as fertilizer," Qiangwei said.


    The shadows didn''t object. They brought the two halves of Xiang Tang''s body toward the blood peach tree.


    "No! Please, spare me, Divine Emperor!" Xiang Tang cried out in shock.


    The golden crow ignored Xiang Tang. Rather, he flew toward the Divine Emperor''s bell.

 Chapter 300: I Want to Try

    <h4>Chapter 300: I Want to Try</h4>


    The peach tree''s roots stabbed into Xiang Tang''s body. His blood, flesh, and Immortal qi were forcibly extracted and transformed into nutrients for the nt as his body withered away.


    "Spare me, Divine Emperor!" Xiang Tang cried out in fear.


    The golden crow ignored him; he could only watch on as his body grew weaker and weaker.


    "No!" Xiang Tang cried out shrilly.


    Still hidden in the darkness, Nn Yunhai watched events unfold in shock. He didn''t know how Qiangwei had grown so familiar with the cursed effigies. All he could do was lie curled up in a corner, hoping no one noticed him.


    Qiangwei walked up to the Divine Emperor''s bell following behind the Spirit Emperor. She bowed respectfully and began recounting everything that had happened.


    The golden crow didn''t seem particrly enthused by Qiangwei''s ounting of events. His gazended straight at the Divine Emperor''s bell. It wed the bell with its sharp ws.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell shook as it emitted a melodic hum.


    "Divine Emperor, if you''vee back, why are you hiding from me? Don''t you want to reunite with me?" the golden crow asked.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell didn''t move at all.


    "Spirit Emperor, shall I give it a try? Women are more familiar with each other, after all. What if I attempt to anger her until she''s willing toe out?" Qiangwei offered, sidling up to the Spirit Emperor.


    "Scram!" the golden crow shouted.


    Qiangwei trembled, then immediately retreated to one side.


    "No one can interfere with my business with the Divine Emperor," the golden crow dered.


    "I understand, Spirit Emperor!" Qiangwei hastily retreated in fear.


    Within the Divine Emperor''s bell, Xiao Nanfeng listened to themotion outside with aplicated expression on his face.


    "What''s the Spirit Emperor doing in the peach orchard? Aren''t we a little too unlucky?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. "It''s just a fragment of the Spirit Emperor''s will. The Spirit Emperor''s main body is in the Thousand Spirits'' Hall."


    "A fragment of the Spirit Emperor''s will is so strong as to cripple Xiang Tang in a single blow?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s stronger than I had anticipated," the Divine Emperor admitted.


    "Senior, we haven''t lost just yet. I''ll fight him with you," Xiao Nanfeng pledged.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. "Thank you for your help all these years, Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Divine Emperor, are you talking about when I killed Envoy Ying at Mt. Swallowtail? Didn''t you help me take care of Xiang Pojun afterwards? There''s no need for such pleasantries," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Divine Emperor took a deep breath. "Fifty thousand years ago, when I was betrayed by the Spirit Emperor and backstabbed by countless spirits, my body was weakened to an extreme. I hid in the ring year after year, filled with nothing but thoughts of vengeance and hatred. I hated the heavens, the earth, and everything between them. Demons of the heart made me want to destroy everything. It was your optimism that slowly ground away those demonic desires. You repaid kindness with kindness and grudge with grudge, causing me to narrow down the targets of my hatred. Your continued attempts at self-improvement allowed me to regain my own vigor. You allowed me to regain my rationality; you allowed me to regain my heart."


    "Senior, please. I''ve hardly done that much," Xiao Nanfeng replied, scratching his head and smiling.


    "I treat you coldly only as an effect of my natural attitude toward people. After being betrayed, I felt a tremendous sense of insecurity. I''ve been treating people by instinct ever since, and I simply can''t get passionate about people. That said, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you."


    "Senior, what''s wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng sensed that something was amiss.


    "I won''t be able to escape today. Thank you for apanying me for years. You have many tasks left to you, and there''s no need for you to put yourself at danger on my behalf. I hope you''ll be able to find your parents, to establish your own kingdom and empire, to remain safe in your long journey of cultivation. With this token, you may leave the peach orchard. Go as soon as you can," the Divine Emperor said.


    She stuffed a ck token into Xiao Nanfeng''s hands, then froze the ck smoke around him into crystal.


    "Divine Emperor, wait! You don''t have to do this!" Xiao Nanfeng yelled out.


    However, the ck crystal quickly encased him. He was unable to speak or move.


    "Farewell!" the Divine Emperor said.


    Then, she rapped on her bell, which began to resonate. With her other hand, she sent the ck crystal encasing Xiao Nanfeng underground.


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to struggle, but he was unable to break free. He had no choice but to watch himself sink into the ground as the Divine Emperor''s bell floated into the air.


    "Divine Emperor, this is no ce to speak. Let''s talk at my pce." The golden bird''s voice was tinged with excitement.


    The golden bird grabbed the Divine Emperor''s bell and flew toward the ck pond with it.


    "Farewell, Spirit Emperor! Farewell, Divine Emperor!" a group of shadows called out respectfully from all around them.


    The golden crow and the Divine Emperor''s bell sank deep within the ck pond and vanished.


    Not far away underground, although Xiao Nanfeng was immobilized by the ck crystal that had formed around him, he could still hear what was going on outside. He understood everything then. The Divine Emperor had been saying her farewells to him, then protecting him by sending him underground.


    The ck crystal was slowly sublimating into ck fog. Before long, he would be freed.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He couldn''t help but be touched at the gesture, but they could have worked out a n!


    He suddenly discovered that there was a storage space in the token that the Divine Emperor had given him, and all the possessions he had ced into her bell had been transferred into the token.


    Xiao Nanfeng then waited as the ck crystal meltedpletely.


    Meanwhile, Xiang Tang''s corpse continued to dry out. All his essence had been converted into nutrients for the blood peach, which was growingrger andrger. It began to radiate multicolored light and an alluring fragrance.


    Not too longter, all of Xiang Tang''s vitality was absorbed from his corpse. Like the other cultivators, what remained of his body scattered in a cloud of powder.


    The shadows likewise allowed the peach tree''s roots to impale them and absorb their vitality.


    In the blink of an eye, the only lifeform remaining under the peach tree was Qiangwei.


    "You cane over now, Your Highness!" Qiangwei looked toward a secluded spot of the nearby mountain.


    Nn Yunhai walked over. He had a concerned look on his face. "Have those shadowsmitted group suicide? Why would they voluntarily allow themselves to be absorbed by the peach tree? Are they in the blood peach now?"


    "That''s right. We''re cooperating with the shadows. They''ll help you be an Immortal, and you''ll help them escape from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm."


    "They''re going to take advantage of my body to escape from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm?" Nn Yunhai eximed.


    "That''s right. The blood peach is mature now, Your Highness, and you can consume it. Its essence will allow your cultivation to climb rapidly. Once you head out and survive the resulting tribtion, you''ll be an Immortal."


    Qiangwei flew up to the top of the peach tree and plucked the blood peach that had grown to the size of a human''s head. She offered it to Nn Yunhai.


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes twitched. He felt as though something was amiss.


    "Rx, Your Highness. I became an Immortal the same way," Qiangwei said.


    Only then did Nn Yunhai nod. He took the proffered peach and bit down. The blood peach melted on his tongue, sweet and fragrant. He finished it all quickly.


    Suddenly, a burst of fiery light erupted over Nn Yunhai''s body. "I feel so warm all over!"


    "That''s normal. You have to leave this ce immediately and enter secluded cultivation."


    "Got it. Take this blood peach tree with us."


    Qiangwei shook her head. "The blood peach tree is the Spirit Emperor''s private property. Don''t touch it."


    "So what if we take it?" Nn Yunhai didn''t want to let such a treasure slip from his grasp.


    "You can im the storage relics from the cultivators all around, but you cannot touch this blood peach tree," Qiangwei emphasized.


    "And if I insist?" Nn Yunhai demanded.


    Qiangwei pursed her lips, uncertain as to how to dispel Nn Yunhai''s thought.


    Just then, a sh of blue light descended from the skies straight toward Nn Yunhai.


    "Save me!" Nn Yunhai cried out, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.


    Qiangwei herself was shocked. She blocked the sh with a palm, but it left a gaping wound on her arm.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Weren''t you in the Divine Emperor''s bell?" Qiangwei eximed.


    Unfortunately for him, Qiangwei had been strong enough to defend against his sneak attack.


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted and shed at Nn Yunhai again.


    "We have to flee!" Qiangwei shouted, pulling Nn Yunhai with her as she rushed away.


    "Qiangwei, you''re an Immortal! What are you afraid of?" Nn Yunhai eximed.


    "Xiang Tang was no match for him. What if I can''t beat him, either? I can protect myself easily, but he might kill you. We can''t take the risk now."


    Nn Yunhai scowled. "But the blood peach tree and those Immortal relics¡ªhe''ll be able to im them for himself!"


    "Don''t worry, he won''t be able to leave the peach orchard. He can''t bring anything with him."


    "Very well. I''ll reim it once I be an Immortal myself!" Nn Yunhai allowed Qiangwei to lead him away.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t chase after the two fleeing cultivators. He collected the storage relics that the dead cultivators had left behind and checked them over to find several Immortal relics within.


    He nced at the blood peach tree and ignored it temporarily. Rather, he rummaged by the ground to find the dragon-quelling spike that the Spirit Emperor had cut in two.


    "Senior ck Lotus, is there undying spiritual power in this dragon-quelling spike that would allow me to activate the full strength of my divine undying de?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck lotus formed text in his mindscape. "What are you nning to do?"


    "I''m going to rescue the Divine Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng replied resolutely.


    "Are you crazy? Do you know how strong that fragment of the Spirit Emperor''s will was? He easily crushed Xiang Tang. Are you trying to kill yourself? You can flee this orchard now. Leave!"


    "The Divine Emperor wasn''t willing to return to this hidden realm. I begged her to guide my way, and I promised her that I would help deal with the Spirit Emperor on her behalf. I don''t intend to go back on my word¡ªand who''s to say that I can''t win? I want to try."

 Chapter 301: Xiao Nanfeng Steals the Bride

    <h4>Chapter 301: Xiao Nanfeng Steals the Bride</h4>


    The ck lotus in Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape was silent for long moments.


    "Senior, does this dragon-quelling spike contain more undying cursed spiritual power?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    The ck lotus was silent for some time before finally replying, "It does."


    "Is it sufficient to kill the Spirit Emperor''s fragment of will?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "It can, but you can only release it once. You''re far too weak, and it''ll be easy for the Spirit Emperor to dodge the attack. You''d be done for then," the ck lotus wrote.


    "As long as it''s feasible. Senior, could you help me with this broken dragon-quelling spike, then? Please pass me the undying cursed spiritual power if Ie into conflict with the Spirit Emperor shortly."


    Xiao Nanfeng passed the two halves of the dragon-quelling spike into his mindscape to the ck lotus.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you worried about dying?" the ck lotus asked disbelievingly.


    "I won''t die. I''ll win for sure," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    He walked up to the ck pond and carefully inspected the water. Then, he jumped in and dove into the pond.


    The pond was particrly deep, and it took him a long while before he saw light once more. There was an aquatic barrier underwater surrounded with golden light. A ptialplex could be seen within the barrier. Before the building were countless guards and pce maidens, all bowing respectfully toward the Divine Emperor''s bell in their midst.


    Standing in front of the Divine Emperor''s bell was a man dressed in rich golden brocade, his features fine and handsome, long hair draped over his back, an imposing aura around him.


    The man tapped lightly on the Divine Emperor''s bell, his eyes shing with anticipation. "Divine Emperor, it''s useless for you to hide in there! Come out and let''s have a good discussion."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately guessed that this man was the Spirit Emperor. He observed the scene patiently from above as the Spirit Emperor continued to try to coax the Divine Emperor out of her bell, but to no avail.


    The Spirit Emperor''s face fell. Eventually, he kicked at the bell with his foot. "Divine Emperor, am I an object of such hatred to you? Are you unwilling to even speak to me?"


    The Divine Emperor''s bell remained silent. The guards and pce maidens trembled in fear, but none of them dared to speak.


    "I''ve been thinking of you for fifty thousand years. Do you know how I spent my time? My patience is limited. You have toe out. I''ll give you ten breaths¡ªand if you''re not out by then, I''lle fetch you myself."


    The Divine Emperor refused to respond. After ten breaths, the Spirit Emperor''s eyes went cold. He summoned a golden bell, one almost identical to the Divine Emperor''s bell, as though they had been cast from the same mold. The Spirit Emperor sent his bell crashing into hers.


    The two bells collided and simultaneously began to resonate, as though they were about tobine into one.


    "The twinned bell¡ªI split my bell into two and handed this twin to my brother for his protection. How could you have gotten it? Didn''t you im that it had been destroyed alongside my brother during that crisis?!" the Divine Emperor demanded.


    "Get out here!" the Spirit Emperor shouted.


    He continued spurring the golden bell forth. It began to merge with the Divine Emperor''s bell in an unusual resonance, one that seemed poised to force the Divine Emperor out of hiding.


    "Spirit Emperor, you lied to me! My brother didn''t die because of that disaster. You must have killed him and stolen this artifact!"


    The Spirit Emperor''s eyes shed. "Don''t talk nonsense."


    "Echoes of time past, I summon you!" the Divine Emperor incanted.


    With a hum, the two bells resonated. Voices that had been recorded for time immemorial yed themselves back.


    A man''s voice could be heard as the twin bells tolled.


    "Spirit Emperor, how could you still be interested in my sister despite all these concubines you have? Why would she marry you? Dream on. I''m not going to help persuade her on your behalf. When we were all still weak, you gallivanted about and used all sorts of contemptible techniques to seize the virginity of young women. Don''t you dare use them on my sister¡ªno, I have to warn her about you. What? What''re you¡ªyou''re trying to kill me? Sister, save me, sister¡ª!"


    The Spirit Emperor''s eyes twitched upon hearing the recording.


    "Spirit Emperor, you really were the one who killed my brother!" The Divine Emperor''s tone was tinged with grief and anger.


    The Spirit Emperor knew that the cat was out of the bag. His features distorted in anger. "As if I would be interested in the women who flocked to me after I became a heavenly emperor! He even tried to threaten me with oundish tales from the past. It would have ruined my proposal to you. How could I let that stand? It was all his fault!"


    "Spirit Emperor, all your politeness and gantry to me¡ªthat was all a lie, wasn''t it? All a pretense for me. I don''t care what ludicrous things you''ve done in the past, but the fact that you would kill him over something so trivial¡ªyou really are inhumane, aren''t you?" the Divine Emperor shouted. Her voice was lined with grief.


    The Spirit Emperor replied resolutely, "Divine Emperor, can''t you see? All I did, I did for you. If you had promised to marry me from the beginning, none of this would have happened!"


    "You vile bastard¡ªoh, you don''t know how I regret saving you that year!" the Divine Emperor howled.


    "You simply don''t understand me! But it''s alright. We''ll be joined together soon enough," the Spirit Emperor said.


    The two bellsbined into one. The resulting resonance spawned a wave of golden light that forced the Divine Emperor out of her bell.


    The Divine Emperor tried to rush back in, but it was toote. With a wave of the Spirit Emperor''s hand, golden light surrounded her and sealed her, rendering her immobile.


    "Let me go!" the Divine Emperor howled.


    "Divine Emperor, know this: all I did, I did for you. I became the heavenly emperor for you. I killed your brother for you. You''ve be a demon of my heart, and I swore I would marry you when you first rescued me. If I can''t marry you, my heart will never be at peace, and more and more demons will spawn. That would only make me even more stubborn. I have to marry you to dispel these demons and be a more perfect self," the Spirit Emperor said calmly.


    "Dream on. I would rather die than marry you!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    "You''re a cursed effigy, and you can''t die. You''ll have to marry me regardless of your wishes. We don''t have to wait for my main body, either. Now is the best time; here is the best ce. Let''s get married right away!" The Spirit Emperorughed.


    "Impossible!"


    "It''s not up to you anymore."


    With a wave of his hand, the ptialplex was suddenly festooned with red banners. His clothes had been reced by a red robe, and all the guards and pce maidens were congratting him and the Divine Emperor.


    "We don''t have to bow to heaven or to earth, only to ourselves." The Spirit Emperor smiled, then began, "Today, I swear on this curse of emotion that binds us, that I shall take the Divine Emperor as my consort. Together shall our hearts be linked until the end of time."


    A crimson aura emerged from the Spirit Emperor and spread to the Divine Emperor.


    The Spirit Emperor waggled his fingers. Still sealed by the golden light, the Divine Emperor seemed to be manipted into speech. "Today, I swear on this curse of emotion that binds us, that I shall take..."


    The Divine Emperor spoke with great difficulty, as though she were attempting to force herself to remain silent. Even so, she was unable to resist the Spirit Emperor''s maniption. As she spoke words that cut at her very heart, tears sttered to her feet, drowning in desperation and despair.


    The Spirit Emperor cared not for her pain. He had to marry her in order to dispel his demons of the heart. He smiled in grim anticipation.


    The guards and pce maidens didn''t dare speak. They watched on as the Divine Emperor cried.


    Just as the Divine Emperor was about to finalize her vow and sumb to the curse of emotion, a sh of blue light descended from the skies and struck at the golden glow around her.


    "Who dares?" the Spirit Emperor eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng had broken through the aquatic barrier and was shing down with his divine undying de.


    "You dare ruin this wedding?!" the Spirit Emperor demanded.


    The golden light that restrained the Divine Emperor was shattered by the divine undying de, allowing her to regain her freedom. Simultaneously, the enraged Spirit Emperor mmed a palm toward Xiao Nanfeng, who attempted to defend himself with his de. However, the Spirit Emperor was simply too strong. The hilt of Xiao Nanfeng''s de cut into his hands as he was sent flying. He coughed out a mouthful of blood in mid-air, clearly having sustained serious injuries.


    All around, the guards and pce maidens nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock¡ªthen malice.


    As Xiao Nanfeng fell to the ground, a pair of pitch-ck hands embraced him.


    The Divine Emperor caught him in her grasp.


    "What are you doing here?" she eximed.


    "I brought you into this hidden realm. It''s my responsibility to bring you back out." Xiao Nanfeng wiped at the blood by his mouth.


    The Divine Emperor stilled, unexpectedly touched.


    The Spirit Emperor stared at Xiao Nanfeng, his eyes like flint. A frightening ze erupted around him. "Who are you? Who dares to disrupt this wedding ceremony?"


    "How shameless do you have to be to call this a wedding?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "You really are asking to die!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    "And so what? I''ll be leaving with the Divine Emperor today. Whoever attempts to stop me shall die!"


    The Divine Emperor''s heart thumped. She knew that Xiao Nanfeng had not the strength to back up such a im¡ªbut perhaps that was what made the feeling even more intense. No one had been willing to face death itself in the eye for her.


    The Spirit Emperor grew even more incensed.


    With a wave of his hand, he sent a fan of zing mes toward him, so tall they towered over him like a cresting wave.


    The Divine Emperor strode forward, but Xiao Nanfeng pulled her back behind him.


    "Hide in your bell. I''ll deal with him!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Before the Divine Emperor could reject his n, Xiao Nanfeng waded into the fire.

 Chapter 302: The Spirit Emperors First Defeat

    <h4>Chapter 302: The Spirit Emperor''s First Defeat</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng swung the divine undying de, cleaving the mes before him in twain.


    The Spirit Emperor snapped his fingers. The fire rbined and swallowed up Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your physical cultivation is at Wingform, and your spiritual cultivation at the peak of Lunar Deluge. You really overestimate your own capabilities, don''t you? My facsimile of srfire can easily burn you to a crisp." The Spirit Emperor sneered.


    Just then, two caws came from within Xiao Nanfeng''s body. The facsimile of srfire that had enveloped Xiao Nanfeng was quickly absorbed.


    "Oh? You don''t fear the facsimile of srfire? Could you have quintessence of srfire in your body?" the Spirit Emperor eximed in surprise.


    "Take this!" Xiao Nanfeng tossed out one of the Immortal swords he had just obtained.


    The sword radiated with energy as it flew toward the Spirit Emperor and self-destructed. An explosion of frightening energy mushroomed toward the Spirit Emperor.


    The Spirit Emperor sneered and caught the explosion with a hand. The void distorted as the mes were seized by a power of frightening strength. The mespressed into a fireball about asrge as a palm.


    "What?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. Was the Spirit Emperor so strong that he could reverse the spread of such an explosion?


    "Do you think you could harm me by destroying an Immortal relic? You''re far too naive." The Spirit Emperor chuckled as he tossed the small fireball back at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "No!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He attempted to evade, but it was simply impossible. The fireball exploded anew before him. Although the rpression had sapped a significant portion of its energy, the resulting explosion was akin to the destruction of a corroded Immortal relic. He was quickly engulfed in mes.


    "Argh!" Xiao Nanfeng''s screams could be heard from within the fire. "Again! I bet you can''t handle the simultaneous destruction of three Immortal relics!"


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the Immortal relics toward the Spirit Emperor.


    "You think that''d be enough to hurt me? It''s more an annoyance than anything else," the Spirit Emperor replied.


    He shed past the three Immortal relics and instantly appeared by the mes. He reached for Xiao Nanfeng.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng shed at the Spirit Emperor with his divine undying de.


    The Spirit Emperor ignored the attack. He had seen for himself how weak Xiao Nanfeng was; he continued to reach out for Xiao Nanfeng''s neck.


    Just then, the ck lotus infused the divine undying de with the cursed spiritual power it had extracted from the dragon-quelling spike. The de glowed with shining blue light that illuminated the entire domain. By then, however, the Spirit Emperor was too close to avoid the attack.


    "Impossible!" he howled.


    The divine undying de split the Spirit Emperor into two¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t made it out of the attack unscathed, either. The Spirit Emperor had dealt his chest a heavy blow before his destruction. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying, fresh blood pouring out of his wounds. He was gravely injured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng!" The Divine Emperor rushed toward him and caught him once more.


    All this happened in the sh of an eye. No one would have expected the Spirit Emperor to be struck down. Behind him, the three Immortal relics exploded, making his wounds even more severe.


    The two halves of the Spirit Emperor''s body were shocked. "Lad, were you nning all this from the start? You used the ineffectual destruction of Immortal relics twice to lure me before you and make sure I couldn''t avoid your subsequent blow¡ªhow malicious you are. You''ll die for this!"


    The two halves of the Spirit Emperor''s body were about to rbine when the Divine Emperor''s bell appeared between them and halted the process.


    "Again!" Even as Xiao Nanfeng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, he tossed four Immortal relics toward the Spirit Emperor.


    The four Immortal relics exploded as they struck the two halves of the Spirit Emperor''s body. Were he in peak condition, these explosions would have done nothing to him, but his physical body had been destroyed. He was in a state of great weakness. The explosion of the four Immortal relics destroyed one half of his bodypletely, while the Divine Emperor''s bell struck at his other half.


    He knew that he had been bested. His fragment of will was about to expire.


    "To think I would lose to the likes of you¡ªyou''re done for, kid." The Spirit Emperor smiled malevolently.


    "He''s going to self-destruct!" the Divine Emperor cried out.


    The two halves of the Spirit Emperor''s body let out blinding golden light as they exploded in a burst of frightening me.


    The underwater barrier shattered as the ck pond was engulfed in the explosion¡ªand the entire peach orchard along with it.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell barely caught Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor in time.


    The bell tolled as the explosions persisted. Even within the bell, they could sense the bell being battered and buffeted by the explosions.


    It took a tremendous amount of time before everything quieted down again.


    The Divine Emperor uncovered the bell to reveal what remained of the domain. All the water had been vaporized from the ck pond, and the mountains all around them had been leveled. Thend was a mess of rubble and strewn detritus.


    The guards and pce maidens coughed out blood as they staggered from the explosions. They revealed their original appearance¡ªthey were all shadow cursed effigies.


    "They''re about as strong as Envoy Ying!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in shock.


    These were all Immortal-realm shadows, and so many of them, too! If he had been any slower to act, these shadows would have swarmed him. Would he even have been able to swing his de at all?


    "Leave the rest to me," the Divine Emperor said.


    Her bell covered Xiao Nanfeng once again as she darted toward the shadows.


    Pleas and cries came from outside the bell.


    "Spare us, Divine Emperor! We were forced into this!"


    "Don''t eat me, Divine Emperor! Please spare us!"


    "Save us, Spirit Emperor!"


    The shadows begged for mercy, but the Divine Emperor showed no mercy. Within moments, she had cleared out their surroundings.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that the shadows had to have scattered, and the Divine Emperor was giving chase to them.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged in meditation as he attempted to recuperate. The Spirit Emperor had been too strong. Even his hasty blow had dealt Xiao Nanfeng tremendous damage.


    Xiao Nanfeng recuperated for three whole days before the Divine Emperor''s bell was uncovered once more as she returned.


    "I''m back. All the shadows have been destroyed. How are your wounds?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "I''m rather badly hurt, and I''ll need to recuperate for quite a while longer." Xiao Nanfeng gave her a wry smile.


    "Worry not. I''ve gathered this for you, and it''ll boost your recuperation," the Divine Emperor replied.


    With a wave of her hand, she summoned a sea of golden me. The mes formed two giant whirlpools, with a golden ember radiating incandescent light at the center of each.


    "Quintessence of srfire?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "That''s right. The Spirit Emperor''s fragment of will left these two embers behind. The remaining fire is all facsimile of srfire, and can help speed up your recovery," the Divine Emperor exined.


    "Thank you."


    Xiao Nanfeng absorbed the sea of golden mes into his body.


    The two embers that harbored quintessence of srfire melded into two suns in his dantian and quickly hatched the nascent spirits gestating within. Meanwhile, he distilled the facsimile of srfire into pure yang origin qi and used it to quickly repair the damage dealt to his physical body. He was regenerating flesh at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Within just a few hours, two booms resounded through the peach orchard alongside bursts of me.


    Two more nascent spirits had hatched into three-legged golden crows within his dantian.


    "The fourth stage of Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Rather than get up, he continued to recuperate. A dayter, all his wounds had finally been healed. He opened his eyes and exhaled with satisfaction.


    He looked around him to see the Divine Emperor in meditation herself. The ck pond water had somehow reappeared and was slowly being infused into her body.


    "Have you recovered?" the Divine Emperor asked in concern, without opening her eyes.


    "Fully. Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Divine Emperor paused. "There''s no need to call me Senior. Just address me as the Divine Emperor."


    "Understood, Divine Emperor! What''s this ck water around your body?"


    "It''s my cursed spiritual power. When the Spirit Emperor betrayed me, he seized all my spiritual power and distilled it into this ck water, which he granted to all manner of spirits to turn them into shadow cursed effigies."


    "No wonder they only listen to the Spirit Emperor..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured in understanding.

 Chapter 303: The Divine Emperors Concern

    <h4>Chapter 303: The Divine Emperor''s Concern</h4>


    The Divine Emperor was slowly absorbing the ck water as her aura grew stronger and stronger.


    As Xiao Nanfeng guarded the Divine Emperor, he was searching through the surroundings. In a patch of ruinednd, he found a few blossoms that he immediately realized had to havee from the blood peach tree.


    After digging up a huge quantity of earth and rock, he finally found a palm-sized peach tree branch. He scoured the region with his spiritual power for an entire day before concluding that the blood peach tree''s bark had all been consumed, leaving only this small branch.


    The branch had jade-green leaves growing out of it, with a bright and beautiful peach blossom, and a small, thin rhizome, as though it were a sapling.


    "Let me nt it and see..." Xiao Nanfeng was just about to keep the peach tree branch when the Divine Emperor suddenly said, "You can''t take that."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see the Divine Emperor standing upright, having finished absorbing all the ck water in the vicinity.


    There was only a thinyer of ck smoke left around the Divine Emperor. Her form-fitting clothes caught the eye. She was tall and curvaceous, with a pair of stunningly long legs. The thinyer of ck smoke continued to cover her face; Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t make out her appearance. Even so, the contours of her face spoke to her stunning beauty.


    "Divine Emperor, how much of your strength have you recovered?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I''m about as strong as the fragment of the Spirit Emperor''s will was."


    "Why is there still ck smoke around your body, then?"


    "I still haven''t reimed enough of my cursed spiritual power to recover my appearance."


    "Even so, it''s already clear that you must have been a beauty," Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    The Divine Emperor sighed. "Would that I weren''t."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was somewhat taken aback. <i>I was only trying to be polite in giving you apliment, but you seem to have epted it quite readily...</i>


    "My looks have made it easier to gain many possessions¡ªsave a true, sincere heart." The Divine Emperor''s voice was lined with sorrow.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her an odd look. Wasn''t she being a little narcissistic?


    "You don''t believe me? You think I''m boasting?" the Divine Emperor asked. Xiao Nanfeng''s feelings were clearly written on his face.


    "No, I believe you," Xiao Nanfeng immediately replied.


    "Good!" The Divine Emperor nodded in satisfaction.


    "Divine Emperor, you said that I couldn''t im this peach tree branch. Why not?"


    "It''s likely a cursed effigy."


    "A cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng stiffened.


    His hand shook; he almost dropped the branch. How unlucky did he have to be to have so many cursed effigies around him?


    "If I''m not mistaken, it must have been the one to eat up all the peach trees in this orchard."


    "Oh?"


    "I chopped off this blood peach tree fifty thousand years ago and burned it to a crisp. However, it''s clearly alive. Something must be amiss; the only reasonable exnation is that it''s a cursed effigy in its own right."


    "Could this be another blood peach tree?" Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    "It can''t be. I recognize its aura. It''s precisely the blood peach tree I chopped down. At this stage, it''s probably half-awakened. Don''t interact with it." The Divine Emperor shook her head.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the palm-sized branch for some time before he finally nodded. Just as he was about to toss it aside, the remnant peach blossoms fell to the ground. The petals scattered and arranged themselves into two words.


    "Madam Rouge?" the Divine Emperor read out.


    Xiao Nanfeng was agape. He nced at the peach tree branch. "What connection do you have to Madam Rouge?"


    However, the peach tree branch seemed to be too weak to respond further.


    "I''ve heard you bring up Madam Rouge before. Was she one of the other cursed kings that''s been hounding you?" the Divine Emperor suddenly asked.


    "She was, but she''s gone now," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "This peach tree branch must have sensed Madam Rouge''s remnant aura on your body. Does it know Madam Rouge? It seems to want you to take it away." The Divine Emperor seemed rather concerned.


    "In that case, I suppose I''ll bring it along."


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully stored the peach tree branch.


    The Divine Emperor was silent for some time. "Are you on particrly good terms with Madam Rouge? It hasn''t been long since she finally stopped hounding you, has she? Are you going to tangle yourself up with her again? I recall you mentioning at some point that she was constantly trying to kill you."


    "I''ve resolved my misunderstanding with Madam Rouge. She''s a friend of mine," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You make friends with cursed kings?" The Divine Emperor was taken aback.


    "Well, we''re friends, aren''t we?"


    It took a long while before the Divine Emperor spoke up again. "You really are sinister, aren''t you? Your spiritual cultivation is ominous, and you''re acquaintances with a whole group of cursed kings. I feel like you''re countering curse with curse, death with death. If you continue allying with cursed kings, you''ll end up cursing yourself eventually as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the Divine Emperor an odd look. "Divine Emperor, aren''t you... insulting yourself?"


    The Divine Emperor fumed. She was just trying to give Xiao Nanfeng some advice, but he was apparently unwilling to listen!


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately changed the topic. "Divine Emperor, where else in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm might I find more quintessence of srfire?"


    "Head to my hall," the Divine Emperor said. "There''s quintessence of srfire there, and I need to reim more of my cursed spiritual power as well."


    "Would you guide me there?"


    The Divine Emperor quickly told him the way.


    "Let''s set off, then!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Divine Emperor suddenly asked, "Xiao Nanfeng, why did youe back to rescue me?"


    "Should I not have rescued you?"


    "You could have escaped with a whole pile of Immortal relics. Not only would you have been free of me, the Spirit Emperor wouldn''t bear a grudge against you. Why return?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    Just then, a ray of ck light shot out from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and formed a paragraph.


    "I asked him that same question. He told me that ''The Divine Emperor wasn''t willing to return to this hidden realm. I begged her to guide my way, and I promised her that I would help deal with the Spirit Emperor on her behalf. I don''t intend to go back on my word.''"


    The Divine Emperor blinked.


    "Senior ck Lotus, have you been watching me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    He felt as though he no longer had any privacy left to him. Madam Rouge had observed him all day long; now, the ck lotus was following suit.


    He was very conflicted about what would happen when he became intimate with a lover. Would the ck lotus watch on, or worse, interfere? He didn''t want to imagine anything of the sort!


    The ck lotus didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng. Rather, the textposed of ck light slowly faded.


    "Divine Emperor, this isn''t important. Please don''t mind what I said," Xiao Nanfeng stressed.


    The Divine Emperor remained silent for a long moment before transforming her bell back into a ring around Xiao Nanfeng''s finger. She strode within.


    "Let''s go," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle.

 Chapter 304: Counterattack Against the Hunters

    <h4>Chapter 304: Counterattack Against the Hunters</h4>


    Following the Divine Emperor''s directions, Xiao Nanfeng left the peach orchard.


    He was right about to set off when a sword shot toward him. He frowned and shed at the sword, deflecting it and causing it to fly back into a man''s hands. The man took the opportunity to sh behind Xiao Nanfeng, preventing him from returning to the peach orchard.


    "Get over here, everyone! Xiao Nanfeng has appeared!" the man shouted.


    Cultivators shot out of the surrounding mountains and forests, each one wielding an Immortal weapon shining with radiant light. All the weapons were pointed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he nced at the cultivators calmly. "Six Wingform-realm cultivators? You must have been waiting for me for some time."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we heard that you obtained arge number of Immortal relics in the peach orchard. Where are they?" one asked.


    Although the cultivators all had Immortal weapons, they still seemed to be particrly cautious.


    "The only people who know that I''ve obtained any Immortal relics within the peach orchard are Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei. They must have had youe here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "They told us that you wouldn''t be able to leave the peach orchard, but that we were to guard the perimeter just in case. You really were able to make it out!"


    "I''ve seen dossiers about all of you before. You''re from various Immortal sects around the Eastern Sea, and each of you is an important pir of your sect. You''re all working with Nn Yunhai in an attempt to revitalize your sects, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What are you trying to get at?" the lead cultivator asked.


    "Why continue this partnership with Nn Yunhai? Haven''t you heard about him hanging his followers?"


    The cultivators frowned. They were all clearly aware of what had happened.


    "You must have been those cultivators that Nn Yunhai assigned to search for Immortal relics in the vicinity. You missed the opportunity to enter the peach orchard with Nn Yunhai and the others¡ªdo you know what happened within? Do you know why no one else managed to escape?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "What happened?" One cultivator frowned.


    "They''re all dead. Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei schemed against them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Impossible! You''re lying. His Highness said that Xiang Tang killed them all before he fell to a group of shadow cursed effigies."


    "Oh? And you haven''t suspected a thing?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The cultivators frowned. They all had, of course. If even Xiang Tang had died within the peach orchard, how had Qiangwei and Nn Yunhai made it out so easily? However, none of them knew the truth, and nor could they investigate it easily. They didn''t dare to conjecture blindly.


    "Don''t listen to his nonsense. He''s trying to get all of you on his side. Kill him now! He''s weaker than you are!" a voice suddenly called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and eximed in surprise, "Mr. Hua? You''re still alive? You''re rather lucky, aren''t you?"


    "He took me as hostage and was preparing toy an ambush for all of you, but ultimately gave up on his n because he was worried about his numerical disadvantage. He''s too weak to handle all of you at once. Kill him now! His Highness said that, if you manage to kill him, he would grant you the Immortal relics you wield now!" Mr. Hua urged.


    The cultivators'' hands tightened around their Immortal weapons. Some were tempted enough to want to strike at once.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued calmly, "Who do you think would be a better leader? Nn Yunhai or me?"


    The cultivators were taken aback. Xiao Nanfeng really was trying to get them to turn on Nn Yunhai!


    "Make your move now! He''s trying to lead you astray!" Mr. Hua urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s smile widened. These cultivators were all opportunists. The fact that none of them had yet to make their move meant that they weren''t particrly loyal to Nn Yunhai, and they would naturally side with the party that gave them the greater benefit.


    "You should all be aware of Nn Yunhai''s personality. Do you think he would provide your sects with anypensation if you were to die here?" Xiao Nanfeng questioned.


    "Don''t listen to his nonsense. He''s no match for you. He''s the one who''s going to die!" Mr. Hua urged.


    "As for these Immortal relics you possess now, you risked your lives for them, didn''t you? Why did Mr. Hua say that they''d only be yours if Nn Yunhai granted them to you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The cultivators frowned.


    "Nn Yunhai''s miserly and only looks out for himself. Do you really want to work with someone like that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Nn Yunhai''s the second prince of the Tianshu Empire. Once the Tianshu Empire bes an Immortal empire, the second prince''s status will surely rise, and ours as well. We''d bepensated with an incredible wealth of fortune."


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked. "You know how miserly he is. Would all that fortune really go to you?"


    The cultivators fell silent.


    "Don''t listen to his nonsense! Deal with him now¡ªor I''ll report this to His Highness!" Mr. Hua threatened.


    "Everyone, I believe I''ve made my case. Now''s your chance. If anyone still wishes to strike at me, do so now." Xiao Nanfeng raised his divine undying de.


    "Strike now! Seize the initiative!" Mr. Hua urged.


    Suddenly, Mr. Hua was kicked into the air. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he fell to the ground.


    "Chongshan Sect Master? What are you doing?!" Mr. Hua eximed.


    Everyone looked toward the cultivator who had struck Mr. Hua in surprise,


    a hulking man who suddenly bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Young Master Xiao, the Chongshan Immortal Sect is willing to pledge allegiance to you and support your ventures. Would you ept our support?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. "Chongshan Sect Master, the Xiao n wees you with open arms."


    "Chongshan Sect Master, you''ve gone crazy! Do you really dare betray His Highness?!" Mr. Hua eximed.


    "Chongshan Sect Master, aren''t you being a little hasty?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s known to be virtuous, but he''s far too weak. You might be the downfall of your sect."


    The other cultivators questioned his decision, but they didn''t reject it outright. After all, they all wanted to find the best possible path forward for their respective sects.


    "Everyone, you''re well aware of Young Master Xiao''s benevolence and integrity. As for his strength, what''s there to doubt? Even Immortal Qiangwei fears Young Master Xiao. How could he be weak? Not long ago, my avatar received word that Yongding was infiltrated by arge number of shadows, but a cultivator at Yin Body within the Xiao manor easily destroyed them all. In addition, red rope cursed effigies assisted Young Master Xiao in quelling the disturbance. Young Master Xiao is far stronger than you can imagine."


    "What?" The cultivators were taken aback by this revtion.


    The Chongshan sect master continued, "In these tumultuous times, we must consider not only the feud between the Nn and Xiang ns, but also the rise of the Xiao n. I''m willing to wager the Chongshan Immortal Sect on the Xiao n and pledge my allegiance to him. I''ve fought side by side with all of you, and I consider you allies. I invite you to join me in pledging allegiance to the Xiao n."


    Now that he was one of Xiao Nanfeng''s followers, if he could sessfully convince others to switch their allegiance, that would count as significant merit in his favor.


    "Young Master Xiao, the Lanshui Immortal Sect pledges its allegiance to you," another cultivator said immediately.


    The other cultivators likewise seemed to be convinced by the Chongshan sect master''s words.


    "The Qingyang Immortal Sect is willing to support Young Master Xiao!"


    "Young Master Xiao, the..."


    The cultivators all decided to follow Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Are you all crazy? His Highness stationed all of you here to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Why would you switch your allegiance to him?!" Mr. Hua howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained cautious against the cultivators that had suddenly decided to change their allegiance even as he said, "The Xiang n wees you and the Immortal sects you represent."


    "We greet Young Master Xiao!" Everyone kowtowed to him.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Young Master Xiao, Mr. Hua is the worst of the lot. Even though you spared him, he still tried to scheme against you. He volunteered to remain behind and serve as guard for Nn Yunhai, demanding that we kill you if you were to make it out. I shall kill him now to prove my allegiance!" the Chongshan sect master eximed.


    "What? N-No!" Mr. Hua shouted.


    The Chongshan sect master thrust his de into Mr. Hua''s body. The other cultivators emted him, striking simultaneously.


    Mr. Hua cried out in pain as he fell to the ground. How could he have expected that his attempt to curry favor from Nn Yunhai would lead to his death?


    "Young Master Xiao, these are the Immortal relics that Nn Yunhai promised us. I hand mine now to you." The Chongshan sect master proffered his Immortal sword to Xiao Nanfeng.


    He knew that words alone wouldn''t suffice to evoke trust from Xiao Nanfeng; he was willing to give up his Immortal relic as a measure of sincerity as well.


    The other cultivators were somewhat reluctant to do so, but likewise emted his actions. "We hand the Immortal relics that Nn Yunhai promised us to your possession, Young Master Xiao."


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t too interested in the Immortal relics, but he still imed them all. If these cultivators were truly loyal, he would return these Immortal relics to them at ater date. On the other hand, if they were doing so solely to secure his trust where it wasn''t deserved, he would at least gain an Immortal relic from it.


    The cultivators'' eyes shed with reluctance as they parted with their Immortal weapons.


    "I acknowledge and appreciate your sincerity. I intend to have you leave the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm now. Are you willing to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "As you will, Young Master Xiao!" the cultivators said.


    "Very good. At noon ten dayster, gather by the Southern Heavenly Gate. My avatar will be there to open a portal to allow you to leave."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave everyone a series of directions. "Now, depart!"


    The cultivators bowed and left.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched them go. He hadn''t expected it to be so easy to recruit them, but he didn''t fully trust them just yet. He had no intention of keeping them by his side for the time being.


    The cultivators conversed with each other as they left.


    "Chongshan Sect Master, we handed our Immortal relics to Young Master Xiao. Was that foolish of us?" someone asked.


    "Would you rather have stuck with Nn Yunhai before being betrayed or used as a stepping stone for him?" the Chongshan sect master replied.


    "But¡ª"


    "We wanted to pledge our allegiance to Emperor Tianshu, but he cared little for us and assigned us to Nn Yunhai. We had no choice but to follow suit. We''ve just had a second chance," the Chongshan sect master replied disdainfully.


    "But those Immortal relics!"


    "How do you expect to show your sincerity otherwise? On what grounds should Young Master Xiao ept your allegiance? Furthermore, did you think that Nn Yunhai really would have allowed us to keep those Immortal relics?" The Chongshan sect masterughed.


    "What?" The other cultivator stiffened.


    "The Xiao manor is protected by a cultivator at Yin Body and has the support of cursed effigies and the Taiqing Immortal Sect. It has forces of rapidly growing strength, officials and administrators that are effective, loyal, and fair. The Xiao name inherits the valor and righteousness of Xiao Hongye himself, and Young Master Xiao is gaining renown for his own virtue. Haven''t you noticed that Young Master Xiao is poised to seed? You would be crazy not to join him at such a critical period," the Chongshan sect master replied disdainfully.


    "But isn''t that precisely why Xiao Nanfeng would be targeted by the Tianshu Empire? No¡ªhe''s already being targeted! Cui Haisheng, Nn Yunhai, and Qiangwei all want to kill him. What if he dies? Our sects would be eradicated along with him!"


    "You''re right. It''s a huge risk, but it bearsmensurate rewards," the Chongshan sect master replied.


    The other cultivators swallowed their saliva as they considered the riches that awaited their sects in the event of Xiao Nanfeng''s sess.


    "We''ve already made our decision, so let''s stick to it. We''ve turned traitor, so many won''t trust us¡ªbut Young Master Xiao encouraged us to pledge our allegiance to him. No one would dare to disparage us, and we won''t have a second chance. If we try this again, we''d lose all our trust. No one would dare to give us any responsibility worth having, and we would never be as well positioned," the Chongshan sect master emphasized.


    Everyone nodded, hesitantly at first and growing ever more resolute. They bowed. "Thank you for elucidating matters for us, Chongshan Sect Master."


    "In the Xiao manor, the Taiqing disciples form a faction. The Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e form another faction. All of us here represent a faction as well. We all have a share in our collective honor and reputation. If any of you betray the rest of us, it''ll affect us all as a whole and damage our collective merit. I hope you''ll all keep an eye on each other to ensure a prosperous future for us all," the Chongshan sect master emphasized.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.

 Chapter 305: Betting on Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 305: Betting on Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, the Sanyuan sect master, and Sage Hong''e led a coalition of Xiao forces to surround an ind on the Eastern Sea.


    The disciples of the Immortal sect on the ind were startled to find unwee guests massing outside the ind''s defensive formation. A robed elder with a horsetail whisk strode forward.


    "You must be the subordinates of Young Master Xiao. Might I ask why you have gathered here? Has my Fuyou Immortal Sect offended you in any way?" the robed elder asked.


    Ye Sanshui began, "Fuyou Sect Master, I appreciate your asking. My young master''s troops never involve the innocent, and we would not be here if not for your sect''s offenses against the Xiao manor. Let me ask you this: have your junior brothers joined the rogue forces allied against the Xiao n?"


    "How did you know?" the Fuyou sect master asked, raising an eyebrow.


    The disciples of the Fuyou Immortal Sect were taken aback. Clearly, this was a secret that they hadn''t been privy to.


    "Your junior brother, on behalf of your Immortal sect, participated in the confrontation between empires. Some days ago, alongside Xiang Tang, within the peach orchard in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, attempted to assassinate my young master, the source of this conflict. You must be well aware of my young master''s custom by now: he doesn''t want to involve the innocent, but he expects properpensation in the form of your sect''s draconic vein. Will this be satisfactory to you?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "What?!"


    "Ridiculous!"


    "How could it be?"


    The Fuyou Immortal Sect''s disciples were enraged. Word had long since spread across the Eastern Sea of Xiao Nanfeng''s forcible extraction of six Immortal sects'' draconic veins. The disciples of the Fuyou Immortal Sect had thought it a grand joke¡ªuntil they became the victim themselves.


    "Please exin what happened within the peach orchard," the Fuyou sect master requested.


    "ording to the young master, Qiangwei colluded with Nn Yunhai to trick Xiang Tang and his subordinates into the peach orchard. They were sacrificed to a blood peach tree which absorbed their vitality and essence to produce a blood peach, which Nn Yunhai has ingested. Your junior brother likely fell to the blood peach tree," Ye Sanshui said.


    "What?!" the Fuyou disciples eximed.


    "Will Young Master Xiao let bygones be bygones if the Fuyou Immortal Sect cedes its draconic vein?" the Fuyou sect master continued.


    "He will," Ye Sanshui promised.


    The Fuyou sect master took a moment to make up his mind before he nodded. "The Fuyou Immortal Sect has indeed wronged Young Master Xiao. He is magnanimous and his demand reasonable. I cede the Fuyou Immortal Sect''s draconic vein to you."


    "Sect Master, what if they''re lying to us?"


    "We can''t! How can we give up on our sect''s draconic vein just like that?"


    "Sect Master, let''s activate the defensive formation around the ind. They won''t be able to break in!"


    The Fuyou sect disciples were taken aback by the sect master''s abrupt decision. How could he have surrendered their sect''s priceless treasure so easily?


    "Silence!" the Fuyou sect master demanded.


    Just then, a gray-d man walked out from a hall within the sect grounds.


    "Senior Uncle? What are you doing here? They said you died in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm¡ªwas Xiao Nanfeng really lying to us?!" the sect disciples gasped.


    The gray-d man smiled wryly and bowed to the Fuyou sect master. "Senior Brother, I apologize for my misdeeds. My actions alone have spelled the sect''s downfall."


    The Fuyou sect master patted the gray-d man on the shoulder. "Forget it. The death of your clone in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm has allowed us to probe the ramifications of this opportunity. The confrontation between empires is too dangerous for the likes of us."


    "Sect Master, if we activate our defenses at full strength, they won''t be able to enter. Once the Xiang cultivators emerge from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, perhaps¡ª" the gray-d man began.


    The Fuyou sect master sighed and smiled wearily. "Considering how cautious Xiao Nanfeng is known to be, do you think Ye Sanshui and his forces would have shown up without having a n to deal with it?"


    "Could they have infiltrated the sect?" the gray-d man eximed.


    The Fuyou sect master nodded.


    "But that''swless behavior! Isn''t he afraid that the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea would band together to deal with him?" The gray-d man was taken aback.


    "Xiao Nanfeng uses honor as his shield. He never takes the initiative to attack; you were the one who attempted to kill him first. Isn''t it normal that he would seek you out for revenge andpensation? Who would stand up for you? The Xiang n? It remains to be seen whether the Xiang n can even make it back from the hidden realm," the Fuyou sect leader said, frowning.


    "Senior Brother, didn''t you think well of the Xiang n? Why have you changed your mind now?" the gray-d man eximed.


    "Two Immortal cultivators and a crow Immortal of the Xiang n have already fallen. How did Xiao Nanfeng enter the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm? Have you thought about that?" the Fuyou sect master asked.


    "Ah?" The gray-d man frowned.


    "Losing a draconic vein doesn''t mean much. All the disciples of the sect remain safe; that is the true treasure of the sect. We need only find a new draconic vein and shift the sect there to reignite our former glory," the Fuyou sect leader continued.


    The gray-d man pursed his lips.


    "Deactivate the defensive formation!" the Fuyou sect leadermanded.


    The defensive formation wound down as Ye Sanshui stepped onto the ind with Xiao Nanfeng''s forces. Given what had happened with the Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e, Xiao Nanfeng''s honor was worth trusting. The disciples of the Fuyou Immortal Sect had their cultivations sealed.


    Of course, part of the reason the Fuyou sect master hadn''t resisted more was that he could see the disparity in strength between his disciples and the Xiao forces. If they actively tried to resist the Xiao incursion, their whole sect could well have been destroyed.


    Very quickly, Ye Dafu activated the Immortal''s Destruction and excavated the Fuyou draconic vein.


    "Following Young Master Xiao''smand, this draconic vein shall be given as merit to the forces who have participated in conquering the Xiaonds. Now, enjoy the feast!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "We will!" everyone shouted in excitement.


    The Xiao forces absorbed the entire draconic vein quickly. Everyone was glowing with golden light as their cultivation advanced.


    The Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e had both managed to break through. They opened their eyes quickly, and, upon seeing their disciples enjoying the fruits of theirbor with the Taiqing disciples, shared a smile. They were relieved that they had made the choice they did so many months ago. Although they had lost their own sects'' draconic veins, it would be easy enough to make back the difference in allegiance to Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Sanyuan sect master and Sage Hong''e walked up to the Fuyou sect master.


    "Might I help you?" the Fuyou sect master asked, frowning.


    "Please don''t worry, Fuyou Sect Master. We may have had past enmity, but Young Master Xiao hasmanded us not to bother the Fuyou sect disciples. I don''t intend to break my word or to have my position rescinded," the Sanyuan sect master said.


    "You aren''t going to try to persuade me to pledge my allegiance to Xiao Nanfeng, are you?"


    "If I could, that would count as merit on my part. Would you give me the opportunity to try?" The Sanyuan sect master smiled.


    The Fuyou sect master''s brows furrowed.


    "We were in the same situation you were in the past. We had pledged our allegiance to the Xiang n, but we''ve since decided to follow Young Master Xiao instead. You''ve born witness to his virtue and honor for yourself. Please think it through," Sage Hong''e added.


    "Xiao Nanfeng only possesses a small tract ofnd. What would he do with so many Immortal sects'' disciples? Isn''t he afraid of a confrontation with the Tianshu Empire?" the Fuyou sect master asked. Then, he raised an eyebrow. "No. Nn Yunhai and Cui Haisheng have already been targeting Xiao Nanfeng. Has there already been fighting between Xiao Nanfeng and the Tianshu Empire?"


    The Sanyuan sect master smiled. "We wouldn''t pressure you into a decision, of course. That said, if you were to miss this opportunity, King Xiao might not give you another one."


    The Fuyou sect master narrowed his eyes. "You address Xiao Nanfeng as King Xiao?"


    The Sanyuan sect master immediately corrected himself. "You must have been mistaken. I said, ''Young Master Xiao.''"


    The Fuyou sect master suddenly seemed toe to a realization. He re-analyzed the strength that Xiao Nanfengmanded and suddenly realized that the battlefield on which the Tianshu Empire was situated was now host to three forces ofparable strength. The Xiao n had, out of nowhere, joined the ranks of the Nn and Xiang ns.


    Very quickly, the remaining Xiao troops awoke. Their cultivation had all increased by some extent, and they were all very excited.


    "Fuyou Sect Master, Young Master Xiao tasked us with re-activating your defensive formation as we left so you wouldn''t fall prey to external cultivators. In a few days, you should be able to bypass the seal on your cultivation. Farewell," Ye Sanshui said.


    After the formation activated, Ye Sanshui left with his forces.


    The Fuyou sect master watched them leave with an uncertain look in his eyes.


    "Senior Brother, are they going to take advantage of the timeg in our response to pay a visit to many other Immortal sects in the area, too? If they forcibly im the draconic veins of those other Immortal sects, aren''t they afraid that the Immortal sects will band together against them and attack Yongding?" The gray-d man still seemed somewhat aggrieved.


    "Yongding?" the Fuyou sect master asked. "Would you dare? Have you forgotten that it''s being guarded by the red rope cursed effigies?"


    "But surely we can''t just take this humiliation?"


    "Of course not. Once we free ourselves, you''ll head to Yongding with me immediately," the Fuyou sect master said.


    "What? Didn''t you say we wouldn''t be able to attack Yongding?" the gray-d man asked.


    "We''ll be dering our allegiance to Young Master Xiao," the Fuyou sect master replied.


    The gray-d man gaped. "Sect Master, are you crazy? How could Xiao Nanfeng beat Nn Qiankun?"


    "What if Xiao Hongye were to return? Do you think Xiao Hongye can beat Nn Qiankun?" the Fuyou sect master asked.


    "What? How could that be?"


    "Yongding is being guarded by a cultivator at Yin Body, along with these red rope cursed effigies. I suspect that Xiao Hongye may have returned," the Fuyou sect master said.


    "Xiao Hongye?" The gray-d man''s eyes twitched.


    "Have you forgotten about Xiao Hongye''s dominance in the past? If not for Xiao Hongye voluntarily ceding his position, how would Nn Qiankun ever have be the Tianshu Emperor?" the Fuyou sect master pointed out.


    "If that really is the case, then the Xiao n would immediately catapult to the forefront in terms of strength!" the gray-d man eximed.


    "It''s as you said. Choose the most beautiful female disciples of the sect to apany us to Yongding."


    "Senior Brother, surely the Fuyou Immortal Sect hasn''t fallen so low as to need to sacrifice our disciples'' purity to curry favor from others?" The gray-d man frowned.


    "Don''t be ridiculous! Xiao Nanfeng isn''t married. Who might his consort be? We''re not forcing these disciples to do anything untoward; this trip will serve to broaden their horizons, and if one of them can catch Xiao Nanfeng''s eye, that would prove to be as much a boon to them as to us."


    "Ah?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, once all the cultivators return from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, a huge war will break out to determine the fate of the Eastern Sea. If the Xiang n can seize dominance then, their fortunes will surely rise. This is an opportunity we can''t miss," the Fuyou sect master asserted.


    "Understood!"

 Chapter 306: The Paper Snake

    <h4>Chapter 306: The Paper Snake</h4>


    Dayster, in a valley of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, the destruction of an Immortal relic swamped the valley in mes. Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of the opportunity to flee from the valley and hide in a secluded spot nearby as he reined in his aura.


    A horde of skeletal giants shot out, bone des in their hands. Unfortunately, not having found any trace of Xiao Nanfeng, they could only slink back in defeat.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at a skeletal giant surrounded by radiant light.


    "There really are a lot more divine ves now... Just a moment''s carelessness and they''ll surround me. Ordinary divine ves aren''t a big problem, but these Immortal-realm ones are truly troublesome. If I hadn''t destroyed an Immortal relic just then..." Xiao Nanfeng shuddered.


    He waited until the Immortal divine ve had left before making his way deeper into the hidden realm. Not too longter, he found the Divine Emperor''s hall.


    If not for the fact that the surrounding geography was different, he might have suspected that he had returned to the peach orchard. The Divine Emperor''s hall was likewise covered in ck fog, and there was a pir that extended into the heavens.


    He looked around the area for some time, but the fog was too heavy to make anything out. He carefully made his way toward the Divine Emperor''s hall.


    Just then, a flying sword shot toward him. Xiao Nanfeng reflexively shed at the projectile, causing it to fly back into a cultivator''s hands. Dozens of cultivators hopped out from the fog and surrounded him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? I was going to find you at some point¡ªbut you''ve found me first, it seems!" Dryughter emerged from within the fog.


    A man suddenly jumped up to Xiao Nanfeng, blocking his way into the Divine Emperor''s hall. The man was bathed in rainbow light, and killing intent shone in his eyes.


    "You''re¡ªXiang Qisha!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed. He had seen a portrait of this man before.


    "That''s right. I heard Xiang Pojun died at your hand¡ªand you''ve acquired a portal into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, too," Xiang Qisha said in a threatening fashion.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He knew that Xiang Qisha was a particrly strong cultivator, one for whom he would be no match.


    "Take this!" Xiao Nanfeng threw an Immortal sword at him.


    Xiang Qisha didn''t mind the iing projectile; he was an Immortal with absolute strength, and would easily be able to take down Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Is this meant to be a weing gift, then?" Xiang Qisha smirked.


    He was just about to im the Immortal sword for himself when he suddenly grew rmed. The Immortal sword was expanding in size¡ªsomething was wrong!


    With a huge boom, the Immortal sword exploded in an inferno of mes, temporarily obstructing Xiang Qisha''s vision as Xiao Nanfeng took the opportunity to run.


    "You won''t get away!" A Wingform-realm cultivator immediately moved to block Xiao Nanfeng''s way and shed at him with his sword.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He sliced the Wingform-realm cultivator''s longsword into two. His momentum barely diminished, the de then proceeded to behead the cultivator in a shower of blood.


    "What?!" the other cultivators eximed, halting in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng dashed into the fog.


    Meanwhile, Xiang Qisha had recovered from the temporary shock and dispelled the mes that arose from the destruction of an Immortal relic. He sneered. "I won''t let you get away!"


    Xiang Qisha gave chase. His cultivation was clearly on another level entirely; he caught up to Xiao Nanfeng within moments.


    Xiao Nanfeng scowled. "He''s unable to shake..."


    He continuously zigzagged in different directions as he ran deeper into the fog, but Xiang Qisha was only narrowing the gap between them.


    "You run rather fast, don''t you? But you won''t be able to escape from me. Today will be the day you die!" Xiang Qisha shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to run. He could sense that Xiang Qisha was drawing closer and closer. He shouted to himself mentally, "You''re almost there. Just a bit faster!"


    "You won''t be able to escape." Xiang Qisha struck his back with a palm.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched and defended with his de. Xiang Qisha''s palm strike sent him flying, and he spat out a mouthful of blood in the air as he fell into a valley clouded with fog.


    "You only coughed up a bit of blood after suffering a direct palm strike from me? You''re stronger than I expected," Xiang Qisha eximed.


    He followed Xiao Nanfeng into a valley¡ªand a skeletal giant suddenly appeared.


    The skeletal giant and Xiang Qisha struck each other with their palms in an explosion of incredible magnitude.


    "An Immortal-realm divine ve!" Xiang Qisha eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, who had fallen into the valley, sighed in relief. "I made it back in time, after all. To think that this dangerous valley would end up being shelter and sanctuary..."


    As Xiao Nanfengnded on the ground, a group of Wingform-realm divine ves struck at him.


    However, they were no threat to him. The divine undying de shed and struck them all down, shattering them.


    He hastily found a safe ce to hide as he watched Xiang Qisha fight against the Immortal-realm divine ve.


    Suddenly, with a scream, Xiang Qisha was cleaved in two by the Immortal-realm divine ve. He fell to the ground, dead!


    "What? How could that be?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiang Qisha was an Immortal! Even if he couldn''t defeat an Immortal-realm divine ve, it should have been trivial for him to run away, at least. How could he have died?


    "Is he faking it?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    In the distance, the Immortal-realm divine ve confirmed that Xiang Qisha was dead before heading back to its patrol, leaving the two halves of Xiang Qisha''s corpse on the ground.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for quite some time before he frowned. "Is he feigning it? That doesn''t look to be the case..."


    After some more time, Xiao Nanfeng warily strode up to Xiang Qisha''s corpse. Only when he was close up did he finally confirm Xiang Qisha''s death.


    He retrieved Xiang Qisha''s storage treasure, then inspected his corpse. Suddenly, he found three bloody holes on the back of Xiang Qisha''s skull.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "Three bloody holes? Just like Hong Lie''s corpse. Xiang Qisha didn''t die to the Immortal divine ve, but to this... curse?"


    He hesitated for a moment before bringing Xiang Qisha''s corpse back to the Divine Emperor''s hall.


    This time, he carefully scouted around before he encountered a few of Xiang Qisha''s followers.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you were able to escape from King Qisha''s pursuit?"


    "Haha, today must be my lucky day!"


    "Take him down!"


    The cultivators howled as they attacked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng sheathed his de and met the enemy cultivators with his bare fists.


    "You''re going to attack us empty-handed? You''re asking to die!" The lead cultivator chuckled.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched forward. Hundreds of fists struck at the cultivator''s head. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he fell from the skies in an unconscious heap.


    "I''m choosing not to use my de to spare your lives," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng knocked them all unconscious before dragging them to a secluded valley. Only after he confirmed that the ce was safe did he wake all the cultivators up.


    When they awoke, they found to their surprise that Xiao Nanfeng had imed their storage treasures and sealed their cultivation. They even saw Xiang Qisha''s corpse.


    "You''ve killed King Qisha? How could that be?!" one cultivator eximed.


    They knew that they were done for. Any disrespect on their part could mean their deaths.


    "We''re willing topensate you for our actions, Young Master Xiao. Please spare our lives!"


    "Young Master Xiao, we only pursued you on Xiang Qisha''s orders. Please grant us mercy!"


    The cultivators begged for their lives.


    "I didn''t kill him. Something happened to him while he was fighting against an Immortal-realm divine ve, which then cut apart his corpse. If you can help me identify what happened to his body, I''ll spare your lives and ask solely forpensation for your actions," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "Thank you, Young Master Xiao!" the cultivators eximed in surprise.


    "There are three bloody holes on the back of Xiang Qisha''s head. Inspect them carefully. Do any of you know what''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The cultivators immediately inspected the wound.


    "Xiang Qisha''s skull is cracked open. From the looks of it, the wound came from the inside¡ªas if something... burrowed out?"One cultivator frowned.


    "Could it be the paper snake?" one cultivator suddenly suggested.


    "Oh? Do you know what''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Xiang Qisha had a treasure he was always toying with, a paper snake. It looked like a piece of paper that had been folded into the shape of a snake, which I thought was just a children''s toy at first¡ªuntil he used it to kill someone. The paper snake darted into the cultivator''s mouth and, not longter, emerged from the back of his head. When it entered his mouth, it was a paper snake; when it exited his head, it had be three paper snakes. Two of the paper snakes suddenly burned up and transformed into piles of ash, while Xiang Qisha caught the remaining paper snake. He''s been ying with it since," the cultivator reported.


    "A paper snake?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, taken aback.


    "That''s right!" All the cultivators nodded.


    "At first, Xiang Qisha was nning to bring us into the Divine Emperor''s hall. He said that, with the paper snake around, the shadows of the hall wouldn''t be a threat."


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. He suddenly realized that the paper snake could well be a cursed effigy.


    "And then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Just as we were about to enter the Divine Emperor''s hall, we encountered Emperor Tianshu''s brother-inw, Cui Haisheng. Xiang Qisha fought with Cui Haisheng, who had be an Immortal himself. Cui Haisheng was weaker than Xiang Qisha and was about to lose when the paper snake suddenly attacked Xiang Qisha, taking him by surprise. Cui Haisheng took the opportunity to enter the Divine Emperor''s hall."


    "Oh?"


    "Xiang Qisha said that there was something wrong with the paper snake, that Cui Haisheng could be responsible. He was worried that he would be falling prey to Cui Haisheng''s scheme by entering the hall, so he chose not to do so. He was studying the paper snake while waiting for Cui Haisheng toe out so he could ambush him, only to find you instead."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. There hadn''t been a paper snake by Xiang Qisha''s corpse. Where could it have gone?

 Chapter 307: Cui Haitang

    <h4>Chapter 307: Cui Haitang</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng then questioned the other cultivators and confirmed that their stories were in alignment before he truly believed what they told him.


    "Young Master Xiao, we''ve already helped you identify the cause of Xiang Qisha''s death. You said you would let us go if we did so...?"


    "Young Master Xiao is a paragon of virtue. He''ll surely keep his word," another cultivator said, though he fidgeted as he nced askance at Xiao Nanfeng.


    They were all afraid that Xiao Nanfeng would go back on his word.


    "Don''t worry. I intend to follow through with my promises. However, I will seekpensation in the form of your sects'' draconic veins. Is that satisfactory to all of you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course, of course!" The cultivators'' eyes lit up in gratitude.


    "Very well. My forces shall head to your sects in theing days to im them. We''ll let bygones be bygones, then." Xiao Nanfeng freed the cultivators from their seals.


    "Thank you, Young Master Xiao!" the cultivators shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng inclined his head and left with Xiang Qisha''s corpse, leaving the freed cultivators behind.


    "It''s a pity. If only he had left us our storage treasures and weapons, too..."


    "Be happy that he was our enemy. The Nns and the Xiangs would have killed us without mercy. It''s incredible enough that Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t do that," another cultivator said.


    "He really freed us... Isn''t he worried that we would take revenge? Is he a fool?"


    "You''re the fool. Considering his strength, he has no reason to be afraid of our retaliation. Rather, he knows that we entered the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm alongside the Xiang n, and many of us have avatars. Killing us would only destroy his reputation. He''s trying to recruit from the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea at present. Not only does he need to be known as a generous and merciful leader, his word must be impable."


    "Oh? Is this an avatar of yours, then? Your main body''s outside the hidden realm?" another cultivator asked.


    "That''s right."


    "For Xiao Nanfeng not to kill us and to pay such careful attention to his reputation¡ªcould he be trying to recruit us?"


    "I think that''s quite likely. We''re currently on the Xiang n''s side. If the Xiang n were to be destroyed by the Nn n, we would suffer as well. After that, if Xiao Nanfeng were to take on the Tianshu Empire, we might need to side with him in order to protect ourselves. I have the feeling that he''s trying to seize all of the Xiang n''s assets once it''s destroyed."


    "The Xiang n, destroyed? Surely not. And would Xiao Nanfeng go against the Tianshu Empire?"


    The cultivators nced at each other. Now that someone had brought it up, that possibility did seem surprisingly likely.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the ck fog surrounding the Divine Emperor''s pce and nced around him to ensure that there was no one else around before he stepped past the boundary.


    The moment he did so, he felt his strength increase dramatically. Clearly, the interior of the hall was another liminal realm between the real and the illusory, and he could use his spiritual power as qi.


    Just then, a sword of radiant light shot toward him.


    He reacted quickly and defended with a hastily thrown punch. He was sent flying by the force of the attack, and he stumbled a few paces back before he caught himself once again.


    He frowned as he saw who had struck him. "Cui Haisheng?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you were able to defend against one of my attacks? How could that be?!" Cui Haisheng demanded.


    "You''ve be an Immortal, after all?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Shouldn''t that have been within expectations? On the other hand, your strength is surprising," Cui Haisheng replied.


    "Did you prepare an ambush for me? How did you know I wasing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Cui Haisheng was just about to speak when a woman''s voice interrupted, "Xiao Nanfeng has Immortal relics on his body. He destroyed an Immortal relic to misdirect Xiang Qisha just now, and he also has the Divine Emperor''s bell in his possession. Be careful."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the speaker, a small white snake floating in the air. The snake''s surface was wrinkled, as though it had been folded out of paper, and its eyes had been drawn on. It didn''t seem at all alive, so the fact that it was speaking was incredibly sinister.


    "A paper snake? Were you the one who assassinated Xiang Qisha?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Why does someone who''s about to die need to know about that?" Cui Haisheng replied, smirking. He struck again with his sword.


    Xiao Nanfeng dodged to the side and punched the de, deflecting Cui Haisheng''s attack.


    "You''re not much weaker than I am. How could that be?" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    "It''s because of spiritual power. He''s at the peak of Lunar Deluge, and this liminal ce allows the use of spiritual power as qi. There''s something special about his spiritual power, too, which is why he seems so strong," the paper snake analyzed in the air.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shot toward Cui Haisheng.


    The two cultivators began to fight. Cui Haisheng had only recently be an Immortal, and he was hardly as strong as Xiang Tang or Xiang Qisha. With his deep understanding of Hegemon''s Fist, Xiao Nanfeng was, incredibly, able to take the upper hand.


    Dozens of fists struck Cui Haisheng''s head, sending him flying back.


    "I''ve already be an Immortal. How could you be my opponent? I don''t believe it. Again!" Cui Haisheng howled.


    "Did you kill Senior Uncle Hong Lie with this paper snake?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded, his eyes sparking with rage.


    Cui Haisheng was sent flying once more. Xiao Nanfeng pressed the assault, his Hegemon''s Fist growing stronger and stronger as he pummeled Cui Haisheng''s head. Cui Haisheng was swiftly reduced into a bleeding mess.


    "Help me, Sister!" Cui Haisheng shouted anxiously.


    "Cui Haisheng, you really are a piece of trash. Can''t you even handle a mortal on your own? Why did I waste time helping you be an Immortal?" The paper snake snorted as it flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The paper snake shot quickly behind Xiao Nanfeng and was right about tounch a sneak attack when a pitch-ck palm appeared from nowhere and caught it.


    "Who''s there?!" the paper snake eximed.


    The Divine Emperor had made her move right in the nick of time. She considered the paper snake curiously. "What an interesting cursed effigy..."


    "You''re the Divine Emperor?" the paper snake eximed.


    "Oh? You know quite a bit, don''t you?"


    She spat out a mouthful of ck smoke, as though attempting to probe what was so special about the paper snake.


    "Damn it! Has the Divine Emperor regained so much of her power? Run, Cui Haisheng!" the paper snake shouted.


    The next moment, the paper snake spontaneouslybusted as it turned into a pile of ash. The Divine Emperor pinched the ash, but it slowly faded away into the air.


    "Oh? It was able to escape from my grasp?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng continued beating up Cui Haisheng. Cui Haisheng, who had expected the paper snake to rescue him, despaired as the paper snake vanished from sight. He fled from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng chased after the fleeing Cui Haisheng,


    but Cui Haisheng was an Immortal. He moved more rapidly than Xiao Nanfeng and was just about to escape when the Divine Emperor appeared before him. She kicked at him and sent him flying back, smashing into the ground as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He was grievously injured.


    Grimacing, he summoned a multicolored barrier around him as he mbered up and attempted to flee.


    "This barrier is useless against me," the Divine Emperor said, smiling coldly.


    She kicked him down again, causing Cui Haisheng''s qi barrier to disperse as his chest caved in. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood; it seemed as though he had lost all ability to resist further.


    "I''m the left division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect! Xiao Nanfeng, the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic sects are allied with each other. You can''t kill me!" Cui Haisheng eximed in fear.


    "Don''t you think that''s a ratherughable excuse?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, raising his de high and shing down.


    "I can tell you all sorts of secrets¡ªabout Hong Lie''s death, about your mother''s assassination! I''ll tell you everything!" Cui Haisheng shrieked.


    The divine undying de halted right before Cui Haisheng''s face. Wind scattered his hair. Cui Haisheng felt his scalp prickle; he had been moments from death.


    "What was that paper snake? How did Senior Uncle Hong Lie die? And how was my mother assassinated?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "Let me go and I''ll tell you the truth." Cui Haisheng began to negotiate immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He didn''t trust Cui Haisheng, and was worried that he would deliberately make up nonsense.


    "There''s no need for so much trouble. Let me take charge," the Divine Emperor said.


    She lifted Cui Haisheng up and grabbed ahold of his head with both hands.


    "You''re going to wrench my head off my body? No, don''t!" Cui Haisheng eximed.


    "Silence!" The Divine Emperor sent a cloud of ck smoke from her hands toward Cui Haisheng''s head.


    Suddenly, he stopped speaking. His eyes became vacant.


    "Answer me this: what is that paper snake?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    Cui Haisheng replied in a calm, uninflected tone, "The paper snake is a cursed technique that my sister, Cui Haitang, possesses. I don''t know how she acquired this ability, but she can portion out a fragment of her will and imbue it into a paper snake. She deliberately had Xiang Qisha acquire one such snake in order to spy on him at all times. When I came in conflict with Xiang Qisha at the Divine Emperor''s hall, the paper snake saved me but caused Xiang Qisha to doubt its allegiance. As a result, while Xiang Qisha was being hounded by the Immortal-realm divine ve, my sister activated the paper snake to kill him. Then, the paper snake told me that Xiao Nanfeng was approaching and toy an ambush for him here.


    "You''re hypnotizing Cui Haisheng?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "I am. What else do you want to ask him?"


    "How did Hong Lie die?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    Cui Haisheng continued, "My sister wrote a letter to Hong Lie with a paper snake hidden within. Then, my sister had someone tell Xiang Pojun that Hong Lie was cursed by an enemy. If an Immortal were to fight him, once the curse struck, Hong Lie would surely die. Xiang Pojun was incited to attack Hong Lie; at an opportune time, my sister activated the paper snake to kill him. Everyone thought that Xiang Pojun had been responsible, and no one would suspect my sister."


    "Senior Uncle died to a paper snake, then? No wonder Nn Qiankun tried to protect the killer despite knowing who she was¡ªhis wife, Cui Haitang!" Killing intent zed from Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes.

 Chapter 308: Greed

    <h4>Chapter 308: Greed</h4>


    "Why did Cui Haitang kill Hong Lie?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Cui Haisheng, still hypnotized by the Divine Emperor, admitted truthfully, "Because Hong Lie was overstepping his bounds. He had questioned Nn Qiankun about the truth of Xiao Nanfeng''s mother''s assassination, about his neglect of your care, and about his promise to share the empire with the Xiao n when Xiao Hongye voluntarily gave up on the position of monarch. To preserve Nn Qiankun''s right to rule, Cui Haitang assassinated Hong Lie."


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but swallow a gulp of saliva. Hong Lie had done so much for him¡ªso much that he had been assassinated as a result.


    "Who assassinated Xiao Hongye''s wife?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It was also Cui Haitang." Cui Haisheng said.


    "Why did she do so?"


    "Years ago, Xiao Hongye was the first to discover the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. Xiao Hongye had undertaken tremendous research on cursed effigies, and he, Hong Lie, and Nn Qiankun researched the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm in depth. After doing so, they concocted a n to deal with the Spirit Emperor. Xiao Hongye intended to lead everyone to im all the opportunities in the realm in order to advance to incredible heights. They had divided up the opportunities in advance: Nn Qiankun would obtain the treasures that the divine ves possessed, Hong Lie the quintessence of srfire, and Xiao Hongye the Spirit Emperor''s cursed spiritual avatar. However, Cui Haitang wanted Nn Qiankun to im all the treasure within the realm. She attempted to assassinate Xiao Hongye''s wife, but left her barely clinging to life so that Xiao Hongye would have no choice but to seek immediate regeneration and revival for her," Cui Haisheng exined.


    "How malicious. And Nn Qiankun eded to all this? Such greed¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng cut himself off, fuming internally.


    He continued the interrogation. "How did you be an Immortal? And how did the Xiang cultivators be Immortals?"


    "I consumed an Immortal pill the shadow cursed effigies provided. The cost was that I would have to carry a batch of shadows out of the hidden realm with me. The Xiang cultivators used a different approach. They had entered the realm before we did, and they became Immortals by iming a few Immortal pills that a group of special divine ves possessed."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded thoughtfully. This was about what he had expected.


    "What other questions do you have? Ask them now. My hypnosis has a cost. He won''t be able to speak for much longer," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Why did you sneak into the Divine Emperor''s hall? What are you trying to do?" Xiao Nanfeng said quickly.


    "When Xiao Hongye and Hong Lie came to the Divine Emperor''s hall for the first time, they retrieved some treasures. Hong Lie obtained quintessence of srfire in this hall, and my sister told me that there was more present. She had me secretly im some in order to cultivate an associated technique."


    "Did you seed?"


    "Not yet. The Divine Emperor''s hall is guarded by formations, and we haven''t been able to make it inside."


    "You don''t have any fire-attuned cultivation techniques. How would you im the quintessence of srfire for yourself?" the Divine Emperor asked disdainfully.


    "My sister gave me a parcel of fortune, allowing me to cultivate the technique immediately upon acquiring the quintessence of srfire."


    "Cui Haitang has been inordinately generous to you, even if you''re her brother," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Where are the shadow cursed effigies here?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "I don''t know. I never saw any on my way here," Cui Haisheng replied.


    Suddenly, the Divine Emperor dragged Xiao Nanfeng back with her as she retreated.


    "What''s the matter, Divine Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, perplexed.


    Just then, Cui Haisheng''s head bulged as it exploded.


    Xiao Nanfeng, now some distance away, wasn''t sttered by Cui Haisheng''s blood and bodily fluids.


    "This is the cost of your hypnosis?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Divine Emperor nodded.


    "Hypnosis followed by an exploding head? This technique really is quite something..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "That''s why I only use it rarely," the Divine Emperor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked over to Cui Haisheng''s corpse and imed his storage treasure.


    "Be careful. There''s something wrong about this ce," the Divine Emperor warned.


    "Oh?"


    "Cui Haisheng has been here for a few days, but he never saw a single shadow cursed effigy. Don''t you think that odd?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the ck fog that surrounded the two of them and immediately grew wary.


    "Let''s head to my hall," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and followed closely behind the Divine Emperor. They quickly arrived by arge hall, with a signboard proiming it as the Divine Emperor''s hall.


    Outside the hall was a hemispherical dome that glowed with multicolored light, with a few marks left behind that served as evidence of Cui Haisheng''s attempt to break through the formation.


    "This is your hall? My father brought you out of the hidden realm from here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. Fifty thousand years ago, after I was betrayed, a replica of my weakened will flew out of the patch of ck fog with an illusion of my bell. However, I had actually transformed my bell into a ring and remained within the hall. The most dangerous hiding spot is often the safest; I hid in the ring, so weak that I fell unconscious. I only awoke muchter, but had be so weak by then that I couldn''t even leave this ce until your father and Hong Lie barged inside. They fought many shadow cursed effigies in the region, and Hong Lie almost died as a result. Your father rescued Hong Lie, and I took the opportunity to send my ring spinning toward their feet. Your astute father, realizing that there was something special about the ring, left with me in tow."


    "Is the cursed spiritual power you''re looking for within the hall?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right¡ªand the quintessence of srfire that you want as well. We have to get inside."


    "Is this formation difficult to break through?" Xiao Nanfeng prodded the hemispherical dome tentatively.


    "Cui Haisheng''s simply too weak. Your father made it through in the past."


    "Oh?"


    The Divine Emperor ced a palm on the radiant barrier. Roiling ck smoke covered the hemispherical dome. As it filled the surface of the dome uniformly, the barrier shattered like ss.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced expectantly within. The two of them stepped toward the entrance of the hall¡ªonly to have its doors suddenly open up. A golden palm shot out.


    "Be careful!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    She hurriedly intercepted the attack for Xiao Nanfeng, retaliating against the palm strike with one of her own. The confrontation sent a burst of me and wind around the area.


    The Divine Emperor was sent flying. She fell to the ground and stumbled a few steps back to regain her bnce. Even so, she kept Xiao Nanfeng protectively behind her.


    "The Spirit Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    A man in a golden robe slowly emerged from the pitch-ck doors, the splitting image of the Spirit Emperor.


    "After absorbing the cursed spiritual power of the peach orchard, Divine Emperor, you seem to have grown quite a bit stronger." The Spirit Emperor suddenly smiled.


    "We have to flee!" The Divine Emperor dragged Xiao Nanfeng away.


    "To flee? I think not. How do you intend to flee at this juncture?" The Spirit Emperor smirked, thenmanded, "Come out!"


    Shadows emerged from the depths of the darkness, all of whom seemed to have been lying in ambush for some time.


    The shadows gave off a tremendous aura, and there were at least a dozen Immortal-realm ones. They blocked Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor''s way.


    "Spirit Emperor, did youmand them to hide?" the Divine Emperor asked coldly.


    "Of course. If they didn''t, you would already have eaten them." The Spirit Emperor smiled.


    "What are you doing here?" the Divine Emperor pressed.


    "The Divine Emperor''s hall is your living area. I had a fragment of my will in the peach orchard; why wouldn''t I have one here? You should have predicted my appearance." The Spirit Emperor''s smile deepened.


    "You were never in my hall in the past," the Divine Emperor said.


    "No, I''ve always had a fragment of will here. I just never awakened it. That year, I thought that you had escaped from the hall and sent countless spirits chasing after you. What folly! If I had searched the area for a bit longer, I would have found the ring in which you were hiding. It''s a pity that I missed it¡ªbut in the end, you''re here now."


    The Spirit Emperor turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Kid, you really aren''t afraid of death, are you? Was it your copper de that managed to y my fragment of will? I really did underestimate you, didn''t I?"


    "Beware¡ªyour de!" the Divine Emperor cried out.


    However, it was toote. The divine undying de in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand vanished.


    "What?!" Xiao Nanfeng nced at his hands in shock.


    He had been gripping his de tightly. It had vanished out of nowhere¡ªhe hadn''t even felt any resistance!


    The next moment, the de somehow appeared in the Spirit Emperor''s hands, as though by magic.


    "How?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "This is the power of his cursed spiritual avatar. He can reim objects across a short distance in spacetime."


    "In spacetime? What a terrifying power!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Spirit Emperor rapped at the de with his fingertips, causing it to resonate.


    "A cursed king''s cursed spiritual avatar? How could it have unleashed such tremendous power without the cursed king actively guiding it? It must have been because of the cursed spiritual power stored within that dragon-quelling spike. I didn''t realize its true worth," the Spirit Emperor murmured.


    He sneered at Xiao Nanfeng. "This de is part of my collection now. Lad, you''ll pay for what you''ve done."


    "Spirit Emperor, I''m the one responsible!" The Divine Emperor immediately stepped in front of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hiding behind a woman is pointless. No one will be able to save any whom I wish to kill." The Spirit Emperor smirked and shouted to his back, "Strike now!"


    "Understood!" The shadows shot toward Xiao Nanfeng immediately.

 Chapter 309: Yin Body, Again

    <h4>Chapter 309: Yin Body, Again</h4>


    The Divine Emperor shouted, "Who dares attack Xiao Nanfeng?"


    She rapped on her bell, sending a golden soundwave emanating outwards and knocking aside all shadows in the vicinity.


    The Spirit Emperor frowned. "You care for thisd quite a bit, don''t you?"


    With a wave of his hand, the Spirit Emperor sent a towering wave of mes at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to defend with a treasure when the Divine Emperor stood before him and reached for the skies.


    Her palm met the Spirit Emperor''s own, forming a sh between two forces of elemental fire.


    "Divine Emperor, are you that protective of him?" the Spirit Emperor thundered.


    The Divine Emperor blocked the Spirit Emperor with a palm. With her other, she motioned her bell to enshroud Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Something''s wrong with you, Divine Emperor. You''re going to give up your strongest defensive option just for this kid? You haven''t fallen for him, have you?" the Spirit Emperor demanded, gaze frosty.


    "What business is it of yours?" the Divine Emperor retorted.


    "You''re the woman I want. You belong only to me. Whoever catches your eye should die!" the Spirit Emperor bellowed, charging forward.


    "Do you think this fragment of your will is strong enough for that? Even you can''t achieve such a feat," the Divine Emperor replied coolly.


    "Watch me, then!"


    The two monarchs confronted one another, releasing bursts of me of such incredible magnitude that the shadow cursed effigies were forced back.


    "You didn''t receive much cursed spiritual power in the peach orchard, did you?" the Spirit Emperor questioned.


    "It''s more than enough to deal with this fragment of your will!"


    mes zed across heaven and earth. Dust peppered the air; winds howled. The skies themselves darkened, luded by all the smoke and debris. Neither monarch could seem to gain the upper hand for the moment.


    "Spirits, uncover the Divine Emperor''s bell and kill Xiao Nanfeng!" the Spirit Emperor howled.


    The shadows flocked toward the bell.


    The Divine Emperor, held back by the Spirit Emperor, was unable to provide any further assistance. The two monarchs began to exercise more and more of their power as they fought, and the entire hall began to quake from the shockwaves they gave off.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell was an incredible artifact, one which easily withstood the attacks from all the shadows that were targeting Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed within the bell. "I''m still too weak, aren''t I?"


    He was frustrated that he wasn''t able to help, but that didn''t mean he would just sit back and do nothing. There was still something he could attempt.


    He retrieved Cui Haisheng''s storage treasure and overwhelmed its defenses with spiritual power, granting him ess to whaty within. He immediately found quite a few Immortal relics, but he didn''t im them just yet. Rather, he retrieved arge seal, without any characters on it, glowing with golden light.


    "Could this be the seal containing unimed fortune that Cui Haisheng was talking about?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    He attempted to draw the fortune within the seal into his body, but was unable to do so. He rummaged through the storage treasure to find a scroll, an imperial edict of the Tianshu Empire. The scroll stated, "By the grace of Heaven, Emperor Tianshu hereby decrees that this seal of fortune shall be bestowed upon the meritorious official..."


    A nk space had been left on the imperial edict; Xiao Nanfeng understood what was going on immediately.


    He dripped a drop of his own blood onto the nk space. As the edict absorbed it, the text transformed into "By the grace of Heaven, Emperor Tianshu hereby decrees that this seal of fortune shall be bestowed upon the meritorious official Xiao Nanfeng."


    The edict glimmered with golden light, which the seal absorbed. As it shook, a vast quantity of fortune entered Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately closed his eyes and sat cross-legged in cultivation. He guided the fortune to clear away the karmic consequence against deeper analysis of scripture. In an instant, his understanding evolved by anotheryer.


    At the same time, his cultivation of Body of Yin finally broke through its bottleneck.


    Within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, vast quantities of starlight emanated from his sterke and shot up toward the full moon overhead, as did all the spiritual power within theke.


    The silver moon of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape released resplendent silver light that even forced the ck lotus and the superior yin pearl to retreat.


    Once the majority of the spiritual power had been absorbed into the silver moon, it darkened as though in a lunar eclipse.


    The ck lotus and superior yin pearl hovered in the sky not far away.


    The ck lotus asked the superior yin pearl in text formed from ck light, "There''s something wrong with this silver moon of his. It''s filled with cursed spiritual power. You''ve been staring at it incessantly. What''s special about this moon?"


    However, the superior yin pearl didn''t respond. It waited, quiet and aloof, as the transformation continued.


    After some time, something began to pound on the moon from within, as though just having been birthed from it. After about a thousand attacks, a tear opened up in the dark moon, revealing glowing silver light. An arm extended from the tear¡ªthe arm of Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body.


    The silver, translucent Xiao Nanfeng slowly mbered out from the moon. He took a deep breath. "Yin Body? Has my main body reached Yin Body, too?"


    Just then, the superior yin pearl transformed into a beam of blinding light that shot straight into the tear that Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body had made. Then, it vanished.


    "What? What flew inside?!" Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body eximed.


    The silver moon behind him suddenly lit up with silver light, along with huge quantities of frost. It froze all the spiritual power that had yet to be consumed and was now falling from the skies.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body eximed, "The superior yin pearl? It flew into my silver moon?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully scrutinized the silver moon hanging in his mindscape, but the superior yin pearl seemed to have vanishedpletely from sight. He was unable to find it at all.


    "Senior ck Lotus, do you know what just happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck lotus was silent for a moment before it replied, "You''re in big trouble now."


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t quite understand.


    "Your silver moon was sinister to begin with, but it''s only going to get worse with the superior yin pearl residing within it. However, it''s still rather weak, and I suspect the superior yin pearl will help you strengthen your silver moon and improve your spiritual cultivation. It''s going to ignore you for the time being, but once you grow stronger, it''ll make its demands then. Either it''ll try to take over your moon, or it''ll request something from you. The former case will clearly lead to trouble, and thetter case can''t be anything good, either. You might even die as a result."


    Xiao Nanfeng stiffened and wondered to himself, "Is the ck lotus trying to scare me?"


    "However, with the superior yin pearl in your silver moon, whenever you activate your spiritual power, you''ll be able tomand some of the superior yin pearl''s cursed spiritual power as well. It''s beneficial to you in the short term."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body was considering what to do next, he felt some motion by his physical body.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body sat cross-legged below the silver moon in his mindscape as he returned to his physical body and saw something falling from the skies.


    "The Divine Emperor?!" Xiao Nanfeng reached out for her and grabbed her in his embrace, soft and warm and sweet-smelling.


    The Divine Emperor sprayed out a mouthful of blood.


    "You''re badly injured. Was this the Spirit Emperor''s doing?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes sparked with anger.


    The Divine Emperor''s body was covered in burn wounds, and she seemed to have barely escaped from his clutches.


    The Divine Emperor coughed particrly weakly. "I hurt the Spirit Emperor, too."


    Just then, the Spirit Emperor thundered from outside, "Divine Emperor, I can give you time to consider our marriage slowly, but that kid has to die!"


    "Dream on!" the Divine Emperor shouted back.


    "Do you really think that I won''t be able to deal with your bell? You''re so weak that you can''t manipte it any longer, can you? Burn, zing golden sun!" the Spirit Emperormanded.


    Incredible heat shot toward the Divine Emperor''s bell, causing it to glow red-hot.


    The Divine Emperor fretted, "I can''t manipte my bell right now. Once his mes seep through the bell, he''ll be able to get inside!"


    Just then, because of the zing mes, small slits seemed to appear within the interior of the bell.


    "I''ll send you inside first!" the Spirit Emperor shouted from the outside.


    "Understood!" the shadow cursed effigies replied.


    They darted through those small, barely present slits into the Divine Emperor''s bell.


    "I''ve injured the Divine Emperor. She''s very weak right now, and will not be a match for any of you. Kill that kid!" the Spirit Emperormanded.


    "Understood!"


    Countless shadows shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You dare?!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    However, she was simply too weak to deal with the shadows in her current state.


    "Hold it!" she shouted.


    One Immortal-realm shadow had flickered over to Xiao Nanfeng and grabbed him by the head. It was just about to pluck off his head when a silver moon emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and appeared behind him. The moment it did so, chilling frost spread out around him and immediately froze the shadow around its head.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched the frozen shadow with his fist, causing it to shatter into countless pieces.


    "How can that be?!" the shadows eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched another Immortal-realm shadow, causing it to be frozen into an ice sculpture on contact with his fist. Then, he shattered it too.


    "Has your main body reached Yin Body too?" the Divine Emperor eximed in surprise.


    "It has! Divine Emperor, thanks to your protection, I was able to break through. It''s my turn to protect you now. I''ll pay back any damage you''ve suffered a hundredfold!"

 Chapter 310: Candle

    <h4>Chapter 310: Candle</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt toward the shadows. Wherever he went, howling frost followed in a shower of silver light. Every punch caused another shadow to shatter into countless fragments.


    "Quick, use your cursed spiritual power to transform into shadows. We can''t let him touch us!"


    "It''s useless. His punches are infused with cursed spiritual power, and there''s superior yin frost all around. No!"


    The shadows cried out as they fell. Xiao Nanfeng shot up to them, then rapidly froze and shattered them like fireworks. Even the Divine Emperor was astounded by the sight. For some reason, she felt calm around Xiao Nanfeng, as though whenever she was in danger, whenever she felt weak and helpless, this young man would stand before and shield her.


    "Save us, Spirit Emperor!"


    "No!"


    After reaching Yin Body, Xiao Nanfeng''s abilities had increased explosively in terms of strength and speed, and he easily suppressed the shadows. They were dwindling at a rapid rate, and, even though they tried to flee, were trapped inside the bell with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Outside, the Spirit Emperor was shocked to hear the shadows'' cries.


    "Erupt!" he howled.


    mes zed over the Divine Emperor''s bell, causing a slit to widen and allowing him to enter the bell himself.


    As he did so, he saw the final shadow running towards him.


    "Save me, Spirit Emperor!" the shadow cried out, jubnt at seeing its savior.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng mmed into the shadow with a frosty punch and obliterated it in a shower of shards.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the Spirit Emperor thundered.


    "You''re the one who should die!" Xiao Nanfeng charged forward.


    The Spirit Emperor''s fist zed with me, and Xiao Nanfeng''s fist with ice. As they collided, both parties were forced back.


    "What incredible strength! But it''s not enough to overpower me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "If the Divine Emperor hadn''t seriously wounded me and sapped my strength, you wouldn''t be a match for me," the Spirit Emperor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Spirit Emperorunched themselves at each other once more. Fire and ice shed; their fist techniques were both particrly aggressive, but despite all their efforts, they seemed equally matched.


    "Impossible. You''ve just stepped into Yin Body. How could you already be so strong? Incandescent ze!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    The interior of the Divine Emperor''s bell quickly filled with mes of incredible magnitude. At the same time, the silver moon to Xiao Nanfeng''s back released silver light, quenching the mes around Xiao Nanfeng and causingrge kes of snow to fall from the sky.


    Half the Divine Emperor''s bell was filled with me, and the other with snow. The sh of the two opposing elements was particrly oppressive, and fog and steam rushed out where the two domains met.


    "How could your deific domain be so strong despite your recent advancement? You''ve shocked me time and again, kid, but you''ll die today for disrupting the wedding between me and the Divine Emperor!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    "You im you want to marry the Divine Emperor even after beating her that heavily? You really are shameless, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Who are you to criticize my affairs?" the Spirit Emperor retorted, charging forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng did the same.


    Xiao Nanfeng smashed his fist into the Spirit Emperor''s chest. His frightening strength caused the Spirit Emperor''s chest to cave in. Large quantities of fire emerged from the Spirit Emperor''s back as a bloody hole formed.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    How could the Spirit Emperor have been so easy to defeat?


    "Something''s wrong!" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    "You''re toote, haha!" the Spirit Emperor shouted,ughing.


    The Spirit Emperor knew that continuing to fight Xiao Nanfeng head-on would only result in losses on both sides. He instead chose to ept a serious injury in order to close in on Xiao Nanfeng. He punched at the silver moon to the back of Xiao Nanfeng''s head.


    "The strength of cultivators who focus on the spirite from the moon they cultivate. Once those moons are destroyed, their yin bodies will dissipate as well. Now, begone!" the Spirit Emperor shouted, his fist careening toward Xiao Nanfeng''s head.


    Suddenly, a thin, horizontal slit opened up in the silver moon like a mouth.


    "What? How could the moon have a mouth? It has to be fake!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    The next moment, the mouth widened to reveal silvery-white fangs that chomped down on the Spirit Emperor''s fist¡ªand bit it off.


    "Impossible! How could your silver moon have turned into a cursed effigy?!" the Spirit Emperor howled.


    The next moment, a second mouth appeared on the moon''s surface and bit down on the Spirit Emperor''s head.


    "Kid, you tried to bait me¡ªyou had an ambush waiting?!"


    The next moment, the Spirit Emperor''s head was eaten whole.


    Xiao Nanfeng was stunned. Had his silver moon be so sinister after the inclusion of the superior yin pearl?


    "Explode!" the Spirit Emperor suddenly shouted from within the moon''s mouth.


    The moon immediately spat out the Spirit Emperor''s head and right hand, but he had already initiated his self-destruction. Even the rest of his body was about to explode.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed over to the Divine Emperor as a huge explosion rang out within the Divine Emperor''s bell. The frightening force of the resulting shockwaves sent the bell flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng grabbed the Divine Emperor and held her tightly, his aura manifesting as a barrier of sturdy ice that was broken and reformed over and over again as the explosion persisted.


    Finally, the barrier shattered. Xiao Nanfeng''s body took the brunt of the attack.


    Xiao Nanfeng sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood on the Divine Emperor''s face, causing her to shiver.


    As the explosion finally subsided, nothing remained that could threaten Xiao Nanfeng.


    His silver moon returned to his mindscape as he weakly absorbed the mes all around to heal his body.


    "How are you, Divine Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    She wiped away the blood by Xiao Nanfeng''s lips with her hand. "I''m alright. Thank you."


    "Those shadows have all shattered, but they might still be of use to you. In addition, the Spirit Emperor self-destructed. I don''t think there are any threats left. Please reim your cursed spiritual power!"


    "I will," the Divine Emperor replied gently.


    Both Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor were rather badly wounded. They left to find the resources they needed to replenish their vitality.


    The fragments of ice all around them melted to reveal shards of shadow cursed effigies. The Divine Emperor swallowed them all, while Xiao Nanfeng meditated and absorbed the burning mes around, distilling them into pure yang origin qi and restoring the damage to his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s consciousness returned to his mindscape. His silver moon seemed to have suffered considerable damage, but it was absorbing spiritual aether to repair itself.


    Not long afterwards, the Divine Emperor nudged him awake. A sea of me followed in her wake, with two whirlpools within. Countless rings of me were circling two golden embers.


    "The Spirit Emperor self-destructed, leaving two embers of quintessence of srfire behind, and a whole batch of facsimile of srfire. You should absorb them all."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He quickly absorbed the mes, sending the two batches of quintessence into two suns in his dantian to hatch two further nascent spirits.


    A few hourster, two booms resounded through the Divine Emperor''s hall as six caws could be heard from within his body.


    "The sixth stage of Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes, pleased.


    Not far away, the Divine Emperor was seeing to her own injuries. He didn''t disturb her and instead continued to close his eyes, focused on healing himself. The facsimile of srfire proved to be a panacea; he also absorbed the spiritual aether all around him to speed up the recovery of his silver moon and spiritual power.


    He stayed in a meditative state for ten whole days before reaching peak strength once more. His silver moon was now bright and pristine, and his sterkepletely refilled.


    The ck lotus again floated on the surface of his sterke, while Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body glowed, resplendent with silver light, as it sat cross-legged on theke''s surface. The silver moon shone peacefully above it all; everything appeared calm.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s consciousness returned to his physical body as he slowly opened his eyes. The Divine Emperor had ced the divine undying de by his side.


    He turned to see ck water surrounding the Divine Emperor. As she absorbed more and more of it, her aura grew stronger.


    He guarded the Divine Emperor as she cultivated. Two dayster, after she absorbed all that ck water, she exhaled and stood up.


    "Have you recovered fully?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I have, and I''ve grown far stronger than before, too." The Divine Emperor smiled.


    Her voice had changed; it was now clearly feminine and particrly pleasant to the ears. Xiao Nanfeng blinked, caught in a momentary reverie.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Your voice is really beautiful." Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    The Divine Emperor was silent for some time, then replied seemingly in a good mood, "I''ve broken the curse on my body and can now speak, but my looks haven''t fully been restored."


    "I''ll help you," Xiao Nanfeng pledged, smiling.


    The Divine Emperor nodded gently.


    "If your cursed spiritual avatars are shadows, what are the Spirit Emperor''s cursed spiritual avatars?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately changed the topic.


    "Candles."


    "Oh?"


    "We sacrificed countless treasures and fortune to retrieve a cursed effigy from the world away¡ªa candle. Under ordinary circumstances, the candle lookedpletely ordinary, but once it was lit up, its surroundings would darken. The first time we lit the candle, the candle illuminated me and produced a shadow. This first shadow became a cursed effigy. The candle and shadows are linked by nature, and the candle can counter the shadows. Initially, not having expected that the Spirit Emperor would betray me, I took the shadows for myself, while he imed the candle."


    "Is there anything special about these candle cursed effigies?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "When lit up, the candles generate an unusual cursed spiritual power, allowing for short-ranged teleportation across spacetime where the candlelight reaches. He barged into my bell by making use of that cursed spiritual power to form a small rift in spacetime, then hopping from the spacetime outside into the spacetime inside."


    "What a sinister power!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 311: Toward the Yao Pool

    <h4>Chapter 311: Toward the Yao Pool</h4>


    "Something''s wrong with that moon of yours. Show it to me again," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He sat cross-legged in meditation as his yin body emerged from his mindscape, radiating with silver light. A full moon glowed behind his head, mysterious and arcane.


    "Your moon bears the cursed spiritual power of the superior yin pearl?" the Divine Emperor questioned.


    The yin body retreated back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape as his physical body awakened.


    "After my yin body broke out from within the moon, it left a slit behind. The superior yin pearl took that opportunity to take control of my moon."


    "That superior yin pearl is a particrly domineering cursed effigy, and it even tried to fight me back in the undying realm. I suspect it''s nning something disadvantageous to you," the Divine Emperor analyzed.


    "Do you have a solution?"


    "Allow me to think about it," the Divine Emperor replied seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Let''s leave this ce for now. There''s nothing else I''m interested in," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Your cursed spiritual power has been dispersed within this hidden realm, hasn''t it? Do you know where there''s arge concentration of it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The Yao Pool, but it''s too dangerous there," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "Dangerous? Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "That year, after a tribtion, all of us perished. Because the Spirit Emperor and I had attuned our souls to cursed effigies beforehand, we revived as cursed effigies ourselves. The Spirit Emperor proposed to me at the Yao Pool, but I refused him. Angry, I tried to leave, but he refused to let me go. He burned my shadow cursed spiritual avatar with his candle me and stripped me of my cursed spiritual power, intending to diminish my strength, set a curse of affection on me, and then force a wedding. I waspletely unable to resist. Just as he was about to seed, I ignited half of my remaining cursed spiritual power to tear apart this hidden realm, causing the heavens to discover where we were. A heavenly tribtion struck us then, attempting to destroy the Spirit Emperor. As the sky shattered and the ground quaked, the Spirit Emperor hastily defended against the heavenly blow. There was chaos all around. I took advantage of the situation to escape. I was terribly weak, and there were a group of small spirits chasing after me no matter where I went. I fled back to my hall, and you know the rest."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "From then on, the heavens imposed restrictions on this hidden realm, and divine ves arrived to guard the shadow cursed effigies, including the Spirit Emperor himself. All the shadows have been detained in this prison."


    "You have half your cursed spiritual power at the Yao Pool? We should im it at once, then!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. "That''s where the majority of the divine ves are. It''s particrly dangerous. A moment''s carelessness could im your life easily."


    "I''m already at Yin Body, and I''m not afraid. Let''s head there," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "But¡ª" The Divine Emperor still seemed a little worried.


    "We can do it! Let''s head there now. Will you guide me? Don''t worry¡ªif it''s getting too hard for me, I''ll retreat," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    The Divine Emperor considered Xiao Nanfeng''s request in silence for some time before finally nodding. "Alright. Be careful."


    Not too longter, Xiao Nanfeng left the ck fog around the Divine Emperor''s hall. This time, he carefully inspected his surroundings.


    Seeing a person''s figure in the distance, he pointed his divine undying de in that direction.


    "Who''s there? Are you trying to ambush me?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Countless cultivators emerged from behind a hill not too far away.


    "You lot? Haven''t you left yet?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.


    He had caught these cultivators and spared their lives in exchange for information about the paper snake. As promised, he had freed them. Why were they still around?


    "Young Master Xiao, we''ve providedpensation for offending you, and my main body has personally deactivated the defensive formation around my sect''s ind for the Xiao forces," one cultivator reported.


    "I''m aware. What are all of you doing now?"


    The cultivator bowed. "We wish to join your faction, Young Master Xiao. Would you be willing to ept our Immortal sects?"


    "Oh? Why?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "The Fuyou sect master is my dear friend, and I learned that he too has joined your faction. I''d like to do the same, and I believe that your faction will have a more prosperous future."


    "Are there other reasons?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned, not believing such an excuse.


    The other cultivator hesitated for a moment. He knew that, if he didn''t reveal the truth, Xiao Nanfeng would never be willing to ept his sect.


    Smiling wryly, the cultivator continued, "Thesest few days, we''ve learned about what has happened outside the hidden realm and have contemted the options avable to us. We feel that, after Xiang Qisha''s death, the Xiang n won''t be willing to assign us important roles and positions. Indeed, we might even be med for his death. We''d like to join your faction as a means of survival, Young Master Xiao."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the cultivators before him and nodded. "Very well. I''ll give you one chance."


    "Thank you, Young Master Xiao!" the cultivators chorused.


    "Young Master Xiao, I know that the Xiang cultivators have gone to the Thousand Spirits'' Hall. We can guide you there," one cultivator immediately volunteered.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''tpletely believe the cultivators just yet. Still somewhat guarded, he asked, "What are they doing there?"


    "The Xiang n hosts a strategist whose features have always been shrouded in fog. No one knows who they are or what they look like. That strategist is in charge of the Xiang n''s ns in this hidden realm. Allegedly, they have a means of dealing with the Spirit Emperor. The majority of the strongest Xiang cultivators are gathered at the Thousand Spirits'' Hall in an attempt to handle his main body."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the information, then nodded. "I see."


    "Young Master Xiao, will you be heading toward the Thousand Spirits'' Hall?" the cultivator asked.


    "There''s no need. Since all of you are willing to join the Xiao forces, I intend for you to leave this hidden realm immediately. Will that be eptable?"


    "Of course!" the cultivators replied happily.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He understood what was going on now; there had been no deception at all. These cultivators really didn''t think that the Xiang n would treat them well after their perceived failure, and they were desperate for his protection. No¡ªperhaps they were worried that they wouldn''t even be able to leave this hidden realm if they were to continue associating with the Xiangs. That was why they had chosen to petition him.


    "At noon ten dayster, gather by the Southern Heavenly Gate. My avatar will be there to open a portal to allow you to leave."


    "Thank you, Young Master Xiao!" the cultivators replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave them all directions to the gate. "Now, go on!"


    "Understood!" the cultivators cried out.


    Only after seeing them off did Xiao Nanfeng continue on his way. Rather than the Thousand Spirits'' Hall, he headed toward the Yao Pool.


    Ten dayster, within a valley, Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by an Immortal-realm divine ve. By now, however, his physical body had grown strong enough to withstand the blow without taking damage. He quickly darted through the fog and vanished.


    Just as he managed to get rid of that Immortal-realm divine ve, another one appeared, chasing after him.


    "As expected, the Yao Pool is truly dangerous. There are Immortal-realm divine ves everywhere," Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    He didn''t attempt to fight them with his yin body. Rather, he continued to dodge and escape from them as he sought out the precise location of the Yao Pool.


    Another Immortal-realm divine ve howled and rushed over to him, causing him to narrow his eyes. He nced around alertly. "Something''s wrong. How are these Immortal-realm divine ves finding me? They''re appearing one after another!"


    On a hilltop not too far away, a man was eyeing him: Nn Yunhai.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You managed to escape from the Spirit Emperor?" Nn Yunhai chuckled.

 Chapter 312: Entrance to the Yao Pool

    <h4>Chapter 312: Entrance to the Yao Pool</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng continuously dodged the Immortal-realm divine ves. The unusual phenomenon left him alert. Something was wrong; the situation was moreplicated than it appeared.


    As he fled, he suddenly turned sharply and leapt up onto a mountaintop. A crane spirit there jumped in shock as it stretched its wings and attempted to flee.


    "Stay right there!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He grabbed the crane spirit''s neck, forcing it to remain still.


    Only then did he notice that there were crane spirits everywhere in sight. When they saw Xiao Nanfeng, however, they fled and darted away through the fog.


    Shortly after, three more crane spirits appeared in the air. Behind each of them was an Immortal-realm divine ve. As they approached Xiao Nanfeng, they immediately flew away into the fog, having lured the divine ves toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The three Immortal-realm divine ves howled as they shot toward him.


    "I was wondering how divine ves kept finding me¡ªit''s all because of you!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Let me go!" the crane spirit in his hand shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the crane spirit at an Immortal-realm divine ve.


    "No!"


    The crane spirit was bisected by one of the divine ves'' des.


    Xiao Nanfeng then continued to flee. After he had escaped from all three Immortal-realm divine ves'' pursuit, he flew into the fog and found the crane spirits again. They didn''t dare to fly too high up, for fear of what awaited them there. He shot toward the crane spirits.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "No!" the crane spirits eximed.


    "Who instigated you to have the divine ves chase me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the crane spirits as he attacked them.


    Crane carcasses continued to fall to the ground as Xiao Nanfeng''s attacks grew fiercer and fiercer.


    "Help! Save us, Your Highness!"


    "Save us! Xiao Nanfeng''s gone crazy!"


    The crane spirits cried out in fear.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to pursue the fleeing cranes as he dodged the Immortal-realm divine vesing his way. He had no intention of letting the crane spirits go.


    Suddenly, two cultivators draped in multicolored light shot over.


    "Hold it!" one of them shouted.


    "Nn Yunhai? Qiangwei? It was you!" Xiao Nanfeng red at the two cultivators.


    Upon seeing their arrival, the crane spirits hurried to their saviors.


    "Your Highness, you''ve finallye! He found us and killed many of our number. Please, save us!" the crane spirits cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued slicing them apart.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you!" Nn Yunhai thundered.


    Qiangwei and Nn Yunhai struck simultaneously, blinding light emanating from their bodies as they attacked with Immortal swords. Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be able to defend against them unarmed.


    He reached out and tossed two exploding Immortal relics at them, which burst into mes. The two cultivators were forced back while Xiao Nanfeng vanished into the fog.


    "Your Highness, be careful! There''s arge group of divine vesing from the south."


    "Qiangwei, how could you endanger His Highness so? Don''t you know what kind of ce this is?"


    "Quick, there''s arge group of Immortal-realm divine vesing from the north, too!"


    A number of voices could be heard through the fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "So many Immortals...?"


    He could see a group of Immortals defending against the iing Immortal-realm divine ves, protecting Nn Yunhai as they escaped from danger.


    Xiao Nanfeng fled, returning to a secluded valley he had passed by on the way to the Yao Pool. He had hidden a crane spirit there, one whose cultivation had been sealed and which he had knocked unconscious.


    "Wake up!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The crane spirit was pped awake to find a de by its neck.


    "Please, spare me, Young Master Xiao! I was only acting on orders!" the crane spirit eximed.


    "On whose orders?"


    "On Nn Yunhai''s orders! When we were scouting around, we saw your tracks and reported them to Nn Yunhai. He had us lure Immortal-realm divine ves over to kill you, and we had no choice but to act as hemanded."


    "What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "We don''t know either. Emperor Tianshumanded us to keep guard over here. Nn Yunhai''s not the only one in the vicinity. There are a few marquises from the Tianshu Empire, along with their followers. Emperor Tianshu gave a few of the marquises Immortal pills that allowed them to ascend to Immortal-realm. They''ve beenying in ambush since."


    "For me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No! We reported your presence to Nn Yunhai and the marquises, but they told us to mind our own business. They don''t care about you; only Nn Yunhai does."


    "Oh? Then who are youying an ambush for?"


    "I don''t know, and none of the marquises have revealed a thing. They''re all waiting for Emperor Tianshu''s orders, and so are we."


    "Emperor Tianshu is in the vicinity?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "He''s searching for something with Ku Jiang and Han Bingdie, but I''m not sure about the specifics," the crane spirit replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng asked the crane spirit a few more questions, but there was little else it knew. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t pity the crane spirit; it was affiliated with the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and the fact that it had tried to harm him despite knowing he was the Mortal division leader was a crime punishable by death. He beheaded the crane spirit with a single cut.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng began to move even more carefully. Not only did he have to avoid the Immortal-realm divine ves all around, he also had to make sure he wasn''t spotted by the crane spirits either.


    At the same time, on a hilltop, Qiangwei was helping Nn Yunhai tend to his wounds.


    Nn Yunhai''s face was dark. "These marquises refused to give chase after Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Qiangwei shook her head as she applied salve to his wounds. "Your Highness, you can''t me them. Emperor Tianshu himself gave them orders to focus on their task."


    "It''s because they didn''t help that Xiao Nanfeng got away¡ªand I lost a batch of my crane spirits, too," Nn Yunhai spat out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation has grown further, and it''s only normal that he was able to get away. Your Highness, why pay so much attention to a cultivator who''s about to die?" Qiangwei advised.


    Nn Yunhai frowned. "You don''t understand how I feel. Xiao Nanfeng''s ruined my ns several times. I have to kill him personally to resolve my hatred."


    "Your Highness, I initially thought that Xiao Nanfeng would be easy to kill, so I went along with your n. Now, however, it looks like Xiao Nanfeng has reached the peak of Wingform. It won''t be easy to kill him, and we can''t take the risk. We still have tasks that Emperor Tianshu assigned us, and we have to perform them perfectly," Qiangwei replied.


    Nn Yunhai''s gaze turned dark.


    "Your Highness, we only have a limited number of crane spirits. If they continue to perish at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands, it won''t be good news for us. The reason the marquises disobeyed you wasn''t just because of Emperor Tianshu''s orders, but because they''re preparing to seize an even greater opportunity. If we lose too many of the crane spirits, we won''t be able to participate¡ªit''ll only benefit the marquises," Qiangwei advised.


    "But..." Nn Yunhai still seemed reluctant to give in.


    "We simply have to send word to the Spirit Emperor about Xiao Nanfeng. If the Spirit Emperor is prepared, Xiao Nanfeng will surely die."


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes shed again before he finally nodded.


    One dayter, Xiao Nanfeng finally found the location of the Yao Pool.


    There was another region shrouded by ck fog in the distance, with a pir that extended into the skies by its side.


    "It''s not an easy ce to get to..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


    There was arge group of divine ves patrolling in the vicinity of the Yao Pool, with a dozen or so Immortal-realm divine ves among them. It would be difficult to make it into the pool while remaining unseen.


    Just then, dozens of crane spirits flew out from the ck fog, scattering all over and causing the Immortal-realm divine ves to give chase.


    The Immortal-realm divine ves around the Yao Pool were all distracted for the moment.


    "Am I that lucky?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He was just about to rush inside when he halted, raising an eyebrow. "Something''s wrong. Why did these crane spirits fly out from there? And why was it right as I was about to enter? Could my tracks have been discovered again? Is someone trying to scheme against me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng stopped short and prepared to wait a little while longer.


    Just then, a crane''s cries could be heard by his side. The crane spirits that had scattered into the fog now flew back, urately pinpointing Xiao Nanfeng''s location.


    Not only that, they had lured the dozen or so Immortal-realm divine ves straight toward him.


    "The crane spirits¡ªthey really were scheming against me! But how did they find where I was?"


    Xiao Nanfeng fled as fast as he could, but the crane spirits had caught him off-guard. The divine ves approached him in the blink of an eye.


    The divine ves all wielded Immortal relics. They attacked Xiao Nanfeng from afar, who retaliated by destroying even more of his Immortal relics. The divine ves halted in surprise; not daring to stay, Xiao Nanfeng rushed straight into the Yao Pool.


    The dozen or so Immortal-realm divine ves chased after him.


    "There''s nothing else I can do now. I''ll have to head inside the Yao Pool!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with exasperation.


    Before the divine ves could strike at him, he charged within the ck fog.


    Just then, a crane spirit flew up to a mountaintop where Nn Yunhai was standing.


    "Your Highness, the Spirit Emperor discovered Xiao Nanfeng''s location and had us lure him into the Yao Pool with Immortal-realm divine ves," the crane spirit reported.


    "Well done. You''ll all be rewarded when our work here is done. Now, continue patrolling the area," Nn Yunhaimanded.


    "Understood!" The crane spirit quickly flew off.


    Nn Yunhai nced at where Xiao Nanfeng had vanished. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, the Spirit Emperor has been waiting for you for quite some time."

 Chapter 313: Curse of Affection

    <h4>Chapter 313: Curse of Affection</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng headed into the Yao Pool.


    As he took his first steps into the area, golden light surrounded him and pulled him deeper within.


    "As expected, something''s wrong!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He immediately released his silver moon, forming a domain of moonlight around him. The Divine Emperor suddenly appeared and executed a palm strike.


    "Spirit Emperor, you really aren''t going to leave us alone, are you?!" she thundered.


    Her palm hit the void and shattered the golden light.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperornded by an exquisiteke, one filled with pitch-ck water. However, above the surface of theke floated bright red flowers representing all manner of species: orchids, lotuses, almond blossoms, peach blossoms, and so on. The onlymon feature they shared was their color.


    In addition, there were buildings and pavilions all around theke, all possessing an elegant and understated beauty. Bright red flowers festooned them, glowing with light and illuminating their surroundings in the same color.


    The Divine Emperor''s body suddenly tensed up.


    Not far from theke, the Spirit Emperor appeared, dressed in gold. He seemed to have been waiting there for quite some time.


    "Divine Emperor, I knew you woulde here. Do you see all this? I''ve gathered thiske of cursed spiritual power for you." The Spirit Emperor smiled.


    "What are you trying to pull?" The Divine Emperor looked around at her surroundings with some fear.


    "I proposed to you here back then. Today, I n to do so again. As long as you marry me andplete the unfinished ceremony from back then, my heart will be restored in full. You are the most potent pill I could ingest for handling my mental trauma. Today, let the world know us as husband and wife." The Spirit Emperor smiled confidently.


    "Spirit Emperor¡ªare you crazy? Don''t you have many concubines? Why are you so obsessed with the Divine Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng pulled the Divine Emperor behind him.


    The Spirit Emperorughed. "Kid, you don''t know anything. Your cultivation''s too weak; you''re only cultivating the spirit and body for now, not the heart. The heart is the origin of all life. A pure heart can render you invincible; a w in your heart would be magnified many times over. Why did I perish during the cmity that struck me and the Divine Emperor down? It was because my heart was iplete. My w is the Divine Emperor. Cultivating the heart will be straightforward to me: if the Divine Emperor marries me and ascends Mt. Wu with me, all will be well. Unfortunately, she''s not been cooperative. Demons of the heart have gued me for countless years, and I have no choice but to take matters into my own hands."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him an odd look, then turned to the Divine Emperor. "Is he crazy because of a mental illness? Or is this normal for cultivators beyond a certain stage?"


    The Divine Emperor was silent. She didn''t exin things further, but Xiao Nanfeng easily understood from her response that the Spirit Emperor''s im had at least some truth behind it.


    "Let Xiao Nanfeng go, and I''ll stay to fight with you," the Divine Emperor said coldly.


    "Impossible! He''s foiled my ns multiple times and even gained your affection. I won''t let him live. There''s a cursed effigy in that moon of his, isn''t there? Unfortunately, it''s too weak. That cursed effigy only managed to attack me because I was injured. This time, I''m on my guard, and no one will be able to save him."


    "Divine Emperor, don''t worry. Didn''t you say that his main body is in the Thousand Spirits'' Hall? This is only a fragment of his will. We''ve already taken down two such fragments. What''s one more?"


    "It''s different this time!" the Divine Emperor replied anxiously.


    "Kid, don''t you see what''s different about the Yao Pool? Do you still think you can take me on?" The Spirit Emperor chuckled.


    "See what''s different? The fact that your subordinate spirits have vanished?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I''ve sent them out of the Yao Pool. Only you, me, and the Divine Emperor remain," the Spirit Emperor said.


    "It''s the red flowers," the Divine Emperor said with exasperation. "There are red flowers everywhere in the vicinity, even within and around my cursed spiritual power. He''s transformed the entire domain into a cursed cage. Even my cursed spiritual power has be part of the curse. If I try to reim it. I''ll be cursed too."


    "A cursed cage? What curse?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The curse of affection," the Spirit Emperor replied, smiling.


    "The curse of affection?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He had seen the Spirit Emperor use such a curse within the peach orchard, but he still didn''t understand it well.


    "Don''t touch the red flowers. All the red flowers are manifestations of the curse."


    "If the curse is the issue, can''t we simply kill the fragment of the Spirit Emperor''s will here? I''ll go!" Xiao Nanfeng swung his de at the Spirit Emperor.


    "Don''t!" the Divine Emperor cried out.


    However, it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng had already made his move. His de struck with incredible strength, as though he were trying to kill the Spirit Emperor in just one blow.


    The Spirit Emperor smirked and retaliated with a punch.


    The punch met the de in a gust of energy. Red flowers were dislodged from the impact, but mysteriously, they floated toward the two cultivators rather than away.


    "Don''t you know? The bigger the fuss you make within the domain of the curse, the more it''ll affect you. With such a heartfelt attack, you''ll surely be stricken by the curse."


    The red light was just about to seep into Xiao Nanfeng''s body when the Divine Emperor quickly pulled him back and punched forward. A cavity appeared in the wave of approaching red light. She tossed Xiao Nanfeng into the cavity as countless red flowers dove into her body.


    "Run!" the Divine Emperor shouted in panic.


    "Run? He won''t be able to run. He''ll have to stay and witness our wedding. I want him to scream his heart and lungs out in pain." The Spirit Emperor sneered, then pulled Xiao Nanfeng back into the domain of the curse.


    "Stop it!" the Divine Emperor thundered.


    "Wouldn''t it be boring if he were to leave? A curse of affection between three people will only produce one true couple. The third person, that odd one out, will go crazy as a result of the curse, torturing himself until he dies. Defeating him in a fight would be too trivial. I''d rather he suffer from the curse. He has to stay behind to witness our wedding, after all, haha!"


    "No! Spirit Emperor, I''ll die here with you!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    "So what if we do? We''re just cursed effigies. We''ll regenerate even if we die, and I''m only a fragment of will, after all. I won''t be able to die. We''ll finally be able to get married now!"


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had been dragged right over to his side. His eyes shed as he tossed out his purple seal.


    "An imperial seal that you haven''t fully attuned to? Do you really think this will do anything? If one of your cursed effigies struck, I might have to be a little more careful¡ªbut you''re hardly that strong on your own." The Spirit Emperor smirked as he struck at the seal with a palm.


    However, the moment his palm struck the seal, he nched. "Something''s wrong. What sort of imperial seal is this!?"


    The purple seal suddenly grewrger and trapped the Spirit Emperor beneath him. With a huge bang, the Spirit Emperor was smashed to pieces and left countless mes in his wake.


    "What?!" the Divine Emperor, rushing over, eximed in surprise.


    Just then, because Xiao Nanfeng had been too aggressive, arge cloud of flowers rushed into his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng radiated with red light.


    "The Spirit Emperor''s fragment of will wasn''t that strong after all. See?"


    "What''s this purple seal? That fragment of will was just about as strong as I am. How could this purple seal have caused him to explode?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "Don''t you know where I got this seal?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "You never told me."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. That was true. He hadn''t ever exined the source of the divine purple rock to the Divine Emperor.


    Red flowers continued to swarm their bodies. They glowed with red light.


    "Divine Emperor, I feel something amiss. Are these flowers guiding the curse of affection toward me? What will happen? What might go wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor watched Xiao Nanfeng in silence. She suddenly had the notion that she wouldn''t much mind being trapped in a curse of affection with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I feel ufortable all over!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. He immediately sat cross-legged in meditation.


    The Divine Emperor didn''t waste her breath talking, either. She too did the same.


    The two cultivators reached a meditative state quickly. Their bodies brimmed with red light, and the light emanating from their bodies seemed to be linked. The disparate sources of energy tangled together.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. He seemed to have arrived in a world filled with seas of flowers. In the middle of one such sea, he could see a tall, curvaceous woman with a pair of long legs. She looked beautiful, her hair scattered behind her shoulders, her white neck like jade, her corbones exquisite, her features fine and pert.


    The woman blushed faintly red as she walked over, affection in her eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng was in an unusual state. He had forgotten who he was. All he could sense was the desire in his heart. When he saw the woman, he felt an unusual sense of familiarity, as though she were his destined lover in life. He was unable to resist his impulses of love.


    He hugged the woman before him. The two cultivators locked eyes, their identities forgotten. All that remained was their affection. Xiao Nanfeng reached forward and kissed the woman in the lead.


    Just then, both cultivators'' mental strength seemed to have risen considerably.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he were having a dream. Within the dream, he had forgotten everything but the beauty before him.


    In reality, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor''s physical bodies were still seated cross-legged. As all the red flowers filled their bodies, the red light around their head intensified and linked as though they were sharing the same dream.


    Within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, the ck lotus formed some text with ck light. "He really is lucky, isn''t he? He managed to take full advantage of the Spirit Emperor''s nning. The curse of affection strikes at the very heart. What a pity! I want to have a look, but I can''t sense them in a dreamscape. I''ve only heard of the curse of affection in the past, and I never saw it for myself.Superior Yin Pearl, do you know what''ll happen?


    The aloof superior yin pearl didn''t respond to the ck lotus.

 Chapter 314: Stay Calm

    <h4>Chapter 314: Stay Calm</h4>


    Deep within the spirit emperor''s hidden realm, within an area filled with fog, the ck fog suddenly roiled. A fearsome aura emanated from the fog in a cloud of dust. The Spirit Emperor roared out, "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you! I''ll grind your bones into powder so you''ll never be able to survive the tribtionsing your way!"


    The Spirit Emperor''s howls resounded through the air, even beyond the boundary of ck fog. The divine ves outside the region of ck fog were forced back from the frightening waves of energy.


    Suddenly, the skies grew dark. Lightning struck all around the domain of ck fog, shattering the soundwaves from the Spirit Emperor''s cries of anger and blocking his aura from traveling further.


    On a mountaintop some distance away, quite a few cultivators were paying particr attention to the region of ck fog.


    "The Spirit Emperor sounds as though he''s just been heartbroken."


    "He''s howling about Xiao Nanfeng as though Xiao Nanfeng has stolen his woman. Xiao Nanfeng¡ªis that Xiao Hongye''s son?"


    "It''s likely so. Xiang Pojun, Xiang Tang, and Xiang Qisha''s deaths all have something to do with Xiao Nanfeng."


    "He''s like a cockroach that won''t die, isn''t he?"


    The Xiang cultivators all looked into the distance.


    Only one of them instead turned to a figure standing in the back. That figure was shrouded with mist, their appearance hidden. All he did was cough asionally.


    "Mr. Wen, the Spirit Emperor''s aura is too strong. Although he''s trapped within the Thousand Spirits'' Hall, even a single roar from him can cause such arge disturbance. Will the Xiang n really be able to take him on?"


    Everyone looked toward Mr. Wen.


    ''"There''s no need to worry. I headed to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce and retrieved that treasure from Seaquell Hall, remember? It was in order to counter the Spirit Emperor''s main body. I was a spy by Nn Qiankun''s side, and Ihe deeply trusts me. I''ve managed to borrow the treasure and have since handed it to you. What''s there to worry about?" Mr. Wen replied, coughing.


    "But the heavenly pir at the Yao Pool won''t be easy to break," the cultivator continued.


    "Rx. I''ve already tricked Nn Qiankun to engage and destroy the pirs in various cities. As for the Yao Pool, the situation wille to a conclusion quickly. Just wait patiently," Mr. Wen replied.


    Everyone nodded, clearly trusting Mr. Wen. They waited.


    Meanwhile, at the Yao Pool, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor continued to sit cross-legged in meditation. The red light emanating from their bodies arced toward each other; they had already been sitting together in that position for a day and a night.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s body quivered. Suction force seemed to havee from his body, absorbing the scattered red light and even the light from the surface of the Divine Emperor''s body.


    Then, flowers suddenly bloomed within the Divine Emperor''s body. The remainder of the flowers swarmed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s body and entered it as well.


    The transformation surprised the ck lotus within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "The curse of affection is one of the hardest curses to shrug off. Once afflicted, the two cultivators in question will reach a state of synchronization and develop feelings for one another. It''s all but impossible to undo such changes¡ªand yet, Xiao Nanfeng''s somehow absorbing the entire curse. Is something wrong with his truesoul? Superior Yin Pearl, do you know what''s so special about him?" the ck lotus asked.


    However, the superior yin pearl didn''t respond at all.


    Countless red flowers were expelled from the Divine Emperor''s body and absorbed into Xiao Nanfeng''s. As the final flower was absorbed, the Divine Emperor woke up with a start.


    She was still surrounded by ck smoke, and her appearance unable to make out. She studied Xiao Nanfeng carefully. Her chest heaved. She panted in a stato rhythm, her emotions seeming to oscite wildly before she finally calmed down.


    "ck Lotus, what happened between me and Xiao Nanfeng? Where has my curse of affection gone?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    A burst of ck light came from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape as the ck lotus responded with text, "I don''t know myself. Shouldn''t you have a better understanding of what happened than I do? How did all the red flowers in your body suddenly move to Xiao Nanfeng''s? No, he absorbed the entire portion of the curse! His truesoul''s very strange. Why don''t we study it?"


    The Divine Emperor cried out, "If you dare hurt his truesoul, I''ll destroy you!"


    The ck lotus: ...


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s body shook as he slowly opened his eyes.


    His face blushed red and his chest heaved. He stared at the Divine Emperor. Only after some time did he finally master his emotions. He asked, "Was I dreaming? Why was it so real? No, it wasn''t a dream, but rather an illusion! In that illusion, we¡ª"


    "It was a dream!" the Divine Emperor interrupted in a fit of panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly came to his senses. He stared at the Divine Emperor. "Divine Emperor, you really didn''t lie to me. How beautiful you are!"


    He caught her hand. The Divine Emperor shuddered as she tried to break free, but to no avail.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we were only afflicted by a curse of affection. Those cursed in such a manner are forced to perform actions not of their own volition, and only within a dream. Now, however, we''re awake and the curse of affection has been dispelled," the Divine Emperor exined, tamping down her panic.


    "I understand, but memories of that dream do exist. This was the first time I could afford to indulge myself so in this world, even in a dream. I''m very happy. Be it in a dream or in reality¡ªit''s a shared experience we''ll possess. Let''s head toward a better future together as well," Xiao Nanfeng said earnestly.


    "No! What we did was a result of the curse of affection. We have to calm down," the Divine Emperor replied resolutely.


    She tried to free herself from Xiao Nanfeng''s tight grasp again, and it took her concerted effort before she was able to break free. The moment she did, however, her heart suddenly felt dull and lifeless.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, resigned. "Perhaps we do need to calm down, but I won''t forget this dream. I have a premonition that the dream will be reality, that one day, the two of us will be together. No one will be able to stop us."


    The Divine Emperor''s heart thumped. She didn''t dissuade him from that notion.


    "What in the world is this purple seal of yours? Why does it have such tremendous strength?" The Divine Emperor quickly changed the topic of conversation, worried that she wouldn''t be able to restrain her emotions if she didn''t.


    "This is the divine purple rock of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, an artifact that an ancestral dragon obtained from beyond this world. I''ve attuned to it." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "From beyond this world?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng exined how the ancestral dragon had failed to head to the world away, but had returned with this divine purple rock. The Divine Emperor was stunned.


    "And what''s the matter with your avatar? Why does its red moon have a cursed king affixed to it?" the Divine Emperor asked thoughtfully.


    Before entering the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, she wouldn''t have cared about Xiao Nanfeng''s safety at all¡ªbut now, she seemed to pay particr attention to the safety of his main body and avatar.


    "Back in the draconic pce, I ended up melding the red rope cursed king into my red moon. My red moon''s been countering the red rope cursed king''s revival, and it also allows me the ability tomand the red ropes." Xiao Nanfeng recounted the series of events that had urred.


    "Using the cursed smoke of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "That''s right." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The Divine Emperor was silent. She seemed to have suddenly thought of something of particr importance.


    "What is it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Nothing." The Divine Emperor refused to exin, as though she were hiding something, or perhaps because she was afraid the ck lotus and superior yin pearl would overhear her thoughts.


    She continued, "You should im your spoils from this encounter. I suspect there''s quintessence of srfire under your purple seal now."


    Xiao Nanfeng reached toward the seal. Indeed, fires zed immediately as he picked up the seal, swamping the vicinity. A roiling sea of me surrounded two embers.


    "Two more embers of soulfire?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "You take your time, and I''ll take mine." The Divine Emperor pointed at ake of ck water.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The two cultivators again sat cross-legged in meditation. The Divine Emperor induced theke''s worth of cursed spiritual power into her body, while Xiao Nanfeng did the same thing with his sea of mes. The two embers headed toward the two suns in his dantian, helping him hatch his nascent spirits.


    Fire zed all around him.


    Half a dayter, two booms resounded in his vicinity as eight caws could be heard from within his body.


    "The eighth stage of Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes.


    He stood up to see that the Divine Emperor was still absorbing theke of ck water. Her aura was growing stronger and stronger, as was the rate at which she absorbed ck water.


    He began to guard the Divine Emperor. After about another half a day, all that water entered her body. A frightening burst of strength emanated from within, forcing him to stumble back.


    The ck smoke around the Divine Emperor''s face retreated, revealing a snowy-white appearance. Her long hair fluttered in the wind as a pleasant scent wafted out from her. Xiao Nanfeng inhaled almost voluntarily, lost in thought.


    The Divine Emperor opened her eyes to see Xiao Nanfeng''s stunned expression. She panicked. "What are you looking at?"


    "You really are as beautiful as in the dream," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    The Divine Emperor blushed. "You''re not to speak of that any longer."


    "I won''t, but you''re still beautiful." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You!" The Divine Emperor didn''t know what to say, but she didn''t seem to be angry. Indeed, it was hard to hide the hint of happiness in her eyes.


    Just then, with a huge rumble, the ground seemed to shift rapidly. The buildings around theke copsed in a storm of dust.


    "An earthquake?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, looking all around.


    "Even the air around the Yao Pool is shifting. Could something have happened to the entire hidden realm?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "The quake''s persisting outside the realm as well!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The two cultivators rushed toward the boundary of the Yao Pool.

 Chapter 315: Charm of Heavens Bounty

    <h4>Chapter 315: Charm of Heaven''s Bounty</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor were both looking at the rest of the hidden realm beyond the Yao Pool.


    The mountains and streams were all shaking as though an earthquake had struck the hidden realm. The divine ves suddenly all went crazy, swinging their Immortal relics through the air and even starting to fight each other. In some locations, the fight grew so intense that mes arose around them.


    "How could these divine ves be attacking one another?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Someone''s done something to the heavenlyws," the Divine Emperor said.


    "The heavenlyws?"


    "When I caused half of my cursed spiritual power to detonate that year by the Yao Pool and revealed the hidden realm to the heavens, the heavens immediately inflicted a tribtion on the realm. After that, perhaps knowing that the Spirit Emperor would be able to regenerate as a cursed effigy, the heavens then infused the hidden realm with divine energy, transforming it into a prison with divine ves as wardens. These divine ves were responsible for guarding the five ck-fog territories. Because the heavens didn''t have time to actively guard this hidden realm, "heavenlyws" were created to bind the operation of the divine energy in the realm," the Divine Emperor exined.


    "Heavenlyws aremandments issued by heaven, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. From the looks of it, these heavenlyws are about to be broken."


    "What will happen then?"


    "The divine energy that the heavens left behind will disperse. Before it disperses, however, it''ll do its best to destroy the Spirit Emperor and the shadow cursed effigies. Meanwhile, the divine ves will lose the energy that animates them and copse as well."


    "No wonder Nn Yunhai and the marquises have gathered here. It''s because thergest concentration of Immortal-realm divine ves is here. Once they copse, the Immortal relics and pills that they carry will be avable for anyone to seize. The cultivators gathered here are waiting to im them all!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The Spirit Emperor might suffer some bacsh as a result of the brokenws, but given its strength, it''ll surely be able to escape from its prison. It''s sure to try to cause trouble for you then."


    "Let hime! I have treasures by my side and I don''t fear a fight." Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath, then continued, "Why must the Spirit Emperor wait until the heavenlyws are destroyed in order to escape? Why not do what the shadow cursed effigies do?"


    "It''s not like the ordinary shadows, and its main body is guarded by the heavenlyws at all times. Only when the heavenlyws shatter will it have the opportunity to escape."


    "There must have been quite a few people entering this hidden realm over thest tens of thousands of years. Why has the Spirit Emperor only managed to recruit people to destroy it now?"


    "For one thing, the Spirit Emperor must have been exceptionally weak back then and thus unable to suffer the bacsh from the broken heavenlyws. For another, ordinary cultivators would never be able to do anything against the heavenlyws."


    "Where are the heavenlyws?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Right above the Yao Pool in the sky." The Divine Emperor pointed above her.


    "Oh?"


    "However, ordinary cultivators aren''t able to ess that area at all. The heavens have imposed a restriction on the airspace of this hidden realm. All cultivators who fly above a certain height will suffer disorientation and get lost in the sky until they perish. Thus, even if cultivators manage to make it up into the air, they won''t be able to find the heavenlyws. I don''t understand who was able to dispel or ignore that reaction and find them."


    Just then, a white pir of light descended from the heavens in a plume of dust. Within the pir, a man was holding onto a charm glowing with light. The white pir struck a hilltop. By the time the figure stabilized itself, the pir of light had vanished.


    "Nn Qiankun?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "A charm of Heaven''s bounty? No wonder he was able to pass through the heavenly restrictions. How did he obtain such a treasure?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "What''s this charm?"


    "''There are plenty of regions in this hidden realm on which the heavens have imposed one form of restriction or another, including this one. All sorts of other items are sealed in other ces, and tremendous treasure might well await you. Those who perform meritorious service against the heavens will be granted a charm of Heaven''s bounty and allowed to bypass the restrictions in such a region and pick out the treasures that they desire most. This sort of charm is consumable and won''t be able to be used for too long. Even so, it''s a rare treasure. How did Nn Qiankun obtain one?" the Divine Emperor gasped.


    From afar, as Nn Qiankunnded on the hilltop, a group of cultivators surrounded by radiant light flew over. They bowed respectfully to Nn Qiankun.


    Nn Qiankun addressed them and caused them all to smile in excitement. They thanked Nn Qiankun profusely.


    Then, Nn Qiankun turned to his son, Nn Yunhai. He passed the charm of Heaven''s bounty to him. Nn Yunhai sped it tightly as though it were some priceless treasure.


    Nn Qiankun patted Nn Yunhai on the shoulder, then headed off into the distance and vanished within the thick fog.


    The group of Immortals kowtowed in the direction in which Nn Qiankun had left.


    The crowd eyed the charm of Heaven''s bounty appreciatively before dispersing, each preparing to im as many of the subsequent Immortal relics and treasures as possible.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, deep in thought. "Before this, I interrogated a crane spirit and asked about Nn Qiankun''s whereabouts. Apparently, he headed somewhere with my master and Han Bingdie. Could they have gone off in search of these heavenlyws? Why haven''t they returned with him?"


    "Nn Yunhai might have schemed against them," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Oh?"


    "The fact that the hidden realm is quaking implies that the heavenlyws are starting to break, but they haven''t been fully destroyed. Someone is likely stabilizing them and preventing their immediate copse."


    "You think that''s what Master and Han Bingdie are doing?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I do. They likely won''t be able to withstand the karmic cost of their actions."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The heavenlyws are set by the heavens themselves. Those who destroy them are going against divine ordinance and shall be punished by the very heavens. The karmic cost would be immense."


    "Nn Qiankun''s making my master and Han Bingdie take the fall for destroying these heavenlyws?!"


    "It''s very likely."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell. "I have to steal the charm of Heaven''s bounty and have a look at these heavenlyws myself."


    The Divine Emperor seemed to have thought of something. "Very well. I''ll go with you. We need to be quick! We may yet be able to save your master."


    The Divine Emperor stepped into Xiao Nanfeng''s ring.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately released his qi to form a cloud of fog around himself. He stepped out of the zone of ck fog. If he had done so any earlier, the divine ves in the vicinity would surely have swarmed toward him, but they had been impacted by the splintering of the heavenlyws and were now fighting among themselves.


    He rushed out of the Yao Pool and headed to a secluded valley, but a crane spirit in the air noticed him.


    "There was a strange cloud of fog over there."


    "The Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm is full of fog. What was so unusual about it?"


    "The density of fog varies from region to region, and that patch of fog shouldn''t have been so dense. Furthermore, it was moving rapidly."


    "Where is it?"


    "It headed into that valley and vanished."


    "Are you going blind?"


    The crane spirits, having lost track of their target during their momentary confusion, had no choice but to leave.


    Xiao Nanfeng was exceptionally cautious. He caught a lone crane spirit and interrogated it to identify Nn Yunhai''s approximate location. Then, he snuck over and found him and Qiangwei by a mountain peak.


    Nn Yunhai was grinning at the charm of Heaven''s bounty he held. The charm was cracked in many ces, as though it might shatter at any point.


    "Your Highness, His Majesty really does favor you if he''s giving you such a precious treasure. What did he say?" Qiangwei asked curiously.


    "Father said that the heavenlyws are about to shatter. A frightening tribtion will descend. It likely won''t target us, but just in case, Father had me wield the charm of Heaven''s bounty to protect against any impending danger," Nn Yunhai boasted.


    "The marquises looked very envious," Qiangwei said, smiling.


    "Even if they''re loyal to Father, they''re only officials. As for me, I''m the crown prince. How could they hope topare to me? And you''ll be the princess consort. How could they hope topare to you, either?" Nn Yunhai smiled as his arm curled around Qiangwei''s waist.


    Qiangwei didn''t struggle this time. Her eyes filled with anticipation. "Then I''ll wait for you to fulfill your promise, Your Highness."


    "Don''t worry! Once we get out of here, I''ll ask Mother for you. I''ll be able to establish my own territory then¡ªwhat if I ask Father for the Xiaonds?" Nn Yunhai asked expectantly.


    "The Xiaonds?" Qiangwei frowned. "That might be difficult."


    "How would it be difficult? Xiao Hongye''s certainly dead, and Xiao Nanfeng must have perished to the Spirit Emperor as well. With the Xiao n dead, who else would the territory go to? The Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Nn Yunhai replied disdainfully.


    Just then, countless bursts of multicolored light headed toward the two cultivators.


    Nn Yunhai and Qiangwei nched. "Who''s there?"


    What they found was arge number of Immortal relics that were swiftly approaching them as they suddenly grewrger.


    "Be careful, Your Highness!" Qiangwei shouted.


    The Immortal relics burst in a tremendous explosion, forming a huge fireball and surrounding windstorm.


    "Argh!" Nn Yunhai cried out from within the explosion.


    "His Highness has been attacked! Marquises, send assistance!" Qiangwei shouted.


    Figures d in light shot toward Nn Yunhai from all directions. Qiangwei, looking the worse for wear, shielded Nn Yunhai as they flew out of the epicenter of the explosion. Their hair was scattered behind their backs, their clothes tattered, but they were both still Immortals and yet alive. However, Nn Yunhai''s right hand was injured and bleeding profusely. He clutched his hain pain.


    "My charm of Heaven''s bounty has been stolen!" Nn Yunhai shouted.


    "It must be Xiao Nanfeng!" Qiangwei eximed.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng could be seen. His clothes were likewise in tatters, but he held the charm of Heaven''s bounty that he had just snatched in his hand. He had seeded.


    He didn''t attempt to strike with his yin body, because his physical body would have been unguarded; he couldn''t allow the gathered Immortals to hold off his yin body and waste time. He had to rescue his master as quickly as he could.


    He rushed into the air.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? He''s still alive? Kill him!" Nn Yunhai demanded.

 Chapter 316: Ku Jiangs Willingness

    <h4>Chapter 316: Ku Jiang''s Willingness</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng shot into the air, he carefully considered the charm of Heaven''s bounty that he held. It had begun to crack all over, as though it would shatter at any moment. He infused his qi into it, causing it to give offrge quantities of white light, forming a pir up into the heavens.


    As though striking something in the air above, the pir caused countless runes to manifest in the firmament. The runes spread out all over the realm, like a particrlyrge barrier separating the upper part of the sky and whaty below.


    "Is this the heavenly restriction?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He headed up the pir and broke through the heavenly restriction.


    Just then, the cultivators below them caught up.


    "Hold it right there, Xiao Nanfeng!" Nn Yunhai thundered.


    "It''s toote. He''s already up there. Your Highness, you can''t fly any higher. Otherwise, the heavenly restrictions will cause you to enter a maze-like domain. You''d die there!" Qiangwei shouted, hugging Nn Yunhai tightly and coaxing him not to go further.


    All around them, the Immortals stopped short. They were well aware of the danger themselves.


    "We can head up via the pir of light!" Nn Yunhai hurriedly flew toward it, but Xiao Nanfeng had deactivated the charm the moment he passed through the heavenly restriction. The pir of light vanished in a sh.


    "No! Xiao Nanfeng, return my charm to me!" Nn Yunhai bellowed.


    However, the upper part of the sky quickly became shrouded by clouds. Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight.


    Qiangwei held Nn Yunhai down. "Your Highness, you can''t head up there at the moment. We''ll have to wait for the heavenlyws to be broken. Don''t worry: he won''t be able to escape."


    Nn Yunhai roared in outrage, but he stopped short. He was well aware of the danger that these heavenly restrictions posed himself.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has stolen the charm of Heaven''s bounty. Could he ruin Emperor Tianshu''s ns?"


    "No. Emperor Tianshu said that the destruction of the heavenlyws is irreversible. Not even Xiao Nanfeng will be able to prevent it."


    "That''s right! Emperor Tianshu''s cautious and detail-oriented. He would never leave any ws behind. Unless he had everything under control, he would never have handed the charm of Heaven''s bounty to the second prince."


    "Even if Xiao Nanfeng''s in the upper part of the sky, there''s nothing he can do about it."


    The marquises analyzed the situation and confirmed that Nn Yunhai wasn''t in life-threatening danger before they flew away. They had to focus on seizing as many Immortal relics and treasures as they could; dealing with Xiao Nanfeng was a waste of time.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I won''t let you go. Once I im the opportunities avable to me here, you''ll die!" Nn Yunhai shouted, gritting his teeth.


    Then, he and Qiangwei headed back to their original location, seething with anger.


    Xiao Nanfeng passed through the heavenly restriction to discover that it took the form of a sea of clouds. Corpses floated above the clouds, many having dposed into nothing more than skeletons.


    "Are these corpses of those cultivators who flew too high into the sky and vanished? They were trapped here until they died... This heavenly restriction really is dangerous," Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    The skies were clear for thousands of kilometers around; unlike the rest of the hidden realm, there was no fog in the area. He discovered five huge mountains extending up through the clouds from below.


    "Five mountains leading into the sky..." Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The mountaintops were t and rounded, and each had an indentation that reminded him of fingernails¡ªno, these mountains weren''t mountains at all. They were five huge fingers!


    "Could this be... a hand? A gigantic hand that emerged from the ground of the hidden realm and extended so high up that it broke through the heavenly restriction?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    He shook his head, clearing his mind, and quickly began his search for the heavenlyws.


    Suddenly, he saw a huge crystal tablet floating on a white cloud. The crystal tablet was glowing with light, and it was connected to the five ''mountains''.


    He flew up to it. The crystal tablet was about thirty meters tall. The area within the crystal was dark, but there were countless motes of light revolving around a central point. It looked like a star system in dynamical motion, hiding some arcanew of nature.


    The crystal tablet was cracked and looked as though it would shatter at any moment. There were three figures within the tablet. One was a female who shared some simrity to Yu''er, but was more mature. Xiao Nanfeng immediately guessed that she was Yu''er''s mother, Han Bingdie.


    Han Bingdie sat cross-legged in meditation, as though trying to intuit something, but blood trailed down her lips. She seemed to be heavily injured.


    Beside Han Bingdie sat Ku Jiang¡ªno, more urately, Ku Jiang''s physical body.


    There was a third person present: Ku Jiang''s yin body.


    A red moon shone to the back of his head. Ku Jiang was channeling a barrier to protect Han Bingdie and his physical body. Deep within the crystal tablet, at the center of the star system, were bolts of lightning that were attacking Ku Jiang''s yin body. He struggled desperately, the yin body fluctuating and shaking wildly.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in shock.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body, seemingly hearing the shout, turned around in shock as he saw Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nanfeng? What are you doing here?" Ku Jiang''s yin body eximed.


    "Master, I just saw Nn Qiankun hand a charm of Heaven''s bounty to his son and guessed that he was scheming against you. After Nn Qiankun left, I stole the charm and came here to save you."


    Ku Jiang nced at the increasingly damaged charm in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, gratified.


    "What do you mean, stole the charm? Your father found this charm on an expedition and belongs to you by right," Ku Jiang said.


    "This charm was my father''s?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Nn Qiankun deliberately pushed your father out and imed his possessions in order to im the opportunities in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm for himself. This was an obvious deduction, but I had no proof."


    "You knew everything, Master? How did he manage to get the two of you in here, then?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    As Ku Jiang defended himself against the lightninging from behind, he replied, "Don''t worry about us. Leave now. We chose this for ourselves."


    "What? Master, this crystal tablet represents heavenlyw! Aren''t you helping Nn Qiankun shoulder the consequences of his actions? Once it shatters, you''ll have to suffer a huge karmic debt!"


    Ku Jiang nodded. "I know you''re worried for me, Nanfeng, but I don''t mind."


    "But why?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "Han Bingdie and I are sectstarters of the sect, and we are duty-bound to do what we can to advance it. Han Bingdie came here on invitation from Nn Qiankun. Before we arrived, there was a particrly strong defensive mechanism surrounding this crystal tablet. It took me, Han Bingdie, and Nn Qiankun working in tandem to destroy it ande in contact with the heavenlyw," Ku Jiang exined.


    "In other words, all three of you were necessary?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Indeed! If your father were here, he could have broken through that defensive mechanism as well, but with him gone, Nn Qiankun had to turn to me and Han Bingdie."


    "Why did you agree to Nn Qiankun''s request? You knew he was up to no good!" Xiao Nanfeng fretted.


    "I know he''s luring me and Han Bingdie into this crystal tablet, but we chose toe of our own ord. The heavenlyw within this tabletes from the heavens themselves, and is encoded within arcane star maps. If we can understand these star maps, the Taiqing Immortal Sect will be able to regain its former glory at an elerated pace. Despite knowing that this will be our death, Han Bingdie and I have no qualms about our actions."


    "You entered the crystal tablet willingly?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Indeed. Nn Qiankun didn''t force us to do so. We were simply as moths to a me."


    "No. No!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. "He''s taking advantage of your feelings toward the Taiqing Immortal Sect. This is a scheme. Master, did you know that Senior Uncle Hong Lie is dead? Cui Haitang assassinated him¡ªand Nn Qiankun tacitly approved of it!"


    "What?!" Ku Jiang eximed.


    "Too much has happened recently. I''ve inherited Senior Uncle Hong Lie''s will and be the Mortal division leader. Master, something''s wrong with Nn Qiankun. I feel that he might betray the Taiqing Immortal Sect," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Nn Qiankun? How dare he!" Ku Jiang shouted.


    "Master, this crystal tablet''s only shattering faster and faster. Once it''spletely destroyed, the heavenlyw will break and cause you to incur a tremendous karmic debt," Xiao Nanfeng continued in worry.


    Ku Jiang turned back to the spinning star system behind him. He nodded. "I know, but it''s worth it. If Han Bingdie and I were to fall in exchange for the revival of the sect, we would be more than happy to do so. At any rate, we''ve already taken responsibility for this karmic debt. If it makes little difference one way or another, Han Bingdie might as well have more time to intuit what she can."


    "Master! Your yin body''s growing fainter and fainter, and it might be destroyed at any moment. This isn''t worth it!"


    "It is," Ku Jiang replied resolutely.


    A bolt of lightning struck Ku Jiang''s yin body, causing it to flicker tremendously as though it were about to dissipate. The red moon to the back of his yin body''s head cracked as well.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again.


    Just then, the Divine Emperor emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring and transformed into a puddle of ck water. The water encapsted the crystal tablet and filtered into all the cracks.


    The next moment, the five ''mountains'', as though sensing the Divine Emperor''s aura, instantly began to move. Countless bolts of lightning appeared from the air in greater and greater quantities. They were initially as weak and small as streams, then gradually became thick and strong like roaring rapids. All the lightning struck at the Divine Emperor; the shockwaves alone sent Xiao Nanfeng flying.


    "What are you doing, Divine Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The Divine Emperor said, "The charm of Heaven''s bounty is all but destroyed. Toss it over. I''ll absorb its remaining strength and open a portal for your master and Han Bingdie so that they can escape without incurring a karmic debt. Do it now!"

 Chapter 317: Shattered Laws

    <h4>Chapter 317: Shattered Laws</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the charm into the storm of lightning without any hesitation.


    The charm gave off threads of white light. Where it passed by, the lightning seemed toe to life, detouringpletely around the charm. Although it wasn''t struck by any of the lightning, the cracks along its surface began to propagate rapidly. With a bang, it suddenly exploded in a cloud of white smoke, which the Divine Emperor guided toward the crystal tablet.


    "Merge!" the Divine Emperormanded.


    The white cloud surrounded the crystal tablet and formed a circr portal about three meters in diameter.


    "Leave, now!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body rushed out with his physical body in one hand and Han Bingdie in the other. The next moment, all the white smoke vanished and dissipated, leaving only the ck water into which the Divine Emperor had transformed behind.


    "Divine Emperor, hurry back into my purple seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, holding his seal up urgently.


    However, it was toote. The crystal tablet, strained to the utmost, exploded along with the ck water that had surrounded it.


    "Divine Emperor!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Heaven and earth rumbled. The five mountains¡ªheavenly pirs¡ªemitted concentrated ball lightning in their vicinity, so many that they covered up the sky. The ball lightning formed tidal waves that shot all around them.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Ku Jiang, and Han Bingdie found arge wave of ball lightning headed in their direction, one that looked as though it would drown them within moments.


    "With the heavenlyws destroyed, the heavenly energy in this realm is no longer restrained!" Ku Jiang shouted. He spurred his red moon forth and prepared to defend against the colossal wave.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s storage ring shed, transforming into the Divine Emperor''s bell and covering up the three of them.


    The ball lightning swept past the bell. An apocalyptic crash resounded from outside, but the three cultivators within were unscathed.


    "This is¡ªthe Divine Emperor''s bell? The same Divine Emperor linked to the Spirit Emperor?" Ku Jiang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was anxious and worried about what was happening outside, but the fact that the Divine Emperor''s bell glowed with golden light meant that the Divine Emperor was still alive and actively protecting Xiao Nanfeng.


    The lightning continued to rage for about fifteen minutes before the Divine Emperor''s bell uncovered itself.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed out in search of the Divine Emperor.


    Not far away, there was a ball of lightning a few thousand meters in diameter, crackling with energy. At its center were shards of the crystal tablet and the ck water into which the Divine Emperor had transformed.


    "Divine Emperor, let me bring you into the purple seal!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed over.


    "Come back, Nanfeng! You can''t withstand lightning of such incredible potency!" Ku Jiang shouted.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng rushed over and was about to brave the lightning when the Divine Emperor''s bell flew forward and interposed itself between the lightning and him.


    "Don''te over. I''m alright. Ignore me," the Divine Emperor shouted from within the lightning.


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    He was incredibly worried; the lightning was getting more and more intense as the remaining ball lightning from the environment reted around the sphere. As it grewrger, the Divine Emperor would only be in more danger.


    "I''m doing something exceptionally important. Don''t disturb me," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips in worry, but he still nodded. "Alright."


    Only then did he look at his surroundings. All around the sea of clouds were temporal rifts, windows into other pockets of spacetime. Some showed the sea; others, mountains and rivers; yet others, deserts. The rifts had clearly been caused by the tremendous explosion of lightning, and would represent a way out of the hidden realm.


    However, the rifts seemed to be repairing themselves and growing smaller bit by bit.


    "Master, how are you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ku Jiang''s yin body looked all around as he coughed. "Thanks to the Divine Emperor, Han Bingdie and I weren''t subject to karmic debt. We''re rather seriously injured and must leave the hidden realm at once in search of a safe ce to recuperate and digest what we''ve gleaned."


    "Master, I''m afraid I won''t be able to leave with you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "With the heavenlyws destroyed, everything around here will be steeped in chaos. Even the heavenly restriction will slowly dissipate. If Nn Qiankun really has betrayed the sect, he won''t spare you. You had better leave with us," Ku Jiang advised.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced back toward the sphere of lightning, with the Divine Emperor at its heart. He shook his head. "Master, there''s someone I''d like to protect here. I can''t leave!"


    Ku Jiang nced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise, then at the sphere of lightning where Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze was directed. He was a little uncertain about the rtionship between his disciple and the Divine Emperor.


    "Very well," he eventually stated. "Be careful."


    "I understand. Be careful too, Master."


    Ku Jiang''s yin body nodded. He held his physical body with one hand and Han Bingdie in the other, then made for a rapidly dwindling temporal rift. As he flew out of it, he sprayed out a mouthful of blood. Clearly, he was heavily wounded and had been keeping himself going with pure will alone.


    After Ku Jiang rushed out of the rift, it slowly closed up, as did the other ones in the vicinity.


    The chaos caused by the destruction of heavenlyws hadn''t ended; in fact, it had just barely started. The five heavenly pirs crumbled to the ground, revealing five huge holes in the sea of clouds.


    Xiao Nanfeng peered downward through a hole to see that ball lightning was ravaging the realm below. The seemingly endless fog had vanished, even around the Yao Pool. All the divine ves had transformed into a pile of shattered bones. Their Immortal relics and pills scattered over the ground.


    Nn Yunhai, the crane spirits, and the marquises dodged the ball lightning as they grabbed what treasures they could, ted at the windfall.


    The shattered heavenly pirs transformed into countless instances of ball lightning that shot all over, tearing apart the hidden realm and forming temporal rift after temporal rift. Most of the ball lightning, however, headed toward a certain location in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng guessed that they were gathering around the Thousand Spirits'' Hall.


    The Divine Emperor had suffered significant bacsh after the destruction of the heavenlyws; the Spirit Emperor would only suffer more.


    "Is the Spirit Emperor going to be freed?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself. "Will ite for us?"


    Just then, the Spirit Emperor''s howls could be heard in the distance. The Seaquell Pearl¡ªyou Xiang cultivators dare to scheme against me? Die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng jerked upright. "The Xiang cultivators have backstabbed the Spirit Emperor?"


    Outside the Thousand Spirits'' Hall, as the heavenlyws and pirs crumbled, the ck fog disappeared in an instant. Countless halls and buildings were obliterated by tidal waves of ball lightning, and all that lightning shot toward the Spirit Emperor. The Spirit Emperor had just been freed and was looking disdainfully at the lightning headed in his direction.


    He was about to flee and evade the resulting bacsh when a golden orb suddenly fell from the skies, as if suppressing the region of void¡ªand the Spirit Emperor in particr. The golden orb whirled toward him.


    "Insolence!" the Spirit Emperor shouted, swatting the golden orb away¡ªbut the moment his hand came into contact with it, it burst with golden light, heavy as the sea. It shattered the Spirit Emperor''s hand and pinned him where he stood.


    "What?!" the Spirit Emperor eximed, hauling up the golden orb.


    He tried to fling it away, but it grew heavier and heavier, as thoughden with gravity and divine energy. The Spirit Emperor was unable to take even a single step. He gaped in astonishment at the golden orb as he discovered Immortals surrounding him and infusing spiritual power into the golden orb.


    "The Seaquell Pearl? You Xiang cultivators dare to scheme against me? Die!" the Spirit Emperor roared.


    Subdued by the pearl, he was unable to block the ball lightning that shot toward him from every direction. He had no choice but to suffer the destructive, annihting attack. His roars were drowned out by the lightning.


    "We''ve done it. We''ve suppressed the Spirit Emperor! The Seaquell Pearl really is amazing!" a Xiang cultivator cheered.


    "All of you, scour the vicinity for any Immortal relics and pills that the obliterated divine ves had in their possession. Then, leave through the temporal rifts immediately!" another Xiang cultivatormanded.


    That shout carried across the entire realm.


    "Understood!" the Xiang cultivators replied.


    The cultivators of the Tianshu Empire and the Xiang n were all furiously iming whatever treasures they could find. Crow and crane spirits were doing the same. None of them attacked each other; they avoided the ball lightning as they tried to cover as much ground as they could.


    Some of the Xiang Immortals, however, remained where they were around the Spirit Emperor.


    "With the Seaquell Pearl suppressing the Spirit Emperor, all the lightning will head toward him. That lightning will drain him of all his energy within a short period of time, killing him. Even if he can survive, he''ll surely be weakened dramatically. The cursed effigies that we possess will surely be able to defeat him then. Attack at full force when I give the signal. We must acquire the Spirit Emperor''s treasure at any cost!" one Xiang cultivatormanded.


    "Understood!" the Xiang Immortals shouted in high spirits.


    "Additionally, beware of Nn Qiankun. He''s particrly malicious."


    "Don''t worry, n Head!" everyone chorused.


    At the mouth of a valley some distance away, Nn Qiankun and his subordinatesy hidden as they stared at themotion from afar.


    "Your Majesty, do we need to strike now?"


    "We don''t. Even if the Spirit Emperor were to die, it can revive and seek revenge. Let the Xiang cultivators suffer the karma of stealing the Spirit Emperor''s treasures. Once they acquire that treasure, we''ll make our move and steal it from them," Nn Qiankun replied.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the cultivators chorused.


    Nn Qiankun''s eyes were resolute, as though everything was firmly in his grasp.

 Chapter 318: Slaying Nalan Yunhai

    <h4>Chapter 318: ying Nn Yunhai</h4>


    Outside the ruins of the Yao Pool, crane spirits were flocking en masse toward the divine ves that had crumbled to pieces. They picked up huge quantities of Immortal pills and weapons, then brought them to the marquises and Nn Yunhai.


    There was treasure everywhere. The huge haul left everyone excited.


    Within just a short period of time, the cultivators had stripped the realm clean of treasure.


    "The temporal rifts are about to close up!"


    "His Majesty said that there might be unexpected disaster in the realm. We''re to leave immediately!"


    "Let''s leave, then!"


    The cultivators rushed toward the temporal rifts, followed by flocks of crane spirits. Very quickly, they had all departed, leaving only Qiangwei and Nn Yunhai behind.


    "Your Highness, I''ve had the cranes leave first. We should depart as well," Qiangwei stated.


    "I''d like to go up there and have a look." Nn Yunhai looked at the sky.


    Qiangwei followed Nn Yunhai''s gaze to see a hole in the sea of clouds, one shing with lightning. That hole had been left behind when a heavenly pir copsed.


    "Without confirming Xiao Nanfeng''s death, I won''t be at ease," Nn Yunhai said.


    "But this temporal rift might close at any moment! If we miss it, we may not be able to escape," Qiangwei argued.


    "The lightning''s left this area, and the temporal rifts here are about to close, but there''s still plenty of lightning by the Thousand Spirits'' Hall. There are surely still temporal rifts there. If even that fails, Father will definitely be able to bring us out," Nn Yunhai replied.


    Qiangwei thought for a moment before she nodded. "Very well. There''s lightning up above the sea of clouds, so there may be other opportunities there."


    The two cultivators shot into the sky without any hesitation. They drew their Immortal swords in case of a sneak attack as they passed through the gigantic hole in the sea of clouds and arrived at its upperyer.


    There, they saw a huge sphere of lightning a few thousand meters in diameter. Within the sphere, lightning was continuously striking at countless shards of ck water.


    Beside the sphere were Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor''s bell.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You are here, after all." Nn Yunhai''s eyes brightened.


    "The Divine Emperor''s bell?" Qiangwei''s eyes shed with greed.


    "Neither of you left despite seizing all these Immortal relics for yourself? Are you here to give them all to me, then?" Xiao Nanfeng drew his divine undying de.


    Nn Yunhai didn''t understand why Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t afraid of him. He looked all over to see if there was an ambush lying in wait.


    "Don''t worry, Your Highness. As His Majesty said, even if Ku Jiang and Han Bingdie aren''t dead, they''ll be so badly injured that they won''t be able to do anything. Xiao Nanfeng is alone here," Qiangwei deduced, ncing at their surroundings.


    "He''s not afraid of us! Perhaps the Divine Emperor is within her bell, waiting to ambush us," Nn Yunhai said.


    "No! He''s simply trying to bluff. The Divine Emperor is likely within that sphere of lightning. She doesn''t have the energy to spare on Xiao Nanfeng." Qiangwei pointed at the huge sphere.


    Nn Yunhai nodded hesitantly.


    "Your Highness, didn''t you say you wanted to marry me? Why not give me this bell as a gift?" Qiangwei suddenly smiled.


    "The Divine Emperor''s bell is an incredible treasure..."


    "Your Highness, what''s mine is yours. Once you hand me the bell, you''ll have both me and the bell. Isn''t that so?" Qiangwei caressed Nn Yunhai''s arm as she pouted.


    The flirtation caused Nn Yunhai not to waver any longer. He nodded. "Very well. If you''re willing to listen to me, I can hand the Divine Emperor''s bell to you."


    "Thank you, Your Highness!" Qiangwei smiled coquettishly.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched as he listened to their dialogue. "Are the two of you finished? When did you take possession of the Divine Emperor''s bell? Aren''t you being rather shameless?"


    Nn Yunhai turned to Xiao Nanfeng and was about to strike at him when Qiangwei pulled him back.


    "What''s wrong?" Nn Yunhai asked.


    Qiangwei frowned. "Something''s wrong. I was intentionally acting with you in order to probe Xiao Nanfeng''s response. How could he be so calm? There really might be an ambush."


    Nn Yunhai''s face stiffened. You were acting with me? Why didn''t I know?


    "Your Highness, we can''t stay here. We have to leave!" Qiangwei grabbed Nn Yunhai''s arm and was right about to depart.


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised by their behavior. Qiangwei really was a careful schemer. It was little wonder that Cui Haitang assigned her to Nn Yunhai. That was a deliberate move to ount for her son''s idiocy, wasn''t it?


    "Leave? Why? He''s just a Wingform-realm cultivator. What''s there to be afraid of? He has a few Immortal relics, but we have more. I''ll end him today, right here, right now!" Nn Yunhai retorted.


    "Your Highness, Xiao Nanfeng''s a known schemer. Have you forgotten about the news from before? A red moon and a cultivator at Yin Body appeared in the city of Yongding!" Qiangwei eximed.


    "The Xiao manor has a cultivator at Yin Body. So what?" Nn Yunhai said.


    "What if Xiao Nanfeng''s that cultivator?"


    "Impossible. How could he have reached Yin Body?" Nn Yunhai refused to entertain this possibility."


    "Have you forgotten? Xiao Nanfeng was already at mid-stage Lunar Deluge while in the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. He has so many secrets that we don''t yet know about. After so much time has psed, he might well be at Yin Body already."


    Nn Yunhai''s eyes twitched in doubt.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Qiangwei with killing intent. If this woman were to remain by Nn Yunhai''s side andplement hiscking intelligence, Nn Yunhai really would be a difficult foe to deal with.


    Nn Yunhai was silent for a moment before sucking in a deep breath. "You''re right, but if you can predict all this, can''t others?"


    "Your Highness, you mean...?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng has grown too strong in too short a period of time. He must have some incredible secret up his sleeve. If we miss it, my brother and uncle might find out what it is before us."


    Qiangwei frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s secret ought to belong to us," Nn Yunhai concluded.


    Qiangwei considered Nn Yunhai''s words. In the end, her greed won out. "You''re right, Your Highness."


    "Catch him. I''m going to send him to my torture chamber and slowly extract all the secrets from his body. They''ll be ours, then; everything that he possesses shall be mine. I''ll make him beg for death himself." Nn Yunhai''s eyes filled with avarice.


    "You''re right, Your Highness. If we leave now, we might miss out on incredible treasure. This is worth fighting for. What''s more, we just acquired a batch of Immortal weapons."


    "Attack!" Nn Yunhaimanded.


    "Understood!" Qiangwei shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Both cultivators activated their qi barriers and sent a sh of energy toward Xiao Nanfeng from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold. "The two of you really are malicious, aren''t you? I can''t leave you alive."


    A silver moon emerged from his forehead as his yin body appeared in a burst of silver light.


    "He really has developed a yin body!" Nn Yunhai eximed.


    "Kill him!" Qiangwei shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body defended with the divine undying de. He shed at the two of them, cutting apart their sword techniques. Xiao Nanfeng''s yin bodyunched himself at them so quickly that they were taken aback.


    "Be careful, Your Highness!" Qiangwei shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent another sh at Nn Yunhai, summoning a windstorm around him. His yin body was simply too strong; Nn Yunhai was sent flying within moments.


    Behind him, Qiangwei struck at Xiao Nanfeng. His silver moon emittedrge quantities of moonlight to form a silver barrier that blocked Qiangwei''s attack.


    Xiao Nanfeng whirled around and shed at his assant, cutting apart Qiangwei''s Immortal sword in one fell swoop.


    "What strength!" Qiangwei eximed as she retreated.


    Xiao Nanfeng chased after her and executed another sh, causing blinding blue light to fill the air.


    "Save me!" Qiangwei screamed, manifesting her barrier at full strength.


    "If you dare hurt Qiangwei, I''ll kill you! Release her!" Nn Yunhai howled.


    "Oh? Did it take you that long to realize the importance of life? Her life is precious; what about mine? Do you think I''ll let you keep attacking me? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The divine undying de broke through Qiangwei''s qi barrier.


    "No!" Qiangwei screamed, as she was split in two.


    Nn Yunhai was terrified, his eyes as round as saucers. Rather than seek revenge for Qiangwei, he shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body instead.


    "Do you think you can destroy my physical body? You''re too slow!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He shot forward, intercepting Nn Yunhai. With a sh, he sent Nn Yunhai flying once more.


    "You''re not getting away today, either!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted,unching himself at Nn Yunhai again.


    Nn Yunhai hastily tossed out objects sparkling with light.


    "Explode!" Nn Yunhai howled.


    "Learning from me, are you?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned, activating his qi barrier to protect himself.


    Countless Immortal relics exploded in a mushroom cloud that forced Xiao Nanfeng back.


    Nn Yunhai didn''t take advantage of the opportunity to strike. Instead, he continued to run. Just as he was about to head below the sea of clouds, Xiao Nanfeng caught up to him with his superior speed.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "I''m the second prince of the Tianshu Empire! You can''t kill me¡ªno!" Nn Yunhai shouted. He attempted to defend himself with his Immortal de,


    but it cracked from the impact. The divine undying de thrust forward, momentum undeterred, as zing blue light illuminated the heavens and bisected Nn Yunhai. He died on the spot.


    Xiao Nanfeng ced both corpses before him, retrieved their storage rings, and froze them stiff with a bout of frost. Then, he punched forward, shattering their corpses.


    After all that, Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body flew back into his physical body''s mindscape as he awoke.

 Chapter 319: Heavens Hand

    <h4>Chapter 319: Heaven''s Hand</h4>


    Outside the Thousand Spirits'' Hall, the Spirit Emperor had been suppressed by the Seaquell Pearl. He was unable to move and fuming with exasperation. Lightning struck his body while he was unable to defend himself, swiftly draining him of cursed spiritual power.


    "You bugs of the Xiang n, just you wait! Once I regenerate, I''ll crush all of you to pieces!" the Spirit Emperor howled.


    The lightning caused his body to explode into smithereens and vanish into thin air.


    The Seaquell Pearl dropped to the ground as smoke and dust mushroomed up. The lightning dissipated.


    "Is the Spirit Emperor dead?"


    "He surely is. Haven''t you seen that all the lightning has disappeared?"


    "Good, good! So what if he''s the Spirit Emperor? So what if he was the top cultivator fifty thousand years ago? We still managed to get rid of him!"


    The Xiang cultivators walked up to the scorched earth to see three orbs of scintiting light.


    "The Spirit Emperor''s treasures!" The cultivators reached out for them in excitement.


    "They really are the Spirit Emperor''s treasures! The Spirit Emperor reigned over the entire world fifty thousand years ago. Now, we''ve absorbed his legacy. It''s time for the Xiang n to rise up!"


    "The Taiwu Empire shall be reborn¡ªas the Divine Taiwu Empire, haha!"


    "These are incredible treasures!"


    The cultivators were gleefully reaching for the treasure when a beam of light shot over.


    "Be careful! It''s Nn Qiankun!" a Xiang cultivator called out.


    Nn Qiankun appeared out of thin air, punching at the two Xiang cultivators who attempted to block his path. He reached out for the first of the Spirit Emperor''s treasures.


    "You don''t deserve these treasures," he dered coolly.


    "Bastard!" the Xiang cultivator shouted.


    The two cultivators exchanged blows once more, resulting in a ming mushroom cloud. Nn Qiankun punched the cultivator with a fist, sending him flying out as Nn Qiankun imed the treasure in his hands.


    Two more mushroom clouds detonated.


    "Return that treasure to me!" another Xiang cultivator cried out.


    The second of the Spirit Emperor''s treasures had been stolen. Despite their best efforts, the Xiang cultivators were only able to secure thest treasure.


    "Suppress Nn Qiankun with the Seaquell Pearl!" one Xiang cultivator cried out.


    The Xiang cultivators sent the Seaquell Pearl into the air.


    Just then, zing lightning came surging back toward the pearl.


    "What? The lightning''s back. Could it be the Spirit Emperor? Hasn''t he died yet?"


    "Impossible. How could the Spirit Emperor still be alive?"


    "Has he already regenerated? That quickly?"


    The Xiang cultivators and Nn Qiankun were all taken aback.


    "We leave now!" Nn Qiankun dered.


    Without any hesitation, he rushed straight for the closest temporal rift. His subordinates nched. They knew just how angry the Spirit Emperor would be after his death and subsequent revival. They followed Nn Qiankun out through a rift.


    The cultivators of the Tianshu Empire vanished on the spot.


    "Stay right there!" the Xiang cultivators cried out.


    "Don''t chase after them! We''ve all but dered a feud with the Spirit Emperor. We have to deal with him first," n Head Xiangmanded.


    "Understood, Head!" the Xiang cultivators replied.


    "You! Take the Spirit Emperor''s final treasure and leave this hidden realm for now, lest he regain control over it," the Xiang n head continued.


    "Understood!" The Xiang cultivator holding onto the final treasure vanished into a temporal rift.


    The storm continued. At the heart of the lightning, the Spirit Emperor''s figure slowly appeared.


    "Bugs of the Xiang n, I''ll kill you all now!" the Spirit Emperor roared.


    "Seaquell Pearl¡ªquell!" the Xiang cultivators shouted.


    The Seaquell Pearl descended from the skies and smashed down toward the Spirit Emperor, but he didn''t even bother to dodge.


    "Do you think such an artifact can hurt me? I was only taken by surprise just now. Quintessence of srfire!" The Spirit Emperor invoked his reservoirs of energy.


    Beams of golden light shot out like swords, aiming straight at the Seaquell Pearl that was careening toward him.


    The Seaquell Pearl stopped short, its momentum arrested, a crack on its surface. The crack propagated until it was about to shatter.


    "Impossible! That''s the Seaquell Pearl, with the ability to forcibly calm an entire sea! How could it be shattered? We''re done for!" one cultivator eximed.


    "The Spirit Emperor''s attack has consumed almost his entire supply of quintessence of srfire. He''s badly injured himself. Don''t be tricked!" another cultivator eximed.


    The Seaquell Pearl burst apart. The Spirit Emperor had indeed consumed a great deal of energy to aplish this feat; he stumbled and almost fell. The Xiang cultivators, struck by the bacsh, spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood.


    "The Spirit Emperor''s on hisst legs, and the lightning is still targeting him. Use the cursed effigies that we''ve collected to destroy him!" n Head Xiang shouted.


    "Understood!" the cultivators chorused.


    All manner of cursed effigies were activated and thrown toward the Spirit Emperor.


    The lightning burst apart with a tremendous bang, transforming into a sea of lightning. The resulting explosion sent the cultivators flying.


    Fortunately, they were all Immortals and only seriously injured, rather than killed, by the sudden explosion. However, a frightening scene was unfolding before them.


    The Spirit Emperor stood at the epicenter of the explosion, his clothes tattered, his chest a gaping hole dripping with blood. He was grabbing at the cursed effigies all around him and eating them whole.


    "No, don''t eat me! No!" the cursed effigies cried out.


    However, they were only regr cursed effigies; what could they do against a cursed king? As the Spirit Emperor swallowed more and more of them, the hole in his chest filled over, and his clothes were likewise repairing themselves.


    "Those cursed effigies can''t handle the Spirit Emperor¡ªhe''s even recovering because of them!" one Xiang cultivator cried out.


    That information sent chills down everyone''s backs.


    "We have to flee!" n Head Xiang cried out.


    The Xiang cultivators clutched their wounds as they fled toward a temporal rift that had just opened up. They didn''t have the strength to fight any further; the Spirit Emperor was far stronger than they had anticipated.


    Within the blink of an eye, everyone had vanished, leaving behind the Spirit Emperor. After he devoured all the cursed effigies, much of his wounds had recovered. He twisted his body as though he were stretching.


    "The lightning''s growing weaker. Is it trying to scratch my itches? Break!" the Spirit Emperormanded.


    A fearsome aura emanated from his body, forcing the lightning back.


    He closed his eyes and considered his realm, then suddenly opened his eyes. His face twisted with malice. "Xiao Nanfeng, haven''t you left this hidden realm yet? You really are asking to die!"


    He waved a hand, causing a frightening wave of energy to shoot out into the sky. Countless clouds exploded, revealing whaty above the sea of clouds.


    A gigantic sphere of lightning was in the air; beside it were the Divine Emperor''s bell and Xiao Nanfeng.


    At this moment, he loathed Xiao Nanfeng to the exclusion of all else. Even the loss of his treasures seemed to pale inparison. He wanted to seek revenge against Xiao Nanfeng at any cost.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, no one will be able to save you today. I''ll kill you!"


    The Spirit Emperor''s chilling voice could be heard even in the distance as he shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng tensed up. He felt as though a powerful aura had locked in on him; the pressure that he felt was so strong that he knew he had to react.


    Just then, the ground around the Spirit Emperor quaked. Five humongous milky-white pirs emerged from the ground and reached toward the skies. The lightning in the vicinity was absorbed into the pirs, which spawned a barrier of white light that trapped the Spirit Emperor within.


    "What? Heavenly intervention again?!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    The five stone pirs continued shooting up to reveal a palm that connected them.


    The five pirs were actually fingers that were thousands of meters long. A gigantic palm lifted the Spirit Emperor up from the ground and high into the sky.


    Along the way, all the ball lightning in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm gathered by the white palm, causing it to grow stronger and stronger.


    "Impossible. Heaven''s hand should have copsed after the destruction of the heavenlyws. How could it reform anew? This is impossible!" the Spirit Emperor dered.


    He furiously struck at the barrier trapping him within the palm, but it was so strong that even his best efforts failed.


    As he approached Xiao Nanfeng, the sphere of lightning was likewise absorbed into the hand, revealing a huge crystal tablet.


    "The heavenlyws¡ªhave been reforged?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The crystal tablet had a tint of ck. It simultaneously gave off white and ck light.


    "Divine Emperor? It was you! What are you doing?!" the Spirit Emperor howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He understood what was going on now. The Divine Emperor had been restoring the crystal tablet so that she could control it!


    "The energy imbued in this realm by the heavens have been damaged to some extent, but it''s more than enough to kill you," the Divine Emperor said from within the crystal tablet.


    "You can''t kill me!" the Spirit Emperor shouted, eyes red.


    The Divine Emperor ignored the Spirit Emperor and turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, the superior yin pearl has set its eyes on the moon of your spiritual cultivation. To avoid it from harming you further, I have a proposal. You''ll be fine as long as it can''t affect your yin body. I intend to meld your yin body and physical body together into a primordial state. What do you think?"


    "A primordial state? Isn''t that a realm that only the top Immortals can reach?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s simr, but not entirely. Will you trust me?"


    "I trust you. Please, go ahead." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Very well. I''ll use the Spirit Emperor''s cursed spiritual avatar to help you meld your yin and physical bodies together. It''ll be like when you melded the red rope cursed king with your avatar''s red moon. Once youbine with the Spirit Emperor''s cursed spiritual avatar, you''ll be able to prevent his regeneration."


    The Spirit Emperor nched. "Divine Emperor, what are you trying to do?!"


    The heavenly hand tightened around the Spirit Emperor into the form of a fist.


    "No! You can''t do this to me, Divine Emperor!" the Spirit Emperor roared.

 Chapter 320: Downfall of the Spirit Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 320: Downfall of the Spirit Emperor</h4>


    The heavenly hand gripped the Spirit Emperor tightly. Regardless of how he roared or struggled, he was unable to break out from its grip.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, sit cross-legged on the fingertips of the heavenly hand," the Divine Emperor instructed.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He did as he was told. Suddenly, a ball of white energy emerged from the hand and surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, then pulled him deep within the fist¡ªnot toward the Spirit Emperor, but to an unusual space in which hey submerged in some mysterious fluid.


    "Distill!" the Divine Emperormanded.


    "Argh! Divine Emperor, have you forgotten about our fond memories together? You said you would help me be a heavenly emperor, that you would continue helping me! How could you do this to me now?!" the Spirit Emperor howled.


    "I was wrong. You''re not deserving of my promise. Better that you die now," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "You wench!" the Spirit Emperor howled. "Despite how well I''ve treated you, you''ve betrayed me! I''m going to kill you!"


    The Spirit Emperor struggled furiously, causing the heavenly hand to shake. However, as the Divine Emperor marshaled her strength, the hand clenched more and more tightly around the Spirit Emperor. He wasn''t able to escape; all he could do was shout and scream.


    As he spat curses and insults at the Divine Emperor, she grew more and more certain of her decision. Distilling the Spirit Emperor would both help Xiao Nanfeng achieve a significant advancement and end the threat of the Spirit Emperor for good. He couldn''t be allowed to revive once again.


    The distition process was particrly long; it took three whole months for the heavenly hand to meld into Xiao Nanfeng''s body. The Spirit Emperor was nowhere to be seen, either. Xiao Nanfeng floated cross-legged in the air.


    With a crack, the crystal tablet shattered, all its energy spent. The crystal shards disappeared in a cloud of fog, revealing a huge quantity of ck water. The ck water gathered into the shape of the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor looked expectantly at Xiao Nanfeng. "How does the primordial state feel?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes were closed; he didn''t speak. Within his body came the Spirit Emperor''s shouts. "His consciousness has retreated to his truesoul!"


    "Spirit Emperor? You''re not dead?!" the Divine Emperor cried out.


    "Of course I''m not dead! How vicious you were¡ªmy cursed spiritual avatar and the heavenly hand, both gone for good!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    "Get out here!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    "Get out? I won''t! Divine Emperor, you''re interested in this kid, aren''t you? Then I''ll possess him and see how you treat me from now on, haha!"


    "You bastard!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    "It''s toote. I''ve found his truesoul. I just need to devour it and I''ll be able to take control of him. No, no¡ªwhat''s going on? There''s something wrong with his truesoul!" the Spirit Emperor shouted.


    The Spirit Emperor''s cursed spirit was knocked loose from Xiao Nanfeng''s body and sent out into the open. It oscited in and out of visibility like a shadow or mirage.


    "His truesoul isn''t of this world. There''s something wrong with him!" the Spirit Emperor cried out.


    Incensed, the Divine Emperor didn''t care a whit for what the Spirit Emperor was saying. "Die!"


    With a strike of her palm, she obliterated the Spirit Emperor''s cursed spirit, releasing a cloud of golden fog which she swallowed.


    "No!" the Spirit Emperor howled, his voice still barely visible through the fog.


    Within moments, the Divine Emperor had swallowed it all. A burst of energy emanated from her, clearing away what remained of the sea of clouds.


    The Divine Emperor had grown stronger once again, but she didn''t care about that at the moment. She hurriedly inspected Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes opened.


    Upon seeing the Divine Emperor, he couldn''t help but caress her face. The Divine Emperor''s cheeks were soft and tender, and particrly pleasant to the touch.


    "What are you doing?!" The Divine Emperor blushed as she dodged to the side.


    "Ah, sorry, I couldn''t help myself..." Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly as he came to his senses.


    "You!" The Divine Emperor red at him with eyes that were ridiculously beautiful.


    "I did it without thinking. I apologize," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Divine Emperor rolled her eyes. Despite appearances, however, she didn''t feel mad at all.


    Suddenly, she frowned. "Don''t move. Let me inspect you."


    "What is it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor didn''t speak. She reached out and touched Xiao Nanfeng''s face, sending a gust of energy within his body. She closed her eyes and followed its progress through his body before finally opening her eyes again.


    "Did you touch my face to get back at me for touching yours?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor blushed again. "Who would be so childish? I was just worried that the Spirit Emperor took you over, that he''s pretending to be you, so I confirmed your identity."


    "Oh? I saw you close your eyes when you were touching my face. I thought you were trying to test how soft my skin was," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    The Divine Emperor scoffed.


    "Are there still traces of the Spirit Emperor left in my body, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. "No. He''spletely gone now."


    "Thank goodness!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Do you feel any different?" the Divine Emperor asked expectantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes and began to probe his body. Then, he opened them again. "Not that I can tell, but the yin body in my mindscape has vanished."


    "It has been merged with your physical body," the Divine Emperor exined.


    "But I can only sense my physical body''s strength, not my yin body''s." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    With a moment''s thought, he summoned a considerable quantity of me, but no spiritual power was released along with it.


    "There''s something special with your primordial state, of course. Once you reach that stage of cultivation on your own, any defects will be eliminated. Your primordial state has, at its core, a candle cursed spiritual avatar. Try lighting the candle me," the Divine Emperor suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes in meditation once more. By intuition and touch, he sensed a candle striated with gold and silver. It seemed to have beenbined with his heart. He attempted to light it up.


    The me was snuffed out the moment it lit up, but just then, he caught the glimpse of a dark room in which his yin body was located. As his consciousness reached out for his yin body, his yin body opened his eyes. The darkness around the yin body retreated, revealing the Divine Emperor before him.


    Within the Divine Emperor''s eyes, however, was another sinister sight. He could see a golden-robed Xiao Nanfeng brimming with me. Suddenly, the mes grew dim and transformed into endless snow, and his golden robes turned into silver ones. He opened his eyes and found that he was in his yin body state, his physical body having vanished.


    "How strange. I''ve transformed into my yin body directly!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    At the same time, the silver moon appeared behind his head. His deific domain summoned a snowfall for kilometers on end.


    "Keep going," the Divine Emperor suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He lit up the candle in his heart, causing the silver moon to retreat and the snow to stop. mes zed once more as his silver robe turned back to gold. His yin body had transformed into his physical one.


    "What a mysterious sensation. My physical body seems to have been stored in a pitch-ck location. Where is that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Your heart," the Divine Emperor exined.


    "My heart?"


    "You haven''t started to cultivate your heart. You''ll understand more once you start. Your heart is a mysterious ce; I can''t exin it well myself. You''ll have to meditate on it on your own."


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I can sense that the candle cursed spiritual avatar has been melded into my heart, but I can only light up the me for the barest flicker of a moment right now to switch between my physical body and yin body. I can''t light up the candle any longer."


    "You''ll be able to do so as your strength grows. Once you can do so, you can control the candle''s cursed spiritual power as well."


    "Really? That''s excellent news!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    He still remembered the prowess the Spirit Emperor had disyed with his mes. Short hops in spacetime could be a lifesaving trick if he were able to master it.


    The Divine Emperor considered what remained of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. "We can''t stay here any longer. The destruction of the heavenlyws will incur punishment from heaven. This realm will soon be doomed to destion."


    "Let''s leave, then. Will you return to Yongding with me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. Regret shed in her eyes. "I''m afraid not. I''ll be leaving."


    "Leaving? Where to?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "What happened here will quickly be reported to the heavens above, and I''ll be punished," the Divine Emperor exined.


    "What?!"


    "Don''t worry. The heavens have never treated me well, but they won''t be able to do much to me. I need to head to my hidden realm to avoid heavenly detection. I won''t have anything to worry about after that."


    "You have your own hidden realm, too?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "I do. I was too trusting of the Spirit Emperor back then. That was why I came to his realm and how I ended up suffering cmity."


    "Let me apany you," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The Divine Emperor shook her head. "No. It''s been too long, and I''m afraid my realm may have changed in my absence. Demons might have spawned, and it would be particrly dangerous for you. I''m not confident I''d be able to protect you."


    "Won''t it be dangerous if you go on your own?"


    "It''s my hidden realm, after all, and I''ll at least be able to protect myself. I''ll send word to you once I''ve settled down."


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips in reluctance. Eventually, however, he sighed. "Alright. Please stay safe. Let me know if anythinges up!"


    "Of course."

 Chapter 321: Ao Zhous Large Belly

    <h4>Chapter 321: Ao Zhou''s Large Belly</h4>


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, the Divine Emperor activated her bell and caused it to send a burst of sound waves at the void right before it, producing a temporal rift.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor stepped out of the hidden realm via this rift as it slowly repaired itself and vanished from sight.


    "Aren''t you going to return to Yongding?" the Divine Emperor asked, reiming her bell. "Why leave the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm here alongside me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked out at the sea before him. "Three months ago, my master left the hidden realm, but I haven''t received any word since. I''m a little worried about his safety, and I''d like to retrace his route to ensure that he''s alright. Do you know where we are?"


    "It''s been fifty thousand years. All my experiences are like fading memories. Of course I don''t. However, I do know that the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm was anchored to thirty-six locations around the Eastern Sea. There are four keys that provide direct ess to the four heavenly gates; all other spatial rifts leading out of the hidden realm lead to one of these thirty-six locations."


    "And this is one of the anchors? Is there anything special about these anchors?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Each anchor is where a treasure of arge spiritbeast n is hidden. These treasures aren''t anything extraordinary." The Divine Emperor shook her head.


    "Thirty-six treasures?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s been fifty thousand years. They''ve most likely been stolen or discovered by now, or all their elemental force has already been drained. Don''t covet them," the Divine Emperor advised,ughing.


    "What a pity."


    Just then, a blue serpent appeared from the sea. It opened its bloodthirsty maw wide and chomped at Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor.


    The sudden appearance of the serpent caused Xiao Nanfeng to frown as he struck it. The serpent was sent flying; it struck the surface of the sea at great speed.


    "You''re only at Spiritsong¡ªdo you think you should be trying to attack everything you see recklessly? Are you crazy?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The blue serpent spat out a mouthful of blood as it struck the waves, dizzy and disoriented.


    "Brothers, there''s a tough nut here. Come help me!" the blue serpent howled.


    More and more serpents emerged above the surface, all shooting forward with malevolent looks on their faces.


    There were dozens of such serpents, and a rare few among them were even at Wingform.


    The serpents roared in outrage.


    "Are you all crazy? Come, then. I''ll roast you all and make a farewell banquet for the Divine Emperor!" Xiao Nanfeng brandished his divine undying de.


    The serpents didn''t fear Xiao Nanfeng; they hurtled forward.


    "Hold it!" a voice came from afar.


    The howl manifested in the form of a sound wave that caused a huge ssh over the surface of the sea.


    The serpents stopped short and turned back to the source of the howl. A big-bellied ck dragon was flying over.


    The ck dragon was d in multicolored light. Its aura was so strong that it quelled the seawater beneath it. As it approached, all the serpents bowed down.


    "What a fat ck dragon," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Haha, what are you doing here?" The big-bellied dragonughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. Hesitantly, he called out, "Ao Zhou?"


    "What, don''t you recognize me now that I''ve be an Immortal? Are you shocked stiff by my Immortal aura?" The ck dragonughed again.


    "No! It''s only been a year. How have you grown as fat as a pig?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "What? It represents wealth and fortune. It''s a kingly aura! Don''t you know?" Ao Zhou retorted in anger.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. He didn''t believe a whit of what Ao Zhou was saying.


    Ao Zhou swished his body and took on human form: a ck-robed fatty with a bulging stomach.


    "Are you pregnant?" Xiao Nanfeng needled him.


    "This is the stomach befitting a dragon king! You don''t know anything¡ªyou''re the pregnant one!" Ao Zhou shouted back.


    "There''s simply been too dramatic a change in your body shape. You''re the crown prince of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce¡ªshouldn''t you look more presentable?"


    "As if you''re a good judge of these things! My prime minister''s far more reliable than you. He tells me that this shows off my noble presence, and that this is how my father ruled over the Eastern Sea back in his heyday."


    "I think you''ve been duped," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning. "I''ve seen your father, the former dragon king, and he didn''t look like this."


    Ao Zhou red at Xiao Nanfeng disbelievingly. Then, he cocked his head. "Who''s this? You already have Yu''er and Arclight as partners in cultivation, don''t you? Have you found a third partner already?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark. Ao Zhou had to be doing this deliberately¡ªwhy was he bringing Yu''er and the Lady Arclight up right in front of the Divine Emperor?


    "Lady, you''re aware of Yu''er and Arclight, aren''t you? I''m telling you, Xiao Nanfeng''s a Casanova!"


    The Divine Emperor eyed Xiao Nanfeng andughed. "I am aware of Yu''er and Arclight, and of you as well. Within the undying realm, you were shameless and rotten to the core."


    Ao Zhou stiffened. He had been nning on messing with Xiao Nanfeng''s rtionship¡ªbut she already seemed to know everything!


    "He maligned me!" Ao Zhou immediately defended himself.


    "Oh, please. Who doesn''t know about your misdeeds?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how could you spread these rumors about me and ruin my reputation?!" Ao Zhou thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes and ignored him. Meanwhile, the Divine Emperor clutched her mouth andughed.


    "What''s with all these serpents? And how have you be the dragon king despite the destruction of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce?"


    "Don''t you know who I am? I''m of noble birth, and I would have been the crown prince of the Eastern Sea dragon n even without my ancestral pce. I can easily build a new one. In the future, I shall be the Dragon King. These serpents are my subordinates," Ao Zhou replied pridefully.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced toward the serpents close by. He gave Ao Zhou an arch look. "Can''t you get more reputable subordinates?"


    "What''s wrong with them?" Ao Zhou red.


    "That blue serpent''s only at Spiritsong. It shot toward me the moment I showed myself, attempting to eat me. Even after I sent it flying, it summoned more of its brethren to help it out. If not for you, I''d have roasted them all," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ao Zhou gave the blue serpent an odd look. "What''s going on? Even if you don''t recognize Xiao Nanfeng, you should have seen that they were flying through the air. You''re just at Spiritsong¡ªare you trying to kill yourself? Don''t you know that Xiao Nanfeng''s a schemer, someone who kills as easily as he bats his eyes!"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Would he have to teach Ao Zhou a lesson?


    Feeling wronged, the blue serpent replied, "The prime minister had us scout the surroundings and to take down any outsiders."


    "Why wasn''t I aware of this?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "Three months ago, while you were in that formation, an old man barged into the domain. If the prime minister hadn''t stalled him in a timely manner, he might have disturbed you and Elder Blue Lantern while you were trying to break the formation. The prime ministermanded that, after that incident, we were to kill any intruders without any mercy."


    "An old man? What old man? What did he look like?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    The blue serpent spat out a mouthful of fog, which resolved into the shape of Ku Jiang.


    "Where is he now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He didn''t divulge the rtionship between him and Ku Jiang. He felt that something was amiss.


    Ao Zhou turned to the blue serpent and repeated Xiao Nanfeng''s question. "Where did he go?"


    "He stole one of the prime minister''s treasures and fled. That was what made the prime minister so angry and caused him to give themand he did," the blue serpent replied.


    "You''re certain that the old man got away safely?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "He did. Otherwise, the prime minister wouldn''t have gotten so angry," the blue serpent replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. His master had been heavily injured when he left the spatial rift, and his first thought should have been to bring Han Bingdie to a ce they could both recuperate. Why would he snatch a treasure from this prime minister, whoever it was? Something had to be wrong!


    Although the serpent imed that his master had already left, he still couldn''t fully rx. He wanted to meet that prime minister for himself to avoid having missed some crucial information.


    "This serpent mentioned that Blue Lantern is here as well. I''d like to apany you to your pce and meet him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You likely won''t be able to meet him, but I can give you a tour of my ce. Come on, then. Let''s have a look at my budding empire," Ao Zhou bragged.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the Divine Emperor. "Will you go sit down for a bit?"


    The Divine Emperor understood the intent behind this question and nodded fervently.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where do you find your partners in cultivation? Why do they all look so beautiful? I tried to pick one out for myself among the serpents in the area, but none of them are attractive at all¡ªthey''re like dinosaurs! Won''t you teach me how to find an attractivepanion?" Ao Zhou asked enviously.


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes and ignored him.


    "I knew it! You''re trying to stop me from stealing your partners, aren''t you? I was unlucky to have encountered this partner of yours only after she forged a rtionship with you. Otherwise, given my charm, I''d easily have stolen her from your grasp!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Ao Zhou, I rmend that you avoid speaking lest you be beaten to an inch of your life. Don''t me me not for warning you."


    "Oh? Can you beat me? I''m already an Immortal, after all," Ao Zhou replied pridefully.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a long moment. He had already given Ao Zhou ample warning; if Ao Zhou refused to listen and instead made the Spirit Emperor mad, it wouldn''t be his fault even if she were to paralyze him.


    Ao Zhou brought the Divine Emperor and Xiao Nanfeng deep into the depths of the sea. Not longter, aquatic barriers bloomed. Some were so vast they had an exquisite pavilion and balconies in their midst.


    "Oh? There''s an underwater hall over here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Blue Lantern told me that this was a small hall that my father had constructed, with one divine treasure of the Draconic Pce guarded byrge quantities of formations. No ordinary cultivator would be unable to break through the formations. Blue Lantern has been helping me, iming that I''d be able to revitalize the dragon race."


    "Oh? What sort of treasure?" Xiao Nanfneg asked curiously.


    "I won''t allow you to im this treasure!" Ao Zhou shouted. "Otherwise, you''ll pay!"


    As they spoke, the three of them arrived by the entrance to the underwater barrier. There were hundreds of serpents in the vicinity, along with countless sea spirits. When they saw Ao Zhou, they all bowed down respectfully.


    "Well? I''ve made a name for myself, haven''t I?" Ao Zhou preened.


    Ao Zhou waved a hand, opening a portal through the barrier that allowed ess to the three of them.

 Chapter 322: Nourishing the Fetus

    <h4>Chapter 322: Nourishing the Fetus</h4>


    In a hall within the aquatic pce of the dragons, Ao Zhou held a banquet in Xiao Nanfeng''s honor. For entertainment, he had a group of sea spirits dance in the arena. Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou had a discussion as the Divine Emperor sipped on wine quietly by the side, trying to help Xiao Nanfeng figure out if there was anything amiss in the area.


    "Where''s your prime minister?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He headed out to bring me back a treasure. He''ll be back in no time," Ao Zhou replied.


    "Oh?"


    "My prime minister''s particrly loyal to me, and often brings back Immortal pills and herbs from time to time. I''ve only been able to establish all this business because of him. He''s great, isn''t he?"


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t paying particrly careful attention to the conversation. He turned to the Divine Emperor, as though asking if she had made any discoveries, as the Divine Emperor motioned to another zone of ck fog beyond the barrier with her eyes.


    "What''s that domain of ck fog?" Xiao Nanfeng asked Ao Zhou.


    "It results from the formation that we dragons devised, and consists of incredible treasures within. Blue Lantern has been trying to break the barrier since. Three months ago, I had a look. Blue Lantern was seated in meditation, clearly engrossed with his work."


    "Blue Lantern really is quite familiar with the art of making formations, but it doesn''t seem like he''s been lucky otherwise." The Divine Emperor smiled as she took a sip of wine.


    "Hmm? That does seem to be the case. Three millennia ago, Blue Lantern headed to the undying realm in search of treasure, only to be the undying cursed king''s cursed ve for the next three millennia. Then, after bringing me to the draconic pce, he was instantly whisked off by a length of red rope. He really is unlucky! Three months ago, when I headed into the formation to look for Blue Lantern, he was seated motionlessly and bleeding from all his orifices. Is he going to be unlucky again?" Ao Zhou murmured thoughtfully.


    "Is it dangerous within the formation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "Blue Lantern won''t die, but he''s not having a good time, either."


    "Oh?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what''s your cultivation partner implying? Of course Blue Lantern can''t die¡ªhe''s just trying to break the formation! I asked him for an update three months ago, and he sent me a mental transmission saying that he was fine and not to worry about him." Ao Zhou seemed perplexed.


    "Blue Lantern''s not the only one with problems¡ªAo Zhou has some of his own, too." The Divine Emperor gave him a weird look.


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched. "Why''s yourpanion being so mysterious, Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Suddenly, a voice could be heard from beyond the hall. "Honored guests, you should be grateful that His Majesty has weed you personally and hosted a banquet in your honor. How could you taunt him instead?"


    A hulking man walked in from outside. All the sea spirits were particrly respectful toward him.


    "You''re back, Prime Minister! What did you bring back this time?"


    The hulking man walked up to Ao Zhou and retrieved a jade box. "Your Majesty, I helped you find an Immortal pill."


    As he opened the box, a fresh fragrance filled the air. Just inhaling it made the cultivators around feel rxed.


    "What incredible spiritual aether this Immortal pill is giving off!" Ao Zhou wondered.


    "I hope you won''t mind the shabby gift, Your Majesty." The hulking man smiled.


    "Of course not! You really know me well, haha!" Ao Zhou replied,ughing.


    "The spiritual aethering from this Immortal pill is rapidly dissipating. I rmend that you eat it instantly, or its efficacy will be greatly reduced," the hulking man continued immediately.


    "Ao Zhou, show me that Immortal pill," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "For what? You aren''t going to try to snatch it, are you?" Ao Zhou clutched the pill tightly.


    The hulking manughed. "Do you see that, Your Majesty? Some people might purport to be your friends, but they''re all just trying to get rewards off you."


    Fang Zhou considered his prime minister''s words thoughtfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He felt as though the hulking man had to know of him; otherwise, he wouldn''t have attempted to needle him so patiently. The Divine Emperor said that there was something wrong with the pill. Surely she wasn''t mistaken.


    "Ao Zhou, have you forgotten who I am? Why would I snatch what belonged to you? I''m just trying to help you out," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Zhou nodded. "You''re right. We''re both members of the Qiatian Alliance. If you scheme against me, you''ll suffer heavy punishment."


    "Your Majesty, he''s lying to you! I''ve helped you research that information, and there''s no such thing as the Qitian Alliance. He must have tricked you while you were in the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. He''s the real swindler!" the hulking man dered.


    "Prime Minister, you don''t understand. Your level of ess is far too low. How could youprehend how much power the Qitian Alliance possesses?" Ao Zhou shook his head.


    "Your Majesty, it''s true that I don''t understand, but I can think about the situation from a logical perspective. If the Qitian Alliance really were as incredible as you imed, why would Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation be that weak? Did you believe him just because he advanced to Spiritsong right in front of you? That''s not difficult at all. If he had an Immortal pill in his mouth and swallowed it in front of you, that would easily have allowed him to advance from Ascension- into Spiritsong- realm. This pill of mine is Immortal-level and is particrly precious. What if he consumes it? Wouldn''t that only be in his favor?" the hulking man continued. He really did seem to have prior knowledge of Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Ao Zhou with a strange expression on his face. "Why did you tell him everything, including about the Qitian Alliance?"


    "Prime Minister Whale and I had a long discussion in bed, and I mentioned it in passing," Ao Zhou replied.


    "A long discussion in bed...?" Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath and subconsciously stepped back.


    What was the rtionship between Ao Zhou and his prime minister?


    "Prime Minister Whale has helped me recruit countless subordinates, and he''s a close confidante. Recently, we''ve been having discussionste at night by candlelight and sleeping in the same bed. He told me a lot of secret information about the seat spirits, and I mentioned some secrets about the Draconic Pce to him in exchange."


    Xiao Nanfeng peered at the hulking Prime Minister Whale, then at Ao Zhou. He shuddered.


    "Sharing a bed? You really are adventurous..." Xiao Nanfeng took another step back subconsciously.


    "What sort of expression is that? It''s a friendship born of our respective positions as king and prime minister. We had too long a chat and consumed quite a bit of wine. I was a little tired, so I decided to rest."


    "No wonder. You''re pregnant!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    The hall fell silent. Everyone gave her an odd look.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what''s your cultivation partner saying? Who''s pregnant?" Ao Zhou retorted, flustered.


    Prime Minister Whale''s face fell. "Your Majesty, these guests are far too impolite. Why not chase them off now?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped in surprise. He believed that the Divine Emperor would never say something like that for no reason. He gaped at Ao Zhou''s stomach incredulously. "You and Prime Minister Whale are both male, aren''t you?


    "How could I have be pregnant? This is the stomach a dragon king ought possess, nothing more!" Ao Zhou thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the Divine Emperor. "Is Ao Zhou''s baby male or female?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t push things too far!" Ao Zhou thundered.


    "Guards! Seize these cultivators!" Prime Minister Whale shouted.


    Arge group of sea spirits and serpents appeared from outside the barrier.


    The Divine Emperor continued, "I don''t know if the fetus is male or female, but from the looks of it, it''s already almost fully grown. If I''m not mistaken, that Immortal pill is meant to provide nutrients to the fetus."


    "So that pill is for nourishing the fetus?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched. "You''re taking things too far!"


    "Strike!" Prime Minister Whale shouted.


    "Understood!" A swarm of sea spirits shot forward.


    "Hold it!" Ao Zhoumanded.


    The sea spirits stopped short, not knowing whether to continue proceeding onward.


    "Your Majesty, these two cultivators are making an unreasonable fuss and mocking you. Why allow them to stay?"


    Ao Zhou''s eyes shed. In the end, because he had been overwhelmed by the power that the senior members of the Qitian Alliance had once ''disyed'', he felt that it would be prudent to confirm the truth of the alliance once again. At worst, he would lose an Immortal pill; it was a worthwhile trade.


    "Come, then, have a look. How could this be meant for a fetus?" Ao Zhou tried to hand over the Immortal pill,


    but the Divine Emperor didn''t reach out for it. Rather, she said, "I''m not interested in it either. Come over here. I''ll show you what''s in your belly."


    "Ah?" Ao Zhou stilled.


    He immediately stored the Immortal pill and walked over in surprise.


    "Your Majesty, don''t listen to their nonsense! They''re ying you for a fool!" Prime Minister Whale cried out.


    Unfortunately, Ao Zhou continued to walk up to the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor felt Ao Zhou''s stomach. There was a hum, causing Ao Zhou''s belly to shake. He pulled off his clothes to reveal a bulging belly, the skin of which seemed to oscite in waves. Was there really a living being inside?


    "How could this be? What''s in my belly?!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Do you believe me now?" The Divine Emperor smiled.


    "Impossible! Why haven''t I sensed it before?!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Your Highness, they''re using vile techniques to trick you!"


    By then, however, Ao Zhou had been shellshocked by what he had observed within his own body.


    "W-Would you be able to extract what''s in my belly?" Ao Zhou fretted.


    "Please, help me extract it. I was never able to sense it before this. How could there be something in my belly?!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    The Divine Emperor smiled. "Let''s do so."


    Her right hand turned pitch-ck and reached for Ao Zhou''s skin. The hand seemed somehow ethereal, passing right through his skin without meeting any resistance.


    Then, the Divine Emperor seemed to catch something. The fetus squirmed madly in Ao Zhou''s belly, asionally letting out roars of anger.


    The Divine Emperor continued to pull the fetus out of Ao Zhou''s body. Ao Zhou shrieked in pain, canceling his human transformation and reverting to the form of a fat ck dragon. Hey paralyzed on the ground, crying out, "It hurts!"


    "Stop it!" Prime Minister Whale darted forward.


    Multicolored light shed around Prime Minister Whale''s body as he unleashed a frightening aura.


    "Wait right there. I''ll interrogate you afterwards." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold.


    His body flickered as his robes took on a silver tint. He punched forward.


    "What? Yin Body?!" Prime Minister Whale eximed.


    A frightening burst of strength sent Prime Minister Whale flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t give chase; he guarded the Divine Emperor and Ao Zhou. As the Divine Emperor tugged forcefully, she pulled out a bloody being from Ao Zhou''s belly.

 Chapter 323: Crushing a Giant Whale with a Hand

    <h4>Chapter 323: Crushing a Giant Whale with a Hand</h4>


    When the being within Ao Zhou''s body was extracted, his corpulent body quickly shrank in size. In fact, he turned emaciated, nothing more than a bag of skin and bones.


    "What''s this?" Ao Zhou called out weakly.


    The Divine Emperor held a small, bloody snake in her hand. It struggled and screeched, attempting to break free.


    "You really were pregnant¡ªand you gave birth to a small snake! Is that what happens when you cross a serpent and a whale?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Nonsense! Prime Minister Whale and I are innocent!" Ao Zhou thundered. Then, he shouted at Prime Minister Whale, "What''s going on? What did you do while I was drunk? Tell me!"


    "Do you know how much effort it took me to nt that in his belly? And you tore it out just like that¡ªyou all deserve to die!" Prime Minister Whale shot toward them, but Xiao Nanfeng easily sent him flying with a punch.


    "Wait right there. We''ll interrogate you soon enough," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "You!" Prime Minister Whale cried out.


    "What''s this small snake? Why haven''t I sensed it at all?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "A cursed effigy," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "What?!"


    The small snake in the Divine Emperor''s hands absorbed all the blood as it struggled, revealing its true form: a white snake that appeared to be made of paper.


    "A paper snake?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "It has the same aura as the paper snake from the hidden realm. This must be Cui Haitang''s doing as well," the Divine Emperor dered.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    The paper snake twisted its body as it continued to resist.


    "Do you think I''ll let you bite me?" The Divine Emperor narrowed her eyes at the snake.


    A gust of ck smoke emerged over her hand, as though poised to drown the snake. The snake seemed to rear away before it ignited in mes.


    "Trying to im the essence you extracted? I think not!"


    The paper snake burned to a crisp, leaving behind a ball of blood.


    "Swallow this," the Divine Emperor told Ao Zhou, tossing it to him. "This is the essence that the paper snake extracted from your body."


    "I will, I will!" Ao Zhou, half-scared to death by what had emerged from his body, immediately swallowed the essence.


    "Cui Haitang''s machinations really are spread far and wide..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "All spirits, set up the sea spirits'' formation and apprehend Prime Minister Whale!" Ao Zhou shouted weakly.


    All the serpents and sea spirits rushed over, but rather than attacking Prime Minister Whale, the sea spirits guarded him. Almost half the serpents did the same.


    "Who dares strike at me?" Prime Minister Whale demanded.


    Killing intent emanated from its body, forcing almost half the serpents to stop short.


    "I''ll give you only one chance to submit to me. Those who are willing may step over here. The rest of you, await your death by Ao Zhou''s side." Prime Minister Whale issued an ultimatum.


    The serpents hesitated. Only about thirty quaked as they guarded Ao Zhou, while the rest flew toward Prime Minister Whale. There were thousands of sea spirits and serpents gathered by his side.


    "Are you all going to rebel?!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "What do you mean, rebel? Except for these serpents that you recruited, the rest of the sea spirits and serpents joined because of me. Should they listen to you instead of me?" Prime Minister Whale smirked.


    "You''ve been lying to me all this time?!"


    "You''re far too easy to trick, after all."


    "You¡ª!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Ao Zhou an odd look. "What a poor dragon king you are. How did you end up sharing a bed with him? How did you end up believing his lies?"


    "I told you, didn''t I? I was drunk¡ªno, he must have drugged me before slipping this snake into my belly! Then he hatched this nefarious n. Blue Lantern and I found him as we sought to erect a temporary pce for the dragon n. He received us warmly and even guided our way to these amodations. He treated me respectfully from the very start, and pledged to support me as I revived the legend of the dragons of the Eastern Sea. Blue Lantern told me that he could be trusted¡ªuntil all this happened!"


    "Blue Lantern''s a horrible judge of character. How could you believe him at face value?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "A horrible judge of character? Says who?"


    "He chose not to support someone as talented as I am. Instead, he has to busy himself left and right on your behalf. Doesn''t that make him a horrible judge of character?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ao Zhou''s eyes twitched. Xiao Nanfeng really was shameless!


    He couldn''t help but ask, "Prime Minister Whale''s an Immortal. Can you really take him on?"


    "I''ll help you clean up all this trash, but you''ll owe me. If I need support in uing fights, I expect you to help me out," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Of course," Ao Zhou promised immediately. As for whether or not he would help, well, that remained to be seen.


    "You seem rather confident in your own abilities, but do you think you can defeat me just because you withstood two of my blows? None of you will escape today," Prime Minister Whale said coolly. Then, hemanded, "Establish the formation!"


    "Understood!" The sea spirits by his side put down a series of formation gs as they established a formation of surprising scope.


    "Those two blows were just to have you wait; they weren''t intended to kill. Of course I can take you on¡ªyou''re not that strong." Xiao Nanfeng chuckled.


    He stepped forward as a silver moon appeared to the back of his head. Howling winds blew around him as a blizzard spawned out of nowhere.


    "I''m cold! Save me, Prime Minister Whale!" the weaker sea spirits cried out.


    They were immediately frozen into ice sculptures; the inchoate formationy iplete.


    "Even Spiritsong-realm sea spirits can''t survive this frost? Impossible!" Prime Minister Whale roared,


    sending a frightening burst of sound waves toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with a punch, dispersing the waves as he appeared before Prime Minister Whale.


    Prime Minister Whale nched as he opened his mouth wide, prepared to absorb everything in his vicinity.


    "You must have just be a spirit Immortal. Save the effort," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully, waving his arm and directing the blizzard into Prime Minister Whale''s open mouth. His mouth quickly froze over; realizing that the situation was stacked against him, Prime Minister Whale tried to escape, but Xiao Nanfeng froze the entire whale within moments.


    With a wave of Xiao Nanfeng''s arm, the thousands of sea spirits and serpents were all frozen as well.


    Ao Zhou gasped. "Xiao Nanfeng, how have you grown so much stronger?"


    "Ancestor, save me!" Prime Minister Whale cried out.


    "What ancestor?" Ao Zhou''s eyes widened as he sensed something amiss.


    Just then, a frightening aura came from a patch of ck fog not too far away.


    The serpents that were loyal to Ao Zhou found themselves quailing on the ground upon sensing the aura.


    "What? How could that be? Isn''t Blue Lantern trying to activate a formation within that domain of ck fog? How could there be such a strong cultivator over there?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    The frightening aura caused even Xiao Nanfeng''s deific domain to shudder and shake as the two auras collided. Even his silver moon was forced back, and the blizzard cut out abruptly. The ice over Prime Minister Whale shattered rapidly.


    "You can''t even take on a cultivator at Yin Body? What a piece of trash you are. I can''t even suppress Blue Lantern now!" a cold voice came from within the fog.


    "Ancestor, I didn''t know he would be so strong! Please, save me!" Prime Minister Whale begged.


    The aura grew stronger and stronger as a huge being appeared from the ck fog, a giant whale hundreds of meters long. There were countless scars all over its body. Its aura seemed to dwarf that of any other cultivator as it swam forward.


    "What frightening killing intent!" Ao Zhou, already weakened by what had happened, sprayed out a mouthful of blood as the aura struck him. He found that he was unable to even run away.


    Against the frightening aura, even Xiao Nanfeng''s body quailed. He prepared to retreat.


    Just then, the Divine Emperor reached out. A giant pitch-ck hand emerged from the void and clenched its fingers around the giant whale.


    "What?!" the giant whale eximed.


    It furiously attempted to twist its body and shake itself free, but it found that it couldn''t move at all.


    "Impossible!" the giant whale howled.


    Ao Zhou and Prime Minister Whale stared at what had happened in shock. How could this be? How had this woman managed to grab ahold of such a frightening whale with just one palm?


    "I would have turned up my nose at the thought of eating you back in my heyday. For you to dare to be so presumptuous¡ªyou really have a death wish, don''t you?" the Divine Emperor demanded. She began squeezing her palm.


    "No! Please, spare me, Senior! I didn''t intend to offend you!"


    The giant whale''s body shook and tore from the incredible force that the Divine Emperor exerted. Huge quantities of blood sprayed forth from its wounds before it visibly wilted, life draining from its body, as it died on the spot.


    "Ancestor? Ancestor!" Prime Minister Whale shouted.


    Ao Zhou trembled in fear. He hadn''t spoken ill of this woman, had he?


    "I''ve sealed this small fry andpressed its inner core. You can consume it," the Divine Emperor told Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Thank you."


    The Divine Emperor retrieved a storage treasure, dumped the giant whale inside, and passed it to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''ve already said what I needed to say, and I''ll be leaving immediately. There should be nothing else in the vicinity that can threaten you. Take care," the Divine Emperor told Xiao Nanfeng gently.


    "You too!" Xiao Nanfeng seemed reluctant to have her leave.


    The Divine Emperor smiled, soared into the sky, broke the barrier around the temporary pce, and left.


    Everyone btedly came to their senses.


    "Impossible. How could she have killed my ancestor? That''s impossible!" Prime Minister Whale howled.


    "Is she an elder of the Qitian Alliance? Have I missed my chance to introduce myself to one of them? No, Elder, pleasee back! I haven''t had the time to wee you properly!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    By then, however, the Divine Emperor had already vanished from sight.

 Chapter 324: Cause and Effect

    <h4>Chapter 324: Cause and Effect</h4>


    "Alright, that''s enough. The Divine Emperor''s already gone. Stop making a fuss," Xiao Nanfeng told Ao Zhou.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how could you? You knew that she was an elder of the Qitian Alliance. Why didn''t you tell me?" Ao Zhou gave him an exasperated look.


    "Tell you? Why? She doesn''t have any connection to you. She only made a move on my behalf."


    Ao Zhou turned to him, his eyes suddenly wide open. "You''ve set your sights on an elder of the Qitian Alliance?"


    "None of your business," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Rather than get angry, however, Ao Zhou gave Xiao Nanfeng an envious look. He pressed, "Are there any other beautiful elders of the Qitian Alliance? Why don''t you introduce me to some of them?"


    "You''ve already had a kid with Prime Minister Whale. What elder would want to be with you after hearing about that? Give up," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "That wasn''t a kid¡ªit was a cursed effigy!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Cursed kids won''t do, either."


    Ao Zhou jumped up in anger. "You! Prime Minister Whale and I are innocent¡ªouch!"


    Ao Zhou was so weak that he sprained his waist by jumping up too quickly. Paralyzed, he fell back to the ground, where a group of serpents hastily caught him.


    "You had better rest after your childbirth," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Childbirth? Xiao Nanfeng, if you keep bringing this up, I''ll fight you!" Ao Zhou was so mad that he was about to spit out blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Zhou and walked up to Prime Minister Whale, who had turned into an ice sculpture.


    "Prime Minister Whale, let''s have a good chat," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    Prime Minister Whale jerked in fear. "If you spare me, I''ll tell you everything!"


    "I can spare your life, but you''ll have to tell me everything without reservation," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, Young Master Xiao! I know you''re a man of your word." Prime Minister Whale smiled in relief. He had no trump cards up his sleeve; he could only hope that Xiao Nanfeng would show him clemency.


    "What''s going on here? Who was that ancestor of yours? What''s Blue Lantern doing out there in the ck fog?"


    "This is the Eastern Sea dragon n''s temporary pce, which harbors one of the n''s supreme treasures: the dragon gate. My ancestor was once the guard captain of the dragons, and has been responsible for guarding it since. Two centuries ago, when the dragon n encountered cmity, my ancestor and the rest of us whales were able to survive unscathed because we had been stationed here. Thinking that the dragon n had been eradicated, my ancestor thought to seize the dragon gate for himself. He and the rest of the whales charged toward the dragon gate, only to activate a defensive formation that the dragons had erected. All the other whale spirits died, leaving just me, the weakest, who had been too slow to catch up to the rest of them. My ancestor was deeply wounded by the formation and trapped within."


    "Oh?"


    "After the dragon n was eradicated, the spirits of the Eastern Sea waged war among themselves. I was too weak and didn''t dare to show myself; I remained here, ceaselessly trying to break the formation in order to help my ancestor out. Unfortunately, I hadn''t been able to seed until Blue Lantern showed up with Ao Zhou. Although my ancestor was trapped in the formation, he could still sense a little of what was happening outside. He immediately sent me a mental transmission to make them stay and trick Blue Lantern into breaking the formation. That was why I was so friendly toward him."


    "Continue," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "My ancestor reined in his aura andy hidden deep within the formation. Blue Lantern didn''t discover his presence and began to break the formation. Meanwhile, a woman called Cui Haitang caught me. She said that she had been following Ao Zhou ever since he left the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. Blue Lantern''s subsequent arrival made her wary of confronting them, so she tailed them all the way here. She caught me and made me divulge what was going on, then asked for an audience with my ancestor. They talked for an exceptionally long time, and my ancestor had me cooperate with Cui Haitang thereafter."


    "Cooperate on what?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The Tianshu Empire would help free my ancestor from the formation and allow him to take control of this region of the Eastern Sea. In exchange, Cui Haitang wanted me to put these two paper snakes into Ao Zhou and Blue Lantern''s bodies. She intended to transform them into divine ves with their own consciousness and to control them that way."


    "What? She wanted to control me? Cui Haitang, you''re done for!" Ao Zhou thundered. Then, he clutched his waist in pain. Clearly, he had made toorge a movement and hurt his waist again.


    "Don''t bother us. Go rest after childbirth," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ao Zhou scowled. "You go rest!"


    "Continue," Xiao Nanfengmanded Prime Minister Whale.


    "After a certain banquet, I drugged Ao Zhou and nted a paper snake in its body. Every now and then, I im specialized Immortal pills from Cui Haitang. After Ao Zhou ingests them, he won''t be able to discover the paper snake in his body."


    "How did you intend to deal with Blue Lantern?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Blue Lantern was much more difficult to handle. We were waiting for an opportunity to take him on. My ancestor nned to strike the moment he broke the formation, when he would be at his most exhausted. Even then, however, Blue Lantern was able to resist the paper snake. We were at a stalemate for almost a month, but just as we were about to subdue him, your master Ku Jiang appeared out of nowhere and stole my other paper snake. Ao Zhou coincidentally appeared at that moment. By then, Blue Lantern had been suppressed to the point where he was immobile and bleeding from all his orifices. We almost exposed ourselves, but I impersonated Blue Lantern and sent Ao Zhou a mental transmission in the nick of time. Somehow, he was fooled."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he turned toward Ao Zhou. "Blue Lantern was bleeding from all his orifices, and you thought he was alright?"


    Ao Zhou stiffened. "That''s not my fault! Blue Lantern said that Prime Minister Whale was trustworthy. How was I to know that he didn''t have a discerning eye?"


    "Blue Lantern, have you emerged?" Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the ck fog.


    Blue Lantern stepped out of the fog, his face frighteningly dark. He red at Ao Zhou.


    Ao Zhou stiffened again. "I wasn''t the one who said that you didn''t have a discerning eye. Xiao Nanfeng said that! I was only repeating his words! Don''t look at me like that."


    Blue Lantern frowned to hear someone besmirching his reputation as he walked out of the ck fog, but he ultimately held his emotions in abeyance for the time being.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where''s the person that rescued me?" Blue Lantern asked.


    Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak, Ao Zhou jumped in. "You mean, the Divine Emperor? She''s already left. She''s a member of the Qitian Alliance. Do you know how strong it is now? I asked you about the Qitian Alliance, but you said that Xiao Nanfeng was just bragging. If she hadn''t helped you, you''d be done for!"


    "It''s a pity I was unable to thank her in person." Blue Lantern sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Ao Zhou another look. "Didn''t I say not to tell others about the Qitian Alliance?"


    "Ao Zhou''s a loudmouth. He can''t keep a secret," Blue Lantern added.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    "Blue Lantern, did you hear what Prime Minister Whale said? Was he telling the truth?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He was. Fortunately, your master foiled their ns three months ago, allowing me a moment of respite. Otherwise, I really might have suffered. What a dangerous situation!" Blue Lantern grimaced.


    "It wasn''t a matter of danger. The Divine Emperor said that it was a result of bad luck. You have bad luck wherever you go¡ªthe undying realm, the dragon pce, and now here! You''ve cursed me with your bad luck, too," Ao Zhou said.


    Veins throbbed on Blue Lantern''s forehead. Why had he been in the dragon pce and now this temporary pce? It was all in order to help Ao Zhou. His bad luck was Ao Zhou''s fault, but that shameless Ao Zhou was ming him instead!


    "Blue Lantern, have you been cursed?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What do you mean?" Blue Lantern sounded mystified.


    "Do you have to ask? If you aren''t cursed, how could you be so unlucky?" Ao Zhou jumped in.


    Blue Lantern very much wanted to give Ao Zhou a beating.


    "You suffered three crises recently, but my arrival helped you resolve all of them. If I hadn''t appeared, things would have taken a turn for the worse, but I was able to counteract it all. Don''t you think it''s fated for us to work together?" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Blue Lantern considered Xiao Nanfeng''s words. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was trying to recruit him.


    "You appearing did help resolve my crises, but isn''t that just a matter of coincidence? I''m afraid I can''t help support others'' ventures at the moment. I have my own affairs to take care of."


    "What if I were to invite you to deal with Cui Haitang together?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern frowned, then took a deep breath. "Very well!"


    "It''s a promise, then." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ao Zhou gave Blue Lantern an odd look. "Blue Lantern, I trusted you too blindly back then. It seems like you''re rather unskilled at anything besides formations."


    "What?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng tried to bait you into joining him, but you refused. However, when he invited you to deal with Cui Haitang, you agreed. But these are one and the same! Xiao Nanfeng wants to get rid of Cui Haitang to overthrow the Tianshu Empire and start one of his own. In the end, you''ve agreed to help him out." Ao Zhou pursed his lips.


    Blue Lantern''s frown grew deeper.


    "Don''t listen to Ao Zhou''s nonsense. He''s still recuperating after childbirth," Xiao Nanfeng jumped in, soothing Blue Lantern.


    Ao Zhou roared, "Xiao Nanfeng, if you keep mentioning childbirth, I''m not going to help you deal with Cui Haitang!"


    "Ha! Who knows if the paper snake has left some residual cursed spiritual power in your body? Cui Haitang might juste seek you out if you don''t join me in dealing with her. She might even impregnate you again!" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    Ao Zhou sniffed in frustration. He had just realized that his threats were pointless against Xiao Nanfeng. How frustrating this was!


    "What should we do with Prime Minister Whale?" Blue Lantern looked at the whale encased in a block of ice.


    "Young Master Xiao, you promised not to kill me!" Prime Minister Whale called out.


    "Don''t worry. If you reveal all that you know about Cui Haitang, I won''t kill you," Xiao Nanfeng reassured the whale spirit.

 Chapter 325: A Blood Peach

    <h4>Chapter 325: A Blood Peach</h4>


    "I''ll speak, I''ll speak! Cui Haitang gave me another paper snake recently. She¡ª" Prime Minister Whale began.


    Just then, his voice stopped short. He panicked within the block of ice.


    "What''s wrong?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Something''s the matter. Retract, frost!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The block of ice around Prime Minister Whale''s body cracked open, freeing it. Just then, three bloody holes appeared by the back of its head. Three paper snakes darted out as Prime Minister Whale transformed into a whale carcass, dead on the spot.


    "Paper snakes again?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    One of the paper snakes suddenly turned its head around to look at Xiao Nanfeng. It spoke with a woman''s voice. "Xiao Nanfeng? You think you can overthrow the Tianshu Empire and start one of your own? Dream on!"


    "Cui Haitang? Were you spying on our conversation via Prime Minister Whale?" Xiao Nanfeng reached out with a hand, attempting to catch the snake.


    "The Divine Emperor has already left you behind. Who would support you? If you want to deal with me, thene on over. I''ll be waiting," the paper snake said.


    The three paper snakes burned to a crisp. By the time Xiao Nanfeng seized them, they were nothing but ash.


    "Cui Haitang really is an ambitious woman. She even managed to make Prime Minister Whale into a cursed ve¡ªable to kill him remotely in the blink of an eye!" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Cui Haitang was aiming for all of you," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed. "Not just Ao Zhou and you, Blue Lantern, but even Prime Minister Whale and his ancestor as well."


    "What a schemer..." Blue Lantern murmured.


    Ao Zhou seemed confused. "Why did the paper snake emerge from Prime Minister Whale''s head, whereas mine had to be absorbed into my belly?"


    "Because ancestral dragon''s blood flows within your body¡ªno, there must still be residual fragments of your ancestors'' will in your blood, protecting you. Otherwise, you would already have be Cui Haitang''s property," Blue Lantern said.


    "What?!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. A blizzard spawned again. Countless des of ice rained down on the sea spirits, all of whom were killed within moments.


    "What are you doing, Xiao Nanfeng?!" Ao Zhou frowned.


    "I have arge group of subordinates to look after. I''m bringing them back some nourishing seafood," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "These sea spirits are mine, and Prime Minister Whale''s body! If anyone''s going to consume them, it''s me! You can''t take them!" Ao Zhou immediately asserted.


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes and ignored him.


    His body suddenly flickered. The silver moon vanished, along with the blizzard. His silver robes transformed back to gold as he returned to his physical body.


    "What technique is this? It transforms the color of your robes, too?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Blue Lantern also seemed surprised.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin. He retrieved a storage treasure and was just about to pack all the sea spirits'' carcasses within when a peach blossom branch suddenly jumped out from his robes.


    "Ah? What''s this? A little branch that can walk on its own?" Ao Zhou eximed again.


    "A peach blossom spirit? No¡ªa cursed effigy! What are you doing with another cursed effigy?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "A cursed effigy?" Ao Zhou retreated in shock.


    "Don''t worry. It''s not a threat," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The peach blossom branch was the sole remaining fragment of the blood peach tree from the peach orchard. Xiao Nanfeng had taken it with him because the branch had formed the words ''Madam Rouge.'' He didn''t know why it had suddenly jumped out.


    The peach blossom branch doddered over to Prime Minister Whale''s carcass, then stuck its roots into it. The whale carcass swiftly deted as Prime Minister Whale became nutrients for the branch.


    "What a frightening cursed effigy!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    The Immortal-realm Prime Minister Whale turned into a husk of its former self. His storage treasures and misceneous items scattered across the ground.


    The peach blossom branch then turned to the other sea spirits that had just died. They were rapidly drained of their vitality. Perhaps thinking this was still too inefficient, it suddenly sent arge number of roots in all directions to absorb all the carcasses quickly. A blood peach formed at the top of the branch.


    "This cursed effigy seems even more sinister than usual..." Blue Lantern wondered.


    After some time, as thousands of sea spirits and serpents'' carcasses were drained by the peach branch, the blood peach matured. An enticing scent spread through the air.


    Then, the peach branch hopped over to Xiao Nanfeng''s side. The blood peach fell from the branch into Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    "For me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The peach blossom branch nodded like a human, then vanished from sight.


    "It''s gone! Where did it go?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Perhaps it''s going to set off on its own. It might be repaying me for bringing it out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm by helping me conjure a blood peach before it leaves," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Is it precious?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "It can make an ordinary Wingform-realm cultivator advance into an Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What?!" Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up. He strutted over. "Xiao Nanfeng, the blood peach was nurtured from the carcasses of my sea spirits. It ought to belong to me."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Zhou. He retrieved a small jade box and carefully ced the peach inside.


    "Hey! Even if you aren''t going to give me the peach, shouldn''t youpensate me a little? Look how much I''ve suffered!" Ao Zhou''s skin was as thick as ever.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to ignore him. He turned to Blue Lantern. "Blue Lantern, have you cracked the formation over here?"


    Blue Lantern waved an arm. The ck fog to his back parted, revealing a giant golden gate wreathed with white fog. The signboard atop the gate read "Dragon Gate."


    "Thousands of years ago, when the Eastern Sea dragons found the Dragon Gate, it had decayed almost to the point of being useless. Within it, however, were a ss of specialws that the dragons valued highly. They expended a tremendous number of draconic veins to revitalize the Dragon Gate, allowing it to restore a fraction of its former power. Because the gate couldn''t be moved, a temporary pce was set up here specifically to protect it," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Oh? What good is this Dragon Gate?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    This had to be the treasure that the Spirit Emperor had installed here millennia ago to serve as an anchor for his hidden realm.


    "It can help dragon-adjacent spirits raise the purity of their bloodlines and allow them to transform into dragons more quickly," Blue Lantern said.


    "Can it raise their cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No. Its only use is to effect the draconic transformation."


    "No wonder the Spirit Emperor said that these treasures were nothing extraordinary¡ªuseless to keep, but a pity to discard." Xiao Nanfeng gave Blue Lantern an odd look.


    "You consider this nothing extraordinary? Do you know how fiercely many sea spirits fought each other in an attempt to use the gate themselves back then?" Blue Lantern huffed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It''s useless to me, but I suppose it could help Ao Zhou rebuild his draconic pce."


    "Blue Lantern, could my subordinates use it to transform into dragons?" Ao Zhou asked.


    The thirty or so serpents that had remained stoically in Ao Zhou''s faction nced expectantly at the gate.


    "Let''s try it," Blue Lantern said.


    "Thank you, King! Thank you, Elder Blue Lantern!" the serpents cried out.

 Chapter 326: An Urgent Report

    <h4>Chapter 326: An Urgent Report</h4>


    Blue Lantern activated the Dragon Gate. A dragon-shaped coil of white fog spawned, shining with multicolored light.


    "Leap through the gate," Blue Lanternmanded.


    One blue serpent began flying toward the Dragon Gate. Suddenly, it stopped in mid-air. Its tail thrashed furiously, but it seemed incapable of moving forward. It panicked.


    "Why aren''t you moving?" Ao Zhou called out.


    "King, there''s a tremendous pressureing from the gate. It''s like a formless waterfall pressing me down. I''m having a hard time oveing it," the blue serpent called back anxiously.


    Not far away, another serpent cried, "If you can''t do it,e back. Let me have a go!"


    The blue serpent had no intention of retreating now; if it missed out on this opportunity, it would regret it for the rest of its life. Gritting its teeth, it furiously thrashed its tail, slowly advancing up the formless waterfall. Higher and higher it swam. Because of how much energy it was exerting, its scales were slowly tearing away from its body. Blood spurted all over, but it finally reached the Dragon Gate and passed through the dragon-shaped fog. The fog roiled; multicolored light shed.


    After two hours or so, a dragon''s keen could be heard from within.


    A giant blue dragon emerged from the fog. The serpent had grown a horn and regrown the scales all over its body. It gave off a particrly imposing aura.


    The giant blue dragon howled in excitement.


    "Has it really transformed into a dragon?" All the serpents eyed the gate with anticipation.


    The dragon flew toward Ao Zhou and prostrated itself. "Thank you, King, for your benevolence and generosity. Thank you, Elder Blue Lantern! Thank you, King Xiao!"


    "Very good," Ao Zhou said. "Next!"


    The serpents rushed to form a line.


    "You''ll be in charge of operating the Dragon Gate," Blue Lantern told the recently transformed dragon.


    "Understood!" The giant blue dragon immediately took Blue Lantern''s ce.


    The draconic transformation continued as a group of serpents enjoyed the fruits of their sess, unbelievably thankful that they had chosen to side with Ao Zhou.


    "Dragons are dragons, but these seem a little weak. They might not have much impact on the battlefield," Xiao Nanfeng said, frowning.


    "Why don''t you supply them with some treasures to help them advance?" Ao Zhou asked Xiao Nanfeng expectantly.


    "I don''t have any!" Xiao Nanfeng refused Ao Zhou''s request immediately.


    Ao Zhou really was shameless; he had arge stockpile of treasure of his own, but was still trying to get some from Xiao Nanfeng!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, my subordinates are going to join you on the battlefield in the future. Can''t you at least help them out? You can''t ask them to risk their lives for you otherwise, can you?" Ao Zhou wheedled.


    "I do intend to give you something, but you''ll have to im it yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Really?" Ao Zhou was amazed.


    He had never been able to wheedle anything out of Xiao Nanfeng before. What was going on now?


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Blue Lantern. "Has your cultivation recovered, Blue Lantern?"


    "I''ve lost too much of my strength over three millennia in the undying realm, followed by a series of unfortunate events in the draconic pce and here. I''m barely at Immortal-realm at the moment, and only managed to hold the two stronger whale spirits back thanks to my facility with formations," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Will draconic veins help you regain your cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Certainly, and I know how to extract them, but ownerless ones are extremely difficult to find."


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a map of the Eastern Sea. "Some spiritbeastirs have been marked on this map. There are draconic veins under each one. You''ll be able to reim and advance your cultivation quickly by absorbing them."


    "Oh?"


    "There are Immortal-realm spirits guarding each one, but only one or two of them. They''ve only just recently be Immortals. If you can defeat them, you''ll be able to im the draconic veins within."


    Ao Zhou frowned. "What? They''re guarded by Immortal-realm spirits? You want us to take them down? What if we can''t? Why don''t you go with us?"


    Xiao Nanfeng red at the shameless dragon. "Shall I take down theseirs for you and feed you the draconic vein myself, too?"


    "Why not?" Ao Zhou replied shamelessly.


    "Dream on! Take down these spiritbeastirs yourself or not at all," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "No, no, I''ll go! Of course I''ll go," Ao Zhou immediately replied, stering a smile on his face.


    "You want to be a dragon king and rule over the Eastern Sea, don''t you? Show your mettle, then. Take this opportunity to practice on these Immortal-realm spirits. Convince them to ept you as their ruler and kill them if they refuse to submit. Then, send those spiritbeast carcasses to Yongding for my subordinates."


    "What? Why? They''re spiritbeasts that we''ll be killing ourselves! Why should we hand them over?" Ao Zhou seemedpletely unwilling to do so.


    Blue Lantern couldn''t stand watching the exchange any longer. "How in the world did the old dragon king give birth to an heir like you? Without this map, how would you be able to find these draconic veins? Xiao Nanfeng could easily have his subordinatesy im to these veins himself. Why should he help you out?"


    Ao Zhou decided that Blue Lantern was right, that if he were to upset Xiao Nanfeng, he would lose his opportunity at the map. He immediately smiled. "I was just joking. You all really don''t have a sense of humor, do you?"


    Blue Lantern: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Both cultivators red at the shameless Ao Zhou.


    "Blue Lantern, I''ll leave the map in your hands. Ao Zhou''s shameless and thick-skinned, so I don''t trust him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Blue Lantern nodded. Xiao Nanfeng was right. He carefully kept the map.


    "I''ve summoned the spectral guards to keep in contact with you. Don''t stay here for too long in case Cui Haitangunches an attack," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Are you leaving now?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "I am. I have an urgent affair to take care of, and have to leave immediately."


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    "Furthermore, Ao Zhou, I hope you''ll recuperate fast after your childbirth and start iming these draconic veins quickly. I have the feeling that we''ll be fighting against the Tianshu Empire in no time¡ªno, we already are, but only obliquely. War will be dered soon enough," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "That urgently?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Of course it was urgent¡ªotherwise, he wouldn''t have handed the sea map to Ao Zhou.


    After delegating his affairs, Xiao Nanfeng rushed out of the aquatic barrier.


    Having learned of where he was from Blue Lantern, he shot out of the surface of the sea, transformed into his yin body, and flew off urgently in a particr direction, a look of anxiety on his face.


    Just now, back in the city of Yongding, within the study of the Xiao manor, Tang had secretly requested a private audience with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Tang, you''ve done incredible work. How could you have be such a trusted advisor to the crown prince, Nn Changkong? I heard that he brings you wherever he goes," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    Tang chuckled wryly. "Hardly. He''s attempting to control the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect using me as a proxy."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I don''t know what''s going on, but Nn Changkong seems very focused on the left divisiontely. He''s been trying to expand his influence relentlessly."


    "The left division leader is dead, and he wants to take over that position for himself."


    "What? Cui Haisheng''s dead? I heard he became an Immortal! Unless¡ª" Tang gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "He died right before my eyes."


    "King Xiao, you really are incredible!" Tang eximed, naturally assuming that Xiao Nanfeng had killed him.


    "There are plenty of Immortals in the Tianshu Empire now. Why did you take the risk toe here?"


    Over thest few months, as many of the marquises of the Tianshu Empire became Immortals and the capital of the Tianshu Empire shone with Immortal light, quite a few of the Immortal sects that had sided with Xiao Nanfeng harbored doubts about their decision.


    Xiao Nanfeng was worried that Tang would exhibit the same behavior.


    "Don''t worry, King Xiao. I''m well aware of your capabilities, unlike that group of people. I''ve made my decision and will stick with it," Tang immediately asserted.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "But why have youe to meet with me? I''ve assigned you a direct contact."


    "It''s urgent. I''m worried that standardmunication might be too slow."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He knew how cautious Tang was; for Tang to make such a move now meant that he had to be in possession of incredible information.


    Tang began, "I heard Nn Changkong mention that Zhao Yuanjiao has be an Immortal."


    "How would Nn Changkong know?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    Zhao Yuanjiao had kept the information a secret; even he had just learned of it.


    "I overheard it unintentionally. One of Zhao Yuanjiao''s confidantes must have betrayed him. They''ve even mentioned that he''s ensconced within an Immortal manor filled with opportunities. Nn Changkong''s nning on heading there himself and seizing Zhao Yuanjiao and his possessions."


    "What?!"


    "I''m not sure about the details. All I heard was that Nn Changkong promised the traitor that, once Zhao Yuanjiao and the others were dead, he would provide his full support in helping the traitor be an Immortal and the Ascended division leader thereafter."


    "A traitor? Very well." Killing intent shed in Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was in danger¡ªas was Yu''er, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu, all of whom were at that Immortal manor as well!


    "Tang, this was exceptionally important information. Thank you. You can return now¡ªdon''t let them doubt you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Tang nodded.

 Chapter 327: Life in Calamity

    <h4>Chapter 327: Life in Cmity</h4>


    A certain ind on the Eastern Sea, protected by a strong defensive formation, was being attacked by countless crow spirits with zing mes. The formation quaked and trembled, as though it would fall apart at any moment. Within the ind were a group of Taiqing disciples that had just experienced a huge battle. They were all heavily injured and paralyzed. They hid within the formation and arduously attempted to keep it up.


    In each of the four cardinal directions, some distance away, were dense, dark clouds. Lightning shed within them and struck four figures within: Yu''er, You Jiu, Croak, and Warble.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao was facing off against two crow Immortals and a hulking man radiating with light.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, don''t you think those two cultivators and spirits are foolish? They''re trying to advance into Immortals at this stage. Don''t they know that the tribtion they have to undergo is even more dangerous than the crow Immortals'' threat to you? They''re trying to die, aren''t they? Even if they were to seed by chance, they''d be exhausted. The crow spirits would easily take them down, haha!" The hulking manughed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s body was riddled with scars. As he defended against the three Immortals, he howled, "Xiang Lianzhen, don''t you see what''s going on? You''re being taken advantage of¡ªhe''s trying to kill me without dirtying his own hands!"


    The hulking man, Xiang Lianzhen, smiled coldly. "I''m well aware. I know it was Nn Changkong''s subordinates who divulged your location to me¡ªbut so what? I intend on killing you."


    "Are you crazy? You know that he''s taking advantage of you!"


    "The Nn and Xiang ns have been feuding with each other recently, but so what? I do want to kill you. How many Xiang cultivators did your father kill back in his prime? My brother died to your father''s hands, and I''ve been dreaming of ending your line myself. Once I kill you, I''ll announce to the public that Nn Changkong was the one who revealed your location to me. The whole world shall know that he was the mastermind."


    "What?!"


    "The Heaven and Earth divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect have been upied elsewhere, but I''m sure they won''t do nothing when they see the Ascended division leader killed by the Nns. They''ll have to return to shore up the sect once they learn that the Tianshu Empire has betrayed them. Nn Changkong''s taking advantage of me to kill you, and kill you I will. That will allow me to create a rift between the Tianshu Empire and the Taiqing Immortal Sect. The Xiang n will wait to im its rightful spoils from your fighting." Xiang Lianzhen roared inughter.


    "What a schemer you are," Zhao Yuanjiao spat out.


    "Give up now, and I''ll give you a painless death."


    "I''ll go with you, but free the others," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, even as he parried the enemy cultivator and spirits'' attack.


    "How would that do? If I don''t kill you all, I won''t be able to rouse the Taiqing Immortal Sect to action. Furthermore, those cultivators and spirits attempting to ascend to Immortality are Xiao Nanfeng''s closerades. If I don''t kill them all, he''d never be enraged and seek revenge. Xiao Nanfeng''s the Mortal division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, after all. He needs to go crazy if I want the rift between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Tianshu Empire to deepen, haha!"


    "You won''t seed!" Zhao Yuanjiao brandished his sword and charged into the sky.


    Xiang Lianzheng shed at him with his own sword, blocking Zhao Yuanjiao''s blow.


    Your Crescent de is powerful, but the Immortal weapon I obtained in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm isn''t weak, either. Don''t bother struggling¡ªyou won''t be able to block us!" Xiang Lianzhen cried out, his sword zing with me.


    "Die!" the two crow Immortals shouted. They bore down on Zhao Yuanjiao with zing fire.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was rapidly surrounded by me, as if he were in the midst of a ming tempest. The frightening blow caused tidal waves to surge across the sea.


    "Division Leader!" From within the ind''s defensive barrier came a series of panicked shouts.


    After the massive explosion, Zhao Yuanjiao fell to the ground, his entire body streaked with blood. He struck the side of the defensive barrier. His right arm and left leg had been crippled, and he was so weak that he could barely stand.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, it''s clear you can''t withstand thebined might of us three Immortals, haha!" Xiang Lianzhen crowed.


    "Xiang Lianzhen, have you considered that you''d paint yourself as a target if the Taiqing Immortal Sect were to avenge our deaths?" Zhao Yuanjiao coughed weakly.


    Xiang Lianzhen smiled. "Don''t worry. I intend to go into hiding before the Tianshu Empire is destroyed. No one will be able to find me. I need only go elsewhere for the time being. Now, die!"


    As Xiang Lianzhenughed, he sent an Immortal sword careening toward Zhao Yuanjiao, falling from the heavens with enough momentum to cleave him in two.


    "Division Leader!" countless Taiqing disciples shouted.


    Zhao Yuanjiao wanted to avoid the attack, but he was so badly wounded that he was unable to even rise up. His eyes were filled with despair.


    Just as the Immortal sword was about to strike Zhao Yuanjiao, a silver figure emerged and stood before his prone body. He punched at the Immortal sword descending from the heavens.


    His punch released a burst of bright silver light, striking the Immortal sword directly. A huge shockwave formed from the impact, causing tidal waves to form all around the ind. The Immortal sword was sent flying back to Xiang Lianzhen''s hand.


    Xiang Lianzhen found himself careening backwards as he grabbed the sword. "What tremendous strength! Who''s there?"


    The waves of energy cleared to reveal Xiao Nanfeng, dressed in silver.


    "Nanfeng? What are you doing here?" Zhao Yuanjiao gasped, attempting to mber up.


    "It''s Senior Brother Xiao! He''s here!"


    "No, you mean the Mortal division leader!"


    The Taiqing disciples trapped within the defensive formation shouted to each other in mounting excitement.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the four cultivators surmounting their own tribtions in the distance. Worry shed across his eyes.


    "Yu''er and the others were being chased by a crow Immortal and had no choice but to trigger the ascension to Immortal-realm to protect themselves. The heavenly tribtion scared the crow Immortal away, but now they''ll have to suffer through it themselves without being fully prepared. They''re in dangerous straits," Zhao Yuanjiao said wryly.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Don''t worry, Senior Brother. Leave the rest to me. Take care of your injuries."


    "You''re alone, and Xiang Lianzhen has an Immortal sword. He''s assisted by two crow Immortals as well. It''ll be particrly dangerous," Zhao Yuanjiao said worriedly.


    "It matters not. I could take them down at any time," Xiao Nanfeng promised. He turned to the injured Taiqing disciples. "Bring my senior brother into the formation so he can recuperate!"


    "Understood!" The Taiqing disciples created an opening in the defensive formation, only to see arge flock of crow spirits swoop down in an attempt to enter.


    "Be careful!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    "They''ll only die," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    A silver moon rose into the sky, causing a blizzard to spawn. The crows were swiftly frozen. They reacted in shock, attempting to struggle, but everything they did was futile. They were transformed into ice sculptures and fell to the ground.


    The frost was so intense that the nearby sea even began to freeze over.


    "A deific domain? Your main body has reached Yin Body too?!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head toward the sky. Naked killing intent poured out from him. "Xiang Lianzhen, I''ll kill you!"

 Chapter 328: Slaying Xiang Lianzhen

    <h4>Chapter 328: ying Xiang Lianzhen</h4>


    The blizzard in Xiao Nanfeng''s deific domain persisted as all crow spirits in the vicinity fell in the form of ice sculptures. The remainder rushed out of the domain in fear, squawking and cawing ceaselessly outside.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head toward the sky. Naked killing intent poured out from him. "Xiang Lianzhen, I''ll kill you!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Have you already reached Yin Body? And your yin body isn''t transparent¡ªyou must be disguising it using some spiritual treasure! But the Xiang n has experts at Yin Body as well. Your deific domain might be potent, but it''ll drain your spiritual power quickly, and you can''t keep it up for long. If you''re here to die, then I''ll grant your wish alongside Zhao Yuanjiao. Crow Immortals, attack!" Xiang Lianzhenmanded.


    "Kill!" The two crow Immortals shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Where they passed through, their wings left trails of fire behind. A sea of fire formed in their wake as they swooped down toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold as he flew into the sky. He waved a hand and beckoned. "Blizzard, to me!"


    A blizzard formed around the two crow Immortals,


    interfering with their mes and swiftly quenching them. The crow Immortals shivered in fear, but before they could react further, Xiao Nanfeng had already charged up to them. His fist struck like an iceberg. Frosty air surrounded them and exploded like an avnche raining down, drowning the two crow Immortals within moments. Before they could even scream for assistance, they had been turned into ice sculptures.


    "Impossible. How could this frost be so strong?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng actually won one on two?"


    The crow spirits in the distance were astounded.


    Just then, Xiang Lianzhen appeared before him. "What potent frost¡ªbut it''s nothing I can''t handle. Disperse!"


    He punched forward in a burst of me, his fist glowing like the sun. Where it passed through, the blizzard stopped short. Xiao Nanfeng frowned and retaliated with a fist of his own. Both cultivators were forced back from the impact.


    This time, however, Xiao Nanfeng''s frost didn''t manage to freeze Xiang Lianzhen.


    To Xiang Lianzhen''s back appeared a golden wheel of light, within which burned a bright golden me. Blistering heat melted the ice all around them. Xiang Lianzhen pped his palm against the two frozen crow Immortals and freed them. They pped their wings in shock as they cawed fiercely at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Quintessence of srfire?" Xiao Nanfeng was astounded.


    "You''ve reached Yin Body within a short period of time and have even developed such potent frost. You''re hiding some deep secret, I know it! I''ll be iming it from you today." Xiang Lianzhen''s eyes gleamed with light.


    "You overestimate yourself!" Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    "I should think you do. I''ll put you on a torture rack until you reveal all your secrets to me. Strike now!" Xiang Lianzhenmanded the two crow Immortals, drawing his sword and shing at Xiao Nanfeng once more.


    "Kill!" The two crow Immortals shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew up toward the enemy cultivator and spirits, armed with his divine undying de. A blizzard apanied him. He fought one against three, facing three huge balls of me.


    "Quintessence of srfire, immte all in sight!" Xiang Lianzhen shed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    An infinite expanse of golden me split apart the blizzard. Xiang Lianzhen''s attack shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s face. He retaliated with a sh of his own. Light shed; a howling storm formed where the two attacks met, neither cultivator able to overpower the other.


    Just then, the two crow Immortals wed at Xiao Nanfeng, but the silver barrier around Xiao Nanfeng''s body blocked their ws and froze them once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the two crow Immortals as he unleashed his repertoire of attacks on Xiang Lianzhen. The divine undying de grew stronger and stronger. After several consecutive attacks, the Immortal sword in Xiang Lianzhen''s hands shattered.


    "What?!" Xiang Lianzhen eximed.


    "The quintessence of srfire is strong, but you''re ultimately too weak. Now, die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "No!"


    The divine undying de cleaved Xiang Lianzhen''s qi barrier apart¡ªand then his body.


    Xiang Lianzhen died on the spot, his blood spraying through the air.


    The two crow Immortals had been intending to attack Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiang Lianzhen''s death had shocked them enough that they reared back.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s de was pointed toward them.


    "Flee!" one crow Immortal shouted immediately.


    The two crow Immortals scattered in different directions, swiftly followed suit by the crow spirits all around.


    "I was too hasty¡ªI scared the crow Immortals away too. What a pity." Regret marred Xiao Nanfeng''s face for an instant.


    He didn''t give chase. Using his yin body and deific domain was indeed particrly draining on his spiritual power, and he might not be able to fight them off in an extended confrontation.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, you''re amazing!" the Taiqing disciples shouted in shock.


    Zhao Yuanjiao rxed in palpable relief as he saw Xiao Nanfeng remain victorious.


    Yu''er, You Jiu, Croak, and Warble had been so distracted by the fighting in the distance that they were unable to concentrate on their own tribtions, and had been injured to some extent as a result. Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s victory, they were finally able to calm down and focus entirely on their own trials.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out for Xiang Lianzhen''s corpse, within which a small ember of golden me burned.


    "It really is the quintessence of srfire!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    His silver robes transformed back into gold as he returned to his physical body. He absorbed the golden me and sent it straight toward his dantian.


    He was right about to handle Xiang Lianzhen''s corpse when a peach blossom branch appeared in a sh of blue light.


    The peach blossom branch hopped up onto Xiang Lianzhen''s corpse and injected its roots into it. Xiang Lianzhen''s corpse deted at a rapid rate.


    "What? The peach blossom branch is still with me?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Another blood peach formed on the branch as Xiang Lianzhen''s corpse was drained to a husk.


    The peach blossom branch clearly wasn''t yet satisfied. It shot toward the frozen crow spirits.


    "No, no!" the crow spirits cawed in pain.


    However, they were wholly incapable of stopping the peach blossom branch. As the crow spirits were consumed, the peach grewrger.


    After absorbing all the crow spirits, the branch flew back toward Xiao Nanfeng. By then, the blood peach had matured. A heady aroma enveloped Xiao Nanfeng.


    The branch twisted itself, causing the blood peach to fall into Xiao Nanfeng''s hands. Then, it vanished from sight anew.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Had this peach blossom branch decided to hound him too?


    He looked around his body, but there was no sign of the peach blossom branch.


    "Senior ck Lotus, are you aware of where that peach blossom branch is?" Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly asked.


    "It''s not a peach blossom branch," the ck lotus replied in text.


    "What?"


    "It''s tricking you. That peach blossom branch is an illusory appearance. Its actual body is likely something else entirely, but I''m not sure what it is just yet."


    "A trick? Where is it, then?"


    "Likely in your mindscape."


    "My mindscape!"


    Madam Rouge had resided in his mindscape in the past. Was the peach blossom branch able to enter and exit it at will?


    "The peach blossom branch is dangerous. Be careful. It can grow stronger by absorbing spiritual power, and has done so by devouring the spiritual power of all these crow spirits."


    "Thank you for the warning, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    In the end, there was little he could do about the peach blossom branch at the moment. He took out a jade box and carefully ced the blood peach into it.


    As he distilled the quintessence of srfire, he waited for Yu''er and the others to ovee their heavenly tribtion.

 Chapter 329: Vacillating Emotions

    <h4>Chapter 329: Vaciting Emotions</h4>


    Although bing an Immortal was dangerous, Yu''er possessed the Red Emperor''s inheritance, You Jiu the Specter King''s inheritance, and Croak and Warble were assisted by the technique The Divine Golden Toad. Without any distraction, they were well prepared to handle their respective tribtion.


    Xiao Nanfeng noted that none of them were in trouble before he began distilling the quintessence of srfire that he had just received. He sat cross-legged, his eyes closed as he drank in spiritual aether and sent it all toward the ninth nascent spirit in his dantian. Four hourster, a gust of me emerged from his body and spread all around him.


    "The ninth stage of Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes opened.


    Just then, a huge bang could be heard in the distance. Yu''er had fended off thest bolt of lightning in her tribtion with a punch.She was exhausted, bruised and battered with wounds from the tribtion¡ªbut she had made it.


    The dark clouds above her head transformed into multicolored clouds bearing luck. They descended from the heavens and surrounded her, infusing her body with surprising strength. Within moments, she had absorbed them all.


    Even so, she was too weak to do more at the moment. After her sessful tribtion, her body rxed for the first time in hours as she fell from the skies.


    An arm caught her handily. She tensed up and was about to resist, only to find herself in Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace. She stopped struggling and blushed red. "Nanfeng, let go of me!"


    "Congrattions, Immortal Yu''er." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Call me Senior Sister!" Yu''er corrected him immediately.


    For some reason, upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er found herself buoyed by happiness, as though all her troubles had suddenly vanished like a cloud of smoke.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew back to the ind with Yu''er. Once they arrived, he ced a rug on the ground before carefully cing Yu''er on it.


    "I have a few pills. Will any of them help you?" Xiao Nanfeng handed her a storage treasure.


    "It won''t be necessary. I just survived a tribtion, and I''ve absorbed divine energy into my body as a reward. I simply need to distill it to heal my wounds, but it''ll take some time," Yu''er said.


    "Rest and recuperate, then. I''ll guard you," Xiao Nanfeng volunteered immediately.


    Yu''er nodded, closed her eyes, and began to heal her body.


    Not too longter, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu also survived their own tribtion. The dark clouds above them transformed into radiant, multicolored clouds that were infused into their bodies.


    However, they were all exceptionally weak at present. Xiao Nanfeng flew over and carried them all back.


    "Apologies, Sir," You Jiu said wryly.


    "I knew that all of you would have been able to flee if you were to scatter. You each summoned a tribtion andunch a kamikaze attack against the crow Immortals in order to protect Yu''er. I can''t thank you enough," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    "No, no, Sir! This is well within the scope of my duties," You Jiu affirmed.


    "Rest and recuperate for now. We can talk about everything elseter," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    Croak and Warble did the same, finding a secluded spot within which to recuperate.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao ingested a limb regeneration pill. His missing limbs regenerated at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng notice that there had been some buildings on the ind, all of which had copsed in the violent assault.


    "This Immortal residence used to contain a few Immortal techniques and opportunities connected to the Immortal''s death. We absorbed it all¡ªthen, when Xiang Lianzhen showed up, I had someone destroy the residence so that the technique written on the wall wouldn''t fall to his hands," Zhao Yuanjiao exined.


    "So be it. All of you have already obtained tangible rewards." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "If you hadn''t rushed over in time, all of us would have suffered tremendously. How did you know there was danger around here?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "I received word that one of your trusted confidantes had betrayed you. I sensed imminent danger and rushed over as quickly as I could."


    Zhao Yuanjiao pursed his lips and sighed, "I was negligent. I underestimated Nn Qiankun for cing his spy among my ckguards. Many of us died. I won''t be forgetting this lesson anytime soon."


    "Nn Qiankun? He must already have been preparing to rebel against the sect. When you return, you''ll have to screen all the ckguards again."


    "I will. It''s time to ferret out any remaining spies." Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes sparked with killing intent as he nodded.


    "Has there been word of Master?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Not yet. Even the ckguards haven''t found anything." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "Master''s exceedingly cautious, and I suspect no news is good news. He and Han Bingdie must still be recuperating."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    By then, Yu''er and the others were slowly waking up.


    "Nanfeng, has my mother been badly injured?" Yu''er asked.


    "With Master around, she shouldn''t be in danger. Have you recovered?"


    "Somewhat, but it''ll take me a while to reach peak strength again."


    "In that case, let''s leave this ind at once. We wouldn''t want the Xiang and Nn ns to dispatch more Immortals here to raid the ind.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    They briefly cleaned up their surroundings and set off on their way.


    Two dayster, within the Xiao study in Yongding, Ye Sanshui bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng with a bitter expression on his face. "King Xiao, I bear responsibility for what happened. Please assign me punishment."


    "Ye Sanshui, there''s no need to me yourself. There''s likely more than meets the eye to this case."


    Ye Sanshui grimaced. "I think there must be something wrong too, King Xiao. Ye Dafu might be rather thoughtless at times, but he would never betray you! And yet..."


    "Tell me everything again."


    Ye Sanshui nodded. "These past few years, on your rmendation, Dafu and I have been trying to contact my eldest brother while fighting in Marquis Wu''s territory. My brother promised to return to the Xiaonds immediately, and we started making preparations for the return of our family members. Everything had been going smoothly, but a few days ago, my brother sent word stating that he was no longer going to return."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I sensed that something was amiss and was worried that the Nns had taken my eldest brother hostage and forced him to write a letter against his will. We continued to try to reach out to our n, but problems arose with every method we tried. Ye Dafu was so worried that he brought hisckeys with him to sneak back to the Tianshu capital in search of his father. We''ve lost track of him ever since."


    "You should have told me about this matter." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I was going to, King Xiao, but Ye Dafu and his clique left in haste. He was worried about his father''s condition, but yet too inexperienced to consider the big picture carefully. Later, the Tianshu Empire sent word instating Ye Dafu as General of the East. Everyone ims that he betrayed you for the Tianshu Empire, King Xiao, but I swear that he would never do such a thing. He must be in that position unwillingly!"


    "I understand. I too would never believe that Ye Dafu would forsake us. He must have fallen prey to the Nns," Xiao Nanfeng consoled Ye Sanshui.


    "The ramifications are immense. Many cultivators in the world atrge im that the betrayal of Ye Dafu, once suprememander of your forces, King Xiao, is clear indication of your waning power. Many of the sect masters that have chosen to join you are now wavering, and they''vee to Yongding to rify matters. I worry that something bad will happen."


    "There''s no need to worry. Those who are loyal to me will stay; those who aren''t, I don''t want to keep."


    "But Ye Dafu was the one at the root of this problem! I bear responsibility for not educating him well."


    "No, you don''t. In this matter, you and Ye Dafu are victims," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Thank you for your consideration, King Xiao!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "I''ve sent my subordinates to find out where Ye Dafu is located at the moment, and I''ve issued an edict congratting Ye Dafu for his promotion to the Tianshu Empire''s General of the East," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "What? That would negatively impact your reputation, King Xiao. Those sect leaders who have allied with you will think that you''re scared of the Nn n, and they''ll foment rebellion and betrayal as well!"


    "This is the only way by which we can save Ye Dafu. I intend to make the whole world know that Ye Dafu has ''joined'' the Nn n and been granted the position of General of the East as a result. For the moment, they won''t be able to kill him."


    Ye Sanshui, touched, bowed deeply. "Thank you, King Xiao."


    "I am the one who should thank you for fighting in my service. This means little to me, and is only an effective strategy because the Xiang n is at odds with and curbing the Nn n. Our foremost priority must be to find Ye Dafu and the others."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly.


    Just then, a spectral guard reported from outside the study, "King Xiao, a man who ims to be the second-inmand of the Ye n has arrived ostentatiously in Yongding. He headed straight for General Ye''s manor, and, upon learning that General Ye hase to the Xiao manor, is making a fuss outside. He refuses to step into the manor and is requesting an audience with General Ye. A crowd has gathered around him."


    "Oh? My second brother? What''s he doing here?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Entering the city ostentatiously¡ªI suppose he''s up to no good." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ye Sanshui frowned. "My second brother is an immoral gambler. During the time when the Ye n served Marquis Xiao, he even dared to steal military supplies in order to pay off his gambling debt. My father broke both his hands and forced him to kneel for days in our ancestral hall as punishment. Marquis Xiao, on ount of our n''s dedication, spared him from further punishment. He might know where Ye Dafu is. I''ll talk to him immediately!"


    "I shall join you," Xiao Nanfeng said.

 Chapter 330: Ye Shuangcheng

    <h4>Chapter 330: Ye Shuangcheng</h4>


    In the city of Yongding, outside the entrance to the Xiao manor, a man in white was fanning himself with a white paper fan as he looked arrogantly at the front gates of the Xiao manor. Beside him were a few guards in blue.


    "Ye Shuangcheng, as General Ye''s brother, you''re not an outsider. General Ye and Young Master Xiao are in the middle of a discussion and will be headed out shortly. Please wait inside." A butler of the manor stepped forward and invited the white-d man in.


    "Ah? Don''t touch me!" The man in white, Ye Shuangcheng, deliberately moved aside.


    "Make way!" The guards in blue shoved the butler aside as they surrounded Ye Shuangcheng protectively.


    The butler grimaced, not expecting the man to be so rude.


    "I won''t be stepping inside, lest rumors abound that I''m in cahoots with the Xiao n," Ye Shuangcheng replied.


    "Insolence! Who dares cause a ruckus outside the Xiao manor?" a voice shouted.


    A robed man descended from the air.


    "Oh? Who''s this? The Sanyuan sect master, I see. I heard that you weren''t ashamed, but rather honored, by the fact that Xiao Nanfeng stole your sect''s draconic vein! And here you are acting like his servant," Ye Shaungcheng mocked.


    "Insolence!" the Sanyuan sect master repeated, his eyes zing.


    "I believe you''re the insolent one. Don''t you know where we are? We''re within the domain of the Tianshu Empire, and I am an official of the court. See what happens if you dare touch me!" Ye Shuangcheng replied coolly.


    "You!" The Sanyuan sect master''s eyes red again.


    "Calm down, Sanyuan Sect Master! He''s General Ye''s elder brother. We should let General Ye handle this." Sage Hong''e, who had just flown over, immediately grabbed ahold of the Sanyuan sect master.


    The other sect masters who had chosen to cooperate with Xiao Nanfeng had all gathered by the entrance to the Xiao manor. Upon seeing Ye Shuangcheng''s arrogant behavior, they were astounded.


    "You''re the sect masters of various Immortal sects in the region, aren''t you? Do you really intend to stay here out in the wilderness when the Tianshu Empire''s star is rising?" Ye Shuangcheng smirked.


    "You!" Despite the sect masters'' anger, they hesitated to retort.


    Just then, a shout came from within the Xiao manor. "Second Brother, what nonsense are you spouting at the gates of the Xiao manor?!"


    Ye Sanshui rushed out of the manor, aura and eyes zing.


    Ye Shuangcheng''s eyes lit up. "Haha, Third Brother, you''ve be a general, have you? Well done!"


    Ye Sanshui stilled as he saw his grinning second brother. He took a deep breath, then said, "Second Brother,e in and let''s speak."


    "I''d rather not, thank you! I don''t dare enter the Xiao manor. I wouldn''t want to be buried alongside Xiao Nanfeng, after all." Ye Shuangcheng shook his head.


    "What nonsense are you talking about?!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "Don''t be anxious, Third Brother. I''vee to fetch you, as well as to bring you a tremendous opportunity." Ye Shuangcheng smiled again.


    "What?" Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "Your eldest nephew, Ye Dafu, is now the Tianshu Empire''s General of the East, and you''ve been appointed as a court official. Even I have received an appointment as a fifth-rank officer. The Ye n is on the rise! The crown prince himself promised this to me. Now,e on, pack up and let''s head back," Ye Shuangcheng urged.


    "What do you mean, appointed? I''m a fighter in the Xiao army, and I quite like my position," Ye Sanshui replied archly.


    "What''s there to like? The Xiao n is on itsst legs. Many of the marquises of the Tianshu Empire have be Immortals, and the Tianshu court is surrounded by an Immortal aura. There are dozens of Immortals across the Tianshu Empire. Xiao Nanfeng is only the heir to thesends; do you really think he could foment rebellion? With such a scant partition ofnd and a pitiful distribution of forces? There''s nothing he can do. Pledging fealty to him will only cause your advancement to halt¡ªand might even bring you life-threatening danger."


    The sect masters all around frowned at each other. Ye Shuangcheng might have been directly addressing his brother, but he also seemed to be indirectly discussing them.


    "Ye Shuangcheng, have you forgotten that the Ye n might well have perished if not for Marquis Xiao? You''vee to the city of Yongding at this critical moment to denounce the Xiao n. What are your true motives?" Ye Sanshui challenged his brother.


    "Third Brother, Dafu and Eldest Brother are waiting for you at home. Are you really going to be this stubborn? I''ve already been promised by the Crown Prince that, if you return home to ept your appointment and act in a meritorious fashion, you could well be a marquis in your own right!"


    "I don''t care to be a marquis of the Tianshu Empire. If you continue to make a fuss here, don''t me me for neglecting our fraternal bonds," Ye Sanshui spat out.


    "His Highness is about to be formally conferred the title of prince and given his own estate to govern. He''s in need of talented individuals, and he bears high hopes for the Ye n. If any of you sect masters here are interested in working with him, he''s willing to forgive all your past offenses and present you with important tasks and opportunities. Sect Masters, are you willing to join His Highness'' employ along with the Ye n and wee the brightest of futures? Please, there''s no need to feel ashamed. My nephew, Ye Dafu, has already made his way over and been entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Anyone who wishes to go can join me. I''ll guide you there," Ye Shuangcheng promised.


    The sect masters nced at each other in shock. Ye Shuangcheng was here on behalf of Nn Changkong to poach their members!


    "Guards, detain Ye Shuangcheng!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "Understood!" A group of guards rushed over.


    "Third Brother, are you crazy? You''d rather have your talent wasted in this backwater locale rather than be appointed as an official in the heart of the Tianshu Empire?!" Ye Shuangcheng shouted.


    "Detain him!" Ye Sanshui thundered.


    "Desist!" a voice countered from the Xiao manor.


    The guards that had been charging toward Ye Shuangcheng stopped short as they looked toward the doors of the Xiao manor. Xiao Nanfeng was slowly making his way out.


    "We greet Young Master Xiao!" everyone chorused.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" Ye Shuangcheng raised his eyebrows.


    "Young Master, Ye Shuangcheng has sided with Nn Changkong, and is here to cause intentional conflict. His reckless behavior predicated on being my elder brother is a serious crime that requires his immediate apprehension!" Ye Sanshui dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "There''s no need to be so serious. He''s not wrong, after all. Compared to the glory of the Tianshu Empire, my faction does seem rather shabby inparison."


    "Young Master...?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how have you made my third brother this loyal to you?!" Ye Shuangcheng suddenly shouted.


    "Ye Shuangcheng, I don''t me you for not being interested in joining my faction. Considering that you''re Ye Sanshui''s brother, I''ll overlook the mess you''ve created sinceing here. However, if you intend to bring Ye Sanshui and the various sect masters gathered here with you, you''ll have to provide some proof of your ims. What if you''re just lying to them?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Of course. This is an official recruitment notice that His Highness has approved. He is in great need of talented subordinates, and has prepared positions of particr rank for all of you. Follow me. The moment we arrive at the Tianshu Empire, you''ll be in His Highness'' employ." Ye Shuangcheng raised a scroll high up in the air.


    Nn Changkong''s seal was disyed prominently on the scroll, as was a list of the names of the various sect masters and their designated positions.


    Ye Sanshui red coldly at his brother. "That notice is fake!"


    "You''ll be able to discern at a nce whether it''s legitimate, of course. His Highness'' seal harbors a trace of the Tianshu Empire''s fortune, and cannot be faked. Why don''t you have a look, Xiao Nanfeng?" Ye Shuangcheng smiled as he proffered the scroll.


    "Ye Sanshui, Sect Masters, why don''t you have a look?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You can''t, Young Master!" Ye Sanshui fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention to change his mind. In exasperation, Ye Sanshui had no choice but to consider the scroll carefully, then pass it on to the various sect masters. Everyone nced at each other.


    "Well? Is it real?" Ye Shuangcheng smiled.


    "Enough!" Ye Snshui thundered. "Ye Shuangcheng, have you be Nn Changkong''spdog?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Ye Sanshui, there''s no need to argue with him. Nn Changkong''s recruitment notice could, in some sense, be considered a blessing. Those who are willing to leave with Ye Shuangcheng can do so immediately with their subordinates. I, Xiao Nanfeng, promise not to pursue the matter."


    "Oh? You won''t pursue the matter?" Ye Shuangcheng eximed in delight.


    "I am a man of my word. As long as they leave with you willingly, I do not intend to pursue the matter." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ye Shuangcheng whirled toward the sect masters standing all around him. "Sect Masters, this is your one and only chance. You should know that the Xiao n is on itsst legs. Fortune favors the Tianshu Empire, and His Highness desires your talents. Everyone, are you willing to depart with me?"


    Ye Sanshui''s eyes sizzled with anger. He wanted to shout at Ye Shuangcheng to halt, but Xiao Nanfeng stopped him.


    The disciples following behind their sect masters turned to each other restlessly. Many were tempted, and were stepping forward to urge their own sect masters on.


    The Sanyuan sect master pped a disciple and sent him flying. Everyone quieted down as they stared at themotion.


    "Sect Master, why did you hit me?!" the disciple cried out, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    "To wake you up, you fool! Do you really think Nn Changkong intends to recruit us? If he were sincere about doing so, why wouldn''t he reach out in private? Why would he make such a show of this? Are you so foolish that you can''t even think for yourself? Nn Changkong''s trying to take advantage of us to make a fool of Young Master Xiao. How dare you send me a mental transmission to urge me to ept?!"


    "I, I¡ª" The disciple clutched his face in shock.


    The Sanyuan sect master took a deep breath, then kowtowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Young Master, with the birth of so many Immortals within the Tianshu Empire, my disciples have been tempted to seek other allegiances and have even started no small number of rumors. However, I assure you that I am fully loyal to the Xiao n. I rushed over to Yongding today to make this known to you specifically."


    "Young Master, my sect shall always be a part of the Xiao forces. This I swear on the future of my sect!"


    "Young Master, I''ve dealt with the imbeciles of the Fuyou Immortal Sect who have fallen prey to others'' ill intent. The Fuyou Immortal Sect is fully loyal to you!"


    "The Chongshan Immortal Sect remains fullymitted to the Xiao n. I too havee to Yongding to reaffirm my allegiance. I have detained those who dared to disrupt our army''s morale pending your judgment, Young Master."


    The sect masters made their choice clear.


    "You!" Ye Shuangcheng shouted, his face wretched.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood very well that the sect leaders had contemted the possibility of switching sides once again. However, those who had already made this choice once were all intelligent enough to realize that, if they were to leave him and seek another lord, they would never be taken seriously. Their tarnished reputation would stick to them and make them stand out like a sore thumb.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded at their affirmations. He was hardly going to point out their innermost thoughts; that would serve no one. Rather, this would be an excellent opportunity to raise morale.


    "Everyone, I thank you for making your intentions known. I ought to demonstrate and make examples of those who serve the Xiao name. My forces operate strictly on merit; those who perform meritorious acts shall be rewarded generously. Ye Sanshui has been the general andmander of my forces, winning acim and merit throughout thend. I have yet to provide sufficientpensation for his deeds. Today, I intend to take advantage of this opportunity to reward him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Everyone looked perplexed.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed Ye Sanshui a jade box. "Ye Sanshui, take this as a reward for your merit. Consume it immediately."


    Ye Sanshui nced at the jade box curiously. As he opened it, an incredible aroma seeped out. The sect masters all around sniffed curiously at it, only to find their hearts and minds suddenly calm and collected.


    "Could that be... a blood peach?!" One sect master suddenly opened his eyes wide in disbelief.


    "Chongshan Sect Master, are you aware of what that peach is?" another sect master asked.


    "Have you all forgotten? Nn Yunhai consumed a blood peach after ascending to Wingform-realm. In just a few days after he returned to the capital of the Tianshu Empire, he underwent a tribtion and became an Immortal!"


    "What? That''s the blood peach that can turn a Wingform-realm cultivator into an Immortal?!" the sect masters eximed.


    They stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. Xiao Nanfeng could turn whoever he wanted into an Immortal! As long as they earned sufficient merit, they might be able to win such a prize for themselves. Wasn''t this far superior to working under the Xiang or Nn ns?


    They were uniformly relieved that they hadn''t been so foolish as to switch their allegiance. Otherwise, they might have regretted their choice for life.

 Chapter 331: Painstaking

    <h4>Chapter 331: Painstaking</h4>


    Ye Sanshui understood that Xiao Nanfeng was taking advantage of this opportunity to ensure the loyalty of his forces with a single blood peach. He immediately cooperated and swallowed the peach quickly.


    As he absorbed the peach, a dense mass of energy suffused his body all the way to his extremities, tearing apart his bottleneck in the blink of an eye. As though sensing something, his heart suddenly thumped.


    "Young Master, I¡ªI think I''m about to undergo a tribtion!" Ye Sanshui shouted in disbelief.


    He had already reached the peak of Wingform, but that didn''t mean that he would qualify for a tribtion. What Ye Sanshui awaited was an opportunity, a moment of resonance with heaven and earth. Many cultivators were trapped at the peak of Wingform for life, unable tomune with the world and hence to trigger a tribtion. Unexpectedly, this blood peach had immediately triggered such a sensation.


    A crackle of lightning shone overhead. Roiling dark clouds formed out of thin air.


    "Undergo the tribtion outside the city. Be careful," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    Ye Sanshui quickly flew out of the city, followed swiftly behind by the dark clouds that had locked in on him.


    Shortly thereafter, an evenrger mass of thick, ck clouds gathered outside the city. Lightning crackled. Even from afar, the force of the heavenly tribtion shocked the gathered cultivators.


    The various sect masters nced at Ye Sanshui''s figure with envy. That tribtion was something right out of their dreams!


    "The tribtion is allegedly very dangerous. Even if you can summon one, you might not be able to survive it. It''s a perilous experience."


    "I wonder if the blood peach can help a cultivator survive the tribtion, too?"


    The sect masters whispered to each other as they considered the scene before them.


    A bolt of lightning struck Ye Sanshui. He defended himself with a fist, but the lightning still crept all over his body. Huge wounds formed and sprayed out copious amounts of blood.


    Just then, the hazy image of a blood peach appeared from within his body, instantly healing his wounds and revitalizing his energy. He was once again at peak condition.


    "The blood peach can even heal a cultivator''s wounds and replenish their supply of energy!" someone eximed.


    Ye Sanshui was repeatedly struck by the heavenly lightning, but whenever he became seriously injured, the blood peach would help heal him of those injuries. Multiple hourster, as the final bolt of lightning dissipated, the dark clouds in the sky turned into radiant clouds that seeped into Ye Sanshui''s body.


    By then, Ye Sanshui was only a little tired; his body didn''t seem particrly injured at all.


    "He became an Immortal!"


    "A blood peach¡ªis that all it takes?!"


    The sect masters couldn''t help but eye Ye Sanshui in envy.


    Ye Sanshui slowly flew back toward them.


    "Thank you, Young Master! I''ve ovee the heavenly tribtion. As long as I absorb thetent energy in my body, I''ll be able to ovee my mortal shackles!" Ye Sanshui eximed with gratitude.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Then, Ye Sanshui turned to Ye Shuangcheng. "Did you see that, Second Brother? You''ve made the wrong decision."


    "Did I? It''s too early toe to that conclusion. Third Brother, the Tianshu Empire is where you belong. I ask you again: will you apany me there? Let''s head where Ye Dafu is and ascend to ever greater heights in the Tianshu Empire," Ye Shuangcheng urged stubbornly.


    "Ye Shuangcheng, listen to yourself! Have you forgotten what Father said back then? Any who betray Marquis Xiao might as well have turned their back on the family!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    Ye Shuangcheng looked coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. "That''s Xiao Nanfeng, not Xiao Hongye. If you don''t want to join Ye Dafu in establishing and of your own, then forget it. I''ll return immediately and bring the Ye n back to prosperity with him!"


    Ye Shuangcheng turned to leave.


    "Hold it, you¡ª" Ye Sanshui was about to shout for Ye Shuangcheng to stop when Xiao Nanfeng tugged at him on the shoulder, interrupting him mid-shout.


    Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Ye Shuangcheng, report to Nn Changkong that I don''t intend to forfeit any of my followers. Ye Sanshui is a general of the Xiao forces. He will not serve the Nn n."


    Ye Shuangcheng whirled around and eyed Xiao Nanfeng. He snorted and flew off, his guards following swiftly behind him. The retinue left Yongding rapidly.


    Seeing Ye Shuangcheng leave, Ye Sanshui anxiously wanted to follow, but Xiao Nanfeng held him still and bade him not speak.


    "Sect Masters, I ask that you continue to guard your respective territories, that you not cede ground and hand over the cities that belong to the Xiao n," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Of course!" the sect leaders replied.


    None disobeyed Xiao Nanfeng; they had all seen the tremendous boon that he had bestowed on Ye Sanshui, and they didn''t want to miss out on such an opportunity themselves.


    The various sect masters left with their disciples as Xiao Nanfeng brought Ye Sanshui back to the Xiao manor.


    As they entered, Ye Sanshui asked urgently, "What''s going on, King Xiao? How could you have let my brother leave just like that? I still haven''t asked him about what''s going on with Ye Dafu!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Your second brother has worked hard. He might be under duress as well."


    "What?!"


    "He hinted to us that he would try to find a way to meet Ye Dafu./ We simply have to follow him there."


    "What?"


    "I promised that I would follow him," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "You did? Did you really have such a conversation? Why wasn''t I aware?" Ye Sanshui sounded gobsmacked.


    "Absorb thetent energy that those clouds from the tribtion left behind, converting your qi into Immortal qi. Don''t worry about anything else; I''ll keep a close eye on things," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded fervently.


    Dayster, within a hall in the capital of the Tianshu Empire, Ye Shuangcheng bowed respectfully toward Nn Changkong. Beside Nn Changkong stood a man in purple.


    "Your Highness, although those sect masters proimed that they would side with Xiao Nanfeng, I believed that they may yet turn to us if we were to approach them in private. However, after that, Xiao Nanfeng took out a blood peach and captured their loyalty by dangling it over their heads. As for Ye Sanshui, he must have gone crazy. I''ll continue to contact him. I guarantee that I''ll persuade him to join you, Your Highness," Ye Shuangcheng said.


    "A blood peach? Xiao Nanfeng must have obtained it within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. Perhaps he only has just the one. He''s a schemer, isn''t he? He took full advantage of this situation to reignite morale among his forces. However, he didn''t realize that I had you pay him a visit for a different purpose entirely." Nn Changkong smiled.


    "Ah?" Ye Shuangcheng seemed confused.


    The man in purple beside him suddenly asked, "Your Highness, did you intend for everyone to know that you are in conflict with Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Exactly. Do you know why, Marquis Zi?"


    Marquis Zi thought for a moment. "Is it because Xiang Lianzhen died at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands some days ago?"


    "That''s right. The Xiang n knew that I was the one who lured Xiang Lianzhen to kill Zhao Yuanjiao, only to have him perish at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands. If you were from the Xiang n, what would you think about the situation?"


    "That you were working with Xiao Nanfeng, Your Highness¡ªand that you were the mastermind behind Xiang Lianzhen''s death! The Xiang n would seek revenge on you!" Marquis Zi eximed.


    "Exactly right. What about now?"


    "Now? Ye Shuangcheng has caused a fiasco in Yongding in your name. The Xiang cultivators will understand that there was no mastermind in Xiang Lianzhen''s death, only a culprit: Xiao Nanfeng. If they want to take revenge on Xiang Lianzhen, they simply have to attack Xiao Nanfeng."


    "That''s right. Xiang Lianzhen''s death, Xiang Pojun''s death, and even Xiang Qisha''s death are all tied to Xiao Nanfeng. Who else would the Xiang n seek out for revenge?"


    Ye Shuangcheng''s eyes widened. He eximed, "Your Highness, do you intend to have Xiao Nanfeng shoulder all the enmity and grudges that the Xiang n bears toward you?"


    "Just so! Well done, Ye Shuangcheng. I''m very pleased with your performance. I have spies among the Xiang n. If I''m not mistaken, they''ll attack him within the next few days." Nn Changkong smiled.


    Ye Shuangcheng''s eyes shed in panic, but he quickly hid his expression in the guise of a smile. "You truly have nned for every eventuality, Your Highness."


    "If Xiao Nanfeng dies to the Xiang n with this n, Ye Shuangcheng, you shall be generously rewarded." Nn Changkong smiled.


    Ye Shuangcheng clenched his fists tightly. He sucked in a deep breath. "Your Highness, I dare not im any reward for what I have done save a meeting with my nephew, Ye Dafu."


    "Ye Dafu? He''s stubborn and refuses to listen. Why would you want to see him?" Nn Changkong demanded.


    "Your Highness, my nephew''s thoughts have been clouded by close proximity to Xiao Nanfeng. He listened obediently to me as a child, and I''m sure I can convince him to work with you. He''ll surely be loyal to you ever after, and even help you conquer the world. Your Highness, my nephew is a skilled general, and he would easily be able to help you im the Xiaonds for yourself."


    Nn Changkong pondered Ye Shuangcheng''s proposal and found it reasonable.


    "Very well. One chance for you and for Ye Dafu. If you can convince him to listen to mymands, I can allow him to continue serving as General of the East."


    "Thank you, Your Highness!" Ye Shuangcheng kowtowed again and again. "I''ll surely make him listen to your orders and assist you in growing your empire!"


    Nn Changkong nced disdainfully at Ye Shuangcheng. In his heart of hearts, he had no respect for this cowardly second brother of the Ye n.


    Just then, a guard rushed into the hall.


    "Your Highness, we have word from the Xiang n. Many Immortals from the Xiang n are headed to Yongding right at this moment!"


    "Oh? They''ve started their invasion, then. I''d like to have a good look at this show." Nn Changkong''s eyes brightened.


    "Your Highness, when am I to see Ye Dafu?" Ye Shuangcheng asked urgently.


    "Have Marquis Zi bring you there. I have other matters at hand, haha!" Nn Changkongughed loudly as he left the hall.


    "Thank you, Your Highness! Farewell, Your Highness!" Ye Shuangcheng bowed madly.


    After seeing Nn Changkong off, he bowed toward Marquis Zi. "Marquis Zi, please guide me to my nephew."

 Chapter 332: Xiang Shaoyin

    <h4>Chapter 332: Xiang Shaoyin</h4>


    Word that a blood peach had turned Ye Sanshui into an Immortal spread far and wide across the Eastern Sea. In just a few days, countless cultivators had snuck into Yongding.


    They were all wondering how many of these blood peaches Xiao Nanfeng had: one, or perhaps multiple? If there were many, then there would surely be plenty of cultivators here to steal them. Many of the cultivators decided to lie in wait, prepared for such a heist to ur and to take advantage of themotion to grab what they could.


    Within the study of the Xiao manor, Zheng Qian smiled wryly at Xiao Nanfeng. "King Xiao, I believe dozens of Wingform-realm cultivators have infiltrated the city."


    "There''s no need to worry, Mr. Zheng. This is normal. The world of cultivation and the mortal world are one and the same in many regards. Those without sufficient strength to protect their treasures ought not disy them grantly¡ªor precisely such a situation will ur."


    "But¡ª"


    "Worry not. These Wingform-realm cultivators are here to take advantage of opportunities that might arise, not to create them on their own. None of them dare to be the first one to make a move," Xiao Nanfeng dered confidently.


    Zheng Qian nodded. "As you say, King Xiao. They really are rather weakpared to our forces."


    Just then, a huge boom resounded from outside the manor. The entire city of Yongding rumbled.


    "Has someone made a move?" Zheng Qian''s eyes widened.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode out of the study immediately, only to see that the defensive formation around Yongding had activated. Eight strong cultivators stood outside the formation, surrounded by radiant light and an Immortal aura. One of them had struck the defensive formation protecting the city.


    "King Xiao, upon seeing a group of enemy Immortals, I immediately activated the defensive formation around the city to block them!" one guard shouted from afar.


    "Deactivate it! The defensive formation won''t be able to hold Immortals out," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the guards replied from afar.


    The defensive formation deactivated, revealing the eight figures outside¡ªsix Immortal cultivators and two crow Immortals. The eight Immortals gave off a fearsome aura.


    "King Shaoyin, that''s Xiao Nanfeng. He was the one who killed King Lianzhen!" One crow Immortal pointed at Xiao Nanfeng with fangs bared.


    The Immortals all looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with killing intent. They awaited the orders of a man in white, with silver hair scattered over his shoulders. His features were grave and stern, and his eyes unusually calm.


    "It''s Xiang Shaoyin, second-inmand of the Xiang n! He came himself?"


    "Xiang Shaoyin is an absolute genius of the Xiang n. A hundred years ago, he was already at the peak of Lunar Deluge. I heard that, some days ago, he slew two Immortals from the Tianshu Empire one after another. He''s frighteningly strong!"


    "With Xiang Shaoyin around, Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to escape a cmity today."


    The cultivators in the city were all whispering to one another.


    Nn Changkong arrived at a secluded valley outside Yongding. He, along with two others, watched the impending fight with glee.


    High in the air, Xiang Shaoyin stood with his hands sped behind his back. He stared at Xiao Nanfeng and demanded coldly, "Are you Xiao Nanfeng? You look just like your father."


    "You knew my father?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Knew? Xiao Hongye was a cultivator of immense talent. When he came to the Taiwu Empire for training back then, I had intended to take him on as a disciple. Unfortunately, he was too prideful and rejected my offer, missing out on this opportunity," Xiang Shaoyin recollected.


    "Xiang Shaoyin, do you enjoy such idle gossip?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Xiang Shaoyin shook his head. "I spoke only the truth. Xiao Nanfeng, do you know what I''m doing here?"


    "Holding me ountable for Xiang Lianzhen''s death?"


    "Exactly. Xiang Lianzhen is my nephew, and he possessed tremendous talent. He would have been a pir of the n from the younger generation, and I naturally have to avenge his death. However, I don''t want to be taken advantage of by the Nn n, either. What say you?"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "A few days ago, Nn Changkong specifically instructed Ye Shuangcheng to head over to Yongding and rify the rtionship between him and you. In doing so, he made you the object of retaliation while he gets off scot-free. If I''m not mistaken, he''s hidden somewhere in the region, waiting to see how I''ll ughter you. What do you think I should do with him?" Xiang Shaoyin smiled.


    In the distance, shrouded in darkness, Nn Changkong nched.


    "Need I teach you what you should do?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "In that case, why don''t I take you all down today, once and for all?" Xiang Shaoyin smiled, thenmanded, "Crow Immortals, search for any traces of Nn Changkong!"


    "Understood!" the two crow Immortals replied. They unfurled their wings and began patrolling the area, in search of any trace of Nn Changkong.


    In the darkness, Nn Changkong''s eyes twitched. He sensed that he was in danger.


    "What should we do, Your Highness?" one of his subordinates asked, worried.


    "Rein in your aura. Wait and see what happens, Nn Changkong replied.


    "Understood!"


    In the air, Xiang Shaoyin pointed at Xiao Nanfeng once more. "This time, don''t be careless. Start by capturing Xiao Nanfeng. Make your move together!"


    "Understood!" the five Immortals shouted. They rushed at Xiao Nanfeng, Immortal swords in hand.


    Five frightening auras descended from the skies. Even before they had emerged, howling gales swept over the city and shocked the countless people within it.


    All the cultivators in the city felt that Xiao Nanfeng was done for. Even if the cultivator at Yin Body from the Xiao manor made his move, or even if the red rope cursed effigy did, he wouldn''t be able to block thebined assault of five Immortals. After all, the Xiao n was far less well equipped than the Xiang n.


    Just then, a blood-red sword streaked through the air toward the foremost Xiang Immortal.


    The Immortal frowned, sensing incredible danger. The Immortal sword in his hand shed forward, shing against the blood-red sword. A huge shockwave formed at the point of impact, sending the Immortal flying. Zhao Yuanjiao gave chase, his sword drawn.


    "Insolence!" The other four Immortals attempted to make their move in shock and fear.


    Just then, two more beams shot out from the Xiao manor, iming the attention of two more Immortals. They were struck and sent flying as Yu''er and You Jiu rushed out of the manor.


    The final two Immortals were unable to provide any assistance to the others, because Croak and Warble had closed in on them. They mmed their palms forward, sending both Immortals flying from the impact.


    Within moments, the skies above the city of Yongding were filled with the sound of battle. Immortal light shed as zing me continued to pour out from the firmament. The fight among the ten Immortals shocked everyone in sight, including the spies ensconced within the city.


    "How could the Xiao manor have harbored this many human and spirit Immortals? What a frightening force¡ªthank goodness I didn''t try to attack it!"


    "No, isn''t there still Ye Sanshui? Just how many Immortals are hidden within the Xiao manor?"


    "We''d better not try to steal any blood peaches. We would die!"


    Countless cultivators shuddered. The threat that Xiang Shaoyin had posed had vanished in an instant. The cultivators whispered to one another in fear.


    "King Shaoyin, those are the two humans and spirits that we encountered during the crisis at sea. They''ve all be Immortals!" one Crow Immortal eximed.


    "King Shaoyin, shall I and the others join the battlefield?" the other crow Immortal asked.


    Xiang Shaoyin nced at the rubble-strewn street. He smiled gently and shook his head. "It''s toote. We''ll end things here. Stop fighting!"


    "What?" the two Crow Immortals eximed.


    The Immortals fighting in the distance were likewise shocked. Even so, following their orders, they flew straight toward their opponent before splitting up from them amidst the chaos.


    Zhao Yuanjiao, Yu''er, and the others nced at Xiao Nanfeng beneath them in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. He nodded toward everyone, who flew back to the Xiao manor in confusion.


    The fight among the Immortals ended as quickly as it began. The cultivators within the city were confused by just what had happened; even Nn Changkong, skulking outside the city, was perplexed.


    "Xiang Shaoyin? Were you just trying to gauge my strength?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He found that Xiang Shaoyin didn''t seem at all surprised to see that he had Immortals of his own. Rather, he looked at them as though he had expected their presence. This was very unusual.


    "Gauge your strength? Not quite. If you can''t even take down my subordinates, what''s the point of leaving you alive? I''d rather kill you. The fact that you did manage to defend against my subordinates makes me very pleased." Xiang Shaoyin smiled.


    "You''re trying to determine what trump cards I have? What are you nning?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Xiang Shaoyin stared at Xiao Nanfeng, momentarily silent, before he took a deep breath. "Xiao Nanfeng, dere yourself a king!"


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The countless cultivators within the city were likewise taken aback. What was Xiang Shaoyin nning?


    "Stockpiling grain for an explosive rise¡ªwell, you do know how to y to your strengths, and you understand the importance of keeping your word. You skulk in the shadows, secretly developing the strength of your forces, as you wait for the Xiang and Nn ns to wound each other before you strike. That''s what you''re nning, isn''t it?" Xiang Shaoyin smirked.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Do you really think that people wouldn''t realize what you were doing? No. The Xiang and Nn ns are both paying careful attention to you. Do you really think Nn Qiankun was going to leave you be? He''s nning to ughter you, a malicious n that can dissolve any ties between you and the Taiqing Immortal Sect. You would be a traitor and sinner of the sect, which woulde at you with full force."


    "What nonsense are you spouting?"


    "For the moment, you stand as the Mortal division leader, and you have the support of the Ascended division leader. It might look as though the Taiqing Immortal Sect will surely side with you, but once Nn Qiankun''s devious n seeds, all that advantage will be lost. If you don''t im kingship and make use of your control over the Taiqing Immortal Sect now, you;ll lose everything," Xiang Shaoyin warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He immediately guessed why Xiang Shaoyin was telling him all this. Why would the Xiang n benefit from his titling himself a king? It had to be because the Xiang n was unable to withstand the pressure from the Nn n any longer, and was searching for someone to split the burden! Was Xiang Shaoyin intending to force him to announce his kingship to start a three-pronged conflict?

 Chapter 333: Forced Into Kingship

    <h4>Chapter 333: Forced Into Kingship</h4>


    "Xiang Shaoyin, you must have found the wrong person. My father is Marquis Xiao of the Tianshu Empire, and he''s fought and bled for Emperor Tianshu. Why would he want to assassinate me? You must be trying to incite a feud between me and the Tianshu Empire." Xiao Nanfeng refused to entertain Xiang Shaoyin''s supposition.


    "I know you still hope that everything''s fine, but I''m warning you, Nn Qiankun has already sent messengers to the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s sect master. You''ll be deemed a traitor to the sect, even if you''re the Mortal division leader."


    "Do you think my sect master won''t be able to differentiate right from wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    Xiang Shaoyin retrieved a letter and threw it at Xiao Nanfeng. "The Nn n has plenty of spies among the Xiang camp, but the opposite is true as well. This is a report from my spies. Look carefully. If you don''t retaliate, all the strength that the Taiqing Immortal Sect can bring to bear will be granted to Nn Qiankun."


    Xiao Nanfeng took the letter but didn''t read through it. He eximed coldly, "Xiang Shaoyin, you''ve made a big fuss here today here at Yongding, inviting me to dere my kingship and showing me this supposed evidence against me. You''re trying to rouse the Tianshu Empire''s suspicions and force me into rebellion, aren''t you?"


    "That''s right. I''m here to force you to take a stance. You''re far too cautious. If I were to give you this information in private, you might not do anything about it. Only this approach would be effective. I''m sure you''ll make that deration soon enough," Xiang Shaoyin said confidently. Then, without any further exnation, he turned to his subordinates. "Let''s leave!"


    "Understood!" the Immortal cultivators and crow Immortals replied.


    In the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight in beams of light.


    Outside the city, hidden in darkness, one of Nn Changkong''s subordinates asked, "Your Highness, is Xiang Shaoyin right? Has His Majesty really made a move against Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Nn Changkong frowned. "I''m not sure. I''ll have to go back and ask Mother."


    He was leaning toward Xiang Shaoyin''s im being the truth. However, the fact that even he hadn''t been aware left him shocked. Just how deep did the Xiang n''s espionage extend?


    Within the city of Yongding, countless cultivators gulped as they reined in their aura. They could sense how intense the fighting between the Xiao, Nn, and Xiang ns were, and they had also been shocked by the Xiao Nanfeng''s hidden strength. No one dared to consider the idea of stealing a blood peach from him any longer.


    Within the Xiao manor, Zhao Yuanjiao and Yu''er joined Xiao Nanfeng in his study. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with the letter, Xiao Nanfeng opened it. He read it, frowned, and then handed the letter to the others.


    "ording to the letter, Nn Qiankun wrote to the sect master indicting Nanfeng of a number of serious offenses. He imed that Nanfeng schemed against and killed his peers Nn Feng and Nn Yunhai, fracturing the rtionship between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Tianshu Empire. Not only that, he killed the left division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, Cui Haisheng. He hasmitted great ills and is akin to a tumor that must be excised. He ought to have his techniques stripped from him and be expelled from the sect...!" Yu''er eximed.


    "Nanfeng, did you really kill these people?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Would the sect master believe Nn Qiankun''s one-sided ims?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head. "That said, if there''s sufficient suspicion, the matter can be confirmed. The Taiqing Immortal Sect has a relic that can reveal a scene from the past and determine the culprit of a murder."


    "Oh?"


    "If you really did kill them, Nn Qiankun might seed in his gambit," Zhao Yuanjiao continued.


    "Nanfeng, did you kill them?" Yu''er asked in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully described how the three cultivators had perished.


    "So they were the ones who tried to kill Nanfeng¡ªhe was only defending himself!" Yu''er eximed.


    "That might be true, but others might not believe Nanfeng. Nn Qiankun might be able to take advantage of the opportunity to besmirch his name. His son plotted for Xiang Lianzhen to assassinate me¡ªthey might even try to use Nanfeng of being responsible for that crime." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "No wonder Xiang Shaoyin wanted to send word to me personally. He was worried that Nn Qiankun would seed in taking me down and have the entire sect back him. He''s hoping that I''ll be able to counter Nn Qiankun instead, destroying the alliance between the sect and the Tianshu Empire," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed with a frown.


    "He wants to expose the feud between you and the Nn n publicly, then?" Yu''er asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously.


    "Xiang Shaoyin''s actions today have revealed the presence of more Immortals in your faction, King Xiao. He had another objective in mind," Zheng Qian suddenly said.


    "Oh?" Everyone turned to Zheng Qian.


    "News of what happened today will quickly spread across the world. Those sect masters that have joined King Xiao, realizing that he possesses such power, will immediately rise up in support of his deration of kingship. That way, they would officially be able to im themselves as his supporters and give them the justification they need to start invading territory and establishing merit for themselves."


    "Xiang Shaoyin really nned this well, didn''t he?" Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips.


    "King Xiao, we can also deduce that the Xiang n is on the losing end of the confrontation with the Naln n. They might not even be able to hold out much longer," Zheng Qian continued.


    "Will you call yourself king, Nanfeng?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. "Let''s wait. We have to thwart Nn Qiankun''s n first. Otherwise, if the usation goes public, we''ll have a hard time defending ourselves."


    "We need to find Master immediately. Master''s on excellent terms with the sect master. If he were to help exin the situation, the sect master would never believe Nn Qiankun," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    Everyone nodded.


    Word of what happened was quickly spreading across the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea. Many sects, learning of Xiao Nanfeng''s true strength, began to consider him more seriously. Simultaneously, as Zheng Qian had predicted, those sects that were already in support of Xiao Nanfeng wrote to request that Xiao Nanfeng announce his kingship.


    In a hall deep within the capital of Tianshu, after Ye Shuangcheng saw Nn Changkong off, he earnestly begged Marquis Zi,


    "Marquis Zi, His Highness has promised to allow me to see Ye Dafu. Would you be willing to bring me to him?"


    Marquis Zi smirked. "Ye Shuangcheng, don''t you care about what I did to the Ye n? You''re begging me for help?"


    "Of course I don''t care. My elder brother was stubborn and unwilling to change his views. You whipped my elder brother in order to save the Ye n. Otherwise, if he were to side with Xiao Nanfeng, the Ye n would have suffered sooner orter. I haven''t been on good terms with him, and I fully support what you did," Ye Shuangcheng said immediately.


    "Even though your brother died not long ago?" Marquis Zi demanded.


    "He had lingering mdies, and it was only to be expected that he would die so suddenly. Some of the wounds he had taken from fighting alongside Xiao Hongye back then never healed fully. If there''s anyone to me, it''s Xiao Hongye. What does it have to do with you? When I used to gamble, my father would break my wrists and force me to kneel and repent at the Ye ancestral hall. My elder brother was always the one who administered such punishment. I''ve long grown tired of him. Better that he die. No one will be able tomand me then, and I''ll inherit the full sum of Ye wealth, haha!" Ye Shuangchengughed.


    "Then why seek out Ye Dafu? He''s your elder brother''s son. He''d just be anotherpetitor for your fortune," Marquis Zi replied.


    Ye Shuangcheng looked all around, then whispered, "Marquis Zi, let me tell you the truth. Don''tugh at me, will you?"


    "Hm?" Marquis Zi replied calmly.


    "I might be able to inherit the Ye fortune, but I still have to consider what happens afterwards. I''m not particrly strong. Without anyone to shelter me, I won''t be able to keep my wealth. My nephew, Ye Dafu, is a bit of an idiot, and he''ll listen to me for sure. He''s a strong cultivator in his own right, and he''ll serve to back me up. That''s why I have to persuade him to bow down to His Highness." Ye Shuangcheng smiled.


    "Oh? You really still are the cowardly gambler you used to be, aren''t you? Haha!" Marquis Ziughed in satisfaction.


    "That''s right. I''m addicted for life, I''m afraid."


    Marquis Zi suddenly sneered. "Do you know why I volunteered to deal with the Ye n?"


    "You''re helping the Ye n, Marquis Zi, not dealing with it!" Ye Shuangcheng continued his bootlicking routine.


    Marquis Ziughed. "Don''t you remember? That year, while we were all fighting on Xiao Hongye''s side, I killed a few civilians and had my fill of several female enemy cultivators. Xiao Hongye imed that I was flouting military discipline, killing the innocent, and raping prisoners of war! I ended up being whipped publicly. Don''t you remember?"


    "I do. My elder brother begged for mercy on your behalf. That was why Xiao Hongye released you," Ye Shuangcheng recalled.


    "That''s right, but your elder brother was also in charge of administering the punishment. He whipped me for three whole days and nights. Whenever he did so, he had to shout out my offenses for all to hear. I was publicly mocked and shamed in front of my peers. This humiliation remained for good, even after I established myself and earned enough merit to be a marquis. The other marquises frequently joked about it at my expense. Were you aware?" Marquis Zi demanded.


    "My elder brother is dead, and no one will dare to mock you in the future, Marquis Zi. My elder brother deserved what happened to him!"


    Marquis Zi narrowed his eyes at Ye Shuangcheng. "You really don''t care about your elder brother''s death?"


    "Of course! Better that he''s dead. Only then will I be able to enjoy a carefree life. Please, Marquis Zi, bring me to see Ye Dafu. I promise you that he''ll listen to you in the future¡ªand if you''re still upset about my elder brother, you can take it out on him, haha!"


    Marquis Zi stared at Ye Shuangcheng, his eyes mocking. "Very well. Follow me, then!"


    "Thank you, Marquis Zi!"

 Chapter 334: Blackflame Island

    <h4>Chapter 334: ckme Ind</h4>


    Across the vast expanse of the Eastern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui flew above the clouds, surrounded by white fog. They stared at two ck dots in the distance: Marquis Zi and Ye Shuangcheng.


    "Don''t fly too fast, or Marquis Zi might find us," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui immediately slowed down.


    "To think Ye Dafu was detained on the Eastern Sea... No wonder the spectral guards didn''t find any sign of him despite searching everywhere in the Tianshu Empire." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Why would they detain Dafu here?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "I suppose we''ll see."


    The two cultivators trailed Ye Shuangcheng for some time until they arrived at an ind surrounded by fog.


    "Is that ckme Ind? The headquarters of the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "The formation around ckme Ind is particrly challenging to handle. Follow me carefully," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "King Xiao, how do you know how to pass through this formation?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "After Cui Haisheng''s death, I gained possession of his storage treasure, and I found out how to get into ckme Ind from it."


    Ye Sanshui nodded, then carefully followed Xiao Nanfeng onto the ind.


    There were plenty of demonic disciples cultivating on ckme Ind. Although this was Xiao Nanfeng''s first time there, he had read up on the situation on the ind beforehand, and the territory was familiar to him. He saw Marquis Zi bring Ye Shuangcheng into a gigantic volcano in the distance.


    "Over there!" Ye Sanshui whispered, his eyes lighting up.


    The two cultivators snuck over.


    The mouth of the volcano was engulfed with heat. Moltenva flowed sluggishly within. Twelve golden cultivators were submerged in it, chained up and immobilized, and forced to bear the incredible heat.


    "I can''t stand it anymore! Release me!"


    "It hurts! No!"


    The twelve golden cultivators cried out shrilly in pain.


    Marquis Zi brought Ye Shuangcheng into the volcano. They stood high up on a terrace that overlooked theva below. The twelve cultivators'' faces could clearly be made out.


    "Dafu!" Ye Shuangcheng suddenly cried out.


    One among those twelve golden cultivators was Ye Dafu; the other eleven were hisckeys. Their faces were contorted with pain as theva ate at their bodies.


    Ye Shuangcheng''s shout caused all twelve golden cultivators to crane their heads curiously. When they saw that it was Ye Shuangcheng, all their ''pain'' suddenly faded away. They smiled in joy.


    "Sir Ye!" Ye Dafu''sckeys called out.


    "Second Uncle? What are you doing here?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Ye Shuangcheng and Marquis Zi were startled to see the golden cultivators'' sudden transformation. Had Ye Dafu''s pained expression been nothing more than an act?


    When the golden cultivators saw that there was still someone else standing behind Ye Shuangcheng, they nched.


    "Argh! I can''t stand it anymore! Theva hurts!" the golden cultivators cried out.


    "Second Uncle, were you caught too? What happened to my father?" Ye Dafu cried out, apparently in great ''pain''.


    "You''ve all been feigning pain?!" Marquis Zi demanded. "Ye Dafu, you seem to be enjoying yourself. Have you heard that your father''s dead?"


    Ye Dafu''s face turned stiff. He turned to Marquis Zi in astonishment. "What?"


    "I said, your father''s dead. Didn''t you know? Didn''t you notice that the Ye manor was a mess the day you returned?" Marquis Zi smirked.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys didn''t bother feigning pain any longer. They panicked and turned to Ye Shuangcheng.


    "Second Uncle, what''s going on? When I returned to the manor that day, you said that everything was fine and that I should leave immediately. I was caught the moment I stepped out. What happened? Where''s Father?!" Ye Dafu pressed.


    Ye Shuangcheng didn''t answer him. He asked, "Dafu, are you alright? Tell me honestly how you''re doing. Why have you been immersed inva?"


    "Second Uncle, why are you asking about this? How''s my father?!" Ye Dafu pressed.


    "Answer me!" Ye Shuangcheng shouted.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys were startled, not realizing why Ye Shuangcheng''s tone was suddenly so strident.


    "We all cultivate Indomitable Body, and our bodies might as well be as tough as Immortal relics. They wanted our bodies and tried to control us with paper snakes, but the paper snakes weren''t able to break through our defenses. Then, they decided to torture us until we were in a weakened state before they struck again. That''s why they immersed us inva, but even that doesn''t hurt. They can''t do anything against us!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "They can''t hurt you? Thank goodness," Ye Shuangcheng breathed out in relief.


    "Second Uncle, what happened to my father? Tell me!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "He''s dead. Marquis Zi beat him to death."


    "W-What?!" Ye Dafu shrieked.


    Marquis Zi red at Ye Shuangcheng in surprise. "What''s the matter with you? Didn''t you say you were going to persuade Ye Dafu to be loyal to His Highness? Do you want to die?"


    Suddenly, as though sensing something, Marquis Zi nced up at the sky. His would-be assant, realizing that he had been spotted, struck immediately. A radiant, multicolored palm strike shot down toward Marquis Zi as he retaliated with a palm strike of his own.


    The two attacks struck each other and sent a frightening burst of energy around the region, causingva to ssh all over.


    "Hold it, Ye Sanshui!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from above.


    Xiao Nanfeng grabbed Ye Sanshui as Ye Sanshui''s face contorted in pain and rage. "Marquis Zi, how dare you!"


    The moment Marquis Zi saw the attacking, he ced his hands around Ye Shuangcheng''s neck. Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui immediately stopped short.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Ye Sanshui? Shouldn''t you be fighting against the Xiang Immortals in Yongding? What are you doing here? If you dare take another step forward, I''ll choke Ye Shuangcheng to death!" Marquis Zi threatened.


    "Ignore me! Attack him¡ªdon''t let him threaten you!" Ye Shuangcheng urged.


    Marquis Zi turned to Ye Shuangcheng. "With you around, they won''t dare to strike at me. Have you been lying to me all this time? Did you bring them over?"


    "The moment you killed my elder brother, I knew that you were determined to destroy the Ye n. Before my brother died, he grabbed my hands and had me flee, but he didn''t know that it was already toote. You intended to use us as bait to lure Dafu and Sanshui back. If I didn''t pretend to be a fool, to fawn on you bandits, how could I have gotten you to rx? I''m just a good-for-nothing gambler, after all. My life''s worthless. I''d sacrifice myself for Sanshui and Dafu''s safety a hundred times over!" Ye Shuangcheng roared out, suddenlyughing.


    "You rotten gambler¡ªdie!" Marquis Zi threatened.


    "I''m nothing but a gambler, but my third brother is themander-in-chief of the Xiao forces, and my eldest nephew is his general! They''ll surely take revenge on behalf of the Ye n. They''ll destroy the likes of you bandits!" Ye Shuangcheng spat on Marquis Zi''s face.


    He was worried that Marquis Zi would threaten the others with his life. He was deliberately enraging Marquis Zi so that he would kill him and lose his only bargaining chip.


    Marquis Zi, known for his pride, was easily baited by the saliva that struck his face.


    "Die!" Marquis Zi roared, breaking Ye Shuangcheng''s neck with a crisp crack.


    "Hold it!" Ye Sanshui roared, rushing over.


    "Second Uncle!" Ye Dafu howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng flung a length of red rope over in rage.

 Chapter 335: Second Uncle, a Gambler

    <h4>Chapter 335: Second Uncle, a Gambler</h4>


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng was about to make his move, white light shed around him. He shoved Ye Sanshui out of the domain of light, but he himself was submerged within it. He vanished from sight.


    "King Xiao?!" Ye Sanshui shouted, ncing all around in search of his liege.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s been tossed into an illusion. To think he would have shown up only in the form of his yin body¡ªas for you, you were lucky enough to avoid the illusion, but you won''t be able to escape, either." Marquis Zi tossed Ye Shuangcheng aside and struck at Ye Sanshui.


    The two cultivators'' palms met as a frightening burst of strength emanated from the point of impact, causing even moreva to ssh all around. Ye Sanshui was sent flying. He hastily drew an Immortal sword to defend himself.


    "Ye Sanshui, you''ve barely been an Immortal for a few days. How dare youunch a sneak attack at me? You''re done for!" Marquis Zi shouted, drawing an Immortal sword himself and shing at him.


    The two Immortal swords shed, causing a huge storm to form. It shattered the defensive formation around ckme Ind. The two Immortals engaged each other high in the air, causing fire, wind, and shes of energy to shoot out all over.


    Ye Shuangcheng copsed by the side of the balcony, his neck broken, his bones crushed from the force that Marquis Zi had exerted. He gasped hisst.


    "Uncle! Second Uncle!" Ye Dafu roared.


    He struck at the chains that bound him, but his cultivation was sealed. There was nothing he could do. He bellowed in frustration.


    Ye Shuangcheng looked weakly at Ye Dafu, smiling in relief. "With Young Master Xiao here to rescue you, you''ll all be fine. Dafu, don''t be like me in the future. I''m nothing but a useless gambler. Learn from your father, from your Third Uncle, from Young Master Xiao. The honor of the Ye n rests with you. Be well... Be well..."


    Ye Shuangcheng''s eyes turned dim. Blood poured out from his body, hisst breath gone.


    "Sir Ye! Don''t die, Sir Ye!" Ye Dafu''sckeys cried out.


    Ye Dafu trembled. Countless memories from the past shed through his head.


    "Dafu, haha, see what I brought back for you! Didn''t you want the third prince''s small golden horse? I won you the same breed. Don''t let your father know. He''s an old stick-in-the-mud¡ªif he knew that I gambled away ten treasures just for this one horse, he''d scold me for being a wastrel. I was happy to lose, though. Come on, let''s go riding! You''ll have to be the best general in the future, alright, Dafu?"


    "Dafu, did you infuriate another tutor to the point of departure again? Quick, your father''sing with a rod! We have to run now! Dafu, you''re sure to make a name for yourself in the future. So what if these tutors don''t think much of you? I was like that too in the past. It''s fine."


    "Dafu, how could your father let you set off for the Taiqing Immortal Sect without giving you any gold? Cultivation needs gold. I don''t have much savings, so I shamelessly stole from a gambling den. Go on, take this. Travel safely, you hear me? Ah, they''reing for me! Don''t worry about me. Run!"


    Memories and grief welled up as Ye Dafu watched his second uncle die. He was the most irreverent member of the Ye household, but Ye Dafu knew that his second uncle always had his best interests at heart.


    "Second Uncle!" Ye Dafu bellowed in sorrow.


    The seal on his cultivation broke in an instant as he recovered to peak strength. He wrenched himself free of the chains that bound him and rushed up to Ye Shuangcheng''s corpse. He hugged him tightly, but Ye Shuangcheng didn''t move whatsoever. Life hadpletely left his body.


    Ye Dafu bellowed once more.


    The endless grief and heartache he was experiencing seemed to trigger some form of sympathetic resonance with Indomitable Body. Golden mes zed across his skin.


    "Marquis Zi, you''ll die for this!" Ye Dafu roared, rushing out of the volcano with Ye Shuangcheng''s body in tow.


    "Boss!" Ye Dafu''sckeys cried out.


    Their eyes were zing, too. No longer were they as rxed as before. They roared as they smashed into each other, hoping to free themselves of their chains. The entire volcano seemed to quake.


    Outside the mouth of the volcano, the demonic disciples in the vicinity were fleeing in panic as they attempted to avoid the shockwaves from thebat urring high above them.


    Ye Sanshui was, in the end, new to being an Immortal. Marquis Zi pushed him back time and again, inflicting serious wounds each time. Then, Marquis Zi sent him flying from the skies. He smashed into the ground, creating a huge crater.


    "Ye Sanshui, you''re no match for me!" Marquis Zi mocked.


    Ye Sanshui spat out a mouthful of blood. He wiped his lips clean and prepared to continue fighting.


    Just then, a beam of golden light shed by. Ye Dafu had emerged with Ye Shuangcheng''s corpse.


    "Third Uncle, take care of Second Uncle''s corpse. Let me fight!" Ye Dafu demanded, stuffing Ye Shuangcheng in Ye Sanshui''s arms as he shot into the air.


    "Dafu! Get back here¡ªyou aren''t a match for him!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    When he looked at Ye Shuangcheng''s corpse in hisp, however, his face twisted in pain. "Second Brother, wake up! Don''t die!"


    Ye Sanshui infused his Immortal qi into Ye Shuangcheng''s corpse, hoping a miracle would ur, but Ye Shuangcheng had already perished. There was nothing he could do.


    "Marquis Zi, I''ll kill you!" Ye Dafu roared, shooting into the skies.


    "Ye Dafu, you weren''t my match before. What makes you think you can resist? You''re asking to die!" Marquis Zi smirked, shing at him with his sword.


    Ye Dafu''s surroundings lit up with golden light. His fist blocked the sword sh.


    "What an incredible technique. Your body''s as hard as an Immortal relic! No wonder Her Majesty wants to make you her puppets," Marquis Zi eximed.


    "Kill!" Ye Dafu howled, charging forward once more.


    Ye Dafu''s strength grew by leaps and bounds, concentrated by his anger, but Marquis Zi was ultimately an Immortal. He sent Ye Dafu flying time and again.


    Not longter, however, with a great crack, Marquis Zi''s Immortal sword was shattered.


    "How could you have grown stronger while you were trapped in theva? Impossible!" Marquis Zi eximed.


    "Die, Marquis Zi!" Ye Dafu bellowed in rage.


    His eyes were filled with tears, and his heart with grief. Just then, golden fog emerged from his body and shot into the sky. Raging gales and dark clouds flocked him.


    "A tribtion?!" Ye Sanshui shouted as he flew toward them.


    "An Immortal tribtion? You were able to trigger one all by yourself?" Marquis Zi eximed.


    He turned to run in shock, but Ye Dafu grabbed his qi barrier. A bolt of divine lightning shot down from the skies and surrounded both cultivators.


    The frightening shockwave that resulted buffeted even Ye Sanshui.


    "Dafu!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "Argh!" Marquis Zi yelled.


    By the time the lightning dissipated, the qi barrier around Marquis Zi''s body had been destroyed. Ye Dafu wrapped his arms around Marquis Zi''s waist.


    "Let go of me! Don''t you know that these tribtions grow stronger the more people there are? This is far stronger than an ordinary tribtion. Do you want to die together?!"


    "If I can kill you, I don''t care what happens to me!" Ye Dafu howled.


    "Let go! Let me go!" Marquis Zi shouted again, striking at Ye Dafu with his elbow. The tremendous force caused Ye Dafu''s body to shake, but he refused to let go.


    Another bolt of lightning struck the two cultivators.


    "Argh!" Marquis Zi yelled out again.


    After the lightning dissipated, both cultivators were charred and smoking.


    "Release me!" Marquis Zi continued to strike Ye Dafu with his elbow, but even though blood was trickling from his lips, Ye Dafu held on tight. Marquis Zi gaped in despair.


    More and more bolts of lightning rained down, surrounding the two cultivators and intent on destroying them.


    "Release him, Dafu!" Ye Sanshui shouted from afar.


    He didn''t dare draw near. He knew that, if he were to charge into the tribtion, it would sense his presence and ramp up the strength of the lightning ordingly. He continued to shout at Ye Dafu from afar.


    Even so, Ye Dafu refused to let go. His eyes shed with madness. Even if he had to die that day, he would avenge Father and his second uncle. Marquis Zi would die with him!


    "No! Let go!" Marquis Zi howled in despair.

 Chapter 336: Against Cui Haitang

    <h4>Chapter 336: Against Cui Haitang</h4>


    Lightning and fire zed, each blow stronger than thest. Because Marquis Zi was an Immortal himself, the heavens deemed fit to administer bolts of tribtory lightning with mounting strength.


    "Please, let go! Argh!" Marquis Zi vomited out blood as he pleaded with Ye Dafu for mercy.


    Ye Dafu, for his part, had a death grip around Marquis Zi''s waist. Regardless of how Marquis Zi elbowed him, he refused to let go. Strong though Marquis Zi''s elbow strikes were, Ye Dafu cultivated Indomitable Body and was perfectly suited for withstanding them.


    Marquis Zi continued to suffer as the lightning grew stronger. His hair came unbound. Wounds perforated his skin. His blood wouldn''t stop dripping.


    "Are you intending to use me as your shield for this tribtion? Die, you bastard!" Marquis Zi roared, shing down at him with a longsword.


    It struck Ye Dafu with a metallic nk¡ªthen bent out of shape, ruining Marquis Zi''s fifth longsword.


    "Let go! Let go, you!" Marquis Zi howled desperately.


    In order to obliterate the cultivator who was ruining the fairness of the tribtion, the bolts of lightning were only growing stronger. Marquis Zi waspletely charred by then. After vomiting out copious amounts of blood, he fell paralyzed to the ground, no longer breathing.


    After some time, the intensity of the tribtion slowly ramped down.


    Ye Sanshui, his eyes filled with tears, cried out, "Dafu, the tribtion has sensed that Marquis Zi is dead! Release his body and proceed carefully with the tribtion!"


    "Let go of him, Boss!" a group of golden cultivators shouted from afar, likewise having broken free of their chains.


    Ye Dafu seemed to have been stunned from the repeated shocks. He continued to hold onto Marquis Zi''s corpse, refusing to let go. The lightning struck at Ye Dafu over and over again, surrounding him until he was crackling. After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, the tribtion finally dissipated.


    As the final bolt of lightningnded, Marquis Zi''s corpse disintegrated into powder and vanished. The dark tribtory clouds rumbled and transformed into multicolored propitious clouds that surged into Ye Dafu''s body.


    "Boss survived the tribtion¡ªhe became an Immortal!" the group of golden cultivators cried out.


    However, Ye Dafu didn''t seem at all happy about his achievement. With tears in his eyes, he cried out, "Father, Second Uncle, I''ve avenged you!"


    After that shout, Ye Dafu copsed. His head drooped as he fell toward the sea.


    "Dafu!" Ye Sanshui rushed forward and grabbed his unconscious nephew.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight as the white light buffeted him.


    The white light was like a tidal wave, one that sent Xiao Nanfeng flying. He rapidly stabilized himself in mid-air, only to find that fog had suddenly appeared all around his surroundings.


    "An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in surprise.


    It had been so long since he hadst entered an illusion that he was almost difited by the notion. He immediately grew alert; it was likely a cursed effigy had brought him here.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? I haven''t even gone looking for you yet¡ªand here you are," a woman''s voice said.


    Xiao Nanfeng traced the voice to its origin: a square table in the distance, with a woman seated by its side. She was beautiful and gave off an aura of elegance, but her eyes were filled with tremendous hatred.


    "Cui Haitang?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He had seen Cui Haitang''s portrait before, and he recognized the Empress Tianshu immediately. What was she doing on ckme Ind?


    "What a pity that only your yin body showed up here. We wasted our time establishing this illusion, only to be unable to destroy your physical body," Cui Haitang said, difited.


    Xiao Nanfeng btedly noticed that Cui Haitang was apanied by someone¡ªno, something. It was a paper figure whose body was snowy-white. The figure''s features seemed to have been drawn on crudely, almost like the paper figurines used for secr funerals.


    The paper figure''s motions were jerky and stiff. It was seated by the side of the table with a pair of chopsticks in hand, consuming a dish of... paper snakes.


    The paper figure ate paper snake after paper snake in what seemed to be a sinister ritual of sorts.


    Despite sensing Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze, the paper figure didn''t turn to him. Rather, the paper snakes on the te hissed at him.


    "Well, it matters not. You haven''t been at Yin Body for long, have you? You might as well leave it behind today," Cui Haitang said chillingly.


    "I, on the other hand, will be taking your head as a sacrifice for Senior Uncle Hong Lie!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    With a flick of his wrist, he sent a length of red rope toward Cui Haitang.


    The paper figure''s chopsticks cked as they pinched the red rope.


    Xiao Nanfeng snapped the length of red rope he held, causing it to return to his hand as the chopsticks were knocked aside.


    The paper figure turned its head toward Xiao Nanfeng. Its crude features warped in a sinister, ghastly smile.


    "Dear Sister, this is the Xiao Nanfeng I told you about. He possesses the red rope cursed effigy. Please strike at him and defeat his cursed arts," Cui Haitang told the paper figure.


    The paper figure nodded slightly. With a stiff voice, it said, "Dear Sister''s affairs are my affairs. My affairs are Dear Sister''s affairs. If Dear Sister wants to kill him, I want to kill him."


    The paper figure jerked up. The ground trembled, then cracked open, releasing a torrent of paper snakes. The paper snakes hissed at Xiao Nanfeng and sent a gust of cursed spiritual power toward him, forcing him to take to the skies.


    "Eateateateateat!" the paper snakes hissed, crawling up from the ground in ever greater numbers, then leaping toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. "Cursed effigy, for killing my senior uncle Hong Lie, I''ll destroy you today!"


    With a wave of his hand, he filled the sky with red clouds. Lengths of red rope dropped from the clouds and sought out the paper snakes.


    With a snap, one length of red rope sent the paper snake in the lead flying.


    As the paper snakes continuously flew toward Xiao Nanfeng, more and more lengths of red rope fell from the skies.


    They snapped and sent paper snakes flying by the dozens, by the hundreds. The paper snakes continued to attack fiercely. Some even bit down on the red rope. Pained, the red rope instantly retaliated by looping around the paper snake''s neck and squeezing, intent on choking it to death. Neither cursed effigy was willing to relent.


    Countless lengths of red rope and paper snakes faced off against each other, almost like a war of epic proportions. A frightening tempest resulted.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood at the heart of the tempest. His eyes shed as he flew toward Cui Haitang and the paper figure, punching forward with a fist out of the red storm.


    The paper figure didn''t make a move. It continued to manipte the paper snakes into attacking. Cui Haitang stepped forward and met Xiao Nanfeng''s punch with one of her own.


    The two cultivators'' fists shed and formed a shockwave. Cui Haitang seemed to be the stronger cultivator, and she sent Xiao Nanfeng stumbling back.


    "You''re at mid-stage Yin Body!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    A red moon appeared behind Xiao Nanfeng''s back.


    "The Taiqing red moon? You were the cultivator at Yin Body in Yongding, then! Xiao Nanfeng, you cultivate particrly quickly, don''t you?" Cui Haitang demanded, her eyes frosty.


    A red moon appeared behind her head.


    "You have a Taiqing red moon, too?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You''ve just reached Yin Body, and you''re no match for me," Cui Haitang said coldly. She shot forward.


    The two cultivators exchanged blows once again. Though Xiao Nanfeng might have been weaker, his Hegemon''s Fist was incredibly strong. Gradually, he limated to Cui Haitang''s attacks and began to fight on equal footing with her.


    "What an incredible fist technique. I shouldn''t have left you this much time to grow."


    The two cultivators began to fight more and more furiously before they both suddenly frowned.


    "Red light? So much red light!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Damn it. I forgot that you had the Taiqing red moon, too!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    All that the two cultivators could see was bathed in red; they seemed to have been hypnotized by each other''s red moon.

 Chapter 337: The Red Moon Illusory Realm

    <h4>Chapter 337: The Red Moon Illusory Realm</h4>


    Within the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng and Cui Haitang both stopped short after having fought each other for some time. The red clouds in the sky suddenly vanished, along with the countless lengths of red rope.


    The paper figure was taken aback. With a gesture, it sent all the paper snakes slithering toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    When they approached Xiao Nanfeng, however, they passed straight through his body without touching him. Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have turned ethereal¡ªand then he slowly vanished from sight.


    Not only had Xiao Nanfeng vanished, so too did Cui Haitang. It seemed as though they had never been in the illusory realm at all.


    The paper snakes searched all over to no avail. Even the paper figure stepped forward and looked around in surprise, but neither cultivator could be seen.


    "Red moon? Cursed," the paper figure said stiffly.


    It reached out and tore apart the illusory realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he had been transported to a realm bathed in red light. There was nothing else that he could see, and even Cui Haitang had vanished.


    "What''s going on? Is this an illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Just then, a humanoid creature emerged from the red light, its body full of red fur. It gave off sinister cursed spiritual power. It roared and pounced at Xiao Nanfeng, its red fur exploding into beams of light. A furry paw pped at Xiao Nanfeng, imbued with the power of a windstorm.


    "What''s this?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with a punch. A ming burst of wind formed at the point of impact as Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by the heavy blow.


    "This monster''s even stronger than Cui Haitang!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The red-furred lifeform seemed to lock in on him and began to attack him repeatedly. After an indeterminate amount of time, as his spiritual power drained without regenerating, he ended up on the losing end. Then, two more red-furred lifeforms appeared from the red light, blocking his way.


    "There''s no end to this!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Just then, a figure descended from the heavens, another red moon glowing to his back. "Thrust!"


    Three of the lifeforms were sent careening into the red light, where they vanished from sight.


    "Master? What are you doing here?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The neer was none other than Ku Jiang.


    "How did you enter this ce, Nanfeng?" Ku Jiang eximed.


    "Where are we? I was fighting against Cui Haitang. Our red moons activated simultaneously as we fought, and I suddenly arrived at this ce."


    "So that''s what happened. Your cultivation is improving at an astounding pace. Have you already reached Yin Body?"


    "Master, where are we?"


    "This is the red moon illusory realm, established by the forefather of the Taiqing Immortal Sect in his prime. Only those who have cultivated the Taiqing red moon can ess it and send their opponents to it. This ce is particrly mysterious, and I''ve only been able to cultivate by the outer extremities of the region."


    "The red moon that we cultivate is the key to entering this realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "More or less. It''s particrly dangerous here, however, and red-furred lifeforms roam the area."


    "Master, in that case, what were you doing here?"


    "I was attempting to intuit a few concepts in the realm when I suddenly sensed your presence and came over to have a look."


    "What an incredible illusory realm. It can even allow cultivators far apart in reality to meet each other in the illusion."


    "All those who have cultivated the Taiqing red moon can enter this realm, but you shouldn''t stay long. It''s far too dangerous."


    "Master, how are your wounds?"


    "Han Bingdie and I have recovered, and we''ll be heading out of secluded cultivation soon enough."


    "Thank goodness!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded fervently. "Master, I''m about to wage war against Nn Qiankun. I hope you''ll support me."


    Xiao Nanfeng exined what had recently urred to Ku Jiang.


    Ku Jiang narrowed his eyes. "Nn Qiankun''s growing even more intolerable."


    Just then, the sound of vigorous fighting could be heard from deep within the illusory realm.


    "Is it Cui Haitang?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ku Jiang walked toward the source of the sound, only to see countless red-furred lifeforms being sent deep into the midst of the red light, where they vanished from sight.


    Two figures stood there: Cui Haitang and Nn Qiankun. Nn Qiankun stood protectively before Cui Haitang; it was he who had sent the red-furred lifeforms away.


    "Husband, it''s him!" Cui Haitang shouted upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng.


    Nn Qiankun turned toward Xiao Nanfeng, while Ku Jiang looked over at him.


    "You''re here too, Senior Brother Ku?" Nn Qiankun asked, smiling.


    "Nn Qiankun? Are you intending to write to the sect master, inviting him to judge Xiao Nanfeng while you subvert the truth?" Ku Jiang demanded.


    Nn Qiankun stilled for a moment before he smiled again. "Xiao Nanfeng must have misunderstood something. Senior Brother, how could you trust such rumors?"


    The red moon to the back of Nn Qiankun''s head suddenly glowed with blinding light.


    "Nn Qiankun, do you really intend to betray the sect?" Ku Jiang continued, frowning deeply.


    "Senior Brother, what could you be talking about? I''ve always respected you. You''ve performed an exhaustive analysis of the Taiqing red moon, and I''d love to get a few pointers from you while we''re here." Nn Qiankun smiled.


    "Nanfeng, return and wait for me!" Ku Jiang, sensing something amiss, hurriedly pushed Xiao Nanfeng out of the realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt his surroundings whirl around him as he returned to the mouth of the volcano, back in reality.


    "Be careful, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng whispered in worry.


    He could sense that his master and Nn Qiankun were about to have a dangerous all-out fight, but he wouldn''t be able to interfere. All he could do was pray for his master.


    Lava bubbled at the mouth of the volcano, but Ye Dafu and the others were already gone. He hurriedly flew out


    only to see Ye Dafu falling from the skies, just having survived his tribtion. Ye Sanshui caught him. Ye Dafu''sckeys were flying over with Ye Shuangcheng''s corpse as they nced worriedly at Ye Dafu.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced all around him, intending to identify where Cui Haitang and the paper figure were located. He firmly believed that they had to be nearby.


    Just then, however, multiple bursts of multicolored light shot toward them from the sea in the distance.


    "What a pity," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    He had no choice but to give up on his n. He soared into the sky and flew over to Ye Sanshui and the others.


    "King Xiao!" Ye Dafu''sckeys shouted.


    "Are you alright, King Xiao?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Cui Haitang stalled me. We can''t stay here any longer. Let''s go!"


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his group of cultivators left in haste.


    The Immortals in the distance found Xiao Nanfeng''s group, but they didn''t give chase. Rather, they flew straight to ckme Ind and guarded it.


    Not longter, Cui Haitang emerged from the side of the volcano.


    "We greet Her Majesty! Your Majesty, are you alright?" one female Immortal asked.


    Cui Haitang nodded. "I''m fine. What are all of you doing here?"


    "His Majesty had use protect you, Your Majesty."


    Cui Haitang nodded, then continued, "Have you seen Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "We saw him as we arrived. They were leaving. Allegedly, ording to the demonic disciples on the ind, Marquis Zi is dead. Before..." the female Immortal recounted.


    Cui Haitang scowled. "They ran? They really managed to get away? Hmph!"

 Chapter 338: Establishing Kingship

    <h4>Chapter 338: Establishing Kingship</h4>


    Two dayster, in Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, Yu''er flipped through the documents on Xiao Nanfeng''s table as sheughed. "They all want you to dere your kingship¡ªofficials and leaders all over the Eastern Sea, all of them. If you dy any longer, they might swarm you en masse."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed at the thick stack of documents. "Xiang Shaoyin really did seed at his objective, I suppose. I won''t be able to hide things much longer."


    "Why not dere your kingship, then? After all, you''ve already started taking on the Tianshu Empire." Yu''er''s eyes crinkled in a smile.


    "That wouldn''t be difficult. I''m justcking a queen. Would you be willing to fill that role, even if reluctantly?" Xiao Nanfeng proposed, smiling.


    Yu''er flushed red. "Dream on!"


    "It''s settled, then! Once your mother''s back, I''ll bring the matter up," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately.


    "No, you can''t! Don''t tell my mother." Yu''er began to panic.


    "Why not?"


    Yu''er fretted. "You don''t understand what my situation''s like at home. At any rate, don''t tell her. If you do, I''ll return home immediately.


    "Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "You just can''t!" Yu''er didn''t want to exin things further at all.


    "But it would feel rather imbnced if I were to dere myself king without an apanying queen," Xiao Nanfeng argued.


    Yu''er rolled her eyes. She knew that Xiao Nanfeng was simultaneously joking and trying to probe how she felt, but she still resolutely shook her head.


    Xiao Nanfeng teased, "It looks like I''ll have to find an opportunity to talk to your mother, then. I won''t be able to marry you otherwise!"


    "You won''t seed," Yu''er replied,ughing.


    "Who knows? Let''s wait and see."


    As the two Taiqing disciples joked with each other, a woman''s voice could be heard outside the Xiao manor. "Yu''er, are you here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er both gaped.


    "What? My mother''s here?" Yu''er panicked.


    "This really is a surprise. I was about to find her, but she found me instead..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Nanfeng, you can''t tell her anything. Do you understand? Otherwise, she''d force me to return home immediately and stay far away from you. Don''t speak nonsense, you hear?" Yu''er asked anxiously, clutching Xiao Nanfeng''s sleeves.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at her in surprise. Yu''er didn''t seem like she was joking. Was her living situation thatplicated?


    "I understand. Let''s speak with your mother for now."


    He walked out of the study to wee Yu''er''s mother in.


    Yu''er''s mother''s voice seemed only to have been transmitted into the Xiao manor. Outside, they couldn''t hear the voice at all.


    "King Xiao, there''s a woman outside the manor bearing a coffin. We approached her to inquire as to her purpose, but she ignored us. All she did was shout out Immortal Yu''er''s name. Realizing that she might be a distinguished figure, we didn''t dare to obstruct her and instead reported this matter immediately," one guard began.


    "My mother''s at the gates?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately headed toward the gates in front of the manor, Yu''er following swiftly behind.


    They quickly saw Han Bingdie standing calmly by the gates to the manor. Indeed, beside her was a coffin. Xiao Nanfeng instantly felt that something was terribly wrong.


    "Mother? What are you doing here?" Yu''er eximed, stepping forward in surprise.


    "Xiao Nanfeng greets Senior Aunt Han." Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and bowed.


    Han Bingdie ignored Yu''er for the moment. She took a deep breath as she turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Let''s talk once you''ve brought the coffin into the manor."


    "Mother? What are you doing with a coffin?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s sense of foreboding grew stronger as he noticed the seals on the coffin that blocked any spiritual detection.


    "Of course." Xiao Nanfeng picked up the coffin.


    The guards stepped forward, intending to help, but Xiao Nanfeng waved them off.


    The group of cultivators walked swiftly into the Xiao manor, where Xiao Nanfeng carefully set down the coffin. Han Bingdie''s face was cool and calm, though killing intent seemed to lie deep within her eyes.


    "Mother, is this coffin upied?" Yu''er asked.


    "Senior Aunt, who lies within this coffin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, worried. He was almost certain he didn''t want to know the answer.


    "Open it and have a look," Han Bingdiemanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er pushed open the coffin to see a familiar figure lying within.


    Xiao Nanfeng cried out, "Master?"


    "Master? How could it be? Nanfeng said that Master was going to return shortly. How could he have died?!" Yu''er fretted.


    "Don''t touch him! Ku Jiang isn''t fully dead yet," Han Bingdie immediately stated.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, which had been reaching out for his master, stopped short.


    "Senior Aunt, what happened to my master? I saw him two days ago within the red moon illusory realm. How could he have ended up in such straits?" Xiao Nanfeng asked urgently.


    "A few days ago, he entered a meditative state and stepped into the red moon illusory realm. This morning, when I sensed that his lifeforce was rapidly draining, I understood that something had gone badly wrong. I immediately revived him, and he arduously opened his eyes. With his remaining spiritual power, he condensed a red crystal and told me to hand it to you. Then, he entered this vegetative state."


    "Could something have happened during the altercation between Master and Nn Qiankun?" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    "His spiritual power has beenpletely drained. He must have suffered an intense battle. Tell me about what happened."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately recounted what had happened within the red moon illusory realm.


    "Nn Qiankun? Has he grown that strong?" Han Bingdie frowned.


    "Senior Aunt, you said that my master isn''t fully dead. Could you exin what you meant? Can he be saved?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    Han Bingdie shook her head. "Your master has fallen. His body isatose; I sealed his physical body with this coffin, and I can guarantee that it won''t dpose for a century, but his soul will never return."


    "What do you mean?"


    "All spiritual avatars that die in the red moon illusory realm will transform into red-furred lifeforms in that realm. Your master''s soul has likely done the same."


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Ku Jiang''s yin body is exceptionally strong. Given what you said, he must have fought Nn Qiankun for over a day. The fact that even Ku Jiang perished means that, even if Nn Qiankun is still alive, he must be heavily wounded. The two of them likely hurt each other grievously."


    "What should we do now? Senior Aunt, is there any means by which I could save my master?" Xiao Nanfeng fretted.


    Han Bingdie shook her head. "Aatose man might as well be dead."


    "No, that''s not right! As long as I can find the red-furred lifeform that he transformed into, I''ll surely be able to rescue him!"


    "It''s been ten thousand years, and plenty of cultivators from the Taiqing Immortal Sect have transformed into such lifeforms. However, none among them have sessfully been rescued," Han Bingdie asserted.


    "Others might not have seeded, but I will!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Try it if you will. I leave Ku Jiang''s coffin in your care. It can protect his physical body for a century, but his soul will never return." Han Bingdie''s face might as well have been frost.


    "Nn Qiankun deserves to die," Xiao Nanfeng spat out.


    "Ku Jiang tasked me with passing you this right before his death. What lies within appears to be a mysterious will, but a particrly fragile one. It might shatter at a touch. Your cultivation is insufficient to explore it, and I advise you not to attempt to do so forcibly." Han Bingdie passed him a red crystal.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng discover howplex it was. Given his strength, he would have no choice but to break it open to investigate its contents. If he were to do so, however, the mysterious will within might be destroyed. He carefully kept the red crystal.


    "Why would Nn Qiankun want to fight Ku Jiang? There had to be a reason they had such a serious fight," Han Bingdie asked.


    Just then, a figure flew into Yongding, straight for the Xiao manor.


    The guards of Yongding were getting ready to intercept him when they realized who it was. Even the Xiao guards didn''t stop the figure. Xiao Nanfeng had instructed them not to do so long prior. One of them immediately stepped forward and gave the figure directions toward Xiao Nanfeng''s current hall.


    "Nanfeng, something''s wrong!" the figure shouted at the door.


    "Senior Brother!" Xiao Nanfeng said perfunctorily, his mood in a mess.


    Zhao Yuanjiao had rushed over from afar.


    "Senior Aunt Han, you''re here too?" Zhao Yuanjiao gaped at Han Bingdie, still seated in the living room.


    He also noticed that everyone had serious expressions on their faces, and they were barely hiding their killing intent. Sensing that something was amiss, he rushed into the room and saw Ku Jiang in his coffin.


    "What has happened to Master?!" Zhao Yuanjiao thundered.


    "Don''t touch his body. Nn Qiankun was responsible," Yu''er gritted out. She recounted what had happened.


    "What? Nn Qiankun? No wonder he did what he did. He killed my master in order to leave Xiao Nanfeng in dire straits¡ªhow dare he!"


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, you know why Nn Qiankun decided to fight Ku Jiang to the death?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "It''s because the sect master has returned. Nn Qiankun knows that Master will protect Nanfeng to the best of his ability, so he schemed against Master and caused Nanfeng to lose his most vocal support. Only then would he be able to indict Nanfeng for his ''crimes''."


    "The sect master has returned?" Yu''er eximed.


    "He just did. He paid his respects to the possessions left behind by the Taiqing forefather in the Vault of Scriptures. I exined everything to the sect master, but he said that he had to verify things with Nn Qiankun as well.


    "Isn''t he worried that the sect master would hold him responsible for Master''s death?" Yu''er fumed.


    "Where''s the proof?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What?" The cultivators turned toward Xiao Nanfeng curiously.


    "Where''s the proof that Nn Qiankun hurt Master? Based solely on my testimony? If Nn Qiankun doesn''t admit that he hurt Master, and even nders us, what would we do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Would he? Is he that malicious?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked furiously.


    "Nanfeng, Nn Qiankun''s a schemer. For him to have made such a ruthless move¡ªhe has to have been prepared for the repercussions. What if he tricks the sect master and then attempts to deal with you while he has the advantage? Without Master''s help, the sect master may not believe our exnations," Yu''er proimed.


    "Then I''ll draft a letter to the world and to the sect master. I''ll also need to establish my kingdom immediately, dere it borders, and crown myself king," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Wouldn''t that give Nn Qiankun an opportunity to attack you? Wouldn''t it arouse the sect master''s suspicions?" Han Bingdie asked doubtfully.


    "I can''t count on the sect master''s attitude. Nn Qiankun has already made his move against me. I have to immediately found my kingdom and dere myself the righteous in order to fend off Nn Qiankun''s assault," Xiao Nanfeng exined.

 Chapter 339: The Feuding Empires

    <h4>Chapter 339: The Feuding Empires</h4>


    Within the capital of the Tianshu Empire, in a splendid hall, Nn Qiankun, Nn Changkong, and Cui Haitang were gathered to wee a middle-aged man. The center of the man''s forehead had a vertical golden line embedded in it like a sharp sword. The man was none other than the sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Lu Yan.


    "We greet the sect master!" Nn Qiankun bowed.


    Behind him, Cui Haitang and Nn Changkong likewise bowed to Lu Yan.


    "Nn Qiankun, you look rather unwell. Your yin body''s badly injured. Who did you fight to suffer such serious injuries?" Lu Yan asked.


    "I fought with Ku Jiang and barely avoided dying within the red moon illusory realm. Fortunately, I won by the skin of my teeth, but sustained grievous injuries in doing so." Nn Qiankun sighed.


    "Oh? Ku Jiang?" Lu Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Cui Haitang immediately jumped in. "Senior Brother Lu, it''s my fault. Xiao Nanfeng assassinated two of my sons and my younger brother, then barged into ckme Ind. I was so upset by his actions that I fought him, only to have both of us end up in the red moon illusory realm. There, Ku Jiang ambushed me. My husband had no choice but to fight Ku Jiang in order to save me, and he was fortunate enough to win. Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, ran off without a care for Ku Jiang''s survival."


    Lu Yan frowned as though analyzing Cui Haitang''s words.


    "Senior Uncle Lu, my uncle and two brothers perished at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands. My father, owing to his friendship with Senior Uncle Xiao Hongye, has refrained from criticizing Xiao Nanfeng openly in the meantime, but Xiao Nanfeng has gone too far. Please, Senior Uncle, judge him for what he did!" Nn Changkong bowed down.


    Nn Qiankun sat by the side of the table, coughing quietly. He seemed to have been weakened to an incredible extent. Rather than speak, he watched as his consort and son bemoaned Xiao Nanfeng''s misdeeds.


    "But that''s not what I heard..." Lu Yan frowned.


    "I have kept my sons and brother''s belongings. Senior Brother Lu, you''re in possession of a Taiqing relic that can review the past and learn the truth for yourself." Cui Haitang immediately retrieved a few articles.


    Lu Yan frowned as he inspected the possessions with a mirror.


    Light shed. The mirror revealed the scenes of Nn Feng, Nn Yunhai, and Cui Haisheng''s deaths amidst hazy fog. Indeed, Xiao Nanfeng appeared within all three scenes.


    Upon witnessing the scenes in the mirror, Cui Haitang and Nn Changkong''s eyes filled with killing intent. They had guessed that Xiao Nanfeng was responsible; seeing irrefutable proof that he was left them zing with anger.


    "Senior Brother Lu, please administer justice on our behalf!" Cui Haitang begged.


    "Senior Uncle Lu, please help us get redress for my two brothers'' deaths!" Nn Changkong knelt down too.


    Lu Yan frowned. "Why would Xiao Nanfeng do such a thing?"


    Nn Qiankun finally spoke up. "I have a guess. Xiao Nanfeng may have been possessed. He''s no longer Xiao Hongye''s son. He''s destroying the foundations of the Taiqing Immortal Sect!"


    "Possessed?" Lu Yan arched an eyebrow, his face chilly.


    "Sect Master, you must remember the cmity from two centuries past. Perhaps our enemies haven''t given up on driving us to ruin. They''re worried that the Taiqing Immortal Sect might rise up again and have been repeatedly destroying our hopes of doing so. The Tianshu Empire is showing signs of advancing into a divine empire, and will surely be able to reach such vaunted heights in the future. I intend to wage war against external parties that seek to contest its expansion and development, but internal parties are a different matter entirely. Ignominious cultivators have emerged from within the sect, fooling all those around them and attempting to wrest all that the Tianshu Empire possesses for themselves. As long as this matter goes unresolved, chaos will rule. Please aid us, Sect Master," Nn Qiankun said weakly, cupping his palms.


    Lu Yan fell deep in thought. He had heard Zhao Yuanjiao''s description of the events, which werepletely at odds with Nn Qiankun''s. On the other hand, seeing was believing, and the scenes his mirror showed him couldn''t be faked.


    Just then, an official suddenly rushed into the hall, bowing urgently. "Your Majesty, something has happened in the Xiaonds!"


    "What''s wrong?" Nn Qiankun asked coldly, eyebrows raised.


    He had ordered his subordinates not to disturb him. The fact that an official had barged in regardless was testament to the urgency of the news.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has dered his intent to rebel and establish himself as king of the Zheng kingdom!" the official reported. [ref] Zheng (á¿) denotes ideals of loftiness and excellence.


    "Insolence!" Nn Qiankun mmed a palm on his chair, his eyes filled with rage.


    "Where is Xiao Nanfeng''s deration?" Lu Yan suddenly asked.


    The official nced anxiously at Nn Qiankun.


    "Bring it over," Nn Qiankunmanded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" The official retrieved a scroll.


    "Read it aloud," Lu Yan said.


    The official looked toward Nn Qiankun, who nodded.


    The official began to read.


    "I, Xiao Nanfeng, hereby dere to the world that my father, Xiao Hongye, who was granted the title of Marquis of the Tianshu Empire owing to his merit and umted achievement, was struck down by the envy of the royal family of the Tianshu Empire. My father obtained a key to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and attempted to share the treasures within with the Tianshu Empire and Taiqing Immortal Sect. Nn Qiankun schemed to im all the treasures for himself, and the Empress Tianshu, Cui Haitang, assassinated my mother as a result. With my mother barely clinging on to life, my father had no choice but to roam the world in search of a means of reviving his wife. I was but six years of age when he entrusted me to Nn Qiankun''s care.


    "Young, innocent, and helpless, I received no whit of support nor consideration from my alleged caretaker. For a decade I was imprisoned in my family''s manor by a traitorous servant, none outside knowing my plight as my family''snds and property were seized by the emperor''s brother-inw. My life was left to the whims of the malicious; I am fortunate that my father''s name alone permitted me a decade''s lease.


    "At the end of a decade of imprisonment I managed to broker a single sliver of opportunity, by which I escaped from captivity and was able to apprentice myself to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. After a chance encounter, my cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.


    "Even so, the Tianshu Empire had no intention to leave me alive. The third prince Nn Feng repeatedly provoked and challenged me, even going as far as to attempt to assassinate me in the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. In self-defense, I killed him instead. Later, as I sought to reim my familial estate from rogue forces, the emperor''s brother-inw schemed against me and raided the city of Yongding repeatedly. Fortunately, under the protection of my senior uncle Hong Lie, I was left unharmed. When Hong Lie sought to im what was rightfully mine from the Tianshu Empire, he fell afoul of the royal family of the Tianshu Empire. Cui Haitang used cursed arts on him and incited Xiang Pojun to kill him. In battle, she activated her arts and assassinated Hong Lie.


    "In the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, the Empress Tianshu then urged her brother to attack and kill me. In self-defense, I struck him down, killed him, and learned the truth.


    "The second prince of the Tianshu Empire, Nn Yunhai, chased me with a group of Immortals and attempted to kill me once more. In self-defense, I killed him.


    "The royal family of the Tianshu Empire, realizing that I was a difficult target, then turned to my junior brothers. When I sought to rescue them, I fell prey to Cui Haitang''s trap and was sent into an illusory realm, whereupon my master rescued me. To our shock, Nn Qiankun hadin in ambush in the realm and deeply wounded him there, leaving himatose, his spirit lost.


    "Ever since the founding of the Tianshu Empire, its royal family has cared little for the welfare of its people. In seeking to preserve its authority and might, it has brought ruinous harm to the loyal and the honorable. Themon people have suffered greatly under its rule, and its royalty do not deserve that title or responsibility.


    "The royal family of the Tianshu Empire is devoid of virtue, propriety, benevolence, and character. It is guilty of innumerable crimes, the least of which I have detailed here.


    "Henceforth, I, Xiao Nanfeng, do renounce the Tianshu Empire and establish myself as king. With justice as my guide, I seek to avenge kith and kin, to excise the tumors of the Taiqing sect, to eradicate demons under heaven!


    "Once the Xiaonds of the Tianshu Empire, now independent territory of the kingdom of Dazheng.


    "The usations I have leveled here, I have confirmed via painstaking investigation. If I have detailed a word of falsehood, let the heavens smite me down.


    "So deres Xiao Nanfeng, of the kingdom of Dazheng!"


    The official trembled with fear as he finished reading from the scroll.


    There was little artistry or tact in the deration; it was an emotional denunciation, one that the basest beggar or farmer might understand, let alone those of the imperial court.


    Nn Qiankun and his consort nched, not having expected that Xiao Nanfeng would detail the deaths of Cui Haisheng, Nn Feng, and Nn Yunhai in that deration. It served as immediate and exhaustive rebuttal of their usation.


    Lu Yan frowned as he considered the three cultivators before him.


    Panic shed across Cui Haitang''s eyes, but Nn Qiankun remained stoic and calm. He smiled calmly. "Sect Master, could Xiao Nanfeng have known about your whereabouts before you came to see me?"


    "Do you mean that he''s making use of this deration to free himself of suspicion? That he was worried I would trust your usation blindly?" Lu Yan frowned.


    "Indeed¡ªbut he must have forgotten that a traitor''s word cannot be trusted." Nn Qiankun nodded.


    Lu Yan fell deep in thought.


    "Senior Brother, there''s something wrong with Xiao Nanfeng. How could he have gone from mortal to deity in just four years? Who in the history of the Taiqing Immortal Sect has aplished such a feat? Were he not possessed by our enemies, how could he have ascended so quickly? Physical cultivation requires a wealth of resources, and spiritual cultivation a wealth of time. Who could have obtained such wealth within a matter of years?!" Nn Qiankun argued firmly.


    Lu Yan slowly began to frown once more.

 Chapter 340: Whos Going Against Whom?

    <h4>Chapter 340: Who''s Going Against Whom?</h4>


    News of Xiao Nanfeng dering himself an independent king and founding the kingdom of Dazheng quickly spread throughout the Tianshu Empire, and even to the Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea.


    Many Immortal sects had expected such a day woulde, but no one had expected it toe so quickly.


    The people of the Xiaonds were the first to see this deration in every city.


    Before Xiao Nanfeng came to power, they had led lives marked with fear. Many of them were dead or dying; Marquis Wu''snds had been filled with skeletons scattered about, and nine out of ten homes had been emptied. The people bore the Tianshu Empire no goodwill, and even a fair amount of ill will. Now that times had changed for the better, who would want to return to the days of the Tianshu Empire?


    Themon people weren''t unpatriotic; rather, the Tianshu Empire had been formed as a result of a coup, of rebellion. That it would treat themon people so poorly despite its roots was reason enough to doubt it.


    Now, as themon people read about what their new lord had suffered, they were able to empathize with his actions. It was obvious that Xiao Nanfeng would have defected from the empire.


    "All hail the Dazheng Kingdom! All hail King Xiao!" one citizen shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng had long since won the hearts of the people, and they all rose up in cheer at that moment.


    In a hall of the city where the Xiang n was currently situated, Xiang Shaoyin sat at the head of the hall as a group of Xiang Immortals discussed the situation fervently.


    "King Shaoyin, as you expected, Xiao Nanfeng has dered himself king. The Tianshu Empire and the Taiqing Immortal Sect are about to tear each other apart!" one Xiang cultivator crowed in excitement.


    Xiang Shaoyin reached out for a copy of the notice. He scanned it over, then smirked. "In the end, despite all his nning, Xiao Nanfeng''s nothing but one of our pawns."


    "To King Xiao''s eternal wisdom!" the cultivators praised.


    They felt that Xiao Nanfeng''s deration of kingship had been forced by Xiang Shaoyin.


    "When is Xiao Nanfeng''s founding ceremony?" Xiang Shaoyin asked.


    "He hasn''t decided yet. He''s currently in the north of Yongding, smoothing outnd in preparation for the foundations of his castle. Looking at the size of the operation, the pce will be extremelyrge, many times the size of our original," one cultivator reported.


    Xiang Shaoyin narrowed his eyes. "That''s not a kingdom''s pce, but an empire''s. He doesn''t intend to have a founding ceremony for his kingdom¡ªhe''s going to ascend it to an empire directly, the Dazheng Empire!"


    "The Dazheng Empire? Impossible. An empire''s capital is different from that of a kingdom''s. An empire would require a draconic vein of immense proportions to nurture the empire''s fortune. Yongding only possessed a small draconic vein, one that Xiao Nanfeng has already used up. Thend''s parched and drained of spiritual energy. How would he nurture fortune there? How would he establish an empire''s capital?" one cultivator asked.


    "I don''t know, but I have a feeling that this kingdom of Dazheng is only transitory. He''s intending to establish an empire directly¡ªto construct his pce, offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, amass a sea of fortune, and transition directly into the Dazheng Empire," Xiang Shaoyin replied with certainty.


    "Would he know how to found an empire?" another cultivator joked.


    "It''s irrelevant. As long as I can use him as a pawn to create a schism between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Nn Qiankun, he can do whatever he wants. He''s not long for this world, at any rate," King Shaoyin replied,ughing.


    "Haha!" The group of cultivators also began tough, all mocking Xiao Nanfeng for his ignorance.


    Just then, a messenger walked into the hall and respectfully proffered a letter to Xiang Shaoyin. "King Shaoyin, Xiao Nanfeng had a letter delivered with instructions to convey it directly to you."


    "Oh?" Xiang Shaoyin frowned as he took the letter.


    He unsealed it and scanned it, frowning as he did so.


    "King Shaoyin, what did Xiao Nanfeng say?" someone asked curiously.


    Xiang Shaoyin frowned, then passed the letter over to the gathered cultivators.


    The cultivators gaped upon reading its contents.


    "Xiao Nanfeng ims that Nn Qiankun has just fought an all-out battle against Ku Jiang and has been weakened in the aftermath. The strongest cultivators of the Tianshu Empire will be invading Yongding, leaving the capital undefended. That''s an opportunity for us!" one cultivator eximed.


    "Will the strongest cultivators of the Tianshu Empire really attack Yongding?" another cultivator asked.


    "Of course. Xiao Nanfeng has dered his independence. If the Tianshu Empire doesn''t wipe him out immediately, they would only stoke the mes of rebellion. The other marquises would try something simr then, so the Tianshu Empire''s hand has been forced. They''ll have to act quickly, too," the first cultivator said.


    "King Shaoyin, is Xiao Nanfeng inviting us to ally and take on Nn Qiankun? What should we do?" The cultivators all looked toward Xiang Shaoyin.


    Xiang Shaoyin frowned. If Xiao Nanfeng were right, then it would be a good opportunity to reim the Tianshu capital¡ªbut was this information urate?


    By the north of Yongding, in a forested and mountainous patch ofnd, Croak and Warble were shifting mountains and filling up valleys. Smoke and dust filled the air. Countless cultivators were ferrying in materials from all over in an endless stream as a pce was quickly constructed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, Han Bingdie, and Yu''er stood at the peak of a mountain as they supervised the construction from afar.


    "You are greedy, aren''t you?" Han Bingdie eximed. "You''re intending to build an empire''s foundation right here!"


    "I''m establishing a transitory kingdom to pacify the people; an empire is my goal. There''s no reason to do things by half measures," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "But Yongding doesn''t even have a draconic vein. How do you intend to nurture your empire''s fortune?" Han Bingdie asked, confused.


    "One will be there when the timees," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    Han Bingdie frowned in disbelief.


    "Mother, why are you making that face? Do you think Nanfeng''s just bragging?" Yu''er asked, somewhat difited.


    "Founding an empire is no easy task."


    "I believe that it won''t be difficult for Nanfeng," Yu''er replied confidently. Her eyes shone as she looked toward him.


    Even the smallest changes in her daughter''s behavior couldn''t elude Han Bingdie. Her heart thumped as she said, "Yu''er, have you forgotten what you promised me when you left?"


    "Ah? Mother, you''re misunderstanding something!" Yu''er replied anxiously.


    "Just you wait and see!" Han Bingdie hissed.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly found that Han Bingdie had grown quite a bit more distant from him than before, and she even strode up between him and Yu''er to wall them off.


    Just then, Zhao Yuanjiao called out, "They''re here."


    "Hm?" Everyone turned to Zhao Yuanjiao,


    only to see three figures flying toward them from the horizon:


    Nn Changkong, Cui Haitang, and a robed man.


    The three cultivators had already caught sight of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "We greet the sect master!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao, Yu''er, and Xiao Nanfeng all bowed down. Xiao Nanfeng had seen a portrait of this person before, and he immediately recognized him as the sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Lu Yan.


    "Senior Brother Lu, we''ve been waiting for you for some time. Why have you only arrived now?" Han Bingdie asked, frowning.


    "Senior Brother Lu has naturally been investigating Xiao Nanfeng. Don''t think that you''ll be able to summon him with just a letter, Han Bingdie. You''re an elder of the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Xiao Nanfeng killed the left division leader¡ªhow could you side with him? Are you betraying the Taiqing Demonic Sect?" Cui Haitang asked, scoffing.


    "Cui Haitang, if you continue to nder my name, I''ll tear your mouth off!" Han Bingdie red at the female cultivator.


    "Enough! Deal with your grievances with your sect master. Don''t air your dirtyundry in public!" Lu Yan shouted.


    The two women frowned at each other, but they stopped squabbling.


    "Senior Brother Lu, my husband needed to tend to his injuries and was unable to make the trip here. Please administer justice on behalf of me and my sons, Senior Brother!" Cui Haitang bowed deeply toward Lu Yan.


    Han Bingdie spoke up as well. "Senior Brother Lu, I''ve written a letter exining the situation to you. Ku Jiang has spent all his life in the betterment of the Taiqing Immortal Sect before he fell prey to viins. Please right this wrong, Senior Brother!"


    "Sect Master, please administer justice on behalf of my master!" Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Yu''er bowed deeply.


    Lu Yan focused on Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, how long has it been since you joined the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    "Sect Master, I''ve been in the sect for four years."


    "Four years? Just four years, and you''re able to kill Immortals?" Lu Yan demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed. "Might I ask what you mean, Sect Master?"


    "Nn Qiankun said that you weren''t Xiao Hongye''s son, but rather someone who''s been possessed by some cultivator at Yin Body. Is that true?" Lu Yan pressed.


    "That''s impossible, Sect Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao immediately argued.


    "Sect Master, Nn Qiankun''s clearly trying to nder Xiao Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    Lu Yan ignored them. His gaze was fixed on Xiao Nanfeng, as though attempting to examine his very soul directly.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly started tough. "Sect Master, do you mean that I''ve tricked even my master all this time?"


    "That''s possible. As a safety precaution, I''d like you to drop your guard and have me examine your body. I''d be able to determine whether you''re telling the truth then," Lu Yan said seriously.


    "Drop my guard? Allow you to examine my truesoul? Sect Master, even if you''re acting for the good or all, I can''t simply leave myself vulnerable. What''s more, I''m not aware of your stance or temperament. I''m afraid I won''t be able to ede to your request," Xiao Nanfeng refused him immediately.


    "You''re guilty, aren''t you, Xiao Nanfeng?" Nn Changkong shouted in excitement.


    "And who are you to speak up here?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.


    "What?"


    "I''m the Mortal division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and a sectstarter besides. Even the sect master can''t unterally deem me guilty, let alone ce me in critical danger. You are an outsider and no disciple of the sect. What right have you to interfere with internal sect affairs? Be silent and step back," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "You!" Nn Changkong thundered.


    "Sect Master, I apologize, but your request is too unreasonable for me to fulfill. I have dered and detailed my grudges against the Nn n, which you may verify. Without any evidence, however, I urge you not to make hasty decisions. Despite being the sect master, you do not own the Taiqing Immortal Sect," Xiao Nanfeng continued, taking a deep breath.


    The crowd gaped at Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment. Was he going against the sect master even before the sect master went against him?

 Chapter 341: Xiao Hongye VS Nalan Qiankun

    <h4>Chapter 341: Xiao Hongye VS Nn Qiankun</h4>


    That Xiao Nanfeng would suddenly go against Lu Yan surprised everyone present.


    Lu Yan''s face turned cold. "The cmity two centuries past urred because someone possessed an important disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and caused an internal feud that almost destroyed the sect. Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve managed to reach such a level of cultivation in just four years without a wealth of resources¡ªit''s simply too fast. I need to understand who you are."


    Yu''er stepped forward. "Sect Master, Xiao Nanfeng hasn''t yet be an Immortal, but I already have. I ascended from Immanence to Immortal within just the past few years. Why don''t you investigate me, too?"


    "You''re different. Physical cultivation can be sped up with resources, but not spiritual cultivation," Lu Yan pointed out.


    "Why not? With sufficient fortune, you would be able to speed up the understanding of scripture. You''re attacking Xiao Nanfeng simply because of Nn Qiankun''s allegation, without any semnce of proof!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Insolence!" Lu Yan thundered.


    "Do not be insolent, Yu''er!" Han Bingdie hurriedly dragged her daughter back.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to shield Yu''er, shaking his head. "Sect Master, Yu''er''s not wrong. The Taiqing disciples won''t countenance such partiality."


    "Won''t countenance? And what do you n to do about it?" Lu Yan asked.


    "Sect Master, if you insist on siding with Nn Qiankun without intending to discern right from wrong, without understanding the situation ording to both parties, then I can only seek redress following thews of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I would call for all four division leaders to return and hold a referendum regarding your eligibility as sect master to discuss the future of the sect."


    The crowd gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. Did he intend to depose even the sect master?


    Nn Changkong smirked internally. Feigning anger, he cried out, "Senior Uncle Lu, Xiao Nanfeng intends to remove you from office. He''s out of control!"


    Cui Haitang sneered. "Senior Brother, it''s clear who among us has betrayed the sect. My husband intends to increase the fortune allotted to the Taiqing Immortal Sect from the Tianshu Empire, while Xiao Nanfeng can''t even perform the basic task of proving his own innocence."


    Zhao Yuanjiao fretted anxiously. He wanted to drag Xiao Nanfeng up to Lu Yan and have him apologize, but he was on the same side as Xiao Nanfeng. It would weaken their position if he were to oppose him so visibly.


    Han Bingdie felt that Xiao Nanfeng was asking for trouble as well. Only Yu''er''s eyes were shining brightly. She felt that Nanfeng had done nothing wrong.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really not intend to cooperate with my investigation?" Lu Yan demanded.


    Killing intent emanated from Lu Yan and encapsted all of Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng instantly felt tremendous pressure descend on him. He frowned as he prepared to retaliate.


    Just then, red light burst from Xiao Nanfeng''s robes.


    The red light repelled Lu Yan''s killing intent. A strange voice could be heard from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior Brother, is there anything wrong with my son''s words? If you don''t intend to treat such matters fairly, why shouldn''t the four division leaders be convened to discuss your qualifications as sect master? These were part of thews that we established together. Have they been abolished in my absence?"


    Everyone except Yu''er gasped incredulously upon hearing the voice.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself jolted. He gaped in disbelief, then carefully retrieved a shard of red crystal from within his robes. Ku Jiang had Han Bingdie hand it to Xiao Nanfeng several days ago before his demise. Within the red crystal was a fragment of will.


    The red crystal slowly floated into the air, then released a burst of red light. The figure of a man could vaguely be seen from within, lithe and handsome, eyes sharp and cold as they stared at Cui Haitang.


    "Xiao Hongye? You''re still alive?!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao, Yu''er, and Nn Changkong all gasped. Was this Xiao Nanfeng''s father, Xiao Hongye?


    Xiao Nanfeng trembled in shock. "F-Father, is that you?"


    Only then did Xiao Hongye turn to Xiao Nanfeng, his sharp gaze softening.


    "Nanfeng, it''s all my fault. I apologize for having left so suddenly, without leaving you in good care. You''ve suffered over thest decade." Xiao Hongye made to rub Xiao Nanfeng''s head, but he was present only as an ethereal figure, without real substance.


    "Father, the fact that you''re alive is far more important. Where''s Mother?"


    "Your mother''s wounds have stabilized, and she''ll be able to revive in no time. However, we can''t make it back for the time being," Xiao Hongye replied, sighing.


    Xiao Nanfeng could deduce that his parents'' circumstances weren''t ideal, but hearing of his mother''s likely survival nevertheless allowed him to rx.


    "Where are you, Father? I''lle seek you out immediately!"


    Xiao Hongye shook his head. "You won''t be able to make it here, and you shouldn''t try. Don''t worry. Keep yourself safe. I''ll bring your mother back once she''s alright."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, his eyes red. "Take care, Father! I''ll be waiting for you at home. No one will be able to bully me anymore."


    "Good, good. Senior Brother Ku Jiang told me everything. You''ve had even more adventures than even I did, I see." Xiao Hongye smiled.


    The conversation between father and son proceeded to the exclusion of all other matters; neither seemed to care that there were outsiders listening in.


    "Father, how did your will end up in this red crystal that Master gave me?"


    "A while ago, I met Senior Brother Ku Jiang in the red moon illusory realm. He told me a lot about you. I only learned about what you''ve suffered since. I wrapped up a fragment of my will in spiritual power and passed it to Ku Jiang, asking him to convey it to you so that I might contact you once. Unexpectedly, Ku Jiang fell prey to Nn Qiankun. He gave his all to manifest this fragment of my will in reality for Han Bingdie to bring to you."


    "Xiao Hongye, you''re still alive? You must have seen how Ku Jiang perished to Nn Qiankun! Senior Brother Lu needs your testimony," Han Bingdie said.


    "Xiao Hongye''s going to say whatever he needs to to protect his son! How can we trust his words?" Cui Haitang demanded instantly.


    Xiao Hongye suddenly turned to Cui Haitang, killing intent blooming in his eyes.


    "W-What do you want? You''re only a fragment of will. Do you think you can strike me?" Cui Haitang nched. She seemed rather fearful and on edge.


    "Cui Haitang, we''ll have a good chat about what happened that year. Don''t worry. I''ll treat you exactly how you treated my wife¡ªand your family, too," Xiao Hongye promised coldly.


    "You!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "Xiao Hongye, are you intent on protecting your son? Do you know that he may not be who he ims to be? Someone might have possessed him!" Lu Yan stated.


    Xiao Hongye frowned at Lu Yan. After a momentary silence, he shook his head. "Something''s wrong with you. The sect master wouldn''t speak in such a fashion. You aren''t him¡ªno, you''re Nn Qiankun!"


    "What?!" everyone eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Han Bingdie, Yu''er, and Zhao Yuanjiao stared at ''Lu Yan'' like they were facing an incredible foe. Even Cui Haitang and Nn Changkong were gobsmacked.


    "Xiao Hongye, what nonsense are you talking about?" Lu Yan demanded.


    "Nn Qiankun, you''ve got guts. You lured the sect master into the capital of the Tianshu Empire, didn''t you? What did you do to him?" Xiao Hongye used.


    Everyone gaped at Lu Yan, unable to believe that he was a fake.


    "Xiao Hongye, are you going to stoop to such base, ridiculous usations to protect your son?"


    "You knew you couldn''t reveal this matter to anyone, didn''t you? You even hid it from your wife and son. Hah! But I''m intimately familiar with your techniques¡ªit must have been that paper figure cursed effigy. Do you need me to reveal how to break that disguise too?" Xiao Hongye continued.


    Everyone stared at Lu Yan, and Lu Yan stared at Xiao Hongye. A series ofplicated emotions flitted across his face before he smiled. "Xiao Hongye, you do know me well."


    Lu Yan''s appearance shifted into that of Nn Qiankun.


    Everyone was stupefied. Who could have expected that Nn Qiankun''s disguise would have been so perfect?


    Xiao Nanfeng shuddered. He was thankful he had adamantly refused to let Nn Qiankun near his truesoul. Otherwise, he really might have died.


    Nn Qiankun didn''t make a move. He continued to stare grimly at Xiao Hongye. "Xiao Hongye, you shouldn''t have shown up."


    He seemed to be a little fearful of Xiao Hongye, and was waiting for him to reveal his trump card.


    "Should I have allowed you to continue harming my son, then?" Xiao Hongye replied coolly.


    "Understand this: your son is all but uninjured, while two of my sons have died at his hand. Haitang acted improperly back then, but this evens the scales, doesn''t it?"


    "Evens the scales? Have you read my son''s deration? Your sons tried to kill mine; he was only acting in self-defense," Xiao Hongye retorted.


    "Your son''s right in front of me. I can end him at any time," Nn Qiankun threatened.


    Xiao Hongye''s voice turned cold. "And if you dare strike, I''ll never relent. Once I return, I''ll do everything in my power to destroy you."


    The two cultivators faced off against each other as though they were shooting daggers out of their eyes.


    "Father, don''t listen to him. If he really were able to kill me, he wouldn''t have disguised himself as the sect master. I''m sure I''ll be able to defend myself, at the very least. Let him try to attack me if he dares!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted back.


    Xiao Hongye looked toward his son again, his eyes warming up once more. He had, of course, guessed that his son had a trump card up his sleeve, but what father would gamble on his son''s safety? What if his son had underestimated Nn Qiankun''s strength?


    "Nn Qiankun, what have you done to the sect master? Aren''t you afraid that the four divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect will cooperate to take you down?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Nn Qiankun smirked, ignoring Zhao Yuanjiao. He didn''t seem too concerned about a possible attack from the four Taiqing divisions¡ªor perhaps, he had a means of continuing to trick the other two division leaders.


    To Nn Qiankun, the only threat seemed to be Xiao Hongye''s figure before him.


    "Xiao Hongye, your skill as a cultivator is immense. The fact that you''re still alive means that you must have found more opportunities. The opportunities of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm meant little to you, didn''t they? And although Haitang was wrong to do what she did, the situation was salvaged. Your son might have suffered a little in the meantime, but he''s made a man of himself. Why don''t we discuss how we''ll settle the grievances between our ns?"


    Although he framed it as a discussion, everyone could tell that he was threatening Xiao Hongye. If Xiao Hongye refused to entertain him, he would strike at Xiao Nanfeng immediately.

 Chapter 342: Let One of Them Die

    <h4>Chapter 342: Let One of Them Die</h4>


    Outside Yongding, in a secluded forest, Xiang Shaoyin and a group of Xiang Immortalsy in ambush.


    "King Shaoyin, aren''t we going to take advantage of the opportunity to attack the Tianshu capital?" one Xiang Immortal whispered.


    Xiang Shaoyin was silent for a moment before he replied, "I discussed the matter with my elder brother. Nn Qiankun has two of the Spirit Emperor''s treasures, so we may not be able to take advantage even if we were to attack the Tianshu capital. Furthermore, we don''t know if Xiao Nanfeng''s words are trustworthy. What we need to do is to clip Nn Qiankun''s wings¡ªto quickly deal with all the Immortals in his employ."


    "Yes, King Shaoyin! Once the Tianshu and Dazheng Immortals wound each other, we''ll swoop in and deal the Tianshu Immortals a lethal blow," one cultivator shouted,ughing.


    Xiang Shaoyin smirked. "We''ll wait for them to fight and seize the final victory."


    "Understood!" the Xiang Immortals chorused.


    Not longter, they saw Lu Yan, Cui Haitang, and Nn Changkong approach.


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect''s sect master, Lu Yan? What''s he doing here?" Xiang Shaoyin gasped.


    Then, the cultivators gasped again.


    "Xiao Hongye''s back?!"


    Many of them were panicked and flustered. Even after bing Immortals, they were still deeply fearful of Xiao Hongye given his past prowess.


    "No, that''s just a fragment of will, not Xiao Hongye himself," Xiang Shaoyin dered.


    The cultivators rxed, then rubbed their eyes anew as Lu Yan transformed into Nn Qiankun.


    "Nn Qiankun was pretending to be Lu Yan, and Xiao Hongye spotted the deception...? What sort of rtionship do these cultivators have?" someone gasped.


    "What''s going on? Why would Nn Qiankun have to transform into Lu Yan to deal with Xiao Nanfeng? We all know how strong Nn Qiankun is. Could he really be seriously injured? Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t lying to us!" Xiang Shaoyin eximed.


    By a mountain peak, Nn Qiankun made his stance clear. If Xiao Hongye was willing to parley, then so would he. If not, he would do his utmost to kill Xiao Nanfeng immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself didn''t realize that Nn Qiankun was so afraid of his father.


    Xiao Hongye gave off a thick, cloying aura of killing intent. He red at Nn Qiankun and at Cui Haitang. If he weren''t preupied, he would stop at nothing to rush back and ughter both these cultivators. He had viewed his bonds of brotherhood with Nn Qiankun seriously, and had even ceded the empire to him. Who would have expected Nn Qiankun to end up being such a schemer? Not only had he harmed his wife and son, he had even killed Hong Lie. Could Cui Haitang have done it all herself? Surely not. Nn Qiankun was responsible, too.


    Even so, with him far away and Nn Qiankun threatening his only son, he had no choice but to swallow all his misgivings.


    "How would you like to negotiate?" Xiao Hongye asked.


    "Father, the fact that Nn Qiankun had to impersonate Lu Yan means that he''s not confident in his strength at the moment. He must be wounded; I can deal with him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Hongye shook his head. "Nanfeng, do not underestimate any of your opponents. If you drop your guard, you could easily suffer."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, intuiting what was left implicit in his father''s words: Nn Qiankun had particrly strong trump cards up his sleeve.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng calmed down.


    Nn Qiankun nced at Xiao Nanfeng and suddenly sighed, "If only my sons were like Xiao Nanfeng."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. What was Nn Qiankun trying to pull now?


    "My son is naturally extraordinary. Nn Qiankun, how do you intend to settle our business?" Xiao Hongye asked again.


    "Our two ns owe each other much in blood, hatred, and vengeance. I don''t think an ordinary promise would pacify either of us. Why not have a duel between your son and mine? Only one of them can live," Nn Qiankun said.


    "What?" the cultivators eximed.


    "Husband, how could you?!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    "What a cruel father. Don''t you care about whether your own son lives or dies?" Han Bingdie frowned.


    Yu''er clutched Xiao Nanfeng''s sleeve anxiously.


    Nn Qiankun continued, "Xiao Hongye, is this fair enough for you? If my son dies, your n will have stripped mine of all its heirs. Your grudge will be settled, your vengeanceplete. If your son dies, then the same shall be true for us. Let us sacrifice their lives and terminate any rtionship between our ns. What say you?" Nn Qiankun asked.


    Xiao Hongye replied, "Nn Qiankun, how cold-blooded could you get? Don''t you care about your own son''s life?"


    "I do care. I''m confident that my son can win. I''ve already lost two sons. If I don''t kill Xiao Nanfeng, I wouldn''t be able to relieve my grudges. Let our sons end this feud once and for all. Is your son stronger, or is mine? We''ll end it all with this fight," Nn Qiankun said.


    Xiao Hongye frowned. If he were to refuse, then Nn Qiankun himself would attack Xiao Nanfeng. This was a threat that Xiao Hongye could do nothing about.


    "What do you think, Nanfeng?" Xiao Hongye looked toward his son.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Father, if you hadn''t appeared, I was prepared to attack Nn Qiankun directly. With you around, I''ll hold back. I''ll kill his son and im some interest first."


    Seeing his son''s confidence, Xiao Hongye could only sigh in exasperation as he nodded. "Be careful."


    "Don''t worry, Father. I''m stronger than Nn Qiankun''s son."


    Xiao Hongye turned to Nn Qiankun. "Nn Qiankun, if you wish to send your son to certain death, then have at it¡ªbut after my son ys yours, I expect you to drop the matter entirely."


    "Don''t worry. Regardless of what happens, I intend to retreat. As long as your son respects the boundaries between his kingdom and my empire, I won''t cross him. If he tries for more, well, don''t me me if anything were to happen," Nn Qiankun replied.


    "Let it be so, then," Xiao Hongye said.


    "Let it be so!" Nn Qiankun echoed. He turned to Nn Changkong. "Did you hear all that, Changkong? Didn''t you want to take revenge for your brother and uncle? This is your opportunity. Strike at Xiao Nanfeng the way I taught you."


    Nn Qiankun''smandeering tone to his son surprised the onlookers, but Nn Changkong seemed supremely confident. He nodded. "Yes, Father!"


    "Husband! What if¡ª" Cui Haitang began, worried.


    "I will brook no doubt," Nn Qiankun interrupted.


    Frustrated though she was, Cui Haitang had no recourse. "I understand."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll wait for you up in front!" Nn Changkong flew toward the sky above a nearby patch of forest.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He felt as though Nn Qiankun had some devious objective, that he surely had some other n in mind. There was yet an unknown reason why he had proposed this fight to the death between Nn Changkong and him.


    "Father, I''ll be fighting now!" Xiao Nanfeng told Xiao Hongye.


    "Be careful," Xiao Hongye warned, eyes full of affection.


    "Don''t worry, Father!" Xiao Nanfeng smiled and was about to fly off


    when Yu''er suddenly called him back. "Nanfeng!"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Yu''er. She had an anxious expression on her face. Terror filled her eyes; she couldn''t help but fear for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and consoled her, "Yu''er, have you forgotten? I, Xiao Nanfeng, have never been defeated, and I never will be. Rx!"


    He flew into the sky where Nn Changkong was hovering.


    Yu''er wanted to pull him back, but Han Bingdie caught her hand.


    In the air, Xiao Nanfeng transformed, his golden robes turning into silver ones as a silver moon appeared behind his head. His deific domain expanded, and a blizzard began to howl. Chilly frost emanated from him.


    "Nn Changkong, for repeatedly harming the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and scheming against me, I hereby announce your execution. Submit to your fate and let me send you off!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a wave of his hand, he sent a blizzard straight at Nn Changkong.


    "Fire!" Nn Changkong shouted, summoning zing mes against the blizzard.


    The blizzard and zing mes struck each other. The mes blocked the blizzard, and a golden wheel of light appeared behind Nn Changkong.


    "You have quintessence of srfire?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Nn Changkong drew an Immortal sword brimming with me, then shed at Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with the divine undying de.


    The sh between the two cultivators resulted in a huge explosion of energy. Snow met fire and transformed into steam.

 Chapter 343: Fishing in Passing

    <h4>Chapter 343: Fishing in Passing</h4>


    In a valley some distance away, Xiang Shaoyin and his group were watching the fight unfold.


    "Why isn''t Nn Qiankun attacking himself? Why would he have his son fight a duel to the death with Xiao Nanfeng?" one cultivator asked.


    "Perhaps Nn Qiankun fears Xiao Hongye," Xiang Shaoyin suggested.


    "And only Xiao Hongye could terrorize Nn Qiankun!"


    The cultivators murmured to each other, all shocked by how the situation was developing.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Changkong continued to fight. The two cultivators were roughly bnced in strength, but Xiao Nanfeng was superior in terms of skill with the de and fist. When he spotted an opportunity, he charged forward. Their weapons released a wave of energy as they shed. As they held each other off, Xiao Nanfeng struck with his free hand. Hundreds of punches shot toward Nn Changkong.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Nn Changkong cried out.


    The countless punches shattered his qi barrier, unclenched into hand des, and thrust into Nn Changkong''s body.


    Nn Changkong shrieked.


    The additional palms all vanished, leaving one hand thrust straight into Nn Changkong''s chest, freezing it in a block of ice. Xiao Nanfeng pulled out a golden ember,


    the quintessence of soulfire that Nn Changkong had incorporated into his own body.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out from afar.


    Just then, Nn Changkong''s yin body shot out from his mindscape. It activated a golden hemispherical dome, which flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    If they were further apart, Xiao Nanfeng might have been able to avoid the artifact, but they were simply too close to each other. He and his silver moon were trapped inside.


    The golden dome swiftly grewrger in size until it was about a few hundred meters in diameter. A hundred and eight bestial totems were emzoned on the dome. A barrier partitioned the interior and exterior of the dome. mes zed on the inside; arge number of ming beasts roared as they came to life.


    The golden dome pinned Xiao Nanfeng to the ground.


    "Damn you, Xiao Nanfeng! You almost destroyed my physical body entirely!" Nn Changkong''s yin body shouted.


    Much of his physical body had been frozen stiff, and the hole in his chest extended all the way to his back. If he didn''t have a yin body, he would already be dead.


    "That''s... the Hundred-Beast ming Dome!" Xiang Shaoyin cried out from a forest in the distance.


    "The Hundred-Beast ming Dome? One of the Spirit Emperor''s three great treasures?" another cultivator eximed.


    "To think Nn Qiankun would be willing to hand the dome to his son... No wonder he dared to have his son duel Xiao Nanfeng. There are a hundred and eight ming beasts in the dome. Even if Nn Changkong has onlye into possession of the relic, each beast must be as strong as an Immortal. With a hundred and eight of them surrounding Xiao Nanfeng, he''s surely dead meat!" Xiang Shaoyin eximed.


    The ming beasts pounced on Xiao Nanfeng one after another. Fire zed, filling the interior of the dome and obscuring what was happening within from the outside.


    Xiao Hongye watched on with worry, while Nn Qiankun smiled expectantly.


    "Nn Changkong plotted against Nanfeng with one of the Spirit Emperor''s ultimate treasures! This¡ª!" Yu''er tried to rush over anxiously.


    "It''s a fair fight. There were no restrictions against the use of relics. Lass, you had better not disrupt the fight," Cui Haitang said coldly.


    Then, sheunched a palm strike at Yu''er.


    A hand instantly gripped Cui Haitang''s wrist, dissipating the frightening burst of energy. Han Bingdie had made a move.


    "Do you think I''ll let you touch my daughter?" Han Bingdie spat out.


    Cui Haitang''s eyes shed, but she aborted her attack.


    Yu''er continued to attempt to charge toward the dome, but a voice interrupted her. "Yu''er, don''t worry! I''m fine."


    Everyone turned to see Xiao Nanfeng, dressed in red, atop a watchtower in Yongding.


    "Father, I''m afraid I can''t head over there for the moment. I have to protect Yongding," Xiao Nanfeng called out from where he stood.


    Only then did Xiao Hongye rx. He nodded easily.


    Yu''er smiled, but she still worried for Xiao Nanfeng''s safety. She tried to fly toward his avatar once more.


    "Hold it, Yu''er!" Han Bingdie immediately grabbed her daughter.


    "Mother, I''m just going to go have a look!" Yu''er cried out.


    "You can''t!"


    "But¡ª!"


    "Yu''er, stay here and take care of Senior Uncle Hong''s fragment of will. I''ll go," Zhao Yuanjiao said, stepping forward. Then, he bowed toward Xiao Hongye. "Senior Uncle Xiao, Nanfeng prepared a few ns for today. I''ll be helping him carry them out."


    "Go," Xiao Hongye said, nodding.


    Zhao Yuanjiao flew toward Yongding.


    "Your son had other ns? What ns?" Nn Qiankun frowned.


    "Against your plots, I should think," Xiao Hongye scoffed.


    "Oh?" Nn Qiankun''s eyes turned cold as he stared into the distance.


    When Nn Changkong saw Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar standing in the watchtower of Yongding, he surmised that Xiao Nanfeng''s main body hadn''t been injured.


    "Disperse!" Nn Changkongmanded the dome.


    The mes dispersed, revealing whaty within. Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was nowhere to be seen; rather, lying on the ground was a purple seal.


    The ming beasts were attempting to attack the seal, but to no avail.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? This purple seal must be some treasure that allows you to hide within it. No matter how good a treasure it is, though, will it be able to surpass my Hundred-Beast ming Dome? Watch me shatter this purple seal of yours. Beasts, attack!" Nn Changkongmanded.


    The zing beasts charged at the purple seal, filling the dome with mes once again. Golden light emanated from the dome.


    Within the interior of the purple seal, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body switched back to his physical body. He smirked. "Try burning me if you can, Nn Changkong. I''ll deal with you once I absorb this quintessence of srfire."


    He sucked the quintessence of srfire into his body, hatching hisst nascent spirit as he sat cross-legged in meditation.


    Back on the outside, Xiao Hongye suddenly frowned. "Nn Qiankun, are you fishing?"


    "Only in passing," he replied.


    Xiang Shaoyin and the other cultivators'' eyes lit up with greed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s alright? That means that Nn Changkong''s attunement to the relic has to be weak. It''ll be easy to snatch it from his grasp," one cultivator murmured.


    "King Shaoyin, should we strike?" another cultivator asked expectantly.


    Xiang Shaoyin nced toward Nn Qiankun in the distance. He felt that the Hundred-Beast ming Dome would be rtively easy to seize right then and there. His breathing gradually became more flustered.


    "We''ll strike swiftly, all charging together as one," Xiang Shaoyinmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    The twelve Xiang Immortals made their moves simultaneously, rushing toward the dome in beams of light. They struck at Nn Changkong.


    "Be careful, Changkong!" Cui Haitang urged.


    Just then, the Hundred-Beast ming Dome formed a protective barrier of mes that surrounded Nn Changkong and brought him into the dome


    The Xiang cultivators'' attacks struck the dome, which drowned the air in mes.


    "We were tricked!" one cultivator eximed.


    "Leave, now!" Xiang Shaoyin howled.


    By the time the mes diminished, those outside discovered that the Hundred-Beast ming Dome had grown another sizerger. Nn Changkong had retreated out of the dome, but Xiang Shaoyin and the other Immortals were trapped within.


    Xiang Shaoyin and his subordinates were furious. They hadn''t expected the dome to possess such tricks. They attacked the interior of the dome madly, but weren''t able to break it open.


    "Do you think the Spirit Emperor''s treasures would be easy to steal?" Nn Changkong roared inughter.


    He activated the dome, sending the ming beasts pouncing toward Xiang Shaoyin and his subordinates. mes filled the interior of the dome once again.


    "We''ve been tricked. Nn Qiankun had his son fight Xiao Nanfeng and use this dome in order to bait us!" Xiang Shaoyin howled.

 Chapter 344: The Battle of Yongding

    <h4>Chapter 344: The Battle of Yongding</h4>


    Within the Hundred-Beast ming Dome, countless ming beasts shot toward Xiang Shaoyin and his subordinates. They nched and struck at the beasts with their swords. The interior of the dome continued to burn.


    "King Shaoyin, the ming beasts are no weaker than we are, and there are a hundred and eight of them in all. We won''t be able to defend against them!"


    "We can''t escape. The dome can''t be broken!"


    The Immortals fretted as the ming beasts besieged them.


    "Fight them with your Immortal weapons. If you can''t hold out any longer, destroy your weapons to keep them at bay. Focus on your survival for now. Others wille save us!" King Shaoyinmanded.


    He thought that he had nned for everything; the fact that such an elementary trick had worked on him left him frustrated to no end.


    Outside the dome, three crow Immortals descended from the air. They struck at the dome in order to save King Shaoyin.


    With a shriek, three crane Immortals rushed out from cloud cover and blocked the three crow Immortals. The six Immortal avians fought each other in the air, sending zing mes and howling wind through the sky.


    Xiang Shaoyin nched. "Nn Qiankun must have a lot of subordinates around. He''s trying for even bigger prey, isn''t he?"


    Just then, in the main Xiang city, a Xiang official rushed into a great hall.


    "Your Majesty, King Shaoyin has been ambushed in the city of Yongding. My avatar saw it personally. Twelve Immortals have been trapped in the Hundred-Beast ming Dome, and they''re in great danger. Your Majesty, pleasemand us!" the official shouted.


    The doors to the hall banged open as a man in draconic robes strode out.


    "Those Immortals not responsible for guarding the city shall apany me to Yongding and rescue King Shaoyin!" the man dered. His voice spread throughout the city.


    He shot into the air, transforming into a beam of light as he rushed toward Yongding. Shortly thereafter, more and more beams of light flew through the air following after the man.


    An hourter, outside the city of Yongding, one Immortal cried out, "King Shaoyin, my brother''s dead, too! We can''t kill these ming beasts. They revive once they''re defeated. We won''t be able to hold out much longer!"


    Just then, a beam of light appeared over the horizon.


    "Shaoyin, we havee!" a stentorian voice dered.


    "His Majesty?!" The remaining Immortals trapped within the dome looked up at the sky in surprise and gratitude.


    What looked like a shooting star descended from the sky, resolving into the figure of a man in draconic robes as he drew near. He held a treasure scintiting with golden light in his hands.


    "Brother''s carrying one of the Spirit Emperor''s treasures, too! It''ll surely be able to prate the dome, but..." Although Xiang Shaoyin wanted to be rescued, he was struck by a great sense of unease. There was sure to be danger afoot.


    As expected, Nn Qiankun smirked. "The head of the Xiang n, Xiang Shaoyang? I''ve waited for you for some time."


    Nn Qiankun stepped forward, clutching yet another treasure shining with golden light. He struck the man in draconic robes like a shooting star.


    "Nn Qiankun''s holding onto another of the Spirit Emperor''s treasures! Be careful, Brother!" Xiang Shaoyin cried out.


    Xiang Shaoyang and Nn Qiankun struck each other in an explosion of light. A huge cloud mushroomed from the point of impact, and howling gales swept across thend. The defensive formation of Yongding activated and barely blocked the remnant shockwaves.


    "Die, Nn Qiankun!" Xiang Shaoyang roared.


    "You''re the one who''s asking to die, Xiang Shaoyang. All of you might as well remain behind today!" Nn Qiankun retorted,ughing out loud.


    Xiang Shaoyang and Nn Qiankun began to attack each other, ascending higher and higher into the sky as they fought, until they were deep in the clouds. Both cultivators were exceptionally strong, and each possessed a treasure of the Spirit Emperor. The shockwaves that resulted from their confrontation was more than enough to deter the eight Xiang Immortals who had apanied Xiang Shaoyang from approaching.


    "We''ll rescue King Shaoyin first. Start by breaking into the Hundred-Beast ming Dome, then killing Nn Changkong!" one Xiang Immortal shouted.


    "Understood!" The Immortals all shot toward the dome.


    Just then, dozens of Immortals emerged from the forests nearby. The Immortal swords in their hands shone with multicolored light as they shed at the Xiang neers.


    "An ambush!" the Xiang Immortals cried out.


    They were waid by the Tianshu Immortals and unable to approach the Hundred-Beast ming Dome.


    Fire and storm raged across thends outside Yongding.


    Within the dome, a bloodied Immortal cried out, "King Shaoyin, what do we do now? Are we all going to die here?"


    "Nn Qiankun wasn''t trying to take down Xiao Nanfeng¡ªbut rather all of us Xiang Immortals! What a scheming bastard!" Xiang Shaoyin bellowed in rage.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar could be heard from within Yongding.


    "The capital of Dazheng will brook no such disturbances on its grounds! All generals, kill the Immortals who dare raise such a ruckus and return peace to Yongding!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" a group of voices within Yongding replied.


    Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui charged forward with arge group of cultivators. Zhao Yuanjiao joined in.


    A group of Wingform-realm cultivators tossed out asso-like Immortal relic and caught a Tianshu Immortal. They smiled in excitement.


    "We''ve caught one. Everyone, activate your Immortal relics and strike!" the Sanyuan sect master cried out.


    A group of Wingform-realm sect masters struck with their Immortal relics.


    Another group of cultivators, with the signature golden gleam of Indomitable Body, were ganging up on another Tianshu Immortal. Although they were only at Wingform-realm, they were incredibly resistant to damage. Even when struck at full force by that Immortal, none of them were fazed at all. Rather, they shouted for the Immortal to keep going, as though they were having a massage.


    Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, You Jiu, Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and Warble were fearsome opponents indeed.


    They only attacked the Tianshu Immortals, giving the Xiang Immortals an opportunity to catch their breath.


    Some of the Xiang Immortals shot toward Nn Changkong.


    "You''ll die for this!" Cui Haitang roared, charging forward.


    Yu''er struck at Cui Haitang, who was forced to defend against her blow.


    "Cui Haitang, you forbade me from interfering. Now, I intend to do the same to you." Yu''er stood in front of Cui Haitang, blocking her path.


    "Don''t make me kill you,ss!" Cui Haitang struck Yu''er with a palm.


    Han Bingdie met Cui Haitang''s palm with her own. A gust of energy emanated as the two women shed against each other.


    "Cui Haitang, my daughter''s right. You were the ones who started this fight and lured these cultivators over. You had better stay put!"


    With the mother-and-daughter duo hindering her, Cui Haitang began to fret. She took a deep breath and begged, "Dear Sister, please protect my son!"


    A paper figure appeared beside Cui Haitang. Rather than attempt to save Nn Changkong, however, it struck at Yu''er.


    "Dear Sister, you don''t have to deal with them! I''ll handle them. Go save my son!" Cui Haitang shouted anxiously.


    However, the paper figure ignored her and continued to attack Yu''er.


    "Use the Taiqing red palm, Lass!" Xiao Hongye suddenly shouted.


    Yu''er subconsciously activated a special technique, emitting a burst of red light with her palm that knocked the paper figure back.


    "It really works!" Yu''er cried out.


    Xiao Hongye smiled. "Have you learned the Taiqing red barrier for shielding your body?"


    "I have!" Yu''er replied.


    "Use that technique. This paper figure isn''t particrly strong, and you should be able to handle it."


    "Understood!" Yu''er replied, radiating with red light.


    She began to fight on equal footing with the paper figure.


    When Han Bingdie saw Xiao Hongye giving Yu''er pointers, she rxed and continued to take on Cui Haitang, preventing her from aiding the Tianshu cultivators.


    Despite the fact that Cui Haitang was unable to help her son, she rxed upon seeing two Tianshu Immortals nking him protectively.


    "Go to Yongding and deal with Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar!" Cui Haitangmanded.


    "Understood!"


    One Tianshu Immortal flew toward Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar from afar.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Don''t worry. You be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng replied from the watchtower.


    A red moon appeared behind his head, and a red cloud in the sky. Multiple lengths of red rope descended from it and looped toward the Immortal.


    They quickly caught the Immortal and tangled him up before he could reach Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Release me!" the Immortal cried.


    However, the red ropes had tightened around his neck. He hung in the air, the qi barrier around him shing and distorting as it gave out. He struggled in pain as he hung from the red ropes.


    The situation outside Yongding was a chaotic mess, with both Xiang and Tianshu Immortals falling in battle. Many of the Dazheng fighters were also getting injured, but whenever they were unable to fight, they would rush back into Yongding to receive treatment. With Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar standing guard by the watchtower, no other Immortal would be able to attack Yongding proper.


    Within the domain of the purple seal, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body finally distilled the quintessence of srfirepletely.


    A burst of ming energy erupted from Xiao Nanfeng as ten crows cawed around him.


    "The tenth stage of Wingform! I''m at the peak!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    He rushed out of the purple seal''s domain.


    Outside, the ming beasts were still relentlessly attacking the purple seal. When they saw Xiao Nanfeng appear, they immediately charged forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold as he sent the purple seal careening toward them.


    The ming beasts at the front, struck by the seal, burst into a shower of mes and sent the other ming beasts back. When the mes surged toward Xiao Nanfeng, he opened his mouth wide and absorbed them all.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve finally shown yourself!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted from close by.


    He was almost about to give out. The majority of the twelve trapped Immortals had perished, and he was heavily wounded. Without any support, he was going to die as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Xiang Shaoyin, then sneered at him. "Didn''t you read the letter I sent you? If you had done as I suggested, you''d already have taken down the capital of the Tianshu Empire and even killed Nn Qiankun''s other avatar. You brought this upon yourselves!"


    Xiang Shaoyin''s face stiffened in remorse.

 Chapter 345: Slaying Nalan Changkong

    <h4>Chapter 345: ying Nn Changkong</h4>


    Three more ming beasts shot over. Xiao Nanfeng mmed down with his purple seal, sending them flying.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, quick, let''s work together to take down these ming beasts!" Xiang Shaoyin closed in on Xiao Nanfeng, as did the few remaining Xiang cultivators.


    "Work together? Will you be able to do so? Go, ming beasts!" a voice shouted.


    The cultivators looked up at the sky. Nn Changkong was manipting the dome andmanding arge number of the ming beasts to strike at those trapped within. The ming beasts that Xiao Nanfeng had dispersed had mysteriously revived within the mes.


    The beasts rushed over, zing with malice.


    "No!"


    A few Immortals were instantly drowned in a sea of me.


    Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, charged into the sky straight at Nn Changkong. Countless ming beasts attempted to intercept him, but his purple seal sent them flying. He grew closer and closer to Nn Changkong.


    "It''s pointless!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted from afar. "The dome''s barrier is too strong. You won''t be able to break out. We destroyed almost ten Immortal relics simultaneously and at the same location, but even that wasn''t enough to break the barrier. Your purple seal might be strong, but it''s only roughly equivalent to the explosion of three Immortal relics. It won''t be sufficient!"


    "Did you hear that, Xiao Nanfeng? Why don''t you keep hiding in your purple seal? See how long it''ll take my ming beasts to break into it, haha!" Nn Changkong roared inughter.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had already reached the side of the barrier. He wed forward with his hand.


    Nn Changkong was stupefied. He mocked, "Are you crazy? Do you think you can bypass this barrier empty-handed?"


    He was about tough again when a hand suddenly caught his leg. Xiao Nanfeng wrenched him within the barrier.


    "What? Impossible!" Xiang Shaoyin eximed from afar.


    He rubbed at his eyes incredulously. How had Xiao Nanfeng pulled Nn Changkong into the barrier? That was impossible. How had he bypassed it?


    "Impossible. No!" Nn Changkong shrieked.


    What awaited him was a strike from the purple seal. In a sh, Nn Changkong''s yin body imploded.


    The Tianshu Immortals guarding his physical body beyond the dome were likewise taken aback. They cried out, "Your Highness!"


    Unfortunately, Nn Changkong''s yin body had already dissipated. He was done for. Without Nn Changkong to manipte the dome, the ming beasts lost their targets and stood immobile. Then, they vanished within the mes, which grew weaker.


    Xiang Shaoyin and the other Immortals were immediately saved. They were hurt all over, but their full attention was to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "How did you do it, Xiao Nanfeng?" Xiang Shaoyin eximed incredulously.


    "Nn Changkong must have been too unlucky. He fell in on his own," Xiao Nanfeng replied ndly.


    Rather, Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation had grown to the point where he was barely able to ess the power of the candle cursed effigy that had been grafted to his body, giving him short-ranged spatiotemporal hops. It was easy to use one to drag Nn Changkong into the dome, though he had no intention of revealing his secrets to others.


    "Too unlucky...?" Xiang Shaoyin murmured.


    Everything had happened so quickly that no one had seen the situation clearly.


    "Changkong!" Cui Haitang wailed from afar.


    Held back by Han Bingdie, Cui Haitang had watched her eldest son die without being able to do anything about it. Her eyes had turned red; she was furious.


    Suddenly, a huge explosion came from the sky. Nn Qiankun and Xiang Shaoyang retreated from each other after their first attack. Blood trickled from their lips, as though both of them were heavily injured. Rather than continue to fight, they stared at each other warily, then looked at the battlefield down below.


    With a wave of Nn Qiankun''s hand, the Hundred-Beast ming Dome soared into the air and into his possession.


    "We''ll fight another day, Xiang Shaoyang!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    Xiang Shaoyang frowned. He had been badly injured in the confrontation, and he only possessed one of the Spirit King''s supreme treasures. On the other hand, Nn Qiankun had two. If they were to continue fighting, the situation would be disadvantageous for him.


    "Another day, then!" Xiang Shaoyang replied coldly.


    Only then did Nn Qiankun turn to Xiao Hongye, still watching in the distance. "Are you satisfied with how everything has yed out, then?"


    Xiao Hongye frowned at Nn Qiankun before he nodded. "As stated, I won''t be pursuing any grudges between our ns any longer."


    "Very good," Nn Qiankun replied. He turned andmanded, "All Tianshu Immortals, retreat to the capital!"


    "Understood!" the Tianshu Immortals all around chorused.


    "Husband, no! You have to avenge Changkong, Yunhai, and Feng''er!" Cui Haitang shouted, breaking free of Han Bingdie as she flew toward Nn Qiankun.


    "We''ll talk when we return. Guide the empress back to the pce!" Nn Qiankunmanded.


    The paper figure appeared beside Cui Haitang and tugged on her body. "Dear Sister, let''s return to the pce!"


    Cui Haitang was unwilling, but she wasn''t able to extricate herself from the paper figure. She was dragged away as she screamed herself hoarse.


    The Xiang Immortals flew over to Xiang Shaoyang''s side. They were all badly injured, and Xiang Shaoyin himself was coughing up an endless stream of blood. He had clearly been hiding the extent of his injuries with willpower alone.


    "Brother, something must be wrong. Why would Nn Qiankun stop attacking us out of nowhere? We can''t stay here, ahem!" Xiang Shaoyin coughed out more blood.


    "Retreat!" Xiang Shaoyangmanded.


    "Understood!" the Xiang Immortals chorused.


    The Xiang Immortals and the Tianshu Immortals nced warily at each other as they left with their respective rulers.


    "Let them leave," Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" the Dazheng Immortals replied.


    The Immortals of both parties flew across the horizon and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng reimed his purple seal and rushed toward Xiao Hongye.


    "Father, how''s Nn Qiankun? Why did he leave so suddenly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Xiao Hongye was ncing in the direction in which Nn Qiankun had left. His brows furrowed slightly. "He was likely injured to begin with¡ªor perhaps he sustained a heavy blow when he went against the sect master. While he was fighting, he made a few unnatural movements, likely a result of his wounds. Furthermore, something seems to be wrong with the Spirit Emperor''s supreme treasure that he possesses. It faltered during a few critical moments."


    "No wonder he was in such a rush to leave," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "Senior Uncle Xiao, those techniques you gave me pointers on really are amazing. I wouldn''t have expected they could deal with cursed effigies! Thank you for the instruction," Yu''er said.


    "Some of the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s secret techniques were designed to deal with some cursed effigies. Learn them well and you''ll surely benefit," Xiao Hongye replied, smiling.


    "Got it!"


    "You''re a goodss. You''ve been caring attentively for Nanfeng, and you''d be a good wife for him, haha!" Xiao Hongyeughed.


    Yu''er instantly flushed red. "That''s nonsense, Senior Uncle Xiao!"


    "Xiao Hongye, if you dare continue talking nonsense, my husband''s going to have a word with you," Han Bingdie shouted.


    Xiao Hongye smiled. "Senior Sister Han, you''ve seen how amazing my Nanfeng is. Look how far he''se in just four years! What do you think he''ll be able to achieve in four more? You might well regret your decision in the future."


    "Why don''t you tell my husband that, Xiao Hongye?" Han Bingdie retorted.


    "I will! I''m not afraid of him. Once I return, I''ll have a good chat with him. The Xiao n would dly ept your daughter''s hand in marriage!"


    Yu''er''s face was still red. She didn''t dare speak. However, her mother sounded infuriated. "Insolence! Xiao Hongye, you scoundrel¡ªdo you really want my husband to show up and take down the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Xiao n along with it?"


    "Have him wait for me. I''ll talk to him myself," Xiao Hongye announced proudly.


    "Come back here, then. I don''t want to hear any more of your empty promises!"


    "Father, why is your fragment of will growing faint?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly looked toward his father in worry.


    Xiao Hongye shook his head. "I was only able to infuse a limited amount of spiritual energy into this fragment of will, and it''s about to dissipate. Just seeing you once is enough to allow me to rx, though."


    "Father, make sure to stay safe and sound with Mother. I''ll be waiting for you at home!"


    As Xiao Hongye''s visage grew fainter, he said, "Nanfeng, don''t believe what Nn Qiankun said. Once he recovers, he''ll surely try to cause more trouble for you. Why don''t you hide and wait for me to return?"


    "Father, I intend to continue fighting him. You might have promised to drop your grudges with him, but I made no such promise. Just my suffering thisst decade, let alone Mother''s, wouldpel me to act. I can''t ignore Senior Uncle Hong Lie''s death, nor Master''s revenge. I intend to deal with him once and for all," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    "Once he recovers, it''ll be exceedingly dangerous," Xiao Hongye warned.


    "Don''t worry, Father. I''m aware that he still has trump cards up his sleeve, but so do I. I''m not afraid of him."


    Xiao Hongye hummed for a moment before finally nodding. "I''ll take your word for it, then. I have a few connections within the Tianshu Empire. They thought me dead, but now that they''ve learned that I''m still alive, they should be contacting you within the near future. See if any might be useful to you."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Take good care of yourself, alright? Wait for me to return. I like thisss, and I''m sure your mother will, too. Make sure to nab her hand in marriage¡ªthis is a task from me to you, understand?" Xiao Hongye smiled.


    "Yes, Father!" Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    Then, his figure grew fainter and fainter until it vanished.


    "Xiao Hongye, you shameless man! Egging on your son to take advantage of my daughter¡ªjust you wait until I get my hands on you!" Han Bingdie roared.


    Yu''er''s face flushed red. She didn''t dare speak, but she was clearly happy to have been recognized by Xiao Nanfeng''s father.

 Chapter 346: Expedition against Tianshu

    <h4>Chapter 346: Expedition against Tianshu</h4>


    As Xiao Hongye''s visage vanished, the red crystal shattered. Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips in regret. He immediately bowed to Han Bingdie. "Thank you for your help, Senior Aunt."


    Han Bingdie gave him aplicated look back. She could clearly tell that Yu''er was interested in Xiao Nanfeng, and she wasn''t against their rtionship in principle. However, her family situation wasplex, and she couldn''t unterally arrange Yu''er''s future on her own.


    "I''m sure you have plenty of work to get back to," Han Bingdie replied neutrally.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, bowing.


    He exchanged a look with Yu''er, then flew toward the battlefield in the distance, leaving just Yu''er and her mother on the mountain peak.


    "Yu''er, you had better drop any notion of being together with Xiao Nanfeng," Han Bingdie said, sighing.


    "Mother! I¡ª" Yu''er was flustered.


    "You know your father already has your future nned out. I allowed you to sneak out and apprentice yourself to the Taiqing Immortal Sect because I saw how unhappy you were, hoping you would have a chance to rx. This major business with the Tianshu Empire will surely make its way back to him. What do you think he''d do if he were to learn of your ambiguous rtionship with Xiao Nanfeng?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "Father would¡ª" Yu''er nched.


    "If you don''t want Xiao Nanfeng to die, you''d better not think of him romantically," Han Bingdie warned.


    "I¡ªI, how..." Yu''er''s face crumpled.


    Han Bingdie couldn''t bear to see the sight of her daughter so upset. She patted her gently on the back.


    Outside the city of Yongding, after the three-pronged battle ended, the peach branch cursed effigy reappeared and rushed toward the Immortals'' corpses. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop it. Rather, he even facilitated its actions bymanding all his subordinates to avoid the battlefield for the moment.


    Eleven of the Xiang Immortals had perished, alongside seven of the Tianshu Immortals. There were eighteen corpses in all. By the time Xiao Nanfeng flew over to the scene, they had all vanished and the peach branch had grown a sizerger. It bounded up to Xiao Nanfeng


    and deposited six luscious blood peaches into his hands, then vanished from sight.


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the six peaches, alongside all the discarded storage treasures remaining on the battlefield. By then, the smoke and dust hadrgely cleared.


    Not long afterwards, a group of Taiwu and Tianshu cultivators appeared outside Yongding in order to reim the corpses of their fallen Immortals, but there was nothing left of them by then.


    Meanwhile, the Dazheng cultivators that had participated in the conflict were gathered by a military drill ground as they tended to their injuries. When Xiao Nanfeng flew over, everyone got up and bowed.


    "King Xiao, we worked together to take down an Immortal. I give thanks for the loan of this Immortal weapon, and now return it to your care," the Sanyuan sect master began.


    The various sect masters all bowed despite their wounds. They nced at their weapons with longing, but still handed them over.


    "You may keep the loan of these Immortal weapons for the time being. im them with the merit you earn in the future," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The cultivators'' eyes widened in surprise, then gratitude. These Immortal relics would significantly enhance their strength. If they dared to be greedy, they would long since have imed the weapons for themselves.


    "Thank you, King Xiao!" the cultivators chorused.


    Although they were d for the promised weapons, they were a little confused. After all, they had earned significant merit for themselves during this battle. Why couldn''t they use that to im these weapons for themselves?


    "For defending the capital, you''ve all earned significant merit. I intend to reward you with two blood peaches," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What?!" the crowd cried out.


    Even the Immortal weapons paled inparison to the blood peaches. The Immortal weapons might possess great strength, but they were ultimately just physical possessions. How could thatpare to their being Immortals in their own right?


    "There are only a limited number of blood peaches. I intend to give the Sanyuan and Chongshan sect masters one each, then have them lead you in earning more merit. I will award you with more blood peaches then in order to aid you all in bing Immortals as soon as possible."


    The sect masters were actually divided into two factions: those who had initially been followers of the Tianshu Empire and Xiang n respectively. The two factions were led by the Sanyuan and Chongshan sect masters.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng''s unequal distribution of blood peaches left the other sect masters somewhat upset, it was as fair as things could get.


    "Thank you, King Xiao!" All the sect masters bowed down in gratitude.


    The Sanyuan and Chongshan sect masters gratefully imed a blood peach each. Without any hesitation, they swallowed them whole. A purple aura manifested around them.


    Of the remaining four blood peaches, one went to You Jiu as a reward for one of his spectral guards, one to Zhao Yuanjiao for one of his confidantes, and two to Ye Dafu for hisckeys.


    And of the two blood peaches prior, one went to Ye Sanshui, and the other to Tang.


    Before the Divine Emperor left, she had killed the ancestor of Prime Minister Whale and sealed its carcass, then handed it to Xiao Nanfeng. That giant whale spirit was no ordinary spirit Immortal, and it would provide enough resources to bring quite a few blood peaches to maturity. Xiao Nanfeng intended to nurture his ten golden crows a little longer before using the giant whale to form a blood peach and assist in his Immortal ascension.


    Within a locked hall in the Tianshu capital, Nn Qiankun sat on a draconic throne as a paper figure held Cui Haitang tightly down by his side.


    Cui Haitang roared in outrage, "Are you really my Dear Sister? don''t hold me down. I''m going to take revenge for my sons¡ªI''m going to kill Xiao Nanfeng!"


    Even so, the paper figure refused to let Cui Haitang go.


    Nn Qiankun spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he slumped over.


    Cui Haitang nched. She quieted down, then looked fearfully at Nn Qiankun. She rushed over to support him.


    "Husband, what''s the matter? How are you so badly hurt?" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "I''ve been through too many difficult fights recently. Ku Jiang wounded my yin body severely, as did Lu Yan when I had to restrain him. Then, during my fight with Xiang Shaoyang, Lu Yan tried to batter down my restraints, distracting me and causing me to sustain more injuries. If we had continued fighting any longer, I might really have died," Nn Qiankun wheezed, coughing out more blood.


    Cui Haitang cried out in fear, "Husband, it''s my fault. I didn''t realize you were so badly wounded. I was unreasonable when I asked you to keep fighting."


    Nn Qiankun wiped away Cui Haitang''s tears. He consoled her, "Haitang, I''m upset that all our sons are dead too, but we''re still around. We can have more children."


    Cui Haitang sniffed and nodded. "As long as you''re alright. We don''t have to worry about revenge just yet. We can take our time to handle that Xiao brat."


    Nn Qiankun nodded.


    The couple chatted a little more before Nn Qiankun closed his eyes in meditation and began to recuperate.


    Cui Haitang walked up to the paper figure. "Dear Sister, I misunderstood you."


    The paper figure nodded. It didn''t speak; instead, its body flickered as it vanished from sight.


    Ten dayster, within a hall of the Xiao manor, Xiao Nanfeng and his hundred officials of court convened. The Dazheng Pce was still under construction, and the officials were aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s ambitions. No one considered the hall too shabby, and all were honored to be present.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat at the head of the hall as he looked toward the officials.


    "I hereby appoint Ye Sanshuimander of the Zi forces, responsible for taking down Marquis Zi''snds. I hereby appoint Ye Dafumander of the Cui forces, responsible for taking down Marquis Cui''snds. Set off immediately!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    His attendants handed a token of authority over to each cultivator.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui and Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Generals, I await your swift return!" Xiao Nanfeng continued, smiling.


    "Understood!" the sect masters chorused.


    They had been waiting for this day for a long time. Only by expanding the borders of the Dazheng kingdom would they be able to earn merit for themselves. The Sanyuan and Chongshan sect masters had be Immortals, and the remaining coveted the same reward.


    The Dazheng kingdom had already established itself as an enemy to the Tianshu Empire, and Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of waiting for Nn Qiankun to make the first move. He needed to expand his territory rapidly so that he could amass more fortune when transitioning into an empire.

 Chapter 347: Nalan Qiankuns Anomalous Behavior

    <h4>Chapter 347: Nn Qiankun''s Anomalous Behavior</h4>


    A monthter, in a pavilion within the Xiang city, Xiang Shaoyin was having tea with a man.


    "Mr. Wen, Xiao Nanfeng''s growing more and more arrogant. He''s trying to take down two parcels of titlednds of the Tianshu Empire simultaneously,nd that should belong to the Taiwu Empire! Do we need to focus on suppressing him?" Xiang Shaoyin asked.


    The man was none other than Mr. Wen, who consulted for both the Tianshu Empire and Taiwu Empire. Despite working for both empires, the Nn and Xiang ns nevertheless seemed to trust him fully for some strange reason.


    "Did we lose many forces during the battle of Yongding?" Mr. Wen asked, having a sip of tea.


    "Of course! Eleven of our Immortals died, whereas only seven of the Tianshu Empire''s did. On the other hand, none of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates perished, and he even gave out a few blood peaches, allowing them to ascend to Immortals. I suspect he must have brought the blood peach tree out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and used the Immortal corpses to make those peaches," Xiang Shaoyin analyzed, frowning.


    "What do you seek to do?" Mr. Wen asked with a smile.


    Xiang Shaoyin was silent for a moment. "For Xiao Nanfeng to fight Nn Qiankun to the death, of course. The best-case scenario would be for them both to perish. I want his blood peach tree and that purple seal as well."


    "In that case, why ask me that question from before? You already know the answer." Mr. Wen smiled.


    "You mean that I should send my subordinates away and allow Xiao Nanfeng to im both titlednds?" Xiang Shaoyin frowned.


    "If you can guess that Xiao Nanfeng possesses the blood peach tree, don''t you think Nn Qiankun can, too? Allowing Xiao Nanfeng to do what he wants is the best way to get them in conflict with each other. Why interfere?"


    Xiang Shaoyin hesitated.


    "Are you worried that Xiao Nanfeng might be able to win against Nn Qiankun after you cede your territory without a fight? That you might help him grow stronger instead?"


    Xiang Shaoyin smiled wryly. "I can''t hide anything from you, Mr. Wen. Xiao Nanfeng''s growing far too rapidly. I wanted to take advantage of him to deal with Nn Qiankun, not to aid in his growth. If he were to take down Nn Qiankun, wouldn''t we gain yet another strong enemy?"


    "That''s how Nn Qiankun''s trying to deal with you," Mr. Wen replied, sipping at his tea.


    "Oh?"


    "Consider three warring factions, with one dominant in strength. If it pursues the other two factions, what would they do?"


    "Ally to take on the strongest faction, of course," King Shaoyin replied.


    "And if the strongest faction instead pretends to be weak, to be unable to defeat the other two factions? Without any pressure, those two factions would suspect and be envious of each other, then attempt to steal their treasures. What would happen then?" Mr. Wen continued.


    King Shaoyin nched. "Do you mean to say that Nn Qiankun has been feigning weakness to make us rx? To try to start a fight between us and Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Very good, King Shaoyin. You didn''t need me to exin anything. You know what to do next, don''t you?" Mr. Wen smiled.


    King Shaoyin frowned, then nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Wen. Otherwise, I might have missed the forest for the trees."


    Within the imperial pce of Tianshu, a female Immortal bowed and stood before Cui Haitang, waiting for her to peruse a batch of battle reports.


    "The Xiang n has withdrawn its forces from the two parcels of titlednds under theirmand? Are they crazy? Do they really intend on bolstering Xiao Nanfeng''s forces?" Cui Haitang shouted.


    "Your Majesty, our n to spark conflict between the Xiang and Xiao ns has failed. What should we do about thosends?" the female Immortal asked.


    "What did His Majesty say?"


    "His Majesty said that he was busy recuperating, that he would leave you in charge for the time being, Your Majesty," the female Immortal replied.


    "He intends to have me take charge of the front lines?" Cui Haitang frowned.


    "Your Majesty, this is a measure of His Majesty''s trust. In what other kingdom or empire would you be granted such an opportunity? I am certain His Majesty meant this as a matter of trust and faith in you," the female Immortal hurriedly said.


    Cui Haitang''s feelings improved upon hearing this rationalization.


    "What should we do about those two parcels ofnd, Your Majesty?" the female Immortal asked again.


    "Fight Xiao Nanfeng off! Commit all the forces at our disposal. Since we were unable to provoke a fight between the Xiang n and Xiao Nanfeng, we''ll have to take him on ourselves. We must obliterate Xiao Nanfeng''s forces. Have the various marquisesmand their troops to attack the borders of the kingdom of Dazheng. I want Xiao Nanfeng''s kingdom destroyed to avenge my sons!" Cui Haitang gritted out.


    "Understood, Your Majesty!" the female Immortal replied.


    She left in order to make arrangements for Cui Haitang''smands, leaving her free for the moment. She nced at her sons'' memorial tablets on a nearby table. She walked over and cleaned them all once again.


    "Your father said that he would avenge you after he recovered, but it''s been a month. Shouldn''t he be healed by now? Why hasn''t he done anything? He''s even left the military affairs for me to handle. Just what is he up to? Has he forgotten about his promise?" Cui Haitang frowned in exasperation.


    She strode briskly toward a hall toward the back of the pce, where Nn Qiankun was wont to cultivate.


    "Your Majesty, His Majesty is in secluded cultivation and has forbidden anyone from approaching him," a guard called out from afar.


    "And am I just ''anyone''?" Cui Haitang replied coolly.


    "Your Majesty, His Majesty gave this order himself. Please wait for a moment. I''ll report your arrival immediately!" the guard said.


    Suddenly, Cui Haitang heard the sound of lovemakinging from within the hall. She gaped, thinking that she had to have misheard¡ªNn Qiankun wasn''t infatuated with women; he didn''t even have a single concubine. She was unable to believe that Nn Qiankun would have found another woman to be with behind her back.


    "Scram!" Cui Haitang pushed the guard aside and sent him flying.


    "I was wondering why he would leave the military affairs for me to handle. I deal with business all day long, while he sits in the back and fools around, ignoring even his sons'' revenge?!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    She rushed into the hall, ignoring the guards trying to stop her from behind, and kicked open the doors to the hall.


    There, she found Nn Qiankun seated nude and cross-legged on a praying mat as he cultivated. No one else was present, and certainly not a woman.


    "What are you doing here, Haitang?" Nn Qiankun asked, opening his eyes.


    "Where is she? Where''s that wench?" Cui Haitang stomped into the hall and searched all around, but there was no one else in sight save Nn Qiankun himself.


    "What are you searching for, Haitang?" Nn Qiankun asked, more sternly this time.


    Cui Haitang continued searching, but it didn''t seem as though there was anything to be found. She scowled and cried out, "Husband, where''s that wench who was leading you astray? I heard a female voice in the hall!"


    "What? Where? You must have misheard."


    "I¡ª!" Cui Haitang''s face stiffened.


    She was certain she hadn''t misheard, but she would need proof to move this usation forward. She had found no shred of evidence at all.


    "Haitang, you must have been too tiredtely," Nn Qiankun said, consoling her.


    Cui Haitang had no choice but to drop the matter for the moment. She pressed, "Husband, when do you intend to avenge our sons?"


    Nn Qiankun replied, "I''ve been raising my cultivationtely. My strength has increased by leaps and bounds. We can talk more once I''ve finished."


    "When will you be finished, then?" Cui Haitang pressed.


    "Soon," Nn Qiankun replied perfunctorily.


    Cui Haitang wanted to avenge her sons immediately, but Nn Qiankun didn''t seem to be in a hurry at all. It frustrated her to no end.


    Nn Qiankun spent a great deal of effort cating her. Two dayster, when she approached the hall once more, she again heard a female voice panting harshly.


    "Get out here, wench!" Cui Haitang rushed in once again, infuriated.


    She kicked open the doors to the hall. Once more, only Nn Qiankun could be seen, his clothes rumpled. No other woman could be found within.


    "Haitang, have you been feeling too stressedtely? Could you be hallucinating?" Nn Qiankun asked.


    "I would never," Cui Haitang replied, indignant.


    "Even if I were to find some other woman, would I need to hide it from you? Don''t you know how I am after so many years of being married to me? You''ve asked if I''ve wanted concubines many times, and I''ve never taken a single one. Furthermore, if I really wanted another woman, why wouldn''t I set up a barrier around this hall to prevent any noise from leaking out?" Nn Qiankun frowned.


    "I¡ª" Cui Haitang was at a loss for words.


    "You''ve been too stressed. Go rest. Don''t worry about affairs of the empire for the time being. My avatar is out of secluded cultivation now, and he can handle things."


    "Husband, what about avenging our sons?" Cui Haitang pleaded.


    "Wait a little while longer," Nn Qiankun said.


    Cui Haitang grimaced, but what could she do? She was in the wrong for even barging into the hall in the first ce. She had no choice but to nod with exasperation.


    As she stepped out of the hall, she shook her head. "Could I have misheard? No, surely not. But that doesn''t make sense¡ªit''s almost like my husband''s a different man entirely, one who doesn''t care about Changkong and the others."


    A monthter, in the Xiao manor at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng stared at Han Bingdie in surprise. "Senior Aunt, what''s going on? Have you finally permitted me to speak with Yu''er in private?"


    Whenever he wanted to have a private conversation with Yu''er, Han Bingdie had stepped in to apany her, as though worried that he was going to take advantage of Yu''er without her supervision. Since Han Bingdie was Yu''er''s mother, however, there was nothing Xiao Nanfeng could do.


    "Have a chat," Han Bingdie said. "You''ll only have ten minutes. We''ll be leaving then."


    "What? Leaving?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Yu''er pursed her lips. She pointed up above at the sky. "My father''s here."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    He looked up. It was noon, and a bright sun hung in the air. A figure could be seen in the sky, right below the sun. From afar, it looked as though the figure was radiating sunlight. Although his features couldn''t be seen clearly, Xiao Nanfeng could sense his tremendous aura.


    "My father said that he was unwilling toe down here. My mother had to persuade him earnestly just to allow me to bid you farewell," Yu''er said, reluctant to depart, her voice depressed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the sky in surprise. How haughty did Yu''er''s father have to be? Was he unwilling to even show himself and greet Xiao Nanfeng? Did he disdain the Xiao manor?

 Chapter 348: Arcane Star Map

    <h4>Chapter 348: Arcane Star Map</h4>


    "Senior Aunt, what if I were to greet Yu''er''s father?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No! Don''t talk nonsense. My husband won''t want to meet anyone. If there''s anything you want to say to Yu''er, do so now. She''s right about to leave," Han Bingdie replied in abrupt refusal.


    Then, with a wave of her hand, she formed a cloud of fog that shrouded the courtyard. She flew into the sky to give them privacy.


    "Yu''er, does your father not want to meet me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu''er began to cry. Tears fell from her eyes.


    "Don''t cry, Yu''er! What''s wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng nched as he wiped at her tears.


    "Nanfeng, I''m going to be leaving. I won''t be able toe back ever again. This is thest time we''ll meet," Yu''er cried.


    "What? How could that be? Even if your father refuses to have you return, I can go find you. We''ll be able to meet up again in the future," Xiao Nanfeng consoled her.


    "No, you don''t understand. No one can change my father''s mind. He wants me to be a holy maiden of the Yuqing holynd. My mother has tried to persuade him otherwise many times, to no avail."


    "The Yuqing holynd? Just who is your father?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He''s one of the most influential people of the Yuqing holynd. He''s particrly stubborn and has already made up his mind. He seems to have noticed you, too. If not for Mother helping shroud us, you would be in danger," Yu''er continued.


    "Don''t worry, Yu''er. I''m aware of where you''re headed, and I''ll go find you myself. Don''t cry anymore. If you do, your mother might think I''m bullying you," Xiao Nanfeng said gently, helping her wipe at her tears again.


    Yu''er looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in a moment of passion. She touched Xiao Nanfeng''s neck, closed her eyes, and gave him a kiss.


    Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t expected Yu''er to be so bold. He too bore feelings for her after so much time together, and he didn''t resist. The two cultivators shared a long kiss. Xiao Nanfeng caressed Yu''er''s hair and lower back,forting her before her sudden departure.


    Just then, Han Bingdie called out, "Yu''er, time''s up. Your father''s been waiting for long enough. Let''s get going!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er slowly separated from each other.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll go find you as soon as I can," Xiao Nanfeng promised, wiping at Yu''er''s tears again


    "It''s useless even if you try. Take care, Nanfeng." Yu''er tried to stop her tears as she retrieved a jade tablet and handed it to Xiao Nanfeng. "Mother had me pass this to you secretly."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng took the tablet, uncertain as to its purpose.


    Yu''er swallowed thickly as she flew into the air.


    The fog in the courtyard vanished as Yu''er flew up to meet Han Bingdie. She seemed to realize what the two of them had just done. She red at Xiao Nanfeng as she took her daughter''s hand and rose even higher up to where her husband was waiting.


    Yu''er''s father seemed to have been waiting for quite some time. As his daughter and wife flew toward him, he waved an arm and summoned golden light to encapste the three cultivators. They transformed into a beam of light that shot toward the east, quickly vanishing over the horizon.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked longingly toward Yu''er. "Don''t worry, I''lle find you as quickly as I can. I promise," he said resolutely.


    Slowly, he walked back into his study, locked the doors, and sent a burst of spiritual power into the jade tablet. He began to read what Han Bingdie had left for him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er and I are soon to depart. You will have to avenge Ku Jiang on your own. Ku Jiang frequently told me that you were the most talented disciple he had ever seen, especially when it came to understanding scripture. It took Ku Jiang and me a century to finish all 48,000 scriptures in the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s vault, while you did it in but a few years. Although I married into the Yuqing holynd, I will forever be a Taiqing disciple at heart. I headed to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm in order to do my part in the ascension of the Taiqing Sect. My husband knew of my goals, and this was the one time he didn''t stop me from reuniting with my old acquaintances. Our objective was the arcane star map within the crystal tablet that encapsted the heavenlyws of the realm.


    "The arcane star map is a vehicle by which the naturalws of the world can be conveyed.


    "Naturalw: a fuzzy, indistinct concept. The 48,000 scriptures of the Taiqing Vault are, in essence, depicting the naturalws of the world, but only at a fundamental level. Even if you understand all those scriptures fully, you would only be able to progress to Yin Body.


    "Only by contemting more abstruse and profoundws can you further your understanding and reach the stage of True Yin.


    "Naturalw is formless and shapeless, iprehensible with the naked eye. However, the heavens and primordial entities can shape thesews and record them in the form of star maps. That was what you saw within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm.


    "A few hidden realms in this world possess star maps, but you shall have to find them on your own.


    "We were able to decipher this arcane star map. Read it to understand the naturalws that it governs, and use this information to enrich the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    The jade tablet then provided a detailed description of how to read these star maps. A tremendous amount of information was conveyed; it took Xiao Nanfeng a full day to barely understand the basics.


    "Star maps? I seem to have one of my own." Xiao Nanfeng blinked.


    He reached out, and a scroll appeared on his palm, titled "Dazheng Code of Laws." This was the document that would form the basis of the kingdom''s code ofws, with which the hundred officials of court would be granted power and jurisdiction.


    The code ofws was a palimpsest of the tattered Heavenly Dao Scroll that he had obtained from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. It had been restored within the interior of the purple seal via the special substance that was present there. Madam Rouge had said that the scroll had been nurtured by heavenlyw.


    The Dazheng Code of Laws was imbued with a depiction of the ster sky, of countless stars that slowly revolved. At a nce, it looked like the entire universe captured in miniature, astounding Xiao Nanfeng.


    In the past, he hadn''t understood how to read these star maps. Following Han Bingdie''s instructions, he carefully focused his attention on a small cluster of rapidly moving stars. A flood of information poured into his mind.


    The sterke of his mindscape began to expand, and the silver moon above it shone with blinding light. Spiritual aether condensed around him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s understanding of the Dao was increasing at a rapid pace. He was enraptured by what he could see. An indeterminate amount of timeter, he found his thoughts interrupted by Zheng Qian knocking on the door.


    "King Xiao, there''s urgent news from the Taiqing Demonic Sect!" Zheng Qian shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng came to his senses. He stored the Dazheng Code of Law and the jade tablet as he looked toward the door. "Come in!"


    Only then did Zheng Qian step into the study. "King Xiao, you''ve been in the study for three days and nights. I didn''t dare disturb you until now, when I received urgent information."


    "Three days and nights?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He had spent a day reading through the jade tablet in detail¡ªand then two days reading a star map, even though he felt that only a small amount of time had passed. He suddenly realized that his yin body had grown much stronger, and he had advanced significantly with the Body of Yin and the Taiqing Yin Body. His gains over the past two days were no inferior to that from reading all 48,000 tomes of the Taiqing Vault.


    He suddenly understood that the reason the Dazheng Code of Laws was precious wasn''t because of the quality of its material, but rather because of the star maps that were recorded on it.


    The Dazheng Code of Laws recorded the Dao of yore itself, which contained all permutations of naturalw that could ever exist. Even if it was somewhat antiquated, surely there could be no other star map ofparable depth.


    "King Xiao? Is something the matter?" Zheng Qian asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng quashed his budding excitement and shook his head. "I''m alright. What did you say? What happened to the Taiqing demonic Sect?"


    Three days ago, in ckme Ind on the Eastern Sea, countless disciples of the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect gathered by a za outside arge hall. At the forefront stood two people: one dressed in ck, features obscured, and the other a thin, almost withered, middle-aged man.


    The thin man bowed to the man in ck, then to Cui Haitang. "Sect Master, Senior Sister Cui, the right division leader had been intending on attending this ceremony personally, but he was waid by other affairs. I came in his stead."


    "Today is the day a new left division leader will be appointed. As long as you''re able to bear witness on behalf of the right division leader, that is eptable," the ck-robed figure replied.


    The ck-robed figure''s voice was hoarse and husky; the gender of its owner was unclear. An aura of authority surrounded the ck-robed figure, the sect master of the Taiqing Demonic Sect.


    "Yes, Sect Master!" The thin man bowed again.


    The ck-robed man then turned to Cui Haitang once more. "The Mortal division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Xiao Nanfeng, killed my left division leader? Do not lie to me, Cui Haitang."


    "Sect Master, would I fool around with my brother''s death?" Cui Haitang retorted, her face a mask of anguish.


    The demonic sect master was silent for a moment before continuing, "Did you gather all of us here because you wanted to inherit the position of left division leader?"


    "Yes, Sect Master. Please grant me this opportunity," Cui Haitang replied respectfully.


    "Let''s hold off for a moment. Han Bingdie is nearby," the demonic sect master said.


    Cui Haitang grimaced as she heard Han Bingdie''s name. "Sect Master, given her elevated position, I suspect she wouldn''t attend such a ceremony."


    Just then, a voice could be heard from the sea. "Who said I wouldn''t attend?"


    Everyone turned to see a golden cloud in the distance. A male and two female cultivators stood on it: Yu''er and her family.


    Upon seeing Yu''er''s father, Cui Haitang nched.


    However, neither Yu''er nor her father flew over. Only Han Bingdie did so.


    "I greet the sect master." Han Bingdie bowed.


    The demonic sect master waved a hand, beckoning for her to rise. "Junior Sister Han, no need for the pleasantries. Won''t your husbande over as well?"


    "Today is a gathering of the left division of the demonic sect, and my husband is but an outsider. It wouldn''t be appropriate for him to interfere, and he has chosen to wait by the extremities with my daughter," Han Bingdie replied.


    "No, no, your husband''s no outsider at all! It''s all thanks to him that the Yuqing holynd was willing to send support during the cmity two centuries ago, allowing the two Taiqing sects to continue to the present day. If he''s unwilling to approach, however, let''s not disturb him." The demonic sect master nodded.

 Chapter 349: The Left Division Leader Tang

    <h4>Chapter 349: The Left Division Leader Tang</h4>


    On ckme Ind, Han Bingdie recounted what had transpired with Nn Qiankun.


    "What? Nn Qiankun''s betrayed the Taiqing sect, and he''s even harmed Lu Yan?!" the demonic sect master eximed.


    Betraying the sect was a taboo beyond all else; it was an intolerable offense.


    "Sect Master, how could you only listen to her one-sided testimony? My husband never asked Lu Yan to return. He did impersonate Lu Yan, but only that, and only in order to force expose Xiao Nanfeng''s false pretenses. He was misunderstood; my husband is innocent! I have incontrovertible proof that Xiao Nanfeng killed the left division leader!" Cui Haitang hastily exined.


    "Cui Haitang, you killed Hong Lie and harmed Ku Jiang. How dare you frame yourself as innocent?!" Han Bingdie demanded.


    "I didn''t do it! It''s all Xiao Nanfeng''s nder. He''s the mastermind responsible, and he even killed my sons!" Cui Haitang cried out, her eyes red.


    "Enough!" the demonic sect master shouted, putting an end to the drama.


    The two cultivators turned to the demonic sect master, waiting for his judgment.


    The demonic sect master took a deep breath. "I cannot ascertain which of you is being honest for the time being. Regardless, it is true that the left division leader has been killed, and a new one is necessary to rejuvenate the division. The new division leader will be in charge of investigating the truth of the previous division leader''s demise, then reporting it to me. Today, we will pick out a new division leader among those gathered here."


    "Sect Master, who would qualify as the new left division leader if not me? ording to the sectws, if the majority of the demonic disciples favor and support me, I would qualify to be the next division leader."


    Han Bingdie scoffed. "Have you forgotten? The seat of division leader must be approved by the sect master as well."


    Cui Haitang looked expectantly at the sect master. With his agreement, she would be able to be the new division leader.


    Han Bingdie spoke up. "Sect Master, you rmended me for the position of the left division leader in the past, but I turned you down because of my marriage. I wanted to avoid any suspicion that the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect was under the control of the Yuqing holynd. That was how Cui Haisheng managed tond the position. Might I ask if I''ve served the left division well?"


    "You have," the demonic sect master responded in the affirmative. "Your contribution to both Taiqing sects has been immense."


    "As a member of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, I have no intention of breaking sectws. I wish only to propose a minor request: that all but Cui Haitang be allowed as nominees," Han Bingdie said.


    "What? Han Bingdie, how dare you!" Cui Haitang thundered.


    "Cui Haitang, you and Nn Qiankun have done nothing but lie time after time. If leadership of the left division passes to you, you''d only destroy it. As long as I remain, I will do everything in my power to stop you from bing the left division leader!" Han Bingdie dered.


    "You!" Cui Haitang screamed.


    The demonic sect master thought for a moment before he nodded. "As factious and fractious as the two of you are, it would be best that neither of you be nominated for the uing selection lest the left division bes nothing more than your tool against the other."


    "Sect Master, you''re deliberately favoring Han Bingdie!" Cui Haitang roared.


    "Insolence! Han Bingdie gave adequate rationale for her suggestion. On behalf of the demonic sect, I acknowledge and ratify that suggestion," the demonic sect master replied.


    Cui Haitang frowned. She red at Han Bingdie, with no choice but to ept that she was out of the contention.


    "The strongest disciples of the left division are present here today. We will begin with a test of cultivation and then one of character. Unleash your auras," the demonic sect mastermanded.


    "Understood!" The disciples of the left division unleashed their auras.


    A howling gale swept across the za. Just then, a disciple radiating with multicolored light and Immortal qi appeared in sight.


    "What?!" All the disciples turned to the source of the phenomenon in shock.


    No one could have expected that there was an Immortal among their number.


    "Pestilence Sage? When did you be an Immortal?!" Cui Haitang eximed in surprise.


    Tang strode forward. "I greet the sect master and the various elders gathered here. I, the Pestilence Sage, coincidentally triggered and sessfully overcame a tribtion."


    "Come here and allow me to examine your foundations," the demonic sect master said bluntly.


    "Yes, Sect Master!" Tang walked forward.


    The demonic sect master retrieved a relic bubbling with ck smoke. With a wave of his hand, he sent the smoke into Tang''s body. He murmured a chant as the ck smoke circted through Tang''s body before returning to the relic in his hand.


    The demonic sect master rxed. "The Pestilence Sage, I see. This is the first time I have heard that name, and I was worried that you might have been a spy from another sect. Now, however, I can rx. From start to finish, you have been a loyal demonic disciple. I apologize for the intrusion."


    "No offense was taken, Sect Master," Tang replied immediately. "I understand the need for precaution for the future of the sect."


    The demonic sect master turned toward the disciples of the left division. "I am unfamiliar with the Pestilence Sage, but all of you must be aware of him. Would you acknowledge him as your sect master?"


    All the disciples of the left division turned to Cui Haitang, who was silent for a moment before she finally nodded. Everyone responded immediately.


    "I am willing, Sect Master!"


    "I am willing, Sect Master!"


    "Cui Haitang, Han Bingdie, have either of you any objection to the appointment of the Pestilence Sage as the left division leader?" the demonic sect master continued.


    Han Bingdie shook her head. "As long as Cui Haitang does not take that role, I do not intend to interfere in the selection."


    "I do not mind," Cui Haitang replied.


    "In that case, I dere the new left division leader the Pestilence Sage!" the demonic sect master announced.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Tang gaped. All he had done was eaten the blood peach that Xiao Nanfeng had given him. How had he suddenly be the left division leader?


    "Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, everyone! I promise to do my best for the good of the left division," Tang cried out.


    "We greet the new division leader!" The disciples of the left division bowed down, and Tang returned their bow.


    "Pestilence Sage, in a few days'' time, you will be contacted to undergo refinement at the principal altar once your work at the left division isplete. Your most urgent task is to figure out how the former left division leader died. Report to me within theing days," the demonic sect master said.


    "Understood!" Tang bowed down respectfully.


    "This is the left division leader''s token. Because Cui Haisheng''s identity was rather unusual, I had the token for safekeeping for the time being. Now, I will pass this token to you. The left division has specificws. Are you aware of the taboos associated with this token?" the demonic sect master asked.


    "I am, Sect Master," Tang replied.


    "Very good. I won''t recapitte them, then. I''ve cleared away all bindings to the token. Attune to it with your blood."


    Tang immediately dropped a drop of blood on the token. ck rays of light shot out and entered Tang''s body. His body shook in resonance with the token. After some time, the ck light finally dispersed.


    "The left division leader has been chosen. Let us end this gathering here," the demonic sect master said.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The demonic sect master flew into the air and left ckme Ind, vanishing over the horizon.


    The representative of the right division bowed toward Tang before flying off as well.


    Han Bingdie flew toward her husband and Yu''er, then disappeared.


    Cui Haitang turned to Tang tentatively. "Congrattions, Pestilence Sage. I hope you''ll lead the left division to greater heights."


    The left division disciples all around them eyed Tang coldly, as though they only listened to Cui Haitang. With a singlemand from her, they might well attack Tang.


    Tang was aware of his situation. He smiled immediately. "Your Majesty, please don''t joke with me. You were responsible for my appointment. I will do what I can to obey yourmand."


    Cui Haitang nodded in satisfaction. "It''s good to know that you''re an intelligent man, Pestilence Sage. Worry not. The Tianshu Empire will treat you well."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty," Tang replied, smiling.


    "Hand me the left division leader''s token."


    Tang did as instructed. Cui Haitang attempted to activate it, but to no avail. She frowned. "It looks like the sect master really is on guard against me."


    "Your Majesty, do you need me to do anything?" Tang inquired.


    "Are you aware of the uses of the left division leader''s token?"


    "I am. It''s a powerful relic. A demon of incredible force lies sealed within ckme Ind, and the seal was incorporated into the left division leader''s token. Only the left division leader''s token can unlock that seal. Sectw specifies that the demon is of umon might and would surely destroy all living beings in the vicinity when unsealed. No one is to unseal the demon on penalty of being branded a traitor to the sect," Tang recited.


    "A demon? No, that''s my father. He''s being sealed deep within the volcano," Cui Haitang said.


    "What?" Tang eximed.


    "Pestilence Sage, if I were to ask you to unseal him, would you?" Cui Haitang turned to Tang.


    The left division disciples all around them eyed Tang coldly, as though they would strike at him all at once if he were to refuse.


    Tang grimaced inwardly. He might as well not have been a division leader at all¡ªjust a puppet!


    "As you will, Your Majesty," Tang replied immediately.


    Three dayster, in the study of the Xiao manor in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng frowned to hear Zheng Qian''s news about ckme Ind. "The Pestilence Sage has be the left division leader?"


    "He has. On Cui Haitang''s orders, he unsealed the seal around ckme Ind, releasing a demon of absolute strength. That demon killed almost all the demonic disciples on the ind.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "The ckguards sent word. One had infiltrated ckme Ind and saw a ck skeleton emerge from deep within the volcano. ck smoke roiled from it. It opened its mouth wide and absorbed almost all the disciples on the ind. The ckguard spy dove into the sea and luckily managed to survive. Only Cui Haitang and Tang avoided the carnage on the ind. Then, Cui Haitang repeatedly called the ck skeleton Father before it slowly regained its rationality," Zheng Qian summarized.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped. Inwardly, he murmured to himself, "Tang cursed all the left division disciples to death the moment he became the left division leader? He really is an omen of cmity!"


    "King Xiao, the ckguard reported that the ck skeleton boasts immense strength. Do you know where it came from?" Zheng Qian asked in worry.


    "The ck skeleton''s name is Cui Heiyan. He''s Cui Haitang''s father and the first left division leader. Because he cultivated the demonic arts and went overboard, he ended up transforming into a ghoulish creature who traded his humanity for overwhelming bloodthirst. On ount of his contribution to the Taiqing Sect, however, both sect masters worked together to seal him with the left division leader''s token. The demonic sect master has always been worried that Cui Haisheng would free him and safeguarded the left division leader''s token since. Who would have expected that Cui Haitang would get her way, after all? She never wanted to choose a new division leader; she just wanted the left division leader token," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Will Cui Heiyan listen to Cui Haitang and attack Dazheng?" Zheng Qian asked in worry.


    "If Cui Heiyan still retained his mental faculties, he would never have ended up sealed. He''s nothing more than an uncontroble demon," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.

 Chapter 350: Ambassador to Taiwu

    <h4>Chapter 350: Ambassador to Taiwu</h4>


    A few dayster, within a hall of the Xiao manor, Xiao Nanfeng had convened the hundred officials of court for a meeting. Suddenly, a cheer came from outside the hall.


    "King Xiao, I bear word from the Zi forces! They have defeated the Tianshu forces and taken down the hundred cities of the former Marquis Zi''s territory. Themander of the Zi forces has sent detailed reports regarding the battle at each city. Congrattions, King Xiao!" a soldier reported, travel-worn and still saddled with dust and dirt.


    "Very good!" Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    ""King Xiao, I bear word from the Cui forces! They have defeated the Tianshu forces and taken down the hundred and twenty cities of the former Marquis Cui''s territory. Themander of the Cui forces has sent detailed reports regarding the battle at each city. Congrattions, King Xiao!" Another travel-worn soldier rushed into the hall.


    "Very good!" Xiao Nanfeng replied again.


    "Congrattions are in order, King Xiao! The kingdom of Dazheng has repelled incursions into its territory and expanded its borders. The might of Dazheng cannot be deterred!"


    "Victory to Dazheng!" the officials shouted.


    "A monthter, in the imperial pce of Dazheng, we shall perform sacrificial rites to heaven and earth, gather the amassed fortune of Dazheng, and elevate this kingdom into an empire. All officials shall be promoted to imperial officers at that point," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" all the courtly officials shouted in excitement.


    Thergest difference between a kingdom and an empire, as far as the officials were concerned, was in sry. A kingdom''s sry was solely in gold and treasure, whereas an empire''s sry also included a measure of fortune. All knew what fortune could do, and they strove to work as hard as they could in order to stand out at the end of the month and receive a bonus allotment of fortune.


    At the same time, by a mountain peak outside Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and Blue Lantern were looking toward a towering pce that was currently being built.


    "This is a pce of abnormal size. You really are ambitious, aren''t you?" Blue Lantern joked.


    "I have just dered that, a monthter, we''ll be performing sacrificial rites to heaven and earth right here. We''ll gather the amassed fortune of Dazheng and elevate this kingdom into an empire."


    "In just a month? That urgently?" Blue Lantern gaped.


    "A month is more than enough for you to help me guide a draconic vein over, and for themon people to rx, live their lives, and start generating fortune. It''s a little rushed, but all conditions for the imperial ascension will be met," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I heard that the Tianshu and Taiwu Empires are both eyeing you. They''re particrly strong. Would they allow you to seed? You''re the weakest of the three major forces on the world stage at the moment."


    "I''m aware, but we still have a month left. I intend to deal with both empires during that time and prevent them from having the opportunity to take us on. At the very least, the imperial ascension shall continue unhindered. Xiao Nanfeng turned to Blue Lantern. "Blue Lantern, I specifically recruited your help because I needed your talent with formations."


    "Oh?"


    "I intend to use myself as bait to lure the Immortals of both empires to me, then to ughter them all in one fell swoop."


    "To ughter a group of Immortals? I''ve regained a fair bit of strength, but that''s still beyond me," Blue Lantern said, smiling wryly.


    "You won''t have to face them. I alone will suffice. I simply need you to help me set up a disorienting formation that will trap the Immortals with me for a short period of time. Once everything''s over, if I''m exhausted, please bring me away."


    "You? You alone? Just how many Immortals would you be able to withstand?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "I''ll kill everyone whoes my way," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Blue Lantern was silent for a moment. He couldn''t help but feel as though Xiao Nanfeng was bragging.


    "And if Nn Qiankun and Xiang Shaoyang arrive themselves?" Blue Lantern asked, frowning.


    "As I said, I''ll kill everyone whoes my way. As long as your formation can trap them with me, I guarantee they''ll die."


    Blue Lantern: ...


    He didn''t believe Xiao Nanfeng at all; he felt as though Xiao Nanfeng was bing more and more of a braggart.


    Within the imperial pce''s study in the Tianshu capital, Nn Qiankun was reviewing a report as Cui Haitang kneaded his shoulders.


    "Husband, apparently, in a month''s time, Xiao Nanfeng intends to perform sacrificial rites to heaven and earth to have his kingdom ascend into an empire," Cui Haitang said, frowning.


    "In just a month? He thinks far too highly of himself." Nn Qiankun scoffed.


    "The Xiang n has been eyeing us and our conflict with Dazheng during this period of time, and they''ve been lying in ambush along our borders. If our Immortals didn''t have to be wary of the Xiang Immortals'' raids, they wouldn''t have allowed Dazheng to im the territory they did. Xiao Nanfeng really has taken advantage!" Cui Haitang cried out.


    "It matters not. They won''t be alive for much longer," Nn Qiankun replied confidently.


    "When will you strike, Husband? Xiao Nanfeng''s been growing stronger all this time!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    Nn Qiankun was silent for a moment. He asked, "How''s Father-in-Law doing?"


    "My father is clear-headed on asion, but he''s frequently beholden to his demonic vices. Fortunately, he still remembers me and is aware that his three grandsons have been killed. He''s willing to take revenge for me. He has to consume cultivators daily, and only the Pestilence Sage''s left division leader''s token is able to suppress his demonic tendencies. Otherwise, he would long since have raided our cities and ughtered themon people." Cui Haitang frowned.


    "In other words, he''s uncontroble? Without the left division leader''s token to suppress him, he''d ughter all around him indiscriminately?" Nn Qiankun frowned.


    "Indeed. I intend to bring him to Yongding and release him there to have him kill Xiao Nanfeng." Cui Haitang''s eyes glimmered with madness.


    "That''s unnecessary," Nn Qiankun replied.


    "Oh?" Cui Haitang seemed perplexed.


    "The Immortals of the Dazheng kingdom have yet to return to Yongding, and there aren''t any priority targets there. If Father-in-Law were to unleash carnage at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng might yet escape¡ªand reveal Father-in-Law to the entire world."


    "Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng at Yongding?" Cui Haitang asked.


    "Just now, a spy sent word that the Xiang n has received a missive from Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng will be headed to the main city of the Xiang n as an ambassador in three days'' time," Nn Qiankun said.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, an ambassador to the Taiwu Empire?" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "The information is unlikely to be mistaken. Xiao Nanfeng might even already be on his way. Xiao Nanfeng is unlikely to be in Yongding at the moment. Why not attempt to intercept him mid-journey? Of course, to prevent any trickery, we''ll have to observe the situation carefully first."


    Cui Haitang smiled in excitement. "Husband, are you finally ready to make a move?"


    Nn Qiankun palmed Cui Haitang''s hand and said gently, "How could I fail to avenge my sons'' death? I simply hadn''t found the right opportunity to do so."


    "Husband, I was wrong about you," Cui Haitang admitted guiltily.


    "You are my consort, my wife. No misunderstandings would strain our rtionship. I intend to let you attune to the Hundred-Beast ming Dome. Changkong tried and failed to kill Xiao Nanfeng using this treasure. Now, you''ll attune to it and kill Xiao Nanfeng with it yourself, avenging Changkong."


    "As you will, my husband," Cui Haitang replied in a gentle tone.

 Chapter 351: Alliance

    <h4>Chapter 351: Alliance</h4>


    Three dayster, within a hall in Tianwu, the main city of the Xiang n, Xiang Shaoyin sat at the seat of honor with Xiang Immortals on either side. None of them spoke; everyone seemed to be waiting for something.


    Just then, a guard rushed into the hall with a report.


    "King Shaoyin, Xiao Nanfeng has appeared by himself outside Tianwu. He''s requesting an audience with His Majesty and you, King Shaoyin," the guard stated.


    The Immortals gaped at each other in surprise.


    "Did Xiao Nanfeng really show himself?"


    "I thought that his letter was merely part of his scheme. How can he dare to venture into Tianwu, the heart of Xiang power, alone?"


    "Is he crazy? Isn''t he afraid we''ll kill him?"


    The Immortals murmured among themselves.


    "Are you certain that Xiao Nanfeng is alone?" Xiang Shaoyin asked in disbelief.


    "Yes, King Shaoyin! No one else is present," the guard replied.


    "How arrogant. Does he really think we can''t do anything against him?" Xiang Shaoyin asked, a strange look on his face.


    "What should we do now, King Shaoyin?" the Immortals asked, perplexed.


    "Send him in," Xiang Shaoyin said.


    "Understood!" the guard replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood quietly outside the gates of Tianwu. He knew that there had to be countless nces directed his way, but he didn''t mind. Only when a guard came to invite him in did he fly into the city proper.


    "King Xiao, we''ve prepared a carriage for you. Please step in!" the guard invited.


    "There''s no need. Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The guard was somewhat at a loss for Xiao Nanfeng''s unorthodox maneuvers, but his fellow guard immediately took to the sky to lead Xiao Nanfeng deeper into the city.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew across Tianwu, causing many of its cultivators to gape at him and rub their eyes. They were unable to believe that Xiao Nanfeng would appear here.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the hall in which Xiang Shaoyin and the gathered Immortals were waiting. They frowned to see Xiao Nanfeng behaving so ostentatiously.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are bold, aren''t you? Aren''t you afraid of entering Tianwu alone? What if we don''t let you leave?" Xiang Shaoyin demanded.


    If it were him, he certainly wouldn''t dare to enter Yongding alone.


    "I''m not afraid¡ªand if I''m not, what''s there for all of you to be afraid of? Where''s your Emperor Taiwu?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Immortals gave each other odd looks. Xiao Nanfeng really didn''t seem to be concerned for his safety.


    "My brother''s off on urgent business. He doesn''t have time for you," Xiang Shaoyin said.


    Clearly, without figuring out what Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions were, Xiang Shaoyang didn''t intend to show himself. Xiang Shaoyin would be responsible for handling him for now.


    "The Xiang n really does put on airs, doesn''t it? I wrote to you three days ago and have personallye to your city. Do you intend to continue this charade and stop me from talking to Xiang Shaoyang directly? How petty¡ªand to think I thought highly of you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Immortals'' faces grew cold.


    "Enough nonsense. What''s your purpose here in Tianwu?" Xiang Shaoyin pressed.


    "Let''s talk inside," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Xiang Shaoyin gave him an odd look. Xiao Nanfeng was behaving in an unexpectedly familiar fashion.


    "Come in, then," Xiang Shaoyin said gruffly.


    The Immortals stepped back into the hall. They surrounded him, their hands on the hilts of their weapons, prepared to strike at Xiao Nanfeng on a moment''s notice.


    "What''s the matter with all of you? Do you want me to stay here? If this body were to die at your hands, Dazheng and Taiwu really will be mired in inescapable conflict. The fighting between our two forces will only benefit Nn Qiankun," Xiao Nanfeng said disdainfully.


    Xiang Shaoyin waved a hand at the Immortals, beckoning for them to stand down. He invited Xiao Nanfeng to take a seat and had the servants prepare Immortal tea.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why have youe alone? You have some sort of scheme prepared, don''t you?" Xiang Shaoyin interrogated.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Who said I came alone?"


    "Oh?" Xiang Shaoyin frowned.


    "I wrote to you three days ago. Given your poor ability to secure information, Nn Qiankun likely heard about my ns three days ago, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiang Shaoyin''s frown deepened. What was Xiao Nanfeng up to?


    "Nn Qiankun might have an ambush prepared outside your city, waiting for me to show myself. I didn''te alone¡ªI brought arge group of Tianshu Immortals with me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Everyone: ...


    "You lured them here intentionally? Why?" Xiang Shaoyin frowned.


    "Of thend around the Eastern Sea, Nn Qiankun controls roughly half, the Xiang n a third, and I a sixth. Don''t you want to take control of Nn Qiankun''snd?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "You want the Tianshu Immortals to attack you, and for us to step in to help you?" Xiang Shaoyin asked.


    "That''s right! I came to ask for an alliance with you to take down these Tianshu Immortals together. I intend on making the Tianshu Empire pay¡ªand who knows? We might be able to catch and get rid of Nn Qiankun, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "This is nonsense! How shameless can you get, Xiao Nanfeng?" Xiang Shaoyin demanded.


    "What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Alliance? You''re alone! You want us to send out arge batch of Immortals to take on Nn Qiankun''s subordinates. There''ll be death and injuries on both sides¡ªbut you''ll be just fine! Not only that, you''re luring the Tianshu Immortals to Tianwu, which will surely sustain damage from the fighting. Why didn''t you set this up in Yongding? We''d be sacrificing manpower andnd to take on the Tianshu Immortals, whereas you would just reap the benefits!" Xiang Shaoyin thundered.


    "If you think your side is losing out with this alliance, then we''ll switch things up. Have Emperor Taiwu head to Yongding alone and lure the Tianshu Immortals there. How about that?" Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    Xiang Shaoyin: ...


    What a joke! Emperor Taiwu himself serving as bait? That was impossible. What would happen if he were to die?


    "See? I''ve presented you with two options, but you don''t want to take either one. What I bring to the table is the risk I take by being bait. If we want to nab Tianshu, we''ll have to make innovative ns," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What do you intend to do, then?" Xiang Shaoyin demanded.


    "I''ll lure the Tianshu Immortals over, while you prepare to attack them. Once they expose themselves, I need all your Immortals to make a move immediately. Have Emperor Taiwu use the Spirit Emperor''s treasure to kill them as quickly as possible in one fell swoop."


    "You want us and the Tianshu Immortals to fight each other while you make a run for it?" Xiang Shaoyin summarized.


    "We can always flip things around," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Have Emperor Taiwu go to Yongding as bait. He can run while my subordinates fight the Tianshu Immortals."


    Xiang Shaoyin: ...


    That was obviously unreasonable. What if Xiao Nanfeng were to trick his elder brother? He felt as though Xiao Nanfeng had to be plotting something, but he couldn''t figure out what.


    "I''ve created an opportunity just by being here. There are Tianshu Immortals waiting outside the city, and Nn Qiankun himself might be here. If we don''t ally together and take them down, we''ll regret it for life," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiang Shaoyin was left in a quandary. He felt that Xiao Nanfeng had prepared a trap for him, but he didn''t know where that trap wasid.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, let my brother and I discuss your n in private."


    "Very well. It''s my first time in Tianwu, after all, so I might as well go shopping. Assign two Immortals to me to show me around the city and sample its specialties," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiang Shaoyin stiffened. Xiao Nanfeng was being far too familiar for his liking!

 Chapter 352: Disorienting Sandstorm Formation

    <h4>Chapter 352: Disorienting Sandstorm Formation</h4>


    In a hall within the city of Tianwu, Xiang Shaoyin and Xiang Shaoyang were engaging in discussion.


    "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng now?" Xiang Shaoyang asked.


    "He''s strolling through the city. Wherever he goes, themon people gape at him. He''s really treating the city as if it were his own," Xiang Shaoyinmented.


    "It''s a pity that Mr. Wen had to leave on urgent business, or we would be able to ask for his advice," Xiang Shaoyang said, frowning.


    "We can''t rely on Mr. Wen for everything, can we? Brother, how do you think we should deal with Xiao Nanfeng?" Xiang Shaoyin asked.


    "Killing him won''t work. He has another body unounted for. If we kill this body of his, we''d simply be starting a needless conflict between Taiwu and Dazheng. Nn Qiankun would only benefit as a result." Xiang Shaoyang frowned.


    "He''s certain we don''t dare to attack him. That''s what gave him the confidence toe to Tianwu alone," Xiang Shaoyin surmised.


    "I doubt Xiao Nanfeng came alone. His subordinates must be hidden nearby, awaiting his orders. He''s trying to take advantage of us to whittle down both our Immortals and the Tianshu Immortals. We certainly can''t let his n seed," Xiang Shaoyang said.


    "What should we do, then? Not agree to his request?" Xiang Shaoyin asked.


    "Why not? We''ll agree but not strike. If he wants to be bait, then let him be bait. Once he lures out the Tianshu Immortals, he can deal with them himself. We''ll sit back and wait," Xiang Shaoyang replied.


    "You''re right, Brother!" Xiang Shaoyin''s eyes lit up.


    "This time, however, you need to make sure to resist the temptation to get involved. Don''t fall for a trap likest time," Xiang Shaoyang warned.


    "Yes, Brother!" Xiang Shaoyin nodded.


    Outside Tianwu, in a rugged patch of forest, Nn Qiankuny in wait, hands sped behind his back. He stared at Tianwu expectantly, nning for whaty ahead.


    Beside him stood Cui Haitang, who was staring malevolently at the watchtower by the city.


    "Husband, Xiao Nanfeng really has gone to Tianwu as an ambassador. We can''t let him leave unscathed," Cui Haitang gritted out.


    "Mr. Wen said that Xiao Nanfeng is here at Tianwu in order to take advantage of our desire for vengeance. He''s luring us here and allying with the Xiang n in an attempt to get rid of us in one fell swoop," Nn Qiankun said.


    "What?" Cui Haitang nched.


    "This possibility is worth considering. Not only that, Xiao Nanfeng has an avatar. I''m worried that he would take advantage of the chaos here to attack the Tianshu capital," Nn Qiankun said.


    "He wouldn''t dare!" Cui Haitang eximed, frowning. "The Tianshu capital is well fortified."


    "It''s easy enough to wreak wanton destruction," Nn Qiankun reminded his consort. "He has a relic known as the Immortal''s Destruction, which allows him to rapidly excavate a draconic vein from underground. If he brings a group of Immortals to the Tianshu capital and excavates the draconic vein under our capital while blocking off our guards, that would be a tremendous blow."


    "No wonder you left your avatar at the capital, Husband," Cui Haitang replied.


    "The Xiang n is what we have to be worried about. Fortunately, Father-in-Law is here to help us."


    "Husband, aren''t we going to take revenge on Xiao Nanfeng?" Cui Haitang frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is allied with the Xiang n. We can''t just go for Xiao Nanfeng at the moment. The Xiang Immortals will surely strike. Rather than reacting to their presence passively, why don''t we take them down in one fell swoop, too? We may be able to take down the Xiangs right now, right here."


    "What if Xiao Nanfeng manages to flee while our focus is diverted?" Cui Haitang asked.


    "Just listen to my orders," Nn Qiankun replied sternly.


    "Very well," Cui Haitang eventually nodded in acquiescence. Nn Qiankun was her husband, and she would trust him unconditionally.


    A dayter, at the gates of Tianwu, a Xiang cultivator walked Xiao Nanfeng out of the city.


    "King Xiao, Immortals of the Xiang n disguised themselves as members of themon people and left the city yesterday. They''ll cooperate with you to hunt down the Tianshu Immortals. The rest is in your hands."


    The Xiang cultivator bowed and retreated within the city, leaving Xiao Nanfeng alone outside the city gates.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced up at the city walls and murmured to himself, "I hope you aren''t a fool, Xiang Shaoyin. If you go along with my n, we''ll be able to take advantage of this opportunity to kill the Tianshu Immortals, and both our ns will be able to rise rapidly in strength and formally suppress the Tianshu Empire. If you don''t, you''ll be the one to suffer!"


    He nced at the mountains in the distance before rapidly flying north, almost as though he were fleeing.


    Arge group of cultivators emerged from the mountains, chasing Xiao Nanfeng as they soared up into the clouds. They looked like shes of lightning in the sky.


    Deep within a forested area nearby, Xiang Shaoyin watched the cultivators depart. He smirked. "They really did chase after Xiao Nanfeng. Come on, let''s follow them. Be careful not to expose yourselves."


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew at the forefront, chased by two groups of cultivators. Not long afterwards, he vanished across the horizon, having left Tianwu far behind.


    In a patch of uninhabited desert, he suddenly turned around. "Who''s there? Show yourselves!"


    No one appeared from amidst the clouds.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the desert down below. With a wave of his hand, he sent a huge quantity of sand into the air to obscure vision.


    "He''s nning to take advantage of the sandstorm to escape. Don''t let him run off!" someone shouted from within the clouds.


    Just then, a huge palm descended from the heavens, suppressing the sand in the air.


    A group of Immortals descended from the clouds, surrounding Xiao Nanfeng.


    In the lead was Cui Haitang, with ten Immortals by her side. Tang had apanied them, the left division leader''s token in his hand. He was suppressing a ck-robed figure, with shes of ck bones peeking out from under its hood and robes. Xiao Nanfeng immediately identified the figure as Cui Haitang''s father, Cui Heiyan. For the moment, he seemed to have been suppressed by Tang''s token.


    Seeing Tang by Cui Haitang''s side, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but rx. Tang was an excellent support, and he was certain of the sess of his n now.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, didn''t you do all this to lure us over? Where are your forces? Have them show themselves," Cui Haitang demanded.


    She wasn''t in a rush to strike. She knew that Xiao Nanfeng hadid an ambush for her, and he surely had a n. She didn''t want to fall for one of his traps.


    While she dyed Xiao Nanfeng, she had her Immortals scout the area. However, there didn''t seem to be anyone lying in wait within the desert.


    "And why would you follow me if you thought I had an ambush prepared?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Have them show themselves! Let the two of us resolve our feud once and for all!" Cui Haitang demanded.


    "As you will. Show yourselves, Xiang Immortals!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Cui Haitang and her group tensed up as they stared warily at their surroundings.


    By the far border of the desert, Xiang Shaoyin and his group of cultivatorsy hidden within a forest. He smirked disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng. He had no intention of showing himself.


    "Xiang Immortals? What are you waiting for? Take down Cui Haitang and threaten Nn Qiankun!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Their surroundings remained silent.


    Cui Haitang smiled. "This is your so-called ambush?"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Cui Haitang''s taunts as he continued shouting, "Xiang Shaoyin, do you really intend to wait until Cui Haitang and I start fighting each other so you can finish both of us off?"


    Unfortunately, Xiang Shaoyin and the others remained hidden.


    "Looks like you''ve been betrayed," Cui Haitang said breezily.


    "Cui Haitang, you''ve been surrounded. The Xiang Immortals are lying in wait. If you dare strike me down, they''ll surelyunch a sneak attack on you from behind," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "As long as I can avenge my sons, it doesn''t matter. I want you to die. I care little for the Xiang Immortals. If they dare strike me, my husband will take them down."


    Xiao Nanfeng appeared to be enraged. "Xiang Immortals, you''ll suffer retribution for destroying this alliance between us!"


    With a wave of his hand, he sent clouds of sand into the air to obscure the cultivators'' vision. He fled deep into the desert.


    "Don''t let him run. Catch him! I want him to die from a thousand cuts. I''ll sacrifice his head to my sons so they can rest in peace!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    "Understood!" Cui Haitang''s Immortals shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" the Immortal at the forefront shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed away from sight, dodging the blow. The sword technique sent even more sand into the air, which surged into the sky and covered up even the sun. A huge sandstorm seemed to be brewing over the horizon.


    "Such arge sandstorm¡ªsomething''s wrong!" a cultivator cried out.


    "This must be the Disorienting Sandstorm Formation. Xiao Nanfeng, do you intend to trap us with this formation?" Cui Haitang demanded.


    "Your Majesty, have we fallen for Xiao Nanfeng''s trap?" one cultivator asked.


    "This formation runs on draconic aether. It doesn''t have any offensive capabilities at all, and it only disrupts our vision. Once that aether runs out, the formation will dissipate¡ªand the aether upkeep is tremendous. He must be a fool," Cui Haitang criticized disdainfully.


    "Why have the skies suddenly darkened?!" one cultivator shouted.


    "Isn''t it normal?" another cultivator replied. "The sandstorm''s covering up the sun."


    "No¡ªthere are dark clouds above the sandstorm, tribtory clouds! Xiao Nanfeng''s about to undergo a tribtion. This formation might not have offensive capabilities, but it can trap us here. Xiao Nanfeng''s going to make us undergo the tribtion with him!" an Immortal cried out.


    "A tribtion?!" the cultivators eximed.

 Chapter 353: Killing the Immortals with Tribulatory Lightning

    <h4>Chapter 353: Killing the Immortals with Tribtory Lightning</h4>


    Above the sandstorm, dark, roiling clouds gathered. The entire desert was covered in them.


    Beyond the desert, Xiang Shaoyin''s eyes widened. "Retreat!"


    The Xiang Immortals followed Xiang Shaoyin''s lead and retreated time and again. They nced at the dark clouds in the sky with shock.


    "Is this a tribtion? Why is it sorge? It''s ten times the size that mine was¡ªno, it''s growing evenrger! Is it because the tribtion sensed those cultivators around Xiao Nanfeng?" one cultivator cried out.


    "No, it can''t be! The first strike of tribtory lightning hasn''t yetnded. The tribtion hasn''t ounted for others around him yet. Right now, that tribtion''s still designed for Xiao Nanfeng and Xiao Nanfeng alone. Just what technique is he cultivating? Or could he havemitted such heinous crimes that even the heavens want to take him down? How could this be?" Xiang Shaoyin eximed.


    "This tribtion belongs to Xiao Nanfeng alone? He''s not even an Immortal yet! I''m an Immortal, and it frightens me..."


    "No wonder Xiao Nanfeng''s willing to use himself as bait. Anyone would die under such circumstances¡ªand this is even before the heavens expand the scope of the tribtion to ount for how many people there are! Even I wouldn''t be able to survive it." Xiang Shaoyin''s eyes twitched.


    "In other words, are Cui Haitang and the others done for?"


    "If Cui Haitang and the others escape immediately, they''ll be fine, but they''re trapped by the formation!" Xiang Shaoyin narrowed his eyes.


    Blue Lantern, manipting the formation from the periphery, looked up at the dark, roiling clouds in the air. He too was shocked.


    "The strength of a heavenly tribtion depends on a cultivator''s potential and karma. How could Xiao Nanfeng''s tribtion be so intense? This is the most extreme version of the tribtion possible! Is his potential that immense?" Blue Lantern wondered.


    Suddenly, the dark clouds gained a blood-red tinge. A bolt of blood lightning descended from the air.


    "Blood lightning? No, the tribtion didn''t arise because of Xiao Nanfeng''s potential, but because of his karma! His truesoul is marked with sin. The heavens themselves are against someone who hasmitted such great evil..." Blue Lantern eximed.


    In the heart of the sandstorm, Cui Haitang and the others nched. They were paralyzed by fear. By then, Xiao Nanfeng had stopped running away. Instead, he headed toward an Immortal that had been chasing after him.


    "Stay away!" the Immortal cried out.


    A bolt of blood lightning descended like a waterfall, enveloping the two cultivators. A shriek rang out as a huge pit formed in the desert.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Immortal had fallen to the ground, both heavily injured. They spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, their clothes tattered and worn. Blood streaked their bodies; they were a sorry sight to behold.


    "What sort of tribtion is this? Even the first blow can wound an Immortal to this extent?!" the cultivators cried out.


    Within the pit, Xiao Nanfeng shook his head in surprise. "Wasn''t the first bolt of lightning not supposed to take others into ount? How could it have been so strong? There are forty-nine strikes of tribtory lightning in all. How am I supposed to survive.?!"


    The dark clouds roiled again. The tribtion, as if discovering that Xiao Nanfeng had helpers around, grewrger and stronger.


    "No, no!"


    The Immortal that had been heavily injured by the bolt of lightning looked up at the sky in terror. He felt as though the tribtion had locked in on him, that a far stronger bolt was right about to descend. He arduously got to his feet and tried to run.


    "Where are you going? Aren''t you going to catch me? Come, we can suffer through this tribtion together." Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? You''re going to kill us both!" the Immortal screamed.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng continued to give chase. He consumed a blood peach whole, causing a peach-shaped haze of light to form around him and heal his injuries.


    The next bolt of blood lightning was twice the size of the first. It struck the two cultivators and formed another huge pit in the desert.


    The Immortal screamed as he was smashed into the pit once more. His qi barrier shattered instantly, and the blood lightning broke one of his arms. He fell in a pool of blood.


    The other Immortals around were so scared that they began to shake. None of them dared to approach Xiao Nanfeng, because that would only intensify the tribtion.


    Xiao Nanfeng was likewise left bloody by the second bolt of blood lightning. However, the blood peach healed him rapidly.


    "This won''t be enough. I''ll need another one!" Xiao Nanfeng decided.


    He retrieved another blood peach and ate it whole, murmuring thanks to the peach branch that had managed to transform the giant whale''s carcass into twelve whole blood peaches.


    The third bolt of blood lightning descended, striking Xiao Nanfeng and the Immortal. The Immortal screamed, his body blown to pieces as he died on the spot.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body was ravaged yet again. Without any hesitation, as he consumed the blood peaches, he shot toward Cui Haitang.


    "There''s no way out. We''ve returned where we were! We can''t even go up..."


    "This damned formation! He wants to kill us all with him!"


    "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng has returned!" the cultivators cried out.


    They knew that, if they left Xiao Nanfeng unchecked, they would perish to the tribtion like the Immortal from before.


    "We have to strike simultaneously and kill Xiao Nanfeng. Once he dies, the tribtion will dissipate," Cui Haitang said. Then, she looked toward Tang. "Retreat with my father. Don''t let him approach Xiao Nanfeng. Make sure he stays as far away as possible."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The cultivators all shot forward, brandishing their weapons at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The tribtory clouds shook, as though sensing that external forces were attempting to interfere with the fairness of the trial. The clouds grewrger in size once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped back, dodging the Immortals'' attack. The fourth bolt of blood lightning descended, ten times the size of the previous one. It looked as though a blood-coloredke had upended itself in mid-air.


    "No!" the cultivators cried out.


    They were instantly swallowed up by the blood lightning, which produced zing mes and a windstorm as itnded. A huge pit formed in the desert, sending the Immortals flying. They were injured all over, and many had broken limbs. Even Cui Haitang was in poor shape.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t much better, either. He slumped over as he spat out a mouthful of blood. "I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew..."


    Because he was continuing to consume more blood peaches, his injuries were healing at a rapid rate. When he reached his ninth peach, his eyes widened. "I can''t increase the regeneration from these peaches any further? Have I consumed too many peaches for them to be useful anymore?"


    Even so, he hurriedly swallowed the final three peaches as well.


    Then, he rushed toward one of the heavily wounded Immortals.


    "Don''te over! Stay back!" the Immortal cried out.


    Another bolt of blood lightning swamped the two cultivators. The heavily wounded Immortal perished instantly.


    This time, the lightning had grown slightly weaker, and Xiao Nanfeng was barely able to withstand it.


    He leapt toward another Immortal.


    None other dared to attack him at this point. They were fleeing toward the outer edges of the formation. Unfortunately for them, the sandstorm was still going. No matter where the Immortals ran, they would loop back around and be caught by Xiao Nanfeng, who would trigger a bolt of blood lightning and kill them.


    One Immortal died after the other.


    Cui Haitang''s eyes widened. She wanted to avenge her sons, but that didn''t mean she wanted to die. The blood lightning was far too potent for even her to withstand.


    "Pestilence Sage, unbind my father. Free him now!" Cui Haitang cried out.


    "Understood!" Tang immediately deactivated the left division leader''s token.


    The ck-robed skeleton was released from its constraints in a burst of ck smoke.


    "Kill, kill, kill!" the ck skeleton roared.


    "Don''t head over there, Father! Father, wake up. We have to flee!" Cui Haitang urged.


    However, the ck skeleton ignored Cui Haitang. It rushed toward thergest source of vitality in the region: Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" The ck skeleton wed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    It moved so rapidly that Xiao Nanfeng was unable to dodge. He had no choice but to hastily strike back.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    The skeleton''s ws batted him to the ground with such force that he sprayed out a mouthful of blood.


    Without any hesitation, the ck skeletonunched itself at him again. Another bolt of blood lightning struck, enveloping the two cultivators. This time, it was no weaker than when ten Immortals had attacked Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously.


    mes and wind filled the desert once again.


    As the lightning dissipated, Xiao Nanfeng spat out another mouthful of blood, badly injured. The ck skeleton''s robes exploded, and cracks formed on its skull. It had clearly suffered a significant injury as well, but the wounds had sobered it up to some extent.


    "Father, we have to leave! Don''t attack him any longer. We need to escape from the formation!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    In the air, dark clouds roiled. Another bolt of lightning seemed poised to strike.


    The ck skeleton, sensing grave danger, rushed toward Cui Haitang and took her hand.


    "Father, are you awake? Quick, we have to leave. We''re in a Disorienting Sandstorm Formation!" Cui Haitang urged.


    "Bring me, too!" Tang cried out, flying toward them.


    The ck skeleton wed at the void, forming a vacuum-filled portal from which thend outside the desert could be seen.


    The ck skeleton rushed out of the formation with the two cultivators in tow. The next moment, the sandstorm filled the hole where the portal had been.


    Blue Lantern nched. "The ck skeleton escaped! Has it reached the Earth Immortal realm?"

 Chapter 354: Toward Immortality

    <h4>Chapter 354: Toward Immortality</h4>


    More bolts of lightning continued to descend as Immortals screamed in pain within the sandstorm. The ck skeleton barely escaped from the Disorienting Sandstorm Formation with Cui Haitang and Tang in tow.


    "We''re out! Thank goodness you''re awake, Father. Otherwise, Xiao Nanfeng would have killed me!" Cui Haitang shuddered in fear.


    The ck skeleton twisted its head as ck smoke surged from its body.


    "Haitang, suppress me with the left division leader''s token. I''m not going to be able to control myself much longer. Hurry! I''m going to¡ªkill, kill, kill!" The ck skeleton shook all over.


    "Father, hold on. Please, help me figure out who''s controlling the formation first!" Cui Haitang asked.


    The ck skeleton tried its best to restrain itself. Red light shed from its eyes before it pointed toward a patch of forest in the distance.


    "Is the controller there? Father, please help me kill him and destroy the formation. My subordinates are still trapped in there!" Cui Haitang pleaded.


    "Very well!" The ck skeleton shed as it shot into the forest.


    Blue Lantern nched. "An Earth Immortal, after all..."


    The ck skeleton moved so quickly that it appeared just as Blue Lantern was preparing for its attack.


    A huge storm ravaged the forest. Blue Lantern was struck and sent flying into the air, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he did so.


    "Blue Lantern? No wonder the formation was so strong! I shouldn''t have wasted time trying to control him. He should have died long before this!" Cui Haitang snarled.


    The ck skeleton locked in on Blue Lantern andunched a barrage of attacks at him. Fire and wind filled the air.


    Blue Lantern activated the protective formations around him that he had prepared in advance, but the ck skeleton was simply too strong. It continued to obliterate Blue Lantern''s formations, forcing him on the defensive as he retreated time and again.


    "Your Majesty, that cultivator seems rather strong," Tangmented.


    "My father''s an Earth Immortal. Blue Lantern won''t be able to hold out for much longer¡ªbut the ten Immortals that came along with me are likely to perish." Cui Haitang frowned in annoyance.


    Tang was wondering whether he had cursed those ten Immortals to death.


    In another patch of forest, Xiang Shaoyin and the others were watching what was happening with bated breath.


    "Thank goodness we didn''t listen to Xiao Nanfeng. Otherwise, that skeleton would have been our foe."


    "That skeleton''s an Earth Immortal? We''re all Human Immortals, and we''re not a match for him at all!"


    "Who''s that fighting against the ck skeleton?"


    The Xiang Immortals continued to whisper among themselves.


    Xiang Shaoyin''s eyebrows twitched. "A formation expert!"


    "Is he an Earth Immortal too?" another cultivator asked.


    "No, he''s likely ate-stage Human Immortal. However, his formations are incredibly strong. Xiao Nanfeng really dide prepared," Xiang Shaoyin said.


    The ten Immortals within the Disorienting Sandstorm Formation had all perished, leaving Xiao Nanfeng as the sole cultivator being struck by the tribtion.


    The bolts of lightningnded one after the other. Despite there no longer being any external influence, Xiao Nanfeng was still having a difficult time: the blood lightning was simply too strong.


    He was unable to use any relic or weapon against the lightning, nothing but his physical body. Relics or weapons would only serve to make the lightning stronger.


    Because of the immense cost of maintaining the formation, it quickly dissipated.


    As the final bolt of blood lightning struck Xiao Nanfeng, the tribtion finally vanished. The dark clouds in the sky were rapidly turning rainbow-colored.


    The sandstorm settled, revealing a desert pitted with countless holes. Everyone was searching for traces of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Is that Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "He''s a pile of bones!"


    "Is he still alive?"


    Xiang Shaoyin and the other cultivators gaped to see Xiao Nanfeng


    lying in a huge pit, his flesh macerated to the point where bone could be seen all over his body. He was at death''s door.


    In the sky, the tribtory clouds fully transformed into radiant, luck-infused clouds that shot into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "The stronger the tribtion, the greater the opportunity. Those clouds are ten times the size mine was when I became an Immortal!" one Immortal cried out.


    "Well, he''s done for. He went too far trying to survive the tribtion, and he''s still deeply wounded. Cui Haitang''s about to kill him." Xiang Shaoyin narrowed his eyes as he looked into the distance.


    The radiant clouds surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng noticed that Cui Haitang wasing his way. He was deathly weak andpletely unable to block the iing blow. With thest of his strength, he pulled out the purple seal and sent his body careening within.


    Cui Haitang''s sword struck the purple seal, which blocked her attackpletely.


    "This purple seal again? Xiao Nanfeng, get out here!" Cui Haitang raged.


    She repeatedly attacked the purple seal, but it was made of some material of incredible strength. Her attacks nced off without even a scratch. She frowned in anger and worry.


    She tried to grab the seal, but it was far too heavy for her to move.


    Infuriated, she brought out the Hundred-Beast ming Dome and covered the seal with it.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, let''s see just how long you can stay within your seal. This time, I''ll destroy you along with it!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    Ferocious ming beasts emerged within the dome and rushed toward the purple seal.


    Within the purple seal, Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged as he recuperated. His origin qi was transforming.


    An Immortal''s body glowed with radiant, multicolored light, the remnant essence that ordinary Immortals were unable to absorb from the multicolored clouds that formed after a tribtion.


    Because of Xiao Nanfeng''s overwhelming technique, however, he was able to absorb the tribtory essence fully, without any waste whatsoever. His gold origin qi transformed into zing Immortal qi.


    The clouds entered Xiao Nanfeng''s body and were absorbed by the ten golden crows in his dantian. They too were transforming. They had originally been a little translucent, but the radiant energy that suffused them made them fully corporeal. They grew so real they almost seemed to be alive. Their feathers were clearly delineated, their eyes bright and lustrous, and their golden mes condensed into liquid me that surrounded them. It was as though they really had be ten suns in the sky.


    "I''ve finally be an Immortal, the first stage of the Human Immortal realm! But Sky of Ten Suns really doesn''t seem like a technique that was meant to be studied at all. My tribtory clouds were ten times the size of Ye Sanshui, but the golden crows absorbed them all. They had better be able to disy overwhelming strength..." Xiao Nanfeng chuckled weakly.

 Chapter 355: Slaying Cui Haitang

    <h4>Chapter 355: ying Cui Haitang</h4>


    The purple seal was resilient enough for Xiao Nanfeng to be very safe within it, but he didn''t choose to weather the barrage of attacks inside. He wanted to kill Cui Haitang; he too wanted revenge!


    He stepped out of the seal, only to find torrential mes roaring toward him. Instead of difort, he found to his surprise that the mes were able to help heal his wounds.


    He looked up at the air where Cui Haitang was manipting the Hundred-Beast ming Dome against him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, were you forced to leave the seal? Very good. Now, die!" Cui Haitang demanded.


    ming beasts pounced toward Xiao Nanfeng. Their leader swiped a paw at Xiao Nanfeng, poised to take him down in a single blow.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. He didn''t move. Instead, three golden crows flew out of his body and smashed into the ming beast, forcing it back.


    The three golden crows cawed fiercely as they flew toward the ming beasts, their sharp ws stabbing into the beasts'' ming bodies like spears. Their wings sliced apart the mes like divine armaments, tearing the beasts apart. Then, the crows gobbled up the dispersing mes, causing their own golden mes to grow more intense.


    "What are those?!" an Immortal cried out from afar.


    "Crow spirits? No, three-legged golden crows? And each of them is as strong as a Human Immortal..." Xiang Shaoyin narrowed his eyes.


    "Three? No, there are ten of them!"


    "Where does Xiao Nanfeng get all his treasures? Are these crows a relic of some sort?" Xiang Shaoyin eximed.


    Within the Hundred-Beast ming Dome, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t have to do a thing. The ten golden crows struck at all the ming beasts in the vicinity, leaving him protected in the center.


    "It really is great to be an Immortal. These three-legged golden crows have transformed from sr cells into walking batteries!" Xiao Nanfeng grinned in satisfaction.


    The ten golden crows each possessed the strength of a Human Immortal, and they were particrly brutal in their attacks. They repeatedly tore apart the ming beasts and absorbed their mes, which were transmitted back to Xiao Nanfeng''s body in the form of pure yang elemental force. Rather than growing more exhausted from the fighting, Xiao Nanfeng was regenerating from his wounds at a rapid clip.


    "Damn them¡ªkill them all!" Cui Haitang roared.


    A hundred ming beasts charged over, but the ten golden crows all possessed Xiao Nanfeng''s skill at fighting. They were able to weather the assault.


    Ten against a hundred were poor odds, but the crows were nevertheless able to muster an able defense.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t in a hurry, either. He gave the crows pointers as they fought. Although they seemed to be on the losing end, they didn''t sustain any injuries, while the ming beasts continued getting torn apart and absorbed by the crows.


    Two hourster, a huge burst of me emerged from the ten golden crows'' bodies. They had been about three meters tall each; now, they doubled in size. Simultaneously, a tremendous golden firestorm spun into existence around Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The second stage of the Human Immortal realm? How did I break through? What are these mes made of, to be able to provide so much energy to me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Impossible! The mes of the Hundred-Beast ming Dome wereposed of the highest-quality mes around the world, which the Spirit Emperor himself forged into a hundred and eight ming beasts. They can burn all things in the world. How could your cultivation have advanced?!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "All that happened fifty thousand years ago, didn''t it? I''m sure the treasures have grown the worse for wear during that period of time. No matter how strong this relic was back then, it can''t have retained more than a thousandth of its initial strength," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "Kill him!" Cui Haitangmanded.


    "Devour them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The three-legged golden crows and ming beasts struck each other once again. The crows had grown one sizerger, and their strength had doubled.


    The ten golden crows were now able to fight one against ten without noticeable difficulty. They tore apart one ming beast after another, then devoured them all.


    The golden crows both had to fight and protect Xiao Nanfeng, and were restrained in their ability to fight as a result. Even so, they steadily gained the upper hand, tearing apart and absorbing the ming beasts as they reformed once and again.


    Outside the dome, Cui Haitang fretted. "The Hundred-Beast ming Dome is one of the peerless treasures of the Spirit Emperor! Why can''t it kill him?!"


    "Cui Haitang, the Spirit Emperor''s other treasure in Nn Qiankun''s possession is far stronger than this dome. He doesn''t treat you well at all, does he?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "You dare try to instigate conflict between me and my husband?" Cui Haitang demanded.


    "What I''m saying is the truth. I even know that Nn Qiankun''s currently in Tianwu. Tianwu''s only fifty kilometers away, and he should have sensed the heavenly tribtion just now. He must have guessed that you were in danger, but didn''te to rescue you. He''s not apetent husband," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Nonsense! My husband''s the best husband in the world! If you dare besmirch his name, I''ll kill you!" Cui Haitang roared, her eyes blood-red.


    "Come, then. For harming my mother and killing my senior uncle, Hong Lie, I won''t let you go today," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Just then, another huge burst of me emerged from the ten golden crows'' bodies. They doubled in size again as another tremendous golden firestorm formed around Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The third stage of the Human Immortal realm? How could you be growing so quickly?!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    By then, the golden crows were about twelve metersrge, and their strength had likewise doubled. They had already been gradually gaining the upper hand against the ming beasts; now, their advantage was total.


    The golden crows speared the ming beasts with their ws, then absorbed them whole. Where they struck, the beasts were cut down in swathes.


    The ming beasts were forced to retreat.


    Cui Haitang''s eyes seethed with hatred. Her features distorted, she cried out, "If the Hundred-Beast ming Dome can''t contain you any longer, then I don''t need it anymore. Explode!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. "Golden crows, protect me!"


    An unbelievablyrge mushroom cloud formed over the desert. The frightening shockwaves that resulted in the aftermath caused the hidden Xiang Immortals to cry out.


    "That crazy woman¡ªwill she stop at nothing to kill Xiao Nanfeng?!"


    "If she were to attune deeply to the Hundred-Beast ming Dome, it would only grow stronger and stronger. Why would she cause it to explode? That''s one of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures!"


    "What a wastrel..."


    Xiang Shaoyin and the other Xiang cultivators were enraged. They wanted to take advantage of Cui Haitang''s fight against Xiao Nanfeng to take them both down, but that n was now effectively ruined.


    The burst of energy that resulted from the detonation sent Cui Haitang careening into the air, high above the ming explosion. Her qi barrier shuddered as though it were about to break.


    She stared at the heart of the mes, where they zed strongest. The explosion was like a furnace, one which would melt even an ordinary Immortal¡ªand Xiao Nanfengy at its heart. She was certain that Xiao Nanfeng was dead.


    Just then, a golden sh shot up from below and reached her in the blink of an eye.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s not dead? Impossible!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    The sh broke through her qi barrier and bisected her body, all the way through the middle of her forehead.


    As the mes slowly dispersed, Cui Haitang refused to believe, even to her death, that Xiao Nanfeng could have killed her instead.


    "Dear Sister, my physical body and yin body have both been cut apart. I''m about to die. Save me!" Cui Haitang cried out as she fell to the ground.


    A swarm of paper snakes emerged from Cui Haitang''s body, flying away through the clouds with what remained of her corpse. They vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.


    Xiang Shaoyin and the hidden cultivators saw this sight from afar. Their eyes twitched.


    "Cui Haitang''s been cut in two? How is she still not dead?" one Immortal gaped.


    "Her physical body was destroyed, but I''m not sure about her yin body," Xiang Shaoyin said. "That sh struck straight through the center of her forehead, where her mindscape and yin body are located. If her yin body managed to block the blow, she could still be revived in the future, but if her yin body was cut apart as well, she''s surely dead. That might just have been a remnant sliver of her truesoul."


    "How was Xiao Nanfeng able to kill Cui Haitang under those circumstances? That''s crazy!" the Immortals cried out.


    By then, the mes from the explosion had dispersed. The desert had turned into ss all around Xiao Nanfeng. Despite their overwhelming strength, even the ten golden crows hadn''t survived the fiery explosion unscathed. Even so, they had protected Xiao Nanfeng.


    The ten golden crows flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s body and vanished from sight. Although Xiao Nanfeng had survived, his wounds from before hadn''tpletely healed, and the explosion had worsened his injuries. His flesh tore apart, revealing white bone, as he fell to the ground in a weakened state, huffing and panting.

 Chapter 356: Youre a Burden

    <h4>Chapter 356: You''re a Burden</h4>


    A beam of light arced across the horizon and fell to the ground. A swarm of paper snakes had brought Cui Haitang to a secluded valley.


    The snakes roamed around, securing the valley, as the paper figure cursed effigy blinked into existence. It stared at Cui Haitang quietly.


    There was a line of blood shing across the center of Cui Haitang''s forehead. Her body had already been bisected, but her ardent desire to cling to life had allowed her to temporarily keep the halves of her body stuck to each other.


    "Dear Sister, my spirit''s been cut apart. I''m about to die. Bring me to my husband, quickly!" Cui Haitang gasped out.


    "With your spirit cut, your truesoul is about to dissipate. You are about to die," the paper figure said calmly.


    "No! My soul might have been cut, but I can still be revived! I just need to be grafted to a cursed effigy. We retrieved a lot of shadow cursed effigies from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. We just have to force one of them to coexist with me. With my husband''s abilities and your support, Dear Sister, I''ll surely be able to seed. Do it quickly!" Cui Haitang urged weakly.


    The paper figure smiled in a ghastly manner. "And why should I help you?"


    "You''re my Dear Sister!" Cui Haitang''s heart thumped. She suddenly felt a shred of unease.


    "That''s right. We''re Dear Sisters, aren''t we? Your enemies are my enemies, what''s yours is mine, and your husband is my husband. We''re Dear Sisters," the paper figure said calmly.


    "What did you say?" Cui Haitang''s eyes shed with fear.


    "After you die, your husband will be my husband. I''ll take good care of him," the paper figure said calmly.


    "You''re my Dear Sister. How can you steal my husband?" Cui Haitang eximed. Then, she nched. "The female voice I heard from my husband''s meditation chamber¡ªwas that you? You''re a cursed effigy, so you can instantly hide in my husband''s mindscape. That''s why I''ve never been able to find you. You were that wench!"


    "Dear Sister, are you only realizing that now? You don''t know how thrilling it is to have you keep hearing us from the outside." The paper figure gave Cui Haitang a sinister smile.


    "You deliberately allowed me to hear it? You wanted the thrill of being caught? Why? Why would you want my husband?!" Cui Haitang thundered.


    "Weren''t you the one who kept telling me that your husband was the best husband in the world? Why wouldn''t I want a husband like that?"


    "No! You''re only a paper figure. How could you have seduced my husband?!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "I''m a paper figure, but I can mold my appearance into that of anyone, for instance..." The paper figure smiled gently.


    Then, it transformed into a facsimile of Cui Haitang.


    Cui Haitang''s eyes widened. She felt as though she had been trapped in an ice cer.


    "You impersonated me to trick my husband? Was he tricked by you?!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    "Stop lying to yourself. Don''t you think Nn Qiankun can differentiate between the two of us?" The paper figure smiled.


    "Impossible! He told me he would be loyal to me his whole life, that I would be the only one he loved! He said he wanted to spend his entire life with me!" Cui Haitang eximed, her body shaking.


    "That''s because you were useful to him in the past. After all, you control a significant portion of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, and could therefore assist him in bing emperor. Now, however, you''re far less useful than before. You''re a burden," the paper figure said.


    "Impossible! My husband would never discard me!" Cui Haitang cried out.


    "Cui Haitang, ept reality! Why do you think Nn Qiankun doesn''t care about his three sons'' death? It''s because you and your children aren''t good enough for him anymore! You''d only hold him back. The Tianshu Empire can ascend into a divine empire at any point now. All the major holynds will try to ally with him. Only by marrying one of their holy maidens and providing her with enough status will he be able to gain their full support and allow him to be a divine emperor! If you remain the empress, and your children remain the crown princes, what sort of status can he confer on the holy maiden? Do you expect him to have a holy maiden as a concubine? Why should her associated holynd support him, then?"


    "You''re lying! I''m his wife and consort by marriage, and those are his children! How could he treat us so?!" Cui Haitang shouted.


    "You''re far too besotted with him! But don''t worry, I won''t let any holy maiden be Nn Qiankun''s empress," the paper figure said.


    "What did you say?" Cui Haitang sounded confused.


    "Once Nn Qiankun decides on a holy maiden, I''ll kill that holy maiden, transform into her, and marry Nn Qiankun on her behalf. After that, I''d be Nn Qiankun''s new empress. I''ll give birth to a new crown prince and use my identity as the holy maiden to transfer all authority over my associated holynd to my husband. I''ll treat him well," the paper figure said calmly.


    "That''s wishful thinking! My husband would never agree!" Cui Haitang found her body growing colder and colder.


    "Oh, he agrees. Otherwise, why didn''t he show up when you were dealing with Xiao Nanfeng? Why didn''t he show up when Xiao Nanfeng slew you?" The paper figure smiled.


    "What?!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "It''s because someone needs to take responsibility for hurting Xiao Nanfeng''s mother, for killing Hong Lie, for Ku Jiang''s death, for Lu Yan''s disappearance. All that karmic debt needs to be paid off. Nn Qiankun certainly can''t besmirch his own reputation, so you''ll have to take responsibility for everything. Your death can cleanse him of responsibility. Don''t you love Nn Qiankun? Then, before your death, you ought to make this final sacrifice for him," the paper figure said calmly.


    Cui Haitang''s face turned fearful. "I harmed Xiao Hongye''s wife for my husband! I killed Hong Lie for him. I did all this for him! How could my husband treat me like this? I don''t believe it. I can''t believe it!"


    "You''re worthless now. You''re nothing more than a burden. Make this final sacrifice for your husband''s sake," the paper figure said.


    "He knew I was going to die? He deliberately chose not to save me?!" Cui Haitang eximed.


    "You know he has spies among the Xiang Immortals. He''s well aware that the Xiang Immortals have allied with Xiao Nanfeng. Even if Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t kill you, Xiang Shaoyin and his subordinates, lying hidden in the vicinity, will surely do so. Everything''s part of his n. The reason he gave you the Hundred-Beast ming Dome is to allow you to survive a little longer and make everything seem more realistic. Cui Haitang, ept your fate. If you want something to me, me yourself for no longer having any value."


    "I understand now! Back in Yongding, when I asked you to save my son, you refused to go. You were waiting for him to die, weren''t you? You did it intentionally!" Cui Haitang''s voice began to quiver.


    "Exactly. We''ve been Dear Sisters for so many years now, haven''t we? I''ll at least make sure you know everything before you die. Then, I''ll inherit all that belongs to you. Once your truesoul dissipates, I''ll collect its remnant fragments. After all, when your father''s in a demonic fit, I''ll need them to awaken and control him. He''s an Earth Immortal, and he''ll be able to support my husband well."


    "Dear Sister? ''My husband''?" Cui Haitang''s face turned distressed.


    Her vitality was rapidly draining from her body. As her truesoul dissipated, her past memories flitted across her mind. Back then, she and Han Bingdie were the best of friends. Although the Taiqing Sect had just suffered a cmity, her father''s status meant that she was beyond the like of ordinary disciples. Nn Qiankun had courted her persistently.


    "Junior Sister Haitang, you''re so beautiful! Your father''s a leader of the Taiqing Sect, and you''re the equivalent of its royalty. Everything that''s good about the world has been concentrated in you. The lucky suitor who manages to win your hand must have saved the world in a past life."


    "Junior Sister Haitang, if the heavens were to give me the chance to hold your hand, I''d never let you go. Even if the heavens were to split, the earth to crack, my love for you would persist for time immemorial!"


    "Haitang, I must have begged the heavens for three whole lifetimes for them to allow me to marry you in this one. I promise to guard you my entire life. With me around, you''ll never suffer a moment''s grievance!"


    "As for that paper figure cursed effigy that follows you around, don''t chase it away. It might prove useful to us."


    "Haitang, Xiao Hongye wants to split the opportunities within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm among us all, but I want it all. If I can get all of it, our future will be all the more glorious. Can your Dear Sister help us out?"


    "Haitang, Hong Lie''s gone too far. He still can''t forget about Xiao Hongye. Sooner orter, he''ll ruin us!"


    Cui Haitang''s memories were filled with scenes with Nn Qiankun. Moments before her soul dissipated, sheughed and she cried. She wanted to capture the beauty of her memories, but they all seemed to be tainted by deception. She had lived her entire life in a lie¡ªno, only after meeting Nn Qiankun.


    She was worthless now, and nothing more than a burden. As her lips twisted into a smile, her hand fell limp to the ground. All the vitality had been drained from her body, and her heart was likewise ashen. Her soul finally split and cracked; her truesoul burst in a cloud of starlight and dissipated in the air.


    The paper figure reached out and caught the remnant fragments of her soul.


    It retrieved a coffin and ced her corpse within, then secured the coffin. With a wave, it caused all the paper snakes in the vicinity to disappear as well.


    The paper figure flickered and transformed into an unfamiliar female Immortal. It flew back toward the periphery of the desert and found Tang.


    "Pestilence Sage, why are you still here? Lead the ck skeleton away!" the paper figure called out.


    "It''s you!" Tang recognized the figure as Cui Haitang''s close confidante. Hiding a bit of his surprise, he exined, "The ck skeleton won''t listen to me at all. Only Her Majesty''s voice or aura can awaken it. Only then can I suppress it andmand it with the left division leader''s token. I can''t do anything as is!"


    "I''ll awaken it. Focus on suppressing it, and then we''ll leave immediately!" the paper figure instructed.


    "You''ll awaken it?" Tang seemed a little incredulous.


    Only Cui Haitang had been able to awaken the ck skeleton before; no one else could.

 Chapter 357: Retribution from Distrust

    <h4>Chapter 357: Retribution from Distrust</h4>


    Outside Tianwu, a beam of light shot toward the city. The city guards immediately activated a formation in an attempt to halt the unwee intruder.


    "Make way!" a cultivator within that beam of light shouted.


    Only then did the guards see that there were two figures within the light. One was an Immortal of Taiwu, and the other was Xiang Shaoyin. Both of them were bleeding profusely, especially Xiang Shaoyin. He was immobile and so grievously wounded that he might well be dead.


    "Deactivate the formation! No one is to dy them!" the guard captain cried out.


    The beam of light shot into the city, straight toward the pce.


    "Your Majesty, help! King Shaoyin''s life is hanging by a thread. Your Majesty!" the profusely bleeding Immortal cried out.


    The whole pce was in an uproar. Many cultivators flocked to the scene of themotion, but the bloodied Immortal rushed deep within the pce.


    Xiang Shaoyang, the Emperor Taiwu, was so startled by themotion that he stepped out of the hall right away. He noticed the bleeding, unconscious Xiang Shaoyin immediately.


    "What happened?" Xiang Shaoyang demanded.


    "We were ambushed! Xiao Nanfeng was a liar. He allied with the Tianshu Empire and was lying to us all along. King Shaoyin had us tail Xiao Nanfeng, but we fell straight into his ambush. We were badly hurt and scattered from the pursuit. Cui Haitang struck King Shaoyin with one of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures, and his life is hanging in the bnce. Please help, Your Majesty!" the bleeding Immortal cried out.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "He tricked us deliberately?"


    "Damn it!"


    The Xiang cultivators were all in an uproar.


    Xiang Shaoyang, worried about his brother''s safety, immediately rushed over.


    While he was panicking and attempting to use his aura to examine Xiang Shaoyin''s injuries, Xiang Shaoyin''s eyes suddenly opened wide. He thrust his palm toward Xiang Shaoyang like a de.


    "What?!" the cultivators all around them cried out.


    Xiang Shaoyang''s eyes widened, but he was too close to ''Xiang Shaoyin'' to react in time. All he could do was defend himself with Immortal qi.


    ''Xiang Shaoyin''''s palm de prated Xiang Shaoyang''s qi barrier and through his chest. Blood sprayed out of his lower back.


    Xiang Shaoyang mmed his other palm into ''Xiang Shaoyin'', forcibly separating the two cultivators. A frightening burst of power struck the cultivators nearby in the form of a shockwave, sending them flying.


    Xiang Shaoyang clutched his bleeding chest and thundered, "You''re not Shaoyin. Who are you?!"


    ''Xiang Shaoyin'' smirked as he faced him. "Who do you think I am, Xiang Shaoyang?"


    "You''re¡ªNn Qiankun!" Xiang Shaoyang eximed.


    "As expected, I can''t fool you¡ªbut that''s a rather serious injury you have there."


    ''Xiang Shaoyin''''s body flickered as it transformed back into Nn Qiankun''s appearance. He shot toward Xiang Shaoyang without any hesitation.


    The two cultivators smashed into each other in a wave of energy that shattered the buildings all around them. They shot into the air.


    They fought more and more quickly, both retrieving their Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures and using them to attack the other cultivator.


    "Protect His Majesty!"


    The Xiang Immortals shot into the air to protect Xiang Shaoyang, but Nn Qiankun wasn''t alone. Tianshu Immortals flew into the city from afar to block the Taiwu Immortals.


    "Nn Qiankun, you truly are a schemer. Not only did you bribe my subordinates, you even impersonated my brother in an attempt to assassinate me!" Xiang Shaoyang shouted.


    "Xiang Shaoyang, you''re too petty. You had Xiang Shaoyin keep an eye on Xiao Nanfeng while you remained in Tianwu yourself. Aren''t you supposed to be allies with Xiao Nanfeng? You should have helped him out, then. And if you were going to betray him, you should have done that decisively, too. Instead, you stayed right here, almost like you were deliberately making yourself a target." Nn Qiankun roared inughter.


    "Nonsense! If I hadn''t discovered your Immortals hovering around Tianwu, if I hadn''t been intending to nab them all in one fell swoop, why would I remain in the capital? You simply acted before I did, impersonating my brother and stoking my emotions! How could you have impersonated him so well? Your aura was exactly like his!" Xiang Shaoyang howled.


    Nn Qiankun smirked. "I''ll tell you once I behead you."


    A storm formed in the air above the city of Tianwu. The Tianshu Immortals decisively suppressed the Taiwu Immortals, leaving the Taiwu Empire at a stark disadvantage.


    By then, the defensive formation around Tianwu had activated, but too many enemies had already entered Tianwu. It shook and trembled violently, as though unable to withstand the Immortals'' mass assault.


    Under the eaves of a small cottage in Tianwu stood a man in red: Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    Behind him was You Jiu, in ck.


    "Master, as you expected, Nn Qiankun struck at Xiang Shaoyang. It looks like Xiang Shaoyang won''t be able tost much longer after being so badly injured by Nn Qiankun from the beginning." You Jiu frowned.


    "Xiang Shaoyang was a fool. If he had followed the terms of our alliance and headed into the desert with Xiang Shaoyin, Nn Qiankun would certainly have followed along. By then, I''d have deeply wounded Nn Qiankun with my heavenly tribtion, and we''d be able to take down the gathered Tianshu Immortals together. It''d be a huge victory on our part¡ªbut in trying to backstab me, he became Nn Qiankun''s prey instead."


    "They must have been intending to take both you and Nn Qiankun down, only to have lost any control over the situation..." You Jiu murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "No. They were simply too petty. Their field of view was simply too narrow. All they cared about were immediate gains and grudges. Xiang Pojun and Xiang Lianzhen died because of me¡ªbut they''ve forgotten that their biggest enemy is Nn Qiankun. They failed to see the big picture and tried to scheme against others at will, only to end up falling prey to their own scheme instead."


    "Sir Xiao, should we interfere?" You Jiu asked.


    "We won''t. They brought this upon themselves; why should we help him?"


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    "Sir Xiao, your main body''s still in the desert. Is it in any danger?" You Jiu asked.


    "The desert''s fewer than fifty kilometers away, and it''s within the range of the Immortal''s Destruction. If Xiang Shaoyang had hewn to the terms of our alliance and lured Nn Qiankun there, I could have used the Immortal''s Destruction as a backup n to deal Nn Qiankun a devastating blow. Unfortunately, Nn Qiankun didn''t head over, but it means that my main body is rtively safe. That said, we''ll have to set up the Immortal''s Destruction. It''lle into yter."


    "Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.


    Back in the desert, Xiao Nanfeng''s main bodyy syed on the ground.


    "Cui Haitang really was crazy. To think she would cause the Hundred-Beast ming Dome to implode! I didn''t even have time to enter the purple seal. Thankfully, I dealt with her and avenged my mother and senior uncle." Xiao Nanfeng huffed out in relief.


    He turned and looked toward a forest in the distance. Blue Lantern was desperately trying to fend off the ck skeleton.


    Just then, beams of light shot over.


    On guard, Xiao Nanfeng stood as he red at Xiang Shaoyin and the nine Immortals around him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what were those ten three-legged golden crows?" Xiang Shaoyin called out from afar.


    "Xiang Shaoyin, your attitude toward our alliance has been truly disappointing," Xiao Nanfeng called back.


    "Alliance? Who said we would ally with you? What does the Xiang n gain by doing so? You''ve already killed eleven Tianshu Immortals. The Tianshu Empire''s might has been curtailed dramatically, and we''ve achieved our objective. What''s more, your potential shocks me. Leaving you alive will only hurt us in the long run," Xiang Shaoyin said, chuckling coldly.


    "In other words, you''re here to kill me?"


    "Hand over your treasures and I''ll spare your life," Xiang Shaoyin replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng began tough. "What, are you worried that I''ll emte Cui Haitang, cause my treasures to self-destruct, and kill all of us together? Or are you trying to get me to rx before youunch a sneak attack on me? Your tricks are too easy to see through!"


    "Hm?" Xiang Shaoyin narrowed his eyes.


    "My physical body might be badly injured, but it''s not hard for me to deal with the likes of you."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body flickered. All his wounds suddenly seemed to vanish as a silver robe appeared around his body, and a silver moon behind his head. The aura of a Yin Body cultivator spread out around him.


    A burst of frost struck the Xiang Immortals, causing them to shiver.

 Chapter 358: Slaying Xiang Shaoyin

    <h4>Chapter 358: ying Xiang Shaoyin</h4>


    "This is your yin body? How did you transform between your physical body and yin body? It looks as real as your physical body. You must have some sort of yin body-rted treasure. You really do have a lot of treasures, don''t you?" Xiang Shaoyin''s voice wasced with greed.


    "Your brother''s about to die to Nn Qiankun, and you''re eyeing my treasures?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    "What?" Xiang Shaoyin nched.


    "Nn Qiankun''s attacking Tianwu right this moment. Do you want to go have a look?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Immortals all turned to Xiang Shaoyin, who frowned. Then, he smiled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, you must be trying to trick me because of how scared you are."


    "Believe me or not, I don''t care. Come if you want to die!" Xiao Nanfeng challenged them.


    "Attack!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted.


    One Immortal was the first to attack. Xiao Nanfeng met his sword with a fist, blocking its advance as he punched him with his other hand.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    As a barrage of fists struck the Immortal''s qi barrier, it shattered. The Immortal flew out and spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.


    "You can''t even survive a single blow?" Xiao Nanfeng nced disdainfully at the fallen cultivator.


    "Charge him together! He''s not stronger than we are. He simply has an overwhelming fist technique. We''ll make up for the disadvantage with numbers. ughter him!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted.


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators struck Xiao Nanfeng at maximum strength, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear them. He struck with Hegemon''s Fist, filling the air around him with punches. Even one against ten, he was able to block all their attacks.


    "How is your Hegemon''s Fist so strong?!" Xiang Shaoyin eximed.


    "It''s a pity I didn''t have any more time to continue contemting the star maps on the Dazheng Code of Laws. Otherwise, my cultivation would have advanced further, and it would have been even easier for me to deal with all of them," Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    With another burst of energy, he caused two more Immortals to vomit out blood as they were sent flying. A sandstorm formed around him.


    In the distance, Tang gaped in shock. Suddenly, he turned around warily. A female Immortal had appeared beside him out of nowhere¡ªthe cultivator into whom the paper figure cursed effigy had transformed.


    "Pestilence Sage, why are you still here? Lead the ck skeleton away!" the paper figure called out.


    "It''s you!" Tang recognized the figure as Cui Haitang''s close confidante. Hiding a bit of his surprise, he exined, "The ck skeleton won''t listen to me at all. Only Her Majesty''s voice or aura can awaken it. Only then can I suppress it andmand it with the left division leader''s token. I can''t do anything as is!"


    "I''ll awaken it. Focus on suppressing it, and then we''ll leave immediately!" the paper figure instructed.


    "You''ll awaken it?" Tang seemed a little incredulous.


    The paper figure held onto a shred of Cui Haitang''s soul and directed it at the ck skeleton.


    The ck skeleton sensed a disturbance while fighting Blue Lantern. It cocked its head toward the paper figure, then flew over.


    "Haitang''s soul fragment? What happened to her?" the ck skeleton cried out.


    "Her Majesty is grievously injured. You must help her immediately!" the paper figure cried out.


    "Hurry up, then! The demonic rage is going to overtake me. I won''t be able to control myself for much longer!" the ck skeleton called out.


    Tang immediately suppressed the ck skeleton with the left division leader''s token, sealing the ck mes around the skeleton. It was pacified immediately.


    The paper figure looked all around and said, "Blue Lantern has noticed us. We''ll have to leave."


    "Ah? Alright!" Tang replied.


    The paper figure, Tang, and the ck skeleton flew toward the horizon and vanished from sight.


    Blue Lantern rxed. He had sustained rather serious injuries while fighting the ck skeleton. Rather than give chase, he wiped at the blood trickling down his lips and turned to Xiao Nanfeng''s battlefield.


    "Xiao Nanfeng survived that tribtion? He truly is a genius. No wonder there are so many cursed kings eyeing him..." Blue Lantern murmured.


    He sucked in a deep breath as he flew toward Xiao Nanfeng. The ground rose up around him as he moved, as though there were a huge draconic vein that Blue Lantern was dragging around. He stopped only when he was close to the fighting.


    "Disorienting Sandstorm Formation, Heavenly Stems Formation,bine!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    With a hum, a golden circle of light appeared beneath him. That golden circle was divided into ten sections, each with one of the heavenly stems emzoned in gold. The ten golden symbols fell into the sand, causing the draconic vein underground to keen. Then, countless sandstorms rose into the air, trapping the gathered cultivators.


    "This is a formation! King Shaoyin, where are you?!" one cultivator eximed.


    Xiang Shaoyin and the other nine cultivators had been separated into ten distinct regions of the formation, and none of them were able to see the others.


    An Immortal stood before Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thanks, Blue Lantern! Stabilize the formations and I''ll kill them one by one!"


    While outnumbered, he was afraid that they would target his silver moon, but there was now nothing to fear. The silver moon rose into the air and a deific domain expanded around him. He brandished his divine undying de as he charged forward.


    The Immortal nched and retaliated with his sword.


    "Go, frost!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A howling blizzard swept up the Immortal and froze his qi barrier solid¡ªalong with the Immortal himself.


    "No!" the Immortal cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng cut him apart with a sh of his de.


    "Next!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Blue Lantern waved an arm, causing the formation to rotate rapidly. Xiao Nanfeng appeared before another Immortal.


    One against ten, Xiao Nanfeng still had to be cautious. One against one, however, it would be a piece of cake.


    "Blizzard, strike!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The second Immortal was killed on the spot.


    "Next!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    By then, the remaining cultivators in the formation were starting to panic. They had guessed that Xiao Nanfeng was taking advantage of the formation to kill theirpanions; it would quickly be their turn.


    "Help, King Shaoyin!" another Immortal cried out as Xiao Nanfeng slew him.


    However, Xiang Shaoyin himself was trapped within the sandstorm formation. No matter how he flew, he was unable to get out.


    "Damn it. Destroy your Immortal weapons and explode Xiao Nanfeng to death!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted.


    The explosions of Immortal relics rang out across the desert.


    The next moment, the Immortal cried out, "It''s useless! He avoided it! There''s a blizzard all around me. I can''t stand it anymore!"


    Xiang Shaoyin thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng, stop it!"


    He immediately sat cross-legged in the desert as he retrieved a treasure that formed a dome around him to protect his physical body. Then, a transparent shadow emerged from his mindscape: his yin body.


    To the back of his head was a white moon wreathed in ck wind. Surprisingly, his aura seemed far stronger than even Xiao Nanfeng''s.


    The yin body picked up an Immortal sword and flew into the air. The bright moon to his back radiated with incredible light. With the illumination bolstering his sight, he looked all around. Three of his subordinates were rushing about frantically. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had frozen another Immortal within a blizzard and cut her down.


    "Hold it!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted.


    With his yin body, he passed through the barriers imposed by the formation and approached Xiao Nanfeng''s region.


    Blue Lantern''s voice could suddenly be heard from the formation. "Xiao Nanfeng, he''s at mid-stage Yin Body. He''s stronger than you are!"


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had just in his sixth Immortal. He turned to see Xiang Shaoyin charging toward him with a sword.


    Xiao Nanfeng countered with his own de.


    Both cultivators were forced back.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, for killing six of my Immortal subordinates, I''m going to kill you!" Xiang Shaoyin thundered.


    "Really? What a joke. You can raid me, but I can''t defend myself and counterattack? The moment you betrayed the alliance, you should have expected this oue. None of you will survive the day!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The pale moon to the back of his head floated into the sky as his deific domain expanded. ck wind manifested out of nowhere, contesting the blizzard''s dominance.


    "The demonic ck moon? Xiao Nanfeng, his spiritual cultivation technique is renowned and known to be particrly vicious. Be careful!" Blue Lantern warned.


    The two moons fought for dominance in the air. One gave off incredible frost, while ck winds raged around the other. Suddenly, Xiang Shaoyin''s moon visibly shook. A ck dot emerged at the center of the moon, forming an eye that seemed to arrest one''s soul. The eye looked down.


    "Be careful! He''s managed to develop an eye of cmity. It can destroy heaven and earth¡ªhave your moon avoid it!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon didn''t hide from its demonic counterpart. A crack appeared on its surface. Then, the crack expanded like a widening mouth, revealing sharp teeth that chomped down on the demonic ck moon and swallowed it whole.


    Xiang Shaoyin gaped. He was shellshocked. What was going on? Why did Xiao Nanfeng''s moon have teeth? How could it have consumed his moon?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you merged your spiritual moon with a cursed king? Are you crazy?!" Blue Lantern shouted from deep within the sandstorm.


    The moon distorted as it chewed on Xiang Shaoyin''s moon.


    "My demonic ck moon! Has it really been eaten? This is impossible¡ªargh!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted.


    He suffered a bout of bacsh as his spiritual moon was destroyed, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood as he stumbled in weakness.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, shing at him with his sword.


    Xiang Shaoyin''s yin body was bisected. He died on the spot.

 Chapter 359: Xiang Shaoyangs Death

    <h4>Chapter 359: Xiang Shaoyang''s Death</h4>


    Xiang Shaoyin''s yin body shattered. The peach branch cursed effigy appeared and immediately stabbed its roots into its fragments.


    "The peach branch cursed effigy? It''s still with you? Xiao Nanfeng, don''t let it absorb Xiang Shaoyin''s yin body. Once it grows stronger, it''ll be exceptionally dangerous!" Blue Lantern cried out.


    "The peach branch cursed effigy has provided me with tremendous help. I was worried I wouldn''t have an opportunity to thank it¡ªif it wants these yin body fragments, I certainly won''t stop it," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He looked toward the peach branch. "Please help yourself, Senior."


    The peach branch happily continued to gobble up the fragments.


    Blue Lantern: ...


    "Blue Lantern, lead me to the next Immortal. These Immortals are all evildoers that have to be killed," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well," Blue Lantern replied.


    More and more shouts came from within the sandstorm as Xiao Nanfeng killed all the remaining Immortals.


    Blue Lantern then dispelled the formation, only to find that all the Immortal corpses were gone, even those of the Immortals who had died during Xiao Nanfeng''s tribtion.


    The only thing that remained was the peach branch, which had grown another sizerger. Six more blood peaches had matured.


    The peach branch hopped over to Xiao Nanfeng and deposited the six blood peaches into his hands. Then, it vanished again.


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    Six blood peaches would produce six more Immortals.


    Back in Tianwu, Xiang Shaoyang''s serious injury rendered him no match for Nn Qiankun. He was forced back time and again, vomiting out blood each time. Even with his Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure, he was almost on the verge of copsing.


    "Xiang Shaoyang, you''ve lost!" Nn Qiankunughed.


    With a snap, he broke both of Xiang Shaoyang''s legs with his fist.


    "The Xiang n could have seized all the opportunities in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm for itself if Xiao Hongye hadn''t managed to steal the key to the realm. You wouldn''t have been able to im anything!" Xiang Shaoyang roared in outrage.


    "And what are you going to do about it? Do you think you can still turn the tables?" Nn Qiankun sneered.


    Suddenly, a dragon''s keen could be heard from below. The city of Tianwu began to quake.


    Everyone turned to see a twenty-four-hundred-meter long draconic vein excavated from the ground. It struggled furiously, but was unable to free itself from the golden chains that had coiled around it.


    "The Immortal''s Destruction? Xiao Nanfeng?" Nn Qiankun eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, help me! Quick!" Xiang Shaoyang cried out hopefully.


    "He''s toote!" Nn Qiankun''s eyes shed as he shattered Xiang Shaoyang''s defenses with a punch. mes zed all around him as the punch struck Xiang Shaoyang''s head, causing it to explode.


    "Your Majesty!" the Taiwu Immortals cried out in fear.


    By then, countless lengths of red rope had descended from the skies and tangled around Nn Qiankun.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think this red rope can trap me? Ha!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    He activated the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure in his possession to break the rope restraining him, only to find that a length of red rope had coiled around that in Xiang Shaoyang''s hands, attempting to seize it.


    Nn Qiankun''s face turned cold. "You dare steal what belongs to me?"


    Without any hesitation, he grabbed at the treasure, only to find that a talisman for the Immortal''s Destruction had been affixed to the length of red rope. Xiao Nanfeng immediately activated it.


    Nn Qiankun nched as he raised his head to find the sky glittering in gold. Countless runes appeared in the air as a golden de of devastating size shot toward him.


    "No!" Nn Qiankun cried out.


    The de struck his body in a storm of fire and wind that sent the nearby Immortals flying.


    "Your Majesty!" the Tianshu Immortals cried out.


    A twenty-four-hundred-meter long draconic vein, converted into an attack from the Immortal''s Destruction, would be sufficient to kill an ordinary Immortal. Although Nn Qiankun had killed Xiang Shaoyang, Xiang Shaoyang had also injured him badly. Would he be able to withstand a strike from the Immortal''s Destruction in his current state?


    The mes from the explosion slowly dissipated, revealing Nn Qiankun. His body was streaked with blood.


    He was still alive, but his body was much the worse for wear. There was a huge, bloody, gaping wound on his chest, one that seemed almost to have cut him in two.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you destroyed my Spirit Emperor''s Peerless Treasure. Die!" Nn Qiankun roared, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    "That belonged to Xiang Shaoyang, not to you," Xiao Nanfeng retorted. Heughed and waved a hand. "Red rope!"


    The red cloud again unleashed countless lengths of red rope that shot straight toward Nn Qiankun.


    Nn Qiankun''s face turned dark. He might not have feared the red rope before, but he was now deeply wounded and couldn''t afford to take on more risk. It would be better to cut short this encounter.


    "Leave!" Nn Qiankunmanded his subordinates.


    With his Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure, he shrugged off the red rope and shot away.


    The Tianshu Immortals rallied behind him as they fled.


    "Sir Xiao, should we chase after them?" You Jiu asked from Xiao Nanfeng''s back.


    "There''s no point. We won''t be able to catch up. Now, prepare to reap the spoils of Taiwu!"


    "Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.


    By then, the Taiwu Immortals had flown up to Xiang Shaoyang''s corpse.


    Xiang Shaoyan''s head had burst apart from Nn Qiankun''s punch, and his yin body had likewise been destroyed.


    "His Majesty has perished!" someone cried out.


    The Taiwu cultivators mourned the loss of their monarch.


    "Why didn''t Xiao Nanfeng strike earlier?!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng was the one who lured Nn Qiankun over. Xiao Nanfeng killed His Majesty!"


    "He''s alone. If we take him down, we can get revenge for His Majesty!"


    The Xiang Immortals surrounded Xiao Nanfeng angrily.


    "Who intends to take me on? Try me," Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He stepped forward, a red moon appearing behind his head. Red clouds formed in the sky.


    The Immortals reared back in fear. None dared step forward.


    "The Xiang n broke its alliance with me, allowing Nn Qiankun''s scheme to seed. You think I''m the one to me for this? If I hadn''t made a move then, you would all have died to Nn Qiankun. How shameless do you have to be to me me for your actions?!"


    "You could have made a move earlier. You could have saved His Majesty, but you watched him die! You did that deliberately!" one Xiang Immortal shouted.


    "And why should I have saved him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You!" the Immortal cried out.


    "With Xiang Shaoyang''s death, the era of Xiang dominance is over. It''s time for the bnce of power to shift. From now onwards, the city of Tianwu shall belong to Dazheng. Here lies Dazhengnd!" Xiao Nanfeng proimed.


    "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about?" the Immortal cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. His voice echoed throughout the city. "People of Tianwu, a war is about to break out. If you suffer any losses, you may seekpensation from officials of Dazheng. Now, hide in your homes and protect yourself! The Taiwu Empire is no more. The city of Tianwu now belongs to Dazheng!"


    Countless lengths of red rope shot toward the naysaying Immortal.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the Immortal roared, charging forward.


    The red rope bound him before he could make a move.


    "Help me!" the Immortal cried out.


    "Die!" A group of Taiwu Immortals charged forward.


    "Die!" Another group of Dazheng Immortals emerged from within the city and struck the Taiwu Immortals down.


    Shockwaves of energy rippled throughout the city and sent roofs hurtling through the air. Fortunately, the Dazheng Immortals then forced the Taiwu Immortals up high, away from the city proper.


    Some Taiwu cultivators, sensing that something was wrong, attempted to flee from the city. Just then, however, they found themselves trapped by countless Dazheng cultivators emerging from the forests beyond.


    Their leader, Ye Sanshui, shouted, "On King Xiao''s orders, those who surrender won''t be killed. Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"


    "On King Xiao''s orders, those who surrender won''t be killed. Those who resist will be killed without mercy!" the Dazheng forces parroted.


    A huge war broke out outside Tianwu.


    Defenders within the city attempted to activate its defensive formation, only to be struck dead by the spectral guards.


    With the deaths of Xiang Shaoyang, Xiang Shaoyin, and Xiang Shaoyin''s subordinates, there was hardly enough manpower left to stop Dazheng''s dominance.

 Chapter 360: Dividing Up the Taiwu Empire

    <h4>Chapter 360: Dividing Up the Taiwu Empire</h4>


    One dayter, a Xiang Immortal drenched in blood haphazardly made his way toward a forested region where countless crow spirits roosted.


    When the crow spirits noticed the Xiang Immortal, they quickly approached him in a cacophony of caws.


    "The city of Tianwu has been struck by cmity. Where''s your crow king? Why hasn''t it shown itself? Bring me to it!" the Xiang Immortal cried out.


    The crow spirits were about to lead the Immortal away when another bloody cultivator emerged from the forest.


    "Come with me, Second Uncle! The crow spirits have betrayed us!"


    "What?!" the Immortal cried out.


    The leader of the crow spirits cawed, causing the crows to dart forward to attack the cultivators.


    The Immortal nched. He defended himself with a palm strike, sending the crow spirits flying back, as he pulled the other cultivator into the clouds.


    Deep within the forest, a crow Immortal emerged, only to find that the two cultivators were already gone.


    The cultivators fled into a secluded valley, each only then realizing that the other was badly hurt.


    "Second Uncle, what''s with all this blood?!" the cultivator cried out.


    "His Majesty perished to Nn Qiankun, and Xiao Nanfeng took over Tianwu. We''ve suffered tremendous losses, and I barely escaped," the Immortal said.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun have formed an alliance?" the cultivator eximed.


    "No, they haven''t! Nn Qiankun was badly wounded by Xiao Nanfeng as well."


    "Ah?"


    "What happened to the crow spirits? Their cultivation is all thanks to the Xiang n! How could they have betrayed us?"


    "Yesterday, Nn Qiankun himself showed up here. He and his crane spirits slew countless crow spirits, forcing them to surrender to the Tianshu Empire. Then, they in turn slew the Taiwu forces gathered in the vicinity to prove their allegiance. Everyone else is dead. I''m the only one who managed to survive."


    "Nn Qiankun came here yesterday? That can''t be¡ªhe was at Tianwu! Could it have been his avatar?"


    "That has to be the case," the cultivator agreed.


    The Immortal scowled. "Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun''s main bodies and avatars were all in the vicinity of Taiwu. Were they willing to sacrifice everything in order to take on the Taiwu Empire? How vicious they are. Aren''t they worried that their own empires would have been attacked?"


    "Perhaps they prepared for it," the cultivator replied.


    "Damn it!" the Immortal cursed.


    "Second Uncle, what should we do?"


    "Wait for King Shaoyin to return. We''ll have King Shaoyin take the throne, then rally around him to fight off Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun."


    "It''s been a day. Is King Shaoyin not yet back? What if Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun attacked him, too?"


    The Immortal''s heart sank. He had an uneasy premonition...


    Five dayster, in Nn Qiankun''s study within the Tianshu capital,


    Nn Qiankun had just finished reviewing a series of documents. He leaned back against his seat as Cui Haitang rubbed his shoulders.


    "Don''t transform into Cui Haitang any longer. It repulses me," Nn Qiankun said.


    Cui Haitang transformed into another woman. She wasn''t Cui Haitang, but rather the paper figure cursed effigy.


    "I thought you would still miss her," the paper figure said, smiling.


    Nn Qiankun shook his head. "Cui Haitang is dead, as you wanted. Are you still suspicious of me?"


    "How could I be? From now onwards, you''ll be my husband. You don''t have any children anymore, but I can make you more," the paper figure said.


    Nn Qiankun patted the paper figure''s hand. "I was aiming rather high when I married Cui Haitang. I really did like her back then, but she took advantage of the fact that her father was the left division leader to put on airs. My liking for her slowly dissipated. Only after something happened to her father did she slowly rein in her temper, but by then, it was toote. Furthermore, I met you afterwards. That was when I discovered true love. When you said you wanted to supnt her, I went along with your decision."


    "Husband, you really are a sweet-talker. No wonder you were able to trick Cui Haitang sopletely." The paper figure smiled.


    "You don''t believe me? Do you want me to pull out my heart and show it to you?" Nn Qiankun asked.


    The paper figure shook its head. "Husband, I''m not a foolish woman like Cui Haitang, and I''m well aware of your intentions. However, I don''t care. Monarchs are often heartless, and you''re a qualified monarch."


    "Hmm?"


    "All I care about is our future. We''re together now. I''ll help you grow stronger, and you''ll do the same for me. We have a vested interest in one another. I care not for your sweet words, but rather how much profit I can derive from you. As long as you''re profitable, I won''t leave you," the paper figure said.


    Nn Qiankunughed. "Lass, you really do have an open mind, don''t you?"


    "Lass? I''m not a little kid. Isn''t it time for you to fulfill the promise you made me?" The paper figure smiled.


    Nn Qiankun frowned. "Wait for me to recover from my injuries first before we devour those shadows. I need to fight over territory with Xiao Nanfeng, so I''ll be busy for the time being."


    "Oh?"


    "He schemed against me that day. After grievously wounding me and forcing me to leave Tianwu, he immediately took the city for himself. Then, using Xiang Shaoyang''s imperial seal, he sent over a hundred edicts all over Xiao territory, causing officials to open their gates and send their forces away. His forces rushed in and rapidly took over hundreds of cities in just a few days," Nn Qiankun said, frowning in annoyance.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s n was vicious," the paper figure opined. "If the Xiang n had allied with him, they would have been able to deal us a heavy blow. Even with the Xiang n backstabbing him, he was able to take advantage of us to im theirnds."


    "That said, after these few days, the various Xiang cities have learned of the truth, and Xiao Nanfeng''s fake edicts will no longer make a difference. The remnant Xiang Immortals have banded together to fend off Xiao Nanfeng''s forces."


    "Oh?"


    "The era of Xiang domination is over, and their resistance is futile. It''s just a matter of whether I can im morend than Xiao Nanfeng or vice versa."


    The paper figure frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng is growing too rapidly. Do we need to do something about it?"


    "Of course, but that''s a matter for after my main body recovers. I don''t want to take more risks for the moment."


    "Oh?"


    "There''s still the better part of a month before he intends to ascend his kingdom into an empire. Let''s give him a surprise before that." Nn Qiankun smirked.


    In the Xiao study at Yongding, Zheng Qian smiled wryly. "Dazheng has imed too many territories in too short a period of time. I''ve been tasked to provide countless officials to the new territories, but we''re severely short-staffed. There aren''t that many trained, loyal, andpetent officials about."


    "Have those officials dispatched to our new territories been cking off?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Them? Oh, no. They''re incredibly excited. Because of how short-staffed we are, they''re getting promotions one after another. They know how rare this sort of opportunity is, and they''d work twice as many hours in the day if they could."


    "As long as they''re working hard. The soldiers know that this sort of rapid expansion and ability to acquire merit is rare, as do the officials. Furthermore, the Dazheng kingdom is about to ascend into the Dazheng Empire. Who doesn''t want a brighter future for themselves? This is how Dazheng should be." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zheng Qian nodded. "It is a good thing, King Xiao, but we are still terribly short-staffed. We can''t keep up with your expansion!"


    "It''s not a problem. Pick some of the more talented officials of Taiwu for the moment. They might not be trustworthy, but they''ll do for the time being. Once everything settles down, keep the loyal and discard the rest."


    Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    "Nn Qiankun has also begun to fight over Taiwu territory. Even if the remaining Xiang Immortals band together, they''re done for. We have no time to waste. Mr. Zheng, I''m counting on you for the moment."


    "Understood, King Xiao!" Zheng Qian replied seriously.


    Zheng Qian took his leave, leaving just Blue Lantern in the room.


    "Blue Lantern, what do you think of the current state of the kingdom of Dazheng?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.


    "It is flourishing and full of vitality," Blue Lantern praised.


    "I''d like to use this jadepass you granted me to ask you a favor," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Blue Lantern frowned. The jadepass had been meant as a gift of gratitude to Emperor Wei for helping free him from the undying cursed king''s control. However, he had died, so Xiao Nanfeng had benefited from the gift as a result.


    "You''d like me to support you?" Blue Lantern asked, frowning.


    "Not for an extended period of time. I''d like to ask for ten years of your service. I''ll treat you as a friend, and you need not bow down to me. Ten yearster, you shall be free to do what you will," Xiao Nanfeng said expectantly.


    Blue Lantern frowned. He would have refused the offer immediately in the past. After all, Emperor Wei himself had requested Blue Lantern''s support for his divine empire. He hadn''t even epted then¡ªand Dazheng was only a kingdom. However, he now considered Xiao Nanfeng''s proposal more carefully. For some reason, he had been very unlucky in the short term, but Xiao Nanfeng had somehow turned things around. Should he take advantage of Xiao Nanfeng to counteract his bad luck?


    Blue Lantern pondered for a long moment before he spoke. "I will only do what I deem eptable."


    "I ept!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    He hadn''t expected the recruitment to go quite so smoothly; he had prepared more extensive arguments and persuasion, but it seemed he wouldn''t need to use any of that now.

 Chapter 361: Chasing the Dragon

    <h4>Chapter 361: Chasing the Dragon</h4>


    Draconic keens could be heard from deep underground within a patch of forest as the ground rumbled. Rock and mud were dislodged as mountains formed from the ground, conjoined in the shape of a dragon. As mountains to the front formed, mountains to the back copsed¡ªas though a mountain range was somehow moving on its own. Whaty underground was none other than a draconic vein, not just one, but dozens moving together.


    At their head was Blue Lantern. The mountain peaks around him were shrouded by fog. He held apass in his hand as he moved the draconic veins around.


    Far before him, a group of Dazheng cultivators were clearing the path for Blue Lantern.


    "Mr. Blue Lantern, the officials in the city ahead have pacified the people and established a dragon-inviting formation ording to your ns. Everything''s ready!" a Dazheng cultivator reported.


    Blue Lantern nodded. He waved an arm. "In the name of heaven and earth, the four symbols and eight trigrams, I hereby invite the draconic vein of this territory to journey with me!"


    The city in the distance trembled. Then, its mountain peaks shook as another draconic vein was lured out from deep underground and joined Blue Lantern''s pack.


    The draconic veins passed by the side of the city and toward the next one along Blue Lantern''s route.


    Blue Lantern had spent half a month gathering these draconic veins, and he had to herd them to Yongding before Xiao Nanfeng began the sacrificial rites to heaven and earth for his uing ascension.


    On a mountaintop some distance away stood two men. They were staring straight at Blue Lantern.


    "Do you see that, Crow King? That''s Blue Lantern," one of the men said.


    "Crane King, is he dangerous?" the other man asked.


    "ording to His Majesty, he''s ate-stage Human Immortal with incredible strength, especially when he has formations prepared," the crane king replied.


    "Strong though he might be, he''s only a lone cultivator. He can''t evenpare to Xiang Shaoyin, can he?" the crow king asked.


    "Are you still concerned about the Xiang n? They''re history now. The remaining Xiang Immortals tried to band together and rise up, but three days ago, the Tianshu and Dazheng Immortals killed them all. All theirnd has been divided up by now," the crane king said.


    "Crane King, you''d better not malign me. Just like you, I''m a defender of the Tianshu Empire. That''s where my loyalties lie. I''m not associated with the Xiang n at all. If you continue tarnishing my name, don''t me me for retaliating," the crow king replied coldly.


    "Whether you''re loyal or not, we''ll soon see. His Majesty had us attack Blue Lantern at full force," the crane king said.


    "Is His Majesty worried that Blue Lantern will herd these draconic veins all the way to Yongding?"


    "That''s right. His Majesty won''t allow the kingdom of Dazheng to ascend into an empire. There are two days left before Xiao Nanfeng''s rites, and these draconic veins will be of particr importance to the ceremony. Right now, a group of Tianshu Immortals are holding the Dazheng Immortals back on the battlefield. Even the two toad spirits have been lured toward the fighting. There are no Immortals guarding Blue Lantern. His Majesty wants us to kill Blue Lantern, or, failing that, to deplete the draconic veins that he''s been herding and stop Xiao Nanfeng''s advancement," the crane king said.


    "That won''t be difficult, but will Xiao Nanfeng attack us when we strike? We aren''t too far from Yongding at the moment." the crow king frowned.


    "His Majesty himself has gone to Yongding. Do you think Xiao Nanfeng will be able to make his way over?" The crane king smiled.


    "In that case, what are we waiting for?"


    "Let''s strike, then!"


    The crane and crow cried out as they summoned their respective spirit herds. Crane and crow spirits massed among the clouds and flew out toward Blue Lantern.


    Among them were three crow Immortals and three crane Immortals, all glowing with radiant light.


    "Protect Mr. Blue Lantern!" the Dazheng cultivators cried out, noticing the disturbance.


    The crane and crow kings likewise transformed into their native spirit forms and shot toward Blue Lantern. The gathered spirits surged forward in a massive pack.


    At the head of a mountain range, Blue Lantern continued onward with his herd. He ignored the spirits entirely.


    "Mr. Blue Lantern, be careful! There are eight spirit Immortals in the enemy formation!" one Dazheng cultivator cried out.


    "I''ll tear him apart!" The crow king shot forward in the vanguard. He wed at Blue Lantern withrge, sharp ws.


    Even before the crow king''s attacknded, his momentum and aura sent swathes of the Dazheng cultivators flying. Like sharpenednces, his ws brimming with me as they struck at the back of Blue Lantern''s head.


    "Mr. Blue Lantern, be careful!" the defending cultivators cried out.


    Blue Lantern didn''t make a move, but the fog to his back roiled. A pitch-ck dragon tail, surrounded by frost, whipped toward the crow king''s ws.


    With a smack, the crow king was forced back. The frost and mes struck each other in a flurry of wind.


    "What?!" the crow king eximed.


    A pitch-ck dragon emerged from the fog, none other than the Dragon King Ao Zhou.


    "Do you know how bored I was waiting for you toe?" Ao Zhou scowled at the crow king.


    "What?" The crow king stilled, not understanding why Ao Zhou''s eyes seemed so vengeful.


    "Do you know how much time I spent hiding in this fog? Damn it. I was worried you wouldn''t show up. Xiao Nanfeng''s an ass, too. He wanted to ensure that I caught you all so that he could make more peaches out of you, that he''d hold me responsible if even one of you managed to escape. Why didn''t you show up earlier?!" Ao Zhou demanded.


    The crow king stiffened, then thundered, "Die!"


    "No, you die! Strike, dragons! Don''t let any of these eight spirit Immortals escape!" Ao Zhou howled.


    His dragon subordinates roared within the fog as they emerged, thirty of them in all. They were massive in size and had auras to match. Their presence alone caused the avian spirits to rear back in shock. Among them were multiple Immortals.


    "Kill!" Ao Zhoumanded.


    "Kill!" the dragons roared, charging toward the gathered spirits.


    "An ambush!" the crane king shouted.


    The dragons smashed into the avian spirits.


    Ao Zhou flew around Blue Lantern, preening. "Don''t worry, Blue Lantern. With the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea present, no one will be able to harm you! Now, onward!"


    Blue Lantern red at Ao Zhou, then turned to the Dazheng cultivators and shouted, "Ignore these fighting beasts. Keep clearing the way!"


    "Ah? Understood!" the cultivators responded.


    Ao Zhou scowled again. "Blue Lantern, what do you mean, ''fighting beasts''? Are you calling me a beast?"


    Blue Lantern ignored Ao Zhou; Ao Zhou had insulted him first. [1]


    As the ascension of the kingdom of Dazheng drew near, the Xiao manor had been rebuilt in the pce, and Xiao Nanfeng had likewise moved into it.


    Everyone was particrly busy during this period of time. The expansion of the kingdom''s borders, the recruitment of officials, the construction of the imperial pce and its altar, learning the formalities and customs expected of an imperial court¡ªa tremendous undertaking was in effect.


    Within one hall of the pce, Xiao Nanfeng was greeting a ck-robed figure.


    "Sect Master Cao, I''m honored to be able to wee you as a representative of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Please, have a cup of tea!" Xiao Nanfeng offered with a smile.


    The ck-robed figure was none other than the current sect master of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. A ck robe was drawn tightly around the figure, and a hat covered the figure''s face. The figure''s features were impossible to make out, and the figure''s voice was so hoarse that it was impossible to determine whether the sect master was male or female.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You dare invite me to your ceremony? How bold. Aren''t you afraid I''ll settle the score regarding your assassination of my left division leader?" the demonic sect master demanded.


    "My senior brother, Zhao Yuanjiao, has personally flown far and wide to tender these invitations to esteemed personages. You have been invited along with the other division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect so that we might deal with traitors to the sect in one fell swoop," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Oh?"


    "You simply arrived early, but that''s a good thing, Sect Master. I have business to discuss with you regarding the left division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Business to discuss? You killing Cui Haitang and Cui Haisheng, you mean? They''re Taiqing sectstarters. Do you intend to deny this im?" the demonic sect master demanded.


    "I did kill them, but they''re no sectstarters. They''re both traitors to the sect, and I have done no wrong in excising them," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Traitor, you say? Is that something you can unterally decide?"the demonic sect master asked coldly.


    "I know you''ve been investigating this matter, and you can''t conclude whether or not Nn Qiankun has truly turned traitor. I have invited you and the division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect over to bear witness," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "To bear witness, and not to interfere in the dispute between you and Nn Qiankun? And what if you''re a traitor? What should we do then?"


    "With the division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect gathered, I''m certain I wouldn''t be able to escape if I were truly a traitor," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The demonic sect master fell silent for a moment.


    "I promise, Sect Master, that all will be revealed once the division leaders gather. I wish to speak to you to resolve a matter regarding the demonic sect."


    "Oh?"


    "The first left division leader of the demonic sect, Cui Heiyan, has been freed from his prison. The moment he emerged, he devoured almost all the disciples of the left division. Cui Heiyan is now under Nn Qiankun''s control, and he has to consume people daily in order to keep the demonic influence at bay. I''m certain you have the ability to determine the truth of my ims. I admit that he has amassed significant merit in the Taiqing Sect, but he is now nothing but a font of disaster. As the demonic sect master, will you handle this affair quickly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked seriously.


    The demonic sect master was silent for a moment, then nodded. "If I see him, I will deal with him."


    "Very good! I expect you will see him within the next two days. At that point, I ask that you acknowledge your promise and take on the responsibility of your station. Please don''t wait under the guise of analyzing or inspecting the situation," Xiao Nanfeng stressed.


    "Do you distrust me?" the demonic sect master demanded.


    Just then, a furious howl could be heard from outside the pce.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, return my son''s life to me. Return my daughter''s life to me!" A furious shout echoed through the air as a fearsome aura descended on the pce.


    "Cui Heiyan?" The demonic sect master frowned as he immediately stood up.


    "He''s here. Sect Master, I''m counting on you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The demonic sect master whirled back around to Xiao Nanfeng, suddenly discovering his trick.


    1. Ao Zhou said, ''Äã°²ÐÄÉÏ·ȥ°É!'', which I tranted as ''Now, onward [with ease]!''. In a different context, it can mean ''You can die peacefully now.'', which is the insult that Blue Lantern is referring to. ?

 Chapter 362: Arcane Heavens VS Sky of Ten Suns

    <h4>Chapter 362: Arcane Heavens VS Sky of Ten Suns</h4>


    In a forest outside Yongding stood three figures: Nn Qiankun, Tang, and the ck skeleton.


    Before them was a coffin, and Cui Haitang''s corpsey within.


    Tang held the left division leader''s token as he stared anxiously at the ck skeleton. ck smoke surged from him, as though he had just been unsealed.


    "Father-inw, weren''t you watching over Haitang that day? How did Xiao Nanfeng kill her? That day, I was badly injured by Xiao Nanfeng using the Immortal''s Destruction, and my wounds are still evident. Even so, bereaved by Haitang''s death, I intend to avenge her as soon as I can. Xiao Nanfeng''s in the pce right before us. He''s an enemy to us both. Haisheng died at his hands, and now Haitang has too. Father-inw, think about how piteously Haitang died!" Nn Qiankun cried out, his eyes red.


    ck smoke surged from the ck skeleton''s body. He looked toward the pce and roared, "Xiao Nanfeng, return my son''s life to me. Return my daughter''s life to me!"


    Then, he shot into the sky and toward the pce of Dazheng.


    Nn Qiankun''s expression of sorrow vanished. He turned to Tang. "Pestilence Sage, I''m sure I don''t have to tell you what to do and what not to do."


    "Please rx, Your Majesty. I''m on your side," Tang stated immediately.


    "Very good." Nn Qiankun nodded in satisfaction.


    He turned coldly to the pce before him. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was within, and he didn''t dare take him lightly. He had had the ck skeleton strike first to see what Xiao Nanfeng''s defenses were like.


    The ck skeleton had shot into the sky above the pce within moments. A fearsome aura filled the entire pce, freezing the guards in ce even as they attempted to resist.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly walked out of the pce, raising his head to the ck skeleton in the sky. He began to turn all around him.


    "Nn Qiankun, you must havee as well! Aren''t you going to show yourself? Do you intend to remain hidden like a coward?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Nn Qiankun narrowed his eyes. He naturally didn''t intend to be lured out by Xiao Nanfeng. With a cold smile on his face, he looked toward where a fight was about to break out.


    The ck smoke around the ck skeleton suddenly expanded in size. He shouted, "Are you Xiao Nanfeng? Return the lives of my children to me!"


    The ck skeleton mmed down with a palm. Even before the attacknded, a storm had spawned in the pce. The guards all around were forced to the ground, spraying out mouthfuls of blood.


    Just then, the demonic sect master emerged from behind Xiao Nanfeng. He countered Cui Heiyan''s palm strike with one of his own.


    The two cultivators'' attacks nullified each other in a storm of wind. The demonic sect master seemed to be stronger than Cui Heiyan and directed the windstorm upward, forcing the ck skeleton back.


    The demonic sect master demanded, "Cui Heiyan, you''ve broken out of your prison without having dealt with your demonic urges. Have you forgotten what you promised us, that you would only do so once your demonic urges could be sealed?"


    The ck skeleton demanded, "Who are you?"


    "You don''t even recognize me, the current demonic sect master? Your demonic urges are growing even more overwhelming. You must return with me!" the demonic sect master dered.


    "Return? Xiao Nanfeng killed my children. I''ll kill him and whoever else gets in my way!" the ck skeleton shouted.


    The ck skeleton and the demonic sect master began to fight each other in the air. mes and wind surrounded them.


    Both cultivators were Earth Immortals, and neither trumped the other decisively. They began to fight ever more vigorously as they ascended higher into the sky.


    Nn Qiankun frowned in annoyance. "Xiao Nanfeng managed to trick the demonic sect master intoing here, too?"


    Just then, he narrowed his eyes. Xiao Nanfeng was looking in his direction.


    A guard in the city was pointing toward where Nn Qiankun was located, where the ck skeleton had flown out from. The region was surrounded by fog, but it wasn''t difficult for Xiao Nanfeng to guess whoy in wait for him.


    "Nn Qiankun? Do you still intend to hide?" Xiao Nanfeng smirked.


    Nn Qiankun pondered the situation for a moment. His face gradually darkened at the news. The fact that the demonic sect master appeared to be on Xiao Nanfeng''s side left Nn Qiankun with a sense of urgency and pressure. He was worried that the demonic sect master knew that he had already turned traitor. The best solution to the problem was to kill Xiao Nanfeng and lie his way out of the situation.


    He took a deep breath, then soared toward the pce. Once he was high in the air, he looked down. "Xiao Nanfeng, face me and perish!"


    He stared at the hall from which Xiao Nanfeng had emerged, suspicious about the possible presence of other strong Taiqing forces within. He didn''t rush down toward Xiao Nanfeng; he wanted to lure out whoever was within the hall first.


    "Don''t worry, the demonic sect master is the only one I invited. I alone am more than enough to deal with the likes of you," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    He flew into the air and exuded a tremendous burst of aura, dispelling the clouds in the vicinity.


    "You? Alone?" Nn Qiankun narrowed his eyes.


    "As I said, it''s more than enough!"


    Nn Qiankun''s eyes glinted with killing intent as he unleashed a palm strike at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng countered with a fist. A windstorm spawned around the two cultivators.


    The tremendous strength pushed Xiao Nanfeng back some distance.


    "Is this all you''ve got?" Nn Qiankun sneered disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem bothered. "So you''re not an Earth Immortal? You''re just a peak Human Immortal! In that case, you''ll die here today."


    "Nonsense! I only used a third of my strength, and you were already unable to defend against it. Your confidence is misced," Nn Qiankun dered.


    "I only used a tenth of my strength," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Nn Qiankun thought that Xiao Nanfeng had to be joking, but he remained as careful as ever. After his first cursory blow to gauge Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, he intended to strike with full force.


    "Heaven''s Birth!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    His aura magnified in strength as a dragon''s howl and phoenix''s cry were emitted from his body. A huge golden dragon and golden phoenix emerged, dancing around him. Their cries caused spiritual aether to surge toward him, forming a golden whirlpool. His body gleamed with golden light as frightening strength billowed from him.


    Tang gasped in the distance. "The Arcane Heavens technique! Isn''t that one of the peerless techniques of the Taiqing sect? The birth of the heavens summons a dragon and a phoenix, which passively gather spiritual aether around the user. Filled with vitality, the cultivator will never becking for energy and can fight indefinitely. Allegedly, this technique can even allow a cultivator to fight on equal footing with one from a higher realm..."


    Nn Qiankun smirked. "As I said, I only used a third of my strength."


    He had grown at least three times stronger than before, and his essentially limitless spiritual energy would allow him to fight indefinitely. He was at the peak of the Human Immortal realm and was all but invincible against another Human Immortal.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "And as I said, I only used a tenth of my strength."


    Golden light radiated from his body as ten golden figures emerged from within it.


    Ten golden crows cawed as they unfurled their wings. The skies darkened as the sunlight all around them was absorbed by the golden crows, leaving them the only source of illumination.


    The golden crows absorbed the sunlight within hundreds of kilometers and provided Xiao Nanfeng with a torrent of energy. A burst of golden mes emerged from his body. Pure yang elemental force empowered and boosted him to ten times his initial strength. He too was indefatigable.


    Nn Qiankun frowned at the ten dancing suns in the air. "And what sort of technique is this?"


    "Sky of Ten Suns," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    He charged toward Nn Qiankun.


    Nn Qiankun met his advance with a fist.


    The two cultivators'' strength had both increased by leaps and bounds. A huge sphere of wind formed around them as they were forced back by each other''s strength. They seemed to be on par with each other.


    Ten suns hung in the air, as did a golden dragon and phoenix. Fire and wind erupted in the air as two beams of light shed with each other time and again. Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun were fighting at full force.


    The people of Yongding gaped at the sight that unfolded in the skies far above. The cultivators of various Immortal sects, who had been sent to spy on Xiao Nanfeng, swallowed gulps of saliva as they watched the fight.


    "The Arcane Heavens? The Sky of Ten Suns? These two cultivators are far too strong. They could easily take our sects on alone!"


    "Has Xiao Nanfeng really only been a cultivator for four years? Just how could he have gotten so far in so short a period of time? And what have I been wasting my time doing...?"


    "They''re too frightening!"


    Shocked cries rang out as countless cultivators realized that they weren''t even able to get close to a fight of this magnitude.


    In the fog some distance away, Tang gaped as he watched the fight unfold. "Xiao Nanfeng really is sinister. Thank goodness I''m on his side!"


    Just then, Tang stiffened. He whirled around to see two figures suddenly appear behind him: the demonic sect master and the ck skeleton.


    The ck skeleton had been chained up tightly and was now under the demonic sect master''s control.


    "Sect Master? Thank goodness you''re here! I''ve been trapped here all this time and treated like nothing more than a tool. The disciples of the demonic sect died an ignominious death!" Tang cried out.


    He didn''t know how the demonic sect master would view his involvement; he had to take the initiative to establish what happened so he wouldn''t be med.


    However, the demonic sect master only looked toward the sky at the two fighting cultivators.


    "The Arcane Heavens? Nn Qiankun is truly an impressive cultivator. No one in either of the Taiqing sects has managed to learn that technique in thousands of years---but he has!" the demonic sect master eximed.


    "Nn Qiankun is strong, but Xiao Nanfeng''s impressive as well. He''s only been a cultivator for four years," Tang reported.


    The demonic sect master fell silent for a moment, then said, "Xiao Nanfeng''s beyond the realm of genius. He might as well not be human!"

 Chapter 363: The Truth Revealed

    <h4>Chapter 363: The Truth Revealed</h4>


    "Let me go, Sect Master! I''m going to take revenge for Haitang and Haisheng!" the ck skeleton roared out. It was furiously struggling against the chains that bound it.


    "Cui Heiyan, whether or not your children have betrayed the sect remains a matter to be investigated. You had better stay here for the time being. You''ve caused enough problems as is," the demonic sect master said.


    "Me, problems? That was all after I was beset by demonism. Have I ever caused problems when I was clearheaded? Sect Master, have you forgotten how I fell to demonic influences? It was because that traitor to the sect was attempting to eradicate us all! I had no choice but to cultivate the demonic arts and invite a demon into my body to resist the traitor. That was how I managed to protect our sect. If not for the two Taiqing sects, would I have ended up like this?" the ck skeleton cried out.


    The demonic sect master was silent for a moment.


    "I don''t regret what I did. Preserving the Taiqing sect is an obligation worth putting my life on the line for. But how did the Taiqing sects treat me after my ultimate sacrifice? I left my son and daughter in your care. Is this the extent of your care? Not only have they been killed, they''re going to be branded as traitors to the sect! Sect Master, do you think you''ve done right by me?!" the ck skeleton demanded.


    The demonic sect master sighed. "We''vevished your children with attention, and Cui Haisheng became the left division leader partially because of our full support. But I have been investigating them recently, and others do speak rather poorly of them. They may have truly have done something wrong."


    "Others are branding them as traitors! My son might have been mischievous and stubborn in his youth, I grant you that. But think about how pure my daughter was! How could she have betrayed the sect? Are you going to leave their reputations tarnished even in death? I don''t believe it. I won''t stand for it. Sect Master, I ask that you stand for me! My life might well be over, and my children are dead¡ªbut I won''t let them die bearing such a reputation. I intend to prove them innocent. Sect Master, I need your help. I beg of you!"


    The demonic sect master was silent for a moment before he finally replied, "Very well. I will entertain your request. I need their possessions so that I might review their past history."


    "Their possessions? Haitang''s corpse is right here. Last time, when Haitang''s subordinate used a portion of her soul to awaken my psyche, after I was suppressed by the left division leader''s token, that soul fragment was absorbed within it," the ck skeleton said immediately.


    "The left division leader''s token," the demonic sect master said, looking toward Tang.


    Tang handed the token over immediately.


    The demonic sect master waved a hand over the token, causing it to surge with blue light. Then, he retrieved a pitch-ck mirror. After it absorbed the light, he tossed the token back to Tang. The mirror released a beam of ck light that struck Cui Haitang''s body, revolved around it, and then returned to the mirror.


    "Inversion of the sun and moon, of the passage of time. Reveal what was lost," the demonic sect master eximed.


    Scenes began to appear on the ck mirror.


    Xiao Nanfeng bisected Cui Haitang with his de.


    "Haitang!" the ck skeleton cried out.


    The scene persisted as Cui Haitang was saved by a group of paper snakes. In a secluded valley, the paper figure said its farewells to Cui Haitang, revealing the truth as it did so.


    Cui Haitang''s death had been orchestrated by the paper figure and Nn Qiankun in order to force her to give up her position as empress to the paper figure. Even to her death, the paper figure and Nn Qiankun had schemed against her and saddled her with the karmic debt that ought to have belonged to Nn Qiankun. Xiao Nanfeng''s mother''s assassination, Hong Lie''s death, Ku Jiang''s attack, Lu Yan''s disappearance¡ªall that really had happened!


    "Nn Qiankun really was a traitor? That damned bastard!" the demonic sect master roared, a chilly aura ring into existence around him.


    The ck skeleton was stupefied. It hadn''t expected such a conclusion at all.


    "Nn Qiankun''s a traitor! He tricked Haitang and Haisheng into going against the sect as well¡ªand he''s been lying to Haitang all this time! Haitang gave up her entire life for him, but he killed her in order to marry a cursed effigy? This is ridiculous. What a treacherous man¡ªhow could such a treacherous husband exist in this world? Why would my Haitang have married him? I''m going to kill him, I''m going to kill that bastard!" the ck skeleton roared.


    It struggled furiously against its chains. Boundless hatred fuelled its anger and madness.


    "Calm down, Cui Heiyan. We''ll deal with Nn Qiankun. The more you let your emotions control you, the stronger the demonic influence will be," the demonic sect master urged.


    Suddenly, he felt a sense of danger. All his hair stood on end as he whirled around and saw a man ring daggers at them from a mountaintop not too far away.


    "Nn Qiankun? Aren''t you fighting against Xiao Nanfeng? Is this an avatar of yours?" the demonic sect master eximed, sending a palm strike toward him.


    However, Nn Qiankun was even faster. He shouted, "Restrain, Gourd of Divine me!"


    He activated a golden gourd in his hand, its opening directed at the gathered cultivators. A tremendous suction emerged from its depths and attempted to suck in the three cultivators and the coffin. Even the demonic sect master was unable to ovee it.


    "One of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures?" the demonic sect master eximed.


    With a wave of his hand, he sent Tang and the ck skeleton flying against the pull of the gourd, then simultaneously freed the ck skeleton from its chains. After that, he was sucked into the gourd.


    "Die, Nn Qiankun!" the demonic sect master thundered from within the gourd.


    mes surged forth from the gourd''s opening. It looked as though the demonic sect master was about to rush out at any moment.


    Nn Qiankun nched as he quickly capped the gourd, only to find the ck skeleton having rushed up to him.


    "You bastard, return my daughter''s life to me!" the ck skeleton roared, striking him with a palm.


    "Damn it!" Nn Qiankun cursed as he retaliated with a palm strike of his own.


    The tremendous blow resulted in a shockwave of energy so intense that it caused the nearby mountains peaks to copse. Nn Qiankun attempted to flee, but the ck skeleton immediately gave chase. The two cultivators left Yongding, one chasing after the other.


    Tang mbered out of the rubble and gulped. "Sect Master, I didn''t curse you to death. Don''t me me!"


    In the city of Beidou, the capital of Tianshu, within a secluded cottage stood Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar. Beside him was You Jiu, d in ck.


    "Sir Xiao, Nn Qiankun has headed to Yongding, but isn''t it still a bit too dangerous for you to being here?"


    "It is rather dangerous, but I know that Nn Qiankun has a lot of ns set up. He''ll surely make a move at Yongding, so Beidou''s defenses will be almost non-existent."


    "What if he destroys the Dazheng pce?" You Jiu asked in worry.


    "A pce has symbolic significance, but only that. Even if it is destroyed, there''s no need to worry. We simply need to rebuild."


    "Understood!" You Jiu nodded, then asked, "Sir Xiao, do we need to set up the Immortal''s Destruction here? We could ruin the draconic vein in this city and destroy Nn Qiankun''s fortune."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "We can''t. There are paper snakes roaming the ground underneath Beidou. If we set up the Immortal''s Destruction, we''ll be discovered immediately, and the paper snakes will easily be able to destroy the relic."


    You Jiu frowned. "Nn Qiankun clearly has thought deeply about this, hasn''t he?"


    "Now, prepare to enter the pce."


    "The Tianshu Pce is well guarded. If we want to make our way in, we''ll have to fight off its guards," You Jiu said in worry.


    "Let''s do so, then. I need to see if the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s sect master is trapped somewhere within the pce."


    "Lu Yan isn''t dead?" You Jiu asked.


    "I don''t know. Regardless, he is the sect master. As a Taiqing disciple, I have the responsibility of searching for him¡ªI want to see his body, dead or alive. If we can save him, he''d be a huge help."


    "Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.


    The spectral guards directed the two cultivators to a carriage in service to one of the officials of the Tianshu Empire. They blinded the driver and the guards with a gust of wind and dust as Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu took advantage of the opportunity to enter the interior of the carriage and threatened the weak official within.Very quickly, they entered the pce grounds in the carriage and passed through the first checkpoint easily.


    At the second checkpoint, when they were stopped for an inspection, You Jiu made his move.


    He dealt with the guards rapidly and froze them to the spot, so it looked as though nothing was amiss.


    "Sir Xiao, Nn Qiankun really was careful. There''s a barrier up ahead, and we won''t be able to sneak our way through it," You Jiu reported.


    "Break it by force!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    The two cultivators struck simultaneously, shattering the barrier.


    "An assassin!"


    "Someone''s broken through the formation around the pce. Activate all defenses immediately!"


    "An enemy raid!"


    The pce was instantly a hubbub of activity.


    Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu rushed into the depths of the pce, prioritizing areas that were protected by defensive formations. The more barriers there were, the more precious whatevery within.


    Crashes resounded throughout the pce as Xiao Nanfeng destroyed barrier after barrier, while You Jiu held off the attacks from all around them. Very quickly, the two cultivators discovered a region shrouded by fog deep within the pce.


    There were countless paper snakes in the vicinity that surged straight at Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu as they approached.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Countless lengths of red rope fell from the sky and tangled around the paper snakes. Xiao Nanfeng shot into the fog and broke the formation there.


    Suddenly, he saw a sinister hall appearing from the depths of the fog, one constructedpletely out of papier mache. It was only about ten meters tall. From its windows, he could see countless shadow cursed effigies trapped within. They were shouting for help and attempting to batter down the hall with their bodies, but werepletely unable to escape.


    "These are... the Spirit Emperor''s shadow subordinates? Nn Qiankun brought them all out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and must have trapped them here! Yanluo Hall...?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    A paper signboard outside the paper hall proimed that this was the Yanluo Hall, a particrly sinister name. [1]


    1. Yanluo = ÑÖÂÞ, meaning hell. But Hell Hall doesn''t sound very good in English... ?

 Chapter 364: Hellsnake

    <h4>Chapter 364: Hellsnake</h4>


    The papier-mache hall appeared to be particrly sinister. Xiao Nanfeng was about to step forward to take a closer look when a paper figure suddenly emerged from among the paper snakes.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? How bold of you to sneak into the Tianshu Pce," the paper figure remarked, blocking his way.


    With a wave of its hand, the Yanluo Hall trembled and began shifting backwards, disappearing behind a cover of fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "I''ve seen you before, and we fought on ckme Ind. How might I address you?"


    The paper figure smiled in a sinister fashion. "I''m Hellsnake. Since you''ve alreadye, you might as well stay here!"


    The paper figure suddenly appeared before Xiao Nanfeng. Frowning, Xiao Nanfeng punched at the figure.


    His punch met the paper figure''s in a shockwave of force. Both cultivators reeled. Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng found thick fog rising up all around him.


    "An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "This is my illusion. You won''t be able to escape from it now that you''re inside. Sit tight and wait for my husband to return!" the paper figure said, smiling coldly.


    With a wave of its hand, it summoned countless paper snakes from the ground, all of which hissed and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode into the air, a red moon appearing to his back, a red cloud above his head. Countless lengths of red rope descended and struck at the snakes.


    The red rope and snakes began to fight each other as though heaven and earth were warring.


    The paper figure knew how strong the red moon was. Rather than attack directly, it continuouslymanded the paper snakes to charge toward Xiao Nanfeng instead. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear them; his red rope easily dealt with them for the time being.


    Suddenly, a peach branch appeared by Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder.


    "Senior, you''re still rather weak. You don''t have to help me¡ªI can handle them," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    The peach branch didn''t respond. It suddenly jumped toward a paper snake tangled up by a loop of red rope. Its roots thrust into the paper snake.


    The paper snake shuddered, then burned to a crisp.


    "What? How can it forcefully absorb my cursed spiritual power?" the paper figure cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "Senior, do you need the cursed spiritual power in these paper snakes?"


    The peach branch bent its ''head''.


    "In that case, Senior, let me help you!" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    Lengths of red rope protected the peach branch as they brought tied-up paper snakes straight to it.


    The peach branch rapidly absorbed the paper snakes'' cursed spiritual power as though it were enjoying a feast.


    The paper figure frowned. Before this, when the red rope destroyed its paper snakes, it was able to reform them. Now, however, the paper snakes that were absorbed by the peach branch drained it of energy. Within just a short period of time, it had consumed arge swarm of paper snakes, a grievous loss.


    "Die, peach branch!" the paper figure shouted, unable to bear it any longer.


    "You die!" Xiao Nanfeng shot forward and met the paper figure''s fist with his own.


    A wave of energy was released as the two cultivators'' fists met. The paper figure was forced slightly back.


    "Mid-stage Yin Body? Impossible! You were only at early-stage Yin Body before. How could you have grown so much stronger?!" the paper figure eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of revealing the secret of his star map. He shouted, "I was only moments away from mid-stage Yin Body to begin with. It''s not hard at all for me to advance. Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Punches rained down from the sky straight at the paper figure, who was sent flying.


    As the peach branch continued absorbing the paper snakes, the paper figure seemed to weaken. In outrage, it tried to attack the peach branch, but Xiao Nanfeng blocked it once and again. It was frustrated to no end.


    Suddenly, the paper figure narrowed its eyes at the peach branch. "You''re not a peach branch cursed effigy. Just like me, you''re from Hell. Which court are you from?"


    The peach branch ignored it and continued to devour the paper snakes all around.


    The paper figure seethed with rage, but it was unable to get past Xiao Nanfeng. Not only that, it had to avoid the red moon''s hypnosis, and the peach branch was continuing to absorb its cursed spiritual power all the while. At this rate, the situation would only worsen.


    "Illusion, break!" the paper figure shouted.


    The illusory realm shattered around them as they returned to the pce.


    All the paper snakes had vanished, as did the paper figure. Meanwhile, You Jiu was facing off against three Immortals, and he was visibly struggling.


    "You Jiu, we''re leaving!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    He punched all the Immortals around You Jiu, then rushed into the air alongside him and flew out of Beidou.


    "Sir Xiao, did you manage to discover anything?" You Jiu asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "There are no traces of Lu Yan within the Tianshu Pce, but my main body has made a few discoveries. I can more or less guess where Lu Yan is by now. Let''s leave first. Nn Qiankun''s going to head back in no time."


    "Yessir!" You Jiu replied.


    The two cultivators quickly evaded the Immortals giving chase to them as they vanished over the horizon.


    Outside the city of Yongding, the ck skeleton continued tounch attack after attack at Nn Qiankun. "Die, you bastard!"


    Nn Qiankun held one of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures as he struck back at the ck skeleton. The two cultivators seemed to be fighting on par with each other.


    However, the ck skeleton was suddenly beset by demonic urges. It gradually lost control. Although its strength grew more explosive, it was unable to use it deftly.


    With a burst of energy, Nn Qiankun managed to suppress the ck skeleton with his Gourd of Divine me. The ck skeleton was unable to move.


    "Pestilence Sage, hurry up! Seal him with the left division leader''s token, now! I''ll help you, so hurry!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    The ck skeleton, realizing that it was about to meet its end, suddenly smiled in a ghastly fashion. "You bastard, do you know what the worst thing I''ve done in my life is? Being blind to your malice and treachery, to hand my daughter over to you! My children died because of what you did. This is the end for me. I won''t be able to avenge my children personally, but I won''t just let you go like that, either. Bastard, you''ll pay for what you''ve done! Explode!"


    "You''re going to self-destruct? You''re crazy!" Nn Qiankun howled.


    A huge, ming mushroom cloud lit up the skies. The frightening shockwaves that resulted in the aftermath ravaged their surroundings and caused the mountains and forests in the vicinity to quake. Even the defensive formation around Yongding, far in the distance, shook as though it were about to break.


    Everyone who had been watching the fight gaped. None had ever seen such an intense explosion. Even Fortune''s Auspices and Sky of Ten Suns seemed to pale inparison.


    After the explosion passed, the ck skeleton''s body shattered, leaving only a bloody Nn Qiankun behind. He was continuously vomiting blood.


    "Even in death, you''re going to inconvenience me?!" Nn Qiankun cursed.


    The only reason he didn''t die was because the Gourd of Divine me had blocked much of the force on his behalf. However, a crack had appeared on the gourd, causing his eyes to widen.


    The gourd shook. The demonic sect master seemed to be attacking the gourd from within in an attempt to escape.


    "Damn it!" Nn Qiankun cursed again, coughing out blood.


    His main body was still fighting Xiao Nanfeng in the distance, but he had no choice but to escape. Once the demonic sect master emerged from the gourd, he would be dead.


    As Nn Qiankun''s main body fended off Xiao Nanfeng''s attack in a burst of me, he turned to flee.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    However, Nn Qiankun''s main body had already reached his avatar. He grabbed the gourd, which was starting to vibrate wildly, suppressed it, and began to fly into the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave chase for some time, but he gave up the pursuit upon realizing that he wouldn''t be able to catch up.


    "The demonic sect master''s trapped within the Gourd of Divine me? Could Lu Yan be there, too?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.


    "King Xiao is invincible!" a shout came from within Yongding as Nn Qiankun fled.


    "King Xiao is invincible!" Countless officials, soldiers, and themon people took up the chant.


    Their shouts echoed across the heavens, shocking the Immortal spies in Yongding.


    "Even Nn Qiankun was no match for Xiao Nanfeng! The kingdom of Dazheng is about to advance into the Dazheng Empire in two days. Its power is rising by the day!"


    "I advised my sect to side with Xiao Nanfeng time and again, but it''s toote now. Dazheng has already established its authority!"


    "My sect master''s been repeatedly saying to ''Watch and see,'' but it''s toote now. Xiao Nanfeng''s been growing too rapidly!"


    The Immortal spies shook their heads in regret.

 Chapter 365: The Dazheng Empire

    <h4>Chapter 365: The Dazheng Empire</h4>


    A dayter, in the city of Beidou, Nn Qiankun''s avatar entered a meditative state to recuperate from his injuries. His main body stepped toward a patch of fog within the pce, where the papier-mache Yanluo Court was located. Countless shadow cursed effigies were trapped within.


    "Xiao Nanfeng must have snuck into Beidou in order to search for Lu Yan, considering he didn''t try to excavate my draconic veins. Lu Yan''s nothing more than a pile of ashes now, so he could never have seeded." Nn Qiankun smirked.


    "We were all mistaken. That blood peach tree was just an illusion. That was another king of the Yanluo Courts," the paper figure said.


    "Oh?" Nn Qiankun sounded perplexed.


    "Just like me, it used to control a Yanluo Court in the past. It must not have regained its memories of that time¡ªthat was how it ended up under the control of the spirits'' Imperial Court. The Yanluo lords can transform their appearances. It became a blood peach tree, and then a peach branch," the paper figure said.


    "Is it dangerous?" Nn Qiankun asked.


    "Not particrly. It''s very weak, and all it can do is leech off Xiao Nanfeng''s spoils. That said, I am a little worried," the paper figure said.


    "What about?"


    "The ten Yanluo lords have abilities that counteract one another, and I''m concerned that it''s the one that''s opposed to me. It was silent, as though worried I would discover its identity." The paper figure frowned.


    "Oh?" Nn Qiankun asked.


    "Husband, we need to deal with Xiao Nanfeng as quickly as possible, then catch that peach branch. Even if it can counter my abilities, it''s currently too weak. As long as I can subvert it instead, I would gain control of two of the Yanluo Courts and grow even stronger," the paper figure said expectantly.


    "My avatar is injured, and the Gourd of Divine me is damaged. To avoid the demonic sect master escaping from the gourd, I''ll need to devote all my attention to repairing it and distilling his essence. I don''t have time to worry about Xiao Nanfeng for the time being," Nn Qiankun said, frowning.


    "But he''s growing too rapidly, as are his forces. The crane and crow kings made it back in a wretched state. They failed to stop Blue Lantern and were soundly defeated by Ao Zhou and the dragons under hismand. Tomorrow, once the kingdom of Dazheng ascends into an empire, it''ll be even more dangerous."


    "That''s not a problem. We''ll grow stronger and deal with him then," Nn Qiankun replied, looking toward the papier-mache Yanluo Court.


    "Husband, are you finally about to absorb the shadow cursed effigies trapped there?" The paper figure''s eyes lit up.


    "I''d been worried that their cursed spiritual power would pollute my body, but we have bigger problems to worry about now. At worst I''ll be a cursed effigy like you," Nn Qiankun said, smiling.


    The paper figure smiled back. "There''s nothing wrong with being a cursed effigy. Since you''ve made up your mind, Husband, I''ll assist you in breaking through, bing an Earth Immortal, and forging an invincible body."


    The next day, in Yongding, all manner of Immortal cultivators from across the Eastern Sea quietly watched the imperial ceremony unfold. They were shocked to see the thirty giant dragons flying overhead, along with the mountains and rivers that rose into the air all around them.


    As Blue Lantern guided the mountains and rivers around with apass in his hand, they seemed to form a loose ring around the city of Yongding, making it look like a metropolis in truth. Draconic veins keened underground, and dragons flew overhead. All this made Yongding appear sublime, freed from the fetters of the mortal world.


    Ao Zhou took on human form and flew up to Blue Lantern regretfully. "Xiao Nanfeng tricked me. I''m so angry!"


    "What''s the matter now?" Blue Lantern nced skeptically at Ao Zhou.


    "I helped him repel the crane and crow spirits and safeguard you, but he only handed me two blood peaches! Not only that, he said that I wouldn''t obtain any of the fortune to be distributedter. Why''s he so miserly?!" Ao Zhou fumed.


    Blue Lantern grimaced at him. "That''s your own fault. Xiao Nanfeng told you to nab all the crane and crow spirits. He specifically instructed you to execute sneak attacks on them, and that he needed them to make more peaches. If you don''t work hard, how do you expect to get anything?"


    "He never said that those peaches would be mine! If he''d said that from the beginning, I''d have put in way more effort. I''m very trustworthy, after all!" Ao Zhou replied shamelessly.


    "You''re rather thick-skinned to be trying to get something for doing nothing. Do you think Xiao Nanfeng''s a fool who doesn''t know what you''re thinking?" Blue Lantern''s reply was disdainful.


    "Well, then! I won''t deign to share in his fortune. Just how much fortune could a nascent empire possess, anyway?" Ao Zhou stewed in jealousy.


    Just then, from afar, an official''s shout came from the direction of the pce. "The auspicious hour draws near! Drums, resound!"


    Drums began to beat and horns began to blow in the vicinity of the pce as everyone''s attention turned toward it.


    Thergest hall of the Dazheng Pce was known as the Xuanhuang Hall.


    On the za outside, the officials of court stood in full regalia and the generals in martial robes along either side of the za. Immortals radiated with light. Croak and Warble drew themselves up to their impressive heights. Ceremonial music yed, grand and imposing. A five-colored altar had been erected outside the hall, and all humans, Immortals, and spirits were looking straight at it.


    "May the king enact sacrifices to heaven and earth!" the minister of the rites proimed.


    Footsteps came from the hall. As everyone looked at him, Xiao Nanfeng slowly walked out, dressed in a golden dragon''s robe, an ornamental crown on his forehead, looking every part the emperor.


    His face calm, his body poised, he walked up the altar.


    A podium stood atop the altar, on which had been ced a purple seal and the scroll that formed the Dazheng Code of Laws.


    After Xiao Nanfeng walked up the altar, he stretched his arms wide, stretching his sleeves and allowing a gentle wind to ruffle them. The music suddenly stopped. The za was so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard. Everyone looked toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head toward the sky. He took a deep breath, his arms ced one atop the other within ovepping sleeves, as he bowed and addressed the heavens. "Xiao Nanfeng, of the kingdom of Dazheng, in concert with its court officials and themon people that it governs, humbly requests the attention of the heavens. On this day, in acknowledgement of the size of its borders, the hearts and minds of its people, the glory of its achievements, and the ambition that unites us all, we ask that the heavens grant us a karmic reservoir by which we might umte the fortune of the world."


    "May the heavens grant us a karmic reservoir to umte the fortune of the world!" the court officials echoed.


    "May the heavens grant us a karmic reservoir to umte the fortune of the world!" themon people of Yongding echoed.


    Those cultivators with avatars quickly spread the news all over the kingdom of Dazheng.


    The officials, forces, and themon people of cities throughout the kingdom bowed in earnest entreaty.


    The request resonated across the kingdom as all its people echoed it. Theirbined voices seemed to form a connection straight to the heavens above.


    With a huge boom, a burst of thunder could be heard above the city of Yongding, as though the heavens had granted it permission to advance into an empire.


    "We thank the heavens!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Bow!" the minister of ritesmanded.


    All the people of Yongding bowed.


    Howling winds surged across Dazheng. Golden motes of light gathered, trickling up from themon people of Yongding and massing in the skies. More and more of the light condensed, forming golden clouds of fortune.


    "Incredible! To think that there would be so much fortune as to form a sea of golden clouds!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "So much fortune? There''s barely any, far less than what the Tianshu Empire possesses," Ao Zhou replied disdainfully.


    "This is only the fortune of a single city. Do you know just how many cities Dazheng consists of?" Blue Lantern replied archly.


    Just then, the golden clouds seemed to redouble in number. Golden streams formed, with fortune trickling in from all over, like a thousand rivers leading into the sea. The massed fortune grew to an incredible size; theyer of clouds thickened once and again.


    Over the next four hours, the fortune that gushed in from the thousands of cities of Dazheng resulted in the formation of a golden sea of clouds.


    "This sea of fortune wouldn''t pale inparison to that of the Tianshu Empire, and there are fewer citizens in Dazheng than Tianshu! Fortune gathers in concordance with the hearts and minds of the people. Could the citizens of Dazheng be so thankful to the empire?" Blue Lantern was astounded.


    "So much fortune¡ªI''m going to be losing out on far too much if Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t share a single portion of it with me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    Just then, a ck hole appeared in the sky like a giant mouth. It swallowed up half the fortune before slowly vanishing.


    "What was that ck hole? It stole half the fortune!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "The maw of heaven," Blue Lantern exined.


    "What? Why would the heavens seize all that fortune?"


    "On what grounds should the heavens grant Xiao Nanfeng the ascension of his empire? Half the fortune is owed to heaven as a sacrificial offering. This is standard practice."


    "The heavens need to be bribed to make a kingdom an empire?!"


    "Silence! Do not disrespect the heavens. Do you want to die?" Blue Lantern demanded.


    Ao Zhou''s face stiffened as he mped his hands over his mouth.


    Just then, back at the altar, Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Fortune of Dazheng, enter my body!"


    Fortune gushed down from the heavens and surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s body in the form of a dragon. Xiao Nanfeng radiated with golden light.


    "Fortune of Dazheng, enter the seal of Dazheng!" Xiao Nanfeng called out again.


    The fortune within his body poured into the purple seal in his hands, forged from the divine purple rock of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. The seal''s base was engraved with five words: ''On Heaven''s will, eternal prosperity.'' The purple imperial seal was the Divine Seal of Dazheng, and would serve as a repository for the imperial fortune.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng glowed with blinding light.


    Xiao Nanfeng unrolled the Dazheng Code of Laws and ced the imperial seal over it. With a huge boom, as the imperial sealnded, the code ofws was surrounded by fortune and connected to the Dazheng Empire. Henceforth, thews it codified would be thews of the empire.


    "I hereby dere that the kingdom of Dazheng has ascended into the Dazheng Empire. Its capital shall be the city of Yongding!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    A burst of fortune emanated from the imperial seal and code ofws, flying up into the air and spreading over the sky above Yongding, like a cloud of golden fortune safeguarding the capital.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s words, transmitted through this cloud of fortune, could be heard by all the citizens who had supplied even the smallest mote of fortune. Be they in Yongding or by the borders of the empire, all the citizens of the new empire could hear Xiao Nanfeng''s deration of ascension.


    "Long live the Dazheng Empire! Long live His Majesty!" the officials in the za chorused.


    From the sea of fortune came countless scattered voices in congrattions.


    "Long live the Dazheng Empire! Love live His Majesty!"


    The voices echoed over the city of Yongding.


    "The sea of fortune can transmit the voices of themon people?" Ao Zhou eximed from afar.


    "Of course!" Blue Lantern replied.


    "How incredible it must be to be an emperor! Not only will you receive the adtion of many, you can evenmandrge quantities of fortune. I''d like to be one myself," Ao Zhou said admiringly.


    "You? You''d be deposed right away," Blue Lantern replied disdainfully.


    Afar, after a series of raucous cheers, the city of Yongding gradually quieted down.


    Xiao Nanfeng, holding the Dazheng Code of Laws, began to officially appoint the officials of the court.


    "I hereby dere Ye Sanshui the first marquis of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Ye Sanshui stepped forward, his eyes bright, first among the imperial generals. He bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"


    "I hereby dere Zheng Qian the second marquis of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    Zheng Qian stepped forward, first among the imperial officials. He bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"


    "I hereby dere Ye Dafu the third marquis of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    Ye Dafu stepped forward and bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"


    "I hereby dere Croak the first guardian spirit of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    "I hereby dere Warble the second guardian spirit of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    "I hereby dere Blue Lantern the Imperial Astrologer of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    Xiao Nanfeng appointed officials one after another, his words transcribed on the Dazheng Code of Laws.


    Only three marquises had been appointed to date: Ye Sanshui, Zheng Qian, and Ye Dafu. However, none of the cultivators were upset. All knew how hard these three had worked for the empire. None were aware that there had been two further appointees on the Dazheng Code of Laws, which Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t reported.


    His avatar was personally handing them each an imperial seal and granting them their titles.


    "I hereby dere You Jiu the spectral marquis of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    "I hereby dere Tang the liminal marquis of the Dazheng Empire, to be granted amensurate share of fortune!"


    "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" the two cultivators replied.

 Chapter 366: War of Empires

    <h4>Chapter 366: War of Empires</h4>


    After the officials of the Dazheng Empire were appointed, Xiao Nanfeng strode off the altar and into the Xuanhuang Hall.


    The officials followed him in.


    The Xuanhuang Hall was particrlyrge and grand in scope, with carved railings, painted balustrades, and pirs in the form of coiling dragons. At the north of the hall was ced a draconic throne. Beneath the throne was a draconic vein; above, the cloud of fortune that hovered above the empire. The throne marked the heart of the Dazheng Empire proper, its seat of honor. Xiao Nanfeng slowly sat down.


    "We greet Your Majesty!" the officials chorused, bowing.


    "Rise," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    The court officials stood on either side of the hall, all looking toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "State all petitions now pending dismissal of court!" the minister of rites called out.


    This was the first session of court after the establishment of the empire, and it certainly couldn''t be dismissed so quickly. Ye Sanshui, forewarned, was the first to step forward.


    "Your Majesty, the Dazheng Empire has undergone countless struggles in its ascension. Tianshu Immortals attacked our borders and harmed our people. Then, their spirits attempted to prevent the transntation of draconic veins into the heart of the Dazheng Empire in hopes of dying or forestalling our ascension. The Tianshu Emperor, Nn Qiankun, personally came to Yongding in an attempt to assassinate Your Majesty. The vile Tianshu Empire is a den of iniquity, and it has made clear its desire to eradicate us. Your Majesty, I hereby petition to wage war against the malignant Tianshu to preserve the peace of Dazheng and excise the evil from our borders!" Ye Sanshui''s tone was resonant and stentorian.


    "Your Majesty, we petition to wage war against the malignant Tianshu to take revenge and safeguard our people!" the generals chorused.


    "Your Majesty, we petition to wage war against the malignant Tianshu to take revenge and safeguard our people!" the civil officials likewise chorused.


    The petition stoked the fighting spirits of all the officials of the court.


    Naturally, this petition had been nned in advance. The demonstration now only served to cast their incursion in a righteous light.


    "I approve this petition," Xiao Nanfeng dered. "All forces not responsible for municipal defenses shall form a brigade against evil. Marquis Ye Sanshui shall lead this brigade asmander-in-chief, and Marquis Ye Dafu as his general. Marquis Zheng Qian shall serve as chief administrator for the brigade, dealing with matters pursuant to supply and logistics. I dere war against the malignant Tianshu."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and Zheng Qian replied simultaneously.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng continued to assign generals to the brigade. The first session of court of the Dazheng Empire brimmed with fighting spirit.


    Dayster, with the brigade against Tianshu formed, the Dazheng forces began to attack the Tianshu Empire in earnest.


    Of the two empires, Tianshu and Dazheng, only one could and would survive.


    In the imperial study of Tianshu at Beidou, Nn Qiankun sat at his writing desk as he reviewed reports from the frontline. His face was set in a frown, and anger palpably radiated from him.


    A white-robed man sat before him, coughing into a handkerchief intermittently.


    "A brigade against evil? Xiao Nanfeng really doesn''t know what''s good for him. If I hadn''t spared his life, would he have been able to establish an empire? He dares dere me evil?" Nn Qiankun''s face was dark.


    "Your Majesty, the Dazheng Empire controls only 40% of the Eastern Sea, whereas the Tianshu Empiremands 60%. In terms of military might, they''re weaker than we are and have fewer Immortals besides. However, Xiao Nanfeng is no easy foe, and many Immortal sects do favor him for some reason. Ahem!" The white-robed man coughed again.


    "Mr. Wen, do you think that he can withstand the forces of the Tianshu Empire?" Nn Qiankun frowned.


    "His military strength and imperial strength are subordinate to ours, but he has four other strengths that particrly favor him," Mr. Wen replied.


    "Oh? Which four strengths?" Nn Qiankun seemed a little ufortable.


    "A fight between empires values righteousness above all. Whoever stands on the moral high ground can unite its people. Xiao Nanfeng is clearly a strict adherent to morality and ethics. His deration of evil has spread throughout thend, and he is invoking those ethical considerations against you. In his deration of kingship, he enumerated your failings, sins, and crimes against morality. In terms of ethics, he is the clear winner: his first strength.


    "Next, the Dazheng Empire rose far too quickly. Its administration is incredibly organized, with clearws and regtions, generous rewards for merit, and harsh punishments for crimes. It hasid an excellent foundation for the future. If I''m not mistaken, even though the Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea know that it''s toote to be joining the Dazheng Empire now, they''re still willing to win merit for themselves under its rigorous guidelines: his second strength.


    "What''s more, a few days ago, you fought personally against Xiao Nanfeng, Your Majesty. Although victory was indeterminate, you were ultimately the one who retreated. This dramatically damaged your reputation, and those unaware of the situation will think that you''ve lost. As a result, they''ll bet on Xiao Nanfeng and allow him to garner more support. Like a snowball, he will only gather more and more momentum: his third strength.


    "Finally, and most importantly, Xiao Nanfeng has the support of themon people. He''s particrly adept at winning the hearts of the people, and his cities prioritize the good of themons. As word of themon people''s living conditions spread throughout the Eastern Sea, the people of the Tianshu Empire will start to waver. This disease of the heart is impossible to eradicate¡ªfor the people to want to be invaded is a lethal threat: his fourth strength."


    Nn Qiankun''s gaze was stony. After a pregnant pause, he finally said, "Mr. Wen, your analysis deeply difits me, but only you would tell me the truth and summarize things so clearly."


    "It''s precisely because you''re willing to listen to my suggestions that I dare to speak, Your Majesty. In the short term, the Dazheng brigade will be on the losing end of things, but dragging this war out will only advantage them. To be frank, without exceptional forces, strategy, or circumstance, the Tianshu Empire will be in dire straits," Mr. Wen said seriously.


    Nn Qiankun paused for a moment before he smiled confidently. "Worry not. Exceptional circumstances will arise."


    "Oh?" Mr. Wen asked curiously.


    "I shall soon ascend into an Earth Immortal. With an Earth Immortal''s body and the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure in my possession, no one shall be a match for me. As long as I kill Xiao Nanfeng and leave the Dazheng Empire without a leader, even the strongest forces will copse," Nn Qiankun said confidently.


    Mr. Wen nodded, his features shifting imperceptibly. "Precisely, Your Majesty. Against absolute strength, even Dazheng''s advantages will fall short."


    "Mr. Wen, you are a skilled tactician and strategist. Before I ascend into an Earth Immortal, please continue lending your assistance with regards to battlefield nning," Nn Qiankun said seriously.


    Rather than allow Mr. Wen an official position, he only requested that Mr. Wene up with ns, as though he were on guard against him.


    "I will do my best, Your Majesty. However, my mdy has worsened recently. Your Majesty, you promised me that you would allow me to treat my mdy with the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure once you acquired it. Might I ask if..." Mr. Wen trailed off, looking at Nn Qiankun expectantly.


    Nn Qiankun frowned briefly, but wiped that emotion away almost as quickly as it had appeared. Then, he smiled. "Mr. Wen, please don''t worry. I am a man of my word. I ask that you bear with it for a little while longer until I ascend into an Earth Immortal."


    He stared at Mr. Wen, wanting to ascertain his attitude.


    Mr. Wen, however, only rxed and exhaled. "Excellent, Your Majesty. I''ve had this mdy for many years, and I can bear with it a little while longer."


    "Very good. I was worried it might be urgent." Nn Qiankun smiled.


    "Your Majesty, I urge you to be careful in this war against the Dazheng Empire," Mr. Wen said seriously.


    "Oh?" Nn Qiankun sounded perplexed.


    "The Dazheng Empire boasts incredible momentum at present. You must be wary of the possibility that your frontline troops might be subverted, Your Majesty. In addition, you must guard against his assassins. He has a group of skilled assassins in his employ," Mr. Wen emphasized.


    Nn Qiankun frowned. He too had his own intelligencework, and he was aware of the presence of these so-called spectral guards. The leader of the spectral guards had been seen often recently, and was known to be particrly dangerous.


    "Thank you for your reminder, Mr. Wen. I''ll be careful," Nn Qiankun said.


    "It''s nothing, Your Majesty. I can only provide verbal guidance." Mr. Wen smiled.


    Half a monthter, within Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yuanding, a man offered Xiao Nanfeng a portrait.


    "Division Leader Xiao, ever since you handed us a portrait of this Mr. Wen over half a year ago, we ckguards have been investigating him. His origins are mysterious; it''s almost as if he has appeared out of thin air. We''ve bought information from countless organizations worldwide, past and present, and finally obtained some information of relevance. We found the identity of a man very much like Mr. Wen, but we can''t confirm that they''re one and the same," the ckguard reported.


    "Oh?"


    "There was a Mr. Wen from a century ago whose features and body shape are known to be much like this Mr. Wen. However, his facial contours are a bit different. That Mr. Wen was once a strategist associated with a crown prince of some divine empire. He was skilled and particrly intelligent, especially when it came to malicious and deceitful ns. He attempted to help that crown prince seize the throne and came just one step away from sess. In the end, the crown prince was too weak to bring the n to fruition, but that Mr. Wen managed to destroy the divine empire with barely any cost whatsoever. Though his ns boast incredible sess, they cause great destruction and evil. The righteous disparaged him for being shameless and cold-blooded, while the ambitious and ruthless sought him out. Later on, one of his enemies apparently took revenge and killed him; he was then forgotten by the world. Unexpectedly, a Mr. Wen then reappeared in the Tianshu Empire. Except for some differences in facial features, he appears near-identical to the past Mr. Wen, but we haven''t been able to conclusively determine the rtionship between them. Here are the details on the past Mr. Wen." The ckguard handed Xiao Nanfeng a packet of information.


    "My thanks." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "It is our responsibility, Division Leader Xiao. If there''s nothing else, allow me to bid you farewell," the ckguard replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    After seeing the ckguard off, rather than look through the packet of information, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a letter from within a stack of documents: "Xiao Nanfeng, as a favor to Xiao Hongye, I''ll help you take down the Tianshu Empire at minimal cost to you. Once you seed, I wish to receive the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure that Xiang Shaoyang possessed as payment."


    The letter was unsigned and of mysterious origin. He didn''t know how it had ended up within a pile of battlefield reports. The letter had been noted by messengers along the way, but no one dared to discard or otherwise manipte it. As a result, it had ended up in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    For some reason, despite the fact that the letter was unsigned, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but think of the mysterious Mr. Wen.

 Chapter 367: Mr. Wens Plot

    <h4>Chapter 367: Mr. Wen''s Plot</h4>


    Ao Zhou sat in the imperial astrologer''s courtyard and raised his head to look at the sea of fortune in the sky. His features shed in annoyance.


    "Blue Lantern, there''s something wrong with Xiao Nanfeng''s sea of fortune!" he cried out.


    "Where?" Blue Lantern seemed perplexed.


    "A month ago, there was plenty of fortune when the kingdom of Dazheng ascended into an empire, but after the court officials were appointed, the fortune was parceled out. I even saw those two toad spirits'' cultivation rising sharply after they absorbed fortune. Shouldn''t the fortune up there have decreased as a result? Why does the sea of fortune look like it''s growing? Something''s wrong!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Fortune results from the people''s appreciation of the empire. The happier the popce, the greater their gratitude, and the more the fortune umtes. Fortune represents the heart of the people. Don''t you know how well Dazheng treats its people? They''ve been suppressed and forced to toil for years on end before Xiao Nanfeng took over with policies that favored and protected them. Of course they would be grateful. Many of the people even kowtow toward the pce daily. Aren''t you aware?" Blue Lantern asked disdainfully.


    "But this is far too much! I even snuck a look at Tianshu''s fortune, and Dazheng''s isparable!"


    "That''s normal. Dazheng''s fortune will only keep growing."


    "Growing? Then I''ve lost out on far too much! Those two toad spirits are guardian spirits of the empire, and they bathe in fortune daily. All I got for my efforts were two blood peaches¡ªthey''re useless! I''d rather have fortune!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Serves you right," Blue Lantern replied.


    "No, I can''t take this! I''m going to go find Xiao Nanfeng. Considering my dealings with him, I''m sure he''ll grant me some fortune. I deserve it!" Ao Zhou ran off fuming.


    Blue Lantern watched Ao Zhou leave with a disdainful look on his face. "Do you think Xiao Nanfeng will let you take advantage of him?"


    In the study at the Dazheng Pce, Ao Zhou found Xiao Nanfeng and shamelessly asked for fortune.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''m not asking too much of you. Isn''t your empire stillcking some guardian spirits? If you grant us dragons that designation, I''ll lead the dragons to conquer the world in your name! How about that?" Ao Zhou smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face was dark. You really are shameless, aren''t you? A guardian spirit''s supposed to have put in hard work for the empire or saved it from cmity, which is why they''re eligible for an allotment of fortune. As for you dragons, if I hadn''t saved you lot, you''d be done for. Why should I let you take advantage of me? Dream on!"


    "Haven''t we helped?" Ao Zhou demanded.


    "You owed me what help you provided. Two blood peaches is already more than enoughpensation," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "But I''m a member of the Qitian Alliance, aren''t I? You should treat me better!" Ao Zhou continued.


    "If you want fortune, that''s not hard. Do you see what Croak and Warble did? They obtained merit by expanding the territory of Dazheng. If you want some fortune, you can im some for yourself¡ªnot in this study, but on the battlefield. Earn fortune with the merit you im from war," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "War?" Ao Zhou pursed his lips.


    "Where do you think fortunees from? Does the wind blow it into yourp?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "Your fortune might as well be blown into yourp by the wind, and there''s more and more of it each day! Why are you so lucky, damn it!" Ao Zhou cursed.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "You''re rich now, aren''t you? You should think of me. I''m a member of the Qitian Alliance!"


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. "Since we''re both part of the Qitian Alliance, let me give you some specific directions, then. The crow and crane kings are leading their avian subordinates to attack my forces. I''ll give you special dispensation this once. Deal with these Tianshu avians with your dragons, and you''ll be able to im fortune from me once they''re gone.


    "What? You want us to deal with those avians? They''re very difficult to handle. Although we wonst time, many of my subordinates are injured.Some of the dragons are surely going to die or be hurt if that happens!" Ao Zhou replied.


    "The dragons are innately more talented than humans, and they be Immortals more easily than other spirits. However, this is no reason to bezy. If you remain cowardly and fearful, you''ll only end up as a joke. Without undergoing trial and tribtion, how do you intend to grow? Do you think those inexperienced loaches will be able to take over the Eastern Sea with you?"


    "Loaches? We''re dragons, the most noble of all divine beasts in the world!" Ao Zhou retorted angrily.


    "The most noble of all divine beasts? Then shouldn''t you be able to handle the crow and crane spirits easily?"


    "They''re just a group of crows and cranes! Fine. I''ll do it. When I return, I expect to be made a guardian spirit of the empire and given an allotment of fortune!" Ao Zhou replied, roused into action by Xiao Nanfeng''s deliberate prodding.


    "We''ll talk when you return, then." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Ao Zhou left the study with a defiant air. When he left the study and a cold breeze blew toward him, however, he suddenly shivered and reflected on the conversation he had just had. "Did Xiao Nanfeng trick me?"


    The more he thought, the more he felt something was amiss. He turned back around to the study and muttered to himself, "I didn''t gain anything by talking to Xiao Nanfeng, and I even have to work for him! I could die on the battlefield at any moment! How could he be even more shameless than I am?!"


    After Ao Zhou left, Xiao Nanfeng continued reviewing a stack of documents on his desk. Not long after, You Jiu rushed in.


    "Your Majesty, I''ve finished investigating what you tasked me with."


    "Oh?"


    "A group of people appeared on the frontlines a while back, passing themselves off as Dazheng officials and attempting to subvert Tianshu Immortals on the other side. They failed miserably and were immediately kicked out," You Jiu reported.


    "I''ve confirmed the encounter with Ye Sanshui. It wasn''t part of his n." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "As you ordered, Your Majesty, I immediately had the spectral guards monitor their families. As expected, another group of cultivators appeared, now passing themselves off as spectral guards, and assassinated the family members of those Tianshu Immortals. They''re all in rage now."


    "How are the Tianshu Immortals protecting their families now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Since they''re fighting on the frontlines, they''re unable to safeguard their rtives. They reported the affair to Nn Qiankun and had him protect their rtives on their behalf. Nn Qiankun sent his subordinates to bring all their rtives to a specific part of Beidou, which is now being patrolled by Immortals."


    "A group of people masquerading as Dazheng officials to attempt to subvert the Tianshu Immortals, and another group masquerading as spectral guards to assassinate their families... Nn Qiankun really seems to be having fun, isn''t he?" Xiao Nanfeng chuckled.


    "Your Majesty, you mean that Nn Qiankun nned all this?" You Jiu asked.


    "Who else? Even the smallest element of instability in warfare might snowball. He''s worried that we''ll be able to subvert the Tianshu Immortals, so he did it himself to confirm their loyalty."


    "What about impersonating the spectral guards to assassinate their rtives? Is that to make them hate Dazheng more?"


    "No, it''s to control them more firmly. The Immortals have sent their rtives to Beidou, after all, and they might as well be hostages there. That''s a secondyer of insurance against Immortal defection."


    "How cold-blooded. Nn Qiankun''s even scheming against his own subordinates now. Isn''t he worried that this is going to erode loyalty further?" You Jiu frowned.


    "If he does it carefully enough, even if you reveal the truth, no one will believe you. Nn Qiankun''s deliberately trying to frame us, and everyone will believe that we did it."


    "He''s bing more and more underhanded. He''s worried about Dazheng, isn''t he? That''s why he''s being so shameless as to scheme against his own subordinates." You Jiu sneered.


    "He does seem to be overly anxious¡ªno, hold on." Xiao Nanfeng suddenly seemed to think of something.


    He retrieved a letter that seemed to havee from Mr. Wen and read it carefully. The letter stated, "Xiao Nanfeng, as a favor to Xiao Hongye, I''ll help you take down the Tianshu Empire at minimal cost to you. Once you seed, I wish to receive the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure that Xiang Shaoyang possessed as payment."


    "What''s the matter, Sir Xiao?" You Jiu asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment before he said, "Something''s wrong. I suspect there''s more to it than even we noticed."


    You Jiu seemed confused.


    "Did the spectral guards responsible for assassinating the Tianshu Immortals'' rtives seem a little disorganized?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "They did. I suspect it was their first time performing such an impersonation. It was disorganized throughout, not just in a specific location," You Jiu recalled.


    Xiao Nanfeng thought about the situation more deeply, then sighed. "So this is what Mr. Wen meant about minimal effort and giving him a taste of his own medicine. Impressive. Impressive indeed!"


    "Your Majesty, what do you mean?" You Jiu asked, confused.


    "I suspect that Nn Qiankun dispatched his subordinates to impersonate Dazheng officials and subvert Tianshu Immortals, and then to impersonate spectral guards to assassinate their rtives, on Mr. Wen''s orders. No, he wouldn''t even have to do that much¡ªall he needs to do is hint at it to Nn Qiankun. Considering Nn Qiankun''s personality, that would be sufficient impetus for him to do something like this. Mr. Wen truly knows his way around a man''s heart, and his ns are simultaneously highly efficient and far-reaching," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "This is Mr. Wen''s n? What for?" You Jiu asked.


    "This alone is enough to take down a million troops. He''s wrecked the Tianshu Empire''s overall defenses," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What?" You Jiu eximed.


    "Nn Qiankun''s subordinates seemed a little disorganized when assassinating the Tianshu Immortals'' rtives because Mr. Wen arranged for some of his own subordinates to sneak into the mix," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    "There were two groups of people simultaneously impersonating the spectral guards? Why?" You Jiu still seemed confused.


    "Nn Qiankun''s trying to frame us, while Mr. Wen''s trying to frame Nn Qiankun," Xiao Nanfeng said confidently.

 Chapter 368: Dissipating Morale

    <h4>Chapter 368: Dissipating Morale</h4>


    In Nn Qiankun''s study in Beidou, one Immortal came to report on the situation at the frontlines. He then said, "Thank you for protecting my rtives, Your Majesty. I''m able to fight at ease now. Could I see my wife and children while I''m stopping by?"


    "By all means," Nn Qiankun replied easily.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Immortal bowed and retreated from the study.


    A pce guard led him to arge courtyard outside the pce.


    "Marquis Su, please rx. His Majesty values your family highly, and this area right outside the pce has been designated for the marquises'' rtives for the duration of the war. All rtives of the marquises fighting on the frontlines are eligible to stay here, and the location is protected by a potent formation and guarded by three Immortals on a rotating basis at all times. Even a mosquito won''t be able to make its way in. It''s perfectly safe," the guard introduced.


    "I must thank His Majesty." Marquis Su nodded in satisfaction.


    He found his wife and children in a particr courtyard.


    Marquis Su''s two sons were still very young. After he cuddled them fondly, his servants led them off to y as Marquis Su had a private conversation with his wife.


    "Are you getting used to living here? We''ll return home once the war''s over," Marquis Su said gently.


    His wife revealed a harrowing expression of fear. "Husband, I..."


    "What''s the matter?" Marquis Su seemed perplexed.


    "Do you remember the spectral guard that tried to attack me? Although he took me as hostage, he didn''t hurt me. You said that it was very strange, and I finally know why. When that masked guard held a knife to my neck, I noticed that there was a wound on his right hand, and a strange fragranceing from his body," the woman said.


    "So what?" Marquis Su asked, still confused.


    "Yesterday, I saw that man again. I wouldn''t have mistaken his scent. Furthermore, there was still a faint wound on his right hand, exactly where I saw it."


    "Where?" Marquis Su frowned.


    "He''s a guard captain right here," the woman whispered.


    "What?!" Marquis Su''s eyes narrowed.


    "I''ve been keeping that secret ever since. I didn''t dare tell anyone," the woman continued.


    "All the guards here are His Majesty''s subordinates. Do you intend to say that the spectral guards who attempted to assassinate you were actually acting on His Majesty''s orders...?" Marquis Su nched.


    He suddenly guessed that the Dazheng cultivators who tried to subvert him and the assassins were all Nn Qiankun''s subordinates in disguise. Was the goal to trap his family here as hostages?


    "Husband, what should we do?" the woman cried out.


    Marquis Su frowned. He wanted to interrogate Nn Qiankun, but who would admit to such allegations? If he did so, he might even endanger his wife and children.


    "It doesn''t matter. As long as I''m loyal to His Majesty, none of you wille to harm. Pretend you don''t know anything," Marquis Su warned.


    The woman nodded, biting her lip in fear.


    She had guessed what was going on too. They were now hostages in all but name.


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu were analyzing Mr. Wen''s ns.


    "Nn Qiankun framed the spectral guards, and Mr. Wen took advantage to frame Nn Qiankun instead¡ªno, to reveal his misdeeds! But how would he do so? Nn Qiankun might not trust him fully, considering that he doesn''t have a high-ranking position in the empire. Nn Qiankun''s subordinates wouldn''t listen to him, would they?"


    "That''s not difficult at all. Mr. Wen arranged for his own subordinates to sneak into those spectral guard impersonators. His subordinates just have to leave identifying marks that the Immortals'' families will remember¡ªa special scent, for instance, or some subtle wound. Then, when the Immortals'' families reach Beidou, he just has to pick out some of those guards and give them the same identifying features. For instance, invite a guard to have a feast and have female courtesans leave a certain distinctive perfume on his body, or identally scratch or leave a mark on a guard while handing them a gift. It''s not difficult to make the Immortals'' rtives misunderstand the situation¡ªand, of course, this wasn''t a misunderstanding to begin with. Those Immortals aren''t fools. If they investigate deeply, they''ll eventually realize the truth," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "And once those Immortals'' rtives figure out what''s going on, they''ll notify the Tianshu Immortals, who would surely believe their families'' word. This is a ploy to make the Immortals no longer trust the empire!" You Jiu eximed.


    "That''s right. Even if the Immortals reveal what happened, Nn Qiankun can''t do anything. It was ultimately his fault, after all. The Immortals will no longer trust him readily, and if Nn Qiankun frees their rtives, we would easily be able to subvert them. Of course, the more likely stance is that Nn Qiankun will continue keeping them hostage, and the Immortals themselves have likely thought of that. I don''t expect that they''ll go public about their discovery; they''ll pretend not to know what''s going on and continue to attack us, but they may feel differently in private," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "And once they lose their loyalty, they wouldn''t fight as hard for Nn Qiankun¡ªthey''d be afraid that their families would be harmed considering how cold-blooded Nn Qiankun is. Neither would they dare to surrender, if their rtives are still being held hostage. They''d be trapped." You Jiu frowned.


    "What do you think they would do, then?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "The only possible choice remaining to them: to fight, but not to do so well. They''ll pretend to be brave and heroic, but when they really ought to risk their lives, they certainly won''t do so. They''ll pretend to be unable to defeat their opponent and slink back in defeat," You Jiu said.


    "That''s right. Not being able to defeat their opponents is a problem of skill, not of loyalty. They''ve worked hard, only for their efforts to end in defeat. How could Nn Qiankun me them? He might appear to have controlled all the Immortals by taking their families hostage, but he''s simultaneously forced them onto this path of oppressive disloyalty. Nn Qiankun might not even know that his subordinates have turned against him; he''s likely still self-absorbed in his ''masterful'' strategic decision. All this was under Mr. Wen''s control. A small n in the grand scheme of things, but one that will upset the entire war. Mr. Wen''s truly a fearsome opponent. No wonder others evaluated his schemes as deceitful and vicious..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Nn Qiankun will discover that something''s amiss with the frontlines quickly, won''t he?" You Jiu asked in worry.


    "So what if he does? With his Immortals'' loyalty gone, he won''t be able to regain their support. Inform Ye Sanshui to attack at full force. Mr. Wen''s already paved the way for them." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.


    A monthter, in Beidou, Nn Qiankun received reports of sessive defeats at the frontlines.


    "Your Majesty, something''s wrong! Our frontlines have suffered defeat after defeat, and the borders of the Tianshu Empire are shrinking rapidly. The traitorous Dazheng forces have already taken down three hundred cities of Tianshu! We''re all but equals in territory now. They''re advancing far too quickly!" one official cried out.


    Nn Qiankun sensed that something was amiss as well. He immediately asked, "Where''s Marquis Su?"


    "Marquis Su was heavily wounded by Ye Dafu a few days ago, and his injuries are being tended to in Beidou. He''s with his family at the moment," the official replied.


    "Send him here," Nn Qiankun said.


    Not too longter, Marquis Su was summoned to the study.


    "Your Majesty, Ye Dafu''s Indomitable Body was incredibly potent, far more so than I could have anticipated. I waspletely unable to break through his defenses, and he deeply wounded me. If I hadn''t run away so quickly, I might have fallen on the battlefield," Marquis Su spat out bitterly.


    "Marquis Su, you''re my most trusted subordinate, and you''ve been with me since the initial days of the empire. Whatever benefits I confer, I grant to you first. I even promised that you would be the first Immortal among your cohort. Please tell me the truth as to why you haven''t been putting in all your effort," Nn Qiankun said.


    "I did my best, Your Majesty!" Panic shed over Marquis Su''s face.


    "I''ve treated you well. Won''t you even tell me the truth?" Nn Qiankun asked again.


    Marquis Su grimaced.


    Nn Qiankun immediately discovered that something was amiss. With more prodding, he finally got Marquis Su to exin the situation.


    Upon hearing Marquis Su''s description of events, Nn Qiankun''s eyes widened. "What''s going on? I was simply worried that Xiao Nanfeng would subvert you and that the spectral guards would take your families hostage to force you to surrender! That''s why I had some of my subordinates impersonate them to lead your families to safety. How could things have developed to this extent?"


    When Marquis Su saw that Nn Qiankun was earnest, he too discovered that something was amiss. He asked, "Your Majesty, why didn''t you just warn us of the threat? Why act in this perfidious manner?"


    "I was tricked by Mr. Wen. He repeatedly misled me about Xiao Nanfeng''s four strengths, causing me to be too agitated and worried about potential betrayal. As a result, I did something I shouldn''t have. I regretted my actions near-immediately, but was worried that you would be suspicious if I were toe clean then. As a result, I chose to say nothing. None but my subordinates should have known what was going on, and they''re not the ones responsible for guarding your families. There had to be something wrong with that guard. Immediately arrest him and ask about his wound and perfume!" Nn Qiankun demanded.


    "Understood!" Marquis Su rushed out of the study immediately.


    "Summon Mr. Wen, now!" Nn Qiankunmanded his subordinates. He looked up alertly


    as his eyes twitched. He had more or less guessed what was going on. He knew how devious Mr. Wen was and had chosen not to give him an official position because Mr. Wen would be an uncontroble element in his ns. He hadn''t expected that, even so, Mr. Wen could still cause him such tremendous problems.


    Marquis Su quickly came back after interrogating the guard. All the signs were pointing toward Mr. Wen.


    "Your Majesty, Mr. Wen has gone missing," one guard reported.


    "Damn it!" Nn Qiankun roared.


    "Your Majesty, was Mr. Wen responsible for all this? I''ll immediately gather the other marquises and tell them everything," Marquis Su said.


    Nn Qiankun frowned. He knew that, even if he pushed all the me to Mr. Wen, the other Tianshu Immortals would never be as loyal to him as before. It would be near-impossible to amass their support once more. The Tianshu Empire was truly on the brink of catastrophe.


    "Mr. Wen, I''ll kill you!" Nn Qiankun roared.

 Chapter 369: Decisive Battle at Luoxing

    <h4>Chapter 369: Decisive Battle at Luoxing</h4>


    In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng was looking at a report as You Jiu stood beside him.


    "The Tianshu Empire has ced a bounty on Mr. Wen, with any clue to his location rewarded with an Immortal relic..." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "It looks like we were right, then. All this is Mr. Wen''s doing."


    "Nn Qiankun''s response surprised me. To think that he would reveal the truth about his deception with the spectral guards and push all the me to Mr. Wen! He imed that all this was a scheme that Mr. Wen devised, that all the Immortals are free to reim their rtives at any time," You Jiu said.


    "It was the right decision."


    "Oh?"


    "If he hadn''t admitted to the deception, the Immortals would remain unwilling tomit themselves to battle, and the Tianshu Empire would rapidly have fallen. Not only would he have lost his borders, he would even have lost his Immortal subordinates. Only by admitting to what he did, revealing the truth, and earnestly providing redress would he be able to retain some of their support," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Your Majesty, you once said that the Immortals had already lost their loyalty¡ªthat it would be difficult for Nn Qiankun to regain it, and that those Immortals that rescued their families would be easily subverted by our faction. Doesn''t Nn Qiankun realize that?" You Jiu asked.


    "He does, but he''s chosen to discard all who would do so. Only those Immortals willing to ride out thick and thin with him will remain. He''ll suffer tremendous losses¡ªthis is part of the genius of Mr. Wen''s n. There''s no solution in which Nn Qiankun doesn''t lose out."


    "Nn Qiankun really was decisive, then. Could he be nning some counterattack? With this group of loyal subordinates, will he be able to turn the tables?" You Jiu frowned.


    "Regardless of what he''s nning, we''ll have to im as much of his territory now as we can. Inform Ye Sanshui to focus on bringing the Tianshu Immortals to our sides. We''ll have great sess, I imagine."


    "Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.


    "In addition, have all the spectral guards search for Mr. Wen as well. Sacrifice whatever you need to ensure his safety."


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    One monthter, in the imperial study at Beidou, Marquis Su reported, "Your Majesty, it''s been a month, but we still haven''t received any news about Mr. Wen."


    Nn Qiankun said coldly, "As expected of Mr. Wen. If he wants to hide, no one can find him."


    "A month ago, His Majesty treated everyone honestly and revealed how Mr. Wen schemed against him. The Immortals all fetched their families home, and Dazheng has been trying to turn them against the Tianshu Empire. As you expected, Your Majesty, about a third of the Immortals have turned traitor and sided with Dazheng, while another third left thesends with their families, supporting neither empire," Marquis Su reported.


    Nn Qiankun sucked in a deep breath. "It matters not. A third still remain."


    "However, because of others'' defection and betrayal, the Tianshu Empire''s borders have shrunk massively over the past month. By now, the rtive sizes of Tianshu and Dazheng have inverted. Dazheng now controls 70% of thend across the Eastern Sea, while Tianshu controls fewer than 30%," Marquis Su replied worriedly.


    Nn Qiankun continued coldly, "It matters not. The war between Tianshu and Dazheng is not solely reliant on the battlefield atrge, but also between me and Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Oh? Will you be breaking through shortly, Your Majesty?" Marquis Su asked curiously.


    Just then, a huge boom came from the back of the pce. A massive aura rapidly suffused the pce, pressuring the countless cultivators within. The aura then spread throughout the city of Beidou; the whole city felt the mounting pressure.


    "The aura of an Earth Immortal? Your Majesty, have you be an Earth Immortal?! Xiao Nanfeng''s dead meat now!" Marquis Su smiled in exhration.


    "Thest few months have been stultifying, but I''m ready now. Inform all Tianshu Immortals to prepare to ughter the Dazheng Immortals alongside me. I intend for all those who have betrayed me to regret their actions, to die a tragic end!" Nn Qiankun roared out.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Marquis Su cried out.


    In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng listened to You Jiu''s report. "Your Majesty, an aura of incredible strength was felt emanating from the Tianshu Pce and spread all the way around Beidou. The spectral guards report that that aura went beyond that of an ordinary Immortal. It was likely that of an Earth Immortal."


    "So that''s what Nn Qiankun has been up to? Ascending into an Earth Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "Nn Qiankun may attempt to attack you immediately, Your Majesty."


    "He wouldn''t dare approach Yongding. Monarchs of empires are able tomand fortune within their respective capitals and augment their strength to an incredible extent¡ªenough to ovee the disparity between a Human Immortal and an Earth Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng stated.


    "Oh?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, his first target will be Ye Sanshui and the others. He intends to ughter the brigade against evil and lure me out of Yongding."


    "Your Majesty, shall I warn Marquis Ye and the others at once?" You Jiu said hurriedly.


    "There''s no need. I''ve prepared for this and warned them in advance. The sea of fortune around Beidou has been depleting rapidly over the past few days, and I guessed that Nn Qiankun was absorbing and distilling fortune for a final breakthrough. Inform all Immortals to head to where Ye Sanshui is and prepare to defend against Nn Qiankun''s incursion."


    "Word that Nn Qiankun has be an Earth Immortal will rapidly spread, and those Tianshu Immortals that we''ve managed to get on our side will likely change their allegiance again. They wouldn''t dare meet their former emperor in battle, would they?" You Jiu frowned.


    "It matters not. Dazheng needs cultivators who are loyal to its cause, not opportunistic ones who will turn tail the moment trouble strikes. If those Immortals really are so scared that they''d run, then that saves us the effort of filtering them out," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    A few dayster, at the city of Luoxing, whichy near the border between Tianshu and Dazheng, Ye Sanshui was directing forces from the brigade against evil into the Tianshu Empire. After Dazheng had taken it down, it had be the main camp for the brigade. Immortals flew in and out on a regr basis.


    By the south of Luoxing, a dozen more radiant lights suddenly shot over. In the lead was Nn Qiankun.


    The Immortals stopped short as a gale blew by.


    "Is this the city of Luoxing? I wonder how many of our erstwhile colleagues we''ll find. News that His Majesty has be an Earth Immortal has spread across both empires. Those who have betrayed Tianshu must be regretting it now. Some of them asked me for help in regaining their position, but I ignored them all!"


    "Do those traitors think they''ll be able to make it back? Ha! They should be thankful we aren''t rushing to deal with them."


    "The Dazheng Empire and this supposed brigade against evil is a joke. So what if they''ve expanded their territory and secured all these cities? Against absolute strength, all else is but a joke. His Majesty will take them all down. Whichever Tianshu cities they''ve seized, they''ll have to vomit them out after today."


    The dozen or so Immortals were in particrly high spirits; their fighting intent surged.


    Nn Qiankun looked toward whaty below and said coldly, "I heard that Xiao Nanfeng was mustering a defense against me with a group of Immortals. Is he intending to face off against me here? What a joke!"


    "An enemy attack!" a guard shouted from a watchtower.


    Nn Qiankun''s eyes narrowed as he mmed a palm down from afar. The palm strike shot down like a meteorite, smashing the southern watchtower to pieces. A palm-shaped imprint was left on the ground. Although the guards had managed to avoid the attack in time, they were still sent flying as they screamed.


    Cries rang out in the city of Luoxing as its defensive formation rapidly activated. Immortal after Immortal flew out to investigate the news.


    "There are Immortals under cloud cover!"


    "It''s Nn Qiankun! He''se with a group of Tianshu Immortals!"


    "Inform themander-in-chief immediately!"


    The Immortals in the city were angry and fearful.


    They didn''t dare approach recklessly; rather, they flew toward the governor''s manor. The Dazheng Immortals gathered outside the manor, Immortal weapons in hand, as they stood guard against the flying mob.


    "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng? Has he gathered all of you here so that I can send you all to your deaths at once?" Nn Qiankun asked from high in the sky.


    The Dazheng Immortals ignored Nn Qiankun. Rather, they bowed toward a hall in the governor''s manor, from which Xiao Nanfeng slowly emerged in golden draconic robes.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood in the courtyard and stared up at the sky. "Nn Qiankun, do you think it''s impressive for you to have demolished a watchtower and frightened a few guards?"


    Nn Qiankun chuckled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, how bold of you to appear in front of me. I''d been intending to lure you out of Yongding. Do you want to die that badly?"


    "I''ve been waiting for you for quite some time, but you were simply too slow. And it looks like you have a rather... limited... number of followers these days," Xiao Nanfengmented.


    "I discarded a few disloyal subordinates, but it doesn''t seem like they''re with you, either. You don''t have many more than I do," Nn Qiankun retorted.


    "Far more than enough to deal with you," Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "Ha! Let''s see what you have in store, then. What could empower you enough to dare to appear before me?" Nn Qiankun asked, poised to make a move.


    "Hold on!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "What''s the matter? Are you afraid?" Nn Qiankun sneered.


    "No. Rather, I have a few distinguished guests that would like to be present for the show. I ask that you wait a moment so they won''t miss out on the opening."


    "Distinguished guests?"


    "They''re here." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the horizon.


    From the east came beams of light like shooting stars. Many were d in the radiant aura of an Immortal. In the lead was none other than the Ascended division leader, Zhao Yuanjiao, and two men apanied him. Even from afar, they were radiating with strength and clearly exceptional cultivators.


    "The Heaven and Earth division leaders?" Nn Qiankun eximed.


    "Precisely. These are the distinguished guests I have invited here today. I intend to take down a traitor to the sect and need the four division leaders to bear witness," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Nn Qiankun''s eyes grew cold.

 Chapter 370: Against an Earth Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 370: Against an Earth Immortal</h4>


    In the city of Luoxing, Zhao Yuanjiao and a group of Immortalsnded outside the governor''s manor.


    "The Mortal division leader Xiao Nanfeng greets the other two division leaders." Xiao Nanfeng bowed at the two men by Zhao Yuanjiao''s side.


    Both men were handsome and clearly possessed of incredible strength, one in blue and the other in white.


    The blue-d man had sharp eyes. He looked toward Xiao Nanfeng flintily. "The Earth division leader, Lan Jiguang [1], greets Division Leader Xiao. Long have I heard your name."


    Xiao Nanfeng was a little surprised about the Earth division leader''s budding enmity, but he nodded without prodding at the matter further.


    The other white-robed man stared at Xiao Nanfeng for a moment before bursting into a smile. "The Heaven division leader, Zhang Feifan, greets Division Leader Xiao. The disciples of the Heaven division sing your praises whenever they head to the Xiao manor. Your presence is a blessing to the entire Taiqing sect."


    "You overpraise me, Division Leader Zhang." Xiao Nanfeng inclined his head.


    The Heaven division leader, on the other hand, seemed much better disposed toward him.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng saw a particrly beautiful woman standing behind Zhang Feifan. Her skin was white and pale, blue hair trailing down her head like a waterfall, her body and build tall, lithe, and curvaceous. She was dressed in white with a red cloak and shone brilliantly. Her eyes were disciplined and graceful, giving off theplex sensation of gentle beauty mixed with unrestrained freedom. Despite the fact that she wasn''t standing at the forefront, she still drew many a gaze.


    Xiao Nanfeng was focusing on her not because of her extreme beauty, but because he had seen her before. Xiao Nanfeng had witnessed an epic fight between two cultivators of immense strength on his way as a recruit to join the Taiqing Immortal Sect. A cultivator at Yin Body had been fighting a peerless beauty over the superior yin pearl¡ªthe same woman that he now saw before him.


    Had they met again within just five years?


    The Heaven division leader, Zhang Feifan, suddenly smiled. "Division Leader Xiao, are you familiar with my daughter, Zhang Lingjun?"


    Zhang Lingjun seemed perplexed for a moment. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had only been sixteen years of age back then, and had matured significantly since. She didn''t recognize him at first nce¡ªbut just a momentter, having guessed who he was, her eyes suddenly widened in astonishment. After all, she had hardly shown herself in a ttering light back then. She had been unconscious, her clothes tattered, her bodyid bare¡ªand Xiao Nanfeng had seen it all. She thought she would never see him again, only for them to reunite in such a dramatic fashion. How awkward could this get? Her eyes shone fiercely, as though she were threatening Xiao Nanfeng to ensure that their initial encounter remained a secret.


    "I don''t know her, Division Leader Zhang. I simply thought that she looked very much like you. Now I see why: she''s your daughter," Xiao Nanfeng replied smoothly, having no intention of mentioning the embarrassing scene four years past.


    Zhang Lingjun breathed out in relief, but she continued to frown. She stood at the back of the party and stared coldly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    As the cultivators said their greetings, Nn Qiankun and his group of Immortals also flew down.


    "Senior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Lan, long time no see." Nn Qiankun bowed.


    The two division leaders frowned as they considered Nn Qiankun. After all, ording to Zhao Yuanjiao, not only was Nn Qiankun a traitor to the sect, he had even schemed against and taken down Ku Jiang, Hong Lie, and Lu Yan. They were understandably wary and angered.


    "Nn Qiankun? You''re an Earth Immortal now, I see," Zhang Feifan said coldly.


    "Nn Qiankun, have you betrayed the sect?" Lan Jiguang asked frostily.


    Nn Qiankunughed. "Senior Brothers, have you heard Zhao Yuanjiao nder me on your way here?


    "Hm?" the two cultivators murmured coldly.


    Nn Qiankun grew serious. "The Taiqing Immortal Sect does have traitors¡ªbut in the Mortal division. This was an internal affair of the Mortal division, and I had been preparing to deal with those traitors before reporting to you senior brothers. Unexpectedly, like a pot calling the kettle ck, the traitors to the sect took the initiative to ruin my reputation in order to instigate another internal schism within the sect."


    "Nn Qiankun, you''re still lying at this juncture?" Zhao Yuanjiao demanded.


    Nn Qiankunughed. "Zhao Yuanjiao, Xiao Nanfeng has misled you. Do you believe everything he says? I''m not the traitor. Xiao Nanfeng is."


    Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang frowned, as though analyzing the possibility that Nn Qiankun was telling the truth.


    Nn Qiankun continued, "Senior Brothers, I don''t intend to expose all their lies one at a time. Rather, let''s look at the big picture. Isn''t it suspicious that, in just four years, Xiao Nanfeng has managed to go from a youth with no cultivation to his name to an Immortal with an empire, one with such power that even an Earth Immortal like me has to be wary and careful? Who could achieve such a feat in just four years? Havey ou ever met someone like him? This isn''t something that cultivation alone can aplish. You''d need experience, intelligence, mindset, and finesse. Could a youth like him aplish such a feat?"


    "Just because you can''t doesn''t mean that others cannot," Zhao Yuanjiao replied coolly.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, you''re too young to have experienced the cmity that struck the Taiqing Immortal Sect in the past. One important disciple within the sect was possessed by another and caused such a schism that just about the entire sect was brought to its knees. Xiao Nanfeng''s aplishments these past years could never have been aplished by an inexperienced youth like him¡ªunless he has been possessed! It would have taken the possessor titanic reserves to have gone this far. He tricked us all!" Nn Qiankun eximed.


    "Nn Qiankun, do you still refuse to repent for your actions? I suspect you''re the one who''s possessed," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Senior Brother, there''s no need to waste time arguing with someone like him. It just lowers our status," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Hm?" Nn Qiankun nced coldly at Xiao Nanfeng,


    who looked toward the two division leaders. "Division Leader Zhang, Division Leader Lan, I''m sure you must be aware of my master, Ku Jiang. Would he have taken me as a disciple if I were possessed? Would he not have spotted signs of such possession? Furthermore, Han Bingdie had helped champion my cause. Considering her status and identity, wouldn''t that be sufficient evidence to the contrary?"


    The two division leaders nodded. Clearly, Ku Jiang and Han Bingdie had significant authority within the Taiqing sect.


    "Nn Qiankun''s excuses and my evidence will take time to verify, I''m sure, but it''s irrelevant now. I invited everyone today not for you to handle Nn Qiankun, but to bear witness. This is strife internal to the Mortal division, and the Mortal division itself can take care of it," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Oh?" Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang both seemed rather surprised.


    Even Zhang Lingjun let out an expression of amazement. The youth Xiao Nanfeng had been four years ago might as well have been an ant. Was he going to take on an Earth Immortal today himself?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you intend to take me on yourself? It looks like you''ve been preparing to be a sect traitor for quite some time now," Nn Qiankun said coolly.


    "Nn Qiankun, do you intend to continue making a fuss about this? Very well. I do have some evidence, after all. You must have absorbed the sect master and the demonic sect master into the Gourd of Divine me. Their whereabouts are unknown, but I''m sure the gourd still possesses remnant traces of their auras. Will you allow the two division leaders to inspect the gourd thoroughly? I''m sure they can find some proof that way," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "The Gourd of Divine me?" Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang both looked toward Nn Qiankun.


    Nn Qiankun''s heart thumped. "How could I show others my treasures so readily?"


    "If you don''t dare to do so, then refrain from trying to use me further. Otherwise, the situation will only grow worse for you. I don''t intend to have the two division leaders interfere in our battle¡ªI want to avenge my parents, my master, and Senior Uncle Hong Lie on my own," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    Nn Qiankun frowned. Xiao Nanfeng was right: the situation would only worsen if he were to drag this out any further.


    "You want to fight me, traitor? Come on then! Internal affairs of the Mortal division can indeed be settled among ourselves," Nn Qiankun replied coolly.


    Although the two cultivators exchanged only a scant few sentences, everyone could see that something was amiss. Nn Qiankun was hiding something, wasn''t he?


    Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang nced at each other. Neither spoke, but their suspicions had been roused. Regardless of the oue of the fight between Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun, they would have to check the Gourd of Divine me thoroughly.


    Xiao Nanfeng had likewise aplished his objective. He did want to deal with Nn Qiankun personally, not only to avenge his rtives but also to take advantage of the fight to augment the Dazheng Empire''s influence. He had invited the two division leaders to witness the fight to prevent an ident from urring and for Nn Qiankun to take advantage. Both division leaders had actually returned to the sect a month ago and had been investigating in secret. They hade to their own internal conclusions, though they didn''t express it in public.


    "Senior Brother, please host the two division leaders. I intend to quell the Mortal division''s internal unrest, kill the traitor, and return peace to the sect," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Be careful," Zhao Yuanjiao warned, slightly worried.


    "Senior Brothers, please watch on as I deal with the traitor in the Mortal division and return peace to the sect," Nn Qiankun dered himself.


    Then, he looked toward Xiao Nanfeng and released the aura of an Earth Immortal. Fearsome gales transformed into a windstorm that forced the weaker cultivators in the vicinity to rear back, shocked by the immensity of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength.


    Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang watched on seriously, both worried about Xiao Nanfeng''s safety.


    Zhang Lingjun frowned where she stood. She too believed that Xiao Nanfeng was being overconfident, that he wouldn''t be able to deal with Nn Qiankun''s overwhelming strength.


    Just then, however, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward. His golden robes fluttered in the wind, changing into silver at a rate visible to the naked eye. A silver moon appeared to the back of his head as an intense aura erupted from him. It shed against Nn Qiankun''s in a burst of energy. Shockingly, the two cultivators seemed evenly matched.


    "Late-stage Yin Body!" Lan Jiguang cried out in surprise.


    "That''sparable to an Earth Immortal in terms of physical cultivation. Xiao Nanfeng''s rate of cultivation is truly incredible..." Zhang Feifan eximed.


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes twitched. She had inspected Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power four years ago¡ªback then, it was only about the size of a small candle me. How could he have advanced it so far in just four years?


    "Late-stage Yin Body? No wonder you''re so calm about this." Nn Qiankun snorted as he strode toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng also approached Nn Qiankun.


    The two cultivators'' fists met in a storm of titanic proportions.


    1. lit. Blue Aurora ?

 Chapter 371: Decisive Battle Against the Paper Figure

    <h4>Chapter 371: Decisive Battle Against the Paper Figure</h4>


    Outside Yongding, arge number of crow and crane spirits gathered under cloud cover. Killing intent red.


    The crow and crane kings nced respectfully at a woman into whom the paper figure Yanluo Lord had transformed.


    "All of you saw the fight between His Majesty and Xiao Nanfeng outside the city of Luoxing. His Majesty is an Earth Immortal, and Xiao Nanfeng has reachedte-stage Yin Body. For the moment, neither of them will be able to seize a decisive victory, but His Majesty has a trump card that has yet to be revealed. He''s sure to be the final victor. As for us, we''ll need to uproot the few hidden threats that remain," the paper figure said.


    "What''s our goal?" the crane king asked.


    "To destroy the draconic veins lying under Yongding and cause the sea of fortune over it to dissipate."


    "The draconic vein is deep underground, and we won''t be able to damage it in the short term. It won''t be that easy to disperse, either," the crow king pointed out in worry.


    "Don''t worry. With me around, this won''t be troublesome," the paper figure replied.


    With a wave of its hand, a burst of fog appeared in its palm. A papier-mache hall could barely be seen within the fog, giving off gusts of demonic aura. The two spirit kings shivered as their feathers stood on end.


    "What''s that?" the crane king asked warily.


    "This is the Yanluo Court. It can absorb the souls of the recently deceased and generate an aura of death. The more dead, the more massive the aura. Once it reaches a certain critical threshold, it''ll be able to simultaneously destroy the draconic veins underground and disperse the sea of fortune aboveground. The entire domain shall transform into a hellscape."


    "You want us to ughter the entire city and use the souls of the people of Yongding to strengthen the aura of the Yanluo Court?" the crow king asked.


    "That''s right. His Majesty bears one of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures and is undefeatable. Only the might of Dazheng''s fortune might be able to defend against His Majesty''s incursion. By destroying Xiao Nanfeng''s seat of power at Yuanding, Xiao Nanfeng will be unable tomand Dazheng''s authority. Even if the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s Heaven- and Earth-division cultivators strike at His Majesty together, they''ll be no match for him," the paper figure stated coldly.


    "I see. What''re we waiting for, then?"


    The two spirit kings'' eyes filled with bloodlust. They cared little for mortals, or indeed human cultivators.


    "Unleash carnage across thend. Kill everyst soul in Yongding!" the paper figure shouted.


    "Kill!" the two spirits shouted simultaneously.


    Countless crow and crane spirits shrieked as they swooped down toward Yongding. Killing intent billowed toward the city in a gale.


    "Enemy assault! Activate the defensive formation!" the Yongding guards shouted.


    Outside the Xuanhuang Hall in the Dazheng Pce of Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar appeared. He looked up at the sky and smiled coldly. "Nn Qiankun''s avatar didn''t make an appearance. It''s only the avians?"


    A red moon appeared behind his head, and a white cloud in the sky turned red at a rapid rate.


    Countless lengths of red rope were flung down from the cloud and toward the thousands of spiritbeasts that were attacking the city. The spirits found themselves hanging in the air by their necks.


    "Red rope? Xiao Nanfeng''s still in Yongding!"


    "Help! I can''t free myself!"


    The spirits cried out in fear. The crane and crow kings had suffered the worst of the assault. Each of them was tied up by several lengths of red rope and renderedpletely immobile. Thousands of avian spirits were hanging by their necks, as if they were staging a mass suicide.


    "Your Majesty is invincible!" Countless guards andmon people cheered.


    There were plenty of cultivators from various Immortal sects in Yongding as well. They raised their heads and gaped at what they saw.


    "Eight of these Immortals are radiating with rainbow light¡ªthey''re spirit Immortals! But Xiao Nanfeng managed to take them all down in a single attack..."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s growing more and more powerful."


    "Who would be a match for Xiao Nanfeng the way he is now?"


    Many cultivators were astounded.


    Many officials, Blue Lantern, and Ao Zhou gathered by the za outside Xuanhuang Hall.


    "Blue Lantern, focus on handling the formations around the entire city and protect the people to the best of your ability," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded, aplicated expression on his face.


    He could see that Xiao Nanfeng had reachedte-stage Yin Body, and he was shocked by the revtion. How was he cultivating so quickly? It was incredible!


    Beside him, ao Zhou said, "Xiao Nanfeng, you assigned the crow and crane spirits to us dragons as special dispensation, but they haven''t dared to show themselves recently. That was why we couldn''t deal with them. You said that they were our responsibility now, so the merit for dealing with them should go to us dragons!"


    Xiao Nanfeng red at Ao Zhou. "You really are shameless, aren''t you?"


    "I was going to make a move the moment the crow and crane spirits appeared, and I don''t need the help of your red rope. You were the one who volunteered to help; it''s none of my business. As an emperor of humanity, you wouldn''t deign to steal my credit, would you? If you don''t like this arrangement, then free the spirits and let me at them," Ao Zhou replied cockily.


    He was certain that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t release the avians and chance hurting the people. He grinned and shamelessly epted the merit for himself.


    Just then, a gust of ck smoke struck the red cloud. It quivered, and the lengths of red rope suddenly retracted and loosened. The avians were freed.


    "What? You really freed them?" Ao Zhou goggled.


    "Very well. I won''t steal your merit. You can handle these avians on your own. I''ll consider what you said as a military order: if you let the avians harm themon people, I''ll cripple you dragons," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What? How could you do this? How could you free them?!" It was Ao Zhou''s turn to be gobsmacked.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. His body flickered and vanished.


    The avian spirits shivered in fear, feeling at the rope marks around their necks. They had almost choked to death!


    "Keep attacking Yongding. I''ll deal with Xiao Nanfeng," the paper figuremanded from within the red rope.


    "Understood!" the spirits replied.


    "Kill!" the two avian kings shouted.


    "Kill!" All the avians shot down toward Yongding.


    Ao Zhou shot the avian spirits a hateful look. Xiao Nanfeng was getting stronger and stronger; he had even designated what Ao Zhou had promised as a military order. If he couldn''t deal with all these avians, he was the one who would suffer.


    "You damn spirits, can''t youe in batches? So many of you all at once is going to be a nightmare!" Ao Zhou howled in anger. Then, he transformed back into a ck dragon and shot into the air. "All dragons, charge!"


    Dragons howled as theyunched themselves into the air above Yongding, straight toward the avian flocks. There were rtively few dragons in all, but they each possessed a tremendous aura. Theirbined howls formed a powerful sonic attack that struck the gathered avians, disorienting them and causing some amount of injury. Then, the aerial battle began in earnest.


    The guards in the city shot out arrows in waves, assisting the dragons'' assault.


    As for Xiao Nanfeng, he shot into the air because he could sense a tremendous evil within the red cloud. He immediately motioned for countless lengths of red rope to strike at it.


    A howling storm was unleashed in the air, expelling red clouds and ck smoke to reveal a papier-mache Yanluo Court.


    The woman into whom the paper figure had transformed blocked the blow before it could reach the building. She was astonished. "All my efforts were only able to advance my cultivation by a small margin. How did you break through to my level all by yourself?"


    "It''s none of your business. Now that you''ve shown yourself, you might as well stay," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    The red moon to the back of his head gave off blinding red light, causing the paper figure''s eyes to narrow. Simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng struck it with his palm. As the two figures fought, another windstorm was unleashed.


    The two figures began to fight more and more rapidly. The paper figure''s martial techniques were particrly strong, and it was able to defend against Xiao Nanfeng''s attacks at least in the short term.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique was ultimately more dominant. As time progressed, Xiao Nanfeng slowly gained the upper hand and began sending the paper figure flying with his blows.


    Just then, the paper figure gritted its teeth and allowed a blow in exchange for hugging his arm tightly and shouting, "Yanluo Court, hold us!"


    The Yanluo Court flew over, its gates wide open, as it absorbed the two tangled-up figures within it.


    The gates mmed closed. The interior of the hall was pitch-ck, and the paper figure spat out a mouthful of blood after being struck by his heavy blow. It was sent flying.


    ck fog filled their surroundings. Ghostly green light in the air made everything look sinister. Xiao Nanfeng flew back to where the gates had been, only to find that they had vanished along with the windows and even the walls of the hall.


    "Since you''ve entered, you won''t be able to escape. This Yanluo Court is designed to be particrly weak from the outside in, but particrly strong from the inside out. Even if you were to reach True Yin, you wouldn''t be able to escape," the paper figure said gleefully, wiping at the blood by its lips.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfeng pounded at the floor with a fist.


    The space rippled with force, but showed no sign of breaking apart.


    "Your struggles are futile," the paper figure continued.


    From within the darkness appeared arge number of paper snakes, their eyes flecked with green light, vicious expressions on their faces.


    "The Yanluo Court? There were a group of shadows trapped within. Did you transform them all into paper snakes?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded, looking at his surroundings.


    "Don''t worry. It''ll be your turn next. You must have some incredible secret to be able to reachte-stage Yin Body in such a short period of time. The Yanluo Court possesses all forms of torture practiced in the eighteenyers of hell. Why don''t you try them all? The moment you reveal your secret, I''ll give you a painless death. Haha, shall we start with the hill of des, or perhaps the pan of boiling oil?" the paper figure asked.


    Just then, it suddenly discovered that the red moon to the back of Xiao Nanfeng''s head seemed to be glowing intensely. Its surroundings were dyed red as well.


    "This isn''t the interior of my Yanluo Court. Where are we?" the paper figure eximed.


    "The red moon illusory realm. You invited me into the Yanluo Court, so I''ll invite you here as well. Why don''t we get along? As for your torture, I have no interest in trying any of them. I think I''d rather start with killing you!" Xiao Nanfeng shot forward.


    He punched the paper figure right in the face.

 Chapter 372: Slaying the Paper Figure

    <h4>Chapter 372: ying the Paper Figure</h4>


    Byprehending the star maps on the Dazheng Code of Laws, Xiao Nanfeng had rapidly reachedte-stage Yin Body in just a few months, and he was now able to ess the red moon illusory realm with greater control.


    He sent the paper figure flying with a punch. Unresigned, the paper figure shot toward Xiao Nanfeng again, but his Hegemon''s Fist was simply too potent. He struck the paper figure once and again.


    "Sea of snakes!" the paper figure howled.


    Countless paper snakes appeared out of nowhere and struck at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Sea of ropes!" Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing countless lengths of red rope to appear and counter the paper snakes.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward with another punch. Countless fists struck the paper figure in a dizzying bevy of blows.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if I hadn''t fallen prey to your tricks, if we were still in my Yanluo Court, you would never be able to suppress me to this extent. Fight with me there if you dare!" the paper figure roared.


    "Ha! What a poor taunt. There''s no reason for me to cripple myself so, especially when I''m already about to win. Just ept your fate and die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted disdainfully.


    The paper figure was sent flying once more, having reverted back into its original form. The paper that made up its body was torn and cracked, as though it was about to be torn apart at any moment.


    "In my era, this illusory realm of yours would have been nothing but a petty trick. Among all illusory realms of the world, those of hell dwarfed all. The ten Yanluo Lords ruled the world, and the eighteenyers of hell held all foes at bay! I, the tenth Yanluo Lord, have always rued my defeat to heaven itself. I refuse to lose again to a brat like you!" the paper figure screamed.


    Xiao Nanfeng threw another punch at the paper figure, tearing apart one of its arms and sending it flying. ck smoke seeped out of the paper arm as countless lengths of red rope surrounded it.


    Suddenly, a peach branch appeared from thin air and struck at the red rope with its roots.


    "Senior, do you want this paper arm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    The peach branch nodded immediately.


    "Please enjoy it, then, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He manipted the red rope away from the paper arm. The peach branch''s roots shot into the arm, causing it to crumple and wither away.


    "You''re distilling my cursed spiritual power? You intend on stealing my Yanluo Court? No! Stop it!" the paper figure cried.


    If Xiao Nanfeng were to kill it, it would eventually be able to revive and regain control of its Yanluo Court. If the peach branch were to distill its cursed spiritual power, however, it would simultaneously lose possession of its Yanluo Court!


    Xiao Nanfeng countered the paper figure''s attack with a punch. "You should have considered what might have happened to you when you brought a group of spirits over to Yongding in an attempt to kill its people. me yourself for your failings."


    "No!" Xiao Nanfeng, this peach branch is also a Yanluo Lord, though currently a very weak one. Once it regains its cultivation, it will surely be a parasite to your empire. It''ll transform your Xuanhuang Hall into its own Yanluo Court and your Dazheng Empire into its own kingdom of hell! It''ll take advantage of you, and you can''t let it grow stronger!" the paper figure howled.


    "As if I would believe your ims," Xiao Nanfeng spat out, chuckling.


    "It''s true! The ten Yanluo Lords will all revive in such a fashion. My initial n was to transform the Tianshu Empire into a kingdom of hell and Nn Qiankun into my puppet. All ten Yanluo Lords share the same goal. You can''t let that peach branch grow any stronger, or it''ll end up killing you!" the paper figure shouted.


    It wasn''t worried for Xiao Nanfeng; it just didn''t want to die at the peach branch''s hands and lose its own Yanluo Court.


    "Senior Peach Branch has helped me tremendously, and it''s only appropriate for me to return the favor and help it grow stronger. It hasn''t done anything evil to me, so should I simply take your ims at face value? You''re heartless and malicious, and you view all things in a negative light. Not everyone''s like you," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    With a punch, he blew the paper figure into smithereens, then tied up each piece with the red rope and brought them all over to the peach branch.


    "You''ll regret this, Xiao Nanfeng!" the paper figure''s head screeched shrilly.


    "I never regret my actions," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    He had absolute confidence that, even if the peach branch were to turn against him, he would be able to suppress it.


    Not far away, the peach branch trembled as though touched by Xiao Nanfeng''s words. Rather than reply, however, it continued to thrust its roots into the pieces of the paper figure.


    It didn''t take much time for the peach branch to absorb all the pieces of the paper figure and the countless paper snakes all around. The peach branch rapidly grewrger into the blood peach tree that was its original appearance.


    Finally, the blood peach tree''s roots wrapped around the paper figure''s head.


    "No! I won''t take this lying down. Who are you? Which Yanluo Lord are you?!" the paper figure''s head shouted.


    The blood peach tree ignored it as it absorbed the paper figure fully.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, dismissing the red rope all around. Then, with another wave, he summoned a door of light before them.


    "Senior, we''re in the outskirts of the red moon illusory realm. It''s far more dangerous deep within, and we''d better leave quickly just in case."


    He stepped through the door of light and left the realm. The blood peach tree twisted its body as it too did so. Then, the door of light vanished.


    The next moment, they reappeared in a dark hall.


    "This is... the Yanluo Court? We''vee back?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned at his surroundings.


    The Yanluo Court was so dark it was impossible to determine which direction was which. The paper snakes that had initially been present had all vanished. He felt a significant threat radiating from deep within the darkness and chose not to make his way inside. Rather, he curled his fingers into a fist and punched forward.


    His surroundings trembled, but showed no sign of breaking apart.


    "The paper figure''s right. This Yanluo Court really is mysterious. It can trap a Yin Body cultivator, and perhaps even a True Yin cultivator as well. Senior, after absorbing that paper figure, are you able to open a way out of this Yanluo Court?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The blood peach''s countless tendrils twisted, then stabbed into the ground. With a huge rumble, the ck smoke in the air roiled. The smoke seemed to condense into arge door.


    With a creak, the door swung open to reveal the outside world. The blood peach tree shook as arge number of peach blossoms fell to the ground and formed a series of words with the scattered petals.


    "I''ve yet to attune to this Yanluo Court, and it''s difficult to control its abilities just yet. I''ll only be able to keep the door open for a limited amount of time, so get out now."


    Xiao Nanfeng did so immediately, along with the blood peach tree.


    Then, the door to the hall swung shut.


    "Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "With the hellsnake Yanluo Lord''s death, the Yanluo Court is about to scatter into a pile of ashes. I''d like to im it," the blood peach tree wrote with another scatter of petals.


    Indeed, the papier-mache hall was already starting to burn with ghostly mes from one corner.


    "Please do so, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng urged immediately.


    It would be a waste for the Yanluo Court to burn to ash. If the blood peach tree were able to attune to the Yanluo Court, he would be able to indirectly ess the Court''s powers when requesting aid from the blood peach tree.


    The blood peach tree''s tendrils stabbed toward the Yanluo Court. The roots pierced straight through, as though the walls were really made of papier mache. The peach tree''s roots sucked up the hall¡ªand the Yanluo Court vanished from sight.


    "My thanks," the blood peach tree formed words again.


    "It''s no problem at all, Senior. I''ll be troubling you more in the future, I''m sure."


    The blood peach tree vanished in a blink.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that the blood peach tree must have entered his mindscape. He turned and looked all around him.


    The fighting continued to rage outside Yongding. The crow and crane spirits had suffered many casualties, leaving only the eight spirit Immortals struggling against a relentless assault. The dragons were likewise bloodied and with significant injuries, but they still had the upper hand.


    "How could you be the one who emerged?!" the crane king shouted.


    "What did you do to the paper figure, Xiao Nanfeng?" the crow king cried out.


    They instantly felt that something was amiss. The paper figure had to have failed! They tried to turn tail and run,


    but Xiao Nanfeng red at the spirit Immortals coldly. He turned toward the city. "Blue Lantern, use your formations to help Ao Zhou take down these spirits quickly."


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern replied.


    The next moment, Ao Zhou flew toward the horizon, leaving Yongding behind.


    Not far away, Ao Zhou, blood sttered all over his body, stiffened. "Xiao Nanfeng, why don''t you let down some red rope and bind all these spirits? They want to run away, and it''ll be more taxing for us to hold them back. Come back!"


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was already out of sight. Ao Zhou hadn''t managed to save himself any effort at all. He grimaced and scowled.


    Xiao Nanfeng was heading toward Luoxing, where his main body''s fight with Nn Qiankun was about to end. He guessed that Nn Qiankun''s avatar was lurking around Luoxing and wouldunch a sneak attack against his main body at any moment. The situation could be dangerous, so he had to reach Luoxing as quickly as possible and meet up with his main body so as to take on Nn Qiankun and his avatar as well.


    Within the clouds outside the city of Luoxing, a dragon and phoenix encircled Nn Qiankun''s body. Spiritual energy radiated from him in a halo of golden light. Opposite him, Xiao Nanfeng unleashed his deific domain. Where it spread, a blizzard began to fall. The two cultivators struck each other once and again in the air; thebination of golden beams, afterimages of fists, and a howling blizzard was a sight to behold.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body gradually gained the upper hand. As he punched at Nn Qiankun, thetter staggered back.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique is very impressive, and few among the Taiqing Immortal Sect would be able to go against him. How did he manage to derive such an advanced technique in just a few years?" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "To think Nn Qiankun would be no match for Xiao Nanfeng..." Lan Jiguang''s eyes shed with astonishment as well.


    Zhang Lingjun was likewise unable to believe that the youngd whose neck she had almost snapped a few years ago could have grown to such an extent.

 Chapter 373: Each With Its Strengths

    <h4>Chapter 373: Each With Its Strengths</h4>


    Outside the city of Luoxing were gathered not just the disciples of the four divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, but also all manner of cultivators from sects across the Eastern Sea. They were all amazed to see that Xiao Nanfeng was gradually gaining the upper hand.


    "My senior brother misled me! I had suggested joining Dazheng, but he disagreed. We''ve missed out on too many opportunities. Xiao Nanfeng''s ascension is imminent! We could have helped Dazheng while it was still in need!"


    "All the sect masters of the various Immortal sects that initially joined Xiao Nanfeng have all be Immortals by now. Dazheng''s victory draws near, and itmands an incredible sea of fortune! What a regret, what a regret! We would have joined Dazheng earlier if we had only known!"


    "It''s not toote to join Dazheng, is it? Xiao Nanfeng managed to reach this stage of development within just a few short years. Perhaps his empire will advance into a divine empire in a few more. We still have a chance."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s growing far too quickly!"


    Countless cultivators were discussing the aerial fight with each other as they watched on.


    In terms of strength, Nn Qiankun was the slightly superior because of his Arcane Heavens technique, but Xiao Nanfeng''s fist technique was simply overwhelmingly strong. Whenever he used it, the sky would fill up with afterimages of his fist. He gradually began to suppress Nn Qiankun. As the battle progressed, he even began to analyze and deconstruct Nn Qiankun''s own fist technique, and became far more skilled at suppressing him. If not for the dragon and phoenix helping out Nn Qiankun, he would long since have been defeated.


    "Nn Qiankun, where''s your Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure? Aren''t you going to use it?" Xiao Nanfeng challenged.


    Nn Qiankun''s face was cold. He knew that, although Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang appeared to be neutral observers, they hadn''t warned him of their sudden appearance. They were surely biased in favor of Xiao Nanfeng, and he might have to fight them too.


    The reason he hadn''t yet used the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure was because he was deliberately stalling for time and waiting for the paper figure to return.


    Gradually, however, he was starting to fall behind Xiao Nanfeng. As Xiao Nanfeng''s understanding of hisbat style deepened, Xiao Nanfeng almost deeply wounded him several times. He didn''t dare dy any longer.


    "I don''t need the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure to deal with the likes of you!" Nn Qiankun shouted, then shot forward.


    The two cultivators struck each other once more. Unlike before, however, they continued fighting in a deadlock. The dragon and phoenix no longer circled Nn Qiankun; rather, they shot toward Xiao Nanfeng from two different directions.


    "Blizzard, rise!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A raging flurry of snow emanated from Xiao Nanhfeng, instantly freezing the dragon and phoenix. Even so, they continued onward and smashed into Xiao Nanfeng''s qi barrier.


    Nn Qiankun, the dragon, and the phoenix pinned Xiao Nanfeng in the air, rendering him immobile for a moment.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "Something''s wrong!"


    Just then, Nn Qiankun''s avatar shot out of the forest below them, a golden gourd in his hands. He activated it at the center of the battlefield. "Restrain, Gourd of Divine me!"


    An incredible suction from the gourd surrounded the two cultivators and drew them toward the mouth of the gourd.


    "What incredible strength!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, struggling against the suction, but he was unable to break free.


    Nn Qiankun''s avatar manipted the gourd and left his main body, the dragon, and the phoenix out of range. Only Xiao Nanfeng was sucked within. Then, Nn Qiankun quickly sealed the gourd.


    The sudden attack surprised all the spectating cultivators.


    "So that''s the Gourd of Divine me. Nn Qiankun managed to reverse his inevitable defeat," Zhang Feifan murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng lost?" Lan Jiguang frowned.


    "Nn Qiankun, you''re shameless!"


    "Save His Majesty!"


    Countless Dazheng Immortals flocked up to meet Nn Qiankun in battle.


    "Hold them back!" the Tianshu Immortals roared.


    A group of Tianshu Immortals stood against the Dazheng Immortals.


    "Scram!" Ye Sanshui roared.


    "His Majesty did use his main body and avatar simultaneously, but he didn''t receive any external support. This is a fair duel, and no one is to interfere," a Tianshu Immortal roared.


    The two Immortal factions crashed into one another.


    Just then, a huge seal appeared in the air, giving off a frightening aura as it shot toward the two Nn Qiankuns.


    "What a fearsome aura!" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "A purple divine seal? An impressive aura indeed," Lan Jiguang concurred.


    "There''s another Xiao Nanfeng at the top of the seal!" Zhang Lingjun shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had rushed over and struck with his imperial seal.


    "Seal, Divine Seal of Dazheng!"


    "Break, Divine Seal of Tianshu!" Nn Qiankun thundered.


    A golden seal shot into the air and smashed into the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    The two imperial seals released tremendous energy as they shed against each other.


    A storm of fire and wind formed around them as shockwaves of energy reverberated through the sky.


    "The Divine Seal of Dazheng only condensed recently and hasn''t been tempered by fortune for a prolonged duration. It can''t stand against the Divine Seal of Tianshu, can it?" one cultivator asked.


    "Not quite. Imperial seals are strong because of the fortune theymand. The fortune of the Tianshu Empire has been dwindling to a pitiful amount. How could the Divine Seal of Tianshu be a match for the Divine Seal of Dazheng?" another cultivator countered.


    Within the heart of the mes, the Divine Seal of Tianshu cracked. Countless wisps of fortune shot out from within.


    "The Divine Seal of Tianshu has been shattered!"


    "Is the Divine Seal of Dazheng that strong? This is crazy!"


    "The Divine Seal of Tianshu is about to be ground to powder!"


    The cultivators watching the fight from below cried out in shock.


    The pieces of the Divine Seal of Tianshu shot down to the ground like meteorites.


    "Impossible!"


    With his imperial seal shattered, Nn Qiankun suffered significant bacsh. His main body sprayed a mouthful of blood from his mouth.


    By then, the Divine Seal of Dazheng had reached the heads of the two Nn Qiankuns.


    "Seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again.


    Blinding rays of golden light, edged with purple, red from the seal and honed in on the two Nn Qiankuns. The strength of the seal shocked them both.


    At the veryst moment, Nn Qiankun pushed his avatar out of the way. His main body, controlling the Gourd of Divine mes, resisted the Divine Seal of Dazheng with all his remaining strength. However, he was smashed into the ground.


    The ground quaked and rumbled. Its surface was covered up with shimmering golden light as the Divine Seal of Dazheng sealed both Nn Qiankun''s main body and thend pressed against it, preventing him from even attempting to escape. He was barely able to stop the seal from crushing him with his Gourd of Divine mes, but even so, he was rendered immobile.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar stood in the air and red down at Nn Qiankun below him. "You haven''t been crushed by the Divine Seal of Dazheng? The Gourd of Divine me is truly a treasure!"


    Not far away, Nn Qiankun''s avatar escaped from the seal. Shocked, he eximed, "Even if imperial seals are bolstered by fortune, yours shouldn''t be so destructive. How could it have crushed my imperial seal? Just what is yours made of?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin. His eyes shone with killing intent. "The Gourd of Divine me has sealed my main body, and the Divine Seal of Dazheng has sealed yours. It''s just our avatars left, now! Come, fight me!"


    A red moon appeared behind his head as a frightening aura emanated from him. Howling gales blew.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar is atte-stage Yin Body too?" Zhang Feifan gaped from afar.


    "How did he manage such a feat? Reaching such advanced stages of cultivation in no more than a few years..." Lan Jiguang was incredulous as well.


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar summoned a red cloud above his head. Countless lengths of red rope, like chains ofw and order, shot down from the cloud straight at Nn Qiankun.


    "What potent cursed spiritual power these lengths of red rope possess. What sort of technique is this?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    Zhang Feifan shook his head. "I''m not sure."


    Nn Qiankun nched. As though facing an incredible foe, a red moon emerged from his mindscape. His yin body likewise appeared.


    "It''s toote for you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Countless lengths of red rope bound Nn Qiankun''s avatar and began to tear.


    "No!" Nn Qiankun''s yin body screamed as he attacked the red rope.


    The red rope was sted apart, but only after his physical body had been torn apart by the ropes, stretched from limb to limb. He reached out to catch his body, but all he managed to store were bloody shreds of flesh.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, for destroying my physical body, you''ll die!" Nn Qiankun''s yin body thundered.


    He shed in front of Xiao Nanfeng and mmed a palm at him.


    "You''re the one who''s going to die." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold as he punched forward.


    The fist and palm met each other in a storm of me and wind.


    "Late-stage Yin Body? No, there''s something wrong with your yin body. You should only be at mid-stage Yin Body, but you must have used some strange treasure to augment your spiritual power for the time being," Xiao Nanfeng stated calmly.


    "No one has ever caused me as much of a problem as you have. Today, I''ll make you die a terrible death! Red moon, illuminate!" Nn Qiankun roared.


    The red moon behind his head released beams of crimson light.


    Xiao Nanfeng did the same thing.


    The skies turned bright red as the two cultivators'' bodies vanished in a burst of crimson light. Then, all that light dissipated along with the two cultivators themselves.


    "Where have they gone?" the gathered cultivators eximed.


    "The red moon illusory realm," Lan Jiguang said seriously.


    "Nn Qiankun deliberately pulled Xiao Nanfeng into the red moon illusory realm. What if he has an ambush waiting there? Would Xiao Nanfeng be in danger? Should you go have a look, too?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "There''s no need," Zhang Feifan replied. "Considering Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, even if it''s dangerous, he''ll be able to leave the illusory realm himself."


    "Good." Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    "Lingjun, when I initially asked you to witness this ceremony, you refused me. Why do you care so much about Xiao Nanfeng now?" Zhang Feifan suddenly asked with a smile.


    "I don''t care about him. I''m just asking," Zhang Lingjun replied immediately, her face subtly changing.


    "Is that so? Just asking? Very good," Zhang Feifan replied. His smile widened.


    Zhang Lingjun felt a little gloomy upon seeing her father''s strange smile.


    At that moment, her surroundings were silent. The Divine Seal of Dazheng continued to suppress Nn Qiankun''s main body at the south of Luoxing, and he was having a very hard time defending himself with his Gourd of Divine me.


    "Everyone, immediately strike at the Divine Seal of Dazheng!" Nn Qiankun''s main bodymanded.


    "Understood!" Countless Tianshu Immortals shot toward the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    "Everyone, block them! Protect the Divine Seal of Dazheng!" Ye Sanshui roared.


    "Understood!" The gathered Dazheng Immortals all struck at once.


    Outside the city of Luoxing, the gathered Immortals fought furiously as the ground quaked and dust rose into the air. A windstorm descended on thend.

 Chapter 374: Slaying Nalan Qiankuns Avatar

    <h4>Chapter 374: ying Nn Qiankun''s Avatar</h4>


    Within the Gourd of Divine me, the moment Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was sucked into its depths, he was submerged in roiling me. The interior of the gourd was a gigantic space filled with fire.


    A dragon keened. The giant golden dragon, formed of me, emerged from the depths of the gourd and shot toward him. His eyes cold, Xiao Nanfeng punched forward and caused the dragon to dissipate in just one attack.


    "It''s only got the cultivation of a Human Immortal... There''s nothing to worry about," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, exhaling deeply.


    Suddenly, the ming golden dragon reformed anew. It roared in outrage. The roar spread throughout the ming realm, as though it were summoning itsrades. From deep within the mes, another ten ming dragons emerged. They charged fiercely toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed back into his physical body, his silver robes turning gold. By now, he didn''t even have to activate his qi barrier against mes any longer. He bathed luxuriantly in the mes in surprisingfort.


    Ten golden crows cawed as they emerged from his body and shot toward the giant ming dragons.


    Before long, they had torn apart the dragons'' bodies and devoured them. Huge quantities of pure yang elemental force flooded into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in rxation.


    "This realm is like that of the Hundred-Beast ming Dome, isn''t it? I might as well be in paradise!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Even more giant ming dragons emerged from the depths of the me and charged toward him.


    "Good. Take all of them down!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    As he waved his arm, the ten golden crows cawed fiercely and shot toward the dragons. The golden crows and giant dragons began to fight fiercely, causing firestorms to rage cross the realm. The golden crows were skilled and rapidly tore apart the dragons, providing even more pure yang elemental force to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Two hourster, arge gust of ming energy erupted from his body.


    "I''ve broken through again¡ªthe fourth stage of Human Immortal! This really is a paradise!"


    The ten crows each grew twenty-five meters tall.


    They cawed in excitement and continued to swoop toward the ming dragons. More and more ming dragons approached, attracted by themotion. The fighting began in earnest once more.


    Another two hourster, the ten golden crows doubled again in size, and another burst of ming energy was emitted from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "The fifth stage of Human Immortal? Very good. More!"


    The ten golden crows continued to attack ever-increasing numbers of giant ming dragons. As the fighting continued, Xiao Nanfeng could faintly see two other regions that were being sieged by the ming dragons.


    Each region was protected by a barrier formed by a mirror and contained a seemingly unconscious or meditating figure within. Neither were moving.


    "The sect masters of the Taiqing Immortal and Demonic Sects? Could it be them?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Hemanded the golden crows to keep fighting as he headed in that direction to investigate.


    Within the red moon illusory realm were Xiao Nanfeng and Nn Qiankun''s avatars, both in the form of yin bodies. A red moon shone resplendently behind each of their heads as they dragged each other into the realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng was confident that he could beat Nn Qiankun, but he was extremely cautious. The moment he entered the realm, he punched at Nn Qiankun, forcing him to step back. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a red cloud in the sky that sent countless lengths of rope at Nn Qiankun.


    "Bell of the Red Moon, reverberate!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    His red moon shook as a red bell appeared from within. When the bell reverberated, an intense hum could be heard. Red sound waves rippled out of it and blocked the red rope.


    Another group of sound waves surged toward Xiao Nanfeng with such ferocity that he immediately punched at it.


    Xiao Nanfeng broke apart the sound waves, but he was sent stumbling back as well.


    "That''s the Bell of the Red Moon? I was wondering how you managed to boost your strength. So it''s because of this relic... but it doesn''t seem to be particrly strong." Xiao Nanfeng shot over.


    "Experience its might for yourself, then!" Nn Qiankun sneered.


    He activated the Bell of the Red Moon at full strength, sending waves of sound surging out like a tsunami. Xiao Nanfeng was buffeted, but continued forging onward. When Nn Qiankun saw Xiao Nanfeng slowly making his way toward him, he felt tremendous danger, but continued to induce the sound waves as though waiting for something.


    Just then, a red figure emerged from behind Xiao Nanfeng and rapidly shot toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng stumbled and whirled around to see that it was a red-furred monstrosity.


    He had encountered one suchst time, and it was Ku Jiang who had saved him from danger.


    By now, however, he had grown so much stronger that he didn''t have to fear them at all. He snorted and sent it flying with a punch.


    The next moment, however, even more pounced toward him.


    "What''s going on? Why aren''t they attacking you?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Guess," Nn Qiankun replied, smiling coldly.


    He continued to infuse energy into the Bell of the Red Moon as he guarded against Xiao Nanfeng. Strangely, all the red-furred monstrosities that approached skirted around him.


    Within moments, there were dozens of the monstrosities attacking Xiao Nanfeng. While he could handle one easily, he had a hard time dealing with so many at once.


    "It must be that bell summoning and influencing them!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Good eye. I was lucky to obtain this treasure by chance when I headed deep into the red moon illusory realm. Its sound can attract the red-furred monstrosities. They''ll only grow more and more numerous, and I won''t let you escape. You won''t even have time to open up a portal out of the realm. You''ll be devoured by these monstrosities, haha!" Nn Qiankunughed triumphantly.


    "You must have harmed my master using the same trick," Xiao Nanfeng spat out, defending against the red-furred monstrosities.


    "Ku Jiang, that old fart, caused his red moon to self-destruct before he died and grievously injured my avatar. It took far too long before it recovered anew. That said, he died a horrible death. His avatar shattered and was devoured by a group of red-furred monstrosities. You''ll feel your master''s despair too, haha!"


    More and more red-furred monstrosities gathered around Xiao Nanfeng, making it harder and harder for him to move. Even though countless lengths of red rope were tossed down from the red cloud, they were all blocked by the sound waves from the Bell of the Red Moon. Xiao Nanfeng appeared to be in dire straits.


    "You''re done for now. Don''t bother to struggle any longer¡ªor maybe you should just self-destruct like Ku Jiang."


    "Aren''t you being rather overconfident in yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The red moon to Xiao Nanfeng''s back suddenly transformed from a ball to the shape of a noodle, as though a coiled red dragon had just unfurled.


    "How can your red moon change shape? What sort of technique is this? That''s impossible. The sect''s records state that the Taiqing red moon has no alternative form. How could it be a red rope?" Nn Qiankun eximed.


    "It''s not a red rope, but rather the red rope king," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "The red rope king swooped down and flicked all the red-furred lifeforms around Xiao Nanfeng away. It instantly dashed toward Nn Qiankun''s red moon, moving so rapidly that he was caught off-guard. It bound itself around the Bell of the Red Moon, preventing it from making any more noise.


    "How could you be able to bind the Bell of the Red Moon? Reverberate!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    Unfortunately, the Bell of the Red Moon was simply unable to move at all. Countless lengths of ordinary red rope unfurled from the red cloud, tightening around Nn Qiankun.


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye, before Nn Qiankun could react. The red rope around his four limbs and neck tightened, poised to tear his yin body apart.


    "No!" Nn Qiankun cried out.


    "Die, Nn Qiankun!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The frightening tension that the red rope could bring to bear left Nn Qiankun in despair. He thought back to the scene of his physical body being torn apart; he had no intention of repeating the situation with his yin body! Furthermore, Xiao Nanfeng would gain control of his Bell of the Red Moon.


    "Bell of the Red Moon, explode!" Nn Qiankun cried out.


    The Bell of the Red Moon and his red moon flew toward Xiao Nanfeng before exploding in a huge red mushroom cloud.


    The gathered red-furred monstrosities were sent flying from the explosion, and some were torn to pieces in mid-air.


    The red rope cursed king immediately flew back to Xiao Nanfeng and protected him. He too had been blown away by the explosion,


    but even so, he didn''t stop manipting the ordinary red rope. He tore Nn Qiankun''s yin body into five pieces.


    Nn Qiankun''s head fell to the ground as he saw Xiao Nanfeng stagger out of the mes. Blood trickled out of his mouth; he clutched his chest in pain. He had clearly been grievously wounded by the explosion.


    "You forced my master to destroy his own red moon and shatter his yin body, which was then devoured by the red-furred monstrosities. Now, you''ll suffer that same fate. This is karma!" Xiao Nanfeng asserted, wiping at the blood by his mouth.


    Just then, more red-furred monstrosities seemed to rush over from afar upon hearing themotion. When they saw the fragments of Nn Qiankun''s yin body on the ground, they instantly leapt toward him.


    "No!" Nn Qiankun cried out.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t let you die here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He waved a hand and summoned a door of light. Gritting his teeth and bearing with his injuries, he snatched up the fragments of Nn Qiankun''s yin body and walked out of the red moon illusory realm.


    "What do you want?!" Nn Qiankun''s head cried out.


    "If you die within the red moon illusory realm, you''ll be a red-furred monstrosity yourself. I won''t give you even that opportunity. Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "No!" Nn Qiankun''s head screamed.


    The fragments of his yin body burst apart and dissolved into smoke.

 Chapter 375: Star Map of the Complete Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 375: Star Map of the Complete Heavens</h4>


    The sight of Xiao Nanfeng crushing the yin body of Nn Qiankun''s avatar caused countless cultivators to gape.


    "His Majesty is triumphant!" the Dazheng Immortals cried out, even as they continued to fight.


    Their morale rose sharply, allowing them to suppress the Tianshu Immortals.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar coughed out blood, clearly heavily wounded. He headed straight into the Divine Seal of Dazheng to recuperate there.


    The angriest person on the battlefield had to be none other than Nn Qiankun''s main body, who had to watch on helplessly as his avatar was destroyed. His eyes were bloodshot, and his rage almost visceral.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, take away your imperial seal. Let''s fight one more match!" Nn Qiankun''s main body roared out.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of eding to his request.


    The fighting continued all around them, but it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng''s party was gradually gaining the advantage. Once Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar healed up, Nn Qiankun would be done for.


    Nn Qiankun struggled furiously against the Divine Seal of Dazheng, but the seal''s tremendous force left himpletely immobile. He struggled in vain.


    Just then, his Gourd of Divine me began to hum as the golden light across its surface began to dim.


    "Is the potency of the Gourd of Divine me dropping? Am I going blind?" Nn Qiankun eximed.


    After another two hours, the gourd trembled again as the light dimmed further.


    "It can''t be. The mes within the gourd are draining rapidly! Could Xiao Nanfeng be absorbing them all?"


    He suddenly recalled that the paper figure had once told him that Xiao Nanfeng had taken advantage of the mes within the Hundred-Beast ming Dome to advance his own cultivation. Although his Gourd of Divine me was the stronger relic, it had clearly still be nothing but food for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you bastard! Stop it!" Nn Qiankun roared.


    He knew that he couldn''t keep things going as they were. Otherwise, once Xiao Nanfeng grew stronger and stronger, he would lose all hope of victory.


    "I''ll have to use that approach, but..." Nn Qiankun''s eyes red, unresigned as he was.


    He eyed the gourd again, reluctantly. Then, he seemed to make up his mind. "Xiao Nanfeng, even if I have to destroy the Gourd of Divine me, I won''t allow you to benefit from it. I might as well shatter your divine seal while I''m at it. Gourd of Divine me, explode!"


    The gourd exploded in the air. A frightening burst of light illuminated the heavens as all the cultivators in the vicinity were blinded for a moment. The Immortals fighting in the vicinity gasped.


    "Run!"


    "The Gourd of Divine me has exploded!"


    The Immortals screamed as they werepletely drowned by what seemed like endless mes.


    The frightening explosion even shattered the walls of distant Luoxing.


    "Nn Qiankun''s crazy. He imploded one of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures!" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "Protect the people!" Zhao Yuanjiao howled.


    "Hurry!" Lan Jiguang shouted.


    The Taiqing Immortals erected barriers against the shockwaves that resulted from the aftermath of the explosion and protected the people.


    Zhang Feifan shuddered at the mes at the heart of the explosion. "As expected of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasure. The destructiveness of the explosion is truly frightening. Xiao Nanfeng might not have escaped..."


    "Is that the Divine Seal of Dazheng? It was sent flying? What an incredible material¡ªit doesn''t look damaged at all," Lan Jiguangmented, ncing at a ck dot flying off into the distance.


    The mes slowly receded and vanished, revealing a figure in a silver robe¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s main body.


    "Your Majesty!" the Dazheng cultivators shouted, seeing their monarch alive.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew out of the epicenter of the explosion, which had hurt him to the point that he was vomiting blood uncontrobly. He was badly injured. He had appeared with two unconscious figures around him.


    "Those are..." Zhang Feifan gasped as he approached Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The sect master!" Lan Jiguang eximed, flying over.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew forward, keeping his injuries in abeyance by pure will. He tossed the two unconscious figures to the two division leaders. "The two sect masters are still alive, but they''ve spent too long in the Gourd of Divine me. They''re terribly weak."


    Lan Jiguang and Zhang Feifan immediately began to transfuse Immortal qi into their bodies. The two sect masters stirred weakly.


    "Sect Master, you''re awake!" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "Nn Qiankun has turned traitor to the sect. Kill him!" the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s sect master shouted weakly.


    "Understood!" the gathered Immortals replied.


    The demonic sect master had likewise awakened. Heughed bitterly. "Xiao Nanfeng, I should have taken your word for it. Ahem!"


    "Sect Masters, please focus on recuperating," Xiao Nanfeng gasped out as he weakly coughed up blood.


    "Nanfeng, are you heavily injured?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body flickered as his silver robe turned golden. Scorching heat radiated around his surroundings.


    "Don''t worry. Only my yin body is injured. My physical body is unharmed," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He had been undergoing sessive breakthroughs when he suddenly sensed something amiss with the Gourd of Divine me and immediately swapped over to his yin body. Otherwise, his physical body would have suffered tremendously.


    He waved a hand, resummoning the Divine Seal of Dazheng that had flown far away. It reappeared in his hands.


    "Good!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded, then frowned. "I wonder if Nn Qiankun''s dead..."


    "He''s still alive. I could sense his aura through the mes. He doesn''t seem to be injured. He might even have grown stronger," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly said.


    "What? How could he have been uninjured by such a massive explosion?" the cultivators eximed.


    The mes slowly receded. A huge pit had formed, and a group of charred and heavily injured Immortals fell to the ground as a result of the explosion.


    At the heart of the explosion was a ck figure, one that seemed to be like a shadow stered against the ground. Then, it slowly stood up. A frightening aura emerged from it, causing waves of energy to billow forth.


    "A shadow cursed effigy?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "No, that''s Nn Qiankun. Has he be a shadow cursed effigy? No wonder he hasn''t been injured. In his shadow form, he has immunity against physical attacks!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "A cursed spiritual avatar...? The Immortal body he forged as an Earth Immortal was melded with cursed effigies?!"


    "Is he crazy? Such an Immortal body does grant him ess to the powers of a cursed effigy, but once he''s unable to suppress that cursed spiritual power, he''d be devoured by it! He''d be a vicious, bloodthirsty monster!"


    Just then, Nn Qiankun reached out and sucked the closest Immortal present toward him.


    The Immortalnded in Nn Qiankun''s hand, somehow unable to move. The shadowy Nn Qiankun suddenly opened his mouth wide to reveal sawtooth-like teeth.


    "No, Your Majesty!" the Immortal cried out.


    Nn Qiankun bit off the Immortal''s head, tossed his corpse away, and began to chew on his head with a ghastly grinding sound.


    "That''s the innate bloodthirst of a shadow cursed effigy," Zhang Feifan said, his face dark.


    "He''s just transformed into a cursed spiritual avatar and is yet mentally unsound. He needs to exhaust his cursed nature in order to wake up," Lan Jiguang added.


    Nn Qiankun clearly wasn''t satisfied with just having eaten one Immortal. He reached out for more.


    "No, Your Majesty! I''m one of your officials. Don''t kill me!"


    "Your Majesty, it''s me!"


    The Immortals in the distance cried out in panic, but Nn Qiankun was unleashing indiscriminate ughter while his mind was clouded.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, protect the two sect masters," Zhang Feifan said.


    Then, Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang shot toward Nn Qiankun with their swords. Xiao Nanfeng followed behind them.


    Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang struck at Nn Qiankun with their Immortal des, but Nn Qiankun evaded their attacks by temporarily dematerializing. Then, he punched them and forced them to retreat.


    "We can''t touch him!" Zhang Feifan roared. "How do we deal with him?"


    "Cursed effigies can counter other cursed effigies. Do you have any cursed armaments, Zhang Feifan?" Lan Jiguang asked.


    "I do. Again, then!" Zhang Feifan replied.


    They stowed their Immortal swords and each retrieved an unusual armament. They blocked Nn Qiankun''s advance. Both of them were Earth Immortals, and theirbined attack summoned a storm in the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng rapidly guided the Dazheng Immortals out of the battlefield. Only when they were all safe and sound did he turn back.


    By then, Nn Qiankun seemed to have awakened a little. "Senior Brothers, why are you attacking me? I was simply disoriented because of my cursed transformation. I''m clear-headed now. Please stop!"


    "Nn Qiankun, evidence of your traitorous behavior has been exposed. Xiao Nanfeng has rescued the two sect masters. You won''t be able to escape today!" Zhang Feifan shouted.


    Nn Qiankun turned to see the two Taiqing sect masters in the distance and frowned. He knew he wouldn''t be able to hide the truth any longer.


    "Nn Qiankun, as you well know, traitors to the sect are punished with death!" Lan Jiguang dered.


    Nn Qiankun sucked in a deep breath, then grinned fiercely. "It''s a pity. If not for Xiao Nanfeng pushing me to this extent, I wouldn''t have transformed into a cursed effigy. However, now that things havee to a head, there''s nothing more I need say. If you want a fight, you''ll get it!"


    With a hum, a wheel of light appeared behind him. The wheel was filled with stars that glowed resplendently. 361 stars appeared from the depths of the sky and sent beams of light down toward the wheel to his back. The wheel trembled and infused all that starlight into Nn Qiankun''s body, causing his aura to grow tremendously.


    "Thest of the Spirit Emperor''s peerless treasures, the Star Map of the Complete Heavens!" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "The star map is itself a mobile formation that draws on the ster energy of the countless stars in the sky. We need to defeat him, now!" Lan Jiguang eximed. "The longer we drag things out, the stronger he''ll be!"


    "Kill him!" Zhang Feifan shouted.


    The three Earth Immortals began to fight in earnest once more.

 Chapter 376: Dazhengs Brimming Authority

    <h4>Chapter 376: Dazheng''s Brimming Authority</h4>


    The 361 stars sent a near-infinite stream of ster energy into Nn Qiankun''s body, allowing him to grow stronger and stronger. The shockwaves that resulted from his attacks generated storms in their own right.


    Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang were initially stronger than Nn Qiankun, but after repeated attacks, gradually lost the upper hand to him. Now, his attacks were even starting to send them flying.


    "Am I to me for bing a traitor? No. You are. The Taiqing Immortal Sect did help me found the kingdom, but consider how small the kingdom was at the beginning! These past few years, I''ve worked hard on expanding its territory, but all of you demand more and more of me. Whenever I advance, so too do your demands! Do you think I don''t work hard for my fortune? I won it for myself, so why should I give in to the sect''s endless demands?" Nn Qiankun demanded.


    "Nn Qiankun, the Taiqing Immortal Sect was the one who made you emperor in the first ce. Don''t you recall how many disciples of the Ascended and Mortal divisions gave their lives for this empire? You were simply the best choice to lead that empire¡ªthe Tianshu Empire was never truly yours to begin with! If not for your senior and junior brothers demurring to take the throne, would you have gotten the chance to do so?" Zhang Feifan thundered.


    "No! None of you know what you''re talking about. The Taiqing Immortal Sect is like a festering tumor. Since all of you havee, you might as well not leave. I''ll kill you all and be without any further obligations!" Nn Qiankun cried.


    "Can you?" Lan Jiguang demanded.


    "Do you know why I chose to meld a cursed spiritual avatar into my Immortal body? It''s to deal with you. Only a cursed spiritual avatar can bear unlimited ster energy. I''ll grow stronger and stronger, until I kill all of you! So what if you''re both Earth Immortals? You''re nothingpared to me! Break!"


    He sent both Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang flying as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.


    "How are you feeling, Sect Masters? Would you like to take me on, too? Haha!" Nn Qiankunughed, taunting the two sect masters in the distance.


    The two sect masters clutched their chests as they coughed. They were, at present, extremely weak. Considering how arrogant and audacious the traitor to the Taiqing sect was, however, they were so infuriated that they mbered up and attempted to take part in the fight.


    Just then, a cool voice piped up beside him. "Nn Qiankun, you''ve already been defeated multiple times today. Whencees your arrogance?"


    The cultivators turned to see Xiao Nanfeng approaching.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re only a Human Immortal, and one who''s no match for him. Run and activate your empire''s might! We''ll stall him," Zhang Feifan called out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, both your yin bodies have been heavily injured. Don''t try to show off. Leave him to us for now. Activate the influence of the Dazheng Empire to deal with him!" Lan Jiguang shouted urgently.


    The two cultivators shot toward Nn Qiankun from the front and the back. He was growing stronger and stronger the more they dyed. Starlight radiated from his body; his swings were like heaven itself cleaving down, and his fists an explosion of heavenly might. Fire and wind broke out around him as the two Earth Immortals were sent flying time and again. They grew battered and bloodied.


    Within the crowd, Zhang Lingjun stared anxiously as her father fought off the madman. She tried to help, but was held back by a certain cultivator. "Although your father is heavily injured, he has a relic that protects his body, and he''s not in critical danger. Nn Qiankun''s cultivation is rising thanks to the stars'' blessing, and he''s about to be a Heaven Immortal. You cannot head over."


    Zhang Lingjun forced herself to remain calm. To her surprise, however, she saw Xiao Nanfeng flying into the battlefield.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, leave! What are you doing here?" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "If I leave now, both of you will be dead by the time I return! I''d regret it if Nn Qiankun were to run after that." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "But you''re only a Human Immortal! What can you do? Nn Feng''s far stronger than before. He currently has the strength of ate-stage Earth Immortal!" Zhang Feifan cried out.


    "Don''t worry. I can handle him," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    "What?" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng glowed with blinding purple light as it shot toward Nn Qiankun and quashed his body underfoot.


    "The Divine Seal of Dazheng? ''It might have seemed to have tremendous might back then, but now that I''ve been bolstered by the ster energy nearby, it won''t be able to seal me any longer. Rise!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    With a sudden boom, he sent the Divine Seal of Dazheng flying with extreme force even as the seal pushed him down.


    Just then, a paper hall appeared where he stood, the Yanluo Court. Its door was wide open and sucked the falling Nn Qiankun in.


    Then, the door to the hall swung shut.


    The fighting all around stopped as the raging winds dissipated. Not a sound could be heard.


    Everyone widened their eyes. Nn Qiankun had been iparably strong. How had he managed to hide?


    "Division Leaders, please follow me!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    He held the Yanluo Court and walked rapidly toward Yongding. The cultivators followed him in beams of light.


    "Something''s wrong. All the starlight is still gathering around Nn Qiankun. He''s growing stronger!" Zhang Feifan cried out.


    "What potent cursed spiritual power that house gives off. It must be a cursed effigy, too!" Lan Jiguang frowned.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng continued to fly at his fastest rate. "Senior, do you know how long the Yanluo court will be able to trap Nn Qiankun?"


    A few peach blossom petalsnded before him and formed words. "Nn Qiankun and the hellsnake of the Yanluo Court were scheming against each other, and he''s messed with its interior. He''ll be able to get out in just a short period of time."


    "Understood," Xiao Nanfeng said gravely.


    He rushed back into Yongding at his fastest speed.


    By then, the battle of Yongding was over.


    Ao Zhou panted as hey above a bed of crow and crane spirits. He was bloody all over and had clearly put in effort during the battle. When he saw Xiao Nanfeng return, his eyes lit up. "Xiao Nanfeng, look! We''ve dealt with these feathery fiends. I was crucial to our victory!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and tossed the Yanluo Court outside Yongding.


    "Isn''t this that paper house? Why is there so much starlight pouring into it? Xiao Nanfeng, do you not want it? I''ll take it if you don''t, haha!" Ao Zhou pounced on the discarded structure shamelessly.


    With a bang, the doors to the Yanluo Court burst open as a series of intense mes sent Ao Zhou flying away.


    "What? This paper house explodes? Xiao Nanfeng, why didn''t you tell me anything? Look at what it''s done to me!" Ao Zhou screamed.


    Nn Qiankun burst out of the structure, an intense aura emanating from his body. A howling tempest formed around him, causing the defensive formation around Yongding to shake and rattle.


    "Halt him!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted to Lan Jiguang and Zhang Feifan.


    "Got it!" The two cultivators shot toward Nn Qiankun again.


    The three fighting cultivators spawned fire and wind around them. Lan Jiguang and Zhang Feifan were sent flying by Nn Qiankun''s attacks, but they returned to the fight without any hesitation.


    Xiao Nanfeng rose into the air and shouted, "Citizens of the Dazheng Empire, please drop everything you''re doing and listen to my announcement. I am Xiao Nanfeng, Emperor of Dazheng, and am currently mired in bitter battle against the Emperor Tianshu. This is a matter of life and death for the empire, and I need the assistance of all. Whosoever wishes to remain a citizen of Dazheng, to ensure the survival of Dazheng, raise your right hand!"


    The sea of fortune above Yongding roiled, transmitting Xiao Nanfeng''s words to all citizens of the empire.


    Those people of Yongding, of Luoxing, and of the borders of the Dazheng Empire dropped whatever they were doing and turned toward Yongding.


    The people of Yongding were the first to respond to the call.


    "Your Majesty, I shall lend you my strength! You must protect the Dazheng Empire!" someone shouted.


    As he raised his right hand, he could almost sense some mysterious force cognizant of his deration and suddenly extracting all the strength from his body. He copsed to the ground, momentarily paralyzed. He could see a ball of white light flying toward the sea of fortune, a representation of his full strength.


    Simr situations were taking ce all throughout Yongding.


    "We''re finally starting to lead good lives. I don''t want to return to the past. The Dazheng Empire must endure. Your Majesty, take my strength!"


    "Quick, listen to His Majesty. Raise your right hand!"


    "Borrow my strength for the sake of Dazheng!"


    "Long live the Dazheng Empire!"


    The people of Yongding all raised their right hands. Balls of white light flew into the sea of fortune.


    In the countless cities of Dazheng, white light was flooding into the air. The strength of themon people formed a milky-white river through the air, surging into the sea of fortune.


    The sea of fortune, containing the strength of countless people of the empire, gradually resolved into the shape of a giant golden dragon.


    The giant golden dragon roared as it surged toward Xiao Nanfeng. It conveyed to him the strength of the empire''s people, so massive it shocked one and all, so resplendent it illuminated thend. That strength infused Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    He radiated with golden light and his physical body swelled. He could feel his strength rising to an insane degree. A tempest formed around him, a frightening aura that shocked one and all within Yongding.


    The cultivators that flew toward Yongding from afar sucked in a deep breath.


    "Is this the strength of Dazheng? What a potent force!"


    "The aura of an Earth Immortal? No, an even stronger aura¡ªa Heaven Immortal? That''s crazy!"


    "Dazheng hasn''t even been an empire for all that long! How could he have gained so much support from themon people? Look at all that strength!"


    "What tremendous strength..."


    The cultivators all around gasped at the strength pouring into Xiao Nanfeng.


    Meanwhile, the people of Yongding were lying on the floor, drained. They looked up at the air, at the golden glow of fortune and the white aura of strength above Yongding; at Xiao Nanfeng, around whom gold and white were intertwining. All of them had contributed to Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, and all of them could share in his glory.


    "His Majesty is invincible. Dazheng is invincible!" they chanted mentally.

 Chapter 377: Slaying Nalan Qiankun

    <h4>Chapter 377: ying Nn Qiankun</h4>


    Zhang Feifan and Lan Jiguang were sent flying with a crash. They were bloody all over and heavily injured.


    Zhang Lingjun caught Zhang Feifan in midair, while Zhao Yuanjiao caught Lan Jiguang.


    "Thank you, division leaders. Allow me to handle the rest," Xiao Nanfeng said from high in the sky.


    Everyone turned to look at him. Golden radiance illuminated his body; a tempest of aura trailed his steps.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, be careful. He''s be a Heaven Immortal as well, and the power of the stars is still raising his strength," Zhang Feifan called out.


    "It doesn''t matter!" Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    He looked coldly toward Nn Qiankun, who met his gaze with equal emotion. A tempest spun up into existence around Nn Qiankun''s body as well.


    The two cultivators'' auras shed against each other explosively.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? I nned for everything, not expecting that thergest threat would be a kid like you."


    "Today''s karma is a result of yesterday''s actions. Your evil won''t be wiped clean just because you''re calctive; rather, you''ll have to pay it back tenfold, hundredfold, in the days that follow. Nn Qiankun, I''ve detailed enough of your misdeeds in my promations to the world. Today, on behalf of all those you''ve hurt, I shall take revenge. You''ll have to pay for what you did," Xiao Nanfeng shouted coldly.


    Nn Qiankun shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, eyes cold.


    The two cultivators shed in a storm of fire and wind.


    Nn Qiankun was sent flying with a punch. He shattered a whole mountain as he fell.


    This shocking sight left countless cultivators with wide eyes. They couldn''t believe that Xiao Nanfeng could be so strong.


    The next moment, Nn Qiankun emerged from the ruins of the mountain and shot forward, howling, "Impossible. How could you be so strong after channeling the might of Dazheng? I''ve tried it once, and I received less than a tenth of your strength! And your current borders aren''t even asrge as mine were."


    "An empire''s strength is dependent not on the size of its borders, but the loyalty of its people. The nature of a monarch is neither status nor authority, but responsibility. The people are those who govern the empire, and the monarch is only one such person, bearing the responsibility of guiding the people toward wealth, prosperity, and strength. You''ve governed the Tianshu Empire for decades, but you don''t understand your people. All you care about is authority and ability; all you know is to wring the people dry. Why would they assist you in your time of need?"


    Xiao Nanfeng punched Nn Qiankun once more.


    "And how long have you been governing those people? What right do you have to criticize me?" Nn Qiankun roared, striking at Xiao Nanfeng once more.


    "The strength of the people gives me that right. Now, break!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Nn Qiankun was sent flying into the ground, which rumbled on impact.


    "How could this be? I''m in shadow form. You shouldn''t be able to hit me. How can you strike me so heavily?" Nn Qiankun finally began to panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng appeared in front of him once again and punched forward. Nn Qiankun was sent flying. He smashed into another mountain and into a heap of rubble.


    The cultivators all around Yongding goggled at the sight.


    "This is a one-sided fight!"


    "Is Dazheng so strong?"


    "Nn Qiankun''s a Heaven Immortal right now. How could he be so helpless against Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Countless cultivators were shocked by the sight, including Nn Qiankun himself. He would never have expected to suffer to such an extent against Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your physical body is truly impressive, as expected of an Immortal body. It hasn''t even cracked despite the force I''m using... Well, let''s try my de," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He was getting a little impatient. The strength that the people loaned him was finite and draining at every moment. He didn''t want to drag this fight out, lest he consume all of Dazheng''s strength.


    He shed downward with his de. The skies gleamed blue. The de boasted such strength that he seemed as though he would bisect Nn Qiankun in one strike.


    Nn Qiankun nched and shouted, "Barrier!"


    A blue barrier formed around him courtesy of the star map in his possession. He fell; the mountain beneath him shattered. However, the barrier did manage to block a single blow from the divine undying de.


    "Nn Qiankun, you knew you wouldn''t be able to defeat me just now, so you feigned serious injury as you continued absorbing more ster energy in hopes that it would elevate you above me. Isn''t that so?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Within the blue barrier, Nn Qiankun wiped at the fresh blood seeping from his lips. "An empire''s strength will only drain with time. Xiao Nanfeng, I can''tpare to you just yet, but your strength will weaken, while mine will grow. Soon enough, I''ll be the one taking revenge on you. Just you wait, haha!"


    "Do you think I won''t be able to do anything against you just because you''re hiding in this barrier?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "This is the barrier formed from the star map of theplete heavens, the concentrated form of the corresponding heavenly formation. It won''t augment my strength, but it can block your attacks. Your sh couldn''t cut through it, could it? Haha, just you wait! I''ll give you a fate worse than death!" Nn Qiankun sneered.


    The spectators watching the fight frowned. They agreed with Nn Qiankun: if the fight were to drag out, Xiao Nanfeng really would suffer.


    "The Star Map of the Complete Heavens,bined with a cursed body, really does make him all but invincible," Zhang Feifan murmured.


    "There''s no solution," Lan Jiguang added, almost frantic with worry.


    "Is Dazheng''s strength so short-lived?" Zhang Lingjun frowned as well.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng only smiled coldly. "Is that so? That barrier doesn''t seem like much to me."


    "Break it, then!" Nn Qiankun roared inughter.


    "I don''t need to!"


    He reached out toward the barrier. His hand passed straight through the barrier and around Nn Qiankun''s neck.


    "What?!"


    With a gasp, Nn Qiankun was dragged out of the barrier.


    The spherical barrier remained floating behind Nn Qiankun, but now with nothing inside. Only the Star Map of the Complete Heavens trembled within, suddenly growing faint as it lost contact with the cultivator controlling it.


    At the same time, beams of ster energy stopped being transmitted through the skies. The barrier slowly vanished.


    The spectators gaped at this astonishing sight.


    "Just what did Xiao Nanfeng do? How did he manage to grab Nn Qiankun and bring him out of the barrier?!" Lan Jiguang eximed.


    "I''m not sure either. I didn''t clearly see what happened..." Zhang Feifan replied in shock.


    Everyone was confused.


    Nn Qiankun himself couldn''t believe it. "How did you prate my barrier without touching it? This can''t be!"


    "Nn Qiankun, it''s time for you to die," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He squeezed his hand, infusing a tremendous quantity of energy into Nn Qiankun''s body and suppressing his ability to move.


    "You won''t be able to kill me. I''m a cursed body right now. Just like a cursed effigy, I won''t be able to be killed or destroyed!" Nn Qiankun shouted.


    "Indeed? Not for long."


    A candle me suddenly emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s palm and shot into Nn Qiankun''s body. A great deal of ck smoke was emitted, the barest hint of screaming human faces appearing from within their depths.


    "You peeled the shadow cursed effigies from my Immortal body and obliterated them? How could you do so? Why can you counter my cursed body? No¡ªyou have the power to specifically counter these shadows! How could this be?!" Nn Qiankun cried out in despair.


    Even so, there was nothing he could do. He had been fully suppressed by Xiao Nanfeng. He was rendered immobile as the shadows that he had absorbed into his body disintegrated, leaving Nn Qiankun''s pitted and bleeding physical body behind.


    "Nn Qiankun, it''s time to pay your karmic debt!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He tossed Nn Qiankun to the ground and swung down with his divine undying de.


    "No!" Nn Qiankun cried out in despair.


    The divine undying de cut him in half. As though a sliver of truesoul were manifesting, an old memory suddenly appeared in his head.


    "I, Nn Qiankun, swear to the remnant possessions of the Taiqing grandmaster, that I shall never countenance any traitors to the sect, that I will seek revenge for my masters and forefathers who perished in vain. I, Nn Qiankun, am willing to ept the position of sectstarter for the Taiqing Immortal Sect and ensure its longevity. If I betray the sect, I am willing to suffer the punishment of having my body torn apart or struck down by heavenly des."


    This long-since-forgotten memory drifted back into Nn Qiankun''s mind moments before his death. Indeed, his vow truly hade to fruition. He suddenly appeared regretful: regretting that he had lost his original beliefs as a Taiqing disciple, that he had forgotten his vows. Unfortunately for him, it was toote. His soul shattered into a million fragments, his mind scattered, and he fell dead on the spot.


    "Xiao Nanfeng won?!" The cultivators of the Taiqing Immortal Sect could barely believe their eyes.


    "His Majesty is invincible!" came a shout from within Yongding.


    "His Majesty is invincible!"


    Countless officials, soldiers, and themon people all took up that refrain. The cheersing from Yongding echoed into the heavens.


    At the same time, above the city of Beidou, the sea of fortune for the Tianshu Empire copsed with Nn Qiankun''s death. The remaining fortune rapidly flowed toward Yongding.


    The officials of Beidou shuddered in fear until one of them called out, "His Majesty has perished!"


    In Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s body trembled as the strength that he had temporarily borrowed left his body and floated back up into the sky. The remnant fortune from the Tianshu Empire melded with it; Xiao Nanfeng hadid im to it by killing Nn Qiankun.


    "Everyone of the Dazheng Empire, I am grateful for your strength. Using that gathered strength, I was able to kill Emperor Tianshu. The Dazheng Empire has emerged wholly victorious. Let us celebrate!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The sea of fortune roiled once more, spreading Xiao Nanfeng''s voice to the whole of the empire. When the people heard the pronouncement, they all began to cheer.


    This wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng''s own victory, but rather thebined victory of all. It had taken all their strength to defeat Nn Qiankun, and they had all yed an important role. They would share in this victory.


    "Long live the Dazheng Empire!"


    "Long live His Majesty!


    "The Dazheng Empire is invincible!"


    "His Majesty is invincible!"


    All manner of cheers and congrattions could be heard from Yongding¡ªand, in addition to that, gusts of fortune. In nearly losing their way of life, the people hade to appreciate what the Dazheng Empire had brought them all the more. The resulting fortune was like a vast river that surged into Yongding, causing the sea of fortune above it to grow ever wider in its expansion.


    The spectators watched the phenomenon unfold in shock.

 Chapter 378: Gratitude to Mr. Wen

    <h4>Chapter 378: Gratitude to Mr. Wen</h4>


    Within the Xuanhuang Hall in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng sat on a dragon throne, d in dragon''s robes. In two orderly columns, the courtly officials bowed to him in congrattions. They were still amazed by Xiao Nanfeng''s monumental victory against Nn Qiankun.


    "The prime evil of the Tianshu Empire has been eradicated. From now onwards, the brigade against evil shall be renamed the people''s brigade and immediately begin protecting the people of Dazheng. With Nn Qiankun''s death, the Tianshu Empire will fall to turmoil. To prevent the Tianshu army and officials from taking advantage and harming the people, the people''s brigade will immediately seize control of all Tianshu cities. Those who attempt to instigate dissent or disturbance should be killed summarily," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui and the other gathered Immortals replied.


    "Leave immediately!" Xiao Nanfeng thenmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone echoed.


    All the soldiers rushed out of the hall.


    As Ye Sanshui flew out of the Xuanhuang Hall, he saw Ye Dafu flying back, drenched in blood.


    "You''re back, Dafu? How did your battle go?"


    "How else? It was aplete victory, of course! Croak and Warble are still on the frontlines. When we received news of His Majesty''s victory, our troops'' morale rose sharply, while our enemies'' morale fell dramatically," Ye Dafu boasted.


    "Very good. Report the good news to His Majesty at once!"


    Ye Dafu nodded, then flew into the Xuanhuang Hall. The moment he entered, he eximed, "Your Majesty, I return from the borders bearing good news!"


    "Oh?"


    "As you expected, Your Majesty, the kingdoms all around us have been eyeing our territory. While you were fighting against Nn Qiankun, they sent out forces intending to seize Dazheng''s territory. We''ve ughtered the majority of them, and the remainder have escaped beyond our borders. Your Majesty, shall we continue the ughter, or guard our borders?"


    Xiao Nanfeng reclined on his throne and contemted the situation for a moment before he replied, "Guard our borders. Do not pursue for the moment. Immediately reassign your troops to aid Ye Sanshui in iming Tianshu''s territory for ourselves. Do not allow the people to get hurt."


    "Understood!"


    "Zheng Qian, issue a deration to all empires and kingdoms in the vicinity. Any armies that dare tread into Dazheng territory shall be met with swift retaliation and their monarchs killed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    In the city of Beidou, as the sea of fortune copsed, everyone learned that Nn Qiankun had died. The news from the frontlines was equally depressing: many casualties among the Tianshu Immortals, with most of the survivors now under lock and key in Dazheng''s prison.


    Nn Qiankun''s confidantes, knowing that they were now living on borrowed time, began to rampage.


    They started by looting the pce and plundering the noble ns of Beidou, iming whatever valuables they could find as they prepared to escape.


    Beidou soon became host to a massive riot that took over the entire city. Fighting could be heard on every street amidst a backdrop of fire. Much of the architecture of the city was destroyed, and themon people found themselves mired in a hellscape.


    Just then, Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and other strong cultivators from Dazheng appeared over the horizon, seeing the firelight that overtook Beidou from afar.


    "His Majesty has sanctioned us to kill all troubledoers at will in an effort to reim order. Surround Beidou now!" Ye Sanshuimanded.


    "Understood!" the soldiers replied.


    Immortals within Beidou nched and raced off through the air with their possessions in tow when they saw the Dazheng army.


    "You won''t get away!" Ye Dafu shouted, taking into the air.


    He knocked down the Immortal that had attempted to escape.


    "Kill all the looters!" Ye Sanshui dered.


    "Understood!" the soldiers replied.


    Beidou was once the capital of the Tianshu Empire, and this would be the site of firstbat for the people''s brigade. The sess of this first fight was of paramount importance, and Ye Sanshui gave it his all. Within no time at all, they were in control of the battlefield.


    "Citizens of Beidou, the evil officials of Tianshu have all been captured or killed. If you have suffered any losses, report them to a Dazheng official. Thews of Dazheng are clear on this front, and all of you will receive fairpensation. Looters shall be punished with one greater degree of penalty, and killers shall be put to death!" Ye Dafu deimed in the air.


    Many of the people who had recently suffered cmity found themselves screwing up their faces. They suddenly felt as though they had been saved from hell. They bowed and kowtowed to Ye Sanshui time and again, filled with gratitude.


    Dayster, a procession of Dazheng officials took over the governance of Beidou and began to put things to rights. Those arsonists and looters were all captured and paraded to a public trial for all to witness.


    "Don''t kill me! I''m an Immortal, and I can swear allegiance to the Dazheng Empire! I can earn merit to defray the punishment for my crimes. I can help expand Dazheng''s territory! I''m an Immortal, and all I did was kill a few people from the slums! That''s not a crime worthy of death, especially considering what I can do for Dazheng! You can''t kill me!"


    "Kill him!" a Dazheng official dered.


    The executioner drew his de and swiftly beheaded the Immortal. Fresh blood spurted into the air. The Immortal''s soul tried to escape, but the executioner destroyed that as well.


    The people gaped. They hadn''t expected that even a minor Dazheng official had the right to administer punishments to Immortals.


    "In the Dazheng Empire, thew is blind to cultivation. It stands paramount in its own right: all who kill shall be killed in turn. Next!" the official shouted.


    "No! I can hand over everything I took. I''m an Immortal! I can''t die!" the next Immortal pleaded.


    "Kill him!" the officialmanded.


    Another Immortal''s head fell to the ground.


    The event left an indelible impression of Dazheng''sws on all the citizens present. Some pped in clear support, while others shuddered in fear.


    About a monthter, as the people of Beidou witnessed for themselves how Dazheng truly cared for its people, they switched allegiance wholesale.


    Then, Blue Lantern began to direct the draconic vein of Beidou toward Yongding.


    The draconic vein beneath Beidou was massive, and it alone was able to dwarf arge group of those already present in Yongding. As the capital of Dazheng, Yongding would need to gather more draconic veins in order to nurture fortune.


    Another monthter, in the imperial study of Yongding, Zheng Qian handed over a report. "Your Majesty, the Tianshu Empire has nowpletely fallen. All the cities of Tianshu are now part of Dazheng."


    "This war between empires allowed countless soldiers to establish merit and rise into prominence, but many others died on the battlefield. Inform all officials to disburse settlement fees to the rtives of the dead and to ensure that they do not go wanting. This will be considered an examination for the officials," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!"


    "Mr. Zheng, managing the life of the people shall be ever moreplicated in the future. I''ll have to trouble you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I am more than willing to work for the good of the people, Your Majesty," Zheng Qian replied.


    After Zheng Qian left, Xiao Nanfeng summoned You Jiu.


    "Your Majesty, I''ve assigned the spectral guards to keep an eye on the neighboring empires and kingdoms. They''ve been deep inmunication with one another, and are likely scheming to take on Dazheng together."


    "Dazheng has just undergone a crusade against evil, and needs time to rest and recuperate before it is to look outward once more. Have the Hall of Specters continue monitoring themunications, but do nothing else."


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    "Have you found where Mr. Wen is?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We have, but he seems to be particrly on guard against us. It may be difficult to invite him into Dazheng." You Jiu frowned.


    "It matters not. I''ve barely had anymunication with Mr. Wen, and it''s only natural that he would be on guard against me. The fact that he hasn''t shown himself all this time means that he must be worried about a potential encounter. In that case, I''ll trouble you to bring him my thanks."


    Xiao Nanfeng handed You Jiu a scroll.


    "The Star Map of the Complete Heavens? Your Majesty, you intend to give this treasure to Mr. Wen?" You Jiu eximed.


    "I do," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng had replicated the Star Map of the Complete Heavens with his Dazheng Code of Laws, so the original was no longer necessary.


    Rather, he wanted to use the treasure to develop a rtionship with Mr. Wen.


    Dayster, in a small cottage within a small town by the borders of the Eastern Sea, a white-robed man sped a handkerchief over his mouth and coughed. He frowned as he looked toward Yongding with some exasperation.


    Beside him, a youth boiling tea asked curiously, "Master, your mdy requires immediate attention. Aren''t you going to ask Xiao Nanfeng for the Star Map of the Complete Heavens? Are you afraid he won''t keep his word?"


    "No. Xiao Nanfeng is in desperate need of talent and wisdom. If I were to make such a request, he would surely give it to me¡ªbut I doubt he would let me go. He would insist that I remain in Dazheng''s court." Mr. Wen frowned.


    "Would he really hand you the star map?" the youth eximed.


    "I have never been wrong when ites to my judgment about people. This is why I''ve refused to seek him out. Losing my freedom for this map wouldn''t be worthwhile." Mr. Wen frowned.


    Suddenly, a knock came from the door to the cottage.


    The youth rushed over and nched when he looked out the window. He returned in panic. "Master, there''s a group of ck-robed men surrounding the cottage. They''ve discovered our hiding spot! How could we have been exposed? We hid so well!"


    "Open the door. Honored guests have arrived," Mr. Wen said.


    The youth did so, but only You Jiu walked in.


    "The spectral marquis of the Dazheng Empire, You Jiu, greets Mr. Wen. Ie with Emperor Dazheng''s blessings to deliver this gift." You Jiu stepped forward and handed over the Star Map of the Complete Heavens.


    The youth''s eyes lit up, but he didn''t dare speak. He peered at Mr. Wen.


    Rather than take the map outright, Mr. Wen frowned. "Under what conditions do I receive this gift?"


    "His Majesty said that, as a master strategist, you saved the lives of countless fighters on the battlefield and countless people who would have been bystanders to the fighting. You have earned great merit from the Dazheng Empire, and this is amensurate reward. There will be no conditions."


    "Oh?" Mr. Wen was rather taken aback.


    "His Majesty is clearly interested in your talent, Mr. Wen, and would dearly wish to recruit you, but he is aware of your misgivings. He will not act by force, but has tasked me to inform you that, if you ever change your mind, you will always be wee. Mr. Wen, this is an imperial edict promising his support for you. If you''re ever in trouble, show this edict to any Dazheng official and he will seek you out at his earliest convenience."


    You Jiu passed the Star Map of the Complete Heavens and the imperial edict to Mr. Wen.


    Then, as Mr. Wen watched on in surprise, You Jiu bowed. "Farewell, Mr. Wen."


    Then, You Jiu left the cottage.


    The youth immediately walked up to Mr. Wen in excitement. "Master, this really is the Star Map of the Complete Heavens! Did Xiao Nanfeng really just hand it to you like that? And he didn''t even request a single thing!"


    Mr. Wen clutched the relic with a wry smile. "Xiao Nanfeng''s more broad-minded than I had expected, and he''s already a master of the philosophy of kingship at such a young age. He''ll be troublesome to deal with."


    "Ah?" The young man was taken aback.


    "He knows that I would never be willing to serve as strategist if he were to recruit me by force, so he''s trying to butter me up and have me develop a favorable inclination toward Dazheng," Mr. Wen exined.


    "What should we do, then?" the youth asked.


    "There''s no solution to this tactic. Let''s see if his gifts can warm up my frozen heart. I suppose we''ll just have to find out," Mr. Wen replied, taking a deep breath.

 Chapter 379: Selection of the Martial Aspect

    <h4>Chapter 379: Selection of the Martial Aspect</h4>


    Within a hall on Taiqing Ind, the Taiqing sect master, Lu Yan, convened the four division leaders to gather. He sighed.


    "Zhang Feifan, Lan Jiguang, have you both recovered?" Lu Yan asked.


    "Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. We''re alright now," Zhang Feifan replied.


    Lu Yan nodded and turned to Zhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Over thest few years, the three of us have been in search of new opportunities for the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and have indeed neglected much of the goings-on within it. It was our negligence that resulted in the birth of a traitor like Nn Qiankun. Fortunately, the two of you were able to stabilize the Ascended and Mortal divisions. You''ve both worked very hard," Lu Yan said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao smiled. "If not for Nanfeng, Sect Master, I would never have known about the true extent of Nn Qiankun''s treachery."


    "As a Taiqing disciple, it''s only right that I do so," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lu Yan nodded. "The demonic sect master had urgent business to take care of, but he had me thank you on your behalf. He''ll pay you a visit in the near future as well."


    "There''s no need. The demonic sect master did help me in my time of need as well." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, then asked, "Sect Master, might I know why you''ve gathered us here? Is there an announcement to be made?"


    Lu Yan sucked in a deep breath. "I''ve gathered you all here because Zhang Feifan has managed to secure arge opportunity, and we must discuss how to handle it. Zhang Feifan, please begin."


    Zhang Feifan nodded. "I''ve held a post in the Imperial Court thesest few years, though only a middling position without real authority. I can''t influence the appointment of any officials of the Imperial Court, but my daughter, Zhang Lingjun, has been granted a higher status thanks to her mother. She has no small authority in her own right, and has sessfully lobbied for a divine position. Whoever is appointed to this position may be an official of the Imperial Court."


    "Indeed?" Everyone seemed surprised.


    "What''s the position?" Lan Jiguang asked curiously.


    "A Martial Aspect," Zhang Feifan replied.


    "What? A Martial Aspect? There are only seventy-two such Martial Aspects in the Imperial Court, and their numbers are fixed. Only when a Martial Aspect dies in battle or cedes his position for some other reason will a new Martial Aspect be instated. Countless Immortals seek to be a Martial Aspect. How could your daughter have been given the opportunity to appoint one?" Lan Jiguang eximed.


    "It''s because the Martial Aspect responsible for protecting my wife perished in battle. Considering my daughter''s young age, the Heavenly Emperor gave her the choice of the new Martial Aspect, who would be in her debt for the future," Zhang Feifan replied.


    "So that''s how it is..." The cultivators nodded in understanding.


    "Division Leader Zhang, might I know who your wife is?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "She was a princess of the Imperial Court, but is now deceased." Pain shed through Zhang Feifan''s eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng got a sense of the situation immediately. Zhang Feifan was the emperor''s son-inw, but with the princess'' demise, his position in the Imperial Court was particrly awkward. On the other hand, Zhang Lingjun was the Heavenly Emperor''s grand-daughter, and he took particr care of her.


    "Can anyone your daughter choose be the new Martial Aspect?" Lan Jiguang asked.


    "My daughter may nominate a Martial Aspect, but whether that nominee can be the Martial Aspect in truth will require the approval of the Heavenly Emperor. The nominee is to investigate the death of the previous Martial Aspect and avenge his death," Zhang Feifan replied.


    "So the nominee must still prove qualified for the position, then?" Lan Jiguang rified.


    "That''s right. Although the Heavenly Emperor has already allowed my daughter special dispensation, her nominee must actually be able to take on the role of that vaunted station. After all, a Martial Aspect too weak for the Imperial Court wouldn''t be able to remain in that position for long," Zhang Feifan said.


    "A nomination is more than good enough. Who among the seventy-two Martial Aspects isn''t a peerless cultivator? However, trying to identify the cause of death of the previous Martial Aspect and his killer will be no easy feat. Whoever can kill a Martial Aspect is almost surely stronger than one," Lan Jiguang said.


    "With your help, everything shall be far easier." Zhang Feifan turned to Lan Jiguang.


    "My help?"


    "You''re the lord of the Immortal city of Fengdu, aren''t you? The former Martial Aspect died there. With your assistance, we''ll be able to uncover the reason for his death."


    "In Fengdu? Could he have gone... there?" Lan Jiguang was shocked.


    Zhang Feifan nodded, and Lan Jiguang''s face turned serious.


    Beside him, Lu Yan said, "Nn Qiankun''s traitorous behavior is a warning for us to be more careful when ites to such an opportunity. We can''t allow a traitor to take advantage once again. I intend to vote for Xiao Nanfeng as the nominee. What do you all think?"


    "Me?" Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows slightly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I know that you''re in the middle of expanding the Dazheng Empire, and you''ve had great sess to date. You may be a little resistant to the idea of being a Martial Aspect, but your Dazheng Empire is still rtively minor in strengthpared to those scattered throughout the world. Above an empire lies a divine empire, and above even that lies the Imperial Court. To the Imperial Court, an ordinary empire is still part of the mortal world, and only a divine empire will be recognized by the Heavenly Court. I know you have ns for the future, but entering the Heavenly Court will broaden your horizons and help you understand the machinations of the world atrge. The Heavenly Emperor stands at the apex of the world, and being his Martial Aspect is something worthy of your station," Lu Yan exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng had rescued him from a sticky situation, and he naturally wanted to repay him. This opportunity, that countless cultivators would fight each other bloody for, he intended to give to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you, Sect Master. I don''t mind the nomination, but I worry that it would be inappropriate for someone such as me."


    "I support Nanfeng," Zhao Yuanjiao said immediately.


    "And I as well," Zhang Feifan added.


    For some reason, Lan Jiguang seemed somewhat reluctant to endorse Xiao Nanfeng. He was momentarily silent, but eventually sighed and said, "I don''t object, either."


    "In that case, it''s settled. Zhang Feifan, go find your daughter and have her nominate Xiao Nanfeng," Lu Yan said.


    "Understood!" Zhang Feifan said.


    "Does the Taiqing Immortal Sect have to give anything up for this opportunity?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "My daughter does have a request. She''d like to pick out a spiritual cultivation technique in the illusory realm associated with the Taiqing Grandmaster," Zhang Feifan said.


    "Although Zhang Lingjun isn''t a member of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, she is your daughter and can be considered half an honorary member in truth. In exchange for an opportunity of this magnitude, I believe an exception can be made this once. What say you, division leaders?" Lu Yan asked.


    "We approve!" the four division leaders replied simultaneously. [1]


    After the discussion, the cultivators left the hall together and flew toward the Vault of Scriptures. Arge group of Taiqing disciples awaited them there and bowed formally. Zhang Lingjun was present as well, with Immortals guarding her on either side.


    "Father? Have you finished your discussion?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    Zhang Feifan nodded. "The sect master has agreed to the proposal. You may seek a spiritual cultivation technique from the Taiqing Grandmaster, and we have chosen to elect Xiao Nanfeng as the nominee for the Martial Aspect."


    Zhang Lingjun gave Xiao Nanfeng aplicated look as she nodded. "I will report to the Heavenly Emperor as soon as I can."


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed, not saying a word.


    Zhang Lingjun turned to Lu Yan. "If you wouldn''t mind, Sect Master Lu."


    "Please follow me," Lu Yan said.


    "Wait outside," Zhang Lingjunmanded her guards.


    "Understood!" her subordinates replied.


    Lu Yan and Zhang Feifan brought Zhang Lingjun into the Vault of Scriptures, while everyone else waited outside. An hourter, the vault suddenly shook. Intense red light radiated from all its windows.


    "What''s going on?!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed over in worry.


    The cultivators rapidly reached the fourth floor of the Vault of Scriptures.


    The praying mat on which the Taiqing Grandmaster had sat suddenly zed with intense red mes that encapsted Zhang Lingjun. Lu Yan and Zhang Feifan were guarding her.


    "What''s going on, Sect Master?!" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The Grandmaster''s praying mat has attuned to an owner," Lu Yan said.


    "Attuned to an owner?"


    "A legend passed down the Taiqing Immortal Sect is the inheritance of the Taiqing prayer mat, one of the Taiqing Grandmaster''s remaining possessions. One day, it shall attune to a cultivator, and that cultivator shall be the Taiqing Grandmaster''s official apprentice across space and time. That cultivator shall lead the Taiqing Immortal Sect to the vaunted heights it reached during the Grandmaster''s era." Lu Yan''s eyes shone expectantly.


    "The Grandmaster''s official apprentice? Even though Zhang Lingjun isn''t a disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned in worry, as did the others.


    Lu Yan replied seriously, "Even if she''s not, she''s still the Taiqing Grandmaster''s official apprentice. The Grandmaster will bequeath to her his secret techniques and have him lead the sect to greater heights. Everyone, guard Zhang Lingjun!"


    "Understood!" the cultivators chorused.


    The praying mat on which Zhang Lingjun sat had vanished, leaving only the raging mes. However, rather than hurt her, the mes only served to protect her.


    When Zhang Lingjun''s guards found her unharmed, they rxed. They took up positions around the vault and assumed their duties.


    Zhang Lingjun sat there for three days and nights. Three dayster, as red mes seeped into her body, she slowly opened her eyes.


    "How are you feeling, Lingjun?" Zhang Feifan asked in worry.


    Everyone looked at her expectantly; only Zhang Feifan was worried that his daughter would be possessed.


    Zhang Lingjun sucked in a deep breath. "Don''t worry, Father. I''m better than ever before. I met the Taiqing Grandmaster!"


    "What?!" everyone eximed.


    "It must have been a remnant soul fragment. He said that my soul was most suited to his inheritance, and he''s passed countless secret techniques on to me! Not only that, he''s taught me about rules andws of the natural world. There''s simply so much that I''ve yet to process and intuit for myself!" Zhang Lingjun cried out in excitement.


    "Did the Grandmaster say anything about the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Zhang Feifan pressed.


    Everyone looked expectantly toward Zhang Lingjun.


    "I''m afraid not." Zhang Lingjun shook her head.


    Everyone seemed to consider that a pity.


    "Perhaps all that soul fragment possessed was what the Grandmaster wanted to pass on to his inheritor," Lu Yan said.


    Everyone nodded regretfully.


    1. I''m waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to ask about the great evil that lies at the heart of the Taiqing red moon... ?

 Chapter 380: The Shangqing Blue Moon

    <h4>Chapter 380: The Shangqing Blue Moon</h4>


    Three dayster, on Taiqing Ind, Zhang Feifan handed Xiao Nanfeng a jade tablet. "Division Leader Xiao, the sect master and I will be sending Lingjun back to the Imperial Court to have the Heavenly Emperor inspect the inheritance that Lingjun has just received. She''ll also nominate you then. Here is a dossier rted to the dead Martial Aspect. Starting now, you''ll be able to investigate his death and take on the true culprit."


    "Thank you." Xiao Nanfeng nodded in thanks.


    "Lan Jiguang, Xiao Nanfeng will be headed to the Immortal city of Fengdu. You''ll be responsible for helping him," Lu Yan instructed.


    "Understood!" Lan Jiguang said.


    Then, Lu Yan, Zhang Feifan, and Zhang Lingjun flew into the air and vanished from sight.


    "Apologies for the trouble in advance, Division Leader Lan," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    However, Lan Jiguang''s face suddenly grew cold. He looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with a frown.


    "Division Leader Lan? Have I offended you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    Lan Jiguang had been narrowing his eyes at him all this time, making him feel particrly difited. It was as though he owed Lan Jiguang plenty of money¡ªbut he was certain he had never seen Lan Jiguang before in his life! Was he crazy? What was the problem?


    "What''s your rtionship with Yaoguang?" Lan Jiguang asked. [1]


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    He had considered a lot of possibilities for Lan Jiguang''s dislike of him, but none of it had involved Lady Yaoguang.


    "Again, what''s your rtionship with Yaoguang?" Lan Jiguang demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "What does my rtionship with Lady Yaoguang have to do with you, Division Leader Lan? Isn''t that out of your purview?"


    He was suddenly enraged by Lan Jiguang''s ridiculous question.


    "Yaoguang''s my daughter. Isn''t it important that I know?" Lan Jiguang replied coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    His rising anger immediately dissipated. He hadn''t known that Lady Yaoguang''s father was Lan Jiguang!


    "I didn''t realize that, Senior Uncle. I apologize. I was upset and didn''t understand the reasoning behind your interrogation. Lady Yaoguang is my senior sister, and we worked closely together within the undying realm," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I am hardly your senior uncle. You had better continue calling me Division Leader Lan," Lan Jiguang replied promptly.


    "Senior Uncle, you were brothers in cultivation with my master and my father, and it''s only right for me to call you Senior Uncle. These few years, I''ve been trying to find out where Yaoguang has gone. Do you know her whereabouts? Is she alright?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately asked.


    "Because of you, she''s in danger," Lan Jiguang said.


    "Senior Uncle, please let me know where she is. I''ll find her and bring her back immediately!" Xiao Nanfeng volunteered.


    "That won''t be necessary. You can''t bring her back. She tasked me with bringing you this." Lan Jiguang retrieved a jade box.


    The jade box was sealed tightly and clearly had not been opened.


    As Xiao Nanfeng took the box, he asked, "Senior Uncle, you''ve seen Yaoguang and must know of her situation. Could you tell me what''s going on?"


    "There''s no need for you to know right now. When she can return, she will. In order to help you secure this object, she had no choice but to ask her uncle for help. The whole reason I''ve been sequestering her on Taiqing Ind is because I was worried her uncle would seek her, and then he found her because of you!" Lan Jiguang cried out.


    "She''s at her uncle''s? Who is he?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Lan Jiguang refused to exin. He countered, "I''m well aware of Yaoguang''s personality, and she would never help any ordinary person out to such an extent. Tell me what the two of you did in the undying realm. How did you manipte her?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly as he recounted the experiences of his past. "Senior Uncle, you misunderstand. I didn''t manipte her. At the time, we..."


    As Xiao Nanfeng continued the story, he was given an understanding of the danger that Lady Yaoguang found herself in. If not for Xiao Nanfeng putting his life on the line, she would long since have perished. Xiao Nanfeng made the situation sound straightforward, but he could tell how hard he had to have worked. Back then, Xiao Nanfeng was still an Acquisition-realm cultivator!


    Lan Jiguang''s expression rxed. In the end, he sighed. "Three dayster, I''ll be headed to the Immortal city of Fengdu. If you intend to apany me, pack up now."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He could tell that Lan Jiguang was trying to hide Yaoguang''s whereabouts, and repeated asking wouldn''t reveal anything. The best use of his time was to head to Fengdu with Lan Jiguang to understand the situation there.


    After bidding farewell to him, Xiao Nanfeng returned to his residence and carefully broke the bindings around the jade box, revealing a jade tablet within.


    He immediately began to read its contents. Indeed, the jade tablet contained a brief description of Lady Yaoguang''s current situation.


    "Nanfeng, my mother is a holy maiden of the Shangqing holynd. I returned to the holynd and obtained the inheritance of the Shangqing Grandmaster, bing his official apprentice across generations. I hold a particrly important role in the holynd, so you don''t have to be worried about me. The Shangqing holynd''s technique specifically counters cursed effigies, and Shangqing is considered the bane of cursed effigies. After obtaining the inheritance of the Shangqing Grandmaster, I was granted the sect''s strongest spiritual cultivation technique, the Shangqing Yin Body, which will surely be able to help you counter those that are guing you. I secretly recorded a copy of it for you, so take your time to learn it well. In the future, I''d like to try the Manchu Han imperial feast that you keep talking about."


    As he read Lady Yaoguang''s letter, Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "There''s no need for you to write in so indirect a fashion. I know how you must feel¡ªyou''ve lost your freedom in order to secure the Shangqing Yin Body technique, haven''t you? Oh, you fool! Why didn''t you tell me about this beforehand? I don''t care about these cursed kings! Don''t you worry. Once I grow a little stronger, I''ll help you escape from the Shangqing holynd. No one will be able to stop you."


    He took a deep breath and continued reading the jade tablet. What remained was the text of the Shangqing Yin Body. It seemed particrly familiar,


    because he knew that the Shangqing Yin Body derived from his Body of Yin technique.


    The supreme Body of Yin technique had been divided into three, one for each sect bearing the name ''Qing''. This meant that cultivating that technique would be rtively easy for him.


    However, how was he to cultivate it? Did he have to form another avatar?


    "I can''t create any more avatars, or I''ll end up with multiple personality disorder eventually. On the other hand, if my main body cultivates it, it''ll surely be eaten by my silver moon. I''ll have to cultivate it with my avatar, then," Xiao Nanfeng said, taking a deep breath.


    Back in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar told his officials that he would be in secluded cultivation in the cultivation hall set up in the pce.


    The red stars in his avatar''s sterke were slowly joined with blue ones.


    The moment the blue stars appeared, they beganpeting for territory along with the red stars. The two colors of stars seemed to be attacking each other, as though intent on choking the other color to death. His cultivation stalled.


    "The Dao births one, and one births two. Why can''t the two of you get along? I''m going to continue!" Xiao Nanfeng insisted.


    However, neither moon refused to budge.


    As the stalemate persisted, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body arrived from Taiqing Ind. He immediately switched to his yin body.


    A burst of silver light shot into his avatar''s sterke. Silver, red, and blue light appeared simultaneously. After the silver light suppressed the red light, the blue starlight condensed and finally formed an incandescent blue moon that emerged from theke.


    The blue moon slowly rose into the air. The red moon, feeling a threat to its supremacy, instantly released bright red light to suppress the blue moon.


    "Both moons, out of my body!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The red and blue moons floated into the air, still shing against each other.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. His eyes sparked resolutely as he used his candle power on the blue moon, as though opening a wormhole. His avatar passed through it and vanished as he entered the blue moon.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body considered the blue moon. "How sinister. My avatar''s yin body melted into water within the moon... I hope my method will work, or there''s going to be trouble."


    The blue moon suddenly shone with resplendent light as if it were growing rapidly. The red moon, feeling even more threatened, attempted to batter it once again. Fortunately, with Xiao Nanfeng''s main body suppressing the red moon, it failed to strike the blue moon down.


    Two whole dayster, a hole opened up in the blue moon as a hand extended from it, followed by a body. Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had crawled out from within.


    His avatar, which had melted into water, reformed as a human as he appeared. The blue moon quickly returned to its original appearance.


    The red and blue moons all shone with blinding light as they fought over his yin body.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar condensed a set of robes with spiritual power. The blue moon trembled, causing the robes to turn blue; the next moment, the red moon trembled, causing the blue robes to turn red. Then, the two moons began to fight over the color of the robes.


    They continued to wrestle for control of Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, causing his robes to flicker between red and blue.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body sighed and huffed. "This isn''t a fashion show!"


    He tried to suppress the transformation, but couldn''t seem to do anything. The fashion show couldn''t be stopped.


    "I guess I''ll just leave it like this for now," Xiao Nanfeng''s main body sighed.


    He strode out of the cultivation hall and flew toward Taiqing Ind. The three-day deadline was almost up, and he would be heading to the Immortal city of Fengdu with Lan Jiguang. His avatar, still shing between red and blue, was all but incapacitated. Only his main body could go.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar kept both his moons within his mindscape. The sterke within continued to shine with red and blue glows as the twin moons fought.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no solution to the problem as yet; all he could do was to leave them as is for the moment.


    He walked quickly toward his study to see Ao Zhou waiting for him from afar.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re wearing blue today? Interesting. You must be getting tired of your red clothes. I do prefer the blue." Ao Zhou seemed to have a request to make of Xiao Nanfeng and was trying to be on his best behavior. He immediately praised Xiao Nanfeng''s new clothes.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng''s body shed with red light. His clothes turned red.


    Ao Zhou stiffened. What sort of situation was this? The moment he praised the blue clothes, Xiao Nanfeng switched to red ones!


    "Ahem, to be frank, you look like you have more vitality when you wear red. It shows your exceptional status. Wearing blue makes yourplexion darker, and it doesn''t look as good," Ao Zhou corrected himself.


    With a hum and a sh of blue light, Xiao Nanfeng''s clothes turned blue.


    Ao Zhou pursed his lips. "Did you guess what I''m here to do? Are you trying to stop me from making my request?"


    "It''s nothing. Continue," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched as he saw that Xiao Nanfeng''s clothes had changed color again. What in the world was going on? Wasn''t he trying to tell Ao Zhou to scram, that he didn''t want to listen to Ao Zhou?


    "Keep talking," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    "If you keep changing clothes like this, I''ll get disoriented. I''d rather wait until you stop," Ao Zhou said.


    "Then keep waiting."


    Ao Zhou internalized his thoughts. <i>I don''t believe your clothes will keep changing color. I''ll wait.</i>


    1. The Lady Arclight returns, but shall be known hereafter as Lady Yaoguang to better suit the trantion of other characters to date. Sorry for the inconvenience! ?

 Chapter 381: The Ancient Dragon Palace

    <h4>Chapter 381: The Ancient Dragon Pce</h4>


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, Ao Zhou''s face twitched as he watched Xiao Nanfeng''s robes repeatedly change color.


    "Aren''t you tired of it?" Ao Zhou eventually grumbled, unable to watch on any longer.


    "It''s none of your business," Xiao Nanfeng said, continuing to review the documents on his desk.


    Ao Zhou couldn''t wait any longer.


    "We dragons fought off all the crow and crane spirits during that huge battle. We''ve earned considerable merit, haven''t we?" Ao Zhou began.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced up at Ao Zhou before returning to his documents. "I''ve provided you with all the benefits I promised, didn''t I? You got the fortune you wanted."


    "But aren''t you going to make us all guardian spirits of your empire? Croak and Warble get annual tribute and monthly wages, whereas it seems like us dragons are a once-and-done thing!" Ao Zhou cried out, aggrieved.


    "They were heralded as guardian spirits of the empire because of their history ofmitment and timely avability. You dragons don''t share that notion. It would be better for you to remain as mercenaries," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What? How could that be? We dragons have risked our lives for Dazheng! If you make us all guardian spirits of the empire, we''ll surelye help out in times of war!"


    "You haven''t done enough. You''ve contributed far too little to be deemed guardian spirits of the empire."


    "But we haven''t had the opportunity to contribute!"


    "You weren''t present when there were opportunities to gain merit."


    "But I''m a member of the Qitian Alliance, aren''t I? Help me out, won''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng put down his brush and gave Ao Zhou an odd look. "You didn''t have any problems with these terms in the past. What''s the problem now? Don''t beat around the bush. What are you trying to achieve here?"


    "What? How did you even manage to deduce that?"


    "Don''t say anything if you don''t want to. You''re never involved in anything good, anyway."


    "No, no, there''s something good! I''m here to share an opportunity with you." Ao Zhou leaned in with a bright smile.


    "Oh?"


    Ao Zhou suddenly looked furtively around.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Are you crazy? This is my study. There''s no one eavesdropping here. Speak your mind or get lost!"


    Ao Zhou whispered, "We found a draconic pce in the Eastern Sea."


    "A draconic pce? Weren''t they all destroyed? Did you find a temporary one that the dragons used as a waystation?"


    "It''s true! It''s a real draconic pce. The interior''s dark and dim, but I can sense that there''s treasure inside. There were even some sea spirits that managed to wander in. It''s a huge pceparable in size to my father''s, but the interior seems to be filled with deathly aura."


    "Oh?"


    "I suspect that it''s a draconic pce from an ancient era."


    "Another draconic pce?"


    "My father''s Eastern Sea Draconic Pce has been passed down for generations, but it can only ount for twenty or thirty thousand years of recorded history. What came before that? Perhaps other dragons built their own pce; perhaps they died out millennia ago, and their pce turned to ruins. Some spirits may have taken it over."


    "That is possible," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


    "Two centuries ago, the Eastern Sea dragons controlled countless spirit ns within the Eastern Sea. There was no information about this draconic pce at all, suggesting that it had yet to make an appearance two centuries ago. It must only have been upied within thest two centuries, and itsck of information must mean that the spirits within don''t dare to be too ostentatious. They must not be very strong."


    "How did you discover this ancient pce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Some of my subordinates were swimming around the Eastern Sea and discovered it out of nowhere. There''s nothing special about it."


    "That can''t be. Think more carefully. If this pce hadn''t been unearthed for two whole centuries, I doubt you could have discovered it just by wandering around. Furthermore, the fact that other sea spirits were lured to the pce meant that there was something attracting you to it." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    Ao Zhou frowned and thought back to what had transpired. "I remember now. When my subordinates called for me, we could hear faint dragon cries even from very far away."


    "That might be bait. Other sea spirits may have been lured into the pce against their will, but as dragons, you could have natural immunity thanks to your racial advantage," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    "That... might be," Ao Zhou said.


    "How long has it been since you discovered the pce?"


    "Almost two months."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. The fact that Ao Zhou had waited for two months to bring it up meant that he had likely tried to im all the benefits for himself, only to fail and have no choice but to ask Xiao Nanfeng for assistance instead.


    "What do you intend to gain by informing me about this?"


    "We''re both members of the Qitian Alliance, aren''t we? I found an opportunity, so I naturally wanted to involve you. If you lead some of your subordinates to explore the pce with me, I''ll share some of the rewards from the expedition with you," Ao Zhou immediately dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes at Ao Zhou. "Forget it. Have fun on your own."


    Ao Zhou''s face stiffened. If he could handle it on his own, he wouldn''t have to ask Xiao Nanfeng for help!


    "A fifth of all the treasure we find within. That''s already generous enough, isn''t it?" Ao Zhou asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes and ignored him.


    "How much do you want? A fifth is already a significant loss for me. Go on, say a number!" Ao Zhou cried in vexation.


    "I don''t intend to take advantage of you. If there''s any treasure to be found, let''s split it evenly among us," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Ao Zhou looked unwilling, but he had no other choice. In the end, he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine. An even split it is!"


    "I''ll send some subordinates to check out the pce with you. Croak and Warble should go as well. If they can handle the pce, I won''t have to go personally."


    "You''re not going?" Ao Zhou eximed, his eyes wide.


    "You''re often unreliable. What if the ancient pce is just a pile of useless ruins? It''d be a waste of my time. I''m a busy man, and I don''t have the time to do everything myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You should have told me, then! I would have just hoodwinked Croak and Warble intoing with me. I wouldn''t have needed to pay you half the profits!" Ao Zhou raged.


    "You were the one who proposed this deal. I didn''t force you to do anything," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Ao Zhou''s face was as dark as charcoal, and he could hardly back out now that the deal had been established. He had already brought up the ancient pce, and if he were to go back on his word, Xiao Nanfeng could easily dispatch his own subordinates to explore it. Then, he wouldn''t even obtain half the profits.


    In a small cottage of an equally small town by the shores of the Eastern Sea, wisps of fog rose into the air. Beams of starlight could be seen descending from the heavens, piercing through the fog and encapsting Mr. Wen.


    Mr. Wen was in the midst of manipting the Star Map of the Complete Heavens and inducing beams of ster energy into his body. However, he was doing so in a particrly subtle manner, so the starlight wasn''t obvious andrgely drowned out by ordinary sunlight.


    Wisps of ck smoke were forced out of Mr. Wen''s body.


    The youth beside him smiled in excitement. He was guarding Mr. Wen. At various ces scattered throughout the town, some spectral guards were doing the same thing. However, they were likewise very subtle about it.


    Mr. Wen continued this process for almost two weeks until ck smoke stopped emanating from his body. Hisplexion improved considerably, and he no longer coughed.


    Mr. Wen breathed out as he awoke from meditation.


    "Master, has your mdy been healedpletely?" the youth asked urgently.


    "This is the Star Map of the Complete Heavens, and it will naturally allow forplete recovery. I''ve had this mdy for a century. It truly does feel good to be rid of it," Mr. Wen sighed.


    "Thank goodness."


    "With my mdy gone, it''s time to take revenge for what happened a century ago." Killing intent shed in Mr. Wen''s eyes.


    "But those ns that caused ours to perish are long since gone..."


    Mr. Wen shook his head. "I''ve found out where they are."


    "Oh?"


    "They''re currently sheltering somewhere within the Eastern Sea, where the ruins of an ancient draconic pce are located."


    "If they were that strong a century ago, will we be able to deal with them now?"


    "Don''t worry. I''ll lure the various Immortal sects around the Eastern Sea into handling them. They''ll die a pitiful death!"


    "You intend to leverage the sects'' strength, Master?"


    "Indeed!"


    "And what if the sects of the Eastern Sea can''t handle them? Should we ask for help from the Dazheng Empire?"


    Mr. Wen frowned. "I don''t want to bring in Xiao Nanfeng at the moment. We can take our own revenge."


    "Got it!" The youth nodded.


    Shrouded by clouds, Lan Jiguang and Xiao Nanfeng flew rapidly through the air. Twelve cultivators followed behind them: Ye Dafu and hisckeys.


    "Senior Uncle, what sort of ce is Fengdu like? I''ve read up on what information the sect has on the city, and it''s supposed to be particrly dangerous."


    "Have you heard of the divine empire of Dafeng?"


    "I have. A century past, its crown price fomented rebellion and caused the copse of the empire. It''s been relegated to the annals of history since."


    He even knew that it was Mr. Wen who had served as strategist to that crown prince that had sparked a rebellion.


    "Indeed. The Immortal city of Fengdu was once the capital of the divine empire of Dafeng. Allegedly, Fengdu seals a gateway into hell that prevents demons from hell from emerging. A century ago, for some unknown reason, that seal was broken. Countless demons crawled out of hell and ultimately caused the copse of the empire. Of course, that crown prince''s rebellion was part of it too. The details of what happened back then have been all but lost to time. After the Immortal empire of Dafeng copsed, Fengdu was filled with roaming demons and essentially fell to ruin," Lan Jiguang recollected.


    "Oh?"


    "Later, Fengdu became part of the divine empire of Dayin."


    "Does it really seal a gateway to hell?"


    "I''m not sure, but it''s true that countless demons emerge from a deep abyss every full moon. The vicinity is particrly dangerous territory."

 Chapter 382: The Immortal City of Fengdu

    <h4>Chapter 382: The Immortal City of Fengdu</h4>


    From afar, Xiao Nanfeng caught sight of the Immortal City of Fengdu.


    It was particrlyrge, with city walls that were three hundred meters tall. Runes were iid all over the city walls.


    "If this used to be the capital of the divine empire of Dafeng, there must be a huge draconic vein here."


    "There was one, but it was long since ushered away by a high-ranking member of the divine empire of Dayin. Only a few small draconic veins persist, serving as a power source for the defensive formation around the city."


    "There''s plenty of ck foging from the forests to the east of the city. What a malevolent aura..." Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    "That''s where the entrance to the abyss is. Demons appear there during the full moon," Lan Jiguang repeated.


    "What do they look like?"


    "You had better see for yourself when the timees."


    "Very well. The next full moon isn''t too long away, after all. However, why doesn''t the divine empire of Dayin deal with the demons here?"


    "They''ve sent cultivators to investigate, but the conclusion was that the price of dealing with the trouble in the vicinity would require immense effort¡ªtoo much to be worthwhile. However, it isn''t as though they could simply ignore the area, so they allowed Immortal sects in the vicinity to try their hand at suppressing the demons from the abyss. Whoever seeded would be granted lordship over the city."


    "And you seeded in quelling them all with the Earth disciples, Senior Uncle?"


    Lan Jiguang chuckled wryly. "It''s hardly that easy. Many Immortal sects dispatched strong cultivators in an attempt to deal with the abyss. After all, being a lord of a city within a divine empire provides a considerable amount of fortune. That said, there were simply too many demons here to deal with easily. I met my wife here, a holy maiden of the Shangqing holynd. She brought relics that specifically countered the demons in the area before four Immortal sects, working in tandem, were able to clear them out."


    "Oh? Is Yaoguang''s mother here, too?"


    Lan Jiguang suddenly sounded pained. "The day Yaoguang was born, a full moon rose. A huge number of demons rushed out of the abyss. In her weakened state, she was unable to defend herself and ended up being dragged into the abyss, never to be seen again."


    Xiao Nanfeng lowered his head. "My condolences, Senior Uncle."


    Lan Jiguang shook his head. "None are necessary. I intend to see her corpse if she''s dead and her body if she''s alive. She was only dragged into the abyss and may not yet have died. I''ll clean out the corruption and find her."


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. He understood that Lan Jiguang''s wife had perished, that he was only attempting to fool himself so as not to be beset by grief.


    The group of cultivators flew into the city.


    From afar, a number of guards saw Lan Jiguang''s group.


    "Don''t halt them. The lord of the city has returned!" one of them cried out.


    "We greet the lord!" The soldiers bowed.


    Lan Jiguang nodded, then brought Xiao Nanfeng and his cohort toward a pce built on high ground. Waiting for them there were a number of blue-armored fighters. They bowed upon seeing Lan Jiguang arrive, and a number of cultivators with Taiqing robes immediately stepped forward in greeting.


    Lan Jiguang and Xiao Nanfengnded outside Fengdu Hall.


    "We greet the division leader!" A number of Taiqing disciples stepped forward and bowed down.


    "Ah, it''s Senior Brother Xiao! No, Division Leader Xiao, now. We greet Division Leader Xiao!" A few of the cultivators were surprised and excited to see Xiao Nanfeng.


    They were Earth-division disciples who had benefited from Xiao Nanfeng''s tutge while they were all on Taiqing Ind, and they were overjoyed to see Xiao Nanfeng arrive here.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in greeting.


    Lan Jiguang turned toward a blue-armored man. "Chang Bing, has anything happened while I was away?"


    "Master, everything has been as usual. Every full moon, demons emerge from the abyss, but we beat them back each time."


    "Good." Lan Jiguang nodded, then introduced Xiao Nanfeng. "You haven''t been back to Taiqing Ind for many years, so I don''t expect you''ve met him before. He''s Xiao Nanfeng, the current Mortal division leader."


    Chang Bing frowned at Xiao Nanfeng and gave him an unfriendly look. "He''s Xiao Nanfeng? The fellow who entrapped Junior Sister Yaoguang? To think he would be so shameless as toe!"


    The Earth division disciples around gave each other furtive looks. Clearly, Chang Bing was a disciple of particr authority in the division.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Was someone going to cause him trouble the moment he arrived?


    Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak, Ye Dafu hollered, "What''s wrong with you? Why are you spouting so much trash? How could you be disrespectful to a division leader? Have you forgotten about thews of the sect?"


    "And who are you to interrupt me when I speak?" Chang Bing demanded, looking at Ye Dafu.


    "I''m your grandfather!"


    "Insolence!" Chang Bing thundered.


    "I''m Ye Dafu, elder of the Mortal division. If you want a fight, I''ll be happy to take you on at any time. I''ll teach you what it means to adhere to sectws!"


    "Enough!" Lan Jiguangmanded.


    Only then did Ye Dafu fall silent. Chang Bing was so incensed that his face was turning a splotch of purple.


    "Chang Bing, have you forgotten about the sect''sws?" Lan Jiguang demanded.


    "Master, I can''t stand what happened to my junior sister!" Chang Bing replied stubbornly.


    "Then talk it through. This is no excuse to mock or act so improperly to a division leader, nor a reason to flout the sect''sws."


    "I understand, Master! I behaved improperly." Chang Bing frowned.


    Only then did Lan Jiguang turn to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, isn''t your subordinate overly brash as well?"


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed Ye Dafu and smiled. "Ye Dafu was enforcing thew of the sect when he protested my insulting treatment. To be frank, Senior Uncle, I don''t think we need to take this so seriously. It''s natural to have conflicts of opinion. As long as they''re not going against the sect, it wouldn''t matter even if they were to fight¡ªall the better to get to know each other."


    He didn''t intend on chastising his own subordinate when he had done nothing wrong.


    "That''s right, Division Leader Lan! Chang Bing started it. If he''s upset, we can fight! Making such a big deal of things and then hiding behind you¡ªothers are going to look down on him, at this rate!" Ye Dafu said.


    Chang Bing frowned. "Who started it? Who hid behind Division Leader Lan? I wasn''t even talking about you! Why are you making such a big fuss about this?"


    "Come fight me, then! I heard that Division Leader Lan has a particrly strong troop of disciples under hismand, the Green Battalion. I''d like to see just how strong you are for myself!"


    "Come on, then! I''m curious to see what sort of disciples have emerged on Taiqing Ind during my absence as well."


    "Let''s do it!" Ye Dafu rallied.


    Lan Jiguang frowned at Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng himself looked taken aback. Ye Dafu did seem quite mad today, didn''t he?


    "Boss, why don''t you take a break and let me give it a try?"


    "No, pick me! We decided on the way here that I''d be first in line if there was a fight, didn''t we?"


    "I hear that the Green Battalion doesn''t pull its punches, and Chang Bing''s a particrly fearsome fighter. I bet his punches would feel amazing. It''s been too long since I''ve gotten beaten up well. Let me have the spot!"


    "Boss, let me have some fun, won''t you?"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys were muttering mysteriously to themselves.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng''s face stiffened. He suddenly realized why Ye Dafu had reacted the way he did¡ªhe and all hisckeys wanted a beating!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are they deliberately insulting Chang Bing?" Lan Jiguang asked, annoyed.


    Xiao Nanfeng made an awkward face. Insulting? No¡ªthey were telling nothing but the heartfelt truth!


    "They''ve just returned from the battlefield and may still be feeling the effects of war. I''m worried that they won''t pull their punches. Why don''t we forget it?" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Forget it? Xiao Nanfeng, didn''t you say that a little fighting wasn''t a big deal? I''d like to see just how strong the Mortal disciples you trained are!" Chang Bing dered.

 Chapter 383: The Ninth Commander

    <h4>Chapter 383: The Ninth Commander</h4>


    Chang Bing and Ye Dafu faced off against one another. A huge fight was poised to break out.


    "Ye Dafu, don''t go overboard. Enough is enough," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Got it. I won''t use either of my arms, then!" Ye Dafu''s eyes brightened.


    He wanted to fight only because he was itching to get beaten. With this excuse, he could readily enjoy the uing massage without having to do a thing!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you looking down on me?" Chang Bing demanded.


    "If you want to fight, fight with me! Stop trying to drag the division leaders into this!"


    "Come on, then!" Chang Bing scowled.


    "Fight outside the city¡ªfarther away," Lan Jiguang demanded.


    "Let''s go!" Chang Bing shot into the air.


    "Right behind you!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys and the Earth division disciples followed quickly after, all interested in the oue of the fight.


    Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, didn''t go along with them. Chang Bing had been rather rude, but he was only trying to support Lady Yaoguang. Furthermore, since Chang Bing was a disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect himself, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of letting Chang Bing be badly hurt for such a minor affair.


    "Chang Bing obtained a chance opportunity here and has started to feel as though he''s too good for Taiqing Ind. If you can temper him a little, that might be for the best.How skilled is Ye Dafu? Will he be in danger?"


    "He''ll be able to defend himself, at the very least. Let them y. Senior Uncle, could you tell me about the situation in Fengdu? I''d like to prepare for investigating the death of the former Martial Aspect."


    Lan Jiguang nodded, beckoning for Xiao Nanfeng to enter the Fengdu Hall with him.


    Outside the city, within a patch of forest far away, a group of Earth disciples whispered and pointed. They had been gone from Taiqing Ind for quite a long time now, and were unfamiliar with how the sect had changed in the meantime. Although the Earth disciples of recent years had spoken highly of Xiao Nanfeng, the rest of them weren''t particrly enthused about him. To them, only the Heaven and Earth divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect were worthy of the name; the Mortal and Ascended divisions barely had any true strength.


    "Come on! I won''t use either of my arms. You can attack first!" Ye Dafu called out expectantly.


    This was undoubtedly grave humiliation for Chang Bing. Fighting without your arms? Are you trying to beat me with just your legs?


    "Ridiculous. Ye Dafu, that mouth of yours is going to get you killed one day on the battlefield. I''ll teach you a lesson right now!"


    He flickered; his green armor vanished from sight.


    "Why aren''t you wearing your green armor? I heard that the Green Battalion is only strong with their armor on! You''re going to ruin my experience!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "I don''t need it. If I wear that armor, I might identally beat you to death."


    He shot toward Ye Dafu in a beam of rainbow light.


    "You''re a Human Immortal!" Ye Dafu''s eyes widened in delight.


    "Be careful." Chang Bing punched forward.


    His fist came at Ye Dafu like a tempest. As promised, Ye Dafu sped both hands behind his back and allowed the fist to strike his chest.


    Ye Dafu stumbled back from the impact.


    "Why didn''t you retaliate?" Chang Bing eximed.


    "As I said, I won''t use my arms."


    "You could use your feet, your elbows, your legs! Haven''t you learned any feet techniques? Who would just absorb the blow with their chest?" Chang Bing was baffled.


    "This works for me. No more nonsense, now! Keep going with the fight, or I''m going to look down on you!"


    Chang Bing''s face twitched. "If you want to die, don''t me me."


    Chang Bing shot over. He rained punches down on Ye Dafu''s chest, striking him ferociously, but Ye Dafu didn''t retaliate. In fact, the punches didn''t seem to faze him at all.


    Chang Bing looked at his fists with some suspicion. What was happening today?


    "Your punches are too weak. Why don''t you put on your green armor?" Ye Dafu asked.


    Chang Bing''s face turned red. Anger sparked in his eyes. "Keep on pretending, then! I''m curious to see just how long you can keep this up!"


    Chang Bing shot forward in a whirlwind of fire, his punches so numerous they were like raindrops in a storm. Many Earth disciples gaped at the fight.


    "Why isn''t Ye Dafu retaliating? Is he really alright?"


    "Is Senior Brother Chang Bing going easy on him? I don''t understand what''s happening..."


    As the Earth disciples murmured to each other, Chang Bing began to frown harder and harder. He had finally realized that Ye Dafu wasn''t bluffing; he really was skilled, and his physical body might well be as hard as an Immortal relic.


    "I''m serious! You don''t even punch as hard as my brothers do. You had better put on your green armor," Ye Dafu advised.


    Chang Bing: ...


    Humiliated and dejected, Chang Bing finally changed into his green armor. A frightening aura enveloped him as he punched Ye Dafu''s chest again. This punch was over ten times as strong as his previous ones.


    Ye Dafu was sent flying. He smashed into a mountain and left a crater in it.


    "Wonderful! This is the sort of sensation I''m looking for. Again!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Let''s see how long you canst." Chang Bing narrowed his eyes as he shot over to Ye Dafu.


    Ye Dafu was sent flying once again, even harder this time. Blood seeped out of his mouth.


    The Earth disciples nced at each other, worried. Someone frowned. "Isn''t Senior Brother Chang Bing being too rough? We''re all Taiqing disciples, after all. We shouldn''t get too extreme. Should we stop him?"


    "We should! Look at those Mortal disciples to the side. They must be infuriated!" another disciple worried.


    They nced at Ye Dafu''sckeys, thinking that they would be furious¡ªbut instead, Ye Dafu''sckeys were throwing their boss envious looks.


    "How could Boss get a massage without us?"


    "Right? Doesn''t it look like it''ll feel great? I''d like a beating, too!"


    "If only I could be in Boss''s shoes..."


    The Earth disciples blinked in silence upon hearing what Ye Dafu''sckeys were saying.


    In the Fengdu Hall, Lan Jiguang roughly exined to Xiao Nanfeng what was going on in the Immortal city of Fengdu.


    "Senior Uncle, you mean that, although you''re the lord of the city, there are eight other strong cultivators from various Immortal sects managing it with you? Because all of you dealt with the demons from the abyss together, their sect masters were granted the title of the Eight Commanders?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. The Eight Commanders are all Earth Immortals, and they''re all eyeing my position as lord of the city. I''ve only been able to suppress them thanks to the Green Battalion." Lan Jiguang nodded.


    "I heard of the Green Battalion all the way back on Taiqing Ind. Just what sort of forces are these?"


    "There are only three hundred cultivators in the Green Battalion, and the green armor that they wear is a matched set of divine relics that my wife brought from the Shangqing holynd. Those wearing the green armor will have defenses on par with ate-stage Yin Body cultivator, and their offensive abilities are greatly magnified as well. They can deal severe damage to cursed effigies and are extraordinary artifacts."


    "Really? If they''re that impressive, wouldn''t others covet them?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "They can be recalled at will, and no one will be able to steal it away."


    "So that''s how it is." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "It won''t be easy for you to investigate the death of that former Martial Aspect. There are plenty of officials within the city, many of whom might not cooperate with you. I can''t remain by your side, either. How about this? I''ll name you the Ninth Commander of Fengdu. With this identity, you''ll be able to investigate his death more easily."


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle!"


    Just then, the two fighting cultivators returned. Ye Dafu''s face was ck and blue, his clothes tattered, but he was smiling radiantly. Chang Bing wasn''t injured, but his fists were swollen and he looked as though all his stamina had been drained.


    "Chang Bing, you were far too heavy-handed. Ye Dafu''s your junior brother, after all. How could you have been this extreme?" Lan Jiguang demanded, his eyes cold.


    Clearly, he thought that Ye Dafu had lost the fight.


    Chang Bing stiffened, not knowing how to exin things.


    "Division Leader Lan, please don''t criticize Senior Brother Chang Bing. I''m alright, and I think fighting with Senior Brother Chang Bing was a very pleasant bonding experience. I enjoy sparring with him," Ye Dafu said, smiling.


    His tone had grown far more amicable than before; after all, Chang Bing had massaged him for half the day, and he was feeling good all over. Meanwhile, Chang Bing was so exhausted that, despite being a Human Immortal, he looked like he was about to fall over. How could Ye Dafu treat him badly now?


    "Are you really alright?" Lan Jiguang asked dubiously.


    "I am, Division Leader Lan. I''ve resolved my conflict with Senior Brother Chang Bing. He has excellent skill, and I''d love to spar with him daily," Ye Dafu said, then looked toward Chang Bing expectantly. "Senior Brother Chang Bing, I''m counting on you. Let''s work hard to improve together!"


    Chang Bing stiffened. Was Ye Dafu crazy? He still wasn''t satisfied despite being beaten up to this extent? Chang Bing would surely die of exhaustion long before Ye Dafu was beaten to death!


    "Let''s talk about itter," Chang Bing replied, somewhat frightened of this maniac.


    Lan Jiguang seemed to sense something amiss. Why hadn''t Chang Bing described the fight just now at all?


    He was silent for a moment before he continued, "I''ve just appointed Xiao Nanfeng as the Ninth Commander of Fengdu. Inform the Eight Commanders of this, then all the officials throughout the city. Have them cooperate with Xiao Nanfeng''s investigation."


    "Him? The ninthmander?" Chang Bing seemed displeased.


    "Is there a problem with that?" Lan Jiguang asked in a warning tone.


    "Understood, Master." Chang Bing nodded somewhat unwillingly.


    "Chang Bing, arrange for the Mortal elders'' amodations and allow them to familiarize themselves with the surroundings. Xiao Nanfeng and I have more to discuss.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    When Ye Dafu headed out with Chang Bing, he was particrly friendly. "Senior Brother Chang Bing, let''s spar daily from now on, alright? Right, call yourrades up as well! Let''s all improve together."


    "Senior Brother Chang Bing, your skills are amazing! We''d love to spar with you too."


    "Senior Brother Chang Bing, aren''t there many cultivators in the Green Battalion? Why don''t they take us all on at once?"


    "Right, get the whole battalion over! We won''t use our arms, either."


    Ye Dafu''sckeys were as passionate as Ye Dafu himself.


    Chang Bing''s face twitched. Were these elders all maniacs? They had alltched onto him!

 Chapter 384: Commander Lie Yang

    <h4>Chapter 384: Commander Lie Yang</h4>


    One dayter, in the Immortal city of Fengdu, the eightmanders gathered in a hall.


    "The ninthmander, Xiao Nanfeng... Do any of you know about him?" one of themanders asked.


    "I''m not sure. I only learned that he was a division leader of the sect to which Lan Jiguang belongs, but have little understanding of his strength. Lan Jiguang did have amander slot to assign, so I suppose it doesn''t affect us unduly," anothermander said.


    "Doesn''t affect us unduly? Anothermander means another person fighting for resources with us. Thatmander slot was meant for Lan Jiguang''s wife. After she was dragged into the abyss, he repeatedly imed that that slot would belong only to her¡ªbut now he''s using it for a favor!" the firstmander replied.


    "I don''t think it''s that simple."


    "Oh?"


    "Have a look. This is a bounty that Xiao Nanfeng has just established."


    Themanders immediately looked at the bounty. It showed a portrait of a person.


    "Oh? Whoever has seen the man in the bounty and provides clues as to his whereabouts can, if confirmed, obtain an Immortal relic? How rich he is. There must be something extraordinary about that man. Do any of you know anything about him?"


    Everyone shook their heads, except for onemander among them.


    The eightmanders were well acquainted. Despite their superficial camaraderie, they were all plotting against one another in private. The change in that onemander''s expression instantly roused the others'' attention.


    "Commander Lie Yang, do you know the man in the bounty?"


    Everyone looked toward Lie Yang, who lowered his head. He realized that he had unintentionally made his emotions clear. He shook his head immediately. "I don''t know him."


    The othermanders were doubtful, but didn''t press him further.


    After the eightmanders'' meeting ended, Lie Yang rushed back to the military barracks under his control. The area was heavily guarded and fortified with formations. He headed straight into a domain thick with fog. Inside was a hall. He knelt down and waited respectfully by its door.


    After some time, the door to the hall opened with a creak. Commander Lie YAng entered with the bounty.


    Not long after, a deep voicemanded, "Secretly bring this Xiao Nanfeng over to me."


    "Understood!" Commander Lie Yang said.


    A dayter, within the Immortal city of Fengdu, Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Dafu were walking along the streets and marveling at the riches they saw.


    "Your Majesty, Fengdu really is prosperous, isn''t it? This is a pretty far-flung part of a divine empire, but it''s full of apothecaries and antiquarian shops. A few Immortal sects have even established themselves directly within the city! There are countless Ascension-realm cultivators and plenty of Spiritsong ones too. Even Wingform-realm cultivators aremonce. It''s incredible," Ye Dafu said.


    "This is the difference between an empire and a divine empire. An ordinary empire might only be slightly wealthier than a single city in a divine empire. That said, Dazheng is steadily growingrger and more prosperous. Yongding will surely eclipse this city soon," Xiao Nanfeng said confidently.


    "I think so too, Your Majesty." Ye Dafu nodded.


    The two cultivators walked toward a public noticeboard erected in the city.


    Countless people were gathered around it, pointing and muttering at a certain bounty in excitement and anticipation.


    "Your Majesty, they''re all looking at our bounty!" Ye Dafu''s eyes brightened.


    "An Immortal relic is a highly alluring reward, and I''m sure they''ll do their best to scour the city for clues about that person." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Your Majesty, is that person important?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.


    The person was, of course, none other than the fallen Martial Aspect. However, the matter was of such importance that the sect master and four division leaders had decided to keep everything private lest anything unexpected happen.


    "He''s very important. I''m here at Fengdu to search for his whereabouts.


    "Oh?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be meeting Chang Bing for bouts? Why aren''t you headed there?"


    "My brothers told me that I already enjoyed myself too muchst time, and that it''s their turn this time. I was forced to stand guard out here," Ye Dafu replied wryly.


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "You should join them."


    "I can''t! Before I came, Third Uncle instructed me to ensure that you were always guarded. I had better follow you around. I''ll go the next time I''m off-duty," Ye Dafu replied seriously.


    "Don''t worry. This is the Immortal city of Fengdu. No one can hurt me here. Go!"


    "But¡ª" Ye Dafu seemed uneasy.


    "This is an order."


    "Understood! Thank you, Your Majesty!"


    A direct order from the emperor could hardly be ignored. He soared into the air, happy to get a chance at another massage.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued strolling down the street, thinking to himself, "ording to the information Zhang Feifan gave me, a Martial Aspect''s life is connected to the Imperial Court''s sea of fortune. More than half a year ago, this Martial Aspect suddenly left a letter behind stating that he had to head to Fengdu. Then, not too long thereafter, the sea of fortune revealed that he had perished. He must have left some trace of his whereabouts behind..."


    Just then, a red-robed man walked up to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed. "I greet the Ninth Commander. I have information pertaining to the bounty. Would you be willing to follow me?"


    "Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng stared at the man before him.


    The fact that he was able to recognize his identity at a nce meant that he hade prepared.


    "It doesn''t matter who I am. I''m telling the truth. The man in the bounty is missing a ck mole on his forehead, isn''t he?" The red-robed man smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng instantly deduced that the red-robed man really did know something about the man in the bounty.


    "Who sent you? Where are you bringing me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m only a messenger, Commander. I don''t know the specifics of the information, but my lord wishes for you to join him for a banquet. If you''re unwilling to do so, Commander, I shall take my leave."


    Xiao Nanfeng contemted the situation for a moment. The appearance of the man was suspicious. In Dazheng, he naturally wouldn''t leave with someone of unknown identity, but this was Fengdu. It was unlikely that people would know of him, and he did desperately need information about the Martial Aspect''s demise. This hint might be an important lead that he didn''t want to miss.


    "Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Please follow me." The red-robed man guided the way from the front.


    The red-robed man brought Xiao Nanfeng to a small cottage, where a carriage had been prepared for him.


    "Using a carriage to obscure my whereabouts? There''s no need for such trouble. I''ll simply cover myself with fog. Lead the way."


    He shrouded himself with fog. It was clear that the red-robed man had been following him for some time and had only shown himself once Ye Dafu left. This made Xiao Nanfeng even more curious and wary.


    The two cultivators rushed quickly through the city until they arrived at a barracks. As the red-robed man showed himself, the guards bowed and allowed them entry deep within.


    In a valley shrouded with fog, there seemed to be a formation isting whaty within to whaty without.


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng arrived, someone had been waiting for quite some time.


    "Ah, if it isn''t Commander Xiao. Greetings. I''ve been waiting for some time." The cultivator in the lead smiled.


    "Commander Lie Yang?" Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the fog around him. He was surprised.


    Over thest two days, he had naturally seen portraits of the eightmanders. He recognized Lie Yang immediately.


    "I''ve prepared a banquet for us. Commander Xiao, please enter." Commander Lie Yang smiled and motioned at the banquet hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the fog all around them and said, "An impressive formation indeed. My spiritual power doesn''t seem to be able to prate it. Commander Lie Yang, you aren''t luring me here in an attempt to ambush and kill me, are you?"


    "Commander Xiao, let''s talk more when we''re inside,"Commander Lie Yang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and probed, "Commander Lie Yang, we don''t have to beat around the bush. If you''ve seen the man in the bounty, the man''s death must have been rted to you. Were you the culprit? Are you trying to kill me, now?"


    Commander Lie Yang frowned. "Commander Xiao, you''re far too wary.


    "No, I think not. Rather, your actions are too easy to misunderstand. You wanted me toe here alone without anyone realizing where I was going. You must have some sort of n. I don''t want to waste time talking with you. Did the man in the bounty die at your hands?"


    He was surprised, too. Had he already found the Martial Aspect''s killer so quickly?


    Commander Lie Yang''s face turned cold. "Take him down!"


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    The red-robed man by his side shed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "A Human Immortal? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, drawing his divine undying de.


    The two cultivators shed as green light emanated from the point of impact. The red-robed man''s Immortal sword broke in half.


    "Be careful!"mander Lie Yang cried out.


    The divine undying de''s momentum continued and cut the red-robed man down in a shower of blood.


    The other cultivators who had been rushing forward stopped short.


    "Killing an Immortal in an instant? How could this be?!" the cultivators cried out.


    Commander Lie Yang nched, realizing that he had miscalcted. He instantly closed in on Xiao Nanfeng and punched at him.


    Vexed, Xiao Nanfeng shed at him with his de.


    His de met a fist in a whirlwind of energy, but the formation around them was strong enough to absorb it all. Neither cultivator gained the upper hand during the confrontation.


    "As expected, you''re an Earth Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "And you''re only a Human Immortal. But how could you be this strong?" Commander Lie Yang eximed.


    "Commander Lie Yang, where''s the corpse of the person in the bounty? Why did you kill him?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "We can talk about it once I capture you," Commander Lie Yang replied, pouncing forward once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng sheathed his de and rushed forward. The two cultivators'' fists met in a tempest that sent all the nearby cultivators flying.

 Chapter 385: Heaven Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 385: Heaven Immortal</h4>


    As Commander Lie Yang shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, he saw Xiao Nanfeng''s golden robes turn silver.


    What was he doing, changing clothes in the middle of a battle?


    Lie Yang cocked his head in confusion, but there was no time to concern himself with such trivialities. His fist met Xiao Nanfeng''s fist in a huge explosion that sent everyone else flying. Even he was pushed aside. He fell to the ground and stumbled a few steps before stabilizing himself.


    "How could this be? How could your strength have advanced to this degree? Are you an Earth Immortal? No¡ªyou''re atte-stage Yin Body!" Commander Lie Yang eximed.


    "To think this formation would be able to absorb all the remnant energy from our sh," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, ncing at the fog all around him in surprise.


    To the back of his head, a moon rose into the air.


    "Quick, we have to leave! That''s a deific domain!" a cultivator shouted.


    "Leave? None of you are leaving without rifying the situation." Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, spawning a blizzard in the vicinity. Where it passed by, a few weaker cultivators were instantly frozen into ice sculptures. Commander Lie Yang suffered the bulk of the damage. As the blizzard surged forth, his qi barrier was frozen stiff.


    "Nice deific domain, but my quintessence of srfire counters it!" Commander Lie Yang shouted.


    Countless mes surged toward him from all over, like fog. The cultivators that had just been frozen quickly unfroze. zing mes in the shape of dragons shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, swallowing him whole.


    When Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the golden mes, he found small doors situated all around the sea of mes. The mes didn''t extend beyond the doors; as Commander Lie Yang waved his hands, everyone else was ushered outside. The doors mmed shut.


    Behind Commander Lie Yang was a final small door. He stepped outside and chuckled. "Xiao Nanfeng, let''s see if your blizzard is stronger than my tower that encapstes the quintessence of srfire."


    Commander Lie Yang''s door shut as he left the tower. mes roared once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng now understood that the formation of fog was actually a relic in disguise. The moment he stepped into the fog, he had entered the interior of the relic, a tower filled with mes.


    Golden mes surged toward him, but the element he feared least in the world was fire.


    He returned to his physical body as his silver robes turned back to gold. Ten golden crows flew out of his body, spread their wings, and began to devour the mes all around.


    Outside, Commander Lie Yang sat in front of a tower shining with golden light. The exterior of the tower was shrouded with thick fog; the situation within couldn''t be seen from the outside.


    "Sect Master, why are we taking on Xiao Nanfeng? If the sect master were to find out, we''d all suffer!" one of Lie Yang''s subordinates asked in worry.


    "If you don''t say anything, who would find out?"


    "Sect Master, didn''t you say that we had to be careful about making enemies? Why would you attack Xiao Nanfeng? I really don''t understand, Sect Master!"


    "I naturally have a n in mind," Commander Lie Yang replied, without exining things further.


    "He''s far stronger than we anticipated."


    "It doesn''t matter. He''s in the tower of srfire now, and there''s nothing that he can do. Even an Earth Immortal would be suppressed by the tower. His deific domain might be strong, but how much spiritual power does it drain? He''ll be begging for mercy in no time."


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng called out from within the tower, "Commander Lie Yang, where''s the supposed quintessence of srfire?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re surrounded by it! Are you blind?"


    "This isn''t quintessence of srfire, just facsimile of srfire..."


    His ten golden crows had all hatched from quintessence of srfire; of course he would be able to distinguish the mes immediately. The mes all around them were fake!


    "You mean the quintessence of srfire that exists in the sun? That sort of divine me is near-impossible to find. It only exists in celestial bodies. This is the quintessence of srfire that exists on earth, still one of the most domineering mes!" Lie Yang replied coldly.


    "Facsimile of srfire is just that: a counterfeit. You really are shameless, aren''t you? I suppose it''s still better than nothing. Thanks, then!"


    Commander Lie Yang frowned. Why would Xiao Nanfeng thank him?


    "Sect Master, doesn''t something seem wrong? Xiao Nanfeng''s very rxed for someone trapped in the srfire tower..."


    "He must be feigning. I''ll activate the srfire tower at full force and see just how long he can stand it!"


    Lie Yang did just that. Roaring facsimile of srfire surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained within the tower, happy to have received such an opportunity. He could easily deal with Lie Yang after sucking the tower dry of all the facsimile of srfire it contained.


    The ten golden crows absorbed the mes furiously. Two hourster, Commander Lie Yang finally noticed something amiss.


    "Why isn''t he begging for mercy yet? And he''s consumed so much of my srfire already!"


    "Sect Master, look! The topmost floor of the tower¡ªit''s cracking!" one of his subordinates called out.


    Lie Yang looked up to see a crack at the top of the tower. The next moment, several more cracks formed. The cracks spiderwebbed until they covered the whole of the tower.


    "Impossible. The srfire tower is a Heaven Immortal-ss relic, and the quintessence of srfire it contains can even kill an Earth Immortal. How can it look so... drained?!" Lie Yang eximed.


    The next moment, the tower exploded in a frightening surge of fire and wind. A mushroom cloud erupted over the barracks.


    "My tower! Xiao Nanfeng, what have you done?!" Commander Lie Yang howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng, seated cross-legged in the middle of the mes, slowly opened his eyes and breathed out. "I''ve broken through again¡ªto the seventh stage of a Human Immortal! I have to thank you, Commander Lie Yang."


    Xiao Nanfeng stood up and transformed into his yin body once more. A full moon manifested behind his back as he shot toward Lie Yang.


    The two cultivators again exchanged blows. He sent Lie Yang flying with just one punch. He careened into a mountain and smashed a huge crater in it.


    By then, countless cultivators within the city had heard themotion. They rushed into the air, Lan Jiguang and the sevenmanders among them.


    "Isn''t that Commander Lie Yang''s barracks? Who is he fighting? What a hugemotion!"


    "It''s Xiao Nanfeng, the Ninth Commander! Why are they fighting?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s atte-stage Yin Body?"


    Themanders flew over in surprise.


    By then, Ye Dafu, Chang Bing, and the others had also heard themotion. They rapidly flew into the city.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s fighting!" Chang Bing eximed.


    Ye Dafu immediately shouted, "Everyone, clear the battlefield for His Majesty!"


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu''sckeys replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng clearly had the upper hand; he was knocking Lie Yang flying time and time again. Some of Lie Yang''s subordinates tried to assist him, but Ye Dafu and hisckeys stopped anyone from getting near.


    "Hasn''t Xiao Nanfeng only been in the Taiqing Immortal Sect for a few years? Just how in the world did he cultivate? He''s even stronger than Ye Dafu and those maniacs!" Chang Bing eximed.


    He had hoped to beat up Xiao Nanfeng for what had been done to Lady Yaoguang, but the sight before him made him realize that he wouldn''t be able to do so.


    The othermanders didn''t rush forward; they flew toward Lan Jiguang instead.


    "Lord Lan, this ninthmander you''ve appointed is no ordinary cultivator. He''s atte-stage Yin Body! Not only that, he''spletely suppressing Commander Lie Yang. Aren''t you going to do anything?" onemander asked.


    Lan Jiguang frowned, but didn''t strike right away. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t have started a fight without a good reason.


    "Please calm down, everyone. We''ll talk about thister. For now, protect the people," Lan Jiguang said.


    The sevenmanders nced at Lan Jiguang, confused. They immediately guessed that he was hiding something big.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng had been particrly restrained during the fight. He did his best to direct all attacks upwards to avoid having any residual shockwaves striking themon people. Fortunately, Fengdu was a particrlyrge city, and they were far away from the residential district.


    "Commander Lie Yang, it''s time to end things! Otherwise, I''ll beat you to death," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Commander Lie Yang fled toward a hall shrouded with fog. He shouted, "Save me!"


    "No one can save you now." Xiao Nanfeng flew straight to him and downed him with a punch.


    Lie Yang, struck by Xiao Nanfeng''s fist, spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air and careened toward that hall. Just then, a bestial howl emerged from the hall, forming an aural attack that smashed the gates to the hall wide open before striking Lie Yang''s prone body and halting his momentum.


    Then, a fist cloaked in ck aura shot out of the hall rapidly, chasing after Xiao Nanfeng. The fist conveyed an aura of intense strength, shocking Xiao Nanfeng and forcing him to defend. Xiao Nanfeng flew hundreds of meters back before he finally caught himself.


    "What incredible strength. Could you be a Heaven Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "A Heaven Immortal? How could that be? Who is it?" themanders afar cried out.


    The strongest cultivator in Fengdu, Lan Jiguang, was only an Earth Immortal. Where did this supposed Heaven Immortale from?


    While everyone was perplexed, a ck-robed man slowly walked out of the hall. He looked so fearsome that a single nce caused any spectator to shudder involuntarily.


    "Impossible!" Lan Jiguang cried out. "How could it be?"


    Everyone else seemed shocked. "Isn''t this the person whom Xiao Nanfeng put a bounty on? So he was here!"


    "Didn''t that Martial Aspect die? How could he be alive?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 386: Yin

    <h4>Chapter 386: Yin</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng had imagined that the killer of the Martial Aspect was intending to kill him and prevent him from looking into the Martial Aspect''s death¡ªbut the Martial Aspect turned out to be alive!


    The Martial Aspect struck with the aura of a Heaven Immortal, forming a tempest around himself and causing dust to billow into the air.


    The Martial Aspect was expressionless, but a demonic aura emanated from his body and caused everyone to feel uneasy.


    Lan Jiguang rushed up toward Xiao Nanfeng, as did Ye Dafu and hisckeys. They were all on guard against the Martial Aspect.


    However, the Martial Aspect didn''t take advantage of the opportunity to strike. He turned toward Lie Yang. "You can''t even handle such a trivial task?"


    "I never expected Xiao Nanfeng to be so strong. His physical body is at the peak of a Human Immortal, while his spiritual cultivation is atte-stage Yin Body. He even destroyed one of my Heaven Immortal relics. I''m no match for him," Lie Yang replied.


    The Martial Aspect considered Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "You''re Xiao Nanfeng? Why have you been searching for me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment. "How might I address you, Sir?"


    Lan Jiguang nced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. Xiao Nanfeng had all the information regarding this Martial Aspect; why was he asking such a question?


    "You ced a bounty on me without knowing who I was?" the Martial Aspect demanded.


    "I know who I''m looking for, of course, but you are not him. Who are you?"


    The Martial Aspect''s eyes narrowed.


    "How bold you are to kill and possess this Martial Aspect. Do you know whom this body belonged to? aren''t you afraid of dying?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    A Martial Aspect was connected to the Imperial Court via its sea of fortune, which would show whether a Martial Aspect was dead or alive. That bond couldn''t be faked, which meant that the person before him couldn''t be that Martial Aspect. The obvious answer was possession.


    Lan Jiguang understood all this in the blink of an eye. He breathed out and stared at the Martial Aspect.


    "No one of this world can kill me," the Martial Aspect replied proudly. "You must be mistaken. I am not the person whom you seek. I simply look like the person in your bounty."


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. He was certain that this was the Martial Aspect, but why was he avoiding his questioning? What sort of ridiculous excuse was ''lookalike''? Was he trying to probe what Xiao Nanfeng would do?


    "Perhaps," Xiao Nanfeng replied, going along with things. "How might I address you?"


    The Martial Aspect smiled, having gotten a sense of things. Xiao Nanfeng was here to investigate him, but only because doing so was profitable, not because of some grudge or enmity. He wouldn''t insist on dragging things out.


    "You can call me ''Yin,''" the Martial Aspect replied.


    "Yin? I apologize for the bother."


    Yin nodded. He didn''t want to fight. He continued to stare thoughtfully at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Lan Jiguang called out, "Yin, might I ask what you''re doing in Fengdu?"


    Yin didn''t speak further. Commander Lie Yang immediately reported, "Lord, I specifically invited Senior Yin as an honored guest to help me handle the demons of the abyss. When I saw that Xiao Nanfeng had ced a bounty on him for some reason, I invited him here to exin the situation. Then, not only did he kill my disciple, he even ruined my Immortal relic. He''spletely undisciplined and out of control. Lord, please help adjudicate!"


    "And what say you, Commander Xiao?" Lan Jiguang asked.


    "Commander Lie Yang wasn''t here to ask me to exin the situation. He was preparing to kill me, and I was only acting in self-defense."


    The sevenmanders gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Xiao Nanfeng had been pummeling Lie Yang to a pulp. That was self-defense? Did he have a wed understanding of what self-defense meant?


    "Enough. There''s no need to press things further," Yin suddenly said.


    "Understood!" Commander Lie Yang immediately replied.


    Yin continued, "I invited Xiao Nanfeng here as a guest. Since he''s unwilling to remain, let''s forget it. We''ll end things here today."


    The gathered cultivators were all taken aback. Was Yin ending the conversation here, then?


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang eyed each other, each havinge to a conclusion.


    "In that case, we''re done here," Lan Jiguang said.


    The other cultivators were all perplexed, none having expected such an oue.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang were the first to leave. Ye Dafu, Chang Bing, and the others followed closely behind. The sevenmanders nced askance at each other before following suit.


    The atmosphere in Fengdu seemed to change somehow.


    Not longter, within the Fengdu Hall, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang discussed what had just happened.


    "I never expected things to progress so smoothly. We found a clue this quickly¡ªthe Martial Aspect is dead and has been possessed. The culprit must have been this ''Yin,''" Lan Jiguang said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "There''s something wrong with him. He has the strength of a Heaven Immortal, so why did he hold back?"


    "Why wouldn''t he? He wouldn''t want me to strike, after all. I might only be an Earth Immortal, but within Fengdu, Imand the city lord''s seal and can suppress even a Heaven Immortal. Even if he''s able to beat me, the divine empire of Dayin will only send a stronger Heaven Immortal to get rid of him. He wouldn''t dare attack us," Lan Jiguang said, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "He dared to kill even a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. He wouldn''t be worried about the city lord of a divine empire."


    Lan Jiguang suddenly narrowed his eyes. "You''re right. I was being conceited. What do you think the situation is?"


    "I have two hypotheses."


    "Oh?"


    "The first hypothesis is that he possessed the Martial Aspect''s body but can''t reliably summon the power of a Heaven Immortal. There''s something wrong with his body, so he didn''t dare press things further. I suspect, however, that this is very unlikely. The second hypothesis is that there are other Heaven Immortals in Fengdu."


    "Other Heaven Immortals?" Lan Jiguang eximed.


    "Exactly. Yin is simply worried that other Heaven Immortals willunch sneak attacks on him if he does make a move¡ªperhaps a nemesis or some other mortal enemy of his.


    Lan Jiguang considered this possibility for a moment before ultimately nodding. "If not for your bounty, I would never have imagined that such affairs were taking ce in Fengdu..."


    "Senior Uncle, considering why that Martial Aspect came to Fengdu, the sudden appearance of Yin, and the Heaven Immortals that might potentially still be hidden, it''s clear that there''s something that has lured them all to Fengdu. You''ve been a city lord for many years, and are extremely familiar with the city. Has anything strange happenedtely?"


    "Nothing," Lan Jiguang replied. "I''ve been asking around thesest two days. Nothing exceptional has happened while I was gone. Only Lie Yang''s behavior seems to have changed."


    "Oh?"


    "Lie Yang used to be a cautious man who was unwilling to make anyone his enemy. Recently, however, he seems to have grown far more impetuous. He deliberately ambushed you despite knowing little of your capabilities¡ªit''s almost like he''s a different man entirely," Lan Jiguang exined.


    "Perhaps he is. Could he also have been possessed, Senior Uncle?"


    Lan Jiguang''s eyes widened. That was quite usible!


    "Something major is going to unfold in Fengdu," Xiao Nanfeng dered.

 Chapter 387: The Powerful Yin

    <h4>Chapter 387: The Powerful Yin</h4>


    Dayster, in the evening, within a forested region of Fengdu, ck smoke spread far and wide around the forest. It was most concentrated in a certain valley, a three-hundred-meter-wide circr depression into an abyss. A malevolent aura filled the air.


    The mountain peaks around the abyss were filled with soldiers from Fengdu. Lan Jiguang and the ninemanders had all brought their troops, prepared to deal with the demons that emerged from it.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang stood at the peak of a mountain range, looking at the mountains in the vicinity.


    "Yin''s standing by Commander Lie Yang''s side. He''s here too! It looks like his target is within the abyss," Lan Jiguang murmured.


    "Why is it that demons only emerge from the abyss during the full moon? Don''t theye out under ordinary circumstances?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This abyss is likely the doorway into an illusory realm that has been sealed. Only during the full moon will the seal loosen and allow for passage in and out. That said, ordinary cultivators wouldn''t be able to do so."


    "Oh?"


    "The divine empire of Dayin sent a delegation over to investigate. The Immortals headed inside, and they remained for an entire month. None of the Human or Earth Immortals made it out; only a Heaven Immortal, body drenched in blood, escaped. He said that helly within, that something deeply sinister and malevolent was there. Then, he too died."


    "It''s that dangerous?"


    "That''s right. My wife was a Heaven Immortal when she was dragged within, and Heaven Immortals can make it out of the abyss. That''s why I think she may have survived. I''ve been cultivating earnestly in order to be a Heaven Immortal and descend to search for her myself," Lan Jiguang said resolutely.


    "Why not ask for assistance from the Shangqing holynd?"


    "My wife''s brother is an expert Heaven Immortal and entered the abyss himself. When he emerged, he too was weakened for a long period of time. He said that he couldn''t find my wife." Lan Jiguang sighed.


    "In other words, a Heaven Immortal can enter and make it out safely?"


    "Not necessarily. My brother-inw cultivates the Shangqing Blue Moon, which is particrly devastating against cursed effigies. That was how he made it out¡ªand even then, he had to recuperate for an extended period of time back in the Shangqing holynd."


    Just then, as the full moon rose, the bright moonlight beamed into the abyss, forming what seemed like a pale, ghostly hand. ck smoke surged forth from between its fingers like an inverted fall, dyeing the skies ck.


    "This looks a bit like the Heaven''s Hand seal..." Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Suddenly, fierce howls came from the abyss.


    "Everyone, watch out. The demons are about to break out of the seal. All forces, prepare to ughter the demons!" Lan Jiguangmanded.


    "Understood!" the soldiers all around replied.


    The next moment, the first demon emerged from deep within the abyss, a humanoid creature with festering skin and a dull look in its eyes. Deathly aura manifested around it; it was like a zombie. It twisted its head and made a rictus of a smile, a radiant, rainbow-colored chain in its hands jingling as it moved.


    "Is that an Immortal relic?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s right. There are frequent injuries and even deaths here during the fighting, but why do you think the forces continue to gather here so earnestly? It isn''t mainly because of the fortune conferred by the divine empire of Dayin, but rather the Immortal relics that these abyssal demons bring with them. That said, Immortal relics are still extremely rare¡ªso what''s going on now? The first demon out had an Immortal relic!" Lan Jiguang seemed somewhat perplexed.


    "An Immortal relic! Everyone, attack!" someone shouted.


    "Attack!" The cultivators charged forward.


    The demon raised its head. Seeing the cultivators charging toward him, it howled and flung out the chains in its hands.


    The chains glowed with blinding light and bound a dozen or so cultivators all at once.


    "I can''t move! Save us, Commander!" the bound cultivators cried out.


    Unexpectedly, the demon was far faster than it appeared. Within moments, it had dragged all the cultivators toward the abyss.


    "You won''t get away with this!" onemander shouted,unching himself at the demon.


    He bisected the demon, but it had tossed the chain of bound cultivators into the abyss before its death.


    "Save us!" Deste cries came from deep within, but no one dared to brave the perils of the abyss.


    "The Immortal relic!" the other cultivators roared.


    The two halves of the demonnded on the ground and continued to crawl toward other cultivators.


    "You''re trying to continue making a mess even after being split in two? Die!" themander shouted.


    With a sh of his sword, the demon was ripped apart and vanished in a cloud of smoke.


    Then, even more demons climbed out of the abyss,cking any semnce of rationality. They roared and charged toward the cultivators all around them, as though intending to drag the whole world into the abyss.


    Shouts rang out as the armies made their move, ughtering the demons en masse.


    The fighting raged on by the mouth of the abyss.


    Then, another demon showed up with the rainbow chains from before.


    "That Immortal relic is back. We can''t let it escape again. Quick, attack!"


    "Kill!"


    The fighting grew more and more violent.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang stood vignt, not yet having made a move.


    "Are all these demons cursed ves?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He had seen plenty of cursed ves within the undying realm. With the exception of an extremely rare few who were able to retain their rationality even as cursed ves, the rest were essentially dead. Their physical bodies would slowly dpose until they became zombie-like, just like the demons in front of them.


    "They are, but they''re different from usual. These cursed ves emanate some form of deathly aura. Although their physical bodies are dposing, they can regenerate within the abyss. We once encountered a cursed ve whose arms we cut off before it managed to escape back into the abyss. Yearster, it showed up again. By then, however, its physical body had dposed even further. That''s why we refer to these cursed ves as demons."


    "Oh? These demons are all mutated cursed ves, then? In other words, the cursed effigy deep within the abyss must be sending them out with the goal of capturing more prisoners to be made into cursed ves..."


    Lan Jiguang nodded with some distaste.


    "Could your wife have be a cursed ve, Senior Uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng continued, worried.


    "As long as she remains alive. She cultivates the Taiqing Blue Moon, and it may help her preserve her sanity. Once I find her, I''ll immediately bring her to the Shangqing holynd for treatment. There might yet be a chance." Lan Jiguang replied steadfastly, though there was a glimmer of worry in his features.


    His wife could indeed still be alive, but that chance was vanishingly slim.


    "So many demons¡ªand they''re all carrying Immortal relics!"


    "This many Immortal relics?!"


    Many of the cultivators cried out as a group of demons surged out from the abyss with dozens of Immortal relics in hand.


    "Commanders, we won''t have to fight for treasure this time. Whoever kills these demons shall be rewarded with their relics, haha!" onemander eximed.


    The fighting grew even more intense.


    "These demons are as strong as Human Immortals..."


    "Why are there so many demons? I won''t be able to hold on much longer!"


    Gradually, the demons seemed to gain the upper hand.


    "Master, something''s wrong! The demons this time are far stronger and more numerous than before. There are almost ten times the number¡ªsomething''s going to happen!" Chang Bing shouted from afar.


    By then, all three hundred members of the Green Battalion had taken to the battlefield. They were particrly strong, and their attacks formed tempests over the battlefield. However, the demons that they faced were incredibly strong as well, and growing even stronger. Gradually, they were able to form defensive lines that held back the Green Battalion in full.


    "At least a hundred demons with the strength of Human Immortals, and some Earth Immortals, too... What''s going on today?!" Lan Jiguang cried out.


    Ye Dafu and the others, astonished, looked toward Xiao Nanfeng as they awaited his orders.


    "Gather together. Focus on the safety of our troops first. If everyone''s set, then help out the Green Battalion," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    The abyss continued to howl. The ck smoke emanating from the abyss grew thicker and more concentrated. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as all themanders'' forces were suppressed. More and more cultivators were being pulled into the abyss as screams filled the air.


    "Activate the defensive formation around Fengdu!" Lan Jiguangmanded.


    "Understood!" voices chorused from the direction of the city.


    The formation activated in a burst of golden light.


    Lan Jiguang was about to charge forward when Xiao Nanfeng held him back by the shoulder. "Senior Uncle, look at the sky!"


    "Hm?" Lan Jiguang turned in the direction that Xiao Nanfeng was pointing toward.


    At some point, Yin had risen into the sky. His back to the full moon, his eyes demonic, he bellowed.


    His bellow echoed across the air, causing everyone to shudder. The demons suddenly stopped short and looked up at the sky.


    ck smoke bubbled from Yin''s body. The ck smoke slowly condensed in the form of a giant, demonic tiger. It bellowed once again.


    The demons immediately prostrated themselves, letting go of their opponents, flying into the air, and into the tiger''s mouth.


    Yin swallowed up the countless demons emerging from the abyss in a continuous stream.


    Everyone gaped. Even a Heaven Immortal wouldn''t be this strong. Just how much stronger was Yin?

 Chapter 388: The Tiger Yanluo Lord, Yin

    <h4>Chapter 388: The Tiger Yanluo Lord, Yin</h4>


    Yin swallowed up the countless demons that had emerged from the abyss in a continuous stream.


    His appearance and subsequent actions shocked every cultivator on the battlefield.


    "Is Yin really just a Heaven Immortal? This is far too much!" themanders cried out.


    "How strong was the Martial Aspect in the dossier that Zhang Feifan gave you?" Lan Jiguang asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I don''t know. The seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court each have their own trump cards, and no one will expose their true strength without necessity. However, this ability to... devour these demons... couldn''t havee from the Martial Aspect''s original body. It must be Yin''s," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Not too longter, the endless demons that had gued and caused the cultivators to despair were all devoured.


    Yin still seemed unsatisfied. He widened his mouth and continued to absorb the ck smoke and demons from the abyss straight into his mouth.


    Yin had suddenly be the star of the battlefield. Everyone watched with bated breath as he made his move.


    Suddenly, the Heaven''s Hand seal released blinding white light. Yin stopped short.


    The next moment, the hand forming the seal rushed into the air and held Yin within its palm. A tempest formed around him. An endless supply of moonlight shot toward the giant hand, infusing it with lunar energy.


    "The seal of the abyss is targeting Yin now¡ªhe''s been trapped!" someone cried out.


    "Quick, help me rescue Yin!" Commander Lie Yang shouted.


    He was the first to rush into the air, shing at the hand with a sword. The hand released a burst of bright light that sent him flying.


    "Isn''t that seal meant for the demons? Why would it attack Yin?" Many cultivators seemed confused.


    The next moment, another hum came from the abyss. Countless demons surged out. Unlike before, however, these demons wore armor and marched in sync, just like a trained army.


    Their ghastly, malevolent aura caused themanders and their forces to retreat in fear.


    A few demons at the back emerged with a huge dragon carriage. It was pitch-ck and shining; in contrast with the ragged and tattered demons, it looked ornate and elegant.


    The carriage emerged from the mouth of the abyss. Countless demons suddenly knelt toward it, as though showing obeisance to their monarch.


    The demon army boasted an incredible aura, to the point that several of the cultivators retreated once more. The Green Battalion, Ye Dafu, and others flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang in shock.


    Just then, the curtain draping one side of the carriage was held aside by a demon dressed like a pce maiden. A woman stepped out from the carriage, wearing a draconic robe with golden motifs on ck brocade. A crown of ck jade adorned her head. She looked toward the sky, her eyes shing with pride. Her presence alone gave off an imposing aura that caused others to shrink back in fear.


    "Thank you, Tiger Yanluo, for uncovering the seal of the abyss." The female monarch looked toward the giant hand in the air and smiled.


    The hand shook and trembled; clearly, Yin was still struggling within.


    "How dare you scheme against me, Rabbit Yanluo! You ruined my ns and caused Heaven''s Hand to turn against me so that you might escape! Die!" Yin roared.


    "Someone has to be the sacrifice, after all. For instance, the Snake Yanluo sacrificed herself for the good of the Dragon Yanluo. Your sacrifice shall benefit me. Doesn''t that fit? You''ll regenerate soon enough. This time, let me take over the world first." The female monarch, the Rabbit Yanluo, smiled.


    With a wave of her hand, demons continued to pour out of the abyss. Struck by the Rabbit Yanluo''s authority, all the demons kowtowed and bowed toward her.


    Themanders and officials of Fengdu gaped in shock. Yin''s appearance was shocking enough; now, a demon monarch had made an appearance. Was Fengdu about to be beset by a crisis beyondpare?


    "We have to run!" amander shouted.


    Themanders recalled their subordinates and began to flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself watched on with bated breath. He suddenly recalled the paper figure that had worked closely with Nn Qiankun. She was the Snake Yanluo, and had once mentioned the ten Yanluo Lords. Could Yin and the Rabbit Yanluo be two among them? [1]


    There had been a Heaven''s Hand sealing away one of the ten Yanluo Lords here all this time...


    Just then, golden light emerged from between the fingers of Heaven''s Hand, illuminating heaven and earth. The hand trembled; Yin was freed. Then, it shot back down toward the Rabbit Yanluo.


    "What?" The Rabbit Yanluo met the heavenly hand with a palm strike of her own.


    The dragon carriage beside her burst as the Rabbit Yanluo shot into the air to fend off Heaven''s Hand. Struck by the palm, she spat out a mouthful of blood. A shockwave of overwhelming strength emanated from the point of impact, instantly causing many of the mountain peaks all around to copse.


    Countless demons were suppressed by Heaven''s Hand andy syed on the ground, heavily injured. The Rabbit Yanluo wouldn''t be able to persist for long. She was pushed back toward the abyss.


    "What have you done, Tiger Yanluo? Why would Heaven''s Hand free you? This is impossible!" the Rabbit Yanluo howled.


    High in the air, a seal of golden light encapsted Yin, making him look like a font of radiance. However, the seal was immediately starting to crack.


    "I have the seal of the Imperial Court of this era. Heaven''s Hand will view me as someone with positive alignment and leave me be. Unfortunately, the seal can only be used once, but that''s enough." Yin smiled.


    "You possessed an official of this era''s Imperial Court? How much luckier could you get? No¡ªhave you been nning this all along? Are you intending to absorb my demonic forces?!" the Rabbit Yanluo eximed.


    "It''s your fault for scheming against me. I''ll happily take control of your demonic forces on your behalf. Rabbit Yanluo, it''s time for you to return. Once I finish developing my infernal domain, I''ll break this seal then, haha!" Yinughed.


    "No! Die, Tiger Yanluo!" the Rabbit Yanluo roared.


    Heaven''s Hand shoved her straight back into the depths of the abyss, sealing it shut just like it had been before.


    Countless demonic forces turned around and attempted to flee back into the abyss.


    "You''re all mine now. None of you will be able to get away!" Yin cried out.


    With another howl, Yin began to absorb all the demons into his mouth. The demons were unable to struggle at all. His aura grew stronger and stronger.


    Themanders who had already fled gasped in shock. Everything had happened far too quickly. Who would have anticipated that Yin would suddenly take control of the abyssal forces in a coup?


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he looked into the distance. "Senior Uncle, things are going very wrong. Yin looks to be a foe we''ll have to contend with. You need to seek assistance from the divine empire of Dayin immediately!"


    However, Lan Jiguang didn''t respond. He turned to Lan Jiguang, only to find him agitated, his eyes red.


    "What''s the matter, Senior Uncle?"


    To his side, Chang Bing cried out, "Master, I wasn''t mistaken, was I? Wasn''t that your wife?"


    "It is her!" Lan Jiguang''s eyes welled with tears.


    "The Rabbit Yanluo? She''s possessed Senior Uncle''s wife?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It is her! She really is still alive¡ªonly possessed by a cursed effigy!" Lan Jiguang cried out, wiping away his tears.


    "But the Rabbit Yanluo seems particrly strong. Are you certain your wife still retains her will?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with concern.


    Lan Jiguang sucked in a deep breath. "I''m concerned as well. From their earlier conversation, I know that there has to be at least one Yanluo Lord within this abyss, and they''re scheming against each other. The Rabbit Yanluo must have been heavily wounded after being mmed back into the abyss by Heaven''s Hand. I need to head down there in search of my wife!"


    "Senior Uncle, you''re only an Earth Immortal. Weren''t you going to wait until you became a Heaven Immortal first?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately advised.


    Lan Jiguang shook his head. "There''s no time. I''m certain that, if I were to miss this opportunity, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I might not be a Heaven Immortal just yet, but I have the Taiqing Red Moon. If I can''t defeat my opponents, my yin body will retreat to the red moon illusory realm. At worst, I''ll discard my physical body."


    "Senior Uncle, your physical body really might not be able to make it back..." Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "I know, but I don''t care!" Lan Jiguang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know what else to say.


    "Master, if you head down there, what will we do? You can''t go!" Chang Bing fretted.


    "Green Battalion, listen up!" Lan Jiguang suddenly shouted.


    "Present!" all the members of the Green Battalion replied.


    "From now on, before I return, Xiao Nanfeng will be in charge of the Green Battalion and the Earth division. Everyone is to listen to his orders."


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng, in charge of the Earth division?" Chang Bing eximed.


    "Do you understand?" Lan Jiguang demanded.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the members of the Green Battalion replied, somewhat despondent.


    Lan Jiguang then turned to Fengdu andmanded, "People of Fengdu, your lord, Lan Jiguang, will be temporarily unable to defend Fengdu for the moment. Henceforth, I dere the ninthmander, Xiao Nanfeng, acting city lord of Fengdu, with full authority over all matters of lordship!"


    Themanders fleeing toward the city gave Lan Jiguang astonished looks. The officials and people of the city, however, immediately replied in the affirmative.


    Lan Jiguang turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, I trust your judgment and approach for handling things, and Chang Bing won''t be able to deal with all thosemanders. If I don''t return, please have the sect mastere handle the affairs of the earth division. I''m counting on you."


    Xiao Nanfeng, knowing that he wouldn''t be able to stop Lan Jiguang, sighed and nodded. "I''ll do what I can."


    "Thank you."


    Then, Lan Jiguang handed him a storage bangle. "The tokens and seals of the city lord and the Earth division leader are here. Again, thank you."


    Then, Lan Jiguang rushed straight toward the abyss.


    "Master!" Chang Bing cried out anxiously.


    However, Lan Jiguang ignored him. He jumped down into the abyss and vanished from sight.


    1. Apparently the ten Yanluo Lords are associated with the twelve zodiac animals. The twelve zodiac animals can be divided into six pairs by proximity; the snake and dragon form a pair, as do the rabbit and tiger, and so on. Each member of a pair counters the other. It''s unclear why there are two fewer Yanluo Lords than zodiac animals at present. ?

 Chapter 389: Xiao Nanfeng Frightens Yin

    <h4>Chapter 389: Xiao Nanfeng Frightens Yin</h4>


    At the mouth of the abyss, Xiao Nanfeng sighed as he watched Lan Jiguang jump in.


    "What do we do now, Your Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked anxiously.


    Although Chang Bing didn''t want to ept Xiao Nanfeng''s leadership, he and the rest of the Green Battalion had no choice but to rely on him.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Yin in the sky. He sent a mental transmission to ck Lotus in his mindscape. "Senior, do you know what Yin is doing?"


    Within his mindscape, ck Lotu replied, forming words with ck light, "I''m not from the same era as the ten Yanluo Lords, but I can make a few guesses as to the situation."


    "Please enlighten me, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "The hidden realm within the abyss has likely been sealed by the heavens, targeting the ten Yanluo Lords specifically. That''s why it doesn''t hinder ordinary demons from passing into and out of the abyss. If the ten Yanluo Lords want to leave, however, they''ll need to discard all that they possess, including their cursed spiritual power, until their aura is faint as can be. Only then will they be able to bypass the seal.


    "That Martial Aspect likely entered the abyss and was possessed by Yin within. Yin borrowed his body to fool the seal. Although he escaped from the abyss, his cursed spiritual power had all been left within it. The Yin you encountered wasn''t only weak, but could even have sunk into oblivion at any moment. That was why it didn''t press the attack against you."


    "Oh?"


    "But before Yin escaped from the abyss, it likely set up a n on the other side so that the demons under its control would bring its cursed spiritual power out tonight. The reason it was absorbing these demons was to absorb its own cursed spiritual power. It''ll be able to regenerate and grow stronger as a result," ck Lotus replied.


    "So that''s how it is."


    "But the Rabbit Yanluo noticed Yin''s ns and took advantage of them to cause Yin to be discovered by Heaven''s Hand. As a result, the seal was weakened, allowing the Rabbit Yanluo''s escape. It tried to take the opportunity to leave with its own cursed spiritual power, only to fall prey to Yin''s own countermeasure."


    "Is Yin going to be exceptionally dangerous now that it''s absorbing all these demons?"


    "No, he isn''t like the Snake Yanluo from before. The Snake Yanluo might have been obliterated, but before that, she had managed to escape from the abyss with her cursed spiritual avatar. Despite herter weakness, she still controlled the paper figure, the paper snakes, and her Yanluo Court. Yin, on the other hand, ended up possessing a Martial Aspect''s physical body. Its cursed spiritual avatar is likely still within the abyss, and it doesn''t have a receptacle to store its cursed spiritual power. Thus, after it absorbed so much cursed spiritual power, it''s going to be somewhat incapacitated for a while as it digests this energy and transforms it into a more amenable form for its body. You won''t be in danger for the short term," the ck lotus said.


    "Why don''t they bring their cursed spiritual avatars out?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Cursed spiritual avatars are particrly difficult to regenerate. Other than the Snake Yanluo, who would want their cursed avatars to be destroyed? Even if it''s eventually restored, it''ll be extremely weak. The Snake Yanluo''s state makes it clear."


    "Thank you, Senior."


    The ck lotus quieted down.


    Just then, Chang Bing urged from beside Xiao Nanfeng, "Xiao Nanfeng, if we don''t retreat now, when would we do so? Yin''s about to finish absorbing all the demons by the mouth of the abyss!"


    "All generals, listen up," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Present!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out.


    "Gather up the Immortal relics at the mouth of the abyss."


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and the others flew over.


    "Are you crazy? You''re going to steal from Yin? You''ll die if you head over there now!" Chang Bing roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He too flew toward the mouth of the abyss, on guard against Yin as Ye Dafu and the others began to gather the Immortal relics.


    "Hold it, Xiao Nanfeng! Those Immortal relics aren''t for you!" Commander Lie Yang shouted from high above. Then, he shouted at his subordinates, "Go im them now!"


    "Understood!" Lie Yang''s subordinates replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and challenged the Green Battalion. "What are all of you waiting for? Even if you don''t dare touch these Immortal relics, can''t you at least stop others from getting them either?"


    The Green Battalion turned to Chang Bing for guidance.


    "If Yin strikes, I''Ill stop him. Hurry! Or do you intend to disobey my orders?"


    Chang Bing gritted his teeth. "Attack!"


    "Understood!" The forces of the Green Battalion rushed forward.


    With a crash, the Green Battalion blocked Commander Lie Yang''s subordinates.


    Commander Lie Yang met a show of being frustrated as he watched Yin. He was guarding Yin at present, and couldn''t join in the melee for the Immortal relics. He could only watch on as Ye Dafu and the others scooped them all up.


    Just then, Yin finally swallowed thest demon. It floated in the air, eyes shut, tabting its gains from this venture. ck smoke roiled around him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you have to flee! Yin''s on his way!" Chang Bing urged.


    "It''s no matter." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head before shouting, "Commander Lie Yang, as acting lord of Fengdu, I hereby inform you that your collusion with a cursed effigy of the abyss has caused significant injury and death to the cultivators of Fengdu. I absolve you of your duties asmander, with further penalties pending the city lord''s return. You and your subordinates are not to take a single step into Fengdu."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you!" Lie Yang thundered.


    Chang Bing widened his mouth, sure that he was mistaken. Xiao Nanfeng might have been prosecuting Lie Yang, but was clearly provoking Yin. Did he have a death wish?


    The othermanders, hiding far away, gaped. "Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng worried about what Yin will do in retaliation?"


    "As for you, Yin! You are not wee in the Immortal city of Fengdu, either. From now on, I ask that you not take a single step into the city," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Chang Bing and the others, including themanders hiding far in the distance, gaped as if Xiao Nanfeng were mad. Yin had easily absorbed even Earth Immortal demons. How would Xiao Nanfeng be able to withstand his might?


    Yin suddenly opened his eyes, which zed with hellfire. He red at Xiao Nanfeng down below.


    "Do you know with whom you speak?" Yin demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng refused to back down. "Yin, from your conversation with the Rabbit Yanluo, it''s clear that you knew the cultivator you possessed came from the Imperial Court. If I can find you, then so can its cultivators. Remaining in Fengdu would only lead to your demise, and I''m sure you don''t want your nning to go to waste."


    "You dare threaten me?"


    "I serve as acting lord of Fengdu, with the responsibility of protecting the city on my senior uncle''s behalf. If you remain in Fengdu, you would be a threat, a ticking bomb. You must go. Call it a threat if you wish: I will take you on if I must."


    Ye Dafu and the others swiftly gathered behind Xiao Nanfeng, fighting spirit roused.


    The other cultivators remained open-mouthed in shock. What in the world was Xiao Nanfeng trying to aplish?


    Yin continued to re at Xiao Nanfeng. After a moment''s silence, he sneered. "Good, very good! Just you wait, Xiao Nanfeng. I''lle find you very quickly."


    "Then you had better show up! I still need to avenge the cultivator you possessed with your head."


    "Just you wait!" Yin flew into the distance.


    "We leave now!" Lie Yang shouted.


    Lie Yang and his forces likewise vanished over the horizon.


    Xiao Nanfeng had predicted that all this would happen; the other cultivators seemed far more surprised.


    "Why? Why would Yin flee like that?" Chang Bing muttered.


    "Did Xiao Nanfeng really scare Yin off? That''s impossible..." themanders murmured.


    Although the situation was iprehensible to most, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng really had, incredibly, held Yin off.


    "Return to the city!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Ah, yes!" the soldiers of the Green Battalion replied.


    As everyone else watched in shock, the acting city lord, Xiao Nanfeng, returned to Fengdu.

 Chapter 390: Immortal Relics as Bounty

    <h4>Chapter 390: Immortal Relics as Bounty</h4>


    At daybreak, under the gaze of countless cultivators, Xiao Nanfeng flew back into Fengdu.


    Everyone could see that Xiao Nanfeng had imed almost all the Immortal relics from beneath Yin''s watchful gaze, a windfall of dozens of Immortal relics at once. The cultivators'' eyes turned red with envy.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the za outside Fengdu Hall and instructed the others, "Guard Fengdu Hall until I leave it."


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and Chang Bing replied, despite not knowing what he was nning.


    The door to Fengdu Hall mmed shut.


    A huge blood peach tree appeared within the hall out of nowhere.


    "Senior, thank you for taking the time to watch over the city while I was gone. Did anything happen in the meantime?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    The blood peach tree''s branches shook. Many peach blossoms fell to the ground; the petals formed words. "As you expected, one of Yin''s rivals was hiding in Fengdu. While Yin was absorbing the abyssal demons, it almost moved to attack Yin several times, but ultimately resisted the temptation to do so."


    "Oh? Is it another of the ten Yanluo Lords?"


    The blood peach tree formed more words. "If I''m not mistaken, it''s the goat zodiac. It too has possessed a Heaven Immortal."


    "They really are everywhere, aren''t they? Where is it?"


    "It followed Yin out of the city when you barred Yin ess. It''s likely going tounch a sneak attack on Yin."


    "It''s already left Fengdu? Wonderful. That''ll save me some work, then." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then asked, "Senior, do you know how dangerous that abyss is?"


    "I''ve been gone from that illusory realm for too long. The situation within is likelypletely different from how I remember it, but without any exception, the most dangerous entities within are the Yanluo Lords."


    "Do you have any means of dealing with them, Senior?"


    "Deal with the Yanluo Lords in the world atrge. I''ll absorb their cursed spiritual power and grow strong enough to handle those within the illusory realm."


    "I''ve roused Yin''s ire, Senior, and it''s sure to seek revenge on me once it digests the cursed spiritual power it absorbed. How might I deal with it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The blood peach tree was silent for a moment. "I am no match for it. You will have to handle it yourself."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Senior."


    The blood peach tree shook as it vanished from sight, returning to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat in the Fengdu Hall, deep in thought. Finally, he released a breath and opened the door.


    The moment he did so, he heard a hubbub outside.


    "All of us obtained those Immortal relics together. You can''t just take them all!"


    "Right, all our forces suffered injuries and deaths. We deserve a portion of the Immortal relics too."


    "Hand over the Immortal relics!"


    The sevenmanders were arguing with Ye Dafu and the others for their share of the Immortal relics.


    When Xiao Nanfeng left the hall, everyone turned toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you intending to im all the spoils for yourself?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, no one but the divine empire of Dayin can dere you the acting city lord!"


    "The Immortal relics don''t belong to you!"


    Themanders all began to make a fuss. No one was satisfied with Xiao Nanfeng being the acting city lord.


    Xiao Nanfeng was in no rush. He turned to the gatheredmanders. "I imed these relics from Yin''s possession myself. It''s unrted to any of you."


    "We participated in the battle too. Of course the spoils ought to be divided with us!" themanders replied.


    "That said, I would be amenable to distributing these Immortal relics," Xiao Nanfeng continued, smiling.


    "Oh?" Themanders quieted down as they looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in anticipation.


    "As acting lord of Fengdu, I''ll give you one opportunity to obtain these Immortal relics. Consider it a bounty I''m issuing."


    "A bounty?" Themanders didn''t understand what Xiao Nanfeng was trying to get at.


    "If you want the Immortal relics, im them with your own skill. Do you see my twelve subordinates here? If any of you can make them surrender to you in a fight, all the relics here will be yours. I won''t take a single one."


    "What?" Themanders gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys nced toward Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment. This was an amazing boon!


    "Ye Dafu, how many Immortal relics did we im during this expedition?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Eighty in all," Ye Dafu immediately replied.


    "Very good. I''ll issue a bounty with these eighty relics in store. Whoever can beat Ye Dafu into submission will obtain twenty-five, while each of his eleven subordinates will be worth five. Is this eptable to everyone?"


    Themanders had seen Ye Dafu and the others fight before, and they were at most Human Immortals in terms of physical cultivation. Quite a few among their number had yet to be Immortals themselves. Wouldn''t it be easy to take them down?


    "Is it a one-on-one fight, or are we ganging up?" Ye Dafu asked immediately.


    "Ganging up? Who against whom?" onemander immediately asked, alert. He thought that Ye Dafu wasying a trap for them.


    "All of you against me, of course," Ye Dafu said.


    The gatheredmanders: ...


    Had they misheard? Wasn''t there something wrong with this proposition?


    "How about this? Only one among Ye Dafu''s crew will be avable to fight at once. Ye Dafu and the others will choose how many people they want to face¡ªafter all, they''re the ones who''ll be beaten up. They can choose to face your cultivators in a one-on-one or many-on-one. You''ll choose your fighters, and they''ll choose how many of them they want to face. Isn''t this fair?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Themanders goggled. They could very well send a whole battalion of soldiers to beat up Ye Dafu''s crew!


    "What counts as surrender?" onemander asked guardedly.


    "When they beg for mercy," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Themanders gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. Was he deliberately handing them those eighty Immortal relics? These terms were far too favorable for them!


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and hisckeys were eagerly awaiting their uing massages.


    "Commanders, do you consider these terms fair?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course! I support your terms, Acting Lord Xiao!"


    "Acting Lord Xiao, you''d better keep your word!"


    "You won''t renege on your promises, will you, Acting Lord Xiao?"


    Themanders grinned, thinking that these terms were overwhelmingly in their favor.


    "Today, I intend on dealing with city management and the distribution of work for officials throughout the city in the short term. Some officials may refuse to heed my orders, so I''ll need Ye Dafu and his crew for the day. All of you can erect a stage outside the city beforehand in preparation for Ye Dafu''s crew''s fight against all of you tomorrow. What do you think?"


    "Acting Lord Xiao, all the officials in the city naturally have to listen to your orders!"


    "Right! If anyone dares to go against your orders, I''ll take them on myself!"


    "It''s settled, then!"


    Themanders all promised to cooperate with Xiao Nanfeng; there was no longer any dissent about him bing the acting city lord.


    "I''m counting on all of you, then." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "It''s our duty!" themanders replied.


    After they left, Chang Bing gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "Xiao Nanfeng, do you intend on stabilizing the situation in Fengdu at the cost of eighty Immortal relics? Isn''t that too high a cost to pay? We held back against Ye Dafu and his crew because we''re from the same sect, but the sevenmanders won''t do any such thing. They''ll strike hard and harsh."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "The Green Battalion is wee to participate as well. You don''t have to hold back, either."


    "What?"


    "Rather than hand these Immortal relics to outsiders, why not keep them among ourselves? If you can beat Ye Dafu''s crew to the point where they surrender, you''ll be able to win the Immortal relics on the same terms as well."


    "You must be crazy. You''re all but giving away eighty Immortal relics!"


    "You''ll still have to be skilled enough to im the prize," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Chang Bing: ...


    "I''m assigning you two responsibilities. First, immediately have all the important officials of Fengdu gather outside Fengdu Hall. As acting city lord, I need to understand what''s going on within the city and assign them responsibilities. You''re the most familiar with the region, so I''m leaving this to you."


    Chang Bing frowned. Although he was unwilling to ept orders from Xiao Nanfeng, he still nodded. "Very well."


    "Next, immediately dispatch a messenger to the capital of Dayin and exin that a Yanluo Lord from the abyss has been freed. Disaster is imminent in the city of Fengdu; request that the Immortal Emperor of Dayin send someone strong to suppress the cursed effigy. In addition, requestprehensive support to head into the abyss and rescue Lan Jiguang."


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    Once Chang Bing and the others left, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Ye Dafu and the others. "You''ll be able to withstand the sevenmanders'' attacks, won''t you?"


    "Of course, Your Majesty! The more we get hit, the faster our cultivation will rise. The stronger they are, the morefortable we''ll be!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "I''m aware of how... interesting... your cultivation technique is, which is why I''ve used those eighty Immortal relics as bait to help you train faster. I hope you''ll all take advantage of this opportunity to be Immortals," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Don''t worry, Your Majesty. There are seven of us who aren''t yet Immortals, but they''re just one step away. We''ll all be Immortals quickly!" Ye Dafu promised.


    "You should take advantage of the opportunity to raise your cultivation as well. Be an Earth Immortal as quickly as possible."


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu replied.


    "Furthermore, all of you really need to start being more circumspect. Whenever you''re in a fight, you look as though you''re enjoying your beating. Do you want others to discover what''s up with your cultivation technique?"


    "Your Majesty, we''re doing our best to restrict ourselves. We''re aware of what we should be doing, that we should disy expressions of pain rather than pleasure, but we simply can''t control ourselves. Being beaten simply feels so good!" Ye Dafu cried out.


    "Right, Your Majesty, this is simply a side effect of Indomitable Body," Ye Dafu''sckeys added.


    Xiao Nanfeng pressed his lips together. Was something truly wrong with Indomitable Body itself, or with Ye Dafu and hisckeys? Indomitable Body was first developed in a Buddhist monastery; how had it be so... corrupted?

 Chapter 391: An Unwise Bargain

    <h4>Chapter 391: An Unwise Bargain</h4>


    In Dazheng''s imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was reading through a series of documents while You Jiu reported to him.


    "Mr. Wen''s actions might be shrouded in secrecy, but his subordinates aren''t as skilled. We were able to identify everything that they did," You Jiu said.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t even lift his head. "No. Mr. Wen never intended to hide their actions from you."


    "Oh?"


    "Continue. What did Mr. Wen do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, even as he continued perusing his paperwork.


    "He established arge formation over the inds all around the ancient draconic pce in the Eastern Sea. Hebored extensively over the formation and simultaneously spread the news to some of therger Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea, stating that the ancient pce contains an endless amount of treasure. The Immortal sects have all sent many batches of disciples toward the pce, but the majority perished."


    "Mr. Wen''s trying to make a big move. Show me the formation heid out," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling as he put down his brush.


    You Jiu proffered a map. "This is an approximate chart of the formations based on what we were able to see. Each node of the formation is shrouded in fog, and he evenid out many fake nodes to cover up the real ones. He''s truly meticulous."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the map seriously. "The Formation of the Complete Heavens..."


    "Oh?"


    "It has to be. I once studied the Star Map of the Complete Heavens, and I won''t be mistaken about this. He must have used the star map as the basis forying out this formation. It''s ratherprehensive preparation." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Is this formation particrly astounding?" You Jiu asked.


    "It''s the strongest formation of the spirits'' Imperial Court. How could it be anything but? That said, I suspect Mr. Wen won''t be able to draw out its full strength."


    "Oh?"


    "Formations are easy to pick up but near-impossible to master. Mr. Wen is skilled, but his skills lie in a different domain. I''ll likely have to send Blue Lantern out this time."


    "Do you intend to help Mr. Wen, Your Majesty? It seems like he''s rather guarded against us..." You Jiu worried.


    "No, he isn''t guarded against us anymore." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Oh?"


    "The fact that you were made aware of his ns means that he''s feeling rather helpless at the moment. The cultivator he has to take down is far stronger than he anticipated. He too can sense that something is amiss; that''s why he wants our assistance."


    "He''smunicating with you through me?" You Jiu eximed.


    "More or less. Furthermore, Ao Zhou hasn''t returned from his expedition to the ancient draconic pce with Croak and Warble. I''m worried about their safety, and was intending to head there myself regardless.


    In the Eastern Sea, within the ancient draconic pce surrounded with ck fog, themotion of fighting could be heard from all over as arge group of cultivators fought off countless cursed ves.


    "The cursed ves here bear Immortal relics, just like the rumors said!"


    "Senior Brother, I saw other Immortal sects'' disciples find an Immortal sword over there, and now they''re heading over here!"


    "Those bastards! We already established our respective domains. They''d better not fight us for this relic. Come on, we have to im this one before they get here!"


    "Kill!"


    The fighting grew more and more intense.


    Behind arge boulder was a group of people. In the lead was, of course, Ao Zhou. Thirty of his subordinates followed behind him, all currently humanoid in form. Beside Ao Zhou was a couple in ck.


    Ao Zhou frowned at the couple. "Xiao Nanfeng''s a scoundrel. He said he''d send a batch of his subordinates to help me investigate the ancient draconic pce, but all he sent were the two of you! I shouldn''t have agreed to a fifty-fifty split initially!"


    "Talk to Xiao Nanfeng about it, not us. We''re not responsible for negotiating the terms," the woman in ck said.


    "Right, that''s none of our business. We''re just here for the spoils!" the man in ck added.


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched. "Croak, Warble, is what I''m saying thatplicated? Don''t you understand what I''m implying? Later, when we split up the treasure, why don''t we keep a portion for ourselves and tell Xiao Nanfeng there wasn''t that much to be found?"


    The couple in ck was, of course, Croak and Warble in human form.


    "You mean that the three of us should each take a share of the treasure, and then to split your share evenly with Xiao Nanfeng?" Croak asked, surprised.


    Ao Zhou frowned. "Are you a fool? I was going to get half the treasure. Under your scheme, I''d only get a sixth! Why would I ever consider that?"


    "What do you mean, then?" Croak continued.


    "I''ll take 80% of the treasure. You can take 10%, and I''ll split the remaining 10% with Xiao Nanfeng. The two of you have to help vouch for me." Ao Zhou looked at the two spirits expectantly.


    "Just 10%? How shameless you are. Do you think we''re beggars?" Croak replied immediately.


    Ao Zhou pursed his lips. These two spirits were harder to fool than he expected. What was he going to do?


    "What''s more, are you crazy? Why are you already trying to distribute loot when we haven''t gotten a single piece of treasure yet?"


    "Right, right! Why don''t you bribe us first and get you on our good side before we continue negotiations?" Warble advised.


    Ao Zhou frowned. He subvocalized to himself, "I haven''t even gotten a single piece of treasure yet, and they want me to pay them in advance. Are they pretending to be fools and trying to scam me?"


    After a moment''s silence, Ao Zhou took a deep breath. "Forget it. Let''s find some treasure first."


    "Where''s all the treasure? It''s pitch-ck. I can''t see a thing!" Croak said.


    Ao Zhou felt as though asking Xiao Nanfeng for help was an incredibly foolish decision. Xiao Nanfeng had only sent Croak and Warble out, and the two demons were unable to do anything. They had asked all sorts of questions along the way revealing their utterck of knowledge, and they might as well be burdens instead of allies. Not only that, just because of their presence, he''d have to split half the treasure with Xiao Nanfeng! He could feel his heart bleeding.


    "Let me lead the way," Ao Zhou said.


    "You know the way?" Croak asked.


    "I don''t, but I can sense the draconic aura unique to the dragon race. I initially asked Xiao Nanfeng for help because the draconic aura surrounding the pce was too intense, but many Immortal sects'' disciples have appeared here recently and lured out a significant number of cursed ves. Each batch of cursed ves contains a portion of this draconic aura; with the draconic aura dispersed, there are far fewer guards where it used to be most concentrated."


    "And what if the strongest guards are still there?" Croak asked in worry.


    "The draconic aura there is likely too diffuse to support anyone strong. Furthermore, with the two of you here, we have nothing to fear."


    "Xiao Nanfeng told us not to take the initiative when fighting against the enemies," Croak said.


    Warble immediately grumbled, "What nonsense are you spouting now? Why say that out loud? Just keep it in your head!"


    "Oh, right. Sorry, I got a little excited. Ao Zhou, pretend I didn''t say anything," Croak immediately added.


    Ao Zhou sighed. Perhaps he should simply have hired two bodyguards instead.


    Although the revtion of their ''allegiance'' was rather upsetting, Ao Zhou knew that Croak and Warble were particrly strong cultivators who paled only inparison to him. Later, there was a good chance he would need their help; he''d bear with them for the moment.


    "Follow me," Ao Zhou said.


    The spirits avoided the cultivators and cursed ves all around them as they headed deeper into the fog.


    The fog seemed to hide a particrly potent formation that misdirected all cultivators from its depths, but Ao Zhou quickly found his way to a series of halls by following the draconic aura directly.


    "To think someone would have found this ce," an icy voice called out from the halls.


    Ao Zhou and the spirits'' eyes widened. They turned toward the source of the sound to see that one of the halls was open. A man in a draconic robe with golden motifs on ck brocade walked out, a crown on his head that gave off an overwhelming aura.


    "We''ve been discovered!" Croak cried out.


    "Don''t worry. He''s the only one around. We simply have to get rid of him. I can sense that there''s a particrly valuable treasure in the hall he came from." Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up.


    "Ao Zhou, don''t lie to me. How would you be able to sense that?" Warble clearly didn''t believe his ims.


    "Dragons make the best treasure hunters, and I''m even more impressive. I can sense treasure with just a sniff. Believe me¡ªtake him down!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    Croak and Warble clearly remained dubious. Just like Xiao Nanfeng told them, they took a step back.


    Ao Zhou stiffened. Were these two spirits really going to go against him? He thundered, "Take them down! Otherwise, I won''t split any of the treasure with you!"


    "Tell Xiao Nanfeng about it. We won''t concern ourselves with the distribution of spoils," Croak replied, shaking his head.


    Ao Zhou thundered in outrage.


    Not far away, the man in the draconic robes stilled, not expecting the group to start fighting among themselves.


    "All of you, charge and attack!" Ao Zhoumanded his subordinates.


    The dragons roared, transforming into giant dragons as they charged at the man in ck brocade. The dragons were fierce and exuded strong killing intent.


    The man''s eyes brightened. "Dragons? How timely. You''ll all be useful to me." [1]


    The man reached out for them. A giant paw of ck fog condensed and caught the dragons swarming toward him.


    "Save us, King! We can''t move!" the dragons shouted.


    The man still wasn''t satisfied. Heunched another hand at Ao Zhou, Croak, and Warble.


    "Run!" Croak croaked.


    Almost immediately, the three spirits were caught by the hand. None had managed to escape.


    "What? How could this be?!" Ao Zhou howled.


    "Ao Zhou, didn''t you say there wasn''t going to be anyone strong? For him to have caught us so easily, he has to be at least a Heaven Immortal. What did you expect us to do?!" Croak croaked.


    "Ao Zhou, if you don''t know what you''re doing, don''t pretend you do. Look at what you''ve done!" Warble warbled.


    "How was I to know?!"


    "I was wondering where I would find new dragons, only to have all of you appear. You should be honored to serve me." The man in ck brocade smiled.


    Before them, as the ground rumbled, a hall rose into existence from underground in hissing clouds of ck smoke.


    "What dense cursed spiritual power!" Croak eximed.


    "That hall''s called... the Yanluo Court?" Warble murmured.


    With a creak, the door to the Yanluo Court opened. The interior was an abyssal ck. The spirits felt a preternatural fear.


    "Senior, I only passed by unintentionally. Please spare us!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    The man in ck brocade ignored Ao Zhou''s pleas as he tossed them all inside.


    The door to the Yanluo Court swung shut.


    1. He refers to himself as an emperor. ?

 Chapter 392: The Dragon Yanluo

    <h4>Chapter 392: The Dragon Yanluo</h4>


    Many Immortals flew in and out of an Immortal sect on an ind situated on the Eastern Sea.


    In the main hall of that sect, the most important cultivators of the sect had convened to discuss a serious matter.


    "Is there more news avable about that ancient draconic pce?" one robed man asked.


    "Just like the Eastern Sea draconic pce, it''s easy to enter, but near impossible to get out," another cultivator said.


    "Hmm? Strange, isn''t it? If people can''t get out, why have there been so many rumors circting about the countless Immortal relics that are within? It looks like someone''s deliberately luring us inside," the first robed man said.


    "You''re quite right, Sect Master. Some of our disciples'' avatars entered and discovered arge number of cursed ves and Immortal relics within. Many managed to obtain relics of their own, but they''re facing cursed ves of particrly advanced cultivation. This pce is extremely dangerous."


    "Sect Master, it''s clear there are cursed effigies within this ancient draconic pce. Perhaps it''s a schemeid by one of them."


    "Many of the sect''s disciples have already entered, and arge number have significant potential. If they were to die within, we''d suffer tremendous losses."


    The cultivators all expressed their opinions as they looked toward the robed man.


    After a moment, the man asked, "Are the other Immortal sects facing the same situation?"


    "They are. The rumors that started spreading not too long ago lured many of their disciples within. These other sects are about asrge as ours," one cultivator said.


    The man frowned. "The ancient draconic pce is sinister, and this may be a scheme against our sect. However, it''s likely that an incredible opportunity lies within. Not only do we have to save our disciples, we can''t miss out on the opportunity, either."


    "But if we head there to investigate, what if we fall deeper into the trap?"


    "That''s why we can''t head there alone."


    "Sect Master, you mean to form an alliance with the other Immortal sects?"


    "I do. Cursed effigies are no trifling matter; their presence heralds disaster. That said, we have no need to fear it. Invite the other Immortal sects to send a delegation to the ancient draconic pce together. We''ll split profit and risk," the sect master said.


    "A wise decision, Sect Master!"


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    A few dayster, in the ancient draconic pce, a group of cultivators attacked a group of cursed ves, intent on iming the Immortal relics that one of them possessed. After a drawn-out fight in which both sides were injured, a cultivator finally managed to seize the Immortal relic.


    "These cursed ves have all dposed to an incredible extent. It''s a waste for them to still carry Immortal relics¡ªbut now the relic is mine, haha!" the cultivator crowed.


    Suddenly, the image of a dragon manifested from the relic, coiling up the cultivator''s arm and toward his mindscape. The dragon darted within, and the cultivator froze stiff.


    The other cursed ves suddenly rampaged, shielding the cultivator from sight.


    After some time, when another cultivator defeated a cursed ve, he shouted, "Senior Brother, are you alright? Was something wrong with the Immortal relic?"


    The cultivator who held the Immortal relic suddenly unfroze. His expression changed, as though he were someone else entirely. He took a deep breath. "I''m alright. There''s nothing wrong with the Immortal relic. Would you like to take a look?"


    He passed the Immortal relic over to his junior brother. Another image of a dragon manifested and darted into his junior brother''s mindscape, who likewise froze. The first cultivator began to guard his junior.


    This sort of situation repeated time and again throughout the ancient draconic pce. Before long, the cultivators all seemed to have be entirely different people, and the cursed ves in the vicinity suddenly stopped attacking them. They rolled their necks and twisted their limbs, as though attempting to get used to their new bodies.


    "What do you think?" one cultivator, their leader, asked.


    "They''re far weaker than we used to be a hundred years ago."


    "If you''re dissatisfied with your body, pick out a new er. Feel free to forge your current body into a cursed ve. There''s arge group of cultivators entering the pce, so you''re sure to find one suitable for you," the leader replied.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    The ''cultivators''unched themselves at the other battlefields all around them.


    These cultivators had clearly been taken over by cursed effigies, but this was only the beginning. The cultivators that had entered the ancient dragon''s pce were all being possessed. There seemed to be countless cursed effigies without physical bodies of their own; the cultivators were like sacrifices for them.


    A few dayster, all the cultivators that had entered the ancient dragon''s pce had been possessed by cursed effigies.


    Within the ancient dragon''s pce, the cursed effigies didn''t fight. They gathered together and discussed their brand-new bodies. Suddenly, one of them cried out, "Something''s happening outside the pce. Look!"


    The cursed effigies looked up at the barrier around the pce.


    "So many Immortals! If we can possess them, our strength will advance by leaps and bounds."


    "I want that one!"


    "That body is mine!"


    The cursed effigies pointed excitedly at the Immortals beyond the barrier.


    "Something''s wrong. What are they doing? That''s not an entrance into the pce. What happened to the seawater? Are they trying to break the barrier?!" one cursed effigy shouted.


    Over two hundred Immortals had gathered by the surface of the sea. As they dropped and activated Immortal relics all around them, they formed a huge formation that isted the region of the sea from whaty beyond it.


    The Immortals struck, causing waves to surge as they extracted the seawater from the isted region. The sea grew visibly shallower and shallower there, revealing the gigantic barrier around the ancient dragon pce.


    The two hundred Immortals had gathered in ten groups. They were brimming with energy, and their auras radiated en masse.


    "Before we came, one of my disciples reported that his avatar found that all the cultivators in the ancient draconic pce had been possessed," one Immortal said.


    "These damned cursed effigies! Return my disciple''s life to me!" the Immortals roared.


    One of the Immortals in the lead said, "Everyone, we''ll strike simultaneously and break the barrier surrounding the pce. Using the seawater, we''ll clear them out in one fell swoop."


    "Understood!" the other Immortals replied.


    "Now!" the leader cried out.


    The two hundred Immortals activated their Immortal relics in a sh of rainbow light. Two hundred attacks of massive proportions struck the pce''s barrier at once.


    The resulting shockwave formed a titanic tempest that surged into the air. The barrier around the pce shattered as the countless cursed effigies below nched.


    "The barrier''s about to break!"


    "These bastards! The barrier has been inactive for a long time, and its foundation and energy reserves arecking. Otherwise, they would hardly be able to seed with such paltry attacks!"


    "We have to stop them!"


    The cursed effigies rushed into action.


    Beyond the barrier, the Immortals saw that their attacks were having a noticeable effect. They shouted as theyunched another barrage of attacks at the barrier.


    The barrier shattered where the attacks struck them, forming a huge hole overhead.


    "Dispel the formation!" one Immortal cried out.


    The formation keeping the remaining seawater at bay disappeared. An incredible flood surged toward the hole in the barrier, into the ancient draconic pce.


    "We have to repair the barrier immediately!" one cursed effigy cried out.


    One Immortal outside the barrier shouted, "Tear apart the hole in the barrier as the water surges in. We can''t let them repair it!"


    "Understood!" The Immortals struck at full force again.


    The hole in the barrier grewrger as more and more water surged into it. The barrier was crumbling wholesale; the entire pce seemed about to be washed away.


    "We don''t have time to repair the barrier. Let''s get rid of these Immortals first!" one cursed effigy cried out.


    "Understood!"


    The cursed effigies, leading arge horde of cursed ves, shot out of the barrier and began to attack the Immortals.


    "You think you can take me on after possessing my grand-disciple''s body? Die, you insolent fool!" one Immortal cried out.


    The Immortals and cursed effigies began to fight above the surface of the sea, which lit up in fire and wind.


    On an ind some distance away, Xiao Nanfeng stood d in a ck robe that hid his ever-changing outfit in red and blue. He stood with his hands sped behind his back; You Jiu stood beside him. They were watching the fight unfold.


    "Your Majesty, it looks like Mr. Wen intends to take down the cursed effigies within the ancient draconic pce," You Jiu said.


    "Did he induce all of this?"


    "He did, Your Majesty. He started by luring ten Immortal sects'' worth of disciples within, then secretly spread the method for breaking the barrier and the location at which the barrier was weakest. Otherwise, these Immortals would never have seeded."


    "Mr. Wen''s ns are incredible¡ªand they barely leave any traces behind. These Immortals are likely unaware that all their actions are within Mr. Wen''s control," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Mr. Wen''s currently watching the fight unfold on one of those inds over there. Should we meet him, Your Majesty?" You Jiu asked.


    "There''s no need. He''s prepared this formation and a lethal strike at the pce. Let him make his move first, or he''ll be unsatisfied."


    "Understood!" You Jiu nodded.


    "Is there any news regarding Ao Zhou, Croak, and Warble?"


    "Not yet."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "They surely entered the ancient draconic pce."


    At the same time, on another ind, Mr. Wen was watching the Immortals fight the cursed effigies.


    "Master, everything is proceeding ording to your n. Can these Immortals take on the cursed effigies within?" his student asked Mr. Wen expectantly.


    Mr. Wen''s eyes shed with cold light. "They should be able to do just enough damage to lure out the Dragon Yanluo."


    "It''s been a century. I wonder how much it''s recovered since then? Master, with this grand formation you''veid out, we''ll draw blood for blood." The youth gnashed his teeth.


    Mr. Wen smiled wryly. "Let''s hope it''s sufficient. Otherwise, I''ll have to owe Xiao Nanfeng a huge favor."

 Chapter 393: Formation of the Complete Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 393: Formation of the Complete Heavens</h4>


    The hole in the barrier outside the ancient draconic pce grewrger andrger. Roiling seawater rushed into the pce and flooded its interior, but no one was paying any attention at this point. Everyone was fighting intently.


    The Immortals possessed overwhelming strength, but the cursed effigies were present in the greater number. They seemed to flood out of the pce in an endless stream.


    "Kill them!" the Immortals roared.


    The cursed ves were all killed almost to thest, while the cultivators possessed by cursed effigies were forced to retreat, having suffered grievous injuries.


    "Be careful. Some of the cursed effigies are taking over us Immortals!" one Immortal cried out.


    The Immortals looked over to see an Immortal standing stock-still,rge shes of dragon-shaped light emitting from his mindscape. He was being possessed by not one, but many cursed effigies simultaneously.


    "Junior Brother!" One Immortal rushed over.


    The Immortal who had been possessed suddenly made a move. He shed at the Immortal rushing his way. The Immortal fell back, one arm lost.


    Just then, a group of cursed effigies shot toward the crippled Immortal, pressing him down and surging toward his mindscape.


    "Kill them! They''ve both been taken over by cursed effigies. They''re dead. Don''t let them attack us!"


    The fighting only grew more intense.


    There were many cursed effigies present, but the majority of them had ill-fitting and poorly equipped bodies. Restricted by these considerations, they were quickly killed even if they had managed to possess an Immortal by chance.


    "More of the possessed! Kill them all!"


    "Kill them!" The Immortals were blinded by ughter.


    The cursed effigies'' targets were quickly in, their bodies chopped up into pieces. Not too longter, the army of cursed effigies fell back in defeat, the vast majority of them having lost their physical bodies once more.


    Just then, deep within the draconic pce, a man in ck brocade stepped forward, his eyes cold, his gaze infernal.


    "King, we won''t be able to hold out any longer. We had no choice but to rouse your attention!" one cursed effigy cried out.


    The man in ck brocade didn''t criticize his subordinates. He looked coldly at the gathered Immortals.


    "That''s a cursed king. Be careful!" an Immortal shouted.


    "These cursed effigies are particrly weak, so that cursed king can''t be anyone strong, either. Kill him!" One Immortal brandished his sword and swung it at the man in ck brocade.


    The man reached out with his right hand and smirked. "A puny Earth Immortal dares make such a fuss?"


    The Immortal sword was obliterated by the man''s palm, which continued undeterred until he grabbed ahold of the Immortal''s body.


    "Sect Master!" a group of Immortals cried out.


    They were all caught in the man''s other palm.


    "Possess them," the man in ck brocade said.


    "Understood, King!" the cursed effigies cried out in excitement.


    Instantly, images of dragons shed into the man''s palm as the Immortals shrieked. When the man loosened his grip, the Immortals were all standing stock-still. They were quickly being possessed.


    "The cursed king''s a Heaven Immortal, a Heaven Immortal!" an Immortal cried out.


    "Flee!" one of the Immortal leaders of the expedition shouted.


    There were plenty of Immortals present, but the strongest among them were Earth Immortals. Against a Heaven Immortal, they would all simply be possessed.


    "Isn''t it toote to leave?" the man in ck brocade demanded.


    He shot into the air and pped the surface of the sea. A huge palm strike descended, striking a group of Immortals and sealing their cultivation. Then, arge number of cursed effigies held them down as they possessed them en masse.


    The other Immortals fled even more quickly, but the cursed effigies continued to chase after them. The man in ck brocade was the fastest of all. He instantly caught up to another batch of cultivators and pped them down into the sea.


    The man continued to strike rapidly. Quickly, all the remaining Immortals fell and were caught by the waiting cursed effigies.


    "I''m willing to serve you, Senior! Please spare my life!" one Immortal shouted.


    "Unnecessary. I have enough subordinates for the moment; they simplyck physical bodies," the man replied.


    "Cursed King, for scheming against our Immortal sects, you''ll suffer retribution!" one Immortal cursed.


    "Retribution? Ha! Even the heavens can''t do anything against me!"


    Just then, a beam of starlight shot down from the heavens and enveloped the man.


    "What?" The man frowned and looked up at the heavens.


    The sky lit up with 361 glowing stars, each shooting down a beam of starlight. The man was surrounded by a barrier formed by the intersection of those beams and found himself unable to break free.


    "Who''s there?!" the man in ck brocade shouted.


    "I am," a cold voice replied.


    The man turned to see Mr. Wen and a group of his followers standing on an ind.


    "You dare?!" The cursed effigies present all shot toward Mr. Wen.


    The Star Map of the Complete Heavens shed into existence behind Mr. Wen. With a wave of his hand, more beams of starlight shot down and encapsted the inds all around. Lit by the starlight, blue fog formed all around them. The cursed effigies within were all disoriented and lost their sense of direction.


    Xiao Nanfeng and You Jiu were likewise trapped within the formation. They suddenly saw an amazing sight.


    "Is this the true strength of the formation? That''s impossible..." You Jiu breathed out.


    Everything around them had vanished¡ªthe inds, the seawater, and even heaven and earth. The two of them seemed to be situated within the destion of space, in silence and overwhelming solitude.


    "The Formation of the Complete Heavens is truly impressive. This intersection between reality and illusion¡ªno wonder it was the premier formation of the spirits'' Imperial Court. Being trapped by the illusion is like being trapped in the firmament," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve been trapped by the formation as well. Considering how arcane it is, will it be a danger to us?" You Jiu worried.


    "It doesn''t matter. Mr. Wen didn''t deploy the formation with much strength. As long as you don''t run around, the formation will only entrap you without doing any damage. Wait here for me."


    "You can leave the formation, Your Majesty?"


    "I''m aware of how the formation operates, so I can naturally leave it." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    He stepped forward and vanished from sight, causing You Jiu to gape at him.


    By that point, the formation had trapped all the cursed effigies around. Only the man in ck brocade floated in the air, still trapped within the starlit barrier. He looked toward Mr. Wen, his eyes cold. "Who are you? You seem familiar. Ah, is it you, Mr. Wen? You''ve changed your appearance?"


    Mr. Wen flew up into the air, the Star Map of the Complete Heavens to his back. His face was cold. "Dragon Yanluo, it''s been a hundred years. Your strength has only diminished. You haven''t fully healed from your injuries, have you?"


    "Mr. Wen, I gave you a chance to be my follower, but you challenged me time and time again. You foiled my ns a hundred years ago; do you think I would let you do so again? Do you think a meager relic can take me down?" the Dragon Yanluo demanded.


    "This Star Map of the Complete Heavens is no mere relic. Bymanding the strength of the very heavens, it perfectly counters a demon from hell like you. Now, die!" Mr. Wen shouted.


    The Star Map of the Complete Heavens to his back trembled violently as the stars above began to shine with brilliant light. The beams passed straight through the starlit barrier and toward the Dragon Yanluo.


    "What?" The Dragon Yanluo frowned, punching at the starlit radiance.


    A tempest formed around him.


    When the explosion dissipated, the Dragon Yanluo found a streak of blood across his arm. His face was cold. "Command over naturalw. You have a relic that controls naturalw itself?!"


    "You aren''t a Heaven Immortal?" Mr. Wen cried out.


    "Do you think I''ve only recovered to the level of a Human Immortal after a hundred years? Mr. Wen, it looks like I''ve underestimated you again¡ªbut so have you underestimated me."


    The Dragon Yanluo punched at the starlit barrier around him, which shook violently. It almost copsed, causing Mr. Wen to nch.


    "Again, starlit des!" Mr. Wen cried out.


    Another series of starlit beams descended from the heavens. The Dragon Yanluo punched at them once again, forming yet another tempest as the two attacks shed. Mr. Wen frowned.


    "Such treasures should possess far more strength. It looks like you don''t have what it takes to control a treasure of this magnitude, haha!" the Dragon Yanluo roared inughter.


    He punched at the barrier once again, causing it to shake and tremble. It resonated with the Star Map of the Complete Heavens itself; Mr. Wen spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "As expected, you can''t control such a treasure perfectly. For handing me something so valuable, I''ll grant you a clean death." The Dragon Yanluoughed again.


    "Starlit des, again!" Mr. Wen cried out, gritting his teeth against the pain.


    Another series of starlit beams shot down from the heavens toward the Dragon Yanluo.


    "Heavens above, the Yanluo Lords below!" the Dragon Yanluo shouted, punching at the beams.


    A tempest of incredible proportions formed around him as the starlit beams shattered. Huge cracks spiderwebbed from the barrier, and the resonance caused the star map to Mr. Wen''s back to shake violently. He was flung backwards in an explosion of blood.


    A hand caught Mr. Wen¡ªXiao Nanfeng stepped out of the formation just in time to save him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You can escape from this formation?" Mr. Wen eximed, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    "Mr. Wen, this isn''t how you''re supposed to use the formation." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    He reached out and threw the star map toward a ck-robed man close by.


    "Blue Lantern, I''m counting on you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ck-robed man was naturally none other than Blue Lantern. He caught the star map and activated it. Instantly, the 361 stars zed with ten times the resplendent light, and the starlit beams that shot toward the Dragon Yanluo likewise redoubled in intensity. The starlit barrier that seemed about to break was repaired in full.


    "What an incredible treasure!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "To be able to draw out such strength..." Mr. Wen murmured. He seemed to have expected that Blue Lantern would be nearby. "As expected of an expert that can corral even draconic veins."


    "Mr. Wen, let''s watch the show unfold." Xiao Nanfeng pulled Mr. Wen to the side as they departed the battlefield, leaving Blue Lantern to contend with the Dragon Yanluo.

 Chapter 394: Mr. Wens Hatred

    <h4>Chapter 394: Mr. Wen''s Hatred</h4>


    Blue Lantern manipted a group of stars with the help of the star map.


    "Starlit des!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    A series of starlit beams descended from the heavens, straight toward the Dragon Yanluo.


    "Do you think another cultivator will do the trick? They won''t be able to hurt me. Didn''t you see what just happened?" The Dragon Yanluo smirked and threw another punch at the beams.


    Just then, the beams began to resonate. They transformed into 361 sharp des, shooting toward the Dragon Yanluo like a rain of arrows.


    "What?" The Dragon Yanluo nched.


    The 361 starlit des possessed boundless force and were poised to annihte the world. They struck the Dragon Yanluo head on in a massive explosion that formed a ming mushroom cloud above the Eastern Sea. Incredible shockwaves spread across the surface of the sea, forcing even Xiao Nanfeng and Mr. Wen to retreat.


    "What impressive starlit des! This is surely the true strength of the formation. Blue Lantern is an incredible expert. Where did you find him, Xiao Nanfeng? He''s no inferior to the premier expert from the divine empire of Dafeng!" Mr. Wen eximed


    Mr. Wen might not be particrly skilled with formations, but his supetive insight was more than sufficient to determine Blue Lantern''s skill with his craft.


    After the explosion dissipated, the starlit barrier was revealed in its pristine glory. The Dragon Yanluo trapped within, however, was in far worse a state. His robe was in tatters and his body marred with wounds. Fresh blood spilled forth.


    "This damned treasure¡ªrelease me from this barrier and I''ll tear you apart!" the Dragon Yanluo demanded.


    "You''re done for now. Starlit des, again!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    Another series of starlit beams descended from the heavens and transformed into 361 des that shot straight toward the Dragon Yanluo.


    "No!" the Dragon Yanluo yelled.


    The huge explosion formed another ming mushroom cloud.


    Blue Lantern easily manipted the Formation of the Complete Heavens and drew out the full extent of its strength.


    Mr. Wen clenched his fists, his body trembling, his eyes red. He shivered in budding excitement and the thought of revenge.


    "Mr. Wen, you truly bear the Dragon Yanluo a considerable grudge, don''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Mr. Wen sighed. He calmed himself down and smiled wryly. "This is the culmination of a century of nning. Forgive me for not being able to control myself fully."


    "I understand how you feel. Might I ask about the nature of this grudge?"


    Mr. Wen responded after a moment of silence. "This was a secret I''ve long kept. With revenge imminent, however, I have nothing to hide any longer. Have you heard of the divine empire of Dafeng?"


    "I have. Its capital was Fengdu. A century ago, you assisted the crown prince of Fengdu in rebelling. You almost seeded¡ªbut failed at the final critical juncture. The divine empire of Dafeng copsed as a result."


    "Impressive sleuthing," Mr. Wen replied, taken aback.


    "I suspect the situation wasn''t quite so simple, was it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Mr. Wen nodded. "Indeed¡ªbut the Immortal Emperor of Dafeng deserved to die."


    "Oh?"


    "That year, the Immortal Emperor of Dafeng was beset by grief over his deceased wife. He had heard of a hidden realm by Fengdu which harbored an incredible treasure that could revive his dead wife."


    "Truly? Does such a treasure really exist?"


    "It''s a legend that has persisted. Many cultivators at the time dissuaded the Immortal Emperor of Dafeng from pursuing it, but he refused to listen. In order to revive his wife, he chose to break the seal and open an entrance into the hidden realm¡ªthe abyss that now lies outside Fengdu."


    "Just what sort of treasure can revive the dead?"


    "The ''Records of Life and Death,''" Mr. Wen replied. [1]


    "Oh?"


    It was much like the Records of Life and Death that existed back on Earth.


    "Once the portal into the abyss was opened, the Immortal emperorunched expeditions to search for the records within. The conclusion was that the abyssal hidden realm could only be entered by Heaven Immortals and those of lower cultivation; any who were stronger would surely die."


    "Heaven Immortals at most?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.


    "Indeed so. Of course, those beyond the realm of Heaven Immortals can enter, but they''ll have to cripple themselves and lower their cultivation artificially. Even suppressing their cultivation wouldn''t have been enough to hide from the special restrictions within. Only Heaven Immortals and below can make it out of the abyss¡ªand most Heaven Immortals didn''t stand a chance, either."


    "What happened next?"


    "The Immortal Emperor arranged for many Heaven Immortals to search for the Records of Life and Death, but few were interested upon learning how dangerous the abyssal depths were. The emperor forcibly conscripted my family on threat of death¡ªand they all perished." Mr. Wen''s eyes brimmed with hatred.


    "And in order to seek revenge for your family, you instigated the crown prince to rebel?"


    Mr. Wen nodded. "My intention was to avenge my family, but had little direct recourse to doing so. After all, the Immortal Emperor was far stronger than I was. By that time, he had grown somewhat crazy because of his desire. He had forced so many Heaven Immortals into dying in the abyssal depths and fomented enough hatred to spark a wave of rebellion. Coincidentally, I noticed that the crown prince bore such intentions. Under my instigation and scheming, he gathered all the emperor''s enemies and began to plot. Just as the rebellion was about to seed, I discovered the hidden truth."


    "Oh?"


    "One day, the crown prince introduced me to a close confidante of his: the Dragon Yanluo. The Dragon Yanluo even tried to recruit me, but I was suspicious of him and decided to dig deeper. Gradually, I learned the truth. All of this was part of the crown prince''s scheme. He was the one who had initially introduced the rumor of the ''Records of Life and Death'' to the Immortal Emperor. He had intended for his own father, blinded by love for his wife, to release the cursed king and doom the empire so that he could take the opportunity to kill his father and ascend to the throne. Unfortunately, although the first seal to the abyss had been broken, the second, Heaven''s Hand, yet remained. The crown prince''s scheme had failed, and he had no choice but to continue waiting. Meanwhile, the Heaven Immortals that the Immortal Emperor dispatched into the abyss in search of the Records of Life and Death were killed by the Dragon Yanluo, as were my rtives. The Dragon Yanluo managed to escape from imprisonment by chance, and attempted to have the crown prince augment his forces. He brought arge number of his subordinates along with him, and they possessed many of the rebellion''s strongest cultivators. He said that he would split control of the world with the crown prince¡ªbut in truth, he and the crown prince were solely trying to take advantage of each other. Did they really think I would continue helping them scheme? I think not." Mr. Wen''s eyes were frosty.


    "So you revealed the truth of the matter to the Immortal Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I did. They were all responsible for the death of my rtives. Why should I allow either of them to seed? The best oue would be mutual demise. As I expected, the Immortal emperor and crown prince both died, and the ordinary cursed effigies were likewise eradicated. Even the Dragon Yanluo was deeply wounded to the point of death by the Immortal Emperor. In securing this oue, I too suffered a mdy that has gued me since."


    "So that''s what happened."


    "The problem was that the Dragon Yanluo was a cursed effigy who wouldn''t die so easily. I couldn''t end things just like that, either. At the very least, I would have to suppress it. Alongside other victims who suffered like me, I buried my name and identity. I wanted to acquire a treasure that would be able topletely suppress the Dragon Yanluo. Later, I learned of the effects of the Star Map of the Complete Heavens, and decided to work with the Xiang n in an attempt to acquire it."


    "Oh?"


    "I helped the Xiang n break into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and seize the Immortal pills thaty within, allowing them to augment their cultivation. I had only a single request: the star map. They initially followed my ns obediently and benefited greatly as a result, but were ultimately shortsighted enough to attempt to assassinate me, believing that I would divulge their secrets. Howughable! If your father hadn''t passed by and saved me by chance, however, I may really have died."


    "No wonder," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "I knew then that the Xiang n had been a bad choice, that they were too limited in what they could perceive and dream. I sought another backer. I was intending to help your father im everything in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, but he fell prey to Nn Qiankun''s scheme and left in advance. I thenid the groundwork for working with Nn Qiankun, who did seem to be a good choice at the beginning¡ªbut you know the rest."


    "Mr. Wen, did you once have four disciples named for the four arts, Qin, Qi, Shu, and Hua?"


    "The four that you killed, you mean? They were my students, but not by choice. Nn Qiankun assigned them to me to spy on me. It was good that you killed them, and I don''t intend to seek revenge on you for doing so."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    As the two cultivators talked, the fight in the distance came to an end.


    Blue Lantern repeatedly struck at the Dragon Yanluo with the starlit des, wounding him more and more with every blow. Trapped within the starlit barrier, the Dragon Yanluo was incapable of escaping, and dodging the attacks, and he was at his wit''s end.


    "Kill him, starlit des!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    Another 361 des shot down. The Dragon Yanluo roared, "I''ll have you pay back the humiliation and pain I suffered a hundredfold, you damned bugs!"


    Then, the Dragon Yanluo self-destructed, shattering the starlit barrier in a massive explosion that caused heaven and earth alike to quake.


    1. A relic of ancient Chinese legend, a record of all lifeforms in the world and their fated birth, death, and all that lies between. Under the control of the Yanluo Lords of hell. ?

 Chapter 395: Trapping Cursed Effigies with Rope

    <h4>Chapter 395: Trapping Cursed Effigies with Rope</h4>


    The Dragon Yanluo had self-destructed!


    The explosion formed a tempest that slowly dissipated. The starlit barrier had shattered; the Dragon Yanluo left no trace of himself behind. There was only the blue mist from the Formation of the Complete Heavens.


    There should have been arge celebration for theirplete victory, but Xiao Nanfeng and the others considered the battlefield seriously and intently instead. No one believed that the Dragon Yanluo would end his life so easily; furthermore, he was a cursed effigy.


    Just then, a gust of ck smoke emerged from the domain of blue mist.


    "There''s some cursed spiritual power attempting to break the formation. Watch out," Blue Lantern called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng shielded Mr. Wen as ck smoke surged forth, slowly covering up the entire domain of blue mist. Then, a huge hall appeared within the smoke.


    "A Yanluo Court?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He had felt a tremendous sense of danger from the paper figure''s papier-mache Yanluo Court. This Yanluo Court wasn''t made of paper; rather, it was ornate and finely polished. It gave off an aura of strength.


    "That''s what broke the formation. Be careful. The cursed effigies within are about to emerge!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    With the Formation of the Complete Heavens being disrupted, the countless cursed effigies trapped within were suddenly freed. They floated out of the domain, shuddering. By then, the two hundred Immortals from before had all been possessed. They brimmed with killing intent, but rather than rush toward the gathered cultivators, they gathered around the Yanluo Court instead.


    You Jiu likewise emerged from the ck smoke and rushed over to Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    "Blue Lantern, destroy the Yanluo Court," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood. Starlit des, converge!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    361 starlit des shot toward the Yanluo Court, piercing straight through and falling into the sea in a huge ssh.


    "There''s something wrong with this Yanluo Court. The starlit des can''t seem to strike it!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    The door to the Yanluo Court creaked open as a man in ck brocade appeared from within, a crown on his head. His gaze burned infernal.


    "The Dragon Yanluo? Didn''t you self-destruct? How could you have revived again?" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "My methods are beyond the likes of you. What an incredible relic, to have forced my hand to such an extent." The Dragon Yanluo''s eyes shed with greed.


    "Make your move, Blue Lantern!" Xiao Nanfeng urged immediately.


    "Starlit des, converge!" Blue Lantern waved his hand.


    The starlit des again shot toward the Dragon Yanluo, but the Dragon Yanluo moved rapidly toward Blue Lantern before the des could strike him. With a twist of his hand, Blue Lantern summoned the starlit des toward him.


    "Oh? These des can change direction mid-flight? Incredible."


    The Dragon Yanluo immediately changed direction, but the starlit des tracked him as though they could see. Just as they were about to catch up, the Dragon Yanluo frowned as he stopped running away. He shot toward Blue Lantern at full force, willing to be struck by the des in exchange for dealing him a lethal blow.


    "Formation of the Complete Heavens, arise!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    The starlit des burst into blue mist that surrounded Blue Lantern and the Dragon Yanluo.


    "The starlit des can be used to establish a formation, too? No, impossible. They aren''t standalone. You knew from the very start that the starlit des wouldn''t harm me, so you siphoned off some of their energy and linked it to the foundations of the formation. You were trying to establish the formation anew, and those tracking des were merely a distraction! What a schemer you are!" the Dragon Yanluo thundered.


    From within the blue mist, Blue Lantern called out, "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll only be able to trap him for a little while. Think of a strategy for dealing with him!"


    The Dragon Yanluomanded his subordinates, "Kill everyone!"


    "Understood!" all the cursed effigies cried out.


    They shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "We have to run!" Mr. Wen urged.


    "There''s no need," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    A red moon appeared to the back of his head. It rose into the air and emitted blinding red light as a red cloud manifested in the air. Countless lengths of red rope shot straight down, binding the cursed effigies and hanging them by their necks.


    Thousands of cursed effigies hung in the air as though they hadmitted mass suicide. Only the cursed effigies that had possessed Immortals were barely able to avoid the domain.


    "There''s something wrong with that red cloud. Destroy it!" a possessed Immortal cried out.


    The other possessed Immortals shot toward the red cloud, but what awaited them were even more lengths of red rope. They were rapidly bound; soon, only nine Earth Immortals remained free.


    "Impossible. Destroy that red cloud!" the nine possessed Earth Immortals cried out,unching attacks at the lengths of red rope simultaneously.


    Much of the red rope was obliterated as the cursed effigies regained their freedom. However, even more lengths of red rope surged toward them and bound them once again.


    The nine Earth Immortals red at Xiao Nanfeng, seeing that they were unable to ovee the red cloud''s might.


    "The red rope listens to him. Deal with him first!" a cursed effigy shouted, pointing at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The others all shot toward Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously.


    "You overestimate yourself!" Xiao Nanfeng called out, smiling. "You Jiu, protect Mr. Wen!"


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped toward the nine cursed effigies. He shed up to one of them.


    "Kill!" the cursed effigy shouted, punching at Xiao Nanfeng with a fist.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng punched forward.


    Hundreds of punches shot toward the cursed effigy like raindrops in a storm. The cursed effigy nched and screamed, flung backwards by the tremendous force. Then, lengths of red rope wound tightly over his body and bound him securely.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the next Earth Immortal and dealt with her the same way.


    "Impossible!" the other cursed effigies shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng was like a god that had descended from the heavens, coursing with divine might, defeating one cursed effigy with every punch. None of the Earth Immortals were able to stand against his might; they were all flung into the domain of the red cloud, then bound tightly.


    Mr. Wen gaped at the disy of strength. "Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng far too strong? It''s only been a while since he fought Nn Qiankun, but he''s already grown so much stronger!"


    "His Majesty isn''t the only one growing rapidly in strength. The whole of Dazheng is, too," You Jiu bragged proudly.


    Just then, a giant blood peach tree appeared out of nowhere before Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior, do you want these cursed effigies?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    The blood peach tree scattered arge number of its blossoms. "I do!"


    "In that case, please take them, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied generously.


    The lengths of red rope delivered the cursed effigies straight toward the blood peach tree, whose roots swiftly shot into their possessed bodies.


    "No!" the cursed effigies screamed in pain.


    However, the blood peach tree ignored their struggles. Its roots shot toward the cursed effigies in the distance, forking until they looked like part of a dense spiderweb.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the Yanluo Court. As he arrived before its door, he could feel an immense aura surging from it. His heart thumped.


    He reached out to touch the Yanluo Court, but felt nothing. It was as though the Yanluo Court thaty before him didn''t exist in physical reality.


    "Why can''t I touch this Yanluo Court?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He reached out again and sent a length of red rope toward the Yanluo Court, intending on trapping it, but even the red rope was unable to interact with the hall at all.


    "Is this Yanluo Court merely an illusion? Even a cursed spiritual avatar can''t reach it..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Just then, a group of peach blossoms blew over toward him. They fell to the ground, forming words with their petals. "This Yanluo Court has an owner. Without the owner''s permission, no one can touch it."


    "How could this be? The paper figure''s Yanluo Court wasn''t the same way. It was as fragile as papier mache, and I could easily destroy it."


    "That''s because the Snake Yanluo was just too weak. It was barely able tomand its own Yanluo Court, so it had to divide its own body into a few cursed spiritual avatars to control it. Then, after I devoured it, its hall temporarily became ownerless. That was how I gained control over it."


    "Then how can I interact with this Yanluo Court?"


    "You can''t, unless you destroy the Dragon Yanluo and leave this Yanluo Court without a lord."


    "But the Dragon Yanluo was fine even after self-destructing! How am I supposed to take him down?"


    "The Dragon Yanluo''s revival was because he had stored some special revival-rted treasure within his Yanluo Court. Once he dies, his consciousness will return to the Yanluo Court and be regenerated with the help of these treasures. It surely can''t have much of such rare supplies, and once it consumes them all, it won''t be able to regenerate any longer. You''ll be able to take him down then."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    By then, the blood peach tree had devoured all the cursed effigies, and a hundred blood peaches had formed on it.


    The blood peach tree shook, tossing the hundred peaches toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng gathered all the blood peaches.


    The blood peach tree shook and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced thoughtfully in the direction in which it had vanished.


    Just then, a huge bang came from the blue mist in the distance. The blue mist dissipated in an explosion.


    Killing intent surged from the Dragon Yanluo as he emerged from the mist. Blue Lantern seemed to be seriously wounded. He was flung out from the mist, blood seeping down his lips.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew over and caught him.


    "Blue Lantern, are you alright?" he asked worriedly.


    "I''m fine, but the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual techniques are too strong. The reserves of energy Mr. Wen supplied for the formation have been used up, and I can''t continue to establish the formation. I won''t be able to trap him any longer."


    "Don''t worry. Leave the rest to me," Xiao Nanfeng said.

 Chapter 396: Xiao Nanfeng Fights the Dragon Yanluo

    <h4>Chapter 396: Xiao Nanfeng Fights the Dragon Yanluo</h4>


    The Dragon Yanluo freed himself just in time to see all the cursed effigies around him vanish.


    A few draconic specters of light flew over from the back of the Yanluo Court, surrounded the Dragon Yanluo, and quickly recounted what had just happened to him.


    The Dragon Yanluo narrowed his eyes. "Lad, how dare you! Are you Mr. Wen''s newest helper? Do you intend to go against me?"


    "My name is Xiao Nanfeng, not d''," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly. [1]


    He retrieved the Star Map of the Complete Heavens from Blue Lantern''s back and activated it. The star map began to give off radiant light.


    "Blue Lantern, hide!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Blue Lantern was momentarily surprised to see that Xiao Nanfeng couldmand the star map himself, but he rapidly reacted and turned to hide.


    "Even that formations expert controlling this treasure was no match for me. What do you think you''ll be able to do?" The Dragon Yanluo sneered at Xiao Nanfeng, thenunched himself at him.


    "Seal!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The starlit beams shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, forming a barrier that protected him.


    The Dragon Yanluo smashed into the starlit barrier in a tempest. Xiao Nanfeng and the barrier were simultaneously flung back, but he was unhurt.


    "Hiding in a tortoise''s shell again?" the Dragon Yanluo demanded.


    "The starlit des can''t catch up to your speed, and the starlit barrier can''t trap you any longer. However, it can still protect me," Xiao Nanfeng said. Then, he waved a hand. "Starlit infusion!"


    Starlight surged into his body, allowing his aura to rapidly grow stronger.


    "What a potent treasure. It''s growing more and more appealing to me." The Dragon Yanluo''s eyes shed with greed.


    It shot forward without any hesitation, punching at the starlit barrier. A crack appeared.


    "Restore!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Starlit energy surged toward the crack and repaired it.


    "You won''t be able to break through the barrier. Once I''ve charged up enough energy, I''ll deal with you then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The starlit energy continued to fill his body as his aura grew stronger and stronger.


    "I was unable to take advantage of my subordinates'' strength while I was trapped in the barrier, but now that I''m freed, I''ll easily be able to break this tortoise''s shell of yours. Dragons, I summon you!" the Dragon Yanluo shouted.


    Countless streams of seawater shot toward the Dragon Yanluo, transforming into a water serpent thirty thousand meters long. It was infused with draconic aura. As the Dragon Yanluo waved a hand, the serpent roared and shot toward the starlit barrier


    in a huge explosion that forced Blue Lantern and the others to stumble back in shock. The serpent''s entire bulk smashed into the starlit barrier, which cracked and looked as though it would break apart at any moment.


    Just then, the Dragon Yanluo appeared by the side of the barrier and threw a punch forward, shattering the barrier and sending an explosion of force toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng, surprised, defended with a punch of his own. The two fists met in an explosion that sent Xiao Nanfeng flying.


    "What strength!" he eximed.


    "As you can see, I broke through the starlit barrier." The Dragon Yanluo sneered.


    "So what? I''ll just do it again!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    With another wave of his hand, he surrounded himself with starlit beams, whose intersection formed another barrier. He continued to grow stronger by drawing on the power of the stars.


    "Hiding in a tortoise''s shell is pointless. It looks like I didn''t use enough strength just now¡ªtake this!"


    Even more serpents emerged from the water¡ªnot one, but ten thirty-thousand-meter-long serpents that shot forward as the Dragon Yanluo waved his hand. The ten serpents shot toward the starlit barrier from ten different directions. Xiao Nanfeng knew that he couldn''t withstand theirbined might.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and stepped into the red moon illusory realm, vanishing from sight.


    The ten serpents smashed into the starlit barrier in a tempest of titanic proportions, causing huge waves to swell over the surface of the sea.Once everything settled again, the Dragon Yanluo raised his head and looked up at the skies, only to see the stars shining faintly.


    "Did he die?" the Dragon Yanluo wondered.


    Shortly thereafter, in a sh of light, Xiao Nanfeng reappeared. The dim stars grew bright once again as their starlight surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Oh? You have plenty of tricks to save your life,d. Did you enter some special illusory realm just now?"


    "Worry not. Once I grow as strong as you are, I won''t have to rely on these tricks. We can fight head-to-head then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Not only did he have to draw on the stars'' strength, he even had to make sure the Dragon Yanluo''s attention was focused on him. Otherwise, he would surely strike at Mr. Wen and the others.


    "Oh? Should I thank you, then?" the Dragon Yanluo replied disdainfully. "Come, Yanluo Court!"


    The Yanluo Court flew toward the Dragon Yanluo''s back.


    "Seal!" the Dragon Yanluomanded.


    The Yanluo Court immediately released countless rays of ck light that shrouded the heavens above, dyeing everything ck. Only a few faint beams of starlight filtered down toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng instantly sensed that something was amiss. He attempted to call on the red moon illusory realm once again. This time, however, he failed to summon a portal within.


    "There''s no need to keep trying. My Yanluo seal can prevent any manner of illusory realm from being opened. Prepare to die,d!" the Dragon Yanluo crowed.


    Another ten thirty-thousand-meter-long serpents rose out of the sea.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t able to hide in the red moon illusory realm any longer. He had no choice but to take on the serpents head-on.


    "Starlit des!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a hum, starlit des formed across the heavens. The des, 361 of them in all, shot straight toward the ten serpents.


    "The starlit des again?" The Dragon Yanluo frowned.


    Afar, Mr. Wen gaped. "I was only able to summon the starlit des because I had obtained one of the Spirit Emperor''s secret techniques. Without that technique, it would require immense aplishment with formations to be able to summon the starlit des. Could Xiao Nanfeng be gifted with formations, too?"


    Blue Lantern was equally shocked. "I thought I was the only one who could manage such a feat. How could Xiao Nanfeng do so repeatedly?"


    The starlit des struck the ten serpents in a tempest. The resulting shockwave, along with the Dragon Yanluo''s follow-up attack, ended up shattering the starlit barrier, sending Xiao Nanfeng flying once more.


    Mid-flight, Xiao Nanfeng twisted his body and stabilized himself.


    "You''re unhurt?" the Dragon Yanluo remarked in shock.


    "Dragon Yanluo, you won''t be able to hurt me any longer," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The starlight had continued to infuse his body throughout the entire fight, and his aura had grown stronger and stronger. The Dragon Yanluo felt a tremendous sense of danger.


    "I don''t believe you''re already my equal in strength. Serpents,e!" the Dragon Yanluomanded.


    "Starlit des!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, directing them toward the Dragon Yanluo.


    The serpents rose into the air; the starlit des fell from the heavens. The two attacks shed against each other once more, and the resulting shockwave battered the starlit barrier in conjunction with the Dragon Yanluo''s fist. The starlit barrier shattered yet again,


    but Xiao Nanfeng met the Dragon Yanluo''s fist with his own. Both parties skidded hundreds of meters through the air.


    "Impossible. How could you have grown so quickly?"


    "I''ll be able to kill you soon enough."


    The Dragon Yanluo''s eyes twitched as it btedly realized that Xiao Nanfeng was telling the truth. If he dragged out the fight any longer, it would only turn irreversibly in Xiao Nanfeng''s favor. His eyes glinted fiercely.


    "Serpents,e!" the Dragon Yanluo shouted again.


    "Starlit des!" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    The same techniques struck each other again in a huge explosion, and the two parties exchanged blows once more.


    "Something''s wrong!" Xiao Nanfeng realized.


    The Dragon Yanluo knew that this wouldn''t work; why would he repeat the same actions? He had to be nning something.


    As expected, just as they were about to strike each other, the Dragon Yanluo sneered maliciously. "Explode!"


    "You''re self-destructing? Are you crazy?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The Dragon Yanluo exploded in a wave of fire and wind that swallowed up Xiao Nanfeng instantly.


    "Your Majesty!" You Jiu cried out.


    "The Dragon Yanluo''s intending on killing Xiao Nanfeng along with itself!" Blue Lantern murmured.


    "No," Mr. Wen replied, his pupils contracting. "He''s trying to destroy the Star Map of the Complete Heavens and break off Xiao Nanfeng''s link with the firmament!"


    As the explosion dissipated, Xiao Nanfeng was revealed at its heart, protected by a red moon that was pitted and perforated as a result of the massive explosion. Within the red moon, Xiao Nanfeng had been grievously injured. He was a bloody mess and extremely weak. The Star Map of the Complete Heavens had dissipated in a pile of fragments.


    The starlight vanished; Xiao Nanfeng was no longer able to draw on the power of the stars.


    He spat out a mouthful of blood and thundered, "Dragon Yanluo, don''t you want the Star Map of the Complete Heavens?"


    Not far away, by the entrance to the Yanluo Court, a humanoid shadow slowly manifested¡ªnone other than the Dragon Yanluo. He chuckled coldly. "A treasure thatmands naturalw is valuable, but that doesn''t mean I would discard everything else for it. As long as I kill you, I''ll be able to secure other such treasures in the future. Furthermore, by crippling you, I don''t lose out. To think that you would be able to survive my self-destruction... But don''t worry, I''ll finish you off now. Even after losing my body, I''ll be able to revive within my Yanluo Court. Just you wait, haha!"


    The Dragon Yanluo shot toward the Yanluo Court, but a length of red rope suddenly curled around his specter.


    "I won''t let you go," Xiao Nanfeng said, weakly grasping onto the red rope.


    "If you want to die,e at me!" the Dragon Yanluo''s specter shouted.


    He passed through the doors to the Yanluo Court. Xiao Nanfeng, holding on to the length of red rope that bound him, was dragged within as well.


    1. Just like the Dragon Yanluo, he refers to himself as an emperor. The closest English analogue is the use of the royal we: ''Our name is Xiao Nanfeng, not d''.'' But I don''t want to do this because it sounds particrly pretentious. ?

 Chapter 397: Underworld Lake

    <h4>Chapter 397: Underworld Lake</h4>


    Within the Yanluo Court, Xiao Nanfeng found himself surrounded by endless darkness. The Dragon Yanluo''s specter took the opportunity to free himself from the red rope.


    Xiao Nanfeng reimed his tattered red moon and arduously stood up. He nced warily at his surroundings, only to find arge number of dragon specters dashing forward from the depths of the darkness.


    "King!" The dragon specters bowed down respectfully toward the Dragon Yanluo.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why would you follow me into my seat of power? The Yanluo seal is active here too. You won''t be able to escape." The Dragon Yanluo smirked.


    "A group of cursed effigies¡ªno, they don''t even have cursed spiritual avatars. They''re just cursed souls. Do you think they''d be able to stand against me?" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Try it, then." The Dragon Yanluomanded the specters, "As usual, possess him and send him to the Underworld Lake."


    "Understood!" The cursed effigies shot toward Xiao Nanfeng immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the cursed effigies aside one after another with every swing of his red rope, but he was simply far too weak at present. With the red moon being damaged, the red rope cursed king''s spiritual avatar likewise seemed to be affected. Summoning the red rope was draining his already-limited resources. Within moments, he was drowned within a group of draconic specters.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. I''ll be able to revive quickly enough and deal with you then, haha!" the Dragon Yanluo''s specter shouted.


    He headed deep within the darkness and vanished from sight.


    Countless draconic specters shot toward Xiao Nanfeng. Some attempted to dart into his mindscape, but a blue moon appeared there and sent them flying back.


    "Impossible. Again!" The draconic specters shot forth once more.


    A blue moon appeared to the back of Xiao Nanfeng''s head as his injuries healed at a rate visible to the naked eye. A shimmering blue barrier of energy formed around his body, repelling the draconic specters.


    "What? How could this be? That blue light seems designed to counter us!" one draconic specter cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced disdainfully at the cursed specters. He sucked in a deep breath. "Senior, if you don''t want these cursed effigies, I''ll obliterate them."


    A blood peach tree appeared. Countless roots stabbed toward the draconic specters.


    "What''s that?!" one draconic specter cried out.


    The peach tree''s roots speared into the draconic specters, then sucked them dry. The remaining specters, seeing the macabre sight, turned and fled.


    Countless peach blossoms scattered from the tree, as though forming a formation that trapped the specters within.


    "Leave! We have to inform the king!" one of the specters cried out.


    However, the peach blossoms were too fast for the specters. They surrounded the fleeing specters as the peach tree''s roots drained them dry.


    "No!" the specters screamed.


    "Senior, I''m leaving these cursed effigies to you. I''ll be chasing after the Dragon Yanluo!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ran into the darkness, toward where the specter of the Dragon Yanluo had headed.


    Days ago, Ao Zhou, Croak, Warble, and the dragons under Ao Zhou''smand had all been caught by the Dragon Yanluo and tossed into his Yanluo Court.


    The moment they entered the Yanluo Court, they were beset by a group of draconic specters.


    "What are these? Are they cursed effigies?" Croak frowned.


    "Dragon-shaped cursed effigies... Were they dragons in the past?" Warble wondered.


    The dragon specters surged forth.


    "Hold on, all of you were dragons in the past, weren''t you? I''m a dragon too! I''m a descendant of yours! Ancestors, I''ve finally found all of you!" Ao Zhou suddenly shouted.


    The dragon specters were taken aback. They had been in the Yanluo Court for a prolonged period of time and had seen countless cultivators tossed into it. Some begged for mercy, others resisted, yet more cursed¡ªbut this was the first time they had seen anyone attempting to im kinship with them.


    "Greet your ancestors, quickly! Are you all fools?!" Ao Zhou hissed at his subordinates.


    "We greet our ancestors!"


    "We''ve finally found you, ancestors!"


    "Bless our ancestors!"


    The dragons bowed respectfully toward the draconic specters, stupefying them.


    Frowning, Croak sent a mental transmission to Warble. "Does Ao Zhou not care about his reputation? He''s already submitting to those specters even before we''ve started to fight!"


    To its surprise, it found Warble imitating Ao Zhou. "We greet our ancestors!"


    Croak stiffened. What was going on? The rest of their group were dragons; it might have made sense for them to shamelessly acknowledge the draconic specters as their ancestors, but it and Warble were toad spirits!


    Warble kicked Croak''s butt. "Go on, greet our ancestors! Why are you in such a daze?"


    Croak btedly understood what Warble was doing. The two of them were currently in human form, and the cursed effigies wouldn''t know that they were toad spirits.


    "We greet our ancestors!" Croak said respectfully.


    Not too far away, Ao Zhou nced askance at the two toad spirits. He thought himself rather thick-skinned, but the two toad spirits seemed to be even more so despite their outwardly honest appearance.


    "Ancestors, we dragons have suffered greatly. Almost all the dragons across the Eastern Sea have gone extinct save the few of us here. Ancestors, please address our grievances!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Ancestors, we''ve had such a hard time. Please help us!" the dragons echoed in sync.


    The draconic specters were silent for a long moment before one of them finally spoke up. "We''re not your ancestors. We came from hundreds of thousands of years ago."


    "All dragons under heaven are onerge n. Those descendants of the far-flung past have brought the dragons to greater heights¡ªand we''re your descendants'' descendants. You''re our ancestors!" Ao Zhou continued fervently.


    The draconic specters fell silent. They huddled together, murmuring to each other for a long while before they finally came to a consensus.


    "I don''t care whether you''re our descendants or not. You were sent into the Yanluo Court by our king, and you''ll have to give your physical bodies over to us! If you dare resist..." one draconic specter began threateningly.


    "We''ll cooperate, we''ll cooperate! I don''t want my physical body any longer. We''ll follow in your footsteps and tithe our physical bodies to the king, ancestors!"


    "Right! No one''s going to stop us from tithing our bodies!" the dragons echoed.


    The draconic specters fell silent. Weren''t these dragons being overly cooperative? How were they going to keep threatening them now?


    "How can I tithe my physical body to the king to best express my sincerity?" Ao Zhou asked, without feeling any shame whatsoever.


    The draconic specters fell silent again, ncing at each other. By now, they had guessed that the dragons were just trying to save themselves rather than being sincere, but this was the first time they had ever met any dragons that were so shameless.


    But if they wanted to demonstrate their ''sincerity'', then they would dly allow them to carry on their act for the time being.


    "If you want to serve the king, then follow us," the draconic specter in the lead said mockingly.


    "Thank you, ancestors!" Ao Zhou replied with unbridled passion.


    "Thank you, ancestors!" the other dragons echoed.


    The draconic specters brought the dragons deep into the Yanluo Court. After a considerable amount of time, they arrived by the side of a yellowke.


    The water in theke was rapidly rotating about its center. Countless gigantic sea spirits floated on its surface. Whether they were dead or alive wasn''t clear, but their bodies were dry and parched, as though all their essence had been sucked dry by theke.


    "Whatke is this?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "This is the Underworld Lake. All spirits that step within will have their life essence drained. We''ve tossed all the sea spirits that have been lured into the court in theke," one draconic specter said.


    "We have tomit suicide by diving into theke? By sacrificing all our vitality to the king?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "No. You''re dragons, and your bodies will be host to the king. All this vitality extracted from the sea spirits will be infused into yours instead."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Do you see that small ind at the center of theke?"


    The dragons looked over and indeed saw a small ind at the center of the Underworld Lake. On the ind were three giant dragons that were hundreds of meters long. They were immobile and encased in rainbow light.


    "What''s that?"


    "The three dragons on the ind are the king''s substitute bodies. The Underworld Lake extracts the essence from these sea spirits and infuses the ind with it, nourishing the three bodies, cultivating, tempering, and strengthening them. We''ll be taking over your bodies and bringing them to the ind to raise your cultivation with all the gathered vitality there."


    "Ancestors, you don''t have to possess us. We can head there on our own!" Ao Zhou immediately volunteered.


    "Do you think that''s possible?" The draconic specter sneered.


    "Of course! Ancestors, just look at my mouth. You''ll see!" Ao Zhou eximed, opening his mouth wide.


    The draconic specters turned toward his mouth subconsciously, only to see Ao Zhou spraying them with a stream of frost.


    "Die!" the draconic specters roared.


    "Now!" Ao Zhoumanded.


    All the dragons suddenly struck the cursed effigies at once.


    "Retaliate!" one specter countered.


    The specters shot toward the dragons from every direction.


    "Ao Zhou, you idiot! You should have made a move after getting on that ind!" Warble shouted from afar.


    "I was trying to get them to bring us to the treasure, but we wasted our time. They were nning to kill us here! Forget it. Let''s make our move now. They''re only spiritual avatars without physical bodies, so we''ll easily be able to take them down."


    "Oh? Looking down on us, are you? You insolent fools. Our king has endowed us with special cursed spiritual power. We''ve taken down countless spirit Immortals, let alone the likes of you!" one specter shouted.


    The specters somehow managed to immunize themselves against the dragons'' attacks and darted toward their mindscapes.


    "They''re entering my mindscape!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Mine too!" Croak eximed.


    Within moments, Croak, Warble, and the rest of the dragons were rendered immobile, all of them possessed.

 Chapter 398: A Boost All Around

    <h4>Chapter 398: A Boost All Around</h4>


    After Croak, Warble, and the dragons were possessed, they stood immobile.


    "Be careful. These dragons'' bodies are all going to be substitute bodies for the king, so we can''tpletely extinguish the dragons'' consciousness. If that happens, the moment these physical bodies lose contact with the souls they harbor, some vital essence will dissipate, and the body will immediately drop in quality. Leave a shred of consciousness behind so that they can absorb the vitality on the ind. Once the king revives, we can get rid of their consciousness then," one specter warned.


    "Understood!" the others replied.


    Then, the draconic specters began to fly out of the dragons'' mindscapes, leaving just one specter behind in each.


    The dragons shivered as though they had all been simultaneously awakened, but their expressions were particrly sinister. It was evident that they had all beenpletely taken over by the draconic specters.


    "Bring them to the ind!" one specter said.


    "Understood!" the possessed dragons replied.


    They transformed into their dragon forms and flew through the air, including Ao Zhou. Meanwhile, Croak and Warble turned into two huge toad spirits.


    "What? Toads?"


    "These two toads pretended to be dragons!"


    "Could they have tricked our king, too?"


    The draconic specters were astonished.


    "What do we do with these two toad spirits?" one specter asked.


    "Toss them into the Underworld Lake and have it strip their bodies of their vitality," another replied.


    "Understood!" The two possessed toads hopped toward the Underworld Lake.


    "Be careful. Don''t stay too near the Underworld Lake. It''s full of toxic poison that corrodes the soul, and can even harm us cursed effigies," another specter warned.


    "Understood!"


    The two toad spirits flew through the air. Then, a draconic specter emerged from each of their mindscapes as the toads closed their eyes and dropped toward the Underworld Lake in a huge ssh of water.


    "Go!" the other specters called out.


    They and the thirty-one possessed dragons flew toward the ind at the heart of theke. The moment theynded on the ind, vitality surged into their bodies.


    "Keep guard over these dragons. I''m going to await orders by the entrance to the hall," one specter said.


    "Understood!"


    The majority of the specters slowly flew off, leaving the thirty-one motionless dragons behind. They seemed as though they were in a meditative state.


    Then, Croak and Warble shook themselves as they awoke within the Underworld Lake.


    "How are you, Warble?" Croak asked, swimming right up to itspanion.


    "I''m alright. The technique that Xiao Nanfeng passed us, The Divine Golden Toad, specially fortifies our souls. That was dangerous¡ªthese cursed effigies really are cautious. Before they tossed us into theke, they even tried to extinguish our consciousness. Fortunately, they didn''t n on us having The Divine Golden Toad." Warble huffed lightly.


    "That was dangerous, wasn''t it? But this Underworld Lake doesn''t seem bad at all. In fact, I feel reallyfortable floating around here," Croak eximed in surprise.


    "We work with poisons and are naturally resistant to them. Of course the poison here can''t hurt us¡ªno, it can even augment our cultivation! The Divine Golden Toad even incorporates a section on breaking down poison, allowing us to grow stronger by absorbing and breaking down potent poisons. This is a haven for our cultivation!" Warble announced.


    "What about Ao Zhou?" Croak asked.


    "They won''t die. Ao Zhou''s a tricky opponent to handle, and he surely has some way of protecting his own consciousness. What''s more, we can''t save them right now. If we make a move, we''d only expose ourselves. We might as well enjoy the toxic poison in theke for now."


    "You''re right," Croak agreed.


    The two toads began to cultivate furiously, absorbing the poison in the Underworld Lake to the best of their ability. Two dayster, a golden membrane had formed over their skin.


    A huge thump came from the Underworld Lake, causing the cursed effigies on the ind to suddenly open their eyes. When they realized that it was caused by the explosion of a dried-up spirit Immortal''s body, however, they returned to meditation once again.


    Warble had just smashed apart a sea spirit''s body in order to cover up the sound of Croak''s breakthrough.


    Golden luster emanated from Croak''s skin.


    "Have you broken through to the realm of an Earth Immortal?" Warble cried out in excitement.


    "I have. The realm of Earth Immortal is when you first start to forge your Immortal body. The Divine Golden Toad is a technique boasting immense strength, but it''s also harder to cultivate than other simr techniques. In particr, forging an Immortal body requires countless resources. I can''t believe the water of this Underworld Lake would be so potent!" Croak eximed.


    "It really is a treasure, isn''t it?" Warble agreed.


    "Warble, you''re about to break through yourself. Absorb more too," Croak urged.


    Warble nodded as the two toads sank to the bottom of theke.


    A dayter, another dull thump came from the Underworld Lake. The cursed effigies on the ind opened their eyes again, only to see that another spirit Immortal''s body had exploded. They thought nothing of it.


    "Do you feel that the rate at which the Underworld Lake is depositing vitality toward the dragons'' bodies seems to be increasing?" one cursed effigy asked.


    "Isn''t that a good thing?" another replied.


    "I''m worried that the dragons'' bodies won''t be able to absorb it all."


    "Don''t worry. The Underworld Lake is maintained by a formation that the king set up. He has everything nned, so don''t worry."


    "Alright."


    The cursed effigies on the ind settled down once again as vitality surged into the dragons'' bodies, causing their aura to grow stronger rapidly.


    With a boom, Ao Zhou broke through into an Earth Immortal.


    Just then, within the Underworld Lake, Croak and Warble were celebrating.


    "Croak, I''m an Earth Immortal too! My Immortal body has been forged!" Warble warbled excitedly.


    "This really is a haven for cultivation," Croak replied with excitement.


    "But it seems like the Underworld Lake''s water is turning more and more transparent..."


    "Of course! We absorbed the nutrients from the body, so theke water''s naturally turning clear. But don''t worry, The Divine Golden Toad contains a secret technique that can make it turbid again by dyeing it with golden emissions from our body." Croak smiled.


    "And why are the sea spirits'' carcasses in theke growing parched more and more quickly?"


    "I suspect it''s not theke water draining their vitality, but rather a formation at the bottom of theke. On the other hand, theke water serves the opposite effect. It decreases the rate at which the formation drains the sea spirits'' vitality so that it doesn''t provide too much vitality to the bodies on the ind at once and overtax them," Croak suggested.


    "In that case, will Ao Zhou and the others suffer because we''re absorbing theke water so furiously?"


    "There are a bunch of cursed effigies keeping watch over them, so there''s nothing we have to worry about. Let''s continue."


    "Got it!" Warble replied.


    The two toads sank toward the bottom of theke once again, absorbing the water to hone their bodies and improve their cultivation. At the same time, they secreted golden emissions in order to make it look as turbid as before.


    As a result, the dragons'' cultivation grew rapidly, so much so that the cursed effigies were growing a little worried.


    Two dayster, a beam of light shot toward one of the dragons'' bodies.


    "I''m taking over this body. Leave," the Dragon Yanluomanded.


    "Understood!" A draconic specter immediately flew out from the dragon''s mindscape.


    The dragon''s body twisted and transformed into the appearance of the Dragon Yanluo.


    The other dragons opened their eyes. One asked, "King, has something happened outside?"


    "It''s none of your business. I''ll kill them all! The formations expert, Blue Lantern¡ªwell, I''m about to be reborn. I''ll kill him!" the Dragon Yanluo thundered.


    Then, he flew out of the Underworld Lake straight for the door to the Yanluo Court.


    The draconic specters were just about to report about the irregrities around theke, but none had had time to speak.


    Within theke, Croak and Warble had overheard the conversation.


    "Blue Lantern''s here? Could Xiao Nanfeng havee to save us?" Warble asked, eyes brightening.


    "It has to be Xiao Nanfeng. We''re about to be saved! Let''s absorb more of this water, quickly. We can''t leave even a bit for the cursed effigies!" Croak shouted.


    "Got it!"


    The two toad spirits absorbed theke water even more furiously than before, turning it clearer and clearer. If not for their golden secretions, the specters would have discovered the trick long ago.


    However, such intense activity wouldn''t go unnoticed by the draconic specters.


    "Something''s wrong. The vitality is entering my body far too quickly. I won''t be able to take it much longer!" one cursed effigy shouted.


    "Me too. My dragon''s about to burst!"


    One dragon''s body really did burst in a shower of rainbow light.


    "What? These bodies really can explode?!" one draconic specter cried out.


    Yet another body burst apart in a huge explosion.


    "Mine burst too. How are we going to answer to the king?!" The unfortunate draconic specter emerged from the remaining scraps of its body.


    "Something must have gone wrong with theke."


    "But theke water can corrode even us cursed effigies. We can''t head down there and check!"


    "Let''s wait for the king to return."


    "But what about these remaining dragons? We can''t let even more explode!"


    The cursed effigies hurriedly checked the remaining dragons'' bodies.


    "These dragons all have an excellent foundation. There''s an unusual draconic aura within their bodies that''s strengthening them and allowing them to withstand the torrent of vitality headed their way. Just what is that aura?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, it''s the result of that Dragon Gate from way back."


    "Have their bodies all been reforged by the Dragon Gate? No wonder they''re able to withstand such stress."


    The cursed effigies determined what was going on rapidly.


    "What do we do now?"


    "Our king''s undergoing a fight to the death. It''s so dangerous that he has to make use of his substitute bodies. He might need moreter on, and the stronger the body''s cultivation, the more helpful it''ll be to him."


    "The two remaining Heaven Immortal bodies have both exploded. If he needs more substitutes, he''ll have to pick from among these new dragons. They aren''t going to explode in the short term, so let''s try to strengthen them as much as possible."


    "Understood!" the other cursed effigies replied.

 Chapter 399: Xiao Nanfengs Complete Victory

    <h4>Chapter 399: Xiao Nanfeng''s Complete Victory</h4>


    Within the Yanluo Court, the Dragon Yanluo tossed the grievously wounded Xiao Nanfeng to a group of his subordinates as he rushed off toward the Underworld Lake.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why would you follow me into my seat of power? Once I''m reborn in a new body, I''ll take my time to deal with you," the Dragon Yanluo dered.


    Although he was confident in his subordinates, he knew how devious Xiao Nanfeng was. He didn''t think that Xiao Nanfeng would be possessed so easily, and had to take advantage of whatever additional time he had.


    Very quickly, he arrived by the Underworld Lake, where he shot toward the ind at its center.


    On the ind, he saw that the two remaining Heaven Immortal bodies had exploded. A surge of vitality revolved around the ind without dissipating, so dense it had almost congealed.


    "What''s going on?!" the Dragon Yanluo thundered.


    "King, something''s wrong with the Underworld Lake. Over thest two days, the dragons have been infused with vitality more and more quickly. Just now, after you took over a dragon, that vitality increased even more rapidly, causing those two Heaven Immortal dragons'' bodies to burst apart. All that vitality is trapped on this ind by the formation in theke, so they''ve all been surging toward the remaining dragons'' bodies," one specter immediately reported.


    The Dragon Yanluo turned toward the Underworld Lake, whereupon he frowned mightily. "There''s something in theke stealing my water. Die!"


    Without any hesitation, it shot into Ao Zhou''s mindscape. A draconic specter was shoved out.


    "What an incredible body. This body''s bloodline is as fine as mine used to be. How could this be?!" the Dragon Yanluo eximed.


    "King, all these bodies are exceptional," the other specters said.


    The Dragon Yanluo nced at the other bodies in shock. "Have they all passed through the Dragon Gate?"


    "Yes, King!"


    "In that case, there''s no need to infuse vitality a bit at a time. Formation, bring all the vitality forth!" the Dragon Yanluomanded.


    With a hum, the entire ind quaked. An endless stream of rainbow vitality surged into the dragons'' bodies.


    The cursed effigies roared as they felt their strength balloon.


    "Don''t worry about not being able to distill all the vitality. These bodies can all withstand tremendous stress. You can just store the vitality somewhere for now."


    "Understood!" the cursed effigies chorused.


    The dragons quickly devoured all the vitality that hade their way.


    Suddenly, the Dragon Yanluo floated into the air above theke. He stared at its depths.


    "These bastards¡ªthey''ve almost drained theke dry!" the Dragon Yanluo roared.


    "Warble, we''ve been discovered. I''ll attack first. You finish absorbing whatever remains!" Croak shouted.


    Croak shot out of theke and careened toward the Dragon Yanluo, who retaliated with a flick of his tail.


    A tempest formed as the two spirits struck each other.


    Only then did the cursed effigies realize that the essence of theke water waspletely gone. All that remained was ake of clear water and countless dried-up skeletons. Warble absorbed the final portion ofke water and shot forward.


    "Die!" the cursed effigies roared.


    The possessed dragons struck at Warble.


    A huge fight ensued around the Underworld Lake. Croak fought the Dragon Yanluo alone, while Warble fought the massed draconic specters.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng arrived at thekeside. To his surprise, he saw Croak and Warble fighting against the dragons. There were four more draconic specters hovering by the side. Quickly, he realized what was going on. The dragons had all been possessed; only Croak and Warble still had agency.


    "Dragon Yanluo? You possessed Ao Zhou?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    The Dragon Yanluo was being restricted by the subpar strength of his current body. Croak was able to hold him in ce and force a fight.


    "Go get rid of Xiao Nanfeng! He''s grievously wounded and will be an easy opponent," the Dragon Yanluo thundered.


    One dragon managed to shake off Warble and shoot toward Xiao Nanfeng. It closed in on him and flicked its tail toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. He grabbed the dragon''s tail and whipped it around, smashing the dragon into the ground and causing it to shriek. Xiao Nanfeng stepped on the dragon''s head with a foot, preventing the dragon from breaking free no matter how it struggled.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng, shouldn''t you be injured?!" the Dragon Yanluo demanded from afar.


    "That was only a minor injury," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "How could you have recovered from wounds of that magnitude so rapidly? Furthermore, isn''t your moon supposed to be red? why is it blue now?"


    "You don''t have to worry about that. For possessing these dragons, you''ll pay with your lives!"


    Croak suddenly called out, "These dragons might have been possessed, but their consciousness hasn''t been extinguishedpletely. You might still be able to save them!"


    "Oh? They can be saved?"


    "You intend to save them? Dream on. My subordinates have already melded with these bodies. No one can save them!" the Dragon Yanluo dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Who knows?"


    He reached a hand into one dragon''s mindscape.


    "Argh!" a scream rang out.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught a draconic specter and pulled it out of the dragon''s mindscape.


    "Impossible! How can that blue lighting from your body draw out a cursed spiritual avatar? What''s wrong with your spiritual power?!" the Dragon Yanluo demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s hand shone with blinding blue light. The draconic specter in his palm screamed as though being branded by scorching-hot metal.


    "King, this blue light''s countering my cursed spiritual power. It''s as if there are a thousand des spearing me through my heart. Argh!" The draconic specter screamed again before it vanished in a cloud of smoke.


    The dragons all around reared back in shock.


    The dragon whose specter Xiao Nanfeng had removed, on the other hand, suddenly shook and opened its eyes.


    "King Xiao, where am I?" it mumbled weakly.


    "They really can be saved! Are you awake?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    The dragon still seemed a little dazed from the recent soul damage it had incurred. The next moment, however, it gaped in surprise. "My cultivation has advanced, and there''s tremendous vitality surging through my body. What''s going on? Thest thing I remember, I was taking on a group of cursed effigies with the dragon king!"


    "You''re safe now. Rest well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He shot toward the other cursed effigies. Along the way, he saw four unmoored draconic specters. He swiped at them, his palm glowing with blue light, and they vanished in clouds of smoke.


    "He''sing. Be careful!" the other cursed effigies cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng arrived before yet another dragon. He reached into the dragon''s mindscape and pulled out a draconic specter. With a squeeze of his hand, it vanished in a cloud of smoke.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed off toward the next dragon.


    "No! We have to attack him together!" the draconic specters cried out.


    However, they were far weaker than Xiao Nanfeng, and Warble was assisting him from the side.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly rescued all the dragons that had been possessed by draconic specters, and he had destroyed all those specters as well.


    Within moments, only the Dragon Yanluo remained, still fighting with Croak in mid-air.


    "Croak, go guard the dazed dragons with Warble. I''ll handle him!" Xiao Nanfeng strode forward.


    "Got it!"


    Croak pushed aside the Dragon Yanluo and flew toward where Warble was. They began guarding the dragons together.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng blocked the Dragon Yanluo''s path.


    The Dragon Yanluo, having possessed Ao Zhou, was now in the form of a ck dragon. A tremendous aura emanated from him.


    "Dragon Yanluo, were you the one who caught Croak, Warble, and these dragons? What were you nning to do to them? Advance their cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng gave the Dragon Yanluo an odd look.


    He wasn''t aware of just what the spirits had suffered; he arrived at theke to find, to his surprise, that they had all grown significantly stronger.


    The Dragon Yanluo stared at the gathered spirits and roared in sudden anger.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, they destroyed two of my Heaven Immortal bodies. Did you send them here? Was this all part of your dastardly scheme? Die!" the Dragon Yanluo bellowed.


    "Are you crazy? When did I scheme against you? You must have tried and failed to kill them, allowing them to take advantage of you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng struck the Dragon Yanluo with a punch that spawned a tempest.


    He and the Dragon Yanluo were, at this moment, about equals in strength. However, Xiao Nanfeng''s blue moon spiritual power was a direct counter against cursed effigies, and the Dragon Yanluo was forced back once and again.


    "You dare criticize me? The heavens themselves are far more devastating, causing cmity to descend on the world once every ten thousand years. Should it not suffer any bacsh? In this world, the strong prey on the weak. The bandit who executes a sessful coup is called king! I might have failed to ount for some variables, but I can still easily handle you," the Dragon Yanluo roared.


    "You might have been able to do so in your previous body, but not in Ao Zhou''s," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    He sent the Dragon Yanluo reeling time and time again.


    "I was forced to leave my cursed spiritual avatar in the abyss before escaping from it. Otherwise, you would hardly be my match!" the Dragon Yanluo roared.


    "Whatever the reason, you''ve lost. As you said, you''re only just a bandit. Your Yanluo Court isn''t even particrly strong, is it? The Snake Yanluo''s was more impressive." Xiao Nanfeng''s punch sent the Dragon Yanluo flying.


    The Dragon Yanluo smashed a boulder into rubble as hended on the ground.


    "You''ve seen the Snake Yanluo? Where?!"


    "I slew her and allowed one of my seniors to devour her body. Her Yanluo Court exuded far more pressure than yours did, but that Yanluo Court has since been reimed by my senior as well."


    "Who? Who could devour the Snake Yanluo?!" the Dragon Yanluo eximed.


    "You''ll be able to see it soon enough."


    He stepped on Ao Zhou''s body with one leg, reached into his mindscape, caught something, and pulled.


    With a scream, the Dragon Yanluo''s specter emerged from Ao Zhou''s body, caught firmly in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.

 Chapter 400: Xiao Nanfengs Refusal

    <h4>Chapter 400: Xiao Nanfeng''s Refusal</h4>


    Blue light emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, suppressing the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar and preventing him from moving.


    "To think I would ever end up in such straits, imprisoned by a mere cultivator at Yin Body... How am I to suffer such humiliation?!" the Dragon Yanluo raged.


    "In your philosophy, you are a bandit, nothing more," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    The Dragon Yanluo was silent for a moment before he took a deep breath. "You''re right. I''ve lost. I''m upset that I lost, but I have to acknowledge your strength. I''ve seen countless cultivators at Yin Body, but none as strong as you are at this level. Losing to you is hardly unexpected."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "With just the power of a Heaven Immortal, you managed to suppress Blue Lantern despite his use of the Star Map of the Complete Heavens. You''re a formidable person, but you killed Mr. Wen''s direct rtives. For his sake, I can''t allow you to go free. Go peacefully on your way. You don''t belong in this era, not with me around."


    Large quantities of blue light shot out of Xiao Nanfeng''s palm and toward the Dragon Yanluo''s scepter.


    The Dragon Yanluo shrieked in pain and began to smoke.


    Just then, the blood peach tree appeared by his side. Peach blossoms scattered and rapidly formed words.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t kill him so rapidly. Didn''t you want to understand the situation in the abyss outside Fengdu? It must know more than I do. Allow me to interrogate him on your behalf."


    The peach tree''s roots shot out and entangled the Dragon Yanluo.


    "Senior, I would be happy to give him to you if you were to ask. Why snatch him from my grasp?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I was worried you would strike too quickly and kill the Dragon Yanluo. Leave the rest to me."


    The blood peach tree instantly thrust arge number of its roots into the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, causing it to scream again.


    "Who are you? How could you absorb my cursed spiritual power? You have the Snake Yanluo''s cursed spiritual power in your body. You must be that senior who devoured the Snake Yanluo, the one Xiao Nanfeng was talking about. But which Yanluo Lord are you? Why don''t I recognize you?" the Dragon Yanluo asked, shouting in pain.


    The blood peach tree ignored the Dragon Yanluo and furiously absorbed its cursed spiritual power.


    To the side, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Senior, weren''t you going to help me interrogate the Dragon Yanluo? At this rate, you''ll be the one to devour him."


    Peach blossoms scattered and formed more words. "I''m just trying to drain him of all but the dregs of his spiritual power first. Once he feels fear, he''ll naturally beg for mercy and tell you everything. If he remains stubborn, then there''s nothing we can do. After all, if you were going to kill him anyway, you might as well let me devour him."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the peach blossom tree aplicated look. He could sense that something was amiss.


    Suddenly, the Dragon Yanluo''s eyes widened. "It''s you! I know who you are, now. All you do is hide behind someone else and reap the benefits, but you walk around with a feigned air of mercy! Of us all, you''re the most malicious and shameless!"


    The blood peach tree didn''t speak. It began to absorb the Dragon Yanluo more and more furiously. The Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar grew ever fainter.


    The Dragon Yanluo gritted out, "You''re trying to steal my Yanluo Court, aren''t you? Dream on. I''d destroy it before giving it to you. Shameless scum like you don''t deserve it!"


    The Dragon Yanluo suddenly widened his mouth and spat a beam of ck light at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re intending to retaliate even though you''re about to die?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He swatted at the ck beam with a palm glowing with blue light, but the beam passed straight through the light andnded on his palm.


    The blood peach tree shook, as though infuriated by the Dragon Yanluo''s actions. Its intensity ratcheted up, causing the Dragon Yanluo to swiftly grow faint and desated.


    "It''s useless to rage at me now. I''m going to hand my Yanluo Court to Xiao Nanfeng. At the very least, he took me down fair and square. As for you, all you do is hide behind others. You did that all the time with us¡ªand now you''vetched on to Xiao Nanfeng. I won''t hand you anything!" the Dragon Yanluo shouted,ughing fiercely.


    Then, with a pop, the blood peach tree absorbed himpletely.


    The Dragon Yanluo vanished in a cloud of smoke as the entire Yanluo Court trembled violently.


    A ck mole had appeared on Xiao Nanfeng''s palm. He gave it an odd look. The ck mole seemed to tether him to the Yanluo Court.


    Just then, the blood peach tree conjured a few more peach blossoms. "Xiao Nanfeng, the Dragon Yanluo''s trying to distort the rtionship between us before he dies."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed slightly. "I won''t fall prey to maniption of this level, Senior. Don''t worry."


    "Would you hand his Yanluo Court to me? I can use it to help you deal with the other Yanluo Lords."


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. He refused the blood peach tree politely. "Senior, I''m still rather weak at the moment, and have quite a lot of enemies to handle. I''ll need to use this treasure to fight against the other Yanluo Lords myself. In the future, once I grow strong enough to not need it for self-defense, I''ll happily hand it over then."


    The blood peach tree was silent for a time before it finally formed more words with its peach blossoms. "Very well."


    Then, it vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the space where the peach tree had been. Was the Dragon Yanluo really only trying to drive a wedge between Xiao Nanfeng and the blood peach tree? Perhaps.


    He didn''t want to think too poorly of the blood peach tree, but not being on his guard at all. The blood peach tree had helped him out, but he had helped it out as well. He had acted generously and magnanimously, and he didn''t owe the blood peach tree anything.


    Just then, shouts came from the distance.


    "Don''t die, King!"


    "King, what a wretched death!"


    The dragons began to shriek and wail.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see Ao Zhou''s body falling to the ground and surrounded by Ao Zhou''s subordinates.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew down toward the ground. "What''s wrong?"


    Croak frowned. "When the cursed effigies took over the gathered dragons, they preserved the dragons'' consciousness, which is why they could all be rescued. Ao Zhou is different. When the Dragon Yanluo took him over, he extinguished Ao Zhou''s consciousness."


    "Ao Zhou''s been killed by the Dragon Yanluo?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He immediately checked Ao Zhou''s body. Indeed, his mindscape waspletely empty, as though only Ao Zhou''s body remained.


    Had Ao Zhou really died?


    Just then, Warble walked forward. "Since Ao Zhou''s dead, let''s split up the treasure on his body. I''m sure he carries a bunch around."


    The gathered dragons red angrily at Warble.


    Suddenly, Ao Zhou opened his eyes and thundered, "Who dares steal my treasure?!"


    "King, you''re still alive?!" The dragons gaped in shock.


    "Warble, were you deliberately trying to provoke Ao Zhou and awaken him?" Croak asked.


    Warble stiffened, not realizing that Ao Zhou was actually still alive. It immediately pretended as though all this was nned, however. "That''s right. I guessed that Ao Zhou had some trick to save himself. Considering how greedy he is, if anyone were to try to steal his treasure, he would awaken even if he were dead. As you can see, I was right."


    The dragons bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Senior! You''re amazing!"


    "Naturally," Warble said.


    However, a little regret seemed to be mixed in with Warble''s expression.


    "Thank goodness no one stole my treasure." Ao Zhou sighed in relief.


    "Ao Zhou, you aren''t dead? But there wasn''t even a trace of spiritual power left in your mindscape!" Croak eximed.


    "It''s a secret technique passed down to me by my ancestors. What would you know about it? I''m not going to share it with you." Ao Zhou preened.


    "Who cares? We have one of our own, too," Croak replied disdainfully.


    Ao Zhou suddenly inspected his body. "What''s going on? How did I break through? I''m an Earth Immortal now¡ªand there''s tremendous vitality running through my body! I can even break through again. What is this?"


    "King, we''ve all grown stronger too."


    "King, I''m about to experience my tribtion!"


    "King, I''m almost an Earth Immortal myself. Once I distill the vitality running through my body, I''m sure I''ll make it too!"


    The dragons were all very excited.


    "Haven''t we been possessed by a group of cursed effigies? Could they have been trying to help us cultivate?" Ao Zhou wondered.


    "You just got lucky," Croak said. It recounted the situation briefly.


    "Truly? Haha! Xiao Nanfeng, I''m stronger than you are now!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "King, you''re likely no match for Emperor Xiao just yet. While the Dragon Yanluo possessed your body, you were badly beaten by Emperor Xiao," one of the dragons whispered.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    "Ao Zhou, you couldn''t even beat me just now," Croak added.


    Ao Zhou gaped in disbelief. He turned toward the dragons, only to see them nodding.


    Ao Zhou fell silent. He didn''t know whether to be upset or deste. Although he had broken through, he wasn''t even able to beat Croak! What was there to be happy about?


    "Let''s get out of the Yanluo Court," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The spirits had no objections. Staying here made them feel unsafe.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought the spirits toward where they had initially entered.


    "How do we get out? There isn''t even a door around here!" Ao Zhou said.


    Xiao Nanfeng infused qi into the ck mole on his palm. It gave off arge cloud of ck smoke, forming a door out of the hall.


    The door creaked open.


    "How did you do that, Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was the first to step out of the Yanluo Court, followed quickly by the other spirits.


    Then, the door creaked shut once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng held his palm out. The giant Yanluo Court shuddered and shrunk in size as it flew toward the ck mole.


    At that point, even Ao Zhou realized what was going on. "You obtained the Yanluo Court? Xiao Nanfeng, we said we were going to split all treasure evenly. I have a share of this Yanluo Court too!"


    It was obvious that the Yanluo Court was an immense treasure; how could he let it slide through his ws?


    "King, the Dragon Yanluo gave the Yanluo Court to King Xiao. It''s not part of our spoils from the ancient draconic pce," one dragon advised.


    "You don''t know anything! If I don''t ask him for it, of course it wouldn''t be part of my spoils. However, what if I do ask, and for some inane reason he agrees?" Ao Zhou chastised his subordinate. He then turned to Xiao Nanfeng again. "Xiao Nanfeng, you can''t im it all for yourself!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Zhou. How would he even be able to share the Yanluo Court with others? He turned to look at Mr. Wen and the others, who had just flown over.

 Chapter 401: Wen Zhong Joins Dazheng

    <h4>Chapter 401: Wen Zhong Joins Dazheng</h4>


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng stored the Yanluo Court away, Mr. Wen and the others discovered that something was amiss.


    "Don''t head over there just yet. What if they''ve been possessed?" Blue Lantern warned.


    "There''s no need to worry. I can confirm that it''s Xiao Nanfeng''s victory," Mr. Wen replied confidently.


    The group of cultivators flew over and reached Xiao Nanfeng''s side in no time at all.


    "Mr. Wen, the Dragon Yanluo has been in. You''ve been avenged," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you." Mr. Wen bowed.


    Even the Yanluo Court hadnded in Xiao Nanfeng''s possession; it was obvious that the Dragon Yanluo had been killed.


    "Mr. Wen, I have a request to make of you. The Dazheng Empire needs a strategist and tactician with unparalleled foresight. I wish to enlist your assistance for a ten-year period; you may choose to stay or leave thereafter. Of course, if you''re unwilling, Mr. Wen, forget I said anything." Xiao Nanfeng tendered an invitation that he had prepared with considerable forethought.


    The reason he hade here was in order to invite Mr. Wen into the court of the Dazheng Empire, and now was the time to do so. He naturally wouldn''t press Mr. Wen; weak though he might seem, he was no easy foe. What had happened to the divine empire of Dafeng and the Tianshu Empire were cautionary examples, after all.


    Mr. Wen understood Xiao Nanfeng''s expectations and apprehension. After all, he hardly had the best reputation, having betrayed two sessive monarchs in turn.


    "Ten years it is. I, Wen Zhong, greet Your Majesty!" Mr. Wen bowed.


    Ten years wasn''t a particrly long period of time to him, and he didn''t mind serving for such a duration. He wasn''t an easy opponent to handle, and he knew that Xiao Nanfeng was much the same way. The favor that he now owed Xiao Nanfeng ought to be repaid as quickly as possible.


    "No need for courtesy, Mr. Wen. Enlisting your assistance shall be a boon to Dazheng." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, eyes brightening.


    "You overpraise me, Your Majesty. Might I ask about the details of the Dragon Yanluo''s death?"


    Xiao Nanfeng described what had just happened. Croak and Warble added their own testimony, allowing Wen Zhong to understand the entirety of what had transpired.


    "So the Dragon Yanluo ultimately died to the blood peach tree?" Wen Zhong frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "You should know about the nature of cursed effigies. The Dragon Yanluo will be dead in the short term; as for whether it might revive in the future, I suspect you don''t care that much. Is that right?"


    Wen Zhong was silent for a moment before he nodded. "That''s right. If I''m still alive by that point, I''m sure I''ll be able to handle him myself. And if I''m dead, then I hardly care."


    "It''s good that you''ve thought things through."


    "Your Majesty, where is this blood peach tree? May I ask about the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual power?"


    "It lives in my mindscape, and I once saved it from the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. It has helped me a great deal, but doesn''t much like to show itself. I''m afraid I''ll have to disappoint you."


    Mr. Wen nodded in acknowledgment. "Forget it, then."


    "There were still some draconic specters hiding in the region just now. Have they all run off?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I kept them. Do you want them? I can hand them over," Blue Lantern said.


    "Let Mr. Wen deal with them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Blue Lantern handed a small jade bottle to Wen Zhong


    "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Master Blue Lantern!" Wen Zhong eximed.


    Ao Zhou flew up to Blue Lantern and puffed out his chest. "Look, Blue Lantern! I''m an Earth Immortal now too. I''ve surpassed you!"


    In the past, Blue Lantern had always been able to suppress Ao Zhou on the basis of strength. Now that his cultivation had surpassed Blue Lantern''s, he was bragging in order to satisfy his vanity.


    Blue Lantern nced at Ao Zhou, then unleashed his own aura. The energy was so strong it was as though a tempest had formed.


    "How could you be an Earth Immortal too?!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Working with the Formation of the Complete Heavens allowed me a deeper understanding of the firmament, and part of my cultivation was naturally restored as a result," Blue Lantern replied coolly.


    "Don''t you think you recovered your cultivation too readily?" Ao Zhouined.


    "I think it happened at an opportune time," Blue Lantern replied. Clearly displeased by Ao Zhou''s cockiness, he continued, "The vitality in your body was obtained from a carcass, and there are traces of deathly aura in it. You had better distill it quickly before your body starts smelling like corpse rot."


    "You can tell that there''s deathly aura around me? Why don''t I sense anything? You had better not lie to me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "It matters not if you believe me," Blue Lantern replied.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    Blue Lantern''s cool behavior meant that Ao Zhou didn''t doubt him. He instantly began to panic.


    By his side, Xiao Nanfeng said, "Croak, now that the ancient draconic pce has been taken down, why don''t you go see if there''s anything of value remaining?"


    "Got it!" Croak nodded.


    "Don''t forget, we''re splitting the loot from the pce evenly. Don''t try to im all the treasure for yourself¡ªthe dragons will join you!" Ao Zhou said immediately.


    "As you will." Xiao Nanfeng shrugged.


    "Mr. Wen, do you intend to return to the court with me now, or will you head there yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I still have some business to take care of here. I''ll head to Yongding immediately thereafter."


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then turned to You Jiu. "You Jiu, you''ll be guarding Mr. Wen for the time being."


    "Understood!"


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Wen Zhong bowed.


    "Let''s go, Blue Lantern," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Blue Lantern nodded. He and Xiao Nanfeng quickly began to fly back to Yongding.


    The two cultivators flew for some time before Blue Lantern frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng, this Mr. Wen might be an impressive strategist, but he''s ruthless and cruel. It may be dangerous to employ him in the Dazheng Empire."


    "Mr. Wen is a double-edged sword. Used properly, he can take on countless strong foes. Used improperly, he might turn on the empire. However, we can hardly afford to give up on such a weapon just because of this danger. In order to avenge his rtives, he nned for a whole century and would have sacrificed himself to die with the Dragon Yanluo if he had had no other choice. There is humanity within him to be drawn out. I believe that I''ll be able to wield this sword well, but I do have to thank you for being concerned about the future of Dazheng." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Blue Lantern was silent for a moment. "The thought simply crossed my mind; I spoke for no other reason. You don''t have to read too much into it."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I heard you say that the Formation of the Complete Heavens was particrly helpful in restoring your cultivation?"


    Blue Lantern nodded. "I study formations, and the Formation of the Complete Heavens stands at the pinnacle. It would be of tremendous use to me, so it''s unfortunate that I was only able to meditate on the formation for a short period of time before it was lost to me."


    "Let me provide you with a gift, then." Xiao Nanfeng handed Blue Lantern a jade tablet.


    Blue Lantern sent a bit of his qi into the jade tablet with some skepticism. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "This is the Formation of the Complete Heavens! How could it be? Wasn''t the star map destroyed back then?"


    "It was, but I''ve recorded the arcane star map it encapsted and drew on. Although you won''t be able to attune to the stars directly as with that relic, I''m sure that you cane up with something with your skills." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Blue Lantern nced at the jade tablet with aplicated expression on his face. He was certain that the star map wasplex enough that the vast majority of formations experts wouldn''t have been able to reproduce it at all. How had Xiao Nanfeng seeded? Why was he willing to simply hand it over to Blue Lantern?


    "Thank you." In the end, Blue Lantern didn''t ask any of these questions. He kept the jade tablet gratefully.

 Chapter 402: Qu Jianfeng

    <h4>Chapter 402: Qu Jianfeng</h4>


    Outside the city of Fengdu, themanders of the city watched on as a group of golden cultivators underwent a tribtion. They were all silent.


    "Didn''t thatst one get beaten ck and blue? How did he suddenly end up triggering a tribtion?"


    "These golden lumps of flesh¡ªhow did they all be Immortals? Was it from taking our beatings? He''s thest one, isn''t he?"


    "Despite all our efforts, none of them surrendered or called for mercy. No matter how harsh the beating was, they all seemed rxed afterwards, as if they enjoyed it!"


    "Have we been tricked?"


    The sevenmanders quickly discovered that something was amiss.


    Despite the beatings having gone on for over half a month, none of Ye Dafu''sckeys had surrendered. Many even made strange moaning noises during the beating, making themanders feel as though they were doing something indecent.


    With an eruption of energy, thest golden cultivator survived his tribtion. The dark clouds above transformed into radiant clouds that shot into his body.


    "How does it feel to be an Immortal now?" Ye Dafu and the others called out.


    "Boss, I feel great! I can take on ten cultivators at once!" the cultivator replied expectantly.


    "Ten at once? Are you sure?"


    "I am! Come on, I promise I won''t retaliate."


    Themanders stiffened. Had that golden cultivator misspoke? Not retaliating? He couldn''t take on ten cultivators, could he? He wanted to be beaten up by ten of them simultaneously! Were these cultivators all maniacs?"


    "Commanders, let''s continue! If you can force me to surrender, you''ll win twenty-five Immortal relics!" Ye Dafu shouted, looking expectantly at the seven of them.


    Their faces twitched. Ye Dafu had repeated this refrain over and over, luring them into fighting him repeatedly. They were so tired they were about to copse. How could Ye Dafu still keep going?


    "There must be something wrong with all of you. You were scheming against us!" onemander suddenly used.


    "Scheming against you? How?" Ye Dafu immediately pretended to be innocent.


    Themanders didn''t know what to say. Indeed, how had Ye Dafu and his crew schemed against them? Were they trying to get themanders to beat them up? That was ridiculous.


    Ye Dafu suggested, "Commanders, you''re overthinking things. Actually, you''ve almost beaten us to a pulp. Our bodies were endowed with energy from a senior of ours that we haven''t been able to absorb until now. We''ve all managed to absorb that energy¡ªthat was how we managed to withstand your attacks and advance our cultivation. There really isn''t anything else going on."


    "Right, why don''t you continue beating us? We won''t be able to take it much longer!"


    "Some of youmanders haven''t been using your full strength. If you do so, we''ll easily submit!"


    "Come beat us, won''t you?"


    The golden cultivators begging for a beating caused themanders to take a step back in shock. This was a sinister scene¡ªcould these cultivators all be masochists? Were they sick in the head?


    Themanders didn''t know how to react.


    Just then, a cultivator hurriedly flew over.


    "Sect Master, the Immortal Emperor has sent an official over to Fengdu. He''s right about to arrive!"


    "Oh? Let''s go have a look!" Onemander''s eyes lit up.


    "Let''s go!" the othermanders echoed.


    They didn''t know how to deal with this group of maniacs; they might as well stay far away for the time being.


    "Don''t leave! The others can''t hurt us. Only the seven of you can make us feelfortable!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    Themanders flew off even more rapidly.


    "Boss, all our masseuses are gone. What do we do now?" one of Ye Dafu''sckeys whispered to him.


    "Something might be happening outside the city. Come on, we''ll go have a look as well," Ye Dafu replied immediately.


    "Understood!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys followed him straight toward the heart of the city.


    In the za outside Fengdu Hall, Xiao Nanfeng and arge number of city officials had gathered to greet a man in an official''s robes.


    "City Lord Xiao, please wait for a moment. The honored cultivators that His Majesty has dispatched will arrive momentarily. I was sent to provide advance notice," the official said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Chang Bing was pacing restlessly. "Division Leader Xiao, do you think the cultivators sent by the Immortal Emperor will be able to save my master?"


    "I can''t imagine they''d be weak," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "It''s been over half a month since Master headed into the abyss. I wonder if he''s alright now..." Chang Bing murmured worriedly.


    "Senior Uncle has been training for this, and I''m sure he''s alright. If you''re still worried, take some time off and go participate in the fight against Ye Dafu and the others. You''ll be able to vent some of your emotions, and if you manage to beat him, you can acquire some Immortal relics for yourself, too," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    Chang Bing gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. He had gone to observe the fighting quite a few times over the past few days. Whenever Ye Dafu and the others were beaten, they would groan and moan in a decidedly strange fashion, which made him feel incredibly ashamed. He wanted to keep his reputation intact; he didn''t dare participate.


    Just then, themanders flew over. Theynded before Xiao Nanfeng and gave him weird looks.


    "Have you managed to seed,manders?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled at them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are your subordinates crazy?" onemander asked unkindly.


    "What''s the matter? Have they gone against the terms of our agreement?"


    Themanders were silent. Ye Dafu and the others had kept too closely to the terms of the agreement. When they fought, they bound their hands themselves and allowed themanders to treat them like punching bags. That was what was particrly sinister!


    Just then, Ye Dafu and hisckeys flew over as well.


    "We didn''t break any of the rules we established. We''ve been getting along well with themanders, but they''re far too gentle when ites to fighting," Ye Dafu dered.


    Themanders twitched. <i>Us, gentle? You''re crazy!</i>


    Just then, a group of eagle spirits appeared over the horizon. A few officials of Dayin rode the eagles, and thergest eagle even had a sedan strapped to its back.


    "They''re here!" Chang Bing said, his eyes bright.


    He flew into the sky to wee them and motion the eagle spirits to descend by the za outside Fengdu Hall.


    A group of officials got down from the eagle spirits and considered the cultivators waiting for them. Then, they walked up toward thergest eagle spirit and bowed toward the sedan on its back.


    "Sir, we''ve arrived at Fengdu Hall. Please descend," one official said respectfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others nced curiously toward the sedan. How important was the personage within that the officials of Dayin would treat him so respectfully?


    The curtains to the sedan were slowly drawn as a blue-robed, middle-aged man walked out. The man was handsome, his gaze sharp. Meeting his gaze gave the sensation of a divine armament, fearsome and deadly. Though he reined in his aura, he nevertheless exuded a sense of nobility.


    "Senior Uncle Qu? What are you doing here?!" Chang Bing eximed.


    "Qu Jianfeng? How did he end up as an official of the divine empire of Dayin?" The sevenmanders nced at each other in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the reactions of those around him. Was this cultivator famous? Why did so many seem to know of him?"


    "The Immortal Emperor himself has dered Sir Qu acting city lord of Fengdu. All of you, pay respects to your new acting city lord!" one official dered.


    "Another acting city lord?" The sevenmanders blinked in surprise, then turned toward Xiao Nanfeng in unison. Xiao Nanfeng had spent over half a month trying to stabilize his position in Fengdu, only to suddenly have it overturned. They wanted to see how he would react to this change in fortune.


    "Chang Bing, why did you call him Senior Uncle Qu? How do you know him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Chang Bing exined, "This is Master''s brother-inw and Junior Sister Yaoguang''s own uncle. He was the one who brought Junior Sister Yaoguang to the Shangqing holynd. The divine empire of Dayin has sought to appoint him as a court official for some time, but he''s rejected every offer until now. I don''t know why he suddenly epted."


    "Oh? He''s Lady Yaoguang''s uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    Qu Jianfeng seemed rather unapproachable. He suddenly turned toward Xiao Nanfeng with a steely gaze. "Are you the acting city lord that Lan Jiguang appointed? From now on, the affairs of Fengdu are no longer your business. All shall listen to me."

 Chapter 403: Protecting Fengdu

    <h4>Chapter 403: Protecting Fengdu</h4>


    Qu Jianfeng''s attitude was particrly assertive; he intended to strip Xiao Nanfeng of all authority immediately.


    Despite his distaste, Xiao Nanfeng asked, "Sir, since you''re the acting city lord appointed by the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, you must be aware of the situation here. Might I ask when you intend on rescuing the city lord Lan Jiguang?"


    "You have no need to worry about such matters," Qu Jianfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. The next moment, his pupils contracted. His avatar had received a surprising piece of news.


    In the imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was perusing a pile of documents when a peach blossom flower suddenly manifested out of thin air.


    "Is something wrong, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar immediately put down his brush.


    He knew that the blood peach tree had a message for him.


    More flowers emerged, their petals forming words. "Qu Jianfeng, whom your main body is interacting with, is the Goat Yanluo who chased Yin out of Fengdu. He has likely possessed Qu Jianfeng. I don''t know why he has returned. The Goat Yanluo is disguised very well, but I can recognize him."


    "Qu Jianfeng has been possessed by the Goat Yanluo?" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar eximed in surprise.


    In the za outside Fengdu Hall, after Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was made aware of the truth, his face suddenly turned cold.


    "Do you intend to rece me so abruptly without making yourself clear, Sir?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "What? Are you trying to keep your position as acting city lord?" Qu Jianfeng asked in surprise.


    The gathered cultivators all looked strangely at Xiao Nanfeng. The Immortal Emperor of Dayin would easily be able to strip away even Lan Jiguang''s position as city lord, let alone Xiao Nanfeng''s tenuous position as acting city lord. What was Xiao Nanfeng trying to do?


    "My senior uncle has appointed me to guard and manage the city of Fengdu. If the Immortal Emperor really has appointed a new city lord, I would be happy to give up my position. Might I see the edict of appointment?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He was confident that the Goat Yanluo''s im that he had been appointed as the new acting city lord was a lie. The Immortal Emperor of Dayin would clearly be able to identify that Qu Jianfeng had been possessed, and would never allow such an appointment.


    "Insolence! You dare doubt His Majesty''s decision?" one official thundered.


    "And who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    "You''ve not been here for long, so you wouldn''t recognize us. However, the othermanders are familiar with us. We represent His Majesty and convey his edicts to Fengdu. Are you doubting his word?" the official asked.


    "You''re only messengers, not representatives of the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. Isn''t it routine that officials would present their edicts of appointment before taking charge? Do you have such an edict, or not?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "You!" The official was at a loss for words.


    The Goat Yanluo suddenly smiled coldly. "Do you think I''m here to trick you?"


    "There''s no need for all this talk. Show the edict and I''d be happy to defer to you," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    The Goat Yanluo took a deep breath. "On the way here, we encountered a few demons. We killed them in passing, but the edict was destroyed during the fighting. A subordinate has already returned to Dayin to collect a new one, and it''ll be brought back shortly."


    "So you don''t have the edict with you? Then I''ll ask that your appointment wait until the edict is presented to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He chose not to expose the Goat Yanluo; no one would believe his im, and he might even anger his opponent. If the Goat Yanluo were to go on a rampage, no one present would be able to stop him just yet. He might as well try a different tactic against him.


    The Goat Yanluo frowned in exasperation, not having expected to encounter such a troublesome opponent.


    Just then, themanders spoke up.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, he''s Qu Jianfeng from the Shangqing holynd. The Immortal Emperor has made overtures to the holynd plenty of times, and it''s only to be expected that the Immortal Emperor would make such an appointment."


    "Right, these officials are also known envoys of the Immortal Emperor. How could this be fake?"


    "You just want to keep your authority a little while longer, don''t you?"


    Themanders smirked, happy that Xiao Nanfeng was soon to lose his authority.


    "Did you hear what they said? Xiao Nanfeng, they all believe me." The Goat Yanluo smiled.


    "And none of them are the acting city lord. Their trust is irrelevant," Xiao Nanfeng retorted disdainfully.


    The Goat Yanluo: ...


    Themanders frowned as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at the Goat Yanluo and continued, "I serve as the acting city lord, as Lan Jiguang''s representative. I bear the responsibility of maintaining the prosperity and security of Fengdu. You, who attempted to oust me from my position without an edict, who incited themanders to challenge my authority, are a scourge to the city. As acting city lord, I hereby inform you that you are not wee in Fengdu. Please leave the city immediately."


    "What?!" the Goat Yanluo eximed.


    He thought that he had misheard. Was Xiao Nanfeng nning to chase him out of the city? He had spent all this time gathering an illustrious procession to take over the city. He wasn''t going to let his ns go to naught!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? He''s the acting city lord appointed by His Majesty himself. How could you expel him from the city?" onemander shouted.


    Even Chang Bing himself was anxious. "Xiao Nanfeng, he''s Master''s brother-inw and has connections to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Don''t offend him too much!"


    "Silence!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Everyone looked toward him in surprise, not understanding his exceptionally standoffish behavior.


    "Whoever is unwilling toply with my orders may leave Fengdu as well, but I make no guarantee as to your safety thereafter."


    "You!" Everyone thought that Xiao Nanfeng was making a mountain out of a molehill.


    The Goat Yanluo, however, suddenly narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. He seemed to have sensed something. Smiling coldly, he continued, "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re really making a fuss, aren''t you?"


    "Lan Jiguang''s orders are no fuss. You showed up out of nowhere, without any authentication to prove your im. Even if you''re from the Shangqing holynd, I hope you''ll act with propriety befitting your station."


    "And if I refuse to leave?"


    "I control a whole city''s worth of resources. You may not be able to best me."


    The onlookers gaped, all of them thinking that Xiao Nanfeng had gone crazy. He intended to use all the resources of the city to fight to the death with Qu Jianfeng? Wasn''t that too ridiculous? Furthermore, after a few days, once the edict arrived, his status as acting city lord would be but a joke.


    The Goat Yanluo red at Xiao Nanfeng for some time before finally seeming to quell his anger. He looked toward the cultivators gathered nearby. "Xiao Nanfeng might not believe me, but what about the rest of you?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s a swindler. He even tried to distract our attention with a bout of fighting thesest few days while he took advantage of the situation to establish his own authority. He tricked us!"


    "Compared to Xiao Nanfeng, you''re a far better option, Senior Qu!"


    "Senior Qu, we believe you. Lan Jiguang must be dead, and you''ll likely be the city lord of Fengdu from now on. Please take care of us!"


    Themanders treated Qu Jianfeng with particr respect.


    "Thank you for your trust. Since we''re not wee here any longer, why don''t we convene outside the city? Please enlighten me about the situation in Fengdu. I''ll host a banquet!" the Goat Yanluo began.


    "No, Senior, please allow me to host the banquet!"


    "Let me do it, let me!"


    Themanders eagerly jumped at the chance to develop a close rtionship with Qu Jianfeng.


    "It doesn''t matter who hosts the banquet. More importantly, I''d like to get to know all of you better. Officials of Fengdu, you''re all wee as well. It''ll help me find a suitable appointment for you in the future." The Goat Yanluo invited the majority of the cultivators present.


    "Thank you, Senior Qu!" Many officials bowed down in sudden excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned cold. "Everyone, I''ll repeat myself. On behalf of Lan Jiguang, I order you not to leave the city with Qu Jianfeng. If you''re willing to respect Lan Jiguang''s orders, remain here."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you getting a little too full of yourself?"


    "Right, do you intend to disrupt our lives?"


    "Even if Lan Jiguang were here, he would hardly be so authoritarian."


    "Save it!"


    Themanders heckled Xiao Nanfeng.


    While some officials held their tongues, it was clear from their expressions that they shared the same views. They treasured the opportunity to participate in Qu Jianfeng''s banquet, thinking that they would need his attention and knowledge of their existence in order to ascend rapidly through the ranks in the future.


    "Senior, I have a fully furnished vi outside the city. Shall I lead the way?" onemander volunteered.


    "Very good," the Goat Yanluo said.


    "This way, Senior!" themander immediately said.


    The Goat Yanluo suddenly paused and looked toward Chang Bing. "Chang Bing, head on over with your Green Battalion as well."


    Chang Bing frowned and shook his head. "I''m grateful for the invitation, Senior Uncle Qu, but my master appointed Xiao Nanfeng as the acting city lord before his departure. I can''t disobey his orders."


    The Goat Yanluo''s face turned cold. He looked toward Xiao Nanfeng again. "Xiao Nanfeng, you think you''re so powerful, don''t you? Let''s just wait and see."


    "Let''s wait and see," Xiao Nanfeng echoed, not giving in.


    "Let''s go!" the Goat Yanluo dered.


    "Let''s go!"


    The Goat Yanluo and themanders flew out of the city, apanied by several ordinary officials of Fengdu despite Xiao Nanfeng''smand to the contrary.


    "These officials have followed Master''s orders to the letter in the past, and I thought them all loyal. Was it all just a facade?" Chang Bing murmured, watching them leave.


    "If they want to die, I won''t be able to stop them. Who''s to me but themselves?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "They''re going to die?"


    "What else could happen at a cursed king''s banquet?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "What cursed king?" Chang Bing still didn''t get it.


    Ye Dafu suddenly frowned. "Your Majesty, is there something wrong with Qu Jianfeng?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "He''s the Goat Yanluo, an equal to Yin. He has possessed Qu Jianfeng. I don''t know what''s making him eye the city of Fengdu, but I suspect disaster''s about to strike."


    "What? That''s impossible! Senior Uncle Qu cultivates the Shangqing blue moon, which is anathema to cursed effigies. How could he have been possessed?" Chang Bing eximed.


    "The Shangqing blue moon is hardly invincible," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "But, but¡ª" Chang Bing still seemed incapable of epting this reality.


    "I''m going to write to the capital right now. Arrange for someone to serve as messenger and have the Immortal Emperor send support immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.

 Chapter 404: Lockdown

    <h4>Chapter 404: Lockdown</h4>


    Outside the Immortal city of Fengdu was a huge vi wreathed in fog, with a fantastic formation that kept the outside world at bay.


    The vi was the private residence of one of themanders, where a few spiritual herbs were being grown. He rarely visited the ce, and it tended to be quiet and peaceful. Today, however, it was exceptionally crowded.


    The gatheredmanders and their subordinates, along with countless officials of Fengdu, were venerating the Goat Yanluo.


    "Senior Qu, have a look. These are all your supporters. Xiao Nanfeng, the acting city lord, might as well be a joke in light of the strength of our faction!"


    "Right, we''ve had enough of Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Once your edict arrives, City Lord Qu, we''ll take down Xiao Nanfeng together and take revenge for you."


    "Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t know what''s good for him at all!"


    The cultivators continued to heap praise upon the Goat Yanluo.


    The Goat Yanluo looked toward the sevenmanders and smiled. "Are you willing to help me?"


    "Of course! Anything at yourmand, Senior. Are you nning to strike at Xiao Nanfeng already? We can help you think of ideas," onemander said.


    "As long as you''re willing. I don''t need you to do anything but listen obediently to me." The Goat Yanluo smiled.


    "To listen obediently to you?" Themanders frowned.


    They were attempting to get into Qu Jianfeng''s good books for greater authority and benefits¡ªtemporary assistance in exchange for permanent gains. They didn''t intend to be Qu Jianfeng''s subordinates for good.


    "Indeed," the Goat Yanluo said.


    He struck with a palm, which split into seven and struck the chests of the sevenmanders.


    "Something''s wrong!" themanders cried out.


    They tried to defend against the attack, but were unable to do so on such short notice. Furthermore, the Goat Yanluo had possessed a Heaven Immortal. How would they be able to block an attack from a cultivator at that realm?


    The sevenmanders found their cultivation sealed.


    "What are you doing, Senior Qu?!" onemander cried out.


    "Senior, have we offended you? Why are you attacking us?" one official asked.


    Several officials, realizing that something was amiss, turned to run.


    "You''ve alle, so why not stay?" the Goat Yanluo said coldly.


    He released an incredible surge of energy that filled the residence and suppressed the cultivators, rendering them immobile. The officials who had attempted to flee from the residence found themselves trapped by a formless wall and knocked back inside.


    "Senior, what are you doing?"


    "Spare us, Senior!"


    "We''re on your side, Senior!"


    The cultivators panicked.


    The Goat Yanluo stared disdainfully at the cultivators. Countless goat specters emerged with a wave of his sleeves, releasing a tremendous amount of cursed spiritual power.


    "Cursed effigies?!" amander cried out.


    "Possess all these people," the Goat Yanluomanded.


    "Understood!" The goat specters shot toward the cultivators.


    "No! Senior, spare us! Senior, we''re willing to serve you. Don''t possess us. Argh!" amander cried out in fear.


    "I have no need of subordinates for the moment," the Goat Yanluo replied coolly.


    With a whoosh, the goat specters shot into their mindscapes. They were unable to do a thing about it.


    "We shouldn''t have listened to you! No!"


    "Save us, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    Frenzied shouts came from within the residence.


    "Xiao Nanfeng tried to stop you several times, but none of you listened to him. Do you think he''ll save you now? Do you think he''ll show up?" the Goat Yanluo asked disdainfully.


    "No!" the cultivators shouted in regret and remorse.


    Very quickly, however, all of them stopped talking. They had all been possessed by cursed effigies.


    "King, a few of us can still take over these Immortals, but the others are too weak to be of much use," one cursed effigy said.


    "It matters not. The Immortal city of Fengdu lies nearby. The whole city will be yours to devour so you can grow stronger. Start by digesting all the people in this residence, then prepare to take down the entire city," the Goat Yanluomanded.


    "Understood!" the cursed effigies chorused.


    They rushed toward the frozen cultivators on the estate.


    The Goat Yanluo likewise emerged and nced toward the nearby city of Fengdu. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, you are perceptive, aren''t you? To think you would be able to spot irregrities in Qu Jianfeng''s behavior. I didn''t attack you not because I couldn''t take you down, but because I didn''t want to make too much of a fuss and have the Tiger Yanluo notice that I''ve returned."


    Just then, a deep hum came from the city of Fengdu. Golden light filled the air. The defensive formation around Fengdu had activated at full force.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard throughout the city.


    "People of Fengdu, I am Xiao Nanfeng, acting city lord. The cursed effigies that have emerged from the nearby abyss have been wreaking havoc, and the city lord Lan Jiguang is currently trapped deep within. In addition,rge numbers of cursed effigies have broken free from the seal and are now surrounding the outskirts of Fengdu, attempting to possess its citizens."


    The Goat Yanluo frowned. "Has he predicted my next steps, too?"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued, "I have sent messengers to the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, who will dispatch personnel as support immediately. In the meantime, to protect the people of the city, the entire city will be undergoing a lockdown. Those who leave the city will not be able to re-enter."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice rang out through the entire city as the people murmured to each other in surprise.


    The Goat Yanluo frowned mightily. "Xiao Nanfeng, how far do you intend to go?"


    All those who refused to support Xiao Nanfeng were at the Goat Yanluo''s banquet; thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s efforts in the meantime, he now had absolute control over the entire city. No one would dare go against him now.


    With the defensive formation around the city activated, even the Goat Yanluo wouldn''t be able to step inside. He gnashed his teeth in annoyance, but there was nothing he could do.


    Within the Immortal city of Fengdu, in an army barracks, Ye Dafu had just knocked a group of soldiers onto the ground.


    "All of you, listen up. It''s a blessing in disguise that you weren''t able to participate in the banquet happening outside the city. The city lord warned yourmanders countless times, but they refused to listen. Their deaths at the hands of these cursed effigies are rightly deserved," Ye Dafu said.


    "On what grounds do you im that there are cursed effigies roaming outside? How do you know themanders are dead?" one soldier demanded.


    "If you don''t believe me, leave the city and face those cursed effigies outside. As the city lord said, you''re free to leave, but not to re-enter. Die if you want."


    The soldiers frowned. Although they didn''t fully believe Ye Dafu''s words, none of them wanted to take the risk.


    "I was at the za outside Fengdu Hall. If Xiao Nanfeng knew that those people had been possessed by cursed effigies, why didn''t he say anything?" one soldier shouted.


    "The city lord was trying to save all of you. His first priority was to get those cursed effigies out of Fengdu. How could he have exposed them outright? If he had done so, the cursed effigies might have gone on a rampage in anger. At that point, everyone within would die to them. None would be able to escape."


    "Do you have any proof?" another cultivator shouted.


    "Those outside the city will surely try to get you to open up. Ask them about the private details of their life to determine if they''ve been possessed. The Green Battalion will also assist with the investigation to see if there are any cursed ves around. Keep your eyes peeled," Ye Dafu said.


    The soldiers nodded dubiously.


    "This matter concerns the safety of the entire city. The city lord was worried that you would make a mistake out of ignorance, be tricked by the cursed effigies, and destroy the defensive formation around the city. That''s why I''m here to exin the situation to all of you. Those who don''t believe me can head out of the city right now. Don''t implicate others," Ye Dafu continued.


    The soldiers frowned, but one of them said, "I believe Xiao Nanfeng."


    "What?" The other soldiers remained dubious.


    "Xiao Nanfeng sent word to the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. If he were doing this with malicious intent, would the Immortal Emperor spare him? And even if he did lie, those outside the city could easily report the deception to the Immortal Emperor, who would punish him for what he did. There''s simply no reason for Xiao Nanfeng to do something so drastic unless he were telling the truth."


    Everyone fell silent.


    "It''s good that you understand. I still have to make sure the soldiers at the other barracks are aware of the danger that these cursed effigies pose. Keep an eye on each other in case one of you is foolish enough to drag everyone down," Ye Dafu warned.


    The soldiers felt difited by the news, but some of them stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, City Lord Xiao and General Ye. We''ll be careful."


    Ye Dafu nodded and flew toward the next barracks.


    The whole city entered a state of lockdown. Everyone was anxious, but Xiao Nanfeng''s hard work maintainedw and order without fail.


    The next evening, within the manor estate outside the city, one of the Goat Yanluo''s subordinates said, "King, Xiao Nanfeng predicted our next move and warned the people of the city ahead of time. The seven possessedmanders themselves headed to the city to talk to their subordinates, but their subordinates ignored us!"


    "Fengdu''s like a huge turtle that''s hunkered down. There''s nowhere we can strike!"


    "King, once Dayin dispatches a force of sufficiently strong cultivators, we''ll suffer."


    The cursed effigies reported their concerns to the Goat Yanluo, who frowned. He hadn''t expected that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to derail their ns sopletely.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s a bastard. No wonder the Tiger Yanluo hated him so much," the Goat Yanluo said.


    "King, what do we do now?" one cursed effigy asked in worry.


    The Goat Yanluo thought for a moment. "It doesn''t matter. The next full moon''sing up, and his defensive formation won''tst long. We''ll just wait patiently."


    "Understood!" the cursed effigies chorused.


    Within Fengdu, when the sevenmanders appeared by the border of the city, some of their direct subordinates and rtives stepped forward to ask them about some private affairs. As expected, none of themanders were able to provide satisfactory answers, proving that they had been possessed by cursed effigies.


    At that moment, many officials and soldiers of the city had gathered by the za outside Fengdu Hall.


    "We misunderstood City Lord Xiao."


    "City Lord Xiao, we''ll carry out all your orders from now on."


    "Thank you, City Lord Xiao!"


    Countless soldiers and officials came to the za to express their gratitude.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It''s good that you understand the severity of the situation. Some cursed effigies may already have snuck into the city, so we can''t drop our guard. Be on the lookout for any unusual phenomena."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.

 Chapter 405: Huo Qing

    <h4>Chapter 405: Huo Qing</h4>


    With the Immortal city of Fengdu in lockdown, the Goat Yanluo was trapped outside the city.


    Xiao Nanfeng held on tightly as he awaited the reinforcements sent by the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. When he was free, he flipped through several of the ancient tomes in Fengdu, hoping to find some records about the infernal abyss¡ªbut nothing was forting.


    Just then, Ye Dafu walked into the hall and bowed. "Your Majesty, someone has arrived outside the city, proiming himself to be the new acting city lord, with an edict of appointment from the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. He''s making a fuss about wanting to enter the city."


    "Oh? Is the edict real?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "Chang Bing personally inspected it, as did several officials responsible for this sort of thing."


    "Lead the way." Xiao Nanfeng put down the ancient records in his hands.


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly arrived at the southern gates.


    Although the gates were open, the defensive formation had erected a translucent golden barrier around the city that prevented anyone outside from entering.


    A hulking man stood outside the barrier, sideburns and a thick beard on his face. He wore a suit of armor and exuded a martial aura.


    "Let me through this barrier," the hulking man demanded.


    The barrier prevented passage in and out, but sound could still be heard across it.


    An official within the city said, "City Lord Xiao, the edict of appointment he disyed looks to be real."


    "Show me the edict!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The hulking man pulled out an edict. "The Immortal Emperor himself appointed me the acting city lord of Fengdu. This is the edict of appointment."


    He unfurled the edict. There was an imperial seal on it that gave off a draconic aura; it didn''t look fake.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "This edict states that your name is Huo Qing. Why are you the one presenting this edict to me alone? Where''s the rest of your party?"


    Huo Qing fumed. "My main body was busy dealing with other affairs that day, so my avatar and a group of officials headed to Fengdu first. Unexpectedly, we saw Qu Jianfeng on the road along the way. Thinking that he was the real Qu Jianfeng, I grew incautious. He suddenly struck, restraining my avatar and the other officials that apanied my avatar. He arranged for his cursed effigies to possess us. The other officials were all possessed, while I had my avatar self-destruct to avoid that fate."


    "The city guards must have told you that the cursed king, the Goat Yanluo, is currently at a vi outside the city," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I''m aware. I don''t intend to leave it be. Let me in now and hand me the city lord''s seal. I''m going to use Fengdu''s formations to deal with it!" Huo Qing eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed Huo Qing for some time before shaking his head. "These are exceptional times, and I can''t be certain whether or not you''re also possessed. I can''t allow you in. Wait outside the city. I''ve already sent a messenger to the Immortal Emperor. Once reinforcements are sent to Fengdu, I''ll deactivate the barrier."


    "What? Who had you report to the Immortal Emperor? Won''t it make me look utterly useless? Let me in now, or I''ll punish you!" Huo Qing thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned cold. "Huo Qing, listen up. I''m serving as acting city lord of Fengdu in order to assist my senior uncle. I, Xiao Nanfeng, am no official of Dayin, and you have no right tomand me."


    "Since you''re an outsider, you shouldn''t interfere with Dayin''s affairs. I have the edict of appointment, and I am the acting city lord of Fengdu. I have the right to handle the affairs of the city. Now, open up!"


    "Huo Qing, I''ve said my piece. I can''t be certain whether you''re possessed, so even the edict isn''t sufficient. I don''t intend to deactivate this barrier. Wait patiently."


    "Insolence!" Huo Qing roared.


    "Ignore him. Wait for reinforcements from the Immortal emperor of Dayin." Xiao Nanfeng turned to leave.


    "You bastards! If you dare ignore me, I''ll deal with you once I take over the city!" Huo Qing roared again.


    The guards nced at each other and shut the gates without any hesitation.


    The gates creaked shut, causing Huo Qing to gape. "Are they crazy? Xiao Nanfeng''s only been responsible for Fengdu for half a month. How could the guards disobey direct orders from me, the new acting city lord, in favor of his?"


    Within the city, Chang Bing frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really not intend to let him in?"


    "Why should we? Even if he hasn''t been possessed by a cursed effigy, we know what he''s going to do once he enters the city: use its formations to take on the Goat Yanluo. But if that''s the extent of his strength, do you think he''ll be able to descend into the abyss to save your master? There are multiple Yanluo Lords down there, and he''s still too weak. We''ll wait until the Immortal Emperor sends more strong cultivators."


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    Just then, with a huge boom, the defensive formation began to rattle.


    "City Lord, Huo Qing''s attacking the defensive formation around the city!" a guard cried out.


    "Hm?"


    He strode toward the watchtower to see Huo Qing striking at the barrier with a longsword.


    Each sh was like a tempest, causing the barrier to shake.


    "A Heaven Immortal?" Chang Bing eximed.


    "This Huo Qing''s a Heaven Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as well.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re a brat who''s not even a part of the divine empire of Dayin. How dare you attempt to seize control over Fengdu? Deactivate the formation now and I''ll spare your life¡ªor else!" Huo Qing thundered.


    "Prepare to activate the city''s siege formations!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Who dares? His Majesty has appointed me the acting city lord of Fengdu. If you dare attack me, you''ll be rebelling against Dayin! Do you want to die?!"


    The guards were momentarily at a loss for what to do.


    "Huo Qing, I''ve already exined the situation. For the good of the people of Fengdu, I can''t deactivate this barrier. Why are you so insistent? It would be better if you were to return and inform the Immortal Emperor of Dayin of the news immediately so that more reinforcements can be sent to clear out the cursed effigies. You''re a Heaven Immortal and will be far faster than my messenger¡ªyou might even get there in advance. Why make a scene right here?"


    "How could I allow a mistake like this to ur on my watch when I haven''t even taken office yet? I''d be reprimanded for poor governance.I''ll have to take down these cursed effigies as quickly as possible in order to earn enough merit to counteract that negligence. Xiao Nanfeng, if you prevent me from doing so, you''ll be my enemy. You''ll pay for it once I break through this defensive formation."


    At a vi in the distance, the Goat Yanluo watched Huo Qing battering down the formation with a smile. "To think assistance would appear out of thin air."


    "King, should we head over?" a cursed effigy asked politely.


    "Go. Once Huo Qing breaks the formation, sneak into the city and then devour all the people within," the Goat Yanluo said.


    "Understood!" The cursed effigies all snuck over.


    Afar, atop the watchtower, Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned cold. "Huo Qing, if you remain this stubborn, don''t me me for not holding back."


    "What can you do? I learned of the situation in Fengdu just now. You might be able to bully themanders within the city, but you were no match for that Heaven Immortal called Yin. Do you think you can take me on? Try me, then!" Huo Qing eximed.


    Without any hesitation, Huo Qing struck the formation with his sword once again. He intended to break into the city and reim the power and authority that was rightfully his.


    The sword struck the barrier with devastating force, causing it to shake. A small crack could be seen on its surface.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned frosty. He couldn''t allow Huo Qing to continue destroying the formation. His hand swiped across the air. The longsword in Huo Qing''s hand vanished and appeared within his.


    "What? Impossible. How did you manage to bring my Immortal sword within?!"


    The Goat Yanluo, watching from afar, frowned. "What a strange technique. How did he manage to bypass the barrier? That should be impossible!"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin what he had done. He shouted, "Ye Dafu, go handle the defensive formation around the city. Ready the siege formations as well. If Huo Qing dares attack the barrier around Fengdu, strike him dead!"


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    "Are all of you trying to rebel?!" Huo Qing howled.


    "We''re not from Dayin to begin with. What would we be rebelling against? Step forward if you dare!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Huo Qing''s face twisted in a snarl. Did he really have no recourse against Xiao Nanfeng?

 Chapter 406: Huo Qings Death

    <h4>Chapter 406: Huo Qing''s Death</h4>


    Outside the Immortal city of Fengdu, Huo Qing had no choice but to retreat. He vanished from everyone''s sight.


    Atop the watchtower, Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Pay close attention to the vi that the Goat Yanluo''s in."


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng step away.


    Rather than leave the outskirts of Fengdu, Huo Qing was hiding amidst a patch of forest as he red at Xiao Nanfeng, who slowly vanished from sight.


    "You brat. How dare you strand me out here! Do you think I won''t be able to do anything against these cursed effigies without Fengdu''s help? I''ve killed countless cursed effigies in the past."


    Huo Qing turned toward the huge vi outside the city as his face turned dark. "It took the crown prince tremendous effort to secure me this appointment as city lord. If these cursed effigies cause me to lose that position, it''d ruin the crown prince''s ns. They have to die."


    Huo Qingy in wait within the forest, in no rush to strike. Two dayster, after everyone thought that he had left, he snuck into the vi.


    The moment he entered, he found himself surrounded by cursed effigies. However, they had just emerged from the abyss and were initially quite weak. The cultivators they had possessed weren''t particrly strong, either, and they would be no match for a Heaven Immortal like Huo Qing.


    Rather than attack recklessly, Huo Qing reined in his aura as he headed toward the central hall of the vi.


    He was able to be so arrogant and domineering by the city gates because the Immortal Emperor''s edict meant that no one could touch him. Here, however, he might easily end up in a battle to the death. He had no choice but to be alert.


    Hey hidden outside the hall, watching the cursed effigies in the area patrol it. He smirked. "I saw the Goat Yanluo within yesterday. He must be in secluded cultivation. I''m sure he doesn''t expect me to strike at him."


    He retrieved a blue spike and shot it at the gathered cursed effigies in a beam of light.


    "Something''s wrong!" One cursed effigy, noticing that something was amiss, tried to cry for help,


    but the spike instantly pierced through its forehead. It stiffened, pupils dted, and died on the spot. The blue spike shot out of the back of its head and toward the next cursed effigy, rapidly killing a group of them.


    Huo Qing didn''t stop there. He shoved open the doors to the hall and rushed within, intending to ughter them all as quickly as possible.


    However, the moment he tried to dash into the hall, he smashed against a transparent barrier. It was particrly sturdy and even managed to block his charge.


    Knowing that something was amiss, he rapidly shed at the barrier. The resulting shockwave caused the hall to shatter¡ªbut the only damage to the barrier was a small crack.


    "Bind!" a voice came from the other side of the barrier.


    With a snap, the transparent barrier suddenly twisted, trapping Huo Qing in its middle. The top and bottom sealed shut, forming a spherical barrier with Huo Qing at its center.


    "Impossible!" Huo Qing roared.


    He repeatedly struck at the sphere with his longsword, but only managed to cause a small crack each time. The moment he drew back his longsword for another strike, the crack healed.


    Outside the sphere, the Goat Yanluo smirked. "I thought you would have waited a few more days before youunched a sneak attack, but it looks like you''re far more impatient than expected. You onlysted two days!"


    "Goat Yanluo, you''re going to perish. You only have the strength of a Heaven Immortal, and you don''t even have a cursed spiritual avatar! How are you going to take on the divine empire of Dayin? It won''t end well for you!" Huo Qing roared as he struck the spherical barrier.


    "Do you think I would fear the divine empire of Dayin? My own empire back then was farrger than the divine empire of Dayin. The fact that a puny Heaven Immortal like you dared to strike at me¡ªdo you really think I''m so weak I can''t even kill the likes of you?"


    He extended his right hand and swung his palm like a de. A transparent crystal knife seemed to manifest in the air.


    "Crystalline annihtion!" the Goat Yanluo shouted.


    With a hum, the crystal knife extended straight into the spherical barrier as though it weren''t present at all. It struck toward Huo Qing.


    "No!" Huo Qing eximed, feeling the threat of death.


    He defended with his longsword, which shattered from the impact. The crystal knife continued undeterred.


    It bisected the spherical orb, then vanished from sight.


    Within the orb, Huo Qing had been cut in half. Blood sprayed all over in a gruesome scene.


    "A Heaven Immortal? In the past, it would have sullied my hands to kill a Heaven Immortal myself," the Goat Yanluo said disdainfully.


    Just then, a bolt of blue light shot toward the spherical orb and pierced through it.


    At the same time, Huo Qing''s yin body appeared from his mindscape, caught the blue light, and shot back out. His yin body fled from the vi.


    "Die!" the Goat Yanluo thundered.


    He sent a palm strike at the light. The blue light vibrated, instantly turning much fainter, but began to move even more quickly. It brought Huo Qing''s yin body into a patch of forest far away and vanished from sight.


    The Goat Yanluo watched the blue light vanish. "A cursed armament? Count yourself lucky."


    Not longter, within a patch of forest, Huo Qing''s yin body stumbled to the ground, paralyzed. The Goat Yanluo''s hasty blow had grievously wounded his yin body.


    He clutched onto a blue spike in his hand and cursed. "If not for this copper spike, I might have perishedpletely there. Goat Yanluo, you''ll pay for what you''ve done."


    Vexed, Huo Qing''s yin body, clutching the copper spike, again headed to the gates of Fengdu.


    "I''m in the form of a yin body now, and it should be obvious I haven''t been possessed by a cursed effigy. Now, let me in! Ahem!" Huo Qing shouted even as he began to cough.


    The guards were shocked to see Huo Qing''s translucent yin body. Rather than act independently, however, they hurriedly informed Xiao Nanfeng of the situation.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly approached the city gates.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I attempted to defeat the Goat Yanluo, but he schemed against me. Now, let me in!" Huo Qing cried out anxiously.


    Afar, the cursed effigies noticed and shot toward Huo Qing''s yin body. "Quick! That bastard''s over there. Don''t let him run!"


    "Let me in, or I really am going to die! Hurry!" Huo Qing eximed.


    "Let him in," Xiao Nanfeng instructed. "Coincidentally, I do want to know more about the situation with the Goat Yanluo.


    "Understood!"


    The city guards manipted the formation to reveal a small opening in the barrier. Huo Qing immediately rushed within as the hole vanished.


    The cursed effigies were vexed to see Huo Qing make it into the city, but they didn''t pursue him further. Rather, they turned and left.


    "Huo Qing, shall we speak of the Goat Yanluo in Fengdu Hall?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Very well. Let''s go," Huo Qing said immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Huo Qing set off toward Fengdu Hall.


    At the entrance to the hall, Huo Qing suddenly said, "The Goat Yanluo''s situation is a secret. I''d like to speak to you about it privately."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Have your subordinates wait outside the hall."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded after a moment''s consideration. "Very well."


    He could sense that something was amiss with Huo Qing, but was confident enough in his strength to not refuse him.


    The moment they stepped within Fengdu Hall, Huo Qing shut the door with a wave of his hand.


    "We''re alone in here. What do you want from me? Why did you want to talk to me alone?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''d like to borrow your body." Huo Qing''s eyes glinted.


    He sent a beam of blue light straight at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You think you can possess me despite only being at early-stage Yin Body? You really are reckless, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng retaliated disdainfully with a palm strike.


    The palm strike struck the blue light, but mysteriously, it shattered Xiao Nanfeng''s palm strike immediately.


    "I might be weak right now, but this copper spike is no ordinary relic. It can even counter a Heaven Immortal''s technique and is specialized against souls and cursed effigies. It''d be a piece of cake to shatter your yin body. Now!" Huo Qing shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He shed toward the copper spike with his de, causing it to stop short as it resonated intensely.


    "Impossible. How could you block my copper spike? It was able to break through even the Goat Yanluo''s crystalline barrier!"


    "What could a ve do against its master?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.


    "What?"


    "To think you would have a dragon-quelling spike... I had countless subordinates of mine search for them to no avail, but you''ve just handed me one." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The dragon-quelling spikes were condensed from the undying cursed king''s cursed spiritual power, whereas his divine undying de was his cursed spiritual avatar. How could the dragon-quelling spikes hope to harm the divine undying de?


    Xiao Nanfeng caught the copper spike in one hand. As expected, it stopped resisting and allowed Xiao Nanfeng to im it.


    "Impossible. Return my dragon-quelling spike to me!" Huo Qing shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. With a palm strike, he mmed Huo Qing into the ground. Huo Qing''s yin body spiderwebbed with cracks; he was grievously injured.


    "It''s time to reveal what you saw and heard within the Goat Yanluo''s vi," Xiao Nanfeng said, stepping on his body with one foot.


    "You dare attack me? I''m an official of the divine empire of Dayin, and countless cultivators saw me step in here with you. If I were to die, you''d have to bear the me," Huo Qing warned.


    "You really do overestimate yourself, don''t you? If I want to kill you, I can do so without worrying about others'' actions. The divine empire of Dayin can''t suppress me," Xiao Nanfeng said disdainfully. To the blood peach tree, he said, "Senior, would you help me interrogate him about what he saw? You''re familiar with the Goat Yanluo, and should be able to judge the uracy of his testimony. After that, please feel free to im his yin body."


    The blood peach tree suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Its roots thrust toward Huo Qing.


    "Another cursed effigy? No! Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll reveal anything you want. Don''t kill me!" Huo Qing shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng only nced coldly at Huo Qing. Huo Qing had tried to possess him; he had no intention of letting that slide. As for his testimony, it would be convenient if Huo Qing had any useful information, but it didn''t matter much either way.

 Chapter 407: Battle Over the Yanluo Courts

    <h4>Chapter 407: Battle Over the Yanluo Courts</h4>


    Worried that Huo Qing''s testimony might be wed, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend on trusting it all. He simply wanted an urate assessment of the Goat Yanluo''s strength, which the blood peach tree would be able to verify.


    When the blood peach tree absorbed Huo Qing''s yin body, Xiao Nanfeng murmured, "A crystal barrier and a crystal knife...? The Goat Yanluo seems to be rather exceptional."


    Peach blossoms scattered through the air. "I suspect the Goat Yanluo has returned to Fengdu to await the next full moon so that he might retrieve something from the abyss."


    "I thought so too. I suspect that his subordinates only made it outst full moon, but Yin took them away. That was why he chased after Yin, and it looks like he''s managed to reim them."


    "I''ve seen what you''ve been doing these past few days. Do you intend to take on the Goat Yanluo?"


    "I can''t hide anything from you, Senior. Will you help me?"


    The blood peach tree shook as more blossoms fell. "I''m not strong enough to do so, but I can handle his subordinates."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered this briefly, then smiled. "Thank you, Senior."


    The next full moon arrived quickly.


    The Goat Yanluo and his subordinates waited by the mouth of the abyss.


    "King, Xiao Nanfeng''s staring at us from the eastern watchtower," one cursed effigy reported.


    The Goat Yanluo was dressed in white brocade with draconic motifs lined in gold. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng and smirked. "He has made a miscalction."


    "Right, he''s waiting until the Immortal Emperor''s reinforcements arrive. Unfortunately, they haven''t yet shown up. After tonight, when you retrieve your Yanluo Court, King, it''d be toote for any reinforcements." One of his subordinates smiled.


    The Goat Yanluo shook his head and smiled coldly. "Perhaps the Immortal Emperor''s reinforcements are nning something of their own."


    "Oh?"


    "There''s no need to worry about such matters for now. After tonight, there''ll be no one I need fear. What I''ve suffered will be worth it," the Goat Yanluo said.


    "We''ve had to resist our urges to devour people from other neighboring citiestely in order to avoid additionalplications. Bearing with those urges has been difficult," another subordinate joked.


    "Worry not. Once I reim my Yanluo Court, I''ll be able to break the barrier surrounding Fengdu. The whole city will be yours to feast on."


    "Thank you, King!" the cursed effigies replied.


    Just then, the full moon brimmed with light. A ray of moonlight illuminated the mouth of the abyss. Heaven''s Hand seemed delineated for a moment. ck smoke surged out through its fingers, dyeing the skies ck.


    A huge chorus of roars emerged from its depths. Just likest time, demons were poised to emerge from deep within.


    "Scram!" the Goat Yanluo shouted,


    his imposing voice echoing all the way down. The ck smoke roiled; the roars faded away.


    No more demons tried to emerge. After some time, a blinding beam of light shot out with a tremendous aura, causing the ck smoke to dissipate.


    "King, it''sing!" one cursed effigy cried out in excitement.


    The Goat Yanluo waited with anticipation. He motioned for the light to rise; the light shot forth. It was as though a gigantic object were slowly floating up the abyss.


    From the eastern watchtower in the distance, Xiao Nanfeng and the others were eyeing the abyss.


    "A hall shining white all over..." Chang Bing eximed.


    "That''s a Yanluo Court. It must belong to the Goat Yanluo!" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "It must be an incredible treasure. If the Goat Yanluo takes over the Yanluo Court, won''t his strength rise rapidly? He might take advantage of the situation to attack Fengdu!" Chang Bing said in worry.


    "There''s no ''might'' about it. He surely will," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What should we do? The reinforcements from the Immortal Emperor haven''t yet arrived. If they manage to take down the city, the people will all suffer!"


    "How do you know the reinforcements haven''t arrived?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "If they had, then... Hold on, do you mean to say that..." Chang Bing eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "They''ve arrived, and there''s more than one. They''re likely hidden somewhere outside the city."


    "If they''re here, why haven''t they shown themselves? Why haven''t they done anything?" Chang Bing eximed in astonishment.


    "What manner of treasure could have a cursed king lie in wait for so long despite the indignity? What''s a little wait to them if they can obtain such a treasure?"


    "You mean to say that the reinforcements have hidden themselves in order to seize the Goat Yanluo''s treasure? But what if the people of Fengdu are decimated before they can stop him?"


    "To some people, the life of ordinary people is no concern."


    "But they''re reinforcements sent by the Immortal Emperor himself! How can they neglect the people? Aren''t they afraid of recrimination? Division Leader Xiao, could you be mistaken?"


    "We''ll see in a moment."


    Chang Bing''s features distorted in a frown.


    "Remember, don''t worry about anyone else but the Goat Yanluo''s subordinates. When we make a move, we can''t allow any of them to escape," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    With a hum, the white Yanluo Court steadily flew out of the abyss. However, there were ten ck chains wrapped around it and holding it down, refusing to let it go free.


    "Crystalline annihtion!" the Goat Yanluo shouted, shing at the chains.


    His crystal knife easily shattered one chain, allowing the Yanluo Court to fly up higher.


    Without any rest, the Goat Yanluo continued to shatter the remaining chains one by one, freeing the Yanluo Court. Every chain that shattered caused it to shine brighter and give off even more energy.


    With a final strike, the Goat Yanluo cut apart thest chain. A huge tempest formed in the void as the Yanluo Court radiated with intense light, illuminating thend.


    Just then, a figure shot toward the Goat Yanluo so quickly it seemed like a meteor falling from the heavens. The figure shed at the Goat Yanluo with a de; the resulting shockwave of energy was so intense that the Goat Yanluo might have fallen to a single sh.


    "A Heaven Immortal!" Chang Bing cried out from the watchtower.


    "The Goat Yanluo was deliberately giving any attackers an opening to strike. This Heaven Immortal was far too impatient¡ªhe exposed himself too early. He''s done for!" Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    The figure found himself blocked by a crystal barrier. His de chipped it; all that energy spent just for a crack in the barrier.


    "Bind, crystalline barrier!" the Goat Yanluomanded.


    The figure was trapped within a crystal orb. He furiously attacked the interior of the orb, but couldn''t break free at all.


    "Crystalline annihtion!" The Goat Yanluo shed right through the orb, shattering the man''s de and cutting all the way through his body.


    "No! Save me, Crown Prince!" the man shouted.


    "Hold it!" a furious shout came from the forest in the distance.


    Unfortunately, the crystal knife was too fast to stop.


    The cultivator was bisected as blood sprayed through the air. A Heaven Immortal had died in an instant. Everyone watched on, shuddering.


    "Insolence! Kill him!" another shout came from within the forest.


    The next moment, several figures shot toward the Goat Yanluo, brandishing their weapons.


    "There are quite a few of them, aren''t there?" The Goat Yanluo frowned.


    With a wave of his hand, a crystalline barrier formed around him, blocking the Immortals'' charge.


    The Heaven Immortals were rtively strong. They struck furiously, shattering the crystal barrier and continuing on toward the Goat Yanluo. The Goat Yanluo frowned, using his palms as des as he shed at the iing cultivators.


    The Goat Yanluo, fighting one against many, repelled the gathered Heaven Immortals, but they had no intention of stopping. They continued to charge toward the Goat Yanluo.


    The Heaven Immortals waged a heated battle by the mouth of the abyss in waves of terrible force. Reverberations of incredible magnitude caused the mountains all around the abyss to copse.


    The strength of Heaven Immortals was beyondpare. Even the Goat Yanluo was mired in the fighting.


    Just then, a man in red flew into the battlefield, guarded on either side by a Heaven Immortal. The ordinary cursed effigies that shot toward him from all around were sent flying.


    "Crown Prince, this is the legendary Yanluo Court, a treasure of the deep abyss!" one guard said.


    "Although some of my subordinates have been killed, this treasure is well worth the effort of iming it," the crown prince said.


    He manifested a huge facsimile of his palm, then wed at the white Yanluo Court with it, as though intending to hold it firmly in his hand.


    Just then, a figure appeared before the Yanluo Court, shattering the crown prince''s manifestation with a palm strike of his own. A tempest formed from the impact.


    "Who dares?" the crown prince shouted.


    Afar, Chang Bing and the others gasped. "Yin! He''s back!"


    Yin stood before the Yanluo Court and stared at the crown prince, smiling coldly. "You have no right to this Yanluo Court."


    "Insolence!" shouted the crown prince''s two Heaven Immortal guards. They shed at Yin with their swords.


    Yin howled, sound waves manifesting in the form of a huge ck tiger that charged forward, swiping at everything in its way. It shattered the two Heaven Immortals'' nascent attacks¡ªand their Immortal swords as well.


    The two Heaven Immortals nched, attacking instead with their palms. A devastating tempest formed at the point of impact as they pulled the crown prince away.

 Chapter 408: Xiao Nanfengs Plan

    <h4>Chapter 408: Xiao Nanfeng''s n</h4>


    Yin''s howl had forced the crown prince and two Heaven Immortal guards to retreat. Then, he reached out for the Yanluo Court.


    "Tiger Yanluo, you dare im my Yanluo Court?!" the Goat Yanluo demanded from afar, trapped by a group of Immortal cultivators.


    "Goat Yanluo, you''ll have to pay the price for scheming against me time and time again. I''ll take your Yanluo Court as rpense." Yin smirked.


    He sent a palm strike against the Yanluo Court. The Yanluo Court suddenly radiated with light, deflecting the attack.


    "Do you think it''ll be that easy to im my Yanluo Court? Leave it be, Tiger Yanluo. Once I deal with these ants, I''ll get rid of you."


    The Tiger Yanluo grew angry. His eyes shed coldly. "Your Yanluo Court will be mine today!"


    "Be careful, Master!" a shout rang out from afar.


    Commander Lie Yang, whom Xiao Nanfeng had forced out of Fengdu, had just made a reappearance in the battlefield as he warned Yin.


    Yin turned to see the crown prince and his two Heaven Immortaly guards shing at him. The three swords in unison formed three rivers of light that surged forth.


    "The Yanluo Court is mine. Attack!" the crown prince shouted.


    Yin''s face turned cold. He retaliated with a wave of his arm, shattering the three rivers of light.


    "Overconfident fools. I spared you once, but I won''t do so again!" Yin shot toward the crown prince.


    "Protect the crown prince!"


    "Crown Prince, he''s only a peak Heaven Immortal. We can take him on."


    "Kill!"


    The three Heaven Immortalsunched another simultaneous attack at Yin.


    Yin sent the three cultivators flying with tremendous force. The crown prince was so badly injured that he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "I simply wanted to rein in my strength so Heaven''s Hand wouldn''t notice me. Even as a Heaven Immortal, I can sweep aside the likes of you. For daring to covet my possessions, all of you shall die!" Yin dered.


    He shot toward the three cultivators once again, who hastily defended themselves. However, Yin was simply too strong. A single palm strike sent them smashing toward the ground, whereupon they formed three huge craters.


    Yin had been roused to ughter. If the three cultivators were to drop their guard, Yin might well kill them instantly. They had no choice but to climb out of the pits into which they had fallen and defend against him at full force. They were in a critical situation.


    "I shouldn''t have listened to my brother¡ªhe told me that I''d be able to pacify thend with just a few Heaven Immortals. Damn it! Was he trying to scheme against me?!" the crown prince shouted in shock.


    He was feeling particrly worried; Yin could kill him at any moment.


    Atop the eastern watchtower, Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates were all watching the fight unfold.


    "Yin and the Goat Yanluo are too strong. Even the Heaven Immortals dispatched by the Immortal Emperor are slowly being suppressed, and they''re all injured. If this fight were to drag out further, they''d surely die," Chang Bing murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. He shouted, "Heaven Immortals of the divine empire of Dayin, focus all your attention on Yin. Leave the Goat Yanluo to me!"


    The Goat Yanluo, Yin, and gathered Heaven Immortals were all shocked by Xiao Nanfeng''s pronouncement.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re only atte-stage Yin Body. Do you think you can take on the Goat Yanluo? Ha! Just you wait. Once I handle everything here, I''ll deal with you!" Yin roared inughter.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think a mere Human Immortal like you can handle me? Come try it, then!" The Goat Yanluo also sneered.


    The two Yanluo Lords had more than enough experience to analyze Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, and neither deemed him a worthy opponent.


    The crown prince was able to rx for a moment thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s pronouncement, but he too seemed disdainful. They had been skulking about Fengdu over the past few days and had gained some understanding of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength. The Goat Yanluo, whom even a group of Heaven Immortals couldn''t take down together¡ªhow could Xiao Nanfeng take him on?


    "Goat Yanluo, let''s try it, then. Stars, seal!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A beam of starlight shot down from the heavens, striking the Goat Yanluo. The Goat Yanluo frowned and looked up to see 361 stars shining brightly across the night sky, each forming a starlit beam targeted at the Goat Yanluo.


    He could guess that something was problematic with the starlight, but didn''t think that Xiao Nanfeng could hear him. Furthermore, he was still surrounded by a group of Heaven Immortals. If he attempted to dodge and weave around the beams, he would surely end up hurt. Rather, he used his crystalline barrier to block the starlight.


    That moment''s hesitation, however, was enough for all 361 stars to lock in on him, forming a starlit barrier that encapsted him.


    "What? How?" the Goat Yanluo eximed.


    He waved a hand as his eyes shed. "Crystalline annihtion!"


    The starlit barrier trembled; the crystal knife shattered.


    "Impossible. How could this barrier be stronger than my divine de? Break!" the Goat Yanluo shouted, punching at it with a fist.


    The barrier shook, but didn''t break.


    "What sort of formation is this?" the Heaven Immortals cried out.


    How could the Goat Yanluo, whom none of them could handle, be restrained by a formation?


    "The power of the stars? Is this a formation that incorporates naturalw?!" Yin''s eyes widened.


    The Goat Yanluo smashed into the starlit barrier several times, but was unable to break out of it. He nched, knowing that this could prove disastrous. He immediately howled, "Hurry up and find where the cultivator maintaining this formation is and kill him¡ªand destroy the foundation of the formation too! Hurry!"


    "Understood!" his cursed effigies replied.


    Countless cursed effigies rushed into the forests all around the abyss. Just then, gusts of blue mist rose into the air, surrounding and trapping them all in the Formation of the Complete Heavens.


    "What an impressive formation!" the crown prince eximed.


    Yin roared inughter. "Good, very good! Now that you''ve trapped the Goat Yanluo, I can easily im his Yanluo Court."


    Just then, from within the blue mist, Blue Lantern shouted, "Starlit des, strike!"


    A series of starlit des manifested in the air, directed at Yin. Yin frowned and punched at the heavens; the next moment, the 361 starlit des shot toward him.


    "What?" Yin eximed.


    The desnded a direct hit, causing an explosion of fire and wind that forced the Heaven Immortals nearby back.


    "This formation is ridiculously strong..." the crown prince murmured.


    "Crown Prince, these starlit des are about as strong as a Heaven Immortal''s blow. With 361 of them together..."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s been hiding this under our noses. Did he arrange this formation? There has to be an incredible formations expert in our vicinity."


    "What a potent formation!"


    The Heaven Immortals were all taken by surprise.


    Just then, Yin emerged from the explosion. He was frighteningly strong, and the starlit des had only dealt superficial damage to his clothing. Even so, he was infuriated. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Heaven Immortals of Dayin, I''ve trapped the Goat Yanluo. Leave him to me. The rest of you can deal with Yin; as for the Yanluo Court, let''s fight over it after we handle the two cursed kings!"


    The crown prince''s eyes turned cold. He wanted to secure the Yanluo Court at any cost; he certainly wasn''t about to listen to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Strike with me!" the crown princemanded.


    While Xiao Nanfeng took on the two cursed kings, he would im the Yanluo Court for himself.


    The Immortals all shot toward the Yanluo Court.


    Yin was seething at Xiao Nanfeng, but he had no intention of allowing the Heaven Immortals to im his prize.


    "I''ll deal with youter, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin shouted.


    Then, he mmed a palm toward the crown prince.


    "Protect the crown prince!" the Heaven Immortals cried out.


    They had no choice but to strike at Yin instead. The confrontation spawned a huge tempest.


    Just then, a shout came from within the explosion. "Starlit des!"


    Everyone nced up at the heavens. Worried that they would be the des'' targets, they dodged to the side. The des, however, headed straight toward the Goat Yanluo.


    The Goat Yanluo was trapped within the starlit barrier. When he saw the starlit des headed his way, he instantly felt a budding sense of familiarity: that was how he tended to take down his targets, with thebination of the crystal orb and his crystal knife. He raged, "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!"


    He instantly spawned a crystalline barrier around himself as protection.


    The starlit des struck the crystalline barrier in a ming mushroom cloud, so bright, that the cultivators all around gaped in surprise.


    Chang Bing nced toward Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. "Division Leader Xiao, when did you put down such a formation?"


    "Rather than counting on others, we might as well count on ourselves. I never hoped that the Immortal Emperor''s reinforcements would save us. I was only dying while I came up with a strategy of my own. It''s been more than half a month¡ªsufficient time for me to dispatch cultivators from Dazheng to assist me. They''ve been preparing the formation over thest few days," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "But hasn''t Dazheng just advanced into a divine empire? How could it possess such an incredible formations expert?" Chang Bing eximed.


    "Perhaps you simply haven''t seen enough of the world," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    Chang Bing murmured to himself, "Is that so? Or are you the weird one?"


    To be frank, Xiao Nanfeng was likewise amazed by Blue Lantern''s talent with formations. Despite no longer having the Star Map of the Complete Heavens, he really had managed to devise a substitute relic to manifest the formation in full, an incredible feat.


    Afar, after the explosion subsided, the starlit barrier was revealed once more. Within it, the Goat Yanluo''s crystalline orb had shattered. He was bleeding all over and in a wretched state.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, remove this damned barrier and fight me honestly if you dare!" the Goat Yanluo thundered, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    "Goat Yanluo, how could someone like you say something so immature? I''ve already taken you down. Why should I free you?" Xiao Nanfeng chuckled, thenmanded, "Blue Lantern, take him down!"


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern shouted, "Starlit des, strike!"

 Chapter 409: Claiming the Yanluo Court Again

    <h4>Chapter 409: iming the Yanluo Court Again</h4>


    Yin, surrounded by a group of Heaven Immortals, was unable to free himself for the moment. His cursed effigies, trapped within the Formation of the Complete Heavens, couldn''t provide any assistance, either. They had no choice but to watch as the Goat Yanluo was struck by a barrage of attacks.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, once I''m free, I''ll kill all of you here. None of you will be able to run. The whole city will die because of you!" the Goat Yanluo thundered.


    "Goat Yanluo, you''re ming your tyrannical and brutish behavior on me? How shameless you are. Why did you impersonate the acting city lord? It''s so you could use that identity to allow your subordinates to consume the souls of all who live here. If I hadn''t noticed it in advance, all the people of Fengdu would have be your cursed effigies¡ªif I hadn''t locked the city down, Fengdu would have be a necropolis!"


    "Shameless Goat Yanluo! You deserve to die!" Countless people shouted from the watchtowers.


    The starlit des struck the Goat Yanluo one after another, wounding it grievously. He raged, but was unable to free himself from the starlit barrier.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really think that I can''t deal with you? This starlit barrier might be strong, but I can still shatter it!" the Goat Yanluo cried out fiercely.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "Blue Lantern, be careful. He''s going to self-destruct!"


    "You¡ª!" the Goat Yanluo hissed.


    Even so, despite the fact that Xiao Nanfeng realized what he was going to do, as long as he could leave the starlit barrier, so what if he had to self-destruct? At any rate, this wasn''t his physical body.


    Just then, the Goat Yanluo trembled. A beam of blue light appeared by his mindscape, preventing his self-destruction.


    "What? You aren''t dead? You''re trying to regain possession of your body at a time like this?!" the Goat Yanluo shouted.


    Blue light burst from his mindscape as he shook violently, temporarily having lost control of his body.


    Another burst of starlit des descended from the heavens as he hastily defended with another crystalline barrier. The barrier shattered, wounding him further.


    "It seems like something''s wrong with his physical body. He didn''t self-destruct!" Blue Lantern shouted from within the blue mist.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. "He didn''t? He might still have some other trump card, then. Be careful!"


    "Understood!"


    The Goat Yanluo scowled. He was furious. He didn''t have some other trump card; his physical body''s original owner, Qu Jianfeng, had revived at this critical moment and was trying to seize control over it.


    "I clearly overlooked your presence. I thought that swallowing your spiritual power and destroying your blue moon would kill you¡ªbut it looks like you still had this up your sleeve. You hid thest vestiges of your soul in your physical body, prepared to ruin my ns! But what good does it do you to appear now? You can''t hope to best me, and your body''s going to be destroyed if you keep stalling me!" the Goat Yanluo fumed.


    From the Goat Yanluo''s mindscape came a weak voice, "Goat Yanluo, if I''m going to die regardless, I might as well bring you down with me."


    "You damned fool!" the Goat Yanluo roared.


    "Let''s die together!" the voice rang out from his mindscape again.


    Even more starlit des rained down from the heavens. The Goat Yanluo knew that he wouldn''t be able to keep blocking such attacks, that he wouldn''t even be able to escape if he were to drag things out any further.


    "Forget it!" the Goat Yanluo hissed.


    He pointed at his mindscape. "Crystalline barrier, seal!"


    "What have you done?!" the voice shouted.


    "I''ve sealed all my spiritual power, of course, so you can''t do anything to me any longer. I''ll deal with youter. Now, explode!" the Goat Yanluo roared.


    The Goat Yanluo self-destructed in a mushroom cloud of fire and smoke. The starlit barrier shattered.


    Out of the heart of the explosion rolled a crystalline orb, cracks all across its surface. The crystalline orb protected the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar; beside it was a blue specter.


    The Goat Yanluo''s spiritual avatar opened his mouth wide, attempting to swallow that specter whole, only to be interrupted with another barrage of starlit des.


    "Again? Qu Jianfeng, count yourself lucky. I''ll deal with youter!" The Goat Yanluo ran off.


    "Blue Lantern, the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar is fleeing to his Yanluo Court. Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The starlit des swiftly changed direction, but it was toote. The Goat Yanluo''s specter had already made it back.


    The starlit des struck the Yanluo Court in an explosion of fire and wind. After the explosion dissipated, however, the Yanluo Court was revealed wholly unharmed.


    Suddenly, with a hum, it released blinding white light that illuminated the night sky.


    "Blue Lantern, be careful! It''s in control of the Yanluo Court. Hide!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Yanluo Court flew into the air and descended on the Formation of the Complete Heavens.


    Thend all around rumbled as mountains were obliterated all around, destroying the formation''s foundation and causing the stars above to wink out.


    "Thank you, King! We''ve been freed!" the cursed effigies cheered.


    The Heaven Immortals that were fighting against Yin nched.


    Yin sneered. "Goat Yanluo, you''ve used too much of your strength. Heaven''s Hand has emerged again. If you don''t shroud your aura quickly, you''ll be sent back into the abyss."


    A burst of incredible energy emerged from the abyss. Heaven''s Hand shot out and caught the Yanluo Court. It trembled violently, as though it were about to be pulled back into the abyss.


    "Someone, give me a body to hide my aura! Quickly!" the Goat Yanluo thundered from within the Yanluo Court.


    However, his subordinates were still some distance away from the Yanluo Court, and wouldn''t be able to make it in time. Heaven''s Hand was already starting to drag the Yanluo Court down.


    "Damn it, hurry!" the Goat Yanluo howled.


    With a creak, the door to the Yanluo Court opened up and formed tremendous suction. The closest figure to the Yanluo Court was sucked within.


    "Isn''t that... Commander Lie Yang?" Chang Bing eximed.


    "Commander Lie Yang? Isn''t he one of Yin''s subordinates? What is he doing by the Yanluo Court? Did Yin arrange for him to be there?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned, as though sniffing out a conspiracy.


    Just then, Heaven''s Hand, which was gripping the Yanluo Court tightly, loosened it and slunk back into the abyss after losing the scent of the Goat Yanluo.


    Not longter, a figure emerged from the Yanluo Court, none other than Commander Lie Yang. However, his gaze had changedpletely.


    "Has the Goat Yanluo possessed Commander Lie Yang''s body?" Everyone watched with bated breath.


    The Goat Yanluo stepped out of the Yanluo Court and nced at Heaven''s Hand, which had retreated back into the abyss. He shuddered, then turned fiercely toward Fengdu. "Xiao Nanfeng, look at what you''ve done. It''s time for me to pay you back!"


    He flew out of the Yanluo Court. With a wave of his hand, the Yanluo Court followed swiftly behind him. He was headed for the eastern watchtower of Fengdu.


    "Not good. He''sing!" the city guards cried out.


    "There''s no need to worry unduly. The Yanluo Court isn''t as strong as it was. He must be worried that Heaven''s Hand will catch him again, so he doesn''t dare activate it at full force. Our defense formation at full power should be able to hold out against it," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    After what had happened over the past month, everyone hade to rely on Xiao Nanfeng. If he said that the defensive formation could hold out against the Yanluo Court''s attack, everyone would be able to suppress their panic.


    The defensive formation shone golden in the dark night.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I have to admit you have a good eye. It''s true that I can''t use the entirety of my Yanluo Court''s power, but there''s more than enough to destroy your formation. Now, break!" the Goat Yanluo shouted.


    The Yanluo Court smashed into Fengdu''s defensive formation in a storm of me and wind. Even at full power, the defensive formation around the city was unable to stop it.


    Arge number of cracks appeared on the barrier surrounding the city.


    "City Lord, the defensive formation can''t hold out any longer!" the guards cried out.


    With a bang, it shattered.


    "Is this all you''ve got?" The Goat Yanluoughed loudly.


    Just then, he found Xiao Nanfeng flying up to the Yanluo Court and attempting to hold it off with his palm.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, even Fengdu''s defensive formation wasn''t able to take me on. What can your physical body do? My Yanluo Court can even kill a Heaven Immortal at present. Die!" the Goat Yanluo shouted.


    "No, there''s no way Xiao Nanfeng would be so foolish. Something''s going to happen to the Yanluo Court," Yin surmised from high above.


    Everyone watched as Xiao Nanfeng touched the Yanluo Court with his palm, the Divine Seal of Dazheng in his other hand.


    As everyone watched on, Xiao Nanfeng and the Yanluo Court suddenly vanished from sight, leaving the Divine Seal of Dazheng floating in the air.


    "Is that imperial seal a spatial treasure? He moved my Yanluo Court within it?!" the Goat Yanluo shouted,unching himself at the seal.


    With a hum, Xiao Nanfeng reappeared. He kept the Divine Seal of Dazheng with a smile. "Goat Yanluo, thank you for the gift."


    "Return my Yanluo Court to me!" the Goat Yanluo shouted, punching at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s golden robes rapidly turned silver as he retaliated with a punch in kind.


    A wave of energy formed where their fists met. The Goat Yanluo stumbled back.


    "Kill him!" he roared.


    "Attack!" Countless cursed effigies charged forward.


    "Guards, what are you waiting for? Kill the cursed effigies!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    All the guards had been gobsmacked by Xiao Nanfeng iming the Goat Yanluo''s Yanluo Court. Only when he shouted at them did they suddenly start to react.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu, Chang Bing, and the others cried out.


    The soldiers rushed toward the cursed effigies and engaged them in a melee.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the Goat Yanluo. "Have you lost your Heaven Immortal body? You''ve had to switch to an Earth Immortal''s? Ha. Goat Yanluo, you''ve lost!"


    He shed forward with his de, sending the Goat Yanluo flying back.

 Chapter 410: Goat in a Tigers Den

    <h4>Chapter 410: Goat in a Tiger''s Den</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng swung downward with his de, forcing the Goat Yanluo to retreat time and again. Commander Lie Yang, whom he had taken over, had been no match for Xiao Nanfeng beforehand, let alone now.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you deliberately withheld the existence of that imperial seal of yours until now, didn''t you? If I hadn''t underestimated you, I would never have lost against you to such an extent. I won''t take this lying down. I''m going to kill you!" the Goat Yanluo howled.


    "You''ve lost your chance. You had better wait until the next time you revive," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    He swung down with his de, cutting the Goat Yanluo''s physical body apart in a spray of blood.


    From within the body rose the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. I''lle back and seek revenge!"


    The Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar shot toward the abyss. Just then, a huge number of peach blossoms appeared to block its way, with roots thrusting into its body.


    "What sort of cursed effigy is this? It''s devouring my cursed spiritual avatar?!" the Goat Yanluo eximed.


    Just then, Yin appeared beside the blood peach tree and pped at it with a palm, knocking it flying. He reimed the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar from the blood peach tree''s roots.


    "This peach tree feels surprisingly familiar. Who are you?" Yin demanded.


    When the blood peach tree saw Yin, it immediately vanished from sight.


    "Escaping? You''re quite a coward, aren''t you? You escaped into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape!" Yin eximed disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Indeed, the blood peach tree only seemed to show up when it could obtain some benefit or another, not when Xiao Nanfeng was in need.


    Just then, the Goat Yanluo suddenly shouted, "Let me go, Tiger Yanluo!"


    "Let you go? I just saved you," Yin said,ughing. "How do you intend on repaying me?"


    "We were once titans of the same era. I''ll surely repay you in the future for saving me now while I''m in dire straits," the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar said.


    "You''ve schemed against me multiple times, and I don''t believe your ims. If you want to thank me, you can do so right now."


    "What are you doing? No, you can''t!" the Goat Yanluo cried out.


    Yin was tossing him into his mouth.


    "You can use your cursed spiritual avatar to repay me. Give me all that you obtained within the infernal abyss. You can revive at ater date!" Yinughed.


    "No!" the Goat Yanluo cried out shrilly.


    Yin swallowed the Goat Yanluo in one gulp. Then, ck smoke rushed out of his body.


    "The Tiger Yanluo has swallowed up our king!"


    "Let our king go!"


    "Tiger Yanluo, our king won''t forgive you!"


    The cursed effigies in the distance shouted at the Tiger Yanluo, but they were being suppressed by Ye Dafu and the other cultivators. None of them were able to stop Yin. They turned and tried to run, but failed to do so with the attention of the entire city''s worth of cultivators around them.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked up toward the skies. "Heaven Immortals, didn''t we agree that I would deal with the Tiger Yanluo while you dealt with Yin? How could you have allowed it to grow stronger?"


    The Heaven Immortals gazed coldly toward the battlefield. None seemed to intend to continue fighting.


    "Don''t you know what they''re doing? They saw you take down the Goat Yanluo and steal the Yanluo Court. They''re envious of you and decided not to hold me back so that I''ll kill you. They want to take advantage of our fighting to reap the rewards in the end." Yin smiled coldly at the gathered Immortals.


    "Is Yin right? Are you waiting for us to fight each other to the death?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Heaven Immortals nced down coldly. That was clearly what they wanted, but none of them would admit it.


    Yin smiled. "Xiao Nanfeng, it''s time for us to have our showdown, then. Just the two of us."


    Yin''s aura was intense and far stronger than Xiao Nanfeng''s own. Now that the Formation of the Complete Heavens had been taken down, and the power of the Divine Seal of Dazheng had been revealed, he wouldn''t be able to surprise Yin any longer. Xiao Nanfeng had been trapped in an intense crisis.


    Despite the pressure suddenly weighing down on him, Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Yin, how do you feel about the notion that there are others trying to profit off our fight?"


    "Hm?"


    "It''s true that it doesn''t seem like I''m a match for you at the moment, but that''s just how it looks. The Goat Yanluo didn''t think that I could take him down, either, but he ultimately lost to me." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "What are you trying to say,d?"


    "What if we deal with the rest of them first?"


    "Hm?" Yin raised an eyebrow.


    "I''m confident I''ll be able to handle you, but I''d incur serious injuries by doing so. I wouldn''t want a group of petty viins like them to take advantage¡ªand I''m sure you wouldn''t want to give them a chance, either."


    "Do you have a means of dealing with me? You''re trying to trick me, aren''t you?" Yin didn''t seem to believe Xiao Nanfeng.


    "How do you know I don''t have other formations in the vicinity?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "Oh?"


    The Formation of the Complete Heavens had been exceptionally strong. Xiao Nanfeng might really have more formations up his sleeve.


    "You''re an opponent that I''ll have to be serious against, but they''re just a bunch of shameless vultures. We''ll deal with them first before our fight," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Yin smirked. "I feel like you''re simply trying to dy, but you''re not wrong. It''s better to take them down first."


    Yin and Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the skies.


    The Heaven Immortals nched, not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng and Yin would ally against them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you dare ally with a cursed effigy against me? Do you intend to make yourself an enemy of the divine empire of Dayin?!" the crown prince demanded.


    "You intend to kill me; it''s only reasonable that I act in self-defense," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    His silver robes transformed into gold as he returned to his physical body. Simultaneously, he brought the dragon-quelling spike he had just acquired into his mindscape.


    No one realized how dangerous his action was.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent ck Lotus a mental transmission: "Senior, I''ll have to trouble you to devour this dragon-quelling spike and pass me the undying spiritual power contained within."


    "Very well," ck Lotus replied.


    A ck hole opened up at the base of the ck lotus as it swallowed the dragon-quelling spike. It passed a steady stream of cursed spiritual power to Xiao Nanfeng, who infused it into the divine undying de.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Yin. "Go on. The faster we kill them, the faster we can have our fight."


    "Very well. We''ll kill them first." Yin smiled.


    "You dare?!" the Heaven Immortals in the air cried out.


    None of them had expected such an oue. If Yin and Xiao Nanfeng really were going to take them on together, what could they do?


    Just then, Yin whirled around and mmed a palm toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Die,d!"


    "Yin, you''re going back on your word?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, striking at him with his divine undying de.


    "Do you really think you managed to trick me? Ha! You''re the one who''ll benefit if I fight against these Heaven Immortals. If I make my move now, you won''t have time to use any of your trump cards¡ªif you really had any in the first ce. Die!" Yin shouted.


    "You die!" Xiao Nanfeng swung his de toward Yin.


    The divine undying de glowed with shining green light that illuminated the heavens. The de struck at Yin with such force that the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He instantly realized that something was amiss.


    "There''s something wrong with your de. Tigers, rise!" Yin shouted, defending himself with both palms.


    The specter of a ck tiger, surrounded by a devastating aura, appeared around Yin. It howled and leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng''s sh.


    The sh bisected the specter of the ck tiger. Undeterred, the de headed straight toward Yin.


    "No!" Yin shouted.


    He was simply too close to the attack to dodge. All he could do was tilt his body sideways¡ªbut even so, he was shed diagonally into two.


    The sudden sneak attack caused the Heaven Immortals to gasp in surprise. Neither had expected that the two allied parties would immediately turn on each other. More sinister was the fact that Xiao Nanfeng was the victor. He had taken down Yin in a single blow.


    "How could this be? Impossible!" Yin''s upper half retreated, holding on to the lower half of his body.


    "Nothing is impossible. Yin, to think you would have been able to avoid a lethal blowe back here and let me take you down!" Xiao Nanfeng flew toward Yin.


    The blood peach tree jumped out of nowhere, likewise striking at Yin.


    Yin had be severely weakened after falling prey to Xiao Nanfeng''s attack. Fearful that he would be able to execute a sh of such power again, and of the cursed effigy that had appeared out of nowhere, Yin was certain that he would lose if they continued to fight.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''m going to take revenge on you sooner orter. Just you wait!" Yin roared.


    He flew toward the infernal abyss with the other half of his body.


    The blood peach tree tried to block his retreat with arge shower of peach blossoms, but Yin was a fearsome foe even with his physical body cut in half. He knocked the peach blossoms away as he dove straight into the abyss, thinking that that would be the safest location for him at present.


    "You''re a fast runner, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    The blood peach tree chased Yin all the way to the mouth of the abyss before it stopped. Its trunk shook in rage, but there was nothing it could do. It flew toward the other side of the battlefield. If it couldn''t devour a cursed king, it might as well feast on the cursed effigies that were still around.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng raise his head to look at the gathered Heaven Immortals. He sneered disdainfully. There was no reason to talk overmuch to such petty cultivators who would have left him for dead. He flew back toward Fengdu, leaving the Heaven Immortals staring warily at him behind.

 Chapter 411: Yaoguangs Transmission

    <h4>Chapter 411: Yaoguang''s Transmission</h4>


    The cursed effigies that had possessed the sevenmanders were the strongest, and all Earth Immortals. They tried to run, but Ye Dafu and hisckeys transformed into golden bodies as they held them down and allowed themanders to beat and batter them.


    "Let go! Damn it, let go!" a cursed effigy shouted, shing at them with his sword.


    With a metallic nk, the sword struck Ye Dafu''s body but was unable to prate it. On the other hand, the sword seemed to be slightly distorted out of shape.


    "Boss, these Immortal relics hurt!"


    "It''s true! Fists don''t hurt as much anymore. We should elevate our training to this!"


    "When we get back, let''s start training with each other using Immortal relics. Strike me with a de and I''ll cut you with a sword. It''ll surely be exciting!"


    Ye Dafu''sckeys'' conversation caused the cursed effigies to gape.


    "You''re all maniacs!" one cursed effigy howled, shing at them with his sword. "Die!"


    "Oh, this is great! Again!" Ye Dafu called out in excitement.


    The cursed effigy: ...


    Not far away, Chang Bing and the others nced askance at Ye Dafu and his crew, their eyes twitching. They moved away from these maniacs as they continued pursuing the cursed effigies. After the cursed effigies perished, their cursed spiritual avatars tried to flee, only to be trapped byrge numbers of peach blossoms from all around. Then, the blood peach tree flew over and absorbed their avatars with its roots.


    "What''s this?" Many cultivators stared at the blood peach tree in a guarded fashion.


    "Don''t worry. That''s City Lord Xiao''s friend. You can ignore it!" Ye Dafu called out.


    Everyone nodded and returned to killing the cursed effigies.


    Not too longter, all the cursed effigies were killed. However, the cultivators didn''t celebrate. They looked toward the blood peach tree in shock. All of them had be nothing but fertilizer for the tree!


    Afar, Ye Dafu and hisckeys happily returned to the eastern watchtower to reconvene with Xiao Nanfeng. The blood peach tree did the same, tossing him the thirty blood peaches that had just formed before vanishing from sight.


    Standing atop the eastern watchtower, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath before eximing, "Citizens of Fengdu, the cursed effigies have been repelled. There is no trouble for the time being. The lockdown shall now be lifted!"


    "City Lord Xiao is invincible!" a city guard shouted.


    "City Lord Xiao is invincible!" the people of Fengdu cheered.


    Everyone had witnessed the huge battle that had just taken ce. They knew that if Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t been there to defend the city, everyone would have perished at the hands of the cursed effigies. They shouted and cheered madly in gratitude. Shockingly, faint clouds of golden light were floating toward Xiao Nanfeng¡ªthe people''s gratitude made manifest as fortune.


    Just then, as Xiao Nanfeng saw Blue Lantern flying over, he immediately asked, "Blue Lantern, are you alright?"


    Blue Lanternnded atop the watchtower and nodded. "I am. I picked up a yin body that''s looking for you."


    Blue Lantern waved his arm. A translucent blue specter emerged from his sleeve, an incredibly weak yin body pitted with holes, which looked like it would dissipate at any moment.


    "Senior Uncle Qu?!" Chang Bing eximed.


    The yin body bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I am Qu Jianfeng. Thank you for freeing me."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned serious. "Senior Qu, did you end up being possessed by the Goat Yanluo because you entered the abyss?"


    Qu Jianfeng nodded. "That''s right."


    "And you''re familiar with the Martial Aspect that the Tiger Yanluo took over, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Qu Jianfeng nced up in surprise. On seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze, he smiled wryly. "You were able to guess even that?"


    "It''s not difficult to make such a conjecture. The Goat Yanluo was eyeing the Tiger Yanluo all this time, and I suspect they escaped at around the same time. The death of that Martial Aspect has roused the attention of the Imperial Court, and I havee specifically to investigate this affair. Could you exin what happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Qu Jianfeng''s face grew pinched. After a moment, he nodded. "Are you aware of how my sister was dragged into the abyss by cursed effigies after giving birth to Yaoguang?"


    "I''m aware. The mother of Lady Yaoguang has been possessed by the Rabbit Yanluo, and my senior uncle, Lan Jiguang, has descended into the abyss in search of her."


    "At the time, the Shangqing holynd dispatched a group of cultivators in search of her. I was within that group. Unfortunately, the abyss was particrly dangerous, and all who descended perished. I was the only one who escaped. I found a clue about my sister''s whereabouts, but no one was willing to believe me when I reported it. I refused to give up, but was unable to do anything until Yaoguang obtained a treasure from the sect master. Only then was my hope rekindled. I intended to descend into the abyss again in search of my sister."


    "Oh?"


    "However, it would be simply too dangerous for me to go alone. I had to search for a helper, but who would brave the dangerous depths of the abyss with me? Coincidentally, I knew a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court who couldn''t let go of his deceased lover. Upon hearing me mention that the abyss contains the Records of Life and Death, which could even resurrect the dead, he decided to venture into the abyss with me to search for it. The Martial Aspect was even willing to drop his cultivation to that of a Heaven Immortal in order to do so."


    "Don''t you have any acquaintances within the Shangqing holynd? Why didn''t you ask them for assistance, but an outsider instead?"


    "If my acquaintances knew of my decision, not only would they disagree with it, they would even have stopped me from descending into the abyss."


    "Oh?"


    "I needed the treasure that the sect master bequeathed in order to be able to safely traverse the abyss."


    "Hold on, what did you say? The treasure that the Shangqing sect master bequeathed to Lady Yaoguang? Did you bring her into the abyss, too?" Xiao Nanfeng said chillingly.


    Qu Jianfeng grimaced and nodded. "I mentioned it to Yaoguang. When she heard that I was trying to search for her mother, she agreed immediately."


    "You deserve to die!" Xiao Nanfeng seethed, as though about to beat him up.


    Qu Jianfeng continued, "The Shangqing holynd forbade Yaoguang from leaving its premises. I was the one who snuck her out. She made me promise her that, after we left the abyss, we woulde find you so that she could destroy the cursed effigies hounding you. She agreed to head into the abyss not just for her mother, but to see you again."


    "Qu Jianfeng, Lady Yaoguang is your niece. How could you put her in such danger? You didn''t even inform Lan Jiguang of it!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    "Only Yaoguang canmand the treasure passed down by the sect master, so she had to go. We were intending to inform Lan Jiguang of the matter, but he wasn''t in Fengdu at the time."


    "Then couldn''t you have waited for him to return? What sort of uncle are you?!"


    Qu Jianfeng sighed. "It''s toote for regrets now."


    "What''s Yaoguang''s situation like?"


    "We entered the abyss and found ourselves pursued by two Yanluo Lords. We had no choice but to split up. I and the Martial Aspect lured one Yanluo Lord away each. I suppose Yaoguang must have escaped."


    "If she did, surely she would inform Lan Jiguang¡ªand if not him, then at least Chang Bing. She never came to Fengdu, which means she''s still in the abyss. She might well be dead¡ªand you are to me," Xiao Nanfeng used.


    "I¡ª"


    "Qu Jianfeng, if anything happens to Yaoguang, I''ll kill you!" Xiao Nanfeng seethed.


    Qu Jianfeng''s eyes lit up. "Xiao Nanfeng, I saw just how strong you were. Why don''t you head down into the abyss to look for her?"


    "Qu Jianfeng, you bastard! You''re trying to get His Majesty killed, too!" Ye Dafu''s eyes widened in a re. He shot forward, ready to kick Qu Jianfeng down, when Chang Bing pulled him back.


    "The abyss isn''t that dangerous as long as you don''t encounter a cursed king. You were even able to handle those two Yanluo Lords, Xiao Nanfeng. I''m sure you can find her!" Qu Jianfeng eximed.


    "You''re still trying to manipte His Majesty. Die!" Ye Dafu broke free from Chang Bing and kicked forward, but Xiao Nanfeng reached out to hold him back.


    "Tell me in detail about the situation within," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "His Majesty, even a Heaven Immortal is likely to die within the abyss, and no one of weaker cultivation has ever made it out. He''s luring you to your death!" Ye Dafu fretted.


    "I''m aware, but I have my own ns in mind. Don''t interfere."


    Ye Dafu had no choice but to press his lips together as he nodded.


    "Qu Jianfeng, reveal everything now. It''s almost daybreak. There isn''t much time until the abyss is sealed shut again. You don''t have much time. Tell me everything!"


    Qu Jianfeng nodded. "Very well."

 Chapter 412: The Netherworld Palace

    <h4>Chapter 412: The Netherworld Pce</h4>


    Qu Jianfeng manifested a map with his spiritual power.


    "We didn''t stay long in the abyss, and I''m not familiar with the overall terrain. This is a map of the territory that we explored. Memorize it."


    The map was simple, and Xiao Nanfeng ingrained it in his memory in the blink of an eye.


    "Cursed ves are prevalent within the abyss¡ªthose demons you saw¡ªand regr cursed effigies exist as well,manding the cursed ves. The strongest among them are Earth Immortals. It seems that naturalw restricts even the strongest Yanluo Lords to the strength of a Heaven Immortal, so as long as you aren''t trapped by arge group of cursed effigies, you''ll be alright."


    "Is there any method by which I can search for Yaoguang?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Qu Jianfeng shook his head.


    "Is there anything else?"


    "There isn''t. You''ll understand everything once you descend."


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. He looked toward Ye Dafu and Blue Lantern. "Stay here. I intend to descend and have a look."


    "Your Majesty, I''m sure Qu Jianfeng is still hiding something. He''s just trying to lure you into the abyss. You can''t let him trick you!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "I''m aware, but I have to enter. Don''t worry, I''ll be alright." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    Ye Dafu grimaced and gritted his teeth. "In that case, Your Majesty, we''d like to apany you to guard you. Please allow me to do so!"


    "Please allow us to do so!" Ye Dafu''sckeys all chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered Ye Dafu and hisckeys for a moment before he nodded. "Very well."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    "Allow me to join you as well. The naturalw within must be advanced if it can restrict entrance to those cultivators at or below Heaven Immortals in strength. It may help restore my cultivation." Blue Lantern smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Chang Bing. "Chang Bing, while I''m not around, you''ll be the acting city lord of Fengdu. Listen to no one unless they have an edict of appointment from the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. I leave you in charge!"


    Chang Bing seemed to have a lot on his mind. "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Citizens of Fengdu, I am Xiao Nanfeng. I have urgent business to take care of and will be leaving Fengdu for a period of time. Henceforth, Chang Bing shall be the acting city lord of Fengdu!"


    "Understood!" the people replied from within the city.


    "Now, let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Without any hesitation, he, Ye Dafu and hisckeys, and Blue Lantern flew toward the mouth of the abyss, whereupon they vanished from sight.


    The Heaven Immortals had seen the entire episode unfold. They slowly descended toward Qu Jianfeng.


    "Yin Tianci of the Immortal Empire greets Sir Qu," the crown prince said.


    "Yin Tianci? You''re the new crown prince of the Immortal Empire of Dayin?"


    "I am he. I overheard your conversation with Xiao Nanfeng from afar. Might I ask if this Yaoguang is the new holy maiden of the Shangqing holynd?"


    "She is," Qu Jianfeng replied, nodding.


    "A few days ago, my father once sought to link Dayin by marriage to the Shangqing holynd. With the holy maiden Yaoguang in grave danger, if I can save her, would you grant me your blessing for the marriage between me, the crown prince of Dayin, and the holy maiden Yaoguang?"


    Qu Jianfeng narrowed his eyes, then smiled. "If you can save Yaoguang, I shall endorse this marriage and help ite to fruition to the best of my ability."


    "It''s a deal!" Yin Tianci immediately matched his smile.


    "Of course, you''ll have to save Yaoguang first. She''s been trapped in the abyss for some time. If this drags out any longer, she might be in real danger."


    "Don''t worry. We''ve brought a treasured relic of Dayin, but haven''t yet used it because we weren''t in life-threatening danger. In the end, Xiao Nanfeng stole our thunder. Await my good news!" Yin Tianci said.


    He beckoned his subordinates over. To one Heaven Immortal, he said, "Have your avatar inform my father of my conversation with Sir Qu, then have all my subordinates gather here. A monthter, when the abyss opens up again, they''ll enter and join me as reinforcements."


    "Understood!" the Heaven Immortal said.


    "Let''s go!" Yin Tianci continued.


    "Understood!"


    Yin Tianci and his group of Heaven Immortals flew into the abyss.


    Chang Bing gave Qu Jianfeng a frustrated look. "Senior Uncle Qu, didn''t you say that no one would be able to demand Junior Sister''s hand in marriage? How could you agree to Yin Tianci''s proposal?"


    Qu Jianfeng sucked in a deep breath. "The most important matter at hand now is Yaoguang''s safety. As long as she''s alright, we can negotiate."


    "But Junior Sister might not be willing," Chang Bing said, frowning.


    "Chang Bing, there''s no need to worry about such matters. I need to write a letter immediately. Send one of your subordinates to the Shangqing holynd and deliver it to the sect master. You must hurry!"


    Chang Bing frowned, but eventually nodded.


    Within the abyss, Xiao Nanfeng returned to his yin body in preparation of the danger toe. He and his subordinates slowly descended deeper into the abyss.


    The interior of the abyss was dark and gloomy. ck smoke emerged from time to time, obscuring their sight. Not too longter, they made it deep into the interior and slipped through the fingers of Heaven''s Hand.


    Past that boundary, they seemed to have arrived in a new world. The skies of that world were covered with roiling ck smoke. At their heart was Heaven''s Hand, suspended in the air. Below them was a mountain of bones.


    Not too far away, a signboard had been erected. Part of it was destroyed, but tworge, bloodstained words could still be made out: Netherworld Pce.


    "Your Majesty, there are so many demons!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    At the foot of this mountain of bones were countless demons gnashing their teeths with fierce expressions on their faces. They seemed like they wanted to pounce forward, but chose not to do so for some reason.


    Just then, a voice emerged from amidst the demons. "What a strange day it is today. The Goat Yanluo''s Yanluo Court mysteriously unsealed itself, the Tiger Yanluo returned with half his body chopped off, and now there are cultivators entering the abyss of their own ord. Everyone, be careful. They might be those who wounded the Tiger Yanluo."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the source of the voice to see a group of strange monsters amidst the demons, all humanoid in form but with different heads¡ªsome oxen, and some horses.


    "Horse-headed people? Ox-headed people? What is this?!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Horse- and ox-headed people..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned. [1]


    "What dense cursed spiritual power. They must be cursed effigies unique to this Netherworld Pce," Blue Lantern said.


    One of the ox-headed people said, "Perhaps we''re overthinking things. Why don''t we send some demons their way to test their strength?"


    "Got it!" the cursed effigies all around replied.


    Countless demons roared as they shot over.


    "Die!" Ye Dafu roared, charging forward.


    He and hisckeys began to emanate golden light as they fought off the demons headed toward them, sending them flying.


    "Use your Immortal relics!" the ox-headed humanoid shouted.


    The demons immediately pulled out their Immortal relics and struck at Ye Dafu and hisckeys, but they were so resilient that even Immortal relics couldn''t hurt them. They continued to send the demons flying.


    The cursed effigies frowned. One of the ox-headed humanoids charged forward. "Let me have a try!"


    That ox-headed humanoid charged at Ye Dafu with a meteor hammer. Without any hesitation, Ye Dafu countered with a punch.


    The hammer struck Ye Dafu and sent him flying. Xiao Nanfeng caught him from behind with a palm.


    "A cursed effigy with the strength of an Earth Immortal..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


    "Even the strongest of these golden cultivators is only at the peak of a Human Immortal. They''re nothingpared to us!" The ox-headed humanoidughed.


    He sent the meteor hammer smashing toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed coldly. He retaliated with a punch, knocking the hammer back. The ox-headed humanoid pulled it back into his hands.


    "An Earth Immortal? It looks like their leader isn''t particrly strong, either. They can''t have injured the Tiger Yanluo." The ox-headed humanoid narrowed his eyes.


    "We''ll be taking these Immortals! My king''s about to celebrate a grand anniversary, and we''recking a group of Immortals for the festivities," one horse-headed humanoid said.


    "The Horse Yanluo? My king also needs Immortals for his festivities. Why should I hand them over to you?" the ox-headed humanoid retorted.


    "Didn''t the Ox Yanluo get a batch of cultivatorsst month? There were Immortals among them!" the horse-headed humanoid replied.


    "The Rabbit Yanluo was heavily injured, so my king sent the Immortals to her. That doesn''t count."


    "Let''s see who can take them down first, then!"


    "Very well. Seize them!" the ox-headed humanoidmanded his subordinates.


    "Understood!"


    Large numbers of cursed effigies shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "You''re treating us like spoils of war? If you want to die, I''ll grant your wish!"


    A full moon appeared behind his head as his deific domain expanded. A huge blizzard formed. With a wave of his hand, the demons at the very front were frozen into ice sculptures. The cursed effigies shivered as they retreated.


    1. In Chinese mythology, there are two guardians of the underworld, one with an ox''s head and the other with a horse''s face. ?

 Chapter 413: Ox- and Horse-Headed

    <h4>Chapter 413: Ox- and Horse-Headed</h4>


    The cursed effigies seemed to have particr resilience against cold. Although they shivered, they weren''t frozen stiff. Somehow, they had managed to block the frost. [1]


    "An impressive domain, but it''s far weaker than what I used to have in the past." One ox-headed humanoid shot over.


    With his meteor hammer, he smashed apart the ice and snow blocking his way. The hammer shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng was even faster. He closed in on the demon and swung down with his de.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ox-headed humanoid hastily attempted to defend, but failed to do anything against the sharp de. He was cut in half.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to go deal with the other cursed effigies when his eyes widened. The ox-headed humanoid''s meteor hammer had suddenly shifted directions and was heading back toward him. He punched at it in haste.


    The attack struck him and forced him to stagger back as the meteor hammer rebounded.


    "Your Majesty, hasn''t he died?!" Ye Dafu shouted from close by.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the ox-headed humanoid, whom he had cleaved. No blood burst from his body, and neither did the two halves of his body fall down. Rather, each half stood independently. One arm continued to grip his meteor hammer.


    "You can live even like this?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Lad, you''ve made me angry!"


    The two halves of the ox-headed humanoid slowly rbined as they drew close to each other. Where the split had been, a huge quantity of paper fragments emerged as though in a storm, gradually filling in the cracks as the ox-headed humanoid''s initial appearance was restored. He didn''t look to have been injured at all.


    "Paper? Are all you cursed effigies of that era made of paper?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He suddenly recalled the Snake Yanluo, who was a paper figure, and whose subordinates were all paper snakes.


    "What''s wrong with paper? It can grant us undying bodies. Now,d, it''s your turn to die!" The ox-headed humanoid shot over.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was stronger than he was. He cut the humanoid in half once again.


    Just then, a horse-headed humanoid mocked, "Haha, you really are weak, aren''t you? He''s already cut you down twice. Let me have a go."


    "Scram! Go find someone else. He''s mine!" the ox-headed humanoid bellowed.


    "On what grounds? He''s at the peak of Yin Body, and is far more useful than an ordinary Immortal. I''m taking him!" The horse-headed humanoidughed.


    "Come at me if you want to die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted coldly.


    He stepped forward, brandishing his de. With a sh, the horse-headed humanoid was likewise split in half. However, he quickly recovered in a flurry of paper fragments.


    "Come on. We''ll take him down together!" the horse-headed humanoid bellowed.


    "Got it!"


    Arge number of cursed effigies shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, whose fighting spirit zed bright. With every sh of his de, cursed effigies fell all around him.


    Even so, they quickly recovered amidst a storm of paper fragments. They truly seemed to possess undying bodies, regardless of how many cuts they incurred.


    Ye Dafu and the others stepped forward, intending to help out their liege, but Xiao Nanfeng stopped them. "Don''t make a move. Stay by Blue Lantern''s side!"


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    They could see that Xiao Nanfeng had the upper hand, and weren''t especially concerned for him.


    The cursed effigies, sensing that they couldn''t take down Xiao Nanfeng, split up. A portion headed toward Ye Dafu and the others, all Human Immortals. Ye Dafu and the others spread out to take them on. Even when a few Earth Immortals wandered into the fight, they could deter them for long enough for Blue Lantern to send them toward Xiao Nanfeng''s vicinity, whereupon he would take care of them with a sh of his de.


    "Blue Lantern, you''re so strong¡ªyou''re already an Earth Immortal! It looks like you don''t need our protection anymore," Ye Dafu said in surprise.


    "Xiao Nanfeng didn''t send you to me so you could protect me. He just wants you not to interfere for the time being. He''s trying to probe what special abilities they have and identify their weak spots so that we can be better prepared to fight the Yanluo Lords," Blue Lantern exined.


    "So that''s how it is!"


    When Xiao Nanfeng saw that the cursed effigies intended to retreat, he thundered, "I''ll speak bluntly: none of you cursed effigies can fight. All of you are trash!"


    The cursed effigies, who had ruled over the Netherworld Pce for countless years, rarely heard such provocation. They were immediately enraged.


    "Don''t hold back. Kill him!"


    "Ate-stage Yin Body cultivator dares insult the likes of us? Who are you calling trash?!"


    "Kill!"


    The cursed effigies charged forward at full force.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t panic. He continued scything forward fiercely. There were only about ten Earth Immortals among this group of cursed effigies, and the others were Human Immortals. None would be a match for him. He continued to ravage them


    until they were all cut apart. While they were busy trying to restore themselves, Xiao Nanfeng reimed his silver moon and transformed back into his physical body.


    "Paper, is it? Easily mmable, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He sent a ring of mes all around him, encapsting the gathered cursed effigies. Many didn''t care; they continued to regenerate.


    "Do you really think this is ordinary paper? Few mes in this world can hope to do anything against us," one regenerating ox-headed humanoid replied, smirking.


    "Golden crows!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Ten golden crows flew toward the nearby humanoids, releasing bursts of facsimile srfire. The paper fragments began to burn.


    "Damn it, that''s facsimile srfire! Are those golden crowsposed of quintessential srfire? Even facsimile srfire alone can burn our cursed spiritual avatars to a crisp. Quick¡ª" one cursed effigy cried out.


    The golden crows rampaged through the gathered cursed effigies, burning them all. However, the cursed effigies continued to regenerate as fast as they could, even though half the paper fragments they used would burn up.


    Finally, when their bodies were fully restored, the mes were no longer able to do anything against them.


    "Your bodies can resist facsimile srfire when unharmed?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    The ox-headed humanoid snarled, "You''ve used up the spiritual power I saved for years on end. Die! I''m going to kill these golden crows of yours!"


    The ten golden crows flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he returned to his yin body.


    "It looks like you do have ws, after all. It''s just annoying to get rid of you," Xiao Nanfeng surmised.


    His yin body again tore the cursed effigies to shreds before he returned to his physical body and released his ten golden crows to burn everything before him to a crisp.


    "That bastard! All my cursed spiritual power''s burning up!"


    "Damn it, just you wait! Try burning us when our cursed spiritual avatars have been honed to perfection!"


    The cursed effigies had grown far weaker after consuming the bulk of their paper fragments.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng transformed into his yin body and was about to strike at them once again.


    "No!" The cursed effigies turned and ran.


    They were infuriated by Xiao Nanfeng''s taunts, but they were no idiots. They couldn''t do anything against Xiao Nanfeng; they would only be burnt to a crisp.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of letting them go. He had to beat them into submission, then interrogate them about the status of the Netherworld Pce.


    "Is this all you''ve got? You might as well stay, then!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to attack the cursed effigies, preventing them from fleeing. As for the demons, many had been frozen into ice sculptures from the blizzard around Xiao Nanfeng. They were unable to advance even a single step.


    The cursed effigies hissed and seethed, but they knew they wouldn''t be able to run. One ox-headed humanoid suddenly shouted, "Let''s charge at the seal together!"


    "What? Do you want to die?" one ox-headed humanoid cried out.


    "Rather than have him drain all our spiritual power first, why not try to take him on? We have to work together, or we won''t have enough strength to overpower him!" the ox-headed humanoid replied.


    The cursed effigies gritted their teeth. "Very well!"


    Rather than run, the cursed effigies shot up toward the gaps between the fingers of Heaven''s Hand.


    "They''re trying to escape from this hidden realm?" Blue Lantern murmured.


    Just then, chains appeared on the feet of the humanoids rushing into the air, ck chains that bound them and prevented them from flying further upward.


    "Where did these chainse from? They appeared out of nowhere! Blue Lantern, did you do that?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "It wasn''t me. They manifested as a result of special rules present within this hidden realm. It''s likely that the naturalw of this realm prevents the cursed effigies from escaping¡ªthey''ll be dragged back if they try to do so. These chains must serve that purpose."


    "But if they can''t escape, why would they bother trying to do so?" Ye Dafu still seemed confused.


    "They''re trying to trigger some sort of potent response that will quell this territory. We have to run¡ªor suffer bacsh from naturalw!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    The cultivators fled.


    Just then, Heaven''s Hand mmed down at all the cursed effigies that had been chained.


    They exploded in an instant, scattering through the sky as fragments.


    "Are theymitting suicide?" Ye Dafu wondered as he ran.


    Just then, in conjunction with the attack from Heaven''s Hand, a huge storm of ck air formed all around them, sorge it seemed as though it would drown them all.


    The storm sucked in all the demons around them. Even Xiao Nanfeng''s group was unable to escape. The cultivators were all sucked within.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    The storm was like a huge flood that sent the cultivators flying. No one could halt such a force of nature, not even Xiao Nanfeng. All he could do was protect his body as the storm ravaged thend.


    1. To rify, the ox- and horse-headed humanoids are cursed effigies. They control the demons, who are cursed ves. ?

 Chapter 414: The City of Wuliu

    <h4>Chapter 414: The City of Wuliu</h4>


    By the time Yin Tianci and eight Heaven Immortals descended deep into the abyss, the ck storm from before had vanished.


    The mountains in the depths of the abyss had crumbled, and all the demons had been blown away. There was nothing all around.


    "Your Highness, thank goodness we didn''t descend immediately. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have been able to observe such a show," one Heaven Immortal joked.


    "What did all of you think about the storm from just now?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "We Heaven Immortals would have been able to shield ourselves from its onught, but Xiao Nanfeng can''t do so at all. All of them were blown away, which indicates that their strongest cultivators are Earth Immortals at best. The only reason Xiao Nanfeng was able to disy such strength was because he possesses incredible treasures," one Heaven Immortal said.


    "Right. Isn''t he lucky? His copper de can y Yin, and his imperial seal can eveny im to the Goat Yanluo''s Yanluo Court. A cultivator at Yin Body doesn''t deserve so many priceless treasures." Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes.


    "Your Highness, you mean..." a Heaven Immortal trailed off.


    "Rather than fight the Yanluo Lords for treasure, why don''t we take down Xiao Nanfeng first? We''ll meet up back here. Everyone will scatter to search for the whereabouts of Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates, then head back within ten days. We must find Xiao Nanfeng. Also, I want that formations expert, Blue Lantern, alive," Yin Tianci demanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "That storm was potent, but it couldn''t have blown them too far away. Let''s go!"


    "Understood!" Yin Tianci''s subordinates began to search all around them.


    The ck storm had blown Xiao Nanfeng an interminable distance.


    He fell toward a valley, but caught himself and flew up into the sky in time. He circled his surroundings, only to discover that he was far away from the entrance to the abyss. He didn''t know where he was. There were forests, mountains, and countless fog all around him, making it hard for him to discern his whereabouts following Qu Jianfeng''s map.


    "Please spare me, cursed deity! I came out to pick herbs for my sick son," someone suddenly cried out, begging earnestly.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see a middle-aged man kowtowing on the ground.


    "Isn''t this the Netherworld Pce? What are living humans doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, flying over.


    "Please spare me, cursed deity! I had no other choice. That''s why I didn''t make it back to the cityst night," the middle-aged man continued to plead.


    "There''s no need for all this. I''m no cursed deity. I''m a human," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You''re not a cursed deity?" the middle-aged man gaped in surprise.


    "Where are we? I''m lost," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "If you''re not a cursed deity, could you be a human demon?!" the middle-aged man eximed.


    "What''s that?"


    "Our city lord said that human demons exist outside the city. At nighttime, they wander about in search of humans to devour. That''s why we''re not allowed to go out at night, but I know that human demons don''t consume humans at all. They fight against the cursed deities and all possess some method of prolonging their lives."


    "Oh? There are cities here?"


    "Right! Our city is right there." The middle-aged man knelt and began to kowtow again. "Sir Human Demon, I''m about to reach the end of my life. Won''t you teach me how to cultivate and live longer?"


    "What''s your name?"


    "I''m Yang San."


    "Don''t call me a human demon. My name is Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Understood, Sir!"


    "Yang San, where''s your city? Can you bring me over to have a look?"


    "Of course. Please follow me, Sir. However, your appearance is far too noble. Others will easily notice that something is amiss."


    "That''s easy to resolve," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He materialized a middle-aged man''s attire with his spiritual power.


    "Please follow me, Sir," Yang San said.


    "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng flew with Yang San toward the city.


    By then, it was dawn. The sun rose up from the east, but the hidden realm was covered with such a denseyer of clouds that it still seemed dark and gloomy even in daytime.


    Trying to search for Lady Yaoguang alone would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Xiao Nanfeng would need tremendous manpower, and a city was where people gathered.


    Within no time at all, Yang San brought him to a city shrouded by fog.


    "Sir, this is the city of Wuliu," Yang San introduced warmly.


    "It''s not a particrlyrge city, but there''s a defensive formation around it..." Xiao Nanfeng noted in surprise.


    The gates to the city were open and bustling with activity as people walked outside. The guards were fully dressed in armor; no one could see what they looked like. However, Xiao Nanfeng instantly detected an aura of rot emanating from them.


    "What strange guards," he said.


    He reined in his aura and followed Yang San in. He probed vaguely at them with his spiritual power and found that they were demons.


    "Are all the guards in the city like this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "They are. They never speak to us and kill without batting an eye. All they listen to are the cursed deities," Yang San replied.


    The guards didn''t check the identities of anyone entering or exiting the city. They stood motionless like statues. Xiao Nanfeng walked into the city to find that it was basically the same as those aboveworld.


    Just then, a group of ox-headed humanoids flew across the air, straight toward the heart of the city.


    "Those are the cursed deities of the city lord''s manor," Yang San exined.


    "They''re just cursed effigies. Do they style themselves as cursed deities?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned and asked, "Is your city lord like that, too?"


    "He is. Our city lord''s a cursed horse deity. Not too long ago, a cursed ox deity flew into the city lord''s manor as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. "In other words, these cursed deities are in control of a cityposed wholly of humans?"


    "Aren''t you aware of this, Sir? This is how it''s always been in our city. The cursed deities manage us and arrange for several of us, whom we all respect, to help manage the city''s inner workings."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. As they walked across the streets of the city and he looked around, he frowned. "Why aren''t there any old people around?"


    "What are old people?"


    "People who have lived for many years¡ªthose of you in your seventies or eighties, for example," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What? They don''t exist! Except for human demons, everyone only lives for forty-five years. I''m forty-two, and I only have three years of life left," Yang San said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He inspected Yang San carefully, only to find nothing wrong with his body. In fact, he was perfectly healthy. Why would he die in three years?


    "The annual mourning period''s going to start in a few days," Yang San sighed.


    "What mourning period?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed more and more confused.


    "All those who are forty-five will die within the next few days. Aren''t you aware?" Yang San eximed.


    Within the city lord''s manor in the city of Wuliu, one horse-headed humanoid asked a group of his peers that had just returned, "Have you finished the investigation? Where did the huge stormst nighte from?"


    "A group of strong cultivators emerged from the mouth of the abyss and bullied the guards until they had no choice but to rouse Heaven''s Hand in order to escape. They just went to report the news to the king."


    "Oh? As long as it''s not war between two great Yanluo Lords. No matter what Immortals descend into the abyss, they''ll all just die. Well, nothing for us to worry about. Let''s prepare for a feast before we present our tithe," the city lord said.


    "Very well. It''s been a year since I''ve reaped the souls of hale and hearty humans. A feast!" the horse-headed humanoids all cheered.

 Chapter 415: Breeding the Humans

    <h4>Chapter 415: Breeding the Humans</h4>


    In the city of Wuliu, Xiao Nanfeng followed Yang San into the residential area past the streets. People were crying from within their courtyards. A coffin had been ced prominently in each yard as middle-aged men and women bade their goodbyes to their families, their eyes filled with tears.


    Yang San gulped down his saliva, anxious. He didn''t have much longer to live himself¡ªbut he had just had a chance encounter with a human demon. He fervently hoped that he would be able to learn how to live longer; he treasured this opportunity, and helped Xiao Nanfeng out to the best of his ability.


    Yang San led Xiao Nanfeng to his own cottage and carefully inspected their surroundings to ensure that no one was tailing them before he shut the gate.


    "Sir, for some reason, the cursed deities are always able to catch human demons. They frequently tell all of us that human demons live by consuming human flesh, so many people in the city would report to the guards if they were aware of your identity. We''ll need to be careful," Yang San exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Yang San immediately had his familye over and greet Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You said that your son was ill, didn''t you? Let me have a look at him."


    "Please!"


    Yang San immediately brought Xiao Nanfeng into his son''s room. His sony in bed, his face waxen, his breath short. He was deeply ill.


    "My son''s only seven. He''s been weak since birth, and frequently suffers from illnesses that incapacitate him. In three years, if I end up dying, I don''t know how my family will survive without me," Yang San sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave his son a preliminary checkup before feeding him a pill. Instantly, his son''s pallor retreated. He opened his eyes as his face turned rosy.


    "Father, my head doesn''t hurt anymore. I feel sofortable!" Yang San''s son eximed as he sat up.


    "Quick, bow down and thank Sir Xiao with me!" Yang San immediately bowed with his son in tow.


    "I''ll need a ce to stay for the time being, and I have to trouble you to buy some books on history and geography in town. Consider this payment for your services. Your son will grow tall and strong in the future after ingesting this pill."


    "Of course, Sir! Thank you, Sir!"


    Yang San cleaned up the cottage and made space for Xiao Nanfeng to stay. He informed his family that they were to turn away all visitors and be gracious hosts to the human demon, then rushed out to buy the books that Xiao Nanfeng had wanted.


    Not too longter, there was a pile of books stacked up before Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng flipped through them briefly to gain a sense of which possessed the information he wanted. He understood roughly what was going on, now.


    There were likely plenty of cities like Wuliu within the Netherworld Pce. Such cities were controlled by cursed effigies, and the ''human demons'' that they spoke of were likely just ordinary cultivators. The cursed effigies told the people that they could only live till the age of forty-five, that only human demons could survive beyond that, and only by eating humans. As a result, human demons were strictly forbidden and had to be reported if anyone encountered one. To the people of the Netherworld Pce, all this seemed perfectly ordinary.


    "Cursed effigies enjoy consuming souls. They''re allowing the people to grow in cities in order to nourish their souls before reaping them. Isn''t that what''s going on? These cursed effigies really arewless. They''re treating humans like nothing but swine!" Xiao Nanfeng seethed.


    Just then, as though suddenly noticing something, he rushed out of the cottage and looked up at the sky.


    A yellow cloud bloomed. Yellow rain began to fall. Many of the civilians began crying even more loudly.


    "It''s here. The yellow rain from the heavens¡ªit''s time for all those at forty-five to die," Yang San sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, saw a different sight entirely. After infusing spiritual power into his sight, he saw transparent chains dancing through the rain. Hooks at the end of each chain shot into some houses within the city and retreated with weakly shining souls in tow.


    The souls of ordinary mortals were so weak that they couldn''t be seen with the naked eye.


    "A treasure that can detect someone''s age? How sinister," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, narrowing his eyes.


    Just then, a transparent chain shot straight toward him, the hook on its end sharp and gleaming with light. Xiao Nanfeng frowned and caught the hook in his palm.


    "A spiritual treasure?"


    Just then, arge number of chains in the rain seemed to have noticed him. They all shot his way.


    "You think you can take me on? These cursed effigies really don''t know anything. Come at me if you dare!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Just then, within the city lord''s manor, a group of horse-headed humanoids sat in a ring within a courtyard, a huge wok of oil before them. The wok was engraved with countless runes that glowed red, arcane and mysterious, clearly an incredible treasure.


    The oil in the wok began to sizzle as yellow vapors rose into the air and formed a yellow cloud. The water vapor condensed and fell as yellow rain. Shortly thereafter, a translucent chain emerged from the wok and shot into the city, then quickly returned dragging the soul of a middle-aged woman, who gaped upon realizing that her soul had been taken to the city lord''s manor.


    It was only about the size of an ordinary person''s finger. She saw a group of huge horse-headed humanoids seated around a wok, doing something she couldn''t see.


    "Cursed deities? I don''t want to die. Please save me, cursed deities!" the middle-aged woman shouted anxiously.


    She was pulled into the wok, then covered with a gleamingyer of oil. Just as she began to panic earnestly, two pirs sank into the wok and lifted her up.


    "Thank you for saving me, cursed deities!" the middle-aged woman cried out gratefully.


    The next moment, she realized that something was amiss. Those two ''pirs'' around her weren''t pirs at all¡ªthey were chopsticks!


    A horse-headed humanoid ced her in his mouth.


    The middle-aged woman, her wits sharpened by fear, shouted, "Don''t eat me! My daughter''s been blind from birth. If I die, what''ll happen to her? Spare me!"


    The horse-headed humanoid bit down with a crunch and swallowed her whole.


    The next moment, more chains appeared, each apanied by a soul. The souls were deep-fried and eaten raw by the horse-headed humanoids, who smiled as they chatted.


    "It''s been a whole year. How I''ve missed this taste!"


    "These souls really do taste good, don''t they? It''s a pity they''re too weak. Those defending the mouth of the abyss have it better, don''t they? They can consume the souls of cultivators, whereas all we have are the souls of these mortals."


    "There are human demons outside the cities as well. We can find an opportunity to hunt them down and sate our hunger."


    "They hide like mice. It won''t be easy to find them, and we''ll have to rely on luck."


    "Don''t worry about all that now. Come on, we''re having a feast!"


    The horse-headed humanoids continued to pull human souls out of the pot and deposit them in their mouths.


    As the humans'' souls saw what was really going on, they shouted in shock.


    "So the reason everyone dies at forty-five is because of the city lord and cursed deities!"


    "Demons, you vile demons! You''ll suffer for what you''ve done!"


    "Spare me, City Lord!"


    "Don''t eat me!"


    The souls shrieked and yelled, but the horse-headed humanoids ignored them. They continued their feast.


    Suddenly, one horse-headed humanoid gaped in surprise. "Look at this. One of the chains is stuck! Ha, it looks like we''re going to have a huge feast today!"


    "For the soul-stealing chain to be bound so tightly¡ªthere has to be a human demon on the other end. Come on, send more chains over. We have to drag his soul back!" one horse-headed humanoid said,ughing.


    A huge number of chains shot toward the cottage where Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    He raised his hand, allowing the chains totch tightly onto him.


    A horse-headed humanoid rubbed his hands in glee. "Even a hundred chains aren''t sufficient. We''ve truly caught someone incredible. He must boast shocking achievement in terms of spiritual cultivation. Let''s continue!"


    Even more chains shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, who was getting a little impatient. He shattered the chains with a punch, then followed the chains to their origin. He arrived at the city lord''s manor in the blink of an eye, where he saw the horse-headed humanoid frying the people''s souls.


    "You demons¡ªis this the sort of inhumane act that you get up to while trapped in the abyss? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    When the horse-headed humanoid saw that Xiao Nanfeng had no fear of them whatsoever, they grinned.


    "An Immortal. He''s an Immortal! Quick, grab him!"


    "Haha, thank the Yanluo Lords above! He''s a great addition to our feast!"


    "Catch him! I want to eat him!"


    The horse-headed humanoids rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng with glee.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed as he struck with his divine undying de, cleaving the foremost horse-headed humanoid in two. The others nched, finally realizing how dangerous he was. They drew their Immortal weapons and struck at him.


    A huge tempest formed above the city lord''s manor as Xiao Nanfeng shattered one Immortal relic after another, as well as the horse-headed humanoids'' bodies.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng sliced through all the chains leading out from the wok. The people immediately regained their freedom. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed the souls within the wok and freed them as well.


    "You don''t have much time. Your souls will dissipate if they''re out of your bodies for too long. Hurry up and get back into your bodies to save your lives!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Thank you, Sir!" countless souls eximed gratefully.


    They could sense their present weakness acutely. Without any hesitation, they rushed out of the manor. Many turned and looked back at Xiao Nanfeng, hoping to imprint the face of their savior in their memory.


    "Damn it, stop him!" the city lord howled.


    Many guards all across the manor shot over, all demons. However, they were far weaker than those cursed effigies that guarded the mouth of the abyss, and they were no match for Xiao Nanfeng.


    If Xiao Nanfeng weren''t afraid of harming the souls of the ordinary people, he would long since have activated his deific domain and frozen the cursed effigies whole.


    The cursed effigies weren''t particrly strong; they were Human Immortals at best. Xiao Nanfeng wreaked havoc throughout the city.

 Chapter 416: Flames of Karma

    <h4>Chapter 416: mes of Karma</h4>


    The horse-headed humanoids were repeatedly killed by Xiao Nanfeng even as they regenerated¡ªbut they did so far more slowly than Xiao Nanfeng killed them.


    "You''re all only at the level of Human Immortals. You should consider yourself honored that I''m using my yin body on the likes of you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted coolly.


    He transformed back into his physical body and sent out ten golden crows, each tearing apart the regenerating humanoids and burning them with facsimile srfire.


    "Facsimile srfire!"


    "No! Don''t burn me¡ªall the cursed spiritual power I''ve umted is being drained! How many people do I have to eat to gain so much spiritual power again?!"


    "Activate the wok, quickly!"


    The horse-headed humanoids were burnt to a crisp and unable to escape. They shrieked.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng felt a prick of danger to his back. He whirled around to see countless chains from the wok heading straight for him.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, striking at it with his palm.


    With a bang, the soul-stealing chains shattered in an explosion.


    Suddenly, even more ming chains emerged from the wok, somehow passed through his palm technique, and hooked onto his body.


    "What sinister mes..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    With a wave of his hand, the ten golden crows flew back into his body. He was just about to transform back into his yin body when he was dragged into the wok.


    One horse-headed humanoidughed. "Haha, we seeded!"


    "This human can''t be a cultivator from the Netherworld Pce. He must have snuck in from outside¡ªotherwise, there''s no way he''d be this strong!"


    "What do we do now? Report it?"


    "That''s a delicacy at Yin Body, and we caught him together. Why should we report it and give up on a treat like him? His golden crows consumed a great deal of our cursed spiritual power. Shouldn''t we try to get some of it back?"


    "Right, let''s eat him!"


    The horse-headed humanoids all came to an ord.


    Meanwhile, the moment Xiao Nanfeng was dragged into the wok, he was surrounded by mes.


    But would Xiao Nanfeng be afraid of fire? He immediately stopped trying to transform into his yin body. He stood submerged in the mes with his physical body, weing it. The mes were unusually sinister; they scorched his physical body, and he was only able to get rid of the pain by absorbing the mes as quickly as he could.


    "What strange mes. Golden crows, emerge!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    With a caw, the ten golden crows emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s body and began to absorb all the mes into themselves. Xiao Nanfeng confirmed that, despite how strange they were, the golden crows could absorb them and grow stronger as a result.


    "Well,d?" the horse-headed humanoids called out from a space beyond.


    "What manner of me is this? Why is it so sinister?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted back.


    With the wok sizzling, the horse-headed humanoids couldn''t see what was going on inside.


    "Sinister? You must be trying to grit your teeth and bear its onught right now. This wok was forged from fragments of the eighteenyers of hell and bears the naturalw of hell itself. The mes of karma that it produces will burn your physical body and temper your soul. Even a Heaven Immortal''s physical body would burn away, leaving their soul to be roasted over the mes. You''re dead meat,d!" one horse-headed humanoid crowed.


    "What a domineering me..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He wanted to mention how interesting it felt to absorb the mes, but ultimately resisted that temptation.


    "Domineering? Haha, I bet you''re in great pain right now! Once your physical body burns to a crisp and starts on your yin body, you''ll beg for us to kill you. Just you wait, haha!"


    Xiao Nanfeng grew silent. He ignored the horse-headed humanoids as he focused intently on absorbing the mes of karma.


    "He''s not saying anything. Could his yin body already be burned to a crisp?"


    "It can''t be. The mes of karma won''t destroy his yin body, only bring him immense, neverending pain for eternity. He must be bearing with that torture right now."


    "When can we eat him?"


    "Once his physical body''s all gone, and his yin body''s been burned to the point that his mind''s wavering.


    "Got it!"


    The horse-headed humanoids fed their cursed spiritual energy into the wok in anticipation.


    Within the wok, the ten golden crows furiously absorbed the mes all around them. Potent though the mes of karma might be, they were hardly more domineering than quintessential srfire, which could master all manner of fire in the world.


    Two hours passed just like that.


    The horse-headed humanoids standing around the wok felt as though something was amiss.


    "He really has amazing willpower, doesn''t he? He''s not even screaming yet!"


    "Something''s wrong. When I infused my cursed spiritual qi into the runes, it didn''t seem to be flowing as smoothly. It''s almost as though the runes are bing defunct."


    "The wok''s rumbling. Something''s wrong!"


    The horse-headed humanoids frowned as they tried to infuse more of their qi into the wok, but it was useless. The wok continued to shake more and more wildly as the runes of naturalw bound to it began to crack.


    "How could this be? The king himself forged this relic. How could it be broken?!"


    "Could it be thatd''s doing?"


    "Quick, bring him up! If the wok''s destroyed, our king will surely me us for it!"


    The horse-headed humanoids tried to pull Xiao Nanfeng out of the wok, only to have it explode violently. The horse-headed humanoids were sent flying.


    "The wok exploded? No, it can''t be!" the horse-headed humanoids cried out.


    The next moment, they saw Xiao Nanfeng seated cross-legged, his physical bodypletely undamaged. A domineering wave of me emerged from his body; the ten golden crows had grown one sizerger.


    "He''s even stronger than before!" one horse-headed humanoid cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "The eighth stage of a Human Immortal... my cultivation really is rising rather slowly, isn''t it?"


    "Run!" a horse-headed humanoid cried out.


    "Run? It''s toote for all of you. You might as well stay behind!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ten golden crows cawed and shot forward, swiping at the horse-headed humanoids with their sharp ws before burning them with facsimile srfire. The horse-headed humanoids shrieked in pain.


    "It hurts, it hurts! Guards, save us, hurry!"


    The demons all throughout the city,pletely covered up in armor, shot toward the city lord''s manor.


    "Do you demons think you can do anything? You might as well burn!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Several of the golden crows let go of the horse-headed humanoids and shot toward the gathered demons. They tore them to shreds and burned the rest with facsimile srfire; their armor disintegrated as they shrieked.


    The demons were just cursed ves without any of the special characteristics of cursed effigies. Their bodies burned in true death, without any chance of resurrection.


    The fighting that had taken ce outside the city lord''s manor a few hours ago had already caught the attention of the entire city. They saw ten small suns zing into the air and wrecking much of the infrastructure around the manor. As the dust settled, however, the ten suns likewise vanished¡ªthat was when Xiao Nanfeng had first been sucked into the wok.


    Meanwhile, the souls that had been extracted from the people finally made their way back into their original bodies.


    "Father, how did youe back to life?"


    "Mother, didn''t you die? You''re back!"


    Cries of excitement and surprise rang out all over the city.


    Those who had just returned to life shuddered in fear. "It''s the city lord and the cursed deities. They''re demons here to eat our souls!"


    "A human demon fought them off and saved us all."


    "The only reason we died at forty-five was because the cursed deities sucked our souls away!"


    As countless people returned to life, they exined all that they had seen. The people gasped, some in fear, some in hatred.


    Quickly, another explosion engulfed the city lord''s manor, causing tempests to form all over the city. Many buildings copsed as the people screamed, but even so, all their attention was drawn to the manor. They saw ten golden crows wreaking havoc everywhere as the horse-headed humanoids were immted by the golden crows.


    "Those suns must be that human demon''s magic. He''s taking down the cursed deities!"


    "What strength! None of the cursed deities can do anything against him!"


    "No¡ªthe guards all over the city are flying over! Ah, that guard''s armor was burned to a crisp. A demon was within this entire time!"


    "The cursed deities have been watching over us with these demons. They''ve been going for our souls this entire time!"


    "Sir Human Demon, you have to win!"


    Countless people looked toward the city lord''s manor in fear, shock, and hope.


    Very quickly, all the demons were burned to death, and the ruins of the city lord''s manor slowly settled down. All that was left were a few shrieking cursed deities.


    "Sir Human Demon won!" The people looked at each other in relief.


    Within the city, when Yang San learned of what had happened from his resurrected neighbors, he shouted, "I brought that human demon into the city! His name is Xiao Nanfeng!"

 Chapter 417: The Cultivators Alliance

    <h4>Chapter 417: The Cultivators'' Alliance</h4>


    Outside the city of Wuliu, in a hidden patch of forest, two cultivators were skulking about and watching what was happening within Wuliu.


    "What are we doing here? Could that ck smoke fromst night have something to do with Wuliu?" one of them asked.


    "I''m worried that these cursed effigies havee up with another strategy for dealing with us. Let''s keep an eye out for a little longer so we have something to report back to the alliance," the other cultivator said.


    "Damn it, the corpse-oil rain in Wuliu is starting again. The soul-stealing chains are about to get to work. The forty-five-year-olds are done for!"


    "We''re no match for those cursed effigies. We can''t do anything. Do we have to pretend that we haven''t seen it at all?"


    The two cultivators sighed as they saw a figure fly into the city lord''s manor. Then, the sound of fighting could be heard from afar.


    "Another cultivator?"


    "A cultivator? From where? How could he be making such a fuss?"


    "For him to be able to take on those Immortal-realm cursed effigies, he must be an Immortal in his own right. Could he havee from aboveworld?"


    The two cultivators watched on quietly, but themotion swiftly died down.


    "That cultivator''s done for. Whoever it was must have been unaware of just how dangerous the Netherworld Pce is..."


    The two cultivators sighed. Two hourster, themotion reappeared.


    Ten golden crows, like ten suns, shot through the air. Countless guards attempted to strike them down, but the ten golden crows eventually won out.


    "That Immortal''s winning!"


    "The demons all around the city have shot over to the city lord''s manor. What frightening golden crows. Their feathers are like an array of divine swords, their ws like Immortal relics. And does this me counter the demons'' regeneration?"


    "How could this Immortal be so strong?"


    The two cultivators, gobsmacked, flew into the air. They saw that Xiao Nanfeng had not only taken down the gathered demons, but even the cursed effigies as well. Everything was melting within a roaring inferno of mes.


    None of the horse-headed humanoids had managed to escape; he had caught them all.


    "This is incredible. How could this Immortal be so strong?" one of them said.


    "Go on. Let''s greet our senior," the other replied.


    The two cultivators flew into the city.


    By the time they flew into the city lord''s manor, it was already surrounded by arge group of civilians. They were bowing along the outskirts of the manor, not daring to get too close. Within the ruins of the city lord''s manor, a huge blood peach tree had blossomed.


    The horse-headed humanoids had all been split apart. The blood peach tree''s roots thrust into them, as though forcibly draining essence from their entire bodies.


    "Junior Wang Chuan greets his senior!"


    "Junior Chen Wang greets his senior!"


    The two cultivators bowed respectfully to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the two of them in some confusion. "You''re both cultivators? What are you doing here?"


    "I was an official of Fengdu forty years ago when I was dragged into the abyss by demons. I was fortuitously able to escape and have since be a member of the cultivators'' alliance."


    "I was once a guard of Fengdu thirty-eight years ago when I was dragged into the abyss. I too managed to escape from the demons and have be a member of the cultivators'' alliance."


    "Wang Chuan and Chen Wang, you say? You''re both from the Immortal city of Fengdu? That''ll save me quite a bit of work, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Might we ask who you are, Senior?"


    "I''m Xiao Nanfeng. Before I entered the abyss, I was the acting city lord of Fengdu."


    The two cultivators nced at each other and bowed once more. "We greet City Lord Xiao!"


    "No need for courtesy. I''ve only been the acting city lord for a month. Tell me about the situation in the abyss."


    The two cultivators nced at the cursed effigies underneath the blood peach tree and saw that their cursed bodies were swiftly turning dry and parched. They shuddered in fear.


    "There''s no need to worry. The blood peach tree is an ally," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" The two cultivators sighed in relief.


    "City Lord Xiao, you must have seen what was going on within the city of Wuliu. The people here are all being reared by the cursed effigies. They''ve lived here for a hundred thousand years¡ªthousands of generations reaped by these soul-stealing chains."


    "I''ve seen it. What''s all this about your cultivators'' alliance? Are you the ''human demons'' that the people talk about?"


    "We are. Those of us cultivators who have managed to survive the demons'' assault banded together to form an alliance, assisting each other in times of need. The cursed effigies call us human demons to frighten the people and prevent them from interacting with us."


    "Oh?"


    "This ce is ruled by cursed effigies. There are countless potent cursed effigies in here, each loyal to the Yanluo Lord they serve. I heard that this ce used to be divided into ten domains until a hundred years ago, when the Snake Yanluo and the Dragon Yanluo escaped. Eight Yanluo Lords remained, each with their own unique ss of cursed effigies. They waged war with each other for territory and people. We cultivators were no match for them. Our souls are stronger than those of regr humans, which make us delicacies for cursed effigies. If we were to show ourselves, they would swarm us within moments. That''s why we have no choice but to live our life in the shadows."


    "Have you seen this woman? Her name is Lady Yaoguang." Xiao Nanfeng sketched out an image of her with his qi.


    The two cultivators nced at each other before shaking their heads. "No, we haven''t."


    "I came in search of her. Would you be willing to contact all the members of your cultivators'' alliance to search for her whereabouts? I guarantee I''ll bring whoever finds her out of this hidden realm," Xiao Nanfeng pledged.


    "Out of this hidden realm? City Lord Xiao, you can bring people out with you? Could you be a Heaven Immortal?"


    "Must you be a Heaven Immortal to make it out?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Not necessarily, but there are always arge number of Earth Immortal cursed effigies garrisoned by the mouth of the abyss. Ordinary Earth Immortals would be easy prey for them, and the Yanluo Lords frequently make appearances there as well. Unless you''re a Heaven Immortal, you won''t be able to make it out."


    "Then there''s no need to worry. I was able to take down the cursed effigies by the mouth of the abyss alone when I entered, so leaving shouldn''t be a problem."


    The two cultivators nced at each other in shock. He was able to take downrge swathes of Earth Immortals by himself¡ªdidn''t that mean he was a Heaven Immortal? A Heaven Immortal would surely be able to bring a few people out if they were lucky...


    "City Lord Xiao, we''ve been in the abyss for decades. We don''t know what has happened to our families. Please bring us out. We''re willing to pledge allegiance to you!" the two cultivators begged.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at them thoughtfully. "You may apany me out."


    "Thank you, City Lord Xiao!"


    "Now, please help me contact the cultivators of your alliance. Not only will I pledge to guide cultivators who find Lady Yaoguang out, I''ll even provide them with Immortal relics."


    "Of course. We cultivators would do anything to get out of here, City Lord Xiao!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Wang Chuan rushed off in search of cultivators from the alliance, while Chen Wang remained as aide to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the cursed effigies, who had been left in such a weakened state that they were essentially at death''s door. Xiao Nanfeng had requested that the blood peach tree not drain thempletely.


    "Cursed effigies, have you seen this woman?" Xiao Nanfeng manifested Lady Yaoguang''s image once more.


    "Lad, do you think you can threaten us? We''re cursed effigies who will regenerate even if we die. Once our king finds out about this, we''ll be avenged. You''re dead meat!"


    "Even if we had seen this woman, we''d never tell you about her!" The horse-headed humanoids bared their teeth at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "In that case, there''s no need to leave any of you around," Xiao Nanfeng dered. He turned toward the blood peach tree. "Please enjoy them, Senior."


    "We''ll regenerate. We''lle back to take revenge!" one horse-headed cultivator cried out fiercely.


    The blood peach tree absorbed their vitality at maximum strength. Within moments, they had vanished. The blood peach tree likewise teleported back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mental world.


    Only when the blood peach tree had vanished did the people approach from beyond the ruins that had once been the city lord''s manor. Those at the forefront were naturally those whose souls had just returned to their bodies.


    "Thank you for saving our lives, sir!" They bowed down and kowtowed in gratitude.


    "There''s no need for such courtesy, everyone. Soon, there''ll be cultivatorsing to exin everything and to impart basic cultivation techniques to you, just in case," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood, sir. Thank you, sir!"


    Not longter, Wang Chuan returned with a group of cultivators. Many didn''t dare to believe that someone would have the guts to take down one of the cursed effigies'' cities. Wasn''t this Xiao Nanfeng fellow afraid of retaliation from the cursed effigies'' armies?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s strength caused them all to grow excited. Even if they weren''t able to escape, with such a strong cultivator in their ranks, the entire alliance would be safer for it.


    They greeted Xiao Nanfeng within the city of Wuliu and rapidly familiarized themselves with each other.


    "Everyone, I must find Lady Yaoguang urgently. Please help me inform all the cultivators of your alliance about her, and pass word to me immediately if there''s any information. I promise that I will bring those who aid me out of the Netherworld Pce."


    "Don''t worry, City Lord Xiao. We''ll let everyone know immediately," the gathered cultivators promised.


    "Furthermore, I''ve brought a few subordinates and friends into the abyss with me. We were separated when the cursed effigies we took down triggered an assault from Heaven''s Hand. Please search for them as well," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    He then manifested images of Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu and hisckeys.


    "Understood!" the cultivators said.


    Then, in the discussion that followed, Xiao Nanfeng gained an understanding of the Netherworld Pce.


    "The ten Yanluo Lords have each established their own domains¡ªand you im that each domain consists of many human-rearing cities like this, each with a soul-stealing artifact?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. We frequently overhear the cursed effigies mentioning to each other that these artifacts are forged from the eighteenyers of hell and all have the ability to gather souls. Because eachyer of hell is different, however, each city''s soul-stealing artifact is different."


    "Are there more of the woks found in the city of Wuliu?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There are! We know of four such cities in all: Wusan, Wuliu, Wujiu, and Wushi," another cultivator replied.


    "Good. Would you be willing to lead the way?"


    "Where do you want to go, City Lord Xiao?"


    "I want the three remaining woks, so I intend on taking down the cities of Wusan, Wujiu, and Wushi." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The other cultivators gaped at him. None of them would ever dream of actively attempting to seize control of the cursed effigies'' cities.

 Chapter 418: The Imposing Avatar of Rulai

    <h4>Chapter 418: The Imposing Avatar of Ri</h4>


    Outside the city of Wusan, a group of cultivators nced at the ten suns in the sky in shock. The ten suns resolved into ten golden crows that were wreaking havoc within the city.


    "This is the domain of the Netherworld Pce! How dare an outsider like you cause such trouble!"


    "Inform the king immediately. He has to die!"


    The horse-headed humanoids within the city were in an uproar as the golden crows tore them and the demons apart.


    "The city''s safe now. Everyone,e over!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The cultivators flew into the city to see that the city lord''s manor in Wusan had be a pile of ruins. The blood peach tree was busy devouring the cursed effigies as the civilians shuddered in fear and panic.


    "Pacify the people and guard me," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng submerged himself within the wok, absorbing the karmic me with his body and his ten golden crows.


    Two hourster, the wok exploded. His body brimmed with me and released a burst of energy all around him.


    "The ninth stage of the Human Immortal realm!" Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath as he opened his eyes.


    "City Lord Xiao, are you using this wok to... cultivate?" a cultivator asked in shock.


    "I am. Please have someone pacify the people of this city, impart them with basic cultivation techniques, and tell them the truth. If possible, please maintain order here for the moment. I''m headed to the next city now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Ah, understood!" the cultivators replied, still gaping in surprise.


    The blood peach tree easily absorbed all the horse-headed humanoids present and retreated into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    In the city of Wujiu, Xiao Nanfeng took down another city''s worth of cursed effigies. This time, however, the karmic mes within the wok weren''t sufficient to induce another breakthrough,


    but he didn''t mind. Guided by a group of cultivators, he headed straight for the city of Wushi.


    Outside Wushi, one cultivator stepped forward and bowed. "City Lord Xiao, this is where the final wok is located."


    "Thanks for your hard work. It''ll be dangerous within the city, soe join me only after I''ve dealt with them all."


    "With you around, City Lord Xiao, there won''t be any danger. It may be better if we were to join you right away. If there''s too much of amotion, we''d be able to split up and protect the people," one cultivator suggested.


    They had grown noticeably bolder after seeing the carnage that Xiao Nanfeng had wrought.


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng ushered the cultivators into Wushi.


    They were discovered by a group of cursed effigies within moments.


    "Oh? You human demons dare to invade our city? You must have a death wish!" The cursed effigies cackled as they shot toward the cultivators.


    The ten golden crows flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s body, their feathers slicing apart the cursed effigies headed toward him.


    "What? These golden crows are each at the peak of the Human Immortal realm. City Lord, we need your assistance!" the cursed effigies who had been cut down cried out.


    Then, another horse-headed humanoid shot into the air andunched a huge palm strike that covered heaven and earth. It was far stronger than any of the other attacks that the cursed effigies hadunched to date.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and shed down with his sword.


    The de cut apart the palm strike, but Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying back from the impact.


    "What? That horse-headed humanoid managed to block City Lord Xiao''s attack?!" a cultivator eximed.


    The horse-headed cultivator flew over, his face cold. "What incredible strength¡ªa Human Immortal can produce the strength of an Earth Immortal?"


    "You''re an Earth Immortal cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "That''s right¡ªand you''re only a Human Immortal. You haven''t yet forged your Immortal body, and you''re no match for me in strength. I''ll give you one chance to surrender if you want a painless death. Otherwise, I''ll make you wish you were dead!" the Earth Immortal horse-headed humanoid threatened.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. The ten golden crows flew back into his body as he transformed into his yin body.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Didn''t you hear me? Do you think you can kill me?" the horse-headed humanoid shed forward, longsword in hand.


    With a boom of energy, his longsword was obliterated and its wielder cut in half.


    "Impossible! You''re at the peak of Yin Body as well?!" the two halves of the horse-headed humanoid eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s follow-up shes chopped the Earth Immortal horse-headed humanoid into fragments.


    Then, the blood peach tree appeared and stabbed these fragments with its roots as it began to devour him.


    Xiao Nanfeng returned to his physical body and sent the ten golden crows throughout the city.


    The cultivators following him gaped at the ease with which he had taken down the Earth Immortal cursed effigy. They were increasingly confident that Xiao Nanfeng would surely be able to lead them out of the Netherworld Pce.


    Very quickly, the horse-headed humanoids and demons of Wushi were all ughtered.


    "Just like before, inform and pacify the people, teach them basic cultivation techniques, and guard me," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng again submerged himself within a wok as he absorbed the karmic mes thaty within. There was no bottleneck in his cultivation; he simply needed an incredible wealth of resources to advance.


    Two hourster, the wok exploded as Xiao Nanfeng''s body released a burst of ming energy.


    "The tenth stage of the Human Immortal realm¡ªI''ve reached the peak of a Human Immortal!" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes as he took a deep breath.


    Just then, the blood peach tree appeared before him and formed words with scattered peach blossoms. "Xiao Nanfeng, as thanks for the cursed effigies you''ve provided me, I''m willing to impart you a technique to forge an invincible Immortal body. Do you want it?"


    "What technique, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He was at the peak of the Human Immortal realm and soon to be an Earth Immortal, which would require forging an Immortal body. An Immortal body would significantly augment his defenses, and his physical body alone would be as strong as a qi barrier.


    The stronger the forging technique, the more resilient the resulting Immortal body would be. Xiao Nanfeng had prepared a technique for himself, but he was curious as to just what the blood peach tree could provide.


    "Hand me an empty jade tablet," the blood peach tree wrote out.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately passed an empty jade tablet to the blood peach tree.


    The blood peach tree grabbed the jade tablet with its branches, then infused cursed spiritual energy into it. Then, it returned the tablet to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This technique is known as the Imposing Avatar of Ri. It is impervious to the elements and to tribtion; it is the ultimate body-forging technique of the Buddhist sects," the blood peach tree introduced.


    "Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed gratefully.


    The blood peach tree shook before retreating into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent his spiritual power into the jade tablet, whereupon he was met with an arcane technique.


    He sat cross-legged in meditation as he contemted the manual that the blood peach tree had provided. Indeed, the Imposing Avatar of Ri was a peerless technique that would provide resistance against all manner of external phenomena. It was far stronger than the technique he had prepared for himself.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''tmit to the technique just yet. He reached out to ck Lotus. "Senior, I have a technique here that I''d like you to peruse. Would you tell me if there''s anything wrong with it?"


    "Very well," the ck lotus wrote.


    Xiao Nanfeng transcribed the manual for the Imposing Avatar of Ri into his mindscape.


    The ck lotus considered it carefully. "The Imposing Avatar of Ri? This is the ultimate body-forging technique of the Buddhist sects. The strongest cultivators of the Buddhist sects have all studied this technique, which forges them into a new Ri, a new Buddha, hegemon of the world."


    "Truly? Is the technique that powerful?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The ck lotus continued, "The manual consists of thirteen volumes in all, but what you''ve transcribed is only the first twelve volumes. One is missing."


    "Is it an iplete technique?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Allow me to furnish thest volume."


    The ck lotus wrote out the final volume in full in its signature ck light.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the addition carefully, then asked, "Without this final volume, would my Immortal body have been open to possession?"


    The ck lotus replied, "There is no Immortal body in this world that is immune to possession, but the difficulty in doing so can vary considerably. The full Imposing Avatar of Ri naturally has precautions against possession, but this final volume is the crux against it. Without it, you would indeed be more easily possessed."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded thoughtfully. He inhaled deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder."


    The ck lotus vanished in a puff. All was silent once more


    as Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes. He nced at the jade tablet in his hand and took a deep breath. "Senior, this technique is truly incredible. Allow me to thank you again."


    Peach blossoms fluttered to the ground. "Good that it suits you."


    "Of course, Senior. I intend to cultivate it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very good," the peach blossoms wrote out.


    Xiao Nanfeng then turned to the gathered cultivators. "Are you aware if there are any particrly potent or domineering sources of fire within this abyss?"


    "Special me? Like the karmic me in the woks? I know of one," a cultivator volunteered.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I once overheard the cursed effigies talking among themselves. They said that the sea of karmic me wasposed entirely of concentrated karmic me," the cultivator continued.


    "The sea of karmic me?" Xiao Nanfeng prompted.


    The cultivator nodded. "The eighteenyers of hell are each distinct. These wok artifacts contain karmic me scattered throughout the underworld. The Horse Yanluo obtained four small fragments of karmic me when the eighteenyers of hell shattered, which he forged into four woks. The Dragon Yanluo managed to obtain considerably more such fragments, which were then forged into a sea of karmic me."


    "Where is it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s within what used to be the Dragon Yanluo''s territory. When the Dragon Yanluo left the abyss with subordinates in tow, that territory was divided up by the remaining Yanluo Lords. It''s guarded by the subordinates of each Yanluo Lord and is particrly dangerous," the cultivator warned.


    "That doesn''t matter. Take me there," Xiao Nanfeng requested.

 Chapter 419: Sea of Karmic Flame

    <h4>Chapter 419: Sea of Karmic me</h4>


    A dayter, a group of cultivators brought Xiao Nanfeng to a forested region overlooking a huge valley down below.


    In the sky above the valley, a blood-colored cloud slowly revolved as it gave off an aura of frightening strength.


    There were a few camps garrisoned along the periphery of the valley. All manner of cursed effigies were represented: horse-, ox-, rabbit-, and monkey-headed humanoids all ncing at each other warily as they peered into the valley from time to time.


    The valley was molten and filled with mes. ming dragons seemed to swim across the valley, barely visible amidst the ming backdrop.


    "So this is the sea of karmic me?"


    "It is," one cultivator verified. "I once overheard the cursed effigies state that this is where the Dragon Yanluo''s Yanluo Court used to be. The blood-colored cloud above it is a cloud of annihtion."


    "Why is it called that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I heard that the cloud of annihtion was a cloud of naturalw that the heavens manifested above the Netherworld Pce, intending to kill all the cursed effigies within. The Yanluo Lords worked together to fend off that cloud and ensure that the cursed effigies could survive. There''s such a cloud above each Yanluo Court."


    "Oh?"


    "Allegedly, about a century ago, when the Dragon Yanluo escaped from the Netherworld Pce with subordinates in tow, it brought its Yanluo Court with it¡ªbut not its cursed avatar."


    "So the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar is in here?"


    "I heard that it hid its cursed avatar within this sea of karmic me. All the other Yanluo Lords want to seize it for themselves, but any cursed effigy who enters the sea of karmic me will be killed by that cloud of annihtion. That''s why they simply have guards stationed around the area without daring to step within themselves."


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I suspect that the cloud of annihtion wouldn''t be able to kill any of the Yanluo Lords, but it could wound them to a serious enough degree that the other Yanluo Lords would be able to scheme against the victim. All of them are wary of each other; none want to be taken advantage of. That''s why this stalemate has continued for so long. They''re guarding against each other as they await an opportunity to strike.


    "That''s very possible," the cultivator replied, nodding.


    "Haven''t the Yanluo Lords thought of any other strategies?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "They''ve caught some cultivators from our alliance and forced us to enter the valley in search of the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, but even Heaven Immortals can''tst against karmic me for long. All the cultivators from our alliance who have entered died there," the cultivator replied bitterly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "In that case, the cloud of annihtion only targets cursed effigies? That''s excellent news."


    "City Lord Xiao, are you intending to descend? It''s likely far more dangerous in there than within the woks that you''ve absorbed..."


    "It matters not. The rest of you should stay farther away when you observe, however."


    "Got it." The cultivators nodded with some trepidation.


    They retreated by slow increments until Xiao Nanfeng finally nodded, certain they would be safe. He bolted toward the sea of karmic me.


    With a whoosh, he shot forward like a beam of light straight into the valley.


    "What''s that?!" a cursed effigy cried out from afar.


    The cursed effigies all looked over, but Xiao Nanfeng was simply too fast. He fell into the sea and vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.


    "It looked like a human..."


    "You must be going blind. Who would jump into the sea of karmic me? There are far easier and less painful ways ofmitting suicide!"


    "If it''s not a person, then what could it be?"


    "How should I know? Search around the vicinity!"


    The cursed effigies immediately began their search, but all the cultivators had long since retreated. Frowning, they looked back at the sea of karmic me and confirmed that there were no cries to be heard. Then, they looked up at the cloud of annihtion and saw that it hadn''t reacted at all.


    The cursed effigies frowned. The most likely exnation was that some huge boulder had somehow flown straight into the sea of karmic me. They chalked it off as a minor incident and didn''t investigate further.


    Deep within the sea of karmic me, Xiao Nanfeng found himself submerged in fire.


    Although the surface of the sea only filled a valley, its interior was farrger. Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he was within a huge world of me, with the horizon nowhere to be seen.


    "How am I supposed to find the Dragon Yanluo''s body within such a huge space? It''d be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack¡ªand this sea of mes was formed from the remnant fragments of the eighteenyers of hell! Just how strong was the underworld in the past?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself.


    He quickly began to cultivate.


    The Imposing Avatar of Ri required an immense wealth of resources, which was thergest bottleneck in his cultivation by far¡ªbut this sea of karmic me provided all the resources he would need. Within moments, he was forcibly extracting the mes from his surroundings and using them to forge an invincible Immortal body.


    Ten golden crows emerged from his body, furiously absorbing the mes from the valley like ten ck holes in miniature.


    Back in the city of Wuliu, the members of the cultivators'' alliance temporarily took control over the city and began to impart cultivation techniques to the people. The people of the city were overjoyed to be learning about these techniques that would confer longevity and had long been kept from them.


    Just then, a white-robed man slowly flew into the city, one of the Heaven Immortals working under Yin Tianci.


    "To think Xiao Nanfeng was able to cause such a huge disturbance in just a few days. He ughtered a whole city''s worth of cursed effigies? How brave he is," the white-robed man sneered.


    "Who are you?" Sensing that something was amiss, one cultivator immediately flew over.


    The white-robed man asked, "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "You know City Lord Xiao?" the cultivator asked in surprise.


    "City Lord Xiao? He must be obsessed with being a city lord if he''s still calling himself that down here. He''s an insolent fool!" the white-robed man replied disdainfully.


    The cultivator frowned upon seeing that the white-robed man had misunderstood his words. It was clear from his response that he was no friend of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Might I ask how to address you, Senior?" the cultivator asked carefully.


    "You have no right to question me. Have Xiao Nanfeng step forward," the white-robed man replied.


    By then, many cultivators within the city had heard themotion. They rushed forward to get a sense of what was going on. One cultivator stepped forward. "Senior, City Lord Xiao has left the city. We don''t know where he is now."


    "You dare lie to me? Die!" The white-robed man pointed at the cultivator who had just spoken.


    A beam of white light shot out of his fingertips and pierced through the man''s head.


    "Senior Brother!" The other cultivators gasped, then drew their weapons.


    "I''ve had to search through far too many cities before I found a hint as to Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts. For lying to me and helping him hide himself, I''ll kill you all!" the white-robed man eximed.


    The cultivators nced at each other. They could guess that the white-robed man was Xiao Nanfeng''s enemy, and had to have at leastparable strength.


    "Let''s go!" one cultivator decided.


    The cultivators began to flee.


    "Have I given permission for all of you to leave?" the white-robed man demanded.


    A fearsome storm arose around his body, forming a huge field of force that suppressed the cultivators and prevented them from moving.


    "An Immortal! Could he be an Earth Immortal?"


    "No¡ªan Earth Immortal wouldn''t have such a potent aura. Could he be..."


    "A Heaven Immortal?!"


    The cultivators nced at each other in shock.


    "Let''s start a roll call, shall we? I''ll kill any of you who profess ignorance as to Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts!" The white-robed manughed coldly.

 Chapter 420: The Dragon Yanluos Cursed Spiritual Avatar

    <h4>Chapter 420: The Dragon Yanluo''s Cursed Spiritual Avatar</h4>


    A dayter, outside the sea of karmic me, a group of cursed effigies were discussing something.


    "Am I blind, or has the sea of karmic me shrunk?"


    "You must be blind. This is only the surface of the sea, and the space within is incrediblyrge and filled with fire. How could the entrance have shrunk?"


    "No, it has grown smaller! And the mes within seem to have dimmed as well."


    "Do you hear that? Isn''t that... scripture?"


    The cursed effigies gaped at each other.


    Deep within the sea of karmic me, Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged, ten suns orbiting around his body. He was like a huge ck hole devouring the karmic me in his vicinity. A golden Buddha was manifesting around his body, itself absorbing the mes as it released blinding beams of light. The sound of religious chanting could be heard all around him, as though in ritual prayer to the statue of Buddha he now personified.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes and considered the Buddha statue before frowning. His eyes grew cold as he punched forward, shattering the manifestation.


    "I cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri¡ªmy body evoking Ri''s form, not Ri''s form taking over my body. Manifest anew!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The fragments of the golden statue that had been shattered swiftly rbined in Xiao Nanfeng''s visage.


    The religious chanting continued, but had be dissonant and vigorous, like a call to arms in search of glory and brimming with vitality.


    The golden statue slowly sat cross-legged,bining with Xiao Nanfeng''s body to form a cohesive whole. At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng looked like a zing golden statue filled with all the energy of the mes he had condensed.


    The Imposing Avatar of Ri was an incredibly difficult technique to cultivate, but Xiao Nanfeng''s advancement in spiritual cultivation gave him the background he needed to do so rapidly. In just a day, he had already established the outline of his Immortal body. All that remained was to fill it in and reinforce it until it could take physical form.


    By then, he had consumed almost a tenth of the near-limitless sea of karmic me. Now that the outline was ready, however, he could afford to be less careful. What was important now was absorbing as much energy as quickly as he could.


    The rate at which he was absorbing the karmic mes suddenly increased tenfold. The mes surged toward him in a tempest.


    The sea of karmic me was very interesting; the space was formed from evoking naturalw. As the karmic mes diminished in volume, so too did the space within shrink.


    The entire sea of raging mes was being forged into Xiao Nanfeng''s Imposing Avatar of Ri.


    "This avatar truly requires an insane amount of energy. Without this sea of me, I wouldn''t have been able to manifest the avatar even if I had consumed the entirety of the Dazheng Empire''s resources..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, his eyes closed in meditation.


    After the majority of the day had passed, Xiao Nanfeng''s body suddenly glowed with golden mes. Then, everything halted.


    "The first stage of the Earth Immortal realm¡ªand I''ve sessfully begun forging my Immortal body!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed open.


    The mes and golden light on the surface of his body had vanished; all returned to normalcy. There didn''t seem to be any change to his physical body at all, but he found that he was unable to cut himself even with his strongest attack.


    The ten golden crows had all flown back into his body. The sea of karmic me had shrunk to such a pitiful extent that they wouldn''t fit in it.


    "Oh? What''s that?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    As the sea of karmic me shrank, a golden coffin appeared by the borders of the sea.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward it, having guessed its identity. He attempted to uncover the coffin immediately.


    The coffin had been sealed shut with fire-based techniques, but those were easy for him to deal with. He lifted a hand and absorbed the fire from the techniques until they vanished and the coffin popped open.


    He immediately pushed the lid aside, revealing a corpse within.


    The corpse was dressed in ck brocade with draconic motifs, a humanoid with a ck dragon''s head. It looked particrly imposing.


    "This must be the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    With a hum, the blood peach tree manifested out of nowhere. It formed words with its scattered blossoms. "Xiao Nanfeng, this cursed spiritual avatar is of particr value to me. I just presented you with the manual for the Imposing Avatar of Ri. Would you hand me this cursed spiritual avatar?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned inwardly. Was the blood peach tree here to try to im his spoils again?


    "Senior, I''m currently located within the Netherworld Pce, and I''ll have to face the Yanluo Lords in battle. I''m not strong enough to do so without external assistance just yet, and I have need of the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar as well. I''d be happy to present it to you once I''ve escaped from the abyss," Xiao Nanfeng replied diplomatically.


    "You intend to possess this cursed spiritual avatar?"


    "I do. Perhaps I would be able to take on the Yanluo Lords if I''m in control of the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar."


    "It''s a cursed effigy, while you''re a human. It''s easy for a cursed effigy to possess a human, but the reverse would kill you. Its cursed spiritual power will corrode yours."


    "Please let me have a try, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    The blood peach tree fell silent. As though unwilling to be divested of its prize, however, it watched on from the side as it waited for Xiao Nanfeng to make a fool of himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to consider the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    He knew that not all cursed spiritual avatars could be possessed¡ªhis divine undying de, for instance. Although it was a cursed king''s cursed spiritual avatar as well, all the cursed spiritual power within the de had been sealed. Possession was impossible; even if he could get his soul past the seal, he wouldn''t be able to manipte the power of the cursed spiritual avatar. Even the cursed spiritual power that the dragon-quelling spikes possessed were only sufficient to draw out a portion of that strength.


    However, the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar was different. The Dragon Yanluo''s body''s fundamental nature was paper, but it currently looked like a real body of flesh and blood, as though its owner was only sleeping. This meant that the cursed spiritual avatar''s cursed spiritual power wasn''tpletely sealed; there was plenty that was being siphoned to preserve the body as is. That energy he couldmand.


    Having made up his mind, Xiao Nanfeng transformed into his yin body and shot toward the Dragon Yanluo''s mindscape.


    He was suddenly knocked back, as though there were some power resisting his possession.


    The peach blossom wrote, "Before the Dragon Yanluo left, it must have secured its cursed spiritual avatar against possession. You should give up, Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Silver moon!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A silver moon appeared to the back of his head, shining intensely with white light. As the light struck the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar''s forehead, a mysterious rune spun into existence.


    The silver moon smashed into that rune, causing it to tremble. The barest of cracks appeared.


    The peach blossom gaped. "How did you do that? That''s a thousand-spirit divine seal! If your yin body were to touch it, it''d immediately dissipate. Even if you''re strong enough to withstand that, how could your moon be fine aftering into direct contact with it? Just what manner of spiritual cultivation do you have?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was unwilling to exin. "Senior, there are countless techniques in the world. Mine might be a little special, but it''s nothing in the grand scheme of things."


    He broke through the thousand-spirit divine seal and entered the Dragon Yanluo''s mindscape.


    The blood peach tree was silent upon witnessing this spectacle. It had been waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to retreat in failure, only to have been dumbstruck by his sess instead.


    As Xiao Nanfeng entered the Dragon Yanluo''s mindscape, he found himself mired in chaos. Cursed spiritual power surged toward his yin body like a tidal wave.


    Any other yin body might have been corroded to the point of fleeing,


    but Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power had been bolstered to a tremendous extent by his Body of Yin. Part of his spiritual power did start to decay, but it was certainly within the range of what he could replenish.


    He closed his eyes and considered the cursed spiritual avatar. As he had hoped, it was filled with limitless strength. He hadmandeered stronger bodies before, and he quickly grew ustomed to this new body.


    With an electrifying hum, the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar''s eyes opened as he stood up.


    The blood peach tree retreated, as though facing some incredible foe.


    The Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar stretched, flexed, and tested out Hegemon''s Fist a few times, then returned into the coffin. After that, Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body flew out of its mindscape.


    "You''re alright?"


    "There''s some decay where my yin body interacts with the cursed spiritual avatar''s mindscape, but it''s at an eptable level," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    He imed the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, along with its coffin, for himself.


    The blood peach tree had no choice but to give up on these spoils.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed back into his physical body. He nced at the few wisps of karmic me that remained, absorbing them all as the sea of karmic me popped. Some formation seemed to have shattered.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng was suddenly able to hear a series of shoutsing from beyond.


    "Something''s wrong. The mes of the sea of karmic me are vanishing rapidly!"


    "Has something happened to the sea? Who could have messed with it?"


    "Be careful!"


    The cursed effigies were all in a frenzy.


    As the final wisp of karmic me vanished, Xiao Nanfeng appeared within a pit in the valley.


    The pit was very strange. Although the bulk of the formations keeping the sea in ce had shattered, there was still the outline of a pce steeped in ck light left behind.


    "A human? How could that be?!"


    "Two days ago, he must have been the one who fell into the sea of karmic me! I was right!"


    "Has he devoured the sea?!"


    "No, he must have used some treasure or another. We have to catch and interrogate him!"


    The cursed effigies pointed at Xiao Nanfeng, their eyes glinting.


    "You''re making a big fuss. I''m right here. Why don''t youe get me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, smiling.


    "Get out of the Yanluo Court''s domain, then!" one cursed effigy called back.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked down at his feet, at the design of a Yanluo Court emzoned on the ground. It seemed like a special formation in its own right, and gave off the aura of a Yanluo Court.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered his situation carefully. "So this is what you''re afraid of? This is what''s connected to the cloud of annihtion?"


    "What do we do if he refuses toe out?"


    "Surround him. I''m sure he''ll have to step out eventually. Send a messenger to inform our king."


    "Right, he won''t be able to get away!"


    The cursed effigies grinned fiercely.


    "Don''t worry. Here Ie." Xiao Nanfeng stepped out of the pit with a smile.


    "What a fool! Take him down!" a cursed effigy shouted. The gathered cursed effigies all shot over.

 Chapter 421: The Heaven Immortals Assault

    <h4>Chapter 421: The Heaven Immortals'' Assault</h4>


    Upon seeing the cursed effigies charging over, Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Let me test out the strength of my Immortal body, then."


    His ten golden crows shot out of his body, each now massive in size. Their gold-burnished feathers were like divine armaments that slew all the cursed effigies at the front.


    "These golden crows are all Earth Immortals. They''re incredibly strong!"


    "He''s an Earth Immortal too. Quick, we have to attack!"


    The cursed effigies continued to charge toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    An ox-headed humanoid managed to block a golden crow''s attack.


    "An Earth Immortal cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    The next moment, amidst heated fighting, more Earth Immortal cursed effigies emerged to block the golden crows'' attacks. The remaining cursed effigies attacked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward, drawing his divine undying de.


    With one sh, he bisected an Earth Immortal.


    "What incredible power. We have to attack together!" the cursed effigies eximed.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng roared, shing madly around him with his de.


    His fighting spirit soared as he cut apart all foes who stood in his way, but there were quite a few Earth Immortal cursed effigies left. He was bound to miss one sooner orter; an Earth Immortal cursed effigy''s sword struck his back.


    The cursed effigy''s Immortal sword shattered.


    "What? How can this Immortal body be so potent?!" the cursed effigy eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated and cut him in half.


    Xiao Nanfeng, outnumbered one to a hundred, nevertheless seemed to have the advantage. Fragments of cursed effigies dissolved all around him.


    The blood peach tree suddenly appeared, its roots stabbing into the cursed effigies that Xiao Nanfeng took down. Some cursed effigies pursued it, but it was faster than they were.


    "He''s too strong. Inform the king immediately!"


    "This peach tree cursed effigy''s trying to absorb my cursed spiritual power!"


    "Damn it, we have to flee!"


    The cursed effigies were taken aback by Xiao Nanfeng''s strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng might be stronger than they were, but there was a limit to his strength. He was unable to prevent them from fleeing; at least half managed to get away in the blink of an eye.


    He sheathed his de once more and turned to the blood peach tree, who was stuffing its face with the fragments of cursed effigies that Xiao Nanfeng had left behind.


    A few moments ago, a group of cultivators who had been hiding in a nearby forest had been talking to each other.


    "It''s been almost two days since City Lord Xiao entered the sea of karmic me. Is he alright?"


    "Don''t curse him! Nothing''s going to happen to City Lord Xiao."


    The cultivators waited anxiously. Suddenly, they saw that the mes had vanished, revealing Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "City Lord Xiao devoured the entire sea of karmic me?! How could this be?"


    "If City Lord Xiao''s this strong, we made the right choice in bing his followers. Surely we''ll be able to make it out of the Netherworld Pce like this!"


    "We have to follow City Lord Xiao closely."


    The cultivators saw Xiao Nanfeng ughter the nearby cursed effigies as they whispered to each other. They gaped in shock and anticipation when they saw him take down arge group of them all at once.


    Suddenly, one cultivator''s eyes widened as she shouted, "City Lord Xiao, be careful!"


    Xiao Nanfeng had likewise sensed imminent danger. A threatening aura had enveloped his entire body. He immediately swung his de in the direction from which it came.


    A huge palm had suddenly appeared behind him.


    His de was flung back as he was sent flying. He smashed into the ground like a meteor, forming a huge pit on impact.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately climbed out and looked toward his assant in rage.


    A white-robed man was looking at his palm, seemingly unable to believe that Xiao Nanfeng had managed to survive his attack.


    "You? One of the Heaven Immortals working for the crown prince of Dayin?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The ten golden crows immediately flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s body as the blood peach tree nearby vanished from sight.


    The white-robed man nced at his palm once again before frowning at Xiao Nanfeng. "You really do possess arge number of secrets, don''t you? Even a peak Earth Immortal would have their Immortal body obliterated by my palm strike, and even an early-stage Human Immortal would have suffered a devastating blow. How could you be alright? Just what could your Immortal body be made of? What potent techniques do you have up your sleeve?"


    The white-robed man stared at Xiao Nanfeng with greed and malice.


    "Where are the rest of you?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Why? Am I not enough for you?" the white-robed man retorted coldly.


    "They aren''t here?"


    "With me around, what''s the point of having theme? His Highness is interested in your copper de, your imperial seal, and your Yanluo Court. All I have to do is hand him those three treasures. The rest of the secrets on your body¡ªthey''ll be mine." The white-robed man smiled.


    His body flickered out of sight as he struck at Xiao Nanfeng again.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced as he defended with his de, but he was sent flying once again. His divine undying de slipped out of his grip and far from reach.


    Xiao Nanfeng smashed into the ground. He simply couldn''t defend against a Human Immortal''s strength.


    "It looks like I''ve been too careful. You can''t use that de attack that killed Yin without any preparation, can you? How will you be able to resist without that de? An Earth Immortal simply can''t defeat a Heaven Immortal." The white-robed manughed as he shot over.


    He attacked swiftly, not giving Xiao Nanfeng any opportunity to rest. He again appeared before Xiao Nanfeng and unleashed a palm strike, sending him flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng crashed into the ground for a third time. A plume of dust formed all around him. The only reason he hadn''t been injured, even against a Heaven Immortal, was because of the strength of the Immortal body that he had cultivated.


    "Your Immortal body really is strong¡ªbut soon it''ll be mine. I have a spiritual cultivation technique designed specifically for interrogation. You''ll beg me to kill you by the time I''m done with you. I''ll make you reveal all your secrets, haha!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying time and again. The cultivators of the alliance, hidden in the distance, fretted.


    "Is that a Heaven Immortal? He''s simply too strong!"


    "He''s striking rapidly at City Lord Xiao, as though worried that he might be able to counterattack."


    "What should we do?"


    The cultivators watched on anxiously.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying time and again, he wasrgely uninjured. Even so, he would have to do something about it quickly. Strong though the Imposing Avatar of Ri was, essentially all its potency was in defense at the moment.


    Xiao Nanfeng crashed into the ruins of a mountain.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, it looks like you don''t have any trump cards up your sleeve. I''ll im your soul for myself, then!" The white-robed manughed as he shot into the ruins.


    Just then, a huge howl came from within, so loud that it shattered the boulders and rock fragments in the vicinity and formed a tempest. The white-robed man was sent flying far faster than when he entered.


    He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air as he stabilized himself, ncing at the dust emerging from the ruins in shock. "Impossible. Who are you?!"


    From within the ruins emerged a dragon-headed humanoid dressed in an emperor''s clothes, a crown on his head. A domineering aura suffused the air around him. He was the one who had sent the white-robed man flying.


    "That''s the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar!" one cultivator shouted from the forest in the distance.

 Chapter 422: Im Alright

    <h4>Chapter 422: I''m Alright</h4>


    "A dragon''s head, a human''s body, draconic robes and a crown¡ªis that really the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar?"


    "Is City Lord Xiao controlling the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar?!"


    The cultivators gaped as they came to an unbelievable conclusion.


    The dragon-headed humanoid slowly stepped forward and looked at the white-robed Heaven Immortal. "Indeed, it seems rather unfair to fight you as an Earth Immortal. In that case, I''ll do so as a Heaven Immortal."


    The dragon-headed humanoid shed into existence in front of the Heaven Immortal so quickly he was like a beam of light. The white-robed Heaven Immortal nched as he defended himself, only to be sent flying by dozens of punches.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" the white-robed Heaven Immortal eximed.


    "Indeed so."


    Another barrage of punches left the Heaven Immortal vomiting blood as he was flung back.


    The Heaven Immortal wasn''t weak, but his opponent was Xiao Nanfeng. The Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar was a tremendous boost in his strength.


    "Die!" The white-robed Heaven Immortal drew his sword and shed at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    His Immortal sword exploded as he was sent flying again.


    A one-sided flurry of attacks ensued, just like before but with their roles reversed. Xiao Nanfeng sent the Heaven Immortal flying time and again. His white robes were quickly drenched in blood. If he weren''t a Heaven Immortal, he would already have perished.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t think that you can do whatever you want just because you now possess the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. Possessing a cursed effigy will cause your own yin body to decay. You''ll suffer for this!" the white-robed Heaven Immortal thundered.


    "You don''t have to worry about me. You should think about saving yourself instead!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    The Heaven Immortal nched as he saw Xiao Nanfeng flying over. A thirty-meter-tall golden statue emerged out of nowhere, meeting Xiao Nanfeng''s fist with its own in a huge explosion that forced even Xiao Nanfeng back.


    "This is... a temple''s statue?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The thirty-meter-tall golden statue was of an arhat, his hands sped together and radiating a holy aura.


    The white-robed Heaven Immortal stood on the statue''s head as he continued to cough out blood. Then, he smiled. "Do you really think you''ll be able to do as you please just because you''ve taken over the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar? We made plenty of preparations for entering the Netherworld Pce. This treasure was meant to be used against the Yanluo Lords. I suppose I can test it out on you first."


    "Is this the arhat armor of the divine empire of Dayin?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "That''s right. Have a taste of its strength!"


    He sped his hands together just like the statue. His body somehow melded into the statue''s, causing it toe to life. A raging aura manifested around it.


    "Arhat armor¡ªthis is just a mecha, isn''t it? It''s been rumored that the divine empire of Dayin has a battalion of troops equipped with arhat armor, but they''re really just a group of Immortals fighting in mechas!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured inwardly.


    The golden arhat punched at him with a fist.


    Xiao Nanfeng counterattacked with a fist of his own. The resulting explosion unleashed a tremendous tempest as even the Dragon Yanluo''s avatar was forced back.


    "What incredible strength!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I''m no weaker than the Goat Yanluo was, am I? Even the Yanluo Lords, peak Heaven Immortals, won''t be able to do anything against me. Lad, you''re dead!" the golden arhat seethed.


    He shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s draconian avatar again.


    The draconian avatar''s strength seemedckingpared to the golden arhat''s. It was only because of the supremacy of Hegemon''s Fist that Xiao Nanfeng was able to keep from losing outright.


    His fists smashed into the golden arhat''s body with the nk of metal on metal, but he was unable to even cause a dent.


    "The arhat armor easily trumps a Heaven Immortal''s strength and can even kill cultivators beyond that level. Do you think you can break this armor? Dream on¡ªnow, die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was struck down and sent flying into a mountain range in the distance, causing it to copse.


    Xiao Nanfeng seethed in rage. How could he be on the losing end even after possessing this draconian avatar? This was no fun at all!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re done for now. No one will be able to save you, haha!"


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. "I suppose I only have one final recourse."


    He shot toward the pit which had hosted the sea of karmic me.


    "Trying to flee? Do you think you can seed?" The golden arhat gave chase with a smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng jumped into the pit and punched at the design of the Yanluo Court at the bottom of the pit. It exploded.


    The pit shuddered as a Yanluo Court seemed to manifest in the air, though it was only an illusion. It represented the energy that the Dragon Yanluo had invested in the formation meant to resist the cloud of annihtion in the air and vanquish all cursed effigies within¡ªall for the purpose of hiding its own cursed spiritual avatar.


    Now that Xiao Nanfeng had destroyed the formation, the naturalw that had been bound was unleashed once more.


    The cloud of annihtion was no longer trapped. It exploded in a howling tempest that caused heaven and earth to quake.


    Tremendous might rained down. A Heaven''s Hand appeared from within the cloud of annihtion, pressing down on thend.


    The golden arhat thought that the attack was headed straight for him. "No!" he shouted in fear.


    However, the Heaven''s Hand ignored him and shot off in another direction entirely.


    The golden arhat gaped. "It''s attacking Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The Heaven''s Hand, sensing the cursed spiritual power emanating from the draconian avatar, headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng. It seemed as though he had nowhere to flee.


    "Are you trying tomit suicide, Xiao Nanfeng?" the golden arhat eximed.


    He simply couldn''t understand what Xiao Nanfeng was trying to do.


    Naturally, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend tomit suicide. He hurriedly ran straight for the golden arhat.


    "Stay away!" the golden arhat shouted, punching at him with a fist.


    Xiao Nanfeng allowed the fist to strike him¡ªbut he wasn''t sent flying. He hugged the golden arhat''s fist tightly, refusing to let go.


    "Is this a kamikaze attack?!" the golden arhat eximed.


    Heaven''s Hand seized the golden arhat and the draconian avatar and held them both in its palm. Fearsome power was unleashed within the palm, shattering the draconian avatar and golden arhat simultaneously.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? You''d give your life just to kill me?!" the golden arhat screamed.


    Lightning shed within the palm of Heaven''s Hand. It was so intense that the draconian avatar and golden arhat began to crack. The cracks propagated quickly as the golden arhat screamed in despair. Any resistance was hopeless. The draconian avatar shattered into powder, as did the golden arhat. The Heaven Immortal within burst apart as he was struck by heavenly lightning.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng hid within the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    The Goat Yanluo''s Yanluo Court was also within the seal, and he would be able to sense how the seal was doing based on his link to Dazheng''s fortune. If even the seal was unable to survive Heaven''s Hand, he would sacrifice the Yanluo Court as a distraction.


    Fortunately, the Divine Seal of Dazheng was able to hold out against the heavenly tribtion. He didn''t have to do anything.


    After some time, when it seemed as though all themotion had finally subsided, he stepped out of his imperial seal.


    By then, the draconian avatar and the golden arhat had been smashed into smithereens. The Divine Seal of Dazheng hadnded right atop their ruined forms.


    Afar, a cloud of blood hovered in the air. Heaven''s Hand hadn''t vanished; it shot into the distant forests and crushed all the cursed effigies that had approached to investigate.


    When Heaven''s Hand struck, it destroyed the cursed effigies on a fundamental level, preventing them from regenerating at all. Those killed by Heaven''s Hand would suffer true death.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng seemed to sense something. The ruins shifted to reveal the corpse of a white-robed Heaven Immortal whose body had been mashed into meat paste. Even so, he wasn''tpletely dead. Out of a shattered jade pendant to the side of his body rose a Heaven Immortal''s yin body in an incredibly weak state.


    The Heaven Immortal who had been his opponent had managed to save his life, though at tremendous expense.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You aren''t dead?!" the yin body eximed in fear.


    "Why would I be dead?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    He squished the Heaven Immortal''s yin body in his palm.


    "How could you be alright? That can''t be. How could you have survived Heaven''s Hand intact? This is unfair!" the yin body howled.


    "Who said I''m alright? You ruined the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar that I just acquired."


    Just then, a flurry of paper fragments appeared from within the ruins to his feet. They gathered around the fragments of the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar and restored it to its original form, as though it had never taken any damage.


    The yin body: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Afar, Heaven''s Hand paused as it sensed a huge source of cursed spiritual power nearby.


    In rm, Xiao Nanfeng hastily stored the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar within his seal, isting it once again. Heaven''s Hand returned to ughtering the cursed effigies in the vicinity.


    "You''re right," Xiao Nanfeng replied, correcting himself. "I really did survive intact."


    The yin body: ...


    He was so enraged that he coughed out blood.

 Chapter 423: Barging into the Wu Capital

    <h4>Chapter 423: Barging into the Wu Capital</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng cleaned up the battlefield and reimed his divine undying de as he made to leave with the Heaven Immortal''s yin body in tow.


    The cultivators in the distance watched on, stupefied. Upon seeing that Xiao Nanfeng hadpletely won the fight, they jumped out of hiding.


    "City Lord Xiao, we''re right here!" they called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward them. "Let''s go!"


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    They flew off into the distance.


    Not too longter, entities of tremendous strength arrived. Heaven''s Hand, sensing their presence, shot toward them.


    "Something has happened here. Fellow Yanluo Lords, let''s split up this cloud of annihtion evenly and add it to our own Yanluo Courts'' control," one of them suggested.


    "Very well!" the other Yanluo Lords replied.


    The Yanluo Lords struck simultaneously, tearing apart the blood-colored cloud of annihtion. Heaven''s Hand dissipated¡ªbut the blood-colored cloud began to resonate, as though preparing for a stronger blow.


    "We''ll be escorting the pieces of this cloud back to our capitals. The rest of you, scour this area and figure out what happened!" the Yanluo Lordsmanded, then flew off.


    "Understood!" The countless effigies that had flocked toward the valley began to search their surroundings, but Xiao Nanfeng and his group had long since flown off. They wouldn''t be discovered by the cursed effigies.


    In the city of Wuliu, Xiao Nanfeng and his party returned to find the city in mourning.


    After some interrogation, Xiao Nanfeng and the others found out that the Heaven Immortal had killed dozens of cultivators from the alliance in order to force them to reveal Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts.


    "You really are evil, aren''t you? Couldn''t you have found an excuse? Just say you''re my friend¡ªdid you have to kill and forcibly interrogate them? Even if I don''t kill you, the heavens would never forgive someone like you," Xiao Nanfeng spat out.


    "City Lord Xiao, please avenge us!" the alliance''s cultivators cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath as he nodded. He looked toward the Heaven Immortal''s yin body with killing intent.


    The yin body shuddered. "You can''t kill me! I only killed a few insignificant cultivators. Their lives aren''t worth the same as mine! I know lots of information. I can tell you about the crown prince and his subordinates!"


    "There''s no need. I don''t trust your information, and I have no interest in trying to sift out fact from fiction. These cultivators have worked hard to help me, and I intend to avenge them. It''s time you paid back the karmic debt for your misdeeds," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    As he clenched his palm tightly, the yin body began to shatter.


    "No! You can''t kill me. I''m an official of the divine empire of Dayin. If you kill me, the empire won''t forgive you. They won''t let you go!" the yin body threatened.


    "Then let theme for me. It''s past time you paid for your actions," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    He crushed the yin body. Spiritual power drifted across thend.


    The cultivators gaped at Xiao Nanfeng, then bowed down in gratitude. "Thank you, City Lord Xiao!"


    "No need for thanks," Xiao Nanfeng replied brusquely. "If anyone''s searching for me and you can''t defeat them, just send them my way. There''s no need for you to sacrifice your lives."


    The cultivators were silent. They nodded, momentarily choked by emotion.


    "City Lord Xiao, we''ve received word about Lady Yaoguang, whom you were looking for," one cultivator suddenly said.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The next moment, he suddenly realized something. Why hadn''t the cultivator mentioned that news from the start? He must have been worried about Xiao Nanfeng''s personality, about his ability to deliver on what he had promised them. Someone might have informed him of the news in a few days'' time, but learning about the information now could very well be crucial.


    "Where is Lady Yaoguang?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "She''s been captured and brought to the capital of Wu," the cultivator replied.


    "The capital of Wu? The territory that the Horse Yanluo controls?" Xiao Nanfeng rified.


    "Yes, City Lord Xiao! My brother was the one who passed me the information, and he''s waiting for you in the city of Wusan at the moment. He barely missed the opportunity to inform you of the news himself. He told me that he witnessed Lady Yaoguang being captured by the Horse Yanluo personally. She had a blue moon floating around her; a sinister sword within protected her from the Horse Yanluo''s attacks. He was unable to do anything against her and had no choice but to bring her into his capital. We don''t know what happened after that."


    "When was this?"


    "Two months ago."


    "Bring me to the capital of Wu immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "City Lord Xiao, there are countless cursed effigies within the capital of Wu, and the Horse Yanluo''s seat of power is there. It''s particrly dangerous," the cultivator warned.


    "That doesn''t matter. Take me there," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "Understood!"


    Half a dayter, that cultivator led Xiao Nanfeng to the capital of Wu. They hid within a forest some distance away from the capital and watched the goings-on within the city.


    There were no walls around the territory, only a huge signboard on which was written "Capital of Wu."


    There were no mortals around, only arge number of demons and horse-headed humanoids. Plenty of the horse-headed cursed effigies'' residences exuded a gloomy aura that made the city feel cursed.


    In addition to horse-headed humanoids, there were other types of cursed effigies present. Not far away, an ox-headed humanoid led a group of chained cultivators deep into the capital. The cultivators were despondent, but none of them could break free.


    "Why are there ox-headed humanoids in the Horse Yanluo''s territory?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The subordinates of friendly Yanluo Lords are wee here. That ox-headed humanoid is likely an envoy bearing gifts for a noble personage within. The fact that he''s being so ostentatious is likely intentional, but I''m not sure what his motive might be."


    "Perhaps they''re simply trying to keep an eye on their allies'' strength," Xiao Nanfeng guessed.


    "I couldn''t say, City Lord Xiao. However, it''s clear that it''s far more dangerous here than the sea of karmic me." The cultivator was visibly anxious.


    "There''s a cloud of annihtion in the sky around here too. What lies underneath the Horse Yanluo''s Yanluo Court? And what''s that pit of red mes over there?"


    "One of the eighteenyers of hell involves being burned alive in a wok of oil, and another involves a volcano. Those red mes were formed from the fragments of thatyer of hell."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He had obtained a tremendous boost to his cultivation from the sea of karmic me, and was naturally interested in rted phenomena. However, he turned his attention away quickly. There were more important tasks at hand.


    "City Lord Xiao, the moment you step close to the capital of Wu, those cursed effigies will be able to sense your human presence. It''ll be extremely dangerous," the cultivator warned again.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You should return for now. I''ll be fine."


    "But..."


    "Go on. Don''t worry."


    The cultivator could only nod as he retreated.


    After he did so, Xiao Nanfeng emerged in the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    In a cloud of ck fog, the draconian flew toward the capital of Wu.


    "Who are you? Hold it!" a shout came from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the shout and continued flying forward.


    "I said, hold it! Didn''t you hear me? And what''s with this ck fog all around you? What''s with the cloak and dagger?!" a horse-headed humanoid shouted, rushing forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng casually sent a huge palm strike toward the horse-headed humanoid.


    "No!" he cried out.


    He was mmed into the ground, forming a pit around him.


    "Enemy assault!" voices thundered from all around.


    Arge number of horse-headed humanoids and the demons they controlled charged forward.


    "Truly a group of insolent fools. I''ve only been absent for a hundred years. Don''t you recognize me any longer? As if I have to contend with the likes of you to meet with the Horse Yanluo." The ck fog dissipated to reveal a dragon-headed king.


    The horse-headed humanoids gasped.


    "The Dragon Yanluo? How could this be?" a horse-headed humanoid cried out.


    "Where lies the Horse Yanluo?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The horse-headed humanoids nced at each other in confusion, as though trying to determine whether the Dragon Yanluo before them was the real thing. Themotion that Xiao Nanfeng had caused quickly attracted the attention of many. When they saw Xiao Nanfeng, they too were astounded.


    "Are you all deaf?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again.


    Just then, a horse-headed humanoid stepped forward. "Don''t be tricked! He''s not the Dragon Yanluo. He possessed the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. I was on guard by the sea of karmic me, and he almost killed me!"


    "What?!" the horse-headed humanoids eximed.


    "The Horse Yanluo''s subordinates are truly growing more and more insolent. What, didn''t you learn your lesson from the human I possessed? Do you intend to continue provoking me? Step forward, then. I''ll make an example of you and show the Horse Yanluo how to instruct his subordinates," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    The horse-headed humanoid nched. He tried to defend himself, but was hastily pulled into the crowd by a group of others. Perhaps they still doubted the Dragon Yanluo''s identity, but they wouldn''t reveal their suspicions in front of him.


    "Dragon Yanluo, my subordinate tends to shoot his mouth off. Please ept my apologies. The situation with the sea of karmic me led to amotion. My lord has sent a portion of the cloud of annihtion from your Yanluo Court back to the capital, and he''s conferring with the other Yanluo Lords at the moment. All the Yanluo Lords are gathered by the sea of karmic me. If you seek a meeting urgently, you may head there directly," one horse-headed humanoid reported, bowing to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. The fact that the Horse Yanluo wasn''t present was a piece of wee news indeed.


    "There''s no need. I have business with the Horse Yanluo, not the others. I don''t intend to head over. I''ll wait right here for the Horse Yanluo to return."


    He flew straight toward the Horse Yanluo''s Yanluo Court.


    Some of the horse-headed humanoids flew to report the news to the Horse Yanluo. The others hovered anxiously around Xiao Nanfeng, worried that he would cause trouble.


    Although they were rather doubtful about his identity, they were erring on the side of caution. After all, who but the Dragon Yanluo could have retrieved the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar from within the sea of karmic me so easily? Who would dare impersonate a Yanluo Lord and enter the heart of another Yanluo Lord''s territory?

 Chapter 424: Entering the Court and Meeting Yaoguang

    <h4>Chapter 424: Entering the Court and Meeting Yaoguang</h4>


    "Dragon Yanluo, you can''t head in there! That''s my lord''s Yanluo court," one horse-headed humanoid cried out anxiously.


    "Where else would I wait?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.


    "But..." The horse-headed humanoids nced at each other in panic.


    They could hardly stop the Dragon Yanluo. If they annoyed him, he could easily go on a rampage and take them all down. They had no choice but to hope that the horse-headed humanoids who had gone to inform the Horse Yanluo of the situation could get him back quickly.


    Xiao Nanfeng, surrounded by countless horse-headed humanoids, flew over to the Horse Yanluo''s Yanluo Court. He grew worried as he flew over, because he could sense a Heaven Immortal''s aura from a horse-headed humanoid.


    Were there other cursed effigies that had reached the realm of a Heaven Immortal beside the Yanluo Lords?


    "Qu Jianfeng was plotting something, after all. He said that, excluding the Yanluo Lords, the other cursed effigies were at most Earth Immortals. That was aplete lie," Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    "Dragon Yanluo, my lord''s Yanluo Court is currently sealed, and none but he can open it. Furthermore, he hasid out plenty of formations around the Yanluo Court. If you attempt to intrude by force, the cloud of annihtion might be triggered. There are other halls to the side for guests. Could we lead you there instead?" one horse-headed humanoid asked politely.


    The horse-headed humanoids surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, worried that he would do something amiss.


    Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly, "I heard that the Horse Yanluo caught a woman two months ago. You must be aware of her."


    He manifested Lady Yaoguang''s appearance in the air.


    "That¡ª" The horse-headed humanoids nced at each other, worried.


    "It looks like you do know of her, after all. Where is she? I''d like to have a look at her," Xiao Nanfeng said directly.


    "Dragon Yanluo, our lord intends to take that woman as a concubine. Please tread carefully," one horse-headed humanoid replied.


    "As concubine? Do you know what happens to those who lie to me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He caught the horse-headed humanoid by the neck.


    "Dragon Yanluo, this is the Horse Yanluo''s capital of Wu, not your capital of Chen. Please restrain yourself!" the horse-headed humanoid cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng bisected the humanoid with his de. "You dare threaten me after a hundred years of absence? Who else dares bar my way? Let me see how bold you''ve grown!"


    An overwhelming aura erupted from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    The horse-headed humanoids nched. They did want to maintain the Horse Yanluo''s authority, but none of them dared to take on the Dragon Yanluo themselves, even if there were Heaven Immortals in their midst. This was a fear deeply ingrained in their bodies over the course of a hundred thousand years.


    "Dragon Yanluo, he was telling the truth," another horse-headed humanoid said respectfully. "My lord does intend to take that woman as concubine. You know that my king appreciates beauty, and hers is beyondpare. We really aren''t lying to you."


    "Dragon Yanluo, if you don''t believe us, our lord will confirm it for you himself when he returns," the other horse-headed humanoids advised.


    "I care not for these trifles. Will you, or will you not, bring this woman out?" the Dragon Yanluo demanded.


    The horse-headed humanoids nced at each other anxiously. One ventured, "Dragon Yanluo, might I ask why you''re interested in this woman?"


    "And who do you think you are to pry into my personal affairs?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "I, I''m simply¡ª"


    "Are you asking on behalf of the Horse Yanluo?" Xiao Nanfeng deliberately asked a leading question.


    "Yes, I am¡ª" Suddenly, realizing that something was amiss, the horse-headed humanoid stopped short.


    "Someone like you dares to speak on behalf of the Horse Yanluo? Has he lost all his authority? Are you intending to overthrow him? Now that I''ve discovered your scheme, I suppose I''ll kill you all as a gift for him!" A tremendous aura emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, forming a tempest. The horse-headed humanoids reared back in shock.


    They suddenly came to the realization that the Dragon Yanluo was here to wage war, not to reminisce about the past.


    "Hold on, please!" one horse-headed humanoid shouted. "I know where that woman is!"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng paused and looked coldly at that horse-headed humanoid.


    "She''s within the Yanluo Court. My lord detained her there!"


    "What?"


    "It''s true! She''s within the Yanluo Court. There''s a divine sword protecting her that prevents anyone else from getting close by. Even our lord doesn''t know what to do with her. He''s been persuading her to stop resisting, but she refuses to listen. As a result of that stalemate, she''s been detained within the Yanluo Court ever since. I guarantee it on my life!"


    "That''s right," other horse-headed humanoids jumped in. "She''s in the Yanluo Court."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the Yanluo Court and attempted to push its doors open. Unfortunately, even when he invoked the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual power, he was unable to make them budge.


    "Dragon Yanluo, you should know better than we do that each Yanluo Court is attuned to its owner, and no one else will be able to control it. You won''t be able to open these doors. Please wait for our lord to return," the horse-headed humanoid pleaded.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced toward the cursed effigy who had spoken. "If you dare lie to me, I''ll make sure you won''t be able to reincarnate for eternity."


    "I wouldn''t dare, Dragon Yanluo! She really is inside!" the horse-headed humanoid replied, forehead beading with sweat.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the other horse-headed humanoids and carefully considered their gazes. None seemed evasive; it was overwhelmingly likely that she was indeed within.


    Xiao Nanfeng then looked toward the doors to the Yanluo Court. He attempted to drag it into his Divine Seal of Dazheng, but it wouldn''t budge at all.


    He frowned, giving up on this idea, as candlelight zed from his body.


    It shot toward the doors of the Yanluo Court, causing them to burn red-hot.


    "This is..." The horse-headed humanoids watched on in surprise and confusion.


    The next moment, they saw Xiao Nanfeng step through the burning domain and into the Yanluo Court.


    "Impossible! The doors to the Yanluo Court haven''t opened at all. How could he have gotten within?!" the horse-headed humanoids eximed.


    They crowded around the doors to investigate, but the burning domain had vanished. The doors remained secure and immobile, but the Dragon Yanluo was nowhere to be seen.


    "Could he really have entered? How could it be?!" a horse-headed humanoid eximed.


    "The ten Yanluo Lords all possess some special skill. Perhaps this is the Dragon Yanluo''s," one horse-headed humanoid suggested.


    "I hope the messengers can find our lord quickly. He has to return to ensure that we''re safe. The Dragon Yanluo''s surely up to no good," the horse-headed humanoid who had just spoken murmured anxiously.


    "How could you have revealed that that woman was within the Yanluo Court to the Dragon Yanluo?" one of hispanions criticized.


    "Do you know what would have happened if we didn''t tell the Dragon Yanluo anything?"


    "What else? Perhaps a fight, at worst. All we would have to do is to hold on until our lord returns. Even if we''re killed by the Dragon Yanluo, we can simply regenerate."


    "You haven''t thought things through at all! Do you really think the Dragon Yanluo came back by himself? Where are his forces? He''s searching for an excuse to take us all on¡ªthen to distribute our cursed spiritual avatars and souls to his forces. Do you know how long it''d take us to regenerate in that case? He was deliberately giving us a chance to offend him so that our lord wouldn''t even have an excuse to avenge us!"


    "Ah? That¡ª" A few of the horse-headed humanoids stepped back in surprise.


    "Thankfully, he seems to be more interested in that woman''s divine sword. That''s for the best. We weren''t able to do anything against it, and the Dragon Yanluo may not seed, either. Let him waste his time trying to deal with the sword while our lord returns. Leave it all to him."


    "Got it!" The horse-headed humanoids rxed now that this n had been established.


    "To prevent us from being surrounded by the Dragon Yanluo''s army, we''ll have to scout the vicinity of the capital immediately. Make sure we leave no stone unturned," the horse-headed humanoid furthermanded.


    "Understood!"


    The interior of the Yanluo Court was like a huge, dark cavern.


    Within the endless darkness, light glowed from a certain region. It reflected off a pitch-ck pond, which seemed to contain arge number of ck chains. The chains were wrapped tightly around a huge blue moon, and ck, frothing water was suffusing the moon with wisps of ck smoke. Within the blue moon, Lady Yaoguang sat in meditation, her eyes closed. Her hair floated around her body, her brows furrowed. She made an expression of difort but was otherwise a picture of breathtaking beauty, one that roused the pity of all around her.


    Just then, by the side of the ckke, a group of horse-headed humanoids were staring at the blue moon at the heart of theke. Beside them was a mud-yellow rock that disyed a close-up of Lady Yaoguang.


    "What a stubborn woman she is. Our lord''s elevating her far beyond her station by taking her as a concubine, but she refuses to consider the offer. Think about how strong our lord will be once he''s freed from the abyss! Don''t you remember how many women fought for his attention when wemanded the world? She really is a fool for not taking advantage of the situation."


    "Our lord''s primarily interested in her sword. That''s the reason for her value¡ªand it''s not like she has a choice, anyway. She''s caught our lord''s attention now."


    "Is what we''re doing going to be of any use?"


    "You know that the waters of thiske can obliterate memory. Those touched by theke will forget their lives and the events of the past. This rock of fate has been marked with her spiritual power. She''s caught in our grasp now. In a few months'' time, once our lord infuses his cursed spiritual power into the rock, they''ll be bound together by fate¡ªin past, present, and future.


    Once that binding takes effect, even the most stubborn woman in the world will be fully loyal and subservient to our lord."


    The horse-headed humanoids nced at theke and the woman within in glee.


    Just then, they noticed something amiss and suddenly whirled around.


    "Who''s there?" one horse-headed humanoid demanded.


    The rest of them all drew their weapons and pointed them into the darkness.


    A dragon-headed humanoid dressed like a king walked forward out of the darkness, none other than Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 425: The Joy of Reunion

    <h4>Chapter 425: The Joy of Reunion</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that the Horse Yanluo would learn of the news and return at great haste, so he had to hurry up and find Lady Yaoguang before that happened.


    The interior of the Yanluo Court was extremelyrge. After a long search, he suddenly saw a sh of blue light far in the distance.


    "Is that the Shangqing blue moon?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He rushed over immediately.


    Within moments, he arrived by the side of argeke.


    "Yaoguang? I''ve finally found you!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, relieved.


    Although Lady Yaoguang was still trapped within the ckke, finding her had been half the battle.


    Perhaps because he was too hasty, he was instantly spotted by a group of horse-headed humanoids.


    "Who''s there?" one of them demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see a group of horse-headed humanoids drawing their weapons at him.


    His eyes shed cold as he strode toward them. He had no time to waste on such trash.


    "The Dragon Yanluo? What''s he doing here?" one horse-headed humanoid eximed.


    "Dragon Yanluo, how did you get in here? Where''s our lord?" another horse-headed humanoid demanded.


    With a sh of blue light, Xiao Nafneng cut him apart with a sh of his de.


    "Bad news. We have to make a move!" the horse-headed humanoids cried out, drawing their des and shing at him.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a bang, Xiao Nanfeng''s sword shed. Scintiting blue light illuminated the pitch-ck space as the horse-headed humanoids were cut into shreds.


    The blood peach tree emerged and furiously began to absorb at the cursed effigies'' fragments.


    "Something must have happened outside. What have you done with my lord?!" one horse-headed humanoid demanded.


    He turned out to be a Heaven Immortal. One sh from his sword created a huge ripple in space.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng''s divine undying de nullified that attack. Its strike continued undeterred, striking the horse-headed humanoid''s body and sending it flying. Xiao Nanfeng shed right up to it andunched another blow.


    "No!" the Heaven Immortal cried out.


    He was sent flying with another sh. The two cultivators fought each other vigorously, but he was soon cut apart by Xiao Nanfeng, then diced and tossed to the blood peach tree.


    "We have to run!" the remaining horse-headed humanoids cried out.


    "Run? Do you think I''ll let you leave at this point? Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The remainder of the group were all Earth Immortals. If they could actually get away, Xiao Nanfeng would have wasted the time he spent in taking over the Dragon Yanluo''s body.


    The horse-headed humanoids were all devastated in a series of blows. Xiao Nanfeng allowed the blood peach tree to feast on their remains.


    After killing all the cursed effigies, Xiao Nanfeng immediately cried out, "How are you, Lady Yaoguang? It''s me!"


    In the center of theke, Lady Yaoguang remained immobile, as though she were unable to hear Xiao Nanfeng''s voice.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew up toward the blue moon, which had formed a spherical barrier encasing Lady Yaoguang. Links of chains were currently restraining that blue moon.


    He shed at the chains with his de, shattering them. Theke water frothed as huge wavespped thekeside.


    "Wake up, Yaoguang!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    However, Lady Yaoguang remained immobile.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He murmured to himself, "Could this outfit be too oundish? Is she on guard against me?"


    He immediately came out from within the Dragon Yanluo''s mindscape and kept the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar away. Then, in the form of his yin body, he floated in the air and called out, "Wake up, Yaoguang! It''s me!"


    Even so, Lady Yaoguang didn''t respond at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the blue moon and reached out toward it.


    "The blue moon barrier¡ªhow could she have advanced so rapidly with the Shangqing Yin Body? Could it be because she received the inheritance of the Shangqing Grandmaster? I only barely managed to evoke the barrier recently, but she was able to do so a few months ago..."


    Because he too cultivated the Shangqing blue moon, he knew how to awaken Lady Yaoguang. He reached out to the blue moon and vibrated his hand ording to a precise frequency, causing the blue moon to resonate with it.


    The next moment, a blue longsword emerged from the blue moon and sent him flying. Its tip was pointed toward him in warning.


    The blue longsword quickly retreated back into the blue moon, but a scar was left on his arm. Some blood, made manifest by spiritual power, dripped into the ckke.


    "Is this the peerless Shangqing relic that even the Horse Yanluo can''t do anything about? How powerful it is," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, clutching his wound.


    Even so, he didn''t retreat. He closed in on Lady Yaoguang again and continued to prod the Shangqing blue moon in an attempt tomunicate with Lady Yaoguang within.


    The blue sword appeared once more and sent him flying. Despite the fact that he was on guard, the sword again nicked him. More blood fell into the ckke.


    "I don''t believe you''re invincible. Again!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He defended himself with the divine undying de as he continued to agitate the Shangqing blue moon.


    What he didn''t know was that his blood, formed of spiritual power, didn''t dissipate after it fell into the ckke. Rather, the special energy within theke sent the blood toward the rock of fate.


    Slowly, Xiao Nanfeng''s image appeared on the rock in conjunction with Lady Yaoguang''s. They were holding hands, their eyes focused on each other, as they embraced.


    At the same time, while Xiao Nanfeng continued to agitate the blue moon, he was suddenly taken aback. "Lady Yaoguang, why is your face red? Are you about to awaken? Are you feigning sleep? You have to wake up. We don''t have much time. We need to get out of here!"


    However, Lady Yaoguang continued to slumber. Her face was flushed red, as though she were having a particrly lurid dream.


    As Xiao Nanfeng continued to batter down the blue moon''s defenses, the blue sword stopped attacking him. He continued calling Lady Yaoguang''s name as he agitated the blue moon. Finally, a popping sound came from the blue moon. A wave of blue energy shot toward Lady Yaoguang within it.


    "I''ve seeded!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    The blue wave of energy caused Lady Yaoguang''s body to tremble. She seemed about to awaken, but as her dream shattered, she screwed her eyes shut in dismay, murmuring, "Don''t go, Nanfeng!"


    Then, she suddenly awoke in shock.


    Her mind nked, as though she were still immersed in her sweet dream. A tear dropped down the corner of her eye.


    "Yaoguang, you''re finally awake!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Lady Yaoguang blinked. Then, countless memories of reality flooded into her mind as she awoke.


    "Husband? No, that was just a dream. What''s going on?" Lady Yaoguang''s eyes slowly gained rity as she broke out of her stupor. Then, she cried out in excitement, "What are you doing here, Nanfeng?"


    "You''re awake? Thank goodness!"


    Suddenly, Lady Yaoguang frowned. She thundered, "Who are you? How dare you impersonate Nanfeng? Were you scrutinizing my memories? How could you?!"


    "No, it''s me! I''m Nanfeng. Have you forgotten? You said you wanted me to make you a feast when we next reunited!"


    Lady Yaoguang frowned. It was true that no one else would know of this but Xiao Nanfeng himself. She inspected both of them with her Shangqing blue moon in order to confirm that everything was as it seemed.


    "Is it really you? Nanfeng, what are you doing here?" Lady Yaoguang eximed again. She beamed radiantly.


    "I heard you were here, so I came to find you. What were you dreaming of? Your face was bright red!"


    Lady Yaoguang flushed again as she replied, "Don''t ask! I won''t tell you."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. Why did she seem so agitated?

 Chapter 426: The Horse Yanluos Might

    <h4>Chapter 426: The Horse Yanluo''s Might</h4>


    Within the Yanluo Court, Lady Yaoguang flew out from the ckke. She discovered that the rock of fate by the side of theke had conjured a spiritual image of her with Xiao Nanfeng. Realizing something, she waved a hand and uprooted the rock.


    She stored it in her storage bangle, then retrieved a gourd relic. She motioned at theke, sucking all the water into the gourd.


    "Yaoguang, you''re taking even thekewater with you? Why does it feel like you''re trying to destroy some sort of evidence?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Nonsense! I''m not destroying evidence!" Lady Yaoguang replied, flushing red again. She continued, "Also, you should address me as Lady Yaoguang. Don''t be rude."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Lady Yaoguang really was every bit the tsundere she used to be.


    "You''ve grown so quickly! You''re already at Yin Bodyparable to me!" Lady Yaoguang considered Xiao Nanfeng carefully.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know how to respond. His spiritual power had already eclipsed Lady Yaoguang''s back then. How was he supposed to respond?


    "I simply got a few chance opportunities, but you''re clearly stronger than I am," Xiao Nanfeng replied, chuckling wryly.


    Lady Yaoguang lifted her head high, revealing her snowy-white neck as she smiled. "Naturally!"


    For some reason, she seemed to have forgotten the crisis they were in. Interacting with Xiao Nanfeng was so pleasant an experience that she couldn''t keep a smile off her face.


    She quickly absorbed the entireke''s worth of water. Then, she considered her surroundings and confirmed that she had left nothing behind before she made to leave.


    "That peach tree vanished in a blink. Is that another cursed effigy that''s been hounding you?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "The blood peach tree, you mean? I suppose it counts," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    Lady Yaoguang immediately clucked. "What a strange constitution you have. Others might not encounter a cursed effigy in their lifetime, but you seem to find yourself with a neverending string of them! How unlucky you are."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.


    "Right, we''re in a Yanluo Court! How did you make it here? And how did you enter the Netherworld Pce? How did you know I was here?" Lady Yaoguang shot a barrage of questions at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Now''s not the time for this. The Horse Yanluo is conveniently away from the capital of Wu. We had better escape while we can! I''ll exin everything to you afterwards."


    "Got it," Lady Yaoguang replied, clearly putting a lot of trust in Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the Divine Seal of Dazheng. "This relic has an internal space within it. Enter it and I''ll bring you out."


    "What about you?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "I have the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, and I''ll be able to defend myself. Please, hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng brought out the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    Lady Yaoguang was momentarily taken aback, but she nodded immediately. "Very well. We''ll talkter. If you encounter any difficulty, let me know and I''ll help you. I might only be atte-stage Yin Body at the moment, but my divine sword''s particrly strong. Even the Horse Yanluo can''t do anything against it."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He held on firmly to Lady Yaoguang''s hand. She flushed again, but didn''t struggle, as he brought her into the interior of the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    Time was pressing. Xiao Nanfeng immediately retreated from the seal and headed back into the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    The draconian trembled, as though returning to life. He immediately headed toward the darkness.


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng reappeared by the doors of the Yanluo Court. He had marked the entrance when he entered; after finding the right spot, he activated the power of the Spirit Emperor. The void before him zed with candlelight.


    With a whoosh, he stepped out of the Yanluo Court. He was feeling particrly relieved at his sess, and was intending to leave immediately.


    Just then, an aura of tremendous strength surged toward his body, encapsting him.


    "The Dragon Yanluo? You''re finally back after all these years? What brought you here to my capital?" a booming voice asked.


    A particrly strong horse-headed humanoid was slowly walking toward him, a crown on his head and robes of ck brocade with gold-edged draconic motifs on his body. He considered Xiao Nanfeng appraisingly.


    "Horse Yanluo, you''ve returned surprisingly quickly," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He thought he had made a speedy escape, but he was still toote to avoid a confrontation. This was a dangerous situation.


    "I only just made it back myself. You appeared out of my Yanluo Court before I could head inside to find you. Didn''t you im that you would never return to the Netherworld Pce? What are you doing back here? The first thing you did was to barge into my Yanluo Court. Are you really here to snatch my woman away?" The Horse Yanluo narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng focused, body taut with nerves. He knew that if he were to shrink back from the argument, the Horse Yanluo would instantly realize that something was amiss.


    He was about to say something when he suddenly noticed a glimpse of ridicule in the Horse Yanluo''s eyes. He knew that something might have given him away.


    "Why aren''t you speaking, Dragon Yanluo?" the Horse Yanluo asked,ughing in a sinister fashion.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. Despite knowing that he might have been exposed, he had no choice but to continue acting. There might yet be an opportunity to escape, but only if he yed his part.


    "Since you''ve returned, I suppose the rest of them are here, too." Xiao Nanfeng continued to pretend to be the Dragon Yanluo.


    "Hmm? Who could you mean?"


    Xiao Nanfeng pretended to be calm as he sucked in a breath and shouted, "Everyone, if you''re already here, why are you still hiding? Do you need me and the Horse Yanluo to invite all of you out?"


    The horse-headed humanoids weren''t the only ones present in the capital of Wu. There were other cursed effigies here in the capacity of guests, and they had surely gone to report to their respective Yanluo Lords upon witnessing the Dragon Yanluo.


    Xiao Nanfeng was betting that the other Yanluo Lords had made their way to the capital of Wu as well. If he tried to run, he wouldn''t be able to escape. Why not gather the other Yanluo Lords and see if he could cause some sort of schism? That might give him an opportunity to flee.


    The Horse Yanluo scanned his surroundings. Then, as though discovering something, heughed coldly. "Everyone, I thought we had just decided to part ways. Have you all chosen to join me once again? Do you need me to tender you an invitation?"


    A figure flew toward them from afar, causing a windstorm to rise up as hended. The horse-headed humanoids all around stumbled back. The figure that had just descended was an ox-headed humanoid with a crown on his head and robes of ck brocade with gold-edged draconic motifs on his body. It wasn''t difficult to guess his identity.


    "I hope you''ve been well, Ox Yanluo," Xiao Nanfeng called out, feigning calm.


    "Dragon Yanluo, what are you doing back here? Not only that, you caused a huge mess with the cloud of annihtion on your return. We had to deal with it on your behalf. How are you going to repay this favor?" the Ox Yanluo asked.


    Just then, another Yanluo Lord flew over. This one had a monkey''s head and was dressed in white robes. His descent likewise sent the horse-headed humanoids all around stumbling back.


    "Monkey Yanluo? Long time no see," Xiao Nanfeng greeted politely.


    The Monkey Yanluo was wearing a white draconic robe. He narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng before suddenly starting tough. "You''re not the Dragon Yanluo. To think the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar would have been possessed! Who could you be? Why are you trying to impersonate the Dragon Yanluo? How bold you are!"


    "You dare mock me?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.


    The Monkey Yanluo scoffed disdainfully. "Lad, we''ve known the Dragon Yanluo for a hundred thousand years. We''ve schemed against each other for that long. We know each other better than we know ourselves. The moment I saw you, I knew you couldn''t be the Dragon Yanluo. It''d be one thing to try to trick our subordinates, and another thing entirely to trick us. The Horse and Ox are only ying with you. Can''t you tell?"


    Indeed, the Horse and Ox Yanluos were narrowing their eyes at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Clearly, the Horse, Ox, and Monkey Yanluos had all sensed that something was amiss. No matter how good Xiao Nanfeng''s impersonation had been, it wasn''t sufficient.


    He stared at the three Yanluo Lords, confirming that the Monkey Yanluo was telling the truth, before he reached out into his mindscape and retrieved several Immortal relics.


    "Oh? What''s this? You want to fight?" The Monkey Yanluoughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated several Immortal relics and tossed them at the three Yanluo Lords, then soared into the air.


    The relics exploded.


    "You''re trying to run? Do you take us for fools?" The Horse Yanluoughed.


    The three Yanluo Lords struck simultaneously, eachunching a palm strike at Xiao Nanfeng. The exploding relics were sent flying. The Horse Yanluo mmed a palm down at Xiao Nanfeng, the attack descending straight from the heavens.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with a punch of his own. The fist and palm strikes met in a howling tempest. The fist burst; the palm strike struck his body,


    causing him to still. He felt powerless, as though he was unable to resist. The palm strike was far stronger than even the arhat armor he had recently faced.


    "How could a Heaven Immortal be this strong?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    His body was smashed into the ground, forming a huge pit. The palm strike hadn''t yet dissipated. It continued to press down on him, rendering him immobile.


    "The Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar isn''t that easy tomand. Lad, you can''t draw out its full strength. Now, quake!" the Horse Yanluomanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng was forced out of the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar as he coughed out mouthfuls of blood. He was sent flying from the impact.


    A Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid pressed down on his shoulders. Tremendous force was infused into his body to seal his spiritual power. He couldn''t move.


    "Just a puny cultivator at Yin Body!" the Horse Yanluo eximed.


    "King, it was him! He was the one who repeatedly slew us at the mouth of the abyss!" a horse-headed humanoid reported.


    "It was him! He somehow managed to clear away the sea of karmic me and killed so many of our brethren. There was a peach tree cursed effigy working with him as well!" another horse-headed humanoid shouted.


    The Horse Yanluo smirked. "You''ve really made a mess, haven''t you? It''s too bad you''re done for now."

 Chapter 427: Adding Fuel to Fire

    <h4>Chapter 427: Adding Fuel to Fire</h4>


    Despite the overwhelming odds against him, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t despair. He could yet turn things around.


    The reason he had summoned the Ox and Monkey Yanluos was for this very moment.


    Fighting against a single Yanluo Lord would be the most dangerous oue, but three against one meant he had a chance. He could try to turn the Yanluo Lords against each other. After all, they too were rivals¡ªand had remained so for a hundred thousand years.


    Clutching his chest in pain, he shouted, "Dragon Yanluo, if you don''t help me out now, I''m going to be beaten to death. Save me!"


    "Hm?" The three Yanluo Lords frowned warily at the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, but itypletely unmoving.


    "Lad, are you still trying to trick us? Do you intend to sow conflict among us so that you might have a chance to run?" the Horse Yanluo demanded.


    Beside him, the Ox and Monkey Yanluos stared coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. They were well aware of what sort of trick he was trying to pull; they had plenty of experience from eras of ruling.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to continue his act. This was his only hope at survival.


    "Dragon Yanluo, I entered the Netherworld Pce on your orders! Now that I''m in the three Yanluo Lords'' hands, you have to help!" Xiao Nanfeng howled.


    The three Yanluo Lords tittered, none of them believing Xiao Nanfeng''s words.


    "Lad, if the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar were present, why would it allow you to possess his body? Don''t you think we''re familiar with such schemes? Summon him out if you can!" the Horse Yanluo joked.


    "It''s true! The Dragon Yanluo has transformed into a peach tree and has been badgering me since. I don''t know why he refuses to show himself now," Xiao Nanfeng fumed.


    Just then, a horse-headed humanoid stepped forward and whispered, "King, outside the sea of karmic me, there really was a peach tree cursed effigy devouring fragments of our brethren''s bodies¡ªtheir cursed souls and spiritual avatars alike. That peach tree absorbed everything that thisd killed."


    Just then, an ox-headed humanoid appeared and reported the same thing to the Ox Yanluo. "King, he''s right."


    "A peach tree cursed effigy?" The three Yanluo Lords frowned.


    Different cursed effigies could absorb each other''s cursed souls, but very few could digest their cursed spiritual avatars as well. The fact that the cursed effigies could differ wildly meant that it was difficult to digest cursed spiritual avatars in general.


    That implied that the peach tree had to be a peach tree only superficially, as a disguise¡ªotherwise, it could never absorb the cursed spiritual avatars of the cursed effigies from the Netherworld Pce.


    "Lad, you im that that peach tree is the Dragon Yanluo? What proof do you have?" the Horse Yanluo demanded.


    It didn''t believe Xiao Nanfeng''s ims, but it was interested in the blood peach tree.


    "I don''t have any evidence. He imed to be the Dragon Yanluo and wanted me to help reim his cursed spiritual avatar. He''s the one who helped save my woman," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh? Your woman?" The Horse Yanluo chuckled.


    "Yaoguang, whom you captured! Where did you keep her? Why couldn''t I find her within your Yanluo Court?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    "Horse Yanluo, this looks like a mess you created," the Ox Yanluomented idly, smirking.


    The Horse Yanluo ignored the Ox Yanluo''s snidements and continued, "Lad, are you deliberately trying to change the topic? What''s your name?"


    "I haven''t changed the topic, and I''m not hiding anything. My name is Xiao Nanfeng, and the Dragon Yanluo had me enter the Netherworld Pce. He told me that the cursed effigies in the pce are all pieces of trash that''d be easy to deal with. That''s why I tested it out at the mouth of the abyss¡ªand I found that he was right. That gave me the confidence to head deeper into the Netherworld Pce."


    "You dare call all of us trash?!"


    "I wasn''t the one who said it. It was the Dragon Yanluo! He tricked me into believing that it was true. Then, I headed to the sea of karmic me and used the treasure he handed me to absorb all the karmic mes within. There, I found his cursed spiritual avatar. I did all this on his orders!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The three Yanluo Lords narrowed their eyes, seeming to believe Xiao Nanfeng to some extent. After all, the Dragon Yanluo did control the sea of karmic me, and only he could easily retrieve everything within it. Thed before them didn''t seem as though he would be able to do so with his own strength.


    "You''re lying," the Horse Yanluo used. "If he''s found his cursed spiritual avatar, why hasn''t his cursed soul returned to it? Why would he allow you to possess it?"


    "How should I know?"


    He knew that, the more he said, the more he could get wrong. It would be better to feign ignorance and allow the three Yanluo Lords toe to their own conclusions.


    The three Yanluo Lords narrowed their eyes at him, as though trying to determine whether he were telling the truth.


    "How did you manage to bypass the doors to my Yanluo Court?" the Horse Yanluo demanded.


    "With the Dragon Yanluo''s help, of course. He''s a Yanluo Lord himself. Would it be difficult for him to make his way inside a Yanluo Court?" Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.


    This was precisely the attitude that he needed to have¡ªcasual ignorance of what was possible and what was not.


    At that moment, the three Yanluo Lords started to be convinced of Xiao Nanfeng''s im. They believed that Xiao Nanfeng was just the Dragon Yanluo''s pawn, who knew little of the Dragon Yanluo''s actual ns.


    "Dragon Yanluo, you said you''d protect me and get me out of here. Come help me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted at the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    The three Yanluo Lords narrowed their eyes, ns brewing in their head. The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.


    Suddenly, the Horse Yanluo made his move. He turned to the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar and began to suck.


    "Horse Yanluo, how dare you!" the Ox Yanluo roared.


    "Hold it!" the Monkey Yanluo screeched.


    The horse-headed humanoids all around worked in tandem to guard the Horse Yanluo as they blocked the attacks from the other two Yanluo Lords.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. He knew that his strategy had worked¡ªadding fuel to the fire, deepening the schism that already existed among the three Yanluo Lords.


    The three Yanluo Lords had all been peering at the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar over the course of the conversation, each keeping their desire in check¡ªand what desire was this? It was clear from how Yin had swallowed up the Goat Yanluo, and how the blood peach tree rushed to consume the cursed effigies that Xiao Nanfeng killed. They surely wanted to enjoy the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar for themselves, but hadn''t had the chance to strike just yet.


    He deliberately chose to make the Dragon Yanluo seem weak. If the Yanluo Lords didn''t go for the Dragon Yanluo now, he might very well escape.


    The Horse Yanluo was the closest, and managed to swallow the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar whole. The Ox and Monkey Yanluos struck immediately.


    The horse-headed humanoids that were at the vanguard were sent flying by the two other Yanluo Lords in a huge wave of energy. Xiao Nanfeng attempted to escape, but a Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid kept careful guard over him.


    The two Yanluo Lords continued undeterred,nding heavy blows on the Horse Yanluo''s body and sending him flying. The three Yanluo Lords ended up in a fierce melee.


    "Ox Yanluo, Monkey Yanluo, how dare you!" the Horse Yanluo roared.


    "You won''t be able to im the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar for yourself. Dream on!" the Ox Yanluo roared back.


    "Spit out the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, now!" the Monkey Yanluo demanded.


    The two Yanluo Lords attacked the Horse Yanluo simultaneously, causing a tempest to form all around the capital of Wu.


    "This is my capital, and I was the one who obtained the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. It belongs to me. What right do the two of you have to it?" the Horse Yanluo demanded.


    "You don''t deserve it all to yourself. We''re all roughly equals in strength. If you manage to get another body, the equilibrium in the Netherworld Pce would tilt in your favor, and you''d swallow the rest of us up one by one. Now, spit out the Dragon Yanluo, or we''ll kill you!" the Monkey Yanluo screeched.


    "Don''t waste your breath. It''d never spit it out. If you don''t want to die, we''ll have to strike together and tear the Horse Yanluo apart. We''ll split the Horse and Dragon Yanluo''s avatars and maintain our equilibrium," the Ox Yanluo roared.


    "Got it!" The Monkey Yanluo''s eyes shone with a chill.


    "You dare?!" the Horse Yanluo shouted.


    The three Yanluo Lords began to fight more and more fiercely. A firestorm formed in the air, causing countless structures in the capital of Wu to copse.


    Several Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoids shot into the air to assist their lord, but the other two Yanluo Lords were too strong. Even the Heaven Immortals were no match for them, and were instantly torn apart. If not for the Horse Yanluo defending them, they would all have been eaten.


    A Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid continued to detain Xiao Nanfeng. Just then, a figure shot toward the humanoid and sent him reeling. Even so, he continued to stand guard.


    A group of horse-headed humanoids rushed over and stood guard protectively.


    "King, a Heaven Immortal ox-headed humanoid snuck into the city andunched a sneak attack at me. He was trying to seize thisd!" the Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid shouted.


    The next moment, he was attacked by yet another cursed effigy.


    "King, there are even more cursed effigies lying in wait. They all want thisd!"


    In the air, the Horse Yanluo frowned upon hearing his subordinate''s words. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng might not have been telling theplete truth; he might still be hiding some crucial information. Xiao Nanfeng would be a very valuable prize.


    "Seal him within the Yanluo Court, now!" the Horse Yanluo demanded.


    He waved his hand, causing the doors to the Yanluo Court in the distance to creak open.


    "Understood!" the horse-headed humanoid shouted.


    A group of horse-headed humanoids guarded him as they rushed into the Yanluo Court. Within the storm, some ox- and monkey-headed humanoids seemed to try to rush into the Yanluo Court to seize possession of him as well.


    "I''ve already sealed thisd''s cultivation. Watch over him while I handle the other cursed effigies," the Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid said.


    "Understood!" the other cursed effigies replied.


    The Heaven Immortal shot out of the Yanluo Court, sending the cursed effigies milling about the doors flying. A huge battle ensued.


    "King, thatd''s inside the Yanluo Court now. Seal the doors!" the Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid called out.


    "Done!" the Horse Yanluo replied.


    He waved a hand. The doors to the Yanluo Court below creaked shut.

 Chapter 428: Fighting All Around

    <h4>Chapter 428: Fighting All Around</h4>


    The moment the doors to the Yanluo Court closed, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. His n had seeded¡ªmanipting the Yanluo Lords against each other, tossing out bait, and adding fuel to fire. He would be safe for the moment.


    As for the seal on his body, that didn''t matter at all. He switched to his physical body.


    "He''s nning to resist! Stop him!" a horse-headed humanoid cried out.


    Ten golden crows shot out. The horse-headed humanoids that had rushed over were sent flying, but there were simply too many of them this time around.


    In the blink of an eye, the ten golden crows were restrained, and Xiao Nanfeng was surrounded by a group of horse-headed humanoids.


    "Die!"


    "You dare resist? Attack him together!"


    The horse-headed humanoids leapt at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He drew the divine undying de and instantly killed the horse-headed humanoid at the forefront, but they came in such great numbers and were able to heal their cursed spiritual avatars near-immediately that even he was overwhelmed. Even the blood peach tree didn''t dare absorb the defeated right then and there.


    With a wave of his hand, he summoned Lady Yaoguang from the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    "Yaoguang, I need your help!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Lady Yaoguang''s blue moon barrier was something even the Horse Yanluo couldn''t break. He was certain she would be able to help.


    Lady Yaoguang stepped out and widened her eyes at the scene before them. "Nanfeng, you''re already an Earth Immortal?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and was just about to say something when Lady Yaoguang continued, "You''re almost half as strong as I am now!"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He didn''t know what to say. Despite the fact that they hadn''t met in years, Lady Yaoguang''s personality didn''t seem to have changed much.


    "Be careful! There''s a cursed effigy headed your way," Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Lady Yaoguang focused and drew a blue sword. "Evil, begone."


    The horse-headed humanoid was instantly cut apart by a blue sh. He shrieked,rge quantities of smoke emanating where he had been cut. He seemed unable to regenerate for a long time.


    "Die!" Lady Yaoguang shouted, rushing forward with her sword.


    Where the blue sword struck, the horse-headed humanoids were all cut apart, one sh for every cursed effigy. The sword never missed;pared to the horse-headed humanoids'' own Immortal weapons, the blue sword was clearly superior. It met no resistance whatsoever.


    Xiao Nanfeng rxed, Lady Yaoguang having relieved him of much of his pressure. He stared at her in shock, not expecting that she would be so strong against these cursed effigies.


    When the blood peach tree saw that the danger had passed, it too began to absorb the spoils of war.


    "Die!" Lady Yaoguang shouted.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng picked up the chant.


    The two cultivators each took care of a swathe of cursed effigies, none of whom now posed any threat to the two of them. They were quickly diced up¡ªand then the blood peach tree took advantage.


    "Run!" a horse-headed humanoid cried out.


    "You won''t be able to escape," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    "I won''t let you flee!" Lady Yaoguang shouted.


    The two cultivators seemed to be trying topete with each other about how many cursed effigies they could kill. None of the horse-headed humanoids escaped; the blood peach tree had a grand feast,


    "It''s a pity that I wasn''t able to kill twice as many cursed effigies as you did. Nanfeng, you''ve improved tremendously!" Lady Yaoguang made no mention of the fact that her blue sword had done much of the work. She raised her chin with a proud smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng wanted tough. "I''m grateful for your kind words, Lady Yaoguang."


    Lady Yaoguang preened. Then, she asked, "Nanfeng, aren''t we heading out?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. He recounted what had just happened.


    "Oh? There are a group of Yanluo Lords fighting each other outside?"


    "The Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar isn''t just an infusion of strength. If the Horse Yanluo swallows it whole, he''ll gain the strength and abilities of two Yanluo Lords and break the equilibrium in the Netherworld Pce. That would be a disaster for the remaining Yanluo Lords, so they must be fighting to the death. If we want to escape, the Yanluo Lords aren''t the danger. The Heaven Immortal cursed effigies are," Xiao Nanfeng opined.


    "If it''s as chaotic as you say, we might be able to sneak out," Lady Yaoguang replied contemtively.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Let me have a look. I can pass through the doors to the Yanluo Court, but only on my own at the moment. The cost of bringing another person with me is too significant. Please return to the Divine Seal of Dazheng for now."


    "Once we emerge, release me immediately. You''re not strong enough yet, and you''ll have to rely on me," Lady Yaoguang said.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly and nodded. He knew that Lady Yaoguang simply wanted to protect him.


    By then, the blood peach tree had finished its meal, and it vanished once again.


    After Xiao Nanfeng sent Lady Yaoguang into the Divine Seal of Dazheng, he waved a hand. Candle mes red up, turning the void red. He darted out of the Yanluo Court, only to find himself swamped by a sea of mes.


    "Where did all these mese from?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Just now, when the Ox and Monkey Yanluos turned against the Horse Yanluo, they had deliberately knocked the Horse Yanluo into the air to prevent him from activating the power of his Yanluo Court.


    "He''s rushing toward his Yanluo Court again. Stop him!" the Monkey Yanluo howled.


    "He won''t seed. At best, he can only control it remotely," the Ox Yanluo replied.


    The Horse Yanluo roared, "You dare rob me? Dream on! This is the nexus of my power!"


    "If you can''t interact with your Yanluo Court, everything''s useless," the Ox Yanluo retorted.


    Just then, a hugemotion rang out from below the Yanluo Court. A huge firestorm formed in the air.


    "More Yanluo Lords?" the Horse Yanluo raged.


    "King, it''s the Dog Yanluo! He''s trying to run off with the Yanluo Court!" an ox-headed humanoid reported from down below.


    "Haha, Dog Yanluo, you''re here too? You hid so well I didn''t even notice you. Well done. Take his Yanluo Court away and prevent him from using it ever again! Don''t worry, we''ll hold him back!" The Ox Yanluoughed.


    "Hold it!" the Horse Yanluo roared.


    However, with the two Yanluo Lords opposing him, there was little he could do.


    As time progressed, more and more cursed effigies of immense strength gathered in the capital of Wu. If the Horse Yanluo were to seize the Dragon Yanluo for himself and disrupt the bnce of the Netherworld Pce, everyone else would suffer. As a result, the Yanluo Lords all struck ruthlessly at the Horse Yanluo.


    Afar, the Dog Yanluo continued to attack the Yanluo Court. If he could im the Yanluo Court and drag it away, the cloud of annihtion would rain down on Wu, and the Horse Yanluo would lose the source of his power.


    "Volcanic realm of hell, seal the Yanluo Court!" the Horse Yanluo shouted.


    Heaven and earth copsed around the Yanluo Court as endless mes burst out from underground, roaring up into the air in a giant plume that covered the Yanluo Court.


    The next moment, the cloud of annihtion overhead began to roil. A copy of Heaven''s Hand emerged and headed straight for the sea of mes.


    "Beware!" the cursed effigies shouted.


    The cursed effigies in the sea of mes found themselves caught by Heaven''s Hand and smashed into powder.


    The cursed effigies all around retreated from the sea of mes in fear, and the Heaven''s Hand likewise returned to the cloud of annihtion.


    "Horse Yanluo, are you trying to emte the Dragon Yanluo? You''re using the shards of the volcanic hell to seal your Yanluo Court away?" the Dog Yanluo thundered.


    "My formation does emte the sea of karmic me. If you want to try to seize my Yanluo Court, it might only heavily wound you. Why don''t you give it a try?" the Horse Yanluo suggested with a smile.


    "Do you think I can''t do anything against you?!"


    The Dog Yanluo leapt into the air and joined the two other Yanluo Lords in attacking the Horse Yanluo, while no cursed effigy dared brave the sea of mes below.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng stepped out of the Yanluo Court and waspletely immersed in raging mes.

 Chapter 429: Claiming Another Yanluo Court

    <h4>Chapter 429: iming Another Yanluo Court</h4>


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the Yanluo Court, he found himself swamped by fire.


    These mes were particrly extraordinary, and they seemed to be even more vicious than the karmic mes that he had experienced before. However, they were unable to get through his Imposing Avatar of Ri, and could only enter his body when he actively attempted to absorb them.


    "What''s going on now? Why is the Yanluo Court in mes?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    He retrieved Lady Yaoguang from the Divine Seal of Dazheng and released his ten golden crows, which surrounded Lady Yaoguang and helped her absorb the mesing her way.


    "Nanfeng, why is this ce full of mes?" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "I''m not sure either. I suspect it''sing from the pit of mes around the Yanluo Court." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "You don''t have to protect me with your golden crows. I have my blue moon barrier. These mes might be domineering, but they won''t be able to do anything against me.


    "Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded and had his ten golden crows disperse.


    Lady Yaoguang''s body shimmered with blue light as a barrier formed, blocking the mes all around her.


    The two cultivators crept toward the boundary of the mes, where they could vaguely see a huge melee taking ce.


    "The battle''s growing more and more intense. There are horse-, ox-, monkey-, and even dog-headed cursed effigies out there now. We''d be discovered the moment we stepped out," Lady Arclight murmured in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked up at the sky. The sound of battle was ceaseless, but a thickyer of dust obscured what was happening within. He could vaguely hear the Yanluo Lords roar in outrage. Clearly, the battle had reached a white-hot frenzy.


    "They''re all mad with ughter. Come on, let''s head back inside the mes. We shouldn''t expose ourselves," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The two cultivators slunk back toward the Yanluo Court.


    "Let''s wait, then. We''ll have an opportunity to escape eventually," Lady Arclight said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I don''t think our chances are good. The cursed effigies are massing¡ªand themotion will only draw even more over. It might be even harder for us to flee."


    "Should we break out, then? If we''re fast enough to make it to the forests, perhaps we stand a chance."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There are too many Heaven Immortal cursed effigies out there. If even one discovers us, we won''t be able to flee at all. The safest method is possession."


    "Possessing a cursed effigy, you mean?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Perhaps we might be able to catch a horse-headed humanoid to possess."


    "You managed to possess the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar easily because it didn''t contain a will. These horse-headed humanoids do have wills, and they''re different from ordinary people. If you try to possess them, they''d simply self-destruct. It''s impossible!" Lady Arclight eximed.


    "Why don''t we try it anyway?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We can''t! It''s too dangerous. If you fail, we''d be revealed immediately."


    "But if we drag things out, the chances that we''ll be able to escape grow vanishingly small, and we don''t even have external support¡ªno, hold on. We might have support." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Support? From what?" Lady Yaoguang seemed disbelieving.


    "From the cloud of annihtion."


    "Oh?"


    "If the cloud of annihtion attempts to eradicate the cursed effigies, won''t we have a chance to flee?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Will the cloud of annihtion listen to you?"


    "I heard that the Yanluo Courts are what blocks the clouds of annihtion from attacking. If we can im the Yanluo Court, then the cloud of annihtion will be unleashed."


    "Truly?"


    "You saw a white Yanluo Court within the Divine Seal of Dazheng, didn''t you? If we can absorb this ck Yanluo Court into that space, everything will be resolved," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Let''s try it, then!" Lady Yaoguang said expectantly.


    The two cultivators began to push on the Yanluo Court.


    The mes all around them red up, but the Yanluo Court refused to move.


    "Evil, begone!" Lady Yaoguang shed forward with her blue sword.


    The endless mes around her erupted, but the Yanluo Court remained immobile.


    "It''s useless. We can''t budge this Yanluo Court at all," Lady Yaoguang said, shaking her head.


    "No, it might be possible. When we attacked the Yanluo Court, the mes all around began to ze. That means that there''s a definite, close rtionship between these mes and the Yanluo Court."


    "Oh?"


    "If the sea of mes were gone and the formation destroyed, the Yanluo Court should be mobile again."


    "That''s possible, but this sea of mes is startlingly strong. How could it just vanish?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the fighting urring in the distance. He sucked in a deep breath. "If they fight for long enough, I''ll be able to swallow up the entire sea of mes."


    With a wave of his hand, hemanded his ten golden crows to start absorbing the mes. He did the same with his own body.


    "What are you doing?!" Lady Yaoguang had a guess, but it seemed so ridiculous she didn''t dare believe it.


    "I''m counting on my luck, on my ability to absorb this entire sea of mes before the fighting dies down. If I win, we''ll be able to leave safely. If I lose, I''m afraid we''re done for¡ªbut I don''t see a better choice."


    "But this sea of mes looks to be endless! How could you absorb it all?"


    "I did so recently with a sea of mes of about equal size. It took me two days, but my cultivation has grown stronger since then. I might be able to do it in less time now."


    Lady Yaoguang seemed doubtful. "In two days? Are you joking?"


    "Let''s see, then!" Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    As Lady Yaoguang watched Xiao Nanfeng and the ten golden crows devouring the mes as though they were ck holes, she finally began to put a little faith into Xiao Nanfeng''s statements.


    "Try it and see," Lady Yaoguang finally said. She seemed to want to say more, but hesitated.


    "If there''s anything else, let''s talk about it once we get out. I''m going to settle into meditation now. Please guard me."


    "Very well!" Lady Yaoguang nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged and began to invoke the Imposing Avatar of Ri as he began to absorb the endless mes.


    The mes surged toward him ever more quickly.


    Lady Yaoguang was initially stunned. Then, looking at Xiao Nanfeng''s handsome face, at his maturity derived from strife and struggle, she couldn''t help but smile in relief. "He looks just like in my dream just now."


    This sea of mes was indeed much like the sea of karmic me that Xiao Nanfeng had absorbed. Despite what was urring in its interior, its exterior looked superficially undisturbed. Of course, there were some small visible manifestations, but none of the cursed effigies were paying attention to them in the midst of heated fighting.


    Indeed, they had all left the sea of mes behind, worried that they would activate the restrictions that the Horse Yanluo had imposed or be caught by Heaven''s Hand.


    Now that Xiao Nanfeng was an Earth Immortal, he was able to absorb mes ten times as quickly than when he was a Human Immortal¡ªperhaps even twenty times.


    After slightly more than two hours, the expansive sea of mes had shrunk to a fraction of its original size.


    A huge rumble emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as a firestorm formed around him.


    "The second stage of the Earth Immortal realm!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed with light.


    "Nanfeng, just what sort of technique do you cultivate? You''re consuming an incredible amount of resources just to advance a minor realm¡ªand you''re only an Earth Immortal! How are you going to keep progressing onward? Who gave you such a ludicrous technique? Are you sure they weren''t trying to harm you?" Lady Yaoguang fumed.


    "This is the Imposing Avatar of Ri. It''s true that it takes an extreme amount of resources to cultivate, but I can bear the blow of a Heaven Immortal even as an Earth Immortal."


    "Oh? That''s more like it."


    "I can sense that this sea of mes is on itsst legs. I''ll shatter the formation here. Be careful."


    "With me around, no cursed effigy shall get close to you. I can even block the blows of a Heaven Immortal cursed effigy. Feel free to get started," Lady Yaoguang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and began to suck.


    He swallowed the remaining mes in one big gulp. The formation around him, having lost its source of power, began to copse.


    The Yanluo Court quaked, and the resultingmotion was so intense that even the cursed effigies in the distance looked back.


    They saw Xiao Nanfeng absorbing thest of the volcanic mes, with Lady Yaoguang by his side.


    "Thatd''s out of the Yanluo Court again? And he absorbed all that volcanic me?!"


    "That woman escaped too!"


    "Quick, we have to catch them! We can''t let them run off!"


    The horse-headed humanoids rushed toward the two cultivators.


    "Kill!" Lady Yaoguang roared.


    Her blue sword struck in shes of light, splitting apart Earth Immortal cursed effigies in an instant. However, there were plenty of Heaven Immortal cursed effigies in the fight present by now. They evaded Lady Yaoguang''s blow, shed up to her, and smashed down with their palms.


    The blue moon barrier blocked the attack, but she was still sent flying from the force of the impact. The blue sword flew from her hands and struck the palm of the Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoid, sending him back.


    "Nanfeng, my cursebane sword''s protecting me automatically, and I won''t be able to control it any longer. The cursed effigies are heading toward you. Be careful!" Lady Yaoguang fretted.


    Indeed, a group of horse-headed humanoids was charging toward Xiao Nanfeng with fierce expressions on their faces.


    "im!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The shuddering Yanluo Court shed and vanished from sight.


    "What? Where''s the Yanluo Court?!" the cursed effigies eximed in shock.


    Suddenly, a frightening aura descended from the heavens. A wave of death surrounded the cursed effigies.


    They raised their heads in shock, only to find a huge Heaven''s Hand breaking free of the bloody cloud of annihtion, heading straight for them.


    "No!" the cursed effigies howled in panic.

 Chapter 430: The Horse Yanluos Disaster

    <h4>Chapter 430: The Horse Yanluo''s Disaster</h4>


    Without the Yanluo Court''s suppression, the cloud of annihtion began to unleash its might. This time, Heaven''s Hand shot down toward the gathered cursed effigies straight away, smashing them t with its palm. The ground quaked; the cursed effigies who had barely evaded the attack scrambled to run.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang, who weren''t cursed effigies, hadn''t been targeted by Heaven''s Hand. They barely avoided the blow unscathed.


    "Follow me, Yaoguang!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward Lady Yaoguang, who dispelled the blue moon barrier and allowed him to carry her up onto the arm of Heaven''s Hand.


    "What are you doing?!" she cried out, embarrassed.


    "Heaven''s Hand''s first blow struck this area because it was where the Yanluo Court was located. We don''t know where its next blow will be, and there are still far too many cursed effigies in the vicinity. If Heaven''s Hand were to leave, we might not be able to get away. We have to follow it closely if we want to seize the opportunity to escape."


    "I''m talking about your hand. Aren''t you going to remove it?!" Lady Yaoguang''s face was entirely red.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. Only then did he realize that he had mispositioned his hand on ount of the rush. He too flushed red and released Lady Yaoguang. "I apologize. I was in a hurry and wasn''t paying attention. I''ll be more careful next time."


    "Next time?!"


    Just then, Heaven''s Hand rose back up into the air and headed toward the next battlefield. Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang, standing atop its arm, were brought up into the clouds with it.


    The sudden eleration caused them to stumble, and Lady Yaoguang almost fell from the arm. Xiao Nanfeng reacted rapidly and caught her once more¡ªbut somehow, his grip ended up where it had been before.


    "Ah!" Lady Yaoguang flushed once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng hastily let go. He held carefully onto her waist to stabilize her, preventing her from falling once again.


    "We''ve escaped from the midst of the cursed effigies, and Heaven''s Hand has ascended toward the sky. This is our chance," Xiao Nanfeng said, changing the topic out of embarrassment.


    Only then did Lady Yaoguang calm down and focus on whaty before them.


    This time, Heaven''s Hand was headed toward the four Yanluo Lords.


    The Yanluo Lords were fighting among each other, the Horse Yanluo attempting and failing to fend off the other three.


    "Who stole my Yanluo Court?!" the Horse Yanluo demanded.


    Heaven''s Hand shot toward them.


    "Force the Horse Yanluo to one side. The three of us will be on the opposite side!" the Ox Yanluo called out.


    "Got it!" the other two Yanluo Lords replied.


    They instantly forced the Horse Yanluo aside as the three Yanluo Lords cooperated to save themselves.


    All four Yanluo Lords were gripped by Heaven''s Hand.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang hopped out from Heaven''s Hand and fled. The four Yanluo Lords saw them leave.


    "Thatd? Isn''t his name Xiao Nanfeng?" the Monkey Yanluo eximed.


    "He can escape from the Yanluo Court himself? Has he been tricking us all along?" the Ox Yanluo shouted.


    "Could he have been the one who took the Yanluo Court, too? How could that be?!" The Dog Yanluo reeled in shock.


    By then, the Horse Yanluo hade to the realization that it had been tricked by Xiao Nanfeng. The cost of the deception wasn''t something that he could bear. His Yanluo Court was gone, and he could very well be annihted within the next few moments.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you. I''ll kill you!" the Horse Yanluo shouted hoarsely.


    The four Yanluo Lords, caught in the palm of Heaven''s Hand, were blocked from sight. Heaven''s Hand squeezed forcefully, and bolts of lightning filled its palm.


    The four Yanluo Lords had been fighting high in the air. There were originally some Heaven Immortal horse-headed humanoids present to assist, but over the past four hours, as more and more cursed effigies arrived, they were forced to deal with those new foes. As a result, all four Yanluo Lords were far from their subordinates.


    This gave Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang an excellent opportunity to hide.


    They shrouded their bodies with fog and flew off, an explosion to their backs. Along the way, they didn''te across a single cursed effigy and were able to fly unhindered toward the outskirts of Wu.


    The two cultivators continued onward carefully. After leaving Wu, they descended to ground level and hid within a forest in the distance.


    "We finally made it out!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Nanfeng, did you touch me intentionally?" Lady Yaoguang fumed. Her face was still flushed, but she didn''t seem particrly critical of him."


    Xiao Nanfeng scratched his head. "I really didn''t mean to do so intentionally, but if it bothers you, why not..."


    "Why not what?"


    "Why don''t we be a couple?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Lady Yaoguang''s heart thrummed. Her face was a mask of panic. She pretended to be angry. "Dream on!"


    Just then, an explosion rang out in the air. A storm of energy formed around Heaven''s Hand.


    "Will Heaven''s Hand be able to take on the four Yanluo Lords?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered, expression serious.


    Lady Yaoguang likewise looked toward the sky, but her eyes flicked to Xiao Nanfeng every now and then. She lifted her chin up high. A flush crept down her snowy-white neck as her heart thudded.


    "King! Be careful!" Countless cursed effigies surrounded Heaven''s Hand, watching in worry.


    All the cursed effigies knew that Heaven''s Hand had caught the four Yanluo Lords and was trying to kill them all.


    Suddenly, however, Heaven''s Hand burst apart.


    "What? The four Yanluo Lords managed to escape Heaven''s Hand?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    Lady Yaoguang shivered. "The four Yanluo Lords truly have frightening strength."


    With a bang, Heaven''s Hand shuddered and exploded in a wave of ming energy. The explosion was so immense that, where it passed by, it looked like a cmity had struck.


    The mes swept past countless cursed effigies, all of whom screamed and were burned to ash.


    Therge capital of Wu was razed to the ground in a sh. The mes caused mountains and streams to copse.


    Despite the fact that the mes diminished in size as the wave of energy traveled further and further, they still possessed enough might to destroy heaven and earth. They reached Xiao Nanfeng within moments.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched and immediately grabbed Lady Yaoguang in an embrace.


    "I have my blue moon barrier. Let me block the mes!" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought both of them into the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    "It''s safer here," he told her.


    Then, as Xiao Nanfeng let go of Lady Yaoguang, she flushed red and gave Xiao Nanfeng a frown. "Don''t lift me up next time. That''s disrespectful!"


    "I promise I''ll be more careful next time," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng had said that repeatedly, but he didn''t seem to keep his word. She rolled her eyes at him, still fuming.


    "It looks like we''re safe now. Let''s go out and see what happened." Xiao Nanfeng tugged on Lady Yaoguang''s hand as they stepped out of the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    They emerged to see their surroundings a mess. Large swathes of cursed effigies had been killed, and the remainder were seriously injured.


    Heaven''s Hand had exploded, but the bloody cloud of annihtion in the air hadn''t vanished. Rather, it seemed to be growing even redder, as though a new Heaven''s Hand was about to spawn into existence.


    At the source of the explosion, a group of Yanluo Lords appeared.


    The Monkey, Dog, and Ox Yanluos were heavily injured and spitting out fresh blood. The Horse Yanluo had suffered even more grievous injuries. He was bloody all over, his body contorted in pain, hurt more severely than ever before.


    Heaven''s Hand had struck them all, but the Horse Yanluo had shouldered half the attack on his own, whereas the other three Yanluo Lords had shouldered the other half. The difference in their injuries was palpable.


    Realizing how terrible the situation was for him, the Horse Yanluo turned to run, but it was toote. The Ox Yanluo rushed forward and began to inhale everything before him in.


    "No!" the Horse Yanluo cried out.


    He was far too weak to resist. The Ox Yanluo sucked him into his mouth.


    "Ox Yanluo, hold it!" the Monkey Yanluo screeched.


    "Ox Yanluo, how dare you!" the Dog Yanluo howled.


    The two Yanluo Lords began to attack the Ox Yanluo, but he allowed their punches tond as he swallowed the Horse Yanluo whole.


    "No!" the Monkey Yanluo roared.


    "Spit it out. Spit it out now!" the Dog Yanluo demanded.


    "Until next time, fellows!" The Ox Yanluo took a deep breath and flew off as he bore with his wounds.


    "Hold it right there!" The Monkey and Dog Yanluos chased after him.


    The three Yanluo Lords vanished in three beams of light.


    The remaining cursed effigies panicked.


    "The Ox Yanluo swallowed our king? This can''t be!" the horse-headed humanoids cried out.


    "The Ox Yanluo ate the Horse Yanluo? He managed to obtain another Yanluo Lord''s strength?"


    "No, that''s not all. The Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar lies in the Horse Yanluo''s body. The Ox Yanluo gained two Yanluo Lords'' strength!"


    "If the Ox Yanluo can escape, he''s going to dominate the Netherworld Pce..."


    The cursed effigies shouted at each other in panic.


    None of them could have expected that the Ox Yanluo would end up the greatest winner of this entire fiasco.


    "Right, what about thatd from just now? He stole the Yanluo Court. We have to find him!" a cursed effigy eximed.


    Only then did the majority of the cursed effigies get reminded of Xiao Nanfeng. They prepared to search their surroundings.


    Just then, a huge boom rang out in the air. Another Heaven''s Hand had emerged from the bloody cloud and was heading straight for the nearest cursed effigies.


    "No!" the cursed effigies shouted in panic.


    It caught a group of cursed effigies and squeezed them until they exploded.


    Heaven''s Hand once again began to unleash indiscriminate ughter. Countless cursed effigies fled in fear¡ªnone bothered to search for Xiao Nanfeng any longer with their lives in abject danger.


    "It''s too dangerous here," Lady Yaoguang surmised. "We should leave first."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The two cultivators fled through the underbrush of the forest.

 Chapter 431: The Chef Returns

    <h4>Chapter 431: The Chef Returns</h4>


    The capital of Wu was a mess; everyone was worried for themselves. Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang fled from the capital of Wu. After nearly a day of travel, the two of them stopped in a secluded valley to rest.


    Xiao Nanfeng began to cook, roasting meat on a spit and steaming delicacies by the side. Hot air wafted up with the delicious scent of food as Xiao Nanfeng took on the mantle of chef once again.


    Lady Yaoguang beamed as she ate what Xiao Nanfeng had just prepared from a small bowl.


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather speechless. "Why don''t you switch to arger bowl? Isn''t it rather inconvenient for you to have to refill it each time you finish such a small portion?"


    "What would you know? You have to be more refined while eating, don''t you see? Go on, keep roasting that meat! It''s been far too long since I''ve had anything like it," Lady Yaoguang urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched as Lady Yaoguang polished off a huge rack of spiritbeast all by herself. This was ''refined''? Did she perhaps have some mistaken understanding of what ''refined'' meant?


    "My pce has a dedicated kitchen with chefs of particr skill. If you return with me, I can guarantee you a daily feast that won''t repeat itself," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    "No, no¡ªI want your cooking!" Lady Yaoguang stretched one of her feetzily. Then, thinking that what she had said could be misinterpreted, she immediately added, "You surely cook better than the others. I''ll only have the best."


    "Then I''ll prepare more food for you in the future." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Good!" Lady Yaoguang smiled back at him.


    The two of them ate as they talked about what each of them had undergone in each other''s absence.


    "You killed Nn Qiankun and even established your own empire?!" Lady Yaoguang gaped in astonishment.


    "That''s right. You don''t have to worry about the cursed kings by my side. Not only have they not hurt me, they''ve even provided me with incredible support. Otherwise, I would never have been able to cultivate so quickly," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "That can''t be right. Those cursed kings must want something from you, or they''d never treat you so well. Don''t let them hoodwink you!" Lady Yaoguang warned sternly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He was aware of this, of course, but sometimes it would be better to pretend otherwise.


    "I''ve started cultivating the Shangqing Yin Body that you transcribed for me. I''ll be alright. Please don''t worry." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "That''s not sufficient! Allow me to help you. This cursebane sword is a peerless treasure of the Shangqing holynd and specifically designed to counter cursed effigies. I can deal with them on your behalf," Lady Yaoguang said, drawing her sword.


    "Don''t! I really am alright. I get along very well with them." Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly held Lady Yaoguang back.


    None of the cursed kings hounding him would be easy to deal with. Each had hidden reserves of energy, and even the most active among them, the blood peach tree, was incredibly strong, even if it had been pretending to be weak all along. He didn''t want Lady Yaoguang to suffer while attempting to rid him of them.


    "In the end, they''ll only hurt you," Lady Yaoguang said again, refusing to give up.


    "It''s alright. Come on, let''s talk more while you eat. If I really need your assistance, I''ll let you know." Xiao Nanfeng passed her another serving of food.


    "Hmph!" Lady Yaoguang seemed a little upset, but she still took the proffered food and began to eat with gusto.


    "Then, I came to Fengdu in order to investigate the death of that Martial Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "That Martial Aspect? The man my uncle brought with me? He looked displeased all the time and would frequently rub a jade carving of a woman, like a trinket. Allegedly, he entered the Netherworld Pce in search of some Records of Life and Death in order to revive the woman from the carving. He seemed rather obsessed. I once heard him refer to that woman as a princess," Lady Yaoguang recalled.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    "I''m not too familiar with that Martial Aspect. Keep going," Lady Yaoguang said.


    "Then, on the night of a full moon... Your father entered the abyss too..." Xiao Nanfeng recounted.


    "My mother was possessed by the Rabbit Yanluo? Truly? And my father''s here too?!" Lady Yaoguang fretted anxiously.


    "Don''t worry. Finish this meal first. Tomorrow, I''ll have the members of the cultivators'' alliance help us investigate their whereabouts. We should hear about it in no time at all."


    Lady Yaoguang seemed rather frustrated, but she forced herself to remain calm. She knew that rushing such a matter wouldn''t help.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s story allowed her to understand just what had happened to him over thesest few years, and Xiao Nanfeng inquired as to her situation as well.


    "Thest time I came to Fengdu and had my father contact my uncle, I intended to help you deal with the cursed kings hounding you by using the sword that my mother once wielded. My uncle brought me to the Shangqing holynd to evaluate my constitution¡ªonly to find that I was particrly suited for Shangqing techniques. My mother''s cursebane sword even attuned to me, and the Shangqing sect master conferred it to me as a gift."


    "This blue sword was once your mother''s?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It was. My mother used to be a Shangqing holy maiden. Then, despite countless warnings, she chose to marry my father and roused significant ire from the Shangqing holynd. The Shangqing holynd reimed the sword that was given to her and attempted to coax my mother into returning. As long as she changed her mind, she would be able to reim the sword. My mother, however, was particrly stubborn. She chose not to do so¡ªand I, I suppose, was lucky. To my surprise, I was even morepatible with the sword than my mother, and I even felt a fragment of will left behind by the Shangqing Grandmaster, who imparted countless techniques to me and recognized me as a cross-generational apprentice."


    "A cross-generational apprentice... That must be no small matter within the Shangqing holynd. No wonder you were forbidden from leaving." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Indeed. If my uncle hadn''t secretly brought me out, I would have had a hard time leaving. Now that I''ve left, however, I don''t intend to return. No one will be able to stop me!" Lady Yaoguangughed.


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng smiled as well.


    Just then, the two cultivators suddenly felt life-threatening danger envelop them. They nched and activated their defenses at full strength.


    A huge palm appeared out of nowhere and struck the two cultivators. A blue moon barrier instantly shed into existence around Lady Yaoguang, while Xiao Nanfeng was batted away by the palm.


    "Nanfeng!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    Her blue moon barrier was particrly potent, and her cursebane sword provided an automatic secondyer of defense. She was only flung a limited distance away, whereas Xiao Nanfeng crashed into a nearby mountain and broke a hole in it.


    Lady Yaoguang rushed over to see Xiao Nanfeng mbering out of the ruins of the mountain, staring in warning at the white-robed man not too far away.


    "Oh? The two of you are rather lucky to have survived my sneak attack unscathed." The white-robed manughed coldly.


    "Another Heaven Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Nanfeng, do you recognize him?" Lady Yaoguang asked in surprise.


    "He''s one of the eight Heaven Immortals working under the crown prince of Dayin. I mentioned them just now," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lady Yaoguang understood what was going on immediately. Xiao Nanfeng had already killed one Heaven Immortal. Now, another one appeared.


    "How did you find us?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Everyone knows of themotion in Wu. How could someone like you have managed to steal even the Horse Yanluo''s Yanluo Court? And you even fled this far¡ªwe had a hard time finding you," the white-robed man replied.


    "The rest of you are here too?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "We split up to search for you. I''m the only one here for now. You risked your life for a woman? You dared to barge into the nexus of a cursed effigy''s strength for her? She is a beauty, I have to admit, evenpared to the crown prince''s concubines. However, the crown prince has his eyes on her. You won''t get a turn." The white-robed manughed again.

 Chapter 432: Whos Hunting Whom

    <h4>Chapter 432: Who''s Hunting Whom</h4>


    The white-robed Heaven Immortal''s fearless gaze caused the two cultivators to be exceptionally on guard. The Heaven Immortal''s aura pressured them both.


    "Nanfeng, you head out first. I''ll hold him back," Lady Yaoguang said immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. He walked up to Lady Yaoguang and looked coldly at the white-robed Heaven Immortal, pretending to be calm. "You dare strike alone? Haven''t you forgotten how I slew Yin?"


    The white-robed Heaven Immortal smirked. "Haven''t I just tested your strength? You were barely able to take a blow from me. You''re an Earth Immortal, aren''t you? You''re far weaker than I am, and it looks as though that copper de can only activate its true strength under special circumstances. Otherwise, you would have used it in the capital of Wu."


    "You knew about what happened in the capital of Wu?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I forgot to tell you. When themotion urred by the sea of karmic me, we all headed over. I returned to the capital of Wu following behind the Horse Yanluo, and I clearly saw your shameful disy of strength against the Horse Yanluo. You, a lowly Earth Immortal, dare to stand up against us? You really don''t know what''s good for you, do you?"


    Although he sounded rxed, he didn''t drop his guard at all. He was deliberately trying to intimidate Xiao Nanfeng; he had no idea how Xiao Nanfeng had managed what he did with the Yanluo Court.


    "You''re trying tounch a sneak attack on me, but you haven''t yet contacted the crown prince of Dayin. You must have some ulterior motive in mind," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What do you think?" The white-robed Heaven Immortal smirked.


    "The fact that you''re not continuing to attack us means that we can negotiate. Go on. What will it take for you to let us go?"


    The white-robed Heaven Immortal stared at Xiao Nanfeng. "You have two great treasures: a copper de, and an imperial seal that has imed two Yanluo Courts. Hand them both to me and I''ll let you go. How''s that?"


    "Nanfeng, you can''t listen to him! He''s deliberately trying to trick you. Once you hand your possessions over, he can change his mind at any time. He''s not interested in negotiating¡ªhe''s just worried about how strong your treasures might be. He''ll surely strike once he tricks them away from you," Lady Yaoguang warned.


    Not far away, the Heaven Immortal frowned. With his inner thoughts exposed, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of indignance ovee him.


    "He''s a Heaven Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head. "He''ll keep his word."


    The Heaven Immortal stilled, his indignance reced with surprise and wariness. What was thisd thinking?


    "How can you believe him?" Lady Yaoguang fumed.


    "We don''t have any other option. As long as we can leave safely, I don''t mind leaving these two treasures behind."


    "But..."


    She wanted to berate him for being a fool when she suddenly realized that this waspletely unlike how Xiao Nanfeng usually acted. Could he be deliberately trying to set something up?


    Unable to get a sense for what Xiao Nanfeng was nning, she could only fall silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the divine undying de and the Divine Seal of Dazheng. "Are you a man of your word, sir?"


    The white-robed Heaven Immortal fell silent. He was surprised and cautious about how smoothly everything was going. Was this a scheme of some sort?


    However, he simply couldn''t tell what the problem was. Why not im the treasures first? He just needed to be more careful than usual.


    "I am a man of my word," the Heaven Immortal promised.


    "Then I''lle over bearing these two treasures," Xiao Nanfeng said, taking a step forward.


    "Hold it!" the Heaven Immortal shouted.


    "What''s the matter?"


    The Heaven Immortal smirked. He understood what Xiao Nanfeng was trying to do now. He was pretending to ede to lower his guard. Xiao Nanfeng surely intended tounch a sneak attack on him while handing over the treasure!


    "Toss the treasures over. Don''te over yourself," the Heaven Immortal said coolly.


    Lady Yaoguang fretted, thinking that Xiao Nanfeng''s plot had been foiled, but Xiao Nanfeng really did toss the treasures over as indicated.


    "What? You''re really giving those treasures up?" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    The Heaven Immortal was shocked by Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior. What was going on? That said, he naturally didn''t intend on giving up any opportunity to weaken his opponent. He reached out to catch them.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng and the divine undying de approached at different angles. The divine undying de flew faster and headed straight toward the Heaven Immortal in a line, while the Divine Seal of Dazheng was tossed in a parabolic arc and fell toward the Heaven Immortal from above.


    The Heaven Immortal caught the divine undying de,


    with no ill effect whatsoever. The Heaven Immortal was just about tough at Xiao Nanfeng for being a fool when the Divine Seal of Dazheng overhead released overwhelming golden light. A frightening aura descended from the heavens.


    "Something''s wrong!" the Heaven Immortal cried out.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng suddenly sped up until it was right over his head. He had no time to dodge. With a bang, he was trapped beneath the divine seal.


    "Fortune of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The sealing power of the Divine Seal of Dazheng grew tremendously. The Heaven Immortal waspletely encased in golden light. He stomped on the ground, releasing the aura of a Heaven Immortal to defend himself, but failed to overwhelm the Divine Seal of Dazheng altogether.


    "Impossible! How can there be so much fortune in this imperial seal for you tomand? Just who are you?!" the Heaven Immortal demanded.


    The Heaven Immortals had had no time to check on Xiao Nanfeng''s background.


    Although the empire of Dazheng had only been founded for a short period of time, the poprity of Xiao Nanfeng''s rule meant that there was an incredible amount of fortune gathered within his imperial seal.


    Furthermore, the divine purple rock that had formed the basis of the seal itself possessed tremendous sealing ability. The reinforced seal cracked the Immortal qi barrier protecting the Heaven Immortal.


    "I''m a Heaven Immortal! How could you be able to seal me? Break!" the Heaven Immortal demanded.


    He struggled, putting his full strength to bear, but remainedpletely suppressed.


    Xiao Nanfeng let out a breath. "I was worried I wouldn''t be able to hit you, but you cooperated very well by stepping forward."


    The Heaven Immortal was so furious he could spit out blood. As a Heaven Immortal, he certainly had the speed to avoid the seal when it was tossed, but regret was useless to him now.


    "Yaoguang, this is particrly draining on my reserves of fortune. Quick, kill him with your cursebane sword!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "Very well!" Lady Yaoguang thrust her sword at the Heaven Immortal.


    "Damn it! Heavenly barrier!" the Heaven Immortal roared in panic.


    Though rendered immobile by the seal, unable to even retrieve a treasure, he could still manipte his heavenly qi and protect himself with it.


    Unfortunately for him, the cursebane sword was a peerless treasure of the Shangqing holynd, and it was far too easy for it to kill a Heaven Immortal. The cursebane sword speared through his head, killing his physical and yin bodies simultaneously.


    With a hum, the Divine Seal of Dazheng flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s hand. Lady Yaoguang cut the Heaven Immortal''s body once again to confirm that he was dead before she sheathed her de again.


    "What a pitiful death," Lady Yaoguang murmured, smiling.


    "He died because of his greed and arrogance. He tried to im all my treasures alone¡ªif he had summoned his peers, we would have been no match for him."


    "Oh?"


    "He likely has an important artifact known as arhat armor. It''s particrly potent, but he didn''t have a chance to use it. Let me see..." Xiao Nanfeng headed forward expectantly.


    Very quickly, he dug out a storage bangle from the Heaven Immortal''s corpse, where he retrieved a thirty-meter tall golden statue of an arhat.


    "This is your so-called arhat armor?" Lady Yaoguang eximed in surprise.


    The two cultivators poked around the artifact for a while, breaking the seals that were on it. Xiao Nanfeng quickly identified the crux to activating the armor. With a hum, his body merged together with it.


    Xiao Nanfeng experimentally punched forth with Hegemon''s Fist, then darted out of its interior.


    "How is it?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "It''s incredible. When I merged together with it, I felt as though I was possessing the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. I was able to manipte it with ease."


    "Oh?"


    "You try, too!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Lady Yaoguang epted dly. She tested out the potency of the arhat armor. When she re-emerged, her eyes were gleaming. "It''s a great treasure. You''d be as strong as a peak Heaven Immortal with it on."


    "There are plenty of Heaven Immortals searching for us, and they likely all possess arhat armor. Let''s try to im it all," Xiao Nanfeng suggested, smiling.


    "You intend to counterattack the crown prince of Dayin and his subordinates?" Lady Yaoguang asked seriously.


    "I do. They''ve been hounding me and don''t look like they''ll give up. They''re surely nning on attacking me. Rather than wait passively, why not take advantage of their greed to kill them? What''s more, we need to search for your parents. With our strength, we won''t be able to deal with even ordinary Heaven Immortal cursed effigies. The arhat armor will help us take on a more active role," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "As you will." Lady Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    "Let''s keep doing what we did before¡ªfind a ce, then sit and wait." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Very well!" Lady Yaoguang nodded.


    The two cultivators packed up and found a small stream by which they could pretend to be cooking.


    A steady stream of smoke rose into the sky, a clear sign of liveliness against a sunset backdrop.


    Quickly, another white-robed Heaven Immortal flew by across the horizon, as though in search of something. Suddenly, he noticed the smokeing from afar.


    He reined in his aura and hid within a forest by the side of a mountain, observing the couple fooling about by the stream.


    "His Highness is only interested in the copper de, the imperial seal, and the Yanluo Courts. Thisd has a tremendous number of secrets up his sleeve. Could I be able to gain the rest of them myself?" The Heaven Immortal''s eyes lit up like a hunter''s.


    He inspected his surroundings to confirm that there was no ambush lying in wait before he skulked over.

 Chapter 433: The Stubborn Yin Tianci

    <h4>Chapter 433: The Stubborn Yin Tianci</h4>


    The best hunters often presented themselves as prey; as expected, the second Heaven Immortal was easily preyed upon. He thought he had control of the situation right up until the Divine Seal of Dazheng fell on his head. Everything was over then.


    "Strike now!" Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    "Got it!" Lady Yaoguang replied.


    The cursebane sword thrust toward the sealed Heaven Immortal.


    "You damned brat, I won''t let you off! Die!" the Heaven Immortal roared.


    With a swing of her sword, Lady Yaoguang beheaded him in a spray of blood, killing his physical and yin bodies both.


    "Another one down," Lady Yaoguang replied with glee.


    She retrieved the white-robed Heaven Immortal''s storage treasure and carefullybed through it. As expected, she picked up another arhat armor.


    "Nanfeng, this isn''t a bad strategy. Let''s continue," Lady Yaoguang said expectantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, then ultimately shook his head. "I''m afraid we can''t."


    "Oh? Why not?"


    "Both Heaven Immortals were blinded by greed and attempted to harm me, but their expressions right before their death were different. The first died with fear and despair; the second, with hatred and vengeance."


    Lady Yaoguang thought for a moment before her eyes opened wide. "You mean that he might have an avatar? That''s why he wasn''t fearful of death?"


    "That''s right."


    "In that case, as long as the crown prince of Dayin has someone with an avatar by his side, they couldmunicate easily. We''ve been exposed!" Lady Yaoguang surmised.


    "That''s right. We can''t stay here any longer. The crown prince of Dayin and his subordinates will be on guard, and it''ll cost us too much to take them on now. A single moment of carelessness could kill us. Let''s go," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" Lady Yaoguang nodded.


    The two cultivators packed up and departed immediately.


    Not too longter, the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci, arrived with five Heaven Immortals in tow.


    "Your Highness, Xiao Nanfeng and Holy Maiden Yaoguang are gone. There''s no one around," a Heaven Immortal reported.


    Yin Tianci frowned. "They really are alert, aren''t they?"


    "Your Highness, it was Xiao Nanfeng who rescued Holy Maiden Yaoguang. I''m afraid the promise of marriage that Qu Jianfeng agreed to will be nullified," one of his subordinates said.


    "I heard that Holy Maiden Yaoguang obtained a cross-generational inheritance from the Shangqing Grandmaster, and will have considerable say in the Shangqing holynd in the future. I need the support of the Shangqing holynd in order to grow further as a cultivator, so this marriage with Holy Maiden Yaoguang is of paramount importance. She can only belong to me," Yin Tianci said.


    "But¡ª"


    "No buts! Xiao Nanfeng might have taken the lead, but the mouth of the abyss isn''t going to open for another half a month. As long as we can find them before that and make Holy Maiden Yaoguang my woman, then go through the usual ceremony, we''ll be set. By then, the Shangqing holynd will have no choice but to recognize me as her husband."


    "Of course, Your Majesty!"


    "They can''t have run too far away. Continue the search!"


    "Understood!"


    Back in the city of Wuliu, Xiao Nanfeng reunited with the cultivators of the alliance.


    The moment they saw him, they were gobsmacked. Quite a few cultivators had been stationed on guard around the capital of Wu, and they had seen Xiao Nanfeng turn the whole capital into mayhem. Not only that, he had rescued Lady Yaoguang from the Horse Yanluo''s clutches.


    "Everyone, the next time the mouth of the abyss opens up, I''ll do my best to escort you all out. In the meantime, however, please help me search for the whereabouts of Lan Jiguang," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, City Lord Xiao! We''ll do our best!" the cultivators replied politely.


    Now that there was hope of leaving the Netherworld Pce, they were full of energy.


    "Can you bring me to the Rabbit Yanluo''s capital to have a look?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "Do you want to find your mother? She''s been possessed by the Rabbit Yanluo..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I know. I just want to see what my mother looks like from afar. She was dragged into the abyss by a cursed effigy right after I was born, so I never got a good look at her." Lady Arclight smiled wryly.


    "Hold on. Let''s head to the Goat Yanluo''s capital first," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Why?" Lady Yaoguang seemed confused.


    "The Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar might be there. If possible, I''d like for us to see if we can get it before we head to the Rabbit Yanluo''s capital."


    Lady Yaoguang nodded, thinking back to how Xiao Nanfeng had managed to sneak into the Wu capital using the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    A dayter, guided by a cultivator, the two of them arrived by the ruins of a city. There, they got in contact with a cultivator from the alliance who had been stationed there.


    "This is the Goat Yanluo''s capital?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Why is it a pile of ruins?" Lady Yaoguang was surprised as well.


    The cultivator who had been stationed by the capital said, "Didn''t either of you hear about themotion two days ago?"


    "Of course we knew about the battle at Wu. City Lord Xiao manufactured the wholemotion!" the other cultivator said.


    "At Wu? We haven''t received word of that yet. There was a huge battle here as well."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The Tiger Yanluo appeared out of nowhere, leading countless tiger-headed humanoids to ughter the goat-headed humanoids here. The Tiger Yanluo rushed into the sea of ice that the Goat Yanluo set up, absorbing it all even as Heaven''s Hand attacked him. As he evaded Heaven''s Hand, he continued the absorption until he found a coffin with the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar within," the cultivator reported.


    "The Tiger Yanluo got here before us, then?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "The hugemotion roused the attention of the Rabbit and Rooster Yanluos, who attempted to fight for the Goat Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. Unfortunately, they were toote. The Tiger Yanluo had already begun to absorb it, and the resulting fight, along with the attacks from Heaven''s Hand, razed the city to the ground. The Tiger Yanluo took advantage of themotion to flee."


    "No wonder these three Yanluos weren''t present at Wu. So the Tiger Yanluo had been waiting for an opportunity to strike all along!" Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened.


    Just then, a rumble came from the heavens in the distance.


    The cultivators looked over to see a Heaven''s Hand destroying cursed effigies left and right.


    "It''s been attacking cursed effigies for two days now, but no Yanluo Lord hase to deal with it yet."


    The Heaven''s Hand crushed whatever cursed effigies it came across, turning them into piles of ash that dissipated with the wind. They didn''t regenerate.


    "It''s a good thing for the people that this is happening. Come on, let''s head to the Rabbit Yanluo''s capital of Mao," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" Lady Yaoguang nodded.


    The procession headed straight for Mao.


    They waited by the outskirts of the capital and observed it from afar.


    Arge number of rabbit-headed humanoids were scampering back and forth, as though they were particrly busy.


    "It''s too dangerous here, and your mother''s nowhere to be seen. I don''t think we should stay long. Why don''t we return and await news of your father first?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Lady Yaoguang sighed, but nodded. "Very well!"

 Chapter 434: Lan Jiguangs Appearance

    <h4>Chapter 434: Lan Jiguang''s Appearance</h4>


    Dayster, by a valley, Lady Yaoguang was seated right next to a pile of roast meat as she dug in with gusto. At the same time, from afar, she observed Xiao Nanfeng interrogating a rabbit-headed humanoid that had been hung up.


    "A month ago, by the mouth of the abyss, when the Rabbit Yanluo was forced back into the Netherworld Pce by Heaven''s Hand, a man by the name of Lan Jiguang gave chase after her. You''re aware of this, aren''t you? If you tell me about what happened, I''ll release you immediately."


    "I''m aware, but I won''t tell you anything. Dream on!" the rabbit-headed humanoid retorted stubbornly.


    "If you tell me, I''ll let you go. Why be so stubborn?"


    "Our king forbade us from saying anything, and I won''t go against her. Once I''m freed, I''ll eat you both, haha!"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, then turned to the cultivators of the alliance beside him. "He isn''t being cooperative. I''ll leave the subsequent interrogation to you. Don''t go easy on him."


    "He''s killed plenty of our brethren. Of course we''ll take revenge for our brothers now that he''snded in our hands. We won''t go easy on him, City Lord Xiao. Don''t worry. We''ll make sure to extract the information you need," one cultivator replied confidently.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you."


    He handed the rabbit-headed humanoid to the cultivators before walking over to the other side of the valley, where he continued to cook for Lady Yaoguang.


    The two cultivators ate as they awaited the results of the interrogation.


    "That rabbit-headed humanoid is really stubborn, isn''t he?" Lady Yaoguang frowned.


    "They''re cursed effigies that can regenerate, so it makes sense that they wouldn''t speak right away. Eventually, however, they''ll break." Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "No word of your father is surprising enough, but no one has found Blue Lantern, Ye Dafu, and the others either. Something''s wrong."


    "Blue Lantern''s exceptionally strong. I''m sure he''s only in hiding," Lady Yaoguang said.


    "He is strong, but he has terrible luck. I''m a little worried about him..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    Just then, a cultivator flew in from outside the valley.


    "City Lord Xiao, we''ve received word about the Yanluo Lords."


    "Oh?"


    "The Ox Yanluo eventually made it back to his nexus of power and hid in his Yanluo Court with a group of his subordinates. He''s refusing toe out and is isting himself. The Monkey and Dog Yanluos were unable to break it open, so they killed the remaining ox-headed humanoids in the vicinity before they left. However, on the way back, the Dog Yanluo was ambushed by the Tiger Yanluo."


    "What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    "The Tiger Yanluo ate the Dog Yanluo and imed his Yanluo Court. The hugemotion attracted the attention and pursuit of the other Yanluo Lords, so the Tiger Yanluo rushed back to his own Yanluo Court with his subordinates and sealed himself in as well."


    "The Dog Yanluo was devoured too?" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "Things are progressing faster than I anticipated. What a schemer. The Tiger Yanluo took down two Yanluo Lords in a row¡ªhe has the strength of three Yanluo Lords now!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "As does the Ox Yanluo," Lady Yaoguang said in worry.


    "Once the Tiger and Ox Yanluos finish digesting their gains, the remaining three Yanluo Lords will be in serious trouble," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    "I''m sure the ten Yanluo Lords wouldn''t have expected the fragile equilibrium of power that hassted a hundred thousand years to be broken by a mortal like you," Lady Yaoguang said wryly.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a sigh.


    "In that case, just what is this blood peach tree you''ve got? It''s not any of the ten Yanluo Lords. Haven''t you asked about its identity?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "It refuses to tell me."


    "Then this must surely be part of a scheme. Why don''t you let me deal with it?"


    "There''s no need, not just yet." Xiao Nanfeng was internally alert. The blood peach tree was no easy foe to handle; he didn''t want Lady Yaoguang to endanger herself or rouse its ire.


    "Well, forget it, then. It''s going to turn on you sooner orter." Lady Yaoguang sniffed delicately as she continued to eat.


    "Is there more news?" Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the cultivator.


    "At the moment, there are three Heaven''s Hands ughtering cursed effigies all around the region, and no Yanluo Lord has dealt with them yet."


    "The Yanluo Lords are worried about their own safety; they don''t have time to deal with Heaven''s Hand. What if they get wounded and the other Yanluo Lords seize the opportunity to take them down?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Just then, another cultivator flew toward them from afar, excitement on her face. "City Lord Xiao, we''ve found City Lord Lan Jiguang!"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "Where''s my father?!" Lady Yaoguang discarded the roast meat she had been consuming.


    "He''s waiting for you in the city of Wuliu. He came in contact with a few cultivators from the alliance, who led him there."


    "Nanfeng, my father''s here! Let''s go have a look!" Lady Yaoguang said, her eyes wide in happiness.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The two cultivators rushed off toward Wuliu, arriving in no time at all. From afar, they saw Lan Jiguang standing by the ruins where the city lord''s manor had been. There were plenty of cultivators from the alliance around him, but Lan Jiguang''s expression was severe and stern. He didn''t seem to want to talk with the cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned in unease.


    "Father!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    Lan Jiguang slowly turned around. When he saw Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang, his eyes brightened. He smiled in a sinister fashion.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately sensed that something was amiss. He cried out, "Yaoguang, be careful!"


    A few giant palms shot toward her from among the gathered crowd. One seized Lady Yaoguang, whereas Xiao Nanfeng dodged them all thanks to his alertness. Even so, he was sent flying by two of the palms.


    "A Heaven Immortal''s attack...!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He was sent flying into the city, where he shattered the buildings thaty in his way. Without any hesitation, he melded with the arhat armor in his possession.


    Transforming into a golden arhat, he flew toward Lady Yaoguang.


    Just then, however, another ck palm appeared from the side and smashed into his body, sending him flying again.


    "What? How can that be?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He was wearing arhat armor! How could that blow have been so powerful? As he careened away, he turned back to see who had attacked him¡ªa rabbit-headed humanoid with a crown on her head and robes of ck brocade with gold-edged draconic motifs.


    "The Rabbit Yanluo!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Lad, this armor of yours is rather interesting," the Rabbit Yanluo said.


    She shot into the air toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nanfeng, be careful!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    She activated her blue moon barrier as her cursebane sword shattered the palm holding her captive.


    The next moment, five humans appeared and suppressed her.


    "What? Five Heaven Immortals?!" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    The cursebane sword swiftly acted to defend her, but even it couldn''t fend off five Heaven Immortals at once. She was trapped within moments.


    As she watched Xiao Nanfeng being pped away time and time again by the Rabbit Yanluo, with such force that even the arhat armor was starting to crack, she couldn''t help but worry.


    "Nanfeng, the blue moon barrier and cursebane sword will protect me. They can''t do anything against me. Leave!" she shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng was in bad shape. He knew that, if he didn''t make a move soon, neither of them would be able to escape. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Yaoguang, hold on. I''ll be back to rescue you in no time!"


    After being sent flying by another blow from the Rabbit Yanluo, he took advantage of that momentum to flee.


    "Hold it right there!" The Rabbit Yanluo immediately gave chase.


    The cultivator and Yanluo Lord vanished from sight over the horizon.


    As the Rabbit Yanluo drew closer and closer, Xiao Nanfeng began to worry. Just then, he saw a Heaven''s Hand from afar, seizing whatever cursed effigies it could find. As though sensing his savior, he grinned and shot straight at it. The Rabbit Yanluo refused to relent given how close she was to him.


    Just then, Heaven''s Hand sensed the Rabbit Yanluo''s presence and caught her.


    "Damn it!"


    Heaven''s Hand struck at full force, sending her flying from the impact.


    She had no choice but to turn and flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of the opportunity to flee into the forested region down below, hiding from sight.


    "The crown prince of Dayin, teaming up with the Rabbit Yanluo against me... I shouldn''t have held back that day. I should have taken all of you down regardless of the injuries I would sustain!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    In the city of Wuliu, countless cultivators of the alliance began to flee. They red at the traitors who had tricked them alongside ''Lan Jiguang''.


    Lady Arclight had realized what had happened by then.


    "You''re not my father. What have you done to him?!" Lady Yaoguang demanded, pointing at ''Lan Jiguang''.


    Just then, the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci, who had been hiding among the crowd, stepped forward. He looked at Lan Jiguang. "Rabbit Yanluo, has your main body caught Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Lan Jiguang took a deep breath. "I was unlucky and encountered a Heaven''s Hand. He escaped."


    "What?!" Yin Tianci nched.


    "You''re to me for this as well. Why didn''t all of you secure Xiao Nanfeng with me? You wasted my efforts," ''Lan Jiguang'' used.


    "The Horse Yanluo subdued Xiao Nanfeng in one blow, and I thought you could do the same..." Yin Tianci said.


    "Do you imply that I''m weaker than the Horse Yanluo?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked coolly.


    "No, no! I simply didn''t expect Xiao Nanfeng to be so sly," Yin Tianci replied, salvaging his gaffe.


    "You''re the Rabbit Yanluo? You split your soul to possess my father?!" Lady Yaoguang roared.


    The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes at Lady Yaoguang. "Lass, if Yin Tianci hadn''t specificallye to talk to me, I wouldn''t have realized that this prisoner I caught a month ago would be so useful. Although Xiao Nanfeng managed to get away, I''m sure he cares deeply for you if he dared to brave the capital of Wu to find you. With you around, I don''t have to worry about losing track of him."


    "Why do you care so much about Nanfeng?" Lady Yaoguang raged.


    "Why else? He has two Yanluo Courts in his possession," the Rabbit Yanluo replied, smiling.

 Chapter 435: Seeking Cooperation

    <h4>Chapter 435: Seeking Cooperation</h4>


    Back in the city of Wuliu, the Rabbit Yanluo flew off with Lady Yaoguang and Yin Tianci, leaving only a group of cultivators from the alliance behind in the city.


    Just then, the cultivators who had fled returned to beat up the cultivators in the city.


    "You traitors! How could you betray City Lord Xiao? I''ll kill you!"


    "City Lord Xiao promised to take us out of here. By betraying him, you''re ruining any chance we have at escaping!"


    "Beat them up!" the cultivators from the alliance roared.


    The victims shouted back, "Don''t you all want to get out too? Even without Xiao Nanfeng, we can count on Crown Prince Yin. He can get us out of here too!"


    After fighting to vent their anger, the two sides sat down for a strained conversation.


    "That man just now was Crown Prince Yin. Xiao Nanfeng might have caused a big ruckus, but how can hepare to the crown prince of a divine empire? Putting aside individual strength for now, once we get out, wouldn''t it be better to tether ourselves to a crown prince rather than a city lord¡ªno, just an acting city lord at that! Can''t you tell that one of them is clearly better than the other?" one traitor said.


    The other cultivators frowned. One replied, "We gave our word to City Lord Xiao. I don''t care what benefits the crown prince can get us. I simply want to leave this damned ce, and you''ve prevented us from doing so."


    "Don''t worry. The crown prince has promised to bring us out with him. You just have to follow behind us. That said, the crown prince told us to report on Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts at all times. We''ll have to inform everyone to do so," the traitor said.


    "Dream on!"


    "If you''re unwilling, then you can very well stay and die here with Xiao Nanfeng! From now on, those willing to join the crown prince can leave with us. Otherwise, you''ll rot here!" the traitor threatened.


    The cultivators red at each other. Some refused out of principle, but others seemed to be changing their mind.


    Within a patch of forest, Xiao Nanfeng activated the arhat armor''s self-repairing formation. A great deal of spiritual qi sealed the cracks in the arhat armor.


    "How strong the Rabbit Yanluo is. Even this arhat armor isn''t enough to counter her." Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "And the cultivators'' alliance isn''t loyal to me. They''re too loosely defined an organization, and a few short-sighted fools can ruin everything. I can''t rely on them."


    He knew that not all the cultivators of the alliance would have turned traitor to Crown Prince Yin, but he hardly had the time to determine which had and which hadn''t. He could only cease allmunication with them for the moment.


    From his scouting the past few days, he slowly made his way toward the Monkey Yanluo''s capital in stealth. Suddenly, he found a monkey-headed humanoid that was on his own.


    Eyes brightening, he rushed over.


    "Who''s there?!" the monkey-headed humanoid asked, suddenly alert.


    Xiao Nanfeng kicked him far away, causing him to crash into a huge pile of boulders and rocks before he could stabilize himself.


    "You!" the monkey-headed humanoid shouted.


    Thesest few days, the Monkey Yanluo had been raging at Xiao Nanfeng for breaking the fragile equilibrium within the Netherworld Pce. Everyone knew of Xiao Nanfeng''s name and appearance.


    "Head into the city and tell the Monkey Yanluo that I have a way of boosting his strength. If he doesn''t want to be devoured by the other Yanluo Lords, tell him toe find me at the mouth of the abyss in a day''s time. Come in secret," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Then, ignoring the monkey-headed humanoid''s startled expression, he flew off.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop at that. To ensure that the message would be sent along, he repeated his actions with a few other monkey-headed humanoids.


    He clearly wasn''t strong enough to rescue Lady Yaoguang by himself, which meant that he would need to find some support.


    Within his Yanluo Court, the Monkey Yanluo knocked over a tter of food with a palm.


    "Damn that Ox Yanluo, damn that Tiger Yanluo! And damn that Xiao Nanfeng, the worst of them all!" the Monkey Yanluo fumed.


    He was panicking intensely. Only by staying in his own Yanluo Court could he feel a measure of safety.


    Ordinary monkey-headed humanoids didn''t dare approach the Monkey Yanluo. They came in, cleaned up, and hurriedly departed. Very quickly, however, a monkey-headed humanoid cautiously stepped forward.


    "King, I encountered Xiao Nanfeng outside the city."


    "He dared toe to my domain?!" the Monkey Yanluo eximed, then scowled.


    "He did, King. He said..." The monkey-headed humanoid recounted his encounter with Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Monkey Yanluo suppressed his anger and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.


    Not longter, a few other monkey-headed humanoids reported the same information, whetting the Monkey Yanluo''s appetite.


    "I''m going to be in secluded cultivation for a few days. All of you will apany me in this hall," the Monkey Yanluo finally said.


    Then, after assigning tasks to the rest of his subordinates, he sealed his Yanluo Court. No one knew that he had secretly left his capital.


    "Meeting by the mouth of the abyss in a day''s time..." He was so anxious that he didn''t want to wait an entire day, and headed there near-immediately.


    The mouth of the abyss led to the outside world. Because it wasn''t yet the night of a full moon, the mouth of the abyss was closed up, and the Heaven''s Hand that should have been present was nowhere to be seen.


    The various Yanluo Lords took turns garrisoning the mouth of the abyss, but after the free-for-all among the Yanluo Lords a few days ago, the cursed effigies had all scattered.


    The Monkey Yanluo arrived in silence. He secretly searched through the area to confirm that there were no traps or ambushes before he rxed.


    Then, he found that yet another Yanluo Lord was skulking toward the area, a rooster-headed Yanluo Lord with a crown on his head and robes of ck brocade with gold-edged draconic motifs¡ªnone other than the Rooster Yanluo.


    The Rooster Yanluo was likewise scouting around the mouth of the abyss. When he sensed the Monkey Yanluo, he frowned as though meeting an enemy.


    "Rooster Yanluo, you really are cautious, aren''t you?" the Monkey Yanluo joked.


    "Monkey Yanluo? You''re here too? Did Xiao Nanfeng summon you here as well?" the Rooster Yanluo replied, narrowing his eyes.


    "It looks like Xiao Nanfeng intends to take advantage of us to help him rescue his woman," the Monkey Yanluo said.


    "You''ve been to the city of Mao, too?"


    "Of course. When Xiao Nanfeng sent me a covert invitation, I guessed what his ns were. I secretly headed to your capital, and then to the Rabbit Yanluo''s capital of Mao. I have a few spies there, and I quickly learned that a group of Heaven Immortals joined hands with the Rabbit Yanluo toy an ambush for Xiao Nanfeng and take his lover captive. He clearly wants us to help him defeat the Rabbit Yanluo, but will we?" The Monkey Yanluo smirked.


    "He''s here," the Rooster Yanluo said, face stern.


    Xiao Nanfeng appeared not too far away. He slowlynded between the two Yanluo Lords.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare youe in search of me!" The Monkey Yanluo exuded killing intent as he approached.


    Meanwhile, the Rooster Yanluo considered Xiao Nanfeng. This was his first time encountering him, but he had heard of his exploits from all his fellow Yanluo Lords.


    Although it was difficult for Xiao Nanfeng to withstand the pressure that the Yanluo Lord gave off, he replied calmly, "Monkey Yanluo, why don''t you go take on the Ox Yanluo, then? What''s the point of trying to act tough in front of an Earth Immortal like me? Do you want to make me look down on you?"


    "Die!" the Monkey Yanluo shouted.


    "You''re the one who''s asking to die. Don''t you realize what''s about to happen? Is your reputation more important to you than your life? The Ox and Tiger Yanluos might finish digesting the Yanluo Lords that they''ve consumed at any moment. I''m trying to help you fend for your lives¡ªso are you going to work with me, or not?"


    He was intending to ask the two Yanluo Lords for help, but he couldn''t approach them from the perspective of a supplicant. He had to establish his own authority, or the other two Yanluo Lords would never support him.


    "You!" the Monkey Yanluo thundered.


    "Calm down, Monkey Yanluo. Let''s listen to his n first," the Rooster Yanluo replied.


    "At least one of the two of you is clearheaded," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You came here to ask us to help save your woman, didn''t you?" the Monkey Yanluo replied disdainfully.


    "That''s right. I''m here for my woman, but I''m not in a hurry. She''s protected by her blue moon barrier and a peerless treasure. Even the Horse Yanluo wasn''t able to do anything against her, and I doubt the Rabbit Yanluo will fare any better. I can wait out her imprisonment, but I don''t think the two of you canst very long."


    The Monkey Yanluo grimaced, face scrunching up in anger.


    "So you''re Xiao Nanfeng? How do you intend to help us? You don''t expect us to take on the Rabbit Yanluo on your behalf, do you?" the Rooster Yanluo demanded coldly.


    "Do you know why the Rabbit Yanluo is targeting me?"


    "For the Yanluo Court you possess?" the Rooster Yanluo asked.


    "No. I have two Yanluo Courts in my possession, the Horse Yanluo''s and the Goat Yanluo''s."


    "Oh?" The two Yanluo Lords'' eyes lit up with greed.


    "You don''t intend to steal them from me, do you? I forgot to tell you¡ªmy two Yanluo Courts aren''t with me right now. I''ve given orders for them to be sent to other Yanluo Lords if something happens to me." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You dare?!" the Monkey Yanluo thundered.


    "Those two Yanluo Courts are what I bring to this tentative alliance. Do you feel that I''m qualified to discuss terms with you now?"


    The two Yanluo Lords nced at each other. The Monkey Yanluo demanded, "How do you intend to conduct negotiations?"


    "Let''s work together to take down the Rabbit Yanluo. One of you can devour the Rabbit Yanluo, while the other can im my two Yanluo Courts. Well?" Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    "Ha! I expect you''re trying to trick us. Rather than use these two Yanluo Courts to hire us, why not just trade them for your woman from the Rabbit Yanluo?" the Monkey Yanluo asked.


    Although he purported disbelief, he was rather interested in the deal.


    "There are two reasons I don''t want to approach the Rabbit Yanluo. First, I don''t trust her. If I attempt a direct exchange with her, I might end up in a trap. Second, the Rabbit Yanluo killed my woman''s parents. I want her to die to avenge my woman."


    "If you can''t trust the Rabbit Yanluo, what makes you think you can trust us?" the Rooster Yanluo demanded suspiciously.


    "I can''t trust you either, but I can choose to secretly run off while all you Yanluo Lords are in the middle of the fighting," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    The two Yanluo Lords: ...


    They hadn''t ever encountered a cultivator quite as ''honest'' as Xiao Nanfeng. Was this the sort of thing that could be discussed publicly?

 Chapter 436: The Two Yanluo Lords Alliance

    <h4>Chapter 436: The Two Yanluo Lords'' Alliance</h4>


    The two Yanluo Lords red at Xiao Nanfeng, clearly dissatisfied with his ''honesty''.


    "Yanluo Lords, are the two of you interested?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You think you can win our support with such trifles?" the Monkey Yanluo demanded.


    "Do you consider two Yanluo Courts mere trifles? After you take down the Rabbit Yanluo, you''ll even have a third Yanluo Court and the Rabbit Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar. Isn''t that enough to move you to action?"


    The two Yanluo Lords thought about the proposed deal. In the past, this would have been an incredible prize, but it feltckingpared to what the Tiger and Ox Yanluos now possessed.


    "I know both of you are devious and intending topete against the Tiger and Ox Yanluos," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The two Yanluo Lords red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t just re at me. Consider my terms. If you cooperate with me, you''ll surely benefit. What I offer might not render you on par with the Tiger and Ox Yanluos, but it''s far better than what you have now. If you then ally with each other, you''ll be able to defend yourselves."


    "And why should we cooperate with you? Why wouldn''t we work with the Rabbit Yanluo instead?"


    "Are you certain that the three of you will be able to defend against the Tiger and Ox Yanluos? Furthermore, what if the Tiger and Ox Yanluos themselves choose to ally with each other? Without my two Yanluo Courts, will the two of you be able to boost your strength to a sufficient degree? You once ruled over the world, so you should well be aware that having diffuse, rather than concentrated, power means that you have to take far more things into consideration. A single misstep could lead to your deaths."


    The two Yanluo Lords red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Why not take advantage right now while the Tiger and Ox Yanluos are in secluded cultivation? Strengthen yourselves immediately! Do you intend to wait until all the opportunities pass you by? You should know even better than I do that you must control your own strength if it''s to be meaningful. If all you do is ally with others, sooner orter, they''ll turn on you."


    "And how are we to trust you? You told us that you intended to flee during our melee!" the Monkey Yanluo replied.


    "Isn''t it normal that I would do so? I don''t trust the two of you, and there''s no need for you to trust me, either."


    The two Yanluo Lords red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t look at me like that. Do we still need to feign some sort of friendly rtionship between us? We''re all acting in our self-interest, without any real trust in each other. The two of you must have schemed against each other countless times before, but you''re forced into an alliance now because of mutual profit. Don''t make it seem like you''re on friendly terms. We have limited time to spare, so let''s not bother with all this."


    The two Yanluo Lords: ...


    "Don''t worry about whether I''m trustworthy or not. I''ll have to leave the Netherworld Pce eventually, don''t I? If I don''t keep my word, the two of you can send your forces here and prevent me from leaving. The two Yanluo Courts are useless to me, and I might as well hand them to you then in exchange for safe passage," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "That''s not sufficient. Cede the Yanluo Courts to us now," the Monkey Yanluo demanded.


    "Really? Do you think me a fool? These two Yanluo Courts are what preserves my value. The moment I hand them over, you''d get rid of me. Let''s be realistic."


    "And why should we help you take down the Rabbit Yanluo?" the Monkey Yanluo retorted, refusing to give up.


    "I''ve already made myself clear, haven''t I? Let me provide another reason, then. The Rabbit Yanluo allied herself with a group of Heaven Immortals to ambush me in order to im my two Yanluo Courts. Did she inform you of that in advance? I expect not. It''s clear that she intends to im all the benefits for herself, to grow strong on her own before taking you both down secretly. She wouldn''t have to fear anyone else then."


    The two Yanluo Lords fell silent. Put in the Rabbit Yanluo''s position, they would have done just that. It was obvious.


    "The Rabbit Yanluo certainly is no friend of yours, so why stand up for her? Don''t you want to retaliate against her instead?"


    The two Yanluo Lords were silent. They knew that Xiao Nanfeng was trying to turn them against each other, but his argument waspelling and reasonable. How were they meant to refute it?


    "Once you deal with the Rabbit Yanluo, the two of you can even start fighting each other. Perhaps you''ll be able to take the other down," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "What sort of treachery are you anticipating?!" the Monkey Yanluo demanded.


    "This is your so-called ''alliance''? You''re trying to get us to kill each other?!" the Rooster Yanluo added.


    "Calm down. Haven''t you already thought about what I just said? Think of the big picture. Once my deal with the two of you is over, you''re free to do whatever you want. However, I insist that the first objective be the Rabbit Yanluo."


    The two Yanluo Lords'' faces twitched. What sort of cursed diplomacy did Xiao Nanfeng practice?


    "Since neither of you have brought up any objections, I''ll assume that you''re both interested. Now, let''s discuss the details," Xiao Nanfeng said expectantly.


    Within the Yanluo Court in the capital of Mao, the Rabbit Yanluo sat on a jeweled throne. Yin Tianci and his five Heaven Immortal subordinates were arrayed before her. There were two other thrones by the side on which Lan Jiguang and his wife were seated. However, they had both been taken over and were now nothing but the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars.


    In the center of the hall was an orb of blue light containing Lady Yaoguang. She sat cross-legged in the center of the orb, her cursebane sword automatically defending her against any threat. The cultivators had no recourse against her.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, you saw Xiao Nanfeng leave, too. He has no interest in you. He''s only interested in his own self-preservation!" Yin Tianci said.


    Lady Yaoguang scoffed. "Do you think he''s a fool like you?"


    Yin Tianci frowned.


    "You really are shameless, aren''t you? You knew that my mother''s physical body was in the Rabbit Yanluo''s hands, so you deliberately chose to work with her to deal with Nanfeng and me. My parents were loyal subjects of the divine empire of Dayin and had all but given their lives for the empire. On the other hand, you, the crown prince of Dayin, chose to work together with the cursed effigies you guard and betray your loyal officials! How much more shameless could you get? If you represent the empire of Dayin, then the empire must be done for," Lady Yaoguang surmised.


    "Insolence!" Yin Tianci roared.


    Just then, the Rabbit Yanluo couldn''t help but smile. "Lass, you''ve got a silver tongue, but you can''t change the fact that you''re just a prisoner now."


    "Rabbit Yanluo, gloat while you can. The moment the Tiger and Ox Yanluos emerge from secluded cultivation will be the day of your death. It won''t be long until then," Lady Yaoguang replied, smiling coldly.


    The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes. "You really are insolent, aren''t you?"


    "No. I simply hate you. My hatred is beyondpare. You''ve killed my parents. I''ll watch you die as I avenge them," Lady Yaoguang roared, her eyes red.


    The Rabbit Yanluo emanated killing intent. "Do you really think I can''t do anything against you?"


    "Feel free to try. Perhaps you''ll seed where the Horse Yanluo couldn''t," Lady Yaoguang replied disdainfully.


    "So be it."


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s main body didn''t make a move, but one of her avatars did¡ªthe one that had possessed Lady Yaoguang''s mother. A huge blue moon floated behind her head.


    "Impossible! The Shangqing blue moon is a specialized art that cursed effigies can''t cultivate. How could you control it?!" Lady Yaoguang shouted.


    "Are you afraid?" the Rabbit Yanluo sneered.


    "Impossible. Could my mother still be alive? Does this moon belong to her?" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "Her? You could consider her dead. Her soul has been shattered, after all. On the other hand, it''s true that she isn''t dead. Her soul exists in symbiosis with my avatar. Do you know what that means?" The Rabbit Yanluo smiled.


    "My mother''s truesoul has attached to your cursed spiritual avatar. Is that why you can control her Shangqing blue moon? And your will''s suppressing hers?!" Lady Yaoguang nched.


    "That''s right. I wouldn''t have allowed this arrangement if not for the fact that her blue moon is interesting. I didn''t want to lose it, so I let things be. If I''m not mistaken, that blue sword that protects you was once your mother''s."


    "What are you nning?!" Lady Yaoguang suddenly reared back in shock as she thought of a possibility.


    "That sword''s known as the cursebane sword, isn''t it? Your mother was once its owner. It might attack others, but would it attack her?"


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar invoked her blue moon as her palm reached out through Lady Yaoguang''s blue moon barrier. Her hand extended within it and clenched tightly around Lady Yaoguang''s neck. The cursebane sword vibrated, as though recognizing its old owner, and didn''t attack.


    "Impossible!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    "Nothing''s impossible. The Horse Yanluo might not have been able to deal with this cursebane sword, but that doesn''t mean that I can''t. It''s a treasure of significant value, and I''ll be iming it for myself."


    Her other hand tightened around the cursebane sword and began to suppress the sword''s sudden unease.


    "No!" Lady Yaoguang shouted.


    Beside her, Yin Tianci smiled in glee. "Rabbit Yanluo, may I have this woman? Conveniently, her parents'' bodies are right here. Please have them oversee my vows as I take her hand in marriage!"


    "Hmm?" The Rabbit Yanluo nced doubtfully at Yin Tianci.


    "I know the timing is a little inappropriate, but I need this woman to solidify my standing. Don''t worry. After consummating the marriage, I have my own means of enforcing her loyalty. I''ll have her cooperate fully in pursuing Xiao Nanfeng, and my subordinates will help you deal with the other Yanluo Lords. What do you think?" Yin Tianci smiled evilly.


    "Oh? You do know a fair number of sinister arts." The Rabbit Yanluo smiled in response.


    "Just a few tricks here and there. Will you approve, Rabbit Yanluo?" Yin Tianci beamed in anticipation.


    "Very well."


    "Thank you, Rabbit Yanluo!" Yin Tianci''s smile grew wider.


    "No!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    Just then, from within Lan Jiguang''s body, a burst of red light exploded forth.


    "You bastards! You dare harm my daughter? All of you shall die!"


    "Father! You''re still alive?!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    The red light bloomed, illuminating the entire pce.


    "No! This is the light of the Taiqing red moon. We''re about to be transported into the legendary red moon illusory realm. Run!" one Heaven Immortal shouted.


    "The red moon illusory realm?" the other cultivators eximed.

 Chapter 437: Mother-Daughter Conversation

    <h4>Chapter 437: Mother-Daughter Conversation</h4>


    Lan Jiguang''s physical body exploded with light, illuminating his surroundings. No one in range was able to evade in time; everyone caught by the red light shed away.


    "So this is the red moon illusory realm? It can drag in others so easily!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Be careful, Your Highness! There''s a red-furred lifeform heading your way!" a Heaven Immortal cried out.


    Everyone''s avatars had been dragged into the red moon illusory realm, whereupon they were beset by countless red-furred lifeforms.


    Back in the Rabbit Yanluo''s Yanluo Court, there was no sign that anything had taken ce save a sh of red light. Everyone present stood still and immobile, including the Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars.


    Only the Rabbit Yanluo''s main body had survived. ck smoke surrounded her body and blocked the red light surging her way. She hadn''t been dragged into the illusory realm.


    "Lan Jiguang! I knew you had something up your sleeve when you discarded your body. To think that you would ruin my ns at this critical moment!" the Rabbit Yanluo shouted.


    Within the red moon illusory realm, everything was bathed in red light. When Lady Yaoguang entered the illusory realm, she saw Lan Jiguang''s yin body close by.


    Behind Lan Jiguang''s yin body hung a red moon. However, there were cracks all over its surface, as though he had paid a heavy price in his gambit to save his daughter.


    "Attack!" Lan Jiguangmanded.


    Arge group of red-furred lifeforms to his back shot toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Stop them!" a Heaven Immortal shouted.


    Despite the fact that they were all Heaven Immortals, their spiritual cultivation wascking. The red-furred lifeforms easily crushed the paltry defenses they evoked.


    Only the Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars were strong enough to withstand the red-furred lifeforms for the moment, but there were simply so many of them that they too were trapped.


    Lan Jiguang ignored his daughter as he punched at one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars.


    "Wan''er, appear!" Lan Jiguang shouted.


    "Die!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar countered, sending a palm strike his way.


    "Let me help you, Father!" Lady Yaoguang joined the fighting.


    As Lan Jiguang and Lady Yaoguang were sent flying, a sh of blue light emerged from the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar. A woman''s truesoul. was separated from her body.


    "Wan''er!" Lan Jiguang shouted in excitement.


    "Is that Mother?!" Lady Yaoguang was simrly excited.


    "How dare you! Do you want to die,ss? You took advantage of that strike to give up on our symbiosis!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar thundered.


    The woman scowled in hatred. "I chose to tolerate your presence in my body not because I was afraid to die, but because I couldn''t leave my husband and daughter behind. You harmed my husband and n to hurt my daughter. How could I stand idly by?"


    "Insolent creature! If you want to die, I''ll fulfill your wish!" The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar shot forward.


    She was particrly strong, and her aura alone forced the three cultivators back.


    "Red moon, explode!" Lan Jiguang shouted.


    His red moon exploded in a cataclysmic outpouring of energy. Even the Rabbit Yanluo lurched back. Intense red light shot out all around him, rendering everyone temporarily blind.


    Themotion caused more and more red-furred lifeforms to rush over.


    "No!" Screams rang out from within the horde of cultivators.


    Lan Jiguang pulled his wife and daughter farther away, shielding them all. He was intimately familiar with the red moon illusory realm, and quickly shrugged off the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar.


    "Father, your yin body won''t be able to umte any more power now that your red moon''s gone..." Lady Yaoguang said in shock.


    "It''s alright. I''m sorry, Yaoguang. I shouldn''t have left my physical body for the Rabbit Yanluo, causing you to be tricked and caught," Lan Jiguang said bitterly.


    "I''m alright, Father. How can I help? Your souls are both so weak!" Lady Yaoguang asked anxiously.


    Lan Jiguang caught his wife''s hand and smiled. "I''d give up anything to find your mother."


    Qu Wan''er pursed her lips. "Who told you to enter the Netherworld Pce? Why did youe bother the Rabbit Yanluo? You should have hidden instead! What a fool you are to have tossed her your physical body."


    "You knew what was going on?"


    "Of course! I had a symbiotic rtionship with the Rabbit Yanluo. Just because she suppressed my will doesn''t mean that I can''t see what''s going on in the outside world. How foolish you were!" Qu Wan''er fumed.


    "I used my physical body as an anchor. My yin bodyy hidden in the red moon illusory realm, and I was able to sense what was happening outside. I willingly allowed myself to be caught by her. Only then would I be able to learn of your circumstances as quickly as possible. I had her discover the miraculous strength of my red moon so that she would want to analyze my physical body in detail. I was nning to return to my body at an opportune time, but I suppose it''s toote now. I don''t regret anything. I''m d I made the choice I did, because it allowed me to see you again," Lan Jiguang said warmly.


    "You fool! Who told you to enter the abyss?!" Qu Wan''er screwed up her eyes and began striking her husband''s body futilely with her fists.


    Lan Jiguang hugged Qu Wan''er and said gently, "Everything was worth it. We won''t have to be separated any longer."


    Qu Wan''er began to sob as she embraced Lan Jiguang.


    Lady Yaoguang stood silently to the side. She suddenly felt like a third wheel in this conversation.


    "Mother, how can we salvage your shattered soul? Does Father have a way?" Lady Yaoguang couldn''t help but ask.


    She remembered how Emperor Wei and his consort had suffered a simr fate. They had sought revival in the undying realm before their tragic end. If even the Emperor Wei of legend wasn''t able to ovee this fate, how would her parents seed?


    Lan Jiguang and Qu Wan''er rxed as they let go of each other.


    Lan Jiguang didn''t seem particrly upset. He said, "Your mother''s soul might be shattered, but my soul is in fine condition. The fact that my yin body''s weakened at the moment doesn''t matter. Your mother can live symbiotically with me."


    "Humans can live symbiotically with one another? How can that be? Why haven''t I heard of that before?" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "They can''t. If we choose to do so regardless, we would simply die."


    "Die?!" Lady Yaoguang nched.


    "You might be unaware of the miraculous properties of the red moon illusory realm. All those who die here can transform into these red-furred lifeforms. As long as I can be with your mother, I''d be willing to undergo this transformation," Lan Jiguang replied.


    "Red-furred lifeforms? What are they?" Lady Yaoguang asked in surprise.


    "You can think of these red-furred lifeforms as a special type of cursed effigy."


    "These red-furred lifeforms are cursed effigies? How could that..." Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "If I end up bing a cursed effigy, I''ll naturally be a suitable host for your mother. Yaoguang, I''m sorry I won''t be able to take care of you in the future. Live well," Lan Jiguang said.


    "Father, you¡ª" Lady Yaoguang didn''t know what to say.


    Qu Wan''er seemed as though she wanted to say something, but upon seeing Lan Jiguang''s resolute gaze, all she did was dip her head and smile blissfully.


    "Yaoguang," Qu Wan''er said gently.


    "Mother?" Lady Yaoguang''s voice was tinged with the aspect of a stranger.


    After all, Qu Wan''er had been dragged into the abyss almost right after giving birth to Lady Yaoguang. This was the first time mother and daughter had met.


    "I can''t believe you''ve already grown so much after what feels like the blink of an eye. I wasn''t able to watch over you, but I''ve been thinking of you and your father all throughout my stay here. You''re even more beautiful than I imagined. No wonder that Xiao Nanfeng''s besotted with you. No wonder he risked his life to save you from the capital of Wu," Qu Wan''er said gently.


    Lady Yaoguang flushed and looked down shyly.


    "You like Xiao Nanfeng too, don''t you?" Qu Wan''er smiled.


    Lady Yaoguang bit her lip. "This isn''t the first time that Nanfeng has saved me. Back in the undying realm..."


    Lady Yaoguang described what had happened within the undying realm, andter in the Shangqing holynd, as her mother listened.


    After hearing her full recounting of events, Qu Wan''er nodded. "Xiao Nanfeng''s a righteous and responsible young man, and it''s only to be expected that you would be interested in him. I support your decision. I once risked everything for your father in my youth."


    "Oh?"


    "The Shangqing holynd arranged for many prospective husbands to visit me, all of whom were elites in their field. Some were crown princes of divine empires, and others were Immortal emperors in their own right. However, I''m not a fan of such political alliances. Your father was a very weak cultivator back then, but he treated me faithfully and sincerely. I chose to be with him than an Immortal emperor, because I knew that your father would do what he could to ensure that no harm came to me. With him around, I''d be happy no matter how tired I am." Qu Wan''er reminisced about the past with a blissful smile on her face.


    Lady Yaoguang looked toward her father. He had been willing to turn into a red-furred lifeform for his mother; her mother really had chosen wisely.


    "However, it''d be extraordinarily difficult for you to marry Xiao Nanfeng," Qu Wan''er continued.


    "Mother, there really isn''t anything between me and Nanfeng," Lady Yaoguang said, blushing.


    Qu Wan''er shook her head. "No, that''s not what I mean. By bing a Shangqing holy maiden, you''ve ceded considerable authority over your marriage. I had to pay an incredible cost in order to marry your father, and even so, I didn''t dare announce it publicly. Your father also suffered many assassination attempts from the Shangqing holynd, all in order to prevent my marriage to him."


    "What? The Shangqing holynd tried to assassinate Father?!" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "That''s right. They were only willing to give up after I was dragged into the abyss, believing that I was dead."


    "How could that be?!" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "What do you think a holynd is? It needs to be nurtured and cultivated with an endless supply of fortune. Not only does a holynd arrange for its disciples to found kingdoms and umte fortune, it also marries off its holy maidens to other divine empires to forge alliances in exchange for fortune. So-called holy maidens are just tools to enact such alliances, so your body no longer belongs to you after you be one."


    "What?" Lady Yaoguang began to panic.


    "The Immortal emperors aren''t fools. They''re willing to marry holy maidens to forge alliances with holynds for a measure of support, but they naturally prefer those who are strong and influential within their holynds. You said that you managed to obtain the inheritance of the Shangqing Grandmaster, so your position in the Shangqing holynd is indubitable. To some Immortal Emperors, you''d be the perfect consort that they''d go for at any cost."


    "Won''t I have any say in all this?"


    "ording to Shangqing custom, you''ll surely be a huge bargaining chip in a political alliance. If Xiao Nanfeng continues to chase after you, he''ll suffer from assassination attempts from the Shangqing holynd."


    "But Nanfeng has founded his own empire, too!" Lady Yaoguang argued.


    "Considering your status in the Shangqing holynd, none but an Immortal emperor can im your hand. They wouldn''t permit your marriage to him. They would rather have you be a concubine to an Immortal emperor than the sole empress of an ordinary empire."


    "But¡ª" Lady Yaoguang grimaced.


    "Allow me to suggest a path forward," Qu Wan''er suddenly said seriously.


    "Please, Mother!"


    "The crowning treasure of the Shangqing holynd takes the form of four peerless swords. The cursebane sword that you obtained is one of the four. Now that you''ve received the Shangqing Grandmaster''s inheritance and the acknowledgement of the cursebane sword, you must do your best to secure the other three as well. If you manage to wield all four swords, with your status as apprentice to the Shangqing Grandmaster, you''d be able to rise tomand the Shangqing holynd. You could even be the next sect master, if you''d like. No one would be able to manipte you, then."


    Lady Yaoguang''s eyes shed as she nodded. "I understand, Mother."

 Chapter 438: Xiao Nanfeng Appears

    <h4>Chapter 438: Xiao Nanfeng Appears</h4>


    Within the Yanluo Court in the capital of Mao, despite the fact that the Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars had been brought into the red moon illusory realm, her main body remained unscathed. She sat on her jeweled throne as she contemted the red moon illusory realm from her avatars'' perspective.


    "The red moon illusory realm... It''s a ce filled with cursed spiritual power. What era did this cursed effigye from, to be able to build an illusory world of suchplexity? The deeper in you go, the more red-furred lifeforms lie in sight. Ha! You think you can devour me? Die!" The Rabbit Yanluo frowned as she suddenly extended her right hand and punched at the void.


    The void shuddered, as though bursting open. A void portal emerged out of nowhere. On the other side of the portal came blinding red light¡ªa window into the interior of the red moon illusory realm.


    Yin Tianci and his subordinates were being attacked by arge group of red-furred lifeforms. They shrieked in pain and were suffering more and more wounds.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars were likewise attacked by arge number of red-furred lifeforms. Suddenly, they saw a hole open up. They eagerly jumped out from the illusory realm. Meanwhile, Yin Tianci and the others smiled in glee.


    "Your Highness, we have to take this opportunity to leave this cursed realm! Hurry!" one of Yin Tianci''s subordinates called out.


    "Let''s go!" Yin Tianci cried out.


    The Heaven Immortals fled from the red moon illusory realm despite the tide of red-furred lifeforms in their way. They suffered grievous injuries as they escaped.


    Meanwhile, back within the red moon illusory realm, Qu Wan''er was imparting her daughter with knowledge about the Shangqing holynd.


    "Wan''er, my soul won''t be able tost for long. Hurry!" Lan Jiguang said.


    Qu Wan''er was forced to let go of her daughter''s hand. Her eyes were filled with longing and reluctance, but also relief and gratification.


    "Yaoguang, when you return to the Shangqing holynd, trust no one but yourself," Qu Wan''er warned firmly.


    "Mother!" Lady Yaoguang reached out for her even as her mother headed toward her father.


    Qu Wan''er turned back and rubbed her daughter''s head, nodding at her with a smile, before she walked up to Lan Jiguang and hugged her. With a hum, their two bodies merged. Lan Jiguang''s body swelled, his soul seemingly incapable of epting such a transformation. It was distended and about to break.


    "Take care, Yaoguang!" Lan Jiguang shouted with longing.


    His body exploded. He released a beam of red light with thest vestiges of his strength, which he used to open an exit to the red moon illusory realm.


    "Father! Mother!" Lady Yaoguang shouted.


    Where their bodies had exploded, rays of sinister red light gathered and condensed, as though having collected the shattered fragments of their yin body. A red-furred lifeform appeared out of thin air.


    The new red-furred lifeform didn''t seem to possess any form of intelligence. Its only instinct was to kill; it shot toward Lady Yaoguang.


    Lady Yaoguang''s eyes shed with reluctance as she turned and fled out of the exit to the red moon illusory realm.


    At the same time, by the other side of the red moon illusory realm, there was anothermotion as the Rabbit Yanluo opened up another exit. The Heaven Immortals flooded out in relief.


    Suddenly, as Lady Yaoguang returned to her physical body, a blue moon barrier shimmered into existence around her, sending the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar flying back. The cursebane sword began to attack her avatar, revolving around the barrier and continuing to protect her.


    With a hum, the entrance to the red moon illusory realm vanished.


    Everyone awoke with a blink.


    "Lan Jiguang almost killed me, the crown prince! How dare he!" Yin Tianci roared in fear.


    "Thank goodness we''re out. Two centuries ago, the Shangqing red moon''s might was known throughout the entire world. It wasn''t just a rumor. How frightening!" a Heaven Immortal eximed.


    The Rabbit Yanluo looked toward Lady Yaoguang. "Where''s your father? Doesn''t he want this physical body any longer?"


    Lady Yaoguang seethed with hatred. You killed my father, but Rabbit Yanluo, you''ll only suffer an ignominious end. You''ll perish once the Tiger and Ox Yanluos emerge from secluded cultivation."


    "You dare talk back?" the Rabbit Yanluo demanded.


    Her avatars again reached out for Lady Yaoguang, but her cursebane sword protected her.


    "My mother has already emerged from your avatar. Now that you''re without the Shangqing blue moon, how do you intend to counter my cursebane sword?" Lady Yaoguang gritted out.


    "Lass, I''m sure this blue moon barrier of yours has ws," the Rabbit Yanluo replied coolly.


    "Try it, then!" Lady Yaoguang refused to give in.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s face turned dark, but she didn''t attempt to break through the barrier again. She knew that she wouldn''t be able to do anything to Lady Yaoguang for the moment, and was frustrated by thatck of ability.


    Just then, Yin Tianci smiled. "Rabbit Yanluo, don''t worry. It''ll be the night of the full moon in a few days'' time. When the mouth of the abyss opens up once more, I''ll ask my father to loan me a treasure that can break through her defenses. When that timees, please hold off the others long enough for me to consummate my marriage with her."


    "Oh? You seem rather insistent about that objective," the Rabbit Yanluo mocked.


    "I apologize, Rabbit Yanluo, but she is instrumental for my ns," Yin Tianci said resolutely.


    "Don''t you dare!" Lady Yaoguang cried out.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, this isn''t up to you." Yin Tianci smiled deviously.


    "Someone wille save me. You won''t seed!"


    "Cultivators from the Shangqing holynd, you mean? Don''t worry. My subordinates will take them down. Furthermore, the Rabbit Yanluo will help me hold them off as well. How would they know where your body is located without being in the abyss themselves? By the time they find you, our interests will be aligned," Yin Tianci said confidently.


    "Dream on!" Lady Yaoguang howled in anger, the hairs on her neck rising in fear and tension.


    "Haha, there''s nothing you can do now, unless someone saves you before the night of the full moon. But who would be able to aplish such a feat? There''s no one you can count on. Submit to your fate!"


    Just then, a rabbit-headed humanoid rushed in from outside the hall. She bowed. "King, Xiao Nanfeng has appeared outside the capital of Mao. He requests an audience with you to discuss ransoming Lady Yaoguang."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, alone? Is he crazy?" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Nanfeng? What''s he doing here?" Lady Yaoguang fretted.


    The Rabbit Yanluo smirked coldly. "It''s only been two days, but it looks like Xiao Nanfeng can''t bear to wait any longer."


    "Rabbit Yanluo, this is an excellent opportunity. We have to seize him. He possesses two Yanluo Courts!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Let''s go see what''s going on." The Rabbit Yanluo seemed expectant as well.


    A group of people followed swiftly behind as Lady Yaoguang was brought outside the Yanluo Court.


    Outside the capital of Mao, Xiao Nanfeng stood alone. He was surrounded by a group of rabbit-headed humanoids, all with their weapons drawn. Even so, he remained calm, without showing any sign of panic.


    "The kingmands for Xiao Nanfeng to head over!" a shout came from afar.


    The rabbit-headed humanoid nced warily around before they made way for him.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew into the air and distantly saw the Rabbit Yanluo, Yin Tianci, and their associated subordinates¡ªalong with the restrained Lady Yaoguang.


    "Nanfeng, flee! Ignore me!" she shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "If I were to leave, what would you do? Don''t worry. I''ll be leaving with you."


    Lady Yaoguang''s heart thudded with warmth, but she couldn''t help but worry for him.

 Chapter 439: Negotiations at Maos Capital

    <h4>Chapter 439: Negotiations at Mao''s Capital</h4>


    In the capital of Mao, outside the Yanluo Court, Xiao Nanfeng descended alone. He was surrounded by rabbit-headed humanoids all around him, some of whom were Heaven Immortals. Like a leaf floating down the rapids, he seemed as though he would capsize and submerge at any moment.


    After Xiao Nanfengnded, he didn''t panic. He eyed Lady Yaoguang and motioned for her to rx, then turned to the Rabbit Yanluo.


    Behind the Rabbit Yanluo stood Lan Jiguang and his wife, but Xiao Nanfeng was aware that they had long since been forged into the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars. Beside them were Yin Tianci and his subordinates.


    "I greet the Rabbit Yanluo." Xiao Nanfeng gave her a brief bow.


    The Rabbit Yanluo smirked coldly. "Lad, it''s only been two days. I''m shocked you dared to return. Did you find some support for your cause? Which Yanluo Lords did you reach out to?"


    The Rabbit Yanluo had ruled the world for many years, and she naturally guessed what gave Xiao Nanfeng the courage to seek her out. Beside her, Yin Tianci frowned. He had been nning to jeer at Xiao Nanfeng, not having realized that Xiao Nanfeng could have found another backer.


    "You saw through my efforts at a nce, Rabbit Yanluo. That''s right. I did summon two Yanluo Lords to help guard me. The Monkey and Rooster Yanluos are waiting outside the city."


    The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes. That was precisely what she had expected. Given the current distribution of power in the Netherworld Pce, only those two Yanluo Lords would be willing to cooperate with him and give him the strength he needed to strike.


    "Oh? Are they here to guard you, or here to kill me?" the Rabbit Yanluo demanded.


    The rabbit-headed humanoids all around began to snarl in a nasty fashion. Only Lady Yaoguang seemed worried.


    "Right once again. I invited them here to cooperate to kill you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Insolence!" the rabbit-headed humanoids all around roared.


    Yin Tianci and his subordinates gaped. Was Xiao Nanfeng sick of living? Why would he admit to the Rabbit Yanluo''s face that he was scheming to kill her?


    The Rabbit Yanluo waved her hand, causing the rabbit-headed humanoids to fall silent.


    "And why should they listen to you?" she demanded.


    "I hired them for the price of two Yanluo Courts. Once they kill you, they''ll have three Yanluo Courts and your cursed spiritual avatar. They wouldn''t need to worry about other Yanluo Lords then."


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s face turned dark. This would indeed be sufficient incentive for the Monkey and Rooster Yanluos.


    "Did youe here and tell me all this because you want to die even more quickly?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked, her tone chilly.


    "No, of course not. As I told your subordinates, I''m here to ransom Lady Yaoguang."


    "Ransom her? With what?"


    "The two Yanluo Courts in my possession, of course."


    "Didn''t you hire the Monkey and Rooster Yanluos with them?"


    "I haven''t handed them to them yet. I''ve changed my mind. I''d like to use the two Yanluo Courts to ransom Yaoguang. Would you do me this favor, Rabbit Yanluo?"


    "On what grounds?"


    "On what grounds? That''s irrelevant. I''m here to offer you a choice. If you''re willing to ransom her, we''ll all be satisfied. You can gain two Yanluo Courts, and I''ll have Yaoguang back. Otherwise, I''ll kill you and take Yaoguang away."


    All the cursed effigies present sucked in a deep breath. They had never seen anyone so bold. Was Xiao Nanfeng crazy to dare to threaten the Rabbit Yanluo face-to-face?


    "Rabbit Yanluo, he''s crazy! If we kill him, the two Yanluo Courts would both be yours!" Yin Tianci shouted immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "And what makes you think I''d keep the Yanluo Courts on hand? Would I make such a low-level mistake given the danger I''m in?"


    Yin Tianci frowned.


    The Rabbit Yanluo exuded killing intent. "Are you threatening me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. "Threatening you? No. You''ve kidnapped someone dear to me, and I''m negotiating with you."


    The cursed effigies all around gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng supposed to be the one under duress? Why did it feel like the tables had turned?


    "Show me your sincerity. I could kill you at any time," the Rabbit Yanluo said.


    "You won''t be able to do so. I have two Yanluo Lords guarding me, and they''ll strike the moment I shout."


    "Try it, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. Then, he took a deep breath. "Rabbit Yanluo, there''s no reason for the two of us to feud. Why threaten each other with death? You want my two Yanluo Courts, and I want Yaoguang. We could part amicably."


    "No reason for the two of us to feud? I possessed your woman''s parents. Don''t you think that''s sufficient cause?" the Rabbit Yanluo replied disdainfully.


    "So we have a reason to hate you, but you don''t have a reason to hate us. Our hatred pains us, but it doesn''t affect you. Why take it into ount?"


    The Rabbit Yanluo: ...


    What sort of logic was this? Wasn''t a one-sided feud still a feud?


    "You surely can''t be worried that Yaoguang and I will seek revenge. As the Rabbit Yanluo, what do you have to fear? Do you think I could beat you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The Rabbit Yanluo pursed her lips. Xiao Nanfeng''s words were reasonable piecemeal, but why did the conclusion he drew feel so strange?


    "As for that cursebane sword, you wouldn''t be able to im it regardless. It''s a peerless treasure of the Shangqing holynd, and has already attuned to its owner. It would be useless in your possession, and you''re currently limited on time. You need to grow stronger immediately, rather than waste your time on a single sword. If you obtain the two Yanluo Courts right now, then win against the other Yanluo Lords in the melee toe, you should be able to break through the restrictions by the mouth of the abyss and make your way out¡ªand you''d rule the world once more. All manner of treasure would be yours to im. Would you even want the cursebane sword then? Why get so hung up about it?"


    The Rabbit Yanluo gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look, because what he said was... surprisingly reasonable.


    "Don''t listen to him, Rabbit Yanluo! He''s lying to you!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, considering how wise you are, I''m sure you can tell who''s really trying to trick you. This group of cultivators by your side is nothing but trash, and they couldn''t even take me down in the outside world. Surely you haven''t been tricked by them?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, who are you calling trash?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "You, of course. In the outside world, you didn''t even dare to refute my words. In here, I killed three of your number as a lowly Earth Immortal. You''re so afraid of me that you didn''t dare face me head-on; you went and allied yourself with the Rabbit Yanluo to take advantage of her to deal with me. Isn''t that so?"


    "Liar! You''re only an Earth Immortal. Why would we be afraid of you?" Yin Tianci roared.


    The Rabbit Yanluo pursed her lips in disbelief. "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re the one trying to sow discord."


    "I''m not boasting to you, Rabbit Yanluo. They''re well aware of the truth of my im. If their group of Heaven Immortals really was all that strong, why would they have to ally with you? Why wouldn''t they take me on themselves?"


    "Rabbit Yanluo, he''s crazy! All he says is nonsense. Of course I''m selfishly motivated. I asked for your cooperation because I knew how sly Xiao Nanfeng is, and I worried that he would escape from my grasp if I were to strike alone. I had no choice but to ask for your assistance because I knew that you were in possession of Yaoguang''s mother''s body. You would surely be able to fish them out. We wanted to cooperate with you to take on the other Yanluo Lords; our arrangement is for mutual gain," Yin Tianci immediately countered.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, you don''t truly believe them, do you? How can this group of trash assist you in taking down the other Yanluo Lords? What a joke. They can''t even beat me! Rabbit Yanluo, I would be a stronger ally than they are. All they can do is brag about themselves!"


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Tianci roared.


    The Rabbit Yanluo scoffed. "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you the one boasting here? They''re all Heaven Immortals. How strong could you be? Are you relying on that armor? They have that armor, too."


    "Rabbit Yanluo, I know that this group of trash is particrly skilled at deceiving others, and they''ve deeply ingrained the notion that they''re strong and have a powerful background. How about this? Why don''t I fight them now? You can see the results for yourself. If they win, I''ll hand you the two Yanluo Courts directly. How''s that?"


    "You intend to challenge them?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked, surprised.


    "Indeed. Actions speak louder than words. They im to have the backing of a divine empire, but they''re only a group of ostracized cultivators. Otherwise, why would they havee into the Netherworld Pce with such a small group?"


    "Liar! Xiao Nanfeng, you''re the one without any backing!" Yin Tianci thundered.


    "See? He''s worried that I''m going to reveal the truth," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yin Tianci: ...


    Of course he would deny such usations!


    "Rabbit Yanluo, the analysis isn''tplicated. Lan Jiguang and his wife have been loyal officials of the divine empire of Dayin, and have guarded the Immortal city of Fengdu loyally for the bulk of their lives. They bear incredible merit. Would an ordinary crown prince of that empire cooperate with you to take down these loyal officials? If word of this were to spread to the capital, there would be an uprising against him. The fact that he dared do all this means that he has no other choice; his reputation is worthless. He''s attempting to seize what benefit he can here in the Netherworld Pce, and you''ve be his target."


    "Kill him!" Yin Tianci roared.


    "Understood!" The Heaven Immortals prepared to strike down Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''m talking with the Rabbit Yanluo. How dare you interfere? Do you think nothing of the Rabbit Yanluo''s reputation? Do you think her subordinates nothing more than props?" Xiao Nanfeng bellowed.


    The rabbit-headed humanoids fell silent. They had no interest in beingmandeered by Xiao Nanfeng, but it was true that they had to protect their king''s dignity and image of strength. They had no choice but to draw their weapons and point them at the Heaven Immortals, forcing them to step back.


    The Rabbit Yanluo demanded coolly, "You im that they''re trying to trick me, but why does it feel like you''re the trickster instead?"


    "In that case, why don''t you allow me to fight them, Rabbit Yanluo? You''ll be able to determine their strength for yourself. If they can''t even beat me, surely they won''t be able to assist you. You''d know that they''re a group of liars then."


    "Rabbit Yanluo, let us take him on!" Yin Tianci gritted his teeth.


    The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes and considered her options. Eventually, she nodded. "Very well. A trial it is."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. The first stage of his n was a sess.

 Chapter 440: Taking Down the Heaven Immortals

    <h4>Chapter 440: Taking Down the Heaven Immortals </h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng had finally gained the Rabbit Yanluo''s permission to deal with Yin Tianci and the others directly.


    Thest time, he had chosen to let them off because they would be troublesome to deal with, but that had led to Yaoguang''s capture. This time, he intended to take them on once and for all.


    Later, when the three Yanluo Lords began to fight, the Heaven Immortals would surely stop at nothing to pursue him and Yaoguang. Rather than allow them to cause trouble for him, why not take them on now? It would make it far easier to flee in the resulting chaos.


    "You go take him down." Yin Tianci nced at one of his subordinates.


    He was confident that one Heaven Immortal would be enough to deal with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Understood!" A Heaven Immortal stepped forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his arhat armor. A golden arhat appeared in sight.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, return my arhat armor to me!" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "This is my arhat armor, not yours. If you want it, beat me first." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, then slid into the armor and transformed into a golden arhat that exuded fearsome strength.


    The Heaven Immortal that Yin Tianci had sent out nced at Yin Tianci. When thetter nodded, he too pulled out a set of arhat armor and transformed into a golden arhat. Two huge arhats faced off against each other in the za of the Yanluo Court.


    They made their moves simultaneously, punching at each other in a burst of energy that sent the rabbit-headed humanoids in the vicinity flying. Xiao Nanfeng himself was forced back.


    "Do you think this arhat armor will equalize our strength? The stronger you are, the more the arhat armor boosts you. Do you think a mere Earth Immortal like you canpete with a Heaven Immortal?" Yin Tianciughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "I was simply testing out my opponent''s strength. It looks like there is a palpable difference, but it''s not particrlyrge."


    The next moment, he charged forward again with his arhat armor, as did his opponent.


    Xiao Nanfeng unleashed Hegemon''s Fist. Countless punches appeared in the air.


    "A thousand-handed Buddha!" a Heaven Immortal eximed.


    "No, this is Hegemon''s Fist! I trained in this technique, too, so I know how difficult it is to master. How could he have such facility with it?!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent his opponent flying with a punch. With a leap, he appeared right behind his opponent''s waist, then punched again and sent him flying once more.


    "Impossible. Take this!" his opponent shouted, then counterattacked.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfengunched another dense barrage of fists straight at his opponent''s neck. With an audible crack, the gorget of the arhat armor broke.


    "Save me, Your Highness!" the Heaven Immortal cried out.


    With a punch, Xiao Nanfeng broke through the golden arhat''s helmet, revealing the Heaven Immortal within.


    "Attack now!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He punched the exposed Heaven Immortal head-on, breaking limbs and causing blood to spill across the air. He died on the spot.


    "Die!" Four Heaven Immortals put on their own arhat armor and charged forward.


    They sent Xiao Nanfeng flying, but he didn''t sustain any injuries.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, did you see that? They can''t even withstand my blows. I killed a Heaven Immortal near-instantly! Do you really think they can take down your opponents? Why not cooperate with me instead?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes at Xiao Nanfeng, as though having seen through his ns. Even so, she didn''t call for a halt to the match. She allowed Xiao Nanfeng to keep fighting Yin Tianci''s cultivators.


    At the same time, one of her avatars slid into the crowd and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng took on the other four cultivators in the air, momentarily at a stalemate.


    Outside the capital of Mao, the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar headed to a clearing.


    "Monkey Yanluo, Rooster Yanluo, where are you? Let''s have a talk," the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar shouted.


    However, there seemed to be no one in her vicinity.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar took a deep breath. "Do you really intend to conspire against me with Xiao Nanfeng? Do you want us all to perish together?"


    Unfortunately, no one responded to her.


    "I know you''re all here, waiting to attack on Xiao Nanfeng''smand. Are you really satisfied to take his lead, though? I know you''re both doing it for Xiao Nanfeng''s two Yanluo Courts, but are you that confident that he''d hand the two Yanluo Courts to you if you cooperate? I''m sure you aren''t," the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar continued.


    No one responded to her, but the Rabbit Yanluo was confident that they would have heard her words.


    "I have a suggestion. Even if we three Yanluo Lords are topete, we should only do so after we see those two Yanluo Courts in person. Surely none of us want to see Xiao Nanfeng run off before he provides us with what he promised. Let''s not strike before we witness these Yanluo Courts for ourselves. Of course, if you refuse, I intend to ruin your ns. If I can''t beat you, I''ll hide in my own Yanluo Court¡ªor run, if I have to. Don''t you think I can do at least that much? None of us would benefit in that case," the Rabbit Yanluo said coolly.


    Then, her avatar returned to the capital of Mao.


    A whileter, the Monkey and Rooster Yanluos emerged from the darkness.


    "What do you think?" the Rooster Yanluo asked.


    "The Rabbit Yanluo isn''t wrong. We three Yanluo Lords shouldn''t let Xiao Nanfeng lead us by the nose." The Monkey Yanluo narrowed his eyes.


    "But didn''t we work out a n with Xiao Nanfeng already? We''ll wait until he takes care of the Heaven Immortals supporting the Rabbit Yanluo, then strike afterwards."


    "Regardless of whether or not we fight, we''ll have to acquire Xiao Nanfeng''s two Yanluo Courts. Otherwise, if he goes back on his word, we won''t be able to im them for ourselves. The Rabbit Yanluo wouldn''t ally with us, either," the Monkey Yanluo said.


    The Rooster Yanluo considered his words, then nodded. "Very well."


    Distantly, in the air, Xiao Nanfeng fought off Yin Tianci''s four Heaven Immortal subordinates. He was weaker in strength, but his mastery of Hegemon''s Fist easily nullified this shoring. During the midst of the heated battle, he was even able to analyze and dpose his opponent''s fist techniques. He took advantage of an opening to smash apart one golden arhat''s helmet.


    "No! Come save me!" the exposed Heaven Immortal cried out.


    The other three golden arhats charged over, but Xiao Nanfeng was familiar with their techniques by then. He used a simple block to counter much of the damage he would have incurred as he punched at the exposed Heaven Immortal and killed her.


    Blood sttered across the ground as the Heaven Immortal''s corpse fell. The tide hadpletely turned in his favor.


    The other three Heaven Immortals panicked. The four of thembined were no match for Xiao Nanfeng, let alone the three of them remaining.


    "Your Highness, we won''t be able to defend for long!" one of them cried out anxiously.


    Yin Tianci''s eyes widened. He immediately entreated, "Rabbit Yanluo, you can surely see that my subordinates possess arhat armor and are stronger than ordinary Heaven Immortals. Even if they can''t stand against the Yanluo Lords themselves, they''d surely be able to help you hold their subordinates back. You can''t let Xiao Nanfeng kill them all like this!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shouted from up high, "Rabbit Yanluo, look at how they''re shirking from the fight even before victory has been decided! Do you really think such cowards would be able to help you against the Yanluo Lords? Aren''t you worried they might retreat the moment they sense iing defeat?"


    Just then, he shattered another golden arhat''s helmet.


    "Save me!" the exposed Heaven Immortal cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng blocked the remaining two golden arhats as he punched the Heaven Immortal to death.


    Now that he was against just two cultivators, his advantage would only grow. Lady Yaoguang watched him fight as her heart thudded in anticipation and excitement.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s face was a mask of calm. She did not call for a halt to the fighting. "Yin Tianci, aren''t you going to make your move? As the crown prince of a divine empire, you must have stronger treasures up your sleeve."


    Yin Tianci nched, having confirmed that the Rabbit Yanluo was about to discard him. She was even eyeing his treasures! He fled into the air.


    "Let''s go!" Yin Tianci howled.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng cracked the helmets of the final two golden arhats. In fear, they turned to flee.


    "Stay right here!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He caught up to the two Heaven Immortals and killed them both quickly.


    However, he wasn''t in time to catch Yin Tianci, who was vanishing by the horizon. He frowned, turning back to the Rabbit Yanluo. She had deliberately let him go as a countermeasure. If he ran, Yin Tianci would seek him out for revenge.


    "Alright, Xiao Nanfeng. The battle''s over, so let''s discuss how to ransom your woman," the Rabbit Yanluo said.


    Yin Tianci wasn''t her subordinate, and she hadn''t put much trust in him. She didn''t mind that his subordinates had perished; she simply desired the two Yanluo Courts in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    Xiao Nanfeng descended once more to the za. He considered the situation as he paused briefly. He had arranged to make his move now with the Monkey and Rooster Yanluos, but neither Yanluo Lord had appeared. Were they going back on their word?


    He smiled coldly. If they wanted to renege on their deal, then they couldn''t me him for what was about to happen.


    "Let''s keep talking," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Where did you leave those two Yanluo Courts? Once I secure them, I''ll release your woman," the Rabbit Yanluo said.


    The Monkey and Rooster Yanluos waited with bated breath, prepared to seize the two Yanluo Courts the moment he identified their location.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng merely smiled. "Your word is as good as gold, Rabbit Yanluo. It''s settled. I''ve brought the two Yanluo Courts with me, and will hand them to you now."


    "What? You brought them with you?" the Rabbit Yanluo eximed.


    Was Xiao Nanfeng crazy? Wasn''t he worried that they would be stolen from him?


    "Didn''t he im that he left the two Yanluo Courts in a safe location, that he wouldn''t dare reveal their location until it was absolutely necessary?" the Rooster Yanluo cried out.


    "We''ve been tricked!" the Monkey Yanluo eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed out two giant Yanluo Courts from his arhat armor.


    The Yanluo Courts flew into the air, releasing a familiar aura of strength.


    The three Yanluo Lords'' eyes widened as they leapt up toward the sky. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of themotion to rush toward Lady Yaoguang.


    "Take him down!" the Rabbit Yanluomanded.


    "Understood!" The rabbit-headed humanoids shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, but he had nothing to fear with his arhat armor equipped.


    "Attack, Yaoguang!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Lady Yaoguang summoned her own suit of arhat armor and melded with it.

 Chapter 441: The Rabbit Yanluos Boldness

    <h4>Chapter 441: The Rabbit Yanluo''s Boldness</h4>


    Lady Yaoguang likewise possessed arhat armor, which she hadn''t had an opportunity to use in the past. Now that the Rabbit Yanluo and one her avatars had shot into the air in pursuit of the two Yanluo Courts, she immediately melded with her suit of armor.


    The rabbit-headed humanoids around her shot toward her, but were unable to stop her. Furthermore, Xiao Nanfeng was also closing in on her. When he passed by, Hegemon''s Fist took down all the cursed effigies in his way.


    "We have to run!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, tugging on Lady Yaoguang''s hand.


    "No, you won''t! Seal!" a voice shouted.


    A copper pir appeared out of nowhere, wreathed in me. It fell through the air and suppressed both cultivators, preventing them from moving.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Just then, the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar that had possessed Lan Jiguang walked out of a group of rabbit-headed humanoids. She smirked. "This is a relic forged of fragments from the hell of copper pirs, one of the eighteen hells of the underworld. It contains toxic me that''s particrly suited to sealing souls."


    "The hell of copper pirs?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Burn ame!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatarmanded.


    Out of the copper pir surged countless mes. The two cultivators were surrounded. Their arhat armor zed bright red.


    "I know that you were able to absorb the mes from the fragments of the hell of boiling oil and the volcanic hell, and these mes surely won''t be able to harm you. As for your woman, she''s protected by her cursebane sword. I don''t need to harm you, however¡ªjust seal you here and prevent you from escaping. Just you wait. Once I finish matters up there, I''ll head down here and deal with you." The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatarughed.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, you lied to us! You''re breaking the terms of our arrangement!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    "And so what? What can you do to me?" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar replied, smiling.


    "You''ll die a terrible death," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    "You had better worry about yourself, haha!" The Rabbit Yanluo sneered disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned. "Yaoguang, how are you?"


    "I''m alright, but I''ve been rendered immobile."


    "Bear with it for a moment. Let me absorb these mes. The Rabbit Yanluo will surely be pursued by the other Yanluo Lords, and we''ll be able to get free once she dies. Hold on."


    "Got it!" Lady Yaoguang gritted her teeth.


    "You''re waiting for me to die? Keep waiting, then!" The Rabbit Yanluo snorted,


    motioning for some of her subordinates to guard the two cultivators alongside her, before she tilted her head upward to watch the skies.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s main body was closest to the Yanluo Courts that Xiao Nanfeng had tossed out, and she reacted instantly. With a wave of her sleeves, she caught both Yanluo Courts within her robes.


    Just then, the Rooster and Monkey Yanluos roared as they approached. They struck as one, forcing the Rabbit Yanluo back.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, you warned us not to let Xiao Nanfeng lead us by the nose. Were you deliberately trying to scheme against us? How malicious you are¡ªthe Yanluo Courts that should have belonged to us are now yours!" the Monkey Yanluo roared.


    "This is too much, Rabbit Yanluo!" the Rooster Yanluo added.


    "Xiao Nanfeng wanted us to scheme against and take down each other so he can run. Can''t you tell?" the Rabbit Yanluo replied.


    "Better than being tricked by you!" the Monkey Yanluo shouted.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, hand over your Yanluo Courts," the Rooster Yanluo demanded.


    The Monkey Yanluo gave him a chilly look. "Don''t waste time talking to her. She might have seized the upper hand for now, but that''s alright. If we kill her, we can distribute the loot ording to our n."


    "Very well!"


    "Can''t we form an alliance with each other?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked.


    "You''ve seized everything Xiao Nanfeng had to provide. Neither of us received anything, so why should we ally with you peacefully? Do you think us fools? You have to die today!" the Monkey Yanluo eximed.


    The Rabbit Yanluo red at him. "In that case, don''t me me for being heartless. Rooster Yanluo, I''ll pass you one Yanluo Court. Here!"


    "Beware of a sneak attack!" the Monkey Yanluo shouted.


    A ck object whizzed by, which the Rooster Yanluo caught with his sleeve.


    "This is... a Yanluo Court?" the Rooster Yanluo eximed.


    He couldn''t believe that the Rabbit Yanluo would simply give him one.


    "What? Why would you hand over one of the Yanluo Courts you just obtained?" the Monkey Yanluo eximed.


    "Haven''t you figured out Xiao Nanfeng''s n? He''s trying to get rid of the three of us with his two Yanluo Courts. It''s a quandary without a perfect solution. There''s no way for the three of us to split the two Yanluo Courts evenly. If I im two for myself, the two of you will gang up against me. If I give up both, I won''t be satisfied. I have no choice but to choose one of you to work with, the Rooster Yanluo. You''re the only one who doesn''t have anything now." The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes.


    "What are you trying to do?" the Monkey Yanluo asked, with a warning tone.


    "If we can''t distribute the spoils evenly, there''ll surely be cracks in our alliance that will only propagate and grow with time. If one of us defects from the alliance, the other two will be dead. The Tiger and Ox Yanluos are in secluded cultivation, and we might as well take advantage of the opportunity to deal with all other threats right now." The Rabbit Yanluo smiled.


    The Monkey Yanluo frowned. He had an uneasy premonition.


    "My cursed spiritual avatar and the two Yanluo Courts I possess represent three indivisible pages of the Records of Life and Death. If you kill me, how do you intend to split up these three pages?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked.


    The two Yanluo Lords frowned. They had chosen to ally with each other on the premise that they would each gain an equal share of the spoils. Otherwise, the unfair distribution of spoils would easily shatter the alliance and cause each of them to want to devour the other.


    "Rooster Yanluo, rather than ally with the Monkey Yanluo, why not work with me? We can kill him together. I''ll im his cursed spiritual avatar, and you his Yanluo Court. We''ll be able to split the spoils evenly, and I just gave you a Yanluo Court. Surely you can tell who the better partner would be?"


    The Monkey Yanluo''s eyes opened wide. "Rabbit Yanluo, how dare you attempt to foil our alliance! Die!"


    Suddenly, he stumbled. The Rooster Yanluo had mmed a palm toward his back.


    "Attack!" the Rabbit Yanluo shouted, making her move at once.


    The two Yanluo Lords began to attack the Monkey Yanluo simultaneously, initiating the melee among the three Yanluo Lords.


    "Rooster Yanluo, how dare you betray me! Have you forgotten about our alliance?!" the Monkey Yanluo roared.


    "Our alliance? You were the one who insisted on breaking the alliance between us and Xiao Nanfeng. It''s been ineffective since then. You insisted on scheming against him, resulting in the current state of affairs. If there''s anyone to me, it''s you!" the Rooster Yanluo replied.


    "You bastard!"


    "What''s more, this is the Rabbit Yanluo''s domain, the capital of Mao. She has her Yanluo Court present to back her up. It would be difficult for the two of us to take her down, but far easier for me to team up with her against you."


    "If I die, the Rabbit Yanluo will turn on you!" the Monkey Yanluo shouted.


    "You have a worse personality. I trust you less than her."


    "No, you can''t!"


    The three Yanluo Lords began fighting intensely.


    The subordinates that the two Yanluo Lords brought with them were stupefied. The sudden shift in the Rooster Yanluo''s allegiance meant that his subordinates had no choice but to follow suit.


    The rooster-headed humanoids began to attack the monkey-headed humanoids with the help of the rabbit-headed ones. For a moment, everything in the capital of Mao was nothing but chaos.


    Not far away, as Xiao Nanfeng focused on absorbing the Rabbit Yanluo''s toxic me, he sighed. "Rabbit Yanluo, I have to admit you''re a worthwhile foe. You gave away your Yanluo Court just like that..."


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar smirked. "It''s all thanks to you."


    "Why didn''t you just free Yaoguang and me to begin with?"


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar narrowed her eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. "You''re too dangerous."


    "Dangerous? How?"


    "I caused you to lose two Yanluo Courts. Would you be willing to give them up so easily? I possessed your woman''s parents. Would she be willing to give up on revenge? Rather than wait for you to cause me trouble, why not deal with you once and for all?" The Rabbit Yanluo smirked.


    "Once and for all? Let''s see who deals with whom," Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    He still had other ns up his sleeve. Rather than waste time with the Rabbit Yanluo, he chose to focus on absorbing the toxic me and raising his cultivation.


    "You''re cultivating? This is¡ªthe Imposing Avatar of Ri! It''s the same technique that damn monk was cultivating!" The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar narrowed her eyes.


    "What monk?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s that blood peach tree, isn''t it? You tricked the other Yanluo Lords by iming that it was the Dragon Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar, but that didn''t exist at all. The fact that it can devour the cursed effigies of our ten domains without being one of the ten Yanluo Lords means that it has to be that damn monk. It hid behind us and incited us to go to war. Each of the ten Yanluo Lords obtained one page of the twelve Earthly Branches. The final two pages went missing¡ªit must have stolen them. Tell me where that peach tree is!" the Rabbit Yanluo cried out in agitation.


    "The blood peach tree''s a monk? Are you certain?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "Isn''t the Imposing Avatar of Ri a Buddhist technique? It wanted to transcend its mortal self and be a Ri of its generation, but the world was then under the control of the ten Yanluo Lords, and the mortal world was a patchwork of the hells of the underworld. If he were to ascend then, he would instantly be the nemesis of the world. While the underworld remains, it can''t ascend. Has it managed to regenerate as well? It must be attempting to seize the ten Courts'' powers for itself. Where is it? Tell me now!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar demanded impatiently.


    "I don''t know." Xiao Nanfeng refused to say.


    "You don''t? Very well. Once I finish dealing with affairs here, we''ll have a nice, long chat. Ha!" The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar seemed particrly excited.


    Xiao Nanfeng stoppedmunicating with her as he focused on absorbing the toxic me.


    The fight dragged out for over two hours. The mes that extended from the copper pir and suppressed Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang had vanished entirely. The pir was starting to crack, as though it might burst open at any moment.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s body boomed as a gust of ming energy was expelled from it.


    "The third stage of an Earth Immortal!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "You absorbed all the toxic me? As expected of the Imposing Avatar of Ri." The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar turned to her subordinates. "Take them on together. Suppress them!"


    "Understood!"


    The rabbit-headed humanoids headed to the top of the copper pir and struck at full strength, forcing the pir down and rendering Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang still immobile.


    "We''ll be done in no time. The Monkey Yanluo is badly wounded, and will be defeated shortly. Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll get everything out of you one way or another, haha!" The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatarughed in glee.


    "Nanfeng, let''s implode our arhat armor and flee," Lady Yaoguang said, fretting.


    "Don''t worry. I still have a n. The Rabbit Yanluo hasn''t won yet. Let''s not give up so quickly," Xiao Nanfeng whispered back.


    "What could you do now? Any resistance on your part is futile." The Rabbit Yanluoughed again, but cut herself off halfway as she considered another possibility. Her head jerked up. "Hold it."

 Chapter 442: Destroying Two Yanluo Lords Again

    <h4>Chapter 442: Destroying Two Yanluo Lords Again</h4>


    High above the capital of Mao, the fight among the Yanluo Lords reached a fever pitch.


    Two Yanluo Lords, working together in concert, grievously wounded the Monkey Yanluo. All around them, a group of Heaven Immortal cursed effigies were gathered to prevent the Monkey Yanluo from escaping.


    "You''re done for, Monkey Yanluo," the Rooster Yanluo said coldly.


    The three Yanluo Lords were all injured to some extent, but the Monkey Yanluo''s injuries were the worst of the lot. He was bloody all over, and a terrible sight to behold. He wanted to run but simply couldn''t flee.


    "Rooster Yanluo, are you really going to do all this just for a single Yanluo Court?!" the Monkey Yanluo howled.


    "Don''t you think it''s rather toote for that?" the Rooster Yanluo replied disdainfully.


    "Submit to your fate, Monkey Yanluo!" the Rabbit Yanluo eximed.


    "To my fate? To be killed by the two of you, you mean? Why don''t I take you both down with me? Come on, then!" the Monkey Yanluo roared.


    His body ballooned up as tremendous strength exuded from it. The cursed effigies all around nched.


    "He''s going to self-destruct. Be careful!" the Rooster Yanluo shouted as he retreated.


    "Let him self-destruct, then. I''ll activate my Yanluo Court and collect all the fragments of his cursed spiritual avatar," the Rabbit Yanluo said fiercely.


    Even though she imed to be unafraid, she still took a few steps back.


    "You asked for this," the Monkey Yanluo gritted out, his body inting.


    Just then, a ck figure rushed straight for him so quickly that everyone else was taken aback.


    "Who''s there?" the Rooster and Rabbit Yanluos asked warily.


    The shadow pierced through the Monkey Yanluo''s heart, fast as lightning. Blood rushed out from his chest as ck light surged within, preventing him from self-destructing.


    "Wouldn''t it be a waste for you to self-destruct just like that? Thankfully, these shards of power I possess from the hell of live burial can help absorb that energy and seal it away," a familiar voice stated from behind the Monkey Yanluo.


    "Ox Yanluo? What are you doing here? Aren''t you in secluded cultivation?" the Monkey Yanluo murmured weakly in fright.


    "I was, but that doesn''t mean I''m unaware of what''s happening in the world atrge. Xiao Nanfeng sent word to me via my subordinates saying that a huge prize awaited me. I didn''t believe him at first, but it seems as though I was mistaken. I''m d I secretly headed over to watch the fight¡ªotherwise, I might have missed it all, and this excellent opportunity as well. I really have to thank you, Rabbit Yanluo, Rooster Yanluo, haha!" The Ox Yanluoughed in excitement.


    Without any hesitation, he consumed the Monkey Yanluo.


    "Xiao Nanfeng informed you of this, too? What a schemer. He had us all dancing in the palm of his hand!" the Monkey Yanluo eximed.


    "Attack, now!" the Rabbit Yanluomanded.


    The two Yanluo Lords struck the Ox Yanluo simultaneously, along with the ordinary cursed effigies all around them.


    However, the Ox Yanluo ignored their attacks and devoured the Monkey Yanluo in a single gulp.


    "No! Spit him out!" the Rooster Yanluo demanded.


    The Ox Yanluo shrugged off the other Yanluo Lords and cursed effigies'' attacks as he continued to consume the Monkey Yanluo, ignoring the tempest that formed all around him.


    "Don''t you worry. You''re next, haha!" The Ox Yanluoughed.


    Just then, another ck figure appeared. A w thrust into the Rooster Yanluo''s back in a spurt of blood.


    "What? The Tiger Yanluo''s here, too? No!" the Rooster Yanluo shouted.


    The Tiger Yanluo began to consume the Rooster Yanluo.


    "No, no! I won''t meet my end like this. Save me, Rabbit Yanluo!" the Rooster Yanluo cried out in fear.


    When the Rabbit Yanluo leapt toward the Tiger Yanluo, however, he ignored her. He allowed her tond her strike as he devoured the Rooster Yanluo.


    The Tiger Yanluo was forced back, but the moment before he closed his mouth, the Rooster Yanluo tossed something dark at the Rabbit Yanluo.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, thank you for your gift of this Yanluo Court. Even if I die, I won''t have it go to the Tiger Yanluo!" the Rooster Yanluo shouted in hisst moments.


    The Tiger Yanluo frowned and attempted to wrest it back for himself, but the Rabbit Yanluo got to it first. The Tiger Yanluo struck her, but she caught and secured the Yanluo Court as he swallowed the Rooster Yanluo whole. He glowered at the Rabbit Yanluo.


    "Did Xiao Nanfeng inform you of this too, Tiger Yanluo?" the Ox Yanluo demanded.


    The Tiger Yanluo smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng didn''t tell me anything, and he wouldn''t dare do so. Only my main body was in secluded cultivation, not my avatars. How could I be unaware of such a ruckus?"


    The next moment, the Tiger and Ox Yanluos simultaneously shot toward the Rabbit Yanluo, who turned tail to flee.


    Right as the Tiger Yanluo was about to catch the Rabbit Yanluo, the Ox Yanluo mmed a palm at him. "She''s mine!"


    The two Yanluo Lords began to attack each other, allowing the Rabbit Yanluo to escape by the narrowest of margins.


    "Flee!" the Rabbit Yanluomanded.


    Her rabbit-headed humanoids began to flee by her side.


    "Do you think you can run away? Stop them!" the Ox Yanluo shouted.


    "Understood!"


    Arge group of Heaven Immortal ox-headed humanoids appeared outside the capital of Mao and headed straight for the battlefield.


    "Keep the Rabbit Yanluo here!" the Tiger Yanluo shouted.


    "Understood!"


    Tiger-headed humanoids appeared from the forests in the distance.


    High in the air, the battle raged on. The Tiger and Ox Yanluos fought for the Rabbit Yanluo with their lives on the line. The Rabbit Yanluo wouldn''t have been able to take either of them on by herself, but their mutualpetition allowed her to remain out of harm''s way for the moment.


    Even so, she was heavily wounded from the heated battle that had already taken ce, and she wouldn''t be able to hold on much longer.


    Down on the ground, by the copper pir, the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar raged, "Xiao Nanfeng, this is all your fault!"


    "Oh? Rabbit Yanluo, you created this problem for yourself. Don''t you think you''re the one to me? If you hadn''t caught Yaoguang, none of this would have happened," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar fumed. She couldn''t have expected that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to take down all three Yanluo Lords and their subordinates without even doing much of anything on his own.


    "Let''s go!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar shouted.


    She wasn''t able to handle Xiao Nanfeng at the moment; she would have to cut her losses.


    With her rabbit-headed humanoids, she headed straight for her Yanluo Court.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He and Yaoguang shattered the copper pir overhead, returning them their freedom.


    The next moment, he saw the Rabbit Yanluo''s Yanluo Court fly toward the horizon and vanish from sight.


    "This isn''t good. We have to go!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He tugged on Lady Yaoguang''s hand as they fled. Just then, a huge Heaven''s Hand pushed aside the blood-colored cloud of annihtion and mmed down where they had been, smashing apart the cursed effigies all around.


    Heaven''s Hand drew back and headed toward the Yanluo Lords in the skies.


    "No!" the Yanluo Lords shouted in fear.


    Heaven''s Hand grabbed onto the Tiger and Ox Yanluos. The Rabbit Yanluo''s main body and her other avatar fled toward the horizon without any hesitation whatsoever.


    Heaven''s Hand generated huge bolts of lightning that crashed down on the two Yanluo Lords.

 Chapter 443: Records of Life and Death

    <h4>Chapter 443: Records of Life and Death</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang fled, a brilliant burst of light emerged atop the capital of Mao, along with a huge reverberating boom. Two Yanluo Lords worked together to fend off Heaven''s Hand.


    "Let''s hide for now." Xiao Nanfeng tugged on Lady Yaoguang''s hand as they headed toward a forest.


    The two cultivators quickly shrugged off their arhat armor so as to better hide themselves.


    Within the forest, they saw an incredible burst of me emerge from Heaven''s Hand. The capital of Mao was leveled to the ground, and the few cursed effigies that had made it out alive were all heavily wounded.


    The Tiger and Ox Yanluos were bloody all over. They had been seriously injured.


    Just then, the blood-colored cloud of annihtion began to roil, as though a new Heaven''s Hand was about to form.


    "Where did the Rabbit Yanluo escape to?" the Ox Yanluo demanded.


    "She headed over there!" An ox-headed humanoid pointed in a certain direction.


    The Tiger Yanluo rushed out.


    "Damn it! Hold it right there, Tiger Yanluo!" The Ox Yanluo gave chase with a shout.


    The Rabbit Yanluo had run off. They might not be able to catch up to her themselves, but that was eptable as long as neither of them did.


    They were the only Yanluo Lords left in the Netherworld Pce apart from the Rabbit Yanluo. Whoever managed to stake his im on the Rabbit Yanluo would end up the lord of the entire domain. They were more anxious than anyone else present.


    A new Heaven''s Hand manifested right as the two Yanluo Lords left. It began to strike down the cursed effigies in the vicinity to quell the disturbance.


    "Run!" Countless cursed effigies began to flee.


    In a forest far away, Xiao Nanfeng let out a sigh of relief. "We''ve made it."


    "Nanfeng, I had the blue moon barrier and cursebane sword to protect me. There was no need for you to take such a risk." Lady Yaoguang grumbled, but her eyes were filled with relief.


    "It''s not a matter of your defenses. I won''t be able to rx without saving you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lady Yaoguang''s heart thudded. She smiled subconsciously, not even realizing that she had done so.


    "We''re not in the clear yet. We should leave," Xiao Nanfeng said, tugging on Yaoguang''s hand again.


    "Very well!" Lady Yaoguang nodded.


    The two cultivators quickly left the outskirts of Mao.


    Two dayster, in a valley, Xiao Nanfeng made Lady Yaoguang a feast as they discussed what had happened.


    "In the end, the Rabbit Yanluo did manage to escape, and the Tiger and Ox Yanluos each seized an ownerless Yanluo Court. The strong truly do get stronger; they''re growing more and more dominant." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Damn that Rabbit Yanluo. She really is good at running away!" Lady Yaoguang bit down fiercely on a hunk of meat.


    "You told me you saw your parents again. Would you tell me about the situation in more detail?"


    Lady Yaoguang nodded, recounting what had happened within the red moon illusory realm.


    "These red-furred lifeforms are cursed effigies? How can that be?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s what my father said," Lady Yaoguang recalled.


    "In that case, could the Taiqing Grandmaster be a cursed king himself? Could the red moon illusory realm be a cursed king''s domain?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "If that''s really the case..." Lady Yaoguang was astonished.


    "It is possible. We can''t disprove this possibility just yet. To think there would be so much happening in such quick session¡ªhow am I always dragged into such affairs?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "What will you do now?" Lady Yaoguang asked in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It doesn''t matter. I''ve seen far more than my fair share of cursed effigies, and I''m used to them by now. Regardless of whether my hypothesis is right, my cultivation is still far too weak to do anything about it. I''ll pretend not to know anything for now."


    Lady Yaoguang was silent for a moment before she too nodded.


    "However, ten thousand years ago, I heard that three grandmasters dominated the world: the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing Grandmasters. They were said to be equally strong. If the Taiqing Grandmaster was a cursed king, then the Shangqing Grandmaster might have been one too. You have to be careful now that you''ve started to cultivate the Shangqing blue moon," Xiao Nanfeng told Lady Yaoguang seriously.


    Lady Yaoguang gave him an odd look. "The Shangqing techniques specifically counter cursed effigies, as does my cursebane sword. How could the grandmaster of this sect be a cursed king? Could you be overthinking things?"


    "Have you considered how these techniques counter cursed effigies? Some cursed effigies have special attributes and abilities that ordinary cultivation techniques can''t do anything against. In general, only cursed effigies can counter cursed effigies. Doesn''t that suggest that your Shangqing techniques bear a cursed nature to them? Your cursebane sword might itself be a cursed effigy as well."


    Lady Yaoguang frowned. "Surely not..."


    "Let''s not worry about this for the moment. It''s not like we can do anything about it, at any rate. We should focus on growing stronger. Go on. What did your mother tell you?"


    "Why do you want to know? That was a private conversation!" Lady Yaoguang flushed red as she refused to answer Xiao Nanfeng.


    She had spoken with her mother about her future husband. How could she repeat such a conversation to Xiao Nanfeng?


    "I was just asking. It doesn''t matter if you don''t want to tell me." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "It''ll be a full moon in roughly ten days. We can leave the Netherworld Pce then," Lady Yaoguang said.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. "I''m afraid not."


    "Oh?" Lady Yaoguang seemed surprised.


    "Not only have we not found Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s crew, it won''t be difficult for the Yanluo Lords to guess our intentions. The Rabbit Yanluo will surely try to stop us at the mouth of the abyss."


    "The Rabbit Yanluo?"


    "That''s right, but this is for the best. We''ll have an opportunity to seize your parents'' bodies," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    "She''s like a stray dog now, forced out of her home and territory. Would she really dare show herself that easily?"


    "A stray dog? No, she still has the opportunity to win," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "How? The Tiger and Ox Yanluos each have four cursed spiritual avatars now. Once they fully master them, the Rabbit Yanluo wouldn''t stand a chance, even if she has three Yanluo Courts to her name." Lady Yaoguang seemed confused.


    "We''re the chance that she needs."


    "Oh?"


    "More urately, she needs the assistance of my senior." Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Senior Blood Peach Tree, could we have a talk?"


    The void shook not far away. A giant blood peach tree appeared in sight.


    The blood peach tree scattered a few petals. "Xiao Nanfeng, you should have handed those two Yanluo Courts to me to begin with. The Rabbit Yanluo wouldn''t have been able to take advantage then."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Senior, if I hadn''t done so, I wouldn''t have been able to rescue Yaoguang. If you had helped me out at first, I would have been able to be more generous."


    The blood peach tree eventually scattered a few more petals. "Are you aware of my identity now?"


    "Not fully, but the Rabbit Yanluo told me that you were once an esteemed monk, a cultivator from the same era as the ten Yanluo Lords. Your interactions with them left longstanding grudges, and you possess the avatars of two Yanluo Lords."


    After a long silence, the blood peach tree scattered even more petals. "She was right. I possessed two of the pages of the twelve Earthly Branches. I am willing to help you, but I bear the ten Yanluo Lords deep enmity. The moment I reveal my identity, they would stop at nothing to destroy me¡ªand you would certainly be one of their targets as well. Not revealing myself is the most help I could give."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Lady Yaoguang was agape. This blood peach tree was rather shameless, wasn''t it?


    "Senior, I don''t understand your circumstances, and have been unable to help you to date. Now that the Rabbit Yanluo is eyeing me¡ªor, more urately, you¡ªwe''ll have to fight her soon enough. If you don''t exin the situation to me, it''ll be very difficult for me to cooperate with you to take her down together."


    The blood peach tree scattered more petals. "What do you want to know?"


    "What are the twelve pages of the Earthly Branches? Why are you on bad terms with the ten Yanluo Lords? Just what happened a hundred thousand years ago to simultaneously spawn these ten cursed kings?"


    The blood peach tree formed more words with its petals. "Ten cursed kings? Not quite. The Yanluo Lords shouldn''t be considered cursed kings."


    "Oh?"


    "A hundred thousand years ago, the Netherworld Pope conquered the world. He sacrificed the whole world''s worth of fortune and treasure to obtain a cursed effigy from the world away, a tome known as the Records of Life and Death.


    "It truly exists?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Indeed. The Records of Life and Death is divided into two volumes, the Heavenly Stems and the Earthly Branches. There are ten Heavenly Stems, each associated with a page of the first volume; and twelve Earthly Branches, each associated with a page of the second."


    "What a strange division," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "As the Netherworld Pope attuned to the Records of Life and Death, I encouraged his ten strongest subordinates, then titled kings, into rebellion. They slew him and stole the Records."


    "Oh?"


    "By then, the Netherworld Pope had finished attuning to half of the first volume on Heavenly Stems, so the ten kings were unable to seize control of it for the time being. They transformed the ten pages of the ten Heavenly Stems into the ten Yanluo Courts, then split them up. As for the twelve pages of the Earthly Branches, they each obtained a single page. Attuning to them transformed their appearance into that of a strange beastman humanoid. I secretly kept the final two pages."


    "The Records of Life and Death isposed of the ten Yanluo Courts and ten Yanluo Lords? No wonder you said that they weren''t cursed kings. They simply absorbed a portion of the Records into their bodies.


    "That''s why they want to devour each other. They want to gather all the pages of the Records and be a true cursed king."


    "Why did you incite them to rebel, Senior?"


    "To save the world."

 Chapter 444: To Save the World

    <h4>Chapter 444: To Save the World</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang nced at each other in surprise.


    "Well? Don''t you believe that I was trying to save the world?" the blood peach tree asked.


    "No, it''s simply that..." Xiao Nanfeng was at a loss as to how to describe what he was thinking.


    The blood peach tree continued, "The Netherworld Pope had conquered the world, but he was a tyrant of vicious means. He killed all those who opposed him, and the entire world suffered under his rule. Bones scattered across thend, and disasters befell the people. Countless sects wanted to get rid of him and return peace to the world, but he quashed them all. The ten kings who were his subordinates swept across thend, reaping Buddhist, Immortal, and demonic sects alike. The mortal world became a hellscape, and I did what I could to save it."


    "That''s incredibly admirable, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Regardless of whether the monk was telling the truth, Xiao Nanfeng would need its assistance. He could hardly refute its words¡ªno, he would have to praise it.


    "The Netherworld Pope was evil, as were the ten kings under hismand. While he was in secluded cultivation attuning to the Records of Life and Death, at the nadir of his power, they struck. They killed him and sealed his corpse under the eighteen hells of the underworld right here. That''s why this ce is called the Netherworld Pce."


    "So we''re in the Netherworld Pope''s mausoleum?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. He looked at the world in miniature around him.


    "Indeed. Unfortunately, after the death of the Netherworld Pope came the ten Yanluo Lords. They were as evil as the Netherworld Pope had been, and transformed the entire mortal world into a facsimile of the underworld. They divided the world into ten domains and ruled them together. That year, I secretly stole two pages of the Records in order to counteract them, but unfortunately, I was weaker than they were. I didn''t even manage to rebuild my Buddhist sect."


    "And then what happened? How did their downfalle about?"


    "A heavenly tribtion descends once every ten thousand years. When that happened, the heavens finally dealt with the ten Yanluo Lords. It shattered the eighteen hells of the underworld and destroyed the ten Yanluo Lords'' preparation to go against heaven. After sweeping through the evils of the world, it sealed all ten Yanluo Lords here. Because I too possessed pages of the Records, I was destroyed as well. Regardless, I don''t regret my actions. I saved the mortal world atrge."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang nced at each other. They were understandably skeptical of what the blood peach tree had said, but they could hardly challenge it if they wanted its support.


    "I admire your strength in the face of adversity, Senior. However, the ten Yanluo Lords are right about to devour each other and break out of the Netherworld Pce. They''ll return to the mortal world and bring disaster to us mortals. We can''t allow this to happen, can we?"


    "That''s why I''ve been collecting the pages of the Records myself. It was for this reason that I requested the various Yanluo Courts and cursed spiritual avatars from you, but unfortunately, you didn''t trust me."


    "Senior, I do trust you. However, I''m rather weak at the moment, and I needed these treasures to secure my safety. For instance, if I didn''t have two Yanluo Courts in my possession just hours before, I would never have been able to save myself and Yaoguang. Senior, with great poweres great responsibility. It''s time for you to make your move," Xiao Nanfeng entreated.


    The blood peach tree nced at Xiao Nanfeng. What nonsense was this? ''With great poweres great responsibility''?


    "Senior, the Rabbit Yanluo is aware of your existence, and she''ll surely do her best to find you. You will be forced to fight against the Rabbit Yanluo. You have four pages of the Records in your hands right now, Senior. If you defeat the Rabbit Yanluo and im her spoils as your own, you''ll have the strength to take down the Tiger or Ox Yanluos. Senior, your battle against the Rabbit Yanluo is imminent, and we can assist you from the sidelines. However, you''ll have to take the lead this time around."


    "I''m still too weak. I won''t be a match for her."


    "Senior, if you don''t take the initiative, if the other Yanluo Lords devour the Rabbit Yanluo, then you won''t be able to save the mortal world!"


    The blood peach tree cursed inwardly. Was Xiao Nanfeng really that naive as to think that it was aiming to save the mortal world? It suddenly realized that it had been too boastful about itself, that it had made itself seem far too perfect. Now, it had no recourse against Xiao Nanfeng''s argument.


    "Senior, the Rabbit Yanluo is unaware of the extent of your strength, and she believes that you only have two pages of the Records. She doesn''t know that you''ve already imed the Snake Yanluo''s spoils for yourself. You could take advantage of this opportunity to give her an unexpected blow while the Tiger and Ox Yanluos are still in secluded cultivation. Yaoguang and I will help you stop their avatars, and we''ll designate the battlefield as the mouth of the abyss. That way, if something unexpected happens, Senior, we can all leave the abyss together. The Yanluo Lords won''t be able to give chase, and you''ll be perfectly positioned to attack and defend!"


    The blood peach tree was silent for a long moment. It only wanted to reap the spoils of war from the backlines, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed intent on pushing it to the forefront. What was it to do?


    Eventually, it had no choice but to write, "I ept."


    It was tempted, to some extent. As Xiao Nanfeng said, even if it couldn''t defeat the Rabbit Yanluo, it could simply escape from the abyss.


    "Since you''re willing to make a move, Senior, we''ll start our preparations immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng was relieved. Persuading the blood peach tree to take center stage would be crucial for what was to follow.


    Back in the city of Wuliu, a group of cultivators from the alliance gathered by the ruins of the governor''s manor as they discussed what they had observed and heard.


    "I saw City Lord Xiao head into the capital of Mao alone and kill five Heaven Immortals. He even devised a scheme to take down two Yanluo Lords, and all but razed the capital of Mao to the ground. He''s insane!"


    "Those traitors who betrayed City Lord Xiao and decided to support Crown Prince Yin instead can''t even get ahold of him now. Those damned fools caused City Lord Xiao to lose faith in us. What are we to do now?!"


    "The Netherworld Pce is in an uproar. Perhaps there won''t be any cursed effigies guarding the mouth of the abyss during the next full moon. Could we be able to escape then?"


    "If only City Lord Xiao were still around to guard us! How much better that would be..."


    The cultivators couldn''t help but reminisce about Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, two figures flew over from nearby.


    "City Lord Xiao? And Lady Yaoguang?!" someone suddenly cried out.


    All the cultivators looked over in excitement.


    "We greet City Lord Xiao! We greet Lady Yaoguang!" the cultivators cried out.


    "What are all of you still doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "City Lord Xiao, we were guilty about what some of our number did. We didn''t realize that there were traitors in our midst, and we caused Lady Yaoguang great trouble. The traitors and those who have decided to side with them have gathered elsewhere. We didn''t want to apany them, so we were hoping that you would show up here. We''re all willing to be your followers," one of them said.


    "We''re willing to be your followers, City Lord Xiao!" the others echoed.


    "Followers? We can talk about thatter. I''m just here to fulfill the promise that I made to you."


    "City Lord Xiao, are you willing to escort us out?" The cultivators'' eyes brightened.


    "No. I''m here to tell you that none of you are to leave during this full moon. Please inform everyone."


    "What? We''re not leaving?"


    "Please help me find the traitors who betrayed me and Lady Yaoguang to the Rabbit Yanluo. Once we catch them all, I''ll escort the rest of you out."


    "You intend to seek revenge, City Lord Xiao?"


    "Those traitors attempted to kill me with the might of Heaven Immortals and cursed effigies. I naturally intend to seek revenge. If you are willing to obey me, please start searching for them now. I want them dead or alive. I''ll return to Wuliu intermittently to check up on your progress."


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    "Let''s leave it at that, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng left with Lady Yaoguang, leaving the cultivators of the alliance to consider his proposal.


    Some were willing to follow Xiao Nanfeng without question, but others thought less well of him. Clearly, they were only hoping that Xiao Nanfeng would provide them safe voyage out of the abyss and didn''t truly intend to obey hismands.


    Word of Xiao Nanfeng''s imminent revenge quickly spread to all the cultivators of the alliance.


    Within a secluded de, Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang were enjoying a feast.


    Lady Yaoguang asked, "Do you really intend to seek vengeance against those traitors?"


    "Of course. I don''t intend to allow them to conspire against us just because they''re weak. If we weren''t as strong as we were, they might well have doomed us. They need to pay a price for what they''ve done," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    "But why did it seem like you were trying to save them, too?" Lady Yaoguang smiled.


    "I do want to save those of them that are willing to listen to me. On the night of the full moon, the Rabbit Yanluo will surely blockade the mouth of the abyss. If those cultivators dare to head there then, they''d likely end up dead. After all, some of those cultivators obeyed my orders loyally, and I need to do my part to warn them."


    "But your warning wasn''t very clear, was it?"


    "It was fair warning. I need to repay them for what they''ve done, but this is all that is warranted. They assisted me with an ulterior motive in mind¡ªbut if they''re willing to listen to me, they can easily avoid disaster. If they simply want to extract what benefit from me they can while ignoring my words, I don''t mind if they perish. I tried to stop them, after all," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You''re right. You''ve done more than what''s fair," Lady Yaoguang replied.


    "Furthermore, our words and actions will surely reach the three Yanluo Lords'' ears, and I certainly don''t want to cause more trouble for myself. We should conserve our energy and prepare for a final assault against the Rabbit Yanluo."


    "You''re right. Over the next few days, you have to keep making me feasts so that I can stockpile my strength." Lady Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    <i>Stockpile your strength? And drain mine at the same time, you mean?</i>

 Chapter 445: The Mouth of the Abyss

    <h4>Chapter 445: The Mouth of the Abyss</h4>


    The night of the full moon quickly dawned.


    As Xiao Nanfeng had expected, the majority of the cultivators in the alliance had no intention of obeying Xiao Nanfeng. Many had pledged allegiance to Xiao Nanfeng just for show. Despite hismand that they not show up at the mouth of the abyss today, even before the full moon rose into the air, there were already countless cultivators present and waiting.


    Those cultivators of the alliance who had betrayed Xiao Nanfeng were among them.


    "Did you hear that Xiao Nanfeng''s trying to take revenge on us? Who does he think will be willing to help him catch us? No one!"


    "Everyone wants to get out. Who would listen to him? He''s nothing but a joke."


    The traitorsughed with each other as a ck-robed man walked up to them and whispered, "Are there any leads?"


    The traitors turned serious. One bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, there are simply too many peopleing from all around. Many are dressed in ck and are unwilling to expose their identities. We''re unable to identify Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang at present."


    The ck-robed man was none other than the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci. He said coldly, "Regardless, don''t justze around. Continue your search."


    "Understood!" The cultivators scattered and began to look around.


    After Yin Tianci handled the cultivators, he turned to another ck-robed figure beside him. "Rabbit Yanluo, you shouldn''t have allowed Xiao Nanfeng to kill my subordinates. Otherwise, we would have more helpers right now."


    "You''re still ming me?" the Rabbit Yanluo demanded.


    "What would be the point? We''re both basically in dire straits now. If there''s anyone to me, it''s Xiao Nanfeng. The mouth of the abyss is about to be unlocked. I don''t have much time left. We can leave our own grudges aside for the time being. As long as you intend to take on Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll cooperate with you. I only have one request. Holy Maiden Yaoguang must be mine."


    "Very well! You shall have your spoils, and I shall have mine. I''ll leave whatever trouble awaits outside the mouth of the abyss to you," the Rabbit Yanluo said.


    "Don''t worry. My subordinates arrived half a month ago, and they''re standing guard outside the other side of the mouth of the abyss. My avatar is here as well, and my forces are holding back arge group of strong cultivators from the Shangqing holynd. Later, I''ll take responsibility for dying those cultivators outside. Finish your fight quickly," Yin Tianci said.


    "Very good." The Rabbit Yanluo nodded with satisfaction.


    "Will Xiao Nanfeng appear today?" Yin Tianci asked with some worry.


    "He surely will. He''s likely within this group of people," the Rabbit Yanluo replied without any hesitation.


    "Good!" Yin Tianci nodded as well.


    "I''ve made sufficient preparations. I hope nothing goes wrong with yours," the Rabbit Yanluo continued.


    "Don''t worry. These cultivators of the alliance might not be particrly strong, but they know that I''m their ticket out of here and will obey mymands. I''ve handed them the treasures you passed me. They''ll install them at designated locations and keep guard over them. The resulting formation will ensure that Xiao Nanfeng can''t escape."


    "Very good," the Rabbit Yanluo replied again.


    Not long thereafter, a full moon rose high into the night sky. It was visible in the outer world and even in the Netherworld Pce. Where the moonlight descended, umbral clouds began to roil around the mouth of the abyss. Heavenly authority descended as strong winds blew all around. A gigantic Heaven''s Hand emerged; from within its cracks, thend outside could be seen.


    "The mouth to the abyss has been opened up. We can escape now. Let''s flee!" some cultivators cried out.


    The majority, however, remained cautiously behind until shouts rang out from the back.


    "Hurry! There are cursed effigiesing from afar. If we don''t leave now, we''ll never make it!"


    "Rabbit-headed humanoids¡ªso many rabbit-headed humanoids!"


    "We''ve been surrounded by rabbit-headed humanoids. Let''s flee!"


    Many cultivators of the alliance cried out in fear.


    Arge group of rabbit-headed humanoids had appeared from all around, herding the cultivators toward the mouth of the abyss. They nced around in shock and fright. They had been meandering forward, but now everyone was in a rush.


    They swarmed toward the mouth of the abyss, worried that they wouldn''t be able to escape if they were any slower.


    Within moments, the cultivators that had been hiding all around had assembled. They shot into the air in an attempt to leave the abyss.


    Just then, a huge palm strike descended from the heavens and barred the cultivators'' path.


    "Someone''s blocking us! Who''s there?" one cultivator eximed.


    "It''s His Highness!" another cultivator called back.


    Yin Tianci stood alone by the mouth of the abyss, defending against all the cultivators charging toward him with nothing but his own might.


    "Formation, arise!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    ck fog surged forth from all over. It shot into the air and covered up the moon, surrounding a huge domain in a formation of ck fog and trapping all the gathered cultivators.


    "This is a formation? We''ve been trapped!"


    "Your Highness, what are you doing? Why aren''t you allowing us to go free?"


    Countless cultivators were shouting at the crown prince.


    Some, sensing that something was awry, attempted to flee. However, they couldn''t break out of the formation at all despite repeated attempts.


    Meanwhile, the rabbit-headed humanoids on the outside seized control of the formation and began to head inside.


    "Cursed effigies are heading in! Your Highness, let us out! Otherwise, we''ll all be done for!" the cultivators shouted.


    Yin Tianci ignored them. He turned toward the rabbit-headed humanoids. "Everyone, feel free to make your move."


    The rabbit-headed humanoids nodded in glee.


    "What? Your Highness, you''re in cahoots with these cursed effigies?"


    "Your Highness, you can''t do this to us! We''re your followers!"


    "Your Highness, we betrayed Xiao Nanfeng on your behalf. How could you harm us like this?!"


    Shouts rang out from within the formation, but the rabbit-headed humanoids didn''t pause at all. They drew their soul-stealing chains and tossed them at the gathered cultivators.


    "No!" the cultivators cried out.


    They were simply too weak to resist the incursion of these rabbit-headed humanoids. Some attempted to resist, but the rabbit-headed humanoids struck them down with ease.


    Many of the cultivators roared in fear and shock as they charged toward Yin Tianci, once again intending to flee out of the mouth of the abyss. However, none of them were a match for him, and he easily took them all down. With the rabbit-headed humanoids guarding the mouth, no one could escape.


    The cultivators fell, one after the other. Their souls were all harvested from their bodies and sent to the waiting mouth of the Rabbit Yanluo, who stood beside Yin Tianci. Shrill screams peppered the air.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ve found you. You can''t escape, haha!" Yin Tianci suddenly shouted.


    The cultivators looked in the direction of Yin Tianci''s gaze to see two ck-robed individuals in the midst of the cultivators. The individuals easily broke the soul-stealing chains that struck at them from all around. One of them retrieved an imperial seal and sent the other one within.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think you''ll be able to escape just by allowing Holy Maiden Yaoguang to hide in your imperial seal?" Yin Tianci scoffed.


    The remaining ck-robed individual unveiled his hood, revealing himself to be Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yin Tianci, have you given up on even thest vestige of your dignity? The Rabbit Yanluo betrayed you¡ªand here you are, working with her once more." Xiao Nanfeng scoffed.


    "As long as I can take you down, I don''t mind working with the Rabbit Yanluo again," Yin Tianci replied with a cold smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yin Tianci faced off against each other.


    The remaining cultivators all around, with their souls being dragged out of their bodies by the soul-stealing chains in the vicinity, clung onto Xiao Nanfeng like their newfound savior.


    "Save us, City Lord Xiao!"


    "I''m willing to be your follower, City Lord Xiao. Please save me!"


    "City Lord Xiao, we were all tricked by Yin Tianci. Save us!"


    The cultivators cried out for help.


    "I''ve warned all of you not to approach the mouth of the abyss today. You refused to believe me; there''s nothing I can do. Yin Tianci is scheming against the Rabbit Yanluo to take me down, and she might strike at any moment. I don''t have the attention or time to spare on you. Find another savior. Haven''t all of you been listening to Yin Tianci? Why don''t you beg him to let you go?" Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    The cultivators nched. Xiao Nanfeng had made his stance clear.


    "Your Highness, we''ve all been loyal to you. Please let us go!" many cultivators begged.


    Yin Tianci''s eyes grew frosty. "If you''re loyal to me, then submit to your death."


    "No!" countless cultivators cried out in fear.


    They continued to fall in droves to the rabbit-headed humanoids that ran rampant throughout the crowd.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the ck-robed figure beside Yin Tianci. "What a scheme, Rabbit Yanluo. What a scheme!"


    The Rabbit Yanluo was devouring the souls that were being fed her way as she smiled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ve been waiting for you for quite some time. Just wait a little longer. Once I finish devouring this group of ignorant cultivators, we''ll have a small chat."


    The formation was like a barrier of death, trapping all the cultivators within. The rabbit-headed humanoids quickly killed them all.


    "Why are you bothering to kill this group of cultivators? Were you afraid that the Tiger and Ox Yanluos'' avatars managed to sneak in?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coolly.


    "That''s right! I prefer it when I''m in control of things. I get rid of all potential threats before they can develop further. As for you, you''ll die to me today too. How do you feel?" The Rabbit Yanluo gave him a cold smile.


    "You''re celebrating far too early," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He hadn''t fallen for the trap. He had deliberately drifted within. Beforehand, when Yin Tianci had dispatched his subordinates toy out the formation, he had sensed that something was amiss. The blood peach tree told him that the formation wasn''t worth worrying about, that it was a battlefield of sorts that the Rabbit Yanluo was enacting. That was why Xiao Nanfeng had rxed and stepped within, following the lead of the gathered cultivators.


    "Rabbit Yanluo, Xiao Nanfeng looks far too calm. He doesn''t seem to be scared of you. Could he have contacted the other Yanluo Lords to scheme against us?" Yin Tianci asked seriously.


    The Rabbit Yanluo shook her head. "He does have a backer¡ªthat damned monk, isn''t it? That monk wouldn''t dare contact the other Yanluo Lords. You don''t have to worry. He simply believes in his uing victory."


    "Oh? What monk?" Yin Tianci eximed in surprise.


    The Rabbit Yanluo didn''t exin. She turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Where''s that damn monk? I want to find it, and it wants to find me. Have it show itself!"

 Chapter 446: Decisive Battle Against the Rabbit Yanluo

    <h4>Chapter 446: Decisive Battle Against the Rabbit Yanluo</h4>


    By the mouth of the abyss, the formation of ck fog that encapsted arge patch ofnd trapped countless cultivators of the alliance, preventing them from breaking free. The formation of ck fog even isted sound. No one could glean any information.


    By the outskirts of the ck fog, two figures remained standing.


    One was Yin, the avatar whom the Tiger Yanluo had possessed. Beside him seemed to be an ordinary cultivator, but anyone who was qualified to stand beside Yin had to be of monstrous strength.


    "Ox Yanluo, you really aren''t picky, are you? You''re even willing to possess the physical body of a Wingform-realm cultivator?" Yin smirked.


    "If you don''t like it, why don''t you send me a live Heaven Immortal?" the Ox Yanluo joked.


    Naturally, Yin had no interest in enriching his opponents. He smirked. "Aren''t you worried that I''ll finish off your avatar instead?"


    "Who said that this was the only avatar I had? What''s more, do you think you''ll be able to withstand my power just because you can kill one of my avatars?" the Ox Yanluo replied disdainfully.


    Yin snorted.


    Clearly, it was easy and not particrly meaningful for one Yanluo Lord to kill another''s avatar. The two Yanluo Lords were enemies, but they had already fought each other for a hundred thousand years. Attacking each other''s weak avatars was beneath their station.


    "What do you think about the formation before us?" the Ox Yanluo asked.


    "It''s clear that the Rabbit Yanluo and the crown prince of Dayin are in cahoots with each other. They''re nning to trap Xiao Nanfeng here. The Rabbit Yanluo must truly be angry with him," Yin said.


    "I think you''re even angrier at Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you? Did he bully you aboveworld?" the Ox Yanluo smirked.


    Yin scoffed. He refused to delve into the specifics.


    "Do you think the Rabbit Yanluo''s main body is here, too?" the Ox Yanluo asked.


    "She must have guessed that we''d be keeping an eye on her, so I don''t think she would expose her main body so easily¡ªespecially not with such a hugemotion," Yin replied, frowning.


    "In that case, what are you doing here? Why don''t you head back now?" the Ox Yanluo advised.


    "Why don''t you head back?" Yin retorted.


    "So you''re not certain, either. In terms of probability, it''s unlikely that the Rabbit Yanluo would do so. Furthermore, if she nned on doing so, why bother to cooperate with Yin Tianci?" the Ox Yanluo joked.


    Yin, however, narrowed his eyes. "I feel like something''s amiss. Why would the Rabbit Yanluo decide to work together with Yin Tianci, and what''s up with this formation? There must be some secret that we don''t know about."


    The Ox Yanluo seemed simrly suspicious, but they knew too little to deduce anything conclusive.


    "Why don''t we barge in and have a look?" the Ox Yanluo suggested.


    "The formation seals that without from that within. It''s toote to enter¡ªbut your main body could probably shatter it," Yin said.


    The Ox Yanluo snorted. "You want my main body to waste time with this mess while yours continues to absorb the various Yanluo Lords'' bodies uninterrupted, augmenting your strength? Ha! You can strike at the Rabbit Yanluo with your main body if you want."


    "My avatar suffices for handling all matters out here, unlike yours. It''s pitifully weak," Yin replied.


    The Ox Yanluo sniffed in distaste.


    He dropped the conversation and continued to stare at the formation of ck fog not too far away, trying to identify what was going on within.


    Within the formation of ck fog, the Rabbit Yanluo was eyeing Xiao Nanfeng carefully. She exuded killing intent as she awaited her opponent.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Senior, the Rabbit Yanluo has guessed our intentions, and there''s no need for you to hide any longer. I''ll leave her to you, Senior, and take care of the riffraff on your behalf."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately donned his arhat armor.


    The Rabbit Yanluo waited expectantly as Yin Tianci made an expression of surprise. He seemed to have guessed something.


    Not too longter, the void before Xiao Nanfeng started to shimmer. Arge blood peach tree appeared in everyone''s sight.


    "This blood peach tree again? Is that the monk you''ve been talking about all this time?" Yin Tianci asked.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s eyes lit up with excitement. "It is you! How did you end up in such a state? You''re a tree spirit now!"


    The blood peach tree formed words with its scattered petals. "If you want to fight, Rabbit Yanluo,e at me."


    The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes. "Oh? Can''t you speak? Is your cursed spiritual avatar iplete, or is it still being controlled or subdued by another? Ha, you damn monk, it doesn''t look like you''ve had a good time aboveworld yourself!"


    "My cursed spiritual avatar is none of your concern. The Tiger and Ox Yanluos must be waiting outside the formation. Aren''t you going to make a move? Or do you intend to wait until their main bodies get here, too?"


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s eyes narrowed. "So be it!"


    She was being particrly cautious. With a wave of her hand, roiling ck fog formed behind her.


    "What did you hide within?"


    "You''ll see in no time." The Rabbit Yanluo rushed toward the blood peach tree.


    She was wreathed in ck fog, and a frightening aura seemed to surge forth from it.


    Xiao Nanfeng began to put on an act. He pretended to nch as he leapt away and shouted, "Senior, be careful! Something dangerous awaits within the fog!"


    At the same time, the blood peach tree sprayed out copious amounts of white fog into its vicinity. The tree and the mist headed straight for the Rabbit Yanluo.


    The white and ck fog sizzled where they met, but the majority of the fog quickly intermixed. The Rabbit Yanluo and the blood peach tree were immediately wrapped up within two clouds of fog, from which heated fighting could be heard.


    "What? You have a Yanluo Court too? This is the Snake Yanluo''s Yanluo Court¡ªyou must have killed her!" the Rabbit Yanluo thundered.


    The fog roiled as a frightening aura exuded from it. The rabbit-headed humanoids shivered in fear.


    "Are you alright, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng called out into the fog.


    The sound of violent fighting continued to ring out. No one responded to him.


    "It''s doing very well. Xiao Nanfeng, to think you would be hiding yet another Yanluo Court! If not for the fact that I activated my own as well,you might really have been able to take me down." An ice-cold voice could be heard from within the crowd of rabbit-headed humanoids.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar emerge. Her physical body was that of Lady Yaoguang''s mother. Her face was cold, her tone enraged.


    "My senior''s making a move itself. Prepare to die," Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    "Oh? Do you think I don''t have a Yanluo Court of my own? The two Yanluo Courts'' strength will counteract one another, and just who will win is yet undecided. It can''t even speak¡ªit''s nothing more than a broken cursed spiritual avatar. Does it really think it can beat me? I''ll kill it and seize its strength for myself!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar proimed.


    "My senior is handling your main body. As for this avatar of yours, I suppose I''ll take care of it."


    Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar, still d in his arhat armor.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    "Insolence!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar eximed.


    She met Xiao Nanfeng''s golden arhat fist for fist in an overwhelming explosion. Unexpectedly, she was the one who was forced back from the impact.


    "It looks like your physical body is rather weak, isn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Attack him together!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatarmanded.


    "Understood!"


    The rabbit-headed humanoids all rushed over instantly. There were ten Heaven Immortal rabbit-headed humanoids in their midst. They struck simultaneously in a devastating blow that forced Xiao Nanfeng back.


    Xiao Nanfeng cried out, "You aren''t guaranteed victory just because of numerical advantage. Without your main body here, you won''t be able to hold me back for long. Again!"


    He shot forward, fighting one against ten. The fight devolved into a melee, but he seemed to be fighting on par with the Rabbit Yanluo''s subordinates.


    Frowning, the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar herself shot forward. A huge tempest raged where they fought.


    Yin Tianci watched on coldly from a distance.


    Just then, Lan Jiguang strode forward¡ªno, another of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars. Shemanded, "Yin Tianci, the sooner we take down Xiao Nanfeng and im his imperial seal, the sooner you can im Yaoguang for yourself. Why aren''t you making a move?"


    Yin Tianci immediately replied, "I need to be watching over the mouth of the abyss to prevent any cultivators aboveworld from making it in. I don''t have time to participate in the battle. Furthermore, with your skill, shouldn''t it be easy for you to take down Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Enough of this nonsense. Are you afraid of fighting? Do you think I''dunch a sneak attack on you?" the Rabbit Yanluo demanded.


    "Of course not! We''re on the same side."


    "Then are you afraid that Xiao Nanfeng has a trump card up his sleeve? You really are cautious, aren''t you? Do you intend to do nothing but reap the spoils of battle?"


    "Rabbit Yanluo, I''m, telling the truth. There''s a group of strong cultivators from the Shangqing holynd amassing on the other side of the mouth of the abyss. I need to observe them."


    "You had better not be lying to me, or I won''t forgive you," the Rabbit Yanluo said coolly.


    "I would never! My avatar is holding them back outside. Unfortunately, he''s a bit weak, and he might struggle at any moment. That''s why my body has to remain on guard here, ready to assist my avatar at any time."


    "Keep watching, then. If you''re unwilling to deal with Xiao Nanfeng yourself, then loan me your arhat armor and let me have a go at it."


    Yin Tianci nodded, retrieving a suit of armor. "I wish you sess, Rabbit Yanluo."


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatar snorted as she melded with the armor, then rushed into the battlefield. With a sneak attack, she forced Xiao Nanfeng back.


    Yin Tianci smirked. He murmured inwardly, "Rabbit Yanluo, do you really think I don''t understand your ns? You must be fighting for some incredible cultivation resource with that peach tree. My subordinates are waiting outside the mouth of the abyss. Once the two of you have been weakened, they''ll fight their way down. I want Lady Yaoguang and whatever opportunity, whatever prize, the two of you are fighting over. Keep fighting. I''ll take it all, haha!"

 Chapter 447: Xiao Nanfengs Splendid Victory

    <h4>Chapter 447: Xiao Nanfeng''s Splendid Victory</h4>


    At the mouth of the abyss, within the formation of ck fog, Xiao Nanfeng was surrounded by a group of rabbit-headed humanoids who were attacking him, including two of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars.


    Even against a formation of such strength, he didn''t seem to be fearful. He met the cursed effigies in battle with his arhat armor, sending the rabbit-headed humanoids flying one after the other. However, the Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars were particrly skilled in battle, and their sneak attacks caused him huge headaches.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, your fist technique might be strong, but you won''t be able to defeat us alone. Today, you''re bound to die. Give up now and I''ll hand you a clean death," one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars eximed.


    "I don''t intend to surrender," Xiao Nanfeng replied, not giving in. "Let''s continue!"


    "You stubborn fool! Suppress him!" one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars cried out.


    "Understood!"


    The rabbit-headed humanoids rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, ignoring the serious injuries that he inflicted on them. The two Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars dealt him heavy blows, one from the front and the other from the back, leaving him immobile.


    Up in the air, Yin Tianci smiled coldly. "Do you really think one person can take care of so many cursed effigies at once? Aren''t you just trying to kill yourself like that?"


    Just then, the golden arhat into which Xiao Nanfeng had transformed glowed with golden light.


    "No¡ªhe''s going to self-destruct!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll be at the heart of the explosion. If you destroy your arhat armor, you''ll surely die. You must be trying to fool us into letting you go. Well, dream on!" one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars eximed.


    "I don''t intend to die," Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    His arhat armor exploded in a devastating wave of mes that surged all around him.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? Did he really self-destruct?!" Yin Tianci cried out from the air.


    He too was buffeted by the resulting impact, and he was sent flying in a wretched state.


    The formation of ck fog shattered in mes. The energy released during the destruction drifted across their surroundings and turned the mountains all around into rubble. A huge cloud of dust floated up into the air.


    Yin and the Ox Yanluo, witnessing the explosion from afar, were likewise taken by surprise.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng floated in the heart of the explosion, wholly undamaged. Xiao Nanfeng had hidden within it the moment he ignited the armor.


    Now that the explosion had dissipated, he rushed out once again.


    Dust rose into the air all around him. The rabbit-headed humanoids had been battered from the explosion, and one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars was bloody all over and clearly badly wounded. She fell to the ground weakly. The other avatar''s arhat armor waspletely shattered, revealing Lan Jiguang''s physical body.


    "How did Xiao Nanfeng escape unscathed?" one of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars cried out.


    "Just what is that imperial seal of his made of? How could it have defended against an explosion of this magnitude?!" the other avatar eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t waste any time. With a wave of his hand, he donned another suit of arhat armor.


    "How did he obtain another suit?!"


    "It must be his woman''s!"


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars shouted in shock as Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward them.


    "We have to flee!" they cried out.


    However, they were both seriously injured by then, and neither were a match for the golden arhat.


    The golden arhat caught them both, one in each hand.


    "I''ve got you," Xiao Nanfeng crowed, pleased.


    "Let go, Xiao Nanfeng!" the two Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars shouted.


    In the air, Yin Tianci, who had managed to fend off the firestorm, widened his eyes. He hadn''t expected the fight to end so quickly¡ªnor for it to have ended with Xiao Nanfeng''s victory. Nothing was going ording to n. He didn''t even have a chance to im Lady Yaoguang for himself yet!


    Yin Tianci hurriedly howled toward the outside of the abyss, "I need a group of cultivators toe down and assist me, all wearing arhat armor! Hurry!"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Yin Tianci, but ignored his actions. He then shouted, "Tiger Yanluo, Ox Yanluo, where are your avatars? Come out now and I''ll give you something good. Otherwise, you won''t get anything!"


    The two Yanluo Lords afar stared at the battlefield luded by me and dust. A twinned domain of white and ck fog had manifested in the air. The aura of two Yanluo Courts could be sensed from within.


    Meanwhile, the rabbit-headed humanoids were quickly regenerating after having been devastated by the explosion. To their surprise, they found Xiao Nanfeng holding onto the Rabbit Yanluo''s two avatars in his hands. What was going on?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we''re right here! What benefits do you have for us?" the Ox Yanluo''s avatar shouted.


    "Ox Yanluo, why did you expose our location?!" Yin hissed.


    "He knows that we''re here, so hiding won''t be of any use. Why not ept his offer? He must be doing so for some reason or another, and I''d like to know what he''s trying to aplish," the Ox Yanluo''s avatar analyzed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, hearing the Ox Yanluo''s shout, flew toward them.


    "Yanluo Lords, I hold two of the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars in my hands. She possessed my woman''s parents. Don''t the two of you want to catch the Rabbit Yanluo? I''ll give these two avatars to you, one each, if you help me extract the Rabbit Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatar from these bodies."


    The two Yanluo Lords stared at Xiao Nanfeng''s palms.


    "Even you have ended up in such dire straits, Rabbit Yanluo. Haha!" The Ox Yanluo''s avatarughed.


    The Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars gritted their teeth, but Xiao Nanfeng was holding onto them so tightly that they simply couldn''t move.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think we''d assist you?" Yin asked with a smirk.


    The Ox Yanluo mirrored his expression. "You want to keep the physical bodies of your woman''s parents, is that it? You really are willing to do anything for her, but why should we help you out?"


    The two Yanluo Lords'' avatars showed no interest in helping Xiao Nanfeng. They were simply there for the show.


    "You''ll have no choice but to help. You must have seen the huge explosion just now. If you don''t help me, I''ll do that again and blow you both to pieces," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    The Ox Yanluo''s avatar: ...


    Yin: ...


    They had been nning on coercing Xiao Nanfeng, but he had turned the tables on them near-immediately. How could that be?


    "I know that your main bodies are headed over, but it''ll take some time for them to get here. If you don''t help me out now, I''ll get rid of your avatars and im all the prizes here for myself. By the time your main bodies arrive, it''ll be toote. You''ll have lost everything once again. Well? Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng chided.


    The two Yanluo Lords grimaced, not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to identify a vulnerability in their actions rapidly. This was incredibly frustrating!


    "I don''t believe you dare do that. If you want to strike at me, go on. I''ll take you on!" Yin shouted.


    "Let me help," the Ox Yanluo''s avatar said directly.


    "What? Ox Yanluo, don''t you want to salvage your reputation? How could you be willing to sumb to his threats?" Yin seethed.


    "What threats? This is clearly a benefit that Xiao Nanfeng''s willing to impart to us. If you don''t want it, so be it," the Ox Yanluo continued. Then, he turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll help you extract the two cursed souls from the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars if you help me deal with the Tiger Yanluo''s avatar now."


    "Deal! Once you start the extraction process, I''ll deal with Yin and make sure he can''t see or get anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied smoothly.


    "Ox Yanluo, you bastard!" Yin roared.


    Yin immediately attempted to flee, but he knew that doing so would only serve to benefit the Ox Yanluo. There had to be a huge prize lying in wait¡ªhe might even be able to swallow up the Rabbit Yanluo for himself. How could he miss such an opportunity? Even so, he couldn''t live with the prospect of being threatened by Xiao Nanfeng.


    As the Ox Yanluo prepared to make his move, Yin seethed but called out, "Bring them over! I''ll help you, you bastard!"


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed out the two Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars to the two Yanluo Lords.


    "No! I''m not going to let you absorb my cursed soul. Dream on!" the two Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars cried out.


    "It''s toote for you to self-destruct now!" The Ox Yanluo''s avatar reached out for Lan Jiguang''s mindscape.


    "If you wanted to do it, you should have done it earlier," Yin agreed, reaching out for Yaoguang''s mother''s mindscape.


    Two bursts of cursed spiritual power suffused the cultivators'' bodies.


    "Stop right there!" the Rabbit Yanluo''s avatars shouted.


    Unfortunately, it was being suppressed by Xiao Nanfeng and the two Yanluo Lords simultaneously, and was unable to do anything. Two rabbit-shaped specters were pulled out of the two physical bodies.


    The two specters screamed. "Let me go!"


    Yin and the Ox Yanluo had no intention to show mercy. They tossed the specters into their mouths.


    "No!"


    The two rabbit-shaped specters were quickly gulped down.


    "King!" shouted the rabbit-headed humanoids that had just regenerated.


    Yin Tianci gulped down his saliva as he watched on from the distance. He wouldn''t have expected Xiao Nanfeng to threaten two Yanluo Lords into doing his bidding. That was crazy!


    "Thank you, Yanluo Lords," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s hand reached out from the arhat armor and pulled Lan Jiguang and his wife''s bodies into the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, now that we''ve helped you out, you should exin what''s going on here. What''s up with those clouds of ck and white fog? Is the Rabbit Yanluo''s main body within?" Yin pointed up into the air.


    He didn''t want to miss out on the opportunity that the clouds of fog represented; that was why he had ultimately chosen to go against his conscience and help out Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yes, what''s going on, Xiao Nanfeng?" the Ox Yanluo pressed.


    He too had only helped Xiao Nanfeng because of that cloud of fog, and he urgently wanted to figure out whaty within.


    "Fellows, I owe you nothing after our transaction. You helped me extract the Rabbit Yanluo''s soul from these two bodies, and I gave it to you as payment. What lies within the fog belongs to me, and is none of your business. If you keep pushing, don''t expect me to show you any courtesy."


    The Ox Yanluo''s avatar: ...


    Yin: ...


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you want to die?" Yin demanded.


    The Ox Yanluo''s face was ice-cold, clearly dissatisfied with Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior as well.


    "Don''t you dare look at me like that. If you don''t treat me politely, I''ll kill you both," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    The two Yanluo Lords'' avatars: ...


    Why had they stepped forward to help out their opponent? They were only causing trouble for themselves!

 Chapter 448: Against the Lords

    <h4>Chapter 448: Against the Lords</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng, equipped in arhat armor, had nothing to fear against the two Yanluo Lords'' avatars. His threats greatly angered the two Yanluo Lords.


    The rabbit-headed humanoids who had regenerated didn''t attempt to push toward Xiao Nanfeng any longer. Rather, they stayed on guard by the fog.


    "King, what should we do?" a rabbit-headed humanoid shouted into the fog.


    However, the Rabbit Yanluo''s main body didn''t respond. The cursed effigies nced at each other uncertainly.


    Meanwhile, twenty golden arhats emerged from the mouth of the abyss. They released an overwhelming aura. They were subordinates that Yin Tianci had summoned from aboveworld.


    "We greet His Highness," the golden arhats said, bowing.


    "Come on. Follow me. Take down Xiao Nanfeng immediately!" Yin Tiancimanded.


    Then, he too dressed himself in a suit of arhat armor.


    "Understood!" the twenty golden arhats replied.


    They shot straight to Xiao Nanfeng.


    In the distance, as Xiao Nanfeng continued to threaten the two Yanluo Lords'' avatars, he suddenly felt surging killing intent headed straight for him. He turned his head to see a group of golden arhats leaping forward. One among them was particrly fast and had thrown a punch at him, forcing him to leap back.


    "Kill him!" Yin Tiancimanded.


    "Understood!" The twenty-one golden arhats leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously as killing intent billowed from them.


    "If you dare do it, I''ll cause this suit of arhat armor to explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Be careful! Retreat!" Yin Tianci cried out in fear.


    The golden arhats hesitated and turned back toward Yin Tianci.


    "Your Highness, if he self-destructs, wouldn''t it only kill him faster? Don''t trust him."


    "Right, Your Highness, you don''t have to worry."


    "He wouldn''t dare!"


    The golden arhats surrounded Xiao Nanfeng as Yin Tianci grimaced. "He just exploded a suit of arhat armor. This is his second set."


    The golden arhats widened their eyes as they retreated in fear.


    "Yin Tianci, I''m in discussions with the two Yanluo Lords. You''d better not bother me," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Yin Tianci frowned. Things weren''t going ording to n. If he dragged this out any longer, he would lose out on his opportunity to im Holy Maiden Yaoguang. How could he leave things be?


    He gritted his teeth. "Don''t worry too much. This is hisst suit of arhat armor, and he can''t kill you even if the armor explodes. Split up into two batches. If he really destroys his armor, he won''t be able to protect himself."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The golden arhats shot toward Xiao Nanfeng again.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He knocked aside two of the golden arhats, charging straight at Yin and the Ox Yanluo.


    "What are you doing, Xiao Nanfeng?" the Ox Yanluo eximed.


    "If they want to take me down, I''ll take the two of you down," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He punched at the Ox Yanluo.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy?!" the Ox Yanluo''s avatar howled in despair.


    The Ox Yanluo''s avatar, which was only at the level of a Wingform-realm cultivator, exploded in a sh.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop there. Disregarding the assault of the golden arhats behind him, he punched Yin. With a crash, Yin was sent flying as well.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin cursed.


    "I''ve already killed you once. So what if I do it again? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The battlefield was particrly chaotic. A group of golden arhats chased after Xiao Nanfeng even as Xiao Nanfeng himself chased after Yin.


    Yin Tianci, standing to the back, gaped.


    "His Highness, is something wrong with Xiao Nanfeng''s head?" one of his subordinates asked.


    Yin Tianci also felt as though there were something wrong with Xiao Nanfeng''s actions. The next moment, he nched. "Xiao Nanfeng''s deliberately provoking the two Yanluo Lords and forcing them to approach with their main bodies. We have to make a move, quickly!"


    He knew that his subordinates could hardly do anything against the two Yanluo Lords in person, rather than through their weaker avatars. At that point, he would lose any chance of catching Xiao Nanfeng or Holy Maiden Yaoguang.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are crazy. What benefit could you derive from luring the two Yanluo Lords'' main bodies here? You''re just going to kill yourself!" Yin Tianci roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and continued to attack Yin. Not longter, two beacons of intense strength approached by the horizon, moving so quickly that sonic booms radiated from them. They scattered the golden arhats like bowling pins.


    The Tiger and Ox Yanluos had arrived in person, ck smoke curling up from their bodies. They werepletely enraged.


    "Die, you wretched fool!" the two Yanluo Lords howled as one.


    The remaining golden arhats were sent flying, while Xiao Nanfeng was smashed into the ground by thebined force of two palm strikes. A pit formed; rubble and dust rose up into the air.


    The fighting immediately subsided with the arrival of the two Yanluo Lords.


    The golden arhats hurriedly clustered by Yin Tianci''s side.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you dare ruin my avatar? Die!" the Ox Yanluo bellowed, ck smoke drifting out from his mouth. Killing intent surged all around him.


    "If I hadn''t done that, would the two of you have made it here this quickly? Even if you did, you might havein in wait somewhere secret," Xiao Nanfeng replied, climbing out of the pit arduously. He didn''t sound afraid at all.


    "Oh? And did you want to force us here to kill you even more quickly?" the Ox Yanluo retorted.


    The Tiger Yanluo suddenly asked, "Xiao Nanfeng, the Rabbit Yanluo''s main body is within those clouds of fog, isn''t it?"


    The Ox Yanluo blinked. He gave up on pursuing Xiao Nanfeng and rushed straight into the fog.


    The Tiger Yanluo narrowed his eyes and did the same, as though worried that the Ox Yanluo would gain the upper hand.


    The rabbit-headed humanoids by the side of the fog tried to stop them, but the two Yanluo Lords easily barged forward and overcame any obstruction.


    A huge storm formed within the fog, forcing the two Yanluo Lords back out.


    "Two Yanluo Courts!" the Tiger Yanluo eximed. "One must be the Rabbit Yanluo''s."


    "And the other... is the Snake Yanluo''s?" The Ox Yanluo was taken by surprise.


    The two Yanluo Lords'' eyes widened in greed. They hadn''t expected to find everything that they were looking for within.


    Then, the two Yanluo Lords suddenly stared at each other, as though they were about to start fighting then and there.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Yin Tianci, you must have prepared plenty of subordinates outside the mouth of the abyss. When the Tiger and Ox Yanluos wound each other, you''ll be able to jump in and deal them a killing blow with peerless treasure from Dayin and seize all their possessions. Isn''t that so?"


    The two Yanluo Lords, who were about to fight to the death, stiffened. They began to turn toward the golden arhats in the distance.


    Yin Tianci and his subordinates, poised to attack and capture Xiao Nanfeng, nched upon hearing what he was shouting.


    Yin Tianci turned to see the two Yanluo Lords heading over.


    "Yanluo Lords, don''t let Xiao Nanfeng trick you. He''s trying to incite us to turn on each other!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    The Ox Yanluo demanded coldly, "Turning on each other? I suspect that he''s telling the truth. Are you intending to benefit from my fight with the Tiger Yanluo? How dare you."


    The Tiger Yanluo said, "Ox Yanluo, our fight can wait. Why don''t we deal with this threat first?"


    "Very well!" the Ox Yanluo replied.


    Yin Tianci nched. "Flee!"


    The golden arhats immediately escorted Yin Tianci toward the mouth of the abyss.


    "Stay right here!" the two Yanluo Lords called out.


    They each punched a golden arhat into oblivion.


    "Flee!" The remaining golden arhats escaped even more quickly.


    "Kill them!" the two Yanluo Lords howled.


    They ughtered their way straight to Yin Tianci. By the time Yin Tianci made it to the mouth of the abyss, almost ten of the golden arhats had been killed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, for ruining my ns, I curse you to a wretched death!" Yin Tianci roared in rage as he escaped through the mouth of the abyss.


    Because of Xiao Nanfeng, he had gained nothing from his ventures down below. He was so mad he was about to vomit blood.


    Within the pit, Xiao Nanfeng brushed off the dust from his battered golden arhat as he stood up. He sneered. "You''re the one who should die a wretched death. I dare you not to run!"


    With a huff, Yin Tianci and his remaining subordinates made it out of the abyss, fleeing for their lives.


    The two Yanluo Lords rushed up to the mouth of the abyss and looked out, frustrated. They clearly feared Heaven''s Hand, and didn''t dare rush out by force.


    They turned back to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are the Snake and Rabbit Yanluos attacking each other within this cloud of fog? When did the Snake Yanluo return? Shouldn''t she be in an extremely weak state? How could she be fighting on par with the Rabbit Yanluo?" the Ox Yanluo demanded, flying toward him.


    The Tiger Yanluo did the same.


    They were unable to enter the fog, so all they could do was interrogate Xiao Nanfeng for details.


    The arhat armor that was protecting Xiao Nanfeng had broken. Even so, he didn''t seem to fear the two Yanluo Lords. He only smiled. "Yanluo Lords, I advise you to leave immediately before you''re trapped here."


    The two Yanluo Lords gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Was Xiao Nanfeng so scared that he had lost all his wits? They would be able to kill him with just a single hand, but Xiao Nanfeng was still threatening them!


    Tiger- and ox-headed humanoids continued to fly toward them from afar, strengthening the two Yanluo Lords'' bases of power.


    "Our subordinates alone can take down those cultivators from beyond the mouth of the abyss. You''re all our prey. Do you really think that I and the Ox Yanluo will fight each other now while you lurk in the dark and await our spoils? Even if I were to fight with the Ox Yanluo, we''d only do that after killing you. If you refuse to tell us what we want to know, I''ll crush you to death!" the Tiger Yanluo threatened.


    "Right! If you don''t tell us anything, we''ll kill you!" the Ox Yanluo added.


    "I don''t have to say anything. Just look over there. My reinforcements have arrived." Xiao Nanfeng pointed toward the horizon.


    The two Yanluo Lords looked into the distance to see Lady Yaoguang flying over, tossing the corpses of cursed effigies away from her as she flew.


    The next moment, three Heaven''s Hands poked out from the blood-colored clouds of annihtion in the air, heading straight for the cursed effigies and tearing them apart.


    "That woman''s luring three clouds of annihtion over!" the Tiger Yanluo eximed.


    "She brought three Heaven''s Hands over?!" the Ox Yanluo cursed.


    Then, as though sensing something, the three Heaven''s Hands stopped short. They sped up as they charged straight for the two Yanluo Lords.


    "No!" the Yanluo Lords shouted.

 Chapter 449: A Kiss Farewell

    <h4>Chapter 449: A Kiss Farewell</h4>


    Two types of Heaven''s Hands existed within the Netherworld Pce: one remained on guard by the mouth of the abyss, preventing any cursed effigies from escaping. Another type floated around on clouds of annihtion, specifically targeting and annihting cursed effigies.


    Lady Yaoguang had lured over the second type of Heaven''s Hand. The three Heaven''s Hands, sensing the aura of the two Yanluo Lords, rushed right over.


    "No!" the Tiger and Ox Yanluos eximed.


    They turned to run, but the Heaven''s Hands moved far too quickly. In a sh, two of them each caught one Yanluo Lord. The third one reached into the cloud of fog. After a loud crash, it emerged with a screaming Rabbit Yanluo.


    The moment the three Heaven''s Hands appeared, the cursed effigies nched and fled.


    Lady Yaoguang flew over herself. When she saw the wounds all over Xiao Nanfeng''s arhat armor, she frowned in worry. "How are you, Nanfeng?"


    Xiao Nanfeng mbered up and shook her head. This suit of arhat armor is the only thing that''s damaged. I''ve retrieved your parents'' physical bodies. We can leave right away."


    "Got it!" Lady Yaoguang replied.


    "Stop them!" Yinmanded.


    "Understood!"


    A group of tiger-headed humanoids shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t worry. They aren''t a concern for me. Your parents'' physical bodies are in the Divine Seal of Dazheng. You''ll be able to im it on your own," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He reached out and brought Lady Yaoguang within his suit of armor and into the seal.


    Then, he turned and threw out a punch, sending a tiger-headed humanoid fleeing.


    "Yin, shouldn''t you be worried about your main body instead? Do you think you should be trying to take me down?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I and the Ox Yanluo have grown much stronger, and these Heaven''s Hands will only deal us serious injuries at worst. You won''t be able to flee today!" Yin said coldly. He turned and howled at a group of his subordinates. "What are you waiting for? Catch Xiao Nanfeng!"


    From within another Heaven''s Hand, the Ox Yanluo roared, "Catch Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Understood!"


    The tiger- and ox-headed humanoids all rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Surrounded, he was unable to escape. The cracks on his arhat armor propagated.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re trapped here now, haha!" Yinughed as he pounced on him, attacking him along with the other cursed effigies.


    Xiao Nanfeng, immobile, had no choice but to defend against the attacks.


    Just then, the Rabbit Yanluo screamed from within the fog, "You damn monk, how dare you drag me into Heaven''s Hand?! You despicable man! Even if I have to die, even if the other Yanluo Lords will benefit from my demise, I refuse to hand my possessions over to you. Explode!"


    With a huge, resounding explosion, the cloud of ck and white fog dispersed, revealing the Heaven''s Hand within. It cracked from the force of impact, and a ck shadow suddenly flew out.


    "A Yanluo Court!" Yin eximed. He shot over in delight.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "Explode!" he echoed.


    He caused his arhat armor to explode in a storm of fire and wind. The cursed effigies all around him were destroyed.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin howled.


    The tiger- and ox-headed humanoids around him screamed.


    After the explosion had passed, Yin and all the cursed effigies were sent flying. At the heart of the explosion floated the Divine Seal of Dazheng. Xiao Nanfeng had retreated into it once more.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Arclight emerged from the Divine Seal of Dazheng. The two of them rushed straight toward the ck shadow.


    "Hold it!" Yin gritted out, bearing with the pain of his injuries.


    Yin and the other cursed effigies flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang, but in vain. The two of them had already made it to the ck shadow.


    Lady Yaoguang''s blue moon barrier blossomed. The cursebane sword protected her, fending off the cursed effigies heading their way as she was flung back.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Lady Yaoguang called out.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had already sent the Divine Seal of Dazheng careening toward the ck shadow, which it absorbed in a sh.


    The cursed effigies behind Xiao Nanfeng struck at him, sending him flying. His clothes became a pile of tattered rags, but his Imposing Avatar of Ri kept him safe.


    "How are you, Nanfeng?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "I''m alright. Let''s go!"


    He summoned a pile of Immortal relics, which he tossed out in a huge explosion that caused the cursed effigies giving chase to falter.


    Taking advantage of that window of opportunity, he and Lady Yaoguang fled to the mouth of the abyss. By the time the cursed effigies made it there, chains appeared out of thin air, binding them and forbidding them egress. This was a naturalw of the Netherworld Pce.


    "Get back here, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin shouted, spitting out blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang flew up through the cracks in Heaven''s Hand and through the mouth of the abyss back overworld.


    "We''re safe now," Xiao Nanfeng said, breathing out a sigh of relief.


    Just then, the Heaven''s Hand that had captured the Rabbit Yanluo and the blood peach tree exploded in an intense congration of me. Some of the mes even burst out of the mouth of the abyss, leaving superheated air behind.


    The mes were incredibly potent, but they were unable to break through Lady Yaoguang''s blue moon barrier, nor Xiao Nanfeng''s Imposing Avatar of Ri. They only singed what remained of his clothes. Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang exchanged a smile within the mes.


    Right before the mespletely dissipated, the blood peach tree rushed out of the mouth of the abyss, shed by their side, and vanished into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Could you put on some clothes?" Lady Yaoguang asked, flushing red.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at his body, only to find that the scraps that remained were rapidly being burned up. He scratched his head in embarrassment. "Hold on."


    He dressed himself in another set of clothes as Lady Yaoguang''s flush deepened.


    "Alright. Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    However, Lady Yaoguang didn''t make a move. She stared at Xiao Nanfeng, unwilling to let him go so quickly.


    "What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Suddenly, Lady Yaoguang hugged Xiao Nanfeng and pushed him to the side of the abyss. His back pressed against its cold wall.


    "What are you doing, Yaoguang¡ª" Before Xiao Nanfeng could finish, his mouth had been plugged.


    Lady Yaoguang had drummed up her courage and kissed Xiao Nanfeng right by the mouth of the abyss.


    Xiao Nanfeng widened his eyes. When had Yaoguang be so daring?


    There were cultivators up above and cursed effigies down below. This passionate kiss right in the middle made his heart thud.


    He enjoyed this single moment of respite even in the midst of his shock, hugging Lady Yaoguang tightly and sharing in their resonant feelings.


    After a moment, a voice emerged from outside the abyss. "The mes have vanished. Let''s go down and have a look!"


    Lady Yaoguang released Xiao Nanfeng. Her heart was thudding, her face red like a tomato.


    "Yaoguang, that¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng was about to say something.


    "I''m leaving!" Lady Yaoguang shouted, not looking back. As though she were shy, she shot right up into the air.


    "Ah, hold on! Let''s leave together!" Xiao Nanfeng called out from behind, then chased her out.


    He and Lady Yaoguang flew out of the mouth of the abyss, one after the other.


    "The holy maiden is out!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You made it out, too?"


    "Division Leader Xiao!"


    "City Lord Xiao is safe!"


    Shouts came from all around them.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng discover that there were crowds of cultivators gathered around the mouth of the abyss.


    Some were soldiers and forces of Fengdu, led by Chang Bing. He looked at Xiao Nanfeng in excitement.


    Some were cultivators radiating with holy light. They were guarding Yin Tianci, who was ring at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Another group wore robes the same shade of blue as the Shangqing blue moon. They seemed furious at Yin Tianci, as though some altercation had taken ce between them right before. Qu Jianfeng was among them.


    Qu Jianfeng headed for his niece, Lady Yaoguang, with radiant excitement. A group of blue-robed cultivators surrounded her as well.


    "Yin Tianci, how dare you lie to us! You said that there were a few Yanluo Lords attacking each other down below and forbade us from entering. Were you trying to harm Lady Yaoguang?" Qu Jianfeng demanded.


    Lady Yaoguang saw Yin Tianci''s avatar in the vicinity. She understood what was going on now. Yin Tianci''s avatar had to be the one scheming to prevent the cultivators from the Shangqing holynd from entering the abyss in search of her.


    "I greet the elders of the Shangqing holynd. I was steeped in danger within the abyss, and Yin Tianci attempted to capture me many times. He even conspired with the Rabbit Yanluo against me in an attempt to master my soul and make me his ve. Elders, please assist me!" Lady Yaoguang exhorted.


    "What? Yin Tianci, how dare you!" the Shangqing cultivators thundered.


    Yin Tianci frowned. "Qu Jianfeng can bear witness that I entered the Netherworld Pce in order to rescue Holy Maiden Yaoguang. However, she was tricked by Xiao Nanfeng and hoodwinked into maligning me."


    "Hm?" The Shangqing cultivators frowned as they looked toward Qu Jianfeng.


    "And how should I know what you''ve done in the abyss? I can hardly attest to your ims!" Qu Jianfeng retorted.


    The cultivators then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Many Shangqing cultivators stared at him warily, as though worried that she really was in love with him.


    Lady Yaoguang continued coolly, "Xiao Nanfeng saved me, and I thank him for it. However, I am a holy maiden of the Shangqing holynd, with a grand future ahead of me. There yet lies an incredible gap between me and Xiao Nanfeng. How could I be interested in him? Yin Tianci, how dare you besmirch my name!"


    The Shangqing cultivators exhaled in relief. They looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with far more gentle gazes than before.


    "Could you have been taking advantage of Xiao Nanfeng all this time?!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Honored elders, please guard my innocence," Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    "Don''t worry, Holy Maiden!" a Shangqing cultivator replied. He turned toward Yin Tianci. "Yin Tianci, exin yourself for preventing us from rescuing our holy maiden and besmirching her name. Otherwise, we''ll bring this matter to the Immortal Emperor of Dayin!"


    Yin Tianci: ...

 Chapter 450: The Thousand-Flame Divine Pearl

    <h4>Chapter 450: The Thousand-me Divine Pearl</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised by Yaoguang''s own description of events. She was trying to break off all ties between them¡ªso why had she kissed him so passionately just now?


    Everything was made clear from the reactions of the Shangqing cultivators. Yaoguang was trying to protect him.


    He wanted to tell Yaoguang that he wasn''t afraid of them, but Yaoguang had made her stance clear. He could only amodate her for the time being.


    On ount of Lady Yaoguang''s testimony, all the Shangqing cultivators were looking antagonistically at Yin Tianci.


    Reeling at Lady Yaoguang''s sudden betrayal of Xiao Nanfeng, Yin Tianci came to the ''realization'' that she was a heartless woman who had only been taking advantage of Xiao Nanfeng all along. As a result, he was hard-pressed to respond to the Shangqing cultivators.


    "Yin Tianci, aren''t you going to say anything?" Qu Jianfeng demanded.


    Yin Tianci had no choice but to suck in a deep breath. "Please don''t me me, Lady Yaoguang. I clearly misunderstood your intentions. I spoke out of anger; don''t take my words to heart. As for my cooperation with the Rabbit Yanluo, that was out of my misunderstanding. Thinking that you had been tricked by Xiao Nanfeng, I allied with her in order to help rescue you from his grasp. I am of course willing topensate you for the misunderstanding."


    He ignored the salient points of Lady Yaoguang''s testimony and focused on what little he could defend against, shifting the mepletely from him.


    This would be uneptable for anyone of lesser status, but Yin Tianci was backed by the divine empire of Dayin and guarded by arge group. The Shangqing cultivators had to consider whether they would be able to win in a fight against them.


    They turned to Lady Yaoguang, as though leaving the decision up to her.


    "How do you intend topensate me?" Lady Yaoguang asked coldly.


    Yin Tianci''s eyes lit up. "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, I would be very pleased if you could ept my suggestion. As for thepensation, let''s discuss it slowly."


    "I don''t want a slow discussion. Let''s rify it now. How do you intend topensate me?" Lady Yaoguang asked bluntly.


    Yin Tianci frowned. "Is there anything you would like?"


    "Your arhat armor. Twenty suits."


    "What? Isn''t that far too much? Furthermore, the arhat armor of Dayin has never been distributed outside of it." Yin Tianci was clearly unwilling to pay such a heavy price.


    Lady Yaoguang did not deign to continue the conversation. She turned toward her uncle, Qu Jianfeng.


    Qu Jianfeng said coolly, "Yin Tianci, do you treat the Shangqing holynd as a joke? The holy maiden seeks no furtherpensation for your offenses save twenty suits of arhat armor. If you''re so stingy that you can''t even afford that, we''ll raise the matter with the Immortal Emperor."


    Yin Tianci frowned. "I can''t hand over the arhat armor, but I''m willing to providepensation in the form of Immortal relics of equal value, to be sent to the Shangqing holynd at ater date."


    "Ater date? Why not now?" Lady Yaoguang demanded, refusing to give in.


    Qu Jianfeng added, "Yin Tianci, do you think us easy to fool? If you continue to dy or defer, it''ll be the Immortal Emperor who loses face, not you."


    Yin Tianci''s face turned dark. He took a deep breath, then retrieved a fiery-red pearl.


    "This Thousand-me Divine Pearl was a present my father gave to me when I was ten. It''s a treasure beyond the level of a Heaven Immortal. Let this be mypensation for Lady Yaoguang," Yin Tianci said.


    Qu Jianfengughed coolly. "The Thousand-me Divine Pearl? I am no fool. It might contain a thousand different species of mes that lead to a magnificent disy of light and shadow, but the mes are necessarily impure and dilute. It''s a relic without any actual strength¡ªall it''s good for is entertainment. Do you intend to hoodwink the holy maiden with such a relic?"


    "Even so, it is a relic beyond the realm of a Heaven Immortal. If you don''t want it, so be it. The arhat armor is a treasure of the empire that we aren''t permitted to hand to outsiders. My father will uphold my decision," Yin Tianci replied.


    "Hand over the Thousand-me Divine Pearl," Lady Yaoguang said coolly.


    "Yaoguang, this relic is only a toy without any offensive ability. All you can do with it is cause it to explode in a burst of me that would take down a Heaven Immortal in close vicinity, but that would destroy the relic as well. It''s not worth it," Qu Jianfeng whispered.


    "I want this pearl. Hand it over!" Lady Yaoguang repeated.


    Yin Tianci''s eyes lit up as he proffered the pearl without any hesitation.


    Lady Yaoguang imed the relic with a wave of her hand. She considered it for a moment before looking toward Xiao Nanfeng, not too far away. "Xiao Nanfeng, take this as gratitude for your assistance."


    She tossed the pearl toward Xiao Nanfeng, who caught it in surprise.


    With an odd look on his face, he replied, "Thank you, Holy Maiden Yaoguang."


    He chose not to expose Yaoguang in public, but was secretly looking for an opportunity to talk to her in private.


    "Uncle, we don''t have much time. Let''s return to the holynd," Holy Maiden Yaoguang said.


    "Very well!" Qu Jianfeng smiled.


    The Shangqing cultivators nodded their heads and began to depart.


    Just then, some Shangqing cultivators looked doubtfully at Xiao Nanfeng. Only then did they confirm that the holy maiden didn''t bear any feelings for him. Otherwise, she would never leave him alone with Yin Tianci, considering thetter''s malicious gaze at the former.


    Xiao Nanfeng was filled with confusion, but he didn''t dare press Lady Yaoguang in public. After all, it was hardly as though the Shangqing holynd would vanish overnight. He would simply seek her out in private when there was an opportunity to do so.


    After seeing her leave, Yin Tianci and his subordinates turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Back in my clutches again, are you?" Yin Tianci sneered.


    The cultivators all around drew their weapons as they surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The Shangqing cultivators aren''t far off yet, and I''m a benefactor who rescued their holy maiden. Aren''t you afraid they''ll turn back around to assist me if you cause trouble for me now? Wait a little longer," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    Yin Tianci: ...


    He nced at the Shangqing cultivators, who were still rather close by, and forced himself to remain calm.


    Chang Bing anxiously looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Division Leader Xiao, what happened to my master?"


    "Lan Jiguang''s yin body perished in the red moon illusory realm, and his physical body was taken by Lady Yaoguang."


    "What? Master died? How?!" Chang Bing eximed.


    "You can''t stay in Fengdu any longer. Return to Taiqing Ind immediately. Someone will tell you what to do next, as well as what happened to Lan Jiguang. Don''t return to Fengdu. Have someone reim your possessions. Leave immediately!" Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "But¡ª" Chang Bing continued in worry.


    "No buts. Lan Jiguang had you listen to mymands. Carry them out immediately. Hurry and join up with the cultivators from the Shangqing holynd in case others give chase. Now!"


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    He beckoned to his subordinates and had them catch up to the Shangqing party as quickly as they could. He knew that Yin Tianci was eyeing Xiao Nanfeng, and that their presence here would only burden him further. He didn''t dare say more; he did his best to leave as quickly as he could.


    Some of Yin Tianci''s subordinates nced at him, as though inquiring about whether to let them go. Yin Tianci shook his head. All he wanted was Xiao Nanfeng.


    Deep in the abyss, another huge boom rang out. mes emerged from the mouth of the abyss. Clearly, the two Heaven''s Hands keeping the other two Yanluo Lords in check had just been destroyed.


    Yin Tianci nced at the abyss, then demanded coldly, "What happened down there, Xiao Nanfeng? How did you make it out from the hands of two Yanluo Lords?"


    "You''ll know if you go down and see for yourself," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    "You dare talk back to me? Do you think you can escape my clutches?" Yin Tianci scoffed.


    "Catch me if you can."


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t afraid of these cultivators. For one thing, he could cause the Thousand-me Divine Pearl to explode and save himself; or he could ask for the blood peach tree''s assistance. Lady Yaoguang had deemed it safe to leave him behind because she knew that he could protect himself.


    "There''s no need to try. I know I can do it. You won''t be able to escape!" Yin Tianci preened. Then, he mocked, "Xiao Nanfeng, you risked your life to save Holy Maiden Yaoguang, but in the end, she duped you and left you behind. How pitiful you are!"


    "That''s none of your business."


    Yin Tianci''s face turned cold. "Don''t you realize how this will turn out for you? Holy Maiden Yaoguang and the others are gone. There''s no one you can turn to for help, and no one to shelter you. If you surrender to me now, I''ll spare your life."


    Cultivators giving off a strong aura surrounded him.


    "I don''t need anyone else''s protection. If you want to catch me, you''re wee to join me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He turned and jumped back into the abyss.


    Yin Tianci opened his eyes wide. He had expected Xiao Nanfeng to resist, and had even secretly nned against it¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng jumping into the abyss took him by surprise.


    "He would rather be caught by the two Yanluo Lords than me? He''s crazy!" Yin Tianci roared.


    "What do we do now, Your Highness?" one cultivator asked.


    Yin Tianci frowned. "You head down there and have a look. Report back immediately!"


    "Understood!"


    The cultivator, still in her suit of arhat armor, jumped into the abyss. She flew back up quickly.


    "Your Highness, it''s a pile of ruins down there. The mountains all around have crumbled to dust, and the forests have burned up. Plumes of dust and dirt fill the air. It''s eerily silent¡ªthere''s not a single cursed effigy in sight, nor any trace of Xiao Nanfeng."


    "How could that be?" Yin Tianci asked in disbelief.


    "It''s true," the cultivator asserted.


    Yin Tianci sent a few other subordinates down to investigate, but they reported exactly the same thing. He frowned. Although he didn''t know what could have happened within the abyss, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng was unharmed.


    "Your Highness, why don''t we stay in wait here? Xiao Nanfeng will surely emerge in a month''s time. We could seize him then," one cultivator suggested.


    Yin Tianci frowned. He considered the suggestion for a moment. "No! If he dares return to the Netherworld Pce, there must be some treasure he desires down there. Furthermore, there are only two or three Yanluo Lords left. There''ll be a huge fight shortly, and we might have the chance to gain incredible treasure. All who possess arhat armor will follow me down, now!"


    "Understood!"

 Chapter 451: Mirror of True Yin

    <h4>Chapter 451: Mirror of True Yin</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng had returned to the abyss not because he was forced to do so by Yin Tianci, but because that had been his n from the beginning.


    He was wondering how to exin himself to Yaoguang, but fortunately she left before he needed to worry about it.


    He passed through the cracks in Heaven''s Hand and returned to the mouth of the abyss once again.


    He was preparing to deal with the gathered cursed effigies when he suddenly discovered that they were all nowhere to be seen. Even the three Heaven''s Hands that had been chasing after the cursed effigies had vanished. It was easy to guess that the cursed effigies had all scattered.


    Without any hesitation, he ran off into the distance, taking cover within nearby forests and avoiding thisnd of cmity.


    By dawn, he was far from the mouth of the abyss. He found a secluded valley within which to rest and inspect the Thousand-me Divine Pearl.


    "Yaoguang, you really do know me well. This relic is precisely what I need right now." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    He immediately sat cross-legged as he circted his qi in ordance with the Imposing Avatar of Ri, absorbing the mes thaty within the pearl. Huge bursts of me surged into his body as golden light emanated from him.


    The Thousand-me Divine Pearl boasted a thousand different types of mes. Although they weren''t of particrly high quality, the quantity more than made up for it. Indeed, this was a relic beyond the level of a Heaven Immortal, and the mes that it contained were no smaller in quantity than that present within the sea of karmic me from the abyss.


    Perhaps because of the manner of construction of the pearl, it was slower for him to absorb the mes from the pearl than when he was immersed in the sea of karmic me. It took him the entire day to finish absorbing all thaty within.


    With a crack, the pearl split open. The cracks propagated until the entire pearl dissipated in the form of powder.


    Then, a huge wave of fire emanated from his body.


    Golden light zed for a moment as he opened his eyes and released a deep breath. "The fourth stage of Earth Immortal..."


    He was just about to sit up when he blinked. His eyes widened.


    He sat back down, his golden robes transforming into silver ones as he transformed into his yin body.


    A full moon appeared to the back of his head as a frosty air filled the entire valley.


    Just then, the blood peach tree appeared out of nowhere. It scattered more peach blossoms on the ground. "Haven''t you just broken through? Why are you seated in meditation again?"


    "My avatar has been meditating on a star map all this time, and had a re of insight just now. I''d like to take the opportunity to advance to True Yin," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "This quickly? Your spiritual cultivation is progressing far too fast. It''s easy for something to go wrong if your foundation is unsound. You had better wait and strengthen your foundations first."


    "There''s no need. I''m confident in my foundations. Nothing bad will happen," Xiao Nanfeng replied with supreme confidence.


    "True Yin lies above Yin Body, and is a realm of manifest strength. Advancing to True Yin is a precarious ordeal, and a moment''s carelessness could easily damage or even shatter your yin body. Think twice," the blood peach tree urged.


    "Why do you suddenly care so much about my cultivation, Senior?"


    "I simply don''t want you to die recklessly. Of those who strive to reach the realm of True Yin, at most a tenth can sessfully break through. The others doom themselves to death. Your cultivation has progressed too quickly. Any mistake will only be magnified."


    "Only a tenth will be sessful? Well, I''m confident I''ll be among that tenth. Senior, I''ve made up my mind. Please help guard me."


    The blood peach tree wanted to continue dissuading Xiao Nanfeng from proceeding, but it knew that it wouldn''t be able to do so.


    "If you don''t believe me, then try it and see for yourself. I can''t guard you. I''ve suffered significant injuries from my fight against the Rabbit Yanluo. Fortunately, I was able to devour her cursed spiritual avatar. I''ll have to recuperate and distill her soul fragments for myself. If you think this ce unsafe, I rmend secluded cultivation within your divine seal."


    "There''s no need. This valley would be better. Advancing to True Yin requires that I absorb an immense quantity of yin qi, which is most concentrated here in the Netherworld Pce. The environment here is most suited for my breakthrough."


    The blood peach tree was silent for a moment. It didn''t attempt to deter Xiao Nanfeng further. "I have a question. During the fight at the mouth of the abyss, when the Rabbit Yanluo and I were trapped in Heaven''s Hand, the Rabbit Yanluo destroyed her own cursed spiritual avatar and sent the three Yanluo Courts flying out. Did you manage to im them?"


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. Was the blood peach tree going to ask for relics from him again?


    He nodded. "That''s right. The Rabbit Yanluo was willing to surrender the three Yanluo Courts to the other Yanluo Lords rather than give them to you. It took me a great deal of sacrifice to snatch them from the cursed effigies'' and Yanluo Lords'' hands."


    He had emphasized what he had lost in order to im the Yanluo Courts as warning to the blood peach tree against trying to make a im on them.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t think he was being petty. The three Yanluo Courts were originally his to begin with, and the blood peach tree had just refused his request to guard him. Why would he give away his relics for nothing?


    This time, however, the blood peach tree didn''t ask for them at all. It scattered some more blossoms. "I understand."


    Then, it vanished from sight, disappearing into Xiao Nanfeng''s mental world.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered what had happened thoughtfully, but didn''t press the matter. He closed his eyes again and returned to meditation.


    His Dazheng Code of Laws was made of the Heavenly Dao Scroll, which contained all manner of star maps that dictated the naturalws of the universe. His enhanced intuition and experience had led to a considerable number of insights, which had umted to the point of another breakthrough.


    The silver moon to the back of his head released blinding silver light, illuminating the entire region around him. His deific domain manifested and expanded. A blizzard howled, its snowkes forming arcane star maps in the air. The nascent formation boasted tremendous suction and began to extract yin qi from the world around him.


    He was like a ck hole, one that was furiously devouring yin energy from its environment.


    He remained that way for the entire night as his yin body slowly turned into a sculpture of ice, before melting and bing a human body once again. It froze and melted repeatedly, incessantly, in a neverending cycle.


    This was the result of his furious absorption and distition of yin qi. The ice sculpture was initially formed out of turbid ice that gradually rified after repeated crystallization, until it reached such purity that the ice couldn''t even be seen.


    By dawn, within his deific domain, Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have vanished entirely. Only his silver moon remained hanging in the air.


    From within the seemingly empty deific domain, Xiao Nanfeng''s astonished voice could be heard. "I''ve be one with my deific domain¡ªI''ve reached the realm of True Yin!"


    His voice echoed, but he was nowhere to be seen. He was nowhere; he was everywhere. He could feel what it was like to be a snowke, to be a gust of wind, to be the snow heaped on the ground.


    He hadbined with the world atrge. In his domain, he could be anything within it; he was the master of all.


    After an indefinite amount of time, upon growing used to such sensations, a human body slowly materialized. He returned to his original state¡ªseemingly unchanged, and yetpletely changed.


    His deific domain consumed an incredible amount of spiritual power. He dematerialized his silver moon as the blizzard around him stopped short.


    "Senior, as I said, I would be that one cultivator in ten who seeds in the True Yin breakthrough. I''ve reached a new realm, and I can be one with the world around me." Xiao Nanfeng smiled triumphantly.


    Peach blossoms scattered to form words. "To what extent?"


    "What do you mean, Senior?"


    "Early-stage True Yin cultivators can hide themselves within their domain at most. Only those atte-stage True Yin can truly be formless and omnipresent. You looked to me as though you were inte-stage True Yin."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered this information. He had reached a state of omnipresence, but that had to be because of his spiritual cultivation technique, Body of Yin. His True Yin cultivation was stronger than those of others at his realm.


    "Didn''t you see me cultivate, Senior? I''m at early-stage True Yin. Perhaps my cultivation technique made me seem to hide my body morepletely, but I''m still quite a while from reaching that formless stage you describe." Xiao Nanfeng deliberately hid the extent of his strength.


    "Even so, that''s incredible. What spiritual technique do you cultivate?"


    "It''s nothing impressive, Senior. Please don''t ask about it further." Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to exin.


    The blood peach tree didn''t press the matter. It and its scattered peach blossoms slowly vanished from sight.


    Just then, a voice came from afar. "I found him! Xiao Nanfeng''s over there!"


    "Inform His Highness immediately. We''ve found Xiao Nanfeng!" someone shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see a number of golden arhats shouting from the snowscape in the distance. They were far more cautious than before; they didn''t charge forward recklessly, and only kept an eye on him from afar.


    "Yin Tianci''s back in the Netherworld Pce and is searching for me. I really can''t get rid of him, can I? If he''s so insistent on pursuing me, then I suppose I''ll test my newfound strength on him." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold.


    Rather than run, he waited patiently. The cultivators in the distance grew puzzled, but didn''t attempt to test him. They waited patiently in the distance until more figures emerged.


    Not too longter, Yin Tianci arrived himself. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, you stayed here to wait for me despite knowing that I had my eyes on you?"


    With a wave of his hand, the golden arhats surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 452: Slaying the Gathered Legends

    <h4>Chapter 452: ying the Gathered Legends</h4>


    Yin Tianci mocked Xiao Nanfeng for his inaction, but he didn''t rush forward himself. He nced around his surroundings. After all, the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had intentionally waited for him made him feel as if he were walking into an ambush.


    Xiao Nanfeng sneered at the thirty golden arhats that surrounded him. "Yin Tianci, don''t you know how dangerous the Netherworld Pce is? You dare enter despite the danger?"


    "If you can enter, so can I. As for you, what''s with this blizzard? Did you have too much spiritual power to waste? Or are you just trying to hide things around you? Have your subordinates step out."


    "My subordinates are among your number," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You mean to say that you have spies among my subordinates? You must be crazy. You''re just trying to spark distrust, aren''t you? I advise you to give up now. Hand over your imperial seal and copper de, and I''ll give you a clean death. Otherwise, I''ll peel your skin, cut off your tendons, and bake your yin body¡ªa fate worse than death," Yin Tianci threatened.


    "You don''t believe me? I''ll show you, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He rushed toward one golden arhat.


    "What are you doing?!" the golden arhat eximed warily.


    "There''s no need to pretend any longer. You''re mine, now. It''s time to assist me. Lend me your arhat armor."


    A wisp of candle me emerged on his palm and struck at the golden arhat.


    Worried that he would scare off Yin Tianci and his subordinates, he chose not to activate his deific domain. He would rather take his time and ensure that Yin Tianci and all of his subordinates would perish. Instead, he took advantage of the Spirit Emperor''s candle maniption.


    He had been weak in the past and couldn''t unleash the true power of these candle mes. Now, however, things were different. He infused his True Yin strength into the mes¡ªand the moment he touched the golden arhat, he leapt into its interior forcefully, whereupon he met the Dayin cultivator within face to face.


    The Dayin cultivator nched. He was just about to shout when Xiao Nanfeng killed him with a swing of his de, dividing his body in two. Xiao Nanfeng immediately stowed his body in the Divine Seal of Dazheng, then melded with the arhat armor and seized control of it.


    In order to avoid exposing his secret, he said, "Alright, you can rest now. I''ll be controlling this arhat armor from now on."


    The sight shocked Yin Tianci''s other subordinates, all of whom saw Xiao Nanfeng vanish from sight upon touching the armor before suddenly taking it over from the inside.


    "Impossible. How could Xiao Nanfeng have made it inside?"


    "The arhat armor possesses a robust self-defense system. Unless the cultivator within wills it, no one would be able to pass through the armor without suffering damage."


    "Could San really be one of Xiao Nanfeng''s spies? Has he betrayed us?"


    The cultivators murmured to each other in shock. All this was beyond belief.


    "Die, Yin Tianci!" Xiao Nanfeng roared, charging forward in his suit of armor.


    A few golden arhats emerged to stop him.


    "Damn that San. Did he really betray me? Catch him and Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Tianci howled.


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng began to fight vigorously against the other golden arhats.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfeng punched forward just once, but the afterimages that Hegemon''s Fist left all over the sky sent arge group of golden arhats flying. He repeated the same technique, taking down more of Yin Tianci''s subordinates.


    He fought one against thirty and, shockingly, never lost the upper hand. The golden arhats that shot toward them were sent flying.


    "How could this be? You weren''t this strong before. How could you have grown so much stronger?!" Yin Tianci demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched two golden arhats with such strength that their helmets were bashed in. The two cultivators within died on the spot.


    "I had been conserving my strength," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    Last time, he had been manipting the arhat armor as an Earth Immortal. Now, as a True Yin cultivator, he was clearly stronger.


    "All of you, charge toward him at once! Shatter his arhat armor!" Yin Tianci roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng forced anotherrge group of golden arhats back, but suffered a few blows as a result. His arhat armor began to crack.


    "His armor won''tst for long. Continue!" Yin Tianci roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng sneered. "Yin Tianci, are you aware that I have other spies among your subordinates?"


    "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, who are you trying to fool? All my subordinates are Heaven Immortals. Why would they deign to be your spies?" Yin Tianci retorted in disbelief.


    He hade to the conclusion that there was something very fishy about how Xiao Nanfeng had taken over that suit of arhat armor just now.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He caused his arhat armor to explode in a wave of mes, swamping the golden arhats that shot toward him.


    "No!" the cultivators cried out.


    They were all sent flying from the resulting explosion, and many of their suits of armor broke. Only a rare few remained unharmed.


    The explosion that Xiao Nanfeng had caused didn''t kill any of Yin Tianci''s subordinates, but it had hurt the majority of them.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng floated in the heart of the explosion. Xiao Nanfeng stepped out of it, safe and sound.


    "Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t have a suit of arhat armor anymore. Quick, take him down!" Yin Tianci roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng was charging toward an intact suit of armor. "Alright, thanks for your help. It''s my turn now. Lend your arhat armor to me."


    The cultivator within that suit of arhat armor nched. He roared, "I won''t let you defame me! Die!"


    He punched at Xiao Nanfeng, who met his punch with a burst of candle me. Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight once again as he teleported into the interior of the armor.


    "What?!" The cultivator nched.


    With another swing of his de, Xiao Nanfeng killed him and took over his suit of arhat armor.


    "Could General Ye be one of Xiao Nanfeng''s spies, too? That''s impossible!"


    "Why would General Ye be willing to pass his armor to Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "That doesn''t make any sense!"


    As the cultivators cried out in shock, Xiao Nanfeng charged forward. He punched forward with Hegemon''s Fist, causing suit of battered armor after suit of battered armor to explode.


    Within moments, there were only ten of the original thirty golden arhats left.


    "Your Highness, General Ye and San didn''t betray you. Xiao Nanfeng has some sort of secret technique to take over these suits of arhat armor. He was lying to you! We can''t keep fighting. If we do, we''ll all be done for!" one cultivator eximed.


    Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng take down another cultivator with a punch, Yin Tianci came to the same conclusion. Sweat beaded on his forehead.


    "Flee!" Yin Tiancimanded. He turned tail and ran.


    "Do you think you''ll be able to escape?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He chased after no one but Yin Tianci. The golden arhats who had dispersed had no choice but to gather around him to protect their liege.


    "Stay behind and stall him. Quickly!" Yin Tianci howled.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    The next moment, two golden arhats escorted Yin Tianci away as the remainder stayed behind to hold Xiao Nanfeng back.


    "We''ll hold Xiao Nanfeng here. Once His Highness makes it out, we''ll split up and scatter. Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to catch us then," one cultivator called out.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    "You won''t be able to escape. Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a bang, the second suit of arhat armor that he hadmandeered burst apart. The golden arhats were sent flying, their armor cracked. The cultivators within cried out and groaned.


    After the explosion, Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the Divine Seal of Dazheng again. He quickly took over another golden arhat.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, pummeling at the cultivators in his way.


    He quickly killed all the cultivators in the golden arhats around him.


    Yin Tianci had yet to escape from his sight. Xiao Nanfeng immediately gave chase.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''sing after me again. Everyone else is dead¡ªthis can''t be!" Yin Tianci howled.


    "Yin Tianci, you won''t be able to escape!" Xiao Nanfeng drew closer and closer to the three cultivators.


    "Hold him back!" Yin Tianci demanded.


    The two remaining golden arhats were terribly frightened. They wanted to flee, but they knew what sort of punishment would await them if they did. They had no choice but to turn and stall Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hold on, Xiao Nanfeng! Let''s have a talk!" one golden arhat shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched his head in, killing him instantly.


    The other cultivator nched. Knowing that he wouldn''t be able to escape his death, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Explode!"


    He hugged Xiao Nanfeng tightly as his armor exploded.


    A huge fireball lit up the realm as the two suits of armor shattered, leaving the Divine Seal of Dazheng floating calmly in the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked out of the seal and scoffed, "Do you really think I''d be caught by my own trick? Dream on!"


    Xiao Nanfeng then headed straight for Yin Tianci, now alone.


    "Don''te over here, Xiao Nanfeng! We can talk things through!" Yin Tianci shouted as he fled.


    Xiao Nanfeng, with his True Yin body, was no slower than Yin Tianci. The distance between them only shrank.


    "Talk? What''s there to talk about? You''ve tried to kill me many times, and this is the first time you''ve wanted to talk. Who do you think you are?"


    "I''m the crown prince of Dayin, and this is only an avatar of mine! If you dare hurt me, I''ll surely seek revenge. I''ll kill all your loved ones!" Yin Tianci threatened.


    "What a joke you are. You could take revenge on me even if I let you go."


    "No, no! I promise I won''t. I''ll swear it!"


    "Even you don''t believe your lies, do you? What makes you think I''d believe you? If I were to let you go, you''d only think me soft and able to be bullied. You would be even harsher and more strident with your vengeance. I intend to kill this avatar of yours now as a warning to you: if you provoke me, you''ll die. And if you dare touch my rtives before you kill me, I''ll do the same to you, and I won''t stop until all of them are gone," Xiao Nanfeng hissed.


    A wisp of candle me appeared by his palm, which he mmed against Yin Tianci''s arhat armor.


    Yin Tianci punched at him, but the punch didn''t connect. Xiao Nanfeng teleported through the armor and into its interior. Yin Tianci saw a de heading his way.


    "No!" Yin Tianci screamed.


    Xiao Nanfeng cut him in half; he died instantly.

 Chapter 453: Becoming Enemies

    <h4>Chapter 453: Bing Enemies</h4>


    Within the Netherworld Pce, Xiao Nanfeng killed Yin Tianci with a single stroke of his de. He brought his corpse out of the arhat armor, rummaging carefully through it. He frowned. "You''re a crown prince of a divine empire. Why do you only have trash in your storage treasure? There''s nothing that''s even on the level of your arhat armor!"


    Frowning, Xiao Nanfeng headed back and piled up the corpses of all the cultivators he had killed along the way, then checked their storage treasures one by one.


    Unfortunately, the most precious treasure to be found were only at the realm of Heaven Immortals.


    "Forget it. This is only one of Yin Tianci''s avatars, after all. I suppose he knew that he might die within the Netherworld Pce, so bringing any valuable treasure could well be a waste. One suit of arhat armor is better than nothing," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, sighing.


    He categorized the treasures before keeping them all.


    "Senior, please convert these corpses into more blood peaches," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    The blood peach tree appeared out of nowhere, its roots stabbing into the corpses. Very quickly, the corpses were all drained to husks, and a golden peach appeared on the blood peach tree.


    "That isn''t a blood peach, is it?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    "This is a goldenme peach, which can help advance your physical cultivation," the blood peach tree wrote out.


    "Thank you, Senior."


    "This goldenme peach won''t keep, and its potency will quickly dissipate once plucked. You should transform back into your physical body and consume it immediately."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He transformed back into his physical body as the goldenme peach suddenly flew toward him. He raised an eyebrow and pped it away.


    The goldenme peach rapidly transformed into golden fluid that surrounded him and squirmed into his orifices.


    "Senior, what are you doing?!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He activated his Imposing Avatar of Ri at full strength. Golden light emanated from his body, blocking the golden fluid.


    The golden fluid repeatedly attempted to batter down his body, as though trying to make its way inside, but the Imposing Avatar of Ri deflected it again and again.


    "I can''t possess you? Xiao Nanfeng, did you not cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri that I handed you? What cultivation technique are you using?!" a voice thundered.


    The blood peach tree, not far away, was quaking. The vibrations formed a man''s voice through the void.


    The blood peach tree could talk; it simply didn''t want to. Now, however, shocked and outraged by Xiao Nanfeng''s defenses, it shouted at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri, as you well know."


    "The Imposing Avatar of Ri? That''s right, but I deliberately omitted the final volume in the manual! How could you have cultivated it in full?!"


    "What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.


    "Did your other cursed effigies help you out? Was it that ck lotus? Damn it, it ruined my ns!" the blood peach tree howled.


    The golden fluid sloshed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, but waspletely blocked by the Imposing Avatar of Ri.


    "You were nning to take over my body from the very beginning, weren''t you? I saved your life¡ªand this is how you repay my kindness? If Senior ck Lotus hadn''t helped me out, you would have caught me off-guard. You really are an ingrate," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "As if those other cursed effigies are any better! They''re surely eyeing your strength as well, but they''re too weak to possess you just yet. I''m sure that''s what the ck lotus is intending to do."


    "Senior ck Lotus has been helping me all along. Not all cursed effigies are as power-hungry and deceitful as you."


    "Power-hungry? Deceitful? No¡ªyou simply have too many secrets. How much luckier can you get? Your Dazheng Code of Laws, Divine Seal of Dazheng, the candle cursed spiritual avatar, the red rope cursed spiritual avatar, the Taiqing Yin Body, the Shangqing Yin Body¡ªyou''ve managed tobine all that strength perfectly. Your body''s the most wless one I''ve ever seen. Without a doubt, you''ll beparable to a cursed king in strength, no, a whole flock of cursed kings. I''ll sacrifice everything to take over your body, even if you have theplete form of the Imposing Avatar of Ri!"


    The golden fluid continued tosh at Xiao Nanfeng''s golden body. He suddenly struck at it with his palm, causing it to stter everywhere.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew into the air to avoid the fluid, but the roots of the blood peach tree coiled around his ankles. Like thorns, they thrust into his physical body, only to be foiled by his Imposing Avatar of Ri.


    "Regardless of how strong your physical cultivation is, you''re still only an Earth Immortal. Now, break!" the blood peach tree cried out.


    The peach tree''s roots smashed into Xiao Nanfeng''s body with tremendous force, causing him to stumble back.


    "You''ve already obtained the various Yanluo Lords'' bodies. Why covet mine, too?"


    "I want the Yanluo Lords'' bodies as well as your body. It''s simply far too valuable¡ªas much so as the ten Yanluo Lords''."


    "Aren''t you in too much of a hurry to possess me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "I was intending to deal with the ten Yanluo Lords first, but you''re growing far too quickly. You managed to reach True Yin in the blink of an eye, and I might not be able to possess you if I were to wait any longer. You forced my hand."


    The blood peach tree began to attack Xiao Nanfeng''s body at full strength¡ªnot just with the golden fluid, but also with its branches and roots. A tempest formed around Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body.


    With a hum, Xiao Nanfeng invoked his candlelight powers and made a spatial hop out of the blood peach tree''s attack range.


    "Little wonder the Spirit Emperor was able to rule the world with that power, but I''m sure it consumes a significant amount of your strength. You won''t be able to use it repeatedly. You won''t be able to escape!" the blood peach tree crowed.


    Peach blossoms began to fall all around him, swirling like a river. They surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed into his yin body and shouted, "Moon, emerge!"


    A full moon rose into the air as his deific domain expanded. A blizzard began to howl, snow striking the peach blossoms and scattering them.


    "So what if you have a domain? I''ve seen plenty like it in my heyday," the blood peach tree called out.


    Its peach blossoms scattered, heading toward Xiao Nanfeng ,once again.


    "Harmonize!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    He seemed to vanish into thin air, causing the peach tree branches and roots to strike at nothing.


    "Impossible! You''re only at early-stage True Yin, and you should only be able to hide sight of your body. How could you have vanished entirely?!"


    It sprayed out golden fluid all over, but Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be seen.


    "Formless and shapeless¡ªtrue harmony? Impossible!"


    Just then, a howling blizzard made its way to the blood peach tree, swamping it in frost.


    "Superior yin frost can''t harm me," the blood peach tree dered.


    With a tremendous heave, a wave of peach blossoms sent the snow flying.


    Just then, a ke of snownded on the blood peach tree, then morphed into the shape of Xiao Nanfeng. He punched at the tree, forcing it back.


    However, the blood peach tree responded rapidly. Countless roots shot forward, fast as lightning, surrounding Xiao Nanfeng. The next moment, however, Xiao Nanfeng transformed back into a snowke. The blood peach tree crushed it, but Xiao Nanfeng was unaffected.


    In another direction, another snowke transformed into Xiao Nanfeng and punched at the blood peach tree, sending it reeling. Then, Xiao Nanfeng vanished again.


    "This is the perfected form of spiritual harmony, allowing you to manifest as anything that exists in your domain. Just how did you do it? I saw you break through to early-stage True Yin with my own eyes. How could you have reached such a state? Was it the result of a technique? What sort of spiritual cultivation technique do you possess?!"


    "One that can kill you," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    Another snowke transformed into Xiao Nanfeng and punched at the blood peach tree, forcing it back. However, the punch couldn''t damage it.


    "You really are full of secrets, aren''t you? That''s a blessing for me. All your secrets shall be mine, haha!"


    "You''re truly stubborn. Let''s continue, then!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The blood peach tree sneered. "Are you aware of a fatal w with harmonization? Your deific domain. Without your domain, you won''t be able to use this trick, and shattering your deific domain is straightforward. All I have to do is seal your moon.


    It teleported into the air. Countless roots speared straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He attempted to stop it, but the blood peach tree was simply too fast for him.


    Just then, as though sensing the imminent danger, a crack opened up in the moon, then widened to be a mouth filled with sinister sawtooth-like teeth.


    The mouth bit down on all the peach tree''s roots.


    The blood peach tree gasped in pain as the silver moon chewed happily on them, enjoying the delicacy.


    "The superior yin pearl has merged with your silver moon? It''s even in control?! Bastard!" the blood peach tree howled.

 Chapter 454: Provoking the Peach Tree

    <h4>Chapter 454: Provoking the Peach Tree</h4>


    Many of the blood peach tree''s roots were bitten off, but a storm of paper fragments caused them to quickly regrow.


    "Pearl, do you intend on protecting him? You won''t seed!" The blood peach tree shot up into the air again.


    The silver moon didn''t back down. It opened its mouth wide, revealing a series of spiky teeth, and bit down. However, part of the blood peach tree''s roots extended and curled toward the moon from the back.


    The next moment, the moon formed another mouth and set of teeth at its back, then bit down on the roots again.


    Shocked, the blood peach tree turned to run. It had lost much of its branches and roots, and appeared to be in particrly bad shape.


    "Pearl, are you set on going against me? All you can do is control Xiao Nanfeng''s moon at present. Can you guard the rest of his body?" the blood peach tree roared.


    The silver moon returned to normal after digesting its meal. It hung high in the air, immobile, not deigning to speak with the blood peach tree.


    "In other words, you can''t do anything against my moon, or the rest of my body?" Xiao Nanfeng smirked.


    "Do you really think I don''t have any other means of dealing with you? Just because you can harmonize doesn''t mean that I can''t. You won''t be able to escape. Sea of flowers!" the blood peach tree shouted.


    A veritable sea of flowers exploded forth, cloaking everything in sight. Peach blossoms spawned everywhere snowkes did, and in even greater quantity besides. Xiao Nanfeng''s deific domain waspletely enclosed.


    "An ovepping peach blossom domain..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "You won''t be able to run anymore. Now I just have to exhaust your spiritual power and make your domain fade. I''d like to see how you harmonize then! Even the superior yin pearl won''t be able to save you," the blood peach tree spat out.


    "Blizzard!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Countless snowkes struck the peach blossoms with incredible frost, causing them to shatter. However, the peach blossoms regenerated quickly.


    Next, Xiao Nanfengmanded his silver moon to attack the blood peach tree, but the superior yin pearl didn''t seem willing to help him out. The moon didn''t develop any mouths, much to Xiao Nanfeng''s chagrin.


    The snowkes and peach blossoms nullified each other, neither giving way to the other.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. This sort of attack would be particrly detrimental to him in the long run.


    He manipted his deific domain as he flew toward the distance.


    "Our domains are tangled up in each other''s, and you won''t be able to get free from me. Where you go, I''ll go as well. As long as you remain in your deific domain, you''ll be consuming a great deal of spiritual power. You''ll be fully drained in no time. Xiao Nanfeng, I rmend that you give up. If you surrender to me, I''ll fulfill some of your final wishes for you." The blood peach tree cackled.


    "It looks like the Dragon Yanluo was right. You''re a despicable cursed effigy who hides behind and takes advantage of others. I shouldn''t have rescued you to begin with."


    "You shouldn''t have been so foolish as to rescue a cursed effigy," the blood peach tree retorted.


    "I only did so because you wrote down ''Madam Rouge''. How do you know her?"


    "There were traces of her aura in your mindscape, which I identified immediately. Where is she?"


    "I won''t tell you."


    "Ha! I''ll be able to find her even if you don''t tell me anything. She left a special aura behind in your mindscape¡ªhas she fallen for you? You must have tricked her, just like you tricked the Divine Emperor. Casanovas like you ought to die!"


    The blood peach tree seemed unable to rein in its emotions upon speaking of Madam Rouge. It was incensed.


    "You weren''t enemies with Madam Rouge? Aren''t you afraid that she''ll take revenge on my behalf?"


    "You don''t deserve someone like Madam Rouge. All men who have tangled with her ought to die. They all ought to die!"


    "In that case, you must want to pursue Madam Rouge. Did she disdain you? Is that why you want to kill all the men by her side? You''re perverse!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Oh, she''ll be interested in me. Once I recover the Records of Life and Death in full, I''ll be her equal. She''ll treat me differently then."


    "Aren''t you a monk? Shouldn''t monks be celibate?" Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    "That''s none of your business!"


    "How could it be none of my business? Madam Rouge is my woman. A despicable being like you must be shameless to attempt to interfere in our rtionship!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    He was trying to upy the blood peach tree''s attention to hide his true intentions.


    "Nonsense! Madam Rouge is the paragon of an empress, prideful and haughty. No man in the world could ever be her equal, not even the cursed kings of any era. How could she be your woman?!" the blood peach tree roared.


    "Don''t you believe me? You can ask the cursed kings by my side. They witnessed my love for Madam Rouge. We knew each other intimately. We loved and guarded each other, and even swore vows for all eternity. Long is our love!"


    "Nonsense. You don''t deserve her!" the blood peach tree howled.


    "Whether you like it or not, it''s the truth."


    "Why would she leave you, then? Liar!"


    "She simply had urgent affairs to take care of. A short separation makes reunion all the sweeter. Do you know anything about love at all?" Xiao Nanfeng continued to provoke the blood peach tree.


    "You''re lying. You don''t deserve her!" The blood peach tree visibly shook.


    "You''re only a monk. What would you know about the nature of our love? Save your breath."


    He found that the blood peach tree had be inordinately jealous. As Xiao Nanfeng continued to flex his romantic rtionship, the blood peach tree seethed on the brink of rage. It didn''t seem to notice Xiao Nanfeng''s n at all.


    "Right, I even wrote Madam Rouge a song while we were together¡ªThe Moon Represents My Heart. Shall I sing it to you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued. [1]


    "Impossible. You already have a few women. How could she ept you as her lover?!"


    "Love triumphs over all. Why does it matter to a third party like you, anyway? She looks down on you and wouldn''t have been with you, regardless."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, once all your spiritual power is drained, I''ll torture you in all eighteenyers of hell! Your fate shall be worse than death!"


    "Beat me first. As for now, I forbid you from bringing up the name of my woman. You have no right."


    The man and tree bickered for almost two hours as they flew.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, not only will I kill you, I''ll kill all your women as well. They''ll suffer ignominious deaths!"


    "That''s enough. Here we are. It''s time for you to die." Xiao Nanfeng immediately changed his tone.


    The blood peach tree btedly realized that they were right outside arge capital. Countless cursed effigies were staring at them in shock, and a Yanluo Court was roiling with ck smoke.


    "This is¡ªthe capital of Chou!" the blood peach tree eximed.


    "Ox Yanluo, I have the monk who instigated the rebellion a hundred thousand years ago by my side. Are you interested?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The doors to the Yanluo Court in the distance creaked open as the Ox Yanluo stepped out in a burst of ck smoke.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You dare return?" the Ox Yanluo thundered.


    "Ox Yanluo, I bring you a princely gift. This blood peach tree was that monk, and it has even swallowed up the Rabbit and Snake Yanluo''s cursed spiritual avatars. Do you want it?"


    "You''re lying to me, aren''t you?" The Ox Yanluo frowned.


    Upon seeing the snow and peach blossoms scattered throughout the air, he could guess that Xiao Nanfeng and the blood peach tree had turned on each other. However, whenever Xiao Nanfeng appeared, Yanluo Lords would die. He couldn''t help but worry that this too was a scheme against him.


    "I''m enemies with the Tiger Yanluo. If I had to choose between him or you, it''d be you. Now that I''ve delivered this generous gift to you, you owe me a big favor, alright?"


    1. A very famous Chinese bad. ?

 Chapter 455: Peach Buddha

    <h4>Chapter 455: Peach Buddha</h4>


    "Xiao Nanfeng, have you been provoking me all this time? Were you deliberately luring me to the capital of Chou? Do you think that the Ox Yanluo can kill me?" the blood peach tree demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored it and shouted, "Ox Yanluo, it''s skilled at darting into others'' mindscapes, and I can only iste it now while in a harmonized state. You had better be careful not to let it escape!"


    The Ox Yanluo narrowed his eyes. With a wave of his hand, he shouted, "Everyone, leave the capital of Chou, now!"


    "Understood!" Countless cursed effigies turned to flee.


    The blood peach tree could sense the imminent danger. It immediately reined in its domain. The peach blossoms vanished from sight.


    "Ox Yanluo, it''s trying to run! Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Although the Ox Yanluo seemed confused, he stared at the blood peach tree. If Xiao Nanfeng really were telling the truth, this would truly be a tremendous gift.


    "Peach Buddha? Is that really you?" The Ox Yanluo''s eyes lit up.


    "Ox Yanluo, Xiao Nanfeng currently possesses three Yanluo Courts. You aren''t going to let him go this easily, are you?" The blood peach tree immediately tried to distract the Ox Yanluo.


    "Oh? In that case, you are the Peach Buddha, then? It''s been a hundred thousand years. To think you would give me such a big surprise! Truly, I didn''t even have to work to find you. Haha!" The Ox Yanluo''s face was filled with greed.


    Just then, a figure charged in from afar. The figure stopped in mid-air in a gust of wind.


    Everyone nched upon seeing who hade.


    "Tiger Yanluo, what are you doing here?" The Ox Yanluo stared at his opponent warily, immediately on guard.


    He wasn''t afraid of the Tiger Yanluo; he was afraid that this was another one of Xiao Nanfeng''s schemes.


    "We''re the only two Yanluo Lords in the Netherworld Pce now. Of course I''d show up after hearing of such a bigmotion around your capital. What''s more, I heard all manner of reports of a domain of snow and peach blossoms appearing all across the Netherworld Pce. It''d be harder for me not to notice." Then, he turned to the blood peach tree and the silver moon. "My subordinates told me that they heard Xiao Nanfeng''s voice from the domain. Ha, Xiao Nanfeng, have you reached the realm of True Yin? You dare to brave the Netherworld Pce once again because of your cultivation? How bold! And this must have been the Rabbit Yanluo''s mysterious opponent. What a familiar aura."


    A voice could be heard from afar. "King, Xiao Nanfeng told the Ox Yanluo that this peach tree was the Peach Buddha from a hundred thousand years ago. It allegedly swallowed up the Snake and Rabbit Yanluos, and is skilled at intruding into others'' mindscapes!"


    Everyone turned to the speaker, a tiger-headed humanoid. Clearly, he was a spy that the Tiger Yanluo had assigned to the capital of Chou.


    "Oh? The Peach Buddha? In that case, you must have four pages of the Earthly Branches right now." The Tiger Yanluo''s eyes lit up with greed.


    The blood peach tree hmphed. It could sense that there would be a difficult battle up ahead.


    Suddenly, the Ox Yanluo shouted, "Tiger Yanluo, this is none of your business. Leave my capital immediately!"


    "Ox Yanluo, do you intend to start a quarrel with me and give them a chance to escape?" The Tiger Yanluo smirked.


    The Ox Yanluo frowned and turned to the blood peach tree, which was swiftly flying away.


    The Tiger Yanluo made his move then, leaping straight to the front of the blood peach tree. He punched forward in a burst of wind, causing the tree to reel back.


    "Peach Buddha, it''s been a hundred thousand years. How could you just leave like that?" The Tiger Yanluo smiled.


    "Right, why would you leave so quickly? We haven''t yet reminisced about the past," the Ox Yanluo added coolly.


    He waved a hand, causing paper money to fall from the skies. The word Chou was printed on each one.


    "A domain of paper money!" the blood peach tree eximed.


    The Tiger Yanluo had no intention of losing out, either. With a wave of his hand, paper money floated into the air, the word Yin printed on each one. The sky was filled with paper money, as though they were all participating in a funeral rite.


    The paper money surged toward the blood peach tree. When the notesnded on its branches, they began to burn with sinister mes, scorching the peach tree¡ªand the sky was filled with such notes.


    "Peach blossoms, scatter!" the blood peach treemanded.


    The peach blossoms that had just vanished once again shot out all around the blood peach tree, striking the paper money and forcing them away from the tree.


    "Peach Buddha? So you were already a cursed effigy a hundred thousand years ago, and this was your power. Now that you''ve gathered some pages of the Earthly Branches and acquired the attributes of two types of cursed spiritual avatars, you must be able to regenerate your body with paper money as well," the Tiger Yanluo surmised.


    "Neither of you have yet to fully absorb the strength of the Yanluo Lords you devoured, have you? Isn''t it a little too early to fight me to the death?" the blood peach tree retorted.


    "On the contrary. We have no other enemies in the Netherworld Pce; it''s just the three of us left. It''s the perfect time to tear you apart," the Tiger Yanluo replied with a huge smile.


    The Ox Yanluo was also eyeing the blood peach tree. He wasn''t in alliance with the Tiger Yanluo, but it was clear that dealing with the blood peach tree first was the most logical decision.


    The three cursed effigies nced at each other, none taking the first move.


    Just then, the Tiger Yanluo struck, followed swiftly by the Ox Yanluo, and finally the blood peach tree. The three cursed effigies, possessing incredible strength, charged toward each other in an explosion of energy, peach blossoms, and paper money. The fighting was unbelievably intense.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng found an opportunity to leave the battlefield. He neither reined in his domain nor canceled his harmonization, worried that the blood peach tree would catch him off-guard.


    His silver moon flew high into the air, bringing his domain along with it, as he left the capital of Chou.


    He was just about to congratte himself on his sessful n when countless notes of paper money suddenly filled his domain.


    "Ox Yanluo? What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Ox Yanluo shed toward his domain, countering his snowkes with paper money in a tempest that buffeted the two of them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why are you running?" The Ox Yanluoughed. Then, he looked toward Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon with narrowed eyes. "What potent cursed spiritual power is emanating from your silver moon! If I''m not mistaken, you only managed to drag the Peach Buddha out to my capital because it couldn''t deal with your silver moon. Isn''t that right? Was it trying to exhaust you of all your spiritual power before taking you on?"


    "Ox Yanluo, shouldn''t you be dealing with the Peach Buddha rather than with me? Do you intend for the Tiger Yanluo toy im on all its spoils? If the Tiger Yanluo were to win¡ªno, if either the Tiger Yanluo or the Peach Buddha were to win, you''d be dead meat."


    "Don''t try to frighten me. I''ve probed its strength, you see. The Peach Buddha''s very strong at the moment, and the Tiger Yanluo won''t be able to do anything against it in the short term. During their stalemate, I can take advantage of the situation and take you down instead. Don''t you possess three Yanluo Courts, too? How about this? Give me those three Yanluo Courts, and I''ll let you go." The Ox Yanluo smiled.


    "Do you think I''d believe that nonsense? Ox Yanluo, you were only able to devour the Dragon and Horse Yanluos, and even the Monkey Yanluo, on my ount. Even so, rather than being grateful to me, you''re trying to harm me. You''ll suffer karmic retribution for what you''ve done!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "And so what? There''s no such thing as karma in the world¡ªonly kings and bandits. I suggest that you surrender immediately," the Ox Yanluo dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart sank. He knew he wouldn''t be able to avoid a confrontation now. "Let''s see if you really can oust me, then. After all, in my domain, I''ve already harmonized with the world. You won''t be able to catch me. Let''s bet on whether you''ll exhaust all my spiritual power first, or if the Tiger Yanluo can devour the Peach Buddha first."


    The Ox Yanluo frowned. Although he appeared confident, he was actually paying careful attention to the fight urring in the distance. Once the Tiger Yanluo devoured the Peach Buddha, he would soon be dead, too.


    "Ha! Do you really think you''ll be able tost that long? I can speed up the rate of your consumption of spiritual power. Break!"


    The paper money suddenly began to fly haphazardly and violently as it struck the blizzard''s snowkes and caused Xiao Nanfeng''s domain to start to dissipate. Even more spiritual power would be necessary to maintain it.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t fearful. He was gambling on the Ox Yanluo''s patience, orck thereof. He didn''t believe that the Ox Yanluo would continue wasting time on him when there was easier prey.


    Indeed, after some time, the Ox Yanluo couldn''t hold on any longer. He was worried that the fight between the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha hade to an end. Frustrated, he lifted his head and looked toward the silver moon.


    "Draining your domain like this really does take too much time¡ªbut I could simply break your silver moon apart," the Ox Yanluo murmured.


    With a wave of his sleeve, he sent countless flocks of paper money, like a rampaging sea, straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon. Just as the attack was about tond, the silver moon suddenly widened its maw and sucked violently, devouring all the paper money headed its way.


    It resolved the crisis within moments, causing the Ox Yanluo''s eyes to twitch.


    "No wonder the Peach Buddha wasn''t able to deal with this silver moon of yours. As expected, there''s something wrong. If I can''t get to those three Yanluo Courts with my paper money, then I''ll use my own Yanluo Court. Now, die!" the Ox Yanluo demanded.


    A Yanluo Court flew out of the Ox Yanluo''s sleeve and headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon. This wasn''t his own Yanluo Court, but rather one that he had obtained recently. He had partially attuned to the Yanluo Court, and it boasted tremendous strength.


    Just then, a beam of starlight fell from the skies, encapsting the Ox Yanluo''s body.


    "What?" The Ox Yanluo looked up at the sky.


    Out of nowhere, the sky had lit up with 361 glowing stars, each shooting down a beam of starlight and encapsting the Ox Yanluo within. A spherical barrier formed to trap him.


    At that very moment, the paper money all around him seemed to lose its sense of gravity. They fell slowly to the ground.


    "A starlit barrier!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Where did this formatione from? Do you really think you can trap me? Break!" the Ox Yanluo demanded.


    He punched at the starlit barrier, which shuddered but didn''t shatter.


    "Impossible. How could this barrier be so strong? Again!" the Ox Yanluo thundered.


    As heunched a barrage of fists at the barrier, it finally began to crack, but the starlight repaired any cracks in no time at all.


    "Who''s there? Show yourself!" the Ox Yanluo howled.


    A ck-robed man appeared in the distance. He shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, the starlit barrier won''t be able to trap him for long. We have to leave, now!"


    "Blue Lantern? You really are still alive!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in excitement.

 Chapter 456: The Netherworld Pope

    <h4>Chapter 456: The Netherworld Pope</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng dispelled his harmonization and took physical form once again. With a wave of his hand, the silver moon fell from the skies and returned into his body. His domain vanished.


    "Come back and help me break this barrier!" the Ox Yanluo roared.


    High in the sky, the Yanluo Court which had been right about to smash into Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon turned back and shot toward the starlit barrier.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng flew over and captured the Yanluo Court with a wave of his seal.


    "What?!" the Ox Yanluo roared. "Xiao Nanfeng, return that Yanluo Court to me!"


    He pounded the starlit barrier furiously, causing cracks to swiftly propagate throughout its surface.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched, then rushed toward Blue Lantern.


    "Follow me!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    The two of them headed toward a forest in the distance, then quickly vanished from sight.


    "Hold it right there. Get back here!" the Ox Yanluo roared, continuing to pound on the barrier.


    Just then, with a whoosh, two figures appeared before him. His eyes widened as he stopped what he was doing.


    "Tiger Yanluo? Peach Buddha? What are the two of you doing here?"


    If he were free, he naturally wouldn''t worry about these two cursed effigies. However, he was currently trapped within Blue Lantern''s starlit barrier. As he realized how dangerous the situation was for him, his hair began to stand on end.


    The Tiger Yanluo nced at the 361 stars in the sky, along with the formation of ck smoke that had been set up all around him. He eximed, "What an impressive formation! Xiao Nanfeng''s formations expert must have descended to the abyss as well."


    "The Formation of the Complete Heavens? Did Blue Lantern set up this formation? Its strength has increased by a fair amount," the Peach Buddhamented.


    The next moment, the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha turned on the Ox Yanluo.


    "What are you doing? Why aren''t you fighting against each other?" the Ox Yanluo demanded.


    He could sense that something was very wrong. He furiously battered the starlit barrier, but was unable to free himself. He began to panic more and more.


    "We will fight, but we''re no fools. Why let you take advantage? We can divide you up between us first before continuing." The Tiger Yanluo gave the Ox Yanluo a dark smile.


    "Indeed! Tiger Yanluo, this starlit barrier is a one-sided shield. It only traps the Ox Yanluo within, and doesn''t prevent our attacks fromnding. We''ll attack and kill him now before he can free himself!" the Peach Buddha eximed.


    "Attack!" the Tiger Yanluo echoed.


    The two cursed effigies shot toward the Ox Yanluo simultaneously.


    "No! Save me. Hold them back, now!" the Ox Yanluo bellowed hoarsely.


    Countless ox-headed humanoids came flying toward him from all around, but they were knocked back by thebined peach blossom and Yin paper money domains.


    No one could prevent the Ox Yanluo''s ughter. His shrill screams quickly rang out across the battlefield.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern had reached safety.


    By the time they halted, they could see a ze of fire overtaking the capital of Chou. An incredible tempest had descended on thend, and the 361 stars in the sky were fading away.


    "Has the Formation of the Complete Heavens been broken?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It likely dissipated because of the Ox Yanluo''s death," Blue Lantern replied, analyzing the rate at which the stars were fading.


    "He deserved it. Of the ten Yanluo Lords, none are worth saving."


    "Truly," Blue Lantern murmured.


    "Blue Lantern, how did you know where I was? What made you set up a formation there?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Your domain extends for fifty kilometers around, and there was snow and peach blossoms all across the Netherworld Pce. Of course I would notice where you were. Furthermore, your domain wasn''t far from where I was to begin with, so I chased after you. I set up the formation while you were attacking the Ox Yanluo. You were both so focused on each other that you didn''t notice my presence."


    "Is that so? I really have to thank you, then."


    "I''m the astronomer of the Dazheng Empire. It''s part of my duties," Blue Lantern replied, smiling.


    "Oh?"


    Although Blue Lantern had joined the Dazheng Empire, he didn''t particrly care for being an official in the empire. He intended to stay for the ten years he had promised Xiao Nanfeng before leaving, and even addressed Xiao Nanfeng directly without any honorifics. This was the first time he had acknowledged his position¡ªwhat was going on?


    Just then, another explosion formed in the direction of the capital of Chou, breaking Xiao Nanfeng''s train of thought.


    The two cultivators looked over to see a Heaven''s Hand appear above the capital. It was attacking the cursed effigies in the capital indiscriminately.


    "The Ox Yanluo has fallen, and his Yanluo Court has been seized. I wonder who ended up the ultimate victor?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Blue Lantern fell silent for a moment. Then, he asked, "Xiao Nanfeng, do you want to have a look at Ye Dafu and the others?"


    "Oh? Are they still alive, too? Have you been together for the entire month?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "We are. I was just released," Blue Lantern replied, chuckling wryly.


    "Released?"


    Blue Lantern sighed. "That''s right. I do have to apologize to you. Because of me, you''ve fallen under surveince."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I was released yesterday and given the directive of searching for you. I''m constantly being watched, which means that you''ve been seen, too."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark. "Just what is going on?"


    "I''ve been forged into a cursed ve again..."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He knew that Blue Lantern was particrly unlucky, but this seemed far beyond what was ordinary. How could that be? Was he cursed to suffer whenever he entered a hidden realm?


    The moment Blue Lantern stepped into the undying realm, the undying cursed king forged him into a cursed ve. Then, the moment he stepped into the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, he was caught by the red rope. Now, after he entered the Netherworld Pce, he was forged into a cursed ve¡ªagain!


    "The cursed king who forged me into a cursed ve has locked up Ye Dafu and the others as well. Of course, this isn''t bad news for them. That cursed king wants to meet with you, which is why he permitted me toe find you. If you want to leave with Ye Dafu or free me, I''m afraid you''ll have to ept the request."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. No wonder Blue Lantern had been so much more polite to him than usual, going as far as to acknowledge his station as official in the empire.


    "Who is this cursed king?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The Netherworld Pope."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. The Netherworld Pope? Didn''t the ten Yanluo Lords revolt against and kill him a hundred thousand years ago? The Peach Buddha mentioned that the Netherworld Pce was the Netherworld Pope''s mausoleum¡ªbut could he actually still be alive? Did none of the ten Yanluo Lords know of his existence?


    "When were you caught?"


    "The night we entered the mouth of the abyss, we were swept away by a windstorm. We were all caught then," Blue Lantern recalled.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. Indeed, Blue Lantern really seemed to be cursed with bad luck in every hidden realm he came across.


    "Lead me to the Netherworld Pope," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Blue Lantern inclined his head. "I''m afraid it''ll be quite dangerous."


    "You told me that he has his eyes on me, so I won''t be able to run regardless. Now, let''s go!"


    Blue Lantern seemed to want to say more, but he only nodded instead.


    He turned toward the sky. "Netherworld Pope, Xiao Nanfeng has agreed to an audience with you. Would youe fetch us?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Blue Lantern a curious look. Just where did this Netherworld Pope live? How could Blue Lantern summon him just by shouting into the air?


    Suddenly, arge blood-colored cloud formed overhead. The skies rapidly filled with clouds. A heavenly aura of frightening strength descended from the skies. Heaven''s Hand reached out and caught them both.


    "This is Heaven''s Hand! We have to flee." Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    "Don''t worry. Don''t move. This Heaven''s Hand won''t hurt us. It''s going to bring us away," Blue Lantern said immediately.


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was difited, but he chose to believe in Blue Lantern. He allowed Heaven''s Hand to cup him and Blue Lantern in its palm.


    The hand curled up into a fist, flew back into the blood-colored clouds, and then vanished.


    Xiao Nanfeng discovered that the Heaven''s Hand indeed meant him no harm. He breathed out in relief.


    Not longter, the hand unclenched and tossed Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern aside none too gently.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught his footing immediately, then looked all around him.


    Beneath him were blood-colored clouds; above him were blood-colored clouds. There was no horizon in sight, and blood-colored clouds were everywhere he looked. It was as though they were in a huge space bordered by these clouds.


    At the center of the sea of blood-colored clouds was a huge pool, within which endless bolts of lightning seemed to spark and sh. The pool looked particrly dangerous.


    Twelve copper pirs were erect in the pool of lightning, a small golden cultivator bound to each one.


    "Ye Dafu and hisckeys!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys had been submerged in the pool of lightning. They weren''t dead¡ªno, they were screaming.


    "Senior, we''ve all gone numb! It doesn''t feelfortable or rxing anymore. Why don''t you let us go?"


    "It''s been over a month! We''re about to be charred to death. Can''t you smell the fragrance drifting from our bodies?"


    "No, no more! I''m going limp!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys continued to shout and beg for freedom, but their eyes were closed in pleasure. The dissonance caused Xiao Nanfeng to shudder.


    Were theyfortable or done for? Why couldn''t he tell?


    Suddenly, bloody fog condensed before him. A face appeared, almost thirty meters tall, and gave off a frightening aura. He fixed his gaze on Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re Xiao Nanfeng?"


    The face considered him carefully. His voice was like thunder.


    "Xiao Nanfeng of the Dazheng Empire greets the Netherworld Pope." Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow.


    The cultivators who had been screaming within the pool of lightning stilled before they looked over at the source of the voice.


    "His Majesty is here to save us! Thank goodness!"


    "Your Majesty, if you hadn''t shown up, we would have died from exhaustion! Please save us!"


    "Your Majesty, we''re right here!"


    The cultivators shouted and beckoned to themselves in relief.

 Chapter 457: The Netherworld Popes Request

    <h4>Chapter 457: The Netherworld Pope''s Request</h4>


    Within the sea of blood-colored clouds, a huge face formed of bloody mist stared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What curious cursed spiritual power emanates from you. No wonder I passed over you that day," the Netherworld Pope murmured.


    "A month ago, when we first arrived at the Netherworld Pce, you must have taken advantage of that whirlwind to catch Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s group. However, thinking that I was a cursed effigy, you tossed me aside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right, but perhaps this was better, after all. Otherwise, how would I have learned of your abilities? You managed to upend the entire Netherworld Pce in little more than a month. Impressive, impressive!" the Netherworld Pope praised.


    "How do you know about what I''ve done, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Look over there."


    A Heaven''s Hand entered the sea of blood-colored clouds. It unclenched, releasing an ox-headed humanoid.


    The ox-headed humanoid nced warily around himself. "Where am I?"


    The Netherworld Pope''s huge face suddenly manifested before the cursed effigy. His frightening aura caused the unfortunate cursed effigy to fall to the ground.


    "Do you remember me, the pope?" the Netherworld Pope demanded.


    The ox-headed humanoid nched, then trembled violently as he knelt. "Spare me, Pope! I didn''t know you were still alive. Please, spare me!"


    "What''s going on in the capital of Chou? Tell me everything!"


    "Yes! My king¡ªno, the Ox Yanluo¡ªwas killed by the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha. They divided the Ox Yanluo in half, then began to fight each other. The fighting extended all the way into the capital of Chou. The Peach Buddha, realizing that it was no match for the Tiger Yanluo, unearthed the Ox Yanluo''s Yanluo Court and caused a Heaven''s Hand to attack the Tiger Yanluo. The Tiger Yanluo grabbed the Ox Yanluo''s Yanluo Court before the Heaven''s Hand caught them both, while the Peach Buddha took the opportunity to run. Then, the Tiger Yanluo freed himself, and the Heaven''s Hand has been attacking us cursed effigies since. Everyone else is dead, and only I was brought here and saved."


    The Netherworld Pope nodded in satisfaction.


    Another Heaven''s Hand caught the ox-headed humanoid in its clutches.


    "Please, Pope, spare me! I was forced to sumb. I''m loyal to you, Pope!" the ox-headed humanoid screamed.


    With a tremendous grinding sound, the ox-headed humanoid was smashed into powder. The Heaven''s Hand retreated from the sea of blood-colored clouds and vanished from sight.


    "So you can interrogate ordinary cursed effigies as to my actions, Senior. No wonder you''re aware of what I''ve been doing," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "You headed to Chen and destroyed whaty within, then repeated the same thing in Wu and Mao. At the mouth of the abyss, you toyed with the remaining Yanluo Lords before causing the Ox Yanluo''s death at Chou. Xiao Nanfeng, despite being weak in terms of cultivation, you were able to scheme against and kill almost all the Yanluo Lords. Isn''t that impressive?" The Netherworld Pope smiled in satisfaction.


    "You overpraise me, Senior. I had no choice but to do so to guarantee my survival. Might I ask why you''ve sought me out?" Xiao Nanfeng asked carefully.


    The Netherworld Pope''s praise didn''t get to his head; rather, it only made him more wary.


    "I invited you here because I wanted you to help me take down the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha as well." The Netherworld Pope''s voice was tinged with killing intent.


    "Senior, I noticed that you were able to control the Heaven''s Hands in the region. Shouldn''t it be easy for you to take them down yourself?"


    "I have my own restrictions, and these Heaven''s Hands are nothing more than hands. I don''t understand the situation in the Netherworld Pce on a fine-grained level, and can only learn and manipte events in broad strokes."


    "Why did you choose me, Senior?"


    "You''re skilled and bolstered with fortune. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have been able to aplish what you did with yourcking cultivation. I believe you can fulfill my goals."


    "It was all a matter of luck, Senior."


    "There''s no need for you to be modest. If I im that you''re blessed by fortune, then you are. Are you willing to help me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I thank you for your faith in me, Senior, but might I understand the situation better first?"


    "What do you want to know?"


    "I heard the Peach Buddha mention that, after you conquered the world, you sacrificed all manner of treasure in order to retrieve the Records of Life and Death from the world away. While attuning to those records, you were betrayed and killed by the ten Yanluo Lords, who buried your corpse underneath the eighteenyers of hell. Is that true?"


    "No. My corpse formed the eighteenyers of hell."


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "Despite my defeat, my corpse still contained immense power, along with the embodiment of naturalw that I cultivated. The ten Yanluo Lords forged my corpse into the eighteenyers of hell and continued to watch over it. When the heavens destroyed those eighteenyers of hell, they each snatched fragments of it and kept them by their side¡ªnot because the fragments were particrly potent, but because I continued to terrify them. They were worried that I would be able to regenerate and were on guard against me at all times."


    "In that case, Senior, what are you doing here?"


    "When the heavens reim the trappings of an era, theyy the foundation, the groundwork, for doing so in another ten thousand years. Cursed effigies can interfere with that setup, so the heavens treat them particrly coldly.


    "Since cursed effigies can regenerate in death, killing them directly isn''t the best option. Better still to lock them up and ensure that they can''t affect the next era. The ten Yanluo Lords had much of their strength drained by the heavens before they were detained here. The heavens imposed countlessws to suppress and weaken them. As for me, after attuning to the Records of Life and Death, I became a cursed effigy and regenerated in time. The heavens found me and had me serve as guard and warden, allowing me some control over the naturalws imposed here. I, holding a grudge against the ten Yanluo Lords, naturally agreed."


    "No wonder you were able to control the Heaven''s Hands, Senior. I heard that the ten Yanluo Courts can block the clouds of annihtion to some extent."


    "Initially, I made use of my Heaven''s Hands to chase down the ten Yanluo Lords, but they learned a little of my limitations. They developed formations to link their Yanluo Courts to the clouds of annihtion overhead. Those clouds would have to destroy the Yanluo Courts in order to leave. The Yanluo Lords thought that their Yanluo Courts were able to withstand the might of those clouds, but I was the one who deliberately chose not to make a move."


    "But why?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "If I did, I would destroy the Yanluo Courts. Although the Yanluo Courts can repair themselves, the formless power of naturalw that I endowed them with would dissipate. I couldn''t bear to destroy them."


    "You were the one who imbued the Yanluo Courts with power and naturalw?"


    "Indeed. For instance, the Snake Yanluo''s Yanluo Court contains naturalw that governs transformation, and would have allowed her to change her appearance or that of those around her. The Goat Yanluo''s Yanluo Court contains naturalw that grants crystal shielding and sealing. Every Yanluo Court contains unique mastery over the natural world."


    "So that''s what happened."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you willing to avenge me and kill the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha?" the Netherworld Pope asked again.


    "Senior, your enemies are my enemies, and I naturally intend to take them down. However, I am no match for them alone, and my ns have always involved turning them against each other. If I am to strike, Senior, I will need your assistance."


    "That''s only natural. The Heaven''s Hands shall be yours to manipte."


    "Truly? Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "As long as you avenge me, I will reward you handsomely."


    "Since we''re allies now, Senior, would you be willing to free my subordinates? I''ll need them to carry out my n."


    Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s group eyed the Netherworld Pope expectantly, but he fell silent. Xiao Nanfeng inwardly tensed. Could the Netherworld Pope be nning to cross him?


    "Senior, with the mouth to the abyss closed, you don''t have to worry that we''ll run. We''re allies, and if I am to take on the Tiger Yanluo and the Peach Buddha for you, surely you ought to free my subordinates? They''re my forces to begin with."


    The Netherworld Pope said, "I can return them to you, but you must return my Yanluo Courts to me as well."


    "It''s settled." Xiao Nanfeng agreed immediately.


    He retrieved the Divine Seal of Dazheng. With a wave of his hand, four Yanluo Courts floated into the sea of blood-colored clouds.


    The Netherworld Pope smiled in satisfaction. "You are generous to your subordinates. Do you know what these Yanluo Courts mean to me?"


    "I don''t need to; this arrangement benefits us both. Please free my subordinates and unshackle them from their status as cursed ves."


    The Netherworld Pope seemed a little unwilling, but he was the one who had brought up this offer to begin with. If he didn''tply, how would he be able to enlist Xiao Nanfeng''s assistance?


    He had considered forging Xiao Nanfeng into a cursed ve himself, but the auras of the cursed effigies emanating from him forced him to reconsider. Before his objectives were aplished, he didn''t want to threaten his rtionship with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Very well!"


    As a gust of wind blew by, Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s group trembled. A burst of red fog emerged from their mindscapes, then dissipated into the air.


    They immediately felt far more rxed than before.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" the cultivators cried out gratefully.


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather taken aback. This was the first time Blue Lantern had formally addressed him as majesty, a blessing indeed.

 Chapter 458: The Netherworld Alliance

    <h4>Chapter 458: The Netherworld Alliance</h4>


    "Netherworld Pope, you are a man of your word," Xiao Nanfengmended. "Worry not. I''ll work hard to take down our mutual enemies."


    "Very well!"


    "We can finally emerge from this pool of lightning! We''ve had enough!"


    "Save us, Your Majesty! We''re going to go into shock!"


    "Thank goodness we''ve been rescued!"


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys were very excited to be free.


    "Does this pool of lightning contain mes of lightning?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Indeed. It''s part of the energy reserves left by the heavens, but unfortunately, the heavens are on guard against me as well. I can''t use those mes at will; I only have ess to a little at a time. The mes in this pool of lightning were collected bit by bit."


    "Oh?"


    "I initially nned to use these mes to destroy the gathered Yanluo Lords, only to discover that Ye Dafu and the others had adopted an unusual cultivation technique in which their cultivation would rise the more they were in pain. I ended up using these mes of lightning to help them advance."


    "You have a careful eye, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said, giving his subordinates an odd look.


    As expected, Ye Dafu and hisckeys couldn''t hide their secret.


    "What''s your cultivation like now, Ye Dafu?"


    "We''re all atte-stage Earth Immortal."


    "Then you''ll have to thank the Netherworld Pope."


    "The mes of lightning were great at the start, and we found our cultivation rising rapidly. However, our cultivation recently began to stall. The mes of lightning don''t do enough for us. It feels terrible to be shocked time and again! Our minds are constantly stimted, so we can''t even sleep. I''m exhausted."


    "Right! Even though we can go a long time without sleeping, the fact that it keeps stimting us means that we''ve been jumpy for far too long. I feel like I''m going to crash."


    "I don''t know whether I''m numb from pleasure or pain. I''m out of stamina..."


    "I''m just numb."


    Ye Dafu''sckeysined to each other.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the cultivators an odd look. Were they really going toin about the fact that the Netherworld Pope was helping them advance their cultivation?


    "Netherworld Pope, I''m afraid their brains have gone a little dull from the constant shocks. Please don''t mind what they''ve said. Would you release them now?"


    The Netherworld Pope was silent for a moment. "Only a third of the mes have been consumed. Perhaps the remaining two-thirds will advance their cultivation further."


    "They need mes of greater intensity, not greater quantity. Quantity is all but useless to them, I fear."


    The Netherworld Pope sighed. "Forget it. Let them out, then."


    A Heaven''s Hand appeared out of nowhere and caught the cultivators within the pool of lightning, along with the copper pirs to which they were tethered. They were quickly dragged out.


    "We''ve been saved. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out.


    "Senior, did you advance their cultivation with these mes of lightning so that they could help you against the ten Yanluo Lords?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right."


    "In that case, would you allow me to distill the remainder of these mes of lightning? The stronger I am, the greater my chance of victory against the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    The Netherworld Pope gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "I remember hearing that you absorbed quite a few ming seas. Could your technique be the same as theirs?"


    "It''s different, but any manner of fire is useful to me. mes of lightning are a form of fire," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    "Try it, then. These mes aren''t particrly high-quality, but ordinary Heaven Immortals wouldn''t be able to bearing into contact with them."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He transformed back into his physical body and waded into the pool of lightning. The mes of lightning burst in contact with his body.


    "Be careful, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out.


    The next moment, a whirlpool formed around Xiao Nanfeng as he began to absorb the mes of lightning all around him.


    "Is His Majesty alright?"


    "Can he even absorb these mes of lightning?"


    "What a terrifying cultivation technique."


    Ye Dafu and hisckeys were astounded.


    The Netherworld Pope narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. "You cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri? No wonder you aren''t afraid of these mes. It''s a difficult technique to cultivate, and requires an incredible amount of resources."


    "Thank you for your concern, Senior. If you don''t mind, I''ll absorb all these mes."


    With a wave of his hand, ten golden crows flew out of his body and into the pool of lightning. They bathed luxuriantly within. Eleven whirlpools formed and were furiously consuming the mes.


    "The mes of lightning are rapidly decreasing!"


    "I can see the pool shrinking visibly. That''s crazy!"


    "A tenth of the pool is already gone!"


    The cultivators gaped.


    After two hours, Xiao Nanfeng and his crows finally drained the pool of lightningpletely.


    A huge wave of me emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he steadily opened his eyes. He breathed out and smiled. "The fifth stage of Earth Immortal..."


    He reined in his ten golden crows, only to see that countless formation runes within the pool of lightning had burst apart. Clearly, these runes had been used to bind the mes of lightning within the pool.


    By the time he flew out of the pit, the cultivators were gobsmacked.


    "It took us a full month to consume a third of the mes, but His Majesty only needed two hours to finish off the rest. That''s unbelievable!"


    "His Majesty''s cultivation is truly frightening."


    The Netherworld Pope asked, "You even cultivate the Sky of Ten Suns?"


    "I do. Are you aware of this technique, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "In the past, I once destroyed a Buddhist holynd. The avatar of Ri of that age descended, having cultivated a single golden crow in the form of a golden sun. He called himself the Ri of the Sun, and was impressively strong. Before his death, hemented that he hadn''t managed to find the Sky of Ten Suns, or he wouldn''t have lost to me."


    "Oh?"


    "No wonder the Peach Buddha was eyeing you. It must have been interested in your physical body."


    "Indeed. It didn''t want to cultivate on its own; it would rather take over my body and wrest away my gains."


    "Its greed isn''t entirely unfounded. The strongest cultivation techniques frequently have the most stringent requirements. For instance, your subordinates'' strange cultivation technique requires incredible mentality, opportunity, environment, and spirit. Other cultivators might not be able to emte their sess at all. Your Sky of Ten Suns likely operates on the same principles. The Peach Buddha wouldn''t be able to cultivate the technique itself."


    "Truly?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed surprised.


    "Let''s not speak of such matters at the moment. Strike at the Tiger Yanluo and the Peach Buddha before they can fully attune to the pages of the Earthly Branches that they have absorbed."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

 Chapter 459: In the Capital of Yin

    <h4>Chapter 459: In the Capital of Yin</h4>


    Blood-colored clouds of annihtion gathered in the skies above a patch of forest in the Netherworld Pce. A Heaven''s Hand swooped down and threw out Xiao Nanfeng, Blue Lantern, and Ye Dafu.


    After the cultivatorsnded, the Heaven''s Hand retreated into the clouds, which dissipated and quickly vanished from sight.


    "We''ve finally made it out," Ye Dafu murmured, shuddering.


    "Let''s leave the area for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The cultivators nodded and followed Xiao Nanfeng out of the forest. They headed toward a hidden valley.


    "I apologize, Your Majesty, for costing you four Yanluo Courts." Blue Lantern bowed.


    "They''re just a few Yanluo Courts. They aren''t that important, so don''t worry about it."


    Blue Lantern knew that Xiao Nanfeng was just consoling him, and he couldn''t help but feel more guilty.


    "The Netherworld Pope seemed like a reasonable figure, but I believe there''s something shady about him. He may not be entirely trustworthy." Blue Lantern frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at him sternly and waved a hand, interrupting him from continuing. Blue Lantern blinked in surprise, then, as though understanding something, quickly stopped talking.


    "Regardless of the Netherworld Pope''s intentions, our objectives are aligned. We want to take down the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha, so let''s work hard on achieving that. The rest is unimportant," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    The first thing that the Netherworld Pope did upon capturing Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s group was to forge them into cursed ves. It was obvious that the Netherworld Pope wasn''t someone to trifle with. Xiao Nanfeng felt certain that the Netherworld Pope had some way of observing them. Out of caution, they all had to be circumspect with what they discussed.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    "Your Majesty, how should we handle the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Simply overwhelm them," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "By force?" Ye Dafu was taken aback.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a cubic crystal that encased pinpricks of starlight.


    "This is the crystal star map, a token which the Netherworld Pope gave me. It allows us to control the Heaven''s Hands in battle."


    "Really? Then we really can overwhelm our opponents by force!" Ye Dafu''s eyes lit up.


    "Of course, we still have to keep strategy in mind. We can''t overwhelm them too quickly, or they''d just run off." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out in excitement.


    "Will we head to the capital of Yin immediately?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "We will. Right, can you conjure up an outline of the blood peach tree with a formation? It just has to be something simr enough to fool ordinary cursed effigies," Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It shouldn''t be difficult."


    "Good. Let''s go, then."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Within the capital of Yin, the Tiger Yanluo''s capital, arge group of tiger-headed humanoids rushed to the Tiger Yanluo''s Yanluo Court in panic.


    "King, something''s wrong!" they shouted.


    With a creak, the doors to the Yanluo Court opened up as Yin walked out. Then, the doors creaked shut again.


    "What''s the matter?" Yin demanded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, that walking disaster, is here at Yin!" one tiger-headed humanoid reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng had destroyed every location he had been in for the past month. To the gathered tiger-headed humanoids, he was nothing less than the personification of a disaster.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s here? With whom?" Yin asked, frowning.


    "He''s alone."


    "Investigate outside the capital. See if Xiao Nanfeng''s allies are lying in wait. If there''s any news, secretly inform me immediately," Yin instructed his subordinates.


    "Understood!" The tiger-headed humanoids swiftly departed.


    Then, Yin turned to one particr tiger-headed humanoid. "Bring Xiao Nanfeng here."


    "Understood!"


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng flew to the clearing outside the Yanluo Court under the supervision and guidance of a group of tiger-headed humanoids.


    Xiao Nanfeng descended and met Yin''s gaze.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are brave to seek me out even after what you''ve done," Yin said coldly.


    "Weren''t you searching for me? Well, I''m right here. I''ve saved you considerable effort. Aren''t you satisfied?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Why are you here?" Yin demanded.


    He was naturally on guard, since he didn''t know what Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions were.


    "Don''t you wee me? You aren''t afraid of me, are you?" Xiao Nanfeng''s smile grew wider.


    "Afraid of you? What a joke! At this point, the only presence that can threaten me within the Netherworld Pce is the Peach Buddha. Haven''t you fallen out with it?" Yin asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised that Yin wasn''t actively trying to seize his four Yanluo Courts. Rather, he was trying to figure out if Xiao Nanfeng were still in cahoots with the Peach Buddha.


    He quickly guessed that Yin didn''t have the means to take him down for the time being; otherwise, he wouldn''t be wasting time talking.


    Could the Tiger Yanluo''s main body be elsewhere?


    "The Peach Buddha and I are now enemies. Why would I cooperate with it?"


    Yin narrowed his eyes as he looked at Xiao Nanfeng, attempting to identify whether he was telling the truth.


    "I came here because of you. More urately, because of the physical body you''ve taken over."


    "Oh?"


    "There are no intrinsic grudges between us; I wouldn''t havee to Fengdu if not for the trouble you caused. Killing a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court is a serious matter."


    "Oh? And you think I would fear this era''s Imperial Court?" Yin sneered.


    "Whether or not you fear it doesn''t matter. You''re done for now."


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the final suit of arhat armor.


    Yin was surprised that Xiao Nanfeng would be so direct. Was he about to engage him in battle?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we''re in the capital of Yin. If you attempt to cause a ruckus, you won''t make it out of here alive."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Yin. He melded with the suit of arhat armor right before Yin''s eyes. An immense aura billowed from him.


    "How can you be so confident? Have you really allied with the Peach Buddha again?" Yin demanded.


    "Why would I? There''s bitter enmity between us," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The more Xiao Nanfeng emphasized this, the less Yin believed it.


    Just then, a tiger-headed humanoid flew toward the capital from afar and whispered to Yin, "King, I thought I saw the Peach Buddha''s figure in a nearby forest, but by the time I headed over to investigate, it had already vanished from sight."


    Yin was now certain of his own hypothesis. He scoffed at Xiao Nanfeng. "You never had a falling out with the Peach Buddha, did you? All that nonsense in the capital of Chou was just an act. You were trying to kill the Ox Yanluo, weren''t you?"


    "No. I bear the Peach Buddha a grudge," Xiao Nanfeng repeated, stretching his neck within the suit of arhat armor.


    "You can''t fool me. Why don''t you let the Peach Buddha show itself? I''ll wait right here," Yin said.


    "I told you, I''m enemies with the Peach Buddha. If you don''t believe me, there''s nothing I can do. If you aren''t going to appear with your main body, then I''ll get rid of your avatar first."


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng charged forward and threw out a punch. Countless fists headed straight for Yin.


    "Insolence!" Yin roared, retaliating with a punch of his own.


    As the two fists struck each other in an explosion like a tempest, Yin was forced back.

 Chapter 460: Schemes and Ploys

    <h4>Chapter 460: Schemes and Ploys</h4>


    Just then, outside the capital of Yin, within a secluded forest, countless tiger-headed humanoids were gathered around the Tiger Yanluo''s main body as they stared toward the capital of Yin.


    "King, will the Peach Buddha really show up?" one of the Tiger Yanluo''s confidantes asked.


    "I and the Peach Buddha each have half of the pages of the Earthly Branches that constitute the Records of Life and Death, but I possess more Yanluo Courts than it does. We''re rtively simr in strength at the moment, but the difference will be apparent once we each attune to the pages that we possess. Furthermore, we''ll be able to sense each other due to the pages of the Records in our possession. The longer things drag out, the more unfavorable the situation will be for it. I expect it''ll want to deal with me as quickly as possible," the Tiger Yanluo replied confidently.


    "But Xiao Nanfeng possesses four Yanluo Courts. What if it finds Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s sly and crafty, and has publicly turned against the Peach Buddha. He''ll surely find a ce to hide where the Peach Buddha can''t get to him. Within half a month, I''ll be able to sense the Peach Buddha by attuning to the pages of the Records, so it will have to strike me by then."


    "King, couldn''t you simply hide for half a month, then counter it with absolute strength? Why prepare a trap for it?"


    "I don''t think it''ll be able to find Xiao Nanfeng, but what if it does? It would be safer to lure the Peach Buddha over to fight me."


    "The Peach Buddha is no match for you, King. Would it dare show up?"


    "It has no choice but to do so. This is its only opportunity, and it does bear some unique advantages¡ªits peach tree cursed spiritual avatar and the trump cards it has yet to disy. If it doesn''t risk it, it won''t have a chance to in the future," the Tiger Yanluo replied confidently.


    "Is that why you''ve set up a formation around the capital of Yin that will trap the Peach Buddha once it enters, King? You really are wise!"


    "Do not underestimate the Peach Buddha. Although I''ve set up a formation, it''s possible that the Peach Buddha''s trump cards can overpower it. I want to secure victory, so I''m using my avatar to probe its abilities before giving it a lethal strike from the back," the Tiger Yanluo exined.


    "It''s clear you''ve considered the entire situation carefully, King!"


    The Tiger Yanluo smiled in satisfaction before suddenly turning to the capital. "Hm? Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Is it really Xiao Nanfeng? How can he dare to show himself?" one tiger-headed humanoid eximed.


    From afar, a group of tiger-headed humanoids were watching Xiao Nanfeng fly into the capital of Yin. The Tiger Yanluo''s avatar had emerged from his Yanluo Court.


    The Tiger Yanluo''s main body looked toward Yin. He was in no hurry; his avatar would be able to handle things.


    As expected, Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the doors of the Yanluo Court and confronted the Tiger Yanluo''s avatar. Not longter, Xiao Nanfeng equipped his suit of arhat armor and prepared to strike.


    "King, what''s Xiao Nanfeng doing here?" one of his subordinates eximed.


    "Has he allied with the Peach Buddha again? No¡ªwas their disagreement all a sham? Could it have been staged?" The Tiger Yanluo''s eyes widened.


    "Is the Peach Buddha here too? Could it be hiding in Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape?"


    "They managed to take down arge number of Yanluo Lords working together..."


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng going to challenge you alongside the Peach Buddha, King?"


    The tiger-headed humanoids whispered to each other as the Tiger Yanluo suddenly found himself beset by anxiety.


    "Could Xiao Nanfeng and the Peach Buddha be conspiring against me? It''s lucky that I made preparations in advance, or I might really be in danger." The Tiger Yanluo frowned.


    "King, is it time to activate the formation around the capital of Yin?" one subordinate asked.


    "No, wait. There was a sighting of the Peach Buddha outside the city. It''s not in range of the formation yet. If the formation is activated now, not only will it not trap the Peach Buddha, it''ll even alert the Peach Buddha and warn it about what we''re up to. We have to wait until it enters the capital of Yin first."


    "Understood!" the Tiger Yanluo''s subordinates replied.


    "Of course, we have to be careful about the possibility that the Peach Buddha outside the city is a fake. Now, all of you, group up with the guards outside the city and continue searching for the Peach Buddha. Immediately send out a signal if you find anything," the Tiger Yanluomanded.


    "Understood!"


    Outside the capital of Yin, within a forest, Blue Lantern, Ye Dafu, and the others were watching a group of tiger-headed humanoids fly by with bated breath.


    "They responded incredibly quickly," Blue Lantern murmured, narrowing his eyes.


    "Blue Lantern, we just established a formation that produced a lookalike of the blood peach tree. Would those cursed effigies really believe that the Peach Buddha has shown up?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "They will, and His Majesty will be insinuating to the Tiger Yanluo that he is in an alliance with the Peach Buddha again. This will give the Tiger Yanluo a sense of urgency to kill the Peach Buddha regardless of the cost in doing so. He''ll desperately search for any trace of the Peach Buddha, so it will be easy for His Majesty to lure the Tiger Yanluo''s main body to the formation we set up in advance."


    "But it doesn''t look like the Tiger Yanluo''s main body is in the capital of Yin at all..." Ye Dafu frowned.


    "That doesn''t matter. His clone is in the capital, so his main body will be aware of everything as well. He must be skulking about and observing His Majesty while searching for the Peach Buddha."


    "Oh?"


    "His Majesty has reached the realm of True Yin and can harmonize with the world within his domain, so he shouldn''t be in any danger. Let''s head to the formation and wait for the Tiger Yanluo to fall into our trap."


    "Very well!" Ye Dafu nodded.


    The cultivators skulked off carefully.


    High above the capital of Yin, Xiao Nanfeng executed Hegemon''s Fist while wearing arhat armor. Countless fists pummeled Yin''s avatar and sent him flying. However, Yin was strong enough to temporarily withstand Xiao Nanfeng''s barrage.


    "Attack him together and take him down!" Yin roared.


    "Understood!" Countless tiger-headed humanoids within the city shot into the air.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was operating the arhat armor under the state of True Yin, and his punches were particrly strong. The majority of the tiger-headed humanoids that attacked were sent whizzing through the air.


    "You weaklings won''t be able to do anything against me. Come, Yin!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng focused on Yin and forced him to retreat time and again. Even so, Yin couldn''t escape. He had to stay within the city so as to lure the ''Peach Buddha'' over, so he had no choice but to ept the beating.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng was starting to get rather confused as well. He thought to himself, "Why hasn''t the Tiger Yanluo''s main body shown himself? Is he going to just watch while I beat up his avatar? Or does he have some other n in mind?"


    Xiao Nanfeng briefly considered his options before making up his mind. "Forget it. Even if he has other ns, he can''t do anything against me while I''m harmonizing with my domain. If he doesn''t intend to show himself, then I''ll just finish off his avatar now. He asked for it."


    He sent arge group of tiger-headed humanoids flying, then pummeled Yin into the ground. The ground cracked as Yin''s avatar struck it.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait!" Yin thundered.


    "You''re not going to admit defeat? Let''s continue, then!" Xiao Nanfeng struck more and more violently.


    Yin spat out mouthfuls of blood as he retreated further and further.


    Just then, outside the capital of Yin, a miniature blood peach tree was hidden within a nearby forest¡ªnone other than the Peach Buddha.


    The Peach Buddha had reined in his aura and was hidden in the darkness as it watched a group of tiger-headed humanoids fly off not far from where it was.


    "These tiger-headed humanoids saw me? Could I not have hidden myself properly? Surely not..." the Peach Buddha murmured.


    Upon seeing even more tiger-headed humanoids heading toward its vicinity, it had no choice but to rush off to find a new hiding spot.

 Chapter 461: Recovering the Martial Aspects Body

    <h4>Chapter 461: Recovering the Martial Aspect''s Body</h4>


    In the capital of Yin, Xiao Nanfeng, wearing a suit of arhat armor, struck Yin down again and again. Firelight and the sound of broken bones intermingled as Yin was beaten bloody. The tiger-headed humanoids that crowded around them were unable to rescue Yin; Xiao Nanfeng easily sent them flying.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, take off your suit of armor and fight me if you dare!" Yin bellowed.


    "Are you crazy? I''m all but assured victory at this point. Why would I choose to cripple myself? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    He smashed Yin into the ground with his fists, causing furrows to form all around Yin.


    Yin''s bones were all badly broken, with blood seeping out of his body. He seemed to have lost all ability to continue fighting.


    Xiao Nanfeng rapidly closed in on Yin and caught his physical body with a gauntleted arhat hand


    "I once studied a demonic spiritual cultivation technique with the side effect of damaging one''s physical body. However, this Martial Aspect is already dead, and that drawback is irrelevant. I suppose I''ll try it on your body, then!"


    The palm of the golden arhat glowed with golden light that shot straight into Yin''s body. The golden light zed like an intense me, scorching Yin''s cursed spiritual avatar.


    Yin shrieked in pain.


    The next moment, the specter of a mighty tiger emerged from Yin''s mindscape, prated the golden arhat''s defenses in a sinister fashion, and homed in on Xiao Nanfeng''s physical body within.


    "You intend to possess me? As if you could!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a sh of his de, the specter of the mighty tiger was cut in two.


    The cut didn''t cause the specter to die. He howled, "What sort of de is this? How can it cut my cursed spiritual avatar apart so easily?"


    "A de that will kill you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, executing another sh.


    The two halves of the mighty tiger''s specter fled from the arhat armor in fear, then reunited. The specter attempted to return to its original physical body, only to find that Xiao Nanfeng had already kept it within his arhat armor.


    "Yin, it''s time for you to die," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    The golden arhat grabbed onto the specter of the mighty tiger, its palms radiating with light.


    The mighty tiger''s specter screamed as its body began to sizzle, badly damaged.


    Just then, a ck shadow suddenly appeared behind Xiao Nanfeng''s back and struck at it with a palm.


    "Who''s there?!" Xiao Nanfeng nched.


    He hastily defended himself with the arhat armor, but his opponent boasted incredible strength. The palm smashed him into the ground in a billowing cloud of dust.


    "Tiger Yanluo?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Tiger Yanluo''s main body had appeared andunched a sneak attack on him.


    The Tiger Yanluo opened his mouth wide and swallowed the tattered remnants of Yin''s cursed spiritual avatar, regaining part of his power.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, weren''t you having a fun time beating me up? Let''s try that again, shall we?"


    The Tiger Yanluo shed over to Xiao Nanfeng''s side and threw a punch, sending him flying again.


    He struck at Xiao Nanfeng with a vengeance, attacking so quickly that he had shed over to the golden arhat before it hadnded on the ground and hit it once again.


    Heunched a furious barrage of attacks on the golden arhat, quickly causing the armor to crack.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng barely found an opportunity to counterattack.


    However, the Tiger Yanluo''s main body was simply too strong. Hegemon''s Fist let out dull thunks when it hit the Tiger Yanluo''s body, unable to prate his defenses. With another punch, the Tiger Yanluo sent Xiao Nanfeng flying once again.


    The golden arhat smashed into a pit in the ground.


    "Against my main body, this armor is useless," the Tiger Yanluo said, sneering.


    "In that case, I won''t use it."


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped out of his golden arhat and stored the armor. With a wave of his hand, a bright moon rose into the air as he established his deific domain. Snow began to fall.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really don''t know what you''re doing, do you? Without your armor, you''ll only perish even more quickly," the Tiger Yanluo cried out.


    He shed toward Xiao Nanfeng once more, punching at him.


    "Harmonize!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Tiger Yanluo''s punch struck nothing but air. Xiao Nanfeng had vanished.


    "You fool. Do you really think I can''t do anything to you just because you''ve reached True Yin? I''ll destroy your moon and see how you intend to harmonize then!"


    He had spent quite some time searching for traces of the Peach Buddha in the forests outside the city with no sess, during which time Xiao Nanfeng had been torturing his avatar. He was fuming mad.


    Although he knew that there was something strange about Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon, he still shed up to it and punched it.


    "Explode!" the Tiger Yanluo roared.


    A huge fist shot toward the silver moon, as though about to shatter it.


    Just then, the silver moon suddenly opened its mouth wide, revealing sawtooth-like teeth, and bit down on the Tiger Yanluo''s fist.


    The fist stopped short, frozen in mid-air.


    "What?!" the Tiger Yanluo eximed.


    The frost surging from the silver moon froze his fist technique and shattered it. The force spread all the way up the Tiger Yanluo''s body, forcing him back and causing blood to spray from his fist.


    His eyes grew wide as he stared at the silver moon in astonishment, shocked by its strength.


    "Your moon''s a cursed king too? What incredible cursed spiritual power. Xiao Nanfeng, you''re ying with fire!" the Tiger Yanluo eximed.


    However, the surprise had allowed him to calm down.


    Outside the city, the Peach Buddha was likewise taken aback. "The superior yin pearl has merged with Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon. He must have even more secrets that I''m unaware of. I have to secure his body at any cost."


    Xiao Nanfeng released a deep breath. Fortunately, his silver moon seemed able to defend itself against the Tiger Yanluo. Everything could proceed ording to n, then. He would have to lure the Tiger Yanluo toward the formation that Blue Lantern had established.


    He flew out of the city with his moon in tow, his domain shifting alongside him.


    "Stay right here!" the Tiger Yanluo demanded. "My domain of paper money will arrest you!"


    With a wave of his hand, paper money sprung up from all over, enveloping Xiao Nanfeng''s domain and making it difficult for him to move.


    "I was worried that you had handed your four Yanluo Courts to the Peach Buddha, but I understand what''s going on now. Even if you''re allied with the Peach Buddha, there''s no way you''re on such close terms. Otherwise, why would you bother showing yourself? In other words, the four Yanluo Courts are still in your possession. It doesn''t matter if I can''t find the Peach Buddha. I just need to find you. Xiao Nanfeng, I''m not going to let you leave today."


    "You can''t stop me!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s domain was rapidly expanding. He continued to fly toward the outskirts of the city despite the paper money''s best effort at stopping him.


    "I''m not letting you leave. Formation, arise!" the Tiger Yanluo shouted.


    A hundred rivers of ck smoke gushed out of his Yanluo Court, spreading all over along the ground. When the rivers of ck smoke reached the borders of the capital of Yin, they rushed straight up into the sky in an arc, forming a huge hemispherical dome.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s domain was forced back when it struck the dome.


    "A formation?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He immediately manipted his moon and sent it crashing into the barrier of ck smoke, but even the moon couldn''t do anything.


    "Don''t bother struggling. You won''t be able to make it out. This is a formation I devised specifically for the Peach Buddha, and is constructed out of the naturalw of my Yanluo Court. No one within the Netherworld Pce will be able to break out. Let''s see how long your domain canst¡ªonce you''re out of spiritual power, you''ll be done for."


    Paper money swirled around Xiao Nanfeng''s domain, causing clumps of snow to fall all around him. The Tiger Yanluo was doing his best to sap Xiao Nanfeng of spiritual power.


    Outside the city, the Peach Buddha eximed in shock, "The Tiger Yanluo has been plotting against me? Thank goodness I was cautious. This is a strong formation, but it''s useless against Xiao Nanfeng. His candleme powers can bypass even a Yanluo Court, let alone this barrier formation."


    Indeed, a spark of candlelight could be seen from Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon as it hovered around the barrier of ck smoke. It was unassuming and barely visible, as though it were about to be extinguished in the blizzard. The Tiger Yanluo clearly didn''t think much of it, if he even noticed it at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon was gradually shrinking, as if he had drawn on too much spiritual power too quickly. Where the candle me illuminated the barrier of ck smoke, it suddenly turned scorching-hot. The silver moon quickly darted into the ming region and, shockingly, appeared outside the barrier of ck smoke and the capital of Yin. Then, the blizzard within the barrier vanished as well, leaving only a rain of paper money behind.


    "What? You escaped from the formation? Impossible! This formation is so strong that even I would be trapped within. How could you have escaped?!" the Tiger Yanluo demanded.


    "Just because you can''t get out doesn''t mean that I can''t," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    Outside the barrier, a cloud of snowkes drifted into his form. His silver moon vanished within his body as he reined in his domain and melded with his battered suit of arhat armor once again. He fled.


    "Hold it right there!" the Tiger Yanluo thundered.


    He deactivated the formation and began to chase Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Tiger Yanluo, just you wait. The Peach Buddha and I will show up again. We''ll kill you then!" Xiao Nanfeng continued to provoke the Tiger Yanluo from afar.


    "You won''t get away today!" the Tiger Yanluo roared.


    He suddenly grew many times faster, not just because he was enraged, but because he mistakenly believed that Xiao Nanfeng was now working together with the Peach Buddha once again. A sense of crisis overwhelmed him; he had to take down Xiao Nanfeng at any cost.

 Chapter 462: Complete Destruction of the Yanluo Lords

    <h4>Chapter 462: Complete Destruction of the Yanluo Lords</h4>


    Blue Lantern, and Ye Dafu''s crew waited anxiously within a forest.


    "His Majesty will be alright, won''t he?" one of Ye Dafu''sckeys murmured.


    "Don''t jinx it! How can any harm befall His Majesty?" Ye Dafu hissed.


    Everyone quieted down, but they continued to give each other anxious nces out of worry.


    "There''s no need to worry. His Majesty is more than sufficiently strong to handle this dilemma. Don''t you remember what he told us before he left?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "That we''re to listen to you?" Ye Dafu replied.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "The battlefield can be disrupted instantly at any moment. I hope you''ll remember His Majesty''smand."


    "What do you mean? His Majesty will return within moments and willmand us himself. Do you expect us to listen to you over His Majesty?" Ye Dafu demanded.


    "I do. Regardless of what happenster, you must obey me," Blue Lantern warned.


    Everyone gave Blue Lantern a disbelieving look, not knowing what to make of the situation. Upon seeing Blue Lantern''s serious expression, however, Ye Dafu seemed to react. He didn''t say anything; he looked up into the air as Blue Lantern gave him the slightest of nods.


    Ye Dafu understood what was going on in an instant. "Of course. I understand. We''ll listen to yourmands."


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Ye Dafu''sckeys nced curiously between Ye Dafu himself and Blue Lantern. Considering how serious Ye Dafu was, they knew that something had to be amiss, and treated this situation with proper gravitas as well.


    "His Majesty''s here. Quick, get to your positions. Stabilize the formation!" Blue Lantern called out.


    "Understood!" The cultivators split up across the forest.


    Meanwhile, the golden arhat shot toward the forest, swiftly followed by the Tiger Yanluo.


    The Tiger Yanluo drew closer and closer to the forest. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t be able to escape now."


    He smashed a fist into the golden arhat''s back, knocking it into the ground in a cloud of dust. The arhat armor cracked and looked as though it would shatter at any moment.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng mbered out of the pit and continued to run.


    "Do you really think you can escape?" The Tiger Yanluo sneered at Xiao Nanfeng.


    He sped up once again, overtaking the golden arhat in an instant and mming his palm down on the golden arhat''s neck, as though trying to decapitate Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The golden arhat exploded in a zing fireball that encapsted the Tiger Yanluo.


    "Do you think you can hurt me with an explosion of this magnitude? What a fool you are!" The Tiger Yanluoughed uproariously.


    He dispelled the mes with a wave of his hand and was about to pounce toward the Divine Seal of Dazheng right by his side when he suddenly halted. He found himself trapped by another spherical barrier.


    "This formation of naturalw again? Were the blinding mes from the explosion of the arhat armor just to hide the nascent starlight? Xiao Nanfeng, you were scheming against me all along!" the Tiger Yanluo thundered.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had emerged from the nearby Divine Seal of Dazheng, a crystal star map in his hands.


    "Tiger Yanluo, you murdered a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. I, his sessor, am obligated to investigate his death and avenge him. It''s time for you to die!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. "Starlit des, strike!"


    From the skies, 361 starlit des manifested and shot toward the starlit barrier.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you underestimate my strength. This starlit barrier won''t be able to take me down." The Tiger Yanluo gave him a grim smile.


    With a fist, he obliterated a swathe of des headed his way. The punch possessed immense strength and even managed to shatter a portion of the starlit barrier, though it was swiftly repaired by iing beams of starlight.


    "Do you see that? Your barrier can''t hold me in forever. I''ll be able to break it apart in no time."


    "Then it''s lucky for me that I have Heaven''s Hands as well."


    While they were talking, the skies had suddenly been covered up by blood-colored clouds. The next moment, a Heaven''s Hand poked out of the clouds and shot straight toward the Tiger Yanluo.


    "Impossible. How could there be Heaven''s Hands here?"


    The Tiger Yanluo attempted to break down the starlit barrier with another punch, but the Heaven''s Hand reacted even more quickly. It caught the Tiger Yanluo in an instant.


    "Damn these Heaven''s Hands. They can''t kill me. Now, break!"


    With an earsplitting boom, a crack formed on the Heaven''s Hand that had caught the Tiger Yanluo. Even Xiao Nanfeng nched upon seeing such a sight. The Tiger Yanluo was truly a strong opponent.


    "Again!" the Tiger Yanluo shouted.


    The Heaven''s Hand suddenly exploded in a burst of mes that caused mountains to crumble and streams to burn up. Everything in range was destroyed.


    The Formation of the Complete Heavens had been protected by a few smaller defensive formations, but they were ill-equipped to handle destruction of such magnitude.


    However, Ye Dafu and his crew had been stationed by key points of the formation and were prepared to handle the aftermath of the Tiger Yanluo''s attacks. None of them wielded Immortal relics; rather, they activated Indomitable Body at full strength and defended against the shockwaves with nothing but their physical bodies. The ming tempest struck them instantly.


    "It hurts!"


    "This is too strong!"


    "I can''t stand it much longer..."


    The cultivators shouted amidst the explosion, their bodies quickly overwhelmed and shrouded by fire and wind.


    As the resulting shockwaves finally subsided and the ming tempest dissipated, twelve golden cultivators were revealed in sight. Their clothes were tattered, their hair singed and hanging down loosely. Their bodies had bloated up like giant bruises.


    "Ye Dafu, how are you?!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Ye Dafu, who had been closest to the explosion and had borne the greatest brunt of the impact, had a head that was swelling up like a pig''s.


    "I''m alright. It''sfortable!" the pig-headed Ye Dafu called out.


    "Right, Your Majesty, we''re all fine! That was exciting!" the other golden cultivators shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in relief. He and Blue Lantern had been far from the epicenter of the explosion, and hadn''t been injured.


    Thanks to Ye Dafu and his crew''s sacrifice, the twelve nodes of the formation remained intact. Blue Lantern continued to draw on their strength to form a starlit barrier around the Tiger Yanluo.


    Within the starlit barrier, although the Tiger Yanluo had managed to destroy the Heaven''s Hand that had shot down toward him, he was bleeding all over and heavily wounded.


    In the past, he would already have escaped; now, however, he had been trapped by the starlit barrier.


    "Damn you, Xiao Nanfeng! You won''t be able to trap me like this. Each Heaven''s Hand takes quite a while to regenerate after being destroyed. I have more than enough time to destroy this barrier. Now, break!"


    The Tiger Yanluo struck the starlit barrier again, leaving cracks spiderwebbing through its surface. Suddenly, however, as though sensing a great crisis, he lifted his head.


    "Impossible. How could Heaven''s Hand have regenerated so quickly?!"


    A second Heaven''s Hand had appeared and was heading straight for the Tiger Yanluo, not giving him any time to rx.


    "Impossible. How could this be? Xiao Nanfeng, what have you done?!"


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng was manipting his crystal star map as quickly as he could, summoning all the clouds of annihtion from the vicinity.


    There wouldn''t be much downtime between strikes from the Heaven''s Hands, because there were plenty of them in the sky waiting to be deployed on Xiao Nanfeng''smand.


    "Break!" the Tiger Yanluo roared.


    The Tiger Yanluo''s barrage of attacks caused the second Heaven''s Hand to shatter, then explode. Another ming tempest filled the forest.


    The Tiger Yanluo''s body was sleek with blood. He panted¡ªthen suddenly looked up, sensing yet more crises toe.


    A third Heaven''s Hand attacked without any hesitation. Behind that Heaven''s Hand, a whole flock of themy in wait.


    "No!" the Tiger Yanluo howled.


    The third Heaven''s Hand clenched around the Tiger Yanluo, crackling with lightning. The Tiger Yanluo, heavily wounded, barely managed to destroy the third Hand.


    After the explosion, he was stumbling on his feet. All he wanted to do now was flee,


    but the starlit barrier around him prevented him from doing so. He had only temporarily been able to break free even at full power; now, he was drained.


    More importantly, the starlit barrier possessed the mysterious ability of being permeable to external forces; it only stopped the Tiger Yanluo escaping from within. Even the Heaven''s Hands outside could pass straight through the barrier without any resistance.


    "Damn this barrier! Break!" the Tiger Yanluo cried out in fear.


    A fourth Heaven''s Hand clenched around him. Bolts of lightning struck him from all over as he felt death descend.


    "Let me go, Xiao Nanfeng! I can help you take on the Peach Buddha. I''ll let bygones be bygones. Let me out!"


    "Tiger Yanluo, you brought this on yourself. It''s time for you to leave this world."


    "No!" The Tiger Yanluo attacked the Heaven''s Hand furiously,


    but he was simply too weak to do anything. The Heaven''s Hands took turns attacking him, and it took him longer and longer to take them down as his injuries worsened.


    By the time the sixth Heaven''s Hand exploded, he was numb and paralyzed, without any remainingbat power whatsoever.


    A seventh Heaven''s Hand caught him in its grip.


    "No. I won''t die like this!" the Tiger Yanluo howled in despair a final time.


    His voice slowly vanished without a trace. Against a whole flock of Heaven''s Hands, he couldn''t escape. His life was draining from him by the second.


    In a nearby forest, the Peach Buddha was watching the scene unfold in shock. "How can Xiao Nanfeng be controlling these Heaven''s Hands? How can this be?"

 Chapter 463: Replacing the Netherworld Pope

    <h4>Chapter 463: Recing the Netherworld Pope</h4>


    With a boom, the Heaven''s Hands finally snuffed out the Tiger Yanluo''s life.


    Under Xiao Nanfeng''s direction, the Heaven''s Hand slowly released its prey, revealing the starlit barrier once more.


    Within the starlit barrier, the Tiger Yanluo had been reduced to powder, leaving only two strange orbs of light behind. One contained six ancient pieces of parchment; the other, three Yanluo Courts.


    "Blue Lantern, make sure this isn''t a trick," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    Bursts of starlight shot toward the starlit barrier, causing the two orbs to tremble. Only after a prolonged period did the starlight finally dissipate.


    "It''s unlikely that this is trickery. The Tiger Yanluo is dead and shouldn''t regenerate in the short term," Blue Lantern said.


    Xiao Nanfeng breathed out in relief, then looked all around him. In the distance, Ye Dafu and hisckeys'' bodies had grown so swollen that they didn''t look human any longer, but they were casually chatting away, a strangely sinister scene.


    The Peach Buddha, sequestered nearby, eyed the orbs of light covetously. With the Heaven''s Hands patrolling the air, however, it feared to draw near.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the starlit barrier and nced at the two orbs of light in it carefully. Then, he suddenly bowed toward the sky.


    "Netherworld Pope, I''ve fulfilled part of the deal by taking down the Tiger Yanluo!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The hidden Peach Buddha frowned. "What? How could this be? Shouldn''t the Netherworld Pope have died a long time ago? Is Xiao Nanfeng trying to hoodwink me?"


    The blood-colored clouds in the air roiled. Very quickly, the giant face of the Netherworld Pope appeared from the clouds.


    "It really is the Netherworld Pope?!" The Peach Buddha''s scalp turned numb as it reined in its aura in fear.


    The Netherworld Pope''s face floated over and considered Xiao Nanfeng carefully. "Well done, Xiao Nanfeng, but didn''t I tell you not to expose my identity?"


    "I know you''re worried about the Peach Buddha, but it''s no longer a concern. There are six pages of the Records of Life and Death here as well as three Yanluo Courts, in addition to the Yanluo Court present in the capital of Yin. My strength will advance rapidly once I attune to them all. With these Heaven''s Hands under my control, the Peach Buddha won''t be able to escape." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The Peach Buddha gulped. It suddenly understood what was going on. The Netherworld Pope controlled the Heaven''s Hands and was cooperating with Xiao Nanfeng to kill it. A tremendous seed of fear bloomed within it as it understood the danger it was under. If it didn''t resist, it would surely die. It had to risk it all to survive.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out for the two orbs of light, only for the crystal star map in his hand to suddenly melt. He was encased and suddenly rendered immobile.


    ''Netherworld Pope, what''s going on? Is this your doing?"


    In the air, the Netherworld Pope red at Xiao Nanfeng. "Who said that these pages of the Records of Life and Death would belong to you?"


    "These are my spoils. They naturally belong to me. Netherworld Pope, our deal was that I would help you take down the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha, but we didn''t agree that the spoils would go to you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted anxiously.


    "You really are naive, aren''t you? Why should I hand these pages to you? They were mine in the past, and they''ll remain mine now."


    The Peach Buddha watched on, taken aback. "The Netherworld Pope and Xiao Nanfeng are suffering from internal strife¡ªright, that makes sense. The Netherworld Pope was selfish and self-centered from the very beginning. Why would he allow Xiao Nanfeng to take advantage?"


    "Netherworld Pope, we haven''t dealt with the Peach Buddha yet! Are you already going to target me? Aren''t you in too much of a rush?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "This is perfect timing. The Peach Buddha should have seven pages of the Records of Life and Death, and won''t be able to cause a problem. If I hand you these nine pages, it would only end up giving me more trouble. Better that I keep them for myself. It''s about time, anyway. I''ve been trapped here for a hundred thousand years, and I deserve my freedom. I have to thank you for sending me four Yanluo Courts and allowing me to bypass my restraints."


    The blood-colored clouds roiled as the Netherworld Pope''s giant face condensed into a small blob of blood and flesh, which molded itself into the appearance of a middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man appeared to be bound to the outside of the blood-colored clouds by countless blood-colored chains, and was unable to free himself.


    With a snap, the man managed to wrest a blood-colored chain apart. At the same time, a blood-colored chain shot out toward Xiao Nanfeng from within the blood-colored clouds, binding him.


    "Ouch! It hurts! This blood-colored chain hastched onto my soul!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The heavens left me here to watch over the ten Yanluo Lords, but they''ve all died now. What good is my position as warden? I intend to free myself, but the naturalws imposed on this realm doesn''t allow for such a possibility. The heavens have taken advantage of me¡ªthey intend to trap me here as well. If I want to leave, I''ll need someone else to take my ce."


    "You intend on binding me here instead?!"


    "That''s right. I set up such a construction within the crystal star map, but I doubt you''d have understood what it meant. Now, take my ce and be trapped here for eternity!"


    The blood-colored chains on the Netherworld Pope''s body continued to snap. Every chain snapped off the Netherworld Pope''s body meant an additional one that shot out of the blood-colored clouds andtched to Xiao Nanfeng''s soul, tethering him more and more tightly.


    "Netherworld Pope, if I rece you, wouldn''t I be in control of all these Heaven''s Hands? Don''t you want that power?" Xiao Nanfeng howled.


    "The heavens have vested this realm with much strength, but have ced significant restrictions on it that forbid me from drawing on too much of it. These Heaven''s Hands are only strong enough to kill Heaven Immortals and couldn''t even handle the Tiger Yanluo in the past. Why would I care for them? As for you, well, you can try to manipte them if you wish." The Netherworld Pope smiled.


    "Why choose me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t allow you to be trapped here for too long. You have plenty of secrets up your sleeve, you see. That ability that lets you pass through barriers of naturalw, for instance, took me by surprise. Once I gather all the pages of the Records of Life and Death, I''lle back. You''ll have to divulge all your secrets to me then, haha!"


    "You want me to rece you not just to bind me, but also the cursed kings in my body. You intend to steal everything that belongs to me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Belongs to you? You mean, belongs to me. The entire world shall be mine. I''ll stop at nothing to advance my strength. Let theherworld domain stretch across the entire world; even the heavens shall submit at my feet!"


    All the blood-colored chains binding the Netherworld Pope snapped at that moment, while Xiao Nanfeng''s entire body was chained up. The chains grew taut and pulled him toward the blood-colored clouds.


    "Netherworld Pope, now that you''ve had me rece you, aren''t you worried that I''ll use the Heaven''s Hands to take you down?!"


    "The crystal star map was nothing more than misdirection. What you really did was transmit your intentions to me via the crystal star map. I was the one manipting these Heaven''s Hands on your behalf. Learning to direct them won''t be easy, and it took even me several years to do so. You''ve just reced me, so you won''t be able tomand the Heaven''s Hands yourself for a few more years. Now, without my assistance, they''ll be deadweight to you." The Netherworld Popeughed loudly.


    All the Heaven''s Hands retreated back into the blood-colored clouds, then vanished from sight.


    "Netherworld Pope, aren''t you afraid that the Peach Buddha will take advantage now that we''ve had a falling-out?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    "These pages of the Records are sufficient to render me invincible within this realm. I''ll quickly attune to these pages and sense its location. It won''t be able to escape, and everything will be in my grasp. It''s the one who should fear for itself."


    The Peach Buddha nched. It knew that, if it didn''t do anything, all that awaited it would be death. It would have to risk its life against the Netherworld Pope.


    By then, the Netherworld Pope had reached the starlit barrier. He reached out for the nine pages of the Records within, only to find its hand blocked.


    "What? What have you done to the starlit barrier? Blue Lantern, do you want to die?!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    He whirled around only to find that Blue Lantern had long since vanished, along with Ye Dafu and his crew.


    Suddenly, the Netherworld Pope felt a sense of unease. "Xiao Nanfeng, did you all collude against me?"


    He reached out and struck at one of the nodes of the formation, intending to shatter it and retrieve whaty within.


    Just then, the starlit barrier released blinding light. A dangerous aura caused him to instinctively raise his guard.


    Then, with a huge bang, the starlit barrier exploded. The two orbs of light within were sent whizzing off in two different directions.


    Xiao Nanfeng, who was about to be dragged into the blood-colored clouds, shouted, "Peach Buddha, I know you''re here too. If you don''t try to fight for the Records now, you''ll be done for!"


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    He rushed toward the three Yanluo Courts nearby even as he summoned a violent gust of wind to blow the six pages of the Records within reach.


    The Peach Buddha made his move then, heading straight for the six pages of the Records.


    "Hold it!" the Netherworld Pope shouted.


    The Peach Buddha had no intention of listening to the Netherworld Pope. This was its one chance at survival¡ªand with one final, empowered leap, it grabbed those six pages.

 Chapter 464: Dying of Embarrassment

    <h4>Chapter 464: Dying of Embarrassment</h4>


    The Netherworld Pope had managed to seize the three Yanluo Courts, while the Peach Buddha obtained the six pages of the Records.


    "Peach Buddha, hand me those pages!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    The Peach Buddha, overjoyed by the sess of its gambit, immediately turned to flee.


    "Stop right there!" the Netherworld Pope hollered, chasing after him.


    The two entities vanished from sight over the horizon as Xiao Nanfeng waspletely dragged into the sea of blood-colored clouds.


    Meanwhile, over in another part of the forest, Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s crewy hidden.


    "Blue Lantern, we fled ording to your orders, but what about His Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked in worry.


    "His Majesty was arguing with the Netherworld Pope just now in order to give us an opportunity to flee. If we had left anyter, we might have been forced to be cursed ves again," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Is this all part of His Majesty''s n? Why weren''t we aware of it beforehand?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "The crystal star map that the Netherworld Pope gave to His Majesty encoded naturalw, which His Majesty was able to decode readily. He understood his intentions the moment he received the crystal," Blue Lantern replied.


    "I saw the crystal myself, but it was just a mess of stars! How could anyone obtain any information from it?" Ye Dafu seemed bewildered.


    "The Netherworld Pope underestimated His Majesty and thought he was just like you, incapable of reading these star maps. That''s how he ended up falling prey to His Majesty''s ns."


    "His Majesty was able to uncover the Netherworld Pope''s evil scheme just by ncing at these star maps?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "That''s right. It''s incredible, isn''t it? Even I wasn''t able toprehend the star map fully at first. His Majesty had to specifically point it out to me before I noticed something abnormal¡ªhe had seen it from the very first nce."


    "It looks like His Majesty is far more skilled at these star maps than you are..."


    Blue Lantern fell silent. He didn''t want to admit it, but it was the truth. He didn''t know how Xiao Nanfeng, whom he had originally looked down on, had grown so quickly as to have surpassed even himself.


    "If His Majesty knew that the Netherworld Pope had been plotting against us all along, why did we wait until now to hide?" Ye Dafu frowned.


    "How would we hide? The Netherworld Pope can spy on us, so it wouldn''t matter where we went. If he had discovered that we were acting suspiciously beforehand, he would surely have taken extreme measures against us¡ªand none of us are a match for him. His Majesty had no choice but to go along with the n while figuring out what to do with the Tiger Yanluo."


    Ye Dafu widened his eyes. "When His Majesty fought in the capital of Yin, we were responsible for impersonating the Peach Buddha and attracting the attention of the Tiger Yanluo. Was that all a ploy to stall for time to make sure the Peach Buddha learned of the fight and came to spectate?"


    "That''s right. In addition, His Majesty''s argument with the Netherworld Pope was meant to inveigle the Peach Buddha into action."


    "The Peach Buddha really got a tremendous bargain out of this, didn''t it?" Ye Dafumented.


    "There are still over three weeks before we can leave the Netherworld Pce. During this period of time, if we allow the Netherworld Pope alone to grow strong, none of us would be able to escape. We had no choice but to help out the Peach Buddha."


    "But what''s going to happen to His Majesty?"


    "I don''t know. He decided on this n of action himself, so he may have a solution. What''s more, there was no other option to prevent the Netherworld Pope from attacking us."


    "What do we do now?"


    "Let''s hide and observe the Netherworld Pope take on the Peach Buddha from afar. We''ll await news from His Majesty as well. If he manages to escape, he''ll surely call on us."


    "Alright."


    Countless blood-colored chains dragged Xiao Nanfeng into the sea of blood-colored clouds. He was brought toward a blood-colored crystal wall, shining with red pinpricks of light. The wall was a huge star map writrge, with a tremendous number of naturalws encoded within it.


    Xiao Nanfeng was dragged into the wall and seemingly sealed within. He was rendered immobile.


    He tried all sorts of techniques to get out, including his candleme abilities. However, the blood-colored chains prevented any form of escape.


    He spent a full day experimenting with his bindings before he sighed. "Thesews really are restrictive. I wonder how the Netherworld Pope managed to make me into his substitute? Do I really have to understand all the naturalws present here? It took the Netherworld Pope a hundred thousand years. How long will it take me?"


    He sighed and smiled wryly as he nced at the countless red pinpricks of light. He had no other choice.


    Just then, a female voice could be heard from close by. "And here I thought you were a good schemer. Was being caught and rendered helpless part of your n, too? Haha!"


    The woman''s voice was maic and particrly pleasant to the ear, though her words were slightly mocking.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see a woman of incredible beauty giving him a sly smile.


    "Madam Rouge! You''ve finally made it." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in relief.


    The woman was none other than Madam Rouge, who had remained in Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape in the form of a skeleton before Xiao Nanfeng helped her reim her mirror cursed spiritual avatar within the draconic pce. She even helped Xiao Nanfeng meld his red rope cursed effigy into his red moon. Since then, she had been off dealing with her own affairs.


    "So there are times when even you need my help." Madam Rouge smiled.


    "I destroyed that mirror of truth containing your cursed spiritual power, not expecting that you really would be able to sense that alert. That peach tree only started bothering me because of you. It''s rted to you, so I had to attempt to contact you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh? Didn''t you enter the Netherworld Pce to search for your lover?" Madam Rouge replied, clear disbelief in her tone.


    "What lover? No such thing," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    "Hmm? Who was hugging and kissing you at the mouth of the abyss, then?" Madam Rouge''s smile deepened.


    Xiao Nanfeng froze. How had Madam Rouge learned of Lady Yaoguang''s actions at the mouth of the abyss?


    "That''s not important. Right, when did you show up?" Xiao Nanfeng changed the topic immediately.


    "Right when you smashed the mirror of truth."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. "That quickly? I was only able to send word to you while the Peach Buddha was fighting against the Rabbit Yanluo and unable to spare any attention to me, but you arrived almost right after!"


    "What''s wrong? Are youining that I got here too quickly?" Madam Rouge asked with a smile.


    "No, no! I just didn''t expect it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, wincing.


    At most two hours had passed since the start of the fight between the Peach Buddha and Rabbit Yanluo and Lady Yaoguang''s forced kiss. How could Madam Rouge have rushed over to him so quickly?


    "Were you just watching while the Peach Buddha chased me?" Xiao Nanfeng grumbled.


    "Not quite. I was watching you while having some food and enjoying the show," Madam Rogue replied, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face stiffened. "Then you overheard my conversation with the Peach Buddha?"


    He had deliberately made up nonsense in order to provoke the Peach Buddha, saying that Madam Rouge was his woman, that they shared a deep bond, and all sorts of other mushy things besides. Had Madam Rouge heard all that?


    "Of course I did. You made everything sound so exciting. I could hardly miss it! All you ever did was try to hoodwink me, and this was a rare opportunity for me to see you try to hoodwink others. Shouldn''t I learn from you?" Madam Rouge''s mischievous smile was particrly attractive.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed, knowing that Madam Rouge was deliberately poking fun at him.


    "Of course, I do feel a bit regretful." Madam Rouge sighed.


    "What?"


    "You told it that you dedicated a love song to me¡ªwhat was it called? Ah, I remember. The Moon Represents My Heart. You were even going to sing it, but it refused to listen to you and interrupted you. What a pity! I didn''t get a chance to listen to it, either"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Come on, sing it for me. I''d like to hear it." Madam Rouge waited expectantly.


    "You were aware of the situation, Madam Rouge¡ªI was just trying to provoke the Peach Buddha. Please don''t take it seriously." Xiao Nanfeng chuckled nervously.


    "That won''t do. If you don''t let me hear it, I won''t rescue you," Madam Rouge replied immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her an odd look. "It''s a little awkward for me to do so, and it''s rather tawdry..."


    "Oho? Does this song really exist, then? You even made up a song in order to trick the Peach Buddha? What incredible attention to detail. Come on, sing it for me! I was joking around just now, but this is an unexpected surprise. Do it!" Madam Rouge was so excited that her cheeks flushed red.


    Xiao Nanfeng scowled. Was Madam Rouge here specifically to cause trouble?


    "Come on! I''m not even upset at you about what happened with Yaoguang, so why are you being so hesitant about this? There''s no one else here but the two of us. Sing it for me, won''t you? Treat it like a gift to wee me back," Madam Rouge persuaded, sounding just like Xiao Nanfeng in the past when he was trying to trick her.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a glum look. "We''re not the only two here. Senior ck Lotus is in my mindscape, along with the superior yin pearl. I''d die of embarrassment!"


    Madam Rouge immediately said, "They just sent me a mental transmission promising not to listen in."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. Madam Rouge just made that up, didn''t she?


    "Come on! Aren''t you supposed to be more assertive and direct as a ruler? I came all this way to help you out. Why won''t you sing me this song as thanks? Do you have so many women in your harem now that you''re unwilling to do even this for me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. Why had he chosen this song? He had dug a hole for himself!


    Upon seeing Madam Rouge''s eager, expectant gaze, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to give in. It was just a single song, after all. If he refused to be embarrassed about it, then surely Madam Rouge was the one who would be.


    "Ask me how deeply I love you ? And just how great my love is ? My affection is real ? My love is true ?..." Xiao Nanfeng began to sing.


    Madam Rouge gaped. Her eyes were wide open in astonishment. She thought to herself, "Is he really going to sing? What a foolish song¡ªno, what a mushy song! Is he teasing me? I should give him a beating! But these lyrics do resonate with my heart. Whatever should I do?"

 Chapter 465: Im Helping You

    <h4>Chapter 465: I''m Helping You</h4>


    After Xiao Nanfeng finished singing The Moon Represents My Heart, Madam Rouge''s snowy-white face grew flushed.


    "To think this is the sort of thing you would focus your attention on rather than cultivation! Did you do this to attract the attention of more women?" Madam Rouge used him as she attempted to hide her momentary infatuation.


    "I''ve been working very hard on cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Can''t you see how advanced I am now? Who else would have been able to aplish such a feat within a few years'' time? And this love song is from my hometown. I didn''te up with it myself. Many people in my hometown know of it, and I learned it from them."


    Madam Rouge rolled her beautiful eyes.


    "What? You don''t believe me?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Of course I don''t! Don''t you think I''m aware of what your manor used to be like? You were all but under house arrest. What sort of servant or guard would sing The Moon Represents My Heart to you? They would never dare!"


    "Uh..."


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t talking about Marquis Xiao''s manor, but rather Earth. That said, he was hardly about to mention Earth to Madam Rouge.


    "You must haveposed it yourself. Isn''t that right? To think you would know how to sing! Come on, I''d like to hear a few more songs," Madam Rouge teased.


    "Dream on! I won''t sing you more songs even if it means you aren''t going to help me. I sang you a song as thanks for traveling all the way here, but that''s it!" Xiao Nanfeng refused Madam Rouge bluntly.


    "Oho? So you do have more songs, then?" Madam Rouge''s eyes lit up.


    "Go on, shoo! I''ll figure out the star maps here myself and get out on my own. I don''t need your help anymore." Xiao Nanfeng feigned anger.


    "No, no! Alright, I won''t press anymore for today. You''ll sing me those songs some other day, won''t you?" Madam Rouge quickly smiled to pacify Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I won''t sing them to you at all," Xiao Nanfeng replied directly.


    "Alright, alright. Let''s talk some other day, then." Madam Rouge smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. Madam Rouge was emting how he had tricked her in the past, and Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know how to deal with his own tricks used against him.


    "There''s something I don''t understand. You''re stronger than the Peach Buddha, aren''t you? I remember it was very difficult for you to enter my mindscape in the first ce. You were only able to do so while I was asleep, so why can the Peach Buddha ess my mindscape so easily, even without my permission?"


    "Ah, well..." Madam Rouge suddenly found herself tongue-tied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "You did something, didn''t you?!"


    Madam Rouge gave him an embarrassed smile. "I made a minor modification to your mindscape."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Your mindscape is quite a bit different from others''. It''s sealed more tightly than that of most cultivators, and even I had a hard time entering your mindscape initially. I paid a heavy price to do so. When I was about to leave, I thought about how difficult it might be for me to re-enter and decided to leave a peach blossom marker by its exit. This marker provides easy ess into your mindscape. I didn''t expect the peach tree would take advantage." Madam Rouge smiled wryly.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "So you left the doors to my mindscape wide open!"


    "I never expected you would encounter that peach tree. You can''t me me," Madam Rouge demurred.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment before he retorted, "You''ve really grown thick-skinned, haven''t you, Madam Rouge? If I don''t me you, should I me myself?"


    "Don''t worry. I''ll deal with it for youter. No one will be able to enter your mindscape at will anymore."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Was he supposed to thank her for fixing a problem she had caused, then?


    "Where in my mindscape did you hide, anyway? Why couldn''t I ever find you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "In the mental world that lies within. Your cultivation isn''t strong enough to ess it just yet. It''s the domain of the strongest Immortals and deities."


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes. "Haven''t you seen how fast my cultivation is advancing? I might reach such a realm in just a few months'' time."


    "Let''s talk at that point," Madam Rouge replied vaguely.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "You''re refusing to tell me anything. Are you nning to do something else to my mental world?"


    Madam Rouge''s eyes widened in panic. "Of course not! Would I do such a thing? You''re overthinking matters.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He was confident that Madam Rouge was nning something annoying, but there was nothing he could do about it.


    "Forget it. Save me, please," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "I can''t. It''s a function of the naturalw left by the heavens¡ªyou''ll need to find someone to rece you, but I haven''t closely analyzed the naturalws here and can''t swap you out at the moment." Madam Rouge pped a hand at him.


    "You can''t do anything, either?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "It''s not easy. If I forcibly break this crystal wall, you''d be injured instead."


    "Am I going to be trapped here for good, then?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "It''s not such a bad thing, is it? You have an avatar aboveworld, after all, and you can even meditate on naturalw while you''re here." Madam Rouge smiled.


    It was Xiao Nanfeng''s turn to roll his eyes. "Tell me if you know a way! Otherwise, I''ll know not to count on you."


    "Don''t get so mad. I''m telling the truth¡ªyou can take advantage of the strength that the heavens have deposited here."


    "How?"


    "Hold on¡ªtell me how you managed to bypass that formation of naturalw first. You did all that with just a wisp of candleme?"


    "Well, after you left, the Divine Emperor and I went exploring in the spirits'' Imperial Court..." Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Who''s this Divine Emperor?" Madam Rouge demanded.


    "Well..."


    "You fooled around with yet another woman while I was gone?" Madam Rouge eximed in surprise.


    "What do you mean, fooled around? I only interacted normally with her. Furthermore, you''re aware of the Divine Emperor. She used to live in my ring."


    "That beast in your ring? It became a beauty?"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Alright, alright. Continue, please," Madam Rouge immediately added.


    Xiao Nanfeng recounted his fight against the Spirit Emperor. Even if he didn''t tell Madam Rouge about this, she would be able to learn everything from the ck lotus. It was better for him to control the narrative instead.


    After hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s retelling of the events, Madam Rouge frowned. Unexpectedly, her emphasis wasn''t on the rtionship between the Divine Emperor and him. "Is your body some sort of shelter for cursed effigies? You gained one more right after sending another away. There''s no end to this!"


    "Surely it''s a coincidence," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "It is rather surprising, and that Divine Emperor really did fight to defend you. It''s for the best, I suppose. The more cursed effigies there are by your side, the better you''ll be able to protect yourself in the future."


    "Protect myself?"


    "That''s right. The heavens reap the world every ten thousand years, and the next harvest draws near. Without any power to defend yourself, you''ll be done for."


    "Are the heavens reaping all Immortals without exception?"


    "All are but fodder against the heavens, regardless of who you are."


    "Oh?"


    "Your current cultivation techniques have weaknesses, too."


    "They do? What weaknesses?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was supremely confident in his cultivation techniques. They might be somewhat sinister, but each possessed incredible strength.


    "For instance, your Sky of Ten Suns has a critical weakness."


    "Where? The Netherworld Pope mentioned that a Ri he faced desperately dreamt of obtaining this technique. Just a single sun made him renowned across the world. With ten such suns, wouldn''t I be even stronger?"


    "These golden crows indeed boast incredible strength, but they''re not invincible. If your opponents focus on attacking your crows and destroy them all, you''d be done for."


    "They can grow stronger with time," Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "But they can still be defeated. Sky of Ten Suns is a technique that only ever yields ten golden crows. Once they''re all defeated, there goes your strength."


    "Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Of course. Aren''t you aware that others specifically forged sun-piercing bows and arrows to counter it?"


    "The legend of Hou Yi?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "Who''s Hou Yi? I''ve never heard of him. I did hear of a cultivator of immense strength who ruled the world. He cultivated the Sky of Ten Suns. The eponymous suns roamed the world and subdued all living creatures they encountered. The rivers grew dry, thend parched. The ten suns dominated until someone finally forged a sun-piercing bow and arrows, then shot down nine of his suns. His strength diminished greatly; he only possessed one final sun," Madam Rouge recollected.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. This was different from the tale of Hou Yi that was popr on Earth, but there were surprising simrities.


    "In that case, can''t I just hide my ten suns if they''re in danger?"


    "Then your opponent achieves the same goal: weakening you significantly."


    "Is there no solution to this counter, then?"


    "Oh, there is. It''s right before your eyes¡ªbut do you dare do it?" Madam Rouge suddenly gave him a sly grin.


    "What''s the solution?"


    "Forge your ten suns into cursed effigies and grant them undying bodies."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "You want me to imnt the Records of Life and Death into them?"


    "That''s right. If your red moon could meld with the red rope, then your ten suns can surely meld with the Records of Life and Death. You managed to tether your red moon to the red rope by taking advantage of the tremendous sources of energy within the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. I was worried about whether this would be viable here, but you recounted how the Divine Emperor used the strength that the heavens left dormant within the hidden realm to help you graft the candle cursed effigy into your body. In that case, we can repeat that scenario with the Records of Life and Death here."


    "I don''t possess the Records."


    "That''s quite alright. The Netherworld Pope and Peach Buddha are still extremely weak, and it''ll be easy enough for you to take them down with my assistance. You can help me test out whether this method is viable."


    "Hold on, what did you say? Test out?"


    "Oh, no, of course not. I''m just intending to help you handle the shorings of your Sky of Ten Suns," Madam Rouge corrected herself at once.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, having seen how Madam Rouge was schooling her features. It was clearly the expression he had worn when trying to swindle her in the past. Was this karmic retribution?

 Chapter 466: Of Human Make

    <h4>Chapter 466: Of Human Make</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng ultimately sighed. "Very well. As you suggest, let''s make my golden crows cursed effigies."


    "That''s the spirit!" Madam Rouge smiled. "I''m doing this to help you out."


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes. If this experiment were a failure, he would lose his ten golden crows and be forced to start anew.


    Well, it was better to believe Madam Rouge really had his best interests at heart. He wouldn''t want someone to shoot down his golden crows, after all.


    Better to restart now thanter, if someone were to kill his crows.


    "Right, what''s the rtionship between you and the Peach Buddha?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Him? He was my subordinate in the past. After I sacrificed countless parcels of fortune, opportunity, and treasure, I managed to retrieve a cursed object from the world away. After attuning to it, I and my closest subordinates took on the form of cursed effigies. He was among that batch, and possesses some of my cursed spiritual power."


    "But isn''t your cursed spiritual avatar a mirror? How did he be a peach tree?"


    "A peach tree cursed spiritual avatar? There''s no such thing."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "It''s not as though I''ve seen all cursed effigies before, but all those that I have are of human make."


    "Of human make?"


    "For instance, the ones you''ve seen: mirror, rope, candle, de, book, and even the shadow that the Divine Emperor became. All cursed effigies are artificial, and none are born of nature. Nature gives rise to spirits; humans give rise to cursed effigies."


    "What about Senior ck Lotus?"


    "That must be a disguise. Many cursed effigies hide their true form. At least based on what I''ve seen, there are no exceptions to this rule."


    "Truly? How does it all work? What''s the world away like?"


    "I don''t know. Many peerless cultivators in the annals of history have tried to explore this unknown world, but none have seeded."


    "In other words, is the Peach Buddha''s original form a mirror?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge shook his head. "A painting, one with a peach tree drawn on it."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "Isn''t your cursed spiritual avatar a mirror? How did it be a painting?"


    "Who told you that I only retrieved a single cursed object from the world away?" Madam Rouge smiled.


    "What? You mean you performed two sacrifices to the world away?"Xiao Nanfeng was astonished.


    "I was able to rule for a single era. Why not two? I exchanged all my possessions for a mirror and a scroll on which a peach grove was painted. I quite like the scroll, but it''s a little bloodthirsty. The resulting cursed effigies were particrly fierce and savage, but I suppose that served me well in expanding my borders."


    "You ruled over two eras? That''s impressive," Xiao Nanfeng praised.


    "Hardly. Each time, I lost against the heavens and was forced to regenerate. Now that I''ve returned for a third time, I''m going to challenge the heavens once more." Madam Rouge red stubbornly at the skies.


    "You''re starting to develop your own kingdom, too?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed a little taken aback.


    "That''s right. I recently freed all my subordinates from my hidden realm, and I possess ten empires in the west. I intend to unite them all as a divine empire shortly."


    "Empress Rouge...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Indeed, before long, you''ll have to address me as Empress. Why don''t you fold your Dazheng Empire into my domain, too? I''ll make you a prince of my empire. How about that?" Madam Rouge smiled.


    "No, thank you," Xiao Nanfeng refused immediately. "I''d like to challenge my limits myself."


    "Oh? Do you think it''s easy to establish a divine empire? You''ll be struggling in the future. Shouldn''t you be d that I''m giving you some advice?" Madam Rouge gave Xiao Nanfeng a proud look.


    "Let''s talk about thatter. Can we focus on getting me out, first? Speaking to you while I''m tied up almost makes me feel like I''ve been kidnapped."


    "You can''t leave just yet. I already told you, I''m going to help you forge the Records of Life and Death into your ten golden crows, and we''ll need to take advantage of the energy that the heavens have left here. As the warden of the Netherworld Pce, you have ess to that energy."


    "But even the Netherworld Pope was only able to manipte a small portion of it!"


    "That''s enough. Your position vests you with authority from the heavens, and the remainder of that energy is only being restricted from your ess by naturalw. I can help you shatter thosews and grant you full ess to it."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed a lot more excited.


    "Use your candleme ability to bring me into this blood crystal so I can help you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well!"


    The candle mes connected the inside of the crystal to the outside. A bright-red portal appeared before Madam Rouge.


    "What an impressive ability," Madam Rouge praised.


    She stepped into the crystal. Within moments, the blood-colored pinpricks of light swarmed around her as though they had discovered an invader.


    Madam Rouge suddenly turned transparent¡ªno, her whole body became reflective like a mirror. She reflected the blood-colored pinpricks of light, which instantly stopped attacking her.


    "Are these pinpricks of light that easy to trick?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Of course not. They''re from the heavens themselves. My cursed spiritual avatar is rather unique, however, so I was able to handle this situation rtively easily. Alright. Let''s see what''s going on, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He and Madam Rouge began observing the patterns of light in the crystal intently, meditating on their effects on their surroundings.


    Ten dayster, within a forest, Blue Lantern scattered a group of pebbles around him. They floated away and evoked a formation that surrounded the vicinity.


    "Blue Lantern, we''re back!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys called out, flying back from afar.


    The swelling all over their bodies had subsided over the past ten days, and their auras had grown even more impressive. Clearly, they had benefited greatly from the recent fighting.


    "What have you found?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "The Netherworld Pope and Peach Buddha are both wily old foxes. We couldn''t find out anything specific¡ªwe only have a vague impression of how things are going," Ye Dafu replied.


    "Oh?"


    "The Netherworld Pope chased after the Peach Buddha for three whole days, but the Peach Buddha ultimately managed to escape in the end. The Netherworld Pope imed the Yanluo Court in the capital of Yin, and both of them are now in secluded cultivation."


    "The Peach Buddha has twelve pages of the Earthly Branches and a Yanluo Court, while the Netherworld Pope has eight Yanluo Courts?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "The Netherworld Pope is still missing two Yanluo Courts to finish gathering the pages of the ten Heavenly Stems. He''ll be weaker than the Peach Buddha for the time being, won''t he?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.


    "Not quite. I think the Netherworld Pope''s more likely to win," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Let''s not worry about them for the moment. It''s been ten days without any news of His Majesty. What are we to do now? We can''t find any information. Have you been able to make contact with him?"


    "Haven''t I been trying?"


    "All you do is scatter pebbles all over the forest! How can that count?"


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "I''m not ying around. I''m sketching out the contours of the Formation of the Complete Heavens. If His Majesty can observe us from the sky, he''ll surely realize where we are."


    Just then, blood-colored clouds gathered high overhead as a terrifying aura emanated from them. A Heaven''s Hand descended andnded before the cultivators.


    "This is..." Ye Dafu, rmed, took a step back.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice spoke from around them, "Blue Lantern, I saw the formation that you established. All of you, climb on."


    Blue Lantern nodded with a smile.


    Ye Dafu and the others were shocked by the unexpected scene, but they quickly smiled in relief and climbed on themselves.


    Heaven''s Hand rose up into the air and into the blood-colored sea of clouds. It brought the cultivators toward the giant crystal in which Xiao Nanfeng was now encased. Madam Rouge was still in her reflective form, and the cultivators didn''t catch sight of her at all.


    "We greet Your Majesty!" The cultivators bowed.


    "Good to see all of you well." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Your Majesty, the Netherworld Pope said that it took him a few years to be able to control these Heaven''s Hands. How could you have done so in just ten days or so?!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "Why else? His Majesty is far more powerful than the Netherworld Pope!" Ye Dafu jumped in immediately.


    Blue Lantern: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin. He asked, "Ye Dafu, have all of you grown stronger again?"


    "I''m at the peak of Earth Immortal, and I''m just a step away from Heaven Immortal. My crew is a bit weaker, but not by much."


    "Good. I''ve sent for all of you to help you advance your cultivation."


    "Oh?" The cultivators'' eyes lit up.


    "I''ll have these Heaven''s Hands attack you and train your resilience. Would that do?"


    "Of course! We asked the Netherworld Pope if he could do so, but he said he couldn''t. Apparently, these Heaven''s Hands can only kill cursed effigies, not ordinary cultivators. They''re bound by naturalw."


    "Just because he can''t do it doesn''t mean that I can''t. Prepare yourselves."


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out in excitement.


    Blue Lantern''s eyes widened in astonishment. He simply couldn''t understand how Xiao Nanfeng had managed something that the Netherworld Pope hadn''t been able to achieve in a hundred thousand years¡ªand in just ten days at that. What he didn''t know was that Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge had been breaking the restrictions on naturalw. With those restrictions gone, the rest was straightforward.

 Chapter 467: Madam Rouge Strikes

    <h4>Chapter 467: Madam Rouge Strikes</h4>


    Another ten dayster, in the center of a secluded valley within the Netherworld Pce shrouded byrge quantities of fog, a white-robed monk sat in deep meditation. Energy billowed from him in a continuous wave. He seemed to possess incredible cultivation.


    Suddenly, the monk''s eyes opened wide. He waved a hand, dispelling the fog in the valley. He looked up at the sky to see a red-robed man floating in the air, none other than the Netherworld Pope himself.


    "Peach Buddha, you''ve grown quite a bit stronger¡ªbut no matter how strong you grow, thew of this hidden realm prevents you from advancing past the rank of Heaven Immortal." The Netherworld Pope sneered.


    The monk was, of course, the Peach Buddha. He slowly stood up. "Even Heaven Immortals differ in strength. Among Heaven Immortals, I am invincible."


    "Is that so? Let me see how strong thebined power of the twelve Earthly Branches is, then."


    The Peach Buddha waved a hand. Large quantities of ck fog appeared behind him. By the time it dissipated, twelve figures had appeared to his back, crowned and dressed in draconic robes.


    They had humanoid bodies but bestial heads. All were fierce and domineering. Ten of them looked just like the ten Yanluo Lords; the final two were the snake and the pig, who were as strong as the rest of them.


    "The twelve Earthly Branches?" The Netherworld Pope narrowed his eyes.


    "Attack!" the Peach Buddhamanded.


    "Attack!" the twelve Earthly Branches echoed, charging toward the Netherworld Pope.


    With a bang, the Peach Buddha began to fight in earnest against the Netherworld Pope. A tempest formed and raged across the whole valley, causing the entirety of the Netherworld Pce to echo with the sounds of fighting.


    Both cursed effigies attacked without holding back. To them, there was nothing else within the Netherworld Pce that would be threatening. They simply had to take down each other as quickly as possible.


    The fighting grew more and more intense. Where the two cultivators went, tempests raged, the earth and sky shook, and the cities all around them were demolished. Countless civilians cried for mercy. Fortunately, there were plenty of cultivators from the alliance protecting them, a vestige of Xiao Nanfeng''s leadership.


    The two cursed effigies fought for days on end before they finally halted in ce, both exhausted. The twelve Yanluo Lords'' bodies were close to giving out. Theyy paralyzed on the ground as the Netherworld Pope and Peach Buddha continued to face off against each other with their fists.


    "Within the Records of Life and Death, the Heavenly Stems govern death, and the Earthly Branches, life. Your twelve Earthly Branches puppets have the ability to regenerate, but that saps you of much of your strength. You''re almost entirely drained, and you won''t be able to defend against my ninth Yanluo Court," the Netherworld Pope called out.


    With a bang, the Peach Buddha was sent flying in a burst of blood. He coughed up a white Yanluo Court, which used to belong to the Snake Yanluo.


    The Netherworld Pope swallowed the white Yanluo Court immediately.


    "Return my Yanluo Court to me!" the Peach Buddha cried out.


    "Your Yanluo Court? It was mine from the beginning. Why else do you think I wasted so much time on you? It was to attune myself to the Yanluo Court within your body while we fought. I was waiting for a good opportunity to summon it back to me. Didn''t you realize that? Haha!"


    Then, the Netherworld Pope suddenly grew far stronger than before as a frightening aura suppressed the Peach Buddha and made him cough out blood.


    "Twelve Earthly Branches, to me!" the Peach Buddha roared.


    The twelve Yanluo Lords crawled weakly toward the Peach Buddha. The moment they touched him, they vanished into his body in a shower of light. As though revitalized, the Peach Buddha seemed to return to peak condition.


    The two cultivators continued to exchange blows. A tempest formed as they prepared to strike at one another again.


    "Fighting slowly like this is a waste of time. Why don''t we try something big? I already possess nine of the Yanluo Courts. The Heavenly Stems govern death, and I''ll show you precisely what power over death entails. Explode!" the Netherworld Pope cried out.


    The Netherworld Pope exploded in a storm of ck that struck the Peach Buddha.


    "Are you crazy?!"


    The Peach Buddha didn''t understand what the Netherworld Pope was doing, nor why he had self-destructed. He attempted to defend his body to the best of his ability, but was sent flying for having been struck at point-nk range. His body became pitted with holes, and he was so badly injured that he was vomiting out blood.


    After hended on the ground, a flurry of paper fragments formed around him, healing his wounds. However, owing to the extent of the injuries, his recovery was particrly slow.


    "Are you crazy?!" the Peach Buddha roared.


    Just then, at the source of the explosion, countless ck pinpricks of light began to reform in the image of the Netherworld Pope.


    "Impossible. You exploded into smithereens. How could you be alright?!"


    "This is the power of the Records of Life and Death. The Earthly Branches govern life, and the Heavenly Stems govern death. The Heavenly Stems lock in on every fragment of my body, and the Earthly Branches can piece it back together. Only with thebination of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches can one truly revive from the dead; one part alone is insufficient. Youck the Heavenly Stems, and can only reform your body at the cost of a significant expense of energy. Ick the Earthly Branches, and have to sacrifice incredible strength to bring the fragments of my body back together. However, my nine Yanluo Courts are repositories of my energy from the past, and I have plenty to spare. I''ll be able to recover faster than you can." The Netherworld Pope''s smile grew wide.


    "I won''t let you seed. Die!" The Peach Buddha strained to attack him.


    The palm technique struck the Netherworld Pope''s body and scattered its fragments into countless particles of ck light, but the next moment, they began to reform anew.


    "It''s useless. The power of the Heavenly Stems has locked in on the fragments of my body. You won''t be able to destroy it."


    The Peach Buddha gasped in fear. The rate at which he was recovering was far inferior to the Netherworld Pope''s. If this kept up, he would be dead meat.


    "Well? Are you scared now? Haha, no one in the Netherworld Pce can stop me from iming your life anymore. Once I recover, you''re done for!" the Netherworld Pope cried out savagely.


    Just then, the two cursed effigies suddenly found blood-colored clouds gathering high overhead. A burgeoning heavenly aura caused them to stop squabbling and look up.


    Two Heaven''s Hands were descending from the sky and heading straight for the two of them. Each hand targeted one cursed effigy.


    "Heaven''s Hands? From where?!" the Peach Buddha eximed.


    "Could the heavens have discovered what was going on? Are they here to take me down? No!" the Netherworld Pope shouted.


    The Heaven''s Hands caught the pair of cursed effigies, but the Netherworld Pope immediately scattered into a shower of ck light and freed himself. The nebulous cloud that had been his body fled into the distance.


    Only the Peach Buddha had been firmly caught.


    ''Let me go!" the Peach Buddha shouted.


    The Heaven''s Hand ignored him and pulled him into the sea of blood-colored clouds. The other Heaven''s Hand chased after the Netherworld Pope, but quickly lost him. Only then did it unwillingly return to the blood-colored clouds.


    "That likely wasn''t the heavens, or I wouldn''t have been able to escape. However, who else would be able to manipte these Heaven''s Hands? Xiao Nanfeng? That''s impossible!" the Netherworld Pope murmured to himself, hidden in the darkness.


    Within the sea of blood-colored clouds, one Heaven''s Hand flew up to the crystal wall and released the heavily wounded Peach Buddha.


    "It''s you, Xiao Nanfeng!" the Peach Buddha eximed.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng was still chained up and sealed within the blood-colored crystal, he seemed incredibly rxed. "Peach Buddha, isn''t it time that you returned the pages of the Records of Life and Death that you stole from me?"


    "Return them? Dream on! I was just wondering how to escape from the Netherworld Pce, but here you are. I can escape via your mental world!"


    He shot toward Xiao Nanfeng. While he was still some distance away, a shing red void formed before him. Xiao Nanfeng had made use of his candleme abilities to open a passageway out of the crystal.


    "Are you letting me into the crystal? Good, very good! Once I escape, I''ll ensure that your corpse isn''t mutted, haha!" The Peach Buddha cackled in glee.


    Just as he was about to enter, a set of exquisite fingers appeared from the passageway and pointed at the Peach Buddha.


    "A woman''s hand? It''s nothing impressive." The Peach Buddha ignored it and continued to rush forward.


    Then, he suddenly found himself flying back from just that one finger. He smashed into the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood, his past injuries worsening from the blow.


    "Who? Who can harm my cursed spiritual avatar?!"


    He widened his eyes as he saw a gorgeous woman dressed in peach blossom garb¡ªMadam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge''s gaze was ice-cold as she red at the Peach Buddha, murderous intent in her eyes.


    Even just standing to one side, Ye Dafu and the others could sense the potency of her aura. They involuntarily shivered in fear.


    When the Peach Buddha realized who Madam Rouge was, he nched. Then, his body trembling, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed. "I greet Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"


    "Ha! And who was it who imed that he would be on equal footing with me upon obtaining the Records of Life and Death?" Madam Rogue demanded.


    The Peach Buddha froze instantly, as though he were trapped in an ice cer. "Please spare me, Your Majesty! I spoke out of anger while enraged with Xiao Nanfeng, but I promise I never said anything about being on equal footing with you! Please, Your Majesty!"


    "What I heard was not your speaking out of anger," Madam Rouge replied coolly.


    The Peach Buddha froze. Madam Rouge had heard it for herself? With her own ears? How was he to plead innocence now?

 Chapter 468: Slaying the Peach Buddha

    <h4>Chapter 468: ying the Peach Buddha</h4>


    The Peach Buddha knelt before Madam Rouge, knowing that any dissembling would be fruitless. He suddenly raised his head, a vicious look in his eyes. "Go!"


    Twelve Yanluo Lords emerged from behind the Peach Buddha and shot straight toward Madam Rouge.


    "As expected, you do intend to rebel. Now, die," Madam Rougemanded.


    She pointed her finger at the Peach Buddha''s forehead so rapidly that he wasn''t able to react. It pierced straight through his flesh, causing the twelve Yanluo Lords to freeze as though they had lost their consciousness. Then, they morphed into twelve ancient, weathered pages of parchment and floated to the ground.


    The Peach Buddha had lost any ability to move, but hadn''t yet died. In fright, he shouted, "Please spare me, Your Majesty!"


    "I must have given you so much that you''ve forgotten who to be loyal to. You were only granted your undying body thanks to my cursed spiritual power¡ªbut since you intend to rebel against me, there''s no reason for me to leave you alive. Begone!"


    "No!" the Peach Buddha cried out.


    His entire body was lit ame by a burst of pink fire. He screamed once before his soul waspletely burned away. His body dissipated amidst the pink mes.


    "Is the Peach Buddha dead?" Xiao Nanfeng asked from close by.


    "He is. Good riddance," Madam Rouge replied, displeased.


    With a wave of her hand, the twelve ancient pieces of parchment flew toward her hand¡ªbefore a cloud of ck fog surged toward her.


    "Who dares?!" Madam Rouge called out. She punched at the unwee fog, causing it to scatter and revealing a huge Yanluo Court. The Yanluo Court descended from the skies and swallowed her up. Peach blossoms scattered around the outskirts of the Yanluo Court.


    "What a beautiful woman you are. So you were the cursed king that granted the Peach Buddha his cursed spiritual avatar¡ªno wonder you were able to get rid of him in an instant. Unfortunately, within this hidden realm, you''re only able to use the strength of a Heaven Immortal," a familiar voice began.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned his head to see the Netherworld Pope appear in the air above the Yanluo Court.


    "Die, Netherworld Pope!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    He manipted the Heaven''s Hands to attack him.


    "Don''t make a move, Xiao Nanfeng, or that beauty will lose her life." The Netherworld Pope sneered.


    The Heaven''s Hands halted not far from the Netherworld Pope, not daring to forge forward. One of the hands swooped down and grabbed the twelve ancient pieces of parchment.


    "That''s right. If you don''t want her to die, listen obediently to me."


    "How did you enter this space?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    "I''ve been in here for a hundred thousand years. Do you really think I did nothing during that period of time? It''s trivial for me to enter. As for you, I wouldn''t have expected you to be able to manipte the Heaven''s Hands within just a month. Was it that woman who helped you out? As strong as she is, though, I''ve trapped her now."


    "Let her go, or else!"


    "Oh? And what makes you think you can threaten me? Hand me the twelve pages of the Earthly Branches, or I''ll kill her."


    Madam Rouge scoffed. "Kill whom?"


    "You aren''t trapped?" The Netherworld Pope''s eyes opened wide as he turned to his Yanluo Court.


    "An iplete cursed spiritual avatar, trapping me? What a joke!" Madam Rouge''s voice was transmitted through the peach blossoms all around the Yanluo Court.


    They suddenly bloomed and multiplied without end, drowning the Yanluo Court in flowers.


    "You''re trying to devour my cursed spiritual avatar? Dream on!" The Netherworld Pope dashed to his Yanluo Court, only to have the Heaven''s Hands in the air reach toward him.


    "Break!" The Netherworld Pope threw a punch at the Heaven''s Hands,


    causing one to explode while the others swarmed him. Knowing that he couldn''t drag out this fight, he tossed another Yanluo Court at the sea of peach blossoms.


    "One Yanluo Court within another!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    The second Yanluo Courtpletely enclosed the first, including the sea of peach blossoms surrounding it.


    He then struck at the other Heaven''s Hands that approached him, causing them to explode one by one. The explosions surged through the sea of blood-colored clouds, but the unusual space was able to absorb much of the resulting shockwaves.


    At the same time, he waved a hand. "Heavenly Stems,mand the Earthly Branches!"


    The Heaven''s Hand that held onto the twelve pages of the Earthly Branches suddenly exploded in a huge wave of energy. The twelve pages had somehow transformed back into the forms of the twelve Yanluo Lords.


    "Come over here and help me restrain these Heaven''s Hands," the Netherworld Popemanded.


    "Understood!" The twelve Yanluo Lords flew into the air.


    "Stop them!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Got it!" Ye Dafu and the others replied.


    Ye Dafu''s crew of twelve golden cultivators stepped forward and blocked the path of the twelve Yanluo Lords.


    "Ye Dafu, you''ll pay for this!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    "Twelve Yanluo Lords, you say? They haven''t yet recovered from the damage they incurred. They''re still too weak," Madam Rouge called out.


    "Even two Yanluo Courtsbined can''t trap you?!"


    The peach blossoms continued to multiply without end until they had overwhelmed the second Yanluo Court as well.


    "I''m surprised you''re willing to part with these Yanluo Courts. Do you think they would suffice to take me on?" Madam Rouge scoffed again.


    "A third¡ªno, a fourth Yanluo Court! Go!"


    Another two Yanluo Courts flew into the sea of peach blossoms and began to devour them en masse.


    "Netherworld Pope, aren''t you worried you''ll grow weaker if you remove those Yanluo Courts from your body?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coolly.


    "I have far more than enough energy within those Yanluo Courts to deal with you. Even if I were to be divested of all my Yanluo Courts, I wouldn''t grow a single whit weaker. I''ve already finished off all the Heaven''s Hands, so there''s nothing you can do against me now."


    The Heaven''s Hands all exploded¡ªbefore quickly regenerating andunching themselves at the Netherworld Pope again.


    "What? This can''t be. How are they regenerating so quickly? Have you managed to modify the constraints within the crystal wall?!"


    "Release Madam Rouge!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The ten Heaven''s Hands shrank in size, but their strength remained unchanged. They attacked the Netherworld Pope one after another. Combined, they were so strong that even the Netherworld Pope was forced back time and again.


    "I don''t need any help. I''ll be able to free myself in no time," Madam Rouge said.


    The Netherworld Pope stared at his Yanluo Courts in shock. "Impossible! Are four Yanluo Courts insufficient to trap you? Seven, then! Attack!"


    He tossed out another three Yanluo Courts at the sea of peach blossoms. This time, they glowed with radiant light and resonated with the four Yanluo Courts already present to form a particrly impressive formation that enclosed all the peach blossoms.


    "This isn''t enough, Netherworld Pope! Is this all you can do?" Madam Rouge called out.


    The peach blossoms reduplicated, pressing back against the seven Yanluo Courts'' formation.


    The Netherworld Pope nched. He sneered. "You''re just trying to act casual, aren''t you? You must already be close to your limits. Two more Yanluo Courts, then¡ªa ninefold formation! Seal!"


    The Netherworld Pope tossed his two final Yanluo Courts at Madam Rouge, then gathered all the Heaven''s Hands around him to ensure that none of them could help her out. The Yanluo Courts sealed the peach blossoms fully.


    "Netherworld Pope, don''t you care about these Yanluo Courts? Why would you toss them all at me?" Madam Rouge asked.


    "I reimed the energy that I stored within these Yanluo Courts eons ago, and the Yanluo Courts themselves are of limited use to me. But will you still be able to break free, I wonder?" The Netherworld Pope sneered.


    "And what makes you think that that was my limit? Peach blossoms, surge!" Madam Rougemanded.


    Countless peach blossoms soared into the air and surrounded the nine Yanluo Courts. Madam Rouge seemed to have won out readily.


    Even so, the Netherworld Pope didn''t panic. He smirked as though this was all part of his n. "I don''t know if you''re actually at your limits, but I wanted you to believe that I thought you were. You really are impressive to be able to withstand thebined might of nine Yanluo Courts. However, are you aware of a special characteristic they possess? They''re pages of the Heavenly Stems of the Records of Life and Death, which govern death itself. I''ve sent them all out toward you in order to cause them to self-destruct all at once. You''ve fallen for my trap. Now, die!"


    Just like he had done with the Peach Buddha, the Netherworld Pope caused his avatars to explode, destroying the Heavenly Stems and killing Madam Rouge along with them. He intended to cripple her in a single blow.


    Strangely enough, however, the Yanluo Courts didn''t explode this time around.


    "What''s going on? Why can''t I sense my Yanluo Courts? What have you done?!" the Netherworld Pope demanded.


    He shot toward the sea of peach blossoms in shock, but the Heaven''s Hands struck him all at once and prevented him from drawing near.


    "Ha! Netherworld Pope, we''ve been trying to n out how to deal with you these few days. We came up with quite a few strategies to counter you, but we haven''t even had time to adopt them before you came up with this idiotic idea of separating yourself from your cursed spiritual avatars. Are you crazy?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly jeered.


    "What? Did you capture the Peach Buddha expecting that I would be able to enter this space? Were you putting on an act all along?!" the Netherworld Pope cried out, realizing what was going on.


    "You should have paid us more careful attention. It''s obvious that you would fall prey to your enemies'' schemes if you don''t know anything about them."


    "Impossible. The explosion of my nine Yanluo Courts would have been enough to secure victory. How did you disrupt my connection with them? No¡ªyou must have interfered with it somehow instead. The only thing that could do so is another Yanluo Court. Could it be... Could you have the tenth Yanluo Court?!"

 Chapter 469: Attuning to the Records of Life and Death

    <h4>Chapter 469: Attuning to the Records of Life and Death</h4>


    "How could you possess the Dragon Yanluo''s Yanluo Court? This is impossible!" the Netherworld Pope howled.


    "The truth is right before your eyes. What''s so impossible about it?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Peach Buddha was able to pass between his main body and avatar through his mental world, and Madam Rouge was naturally able to do the same. A few days ago, she had gone to retrieve the tenth Yanluo Court.


    Ten Heaven''s Hands bombarded the Netherworld Pope with attacks.


    "I was the top cultivator in the world a hundred thousand years ago. Do you think the likes of you can deal with me? Die!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    From close by, within the sea of peach blossoms, Madam Rouge scoffed. "As if that''s all that impressive. I too held that title in my prime."


    The Netherworld Pope: ...


    "Netherworld Pope, the fact that you were unable to free yourself from captivity even after a hundred thousand years shows yourck of skill. Even if you were to be freed, you could never take over the world."


    "Nonsense! If my cursed spiritual avatar were whole, the likes of you would never be able to deal with me. The world belongs to me!"


    "You lost your cursed spiritual avatar after just a short bout of fighting. What right do you have to such a im?"


    "Victory has yet to be decided. Don''t getcent just yet!"


    He continued to defend against the ten Heaven''s Hands as he tried to recall his nine Yanluo Courts, but Madam Rouge hadpletely blocked off his connection to them. He wasn''t able to manipte them at all.


    He then looked expectantly at the twelve Yanluo Lords, only to see Ye Dafu and the others holding them back. Not only that, Blue Lantern had activated the Formation of the Complete Heavens from afar, trapping them all within a starlit barrier.


    The twelve Yanluo Lords were strong, but Ye Dafu and his crew were sturdier.


    "Come on, punch the left side of my face! Don''t just focus on the right side, or the swelling will be uneven!"


    "Hit me harder! If you don''t, I''ll start hitting you instead!"


    "Haven''t you eaten? It doesn''t even hurt. Harder!"


    The twelve golden cultivators harangued their opponents as they fought until they were at a loss as to what to do. However, with the starlit barrier trapping them and the twelve golden cultivators holding them back, they were unable to help the Netherworld Pope at all.


    The Netherworld Pope cursed. He had invested a tremendous supply of energy into his Yanluo Courts in eons past, but much of that energy had been drained by the natural passage of time. A sizable portion remained, but it was hardly infinite. On the other hand, the Heaven''s Hands weren''t weakening. When one was destroyed, another reced it. The energy that was released by the explosion was absorbed by the sea of blood-colored clouds, dramatically reducing the fraction that was wasted.


    The fighting continued for three whole days until the Netherworld Pope finally broke down. No matter how strong he was, he couldn''t bear the relentless assault from the Heaven''s Hands for such a prolonged period of time. He grew weaker and weaker, his body turning translucent, then transparent.


    He attempted to rush toward the sea of peach blossoms, only to have the Heaven''s Hands corral him back. He attempted to flee, but was unable to do so at all.


    "I won''t let you go, Xiao Nanfeng. When I regenerate once again, I''ll kill you!" the Netherworld Pope roared.


    Then,pressed between the palms of two Heaven''s Hands, he was popped with a bang.


    The Netherworld Pope''s cursed soul had been vanquished.


    Quickly thereafter, the twelve Yanluo Lords turned back into twelve ancient pages of parchment, their agency lost.


    Meanwhile, the sea of peach blossomspletely took over the gathered Yanluo Courts, then drew back to reveal Madam Rouge''s figure. Ten more pages of parchment were in her hand. With a graceful sweep of her arm, she summoned the twelve pages from afar.


    "We''ve done it! Killing the Netherworld Pope took a few days, but we''re still on schedule."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Shall we prepare to get started?"


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, thenmanded, "Ye Dafu, head to the cities of the Netherworld Pce. Contact the cultivators of the alliance and have them focus on safeguarding the civilians. Once I finish up here, I''ll seek them out."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent them out of the sea of blood-colored clouds, then turned to Blue Lantern. "Blue Lantern, I''ll have you take charge of the formation around me."


    "Understood!"


    "Let me in," Madam Rouge said.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated his candleme powers and opened a passageway into the crystal for her.


    "The Records of Life and Deathprise the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches. Are you aware of how tobine them with your Sky of Ten Suns?" Madam Rouge confirmed.


    "The ten golden crows shall each be paired with the ten pages of the Earthly Branches so that their bodies will remain even in death. The twelve pages of the Earthly Branches will be fused with my dantian. The Earthly Branches govern life, and can allow the golden crows to regenerate in my dantian when destroyed."


    "Good." Madam Rouge nodded.


    She handed the twenty-two pages of the Records to Xiao Nanfeng, who absorbed them into his dantian. Each golden crow pecked a page of the Heavenly Stems, while the twelve pages of the Earthly Branches formed a ring iid within his dantian.


    "Let''s start," Madam Rouge said.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated his candleme powers again. A passageway outside manifested before him. He wouldn''t have been able to get out on his own, but Madam Rouge could shove him out.


    The moment he was sent out of the crystalw, the energy of naturalw deposited by the heavens surged toward him like a river. The ten Heaven''s Hands flew over, intending to seal him within the crystal once more.


    "Activate the formation, Blue Lantern!" Madam Rougemanded.


    "Understood!"


    Blue Lantern manipted the formation that had been erected prior and invoked the energy of naturalw of the hidden realm atrge. Meanwhile, Madam Rouge plucked at the blood-colored pinpricks of light in the interior of the crystal, as though modifying thews within.


    Near-infinite energy flooded into Xiao Nanfeng''s body and transformed him into a blood-colored cocoon.


    The entire sea of blood-colored clouds began to rumble from the transfer of so much energy.


    All over the Netherworld Pce, dark clouds filled the sky. Howling gales formed; the earth quaked and the mountains shook. An apocalypse seemed to draw near.


    The civilians began to panic.


    "An earthquake? Are the skies about to copse? Are the heavens trying to kill us?!"


    "We''re done for. The apocalypse is here! Are we all going to die within the Netherworld Pce?"


    "I don''t want to die!"


    Countless civilians and cultivators of the alliance looked up at the skies in despair.


    Just then, a loud shout came from afar.


    "All cultivators of the alliance, on City Lord Xiao''s orders, remain calm! Immediately protect the civilians around you. The disturbance will clear up shortly. Once it''s over, City Lord Xiao will personally hold an audience with all of you to discuss future matters."


    Ye Dafu and his crew were spreading this message far and wide across the manifold cities of the Netherworld Pce.


    When the cultivators of the alliance heard these words, they rxed, stepped forward, and began to maintain order among the civilians.


    The civilians themselves gradually calmed down.


    Meanwhile, figures hidden all throughout the mountains and forests in the realm were being sucked into the air.


    "No!"


    "Help!"


    These figures were no bystanders, but rather cursed effigies.


    The ten Yanluo Lords had fallen, but not all of their subordinates had been killed. The majority that remained had been in hiding before the Records sensed their presence and began to absorb them all.


    The disturbance continued for a day and a night before it finally subsided. After that, the whole world seemed different.


    The Netherworld Pce had initially been covered by countless dark clouds, and the weather used to be persistently dark and gloomy. Now, however, all those dark clouds were gone. Sunlight illuminated the cities as the civilians gasped.


    "How bright the skies are!"


    "Is this sunlight? There''s so much sunlight! To think it''s warm when it strikes our bodies..."


    "Is the apocalypse over? Has a new world arrived?"


    The civilians were gobsmacked by the transformation that they now beheld, struck by the beauty and radiance of the sun and the natural world. This was the first time they had seen the world so bright.

 Chapter 470: Prelude to Farewell

    <h4>Chapter 470: Prelude to Farewell</h4>


    The dark clouds in the Netherworld Pce had vanished and were now reced by warm sunlight.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged in the sky in meditation. Beside him stood Madam Rouge, a somewhat tired expression on her face. Clearly, helping him attune to the Records of Life and Death hadn''t been an easy undertaking.


    With a huff, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes wide.


    "Well? How many of your golden crows perished?" Madam Rouge asked urgently.


    "What do you mean, how many perished?"


    "When youbined them with the Heavenly Stems, of course. If you''re even the slightest bit careless, your golden crows will be destroyed during the process. Your cultivation has advanced incredibly quickly, and I suspect your foundations aren''t as sturdy as they could be. You likely only had a one in ten chance of linking each of your golden crows to a page of the Heavenly Stems. As far as probability goes, you should only have managed one undying crow, or perhaps two if you''re lucky. But don''t worry. Even if you failed, you can start over. Two undying crows would be far preferable to ten that might perish at any time," Madam Rouge consoled.


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows. "You thought the sess rate would be low from the beginning?"


    "I was worried that you would be too attached to your golden crows to attempt the experiment¡ªno, the breakthrough¡ªso I hid it from you. It was all for your own good, I promise," Madam Rouge said.


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent after giving her an odd look.


    "You... couldn''t have failed with all your crows, could you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. Ten golden crows flew out from his body and into the air.


    The ten suns caused the air to grow dry and arid. The temperature around them rose rapidly, and thekewater down below quickly began to evaporate.


    "You seeded with them all? How?!" Madam Rouge eximed.


    "I have a strong foundation, of course. Is this surprising? It''s not as though it''s my first time melding my cultivation with cursed effigies."


    It was Madam Rouge''s time to frown. Having a strong foundation would boost the rate of sess, but a strong foundation alone didn''t guarantee anything. Even she wouldn''t be confident in her ability to sessfully link all his golden crows in one go. How had Xiao Nanfeng managed it? Just how strong was his foundation?


    "Let me have a look," Madam Rouge nudged him, excitedly pping at one of his golden crows.


    The golden crow''s body crunched as it turned to her and gave her a furious look.


    "Didn''t I use enough strength? Again!" Madam Rouge prepared another palm technique.


    "No need for all that trouble. Explode!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The golden crow exploded in a frightening burst of me that turned the sky incandescent. Madam Rouge''s palm technique shattered.


    "You really dared to do it?" Madam Rouge murmured, an odd look on her face.


    The mes into which the golden crow had transformed quickly surged toward his dantian, which reformed into the shape of a golden crow.


    Then, with a loud caw, the reborn golden crow flew out of his dantian.


    "They can regenerate that quickly after exploding? The Records of Life and Death is truly powerful," Madam Rouge praised.


    Xiao Nanfeng returned the ten golden crows to his dantian with the wave of an arm.


    "Causing these golden crows to explode and reform drains some of my energy, but not much. It''s an eptable cost," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You''ll have to thank me well, then," Madam Rouge replied, raising her chin.


    "How?"


    "Why don''t you sing me another song?" Madam Rouge smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark. "There aren''t more."


    He''d die from embarrassment if he were to sing any more of those mushy love songs out loud!


    "I''m right about to leave. Won''t you do me this one favor?" Madam Rouge pretended to be upset.


    "Leave? Where to?"


    "Didn''t I tell you? I have ten empires in the west that are about tobine into a divine empire. I have to return and direct its growth."


    "Don''t you have an avatar?"


    "I don''t. I don''t like operating two bodies at once. Cultivators who do have a tendency to develop multiple personality disorder and go crazy, and I want to preserve the sanctity of my mind."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. <i>Is she calling me crazy?</i>


    "Don''t worry, I''m not trying to insinuate anything. Some people are born like this; you can think of it like a talent," Madam Rouge consoled.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    <i>It would have been better if you hadn''t tried to console me...</i>


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately changed the subject. "Where''s Blue Lantern? Wasn''t he helping me attune to the Records with you? Where did he go?"


    "He headed to the mouth of the abyss. You absorbed all the energy that the heavens left in this realm, so leaving might be a problem. Blue Lantern should be able to resolve that issue. As for you, don''t change the subject. Will you sing for me, or not?"


    "I will, but as you know, it wouldn''t be a good look for me to sing such sentimental love songs in public. Why don''t we switch locations?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested, a wry smile on his face.


    "Oh? How?"


    "Head to my avatar, and I''ll sing to you that way. How''s that?"


    Madam Rouge hummed, then smiled. "You''re worried that the ck lotus and superior yin pearl will overhear, aren''t you? Very well. I''ll head to your avatar''s side so they can''t listen in."


    Madam Rouge happily vanished from sight, darting into Xiao Nanfeng''s mental world and toward his avatar.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He knew how busy monarchs were, and Madam Rouge had dropped all her work to apany him for almost a month. He had to pay back this favor. Furthermore, Madam Rouge had arrived by his side within just two hours of his summons. It was evident she cared greatly for him.


    A few songs was a small price to pay in light of what she had done.


    He nced around and, seeing that there was no one, flew toward the mouth of the abyss.


    There, he found Blue Lantern deep in thought.


    "What''s wrong, Blue Lantern?"


    "Your Majesty, after we leave the abyss, I''m afraid we won''t be able to return in the short term."


    "Oh?"


    "The mouth of the abyss is unlocked using the strength of the heavens, which have now been consumed. Only a bare skeleton of naturalw remains in this realm. After the next full moon, no one will be able to enter it."


    "We can''t leave, then?"


    "We can. I can take advantage of the Formation of the Complete Heavens to provide some energy to these naturalws. When the timees, the mouth of the abyss will copse, but there''ll be a short window of opportunity within which we can escape. Once we do, however, we won''t be able to return."


    "So this hidden realm will be inessible from then on?"


    "In a few years, when I grow a little stronger, I''ll be able to use a formation to open a passageway into this realm from the outside."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "In that case, we can leave, but we can''t bring arge batch of people with us?"


    The internal space of the Divine Seal of Dazheng would be able to fit arge group of cultivators, but he didn''t want anyone else to enter it, and didn''t intend to use this strategy to bring them out.


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    "In that case, startying out the formation. The next full moon will be in just a few days'' time. We''ll leave at that point."


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    After settling matters with Blue Lantern, Xiao Nanfeng headed in search of Ye Dafu and his crew.


    Two dayster, in the city of Wuliu, a space was cleared where the governor''s manor had been.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood at the center of the space, Ye Dafu and his other subordinates beside him. Before them were almost a thousand cultivators of the alliance.


    "Thank you for your warning, City Lord Xiao." The cultivators bowed respectfully.


    A month ago, those cultivators who had listened to Xiao Nanfeng and chosen not to head to the mouth of the abyss all survived. The rest of them had all perished at the Rabbit Yanluo''s hands. When the cultivators learned of the truth, they were all overjoyed that they had made the right decision.


    "Ye Dafu has told me that you''ve all been helping the civilians around here over the past few days," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Yes, City Lord Xiao! We''ve been teaching them how to cultivate as well," one cultivator reported.


    "Very well done."


    The cultivators rxed.


    "You must have felt the disturbance a few days ago," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "We did, City Lord Xiao, but we didn''t know who was fighting."


    "I thought it was the apocalypse!"


    "I thought the ten Yanluo Lords came back to life."


    "City Lord Xiao, are the cursed effigies making a move again?"


    The cultivators murmured to each other in worry.


    "Rx. From now on, there will be no cursed effigies in this realm," Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    "Oh?" The cultivators'' eyes lit up.


    "However, because of the intense fighting, the mouth of the abyss has been damaged. Only a few cultivators can make it out, and the rest of you won''t be able to leave in the short term."


    "What?" The cultivators looked at each other in worry.


    "City Lord Xiao, will you be leaving? Can you take us with you?" one cultivator begged.


    Many people instantly looked toward Xiao Nanfeng hopefully.


    "There''s no rush. In a few years'' time, I''ll open up a passageway out of the abyss once more. Everyone will be free then."


    "A few years'' time?!"


    "Many of you have spent generations in here. What''s a few more years? There aren''t any cursed effigies left, and none of you will be in danger."


    The cultivators nced at each other, but there was nothing they could do.


    "We will await your return, City Lord Xiao," one cultivator began.


    "We will await your return, City Lord Xiao!" others echoed.


    "I promise I''ll return," Xiao Nanfeng said, then continued seriously, "Although the cursed effigies are gone, I expect none of you tomit evil or seize power by force. In a few years'' time, when I open a passageway into the abyss again, I''ll assign my subordinates to check on your behavior within the past few years. Those who have acted virtuously will be able to leave at will; others I intend to execute."


    The cultivators shivered, but they quickly schooled themselves. "Understood, City Lord Xiao!"


    "Those who go above and beyond, on the other hand, shall be rewarded. For kindness and virtue, for instructing civilians, I will grant you all tremendous opportunities."


    "Thank you, City Lord Xiao!" The cultivators bowed.

 Chapter 471: Stepping out of the Netherworld Palace

    <h4>Chapter 471: Stepping out of the Netherworld Pce</h4>


    It was soon the next full moon.


    Escorted by countless cultivators of the alliance, Xiao Nanfeng and his group arrived at the mouth of the abyss.


    As the moon rose high overhead and illuminated the abyss, a few dark clouds appeared in the air¡ªbut no Heaven''s Hand. The barest outline of a hand could be seen, but no more.


    "Did something really go wrong with the mouth of the abyss? We can''t get out!"


    "City Lord Xiao was telling the truth..."


    Countless cultivators nced at each other in despair.


    Just then, 361 glowing stars appeared in the sky. Blue Lantern was activating the Formation of the Complete Heavens.


    "Your Majesty, I''m going to start infusing starlight into the remnant naturalws in the vicinity. Please get ready."


    "Got it!"


    With a wave of Blue Lantern''s hand, starlight descended from the heavens and struck the outline of the ghostly hand around the abyss.


    As it absorbed the starlight, it turned blue¡ªa gigantic palmposed of blue light that looked identical to Heaven''s Hand, but with a different shade of color.


    "The mouth of the abyss has opened up!"


    A passageway opened up between its fingers, but it was clearly unstable. The space within was distorted, and it looked as though it might copse at any moment.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He and his subordinates flew into the air and into the unstable passageway.


    The moment they did so, they felt tremendous pressure all around them, forcing them to activate their qi barriers. Even so, those barriers distorted rapidly.


    The cultivators far below gasped at the sight. Some who were nning to brave the opportunity to escape immediately gave up. They were far too weak to withstand the perils of the passageway.


    After Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates vanished from sight, the giant blue hand suddenly exploded in a firestorm. The clouds high up in the sky werepletely obliterated, and the 361 stars vanished from sight.


    Despite their distance from the explosion, the cultivators on the ground were scattered like bowling pins from the force of the impact. They mbered back up only after the explosion had dissipated in full.


    "Is City Lord Xiao gone?" someone murmured.


    "He said he woulde back in a few years'' time to reopen the passageway," another said.


    "What if he doesn''t?"


    "I''m sure he will. It took him just two months to kill all the Yanluo Lords and all the cursed effigies in this realm. Do you dare im that he won''t?!" the second cultivator thundered.


    "I¡ª"


    "I believe that City Lord Xiao is a man of his word. All of you felt the repercussions of the battle that took ce a few days ago. I don''t know what exactly happened, but it''s clear that thatmotion resulted in the deaths of all cursed effigies in this realm. City Lord Xiaomanded us to follow the precepts of virtue andw before he departed. None of you have forgotten, have you? I will stand against any who decide to call themselves tyrants."


    Many gave him a sharp look.


    The cultivator continued, "I rmend that we inform the people of the Netherworld Pce about City Lord Xiao''s exploits. He was the one who rescued them from the ten Yanluo Lords'' tyranny, and City Lord Xiao ought to receive the gratitude and reverence of these civilians. He might as well be their savior."


    "You''re trying to get on Xiao Nanfeng''s good side just for the opportunity he promised in a few years'' time, aren''t you?" someone called out.


    "And so what? I don''t deny it. Isn''t it true that City Lord Xiao has saved all of us in this realm? I firmly believe that he will return, and the people''s gratitude will provide him with fortune. He won''t forget us. I intend to erect statues of City Lord Xiao in every major city so that he can be venerated by the people. Who will apany me?"


    "I will! City Lord Xiao has saved us multiple times. Let me help repay my debt to him!"


    "I will too!"


    "I will too!"


    Many cultivators volunteered to help erect statues of Xiao Nanfeng and exin the situation to the people of the Netherworld Pce. A few of the more ambitious cultivators held back, seeing that the tide had turned against them.


    Perhaps in a few more years in Xiao Nanfeng''s continued absence, some among these cultivators would be warlords in their own right, but at the moment, none could go against the will of the many.


    Outside the mouth of the abyss in the aboveworld were arge number of strong cultivators.


    By the peak of a nearby mountain, the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci, stared grimly at the mouth of the abyss with a group of his subordinates in tow.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, for killing my subordinates and my avatar... A full moon rises tonight. This time, I won''t let you off." Yin Tianci sneered.


    "Your Highness, the moon is rising. The mouth of the abyss is about to open up," one of his subordinates called out.


    Yin Tianci inclined his head to see the moon illuminating the abyss.


    "Get ready!" one cultivator called out.


    The cultivators drew their swords and pointed them at the abyss, but it was eerily silent. Nothing seemed to happen.


    One cultivator stepped forward to investigate. He nched. "Your Highness, something is wrong with the abyss. It doesn''t seem to be connected to the Netherworld Pce!"


    "Impossible. Go down and have a look." Yin Tianci frowned.


    "Understood!"


    Some of the cultivators drummed up their courage and leaped into the abyss, but jumped back up shortly after.


    "There''s no passageway. Just like during the day, it''s a huge pit with nothing but dirt and rocks below."


    "Impossible! A full moon rises tonight. Why wouldn''t the portal open up? Check more carefully!" Yin Tianci refused to believe his subordinates.


    The cultivators repeatedly checked the abyssal pit, but it was fruitless.


    Just then, a burst of blue light came from the mouth of the abyss.


    "Something''s wrong. Get ready!"


    The cultivators all around drew their weapons once more.


    Yin Tianci and his subordinates watched on as the blue light distorted and flickered. The interior of the abyss seemed to be quaking; a huge rumbling could be heard as well.


    Then, dozens of figures emerged from the abyss, apanied by an explosion that formed a ming tempest around them. The cultivators guarding the abyss shrieked and retreated.


    After the tempest dissipated and the mouth of the abyss returned to its original state, the cultivators'' identities were revealed to one and all.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? I''ve been waiting for you. You''ve finally made it out!" Yin Tianci shed him an evil grin.

 Chapter 472: A Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court

    <h4>Chapter 472: A Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court</h4>


    At the mouth of the abyss, when Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates emerged to see themselves surrounded by arge group of cultivators, he instantly homed in on their leader, Yin Tianci, high on a mountain''s peak.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? I''ve been waiting for you. You''ve finally made it out!" Yin Tianci shed him an evil grin.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "Yin Tianci, what arge group of subordinates you''ve brought with you. Afraid you''ll lose to me again?"


    "Are you afraid now, then?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "Hardly. It''s just a pity that you''ll have wasted your time."


    "It won''t be a waste at all. You''ll regret having provoked me!" Yin Tianci steadily raised his right hand as all his subordinates pointed their weapons at Xiao Nanfeng. The moment Yin Tianci gave the signal, they would attack him.


    "That''s not what I meant. You simply won''t have a chance to strike, you see." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Nonsense. Kill him!" Yin Tiancimanded.


    "Attack!" the cultivators shouted, charging at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, a voice came from afar. "Hold it!"


    Everyone turned to see a group of courtly officials on a white cloud that was rapidly flying toward the scene.


    "Ignore them. Attack!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    The cultivators charged toward Xiao Nanfeng once again.


    "I said, hold it! Are you deaf? Blizzard, rise!" One of the cultivators on the cloud made his move.


    A man summoned a howling blizzard that froze whatever it touched.


    Yin Tianci''s bodyguards fended off the frost, but those cultivators charging toward Xiao Nanfeng were entirely unprepared. They were instantly struck by the blizzard. Some were able to activate a qi barrier, but those barriers instantly shattered as the cultivators were frozen into statues of ice.


    A few cultivators managed to break their way free and immediately chose to charge toward Yin Tianci to protect him.


    Yin Tianci and his subordinates finally looked toward the cultivators that were flying over.


    The cultivator who hadunched the blizzard was a handsome man in white robes, surrounded by an aura of frost. He had frozen the bulk of Yin Tianci''s subordinates.


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost?" Yin Tianci eximed.


    The man red coldly at Yin Tianci. "Did you not hear mymand? Do you want to die?"


    Yin Tianci nched. He quashed his simmering rage and bowed. "I did not see you, Martial Aspect. My apologies."


    The Martial Aspect nced askance at Yin Tianci before ignoring him. He turned to a father-daughter pair standing by his side, the Heaven division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Zhang Feifan, and his daughter, Zhang Lingjun.


    "Princess, Sir Zhang, it looks like the man you''ve been waiting for is here." The Martial Aspect smiled.


    "Thank you, Martial Aspect of Silverfrost." Zhang Feifan bowed.


    Zhang Lingjun only nodded her head briefly.


    Then, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost turned to Xiao Nanfeng and considered him curiously.


    A group of cultivators slowly flew over to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Division Leader Zhang, thank you for your assistance." Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward Zhang Feifan.


    "It''s not a problem, Division Leader Xiao. You had Zhao Yuanjiao find me a month ago stating that you had uncovered how the Martial Aspect of Sunz died and were requesting my support. I understood that you were in danger then. We petitioned the Heavenly Emperor to provide official assistance. He sent our group over to verify your report and support you. My daughter, Lingjun, shall judge the truth of your words, and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost is to guard us," Zhang Feifan exined.


    "I greet Princess Lingjun and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stared at Xiao Nanfeng without greeting.


    "How goes your investigation?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "I''ve found the culprit and avenged the Martial Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He retrieved a coffin and ced it before the delegation.


    "What''s this?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "The reason the Martial Aspect of Sunze died. A month ago, I passed my report to Division Leader Zhang, and I''m sure you''ve all read it. This is his corpse."


    "Inspect it!" Zhang Lingjunmanded.


    "Understood!" A group of officials walked out from behind her and immediately stepped forward to inspect the corpse of the Martial Aspect of Sunze. They retrieved a few special artifacts to analyze his corpse before entering a meditative state.


    After some time, the officials opened their eyes once again. They conversed with each other, and one of them stepped forward.


    "Princess, we have confirmed that the Martial Aspect of Sunze died over half a year prior. After that, he was possessed by a cursed effigy until about a month ago. An intense fight left the corpse somewhat damaged, and the cursed effigy left his body. It has been preserved since."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how did you obtain the corpse of the Martial Aspect of Sunze?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "In the Netherworld Pce, I incited a fight between the Tiger and Ox Yanluos. Both Yanluo Lords were ultimately grievously wounded and they perished together. The Tiger Yanluo''s avatar, which had been possessing the Martial Aspect of Sunze, suffered a heavy blow as a result. I pressed the advantage and forced him out of the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s body before killing him on the battlefield."


    "Are you certain that the Tiger Yanluo has perished?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "This is the Tiger Yanluo''s imperial seal, which I managed to reim from the battlefield with significant difficulty." Xiao Nanfeng proffered a seal.


    The few officials from before stepped forward to inspect it before turning to Princess Lingjun. "Princess, Xiao Nanfeng is correct. The remnant traces of aura in this seal match those found on the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s corpse. The dissipative nature of this aura makes it clear that its owner has perished."


    Zhang Lingjun nced at the coffin. "Seal the coffin and return the Martial Aspect of Sunze to the Imperial Court."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    They carefully sealed the coffin and began to pack it up.


    Zhang Lingjun turned to Zhang Feifan. "I verify that Xiao Nanfeng has adequately identified the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s cause of death and avenged his killer. He may be granted the title of Martial Aspect."


    Zhang Feifan nodded and pulled out an imperial edict in resplendent gold. He proimed, "Xiao Nanfeng, receive this pronouncement!"


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed. "I, Xiao Nanfeng, am present."


    "By the will of the heavens, the Heavenly Emperor deres that Xiao Nanfeng, rmended by Princess Lingjun, has identified the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s cause of death and avenged him. For this meritorious deed, with Princess Lingjun as guarantor, Xiao Nanfeng is awarded the title of Martial Aspect as substitute for the deceased Martial Aspect of Sunze."


    "I thank the Heavenly Emperor!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply.


    "im this edict and the Martial Aspect''s charm," Zhang Feifan finished.


    A cultivator beside him stepped forward with a tray on which the edict was ced alongside a golden charm.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng touched the objects, a burst of golden light descended from the heavens and surrounded his body.


    "What an incredible quantity of fortune," he murmured.


    The fortune circled him, familiarizing itself with his aura, before retreating back toward the heavens.


    "Congrattions, Martial Aspect Xiao. We''ll berades-in-arms from now on." Zhang Feifan smiled.


    "Thank you, Division Leader Zhang." Xiao Nanfeng returned his smile.


    Then, he turned toward Yin Tianci, still close by. "Yin Tianci, do you see the truth of my words now? You''ve wasted your time. Of course, if you dare to kill a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, you can still try your luck."


    Yin Tianci frowned. His eyelids twitched. He was so mad that veins protruded from his forehead, but he could hardly strike in public.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, even if you''ve be a Martial Aspect, matters between us haven''t been settled," Yin Tianci gritted out. He turned to his subordinates. "Let''s go!"


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators of Dayin bundled up their frozen counterparts, flew into Fengdu, then vanished from sight.


    "Oh? Congrattions, Martial Lord Xiao. How lucky you''ve been!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smiled.


    "I''ve always been rather lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He could make out the Martial Aspect''s mocking tone, but he wasn''t angered.


    "I heard that you recently became an Immortal¡ªa Human Immortal, at that," the Martial Aspect continued.


    "Thanks to the simultaneous deaths of the Tiger and Ox Yanluos, I was able to advance to the realm of an Earth Immortal." Xiao Nanfeng smiled thinly.


    "An Earth Immortal? You must be the most unique of the seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court." The Martial Aspect gave him a mocking smile.


    "What do you mean, Martial Aspect of Silverfrost?"


    The Martial Aspect only smiled without further boration.


    Zhang Lingjun, to his side, began, "He means that your cultivation is simply too low. The lowest among the seventy-two, most likely."


    "Truly? That is rather unique." Xiao Nanfeng smiled as well.


    He had no interest in squabbling over something so meaningless. He would have to find an opportunity to school the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost in time, but that could wait.


    The Martial Aspect seemed slightly perplexed, not understanding the source of Xiao Nanfeng''s confidence. Did Xiao Nanfeng not understand that he was being mocked?


    "Division Leader Zhang, I''m sure you''ve heard of Division Leader Lan Jiguang''s death as well," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Zhang Feifan sighed. He nodded. "I''ve instructed someone to send word to the sect master. Lan Jiguang''s death was truly unexpected."


    "Have you not managed to contact the sect master yet?"


    "He should be aware of the news shortly. I''ve applied for leave and n to head to Taiqing Ind myself. Once the sect master returns, we''ll discuss what to do. You''ll have to head to the Imperial Court immediately to assume your duties. Have your avatar head to Taiqing Ind and join us in the discussions," Zhang Feifan suggested.


    "Understood! Allow my officials to guard you." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He briefly instructed Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s crew on his n, and they nodded.


    Zhang Feifan turned to Zhang Lingjun. "Lingjun, I won''t be able to return to the Imperial Court in the short term. Bring Xiao Nanfeng with you to assume his duties. I''m counting on you."


    "Don''t worry, Father." Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Feifan exchanged a few more words before Blue Lantern and Ye Dafu''s crew left with him.


    "Princess Lingjun, I hope I''m no bother."


    Zhang Lingjun gave Xiao Nanfeng a look filled with a hodgepodge of emotion. "In that case, let''s go."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Beside them, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost sniffed, his head held high, clearly looking down on Xiao Nanfeng. All his attention was on Zhang Lingjun.


    The trio left the mouth of the abyss on their white cloud.

 Chapter 473: The Taiqing Sects Blessing

    <h4>Chapter 473: The Taiqing Sect''s Blessing</h4>


    Yin Tianci and his subordinates scurried away from the mouth of the abyss and back into Fengdu.


    As they stood up in the watchtower of Fengdu, Yin Tianci stared murderously at the departing trio of cultivators.


    "Your Highness, now that Xiao Nanfeng is a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, we''ll have a hard time attacking him," one of his subordinates said.


    "Why would we? We simply have to ensure that no one knows it was us."


    "Do you really intend to kill him, Your Highness?"


    "That''s right. Why else would I depart? Not because I''m intending to give up, but because I couldn''t have struck out in the open. I can''t let the Imperial Court have any hold over me."


    "Your Highness, you intend to wait until there''s no one in sight before attacking?"


    "Criminals who have escaped from the Imperial Court must have struck them down. It''s none of our business," Yin Tianci replied.


    "Of course, Your Highness! As long as we don''t expose ourselves, we can control the narrative¡ªbut what about that Martial Aspect of Silverfrost?"


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost? He''s one of the weakest Martial Aspects, and I intend to find helpers. If we can''t handle it on our own, we can at least flee easily. The most important matter at hand is to kill Xiao Nanfeng and seize all that he possesses."


    "Understood!"


    "Let''s chase after Xiao Nanfeng. As for his subordinates, we can''t let them go, either. Send others to pursue and kill them¡ªand do it cleanly, you hear?"


    "Understood!"


    Two dayster, at sea, Zhang Feifan, Blue Lantern, and Ye Dafu''s crew headed swiftly toward Taiqing Ind.


    "You can keep up with me? Could you all have be Earth Immortals?" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    He had gradually been speeding up along the way. That Ye Dafu and his crew easily kept up shocked him.


    "Earth Immortals? We reached that realm a month ago. It''s hardly anything to be proud of."


    "Right, wouldn''t it be embarrassing if loyal followers of His Majesty like us failed to reach that realm?"


    "Right!"


    The cultivators preened under Zhang Feifan''s attention.


    Zhang Feifan wasn''t envious of the cultivators because of the rate at which they advanced. Rather, he smiled in good cheer. "Good, very good! It''s a true blessing that Xiao Nanfeng joined the Taiqing Immortal Sect. If you''re all Earth Immortals, then there really is hope for the revival of the Taiqing sect."


    Beside them, Blue Lantern suddenly frowned. "We''re being followed."


    "What?" Zhang Feifan widened his eyes.


    The group of cultivators stopped short and looked all around them. However, they were high above the sea. There was nothing to be seen.


    "Could you be mistaken?" Zhang Feifan asked.


    "If Blue Lantern said that we''re being followed, then we must be. He''s stronger than all of us," Ye Dafu said.


    "Oh?" Zhang Feifan was taken by surprise.


    Blue Lantern suddenly pointed toward the sky. "Over there."


    Everyone raised their heads at what seemed like a perfectly ordinary white cloud. Upon seeing Blue Lantern''s gesture, however, and realizing that they had been exposed, those within the cloud flew down.


    They appeared before the cultivators in the blink of an eye, surrounding them. They were all masked and radiating killing intent.


    "Their auras¡ªthey''re all Earth Immortals. Thirty of them?" Zhang Feifan nched.


    "You''re Blue Lantern, aren''t you? You''ve got good senses to be able to discover us. There''s just one way out for you. Submit to us and we''ll leave you alive," the leader of the masked cultivators said.


    Blue Lantern sneered, ignoring him.


    "We are officials of the Imperial Court. Do you intend to spark rebellion?!" Zhang Feifan demanded.


    "Ha! Sir Zhang, don''t you see that we''re all masked? Who would be aware of your deaths?" Their leaderughed.


    Zhang Feifan sent Ye Dafu and the others a mental transmission. "Let''s run! We''ll dive into the sea and scatter. Perhaps we''d be able to avoid them that way."


    Ye Dafu seemed disdainful. "Division Leader Zhang, surely there''s no need for such caution. Why should we flee from this ragtag bunch?"


    "What?" Zhang Feifan replied.


    "Brothers, take them down! Let''s see what treasures they''re hiding!" Ye Dafumanded.


    "Got it!" Ye Dafu''sckeys rubbed their palms with excitement.


    Zhang Feifan: ...


    The masked cultivators: ...


    This wasn''t how things were supposed to go! Just who was robbing whom?


    "Attack!" the leader of the masked cultivators called out.


    "Got it!" The masked cultivators shot toward Ye Dafu and the others.


    Ye Dafu''sckeys glowed with golden light as they strode forward.


    "Be careful!" Zhang Feifan cried out, drawing his de.


    "Division Leader Zhang, you enjoy a life of wealth and riches in the Imperial Court. You won''t fight us for this pittance, will you?" Ye Dafu cried out, immediately holding him back.


    Zhang Feifan: ... <i>You think I''m trying to get a portion of the loot? This is a fight to the death! They''re all Earth Immortal experts. Are you all trying to kill yourselves?!</i>


    The two groups of cultivators faced off against one another.


    The masked cultivators'' weapons struck the golden cultivators.


    "Be careful!" Zhang Feifan cried out.


    With a metallic nk, the weapons gave off a flurry of sparks as they slid across the cultivators'' bodies. The golden cultivators werepletely uninjured; the masked cultivators were taken aback.


    "You tore my clothes apart! I''ll kill you!" the golden cultivators raged, punching at the masked cultivators.


    They broke through their qi barriers immediately, and their punches headed right for the masked cultivators'' heads. Eleven masked cultivators'' heads exploded in a shower of blood and gore.


    "In one blow? How can this be?" The remaining masked cultivators gaped as the eleven golden cultivators charged toward their opponents.


    The leader of the masked cultivators raged, "Were you all pretending to be weak? Damn it!"


    An overwhelming aura spread out around him as the eleven golden cultivators were forced back.


    Zhang Feifan nched. "He''s a Heaven Immortal! None of us are a match for him. Hurry. We have to flee! I''ll destroy one of my Immortal relics to hold him off while we dive into the sea."


    "Don''t worry, I''m right here," Ye Dafu said. He strode forward and shouted, "Who''s pretending to be weak? I never feign weakness!"


    He punched at the leader of the masked cultivators, a howling tempest forming around him.


    "Ye Dafu''s a Heaven Immortal, too?" Zhang Feifan gaped.


    Ye Dafu''s punch shattered the enemy leader''s qi barrier and caved his head in. Blood sttered all over.


    "You''re still alive? Damn it. My brothers can each kill a cultivator with a single punch to the head. How could I have failed? Again!" Ye Dafu roared, charging forward once more.


    "No!" the enemy leader cried out.


    After a barrage of punches, Ye Dafu finally caused the enemy leader''s head to explode. He died on the spot.


    Meanwhile, the golden cultivators struck down the remaining masked cultivators. The few that remained turned and fled. They dove into the sea, making use of the strategy that Zhang Feifan had nned to adopt. They knew that they wouldn''t be able to escape through the air; only by fleeing via sea, where their pursuers'' vision would be obstructed, could they have any chance of escape.


    Most of the golden cultivators gave chase, diving into the sea as well. The few that remained began to clean up the battlefield in search of spoils.


    "Boss, we''re rich! Look at how wealthy these cultivators are!"


    "Don''t reveal that! Division Leader Zhang''s right here," Ye Dafu hollered.


    "Oh, right. Sorry, let me repeat myself. Boss, these people are so poor! There''s nothing in their storage treasures, nothing at all!"


    Zhang Feifan fell silent. <i>Do they think I''m deaf?</i>


    "Division Leader Zhang, don''t mind them, will you? They haven''t been cultivators for long, and they''re a little rough around the edges still. These masked cultivators are exceptionally poor. There''s no need for you to check their storage treasures," Ye Dafu said.


    He seemed very worried that Zhang Feifan would steal his loot.


    Zhang Feifan was silent for a moment, but then couldn''t resist asking, "Are you a Heaven Immortal now? And are the rest of them all peak Earth Immortals?"


    "That''s right. His Majesty prepared some cultivation resources for us. I was able to reach the realm of Heaven Immortal directly, but they''re a little less talented and just barely missed the breakthrough. It''s quite alright, though. Once we get back to Taiqing Ind, I''ll beat them daily until they be Heaven Immortals themselves.


    Zhang Feifan didn''t understand what beatings Ye Dafu was talking about, but he was overjoyed. "We have Heaven Immortals in the Taiqing Immortal Sect now. That''s wonderful news!"


    "There''ll be more," Ye Dafu promised.


    "Right, now that you''re a Heaven Immortal, you must be stronger than Xiao Nanfeng, too."


    Ye Dafu gave Zhang Feifan a strange look. "Are you joking? I would never be able to beat His Majesty."


    "What''s wrong? Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng an Earth Immortal still?"


    "His Majesty is an Earth Immortal, but his realm could hardly bepared to ours. Even if we all ganged up against him, we would be no match for him. It took me several punches to pummel that masked Heaven Immortal to death, but if His Majesty wanted to, he could easily deal with him in just a single blow," Ye Dafu said.


    "Could Xiao Nanfeng have reached the realm of True Yin?" Zhang Feifan eximed.


    "Ah, I didn''t say anything. You didn''t hear it from me. You guessed it yourself¡ªdon''t say I told you, either!" Ye Dafu distanced himself from Zhang Feifan.


    "True Yin? Impossible. How could he have..." Zhang Feifan trailed off before he began to beam. "This is incredible, an incredible blessing for the Taiqing sect!"

 Chapter 474: Three-Headed Serpent

    <h4>Chapter 474: Three-Headed Serpent</h4>


    Across the wide expanse of the sea flew Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    "Princess, I heard that the Imperial Court was constructed within the heavens. Is that true?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Indeed. We shall enter via the Eastern Gate."


    "Why does Yin Tianci seem to fear Martial Aspects to such a great extent? Allegedly, even the divine empire of Dayin must obey the orders of the Imperial Court. Is that true, too?"


    "Are you unfamiliar with what your new position entails?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    She gave him an odd look. She had spent much of her effort these past months vouching for him and attesting to his qualifications¡ªbut did Xiao Nanfeng not know what all this was for?


    "I''m aware of the basics, but don''t have sufficient understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of being a Martial Aspect. Please advise me, Princess."


    "Let''s put it this way: the whole world is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court. All empires, and divine empires in the world must provide tribute to the Imperial Court. The Martial Aspects are the generals that the Imperial Court deploys against those who dare defy it. The crown prince of Dayin is naturally wary of your status as Martial Aspect, but even the Immortal Emperor of Dayin himself wouldn''t dare to kill a Martial Aspect in broad daylight."


    "All empires must pay tribute to the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s right. The Imperial Court governs not the people of the world, but the empires that arise from them. All empires must provide fortune to the Imperial Court. Right, your new empire of Dayin is subject to that as well. Tithes are waived for the first five years because new empires barely have any fortune to speak of, but you''ll have to pay up thereafter. The Imperial Court will send a delegation to harvest fortune from your empire."


    "So these Martial Aspects are tax collectors for the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look.


    "That''s a horrible way of putting it. All empires must pay tribute; those who don''t will suffer the wrath of the Imperial Court."


    "If the Imperial Court is this strong, and you''re a princess of the Imperial Court, how did you end up..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.


    Zhang Lingjun had almost been molested by a cultivator merely at Yin Body. If not for his timely assistance, she might have suffered an abominable fate.


    "Be silent!" Zhang Lingjun''s face flushed.


    She didn''t want to bring up matters of the past. In addition to what she had almost suffered, Xiao Nanfeng had all but seen her nude body in its entirety.


    She sucked in a deep breath. "Don''t meddle in my affairs. You won''t be able to do anything about them, regardless."


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Zhang Lingjun was a beauty, but he was no besotted fool to harass her to no end.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, flying at the forefront, sneered disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, a huge wave from the sea below them surged up. Three gigantic heads appeared, their mouths opening wide, intent on swallowing up the cultivators on the cloud.


    "Who dares?!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted, mming a palm at the unwee attacker.


    The seawater burst apart as a ck, three-headed monster, hundreds of meters tall, appeared in sight. Its three heads were all serpentine in nature, and they shared a single tail. The monster radiated killing intent. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s counterattack had struck down one of the heads and left it bleeding and contorted, but the monster remained ferocious. Itshed its tail at the Martial Aspect.


    "A three-headed serpent? Die!" the Martial Aspect shouted. He punched at it.


    A huge wave formed over the ocean as the three-headed serpent was flung kilometers away.


    The seawater burst forth again as a dozen more three-headed serpents emerged from underwater. They were particrlyrge in size and boasted impressive auras.


    "A Heaven Immortal three-headed serpent? Your lot daresy an ambush for me? Where''s your king?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost demanded.


    "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, how dare you encroach on my new territory?" a deep voice demanded.


    In another surge of seawater, a gigantic purple three-headed serpent emerged, the king of the three-headed serpents. A frightening aura emanated from it and caused the waves all around to swell.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. The three-headed serpent king boasted such strength that even he was having trouble withstanding its aura. It was likely an existence beyond that of a Heaven Immortal.


    "So you are here, after all!" The Martial Aspect narrowed his eyes.


    "That''s right, it''s me. Rivals inevitably cross paths, don''t they? Last time around, you and your troops ughtered countless descendants of mine. It''s well past time I repaid that debt," the three-headed serpent king called out.


    "You only managed to survive because you fled quickly. This time, you''re done for!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost retorted.


    He infused a gust of chilling air into the sea. The waves froze and turned to ice, starting below his feet and expanding outward across the sea.


    The three-headed serpents began to roar. Fog formed around them, shrouding the surface of the sea.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng sensed something amiss. Many of the three-headed serpents seemed to be staring at him, but when he looked back, they averted his gaze.


    "There''s something wrong. We should hurry and leave," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Leave? Surely not. Martial Aspect Xiao, there''ll be plenty of spirit-ughtering tasks and assignments ahead of you. Fighting against these three-headed serpents is as ordinary as could be. If you''re afraid of such confrontations, how will you ever serve as a Martial Aspect?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost scoffed.


    "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, don''t you think it out of the ordinary that these three-headed serpents would suddenly appear out of nowhere? It''s very likely that our whereabouts have been exposed. There may be an ambush, and we should take precautions."


    "Take precautions against these losers? And what should I be worried about? Xiao Nanfeng, you''re too cowardly. I''ve already checked my surroundings with my frosty aura. No one stronger than I am is present. You don''t have to worry," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost mocked.


    The fact that he could be a Martial Aspect meant that he was no mere meathead. He had noticed that the serpents were eyeing Xiao Nanfeng as well, and had easily guessed that they were targeting him.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. If the Martial Aspect wasn''t just being obstinate, then that meant that he was trying to take advantage of the opportunity to kill him. But why? He had no quarrel with him that he knew of.


    Zhang Lingjun seemed to notice that something was amiss as well. She immediately said, "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, you were tasked with my protection. Now that something unusual has happened, I insist that you leave with us immediately."


    "Worry not, Princess. Everything is under my control. These serpents aren''t a concern, and I''ve defeated them before. They''re criminals in the eyes of the Imperial Court, and as a Martial Aspect under its employ, I''m responsible for taking them down. Please give me a moment."


    Before Zhang Lingjun could countermand him, he had rushed off toward the serpents.


    "Attack!" the three-headed serpent king roared.


    The gathered spirits roared and charged toward the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost in a confrontation that spawned tsunamis in the sea. Ice and seawater flew into the air as Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and her retinue stepped back in worry.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was surrounded by a group of three-headed serpents. The fighting was intense; seawater and shards of ice were sent flying through the sky and surrounding the center of the battlefield.


    "A fight among Heaven Immortals¡ªno, among True Immortals¡ªis one we won''t be able to interfere in. Xiao Nanfeng, stay by my side. Nothing should go wrong," Zhang Lingjun said.


    She could see that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost might take this opportunity to attempt to kill Xiao Nanfeng, but she was confident that he would protect her to the best of his abilities. As long as Xiao Nanfeng stayed by her side, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost wouldn''t be able to strike.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded without hesitation.


    The fighting afar grew more and more intense. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost seemed not to be able to handle all the serpents for the time being.


    Just then, right before where Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and her retinue were located, a huge swell burst into the air. The cultivators on the cloud were scattered as a humongous figure appeared in the sea, another Heaven Immortal three-headed serpent. It roared and bit down on Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smirked, thinking that this n was about to be a sess. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t have any time to dodge; he was about to be swallowed whole.


    Just then, a red sword sh descended from the skies, slicing at the head of the serpent that was about to bite down on Xiao Nanfeng. A huge scar was left behind on the dragon''s head.


    Zhang Lingjun had helped Xiao Nanfeng out at thest moment.


    "Don''t look at me. I promised Father to bring you to the Imperial Court to assume your duties, and I can''t break a promise to him. Let''s go!" Zhang Lingjun shouted.


    That blow left the three-headed serpent berserk. Without caring about anything else, it roared and attacked Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng alike.


    "There''s no need. This beast isn''t a problem. Seal!" Xiao Nanfeng intoned.


    The Divine Seal of Dazhengnded on one of the serpent''s heads.


    With a bang, the serpent turned stiff. It seemed to be unable to fly into the air. The Divine Seal of Dazheng formed a barrier of golden light that encased the serpent, so it couldn''t even flee from below, either.


    "What?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost narrowed his eyes from afar, an unkind look on his face.


    "Your imperial seal can quell even a Heaven Immortal?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    The serpent''s other two heads roared and smashed into the seal, but only managed to give themselves bleeding wounds. The seal was unaffected; it even began to radiate with golden light.


    "Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A sh of his de cut off one of the serpent''s heads.


    "Die,d!" the other two heads roared.


    "You die! I had no quarrel with you. You were the one who attacked me first!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Die!" The serpent spat out a huge fireball, but Xiao Nanfeng feared no mes. He charged forward and shed down, cutting off a second head.


    "No!" the serpent roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed off a third head in quick session, killing the serpent instantly in a shower of blood.

 Chapter 475: The Purpleflame Gourd

    <h4>Chapter 475: The Purpleme Gourd</h4>


    The Heaven Immortal three-headed serpent easily fell to Xiao Nanfeng''s de. Zhang Lingjun was astonished.


    She had seen Xiao Nanfeng take on Heaven Immortals before. Nn Qiankun had temporarily reached the realm of a Heaven Immortal by taking advantage of the Formation of the Complete Heavens, but Xiao Nanfeng had only seeded after drawing in the fortune of the Dazheng Empire. Now, however, he didn''t seem to need any additional preparation at all.


    These three-headed serpents boasted tremendous defenses, and Zhang Lingjun''s sword had only left a thin scar on its body. However, Xiao Nanfeng''s de easily went through their entire necks. Was something wrong with Xiao Nanfeng, or with his de?


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost red coldly at Xiao Nanfeng from afar.


    The three-headed serpent king roared, "What are all of you waiting for? Attack!"


    The surface of the sea swelled as another three three-headed serpents emerged, rushing straight for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Insolence!" Xiao Nanfeng roared, shing at them with a flick of his wrist.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng shot toward the serpents, suppressing one and freezing it in ce. The other two three-headed serpents closed in on Xiao Nanfeng, moving at too fast a clip for him to handle. The six heads breathed out huge sprays of fire.


    Amidst a series of screams, a group of officials from the Imperial Court were sent flying. They fell toward the sea as Zhang Lingjun activated a green jewel that formed a barrier around her to guard against the mes and the brunt of the attack from one of the serpents.


    Xiao Nanfeng was likewise overwhelmed by fire, but the fire could hardly hurt him. The three-headed serpents hade so quickly that he only had time to defend with a single sh of his de.


    He was sent flying, but his physical body boasted such strong defenses as to be imprable.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the three-headed serpent that Xiao Nanfeng had struck roared.


    A huge, gaping wound had appeared on its body, courtesy of the divine undying de. It bellowed and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Come on, vermin! Let me see just how much longer you can hold out. Once the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost finishes off the other serpents, you''re done for," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    His shout carried all the way to where the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was located; it was almost as though he were criticizing him for intentionally dying his assistance.


    With another boom, he was flung into the distance by the serpent as the intense fighting raged on.


    Meanwhile, after confirming that Zhang Lingjun wouldn''t be in life-threatening danger, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost breathed out in relief. He turned to eye Xiao Nanfeng coldly, giving him a disdainful sneer. He had no intention to provide any assistance whatsoever as he continued to fight against the king of the three-headed serpents.


    "Be careful, Xiao Nanfeng!" Zhang Lingjun called out, frowning.


    "Don''t worry, Princess. This beast won''t be able to do anything against me," Xiao Nanfeng called back.


    He was struck time and again by the three-headed serpent. The fight looked one-sided, but he wasn''t taking any damage at all. While the serpent dropped its guard, he was even able to counterattack, resulting in a series of bleeding wounds all over its body. It only grew more irritable as the fight progressed.


    Zhang Lingjun was taken aback. She was only able to defend against the attacks of a Heaven Immortal spirit thanks to the treasure she possessed, but what about Xiao Nanfeng?


    The fact that Xiao Nanfeng had managed to kill a three-headed serpent on his own was astonishing enough, but now, he was fighting on equal footing with two of them ganging up on him, holding one back and suppressing the other. Was he really only an Earth Immortal?


    "King, I can''t break through this shield of hers!" the three-headed serpent attacking Zhang Lingjun bellowed.


    "Ignore her. Kill Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Understood!"


    The three-headed serpent shot toward Xiao Nanfeng with a roar.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, one more is headed your way! Run!" Zhang Lingjun shouted, giving chase.


    With her barrier protecting her, self-defense wasn''t a problem. She attempted to help Xiao Nanfeng hold back one of the three-headed serpents.


    "I''m an Earth Immortal, and they''re Heaven Immortals. I won''t be able to outspeed them, but don''t worry, they can''t break through my defenses, either. Just like you, I can whittle them down," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    One of the serpents'' tails struck him, sending him flying.


    Zhang Lingjun gave him an odd look. <i>Just like me, you say?</i>


    She rushed forward and continued to harass one of the serpents and reduce the pressure on Xiao Nanfeng. That serpent waspletely unable to prate her barrier and had no choice but to flee from her as it continued to attack Xiao Nanfeng with itspanions, making the situation seem even worse for him.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked overwhelmed, but it was all an act to get the serpents to lower their defenses. With his spiritual power, he could sense that there were even stronger foes observing him from close by, and he didn''t want to reveal his full strength this early on. He even noticed that the three serpents were giving off bursts of fog, reducing visibility and seemingly hiding something within. He had to y this situation cautiously.


    "King, there''s something wrong with thisd. We haven''t been able to break through his defenses at all even after trying to rough him up for quite a while. There has to be some artifact protecting his body!" one serpent called out.


    The three-headed serpent king fighting against the Martial Aspect in the distance frowned. It could sense that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was taking advantage of its subordinates to kill Xiao Nanfeng; did they share the same objective? Furthermore, it realized that it likely was too weak tost long against the Martial Aspect.


    The three-headed serpent king shouted, "Activate the Purpleme Gourd!"


    "Got it!" a voice shouted from within the fog.


    A tremendous storm of purple me rushed out from the fog and straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What''s this?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost eximed.


    "Leave, Princess!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He realized that the mes seemed to be headed straight for him. Without any hesitation, he recalled the Divine Seal of Dazheng to guard himself as he rushed toward one of the three-headed serpents. Regardless of what these purple mes were, his best choice for now was to defend himself with the three-headed serpents.


    The serpent whipped its tail toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to have him grab ahold of it tightly.


    Sensing that something was amiss, Zhang Lingjun attempted to flee, but it was toote. The purple mes spread too quickly, whooshing by like a tsunami and swamping everyone in sight. Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and the three-headed serpents were sucked into a gourd brimming with purple mes.


    A group of ordinary serpents were infusing their energy into the gourd.


    "Serpent King, if something happens to the princess, all of you are going to die!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost thundered.


    The serpent king ignored him and bellowed, "Aren''t all of you going to show yourselves? How long are you going to wait? Do you really think I''m nothing but your weapon, wearing myself out for your benefit?!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned, sensing that something was amiss, as he looked all around him.


    "If you don''t show yourselves, I''ll release Xiao Nanfeng," the serpent king threatened.


    Finally, dozens of figures appeared all around the sea. They were masked cultivators that released imposing auras. Two of them seemed as strong as the three-headed serpent king itself.


    "Two True Immortals?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost murmured.


    "Help me deal with the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. I want him to die today!" the three-headed serpent king bellowed.


    One of the masked cultivators seemed furious. "Serpent King, are you reneging on your word? You said you would help us, but now you''re trying to take advantage!"


    "You enlisted my assistance to help kill Xiao Nanfeng, but hid in the shadows yourselves. Do you think that''s fair? If I help you, then it only makes sense that you should help me as well. Take down the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost alongside me¡ªtake down all of them and hide any traces of our attack. Wouldn''t that be better?"


    "You¡ª" one of the masked cultivators gritted out.


    "Hurry, or I''ll expose your identities and release Xiao Nanfeng. This will be a stain on your reputation forevermore!" the three-headed serpent king bellowed.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost realized that he was in over his head. He struck the three-headed serpent king and began to fly toward the purpleme gourd.


    "Make a move!" one masked cultivator shouted.


    "Attack!" the other True Immortal echoed.


    The two True Immortals blocked the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost as the three-headed serpent king shot toward him.


    "Die!" it howled.


    The three True Immortals fought together against the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, who finally started to panic. The fighting ignited a huge tempest and left tidal waves surging across the sea.


    "Serpent King, if Xiao Nanfeng manages to get away, you''re done for," one masked cultivator hissed.


    "He won''t be able to escape. You lot, you won''t be able to do anything in a fight involving True Immortals. Head to the purpleme gourd and deal with Xiao Nanfeng immediately!" the serpent kingmanded its subordinates.


    "Understood!" The three-headed serpents all flew toward the ming gourd.


    One of the masked cultivators likewise instructed, "Kill those officials of the Imperial Court that just fell into the sea. Don''t let a single one of them escape."


    "Understood!" The majority of the masked cultivators shot toward the sea instantly.


    Within the Purpleme Gourd


    Xiao Nanfeng found himself split apart from the other cultivators and spirits by a huge wave of me. The fire within the gourd boasted tremendous strength and surged toward his body.


    "What powerful mes. This is truly a blessing!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Just then, Zhang Lingjun''s voice could be heard from afar. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you still alive?"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and looked around. Concentrated purple mes surrounded him, blocking his line of sight and preventing him from seeing into the distance. He flew in the direction of the voice, through a wave of mes, and spotted Zhang Lingjun''s green barrier. It was burning bright red and starting to crack.


    He shot over and smiled. "Thank you for your concern. I''m quite alright."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re not even erecting a qi barrier? You can survive these mes with your physical body?!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "I cultivate a fire-oriented technique, and these mes can''t harm me."


    "That''s impossible. This is quintessential purpleme, prized for its use in forging relics and pills! Even a Heaven Immortal would be unable to bear these mes. My barrier is a True Immortal relic that''s weak against these mes and is almost about to give out. How could you be alright even after exposing your physical body to the mes? It''s impossible!"


    "Quintessential purpleme, you say? There''s a lot of it, to be sure, but it''s not particrly potent." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    This level of fire paled inparison to his quintessential srfire.

 Chapter 476: Zhang Lingjuns Amazement

    <h4>Chapter 476: Zhang Lingjun''s Amazement</h4>


    Zhang Lingjun watched on as her green barrier burned even more brightly. Another crack appeared over its surface as Xiao Nanfeng told her that these mes weren''t particrly impressive. She gave him an odd look. "Are you really an Earth Immortal?"


    "Let''s talkter. Those three beasts have been lured over by the sound of our voices."


    Three three-headed serpents emerged from close by.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s able to withstand these mes with nothing but his physical body? We cultivate quintessential purpleme, and even we can''t remain in these mes for long. How can an Earth Immortal like him be alright?"


    "He must possess some incredible treasure. No wonder Yin Tianci wants to kill him so badly. Our king saw through everything and is giving us the opportunity to seize it all. Now, let''s strike together."


    "We''ll take him on and im his treasures for ourselves!"


    The three three-headed serpents surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You damned beasts! I''m a princess of the Imperial Court. If anything happens to me, none of you will live," Zhang Lingjun roared.


    "We''ll deal with youter,ss. Don''t worry. Neither of you will be able to escape," one three-headed serpent replied, sneering.


    Zhang Lingjun attempted to charge forward with her sword, but the moment she moved, more cracks appeared on the surface of her barrier. She nched.


    "Don''t move. If you do, your barrier might shatter. Let me have a go," Xiao Nanfeng volunteered.


    "How are you going to take on three of them at once?" Zhang Lingjun replied in clear disbelief.


    An aura of strength emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as chilly air suppressed the quintessential purpleme around it.


    "You''re a Heaven Immortal?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "I''m not a Heaven Immortal, just an Earth Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He stepped forward and shed at one of the three-headed serpents with his de.


    Realizing that something was wrong, that serpent shot toward him with a howl, ws extended like long, ck spears that thrust toward Xiao Nanfeng''s chest.


    The other two three-headed serpents struck simultaneously.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s attacks grew sharper and more vicious as the fight dragged on. A sheen of blue light appeared surrounding the edge of his de, illuminating the sea of mes and cutting apart one of the serpents before him.


    "Killing a Heaven Immortal in a single blow...?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    The other two serpents to his back raked at his body with sharp ws, sending him flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng somersaulted in the air before he shot back over at them.


    "He''s fine? Impossible!" one of the three-headed serpents shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng cut off two of its heads with a single sh of his de. The remaining head ran off in fear, but Xiao Nanfeng easily took it down as well.


    The final three-headed serpent fled into the mes.


    "You won''t be able to get away!" Xiao Nanfeng roared as he gave chase.


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes were twitching. "You call this an Earth Immortal? Who do you think you''d fool?"


    The mes shuddered in time with a shout. Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng returned with the carcass of a three-headed serpent in tow.


    Zhang Lingjun gave him an odd look. "Are they all dead?"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved and kept the carcasses of the three three-headed serpents. He gave Zhang Lingjun a serious look. "Please don''t reveal what you just saw."


    "Why not?"


    "You saw that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was trying to take advantage of the serpents'' assault to kill me, and they seem to bear me great enmity even though I''ve never interacted with them before. There may yet be a mastermind behind all this, and I expect I''ll have to suffer plenty of such attacks without any backers in the Imperial Court. Being too exposed would be disadvantageous to me."


    Zhang Lingjun met his gaze and nodded. "I understand. I won''t reveal your secrets."


    Xiao Nanfeng inclined his head toward her with a smile. "You have my gratitude."


    "That said, my barrier won''tst for much longer. I don''t know if we''ll even be able to make it out." She smiled wryly.


    The cracks on Zhang Lingjun''s barrier were spreading and spiderwebbing, and it seemed as though it would fail at any moment.


    "Leave the rest to me."


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed back into his physical body, which seemed to form the eye of a whirlpool. The mes all around him were quickly being absorbed into his body. At the same time, he released his ten golden crows that devoured the nearby mes like ten ck holes.


    "What are you doing?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "Hold on. I''m going to absorb all the mes around here so you''ll be safe."


    "How can that be? There''s so much fire in this gourd. Surely you can''t..." Zhang Lingjun trailed off upon seeing the rate at which the ten golden crows and Xiao Nanfeng were absorbing the mes. Was Xiao Nanfeng telling the truth?


    "Just how can you cultivate so rapidly?!"


    The first time she met Xiao Nanfeng, he was nothing more than a mortal at Acquisition, and had but the barest shred of spiritual power. After a few years, by their second encounter, Xiao Nanfeng had already be an Immortal. Now, after a few months, his cultivation had again advanced by leaps and bounds. How had he done it?


    "I do cultivate rather quickly, but only because I''ve been putting my life on the line."


    "Oh?"


    "As for you, aren''t you a princess of the Imperial Court? Your father imed that the Heavenly Emperor treated you particrly well, so what''s with this getup? Don''t you have a stronger artifact?"


    Zhang Lingjun frowned with displeasure.


    "And what about the inheritance of the Taiqing Grandmaster, and his praying mat? Why aren''t you using that? What''s with this weak barrier?"


    "What do you mean, weak barrier? I obtained this relic with hard work. It''s a True Immortal relic! And you don''t have to be concerned with my affairs," Zhang Lingjun retorted with a frown.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He ignored Zhang Lingjun and focused on his own cultivation.


    Zhang Lingjun fumed, but quickly came to her senses. She sighed briefly before considering Xiao Nanfeng curiously once again. As he absorbed all the mes in her vicinity, her barrier slowly began to repair itself.


    Just then, a sudden shout came from afar. "Haven''t you finished dealing with Xiao Nanfeng yet? Why haven''t you reported in?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shot open. He turned to her. "I''m afraid more serpents are going to show up. Hold on just a bit. I''ll go deal with them."


    He rushed deeper into the mes.


    Not too longter, shouts and the sounds ofbat came from within.


    "Quick, report to our king immediately. Xiao Nanfeng''s no Earth Immortal. He''s a Heaven Immortal, and ate-stage one at that! No!" a spirit shouted.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    Shrieks resounded from the sea of mes for quite a while before Xiao Nanfeng returned.


    "Have you finished them off?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.


    "I did. The Heaven Immortal three-headed serpents that were dealing with the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost all entered the gourd, and I slew them all. There shouldn''t be any further issue in the short term. Hold on just a bit and I''ll bring you out."


    Zhang Lingjun frowned. "You killed a dozen or so Heaven Immortal spirits in that short span of time?"


    "They''re mostly early-stage Heaven Immortals, and only two of them were mid-stage. Not only that, their techniques were mediocre¡ªall they could do is snap their tails, smash their heads, and swipe with their ws. I don''t know how they managed to be Heaven Immortals in the first ce."


    Zhang Lingjun gave him an odd look, trying to decide whether he was intentionally bragging. She continued, "How did you pretend to be an Earth Immortal? Why didn''t I notice that anything was amiss?"


    "I am an Earth Immortal. There''s no disguise."


    Zhang Lingjun nced at him dubiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng returned to his physical body, releasing his ten golden crows as he began to cultivate anew. Quintessential purpleme surged into his body like rivers flowing into the sea. In just about two hours, the huge space within the gourd had turned barren. Xiao Nanfeng had absorbed all that fire, and the ten golden crows had likewise returned to his body. His body brimmed with golden light.


    Zhang Lingjun was astonished. "Just what sort of monster have I rmended to be a Martial Aspect? The rate and strength of his cultivation¡ªit''s incredible..."


    A ming tempest erupted from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he opened his eyes. "The sixth stage of Earth Immortal..."


    "Hm? Your aura is potent, but it really is that of an Earth Immortal. Are you truly an Earth Immortal?" Zhang Lingjun gaped.


    "That''s what I''ve been saying."


    "But your aura just now was that of a Heaven Immortal! No, perhaps it was because the mes disrupted my senses, and you didn''t release your spiritual moon. Could that be your spiritual aura? You''ve reached the realm of True Yin?!" Zhang Lingjun''s eyes twitched.


    "I was lucky to have advanced my spiritual cultivation beyond that of my physical cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    "True Yin? Truly? At your age? Spiritual cultivation is far harder than physical cultivation. How did you do it?!"


    "I had a chance encounter within the Netherworld Pce. It''s nothing too impressive, is it? Didn''t you acquire the inheritance of the Taiqing Grandmaster? You''ve had plenty of opportunities, too. Your spiritual cultivation can''t be too far off," Xiao Nanfeng consoled.


    Zhang Lingjun smiled wryly. "It did improve the rate of my cultivation, but I''ve only just reached the realm of Yin Body. I''m far from True Yin."


    "It''s only been half a year. You''re cultivating at a rapid clip, and those around you must be envious, I''m sure."


    Zhang Lingjun: ...


    If anyone else had praised her in that manner, she would have been quite happy about thepliment, but why did it sound so odding from Xiao Nanfeng?

 Chapter 477: Hide My Traces

    <h4>Chapter 477: Hide My Traces</h4>


    By the surface of the sea, the three True Immortals continued to attack the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost amidst a howling tempest.


    By the side of the Purpleme Gourd some distance away, an Earth Immortal three-headed serpent shouted, "King, no one has left the Purpleme Gourd after they went in, and the mesing out of the gourd look really unstable. Something bad might have happened!"


    The serpent king, in the middle of the fighting, roared back, "Seal the gourdpletely .Even if there''s something wrong, trap everyone within. I''ll have a look once I finish off the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost!"


    "Understood!"


    The Earth Immortal serpents outside the gourd sealed its lid and infused all their energy into its bindings.


    Two hourster, the mes emerging from the Purpleme Gourd vanishedpletely, causing the serpents to fret.


    "They''re all gone! What do we do now?"


    "What else? We have to wait! Keep infusing energy into the gourd and make sure it''s sealed shut.


    "Got it!"


    The three-headed serpents continued to encase the Purpleme Gourd with their energy.


    Within the gourd, after his breakthrough, Xiao Nanfeng walked around the interior of the gourd with Zhang Lingjun in tow.


    "This gourd really is an impressive treasure. Even without the mes, it hasn''t lost its structural integrity," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s a True Immortal relic, and the mes aren''t part of it. It might have been used to store the quintessential purpleme, but the contents of the gourd aren''t linked to the gourd itself," Zhang Lingjun analyzed.


    They found the gourd''s opening sealed shut. Purple restrictions demarcated a formation that blocked the two cultivators'' path.


    The two cultivators flew up to the formation and probed at it.


    "It''s a strong formation. I suspect we won''t be able to get out," Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    "Getting out isn''t a problem, but I wonder if I can im this relic for myself...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Zhang Lingjun was astounded. "You''re only at early-stage True Yin, which isparable in strength to a Heaven Immortal. Mid-stage True Yin would make you on par with a True Immortal. This gourd can likely trap even True Immortals, so how would you ever escape? How can that be?"


    "And what if I can bring you out with me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "Can you? Are you sure?"


    "Of course! If we manage to escape, you''ll help me hide my strength and uncover why the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost is so insistent on killing me. Deal?"


    "Deal." Zhang Lingjun epted without any hesitation.


    She nced curiously at Xiao Nanfeng. Just how many secrets did he possess?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body flickered as he transitioned to his True Yin body. He probed the formation again. Although it blocked his spiritual power, his candleme powers superseded that restriction. His spiritual power passed straight through.


    He didn''t establish an opening in the gourd because he wanted to attune to the relic first. After bypassing the barrier, his spiritual power rapidly dispersed itself throughout the interior of the gourd.


    Very quickly, he sensed the source of the restrictions at y and found a special blend of spiritual energy that the owner of the gourd must have left behind to control it.


    He washed away those markings with his own spiritual power, then filled the gourd to the brim.


    Outside the gourd, the Earth Immortal three-headed serpents were sent flying from a sudden shake of the gourd.


    "It''s not obeying ourmands anymore!"


    "The Purpleme Gourd is resisting our spiritual energy?"


    "Something''s wrong. Inform the king immediately!"


    "The king''s fighting all the way over there!"


    "Go regardless!"


    The serpents began to panic upon sensing that something was amiss.


    Just then, the gourd suddenly opened up as two figures flew out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s not dead yet? We have to let the king know, now!" the serpents cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng summoned the Purpleme Gourd to his hand and activated it. "Entrap!"


    Tremendous suction drew in all the Earth Immortal serpents in the vicinity.


    "How could he be in control of the Purpleme Gourd now?!"


    "We have to flee!"


    "Save us, King!"


    The serpents cried out as they attempted to run, but the suction of the Purpleme Gourd was too great for them to handle. They werepletely unable to resist its power and found themselves sucked within.


    Xiao Nanfeng capped the gourd and secured it tightly.


    "Just how did you do it?" Zhang Lingjun eximed, astonished.


    "I didn''t do it. You were the one who attuned to the Purpleme Gourd before giving it to me. We agreed on that, so make sure you remember it," Xiao Nanfeng corrected her.


    "Are you really going to treat me like your shield?" Zhang Lingjun gave him an odd look.


    "I have no choice. I''m in danger, after all. I haven''t interacted with the Imperial Court before this, but they''re already out for my blood. I suspect that this danger stems from you or your father, or because you haven''t secured the position that now belongs to me. You must help," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhang Lingjun frowned, but nodded. "Let''s leave it at that, then."


    What happened in the Purpleme Gourd left Zhang Lingjun exceptionally curious about Xiao Nanfeng, and she was grateful for his saving her. She didn''t mind helping out with this small favor.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the battlefield afar at the masked cultivators who were attacking the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost in conjunction with the three-headed serpent king. The Martial Aspect seemed to be in dire straits.


    "A group of Heaven Immortals in tandem with three True Immortals is sufficient to trap the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost? Is this how weak the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court are?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Zhang Lingjun scoffed. "You might be at early-stage True Yin, but surely it''s not your ce to criticize the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. He''s far stronger than you are."


    "My cultivation is rather weak, but that''s just because I haven''t been cultivating for long. If all Martial Aspects are on this level, how can the Imperial Court make its subordinate divine empires pay tribute? This would be nothing overwhelming to them," Xiao Nanfeng pointed out.


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was heavily injured not too long ago, so he must still be recovering," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    "That''s more like it." Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Go hide. I have to go over and help."


    "You''re going to help the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost? But he was trying to kill you!"


    "Oh, I''m going to help alright. If I don''t, he''s going to win."


    Zhang Lingjun: ...


    "It might look like he''s in dire straits, but he''s actually just conserving his energy. His opponents are the ones that are going to suffer, and I don''t intend to let him seize this opportunity. Hide yourself with fog, then fly into the air."


    Zhang Lingjun gave him an odd look, but did as he ordered. She nced down at Xiao Nanfeng, who was activating the Purpleme Gourd while no one was paying attention to him.


    "Entrap!" hemanded.


    A wave of suction surged toward the battlefield.


    The cultivators were taken aback by the sudden attack. Xiao Nanfeng easily figured out who their leader was.


    In a sh, their leader was captured by Xiao Nanfeng and sucked into the gourd.


    "Let His Highness go!"


    "Was that Xiao Nanfeng? He attacked His Highness?"


    "How could the Purpleme Gourd be in his control?!"


    The masked cultivators gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Got him!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. Without any hesitation, he dove into the sea and vanished from sight.


    Zhang Lingjun watched everything unfold from high in the clouds. The masked cultivators gave up on the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and dove into the sea after Xiao Nanfeng. They searched all over, causing giant swells all over its surface, but were unable to find any trace of Xiao Nanfeng.


    The only one left assaulting the Martial Aspect was the three-headed serpent king. It cried out, "You damn bastards, you''re leaving me behind?!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost sent it reeling with an attack. Its three heads spat out mouthfuls of blood as one of its heads split open, a heavy injury. It turned to flee immediately.


    "You won''t get away!" the Martial Aspect roared.


    However, the three-headed serpent king was exceptionally skilled at fleeing. It dove into the sea and vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.


    The Martial Aspect gave chase for quite some time, but was forced to retreat without any sess.


    Meanwhile, the masked cultivators expanded their search and soon disappeared from sight.


    "Princess? Are you still around?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost cried out, floating above the sea''s surface.


    Zhang Lingjun didn''t respond. She remained within the clouds, wholly distrustful of this guard of hers.


    With a ssh, Xiao Nanfeng flew out from the sea. He shouted into the clouds, "Princess, it''s safe now! You cane out now!"


    Zhang Lingjun slowly descended from the skies.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned, sensing that Zhang Lingjun was on guard against him. He immediately flew toward her and bowed. "I apologize for myck of ability, Princess. You must have been caught by surprise."


    "I''m alright. Where''s everyone else?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "The other officials are all dead. Fortunately, we divided our group in two. Those officials that were bringing the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s corpse back to the Imperial Court have gone to fetch his rtives, and they should all be alright."


    "They''re all dead?" Zhang Lingjun frowned mightily.


    "Their corpses should be by that ind over there." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pointed at an ind in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately flew over to reim their corpses.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng left, the Martial Aspect told Zhang Lingjun, "These masked cultivators and three-headed serpents both seemed to havee for Xiao Nanfeng. It''s a disaster that he caused."


    Zhang Lingjun gave the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost a severe look. "Martial Aspect Xiao noticed that something was awry and requested that we flee immediately. You were the one who decided against that idea and caused all thismotion. If anyone is to me, surely it must be you."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost grimaced, not understanding how Zhang Lingjun''s attitude toward Xiao Nanfeng had changed so suddenly. Just what had happened?


    Xiao Nanfeng flew back from afar. "Princess, I''ve gathered up the officials'' corpses. We shouldn''t stay here any longer. Let''s move on and discuss thingster."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned, but said nothing. The trio departed quickly.

 Chapter 478: Becoming the Earth Division Leader

    <h4>Chapter 478: Bing the Earth Division Leader</h4>


    Within Yongding''s pce in the empire of Dazheng, a blood peach tree steadily sprouted.


    "A blood peach tree!" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar eximed.


    Madam Rouge nodded. "This is one of my subordinates who died in battle in the past and has yet to regenerate, but cantently convert the dead into nutrients. I suppose I''ll leave it with you for the moment."


    "So it can form blood peaches from the corpses and carcasses of strong cultivators, like the Peach Buddha used to?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "That''s right. I suppose I''ll help you out for the time being."


    "My gratitude. I''m in great need of this ability." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Of course, I''m not doing all this for free," Madam Rouge suddenly warned.


    "What''s the cost?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Those songs you''ve been singing to me, I forbid you from singing to others."


    "Ah? Is that it?" Xiao Nanfeng gave her a nonplussed look.


    "Well? Are you unwilling?"


    "Of course I''m willing! I''m not crazy. No one else is ever going to hear me sing," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately.


    "Good. I''m off now, then." Madam Rouge slowly walked up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng sensed a pleasant aroma as she drew near. Was Madam Rouge going to kiss him goodbye? She was getting far too close!


    Suddenly, she extended a delicate finger and ced it under Xiao Nanfeng''s jaw.


    "What now?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Remember, next time, I expect a new song." Madam Rouge winked and flicked his jaw up, causing Xiao Nanfeng to shiver. Was she teasing him?


    Then, Madam Rouge vanished from sight, leaving just a snatch ofughter like tinkling bells behind.


    "You''re running away after teasing me like that? Stay right here if you dare! Next time, I''ll have you sing for me instead!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    However, Madam Rouge had already vanished, and her tinklingughter with her.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed, then chuckled in exasperation.


    He nced at the blood peach tree before him, then walked away.


    "Guards, establish a formation here and guard this area. No one is to draw near!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    A guard stepped forward and bowed. "Understood!"


    "Your Majesty, this plot ofnd is yet unnamed. The craftsmen have been asked multiple times what to inscribe it as," another guard volunteered.


    "Call it the ''Peach Orchard''," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Understood!" the guard replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng then walked toward his study, only to find a group of Taiqing disciples awaiting him there.


    "Division Leader Xiao, Division Leader Zhao had use to send word that the sect master has arrived on Taiqing Ind. Please return at your convenience."


    "I understand. Return and tell my senior brother that the Heaven division leader, Zhang Feifan, will likely arrive within two days. I shall handle administrative matters here and arrive then as well. We can convene then."


    "Understood!" the Taiqing disciples replied.


    Two dayster, Xiao Nanfeng arrived on Taiqing Ind.


    Where he went, the Taiqing disciples bowed down to him. He remained modest, smiling and nodding at any who greeted him, causing them to flush and murmur excitedly to one another.


    In Taiqing Hall, the sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Lu Yan, stood with hands sped behind his back. By his side were Zhang Feifan, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Ye Dafu, along with Chang Bing and other Earth division disciples who had rushed back from the Immortal city of Fengdu.


    Zhang Feifan seemed to be recounting some events to Lu Yan as his brows furrowed.


    When Ye Dafu noticed that Xiao Nanfeng had arrived, he immediately stepped forward and reported to him, "Your Majesty, Blue Lantern has returned to Yongding for the time being. Division Leader Zhang had me wait here for you. He said that there were matters to be discussed."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stepped into Taiqing Hall.


    "I greet the sect master, my senior brother, and Division Leader Zhang." Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, has your avatar reached True Yin too?" Lu Yin eximed curiously.


    "Not just yet. This avatar of mine is a little special, but he should be reaching that realm soon as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar cultivated both the Taiqing red moon and Shangqing blue moon. The double moons left his avatar somewhat sinister-looking, but he wasn''t in a rush. He could sense that a breakthrough was imminent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re cultivating far too quickly." Lu Yan smiled.


    "It''s just a matter of luck," Xiao Nanfeng replied modestly.


    Lu Yan nodded with a smile before he turned serious again. He sighed. "I just received word of Lan Jiguang''s demise."


    "Just like my master, Senior Uncle Lan perished within the red moon illusory realm and transformed into a red-furred lifeform. There''s still a chance he might regain his wits," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You''re quite right, but there''s only a minuscule chance of that happening. We''ll have to keep working hard to revive the Taiqing Immortal Sect so we can delve more deeply into the red moon illusory realm and rescue Lan Jiguang and the others." Lu Yan nodded.


    "That day wille," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    Everyone nodded seriously.


    "That said, he won''t be able to return in the short term, and the Earth division can''t be without a division leader. I''ve convened everyone here and summoned the strongest disciples of each division to discuss this affair."


    "Understood, Sect Master!" everyone chorused.


    Lu Yan turned to Chang Bing. "Chang Bing, you''re Lan Jiguang''s official apprentice, and he once praised your incredible aptitude. He has invested much effort into your training. Will you now shoulder the heavy mantle of the Earth division leader?"


    Chang Bing gave Lu Yan a nce fraught with emotion. In the past, he would have epted the title with pride, but his experience in Fengdu made him realize that his aptitude and skills were nothing more than a jokepared to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Sect Master, before Master passed, he made ns for the division," ChangBing began.


    "Oh?" Lu Yan nced at him in surprise, as did everyone gathered.


    "Master said that, before his return, Xiao Nanfeng would be in charge of the Earth division and the Green Battalion. He passed his charms and tokens of identification to him."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately said, "That was an emergency. We''re not in Fengdu any longer, and thatmand has now been nullified."


    Chang Bing shook his head. "That was Master''smand and the will of the Earth division. I''m afraid I''m far too unskilledpared to Division Leader Xiao, and I don''t want Master''s efforts with the Earth division to go to waste because of me. Please, Division Leader Xiao."


    Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng said, "You need not be overly worried. We''re all Taiqing disciples, and I''ll do my best to help out the Earth division disciples where possible. However, I''m already the Mortal division leader. Surely I can''t take on both duties?"


    By his side, Zhang Feifan suddenly said, "Perhaps it is possible."


    "Oh?" Everyone now turned to Zhang Feifan.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, although you might be the Mortal division leader, I heard that many of your responsibilities are delegated to Ye Dafu. In other words, Ye Dafu could take over as Mortal division leader on your behalf. It has already risen to its prime, and needs little active upkeep on your part. You could easily pass on your responsibilities to Ye Dafu. On the other hand, the budding pillmasters and forgemasters of the Earth division are all talents that will need a careful hand for their development. Since Lan Jiguang has appointed you as division leader in his absence, you could give up your position as Mortal division leader for one as Earth division leader," Zhang Feifan concluded.


    "You want me to transfer divisions?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "This is the best oue." Zhao Yuanjiao nodded as well.


    "We would be more than happy to ept Division Leader Xiao as our new division leader!" Chang Bing and the gathered Earth division disciples cried out.


    Everyone turned to Lu Yan.


    Lu Yan considered the situation. Xiao Nanfeng''s master was from the Ascended division. He had taken over the Ascended division, then the Mortal division, and was now primed for the Earth division. He was acknowledged by the disciples of the sect to such an extent that he was almostparable to him, the sect master himself.


    However, Lu Yan was no man easily brought to jealousy. He took a deep breath. "I heard Zhang Feifan im that Ye Dafu is already a Heaven Immortal and can easily take on the responsibilities of that station. Division Leader Xiao, I approve of this n."


    Lu Yan had agreed to Xiao Nanfeng being the Earth division leader as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at everyone before he finally nodded. "Very well. In that case, I shall serve as the Earth division leader in the interim, and Ye Dafu as the Mortal division leader."


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu epted immediately.


    "We greet Division Leader Xiao!" Chang Bing and the other Earth division disciples cried out.


    What Xiao Nanfeng had done in Fengdu had won the admiration of the entire cohort of Earth division disciples. They were also aware of what Ye Dafu had been like before joining Xiao Nanfeng. Since then, he had ascended all the way to Heaven Immortal. As such, the Earth division disciples were very excited as to how they would grow under Xiao Nanfeng''s supervision.


    Over the next two days, Xiao Nanfeng underwent a whirlwind ceremony to instate him in his new position as Ye Dafu became the Mortal division leader.


    Once everything was settled, Lu Yan rushed off from Taiqing Ind.


    After seeing Lu Yan off, Xiao Nanfeng asked Zhang Feifan, "The sect master is gone from the sect more often than not. Where is he off to now?"


    "He''s been investigating a hidden realm, the details of which are not known to me. Allegedly, it''s of particr importance for reviving the Taiqing sect."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, though with some remnant confusion.


    "Has your main body reached the Imperial Court?" Zhang Feifan then asked.


    "It just arrived."


    "Really? Wait for me there. I''m about to return myself."


    "I''ll have Chang Bing and the others apany you."


    "Oh?"


    "The princess told me that Chang Bing and the others could serve as my guards in the Imperial Court, and I''m familiar with them. It''ll be more convenient that way. Will you guide them there?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.


    "Very well. I''ll bring them with me."


    "My thanks."


    Zhang Feifan nodded, not thinking much of it.


    Xiao Nanfeng gathered Chang Bing and the others, gave them specific instructions, and saw them off with Zhang Feifan. Then, he chatted with Zhao Yuanjiao for a while before returning to court to handle administrative matters.

 Chapter 479: Sieve of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 479: Sieve of Heaven</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost flew above a sea of clouds, where the sun shone brightly and all was pure and spotless as far as the eye could see. A huge set of gates had been erected on a white cloud not too far away¡ªonly the gates, without an apanying watchtower. The gates were wreathed in fog and radiated an aura of divinity. Above the gates were written the words "Eastern Heavenly Gate."


    The area beyond the gate seemed to be shrouded from sight, and whaty within could not be discerned from the outside. However, there were a significant number of Immortals flying out. There were plenty headed in as well, but those that did werergely subject to inspections from a number of golden-armored knights by the gate.


    "So this is one entryway into the Imperial Court, the Eastern Heavenly Gate?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise, ncing at the gate that extended hundreds of meters into the air.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost gave Xiao Nanfeng a disdainful nce. "Don''t behave like a rube. Come on, let''s head in."


    "Do I need to register my identity with the guards?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There''s no need. You have the charm of a Martial Aspect and can enter and exit at will. The guards are only for those without tokens that permit free ess," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng took out his charm and flew toward the eastern gate alongside Zhang Lingjun.


    When the guards saw the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, they immediately bowed, not daring to stop him. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun followed swiftly behind, furnishing their own tokens that would allow them to pass by unmolested.


    Swiftly thereafter, Xiao Nanfeng found himself in contact with a barrier that divided the outside from the inside. His Martial Aspect''s charm formed a glimmering golden shield around himself that allowed him to bypass it.


    They stepped past the gate and entered a new realm.


    "The Imperial Court is a hidden realm? What a unique ce..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The Imperial Court hidden realm was extremelyrge in size, evenrger than the Netherworld Pce that he had recently been in. The horizon was vanishingly far away, and the realm was lit up by warm, bright sunlight. Spiritual energy filled the air. There were countless mountains and rivers in the background, tall and imposing, with all manner of beasts, avians, and Immortals roaming thend. Floating inds dotted the air, shrouded with fog for a measure of privacy.


    Directly to the north was arge mountain range glistening with rosy light. An incredible number of ornate, ptial buildings surrounded it and caught the eye.


    More importantly, above that mountain range was a huge sea of fortune, so vast it seemed that there was no end to it. Xiao Nanfeng marveled at the sight. Inparison, his Dazheng Empire had a sea of fortune not even a ten-thousandth of its extent.


    "What impressive fortune..."


    He could faintly see arge number of golden dragons surging through the clouds, but because of his vantage point, he wasn''t able to clearly make out the entire sea of fortune.


    "Beneath the sea of fortune is Mt. Kunlun. The Imperial Court lies atop Mt. Kunlun, home to the Jade Lake, the Peach Orchard, and the Heavenly Pce, the premier pce in the entirety of the known world. Court convenes there, and that''s the one ce you''ll meet His Majesty. This entire realm is known as the Sieve of Heaven, and there are plenty of strong cultivators who have made their home here¡ªalongside the Imperial Court''s manifold departments and countless civilians and cultivators," Zhang Lingjun exined.


    "Is the Heavenly Emperor at Mt. Kunlun at the moment?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I don''t know, but that isn''t something you have to worry about at the moment. You''ll be able to pay respects to the Heavenly Emperor during a session of court. Now, you''d better report to the Hall of Martial Aspects, and then have a look at your manor and forces. I''ll apany you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost had already flown into the distance. Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng followed after him; the trio headed toward arge floating ind.


    The ind was shrouded with fog. When the three cultivators neared, soldiers stepped forward, then bowed respectfully and retreated upon seeing the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    The three cultivatorsnded on the floating ind, on which countless halls and pavilions were constructed. Each was ornate, and the one at the very center heralded itself as the Hall of Martial Aspects.


    A few ordinary officials rushed over. After learning that Xiao Nanfeng was a Martial Aspect whose title had just been conferred, they immediately helped him with the remaining administrative affairs that were required. He handed the corpses of the dead officials over to them to handle.


    "Come greet the Eastern Aspect with me," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said.


    "Who''s that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Zhang Lingjun said, "The world is divided into four great continents, as is the Hall of Martial Aspects. Each quadrant of the Hall is responsible for overseeing one continent and consists of eighteen Martial Aspects. The strongest among the eighteen is the Aspect responsible for the continent and the leader of the eighteen. The Eastern Aspect is Ao Canghai, Martial Aspect of the Vast Seas."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He followed the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost toward a side hall not too far away. Zhang Lingjun waited for him outside.


    The moment they entered the hall, they saw a huge map hung up on the northern wall. A group of officials were perusing stacks of information as they answered a man''s questions. The man was dressed in a golden robe and had a hulking physique. His back was to Xiao Nanfeng as he carefully examined the map, analyzing something of great importance.


    "Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspect Xiao hase to report to the Hall and to im his manor keys," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said, with incredible politeness.


    Only then did the man in golden robes turn around. He had long ck hair bound behind his back and a middle-aged appearance, his face wide and stern, with thick eyebrows and eyes like a starry sea. His gaze seemed to convey the power of a tidal wave.


    Xiao Nanfeng found the hairs on his back rising. The man before him was a peerless hegemon in aura.


    He cultivated Hegemon''s Fist, and was particrly sensitive to hegemonic aura. The cultivator before him wouldn''t pale inparison to Emperor Wei, whom he had met. Were the four Cardinal Aspects each as strong as an Immortal Emperor?


    "Xiao Nanfeng greets the Eastern Aspect." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    Ao Canghai stared at Xiao Nanfeng for a moment before smiling unexpectedly. "Among the Martial Aspects of the East, you''re the only one to not shrink back upon meeting my gaze for the first time. Xiao Nanfeng, is it? I acknowledge you."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. This was the first time he had seen the Eastern Aspect praise anyone to this extent, despite the fact that Xiao Nanfeng was only an Earth Immortal. Surely he was hardly deserving of such praise?


    Xiao Nanfeng understood Ao Canghai''s intent. The hegemonic aura he had given off was spiritual suppression in some form and intended to probe his abilities to an extent. Ordinary people would hardly be able to withstand it, but he did.


    "Thank you for the praise, Eastern Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You''ve seeded the Martial Aspect of Sunze, so you''ll be taking over his forces and demesne. You''ll have half a year to handle the transition and get your affairs in order," Ao Canghai continued.


    He sent a golden token floating toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Thank you, Eastern Aspect." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    "Off you go, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and retreated from the hall.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost didn''t follow him out, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mind. He left in search of Zhang Lingjun.


    Within the hall, Ao Canghai waved his hand and sent the officials out of the hall, leaving him alone with the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    "Silverfrost, you''ve done something very foolish," Ao Canghai said coldly.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s eyes widened. "Please enlighten me, Eastern Aspect. I''m not sure what you''re talking about?"


    "Oh? How could you be unaware of your own actions? Don''t think that others are unaware of what happened when you encountered the three-headed serpents. Some of those officials had avatars. What were you thinking? Do you think I''d be kept in the dark?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nched. "I was injured, Eastern Aspect, or I wouldn''t have had such a difficult fight. I really did try my best."


    "And you''re still trying to fool me?"


    "I wouldn''t dare, Eastern Aspect! I..." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stopped, gulping in the face of Ao Canghai''s ice-cold re.


    "Zhang Lingjun''s mother might have done something she shouldn''t have, but she was still the Heavenly Emperor''s favorite daughter. Zhang Lingjun herself is still the Heavenly Emperor''s granddaughter. His affairs are not for an outsider like you toment on. If anything had happened to Zhang Lingjun while you were responsible for guarding her, even I couldn''t have saved you," Ao Canghai dered.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost began to sweat profusely. He hadn''t thought too much of Zhang Lingjun until now, but it was clear he should have been far more careful.


    "Xiao Nanfeng was a Martial Aspect appointed by the Heavenly Emperor himself, and you were tasked with guarding him. If he had perished to the three-headed serpents, that would have cast shame on the entire Imperial Court. Did you think your petty tricks would be able to fool anyone? The Heavenly Emperor, even? Do you want to die?!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s heart thudded. How close had hee to losing everything?


    "I was truly a fool, Eastern Aspect. Please, save me!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost immediately bowed.


    Ao Canghai red at the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. "Fortunately, nothing untoward happened, but this sort of behavior can''t go unpunished. Withstand three hundred strikes from a venomme truncheon, then reflect on your actions in secluded cultivation. Don''t attempt to mess with Xiao Nanfeng for the time being."


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied, gulping.


    "Now, go!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost bowed and respectfully left the hall.


    After Xiao Nanfeng found Zhang Lingjun and allowed her to show him around the Sieve of Heaven, they flew toward a forested region surrounded by fog.


    "Princess, I apologize for having you serve as my guide yourself," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    "I promised Father to direct you, and this is naturally part of my responsibilities. As for my station, you can ignore it. I might be a princess, but I''m hardly unique. There are over a hundred in the Imperial Court, and I''m not a particrly high-ranking one."


    "Even so, you''re a princess, a granddaughter of the Heavenly Emperor himself! Who would dare look down on you?"


    "You don''t understand," Zhang Lingjun sighed, smiling wryly.


    It seemed as though there were some troubles associated with her station that she found it difficult to voice.


    "We''re almost there. This is the manor that once belonged to the Martial Aspect of Sunze, and now to you." Zhang Lingjun pointed at the distance.


    The forest was shrouded with fog. Above it was an erect banner on which ''Sunze'' was written.

 Chapter 480: A Martial Aspects Manor

    <h4>Chapter 480: A Martial Aspect''s Manor</h4>


    Within the Sieve of Heaven, at the peak of a fog-shrouded mountain, was a pavilion in which the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was located. He seemed a little weak. He was clutching onto a banister and panting lightly as he stared into the distance. A golden-robed youth stood beside him.


    "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, it was my fault you were punished by my father with three hundred strikes from a venomme truncheon. How are your injuries?" The golden-d youth sighed.


    "I''m alright. These strikes are only superficial injuries, and I''ll be back to normal after some rest. I should apologize. I wanted to help you, but I seem to have made matters worse," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said wryly.


    "Forget it. If Xiao Nanfeng lives, then so be it. His position as Martial Aspect will pass to me sooner orter. Moreover, there are no troops he can use within his manor, and he''d perish just trying to carry out an ordinary task as a Martial Aspect. I won''t have to wait for too long, I''d imagine."


    "You could stay within his manor," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost reflected.


    "Father won''t permit it."


    "Oh? I see. He must be worried that you would be med if Xiao Nanfeng were to suddenly die out of nowhere."


    The golden-d youth fumed, "Father doesn''t want me to be a Martial Aspect. Why not? Why do I have to avoid suspicion? Why can''t I be a Martial Aspect myself? How many years did I spend as an underling to Sunze? I did all that so I could rece him in the future! This opportunity was meant to be mine. I had lots of clues about what happened to him. If I had gone to Fengdu and sessfully hunted down his killer, I would have be the new Martial Aspect. How dare a lowly Earth Immortal im the opportunity that should have been mine?!"


    "I''ve already been punished by the Eastern Aspect. He said that the decision was ultimately the Heavenly Emperor''s, and I advise you not to do anything untoward. Just wait. He''s only an Earth Immortal, and will easily die on the battlefield."


    "I won''t have to wait for too long. He''s about to suffer." The golden-d youth smirked.


    "What? Don''t cause trouble for yourself!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nched.


    "Look. Xiao Nanfeng''s about to reach Sunze''s manor. It''s going to begin."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost turned in the direction the golden-d youth was pointing. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun had reached the exterior holdings of the manor.


    "What have you done?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pressed.


    "Just you wait and see." The golden-d youth''s smile widened.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun flew toward a forest shrouded with fog, which seemed to hide traces of a formation. A banner rose up from the fog on which ''Sunze'' was written.


    "The Martial Aspect''s manor... Am I supposed to activate the formation with my manor key?" Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his key.


    "Hold on. Something''s wrong." Zhang Lingjun suddenly frowned.


    "What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "The Martial Aspect of Sunze is supposed to have fifty thousand soldiers and generals garrisoned in the area on a long-term basis. Why haven''t any of them shown up?"


    "Fifty thousand troops?"


    "Indeed. In addition to the garrisoned troops, the Martial Aspects are able to recruit a standing army under their exclusivemand forbat. But why aren''t any of them around?"


    Just then, a white-robed man swiftly flew over. From afar, he greeted, "Princess, you''re back!"


    "Is this one of your subordinates who apanied you to Taiqing Ind?"


    "Indeed. He''s one of my bodyguards. Because the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was guarding us, I didn''t bring them along. I had him remain here to keep an eye on the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s manor," Zhang Lingjun exined. She then turned to the man. "What''s going on? Where have the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s fifty thousand troops gone?"


    "We were told that the Heavenly Emperor intended to appoint an Earth Immortal named Xiao Nanfeng as the new Martial Aspect. Many were in disbelief, but a few days ago, the sea of fortune roiled and birthed a new golden dragon. Everyone knew then that the new Martial Aspect had been appointed, and the Hall of Martial Aspects issued a notice stating that the new Martial Aspect was named Xiao Nanfeng. The entire Sieve of Heaven was in an uproar, and the fifty thousand garrisoned troops were implicated in themotion. They felt that being subordinate to an Earth Immortal would ruin their future, and they chose to resign instead. After all, the old Martial Aspect''s troops are given that privilege when a new Martial Aspect is appointed."


    "So Xiao Nanfeng''s name spread far and wide across the Sieve of Heaven a few days ago and all the troops that should have been his have resigned?" Zhang Lingjun confirmed.


    "They have. If I''m not mistaken, there must be lots of curious people eyeing us now."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. He looked around him. His surroundings were shrouded by fog, but he could sense countless eyes with his spiritual power. There were certainly stares directed his way from public venues in the distance as well.


    He thought he hade to his manor alone with Zhang Lingjun, but it turned out that he was being followed all along.


    "It looks like they''re all waiting to watch you make a fool of yourself. You''re not just the weakest among the seventy-two Martial Aspects, but the only one without subordinates the moment you were appointed. What a joke! You''re the only one who has received such treatment in the Sieve of Heaven. I fear."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a smile. "It''s not bad. At the very least, I won''t have to ferret out the ones who might be spies."


    "Aren''t you in a rush? You''re alone. You''ll have to participate in tasks that call on Martial Aspects in half a year at most. How will you do so then?"


    "Half a year is more than enough time. I''ll recruit my own forces. Come on, then. I don''t want to be put on disy for everyone to scoff at. Let''s go look around my ce," Xiao Nanfeng invited.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    The three of them flew into the fog. Xiao Nanfeng activated his manor key, causing the fog all around the manor to ripple rapidly, as though a crack had been opened up within the barrier.


    "Wait a while before you enter. Let me investigate what lies within with spiritual power first," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Aren''t you being overly cautious? This is your manor. Who would darey an ambush for you within? We''re in the Sieve of Heaven!" Zhang Lingjun replied,ughing.


    Just then, a howl came from within the formation. An avian rushed out through the cracks in the formation. It looked sinister, with a leopard''s head, and was about thirty meters tall. It had an overbearing aura and seemed particrly ferocious. It swooped and attempted to bite at the three cultivators.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng punched at it, his eyes cold.


    His fist struck the leopard-headed avian in a wave of energy that sent the three cultivators flying back, as did the avian. Then, however, it rapidly flew over again.


    "A leopard finch? It should have been locked up in the spirit prison! How did it get free?" the white-d man eximed.


    "What leopard finch, and what spirit prison?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "In the past, the Martial Aspect of Sunze conquered many a spiritbeastir and caught arge number of ferocious spirits that were terrorizing the world atrge. They''ve all been imprisoned in the spirit prison within his manor since. These spirits are always under guard and chained up. How could this one have gotten free?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    Many cultivators secretly eyeing Xiao Nanfeng from afar watched on with interest.


    "Come look! There''ll be a good show. That must be Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Something happened to the spirit prison in the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s manor. A fierce spirit got free!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s only an Earth Immortal, and his forces have all run off. He''s going to make a fool of himself!"


    "Those forces must have intentionally released that spirit."


    Countless cultivators in the Sieve of Heaven were looking toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You dare rampage through my territory? Do you know who I am?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The leopard finch''s eyes were bright red, as though it had lost all semnce of rationality¡ªall that remained were its instincts to kill. It roared and shot over.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    He stood before Zhang Lingjun and swung down with his de in a sh of shining blue light. The leopard finch''s feathers were as sharp as divine armaments, but they were no match for Xiao Nanfeng''s divine undying de, and neither was its strength. It was cut in half as blood sttered the ground.


    "Xiao Nanfeng was able to kill an Earth Immortal spirit in one blow?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng might only be an Earth Immortal, but he''s rather strong, isn''t he?"


    The cultivators all around the Sieve of Heaven were murmuring to themselves.


    Atop a mountain peak, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and golden-d youth were watching the fiasco unfold.


    "Did you release that leopard finch?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost asked, frowning.


    "I did. I left restrictions in ce that would activate the moment Xiao Nanfeng tried to use his manor key to ess the manor. All the bindings on the spirits trapped within will be released¡ªand all those spirits have been dosed with rampaging powder, so Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to calm them down or force a surrender." The golden-d youth smiled.


    "Spirits, plural? There''s more than just this leopard finch?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nched.


    "Of course!"


    "The Eastern Aspect had you leave in order to ensure that there''s no rtionship between you and Xiao Nanfeng. Wouldn''t it have been better to be patient and wait for Xiao Nanfeng to die out in the wilderness? Why waste your time on this?"


    The golden-d youth shook his head. "He won''t die. There are far too many strong cultivators in the Sieve of Heaven, and no Martial Aspect would be allowed to die within. I''m simply giving him a warning and ensuring that everyone here can see what a chatan he is. No one would be willing to be his subordinate then, and he won''t have a chance to live when he finally gets assigned Martial Aspect tasks. As for the fiasco, why, I''m not responsible. Those beasts are."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost considered this for a moment and ultimately nodded as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng in the distance. "There''s something strange about him. Your n might note to fruition."


    "Oh? You must be overthinking things. No matter how skilled he is, he''s only an Earth Immortal. What can he do? Let''s see how he deals with what shows up next." The golden-d youth didn''t believe the Martial Aspect''s words.


    Another ten leopard finches emerged from the formation, their eyes bright red, an aura of carnage surrounding them. They seemed intent on striking down any cultivator they encountered. With a roar, they swooped toward Xiao Nanfeng''s trio.

 Chapter 481: Slaughtering Spirits and Entering the Manor

    <h4>Chapter 481: ughtering Spirits and Entering the Manor</h4>


    "They''re all Earth Immortal spirits? Hmph!" Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    With a wave of his hand, ten golden crows emerged from his body. They scattered, their sharp ws like burningnces, their feathers like formations of fire. They easily struck the ten leopard finches down.


    The ten finches roared and flew toward the golden crows again, but the golden crows easily defended themselves. Fierce fighting ensued.


    "What''s that? Ten suns, and a golden crow within each one? What technique does he cultivate?"


    "He cultivates the Sky of Ten Suns? Several of the strongest cultivators in the Sieve of Heaven do the same."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s no ordinary cultivator, is he?"


    All sorts of murmurs filled the realm as ten zing suns took to the air, turning the air scorching. Xiao Nanfeng rxed as he retreated alongside Zhang Lingjun and her bodyguard. The ten golden crows disyed tremendous strength.


    In just a few short moments, the leopard finches had all been torn apart in showers of blood.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and the golden-d youth''s eyes widened.


    "Sky of Ten Suns? Isn''t he from one of those weak, aether-deprived territories? How could he boast such a high-ss technique?" The golden-d youth frowned.


    "I underestimated him." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned. "Might this end up boosting his reputation instead?"


    "The show''s just starting. Let''s see how long he can withstand the spirits'' attack," the golden-d youth said coolly.


    Another group of spirits emerged from the manorprising dozens of different species.


    The ten golden crows cawed in unison as they shot over, raking the spirits with their sharp ws and tearing them apart in zing mes.


    Now that the ten golden crows were attacking offensively, rather than defensively, they were exhibiting tremendous strength. The rampaging spirits had no choice but to group up as a firestorm descended on the manor.


    Each golden crow was easily taking on multiple spirits at once and even managing to retain the upper hand while doing so.


    "One against dozens? No, Xiao Nanfeng himself isn''t even making a move¡ªand he''s easily taking down dozens of Earth Immortal spirits! Isn''t this ridiculous?"


    "Is he really an Earth Immortal? That can''t be!"


    "Sky of Ten Suns looks like an invincible technique! What Earth Immortal could challenge his dominance?"


    The spectators were all taken aback by Xiao Nanfeng''s strength.


    Just then, within the Martial Aspect''s manor came a series of ferocious howls that startled the spectators.


    A gust of crimson me rose into the air and exploded, scattering the spirits and golden crows. At the heart of the crimson mes rose a gigantic bird, sixty meters wide from wing to wing. Its feathers were puffed up as it exuded incredible killing intent.


    "That''s a Heaven Immortal phoenix! I heard that plenty of cultivators died to take it down!" someone shouted.


    "A Heaven Immortal spirit? Xiao Nanfeng''s done for now."


    Just then, a beam of golden light descended from the heavens and squashed the head of the phoenix. Its mes sputtered and almost went out.


    "The phoenix was suppressed by an imperial seal?" a cultivator eximed.


    A blue sword sh glimmered as the phoenix''s head was cut in half with a wide spray of blood.


    The cultivators all around: ...


    That was a Heaven Immortal spirit! How could it have died so easily? It hadn''t even shown off any of its strength!


    The golden-d youth nched, not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to deal with the problem he had caused so easily. Was it all useless? Had he just helped Xiao Nanfeng show off his strength?


    "I forgot to tell you¡ªXiao Nanfeng slew a Heaven Immortal three-headed serpent when we were ambushed, and even managed to obtain a relic, the Purpleme Gourd, as a result. He used it to store a group of Heaven Immortal three-headed serpents, and even a True Immortal one as well. However, because that True Immortal serpent is sealed within the gourd, I suspect he won''t dare to use it in case it gets free," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost added.


    The golden-d youth: ...


    "Right, in addition to this Heaven Immortal phoenix, which other strong spirits did you release from captivity?"


    "There are eight other Heaven Immortal spirits. Xiao Nanfeng only seeded just now because he executed a sneak attack and suppressed the phoenix with his imperial seal. He should find the other eight Heaven Immortal spirits far harder to deal with," the youth continued.


    "Oh?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost continued to watch on.


    Just then, spider silk emerged from the cracks in the formation and stuck to the phoenix''s carcass. At the same time, a huge mantis'' scythe swiped across the air and struck it. ws speared the phoenix as a number of spirits fought over its carcass and dragged its pieces into the formation.


    "There are so many Heaven Immortal spirits¡ªare they all fighting over the phoenix?"


    "What could have happened to the spirit prison? Have all the Heaven Immortal spirits been freed?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s really going to suffer now. His imperial seal can only suppress one such spirit at a time. How''s he going to deal with a group of them at once?"


    Countless cultivators were analyzing the situation as tremendous auras red from the cracks in the formation. It seemed as though a number of Heaven Immortal spirits were about to rush out.


    "Do you think I''ll allow you to make a fuss in my manor? Dream on!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, rushing forward.


    The ten golden crows tore apart the Earth Immortal spirits and flew through the cracks in the formation alongside Xiao Nanfeng.


    The formation exploded in a sea of roaring mes, a tempest.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? He''s going to get himself killed!" Many cultivators watched on in astonishment.


    Steam and fog hissed from the cracks in the formation. Violent fighting seemed to be taking ce within.


    Everyone watched as limbs were ripped off the Heaven Immortal spirits and tossed out through the cracks in the formation. Shrill howls and screeching could be heard from within.


    After about half an hour, everything quieted down and fell silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew out of the cracks in the formation.


    "Is he alright? What happened to those Heaven Immortal spirits?"


    "Could he have won? How can that be? He''s just an Earth Immortal!"


    "Is he really an Earth Immortal?"


    Many of the cultivators were astonished.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s clothes were without even the slightest speck of dust. He looked toward Zhang Lingjun. "Princess, the manor is rather chaotic at the moment. If you don''t mind, however..."


    "I don''t. Let''s go have a look," Zhang Lingjun said in excitement.


    "Very well. Please enter, then. It should be safe inside now." Xiao Nanfeng beckoned her forward with a smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the lead, followed swiftly behind by Zhang Lingjun and her bodyguard. The cultivators gaped.


    "Did he really finish off all the Heaven Immortal spirits? This isn''t a prank, is it?"


    "This is Xiao Nanfeng''s first time in the Sieve of Heaven. Why would those ferocious spirits cooperate with him? It looks like the news we got was quite wed."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s no easy opponent. He''s a fearsome foe!"


    "Those soldiers and generals who resigned must be regretting their decisions now."


    Everyone seemed to be talking about the new Martial Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned. He thought to himself, "That can''t be. There''s a True Immortal trapped in his Purpleme Gourd, so there''s no way he would have used it against those spirits. Just how did he take down a group of Heaven Immortals, and in such a short period of time, too? Could the True Immortal in the Purpleme Gourd have died?"


    "Damn you, Xiao Nanfeng!" the golden-d youth hissed. "Count yourself lucky this time."


    Not only had he failed to make life difficult for Xiao Nanfeng, Xiao Nanfeng had even taken the opportunity to establish his own reputation. There would surely be some cultivators interested in hedging their bets with a brand-new Martial Aspect who showed the potential to rise up in a meteoric fashion. He had worsened his own situation.


    In the manor, within the formation, Zhang Lingjun and her bodyguard found Heaven Immortal spirits strewn all across the ground. They seemed to have died pitiful deaths.


    "I apologize for the mess, Princess. I didn''t have time to deal with them just now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He immediately began clearing away the spirit carcasses.


    Zhang Lingjun''s bodyguard''s mouth was wide open. He had met Xiao Nanfeng months ago, and Xiao Nanfeng was hardly as impressive then.


    "You were able to kill a group of Heaven Immortal spirits this easily? Aren''t you ridiculously strong?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "They''ve been trapped for years and only have a fraction of their full power. There''s nothing to fear from them. You obtained the Taiqing Grandmaster''s inheritance, and I believe you''ll be able to aplish the same feat in no time."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded, firmly believing that she could advance her own cultivation rapidly. Even so, she was shaken by Xiao Nanfeng''s strength.


    "I''m not too familiar with this manor. Could you bring me to that spirit prison and see if there are other beasts remaining?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    These carcasses might seem like walking disasters for others, but to him, each carcass might as well be a blood peach. As long as he could preserve them well and send them back to Yongding, then bury them underneath the blood peach tree that Madam Rouge had gifted him, they would immediately blossom into blood peaches. Each would be a boon for the nascent Immortals of the Dazheng Empire.


    "The spirit prison''s over there, but it looks like someone has messed around with it. You have to be careful," Zhang Lingjun warned, pointing in a certain direction.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately retrieved the manor key, which was able to manipte all formations in the Martial Aspect''s manor. He was able to pass through the entire manor without any interruptions.


    Very quickly, Zhang Lingjun brought him to the foot of arge mountain. A deep cave could be seen, and carved words to its side revealed it to be the Spirit Prison. Red smoke drifted out from the cave.


    "Is that rampaging powder? No wonder those spirits were so vicious. This powder magnifies their rage and sends them into a rampant state. Be careful not to breathe it in," Zhang Lingjun warned.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll handle it."


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng sent a gust of icy wind into the cave, forming a great deal of frost and snow that washed away any remaining traces of rampaging powder.

 Chapter 482: The Yin-Yang Cauldron

    <h4>Chapter 482: The Yin-Yang Cauldron</h4>


    The mountain cave that formed the spirit prison was particrlyrge in size. Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and her bodyguard entered to see that the mountain had been dug out almostpletely, and there were countless runic formations in the vicinity to stabilize the bulk of the mountain. Around the interior of the mountain cave were huge cages, all of which had been thrown open.


    "The attack we faced was no mere coincidence. The forces who departed must have done it," Zhang Lingjun said, frowning. "You have to be careful. Some of them obviously know how to enter this cave, so you can''t let them do this again."


    "I''ll reset everything with the manor key to prevent unwanted ess."


    "Good!" Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    They walked around the interior of the mountain. As expected, there wasn''t even a single spirit to be seen. However, at the bottom of the prison, they found a huge pit with a gigantic copper cauldron within. ck and white smoke surrounded the cauldron, spinning in a synchronized, profound fashion.


    "What an impressive cauldron. The ck and white smoke surrounding it seems to be sketching out some precept of naturalw..." Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.


    "This is the Yin-Yang Cauldron, the Martial Aspect of Sunze''s strongest relic. It''s a top-tier cauldron that can be used to forge Immortal relics."


    "To forge Immortal relics?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Earth disciples of the Taiqing sect were skilled with pillmaking and forging, but none had ever managed to forge an Immortal relic to date. Immortal relics were exceptional in quality. Though less flexible than Immortals themselves, Immortal relics possessed an Immortal''s strength.


    "Quite so! Forging Immortal relics requires the sacrifice of Immortal spirits, so that''s why there are so many trapped here. Each is meant as a live sacrifice," Zhang Lingjun exined.


    "A live sacrifice? Are all Immortal relics'' origins so bloody?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "There''s no need for you to pity them. These spirits have terrorized their respective territories and killed countless people. Rather than kill them directly, why not turn them into Immortal relics instead?"


    "You''re right. It''s a pity that these spirits have all died without our being able to forge Immortal relics from them, though. The fact that this cauldron is able to forge Immortal relics must mean that it''s an incredible treasure."


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the cauldron, which sent a burst of golden light toward him. He stumbled back.


    "There''s a formation protecting this cauldron?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Of course. Otherwise, those departing forces of yours would likely have stolen it already." Zhang Lingjun smiled.


    "Oh?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, they must have seized the vast majority of treasures in this mansion that weren''t bolted down."


    "I''ll investigate, but the fact that this cauldron is still here is already a huge boon."


    He reached out for the Yin-Yang Cauldron again. A golden barrier formed, blocking his hand.


    The formation was impressively strong, but it meant little against Xiao Nanfeng''s candleme powers. His spiritual power passed through the barrier and dissolved the crux of the formation, causing it to dissipate.


    Although Zhang Lingjun had seen Xiao Nanfeng do so before, she was still amazed by his abilities. Her bodyguard widened his eyes, staring in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out toward the Yin-Yang Cauldron, but his hand was repulsed. He probed it with his spiritual power, only for that to be ineffective as well.


    Despite the fact that he didn''t seem to have any recourse, he was exhrated. "What a treasure."


    "The Yin-Yang Cauldron is among the highest ss of cauldron-type relics. Trying to attune to it is no easy affair," Zhang Lingjun warned.


    "That''s alright. I''ll do it slowly. It''ll eventually warm up to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Let me give you a gift," Zhang Lingjun said.


    "Hm?"


    She retrieved a jade tablet. "The Yin-Yang Cauldron is protected by specialized naturalw, and ordinary attunement tactics won''t work. I have some strategies to do so recorded in this jade tablet, but even so, it takes an incredible amount of time to seed. The Martial Aspect of Sunze tried for many years but was still unable to gain full mastery over it."


    "Oh? Where did you get this?"


    "It''s one of the treasures that my mother left me. She was the one who gave this Yin-Yang Cauldron to the Martial Aspect of Sunze as well. Now that it''s in your hands, allow me to pass this jade tablet to you." Zhang Lingjun smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately understood that Zhang Lingjun was trying to secure his support. He smiled. "I''ll ept it gratefully, then. Princess, if you ever need my help, pleasee talk to me."


    "Very well," Zhang Lingjun said, satisfied.


    Xiao Nanfeng kept the tablet and walked around the spirit prison once more before leaving with Zhang Lingjun.


    They inspected the manor. Just as Zhang Lingjun had guessed, much of the treasure within the manor had been removed, leaving just a few items behind. Although there was plenty of treasure, they all paled inparison to the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    Before nightfall, Zhang Lingjun departed as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw Zhang Lingjun and her bodyguard off, then immediately began to adjust the manor''s formations to ensure that no one else could enter. Then, he took down the banner above the manor and reced it with one on which ''Xiao'' was written inrge, bold letters, announcing to one and all that the manor and its demesne now belonged to him.


    He had no intention of recruiting new forces; rather, he headed down into the spirit prison and began to attune to the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    Because of the tablet that Zhang Lingjun had given him, he found it much easier to attune to the cauldron than before. In just two days, the cauldron had grudgingly epted his presence. Perhaps because of just how high-grade the relic was, however, going further would require significant effort.


    His waist suddenly shook. His face turned dark as he stopped attuning to the cauldron.


    He reached out for the Purpleme Gourd hooked to his waist. Over thest few days, he learned that he had caught Yin Tianci within the gourd¡ªand Yin Tianci''s main body, at that.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t be able to trap me for long. Once I escape, I''ll kill you!" Yin Tianci roared.


    A particrly tiny crack appeared on the gourd''s surface.


    After all, the Purpleme Gourd was only a True Immortal relic, and Yin Tianci was the crown prince of a divine empire. He was sure to have plenty of treasure, and Xiao Nanfeng didn''t think that the gourd would trap him for long. Even so, he didn''t want to release Yin Tianci so easily. He intended to wait.


    "Let''s talk once you escape," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He sealed all sound from entering or leaving the gourd, then focused on attuning to the cauldron.


    Dayster, a series of knocks could be heard from the front of the manor.


    Xiao Nanfeng stopped attuning to the cauldron and walked out of the spirit prison. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled his formation to see hundreds of Taiqing disciples standing outside, led by Zhang Feifan himself. Chang Bing and the others were by his side.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really make a fuss wherever you go, don''t you? I heard you had a big fight around here," Zhang Feifan said,ughing.


    "Thank you for helping me guide the Earth division disciples here, Division Leader Zhang."


    "There''s no need for thanks. You intend on using them as part of your standing army, don''t you? Don''t worry. I''ll help you contact the relevant officials to get them registered. Once you sign off, they''ll have official identification tokens allowing them free ess into and out of the Sieve of Heaven."


    "Thank you, Division Leader Zhang. Would you like toe in?"


    "There''s no need. We''ll have plenty of opportunities to catch up. It''s been a while since Ist returned, and I have plenty of administrative affairs I have to take care of. I''lle bother you again when I''m free."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He saw Zhang Feifan off before turning back to Chang Bing and the others.


    "We greet the division leader!" Chang Bing and the others chorused politely.


    "Come in. I''ll help you record your spiritual power in the formation so you can ess this manor at will."


    "Understood!" The disciples stepped across the formation.


    They nced around curiously. Although the buildings here weren''t particrly ornate, they still felt the need to be careful. After all, this was the manor of a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court!


    "There''s no need to be so reserved. This is going to double as your base of operations. You''ll all serve as my forces for the time being. Familiarize yourself with the ce and the Sieve of Heaven as a whole."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Suddenly, Chang Bing sniffed. "What an incredible furnace aura."


    "Furnace aura?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s stronger than even that of the best pill furnace in the Taiqing sect! Division Leader, are you forging a relic in here right now?" Chang Bing eximed.


    The other Earth division disciples were clearly shocked as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself was taken aback. "How can you sense this furnace aura?"


    "Division Leader, have you forgotten our sect''s specialty?" Chang Bing joked.


    "Hm?"


    "The Taiqing sect''s mastery of forgecraft is second only to the red moon of its spiritual cultivation. After the cmity from two centuries ago, the sect master and division leaders were worried that other forces would covet the techniques of Taiqing forgecraft and deliberately propagated rumors that a significant fraction of the inheritance had been lost. In truth, the Earth division remained responsible for carrying on those traditions and passing down those techniques, but this is a closely guarded secret," Chang Bing whispered.


    "The methods of Taiqing forgecraft are known to the Earth division?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Yes, but without a sufficiently high-quality forge and materials, all we can make are ordinary pills and relics. Even so, they''re several grades better than those you can find in ordinary sects," Chang Bing replied proudly.


    "Oh?"


    "Taiqing forgecraft is a secret passed down from the Taiqing grandmaster himself, and only a sectstarter within the Earth division who possesses a specific constitution and spiritual marker is qualified to learn it in its entirety. Of the hundreds of Earth division disciples gathered here, only thirty bear the inheritance," Chang Bing exined.


    "I need helpers to help me attune to the Yin-Yang Cauldron I''ve just obtained. Follow me. Show me your skills," Xiao Nanfeng said expectantly.

 Chapter 483: Melting Yin Tianci

    <h4>Chapter 483: Melting Yin Tianci</h4>


    Within the spirit prison, Chang Bing and the other disciples nced at the Yin-Yang Cauldron in awe.


    "What a cauldron! Come, let''s try out Taiqing forgecraft on it!" Chang Bing eximed.


    The Earth division disciples infused their spiritual energy into the cauldron while murmuring mantras.


    The cauldron shuddered. Its aura of yin and yang intertwined above its lid and spiraled into the air.


    "It''s working!"


    The disciples continued to channel their energy in excitement, causing the cauldron to creak and shudder.


    They finally stopped after some time.


    "Division Leader, this is an incredible cauldron. The Taiqing Immortal Sect only boasted one of simr quality ten thousand years ago," Chang Bing reported.


    "Are you able to attune to the cauldron using the methods of Taiqing forgecraft?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "Of course. Taiqing forgecraft dates back to the Taiqing Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago, and was heralded as the best suite of forgecraft techniques at the time. Although this cauldron is of particrly high quality, we''ll be able to attune to it within two years. If we understood the naturalws it drew upon, things would be even more straightforward," Chang Bing replied.


    "Might I have a look at the techniques?"


    "Of course. Division Leader Xiao, part of your responsibilities as division leader includes passing on the methods of Taiqing forgecraft."


    He immediately handed Xiao Nanfeng a jade tablet, who grew deeply engrossed, as though a brand-new field of cultivation had been opened up to him.


    He had some understanding of forging pills and relics from the forty-eight thousand scrolls of scripture he had read in the past, and his understanding was moreprehensive than even most forgemasters. Even so, his understanding paled inparison to the methods of Taiqing forgecraft.


    Not only did forgecraft require an understanding of arge repertoire of mantras and exhaustive knowledge of countless medicinal herbs and materials, it also required exacting understanding of fire and intuition forbining natural treasures.


    Learning the methods of Taiqing forgecraft was made far simpler with a special constitution and spiritual marker. Ordinary cultivators could gain some understanding of its techniques and slowly mold their constitution and soul into their ideal forms, but this required intense effort over a prolonged duration.


    Xiao Nanfeng intended to borrow from the Taiqing repertoire, but didn''t n to mold his constitution and spirit at the moment.


    "I have a tablet that contains information about the cauldron''s fundamental principles. Have a look. How long do you think it would take to attune to the cauldron?" Xiao Nanfeng handed over his jade tablet.


    The disciples crowded around it in surprise. After some time, Chang Bing reported with excitement, "It''s incredibly detailed. We''ll be able to attune to it in no time."


    "How quickly?"


    "If I were alone, it would take a month, but the thirty of us can split up the work and each attune to a part of it. Under ourbined efforts, it would only take roughly two days."


    "That quick?" Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "Although we''ve been stationed in Fengdu all these years, we never treated our responsibilities lightly, and we all have an excellent understanding of Taiqing forgecraft. It''s a pity that we never had such an excellent cauldron until now, though."


    "In that case, start attuning to it immediately. Go as quickly as you can," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Three dayster, before the Yin-Yang Cauldron, Xiao Nanfeng considered his Purpleme Gourd. There were cracks all across its surface, as though it might shatter at any moment.


    "Are you certain we''ll be able to forge a True Immortal now?" Xiao Nanfeng stressed.


    "Division Leader, I don''t know how strong Yin Tianci''s main body is, but if this Purpleme Gourd can trap him for a few days, then the Yin-Yang Cauldron will surely be able to, too. We''ve already finished attuning to it, so I guarantee he won''t be able to escape if you toss him in. The cauldron''s mastery over yin and yang will surely be able to overpower him," Chang Bing replied.


    "Let''s get started, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the Purpleme Gourd into the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "Yin and yang, circte ording to mymand!" Chang Bing intoned.


    Yin and yang energy revolved around the inside of the cauldron. Before Chang Bing sealed it with its lid, Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the restrictions in ce over the surface of the gourd.


    "Break!" Yin Tianci roared.


    The Purpleme Gourd burst open.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ve broken out! You''re dead meat now!" Yin Tianci roared.


    The cauldron nked shut. Yin and yang energy surrounded Yin Tianci.


    "Damn it, didn''t I break free of the gourd? What''s this? A furnace?" Yin Tianci bellowed.


    "Forge!" Chang Bing and the other disciples intoned.


    A huge gust of wind formed around the cauldron, absorbing spiritual aether from the environment and infusing it within. The yin and yang energies inside the cauldron were massively enhanced as they attacked Yin Tianci.


    "What sort of furnace is this? Ah, it hurts!" Yin Tianci cried out.


    Spiritual aether filled the environment, replenishing what had been lost within the spirit prison and then concentrating it around the cauldron to such an extent that it condensed into fog.


    "Don''t worry, Division Leader. We had limited resources and no quintessential me to assist us, but the yin and yang energies of the cauldron alone will be sufficient to deal with Yin Tianci. Even if he''s a True Immortal, and even if he has True Immortal relics to safeguard him, he won''t be able tost long," Chang Bing promised.


    "Well done. Isn''t the concentration of spiritual aether here a little overwhelming, though?"


    "That''s one of the benefits of such a high-grade cauldron. While it''s in operation, it can draw in spiritual aether from the environment and make the region around the cauldron a cultivation paradise. If we''re allowed to use this cauldron long-term, our cultivation will surely rise in leaps and bounds."


    "Keep cultivating, then. I''ll be expecting you to spend plenty of time around this cauldron in the future," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood!" the disciples cried out in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng exhaled in relief. True Immortals were particrly difficult to deal with, and he wouldn''t have known what to do with Yin Tianci after he broke free without the cauldron. He didn''t have to worry anymore, though¡ªYin Tianci would soon die.


    After another three days, in the Hall of Martial Aspects, Ao Canghai sat on a jeweled throne as he nced at the cultivators before him.


    Beside him was the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, who was fuming at the cultivators¡ªthe officials of the divine empire of Dayin. Leading the officials was another avatar of Yin Tianci.


    "A delegation from the divine empire of Dayin? And you must be the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci. How dare youy an ambush for Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    Yin Tianci immediately bowed down. "Please calm down, Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. I came here to exin the situation. The three-headed serpent king was the mastermind behind this scheme and tricked me as well. It knew that I had a grudge against Xiao Nanfeng and sessfully lured me in.


    "We split our responsibilities. I was only in charge of holding back the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. The other masked cultivators were organized by the three-headed serpent king, and they were the ones who killed the officials of the Imperial Court and attempted to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng. I was tricked by the serpent, but when I came to my senses and informed my father of the affair, he had the three-headed serpent king in. I bring its carcass to you to beg for forgiveness."


    Yin Tianci retrieved a storage treasure.


    Ao Canghai didn''t im it, but he knew that the three-headed serpent king''s carcass had to lie within.


    He knew that Yin Tianci was lying, that he was deliberately pushing all the responsibility for the assault on the three-headed serpent king before killing it so there could be no testimony to the contrary.


    "And is that all you''re doing here?" Ao Canghai demanded coolly.


    "Not only that, Xiao Nanfeng captured my main body and trapped it within the Purpleme Gourd. I shattered it, but he then transferred me into a cauldron and is attempting to melt it. Before long, my main body''s going to die. I came to acknowledge my actions and to request that you save my main body."


    "Ha!" Ao Canghai scoffed. "Don''t you think you''re speaking to the wrong person about this?"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost beside him also eyed Yin Tianci coldly, as though he were speaking nonsense.


    "My father, the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, had mee speak to the Eastern Aspect. He''s busy and was unable toe himself, and would ordinarily have sent an esteemed official from court, but that would not have been enough to show our sincerity. As a result, I came personally in order to beg for forgiveness. My father is willing topensate the Imperial Court for what I''ve done. I simply request that the Eastern Aspect save my main body," Yin Tianci begged.


    "Compensate? How?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "My father said that, if you were to help me, Eastern Aspect, he would pay off his outstanding tithe of fortune¡ªand double it."


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes.


    "Furthermore, he''s willing to negotiate regarding additional conditions that don''t disrupt the day-to-day operation of the empire," Yin Tianci continued.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dayin said all this?" Ao Canghai confirmed.


    "He did. This is a letter from the Immortal Emperor confirming this, Eastern Aspect." Yin Tianci proffered a letter.


    Ao Canghai confirmed that the letter was genuine. He was baffled. The Immortal Emperor of Dayin seemed to be deliberately allowing himself to be gouged. Was there some sort of ploy at y here?


    "Eastern Aspect, my main body has been in a cauldron for three days and nights. It''s being safeguarded by arge number of treasures, but I''m almost at my wit''s end. Please save me, Eastern Aspect. Dayin will fulfill whatever conditions you may have!" Yin Tianci begged anxiously.


    He could sense that his main body was about to perish. He was filled with inordinate fear.


    "Wait outside the hall for now," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrostmanded.


    "Understood!" Yin Tianci and his subordinates left the hall immediately, leaving only Ao Canghai and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost behind.


    "Eastern Aspect, hasn''t the Immortal Emperor of Dayin deferred time and again when pressed to tithe his fortune? But this time around, not only is he willing to pay it in full, he''s even willing to double the amount and ede to whatever conditions we impose! Does he care that much about Yin Tianci?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned.


    Ao Canghai rapped on the armrest of his seat, smiling lightly. "Xiao Nanfeng has brought us a huge gift, hasn''t he?"

 Chapter 484: Were Too Weak

    <h4>Chapter 484: We''re Too Weak</h4>


    Within the spirit prison in Xiao Nanfeng''s manor in the Sieve of Heaven, Xiao Nanfeng nced at Chang Bing and the other disciples. "It''s been four days. Isn''t Yin Tianci dead yet?"


    "Yin Tianci''s True Immortal relics should all be gone by now, but he likely has a relic even beyond the realm of a True Immortal. The energies of yin and yang that the cauldron possesses are strong, but can''t exhibit their full potential without mes of sufficiently high quality. That''s why it''s taking longer than expected," Chang Bing replied.


    "He has a treasure beyond the realm of a True Immortal? How could he have been trapped in the Purpleme Gourd for so long, then?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I suspect that it''s a defensive relic that doesn''t boast much offensive ability. Even so, the yin and yang energies will slowly whittle Yin Tianci down. He''s surely badly wounded by now, and we can sense that he''s weakening from the feedback we receive regarding the yin and yang energies."


    "Very well. Keep it up until he''s dead," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of going easy on Yin Tianci. After all, they were already enemies. Why cause trouble for himself by leaving Yin Tianci alive?


    Just then, an Earth division disciple rushed into the spirit prison. "Division Leader, Division Leader Zhang is here along with the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and arge group of people from the divine empire of Dayin. In the lead is the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci."


    "Hm?" The disciples within the mountain cave gave the messenger an odd look.


    Wasn''t Yin Tianci trapped within the Yin-Yang Cauldron? Where did this other Yin Tiancie from?


    "Could it be Yin Tianci''s avatar, trying to save his main body? He must have found the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and Zhang Feifan." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "What do we do now, Division Leader?" Chang Bing asked urgently.


    "Keep the cauldron running. I''ll go check out what''s going on," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" The disciples continued to channel energy into the cauldron.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode out to greet Zhang Feifan, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, and the anxious avatar of Yin Tianci.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Division Leader Zhang, what brings you here today?"


    Zhang Feifan gave him a wry smile. "I''m just a middleman today, I fear. I''m here on behalf of the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and Crown Prince of Dayin to help negotiate terms."


    "Oh? Is that so? Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, what''s there to discuss between us?" Xiao Nanfeng nced curiously at him.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied, "Better for Zhang Feifan to discuss the details with you. I''m here representing the Eastern Aspect to bear witness. The matter concerns the grudges between you and Yin Tianci."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I didn''t think you would be so generous. Yin Tianci and his subordinates attempted to kill you; you''re just letting bygones be bygones!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost fumed, his face dark, but didn''t say anything.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng turn toward Yin Tianci. "Well done, Yin Tianci. You didn''t dare to find me personally, so you spoke to the Eastern Aspect hoping that he would force my hand."


    Yin Tianci lowered his head and took a deep breath. "I apologize for offending you in the past, Martial Aspect Xiao. I hope you''ll release my main body."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Yin Tianci and turned to Zhang Feifan. "Division Leader Zhang, what''s the situation?"


    Zhang Feifan gave him a wry smile. "The Martial Aspect of the Vast Seas sought my help in resolving the conflict between you and Yin Tianci. I''m sorry to say that I epted."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the situation. He immediately guessed that Ao Canghai must have obtained countless benefits from Yin Tianci or perhaps the divine empire of Dayin and was now attempting to force him to release Yin Tianci''s main body, while being stingy and refusing to share in whatever spoils that he had obtained.


    Zhang Feifan had to have no choice. His position as official in the Imperial Court was surely awkward; Ao Canghai ''seeking'' his help might as well have been a threat.


    He didn''t inquire about the situation from Zhang Feifan. What he saw on Zhang Feifan''s face told him all that he needed to know. His face turned cold. "Yin Tianci, I''ll oblige the Eastern Aspect''s request, but if I release your main body, how will I ensure that you don''t take revenge on me or the Taiqing sect? It hardly makes sense for me to leave a threat like you alive."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was taken by surprise. He had been tasked with ensuring Xiao Nanfeng''spliance, and had even been granted use of Ao Canghai''s charm to force Xiao Nanfeng''s hand if need be. He didn''t expect that Xiao Nanfeng would be willing to give up so readily.


    Zhang Feifan lowered his head in embarrassment.


    Yin Tianci was taken off-guard as well. He thought that he would have to endure a prolonged negotiation, but Xiao Nanfeng had given in readily.


    "I promise that, as long as you release my main body, I won''t take revenge on the Taiqing sect or on you," Yin Tianci pledged.


    "And what of the divine empire of Dayin?"


    An official of Dayin spoke up from behind Yin Tianci. "Before our departure, the Immortal Emperor had me prepare this contractual scroll promising that no member of the divine empire of Dayin will be permitted to take revenge on you, the Taiqing sect, or your empire of Dazheng if you release His Highness'' main body. His Majesty''s word isw."


    The official proffered a scroll.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost added, "The Eastern Aspect has confirmed that this scroll was written by the Immortal Emperor of Dayin and represents asting covenant."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the scroll. The Immortal Emperor of Dayin''s imperial seal prominently marked it, and its contents were as summarized. Although it was nominally a promise, it sounded almost like a threat. If he were to refuse, the divine empire of Dayin would surely do its best to take down the Taiqing sect and the empire of Dazheng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Had the Immortal Emperor of Dayin already concluded such an extensive check on his holdings and allegiances in just a few short days?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, my main body won''t hold out much longer. If I die, then all these promises shall be invalidated, including everything promised to the Martial Aspect of the Vast Seas!" Yin Tianci''s avatar eximed.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost jumped in. "Xiao Nanfeng, the Eastern Aspect hopes that you''ll resolve your conflict with Yin Tianci promptly.


    Clearly, what the divine empire of Dayin had promised Ao Canghai was particrly important to him.


    Zhang Feifan opened his mouth as though to talk, but all he could do was sigh. He didn''t want to make life difficult for Xiao Nanfeng, but there was little he could do in such a situation in which the future of the Taiqing sect might be at stake.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment, but ultimately nodded. "Very well. I shall respect the Eastern Aspect and the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. Yin Tianci, I will release your main body, and only your main body, in ordance with this covenant."


    "What do you mean?" Yin Tianci asked, confused.


    "I''ll release your main body, but not anything in his possession."


    "You!" Yin Tianci''s eyes widened.


    "If not for the Eastern Aspect and the Immortal Emperor''s intercession, all your possessions would have been mine, and they only require that I give up your main body, not your possessions. If this is problematic to you, you may ask them for rification," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "No, no, you''re quite right!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    If he were to ask Ao Canghai and his father to revise the wording of the covenant, his main body might be dead by the time they did so.


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "In that case, will you release my main body now? He won''tst much longer!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He activated his manor key, causing the formations around the estate to ripple. The fog leading to his spirit prison dissipated as a path was revealed in sight. He beckoned the cultivators to follow him.


    "Wait here," Xiao Nanfeng said, once they reached the entrance to the cave.


    Yin Tianci and the others were impatient, but didn''t dare cause a fuss. As for the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, who represented Ao Canghai, he could hardly make a fuss either now that Xiao Nanfeng had agreed to the proposal.


    Xiao Nanfeng entered the cave and called out, "Release Yin Tianci."


    Although Chang Bing and the other disciples were perplexed, they nodded and stopped channeling energy into the cauldron. Its lid popped open as yin and yang energies surged out.


    A figure mbered out of the cauldron, none other than Yin Tianci''s main body. His body was a pulpy mess of flesh and bone, his limbs soft and almost melted, his body no longer looking like that of a human. Only his head was intact, but it too was in bad shape.


    On his head was a golden lotus hood, the artifact that had protected his head.


    Xiao Nanfeng instantly guessed that this was the post-True Immortal relic that Yin Tianci possessed.


    "What a treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, reaching out for it.


    However, the hood instantly crumbled into ash that dissipated through the air.


    "Yin Tianci, what''s the meaning of this?" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    Yin Tianci''s main body was too weak to speak, but Yin Tianci''s avatar called out from outside the cave, "Xiao Nanfeng, I would have given you that treasure, but it''s been destroyed! As for my storage treasure, I''ve ced it within your cauldron and didn''t take it out with me."


    Xiao Nanfeng refused to believe such a convenient excuse. He inspected Yin Tianci''s main body, but found no trace of that lotus hood. Within the cauldron was a single storage bangle, as Yin Tianci had imed.


    He frowned. He knew that Yin Tianci had to be lying. How could that golden lotus hood have vanished out of nowhere? However, he didn''t have any evidence that would allow him to dispute such a im.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, my main body needs immediate attention. Please bring him out," Yin Tianci''s avatar called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the storage bangle that Yin Tianci had left behind before leaving with his main body in tow.


    The moment he emerged, a group of Dayin officials swarmed him to give Yin Tianci''s main body emergency assistance.


    Yin Tianci''s avatar frowned upon seeing the appearance of his main body, but quickly said, "Matters between us are settled. Farewell!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost quickly jumped in. "Hold on. Why don''t I bring you to the Eastern Aspect to bid farewell to him first?"


    Clearly, he intended to im the benefits that Yin Tianci had promised him first.


    The cultivators left, leaving Zhang Feifan alone with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Zhang Feifan smiled wryly. "I am deeply sorry, Division Leader Xiao, for having be their aplice."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There''s no need for that, Division Leader Zhang. You can''t be med for this. me the Dazheng Empire and the Taiqing sect for being too weak that they felt they could threaten us. Even without your presence, they would have done the same to me."


    Zhang Feifan sighed.


    "You should head back and rest. Don''t worry, I''m alright."


    Zhang Feifan nodded and left after chatting with Xiao Nanfeng a little.


    Chang Bing, who had learned of what had happened over the course of the conversation, fumed, "Yin Tianci really does know how to make use of his connections, doesn''t he?"


    "It''s all over with. At least the divine empire of Dayin won''t attack us for the time being." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Division Leader, will Yin Tianci really honor the covenant and not take revenge?" Chang Bing asked in worry.


    "Given my understanding of him, this won''t be the end of things."


    "What?" Chang Bing nched.


    "Ao Canghai casually exchanged my spoils with the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, who threatened me with the safety of the Taiqing sect and the empire of Dazheng. Ultimately, the conclusion is the same: we''re too weak."


    Chang Bing sighed.


    "Send your subordinates to spread word of what just happened. Make sure the entire Sieve of Heaven knows about this gossip."


    "Why?"


    "We need to ensure that everyone is aware of what happened. Only then will the divine empire of Dayin not dare to openly take action against the Taiqing sect and the empire of Dazheng. Otherwise, the emperor''s integrity will be nothing more than a joke."


    "Understood!"

 Chapter 485: Forging Arhat Armor

    <h4>Chapter 485: Forging Arhat Armor</h4>


    After dealing with Yin Tianci, Xiao Nanfeng entered secluded cultivation. He had to look over the treasures he had obtained from Yin Tianci.


    The fact that his storage bangle had survived the Yin-Yang Cauldron meant that it was an extraordinary treasure. There were particrly strong restrictions embedded in it that took Xiao Nanfeng significant effort to break down.


    Within the bangle were a few low-grade treasures; clearly, Yin Tianci had already used up the majority of his stronger ones in defending his body against the cauldron''s onught. There were plenty of herbs, pills, forging materials, and ordinary-looking treasures as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng searched through the interior of the storage bangle and found only a single piece worth paying particr attention to, a red pearl zing with crimson me. It was scorching hot to the touch.


    "A True Immortal relic? What sort of fire is this? Why can''t I control it?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured curiously.


    The pearl seemed particrly potent, but he was unable to activate it regardless of whether he was using his spiritual power or Immortal qi. He frowned at it and studied it carefully, but remained unable to discern the identity of the mes. Eventually, he sighed and decided to absorb it directly using his Imposing Avatar of Ri.


    Crimson me gushed into his body. The mes within the pearl seemed almost endless, an incredible boon to Xiao Nanfeng. He focusedpletely on absorbing and distilling the mes.


    A dayter, Yin Tianci and his delegation walked out of the Sieve of Heaven.


    On the way back, a group of officials did their best to rescue Yin Tianci''s main body.


    "Your Highness, you suffered incredible severe damage," an official murmured.


    "I did my best to preserve my physical body, but that cauldron of his was simply too strong. All my True Immortal and even Heaven Immortal relics were all destroyed. If not for their protection, my main body wouldn''t havested this long." Yin Tianci scowled with displeasure.


    "Indeed? Good! At least Xiao Nanfeng won''t gain anything from this."


    Yin Tianci frowned. "Well, not quite all. There was one True Immortal relic left in my storage bangle, which Xiao Nanfeng has likely obtained."


    "What is it?"


    "That red lotus pearl containing karmic me. You know what I''m talking about."


    "Oh? I remember, Your Highness. That pearl contains an incredible amount of karmic me, but it''s no easy source of energy to manipte. A moment''s incaution could severely wound its bearer''s soul. Why would you bring it with you?"


    "It''s a significant source of bad karma. Even if it has no other functionality, I can cause it to explode destructively. I didn''t dare use it in the cauldron while my main body was inside¡ªwell, forget it."


    "It''s hardly as though he can use it, Your Highness. He doesn''t have a Buddhist technique that makes use of such me," the official added.


    "All the better." Yin Tianci nodded.


    Back in Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, after a full day of absorbing the mes in the pearl, it cracked open and dissolved into powder.


    A huge wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he opened his eyes. "The seventh stage of Earth Immortal! Just what were those mes? It was somewhat difficult to absorb them, but they contained impressive energy."


    His mood improved significantly.


    He continued looking through the other objects present in Yin Tianci''s storage bangle. He was certain that the possessions of the crown prince of a divine empire couldn''t be anything ordinary.


    Indeed, he was able to obtain little-known secrets about the divine empire of Dayin from many jade tablets that he perused. These were particrly valuable to him, since they represented avenues by which he could take on Dayin.


    Hebed through the tablets quickly, then found a particrly special golden tablet.


    The golden tablet had been sealed with arge number of restrictions, multiple times more than even the storage bangle itself.


    His eyes glinted, knowing that he had found something of significant value. He carefully began peeling away the restrictionsyer byyer.


    Meanwhile, outside the Sieve of Heaven, an official continued questioning Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, I''m responsible for reporting the situation to the Immortal Emperor. Could you think back and see if there were other important treasures in your storage bangle?"


    "There''s a golden jade tablet that contains information on how to forge arhat armor," Yin Tianci replied, frowning.


    "What? Forging arhat armor? Didn''t His Majesty announce that no one was to inquire about those techniques? How do you have that information, Your Highness?"


    "Father gave it to me. Well? Something to say?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "No, Your Highness, but this might pertain to imperial security. The arhat armor is of strategic importance to the divine empire of Dayin. If its production were to spread, that could well incur a huge loss for us," the official fretted.


    Yin Tianci frowned, knowing that this would be a problem. Even so, he refused to acknowledge it. "I''ve studied how to forge arhat armor myself. Attempting to do so requires an incredibly high-grade cauldron and materials, as well as forgemasters of supetive skill. No one else would understand the manual, and Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to do anything about it even if he does acquire the tablet."


    "But what if..."


    "There''s no what if about it. If I im that he can''t forge it, then he can''t. None of this nonsense. Report it if you have to¡ªit''s hardly as though you''re qualified to handle it otherwise," Yin Tianci replied irritably.


    "Understood!" The official immediately lowered his head.


    Back in Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, after peeling away the restrictionsyer byyer, Xiao Nanfeng finally uncovered the contents of the tablet.


    "How to forge arhat armor?!" Xiao Nanfeng gaped, then grinned.


    He knew just how strong arhat armor was. Each suit of armor was as strong as ate-realm Heaven Immortal, and they even scaled with the strength of the cultivators wielding them. More importantly, even ordinary Immortals were able to equip arhat armor.


    "If I can forge a batch of arhat armor, I''d have a batch of Heaven Immortals in my employ..." Xiao Nanfeng was immediately enthused about the tablet''s contents.


    He studied it for a moment and realized how demanding the forging process would be. He immediately got up in search of professionals who would be able to evaluate the likelihood of actually producing it.


    He returned to the spirit prison, where Chang Bing and the other disciples were continuing to attune to the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "You''re here, Division Leader? We''ve dealt with the tasks you assigned us. We don''t have anything to do at the moment, so we''ve decided to continue attuning to the cauldron," Chang Bing reported.


    "Stop for the moment. Come have a look at the contents of this tablet. Can you make it using the Yin-Yang Cauldron?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The disciples crowded around the tablet.


    "The production of arhat armor?!" Chang Bing eximed.


    "That''s right. Have a careful look."


    "Understood!" The disciples murmured to each other as they considered its contents, then had a longer discussion before they turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "We''ve read through the tablet, Division Leader. The arhat armor is a unique relic, but one we can forge with sufficient materials and the Yin-Yang Cauldron," Chang Bing summarized.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "However, forging arhat armor requires a considerable supply of extremely rare and precious materials that we can''t afford, as well as the live sacrifice of spirits, ideally True Immortal ones and at worst peak Heaven Immortal ones. Where would we acquire them?" Chang Bing grimaced.


    "Let''s leave that aside for now, then. What if I want you to repair arhat armor? Can you aplish that?"


    "Repair it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved arge supply of broken, battered pieces of arhat armor from his storage treasure, which he had obtained from Yin Tianci''s subordinates back in the Netherworld Pce. However, none of it was in usable shape.


    "This many sets¡ªand they''re all broken?" Chang Bing and the other disciples studied them carefully.


    It took them an entire day of rummaging through the broken pieces and cross-referencing them with the manual before they came to a conclusion.


    "Well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Chang Bing replied, "Perhaps no other forgemasters could do it, but with the methods of Taiqing forgecraft and sufficient materials, we can melt down, reforge, and repair several of these suits of armor."


    "What materials?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Chang Bing immediately recited a long list of ingredients. "These materials are all particrly rare and precious, and it may take significant effort to gather them all. Division Leader, you could buy smaller portions of them if you have to. We can repair one or two suits as a trial first."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him an odd look. "There''s no need for that."


    "Oh?"


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng deposited arge quantity of materials before him. "They were all in Yin Tianci''s storage bangle. Perhaps he was in search of people to forge him suits of arhat armor himself."


    Chang Bing and the other disciples nced at each other in glee. They rushed forward to inspect the ingredients.


    "Division Leader, give us some time. Once we fully attune to the cauldron, we''ll beginrge-scale restoration of these suits of armor," Chang Bing promised.


    "I''m counting on you, then. My apologies for the trouble," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "No, no, Division Leader! This is what we dream of doing," Chang Bing replied.


    He seemed almost like a mad scientist to Xiao Nanfeng, who sighed. "It looks like I should have had you doing something like this from the beginning. Fighting demons is a waste of your talent."


    "No, we likebat as well! The ideal scenario is fighting with relics that we''ve forged ourselves. That''s what will bolster our spirits!"


    "Right, we want to take down our opponents with des and swords of our own design! That''s the best feeling!" the other cultivators replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Was this a group ofbat-oriented researchers, then...?


    "Well, start working, then. Once you restore these suits of arhat armor, you''ll be able to fight in them if the situation calls for it." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Yes!" the cultivators replied in excitement.

 Chapter 486: Mo Lengxuan

    <h4>Chapter 486: Mo Lengxuan</h4>


    Arge, fog-wreathed ind on the Eastern Sea was home to all manner of spirits flying through the air. Rosy light radiated from the ind, striking arge number of halls and other buildings present. This was clearly a cultivation paradise.


    Within one of those halls sat Yin Tianci in the seat of honor. He was sipping tea as he talked with a ck-d man before him.


    "How are your main body''s injuries, Your Highness?" the man asked.


    "You''re aware of the situation?" Yin Tianci replied.


    "All the major forces in the world have a delegation in the Sieve of Heaven, and word spreads quickly there. I learned a little of what happened by chance. You bribed Ao Canghai and threatened Xiao Nanfeng with the Immortal Emperor of Dayin''s covenant, forcing him to release your main body. He''s spreading news of this matter far and wide."


    "Xiao Nanfeng dares scheme against Ao Canghai?" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Right. Everyone''s aware that Ao Canghai bullies his subordinates, now. He''s ruining his reputation!"


    "Better this way, I suppose. Serves Ao Canghai right for not splitting any of those rewards with Xiao Nanfeng. He''s a pirate who demanded far too much from the divine empire of Dayin! I''d like to watch them take on each other," Yin Tianci hissed.


    "Is your main body badly injured, Your Highness?" the ck-d man asked.


    "Very. It''ll take intense effort over a long period of time to put it back together again."


    "Damn that Xiao Nanfeng," the ck-d man cursed.


    "In the end, it''s the three-headed serpent king who''s to me for not following orders. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have suffered to this extent," Yin Tianci said coldly.


    "I deeply apologize, Your Highness. The three-headed serpent king only chose to join the Thousand-Spirit Ind recently, and I never expected it would suddenly threaten you, lose you your chance to kill Xiao Nanfeng, and lead to your imprisonment." The ck-d man bowed.


    "Forget it. You''ve killed the three-headed serpent king in rpense. The matter is unrted to your lot or you yourself, Mo Lengxuan. We''ll leave things at that."


    "Thank you for your clemency, Your Highness."


    "Is the lord of the Thousand-Spirit Ind not currently present?"


    "Unfortunately, he left on urgent business. If you have any requests, Your Highness, I would be happy to serve you."


    "I want revenge on Xiao Nanfeng." Yin Tianci''s eyes gleamed with killing intent.


    "Your Highness, the Immortal Emperor himself promised that he would not seek revenge on Xiao Nanfeng or his affiliated forces. Xiao Nanfeng has publicized this information. If you, the crown prince of Dayin, do take revenge on him, wouldn''t the Immortal Emperor''s reputation crumble overnight?"


    Yin Tiancri grimaced. "My father certainly cannot be aughing-stock, and the divine empire of Dayin cannot take on Xiao Nanfeng for the time being. But what about other forces? What about the Thousand-Spirit Ind, for example?"


    "The Thousand-Spirit Ind?" Mo Lengxuan furrowed his brows.


    "Although you obey Father''s requests and perform tasks for Dayin that we can''t acknowledge publicly, no one in the world atrge knows that you''re subordinate to us. Can''t you help take on Xiao Nanfeng on my behalf?" Yin Tianci asked expectantly.


    Mo Lengxuan frowned. Indeed, this would seem to be within the purview of the Thousand-Spirit Ind...


    "What sort of revenge do you intend, Your Highness?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng himself will likely remain within the Sieve of Heaven for the time being, and you won''t be able to touch him. However, his avatar is in the empire of Dazheng. I''m sure you won''t have trouble attacking that," Yin Tianci said coldly. "I want to exact a heavy price from him."


    "What of the Taiqing sect?"


    "The Taiqing sect has connections to aplicated web of forces. You don''t have to deal with them," Yin Tianci replied.


    Mo Lengxuan considered the situation for a moment. "Your Highness, I''m not familiar with Xiao Nanfeng, but the fact that he was able to cause you repeated problems is an indication that he''s far more challenging an opponent than meets the eye. If you wouldn''t mind, I can introduce you to an acquaintance who knows Xiao Nanfeng. You might inquire as to his situation from him."


    "Oh? Who is it?"


    "A disciple of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, Tang."


    "The Taiqing Demonic Sect?" Yin Tianci was taken by surprise.


    "Have you forgotten about my other identity, Your Highness?" Mo Lengxuan smiled. "I''m the right division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect."


    "Oh? The Taiqing Demonic Sect? The same sect that..." Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Indeed, the same sect that separated from the Taiqing Immortal Sect after a schism. I was partially responsible for inciting the schism. Over the past two centuries, I haven''t been interested in affairs of the two sects and haven''t participated in them. Ultimately, I''m loyal to the Immortal Emperor and not to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. As for Tang, whom I''ve mentioned, he''s the left division leader and enemy to Xiao Nanfeng," Mo Lengxuan exined.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s enemy?" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "That''s right. Ever since he joined the sect, they''ve been at odds with each other. Then, when Xiao Nanfeng began rising through the ranks too rapidly, Tang encouraged the disciples of the left division to assassinate him multiple times, but Xiao Nanfeng resolved the crises each time. Then, Tang joined the Tianshu Empire and came up with ns against Xiao Nanfeng. Unfortunately for him, Xiao Nanfeng was too lucky, and Tang suffered repeated failures. Even so, Tang never gave up. I''m sure that Tang knows Xiao Nanfeng best, and he''s not weak. His failures were only due to chance and misfortune. In the end, he became isted and joined the right division. I haven''t employed him since. If you find him useful, I can summon him here to assist you. At the very least, you''ll have a more precise understanding of Xiao Nanfeng''s abilities."


    "Have hime over," Yin Tianci said.


    "Very well."


    Mo Lengxuan left the pavilion and made arrangements for Tang to show up. He appeared two hourster.


    "Division Leader Mo, you requested my presence?" Tang bowed.


    "I''m not the one looking for you, but rather this honored guest by my side," Mo Lengxuan exined.


    Tang had seen Yin Tianci a moment ago, but he wasn''t certain of his identity. He asked probingly, "Is this the crown prince of the divine empire of Dayin?"


    "You know of me?" Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes.


    Tang nodded fervently. "I do! I''ve long since heard of you, Your Highness, but never had a chance to meet you properly. I heard that Xiao Nanfeng, that vile bandit, schemed against you using underhanded tactics, and I''ve been feeling upset on your behalf since. Your Highness, you''re simply too fair and just for the likes of Xiao Nanfeng. He''s an underhanded sort, and you should attack him in kind."


    "Oh?" Yin Tianci was surprised. Tang seemed like just his sort!


    "Your Highness, Tang hates Xiao Nanfeng, so he tries to gather whatever information he can find about him. When he learned that Xiao Nanfeng had headed to Fengdu, he tried to incite the spirits of the Thousand-Spirit Ind to assassinate him and steal his treasures, but his cultivation was too low for his ideas to gain any traction. None of the more imposing spirits deigned to listen to him," Mo Lengxuan exined.


    "You know what I did in Fengdu?" Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes as he looked toward Tang.


    "I''m aware of it all, Your Highness, as well as what I learned from the Sieve of Heaven. I implore you not to treat Xiao Nanfeng with respect. You ought to use extreme tactics against him. His empire of Dazheng should be destroyed! The Nn couple should have listened to me, or Xiao Nanfeng would never have been able to triumph against them," Tang fumed.


    Yin Tianci nced at Tang''s fuming expression and suddenly felt as though he had found a bosom friend.


    "You hate Xiao Nanfeng?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "I hate him so much I want to skin him alive, eat his flesh, and drink his blood! Your Highness, you don''t know how badly he hurt me. If I hadn''t been so lucky, I would be done for. Mark my words: one of us will die!"


    "Exin how the Thousand-Spirit Ind should move against Xiao Nanfeng to hurt him most," Yin Tianci continued.


    "Ruin his foundation. Destroy his empire of Dazheng and waste his many years of effort! Make him stew in hatred and misery, then find an opportunity to get rid of him. The Thousand-Spirit Ind boasts plenty of strong spirits, and it should be trivial to deal with him. However, you can''t underestimate him, either. He has plenty of trump cards up his sleeve, including the red rope cursed effigy and the fortune of his empire. We can''t be careless," Tang warned.


    Yin Tianci''s eyes lit up. Tang sounded more and more ideal as a partner in crime.


    "Tell me how you n on dealing with him in more detail. I want to ensure that no one will know I''m responsible."


    "The empire of Dazheng is surrounded by five other kingdoms, all of whom have been eyeing it. Wouldn''t it be normal if they were to go to war against Dazheng? At that time, the Thousand-Spirit Ind could dispatch a few major spirits to help the neighboring kingdoms against Xiao Nanfeng. No one would know that this was your idea, and it wouldn''t be difficult for the Thousand-Spirit Ind''s forces to quash Dazheng''s troops. We can slowly devour Dazheng''s territory to prevent Xiao Nanfeng from drawing from his empire''s fortune. I want his empire to perish and him to suffer! Once that happens, we can kill him in Yongding, destroying everything that he is and has right in the public eye!" Tang eximed, growing more and more passionate as he spoke.


    Yin Tianci''s eyes lit up. This was the sort of strategy he wanted. It wouldn''t expose him, and he would be able to destroy Xiao Nanfeng physically and mentally.


    "Very good! Tang, I''m very satisfied with you. Work with me from now on," Yin Tianci said.


    "Thank you, Your Highness! I''ll be honored to serve as your strategist. We''ll lead Xiao Nanfeng to his downfall!" Tang eximed.


    "Good, very good!" Yin Tianci couldn''t be more satisfied with Tang.

 Chapter 487: The Empires New War

    <h4>Chapter 487: The Empire''s New War</h4>


    In the peach orchard at Yongding in the empire of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng stood with hands sped behind his back. He watched the blood peach tree''s roots wrap around arge number of spiritbeast carcasses and drain their essence. Bright blood peaches slowly condensed at the top of the tree.


    Beside Xiao Nanfeng was Mr. Wen, Wen Zhong.


    "Your Majesty, did you kill all these spirits in the Sieve of Heaven? The blood peach tree is truly a formidable treasure!" Wen Zhong eximed with a smile.


    "Indeed. I suppose there''s enough for another hundred blood peaches here."


    "The empire of Dazheng is growing incredibly rapidly. The previous hundred blood peaches resulted in a hundred Immortals, and there''s soon to be another batch. What empire could catch up to us?" Mr. Wen praised.


    "It''s far from enough," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sighing. "Each of the Imperial Court''s Martial Aspectsmand tens of thousands of Immortals."


    "Your Majesty, you can hardlypare us to the Imperial Court," Mr. Wen replied, smiling wryly.


    "You''re aware of my confrontation with Yin Tianci. The empire of Dazheng is going to be in conflict with the divine empire of Dayin sooner orter, and we have to take every opportunity to advance."


    Mr. Wen was taken aback. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng nned for the long term, but wasn''t this taking it a bit too far? The empire of Dazheng had only been established less than a year ago, and it was still on the weaker side in the grand scheme of things, but Xiao Nanfeng was already thinking about challenging a divine empire...


    "Over thest few months, You Jiu has been engaging in covert warfare under your guidance. How are your nsing along?"


    Wen Zhong replied, "The rise of Dazheng poses a considerable threat to the five kingdoms that neighbor it. In order to counter Dazheng, they have formed an alliance. They constantly send spies into Dazheng and harass our borders with their border troops to probe our defenses. Over thest few months, I''ve been secretly providing support to various princes and lords in those empires in preparation for a hostile takeover. On yourmand, Your Majesty, the spectral guards shall instigate coups to subvert the leadership of those five kingdoms, which will then swiftly join our fold."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "You truly are an ingenious strategist, Mr. Wen. With your help, Dazheng shall rise by the day."


    Mr. Wen lowered his head. "This is all experience that I umted from instigating a coup in the past, Your Majesty. It''s nothing to speak of. Furthermore, the spectral guards are an incredibly elite force. It''s thanks to your foresight in giving all hundred blood peaches to the spectral guards that I was able to put this n into action."


    "Very well done, but I''m afraid you''ll have to modify your tactics," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Indeed?" Wen Zhong replied, surprised.


    He was particrly confident in his schemes, and he was confident that this was the approach that would take down those five kingdoms as quickly as possible and with the least expenditure. Wasn''t it good enough?


    "I received word that in a few days'' time, arge group of spirits will attack the borders of Dazheng in conjunction with the five kingdoms. There will be a fair number of Immortal spirits among them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Truly? Where from?" Wen Zhong eximed.


    He had been paying careful attention to the five kingdoms recently, but there had been no news of this nned assault. How did Xiao Nanfeng learn of this?


    "They''lle from Thousand-Spirit Ind," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Thousand-Spirit Ind? That''s a spirit stronghold on the Eastern Sea..." Wen Zhong murmured, clearly familiar with the area.


    "That''s right. The Eastern Sea is particrlyrge, and our naval activity has been too limited. The spirits of the Thousand-Spirit Ind are working together with the five neighboring kingdoms on Yin Tianci''s orders," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Wen Zhong gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. He knew that there was great enmity between Xiao Nanfeng and Yin Tianci, and had also learned of what had happened in the Sieve of Heaven not too long ago. However, he hadn''t expected that Xiao Nanfeng would have such detailed information on Yin Tianci''s movements. Could Dazheng boast a separate intelligence system aside from the spectral guards that he was unaware of?


    "What''s your goal, Your Majesty?" Wen Zhong immediately asked.


    "I intend to transform the Immortal spirits from Thousand-Spirit Ind into strength for the empire of Dazheng. We''ll take down every spirit that shows up."


    Wen Zhong nced at the blood peach tree to his side. "Your Majesty, you intend to kill those spirits and use them as fertilizer?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Precisely, Mr. Wen."


    Wen Zhong considered the proposal for a moment. "I''ll have to modify our strategy, then. We can''t make use of all our forces against the five kingdoms. We''ll have to lose just enough battles to make the five kingdoms think that they''d be able to win against us with just a few more reinforcements, causing them to continuously seek aid from Thousand-Spirit Ind."


    "That''s right, Mr. Zheng. It sounds easy, but bncing these demands will be aplex endeavor. The slightest miscalction could enlighten the Thousand-Spirit Ind regarding our ns and waste our efforts. I''ll need your full attention on it."


    Wen Zhong gave Xiao Nanfeng a wry smile. He knew how difficult this would be, and that Xiao Nanfeng was skilled enough to do this on his own. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng intended to make him work.


    "I will do my best, Your Majesty," Wen Zhong replied.


    "I''m grateful for your assistance. Worry not. The spectral guards, Croak, Warble, Ye Sanshui, and Ye Dafu will all be yours tomand."


    "Understood! The frontline troops will be able to take the opportunity to train as well."


    "We''ll have to work hard topensate for Dazheng''s rtively modest foundation, I fear. Otherwise, we would have a much easier time of things. Fortunately, there''s a new batch of particrly promising schrs from Xiao Academy. They simply need to broaden their horizons, so I''m counting on your instruction, Mr. Wen. You''ll be able to use them as helpers once they''re trained." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Understood, Your Majesty." Wen Zhong nodded. The entire affair seemed a little absurd.


    Xiao Academy was an academy that Xiao Nanfeng had erected long ago, and he was its principal. The schrs that emerged from it would surely bepletely loyal to him.


    Impending war was no small affair, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be dissecting it for every opportunity he could gain.


    The empire of Dazheng might be weak at the moment, but it was growing at a rapid clip and surely had an illustrious future ahead of it. The vitality and burgeoning growth were almost palpable; he couldn''t help but be expectant as to what Dazheng''s future would entail.


    In a small courtyard on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Yin Tianci sat at a stone table sipping tea. Tang rushed over, followed by the right division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, Mo Lengxuan.


    "Your Highness, everything is settled. The kings of the five kingdoms have agreed to the n, and two hundred Immortal spirits from the Thousand-Spirit Ind have snuck into the five kingdoms, ready to be deployed at will. Xiao Nanfeng will surely be defeated by this force," Tang stated in excitement. [1]


    "Well done," Yin Tianci praised.


    Tang frowned. "Your Highness, there''s something I''m not sure if I should say."


    "Say it."


    "Given my understanding of Xiao Nanfeng, these two hundred Immortal spirits will be far from enough. They''re only Earth Immortals at best; how can we take Xiao Nanfeng on without any Heaven Immortals? Xiao Nanfeng''s very skilled at hiding his trump cards, and we can''t be at all careless. In my opinion, not only do we need Heaven Immortal spirits, we''ll even need True Immortal spirits in reserve."


    "I see. I''ll consider it. I''m very satisfied with how you''ve handled things, and I''m a generous man. This is a pill that will help you improve your cultivation to better assist me."


    Yin Tianci handed a pill to Tang.


    "''Thank you, Your Highness!" Tang left with the pill and immediately entered secluded cultivation.


    After Tang departed, Mo Lengxuan bowed toward Yin Tianci.


    "How do you feel about Tang''s capabilities?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "I''ve been observing Tang thesest few days. He has worked hard, and he''s very skilled as well. He coerced the five kings into agreeing with his n, allowing me to gain an understanding of his abilities. He hid his own involvement with the use of intermediaries, making it difficult to identify the mastermind behind the attack. He''s particrly careful and cautious."


    Then, he described in detail how Tang had managed to convince the five kings to adopt his n.


    "You introduced Tang to me, but you''re rather on guard against him, aren''t you?" Yin Tianci smiled.


    "It''s precisely because I introduced him to you that I need to be careful," Mo Lengxuan replied with a smile.


    "Do you think he''s suitable for the task, then?" Yin Tianci pressed.


    "I don''t see anything wrong, but..." Mo Lengxuan trailed off.


    "But?"


    "I feel like he''s gone crazy. Two hundred Immortal spirits, including over a dozen Earth Immortals, is far more than sufficient for a fight against an empire. It might not be a match for Xiao Nanfeng himself, but surely it''ll easily take over Dazheng''s borders. It''s an incredibly overpowered force, but Tang''s still not satisfied. He stubbornly insists on sending out Heaven Immortals, and even True Immortals at that! Isn''t that crazy?"


    Yin Tianciughed. "No, no, that''s perfect. You don''t understand Tang''s mentality, but I do! He''s willing to use everything he can against Xiao Nanfeng. It looks like he really does hate him!"


    "Please be careful, Your Highness."


    "I will. As for you, since everything''s prepared,mand the five kingdoms to set out and attack Dazheng immediately."


    "Understood!" Mo Lengxuan replied.


    1. What I tranted as ''Thousand-Spirit Ind'' is literally supposed to be ''Ten-Thousand-Spirit Ind'', but I chose to avoid the literal trantion because of how awkward it sounds. I''m rifying this now because there''s a big difference between 200/1,000 spirits and 200/10,000 spirits. ?

 Chapter 488: Cultivating Talent

    <h4>Chapter 488: Cultivating Talent</h4>


    Within a forest outside a city, a group of soldiers snuck stealthily over. The soldier in the lead bowed toward a group of ornately dressed people.


    "Immortals, the city lord in this city is celebrating a new decade of life. He''s an Immortal of high station in Dazheng, and twenty neighboring city lords and generals havee to join the celebration. If we take them all down, we''ll be able to im twenty cities in one fell swoop," the soldier reported.


    "Immortals guarding cities? The sect masters of various small Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea, are they? Ha! Do they think they''re strong now that they''ve be Immortals after throwing their lot in with Xiao Nanfeng? What a joke," one richly dressed man scoffed.


    "Is he the only Immortal present here?" another richly dressed man asked.


    "I expect that only two or three Immortals would attend the celebration at most. ording to what we''ve gleaned, this city lord doesn''t particrly like allying with others."


    "Good! Let''s make our move, then. We''ll take them all down."


    "May luck bless you, Immortals," the soldier said immediately.


    "Ha! If there are only two or three Human Immortals at best, we''ll easily take them down. We don''t have to go together. All of you can stay here while the five of us siblings head over to have a look," the man said.


    He beckoned for his four siblings to join him in the city.


    The next moment, a shout could be heard from within. "Who dares disturb my celebration?!"


    One richly dressed man was sent flying into the air.


    "Spirits from afar! Activate the city''s defensive formation immediately. Immortals, apany me to protect the people!"


    "If it weren''t Sir Zhang''s birthday, none of us would have known that there were enemies daring to invade Dazheng. They ought to die!"


    "We''ll kill all who dare attack Dazheng!"


    The five Immortal spirits were sent flying into the air as a group of Dazheng Immortals gave chase. A huge tempest was unleashed as the fighting began in earnest.


    At the same time, the city''s defensive formation rose up.


    Outside the city, in the forest, the remaining richly dressed people red at the soldiers. One demanded, "Didn''t you say that there would only be two or three Immortals at most? There are at least seven of them! How dare you lie?!"


    "I didn''t! That''s what the report I received said. I didn''t expect more would show up. They came of their own ord, and I didn''t have any intelligence on them," the soldier stated hurriedly.


    "Enough. We''ll take them all on and deal with them together," a richly dressed woman dered.


    "Got it!"


    The spirits rushed into the air, transforming into their spirit forms as they did so. A frightening aura exuded from their bodies.


    They easily suppressed the Immortals of Dazheng.


    "Come help us, Old Li! We''ll worry about our grudgester. Defending the empire is our top priority!" one Immortal shouted anxiously.


    "Very well!" a shout came from within the city. More Immortals rose into the air, as many of them present as there were spirit Immortals. The fighting was evenly matched.


    Outside the city, in the forest, the band of soldiers gaped at the sight of more Immortals as reinforcement. Why are there so many Immortals of Dazheng here? Aren''t we being far too unlucky?"


    At the same time, in a small cottage surrounded by fog, Wen Zhong and a group of youths observed the fighting Immortals in the air.


    "What do you think?" Wen Zhong asked.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Sir. This is something we haven''t been exposed to at all," one youth said.


    The others all nodded in excitement.


    "Summarize what you''ve learned," Wen Zhong dered.


    "Intelligence is crucial to warfare¡ªnot just ours, but others. A single error can propagate into the destruction of an entire army. Intelligence must be foremost among our considerations," one youth began.


    "Very good. Continue!"


    "The oue of many fights is decided beyond the battlefield. All that covert warfare isparable to directbat in importance."


    "Continue!"


    "In order to lure enemies into traps, we need to understand what makes for a good story. Only by tricking our opponents into believing these stories can we lure them into our traps. We can''t drop our guard even if they believe us. We''ll have toe up with further developments to ensure that they can''t differentiate reality from fabrication."


    "Continue!"


    "We shouldn''t reveal the full n even to allies. Secrecy is what determines the sess of our plotting."


    The youths excitedly stated the conclusions they had drawn from this exercise.


    "I only sketched out what you all had to do. You were responsible for carrying out the details of the n. How do you think you fared?" Wen Zhong then asked.


    "I was responsible for leaking information to the enemy spies and getting them to summon Immortal spirits to attack the city. Although I seeded, I didn''t do it as well as I could have. Fewer spirits showed up than would have been optimal."


    "I was responsible for convening the Immortals of Dazheng, but I didn''t make things natural enough. The Immortals realized that something was amiss, and word could have spread."


    "I was responsible for..."


    The youths evaluated themselves as Wen Zhong gave them pointers.


    Wen Zhong was astonished. Xiao Nanfeng did tell him that he had a batch of promising schrs at hand, but he didn''t realize they would be so skilled.


    This was their first time devising a scheme in practice. Although what they had done was rough around the edges, they had been, by andrge, sessful.


    "What should you do next?" Wen Zhong asked.


    "We need to kill off the majority of the Immortal spirits, allowing only one or two to run off to convey incorrect information to their camp. The majority of our Immortals also have to be injured or ''die''¡ªthose unskilled at acting have to go into hiding, to be reced with new ones. They''ll keep fishing out the Immortal spirits bit by bit."


    "Very good. What else?" Wen Zhong asked.


    "We''ll have toe up with a new story for the enemy spies to convey to their camp and pacify their troops. They need to think that, although they were defeated, we suffered as much. That will allow them to feel better about their loss and cultivate rage and hatred toward us, forcing them deeper into the trap."


    "Very good. Focus on carrying out those objectives. I''ll leave this area to your group. Everyone else, head to the next trap with me. We''ll see if other Immortal spirits have fallen for our ns. Summarize your experience and shorings in writing so that others might learn from them."


    "Understood!" the youths chorused.


    Wen Zhong and the youths he chaperoned set off once more.


    Fighting raged over the next two days by the borders of Dazheng. Because of the particrly delicate spycraft that Dazheng had implemented, Immortal spirits from all over were lured into traps all around the borders ording to Wen Zhong''s ns.


    Three dayster, in the imperial study at Yongding, Wen Zhong nced at Xiao Nanfeng, who was perusing a stack of imperial edicts. "Your Majesty, these youths are truly remarkable. That they can be so skilled without any experience speaks volumes as to their future sess."


    "You taught them well, Mr. Wen," Xiao Nanfeng replied, putting down his brush.


    Mr. Wen shook his head. "There are many prodigious talents in the world who have never had the opportunity to rise to the station they deserve. These youths might not be particrly skilled at cultivation or literary pursuits, but they have incredible genius as strategists. You''ve given them what they need to flourish, Your Majesty."


    "Then I''ll thank you on their behalf for the praise." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I think they''ll quickly be able to stand on their own," Mr. Wen continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''ll need your support for that, Mr. Wen. I know how difficult it is to recruit those as skilled as you are, and you''ve seen the lengths I went to to recruit you. With you around, I hope to cultivate a whole host of strategists."


    "You overpraise me, Your Majesty."


    "You''ve seen what the empire needs to grow stronger. Strategists will be in great demand throughout the empire. We''re only facing five kingdoms at the moment, but soon enough, our enemies will be empires, even divine empires. I beseech you to teach these youths to the best of your ability. You will be rewarded in kind," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    Mr. Wen nodded. "I will do my best."


    "Thank you, Mr. Wen!"


    "That said, these youths are more than enough for me to handle, Your Majesty, and I don''t have the capacity to take on more in the short term."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "That won''t do. The Xiao Academy now draws from the academies throughout the empire. Strategists are hard to find, but a second batch of students shall be arriving in a few days."


    "What?!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Wen. If you can''t handle it, have the first batch of students teach the second. They can learn from each other," Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    Wen Zhong sighed. "Very well."


    "Mr. Wen, you''re an incredibly talented strategist, and Mr. Zheng is an incredibly talented administrator. He takes on several times the number of students and officials you do," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    "Your Majesty, you intend to work us to the bone, don''t you?"


    "You''ll be able to rest soon enough. Once you''ve trained enough talent, they''ll be able to assist you with the rest. For now, however, I''ll need to count on you."


    Wen Zhong smiled wryly. "Very well, Your Majesty."


    Though he had an incredible amount of work on his te, he could see the signs of Dazheng''s ascension like a bright light illuminating the empire from the horizon, light that would one day grow into zing radiance.


    Wen Zhong dedicated himself to the border conflict.


    The next day, in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng convened a session of court.


    The officials of court, administrators and generals alike, denounced the five neighboring kingdoms for their malicious acts and prepared for war. Ye Sanshui was designatedmander of the forces against the five-kingdom alliance, and Ye Dafu the general. Dazheng was officially sending out troops against the five kingdoms and waging war anew.


    An imperial edict was distributed throughout the empire decrying the misdeeds of Dazheng''s five neighbors, drumming up the soldiers'' and civilians'' morale as they prepared for a war of conquest.

 Chapter 489: Hold It, Friend

    <h4>Chapter 489: Hold It, Friend</h4>


    In a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Yin Tianci sipped tea as he asked, "Have the five kingdoms around the empire of Dayin unleashed their troops? How goes the fighting?"


    Mo Lengxuan took a deep breath. "Poorly all around. The officials of Dazheng are no easy foes."


    "Oh?" Yin Tianci put down his teacup.


    "We were nning to catch Dazheng off guard, but they saw through our tricks by coincidence or skill. After several fights, we''ve lost forty Immortal spirits. The Dazheng Immortals that were badly wounded have vanished from sight, and they''ve likely all been taken down as well. About thirty or forty of their number have perished."


    "Casualties on both sides?" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "More or less. In addition, Dazheng has officially waged war against its five neighboring kingdoms."


    "How do you think the war will progress?"


    "Dazheng boasts a considerable number of Immortals, but there are already thirty to forty casualties on their side. I suspect that''s the better half of their Immortals gone. Dazheng might look strong, but they''re overextended, and we have arge group of reinforcement Immortal spirits. They''re close to destruction," Mo Lengxuan promised confidently. Then, however, he frowned. "It''s just that..."


    "Just what?"


    "Tang told me that Xiao Nanfeng possessed a blood peach tree that was able to absorb the essence of the carcasses of Immortal spirits and transform it into blood peaches to birth new Immortals for the Dazheng empire. I''m worried that Xiao Nanfeng is nning on this."


    "That blood peach tree? I''m aware of it¡ªit''s the Peach Buddha. There''s nothing particrly significant about it. Strong pillmasters can do the same thing with spirit carcasses; it''s just a matter of efficiency. Sometimes it takes a dozen or more Immortal spirit carcasses for one Immortal, and sometimes more. It''s not something to be too concerned about."


    "Good." Mo Lengxuan nodded.


    "Where''s Tang? Has he been participating in frontline strategy?"


    "He hasn''t. He believes that I''m still cautious about him, so he''s trying to avoid suspicion by giving up on anything to do with the frontlines."


    "Doesn''t he care about taking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Oh, he''s even more fervent than before."


    "Oh?"


    "He keeps worrying about how we don''t have enough Immortal spirits as reinforcements, that we need more of them, and stronger ones too. I''ve repeatedly told him to calm down, but when he saw that I had no intention of enacting his strategy, he''s been drumming up support on Thousand-Spirit Ind."


    "Isn''t he powerless on Thousand-Spirit Ind? How would he garner any support?"


    "He is powerless. Even I only have limited power on the ind, but hardly enough to make unteral decisions. It took a great deal of favor for me to send two hundred Immortal spirits as reinforcements. As for him, he tricks them onto the battlefield."


    "Show me," Yin Tianci said curiously.


    Mo Lengxuan nodded and brought Yin Tianci to the peak of a mountain, from which point they could see the mouth of a valley in the distance.


    Immortal spirits rushed in and out of the valley. Tang stood at a hidden spot on the outside, as though waiting for someone. Suddenly, a crocodile spirit waddled out.


    Tang immediately jumped forward. "Hold it, friend!"


    The crocodile spirit gave Tang a strange look. "You''re looking for me? What for?"


    "Friend, I have a huge opportunity for you," Tang replied immediately.


    "Oh?"


    "Are you aware that arge number of Immortal spirits from Thousand-Spirit Ind have left to fight over an opportunity?" Tang asked.


    The crocodile spirit blinked. "What opportunity? Why am I unaware of it?"


    "Come here, please. I''ll exin everything to you carefully." Tang immediately brought the crocodile spirit to the side and unleashed his spiel.


    Two hourster, the crocodile spirit grew infuriated. "Is there truly such an opportunity? How could Commander Mo not have informed me of it? Tell me where to go. I want to head there, now!"


    "Very well!" Tang gave the crocodile spirit directions as it rushed off toward Dazheng.


    Yin Tianci and Mo Lengxuan watched on in silence.


    "This is the tenth Immortal spirit that Tang has lured onto the battlefield. He''s using all his tricks in order to take down Xiao Nanfeng..." Mo Lengxuan exined.


    "Isn''t that for the best? It is best to concentrate as much strength against Xiao Nanfeng as possible. Tang''s working harder than you are!" Yin Tianci was very satisfied with Tang''s actions.


    Taking Tang as his subordinate was a supremely intelligent decision on his part. With a subordinate like Tang, what wouldn''t he be able to aplish?


    He looked into the distance as Tang hailed down another Immortal spirit.


    "Hold it, friend!" Tang shouted.


    A monthter, in a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Mo Lengxuan shared thetest reports from the frontline with Yin Tianci. Tang watched on silently from the side.


    "Are the five kingdoms so weak? They''ve already lost a third of theirbined territory over the past month," Yin Tianci eximed.


    "The forces of Dazheng remain very strong, and many of the soldiers want to gain merit on the battlefield. They fight proactively and to the best of their ability," Mo Lengxuan replied, frowning.


    "Can''t you just take down theirmander or generals, then?"


    "We''ve tried. Arge group of Immortal spirits struck at Ye Sanshui''s main camp several days ago, only to find that a group of Dazheng Immortals had gathered there by coincidence. A huge fight ensued, causing eighty Immortal spirits to perish. Because Dazheng had the territorial advantage, they lost fewer Immortals, perhaps around seventy."


    "How can that be? How many Immortals has Dazheng lost by now? And how many Immortal spirits on our side?" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "We''ve lost two hundred and eleven Immortal spirits, while Dazheng has lost a hundred and eighty-six Immortals. The fighting is intense."


    "Didn''t you im that Dazheng only has a few dozen Immortals? How could they sustain such losses?"


    "I never expected Xiao Nanfeng to have so many forces in reserve. No wonder Nn Qiankun sumbed to him," Mo Lengxuan replied, sighing.


    "How about Earth Immortals? Aren''t there Earth Immortal spirits participating in the fighting?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "There are, but Dazheng has Earth Immortals of their own. Two huge toad spirits suppress our side''s Earth Immortal spirits, and Ye Dafu''s crew of golden Immortals can take them on as well. By the looks of Ye Dafu, he might be a Heaven Immortal."


    "I remember now. My subordinates responsible for taking down Ye Dafu went missing. They likely perished at his hand!" Yin Tianci nched.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really does have a lot of trump cards, doesn''t he?"


    "Damn it, why didn''t you consider this? If not for Tang''s assistance in bringing the spirits from Thousand-Spirit Ind over as support, we would have been done for!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    "I never expected the Dazheng empire to be so difficult to deal with," Mo Lengxuan replied wryly.


    "You didn''t? What sort of investigation have you been carrying out, then?" Yin Tianci thundered.


    Mo Lengxuan frowned.


    Tang immediately jumped in. "Your Highness, it isn''t Sir Mo''s fault. No one ordinary would expect Xiao Nanfeng to possess such trump cards up his sleeve. Sir Mo has helped us a great deal by forcing his hand in advance. This is valuable experience for the next time we attempt to take down Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Hm? You think this is Xiao Nanfeng''s fault?" Yin Tianci frowned.


    Mo Lengxuan took a deep breath and nced at Tang gratefully.


    "Your Highness, I wasn''t mistaken before, was I? Xiao Nanfeng''s blood peach tree must be helping him produce more blood peaches and more Immortals. Even if it''s not the blood peach tree, he must have a simr artifact. Otherwise, he could hardly be replenishing his supply of Immortals to this extent," Tang continued.


    "You''re quite right." Yin Tianci nodded.


    "That''s why we can be certain that Human and Earth Immortal spirits won''t be enough to deal with Xiao Nanfeng," Tang concluded.


    "You''re right. We have to treat our opponent seriously, rather than being arrogant like some people." Yin Tianci gave Mo Lengxuan a furious look.


    Mo Lengxuan lowered his head, frowning. He was the one who had initially said that Tang was making too big a fuss for nothing.


    "Your Highness, neither of you can be med for this. You haven''t had enough contact with Xiao Nanfeng, so you aren''t aware of how tricky he is. I''ve interacted with him enough to know not to drop my guard. If we want to take him down, we''ll have to strike him at full force."


    "What do you think we should do?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "We need the help of Heaven and True Immortal spirits to take down Xiao Nanfeng and ensure that he dies once and for all. Of course, we''ll have to start by drawing out all of Xiao Nanfeng''s remaining trump cards before attempting an assault on Yongding. We can''t have any uncertainty in our ns."


    Mo Lengxuan sucked in a deep breath. "Tang, you aren''t aware of the circumstances. There are a few True Immortals on this ind, but I don''t have the qualifications to call upon them. As for the Heaven Immortals, they''re under themand of the True Immortal spirit kings. They won''t listen to me¡ªunless we have our subordinates strike instead."


    "We''re known to work together with His Highness, so if our subordinates strike and Xiao Nanfeng traces it back to His Highness, we''ll make a fool of ourselves, especially if there are any dead or injured. The best choice is to invoke the aid of the spirit kings on the ind, absolving His Highness of any possible link to the attack and ensuring no loss of his subordinates," Tang replied.


    "As I said, those spirit kings won''t listen to me." Mo Lengxuan frowned.


    "Leave it to me. Allow me to invite the True Immortal spirit kings to strike alongside a few of their Heaven Immortal subordinates. I shall invoke only Sir Mo''s authority, not His Highness''."


    "Very well, Tang. I''ll leave it to you," Yin Tianci replied in satisfaction.


    Tang was clearly working in his best interest, and Tang seemed far more reliable than Mo Lengxuan.


    Mo Lengxuan could see that Yin Tianci was growing more trusting of Tang day by day, almost to the point of superseding his rtionship with Mo Lengxuan, but he could hardly be upset. The task that Tang had taken on would be no easy feat.

 Chapter 490: Hes Weaker

    <h4>Chapter 490: He''s Weaker</h4>


    In the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, two moons shone in the sky.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s red and blue spiritual moons crashed into each other time and again in bursts of red and blue light, as though two sets of cavalry were charging at each other in a fiery tempest.


    Blue Lantern guarded Xiao Nanfeng from the side, ncing in surprise at the deific domain that was forming.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged in meditation in the red and blue domain. Then, his body flickered as he vanished from sight.


    "Have you seeded, Your Majesty? You''ve harmonized with the world!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    As Xiao Nanfeng vanished from sight, his two moons revolved in the air. The disturbance down below slowly settled, quelled by a mysterious force. The red and blue light split apart into the shape of taiji and began to revolve slowly.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng''s figure shimmered into existence once again. His domain vanished as his red and blue moons flew into his mindscape.


    "Congrattions on reaching True Yin with your avatar, Your Majesty." Blue Lantern smiled.


    "I finally don''t have to deal with my color-changing robes any longer." Xiao Nanfeng returned the smile.


    "Your red and blue domain was truly something. I''ve never seen their like before. Both moons wanted to crush the other!"


    "Oh? You''ve seen others with multiple spiritual moons, too?"


    "There are a few specialized techniques that allow it in far less vtile a fashion. Your twinned red and blue domain gives off a frightening amount of energy, and I suspect you might even be able to threaten a True Yin cultivator," Blue Lantern said seriously.


    "Let''s hope so," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He didn''t want to exin his ability in too much detail. He looked all around him. "It''s been too long since I returned to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. It looks like the heavens have dealt with it."


    "Oh?"


    "Compared to the first time I was in here, everything''s been destroyed. But this is for the best, I suppose. You won''t have to worry about anything else."


    "What will you have me do, Your Majesty?"


    "I requested your presence not just to guard me, but also to help me set up a killing formation in this realm."


    "A killing formation?"


    "Indeed. I intend toy an ambush for a True Immortal here."


    Blue Lantern grew serious. "Is a True Immortal about to head to Yongding?"


    "One or more should be here shortly. Have you advanced in your cultivation again? Will you have trouble setting up a formation that can kill a True Immortal?"


    "I''ve recovered to the realm of a Heaven Immortal, and my formation can trap a True Immortal at best. It''ll take me time to be able to kill one."


    "That''s fine. We have plenty of time." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''ll startying out the formation, then."


    "Let me know what you need and I''ll have it prepared for you." Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly.


    In a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Tang cried out in excitement, "Your Highness, all ten Heaven Immortal crocodile spirits from the crocodile valley have set off for the frontlines with arge group of ordinary Immortal spirits in tow. As long as Sir Mo can use them effectively, Dazheng will surely suffer heavy losses!"


    "How did you manage to persuade them to attack?"


    "I simply had to identify the rtionships between the various spirits in the ecosystem. One Human Immortal crocodile spirit that passed away in Dazheng was the son of a Heaven Immortal crocodile spirit. I simply had to stoke the mes of revenge to get the Heaven Immortal to strike and bring itsrades in as well." Tang smiled.


    "Well done," Yin Tianci praised.


    "Whether the n seeds will now depend on Sir Mo. Too many Immortal spirits have died under his purview. I hope he won''t fail again," Tang said.


    Tang''s words reminded Yin Tianci of Mo Lengxuan''s failure. "Mo Lengxuan is a little disappointing. He''s been responsible for the frontlines and keeps iming that both sides have suffered defeat, that Dazheng will run out of troops soon enough, but despite all their losses, they still seem to be going strong. He''s not trying to trick me, is he?"


    "Your Highness, please don''t be suspicious of Sir Mo. He''s loyal to you, and doing his best."


    Yin Tianci gave him aplicated look. "He is loyal, but his best might not be good enough."


    "Your Highness, Xiao Nanfeng''s simply too wily an opponent. Sir Mo isn''t to me!"


    "There''s no need for you to defend him. Keep securing more reinforcements while I think about what to do next," Yin Tianci said.


    "Understood!" Tang retreated from the hall.


    After more than half a month, Mo Lengxuan returned to report to Yin Tianci.


    "Your Highness, I fear we''ve been tricked. Something''s wrong with the frontlines." Mo Lengxuan frowned.


    "What''s wrong? Didn''t Tang help recruit ten Heaven Immortal crocodile spirits to the cause? What happened?"


    "We were ambushed. The ten Heaven Immortal crocodile spirits divided into three groups, each of which was caught in an ambush and killed. Only one heavily injured crocodile spirit managed to escape."


    "Three groups and three ambushes? And this was all part of Ye Dafu''s n?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "Yes, Your Highness! They tricked all of us. Something''s wrong with our intelligence."


    "Ridiculous! Even a pig wouldn''t fall into the same hole thrice. Those were all Heaven Immortals, Heaven Immortals! How could they have died even without Xiao Nanfeng doing anything?!"


    Mo Lengxuan stiffened. "The five kingdoms'' intelligenceworks are all wed and filled with false information. I suspect that Xiao Nanfeng might have nned all this from the beginning. There are countless strategists in Dazheng scheming against us and tricking our spirits into their traps. This was premeditated!"


    "You mean that Dazheng has been aware of everything you''ve done?!" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "I don''t want to admit it, but that appears to be the case, Your Highness. Perhaps helping the five kingdoms against Dazheng was a mistake to begin with. Over three hundred Immortal spirits have fallen, and nine Heaven Immortal spirits among them. If we had attacked Yongding with all these spirits at once, Xiao Nanfeng would long since have been destroyed. We wouldn''t be ambushed time and again!"


    "You mean our tactics were wed from the very beginning?"


    "Yes, Your Highness. If we had attacked Yongding from the start, the Immortals of Dazheng would have been scattered across the empire and unable toe to Yongding''s assistance."


    "Continue."


    "Tang''s to me. He suggested a nonsensical idea that has caused us to be slowly devoured by Dazheng!" Mo Lengxuan sighed.


    "Enough!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    Startled, Mo Lengxuan nced sharply at Yin Tianci, then continued, "Your Highness, I stand by my im. The faulty with Tang from the very beginning!"


    "Mo Lengxuan, I don''t me you for being unskilled, but your attempt to deflect the me for this oue is despicable."


    "I, I¡ª" Mo Lengxuan nched. He wasn''t deflecting the me; this was the truth!


    "Tang reminded you several times to be careful when dealing with Xiao Nanfeng, to attack him at full force with the strongest Immortal spirits. You were the one who treated things too lightly, iming that he was crazy. How can you me Tang now after having lost so many fights repeatedly? Didn''t he make things clear from the start?"


    "But¡ª"


    "But what? Tang is clearly capable. You were unable to get any Heaven Immortals, but he did his best and even seeded in doing so. How could you still me him for your failures? Don''t you see that he''s been helping you deal with them all along and attempting to uphold your reputation? Meanwhile, you me him for everything that goes wrong!"


    "I¡ª"


    Wasn''t he telling the truth? Tang had proposed the main stratagem that had been wed from the beginning. Why was Yin Tianci defending Tang now? How had Tang managed to gain Yin Tianci''s trust?


    Just then, a series of footsteps resounded outside the hall.


    "Your Highness, I heard that Sir Mo has returned!" Tang rushed into the hall.


    Mo Lengxuan was incredibly upset. He red daggers at Tang.


    Yin Tianci was extremely upset as well. To him, Tang was an incredibly capable subordinate who had seeded at everything he did, whereas Mo Lengxuan''s repeated failures were shameful and grating.


    "Sir Mo, you''re here too! A Heaven Immortal crocodile spirit just returned to the crocodile valley to seek out the crocodile king''s assistance. This is our chance. We''ll be able to spur the True Immortal crocodile king intobat against Dazheng. It''ll surely be able to take down Dazheng''s forces in no time!" Tang eximed.


    "You can get a True Immortal to attack Dazheng?" Mo Lengxuan gaped.


    "Of course! I''ve been working on it all this time. All I need is a little push¡ªand its son just perished on the battlefield! We just have to stoke its rage a little."


    "Why should we send a True Immortal to the border? Wouldn''t it be better to have it head to Yongding and capture Xiao Nanfeng?" Mo Lengxuan demanded.


    "But doesn''t this deviate from our n? It''s easy for something to go wrong if we change things up so suddenly."


    "Nothing will go wrong. We''ve already wasted too many Immortal spirits sending them to the border! There''s no time to waste. We should catch Xiao Nanfeng directly!"


    "But, what if¡ª" Tang fretted.


    "None of that. Imand the frontline. You simply have to convince the crocodile king to act."


    Tang nced around anxiously. He looked toward Yin Tianci, seeking his support.


    Although Yin Tianci felt that Tang was on the same page as him, and had even just chastised Mo Lengxuan for his failings, he ultimately chose to side with Mo Lengxuan. After all, Mo Lengxuan''s loyalty to Dayin was indubitable.


    "We''ll follow Sir Mo''s n," Yin Tianci said.


    "Ah? Very well," Tang replied, sighing in exasperation.


    No one realized that his eyes were shining as though his n had just seeded.


    Yin Tianci turned to Mo Lengxuan. "Mo Lengxuan, I''ll give you one final chance. Don''t let me down."


    Mo Lengxuan gave Yin Tianci a confident look. "Don''t worry, Your Highness. I''ll seed without fail!"

 Chapter 491: Death of the Crocodile King

    <h4>Chapter 491: Death of the Crocodile King</h4>


    From outside the Xuanhuang Hall of Yongding, a soldier rushed into the hall and reported, "The capital of Daxing has flung open its gates. The king of Daxing has emerged with brambles on his back in surrender!"


    Xiao Nanfeng sat on his dragon throne, dressed in golden draconic robes with a crown on his head. He smiled. "Very good."


    "Congrattions, Your Majesty! That''s thest of the five kingdoms!" an official eximed.


    "Congrattions, Your Majesty! Long live Dazheng!" the other officials cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to respond when his face suddenly turned stern.


    He got up from his throne and walked toward the doors of Xuanhuang Hall. The officials nced at each other with confusion. Suddenly, someone realized something and shouted, "Protect His Majesty! Raise defenses across the city!"


    Outside Xuanhuang Hall, arge flock of soldiers rushed over upon hearing the order.


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng emerged from Xuanhuang Hall, the skies were filled with red clouds.


    Moments ago, in a forest outside Yongding, Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and Tang had arrived stealthily with a group of cultivators in tow. They were standing in the dark as they watched Yongding from afar.


    "Tang, very well done. You were even able to convince the crocodile king to make a move against Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Tianci eximed in satisfaction.


    Tang grimaced. "Convincing the crocodile king wasn''t a big deal, Your Highness. After all, we''ve beenying the groundwork for that for a long while, and its subordinates and children have died gruesome deaths. It hates Xiao Nanfeng, and is naturally willing to take him down. However, I don''t feel as though this n will work."


    Mo Lengxuan hissed, "Tang, are you attempting to distract us even at this critical juncture?"


    "Sir Mo, I''m grateful that you rmended me to His Highness, but I''m loyal to him and have to consider things from his perspective. We have to be particrly careful about trying to take Xiao Nanfeng down. After all, I suffered against him many times because I was careless. We can''t repeat the same mistakes."


    "And how many Immortal spirits perished at the borders of Dazheng because of your n? How dare you!"


    Tang defended himself. "Sir Mo, I told you that you should have requested the help of Heaven and True Immortals from the beginning. You refused to listen to me, which was why we lost our forces repeatedly!"


    Mo Lengxuan frowned. "That was only an ident. Now that the Immortals of Dazheng are all gathered by its borders, Yongding is undefended. It''s the perfect time and ce to take down Xiao Nanfeng. It hardly makes sense to have the crocodile king take down a bunch of Human and Earth Immortals! It would never agree."


    "Why not? Wasn''t our n to seize Dazheng''s borders bit by bit? Giving up on the five neighboring kingdoms and striking directly at Xiao Nanfeng is a foolhardy n!"


    "Enough! I''ve already set things in motion. It''s not your ce to speak."


    Tang sighed in exasperation and turned to Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, though my words may not count for much, for your safety, we ought to retreat a little further."


    "It''s unnecessary. Sir Mo will take care of everything," Yin Tianci replied, shaking his head.


    Although he agreed with Tang''s perspective, he trusted Mo Lengxuan''s loyalty more. In the end, he stood on Mo Lengxuan''s side.


    "But it''s too dangerous! I do trust Sir Mo''s ability, but I know how fearsome Xiao Nanfeng is. We may well be in danger at this proximity."


    "Worry not. Sir Mo won''t put me in any danger."


    "Understood," Tang replied wearily.


    "Tang, once we take down Xiao Nanfeng''s head, I''ll deal with you then," Mo Lengxuan hissed.


    With a wave of his hand, he initiated a signal that sent a group of Immortal spirits charging toward the city.


    The Immortal spirits moved rapidly, confident in their ability to take down Xuanhuang Hall within moments. An Immortal spirit even spat out a huge fireball straight at the hall.


    A transparent formation seemed to have sprung up out of nowhere around Yongding. It activated like a, blocking the spirits'' attacks.


    "That fireball was blocked by a formation!"


    "We just saw a flock of birds pass by without being impeded. Where did this formatione from?"


    "It can''t stop us. Let''s tear it down!"


    The Immortal spirits struck rapidly, tearing apart the formation that blocked their path. Just then, lengths of red rope fell from the skies and wrapped around the spirits.


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the hall, there were dozens of Immortal spirits tied up outside Yongding. They fumed in outrage.


    "Release us!" the Immortal spirits cried out.


    "Break!" a Heaven Immortal spirit roared.


    It broke free of the red rope, only to have dozens more lengths descend out of nowhere and tie it up once more, pulling on its body until it felt as though it would be torn apart.


    "Save us, King!" the Immortal spirits cried out from all around.


    The lengths of red rope were tightening around their necks and hanging them in the air. They struggled in fear and pain.


    "Halt!" a voice roared.


    The sound wave alone caused the formations all around Yongding to ripple. A man in blue flew into the sky, striking at the red clouds with a palm.


    The red clouds shuddered violently and began to dissipate, the lengths of red rope trailing down from them doing the same. The Immortal spirits appeared to be saved¡ªbut the next moment, the skies shed red once again. Countless red clouds emerged and flung down more lengths of red rope to entrap all the Immortal spirits.


    "A deific domain?" The man in blue frowned.


    He could see a red moon in sight, and he made to destroy it.


    "I advise you not to strike. I didn''t kill these Immortal spirits when I could have; if you continue to harass me, I guarantee that they''ll all die," a threatening voice called out from Xuanhuang Hall.


    The man in blue turned to see Xiao Nanfeng standing at the entrance to the hall and ring at him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how impudent you are. Do you still think you can survive the day?" The man in blue made to strike at his red moon.


    "You''ve seen it, haven''t you? There''s a cursed effigy lying in ambush within my red moon. You can test it if you dare."


    The man in blue frowned and caught himself. He had been incited to head to Yongding and deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but he was no fool. Something did seem wrong.


    "There have been plenty of Immortal spirits helping the five neighboring kingdoms against Dazheng. Did you send them? I don''t know you, do I? Why have you repeatedly attacked Dazheng? Who instigated you?"


    "Immortals of Dazheng killed my subordinates. I''m here to settle that matter."


    "In other words, we had no previous quarrel. Someone got you to attack me¡ªand perhaps your subordinates were tricked as well. Their deaths brought you here, after all."


    The man in blue raised an eyebrow. Indeed, was this a scheme?


    "I care not who you are. Your subordinates chose to die on Dazheng''s battlefields of their own ord. Why should that involve you and me? Is there a need to fight to the death? Perhaps you believe that you can overwhelm me with your strength, but have you considered why those instigating you made you take the lead? Clearly, they''re not confident in taking me on themselves."


    The man in blue frowned, deep in thought.


    "I advise you not to initiate this attack. Why should you be in the vanguard? Let those who have sent you step forward themselves. Isn''t it better if you sit back and take on the winner?"


    The man blinked. Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng''s suggestion rather too considerate of him?


    "I don''t wish to kill more than necessary, and you don''t want to be a shield. Why don''t you reveal the masterminds to me? I''ll free your subordinates and guarantee you safe passage."


    The man in blue considered the proposal. No one had told him that cursed effigies were involved. Cursed effigies varied in strength, but anything that had to do with cursed effigies would be troublesome indeed.


    Why should he serve as vanguard? There was no reason to do so. Better to watch from afar and swoop in if there were spoils to be gained.


    "Very well. The instigators of this entire affair are in that forest. Deal with them first." The man in blue pointed toward


    Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and Tang.


    "The crocodile king betrayed us! We''ve been exposed!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    "No, this isn''t good! The crocodile king only knows that Tang and I are involved. He''s not aware of your presence, Your Highness!" Mo Lengxuan nched.


    "Hide your face, Your Highness. We have to flee!" Tang cried out.


    Just then, many lengths of red rope shot toward them.


    "Break!" voices shouted from within the forest.


    Yin Tianci''s guards had struck down the red rope, but even more fell from the sky.


    "You can''t reveal my identity!" Yin Tianci hissed.


    If his identity were made known to the world, everyone would know that he was taking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng in grant vition of the Immortal Emperor of Dayin''s promise.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Countless lengths of red rope surged toward the forest in a huge explosion.


    "Crocodile King, do you know what you''ve done? You''ll pay for this!" Mo Lengxuan roared.


    "Oh? No¡ªI''d have paid dearly for listening to you," the man in blue replied. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Now that the mastermind has been revealed, release my subordinates."


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, freeing the gathered spirits from his red rope.


    "Crocodile King, are you? Imend your wisdom. Now, please leave Yongding so I don''t get distracted."


    "Let''s go!" the crocodile kingmanded.


    "Understood!" the spirits replied.


    In the forest some distance away, Mo Lengxuan was so incensed that he was about to spit blood. If the crocodile king left, they would be entirely exposed! "Hold it, Crocodile King! Are you going to backstab us?!"


    However, the crocodile king flew away with his subordinates in tow, ignoring Mo Lengxuan''s protests.


    Yin Tianci, surrounded by a group of his subordinates, red at him. "Mo Lengxuan, you said this was a wless n!"

 Chapter 492: The Pitiful Yin Tianci

    <h4>Chapter 492: The Pitiful Yin Tianci</h4>


    Countless lengths of red rope shot toward the outskirts of Yongding at Yin Tianci and his subordinates. Had the crocodile king betrayed them all?


    This was all part of Xiao Nanfeng''s n. He had designed it with Tang''s reports in mind.


    In Thousand-Spirit Ind, Tang specifically focused on the crocodile king and his subordinates, who were on unfriendly terms with Mo Lengxuan. He continued to stoke the bad blood between them while deliberately hiding the presence of Yin Tianci, causing the crocodile king to think that Mo Lengxuan was responsible for the loss of his subordinates. Xiao Nanfeng was easily able to magnify this dissatisfaction and cause the crocodile king to backstab Mo Lengxuan.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and shouted, "Citizens of Dazheng, I, Xiao Nanfeng, Emperor of Dazheng, hereby pronounce the war over. The five kingdoms that have attempted to assault Dazheng have now been quelled, and the mastermind, a group of spirits, has been identified. These spirits are brash and impudent, and are currently attempting to assault Yongding. Everyone, I call on your strength! Please raise your right hand and lend me your strength to help me take down these spirits."


    The sea of fortune above Yongding roiled. Xiao Nanfeng''s words were transmitted into the ears of each citizen.


    Countless people in Dazheng stopped what they were doing and looked up into the air.


    "More spirits after such a blessed year? Your Majesty, take what paltry strength I have to defeat these spirits!"


    "It''s the first time I''ve led such afortable life in decades. I won''t let any spirit ruin it. Wife, let''s raise our hands!"


    "Raise your right hand, quickly!"


    The people of Dazheng raised their right hands in droves, in flocks. All their strength transformed into bursts of white light that shot into the air toward Yongding.


    Dazheng favored its people, and its people favored Dazheng in kind. An incredible torrent of strength surged toward the sea of fortune above Yongding.


    At the same time, outside the city of Yongding, Yin Tianci and his subordinates were attacked by countless lengths of red rope.


    "This isn''t good. Xiao Nanfeng''s drawing on the strength of his empire. Take him down now. I''ll guard His Highness!" Mo Lengxuanmanded.


    "We can''t! Guarding His Highness is of paramount importance. We have to flee!"


    "Nonsense! What would you know, Tang? Once Xiao Nanfeng draws on the strength of his empire, he''ll be able to catch up to us in no time. How would we flee then? We have to kill him while he''s weak! There''s no time to waste!" Mo Lengxuan roared.


    "Protect His Highness!" Tang shouted anxiously.


    "Your Highness, this is our single opportunity. If we waste it, everything we''ve done will be for naught. The Iron Fist True Immortal has never shown himself, and no one knows he''s your subordinate. We have to hurry!"


    "Very well," Yin Tianci decided. "Iron Fist, take down Xiao Nanfeng quickly."


    "Understood!" one of Yin Tianci''s subordinates replied.


    He rushed out of the red rope''s encirclement and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Enemy attack!" the soldiers of Dazheng roared.


    "Die!" A group of golden Immortals charged toward the True Immortal, who sent one of them flying with a punch. The other golden Immortals'' eyes lit up. They charged at him fearlessly.


    "A True Immortal? Let me have a go!"


    "Let me do it, let me!"


    "Don''t fight with me!"


    The golden Immortals all rushed forward, but none of them could take down the True Immortal.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal struck at them with the intent to kill. Each of his fists glowed with strength as he sent the golden Immortals flying one after another.


    "Break!" the Iron Fist True Immortal roared, punching at Xuanhuang Hall.


    A huge fist descended from the heavens, intending to destroy Xuanhuang Hall alongside Xiao Nanfeng and all the officials of court.


    Just then, a barrier manifested from Yongding''s defensive formation, blocking the True Immortal''s fist.


    Even so, the barrier cracked instantly. A True Immortal was simply too strong.


    "Let''s see just how long you can hold out!" The Iron Fist True Immortal struck at the barrier again.


    Just then, Ye Dafu and his golden Immortals shot forward. They were all sent flying again, but had bought enough time for Xiao Nanfeng.


    In the sky, the sea of fortune had gathered the strength of countless people. A dragon roared from the sea of fortune as all that fortune gushed toward the Iron Fist True Immortal.


    "Damn it, break!" the Iron Fist True Immortal roared.


    But fortune was ethereal, and there was nothing for his fist to strike. The fortune and the strength it conveyed flowed into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    In rage, the Iron Fist True Immortalunched a barrage of punches at the barrier until it finally copsed.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal grinned, leaping past the barrier and toward Xuanhuang Hall.


    Just then, a red fist smashed toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" The Iron Fist True Immortal nched and met fist with fist.


    The two cultivators'' fists struck each other in a howling tempest. The Iron Fist True Immortal was flung into the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body flickered as he shot forward and sent him flying once again.


    With the infusion of strength from his empire, Xiao Nanfeng''s fists were stronger than the Iron Fist True Immortal''s own. None couldpete with him.


    He struck the Iron Fist True Immortal time and again.


    "Activate the secondary formation around Yongding!" an official called out.


    "Understood!"


    Another formation activated around Yongding to block the shockwaves raining down from high above.


    On another battlefield, Yin Tianci and his subordinates were still trying to defend against the red rope that surged toward them. Mo Lengxuan used a True Immortal shield to block the majority of the rope as he protected Yin Tianci.


    "If not for this zing shield, we would already have perished. It''s only able to block attacks from one quadrant, but the red rope is surging toward us from all around. We won''t be able to escape!" Then, he turned toward Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, I took over this body and am not a True Immortal in my own right. I won''t be able tost long."


    The strength of his physical body allowed him to take down the lengths of red rope that came his way, but there was simply too much of it for him to handle.


    The others were faring even worse. Despite the protection of the zing shield, a moment''s carelessness would see them being grabbed by the rope and torn apart.


    "What now?!" Yin Tianci roared.


    "Your Highness, we''ve made a mistake. The Iron Fist True Immortal likely won''t be able to take on Xiao Nanfeng. Only with my assistance will we be able to kill him for certain¡ªbut if I do, then it''ll be dangerous here. Your Highness, this is a difficult request to make, but would you be willing to sacrifice your avatar while I take down Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Me, perish alongside Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Beside him, Tang roared, "Silence! Mo Lengxuan, you''re giving up on your responsibility to protect His Highness. You intend to use him as a sacrifice! This might only be one of His Highness'' avatars, but that Xiao Nanfeng is only an avatar as well! Why should His Highness sacrifice himself? Is Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar worth more than His Highness''?"


    Mo Lengxuan frowned. He didn''t want to bicker with Tang. He looked toward Yin Tianci again. "Your Highness, if this drags out any longer and the Iron Fist True Immortal dies, the rest of us will follow suit. You have to make a decision quickly!"


    Yin Tianci frowned, sensing just how perilous the situation would be. However, how could he give up on his avatar just like that?


    Before Yin Tianci could respond, Tang jumped in. "Mo Lengxuan, I can''t let you continue leading on blindly any longer! Do you intend to sacrifice His Majesty without even trying? You''re useless!"


    "Tang, I''m talking with His Highness. How dare you interrupt!"


    Tang continued, "We can''t sacrifice His Highness at any cost! Even if we have only the slightest chance at survival, His Highness must be the one to live. How can he be sacrificed for your survival?"


    "Insolence!" Mo Lengxuan thundered.


    Tang turned to Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, you can''t listen to him. You''re the lord, and we''re all your servants! How can you sacrifice yourself for us?!"


    Yin Tianci was at a loss himself. He knew how dangerous the situation was, and he felt that Mo Lengxuan''s suggestion was reasonable. If they were all going to die regardless, why shouldn''t he make the sacrifice to take down Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and allow his subordinates to survive? Wouldn''t that minimize his losses?


    Then, however, Tang''s words shook him to the core. That was true. Why should he consider sacrificing himself at all for his servants? If he lived, he could easily get more subordinates!


    "From now on,mand of the situation shall pass to Tang. Those who disobey his orders will be killed," Yin Tianci dered.


    "Your Highness, Tang doesn''t know what he''s doing!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.


    "Silence! Mo Lengxuan, if you dare resist my orders, I''ll kill you!"


    Mo Lengxuan nched. He had no choice but to ept Xiao Nanfeng''s leadership.


    "Everyone, protect His Highness and shroud our surroundings in fog, quickly!"


    The cultivators did so.


    Tang retrieved a suit of armor.


    "Your Highness, I don''t know if this strategy will work, but as long as there''s a shred of hope, we have to seize it. Please put on this suit of Dazheng armor, quickly!"


    Yin Tianci''s eyes lit up. He dressed himself in the armor. "How did youe across this armor?"


    "I''ve thought of any number of strategies to take down Xiao Nanfeng. I have a Dazheng official''s robes, an official seal, and all sorts of other disguises just in case."


    "Very good," Yin Tianci said.


    Once Yin Tianci dressed himself, Tang smeared arge quantity of fresh blood on Yin Tianci''s face from a nearby corpse, hiding his features.


    "Now, let''s charge toward the outside with this zing shield active. As we do so, attack His Highness. Your Highness, you''ll have to attack us while we flee to make it look like we''re engaged in battle as well."


    "That won''t work. If we move with the zing shield, our defensive range will shrink, and the red ropes will seize us all!" Mo Lengxuan interjected.


    "Follow Tang''smand," Yin Tianci dered.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The zing shield roared to life as the cultivators fled. As Mo Lengxuan had stated, its defensive range shrank.


    The red rope surged toward the group of cultivators. Mo Lengxuan held much of it off, but several cultivators were caught by errant lengths of rope.


    "Argh! Save me!"


    "No!"


    The cultivators cried out as they were torn to pieces in showers of blood.


    Tang and Yin Tianci were seized by the rope as well.


    Mo Lengxuan tried to save them, but there was simply too much rope all around them. He had no choice but to watch on as Tang and Yin Tianci were dragged away.


    "Didn''t you end up sacrificing His Highness anyway? You even killed yourself, Tang! Serves you right!" Mo Lengxuan humphed to himself.


    He rushed toward where Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    Meanwhile, Tang continued to ''beat up'' Yin Tianci as they were all dragged away.


    Just then, a length of red rope curled around Tang''s body. It jerked and he screamed as his arm was torn off in a spurt of blood. The red rope dragged him into the forest.


    One of Yin Tianci''s legs had been pulled off by the rope. The remaining lengths of rope seemed to intend to tear him apart before they suddenly stopped. Perhaps because of Tang''s attacks, the red rope decided that they weren''t working together.


    Yin Tianci was drenched in blood, his features obscured, but his armor was that of a Dazheng soldier. The red rope gave up on Yin Tianci and tossed him into the forest in the distance.


    He groaned as hended on the forest floor, hugging onto his torn leg. He was in such great pain that sweat beaded on his forehead, but he had survived the ordeal.


    "Did I seed in tricking the red rope?" Yin Tianci murmured gleefully.


    He raised his head to see Mo Lengxuan and the Iron Fist True Immortal ganging up on Xiao Nanfeng. The red rope tore apart his subordinates before surging toward the battlefield in the sky.


    "Your Highness, is that you?" a voice called out.


    Yin Tianci turned to see Tang with one lost arm and leg. He was bloody all over and almost made Yin Tianci want to turn away from repulsion. However, he was still alive.


    "Thank goodness! We seeded, Your Highness. Let''s flee!"


    Yin Tianci was gratified to see Tang faring worse than he was. Thank goodness Tang hade up with this n¡ªthey wouldn''t have survived otherwise!


    "Let''s flee!" Yin Tiancimanded.


    The two cultivators ran through the forest as quickly as they could, worried that they would be noticed.


    Only when they were far from Yongding and by the sea did Tang pant and say, "Your Highness, thank goodness we made it out. Unfortunately, I barely had any time to prepare. You were heavily injured, and the others might be done for."


    "You''ve already done very well. me Mo Lengxuan for being unable tomand. He was the reason we suffered such losses! Not only that, he even wanted to sacrifice me. Useless thing," Yin Tianci spat out, shaking with rage.


    The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. If he hadn''t granted Tangmand, he would already have died. As for his subordinates, why should he care about their deaths? He could easily recruit more! His life was of paramount importance, even if it was only one of his avatars.

 Chapter 493: Overwhelming Victory

    <h4>Chapter 493: Overwhelming Victory</h4>


    Instead of leaving, the crocodile king flew away with his subordinates and then circled back around. Theyy hidden in the forest as they stared at the battlefield outside of Yongding.


    "You''re truly wise, King! If you hadn''t fled with us decisively, we would have been the ones torn to pieces by the red rope. Now Commander Mo and the others are the ones in danger."


    "Commander Mo? That bastard tried to use me as cannon fodder. He deserves what''s happening to him now," the crocodile king replied.


    "King, are we still going to make a move?"


    "Of course. I haven''t avenged my son yet. Xiao Nanfeng said I could swoop in after their fight, and I do n on doing that."


    "And if it''s a trick?"


    "That''s why we''re going to see how things y out now."


    "When are we going to make a move?"


    "Let''s see which of them wins first. If Mo Lengxuan wins, we''ll demandpensation from him. At the very least, we won''t give in until he brings us a True Immortal relic. If Xiao Nanfeng wins, that''s fine too. He''s fighting using the might of his empire, a finite resource. Once he uses it all up, he won''t be able to fight back against us. At that point, I''ll take my revenge and steal his treasures."


    "What treasures does Xiao Nanfeng have?"


    "I don''t know, but the fact that they''re so invested in Xiao Nanfeng must be because they want one of his treasures. Just wait. We''ll see what happens."


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied expectantly.


    The fighting grew more and more intense. Xiao Nanfeng took on two cultivators at once without losing the upper hand.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal might be a True Immortal, but he had no relics of that realm and was at a stark disadvantage against Xiao Nanfeng. He spat out blood continuously, and seemed as though he would already have perished without a True Immortal''s physique.


    Although Mo Lengxuan boasted the strength of a True Immortal, this body was one that he possessed, and he couldn''t fully use its strength or manipte it agilely, even with his zing shield. The ropes all around him struck him rapidly from all around. Before long, he was wounded and bleeding all over. He knew that if the situation were to continue as is, he would die at Xiao Nanfeng''s hand. Rather than expose himself as the Taiqing Demonic Sect''s right division leader, his eyes glinted.


    "Iron Fist True Immortal, I''ll lend you my zing shield for now. Activate its full strength with your power!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.


    He tossed the zing shield to the Iron Fist True Immortal.


    "What about you?" he eximed.


    "Don''t worry about me. Just remember this: if Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t die, both of us are going to suffer. We have to take down Xiao Nanfeng at any cost."


    The Iron Fist True Immortal understood Mo Lengxuan immediately. If Yin Tianci''s avatar were to die and Xiao Nanfeng remained wholly unharmed, they would surely suffer.


    "Got it!" the Iron Fist True Immortal replied.


    "Let me see just how long you can survive without a shield," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot toward Mo Lengxuan. Simultaneously, countless lengths of red rope wrapped around him. This time, he didn''t attempt to avoid them. Instead, he too headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng.


    By the time Mo Lengxuan appeared before Xiao Nanfeng, he was already tied down by a considerable amount of red rope.


    "Something''s wrong!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he immediately retreated.


    Mo Lengxuan sneered. "It''s toote. Explode!"


    Mo Lengxuan caused his own True Immortal body to explode in a fiery tempest.


    Xiao Nanfeng was drowned in blistering mes.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal was far away and possessed the zing shield. He blocked the shockwaves resulting from the explosion, but was still sent careening back. The red rope all around them seemed to have beenpletely destroyed, and the skies were luded by mes.


    The spirits gaped. One Immortal spirit murmured, "Did Commander Mo justmit suicide? He should have caused the zing shield to explode rather than his own body, surely!"


    The crocodile king frowned. "No. Commander Mo''s physical body is unlikely to be his main body.


    "Oh?"


    "Commander Mo''s background is a mystery, and only the lord of the Thousand-Spirit Ind is aware of it. The lord thinks particrly highly of him, and all I know is that he''s working for some bigshot. I always thought he fought in a strange manner, but now I understand. He simply took over a True Immortal''s body. Just who could his backer be, to provide him with a True Immortal''s body for his use?" The crocodile king frowned.


    "Isn''t he dead?"


    "His main body is unhurt, at the very least, but I don''t know about the fragment of his soul in this avatar. Rather decisive of him to be able to give up on a True Immortal''s body and the zing shield just like that."


    "But why wouldn''t he have caused his zing shield to explode? Why sacrifice his own body?"


    "Who knows? Perhaps there''s a hidden w in his body, or perhaps Xiao Nanfeng would have been too easily alerted if he had tried to cause his zing shield to explode instead. Sacrificing himself might have been the only way to catch Xiao Nanfeng off-guard," the crocodile king analyzed.


    "I suppose Xiao Nanfeng''s done for now, too," his subordinate said.


    "At such close range, I''m sure he''s at least crippled. Even if he''s protected by the might of his Dazheng Empire, it surely wouldn''t be strong enough to neutralize the attack. His empire''s too small, after all."


    Xiao Nanfeng was revealed in the distance as the smoke from the explosion faded.


    Much of the golden light around him had faded, and his draconic robes seemed a little tattered, as though he had suffered a heavy injury. However, his body waspletely intact, surprising the crocodile king.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal flew toward him again and pummeled Xiao Nanfeng until he retreated. The fighting continued anew.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal struck rapidly and was protected by his zing shield. He seemed to have seized the upper hand. Even Xiao Nanfeng''s red rope was much reduced in strength.


    From afar, an Immortal spirit said, "Xiao Nanfeng might still be alive, but he looks badly injured. Much of his empire''s energy also seems to be gone. He can''t hold out much longer, can he?"


    The crocodile king''s eyes lit up. "Come on. We''ll take him down."


    "King, didn''t you say that you were going to wait until one of them was defeated?" one spirit asked.


    "We don''t have time. Xiao Nanfeng''s showing signs of great decline, and he''ll be done for in no time. That True Immortal possesses the zing shield, so it''ll be hard to rob him. We have to seize Xiao Nanfeng''s treasures, now!"


    "Understood!" The Immortal spirits quickly followed the crocodile king into the fray.


    Mo Lengxuan''s explosion had been tremendously strong, but Xiao Nanfeng was a True Yin cultivator who could harmonize with the world. He looked to be in bad shape, but that was all a trick. The explosion had hardly hurt him as badly as it appeared.


    While he took on the Iron Fist True Immortal, he observed his surroundings carefully. As he expected, the very next moment, a beam of light shot toward him from afar.


    Despite thinking that Xiao Nanfeng was weak, the crocodile king still chose tounch a sneak attack. He was behind Xiao Nanfeng in the blink of an eye.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng turned around and gave up on the Iron Fist True Immortal to attack the crocodile king instead.


    "What?" The crocodile king and Iron Fist True Immortal hesitated, both sensing that something was amiss.


    In the spur of the moment, however, they had no time to think about the situation further. They continued to strike at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng raised a relic up high. He activated it and formed a void portal, the entrance of which was directed toward the crocodile king.


    "What?!" the crocodile king eximed.


    The portal swallowed the crocodile king up. Knowing that something was very wrong, he immediately tried to retreat, but it was toote. A starlit barrier trapped him.


    On Xiao Nanfeng''s other side, after Xiao Nanfeng sent the crocodile king into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, he punched at the Iron Fist True Immortal.


    The two cultivators'' punches struck each other as the Iron Fist True Immortal was sent flying.


    "Weren''t you badly injured? How did you suddenly grow so much stronger? Could you have been deceiving me just now?!" the Iron Fist True Immortal shouted.


    He turned tail and attempted to flee, but Xiao Nanfeng would never allow him to do so. Xiao Nanfeng caught him in the blink of an eye and punched forward with Hegemon''s Fist, forcing him to defend himself with the zing shield.


    The two cultivators smashed into each other in the air. With his other hand, Xiao Nanfeng activated the relic in his hand, causing the void portal to appear once more. With a shove, he pushed the Iron Fist True Immortal into the portal.


    "No!" the Iron Fist True Immortal cried out.


    He too was trapped within a starlit barrier.


    In the physical world, the Immortal spirits that had rushed over following the crocodile king nched. They shouted, "Flee!"


    "Where do you think you''re going? All of you can stay right here!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Countless lengths of red rope trapped the spirits once again.


    "No! Save us!"


    "Let us go, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The Immortal spirits transformed from humanoids into their native spirit forms. They roared in rage, but were unable to break free.


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng sent all of them through the void portal and into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm as well. There, they were trapped by the formation that Blue Lantern had established in advance.


    Xiao Nanfeng then shut the portal with the key to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. He floated in the air and surveyed his surroundings, confirming that there were no other enemies before he announced, "Citizens of Dazheng, all those enemies who havee to attack Yongding have been dealt with. I thank you once more for your assistance. With your aid, Dazheng shall be invincible!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard by the side of every citizen of Dazheng.


    The people cheered.


    "We won! His Majesty used our strength to take down those spirits!"


    "He said that Dazheng is invincible! Dazheng is invincible!"


    "Dazheng is invincible!"


    The people cheered. The rally "Dazheng is invincible!" echoed far and wide across the kingdom.


    There were plenty of spies in Yongding, and they had all witnessed Xiao Nanfeng win against a group of True Immortals. They were shocked by what they had seen, and quickly ryed the news to the forces that they represented.

 Chapter 494: The Golden Immortals Advancement

    <h4>Chapter 494: The Golden Immortals'' Advancement</h4>


    After Xiao Nanfeng finished handling affairs in the physical world, he brought Ye Dafu and his crew into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm.


    Within the realm, Blue Lantern had erected various Formations of the Complete Heavens. As his cultivation advanced, the amount of starlit energy he couldmand increased proportionally.


    The two Formations of the Complete Heavens respectively trapped the crocodile king and the Iron Fist True Immortal. The remaining Immortal spirits were stuck in a formation of blue fog.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you release me, we''ll let bygones be bygones. I''ll hand over a great deal of my own treasure!" the crocodile king eximed.


    He knew that he had fallen for Xiao Nanfeng''s trick. Xiao Nanfeng had been far too prepared, and his formation too secure for the crocodile king to batter down.


    "Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng replied. "If I kill you, I achieve the same result and gain all your treasure."


    The crocodile king stiffened. He retorted fiercely, "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t you know where I hail from? I''m one of the leaders of Thousand-Spirit Ind. If you dare kill me, Thousand-Spirit Ind will surely take revenge on your empire of Dazheng."


    "We''ll talk about it when the timees," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    He turned toward the trapped Iron Fist True Immortal. "And who are you? Why did you attack me?"


    The Iron Fist True Immortal gave him a dark look. "Dream on. I won''t talk."


    "That''s fine. I''ll exhaust you bit by bit."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t be able to kill us, and someone wille rescue us in no time. I advise you to let us go, or you''ll surely die," the Iron Fist True Immortal threatened.


    "Ha! How childish you are. How could I let you go after all this?"


    "This formation and those starlit des of yours won''t be able to hurt us at all. I bear the zing shield. Even if you draw on the might of Dazheng, you''ll be able to deal me a heavy injury at best. The Thousand-Spirit Ind will surely rescue us quickly, so you won''t get thestugh."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the Iron Fist True Immortal and turned to Ye Dafu. "Who do you want to challenge?"


    "Let me start with this True Immortal. I''d like to test whether I can withstand his strength before I let the others have a go," Ye Dafu began.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Ye Dafu flew toward the Iron Fist True Immortal, passing through the starlit barrier and entering the interior of the formation.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal was taken aback. "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re sending your subordinates to die?"


    He could see that this Ye Dafu was only a Heaven Immortal. He had sent Ye Dafu flying many times when Ye Dafu was trying to stall for time against him. Was Ye Dafu now intending to die?


    Ye Dafu called out, "I''m your opponent!"


    The Iron Fist True Immortal nced at him disdainfully. He punched forward; Ye Dafu was sent flying. He smashed into the barrier andy paralyzed on the ground.


    "Arrogant fool," the Iron Fist True Immortal spat out.


    Just then, Ye Dafu slowly crawled up. He clutched his nose and winced. "Really? You had to hit me on the nose? It''s going to go crooked. How am I going to find a wife now?"


    The Iron Fist True Immortal: ...


    He struck Ye Dafu with another punch, sending him sprawling against the barrier again.


    "It hurts!" Ye Dafu bellowed. "Again!"


    The Iron Fist True Immortal continued to pummel Ye Dafu.


    "I can''t stand it anymore. It''s toof¡ªno, it hurts far too much!" Ye Dafu screamed.


    "Boss, how strong is he? Can we fight against him? Can wee in?" one golden cultivator shouted.


    "Come on! You should be able to withstand it too. We''ll share in our fortune¡ªno, our misery!¡ªtogether," Ye Dafu wheezed.


    "We''reing in!" All the golden cultivators rushed through the starlit barrier.


    "You''re only peak Earth Immortals! Do you think I can''t kill you? Die!" the Iron Fist True Immortal thundered/


    The barrage of punches caused the golden cultivators'' faces and bodies to swell up, but shockingly, they did manage to withstand the Iron Fist True Immortal''s attacks.


    The crocodile king, observing from his own formation, gaped. "What''s going on? Why is Xiao Nanfeng having his subordinates tortured?"


    An hourter, one golden cultivator cried out, "I can''t handle it anymore! I''m about to explode! Let me out!"


    "Blue Lantern, iste them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Divide!" Blue Lantern intoned, manipting the formation.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal was partitioned from the golden cultivators, who finally managed to get a breather.


    "Oh? Why are you all running off? Come at me again if you dare!" the Iron Fist True Immortal shouted.


    "Give us just a moment. Let''s digest our gains first!"


    "What a good man he is. I love his fists."


    "I''m reallyfortable now. I'' d like to have another go!"


    The golden cultivators chatted happily to each other.


    The Iron Fist True Immortal: ...


    "Are these all crazy idiots...?" the crocodile king murmured.


    Ye Dafu and the others took four hours to heal what wounds they had incurred and digest their gains.


    The golden cultivators'' bodies began to shake. A series of cracking and popping sounds emanated from them as they released waves of energy.


    "They''re all Heaven Immortals now? How can that be? How did they manage to survive such serious injuries so quickly¡ªand how did they break through?!" the crocodile king shouted.


    "Your Majesty, we can continue now! We can''t wait!" one golden cultivator shouted.


    "Your Majesty, don''t worry about our safety. They won''t be able to take us down, so let''s continue!" Ye Dafu added.


    "Very well. Let''s get going, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Half the golden cultivators entered the crocodile king''s formation, and the other half, the Iron Fist True Immortal''s formation.


    "Haha, we''re here!"


    "Come on, beat us up! We have plenty of time."


    "Fight us right here, right now! I''ve been dreaming of it!"


    The golden cultivators taunted their opponents.


    "Scram, you perverts!" the crocodile king shouted.


    "Damn it, I''ll kill you all!" The Iron Fist True Immortal was likewise disgusted by the true nature of these golden cultivators.


    The fighting continued in earnest in both cages.


    The golden cultivators all received a heavy beating, but their physical bodies were so developed that the crocodile king and Iron Fist True Immortal weren''t able to do anything against them even with their weapons. Of course, after enough time, even the golden cultivators'' defenses wouldn''t be able to hold out any longer. At that point, they would call for Blue Lantern''s assistance to give them some time to rest.


    After that, they would rush forward into their opponents'' formations again.


    "I''m back! Come on, fight me!" the golden cultivators shouted.


    The crocodile king and Iron Fist True Immortal began to panic. If this dragged on, they would eventually run out of energy. Where did Xiao Nanfeng get such perverted subordinates?!


    "Blue Lantern, I''m leaving Ye Dafu and the others to you. I''ll be off handling other business," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Dayster, in a fog-shrouded hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind,


    Tang was recuperating after consuming a limb regeneration pill. His arm and leg were quickly healing, and a pile of high-quality pills was arrayed before him.


    "Yin Tianci really is wealthy, isn''t he? He gave me all these pills!" Tang''s eyes widened with greed.


    Just then, a burst of golden light shot through the hall and into his body.


    Tang shook as he widened his eyes. "Fortune? And such a huge burst of it, too. Where did ite from? Oh, it must be from His Majesty! He''s rewarding me for my merit. He told my avatar that I earned the most merit out of anyone during the war¡ªso this fortune is what I''m getting out of it! What arge infusion..."


    Inparison to the fortune he had just retrieved, the pills that Yin Tianci had awarded him suddenly seemed paltry inparison. He could buy the pills at any time, but not the fortune that Xiao Nanfeng had given him, and especially not such arge cloud at that.


    "This is enough for me to advance to Yin Body! His Majesty truly is generous. What''s more, I''m getting two sets of rewards for the same amount of work. This is great!" Tang grinned as he continued to heal from his injuries.


    At the same time, Mo Lengxuan arrived on another part of Thousand-Spirit Ind, his bodypletely translucent. He was clearly in the form of his yin body. He gaped at the ck-robed man before him. "What did you say? His Highness returned, as did Tang?"


    "That''s right. You must be disappointed, mustn''t you?" the ck-robed man demanded.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? I''m overjoyed His Highness has returned safely. Where''s Tang? I have a score to settle against him!"


    "You have no right."


    "What?"


    "His Highness has stripped you of any responsibilities, and you don''tmand me any longer. He guessed that you might attempt to harm Sir Tang and hasmanded us to protect him. You''re not to cause trouble for him before His Highness leaves secluded cultivation."


    "What? Sir Tang?"


    "Sir Mo, you almost caused His Highness to die. He ordered us to investigate you. Could you describe how you managed to escape?" the ck-robed man asked.


    "The moment I destroyed my physical body, my yin body escaped to and hid within the red moon illusory realm. I cultivate the Taiqing Yin Body, and I hid in the realm for many days before finding an opportunity to escape. Isn''t that obvious?"


    "Why did you refuse Sir Tang''s suggestion to bring the crocodile king to the borders of Dazheng? Why did you choose to lead him to Yongding instead? Why did you leave His Highness in danger after Sir Tang repeatedly pointed out the danger inherent in the situation?"


    "It''s all a coincidence! I didn''t realize Xiao Nanfeng would be so crafty."


    "Sir Tang has repeatedly emphasized Xiao Nanfeng''s craftiness. Why did you ignore him?"


    "I¡ª"


    "You could have saved His Highness from danger. Why did you propose for him to die?"


    "I¡ª"


    "Furthermore, you and the Iron Fist True Immortal clearly had an opportunity to escape from Yongding. Why did you remain there and allow Xiao Nanfeng to capture you?"


    "I¡ª"


    "Are you a spy Xiao Nanfeng sent?"


    "Damn you, what sort of questions are these?! Who''s spying for Xiao Nanfeng?!" Mo Lengxuan was so angry that his entire body was shaking.

 Chapter 495: Tangs Authority

    <h4>Chapter 495: Tang''s Authority</h4>


    In a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Yin Tianci and Tang had finished regenerating their new limbs, which were fresh and tender. Trying to make them as strong as the other parts of their body would require more time and intent focus, but they could at least move about freely now. They were staring at Mo Lengxuan.


    "Did everyone else perish? Even the Iron Fist True Immortal?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "Yes, Your Highness. Neither the crocodile king nor the Iron Fist True Immortal cultivated avatars, so we''re unaware of their circumstances. One of the crocodile king''s subordinates possesses an avatar, but he imed that his avatar was knocked unconscious by Xiao Nanfeng and doesn''t know what''s going on. I suspect that the other end of the portal leads to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. The crocodile king''s subordinates are now begging the other spirit kings on the ind to rescue the crocodile king. We only need to hurry things along. The other spirit kings will rush to Yongding and decimate it quickly enough," Mo Lengxuan replied.


    "This is the extent of your n?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "Is something wrong, Your Highness?"


    "Do you know why the other spirit kings chose to avoid Yongding?" Yin Tianci replied disdainfully.


    "Perhaps they''re simply too cautious. That''s why our involvement is important," Mo Lengxuan replied immediately.


    "Mo Lengxuan, I don''t know how you''ve dealt with affairs all this time. Do you really think that''s sufficient at the moment? If Tang hadn''t analyzed the situation for me, you would have tricked me!" Yin Tianci dered.


    "As long as we seed, it should be alright," Mo Lengxuan replied.


    "That''s what you say every time, isn''t it? Do you think things are alright now?! Forget it. I won''t waste time talking to you. Tang, you go."


    "Understood!" Tang replied, turning to Mo Lengxuan. "The spirit kings on the ind are aware of what happened at Yongding, and that Xiao Nanfeng was able to take on three True Immortals at once. They''re not on good terms with the crocodile king, and none are willing to risk the trouble. What''s more, Xiao Nanfeng is a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, and they''re worried that an ambush awaits them in Yongding."


    "An ambush? How could that be? As long as the spirit kings move quickly and catch Xiao Nanfeng unawares, they''ll be able to take him down for sure," Mo Lengxuan replied.


    "And how can you be so certain that Xiao Nanfeng has no other trump card? Furthermore, you previously said that your n was wless. Even so, didn''t you fail?"


    "Previously? That was an ident." Mo Lengxuan frowned.


    "idents arise because you haven''t considered the situationprehensively enough. Sir Mo, I don''t want to criticize your ability, but don''t your repeated failures arise precisely because of this?"


    Mo Lengxuan narrowed his eyes. "My actions aren''t for the likes of you to criticize."


    "I don''t care what you do yourself, but I hope you won''t drag His Highness down with your own foolish decisions! His Highness ces great trust in me, and I have to think about his safety at any moment. I won''t allow you to endanger him any further!"


    "I rmended you to His Highness," Mo Lengxuan gritted out.


    "I acknowledge the favor, but that doesn''t make me your puppet. His Highness has treated me well, and I don''t want a situation in which we''re considering sacrificing His Highness to recur," Tang stated firmly.


    "Are you crazy? I''m not asking for His Highness to go to Yongding. I simply want to invite the various spirit kings on the ind to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Don''t you want that to happen? Why are you protecting him now?" Mo Lengxuan demanded.


    "Sir Mo, I believe that you are loyal to His Highness, but I severely doubt your abilities," Tang replied.


    "What?!"


    "We have to consider the situation holistically, finding avenues of failure before avenues of sess. You keep saying that your ns are wless, but something goes wrong each time! Haven''t you learned your lesson yet? Don''t you see that the spirit kings are unwilling to head to Yongding? It''s hardly as though Xiao Nanfeng is going to run. We can wait until the lord of the ind returns before sending troops to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Won''t that do? Why do we have to rush to do it now?"


    "Who knows when the lord of the ind is going to return? Xiao Nanfeng''s growing far too rapidly. Dying isn''t going to be advantageous to us."


    "None of the spirit kings on the ind are intending to make a move. Who else but the lord of the ind couldmand them? Do you think they would listen to His Highness? You must be crazy! Those spirit kings are fond of gossip. The moment His Highness shows himself, they''ll leak the news. The Immortal Emperor''s reputation will surely be affected. Aren''t you aware of this?" Tang demanded.


    "You!" Mo Lengxuan red at him.


    "His Highness and I would dearly love to y Xiao Nanfeng and strip the tendons from his body, but no matter how ardent our desire, we know we have to wait. The Immortal Emperor can suffer no stain on his reputation, and the gathered spirit kings might not be able to take down Xiao Nanfeng, either. Rather than whittle him down bit by bit, why not wait for a critical moment during which to deal him a lethal blow?"


    "Wait? You''ve seen how quickly Xiao Nanfeng is growing. He''s advancing through the realms of Immortals at a rapid clip despite being nothing more than an ordinary mortal years ago. I would have been willing to wait if not for the battle I just experienced. I don''t know how much stronger Xiao Nanfeng will be the next time around. I think we need to be decisive and deal with him as quickly as possible."


    "You think? What about what I think and what His Highness thinks? Sir Mo, I''m afraid I don''t put much credibility in your judgment."


    "Insolence!" Mo Lengxuan thundered.


    "Enough! Mo Lengxuan, have you ever once been right with regards to Xiao Nanfeng?" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "I¡ª"


    "We''ll listen to Tang this time around," Yin Tianci dered.


    Mo Lengxuan nched. It was clear that Yin Tianci had lost his trust in him, that Yin Tianci now put more faith in Tang than him. What was he to do?


    "Understood," Mo Lengxuan replied sullenly.


    Tang quickly bowed. "Thank you for your trust in me, Your Highness. I swear I''ll find Xiao Nanfeng''s weaknesses as quickly as I can and take him down with your strength!"


    "Very good, Tang. I believe in your ability," Yin Tianci replied, satisfied with his performance.


    "Thank you, Your Highness!" Tang eximed eagerly.


    "What of the Iron Fist True Immortal?" Mo Lengxuan asked.


    "He''s surely dead. Why do you care so much about the dead?" Tang frowned.


    Mo Lengxuan red at Tang. He wanted to discredit Tang''s assumption onck of information, but Yin Tianci trusted Tang more than him at the moment. What could he do?


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, the crocodile king roared, "Get away from me, you perverts!"


    "Beat me up if you dare!"


    "Don''t you have any more strength?"


    "Put more strength into your blows!"


    The golden cultivators surrounded the crocodile king as they taunted him.


    The crocodile king and Iron Fist True Immortal had been baited to attack them time and again, leading to significant injuries and expenditure on their part. Although they continued to consume pills, they were unable to ess spiritual aether from the world atrge while trapped in these starlit barriers, and they were now so weak that they couldn''t even fight these golden cultivators. They were forced into passive defense.


    "Just you wait. The spirit kings of Thousand-Spirit Ind will surelye rescue me. You''re all done for. Once I get free, I''ll eat all of you up!"


    "Come on, then! Eat me! Eat me now!"


    "Eat me first!"


    "What? Don''t fight with me over this. He hasn''t eaten me yet! It''s my turn!"


    The golden cultivators fought to be first in line.


    The crocodile king stiffened. He had attempted to eat a few of the golden cultivators in the past few days, but they werepletely alright. Not only did they hurt his stomach, it took him tremendous effort to finally vomit them back up.


    The crocodile king gritted his teeth. "Just you wait. Once all the spirit kings rescue me, I''ll have them work together to take you all down. I''ll chew you until you''re nothing but pulp. Xiao Nanfeng, the cultivator whoid down this formation, and all the people of Yongding¡ªnone of you will escape! I''ll eat you all up and leave you dead!"


    "Crocodile King, don''t waste your energy with them. They''re deliberately provoking you and trying to get you to exert yourself. Simply guard yourself and they won''t be able to do anything against you. We''ll take them down once we manage to leave," the Iron Fist True Immortal called out.


    "You''re right. We''ll be able to take them down soon enough!"


    Just then, a void portal opened up as Xiao Nanfeng and a group of his subordinates walked over.


    Everyone turned to him. The crocodile king and Iron Fist True Immortal snarled.


    "Ye Dafu, how''s it going?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    "Your Majesty, they''re both exhausted, and we''ve made tremendous gains. However, they''re both turtling up, and we can''t do anything against them."


    "Leave it to us!" one cultivator behind Xiao Nanfeng spoke up.


    A man in blue walked forward leading a group of cultivators.


    "Chang Bing? Aren''t you supposed to be at the Imperial Court? What are you doing here?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "I just helped the division leader repair a batch of relics and freed up my time. I came over to help out," Chang Bing replied, smiling.


    He tossed out a relic, the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    As itnded on the ground, the ground rumbled.


    As Chang Bing murmured a mantra, the Yin-Yang Cauldron shook. Its lid slowly uncovered itself, revealing the yin and yang energies within. The Earth division disciples behind him murmured mantras as well, sending the yin and yang energies revolving.


    "Blue Lantern, toss the crocodile king and the Iron Fist True Immortal into the cauldron," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    "What? You managed to bring the Yin-Yang Cauldron out of the Imperial Court? Are you going to melt our bodies? No!" the Iron Fist True Immortal cried out.


    However, no one paid him any mind. Blue Lantern activated the formation to toss them into the cauldron as Ye Dafu and the others were pushed to one side.


    With a nk, the cauldron''s lid was sealed shut.


    "Now, melt them!" Chang Bingmanded.


    "Understood!" the Earth division disciples replied.


    The Yin-Yang Cauldron glowed with light as spiritual aether rapidly gathered around it.

 Chapter 496: Melting True Immortals

    <h4>Chapter 496: Melting True Immortals</h4>


    Three dayster, in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, a group of cultivators stood around the Yin-Yang Cauldron, waiting for the lid to be unsealed.


    With a creak, the lid popped open with a great deal of fog. Ye Dafu and the others hurriedly shielded Xiao Nanfeng from any potential danger.


    "Don''t worry. The crocodile king and Iron Fist True Immortal are dead," Chang Bing said, smiling.


    "Didn''t it take a few days to melt Yin Tianci down? He wasn''t even dead by the end! How could you have taken down a True Immortal so quickly?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Yin Tianci expended a great deal of relics and treasures to protect himself, while these two True Immortals barely had any relics to their name. How could they withstand the cauldron longer than he did?" Chang Bing smiled again.


    He walked up to the cauldron and extended a hand. "im!"


    Four golden Immortal pills flew out of the cauldron.


    "Division Leader, we ced arge quantity of herbs in the cauldron and used the two True Immortals as catalyst to concoct four Heaven Immortal pills," Chang Bing reported.


    By one side, Ye Dafu gaped, "A Heaven Immortal pill, with the ability to advance ate-stage Earth Immortal to a Heaven Immortal? Isn''t that an incredibly precious treasure? Can you really make such a thing?!"


    "Division Leader Ye, it looks like you might not be very familiar with the extent of the Taiqing Immortal Sect''s knowledge, haha!" Chang Bingughed in pride.


    "Croak, Warble, test them out," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A man and woman behind Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and each swallowed one of the pills.


    They suddenly reverted into their giant toad forms. After swallowing the pill, golden light radiated from them. In almost no time at all, twin shockwaves of energy emanated from their bodies.


    "They''re Heaven Immortals now! Are these pills that amazing?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we''re Heaven Immortals now, but our bodies feel a little weak. Can we consume some of those Heaven Immortal spirits to shore up our reserves?" Croak suddenly asked.


    "Talk to Blue Lantern. They''re still trapped in his formation. Eat what you need."


    "Got it!" Croak and Warble headed over.


    Chang Bing suddenly cried out, "Don''t eat them all up! Those Heaven Immortal spirits can be used to make Earth Immortal pills!"


    However, he was toote. Croak and Warble were far away by then.


    "Don''t worry. You can have all the spirits they can''t finish. I''ll have to trouble you all to concoct more pills," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Of course, Division Leader! We''ll do our best with this Yin-Yang Cauldron," Chang Bing promised.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Right, Division Leader, the zing shield didn''t melt."


    "Oh?"


    "When the yin and yang energies assaulted the zing shield, the restrictions on the shield cracked. zing mes surrounded the Iron Fist True Immortal, burning him and forcing him to discard the shield. The yin and yang energies then assaulted him quickly, causing him to perish before the crocodile king did. Because we''re now able to control the Yin-Yang Cauldron to a very precise degree, we were able to iste the shield and prevent it from taking any more damage. Unfortunately, the rest of the Iron Fist True Immortal and crocodile king''s treasures were all melted into scrap."


    "That doesn''t matter. Show me the zing shield." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "We can''t. With its restrictions damaged, mes are surging rapidly out of it. We''ve isted it with the yin and yang energies, but if we were to allow it toe in contact with the environment, it would explode!"


    "Let me have a look." Xiao Nanfeng walked right up to it.


    The yin and yang energies in the cauldron surrounded a bundle of red mes. It sparked and hissed, as though it would explode at any moment.


    "Division Leader, attempting to repair the zing shield won''t be easy. It requires a significant quantity of exotic materials that we likely won''t be able to obtain in time. We''ll be able to iste these mes for another month, nothing more."


    "Don''t bother repairing the shield. Send this cauldron of mes to my manor. I have need of it." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.


    They manipted the lid shut once again.


    "Are Chang Bing and the others headed for the Imperial Court? Why not let us guard them? We can''t lose this cauldron," Ye Dafu volunteered.


    Chang Bing smiled. "It''s alright. We have measures to protect ourselves."


    "You''re all just Human Immortals. What if you encounter Heaven Immortal bandits? It would be better if I guarded you," Ye Dafu pressed, somewhat smugly.


    "Don''t worry. If you were to get in a fight with them, you might not even beat Chang Bing," Xiao Nanfengmented.


    "What? How could that be?"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Chang Bing. "You can set off now. I''ll send over any excess spirits."


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought everyone out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and had Chang Bing and his group secretly leave Yongding.


    Of the two remaining Heaven Immortal pills, Xiao Nanfeng handed one to Ye Dafu. "Send this to Taiqing Ind, to my senior brother Zhao Yuanjiao."


    "Understood!"


    After Ye Dafu left, Xiao Nanfeng summoned You Jiu to his study.


    "Has your foundation stabilized?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It has. Zhao Yuanjiao''s ckguards found an Immortal tomb with arge number of opportunities within. Zhao Yuanjiao intended to share it with you, Your Majesty, but you gave me that chance instead. I''ve since advanced tote-stage Earth Immortal," You Jiu reported.


    "This is a Heaven Immortal pill and can help you advance to that realm. However, your cultivation will be unstable if you rely on pills, so you''ll have to work hard to shore up those deficiencies in order to keep going further," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    You Jiu gaped at the pill. He bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Please don''t worry. I''ve gained the Specter King''s inheritance. He collected countless techniques while a subordinate to Emperor Wei, and I know what I need to do to strengthen my foundation."


    "Very good. The spectral guards contributed greatly during the war against the five neighboring kingdoms. I''ve already distributed the rewards in advance, though, and won''t be providing more." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "As you will, Your Majesty. The blood peaches distributed to the spectral guards have been a tremendous boon, let alone this Heaven Immortal pill."


    "Go absorb it," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" You Jiu left the study.


    Of the four Heaven Immortal pills, Xiao Nanfeng consumed none. He knew how potent his cultivation technique was, and these Heaven Immortal pills would likely be useless to him. He cultivated the Imposing Avatar of Ri, and he would need to umte an endless quantity of mes. Even if he were able to advance with these pills, he would end up in an unusually weak state while he replenished his energy.


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, Chang Bing and the others ced the Yin-Yang Cauldron back in the spirit prison as Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stepped within.


    "Seal the lid," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!"


    With a creak, Chang Bing and the other Taiqing disciples activated the Yin-Yang Cauldron and shut the lid. They spurred on the mes emanating from the zing shield so that Xiao Nanfeng could absorb them all. Loud pops could be heard from the cauldron.


    "What frightening mes..."


    "Of course! Those are mes from a True Immortal relic, and they were strong enough to burn a True Immortal to a crisp."


    "Once the division leader absorbs those mes, do you think we might be able to forge a Heaven Immortal relic with what remains?"


    The disciples waited expectantly.


    Two hourster, a bang caused the cauldron to shudder.


    "Alright. Unseal the cauldron!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    With a creak, the cauldron opened up and Xiao Nanfeng walked out from within.


    "Ah... Where are the mes from the zing shield?"


    "How could they all have vanished?"


    All the cultivators were surprised.


    "I absorbed them, of course. There wasn''t as much as I expected, but I made do," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Chang Bing and the other disciples were gobsmacked. Those mes were able to burn a True Immortal to a crisp. How had Division Leader Xiao absorbed them all? He was just an Earth Immortal!


    "It''s a pity... I''m advancing far too slowly." Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He had reached the eighth stage of an Earth Immortal.


    Chang Bing and the others gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. They didn''t know what to say.


    "How''s the batch of arhat armor you repaired?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "On the way back from Yongding, we tested it out on each other in an isted stretch of the sea. They''re as good as we could have hoped for. Wearing that armor makes ourbat strength on par withte-stage Heaven Immortals."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "We managed to repair twenty-one suits in all. The remainder are unable to be fixed with the materials we have on hand." Chang Bing proffered a storage bracelet.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected the storage bracelet to find twenty-one suits of arhat armor within.


    He retrieved a suit for himself, then returned the bracelet to Chang Bing.


    "You can all use these twenty suits for the time being. You''ll be part of my forces on official Imperial Court duty, after all. I should hope you''ll be able to disy your strength." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The disciples'' eyes brightened. "Thank you, Division Leader!"


    "Familiarize yourself well with the armor. You''ll have to fight in them on Imperial Court missions."


    "Yes!" the cultivators replied in excitement.


    They did enjoy making pills and forging relics, but they were simultaneously interested inbat. Being able to fight in armor that they had repaired themselves was a dreame true, and they were like unstoppable machines in those suits of arhat armor.


    "Of course, don''t just count on those suits of armor. As impressive as they are, they''re just relics external to your own cultivation. You should aim to raise your cultivation quickly as well," Xiao Nanfeng instructed them seriously.


    "Don''t worry, Division Leader! Once the spirits from Yongding arrive, we''ll start concocting Earth Immortal pills immediately. With the Yin-Yang Cauldron and the methods of Taiqing forgecraft, our cultivation won''t be neglected."


    "Very good. Make more pills and have the entirety of the Earth division advance together."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    In arge hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Mo Lengxuan stared at several of his subordinates.


    "Sir, you want us to investigate Tang''s background?" one subordinate confirmed.


    "That''s right. All we know about Tang came from Tang himself and the master of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. I think that there''s something wrong with his background. Check it thoroughly."


    "But all the left division disciples are dead! How would we confirm it?"


    "Go see if any left division disciples yet remain. Perhaps some avoided the ughter. Find whatever information you can. Ignore everything that was conveyed to us beforehand. I''m worried that Tang deliberately got close to me," Mo Lengxuan said.


    "Understood!"

 Chapter 497: The Palace of the Moon

    <h4>Chapter 497: The Pce of the Moon</h4>


    Within the Hall of Martial Aspects in the Sieve of Heaven, Ao Canghai stepped into a room, his face dark, followed swiftly behind by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    "It''s all Xiao Nanfeng''s fault. He spread rumors all over the Sieve of Heaven to malign you, Eastern Aspect! The other three Cardinal Aspects have been making fun of you again. Shall I suppress the rumors?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned.


    "Suppress them? How do you intend to do so? Everyone knows that I, the Eastern Aspect, bullied my subordinate Aspects and conspired with the Immortal Emperor of Dayin to force Xiao Nanfeng to release the main body of the crown prince of Dayin. Xiao Nanfeng''s not wrong. What good would it do to try to suppress the news now? Do you want the other three Cardinal Aspects to deride me again?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pursed his lips. "Should we let the rumors keep developing, then?"


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "At this point, we might as well. People will forget about it soon enough."


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied. "Eastern Aspect, what should we do about the report that Xiao Nanfeng tendered a few days ago?"


    Ao Canghai sat down at a table and retrieved a report. He frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng reported that he suffered an assassination attempt from the spirit kings of Thousand-Spirit Ind, an attempt to target the authority of the Imperial Court. He wants me to field a blitzkrieg attack on Thousand-Spirit Ind in order to preserve the authority of the Imperial Court..."


    "What nonsense," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said. "This is a personal affair between him and Thousand-Spirit Ind, and it''s hardly as though he suffered as a result. What makes him think he can get away with this?"


    "You''re aware of what happened?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "I am. I had a few subordinates keep an eye on his mortal empire. What transpired was..." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost recounted what had happened to Ao Canghai.


    "His avatar was able to take down a True Immortal by drawing on the strength of his empire?" Ao Canghai frowned.


    "We can ignore this shameless petition, can''t we?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost asked.


    "If I ignore it, he might just spread word tomorrow that I''m neglecting matters pertinent to my station. The Heavenly Emperor will hear of it the next day, and my enemies will blow it out of proportion to attack me."


    "Would he really?"


    "Although we did gain quite a lot from the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, the majority was handed over to the Imperial Court, and no one would dare criticize me in public. At worst, they might make a few snide remarks in private or shoot me jealous nces, but this petition is, at face value, a critical affair that I do have to handle. If I don''t handle it well, he might really escte it all the way up to the Immortal Emperor."


    "Damn that Xiao Nanfeng! He won''t let us get away with anything, will he?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s not wrong. The Thousand-Spirit Ind should pay for daring to assault a Martial Aspect. Reveal this information publicly and have your subordinates learn more about the situation on Thousand-Spirit Ind and in Xiao Nanfeng''s empire of Dazheng."


    "Ah¡ªsurely there''s no need for such a fuss? We''d be taking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng''s behalf!"


    "Who said we would help him take revenge? It''s a matter of the Imperial Court''s authority. All those who challenge the Imperial Court by attacking its Martial Aspects ought to be killed!"


    "But¡ª"


    "No buts. Attack first and ask questionster. Thousand-Spirit Ind has amassed an incredible wealth of resources. If they refuse to submit, we''ll have to take them on by force."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s eyes brightened. "Eastern Aspect, are you taking advantage of the opportunity to im dominion over Thousand-Spirit Ind? Do you intend to absorb its resources, too?"


    Ao Canghai smiled at the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    "I understand now. Xiao Nanfeng''s petition will provide us with the excuse we need to strike!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smiled, then suddenly frowned. "But if we do so, Xiao Nanfeng will surely get involved. How will we be able to execute the n without his knowing? Xiao Nanfeng isn''t one of us."


    Ao Canghai thought for a moment. "The Eastern quadrant is responsible for the Martial Aspects'' annual hunt. Let''s have it at the Pce of the Moon."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost cocked his head. What was the rtionship between these two subjects?


    "Eastern Aspect, the Pce of the Moon was the previous residence of Zhang Lingjun''s mother, and Zhang Lingjun herself stayed there in the past. She surely possesses tokens for the residence. Considering her rtionship with Xiao Nanfeng, won''t Xiao Nanfeng stand to benefit?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said.


    "Stand to benefit? Not necessarily," Ao Canghai replied coolly.


    "Oh?"


    "Do as I say," Ao Canghai replied, not exining himself.


    "Understood!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost could only agree.


    In a small yard within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, Xiao Nanfeng received Zhang Lingjun as a guest. "Princess, this is Immortal tea from Taiqing Ind. Please have a taste."


    Zhang Lingjun sat by Xiao Nanfeng''s side, taking in the sun as she sipped from the tea. She smiled. "You''re leading a rather rxed life, aren''t you? Don''t you care about official business? I heard that plenty of cultivators were interested in joining you as subordinates, but you rejected them all!"


    "They''re all spies that want to get a sense of my situation. I don''t intend to employ them," Xiao Nanfeng said, shaking his head.


    "It''s almost been half a year. You''ll have to start taking on the tasks expected of Martial Aspects soon enough. Without any subordinates to assist you, how will you seed?"


    "I''d rather have no subordinates than disloyal ones. Furthermore, don''t I have a few hundred cultivators with me here?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "The Earth division disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect? I''m afraid they''re a bit weak..." Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "It doesn''t matter. We''ll take it slowly," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well. You really are careful, aren''t you? I suppose that''s for the best. At the least, all your subordinates are trustworthy." Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    "You''ve advanced considerably sincest time, haven''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng gave Zhang Lingjun a perplexed look.


    "You can tell?"


    "Your aura is different. It''s like a Heaven Immortal''s... Could it be because of the Taiqing Grandmaster''s inheritance?"


    A few months ago, Zhang Lingjun had been an Earth Immortal¡ªbut it seemed that she had since advanced to a Heaven Immortal!


    "That''s right. The Taiqing Grandmaster''s inheritance is truly potent. By the time you embark on your duties, I might be able to provide some assistance."


    "I''ll thank you in advance, then, Princess." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, then frowned. "Please be careful. It may not be a good idea to advance too rapidly."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded. "Don''t worry. Once the Heavenly Emperor is out of secluded cultivation, I''ll have him inspect my foundation to ensure that nothing''s out of ce."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Have you heard of the Martial Aspects'' hunt?"


    "The Martial Aspects'' hunt? I heard that quite a few areas in the Sieve of Heaven are sealed because of the presence of strong monsters within. Subduing the monsters will cause them to obey you. These sealed areas are exclusively for the seventy-two Martial Aspects to hunt in, and are collectively known as the Martial Aspects'' hunting grounds. One is opened up annually."


    "That''s right. Are you interested in participating? As long as you subdue these monsters, they won''t betray you. If you catch enough, you''ll be able to mitigate theck of subordinates you have," Zhang Lingjun continued.


    "Are you interested in this year''s hunting ground?"


    "It''s ted to be the Pce of the Moon, my mother''s former residence." Zhang Lingjun sighed.


    "Your mother''s former residence?"


    He had just learned of the location of the hunting ground this year and hadn''t had the time to study it in detail. Was the Pce of the Moon rted to Zhang Lingjun, then?


    "That''s right. I lived there as a child, but after my mother perished, the Pce of the Moon was sealed and transformed into a Martial Aspects'' hunting ground." Zhang Lingjun smiled wryly.


    "I recently investigated your background. I heard that your mother did something grossly disrespectful in the past that has affected your circumstances since. Is that true?"


    Zhang Lingjun bit her lip and nodded. "My mother was part of a rebellion. She made it all the way to the Heavenly Pce."


    "Truly?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    When he first heard of the news, he was astounded. Zhang Lingjun''s mother had participated in a rebellion and died right before the Heavenly Pce... The news had shocked the world. A rebellion was high treason against the crown, and countless cultivators had been implicated. In light of this fact, it was incredible that Zhang Lingjun and Zhang Feifan had survived and managed to retain their positions at court.


    "I believe that there must be more than meets the eye to this mystery. How could my mother have rebelled? Why would the Heavenly Emperor still treat me so well despite this rebellion? He must know something, but he refuses to tell me what."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I think your suspicions are valid. What could cause the Heavenly Emperor''s own daughter to rebel? There has to be something amiss."


    "Do you want to enter the Pce of the Moon? I have an ess token. If you lead me inside, I can help you deal with some of the monsters within," Zhang Lingjun offered expectantly.


    "Can''t you enter on your own?"


    "It''s a Martial Aspects'' hunting ground now, and only the seventy-two Martial Aspects and their subordinates are allowed in. Even I can''t enter on my own¡ªunless a Martial Aspect personally leads me inside."


    "Do you intend to investigate the cause of your mother''s death?"


    "I do. I want to have a look in her quarters."


    "Can you tell me what monsters might be hidden within?"


    Zhang Lingjun was silent for a moment. She grimaced. "Those monsters were all originally humans."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "After my mother''s failed rebellion, all her subordinates were cursed by the Heavenly Emperor and transformed into monsters without memory or emotions, then tossed into the Pce of the Moon. As for what they look like, you''ll see once you head inside."


    She gave Xiao Nanfeng a fervent look.


    "Princess, you could easily have asked the other Martial Aspects to lead you inside. That you came to find me means that you must not want to share this opportunity with them; this is a favor to me, in other words. I would be more than happy to oblige." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhang Lingjun exhaled in relief. "I don''t trust the other Martial Aspects, so I have no choice but to bother you."


    "Choose a time. My schedule is free at the moment, so let''s go have a look."


    "I''m free right now." Zhang Lingjun''s eyes brightened.

 Chapter 498: Ao Shuai

    <h4>Chapter 498: Ao Shuai</h4>


    Within the Sieve of Heaven was a particrlyrge floating ind on which the Pce of the Moon was located.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun brought twenty disciples including Chang Bing toward the floating ind. Thick fog shrouded it from sight, as though a formation had been erected to hide whaty within.


    As the procession flew by, a few guards emerged warily from the fog. When they saw Xiao Nanfeng leading the procession, they retreated.


    Above the floating ind was a translucent purple barrier that covered much of it, leaving a za filled with arge number of guards.


    When Xiao Nanfeng and his group arrived, the guards bowed respectfully. "We greet Martial Aspect Xiao."


    "How many Martial Aspects have entered?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "None. Sixty teamsposed of their subordinates have, however," one guard replied.


    "You''re the only Martial Aspect entering with your team," Zhang Lingjun whispered, smiling.


    "Are the others unwilling to do so?"


    "The Heavenly Emperor has imposed a restriction on the domains guarded by this purple barrier. Naturalw permits only True Immortals and below to enter. All others will be suppressed to the level of a True Immortal. That''s why none of the other Martial Aspects are willing to enter themselves," Zhang Lingjun continued.


    "In other words, my cultivation is among the weakest of all Martial Aspects?"


    "Are you only realizing that now?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Zhang Lingjun a faint smile. He didn''t much mind. It was true that his cultivation was on the weak side, but how long had he spent cultivatingpared to the others?


    "Come on. Let''s step inside," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, the formation around this hunting ground is particrly special. You may enter but will not be able to step out for a month, at which point the naturalw inscribed on the barrier will change," the guard told them.


    "We''re aware. Thank you for the reminder."


    The guard bowed and retreated.


    By the edge of the formation was a region engraved with runes. The cultivators walked over and entered the moment they touched the barrier, as though they were passing through the surface of water.


    Just then, a guard not too far away told hispanion, "Inform the master that Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun have entered."


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and his party passed through the barrier and appeared in a valley surrounded by thick fog. Their vision was greatly impeded.


    "What strange fog. It''s even blocking my spiritual perception..."


    "I don''t know where this fog came from, but I''m familiar with this area. It''s the mountain range situated to the back of the Pce of the Moon. Just follow my lead," Zhang Lingjun said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Zhang Lingjun was about to lead everyone into the valley when a dangerous aura surged out from within.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng immediately grabbed Zhang Lingjun and pulled her back.


    Huge footsteps rattled the valley as a thirty-meter-tall monster appeared from its mouth. The monster was humanoid, with particrly long purple fur that grew out of its body and covered itpletely. Only its bright-red eyes were visible, radiating killing intent.


    When the purple-furred monster roared, the sound waves sent everyone stumbling back.


    "These are the purple-furred monsters of the Pce of the Moon. They''re particrly vicious, so watch out," Zhang Lingjun warned.


    "Purple-furred lifeforms? They look extremely simr to the red-furred lifeforms of the red moon illusory realm! The only difference is their color..." Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "The red moon illusory realm? I haven''t been within. Do they really look simr?"


    "Absolutely," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    The purple-furred lifeform roared and shattered a huge boulder with a fist. It leapt toward the gathered cultivators.


    "What a powerful aura¡ªthis must be a Heaven Immortal purple-furred monster! Let me take the lead!" Zhang Lingjun strode forward,


    but Xiao Nanfeng held her back. "Leave this to Chang Bing. Don''t worry about it."


    "That''s a Heaven Immortal monster, and your subordinates are only Human Immortals! Are you certain?"


    A thirty-meter-tall golden arhat appeared before Zhang Lingjun.


    "This is..." Zhang Lingjun stepped back in surprise.


    Chang Bing shot into the golden arhat''s forehead and melded with the suit of armor as it came to life.


    The golden arhat stomped down and caused the ground to crumble as it shot toward the purple-furred lifeform.


    The golden arhat smashed into the purple-furred lifeform with incredible strength. Both seemed to be on equal footing.


    However, the fog that filled the hunting ground was particrly strange. It didn''t seem to dissipate despite the shockwaves of energy that were being given off.


    "How do you have the divine empire of Dayin''s arhat armor?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "Don''t worry about that for now. Isn''t it strange that these purple-furred lifeforms would attack us? We didn''t make amotion when we entered, and our spiritual perception is limited here. How could it have discovered us, and why was it so angry? Something seems wrong."


    Zhang Lingjun frowned as Xiao Nanfeng spoke. She too grew serious.


    Not far away from the valley, a group of cultivators stood atop a mountain peak. Their leader was dressed in golden robes and wore an icy look on his face.


    "Master, the Eastern Aspect has forbidden you from causing trouble for Xiao Nanfeng. Are you sure you should still be targeting him?" one of his subordinates said warily.


    "What''s wrong? Can''t I, Ao Shuai, take him on? He ruined my father''s reputation, and he ought to suffer as punishment," the golden-robed man, Ao Shuai, retorted.


    "The Eastern Aspect''smands aren''t to be ignored. Please, Master, don''t go against him. What would we tell him?"


    Ao Shuai gave the man a displeased look. "I''m not targeting Xiao Nanfeng."


    "But didn''t you have us lure this purple-furred monster here to deal with Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "I''m targeting Zhang Lingjun."


    "But the Eastern Aspectmanded us not to mess with her, either!"


    "I know. My goal isn''t to injure her, but to force her to give up her ess token to the Pce of the Moon. All we have to do is snatch it for ourselves."


    "But¡ª"


    "No buts. I''m not going for their lives, so what''re you worried about? Nothing will happen," Ao Shuai said.


    "Understood!"


    "Master, Xiao Nanfeng might only be an Earth Immortal, but he managed to y a group of Heaven Immortal beastsst time. These purple-furred monsters might not be a match for him!" Another subordinate frowned.


    "Those beasts were detained for too long and were too weak to pose any threat. These purple-furred monsters can''tpare to them," Ao Shuai said confidently.


    Just then, golden light shed as a golden arhat appeared. It sent a fist smashing toward the purple-furred monster in a shockwave of energy.


    "It was blocked!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "Arhat armor? That''s impossible. Arhat armor is the prized, exclusive treasure of the divine empire of Dayin, and it would never allow the armor to be distributed. How could they have it?" one of Ao Shuai''s subordinates shouted.


    Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps Yin Tianci left it behind. He couldn''t have left too many suits of arhat armor in the cauldron where he was getting melted. I suspect this is the only one."


    "What should we do now? With that golden arhat defending against the purple-furred monster, Xiao Nanfeng and the others won''t be affected at all!" one subordinate said.


    "Lure more over, then. Heaven Immortal ones only. I don''t believe that Xiao Nanfeng and his party will be able to hold out.


    "Understood!" Several of Ao Shuai''s subordinates rushed off.


    The fighting between the purple-furred monster and golden arhat should have caused a hugemotion, but the fog that surrounded the area was particrly strange. Not only did it not dissipate, it seemed to have some noise-canceling effect that prevented the sounds of the fight from spreading.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun looked all around them. Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng said, "In the northeastern direction, by the peak of that mountain, there are a group of figures."


    Zhang Lingjun immediately looked toward the direction indicated, where she did see a group of cultivators.


    "Could they have been the ones who lured the purple-furred monster over? Let me go check out who they are." Zhang Lingjun made to head over, but Xiao Nanfeng immediately pulled her back. "Don''t!"


    "I''ll be right back."


    "There might be True Immortals among their number. Don''t head over for the time being."


    "The Martial Aspects are aware of my identity. No one would dare assault me."


    "Perhaps in public, but we''re not in public here, are we?"


    Zhang Lingjun frowned. She nodded and stopped short.


    "The fog here is exceptionally strange. It seems to be able to dampen the sounds andmotion ofbat, but don''t worry. A fight between Heaven Immortals won''t go unnoticed. I''m sure someone will notice soon enough ande check out what''s going on. Waiting will be more advantageous to us."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    Indeed, after some time, as the purple-furred monster and Chang Bing continued to fight, figures seemed to appear from around the fog. Rather than show themselves, they hid close by and watched the fight unfold.


    "A golden arhat, guarding Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun? Could that arhat armor belong to Xiao Nanfeng?" someone whispered.


    Just then, five more purple-furred monsters emerged from the fog. They all seemed to have been angered and were bellowing as they made their way over to attack Chang Bing.


    "He''s not going to be able to hold out much longer!" a cultivator murmured.


    Five more figures appeared out of thin air, each equipped with a suit of arhat armor. They took on the five new monsters.


    The six golden arhats defended against the six purple-furred monsters in a fight that unleashed a ming tempest in their vicinity.


    "More suits of arhat armor? Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng an enemy of the divine empire of Dayin? Where did all this armore from?!" another hidden cultivator whispered.


    On a mountain peak far away, Ao Shuai was equally astounded. "Is Yin Tianci crazy? He left six suits of arhat armor behind for Xiao Nanfeng in that cauldron? He should have destroyed them all instead!"


    "Master, there are plenty of cultivators who have snuck into the vicinity. Should we keep attacking them?" one subordinate asked in worry.


    "Go on. Ignore everyone else. Just make sure to handle things carefully. I don''t believe Xiao Nanfeng has even more suits of armor¡ª" The next moment, Ao Shuai cried out, "What? More arhat armor? Could they each have a suit?!"

 Chapter 499: Youll Pay For My Injuries

    <h4>Chapter 499: You''ll Pay For My Injuries</h4>


    The six golden arhats fought against the six purple-furred monsters. The resultingmotion formed sound waves that emanated from the scene of the fight.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun quickly noticed that various cultivators were being attracted to the scene, but they were cautiously skulking about and were unwilling to show themselves.


    "There are plenty of people here now. I''m sure they wouldn''t dare attack me in this situation. Let me go check out who''s trying to target us," Zhang Lingjun said.


    "Don''t go. Let''s lure them over. Who knows what we might gain that way?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "How?"


    "They lured the purple-furred lifeforms to us rather than revealing themselves. This means that there''s something they want from us¡ªand if I''m not mistaken, it''s the ess token to the Pce of the Moon that you possess."


    "Oh?"


    "It doesn''t actually matter who''s trying to target us. What''s more important is whether or not we''ll continue being targeted in this fashion. There are sixty teams of cultivators here, and I suspect that we''ll be targeted again even if we make it through this round of attacks."


    "What should we do, then?"


    "We can''t let them get away with it, of course. As for those who haven''t made a move yet, we won''t let them get a chance to do so. If you trust me, how about letting me handle things? I promise I won''t let your ess token fall into others'' hands."


    Zhang Lingjun considered him carefully before finally nodding, trusting in Xiao Nanfeng. "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately beckoned the Earth division disciples before him over. After a few hushedmands, they all took out their suits of arhat armor, melded with them, and then soared into the air.


    The cultivators skulking about were shocked by the scene.


    "Arhat armor is rare even within the divine empire of Dayin. How could Xiao Nanfeng possess so many suits of it? Could he have imed it all from Yin Tianci back then?


    "Arhat armor is a strategic resource of Dayin, and distributing the armor is expressly forbidden. As a result, whoever possesses the armor has to register it and is responsible for ensuring that it remains secured. Any losses have to be reported immediately, and Dayin will stop at nothing to reim them. Just how did Xiao Nanfeng retain control over these suits of armor?"


    "Could he have forged them on his own?"


    "Surely not..."


    The sudden appearance of so many suits of arhat armor left everyone curious.


    The golden arhats easily took down the purple-furred monsters. A group of the arhats restrained a single purple-furred monster as they descended to the ground in a plume of dust.


    In the sky, ten golden arhats restrained five of the purple-furred monsters, while the other ten rendered the purple-furred monster on the ground wholly immobile.


    "Princess, please help me subjugate this purple-furred lifeform," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    With a wave of his hand, fog sprayed out from around him.


    The valley was already shrouded with fog. When Xiao Nanfeng made his move, the fog grew thicker, obscuring even the slightest detail from the onlookers'' sight.


    Afar, Ao Shuai continued to re in Xiao Nanfeng''s direction.


    "Master, should we lure more purple-furred monsters over?" one of his subordinates asked.


    "There''s no need. Xiao Nanfeng possesses twenty suits of arhat armor. Even if we lure more purple-furred monsters over, we wouldn''t be able to do anything to them. Luring too many might even cause us to lose control."


    "Master, can Xiao Nanfeng really subdue those lifeforms?" another subordinate asked.


    "Not only will he need to suppress them, he even has to hypnotize them with a spirit-based relic. Xiao Nanfeng might not possess such a relic, but the ess token for the Pce of the Moon qualifies. Are they starting? Is Zhang Lingjun going to use her token?" Ao Shuai''s eyes lit up.


    "Master, Xiao Nanfeng''s releasing thick fog to obscure our sight and prevent us from seeing what''s really going on. This might be a trick. We can''t take the risk."


    Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. "I know, but you can see a purple glow from that patch of fog. That''s likely from the Pce of the Moon''s ess token. Zhang Lingjun has already retrieved the token, so if we don''t seize it now, how long are we going to wait?"


    Ao Shuai''s subordinates looked over. Indeed, where Xiao Nanfeng was located, a purple glow could be seen.


    "There''s no danger without opportunity. I''m going to take a chance. Who''s willing to retrieve the token for me?" Ao Shuai asked.


    He was particrly cautious; despite thinking that the ess token was right within reach, he didn''t want to risk himself.


    "I''ll go, Master!" one of his subordinates volunteered.


    "Very good. General Zhang, you''re a True Immortal, and I''m counting on your strength. Get the token and then return immediately. We''ll set off then."


    "Understood!"


    General Zhang shot through the fog like a beam of light.


    "Something''s wrong!" he suddenly cried out. "An ambush!"


    "Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Arhat armor, seal!" another group of voices added.


    "Yin and yang, circte!" Chang Bing shouted.


    A tempest formed where Xiao Nanfeng was located. The next moment, the fighting stopped. The fog returned to its original, unperturbed state.


    The cultivators that had been lying in wait nched. Ao Shuai wasn''t the only one who was interested in the Pce of the Moon''s ess token; the others all were too. However, General Zhang had been the first to make a move. After hearing the resultingmotion, however, they were all greatly relieved that they had chosen to wait.


    "What happened? Why isn''t General Zhang saying anything? He''s a True Immortal!" someone cried out.


    Ao Shuai''s eyes twitched. He was right to be wary, after all.


    Just then, General Zhang''s voice could be heard from the fog. "Master, they''ve brought the Yin-Yang Cauldron here as well! I was trapped within it out of carelessness, and they''re trying to melt my body! I can''t survive for long. Save me!"


    Everyone knew what was going on now.


    This was clearly a trap that Xiao Nanfeng hadid. A True Immortal, caught just like that... the glow from the supposed Pce of the Moon''s ess token was just an illusion, a scam!


    Ao Shuai sucked in air through his teeth. He had fallen for a trick!


    "Master, what do we do now? General Zhang won''t survive for long. Should we attack them?" one subordinate asked anxiously.


    "Attack whom? The Martial Aspect? The princess?" Ao Shuai hissed.


    "I¡ª" The subordinate nched.


    He suddenly realized that there were lots of cultivators in the vicinity watching them. If they dared to attack the Martial Aspect and princess in the public eye, they would be summarily executed the very next day. Even the Eastern Aspect wouldn''t be able to save them then.


    "What should we do now? Give up on General Zhang?"


    Ao Shuai scowled. "Forget it. It''s our loss. Let''s head over."


    "Ah?" The subordinate seemed confused.


    Ao Shuai flew toward the valley, his subordinates quickly following suit.


    The various cultivators skulking about finally saw the mastermind behind the entire affair. They were shocked.


    "The son of the Eastern Aspect, Ao Shuai! Is he going to challenge Xiao Nanfeng?" someone murmured expectantly.


    Ao Shuai didn''t rush into the fog. Rather, he flew toward the mouth of the valley and stopped there.


    "I am Ao Shuai. I greet the princess and Martial Aspect Xiao. We heard themotion from afar, and my friend intended to provide assistance. He was unaware of the situation and barged through youryers of protection. Please forgive any disrespect." Ao Shuai bowed shallowly.


    All around him, those cultivators that had been hoping for a fight sighed in regret. Was Ao Shuai going to give up just like that?


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun slowly walked out of the fog with serious expressions on their faces. They clearly felt that Ao Shuai was too calm, that he would be a dangerous opponent.


    "You''re Ao Shuai, the Eastern Aspect''s son?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I am. Martial Aspect Xiao, I apologize for General Zhang''s show of disrespect. Please forgive him on my father''s ount."


    Ao Shuai refused to bring up the ess token for the Pce of the Moon. Rather, he drew on his father''s status as a warning to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "So that General Zhang who attempted to assassinate me was one of your subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "He is my father''s subordinate and my friend. He wasn''t trying to injure you, Martial Aspect Xiao. It was a misunderstanding."


    "He attacked me, and I was injured."


    Ao Shuai frowned. He gave Xiao Nanfeng an incredulous look. Where was Xiao Nanfeng injured? General Zhang was the one who had suffered defeat!


    However, Ao Shuai was the one at fault. He had no choice but to take responsibility for this purported injury.


    "Perhaps it was an ident. General Zhang would never dare to assassinate you, Martial Aspect Xiao. Shall I question him thoroughly?" Ao Shuai suggested.


    "I don''t trust your word. He attempted to assassinate me and dealt me a serious injury. Without expressmand from a superior, I have the right to deal with any assassins as I wish," Xiao Nanfeng replied directly.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, might there be any leeway? General Zhang is the Eastern Aspect''s subordinate. Even if you distrust me, won''t you at least acknowledge my father''s position?"


    "It''s not a matter of acknowledgment. I''ve been grievously injured. What would I do if my injuries worsen without sufficient medicine?"


    Ao Shuai frowned. It was obvious Xiao Nanfeng was trying to ransom the general¡ªand in a ridiculously direct fashion, at that.


    "General Zhang''s mistake has caused you significant inconvenience, Martial Aspect Xiao, and I''m willing topensate you on his behalf," Ao Shuai replied, without any other choice.


    He had to reim General Zhang. Giving up on a True Immortal would be a considerable loss, and he wouldn''t be able to answer to his father if that were to happen.


    "Compensation? I wouldn''t dream of it¡ªbut I do have to show the Eastern Aspect some respect. I suppose I''ll ept it, but too much would be inappropriate. Just, say, eight to ten True Immortal relics would do, perhaps."


    Ao Shuai stiffened. He cursed inwardly, "Eight to ten True Immortal relics? Are you that thick-skinned? This is daylight robbery! I''d beat you up if we weren''t being watched by so many cultivators, you shameless thug!"

 Chapter 500: Recruiting Subordinates

    <h4>Chapter 500: Recruiting Subordinates</h4>


    In order to rescue General Zhang, despite how much he was fuming, Ao Shuai had no choice but to pay Xiao Nanfeng''s ransom. He retrieved a conch-shaped relic. "This is a spritzme conch, filled with a tremendous quantity of spritzme. It is a True Immortal relic, and I provide it to you aspensation, Martial Aspect Xiao."


    "A single True Immortal relic isn''t sufficient for my injuries," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "It is the only treasure in my possession. I have none other. If you don''t ept it, so be it. I''ve done my best, and you shall have to ount for General Zhang''s death to my father."


    He had no choice but to admit wrongdoing to reim General Zhang, but he was no fool. The spritzme conch was the extent of what he would be willing to give up. Even if he were to fail, he could report what he had done to his father and be satisfied.


    Xiao Nanfeng could likewise tell that this was Ao Shuai''s limit. He eventually nodded. "Very well. Considering the Eastern Aspect''s reputation, I''ll settle for this spritzme conch of yours. I hope it''ll suffice for my injuries."


    Ao Shuai frowned. This was clearly extortion; did Xiao Nanfeng have to keep bringing up this injury? Whose intelligence was he trying to insult?


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the spritzme conch and carefully inspected it to ensure it was legitimate. Then, hemanded, "Chang Bing, unseal the cauldron!"


    "Understood!" Chang Bing called out from within the fog.


    The cauldron opened up with a creak as a massive object emerged. It flew into the air before descending in a parab tond close to Ao Shuai''s side¡ªa huge octopus spirit, charred ck and bloody in many ces. [1]


    "How are you, General Zhang?" Ao Shuai asked.


    The octopus spirit slowly transformed into a human. He red at Xiao Nanfeng, then bowed toward Ao Shuai. "I am well, Master. Thank you for rescuing me."


    Ao Shuai nodded, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun. "Martial Aspect Xiao, Princess Lingjun, we won''t take up more of your time."


    He left with a group of cultivators in tow, including General Zhang. They vanished from sight.


    "Master, I apologize for being inept and losing you your treasure."


    "It doesn''t matter. It''s only temporarily in his possession. We can only leave in a month''s time, and I intend to reim the conch during that period," Ao Shuai replied.


    "We were tricked this time, but they''ve exposed the Yin-Yang Cauldron. I''d like to see them stop me next time," General Zhang muttered fiercely.


    He had almost died within the cauldron, and he bore Xiao Nanfeng and his party a deep grudge for what they had done.


    "Next time, we''ll have to act quickly. Otherwise, other forces might get to them before us," Ao Shuai said.


    "Would they dare?" General Zhang frowned.


    "Why not? Do you think the other Martial Aspects'' subordinates are kindhearted? Xiao Nanfeng''s procession doesn''t have a single True Immortal, and they have tremendous treasure in the form of the Yin-Yang Cauldron. It''s an excellent opportunity for them to strike."


    "The Pce of the Moon''s ess token is worth it. Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to keep guard over the token."


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard through the fog.


    "Cultivators, Princess Lingjun is intending to delve deep into the Pce of the Moon. We are recruiting guards for our team. Any who are interested in heading deep into the Pce of the Moon are wee to join," he shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice resonated and could be heard throughout the fog despite its noise-dampening properties.


    Ao Shuai nched. "What did Xiao Nanfeng just say?"


    "He said that he would allow everyone to enter the depths of the Pce of the Moon together. He''s recruiting guards for his team!" General Zhang eximed.


    "Is he crazy? Why would he open up the Pce of the Moon for everyone?" Ao Shuai nched.


    "It must be intentional. Everyone wants the token for themselves. Now that Xiao Nanfeng''s inviting them all in, no one needs to bother trying to snatch it."


    "Damn it. If the others join him, how are we going to seize the token for ourselves? And how am I going to reim my spritzme conch?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng must have predicted our intentions and everyone else''s n. He''s willing to sacrifice a huge advantage for self-protection, isn''t he?" General Zhang''s face scrunched up.


    "Damn him!" Ao Shuai cursed.


    The cultivators all around, who were nning to depart, all turned back upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s shout.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? Does he know what he''s talking about? The Pce of the Moon was once a princess'' residence, and it''s filled with treasure! Is he intending to share it with everyone?"


    "Whatever we can im from these hunting grounds belongs to the Martial Aspects¡ªnot just these purple-furred monsters, but also the treasure in the grounds themselves. The most valuable prizes are surely deep within the Pce of the Moon. Does Xiao Nanfeng not intend to im them all for himself? How could Princess Lingjun agree to this?"


    "If this is true, we won''t have any reason to attack him."


    Cultivators murmured to each other in hushed voices. Some took the initiative to volunteer.


    "I greet Martial Aspect Xiao and Princess Lingjun. Might I confirm that what you said just now is true?"


    "Indeed. We possess the ess token to the Pce of the Moon. The princess wishes to delve deep into the pce, but we expect to be confronted withrge numbers of purple-furred lifeforms during the way. Anyone willing to help guard the princess is wee to join us," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Indeed!" Zhang Lingjun nodded as well.


    The man was overjoyed. "I would be more than willing!"


    "We as well!" More and more cultivators flocked over.


    "We need arge group of cultivators, and there are too few present at the moment. Feel free to call on yourpanions. We''ll wait right here," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Got it!" the cultivators replied, surprised by their unexpected luck.


    Some remained to apany Xiao Nanfeng while the others scattered to call out for the rest of their group.


    In the sky, a group of golden arhats lured the five purple-furred monsters away before flying back to guard Xiao Nanfeng protectively.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought Zhang Lingjun back to the domain of thick fog he had set up.


    "Princess, your objective is to uncover the truth behind your mother''s rebellion in the past. You don''t mind that these cultivators will apany us, do you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t mind. Many of the treasures can''t be collected without my token, at any rate¡ªbut I doubt they''re joining us out of the kindness of their hearts." Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "It doesn''t matter. There''s safety in numbers."


    "With them around, they''ll fight over the purple-furred monsters that we capture. Don''t you mind?"


    "Let''s uncover the truth behind your mother''s rebellion furst. We cane back and study these purple-furred lifeformster. The fact that they''re so simr to those red-furred ones in the red moon illusory realm... There has to be a deeper connection behind all this."


    "Oh?"


    "Let''s wait a little longer while I inspect the spritzme conch I just obtained."


    "Very well." Zhang Lingjun nodded, a strange look on her face.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng flew into the Yin-Yang Cauldron while Zhang Lingjun watched on in surprise.


    "Seal the lid and guard me," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.


    The lid sealed shut.


    There were too many cultivators around for their location to be secure even with thick fog. It would be safest to step into somewhere well-protected for secluded cultivation¡ªsuch as this cauldron, for example.


    Within the cauldron, Xiao Nanfeng inspected the spritzme conch carefully. As promised, it contained arge quantity of blue mes.


    "This is truly a treasure!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    His ten golden crows emerged from his body as he activated the spritzme conch, causing blue mes to surge out. The ten golden crows absorbed the mes rapidly.


    Ao Shuai had provided the spritzme conch, and Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t be certain if Ao Shuai had messed with the relic. He didn''t want to entertain the possibility in more detail, and had no intention in attuning to the relic regardless. It would be best for him to advance his cultivation as rapidly as he could at the moment.


    The spritzme surged into his body, which radiated with golden light.


    Four hourster, he had finished absorbing all the mes within the conch.


    A wave of fire erupted from Xiao Nanfeng as he opened his eyes, nodding in satisfaction. "The ninth stage of an Earth Immortal? This conch really was an excellent treasure!"


    By then, the conch had lost all its energy. It cracked and shattered into powder.


    Meanwhile, outside the cauldron, shrouded in fog, Ao Shuai''s face suddenly flushed red. He groaned as he clutched his head in pain.


    "What''s wrong, Master?" His subordinates rushed over.


    Ao Shuai moaned. It took him a few long moments to steady himself. "The soul imprint I left on the spritzme conch was forcibly dispersed, and I suffered bacsh as a result. Xiao Nanfeng destroyed that relic!"


    "Master, are you certain?" General Zhang eximed.


    "How could I be mistaken? In order to prevent Xiao Nanfeng from detecting it, I specifically used a secret technique to hide my soul imprint so that I could lock in on Xiao Nanfeng''s position at any moment. The moment Xiao Nanfeng destroyed the conch, however, my soul imprint was forcibly awakened and dispersed. I''m sure the conch has been destroyed!" Ao Shuai seethed.


    "I just learned that Xiao Nanfeng secretly entered his Yin-Yang Cauldron. Could he have melted it down just now?" General Zhang frowned.


    "Is he crazy? That''s a True Immortal relic! Why would he destroy it?!"


    1. Octopus in Chinese is ÕÂÓã, "zhang yu," corresponding to General Zhang. ?

 Chapter 501: Golden Lotus Hood

    <h4>Chapter 501: Golden Lotus Hood</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng had made a breakthrough with his cultivation, but he didn''t rush out of the Yin-Yang Cauldron immediately. He called out, "Chang Bing, bring in that purple-furred lifeform. Let me have a look at it!"


    "Got it!" Chang Bing replied.


    The cauldron''s lid opened with a creak as a group of golden arhats escorted a purple-furred monster within.


    The purple-furred monster struggled furiously.


    "Seal," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng dropped down on the monster and sealed its movements.


    "Do you need my assistance?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    She too had entered the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He turned to the golden arhats. "Guard me and prevent anyone from drawing near. Seal the cauldron so no sound can get in or out.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The golden arhats departed quickly and closed the lid of the cauldron again.


    The purple-furred monster continued to howl madly. Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zhang Lingjun and asked, "Can your ess token subjugate these lifeforms?"


    "Not necessarily."


    "Oh?"


    "Subjugating these monsters requires hypnosis via a spirit-based relic."


    "Hypnosis?"


    "My ess token for the Pce of the Moon is a spirit-based relic, but these purple-furred monsters are particrly unusual. The stronger they are, the harder it is to hypnotize them. This is a Heaven Immortal purple-furred monster, and is exceptionally hard to hypnotize. We might not even seed one time in a hundred. Otherwise, Ao Shuai and the others wouldn''t have lured it toward us."


    "So all the purple-furred lifeforms that the various Martial Aspects subjugate are all at a lower cultivation?"


    "That''s right. Even Earth Immortal purple-furred monsters are already quite hard to hypnotize, though it''s somewhat easier with Human Immortal ones. As a result, the Martial Aspects have gradually lost interest in these hunting grounds. Their sole purpose is for their subordinates to train and grow stronger."


    "In other words, we can''t subjugate this one?"


    "Well, let''s try it. There''s a one-in-a-hundred chance of seeding, more or less."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. Let''s try it, then."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    She retrieved the purple token associated with the Pce of the Moon. She activated it and sent a ray of purple light straight toward the purple-furred monster''s forehead.


    The purple-furred monster suddenly grew agitated. It roared and began to struggle violently, but the Divine Seal of Dazheng suppressed its movements.


    It grew more and more violent, but any resistance was futile. The purple light continued to strike its forehead as Zhang Lingjun performed the subjugation.


    After an hour, her face had turned rather pale.


    "Are you alright? How''s the expenditure?" Xiao Nanfeng asked from the side.


    "The Pce of the Moon''s ess token consumes a great deal of spiritual power, and much of my reserves has been used up," Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    "Allow me to help." Xiao Nanfeng ced a hand on Zhang Lingjun''s back.


    A torrent of spiritual power rushed into Zhang Lingjun''s body, causing her to shudder. She gave Xiao Nanfeng a surprised look. Although she knew that he was at early-stage True Yin, she was still astounded by the sheer quantity of spiritual power he possessed. She knew that, a few years ago, Xiao Nanfeng had only had a wisp of spiritual power.


    The spiritual power surged into Zhang Lingjun''s token. The ray of purple light that it emitted magnified greatly. Gradually, the purple-furred monster stopped moving. It looked drained of emotion and energy, and its eyelids drooped as though it were about to sleep.


    "Are we going to seed?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened.


    "It looks like it," Zhang Lingjun replied expectantly.


    Just then, a golden lotus hood suddenly appeared floating above the purple-furred monster''s head. It was revolving slowly in a sinister fashion.


    "What''s that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "I don''t know."


    "Something''s wrong."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened as he remembered where he had seen the hood before. Back when he was trying to melt down Yin Tianci''s main body, a relic had protected him for several days and nights. That relic ultimately disappeared, but Xiao Nanfeng had gotten a good look at it before that. It was a golden lotus hood just like the one on the purple-furred monster''s head.


    "What''s wrong?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    Just then, the purple-furred monster''s eyes suddenly shot open. It roared at Xiao Nanfeng fiercely.


    The roar was like a spiritual attack that caused the purple light emanating from the Pce of the Moon''s token to disperse. Zhang Lingjun staggered back, having suffered bacsh from the attack.


    The hypnosis stopped and the golden lotus hood on the monster''s head vanished from sight. It returned to its agitated state, but remained unable to free itself from the seal.


    Zhang Lingjun stumbled and almost fell. Her face was pale white, a clear sign of her exhaustion.


    "I''ve failed. These Heaven Immortal monsters really are difficult to hypnotize." Zhang Lingjun smiled wryly.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent another pulse of spiritual power into Zhang Lingjun''s body, returning some color to her face. However, she still seemed rather exhausted.


    "Why don''t you rest for a little and let me try?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "It''s useless. If it were able to withstand the hypnosis from before, it won''t sumb to future attempts at that level. But if you''d like to have a go anyway, feel free."


    She passed the token to Xiao Nanfeng. She trusted him enough at this point to be willing to loan him that treasure.


    "Thank you."


    "I''ll be resting for a moment." Zhang Lingjun sat down by the side of the cauldron and began to restore her own spiritual power.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the Pce of the Moon''s token before him as he walked up to the purple-furred monster, activating the token just as Zhang Lingjun had. Another ray of purple light shot toward the monster''s forehead.


    The monster continued to roar and struggle, just like before.


    Xiao Nanfeng was repeating this process not just because of the sudden appearance of the golden lotus hood, but also because the ck lotus in his mindscape had written out, "Try again," in his mindscape.


    He used the Pce of the Moon''s token to hypnotize the lifeform. Not too longter, a golden lotus hood appeared above the monster''s head again, agitating it. Its eyes bulged open and it roared madly.


    Just then, the ck lotus suddenly flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape andnded by the monster''s head, right above the golden lotus hood.


    Arge hole appeared on the bottom of the ck lotus as it furiously absorbed the lotus hood.


    "No, no!" The lotus hood screamed and itself began to struggle.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped. The hood could talk?


    The ck lotus wrote out, "Hurry, keep suppressing it with your token. Assist me!"


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng sent more spiritual power surging into the token.


    The ray of purple light from the token grew in intensity as it struck the monster''s forehead. It spasmed, as did the lotus hood, which seemed particrly fearful of the ck lotus. Suddenly, the lotus hood was sucked all the way into the ck lotus'' body.


    The ck lotus flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, whereupon it released huge quantities of ck light as it revolved. It seemed to be absorbing the lotus hood it had just swallowed.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent the lotus a mental transmission. "Senior, was that lotus hood a cursed effigy?"


    The ck lotus didn''t respond. It seemed to be fully focused on absorbing the lotus hood, and didn''t have the time or energy to answer his questions. Seeing that the ck lotus was busy, Xiao Nanfeng stopped disturbing it for the moment.


    Suddenly, he noticed a surprising simrity between the ck lotus'' appearance with a hole underneath it and the golden lotus hood.


    Could the golden lotus hood have something to do with the ck lotus?


    He then looked toward the purple-furred monster again. To his surprise, after the hood was removed, the monster''s eyes grew clear and focused. Gone was the bestial rage, reced by cool intent.


    "Who are you? Why are you suppressing me?" the purple-furred monster suddenly demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ... <i>This lifeform can think?</i>


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how did it suddenly end up talking?" a voice called out.


    Zhang Lingjun awoke from meditation just in time to see the purple-furred monster shout.


    She immediately walked up to the monster, which gaped upon seeing her. "Princess, you aren''t dead?"


    "What did you call me?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    The purple-furred monster suddenly frowned. "You''re not the princess. Who are you? Why do you look so much like her? You¡ª"


    "You know about my mother?" Zhang Lingjun''s face lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng stopped his hypnosis and returned the Pce of the Moon''s token to Zhang Lingjun. He introduced, "She is Zhang Lingjun, princess of the Imperial Court."


    "You''re the princess'' daughter! To think you''ve already grown into your prime¡ªhow many years have I been suppressed? It''s me, Zeng Daniu! In the past, you would swing your small wooden sword around as you led us to clean up the rabbit warrens in the mountains to the back of the pce. One time, you were so mad at your mother that you had us follow you while you killed all the carp in the pond. The princess attempted to punish you, so you hid in our barracks and fell asleep. We searched all over for you, and I was the one who finally found you!" the purple-furred monster eximed.


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes turned red. "You''re General Zeng? Have you regained your memories? Have you awoken? Do you know how my mother died that year?"


    "I don''t. That day, we learned the terrible news that the princess had rebelled and died within the Heavenly Pce. None of us believed it, of course, and we were nning to investigate it when the Heavenly Emperor cursed us all. That was thest we knew," Zeng Daniu recalled.


    Xiao Nanfeng, finally having decided that Zeng Daniu wouldn''t be a threat, reimed the Divine Seal of Dazheng.

 Chapter 502: The Lotus Pond

    <h4>Chapter 502: The Lotus Pond</h4>


    Within the Yin-Yang Cauldron, the purple-furred monster knelt on one knee and bowed down. "Former general Zeng Daniu greets the young princess!"


    "Please rise, General Zeng. My mother''s dead, and you don''t have to bow down to me any longer," Zhang Lingjun said immediately.


    Zeng Daniu shook his head. "We generals have sworn to serve the princess to our death. Now that she has perished, Princess, we serve you. If you refuse our service, we''ll apany our princess to the underworld."


    "Don''t! General Zeng, I ept your service. Please rise." Zhang Lingjun helped him up.


    "Yes, Princess!" Only then did Zeng Daniu rise.


    "General Zeng, do you know why my mother would rebel?" Zhang Lingjun pressed.


    "The princess didn''t rebel. I don''t know what happened that day, but she would never do so. Before then, she had been preparing a present for the Heavenly Emperor''s birthday. Why would she do that if she were nning to rebel?"


    Zhang Lingjun sighed in relief. She didn''t believe that her mother would have rebelled, either.


    "Do you know what happened that day?"


    "I don''t. We were stationed at the foot of Mt. Kunlun and awaiting orders. Without a summons, we didn''t have the authority to ascend the mountain, nor to head into the Heavenly Pce at its peak."


    "Do you know who might know anything?"


    "I don''t." Zeng Daniu shook his head.


    Zhang Lingjun fretted anxiously.


    "Princess, don''t worry. General Zeng might be unaware of the situation, but someone has to know something. We''ll keep on searching," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded, then asked curiously, "Xiao Nanfeng, how did you awaken General Zeng?"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zeng Daniu. "That depends on General Zeng. How did he awaken?"


    Zeng Daniu shook his head. "I don''t know myself. After the Heavenly Emperor cursed us, we lost our consciousness. I could vaguely sense that my consciousness was being suppressed. Just now, whatever was suppressing me faded away, and I woke up."


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Zeng Daniu for some time before he said, "There was a golden lotus hood on your head, a cursed effigy that I destroyed. You woke up after that. I suspect that lotus hood was suppressing your consciousness."


    "What lotus hood?" Zeng Daniu seemed perplexed.


    Zhang Lingjun suddenly recalled the lotus hood that she too had seen.


    Xiao Nanfeng manifested an image of the lotus hood with spiritual power.


    "Ah, I remember! The princess once received such a hood back then."


    "Oh?"


    "Later, the princess ced the hood in the lotus pond to nurture it, and golden lotuses bloomed throughout the pond shortly thereafter. A few days before this whole mess happened, the pond of golden lotuses vanished."


    "The golden lotuses vanished? Could they be what''s suppressing all these purple-furred lifeforms?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I don''t know myself..." Zeng Daniu trailed off, likewise frowning.


    Zhang Lingjun considered her own memories. "I remember that pond as well. One day, I was nning to pick some golden lotuses from it, but my mother held me back. She even threatened the golden lotuses. I was too young then to understand what was going on, but thinking back, there was clearly something unusual there. Could my mother''s death be rted to these golden lotus hoods?"


    "Let''s consider the possibility that every purple-furred lifeform has such a golden lotus hood on them. If we''re able to pluck them off, they might be able to wake up," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "We can try it," Zeng Daniu agreed immediately.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded as well. "Right, we should test that. If it''s true, I''ll be able to awaken many of my mother''s former generals. I''d like to have a look at that lotus pond, too. We might be able to find a new clue."


    "There are plenty of people outside, and I''m afraid we''ll have to wait if we want to awaken more of these purple-furred lifeforms. We can start by heading to the pool, but General Zeng shouldn''t expose the fact that he has awakened," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Indeed?" Zeng Daniu nced at Xiao Nanfeng in confusion.


    "The princess'' circumstances are rather awkward, and there are many forces that wish her ill. We can''t expose this secret, or some of them might do something untoward to hurt her. Please pretend you''ve been hypnotized," Xiao Nanfeng said, briefly sketching what was going on outside.


    "Those damned thugs! How could they think of hurting the young princess? If her mother were still alive, she''d skin them all alive!" Zeng Daniu roared. "I understand. I''ll pretend to be hypnotized."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The three cultivators discussed a few more details before Xiao Nanfeng summoned Chang Bing and the others.


    With a whoosh, voices could be heard from outside the Yin-Yang Cauldron once more.


    "Open up the cauldron!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    The cauldron''s lid opened up as Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun walked out with Zeng Daniu.


    "Store the cauldron," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Got it!"


    With a wave of Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, the thick fog around them dispersed, leaving behind only the fog that had been present in the valley in the first ce.


    There were hundreds of people now gathered within the valley. When they saw the purple-furred monster standing docilely behind Zhang Lingjun, they gaped in shock.


    "Did they really seed in subjugating a Heaven Immortal purple-furred monster?"


    "They must have gotten lucky. The chance of sess is prohibitively low."


    "How lucky they were!"


    The cultivators murmured to themselves, but quickly stood to attention when they saw Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun heading over. They bowed. "We greet Martial Aspect Xiao and Princess Lingjun. We''re willing to serve as guards to delve deep into the Pce of the Moon."


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly noticed Ao Shuai among the gathered crowd, standing in the middle with his subordinates. How thick-skinned did he have to be to show up despite what had happened with General Zhang?


    "Ao Shuai, what are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I heard you mention that Princess Lingjun was recruiting guards, Martial Aspect Xiao. We''re here to volunteer. Despite the unpleasant misunderstanding between you and General Zhang, we''ve resolved that issue to mutual satisfaction. You won''t prohibit us from joining, will you?" Ao Shuai smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng certainly wasn''t enthused about the idea, but the other cultivators weren''t doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, either. At any rate, he had gathered them all for gruntbor. Ao Shuai''s presence wouldn''t be a big deal.


    "Very well. I hope you''ll keep your word." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Ao Shuai was taken aback. He was prepared for Xiao Nanfeng to make his life difficult and had mustered up a counterargument, only to have Xiao Nanfeng agree immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the cultivators gathered all around him. "Generals, I wish to make a point clear. The princess is recruiting guards; as guards, you must ensure her safety at all times. In addition, this expedition may not be sessful, and there may be plenty of injuries and deaths ahead. Are you aware of the danger?"


    "Don''t worry, Martial Aspect Xiao. If we encounter any danger, the princess isn''t to me," someone began.


    "That''s right!" All the cultivators nodded.


    "Very well. Let''s set off, then," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t waste any more time. He wasn''t counting on any of these cultivators to guard the princess in truth. He simply wanted to ensure that no one would dare strike at their party. Furthermore, the Pce of the Moon was rumored to be particrly dangerous, so just having more people around would be of use.


    Although there was plenty of fog all around them and visibility was low, Zhang Lingjun easily led them to the pce.


    They quickly arrived at its exterior, arge, wide-open za filled with halls and pavilions, all of which were covered byyers of translucent purple barriers. This was the Pce of the Moon proper. Outside the pce were countless purple-furred monsters.


    Upon seeing the horde of purple-furred monsters that numbered in the thousands, even Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. He was relieved that he had requested the support of the other cultivators; otherwise, he would have had a hard time trying to enter with Zhang Lingjun.


    "Princess, the Pce of the Moon lies ahead. It''s surrounded by a particrly strong barrier and guarded by countless purple-furred monsters. Whenever we approach, the monsters charge forward and attempt to stop us. There are even True Immortal monsters among their number, and they''re particrly dangerous. That''s why we''ve never been able to make it past the barrier. With the Pce of the Moon''s ess token, however, you can lead us in."


    Zhang Lingjun suddenly pointed in a certain direction. "Let''s head to the Lotus Hall first. There''s a lotus pond over there."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately added, "Generals, the princess will unlock the barrier with the ess token for the pce. Please guard her from the lifeforms headed her way."


    "Got it!" the other cultivators said.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The cultivators flew off following Zhang Lingjun.


    When the purple-furred monsters outside the pce discovered the cultivators, they roared in a threatening fashion before leaping toward them.


    "Attack!" the cultivators shouted.


    They struck down the monsters in the forefront, opening up a passageway for Zhang Lingjun. The monsters were sent flying one after another, but more continued to appear. There were even a few True Immortals among them.


    The fighting raged on as the cultivators fought the monsters.


    "Everyone, attack! Let the princess unlock the barrier!" they shouted.


    Except for Xiao Nanfeng''s group, everyone was focused on the fighting. They had been trying to get into the Pce of the Moon for years. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, it was obvious that they would try their best.


    The fighting was so intense that people rapidly grew wounded, but they still managed to deliver Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun to the forefront.


    Zhang Lingjun retrieved her token and activated it. A ray of purple light struck the barrier.


    The barrier began to vibrate. A small crack appeared.


    "It''s about to open up. Everyone, block the monsters and stop them from disrupting the princess!" someone shouted.


    The fighting grew more intense. Even Ao Shuai and General Zhang were doing their best to hold off the horde of monsters.


    The crack widened until it was arge hole thirty meters in diameter.


    "Alright. Let''s enter!" Zhang Lingjun said.


    Zhang Lingjun, Xiao Nanfeng, Zeng Daniu, and Chang Bing''s group were the first to enter. The other cultivators were overjoyed to see the barrier finally prable.


    "Let''s go!" someone shouted.


    The cultivators rushed through the opening, as did a number of monsters that were held back by the cultivators working together.


    The barrier slowly repaired itself and sealed up once more right as thest person made it in.


    "Haha, we''ve made it inside! How many years have we tried to batter down this barrier?"


    "Be careful. There are still a few purple-furred monsters in here, so don''t grow overconfident."


    "All the ones in here were the servants of the princess'' manor, and they''re not particrly strong. That''s why they''re easy to subjugate. I''m hoping to encounter as many as I can."


    The cultivators were particrly excited. They nced at their surroundings as they searched for treasure. The Pce of the Moon was a princess'' residence, and the treasures here were sure to be immensely valuable.


    Very quickly, the cultivators arrived at a huge pool, where three blooming golden lotuses could be seen.

 Chapter 503: The Frightening Hood

    <h4>Chapter 503: The Frightening Hood</h4>


    Three golden lotuses bloomed in the pond. They were clearly extraordinary, and the gathered cultivators eyed them greedily.


    "Generals, there''s something wrong with these lotuses. Don''t touch them," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    However, the cultivators ignored his warningspletely. Dozens of figures shot out toward the lotuses and snatched them up.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He hadn''t wanted to provoke these cursed effigies, but if they wanted to die, he could hardly stop them.


    "Zeng Daniu, you''re toorge and eye-catching. Could you shrink yourself down?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Zeng Daniu''s body shrunk until he was the size of a regr person.


    Xiao Nanfeng motioned for Zhang Lingjun and the others to step back along with him.


    Not far away, the three cultivators who had managed to im a golden lotus each eyed Xiao Nanfeng disdainfully. They called him Martial Aspect only out of superficial courtesy; none of them thought highly of him. They were already thinking of all the treasures in the pce as their own.


    "Master, I was unfortunately too slow to im more than a single golden lotus," General Zhang said, smiling as he walked toward Ao Shuai.


    "Well done," Ao Shuai praised.


    "Hm? There''s something wrong with this golden lotus," General Zhang suddenly said.


    The roots of the lotus were gradually shrinking inside it as a huge hole appeared on the underside of the lotus.


    "It looks almost like a lotus hood¡ªand why can I hear holy chants and hymns around me?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    The sound of recitation could be heard all around them, as though there were thousands of monks chanting scripture in their midst, solemn and dignified.


    "Where is iting from?" General Zhang frowned at his surroundings.


    "It came out of nowhere..." Many of the cultivators had discovered that something was amiss by now.


    Suddenly, the golden lotus hood in General Zhang''s hands shed as it reappeared on his head, so quickly that he didn''t have time to react.


    "Something''s wrong. What is this golden lotus? Why does it feel so cursed?" General Zhang nched.


    He attempted to pull off the golden lotus hood, tearing it apart in his haste. It vanished in a cloud of powder.


    The other two cultivators that had managed to snatch a golden lotus had the same thing happen. They nced at their hands curiously.


    "I thought these were incredible treasures, but they crumbled so easily..." The cultivators were flummoxed.


    Only General Zhang seemed to react. He immediately sat down and started to meditate.


    "What''s going on, General Zhang?"


    General Zhang''s eyes twitched. "I''m afraid I might havee into contact with a malicious entity. Please hold on, Master, while I check on myself."


    Waves of blue light emanated from General Zhang''s body, scanning him and buzzing as they approached his head. Suddenly, another golden lotus hood appeared on General Zhang''s head, covering it and radiating with golden light.


    "Something''s wrong! The golden lotuses that were torn apart were only illusions. They must be hiding in your bodies!" someone shouted.


    The other two cultivators who had snatched up a golden lotus nched. They immediately scanned their own bodies like General Zhang.


    General Zhang reached out for the golden lotus hood, but his hand passed through as if it were only an illusion.


    "Damn it," General Zhang cursed. "These golden lotuses are cursed effigies!"


    The next moment, he clutched his head in pain. "My head hurts! Scram!"


    "Help General Zhang!" Ao Shuai called out.


    Suddenly, however, General Zhang''s body trembled. He stopped groaning, and the golden lotus hood on his head vanished. Everything seemed to return to normal. He drew a deep breath as he slowly stood up.


    "General Zhang, are you alright?" Ao Shuai asked.


    General Zhang smiled. "I''m just fine. I''ve never been better."


    "What about what just happened, then?" Ao Shuai seemed perplexed.


    Just then, one of his subordinates held him back and shouted, "He''s not General Zhang. Be careful, Master!"


    "What?" Everyone gaped at General Zhang in surprise.


    The subordinate continued, "General Zhang and I have avatars in the outside world. General Zhang''s avatar just reached out to me to have me inform you that his main body''s consciousness has been suppressed by an unknown force. He can''t sense his main body anymore. The man before you is no longer General Zhang!"


    "What?!" the cultivators cried out.


    General Zhang caught the man in a deathgrip and hissed, "Who told you to be such a busybody? You exposed me before I even got to y with all of you! Die!"


    He opened his mouth wide and began to suck the cultivator''s soul out of his body, swallowing it with a gulp. The cultivator slumped as he became a corpse.


    "Such paltry spiritual power? What a drag," General Zhang cursed, tossing the corpse aside.


    "Who are you? Release General Zhang at once, or I''ll make you suffer a fate worse than death!" Ao Shuai threatened.


    General Zhang sneered at Ao Shuai. "You have an interesting aura. You''re a dragon, aren''t you? Draconic souls are highly nutritious."


    "Take him down!" Ao Shuai thundered.


    A group of cultivators shot toward General Zhang.


    "You overestimate yourselves." General Zhang smirked.


    He swatted away all the cultivators that came his way as he shot toward Ao Shuai.


    "Hold him back!" Ao Shuaimanded, the hairs on his back rising.


    A True Immortal held back General Zhang.


    General Zhang raised an eyebrow. "A True Immortal? I hope your soul isn''t a disappointment, haha!"


    General Zhang began to fight the True Immortal.


    The other two cultivators had likewise experienced dramatic changes in personality as they shot toward the other cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng dragged Zhang Lingjun back again and again. "It looks like the golden lotus hood can suppress others'' spiritual senses and possess their bodies."


    "The situation is looking dire," Zhang Lingjun remarked.


    "Let''s see what happens for now. There are only three cursed effigies, after all. Surely these cultivators can take them on? We''ll hide at the back and not draw attention to ourselves."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his group headed toward the back of the crowd. Of course, the other cultivators were keeping an eye on Zhang Lingjun because she possessed the ess token for the Pce of the Moon. When they saw that Xiao Nanfeng and his group weren''t trying to flee, they focused on suppressing the three cultivators that had been possessed by a cursed effigy.


    General Zhang and the other two cultivators were ultimately brought down by the others.


    "Ha! Do you think this is it? Explode!" General Zhang roared.


    General Zhang''s body exploded, sending cultivators flying every which way. The other two possessed cultivators did the same, wounding the others nearby.


    "What''s going on? Doesn''t this cursed effigy want to live?" one cultivator thundered, vomiting blood as she clutched her wound.


    "The sound of scripture hasn''t stopped. It might be rted to the cursed effigy, so I''m sure it hasn''t died yet!" Ao Shuai called out.


    The cultivators scattered and began to search for any trace of the golden lotuses, but there was nothing left behind except for a mess from the explosion. The three cursed effigies seemed to have vanished.


    "Something''s wrong with Sir Zhao!" someone suddenly called out.


    Everyone looked toward him. He continued, "Sir Zhao and I both have avatars in the outside world. His avatar came to find mine and told me that his spirit has been suppressed. He can''t control his body anymore."


    He pointed at a blue-robed man, whom everyone turned to.


    The blue-robed man smiled in a sinister fashion. "How boring. I''ve been discovered again."


    Everyone shuddered. Could the cursed effigy possess others at will?


    "Take him down!" someone shouted.


    "Be careful. There are two more cursed effigies around!"


    No one knew who had been possessed. Everyone was staring warily around themselves as they attempted to deal with the possessed blue-robed man.


    The blue-robed man was quickly caught and sealed within a relic.


    However, he didn''t panic. He smirked. "Guess who I''ll target next."


    The blue-robed man then exploded as well, shattering the relic that sealed him in.


    Everyone turned to look at each other.


    How was this cursed effigy possessing them seemingly at random? Who had it targeted next?


    The sound of scripture could still be heard all around them, holy hymns and chants now sounding malicious and evil. Whoever this cursed effigy was, it wasing for them!


    They immediately activated their own barriers as they spread out, on guard against those cultivators nearest to them.


    "Only cursed effigies can suppress other cursed effigies. I have a cursed weapon here. Using it, we should be able to tell who has been possessed," someone suddenly said.


    The cultivator drew a small dagger. The next moment, however, a woman in red beside him grabbed ahold of it.


    "What are you doing?" the cultivator thundered.


    The woman ced the dagger in her mouth and swallowed it, shocking everyone around her.


    "What lovely cursed spiritual power. Is there more? Take out whatever you have!" the woman in red demanded, smiling.


    "She''s been possessed!"


    "Restrain her!"


    The cultivators began to toss relics at her to pin her down. When she realized that she wouldn''t be able to hold out against the flood of relics, she smiled evilly. "How boring. Explode!"


    The woman exploded, shocking all the cultivators once more.


    Could this cursed effigy possess any of them at will? How were they supposed to fight something like this?


    Xiao Nanfeng and the other cultivators retreated time and again, trying their best to make themselves look unassuming. They were growing more and more fearful of this lotus hood cursed effigy.


    The next moment, however, Xiao Nanfeng felt a chill on his head. His eyes widened. "I''m done for!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, there''s a golden lotus hood on your head!" Zhang Lingjun cried out.


    "Division Leader!" Chang Bing and the others likewise began to panic.


    Everyone looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. They sucked in a deep breath, thinking that he was done for.


    This time, however, the monk hood didn''t vanish within his body. It remained exposed and visible.


    "Hm? Where''s your soul? Why doesn''t this body of yours have a soul?" the hood cried out.

 Chapter 504: Buddhas of Three Aspects

    <h4>Chapter 504: Buddhas of Three Aspects</h4>


    This was the first time the lotus hood had encountered any trouble. It continued to float atop Xiao Nanfeng''s head without being able to enter his body.


    "Just what are you? Why don''t you have a soul?" the lotus hood cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out for it, only to have it vanish from sight.


    Everyone looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. Did he have some method of counteracting the hood?


    "It ran off. Be careful¡ªI''m sure it must have possessed one of you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Everyone nched and whirled around, trying to identify anyone who might be suspicious.


    "I think you''re the one who''s possessed, aren''t you?" one yellow-robed man said.


    "Hm?" Everyone turned to the man.


    "We all saw that hood enter your body. You might have pretended to tear it off, but that was just an illusion to deflect suspicion, wasn''t it?"


    Everyone narrowed their eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. What if their first instinct had been mistaken? What if Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t been able to defend against the lotus hood, and all that had been an act?


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Are you aware of what my position in the Imperial Court is?"


    All eyes were on the yellow-robed man again. They could all tell that Xiao Nanfeng was doubting his identity.


    They all knew that Xiao Nanfeng was a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, all save the cursed effigies present. Could the yellow-robed man be a cursed effigy instead?


    The yellow-robed man replied, "Aren''t you Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Someone shouted my name just now. What I''m asking you is my position within the Imperial Court," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    He took out a suit of arhat armor and melded with it, clearly on guard against the man.


    The man frowned, knowing that the game was up. He instantly dashed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng, in the form of a golden arhat, threw a punch at him.


    The two fists were evenly matched. A tempest formed around them.


    "The yellow-robed man must be possessed, and Xiao Nanfeng isn''t!" someone shouted.


    When the yellow-robed man saw Xiao Nanfeng use Hegemon''s Fist, his gaze grew fierce. He shouted, "Explode!"


    "Self-destruction, again?" The cultivators nearby hurriedly drew back.


    The tremendous explosion forced Xiao Nanfeng back, and his arhat armor cracked instantly. He withdrew from it and kept his armor back in his storage ring.


    Just then, two more men emerged from among the gathered cultivators and attempted to attack Xiao Nanfeng. They were incredibly strong¡ªboth True Immortals.


    "Save Xiao Nanfeng!" Zhang Lingjun shouted.


    "Protect the division leader!" Chang Bing and the others shouted.


    They had equipped their suits of arhat armor at the first sign of trouble, and now shielded Xiao Nanfeng from the two True Immortals.


    "You overestimate yourselves," the two True Immortals called out.


    In a series of attacks, the golden arhats were smashed to pieces. Zeng Daniu shot forward and brought Xiao Nanfeng to safety.


    "Princess, open up the barrier. We have to escape," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Zhang Lingjun didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng. She stood immobile.


    The two True Immortals quickly smashed apart the remaining golden arhats before attacking Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Don''t kill him. There''s something strange about his physical body, so leave him alive," Zhang Lingjun suddenly said.


    The two True Immortals stopped short and retreated to Zhang Lingjun''s back. Her countenance had changedpletely, as if she were a different person altogether.


    Everyone immediately guessed that Zhang Lingjun had been possessed by a cursed effigy as well.


    Zeng Daniu was so shocked that he immediately attempted tounch himself at her, but Xiao Nanfeng held him back. "Hold on. Calm down."


    Zeng Daniu''s eyes were red with anger. Even so, he forced himself to calm down.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zhang Lingjun. "Senior, Zhang Lingjun, whom you are possessing, is the daughter of the princess who once resided in the Pce of the Moon and the granddaughter of the Heavenly Emperor. If anything were to happen to her, the Heavenly Emperor would never forgive you."


    Zhang Lingjun narrowed her eyes and considered her body. She smirked. "No wonder she seemed so familiar. She was even able to activate the Pce of the Moon''s ess token. So she was that girl, now all grown up. To think she would have offered herself up just like that. I couldn''t have asked for a better present. Don''t worry. I won''t kill her. After all, I still need to use her to threaten the current Heavenly Emperor, haha!"


    "Senior, we didn''t mean to intrude. Would you allow us to leave? We are open to any stiptions you might impose," Xiao Nanfeng stated immediately.


    "We''ll agree to any conditions," Ao Shuai agreed immediately.


    "Anything as long as we can leave!" another cultivator shouted.


    Zhang Lingjun shook her head. "You''re hardly qualified to negotiate with me. What''s more, you''re the ones I want. Why would I let you go?"


    "It''s going to devour our souls and spiritual power. We can''t just allow ourselves to die like this. We have to snatch the Pce of the Moon''s ess token, or none of us are going to make it out!" Ao Shuai called out.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The cultivators shot toward Zhang Lingjun, but she was under the protection of two True Immortals.


    The fight ensued in a storm of fire and wind.


    "Zeng Daniu, follow me," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Zeng Daniu seemed unwilling. He wanted to rescue Zhang Lingjun instead.


    "You can''t save her now. Follow me. I can rescue her," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Zeng Daniu finally nodded. He ran toward the remnants of a few sets of arhat armor alongside Xiao Nanfeng.


    By then, Chang Bing and the others had mbered out of their ruined suits. They were all injured, but fortunately, none among them had died.


    "Hide in the Yin-Yang Cauldron. Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Chang Bing immediately retrieved the Yin-Yang Cauldron. He and his fellow disciples darted within, including Zeng Daniu.


    Xiao Nanfeng murmured a mantra, causing the Yin-Yang Cauldron to rapidly shrink in size. He kept it within his robes, then flew toward the nearby barrier.


    Afar, the cursed effigy that had possessed Zhang Lingjun eyed Xiao Nanfeng. Seeing that he was intending to escape, the cursed effigy smirked. "Dream on. Not even a True Immortal can escape without the Pce of the Moon''s ess token."


    The other cultivators eyed Xiao Nanfeng even as they fought. Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng flee, they gave him disdainful looks.


    "Ignore Xiao Nanfeng. He won''t be able to escape," someone called out.


    Just then, as Xiao Nanfeng touched the barrier and activated his candleme powers, he popped out on the other side.


    "What?" the cursed effigy possessing Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    The other cultivators were astonished as well.


    "How did Xiao Nanfeng flee?"


    "He didn''t even need the Pce of the Moon''s ess token!"


    "Can we get out, too?"


    The cultivators rushed toward the barrier in glee¡ªonly to find themselves trapped by the barrier.


    "We can''t get out. This barrier is impossible to prate!"


    "How did Xiao Nanfeng escape? This can''t be!"


    "Get back here, Xiao Nanfeng! Take us out with you!"


    The cultivators roared in outrage, but Xiao Nanfeng had already fled from the scene. There was no way he would turn back.


    The moment he emerged from the barrier, he was surrounded by countless purple-furred monsters.


    He immediately unsealed the Yin-Yang Cauldron. "Zeng Daniu, get me out of here! Hurry!"


    Zeng Daniu rushed out from the cauldron, grabbed Xiao Nanfeng, and rushed into the midst of the purple-furred monsters.


    Because Zeng Daniu was in the form of a purple-furred monster himself, the other purple-furred monstersrgely relented. Only a rare few continued to eye Xiao Nanfeng, intending to snatch him from Zeng Daniu''s possession, but they were pushed aside. He brought Xiao Nanfeng all the way out of the monster horde and toward safety.


    Standing on a mountain ledge, Xiao Nanfeng nced toward where the lotus pond was located. The fighting raged on.


    He released Chang Bing and the other disciples from the Yin-Yang Cauldron. "Chang Bing, restore these suits of armor as quickly as you can."


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.


    Chang Bing brought his fellow disciples to a secluded valley close by, established formations in the vicinity, and began to repair the armor.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, the princess is in grave danger. Why have you brought me out here?" Zeng Daniu asked impatiently.


    "Calm down, General Zeng. You heard what the cursed effigy said, too. Although it has possessed the princess, it needs to use her as hostage against the Heavenly Emperor. It won''t kill her."


    Zeng Daniu forced himself to suppress his anger and frustration. He ultimately nodded. "What should we do, then?"


    "Rx. There are surely those who have cultivated avatars among the trapped cultivators, so the news of what''s going on should quickly spread to the outside world. There''ll be arge number of strong cultivators flocking in to rescue the princess. The best-case scenario would be if the Heavenly Emperor himself got involved. These cursed effigies would surely be done for then. As for us, we should ensure our own safety first while I think of a n."


    Zeng Daniu nodded in exasperation. "Very well."


    "Keep guard. I''ll meditate and think of a potential solution," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood." Zeng Daniu nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng also entered the valley in which Chang Bing was located. He found a quiet ce to sit and meditate as he contacted the ck lotus in his mindscape.


    "Senior, do you know what those lotus hood cursed effigies are?" Xiao Nanfeng asked anxiously.


    By then, the ck lotus had finished digesting the monk hood it had just consumed. It wrote out, "Enemies really do cross paths often..."


    "You know of them?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "I do. We were from the same era. The Buddhas of Three Aspects ruled the world then, with their three aspects of past, present, and future. The cursed effigies here were all subordinates of the Past Buddha, and were once strong cultivators with manifestations of lesser Buddhas in their own right. They must have been revived as cursed effigies," the ck lotus wrote out.


    "If the cursed effigies here were all subordinates of the Past Buddha, does that mean that the Past Buddha is their king?" Xiao Nanfeng confirmed.


    "Indeed. The Past Buddha is likely the one who possessed Zhang Lingjun, but, given its tone, it must have been seriously injured by the present Heavenly Emperor."


    "What about the purple-furred monsters here, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m unaware of the specifics, but from the looks of it, Zhang Lingjun''s mother''s subordinates hadn''t been cursed by the Heavenly Emperor. Rather, he''s protecting them by transforming them into purple-furred monsters. It''s not a punishment, but rather a means of sealing the monk hood cursed effigies that havetched onto their bodies. It''s a particrly advanced technique. The Heavenly Emperor of the present is highly skilled," the ck lotus surmised.

 Chapter 505: Holy Chanting

    <h4>Chapter 505: Holy Chanting</h4>


    The ck lotus'' description immediately made Xiao Nanfeng realize that, if not for the Heavenly Emperor''s curse, the purple-furred monsters would have been dead meat against the golden lotus hoods.


    "Senior, why can these monk hoods possess others instantly? Even a True Immortal can''t sense those who have been possessed¡ªor deal with them after they''ve been exposed. Aren''t they ridiculously strong?"


    "The hoods can''t possess you instantaneously. Rather, you intentionally avoid seeing them," the ck lotus replied.


    "What do you mean, Senior?"


    "Did you hear the death chants?"


    "I remember the sound of scriptureing from all over. The chanting was supposed to be dignified and sacred, but it sounded exceptionally eerie. Are those known as death chants?"


    "That''s right. The moment you heard those death chants, you were already starting to be hypnotized. What you saw wasn''t necessarily what happened. Do you remember the first time the hood possessed someone?"


    "When the death chants first appeared, I remember seeing the golden lotus hood fly on top of General Zhang''s head. Although it happened quickly, we were able to see its movements. In other words, we hadn''t been hypnotizedpletely by then. Later on, as the chanting continued, we all subconsciously avoided seeing the trajectories of the golden hoods as they possessed more and more cultivators..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "That''s right. The death chants that apany the golden lotus hoods are nearly invincible together. How would you fight against an opponent that you can''t see?"


    "No wonder everyone was possessed so suddenly. I was wondering why I hadn''t seen any signs of struggle¡ªit must have because we were all hypnotized so as to miss it. These death chants are far too dangerous. Right, Senior, those three cursed effigies were even able to possess True Immortals at will. Are they really that strong despite being injured?"


    "Those who were possessed were True Immortals, not cultivators at True Yin. The hoods suppressed their souls and used those to control their physical bodies. If they had attempted to possess you, they would have a far harder time. Of course, you''re even more special than that. The Divine Emperor helped you forge a primordial body, so they weren''t even able to detect your soul to begin with. I''m sure no one would imagine that an Earth Immortal could have reached such a state."


    "I see. Thank you for resolving my confusion, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He continued, "Do you know of a method to deal with them?"


    "They grow stronger by devouring others'' souls and spiritual power. If you want to deal with them, you''ll have to be stronger than they are. You could wait for those in the outside world to enter. At the very least, the Heavenly Emperor of the present should be able to suppress them readily."


    "Rather than relying on others, I trust myself more. Who knows what might happen out there, and whether the Heavenly Emperor would show up at all? Senior, are you strong enough to handle them?"


    "They might be badly wounded, but they''re still stronger than I am now. If you want to take them down, you''ll have to let me grow stronger quickly."


    "Will allowing you to devour the golden lotus hoods on these purple-furred lifeforms help?"


    "Indeed."


    "I''ll start preparing immediately, but won''t those three cursed effigies do the same? Could they possess these purple-furred lifeforms too?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "They wouldn''t dare. The monsters have been cursed by none other than the Heavenly Emperor himself. If they tried to awaken the golden lotus hoods that have possessed the purple-furred monsters, the curse would sense their presence and trigger bacsh."


    "Thank goodness. Hold on, Senior. I''ll catch some purple-furred lifeforms for you immediately."


    "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng roused himself and headed for the outskirts of the valley, where Zeng Daniu was still staring in the direction of the lotus pond.


    "Have you noticed anything amiss, General Zeng?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Themotion by the lotus pond has reduced in magnitude, and fog has shrouded it from sight. The cursed effigy possessing the princess must have activated the Pce of the Moon''s ess token," Zeng Daniu replied in worry.


    "Don''t focus on that for now, General Zeng. We need to make twofold preparations: wait for reinforcements from the outside world, and start taking action ourselves."


    "You''re right, but what can we do now?"


    "Let''s start by rescuing more of your allies. You''ll be responsible for capturing more purple-furred lifeforms while I awaken them."


    Zeng Daniu nodded. "Very well. I''ll listen to you."


    "Thanks for the trouble."


    "It''s no trouble at all to rescue my former allies. Perhaps once we rescue enough of them, we''ll be strong enough to take the cursed effigies on."


    After the two cultivators worked out the details, Zeng Daniu shot into the fog while Xiao Nanfeng waited patiently in the valley.


    Not longter, Zeng Daniu returned with two purple-furred monsters, both Earth Immortals. He was suppressing them with one hand each.


    "I''ll hold them down. The rest is up to you."


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to one of the monsters, which was roaring in agitation. Given Zeng Daniu''s presence, however, it couldn''t move at all.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t have the Pce of the Moon token to cause the monk hood in its body to appear, but the ck lotus could perform that responsibility.


    "Senior, I''m counting on you."


    The ck lotus flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, but with ayer of ck fog covering its body.


    Zeng Daniu nced at the ck fog with surprise, but he reined in his curiosity and didn''t question Xiao Nanfeng.


    The ck lotus flew toward the head of one purple-furred monster. Arge quantity of ck light covered it up. It shook as a golden lotus hood appeared over its head.


    The underside of the ck lotus transformed into a ck hole that devoured the golden lotus hood.


    "No, damn it, don''t eat me!" the golden lotus hood shouted.


    Then, with a whoosh, the ck lotuspletely absorbed the golden lotus hood.


    The purple-furred monster shook. Its eyes turned clear and limpid. Then, it eximed, "General Zeng? What''s going on?"


    "Have you awoken?" Zeng Daniu eximed.


    He released the purple-furred monster.


    "I have, General Zeng! I felt as though something had been suppressing my spiritual senses, but it suddenly vanished."


    "We''ll speakter. Wait by the side," Zeng Daniu said.


    "Understood!"


    By then, the ck lotus had approached the second purple-furred monster''s head. A golden lotus hood appeared in sight before being quickly devoured.


    After the ck lotus absorbed both golden lotus hoods, it flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape to digest its gains.


    Both purple-furred monsters had awokenpletely. Perplexed, they asked Zeng Daniu just what was going on.


    Zeng Daniu recounted what had transpired to date.


    "The young princess is in danger? What are we waiting for, then?!" The two purple-furred monsters were easily roused to anger. They began fretting immediately.


    "Silence! You''re both just Earth Immortals. What can you do? Even True Immortals are easily possessed. You would only serve to make the situation worse," Zeng Daniu challenged them.


    "But¡ª" the two purple-furred monsters protested.


    "General Zeng, please continue capturing more Earth and Human Immortal purple-furred lifeforms. I can keep awakening their consciousness for the moment. Hold off on the Heaven Immortal ones for now," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Got it!" Zeng Daniu replied.


    He and the two purple-furred monsters rushed out at once.


    Two hourster, they returned with two more Earth Immortal purple-furred monsters and four Human Immortal ones. By then, the ck lotus had digested the lotus hoods it had originally absorbed and continued to devour more.


    Not too longter, another batch of purple-furred monsters were awakened,pletely confused as to what was happening. Zeng Daniu didn''t want to exin himself again, so he motioned for one of the other purple-furred monsters that had been awakened previously to do so. He rushed into the fog again to search for more monsters.


    The monsters that had just learned of the truth all began to fume and join Zeng Daniu''s party.


    Before long, Zhang Lingjun''s voice could be heard from the Pce of the Moon.


    "All cultivators within the pce, listen up! I''ve set up an entryway through every barrier within the Pce of the Moon which shifts with the time of day. For instance, since it''s currently six at night, the entryway will be at the six-o-clock position. All treasures within the pce shall belong to whoever ims them first."


    Zhang Lingjun''s voice was magnified to such an extent that it spread throughout the domain despite the noise-damping fog.


    Zeng Daniu had just returned from another excursion into the fog. "That''s the princess'' voice! Is she trying to trick everyone into entering the Pce of the Moon?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "There were hundreds of cultivators who entered the Pce of the Moon with us, but they represented only a small portion of the sixty teams participating in the hunting ground. Many are off on their own¡ªbut the cursed effigies seem intent on luring everyone in. Could they already have killed the cultivators within?"


    "What do we do now? Those three cursed effigies are just going to grow stronger and stronger!"


    "No matter how strong they are, they can''t be stronger than the Heavenly Emperor. The cultivators in the outside world must be aware of what''s going on, and they''ll quickly send reinforcements in. General Zeng, don''t worry about them for now. Focus on our n."


    "Got it!" Zeng Daniu replied.


    Not far from them, the Yin-Yang Cauldron opened up once again.


    "Division Leader, we''ve repaired three suits of arhat armor," Chang Bing called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the ck lotus. "Senior, are you able to awaken Heaven Immortal purple-furred lifeforms now?"


    "Indeed."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He turned toward Chang Bing. "Have three disciples put on suits of arhat armor and apany General Zeng to capture some Heaven Immortal monsters."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.

 Chapter 506: Nomination Slot

    <h4>Chapter 506: Nomination Slot</h4>


    Within a study in the Hall of Martial Aspects in the Sieve of Heaven, a group of armored cultivators rushed to seek an audience with Ao Canghai. Two among them knelt on one knee as they gave their reports, panicked looks on their faces.


    "Eastern Aspect, my main body and the young master have been trapped in the hunting ground. Please, you have to make a move!"


    "Eastern Aspect, the young master had my avatar send word requesting assistance. The cursed effigy he''s facing is too powerful, and he won''t be able tost for long."


    The two cultivators described what was going on within the Pce of the Moon in a panic.


    Ao Canghai frowned. "Who let him into the Pce of the Moon?"


    Aplicated look shed across the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s face. "Eastern Aspect, the young master only wants to experience leadership for himself and catch a few purple-furred monsters to use as ves."


    "Think about how many cultivators want to shelter under his aegis. What''s the point of catching those useless purple-furred monsters? Silverfrost, you''re the most familiar with him. Why would he enter? Does he not heed my warnings?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "No, it''s just that..." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was momentarily flustered.


    "You dare hide things from me?!" Ao Canghai demanded.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nched. He immediately knelt on the floor on one knee. "I wouldn''t dare, Eastern Aspect. Please calm down."


    "Tell me what''s going on!"


    "The young master wanted to steal the Pce of the Moon''s ess token from Princess Lingjun''s hands, then enter the Pce of the Moon to im all the treasures within. I thought that he would be safe with a few True Immortal generals guarding him, never expecting something like this to happen."


    "Foolish son! He truly doesn''t care about his own life. Haven''t I given him enough treasures?!"


    "Eastern Aspect, rescuing the young master has to be our priority. If the cursed effigies are as frightening as he ims, he may be in great danger," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied.


    Ao Canghai frowned. "What''s the situation like over there?"


    "We can''t enter. The entrance into the Martial Aspects'' hunting ground has been sealed, likely by the cursed effigy that has possessed Zhang Lingjun using the Pce of the Moon''s ess token. If we want to enter, we''ll have to break the barrier by force. Must we do so?"


    "Do you want to destroy the floating ind containing the Pce of the Moon? Without the Heavenly Emperor''s express order, who would dare to break that barrier? Do you want to be executed by the Imperial Court?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "What do we do, then? We simply can''t enter! The cursed effigies within are killing everyone they encounter in order to strengthen themselves to stand against the Heavenly Emperor."


    "Ha! They''re hardly qualified to discuss terms with the Heavenly Emperor. It''s a pity that he''s in secluded cultivation, and none of us are to bother him. Otherwise, the Heavenly Emperor would easily be able to destroy them."


    "Can we get the Heavenly Emperor''s assistance?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost fretted.


    "I told you, he''s in secluded cultivation. Who do you think you are? What makes you think you''re qualified to disturb him?"


    "But we have no other choice!"


    One of the cultivators kneeling on the ground suddenly spoke up. "No, there''s still another way! Somehow, the cursed effigies couldn''t possess Xiao Nanfeng, and he was even able to leave the barrier. Perhaps Xiao Nanfeng might be able to save the young master!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost hesitated. Would Xiao Nanfeng really be willing to save Ao Shuai?


    Dayster, in the city of Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was perusing a stack of documents when he heard noise from the outside. Someone seemed to be battering down the pce''s formation, and a group of Dazheng fighters were rushing out to investigate the disturbance.


    Xiao Nanfeng probed his surroundings with his spiritual power before suddenly raising an eyebrow. He took a deep breath. "Let him enter!"


    "Understood!" a shout came from outside the study.


    The cultivator who had barged into the pce was quickly led into Xiao Nanfeng''s study.


    "What a rare guest you are, Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. Why didn''t you let me know in advance before you dropped by?" Xiao Nanfeng said calmly.


    The intruder was none other than the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, who had rushed toward Dazheng from the Imperial Court. He gave the external formation an odd look. "Xiao Nanfeng, the formation outside your pce is surprisingly powerful."


    "It might as well be a parlor trick against you, Martial Aspect of Silverfrost."


    The Martial Aspect took a deep breath. "I had some subordinatese find you a few days ago. Why didn''t you allow them an audience?"


    Several days ago, Ao Canghai hadmanded him to force Xiao Nanfeng to rescue Ao Shuai. To save time, he had one of his subordinates with an avatar at Yongding send word to Xiao Nanfeng, but he was forestalled before being able to meet him at all. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost had had no choice but to head to Yongding himself.


    "There are plenty of people who seek an audience with me iming to be from one divine empire or another. Should I grant an audience to them all? How should I know who your subordinates are?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He had guessed that there would be parties seeking his help to rescue the cultivators stranded within the Pce of the Moon. He had no interest in doing so or serving as cannon fodder, so he refused all such audiences.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. "You know why I''vee, then?"


    He guessed that Xiao Nanfeng must have been trying to avoid his request.


    "I don''t know why you''vee." Xiao Nanfeng feigned ignorance.


    The Martial Aspect took another deep breath. "Let me be direct, then. I need your other body to rescue Ao Shuai immediately."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I can''t save him. If I could have, why would I have needed to escape? Those three cursed effigies are simply too powerful, and they''ve only grown stronger since in the past few days. How many souls have they devoured? I''d only bemitting suicide by entering again."


    "Then how did you stop the spiritual possession? How did you escape from the Pce of the Moon?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost demanded.


    "Before that happened, Princess Lingjun cast a technique on me using the Pce of the Moon''s ess token. I don''t know what she did, but the hood cursed effigies were unable to possess me, and I was able to bypass the barrier all of a sudden. That''s all I know."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost knew that Xiao Nanfeng was lying, but he could hardly press the matter.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, let me reiterate one thing. You must rescue Ao Shuai immediately. If you can do so, all will be well. Otherwise, I guarantee that your empire of Dazheng will immediately suffer an overwhelming disaster."


    "Is this a threat?"


    "I don''t want to waste my time with you. Choose to believe me as you wish. I don''t care what you do. Guarantee Ao Shuai''s safety and nothing will happen. If he dies, however, the empire of Dazheng will be done for."


    "Do you know the punishment for threatening a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I''m a Martial Aspect myself. This isn''t a threat. I''ve simply sensed that a disaster is about to descend on Dazheng. If you can protect Ao Shuai, I''ll help you take on this disaster. Otherwise, I have no obligation to help you."


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He knew that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was threatening him, and this ''disaster'' was nothing more than an excuse to avoid being caught red-handed.


    These Martial Aspects really were willing to do anything to achieve their own objectives, weren''t they?


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "I can try."


    "I don''t want you to try. If Ao Shuai lives, so will Dazheng. If Ao Shuai dies, so will Dazheng," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. He didn''t care about the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s threat, not really. They were hardly trustworthy enough for Xiao Nanfeng to believe that they would leave Dazheng be.


    "I can attempt to rescue Ao Shuai, but you are going to give me something for my trouble, aren''t you?"


    He had no interest in rescuing Ao Shuai, but if Ao Shuai was able to survive on his own, he might as well get something out of it.


    "I''ll repeat myself. If Ao Shuai lives, so does Dazheng. If you don''t want Dazheng to perish, you had better do your best."


    Xiao Nanfeng sneered. "Is this how the Eastern Aspect asked you to conduct negotiations? Leave, then. I''ll only act if there''s something I can gain from it. Try to destroy Dazheng if you dare. I''ll report you to the Heavenly Emperor then. I don''t believe you''ll be able to get away with anything. Do you really think even the Heavenly Emperor won''t be able to determine that you''re trying to assassinate me, a Martial Aspect?"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stiffened. This wasn''t how things were supposed to go! Xiao Nanfeng was resisting to an unreasonable extent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you asked for this!"


    "I did, as did you. Report back to the Eastern Aspect, why don''t you? Repeat how you threatened me as well."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stiffened. If the Eastern Aspect learned how he had handled things when Ao Shuai''s life was in the bnce, he would be done for.


    "Very well. What do you want for rescuing Ao Shuai? State your terms," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost spat out.


    "I''d like to nominate a substitute Martial Aspect."


    "What? Who do you intend to nominate?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost eximed.


    He had expected that Xiao Nanfeng would ask for some treasure or authority, not this. A nominee for the position of Martial Aspect would need to be approved by a Cardinal Aspect and ten Martial Aspects.


    Substitute Martial Aspects had no authority of their own. Only when one of the seventy-two Martial Aspects perished would the substitutes have an opportunity topete among each other for the vacant position. Skill and luck would both be vital in such a contest. Xiao Nanfeng''s direct appointment to fill a vacancy was an incredible rarity inparison.


    "I haven''t confirmed my nominee just yet, but there is precedent. Prepare a document with appropriate nks for me to fill in as needed. I''m aware of the Imperial Court''s rules, and I guarantee that my nominee will have an appropriate background. I''ll start my rescue attempt the moment you present the nomination petition to my manor. My subordinates have avatars as well, and can contact me at any moment."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pursed his lips, but ultimately nodded. "I will report this to the Eastern Aspect. Farewell!"


    He stalked out of Xiao Nanfeng''s study.

 Chapter 507: The Counterattack Begins

    <h4>Chapter 507: The Counterattack Begins</h4>


    In a secluded valley, almost a thousand purple-furred monsters had gathered. They were all suppressing their fellow purple-furred monsters from rampaging as a cloud of ck fog began to awaken them all.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat sipping tea not too far away as he patiently waited for the ck lotus to grow stronger.


    Just then, the documents for nominating a substitute Martial Aspect were sent to his manor, and the informationmunicated to his avatar. However, he had no interest in rescuing Ao Shuai immediately.


    "General Zeng, aren''t you going to catch more of the purple-furred lifeforms?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Beside him, Zeng Daniu shook his head. "Thousands of ourrades-in-arms have been awoken over thest few days. They can easily catch hundreds or thousands of purple-furred monsters in one fell swoop. I don''t need to make a move personally anymore. They told me to protect you instead."


    "My thanks."


    "Myrades also want me to ask you if they should try to take down a True Immortal purple-furred lifeform. There are over twenty Heaven Immortals now, and we might be able to attempt it with your arhat armor," Zeng Daniu said expectantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "True Immortals are too strong. You''re all Heaven Immortals and no match for it. The only way we can trap one is with my Yin-Yang Cauldron, but what would we do after that?"


    "Could the senior assisting us from within that cloud of ck fog help?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "In this monstrous form, you''re stronger than a human. It can''t handle True Immortal purple-furred lifeforms unless you suppress them first, which is why it''d be useless even if we trapped one in my Yin-Yang Cauldron. You hardly intend to melt it to death, do you?"


    "Melt it to death? No! Each True Immortal is one of ourmanders," Zeng Daniu replied, frowning.


    "That''s why we can''t do anything to the True Immortal monsters at the moment." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "Then can the senior handle the cursed effigy that has possessed the princess?"


    "I will ask it for assistance. For now, let''s focus on awakening yourrades first," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    "Very well. I''m counting on you, then!" Zeng Daniu replied.


    Just then, a voice came from high up in the sky. "Ha! I''ve been wondering where all of you were hiding over thest few days. So this is where you are!"


    Everyone looked into the air to find a blue-robed man standing there and staring at Xiao Nanfeng down below.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced up. "You''ve left the Pce of the Moon, then?"


    He immediately guessed that this was one of the three cursed effigies that had been within the lotus pond. Had he left the pce specifically in search of Xiao Nanfeng? His aura was intense; it was evident that he had possessed a True Immortal.


    The blue-robed man looked around him and eximed in surprise, "Full of surprises, aren''t you,d? You managed to hypnotize so many purple-furred monsters into obeying you. Do you have some sort of powerful spirit-based relic?"


    The ck lotus, shrouded in fog, suddenly vanished from sight. Simultaneously, the purple-furred monsters in the vicinity, as if trying to hide its disappearance, began to howl loudly.


    "Howling at me? Do you think that frightens me? Don''t make meugh. The strongest among you are only Heaven Immortals." The blue-robed man sneered disdainfully, then called out toward the pce in the distance, "King, I''ve found Xiao Nanfeng. I''ll bring him back immediately!"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to run. He dashed into a patch of thick fog.


    "Trying to escape now? It''s toote!" the blue-robed man shouted, giving chase.


    Zeng Daniu and a group of purple-furred monsters rushed at him simultaneously.


    The blue-robed manughed. He was possessing a True Immortal at the moment. What could these Heaven Immortal purple-furred monsters do against him?


    He chased Xiao Nanfeng into the fog, whereupon he nched. "This is a trap!"


    "Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A group of purple-furred monsters roared as they struck at the man.


    "Arhat armor, seal!" the gathered Earth division disciples shouted.


    "Yin and yang, circte!" Chang Bing boomed.


    A gust of energy caused the thick fog to dissipate, revealing the Yin-Yang Cauldron. Xiao Nanfeng had been on guard about the arrival of a True Immortal cultivator and had had Chang Bing and the others prepare an ambush in advance. Theirbined attacks caused the blue-robed man to be sent tumbling into the Yin-Yang Cauldron, just as General Zhang had been in the past.


    The cauldron''s lid creaked shut.


    "Damn you, Xiao Nanfeng! How dare you plot against me! When I get out, I''ll make you suffer a fate worse than death. Now, break!" the blue-robed man roared from within the cauldron.


    The cauldron creaked and rumbled, but the blue-robed man seemed unable to break free. A group of Earth division disciples infused their spiritual energy into the cauldron rapidly, inducing the yin and yang energies within to melt it down.


    "No, no! Release me!" the blue-robed man roared.


    There was simply no reason for the cultivators on the outside to do so. Rather, they began to infuse more and more energy into the cauldron.


    "Is that one of the three cursed effigies within the pce? Did it trap itself?" Zeng Daniu eximed in delight.


    "Stay on guard. Don''t bring back any more purple-furred monsters for the time being. We can''t stay here any longer, and will have to move right away. Chang Bing, iste any noise from entering and exiting the cauldron," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    Chang Bing and the others continued to melt down the True Immortal as the purple-furred monsters brought them away from the secluded valley.


    At the same time, the ck lotus stealthily returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Senior, can you handle the cursed effigy within the cauldron?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck lotus wrote out, "I''ll be able to devour it once its physical body has been melted down."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The cultivators found another secluded valley and spent the next day melting down the True Immortal until his physical body perished. The Yin-Yang Cauldron was silent, but no one dropped their guard. They awaited Xiao Nanfeng''smand.


    Then, the ck lotus flew out in a cloud of ck fog and stopped by the side of the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "Unseal the cauldron," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    With a creak, the lid slowly opened up. Just then, a burst of golden light tried to flee from the cauldron, only to be encapsted by the ck fog waiting outside the lid and brought back into the cauldron.


    "Seal the cauldron!" Xiao Nanfeng said again.


    "Understood!"


    With a creak, the lid slowly closed once again.


    The cultivators waited patiently. After some time, Xiao Nanfeng drew his divine undying de and walked close up to it. Warily, hemanded, "Unseal the cauldron."


    The lid opened up as a cloud of ck fog slowly flew out. Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.


    The ck fog and lotus returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. "It''s done. The cursed effigy has been dealt with. It did grow significantly stronger than before. Thankfully, it was isted in the Yin-Yang Cauldron before it was able to unleash any death chants."


    "Senior, are you strong enough to deal with the Past Buddha now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "More or less. Do you intend to strike immediately?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "We have an opportunity now, and shouldn''t waste it."


    "What do you intend to do?"


    "Senior, are you able to emte the aura of that cursed effigy you just devoured?"


    "You intend to impersonate that cursed effigy?" the ck lotus asked.


    "That''s right. Trying to rescue Zhang Lingjun won''t be an easy undertaking. To prevent the other party from destroying her body, we''ll need to use wits, not force."


    "I can, but you have to be careful. If this fails, you''ll be in grave danger."


    "I know, but I have no choice. The cursed effigy has been missing for over an entire day, and the Past Buddha must be on alert. If we wait even longer, it''ll start searching for us again. We''ll be in even greater danger then. Rather than sit and wait, why not take the chance to strike?"


    "Very well. It''s not too difficult to impersonate that cursed effigy''s aura. I''ll be able to handle the Past Buddha as long as it isn''t possessing anyone."


    "I''m counting on you, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He turned toward the other cultivators. "I intend on heading to rescue the princess now. I need your cooperation."


    He informed the cultivators what they would have to do next.


    An hourter, Xiao Nanfeng flew into the air with the Yin-Yang cauldron in tow. His eyes were tightly shut. Blood surrounded his eyes, as though someone had rendered him blind. He was bloody all over and suffering from serious injuries.


    The ''blind'' Xiao Nanfeng, with the Yin-Yang Cauldron in tow, shakily made it toward the outskirts of a barrier by the Pce of the Moon. Purple-furred monsters leapt over, forcing him to fend them off arduously as he shouted, "King, let me in! I''ve been injured. It took me tremendous effort to possess Xiao Nanfeng. Something''s wrong with his physical body! Argh, these purple-furred monsters are attacking me! Let me in!"


    Because he was ''blind'', the purple-furred monsters heading toward him from all over sent him flying once and again. He was grievously injured and vomited up fresh blood as a result.


    Within the barrier, Zhang Lingjun and a red-robed man were frowning at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "King, it''s returned! It does seem very badly injured. Shall I allow it in?" the red-robed man asked.


    Zhang Lingjun narrowed her eyes. "Something seems amiss. It''s Xiao Nanfeng''s body that has gone blind, not its eyes. Why wouldn''t it be able to find its way back? Release the death chants and see what happens."


    "Understood!" the red-robed man replied.


    The red-robed man instantly flew to the side of the barrier and unleashed the death chants around him.


    This time, however, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t hypnotized. Indeed, with the ck lotus'' help, he too unleashed the death chants.


    "It''s me! Xiao Nanfeng''s body was injured, and I''ve been injured as well. Fetch me in! The purple-furred monsters are attacking me, and I can''t hold out much longer!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    When the red-robed man saw that Xiao Nanfeng could release the death chants himself, he rxed and looked toward Zhang Lingjun. Zhang Lingjun nodded, activating the Pce of the Moon''s ess token and forming a hole in the barrier.


    The red-robed man rushed out of the barrier, sent the purple-furred monsters all around flying, and then dragged Xiao Nanfeng through it.

 Chapter 508: Trapping Another Cursed Effigy

    <h4>Chapter 508: Trapping Another Cursed Effigy</h4>


    The moment he passed through the barrier, Xiao Nanfeng tossed the Yin-Yang Cauldron to the ground. The lid spilled open, releasing yin and yang energy in conjunction with fog.


    Before the two cursed effigies could speak, Xiao Nanfeng immediately clutched his eyes in pain. "King, thisd had aplices working with him. He even tried to melt me down with the yin and yang energies from this cauldron, and I barely escaped! I managed to kill his aplices, but I was injured as well. Something''s wrong with his physical body, and his soul keeps trying to evade me. I finally found it, but was unable to do anything to it. Tremendous cursed spiritual power is imbued within his soul, and I feel as though I''d be able to return to my peak if I swallow it."


    "Return to your prime? You must be joking," Zhang Lingjun replied, frowning.


    Although she didn''t believe Xiao Nanfeng, she did very much want to return to her prime. Her curiosity was stoked.


    "It''s true, King! You can check his body yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Let me have a look," the red-robed man suggested.


    "You''re unlikely to be able to suppress Xiao Nanfeng, either. Only the king can do it." Xiao Nanfeng walked toward Zhang Lingjun.


    Zhang Lingjun frowned. She was interested and curious. After all, when she tried to possess Xiao Nanfeng, she had discovered something amiss about him. Could there really be something strange about his soul?


    "Something''s wrong! Xiao Nanfeng''s soul is about to escape. I can''t catch him. He opened up a portal into an illusory realm and is about to flee into it. Don''t run!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, clutching his eyes.


    "Could that be how he escaped in the past? Quick, show me!" Zhang Lingjunmanded, striding right up to him.


    With a puff, a golden lotus hood appeared above Zhang Lingjun''s head and floated over to Xiao Nanfeng''s head. Just then, arge quantity of ck fog formed about it.


    The ck fog shrouded the golden lotus hood as the ck lotus within the fog struck.


    "What? Did you trick me?" the Past Buddha demanded.


    The red-robed man nched and attempted to shoot forward when a burst of strength surged forth from behind. Xiao Nanfeng had induced him to walk straight up to where the Yin-Yang Cauldron was located.


    "Yin and yang, circte!" Chang Bing shouted.


    Arge quantity of yin and yang energy sprayed out from the cauldron and surged toward the red-robed man. Simultaneously, purple-furred monsters and golden arhats emerged from the cauldron, swinging around chains that trapped the red-robed man and dragging him toward the cauldron.


    "You overestimate yourselves, fools! Break!" the red-robed man roared.


    He shattered the chains binding him in a huge wave of energy that sent the gathered cultivators flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng dragged Zhang Lingjun into the Divine Seal of Dazheng, then smashed that seal into the red-robed man.


    The red-robed man turned and was struck with a direct hit from the seal radiating with golden light. He stumbled and took three steps back before stabilizing himself.


    "Lad, you''re not strong enough to suppress me yet!" the red-robed man shouted, withstanding the might of the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    Just then, the Yin-Yang Cauldron flew over and scooped up the red-robed man along with the dirt underneath his feet.


    "What?" the red-robed man eximed.


    With the Divine Seal of Dazheng overhead and the yin and yang energies surrounding him to prevent his escape, he knew that he wouldn''t be able to escape once the cauldron''s lid was sealed.


    He wed at Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll trap you with me, then!"


    The cauldron sealed shut as Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Seal of Dazheng were dragged into the Yin-Yang Cauldron as well.


    "Division Leader!" Chang Bing cried out from outside.


    "Don''t worry about me. Use the yin and yang energies of this cauldron to melt us down!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!"


    Roiling yin and yang energy shot toward the red-robed man and Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Are you crazy? You''re an Earth Immortal! Do you want to die?!" the red-robed man roared.


    The yin and yang energies struck the two cultivators like a storm of des, inflicting tremendous pain all over their bodies.


    "Lad, are you really an Earth Immortal? How can your physical body handle such force?"


    Xiao Nanfeng stored his divine seal as he concentrated entirely on defense.


    "I don''t believe you''re going to perish alongside me!" The red-robed man struck Xiao Nanfeng with a palm strike.


    Xiao Nanfeng met the palm strike with his fist. He was sent flying and crashed against the side of the cauldron. Yin and yang energy surrounded him, ruining his clothes.


    He wasn''t badly injured; a small trickle of blood seeped out from his lips. His physical body glowed with golden radiance, and there was only a faint imprint of a palm on his chest.


    "Impossible. How could your physical body block my blow?" the red-robed man cried out. Then, he narrowed his eyes. "Do you cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri?"


    "You know of it, do you?" Xiao Nanfeng said coldly as he continued to defend against the yin and yang energies around him.


    "And so what? I''m possessing a True Immortal, so I''ll surely be able to take you down. If one strike isn''t enough, I''ll do ten. I don''t believe those cultivators outside will allow you to die without attempting to rescue you!"


    "You''re done for," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He used his candleme powers to flee from the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "Impossible!" the red-robed man shouted.


    He leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to crash into the side of the cauldron.


    "I''ve seen the Yin-Yang Cauldron before in the past. No one can escape without unsealing the lid. You must have used some special technique to shroud yourself and remain within the cauldron. Come on,e out!" the red-robed man shouted.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard from outside the cauldron. "What are you waiting for? Activate the yin and yang energies fully to melt down the cursed effigy within!"


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.


    The red-robed man nched. "Did he really make it out? This can''t be!"


    The yin and yang energies within the cauldron increased by an order of magnitude, swamping the cursed effigy immediately. In no time at all, screams could be heard from the cauldron.


    Just then, everyone had been shocked to see Xiao Nanfeng escaping from the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "How did you escape, Division Leader?" Chang Bing cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng put on another set of robes. He didn''t exin himself. "What are you waiting for? Activate the yin and yang energies fully to melt down the cursed effigy within!"


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the ck fog close by, where the ck lotus was attempting to subjugate the Past Buddha.


    "It''s you? How could you still be alive? We Buddhas of Three Aspects destroyed you back then, so how could you have transformed into a cursed effigy? This can''t be!" the Past Buddha howled.


    A sh of golden light illuminated the ck fog. The Past Buddha sacrificed a portion of its own body to blow a hole in the fog and escape, dashing into a pile of ruins in the pce and vanishing.


    The ck lotus didn''t give chase. Rather, it returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Senior, did the Past Buddha regain too much of its strength?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The ck lotus wrote out, "It did. I thought I would be able to take it down, but faltered at thest moment."


    "What now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    "Melt down the cursed effigy in this cauldron for now, then allow me to devour it. After that, we can think about how to deal with the Past Buddha."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He waved a hand and brought Zhang Lingjun out of the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    She copsed to the ground, paralyzed. He shot forward and grabbed her before she could fall.


    "Wake up, Princess!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    However, Zhang Lingjun remained immobile and unconscious.


    "What happened to the princess?" the purple-furred monsters cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng replied, "She cultivates the Taiqing Yin Body. I suspect that her yin body hid in the red moon illusory realm when she was possessed."


    "Oh?"


    "Don''t worry. The physical body is the anchor to the soul. Perhaps in a moment, when her yin body discovers that the state of her physical body is different, she''ll return."


    "Got it!" The purple-furred monsters breathed out in relief.


    A day ago, in a small yard in the pce at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar sat on a reclining chair and sipped on tea as he basked in the sun. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stood angrily beside him.


    "I''ve sent the documents for nominating a substitute Martial Aspect to your manor. Why hasn''t your main body made a move?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost demanded.


    "How do you know I haven''t made a move? Have you received word from within the pce?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, sipping on his tea.


    Beside the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, a cultivator murmured, "My main body received word that, of the three cursed effigies within the Pce of the Moon, one just headed out to catch Xiao Nanfeng. He found Xiao Nanfeng''s body and raised an alert. A delegation left to hunt him down, but we don''t have more information at the moment."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned. He turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I advise you to rescue Ao Shuai as quickly as possible, or else..."


    "What nonsense are you talking about? Wait patiently. How do you expect me to save him? Do you realize how strong those three cursed effigies are? They''ve possessed True Immortals, while my other body is only an Earth Immortal. Do you expect me to take them head-on? Of course I have to use my wiles instead!"


    "You don''t have to deal with them. You just have to rescue Ao Shuai," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied.


    "You do it, then!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost: ...


    He waited for an entire day before finally giving in to his impatience and asking, "Why hasn''t your other body gone to rescue Ao Shuai yet?"


    "Aren''t you tired of staring at me like this all day?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I need to ensure that you''re working to rescue him."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned around and ignored the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned and was about to continue rushing Xiao Nanfeng when the cultivator beside him spoke up. "Thetest news from the pce is that Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was possessed by the cursed effigy from yesterday. He''s returning to the Pce of the Moon with the Yin-Yang Cauldron to meet up with the other two cursed effigies."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned, then looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, who seemedpletely unperturbed. "No. Xiao Nanfeng''s main body hasn''t been possessed. It''s an act. Could he have dealt with one of them already?"


    As expected, after a moment, the subordinate reported, "A fight broke out within the barrier. Xiao Nanfeng used a cloud of ck fog to trick another cursed effigy from leaving its host and trapped it. A second cursed effigy was forced into the Yin-Yang Cauldron via a sneak attack¡ªno, the cursed effigy trapped in the ck fog ran off!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost gaped. "Really? Did he take down another cursed effigy?"


    "I swear it!" the subordinate replied.


    "Very good," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said. "At the very least, you didn''t trick us. Since you can deal with them, take down thest one immediately!"


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes. "Is this how you talk to others when requesting their assistance? If you speak to me in this manner again and ruin my mood while I''m trying to save Ao Shuai, you''ll be responsible if I fail."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stiffened. He red at Xiao Nanfeng and had no choice but to suppress his anger and avoid speaking.

 Chapter 509: The Blazing Temple

    <h4>Chapter 509: The zing Temple</h4>


    Countless cultivators had been tricked into entering the Pce of the Moon. Although the three cursed effigies had killed plenty of them, there were many still alive. The fact that they had survived for so long meant that theyrgely had some lifesaving trick or another.


    They continued to hide all over the pce, worried that the three cursed effigies would find them.


    Ao Shuai and his subordinates were likewise hiding in a secluded corner. He used a bubble-like relic to surround himself and his subordinates, hiding them from sight.


    "Master, my avatar has informed the Eastern Aspect about the matter and urged Xiao Nanfeng to hurry up. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost himself is right beside Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and ensuring that he''s working hard to rescue us at all times," one subordinate reported.


    "Hurry! Have Silverfrost urge Xiao Nanfeng again. These three cursed effigies are too strong. They''re finding all the hidden cultivators left and right. This relic won''t be able to trick them for long," Ao Shuai urged.


    "I''ve done so," the subordinate reported.


    "Look, Master! Xiao Nanfeng''s here too. He''s been possessed!" One subordinate pointed into the distance.


    Ao Shuai nched and fumed, "Damn it! Has Xiao Nanfeng been possessed too? We''re all in danger now."


    Then, shortly thereafter, Ao Shuai''s eyes widened. "Something''s wrong. They''re starting to fight! Xiao Nanfeng was just acting!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng trapped one of the cursed effigies in ck fog, and the other in the Yin-Yang Cauldron! Is he going to defeat them all?!" one subordinate shouted.


    Ao Shuai gaped. "This can''t be happening!"


    All the cultivators hidden around the pce gaped as well.


    "To think Martial Aspect Xiao can actually take down these cursed effigies!"


    "We''re going to be saved!"


    The cultivators sighed in relief.


    Although one of the cursed effigies eventually got away, it didn''t possess Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. That was a clear sign that it feared Xiao Nanfeng!


    Everyone waited expectantly, believing that they were now safe.


    However, none of them dared to reveal themselves. Xiao Nanfeng might be able to deal with that cursed effigy, but that didn''t mean that they could. If the cursed effigy got to them first, they would be done for.


    "Quick, urge Xiao Nanfeng to deal with the final cursed effigy as well¡ªor have him open up the barrier so we can leave!" Ao Shuaimanded.


    "Understood!"


    The subordinate quickly reported, "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost just inquired with Xiao Nanfeng, who said that he couldn''t unlock the barrier with the ess token and that Princess Lingjun would have to do so once she regained consciousness. He also said that, if you didn''t believe him, you could investigate on your own."


    "Nonsense! Who would dare show themselves? The final cursed effigy might be in hiding, but it''s surely lurking around the vicinity. The moment we show ourselves, we''ll perish. What sort of foul n is he devising? Have him deal with the final cursed effigy, quickly!" Ao Shuai shouted.


    "Xiao Nanfeng said, he said..." The subordinate gulped.


    "Said what?"


    "To shut your mouth and stop wasting his time," the subordinate reported.


    Ao Shuai: ...


    While everyone''s eyes were on Xiao Nanfeng, he brought Zhang Lingjun to the side of the barrier.


    He considered the barrier carefully. He would be able to get out, but what the ck lotus said next made him give up on that notion.


    "The Past Buddha might be in hiding, but it''s certainly keeping careful track of what we''re doing. Right now, the barrier is sealed and it can''t escape. If you open even the smallest slit in it or escape using your candleme powers, it can take the opportunity to escape as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately gave up on the notion of leaving.


    He and the Past Buddha were enemies now. If he were to allow the Past Buddha to escape, he might well suffer cmity in the future.


    "Senior, is the Past Buddha deliberately waiting here for me to open up the barrier?"


    "That''s right. I can sense traces of its cursed spiritual power in the vicinity, and I''m confident it''ll be able to teleport to us if you do anything. Without my presence, it would already have attacked you."


    "In that case, Senior, let''s think of a way to deal with it after we finish melting down the cursed effigy in the cauldron."


    "I''m afraid it won''t give us the time we need."


    "Oh?"


    "I can sense a particrly potent spiritual aura from afar. You haven''t yet opened up the barrier, so it must have guessed that you aren''t going to do so. It''s going to try to attack me now while I haven''t yet devoured the cursed effigy in the cauldron and don''t yet have the strength to oppose it. It''s going to counterattack now, so be careful. This spiritual power is exceptionally strong."


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "In that case, Senior, please protect everyone else while I attempt to deal with him."


    "Be careful. Although it has been grievously wounded by the Heavenly Emperor, it used to be one of the Buddhas of Three Aspects who ruled over the world. It has countless techniques at its disposal."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The ck lotus flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape again in a burst of fog that shrouded his surroundings.


    "Everyone, listen up!" Xiao Nanfengmanded his subordinates. "No matter what happens, don''t leave this cloud of ck fog. In addition, listen to whatever you''re told to do. Commands will be written out in ck light."


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng set Zhang Lingjun by the side of the barrier as he strode out of the fog.


    Death chants could suddenly be heard from afar.


    "Again?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    A ray of golden light illuminated the corners of the Pce of the Moon. The light became incredibly bright, then shot toward Xiao Nanfeng like a tsunami, covering up the sky.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by the golden light.


    "What''s going on? How could the light have knocked me down? No, this is an illusion!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    While he was a mortal, he had entered illusory realms in this manner, his consciousness reeling from the impact.


    Knowing that something was amiss, he immediately transformed into his yin body. At the very least, he still had control over all his spiritual power.


    He struck the ground in a heap.


    He could hear voices from afar. Those cultivators who had been hiding around the Pce of the Moon had all been dragged into the illusion by the golden light as well.


    "What sort of illusion is this? Why can''t I break free?"


    "What a powerful illusion!"


    "It''s been years since anyone has been able to drag me into an illusion. How could they have seeded this time?"


    "Damn it, we''ve been exposed!"


    Cries rang out from all around.


    The next moment, the cultivators began to investigate their surroundings. The illusory realm was vast and expansive. There was a huge mountain range in the distance, near which a stone tablet had been erected. It proimed the mountain range to be Mt. Vulture.


    Fog and clouds surrounded Mt. Vulture. There were plenty of temples and pagodas on the mountain range, and holy light seemed to illuminate the mountains. There were countless cultivators reciting scripture, and the sound carried acrossnd and sky. At the very top of Mt. Vulture was a huge pce, the ''zing Temple''.


    In the courtyard of the zing Temple were thousands of golden arhats, seated cross-legged as they recited scripture. Small …d symbols emerged from their mouths as they chanted, floating high above them and forming a huge …d in the air. Fortune surrounded the …d symbol, illuminating it in its full majesty. [1]


    The zing Temple''s doors were wide open. There were lotus tforms in every color within, a grand, imposing Buddha seated on each one. Although none spoke, the aura that they gave off was overwhelming and could be detected even from afar.


    Deeper into the temple, the lotus tforms all turned gold. On each golden lotus tform was a Buddha radiating with light. The hall pulsed with golden light, seemingly imbued with power over creation and annihtion.


    And on the golden lotus at the very center was an ancient, weathered man, strongest of all the Buddhas. Only he had open eyes, and only he was watching the gathered cultivators.


    "Buddhas, awaken," the ancient man called out.


    The sound of scripture vanished. All the arhats and Buddhas opened their eyes simultaneously to look at the aged man.


    "We greet the Past Buddha," all the monks chorused, bowing.


    "The Past Buddha?" The cultivators who had been dragged into the illusion nched.


    The golden lotus tform on which the Past Buddha was seated flew out of the zing Temple, along with all the arhats'' and Buddhas'' tforms. They considered the nearly thousand cultivators who had gathered outside the temple.


    "Past Buddha, if you were able to use such a technique, why wait until now to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    If the Past Buddha had used this illusion sooner, who could have evaded the Past Buddha for so long?


    The Past Buddha eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "It took me a great deal of effort to find my Buddhist relics in the Pce of the Moon''s treasury. They''ve all been damaged to some extent, and entering this illusion will incur further damage. Even so, even if I have to use up all their strength, I had to manifest this illusion to kill you all. Where is it? Why hasn''t it shown itself?!"


    The Past Buddha was naturally referring to the ck lotus. The ck lotus had plenty of tricks of its own, and hadn''t been dragged into the illusory realm. Even Chang Bing and the others were safe.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "I''m more than sufficient to deal with you. My senior doesn''t need to make a move."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really do overestimate yourself, don''t you?" the Past Buddha demanded.


    "Rather, you''ve miscalcted. There are a thousand of us cultivators here. It would be trivial for us to take you down." Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the gathered cultivators. "Everyone, it''s alone. There are a thousand of us here, so let''s charge forward and kill it together!"


    The cultivators stiffened and cursed inwardly, "Don''t drag us into your showdown!"


    "Together? Very well. Arhats, Buddhas, make your move! Kill these demons!" the Past Buddha shouted, pointing at the gathered cultivators.


    "Understood, Buddha!"


    The next moment, they glowed with golden light as they shot toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what have you done?!"


    "We can''t take them on. Run!"


    "Take me out of this illusion! Help me flee! Save me!"


    Shouts rang out from all around.


    1. To be clear, the swastika …d was of religious and cultural significance to Buddhism long before its appropriation by Nazis, who use the …e (clockwise) swastika instead. ?

 Chapter 510: Xiao Nanfeng, a True Yin Cultivator

    <h4>Chapter 510: Xiao Nanfeng, a True Yin Cultivator</h4>


    Countless arhats and Buddhas shot toward the gathered cultivators. Except for Xiao Nanfeng, everyone was turning tail and running.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? He''s just an Earth Immortal! How can he defend against all these arhats and Buddhas?"


    "He overestimates himself! His soul is surely weaker than theirs. A single golden arhat could kill him!"


    "Look, a golden arhat''s aiming for him! He''s done for."


    The fleeing cultivators nced disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng as the golden arhat at the forefront punched him.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with a punch of his own. Their fists met in an explosion of golden light thatpletely annihted the golden arhat.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng defeated a golden arhat with a single punch?!" countless cultivators eximed.


    "Could the golden arhats here be that weak? Let me try," another cultivator murmured.


    He turned back and punched at the golden arhat chasing after him.


    The two fists met in an explosion of golden light that swallowed up the cultivator. He vanished in a rain of blood.


    Everyone sucked in a deep breath.


    "These golden arhats aren''t weak¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s just overwhelmingly strong! Could he be atte-stage Yin Body?"


    "Impossible! Even atte-stage Yin Body, he wouldn''t be able to defeat that golden arhat with just one punch. I knew the cultivator who just perished. He was at mid-stage Yin Body."


    "Could he be a True Yin cultivator, then?"


    Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    By then, he was surrounded by arge number of golden arhats. With every punch of his Hegemon''s Fist, another golden arhat exploded into a shower of golden rain.


    "He''s at True Yin."


    "How can that be? His spiritual cultivation exceeds his physical cultivation?"


    "True Yin? No wonder he''s so strong. He can handle these golden arhats, but we can''t. We have to flee!"


    "Don''t kill me! Help!"


    Shouts and exmations came from all around.


    As Xiao Nanfeng took down more and more golden arhats, a Buddha appeared before him.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He could sense a tremendous pressure descend. He immediately released his silver moon into the air, spawning a blizzard around him.


    The Buddha sent a palm strike at him, appearing out of the void. Right before it struck Xiao Nanfeng dead, he vanished from sight.


    "Spiritual harmony! He really is a True Yin cultivator," someone eximed from afar while struggling against the golden arhats.


    "That Buddha''s palm missed¡ªbut how can that be? Even at early-stage True Yin, full spiritual harmonization is impossible. All you can achieve is stealth!"


    The Buddha was surprised as well. It twisted its head and searched all over for Xiao Nanfeng. Suddenly, a snowke to its back transformed into Xiao Nanfeng and punched at the Buddha.


    The Buddha stumbled, but it was stronger than Xiao Nanfeng. It stabilized itself quickly.


    "Insolence, demon!" the Buddha thundered.


    "You''re the demon! Die!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    He vanished from sight again. The next moment, he appeared to the side of the Buddha and executed Hegemon''s Fist. Fists filled the air around the Buddha, pummeling it and causing it to stumble once more. When the Buddha roared and attempted to strike at Xiao Nanfeng, he vanished from sight again. Xiao Nanfeng continuously shifted back and forth as he attacked the Buddha.


    The Buddhas chasing the other cultivators, noticing the problem, all shot toward Xiao Nanfeng as well.


    "Harmonize!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The next moment, he vanished from sight again. The Buddhas struck nothing but air. They searched all around them, but Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be found.


    "Attack his full moon," the Past Buddhamanded.


    "Understood!" the gathered Buddhas replied.


    They shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon.


    Afar, Ao Shuai and his subordinates hid themselves using a special spirit-type relic, rendering them invisible to the Buddhas and golden arhats all around.


    He continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng, his eyes twitching. "Xiao Nanfeng hid his strength surprisingly well. If we hadn''t encountered this Past Buddha, we would all have been tricked!"


    "We were told that he had just reachedte-stage Yin Body. Could he have broken through to True Yin recently?" one subordinate asked.


    "So what if he''s at True Yin? His major w as a True Yin cultivator is his spiritual moon. If his moon is destroyed, he''ll be done for¡ªthat''s what those Buddhas are going for!"


    "But if Xiao Nanfeng dies, we''ll all be dead as well!"


    "Do you think Xiao Nanfeng can still save us now? He was only able to take down the two cursed effigies because of the Yin-Yang Cauldron. The only way we can survive now is if Zhang Lingjun dies," Ao Shuai said.


    "What?!"


    "The Past Buddha has to kill Zhang Lingjun. That gives my father the excuse he needs to break down all the barriers around the Pce of the Moon to avenge her. We just have to wait a little."


    "You''re right, Master."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon is done for," Ao Shuai repeated, looking up at the sky.


    He wasn''t the only one who felt that way. There were countless cultivators who were able to hide themselves even in this illusory realm, and every one of them thought that Xiao Nanfeng was done for. Each of those Buddhas were stronger than Xiao Nanfeng himself, so how was he going to stop his spiritual moon from being destroyed?


    Just then, a slit appeared in his moon.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon is cracking apart even without being attacked?"


    "No, that''s a mouth! Why does his moon have a mouth?"


    "It has to be fake¡ªno, look, there''s even row after row of sharp teeth! Is that a monster?!"


    The moon bit down on the Buddhas, leaving only their exposed feet behind.


    The sawtooth-like teeth ground down on the Buddhas, chopping off their feet in spurts of blood. The scene was brutal and bloodthirsty.


    Everyone sucked in deep breaths as they gaped at Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon.


    After it ate all the Buddhas, it then floated down and gobbled up all the legs as well. Then, it began to chew.


    The cultivators watched on in fear. They shuddered as they heard the grinding of bone against bone.


    "What was that? That spiritual moon ate all those Buddhas!"


    "Is that really a spiritual moon? It''s more like a monster!"


    "What sort of monster is that?!"


    Even the Past Buddha goggled. It shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, what cursed effigy was that?!"


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was currently in a state of spiritual harmony. No one knew where he was. All they could see was an endless blizzard.


    The Past Buddha raged, "One of you Buddhas, destroy that cursed effigy!"


    "Understood!" A Buddha in radiant gold shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon.


    That Buddha raised a fist, causing heaven and earth to turn dark. Light flooded into its fist, causing the void to tremble. Everyone could sense how frightening that attack would be.


    "Buddhas truly are horrifying. Even if we''re in an illusion and its strength can''tpare to a real one, this technique alone is overwhelming. That moon monster''s going to die for sure!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really is done for now," the cultivators sighed.


    Then, out of nowhere, the spiritual moon swallowed the entire Buddha whole.


    Everyone twitched. Had they been mistaken once more? Was this moon monster able to eat even one of the strongest Buddhas?


    The distended moon chewed and chewed.


    Even the Past Buddha sucked in a breath.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what sort of monster is this cursed effigy?!" the Past Buddha roared again.


    This was its illusory realm! It should have been an invincible existence within. How could it be repeatedly losing against Xiao Nanfeng?


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond to the Past Buddha. Snow continued to fall.


    The Past Buddha narrowed its eyes at Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon, but it showed no sign of chasing the other Buddhas down.


    "Loop around that cursed effigy, but stay some distance away," the Past Buddha warned.


    "Understood!"


    The Buddhas looped around it as they flew.


    However, the spiritual moon remained motionless, as though it had no intention of making a move.


    The Past Buddha breathed out in relief, then sneered at Xiao Nanfeng. "So that''s how it is! Xiao Nanfeng, you''re a trickster and a liar. You can''tmand this cursed effigy at all. It only struck because my subordinates offended it!"


    The Past Buddha turned back to the silver moon. "There is no enmity between us, Sir, and I won''t hold you ountable for having consumed some of my subordinates. I simply ask that you not make a move while I take down Xiao Nanfeng."


    The silver moon hung cidly in the air, not responding to the Past Buddha. However, its silence was answer enough.


    The Past Buddha looked toward the blizzard before it. "Don''t bother the cursed effigy. Keep killing the other cultivators in sight to nurture my cursed soul!"


    "Understood!"


    "In addition, keep searching for Xiao Nanfeng. He''s only an early-stage True Yin cultivator, and his spiritual harmony is necessarily iplete. Find him!"


    "Understood!"


    In no time at all, screams and shouts rang out from all around.


    "Save us, Martial Aspect Xiao!"


    "Save me!"


    The cultivators begged for mercy.


    Xiao Nanfeng spoke up again. "I can''t handle these Buddhas, but the golden arhats at least are trivial to deal with."


    By the side of a golden arhat, a snowke transformed into Xiao Nanfeng. He punched forward and caused the golden arhat to scatter in a shower of rain.


    "Insolence!" The Buddhas surged toward him, but he vanished in a shower of snow. The next moment, he appeared beside yet another golden arhat.


    He shed back and forth throughout the battlefield, throwing out more and more punches as he went. Within moments, the entire battlefield was glittering gold. The Past Buddha raged and seethed.


    "Are you trying to weaken me by killing my golden arhats? Die, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "We''ll see whether you can get more energy by killing these cultivators than I can drain by killing your golden arhats. Now, die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    Another golden arhat exploded in a shower of light.

 Chapter 511: Taking Everyone Down

    <h4>Chapter 511: Taking Everyone Down</h4>


    Many of the weaker cultivators were killed immediately by the golden arhats, but those who had trained their spirit to some extent were barely able to block their blows. Against the Buddhas, however, none of them could do anything. Fortunately, some among them had special relics that would allow them to at least survive the assault.


    As they struggled, they watched Xiao Nanfeng take down every foe in his vicinity.


    "Who said that Xiao Nanfeng was the weakest Martial Aspect?!"


    "Look at how quickly he''s taking down all those golden arhats!"


    "Even the Buddhas can''t catch up to him!"


    As the golden arhats exploded into showers of light, the entire battlefield was lit up.


    The Past Buddha frowned. "You might be able to run,d, but you won''t be able to escape from me."


    Death chants rang out all across the void.


    The next moment, everyone could see the arhats and Buddhas suddenly speed up. Many of those who had barely been holding on died rapidly as blood sttered everywhere.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng stopped fighting. He harmonized with the world and vanished from sight, knowing how potent these death chants were.


    "Find him!" the Past Buddha demanded.


    "Understood!" The Buddhas scattered and shone incredible quantities of divine light all over the battlefield.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be seen. He seemed to have vanished entirely within his deific domain.


    "He''s only an early-stage True Yin cultivator, so how can he harmonize with the world to this extent?" the Past Buddha eximed.


    Under ordinary circumstances, dealing with such a True Yin cultivator was straightforward. All they had to do was to destroy his spiritual moon¡ªbut who would dare rouse the ire of Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon?


    "Keep on searching!" the Past Buddha demanded.


    At the same time, it raised the volume of the death chants as it attempted to hypnotize Xiao Nanfeng.


    The potency of the death chants grew magnified. Finally, a flurry of snowkes suddenly shifted, revealing a translucent figure.


    "Ha! In the end, you can''t hide from my death chants! Kill him!" the Past Buddhamanded.


    All the Buddhas shot toward that translucent figure. Just as their palms mmed down on it, ck fog gushed out.


    With a whoosh, the ck fog and snowkes vanished from sight.


    The Buddhas'' attacks struck the ground in a howling tempest.


    The ck fog suddenly appeared high in the air, not far away from the Past Buddha.


    The Past Buddha narrowed its eyes. "You''re here, then?"


    Within the ck fog, Xiao Nanfeng slowly appeared in sight. He gaped to see that he had been transported without realizing it, and that the ck lotus was right beside him.


    "Senior, how did I suddenly end up here? Could I have been hypnotized by the death chants again just now?"


    "That''s right. Your actions slowed, and you were exposed despite being in a state of spiritual harmony. Fortunately, I rushed over in time.


    "Thank you for saving me, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    The Past Buddha''s eyes twitched. "Have you already devoured my other subordinate?"


    The ck lotus revolved slowly, then wrote out, "I''ll hold the Past Buddha off. Continue ughtering the illusory arhats in this realm. The more of them you kill, the better off we''ll be."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He rushed toward the arhats immediately.


    The Past Buddha thundered, "Don''t think you''ll be stronger than I am just because you''ve absorbed my subordinates. This is my illusory realm, and I''m near-invincible here! You won''t be able to escape any longer. Now, die!"


    The Past Buddha mmed a palm toward the ck lotus.


    The ck lotus vanished from sight, causing the Past Buddha''s attack to hit nothing but ck fog.


    The next moment, the ck lotus appeared by the Past Buddha''s head. Its underside became a ck hole as it attempted to devour the Past Buddha.


    The Past Buddha frowned and punched upward, its fist almost striking the ck lotus before the ck lotus teleported away once more.


    "I am the master of this illusory realm, and you won''t be able to ovee my strength. If not for my injuries, I''d already have taken you down! Let''s see just how long you can hide," the Past Buddha spat out. "All Buddhas on my left, join me and take down this lotus!"


    "Understood!"


    Half the Buddhas rushed toward the Past Buddha and joined in the fight. However, within the ck fog, the ck lotus was able to invoke spiritual harmony, and no one could catch it. It might not be able to harm the Past Buddha, but neither could the Past Buddha do anything about it. Its repeated sneak attacks caused the Past Buddha to consume no small amount of energy.


    The battle dragged on.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Xiao Nanfeng continued taking down more golden arhats. They died one after the other; the Buddhas were unable to strike him down in his state of spiritual harmony.


    The Past Buddha invoked its death chants once again, intending to weaken Xiao Nanfeng and take him down.


    Very quickly, however, his death chants were interrupted by another set of chants that perfectly canceled each other out.


    The Past Buddha snorted. "And so what if you can counter my death chants? Repeated use of spiritual harmonization consumes a great deal of spiritual power. Even if I don''t do anything, he''ll use up all of his reserves quickly enough."


    Just then, it saw showers of golden light surging toward the center of the ck lotus, all of which came from the golden arhats that Xiao Nanfeng was taking down.


    "You''re attempting to steal my strength? Shouldn''t this power of yours have been destroyed? Why do you still possess it?!" the Past Buddha shouted.


    It attacked the ck lotus furiously, but the ck lotus was as skilled atbat as it was.


    "Everyone, kill Xiao Nanfeng! Ignore the other cultivators. Kill him!" the Past Buddha shouted.


    It had btedly discovered that its Buddha subordinates were unable to do anything against the ck lotus, and it was better off sending them against Xiao Nanfeng instead. Xiao Nanfeng was taking down more and more of his golden arhats, allowing the ck lotus to absorb arger quantity of its own strength.


    Countless Buddhas shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, but he had no intention of resisting them by force. His spiritual harmony was nowpletely unrestricted thanks to the ck lotus'' help, allowing him to move freely through the battlefield.


    More and more golden arhats perished in showers of light that surged toward the ck lotus high in the air.


    The other cultivators, nowpletely safe from danger, watched the battle unfold in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng was like an invincible deity of war. The gathered cultivators felt their bodies heat up just from watching him; they were raring to fight, but no one dared to do so. They would only die if they tried to help, after all.


    "What cursed effigy is within the ck fog? It''s so strong that even the Past Buddha can''t handle it!"


    "A spiritual moon cursed effigy above his head, and a ck fog cursed effigy in the distance... How did Xiao Nanfeng manage to secure the assistance of two cursed effigies of such power?"


    "This is ridiculous. Don''t cursed effigies exclusively focus on ughter? Why would they help Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Many cultivators were shocked by the scene unfolding before them.


    Xiao Nanfeng fought for three whole days and nights. He sighed in relief as he took down the final golden arhat, then harmonized with the world once again to avoid the Buddhas heading his way.


    "Senior, do you need me to do anything else?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, shouting toward the air.


    "I''ll channel a burst of spiritual power into you. Take down all the Buddhas!" the ck lotus wrote out.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly recalled the ck lotus'' ability to gather up the spiritual power that had scattered across the battlefield and channel it back into him. He would be able to take advantage of that spiritual power himself.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    His body manifested in reality again as a cloud of ck fog, surging with golden energy, encapsted him.


    He unleashed a raging tempest around himself as he absorbed the power from the ck lotus.


    One Buddha''s palm was looming over him.


    Xiao Nanfneg narrowed his eyes and met the palm with his fist in a burst of me. The Buddha shattered into a shower of light that the ck lotus absorbed.


    "Look! Xiao Nanfeng''s even able to kill Buddhas now with the strength of the cursed effigy in the ck fog! Isn''t that crazy?"


    Xiao Nanfeng took down more and more Buddhas, then avoided a blow from their stronger counterparts that he couldn''t yet kill. He vanished from sight once more with spiritual harmonization.


    The next moment, he appeared elsewhere, caught up to two Buddhas, and pulverized them with Hegemon''s Fist.


    Then, he vanished again and appeared elsewhere as he continued hunting down the weaker Buddhas.


    By then, the Buddhas realized that they had be prey. However, they were unable to flee in the face of Xiao Nanfeng''s deific domain. As Xiao Nanfeng grew stronger and stronger, he began to have an easier time chasing them down.


    It took just half a day for him to take down all the lesser Buddhas.


    Just then, another cloud of ck fog encapsting an evenrger wave of golden spiritual power surrounded him. The power surged into his body as another raging tempest formed.


    He knew that the ck lotus was giving him the strength to deal with the greater Buddhas that remained.


    He strode forth confidently, no longer attempting to evade the Buddhas'' attacks. He charged toward them even as they struck at him.


    With rapid booms, he took them all down. A torrent of golden light shot toward the ck lotus.


    "I see now. You''re not absorbing this spiritual power at all¡ªyou''re giving it all back to Xiao Nanfeng! What are you doing? Do you think he can take me down?" the Past Buddha demanded.


    The ck lotus transferred another parcel of golden spiritual power into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body filled up with spiritual power. Golden light leaked out of him and augmented the storm around him.


    "Senior, you''re giving me all this spiritual power?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Spiritual power provided in this manner couldn''t be replenished; once he used it up, it was gone. However, the ck lotus was providing him with such an incredible quantity of spiritual power that even his True Yin body was almost incapable of absorbing it all. An ordinary True Yin cultivator might even have exploded from the strain.


    Just then, the ck lotus wrote out, "You now possess thebined spiritual power of all the golden arhats and Buddhas. You''re strong enough to deal with the Past Buddha now. I''ve sealed its ability to spiritually harmonize. Destroy it immediately!"


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He shot toward the Past Buddha.


    The Past Buddha frowned mightily. "Your strength is stolen from me. Do you think you can take me down with it? Die!"


    The Past Buddha''s palm mmed toward Xiao Nanfeng, who retaliated with a fist strike of his own. The shockwaves of energy that resulted from the impact caused the void to shudder and crack.


    Afar, the cultivators gaped upon seeing this final confrontation. Xiao Nanfeng''s current strength went far beyond what they could conceive of. Could this all be just a dream?

 Chapter 512: Taking Down the Past Buddha

    <h4>Chapter 512: Taking Down the Past Buddha</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng continued pummeling the Past Buddha. His eyes grew cold. He cocked his arm and charged up a blow. He was filled to the brim with external spiritual power which he would have to use up, and use it all up he would.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    Tens of thousands of fists appeared to his back as he threw out a punch, filling up the skies.


    Tens of thousands of punches rained down on the Past Buddha like meteors that could annihte the earth, a barrage of fists that continued without end.


    The cultivators'' scalps turned numb as they considered the impending apocalypse.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter? This was Immortal Emperor Wei''s invincible technique from a millennium ago. No one currently living would be able to reproduce it. How did Xiao Nanfengunch that attack?!"


    "Emperor Wei used this technique to defeat the strongest regiment in the Immortal Emperor''s army in a single attack¡ªand we''re seeing it in all its glory once again!"


    "You''re nothing but a child. How could you possess a fist technique with such incredible strength?!" the Past Buddha cried out. "Seal, walls of time!"


    A translucent set of walls appeared before the Past Buddha, shining with rainbow light. The walls seemed to possess incredible defensive capabilities.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s tens of thousands of punches shattered heaven and earth. The walls of time exploded and crumbled away. Even the Past Buddha was instantly sent flying, smashing a huge hole in Mt. Vulture to his back.


    "You damned thug! If I weren''t injured, you would never be able to take me on!" the Past Buddha roared, flying out of the crater by the foot of Mt. Vulture.


    Its body was swollen, and blood seeped out of its mouth. Its clothes were in tatters. However, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of stopping his attack. He shed right before the Past Buddha and punched at him once again.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    "Insolence!" the Past Buddha roared, meeting fist with fist.


    A whole sky''s worth of punches smashed the Past Buddha into the ground once again.


    Xiao Nanfeng was exhausting all the spiritual energy in his possession, supercharging his techniques to full strength¡ªand beyond.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you know who I am? How dare you attack me!" the Past Buddha thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng had shot into the pit before it could scramble out of it. The cultivator and cursed effigy continued fighting underground.


    Huge rumbles emanated from the epicenter of the fighting, causing boulders and dirt to rise into the air. The very earth seemed poised to explode.


    From afar, the cultivators sucked in deep breaths as they watched the aftermath of the fight.


    "Isn''t this the Past Buddha''s illusory realm? It should have ultimate power here! Why can''t it take down Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "The cursed effigy in the ck fog absorbed the strength that it imbued its subordinates with, then channeled it all to Xiao Nanfeng."


    "The Past Buddha must be crazy. Why would it bother with its subordinates? It should have just taken on Xiao Nanfeng itself!"


    "It must be heavily wounded. Perhaps its truesoul isn''t able to sustain all that spiritual power, and it was forced to divide its strength among its subordinates."


    "Is it that badly injured?"


    "Of course! How else could Xiao Nanfeng take it on?"


    Everyone watched the fight unfold in shock. The ground rumbled and quaked as countless boulders were flung into the air. Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have the upper hand. The Past Buddha roared in outrage, but all was useless against Xiao Nanfeng. It seemed to be growing weaker and weaker.


    "Past Buddha, you''ve lost. Now, die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared underground.


    More boulders and earth were flung into the air.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if I''m going to die, I''m taking you down with me. Explode!" the Past Buddha roared.


    The entire illusory realm exploded as the Past Buddha detonated his relics. Even the cultivators watching from afar were affected.


    "No!" they shouted.


    The illusory realm dispersed as everyone woke up in reality with a shudder.


    Their faces were pale, their spiritual power drained. Many had suffered tremendous damage to their very souls and been rendered unconscious.


    "That damned Past Buddha! How could it have detonated its relics? If that wasn''t in an illusory realm, we would all be done for!"


    "Ah, look! It''s still alive!" another cultivator shouted.


    Everyone looked toward the scene. One of the pce''s halls had exploded, and its interior was now filled with me. Within the fire, a golden lotus hood floated into the air, the cursed spiritual avatar of the Past Buddha.


    Having lost its illusory realm, the Past Buddha grew incredibly weak. A cloud of ck fog surrounded it.


    "No! Let me go!" the Past Buddha howled.


    Beyond the fog, words were written in ck light. "Use the Yin-Yang Cauldron and seal the Past Buddha and me within. Don''t let it flee again!"


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the other disciples shouted from afar.


    They ran toward the Past Buddha with the Yin-Yang Cauldron in tow, trapping the ck lotus and the golden lotus hood in it.


    The cauldron''s lid shut as itnded by the exterior of the mes.


    "Seal the cauldron!" Chang Bingmanded.


    "Understood!" The Earth division disciples quickly activated the cauldron.


    A group of purple-furred monsters mbered forward with Zhang Lingjun''s body in tow, guarding the disciples.


    "The Past Buddha has been trapped! Was the cursed effigy in the ck fog waiting for this opportunity all along?" someone eximed.


    "It had to work together with Xiao Nanfeng to take down the Past Buddha. The Past Buddha really was a tremendous threat!" another cultivator murmured.


    The cultivators looked around their surroundings. Someone suddenly cried out, "Xiao Nanfeng''s been injured!"


    Xiao Nanfeng reimed his spiritual moon. His robes were in tatters, and his body was pitted with wounds and holes. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.


    "Of course Xiao Nanfeng''s injured. He was right in the epicenter of that explosion! There was no way he could have avoided taking damage."


    "But Xiao Nanfeng really is impressive, isn''t he? He did take damage, but the injuries werergely superficial!"


    The cultivators murmured as they saw Xiao Nanfeng wave a hand and surround himself in fog.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body had been weakened dramatically, but his physical body was unharmed. He transformed into his physical body, then caused the fog to dissipate.


    "What? Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng so weak he was about to fall unconscious? He suddenly looks exceptionally lively now!"


    "He sustained spiritual injuries, but not physical ones."


    Many of the cultivators deduced what was going on. They watched on as Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the fire by Chang Bing and the other disciples'' sides.


    There, Xiao Nanfeng picked up two hemispherical golden beads. They were the source of the mes that raged on without subsiding.


    "Are those the Past Buddha''s relics?"


    "Those relics might have been destroyed and their spiritual power gone, but those mes are still ridiculously strong."


    "Xiao Nanfeng just picked up incredible treasure!"


    Many cultivators suddenly eyed Xiao Nanfeng jealously.


    Some among them were d that Xiao Nanfeng had saved them all, but not everyone felt the same way. Now that Xiao Nanfeng had obtained some valuable treasure, many wanted to seize it from him.


    Xiao Nanfent sat beside Zhang Lingjun. "Guard me. If any of those cultivators dares to rush over, release the Past Buddha from the Yin-Yang Cauldron."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The purple-furred monsters nodded as well.


    The cultivators, some of whom had been plotting to make a move, froze. Their faces twitched.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng threatening us?"


    "Damn it, how devious can he get? Does he intend to take us down with him?"


    "I don''t ever want to encounter any Buddhas again!"


    The malicious cultivators grumbled and cursed at Xiao Nanfeng, but none dared approach.


    They watched Xiao Nanfeng sit cross-legged in meditation as he began to absorb the mes from the Past Buddha''s relics.


    Torrential me encased Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What sort of mes are those? They look particrly impressive!"


    "Can Xiao Nanfeng withstand all that fire?"


    "Is he trying to cultivate some fire-attuned technique?"


    Many cultivators watched him curiously.


    After four hours, most of them had recovered from the ordeal within the illusory realm, but they didn''t rush toward Xiao Nanfeng. Rather, they continued to watch him until he absorbed all the mes in the Past Buddha''s relics.


    A huge wave of mes emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as the two hemispherical relics crumbled into powder.


    "The tenth stage of an Earth Immortal? Those mes looked impressive, but how could they have provided such limited energy? He only broke through a single minor stage!"


    "That''s impossible. We all felt the strength of those mes..."


    "Could we have been mistaken? Was there barely any energy remaining in those relics?"


    "Thank goodness I didn''t try to steal them, or I''d have made a fool of myself."


    The cultivators rxed, feeling far happier upon seeing that Xiao Nanfeng''s treasure had been ''worthless''.


    By then, all three cursed effigies had been dealt with, and their sense of urgency and danger had all but vanished¡ªno, the Past Buddha was still alive. Had the cursed effigy in the ck fog managed to deal with it?


    The Yin-Yang Cauldron shook. Everyone watched on in anticipation.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had no interest in allowing them to see whaty within. He summoned thick fog to shroud himself as he drew his divine undying de. "Unseal the cauldron!"


    "Understood!"


    The cauldron opened with a creak as a cloud of ck fog flew out. The ck fog gushed into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and vanished from sight.


    "Senior, have you killed the Past Buddha?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    "I swallowed it. Unlike with the other lotus hood cursed effigies, it''ll take me quite some time to digest it."


    "In that case, I won''t bother you any longer, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng nodded in relief.


    With the Past Buddhapletely dealt with, Xiao Nanfeng could rx.He waved an arm and dispersed the fog.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, is the Past Buddha dead?" a cultivator asked from far.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Past Buddha is done for."


    "Really? That''s wonderful!" Cheers rang out from all around.


    However, Zhang Lingjun had yet to awaken, and Xiao Nanfeng needed to remain on guard against the other cultivators. He continued, "Three lotus hood cursed effigies are dead, but we should be on guard against a potential fourth."


    The cheering cultivators stiffened. They nced around in trepidation, with no choice but to restrain their burgeoning ambitions.

 Chapter 513: Fish Hook

    <h4>Chapter 513: Fish Hook</h4>


    Within the Pce of the Moon, the cultivators hid themselves and reined in their auras for two whole days. When nothing unexpected happened, they finally rxed, confident that no fourth golden lotus hood was going to make an appearance.


    With that immediate danger dispelled, some of the cultivators began to plot once again.


    They had been chased around the Pce of the Moon for days on end, then spent sleepless nights in the Past Buddha''s illusory realm. During that time, they had been too terrified to think of iming the treasures of the pce. Now that they were safe, that was naturally their top priority.


    Many of the cultivators had begun to take action on their own.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng continued to stare at Zhang Lingjun in worry. A few days had already passed, but she still showed no signs of awakening. Had something happened?


    He could see that a group of cultivators was striking at a barrier in the distance. He didn''t join in.


    He was certain that, although the Past Buddha had taken down many of the pce''s barriers in order to kill the cultivators hiding all over, he wouldn''t have opened up the pce''s treasury to them. Even if the cultivators did find treasure, they might not be able to im it for themselves.


    Indeed, the cultivators in the distance were quickly growing exasperated.


    "Damn it! There''s something good in that hall, but it''s been sealed by a barrier! Break!" Ao Shuai thundered.


    However, the barrier was exceptionally sturdy, and Ao Shuai and his party couldn''t do anything against it.


    "Master, this barrier is too strong. If we attack a certain spot at full force, we might be able to break through, but we might well damage the main formation that protects the Pce of the Moon. It would be a disaster if we were to allow the purple-furred monsters in," one subordinate reported.


    "We would easily be able to unlock the barrier with the Pce of the Moon''s ess token," Ao Shuai murmured, turning to look toward Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun.


    Ao Shuai wasn''t the only one eyeing Xiao Nanfeng. Many were tempted by the treasures that were almost within reach.


    Ao Shuai strode toward Xiao Nanfeng, as did the cultivators all around them.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, do you have the Pce of the Moon''s ess token?" Ao Shuai asked.


    When the other cultivators saw Ao Shuai make a move, they drew back and waited expectantly.


    "I do have it, but the princess has yet to awaken. I am safeguarding it on her behalf," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    "The princess is unconscious. How could she have tasked you with it? I advise you to hand it over," Ao Shuai demanded.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, why don''t you share the Pce of the Moon''s ess token with us? We''ll share the treasure with you," another cultivator said.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "The princess entrusted me with it before we entered the Pce of the Moon. She designated me to safeguard the token in times of crisis. If you don''t trust me, you may ask her about it once she awakens. For now, her being unconscious surely qualifies as an immediate crisis."


    "And what proof do you have of this im?" Ao Shuai demanded.


    "Do you intend to snatch the token by force? Step forward, then. Who dares seize Princess Lingjun''s belongings in the public eye while she''s in the middle of a crisis?"


    "I¡ª" Ao Shuai stiffened.


    Indeed, who dared steal the princess'' possessions in public? If anyone really were to do so, Xiao Nanfeng would report the transgression immediately, and the thief would be summarily executed.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "We''re all calm and logical people, aren''t we? I rmend that you rest well after such a traumatic experience. We can discuss the situation more once the princess awakens."


    The cultivators nced anxiously at Ao Shuai, hoping that he would continue pressing Xiao Nanfeng.


    Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. He was no fool to demand the Pce of the Moon''s ess token in public¡ªand he had no intention of being a scapegoat for the others.


    However, he couldn''t simply leave empty-handed, either.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I remember that your subordinates'' arhat armor had been smashed apart the day you fled from the Pce of the Moon. Why is it that they seem to have been repaired since?"


    The cultivators looked on curiously.


    "What are you trying to get at?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "If I remember correctly, one of the suits of arhat armor had a special insignia. That suit was destroyed, but I saw it restored not too long ago. You must have restored it, Martial Aspect Xiao," Ao Shuai replied, smiling deviously.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes at Ao Shuai. Was Ao Shuai trying to harm him?


    He scoffed. "There''s no reason to beat around the bush. It''s no secret. I did restore the arhat armor¡ªand I know how to produce it as well.


    "What? You know how to produce it? Arhat armor is a national treasure of the divine empire of Dayin!" All the cultivators eyed Xiao Nanfeng jealously.


    Ao Shuai smiled in excitement. He knew that the divine empire of Dayin would certainly pursue the matter if they knew that the production of arhat armor had been leaked. Xiao Nanfeng really would suffer then.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t mind. The moment he showed off the arhat armor publicly, he knew that the divine empire of Dayin would find out. Perhaps they already knew of the matter; there was no reason for him to hide it any longer.


    "To be frank, I have to thank your father for being able to acquire it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Hm? Martial Aspect Xiao, do you intend to use my father as a scapegoat for your banditry?" Ao Shuai demanded.


    "Have you forgotten? That day I was intending to melt down Yin Tianci''s body, Eastern Aspect Ao sent his subordinates to instruct that I make peace. In the end, I let Yin Tianci''s main body go on the condition that he hand me his storage bangle."


    "You found the recipe for producing arhat armor from Yin Tianci''s storage bangle?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "I did. If not for the Eastern Aspect''s timing, the bangle would have melted downpletely. Not only that, the bangle contained materials needed to produce the arhat armor in bulk. I made a few dozen sets to outfit my troops. Why, I do have to thank the Eastern Aspect for this." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ao Shuai was so incensed by this news that his face flushed red. At the time, he had privatelyughed at Xiao Nanfeng for having been so easily hoodwinked, that Xiao Nanfeng had gained none of the benefits that his father had. Now, however, he realized that Xiao Nanfeng had won the greatest treasure of all.


    "Ao Shuai, thank the Eastern Aspect on my behalf when you return."


    Ao Shuai scowled. He turned sharply around. "Hmph!"


    He stalked off, followed by his subordinates. He didn''t want to see Xiao Nanfeng''s conceited expression any longer.


    The other cultivators, guessing roughly what was going on, watched Ao Shuai anticipating a good show.


    They didn''t dare to snatch the Pce of the Moon''s ess token from Xiao Nanfeng, so they would have to take an alternative approach.


    The cultivators all around attempted to strike at the barriers protecting priceless treasures.


    "I don''t care about anything else. Break down this barrier. I want the treasure within!" Ao Shuai shouted.


    "Understood!" a True Immortal cultivator replied.


    That True Immortal''s punch caused the barrier to shake violently.


    "It''s almost about to break. General Sha, I''llnd you a True Immortal relic. Continue!" Ao Shuai''s eyes lit up.


    "Understood!" the cultivator replied.


    The cultivator gripped the Immortal sword that Ao Shuai passed to him and was about to swing down when a fishhook appeared out of nowhere.


    The hook was simple and unadorned. It didn''t look like anything special at all, but it moved extremely rapidly and quickly thrust into General Sha''s mouth. General Sha was lifted up into the air.


    "It hurts! Argh!" General Sha shouted.


    Everyone jumped in surprise, thinking that a fourth golden lotus hood had made its appearance.


    There seemed to be a fishing line hanging from the hook, barely visible in the air. The other end of the line connected to the void¡ªit seemed to havee from a different space and time.


    General Sha struggled furiously, but was unable to break free. He struck at the fishing line with his Immortal sword, only to have it repelled with a metallic clink. The fishing line was entirely undamaged.


    "How can this be? Where did this fish hooke from?" Many cultivators were gobsmacked.


    With a toss of the fishing line, General Sha''s original appearance was revealed. He transformed into a gigantic shark spirit that hung in the air like a pendulum. [1]


    "General Sha''s a True Immortal. Why can''t he do anything? How can this fish hook be that strong?"


    "Could it be another cursed effigy? Just how many cursed effigies are there in the Pce of the Moon?"


    "A golden lotus hood, and now a fish hook... This pce is frightening!"


    Many of the cultivators were spooked.


    "Save me, Master! Save me!" General Sha cried out.


    General Sha was tugged into the void and vanished from sight.


    "What''s going on? Where did General Sha go?" Ao Shuai demanded.


    "Master, General Sha''s avatar is with my avatar. He just told me that his body in the pce has died in spirit and body. He can''t sense it any longer," one of Ao Shuai''s other subordinates reported.


    "What? General Sha died?!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    Ao Shuai retreated in fear, worried that the fish hook would reappear.


    The cultivators all around him gulped.


    "What if this fish hook cursed effigy has been hiding in the darkness and watching our every move?" someone murmured.


    Everyone retreated in fear, their scalps prickling.


    Many rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Why have all of you returned?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, we think we should apany you until the princess awakens."


    "We promised to guard the princess, and we should uphold our duty."


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, don''t you have two strong cursed effigies aspanions? They''ll frighten off the fish hook cursed effigy, won''t they?"


    The cultivators were suddenly so polite that Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. It was clear they were trying to seek shelter with him, hoping that his cursed effigies could frighten off that fish hook, whatever it was. They had been demanding the Pce of the Moon''s ess token moments ago¡ªand now wanted him to shelter them! How shameless could they get?


    1. As you might have expected, öè (read ''sha'')( means shark. ?

 Chapter 514: The Taiqing Grandmasters Still Alive

    <h4>Chapter 514: The Taiqing Grandmaster''s Still Alive</h4>


    The fish hook cursed effigy only appeared once. Even so, after that, the other cultivators lost their nerve to explore the pce on their own.


    They waited for over ten days until Zhang Lingjun''s body suddenly lit up with crimson light.


    "Is the princess about to awaken?" someone eximed.


    "Guard the princess!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.


    A group of golden arhats and purple-furred monsters surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, stopping anyone else from drawing near.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand and covered his surroundings in fog, isting vision and hearing around Zhang Lingjun from the gathered cultivators. They stiffened, thinking that Xiao Nanfeng was going to unnecessary extremes to guard against them.


    The moment Zhang Lingjun opened her eyes, an incredible aura surged out from her. The earth and ground in her vicinity were flung aside.


    The cultivators beyond the fog nched upon sensing this aura.


    "This is spiritual aura, isn''t it? That of a True Yin cultivator! Is Xiao Nanfeng releasing his aura? What is he trying to do?!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s not going to do anything against the princess, is he?"


    The cultivators watched on curiously, but the golden arhats and purple-furred monsters didn''t let them pass. They could only wait and watch impatiently.


    Zhang Lingjun eximed, "Xiao Nanfeng, what are you doing here? What happened to those three cursed effigies?"


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately recounted what had happened.


    "You dealt with all three cursed effigies that were causing even True Immortals to panic?" Zhang Lingjun eximed in disbelief.


    "It was thanks to everyone working together," Xio Nanfeng replied.


    Zhang Lingjun gave him aplicated look. She was astounded by Xiao Nanfeng''s capabilities. Just how ridiculous was the Martial Aspect that she had rmended?


    "How did you reach True Yin? Did you have some incredible encounter within the red moon illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I met the Taiqing Grandmaster there and received his personal tutge for several days. That''s how I reached True Yin," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    "What? The Taiqing Grandmaster?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded, aplicated expression on her face. She had intended to keep this a secret, but Xiao Nanfeng was likewise able to enter the red moon illusory realm and might meet the Taiqing Grandmaster himself in the future. If she were to hide this, it would be easy to cause unnecessary conflict between them.


    "Did you encounter the Taiqing Grandmaster himself, or a remnant of his soul? Or perhaps a cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m not sure." Zhang Lingjun frowned, then asked curiously, "Isn''t this a good thing for the Taiqing Immortal Sect? Why do you look somewhat upset?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "The presence of the Taiqing Grandmaster is a tremendous boon, but the situation and circumstances seem abnormal to me. I need to confirm whether that''s truly the Taiqing Grandmaster, so I can''tment on the matter just yet. I think you had better inform your father and the Heavenly Emperor of this matter, though."


    "Oh?" Zhang Lingjun seemed somewhat perplexed.


    "If you trust me, listen to me. If you don''t, then so be it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Since the Taiqing Grandmaster was in the red moon illusory realm, there was a possibility that he was able to overhear Xiao Nanfeng''s dialogue with Zhang Lingjun. Of course he wouldn''t dare speak badly of the Taiqing Grandmaster! However, since Zhang Lingjun trusted him, he had to warn her to be careful, lest she be a pawn or a sacrifice in the future. As for whether Zhang Lingjun was willing to listen to him, that was up to her.


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes shed. She could see that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t being envious of her. She considered his actions and guessed what he left unsaid. She nodded. "Thank you for the advice."


    "It''s nothing, Princess," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "How are our current circumstances?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "I was fortunate to be able to deal with the lotus hood cursed effigy, but I may not be able to handle this fish hook cursed effigy. I think we shouldn''t risk exploring any longer. We must leave immediately."


    "But..." Zhang Lingjun seemed a little unwilling to give up.


    "At the very least, we can''t take any more risks. We''re still very weak. Not only do we have to guard against the cursed effigies, we have to be wary of the other cultivators as well," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Zhang Lingjun took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng passed the Pce of the Moon''s ess token to Zhang Lingjun before he dispelled the fog.


    The cultivators quickly gathered around Zhang Lingjun.


    "Princess, are we going to keep exploring the Pce of the Moon?" someone asked expectantly.


    They were hoping that Zhang Lingjun would use the Pce of the Moon''s ess token to unlock the barriers containing treasure.


    Zhang Lingjun nced at the cultivators around her with distaste. As Xiao Nanfeng had said, if they were to continue their exploration, not only would they be risking their lives, she would be allowing these cultivators to take advantage of her. All the possessions in the pce belonged to her mother; why should she allow these cultivators to fight over them?


    "Everyone, the Pce of the Moon is far more dangerous than I had anticipated. I don''t intend to delve more deeply into it. I am prepared to leave immediately. Those who wish to stay may. I will unlock the barrier leading out of the Pce of the Moon for a quarter-hour."


    "What? Princess, why aren''t we heading deeper into the pce? With the Pce of the Moon''s ess token, you can easily bypass all barriers leading in. We aren''t greedy¡ªyou can have the lion''s share of the treasure, Princess!" one cultivator fretted.


    Zhang Lingjun ignored that cultivator''s encouragement. She reached out and infused her gic energy into the Pce of the Moon''s ess token, releasing a ray of purple light that struck the barrier.


    A crack opened up in the barrier.


    "We''ll enter the Yin-Yang Cauldron and allow the subjugated purple-furred lifeforms to bring us out," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.


    The Taiqing disciples opened up the Yin-Yang Cauldron, and Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and the disciples all headed within. Zeng Daniu lifted up the Yin-Yang Cauldron and rushed out with it.


    A strong herd of purple-furred lifeforms surged in from outside the barrier, but didn''t stop their rades'', Zeng Daniu and the others, from leaving.


    "Hurry! The barrier will only be unlocked for a quarter-hour. It''ll seal shut by itself afterwards!" one cultivator shouted.


    The cultivators rushed forward, knocking aside the purple-furred monsters as they fled through the barrier.


    Ao Shuai was naturally in the lead. He coveted the treasures in the pce, of course, but was more concerned about his own life. General Sha''s death was imprinted vividly in his mind.


    The majority of the cultivators rushed outside. Only a rare few stared at the treasyres with regret, upset that they were unable to retrieve them.


    In the end, no one was willing to risk their lives for these relics. They all rushed out while the barrier was down.


    In an isted and safe valley, Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates emerged from the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "We greet the young princess!" A chorus of bows and greetings met Zhang Lingjun, who looked over to see thousands of purple-furred monsters paying her obeisance. Although Xiao Nanfeng had recounted what had happened to her, she was still astounded by the sight.


    "Generals, have you all been awakened? Thank goodness. Please rise!" Zhang Lingjun called out.


    "Understood!" the purple-furred monsters replied.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng had informed her that these purple-furred monsters, just like Zeng Daniu, were brave and loyal generals that had pledged their allegiance to her.


    "Princess, should we continue subduing more purple-furred lifeforms?" Zeng Daniu asked.


    Zhang Lingjun looked expectantly toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m afraid not. The senior who has been helping me is currently in secluded meditation, and can''t provide any assistance to you all."


    Zhang Lingjun sighed in regret. "Until next time, then."


    The purple-furred monsters waited patiently.


    The ck lotus didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng for the rest of their month. The purple-furred monsters could only drop the matter for the time being.


    After the month was over, the Martial Aspects'' hunting ground opened up. The cultivators walked out; over half their number had been lost thanks to the incident with the lotus hood cursed effigies. Many of the cultivators remained fearful of what had happened.


    Of course, some had had significant sess. They emerged with the purple-furred monsters that they had subjugated, though only two or three at most.


    Countless cultivators were shocked to see Xiao Nanfeng emerge with an army of purple-furred monsters numbering over three thousand. It was an impressive sight to behold.


    "How could that be? Even if he were hypnotizing the monsters all month long, surely he couldn''t have hypnotized so many of them!"


    "Did they use the Pce of the Moon''s ess token to do so? Is it that strong?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng and Princess Lingjun really ended up with a huge haul..."


    Many gaped at the sight, and many more were envious.


    "What''s there to be excited about? None of these purple-furred monsters are True Immortals. What could they aplish? Xiao Nanfeng possesses the recipe for manufacturing arhat armor, and the divine empire of Dayin is sure to chase after him. He''s about to die!" Ao Shuai groused in envy.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly called out, "Generals, do any of you want the recipe for producing arhat armor?"


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, are you willing to share that recipe with us?!" All the cultivators looked toward Xiao Nanfeng in shock.


    "I know that the various Martial Aspects with whom you serve likely possess many purple-furred monsters. I''m particrly interested in them, and am willing to exchange a copy of the recipe for a hundred purple-furred monsters."


    "Are you serious, Martial Aspect Xiao?" someone asked immediately.


    "I am a man of my word," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He knew very well that the divine empire of Dayin would do anything it could to kill him the moment the news was revealed. He was confident he could survive the ordeal, but he might have to pay too high a price to do so. It would be better to publicize the recipe and gain something for it even as he made everyone else an aplice to his crime.


    "We''ll report to our Martial Aspects immediately. We''ll head over to your manor once we gather a hundred purple-furred monsters!"


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, we trust your word. We''ll gather up these purple-furred monsters immediately."


    The cultivators left the giant floating ind in droves.


    When the purple-furred monsters to the side saw that Xiao Nanfeng was helping them reim theirrades, they nced at him in gratitude.

 Chapter 515: My Dear Daughter

    <h4>Chapter 515: My Dear Daughter</h4>


    In a small courtyard of the Sieve of Heaven, Zhang Feifan was enjoying tea in solitude when Zhang Lingjun arrived. She smiled. "Father, I''m back."


    Zhang Feifan put down his teacup and looked toward his daughter. "Have you seen the Heavenly Emperor? What did he say about your circumstances?"


    "I told the Heavenly Emperor that I encountered the Taiqing Grandmaster within the red moon illusory realm. The Heavenly Emperor replied that all was well," Zhang Lingjun said.


    "''All was well''? Was that it?" Zhang Feifan frowned.


    "That was all he said. I then asked about my mother, but the Heavenly Emperor refused to say anything." Zhang Lingjun sighed.


    Zhang Feifan had another sip of bitter tea as he fell deep in thought. He didn''t speak again for quite some time.


    "What''s the matter, Father?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.


    Zhang Feifan suddenly looked toward Zhang Lingjun. "What do you think of Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng? He''s an incredibly talented cultivator with supetive ability and techniques. He''s not someone to be trifled with. Why do you ask, Father?" Zhang Lingjun smiled.


    "I mean, how would you feel about Xiao Nanfeng as a prospective suitor?"


    Zhang Lingjun blushed. "Father, what could you mean? Xiao Nanfeng and I are innocent!"


    Of course, she was discounting the first time they had met, when Xiao Nanfeng had seen her nude body.


    Zhang Feifan sighed. "I know of everything that happened in the Pce of the Moon. Xiao Nanfeng''s actions shocked me."


    "Do you mean his ability to defeat the Past Buddha with the help of the cursed effigy in the ck fog? I heard of it afterwards, too. I can''t believe it myself," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    Zhang Feifan shook his head. "That''s not what I mean. I''m talking about what happened after you defeated the Past Buddha."


    "After?"


    "While you were unconscious, Xiao Nanfeng guarded you for over ten days without going anywhere. He possessed the Pce of the Moon''s ess token, and would have been able to im all the treasure within the pce, but he prioritized your safety and stayed right by your side. I was very impressed," Zhang Feifan said.


    "Perhaps he was worried that others would snatch the token or the treasure within the pce?" Zhang Lingjun asked, thinking back to the scene.


    "He''s a Martial Aspect. Who would dare steal from him in broad daylight? He didn''t fear those cultivators¡ªhe prioritized your safety instead. He''s worth your trust," Zhang Feifan said.


    "Hm?"


    "My dear girl, isbat the only thing you''re interested in? You should pay attention to possible romantic rtionships, too," Zhang Feifan advised.


    "Father, what are you talking about? I''m a princess of the Imperial Court, and the Heavenly Emperor favors me. Not only that, I obtained the Taiqing Grandmaster''s inheritance. I''m sure I''ll be able to aplish great things. Rtionships would only impede my growth," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    "Do you think you have plenty of backers already? You should know that even your staunchest backer might turn on you¡ªand if that happens, you''ll be the first person doomed."


    "Father, what do you mean?"


    "My dear daughter, there are things I can''t tell you. Before your mother departed, you were whom she worried about. I don''t want anything to happen to you, and I need you to understand not to rely on your backers too much. They support you only out of goodwill. With that goodwill gone, what would you rely on?"


    "Father, you mean the Heavenly Emperor and the Taiqing Grandmaster..." Zhang Lingjun was about to continue, but Zhang Feifan extended a hand and prevented her from saying more. "It''s sufficient that you''re aware of the matter. Don''t speak of it, lest you be deemed disrespectful."


    Zhang Lingjun frowned, but nodded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng owes you for your rmendation to serve as Martial Aspect, but favors can be spent. Do you expect him to help you for good?" Zhang Feifan asked.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded seriously. She was intelligent and understood her father''s intent immediately.


    "My dear daughter, I ask you the same question as before: how do you feel about Xiao Nanfeng as a prospective suitor? Would you be against him bing your partner in cultivation?"


    "Father, how could you ask such a question? I and Xiao Nanfeng...?" Zhang Lingjun flushed again.


    "I understand Xiao Nanfeng. He is just and righteous, and loyal to hispanions. He reciprocates kindness and generosity. He boasts tremendous talent and is a man of honor. Han Bingdie''s daughter, Yu''er, and Lan Jiguang''s daughter, Yaoguang, have both disyed some degree of affection to him, but their interactions have all been chaste. Neither Yu''er nor Yaoguang have married Xiao Nanfeng, and you too stand a chance¡ªan excellent one, at that."


    "Father, this is bing more and more absurd! Surely I''ll be able to find my own partner?" Zhang Lingjun asked, somewhat ufortable.


    "Oh, my foolish daughter! Do you think all good things wille to you? Xiao Nanfeng''s right by your side. If you don''t fight for him, you won''t have a chance in the future no matter how you regret it!"


    "Father, have you been charmed by Xiao Nanfeng?" Zhang Lingjun didn''t know whether tough or to cry.


    "You''re my dear daughter. Would I ever lie to you? I''ve been looking out for you all these years, but Xiao Nanfeng''s the only one I''ve approved of. Furthermore, he''s right by your side. Think of what an excellent opportunity this is!"


    "Father, are you saying this because you think Xiao Nanfeng has a particr talent for cultivation? Because you think he''ll grow to be an exceptional cultivator?"


    "If that were all I cared about, you would have plenty of options here in the Sieve of Heaven. As I told you, what matters most is his personality and the values he upholds. If you be a couple, even when I''m gone, I can guarantee that he will take good care of you on my behalf."


    "Father, you''re overthinking things. I have no intention of being in a rtionship at the moment, and I feel as though I ought to rely on myself instead. Rather than count on others, I would prefer to strengthen myself. Under the tutge of the Heavenly Emperor and the Taiqing Grandmaster, I''ll do my best to grow stronger and clear my mother''s name."


    Zhang Feifan smiled wryly. "Forget it. I suppose saying anything to you right now is useless¡ªbut please keep my words in mind."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded, aplicated expression shing across her face. She wasn''t foolish, but this conversation had caught her off-guard. She didn''t know quite how to respond when her father brought up this topic all of a sudden.


    She wouldn''t mind if Xiao Nanfeng were her future consort, but...


    She couldn''t help but blush at the thought of her first encounter with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Dayster, outside Xiao Nanfeng''s manor in the Sieve of Heaven, Chang Bing weed a group of cultivators who hade bearing a hundred purple-furred monsters. The red-robed general in the lead said, "General Chang Bing, these purple-furred monsters aren''t easy to find. We only managed to meet the quota from the reserves of three Martial Aspects. Please confirm that they''re eptable."


    Chang Bing turned to Zeng Daniu behind him. "Bring these purple-furred monsters into the manor."


    Zeng Daniu and a group of purple-furred monsters charged forward, suppressed the hundred purple-furred monsters opposite them, then dragged them forcibly into the formation in Xiao Nanfeng''s manor.


    The red-robed general watched them in shock. "If you don''t mind my asking, don''t you need us to hypnotize them?"


    He was nning on extorting Chang Bing for it, but Chang Bing had dealt with the situation in an unexpectedly forceful manner.


    "We have our own techniques," Chang Bing replied, shaking his head.


    "But we haven''t dispelled our own hypnosis technique! How will you apply yours? Directly ovepping your technique with ours can easily cause the purple-furred monsters to be disoriented andsh out madly."


    "That''s fine. If they don''t listen up, we''ll beat them. They''ll submit eventually," Chang Bing replied.


    The red-robed general gave him a look. This wasn''t a matter of force, was it? It could be resolved in far less forceful a fashion, so why did these people insist on using their fists?


    "Here''s the recipe for producing arhat armor. Who among you will inspect it?" Chang Bing retrieved a jade tablet.


    The red-robed general immediately beckoned to an elder behind him. "Elder Chen, you''re renowned for your mastery of the forge. Please confirm the authenticity of this recipe."


    The elder began studying the proffered tablet.


    It took quite a while before the elder nodded, sighing. "Arhat armor is as intricate as to be expected. This recipe is authentic."


    "Truly? Wonderful!" The red-robed general''s eyes lit up.


    "However, even with this recipe, it won''t be easy to forge arhat armor. It has particrly exacting requirements regarding the forge, the forgemasters, and the materials alike," the elder warned.


    The red-robed general didn''t seem perturbed. "As long as the recipe is real, that''s sufficient. If Martial Aspect Xiao can forge the armor, I believe we ought to be able to as well."


    The elder, sensing that the red-robed general didn''t understand his concerns, turned to Chang Bing. "General, might I ask which master among you forged your suits of arhat armor?"


    He was particrly interested in this matter because he knew that he wouldn''t have a very good chance to forge the armor sessfully even if he were to follow the recipe perfectly. The forgemasters who were able to make such suits of arhat armor had to be superior ones beyond even his level.


    Chang Bing smiled. "Many in Martial Aspect Xiao''s manor can forge these suits of armor. We forge our own suits and don them ourselves. That''s how we can be confident in their abilities."


    "What? You can all forge arhat armor? Truly? Are you all forgemasters?" The elder was gobsmacked.


    How could that be? Were these cultivators all superior to him in forgecraft?


    "Elder Chen, since you''ve authenticated this recipe, let''s report back to the Martial Aspect," the red-robed general said.


    "No, even with this recipe, the sess rate will be minimal," the elder exined.


    Chang Bing nodded. "That''s right. We do fail sometimes, but it''s easy enough to repair when we do so. Forging these suits of arhat armor several times is perfect as training. Once you getfortable with the process, it''s easy enough. Several of my juniors failed quite a few times before they finally seeded."


    The elder gave him an odd look. Is it really that simple? Are you trying to hoodwink me with nonsense?


    Just then, another troop of cultivators emerged with a hundred purple-furred monsters.


    "Everyone, since you''ve confirmed the authenticity of the recipe, let''s consider the trade concluded. We''re rather busy at the moment, so I''m afraid I won''t be able to discuss matters further," Chang Bing said.


    He beckoned his fellow disciples to the next group of cultivators, leaving Elder Chen perplexed and confused.


    In arge courtyard within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, a cloud of ck fog flew across the detained purple-furred monsters and awakened them from their long stasis. Then, the cloud of ck fog returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "Senior, you awoke with incredible timing. I was worried I would have to suppress these purple-furred lifeforms while waiting for you," Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    Within his mindscape, the ck lotus suddenly spoke up. "The Past Buddha''s cursed spiritual avatar was a little unusual, so it took longer than expected. Everything''s fine now."


    The ck lotus'' voice was rather hoarse, and it was difficult to determine its gender.


    "Senior, you can speak now? Did the Past Buddha strengthen you that much? Are the Buddhas of Three Aspects of particr importance to you, then?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "They are, but they''re also extremely dangerous," the ck lotus replied.


    "Don''t worry, Senior. You''ve provided me with a tremendous amount of help. I''ll do my best to help you deal with them," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Very well," the ck lotus replied.


    While Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus were having a discussion, Chang Bing rushed over.


    "Division Leader, there''s someone iming to be the Heavenly Emperor''s assistant summoning you to the pce on his orders."


    "The Heavenly Emperor wants to meet me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 516: The Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli

    <h4>Chapter 516: The Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli</h4>


    In a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Yin Tianci, Tang, and Mo Lengxuan seemed to be deep in discussion.


    Yin Tianci looked toward Mo Lengxuan. His features were contorted in unease. "Are you certain? How could Xiao Nanfeng possess dozens of suits of arhat armor?"


    "His Majesty''s information has been confirmed. Xiao Nanfeng entered a Martial Aspects'' hunting ground and does possess dozens of suits of arhat armor. In addition, he can restore them easily." Mo Lengxuan frowned.


    "Damn it! I should have destroyed my storage bangle from the beginning. How could Xiao Nanfeng have managed to forge arhat armor? That''s impossible! There are stringent requirements¡ªhow did he do it?!" Yin Tianci cursed.


    Tang immediately said, "Your Highness, you shouldn''t me yourself right now. What''s done is done. We need to deal with the problem as quickly as possible. The divine armaments of Dayin can''t be allowed to be Xiao Nanfeng''s tools."


    "I''m not entirely to me, of course, but how will I rectify the situation?" Yin Tianci sighed, entirely thick-skinned.


    "We have to finish off Xiao Nanfeng, of course."


    Beside him, Mo Lengxuan scoffed. "Finish off Xiao Nanfeng? One of his bodies is in the Imperial Court. Do you intend to assassinate him there?"


    "Perhaps you wouldn''t dare, but I would. As long as His Highness provides me with sufficient manpower, I would be more than happy to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng in the Imperial Court. I''m willing to risk life and limb for His Highness, whereas you don''t seem to be of much help at all. At the very least, please don''t hold us back," Tang said.


    "You''re the one holding us back! That''s the Imperial Court, the Imperial Court! An assassination attempt there would be a farce!" Mo Lengxuan fumed.


    "Sir Mo, what youck in ability, you ought to make up in courage¡ªbut it seems you fail to do even that. I''m ashamed to be working with you," Tang said.


    Mo Lengxuan stiffened. He gritted out, "Is sowing discord all you can do?"


    Tang turned to Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, His Majesty will surely me you for losing the recipe for forging arhat armor. I, your loyal servant, am willing to take the risk to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng in the Imperial Court to repay you for your investment in me¡ªand to seek revenge for myself. I simply ask that you provide me some True Immortals as well. I will risk everything."


    Mo Lengxuan scoffed, thinking that Tang was simply trying to sound pleasing to Yin Tianci.


    Yin Tianci seemed perplexed as well. "You must be aware that trying to assassinate a Martial Aspect in the Sieve of Heaven itself will greatly anger the Imperial Court. Cultivators of absolute strength will chase after you. Your life hangs in the bnce."


    "Even so, Your Highness, I am willing to take this risk," Tang replied.


    Mo Lengxuan stilled. He gaped at Tang. Was he serious?


    "If I issue this order and you refuse it, you''ll be punished with death," Yin Tianci warned.


    "I am a man of my word, Your Highness," Tang said. He turned toward Mo Lengxuan. "Sir Mo, will you apany me in service to His Highness?"


    Mo Lengxuan stiffened. He didn''t know what to say. Was he supposed to go and die with Tang? Was Tang a psycho?


    Yin Tianci watched on, infuriated. Why had he trusted and rmended Mo Lengxuan so much in the past? Not only was he useless, he was even a coward! All he could do was bully Tang.


    Just then, a man walked into the hall. The moment he did so, he bowed. "Your Highness, we have just received word from the Sieve of Heaven. Xiao Nanfeng has traded the recipe for arhat armor to the various Martial Aspects for a ss of purple-furred monsters. He has all but distributed the recipe publicly."


    "What? Damn it¡ªXiao Nanfeng dared to publicize how to make our national treasure?!" Yin Tianci cursed.


    Tang sighed in regret. "I was intending to help Your Highness assassinate Xiao Nanfeng and reim Dayin''s recipe, but it looks like there''s no need for that any longer. Your Highness, it doesn''t make sense for me to lead an assassination attempt on Xiao Nanfeng now. Better for me to remain useful elsewhere."


    Mo Lengxuan suddenly jumped in. "Tang, were you acting just now? What a phony you are! I seriously suspect that you''re in cahoots with Xiao Nanfeng. You must be able to know what Xiao Nanfeng''s nning to do at all times. Xiao Nanfeng deliberately publicized the recipe for arhat armor in coboration with you so that you could gain His Highness'' trust!"


    Tang nched. Inwardly, he muttered to himself, "I must have gone overboard acting. Did Mo Lengxuan figure out what''s going on? What do I do now?"


    "Silence, Mo Lengxuan!" Yin Tianci thundered.


    Mo Lengxuan: ...


    "Have you no contrition for your part in the loss of Dayin''s divine armaments? You''re trying to use Tang and shift me to him instead! What else can you do but malign those loyal to me?!"


    Mo Lengxuan: ...


    "If not for Father insisting that you be my advisor, I would long since have sent you away. Your failures number far more than your sesses!"


    Mo Lengxuan: ...


    "If we trace everything back, if not for the three-headed serpent king you rmended, the recipe for arhat armor would never have been lost! It''s all your fault," Yin Tianci used.


    Mo Lengxuan: ...


    His eyes widened; his vision turned dark. How could the loss of the recipe for arhat armor be attributed to him?


    Tang rxed imperceptibly. He really was lucky¡ªnothing came out of Mo Lengxuan''s startlingly urate im, and Mo Lengxuan himself became the scapegoat!


    Within the Sieve of Heaven, one of the Heavenly Emperor''s attendants escorted him to Mt. Kunlun.


    The Imperial Court''s pcey at the peak of Mt. Kunlun. There were countless guards and maidens hurrying through its interior, which was surrounded by thick fog to obscure whaty within.


    With the Heavenly Emperor''s attendant leading Xiao Nanfeng forward, they encountered no obstacles along the way. They headed deep into the Imperial Court and stopped short outside a formation surrounded by fog. The attendant bowed. "Martial Aspect Xiao, the Heavenly Emperor lies within. Please step inside."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "My thanks."


    The attendant retreated to one side.


    Xiao Nanfeng headed into the formationyered with thick fog. Within, he found himself in a rather small garden.


    The pavilion within the garden was an unadorned structure. There was a small pond not too far away, only about thirty meters wide and rather ordinary-looking. By the side of the pond sat a genteel, middle-aged man.


    The man was garbed in robes with a cloud motif. His hair was rolled up in a topknot, and he had a fishing rod in his hand. He sat fishing by the side of the pond, looking particrly rxed and at ease. There was little in the way of authority or formality, only elegance and calmness.


    Several attendants stood close by, their heads bowed, waiting on the man. It wasn''t difficult for Xiao Nanfeng to guess that the man was none other than the Heavenly Emperor of the Imperial Court, the foremost cultivator of the realm, Yu Fuli.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath, walked forward, and bowed. "Xiao Nanfeng greets the Heavenly Emperor."


    Yu Fuli didn''t respond. He stared intensely at the fish hook, as though he had reached a crucial point in his fishing.


    Xiao Nanfeng silently nced at the small pond. Only then did he discover that something was unusual¡ªit was no ordinary pond at all. It seemed to be a portal into another world, a raging ocean in which fierce beasts roared. A giant dragon was thrashing.


    Countless fierce spirits were duking it out in the ocean, fighting over Yu Fuli''s fish hook. Huge waves filled the air as the giant dragon was torn apart and the fierce spirits were devoured. The fighting continued intensely until a huge ck fish swam over, releasing a devastating aura that caused the other spirits to shrink back in fear.


    The giant fish swam forward like a monarch, terrorizing the other spirits before biting down on the fish hook.


    "I''ve finally done it." Yu Fuli smiled as he drew the fishing rod back, pulling the giant ck fish out of the surface of the pond in a huge ssh.


    "Congrattions on obtaining a gianthernorth strider, Your Majesty," one attendant said, stepping forward.


    He retrieved a cauldron and pointed it at the giant fish, who was sucked into the cauldron the moment the hook was pulled out of its mouth.


    The servant immediately sealed the cauldron. The giant fish thrashed and struggled futilely.


    It took merely a nce for Xiao Nanfeng to notice that the cauldron was an exceptional treasure, perhaps one no inferior to his Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    "Prepare it," Yu Fuli said calmly.


    "Understood!" The servant bowed and retreated with the cauldron in tow.


    Another servant stepped forward and retrieved the fishing rod from Yu Fuli''s hand. Xiao Nanfeng''s pupils contracted¡ªthat fish hook was somehow familiar.


    Wasn''t that the fish hook cursed effigy that had appeared in the Pce of the Moon that day? It looked precisely the same, and it had caught a True Immortal shark spirit the moment it appeared.


    Xiao Nanfeng realized what was going on immediately. That was no cursed effigy¡ªthe Heavenly Emperor had been fishing!


    He then looked at the small pond nearby to find that the ocean had vanished, reced with thick fog. Mountains and streams could be seen in the distance.


    He frowned thoughtfully, murmuring to himself, "This pond looks unexceptional, but isn''t it an incredible treasure? Could it allow the Heavenly Emperor to fish anywhere in the world?"


    "Are you the Xiao Nanfeng who has been protecting Lingjun all this time within the Pce of the Moon?" Yu Fuli asked, sizing up Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a wry smile. "My actions must have seemed rather a joke in your eyes, Your Majesty. I didn''t realize you were able to see everything that urred within the Pce of the Moon. Protecting Princess Lingjun was unnecessary on my part."


    "It was no joke. You did well enough¡ªconsidering your cultivation, scant few could have done better than you did except for those ancient cultivators starting anew."


    He stood up and epted a towel from another servant to wipe his hands, then strode toward the nearby pavilion.


    He sat down and rxed just like an ordinary man, though the aura of nobility that exuded from him could hardly be hidden. His cultivation seemed to render him one with the world in truth.


    Yu Fuli considered Xiao Nanfeng again. He suddenly smiled. "What aplex mix of cursed spiritual power surrounds you¡ªand a concentrated one at that. You''ve encountered a fair few cursed effigies despite your young age."

 Chapter 517: Jade Emperors Frame

    <h4>Chapter 517: Jade Emperor''s Frame</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. The Heavenly Emperor''s sight was incredible. He had been able to discern various types of cursed spiritual power around him with just a single look.


    "Might I ask why you''ve summoned me, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    Yu Fuli handed the cloth with which he had wiped his hands to an attendant. "You''ve noticed what''s wrong with the purple-furred lifeforms of the Pce of the Moon, haven''t you?"


    "A little," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding, "but I don''t know the full story."


    "What have you realized?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "Your Majesty, I suspect the princess was not involved in whatever rebellion transpired in the past. Rather, it was likely that a cursed effigy had been responsible. The golden lotus hood is the most likely suspect. I''m sure you must have realized what was going on, Your Majesty, but for some unknown reason, you couldn''t or chose not to publicize the truth. In order to save those cultivators that had been possessed, you transformed them all into purple-furred lifeforms to seal those lotus hoods. The cursed king who controls those lotus hoods, the Past Buddha, was likely responsible for the death of the princess. You wounded it badly, Your Majesty, and locked it up in the Pce of thhe Moon," Xiao Nanfeng summarized.


    Yu Fuli asked, "And?"


    "I possess limited knowledge, Your Majesty, and this is all that I''ve surmised," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He did have a few other hypotheses in mind, but they weren''t particrly safe to reveal.


    "Do you know why I trapped the Past Buddha within the Pce of the Moon?" Yu Fuli asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He had been perplexed about this himself. If Yu Fuli was able to watch over the Pce of the Moon at will, that meant he could also have killed the Past Buddha at any point in time. Why hadn''t he made a move, then?


    "Could the culprit behind the princess'' death not be the Past Buddha?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "The Past Buddha killed her itself, but it was only one of the culprits behind the entire affair. The mastermind remains to be found. I left the Past Buddha in the Pce of the Moon to use it as bait to fish out the true mastermind, but you destroyed my bait. How am I to fish out the true mastermind now?"


    Xiao Nanfeng stilled. Was the Heavenly Emperor intending to me him for this? He didn''t think so.


    "Your Majesty, you are the supreme cultivator in the world. Your heart is vast, your ns far-reaching. The whole world is yours to control. A mastermind able to escape even your grasp must be a dangerous opponent indeed. Perhaps my entry into the Pce of the Moon was only a contest between Your Majesty and the mastermind, and I but a pawn. I kept to my principles, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu Fuli blinked, thenughed. "You elegantly absolve yourself of all responsibility."


    "I speak only the truth, Your Majesty. I have no qualms about what I''ve done."


    "Don''t worry, I don''t intend to cast me on you." Yu Fuli smiled, then continued, "Who do you think the mastermind might be?"


    "I have too little information to say, Your Majesty."


    "And if I were to ask you to specte?"


    Xiao Nanfeng contemted the situation. He was unlikely to be the target of Yu Fuli''s unrelenting questions. Was he trying to target the ck lotus, or perhaps the superior yin pearl?


    He took a deep breath and replied without shrinking back. "Your Majesty, considering that you''re the supreme cultivator of the world, there are only two types of entities who might stand against you."


    "Oh?"


    "The first: supreme cultivators of previous eras, in other words, cursed kings who have regenerated."


    Yu Fuli smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "And the second?"


    "The second: perhaps... heaven," Xiao Nanfeng replied, taking a deep breath.


    Yu Fuli''s expression grew slightly strained. He smiled again. "You''ve encountered many cursed effigies and uncovered some of their secrets too, it seems."


    "Only on a superficial level, Your Majesty. I''m unaware of the deeper picture," Xiao Nanfeng demurred, shaking his head.


    Yu Fuli asked his next question after a momentary silence. "I saw a cloud of ck mist with a ck lotus within. That cursed king still resides by your side, does it not?"


    Xiao Nanfeng grew serious. As expected, Yu Fuli was here for the ck lotus.


    "Yes, the ck lotus has provided me with tremendous assistance," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck lotus flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and hovered in the air, revolving slowly.


    Yu Fuli''s eyes lit up as he stared at it.


    The ck lotus, not to be outdone, continued to revolve.


    The two entities stared at each other for some time, as though probing at each other.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited patiently by the side.


    After some time, Yu Fuli finally smiled. "You''re rather injured, aren''t you?"


    "The supreme cultivator of this era¡ªyou live up to your name. The heavens will not tolerate you for long," the ck lotus said hoarsely.


    "You won''t have to worry about how I intend to handle the heavens. As for you, well, I can''t imagine your future will fare well." Yu Fuli smiled.


    "You need not worry about my future, either," the ck lotus replied coolly.


    "I don''t want to, but there are always flies around that annoy me. Since you''ve swallowed up the Past Buddha, the Present and Future Buddhas will soon find you. Fortunately, my Martial Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng, is soon to be tasked with dealing with them. Why don''t you cooperate?"


    "And why should I listen to your ns?"


    "There''s no need to refuse my kindness. I can guess at your personality. You might have umted an endless supply of grudges and demonic energy, but your heart is pure and your personality warm. You''re able to suppress the malice that lurks all around you. You truly are one of the most unique cursed kings I''ve ever seen¡ªthat''s why I''m willing to cooperate with you."


    "You don''t have the authority tomand me."


    Yu Fuli smiled. "I don''tmand you; we''re in cooperation. I intend to task Martial Aspect Xiao with quelling the Buddhas of Three Aspects. I do not mean to denigrate you."


    The ck lotus fell silent, but didn''t refute the Heavenly Emperor further.


    Yu Fuli then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you willing to wage war against the Buddhas of Three Aspects on my behalf?"


    "I am, Your Majesty." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He had dealt with the Past Buddha; the Present and Future Buddhas would eventually seek him out. Rather than face those two cursed kings alone, it would be far better to receive the Heavenly Emperor''s assistance.


    "Very good. I''ll grant you the authority to do so. If you encounter any difficulties along the way, let me know," Yu Fuli said.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then asked curiously, "Your Majesty, were the other two Buddhas the masterminds behind the princess'' death?"


    "You may ask them that question on my behalf when you meet them."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "The Buddhas of Three Aspects have been around for many years. The Past Buddha was only easy to deal with because I had grievously wounded it beforehand. The other two Buddhas won''t be so simple. This ck lotus fought with them in the past, and should be aware of how powerful they are."


    "As overlords of their era, they naturally boasted incredible strength," the ck lotus replied."


    "Allow me to grant you the Jade Emperor''s Frame," Yu Fuli said.


    With a wave of his hand, a tome of scripture appeared before Xiao Nanfeng. The words alone were wreathed with an air of divinity.


    The Heavenly Emperor''s attendants turned their heads away to avoid catching sight of the tome.


    "What''s your intention behind this?" the ck lotus demanded.


    "This is a technique that I myself cultivate to forge my bones into an Immortal frame. Consider it a token of my sincerity for our coboration."


    The ck lotus wasn''t one for grudges, and now that Yu Fuli was granting it his own cultivation technique, it could hardly ignore him.


    "Thank you, then."


    Yu Fuli smiled, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "You''re at the peak of Earth Immortal, aren''t you? You need to forge an Immortal frame as well. Since you''re taking on the Buddhas of Three Aspects on my behalf, let me grant you this tome as well."


    "Thank you, Heavenly Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng said in surprise.


    He quickly recorded down the Jade Emperor''s Frame.


    Human Immortals cultivated qi, Earth Immortals the body, and Heaven Immortals the frame. The realm of a Heaven Immortal was one in which the entire body was reconstructed with bone as the fundamental element.


    He had prepared a few Heaven Immortal techniques for himself, but they were far inferior to the Jade Emperor''s Frame.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly memorized the technique, then began to contemte it. He fell into deep meditation, standing stock-still and not noticing even when the ck lotus flew into his mindscape.


    After an indeterminate period of time, he slowly opened his eyes. It wasn''t until then that he realized the true potential and power of the technique.


    However, he seemed to have been meditating for too long. By the time he woke up, it was already dark.


    Yu Fuli had departed, leaving only him within the pavilion, as well as an attendant of the Heavenly Emperor outside.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, are you awake?" the Heavenly Emperor''s attendant ventured, smiling.


    "I apologize. I was engrossed in contemting the technique." Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly.


    "His Majesty said that everyone reacts the same way when first encountering the Jade Emperor''s Frame. He bade me not to disturb you, to allow you toe to of your own ord. He said that this first encounter would be of particr importance to intuiting it."


    "Oh?"


    "His Majesty has already departed, and you may leave when you are ready, Martial Aspect Xiao. The giant strider that he caught has been prepared. He said that it was a gift for you, Martial Aspect Xiao. You really are lucky!" The attendant smiled.


    He retrieved a jade box glistening with golden light, as if countless seals were wrapped around some treasure brimming with spiritual power.


    "This is thehernorth strider?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, happily epting the box.


    "Indeed, a giant strider from the oceans of the deep north. It''s a treasure difficult to best in the world atrge, and has already been brewed into a divine soup. Drink it quickly while it''s warm, Martial Aspect Xiao, to prevent the spiritual power imbued within it from fading away," the attendant exined, ncing enviously at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng had seen for himself just how strong the giant strider was. Its primal aura had terrorized all the other spirits around and made them keep their distance¡ªbut that fearsome beast had now be a soup.


    He nodded. "Thank you for the advice. I''ll consume it immediately."

 Chapter 518: Giant Strider Soup

    <h4>Chapter 518: Giant Strider Soup</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, Xiao Nanfeng entered secluded cultivation the moment he stepped inside a hall. He set upyer afteryer of seals around the hall before sending a mental transmission into his mindscape.


    "Senior, what did you think of the Heavenly Emperor''s strength?"


    The ck lotus was silent for a moment before replying, "Perhaps I''m too weak at the moment, but I can''t seem to analyze him at all."


    "Is he very strong?"


    "He deserves the title of the supreme cultivator of this era."


    Although Yu Fuli hadn''t shown any trace of his aura, Xiao Nanfeng believed the ck lotus'' judgment.


    "And what about this Jade Emperor''s Frame? You seemed to be interested as well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Put it this way: in terms of techniques that deal with forging an Immortal frame, none that I know can surpass the Jade Emperor''s Frame in strength."


    "Is this technique that strong?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. "Does the manual he provided us have a w?"


    "Are you worried that Yu Fuli might have done something to the manual? I had a look, and I don''t think he did. At his level of cultivation, I''m sure he wouldn''t deign to such an underhanded trick."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Although he didn''t drop his guardpletely, he had decided to cultivate the technique.


    "Senior, is this technique useful to you as well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Immensely. That''s why I said that Yu Fuli''s an imprable man. He was able to discern where I was weakest¡ªand provide an impressive technique to rectify that weakness."


    "Thank you for exining, Senior. I''ll start to cultivate this technique, then."


    "Very well." The ck lotus returned to its usual taciturn state.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the jade box in which the gianthernorth strider soup was stored.


    "I wonder how much spiritual power is within this giant strider? I hope it''s enough to help me break through," Xiao Nanfeng murmured expectantly.


    He opened up the jade box and broke the seals within. A pir of light burst out of the box, illuminating the entire hall. Spiritual aether gushed out, so concentrated it made the entire hall foggy.


    He took a tentative sip of the soup. Endless spiritual aether rushed through his body, and the sheer deliciousness of the soup left him awestruck.


    He drank mouthful after mouthful of soup, cognizant of but temporarily ignoring the intense vor that left his tastebuds in a daze. More specifically, it was no longer soup, but rather concentrated essence of the entire giant strider.


    By the time he finished the whole box of soup, he was surrounded by a gentle glow of white light.


    He immediately shut his eyes and began to cultivate the Jade Emperor''s Frame. The technique was particrly marvelous¡ªit was as though there were the barest sketches of the Dao around his body, ces in which intuition and insight could be crystallized and filled in. He infused the countless examples of naturalw from the Dazheng Code of Laws into the technique in the form of star maps. His bones began to crack and shatter.


    "Shattering bones and reforging one''s body anew..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured expectantly.


    His bones shattered into infinitesimal particles of light that revolved in ordance to the star maps that he had introduced. Then, the framework reforged those particles into Immortal bones. Gradually, new bones manifested within his body.


    The moment they formed, they began to resonate with the Dao. Plenty of Dao runes engraved themselves on the surface of the bones in an exquisite scene. Light red and dazzled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal bones met his tendons in a harmony that sounded like tolling bells. The entire hall shook and resounded.


    After incorporating countless examples of naturalw, the technique had be incredibly difficult to cultivate, but the potent energy provided by the giant strider soup was so immense that he was rapidly breaking through.


    Six hourster, a sound like tolling bells emanated from all his tendons, causing the hall to quake. A burst of energy erupted from his body.


    His eyes opened wide, glimmering with divine light. "The first stage of the Heaven Immortal realm? Thishernorth giant strider was truly incredible..."


    He closed his eyes and sensed the interior of his body. His bones were crystalline and carved with Dao runes, glimmering and resplendent with golden light.


    He could sense the strength of his physical body growing by leaps and bounds.


    "I''ve only digested the energy of a small portion of the soup. Perhaps I might make another breakthrough..."


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes and continued to cultivate, allowing billowing waves of energy to spread toward his Immortal bones.


    Four hourster, his body began to toll once more. A burst of energy erupted and shook the hall.


    "The second stage of the Heaven Immortal realm!" Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes once more.


    He had consumed all the energy within the giant strider soup and unlocked another advancement with his Immortal bones. They glimmered ever more resplendently, golden threads turning into golden mist and reinforcing his bones.


    After checking his body over, he slowly got up, dispelled the formations around the hall, and opened its doors with a creak.


    "Division Leader, you''ve finally emerged from secluded cultivation!" Chang Bing shouted. "We were considering barging into the hall otherwise."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the cultivators, perplexed. A group of Earth division disciples had gathered by the doors to the hall, with one of the Heavenly Emperor''s attendants beside them.


    "What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This attendant wanted to speak with you," Chang Bing said, pointing at him.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I greet you. Thank goodness you''re alright." The attendant''s face was one of clear relief."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "Because of His Majesty''s summons, I handed the giant strider soup to a fellow attendant to be passed to you, but Iter found out that he failed to exin the effect of the giant strider soup to you. Worried that something might have gone wrong, I rushed over. I''m very d to see you well, Martial Aspect Xiao." The attendant rxed.


    "Was something wrong with the soup?"


    "The soup contains the giant strider''s concentrated, near-endless energy. A sip¡ªa small sip¡ªshould have been enough for your Heaven Immortal breakthrough, Martial Aspect Xiao. If you drink too much at once, your body might even burst."


    "Burst?" Xiao Nanfeng gave the attendant an odd look.


    "My fellow attendant was unfamiliar with your cultivation and treated you like any other Martial Aspect. The energy contained within the giant strider soup is too immense and primal; even a True Immortal wouldn''t dare drink too much at once."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, you haven''t started drinking it yet, have you? Thank goodness. Please be careful. The energy contained within should suffice to advance you tote-stage True Immortal."


    Xiao Nanfeng had to take some time to process the attendant''s words. He wanted to reply that he had consumed all the soup, but his cultivation had hardly advanced all the way to that of ate-stage True Immortal. Could it be because of his cultivation technique and all the star maps he had appended to it?


    "Of course, that''s only the most ideal scenario. Without sufficient preparation, your cultivation wouldn''t be able to break through sessively, and the energy contained within the giant strider soup will dissipate with time. The longer you wait, the worse its effect. Although you might not be able to advance to True Immortal that way, you should at least be able to make a few breakthroughs. Simply be careful with regards to the quantity you ingest."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you for the reminder."


    Although he had already finished the entire box of soup, it was only polite to thank the attendant for his warning. "Chang Bing, show our guest out."


    "Understood!" Chang Bing guided the attendant out of Xiao Nanfeng''s manor.

 Chapter 519: Crusade Against Thousand-Spirit Island

    <h4>Chapter 519: Crusade Against Thousand-Spirit Ind</h4>


    Dayster, in Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng were deep in discussion. She and Xiao Nanfeng had gotten along rather well before, but ever since Zhang Feifan''s discussion with her, she kept thinking about their first encounter in which he had seen her nude.


    "What''s the matter? Your face seems rather red," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "N-Nothing. I had a hup with my cultivation, but it''s gotten better since."


    "Don''t rush matters of cultivation. Take it slowly."


    Zhang Lingjun rolled her eyes. Xiao Nanfeng was a faster cultivator than she was¡ªwhat right did he have to say that?


    "We managed to exchange the recipe for producing arhat armor for two thousand purple-furred lifeforms. In addition to the three thousand we reimed from the pce, you have a standing force of five thousand now." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded in gratitude. "It''s all thanks to you. Otherwise, the various Martial Aspects would have used them as cannon fodder, nothing more."


    "There''s no need for thanks. I''ll have to borrow them from you soon enough. Don''t be stingy then, will you?"


    "Naturally. Do you need them now?"


    "There''s no rush. I have something I''d like you to help with first."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Please send a petition to the Heavenly Emperor on my behalf."


    "Hmm?"


    "I can do so myself, but there''s a whole protocol I''d have to follow, and it would cause a dy. On the other hand, you can meet the Heavenly Emperor directly. I need to send this petition to the Heavenly Emperor as quickly as possible."


    "What are you trying to do?"


    "My half-year preparation period is over, and I''ll have to start taking on Martial Aspect tasks immediately. The Hall of Martial Aspects contains a task that I have to obtain at any cost."


    "You aren''t going to petition the Heavenly Emperor for that, are you? He never cares for such trifles." Zhang Lingjun seemed surprised.


    "It concerns the Buddhas of Three Aspects, so I believe the Heavenly Emperor will consider it."


    "Which task pertains to the Buddhas of Three Aspects?" Zhang Lingjun asked seriously.


    She had learned that the Buddhas of Three Aspects could well be the masterminds behind her mother''s death. Although Xiao Nanfeng had taken down the Past Buddha, the Present and Future Buddhas were still around. She viewed them with great enmity.


    "The task that I petitioned for to begin with: subjugating the Thousand-Spirit Ind."


    "I remember that now. Several months ago, the Immortal spirits of Thousand-Spirit Ind once attacked your empire. How did you know that the Thousand-Spirit Ind and the Buddhas of Three Aspects are linked?"


    "I have a spy there."


    Zhang Lingjun was taken aback. "It''s only been a few months! How did you do it?"


    "I was lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Someone just imed the task this morning, and I can''t afford any dys. Please bring this petition to the Heavenly Emperor immediately. I need to be inmand of the army."


    Zhang Lingjun took the petition and nodded. "Very well. I''ll go immediately."


    Within a small courtyard in the Sieve of Heaven, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was having tea as he watched Ao Shuai fume in front of him. "Master, who''s made you so angry?"


    "Who else but Xiao Nanfeng? I hate him!"


    "Has he provoked you again? Haven''t you been trying to forge arhat armor recently?"


    "That''s why I''m so frustrated. I sought out many forgemasters and failed dozens of times before finally crafting a single suit. It cost me a fortune in materials!"


    "But didn''t you seed? You''ll grow more sessful with practice."


    "The sess rate apparently can''t be increased. The forgemasters said that they only seeded because of luck. Trying to increase their proficiency is near-impossible. I heard that the other Martial Aspects are having the same problem. Xiao Nanfeng must have deliberately hidden some crucial information if he was able to make dozens of suits of this armor. He tricked us out of hundreds of purple-furred monsters!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng''s sly and devious, as we know. But don''t worry, he won''tst long."


    "Hm? What do you mean?"


    "His half-year preparation period is about to end, and he''ll be receiving tasks right away. The Eastern Aspect has already earmarked his first task: im a tithe from the sea of skeletons." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smiled.


    "The sea of skeletons? That''s a death zone. What if he refuses?" Ao Shuai seemed a little worried.


    "Martial Aspects are able to refuse one appointed task, but there are several even more dangerous areas for him to pick from. Among those options, the sea of skeletons might be the safest." The Martial Aspect smiled.


    Ao Shuai suddenly beamed as well. "Very good. If Xiao Nanfeng''s sent to the sea of skeletons, he''ll surely die!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is skilled, talented, and lucky. It''s a pity that he''s not one of us," the Martial Aspect replied, sipping from a cup of tea.


    "I heard that you''ve been arranging forces all around Thousand-Spirit Ind. Are you nning to take them on?" Ao Shuai asked curiously.


    "Thousand-Spirit Ind is rich and replete with resources, and is a source of immense wealth to us. Our ns are almostplete, so we just have to tighten the noose."


    "You''re going to attack Thousand-Spirit Ind soon, then? Don''t forget about me¡ªI want in!"


    "Naturally. You''re a representative of the Eastern Aspect, and will be in charge of supervising our forces." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nodded.


    "Has the edict of appointment for the subjugation of Thousand-Spirit Ind been handed down already?" Ao Shuai seemed eager and impatient.


    The Martial Aspect handed a document to Ao Shuai. "This morning, the Eastern Aspect signed the document himself. I shall be themander in charge of the subjugation."


    "Great!" Ao Shuai said. The next moment, he suddenly frowned. "But I heard that this task came from Xiao Nanfeng, who reported that the Thousand-Spirit Ind disrespected the Imperial Court. As the cultivator who issued the task, he has the right to follow us. Wouldn''t that ruin our ns?"


    "He''s about to die in the sea of skeletons. He''s noting to Thousand-Spirit Ind!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smirked.


    "That''s true. Xiao Nanfeng will die in the sea of skeletons, while we im vast riches from Thousand-Spirit Ind!" Ao Shuai cried out in excitement.


    Just then, a cultivator walked into the yard.


    "Martial Aspect, the Eastern Aspect has requested that you return to the Hall of Martial Aspects and return the edict of appointment."


    "Hm? Why?" The Martial Aspect was astounded.


    "The Heavenly Emperor has decreed that themander of the subjugation forces will be Xiao Nanfeng."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost: ...


    Ao Shuai: ...


    What sort of situation was this? Their entire n...!

 Chapter 520: Sneaking onto Thousand-Spirit Island

    <h4>Chapter 520: Sneaking onto Thousand-Spirit Ind</h4>


    Even more dayster, in a secluded cranny of a mountain on Thousand-Spirit Ind, three figures were whispering to each other.


    They were none other than Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou.


    "Many of the Immortal spirits on the ind hate you to the core. Even so, you dared sneak onto the ind? This is ridiculous¡ªare they all blind? Can''t they recognize you?" Ao Zhou eximed in disbelief.


    "We can change the color of our skin. When we participated in Dazheng''s war, it was ck. When we arrived at Thousand-Spirit Ind hoping to join the spirits within, it was gold. It''s natural that they couldn''t tell," Croak said.


    "But how did the two of you end up being officers the moment you joined? That shouldn''t have been possible..." Ao Zhou murmured.


    "We had connections, of course. Xiao Nanfeng reached out to someone and had us be appointed officers."


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng has connections on this ind? Damn it, why didn''t he tell me? Why didn''t he help me out? It took me almost half a year to gain my footing here. Do you know what I sacrificed for this?!" Ao Zhou fumed.


    "Didn''t you say you wanted to be a spy? Xiao Nanfeng had you wait, but you insisted on heading over. You didn''t even participate in Dazheng''s war!"


    "Nonsense! He tricked me by telling me that there was tremendous treasure and opportunity here. Several elders of the Qitian Alliance arranged to make a move on the ind. As a member of the Qitian Alliance, of course I had to show up beforehand! Otherwise, I would have received nothing as a result," Ao Zhou said.


    "Well, I don''t know about you, but we were made officers the moment we arrived. Xiao Nanfeng arranged everything for us," Croak replied.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    "Really, Ao Zhou, I don''t know what you do all day long. It''s as if you fritter away all your time," Warble added from the side.


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched. He retorted, "What do you mean, fritter away all my time? It might be a little tiring, but we worked hard and fought the other spirits in the area to fight for opportunities. Thanks to that, we all broke through. I''m a mid-stage Heaven Immortal now, and all my subordinates are at least Earth Immortals. There are plenty of spiritual treasures here; it''s far better than that barren ce known as the Dazheng Empire."


    "But we''re Heaven Immortals now, too," Croak said.


    Ao Zhou stiffened. He scowled in disbelief. "Liar! Didn''t you both just recently be Earth Immortals?"


    "What''s there to lie about? We''re guardian spirits of the Dazheng Empire, and we get to share in its spoils. Two months ago, Xiao Nanfeng granted each of us a Heaven Immortal pill that allowed our cultivation to break through immediately. Our foundations are exceptionally stable, too."


    "Right, and we''re not the only ones. Plenty of cultivators in Dazheng have be Heaven Immortals. Didn''t you know?" Croak asked.


    Ao Zhou frowned. The sess that they had only achieved by risking life and limb, Croak and Warble had obtained lounging back home! How was this fair?


    "Isn''t the Thousand-Spirit Ind an enemy of Xiao Nanfeng? How could he have connections in the region¡ªand ones that could appoint you as officers, at that? This is ridiculous! Could Xiao Nanfeng have other spies here? Who are they?" Ao Zhou demanded.


    "How would we know? We''re just here to reap what rewards we can get. We don''t have to worry about all that!" Croak replied.


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched. He cursed inwardly, "Why does everything you say sound so reasonable? I can''t even dispute it! Why is it that, despite my intelligence, I can''t ever seem to get any of these benefits? Why do you two fools always manage to get something good? This is ridiculous!"


    "Right, Xiao Nanfeng said that he''s about to make a move here soon. He assigned us tasks, and you as well. How much you''ll receive from him depends on how much effort you put in," Croak said.


    "Oh? Are the elders of the Qitian Alliance going to make their move now?" Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up in excitement.


    In a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Yin Tianci sat in the seat of honor, his face dark and his mood poor. Mo Lengxuan smirked as he looked toward the doors of the hall, as though waiting for someone.


    Just then, Tang rushed into the hall, a cloud of dust left behind in his wake. "You wanted to see me, Your Highness?"


    Yin Tianci''s face was cold. "What took you so long?"


    "Ah, I told you, Your Highness, I''ve been using Sir Mo''s name to gather standing forces all over the ind. I''ve reorganized the spirits that have recently joined Thousand-Spirit Ind, and I''ve been personally meeting with the various spirit kings to establish rtionships with them. We''re waiting only for the ind lord to return andmand them to attack Xiao Nanfeng. We''ll be able to work together and blitz him down, I''m sure! In order to gain their support, I''ve been drinking and dining with them thesest few days. I''ve drunk myself haggard by now¡ªthese spirit kings really can hold their liquor!"


    "Go on, keep on acting," Mo Lengxuan scoffed.


    Tang frowned. "Sir Mo, what''s the problem now?"


    "You''re the problem. Tang, how dare you lie to us!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "You aren''t going to admit it? Very well. I have a witness," Mo Lengxuan said.


    He pped his hands as a group of cultivators in ck escorted a few chained convicts into the hall.


    "Do you know who they are?" Mo Lengxuan asked.


    Tang nced over and gaped upon seeing a group of disciples from the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Hadn''t they all perished? Why were there still some left alive?


    "I''ve met these cultivators before a few times. They''re disciples from the left division of the sect, aren''t they? But I''m not familiar with them. Sir Mo, did you torture them? Are you trying to have them malign me?" Tang asked warningly.


    "Should I call you Tang, or the Pestilence Sage?" Mo Lengxuan wondered.


    "What do you mean? Be direct, please. Tell me how you intend to stain my reputation."


    "Tang is an omen of cmity; all those who join him end up perishing. Then, the Pestilence Sage forged Tang into an avatar, causing the Pestilence Sage to be an omen of cmity himself. All who surround the Pestilence Sage have perished. When the Pestilence Sage became the left division leader, he suddenly decided to call himself Tang. Isn''t that right?" Mo Lengxuan smiled.


    "What are you trying to get at?"


    "Do you intend to continue hiding the truth? Your purported confrontation with Xiao Nanfeng¡ªall that is fake, isn''t it? Everyone around you died except for you and Xiao Nanfeng. Your cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and Xiao Nanfeng managed to im ever more opportunities. That''s because you''re in cahoots with him, aren''t you?"


    Tang stiffened, but he forced himself not to reveal any of that tension. How could he admit to such a thing?


    "Sir Mo, you tell a fine fiction," Tang replied.


    "You can''t deny it. These disciples have verified it all! I also have other evidence. Would you like to hear it?"


    Tang ignored Mo Lengxuan. He looked toward Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, I can ignore Sir Mo''s nder, but I would like to hear your thoughts."


    Yin Tianci asked coolly, "Are you Tang, or are you the Pestilence Sage?"


    "Your Highness, he''s surely Tang! Why did our attempt to destroy the Dazheng Empire fail? It wasn''t because I was a poor strategist¡ªit was his fault! He''s an omen of cmity, the reason we fail at everything we do. Xiao Nanfeng must have had him join us deliberately!" Mo Lengxuan used.


    Yin Tianci''s face was dark. He stared at Tang with eyes that grew ever colder.


    Tang, realizing that the situation was deeply unfavorable toward him, immediately countered, "Your Highness, I''m sure you''re aware of my rtionship with Mo Lengxuan. He rmended me to you. If I were a spy sent by Xiao Nanfeng, then wouldn''t Sir Mo be Xiao Nanfeng''s spy as well?"


    "Ridiculous! You simply tricked me!"


    Tang continued, "I know that Sir Mo has already found all manner of so-called evidence, and it would be useless for me to plead my innocence. If Sir Mo wishes to put me to death today, I have only one request to make of you, Your Highness."


    "Oh?"


    "I am innocent. The truth will reveal itself sooner orter. Please lock me up far from Thousand-Spirit Ind," Tang said.


    "What do you mean?" Yin Tianci seemed perplexed.


    "I''ve been observing Sir Mo. Hecks ability and talent; all he''s good at is presenting himself in the best light. He strategizes carelessly, iming merit when he gets lucky and finding a scapegoat otherwise. The ind lord is soon to return, and Your Highness'' assault on Xiao Nanfeng is about to begin. Sir Mo will surely muddy the waters, and I suspect that his ineptitude will lead to tremendous losses on your part. I disdain the idea of working with him, and I wish to hide from him lest he use me of being some omen of cmity again."


    Mo Lengxuan interrupted, "Tang, I''veid out my evidence. How dare you nder me?!"


    Tang ignored Mo Lengxuan as he continued to appeal to Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, it would be trivial for you to kill me. Surely you wouldn''t mind waiting? Although I haven''t had a chance to look at this evidence for myself, I''m certain that it must have been such good counterfeits that I won''t be able to argue for my innocence. I don''t im that you''ve been tricked by Sir Mo again, Your Highness. I only ask that you imprison me and send me away for the moment instead. Let me be judged for my actions once the truth has been revealed once and for all!"


    Yin Tianci frowned. His evidence hade not only from Mo Lengxuan, but also from spies situated across the divine empire of Dayin. He had been intending to see how Tang would defend himself, but Tang''s refusal to do so surprised him. Was Tang truly innocent, after all?


    "Very well. To the capital''s prison it is. Guards! Escort Tang to the capital of Dayin and monitor him carefully."


    "Your Highness, wouldn''t it be better to kill him right now? It wouldn''t be a good idea to send an omen of cmity like him to the capital''s prison, either," Mo Lengxuan said immediately.


    "Sir Mo, are you trying to silence Tang to prevent him from revealing something?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "No, no, Your Highness! I simply can''t stand Tang''s hypocrisy any longer. Let us wait, Your Highness, if that is your will. He won''t live for long, regardless. When Xiao Nanfeng dies, so will he," Mo Lengxuan replied bitterly.


    Not far away, Tang bowed deeply to Yin Tianci. "Thank you, Your Highness!"


    Then, a group of ck-d guards strode up and escorted Tang away.

 Chapter 521: Sage Yellowbrow

    <h4>Chapter 521: Sage Yellowbrow</h4>


    Arge group of purple-furred monsters were garrisoned on arge ind on the Eastern Sea, and another thousand guards were on patrol.


    dOn the ind were plenty of buildings that had been constructed in a hurry. In one courtyard, Xiao Nanfeng was basking in the sun and sipping tea as he nced through a stack of reports.


    Just then, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost walked over with a grimace.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, you''re themander of the subjugation forces. Why haven''t you started attacking Thousand-Spirit Ind? Why are we waiting on this small, remote ind?"


    "The Thousand-Spirit Ind is no easy foe, and we need to make our attacks count. I am themander, and I need to understand my opponents before attacking them in earnest."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned. "It''s just a small ind! Head over there now, and I can take on their strongest spirits. The remaining spirit kings will easily surrender."


    "It''s not as simple as you think," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Is there any need for such a dy? If I weremander, I would already have seized the ind by now!"


    "And yet you are not themander. Do you intend on disobeying my orders?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stiffened. That was what he was most annoyed about. He was supposed to have been themander for this subjugation mission, but Xiao Nanfeng had somehow taken over. What was the Heavenly Emperor thinking? Not only had Xiao Nanfeng be themander-in-charge, the Eastern Aspect had had to assign a Martial Aspect as vicemander.


    That thankless task had ended up going to the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, whom Xiao Nanfeng reined in at every opportunity.


    "I would never dare," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied, fuming.


    "In that case, keep guard on the ind and wait for word from the frontline scouts," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost continued, "Martial Aspect Xiao, if we remain on this remote ind, the cultivators'' morale will plummet. That won''t be good in the long run either!"


    "You only have a thousand subordinates. What need do you have for morale? My five thousand troops are doing just fine. What''s wrong with your troops?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost: ...


    He hadn''t wanted to help out Xiao Nanfeng, which was why he had only brought a thousand cultivators with him. Xiao Nanfeng was now using that decision against him.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, your spies won''t be able to find out anything. Why not have my subordinates take on that responsibility?"


    "And what if they leak our whereabouts?"


    "That''s impossible. My subordinates are stronger than your spies. What''s more, this is a Martial Aspect''s task. Whoever divulges any information would be punished by death."


    "It''s not that I don''t trust your subordinates¡ªI simply trust mine more."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s face stiffened. Wasn''t that the same thing?!


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, what if I had a look myself?"


    "I am themander of this mission. You''re not intending to desert, are you? If you do, I''ll report this to the Heavenly Emperor immediately and request a new vicemander."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned. Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng being far too shameless? He was bringing up the authority of the Heavenly Emperor every other sentence!


    "I would never desert," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost gritted out.


    "In that case, you should listen to my orders. However, considering you''re too fidgety to remain on the ind, let me give you a task away from it.


    "Oh?"


    Weren''t you nning on staying on the ind like a coward? What''s with this task?


    "I''ll give you three days to reach the city of Yongding in the Dazheng Empire. My avatar will await you there."


    "Aren''t we going to attack Thousand-Spirit Ind? Why do I have to head to Yongding?"


    "That''s top secret, and I can''t divulge that information. You''ll see once you get there. This is your permit. Now, go!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was still frowning when he took the permit in hand. "Understood."


    He turned and flew away from Xiao Nanfeng''s courtyard, fuming.


    He returned to his own hall and erected a formation to block all noise. Ao Shuai and a group of cultivators were waiting for him there. Ao Shuai asked, "Well? What''s Xiao Nanfeng doing on this remote ind?"


    "He might have guessed our n," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied seriously.


    "What?" Everyone was taken aback.


    "We won''t have an opportunity to pilfer the Thousand-Spirit Ind''s wealth for the time being. Xiao Nanfeng refuses to make a move not because he''s worried about the Thousand-Spirit Ind''s strength, but rather about us."


    "Xiao Nanfeng really is an ass. Why don''t we have the forces elsewhere strike first? Let them take down Thousand-Spirit Ind and pilfer the treasure. Don''t worry about Xiao Nanfeng," Ao Shuai suggested, frowning.


    "Our troops are hidden around Thousand-Spirit Ind, but if they make a move, Xiao Nanfeng will learn of it quickly enough. By the time they take down Thousand-Spirit Ind, Xiao Nanfeng can easily head over and im all the treasure for himself with the Heavenly Emperor''s decree. Why would we help Xiao Nanfeng out like that?"


    "You''re right. Xiao Nanfeng must be waiting for our troops to make a move. Damn it. What do we do?"


    "Bear with it for now," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really is a troublesome foe," Ao Shuai cursed.


    "Don''t worry. He can hardly keep staying guard here. When the fighting begins in earnest, we just have to find an opportunity to take him down at the hands of the spirits on the ind."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    "However, Xiao Nanfeng just sent me off on an errand." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost retrieved the permit that Xiao Nanfeng had given him.


    "He must be worried that he won''t be able to control you. That''s why he wants you to leave," Ao Shuai analyzed.


    "Better that way. Once I''m gone, he''ll drop his guard and might even attack Thousand-Spirit Ind directly. At that point, you''ll be in charge of luring the spirit kings on the ind to take him down. Once he''s dead, I''ll return to deal with the mess."


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost made sure everyone understood their responsibilities before he stepped out of the hall and began to fly toward Yongding.


    Dayster, in a hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind, Yin Tianci and Mo Lengxuan looked at a middle-aged man. The man''s yellow brows were so long they extended all the way to his cheeks. He strode forward sternly and bowed. "Your Highness, we''ve been waging war and conquering thend thesest few months, so it took us longer than expected to return. I apologize for the wait."


    "Sage Yellowbrow, of course I can''t me you for helping deal with enemy forces around the divine empire of Dayin," Yin Tianci replied with a smile.


    "Truly, Ind Lord. You''ve done excellent work," Mo Lengxuan added.


    Sage Yellowbrow frowned. "But what''s this I''ve heard about some third party making a mess of Thousand-Spirit Ind during my absence?"


    "How could that be?" Mo Lengxuan replied.


    "Sage Yellowbrow, please calm down. I was the cause of the problem," Yin Tianci said immediately.


    Sage Yellowbrow shook his head. "Your Highness, I don''t mean to me you. Your seeking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng isn''t a big deal, but you''re acting in far too crude a manner. Was Mo Lengxuan responsible for all of this?"


    "Ah?" Yin Tianci was perplexed.


    Mo Lengxuan frowned. "Ind Lord, what do you mean?"


    "What do I mean? If you wanted to kill Xiao Nanfeng, do so without causing a ruckus. Are you trying to make sure that everyone knows the Thousand-Spirit Ind was attempting to kill a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court?! You''re attempting to sow enmity between Thousand-Spirit Ind and the Imperial Court!"


    "I¡ªno, it wasn''t my fault! It was Tang''s idiea!" Mo Lengxuan said immediately.


    "And where''s Tang?"


    "He was sent to the prison in Dayin''s capital."


    "Hmph! Another of your scapegoats, then?" Sage Yellowbrow demanded.


    Mo Lengxuan was momentarily at a loss for words. He turned to Yin Tianci for assistance.


    Yin Tianci furrowed his brows before he spoke. "Sage Yellowbrow, please calm down. There has always been friction between Thousand-Spirit Ind and the Imperial Court, and this incident isn''t a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Furthermore, Xiao Nanfeng won the sh, so I doubt the Imperial Court will mind too much. However, I''d like to hear your opinion on how I should deal with Xiao Nanfeng."


    "My advice is to avoid trying to provoke him altogether. After all, if your interference is made known, Your Highness, it would only shame the Immortal Emperor."


    Yin Tianci frowned. He had waited on Thousand-Spirit Ind for so long in order to get Sage Yellowbrow''s assistance with his revenge. If Sage Yellowbrow weren''t willing to do so, he would have wasted all his time!


    Yin Tianci looked toward Mo Lengxuan, motioning for him to add to the conversation.


    Mo Lengxuan hesitated. In the end, he gritted his teeth. "Your Highness, why don''t we listen to the ind lord..."


    Yin Tianci gave him a chilling re, causing Mo Lengxuan to nch. Mo Lengxuan cursed inwardly. Why was Yin Tianci so stubborn? If he didn''t help Yin Tianci out, Yin Tianci would surely toss him to the wolves!


    Mo Lengxuan had no choice but to turn back to Sage Yellowbrow. "Ind Lord, Xiao Nanfeng humiliated His Highness several times¡ªand almost managed to kill him. If we don''t seek revenge, His Highness'' grudge will never be resolved, impeding his future cultivation. Ind Lord, please help His Highness take revenge."


    Sage Yellowbrow frowned, deep in thought. "Is that so? Very well. How do you intend to proceed?"


    "Kill Xiao Nanfeng," Yin Tianci spat out.


    Beside him, Mo Lengxuan added immediately, "We won''t be able to take on Xiao Nanfeng in the Imperial Court, but he has another body in Yongding. We can destroy that to avenge His Highness."


    Sage Yellowbrow continued, "Do you have any ns in mind?"


    "Tang suggested that you, Sage Yellowbrow, lead all the spirit kings of Thousand-Spirit Ind to Yongding and deal Xiao Nanfeng a crippling blow," Yin Tianci said.


    Sage Yellowbrow frowned. He thought to himself, "What nonsense is this? The strongest spirits of Thousand-Spirit Ind heading out in force to kill a mere Earth Immortal? Who would take Thousand-Spirit Ind seriously after that?"


    Mo Lengxuan didn''t want Tang''s n to be implemented, either. He interjected, "Rather than cause a hugemotion, I think we should aim to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng. With your strength, Sage Yellowbrow, you can surely kill Xiao Nanfeng without raising a fuss."


    Yin Tianci frowned, somewhat dissatisfied.


    "Your Highness, we can''t be too grant about this. Otherwise, you might be held ountable if someone investigates the event," Mo Lengxuan advised.


    Yin Tianci was silent for a moment before he relented. "Very well. as long as Xiao Nanfeng dies."


    "Ind Lord, for His Highness'' sake, please make this trip," Mo Lengxuan requested.


    Sage Yellowbrow considered the proposal before finally nodding. "I''ll head there and back as quickly as I can, then."


    "Let me apany you. I''d like to see Xiao Nanfeng die!" Yin Tianci suddenly shouted with anticipation.


    "Ind Lord, why don''t you assign two True Immortals as His Highness'' escort?" Mo Lengxuan suggested.


    "Very well."


    Sage Yellowbrow, two of his subordinates, Yin Tianci, and Mo Lengxuan flew into the air and departed for Yongding.

 Chapter 522: Mo Lengxuan, the Scapegoat

    <h4>Chapter 522: Mo Lengxuan, the Scapegoat</h4>


    In a secluded courtyard of the Dazheng Empire, Tang''s avatar looked toward a ck-robed figure before him. "What are you doing here?"


    "Marquis Tang, on His Majesty''s orders, we have contacts who have made their way into the prison disguised as convicts. They''vee across your main body and will protect you and obey your orders. Their identities are..." The man rattled off a list of names.


    Tang smiled. "Thank His Majesty on my behalf."


    "Understood!"


    "Furthermore, remind His Majesty once again that the lord of the Thousand-Spirit Ind wrote that he would be returning to the ind within the next few days. I''ve stoked Yin Tianci''s desire to take revenge, so he''ll surely encourage the ind lord to take revenge on His Majesty. In Mo Lengxuan''s name, I contacted all the major spirit kings on the ind and suggested that they should attack Yongding. They''re surely making a fuss about that right now. Given Mo Lengxuan''s dislike of me, I''m certain they won''t adopt the scheme that I presented. There''s a very good chance that the ind lord himself will attempt to assassinate His Majesty."


    "His Majesty is aware. On his behalf, I''m here to report that you''ve been the greatest contributor in Dazheng''s efforts to take on the Thousand-Spirit Ind, Marquis Tang. You''re sure to receive avish reward."


    "Long live His Majesty." Tang beamed.


    "His Majesty also requests that you rx. If your main body is in danger, he himself will head to the prison in Dayin''s capital to rescue you."


    "There''s no need to worry. I may yet have a chance to regain my favor with Yin Tianci. His Majesty must be careful¡ªthe lord of the Thousand-Spirit Ind is an exceptionally strong foe," Tang stressed.


    "I''ll convey your words to His Majesty, Marquis Xiao."


    Outside the city of Yongding, Sage Yellowbrow, Mo Lengxuan, Yin Tianci, and two True Immortal spirit kings were standing atop a mountain peak as they looked toward Yongding in the distance.


    "Sage Yellowbrow, be careful. Xiao Nanfeng''s no easy foe. Last time, we suffered greatly at his hands," Mo Lengxuan warned.


    "Your utter defeat was humiliating for Thousand-Spirit Ind," Sage Yellowbrow replied darkly.


    "Surely you can''t me us," Mo Lengxuan said. "Xiao Nanfengid an ambush."


    "Even so, how could you have lost so badly? You''re all True Immortals, and the strongest cultivator in Yongding was only a Heaven Immortal! Even with an ambush, how did you sufferplete annihtion at his hands?" Sage Yellowbrow retorted disdainfully.


    "Mo Lengxuan failed tomand adequately," Yin Tiancimented.


    "It''s all because Tang is a natural omen of cmity! I wasn''t responsible," Mo Lengxuan defended himself.


    Yin Tianci was displeased by Mo Lengxuan continuously shifting the me. He looked toward Sage Yellowbrow. "How do you think we should strike?"


    "Although I could take on Yongding with brute force, there''s hardly any need for that. I''ll sneak into the pce and make as littlemotion as I can, then return with Xiao Nanfeng''s head."


    "Very good!" Yin Tianci nodded.


    Mo Lengxuan jumped in, "Yongding''s heavily guarded, and it''s difficult to enter via the city gates. I have a spy in Yongding. Shall I have him bring you into the city?"


    Sage Yellowbrow nodded. "Very well."


    Mo Lengxuan gave a signal and quickly came in contact with a subordinate within the city, who rushed out to greet them.


    "Bring him into the city. Don''t say or ask anything," Mo Lengxuan stated, pointing at Sage Yellowbrow.


    "Understood!" The subordinate bowed, then said, "Yongding performs stringent inspections on cultivators from outside the city. I''ll arrange for a merchant caravan within the city to sneak you in, Sir."


    "Go," Mo Lengxuanmanded.


    "Understood!" The subordinate immediately flew back to Yongding.


    Not too longter, a formation around Yongding activated as a huge golden barrier manifested in the air.


    "Enemy invasion! A spy in the city has been found. The Thousand-Spirit Ind is attacking us again! All cultivators, protect the civilians to the best of your ability! Activate all defensive formations around the city to the fullest!" A loud shout could be heard all across Yongding.


    The formations around the city shimmered as theyyered on top of each other as a flurry of activity took over the city.


    The five cultivators on the mountain peak gaped as they watched what was happening within the city.


    "Mo Lengxuan, I was intending to make my way into Yongding secretly. Even without your spy, I would have been able to get inside, and I only chose to make use of your spy just in case. What have you done? You''ve exposed us all!"


    Yin Tianci was ring furiously at Mo Lengxuan as well. "Did you cause this?"


    "No, I didn''t! Perhaps my subordinate had already been under surveince. I didn''t expect it would happen, I¡ª" Mo Lengxuan was at a loss as to how to defend himself.


    There was no way for him to shrug off the me for his failure this time.


    "Forget it. Guard His Highness. I''ll head down there and return quickly. This isn''t over¡ªI''ll deal with youter!" Sage Yellowbrow snapped.


    Then, he flew toward Yongding.


    Mo Lengxuan stiffened and sighed.


    Yin Tianci, however, had firmly decided that Mo Lengxuan really was inept, just as Tang had described. Tang was far superior¡ªno, what if he had deliberately tried to frame Tang?


    High above Yongding, Sage Yellowbrow cloaked himself in fog as he flew toward the pce. He smashed a fist into theyered formations, causing them to shatter as a howling gale formed around him.


    He was just too strong; he was confident that his next punch would shatter all the remainingyers at once.


    "Sage Yellowbrow, try it again if you dare," a voice shouted from within the city.


    Sage Yellowbrow frowned. He had covered himself with fog, so how had he been recognized? He turned toward the sound of the voice to see Xiao Nanfeng standing by the doors of Xuanhuang Hall,staring at him.


    "You''re mistaken, Xiao Nanfeng," Sage Yellowbrow dered.


    "I am not mistaken. The spy we caught described you very clearly."


    Sage Yellowbrow froze. He red in the direction of Mo Lengxuan once again. That damned fool!


    Afar, Yin Tianci nched. He suddenly realized that, if the spy had revealed Sage Yellowbrow, then he would be implicated as well.


    "Mo Lengxuan, look at what you''ve done!" Yin Tianci gritted out.


    Mo Lengxuan''s face twitched. How was he to exin any of this? Why was he so unlucky today?


    In the air, Sage Yellowbrow took a deep breath. He refused to acknowledge the truth. "Xiao Nanfeng, if I im that you have mistaken my identity, then you must have."


    Golden light radiated from him as he prepared to strike.


    "Sage Yellowbrow, not only am I emperor of Dazheng, I''m also a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. If you dare strike me down, you''ll be attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, an act of high treason. Are you certain you wish to proceed?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Sage Yellowbrow hesitated.


    "You represent the Thousand-Spirit Ind, which attacked Yongding recently. Despite being in the wrong, you show up without making any reparations and even attempt to assassinate me. Do you want the troops of the Imperial Court toy waste to your Thousand-Spirit Ind?!"


    Sage Yellowbrow frowned. He wasn''t afraid of the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court, but there was no need to deliberately provoke them, either. He very much wanted to retreat, but since he had already promised Yin Tianci, he had no choice but to continue. "As I''ve said, this is a case of mistaken identity. I don''t care for whatevernd you intend toy waste to¡ªbut today will be the day you die."


    "As you will, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He retrieved a seal and looked toward a nearby hall. "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, Imand you to kill Sage Yellowbrow immediately!"


    Sage Yellowbrow nched, following Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze to see a man in silver armor standing outside one hall of the pce.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost watched on with a thunderous expression. He had been gleeful to see someone attempting to kill Xiao Nanfeng, and had made up his mind not to help and to watch him die instead. He had even thought of a good excuse to refuse assistance¡ªthe Xiao Nanfeng before him wasn''t like the other one. This Xiao Nanfeng didn''t possess themander''s token, and there was no need for him to follow this one''s orders.


    Never would he have imagined that Xiao Nanfeng had actually passed themander''s token to his avatar. While on a Martial Aspect mission, the wielder of the token was imbued with full authority, and Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was the one wielding it. How could he disobey Xiao Nanfeng''s direct orders?


    "Why do you have themander''s token? What''s your other body going to do without it?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost eximed.


    "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, aren''t you going to obey mymand? Otherwise, I''ll punish you for being in cahoots with the enemy!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost scowled in dissatisfaction. He hade out to watch Xiao Nanfeng die, not to help him out!


    Just then, from another hall not too far away, a woman''s voice called out, "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, do you intend to disobey a direct order?"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost turned to see Zhang Lingjun. His eyes widened. What was she doing here?


    High in the air, Sage Yellowbrow, realizing that something was amiss, turned to run.


    "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, for disobeying a directmand and deliberately releasing an enemy from Thousand-Spirit Ind, my other body shall return henceforth to the Imperial Court and formally use you of wrongdoing!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nched. With Zhang Lingjun''s testimony as an eyewitness, he would be done for. Was this a trap that Xiao Nanfeng had specifically prepared for him?


    "Hold it!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted, shooting into the air, his face a mask of rage.


    He unleashed a treasure that shot toward Sage Yellowbrow like a silver dragon.


    "Damn it!" Sage Yellowbrow cursed, forced to defend against the attack.


    A howling storm was unleashed high in the air as the two supreme cultivators began to fight.


    At the same time, on an ind on the Eastern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body suddenly emerged from a hall and shouted, "Everyone, gather! We attack Thousand-Spirit Ind immediately!"


    "Understood!" countless purple-furred monsters shouted.


    In another hall, Ao Shuai and his subordinates emerged upon hearing themotion.


    "Quick, ask them what''s going on. Are theyunching an assault?" Ao Shuai shouted.


    "It''s toote. Xiao Nanfeng has already flown off with the five thousand purple-furred monsters!" one of his subordinates reported.


    "What? That quickly?" Ao Shuai was taken aback.

 Chapter 523: No Right to Speak

    <h4>Chapter 523: No Right to Speak</h4>


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and Sage Yellowbrow fought each other fiercely. Each sh resulted in roiling mes that dyed the sky golden. The shockwaves from the explosions struck the ground and caused it to quake continuously.


    Fortunately, Yongding was protected by arge number of draconic veins and formations that left the people unharmed.


    Outside the city of Yongding, Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and the two Immortal spirit kings frowned.


    "Why is the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost here?" Mo Lengxuan cried out.


    Yin Tianci thundered, "This was an ambush! Damn it, we have to flee! Take me away!"


    Just then, twelve golden beams of light shot toward the gathered cultivators¡ªYe Dafu and his crew.


    "Die!" one spirit king shouted, throwing a punch.


    Ye Dafu was sent flying. He smashed into a mountain peak in the distance.


    The two spirit kings punched forward repeatedly, sending all twelve golden cultivators careening away.


    "They can''t even withstand a single blow," one of them said, smirking.


    The next moment, Ye Dafu flew back.


    "Oh, that was great! Again!" he shouted.


    Ye Dafu was sent flying again, as were the golden cultivators that repeatedly charged over.


    "It feels sofortable! I''ve been itching for this for far too long. Spirits really are the best!" another golden cultivator shouted.


    "Me first!" The other golden cultivators fought to be beaten up.


    The two spirit kings frowned, ncing at their fists with no small amount of suspicion. Why weren''t these cultivators dead?


    "Ignore them. We have to flee!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    The two spirit kings nodded. They ferried Yin Tianci and Mo Lengxuan into the air.


    With a hum, beams of starlight descended from the heavens. Everyone looked up to see 361 stars shining brightly in the sky, surrounding Yin Tianci and a spirit king.


    However, the spirit king was alert enough to block the starlit barrier from formingpletely with a hand, preventing its body from being entirely enclosed.


    "This starlit barrier again? Bring me out!" Yin Tianci shouted.


    The spirit king shook its arm that was lodged in the barrier, causing it to crack.


    "Use your full strength!" Yin Tianci demanded.


    "Break!" the spirit king shouted.


    The spirit king shattered the starlit barrier as it struggled furiously. Just then, a loop of red rope caught on Yin Tianci''s neck and dragged him away.


    "Save me!" Yin Tianci cried out.


    "Damn it!" The spirit king quickly gave chase.


    Yin Tianci was pulled into a cloud of white fog. He shouted, "My neck''s about to snap! Help, help!"


    The spirit king couldn''t waste any time. It too shot into the fog.


    Shouts immediately came from within the fog.


    "Yin and yang, circte!"


    "Arhat armor, seal!"


    "These are¡ªpurple-furred monsters? And red rope? No!" the spirit king cried out.


    The spirit king seemed to have suffered grievous wounds. Then, a cauldron mmed shut. All was quiet within the fog¡ªall, of course, save Yin Tianci''s frenzied shouts.


    "Save me, save me!"


    Mo Lengxuan, whom the other spirit king had brought to safety, nched. So did the spirit king beside him. "What do we do now?"


    "It''s clear that there''s an ambush waiting for us in the fog. Didn''t you see it? If we enter, we''ll be trapped."


    "So are we to rescue His Highness or not?" the spirit king asked.


    Just then, Ye Dafu''s crew of twelve golden cultivators shot forward again. The spirit king sent them flying in a fit of frustration.


    Yin Tianci continued to scream for help, causing Mo Lengxuan to fall into paralysis.


    Trying to save Yin Tianci now was akin tomitting suicide. This was clearly a trap that Xiao Nanfeng hadid out.


    Beams of starlight shot toward Mo Lengxuan from all over, but the previous experience allowed him to dodge them all this time.


    However, the starlit beams didn''t dissipate. They remained in the vicinity, forming a unique formation.


    "Sir Mo, what should we do? Do we save him?" the spirit king called out. Ye Dafu''s golden cultivators were still surrounding and annoying it.


    Mo Lengxuan''s eyes shed. Eventually, he said, "This is clearly a trap. We''d only die if we headed into the fog, so it''s better if we stayed out here and remained useful. That''s only His Highness'' avatar, after all. Even if he perishes, he can simply forge a new one. He has no choice but to self-destruct if he wants to remove all evidence of his involvement. Once we leave and His Highness knows that no help is on its way, he''ll do so. Let''s go!"


    The spirit king was just about to nod when the starlit beams reverberated. Sound waves echoed across thend.


    "Sir Mo, what should we do? Do we save him?"


    "This is clearly a trap. We''d only die if we headed into the fog, so it''s better if we stayed out here and remained useful. That''s only His Highness'' avatar, after all. Even if he perishes, he can simply forge a new one. He has no choice but to self-destruct if he wants to remove all evidence of his involvement. Once we leave and His Highness knows that no help is on its way, he''ll do so. Let''s go!"


    The sound echoed time and again. Mo Lengxuan realized what was going on now. The starlit beams around him were part of a formation that amplified sound. It had magnified their voices until they could be heard from within the fog.


    Yin Tianci had been howling in despair after being caught by loops of red rope when he heard Mo Lengxuan''s voice. He quickly learned of the truth.


    Had Mo Lengxuan discarded him again? This was just like what had happened before.


    He btedly realized that, when Mo Lengxuanst tried to leave him behind, Tang had risked his life in order to save him. Not only that, in the process of doing so, Tang had lost an arm and a leg. Even so, he remained fiercely loyal.


    This time, Mo Lengxuan had sent Tang into the prison in Dayin''s capital. He wasn''t around to save him any longer.


    "Wretched fool! Whose body are you trying to save? If you dare run, I swear I''ll make you die a terrible death!" Yin Tianci roared.


    Afar, Mo Lengxuan froze. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng had tricked him once again. The starlit formation''s sound amplification didn''t ur in real time. Instead, it had selectively yed back parts of what Mo Lengxuan had said. If Mo Lengxuan hadn''t said what he did, his words wouldn''t have been amplified at all.


    Mo Lengxuan nched as he realized the truth. He shouted, "Your Highness, my words were deliberately distorted! This is a scheme. Xiao Nanfeng''s trying to trick you so as to free Tang!"


    However, Mo Lengxuan''s shouts suddenly dimmed in volume. This time, the starlit formation canceled his voice and prevented it from spreading.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re shameless!" Mo Lengxuan howled.


    He knew that Xiao Nanfeng had tricked him again. He was only allowing Yin Tianci to hear whatever was beneficial for Tang, not for him!


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard from afar. "No one will leave today. All of you will remain behind!"


    Lengths of red rope shot toward Mo Lengxuan again. Beside him, the spirit king continued to send the twelve golden cultivators flying as it blocked the red ropeing at them from all over. The situation was dire.


    "We have to flee. Xiao Nanfeng tricked us! Take me away. Leave Hi His Highness behind!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.


    His words were amplified once again.


    Mo Lengxuan: ...


    Within the fog, Yin Tianci, who had almost suffocated to death, howled, "Mo Lengxuan, I''ll kill you!"


    "This isn''t my fault! Xiao Nanfeng''s preventing my words from reaching you with a formation!" Mo Lengxuan roared back.


    However, his exnation was muted once again.


    Mo Lengxuan cursed inwardly. Xiao Nanfeng had to have nned all this in advance!


    There was no way he could exin himself now.


    "Come on! We have to leave His Highness behind. Let''s go!" He roared.


    His voice was amplified again.


    Mo Lengxuan: ...


    "It''s toote! You''ll all remain behind," Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng approached Mo Lengxuan. With a wave of his hand, the lengths of red rope around him magnified.


    The spirit king beside Mo Lengxuan narrowed its eyes and punched at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared, meeting its fist with a fist of his own.


    "Explode!" the spirit king roared, intending to blow him apart with just one punch to end this fight.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly raised the treasure in his hand. A void portal formed.


    "Be careful. That''s the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.


    The spirit king missed and stumbled. Half its body fell into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. Just as it was about to break free, the twelve golden cultivators smashed into it simultaneously, causing it to fall fully into the hidden realm. The twelve golden cultivators entered the hidden realm alongside him.


    Then, the portal vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only Xiao Nanfeng and Mo Lengxuan behind.


    Mo Lengxuan nched and turned to run. With a wave of Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, countless lengths of red rope surged toward him and tangled around him.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "No!"


    Mo Lengxuan was torn into pieces by the red rope. Blood fountained into the air.


    A bolt of red light blurred by as a figure of light attempted to escape. More lengths of red rope quickly surrounded it. This was, of course, none other than Mo Lengxuan.


    "Last time, your yin body managed to escape into the red moon illusory realm. Do you think you''ll get away this time too? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "No!" Mo Lengxuan''s yin body cried out.


    Even his yin body was torn apart. He vanished in a puff of smoke.


    At the same time, within the fog, Yin Tianci likewise cried out.


    He too had been torn apart and had died on the spot.


    As for his identity, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of revealing it. After all, this was only Yin Tianci''s avatar. The divine empire of Dayin could easily refuse to admit it and im that Yin Tianci had been a fake. He didn''t want to bother with a war of words.


    "Blue Lantern, enter the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. There''s still a spirit king within," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The starlit beams winked away as Blue Lantern shot forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened up the portal into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm again as the two cultivators stepped within and vanished from sight.

 Chapter 524: Bossy and Arrogant

    <h4>Chapter 524: Bossy and Arrogant</h4>


    On the Eastern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng and five thousand purple-furred monsters flew toward Thousand-Spirit Ind, followed by a thousand cultivators from the Imperial Court.


    Ao Shuai chased after them from the back for quite a while before realizing that something was wrong. He flew up to Xiao Nanfeng''s side and shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, Thousand-Spirit Ind''s right ahead. Are we going to charge toward the ind just like that? Are you crazy?"


    "Ao Shuai, mind your manners. If you dare rebuke me like that again, I''ll censure you for making light of the chain ofmand," Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.


    Ao Shuai frowned, but continued patiently, "With the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost gone, there are only two True Immortals in our army besides me. As for Thousand-Spirit Ind, it boasts not only an ind lord of immense strength, but also almost a dozen True Immortal spirit kings that lead various factions on the ind. If we charge forward so recklessly, we''re going to die!"


    He hadn''t yet had time to contact his subordinates that were lying in ambush around the ind. If they weren''t able to take down Thousand-Spirit Ind in one fell swoop and instead caused it to heighten its defenses, that would be troublesome. He was also worried about whether the ind lord had indeed returned.


    "Command of the army belongs to themander. You''re nothing but a lowly general. Why are you making such a fuss? If you don''t want to apany me, simply leave. No one will stop you."


    Ao Shuai stiffened. He murmured inwardly, "Leave? As if the officials taking part in the expedition are blind! They''ll record myck of participation, and I''ll surely be med for your death. Do you think me a fool?"


    "I have no intention to be a deserter. If you wish to forge ahead, do so. Don''t me me for not warning you about the danger ahead."


    "I shouldn''t have been the one to tell you this, but I have no choice considering that you''re the son of the Eastern Aspect, a heroic man. How could he have given birth to a coward like you? Why are you in hysterics after encountering just a small problem? If you keep this up, you''ll never make a name for yourself!"


    Ao Shuai''s face twitched in annoyance.


    Xiao Nanfeng was themander in charge of this expedition, and he could hardly refute his words considering the power dynamics between them. If he were to start a fight, the officials around Xiao Nanfeng, in charge of records, would note the altercation down. If word spread to the Imperial Court, he was the one who would suffer as a result.


    Ao Shuai could only sniff in annoyance as he retreated.


    When he returned to the back of the army, he was surrounded by a group of his subordinates.


    "Master, one of our spies with an avatar sent word saying that Sage Yellowbrow and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost are fighting outside Yongding..." a subordinate reported.


    "What? The lord of the Thousand-Spirit Ind has headed to Yongding? Xiao Nanfeng really is malicious. He tricked the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and sent him there as a shield!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    "Right? No wonder Xiao Nanfeng''s rushing toward Thousand-Spirit Ind now. However, even if the ind lord is gone, the ind is protected by a group of True Immortal spirits. Aren''t we going to die if we charge in just like this?" his subordinate replied, frowning.


    Ao Shuai fumed when he thought back to his conversation with Xiao Nanfeng. "Ignore that madman. I hope he dies within the clutches of those spirits!"


    "More importantly, if we charge forward at this rate, the forces we have in wait won''t be able to rush toward the ind in time," one of his subordinates murmured.


    "It''ll be fine even if they''rete. At any rate, we have to let Xiao Nanfeng die first. As for the treasures of Thousand-Spirit Ind, we''ll im as much of it as we can," Ao Shuai said.


    "Very well." His subordinates all nodded.


    At the same time, in the vicinity of Thousand-Spirit Ind...


    The countless inds that were scattered around the main ind were home to various spirit kings and countless spirits. There were so many spirits that each ind might as well have been a kingdom in its own right.


    The various spirit king leaders had all gathered by the za in front of the Thousand Spirits'' Hall on Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    They nced at each other curiously and began to converse.


    "You''re here early, aren''t you?"


    "Didn''t the ind lord summon us? He said that there were important arrangements, so we had toe early."


    "But it''s strange, isn''t it? Why was Commander Mo the one who sent word to inform us? That''s out of the ordinary¡ªand those messengers were unfamiliar, too."


    "They were, but they did have Commander Mo''s token with them. Surely nothing''s wrong?"


    The spirit kings chatted with each other. Many were perplexed, but Thousand-Spirit Ind was home for them, and they weren''t concerned about any subterfuge.


    However, some of them asionally shot curious nces at Ao Zhou. He was the one who had informed them of the news. At that moment, Ao Zhou was still busy sending small spirits around to urge the other spirit kings to convene.


    Just then, a small spirit flew over. It said anxiously, "King, something''s wrong. My avatar is in Yongding. The ind lord and Commander Mo are waging war over there. How could they have convened a meeting here?"


    The spirit kings all frowned as they looked toward Ao Zhou, intending to ask him what was going on.


    However, Ao Zhou retorted, "So what if the ind lord is in Yongding? He''ll be sending a subordinate over to assign a task to every spirit king in charge. What sort of ce do you think this is? You''re spouting nonsense without even confirming the facts! Are you trying to cause a disturbance?"


    "Ah?" The small spirit hesitated, momentarily at a loss.


    Ao Zhou then turned toward the spirit kings. "Please wait. Someone familiar to all of you will soone to exin the situation."


    The spirit kings frowned, but nodded.


    Ao Zhou turned toward the small spirits on his other side. "Two spirit kings haven''t yet arrived. Hurry up and summon them."


    "Got it!" A group of small spirits rushed away.


    Just then, a man flew over. He cried out, "I''m one of Commander Mo''s subordinates, and I have an avatar by his main body. He said that he never convened such a meeting. Something''s wrong with this spirit! Catch him!"


    The spirits all looked toward Ao Zhou, but Ao Zhou didn''t seem nervous at all. He thundered, "Do you want to die? Commander Mo assigned me this task himself, and he even gave me his identification token! You''re making a fuss about this because Commander Mo stripped you of your position and left me in charge! That''s a grudge between the two of us¡ªhow could you make a fuss right here and now? Do you intend to ruin my task? Beat him up!"


    The spirit kings were taken aback and momentarily confused. They knew the person who had just spoken; he was one of Commander Mo''s usual messengers. Had he really been stripped of his position? Ao Zhou''s token wasn''t fake, either. Had things really happened the way Ao Zhou described them?


    "He''s ly¡ª" The person tried to expose Ao Zhou, but Croak sent him flying with a fist.


    Croak began to pummel on him before he could get a word out.


    "Beat him to death! Beat up this double-crossing fool! Commander Mo just appointed me to this position¡ªI won''t let him make a fuss and ruin my ns! Beat him up!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    Just then, another cultivator rushed forward and shouted, "He''s lying!"


    Before the person could say more, however, Warble sent him flying with a punch. He shrieked as hended in the distance.


    Ao Zhou thundered, "Is everyone against me today? Do you really think Commander Mo won''t punish you for what you''re doing? I''m telling you, now that I''ve risen to prominence and all of you have lost your backer, I''ll rece everyst one of you stubborn fools! Who else wants to make a fuss? Come on!"


    Ao Zhou''s bossy and domineering behavior caused the spirit kings to titter at each other as they watched. Seeing Mo Lengxuan''s subordinates fighting each other was the best of entertainment.


    Two more spirit kings approached from the distance. The other spirit kings exined to them what was going on, and they watched the development unfold with interest.


    Ao Zhou clearly wasn''t satisfied with grandstanding alone. He began to take part in the melee of his own ord, beating up the ''troublemakers'' with Croak and Warble. The spirits all around them began tough.


    Just then, seventy-two pirs of light rose into the air around the Thousand-Spirit Ind. The pirs of light shot into the sky and arced toward the center, joining together in a structure that looked like an umbre frame.


    "What''s this?" Some of the spirit kings frowned.


    "Spirit kings, there''s no need to worry. Commander Mo arranged for this defensive formation to protect the ind.


    The spirit kings frowned. They suddenly looked around in unease, but if they were so scared they fled from nothing but a defensive formation, they''d never hear thest of it from the other spirit kings. All they could do, for the sake of their pride, was to remain and watch on.


    Just then, a small spirit suddenly shouted, "King, forces are rapidly approaching us! Their leader is Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "What?" The spirit kings whirled around to see Xiao Nanfeng approaching from afar with a huge army.


    Sensing that something was wrong, the spirit kings attempted to flee, but it was already toote. The seventy-two pirs of light transformed into a membrane, establishing a giant blue barrier that trapped the strongest spirits of Thousand-Spirit Ind within.


    "Something''s wrong. Break!" a spirit king roared, striking at the barrier with a palm.


    The barrier trembled briefly, but didn''t seem to suffer damage otherwise.


    "Have we been trapped? We''ll strike together!" the spirit king shouted.


    The spirit kingsbined their attacks in a huge explosion that caused the barrier to tremble violently¡ªbut not to break.


    "Isn''t this the Hall of Martial Aspects'' Cursed Earth formation? When Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court are out on missions, they can borrow important relics from the Hall of Martial Aspects, which must be returned at the end of the mission. This is one of the formations that the Hall has avable for public use!" one spirit king shouted, recognizing it.


    "This formation has to be set up days in advance. Why did no one notice?"


    "A spy! He''s a spy for the Imperial Court!"


    "Damn it, is the Imperial Court attacking Thousand-Spirit Ind now?!"


    The spirit kings were all in a fuss.


    They attempted to break down the formation, but failed to do so at all. They immediately shouted to those spirits outside the formation, "Attack this foundation of this formation! Hurry!"


    "Understood!" The spirits gathered outside the formation rushed toward it.


    Ao Zhou frowned. He shouted into the distance, "Xiao Nanfeng, hurry up! We won''t be able to guard the foundation of the formation for long!"


    Ao Zhou, Croak, and Warble faced off against the gathered Immortal spirits. However, there were simply too many spirits on the ind, all of whom were rushing toward the formation after hearing about the news.


    From afar, Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "All forces, protect the Cursed Earth formation! Kill anyone who dares draw near!"


    "Understood!" The five thousand purple-furred monsters rushed forward.


    Intense fighting ensued all over Thousand-Spirit Ind. A howling tempest formed, and tsunami-like waves filled the surrounding ocean.


    Ao Shuai and the others gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "You wereying out the Cursed Earth formation all this time?"


    "Ao Shuai, aren''t you going to make a move? If you allow those spirits to close in on the formation, I''ll punish you for being in cahoots with the enemy!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted at Ao Shuai and his subordinates.


    Ao Shuai and his subordinates: ...

 Chapter 525: Xiao Nanfengs Conquest

    <h4>Chapter 525: Xiao Nanfeng''s Conquest</h4>


    Outside Yongding, in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, despite the fact that Ye Dafu and the others had been beaten to a pulp and countless lengths of red rope had been torn apart, the True Immortal spirit king had been restrained. Starlight descended from the heavens and trapped the spirit king within a starlit barrier.


    "Blue Lantern, can you hold on?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This spirit king is stronger than the previous two, but it should be alright if I give it my full focus."


    "I''ll leave it to you, then."


    "Don''t worry!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng retreated from the hidden realm along with Ye Dafu and the others. The portal winked shut as they left.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost continued to fight against Sage Yellowbrow. The fighting was intense, and both cultivators had been hurt.


    Ye Dafu murmured, "Your Majesty, this Sage Yellowbrow is far stronger than I thought. Could he be..."


    "A Golden Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "A Golden Immortal?" Ye Dafu''s eyes widened.


    "There are six grades of Immortals. The lower three grades are Human, Earth, and Heaven; we are all Heaven Immortals now. However, in the eyes of the higher Immortals, we''re all still rather weak. After True Immortalse Golden Immortals, who boast immense strength. If not for the help of the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, we would have a hard time against Sage Yellowbrow," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Is the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost a Golden Immortal as well?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It''s been rumored that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was once very badly injured, which was how his cultivation ended up falling back down to the level of a True Immortal. It looks like he''s recovered quite a bit since, and Sage Yellowbrow is clearly an early-stage Golden Immortal as well. That''s why they''re able to fight on equal footing."


    "Your Majesty, if the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost suddenly decides to give up, how will we deal with Sage Yellowbrow?" Ye Dafu asked in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the matter carefully. He could use the Dazheng Code of Laws against a Golden Immortal. The Dazheng Code of Laws contained the foundationalws of the kingdom and could be used to seal even exceptionally strong cultivators. Furthermore, it had been forged from the Heavenly Dao Scroll, and the star maps within were subtle and powerful.


    However, unless he were forced to do so, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want to expose the Dazheng Code of Laws.


    "Let''s wait and see for now," he finally replied.


    The group of cultivations flew toward the barrier surrounding Yongding. Using a special method, they passed through the barrier and into the za outside Xuanhuang Hall.


    Zhang Lingjun strode up. "Be careful. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost might very well feign weakness to allow Sage Yellowbrow to attack Yongding."


    "Oh?"


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost deliberately nced in the direction of Yongding several times after being sent flying. He seems to be searching for traces of you¡ªbut you''ve been away from the battlefield. That''s how things have dragged out for so long. Now that you''ve shown yourself, he could easily pretend to be defeated to have Sage Yellowbrow kill you. You had better hide," Zhang Lingjun warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. All of Yongding was watching him. As the emperor of Dazheng, how could he hide? He had no intention of retreating.


    "Forget it. If the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost feigns weakness, I''ll censure him. As for Sage Yellowbrow, I can handle him as well."


    "You can handle a Golden Immortal? I don''t think you would be able to even if you invoked your empire''s strength!" Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at the sky, not exining himself.


    Indeed, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was nning on doing what Zhang Lingjun had anticipated. However, it would be too fake if he had done so from the very beginning, and he had chosen to fight with Sage Yellowbrow for some time as a result. When he felt the time was right to lead Sage Yellowbrow to kill Xiao Nanfeng, however, he btedly discovered that Xiao Nanfeng had vanished. He immediately grew frustrated.


    Hested until Xiao Nanfeng finally showed himself and was about to lure Sage Yellowbrow down to Yongding when a shout could be heard from within the city. "Ind Lord, something''s wrong! Xiao Nanfeng''s other body has attacked Thousand-Spirit Ind with arge army. All the spirit kings have been trapped within the Cursed Earth formation!"


    The shout could be heard even in the air.


    Sage Yellowbrow, held back by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, could only watch on in frustration as Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and his two True Immortal subordinates were killed, helpless to do anything against them. Heunched an intense series of attacks against the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, swearing that he would annihte the city of Yongding.


    However, the panicked shouts from within the city broke his concentration.


    Xiao Nanfeng was attacking Thousand-Spirit Ind? How could that be?


    The next moment, he decided to trust the spirit in the city. If the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost himself had shown up, it was very possible that the Imperial Court was involved.


    Was Thousand-Spirit Ind going to be taken down?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!" Sage Yellowbrow howled, mming a palm at the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pretended not to be able to counter the blow. He was sent flying.


    He grinned inwardly. He had seeded! Now that he had fallen, no one could criticize him for Xiao Nanfeng''s death. Sage Yellowbrow would surely kill him now!


    However, Sage Yellowbrow immediately turned and flew toward the horizon. He vanished from sight within a moment.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost: ...


    The countless cultivators within the city: ...


    They didn''t understand what was going on. Why had Sage Yellowbrow stopped attacking Yongding? Why was he running off?


    "Are you crazy?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost seethed.


    He had acted for half a day all so Sage Yellowbrow could kill Xiao Nanfeng¡ªonly to have Sage Yellowbrow run off at the most critical moment. He had suffered a beating for nothing! He was so angry he could vomit out blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng called out toward the fuming Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, "Martial Aspect, pursue Sage Yellowbrow immediately!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost scowled. Despite his anger, he realized what was going on. The shouts from the spirits within Yongding clearly indicated that the war against Thousand-Spirit Ind had begun. What was going on there?


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied.


    He chased after Sage Yellowbrow as they zipped straight to Thousand-Spirit Ind. He was worried and filled with doubt. He wanted Xiao Nanfeng to die, but not at the cost of Ao Shuai. By obeying Xiao Nanfeng, he would be able to make it back to protect Ao Shuai as well.


    Meanwhile, in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng handed themander''s token to Ye Dafu. "All of you should head toward Thousand-Spirit Ind immediately. I don''t know if you''ll make it in time. If my other body is alright, hand me the token. Otherwise, protect yourselves as your top priority."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    "I''ll go as well," Zhang Lingjun said.


    "Very well. Be careful."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded and beckoned for a few purple-furred monsters to apany her. They flew into the air alongside Ye Dafu and the others as they chased after the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    Back on Thousand-Spirit Ind, the Cursed Earth formation trapped the gathered True Immortal spirit kings. Countless Immortal spirits from the inds all around swarmed toward their respective spirit kings.


    Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou fended off their attacks alongside five thousand purple-furred monsters, temporarily reducing the pressure that the defenders faced.


    However, there were simply so many Immortal spirits from all around that the entire ind seemed to be encapsted in a storm of fire and wind. Waves swelled around the ind.


    Ao Shuai and his subordinates charged onto the battlefield, fending off the Immortal spirits all around them.


    "Master, the current situation is rather unexpected," one of his subordinates stated.


    "It is, but this is a good thing. Xiao Nanfeng helped us out tremendously, haha. When our forces get here, we''ll be able to secure the ind in one fell swoop," Ao Shua cried out in excitement.


    "Then do we need to do anything at the moment?"


    "Focus on holding back the spirits, but don''t expend too much effort in doing so. Make sure the Cursed Earth formation doesn''t get destroyed. In addition, leave the spirits an opening to kill Xiao Nanfeng," Ao Shuai mentally transmitted.


    "If Xiao Nanfeng were to die, no one will be able to control these purple-furred lifeforms. Also, would those responsible for maintaining the Cursed Earth formation listen to us?" The subordinate frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng won''t die so easily. He has a suit of arhat armor that will allow him to hold on for some time. Once we exhaust all his trump cards and once our forces get here, we can have Xiao Nanfeng die then. We''ll take over themand of the purple-furred monsters and the Cursed Earth formation," Ao Shuai said.


    "Understood, Master! I''ll arrange things immediately." Then, he called out to Xiao Nanfeng, "Commander, run! It''s dangerous here!"


    "Commander, why aren''t you guarded? Someone, go protect themander! We can''t let anything happen to him!"


    The two shouts roused the attention of the gathered Immortal spirits, all of whom turned to Xiao Nanfeng, hovering in the air. Some of them charged toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes glinted. He knew that those cultivators who had ''helpfully'' shouted at him were simply trying to lure the spirits over.


    Some purple-furred monsters, sensing the threat that the Immortal spirits posed, headed over to protect Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng called back, "Don''te over. Continue guarding the Cursed Earth formation!"


    "Understood!" The purple-furred monsters nodded, though rather dubiously.


    Dozens of Immortal spirits had already made their way right up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    They spat out icy arrows, fireballs, wind des, thunderbolts, and all sorts of other spirit-oriented techniques as though they were intending to take Xiao Nanfeng down in one fell swoop. Suddenly, however, caws resounded from the center of the bombardment.


    Countless fireballs flew into the air, obliterating all the spirit techniques that approached Xiao Nanfeng. At the same time, ten golden crows flew out of the bombardment and shot toward the dozens of Immortal spirits.


    Their sharp ws were likences that speared through the Immortal spirits'' bodies, wing them apart. The golden crows'' feathers were like divine armaments that tore the spirits to pieces.


    All the Immortal spirits that the golden crows caught were torn to shreds, their bodies and blood scattered through the air.


    The golden crows surrounded Xiao Nanfeng protectively. He himself didn''t even need to make a move; he strode toward the Cursed Earth formation as though he were simply strolling down a garden path. Where he passed, fires zed and blood scattered all over. The ten golden crows were like a meat grinder that pulverized all Immortal spirits headed his way.


    "When did he be a Heaven Immortal?" Ao Shuai cried out from afar.

 Chapter 526: Sky of Ten Suns Clearing the Spirits

    <h4>Chapter 526: Sky of Ten Suns Clearing the Spirits</h4>


    Outside Thousand-Spirit Ind, the ten golden crows swept across thend, tearing apart the dozens of Immortal spirits in an instant. Everyone else, including Ao Shuai and his subordinates, gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Heaven Immortals, kill him! All of you!" one spirit king shouted.


    "Understood!"


    A group of Heaven Immortal spirits shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Control yourselves. Let more of the Heaven Immortal spirits get past your guard," Ao Shuaimanded his subordinates.


    "Understood!"


    The subordinates all feigned weakness, allowing more of the Heaven Immortals to attack Xiao Nanfeng.


    As expected, the ten golden crows were quickly obstructed by ten Heaven Immortals. Dozens of Heaven Immortals prepared to strike at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze was as sharp as a de. He waved a hand and shouted, "Ten suns, sweep!"


    The ten golden crows suddenly grewrger, until they were thousands of meters in size. They looked like ten bright suns that glowed with such radiance that all the Immortal spirits halted for a moment.


    The skies above the Eastern Sea turned pitch-ck, as if night had just fallen. The ten suns radiated golden mes that burned resplendently as they emanated waves of heat.


    "The golden crows have gathered all the sunlight for hundreds of kilometers around..."


    "What frightening heat! Is the sea itself going to evaporate?"


    "A sky of ten suns, bringing drought to the world¡ªcould the legend be true?"


    The cultivators gaped at the scene unfolding before them.


    In general, though sunlight was sometimes harsh, even the harshest sunlight couldn''t kill anyone with limited exposure. However, if all the sunlight within a radius of a few hundred kilometers were focused and concentrated on one point with a lens, that would be far more frightening. The golden crows'' erged size meant little, but the heat from the sunlight they had gathered made Thousand-Spirit Ind feel like a sea of fire¡ªand no ordinary fire at that, but facsimile srfire, neverending in magnitude or energy. Where the golden crows flew, mirages appeared, distorted by the heat radiating from their bodies. When they swooped down toward the surface of the sea, it immediately began to steam. A golden crow struck at a Heaven Immortal, who was quickly burnt to a crisp after a few moments of struggling. Then, its carcass turned to ash.


    The Heaven Immortal spirits fell one after another. None were a match for the golden crows; they couldn''t even flee from them. The golden crows caught up to them within moments, tearing them apart and charring their carcasses.


    The ten suns zed through the air, invincible in their might. All Heaven Immortals and below were burnt to a crisp. None of the spirits dared to draw near.


    "Isn''t this ridiculous? He might as well be invincible among Heaven Immortals!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "We''re all Heaven Immortals. Xiao Nanfeng must have gained an immeasurable quantity of treasure from the Imperial Court. It''s only natural that he would be stronger," Croak said.


    "Does the Imperial Court provide that many benefits?" Ao Zhou''s eyes shed covetously.


    The other cultivators around were likewise stunned by Xiao Nanfeng''s incredible technique.


    "Sky of Ten Suns... Indeed, no ordinary Heaven Immortal will be able to take down Xiao Nanfeng."


    "There have been several cultivators from the Imperial Court who have studied this technique, and they''ve all been incredible cultivators that have shaken the world. Even the Eastern Aspect praised it multiple times."


    "I heard that, fifty thousand years ago, the Heavenly Emperor from the spirit race cultivated this exact technique."


    The cultivators marveled at what Xiao Nanfeng had disyed.


    Ao Shuai frowned. "Is there no way to deal with it?"


    "There is!" a subordinate said.


    "Oh? How?" Ao Shuai demanded.


    "The ten golden crows of the Sky of Ten Suns can create near-infinite facsimile srfire from sunlight in the day, but at nighttime, once the golden crows don''t have an external source of power to draw on, they''ll have to drain Xiao Nanfeng''s Immortal qi. They''ll weaken significantly then."


    "Nighttime? It''s far from nighttime," Ao Shuai replied.


    "Another alternative is to use such relics as the Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows that specifically counter these golden crows."


    "Right!" Ao Shuai''s eyes widened expectantly. "A Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows¡ªhow could I have forgotten? Do you have such relics?"


    "No."


    Ao Shuai: ...


    Afar, the spirit kings gazed at the ten suns overwhelming the battlefield. They were so enraged that they struck bitterly at the battlefield. They could see that only they could defend against the facsimile srfire; ordinary Heaven Immortals would easily perish. However, all the True Immortals were trapped within the Cursed Earth formation!


    "Xiao Nanfeng, let me out of this formation if you dare! Let''s fight one-on-one!" a spirit king roared out.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the spirit king who had spoken as though he were staring at a fool. "Are you an idiot? Why would I do such a thing?"


    The spirit king: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly flew back toward the battlefield as the fighting progressed. With more and more of the Immortal spirits being killed by the golden crows, however, the remaining spirits drew back in fear. The battlefield cleared out.


    "Spirits of the Thousand-Spirit Ind, might you listen to what I have to say?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Don''t listen to him! Charge forward, break through those purple-furred monsters, disrupt the foundation of the formation, and release the spirit kings!" an Immortal spirit shouted.


    Three golden crows swooped down toward the speaker and tore it to shreds, then burned its carcass into ash¡ªalong with the smaller spirits that stood by its side.


    None of the remaining spirits dared make a fuss any longer.


    "Who else dissents?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ten golden crows cawed at once, releasing waves of terror that shook the spirits to the core.


    "Listen to what he has to say," a spirit king shouted.


    The spirit kings could tell that, if this situation were to continue, Xiao Nanfeng would easily ughter over half the Immortal spirits outside the barrier. It would be a one-sided massacre.


    The fighting stopped short.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the gathered spirits. "I bore Thousand-Spirit Ind no enmity nor grudge. The Thousand-Spirit Ind attacked my kingdom out of nowhere, starting this entire fiasco. I assume you''re all aware of this?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, that was the fault of the crocodile king and Commander Mo. It''s none of our business!" a spirit king cried out.


    "Isn''t it? You''re all members of the Thousand-Spirit Ind, so you share collective me. The Thousand-Spirit Ind has attempted to conquer the surrounding regions of the sea and ughtered countless sects and spiritbeastirs. I won''t discuss those that have been wronged today¡ªbut it''s certainly the truth that the Thousand-Spirit Ind has provoked the Imperial Court several times before. This time, you even dared to gang up on a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court and go against the authority of the Imperial Court. Don''t you think some punishment for your insubordination is warranted?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "What happened between you and the crocodile king was an individual affair! The rest of us never thought to look down on the Imperial Court!" a spirit king called out.


    "Your word doesn''t count. Only mine does," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    The spirit kings: ...


    "Of course, I''m hardly a bloodthirsty man. I''ll offer you one opportunity."


    The spirits waited.


    "I will grant those spirits willing to join my faction a chance to start over. Will any of you do so?"


    "You want us to be your underlings?" the spirit kings cried out.


    Ao Shuai frowned. Xiao Nanfeng was trying to swallow up the Thousand-Spirit Ind and im all its treasures for himself! How could this do?


    "While you remain on Thousand-Spirit Ind, you''re nothing but bandits and robbers. Join me, and you can be part of the Imperial Court''s army. This will be your only chance to make this decision. Will you join me?"


    The spirit kings frowned. They were naturally unwilling, but that didn''t mean they couldn''t trick Xiao Nanfeng instead.


    "Will you release me if I''m willing?" a spirit king asked.


    "As long as you do so and seal your cultivation as a measure of your sincerity."


    The spirit king froze. Seal his cultivation? What kind of joke was that?


    Ao Shuai smirked. Xiao Nanfeng''s request was puerile. Those spirit kings had long since been lords of their own domain; why would they want to bow down to a lowly Heaven Immortal?


    The spirit kings eyed each other, seeminglying to some sort of unspoken ord. "Very well. We ept. We''ll seal our own cultivation, so let us out."


    Ao Shuai''s smirk froze on his face. How could this be?


    The next moment, he understood what was going on. These spirit kings were attempting to trick Xiao Nanfeng! All this talk of sealing their cultivation was only for show¡ªit was all an attempt to get Xiao Nanfeng to take down the formation.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in satisfaction. "Very well. You''ve all agreed, so what about your subordinates?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the spirits outside the formation.


    Some of the spirits bared their teeth, while others looked perplexed.


    "They ept! They all ept," the spirit kings shouted. Then, they called out toward their respective spirits, "ept the Martial Aspect''s offer!"


    The massed spirits nodded uncertainly. "We will serve under you, Martial Aspect Xiao."


    "Very well! I believe you."


    The spirit kings and Ao Shuai were astounded. Was Xiao Nanfeng this easy to trick?


    "In that case, all spirits outside the formation, line up and have your cultivation be sealed," Xiao Nanfengmanded. He instructed the purple-furred monsters, "Generals, please seal these spirits'' cultivation."


    The spirits: ...


    Something seemed wrong.


    Within the Cursed Earth formation, a spirit king shouted, "Martial Aspect Xiao, aren''t you going to release us? Take down this formation!"


    "Your cultivation hasn''t yet been sealed. Once I finish with these spirits out here, I''ll seal your cultivation, then take down the formation."


    "No, no, there''s no need! We can seal each others'' cultivation. Take down the formation now!" the spirit king urged.


    "Right, we can do it ourselves," the spirit kings agreed.


    It wasn''t difficult to pretend to seal each other''s cultivation. All that was necessary was to trick Xiao Nanfeng into taking down the formation.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There''s no need. Just wait patiently, and I''ll seal your cultivation myself. I''ll deal with these ordinary spirits first before the rest of you."


    The spirit kings fretted, "What should we do? We can''t trick Xiao Nanfeng. If we agree, all our subordinates are going to be under his control!"


    Beside him, Ao Shuai and his subordinates also seemed to panic. Was Xiao Nanfeng doing this intentionally? Did he intend to im the entirety of Thousand-Spirit Ind on his own? What about the ns all of them had been preparing for so long?

 Chapter 527: The Importance of Moles

    <h4>Chapter 527: The Importance of Moles</h4>


    The spirit kings were in a quandary. If they agreed to Xiao Nanfeng''s offer, they would have to sacrifice their subordinates first. If they didn''t agree, then Xiao Nanfeng would kill their subordinates.


    They were deeply conflicted. Xiao Nanfeng was far harder to trick than they had expected.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, why don''t you seal our cultivation first? We have too many subordinates for you to handle. You can seal their cultivationter!" one spirit king suggested, trying to trick Xiao Nanfeng into the formation.


    "On the contrary. I have thousands of troops here, so they can easily seal the spirits'' cultivation in no time at all. Just wait patiently.


    The spirit kings: ...


    They were deeply frustrated, but what could they do?


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t give the spirit kings any time to think. He shot Ao Zhou, Croak, and Warble a nce, a signal the three spirits understood.


    Croak suddenly said, "Spirits, I''m sure you were all aware of the war against the Dazheng Empire a few months ago. Perhaps you think that Xiao Nanfeng, a mere Heaven Immortal, is too weak to rule over you,but did you know that he hasn''t even been a cultivator for a decade?"


    The spirits gaped at Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment.


    Croak continued, "Warble and I only joined Xiao Nanfeng several years ago. Back then, we were Ascension-realm spirits¡ªand we''ve ascended all the way to Heaven Immortals since."


    Many of the ordinary spirits gave them envious nces.


    Warble added, "Xiao Nanfeng is a particrly generous leader. He gives us a share of whatever treasure he ims, and even provided us with Heaven Immortal pills not too long ago. If you follow him, you''ll surely grow as quickly as we did."


    "Right, don''t fool yourself into thinking that Xiao Nanfeng''s weak. He''s able to kill Heaven Immortals easily after just a few years. What do you think he''ll be able to aplish in a few more? He''s a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, and no one would dare to go against him. Martial Aspects have endless supplies of cultivation resources, and his generosity means that your cultivation will surely advance as well. You''ll only have one opportunity to take this offer. Don''t miss it!"


    "What good is following the current ind lord? He''s currently in Yongding, and might already have been killed by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost by now. Do you all want to die? Has your cultivation advanced much while being part of the Thousand-Spirit Ind? You can''t even protect your own homes! The Imperial Court might destroy you at any moment. Look at what''s going on now. Even if Xiao Nanfeng can''t take you down, don''t you think it would be trivial for the Imperial Court to send a few more armies?"


    "If you don''t submit, you''ll be killed. Why do all you spirits cultivate? It''s for the same reason we do: to strengthen ourselves by following a wise leader. Don''t trust false promises, only concrete gains and rewards. An incredible opportunity lies before you. Join us and grow strong. We''re responsible for Xiao Nanfeng''s recruitment program. All spirits willing to join us, fly over here!"


    Croak and Warble continued to persuade the spirits.


    Thousand-Spirit Ind was a spirit stronghold. The spirits there all believed that Thousand-Spirit Ind would be a nexus for their growth, which was why they hade to it in the first ce. It was true that Xiao Nanfeng seemed to possess incredible potential, and they were growing tempted by the offer to join him.


    Beside Croak and Warble, Ao Zhou began to shout, "I am the new dragon king of the Eastern Sea, and I possess the Dragon Gate! I''m working together with Xiao Nanfeng, and I can help sea spirits evolve into dragons. All those spirits willing to join us, fly over here!"


    Countless sea spirits'' eyes lit up. Evolving into dragons was something they had only ever dreamt of.


    "I''m willing to join Martial Aspect Xiao''s service!"


    "Me too!"


    "And me!"


    Suddenly, many of the spirits began to fly toward Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou under the lead of moles that Xiao Nanfeng had prepared beforehand. Being able to ''turn over a new leaf'', follow a ''rising star'', and not immediately dying on the battlefield were three particrlypelling reasons, and the spirit kings had evenmanded them to do so moments ago. They felt nopunction whatsoever about joining Xiao Nanfeng.


    Of course, there were plenty of spirits that remained silent.


    As the first batch of spirits joined Xiao Nanfeng, even more began to do so. Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou each had a group of subordinates under theirmand, so the recruitment process was proceeding quickly and smoothly.


    Ao Shuai and the other cultivators watched on with displeasure. They too had been intending to lure the spirits into their ranks¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng had done so before they could!


    The spirit kings within the formation gaped at what was happening. How had Xiao Nanfeng managed to recruit the spirits so quickly? And right in front of their eyes, too!


    "Don''t listen to him! We were only trying to trick Xiao Nanfeng just now. The ind lord is rushing back from Yongding and will be here in no time. At that point, Xiao Nanfeng''s party will surely be done for. Don''t let him trick you!" a spirit king howled. The next moment, it was taken aback. "Hold on, when did the Cursed Earth formation start blocking sound? No one on the outside can hear me!"


    Not only that, a burst of fog emerged from the Cursed Earth formation, obscuring whaty within.


    The spirit kings nched and furiously attacked the formation.


    "We''re not intending to join Xiao Nanfeng! We were only trying to trick him. Don''t fall for it!"


    "All spirits, leave immediately! Return once we finish off Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Damn it, can''t we get any sound out?"


    The spirit kings roared in fury. Xiao Nanfeng had truly tricked them.


    Just then, a cultivator responsible for maintaining the Cursed Earth formation shouted, "Martial Aspect Xiao, I''m not skilled with formations, and I must have triggered something unexpected. The formation now istes sound, and there''s fog obscuring what lies within..."


    All the spirits nced over curiously, but Xiao Nanfeng only replied, "It doesn''t matter. All the spirit kings have already agreed to join my service, and I expect they won''t change their minds. We''ll fix the formationter. Let''s seal the cultivation of the spirits out here as nned.


    The spirits looked toward Xiao Nanfeng somewhat reluctantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned back to them. "I do trust you all, but there are plenty of injured and dead from the fighting just now. I''m worried that some of you spirits bear a grudge and are pretending to submit in order tounch sneak attacks and cause a disturbance. I''ll have to ask that all of you bear this indignity for now."


    The spirits fell silent again.


    Just then, a spirit shouted, "Don''t listen to his nonsense! Why would the spirit kings agree to Xiao Nanfeng''s proposal? They had to be trying to trick him. I have an avatar on Thousand-Spirit Ind. Xiao Nanfeng deliberately isted the sounding from within the formation so that the kings can''tmand us. They''re telling us to strike immediately and kill Xiao Nanfeng, then rescue them!"


    "Right! The kings even said that the ind lord would return shortly. By then, Xiao Nanfeng would be dead meat! We shouldn''t listen to him. We just need to survive a little longer!" another spirit shouted.


    The other spirits were taken aback.


    "Capture them!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A group of purple-furred lifeforms caught the two shouting spirits. The other spirits around them growled in outrage, ready to criticize Xiao Nanfeng¡ªonly to stop short the very next moment.


    The two spirits that had been caught seemed to undergo internal strife.


    "Brother, didn''t you say that we would be able to get everyone to kill Xiao Nanfeng and avenge our dead brothers? No one made a move!"


    "I, I¡ª"


    The conversation between the two spirits caused all the others to be taken aback. Had they been lying all along?


    "Kill them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Don''t! I won''t lie any longer. Martial Aspect Xiao, I have news to report. Spare my life!" one of the spirits said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned for a moment. "Seal their cultivation and leave them aside for the time being."


    "Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" the two spirits squeaked in panic.


    "Alright. Continue!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The spirits all around them frowned, still somewhat resistant to being sealed. Some spirits under Xiao Nanfeng''smand, whom he had stationed by the enemy spirits beforehand, took the lead and voluntarily epted being sealed as they encouraged the others to do so as well.


    Just then, another spirit shouted, "Don''t believe him! My avatar''s with the spirit kings. They said that they weren''t nning on submitting to Xiao Nanfeng, and that the ind lord would return imminently! The spirit kings told us to hide, that we''ve been tricked by Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Take that spirit down!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The spirit was quickly caught. After a vicious beating, the spirit cowered and cried out, "Spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao! I must have gone crazy. My master was killed just now, so I deliberately spread a lie. I thought that all the spirits here were foolish enough to be easily tricked. Please, spare me! I have a secret, and I can redeem myself with information!"


    "Seal its cultivation and leave it by the side for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao! I won''t dare lie any longer!"


    The two sessive liars caused the spirits to fall into a false sense ofcency.


    A number of the spirits truly wanted to join Xiao Nanfeng''s service, and another portion was doing so only on ount of their spirit king''s orders. Thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s ''moles'' volunteering to have their cultivation sealed, many of the other spirits ultimately consented to doing so. Yet others refused the seal. They watched on from afar. Some flew off without any hesitation.


    The purple-furred monsters continued to seal the gathered spirits and send them to the inds all around.


    The spirit kings within the formation remained incapable of shattering it, and they were all very vexed.


    One spirit kingmanded a subordinate, "Quick, your avatar''s outside, isn''t it? Tell all the spirits that they''ve been tricked, that we never promised to submit to Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The spirit said, "Some other spirits tried to say that, but they then suddenly admitted that they were doing it out of spite. Xiao Nanfeng has captured them, and the spirits on the outside are lining up to have their cultivation sealed."


    "What?!" the spirit king eximed. It turned to the others. "Which of your subordinates spread the word to the spirits outside?"


    "None of ours..." the spirit kings replied, confused.


    The first spirit king suddenly nched. "In that case, those liars who imed to be speaking on our behalf before admitting to their lies must have been moles that Xiao Nanfeng prepared in advance."


    "Moles?" The spirit kings were taken aback.


    "Hurry! Tell the others the news!" a spirit kingmanded another spirit by his side.


    "It''s toote. A second mole tried to incite rebellion and failed, then admitted that it was lying..."


    "What? A second mole?" the spirit kings cried out.


    "Tell them anyway!" that spirit king howled.


    "Ah, Xiao Nanfeng prepared a third mole as well! It stole what I was going to say!" the spirit cried out.


    The spirit kings: ...


    "Continue anyway! Tell all the spirits!"


    The spirit nodded before its face rapidly fell. "It''s useless. After those three moles, no one''s willing to believe my words."


    The spirit kings: ...


    "Ah! Because I wasn''t a mole, they killed my avatar!" the spirit then cried out.


    The spirit kings: ...

 Chapter 528: Capturing Them All

    <h4>Chapter 528: Capturing Them All</h4>


    No one whom the spirit kings had tasked to exin things from within the Cursed Earth formation had any sess. None of the spirits believed their words, and those subordinates of theirs who had avatars outside found their avatars killed. The spirit kings'' rage mounted.


    Finally, one of the spirit kings thundered, "Don''t worry. This Cursed Earth formation can only trap us, not hurt us. Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to do anything against us, and the ind lord will return soon enough. After that, he''ll be dead meat."


    The other spirit kings could only nod, exasperated.


    There were simply too many spirits outside the Cursed Earth formation. He ignored all spirits below Spiritsong, but even then, the purple-furred monsters were all tired out by sealing the cultivation of the regr spirits.


    Before long, the inds in their vicinity had all been filled by spirits.


    Of course, not all the spirits had been tricked. Some attempted to flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows gave chase, tearing them apart.


    "All spirits who flee must be those who hate the Imperial Court. Don''t let any of them escape¡ªkill them!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" A few purple-furred monsters rushed over.


    "Ao Shuai, haven''t you heard mymand?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded. "Go take down those enemies of the Imperial Court!"


    Ao Shuai and the others frowned, but had no choice but to obey.


    Only a rare few spirits managed to escape the carnage. The majority died on the spot or were forced to return and have their cultivation sealed.


    After several hours, almost all the strongest spirits on Thousand-Spirit Ind had been taken down, and those that had perished had been cleaned off the battlefield.


    Spectral guards were appearing out of nowhere, bringing ships to the ind and escorting the sealed spirits onto them.


    Ao Zhou flew up to Xiao Nanfeng. "These spectral guards are amazing actors. I never thought there would be spirits among them, too!"


    "Your acting wasn''t bad, either," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Of course!" Ao Zhou preened. "I want half of these spirits."


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes. "Dream on."


    Ao Zhou stiffened. "Are you going to take them all for yourself? You can''t! Think of how much work I''ve done!"


    "We''ll need to check on these spirits'' background. Wait until we do so¡ªif there are sea spirits that truly are interested in joining you, feel free to take them."


    "That''s more like it," Ao Zhou replied.


    Ao Shuai had flown over as well by then. He frowned at Ao Zhou and gave him a few looks before turning to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, how do you intend to handle these spirits?"


    "We''ll talk about that after the fight."


    Ao Shuai pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. He wanted to say more, but Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t giving him any more of his attention.


    He turned to the purple-furred monsters. "Generals, leave with these spirits for the time being."


    "Understood!" thousands of purple-furred monsters replied.


    Arge number of purple-furred lifeforms flew across the surface of the sea, picking up the ships filled with spirits, clouding themselves in white fog, and soaring into the air.


    Ao Shuai frowned. He immediately said, "Martial Aspect Xiao, it''s dangerous for you to take away the spirits like that. Why don''t I assign some of my subordinates to guard the monsters?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There''s no need. We have a tough battle toe, and all of your subordinates will be needed."


    "But these purple-furred monsters don''t have any intelligence whatsoever! They''ve only been hypnotized. What if¡ª" Ao Shuai continued, unwilling to give up.


    "I am themander-in-charge. You listen to my orders," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Ao Shuai stiffened. "Understood."


    "Generals, make sure to keep an eye on your surroundings to prevent anyone from trailing you," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Understood!" the purple-furred monsters not responsible for conveying the ships replied.


    They flew across the air, keeping an eye out over the sea, until the shipspletely vanished within the clouds.


    By then, Ao Shuai''s subordinates had arrived around Thousand-Spirit Ind. Theyy hidden, biding their time¡ªbut with the purple-furred monsters keeping an eye out, none of them dared to rush out of the water and strike.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I just received news that Sage Yellowbrow is on his way back, and will be here in no time. How do you intend to handle the spirit kings?" Ao Shuai asked.


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost will deal with him. Don''t worry," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Shuai''s face turned dark. He murmured inwardly, "I''m not worried about you. What I mean is, if you can''t collect Thousand-Spirit Ind''s treasure yourself, let me do it!"


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost may not be able to catch up to Sage Yellowbrow, and we''ll have to deal with these spirit kings as quickly as possible. Why don''t I have my subordinates help?" Ao Shuai asked expectantly.


    "There''s no need. I''ll do it myself."


    "You? How?"


    "All you have to do is guard me. Don''t ask anything unnecessary."


    Ao Shuai swallowed another heave of annoyance.


    "Dispel the fog and allow sound to pass through the formation once more!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the cultivators manning the formation replied.


    By then, within the formation, all the spirit kings were scowling at each other. They had learned of the situation outside the ind and were so enraged that they were about to go crazy. They had lost all their subordinates at Spiritsong and above¡ªwas Xiao Nanfeng really intending to take them all down in one fell swoop?


    "Keep an eye on your avatars. Report to me when you figure out where those purple-furred monsters are bringing you. We''ll fetch you back once we''re out of the Cursed Earth formation," a spirit king told one of its subordinates."


    The subordinate frowned. "King, our cultivation has all been sealed, and the purple-furred monsters are clouding our vision with white fog. There are even guards on the ships themselves to keep an eye on us. We don''t know where we''re going..."


    The spirit kings: ...


    They had never felt so frustrated by anyone in their lives. They were fuming mad, their faces flushed red.


    Just then, the formation shifted. The fog around the formation vanished, and sound could pass through it once again.


    The spirit kings nced all over the ind to see that it waspletely silent. Only a few Ascension-realm spirits were left roaming the grounds; none that could fly remained.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, return my subordinates to me!" a spirit king thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew up to that spirit king. "Weren''t you the one whomanded them to follow me? Are you going back on your word?"


    The spirit kings all choked down their anger. Oneughed out of rage. "You might be cocky now, but the ind lord will be returning within moments. Prepare to die!"


    "I don''t have time to wait for him. Now, fulfill your promises. You swore to enter my service, so leave with me immediately."


    The spirit kings frowned. One of them said in astonishment, "What? Do you still intend to take us on?"


    "You''re not going to try to step inside and seal our cultivation, are you? Try it, then! We''re waiting right here for you!" another spirit king roared out.


    They were certain that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be able to handle them. The moment the foundation of the Cursed Earth formation shook, they would break out and finish off Xiao Nanfeng en masse.


    "I''ll enter, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The spirit kings were gobsmacked. They suspected that they had misheard. "Truly?"


    "Of course. Didn''t we agree? I would step in to seal your cultivation. You aren''t going to go back on your word, are you?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The spirit kings: ...


    This time, they were certain they hadn''t misheard, but how could that be? As strong as Xiao Nanfeng might be, he was only a Heaven Immortal. Wouldn''t they be able to crush him within moments?


    Not far away, Ao Shuai was simrly stunned. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you really going to head in there?"


    "I am. Keep guard over the formation and prevent any spirits from entering."


    Ao Shuai and his subordinates frowned at each other. Was Xiao Nanfeng addled in the head? Was he really intending tomit suicide like this?


    As countless baffled gazes watched on, Xiao Nanfeng reined in his ten golden crows and stepped to the side of the Cursed Earth formation. "Let me in."


    "Understood!" those manning the formation replied.


    Roiling blue fog surrounded Xiao Nanfeng before dragging him into the formation.


    Xiao Nanfeng had appeared within.


    "Is he serious? Does he have a death wish?!" Ao Shuai shouted.


    The spirit kings were equally astounded. "He really came in here to die?"


    Just then, the sound of scripture could be heard within the formation, as though there were countless monks chanting.


    "Where did these soundse from?"


    "This scripture sounds a little eerie, doesn''t it?"


    "It does seem cursed..."


    The spirit kings were taken aback.


    Outside the formation, Ao Shuai suddenly reared back in shock. "Death chants? They''re death chants, I''m sure of it! Are the lotus hood cursed effigies back?!"


    Ao Shuai''s subordinates retreated in panic. Clearly, none of them had gotten over the trauma from the golden lotus hoods.


    Just then, one spirit king said, "Ignore the scripture. Take down Xiao Nanfeng first!"


    "Got it!" the other spirit kings replied.


    They shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Suddenly, one of the spirit kings whirled around and struck two other spirit kings, who were leaping toward Xiao Nanfeng, in the back.


    The two spirit kings vomited out blood from the sudden attack and were sent sprawling against the barrier.


    The sudden transformation left the other spirit kings agape.


    "Tiger King, why did you attack the two of them?!" the other spirit kings roared out.


    The tiger king flew toward Xiao Nanfeng,nding protectively in front of him.


    "You''re in cahoots with Xiao Nanfeng?" the spirit kings eximed.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward the tiger king. "Senior, I''ve shown you what these spirit kings have done. They''re all evil and malicious, killing and eating humans at will. There''s no need to show them any mercy¡ªincluding the tiger king you''re currently possessing."


    The tiger king nodded.


    All the spirit kings reared back in shock.


    "The tiger king has been possessed!" a spirit king cried out.


    Ao Shuai nched. "That tiger king''s been possessed? How could the lotus hood cursed effigy be obeying Xiao Nanfeng now? That''s impossible!"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the tiger king. "You don''t have to worry about my safety, Senior. I''ll be counting on you."


    "Very well!" The tiger king shot toward the gathered spirit kings.

 Chapter 529: All of You, Leave

    <h4>Chapter 529: All of You, Leave</h4>


    The tiger king shot toward the gathered spirit kings and attacked them fiercely. A howling tempest formed, and endless smoke and me seeped out of the barrier.


    "Tiger King, wake up! You''re a True Immortal. How could you have been controlled?!"


    "Quick, take down the tiger king!"


    "No, go kill Xiao Nanfeng! Perhaps the tiger king will awaken after Xiao Nanfeng''s death!"


    The interior of the Cursed Earth formation was a mess of fire, dust, and dirt. No one from the outside could clearly see what was happening within.


    Ao Shuai''s eyes twitched. "I couldn''t have been mistaken. Those were the death chants, weren''t they? No wonder Xiao Nanfeng dared to risk heading to Thousand-Spirit Ind as nothing more than a Heaven Immortal. He had the help of cursed effigies!"


    "Didn''t Xiao Nanfeng kill countless lotus hoods that day? Why would the golden lotus hood help him?"


    "Just who was he addressing as Senior?"


    The cultivators seemed perplexed as well.


    "Keep an eye on him. I''d like to see how he enlisted the cursed effigy''s help," Ao Shuai said expectantly.


    The golden lotus hood was frightening, but if he could get it to obey him, it would be a tremendous boon. He watched on in anticipation, trying to see through whaty behind the dirt and mes.


    "Seal all light and sound leaving the formation," Xiao Nanfeng suddenlymanded.


    "Understood!" the cultivators manning the formation replied.


    Large quantities of fog filled the Cursed Earth formation again, and no sound leaked out.


    The cultivators who had been hoping to get a sense of what Xiao Nanfeng was hiding: "..."


    "Damn you, Xiao Nanfeng!" Ao Shuai cursed angrily.


    Within the formation, a cursed king managed to fight its way to Xiao Nanfeng and punch forward. "Die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying, but the Imposing Avatar of Ri left him unharmed.


    "He''s only a Heaven Immortal. How can he block my fist? That''s impossible!" the spirit king cried out, staring at its fist in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Although he could block a True Immortal''s blow, it was clear that he wasn''t as fast as one, and he didn''t want to remain so passive, either. He quickly clouded himself with fog as he hid within the roaring mes.


    "Stand right there!" the cursed king shouted, giving chase.


    Two other spirit kings came chasing after Xiao Nanfeng as well.


    The tiger king was likewise in dire straits. Although it boasted significantbat ability, there were far too many spirit kings for it to handle on its own. The tiger king was quickly suppressed andy paralyzed on the ground.


    "We''ve suppressed it!" a spirit king cried out in excitement.


    The tiger king narrowed its eyes. "Explode!"


    The tiger king self-destructed in an explosion that caused the entire ind to quake. A group of cursed kings were sent flying from the explosion, blood sttering everywhere as they roared in pain.


    The spirit kings chasing after Xiao Nanfeng not too far away nched as they stopped short. With a wave of their hands, they dispelled the dirt, smoke, and wind from the air.


    Everything fell silent, leaving only a destroyed mountain range and bleeding spirit kings behind.


    "Did the tiger king self-destruct? Just who was controlling it? Wouldn''t it have perished alongside the tiger king?" the spirit kings cried out in disbelief.


    "Catch Xiao Nanfeng and we''ll understand everything," a spirit king said.


    "Right, where''s Xiao Nanfeng?"


    The spirit kings whirled around in search of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Where is he? Where did Xiao Nanfeng go?" a spirit king howled.


    "I don''t know. He suddenly vanished out of nowhere," another spirit king murmured.


    Back outside, Ao Shuai and the others were still fuming about Xiao Nanfeng luding whaty within the formation. The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng emerged.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what are you doing out here? Is the fighting within over?" Ao Shuai asked, rushing over immediately.


    "Not yet. I sent my senior into the formation and am now waiting for it to deal with all the spirit kings within. I''ll handle it thereafter."


    Ao Shuai''s eyes lit up. He asked expectantly, "I can still hear the death chants. Is this senior you''re talking about the golden lotus hood? How did you reach an ord with it? Why is it helping you?"


    "Are you crazy? Why would I tell you my secrets?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted, then turned to leave.


    Ao Shuai: ...


    Within the Cursed Earth formation, just as the spirit kings were looking all over in search of Xiao Nanfeng, one of the spirit king''s eyes suddenly glinted with light as it struck, sending another spirit king flying. Although thetter reacted fast enough to defend itself, the blow still caused it to reel and vomit out blood. That spirit king fell paralyzed to the ground.


    "Leopard King, what are you doing?!" the other spirit kings shouted.


    "No, hold on. It''s not the leopard king any longer. It''s been controlled!"


    The leopard king rushed toward the gathered spirit kings.


    "Quick, catch it!" the other spirit kings howled, charging over.


    Very quickly, the leopard king was suppressed just like the tiger king had been.


    "Explode!" the leopard king yelled out.


    The leopard king self-destructed in a huge explosion that caught all the other spirit kings in its midst. They spat out mouthfuls of blood as they reeled back and fell to the ground.


    "How are we supposed to beat something like this?!"


    "We can''t! Quick, let us out! We surrender!" another spirit king shouted.


    However, the ck lotus quickly possessed a third spirit king, causing the fighting to resume.


    As the death chants resounded, so did the fighting continue.


    The cultivators outside eyed the formation and Xiao Nanfeng with aplex mix of emotions. Only Xiao Nanfeng remained calm. After the ck lotus had consumed the Past Buddha and so many golden lotus hoods, it was stronger than even the Past Buddha had been. It would be trivial for the ck lotus to handle the spirit kings.


    Before long, the death chants dissipated anew.


    "Alright. Clear away the fog and let me see what remains within."


    The fog around the Cursed Earth formation dissipated, revealing the soundsing from within.


    The smoke and dust scattered. What remained of the Thousand-Spirit Ind was a pile of ruins.


    The majority of the spirit kings had been wounded and killed, and only three of them had had their cultivation sealed. They had been rendered immobile.


    Not far away, a cloud of ck fog floated in the air, waiting for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "It''s that cursed effigy in the cloud of ck fog, not the golden lotus hood! No, perhaps a golden lotus hood lies within the ck fog. What sort of situation is this? An internal conflict between cursed effigies of the same type?" Ao Shuai eximed. He finally realized what was going on, and suddenly grew far more fearful of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Let me in," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The cultivators manning the formation surrounded him in blue fog and sent him into the formation, while the ck fog retreated to Xiao Nanfeng''s forehead.


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck lotus replied, "I possessed a spirit king and sealed all the remaining spirits on the ind, then self-destructed the body I possessed. Unfortunately, they counterattacked too vigorously, and only three remain alive."


    "Three is more than I had expected," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Just then, one of the spirit kings cried out fearfully, "Xiao Nanfeng, we''re willing to submit to you and join your service. Don''t kill us!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the spirit king. He turned to the cultivators waiting outside. "Dispel the formation!"


    The Cursed Earth formation vanished as the cultivators outside swarmed in.


    "Take these spirits away," Xiao Nanfengmanded the remaining purple-furred lifeforms.


    "Understood!"


    The purple-furred lifeforms escorted the three spirit kings and remaining spirits on the ind onto a series of ships, surrounded them with fog, and then carried them into the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates watched the surroundings to prevent the purple-furred monsters from being followed until they had all vanished into the clouds.


    Ao Shuai walked over to Xiao Nanfeng. "Thousand-Spirit Ind has been razed to the ground. Your subjugation was aplete sess!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "I just received word that Sage Yellowbrow is returning. We need to leave!" Ao Shuai continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It is time for you to leave."


    "Right¡ªwait, what?"


    "All of you should leave first. Return to the ind we garrisoned at and wait for me there. I''ll head there momentarily."


    "All of us, but not you? Are you intending to wait here for Sage Yellowbrow?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "That''s a military secret that you don''t need to be privy to. Now, leave," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Ao Shuai frowned. The reason he was urging Xiao Nanfeng to leave wasn''t because he was worried about Xiao Nanfeng, but because the true treasures of Thousand-Spirit Ind had yet to be uncovered. He was waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to depart before his hidden forces imed them for him.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng was motioning for Ao Shuai to leave instead while he himself stayed behind.


    "What do you know?" Ao Shuai demanded, frowning.


    "Are you intending to disobey a directmand from me, Ao Shuai?"Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Ao Shuai''s frown deepened. He was certain that Xiao Nanfeng had learned of the secret of the ind, and that he was chasing them off so he could profit from the treasure himself.


    "Commander, might I ask where your token of authority is? On what grounds do youmand us?"


    He had just received word that Xiao Nanfeng''s token was in Yongding. Without the token, he would be able to cast reasonable doubt on Xiao Nanfeng''s authority. Of course, this was clearly unreasonable doubt that would earn him a reprimand at the very least. Even so, given Ao Canghai''s backing, he was confident the treasure was well worth the limited punishment he would receive. He had to disobey Xiao Nanfeng!


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a document. "This is a writ thatmands you to return to the garrison immediately, stamped with my token of authority. If you disobey it, you''ll be a deserter. I''ll kill you immediately!"


    Ao Shuai huffed. This was no writ at all, but a document that allowed Xiao Nanfeng to kill him with impunity! Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be punished even by the Imperial Court.


    Had Xiao Nanfeng prepared this writ long in advance? How could he do something so devious?!


    In the past, Ao Shuai wouldn''t have worried about Xiao Nanfeng''s abilities, but now that he knew that the cursed effigy within the ck fog was able to possess others at will, he didn''t dare to make a fuss.


    "Understood," Ao Shuai spat out.


    He and his subordinates were forced to leave. Only Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates remained behind on Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    Ao Shuai grew madder and madder the more he stewed, cursing Xiao Nanfeng for his shameless behavior.

 Chapter 530: A Superior Draconic Vein

    <h4>Chapter 530: A Superior Draconic Vein</h4>


    On the ruins of Thousand-Spirit Ind, Xiao Nanfengmanded, "We have to act quickly. Sage Yellowbrow might return at any moment."


    "Yessir!" the spectral guards replied.


    They were quickly setting up the Immortal''s Destruction.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why was that Ao Shuai fellow ring at us so angrily? Do you know what''s up with him?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "He''s a dragon too."


    "A dragon? He shares my surname, Ao¡ªcould he be a rtive of mine?" Ao Zhou wondered.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him an odd look. "What, don''t you think others can share your surname without being blood rtions?"


    "Ah, well, no, but it''s a little strange..."


    "Don''t worry about that for now. Focus on what''s before us."


    "Right, right, what''s underneath Thousand-Spirit Ind? A draconic vein?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "That''s right, but no ordinary one. It''s a superior draconic vein," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "A superior draconic vein? One that has developed rudimentary intelligence? They possess incredible spiritual aether, and I heard they manifest as peak Golden Immortals as a result..." Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "One of the seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court is a manifestation of a superior draconic vein. It''s supposed to be incredibly strong."


    "Could that be Ao Shuai''s father, that Ao Canghai you were talking about?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Not him. Ao Canghai''s background is a mystery, and I haven''t been able to unearth anything."


    "I heard that divine empires would quickly corral and induct any superior draconic veins into their capitals. Why would there be an undefended one here?"


    "I''m not sure. However, it''s clear that this superior draconic vein hasn''t yet reached the point of manifestation. Such draconic veins don''t tend to stay in one ce for long¡ªthey''d just run off. However, this one seems to be fixed right here. There must be something below the ind tying them here."


    "More treasures?" Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up.


    "I''m not sure, but we''ll find out in a moment. Prepare to capture the draconic vein."


    "Got it!" Ao Zhou watched on in anticipation.


    Not far away, You Jiu shouted, "Your Majesty, the Immortal''s Destruction is ready."


    "Very good. You Jiu, take the lead!"


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    Following what Xiao Nanfeng had taught him, You Jiu activated the Immortal''s Destruction. Eighteen Immortal-binding chains emerged from the relic and burrowed into the ground.


    After absorbing the draconic aether all over the ind, the Immortal''s Destruction radiated with golden light.


    Then, even more Immortal-binding chains shot into the air and burrowed deep underground.


    Within moments, a hundred Immortal-binding chains were extending out of the Immortal''s Destruction, causing the entire ind to shake.


    A superior dragon''s cry rang out from deep underground. The ind shuddered, and giant waves formed all around the ind. Even the neighboring inds began to shake.


    "What frightening strength," Croak cried out. "Can we really take down this superior draconic vein?"


    "There''s nothing to worry about. Even if we can''t do anything, the Qitian Alliance has elders here that can! They were the ones who killed the majority of the spirit kings on the ind. Don''t worry, we''ll be able to devour it all!" Ao Zhou cried out in excitement.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "A hundred Immortal-binding chains aren''t enough. You Jiu, release more."


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    Even more Immortal-binding chains shot into the air and burrowed into the ground, causing even more violent vibrations.


    The dragon''s keening grew louder and louder from underground, causing the waves around the ind to swell in magnitude.


    "Rise!" You Jiumanded.


    The entire Thousand-Spirit Ind seemed to jump. A giant pit formed as a massive figure was dragged out of the ground, a golden dragon thirty thousand meters long. It howled into the air as it was dragged aboveground.


    Clouds surged toward the dragon, forming a huge ring that revolved rapidly. It exuded a draconic might that quelled all that surrounded it.


    The golden dragon howled loudly and wildly.


    It tried to flee, but in addition to the golden Immortal-binding chains that restrained it, there was also a thick ck chain tying it down.


    The golden dragon lowered its head in fury and saw the cultivators on Thousand-Spirit Ind. Its golden eyes glowed with light, seeming to prate the cultivators. A frightening aura exuded from its body, forcing a great many cultivators to stumble back.


    "Heaven Immortals? You''ll be of great help to us. Free me from this ce. Break that ck chain, now!" the golden dragon roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his party blinked in surprise. This superior draconic vein wasn''t anything like what they had expected¡ªnor anything they had encountered to date.


    "What are all of you waiting for? Do you want to die?" the golden dragon demanded.


    "You''re the one who wants to die, it seems," Ao Zhou retorted. "You''ve been trapped by the Immortal-binding chains of our Immortal''s Destruction. How dare you attempt tomand us!"


    The golden dragon scoffed. It spat out a bolt of lightning, obliterating a patch of ground right by the side of the Immortal''s Destruction and forming a huge pit. Dirt and boulders flew into the air; the attack was so strong that Ao Zhou reared back in shock.


    "It would be trivial for me to destroy your relic. If not for these Immortal-binding chainspeting against the ck one for dominance, I would already have done so," the golden dragon gritted out.


    Ao Zhou whispered, "Xiao Nanfeng, something''s wrong. This superior draconic vein is too strong for the likes of us, or even for the Immortal''s Destruction itself. We''ve neglected to ount for its strength. Even if it can''t manifest, it surely has the strength of a Golden Immortal. Can we really take it down?"


    "You intend to take me down? How foolish you are. If you weren''t of use to me, I''d already have eaten you all."


    "You''re a draconic vein. You eat people?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "You don''t believe me? Just look!"


    The golden dragon vomited out a huge pile of bones, some of which still had strands of blood and flesh attached, as though they had only recently been digested.


    "Does it really eat humans?" Ao Zhou murmured.


    "Yellowbrow brought me these spirits and humans just now. That damned fool, does he really think I''m just a ve for producing spiritual aether? He feeds me all manner of spirits daily and has me distill their essence into spiritual aether, which he drains. He doesn''t even leave any for me! Once I escape, I''ll eat him alive!"


    "Do superior draconic veins need to be fed with spiritbeast flesh? Are these really draconic veins...?" Ao Zhou wondered.


    Xiao Nanfeng murmured, "Sage Yellowbrow is known for conquering all sorts of spiritbeastirs and Immortal sects from all around the region. He caught countless strong cultivators and spirits, all of whom vanished mysteriously. So that''s what he''s been doing¡ªfeeding them to this superior draconic vein! And the disappearances of spirits from Thousand-Spirit Ind must be for the same reason."


    "Is there some incredible treasure underneath the Thousand-Spirit Ind? This superior draconic vein must have been chained up to nurture it..." Ao Zhou murmured.


    The golden dragon, seemingly displeased with Ao Zhou and Xiao Nanfeng''s conversation, shouted, "Didn''t you hear what I said? Cut apart the ck chain, or I''ll st you to pieces!"


    "If you''re so strong, why not do so yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The golden dragon snarled, shooting out a bolt of lightning at Xiao Nanfeng so quickly that he wasn''t able to dodge.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. He smashed into the ground, forming a huge crater.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s robes were incinerated by the lightning, and his body was charred ck.


    "Your Majesty!" the cultivators all around him cried out.


    "I''m alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied, mbering out from the pit. His face was dark.


    "You can block my lightning strikes, kid? That wasn''t at full strength. If I were actually trying to kill you, all of you would die. Now, cut apart that ck chain, or I really will kill you all!" the golden dragon threatened.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Ao Zhou whispered to Xiao Nanfeng, "There has to be something wrong with the ck chain. We can''t attack it. Let''s go!"


    "Die!" the golden dragon roared.


    It had clearly heard Ao Zhou''s words. It widened its mouth and began to suck Ao Zhou and Xiao Nanfeng in. They were flung high into the air, moments from being gobbled up by the dragon.


    "Save me!" Ao Zhou cried out, struggling furiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "You dare try to consume me? Everyone, retreat!"


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    They dove into the sea as though nning to swim away.


    "None of you shall leave!" the golden dragon thundered.


    It sent Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou flying with a huff.


    It was waiting for them to rescue it; if they all left, it was bound to suffer. It had no choice but to give up on consuming Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou.


    As Xiao Nanfengnded, he shouted, "Gather around me!"


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators that had dived into the sea resurfaced, joined in opposition against the giant golden dragon.


    The golden dragon red at Xiao Nanfeng in malice.


    "Cut apart the ck chain and I''ll let you leave, or I''ll kill everyst one of you," the golden dragon threatened.


    "Let''s negotiate," Xiao Nanfeng suggested."


    "No. Do it now!" the golden dragon roared.


    "Let''s say you do kill us all. So what? We''re all avatars; our main bodies are elsewhere. At worst, we lose one of our bodies."


    "You''re all avatars? You dare trick me?" The golden dragon clearly didn''t believe them.


    "Try it, then. If you kill any one of us, the rest of us will drop everything we''re doing and flee. Even if we all die, we won''t break open your chain for you."


    The golden dragon scowled. It didn''t believe Xiao Nanfeng, but neither did it dare to risk it. It could only shout, "I''ll give you a quarter of an hour to do so!"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, covering everyone up in fog. Then, he closed his eyes and inquired of the ck lotus, "Senior, I learned that there was a superior draconic vein here, not expecting its strength and intelligence to have developed to such an extent. I overestimated myself. Might you know what that ck chain is? Why doesn''t the superior draconic vein break itself free?"


    The ck lotus slowly revolved. "That ck chain is a curse. It won''t be able to free itself; the more it tries, the more tightly the curse will cling to it."


    "It wants us to break that ck chain to transfer the curse to us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, guessing what was going on immediately.


    "Indeed so. This superior draconic vein has been trapped for many years, and its budding personality has long since been twisted into something vulgar, ferocious, and cruel. It was staring at you with greed and bloodlust, but it had no choice but to restrain itself while it was still trapped. If you free it, none of you will be able to escape. I''m sure all of you will end up as food."


    "Senior, can you possess and control it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can''t. It has the might of a Golden Immortal and can block my possession."

 Chapter 531: The Ingrained Curse

    <h4>Chapter 531: The Ingrained Curse</h4>


    "Senior, do you have any methods of handling this superior draconic vein?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck lotus replied, "This superior draconic vein has the might of a Golden Immortal, but not the body of one. Dealing with it is possible, though somewhat dangerous. Ao Zhou''s cooperation will be necessary."


    "Ao Zhou? Can he suppress the superior draconic vein?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Naturally not, but his blood can."


    "Ao Zhou''s blood? Within the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, Ao Zhou''s blood waspletely reced with that of his ancestral dragon. Does that blood have the ability of suppressing superior draconic veins?!"


    "Ancestral dragon''s blood? No wonder he seems extraordinary. That must be why. Ancestral dragon''s blood contains the essence of draconic might, but he doesn''t know how to use it yet. He should be able to suppress the superior draconic vein for some time."


    "Only for a period of time?"


    "Of course. Do you think a superior draconic vein would be dealt with so easily? Both of us will have to strike simultaneously as well."


    "Oh?"


    "However, there will be a certain amount of risk we take by doing so. If we''re careless, we might end up in danger."


    "What do you need me to do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked directly.


    "Absorb the curse with your physical body. I''ll magnify it," the ck lotus replied."


    "With my physical body?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s right. The curse is powerful, but you cultivate the Jade Emperor''s Frame. The path of the Jade Emperor is one brimming with justice and righteousness. It is immune to all manner of techniques, of tribtions. The innate divinity of your Immortal bones can cleanse all curses."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''ll listen to you, Senior. Please guide me when ites to the details."


    "Very well."


    The ck lotus and Xiao Nanfeng discussed ns for some time.


    Xiao Nanfeng, having fleshed out his strategy, gathered his subordinates and discussed the n.


    "What? I''m supposed to suppress it? I don''t want to die!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "If we don''t do so, I''m confident I''ll still be able to escape, but you''re surely done for," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    "Will you do it, or will you not?"


    "Damn it, I will! It won''t be able to eat me. I''m going to stay alive and conquer the four seas!" Ao Zhou cursed.


    "Very good. Everyone has a role to y. Let''s prepare to get started, then!"


    Just then, the golden dragon thundered, "Are you all ready?"


    The golden dragon''s authority dispelled the fog surrounding the cultivators.


    "We are," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Then destroy the ck chain surrounding my body!" the golden dragon boomed, eyes shing. At the same time, it murmured to itself, "And after that, I''ll swallow you all whole."


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward. The chain gave off a ck aura that he knew would surround him the moment he touched it. Even so, he didn''t hesitate. He held his palm up like a de and struck at the ck chain.


    The ck chain resonated. ck smoke gushed out and surrounded Xiao Nanfeng. A small, thin chain manifested from the smoke and looped around him, while the giant chain that tethered the golden dragon seemed to grow dim.


    The golden dragon''s eyes lit up. It thought to itself, "Good! The curse is about to attach to him. I''m going to be freed!"


    Just then, the ck lotus emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, shining with ck light. It attacked the ck smoke all around; the next moment, the ck smoke suddenly expanded to ten times its usual size, then a hundred, then a thousand.


    "No, what are you doing?! You''re stimting the curse!" the golden dragon cried out.


    The ck smoke billowed to thousands of times its original volume, manifesting more and more chains that bound Xiao Nanfeng as well as the golden dragon.


    There had only been a single giant ck chain around the golden dragon''s body, but it had multiplied to ten, then a hundred, then a thousand chains.


    The dense forest of chains bound the golden dragon.


    "Are you crazy? Why did you do that? The power of the curse has only grown stronger, and you''ll suffer its bacsh as well! Do you intend to perish alongside me? No!" the golden dragon howled.


    Just then, death chants could be heard all around them. The golden dragon''s struggles turned sluggish, but it didn''t realize what danger the chanting heralded.


    Simultaneously, on the Immortal''s Destruction, You Jiu shouted, "Imbue me with spiritual qi, quickly!"


    Croak, Warble, the gathered dragons, and the spectral guards all channeled their strength into You Jiu, who activated the Immortal''s Destruction at full strength. Thick Immortal-binding chains bound the golden dragon tightly and even forced it to contort.


    The golden dragon, overwhelmed by the sudden intensity of the cursed chain, was caught off-guard by the Immortal''s Destruction. It shouted in anger, "You fools! How dare you attempt to attack me? I''ll eat you all!"


    "Ao Zhou, make a move!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "I''ming!" Ao Zhou replied, morphing into a ck dragon as he charged into the golden dragon''s mindscape.


    With the hypnosis of the death chants, the golden dragon''s mind nked. The suppression of the ck and golden chains diminished its ability to think. Theirbined effects meant that the golden dragon didn''t even notice when Ao Zhou charged into its mindscape.


    Then, Ao Zhou released a burst of draconic aura as he channeled energy into his blood, intending to suppress the golden dragon and control it mentally.


    The golden dragon suddenly felt that something was amiss, that a draconic aura superior to even its own was attempting to take over its body. It was starting to find its limbs hard to control.


    "Impossible. Whose draconic aura could eclipse mine in strength? Who''s trying to possess me? Get out of my body, now!" the golden dragon shouted.


    However, it could feel its consciousness slowly being eroded away. Its control over its limbs grew weaker and weaker.


    "No. No! I won''t ept this!" the golden dragon howled in fear.


    As it struggled violently, the entire Thousand-Spirit Ind began to shake. Huge waves formed across the sea.


    Far away, high above the clouds, Ao Shuai had turned back and was now observing the ind.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really did know that a superior draconic vein was present!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "They''re trying to subdue the superior draconic vein now. Ah, that Ao Zhou''s in its mindscape now!" one of his subordinates added.


    "The superior draconic vein is mine. It''s key to my advancement into a Golden Immortal. Those bastards¡ªI''ll have them return my superior draconic vein to me!" Ao Shuai cursed.


    "What do we do now, Master?" one of his subordinates asked.


    "Steal it! It''s mine. All of you, snatch it back for me!" Ao Shuaimanded.


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    Suddenly, a huge rumble came from Thousand-Spirit Ind as it exploded. The golden dragon broke free of the ck and gold chains and soared into the air.


    "The superior draconic vein ran off! Chase after it!" Ao Shuaimanded.


    "Understood!" His subordinates immediately gave chase.


    The golden dragon continued to struggle furiously high above the Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    It knew that it would bepletely possessed if it allowed the situation to proceed as nned¡ªand that wasn''t an oue it could ept.


    "How dare you bugs scheme against me¡ªall of you should die! You wanted to stimte the curse, didn''t you? I''ll help you. All of you must perish!" the golden dragon howled.


    It released a tremendous burst of energy straight at the pit from which the ck chain extended. The ck smoke magnified in intensity tenfold.


    "The smoke''s going to head to the other cultivators, none of whom are protected," the ck lotus warned.


    "Senior, channel the curse into our body, quickly!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ck lotus began to revolve. Tremendous suction attracted the ck smoke toward Xiao Nanfeng, surrounding his body in countless chains.


    By then, the curse hadpletely been freed from the golden dragon''s body and had transferred to Xiao Nanfeng''s instead.


    The golden dragon shook as the ck chains vanished from its body. Then, with a snap, the Immortal-binding chains were flung off as well. It soared into the air.


    It did want to seek revenge, but with Ao Zhou''s possession over its body, it was finding it more and more difficult to maneuver. Ao Zhou controlled the greater part of its body, and he possessed an absolute advantage.


    "Scram!" the golden dragon howled.


    Ao Zhou understood what was going on now. His smile widened in ravenous greed. "I''m rich, haha! This superior draconic vein is wholly mine. I''ll have it all to myself!"


    He quickly steered the golden dragon away from the ind, intending to monopolize it for himself. The golden dragon, worried about the cursed chain and the ominous chanting, cooperated.


    The two minds steered the huge body away from the scene, not realizing that Ao Shuai and his subordinates were chasing after them.


    As all the Immortal-binding chains exploded, those cultivators responsible for manipting the Immortal''s Destruction suffered tremendous bacsh. Theyy strewn across the ground, vomiting out blood.


    "Your Majesty!" You Jiu cried out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng!" Croak and Warble shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng, surrounded by countless ck chains, was dragged into the huge pit.


    The cultivators ran up to the pit, only to see that it was filled with ck smoke. They couldn''t see whaty within.


    "His Majesty''s in there now. What do we do?" a spectral guard fretted.


    "Your avatar is in Yongding. Quick, go ask His Majesty''s avatar what to do," You Jiumanded one of his subordinates.


    "Understood!" Very quickly, the subordinate replied, "His Majesty said not to worry. Leave with the Immortal''s Destruction immediately!"


    You Jiu was taken aback, but nodded firmly. He immediately began to pack up the Immortal''s Destruction. "Let''s go!"


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    They dove into the sea and vanished underwater.


    Meanwhile, Ao Shuai''s subordinates quickly descended onto the ind, wanting to figure out what had happened.

 Chapter 532: The Moonlight Buddha

    <h4>Chapter 532: The Moonlight Buddha</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus were dragged into the cursed pit by countless ck chains. The interior of the pit was filled with ck smoke imbued with curses. Xiao Nanfeng felt the chains tightening around his body.


    "The Jade Emperor''s Frame, Immortal bones shining, righteous energy rising, a thousand techniques resisting, a thousand tribtions defying, curses with holy light cleansing!" the ck lotus chanted.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated his own Immortal frame. Although it had only been recently forged, it was still an incredibly potent technique. The ck smoke surrounding his body melted like ice.


    The chains that bound him cracked one after another. Indeed, the Jade Emperor''s Frame was able to cleanse the curses around his body. Before long, all that cursed energy had been forced out.


    Even so, the curses didn''t seem to be willing to let him go. They surrounded his body and blocked his way. At the same time, they spun around him rapidly, attempting to exhaust him of his cleansing ability and chaining him thereafter.


    Of course, this sort of cleansing technique was particrly draining on Immortal qi, and Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t keep it up for long.


    By then, the ck lotus had freed itself of all the curses that surrounded it and returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. Though the situation he faced was perilous, Xiao Nanfeng would be able to free himself easily.


    He used his candleme powers in the upward direction, against the force of gravity.


    A portal appeared, and he darted in. He thought he would have been able to escape from the pitpletely, but he found himself in a sinister limestone cave instead.


    The limestone cave was particrlyrge, and there were stctites in all directions. Somehow, it also felt like a small pocket space. Fog filled the air, suffusing it with divine light. The sound of chanting could be heard.


    Xiao Nanfeng followed the voice and waved a hand to dispelrge quantities of the fog. He immediately discovered that the chanting came from a huge pool thaty straight ahead. The pool shone with glowing light, and almost a thousand golden lotuses floated on it.


    On each golden lotus tform was a white-robed monk or nun. All of them were chanting scripture with their eyes shut, a full moon to the back of each of their heads. They looked particrly holy and divine.


    "These are golden lotus hood cursed effigies..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Just then, the chanting of scripture stopped abruptly. The thousand monks and nuns all opened their eyes simultaneously, staring coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. Incredible pressure surged forth.


    "Who are you? Who dares barge into the Moonlight Temple?" a white-robed monk demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond. He asked the ck lotus in his mindscape, "Senior, are you familiar with these golden lotus hood cursed effigies?"


    "These are the subordinates of the Future Buddha, and they''re all arhats. The fact that they can already manifest bodies with their cursed souls means that they''ve likely reached a dangerous level of strength. Their leader, the ''Moonlight Buddha'', was once a peak Golden Immortal. Who knows how much of his strength he has recovered since? However, considering that they''ve been absorbing spiritual aether from a superior draconic vein, I have to imagine they''re incredibly strong."


    "Let me test their strength. If we can''t fight them, we''ll run. If we can, Senior, why don''t you absorb them all?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well."


    The arhat shouted again, "Are you mute? I''m asking you a question! Who are you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at thergest golden lotus in the center of the pool, surrounded protectively by the gathered arhats. A man floated above the lotus tform, eyes shut in meditation, as though Xiao Nanfeng''s arrival was all but meaningless to him. That must be the Moonlight Buddha.


    "Ie on Sage Yellowbrow''s orders to ask why the superior draconic vein in the world atrge has gone missing," Xiao Nanfeng said smoothly.


    The arhats frowned as they extended their senses to the outside world. Many began to frown deeply.


    "The superior draconic vein really has vanished..."


    "How could this be? The cursed chain was manifested by the Buddha himself! How could it have broken?"


    "Buddha, the superior draconic vein has vanished!"


    The arhats all looked toward the Moonlight Buddha.


    The Moonlight Buddha''s eyes opened wide. He ignored the arhats'' panic as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng. "You were the one who released the superior draconic vein, weren''t you? You dare impersonate Yellowbrow''s subordinates to trick us in his absence? You''ve really got guts."


    "What? He was the one who did it?"


    "Die, fool!"


    The arhats were all in an uproar.


    "You''re mistaken, Buddha," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Moonlight Buddha seemed to know everything. Without any hesitation, hemanded, "Take him down!"


    "Understood!" An arhat strode forth.


    The golden lotus to its feet vanished. The bright moon to the back of its head glimmered brightly as a tremendous aura emanated from its body. It moved quickly, instantly shing behind Xiao Nanfeng and striking him with a fist.


    The fist glimmered with silver light and boasted intense strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, defending himself with a fist of his own.


    The two fists met in a tremendous explosion, but the limestone cave appeared exceptionally stable and was entirely unharmed. The shockwaves of energy caused Xiao Nanfeng to stumble a few steps back.


    The arhat was particrly strong.


    "Ate-stage Heaven Immortal? To think a Heaven Immortal would dare barge into the Moonlight Temple. You really are reckless!" The arhat shot forward and punched at Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Countless fists met the arhat''s own in a huge explosion that sent both parties reeling.


    "How dare you! Moon, I summon your strength!" the arhat cried out.


    The bright moon to the back of its head immediately released shining silver light, as though imbuing its body with endless strength. Its aura suddenly magnified in strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, turning to run without any hesitation.


    The arhat had been a peak Heaven Immortal even before activating the moon to the back of his head. At that point, he had grown almost as strong as a True Immortal. How was Xiao Nanfeng to fight them all? There were a thousand arhats in the vicinity¡ªand the Moonlight Buddha, strongest of all!


    He fled rapidly, heading to the sides of the limestone cave and intending to teleport out through the cave walls.


    "Hold it!" the arhats shouted, giving chase.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing red light to sh across the wall. He bypassed the arhats chasing after him and seemed poised to dart out.


    The Moonlight Buddha blinked in surprise, not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would really be able to do so, but he too reacted rapidly. "You intend to leave? What kind of ce do you think this is?"


    He mmed a palm into the ground, causing a silver palm strike to appear in the void and m down from above Xiao Nanfeng''s head.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. He smashed into the ground, forming a huge crater. He was so badly injured that fresh blood sprayed out of his mouth; he wasn''t able to escape in time. The portal he had created likewise vanished from sight.


    "A Golden Immortal!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "That was an interesting trick you were using to free yourself¡ªand you cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri, don''t you? I wascking a physical body with which to roam the world, and here you are!" The Moonlight Buddha''s eyes lit up.


    He wed at the void, causing another silver palm to strike at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, knowing that he wouldn''t be able to escape. He retrieved the Divine Seal of Dazheng and hid in the internal space within.


    The Moonlight Buddha''s palm caught the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    Heavy though the seal was, the Moonlight Buddha was exceptionally strong. He picked it up and considered the relic carefully.


    "You hid within this relic? Let''s see how long you intend to hide, then," the Moonlight Buddha murmured.


    He shut his eyes and sent his cursed soul into the Divine Seal of Dazheng before opening his eyes some timeter. "Hmm? How unusual. What sort of relic is this? Even I can''t figure it out."


    Within the Divine Seal of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Senior, the Moonlight Buddha really is strong. Are you able to defend against him?"


    "He hasn''t recovered to his peak, but is already a Golden Immortal. I''m no match for him at the moment, and it was truly dangerous just now. I apologize for not helping you against him." The ck lotus sighed.


    "There''s no need to worry, Senior. At the moment, he doesn''t have a good sense of our abilities and has been attracted by my Divine Seal of Dazheng, so I doubt he will summon any others to split the treasure. We should be safe for the short term."


    "That''s useless. We can hardly stay in here forever, can we?"


    "I can summon some reinforcements."


    "Oh?"


    "My subordinates told me that Yin Tianci once revealed that golden lotuses grew on Thousand-Spirit Ind, which is why I petitioned the Heavenly Emperor to have me take on this mission. Now that the truth has been revealed, it''s time to seek backup from the Heavenly Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The ck lotus was silent for a moment. Eventually, it replied, "Very well."


    "Hm? Something''s wrong. Why has Ao Zhou returned?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You can tell what''s going on outside?" the ck lotus asked curiously.


    "There''s a spectral guard hanging around Thousand-Spirit Ind. He hasn''t yet gone far, and he has an avatar in Yongding. He informed my avatar that Ao Zhou''s superior draconic vein is being attacked by Ao Shuai''s forces. The superior draconic vein has made its way back to Thousand-Spirit Ind and darted into the cursed cave. It''s somewhere around us by now."


    "Once Ao Zhou returns to the cursed cave, the Moonlight Buddha will surely sense his presence and catch him. We''d be in danger then¡ªbut if Ao Zhou stops suppressing the superior draconic vein, it might be able to take on the Moonlight Buddha..." The ck lotus frowned.


    "Perhaps we can take the opportunity to escape," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Be careful," the ck lotus warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly cursed. "Sage Yellowbrow is back!"


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes and fell deep into meditation, as though waiting for news from the outside world. After some time, he replied seriously, "Sage Yellowbrow killed off Ao Shuai''s subordinates and has rushed in."


    "It''s a little difficult for us to leave in the chaos, then."


    "Perhaps not. Since Sage Yellowbrow has returned, so will the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. The situation may be even more chaotic than before," Xiao Nanfeng said expectantly.

 Chapter 533: Ao Zhous Despair

    <h4>Chapter 533: Ao Zhou''s Despair</h4>


    Not too long ago, Ao Zhou had steered the superior draconic vein into the clouds, at which point he suppressed the vein using a secret technique and coasted away.


    "Haha, Xiao Nanfeng isn''t aware that I possess an ancestral dragon''s inheritance, is he? I have a specialized technique for dealing with such superior draconic veins. I''m going to drain this one all by myself!" Ao Zhou cackled.


    A dark red aura emerged from his body as he fully suppressed the superior draconic vein''s consciousness.


    "Damn you, what sort of technique is this? Why can it take me on?!" the superior draconic vein howled in pain.


    The vein hadpletely lost any ability to move its body.


    "Haha, of course I can suppress you! You''re just a superior draconic vein. What could you hope to do against me? Now, let me im you and grow even stronger! Ancestral Dragon''s Integration!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    Dark red runes gushed out from Ao Zhou''s body and absorbed the superior draconic vein''s energy.


    Shortly thereafter, a rumble emanated from his body.


    "Have I broken through again? Very good. Again! Ancestral Dragon''s Integration!" Ao Zhou cried out in excitement.


    "No, my spiritual power is dissipating! Return it to me!" the superior draconic vein howled.


    "It''s useless. Don''t bother struggling any longer. You should be honored that you''ll be absorbed into my body."


    Just then, asso of purple rope caught the superior draconic vein by the neck. It glowed in scintiting purple, causing the vein to stop short, unable to progress forward any longer.


    "Who is it?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    The superior draconic vein turned its head to see Ao Shuai manipting a purplesso with a group of subordinates behind him.


    "I''ve caught it. Now, tie it up and bring it back. This superior draconic vein is mine!"


    "You''ll die for this!" Ao Zhou raged.


    He manipted the superior draconic vein to w at the gathered cultivators. Just then, another group of cultivators emerged with moressos, flinging them toward the superior draconic vein from every angle and direction. Thessosbined together to form a huge that bound the superior draconic vein.


    "What sort of treasure is this? Why can''t I break out?" Ao Zhou gasped, struggling.


    "Ao Zhou, you might have possessed the superior draconic vein, but you only acquired a small portion of its brute strength. You can''t activate its Golden Immortal powers. Give up!" Ao Shuai called out.


    "Impossible. I''ll break free!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    The superior draconic vein writhed and struggled, but was unable to free itself.


    "Unless the superior draconic vein is controlling its own body, you''d never break free."


    "Didn''t Xiao Nanfeng chase you away? What are you doing here?!"


    "I came back for my superior draconic vein, of course. Why, I have to thank you for helping me extract and suppress it. You''ve been a great help, haha!"


    Ao Zhou struggled again and again, but was unable to break out of the.


    "It''s useless. Listen to me and I''ll give you a chance to serve me," Ao Shuai said, smirking.


    "Dream on!" Ao Zhou thundered.


    "If you don''t cooperate with me, I''ll kill you."


    Ao Zhou fumed. He was only a Heaven Immortal. Even if he were to give up on the superior draconic vein and escape, he would instantly be caught and killed.


    As for submitting to Ao Shuai¡ªthat too was impossible. Ao Shuai''s gaze were pools of brutal greed. He suddenly realized that the offer was only a means of controlling it until Ao Shuai managed to absorb the superior draconic vein. After that, he would be killed no matter what.


    "Continue subjugating the superior draconic vein with more of thesessos. Make sure it can''t escape!" Ao Shuaimanded.


    "Understood!"


    His subordinates quickly threw out moressos, making it even harder for Ao Zhou to move.


    "Superior draconic vein, I''m going to release your consciousness. Break free now!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    "Ao Zhou, if you dare¡ª" Ao Shuai called out, but it was toote. The superior draconic vein radiated with intense golden light, releasing the strength of a Golden Immortal. Thessos broke.


    The superior draconic vein emanated an intense aura that sent all the cultivators around it flying, including Ao Shuai. They vomited out blood as they careened through the air.


    "I''ll kill all of you, all of you!" the superior draconic vein howled. "Ao Zhou, you''ll die too!"


    "You''re going to attack me even though I released you?" Ao Zhou demanded.


    "You have to die!" the superior draconic vein shouted ruthlessly.


    "It''s lucky that I had a safeguard, then. Ancestral dragon''s blood, seal it!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    Dark red energy gushed out of the superior draconic vein, suppressing its consciousness again. Ao Zhou was once more in control.


    The superior draconic vein: ...


    It never expected Ao Zhou to possess so many tricks. He had regained control over its body!


    "No, hold on, Ao Zhou, let''s talk about it, alright? Release me. I won''t kill you any longer!" The superior draconic vein quickly backpedaled.


    "Ha! Do you think I would trust you any longer? I only have a limited supply of ancestral dragon''s blood in my body. If you waste more, I won''t be able to suppress you any longer!" Ao Zhou cursed.


    He quickly brought the superior draconic vein flying away.


    Ao Shuai, who had been sent flying, suddenly rallied. "Ao Zhou''s suppressing the superior draconic vein again. Quick, we have to catch up! This time, it won''t be able to escape. Continue using thessos!"


    "Understood!" His subordinates immediately gave chase.


    Ao Zhou had only suppressed the superior draconic vein''s consciousness, and didn''t have full control over its body. As a result, he could hardly fly as quickly as a Golden Immortal. He quickly sensed the cultivators behind him gaining ground.


    "Stay away! Why are all of you following me?!" Ao Zhou spat out.


    At this rate, either Ao Shuai would take him down, or the superior draconic vein would. He wasn''t able to escape, so what was he to do?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, save me! Elder of ck fog, save me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    He remembered how the ck lotus had easily finished off the spirit kings just now. If the ck lotus were willing to help him deal with Ao Shuai and the others, he would escape unscathed.


    As the cultivators to his back drew near, he had no choice but to turn back toward Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    Thousand-Spirit Ind had already be a pile of ruins, but a few of Ao Shuai''s subordinates were starting to gather there.


    He ignored Ao Shuai''s subordinates and headed straight for the cursed pit.


    "Don''t! Don''t go in there!" the superior draconic vein''s consciousness roared.


    "The more you say that, the more I want to. Xiao Nanfeng''s in there, so it has to be alright. Otherwise, why would Croak and Warble have left him there?" Ao Zhou replied.


    He knocked aside all the cultivators in his way and rushed into the cursed pit.


    Ao Shuai and his subordinates flew down, but stopped right at its surface.


    "That damn bastard, Ao Zhou¡ªhow dare he disobey me?!" Ao Shuai thundered.


    "We can''t head in, Master. My avatar entered and lost consciousness immediately," one of his subordinates said.


    "What?" Ao Shuai stilled.


    "There''s incredible danger within. We can''t take the risk," that subordinate warned again.


    Ao Shuai frowned. In the end, he said, "The superior draconic vein is crucial to my advancement into a Golden Immortal, and I can''t give up on it so easily. Your avatar''s cultivation is weak, but we may be able to survive. All True Immortals, prepare to follow me in."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Just then, one of his subordinates called out, "Master, there''s a beam of light headed our way at an incredible speed!"


    Everyone turned to see a ray of golden light shooting toward them, moving so quickly that it was about to reach the Thousand-Spirit Ind within moments.


    "Is that Sage Yellowbrow?!" one cultivator eximed.


    "Flee!" Ao Shuai called out immediately.


    He and his subordinates scattered across the sea, but not all got away in time. Ao Shuai and the other True Immortals dove into the sea immediately. His remaining subordinates, all Heaven Immortals and below, couldn''t escape from Sage Yellowbrow.


    "Do you think I''ll let you leave after destroying my Thousand-Spirit Ind? All of you are done for!" Sage Yellowbrow howled.


    He could see what had happened to the Thousand-Spirit Ind from afar. The destruction of his life''s work¡ªthis was a grudge that could never be dispelled.


    His palm smashed down. Those cultivators who were unable to escape were crushed into the ground, bleeding profusely.


    The luckier ones fell into the sea; the unluckier ones, back on Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    Sage Yellowbrow radiated with golden light. Rather than look toward the scattered cultivators, he focused on the giant cursed pit, eyes widening.


    Then, he caught a Heaven Immortal and demanded, "What happened here? Tell me immediately!"


    The Heaven Immortal''s bones were crushed in his grip. Blood trickled down Sage Yellowbrow''s palm. The Heaven Immortal didn''t dare resist; he concisely recounted what had happened to date.


    "Damn that Xiao Nanfeng¡ªhe managed to excavate the superior draconic vein? If anything down there goes wrong, all of you will die¡ªno, I''m going to kill all of you now!" Sage Yellowbrow seethed.


    Raging in anger, he swiped at the injured cultivators. All those who had failed to flee were smashed into pancakes.


    Then, he stepped into the cursed pit and vanished from sight.

 Chapter 534: Opportunity in Danger

    <h4>Chapter 534: Opportunity in Danger</h4>


    Not long after Sage Yellowbrow entered the cursed pit, another beam of silver light shot toward the ind from afar.


    The beamnded on Thousand-Spirit Ind in a plume of dust, revealing a humanoid figure as it cleared¡ªthe Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    The moment the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost descended, he saw the scattered corpses all over the ind. Their features were unrecognizable, but their clothing bore an obvious provenance.


    "The young master''s subordinates¡ªwhat could have happened to him?!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost eximed.


    He hurriedly began to search around.


    Afar, Ao Shuai and the rest of his subordinates, who had been hiding from Sage Yellowbrow, sighed in relief.


    "Silverfrost, I''m right here!" Ao Shuai called out, rushing onto Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    His subordinates surrounded him protectively.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost exhaled upon seeing Ao Shuai unharmed. "What happened here, Master? The situation here..."


    One of Ao Shuai''s subordinates immediately recounted what had happened.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s tone was tinged with ice as he replied, "Xiao Nanfeng really is devious. He imed all the spirits on the ind for himself?"


    "He did! Not only that, as we expected, there was a superior draconic vein underneath the ind. Silverfrost, I need that superior draconic vein!" Ao Shuai cried out urgently.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nced into the cursed pit. "Xiao Nanfeng entered it, Sage Yellowbrow entered it, and even the superior draconic vein entered it? And what''s with this cursed smoke? Something ominous lies within..."


    "Should I seek help from my father?" Ao Shuai asked.


    "There''s no need for now. I''ll go in and have a look," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied.


    "Let me have some of my subordinates enter with you," Ao Shuai suggested.


    Ao Shuai knew how dangerous it would be within; he didn''t want to enter himself.


    "Very well. Have someone with an avatar enter¡ªit might be dangerous, and it''ll facilitatemunication." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost picked one of the candidates, then told Ao Shuai, "Just in case, you had better all hide."


    "Got it."


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and one of Ao Shuai''s subordinates entered the cursed pit while Ao Shuai and his group fled from Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    Not long before that, the Moonlight Buddha in the limestone cave immediately detected when Ao Zhou returned to the cursed pit with the superior draconic vein.


    "The superior draconic vein... has returned?" the Moonlight Buddha eximed in disbelief.


    With a wave of its hand, a hole appeared in the limestone cave. Cursed smoke surrounded the hole, but was unable to seep in. Arge cloud of cursed smoke had surrounded the superior draconic vein, but the Moonlight Buddha easily pulled it into the cave.


    The moment the superior draconic vein was brought inside, the hole vanished.


    "What? There''s a separate space in here?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Just then, a silver palm descended from the heavens and squashed the superior draconic vein''s body, rendering it immobile.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where are you? Come out here and help me!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond. Instead, a group of arhats floating atop golden lotus tforms smiled in relief.


    "Buddha, we''ve reimed the superior draconic vein!"


    "To think the superior draconic vein would have been so foolish as to return..."


    The arhats were very pleased with this discovery.


    When Ao Zhou saw who had been responsible for trapping him, he immediately called out, "Senior, I apologize for disturbing you unintentionally. I hope you''ll allow me to go free."


    "Since you''ve alreadye, why not stay? I''m curious as to how you were able to possess a superior draconic vein. You must possess important secrets. Why not reveal them and allow us to share the burden with you?"


    Ao Zhou stiffened. Inwardly, he cursed, "Share the burden? More like you want to steal my secrets!"


    "The Buddha''s asking you a question!" an arhat shouted. "Responding to the Buddha is an honor. Answer the Buddha immediately!"


    "Answer the Buddha immediately!" the arhats echoed.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    A group of cultivators had chased him in here, the superior draconic vein he had possessed was trying to kill him, and now there were a group of monks trying to rob him. How unlucky could he get?


    Could he surrender? No¡ªhe would only be robbed and killed.


    Ao Zhou smiled fiercely. "Everyone, I came bringing a gift: this superior draconic vein."


    He gave up on possessing the superior draconic vein once again, returning freedom to it.


    The superior draconic vein instantly glowed with golden light as it struggled free from the silver palm.


    "Ao Zhou, you think you can possess me despite yourck of strength? Scram!"


    The superior draconic vein didn''t dare take him lightly any longer. Its whiskers shot into its mindscape and whipped Ao Zhou out of it.


    "Now die!" the superior draconic vein shouted, making to swallow Ao Zhou.


    "Save me, Buddha!" Ao Zhou cried out, flying toward the Moonlight Buddha.


    "You released your hold on the superior draconic vein''s consciousness and ruined my ns! Why would I help you?" the Moonlight Buddha demanded.


    It pped the superior draconic vein with one palm and caught Ao Zhou with the other, clutching him tightly as the superior draconic vein reeled, stumbling onto the ground.


    The superior draconic vein hissed. It knew that Ao Zhou possessed an incredible secret, and it could hardly allow him to fall into another''s hands. It roared and shot toward the Moonlight Buddha.


    "I''m going to kill Ao Zhou for hurting me! Return him to me!" the superior draconic vein roared.


    "Hm?" The Moonlight Buddha seemed surprised.


    It expected the superior draconic vein to immediately flee, but it was trying to snatch Ao Zhou from his grasp. Could Ao Zhou really possess some tremendous secret?


    How lucky he was today¡ªfirst, someone cultivating the Imposing Avatar of Ri, and now, treasures one after another.


    The Moonlight Buddha shouted, "Take the superior draconic vein down!"


    "Understood!" all the arhats replied.


    They rushed forward and began to attack the superior draconic vein.


    The sounds of fighting echoed within the limestone cave. A howling tempest formed, but the cave seemed exceptionally sturdy and showed no signs of copsing.


    The superior draconic vein sent more and more arhats flying, but they continued to attack it. Before long, another figure in gold appeared¡ªSage Yellowbrow.


    "Moonlight Buddha, what''s going on?" he eximed.


    The Moonlight Buddha was investigating Ao Zhou, rather than participating in the fight.


    "Yellowbrow, suppress the superior draconic vein alongside them. Let me study this little dragon and see what secrets he possesses, secrets that the superior draconic vein wants even at risk to its life."


    "Understood!" Sage Yellowbrow replied.


    With Sage Yellowbrow participating in the melee, the superior draconic vein was quickly subdued.


    Seeing that it had been caught once again, it cried out, "Release me and give me Ao Zhou. I''ll listen to you, guard you, and continue supplying you with spiritual aether!"


    "Oh? You''re willing to cooperate with us now?" Sage Yellowbrow eximed.


    "Only if you hand me Ao Zhou!" the superior draconic vein cried out anxiously.


    The more eager the superior draconic vein was, the more intrigued the Moonlight Buddha and Sage Yellowbrow became.


    The Moonlight Buddha caused Ao Zhou to faint. A cloud of ck fog emanated from his body, resolving into the shape of a dragon.


    The dragon roared, causing the entire cave to tremble violently.


    Everyone was caught off-guard. They froze; incredible draconic might seemed to arrest them for a moment, preventing them from even taking a breath. Even the Moonlight Buddha and Sage Yellowbrow had been affected. Their eyes widened as they took in the draconic smoke around Ao Zhou.


    "The quality of this draconic soul is..."


    "Could it be an ancestral dragon? The ancestral dragons of legend?"


    "He bears the inheritance of an ancestral dragon?!"


    The cultivators'' eyes widened. Their nostrils red. Although the ancestral dragons had perished long ago, these supreme cultivators had heard of them. The ancestral dragons were the pinnacle of all dragonkind.


    How could someone like Ao Zhou possess an ancestral dragon''s inheritance? No wonder the superior draconic vein was even willing to be subjugated to ess it.


    "It''s mine! The ancestral dragon''s inheritance belongs to me!" the superior draconic vein cried out.


    No one paid it any mind.


    The Moonlight Buddha and Sage Yellowbrow were both attracted to that draconic smoke. Their eyes filled with greed.


    No one noticed that an icy, crystalline hole had appeared in the cave, leading out to the cursed pit.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost entered, sensing the draconic might as he did so. He raised his head to see the draconic smoke that the Moonlight Buddha was examining from Ao Zhou''s prone body.


    His eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. He was incredulous and simultaneously ecstatic.


    Ao Shuai''s subordinate attempted to head in from behind him, jolting him out of his reverie. He immediately sent the cultivator flying back into the cursed pit.


    An ancestral dragon''s inheritance was an incredible secret that would even tempt the likes of the Eastern Aspect. He was loyal to the Eastern Aspect, but the inheritance was so tempting to him that he didn''t dare divulge any news of it whatsoever, not even to one of his subordinates.


    He sealed the hole he had created as he shot toward Ao Zhou. He had to retrieve the inheritance at any cost.


    "Who is it?" The Moonlight Buddha, sensing that something was amiss, turned around.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost moved rapidly, shing over to the Moonlight Buddha''s side and attempting to seize Ao Zhou.


    "Insolence!" the Moonlight Buddha roared, mming a palm toward the Martial Aspect.


    The two Golden Immortal cultivators struck each other palm for palm. Shockwaves of energy filled the cave.


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost?" Sage Yellowbrow eximed.


    The next moment, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost transformed into a huge silver dragon, surrounded by a frosty aura. The limestone cave froze over. He was working against time¡ªhe had to im Ao Zhou before anyone else could do so. He shot toward the Moonlight Buddha again.


    The Moonlight Buddha frowned, sweeping Ao Zhou into a storage pouch before meeting the Martial Aspect''s onught with a fist.


    The two attacks shed in a ming tempest.


    "That''s mine! Return him to me!" the superior draconic vein cried out, struggling anew.


    The four supreme cultivators began to fight madly for Ao Zhou.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng quietly poked his head out of the Divine Seal of Dazheng as he considered his surroundings.

 Chapter 535: Xiao Nanfeng Breaks Free

    <h4>Chapter 535: Xiao Nanfeng Breaks Free</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng, thinking that the time hade, attempted to free himself from the Divine Seal of Dazheng. He was particrly careful about it and prepared to retreat back into the seal at any time.Fortunately, he wasn''t in danger.


    He discovered that he was in a storage pouch and could hear the sound of fighting from afar. He pricked his ears up and guessed what had happened in his absence.


    Under ordinary circumstances, storage relics were unable to contain living beings. The fact that this one could spoke to its rarity.


    Ao Zhouy unconscious not too far away.


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to head over and awaken Ao Zhou, only to have the ck lotus stop him with a shout. "Don''t!"


    "What''s wrong, Senior?"


    "A secret technique was imnted on Ao Zhou''s body. The moment you touch it, part of the technique will be transferred to you," the ck lotus said.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. "You mean that the Moonlight Buddha deliberately ced Ao Zhou and the Divine Seal of Dazheng together so as to reel me in?"


    "Indeed. If you were to touch Ao Zhou, the Moonlight Buddha would be able to chase you into the depths of the Divine Seal of Dazheng. It would be able to track you if you fled, as well."


    "The Moonlight Buddha is a fearsome foe..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured seriously.


    "If I''m not mistaken, the Moonlight Buddha has already sensed your presence here. However, it''s fighting against the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, and doesn''t have the time to deal with you at the moment."


    "Regardless, considering how chaotic it is outside, let me see if I can escape."


    "Very well!"


    Xiao Nanfeng stored the Divine Seal of Dazheng and used his candleme powers to appear outside the storage pouch.


    "What? How did you break out?" the Moonlight Buddha eximed.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was taken aback as well. He didn''t expect that Xiao Nanfeng would also have been in the pouch.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng emerged, he imed the storage pouch and shouted, "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, Imand you to protect me as I leave!"


    Then, he fled toward the sides of the cave.


    Incensed, the Moonlight Buddha struck at him with a palm. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost narrowed his eyes and stopped short, as though waiting for the Moonlight Buddha to kill Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng suffered a direct hit. He smashed into a wall of the cave.


    He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he fell to the ground, the storage pouch in his hand destroyed after the Moonlight Buddha''s attack. Ao Zhou was revealed once again.


    "You blocked my blow again with the Imposing Avatar of Ri?" The Moonlight Buddha''s eyes lit up with greed.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng activated his candleme powers on the cave floor and vanished once more.


    "How did he escape?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost eximed.


    The Moonlight Buddha, who had been on guard against the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, didn''t manage to secure Xiao Nanfeng in time. It immediately cast another technique. "Cursed chains, seal!"


    Then, the Moonlight Buddha shot toward the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost as the fighting began anew. Both entities were intent on seizing Ao Zhou for themselves.


    Meanwhile, as Xiao Nanfeng fled from the limestone cave, he found himself surrounded by countless cursed chains again. This wasn''t a problem for him. He activated his candleme powers again and vanished from the chains'' domain with a whoosh.


    Though he had escaped, he chose not to reveal himself. Hey hidden underground, listening intently to what was urring within the cave and preparing to make a move as necessary.


    Four Golden Immortals were fighting within the limestone cave, and the shockwaves that emanated from the fight were terrifying. Giant waves surged around Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was using all his powers in an attempt to seize Ao Zhou for himself. His silver dragon''s body exploded with endless frost, freezing the limestone cave into an icy cer.


    "Yellowbrow, stop attacking the superior draconic vein. Help me deal with him, quickly!" the Moonlight Buddha shouted.


    "But if I do, your subordinates won''t be able to hold the superior draconic vein back!"


    "Then kill it," the Moonlight Buddha hissed.


    "What?"


    "Kill the superior draconic vein and destroy its consciousness. We''ll forge it into a puppetter. Its ability to process spiritual aether might take a hit, but the ancestral dragon''s inheritance is far more important. We can''t lose it. Kill it!" the Moonlight Buddha shouted fiercely.


    "Very well!" Sage Yellowbrow replied.


    "You want to kill me? Dream on!" the superior draconic vein raged.


    It began to retaliate furiously as it blocked Sage Yellowbrow''s attacks.


    Just then, death chants rang out within the limestone cave, so loudly the chanting rumbled like thunder.


    "This again?!" the superior draconic vein shouted.


    Although it resisted to the best of its ability, it couldn''t help but be affected. Its actions slowed down subconsciously, and Sage Yellowbrow mmed a palm against the center of its forehead, causing its head to copse.


    With a shriek, its consciousness scattered. The superior draconic vein''s body twitched and jittered in paralysis.


    "Keep an eye on it. Although I''ve shattered its consciousness, its constitution is different from that of an ordinary cultivator, and its consciousness might even mend," Sage Yellowbrow instructed.


    "Understood!" the arhats replied.


    They suppressed the superior draconic vein while keeping the death chants up around it.


    Sage Yellowbrow suddenly turned to the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. "Die!"


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost stumbled back. In a two-on-one confrontation, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost quickly ended up on the losing end of things.


    "Just you wait. I''ll be back!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted, smashing his body against the walls of the cave.


    The walls of the cave shuddered and began to crack, but the crack repaired itself quickly.


    "What? The walls weren''t as sturdy when I entered!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted.


    "This cave is a treasure of mine. Entering is straightforward, but no one can leave without my permission!" the Moonlight Buddha shouted.


    "Are you trying to trick me? Xiao Nanfeng escaped easily!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost retorted, continuing to smash into the walls of the cave.


    The Moonlight Buddha fell silent. That was true. How had Xiao Nanfeng escaped? And was he the person that had been trapped by the cursed chains outside?


    "Break!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted.


    Another few cracks appeared on the walls of the cave.


    "It''s toote for you to flee!" Sage Yellowbrow shouted.


    He struck the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s lower back with a palm, causing him to stumble.


    "Sage Yellowbrow, I''ll kill you!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost seethed.


    "You''re the one who''s going to die. We can''t allow the secret of the ancestral dragon''s inheritance to spread. You''ll have to die for the secret to be secure!"


    The three Golden Immortal cultivators'' fight resumed anew. Intense reverberations from the limestone cave caused giant waves to surge all around the ind once again.


    In a secluded region of the nearby sea, Ao Shuai asked a subordinate, "What''s going on? Why are things shaking so violently?"


    "I don''t know," Ao Shuai''s subordinate replied.


    "Didn''t your avatar head into the cursed pit with the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost? How could you not know?"


    "I followed the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost in. He created an opening into what seemed like a limestone cave. It was filled with frightening draconic might, which shocked me to the core. Before I could step inside, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost sent me flying out, and the opening sealed shut. My avatar was bound by arge number of ck chains that radiated ck smoke. I felt incredibly ufortable and waspletely unable to move."


    "A limestone cave containing draconic might? From the superior draconic vein?"


    "I wasn''t able to sense it clearly," Ao Shuai''s subordinate replied.


    Ao Shuai frowned. "Just what is Silverfrost nning...?"


    As he watched the surging sea, Ao Shuai couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of frustration. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost hadn''t provided him with any useful information. He could hardly ask his father toe on a hunch.


    The violent reverberations from the ind persisted for half the day. The surrounding regions of the sea remained disturbed, and several curious cultivators even came to check up on the status of the ind. When they saw what had happened to it, they were all taken aback.


    Just then, Zhang Lingjun, Ye Dafu, and others arrived on the ind as well.


    They were incredulous upon seeing the state of the ind.


    Theynded and began to investigate immediately.


    "Is this really Thousand-Spirit Ind? What happened?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "Start searching!" Ye Dafumanded his subordinates.


    Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. "Zhang Lingjun''s here, and she evennded directly on Thousand-Spirit Ind? I hope she ends up being thrown into that huge pit like Xiao Nanfeng and dying within!"


    Just then, a small mound of dirt in the distance exploded. A figure was revealed in sight¡ªXiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s still alive? He managed to escape? How could this be?!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "If even Xiao Nanfeng can flee, then the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost surely can, too. Why hasn''t he sent us any information?" one of Ao Shuai''s subordinates asked curiously.


    "There must be an incredible treasure lying within that limestone cave. Silverfrost must be fighting for it," Ao Shuai deduced.


    "An incredible treasure?"


    "Why do you think Xiao Nanfeng''s out here? There''s no way he canpete against the others interested in the treasure. He''s lying in wait, poised to strike. I wonder if Silverfrost is fighting for the superior draconic vein, or something else entirely?" Ao Shuai murmured.


    Because of Zhang Lingjun, Ye Dafu, and the others'' arrival, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to show himself and warn them, "It''s incredibly dangerous right now. You can''t stay. Leave now!"


    "Ah? Understood!" Ye Dafu and the others replied immediately.


    However, Zhang Lingjun walked up to the cursed pit and frowned as she stared at the ck smoke within.


    "Princess, you must leave. I''ll exin everything to youter," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    However, Zhang Lingjun shook her head. "The Taiqing Grandmaster bids me stay."


    "What? The Taiqing Grandmaster?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He nced at her warily.

 Chapter 536: The Martial Aspect of Silverfrosts Death

    <h4>Chapter 536: The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s Death</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. Was the Taiqing Grandmaster still alive? Was he still paying attention to the outside world?


    "Did the Taiqing Grandmaster send you a mental transmission from the red moon illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No, he''s right here. Can''t you see him?" Zhang Lingjun pointed at a patch of emptynd before him.


    Everyone looked over to see... nothing. Where was the supposed Taiqing Grandmaster?


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected the region of empty space with his spiritual power, but couldn''t detect anything at all. Zhang Lingjun didn''t appear to be lying, either. His scalp pricked. Just what was going on?


    Without any hesitation, however, he bowed deeply toward the space that Zhang Lingjun had pointed out. "The Earth division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Xiao Nanfeng, greets the Taiqing Grandmaster."


    "The Mortal division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Ye Dafu, greets the Taiqing Grandmaster." Ye Dafu quickly followed suit, as did the other disciples arrayed around them.


    Ao Shuai watched on in confusion. "Are they crazy? What are they bowing down to?"


    Xiao Nanfeng and the other disciples continued to bow, but nothing happened.


    "You don''t have to bow any longer. The Grandmaster has stepped away," Zhang Lingjun eventually said. She cocked her head curiously. "Can none of you see him?"


    Everyone gave Zhang Lingjun a perplexed look.


    "Princess, the Grandmaster might not want to speak with us for the time being. You should listen to his orders," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "I shall!" Zhang Lingjun immediately began walking away.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others didn''t follow suit.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent the ck lotus a mental transmission. "Senior, were you able to detect the Taiqing Grandmaster?"


    The ck lotus was silent for a moment. "I can''t."


    "You can''t, either?"


    "I haven''t sensed any other strong cultivators nearby. Perhaps it''s because I haven''t recovered to my peak strength, or perhaps because the Taiqing Grandmaster truly doesn''t exist. Of course, it''s also possible that his techniques are too advanced for me to detect."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He didn''t ask any further questions; rather, he waited patiently and observed Zhang Lingjun.


    Zhang Lingjun seemed to have received some instruction from the Taiqing Grandmaster. She sent out the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat, which had once been kept in the vault of scriptures on Taiqing Ind and had once belonged to the Taiqing Grandmaster himself.


    The praying mat began to revolve slowly, forming a burst of suction that attracted the near-endless cursed energy leaking out from the cursed pit. It devoured it all, along with the ck chains that rose up with the cursed energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He knew how potent the cursed energy was. If not for the Jade Emperor''s Frame that he cultivated, he wouldn''t be able to break free from the curse himself. Even the superior draconic vein, which possessed the might of a Golden Immortal, had been bound by the cursed chain. How was the praying mat able to absorb it all so easily?


    Afar, Zhang Lingjun seemed to still be listening to the Taiqing Grandmaster''s words.


    "Understood!" Zhang Lingjun replied to the air.


    Then, she hovered on top of the praying mat and sat down cross-legged in meditation. The praying mat seemed to have been able to distill some red fog from the cursed smoke, which it sent into her body to help her cultivate.


    "This praying mat is truly a treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Your Majesty, should we still leave?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "If the Taiqing Grandmaster is present, as division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal sect, neither of us can leave. The two of us will remain behind while everyone else hides in the sea and awaits further orders. The spectral guards will helpmunicate ns," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Ye Dafu nodded. He arranged for his subordinates and the purple-furred monsters to retreat into the sea.


    As the praying mat absorbed more and more cursed energy, the red light that emerged from its other end formed a red mist thatpletely encapsted Zhang Lingjun.


    The rate at which it was absorbing cursed energy led to an evenrger disturbance underground. The ground cracked and furrowed, then becamepletely pulverized.


    From deep within the remnants of the ind, a giant, pitch-ck boulder floated up, kilometers wide. It was engraved with countless ck runes that gave off ck smoke. Tangled up in the ck smoke and bound by chains were some of Ao Shuai''s subordinates.


    "Is this the exterior of that limestone cave? That limestone cave was a relic?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The boulder continued to reverberate. As it floated up into the sky, the sea all around the ind finally began to settle, as if all the disturbance had been caused by the boulder itself. The praying mat continued to absorb the ck energy from the boulder, causing it to turn translucent. Whaty within could vaguely be seen.


    Afar, Ao Shuai and the others nched.


    "Look! The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost is fighting against two Golden Immortals within that boulder. One of them is Sage Yellowbrow, and the other looks to be a monk¡ªand the superior draconic vein is being suppressed by arge group of other monks!"


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost is on the losing end of things. What should we do?!"


    "Two Golden Immortals against one¡ªhow can the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost beat them both?"


    Ao Shuai''s subordinates were whispering to each other in surprise.


    Just then, within the boulder, the silver dragon suddenly shot forward and swallowed the Moonlight Buddha down.


    "Has the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost won?!" one of Ao Shuai''s subordinates cried out.


    Ao Shuai nched. "No. Look at the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s pained expression. That monk was intending to be swallowed up!"


    Sage Yellowbrow suddenly held down the silver dragon''s head, forcing it to remain still. The silver dragon struggled painfully, but was unable to break free.


    Ao Shuai eximed, "Silverfrost has been fully suppressed. This is bad!"


    Just then, a huge explosion rang out from the silver dragon''s stomach as the Moonlight Buddha broke out from within, shattering the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s body.


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost has been cut in half!" the cultivators cried out.


    Even so, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost continued to struggle furiously. With Sage Yellowbrow pinning the top half of its body down, and the Moonlight Buddha the bottom half, it waspletely unable to move.


    "He''s sure to die if we don''t do anything!" someone shouted.


    Ao Shuai couldn''t bear it any longer. He rushed out of the sea and cried out, "Xiao Nanfeng, as themander in charge of this mission, aren''t you going to head in and rescue the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s head turned to Ao Shuai. He said coldly, "Ao Shuai, who told you to return? How dare you disobey my directmand!"


    "If I hadn''t returned, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost would already be dead! Go save him! If you don''t, I''ll report this to my father. I''ll tell him you deliberately sent us away and killed the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost as a result. The Hall of Martial Aspects would surely punish you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng retorted, "I had you leave because it was far too dangerous. I was trying to protect you. What makes you think I would be punished for that? Since you''re here, you can clearly see that there are Golden Immortals fighting within. I''m only a Heaven Immortal, and there''s nothing I can do."


    "You''re trying to take revenge for personal matters!" Ao Shuai howled. "It''s clear there''s something you can do!"


    In the past, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost had deliberately allowed a group of three-headed serpents to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Today, karma had finally struck back, and Xiao Nanfeng was allowing Golden Immortals to kill him.


    "As I''ve said, I''m no match for these Golden Immortals, and I can''t help the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. I was about to request aid from the Imperial Court. Since you''ve disobeyed mymand and returned, I''ll leave that to you. Summon assistance, now!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Ao Shuai grimaced. His subordinates had already done so, but there was no time remaining. Even if his father were to rush over at full speed, it would be toote.


    "Are you just going to stand there and do nothing?!" Ao Shuai called back.


    "If you think you can do something, by all means, go ahead!" Xiao Nanfeng beckoned.


    Ao Shuai stiffened. "..."


    He was more than willing to urge Xiao Nanfeng forward, but he had no intention to wade into the fight himself. Those were Golden Immortals fighting!


    "If none of you True Immortals dare to step inside, don''t you think it''s shameless for you to be urging me, a Heaven Immortal, to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Ao Shuai: ...


    He didn''t have the energy to bicker with Xiao Nanfeng any longer. The two halves of the silver dragon''s body seemed to finally have expended their reserves of energy. Suddenly, a silver orb shot out from the mouth of the dragon.


    "The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s dragon pearl!" someone cried out.


    The silver dragon pearl attempted to flee, but it was hardly going to escape the notice of the two Golden Immortals.


    The Moonlight Buddha and Sage Yellowbrow struck at the pearl near-simultaneously, causing the silver light imbued in the orb to flicker and dissipate.


    The silver dragon pearl rolled into the unconscious Ao Zhou''s mouth.


    "Was that a coincidence, or is the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s soul going to possess Ao Zhou?!" someone eximed.


    After the pearl rolled inside Ao Zhou''s mouth, however, nothing happened.


    The two halves of the silver dragon''s body continued tosh around in a final struggle before they finally fell limp to the ground,pletely still.


    "Is the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost dead? Are the two Golden Immortals within going to rush out?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    Without any hesitation, he dove back into the sea, followed by his subordinates.


    Indeed, Sage Yellowbrow and the Moonlight Buddha looked out past the boulder at once. Their eyes seemed to be able to prate the walls of the boulder. When they saw what awaited them outside, they became incensed.


    "Die!" the two Golden Immortals shouted simultaneously.


    The Moonlight Buddha wed a huge hole in the boulder, allowing both Golden Immortals to step out. They struck at the praying mat in the air.


    "Be careful, Princess!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Suddenly, the praying mat grew many timesrger until it was like a giant red millstone. It smashed into the two Golden Immortals, interrupting their attacks and sending them to the ground. Red light surrounded them as the two Golden Immortals found themselves sealed. They shuddered in pain.


    "Impossible. What sort of relic is this?!" Sage Yellowbrow spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Divine Moonlight Palm, shatter! What? This is just a praying mat¡ªwhy can''t I break free? No!" The Moonlight Buddha''s eyes widened in fear.

 Chapter 537: Destroying the Gathered Arhats

    <h4>Chapter 537: Destroying the Gathered Arhats</h4>


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat boasted incredible strength and left the two Golden Immortals immobile. The arhats within the boulder began to panic.


    "Princess, is the Taiqing Grandmaster making a move? Did he say how to deal with the cursed effigies within?" Xiao Nanfeng asked urgently.


    However, Zhang Lingjun was still surrounded by red fog and appeared to be deep in meditation. She was unable to respond to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Sage Yellowbrow and the Moonlight Buddha, suppressed by the praying mat, were incredibly frustrated.


    "Help me!" the Moonlight Buddha howled.


    A group of arhats charged forward, but were instantly knocked back by the red light that the praying mat gave off.


    "There''s a girl on top of the praying mat. She''s the one controlling it. Kill her, now!" the Moonlight Buddhamanded.


    "Understood!"


    The arhats tried to escape from the hole that the Moonlight Buddha had opened up, but the praying mat was sealing it with the red light that it emitted. The arhats were unable to draw near at all.


    "Create another opening! Everyone, strike alongside me!" one arhat cried out.


    The arhats attacked the wall of the cave until a crack appeared.


    "Continue!" the arhat in the leadmanded.


    "Understood!"


    The arhats attacked the wall again, magnifying the crack.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He shouted, "Ye Dafu, gather everyone and protect the princess."


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward the gigantic boulder, not knowing how long the praying mat would be able to seal the two Golden Immortals. However, this was an incredible opportunity, one that he had no intention of missing out on.


    Upon reaching the boulder, he used his candleme powers and passed right through.


    "How did thatd manage to enter?"


    "All of you over there, go catch him and get him to bring us out!"


    "Go quickly! He''s only a Heaven Immortal!"


    About a hundred arhats shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior, this is an excellent opportunity. Would you strike?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Very well." The ck lotus, wreathed in ck fog, emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng switched to his True Yin body. A bright moon appeared to the back of his head as a blizzard began to fall. The ck lotus vanished within the snow.


    The arhats moved incredibly quickly and appeared beside Xiao Nanfeng in no time at all. In the lead was the arhat that had fought against Xiao Nanfeng back then.


    "Lad, you were able to runst time, but you won''t be able to do so again. Let''s see how you block my fist this time!" the arhat shouted, snarling.


    However, it missed. Xiao Nanfeng had vanished.


    "What? Where is he?"


    "Spiritual harmony? Is Xiao Nanfeng a True Yin cultivator?"


    "True Yin is divided into three sub-realms. There''s no way he can maintain perfect harmony!"


    "Find him using the death chants!"


    The arhats seethed in rage.


    Death chants began to ring out, filling the entire limestone cave. However, Xiao Nanfeng remained nowhere to be seen. No¡ªhe did appear beside the arhats trying to break out of the boulder. He punched forward and sent the first arhat stumbling, breaking their concentration.


    "Die!" the nearby arhats cried out, striking at Xiao Nanfeng.


    However, the next moment, Xiao Nanfeng invoked spiritual harmony again and vanished from sight. The arhats missed once more.


    "He vanished again? Keep searching for him!" the arhats roared.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng appeared somewhere else entirely.


    "Over there!"


    Xiao Nanfeng executed another sneak attack on an arhat, sending it flying.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng had killed quite a few of the Moonlight Buddha''s subordinates, he shed all over the cave as he did so. None of the arhats were able to strike him or concentrate on making an opening out of the cave.


    "Damn it! If I catch Xiao Nanfeng, I''m going to kill him!" the arhats raged.


    Unfortunately for them, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual harmony was near-omnipotent, and none of them could do anything about it.


    "Destroy his moon!" an arhat suggested.


    Two of the arhats rushed up to Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon and each threw a punch at it. A mouth suddenly opened up on the moon''s surface, swallowing them both up¡ªand that was it.


    The remaining arhats fell silent.


    "What was that? The moon ate those two arhats?!" an arhat called out.


    "Let me have a try!" Another arhat flew close to Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon.


    This one remained some distance away, invoking a palm strike from afar.


    The silver moon suddenly shed forward until it was right by the arhat''s side, so quickly the arhat didn''t have time to react. Then, the moon swallowed the arhat.


    The remaining arhats: ...


    They couldn''t help but feel fearful of Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon.


    "Was he hiding his strength all along?"


    "His silver moon''s filled with cursed spiritual power¡ªit''s likely that a cursed effigy inhabits it. Could that cursed effigy be working against Xiao Nanfeng? It isn''t attacking us actively, after all."


    "Don''t provoke that cursed effigy. Keep attacking Xiao Nanfeng instead! He''s no match for us!"


    The arhats continued to chase after Xiao Nanfeng, even going as far as to congregate and pretend to break through the walls of the limestone cave, but Xiao Nanfeng saw through their tricks and didn''t fall for them.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly appeared out of nowhere to attack an arhat that was on his own.


    "That troublesome bastard! Why aren''t the death chants working against him?" an arhat cried out.


    Suddenly, another one shouted, "Something''s wrong. What happened to the rest of us?"


    "What''s wrong?"


    The arhats looked around warily as they nched. "There are twenty of us missing. The silver moon only ate three, and the rest of us aren''t anywhere near it. Where did the others go?"


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng made his reappearance, punching at an arhat with so much force that the sound reverberated through the air. A tempest formed, drawing all the arhats'' attention.


    This time, however, not all the arhats concentrated on Xiao Nanfeng. They were staring elsewhere, too. As Xiao Nanfeng struck, a cloud of ck fog appeared in a secluded region and sucked two more arhats in, then vanished from sight.


    "Did you see that ck fog swallow two of us up?"


    "There''s a cursed effigy in that ck fog, one different from the silver moon!"


    "I see what''s happening now. Xiao Nanfeng appears merely to distract us. He''s trying to cover up for that ck fog!"


    "Everyone, gather around!"


    The arhats all assembled, not wanting to give the ck fog any opportunity to strike.


    "Enhance the death chants, now!" an arhat shouted.


    The death chants were magnified to an incredible degree. They rumbled like thunder. Even so, it was useless. With the help of the ck lotus, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t affected by them.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t appear; rather, a cloud of ck fog burst out from amidst the group of arhats.


    "Over here!" the arhats shouted, waving a hand.


    They pummeled at the ck fog to no avail. It vanished once more.


    "The ck fog ran off? No¡ªtwo more of us are missing!"


    "How could this be? Why are our death chants useless?"


    "Just what sort of cursed effigy is this? It''s immune to the death chants and can appear among us out of nowhere!"


    Just then, the Moonlight Buddha shouted from afar, "Who might you be? Which Buddha are you a disciple of? I have never offended you to my knowledge, Sir, so why are you attacking us alongside an outsider?"


    The arhats'' eyes widened. Was a golden lotus hood cursed effigy lying within the ck fog?


    "You must be mistaken. I''m not a subordinate of the Buddhas of Three Aspects," the ck lotus replied, voice resounding.


    "Although my subordinates'' death chants are a little varied, I can discern yours from theirs. I can''t be mistaken. You''ve been protecting Xiao Nanfeng with your death chants and devouring my subordinates, Sir. What are your intentions? You might have hidden the traces of your actions, but the Future Buddha will surely be able to detect them. Do you intend to make the Buddhas of Three Aspects your enemy?" the Moonlight Buddha demanded.


    The ck lotus stopped responding.


    Xiao Nanfeng appeared once again, striking at a lone arhat while the ck fog sucked in three more. Then, he and the ck fog vanished anew.


    "Buddha, what do we do? That cursed effigy can appear and disappear at will, and we can''t defend against it!" an arhat shouted.


    The Moonlight Buddha replied, "If it''s anything like us, then it can''t appear or disappear at will. If I''m not mistaken, it must be possessing one of you. Whenever it ims more arhats, it switches to another victim."


    "But we''re all cursed spirits! How could it be able to possess us?" an arhat shouted back.


    "It''s at least a Buddha in its own right, and is far stronger than any of you. That''s why it can possess you," the Moonlight Buddha replied.


    "A Buddha?!" the arhats cried out.


    Just then, as expected, a cloud of ck smoke instantaneously drifted out from around an arhat. Only when the other arhats nced over did they understand that it hadn''t appeared out of nowhere; rather, the ck fog had been possessing that arhat to begin with, and was now devouring another arhat beside the first one.


    "Attack!" the arhats shouted.


    All the arhats struck at the ck fog to no avail. The ck fog vanished again as more arhats were lost.


    "Forget it. Keep trying to open up a hole in the cave. Only then will we be able to escape!" an arhat shouted.


    The arhats all cooperated as they struck at the crack in the cave. It expanded even as Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus continued to take down the arhats one after another. Before long, three hundred of their number were gone.


    "The ck fog''s growing stronger!" an arhat cried out.


    Indeed, the ck lotus'' strength was recovering quickly. It didn''t need to possess any single arhat anymore. It floated within the ck fog, its underside like a ck hole, furiously absorbing more and more arhats.


    The 300th, the 500th, the 700th...


    The arhats began to scream shrilly, but it was useless. Before long, they had all been devoured.

 Chapter 538: Destroying the Two Golden Immortals

    <h4>Chapter 538: Destroying the Two Golden Immortals</h4>


    When the ck lotus had finished taking care of all the arhats, Xiao Nanfeng appeared in sight once again. He walked up to the ck lotus and created a barrier of isted sound.


    "Senior, these two Golden Immortals are being suppressed by the Taiqing Immortal''s praying mat at the moment. Do we have any way of finishing them off?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We do, but they''re surrounded by red light from the praying mat. No ordinary cultivator would be able to draw near," the ck lotus warned.


    "I can use my candleme powers," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "But they might co-opt it in order to escape."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and continued, "I know it might be dangerous, but it''s a rare opportunity. If we drag things out, who knows what might happen?"


    "I just swallowed a thousand arhats, and my strength has grown considerably. I''ll be able to deal with the Moonlight Buddha, but won''t have time for anything else. Go see if there''s any weapon we might be able to im from the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s corpse."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He hurriedlybed through the two halves of the dragon, quickly finding a storage bangle whose security he overloaded with his spiritual power. There were plenty of treasures within; Xiao Nanfeng, however, was searching for the strongest sword he could find.


    "This is the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s silver dragon sword? Why didn''t he use it just now?" Xiao Nanfneg eximed.


    "Consider the fluctuations in the light and radiance it gives off. This sword likely isn''t at the level of a Golden Immortal relic, and it would have had limited effect even if the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost were to use it. Now, however, the situation is different," the ck lotus replied.


    "Oh?"


    "Even if this sword isn''t a Golden Immortal relic, it''s at least close to one. If you take advantage of Sage Yellowbrow being immobilized, you should be able to kill it, though I worry you can''t draw out the sword''s true strength."


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately activated the silver dragon sword, causing it to release shining silver light apanied by a frightening aura.


    "That isn''t good enough. You''ll need the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s strength to draw out its true potential. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s dragon pearl flew into Ao Zhou''s mouth. That pearl contains his strength, so you should retrieve it and give it a try."


    Just then, the unconscious Ao Zhou suddenly began to radiate silver light. After a moment, he emanated a burst of energy as he broke through again.


    The next moment, Ao Zhou jumped up and crowed, "A Martial Aspect dares to possess me? Ha! Do you think I''m easy to bully? I know countless ancestral dragons'' techniques. Dealing with a wounded spiritual body like yours is a piece of cake!"


    "Ao Zhou, is that silver energy radiating from you the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s strength?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He immediately dragged Ao Zhou into his barrier of isted sound.


    Only then did Ao Zhou look around him, shocked. "What happened here? Why does everything look so different?"


    "I''m asking you a question! Is this silver light from the silver dragon pearl you absorbed? Can you channel the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s strength?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Ao Zhou frowned. He instinctively wanted to hide the benefits he had just gained, but Xiao Nanfeng''s demanding gaze made him realize just how critical the situation was.


    "That''s right. The Martial Aspect''s wounded soul was attached to his silver dragon pearl. When it flew into my body, he tried to possess me and I killed him. The strength of his silver dragon pearl has been surging into my body since. I was unable to keep it all under wraps, which was how I ended up exposing myself."


    "Quick, use that strength to activate this silver dragon sword now!" Xiao Nanfneg shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng passed the sword to Ao Zhou, who activated it and caused it to gleam with silver light. Frost filled his surroundings; everything around Ao Zhou began to freeze.


    "This is what we need," the ck lotus confirmed.


    "In that case, let''s make a move. Senior, I''ll have to trouble you to take down the Moonlight Buddha," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!"


    "Ao Zhou, activate the silver dragon sword at full strength and kill Sage Yellowbrow," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "But they''re being suppressed by this praying mat¡ªand that barrier of red light sealing them doesn''t seem weak at all!" Ao Zhou frowned.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make an opening for you, so you just have to strike. Quickly¡ªdon''t let them escape!"


    "I will." Ao Zhou still seemed skeptical, but he nodded.


    Although it wasn''t quite clear to him what the situation was, he knew his enemies and allies. Following Xiao Nanfeng''smands was always a safe decision.


    As Xiao Nanfeng waved his hand, two discs of red light appeared in the void, one pointed at the Moonlight Buddha, the other at Sage Yellowbrow.


    "Attack through the red discs, quickly!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The ck lotus flew through the red disc and appeared where the Moonlight Buddha was. ck fog surrounded it.


    "No! Release me!" the Moonlight Buddha cried out in fear.


    "Die!" Ao Zhou shouted, channelling his strength into the silver dragon sword as he struck Sage Yellowbrow.


    Sage Yellowbrow found himselfpletely unable to move. He shouted shrilly, "No!"


    The silver dragon sword thrust into Sage Yellowbrow''s head in a spurt of blood, a gruesome death. Because of the praying mat''s intense suppression, however, even the silver dragon sword was now trapped underneath the praying mat.


    Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Taiqing Grandmaster, I, Xiao Nanfeng of the Earth division, am trying to kill these malevolent spirits! Please allow us to strike!"


    The praying mat trembled slightly. The red light dissipated.


    Suddenly, the Moonlight Buddha, seemingly having been freed, began to struggle furiously. "I''m breaking out!"


    "It''s toote," the ck lotus replied.


    With a hum, the ck lotuspletely absorbed the Moonlight Buddha into its body. Then, all fell silent.


    On the other side, although Sage Yellowbrow had a sword prating his brain, he hadn''t yet fully died. He swiped a hand at Ao Zhou. "Die!"


    "Make the silver dragon sword self-destruct!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Just as Sage Yellowbrow''s palm was about to hit him, Ao Zhou said without any hesitation, "Explode!"


    Sage Yellowbrow''s palm sent Ao Zhou flying back. He crashed into the walls of the limestone cave before slumping to the ground, while Xiao Nanfeng avoided the attack with spiritual harmony.


    At the same time, the silver dragon sword that had been thrust into Sage Yellowbrow''s head exploded in a dizzying sea of mes that overwhelmed the limestone cave.


    Sage Yellowbrow transformed into a giant golden rat spirit. Its head had been destroyed, and its headless carcass fell to the ground. A figure of translucent yellow light shed as it attempted to flee.


    "Sage Yellowbrow, stay right there!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck the yellow figure¡ªSage Yellowbrow''s truesoul¡ªwith his fist.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll return to take revenge. I''ll kill you then!" Sage Yellowbrow''s truesoul howled, charging toward the exposed entrance to the boulder now that the praying mat had left.


    "You won''t have a chance to do so. Die!" Xiao Nanfeng punched forward again.


    Sage Yellowbrow spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he fell to the ground.


    "Die!" Sage Yellowbrow cursed, swiping at Xiao Nanfeng.


    He had confirmed that Xiao Nanfeng was about as strong as he was; they were both at early-stage True Yin. In that case, what had he to fear? The two cultivators quickly began to fight, but Sage Yellowbrow found himself defeated after a flurry of attacks.


    "We should be as strong as each other. Just what fist technique do you cultivate?!"


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    Countless fists smashed into Sage Yellowbrow''s body as he was sent flying, his truesoul cracking and blood trailing down from his lips.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again, punching forward.


    "No!" Sage Yellowbrow cried out.


    His truesoul shattered and his body dissipated with a single punch.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng breathe out in relief, sighing. He reined in his spiritual moon and transformed back into his physical body.


    The ck lotus quickly flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape after absorbing the Moonlight Buddha as well.


    Just then, another wave of energy emanated from Ao Zhou.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see that Ao Zhou had broken through again.


    "Ao Zhou, Sage Yellowbrow dealt you a heavy blow. Why aren''t you injured?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Ao Zhou seemed to panic. "I channeled the silver dragon pearl''s energy throughout my body at full strength in order to block the blow, but Sage Yellowbrow shattered my silver dragon pearl. Now all that energy from the pearl is rampaging through my body! I''m done for!"


    "Aren''t you going to explode? Quick, spit out all that energy!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "I have the ancestral dragon''s inheritance. Of course my body won''t explode! I was intending to take full advantage of the pearl''s energy, but I''ll waste a lot of it with the pearl shattered. I need to distill it all immediately! Oh no¡ªI''m going to break through again!" Ao Zhou fretted.


    "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "Of course not! I''m about to ascend to a True Immortal. I''ll have to undergo a tribtion!"


    Indeed, a fearsome tribtion was brewing. Xiao Nanfeng could sense it even from within the limestone cave.


    "A True Immortal''s tribtion?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He frowned. "Are you worried that you won''t be able to survive it because you aren''t prepared enough?"


    "With the ancestral dragon''s inheritance, I should be able to survive the ordeal, but it''s almost time to split up the spoils of war! I''m worried you''ll try to steal my share. Why don''t you let me keep this treasure for now?"


    Xiao Nanfeng groaned. "You''re about to undergo a tribtion, and all you can think about are the spoils from this battle? You''re done for! That said, you really did pull your weight this time around, so don''t worry."


    "I want that superior draconic vein and this Sage Yellowbrow''s corpse. I want it all!" Ao Zhou shouted shamelessly.


    "Dream on," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "We''ll discuss things more once you return. Now, go!"


    Only then did Ao Zhou fly out of the limestone cave unwillingly.


    By then, dark clouds were gathering above Thousand-Spirit Ind as a massive tribtion spawned.


    Ao Zhou, seeing that arge group of dragons had returned from their various tasks,manded, "Everyone, keep an eye on all the spoils. Wait until I return before you let Xiao Nanfeng and the others distribute them. Don''t let him steal any for himself!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped speechlessly. How much more shameless could Ao Zhou get?

 Chapter 539: Splitting the Spoils

    <h4>Chapter 539: Splitting the Spoils</h4>


    All the Golden Immortals had perished. This oue shocked the cultivators gathered around Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    "How can this be? Xiao Nanfeng and the others actually managed to kill the two Golden Immortals!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "Master, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost is dead, but the superior draconic vein and the Golden Immortal corpse of Sage Yellowbrow have been left behind," one of his subordinates reported.


    Ao Shuai tensed. He quickly flew above the surface of the sea. "Follow me."


    His subordinates followed Ao Shuai closely as the procession made its way to Thousand-Spirit Ind.


    By then, Ye Dafu and his subordinates were prepared. When he saw Ao Shuai and the others approach, he immediately shouted, "Hold it!"


    "We''re here to im the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s corpse. Scram!" Ao Shuai demanded.


    He came up with the flimsiest of excuses as he tried to seize everything within the limestone cave for himself.


    Ye Dafu strode forward, but Xiao Nanfeng beckoned him back.


    "Ao Shuai, Imand you to guard Thousand-Spirit Ind with all your subordinates. Do not leave the premises," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. "Guard the ind? What''s there to guard? Xiao Nanfeng, I''ve already reported the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s death to the Hall of Martial Aspects. I''ve received word stating that everything rted to his death is to be sealed and left untouched. You''d better get out of that cave now¡ªnothing within is going to be yours."


    "Ha! Whosemand are you trying to impersonate this time? Can''t you find a better excuse to pilfer the spoils ofbat? Try me if you dare. My senior enjoys killing others, you see, and it has only refrained to date because I''m against it. If you intend to disobey mymands, then so be it. Senior, please have your fill," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck lotus, still wreathed in ck fog, flew up to the hole in the cave that had opened up.


    Death chants filled the air around them, causing Ao Shuai and his subordinates'' eyes to widen as they swiftly retreated.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you!" Ao Shuai thundered.


    "I would be within my rights to kill you for disobeying a directmand from yourmander on this mission," Xiao Nanfeng continued coldly.


    Ao Shuai''s eyes twitched. He nced at the cloud of ck fog, not daring to draw near.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Shuai and retrieved the golden inner core from Sage Yellowbrow''s body. The moment it emerged, roiling spiritual aether surrounded it, forming golden mist that filled the interior of the limestone cave.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his mouth wide, absorbing the golden mist and swallowing the golden inner core whole. Then, he sat cross-legged in meditation as he began to distill it.


    Ao Shuai, still outside the cave, bellowed in rage, but didn''t dare to step forward and face off against the ck lotus.


    "Have your avatar inform my father of this immediately. Tell him toe quickly¡ªor at the very least, to send someone over. I can give up Sage Yellowbrow''s inner core, but I need that superior draconic vein!" Ao Shuaimanded a subordinate.


    "Understood!"


    Two hourster, within the limestone cave, Xiao Nanfeng''s body shook as a wave of energy emanated from him. He slowly opened his eyes.


    "The third stage of a Heaven Immortal? Just what technique does Xiao Nanfeng cultivate? That''s a Golden Immortal''s inner core¡ªhow could his cultivation only have advanced by a minor stage?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "Perhaps it''s because the Sky of Ten Suns is too difficult to cultivate. All those from the Imperial Court who had studied that technique required an immense quantity of resources," a subordinate murmured.


    "What a waste to have those treasuresnd in his possession," Ao Shuai replied enviously.


    Xiao Nanfeng got up and stored Sage Yellowbrow''s corpse, then walked toward the superior draconic vein close by.


    The superior draconic vein''s consciousness might have shattered, but its body remained whole. In fact, it was still absorbing spiritual aether from its surroundings, a sure sign of its remarkable capabilities.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out for the superior draconic vein, his eyes aglow.


    Ao Shuai suddenly called out, "Xiao Nanfeng, let''s negotiate!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced askance at Ao Shuai. Negotiate? What was there to negotiate for? Why was he so anxious that Xiao Nanfeng was about to im the superior draconic vein? Could it be that...


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly narrowed his eyes. Ao Shuai''s reinforcements had to be on their way. Was he still trying to snatch the superior draconic vein away?


    "Ao Shuai, keep guard with your subordinates. Everyone else, enter," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    Ye Dafu, Croak, Warble, You Jiu and the others entered the limestone cave.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t worried about Zhang Lingjun''s safety, because the Taiqing Grandmaster was beside her. Even a Golden Immortal wouldn;t be able to do her harm. As for Ao Zhou, none other would dare to attack him during his tribtion and end up being caught in it themselves. Furthermore, with the ck lotus around, he doubted Ao Shuai and his subordinates would dare to do anything funny.


    "I''m going to devour the superior draconic vein now. Do so with me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The superior draconic vein was ultimately far toorge. Unlike the giant strider soup from before, the energy wasn''t concentrated¡ªthe superior draconic vein was a few dozen kilometers long, and he could hardly swallow it down in one gulp. Furthermore, once any part of its body was damaged, it would rapidly dissipate. Rather than waste it, why not share it with everyone else?


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you can''t devour that superior draconic vein! My father''smanding you to stop!" Ao Shuai shouted.


    The ck lotus continued to float serenely, blocking entrance into the limestone cave. Death chants could be heard at increasing volume, causing Ao Shuai and the others to retreat in fear. They watched on anxiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Shuai and the others. He walked up to the superior draconic vein and prepared to open it up.


    "Don''t touch the superior draconic vein! I''ll trade you what treasures I have for it!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Shuai. He began to absorb the superior draconic vein. Its head was torn off and transformed into effervescent golden energy that shot straight into Xiao Nanfeng''s mouth.


    Before long, he had absorbed almost half the superior draconic vein by himself, imbibing so much of the golden energy that his body had swollen up. He didn''t dare tarry, worried that he might explode if he did. He sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.


    "Dig in!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted with gusto.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    The golden cultivators, Croak, Warble, You Jiu, the dragons, the spectral guards, and the purple-furred monsters furiously absorbed the half of the superior draconic vein that remained, everyone working together to ensure that none of that energy would be wasted.


    "No, you bastard! That''s a superior draconic vein¡ªyou''re going to eat it just like that? You''re wasting an incredible treasure!" Ao Shuai bellowed.


    Despite his fury, there was nothing he could do. The death chants filled him with fear, and he didn''t dare draw near the cave at all.


    The cultivators likewise sat down to meditate. Waves of energy emanated from their bodies as they broke through, overjoyed. However, they quickly calmed down.


    Those who had broken through first emerged from the limestone cave and began to guard it from the outside.


    Two hourster, Xiao Nanfeng himself had finished meditating. Another wave of energy emanated from his body, filling the whole cave. He slowly opened his eyes, having distilled all the energy from the superior draconic vein.


    "The fourth stage of a Heaven Immortal? Only that? He swallowed half the superior draconic vein for himself! What a waste¡ªdamn it, that superior draconic vein should have been mine!" Ao Shuai fumed.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood up. "Ye Dafu, construct a stone coffin to store the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s body!"


    "Understood!"


    Ye Dafu flew toward an ind in the distance, then began to carve away at one of its mountains. Very quickly, he returned with a huge stone coffin.


    Xiao Nanfeng manipted the two halves of the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s body and ced them within the coffin.


    By then, everyone had emerged from the limestone cave, their cultivation greatly improved. They were overjoyed¡ªall save Ao Shuai and his subordinates, who were fuming at having received none of the spoils.


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng told the ck lotus.


    The ck lotus still seemed to be absorbing the Moonlight Buddha that it had devoured. Without conversing with Xiao Nanfeng, it slowly floated back into his mindscape.


    Meanwhile, a huge boom resounded from afar. Ao Zhou had survived thest of his tribtion.


    The dark clouds that surrounded him became rainbow-colored. They gushed into Ao Zhou''s body, causing his wounds to recover rapidly.


    "I''m a True Immortal now, haha!" Ao Zhou crowed.


    Then, he quickly flew toward Thousand-Spirit Ind, where he was taken aback. "Xiao Nanfeng, where''s the superior draconic vein? And where''s Sage Yellowbrow''s corpse?"


    "I''m going to be concocting pills with Sage Yellowbrow''s corpse, and we''ve already absorbed the superior draconic vein."


    "You did? Why didn''t you share it with me? I suppressed the superior draconic vein and even helped you kill Sage Yellowbrow! I yed an instrumental role!"


    "Your subordinates all absorbed the superior draconic vein as well. You didn''t lose out," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Nonsense! I absolutely lost out!" Ao Zhou raged.


    Xiao Nanfeng formed a barrier of isted sound around them both. He continued, "You did lose out. You consumed the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s silver dragon pearl, and everyone saw that. Those from his faction will surely attempt to kill you to seek revenge."


    "His death is none of my business," Ao Zhou retorted.


    "Oh? Would the silver dragon pearl really havended in your mouth coincidentally? Do you think the others are fools? Anyone could guess that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost tried to possess you, only for you to kill him."


    Ao Zhou nched and panicked. "Then..."


    "Don''t worry. I''m right here."


    "Can you save me?" Ao Zhou was finally starting to realize the danger he was in.


    "I can''t. With the princess'' help, we may be able to shield you publicly, but you may still suffer assassination attempts in private."


    "Then I''m done for!" Ao Zhou wailed.


    "If you be a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, they wouldn''t dare," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Me, a Martial Aspect?"


    "Indeed. I reward those who serve me. You''ve been a tremendous help this time, and I intend to provide you with an opportunity. This is a document that rmends you to be considered as a Martial Aspect. With it, you''ll be a substitute Martial Aspect who can contend for any Martial Aspect openings¡ªand one has just opened up."


    This was the reward he had requested from Ao Canghai for promising to rescue Ao Shuai within the Pce of the Moon.


    "Truly? You''ll help me be a Martial Aspect?" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "There''ll be a group of candidatespeting for the position with you, but we can n for your sess," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well. I''ll listen to you, then!" Ao Zhou said expectantly.

 Chapter 540: The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost

    <h4>Chapter 540: The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost</h4>


    As more and more of the ck smoke emanating from the boulder containing the limestone cave was absorbed by the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat, the boulder became more and more transparent. Before long, it shattered in a cloud of ck smoke that the praying mat rapidly sucked clean.


    The praying mat continued to float in the air, while Zhang Lingjun continued to meditate within a cloud of red fog above it.


    "What? That praying mat managed to absorb that entire limestone cave? How can it be so strong even after ten thousand years? It must be cursed!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng interrupted Ao Zhou immediately and shot him a pointed nce. "The Taiqing Grandmaster is present. It''s not your ce to criticize it."


    Ao Zhou hesitated, seemingly confused, until Ye Dafu nudged him and exined everything. Ao Zhou''s eyes widened as his expression turned serious.


    "Ao Shuai has already informed the Hall of Martial Aspects about the entire affair. Should I go into hiding for now?" Ao Zhou asked in worry.


    "Remember this: the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s death is unrted to you, and you even took revenge on his behalf. You are innocent. You can''t hide. If you do, that''s when they''ll deem you the culprit and issue a bounty on you. The whole world would be after you then¡ªthat''s far more dangerous than the alternative," Xiao Nanfeng replied, describing the facade that they would uphold.


    "What?" Ao Zhou nched.


    "You can''t flee. You have to face any usations head-on," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Zhou''s eyes twitched. In the end, he could only nod.


    Just then, a beam of violet light shot toward them from afar, so quickly everyone was taken aback.


    "A Golden Immortal!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    The violet light descended on Thousand-Spirit Ind in a plume of dust, which slowly dissipated to reveal a purple-robed man. Electric arcs surrounded the man''s body, and an incredibly strong aura emanated from him. He was far stronger than the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.


    "Violetfrost, you''re finally here!" Ao Shuai eximed, rushing forward.


    The Martial Aspect, crackling with lightning, strode toward the coffin nearby and saw the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost lying within. His features distorted in rage. "Master, how did Silverfrost die?"


    Ao Shuai recounted what had happened, then added, "I''ve received word that, in the Imperial Court''s sea of fortune, the golden dragon of fortune corresponding to Silverfrost has dissipated. He''s truly dead."


    "Bastards!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cursed.


    He suddenly turned to Ao Zhou and shot over, forcing Ao Zhou to stumble back.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost snarled, "You''re Ao Zhou? You killed my brother? Die!"


    "I didn''t!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    He wanted to exin, but the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost didn''t give him an opportunity to exin himself. He reached out for Ao Zhou.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, do you dare kill an official of the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He strode forward to protect Ao Zhou, but the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost arced around him like a bolt of lightning and caught Ao Zhou by the neck.


    "Save me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    Although he had just be a True Immortal, he was still far weaker than the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost. He froze,pletely unable to move. He could sense that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost could kill him at that very moment.


    When Xiao Nanfeng saw that he couldn''t stop the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, he immediately walked up to Ao Shuai instead. "Ao Shuai, you''ve vited mymands multiple times. Now, you''ve even cajoled the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost into attempting to kill an official of the Imperial Court. I deem you a traitor conspiring against the Court, to be executed immediately. Do you ept this judgment?"


    "Of course not! Xiao Nanfeng, you malign me time and again!" Ao Shuai thundered.


    "I am themander in charge of this mission to subjugate Thousand-Spirit Ind, and you nothing but a minor general. Mymands are not to be taken lightly, and I even issued you a writ to retreat from Thousand-Spirit Ind immediately. You are in grant vition of mymands by returning¡ªand I told you then that those in vition would be executed. Not only did you return, you''ve even cajoled the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost into attempting to kill an official of the Imperial Court. Don''t you deserve to die?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re being far too presumptuous!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost retorted.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, I''m handling affairs rted to my mission. You have no right to interfere," Xiao Nanfeng replied acidly.


    "Say that again," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost hissed, crackling with lightning. A wave of killing intent surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng held his head up high, fearless. He replied, "Am I mistaken? You rushed over here out of nowhere, capturing one of my generals and even daring to threaten me. Rest assured that I will make your actions known to the Heavenly Emperor. Of course, you can try to kill me here and now¡ªbut do you dare?"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. Indeed, he wouldn''t dare do so out in public, and he knew that Xiao Nanfeng had an avatar. He wouldn''t be able to silence Xiao Nanfeng immediately.


    "As themander in charge of this mission, I''m within my rights to punish my subordinates. As for you, on what grounds do you interfere? You might be a Martial Aspect, but that doesn''t mean you have the authority to do whatever you want, to kill officials of the Imperial Court at will," Xiao Nanfeng challenged.


    "Ao Zhou killed the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost and deserves to die!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost retorted.


    "Where''s the evidence? Whether or not Ao Zhou has done so will be revealed in due time. Ao Shuai''s testimony alone gives you no right to act."


    "And if I insist on killing him?" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost''s gaze glinted.


    Dealing with Xiao Nanfeng was troublesome, and he had already made his intentions clear. He was leaning toward getting rid of Ao Zhou immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng stopped trying to argue with him. He looked toward Ao Shuai with killing intent.


    Ao Shuai nched. He didn''t fear Xiao Nanfeng, but he did fear the cursed effigy within the ck fog, which could easily possess him and cause him to explode.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, protect me!" Ao Shuai shouted, flying toward him.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost immediately defended Ao Shuai.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, do you intend to hinder me from executing my mission? You may not be able to do so," Xiao Nanfeng challenged.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was well aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s backers. He was confident he would be able to defend against the cursed effigy within the ck fog, but didn''t dare risk it.


    He looked toward Ao Zhou, whom he still held in his hand. "You im that Ao Zhou is an official of the Imperial Court. Why am I unaware of this?"


    "Ao Zhou was appointed a guard captain in the princess'' manor half a year ago, and this is his token of authority. Check it if you don''t believe me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, passing a token over.


    Ao Shuai inspected it and gaped. "This token is authentic! How could this be?"


    Ao Zhou himself was taken aback. When had he be an official of the Imperial Court? Why didn''t he know about it?


    "You!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost thundered.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, if you intend to kill an official of the Imperial Court, then make your move. As for Ao Shuai, for repeatedly viting mymands and conspiring against the Imperial Court, he shall be punished as well!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Ao Shuai instantly panicked.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost''s eyes turned cold. He was about to continue speaking when a female voice spoke from afar, "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, why have you caught my subordinate? Do you think I''m an easy target to bully? If you dare kill Ao Zhou, I''ll report the matter to the Heavenly Emperor immediately and expose you for bullying his grandchildren."


    Everyone looked up toward the source of the voice. Zhang Lingjun had awoken from her meditation and was staring coldly at the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.


    "Princess, I''m taking revenge for the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. None can interfere with the proceedings of the Hall of Martial Aspects."


    Xiao Nanfeng jumped in. "I am a Martial Aspect myself. When have the Martial Aspects gained such authority as to be able to kill suspects without any need for investigation beforehand?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t make life difficult for yourself," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, if you kill Ao Zhou, then I''ll kill Ao Shuai," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You dare¡ª!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost hissed.


    This was too risky. He could easily kill Ao Zhou, but if Ao Shuai were to die as well, that would be a losing proposition.


    Ao Shuai had no choice but to jump in to defend himself. "Violetfrost, calm down for the moment. The Hall of Martial Aspects contains relics that can uncover the truth of the situation. It won''t be toote to execute him then."


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost fumed. "Ao Shuai didn''t incite me to kill an official of the Imperial Court, and certainly cannot be deemed a traitor."


    He tossed Ao Zhou to the ground with such force as to disorient him.


    "Since you''ve released Ao Zhou, Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, Ao Shuai certainly has done nothing traitorous," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Both sides stepped back. With Ao Zhou freed, Ao Shuai''s life was secured as well.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sniffed. He walked up to the coffin and reimed the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s body, then turned. "Master, let''s go!"


    Ao Shuai red at Xiao Nanfeng before nodding. He was growing angrier by the second and had no intention of remaining behind on the ind.


    He beckoned his subordinates before flying off toward the horizon alongside the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.


    "I was half-scared to death," Ao Zhou wheezed, shuddering. "They weren''t nning to listen to reason at all!"


    "Strength trumps all else," Xiao Nanfeng replied wryly.


    Ao Zhou nodded, a series ofplex emotions shing across his face. "What''s with this token? How did I be a guard captain of the princess'' manor?"


    "Because I arranged for it beforehand, of course. I did the same with Ye Dafu, Croak, Warble, and the others."


    "What? Why didn''t we know about it?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Why would you have needed to? I was just preparing a protective talisman for all of you in advance. I stand out too much in the Imperial Court, so I knew I couldn''t give you positions in my manor. That''s why I asked the princess for her assistance. You should thank her."


    "Thank you, Princess!" Ao Zhou said immediately.


    "Worry not. So, what just happened?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng described everything that had happened to date.


    "What? Not only did you manage to im the spirits of Thousand-Spirit Ind, you even killed four Golden Immortals?!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "More like they killed each other, and that praying mat of yours was of incredible utility. I barely did anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head. "Princess, might I ask if the Taiqing Grandmaster is still around?"


    "He left long ago," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng breathed out in relief. Then, he smiled. "With the Taiqing Grandmaster''s assistance, you must have advanced greatly, Princess."


    "I did get an incredible boost to my cultivation. I''m about to undergo a tribtion," Zhang Lingjun rted, nodding.


    "A True Immortal''s tribtion?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, surprised.


    "That''s right. I''ve been suppressing my advancement since. I intend to undergo the tribtion immediately."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously. "Princess, we shouldn''t stay here for long. Let''s do so somewhere else. Will that be alright?"


    Zhang Lingjun nodded. "Very well!"

 Chapter 541: The Heavenly Emperors Aid

    <h4>Chapter 541: The Heavenly Emperor''s Aid</h4>


    In a small garden on Mt. Kunlun in the Sieve of Heaven, Yu Fuli sat by the side of a small pond, fishing in a rxed fashion. Behind him stood Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and Ao Zhou.


    "That was what happened, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng reported.


    The moment he had returned to the Imperial Court, he had received a summons from the Hall of Martial Aspects. However, rather than head there immediately, Xiao Nanfeng brought Zhang Lingjun and Ao Zhou to seek an audience with the Heavenly Emperor first.


    Xiao Nanfeng revealed everything that had happened on Thousand-Spirit Ind without any exaggeration.


    "A minor Buddha alone possesses the strength of a Golden Immortal? The Buddhas of Three Aspects really are recovering quickly," Yu Fuli said calmly.


    "It''s true, Your Majesty. If a minor Buddha alone bears such strength, what about the major Buddhas? What about the Present and Future Buddhas? The Buddhas of Three Aspects won''t be easy foes," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Are you afraid?" Yu Fuli gave him a faint smile.


    "Not quite, Your Majesty, but the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s death has made me realize that I need to be cognizant of how the Hall of Martial Aspects is holding me back. I''d like to nominate Ao Zhou for the newly open position of Martial Aspect. Having another Martial Aspect''s help will surely help me out," Xiao Nanfeng replied. This was why he had sought an audience with the Heavenly Emperor.


    Yu Fuli nced at Ao Zhou. "He possesses an ancestral dragon''s blood, doesn''t he?"


    Ao Zhou''s eyes widened as he turned to Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng shook his head, indicating that he hadn''t revealed that information to Yu Fuli.


    "He did, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "In the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce, he was recognized by an ancestral dragon''s specter and received the blood there."


    "In that case, he does have adequate potential for the position." Yu Fuli nodded.


    "Your Majesty, when Ao Zhou apanied me to subjugate Thousand-Spirit Ind, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s wounded soul tried to possess him. Ao Zhou retaliated in self-defense, but some Martial Aspects now bear him deep enmity. It''s a particrly dangerous situation for him, Your Majesty, so I''d like to request your protection on his behalf."


    Yu Fuli replied calmly, "Ao Zhou has done nothing wrong, and no enmity is warranted. Be at ease."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ao Zhou immediately echoed.


    With Yu Fuli''s promise, the Hall of Martial Aspects would hardly dare press the matter in public.


    "Lingjun, have you any other concerns?" Yu Fuli continued.


    Zhang Lingjun was silent for a moment before she ventured, "Your Majesty, now that I know my mother was wronged, I want to im her possessions and avenge her."


    "Don''t be too anxious. I promise none of the culprits will be able to escape," Yu Fuli replied.


    "I dreamt of Mother a few days ago. She kept criticizing herself for not having found an adequate birthday present for you, Your Majesty, and bade me listen closely to you, to respect you on her behalf, but all I want to do now is to avenge her. I didn''t know who the killer was before, but now I do. I wish to im the killers'' skulls to put her at rest once and for all! Your Majesty, I know you''re thinking of the big picture, and there must be some reason you can''t investigate personally, nor to correct the public perception of her supposed rebellion. Please allow me to do this on her behalf! I ask that you allow me ess to her treasures so that I may take revenge and clear her name," Zhang Lingjun begged, her eyes red.


    Yu Fuli stared at his fishing pole. His eyes suddenly glinted coldly, and his grip grew taut.


    After a momentary silence, hemanded, "Leave!"


    "Your Majesty..." Zhang Lingjun tried to continue making her case with teary eyes, but Xiao Nanfeng caught her by the arm and beckoned for her to stop. He could see that Yu Fuli had be greatly disturbed.


    In the end, Zhang Lingjun could only sigh. "I understand."


    The party of three walked out of the small garden.


    After that, Yu Fuli put down his fishing pole and nced up at the clouded sky. A tense silence dragged out before he said, "Issue an edict: the substitute Martial Aspects are topete with each other over the course of a month in Yue''er''s abode for the vacant Martial Aspect position."


    "Understood, Your Majesty!" one of his attendants replied immediately.


    In a hall on the ind containing the Hall of Martial Aspects, Ao Shuai was having a chat with numerous men, all of whom were looking at him dourly.


    "Martial Aspects, this was how Silverfrost died. You won''t let this stand, will you?" Ao Shuai asked.


    "Don''t worry. We''re all loyal to the Eastern Aspect. Silverfrost might be a bit weaker, but he''s still our brother. We''ll surely take revenge for him."


    "Silverfrost was cut apart by the two Golden Immortals, but his soul was surely imbued into his silver dragon pearl. Unfortunately, the two Golden Immortals grievously wounded his spirit as well. Ao Zhou was able to take advantage as a result."


    "The Hall of Martial Aspects has a treasure that can restore the truth. When we catch Ao Zhou, we''ll ensure that we have an unassable case against him."


    "Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to protect Ao Zhou, and neither will Princess Lingjun. Ao Zhou will die!"


    The Martial Aspects were all outraged by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost''s death.


    Just then, an official hurried into the hall. "Martial Aspects, the Eastern Aspect hasmanded that Ao Zhou not be pursued."


    "What? Why?" the Martial Aspects demanded.


    "A judiciary official presented evidence that Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was gravely wounded by two Immortal spirits before his soul attempted to possess Ao Zhou and was devoured by Ao Zhou in self-defense. The judiciary judged that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost attacked Ao Zhou in malice, not only attempting and failing to kill an official of the Imperial Court, but also being killed in self-defense as a result. Ao Zhou was deemed innocent!" the official reported.


    "What? What right does the judiciary have to interfere with Martial Aspect business? How dare they?! The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost has been a loyal official of the Imperial Court and earned tremendous merit¡ªis this how his death is to be remembered? Ao Zhou, innocent? This is ridiculous!"


    "Come on. We''ll go press the judiciary about this. What right do they have to interfere with Martial Aspect business?!"


    "The judiciary is overreaching!"


    The Martial Aspects all stood up in a huff.


    "Martial Aspects, please calm down. The notice from the judiciary bears the imperial seal of the Heavenly Emperor," the official continued.


    The Martial Aspects'' anger was abruptly reined in. All the Martial Aspects choked; they were suddenly struck by a coughing fit.


    If the Heavenly Emperor had made a pronouncement, then none of them would be able to question his will. The Martial Aspects hissed, frustrated beyond belief.


    With the Heavenly Emperor protecting Ao Zhou, who among them would dare to kill him?


    "It must be Xiao Nanfeng''s fault. He ignored the Hall of Martial Aspects'' summons and rushed off the see the Heavenly Emperor instead. He must be responsible!" Ao Shuai dered.


    The other Martial Aspects snarled.


    "Ao Zhou, innocent? Very well, then. Innocent though he may be, I''m sure he''ll be all alone at some point," a Martial Aspect murmured.


    The others nodded. Even if they couldn''t take Ao Zhou down publicly, they were still able to assassinate him. He surely wouldn''tst long, no matter what.


    "The Eastern Aspect also said that all substitute Martial Aspects are topete for supremacy in the Pce of the Moon for a month," the official continued.


    "In the Pce of the Moon? Starting when?" Ao Shuai''s eyes lit up.


    He intended to im that opening for himself.


    "Three dayster," the official replied.


    "Master, if you want to be a Martial Aspect, we''ll all send our subordinates to join you and help you rise up," a Martial Aspect said.


    Ao Shuai nodded in glee, but the next moment, he frowned. "No, something''s wrong. Why is this contest happening in the Pce of the Moon?"


    "What do you mean, Master?" a Martial Aspect asked.


    "Severe restrictions have been imposed on the Pce of the Moon. Only True Immortals or below may enter, and Ao Zhou has be a True Immortal. Not only that, Xiao Nanfeng managed to trick Father into giving him a rmendation to induct a substitute Martial Aspect, and he can appoint Ao Zhou as one. The Pce of the Moon contains countless purple-furred monsters that pose a tremendous problem for us, but Ao Zhou can borrow Zhang Lingjun''s Pce of the Moon token. He''s going to have a decisive advantage!"


    "Ao Zhou? Not only did he kill the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, he''s trying to im his position! We won''t let that happen!" the Martial Aspects dered.


    Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. "If Ao Zhou were to be a Martial Aspect, we wouldn''t be able to make a move against him. Keep a careful eye on him. Make sure to search Ao Zhou''s body carefully. You can''t let Xiao Nanfeng''s ck fog cursed effigy follow it in, and you definitely can''t allow Ao Zhou to be the new Martial Aspect."


    The Martial Aspects nodded.

 Chapter 542: The Most Trusted Confidant

    <h4>Chapter 542: The Most Trusted Confidant</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng brought Ao Zhou to a za on the floating ind on which the Hall of Martial Aspects was located.


    Various officials nched and secretly pointed at the duo on the za. A few Martial Aspects watched their antics with interest.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored them all and walked up to a hall of officials. He retrieved hismander''s token and a scroll, which he ced on the table before him.


    "I''ve finished the mission to subjugate Thousand-Spirit Ind and am hereby returning mymander''s token. This scroll describes the details of what urred during the mission and should be stored for record immediately," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" an official replied.


    "As far as the reward for the mission goes, convert it all to fortune and distribute it quickly. Do not dy," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!"


    "As for this, this is a rmendation to nominate Ao Zhou as a substitute Martial Aspect. He will participate in the uingpetition for the next opening in two days'' time. Prepare the paperwork immediately and provide an identification token," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The official imed the papers and bowed respectfully. "Understood!"


    After all the paperwork wasplete, Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou left the Hall of Martial Aspects immediately.


    He didn''t bother trying to investigate what the other Martial Aspects were doing. The Eastern Aspect had been holding meetings continuously since yesterday to determine their quadrant''s n for the uingpetition, but Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t been invited at all. He knew he had been isted, but he wasn''t worried. Just because he had no allies now didn''t mean he wouldn''t have moreter.


    On the way back, Ao Zhou said, "Xiao Nanfeng, will thepetition be dangerous? Why don''t you have the senior in the ck fog help me? And would you lend me the princess'' ess token for the Pce of the Moon?"


    "You wouldn''t be able to bring them inside even if I were to help you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Of course I can, I''m sure I can!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Neither of those are secrets anymore. Do you think those Martial Aspects who hate you to their very core would allow you to enter thepetition with them in tow? They must be discussing how to counter them right now."


    "But without them, they''re going to beat me up!" Ao Zhou fretted.


    "Don''t worry. They can''t," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Oh?"


    "I''ve already arranged everything for you. You''ll surely be able to be the new Martial Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, Chang Bing smiled as he presented Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar with the fruits of hisbor. "Division Leader, we''ve finished concocting pills with these two spirit kings. We made six Heaven Immortal pills in all, and the Dazheng Empire is soon to be home to six more Heaven Immortals."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar smiled in satisfaction. "Very good. Have the Earth disciples keep working hard and improving your cultivation, and some of these pills will go to your lot, too."


    "Thank you, Division Leader! However, we''ve all just ingested Earth Immortal pills, and we''re far from being able to reach the realm of Heaven Immortals for now. You won''t have to worry about us in the short term, Division Leader," Chang Bing replied.


    "Can''t you all grow stronger by concocting pills? Work hard on that, then."


    Chang Bing smiled wryly. "We''d need high-quality ingredients to work with, and it''s rare that we''d get the opportunity to make Earth Immortal pills, let alone Heaven Immortal ones."


    "Who said that? Once the spectral guards finish investigating the spirits from Thousand-Spirit Ind, your lot can concoct pills to your hearts'' content with the malevolent ones. You won''t have time to rest, I''m sure," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What? What spirits from Thousand-Spirit Ind?" Chang Bing was clearly out of the loop.


    "We''ve brought back all spirits at Spiritsong-realm and above from Thousand-Spirit Ind," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "All? What do you mean, all?" Chang Bing remarked, taken by surprise.


    "I mean, all!"


    Chang Bing gaped. "Division Leader, you kidnapped all the spirits on the ind? How could that be?"


    "It''s a pity that most of the spirit kings have died. Only three still survive..."


    "Truly? Three True Immortals? Doesn''t that mean that we can keep making Heaven Immortal pills?" Chang Bing eximed in surprise.


    "Of course. There''s plenty of work for all of you."


    "Good, good! We advance rapidly when we concoct pills, especially higher-level ones!" Chang Bing replied in excitement.


    "Right, do you know how to make True Immortal pills, too?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "True Immortal pills? We do, but they require parts of a Golden Immortal to concoct. Where would we find that...?" Chang Bing replied.


    "How''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng brought out the carcass of a headless rat.


    "This is..." Chang Bing''s eyes widened as he inspected the carcass.


    "This is what''s left of Sage Yellowbrow, but his head and inner core are gone. Even so, this is the corpse of a Golden Immortal. I thought it would be a waste to consume it directly, so why not have you make pills with it instead?"


    Chang Bing''s jaw dropped. "Division Leader, just what did you do to Thousand-Spirit Ind? How did you take down a Golden Immortal?!"


    "Is there a problem?"


    "No, no, not at all! We''ll definitely give it a try. A Golden Immortal¡ªI can''t wait! Our cultivation is going to advance rapidly for sure!"


    "List whatever ingredients you need. You''d better start quickly. Otherwise, the spiritual aether within this carcass is going to dissipate."


    "We''ll start at once, Division Leader!"


    Within the capital''s prison in the divine empire of Dayin, Yin Tianci''s main body was interrogating Tang.


    When he saw Tang kneeling before him, manacled and with blood streaking down his body, Yin Tianci frowned. "Tang, what was so important that you had to see me even at risk to your life? What are you trying to aplish?"


    "Your Highness, I was interrogated by the wardenst night because of what happened at Thousand-Spirit Ind. I suspected that something had gone very wrong. I''m not here to beg for mercy. I just want to know, Your Highness, if you were able to review the n I submitted to you beforehand," Tang asked anxiously.


    "What n?" Yin Tianci frowned.


    "The n I wrote after being imprisoned! Did the warden not pass it to you, Your Highness?" Tang asked.


    Yin Tianci raised an eyebrow. He turned to the warden beside him. "Is this so?"


    "That... Your Highness, I apologize. I inquired with Sir Mo about the situation, and he said not to permit Tang to contact the world atrge, let alone Your Highness. Furthermore, the document was highly improper, so..."


    "Bring this n over," Yin Tiancimanded.


    Quaking, the warden handed over a tattered piece of cloth on which words had been written in blood.


    "Your Highness, despite my wrongful imprisonment, out of fear for your safety, I have nevertheless penned this document that I will submit for your perusal.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is a sly and crafty man. Given his experience from the battle at Yongding, he will surely be on guard. He may even have installed spies on Thousand-Spirit Ind. Your Highness, please be mindful regarding these spies. Their presence will surely expose your actions. Perhaps you might be able to hide what''s going on, but given Mo Lengxuan''scking ability, he will surely reveal something to the spies willingly or otherwise.


    "Xiao Nanfengmands tremendous authority and is backed not only by the Dazheng Empire, but also the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. The Imperial Court is particrly dangerous.


    "Considering Xiao Nanfeng''s maniptive tendencies, Your Highness, you ought not topete with him in terms of wiles and intelligence. If Mo Lengxuan were to be his opponent, Xiao Nanfeng would easily secureplete victory.


    "Your Highness, I cannot be by your side. Please permit me to at least provide these small reminders, lessons I have paid blood, sweat, and tears to learn. If Mo Lengxuan incites you to deal with Xiao Nanfeng, Your Highness, you must bring the full force of Thousand-Spirit Ind to bear. Let Xiao Nanfeng cower in the face of overwhelming might, his ns unable toe to fruition. Remember this, Your Highness!"


    The blood-streaked cloth left Yin Tianci deeply unsettled. He thought back to the battle that had recently urred. If he had done as Tang had suggested, Thousand-Spirit Ind wouldn''t have fallen, and their invasion of Yongding would have been aplete victory.


    Yin Tianci could have won handily; it was Mo Lengxuan who had caused everything to go to ruin.


    "When did Tang submit this document?" Yin Tianci demanded, ncing at the warden.


    He felt that he wouldn''t have ended up in such dire straits if he had seen the document in advance. Of course, this was nothing more than mere ''feeling''¡ªby then, he no longer trusted Tang, and he would have ignored Tang''s advice even if he had been in possession of it.


    "The third day after Tang was imprisoned," the warden replied with trepidation.


    Yin Tianci sent him flying with a smack. The warden smashed against a wall, blood trailing down half his body by the time he slumped to the ground. He was badly injured.


    "How dare you not report this at once?" Yin Tianci bellowed. "Die!"


    The warden had withheld the document ever since it was presented to him. Tang''s warnings could have saved Yin Tianci and the divine empire of Dayin from incredible losses if Yin Tianci had been made aware of it in advance¡ªwasn''t it normal for him to be upset?


    "Please spare me, Your Highness. Sir Mo forbade me from handing it over, from facilitating any connection between Tang and Your Highness! Furthermore, this cloth was far too tattered, so..." The warden kowtowed repeatedly in fear.


    "Your Highness, my cultivation was sealed while imprisoned, and I was manacled. I had no choice but to tear off my clothes and bite my finger until it bled to write this letter to you. I apologize for the state of the document," Tang said, bowing.


    Yin Tianci shook his head. "You did your best. It was all Mo Lengxuan''s fault, that fool! Not only is he useless, he even tried to pin the me on someone loyal and capable like you!"


    "Your Highness, did he cause a mess again?" Tang asked.


    "Who else? Hepletely overturned your strategy and caused total defeat. I lost another of my avatars!" Yin Tianci fumed.


    "Mo Lengxuan really was willing to do anything to take revenge on me¡ªeven going so far as to sacrifice your avatar, Your Highness! Your safety is paramount. Isn''t he aware of that? He used me of being an omen of cmity, but he''s more like one himself!" Tang cursed.


    "Hm?" Yin Tianci suddenly narrowed his eyes.


    He thought back to what had happened. Mo Lengxuan had imed that Tang was an omen of cmity who was working with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Now, however, it became apparent that Mo Lengxuan''smand without Tang was far worse than when Tang was around. Didn''t that mean that Mo Lengxuan''s failure wasn''t caused by Tang? Tang was no omen of cmity¡ªwas he even working with Xiao Nanfeng at all?


    "Mo Lengxuan dared lie to me? He''ll pay the price for this!" Yin Tianci roared.


    "Please calm down, Your Highness!" Tang eximed.


    "Tang, I med you wrongfully. Mo Lengxuan tricked me. I apologize that you had to suffer needlessly." Yin Tianci immediately freed Tang from his manacles.


    "Your Highness, I don''t me you for my imprisonment. If not for you, Mo Lengxuan would already have killed me. Your choosing to imprison me was, in some sense, a way of protecting me. I should be grateful¡ªit''s just a pity that Mo Lengxuan has squandered away all our reserves of strength on Thousand-Spirit Ind!" Tang sighed.


    Yin Tianci grew more and more enraged with Mo Lengxuan as the conversation progressed. By now, he was deeply infuriated with him.


    "Go on. You''re free now. From now on, you''ll be my most trusted confidant. If anyone dares to treat you badly, let me know. I''ll stand up for you!" Yin Tianci dered.


    "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!" Tang got up and bowed, his eyes ''tearing up''.

 Chapter 543: Ao Zhou VS Ao Shuai

    <h4>Chapter 543: Ao Zhou VS Ao Shuai</h4>


    Three days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Many Martial Aspects were standing outside the translucent purple barrier leading into the Pce of the Moon, having escorted substitute Martial Aspects with whom they were familiar there. They were preparing to fight over the newly vacant position that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost had held.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost stood by the entrance to the barrier. "Substitute Martial Aspects, as you''ve all learned by now, the Pce of the Moon will be the location of the uingpetition to choose the new Martial Aspect. This is the Martial Aspect''s banner. When the Pce of the Moon is opened up a monthter, whoever emerges with this banner shall rece the position once held by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost."


    Then, with a wave of his hand, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sent the banner floating through the barrier and into the pce.


    The substitute Martial Aspects on the za eyed the banner greedily.


    "In addition, the substitute Martial Aspects are not to receive assistance from others or bring any tools in to ensure the fairness of thepetition."


    "What? Nothing at all?"


    "Not even our own treasures, relics, or armaments?"


    "That''s ridiculous! I''m a swordmaster. How am I topete without my sword?"


    The substitute Martial Aspects were taken aback by this unexpected restriction.


    "All of you, get your belongings in order and step over here for an inspection. You''ll be able to enter the pce thereafter," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost continued.


    While the other substitute Martial Aspects were ncing at each other, Ao Shuai had already stepped forward with a group of cultivators. Those who were inspected first would have a head start when it came to chasing down the banner, after all.


    The other substitutes had no choice but to hand their belongings to their friends for safekeeping as they subjected themselves to the inspection.


    Ao Zhou frowned at Xiao Nanfeng. "It''s just like you predicted. They''re deliberately targeting me. Not only are they preventing me from bringing the Pce of the Moon''s ess token in, I bet that relic over there is specifically for detecting cursed effigies. They don''t want the senior in the ck fog to enter alongside me, do they?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was unperturbed. "Go on. You''ll be fine."


    Ao Zhou nodded and stepped forward, passing through the inspection and then the barrier into the Pce of the Moon.


    Not far away, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and the others stared at Xiao Nanfeng until he left. Only then did they rx.


    "Is everything alright over there?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost asked a Martial Aspect by his side.


    "Don''t worry. Everything inside is going ording to n. There''s going to be a hunt for Ao Zhou, and he''ll surely die within. We''ll avenge Silverfrost then," the Martial Aspect replied.


    The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost nodded, satisfied.


    After Xiao Nanfeng left, he looped around to the far side of the barrier around the pce. When he found a secluded area, he covered his traces with fog as he used his candleme powers to make a portal leading in.


    "Senior, I''m counting on your help. This is the Pce of the Moon''s ess token. Feel free to use it as necessary."


    "Got it!"


    The ck lotus slowly flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and into the pce with the ess token in tow.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng dispelled his candleme powers and flew off.


    Just then, the moment Ao Zhou stepped into the Pce of the Moon, a w struck at his skull.


    Ao Zhou frowned and stopped short. He barreled forward in the form of a ck dragon, knocking that w aside even as he was flung back himself.


    He could sense scales falling from his head as he eximed, "A dragon''s ws? Just who are you?"


    Just then, another cultivator tried tounch a sneak attack on him from behind. He didn''t have time to investigate further; he quickly shot into the midst of a few purple-furred monsters nearby.


    "Don''t let him escape. Chase after him!" a voice shouted.


    Four figures shot toward Ao Zhou. Two of them even morphed into dragons as they gave chase.


    "Ao Shuai, I see you! Challenge me on your own if you dare! Did you send all these cultivators after me? You coward!" Ao Zhou howled.


    Hidden within a forested part of the pce nearby, Ao Shuai''s eyes twitched. "There''s no way he saw me, but he''s trying to pin the me on me anyway! Everyone knows that I''m responsible now. Is he trying to besmirch my reputation?"


    Beside him, one cultivator replied, "Not only is he doing that, Master, he''s trying to malign the Eastern Aspect as well. I''m sure quite a few people here have avatars, so whatever happens within will be transmitted to the world outside as well. The Martial Aspects outside must have learned of what''s happening."


    "So be it! Keep an eye on him until we manage to kill him," Ao Shuaimanded.


    "Understood!" The cultivator beside Ao Zhou bowed respectfully.


    At the same time, the ck lotus found a group of purple-furred monsters as well. Although it was now strong enough to handle True Immortal purple-furred monsters, out of safety, it had chosen to strike at a single Earth Immortal purple-furred monster first.


    It surrounded the monster in ck fog, binding it, before devouring the golden lotus hood on its head with the underside of its body.


    Then, the purple-furred monster blinked and shook as it awakened.


    "This¡ªwhat happened to me?" the purple-furred monster eximed, ncing at the ck lotus warily.


    The ck lotus tossed it a jade tablet. "This is a message that Zhang Lingjun and the others left you. Read it first and ask if there are any questions."


    The purple-furred monster took the tablet and began to read, though it was clearly still wary of the ck lotus.


    It quickly understood what was going on, then bowed down toward the ck fog before it. "Thank you for your assistance, Senior. Please allow me to cooperate with you."


    "Although the Pce of the Moon is filled with fog, try not to alert the substitute Martial Aspects just yet. For the moment, join me and capture a few weaker purple-furred monsters. Let me awaken them¡ªand then we can use them as cover as we take down those of higher cultivation."


    "Understood!" the purple-furred monster replied.


    The ck lotus formally began its conquest of the golden lotus hoods.


    A whole month passed in the blink of an eye to the backdrop of vigorous fighting.


    Ao Shuai, with the assistance of many substitute Martial Aspects, had obtained the Martial Aspect banner long ago. Before long, he would be able to leave the Pce of the Moon and be the next Martial Aspect.


    On the other hand, Ao Zhou had been chased around for the entire month. Dealing with one or two cultivators would have been easy enough for him, but there were quite a number of True Immortals giving chase. There was no way he could make a stand for himself; he had only been able to avoid certain death by hiding within groups of purple-furred monsters.


    Atop a fog-shrouded mountain peak, Ao Shuai nced at the Pce of the Moon from high above. "Is Ao Zhou still not dead after an entire month?"


    "He''s wretched. The moment he senses any danger, he hides within a group of purple-furred monsters. He''s particrly troublesome to deal with," one of Ao Shuai''s subordinates replied.


    "Count him lucky," Ao Shuai spat out. "We''ll wait until he leaves the Sieve of Heaven, then strike then. His life will be forfeit!"


    "Very wise, Master. Ao Zhou will fall to us sooner orter. He''s nothing to be concerned about. As for you, Master, now that you''ve acquired the Martial Aspect banner, once the barrier leading out of the pce opens up, you''ll be a brand-new Martial Aspect. Congrattions!" another subordinate cried out.


    Ao Shuai nced at the banner in his hands with satisfaction. "Silverfrost was among the eighteen Martial Aspects of the East. Fortunately, none of the three other Cardinal Aspects interfered with the selectionpetition, or it would have been troublesome indeed. However, all that''s over now. I''m going to be the new Martial Aspect!"


    Just then, a wave of frenzied shouts could be heard from afar.


    "Run, Master! The purple-furred monsters are suddenly stampeding!" someone cried out.


    "Stampeding?" Ao Shuai nced over dubiously.


    Countless purple-furred monsters were rushing toward Ao Shuai''s location bynd and sky, poised to suppress him.


    "Master, something''s wrong. We have to flee!" one of his subordinates cried out.


    "Flee!" Ao Shuai called out immediately.


    However, the True Immortal purple-furred monsters caught up to them in no time.


    "Protect the young master!" the cultivators cried out, charging forward.


    A huge fight began. The purple-furred monsters forced the substitute Martial Aspects surrounding Ao Shuai aside, but Ao Shuai himself remainedpletely unharmed. He was surprised that the purple-furred monsters seemed to be avoiding him.


    Just then, a ck dragon flew toward Ao Shuai. A bolt of lightningunched out of his mouth, forcing Ao Shuai back.


    "Ao Zhou? You!" Ao Shuai shouted angrily.


    "Ao Shuai, you''ve had your fun chasing after me for an entire month, haven''t you? It''s time to settle the score. Die!" he shouted.


    "Rather confident, aren''t you? Don''t me me for this, then. Die!" Ao Shuai echoed.


    He transformed into a gleaming golden dragon and shot forward. The two dragons shed in a ming tempest, neither quite able to overpower the other.


    "A golden dragon? You''re descended from the dragon kings of the Southern Sea? Weren''t they destroyed a few centuries ago? So this is where you''ve been. Does that mean that Ao Canghai was the former Dragon King of the Southern Sea, then?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "If nothing else, you boast good eyes. We Southern Sea dragons knew what wasing and managed to preserve our strength¡ªunlike you Eastern Sea dragons. You''re the only one left, aren''t you? And now that you''vended in my hands, I''ll finish you off, too. Die!"


    "Ha! You''re fools driven far from home. I might be the only descendant of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce left, but I can restore it to its former glory. You, on the other hand¡ªyou might be alive, but you''ve lost all your courage. Die!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    The two dragons shed against each other.


    Both dragons were True Immortals. Although Ao Shuai had the superior cultivation, Ao Zhou had an ancestral dragon''s inheritance and blood, and was no inferior to him. The two dragons began to fight more and more violently.


    Those substitute Martial Aspects who attempted to protect Ao Shuai found themselves stymied by the purple-furred monsters, who cleared the battlefield for the two dragons.

 Chapter 544: Birth of the New Martial Aspect

    <h4>Chapter 544: Birth of the New Martial Aspect</h4>


    Within the Pce of the Moon, a ck and a gold dragon fought intensely in the air. They spat out frost and wind, freezing heaven and earth. They charged up bolts of lightning that tore apart the void. Ao Shuai had plenty of techniques, but Ao Zhou easily held his own.


    "Why do you know the techniques of the dragons of the Southern Sea?!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    "What do you mean? Your Southern techniques originated from the Eastern Sea, too. The tens of thousands of dragons under heaven originated from the Eastern Sea, the principal n of dragons. You''re nothing but an offshoot, and even your pce had been part of the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. How dare you talk to me about ''your'' techniques!" Ao Zhou sniffed disdainfully.


    "The Eastern Sea dragons are done for. You''re the only one of your kind left!" Ao Shuai snapped back.


    "With me around, the Eastern Sea dragons shall survive and thrive once again. Ao Shuai, you''re no match for me," Ao Zhou dered.


    He whipped his tail and sent Ao Shuai flying.


    "How could this be? You''re just a True Immortal. How can you block my blows?!"


    "Your techniques are far too weak."


    Ao Zhou then began to copy Ao Shuai''s techniques, but somehow managed to suppress Ao Shuai despite thetter''s greater strength.


    Ao Zhou possessed an ancestral dragon''s blood and inheritance. He was intimately familiar with these techniques, and his understanding of them deepened the more they fought.


    Ao Shuai was forced to retreat time and again, his scales ttering off his body. He shouted into the distance, "Where''s everyone? Come help me!"


    However, his subordinates had been overwhelmed by a veritable tide of purple-furred monsters and were nowhere to be seen.


    Then, Ao Zhou whipped his tail into Ao Shuai''s head, smashing him into the ground. The tremendous blow even caused a nearby mountain to copse. Ao Zhou''s w squashed Ao Shuai''s head underfoot, rendering him immobile.


    "Ao Shuai, you''ve lost. Hand over the Martial Aspect banner!"


    "Never!" Ao Shuai howled back.


    Ao Zhou''s eyes turned flinty. ck smoke surged around his ws as he tore at Ao Shuai''s throat, opening up a huge wound that caused blood to spurt out. Ao Shuai yelped.


    "What are you doing?!"


    "Hand over the Martial Aspect banner, or I''m going to kill you!"


    Ao Zhou''s ws hovered around Ao Shuai''s throat.


    "Fine! Take it!" Ao Shuai spat out.


    He regurgitated the Martial Aspect banner.


    Ao Zhou imed the banner and confirmed that it was the real thing. "Thank you, then."


    He didn''t kill Ao Shuai because Xiao Nanfeng had insisted on it. There would surely be an outburst when he emerged with the banner in tow. If he were to kill Ao Shuai, things would drag out and might even affect his ability to be the new Martial Aspect. To avoid causing unnecessary trouble and reduce the variables at y, he couldn''t kill Ao Shuai now. Once he was made a Martial Aspect in full, however, things would change.


    "I''ve handed you the Martial Aspect banner. Aren''t you going to free me?" Ao Shuai thundered.


    "You''re too meddlesome. Hold on until I''m out of the Pce of the Moon. I''ll free you immediately then."


    Then, Ao Zhou even sealed Ao Shuai''s cultivation.


    "You¡ª!" Ao Shuai fumed.


    Just then, the barrier began to rumble. The exit to the pce had opened up.


    Arge group of cultivators rushed into the Pce of the Moon. They red at Ao Zhou in the distance, roaring, "Release Ao Shuai!"


    Ao Zhou ignored them. He held his ws up against Ao Shuai''s neck as he flew toward the exit.


    "Don''te over here. I''ll release him once I make my way out, but if any of you dare draw near, I''ll break his neck," Ao Zhou hissed.


    Although there were plenty of purple-furred monsters in the vicinity guarding him, who knew what sort of relics or techniques these cultivators had? The safest option was to use Ao Shuai as a hostage.


    The cultivators who had streamed into the pce scowled, but out of concern for Ao Shuai''s safety, there was little they could do.


    When they reached the exit, Ao Zhou poked half his body out of the barrier to confirm that everything was alright. Only then did he toss Ao Shuai within as he rushed out and transformed back into human form. He raised the Martial Aspect banner high into the air. "I''ve won! I''ve managed to obtain the Martial Aspect banner. I''m the newest Martial Aspect!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and a few purple-furred monsters were awaiting the news in the za outside the barrier. Beside them were some Martial Aspects of the Eastern quadrant, all of whom had nasty looks on their faces.


    Of course, there were also Martial Aspects from the other three quadrants staring curiously at Ao Zhou.


    At any rate, with this matter settled, Ao Zhou would be safe from most forms of retaliation.


    "Ao Zhou, why would the purple-furred monsters of the Pce of the Moon listen to you? You''re taking advantage of them to cheat, aren''t you? I''m going to strip you of your qualifications as a substitute Martial Aspect," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost dered.


    "What? On what grounds do you use me of cheating? What evidence do you have? What right?" Ao Zhou thundered.


    "Insolence! We''re choosing the next Martial Aspect here, and I have to ensure that the process remains fair at every stage. You''re being suspected of cheating. Turn yourself in pending an investigation!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrostmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng jumped in,ughing. "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, who told you that these purple-furred monsters listen to Ao Zhou?"


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, you''re not in charge of hosting thispetition to determine the next Martial Aspect. You have no right to interfere with my judgment."


    "I''m not interfering. I''m simply using my position as Martial Aspect to cast doubt on the legitimacy of your judgment. Or do you im that I don''t even have that authority?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "You may cast doubt, but the truth is right before your eyes. Someone described everything that happened within just now, and you also heard that the purple-furred monsters were helping Ao Zhou. Don''t you consider that cheating?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost demanded.


    "Cheating? How? Did the purple-furred monsters interfere in Ao Zhou and Ao Shuai''s fight?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Hm?" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost raised an eyebrow.


    "The purple-furred monsters attacked otherpetitors. What''s wrong with that? Is there a problem?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "The purple-furred monsters blocked Ao Shuai''s allies from helping him, giving Ao Zhou an opportunity to win," the Martial ASpect of Violetfrost replied.


    "And doesn''t that speak of Ao Shuai''s impotence? He can''t do anything to Ao Zhou without the help of others!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, can''t you see that these purple-furred monsters acted strangely?"


    "Oh, I can. I was the one who subjugated themst time, but I didn''t bring them out of the pce in time. As for your statement that these purple-furred lifeforms have been helping Ao Zhou cheat, why, that''s a bald-faced lie. They never helped Ao Zhou against any singlepetitor. They were fighting their own opponents!"


    "It''s useless no matter what you say. If I im that Ao Zhou cheated using those purple-furred monsters, then he did."


    "You''re the cheaters, I should think. The Hall of Martial Aspects doesn''t belong to you, or to Ao Shuai. It belongs to the whole of the Imperial Court. Trying to designate the next Martial Aspect by procuring a group of substitute Martial Aspects and using them to propel your favored candidate toward victory is underhanded behavior that undermines the authority of the Imperial Court!"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nched. Everyone did that, but it was hardly something that could be revealed publicly or even admitted to.


    "I think we ought to dig deeper into this. Is a small group of people controlling the authority of the Imperial Court? I cast doubt on the legitimacy of thesepetitions¡ªI might just ask the Heavenly Emperor to consider this problem myself."


    The Martial Aspects murmuring to each other not too far away suddenly frowned at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, don''t make a fuss. We all know what happened during thepetition. Ao Zhou deserves his ce as the newest Martial Aspect."


    "Right, Ao Shuai failed to seize vicitory even with the help of copious allies. Do you really think he''s qualified?"


    "Don''t make a mountain out of a molehill. Didn''t you hear Martial Aspect Xiao''s arguments?"


    The tide turned overwhelmingly in Xiao Nanfeng''s favor.


    Clearly, the Martial Aspects of the other three quadrants didn''t want Xiao Nanfeng to make a fuss either. After all, they did the same thing when it came to recing their own Martial Aspects. If this were to be a contentious issue, none would benefit.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost scowled. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was favored by the Heavenly Emperor, and he might actually be able to make good on his threat.


    He took a deep breath and quashed his anger. "I hereby dere Ao Zhou the victor of thispetition to select the next Martial Aspect. The subsequent paperwork will be handled in three days'' time in the Hall of Martial Aspects."


    He red at Xiao Nanfeng, waiting for thetter to relent.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I praise the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost for being fair and just. I recant my earlier statements."


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost snorted, fuming.


    Even if there were a big investigation, it was unlikely that he would be affected. However, plenty of other Martial Aspects would be subject to investigation themselves, and if any of them were found to have done something wrong, they would surely hold a grudge for him. If they were only going to target him, he wouldn''t have relented¡ªbut what if they tried to scheme against Ao Shuai instead?


    "Everyone within the Pce of the Moon, step out!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost called out. His voice spread throughout the pce.


    The cultivators within quickly trailed out. Ao Shuai was near the forefront, blood streaming down his body. He looked like he had suffered a terrible beating. The moment he emerged, he scowled at Ao Zhou, but Ao Zhou ignored him.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the entrance to the pce. "All generals,e on out!"


    The purple-furred monsters emerged from within the pce, their numbers steadily growing¡ªa hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, and even more.


    Everyone sucked in a deep breath. They gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Twenty-odd thousand purple-furred monsters, along with the thousands he brought outst time... Could Xiao Nanfeng have subjugated all the purple-furred monsters of the pce?"


    "There are over thirty thousand of them in all. How could Xiao Nanfeng have subjugated them all?!"


    "There are even a few True Immortal purple-furred monsters among them. How could he have done it?!"


    Everyone gaped in disbelief, even Ao Shuai. His heart thumped. If all those purple-furred monsters had tried to kill him, he would hardly have survived.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou flew off with the purple-furred monsters trailing behind them.

 Chapter 545: Debt Collection

    <h4>Chapter 545: Debt Collection</h4>


    In a hall on the Hall of Martial Aspects'' ind, Ao Canghai sat at the head of the hall as various Martial Aspects lined up on either side of him, listening to Ao Shuai recount what had happened.


    Ao Canghai closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Again, but more detailed."


    Ao Shuai blinked, nodded, and recounted everything that had happened within the Pce of the Moon.


    Then, Ao Canghai fell deep in thought. Everyone else in the hall waited patiently, no one daring to disturb him.


    After quite some time, Ao Canghai finally opened his eyes again. They lit up. "Did Ao Zhou really manage to defeat you, a mid-stage True Immortal, despite just having be a True Immortal himself? It must be true, then."


    "Father, what are you talking about? I don''t understand," Ao Shuai replied.


    "In principle, even if he had obtained the inheritance of the old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, he shouldn''t have been your opponent¡ªunless he managed to gain an ancestral dragon''s inheritance from the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce," Ao Canghai borated, narrowing his eyes.


    "What?!" everyone cried out.


    "No wonder. Why do you think Silverfrost died that day? He must have been too greedy. He discovered Ao Zhou''s secret and tried to im it for himself¡ªand gave his life as a result," Ao Canghai continued confidently.


    "How did Ao Zhou manage to gain the ancestral dragon''s inheritance?!" everyone eximed in surprise.


    "We sent a delegation to the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce when it opened up, but unfortunately, it was only essible by Human Immortals and below. Ao Zhou and Xiao Nanfeng once entered the area, and they must have obtained the ancestral dragon''s inheritance then," Ao Canghai deduced.


    Everyone trusted Ao Canghai intimately; no one doubted him.


    "No wonder Ao Zhou knew all my techniques¡ªand used them better than I did! He even knew some of the techniques that you taught me that are only passed down within the royal family!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "The ancestral dragons reigned over the world in their era, and are no weaker than the Heavenly Emperor whom we serve now. Isn''t it a waste for that inheritance to havended in Ao Zhou''s hands?" One Martial Aspect''s eyes glinted.


    "Father, the ancestral dragon''s inheritance is the paramount treasure," Ao Shuai murmured, greed apparent in his gaze.


    Ao Canghai was silent for a moment before he too nodded. "You might have lost to Ao Zhou this time around, but confirming this piece of information is valuable as well."


    "The Heavenly Emperor has confirmed Ao Zhou''s appointment as Martial Aspect, but we still have a chance of obtaining the ancestral dragon''s inheritance. However, Xiao Nanfeng''s presence is a huge hindrance for dealing with Ao Zhou," Ao Shuai said.


    Ao Canghai raised an eyebrow at Ao Shuai. "Silence. Ao Zhou is a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, and isn''t to be disrespected. I had better not hear you trying to scheme against Ao Zhou again."


    "Father, if you were to receive the ancestral dragon''s inheritance, you could grow even stronger!" Ao Shuai protested, unwilling to back down.


    "Alright, that''s enough. All of you, dismissed. Silverfrost''s death is done and over with," Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Father!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    "Didn''t you hear me?" Ao Canghai replied.


    Ao Shuai frowned. He had no choice but to leave the hall along with the Martial Aspects in attendance.


    Alone in the hall, Ao Canghai sat back in his seat, his eyes closed. He seemed to be deep in thought. He did care about the ancestral dragon''s inheritance, but it would hardly do for him to make his real attitude known. He rapped his knuckles against the armrest of his seat, absorbed in nning.


    Three days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought Ao Zhou toward the Hall of Martial Aspects, where a group of officials were waiting for him. One retrieved an imperial edict. "Ao Zhou, receive this pronouncement!"


    "Ao Zhou is present!" Ao Zhou bowed.


    "By the will of the heavens, the Heavenly Emperor deres that Ao Zhou is awarded the title of Martial Aspect as substitute for the deceased Martial Aspect of Silverfrost."


    "I thank the Heavenly Emperor!" Ao Zhou bowed deeply.


    "im this edict and the Martial Aspect''s charm," the official continued.


    An official stepped forward with a charm.


    As Ao Zhou imed the imperial edict and the Martial Aspect''s charm, a burst of fortune emerged from the sea of fortune high overhead, encapsting him. Fortune surrounded his body and transformed into a golden dragon of fortune that corresponded to Ao Zhou. It roared, then flew back into the sea of fortune, where it joined its peers.


    The officials bowed, then retreated.


    "I''m a Martial Aspect now, haha!" Ao Zhou cried out in excitement.


    "Don''t get too absorbed just yet. In theory, since you''re recing the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, his manor should now be yours. im that first," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "My own Martial Aspect''s manor?" Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up. "Quick, we have to finish the paperwork now. I want to see if there''s any treasure left behind!"


    "Do you really think they would leave you any treasure?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted disdainfully.


    "Who knows? There just might be something good within," Ao Zhou replied.


    The officials of the Hall of Martial Aspects began the paperwork for Ao Zhou immediately, and finished shortly afterwards.


    "Martial Aspect Ao Zhou, the Eastern Aspect wishes to give you your manor key himself," the official continued.


    "Oh?" Ao Zhou frowned.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, the Eastern Aspect invites you over as well."


    "Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    The official brought the two Martial Aspects to the hall in which Ao Canghai was located. A huge map hung on the northern wall of the hall.


    Ao Canghai stood with his hands sped behind his back. He was staring at the map when Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou appeared.


    "I greet the Martial Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng called out, bowing.


    "I greet the Martial Aspect," Ao Zhou echoed.


    Only then did Ao Canghai turn and look toward Ao Zhou. He did so with such an incredible air of malice that Ao Zhou nched, all his scales ring, as if he could sense life-threatening danger.


    "What do you want, Eastern Aspect?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "I still remember enjoying discussions over wine with your father. To think you''ve already grown up..." Ao Canghai smiled, and the killing intent he released dispersed like the wind. Even so, Ao Zhou didn''t drop his guard. He waited for the Eastern Aspect to continue.


    "This is the key to your manor. You''ll have half a year without any responsibilities; during that time, prepare yourself to serve the Imperial Court. I have great expectations for you."


    Ao Canghai tossed a set of keys toward Ao Zhou, who caught them and bowed. "Understood!"


    Then, Ao Canghai turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Martial Aspect Xiao, youpleted your mission admirably. I heard that you chose to im your full reward in fortune. Were you satisfied with the amount you received?"


    "The fortune I received might as well have been the sum total that my kingdom possessed. It was an incredible boon," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Are youcking in fortune?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "Is there anyone in this world who wouldn''t be happy to receive fortune?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Quite so. Coincidentally, I have a Martial Aspect mission that deals with fortune. Are you interested?"


    "Hm?"


    "Do you remember when I had you release Yin Tianci?" Ao Canghai asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Ao Canghai had imed great benefits for himself while forcing him to release Yin Tianci''s main body. How could he forget?


    "Yes, Martial Aspect. Why do you ask?"


    "The divine empire of Dayin was three years overdue on its tithe of fortune. I was responsible for the matter. Yin Tianci''s avatar showed up on behalf of his father that day offering a deal: if you released his main body, the divine empire of Dayin would immediately tithe its owed fortune in full¡ªand even double it. That was why I epted his offer."


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for Ao Canghai to exin why he was bringing this up now.


    "Unfortunately, the divine empire of Dayin went back on its word and did not provide the promised fortune," Ao Canghai continued.


    "For daring to cheat the Imperial Court, the divine empire of Dayin ought to be punished! Eastern Aspect, you certainly have the wherewithal to do so," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "This was a transaction between the divine empire of Dayin and me, not with the Imperial Court. It would be inappropriate to use the Imperial Court''s forces to collect on this debt."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "In other words, all that extra fortune would havended in your hands, Eastern Aspect?"


    "Not mine¡ªit would belong to the Hall of Martial Aspects, to be distributed by me."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. That might as well be the same thing¡ªwasn''t the Eastern Aspect at least going to own up to his actions?


    "A Martial Aspect mission has been posted regarding this issue. I would be happy to grant the additional fortune to whoever manages to recover the tithe," Ao Canghai continued.


    "The mission is to serve as a tax collector?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "More or less. 30% of Dayin''s fortune is to be tithed to the Imperial Court. If you can collect all of what''s owed, you''ll be able to keep half of it."


    "Eastern Aspect, you think too highly of me. If you couldn''t recover the tithe, what would I be able to do? Furthermore, if the divine empire of Dayin is this recalcitrant, wouldn''t the Imperial Court simply smite it?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "A past divine empire did get smited by the Imperial Court after failing to pay its tithes for five years straight."


    "Oh?"


    "The divine empire of Dayin is only three yearste at the moment, and the Imperial Court is in no hurry to collect."


    "What''s the rush, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The divine empire of Dayin is situated within the eastern quadrant of the Imperial Court. If it does withhold the tithe for the full five years, the entire Eastern quadrant will appear weak and useless. That''s why we have to do something about this," Ao Canghai replied. "Of course, even if you fail this mission, there will be no consequences."


    "Oh?"


    "As an envoy of the Imperial Court, you''re safe from any machinations from the divine empire of Dayin. Will you take on this mission?"


    "Might I ask why you''ve chosen me for this opportunity, Eastern Aspect?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, stering a smile on his face.


    He intuitively sensed that Ao Canghai was up to no good.


    "I think you''re rather lucky, and you might be able to recover the fortune. Aren''t you in need of it? 30% of the fortune that the divine empire of Dayin possesses is a tremendous amount of fortune. If you seed, you''ll have a windfall; if you fail, you won''t lose anything. Don''t you agree?"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He didn''t believe Ao Canghai at all. It sounded more like he was trying to take advantage of the divine empire of Dayin to get rid of him.


    It was clear that he and Ao Canghai would never be on amicable terms. Even if he were to refuse this mission, Ao Canghai woulde up with other schemes.


    Furthermore, he had to head to the divine empire of Dayin regardless, not just to research the Buddhas of Three Aspects but also for a slew of other matters. He could fit Ao Canghai''s request into his schedule.


    "Very well. I ept. However, I''m going to have to pick a suitable relic from the public treasury like the Cursed Earth formation fromst time," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Naturally, naturally!" Ao Canghai smiled.

 Chapter 546: The Massive Grave

    <h4>Chapter 546: The Massive Grave</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, Xiao Nanfeng entered secluded cultivation once he had finished handling Ao Zhou''s appointment as a Martial Aspect. He transformed back into his True Yin body.


    The reward for subjugating Thousand-Spirit Ind had beenvish indeed. Countless fortune, which he had stored in his Divine Seal of Dazheng, now surged into his body in the shape of a dragon.


    Not only was his main body processing the fortune from his seal, his avatar was also drawing fortune from the Dazheng Empire. Fortune rushed through his body like a flood, clearing away the karmic consequence that blocked his spiritual cultivation.


    Bottleneck after bottleneck cleared. Star maps that he had once found abstruse and iprehensible, he suddenly understood in a sh of insight. He felt as though his thoughts had never been so clear.


    His silver moon floated high overhead as his surroundings quickly filled with snow. He sat cross-legged in the snow for an interminable period of time, until a thickyer of snow filled the hall.


    The moment all that fortune was exhausted, a huge wave of energy surged forth from his body, causing the snow to whirl about him. It hovered in the air before transforming into snowmen that looked just like Xiao Nanfeng.


    They nced in all directions with varying expressions on their faces as they learned what it was like to be a snowman.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes wide. The snowmen all around suddenly copsed back into snow.


    "I''m at mid-stage True Yin now¡ªthat''s roughly a True Immortal when ites to physical cultivation, isn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. He smiled in satisfaction.


    Then, he stood up and returned his silver moon to his mindscape. With a wave of his hand, the snow all around him vanished.


    "It''s a pity that I didn''t have quite enough fortune. Only my main body broke through¡ªmy avatar''s still a little behind," Xiao Nanfeng said, sighing.


    He waved a hand. With a creak, the doors to the hall opened as he walked out¡ªonly to find Zhang Lingjun waiting there for him.


    "What are you doing here, Princess?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "Ao Zhou told me about what you were nning." Zhang Lingjun''s brows furrowed in a slight smile.


    "Ao Zhou, that loudmouth," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. "He can''t hide anything."


    "Are you really going to im the fortune from the divine empire of Dayin?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "To collect on their debt, yes. The fortune rightfully belongs to us."


    "You and Yin Tianci are grave enemies. You even destroyed Thousand-Spirit Ind, a Dayin stronghold. Do you really think you can survive heading to the divine empire of Dayin?"


    "Thank you for your concern, Princess, but I know my limits." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You canugh even at a time like this? It''s clear that Ao Canghai is trying to scheme against you. In the past, he sent the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost to collect the owed fortune, but the divine empire of Dayin ignored him. Ao Canghai''s trying to take advantage of Dayin''s hatred of you to kill you!"


    "You''re worried about me, Princess?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhang Lingjun''s face flushed red, but she rallied quickly. "I''m still counting on you to take down the Buddhas of Three Aspects. If you die in Dayin, I''ll be without allies again."


    "Don''t worry, Princess. I''ll be alright," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    Zhang Lingjun bit her lip. After a moment''s silence, she offered, "If you insist on heading to Dayin, let me apany you."


    "Princess, you don''t have to endanger yourself on my behalf."


    "No. If you go, I go. I can briefly draw on the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat, which has the strength of a Golden Immortal. I can help you in times of need. Furthermore, I''m an official apprentice of the Taiqing Grandmaster. If I''m in serious danger, I''m sure he would do something as well. Allow me to help you and provide anotheryer of insurance," Zhang Lingjun suggested resolutely.


    Xiao Nanfeng was touched by her concern, but he continued, "You don''t have to worry. I¡ª"


    "It''s settled," Zhang Lingjun said. "When are you leaving?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "Very well. I''ll thank you in advance, then, Princess. Let''s leave immediately."


    "Immediately?"


    "Indeed!"


    "Let me inform my generals so they can apany us, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There might be a few True Immortals among the purple-furred lifeforms, but they''re too eyecatching. Only the two of us should go."


    "Ah?"


    "Have them listen to mymand. If there''s any danger, my subordinates will contact them via my manor. Have them be prepared to assist us at any time," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded. "Very well."


    Ten dayster, by a mountain peak outside the city of Fengdu in the divine empire of Dayin, Zhang Lingjun gave Xiao Nanfeng a curious look. "Aren''t we headed for the capital of Dayin? What are we doing here?"


    "Who said I was headed to the capital?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Weren''t you going to collect on their debt as a representative of the Imperial court?"


    "There''s no punishment for failure, nor a time limit. It''s all up to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes brightened. "You deliberately took on this mission so Ao Canghai wouldn''t try anything funny?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "More or less, but notpletely. I do have business in Dayin, and we''re within Dayin proper."


    "I heard that the mouth to the abyss in Fengdu has beenpletely sealed. What are you doing here?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.


    "I''m waiting for someone."


    "Oh? Who?"


    "He''s here."


    Zhang Lingjun looked in the direction of Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze to see a blue-robed man flying toward him from afar¡ªthe Ascended division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Senior Brother, I see your cultivation has improved again." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhao Yuanjiao peered at Zhang Lingjun. "Are the two of you partners in cultivation now?"


    Zhang Lingjun blushed as she fumbled for an exnation.


    "Don''t malign me, Senior Brother! The princess and I are innocent," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gave them a dubious look, causing Zhang Lingjun to flush again. She caught a glimpse of Xiao Nanfeng¡ªseeing that he didn''t try to exin himself further, her face grew redder and redder.


    "Senior Brother, is it someone big this time?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao nced at Zhang Lingjun again, confirming to himself that she and Xiao Nanfeng were together and deciding not to treat her like an outsider.


    "I believe so, and I can''t handle it alone. I''ll need you to help."


    Zhang Lingjun listened to the conversation curiously. What were they trying to pull?"


    "Tell me more, Senior Brother."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "My ckguards found a huge grave here."


    Zhang Lingjun: ???


    Xiao Nanfeng turned serious. He had recently realized how instrumental the ckguards were as an organization. They were no mere informationwork, but also a group of tomb robbers.


    As far as Xiao Nanfeng knew, the ckguards had already found plenty of Immortal graves, allowing Zhao Yuanjiao''s cultivation to rise rapidly. Now, he had apparently found another massive grave.


    A grave that even Zhao Yuanjiao wasn''t able to handle on his own was sure to contain huge treasure.


    "Why would the grave be here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I''m surprised too. The Immortal city of Fengdu was once the capital of the divine empire of Dafeng. Back then, Emperor Feng established a passageway into the abyss and freed the Dragon Yanluo, causing a disturbance in the empire. Then, your official, Wen Zhong, masterminded a scheme to destabilize the empire and eventually caused its copse. As the capital of a divine empire, Fengdu should have been ransacked many times over¡ªbut it seems like it still possesses its fair share of hidden secrets. A huge tomb was hidden here, one that''s particrly difficult to handle. There''s simultaneously holy light and malevolent winds around it. We tried plenty of different methods, but were ultimately unable to break in."


    "Let''s have a look," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    Zhang Lingjun, still taken aback, followed behind them as they flew to a secluded forest up in the mountains.


    Fog surrounded the forest. Clearly, Zhao Yuanjiao''s subordinates had already provided some obfuscation.


    The three cultivators flew into a mountain valley to see some ckguards on duty. A cave that had recently been dug out led deep into the mountain.


    Zhao Yuanjiao beckoned the two cultivators deep into the cave.


    The cave went all the way down the mountain and underground .Before long, the three of them found themselves in arge cavern with a wall by its mouth. The wall was densely stered with golden ''…d'' runes that shimmered with golden light.


    "We dug out this cave following the contours of this golden wall and came to the conclusion that it''s a roughly spherical tomb with a diameter of thirty kilometers. It''s surrounded by these golden runes. Every now and then, a sinister wind blows by, seemingly as a result of the runes. These walls are particrly sturdy, and I can''t do anything to them even at my cultivation," Zhao Yuanjiao introduced.


    "Thirty kilometers in diameter? A huge spherical tomb? I think this might be something else entirely," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly said.


    "Have you seen something like this before?" Zhao Yuanjiao seemed quite surprised.


    "Just to ensure that I''m not mistaken, Princess, will you have a look?"


    Zhang Lingjun strode up to investigate. Before long, she gasped. "Except for the runes, it''s almost entirely the same!"


    "You''ve seen something simr?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "I conquered Thousand-Spirit Ind not too long ago. Are you aware of the specifics?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Hm? You mean, it''s identical to that limestone cave?" Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly guessed.


    "Almost exactly. That limestone cave was surrounded with ck runes that released cursed smoke. The entire boulder might have been a manifestation of the curse. This spherical mound seems much the same, except with golden runes."


    "So it''s filled with cursed effigies? What a waste," Zhao Yuanjiao sighed, shuddering.


    "One man''s trash is another man''s treasure. This is a huge boon for me," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Oh?"


    "Just in case, you should have your ckguards disperse. I need to check to see how strong the golden lotus hood cursed effigies within are," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.

 Chapter 547: The Three Poisons

    <h4>Chapter 547: The Three Poisons</h4>


    As Zhao Yuanjiaomanded the ckguards to scatter, the countless golden ''…d'' runes on the surface of the spherical boulder began to shake. The suction from the runes caused a gust of malevolent wind to blow by, swift as a hurricane.


    After about fifteen minutes, the wind stopped abruptly, as if it had never appeared in the first ce.


    "We''re deep underground. Where could this wind being from?" Zhang Lingjun eximed, ncing around.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent a mental transmission into his mindscape. "Senior, do you recognize this spherical boulder?"


    The ck lotus replied after a moment''s pause, "The Buddhas of Three Aspects forged them. A Buddha''s Grotto lies within."


    "Oh?"


    "Just like the one underneath Thousand-Spirit Ind, these grottos can concentrate and extract energy from their environment to allow the cursed effigies within to cultivate readily. There''s likely to be at least a minor Buddha within," the ck lotus concluded.


    "Extract energy from their environment? That gust of malevolent wind?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Indeed."


    "Where does that winde from?"


    "The Netherworld Pce."


    "What? Hasn''t that hidden realm been sealed away?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Just because you can''t enter the Netherworld Pce doesn''t mean that others cannot. Although its entrance has been sealed, the Buddhas of Three Aspects should be able to explore what lies within, and Yu Fuli can easily do so as well. They simply chose not to."


    "Then what exactly is the nature of that malevolent wind?"


    "It''s the power of the hidden realm known as the Netherworld Pce," the ck lotus replied.


    "And what''s that?"


    "Where do you think hidden realmse from?"


    "I heard you talking about it before. Each hidden realm was excavated by supreme cultivators of past eras. In other words, they don''t form naturally¡ªthey''re manmade."


    "Indeed. Excavating a hidden realm requires tremendous reserves of energy and an incredible depth of understanding regarding naturalw. A hidden realm has to be infused with life¡ªyou''re parting the world and creating one in miniature. Frequently, only the supreme cultivator of an era can reach such heights. The naturalw and energy that goes into forming a hidden realm is its power."


    "In other words, a hidden realm is like a house, and its power, the bricks and mortar that make it up? This giant boulder is stealing that power," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Indeed."


    "What will happen to the hidden realm once too much of its power is gone?"


    "A house with too many bricks gone will copse, as will a hidden realm with too much power stolen."


    "What would happen to those within?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He suddenly had a bad premonition.


    "They''ll all die, of course."


    "These cursed effigies¡ª!" Xiao Nanfeng gritted his teeth.


    Over the past year, he had been receiving fortune not only from the Dazheng Empire, but also from those civilians within the Netherworld Pce. He had long since started treating them like his own citizens.


    Would he let a group of cursed effigies kill all those civilians? Of course not!


    "That said, it''s not that easy to distill the power of a hidden realm, which is governed by naturalw. The cursed effigies within must have some incredible relic that can purify this power for subsequent absorption," the ck lotus exined.


    "An incredible relic?" Xiao Nanfeng was clearly tempted.


    "This Buddha''s Grotto looks like it''s been here for at least a century, especially considering how deeply it was hidden. Given the amount of energy from that malevolent wind just now¡ªI don''t think the Netherworld Pce willst much longer," the ck lotus said.


    "Senior, shall we head inside and have a look? If you can devour these cursed effigies..."


    "Very well. Given my current strength, I should be able to help you take down a Golden Immortal cursed effigy now," the ck lotus replied.


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said gratefully.


    By then, Zhao Yuanjiao had returned after sending the ckguards away.


    "Nanfeng, everyone''s gone now. What are we going to do? How do you intend on entering this huge boulder?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Senior Brother, the cursed effigies within may be exceptionally dangerous. You and the princess should leave as well. I''ll try to handle it on my own first."


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head seriously. "Let me apany you in."


    "Senior Brother, you should know about what happened on Thousand-Spirit Ind. There are sure to be cursed effigies within, and I worry they may be extremely powerful."


    "Nanfeng, you think I''m too weak and will only hold you back, don''t you?" Zhao Yuanjiao joked.


    "No, Senior Brother! It''s just that..." Xiao Nanfeng tried to console him.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not being overconfident. I''m a Heaven Immortal now thanks to the pill you gave me, and I had my fair share of chance encounters recently. I won''t be a burden, and you haven''t seen how much I''ve grown," Zhao Yuanjiao continued confidently.


    "Oh?"


    "Even Ye Dafu, the Mortal division leader, is no match for me."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. He knew that Zhao Yuanjiao wasn''t one for boasting. Could he really have grown that strong recently?


    "Very well. Follow me in, Senior Brother." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then turned to Zhang Lingjun. "Princess, would you wait outside? We''ll be back in no time."


    Zhang Lingjun shook her head as well. She smiled. "I''m a True Immortal now. I don''t think I would be a burden."


    "If there''s a Golden Immortal within..."


    "Don''t worry. I have the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat, and I can at least protect myself even against a Golden Immortal cursed effigy."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. Eventually, he nodded. "Very well. We''ll act cautiously and develop a strategy on the fly."


    "Good!" Zhang Lingjun smiled.


    "But are you sure you''ll be able to get us in, Nanfeng?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. A formation of fog surrounded them as he activated his candleme powers on the boulder.


    "Follow me!" Xiao Nanfeng took their hands, one on each side, as he strode toward the red portal.


    "Hold on, what''re you doing? Are you trying to smash into it with your head?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    He and Zhang Lingjun were covered in fog and couldn''t tell precisely what Xiao Nanfeng was doing. They could sense that he was leading them straight into the boulder, but how would they be able to get inside?


    Xiao Nanfeng dragged the two cultivators into the boulder with a whoosh. Then, Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand to dispel the formation of fog.


    The two cultivators felt their field of view expand from underground cavern to spacious air. The interior of the boulder was surrounded by fog. They suddenly realized something.


    "Have we... entered the boulder?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "How did you do it?" Zhang Lingjun gasped.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "You saw me do the same on Thousand-Spirit Ind too, didn''t you? What''s there to be surprised about?"


    "No, this doesn''t make sense! You don''t have anything rted to this boulder at all. How could you have gotten ess? I wasn''t paying attention back then, but now that I''m thinking about it, this is highly abnormal," Zhang Lingjun continued.


    "It''s just a minor sleight of hand. There''s nothing worth worrying about," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao pursed their lips, but refrained from asking more questions after sensing that Xiao Nanfeng was unwilling to reveal his secret.


    They were able to hear scripture in the vicinity until it abruptly stopped.


    "Who are you? Who dares break into the Temple of the Three Poisons?" a voice demanded.


    An intense aura billowed out around Xiao Nanfeng and his group, forming a tempest that blew away the surrounding fog.


    A smallke was revealed in the distance, with a particrly eye-catching cloud of ck smoke at its heart, which seemed to be hiding something within. Around the cloud of ck smoke were thousands of golden lotuses, with a monk seated in the middle of each one. They were all eyeing Xiao Nanfeng''s trio.


    Right before the group of monks were the threergest golden lotuses, each with a man of considerable stature seated within. Their eyes were closed in meditation, but the intense aura that radiated from them was beyond the likes of the other monks. The three men seemed to be the monks'' leaders.


    "They feel incredibly strong. Are they all Golden Immortals?" Zhang Lingjun gasped.


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned. This could be dangerous.


    Within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, the ck lotus said, "They''re the minor Buddhas of delusion, greed, and poison, the three poisons. Given the luster of their bodies, they''re no weaker than the Moonlight Buddha, and there are a fair few True Immortals among the thousands of arhats present. This is beyond what I expected, and I won''t be able to handle all three of them at once."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. If the ck lotus couldn''t handle them all, what was he to do?


    "Answer the question!" an arhat shouted.


    The auras of thousands of arhats surged toward the trio of cultivators.


    Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao nced at Xiao Nanfeng, as though waiting for him to lead them outside. This was more than they had bargained for!


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t retreat. He couldn''t have; it was toote. These cursed effigies would have struck them all down before they could leave.


    "I am an envoy dispatched by the ten Yanluo Lords. How dare you steal the power of the Netherworld Pce! Do all of you want to die?!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The arhats stepped back guiltily, while the three Buddhas opened their eyes. Their auras magnified in strength as they shot piercing looks at Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 548: Scaring the Buddhas

    <h4>Chapter 548: Scaring the Buddhas</h4>


    "Why don''t I sense the ten Yanluo Lords'' aura on you, then?" one of the Buddhas demanded.


    "Don''t try to change the subject. Isn''t it obvious to you that the ten Yanluo Lords would send someone?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "The ten Yanluo Lords? Ha! They''ve been restricted by thews of the heavens, and they can''t advance beyond the realm of a Heaven Immortal. Would they have been able to send a delegation like you?" the Buddha retorted.


    "How long has it been since youst went to the Netherworld Pce? Or is all you know from hearsay?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "Hm?" The Buddha narrowed his eyes.


    "The ten Yanluo Lords are now in total cooperation. They''ve broken the restrictions imposed by the heavens and are about to conquer the world again. They were intending to destroy you, but the Dragon Yanluo spoke with one of the Buddhas of Three Aspects recently and decided to relent. I was sent to expel you, reim all the power you''ve stolen from the Netherworld Pce, and seek reparations," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You''re trying to trick me, aren''t you? Have the ten Yanluo Lords meet me themselves!" the Buddha called out.


    "Do you think you deserve to? You''re nothing more than subordinates of the Buddhas of Three Aspects. Unless the Buddhas themselves were to appear, the ten Yanluo Lords won''t deal with rabble like you. The day they show up against you is the day they take on all of the Three Buddhas'' faction," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "You¡ª!" the Buddha growled.


    "What about me? Do you have a death wish?"


    The Buddhas and arhats were frowning deeply.


    Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao were taken aback. Xiao Nanfeng was attempting to scare the Buddhas and arhats¡ªand, even more shockingly, it was working.


    The Buddha who had been speaking was so mad that he seemed to be choking on his words. The Buddha beside him said calmly, "You im to be an envoy of the ten Yanluo Lords? Curious."


    "Who are you? What are you trying to imply?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I am the Buddha of greed. You said that the Dragon Yanluo intended to show the Three Buddhas respect; in that case, the ten Yanluo Lords would never do anything against us. You''re trying to extort us for your own benefit. The oundish requests you make¡ªwe''ll never agree to those. What''s more, I don''t sense any of the ten Yanluo Lords'' aura on your body. You''re not trying to trick us, are you?" the Buddha of greed said coolly.


    "Do you intend to resist us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, chuckling.


    The Buddha of greed frowned. He had been trying to probe Xiao Nanfeng, but thetter didn''t seem to be cowed. He continued, "We have nothing but your word that you are who you im to be. To give in to you this easily would be to misce the Three Buddhas'' trust in us."


    "Do you think any random cultivator could enter this Buddha''s Grotto?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The three Buddhas frowned. Indeed, that was the reason they believed Xiao Nanfneg to some extent. A Buddha''s Grotto wasn''t easy to trespass into, especially without damaging the walls of the grotto at all.


    "Let us assume that you are indeed an envoy. Even so, reiming all the power of the hidden realm is impossible," the Buddha of greed continued.


    "Do you intend to resist?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, a warning tone evident in his voice.


    "Rather, you should prove that you can reim all that power yourself. If you could suppress us, you would already have done so. You''re trying to get us to do it for you because you can''t, can you?"


    "Do you think me useless?" Xiao Nanfeng scoffed.


    "We''ll find out. Disciple, get a sense of the three envoys'' abilities," the Buddha of greedmanded.


    "Understood!" an arhat called out from the side.


    He stood up and strode forward, the golden lotus underfoot vanishing into his body. He leapt up andnded not far from Xiao Nanfeng, exuding a focused aura and scattering a plume of dust.


    "Greetings." The arhat bowed.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He knew that this was the Buddha of greed''s attempt to probe their strength. These Buddhas were old hands, and trying to trick them wouldn''t be easy. Having them fight against an arhat would reveal their strength and probe indirectly at that of the ten Yanluo Lords.


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to say something when Zhao Yuanjiao jumped in. "Sir, would you let me handle this?"


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. Considering the arhat''s aura, however, he was clearly a True Immortal. Would Zhao Yuanjiao be up to the task?


    "Go on. Don''t shame the ten Yanluo Lords," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He had no choice; furthermore, Zhao Yuanjiao had to have some confidence if he was volunteering for the match. Of course, even if they lost, that was fine. Surely the Buddhas would at least allow them to slink out of the cave in retreat.


    "Understood!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    He strode forward.


    "Crouching Tiger''s Palm!" the arhat shouted.


    The arhat sent a huge palm strike at Zhao Yuanjiao, who thrust forward with his sword in a beam of red light that illuminated the space.


    The sword blocked the palm strike and erupted in a ming tempest, sending smoke and dust into the air.


    "Broken Crescent!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    Red rays of light emanated from his crescent sword, manifesting in the form of crescent des that shot toward the arhat from all directions.


    The arhat frowned and quickly activated a barrier around himself.


    The crescent des were impossibly sharp. They shattered the arhat''s barrier and struck him,cerating his body. By then, Zhao Yuanjiao himself had shot forward to attack the arhat directly.


    The arhat hastily defended and was sent flying by a thrust from the sword. Zhao Yuanjiao retreated as well.


    Zhao Yuanjiao remained perfectly poised, not even a speck of dirt or dust on his body. On the other hand, the arhat was in a wretched state. There were open wounds and cuts all over his skin, and he stumbled and flushed red as he fell to the ground.


    "My thanks for the exchange." Zhao Yuanjiao bowed as he retreated.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a dubious look. Zhao Yuanjiao sent back a mental transmission. "The arhat was stronger than I expected, and I suffered some internal injuries as a result. If we keep fighting, I''d lose."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Was this the limit of Zhao Yuanjiao''s strength? And here he thought that his senior brother had grown far stronger!


    "Again!" the arhat thundered.


    The arhat looked particrly wretched, with cuts spurting blood all over his body. However, his injuries werergely superficial, and he was raring to take revenge when Zhao Yuanjiao decided to concede.


    "Buddha, isn''t your disciple making a spectacle of himself?" Xiao Nanfeng called out, frowning.


    The Buddha of greed turned sharply to his disciple. "That''s enough. Return."


    The arhat frowned. "Master, I was only caught off-guard. I can still fight; victory hasn''t been decided yet. There''s something wrong with his sword. It almost feels like a deliberate counter to us cursed effigies. Let me try again!"


    The Buddha of greed had noticed something fishy as well, but what could he do? Zhao Yuanjiao had already conceded. If his disciple were to make a fuss and win, there wouldn''t be an issue, but on the off-chance that he lost and the situation escted to the point that the ten Yanluo Lords themselves would descend...


    "Return," the Buddha of greed repeated firmly.


    "Understood!" The arhat was aggrieved, but could hardly refuse.


    The Buddha of greed turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "My disciple is yet too hot-headed. Buddha of hatred, I ask you to test the envoys of the ten Yanluo Lords."


    The Buddha of greed could sense that there was a problem. He decided to dispense with his disciple; it would be too slow. This time, he would have a Buddha go up against the envoys instead. How strong the envoys were would be revealed immediately.


    "Understood, Senior Brother!" the Buddha of hatred replied.


    His golden lotus vanished into his body as he walked up between the Buddhas and the envoys. Golden light radiated from his body, apanied by a tremendous aura.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gulped. He wasn''t able to beat even a True Immortal; what would he do against a Golden Immortal? And once his true strength (orck thereof) was exposed, he might well be killed on the spot.


    "I represent hatred, one of the minor Buddhas that serve the Three Buddhas. The three of you may strike me simultaneously," the Buddha of hatred began.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Zhang Lingjun an inquiring look.


    She nodded seriously, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to rx.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the Buddha of hatred. "Are you attempting to test our strength, Buddha of hatred? Do you intend to kill us if we can''t withstand your blows?"


    The Buddha of hatred smiled. "Of course not. This is only a means to get to know each other better. If you don''t intend to make a move, allow me to begin."


    "Is that the proper attitude you should disy when making such a request?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "What sort of attitude do you suggest, then?" the Buddha of greed replied, not backing down.


    "It looks like we''re at an impasse, then. I don''t have time to y such games with you, but if you''re sending out such a minor Buddha, then I''ll have my junior sister take the stage. She will use but a single blow. If this Buddha can defend against it, we''ll leave immediately. Otherwise, you''ll hand over all the power of the hidden realm that you''ve stolen right away," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    The Buddha of hatred frowned. He had dered himself to be a minor Buddha only out of modesty; this self-centered ''envoy'' was being obnoxiously pretentious.


    Beside him, the Buddha of greed narrowed his eyes. Xiao Nanfeng''s junior sister was able to defeat a Golden Immortal with a single blow?


    If these envoys were really that strong, what was the point of continuing to fight? But if they weren''t, what would be the point of such bragging?


    "Buddha of hatred, do not grow overconfident," the Buddha of greed warned.


    The Buddha of greed seemed to have tacitly agreed to Xiao Nanfeng''s proposal, but not explicitly. He intended to wait until the oue of the fight was revealed.


    "Don''t worry," the Buddha of hatred replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Zhang Lingjun. "Junior Sister, please make your move."


    "Understood!" Zhang Lingjun nodded and strode forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on expectantly. He had beckoned for Zhang Lingjun to use her praying mat. If it were sufficient to deal with the Buddha of hatred, that would be best. Otherwise, they would oblige by the terms of the ''agreement'' and leave.

 Chapter 549: Mysterious Black Smoke

    <h4>Chapter 549: Mysterious ck Smoke</h4>


    "Look closely, bodhisattva of hatred. This is the one and only move my junior sister will use," Xiao Nanfeng said again.


    He was worried that the bodhisattva of hatred would try to y a trick andunch a sneak attack on her beforehand, so he had to emphasize this point.


    "Come, then!" the bodhisattva of hatred called out.


    Zhang Lingjun strode forward. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a praying mat, then hopped up onto it. She began to cast a technique. The praying mat instantly grewrger, descending from the heavens like a giant millstone as it released an incredible aura.


    "Another Golden Immortal treasure?" the three bodhisattvas cried out. [1]


    Golden Immortal relics were hardlymon. The three bodhisattvas all had such relics in the past, but not since they regenerated. All their relics had decayed away, and it would have been particrly difficult to find new ones.


    Were the ten Yanluo Lords so rich that they could provide their subordinates with Golden Immortal relics at will?


    By then, the praying mat had reached the bodhisattva of hatred''s forehead.


    The bodhisattva of hatred raised a palm toward the air. "Open!"


    The praying mat struck the palm in a ming tempest that surrounded the twobatants. Furrows formed in the ground as the bodhisattva of hatred''s feet were pushed back. He was suppressed to the point of immobility.


    "Impossible. Break!" the bodhisattva of hatred cried out.


    However, not only was the bodhisattva incapable of suppressing the praying mat, the praying mat even releasedrge quantities of red light that encapsted him, suppressing and sealing him.


    Zhang Lingjun''s attack shocked everyone.


    If not for the other two bodhisattvas remaining unharmed, the gathered arhats might well have overwhelmed the three ''envoys''. The other two bodhisattvas narrowed their gaze at Zhang Lingjun.


    "A supreme Golden Immortal relic? How could this be?" the bodhisattva of delusion eximed.


    "Junior Sister, how''s the situation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can keep suppressing him like this without undue burden," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. Did they have a chance to take down the entire Buddha''s Grotto that very day?


    "bodhisattva of greed, your junior brother wasn''t able to handle even a single blow from my junior sister. I hope you''ll fulfill your obligation now¡ªhand over the power of the hidden realm that you''ve been stealing all these years, then provide appropriate rpense for your theft. The relic that you use to purify the power of the hidden realm will do," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The two remaining bodhisattvas frowned deeply. They had initially imagined that the three cultivators would have been easy to handle, but found themselvespletely mistaken. There might even be the ten Yanluo Lords waiting for them outside. Were they done for?


    "The power of the hidden realm has been consumed, and the purification relic is particrly special and cannot be given to you. Since the Dragon Yanluo knows the Three Buddhas, have him discuss matters with them directly. We''ll leave the area for now," the bodhisattva of greed said.


    "Do you think we''ll let you?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "What do you think?" the bodhisattva of greed retorted. The next moment, his eyes shed. "Kill them!"


    The bodhisattvas of greed and delusion struck at Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously, their golden palms sealing away his exit. They intended to strike him dead with a single blow.


    "Nanfeng!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Zhang Lingjun was starting to panic as well. She hadn''t expected that the two bodhisattvas wouldunch a sneak attack.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself remained calm and collected. He had guessed that the two bodhisattvas would attempt to kill them and seize their treasures, then escape on their own. He had been on guard against that possibility.


    A cloud of ck fog flew out of his mindscape and knocked into a bodhisattva.


    Simultaneously, he activated a-like relic that radiated rays of purple light. The light focused on the other bodhisattva.


    "What?!" the two bodhisattvas cried out.


    The ck lotus struck one bodhisattva and sent him flying. Then, roiling ck smoke surrounded the bodhisattva as the ck lotus and the bodhisattva began to fight.


    The golden caught the final bodhisattva and trapped him within, but the bodhisattva managed tounch a palm strike at Xiao Nanfeng in the nick of time.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. He smashed into the side of the Buddha''s Grotto and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Another Golden Immortal relic? How do you all have so many of these relics?!" the bodhisattva of greed cried out.


    "Senior Brother, use the crescent sword and stab at it from the holes in theting! Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The golden was naturally one of the publicly essible relics that Xiao Nanfeng had picked out from the Hall of Martial Aspects. On his previous mission, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost had helped Ao Shuai borrow this exact relic, which had been strong enough to entrap a superior draconic vein. Having realized its power, Xiao Nanfeng had deliberately chosen to borrow this relic for the current mission.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shot forward with his crescent sword, sending a coruscating beam of energy into the bodhisattva of greed''s body and breaking through his qi barrier. The bodhisattva shook in agony.


    "There really is something wrong with this sword of yours!" the bodhisattva of greed cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed forward and tossed Zhao Yuanjiao a charm. "Senior Brother, use this charm to control the golden. Just trap him for a few more moments!"


    "Understood!" Zhao Yuanjiao activated the charm at once.


    "Break!" the bodhisattva of greed shouted.


    The golden trembled. A significant portion of the rope snapped, but his remaining reserves of power were drained as the crescent sword stabbed into his body again, preventing him from executing a powerful blow.


    "Possess them with the death chants!" the bodhisattva of greed shouted to his subordinates.


    Although he was confident he would be able to break free from these two relics soon enough, he would have a far easier time with the help of his subordinates.


    Death chants filled the entire cave, striking at the cultivators'' very souls.


    "No, something''s wrong!" the bodhisattva of greed cried out. "There are death chantsing from the ck fog to protect you lot!"


    The ck lotus had responded in kind and was deflecting the arhats'' assault.


    The bodhisattva of greed snarled, "Damn it, what are all of you waiting for? Attack and kill them!"


    "Attack!" the arhats shouted, charging forward.


    "What do we do now, Nanfeng?" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    "I''ll hold the arhats back. Continue suppressing those two bodhisattvas¡ªit''s just a matter of time," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He transformed into his True Yin body and punched at an arhat that flew toward him.


    The arhat smashed into a swathe of other arhats and knocked them all down.


    "Attack!" another group of arhats shouted, charging forward.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again.


    Fists manifested all over the cave, sending even more arhats flying.


    "When did you be a True Immortal?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "No, look at the chilly wind surrounding his fists. He''s in his spiritual body¡ªhe''s a True Yin cultivator, and a mid-stage one at that! Nanfeng, just how did you do it? You''re unbelievable!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s rapid progress caused him to dedicate himself to spiritual cultivation. Thanks to the many chance opportunities he had had recently, he finally reached the realm of Yin Body¡ªbut when hepared himself to Xiao Nanfeng, he felt as though all his efforts had been for naught.


    "I''m an official apprentice of the Taiqing Grandmaster, who provides me with incredible assistance when ites to spiritual cultivation. How could you still be cultivating faster than I am?!" Zhang Lingjun cried out, simrly distraught.


    More and more arhats surged toward him. Despite his Hegemon''s Fist, Xiao Nanfeng found himself facing more opponents, quite a few of whom were even True Immortals. He was finding it difficult to protect the two cultivators behind him, and the arhats seemed to be about to attack Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Nanfneg, can you hold them back?" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll stop them!"


    His silver moon flew into the air, causing a blizzard to spawn.


    "What good is your deific domain? You won''t be able to hold them back," the bodhisattva of greed replied.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng invoked spiritual harmony and vanished from sight. Countless snowkes clumped together into snowmen that took on Xiao Nanfeng''s form. A hundred snowmen protected Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao as they blocked the attacks of the arhats swarming toward them.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" the hundred snowmen shouted simultaneously.


    The entire cave was filled with Xiao Nanfeng''s fists, sending all the arhats nearby flying. The snowmen were slightly weaker than Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, but were more than sufficient to deal with these cursed effigies.


    "Domain avatars? That''s a particrly difficult spiritual cultivation technique to intuit. How could you have done it?" the bodhisattva of greed eximed.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng''s attention had been split across his hundred snowman-avatars, and he didn''t have the energy to respond to the bodhisattva of greed.


    These avatars were particrly draining on his fortitude. Xiao Nanfeng''s fortitude was already starting to give out after just a minute.


    Even his avatar far away in Yongding dropped everything he was doing to enter secluded cultivation as Xiao Nanfeng dedicated his mental faculties to his hundred snowmen. This was his limit.


    The hundred snowmen used Hegemon''s Fist simultaneously, blocking the iing arhats. By then, Xiao Nanfeng had no ability to speak.


    "Attack his spiritual moon!" the bodhisattva of greedmanded.


    A group of arhats shot into the air and began to attack Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon¡ªonly to find the moon opening its mouth to reveal row after row of sharp teeth. It gulped down all the arhats, crunching on their bones.


    The entire Buddha''s Grotto fell silent as all the cursed effigies stared at the sinister moon in shock.


    "There must be some incredibly strong cursed effigy within that spiritual moon..." an arhat murmured.


    None of the arhats dared draw any closer.


    "Ignore the moon for now. Continue attacking those envoys!" the bodhisattva of greed finallymanded.


    "Understood!" The arhats shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s snowmen-avatars.


    The bodhisattva of greed continued to struggle, causing more and more of the''s rope to snap. However, the relic was an incredible treasure that could restore itself.


    "Nanfeng, I won''t be able to hold on for long. The bodhisattva of greed''s going to break free soon!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t have the faculty to answer Zhao Yuanjiao. Zhang Lingjun replied on his behalf, "Hold on just a little longer. The senior in the ck fog will be able to help you once it finishes off the bodhisattva of delusion."


    "I''ll do what I can." Zhao Yuanjiao nodded, then continued to attack the bodhisattva of greed.


    The fighting seemed to reach an unstable equilibrium, no one being able to get the better of their opponent.


    Just then, the cloud of ck fog in the middle of theke began to tremble, then to swell up. Theke rippled as waves began to surge.


    The bodhisattva of greed, still trapped within the, called out, "Hurry and suppress that ck smoke. It''s about to escape from its seal. Hurry!"


    The arhats immediately gave up on Xiao Nanfeng as they leapt toward the burgeoning smoke in theke.


    "Lad, we admit defeat. We''ll retreat immediately. Let''s stop fighting now!" the bodhisattva of greed shouted at Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao, his face a mask of fright.


    1. Sorry for all the Buddha-rted confusion. When ÆÐÈø (bodhisattva) initially appeared, I tranted it as Buddha to make it more familiar for English readers rtive to the lesser-known bodhisattva¡ªand then actual Buddhas appeared. The scale of strength goes ÂÞºº (arhat) < ÆÐÈø (bodhisattva) < ·ðÍÓ (Buddha) < ·ð×æ (ancestral Buddha). I will stick to these terms from now on. The Buddhas of Three Aspects are ancestral Buddhas and hence the strongest of the lot. All other named Buddhas to date (Moonlight Buddha, the three Buddhas) should actually be bodhisattvas. So far the only ce ''regr'' Buddhas have appeared are as underlings of the Past Buddha, but as far as I can tell no individual ones have been introduced to date. ?

 Chapter 550: A Humanoid Monster

    <h4>Chapter 550: A Humanoid Monster</h4>


    The bodhisattva of greed''s sudden desire to back down caught Xiao Nanfeng''s group by surprise. At this point, however, why would they stop? Furthermore, their opponents were the ones panicking. It was only natural that they would want to seize the advantage.


    "Attack them!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted, swinging his crescent sword and charging forward, advancing against the bodhisattva of greed''s struggles.


    All the arhats gave up on dealing with Xiao Nanfeng and began to rush toward the ck smoke at the center of theke.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of allowing them to seed. He sent half his snowmen-avatars toward theke, attacking the arhats, sending them flying, and protecting the bundle of ck smoke.


    "Lad, if that monster frees itself, none of you are going to be able to escape. You''ll all perish!" the bodhisattva of greed howled.


    However, no one paid the bodhisattva of greed any mind, causing him to grow more and more exasperated.


    The cloud of ck smoke expanded again as the monster within desperately tried to free itself.


    Just then, a shattering sound could be heard from within the ck smoke.


    At the same time, an incredible aura emanated from within, causing Xiao Nanfeng''s snowmen-avatars to nce sharply at it.


    "The seal''s breaking. It''s going to escape! No!" the bodhisattva of greed shouted.


    Something within the ck smoke seemed to explode. It swelled up to a hundred times its original size, devouring all the arhats and snowmen hovering above theke.


    Xiao Nanfeng could acutely sense a huge mouth trying to devour his snowmen-avatars. He immediately released hismand over them and invoked spiritual harmony to reim his fortitude.


    "Save me, bodhisattva!"


    "No, return me my strength!"


    "Noooo!"


    The arhats cried out in despair as the ck smoke swallowed them.


    With Xiao Nanfeng''s snowmen destroyed. he revealed himself once more. He nced toward the ck smoke in theke with trepidation.


    "Release me now, or you''ll all die!" the bodhisattva of greed shouted.


    Zhang Lingjun and Zhao Yuanjiao looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, waiting for hismand.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the situation for a moment. "Continue trapping the three bodhisattvas. Don''t allow them to escape."


    "Are you crazy? Do you want all of us to die?!" the bodhisattva of greed hissed.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained unperturbed. He looked toward the ck lotus, but the cloud of ck fog in which it was located was continuing to vibrate rapidly. The ck lotus was clearly busy trying to handle the bodhisattva within.


    By then, the arhats'' shouts had abruptly terminated, as though they had all been consumed.


    A hoarse male voice could be heard from within the fog. "You''ve trapped an emperor like me here for a century, using my spiritual avatar to help you purify the power of a hidden realm. Now, you''ll pay the price for what you''ve done! Spit out all the power of the hidden realm that you''ve absorbed!"


    A pitch-ck humanoid lifeform emerged from theke, parts of his body having dposed, and other parts filled with blisters. No patch of skin on his body was pristine. He looked like a monster who had been irradiated.


    "That''s none of my business," the bodhisattva of greed cried out.


    The humanoid monster opened his mouth and began to suck the ck smoke from his environment, revealing thousands of golden lotus hoods that floated on the surface of theke¡ªall that remained of the arhats that had been drained by the monster and which had returned to their base form.


    "Bodhisattva, let us out of the grotto!" the remaining arhats shouted fearfully.


    "Let you out? None of you will be able to escape today!" the humanoid monster retorted.


    With a wave of his hand, countless ck palms appeared out of the void, grabbing ahold of the fleeing arhats and pulling them close to him. He began to suck.


    Energy bubbled out from the arhats'' bodies and headed straight for his mouth. The arhats grew shriveled until their bodies vanished entirely. They fell to the ground in the form of golden lotus hoods¡ªall of them having perished within moments.


    "It isn''t our fault! We were only acting on orders!" the bodhisattva of greed tried to exin.


    "Senior, we bear these golden lotus hoods great enmity. We were able to help you against them today," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately, making his stance clear.


    However, the humanoid monster didn''t seem to care. He strode forward and appeared in front of Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Senior, I¡ª" Zhao Yuanjiao was starting to say something when the humanoid monster flung him away with a palm, sending Zhao Yuanjiao careening toward one wall of the Buddha''s Grotto. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he struck the wall. The humanoid monster had imed his crescent sword.


    "To think you would have ended up in possession of the Taiqing Crescent Sword¡ªwhat a waste. I''ll im it for the time being."


    Then, he looked toward the bodhisattva of greed, still restrained within the golden.


    "Hold on, hold on! Let''s talk about this. I''ll agree to your terms," the bodhisattva of greed shouted fearfully.


    The humanoid monster ignored him. He thrust forward with the sword and released beams of crimson light. The sword''s energy surged forth toward the bodhisattva of greed like a roaring river, hundreds of times stronger than when Zhao Yuanjiao used it.


    "No!" the bodhisattva of greed eximed.


    Thousands of des struck the bodhisattva of greed in spurts of blood, reducing him to a weakened heap.


    The humanoid monster pulled the off the bodhisattva of greed''s body as he made a uscking motion again. A sinister strength bubbled from the bodhisattva of greed''s body as it streamed toward the humanoid monster.


    The bodhisattva of greed''s body was quickly shriveling up. He was badly injured andpletely unable to resist. Within moments, he too had been reduced to the form of a golden lotus hood, one that fell to the ground.


    After absorbing all that energy, the humanoid monster''s tumors seemed to have been suppressed. They were slowly reducing in size, and new flesh grew to rece rotting patches. His blisters were quickly drying up and popping as he grew closer to human form.


    The humanoid monster caught the in his hands and attuned to it within moments, causing it to glow with golden light.


    "Senior, that''s my treasure," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "I''vemandeered it," the humanoid monster replied brusquely.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Would this monster turn out to be a foe? He had addressed himself as emperor¡ªwas he a former monarch?


    Just then, the humanoid monster turned to Zhang Lingjun and her praying mat, his eyes lighting up.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Princess, store your praying mat quickly."


    Zhang Lingjun waved a hand. The praying mat trembled in her control.


    "Do you think you can im something I''ve been eyeing? Die!" the humanoid monster roared.


    He shed toward Zhang Lingjun and mmed a palm toward her with such strength that it sealed the very air. A wave of overwhelming destruction surrounded Zhang Lingjun.


    The humanoid monster''s oppression rendered her unable to breathe. Zhang Lingjun, her defenses wholly incapable of dealing with a blow of this magnitude, cried out in despair, "Help me!"


    Just then, a figure appeared before her and grabbed her.


    Xiao Nanfeng had swiftly reimed his silver moon, transformed into his physical body, and grabbed Zhang Lingjun tightly before the humanoid monster''s attack couldnd.


    The humanoid monster struck Xiao Nanfeng right in his lower back, sending him flying even as he embraced Zhang Lingjun tightly. She felt an astonishing sense of safety surrounding her.


    Xiao Nanfeng mmed into the wall of the Buddha''s Grotto in a plume of smoke and dust. Despite Xiao Nanfeng''s protection, the shockwaves left her internal organs badly injured. She spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Princess, with me around, you won''t have to worry," Xiao Nanfeng said gently.


    Zhang Lingjun was inordinately touched. Except for her parents, who else would dedicate themselves to her so selflessly?


    "I''m fine. Let''s get going," Zhang Lingjun whispered.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There''s no need."


    "Why?" Zhang Lingjun seemed perplexed.


    "He reined in his attack before it struck me. Otherwise, we''d have been far more badly hurt. Furthermore, if he really wanted to kill us, we wouldn''t be able to flee given our strength."


    Zhang Lingjun frowned. "But why would he hold back?"


    "I don''t know either." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    The praying mat shed, avoiding the humanoid monster''s swipe and flying up to Zhang Lingjun. She frowned, transforming the praying mat into a divine barrier to protect her and Xiao Nanfeng.


    The bodhisattva of hatred that the praying mat had been suppressing tried to flee.


    "Bind!" the humanoid monster shouted.


    He activated the golden and sent it flying toward the bodhisattva of hatred before turning to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun. His eyes glinted, but he didn''t attempt to continue attacking them. Rather, he stared at them and the praying mat for quite a while before his killing intent dissipated.


    "Are you really willing to risk your life for this woman,d? Very well. I admire your bonds of affection and won''t kill you," the humanoid monster said.


    He nced at the praying mat again, a sh of fear in his eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He was certain that the humanoid monster had been intending to kill them both before sensing something amiss from the praying mat, perhaps some echo or trace of the Taiqing Grandmaster, and giving up on that idea. All that about bonds of affection was just nonsense.


    "Thank you, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said warily.


    The humanoid monster turned and thrust the crescent sword toward the bodhisattva of hatred, trapped within the golden. "Now, die!"


    "No!" the bodhisattva of hatred cried out.


    As thousands of rays of crimson light converged on the bodhisattva, he perished on the spot.


    The humanoid monster reimed the golden web and sucked at the bodhisattva of hatred''s body, absorbing all his strength and causing the body to shrivel up. Before long, the body had dropped to the floor in the form of a golden lotus hood.

 Chapter 551: Emperor Feng

    <h4>Chapter 551: Emperor Feng</h4>


    After absorbing the second bodhisattva''s energy, much of the humanoid monster''s tumors, blisters, and rotting portions of skin had vanished, and a few features could be seen on what had been an indistinct face.


    As it turned toward the ck lotus, the ck lotus, still wreathed in ck fog, floated over to Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    "Oh? You''ve eaten the bodhisattva of delusion? Who are you?" the humanoid monster demanded.


    "And who are you?" the ck lotus retorted.


    The humanoid monster stared into the ck fog, his gaze piercing.


    "What an interesting form. Do you bear these golden lotus hoods enmity? I''ve absorbed all the power of the hidden realm from these arhats and bodhisattvas, but what remains are their cursed spiritual avatars and the purest form of their cursed spiritual power. Take them as a greeting gift," the humanoid monster said probingly.


    The ck lotus hesitated before ultimately epting. The ck fog around it sucked in all the golden lotus hoods in the vicinity as it devoured them all.


    Only then did the humanoid monster continue, "I was right. You do bear the Buddhas of Three Aspects enmity. It looks like we have a shared enemy, then."


    The ck lotus replied, "Your appearance is a result of the decay caused by the power of the hidden realm, isn''t it? You must have been sealed for at most a century, which means you have some degree of understanding of the world atrge. She is Yu Fuli''s granddaughter, and he is a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. Think twice before striking at them."


    Then, the ck lotus flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and vanished from sight.


    The humanoid monster nced toward Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun in surprise.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, greets his senior," Xiao Nanfeng said, bowing.


    Zhang Lingjun stepped out of Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace and bowed to the humanoid monster as well. "I am Zhang Lingjun, daughter to the Imperial Court''s Princess of the Moon. How might I address you?"


    The humanoid monster was silent for a moment before replying cidly, "I said I wouldn''t make a move on you, and I keep my word. I am the Immortal Emperor of Dafeng."


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dafeng? You''re still alive?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Have you heard of me?" the humanoid monster asked.


    "Of your legend," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    "What legends? borate!"


    "It''s rumored that, a century ago, in order to revive his empress, Emperor Feng unsealed the entrance into the Underworld Pce and sent countless Heaven Immortals within in search of the Records of Life and Death, all of whom perished. The entire affair ultimately caused widespread rebellion across his empire, causing the illustrious empire of Dafeng to copse overnight. In the end, countless cultivators of immense strength warred over the remnants of the empire, and the crown prince himself conspired to seize power in a coup. The Dragon Yanluo was implicated. In the end, Emperor Feng perished alongside those cultivators against whom he fought," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Perished alongside them? Ha! I simply fell prey to the schemes of a schr known as Wen Zhong. I defeated the Dragon Yanluo and those cultivators who attempted to kill me. If not for Yin Shenhua''s sneak attack against me, I would never havended in such dire straits."


    "Yin Shenhua, the Immortal Emperor of Dayin?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Indeed. He and the Buddhas of Three Aspects conspired against me, killed my empress, and left me in this state. Now, either they die, or I will!" Emperor Feng gritted out.


    "Your empress'' death was a result of Yin Shenhua''s scheming? In other words, he was the one who incited you to excavate the entrance to the Underworld Pce, too?"


    "That is so. He must have imed my empire in my absence, I suppose?"


    "Much of what was once the empire of Dafeng has been imed by Dayin," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding. "It''s clear you bear Dayin and the Three Buddhas great enmity."


    "Great enmity? Hardly. It goes far beyond that¡ªI will hound them until my death and beyond. They conspired to part my soul from my physical body while I was in a weakened state. They imed my body and trapped my soul here, using it as a relic to purify the power of the hidden realm for a hundred years. I intended to kill you to keep the secret of my freedom as I take revenge on Yin Tianci and the Buddhas of Three Aspects, but it looks like you bear them enmity as well. Excellent. Let''s work together."


    "You misunderstand, Immortal Emperor. We bear no enmity against the divine empire of Dayin or the Three Buddhas. It was merely a coincidence," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    He didn''t want to be associated with Emperor Feng at all.


    Emperor Feng chuckled. "Do you think I''d let you go that easily? If you don''t apany me to deal with Yin Shenhua and the Three Buddhas, I''ll kill you."


    "Senior, do you intend to force our hand?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "You will ept, for you have no other choice. Don''t expect that cursed effigy from before to be able to protect you. It''s weaker than I am, and although the praying mat in Zhang Lingjun''s hands seems to bear an umon aura, I don''t fear it. Even the Heavenly Emperor''s name won''t stop me. That''s why you had bettere along," Emperor Fengmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Zhang Lingjun: ...


    The two cultivators nced at each other as Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. Since our goals align, we''ll be in your care."


    "Our goals align? Were you lying to me when you said you didn''t bear Dayin any enmity, then?" Emperor Feng narrowed his eyes.


    "I have been charged with a Martial Aspect mission, and am headed to Dayin to reim the fortune that should have been tithed to the Imperial Court," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "How much fortune?"


    "60% of Dayin''s current reserves."


    "60% in one go? Ha! That would truly cripple Dayin. Very well. Let''s go, then!" Emperor Fengughed.


    "Please don''t reveal the existence of that senior within the ck fog, Emperor Feng. Like you, it''s an enemy of the Three Buddhas."


    Emperor Feng nodded to his satisfaction. "Good. I''ll be cordial as long as you apany me to deal with Yin Shenhua and the Three Buddhas."


    Then, Emperor Feng suddenly looked toward the injured Zhao Yuanjiao. He shed over.


    "Senior, that''s my senior brother. What are you intending to do?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Emperor Feng flew into Zhao Yuanjiao''s mindscape and vanished from sight.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s pupils dted as he slowly got to his feet.


    "Mid-stage Heaven Immortal? He''s too weak. How troublesome," Zhao Yuanjiaomented, clicking his tongue.


    "You''ve possessed my senior brother?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Zhao Yuanjiao lifted his head. "Don''t worry, I didn''t destroy his soul. I''ll simply be borrowing his physical body so as to hide my aura. His soul is just fine and he retains his consciousness¡ªhe simply can''t control his body for the moment."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Senior, if you want a physical body for yourself, I''d be happy to oblige¡ªeven a True Immortal spirit king, if you''re interested. Please release my senior brother."


    "As I said, his soul is fine. I''m simply borrowing his body until I can reim my own. You seem to care greatly for him¡ªeven better. We''ll be able to cooperate more smoothly, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened. He knew that Emperor Feng had deliberately taken Zhao Yuanjiao hostage to force his cooperation.


    "Don''t look at me like that. It''s an opportunity for thisd too. I can help him strengthen his physical body, and even pass him the insight and intuition I myself gained from cultivation. He''ll be able to advance quickly with my help."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. There was little he could do with Zhao Yuanjiao in Emperor Feng''s hands.


    "In that case, Senior, please protect my senior brother well. His name is Zhao Yuanjiao, and he''s the Ascended division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    "You don''t have to introduce him to me. His soul is right by my side, and I can simply ask him myself."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Thank you in advance, Senior."


    "Good, good. Let''s get going. Get me an update about Yin Shenhua and the Buddhas of Three Aspects after all these years. I need to know what has happened since thest century. Only then will our sneak attack bear fruit."


    "I''ll have the information prepared immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said, nodding.


    "I also want information about the officials of the divine empire of Dayin, and especially information about their affiliation as former officials of my empire."


    "I do have that information on hand, Senior, and can pass it to you once we leave this Buddha''s Grotto," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Oh? In that case, you''ve been nning to scheme against the divine empire of Dayin for a while, then?" Emperor Feng smiled.


    "It was information I gathered for my Martial Aspect mission," Xiao Nanfneg replied.


    He had naturally had his spectral guards infiltrate the divine empire of Dayin long ago, but he could hardly tell the truth to Emperor Feng, who seemed to have his own designs.


    Emperor Feng didn''t press him further. "Let''s set off, then!"


    "Senior, please open up an exit to this Buddha''s Grotto," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    He didn''t want to reveal his candleme powers to Emperor Feng.


    "Leave how you entered. Why do you need me to make a move?" Emperor Feng frowned.


    "A group of cursed effigies dragged us in. We don''t know how we entered ourselves," Xiao Nanfeng lied blithely.


    Emperor Feng narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng, not believing him at all.


    "Please, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Emperor Feng continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng, but ultimately didn''t push the point. He emerged from Zhao Yuanjiao''s mindscape. Zhao Yuanjiao blinked and visibly shook himself awake, confirming Emperor Feng''s im that he was still alive.


    Emperor Feng waved his crescent sword. "Break!"


    A sword sh illuminated the entire Buddha''s Grotto, carving out a huge hole in the cave.


    Emperor Feng returned to Zhao Yuanjiao''s mindscape and possessed his body again. "Let''s go!"


    Then, he strode out first.

 Chapter 552: Envoys Dispatched to Dayin

    <h4>Chapter 552: Envoys Dispatched to Dayin</h4>


    As Emperor Feng left the Buddha''s Grotto, Xiao Nanfeng sent a mental transmission to the ck lotus. "Senior, how strong is Emperor Feng?"


    "His soul was used to purify and filter the power of a hidden realm for a whole century, so it has decayed to a rather significant extent. However, after reiming all that power from the cursed effigies'' bodies, he has recovered a fair amount of strength. His soul is now aplex amalgam that renders him roughly a mid-stage Golden Immortal in strength. He''s superior to me by quite a bit."


    "Oh?"


    "Aren''t you going toe out?" Emperor Feng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zhang Lingjun. "Let''s head out, Princess."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    As the two of them were about to step out, the praying mat suddenly flew out of Zhang Lingjun''s hands.


    It began to absorb the fragments of the Buddha''s Grotto that had broken off when Emperor Feng created an exit, then the rest of it wholesale.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I don''t know either. The praying mat did this on its own ord. Perhaps the Taiqing Grandmaster cast some technique," Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    Outside the Buddha''s Grotto, Emperor Feng narrowed his eyes. "Your praying mat really is filled with cursed spiritual power, isn''t it?"


    He seemed to notice something amiss, but didn''t provide an exnation.


    The praying mat''s suction grew more and more intense as it devoured the grotto whole.


    After four hours, it had consumed the entirety of the grotto, leaving nothing but a huge hole underground.


    Only then did the praying mat rein in its aura and fly into Zhang Lingjun''s hands.


    "Let''s go," Emperor Feng said again.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng echoed.


    The three cultivators flew away. Zhang Lingjun couldn''t help but nce at Xiao Nanfeng from time to time. Her father''s words shed in her mind. "Pay more attention to the opposite sex!"


    She felt as though she had suddenly learned how to do so. For some reason, Xiao Nanfeng''s body now seemed of interest to her; she wanted to explore and investigate it in detail.


    When Xiao Nanfeng nced toward her, she turned her head away anxiously, flushing red.


    "Princess, what''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Nothing. I was just wondering how you advanced so quickly," Zhang Lingjun replied, flustered.


    "It was only a matter of luck." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The three of them flew out of the mountain cave and up into the sky.


    "We''re finally out. I''ve missed the sensation of sunlight," Emperor Feng murmured, stretching his arms out and luxuriating in what he had long been denied.


    A few ckguards, who had been stationed outside the mountain, flew over to inquire as to the situation.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenlymanded, "ckguards, obey mymand!"


    The ckguards stilled, surprised. Zhao Yuanjiao was present; why was Xiao Nanfeng the one giving them orders?


    However, Zhao Yuanjiao had long sincemanded the ckguards to obey Xiao Nanfeng''s orders as though they were his own.


    "Present!" the ckguards chorused politely.


    "Leave this mountain immediately and obey anymands from my avatar. Without mymand, do not contact any of the three of us at will," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    The ckguards were taken aback. They nced inquiringly at Zhao Yuanjiao, only to find him ignoring them. Despite their doubt, they bowed. "Understood!"


    The ckguards retreated. Emperor Feng, by their side, was blissfully unaware that he had lost his chance to wrest control of the ckguards.


    After a moment basking in the sun, Emperor Feng flew back. "Why did you send your subordinates away?"


    "I have groups of subordinates each responsible for a variety of different tasks. The Immortal city of Fengdu lies before us, which once belonged to you. We''ll stay here for a moment while my subordinates bring the information that you''ve requested," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very good."


    On a pavilion situated high on a mountain peak in the Sieve of Heaven stood two men, Ao Shuai and the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.


    Ao Shuai nced toward a patch of forest situated up high in the mountains. His eyes glinted coldly. "Ao Zhou really is patient, isn''t he? Hasn''t he emerged from his manor yet?"


    "Master, the Eastern Aspect hasmanded you not to target Ao Zhou any longer. Let matters lie," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "Perhaps regarding Silverfrost''s death, but what about the ancestral dragon''s inheritance?" Ao Shuai asked.


    "Ao Zhou''s a Martial Aspect now. Trying to do anything against him would be dangerous," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    Ao Shuai smiled. "Violetfrost, my father already has a n, doesn''t he?"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. "He does not."


    "Don''t lie to me. Don''t you think I can tell? Father directed Xiao Nanfeng toward the capital of Dayin intending that he would never return. Then, we can deal with Ao Zhou however we please." Ao Shuai smirked.


    "Please choose your words carefully, Master. The Eastern Aspect never had ill intent in mind."


    "I know you can''t speak of this publicly, so I won''t bring it up, either¡ªbut I''m well aware of what''s going on. Right, has Xiao Nanfeng already reached the capital of Dayin yet?" Ao Shuai asked expectantly.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shook his head. "Xiao Nanfeng didn''t go."


    Ao Shuai stiffened. He continued, vexed, "I knew it. He''s more slippery than a loach. He deliberately chose not to go, I''m sure. What''s his punishment for deliberately ignoring the mission?"


    "The Eastern Aspect imposed no penalty on Xiao Nanfeng''s mission," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.


    "What? Why?!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "I don''t know." The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shook his head.


    He did know a little of what was going on, but he couldn''t let Ao Shuai learn of it. Otherwise, if the information were to leak..."


    "Haven''t you considered how to deal with Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Shuai continued, upset.


    "We haven''t." The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost maintained his silence.


    Ao Shuai knew that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost had to be lying. "Xiao Nanfeng would never go to the capital of Dayin. Is he a fool? Just what are you nning?"


    Suddenly, one of Ao Shuai''s subordinates rushed into the pavilion. "Master, we''ve received word of Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Oh?" The two cultivators looked at Ao Shuai''s subordinate.


    "Just now, a representative of Xiao Nanfeng''s manor headed to the Hall of Rites and Rituals to petition the Heavenly Emperor to grant Xiao Nanfeng the status of envoy and diplomat to Dayin. Two monthster, Xiao Nanfeng will officially set off to Dayin."


    "Two monthster? And he intends to head there publicly as an envoy of the Imperial Court?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "Indeed!" his subordinate reported.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? He intends to advertise his own presence? There are plenty of cultivators in Dayin waiting to assassinate him!" Ao Shuai shouted.


    "No¡ªthis is his safest course of action," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied, frowning.


    "Oh?"


    "There are plenty of strong cultivators in Dayin. If Xiao Nanfeng were to head there in private, he would quickly be discovered and killed stealthily. That''s why he has to head there in public. If he were to perish, someone would be held ountable."


    "Would the divine empire of Dayin protect Xiao Nanfeng? Surely not!" Ao Shuai retorted, frowning.


    "In public, certainly, but perhaps not in private. It''s only natural that the divine empire of Dayin wouldn''t be able to guard an envoy of the Imperial Court from an assassination attempt."


    "What''s the point of announcing his visit, then?" Ao Shuai asked.


    "At the very least, no one would dare to strike him publicly, and if he does suffer an assassination attempt, he need only escape, fly into the air, and howl loudly to garner attention. Any would-be assassins would have to retreat then."


    "Does he really intend to reim 60% of the fortune that the divine empire of Dayin currently possesses? They would never agree. Just what is he nning?" Ao Shuai frowned.


    "I can''t tell myself."


    "Should we sneak over and have a look?" Ao Shuai asked in anticipation.

 Chapter 553: The Capital of Dayin

    <h4>Chapter 553: The Capital of Dayin</h4>


    Dark clouds hung high overhead over the sea. A storm brewed; lightning and rain came crashing down on a lone figure above its surface, Zhao Yuanjiao. He was undergoing his True Immortal tribtion.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and Emperor Feng watched on from an ind in the distance.


    "You''ve been quite busytely, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling. "The lives you''ve taken recently have caused no small amount of chaos for the divine empire of Dayin."


    "I only killed those of my officials who betrayed me by helping Yin Shenhua take over my territory after the copse of Dafeng despite my generosity as their former liege. They deserve to die," Emperor Feng replied. "Why? Does it bother you?"


    "No, Emperor. I was simply reflecting on my thoughts. You managed to gain incredible treasure while advancing my senior brother''s cultivation. I should thank you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Emperor Feng nced askance at Xiao Nanfeng. "You''ve got a silver tongue, don''t you? Zhao Yuanjiao''s cultivation was too weak. If I am to possess him, I naturally have to strengthen him first. How else would I use his body? To be frank, I''d prefer yours. If you let me possess you, I''ll use all the relics and treasure that I obtained to advance your cultivation. How about that?"


    "I''d rather not, thank you," Xiao Nanfeng refused the offer immediately.


    "A pity." Emperor Feng''s eyes glinted; he clearly hadn''t given up just yet.


    Just then, Zhao Yuanjiao sessfully overcame thest of his tribtion. The dark clouds in the air turned radiant before they infused themselves into his body.


    "Time to help him familiarize himself with his body again," Emperor Feng said, flying over to Zhao Yuanjiao, possessing him, then sitting cross-legged in meditation to digest his gains.


    "I can''t believe Emperor Feng forced us to apany him to take revenge on his past officials. He really does want to keep a close eye on us, doesn''t he?" Zhang Lingjun said.


    "He doesn''t trust anyone at the moment," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "He''s worried we''ll reveal that he''s been freed."


    "What''s he up to?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "I don''t know the specifics, but I''m sure it''s something big."


    "Oh?"


    "He''s particrly dangerous, and he doesn''t fear our background. I suspect he''s conspiring to retrieve something from the capital of Dayin, but is refraining from killing us so that the Imperial Court doesn''t investigate."


    "You mean, he might kill us once he''s finished?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "He was prepared to kill us from the very beginning despite the role we yed in freeing him. Do you really expect any different from him? don''t be tricked," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    "Don''t worry. He might want to make us into his puppets, but I already have a countern in mind. I won''t let him seed."


    "Do we need to report this to the Heavenly Emperor?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "I already have, but haven''t yet received a response."


    Seeing that Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have thought of everything, the uneasy Zhang Lingjun slowly calmed down.


    A few hourster, Emperor Feng flew up to them in Zhao Yuanjiao''s body.


    "Indeed, a True Immortal''s body is far easier to maneuver in. Xiao Nanfeng, do you really not want me to help advance your cultivation?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Thank you for being thoughtful, Emperor Feng, but I''m quite alright. If you''ve finished with your preparations, let''s get going."


    "Then let''s go," Emperor Feng announced.


    The party of three flew straight toward the capital of Dayin.


    Two dayster, they appeared by its borders.


    From afar, they could see a huge sea of fortune in the air, filled with roiling fortune that expanded as far as the eye could see. A huge golden dragon pointed due north, its tail extending beyond sight. This was the nature of a divine empire, mighty and strong.


    "This sea of fortune is evenrger than what my Dafeng once possessed. Are you certain Yin Shenhua would allow you to seize 60% of it?" Emperor Fengughed.


    "Who knows? What if the Immortal Emperor of Dayin has had a change of heart?"


    Emperor Feng sneered disdainfully. He shook his head. "If he refuses to pay even 30% of his fortune, what makes you think he would give you 60% of it? Dream on."


    "Senior, you''re not responsible for collecting the tithe of fortune. Surely you don''t have to worry about it?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Oh, I''m not worried. I''m simply thinking about how we should make our way in."


    Beneath the sea of fortune was the capital of Dayin proper, with walls that were hundreds of meters tall and carved with runes. The walls enclosed an expansive tract ofnd, beyond the likes of what Xiao Nanfeng could estimate. He could vaguely see floating inds beyond, grand and magnificent.


    By the southern gate was a tree with a huge signboard on which "Capital of Dayin" was written. There were arge number of guards stationed by the gate and inspecting those cultivators who sought entry.


    Immortals flew out from within as cultivators riding on giant spiritbeast steeds headed in. The city was clearly bustling.


    "How else? Simply follow me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Emperor Feng shook his head. "We need to act in secrecy. We can''t reveal ourselves except in utmost need."


    "If I don''t reveal myself, how can I collect the tithe of fortune from Yin Shenhua?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You won''t be able to get a single wisp of fortune, anyway. Give up on that notion¡ªI might be able to help you out once I take my revenge," Emperor Feng replied.


    He didn''t think the two cultivators would be able to go against him.


    "Why didn''t you mention it beforehand, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "It''s not toote to bring it up now. I''ll teach you both how to disguise yourselves, then find a merchant caravan to lead us in," Emperor Feng continued.


    "It''s toote," Xiao Nanfeng corrected him.


    Just then, rainbow light burst into the air as troops from Dayin rushed out of the capital. Music red and qi techniques filled the air as a ceremony unveiled itself in short order. Everyone watched on in surprise.


    "The Prime Minister of Dayin and a hundred officials of court greet the envoy of the Imperial Court, Martial Aspect Xiao, on His Majesty''s orders!" a shout boomed.


    Arge number of officials from Dayin flew out of the southern gate of the city straight for Xiao Nanfeng''s party of three.


    Emperor Feng frowned. He had intended to sneak into the city and carry out his ns freely, not expecting to be the center of attention the moment he arrived.


    "Did you betray me?!" Emperor Feng red at the two cultivators with killing intent.


    If not for the fact that he had possessed Zhao Yuanjiao and was confident in his ability to kill the two cultivators instantly, he would already have done so.


    "Senior, I''m an envoy of the Imperial Court. It''s only natural that there should be some fanfare when I arrive in Dayin¡ªotherwise, how would I be able to reim the fortune owed to the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.


    "What need is there for fanfare? There''s just the three of us!" Emperor Feng thundered.


    "Hardly. I''ve brought ten thousand subordinates with me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Ten thousand? Where?" Emperor Feng eximed.


    Suddenly, ten thousand purple-furred monsters flew toward Dayin from a barracks stationed outside the capital. They flew over to the three cultivators in a neat formation, ceremonial weapons in hand. They bowed respectfully as they got in ce behind Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is a procession you prepared?!" Emperor Feng''s eyes twitched.


    How was he supposed to do anything in secret with such a hugemotion?


    "Senior, you''re currently possessing my senior brother, so you can''t reveal that anything''s amiss. An envoy from the Imperial Court has to act formally, and I must make a good showing so as not to ruin the reputation of the Imperial Court. Please don''t cause a diplomatic incident," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Emperor Feng''s face turned dark. What else could he do but follow Xiao Nanfeng''s lead now?


    Meanwhile, Zhang Lingjun giggled inwardly. She nced at Xiao Nanfeng with admiration. How had hee up with such a n to restrain Emperor Feng despite their power disparity?


    Meanwhile, in the watchtower in the distance, Yin Tianci, Tang, and Yin Tianci''s other subordinates were watching the procession from afar.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really knows how to make a fuss, doesn''t he? He stationed his subordinates and officials from the Imperial Court here a month in advance," Yin Tianci said coldly.


    "Indeed," Tang replied. "The officials of rites and rituals from the Imperial Court have been informing the whole city about an uing visit from its envoys to drum up interest. Furthermore, ten thousand purple-furred monsters appeared outside the capital and garrisoned there. Given such a hugemotion, if Dayin didn''t receive the envoys with pomp and ceremony, it would have been a show of gross disrespect and an invitation for the Imperial Court to find fault with Dayin."


    "What''s Xiao Nanfeng trying to do here? Isn''t he worried that I would kill him?" Yin Tianci frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng must have some important purpose in mind. Otherwise, he would never have dared to show up here. That said, regardless of what he''s nning, his presence is beneficial to us." Tang smiled.


    "Indeed. Now that he''s made his way here, he might as well stay." Yin Tianci chuckled coldly.


    "You have to be careful, Your Highness. I saw Mo Lengxuan acting rather agitatedtely. I''m sure he has some hare-brained scheme with which he intends to take on Xiao Nanfeng. We have to be careful not to get implicated," Tang continued.


    Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes as he nodded. "I won''t trust Mo Lengxuan any longer. He''s a pig-headed fool with nothing to show for his efforts."


    "You''re very wise, Your Highness. All the incidents that happened in the past urred because Mo Lengxuan was so weak. I simply don''t understand how he made it to such a high station within the divine empire of Dayin."


    "He had a good father."


    "Oh?"


    "This is supposed to be a secret, but it doesn''t hurt for you to find out. Mo Lengxuan has another identity¡ªlook over there. That''s his father," Yin Tianci said.


    "The prime minister of Dayin, Mo Shanhe, is his father?" Tang eximed.


    "Indeed. Mo Shanhe is one of Father''s most trusted officials. So even if his son, Mo Lengxuan, is a fool..."


    "No wonder," Tang said, frowning.


    Afar, the prime minister of Dayin, Mo Shanhe, greeted Xiao Nanfeng''s party with a procession of his own.

 Chapter 554: Fires of Rebellion

    <h4>Chapter 554: Fires of Rebellion</h4>


    Outside the capital of Dayin, Dayin''s weing procession met Xiao Nanfeng''s party. The handsome middle-aged man in the lead bowed. "I am Mo Shanhe, Prime Minister of Dayin. On His Majesty''s orders, I wee you to the capital of Dayin, Envoy of the Imperial Court."


    "If I''m not mistaken, the Imperial Court nned this visit well ahead of schedule. Is this the reception that an envoy of the Imperial Court ought to receive?" Xiao Nanfeng questioned, dissatisfied.


    "His Majesty is currently in a crucial period of secluded cultivation and is unable to wee you himself. He specifically instructed me to greet you with a procession of a hundred officials. Please don''t mind this slight, Envoy," Mo Shanhe continued. "Lodgings have been provided for your party, and a banquet to wee you. Please follow me, Envoy."


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at Mo Shanhe for a moment. Mo Shanhe waited cidly, showing no emotion whatsoever.


    "Let''s go, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding. He didn''t intend to make a fuss about this.


    "Please, follow me." Mo Shanhe smiled.


    With a wave of his hand, Immortal music began to y once more. The sky shone with multicolored lights as the procession headed into the city, trailed by ten thousand purple-furred lifeforms. The entire city saw the envoy of the Imperial Court from afar.


    The procession of ten thousand flew toward a giant ind floating in the middle of the city.


    There were many buildings on the ind, along with a significant guard patrol.


    "This is an ind reserved specifically for guests to the capital of Dayin, the highest-quality one we have. It shall be your residence for the duration of your stay, Envoy. A banquet has been prepared in the main hall. Everyone unaffiliated with the Imperial Court will be dismissed after the banquet so that you might enjoy full control over it, Envoy," Mo Shanhe continued.


    Mo Shanhe was taking everything in stride and clearly experienced in his position.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded as well. He, Zhang Lingjun and Emperor Feng followed Mo Shanhe to the main hall of the floating ind.


    There, Mo Shanhe''s manners and etiquette remained as impable as ever.


    "Envoy, I regret to inform you that I''m not equipped with the authority to make decisions on behalf of His Majesty. If you''vee with diplomatic objectives in mind, I ask that you wait until His Majesty is out of secluded cultivation." Mo Shanhe raised a cup of wine to Xiao Nanfeng and toasted him.


    Xiao Nanfeng mirrored his action and nodded.


    The weing banquet proceeded with a festive atmosphere.


    After the banquet ended, Mo Shanhe bade farewell and departed with the hundred officials of court, along with all other cultivators situated on the ind. Only Xiao Nanfeng''s group was left behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood by the side of the floating ind, leaning over the railing as he watched the officials of Dayin leave.


    "Mo Shanhe''s a wily old fox, isn''t he? Everything was perfectly nned." Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "Not only that, he''s keeping us all under surveince. The moment we leave this floating ind, everyone will notice," Emperor Feng said coolly.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced toward a giant mountain in the shape of a dragon''s head, where Dayin''s imperial pce was located. It was wreathed in fog, though glimmers of light could be seen from the buildings within.


    "Do you think Yin Shenhua is really in secluded cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "You mean, he''s deliberately trying to stop you from even asking about the tithe?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "Yin Shenhua''s a despicable man. He might really do that," Emperor Feng said, smirking.


    "But why bother? The Imperial Court would never allow Yin Shenhua to withhold fortune for more than five years¡ªand the penalty would only grow year after year," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Emperor Feng''s smile widened.


    "Please enlighten me, Emperor Feng," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yin Shenhua wants to rebel."


    "To rebel?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    "Yu Fuli has been in control of the Sieve of Heaven for a long time. He doesn''t care for the people of the world; all he governs is fortune. Every empire has to tithe a tenth of their fortune to the Imperial Court every year. Do you know how much fortune that represents, year after year? All emperors under heaven hate Yu Fuli," Emperor Feng said.


    "They all want to rebel?"


    "Only one cultivator may be the supreme ruler of the world. Which emperor doesn''t want to im that position? Being the Heavenly Emperor would allow you to benefit from the whole world''sbor. Wouldn''t that be ideal?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, deep in thought.


    "I don''t know what Yu Fuli''s thinking. Previous Heavenly Emperors ruled with iron fists, iming the entire world as their own. Yu Fuli, however, is different. He doesn''t seem to care about authority at all. He even allows the Immortal Emperors under hismand to conspire to rebel."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded. "I''ve heard the like within the Imperial Court. There''s plenty of ces that rebel, and many from the Hall of Martial Aspects are hurt or killed whenever they have to quell a rebellion."


    Emperor Feng continued, "It''s only natural that Yin Shenhua would be drawn to the same. And if he''s nning to rebel, why would he hand over any of his fortune?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. "Does the divine empire of Dayin have sufficient reserves to rebel?"


    "Yin Shenhua has the support of the Buddhas of Three Aspects. The divine empire of Dayin might look ordinary, but are you aware of how many Buddha''s Grottos it has cultivated? Dayin''s strength lies hidden deep underground. What''s more, if Dayin leads the rebellion, you can be certain that other divine empires around the world will join in as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows.


    "That''s why they''re dragging things out until they can secure enough reserves to rise up," Emperor Feng continued.


    "Yin Shenhua¡ªhow dare he!" Zhang Lingjun fumed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Is this widely known?"


    "It''s not a secret at all. Of course, ordinary people aren''t aware of what''s going on, but at our level of strength, it''s obvious. The divine empire of Dayin is already three yearste with its tithe of fortune, and the Imperial Court only allows five years'' dy. In other words, Dayin''s rebellion will strike within the next year. As an envoy from the Imperial Court, you''ll surely be the first to be taken down. Your head will decorate their banner."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "Whoever sent you here had ill intent in mind. I''m sure they were well aware of this." Emperor Feng smirked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed further. He finally understood why Ao Canghai''s mission didn''t have any penalty at all. If he were to die, that would be the ultimate penalty.


    "As for you, your ill-conceived n left us all under surveince. How foolish you''ve been."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Emperor Feng, a sh of disdain in his gaze. He murmured inwardly, "If I had chosen to sneak into the city with you, not only would I have to be wary of assassination attempts from Dayin proper, I would have to watch out for attacks from you, too. It might be foolish from your perspective, but a blessing from mine."


    "So what? You can easily free yourself from this level of surveince," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "It''s not the same. At any rate, this sort of thing makes me ufortable."


    Xiao Nanfeng murmured inwardly again, "Anything that makes you ufortable makes mefortable."


    "Since we''re stuck here now, Xiao Nanfeng, what should we do?" Zhang Lingjun asked anxiously. "We can''t leave things be, surely?"


    "Why, we don''t have to sit back passively and wait," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "We have ten thousand purple-furred lifeforms with us. They can serve as manpower to help us advertise."


    "Advertise what?"


    "The truth¡ªthat the divine empire of Dayin has been refusing to hand over its tithe of fortune. It owes us 60% of the fortune that it has amassed. Issue a bounty and invite suggestions from the best strategists around the world. Any whose n is sessfully enacted shall be rewarded with Immortal relics, with Immortal pills, and even a position as a general in charge of my manor''s forces."


    "Issue a bounty to capture the whole world''s attention?" Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    "Exactly. Set up a hundred bounty zones in a hundred locations around the city. I want the whole world to know that the divine empire of Dayin is behind on its dues."


    Zhang Lingjun gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "Aren''t you worried you''ll damage the Imperial Court''s reputation?"


    "It''s not rted to the Imperial Court. I''m the one responsible for the bounty, and I''m the one looking for help from strategists across the world. I''m not afraid of embarrassment, so it''ll be fine," Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.


    "But will the divine empire of Dayin stand for this?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "We''re hardly spreading anything but the truth. What''s more, we represent the Imperial Court. Would Dayin dare to kill us now and start their rebellion early?"


    "I don''t think they would, but would anyone dare to ept your bounty?"


    "It doesn''t matter. I don''t intend to wait for anyone to help me out. I simply want to proim to the world that Dayin''s behind on its payments. I''ll ruin Dayin''s reputation and disgust them. Yin Shenhua refuses to meet me¡ªwell, I''ll tarnish his reputation until he changes his mind."


    Zhang Lingjun: ...


    Emperor Feng was giving Xiao Nanfeng an odd look as well. "I doubt Yin Shenhua cares about his reputation, but I''m sure he''ll be disgusted enough to strike at you."


    "If I make a fuss and secure the attention of the capital, Senior, you''ll be able to do what you want to do as well. This sort of thing only hurts my reputation. I did it for you, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Emperor Feng sneered. "How shameless."


    Zhang Lingjun watched Xiao Nanfeng silently, a gentle smile on her face.

 Chapter 555: The Pink Monk

    <h4>Chapter 555: The Pink Monk</h4>


    In the prime minister''s manor within the capital of Dayin, Mo Shanhe was seated and drinking tea. Mo Lengxuan''s main body stood before him.


    "Didn''t I tell you already? Don''te over unless you have urgent business. Do you want to invite trouble for yourself?" Mo Shanhe said.


    "It''s hardly that dangerous, Father," Mo Lengxuan replied.


    "Don''t be foolish. The Immortal Emperor''s n is incipient. Do you know how many pairs of eyes are on me right now?" Mo Shanhe demanded.


    "Isn''t it just Xiao Nanfeng and his fellow envoys? Don''t we have surveince on them all?"


    "Do you think Xiao Nanfeng''s the only one from the Imperial Court here? It''s survived for thousands of years¡ªhow can the seventy-two Martial Aspects be all the manpower they have? Even Dayin has public and private reserves of strength. Do you really think the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court are the only ones watching us right now?" Mo Shanhe demanded.


    "I¡ª"


    "I am the prime minister of Dayin, and there are countless guards by my side. Others might not be able to do anything against me, but they can take my rtives hostage. Why do you think I''ve been pretending not to know you, nor to interact with you? I sent you to the Taiqing Immortal Sect to avoid trouble¡ªand then, after that schism, installed you on Thousand-Spirit Ind. Don''t you understand what''s going on? If you keep showing up here, prepare to die," Mo Shanhe warned.


    Mo Lengxuan''s eyes widened. "Father, how long is this situation going tost?"


    "Things are almost ready. How many years have you already spent waiting? Can''t youst even a few moments longer?"


    "No, no¡ªI came here today because I can''t stand what Xiao Nanfeng''s doing. He has a hundred groups of purple-furred monsters all over the city, proiming that the divine empire of Dayin owes 60% of its fortune to the Imperial Court. The whole city is in an uproar, and his actions are tarnishing the reputation of Dayin. Aren''t we going to do something about him?" Mo Lengxuan demanded.


    "What for? They won''t be around for much longer. Let them continue making a mess. Stability should be our top priority," Mo Shanhe said, drinking a cup of tea. Then, he frowned. "Didn''t I task you with following the third prince? Why haven''t you been interacting with him recently?


    "Tang, Yin Tianci''s confidant, might very well be working for Xiao Nanfeng. I''ve tried to convince Yin Tianci many times, but he only trusts Tang and ignores me. He doesn''t even let me participate in secret meetings anymore," Mo Lengxuanined.


    Mo Shanhe frowned. "It''s all because of your past failures. The third prince must be very disappointed in you."


    "Father, why don''t I work with the other two princes instead?" Mo Lengxuan proposed.


    "What do you think they have to offer beyond a slightly better cultivation?" Mo Shanhe demanded.


    "What?" Mo Lengxuan was taken aback.


    He didn''t understand why his father cared so much about Yin Tianci, who was unskilled, unwise, and unlearned.


    "Listen to me: in the divine empire of Dayin, the Immortal Emperormands the most power, followed by the third prince. Don''t care about anyone else. Rectify whatever misunderstanding exists between you and the third prince as soon as possible," Mo Shanhe warned."


    "Is Yin Tianci that important? Why doesn''t he have many strong guards around him, then?" Mo Lengxuan asked curiously.


    "To ensure that few others would pay attention to him, for one. What''s more, what makes you think there''s no one stronger protecting him?"


    "But he was almost melted to death by Xiao Nanfeng''s Yin-Yang Cauldron! What protection did he have then?"


    "The Yin-Yang Cauldron wouldn''t have been able to melt him down."


    "Oh?"


    "I''m not at liberty to reveal more information about the third prince''s circumstances, so don''t ask more questions. Just focus on gaining the third prince''s trust."


    "Yin Tianci harbors deep-set suspicions against me now. I can''t gain his trust."


    Mo Shanhe frowned at his wayward son before ultimately sighing. "Forget it. Since you don''t have any responsibilities at the moment, you might as well head somewhere. There''s someone who wants to question you."


    "Where? And question me about what?"


    "You''ll see. It''s about the destruction of Thousand-Spirit Ind."


    "Oh?"


    On a floating ind in the capital of Dayin, Yin Tianci and Tang were staring at a bustling za from afar.


    There, ten purple-furred monsters held a banner up high. It read, "Martial Aspect Offers Bounty for Strategy." Beside them was a signboard that exined Xiao Nanfeng''s goal of reiming 60% of Dayin''s fortune. The spectacle had caused considerablemotion within the za.


    Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes. "What''s Xiao Nanfeng trying to do? He''s even publicly revealing the fact that he once caught me. He''s been unable to secure any fortune, so is he finally recognizing how worthless he is? Is he trying to act recklessly and make this situation even worse for himself?"


    "Don''t get upset, Your Highness. Xiao Nanfeng''s sly and crafty. There has to be a reason he''s making such a huge fuss. He might even be trying to get you to make a move, then escte until the Immortal Emperor is forced to respond. That would stir up trouble between the Imperial Court and Dayin," Tang said.


    "Oh?" Yin Tianci frowned. He considered the problem carefully and thought that Tang had a good point.


    "Didn''t Mo Lengxuane find Your Highness a few days ago?" Tang asked.


    "He did. I ignored him."


    "Well done, Your Highness. I believe Mo Lengxuan will strike Xiao Nanfeng soon enough. Let''s keep watching and not act rashly."


    "You don''t think we should make a move?" Yin Tianci frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has already yed his hand. We can''t let him seed¡ªwhy not let Mo Lengxuan be our guinea pig?"


    "And what if he doesn''t do anything?"


    "Then we''ll keep waiting. At any rate, we can''t let Xiao Nanfeng''s scheme take effect. You should keep some surveince on Mo Lengxuan, Your Highness. If he does anything, we''ll learn of it right away. In that case, we''ll be able to respond swiftly to whatever happens."


    Yin Tianci was silent for a moment before he nodded. "Very well. I''ll put more men on Mo Lengxuan. If there''s any news, we''ll learn of it immediately."


    Over the next few days, the purple-furred monsters continued to advertise within the capital of Dayin, tarnishing its reputation. Many of the soldiers of Dayin scowled, wanting to take down the monsters and the nonsense they were spewing, only to receive strict orders from their superiors to leave the purple-furred monsters alone.


    In the loft of a restaurant, Xiao Nanfeng was imbibing alcohol as he watched the purple-furred monsters continue their bustling campaign outside. On the ground floor, a drunkard was guzzling down a vat of alcohol.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent the drunkard a mental transmission. "Anything outstanding?"


    "Our leader himself is spying on Emperor Feng, Your Majesty. He''s been wandering all over the city, as though he''s in search of something. He hasn''t been back in his pce at all."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and considered his next steps. After quite some time, he replied, "Have You Jiu send a few more subordinates into the capital. Inform him to continue pursuing Emperor Feng. What Emperor Feng''s looking for¡ªI think that''ll be the biggest reward from out trip."


    "Understood!"


    "Go on. If there''s more information you have for me, have your avatar contact mine in Yongding directly. This sort of urgent meetup can easily give things away," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" The drunkard stumbled off.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to sit by the window as he watched the hustle and bustle of the city.


    Suddenly, a group of purple-furred monsters rushed over from afar, as though they were looking for him.


    "I''m here. Were you searching for me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The purple-furred monsters flew into the restaurant. Some established a formation of fog that isted sound, preventing anyone outside from gleaning anything about the disturbance.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, something happened to Princess Lingjun," one purple-furred monster began.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Today, she brought us out shopping and picked out a certain set of robes for you. As she left the tailor, she came into contact with you."


    "With me? I didn''t see the princess today. Could someone be impersonating me?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Indeed. He impersonated you and invited the princess out of the city, saying that there was some major discovery. He brought the princess into a forest and had us wait by its boundary. We finally realized that something was amiss after some time and rushed into the forest to search for her, but they were nowhere to be found. After that, we immediately rushed back into the city to check on your location. When we learned that you were here and had never left, we realized that something was very wrong. The princess has been kidnapped," the purple-furred monster recounted.


    "There''s a True Immortal within your group. Weren''t you able to detect whether or not my doppelganger was a fake?" Xiao Nanfeng was clearly frustrated.


    "We didn''t notice anything amiss. That person''s aura was just like yours, Martial Aspect..."


    "How could that be? No¡ªforget it. Head to our ind and gather all the lifeforms there. Immediately split up into search parties and investigate outside the capital. There must be traces of my doppelganger somewhere. Find them!"


    "Understood!" the purple-furred monsters replied.


    Half a dayter, within a hall of the Dazheng Empire, Tang''s avatar told a spectral guard, "I''ve had my own subordinates investigate. There were plenty of forces keeping tabs on the princess as she went shopping. The most likely culprit is Mo Lengxuan."


    "His Majesty wishes to know how you came to that conclusion," the spectral guard replied,municating with Xiao Nanfeng in real-time.


    "I had Yin Tianci dispatch a few subordinates to keep an eye on Mo Lengxuan. He appeared somewhere secret to watch over the princess from afar, with a masked pink-robed monk beside him. Mo Lengxuan specifically pointed out the princess to the monk, who quickly vanished from sight. Then, as the princess was brought away, Mo Lengxuan disappeared as well."


    "His Majesty asks if you know where Mo Lengxuan went recently."


    "To some extent, but notpletely. I''ll try to get Yin Tianci to investigate. I hope the spectral guards can cooperate as well."


    "His Majesty will have them cooperate to the best of their ability."


    "Very good." Tang nodded.

 Chapter 556: Cultivation of Pleasure

    <h4>Chapter 556: Cultivation of Pleasure</h4>


    In Yin Tianci''s manor in the capital of Dayin, Yin Tianci listened to Tang''s report.


    "Are you certain Mo Lengxuan was responsible?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "Your Highness, the purple-furred monsters are out in force searching for Zhang Lingjun. All sorts of evidence, direct or circumstantial, point to Mo Lengxuan being the culprit. He''s really got some guts," Tang said.


    "Is Mo Lengxuan enacting revenge on Xiao Nanfeng, then?"


    "I heard that Zhang Lingjun''s a True Immortal now, and she has True Immortal purple-furred monsters guarding her as well. Mo Lengxuan''s main body is only a True Immortal, so how could he have kidnapped Zhang Lingjun without causing a fuss? I even heard that someone impersonated Xiao Nanfeng to snatch her away. Could it be the work of that pink-robed monk beside Mo Lengxuan? How could he have been so skilled that even Zhang Lingjun didn''t notice anything amiss?" Tang wondered.


    "A Buddha''s secret technique," Yin Tianci murmured. "It allows the Buddha to take on the form of a person the target loves. Did Mo Lengxuan manage to get a Buddha''s help? No wonder he was able to kidnap Zhang Lingjun."


    "A Buddha? Where from?" Tang eximed.


    "Don''t worry about such details." Yin Tianci seemed reluctant to provide more information.


    "Understood, Your Highness. My analysis may be wed if I''m missing certain pieces of information, so I apologize in advance."


    "It matters not." Yin Tianci seemed to want to keep such information particrly private.


    "Your Highness, just what is Mo Lengxuan doing? Rather than target Xiao Nanfeng directly, he seized Zhang Lingjun instead. Is he trying to make matters worse? I''m worried that he might have fallen prey to Xiao Nanfeng''s ns."


    "Oh?"


    "There must be a reason Xiao Nanfeng made such an ostentatious entrance into Dayin. Perhaps there are servants of the Imperial Court skulking about the capital while everyone''s focused on him. Could he have deliberately intended for Zhang Lingjun to be kidnapped? He might well take the opportunity to have the servants of the Imperial Court investigate. This might be one of his schemes," Tang suggested.


    Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes.


    "Your Highness, I''m unaware of much of Dayin''s hidden reserves of power, and I don''t intend to learn more without being given permission. I simply want to propose such a possibility as a warning," Tang said seriously.


    Yin Tianci was silent for a moment before he nodded. "Very well. I''ll be out on business. Stay here and wait for me."


    "Understood!" Tang replied.


    On Xiao Nanfeng''s guest ind, Xiao Nanfeng was seated in arge hall and patiently awaiting information from the purple-furred monsters streaming in and out of it, reporting on theirtest discoveries.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, we''ve scoured the exterior of the city but have found nothing rted to the princess. It''s almost as if she vanished into thin air," a purple-furred monster reported anxiously.


    "Conduct another search," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood!"


    The gathered purple-furred monsters rushed out to continue searching for Zhang Lingjun in a hurry.


    Just then, Emperor Feng slowly walked into the hall. "Well? Has Zhang Lingjun vanished?"


    "I''m d you''re back, Senior. Might you have any idea how to find the princess?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    "Let me see."


    He waved a hand. A wisp of ck smoke appeared in his palm, which flickered as it attempted to make its way out of the hall. The next moment, however, it stopped short.


    "Hm? Someone cut me off. We''re facing an expert, it seems."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback as well. He suddenly suspected that Emperor Feng had left a tracking mark on his and Zhang Lingjun''s bodies.


    "What sort of expert?"


    "One at least as strong as I am, perhaps even stronger. No ordinary foe," Emperor Feng concluded.


    "Are you unable to find her, Senior?"


    "I can''t. This assant is clearly cautious and prudent. There''s no way for us to strike back," Emperor Feng replied, his gaze stony.


    He was worried that Zhang Lingjun would reveal the secret of his freedom.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to reply when his eyes suddenly widened. "I''ve found her."


    "What?" Emperor Feng eximed.


    If even he couldn''t find Zhang Lingjun, how had Xiao Nanfeng done so while seated within a hall?


    "Senior, the princess is in dire straits. Would you head out and rescue her with me?" Xiao Nanfeng begged earnestly.


    "Have you really found her?" Emperor Feng still seemed dubious.


    "More or less."


    "I''ll check out the situation with you, I suppose." There was a note of suspicion in Emperor Feng''s tone.


    "We should be as covert as possible. Would you leave my senior brother behind? The two of us can head there ourselves," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Emperor Feng frowned. After confirming that this wasn''t a scheme directed at him, he nodded.


    His soul flew out from within Zhao Yuanjiao''s mindscape, Zhao Yuanjiao blinked and shook himself awake.


    "Senior Brother, let me borrow your clothes. Please stay here and keep an eye on the situation. Have all those purple-furred lifeforms whoe to report to you continue their search for the princess. This is my Martial Aspect''s token, and they''ll listen to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Zhao Yuanjiao imed the token.


    He handed Xiao Nanfeng a set of robes that were just like his, which Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly put on.


    "Senior, please lend me the crescent sword¡ªor perhaps you could imbue yourself in it?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Emperor Feng was taken aback by the strange request, but obliged. There seemed to be an interior space within the crescent sword within which he could reside. Xiao Nanfeng held the sword in hand.


    He shrouded his figure with fog, leaving his appearance hidden, as he rushed out.


    Many interested parties kept an eye on the guest ind on which Xiao Nanfeng and his party resided. Zhao Yuanjiao frequently left the ind, and his departure now was nothing out of the ordinary. Xiao Nanfeng impersonated Zhao Yuanjiao as he rushed into the crowds swarming through the capital and quickly vanished from sight. As he left the city gates, he rushed toward a nearby forest high in the mountains.


    Many people were paying attention to that part of the capital where Xiao Nanfeng was headed. Those who weren''t in the know wondered why there was suddenly so much fuss, while those who were thought that Zhao Yuanjiao had to be participating in the search for Zhang Lingjun himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng entered the forest, looped around, then flew off in another direction entirely, far from the capital of Dayin. Two hourster, he found himself outside another city.


    "Are you certain that Zhang Lingjun has been brought here? It''s way too far from the capital!" Emperor Feng said.


    "That''s why the purple-furred monsters would never have found the princess. Follow me. I''m confident."


    Emperor Feng remained dubious, but didn''t say anything.


    As he flew toward a fog-covered valley, he could see a figure heading over from afar.


    "This is the ce." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Isn''t there someone flying over? Catch and interrogate him," Emperor Feng suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "We can''t. That person might have an avatar, and we don''t want to alert whoever''s responsible. I can search on my own."


    He avoided the cultivator flying over and snuck into the valley.


    Just then, within the imperial study in Yongding, a spectral guard reported, "My avatar has been trailing Yin Tianci from afar. He headed to the prime minister''s manor, who then dispatched a cultivator out of the city and far from the capital of Dayin. I tracked him all the way to..."


    The spectral guard continued to report on the whereabouts of this cultivator as Xiao Nanfeng gave chase¡ªuntil his main body caught up with the figure that was flying out of the valley.


    "I''ve got it. Keep following the cultivator from afar. If he returns to Dayin, you can stop. Be cautious about your own safety," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!"


    Clearly, Tang had prodded Yin Tianci to speak with Mo Shanhe, who then dispatched a cultivator to ask Mo Lengxuan what he had done. In the end, the culprit had been revealed.


    Within that fog-shrouded valley, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body could see a smallke. Theke was clearly infused with spiritual aether¡ªthe concentrated energy around theke caused all the trees around to reach up to the sky.


    "What a bloody ce," Emperor Feng murmured. "Is someone trying to perform malevolent rites here?"


    "Bloody? Where?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Can''t you see? The ground in this valley is rusty red."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the ground and confirmed the truth of Emperor Feng''s words. White powder was scattered all over the earth.


    "This is blood?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Dried human blood, and that white powder is bone ash. Who knows how many victims have perished here? After their death, their bones were ground to powder and scattered over the earth as fertilizer for the greenery in the vicinity. They were all cultivators, so even their bone ash bears tremendous spiritual aether. This valley might as well be a natural formation for attracting spiritual aether."


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. A beam of golden light shot into the ground as he btedly realized just how thick theyer of bone powder was, and the breadth of the area it epassed. Who knew how many victims had perished here?


    "It''s far worse than a pit of ten thousand corpses..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "A ten-thousand-corpse pit? That''s nothing. Some truly malicious cultivators destroy cities or even kingdoms wholesale," Emperor Feng replied.


    Instead of chatting further, Xiao Nanfeng dedicated himself to his work. He was continuing to search his surroundings for clues when he suddenly turned toward theke at the center of the valley. He approached cautiously, then dove down.


    As he did so, he discovered that theke went deep underground. Very quickly, he came across the curved underside of what seemed to be a boulder, stered full of pink ''…d'' runes.


    "Another Buddha''s Grotto?" Emperor Feng murmured.


    "With pink ''…d'' runes, too. What a rarity," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "There are plenty of Buddhist paths of cultivation, with corresponding symbolism besides. ''…d'' runes exist in every color¡ªyou just haven''t encountered them yet. Pink ''…d'' denote the cultivation of... pleasure."


    "The cultivation of pleasure?"


    "Indeed. A branch of Buddhist cultivation that focuses on sexual pleasure to advance in cultivation. If Zhang Lingjun really is within, well, I suppose she''ll be in danger," Emperor Feng smirked.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he reached out to touch the outer wall of the Buddha''s Grotto.


    "This Buddha''s Grotto is even sturdier than the one in which I was trapped. You''d never make it inside unless I made a move, but that would cause too muchmotion. Shall I help you out anyway?"


    "There''s no need," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He gripped the crescent sword tightly as he entered the Buddha''s Grotto.


    Within the sword, Emperor Feng stilled. Before he realized what was going on, his surroundings had already changed. Water was reced by pink fog.


    He immediately emerged from the crescent sword, gaping at his surroundings as he turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "How did you get inside?!"

 Chapter 557: The Buddha of Dual Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 557: The Buddha of Dual Cultivation</h4>


    "How did you get in here?" Emperor Feng red daggers at Xiao Nanfeng.


    He hadn''t been paying attention to what Xiao Nanfeng was doing during their conversation. How had they suddenly ended up within the Buddha''s Grotto? He was almost certain that Xiao Nanfeng had some tremendous secret that he was hiding from him.


    "The senior in my mindscape led me in," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Although he might not be able to hide his candleme powers from Emperor Feng for long, any dy was preferable to none.


    Emperor Feng continued eyeing Xiao Nanfeng. Although it was possible that the ck lotus had led Xiao Nanfeng in, he continued to suspect that Xiao Nanfeng was lying to him. Even so, if Xiao Nanfeng refused to tell him, there was little he could do.


    "It''s dangerous here. We''ll talkter," he finally said.


    Then, Emperor Feng imed the crescent sword before he looked toward his environment.


    The air was filled with pink fog. Both cultivators reined in their aura, not daring to probe their surroundings with spiritual power.


    A huge temple seemed to appear from the fog in the distance.


    "Did the cursed effigies here not discover us the moment we trespassed?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Something must have attracted their attention. Let''s go and have a look."


    The two cultivators rushed toward the temple. No monks were around; they entered with ease.


    As they drew near, they could hear bouts of sobbing around them.


    The two cultivators nced at each other, shrouded themselves in fog, and walked in¡ªonly to find prisons where they had expected prayer rooms. Women were trapped in the cells, some weeping quietly by a corner, and others meditating with their eyes closed. As the two figures shrouded by fog entered the temple, all the women turned toward them, fear and panic in their eyes.


    Neither Xiao Nanfeng nor Emperor Feng stopped or cast errant nces around. They continued heading deeper into the temple.


    The deeper into the temple they went, the more shocked Xiao Nanfeng became. There were simply too many women within. Those by the outskirts of the temple seemed to be in good shape, but those deeper within were in partial undress or even unclothed entirely. None seemed ashamed. Their faces were flushed, their pupils dted, their bodies writhing almost uncontrobly.


    "Have they all been drugged?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. "Is this a Buddha''s Grotto, or a demonic one?!"


    "It''s the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto," the ck lotus suddenly said.


    "Who is he?"


    "A perverse Buddha who serves the Buddhas of Three Aspects. He was once a lecher who somehow obtained a remarkable dual cultivation technique that elerated the advancement of his cultivation by a tremendous extent. Later, the Three Buddhas took him as a subordinate, but he remained no less perverse. He researched simr dual cultivation techniques from antiquity and created one of his very own; thereafter, he would capture female cultivators from all over to aid in his cultivation. These must be some of the cultivators that he''s captured. His ''dual cultivation'' technique is really just a sinister, pseudo-demonic technique that he uses to harvest yin qi from females."


    "But isn''t he a cursed effigy now? Can cursed effigies cultivate such harvesting techniques?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Don''t cursed effigies have physical bodies of their own?" the ck lotus countered.


    "But cursed spiritual avatars are different from physical bodies, aren''t they?"


    "They can reincarnate to possess physical bodies of their own, possess other cultivators'' bodies, or even live in symbiosis within another cultivator. There are plenty of techniques or methods by which they can acquire their own bodies. What makes you think that a cursed spiritual avatar is sufficient? Why do you think all the ones you encountered wanted your physical body?"


    "Cursed effigies need ess to physical bodies?"


    "Not all of them; it depends on their needs. Just as you benefit from having an avatar, cursed effigies benefit from having physical bodies. Some techniques need a physical body for cultivation. Cursed effigiesrgely have plenty of resources and techniques avable to them, so why wouldn''t they get a physical body of their own?"


    "I see." Xiao Nanfeng nodded gratefully.


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation was particrly vile in his prime. He would catch countless female cultivators and force them into dual cultivation. If they possessed unique constitutions, he would forcefully keep them by his side as his disciples, then impart them his dual cultivation technique to control their bodies and minds¡ªves, or perhaps even puppets. If the females were otherwise ordinary, he would cultivate with them a few times, draining all their yin qi and cultivation and leaving them dead."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "So all that bone ash and bloodstained ground outside¡ªcould those be women that the Buddha of Dual Cultivation tortured to death?"


    "It''s likely."


    "How could someone like this be considered a Buddha? He''s the worst of demonic cultivators!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "As far as the history of Buddhist cultivation goes, there were plenty of past eras of righteous, just monks; benevolent ones; and charitable ones. The era of the Three Buddhas, of the golden lotus hoods, is the darkest, most shameful period in Buddhist history. You might think the Buddha of Dual Cultivation bad, but that''s because you haven''t seen how the other Buddhas of the era turned the human world into hell. Of the countless erasid to waste by the heavens, that of the Three Buddhas deserved it most. All of them ought to die."


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "Senior, we should try to find the princess as soon as we can. She might have the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat to protect her, but I''m still worried for her safety."


    The temple was particrlyrge. Deep within a secluded part of it was a pink barrier surrounded with pink fog. What looked like pink chains were binding a giant praying mat.


    Mo Lengxuan stood beside them, along with a group of veiled women. They all possessed incredible beauty. Though Zhang Lingjun outshone them all, the difference was hardly significant. Their translucent, diaphanous gowns exuded a sensual charm.


    They were standing respectfully behind a pink-d monk, whom they looked toward with awe and adtion.


    The pink-d monk asked, "That cultivator we just caught mentioned Zhang Lingjun. Have we been discovered?"


    "Please don''t worry, Buddha of Dual Cultivation. That was my father''s subordinate, who inquired why we captured Zhang Lingjun. I''ve sent him away."


    The pink-d monk, the Buddha of Dual Cultivation,ughed. "I didn''t want to catch Zhang Lingjun, but I couldn''t help myself. Given what you told me urred on Thousand-Spirit Ind, I deduced that the praying mat that Zhang Lingjun possessed would be an incredible treasure¡ªand it is."


    "What''s so special about it?"


    "Would you believe me if I told you that there was a cursed king within it?"


    "It''s a cursed effigy?!"


    The Buddha of Dual Cultivation shook his head. "It''s like a cursed effigy, but also unlike one. It''s very special. I can sense that there''s a tremendous secret hidden within it. ording to your information, it might be rted to the Taiqing Grandmaster, who lived ten thousand years ago. When I imed the praying mat just now, I felt tremendous resistance¡ªperhaps the will of that very man himself."


    "Oh?"


    "Although I haven''t fully analyzed this treasure, I''m sure it''s a supreme treasure of this era. I want it."


    "Of course, Buddha of Dual Cultivation, but why haven''t you killed Zhang Lingjun? Is she particrly special?"


    "Of course. The fact that she was recognized by the praying mat is a clear sign that her constitution is extraordinary. In my prime, I would have sacrificed anything to obtain a woman like her. She would have boosted my cultivation at an incredible pace."


    "Did the Taiqing Grandmaster ept her as disciple with suchscivious intentions in mind, too?"


    "Perhaps not. Her constitution provides her with a tremendous array of other benefits. Perhaps the Taiqing Grandmaster wanted to possess her, to pass on his legacy without any malicious intent, or for other reasons entirely."


    "Oh?" Mo Lengxuan was taken by surprise.


    "This praying mat suffices for me. For helping me out, why don''t I grant you this woman?" the Buddha of Dual Cultivation proposed, ncing at Mo Lengxuan.


    "Grant her to me?" Mo Lengxuan tensed, certain that there was some deeper meaning to the Buddha''s actions.


    "I do want her, but she''s been cursed. No cursed spiritual power can draw near, not even with a physical body as barrier. If I''m not mistaken, the Heavenly Emperor Yu Fuli must have cursed her himself to protect her."


    "If you can''t touch her, can I?"


    "This curse only affects cursed effigies, and you aren''t one. What''s more, her kidnapping will surely cause trouble down the line. Why don''t you share my burden? If you im the woman for yourself, your father will help shield us from me, and the Three Buddhas won''t censure me unduly." The Buddha of Dual Cultivationughed.


    "But¡ª"


    "Mo Lengxuan, the deed is done. What are you hesitating about? I''ve trapped Zhang Lingjun within the Phoenix Hall and cast a curse of affection on her. Not only that, I''ve imparted my peerless dual cultivation technique to her. Spend a night with her and she''ll be yours in heart and body."


    Mo Lengxuan frowned, considering the danger of such a course of action.


    "Don''t worry. Once the curse of affection takes effect, no one will be able to undo it, and you''ll be a couple thereafter. Your cultivation will surely soar. She''s a woman of tremendous beauty¡ªit''s a bargain. Go on. My disciples will lead you there."


    "Please follow me, Sir Mo." A woman behind the Buddha of Dual Cultivation stepped forward and beckoned to Mo Lengxuan.


    Mo Lengxuan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "In that case, please continue to guide me in the future, Buddha of Dual Cultivation."


    "Haha, well said! Now, go!" The Buddha of Dual Cultivationughed.


    Mo Lengxuan nodded. A few of the Buddha''s women led him throughyers of pink fog to a remote hall of the temple. As they walked down a long corridor, Xiao Nanfeng and Emperor Feng, hidden in the darkness, noticed them.


    "It''s Mo Lengxuan!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes suddenly lit up.

 Chapter 558: Phoenix Hall

    <h4>Chapter 558: Phoenix Hall</h4>


    TW: Rape


    A few of the Buddha''s women led Mo Lengxuan past corridor after corridor until they reached Phoenix Hall. No one expected that there would be two figures following them.


    The group stopped before the doors to arge hall.


    One of the women said, "This is Phoenix Hall, and Zhang Lingjun lies within. Please enjoy your time with her, Sir Mo."


    Mo Lengxuan''s eyes lit up with anticipation. "Do I simply need to enter? What else should I do?"


    One woman smiled coyly. "Sir Mo, are you in need of some hands-on tutorials on how to enjoy yourself with women?"


    Mo Lengxuan nced at the voluptuous women, their bodies only a sheeryer of diaphanous fabric away. His face flushed, but he knew that these women were allpanions of the Buddha of Dual Cultivation. He didn''t dare make a move on them.


    "There''s no need. I can do so myself," Mo Lengxuan said.


    The women shared a smile. Just then, amotion came from afar.


    Everyone whirled around in surprise.


    "You intend to struggle, praying mat? Do you think I''ll let you go free? Disciples, return to my side and help me suppress this treasure!" the Buddha of Dual Cultivation shouted.


    By the entrance to Phoenix Hall, the women nced at each other. One began, "Sir Mo, please enter Phoenix Hall. We''ll have to return to Master."


    They strode off quickly.


    Suddenly, a goldenunched itself at them. Everyone dodged after a momentary bout of surprise.


    "Who''s there?!" the women demanded.


    The had caught three of the women with the weakest cultivation.


    Simultaneously, the ck lotus surrounded itself with ck fog and absorbed a woman into its midst. It released death chants that echoed around the temple.


    Emperor Feng drew his de, shing at the final woman. Her robes parted as blood fountained from her.


    "A Golden Immortal cursed effigy!" Emperor Feng eximed.


    "Death chants? Who are you?" that woman cried out.


    The woman Emperor Feng had attacked didn''t die. Rather, she pulled out a rod-shaped relic and defended herself from his attack.


    "With a Golden Immortal relic, too?" Emperor Feng swung his sword in a blitz.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng shed downward with his de. "Die!"


    The sh of energy, infused with incredible power, shot straight toward Mo Lengxuan.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What are you doing here?" Mo Lengxuan shouted, defending himself with a palm.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s de struck Mo Lengxuan''s palm in a howling tempest. However, Emperor Feng had erected a barrier around them, so no noise from the fighting leaked out.


    After Mo Lengxuan blocked Xiao Nanfeng''s attack, Xiao Nanfeng charged forward. The two cultivators were mired in the fight.


    Shortly thereafter, Mo Lengxuan cried out as he was sent flying. The death chants slowed his reflexes and gave Xiao Nanfeng the opportunity to cut off one of his arms.


    "Where''s the princess? Tell me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Mo Lengxuan nched. He reached out into his robes and tossed a red jewel at Xiao Nanfeng. "Orb of earthme, go!"


    A ming dragon emerged from the orb of earthme and rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem fearful at all. He allowed the ming dragon to charge straight at him.


    Suddenly, Mo Lengxuan felt the orb vanish from his hand.


    "What?" Mo Lengxuan eximed.


    As it vanished, the ming dragon dissipated. A de gleamed as Mo Lengxuan''s other arm was cut off.


    Screaming in pain, Mo Lengxuan turned tail and fled, only to see Xiao Nanfeng storing the orb of earthme he had plucked from Mo Lengxuan and giving chase. "You won''t get away!"


    "Impossible. How did you manage to steal my pearl? Why didn''t I notice a thing?!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.


    He could recall that the orb of earthme vanished when Xiao Nanfeng was still some distance away from him. It was as if the orb had leapt across spacetime, but how was that possible?


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, shing forward with his de.


    The death chants slowed Mo Lengxuan once more as he attempted to escape. The dended, chopping off both his legs in bursts of blood.


    Mo Lengxuan fell to the ground as he screamed, a torso lying in a pool of blood. He stared fearfully at Xiao Nanfeng as thetter charged over.


    "Don''t kill me! Zhang Lingjun''s in Phoenix Hall, right over here! Don''t kill me!"


    The entrance to Phoenix Hall was right beside Xiao Nanfeng. He nced in that direction, rxing, but Mo Lengxuan was an enemy he couldn''t spare. He made to attack him again.


    "No! I''m the son of the prime minister of Dayin. If you kill me, my father would surely take revenge. You can''t kill me!" Mo Lengxuan howled.


    With a snick, Mo Lengxuan''s head was sent flying in another spurt of blood. His yin body left his physical one immediately as he tried to flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed at Mo Lengxuan for a final time.


    "No!" Mo Lengxuan''s yin body cried out.


    His yin body shattered and dispersed.


    After having killed Mo Lengxuan, Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the rest of the fighting.


    Emperor Feng was stronger than his opponent. He had grievously wounded the woman he was facing. Then, he caught the woman and began to absorb the roiling energy of her body, causing her to transform into a golden lotus hood. Emperor Feng imed and easily attuned to her Golden Immortal relic as well.


    Clearly dissatisfied, he then strode toward the three women who had been caught in the golden. He wounded them with the crescent sword, then hauled the in and began to absorb their energy as well. They transformed into three golden lotus hoods.


    "I don''t have any use for these cursed spiritual avatars. Take them," Emperor Feng said.


    By then, the ck lotus had finished devouring the Golden Immortal woman. It sucked up the four golden lotus hoods that Emperor Feng proffered and devoured them as well.


    With a wave of his hand, Emperor Feng caused the barrier around them to disperse.


    A loud rumble came from afar, vigorous fighting seemingly underway.


    "Come on. Let''s go!" Emperor Feng said.


    "No, we shouldn''t. Zhang Lingjun''s in this hall. We should retreat immediately now that we''ve found her," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He didn''t want to remain in this temple. The few cursed effigies that they had encountered had been incredibly strong. How much stronger would the Buddha of Dual Cultivation be? If they were to head over now, they might well die.


    Emperor Feng demanded, "Leave? Finding this Buddha''s Grotto took significant effort. Why should we leave just like this? The Buddha of Dual Cultivation is likely at a stalemate, so it''s a good opportunity tounch a sneak attack. You must follow me."


    The ck lotus countered, "Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation isn''t strong enough, and it would be easy for him to be taken advantage of if he were to remain. Have him flee with Zhang Lingjun for now. I''ll apany you."


    Emperor Feng frowned, but ultimately eded. He looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll catch up with youter."


    Then, he and the ck lotus charged toward the battlefield afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the information he had picked up from that conversation. Had Emperor Feng been looking for Buddha''s Grottos all this time?


    He bowed toward the ck lotus who was flying away as he walked into Phoenix Hall.


    The fighting had been rather intense, but Phoenix Hall''s exterior seemedpletely unaffected.


    He carefully pushed at the doors, probing them to ensure that there would be no danger within, before opening them wide.


    There was some light filtering into the hall, along with a dense cloud of pink fog.


    Because there was also arge quantity of pink fog outside the hall, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t too suspicious. He could see a jade tform at the center of the hall on which shes of Zhang Lingjun''s body could be seen. Chains bound her and rendered her immobile.


    He ensured again that there was no one else within the hall before he stepped inside. As he did so, the doors mmed shut.


    He frowned and turned to investigate, confirming that the doors had only shut due to a standard formation.


    He inhaled a whiff of the pink fog in the hall and suddenly grew flustered.


    "Something''s wrong," he murmured.


    He sealed his breathing immediately, but the pink fog seemed able to pass through his qi barrier and his skin readily. He frowned as he hurried to Zhang Lingjun''s side.


    All around the hall were lifelike murals depicting a man and a woman nude and tangled together.


    As Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the jade tform on which Zhang Lingjuny, he could hear some strange chanting in his ears¡ªnot the death chants to which he had grown ustomed, but something that left him flushed and flustered instead.


    "It''s disrupting my mind¡ªdamn it," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    He sealed his hearing, but the chants seemed to resonate directly with his mind, his heart. No matter what he did, he couldn''t seem to nullify their effect. His pupils dted.


    Knowing that staying too long within the hall was a mistake, he rushed up to Zhang Lingjun''s side and prepared to leave with her.


    Zhang Lingjun''s cultivation seemed to be sealed. Her eyes were wide open, but she was biting down on her lips. Her cheeks were flushed, her pupils roaming.


    When she saw Xiao Nanfeng, however, her frown abated. As though relieved of a great burden, she sighed. "Thank goodness it''s you, Xiao Nanfeng."


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. "Princess, something''s wrong. Have you been drugged?


    He cut apart the chains binding Zhang Lingjun with his de, freeing her. Zhang Lingjun reached up for him, caught him tightly, and pressed her alluring lips to his.


    The chants that resonated with Xiao Nanfeng''s heart suddenly seemed to magnify in volume, leaving him dazed. Pink fog surged into their bodies, surrounding them both.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, still situated in Yongding, dropped everything he was doing and entered secluded cultivation.


    "I''ve been caught in its effect as well!" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar eximed.


    He did his best to resist the infatuation that filled his heart and body, but was ovee within moments.


    Back in Phoenix Hall, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body caressed Zhang Lingjun''s tender figure. The murals on the walls of the hall appeared in his mind''s eye as he began to cultivate imitating the figures in the murals...

 Chapter 559: Awakening

    <h4>Chapter 559: Awakening</h4>


    After an interminable period of time, the pink fog within Phoenix Hall and the unusual chanting vanished. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun awoke from a bleary haze, still tangled together in rendition of the wall murals. Shreds of their clothing were scattered around them.


    Both cultivators startled awake and quickly distanced themselves from one another. They retrieved new sets of clothes from their storage treasures and put them on before looking at each other again.


    For some reason, even so, their gaze was filled with affection for one another.


    Xiao Nanfeng sensed that he loved Zhang Lingjun deeply. Just looking at her gave him incredible warmth; he was certain she would be hispanion through cultivation in this life.


    "Lingjun," Xiao Nanfeng called out gently.


    "Nanfeng," Zhang Lingjun replied, equally gently.


    Love and affection suffused them both. They caressed each other again, feeling their heartbeats pulse in sync.


    Xiao Nanfeng vaguely knew that something was wrong with his emotions, but he was unable to control himself.


    Just then, a certain part of his body trembled and formed an unusual suction that absorbed the pink aura within his body. His eyes turned clear, limpid.


    He quickly recalled all that had happened to date as he released and stepped back from Zhang Lingjun. He nched. "A curse of affection? How could it be?"


    He had been struck by a curse of affection with the Divine Emperor once before within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. Then, the Spirit Emperor had used red flowers to invoke a curse of affection and mired him and the Divine Emperor in a dreamscape, where they had made love to one another. Then, as his unusual truesoul absorbed the energy from the cursepletely, he and the Divine Emperor awoke.


    He now understood that the pink aura and unusual chanting manifested essentially the same effects as the curse of affection, targeting both him and Zhang Lingjun. This time, however, it had urred in reality rather than in a dreamscape. Furthermore, he deeply remembered all that had transpired over thest few hours.


    Zhang Lingjun was still trapped by the curse andvishing her affection on him. On the other hand, his truesoul had devoured the remnant energy of the curse, clearing his mind and allowing him to awaken.


    "Wake up, Princess! No, hold on, let me see if I can dispel the curse from you as well."


    He tentatively ced his palm on Zhang Lingjun''s shoulder as she caressed his palm with her own, ncing at him in a loving haze.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced awkwardly. He was unable to absorb the curse of affection from Zhang Lingjun''s body at all. As he watched her gaze turn toward carnal pleasures, he was at a loss as to what to do.


    Just then, a huge bang could be heard from nearby.


    Phoenix Hall seemed to have been struck by incredible force. Its walls exploded as a red figure attacked Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Something''s wrong!"


    The red figure sent him flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.


    "The praying mat..." Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body smashed through boulders and the earth itself as he struck the ground. Before he could mber up, he could sense the enraged praying mat shoot toward him again.


    Zhang Lingjun immediately rushed forward, defending Xiao Nanfeng with her own body. "Grandmaster, why are you attacking Xiao Nanfeng? You''ll have to kill me before you kill him!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped at the praying mat. He couldn''t see anyone on it. Why was Zhang Lingjun addressing it as the Taiqing Grandmaster? Could he be on the praying mat and attempting to kill him right now?


    The praying mat vibrated. A gust of crimson wind formed around it, shunting Zhang Lingjun aside as the praying mat approached Xiao Nanfeng again, ready to kill him.


    "No!" Zhang Lingjun shouted hoarsely.


    However, she was unable to draw near. Just as the praying mat was about to strike, a fishing line appeared in the air. The fish hook curled around the praying mat and held it firm in the air.


    "Taiqing Grandmaster, do you intend to kill one of my Martial Aspects?" A familiar voice resounded within the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized Yu Fuli''s voice immediately.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao Nanfeng greets the Heavenly Emperor!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood that Yu Fuli had to be seated by his small pond, that he had cast his fishing rod down into this hall.


    The praying mat radiated with blinding light, as though the invisible Taiqing Grandmaster was having a conversation with Yu Fuli.


    "Oh? You im that Xiao Nanfeng has despoiled Lingjun?"


    "Heavenly Emperor, Grandmaster, the princess and I were struck with a curse of affection. My unique constitution managed to dispel the curse from me after the fact, but I was unable to free the princess from hers," Xiao Nanfeng reported immediately.


    The praying mat vibrated as if the Taiqing Grandmaster was fuming.


    Yu Fuli paused for a moment, as though attempting to discern the truth for himself. "Xiao Nanfeng isn''t to me for this. Rather, you failed to protect Lingjun adequately. If Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t rushed over in time, Mo Lengxuan would have been stricken by the curse instead. Lingjun bears Xiao Nanfeng goodwill, and she didn''t resist as strongly as she otherwise would have. Xiao Nanfeng isn''t to me."


    The praying mat released another burst of crimson light; the Taiqing Grandmaster didn''t seem pleased by this pronouncement.


    "I know how you feel, but Lingjun''s my granddaughter, not a puppet by which you might return to the world. You have no right to im all that she is. If this displeases you, you might well find another cultivator to whom you are fated. You chose Lingjun knowing that I would never let you control herpletely," Yu Fuli warned.


    Only then did the praying mat relent, transforming back from the size of a millstone to its original size.


    "Don''t worry. There are many different curses of affection, and I can dispel ones of this level myself," Yu Fuli continued.


    The praying mat hovered around Zhang Lingjun and scanned her body before relenting and slowing down. It seemed to have verified the truth of Yu Fuli''s words.


    Zhang Lingjun pursed her lips. "Have I been stricken with a curse of affection? Even so, I don''t care. Grandmaster, please free me and allow me to be with Nanfeng!"


    The praying mat ignored Zhang Lingjun. Yu Fuli''s voice resounded in the hall again. "Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed.


    "You did well not to take advantage of Lingjun. I shall be retrieving her. You can take care of what remains there."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The fish hook caught Zhang Lingjun.


    "Heavenly Emperor, please allow me to be with Nanfeng!" Zhang Lingjun cried out.


    The hook shed and pierced through the void, causing Zhang Lingjun to vanish from sight. The praying mat disappeared in a sh as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood within a pile of ruins, contemting what had happened silently.


    Had he been struck by a curse of affection again? Now that he was clearheaded, he could review the memories of the past few hours that had been imprinted in his head.


    Suddenly, he blinked in surprise. "I broke through? The fifth stage of a Heaven Immortal¡ªhow?"


    He immediately sat cross-legged in meditation. It was true¡ªhis cultivation had advanced by a single stage! It didn''t seem like a huge increase, but his technique was immensely difficult to advance. In the past, he had devoured half a superior draconic vein to gain a single stage of advancement; now, however, after a few hours of... lovemaking... he had advanced out of nowhere.


    He scoured his memories to determine its cause.


    "Those wall murals within Phoenix Hall¡ªare they a pictorial representation of the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s secret technique? Was I cultivating it with Zhang Lingjun just now? No wonder the Taiqing Grandmaster wanted to im Zhang Lingjun as an official apprentice. It must be because of her constitution," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    He finally understood why the Buddha of Dual Cultivation was so interested in dual cultivation. His cultivation had advanced rapidly, and he was certain that the main reason for that was Zhang Lingjun''s unique constitution.


    After clearing his mind, he briefly cleaned up his surroundings before looking toward where Emperor Feng and the ck lotus had headed before he entered Phoenix Hall. How had that fight gone?


    Xiao Nanfeng decided to sneak over.


    Countless halls of the temple had been turned into ruins. Suddenly, he saw a figure standing amidst the dust¡ªEmperor Feng.


    An incredible aura surged forth from his body. His cultivation seemed to have advanced.


    There was no one else in the area save the ck lotus ensconced within ck fog. Seemingly having discovered Xiao Nanfeng, the ck lotus whooshed back into his mindscape.


    "Senior, what happened to everyone else?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "They''ve all been annihted."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was shocked.


    "Emperor Feng and I got lucky, I suppose. Otherwise, neither of us would have made it out."


    "What happened?"


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation was focused on suppressing that praying mat. It resisted and swelled up with energy, then ended up suppressing the Buddha of Dual Cultivation and all his disciples instead. Emperor Feng and I were easily able to dispatch them. He devoured all their cursed spiritual energy, while I consumed the cursed effigies and the golden lotus hoods. I''ve absorbed too much energy and will need to spend some time digesting it all. Emperor Feng''s in a simr situation."


    "All the cursed effigies have been annihted? That really is lucky!"


    "Quite so. I''ll leave the rest to you." The ck lotus fell deep into meditation.


    Emperor Feng had caught sight of Xiao Nanfeng as well. He strode over. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll be meditating. Bring me back."


    He tossed the crescent sword to Xiao Nanfeng as he vanished within it.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught the crescent sword.


    His surroundings were unnaturally still. There didn''t seem to be any danger remaining at all.

 Chapter 560: Rescuing the Women

    <h4>Chapter 560: Rescuing the Women</h4>


    Within the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto, Xiao Nanfeng wielded the crescent sword as he inspected his surroundings. There were only a few ordinary relics in sight, nothing special. He knew that Emperor Feng had to have imed everything good for himself.


    "That scumbag," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    The best thing to do now was to leave immediately lest another incident ur. Even so, he turned toward the prisons as a series ofplex emotions shed through his mind. In the end, he sighed.


    He walked toward the prisons.


    The women within trembled as they saw him.


    "Please don''t worry. I''ve handled all the demons around here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The women reacted differently. The majority didn''t believe him, knowing how vile and frightening their captors were, but a few watched him hopefully.


    "I''m sure you''re aware of your captors'' strength. They have many aplices, so despite the fact that I''ve taken care of them all, their aplices will surely seek revenge. I didn''t want to meddle, but I can''t bear to leave you all trapped. I intend to rescue you, but I ask that you cooperate with me."


    "Do you mean it?"


    "What do you want us to do?"


    A few of the women drummed up their courage and hoped that this was no lie.


    "I don''t want to cause trouble for myself, and I don''t want any of you to reveal what has happened. I need to seal your cultivation temporarily. Rx: I will not imprison you. I can arrange for all of you to live within a hidden realm, and I''ll unseal your cultivation there. Once the immediate danger is over, I''ll retrieve all of you from that hidden realm and allow you to go free. Will that be satisfactory?"


    The women nced at each other. They analyzed that the Buddha of Dual Cultivation wouldn''t need toe up with such an borate joke to torment them.


    Eventually, they nodded. One woman ventured, "If this is the truth, I thank you, Benefactor."


    "Thank you, Benefactor!" the women chorused.


    "Very good. I''ll free you one group at a time. There are a few women deeper in who are in varying states of undress and mental distress. I leave them in your care."


    He shed at the cells with his crescent sword, shattering their locks and freeing the women who had been chained. Some already had their cultivation sealed; others didn''t.


    As they emerged from their cells, they rushed around the prison to investigate what had happened. After confirming the truth of Xiao Nanfeng''s words, they began to cry¡ªsome in joy, others in relief, yet more in misery. In anger, they trashed what remained of the temple.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited patiently as he arranged for the nearby spectral guards to gather where he was.


    After the women had vented their emotions, they returned to help out those in particr distress, clothing and awakening those deeper within the prison, whose mental faculties had been damaged.


    Perhaps because of the death of the Buddha of Dual Cultivation, those women responded quickly. As they regained consciousness and learned of the truth, they too began to cry.


    Once all the women had settled down, they walked up to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed deeply. "Thank you again, Benefactor."


    "It was the right thing to do. I ask for your cooperation in what follows," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Please seal our cultivation, Benefactor!" one woman began.


    "Hold on for a moment. My subordinates will be here right away. You''ll leave alongside them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the women replied.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng nced at his crescent sword with a frown. Emperor Feng had hidden within to meditate, but could he still spy on the world atrge?


    If he were to use his candleme powers, would Emperor Feng sense them?


    He pursed his lips. How was he to leave?


    Just then, a huge rumble came from close by. The entire Buddha''s Grotto shook, as though a huge hole had opened up in it. Water began to rush in.


    Xiao Nanfeng btedly saw the praying mat.


    It hadn''t left with Zhang Lingjun; rather, it had been devouring the entire Buddha''s Grotto. A huge hole had appeared as a result, causing thekewater to rush in from the outside.


    The praying mat continued to absorb the grotto with so much suction that everything was shaking.


    The women massed together around Xiao Nanfeng, worried that the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s aplices had returned.


    Just then, dozens of figures flew in from the hole the praying mat had created¡ªthe spectral guards that Xiao Nanfeng had summoned.


    "We greet His Majesty!" the spectral guards shouted, bowing.


    Xiao Nanfeng pacified the women. "Don''t worry. These are all my subordinates."


    The women considered these so-called spectral guards curiously.


    "Seal their cultivation, take them into the undying realm, and unseal their cultivation there. I''ll have Mr. Zheng handle the rest," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The spectral guards stepped forward and sealed all the women''s cultivation again.


    Before long, they were ready.


    As the praying mat continued to devour the Buddha''s Grotto, it began to shake more and more violently.


    "Now, let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    With a wave of his sleeves, he sent everyone out of the grotto in a burst of air.


    In the world atrge, theke had vanished, reced by a huge pit. The cultivators flew out of the pit and emerged in the valley.


    "These grounds¡ªbone ash, blood-stained earth..." One of the women had startling eyesight and discovered the secret of the valley immediately.


    "My senior sister, my master''s wife..." Many of the women began to cry.


    Clearly, they hadn''t been caught alone. Many of the women they had been close to had been captives alongside them, but all of them had perished. There were no traces of them left behind save the rusty-red earth.


    The women were chilled. Faced with whaty before them, they knew very well what would have happened had Xiao Nanfeng not rescued them.


    "Thank you, Benefactor!" The women found themselves bowing to Xiao Nanfeng again and again.


    "Leave quickly. It''s dangerous here," Xiao NAnfeng warned.


    "Understood!" the women replied.


    The spectral guards surrounded the women and themselves with fog as they flew off.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared into the pit, as though awaiting the praying mat.


    After some time, when the praying mat had devoured the Buddha''s Grottopletely, Xiao Nanfeng bowed as it flew out of the pit. "I greet the Taiqing Grandmaster."


    The praying mat ignored Xiao Nanfeng and vanished as it flew into the skies.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He headed back into the pit and found several trace remnants of the grotto that he destroyed. After ensuring that nothing was left behind, he too flew out of the pit and vanished from sight.


    He didn''t immediately return to the capital of Dayin. Rather, he found a secluded forest up on the mountains far from the area, dug a cave, sealed it, and entered secluded cultivation.


    He checked the treasures he had obtained from the Buddha''s Grotto thoroughly again, along with those from Mo Lengxuan''s corpse. After he was certain there were none that could track him, he rxed.


    Within Mo Lengxuan''s storage treasure were a few manuals and tokens that he considered particrly important, but no relics of the sort that would astound him. The only one which he eyed was the orb of earthme that he had seized from Mo Lengxuan''s hand.


    After careful inspection, he discovered that the orb was a Golden Immortal treasure.


    If not for Mo Lengxuan''s carelessness, and if not for his ess to his candleme powers, the oue of the fight could have been very different.


    The orb of earthme contained incredible fire-attuned energy, and a ming dragon''s souly within. It seemed to possess boundless might.


    He understood that if he were to use that treasure, it would be akin to revealing that Mo Lengxuan had died at his hand.


    In that case, he would simply absorb the mes thaty within. Countless fire-attuned energy rushed out of the orb and surged toward his body.


    The mes contained incredible energy, precisely what he needed.


    The ten golden crows within his body were furiously gulping down those mes and distilling them into pure energy. Golden radiance seeped out from him as his Imposing Avatar of Ri grew stronger and stronger, as did his Jade Emperor''s Frame.


    It took him four hours before he exhausted the energy within the orb of earthme, and his body resonated as a gust of energy emanated from it.


    His eyes were aze when he opened them. "The sixth stage of the Heaven Immortal realm!"


    He released a breath, happy with his progress. Only then did he stand up, push aside the rocks that had sealed the cave, and emerged.


    He flew toward a nearby city, shrouded himself with fog, and bought robes simr to those that Zhao Yuanjiao had worn. Then, he finally flew back to the capital of Dayin.


    He made one loop along the outskirts of the capital before showing himself, having disguised his appearance as Zhao Yuanjiao''s. He recruited a few purple-furred monsters to help him get back into the capital and his guest ind there.


    When Zhao Yuanjiao saw Xiao Nanfeng return, he asked, "Was everything sessful?"


    "Indeed." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Just then, Emperor Feng emerged from the crescent sword. He red at Xiao Nanfeng. "You really are sly. Hmph!"


    Then, he possessed Zhao Yuanjiao and ignored Xiao Nanfeng as he headed to a nearby hall to continue his secluded cultivation.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. He had just confirmed that Emperor Feng had been hiding in the crescent sword, waiting for him to reveal some of his secrets. Fortunately, he had been on guard and revealed nothing.

 Chapter 561: Put to Action

    <h4>Chapter 561: Put to Action</h4>


    Although Zhang Lingjun had now been rescued, Xiao Nanfeng''s involvement in the Buddha''s Grotto couldn''t be revealed. Xiao Nanfeng had the purple-furred monsters continue searching for Zhang Lingjun in the outskirts of the capital.


    The countless cultivators of the capital of Dayin quickly realized what was going on. Had Zhang Lingjun gone missing?


    In a small, secluded cottage within the city, Ao Shuai gaped upon hearing his subordinates'' reports. "I thought Xiao Nanfeng was smarter than this, but he''s lost Zhang Lingjun after just a few days. What a joke he is."


    "I think this is retaliation for Xiao Nanfeng having sullied Dayin''s reputation," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost suggested.


    Ao Shuai smirked. "That''s why I''m saying Xiao Nanfeng shouldn''t y with fire."


    However, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost then shook his head as he frowned. "No, it''s not quite so simple."


    "Oh?"


    "Master, we can''t stay here any longer. If Dayin can''t even tolerate such a small slight, then they''ve clearly umted sufficient resources and are about to make a move."


    "What move? Dayin''s... rebellion?!" Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. He had finally guessed what was going on.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sighed. He nodded, finally revealing the truth to Ao Shuai.


    Suddenly, Ao Shuai understood his father''s intentions to date. He asked, "If the divine empire of Dayin were to rebel, it would surely kill any envoys of the Imperial Court on its territory to announce it to the world, wouldn''t it?"


    "Precisely."


    "No wonder Xiao Nanfeng isn''t getting punished for neglecting this mission. In other words, Xiao Nanfeng has trapped himself in Dayin, hasn''t he? Dayin won''t let him leave even if he tries to!"


    "Indeed. He''s done for. Given what just happened, however, it''s clear that Dayin''s rebellion is imminent. We can''t stay, either."


    Ao Shuai shook his head. "No. I want to see Xiao Nanfeng die with my own eyes. No one knows that we''re hidden here, and we''ll be very safe."


    "But what if something were to happen, Master?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s like a cockroach. He might have a means of saving himself, and I won''t be satisfied if he manages to run off. I''d like to keep an eye on him¡ªand I have his nemesis with me."


    "Master, you can''t attack a Martial Aspect. If anyone finds out, nobody will be able to save you," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "Don''t worry. I wouldn''t be that foolish," Ao Shuai replied.


    Three dayster, Mo Shanhe arrived at a valley, where he peered into a pit where the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto had been.


    His subordinates checked the surroundings, only to find nothing of interest whatsoever.


    "Is there no trace of the perpetrator whatsoever?" Mo Shanhe frowned.


    "Nothing at all. It''s all been wiped clean," one of his subordinates reported.


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation and his disciples were here. How could they have vanished out of nowhere?"


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation would never leave with such short notice. What''s more, the entire Buddha''s Grotto vanished, leaving no trace behind. Something is clearly wrong."


    "Oh?"


    "Prime Minister, did you notice something?"


    Mo Shanhe frowned. "The Buddha''s Grotto on Thousand-Spirit Ind was absorbed by the praying mat that Zhang Lingjun possesses. What if the same thing happened here?"


    "Prime Minister, you mean that Zhang Lingjun was freed, and whoever freed her destroyed this ce and had the praying mat absorb the Buddha''s Grotto?"


    "That must be so. If we can find Zhang Lingjun, we''ll be able to determine the truth of what transpired here. Assign everyone to scout the area¡ªand keep a close eye on Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    There was nothing else to uncover here. Mo Shanhe returned to the capital of Dayin, his face dark and dour.


    Within Yin Tianci''s manor in Dayin, Tang eximed in ''surprise'', "Your Highness, you mean Mo Lengxuan might have died because he tried to kidnap Zhang Lingjun?"


    Yin Tianci nodded. "Mo Shanhe only has the one son. I don''t want to imagine how mad he must be."


    "Mo Lengxuan might have vanished, but how can we conclude that he''s dead?" Tang asked.


    Yin Tianci shook his head. "He''s certainly dead. Mo Shanhe has plenty of subordinates with esoteric powers who have confirmed it. However, no one knows who killed him yet."


    "Who else? It has to be Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng isn''t strong enough to deal with the Buddha of Dual Cultivation." Yin Tianci shook his head.


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation? You mean, the pink-robed monk who appeared beside Mo Lengxuan that one day?"


    "Right. I''m sure the culprit is some incredible expert. No one else would be able to destroy the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto sopletely."


    "Then it has to be Xiao Nanfeng, Your Highness! Don''t you remember what I said before? This is part of his scheme. He''s using Zhang Lingjun as bait to uncover Dayin''s secrets. Mo Lengxuan, that pig-headed fool¡ªhe was taken advantage of! Even if Xiao Nanfeng weren''t the one who finished him off, he''s surely the mastermind behind the entire affair."


    Yin Tianci''s eyes widened.


    "Your Highness, I think you had better inform the prime minister of this immediately. From your tone, I''m sure he''s privy to much of Dayin''s secrets, and might even be instrumental in handling them. Xiao Nanfeng has made his move. We can''t let him lead us by the nose! I don''t know how much damage Dayin suffered as a result of this, but we can''t let Xiao Nanfeng''s ns seed. We had better remind the prime minister of this."


    Yin Tianci nodded. "Mo Lengxuan is far too useless. If he were as careful as you are, the Imperial Court would never have managed to sidle its way into Dayin''s affairs. Come, let''s head to the prime minister''s manor."


    "Understood!" Tang replied.


    Within a hall on Xiao Nanfeng''s guest ind, the Emperor Feng-possessed Zhao Yuanjiao was drinking tea as he nced at an exasperated Xiao Nanfeng not too far away.


    "Haven''t you found the princess yet?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "We haven''t found a single trace of her," a purple-furred monster replied anxiously.


    "Keep searching. Increase the scope of the search, and have the information brokers within the city put out feelers as well, no matter the cost!"


    "Understood!" The purple-furred monster rushed out of the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s exasperation cleared away the moment it did so.


    "You really are a skilled actor. If I didn''t know that you hid Zhang Lingjun somewhere safe, I might have been tricked myself."


    "Please don''t mind, Senior. Although the princess is safe now, we can''t let it be known that we''ve found her. The purple-furred monsters are loyal and would keep the secret, but they''re not necessarily good actors. Only by hiding the truth will we be safe. I don''t want to cause too much trouble."


    Emperor Feng sneered. "You don''t want to cause trouble? You''re the one causing all the trouble."


    "Hardly, Senior!" Xiao Nanfengughed in response. "I''m sure you managed to gain quite a bit from our expedition."


    Emperor Feng red at Xiao Nanfeng. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, you have more secrets than I expected."


    "Hardly, Senior."


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that Emperor Feng wanted to learn how he had managed to get into the Buddha''s Grotto, but he had no interest in letting Emperor Feng know at all.


    "Have your subordinates stop following me," he continued.


    "What do you mean, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Could Emperor Feng have learned of the spectral guards'' surveince? You Jiu himself led it.


    "I used to be an Immortal Emperor myself. Don''t you think I can identify when I''m being followed? I know roughly of the techniques of those spying on me. They''re the spectral guards from the fallen divine empire of Dawei, aren''t they? I met the Specter King myself a millennium ago. To think you would have inherited their foundations, too..."


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. Emperor Feng really had detected You Jiu''s presence, then.


    "Hardly, Senior. I only managed to obtain a scant portion of Dawei''s treasures." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "Emperor Wei''s Hegemon''s Fist was unparalleled in his time. Although that technique has since spread across the world, no one could reach his vaunted heights. Within the Buddha''s Grotto in which I was sealed, however, I could sense the refinement of your rendition of Hegemon''s Fist. Unless you received pointers from Emperor Wei himself, you would never have reached that level of skill. Furthermore, you even control the spectral guards of his kingdom. Need I say more?" Emperor Feng smirked again.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I was simply lucky to have attuned to the technique more than most, Senior. I hardly possess Dawei''s foundations."


    Emperor Feng''s face grew dour. "Are you really going to keep denying it?"


    "It''s the truth, Senior. Hegemon''s Fist resonated with me. Emperor Wei never gave me any pointers¡ªand he could hardly have, considering that he''s been dead for a millennium."


    Emperor Feng bore him no goodwill; why would he reveal his secrets to him?


    "Stop having your subordinates follow me," Emperor Feng repeated. "If you really want to know what I''ve been doing all this time, all you needed to do was ask."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "As you''ve seen, I have a secret technique that allows me to devour the strength of the cursed effigies subordinate to the Buddhas of Three Aspects. If I want to deal with Yin Shenhua and the Three Buddhas, I''ll need far more strength. That''s why I''ve been searching for Buddha''s Grottos to advance myself before taking revenge on Yin Shenhua. I''m sure your spectral guards have set up a strong informationwork. Do you know where more of these Buddha''s Grottos are located?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he analyzed Emperor Feng''s words. In the end, he concluded that Emperor Feng was telling the truth, at least partially. As for whether he had other designs in mind as well, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know.


    "Zhang Lingjun knows my secrets, and I wouldn''t ordinarily allow her out of my sight. If you can help me find more Buddha''s Grottos, I''ll let this matter slide."


    Emperor Feng believed that Xiao Nanfeng had hidden Zhang Lingjun, not that the Heavenly Emperor himself had taken her away.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment before he smiled. "It''s not hard for you to find more Buddha''s Grottos, Senior, as long as you''re willing to take the risk."


    "Oh?" Emperor Feng''s eyes lit up. He waited expectantly for Xiao Nanfeng to continue.

 Chapter 562: Protecting Tang

    <h4>Chapter 562: Protecting Tang</h4>


    In the prime minister''s manor within the capital of Dayin, Mo Shanhe red at Tang, whom Yin Tianci brought with him.


    He considered all that had happened once more and discovered an anomaly. How had the cultivators from the Imperial Court found Zhang Lingjun? Given the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s strength, he would surely have been able to kidnap Zhang Lingjun easily. In that case, it was likely that his subordinate had been the one who had exposed the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s whereabouts.


    And why had he sent a subordinate there? It was because Tang had nudged Yin Tianci to warn him!


    His son, Mo Lengxuan, had mentioned that Tang might be a spy for Xiao Nanfeng several times. Perhaps that really was the case.


    However, just now, Tang had pointed to Xiao Nanfeng as the culprit of Mo Lengxuan''s death. Mo Shanhe couldn''t help but re-evaluate the situation.


    Assume that Tang really was a spy for Xiao Nanfeng¡ªbut in that case, wasn''t it strange that all Tang talked about was trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng? He even logically deduced that Xiao Nanfeng might have been responsible for the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s destruction. Was that really what a spy would do?


    "What do you think we should do now, then?" Mo Shanhe asked Tang.


    "Since the cultivators of the Imperial Court have already made their move, there''s no need for us to be ethical, either. Find some reason to kill Xiao Nanfeng and take revenge for Sir Mo," Tang said.


    Mo Shanhe: ...


    Seeing Mo Shanhe''s pinched expression, Yin Tianci asked, "Prime Minister, surely you''re not suspicious of Tang as well?"


    Mo Shanhe fell deep in thought. He didn''t respond.


    "If Tang''s suggestions bother you, then forget it. Pretend we were never here," Yin Tianci said. He turned and beckoned, "Tang, the prime minister doesn''t wee our presence. Let''s go!"


    Mo Shanhe immediately replied, "Please calm down, Your Highness. I don''t suspect Tang. I''m simply thinking about the practicality of what Tang proposed."


    "Ah?" Yin Tianci was perplexed.


    "Tang, you im to want to kill Xiao Nanfeng. Are you aware that this would be ruining all diplomatic rtions with the Imperial Court?" Mo Shanhe asked.


    "That would hardly be ideal, Prime Minister." Tang shook his head.


    "Oh? Are you intending to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng, then? Do you think the Imperial Court won''t be able to find out that we''re responsible if that happens?"


    Mo Shanhe wasn''t particrly invested in killing Xiao Nanfeng right away, because he believed that Xiao Nanfeng was at most a factor of the plot that ended in his son''s death. He was simply probing Tang.


    "We can''t assassinate him, and we can''t kill him outright¡ªbut we can have Xiao Nanfeng kill himself. No one can take umbrage then."


    "Oh?" Yin Tianci and Mo Shanhe both looked toward Tang in surprise.


    "Dayin is right about to host a martial tournament involving the lower three grades of Immortal cultivators. Death and injury aremonce in such tournaments; we could hardly be med for Xiao Nanfeng''s death then."


    "What nonsense is this?" Mo Shanhe frowned. "Why would Xiao Nanfeng choose to participate in a martial tournament of Dayin than be a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court?"


    "Prime Minister, you''re responsible for hosting the tournament, aren''t you? You could easily change the rules. The top cultivator is ted to be an official of Dayin, but can''t you offer a relic as an alternate prize instead? Then, we can im that Xiao Nanfeng was tempted to participate because of the relic that he would stand to gain. You would be able to manipte his death then," Tang continued.


    "Would a single relic be able to attract Xiao Nanfeng''s attention?" Mo Shanhe asked, dubious.


    "Not necessarily, but that''s an excuse the public would believe. We could, in addition, send a note to Xiao Nanfeng stating that he would have to participate if he wants to know where Zhang Lingjun is."


    "Didn''t Zhang Lingjun run off?" Mo Shanhe frowned.


    "She did, but Xiao Nanfeng''s pretending not to know, isn''t he? He gives off the impression of caring greatly for her. Now that there''s an avenue by which he might be able to get news about her, will he participate in the tournament, or not?"


    Mo Shanhe narrowed his eyes. "If Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t participate, that could very well imply that he knows that Zhang Lingjun has been rescued, that he''s only putting on an act. Even if he isn''t the mastermind behind my son''s death, he''s likely to have yed a major role in it."


    "Indeed. If we can confirm that, we would be able to find some way to reveal the truth to the public and ruin Xiao Nanfeng and the Imperial Court''s reputation for good. After that point, you could force the Imperial Court to assign me to Xiao Nanfeng for his actions, Prime Minister, then find an opportunity to assassinate him with much less blowback."


    Mo Shanhe frowned. Tang''s n was intricate, but it really did stand a chance of working.


    "On the other hand, if Xiao Nanfeng is innocent and does care deeply about Zhang Lingjun''s safety, it''s likely he will participate."


    "But what if Xiao Nanfeng thinks the tournament too dangerous despite the fact that he''s unaware of what happened to Zhang Lingjun?"


    "I''vee up with a sufficient reason for you, Prime Minister. As for how much you want to invest to entice Xiao Nanfeng, that''s up to you. Sir Mo has been obsessed with killing Xiao Nanfeng, and I believe you ought to satisfy him in death," Tang replied.


    Mo Shanhe frowned and fell silent once more. Tang really did seem to be obsessed with Xiao Nanfeng''s death, even if he was innocent in Mo Lengxuan''s murder.


    What sort of spy would he be if that were the case? Could Tang and Xiao Nanfeng really have no secret affiliation at all? If he weren''t the one who exposed the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s location, who could it be?


    "I''ll consider your suggestion carefully," Mo Shanhe replied, nodding.


    "As I said, Prime Minister, Tang is fully loyal to Dayin. Please rx," Yin Tianci said.


    On Xiao Nanfeng''s guest ind, Emperor Feng stared ardently at Xiao Nanfeng. "Do you have the means to find more Buddha''s Grottos?"


    "Your initial method won''t work. You need to find people who are in the know," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh?"


    "Don''t you think the prime minister of Dayin, Mo Shanhe, would know where the Buddha''s Grottos are?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "His son is affiliated with the Buddha of Dual Cultivation, so he''s surely privy to the details. What''s more, with Yin Shenhua supposedly in secluded cultivation, Mo Shanhe is responsible for the majority of Dayin''s affairs. He''s surely intimately familiar with the kingdom''s secrets," Emperor Feng summarized.


    "So why don''t you catch Mo Shanhe and interrogate him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Ha!" Emperor Feng scoffed.


    "Am I mistaken?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''m aware that capturing Mo Shanhe will allow me to find the Buddha''s Grottos, but do you think that''s feasible? He has countless guards surrounding him, multiple of whom are Golden Immortals. Not only that, he hasn''t left the capital of Dayin recently. If I make a move and identally reveal myself, the entire city will be roused to action."


    "But what if you do it beyond the capital?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Outside? Lay an ambush for him, you mean? Do you think he''s a fool? He only ever leaves the city in secret, and no one knows where he''s going." Emperor Feng shook his head, then narrowed his eyes. "No¡ªif you''re asking me something like that, then you must have some knowledge as to when he''d appear, and where."


    "If you''re interested, I can help youe up with something."


    "Of course I am. Anything that doesn''t involve making a move within the capital of Dayin. What do you propose?" Emperor Feng asked in surprise.


    "In that case, get ready. You''re not nning to barge over as is, are you?"


    Emperor Feng thought for a moment. "I''ll impersonate someone else when I execute my attack. Do you have any ideas in mind?"


    "How about a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court?"


    "Wouldn''t that cause additional trouble for you? Would they believe it? Wouldn''t they suspect you?" Emperor Feng eximed.


    "Don''t worry about that. I just need you to muddy the waters."


    "Very well." Emperor Feng shrugged.


    "Let''s conspire, then." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The reason he was nudging Emperor Feng to catch Mo Shanhe wasn''t to help him, but rather Tang.


    Tang had yed a rather prominent role when it came to finding Zhang Lingjun, one that his enemies might not overlook. He would have to help shore up Tang''s identity and loyalty to Dayin so that he was above suspicion.


    The n that he had decided on would not only benefit him, but help clear Tang''s name and upy Emperor Feng''s time, so thetter wouldn''t be so focused on Xiao Nanfeng''s purported secrets.


    As for dealing with Mo Shanhe, Xiao Nanfeng had nopunctions about it whatsoever. Mo Shanhe had assigned plenty of surveince to him; this might as well have been an imprisonment of sorts. Dayin was simply waiting to finish its final preparations before making a move on the Imperial Court, and they were bound to be enemies. Causing trouble for Mo Shanhe was certainly a reasonable course of affairs.


    Xiao Nanfeng patiently waited for his n to take root in earnest, as it did after several days.


    The next martial tournament that the capital of Dayin hosted was ted to ur in a mountain range to the east of the capital. The first-ce winner would be able to receive a position as official of Dayin and receive an incredible relic. Furthermore, this tournament was open to all cultivators to show off Dayin''s might. All cultivators were eligible to participate and im the relic as long as they were among the bottom three grades of Immortals, even if they weren''t interested in being an official of Dayin.


    "Ha! As expected, the rules of the martial tournament can be changed at will. To think that the top prize would be a pagoda of quintessential srfire... Mo Shanhe really does have a good understanding of my cultivation techniques, doesn''t he?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled in satisfaction.


    Dayster, a purple-furred monster rushed into the hall.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, we''ve found word about the princess! We received this letter, but saw no trace of the messenger. The princess'' pendant was within it."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng imed the letter.


    Indeed, her pendant was within.


    "This does belong to the princess. We specially had someone forge it for the princess as a birthday present years ago," the purple-furred monster confirmed.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened the letter to find a message: Xiao Nanfeng, if you want to learn of Zhang Lingjun''s whereabouts, participate in Dayin''s uing martial tournament. I await your presence.


    The contents of the letter were straightforward; Mo Shanhe had to be responsible. But where in the world did this jade pendante from?


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. The appearance of the pendant clearly meant that there were Dayin spies among Zhang Lingjun''s subordinates. Those spies might have recently imed her pendant from her manor and sent it to Mo Shanhe, all to convince him of the legitimacy of this ploy.


    "Dayin really is prepared to rebel..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    If not for this pendant, he wouldn''t have realized how much danger he was in.

 Chapter 563: Quelling Three Spirits

    <h4>Chapter 563: Quelling Three Spirits</h4>


    In a small cottage within Dayin''s capital, Ao Shuai gaped upon hearing one of his subordinates'' reports. "What? Xiao Nanfeng''s going to participate in Dayin''s martial tournament? Is he crazy?"


    "It''s true. Xiao Nanfeng just registered."


    "That doesn''t make sense. An envoy of the Imperial Court, representative of the Heavenly Emperor, participating in Dayin''s martial tournament? He''s going to ruin the Imperial Court''s reputation!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    Beside him, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t participate in such a tournament for no reason. There has to be somethingpelling to him."


    "Could it be the first-ce prize, that pagoda of quintessential srfire? Is he crazy? That might be a Golden Immortal relic that''spatible with his Sky of Ten Suns, but he represents the Imperial Court, the Heavenly Emperor!" Ao Shuai frowned.


    "This martial tournament is different from those in the past. Cultivators from all forces are wee to attend, and the first-ce winner doesn''t have to be an official of Dayin. This tournament is simply designed to showcase Dayin''s strength and power. Xiao Nanfeng can easily argue that he''s joining to disy the Imperial Court''s might."


    "But would he really join just for that?" Ao Shuai frowned again.


    "I believe there''s a reason that none of us are privy to."


    "Oh?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng has been busy trying to search for Zhang Lingjun. What do you think would make him suddenly join this tournament?"


    "Do you think that Zhang Lingjun''s disappearance is somehow rted to this tournament, then? That Xiao Nanfeng is joining out of obligation rather than choice?"


    "I''m not too sure. I don''t understand why Dayin would want to lure Xiao Nanfeng to the tournament. It feels like a scheme."


    "Oh? Isn''t that good for us?"


    "Not quite. If Dayin is intending to revolt soon, why go through so much trouble to kill the Imperial Court''s envoy? It would be far easier and more demonstrative to kill him directly, rather than to do it by ''ident'' in such an indirect fashion. Could they be trying to sully the Imperial Court''s reputation this way? That doesn''t seem quite right, either."


    "Regardless, it''s a good thing that they''re targeting Xiao Nanfeng." Ao Shuai smiled.


    "There may yet be a scheme at y," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "Even so, Xiao Nanfeng''s the one who would be caught in it, not us. I just want to watch him die!" Ao Shuai said.


    "Master, the situation is moreplex than it seems at first nce. You shouldn''t interfere."


    "Me, interfere?" Ao Shuai smiled, ignoring the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost''s advice. He had his own n in mind.


    Dayster, the martial tournament was right about to begin. It would be held at the mountain range outside the capital and to its east.


    Formation gs were set up all over the mountain range, erecting a huge barrier that marked the boundaries of the tournament. Because it would be a fight among Heaven Immortals with destructive power, the arena would have to bemensuratelyrge. That was why it had to be hosted outside the capital.


    Under ordinary circumstances, Dayin''s martial tournaments received significant attention. This incarnation of the tournament, however, was exceptional.


    First, the Golden Immortal relic was an incredible treasure that could form the centerpiece of many an Immortal sect. That alone drew the interest of many.


    Furthermore, winning the tournament didn''t require joining Dayin as an official. Many Immortals and cultivators from other kingdoms who weren''t otherwise interested in Dayin were tempted by the possibility of winning worldwide renown.


    Most shockingly, the envoy of the Imperial Court, Xiao Nanfeng, would be participating in the tournament himself.


    Although many imed that he was doing so to demonstrate the power of the Imperial Court, so what? A tournament that even a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court was participating in was shocking enough.


    Would this asion mark a face-off among countless Heaven Immortals worldwide to determine who was the strongest of all?


    Countless Dayin cultivators swarmed toward the tournament, as did other cultivators from various divine empires and Immortal sects across the world. All manner of cultivators were present as spectators, including even plenty of True Immortals as well.


    At the za beyond where the tournament was held, there were plenty of officials and soldiers of Dayin maintainingw and order. All participants had arrived by then, with Xiao Nanfeng''s presence most noteworthy among them.


    Behind Xiao Nanfeng were several purple-furred monsters, and before him stood Emperor Feng, possessing Zhao Yuanjiao. The two cultivators conversed with fog and a sound-isting barrier surrounding them.


    "You miscalcted. Mo Shanhe''s not part of this martial tournament at all. An official of Dayin is overseeing it instead," Emperor Feng said, frowning.


    "What''s the rush? The tournament hasn''t started, so of course Mo Shanhe wouldn''t be present just yet. Wait until I make a ruckus¡ªhe''ll surely appear then. Wouldn''t it be better for you to attack him at that point?"


    "Are you that confident?"


    "I''ve already set up everything for you. As for whether you can seed, that depends on you."


    "Very well. I''ll trust you this once. I''ll be leaving now¡ªI don''t want to be observed like a caged monkey, like you."


    "Hold on. Hand me back my golden and help me attune it for ease of use," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "I''ll safeguard it for you," Emperor Feng replied, unwilling.


    "It''s not hard to learn that I borrowed a golden relic from the Imperial Court. If I don''t show up with a goldenter, it''ll be strange.What''s more, even when you attack Mo Shanhe, you won''t be able to use that relic at all, or you''ll expose my involvement."


    "You don''t have to use the golden, either," Emperor Feng retorted.


    "Don''t be ridiculous. I put myself in danger to help you entrap Mo Shanhe. Do you really think there are only Heaven Immortals participating? If I die here, then neither of us will benefit."


    Emperor Feng pursed his lips before handing over the golden. "Here. I''ve attuned it for you¡ªjust channel your Immortal qi ording to the structure I''ve left behind to attune it immediately. Return it to me once you''re done with it."


    "I don''t begrudge you for having taken it in the past when you had no relics to your name, but do you intend to keep it despite having gained quite a few Golden Immortal or higher-grade relics from the Buddha of Dual Cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes.


    "You''re too weak to make full use of a Golden Immortal relic. I just don''t want treasures to be wasted," Emperor Feng replied.


    "And why should you care if I do? You really are shameless," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    After having interacted with Emperor Feng for so long, Xiao Nanfeng had grown far more casual with him, and Emperor Feng didn''t much mind either. He dispelled the sound-isting barrier and retreated with a group of purple-furred monsters. Not too longter, he and the purple-furred monsters split up, and both parties vanished from sight.


    Few paid attention to Zhao Yuanjiao, whom he had possessed. After all, those that did investigate Xiao Nanfeng''s background found that he was purportedly a rather weak cultivator who wasn''t worth any concern, and that carried over to Emperor Feng as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to where thepetitors of the tournament were situated.


    Thousands of participants had appeared in the za, some of whom were from Dayin and others from across the world. Everyone nced toward Xiao Nanfeng from time to time. After all, the seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court were renowned across the world. None expected that any Martial Aspect would only be a Heaven Immortal. Xiao Nanfeng had to be the weakest Martial Aspect in history!


    "Allpetitors, heed this announcement!" an official cried out.


    Everyone turned toward him.


    "This tournament will be straightforward. Do you see the pagoda of quintessential srfire and associated tokens floating in the air?" The official pointed within the barrier.


    Everyone looked over to see a hundred air bubbles floating within the barrier, each containing an object. The most eyecatching was a golden pagoda; the other bubbles all contained tokens numbered from 2 to 100.


    "The tournament willst for three days, andpetitors will be ranked by the smallest-numbered token they can im. Whoever seizes the pagoda of quintessential srfire will be deemed the winner of the tournament."


    "Understood!" thousands ofpetitors cried out.


    "Everyone, please show your paperwork and have your cultivation verified as you enter the tournament grounds.


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    Many officials were situated at the entrance to the tournament grounds. They were responsible for checking eachpetitor one final time to ensure that none of them were cheating.


    Not only did they need to have their identities confirmed, they would have to channel their qi into a relic to have their cultivation measured.


    Among thepetitors were Heaven, Earth, and Human Immortals. After the inspection, they all streamed into the tournament grounds.


    "Seal the barrier!" the official continued.


    The exit to the barrier was sealed, isting the tournament grounds from whatevery beyond it. None would be able to enter or exit at will.


    "The tournament begins now!" the official shouted again.


    "The pagoda of quintessential srfire is mine!"


    "Don''t you dare snatch it from me!"


    "It''s mine!"


    Countless cultivators howled as they charged forward.


    Many rushed to seize the treasure for themselves as the cultivators outside eagerly watched the spectacle. They were curious as to what the resulting fight would be like, as well as how strong the Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court truly was.


    As such, many of the cultivators were looking straight at Xiao Nanfeng, who was patiently waiting as overeagerpetitors rushed toward the pagoda. He swept his gaze over all the otherpetitors, watching them calmly.


    Just then, a group ofpetitors who were staring at Xiao Nanfeng shot toward him as he ''rxed''.


    "Die!"


    Three of thepetitors roared as they transformed into tiger spirits. Whirlwinds surrounded them as they shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, their ws like divine armaments. Where they passed by, the void seemed to tear. Xiao Nanfeng looked as though he would be rent to shreds.


    Many of the spectators gaped.


    "The three great spirits of Mt. Fiend! Their choreographed attacks form a dynamic formation that augments their strength..."


    "They''re trying to take down Xiao Nanfeng and get rid of thergest threat first!"


    "Together, the three tigers can even kill a peak Heaven Immortal. Xiao Nanfeng''s done for now."


    The cultivators couldn''t help but fear for Xiao Nanfneg''s safety.


    Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "Do you really think I''m here for the martial tournament? Reckless fools!"


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng summoned a huge palm from the void that smashed down and pressed the three tiger spirits into the ground in a huge plume of dust. They were rendered immobile instantly.

 Chapter 564: Killing All Who Resist

    <h4>Chapter 564: Killing All Who Resist</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng easily took down the three tiger spirits in the blink of an eye, shocking the spectators.


    "What a monster! Even though it was a sneak attack, Xiao Nanfeng''s attacknded first and easily suppressed his enemies!"


    "Is this how strong a Martial Aspect is? Xiao Nanfeng might only be a Heaven Immortal, but he''s incredible!"


    "Three Heaven Immortal tiger spirits¡ªand they weren''t able to defend against his attack at all!"


    Many spectators were astounded by the sight.


    Then, another batch of cultivators shot toward Xiao Nanfeng. They swung their weapons at him, sending sword shes his way like meteors falling from the sky, prepared to obliterate him.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem able to defend himself while suppressing the three tiger spirits¡ªuntil ten beams of golden light shot out of his body. With coordinated caws, ten golden crows emerged in a wave of fire, their ws as sharp as divine armaments, their feathers like an array of des. They struck down those who would dare attack Xiao Nanfeng.


    The attacks aimed at Xiao Nanfeng shattered as the ten golden crows shot forward, their feathers and ws iming the lives of the assants.


    Dozens of cultivators were torn to shreds, their blood raining down from the sky.


    "That''s ridiculous..."


    "Some of those cultivators were Heaven Immortals, weren''t they? Xiao Nanfeng took them all down in a single blow!"


    "Ten golden crows¡ªXiao Nanfeng might easily sweep the tournament!"


    All sorts of astonished cries came from outside the barrier.


    Even the official responsible for the tournament gulped in surprise.


    All thepetitors were watching Xiao Nanfeng now, surprise shing through their eyes.


    The three tiger spirits whom Xiao Nanfeng continued to suppress nced fearfully at him. One of them cried out, "Martial Aspect Xiao, please spare us. We were blinded by greed! Please, forgive us!"


    Xiao Nanfeng questioned the three of them. "Who instigated you to strike?"


    The three tiger spirits nched. One reported, "We did it ourselves. No one told us to. We wanted to finish off the greatest threat first so we could im the grand prize."


    "Do you think the likes of you are strong enough for the grand prize? Are you trying to insult my intelligence?!"


    "We really were¡ª"


    Three golden crows swooped down as they cawed, their ws piercing into the three tiger spirits'' bodies and causing them to shout in pain.


    Then, they soared into the air and held the three tiger spirits up there.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly called out, "The three of you, listen up. If you continue to insult my intelligence, don''t expect any mercy. Cough it up¡ªwho instigated you to strike at me? Tell me now and I''ll spare your lives."


    "No one!" a tiger spirit shouted.


    "Indeed? Let''s see if the mastermind cares, then. I''ll give you ten breaths within which to confess. If no one attempts to save you, I''ll kill you all."


    "One!"


    "Two!"


    As Xiao Nanfeng counted off, all the cultivators in the vicinity, spectators andpetitors alike, turned to watch the spectacle. Even those trying to fight for the pagoda nced around.


    The three tiger spirits were trussed up in the air by Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows and rendered wholly immobile. They could see the remnants of the cultivators who had attacked Xiao Nanfeng and knew that he was a man of his word. They nced at the mastermind, who seemed to have no intention of stepping forward, and nched.


    "Eight!"


    "Nine!"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued dispassionately.


    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk! Monk Jinguang had us attack you. He''s right there¡ªthat''s him!"


    "Mt. Fiend, ourir, is right beside the Jinguang Temple that he''s in charge of. The monks of that temple invaded Mt. Fiend, refusing to negotiate with us, and caught countless tiger spirits under our control. He has our wives and children, so I was forced to listen to his orders!"


    "Monk Jinguang forced us all to participate!"


    The three tiger spirits anxiously pointed in a certain direction where a monk was standing, his body glowing with a resplendent golden gleam. A sun emerged from his back, from which a three-legged crow stepped out. The monk knocked aside his fellowpetitors with his crow and caught the pagoda of quintessential srfire in one fell swoop.


    Whoever had the pagoda by the end of the tournament would receive the grand prize. That this monk had been able to im it so quickly was a clear indicator of his strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the monk and asked coldly, "Are you Monk Jinguang?"


    "Amitabha. I, Jinguang, greet Martial Aspect Xiao." The monk smiled.


    He flew toward Xiao Nanfeng with the pagoda of quintessential srfire in hand, the three-legged golden crow to his back gleaming with light.


    The otherpetitors in the vicinity who had intended on stepping forward held themselves back instead. They could all see that Monk Jinguang might very well end up in conflict with Xiao Nanfeng; in the best-case scenario, they would take each other out.


    "Were you looking for me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I simply wanted to test out how strong Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court are. You are skilled," Monk Jinguang replied.


    "Since you''ve been exposed, there''s no need for us to talk further, is there?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The next moment, three of his golden crows shot toward Monk Jinguang.


    Monk Jinguang narrowed his eyes. "Let''s see if your sunformed golden crow is stronger, or mine."


    The golden crow to his back shot forward as both parties'' golden crows struck at each other.


    His crow was sent careening back, its feathers torn to pieces. It didn''t seem to be a match for Xiao Nanfeng''s.


    "Three against one? Xiao Nanfeng, are cheap tricks all you can pull off? Let''s see how strong your crows are, then! Pagoda of quintessential srfire, seal!" Monk Jinguangmanded.


    The pagoda he held in his hand suddenly magnified in size. It released a dizzying array of mes that struck at Xiao Nanfeng''s three golden crows.


    How strong would a Golden Immortal relic be? The aura that emanated from Monk Jinguang left the otherpetitors shocked.


    "Can he use a Golden Immortal relic so easily? Doesn''t he need to attune to it at all?"


    "What a frightening relic..."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows are in danger."


    Many of thepetitors gaped.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng snapped his wrist, sending his golden forward and capturing the pagoda of quintessential srfire with it.


    The golden and pagoda released blinding golden light as they sought to overwhelm one another, a ming tempest forming around them. In the end, however, the pagoda won out.


    Monk Jinguang nched as he attempted to manipte the pagoda, but was unable to release it from the golden at all. He roared in outrage.


    Then, four golden crows cawed as they shot toward Monk Jinguang, who tossed a golden te at them.


    Two of the golden crows were struck by the te and forced to retreat, while the other two dug their ws right into Monk Jinguang''s body.


    "Die, foul beasts!" Monk Jinguang shouted.


    He began to fight with the golden crows, but before long, he was bleeding all over.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s three other golden crows had brutalized Monk Jinguang''s lone golden crow. With a sharp rip, they tore it apart in a burst of mes.


    "No!" Monk Jinguang cried out.


    His sunformed golden crow exploded, its mes quickly being absorbed by Xiao Nanfeng''s own golden crows. The resulting bacsh caused Monk Jinguang to vomit out a mouthful of blood. Xiao Nanfeng''s other crows, taking advantage of his incapacitance, quickly tore him apart. He copsed into a pool of blood.


    One golden crow speared its ws through his body and flew back to Xiao Nanfeng with his prone body in tow.


    "Monk Jinguang was a peak Heaven Immortal! How could he have lost so easily even with the pagoda of quintessential srfire?!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng didn''t even attack on his own. All he did was release his golden crows!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s way too strong..."


    Many of the spectators gulped as they watched Xiao Nanfeng fight.


    "Go on. Where did you hide the princess?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Thepetitors who were nning to rush over to steal the pagoda of quintessential srfire paused. Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng here to seek revenge? Why was he asking about the princess now?


    "What princess?" Monk Jinguang eximed.


    "Are you still trying to feign ignorance? You kidnapped the princess several days ago, and she still hasn''t been found. Then, you sent me a letter telling me to participate in this tournament if I wanted to know where she was. Look at this letter and this ornament that belongs to the princess. Didn''t you write this letter? Aren''t you going to admit it?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The cultivators all around were taken aback.


    Only then did they realize why Xiao Nanfeng had taken part in the tournament. That made sense. Otherwise, what Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court would deign to participate in a martial tournament hosted by a divine empire? That would only sully their reputation.


    Monk Jinguang frowned. "I''ve never seen this letter before, and I know nothing of it. It''s none of my business!"


    "Don''t make me raze your Jinguang Temple to the ground once we''re out of here," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.


    "I don''t know anything. I swear it!" Monk Jinguang shouted.


    "General Zeng," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Outside the barrier, a purple-furred monster stepped forward and shouted, "Here!"


    "Gather your forces and lead them to Jinguang Temple immediately. Capture everyone there and kill whoever resists," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    Not far away, the three tiger spirits shuddered in fear. Was this the might of a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court? He was far too strong!


    Monk Jinguang nched, horror evident on his face. "No, I''m not responsible! I didn''t send this letter, and neither did I kidnap the princess. I''ll swear on my cultivation!"


    "I don''t trust your oaths," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I also cultivate the Golden Crow of the Sun. Just as the pagoda of quintessential srfire benefits you, so too will it benefit me! That''s why I attacked you. I wouldn''t dare kidnap the princess!"


    "Whether or not you''re responsible, we''ll find out in no time. Even if you''re not responsible, whoever lured me here must be present as well. Over the next three days, none of you will be able to leave. I''ll interrogate all of you!" Xiao Nanfeng announce.


    "What?" Monk Jinguang eximed.


    "As I said, I''ll interrogate everyone in this tournament. I''ll kill whoever dares resist!"


    All the cultivators,petitors and spectators alike, were taken aback.


    Was Xiao Nanfeng going to treat this martial tournament like his private prison? Would he really dare to interrogate everyone within? Didn''t he care about his reputation or rousing the ire of all the cultivators around?

 Chapter 565: None of Your Business

    <h4>Chapter 565: None of Your Business</h4>


    All thepetitors participating in the martial tournament frowned in anger. No one wanted to be interrogated by Xiao Nanfeng, after all.


    The spectators watching from outside the barrier were agog, none having expected Xiao Nanfeng to participate in such a power y. Did he intend to take on all the Heaven Immortals at once? Were all Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court so arrogant?


    Just then, an official responsible for the tournament warned from outside the barrier, "Martial Aspect Xiao, you''re currently taking part in Dayin''s martial tournament. Please be cognizant of that."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and red at the official. "It''s none of your business."


    The official frowned.


    "As for the rest of you, listen up. I''ve shown Dayin plenty of respect by going through the tournament proceedings¡ªI registered, I allowed you to inspect me, I followed your rules, and I stepped within this barrier. You set the rules, and I''m following them. This tournament is ted tost three days. If any of you dare to interfere in the tournament within these three days, don''t me me for what happens. Whoever dares to interfere with an Imperial Court investigation shall be deemed a traitor and killed!"


    The spectators gaped. Who would have thought that this was Xiao Nanfeng''s n when he registered for the tournament?


    The officials in charge twitched. Finally, one said, "Please rx, Martial Aspect Xiao. We don''t intend to ensconce any criminals."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Then, he turned toward Monk Jinguang again. "Aren''t you going to confess?"


    "Please spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao. I really am unaware of this business dealing with the princess, and I never wrote you a letter. I''m innocent!"


    "My subordinates have already headed to your temple. The truth will be revealed before long. I hope you don''t intend to cause more problems for yourself."


    "I swear it, Martial Aspect Xiao, I swear it!" Monk Jinguang eximed.


    "And you?" Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the three tiger spirits.


    "Please spare us, Martial Aspect Xiao. None of us know anything about it either!"


    "I shall believe you for the time being. Now, I invoke my position as Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court to conscript you into investigating the disappearance of the princess. Have you any objections?"


    "We''re willing to obey, Martial Aspect Xiao!" the tigers immediately shouted.


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng had his golden crows drop them on the ground. Monk Jinguang had lost an arm and was badly wounded, while the three tiger spirits were rather injured in their own right too. However, they were all relieved to have escaped certain death. The tigers caught their breath and nced at each other furtively, as though prepared to run.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot them a look. "You may try to escape, but if I catch you, you''ll die."


    The three tigers nched and loudly proimed that they wouldn''t dare.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his golden, causing the pagoda of quintessential srfire to fall in a plume of dust.


    He made a grabbing motion with his hand, but the pagoda didn''t respond at all.


    "Hm? It''s not straightforward to attune to." He nced at Monk Jinguang. "How were you able to use it?"


    "I don''t know. I had full control of the relic the moment I acquired it, as though someone had attuned it for me in advance."


    Xiao Nanfneg guessed that this was another of Mo Shanhe''s tricks. There had to be some technique applied to this pagoda beforehand¡ªbut now, someone had remotely sealed the pagoda from attunement.


    He ignored the pagoda and turned to thepetitors gathered around him. "Everyone, listen up. There may be a traitor or a group of traitors among you. To prove your innocence, I''d like all of you to step forward and be inspected."


    All thepetitors frowned. Was Xiao Nanfeng really intent on inspecting them all?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really think of yourself that highly? You only defeated a monk. You''re a Heaven Immortal, just like us! Do you really think you can interrogate all of us? Who do you think you are?"


    "Right, do you think this is your backyard?!"


    "So what if you''re a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court? You''re only a Heaven Immortal¡ªyou must be the weakest Martial Aspect in history!"


    Thepetitors taunted Xiao Nanfeng, who sent his ten golden crows flying into the air, burgeoning in size until they were a few hundred metersrge.


    The skies suddenly darkened as they absorbed all the sunlight from their vicinity, condensing into facsimile srfire and releasing a frightening wave of heat.


    "A sky of ten suns, bringing drought to the world!"


    "As expected, this is the legendary Sky of Ten Suns. Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows bear an illustrious history..."


    "They''ve absorbed all the sunlight from hundreds of kilometers around!"


    The spectators watching the tournament gaped.


    Monk Jinguang gulped in shock. He cultivated an inferior version of the technique; though he had thought himself skilled, it was nothingpared to what Xiao Nanfeng had managed. The ridiculous power contained within Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows left him unable to resist at all.


    Within the barrier, the ten golden crows glowed with light. Waves of heat buffeted thepetitors until they felt as though they were drowning in a sea of mes.


    "Enough nonsense. Whoever is willing to be inspected, stand over here lest my golden crows identally injure youter. Whoever is unwilling shall be deemed a traitor, whom I will kill."


    Even from afar, many of thepetitors'' qi barriers were already cracking from the heat. If the golden crows were to descend upon them, they would be immted on the spot.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I''m willing to be inspected!" onepetitor volunteered immediately.


    He was only an Earth Immortal who wouldn''t be able to ce under normal circumstances. He had entered the tournament in hopes of trying to get lucky, but he certainly didn''t want to die.


    A group of Human and Earth Immortals quickly volunteered to ept an inspection as well. They headed toward the designated area that Xiao Nanfeng was pointing to.


    "Guard them," Xiao Nanfeng told the three tiger spirits.


    "Understood!" The three tigers headed over immediately.


    However, many of thepetitors refused to cooperate. They were prideful Heaven Immortals in their own right.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t think you can get away with this!" a Heaven Immortal roared.


    "If you don''t want to ept an inspection, so be it. Come on!" Xiao Nanfeng charged forward.


    At the same time, his ten golden crows swooped down with a veritable wave of mes, hovering protectively around Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Take this!"


    "Die!"


    Countless sword shes struck the ten golden crows, but they burned the attacks to a crisp with facsimile srfire. The cultivators'' weapons melted from the heat before they could reach Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Impossible. Break!" A peak Heaven Immortal shot forward.


    Facsimile srfire surged forth as the golden crows'' ws tore the Heaven Immortal to shreds. Then, as fire zed, what remained of the Heaven Immortal turned to ash.


    The golden crows continued to corral the stubborn Heaven Immortals, none of whom were even able to overwhelm the golden crows'' defenses, let alone Xiao Nanfeng himself.


    Where Xiao Nanfeng went, the Heaven Immortals cried out. He suppressed all thepetitors with his own strength, shocking the gathered spectators.


    "Is this how strong a Martial Aspect from the Imperial Court is? Undefeated among his realm? This is ridiculous!"


    "What Heaven Immortal could stand against Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Is he really only a Heaven Immortal...?"


    "I almost want to be his follower myself."


    The spectators continued to murmur to each other in shock.


    Within the tournament grounds, countlesspetitors finally realized the extent of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength.


    "I surrender. I''m willing to ept the inspection," a Heaven Immortal shouted, unable to bear the attacks any longer.


    "Wait over there," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    That Heaven Immortal had been intending to overwhelm Xiao Nanfeng with numbers, but Xiao Nanfeng had decisively proven that approach useless. They couldn''t even damage Xiao Nanfeng''s clothing, let alone hurt him.


    "I''m willing to ept the inspection as well!" another Heaven Immortal shouted.


    "All those who are willing to be inspected can head over there," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood!" the Heaven Immortals replied.


    More and more of the Heaven Immortals conceded defeat. Of the thousands ofpetitors, only a few dozen stubborn ones remained. They frowned, their eyes glinting.


    "In that case, it''s very likely that whoever sent me the letter is among you. If you''re unwilling to subject yourself to an inspection, you''ll have to die!" Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    The ten golden crows flew toward them. A sea of mes was poised to burn the cultivators to a crisp.


    Suddenly, three blue-d figures emerged from among the resistingpetitors.


    One sent a palm strike at a golden crow, which struck the crow in a burst of mes and caused it to retreat.


    "What? Those golden crows were able to take on even peak Heaven Immortals easily! How could someone have forced it back?"


    "Could that be a True Immortal? Only a True Immortal would have such strength."


    "A True Immortal? Impossible!"


    The spectators watched on in surprise.


    Then, the two other blue-d figures did the same, sending two golden crows stumbling back and creating an opening.


    The three figures immediately shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Two more True Immortals? How could this be? Why are they in the tournament?!"


    "Isn''t this meant to be a tournament for the three lower grades of Immortals? True Immortals aren''t allowed to participate. Are people cheating?"


    "With True Immortals making their move, Xiao Nanfeng is done for!"


    All the spectators held their breaths as the three True Immortals approached Xiao Nanfeng and struck at him from three different angles. His life hung in the bnce.

 Chapter 566: Fighting Among Legends

    <h4>Chapter 566: Fighting Among Legends</h4>


    The sudden attack of the three True Immortal cultivators caused Xiao Nanfeng to frown. He activated his golden immediately.


    The golden caught one of the True Immortals, but the remaining two attacked him from the back.


    He was sent flying by theirbined attack.


    "True Immortals really are strong. Xiao Nanfeng''s done for now."


    "So what if he''s unparalleled among Heaven Immortals? He still can''t withstand blows from True Immortals!"


    "With two True Immortals attacking him simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng''s sure to be crippled at the very least!"


    The spectators were certain of Xiao Nanfeng''s imminent defeat.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck the ground in a plume of dust. He seemed far less the indomitable cultivator of before, but he quickly scrambled up and nced at the two cultivators who had struck him.


    "He climbed up just like that? Isn''t he injured?"


    "Two True Immortals attacked him¡ªand his face isn''t even red!"


    The spectators were astounded. They watched on as Xiao Nanfeng thrust his divine undying de into the golden.


    The thrust struck the blue-d figure bound by the and unable to resist in a spurt of blood.


    "No! Don''t kill me. If you do, you''ll die a terrible death!" the cultivator cried out.


    "On the contrary," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    He continued to thrust his de into the prone cultivator''s body, causing the cultivator to shriek.


    "Insolence!"


    Five more figures shot over, fast as lightning.


    "More True Immortals?" the spectators eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by the five cultivators. He smashed into a boulder as he struck the ground, which shattered into powder and threw up another plume of dust.


    Xiao Nanfeng got up and cast out the, discarding the blue-d corpse within it.


    "How could Xiao Nanfeng be alright? How strong is his physical defense?!"


    "When he was attacked, I saw a sh of golden light emanating from his body. Could that be a Buddhist technique?"


    "What an incredible body."


    "Did he really kill a True Immortal?"


    The spectators were agape at how things had developed, as were the cultivators who had just struck at him.


    The purported True Immortal''s body dispersed in a cloud of smoke.


    "No, that''s not a True Immortal¡ªbut a mid-stage True Yin cultivator''s spiritual body!"


    "Mid-stage True Yin? A spiritual cultivator as strong as a True Immortal¡ªdying just like that?!"


    The spectators gasped.


    "So you''re a group of mid-stage True Yin cultivators who took over the physical bodies of lower-grade Immortals. How many of you are there? Show yourselves!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Seven mid-stage True Yin cultivators floated in the air, their eyes twitching as they considered Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s defenses are too strong. I struck him directly in the head, but he was still fine. Our attacks will be useless, and he has that golden with which he can take us down one by one. We''ll have to destroy his golden crows first," one of the True Immortals analyzed.


    "Understood!" The True Yin cultivators rushed into the air and made to strike at his golden crows.


    The spectators watched on intently. Sky of Ten Suns was an incredible technique, but its strength was constrained by Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation. If those crows were to be destroyed, Xiao Nanfeng would surely suffer huge losses.


    "Golden, entrap!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, tossing his relic into the air.


    "Ignore the. We''ll scatter; he can only catch one of us at a time," one of the cultivators shouted.


    However, the golden didn''t just target one cultivator this time. It unraveled into strands of rope and shot at all the cultivators at once, binding them all. The cultivators nched and tried to break free, but found themselvespletely unable to do so. A single length of the rope had been able to restrain a Golden Immortal superior draconic vein, after all. The cultivators were swiftly wrapped up like dumplings.


    "Damn it, destroy this relic!" a True Yin cultivator roared.


    Despite unleashing a technique, not only did the cultivator fail, the cultivator almost even fell from the skies.


    Of course, when unbound from form, the strength of the relic was weakened. It lost its ability to suppress its targets'' cultivation, and could only restrict their movement.


    From afar, it looked as though Xiao Nanfeng was flying a kite attached to seven humans.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    His ten golden crows shot straight toward one of the True Yin cultivators, dealing her a heavy blow.


    She shrieked and swiftly defended herself with her spiritual moon.


    The spiritual moon of a mid-stage True Yin cultivator was incredible. The blue moon shone with spiritual power as a deific domain expanded around her. Ice rained down.


    The blue moon sent a golden crow flying, but the ten golden crows rallied and attacked together. The resultingmotion caused a ming tempest to form at the point of impact. The blue moon was sent flying, a crack visible on its surface. The golden crows raced after it in pursuit.


    "What an incredible attack," the spectators murmured.


    The remaining mid-stage True Yin cultivators, sensing that they would be unable to free themselves from the rope, shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!"


    Although they had been bound, they were still able to approach him at incredible speed. They shot toward Xiao Nanfeng in the blink of an eye.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, shing at one of them with his de.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying, but with the Imposing Avatar of Ri, he was unharmed even as the boulders and rocks on the ground shattered. The length of rope that he had been holding onto fell from his grip, but his sh had taken one of the cultivators'' legs.


    A scream rang out as the wounded cultivator cried, "Kill him!"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved his hand, spurring the golden forth to continue binding the cultivators. He didn''t need to maintain his grip on them; the itself was enough.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, raising his de up high.


    The cultivators nched. What could they do? The was binding them even more tightly, and all they could do was fly around. Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be hurt even if they crashed into him, so how were they supposed to fight?


    Just then, the blue moon that the ten golden crows were attacking exploded, causing bacsh for the cultivator to whom it was tethered. She spat out a mouthful of blood and hung limply as the crows shot toward her.


    "No! Save me!" she cried out.


    "Die, foul beasts!" The other cultivators shot toward the birds, all manifesting their spiritual moons, but they were just a step toote.


    The mid-stage True Yin cultivator who had lost her moon was quickly torn to shreds. She vanished in a cloud of smoke, the second True Yin cultivator to have died.


    "No!" the remaining cultivators shouted.


    With their spiritual moons, they sent the ten golden crows flying.


    Although they had the advantage, their bodies were trapped by Xiao Nanfeng''s golden, and their moons had little offensive ability. They were in a particrly awkward state.


    "What''re you waiting for? Come help us!" one of the bound cultivators thundered.


    "Oh? Are there more of you True Yin cultivators? Come on, then!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, looking at the remaining group of cultivators who was refusing to submit to an inspection.


    The cultivators dithered.


    "No more, then. The rest of you are only Heaven Immortals, aren''t you? Come on. With one mid-stage True Yin cultivator dead, there are more lengths of rope to go around. Who''s interested?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The cultivators nched, refusing to approach.


    "If you don''t daree, hold on right there. Once I finish off these mid-stage True Yin cultivators, I''ll take you on then."


    He continued to attack the True Yin cultivators.


    "He''s here again! Hurry, attack him together!"


    The True Yin cultivators barreled toward Xiao Nanfeng as their Heaven Immortal aplices rushed over to help.


    By then, the golden crows had dispersed. Six golden crows took on six glowing moons, while four golden crows shot toward the iing Heaven Immortals. The Heaven Immortals were quickly burned to a crisp.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying again, but he managed to slice the top off someone''s skull. If that cultivator hadn''t dodged in time, he would have been beheaded.


    "Hurry and help!" the True Yin cultivators howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng climbed out of the rubble and continued to give chase.


    The golden crows in the sky were suppressed by the spiritual moons, but it was the middle of the day. The crows had near-boundless energy and continued to radiate facsimile srfire as they defended against the moons.


    Although both sides appeared to be bnced for the moment, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng had a slight advantage.


    "He''s only a Heaven Immortal, but he can take on a group of True Yin cultivators with just that golden of his!"


    "Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court are ridiculously strong!"


    "Not only is his physical body incredibly strong, he even has these golden crows that can attack at range. He''s invincible!"


    Thosepetitors who had chosen to submit to Xiao Nanfeng''s inspection breathed out in relief. Thank goodness they hadn''t chosen to keep fighting! What they didn''t know was that Xiao Nanfeng had been hiding a trump card as well¡ªhis own True Yin cultivation.


    It looked as though Xiao Nanfeng had the advantage and would be able to whittle down the remaining True Yin cultivators soon enough.


    Just then, a golden beam of light pierced through the skies, moving at an incredible pace and filled with an aura of destruction. It shed right before a golden crow, who swiped at it alertly before the facsimile srfire surrounding its body exploded in a storm. A huge, golden arrow had pierced through the crow, straight through its heart.


    The crow cawed mournfully as it fell to the ground in a burst of mes.


    "That golden crow was pierced right through! What sort of relic was that?"


    "How could these crows fall to a single arrow?"


    Many spectators watched on in disbelief.


    Only Monk Jinguang reacted in shock. "The Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows! These arrows are a specific counter to Xiao Nanfeng''s technique!"


    "Sunstrike Arrows?" the cultivators around him murmured.


    Another beam of golden light shot toward the second crow.


    Everyone nced toward where the arrows hade from. Apetitor was standing far in the distance, a burnished golden longbow in hand, nocking a third gleaming Sunstrike Arrow.

 Chapter 567: A Kamikaze Attack

    <h4>Chapter 567: A Kamikaze Attack</h4>


    On a huge floating ind in Dayin, Mo Shanhe, Yin Tianci, and Tang were watching the martial tournament from afar.


    "How sinister Xiao Nanfeng is. Tang was right¡ªhe''s growing far too quickly. He''s already able to take on mid-stage True Yin cultivators, and eight of them at once!" Yin Tianci eximed.


    "Your Highness, Prime Minister, Xiao Nanfeng''s sess is inrge part due to the golden that he possesses," Tang pointed out.


    Mo Shanhe pursed his lips. "I took his golden into ount, but didn''t expect that he would be able to attune it to this extent."


    "Are there other mid-stage True Yin cultivators participating?" Yin Tianci asked.


    Mo Shanhe shook his head. "None. It was tough enough getting this group in there."


    "Doesn''t that mean that Xiao Nanfeng''s going to dominate the rest of the tournament, then?" Yin Tianci frowned.


    "Your Highness, I believe the prime minister still has a trump card," Tang said.


    "Oh?"


    Mo Shanhe nodded. "Two days ago, someone sold a Sunfell Bow and some Sunstrike Arrows to a government-run armory in the capital."


    "A Sunfell Bow and some Sunstrike Arrows? Those relics specifically counter Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation technique, don''t they?" Tang frowned.


    Yin Tianci gaped as well. "I thought of those relics when I was attempting to figure out how to deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but even Dayin''s treasury had no materials with which to forge them. What made someone sell them to a government-run armory in Dayin all of a sudden¡ªand two days before the martial tournament, at that? Is this part of some scheme?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng has enemies within the Imperial Court, it seems." Mo Shanhe smiled.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s enemies did this? They''re trying to take advantage of us, then." Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes.


    "Enjoy the show," Mo Shanhe said.


    "Oh?" Yin Tianci nced toward the tournament grounds.


    A golden beam of light had shot into the air from afar. It struck one of Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows down, causing amotion among the spectators.


    "Ha! There they are. Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows are done for now!" Yin Tianci''s eyes lit up.


    "It''s time to go. I''ll be presiding over this show," Mo Shanhe said.


    "You can''t, Prime Minister!" Tang suddenly shouted.


    "And why not?" Mo Shanhe frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s sly and cunning. What if he was the one who had someone sell a Sunfell Bow and these Sunstrike Arrows to Dayin? I fear that a scheme awaits us. Prime Minister, there are plenty of unknown elements at the martial tournament. I urge caution lest you fall into Xiao Nanfeng''s trap," Tang said immediately.


    "You''re overthinking things. I have a n in mind," Mo Shanhe replied coolly.


    "Prime Minister, please!" Tang called out again.


    "There''s no need," Mo Shanhe refused bluntly.


    He and his subordinates flew toward the outskirts of the city.


    "Tang, your fears are unwarranted. Come on, let''s have a look too."


    "Your Highness, why don''t we watch from here? Please believe in my judgment. I can''t help but suspect that Xiao Nanfeng might have orchestrated this entire affair. Things might not be as clear from here, but we can still see what''s going on. You can''t head out, Your Highness!" Tang stepped forward to bar Yin Tianci''s way.


    Yin Tianci frowned. Although he didn''t much believe that it would be dangerous, he was willing to humor Tang. "Very well."


    "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness."


    Meanwhile, beyond the tournament grounds, Ao Shuai and a group of his subordinates stood at the peak of a mountain as they watched what was happening below. They were shrouded in fog and had even disguised themselves as a secondyer of defense to shield their identity. Ao Shuai had transformed into a frail, elderly man walking about with a cane.


    "To think Xiao Nanfeng would be able to use the golden to this extent... He''s able to trap even mid-stage True Yin cultivators!"


    "He''s strong enough to suppress all cultivators at his level and below now. It''s no surprise that he dared to participate in Dayin''s martial tournament¡ªbut if he can''t find the princess, he might well be done for," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrostmented, disguised beside him.


    "He won''t have any such opportunity any longer. He''s going to die," Ao Shuai replied, snickering.


    "Oh?"


    Just then, a golden beam of light shot down one of Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows. The crow''s body exploded and formed a huge pit of mes on the ground.


    "A Sunfell Bow, and some Sunstrike Arrows? I recall you recently acquired a set of those relics, Master. Could that archer have been..." The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned.


    "Don''t worry. I would hardly send someone to assassinate a Martial Aspect. I simply found myselfcking in gold recently, so I sold those relics off for spending money. Who would have expected that they would appear here in Dayin? It''s hardly my fault," Ao Shuai said innocently.


    Ao Shuai was preening at his ''well-executed'' n.


    "Master, how could you? If someone were to figure out what happened¡ª"


    "It won''t happen. It''s none of my business, after all. Look, the second Sunstrike Arrow''s already beingunched," Ao Shuai called out.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was anxious. He couldn''t help but feel uneasy.


    The second Sunstrike Arrow headed straight for another of Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows.


    The golden crow wed at the arrow, sensing life-threatening danger. Its fellow crows did the same, spraying out breaths of me to assist the targeted crow.


    Theirbined efforts sessfully blocked the second arrow.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    He immediately shot the remaining lengths of rope from his golden at the archer in the distance.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, it looks like you''re not invincible, after all! We won''t let you catch him!" a mid-stage True Yin cultivator shouted.


    Two of the cultivators blocked the lengths of rope with their own bodies, causing themselves to be bound even more tightly. Even so, they didn''t care. Xiao Nanfeng was in danger now.


    "You won''t be able to escape, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The other mid-stage True Yin cultivators shot toward Xiao Nanfeng and prevented him from being able to attack the archer.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent careening back, but his de managed to nick one of the bound cultivators.


    The intense fight continued; none could rx.


    The golden crows charged toward the archer in fury.


    "Hold Xiao Nanfeng and the golden crows back. Protect that archer and let him shoot down all the crows!" someone shouted.


    Six spiritual moons blocked six of the golden crows.


    The remaining three golden crows shot toward the archer, only to be stymied by three mid-stage True Yin cultivators.


    They surrounded Xiao Nanfeng and blocked his attacks.


    "Hurry and shoot!" they shouted at the archer. "Kill Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows!"


    "Understood!"


    Another beam of golden light shot at a golden crow. It tried to hide, but the True Yin cultivators around stalled it in ce until the arrownded.


    The second golden crow cawed as the arrow struck its body.


    Everyone was in shock now. It was evident that Xiao Nanfeng was about to suffer.


    "Well done!" a True Yin cultivator shouted.


    The golden crow burst apart in a torrent of mes that dyed heaven and earth a burnished gold. The mes struck a True Yin cultivator caught in its midst.


    The mes overwhelmed him and sent him flying away.


    The remaining mes transformed into golden light that shot into Xiao Nanfeng''s body and vanished in his dantian.


    Xiao Nanfeng, seemingly incensed, shot straight toward the True Yin cultivator that had been blown away by the explosion.


    He beheaded that cultivator in a spurt of blood, killing him on the spot. At the same time, his spiritual moon exploded after being untethered from its owner and dissipated in a cloud of yin qi, freeing one of Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows.


    "I''ll hold it in ce!" Another True Yin cultivator shot forward to take down that golden crow.


    Another Sunstrike Arrow shot toward the third golden crow, which cawed in outrage. The True Yin cultivator that had been holding the crow back widened his eyes as the crow exploded and drowned him in a sea of mes. The third golden crow had chosen to self-destruct. The resulting mes transformed into golden light that headed back into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    All the cultivators,petitors and spectators alike, sucked in a deep breath.


    "How vicious Xiao Nanfeng is. He knew his crow wouldn''t be able to avoid the arrow and chose to use it to take down that True Yin cultivator with him!"


    "These Sunstrike Arrows have special formations embedded within them that allow them to destroy the golden crows. Rather than wait for the golden crows to die, he chose to actively use them to target his opponents instead. He really is ruthless."


    "What a fight..."


    The cultivators watched on with shock.


    The moment the True Yin cultivator within the firestorm showed himself, Xiao Nanfeng charged at him with his de.


    "Save me!" he shouted.


    A nearby cultivator tried to help, sending Xiao Nanfeng flying, but Xiao Nanfeng tossed his de toward the grievously wounded cultivator and managed to cut off his head.


    Another True Yin cultivator had fallen; his spiritual moon dissipated as well.


    Xiao Nanfengnded on the ground, the impact sending boulders and rocks into the air.


    Seven golden crows were yet unharmed; they stood against four True Yin cultivators and their spiritual moons. Xiao Nanfeng was on the losing end of things.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, recalling the divine undying de as he shot toward the archer.


    "Protect me!" the archer cried out.


    One True Yin cultivator instantly headed for him. He shouted fiercely, "Keep shooting down those golden crows! Everyone else, block Xiao Nanfeng with me!"


    "Understood!" A chorus of replies came from all around.


    The archer nocked and loosed another arrow.

 Chapter 568: Suppressing the Battlefield

    <h4>Chapter 568: Suppressing the Battlefield</h4>


    Several Heaven Immortals grimaced as they charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t attempt to dodge their attacks. He allowed them to strike him, counting on his physical defenses as he counter-attacked in kind.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s Imposing Avatar of Ri made his body imprable to Heaven Immortal des, and he shouldered the attacks unharmed. With a sh of his de, several Heaven Immortals were killed in the blink of an eye, their limbs flying into the air.


    The other Heaven Immortals who were charging forward yelped in surprise as they retreated.


    "How are we supposed to fight him? We can''t damage him at all!" the cultivators shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to charge forward, shing at the True Yin cultivators surrounding the archer. His target panicked, but knew that she couldn''t retreat. She had no choice but tounch her own attacks. Fortunately, as a True Yin cultivator, she had the upper hand when it came to speed.


    She knocked Xiao Nanfeng flying even as he chopped off her feet, causing her to scream in agony.


    Meanwhile, the archer shot out another arrow straight at one of the golden crows. The True Yin cultivator holding it down was prepared to run, having learned his lesson from the two previous True Yin cultivators that had died from the golden crows'' deathblows.


    Even before the arrow neared, however, the golden crow had already exploded in a torrent of mes.


    "What? It self-destructed that early?!"


    "Even before the arrownded¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s ruthless!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s prepared to ruin the foundation of his own cultivation to take down those True Yin cultivators?!"


    The True Yin cultivator was stunned by the explosion, not expecting the golden crow to catch him by surprise. He too found himself submerged within a sea of mes.


    "Be careful!" someone suddenly shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng had whirled around and was patiently waiting for the mes to disperse, revealing the grievously wounded True Yin cultivator. He shed downward with his de, beheading his target.


    Another spiritual moon dissipated, freeing another golden crow.


    That golden crow, apanied by Xiao Nanfeng, swooped straight toward the archer.


    "Hold it!" the True Yin cultivator who had her legs chopped off shouted as she gave chase.


    With a caw, the golden crow diverted from its path. Its mes and sharp ws struck at her head as she fled in panic, but her wounded state meant that she couldn''t go very fast.


    The crow gave chase, immting its surroundings and quickly suppressing her.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had reached the archer and was about to strike him.


    The archer nched in fear, tossed aside his Sunfell Bow, and begged for mercy.


    "Please spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao! I was only acting on orders. There''s a mastermind behind all this, and I''m willing to expose the mastermind!" The archer knelt on the ground and begged for dear life.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck the archer with the t of his de, sending him flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air, and many of his bones cracked. Hended on the ground in an ungainly heap, a plume of dust rising from his body.


    "I''ll interrogate youter. If your answers aren''t satisfactory, I''ll kill you too," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "I''ll reveal everything, Martial Aspect!" the archer promised, even as he spat out blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the other Heaven Immortals opposing him, scattered across the battlefield. By then, they didn''t dare resist any further. They discarded their weapons and begged, "Please spare us, Martial Aspect Xiao. We were acting on orders as well!"


    "Kneel!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Of course!" The cultivators obeyed immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the battlefield in the distance.


    Three True Yin cultivators and three spiritual moons were facing off against his six golden crows. The True Yin cultivator whose legs he had cut off was faring the worst of the lot; the golden crow attacking her was herding her straight toward another crow, the first one that had been shot down. An arrow was piercing through its body, and it was clearly badly injured. Even so, it hadn''t yet died. As the True Yin cultivator approached, it self-destructed.


    "No!" the True Yin cultivator howled.


    The explosion that resulted from the mes swallowed her whole, shocking the spectators.


    The mes that resulted from the golden crow''s explosion were impressive, but they barely affected the other golden crows in the vicinity. After the explosion, the True Yin cultivator who had lost her legs was by death''s door. The pursuing golden crow raked at her head with its ws.


    Another True Yin cultivator fell, her spiritual moon dispersing and freeing up another golden crow.


    Only two True Yin cultivators remained, but six golden crows. Victory had been all but decided.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, we''re willing to surrender. I''ll testify regarding the culprit!"


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I''ll give you all the information I have. Please spare me!"


    The two True Yin cultivators begged for mercy, but Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of stopping his attack. Two golden crows attacked the two True Yin cultivators as four golden crows struck at the two remaining spiritual moons.


    The spiritual moons possessed incredible reserves of spiritual energy, but they were hardly able to defend themselves well. The golden crows were incredibly strong and easily caused one of the moons to explode.


    The True Yin cultivator to whom it was connected spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped over. The golden crows tore the body to pieces.


    "Spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao!" the final True Yin cultivator shouted.


    Then, his moon was destroyed, and he too spat out a mouthful of blood in bacsh. This time, however, the golden crows didn''t kill him. They thrust their sharp ws into his body and sealed his cultivation, rendering him immobile.


    The golden crows deposited his prone body before Xiao Nanfeng, who bound him with his golden, ending the battle.


    All the True Yin cultivators had fallen. If not for the fact that Xiao Nanfeng was keeping one of them alive to interrogate, they would all have perished.


    "Incredible! Xiao Nanfeng killed seven mid-stage True Yin cultivators as a Heaven Immortal, and even crippled thest one. He''s truly invincible among Heaven Immortals."


    "It''s a pity that four of his golden crows have been killed. They won''t revive, I hear."


    "Allegedly, if the golden crows perish, they''re gone for good unless Xiao Nanfeng''s willing to start over from scratch."


    "Xiao Nanfeng might have won, but not without cost."


    The spectators murmured to each other.


    No one knew that the four golden crows that had exploded had transformed back into golden mes within his dantian and revived. They were still in a weakened state, but would be able to recover in no time at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. "Thank goodness Ibined the Records of Life and Death with the golden crows, allowing them to revive. Otherwise, this might well have crippled me."


    He recalled his six golden crows, which returned to his dantian.


    All ten were ounted for; the battle had hardly drained him as much as it appeared.


    "Will you seal your own cultivation, or do you need me to cut off all your limbs?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded of the cultivators who had surrendered.


    "We''ll seal our cultivation!" they cried out.


    They quickly sealed each other''s cultivation. The final one ran toward the group of cultivators that had been willing to ept Xiao Nanfeng''s inspection and found a familiar face to help seal his own.


    Those cultivators who had agreed to the inspection were incredibly relieved by their decision.


    Xiao Nanfeng swept his gaze around the battlefield. "Three tigers, attend to me!"


    "Here, Martial Aspect!" The three tiger spirits rushed forward, bowing in obeisance, worried that Xiao Nanfeng would hold a grudge over their failed ambush.


    "Check that all these cultivators have sealed their cultivation. Kill anyone who dared to lie to me!"


    "Understood!" The three tiger spirits leapt forward.


    There were indeed cultivators among the surrendered who had faked the seal. They nched as the tigers found them.


    "We won''t do it again, Martial Aspect Xiao!" they begged.


    The three tiger spirits shot toward one of them. They ignored the other fleeing cultivators, certain that no one could escape from Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on coldly. He was on guard against the three tiger spirits, and was confirming their loyalty via their actions.


    The first cultivator died amidst frenzied screams.


    The three tigers leapt toward their next target as the deceitful cultivators fled. It was useless: none of the others dared to help them, and the three tigers were rather strong in their own right. They quickly killed the remaining cultivators.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, they''re all dead. The remaining cultivators do have their cultivation sealed," a tiger spirit reported.


    "Retrieve all their treasure and weapons, as well as those of the eight True Yin cultivators," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" The three tiger spirits ran off.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a letter and turned to the remainingpetitors. "Very well. Now that the fighting is over, we can have a pleasant conversation. Who wrote this letter demanding my presence here? Step forward and save me the effort of interrogating all of you."


    By then, the otherpetitors were incensed as well. What fool would dare to threaten a Martial Aspect and lure him into this tournament? Whoever did it had to be crazy!


    All the cultivators looked around them, but no one stepped forward.


    "A game of hide-and-seek, then? Do you really think I won''t be able to find you?" Xiao Nanfeng sneered.


    He turned toward the archer who had shot down four of his golden crows.


    "Let''s start with you, then. You said you''d divulge what information you had about the culprit. You killed four of my golden crows, so if your answer isn''t satisfactory, you should know what''s going to happen to you." Xiao Nanfeng''s tone was ice-cold.


    The archer trembled violently in fear. He regretted having targeted Xiao Nanfeng at all. He was done for now.

 Chapter 569: Attacking Ao Shuai

    <h4>Chapter 569: Attacking Ao Shuai</h4>


    "Do you not intend to speak? Do you want me to torture you?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Killing intent surrounded him as he pointed the divine undying de at the archer. A wave of tremendous pressure surged forth.


    "Please calm down, Martial Aspect Xiao! I''ll talk. I''m the second son of the lord of a far-flung city in Dayin. The cultivators who were taking you on are all children of Dayin officials¡ªwe''re all loyal to Dayin," the archer began.


    "Oh?"


    "We were all familiar with each other and had had a gathering before the tournament. That was why we ended up working together. All of us wanted to obtain the pagoda of quintessential srfire and protect the reputation of Dayin cultivators, so we sought to im first ce."


    "Don''t ramble. Focus on the details," Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "We knew that you were participating in this tournament, Martial Aspect Xiao, and viewed you as the top-priority target we would have to take down. We each bought relics and came up with stratagems against you."


    "I want to know about the princess'' whereabouts. What''s all this nonsense?"


    "It''s not nonsense. I don''t know where the princess is, nor what your letter is about," the archer replied.


    "Do you take me for a fool? You said you were going to tell me about the mastermind¡ªand now you implete ignorance of what''s going on!"


    "I have a clue that might lead to the mastermind. Please allow me to finish, Martial Aspect Xiao," the archer said hastily.


    "Oh?"


    "I can point to the origin of this Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows."


    "Continue," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Forging these relics is almost impossible due to the scarcity of the required materials, let alone the finished products. We searched all over, but weren''t able to find even a hint as to where to procure the required materials. The second day after you registered for Dayin''s martial tournament, however, someone deliberately sold it at a steep discount."


    "A steep discount?"


    "Indeed. That person sold the bow and arrows at an incredibly cheap price, about how much one of the required materials would cost on its own. Martial Aspect Xiao, why do you think they would do so, and to the Dayin armory no less? It was clear that we were searching for these bow and arrows. We wanted to defeat you, so we used our connections to purchase the relics. It''s clear that whoever sold them to us is the mastermind¡ªwho else would target you at such a critical moment? Perhaps that person is responsible for kidnapping the princess and writing you that letter as well!"


    "Whoever it was must have been trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng."


    "This was a scheme to entrap Xiao Nanfeng and kill him..."


    "If Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t been overwhelmingly strong, he really might have perished to the Sunfell Bow, Sunstrike Arrows, and the group of True Yin cultivators..."


    The cultivators all around began to murmur to each other.


    On the mountain peak not far away, Ao Shuai began to twitch. He couldn''t help but tense.


    "Master, is that archer going to expose you?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost asked in worry.


    "It''ll be fine. I disguised myself, so no one knows that I''m responsible." Ao Shuai rubbed at his cane and frowned.


    "I have an uneasy premonition."


    Afar, the archer continued, "Martial Aspect Xiao, I have evidence to verify my ims, and detailed records of the relics'' sale and subsequent purchase can be found at the government-run armory. If you want to know the details, feel free to inquire with the officials beyond. Have them look over the ounts and identify the seller."


    Xiao Nanfeng sensed traces of a brewing conspiracy.


    Just then, a voice announced, "The prime minister has arrived!"


    Zipping over from atop a white cloud were a group of figures led by the prime minister of Dayin, Mo Shanhe.


    "We greet the prime minister!" The officials supervising the tournament bowed.


    "What''s going on? I was handling affairs of state when I suddenly received a spate of reports stating that something had gone amiss with the martial tournament."


    "Prime Minister, nothing''s wrong with the tournament. Martial Aspect Xiao caused a huge disturbance as a result of the fight that he just undertook. Before this, ..." an official reported.


    Within the barrier, Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was amiss. He was nning to cause a ruckus during the interrogation to force Mo Shanhe to show himself, but Mo Shanhe had arrived far ahead of schedule, and specifically while Xiao Nanfeng was questioning the archer. Had this all been part of another scheme?


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I''ve just learned of what has happened. I will do my utmost to assist you in unveiling the mastermind who has kidnapped the princess and conspired to kill a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court," Mo Shanhe pledged.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Mo Shanhe and the archer were interacting with each other in far too cooperative a manner.


    "Archer, in which armory did you buy these relics?" Mo Shanhe asked.


    The archer immediately reported the armory and the approximate time during which he did so.


    "Bring the shopkeepers in charge of the armory over, along with their records!" Mo Shanhe instructed.


    "Understood!"


    A group of Dayin officials hurried off and returned in almost no time at all.


    An elder in the lead bowed respectfully. "I greet the prime minister. I run the armory in question. I learned of what was going on from the officials sent to fetch me, and I was the one who purchased the Sunfell Bow."


    "Do you remember the seller?" Mo Shanhe asked.


    "I suspect that he was wearing a disguise, so even if I were to describe his features, they may not prove useful. However, Prime Minister, I do have a means of tracking him down."


    "Oh?"


    "At the time of purchase, it was known that Martial Aspect Xiao would be participating in the tournament. That he cultivated the Sky of Ten Suns was public knowledge. Given that information, the appearance of someone selling these relics that countered his technique made me realize that something might well be amiss. To avoid being implicated, I came up with a means of tracking the seller."


    "What means?"


    "Within my armory was a piece of ck jade that sealed an ancient curse. Despite being incredibly valuable in its own right, it pales inparison to that of the Sunfell Bow. I felt that the transaction would be a huge windfall for me, but that it mighte withmensurate danger. As a result, I chose to use that piece of jade as insurance. I prepared tea with that piece of jade immersed in the boiling water, allowing the curse to dissolve within. Then, I ground the ck jade into powder and scattered it on the Sunfell Bow, establishing a sympathetic link between the bow and its seller. Activating the curse with spiritual power suffices to track him down."


    Afar, Ao Shuai nched. "This was a trap!"


    The spectators nced askance at each other. That old shopkeeper was clearly a schemer.


    "Archer, infuse your spiritual power into the Sunfell Bow immediately. We''ll hunt down the culprit right away," Mo Shanhe instructed.


    "Understood!" The archer gritted his teeth despite his injuries and began to channel spiritual power into it.


    A cloud of ck smoke emerged from the Sunfell Bow, which shot toward the tournament barrier like an arrow. The smoke from the curse was sinister; it easily prated the barrier and shot toward the peak of a mountain in the distance.


    "Over there!" countless spectators cried out.


    Atop the fog-wreathed mountain peak were what seemed to be a few cultivators. The cursed arrow dispelled all the fog around it, revealing those whoy within.


    The ck fog surrounded an elderly cultivator, causing him to groan in pain. The curse seemed to be triggering his internal strength; a burst of energy exploded from him and shattered his disguise. A young man was revealed to the world.


    He groaned again, spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped to the ground.


    Those around him hastily helped him up.


    "Isn''t that Ao Shuai?


    The son of the Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court, Ao Shuai? He was the culprit?!"


    "So the mastermind behind this entire affair was someone from the Imperial Court?


    The cultivators murmured to each other. Some had recognized Ao Shuai immediately, a surprising feat. It was clear that Mo Shanhe had had a few subordinates among the crowd to reveal who Ao Shuai the moment he was revealed.

 Chapter 570: Assassinating Mo Shanhe

    <h4>Chapter 570: Assassinating Mo Shanhe</h4>


    Everyone stared at Ao Shuai, causing him to nch.


    Beside him, the disguised Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sent him a mental transmission. "You can''t admit to it, Master. You''ve fallen for Mo Shanhe''s trap. You need to tell the public that you were just passing by and browsed a few stores in Dayin. You didn''t sell the Sunfell Bow, and you have no idea how someone might have framed you."


    Ao Shuai understood immediately. He shouted, "It''s none of my business! Who dares im that I sold the Sunfell Bow? Mo Shanhe, you knew that I was vacationing in Dayin and deliberately tried to frame me!"


    Mo Shanhe turned to the elder beside him, who bowed and replied, "This curse is known as the Fettered Yoke. It only works between an item and a person who have been in close proximity for an extended period of time. All who know the curse can confirm this for themselves."


    In the distance, Ao Shuai twitched. Mo Shanhe clearly didn''t intend for him to wriggle free of this usation.


    Beside him, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sent him another mental transmission. "Do not admit to it at any cost. im that you were wronged; the problem will be resolved for you. The important thing now is to reject all usations."


    Ao Shuai nodded and shouted back, "I''ve never sold anything of the sort. Mo Shanhe, to what lengths are you willing to go to frame me?!"


    The cultivators all around nced between the two parties, momentarily unable to discern who was telling the truth.


    Mo Shanhe smiled. "Young Master Ao, the truth cannot be fiction, and fiction cannot be the truth. Why don''t we allow the victim to tell us what he thinks?"


    Mo Shanhe turned to Xiao Nanfeng, whoy within the barrier. Everyone else turned to him as well.


    The ''truth'' had all been revealed now; someone from the Imperial Court had kidnapped the princess and prepared this ploy to kill him! This gossip would surely stain the reputation of the Imperial Court.


    Xiao Nanfeng was deep in thought as well. It was clear that Mo Shanhe was a skilled tactician. He hadid a trap for Mo Shanhe, who had oveid a trap to leave Ao Shuai responsible instead. Not only could he tarnish the Imperial Court''s reputation, he would also free himself from me.


    As for why Ao Shuai had done something so foolish, that might well be part of Mo Shanhe''s plot as well. Perhaps Ao Shuai had a Dayin spy by his side egging him on.


    "The Fettered Yoke, you im? I shall im the Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows for further investigation and confer with experts familiar with them. Mo Shanhe is correct: the truth cannot be fiction, and fiction cannot be the truth. The culprit shall not escape," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    He ced the bow and arrows into a jade box, then sealed it away, cutting the cursed link between the bow and Ao Shuai. The ck smoke quickly dispersed.


    Xiao Nanfeng ced the jade box in a storage ring, then turned to Ao Shuai. "Ao Shuai, your father and I are both officials of the Imperial Court, and we maintain rather good rtions. I don''t think you would have any reason to kill me. Do you?"


    "Of course! I would never hurt you, Martial Aspect Xiao. This is all nder!" Ao Shuai replied.


    He thought that Xiao Nanfeng was intending to keep the peace and naturally cooperated with him. If word of this were to spread and it became a stain on the Imperial Court''s reputation, he would be done for.


    "Rx. If you''re not responsible, no one will be able to get away with ndering you. On the other hand, if you were responsible, no one will be able to save you."


    Ao Shuai stiffened, suddenly feeling simultaneously ashamed and resentful. With all the spectators watching their exchange, however, he hardly dared to provoke Xiao Nanfeng.


    Meanwhile, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sent another mental transmission to Ao Shuai. "Xiao Nanfeng, at least, has the big picture in mind. He''s not going to make life difficult for you right now, but he has imed possession of the Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows. That''s important evidence that he might use against you, so you had better be prepared¡ªno, he mentioned the Eastern Aspect, too. He might use this against him!"


    "Not only me, but my father, too? We can''t stay here any longer!" Ao Shuai spat out, exasperated.


    "No¡ªyou can''t leave. If you do, others will think that you''re guilty, and that will make matters worse. Hold on a little. I can''t show myself lest I end up getting involved and Xiao Nanfeng targets me as well."


    Ao Shuai scowled, though he had no choice but to wait patiently.


    Not far away, Mo Shanhe called out in dissatisfaction, "Martial Aspect Xiao, Dayin has its fair share of expert researchers regarding curses who can provide more insight into the Sunfell Bow. Shall I summon them on your behalf?"


    "Didn''t you hear what I said? I need to find people I can trust. I don''t trust your subordinates," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Mo Shanhe frowned. He didn''t want the situation to end like this. He wanted to make a bigger fuss about everything, but Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t giving him the opportunity to do so.


    Xiao Nanfeng scanned his surroundings, then continued, "Alright. We''ve dealt with the origins of the Sunfell Bow. Now, we''re going to continue the interrogation from before. Who wrote me this letter? Who among you kidnapped the princess?"


    The archer was mystified. "Martial Aspect Xiao, didn''t you already uncover the culprit?"


    "You only provided evidence as to the origins of the Sunfell Bow, which still needs to be proven. My investigation deals with the princess'' kidnappers. We can''t conte the two. I intend to continue my investigation."


    He turned toward the mid-stage True Yin cultivator bound by the golden. "You mentioned that you would reveal the culprit behind this affair. This is your opportunity."


    "I''m friends with him," the True Yin cultivator said hastily, pointing at the archer. "I was with him when he bought the Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows. The culprit he brought up was the one I was going to talk about!"


    "So you''re lying to me, then? You had no information to report and attempted to trick me," Xiao Nanfeng used.


    "I didn''t! I¡ª" The mid-stage True Yin cultivator panicked.


    "If I hadn''t been prepared, I would already have died at your hand. Since you continue to lie to me, I''ll dispose of you as I would any who dared to assassinate an official of the Imperial Court!" Xiao Nanfeng raised his divine undying de up high and prepared to thrust it into the cultivator''s prone body.


    "No!" the mid-stage True Yin cultivator cried out. "Prime Minister, save me!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, he''s a descendant of a Dayin official. Dayin would willinglypensate you for your loss, so¡ª" Mo Shanhe pleaded for mercy, but Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and thrust his de into the True Yin cultivator''s body.


    The True Yin cultivator''s body dispersed in a cloud of smoke.


    "You!" Mo Shanhe cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the cultivators who had surrendered. "Don''t expect to get away unscathed, nor for those outside to rescue you. If you don''t provide a full confession as to what you''ve done, none of you will leave."


    The cultivators who had surrendered nched. Four of Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows had perished, and he was intent on venting his anger by killing these cultivators. He had killed a mid-stage True Yin cultivator despite the prime minister''s presence; he would easily do the same to them. What were they to do? They looked toward Mo Shanhe hopefully.


    After all, Mo Shanhe was the one who had them deal with Xiao Nanfeng. He could hardly discard them now!


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, you are currently a participant in Dayin''s martial tournament. I ask that you not make a farce of this entire affair, or I''ll expel you for viting the fairness of the tournament," Mo Shanhe warned.


    He had no choice but to intercede; otherwise, those cultivators being interrogated might well reveal his culpability. It would be Dayin''s reputation that was tarnished then.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "Mo Shanhe, I broke no rules of the tournament. I registered and participated as any cultivator would, but you intend to interrupt the tournament yourself. Could you be the culprit behind the princess'' kidnapping?"


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, please be mindful of what you''re doing. The culprit you were looking for is Ao Shuai, but you''re venting your anger on Dayin cultivators. Do you think we won''t dare stand for our people?" Mo Shanhe demanded.


    Neither cultivator looked as though they would back down.


    Afar, Ao Shuai''s eyes shed with hatred. "Does Mo Shanhe think that I''m an easy target?"


    Just then, a loud howl came from the skies. "Mo Shanhe, how dare you besmirch my young master''s reputation?! Die!"


    Everyone looked up as countless strikes of lightning. surged toward the officials of Dayin, sending them flying as they exploded. Mo Shanhe was surrounded in a bombardment of lightning and me.


    "Protect the prime minister!" a group of guards shouted.


    Two men attacked simultaneously,unching incandescent golden palms at their assants.


    Lightning and fire zed; it seemed as though both parties were fighting with Golden Immortal relics. The lightning and fire spread to ten times their original size, implicating countless spectators as well.


    Many of Dayin''s officials, like the spectators, were sent flying by the lightning storm. They shrieked and yelped.


    Only then did everyone notice a giant purple dragon at the center of the lightning storm, shining with scintiting lightning. He shot toward Mo Shanhe.


    "Isn''t that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost? He''s taking revenge on Mo Shanhe on Ao Shuai''s behalf!"


    "How strong he is!"


    Countless cultivators began to shout and scream.


    Ao Shuai gaped in disbelief as he looked toward one of his disguised subordinates. "Violetfrost, is someone impersonating you?"


    "Who dares?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost thundered.


    Mo Shanhe nched, suspecting that things were far more dire than they seemed. "An attack from a Martial Aspect? Is the Imperial Court already poised to take down Dayin? Weren''t we supposed to have a five-year grace period? It''s only been three and a half. Damn it, what are we going to do?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately realized that the interloper was none other than Emperor Feng. He watched on expectantly.


    Mo Shanhe was a skilled strategist, but many couldy im to such a title. Emperor Feng was sly and crafty in his own right, and he had now be the star of the show.

 Chapter 571: Hoarding the Opportunity

    <h4>Chapter 571: Hoarding the Opportunity</h4>


    Two Golden Immortal guards defended against the lightning strikes, but were overwhelmed by the assant''s strength. What''s more, the assant had quite a few Golden Immortal relics and was strong beyondpare.


    The two Golden Immortals were sent flying as the violet dragon with the lightning storm flew toward Mo Shanhe.


    Mo Shanhe defended himself with an aegis that radiated with golden light, obviously a relic of no small value. However, the violet dragon suddenly spat out a golden spiked mace, which he mmed into the shield.


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s relic!" Mo Shanhe eximed.


    He suddenly realized that his assant was the culprit behind the destruction of the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto.


    The spiked mace shattered the shield, then dealt Mo Shanhe himself a heavy blow.


    Mo Shanhe was sent flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.


    "Prime Minister!" A group of cultivators rushed over to him, but before they could provide any assistance, the violet dragon''s sharp ws caught the flying Mo Shanhe as he soared into the air.


    "Hold it, Martial Aspect of Violetfrost!"


    "Put the prime minister down!"


    The Dayin cultivators hurriedly gave chase.


    Mo Shanhe, caught in the violet dragon''s clutches, shouted, "Take Ao Shuai as hostage!"


    On the mountain peak in the distance, Ao Shuai stiffened. What did any of this have to do with him?!


    Behind Ao Shuai, the true Martial Aspect of Violetfrost wasn''t able to take it any longer. He shot into the air and roared, "What manner of bandit are you? Who dares impersonate me, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost? Die!"


    The true Martial Aspect of Violetfrost struck at his impersonator with a de, causing a river of lightning to crackle as it surged forth. The impersonator''s tail flicked at the river of lightning, causing it to dissipate in the form of small balls that scattered beneath them and caused the mountains in their vicinity to copse.


    The sudden appearance of the true Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shocked everyone.


    "Two Martial Aspects of Violetfrost? What''s going on?" everyone eximed.


    Mo Shanhe frowned. He too had noticed something amiss. It was obvious what was going on¡ªhis assant had impersonated the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost. Mo Shanhe had lured Xiao Nanfeng into a trap and subverted Xiao Nanfeng''s n by implicating Ao Shuai and the Imperial Court. Now, however, it was his turn to be entrapped by another.


    The violet dragon roared, "How much more shameless can Dayin get? Who dares impersonate me?!"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was outraged beyond belief. Not only had that cultivator impersonated him, that cultivator was even iming to be the real one!


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost transformed into a violet dragon as he mmed his bulk into Emperor Feng''s draconic form.


    "Die!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled.


    "You die!" Emperor Feng retorted.


    The two violet dragons struck each other amidst the void like the shing of continents. A lightning storm formed around them, charging up the air as destruction rained down over their surroundings.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was sent flying, smashing a mountain in his wake.


    "Impossible. How could this be?" he eximed.


    Lightning was his domain of expertise. How could he lose to this impersonator?


    "Whoever you are, for daring to impersonate me, I''ll deal with youter!" Emperor Feng shouted.


    Then, he vanished over the horizon with Mo Shanhe in tow. Mo Shanhe''s guards gave chase in shock.


    "Hold it right there, you bastard!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shouted as he gave chase.


    Not only had he lost to his impersonator, his impersonator had maligned him! He was so incensed that his scales were trembling. He would let that impersonator pay for this!


    "Violetfrost, don''t leave! Save me!" Ao Shuai suddenly shouted.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost turned to see a group of Dayin cultivators heading for Ao Shuai.


    He frowned. Exasperated, he had no choice but to give up on pursuing Emperor Feng and headed to defend Ao Shuai instead. With a sweep of his tail, he sent all the iing cultivators flying, then took on human form again.


    "Are you all crazy? A madman impersonated me. This is none of our business!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled.


    The Dayin cultivators were taken aback. They couldn''t help but meet this remark with skepticism. How could the real Martial Aspect of Violetfrost have lost to his impersonator when it came to mastery over lightning?


    Meanwhile, beams of golden light shot out from the capital of Dayin, hovering right above the barrier erected for the martial tournament. An imposing aura swelled from the cultivators, suppressing the dust and revealing countless injured.


    Many of the wounded spectators were groaning, clearly badly hurt. They looked toward the air and saw golden-armored cultivators surrounding a man dressed in golden draconic robes. The man had a wide face, sharp features, hulking physique, domineering aura, and divine might.


    "Call back your subordinates, Yin Shenhua!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cried out.


    "We greet the Immortal Emperor!" All the officials and soldiers of Dayin bowed down immediately.


    The man who had arrived was none other than the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, Yin Shenhua.


    "Where is Mo Shanhe?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "Immortal Emperor, an assassin appeared in the guise of the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and attacked the prime minister. He left with the prime minister and fled in that direction. The prime minister''s guards immediately gave chase," an official reported, pointing into the distance.


    Yin Shenhua frowned. This was a serious matter. He looked toward his surroundings. "Secure the perimeter. No one is to enter or exit the area. Leave everything untouched and await my return."


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    Then, Yin Shenhua flew off, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye. The golden-armored cultivators arrayed around him swiftly followed suit.


    The remaining Dayin soldiers quickly formed troops and locked the area down.


    Everything was to remain in stasis.


    Even the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Ao Shuai were surrounded by arge group of cultivators.


    The sudden circumstances left everyone overwhelmed.


    Back on a floating ind in Dayin''s capital, Yin Tianci, who had watched the entire affair unfold from afar, frowned at Tang. "You were right. Something did happen. Thank goodness I didn''t head over there myself."


    "Your Highness, given how things are developing, to avoid any further disturbances, I rmend that you return to your manor and inform the guards in the city to be on alert. This may yet be a ploy to get the emperor and prime minister away from the city," Tang warned.


    "You''re right. With Father lured away, if anyone were to make a mess in the city now... We''ll return immediately," Yin Tianci stated.


    The two cultivators left at once.


    The barrier erected for the martial tournament remained stable. It had blocked the shockwaves and aftermath that resulted from the lightning strikes a moment ago, and nothing within had been damaged. However, thepetitors were all in shock. Who would have expected that so much would happen in so little time?


    What were they to do now? Was the tournament going to continue?


    Xiao Nanfeng stopped his interrogation, knowing that the martial tournament would surely be canceled. He reached out for the pagoda of quintessential srfire immediately.


    Plenty ofpetitors stared at him, wanting to stop him, but knowing that they would only fail to do so.


    The pagoda of quintessential srfire gleamed with golden light, repulsing Xiao Nanfeng''s hand. He wasn''t able to manipte the relic at all.


    "It really is being remotely controlled, isn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    He activated the golden and flung it at the pagoda of quintessential srfire, which gleamed with bright light as it tried to shake off the. However, the golden was an incredible relic in its own right. It glowed more and more brightly, suppressing the pagoda as the two relics fought for dominance.


    One of thepetitors was secretly controlling the pagoda of quintessential srfire, but he was unable to free the pagoda from the, and he didn''t dare show himself, either. He fretted, not knowing what to do.


    Not only did the golden have the ability to bind whatever it caught, it could also suppress or seal the strength of any bound entities within. The pagoda of quintessential srfire was unable to exert its power.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the pagoda and struck at it with his divine undying de, causing the pagoda to tremble as sparks flew everywhere.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, you can''t destroy the pagoda of quintessential srfire!" the hidden cultivator cried out.


    "Is the pagoda yours? Or do you intend topete with me for the grand prize?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The cultivator stiffened and retreated to the side. He didn''t dare admit that he was responsible for controlling the pagoda; he could sense that Xiao Nanfeng would have struck him down if he were to continue talking.


    The otherpetitors, however, were ncing askance at each other. Though they acknowledged Xiao Nanfeng''s strength, it was likely that the tournament would be canceled now that such a fracas had broken out. At that point, would Xiao Nanfeng still be able to im the pagoda for himself?


    Was Xiao Nanfeng attempting to destroy the pagoda if he couldn''t im it?


    Xiao Nanfeng struck the pagoda dozens of times in an instant, causing a crack to form on its surface. Roiling golden mes surged forth.


    Xiao Nanfeng began to absorb those mes without any hesitation. Soon, he was engulfed by them.


    "The pagoda contains a supply of quintessential srfire. Is Xiao Nanfeng trying to destroy the relic and im all of those mes for himself?" Manypetitors were astounded by the sight, but none dared to step forward and stop him. The golden mes surged like the raging sea. Waves of heat emanated from Xiao Nanfeng, which the cultivators were barely able to tolerate even from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged within the mes, absorbing them all steadily.


    "Tigers, pack up my things and guard me!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The three tiger spirits gulped and nodded. "Understood!"


    They didn''t dare to attack Xiao Nanfeng at all. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had an avatar. If they were to strike him, he would surely take revenge.


    The three tigers guarded Xiao Nanfeng as he meditated and began to break through even as everyone watched him.


    They gaped at him even as they gave him a strange look. Even those spectators watching from beyond the barrier were casting him envious nces.

 Chapter 572: Another Breakthrough

    <h4>Chapter 572: Another Breakthrough</h4>


    The pagoda of quintessential srfire contained some quintessential srfire mixed with varieties of weaker strength. To Xiao Nanfeng, however, none of that mattered. He would absorb all the mes and transform them into strength to fuel his advancement.


    In the outer world, a Dayin official frowned. "Martial Aspect Xiao, that''s the grand prize of the tournament. Please don''t touch it until the tournament is over."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and continued to absorb the srfire.


    The official shouted, "Open up the barrier and stop Xiao Nanfeng! He''s breaking the rules of the tournament and should be expelled from it!"


    "Silence! The Immortal Emperor told us to preserve the area as is. No one is to interfere. Don''t you dare open up the barrier!" a general called back.


    "But he''s destroying the pagoda of quintessential srfire!"


    "I know he''s taking advantage of the situation, but the Immortal Emperor will deal with him soon enough. If you open up this barrier, you''ll be defying a direct order from the emperor, and I''ll be held ountable."


    The official stiffened, but didn''t dare say more.


    Two hourster, Xiao Nanfeng had absorbed all the mes within the pagoda of quintessential srfire.


    The pagoda crumbled away into a heap of scrap metal, while the surging fire-attuned energy honed Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    A burst of mes erupted from him as he opened his eyes.


    "The seventh stage of the Heaven Immortal realm? He only advanced by a single minor stage after fully absorbing a Golden Immortal relic?"


    "I heard that the Sky of Ten Suns was particrly draining in terms of cultivation resources, but this is ridiculous!"


    "Not only that, he even lost four of his ten suns. What a pity..."


    All sorts of regretful and envious murmurs came from the spectators still watching the tournament.


    After that, a beam of golden light shot toward Dayin from afar¡ªone of the golden-armored cultivators that had left with Yin Shenhua a few hours ago.


    "By order of the Immortal Emperor, this martial tournament is to be canceled. The envoy of the Imperial Court, Xiao Nanfeng, is requested to return to the city lest another assassin strike. The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Master Ao Shuai are requested to enter the city and help with the investigation as to the assassin''s origins."


    Then, the golden-armored cultivator dispelled the martial tournament''s barrier.


    A group of purple-furred monsters rushed to Xiao Nanfeng''s side instantly.


    On the other hand, a few of the officials responsible for the martial tournament nced at each other, frowning. The pagoda of quintessential srfire was gone; Xiao Nanfeng had destroyed it. Was he going to providepensation?


    But how? He was an imperial envoy, and the Immortal Emperor had requested his cooperation. If they were to make a fuss, they would be the ones to suffer for it.


    They had no choice but to stand down.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, please!" The golden-armored cultivator flew up to Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    Clearly, if Xiao Nanfeng were to refuse, he would force him toply.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the spoils proffered by the three tigers, then acknowledged the golden-armored cultivator''s request. "Very well."


    He turned to the three tigers. "You''ve done well. I shall take no offense over what happened during the tournament."


    "Understood! Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" The three tigers bowed gratefully.


    All those who had attempted to kill Xiao Nanfeng had died, including the archer and Monk Jinguang. They had been killed by the purple-furred monsters that had rushed in to guard Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng, escorted by the purple-furred monsters and the golden-armored cultivator, returned to the capital.


    Meanwhile, Ao Shuai and the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost had been surrounded by other golden-armored cultivators as well.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. He gave them all a chilling stare. He cared not for their supposed escort, and could even suppress them all with brute force, but what about Ao Shuai?


    For Ao Shuai''s safety, he had no choice but to nod. "Lead the way."


    "Please follow us," the golden-armored cultivators replied.


    The two parties headed for the capital, while the remaining cultivators quickly dispersed. Dayin''s soldiers briefly interrogated them before allowing them to go free.


    The martial tournament had ended in a mess.


    Within the Sieve of Heaven, in the Hall of Martial Aspects, Ao Canghai sat before his study and listened to the reports being delivered to him. Several Martial Aspects stood by his side, frowning with serious looks on their faces.


    After the reports had all been delivered, the Martial Aspects all looked dour.


    "The young master really is mired in a mess this time around. If he''s implicated for attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect, he''d be beheaded."


    "Mo Shanhe had to be responsible. If I''m not mistaken, he must have installed a spy by the young master''s side. Otherwise, Violetfrost would have known about the sale of the bow."


    "Mo Shanhe deserves his fate. Serves him right for being kidnapped!"


    The Martial Aspects fumed at what had happened.


    Ao Canghai scowled. "Ao Shuai''s actions were truly foolish."


    "Eastern Aspect, although the young master might be in dangerous straits, everything will be fine so long as Xiao Nanfeng relents. He didn''t make a fuss back then, but he''s surely going to demand a great deal from us." One of the Martial Aspects frowned.


    "Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng might not even be able to leave Dayin alive. No matter how much he wheedles from us, he may not have the good fortune to im it for himself. Promise him something virtual¡ªit''ll be no loss to us either way. We simply have to prioritize rescuing the young master," another Martial Aspect suggested.


    Ao Canghai was silent for a moment before he nodded. "Very well. Have Violetfrost deal with Xiao Nanfeng. Keep reporting back to me."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Eastern Aspect, Violetfrost and the young master have been detained by Dayin. Do we need to head there and rescue him?" one of the Martial Aspects asked.


    "There''s no need. Violetfrost wasn''t the assassin, so they won''t be able to keep him there for long. Have them negotiate terms with Xiao Nanfeng and then leave immediately. They can''t remain in Dayin for long," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    On thergest guest ind in Dayin''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao stood by a banister on the floating ind as they looked down on the city outstretched before them.


    "Emperor Feng seeded in capturing Mo Shanhe¡ªI can''t believe it," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Dayin''s going to be a mess, now," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "He did something to my soul to prevent me from running away. How troublesome." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "I''ve already sent a subordinate to help search for the Taiqing Demonic Sect''s sect master. He''s skilled with spiritual techniques and may be able to free you from Emperor Feng''s clutches. Hold on patiently," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "Now that you''ve basically been imprisoned by Dayin, what are you going to do?"


    "I''m waiting for Ao Shuai to providepensation for what he did. Then, I''m going to seek an audience with Yin Shenhua. Now that he''s out of secluded cultivation, it''s time for him to pay up."


    "What? Do you really intend to im 60% of Dayin''s fortune?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "Why not? Rather than allow myself to be imprisoned, then killed after Dayin decides to rebel, I''d rather seek him out while he''s not yet ready. Who knows? I might seed." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gave him an odd look. He couldn''t help but think that Xiao Nanfeng was being carried away by wishful thinking.

 Chapter 573: Thunderclap Hall

    <h4>Chapter 573: Thunderp Hall</h4>


    Two dayster, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Ao Shuai arrived at Xiao Nanfeng''s guest ind together. They initiated negotiations in a secluded pavilion.


    "Come, have some tea. There''s no rush," Xiao Nanfeng said, greeting them warmly.


    To him, they might as well have been gods of wealthe to bless him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, everything that happened before was just a misunderstanding," Ao Shuai said, frowning.


    "Right, a misunderstanding. I''m certain you wouldn''t have sold a bow to target me, Master Ao. Don''t worry. I''ve already written a petition to have the best researchers of the Imperial Court determine the truth and clear your name." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ao Shuai: ...


    Beside him, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost took a deep breath. "Young master, don''t beat around the bush. Simply tell the truth."


    If they were to continue sipping tea and maintaining a pleasant facade, the petition might well reach the Heavenly Emperor''s hands before they could do anything about it.


    Ao Shuai scowled. He was deeply dissatisfied by the notion of submitting to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Perhaps it would be better if I exined what happened. Martial Aspect Xiao, Ao Shuai fell for Mo Shanhe''s trap, not anticipating that Mo Shanhe would have a spy by Ao Shuai''s side inciting him to deal with you. We''ve already caught and interrogated that spy. Mo Shanhe deliberately had Ao Shuaie across the Sunfell Bow and then sell it back to a Dayin armory in order to deal with you and tarnish the Imperial Court''s reputation. Martial Aspect Xiao, I hope you''ll be understanding and think about the big picture."


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fully believe the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost''s exnation. "What are your intentions, then?"


    "For the good of the Imperial Court, please don''t advertise the truth of the matter. We''d be happy to provide you with sufficientpensation," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    "Compensation? You should know that I cultivate the Sky of Ten Suns, and the technique is instrumental to my cultivation. The Sunfell Bow that Ao Shuai sold was responsible for killing four of my golden crows and almost caused me to perish during the martial tournament. What sort ofpensation do you think would suffice for such indignity?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face went cold.


    "We''ve already contacted the Eastern Aspect, who has agreed to hand over another nomination for a substitute Martial Aspect," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    "That''s far too insufficient. It might be enough to deter me from killing Ao Shuai, but what of the four golden crows I lost? What of my near-death experience? I won''t make things hard for you. Give me that and four Golden Immortal relics, and I won''t look into the matter further," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Impossible. Do you think Golden Immortal relics are that easy to acquire? Many Golden Immortals don''t even have such relics," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    "I don''t think my request is overboard. Feel free to head back and discuss it between yourselves, then pass on my request to the Eastern Aspect. Come back when you''ve made up your mind," Xiao Nanfeng said, preparing to leave.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nched. Next time? Next time would be far toote!


    "On behalf of the Eastern Aspect, I can offer two nominations for substitute Martial Aspects," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    "Why would I want so many?" Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, your request is impossible to fulfill. We can''t provide you with any Golden Immortal relics," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said firmly.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost. He didn''t want to press the other party too much, either¡ªthe curse was strong, but dispelling it was possible given sufficient time. What if they decided to pay to have Ao Shuai''s curse cleansed instead? Xiao Nanfeng would acquire nothing then.


    "Then I''ll take four additional nominations, one for each Golden Immortal relic that you can''t provide. That''s an easier request for you to handle, I''m sure."


    "Five nominations? If the Eastern Aspect were to sign that, the entire Eastern Quadrant would be made aughingstock! Three at most."


    "Aughingstock, perhaps, but one that doesn''t concern me. On the other hand, if I expose the truth to the public, the Eastern Aspect will truly be aughingstock then, won''t he? I''ve already been quite considerate with my requests. Take it or leave it," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost eyed Xiao Nanfeng for a long moment before he said, "Give me a moment."


    He passed on Xiao Nanfeng''s request to a subordinate with an avatar at the Imperial Court, who reported it to Ao Canghai immediately.


    After another long moment, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost returned. "The Eastern Aspect has agreed. The nominations will arrive at your manor within two hours."


    "Let''s wait, then. We have plenty of time to spare. Would you like to have a taste of my Immortal tea? It''s a specialty that Dayin provides to envoys from the Imperial Court, and it''s quite good." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Neither Ao Shuai nor the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, however, were in the mood for tea at all. They frowned and waited patiently, ignoring Xiao Nanfeng.


    Two hourster, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly smiled. "I''ve received the nominations. Thank you for your generosity, Ao Shuai."


    Ao Shuai was so mad that veins were throbbing from his forehead. The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost tugged firmly on his sleeve, reining him in.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, please return the Sunfell Bow and Sunstrike Arrows to us."


    "I''m afraid you must be mistaken. Ao Shuai sold off the Sunfell Bow; it''s no longer his. At most, I''ll permit you to remove the traces of the curse on it. This relic is mine."


    "Very well. Let me do so, then," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost conceded.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a jade box.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost opened it and had Ao Shuai inspect it carefully to ensure that it was the bow and remaining arrows that he had sold. Only then did he nod.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost charged his arms up with lightning, then swept them over the bow and arrows, clearing away whatever remained of the curse. The two cultivators inspected the relics again before returning them to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, it''s gettingte. We won''t impose on you any longer. Farewell!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.


    "I won''t send you off," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Ao Shuai left quickly with their subordinates in tow.


    After they left the ind, Ao Shuai gritted out, "He''s ridiculously greedy. Five nominations?! Does he think they grow on trees? How many cultivators within the Imperial Court would foot exorbitant prices for these nominations? If he were to sell them, he''d be rich beyond belief!"


    "Don''t worry, Master. The Eastern Aspect specifically marked these nominations so that they''re only valid if Xiao Nanfeng himself signs them, and Xiao Nanfeng can''t leave the capital of Dayin at present. I''m sure Dayin will strike at his avatar at the same time when it''s ready to rebel, so we might as well have promised him nothing. We won''t have lost anything by handing them to him," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost concluded.


    "Hmph!" Ao Shuai was still aggrieved.


    "Yin Shenhua''s outraged that Mo Shanhe has been captured, and his rebellion is likely imminent. We have to leave Dayin immediately¡ªthe Eastern Aspectmanded us himself. You can''t remain here willfully," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "Very well," Ao Shuai replied.


    After the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Ao Shuai left, Zhao Yuanjiao walked up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Five nominations? They must not think you''ll make it out alive."


    "We''ll see, I suppose. Senior Brother, one of the nominations is for you."


    "Are you already nning things out so far in advance?" Zhao Yuanjiao gave him a look of surprise.


    "It''s not that far in advance. There are four quadrants of Martial Aspects, and Ao Canghai leads the eighteen Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant. Another five loyal to us would give us seven in all¡ªand we''d be able to contend against Ao Canghai then."


    "We''d still have the numerical disadvantage, wouldn''t we?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "Not all eighteen Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant are loyal to Ao Canghai," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Zhao Yuanjiao hummed thoughtfully. "In that case, it''s worth a try."


    "Before that, though, I need to deal with the problems we''re about to face."


    "Yin Shenhua?"


    "That''s right. All the city lords in Dayin have received a missive over thest two days to rescue Mo Shanhe regardless of the cost. Yin Shenhua''s showing his hand, and I''m afraid we''ll have much to deal with now."


    Just then, a group of Dayin officials flew toward Xiao Nanfeng''s guest ind.


    "Is the envoy of the Imperial Court, Xiao Nanfeng, present?" an official called out.


    "Speak of the devil," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He waved a hand, beckoning for the purple-furred monsters to wee the delegation and bring them toward the pavilion.


    "I am Dayin''s Vice-Minister of Rites. Greetings, Envoy," the official in the lead said.


    "Is something the business?"


    "His Majesty has received your petition and would like to invite you to the Thunderp Hall to discuss it in more detail," the official said, bowing.


    Behind the official were a group of exceptionally strong cultivators. Xiao Nanfeng easily deduced that, if he were to refuse, they would attack him and bring him there by force.


    "About the fortune owed to the Imperial Court, you mean?" Xiao Nanfeng rified.


    "Indeed, Envoy. Please follow me."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The cultivators at the back of the delegation exhaled in relief. They certainly didn''t want to have to bring Xiao Nanfeng there by force unless they had to.


    "Nanfeng," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured in worry.


    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother. Focus on your safety. I''m prepared," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded, aplicated look in his eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Dayin''s delegation. "Has Yin Shenhua convened a session of court?"


    "Ah..." The official clearly hesitated.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, unperturbed. "I understand. If this is to be a private meeting, then I alone will suffice. Let''s go."


    The official bowed and led the way as Xiao Nanfeng was escorted toward Dayin''s pce.


    Dayin''s pce was surrounded with fog and built atop a giant mountain in the shape of a dragon''s head. There were plenty of halls all across the mountain, and that at the very top was where the imperial court of Dayin convened: Thunderp Hall.

 Chapter 574: A World in His Palm

    <h4>Chapter 574: A World in His Palm</h4>


    At arge za in Dayin''s pce atop the dragon-head mountain, the official bowed. "Martial Aspect Xiao, the Immortal Emperor awaits you within."


    An ornate hall stood before Xiao Nanfeng, a signboard establishing that this was, in fact, Thunderp Hall. Golden-armored cultivators stood guard all around the hall, stern and majestic.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and walked in.


    The interior of the hall was spacious, opulent, and shining with golden light. The moment Xiao Nanfeng entered, he saw a ck, draconic throne by the north of the hall, facing him. A man sat on the throne in golden draconic robes¡ªnone other than Yin Shenhua himself.


    The doors to the hall creaked shut behind him.


    Xiao Nanfeng tensed, but didn''t show his fear. He stared firmly at the man seated on the throne.


    Yin Shenhua was scrutinizing Xiao Nanfneg as well. Though he did not speak, an incredible aura emanated from him, one that made it difficult for Xiao Nanfeng to advance.


    "You''re finally willing to meet with me, Yin Shenhua," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, is it? I''ve seen your dossier. Your growth is nothing short of astounding. Which hegemon of previous eras are you?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    It was clear that Yin Shenhua thought that Xiao Nanfeng had been possessed by a cursed king.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, but didn''t attempt to resolve the misunderstanding. "Why don''t we get down to business?"


    Yin Shenhua continued to stare at Xiao Nanfeng for some time before nodding. "It''s only normal that you won''t say, I suppose. Very well."


    "You should know what I''m doing here. I represent the Imperial Court and am iming the tithe of fortune owed by Dayin¡ª60% of your current reserves. How are you intending to pay?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yin Shenhua nced at Xiao Nanfeng with some surprise, as though disbelieving that he would ask such an unrealistic question.


    "Let''s not speak of fortune today. Where''s my prime minister? Where did you hide him?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "I regret to say that Mo Shanhe was seized by an evildoer. I don''t know where he is either."


    "Is that so?"


    "Whoever seized him was a Golden Immortal cultivator. Do you think I''m able tomand such a cultivator at will?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng and considered his im. There was plenty of reason to suspect that Xiao Nanfeng was implicated in Mo Shanhe''s disappearance, but it was true that Xiao Nanfeng was too weak to do much of anything even as a revived cursed king. Something was clearly wrong.


    "And if I really were possessed by a cursed king, would I be satisfied with being a Martial Aspect, a subordinate of the Heavenly Emperor? Would the Heavenly Emperor leave someone like me by his side?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Ordinary people would be frightened by the prospect of a cursed king, but if Yin Shenhua suddenly attacked him to probe his strength, he would certainly die instantly. He couldn''t allow Yin Shenhua to think of him as a cursed king any longer.


    "And if I don''t believe you?"


    "Believe it or not, it''s the truth. I''m sure your sources of information will also make it clear that I''ve been sent to reim the lost fortune as part of a trap against me¡ªbut now that I''m here, I can hardly return with nothing. I''d like to know how you intend to pay off your tithe, Yin Shenhua."


    Yin Shenhua continued to re at Xiao Nanfeng. In the end, however, he smiled. "Why don''t we have a bet? If you win, I''ll follow the rules."


    "Hm?"


    Yin Shenhua extended his right hand. His palm suddenly generated incredible suction, which Xiao Nanfeng was unable to defend against. He was sucked into Yin Shenhua''s palm.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly stabilized himself only to find that his environment hadpletely changed. The hall he had been in had vanished,reced by a sea of clouds.


    Yin Shenhua seemed to have be a giant. Half his body stood above the clouds, and half below. His right hand was lifted, its palm the size of arge field, with Xiao Nanfeng standing on it. Not far away, Yin Shenhua''s fingers curled toward the sky like heaven-reaching pirs, clouded with fog.


    "A world in your palm..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, narrowing his eyes.


    "Let''s make a bet. If you can escape from my palm, I''ll y by the rules. Otherwise, you''ll reveal everything you know about Mo Shanhe''s disappearance to me," Yin Shenhua said from up high.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. This was a rather familiar sight, wasn''t it?


    "It''s the first time I''ve been caught by such a skill. Let me probe it first," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He flew into the air, toward the horizon.


    He could confirm that this wasn''t an illusion; he was still in his physical body. He flew rapidly, breaking through the cloud cover.


    Wind whooshed by his side. He flew for two entire hours, an interminable distance. But, when he raised his head all of a sudden, he could still see Yin Shenhua''s five pir-like fingers far across the horizon. He frowned. In other words, despite his best efforts, he wouldn''t get free just by physical motion.


    He considered this conundrum as he flew, suddenly noticing that the clouds he was soaring by seemed to follow some special trajectory.


    The answer came to him in a sh.


    "Spatial maniption. This world of yours incorporates naturalw that deals with space, doesn''t it? No matter how I try to flee, thosews will pin me down with regards to rtive position," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You have good eyes, if nothing else," Yin Shenhua replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly halted. The space around him was shrinking, and Yin Shenhua''s five fingers were swiftly drawing near. He pondered his circumstances.


    "You''ve lost, Xiao Nanfeng. Now, reveal all that you know." Yin Shenhua''s voice rumbled like thunder.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''ve only stopped momentarily to think matters through. I haven''t lost."


    "As a Heaven Immortal, you won''t be able to escape from my palm. Fulfill the terms of the bet, now."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Yin Shenhua and retrieved his golden.


    "Do you still intend to resist?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "This world of yours is incredibly potent, Yin Shenhua, but it won''t suffice to entrap me. I hope you''ll keep your word. Golden, explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He caused the golden to self-destruct.


    "Are you crazy? Are you trying to kill yourself?!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    The golden exploded. The destruction of a Golden Immortal relic generated incredible force. Strong though Yin Shenhua''s technique was, the explosion instantly tore a hole in it.


    The explosion wasn''t strong enough to hurt Yin Shenhua, but ordinary Golden Immortals certainly wouldn''t have escaped unscathed, let alone a Heaven Immortal caught in its midst like Xiao Nanfeng. Was he trying to kill himself?


    A burst of fire emerged from the hole in Yin Shenhua''s technique, enveloping the entire hall.


    Fortunately, Yin Shenhua had reacted quickly. He clenched his fist and concentrated the explosion in his palm, restoring the hole in his technique swiftly.


    Then, the mes on Yin Shenhua''s palm radiated with light.


    It took long moments before Yin Shenhua finally extinguished all the mes, and he was particrly dour by the time he finished.


    Xiao Nanfeng had managed to flee from his technique by taking advantage of the explosion he had produced.


    He slumped on the floor of the hall, his clothes charred, blood spraying from his mouth. It was clear that he was badly injured, but he had survived the explosion. Golden light emanated from his body.


    "You cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Ri? No wonder you dared to brave the explosion," Yin Shenhua spat out.


    "I destroyed a Golden Immortal relic that I borrowed from the Hall of Martial Aspects, too. I''ll be held ountable, of course, but being able to secure your promise is worth it. Yin Shenhua, it''s time for you to fulfill your end of the bet." Xiao Nanfeng staggered up, clutching his chest.


    Yin Shenhua red at Xiao Nanfeng. He had never met anyone so rash. It was clear that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t a cursed king, but how could an ordinary cultivator have broken out of his treasured technique?


    "Yin Shenhua, I''ve won. How do you intend to pay your tithe to the Imperial Court?"


    Yin Shenhua sighed. He shook his head. "Xiao Nanfeng, you don''t know how important Mo Shanhe is to me, but from what you''ve said, it''s clear you do know some information of import. You''ll have to tell me what you know."


    "Are you going back on your word, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This is my Thunderp Hall, my ce of power! You have no say in things. If you refuse to tell me what you know, let''s see how long you can hold out, then," Yin Shenhua warned.


    A huge thunderp rang out within the hall, as if heavenly lightning had exploded in Xiao Nanfeng''s head.


    "Argh!" Xiao Nanfeng clutched his head in pain, feeling as though the force of the lightning had flung him into the air.


    By the time hended again, the thunderp had vanished entirely, reced by the sound of chanting.


    He opened his eyes to find that his environment had changed once again. His charred clothes had been restored.


    The hall remained the same hall, but it was now filled with arhats. Behind the arhats were stern bodhisattvas floating atop lotuses.


    To the north of the hall were golden lotuses on which Buddhas stood or sat. They were facing thergest lotus directly to the north, where Yin Shenhua himself sat. His draconic robes had vanished, reced with Buddhist ones.


    He was staring coldly at Xiao Nanfeng as though he were an ancestral Buddha.


    All the arhats, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas followed his furious gaze toward Xiao Nanfeng, releasing an aura of incredible potency.


    "Who are you to dare not to bow down to the ancestral Buddha?" a Buddha demanded.


    The Buddha''s voice resounded in Xiao Nanfeng''s head like another p of thunder, causing him to wince in pain.


    "Is this an illusion? Yin Shenhua, you''re a Buddha in here?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 575: The Present and Future Buddhas

    <h4>Chapter 575: The Present and Future Buddhas</h4>


    Atop the golden lotus, Yin Shenhua, dressed in Buddhist robes, judged Xiao Nanfeng alongside the other Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I ask you again: will you reveal Mo Shanhe''s whereabouts?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "The ancestral Buddha is asking you a question!" a Buddha shouted.


    "Answer him!" the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats shouted simultaneously, their voices reverberating like a thunderp that struck at Xiao Nanfeng''s very soul. Anyone of lesser fortitude would have reeled, their mental defenses shattered, but Xiao Nanfeng had honed his will into his strongest weapon.


    Even so, it took Xiao Nanfeng long moments to realize what was going on. "A cursed king rules the divine empire of Dayin. Yin Shenhua, this was why you jumped to the idea that I was a revived cursed king myself!"


    "Stubborn, aren''t you? Death chants!" Yin Shenhua called out.


    "Understood!"


    All the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats quickly chanted scripture, which echoed about the entire hall.


    These death chants were even more prating than the ones he had encountered before in the Pce of the Moon. They wormed their way into Xiao Nanfeng''s mind as he quickly sat cross-legged, defending against the sudden mental assault. He felt the chants deep in his mind, turning his thoughts turbid and sluggish, and making it difficult for him to muster and effective defense.


    Suddenly, a new set of death chants could be heard within his head, suppressing and deflecting those chants from without and nullifying all sound in his mindscape.


    rity regained, he took a deep breath, his heart still thumping at what had almost happened. The ck lotus had helped him regain control of his mind.


    However, it didn''t reveal itself¡ªYin Shenhua was simply too strong.


    After some time, Yin Shenhua spoke up again. "Reveal all the information you know about Mo Shanhe''s capture."


    Yin Shenhua''s voice boomed, resounding in Xiao Nanfeng''s head like amand.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes and stared at Yin Shenhua. "Yin Shenhua, are you trying to hypnotize me and turn me into a puppet?"


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes. "You haven''t been affected? Something''s not right."


    "I have another body. Your death chants won''t be able to hypnotize me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He had to hide the ck lotus'' existence; Yin Shenhua couldn''t learn of the truth behind his lucidity.


    Yin Shenhua demanded, "Aren''t you afraid of dying?"


    "You won''t dare kill me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You really think that, don''t you? Your overconfidence will be your downfall," Yin Shenhua replied, narrowing his eyes.


    "Mo Shanhe''s in my grasp¡ªhe lives or dies by my whims," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly said. "Do you believe me?"


    Yin Shenhua''s eyes suddenly widened as palpable killing intent struck at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re the culprit? You really are asking to be killed!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    "The Imperial Court sent me as a debt collector. As long as you don''t pay up, we''ll oppose each other," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "I''ll make you suffer a fate worse than death," Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    "What you do to me, I''ll do to Mo Shanhe," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "You dare?"


    "Try me!"


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes, then continued coldly, "Do you think Mo Shanhe means that much to me?"


    "Perhaps not Mo Shanhe alone, but what about Yin Tianci as well?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "What?" Yin Shenhua gaped.


    "I was wondering why you seemed to care so much for Yin Tianci despite his being your third son, why you risked everything to rescue him from the Imperial Court when I had him in my possession. Even Mo Shanhe behaves the same way¡ªand now I see why."


    "What do you know?"


    "You, Yin Shenhua, are the Present Buddha. Then, Yin Tianci must be the Future Buddha."


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes.


    "Although I don''t know why Yin Tianci''s memories seem to be sealed, I''m sure he''s the Future Buddha. I saw the golden lotus hood on his head when I melted his body down with my Yin-Yang Cauldron over the course of a few days. Sage Yellowbrow of the Thousand-Spirit Ind was particrly respectful to him, and right beneath the Thousand-Spirit Ind was the Future Buddha''s subordinate, the Moonlight Buddha. There''s much more circumstantial information I collected, but I suppose I won''t need to describe it all. I''m not wrong, am I?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Yin Shenhua had a dour look on his face.


    "Feel free to see if Yin Tianci is still in the capital of Dayin," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Yin Shenhua looked toward the gathered Buddhas. "Continue to suppress him with death chants!"


    "Understood!" the Buddhas replied.


    Yin Shenhua vanished from his golden lotus.


    Two days ago, as Yin Shenhua left the city in search of Mo Shanhe, Tang and Yin Tianci realized that something was amiss and hurriedly rushed back to their manor.


    On the way back, however, they found themselves waid by an assassination attempt.


    A ck figure shot straight for Yin Tianci. "Your life is forfeit, you Yin bastard!"


    "Protect His Highness!" Tang shouted, shielding Yin Tianci with his own body.


    The sword thrust into Tang''s body as he was sent flying in a spurt of blood. It prated all the way through his body and into Yin Tianci''s arm.


    "You''ll die for this!"


    Yin Tianci''s guards shot forward, sending the figure flying. The figure spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air, his chest having caved in, clearly badly injured.


    "I''ll be back, you Yin bastard!" The ck figure ran off into an alleyway.


    "Chase after him!" Yin Tianci''s guards ran off.


    "Some of you have to stay behind to protect His Highness!" Tang cried out, then spat out a mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.


    A few of the guards chasing after the assassins retreated.


    "Are there assassins over there, too?!" one of the guards suddenly shouted.


    There still seemed to be a few assassins hidden in the dark alleyway, but they swiftly retreated after having been discovered.


    The guards exhaled in relief. "If not for Sir Tang''s reminder, we might have been caught unawares."


    Yin Tinaci had hidden among his guards the moment he had sustained an injury rather than attempt to show off. Only when they arrived at the capital proper did he finally show himself.


    His arm injury had stabilized by then, but a group of guards were still hovering around Tang, who had yet to wake up.


    "How''s Tang''s injury?" Yin Tianci asked.


    "Sir Tang is badly wounded, but his life won''t be in danger. He may take a few days to awaken," a guard reported.


    "There are True Immortals among you guards. Why was Tang the one who had to step forward to defend me? Are you all less alert than a Heaven Immortal?!" Yin Tianci thundered.


    If Tang hadn''t protected him, his injury would have been far more severe. He might even have lost his life!


    "Please forgive us, Your Highness!" His guards immediately pleaded for mercy.


    "Find out who''s responsible. If you can''t, prepare to die," Yin Tianci snarled.


    "Understood!" the guards replied.


    The guards mobilized rapidly and figured out what had happened within half a day.


    In Yin Tianci''s manor, a guard reported, "Your Highness, we''ve uncovered the culprits. ording to the blood that the assassins left behind, we confirmed that they were elephant spirits."


    "Elephant spirits?"


    "Do you remember when you destroyed the Holy Elephant Valley three years ago because you were in need of ckjade ivory, Your Highness?You dug it out from their burial mound," the guard reported.


    "Didn''t we kill off all the elephant spirits?" Yin Tianci frowned.


    "Not quite, Your Highness. We just discovered that there were a few elephant spirits who managed to avoid our initial extermination. They''ve been hiding themselves ever since. We destroyed one of their dens in the city and discovered many documents rted to their assassination n against you."


    "How strong are the assassins?"


    "ording to the documents, even the strongest of the elephant spirits was only a Heaven Immortal back then. They couldn''t have grown much stronger in just three years. The assassin who struck you was likely a peak Heaven Immortal, whereas those that had been skulking around were probably weaker."


    "These Heaven Immortal elephant spirits dared to assault me? I should have killed them all back then. Where are they now?"


    "We don''t know, Your Highness. They''re in hiding now."


    "Find them! I''m going to kill them myself," Yin Tianci said, a chilling tone in his voice.


    "Understood!" the guard replied.


    A dayter, the guard returned.


    "Your Highness, we have an update. Yesterday, patrolling guards saw a wounded elephant spirit in the mountainous forests to the west of the capital, but were unaware that they were criminals then. We''ve found the elephant spirits'' den in the forest, and we''re keeping an eye on it right now as we await your orders."


    Yin Tianci stared at the wound on his arm, furious that he had been wounded by a Heaven Immortal despite being a True Immortal.


    "Bring me over," Yin Tianci said.


    "Your Highness, might it be better if we handled it ourselves?" the guard ventured worriedly.


    "They''re just a few Heaven Immortal spirits. Do you think they''ll be able to harm me? I''m going to skin them myself. Lead the way!"


    "Understood!"


    They proceeded with caution. Even Yin Tianci disguised himself and followed his subordinates out of the capital.


    They quickly arrived by arge valley, where a guard was stationed on lookout. Upon seeing Yin Tianci''s party, he immediately stepped forward and bowed.


    "Your Highness, they''re in that valley over there. I''ve been keeping watch. There are five of them in all, and they''re shrouding the valley in fog."


    "Capture them all!" Yin Tiancimanded.


    "Understood!" His subordinates rushed down into the valley as Yin Tianci waited by its lip. Just then, however, thick fog surrounded the valley and the forest beyond.


    "Something''s wrong!" Yin Tianci shouted, attempting to flee from the fog, but it was already toote. Several figures within the fog struck at him.


    "True Immortals!" Yin Tianci cried out.


    Then, he was sent stumbling back and fell into a dim, dark environment. Something nged shut, sealing off all light.


    "The Yin-Yang Cauldron again?!" Yin Tianci eximed. He suddenly understood what was going on. "This must all be part of Xiao Nanfeng''s scheme!"

 Chapter 576: Mutual Threat

    <h4>Chapter 576: Mutual Threat</h4>


    Back in Thunderp Hall''s illusory realm, death chants continued to resound around Xiao Nanfeng, who remained awake and alert thanks to the help of the ck lotus. Even so, he feigned pain and distress.


    Yin Shenhua, who had vanished from his golden lotus, swiftly returned.


    He red at Xiao Nanfeng with killing intent. The chilling aura he released suppressed even the death chants for the moment.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression suddenly rxed, as though he had been freed from the pain of the death chants. He squeezed a few drops of sweat out of his pores on his forehead as he lifted his head and looked at Yin Shenhua. "Well? You haven''t found Yin Tianci, have you?"


    "Aren''t you afraid of dying?" Yin Shenhua retorted.


    "As I''ve said, you don''t dare to kill me. I have Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci under my control. If something happens to me, they''re both going to die. What''s more, I''m an envoy of the Imperial Court. Killing me would be akin to dering war. The Imperial Court has tolerated, or rather hasn''t cared about, your presence in the past, but if I were to die, they would surely attack and destroy the divine empire of Dayin. Is Dayin prepared to weather its assault?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yin Shenhua red at Xiao Nanfeng. "Do you think I won''t be able to do anything against you? Don''t you care about Dazheng?"


    "I do care deeply for Dazheng, but it won''t suffice as a threat to get what you want. It wouldn''t be difficult for you to destroy Dazheng, but it grew out of nothing within a few years'' time, and it can do so again. I''m prepared for a possible attack at Yongding, and I''ve already finished my business there. If you head over, you won''t even be able to catch my avatar. Try it and see."


    "Do you really think I won''t dare to kill you?"


    "You can, of course, but would it be worth it to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He was still rather tense, but he could hardly reveal it.


    Fortunately, Yin Shenhua seemed to be a rational man. He replied, "Indeed, your life isn''t worth much to me."


    Xiao Nanfeng rxed. "I came to Dayin toplete my mission as a Martial Aspect: to reim the fortune due to the Imperial Court. Tithe your owed fortune and Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci shall return."


    "Didn''t you hear what I said? Your life isn''t worth that much at all," Yin Shenhua replied.


    "60% of Dayin''s fortune would buy my life, Yin Tianci''s, and Mo Shanhe''s. Don''t you think the three of us together would make it worth it?"


    Yin Shenhua red at Xiao Nanfeng. "No one has ever dared to threaten me before."


    "This isn''t a threat. I''m simply reiming the Imperial Court''s due¡ªand you promised to do so yourself in the first ce.


    "I urge you not to tarry. You''ll soon be forced to pay a steeper penalty if you let your tithepse for four straight years in a row."


    "You really are insolent," Yin Shenhua spat out.


    "Do you ept my offer, Yin Shenhua?"


    "If you refuse to reveal their whereabouts, then so be it. I''ll find them soon enough," Yin Shenhua replied, looking toward the Buddhas. Continue using the death chants on him until he talks."


    "Understood!" the Buddhas replied.


    Death chants reverberated around the hall, Xiao Nanfeng at its heart.


    Meanwhile, Yin Shenhua vanished from sight again.


    Half a monthter, in Yongding''s imperial study, Zheng Qin was reporting on thetest updates to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Is everything settled?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Don''t worry, Your Majesty. I''ve secreted away Dazheng''s reserves and had the most important of Dazheng''s officials work from afar for the time being. Even if Dazheng is obliterated, it''ll be able to rebuild swiftly after the disaster."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Your Majesty, is there really a chance that Dazheng might be destroyed?" Zheng Qian asked in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The situation is dangerous, but I''m working to resolve the danger. Everything is still within the range of Mr. Wen''s and my predictions, and it''s very likely that the risk will never manifest. Even so, we need to be prepared for every eventuality."


    Zheng Qian nodded solemnly.


    "Mr. Zheng, please go into hiding as well. Your safety is of utmost importance."


    "Understood!"


    As Xiao Nanfeng and Zheng Qian chatted in private, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly narrowed his eyes, having discovered something. "Mr. Zheng, please leave now."


    Zheng Qian had detected something amiss as well. He nodded immediately and retreated from the study.


    After that, a ck figure appeared within it.


    He sat down and waved a hand, causing a nearby teapot and teacup to appear before him. He poured himself a cup of tea and began to drink it.


    Once he was done, he smiled. "You really are prepared, Xiao Nanfeng. Are you already nning to flee?"


    "You''ve found your way here, Emperor Feng?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Haha, with your other body trapped in Thunderp Hall, it''s only natural that I would seek you out here, isn''t it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t believe Emperor Feng at all. He had given Emperor Feng other means of contacting him, but Emperor Feng had chosen not to use them. The fact that he was here at all spoke to ulterior motives.


    "You haven''t killed Mo Shanhe, have you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Rx. We agreed that you''d help lure Mo Shanhe out for me, and that I''d leave him alive for you after getting what I wanted out of him." Emperor Feng smiled.


    "As long as he''s still alive," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    "What, do you really think Mo Shanhe alone will make Yin Shenhua give up 60% of his fortune?"


    "I''m in negotiations with Yin Shenhua. It might just happen."


    Emperor Feng visibly deted. "You must be joking. Mo Shanhe''s worth 60% of his fortune? If you really think it''s going to work out, why are your subordinates evacuating?"


    "I''m worried he''ll go back on his word after the trade, so I have to be prepared."


    Emperor Feng: ...


    He still didn''t believe that Yin Shenhua would ever ede to the request.


    "It''s been half a month. You must have imed quite a few Buddha''s Grottos by now, haven''t you?"


    "You know of my progress?"


    "Yin Shenhua''s interrogated my other body a few times, and he''s always fuming mad when he does so. I''m sure you''ve made some headway."


    Emperor Feng frowned. "Mo Shanhe, that wily fox, specifically chose Buddha''s Grottos in which I would easily be exposed. I was almost discovered in the second one, and by the time I headed to the third, all their locations had changed."


    "Two is plenty, isn''t it?"


    Emperor Feng frowned. "Do you know how I can find more?"


    "My main body''s trapped. How do you expect me to help? As for you, haven''t you found your physical body by now? Please release my senior brother, then."


    Emperor Feng didn''t respond to Xiao Nanfeng''s questions. He asked, "Have you seen anything unusual in the Thunderp Hall?"


    "It''s a hall that hosts Dayin''s sessions of court, and everything within is attuned tows natural and artificial. What would you consider unusual?"


    "How about the throne? What''s Yin Shenhua''s draconic throne like?" Emperor Feng asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "You mean to say that Yin Shenhua''s throne is your physical body?"


    Emperor Feng fell silent. He red at Xiao Nanfeng. "Talking to you is exhausting."


    Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "It wouldn''t be so bad if you didn''t keep trying to beat around the bush. Just get to it!"


    "I didn''t expect you would have been able to draw the connection right away."


    "Even if I couldn''t, the senior in my mindscape would have an easy time of things."


    "True," Emperor Feng agreed. "I had forgotten about that. It would easily be able to discern the truth."


    "I was wondering why that draconic throne was ck. The senior in my mindscape told me that there''s an unusual cursed spiritual power emanating from it, one that seems to correspond to your body. I guessed that something was amiss then, but I didn''t realize the full implication until you asked about it. How did your physical body end up being a draconic throne?"


    "Yin Shenhua forged it that way," Emperor Feng replied sullenly.


    "Isn''t that strange? Is Yin Shenhua a pervert who wants to sit on top of you all day long? And why does your physical body have cursed spiritual power emanating from it? You aren''t a cursed effigy yourself, are you?"


    "Don''t pry. I''ll need you to help me reim my body as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Emperor Feng an odd look. "I''m trapped in Thunderp Hall. How do you expect me to help? Do you think I''m being treated like a guest, that I can swipe Yin Shenhua''s seat from underneath him?"


    "I know it''s difficult, but I''ll help you."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dour. "Are you trying to harm me? If I do something so dangerous, Yin Shenhua would never let me go free."


    "Don''t worry. If we seed, Yin Shenhua will be done for."


    "Oh? Can you kill him? Are you stronger than he is?"


    "I don''t intend to kill him, only to rece me. If we seed, I''ll be the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, and I''ll grant you 60% of Dayin''s fortune as a tithe to the Imperial Court. It''s what you''ve wanted all along."


    "What are you nning?" Xiao Nanfeng asked warily.


    "Do you understand what symbiosis means?" Emperor Feng asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng did, of course. Two truesouls sharing a single spirit. Whoever''s truesoul could suppress the other''s would be in primary control of the spirit, and even the associated body as well.


    "Symbiosis? Are you serious?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 577: Catch a Golden Immortal for Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 577: Catch a Golden Immortal for Cultivation</h4>


    In Dazheng''s imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he talked with Emperor Feng. "Symbiosis? Do you know just how strong Yin Shenhua is? Do you stand any chance of winning against him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Tell me what you saw when you entered Thunderp Hall," Emperor Feng said again.


    Xiao Nanfeng described what he had seen in Thunderp Hall.


    Emperor Feng considered the situation for a moment. "In other words, only you and Yin Shenhua were present within Thunderp Hall when Yin Shenhua cast a secret technique to bring you into the illusory realm?"


    "Right. He has my consciousness trapped there and is attempting to hypnotize me."


    "Can you sense your physical body?" Emperor Feng asked.


    "I can. It''s been untouched, and Dayin hasn''t convened any sessions of court over thest few days. I doubt there''s been any change to the situation within the hall," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Emperor Feng was silent for a moment. "What a golden opportunity."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. "Are you still intending to strike at him?"


    "Think of a way to summon Zhao Yuanjiao into the Thunderp Hall. I''ll sneak in then and make my move while you and Zhao Yuanjiao are in Yin Shenhua''s illusory realm."


    "You make it sound easy, but don''t you think Yin Shenhua can operate in both the physical and illusory realms at will? If he finishes you off, my senior brother will be done for as well. He''s already safely out of the capital of Dayin by now. If he returns now, he''ll be risking his life!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I''ve bolstered Zhao Yuanjiao''s cultivation, so it doesn''t matter where he''s hiding. He''ll have to pay amensurate price for what I''ve given him," Emperor Feng replied.


    Even if Emperor Feng wasn''t phrasing things in the form ofmands, that was clearly his intention. If Xiao Nanfeng refused, Emperor Feng surely wouldn''t give up, and Zhao Yuanjiao wouldn''t be able to escape from his machinations, either.


    "Let me think about how to proceed," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "Good, good. Don''t worry. I''ll repay you for what you''ve done," Emperor Feng replied, smiling.


    "However, I''ll need you to do something for me for the time being."


    "Oh?"


    "There are cultivators from Dayin here in Yongding, and a particrly strong one is keeping an eye on me. Please deal with them on my behalf."


    "I''m surprised Yin Shenhua hasn''t already made a move on your avatar."


    "They tried to barge in, but I managed to escape. They grew more cautious after failing several times," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "Oh? You can escape from a Golden Immortal''s hands?" Emperor Feng eximed.


    He had noticed that there were Golden Immortal spies around Yongding when he arrived, but he didn''t expect that they had already made a move. He was very curious as to just how Xiao Nanfeng had avoided them.


    "If you''d like to learn of the details, I''d be happy to discuss them with you once you deal with them. I''ll also pledge my full support to helping you handle Yin Shenhua."


    "Very good! Let me have a try, then."


    "They have avatars and can report to Yin Shenhua in real time. You had better not reveal your appearance to them. Strike fast, quickly, and lethally. I rmend disguising yourself as a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court to surprise Yin Shenhua a little."


    "I understand."


    "Once you leave, my subordinates will help you pinpoint their whereabouts. There should be a sole Golden Immortal. Please leave the Golden Immortal alive."


    "I came here with a task for you, but I''ve be a helper for you instead. Xiao Nanfeng, if you don''t make good on your promisester, you''d better watch out," Emperor Feng warned.


    Half a dayter, within the Thunderp Hall of Dayin''s capital, a golden-armored cultivator strode up right outside the hall and shouted, "Immortal Emperor, something has happened in Yongding!"


    "What is it?" Yin Shenhua called back.


    "The cultivators that were dispatched to conduct surveince on Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar have perished to thest, as have the spies that the prime minister initially sent," the golden-armored cultivator reported.


    "Hmm?"


    "We had six hideouts from which our cultivators operated, but they were all attacked simultaneously. No one got free. One of the cultivators reported hearing, ''Martial Aspect, don''t spare any of them!'' before perishing."


    "Was no one left alive?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "None. All the cultivators with avatars said that their avatars had been killed. Sage Blue Lion, who was part of the surveince, does not have a clone. We don''t know what his situation is."


    A burst of killing intent emanated from the Thunderp Hall. Yin Shenhua was silent for long moments before he finallymanded, "Send more cultivators to spy on Yongding. Figure out which Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court dared to ruin my ns."


    "Understood!" the golden-armored cultivator shouted.


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm in Yongding, Emperor Feng considered his surroundings curiously. "Is this the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, then? How lucky you are to have obtained this treasure. No wonder you were able to escape from a Golden Immortal unscathed."


    "I''ll have to thank you for actually taking that Golden Immortal down as well," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    A golden bowl was upturned not too far away, with an internal space within that trapped a blue-robed man. The man was pounding furiously on the golden bowl, causing it to shake violently, but was unable to free himself.


    "Sage Blue Lion is an early-stage Golden Immortal. Without me, he would have devoured Yongding sooner orter. What''s the point of leaving him alive?"


    "To help me beat up a few cultivators," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Beat up a few cultivators?" Emperor Feng wondered if he had misheard.


    "Right. I want him to beat them up." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at Ye Dafu and the other cultivators close by.


    Emperor Feng was taken aback. What? These cultivators were clearly Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. Was he trying to punish them? What was Xiao Nanfeng thinking?


    "Aren''t you going to greet Emperor Feng?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Ye Dafu and the others quickly walked forward and bowed. "We greet Emperor Feng!"


    "Are they really your subordinates? Why would you have Sage Blue Lion beat them up?" Emperor Feng still seemed confused.


    Ye Dafu, not far away, begged, "Emperor Feng, please let me into that golden bowl and have Sage Blue Lion give me a good beating!"


    "No, me first! Let me test out how strong he is for everyone?"


    "Nonsense¡ªwe''ll head in together and share this prize among all of us!"


    "Right, a Golden Immortal should be strong enough to y with for quite a while. I''ve been far too pent uptely!"


    The golden cultivators rushed to be the first ones into the golden bowl.


    Emperor Feng fell silent. He thought to himself, "Just who are these perverse cultivators?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, your subordinates are all only Heaven Immortals. Wouldn''t it be dangerous to have them face a cultivator two whole realms higher than they are?"


    "It''s alright. Please let them in," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Emperor Feng was silent for a moment. Though he didn''t understand what was going on, he didn''t refuse Xiao Nanfeng. With a wave of his hand, all the cultivators were sent into the golden bowl.


    As they entered, Sage Blue Lion roared in anger and shot toward them.


    The twelve cultivators smiled in glee as they rushed into the bowl.


    Emperor Feng was taken aback. Was he mistaken? Weren''t they Heaven Immortals?


    Ye Dafu was the first to be struck by a fist. He was sent flying as he spat out a mouthful of blood, his chest caving in.


    Emperor Feng gaped. What? That cultivator had been beaten within an inch of his life the moment he entered! Were they that weak?


    The other cultivators were sent flying in a series of consecutive punches. They slumped to the ground, all bleeding profusely. The only oddity was that their skin had turned gold; there were twelve golden cultivators in all scattered across the ground.


    Emperor Feng frowned. Was this a prank of some sort?


    "Quick, bring them out!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted immediately.


    Emperor Feng waved a hand to free them.


    The cultivators hurriedly began to meditate. Within two hours, they had recovered.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what are you doing?" Emperor Feng was incredibly confused by then.


    The next moment, he grew even more shocked. The twelve golden cultivators were standing up.


    "Ah, that wasfortable! Again! I want to be beaten again!"


    "It''s been too long since I had such a good beating."


    "Send me back in!"


    The twelve golden cultivators looked expectantly at Emperor Feng.


    Emperor Feng: ...


    "Please send them back in," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Emperor Feng still didn''t quite understand what was happening, but he did as instructed.


    Sage Blue Lion was confused as well. Were these twelve golden cultivators mad? What were they doing back here?


    Sage Blue Lion roared. His head morphed into that of a lion as he gulped down all twelve cultivators.


    Within the golden bowl, as without, silence reigned.


    "Your subordinates have all been eaten!" Emperor Feng cried out. Just what was Xiao Nanfeng trying to pull?


    "Don''t worry. Just wait patiently," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Emperor Feng: ...


    Why did everything suddenly seem so sinister?


    Not too long afterwards, Sage Blue Lion suddenly nched. His face twitched as he pped a hand around his stomach in pain.


    "Don''t kick my stomach! Damn it, my intestines!" Sage Blue Lion howled.


    After a few long moments, he finally spat them out of his body. The twelve golden cultivators were drenched in stomach acid.


    Their bodies were turning purple all over and their heads swelling like pigs''. They spat out mouthfuls of blood, as though they had beenpressed violently within Sage Blue Lion''s digestive system.


    "Your Majesty, I can''t take it much longer!"


    "I might explode if this keeps up!"


    The golden cultivators wailed in pain.


    "Please bring them out, Emperor Feng," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Emperor Feng frowned again as he did so, rescuing them from the bowl.


    The twelve cultivators crumpled to the ground, paralyzed. Emperor Feng could tell that many of them had even had their bones crushed.


    They arduously circted their cultivation technique to heal themselves as their bodies glowed with golden light.


    After four hours, Ye Dafu was the first to wake up. He exhaled deeply. "Your Majesty, I''m about to break through. I''m going to undergo my tribtion!"


    "Go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!"


    Ye Dafu rushed into the distance as dark clouds gathered around him.


    "The True Immortal tribtion? These cultivators¡ªdon''t tell me they can advance by receiving beatings!" Emperor Feng eximed.

 Chapter 578: Curse

    <h4>Chapter 578: Curse</h4>


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, after long hours, as Ye Dafu blocked the final wave of the tribtion, the dark clouds above transformed into radiant clouds that shot into his body.


    Ye Dafu howled in excitement, a wave of energy spreading all around him.


    "He became a True Immortal that easily? What an interesting technique..." Emperor Feng murmured, aplicated expression on his face.


    "Thank you for your assistance, Emperor Feng." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Emperor Feng asked curiously, "Can they advance just by getting beaten up? Aren''t there any other restrictions?"


    "Not as far as I''m aware. You should know that I''m asking you to help them raise their cultivation because it''ll be part of my n for dealing with Yin Shenhua with you, though."


    Emperor Feng red at Xiao Nanfeng. "Please. It''s obvious you''re just trying to get some benefits for yourself. Don''t try to involve me in everything."


    Just then, Ye Dafu rushed back from afar. "Your Majesty, now that I''m a True Immortal, I''m ready to get beaten up again!"


    "We''ll have to continue troubling Emperor Feng, then." Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Emperor Feng, whose face turned dour.


    He scowled. "Are you all treating me like a tool?"


    "Your Majesty, we''ve all recovered as well, and we''rete-stage Heaven Immortals now! We want to be True Immortals, too!" The other golden cultivators all stood up expectantly.


    "Thank Emperor Feng, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, Emperor Feng!" the golden cultivators chorused.


    Emperor Feng: ...


    In order for Xiao Nanfeng to hurry up and deal with Yin Shenhua with him, he waved a hand and sent the golden cultivators into the golden bowl.


    "Lion, we''re back! Come beat us up!"


    "Eat me, eat me! The corrosion from your stomach acid feels great!"


    "I want to be eaten too! Come at me!"


    The golden cultivators leapt eagerly toward Sage Blue Lion.


    "You insolent brats! I''ll kill you!" Sage Blue Lion roared.


    "Good, good! Use all your strength!" Ye Dafu shouted eagerly.


    Sage Blue Lion attacked more and more viciously as the twelve golden cultivators moaned and screamed. The fight within the golden bowl seemed to be progressing in a sinister direction.


    Outside the golden bowl, Emperor Feng watched on in shocked silence. "They might be able to advance their cultivation by getting beaten up, but their ardent desire is something intrinsic to them. Could the technique have distorted their spirit? What exactly do they cultivate?!"


    "Indomitable Body," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Indomitable Body? Surely not. I''ve seen other such cultivators in the past, but none were as perverse as they are. Could there be multiple versions of Indomitable Body? Did they get the one with the more severe side effects?" Emperor Feng frowned.


    "I don''t know myself, Senior. Shall I have them impart the technique to you?"


    Emperor Feng stiffened. He was very interested in the idea of being able to raise his cultivation just by being beaten up, but he didn''t want to be a masochist. What would it do to his public image as an Immortal Emperor if he were to, say, let himself get whipped by his officials all day long? He shuddered at the very thought.


    "Forget it. It''s not anything I''d be able to use," Emperor Feng said, shaking his head.


    This time, the golden cultivatorssted even longer than before. Sage Blue Lion worked up a sweat as the cultivators tumbled out, their heads swollen and bruised, streaks of blood all over their bodies.


    As they healed up, two more cultivators headed off for their True Immortal tribtion.


    Then, the golden cultivators entered the bowl for a fourth time.


    "Don''t dilute the training. Those of you who have undergone the True Immortal tribtion aren''t allowed to enter again," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ye Dafu and the other two True Immortals could only watch on as the remaining nine golden cultivators got beaten up.


    This time, Sage Blue Lion initially refused to attack the cultivators, but was ultimately frustrated by their underhanded taunts and provocations.


    He struck them so furiously that they were almost paste by the time they were dragged out.


    Five more cultivators headed off for their True Immortal tribtion.


    The remaining golden cultivators entered the golden bowl for a fifth time after they finished recuperating. By then, Sage Blue Lion was pale and clearly devoid of strength.


    "Lion, I still need another beating to break through! You can''t copse just yet!"


    "If you really can''t handle it, why not eat me up? That''ll do!"


    "I have a pill that can replenish your strength."


    "Right, have a pill and let''s go again!"


    The four golden cultivators hurriedly offered Sage Blue Lion a dizzying selection of pills.


    One fed the sage, while the other three massaged his prone body.


    "Damn it! I''m not going to do anything even if you beat me to death!" Sage Blue Lion roared.


    "Prod his eyes."


    "Strike the back of his head."


    "Cut his chest muscles open!"


    The four golden cultivators made their move.


    Sage Blue Lion growled in fury. "You bastards! I''ll kill you all!"


    "That''s right, that''s the spirit!" the four golden cultivators shouted eagerly.


    Emperor Feng watched on, grimacing. "The pride of a Golden Immortal..."


    By the time Sage Blue Lion exhausted himself again, all four remaining golden cultivators were also all but done for.


    This time, however, after they recuperated, they were all ready for their own True Immortal tribtion.


    Very quickly, all twelve golden cultivators had be True Immortals.


    "Thank you, Emperor Feng! Can we enter again?" Ye Dafu and the others asked expectantly.


    Emperor Feng: ...


    Within the golden bowl, Sage Blue Lion shivered in fear. Again?


    "Let''s stop here. Sage Blue Lion has exhausted all his strength," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the twelve golden cultivators replied.


    "Emperor Feng, please seal Sage Blue Lion''s cultivation so that he can continue being their sparring partner in the future," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Emperor Feng gave him an odd look. Just who were these people? Did they have no respect for Golden Immortals at all?


    In the end, however, he did seal Sage Blue Lion''s cultivation and handed him over to Ye Dafu and the others. Then, he retrieved the golden bowl relic within which Sage Blue Lion had been imprisoned.


    "It''s time for you to help me," Emperor Feng said.


    "Of course. Let''s go immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He brought Emperor Feng out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm alongside him.


    Just then, a spectral guard stepped forward to report to Xiao Nanfeng again.


    "Your Majesty, Dayin has sent more cultivators around to probe at Yongding."


    "Senior, I''ll have to trouble you once more."


    Emperor Feng fumed. "You really have a lot of requests, don''t you?"


    "Once you deal with this group of cultivators, we can make our move."


    Emperor Feng hmphed.


    Annoyed, he allowed the spectral guards to guide him toward the new group of Dayin cultivators, whereupon he took them all down. There weren''t any Golden Immortals this time, so he finished them off quickly.


    "I''m heading off in search of Zhao Yuanjiao now. The rest is up to you," Emperor Feng said.


    "I''ll do my best." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Emperor Feng nodded as well, but he didn''t leave right away. He suddenly stared at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Is something else the matter, Senior?"


    "Before you leave, I''m going to leave a mark on your body so it''ll be easy for me to contact you."


    He sent a burst of ck smoke straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, trying to stop the ck smoke, but it hade too quickly. It shot into his body, manifesting a particrlyplicated formation on his back before vanishing from sight.


    "Don''t worry. It''s an ordinary curse that won''t be able to hurt you," Emperor Feng continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well!"


    "I''m leaving now, then."


    Emperor Feng soared into the air and flew off toward the capital of Dayin.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly released his spiritual power and manifested the curse on his back.


    "Copy this pattern down," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    A spectral guard stepped forward and traced out the pattern with a technique.


    "Ask the demonic sect master what he knows about it," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    At the same time, in a forest outside Dayin''s capital, Zhao Yuanjiao and a spectral guard looked toward a ck-robed figure before them.


    "What does Xiao Nanfeng want to know?" the ck-robed figure asked hoarsely, gender indeterminate.


    The spectral guard manifested the pattern of the curse that he had traced. "Demonic Sect Master, my avatar is with His Majesty. Emperor Feng has just left Yongding and is likely heading over here. Before he left, he struck His Majesty with a curse. This is what it looks like. His Majesty would like you to take a look."


    "Sorry to trouble you, Demonic Sect Master," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured.


    The ck-robed figure, the Demonic Sect Master, shook his head. "We''re all part of the Taiqing Sect. There''s no need for such politeness. Let me see."


    "You''re the best expert in spiritual matters across both Taiqing Sects. I begged for your help to deal with the curse that Emperor Feng left on me, not expecting that Nanfeng would be struck with the same." Zhao Yuanjiao smiled wryly.


    The demonic sect master inspected the curse carefully. "Xiao Nanfeng''s curse is a little different from yours, but the fundamental effect is the same."


    "Oh?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked curiously.


    "The curse contains part of Emperor Feng''s strength. Once he activates it, he can detonate that power to produce a blow on par with his strongest attacks. It''d likely kill you both instantly," the demonic sect master said.


    "Oh?"


    The demonic sect master frowned. "It''s clear that he''s a malicious man. If I''m not mistaken, he''s intending to take advantage of the two of you and kill you once he aplishes his goal."


    "What? How dare he!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed in shock.


    "It''s no surprise, I suppose. He''s nning to take over a monarch of a divine empire! How could he let that secret be known to others? Once you die, no one will be able to expose him," the demonic sect master replied.


    "But isn''t Zhang Lingjun aware that he''s been freed, too?" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "Zhang Lingjun does know that he''s been freed, but not what he''s about to do. Don''t underestimate him, or you''ll die without realizing it," the demonic sect master warned.


    "Understood. Thank you for the guidance, Sect Master."


    "Xiao Nanfeng cultivates the Shangqing blue moon and can dispel this curse himself. As for yours, leave it to me. However, since Emperor Feng''s about to arrive, I won''t dispel your curse for the time being. Let''s follow Xiao Nanfeng''s n for now."


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.

 Chapter 579: Yin Shenhua VS Emperor Feng

    <h4>Chapter 579: Yin Shenhua VS Emperor Feng</h4>


    Outside the capital of Dayin, in a fog-shrouded valley, Zhao Yuanjiao sat in meditation as a group of purple-furred monsters guarded him.


    A gust of wind blew by as Emperor Feng appeared at an incredible speed.


    "You won''t be able to remove the mark I left on your body, and it''s harmless to you. Why bother wasting your time?" Emperor Feng said.


    He shot straight toward his mindscape and possessed him once again.


    Then, he stood up and asked, "What did Xiao Nanfeng say?"


    A purple-furred monster replied, "Martial Aspect Xiao said that everything was ready, that we should wait here pending furthermunication."


    "Very good."


    At the same time, within the Thunderp Hall''s illusory realm, after having been hypnotized by the death chants for the greater part of a month, Xiao Nanfeng was ''unable to take it any longer.'' He seemed to be in a dazed stupor.


    "Tell me where Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci are!" a Buddha shouted, as per usual.


    "They''re..." Xiao Nanfeng mumbled.


    The Buddha''s eyes suddenly lit up. He whispered to a neighboring Buddha, "Inform the ancestral Buddha immediately. Xiao Nanfeng''s will is crumbling. He''s about to reveal the truth!"


    "Understood!" the Buddha replied, then vanished from the illusory realm.


    Before long, Yin Shenhua appeared on the middle tform.


    "Has he spoken?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "I didn''t continue the interrogation, Master. I was waiting for you to arrive to interrogate him yourself," the Buddha replied.


    Yin Shenhua looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. His death chants suddenly magnified in intensity, causing Xiao Nanfeng to grow even more dazed and flustered.


    "Where are Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "They''re being detained out in the wild. My senior brother, Zhao Yuanjiao, and a few purple-furred lifeforms are waiting for me to contact them. They''re at, at..."


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly frowned, as though fighting to stop himself from revealing whatever came next.


    The Buddha beside Yin Shenhua quickly jumped in. "I apologize, ancestral Buddha. I thought that he had already fully sumbed, not expecting that he would continue to resist and waste your time."


    "It''s not a waste. This is sufficient information. Zhao Yuanjiao, is it? I''ve had people watching him, and I know where he is now even if he and a few purple-furred lifeforms left Dayin''s capital furtively." Yin Shenhua sneered, then vanished from sight once again.


    At the same time, Yin Shenhua''s voice boomed throughout Thunderp Hall. "Bring me Zhao Yuanjiao and everyone alongside him!"


    "Understood!" the golden-armored cultivators outside replied.


    A group of golden-armored cultivators rushed out of Dayin''s capital and swiftly arrived at the entrance to a fog-wreathed valley.


    A golden-armored cultivator reached in and dispelled much of the fog.


    "The Immortal Emperor requests your presence at the Thunderp Hall. Please follow me," she called out.


    Within the valley, Zhao Yuanjiao and the five purple-furred lifeforms instantly ''panicked'', but had no choice given the cultivators arrayed against them. The cultivators caught them and sealed their cultivation, then shrouded them all in fog as they escorted them back to Dayin''s capital. They quickly arrived back in the za outside Thunderp Hall.


    "Enter," a golden-armored cultivator said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao couldn''t resist at all. He and five purple-furred lifeforms slowly entered the Thunderp Hall, whereupon he saw Xiao Nanfeng sitting cross-legged and motionless.


    "Nanfeng!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed, heading over to check on him.


    Meanwhile, the five purple-furred lifeforms turned warily to Yin Shenhua, who sat atop a draconic throne.


    The doors to the hall creaked shut with a bang, spooking the cultivators. Seeing that Xiao Nanfeng had yet to awaken, Zhao Yuanjiao shouted, "Yin Shenhua, what have you done to Nanfeng?!"


    On his throne, Yin Shenhua smirked. Hemanded the guards outside, "Set up a formation and seal the Thunderp Hall. Do not let anyone in or out without my express orders."


    "Understood!" shouted the guards outside the hall as a huge barrier surrounded it.


    "What are you doing?!" Zhao Yuanjiao demanded.


    "Wake up, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    With a visible jolt, Xiao Nanfeng startled awake and found himself back in reality.


    His gaze was bleary, as though he was trying to recall what had happened to him.


    "What are you doing here, Senior Brother?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. Then, seemingly having guessed what had happened, he turned to Yin Shenhua in shock. "You must have hypnotized me!"


    Yin Shenhua sneered. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll give you one chance. Hand over Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci now and I''ll spare you. Otherwise, don''t me me for what I''m about to do."


    "You''re only going to release me? What about my senior brother?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I''m not interested in Zhao Yuanjiao and the others, but Emperor Feng does catch my attention." Yin Shenhua smiled.


    "What did you say?" Xiao Nanfeng pretended to gasp.


    Not far away, Zhao Yuanjiao did the same. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng, as if trying to ask an unspoken question.


    "I considered the Buddha''s Grottos that had recently been destroyed. Although you hid it well and even cleaned up the destroyed Buddha''s Grottos, everything leaves a trace behind. I deduced that you had dealt with the Buddha''s Grotto outside Fengdu beforeing to Dayin''s capital, and that was where Emperor Feng had been kept.


    I didn''t realize that Emperor Feng was responsible until I noticed that a group of my officials had died unusual deaths. What connected them was that most had served under Emperor Feng. Who else would kill his and only his officials? Of course, in an attempt to fool me, other unaffiliated officials were killed as well, but the preponderance of dead Feng officials was clearly abnormal."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed their eyes.


    Yin Shenhua continued, "In other words, Emperor Feng must have escaped from his prison. He dared to impersonate the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and capture Mo Shanhe¡ªand he must have been the one to kill my subordinates in Yongding and catch Sage Blue Lion as well."


    "What an imagination you have," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Don''t lie to me, Xiao Nanfeng. Don''t you think I can tell that you haven''t'' been hypnotized by the death chants at all? I was going along with you¡ªand look what a gift you''ve brought me. Emperor Feng! Well, well."


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face grew more and more dour. Meanwhile, beside him, Xiao Nanfeng continued refusing to admit to what Yin Shenhua had said. "You im that Emperor Feng is here? Where? Let him show himself, then!"


    Yin Shenhua shook his head. "Don''t test my patience. If Emperor Feng were to be freed, he would surelye here to retrieve his physical body¡ªmy draconic throne. He wants to fight me, doesn''t he? I''m right here, Emperor Feng. How long are you going to continue to pretend that you''re not?"


    He nced sharply at Zhao Yuanjiao.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s face scrunched up in anger as Emperor Feng emerged from his mindscape. Killing intent billowed out from him.


    "You were in too much of a rush, Emperor Feng." Yin Shenhua sneered.


    "Yin Shenhua, you despicable man! If I hadn''t helped you back then, would you have recovered so quickly? You backstabbed me while I was injured. I''ll have you pay for that today!" Emperor Feng cried out.


    A gust of ck smoke emerged from his palm as he made a move.


    "You''re trying to attune to your physical body, aren''t you?" Yin Shenhua smiled. "Give it a try, then."


    Emperor Feng narrowed his eyes. He released the ck smoke from his palm. "Awaken!"


    The draconic throne on which Yin Shenhua was seated began to morph, transforming into a pitch-ck coffin. Tremedous cursed spiritual power emanated from it. The coffin''s lid, flung halfway open, produced an intense suction that attempted to trap Yin Shenhua inside.


    Just then, a golden lotus appeared underneath Yin Shenhua, radiating with golden light. It formed a golden barrier that blocked the coffin''s suction and trapped it within.


    The coffin quivered, trying to shatter the barrier, but was unable to do so.


    "That''s your lotus of existence! You''ve been prepared for this!" Emperor Feng eximed.


    "I guessed that you were going toe, didn''t I? Of course I would have to take precautions in advance. You really were lucky to have acquired this ck coffin cursed effigy and entered into a state of symbiosis with it while it was weak. You even sacrificed your physical body andbined it with the coffin to make it your new body. To think you would have managed to subjugate a cursed effigy as a human..."


    "Die!" Emperor Feng roared, sending a golden spiked mace smashing toward him.


    "You''re far weaker now than you were in the past. Do you think you can stand against me like this?" Yin Shenhua retorted, defending with a palm strike.


    His palm struck the spiked club in a huge burst of mes and energy, sending Xiao Nanfeng and the others mming into the walls of the hall.


    The Thunderp Hall seemed to have been bolstered by countless runes and formations, to the point that it didn''t even tremble from the shockwaves that resulted in the aftermath of the attacks.


    "Die!" Emperor Feng shouted, swinging his mace again.


    "Don''t bother trying to reim this coffin of yours. Rather, I have to thank you for opening it up for me. Now, enter the world in my palm!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    Tremendous suction arrested Emperor Feng''s movement as he nched and tossed out a Golden Immortal relic. "Explode!"


    The relic exploded, interrupting Yin Shenhua''s suction and causing another huge wave of mes that washed over the entire hall.


    Emperor Feng evaded the attack andunched himself toward Yin Shenhua once more.


    "You''re far too weak. It doesn''t matter how strong your relics are. Go on, make them all explode! I''d like to see how many of them you can afford to waste like that."


    Yin Shenhua sent a golden palm strike that struck Emperor Feng directly in a burst of mes.


    "Damn it, explode!" Emperor Feng caused another explosion that formed a fiery gust of wind within the hall. Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, and the purple-furred monsters slumped to the ground and spat out mouthfuls of blood.

 Chapter 580: Xiao Nanfeng Lies in Wait

    <h4>Chapter 580: Xiao Nanfeng Lies in Wait</h4>


    Within the Thunderp Hall, fire and wind raged on.


    Emperor Feng was exceptionally strong, but he was still much weaker than the Yin Shenhua of the present. Simple maniptions from Yin Shenhua were sufficient to render Emperor Feng helpless.


    "Give up now. Don''t make me have to kill you," Yin Shenhuaughed.


    "Dream on. Explode!" Emperor Feng shouted.


    A huge hole was sted out of Thunderp Hall as Emperor Feng attempted to flee. However, another golden formation barred his way. Lotuses bloomed all over, blocking sight from either direction and stopping Emperor Feng from leaving.


    "You won''t be able to get away. My Thousand-Lotus Formation is too strong for the likes of you at present, let alone when I''m here to empower it."


    "Explode!"


    Emperor Feng tossed another relic toward the Thousand-Lotus Formation and caused it to explode, but the formation barely trembled at all.


    "You really are stubborn, aren''t you?" Yin Shenhua mmed a palm down, causing a golden palm to manifest from the sky and m down toward Emperor Feng. He had no choice but to destroy another relic to defend against the attack. His relics were rapidly decreasing in number, and he didn''t seem as though he would be able to hold out much longer.


    Neither party was paying attention to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others had been scattered throughout the hall due to the repeated explosions. Xiao Nanfeng wasrgely unharmed owing to the strength of his physical body. He forged forward and headed straight for the draconic throne, which had be a ck coffin by then. There was a lotus formation surrounding the coffin and preventing it from escaping.


    Yin Shenhua had anticipated every step of Emperor Feng''s moves, and Xiao Nanfeng had anticipated every step of Yin Shenhua and Emperor Feng''s. He was waiting for precisely this moment.


    Neither Yin Shenhua nor Emperor Feng were good cultivators; it wouldn''t be in his favor to have either of them win. His n had always been to support neither of them.


    He quickly activated his candleme powers, causing two red portals to form on either side of the lotus barrier. He reached out for the coffin, which teleported through the portals and appeared outside of the barrier.


    Emperor Feng, suddenly sensing a connection that had been lost, smiled in surprise. He lifted his mace and smashed it down toward Yin Shenhua, attracting his attention.


    "Stubborn fool!" Yin Shenhua called out.


    He wed at him with a golden palm, trapping him within his palm.


    "Let''s see how you intend to escape now!" Yin Shenhua roared inughter.


    Suddenly, a ck shadow enveloped his back and devoured him whole.


    "The coffin!" Yin Shenhua shouted.


    The coffin''s lid attempted to m shut, but Yin Shenhua lifted a palm in time to stop it from happening. A tremendous suction seemed to be sucking him into its depths. He held onto Emperor Feng with one hand and defended against the coffin with the other, his face scrunched up into a scowl.


    "Who dared ruin my formation?!" he thundered.


    "It looks like it wasn''t very strong at all, haha!" Emperor Fengughed from within Yin Shenhua''s palm.


    "Die!" Yin Shenhua roared, suppressing Emperor Feng to the best of his ability.


    The treasures that were protecting Emperor Feng began to crack as Yin Shenhua channeled more of his strength into his attack, while the coffin above his head shook as it began to m shut.


    "Yin Shenhua, you won''t be able to hold it off for long, haha!" Emperor Feng roared inughter.


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes. It was true that he would be unable to stop the coffin lid from closing forever. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be approaching his lotus of existence, causing him to panic.


    "Reveal the hallowednds of Thunderp Hall!" Yin Shenhua shouted.


    Golden fog seeped out of Yin Shenhua''s body and poured out through the cracks in the coffin, flooding the area and submerging everyone.


    "An illusory realm! Watch out!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Everyone''s physical bodies fell motionless. As for Xiao Nanfeng, he had immediately switched to his True Yin body, which vanished from sight.


    Simultaneously, the coffin closedpletely, trapping Yin Shenhua and Emperor Feng within.


    The Thunderp Hall fell silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the other cultivators'' bodies were sent sprawling. When they caught their footing, they found that they were in Thunderp Hall once more, but one with countless Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats.


    "Nanfeng, are we in an illusory realm?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Seeing that Zhao Yuanjiao and everyone else was present, Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right. Let''s leave as quickly as we can."


    "Who dares leave?" a Buddha called out.


    With their palms, the arhats all struck at the cultivators, who retaliated in kind.


    The cultivators were sent flying out of Thunderp Hall, though they remained in the illusory realm. Although the Thunderp Hall was exactly the same in the physical and illusory realms, the outside waspletely different.


    The hall opened up into a huge mountain surrounded by spiritual aether. There were other huge mountains in the vicinity and countless temples besides. The sound of chanting could be heard from all over.


    Not far from the huge mountain were two stone tablets. On one was written, "Spirit Mountain Holy Land", and on another, "Thunderp Hall".


    Xiao Nanfeng and his group smashed into a temple up on the mountain.


    The Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats, however, didn''t give chase. They were staring at the sky in shock.


    A dark cloud had appeared there in the shape of a ck coffin, emanating cursed spiritual power in the form of ck smoke.


    "Yin Shenhua, now that you''re in my coffin, don''t think I''ll let you out. None of your subordinates in reality can save you, nor your subordinates in this illusory realm. Admit defeat!" Emperor Feng roared.


    "That remains to be seen," Yin Shenhua replied. From within the coffin, he shouted, "Help me break this coffin!"


    "Understood!" All the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats rushed into the air and struck the ck coffin.


    The cursed spiritual power that gathered outside the coffin managed to block some of the Buddhas'' attacks, but it too seemed to decrease in extent.


    "Well done. Continue!" Yin Shenhua shouted.


    "Make your move, Xiao Nanfeng! Deal with these Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats! Hurry!" Emperor Feng demanded.


    "They''ll hardly be able to do so," Yin Shenhua replied.


    The ck coffin-shaped cloud vibrated as the two Immortal Emperors within battled it out.


    Emperor Feng''s soul was much weaker than it had been, but his ck coffin physical body was unharmed. He was well able to fight on equal terms with Yin Shenhua, and he even seemed to have the upper hand.


    Zhao Yuanjiao looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Did we seed?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "We did. Emperor Feng didn''t disappoint me, after all. He does have the ability to take on Yin Shenhua."


    "What do we need to do now?"


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "We''ll have to kill Yin Shenhua''s subordinates.


    "Can we beat them?" Zhao Yuanjiao''s voice was tinged with worry.


    "You won''t have to make a move."


    "Oh?"


    "Senior, I''ll be counting on you!"


    Behind Xiao Nanfeng, a cloud of ck fog appeared. The ck lotus within replied, "Very well. Allow me to disguise myself first."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The ck lotus slowly transformed into a golden lotus, and then an old man, an exact replica of the Past Buddha, whom Xiao Nanfeng had seen in the Pce of the Moon.


    Roiling ck smoke surged into the Past Buddha''s body. It shone with golden light as the Past Buddha''s aura was reproduced in full.


    The golden light radiated through the air, causing the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats to all look over.


    "The Past Buddha? How could you be here, ancestral Buddha?" one Buddha eximed.


    "Amitabha. Are all of you well?" The ck lotus sounded just like the Past Buddha.


    Yin Shenhua called out from the air, "The Past Buddha is sealed in the Imperial Court. It couldn''t have made its way here. Who are you to impersonate it?!"


    Yin Shenhua was sealed within the ck coffin and could only learn of what was going on outside through his subordinates'' descriptions. He naturally frowned upon hearing about the presence of the ''Past Buddha''.


    "I''m the Past Buddha. What''s all this about impersonation? I''ve returned, Yin Shenhua, and it''s time that you pay for your malicious deeds," the ck lotus replied.


    "The Past Buddha would never go against me. You can''t be the Past Buddha!" Yin Shenhua cried out. "Divide yourselves up and have a group of you take it on. It''s with Emperor Feng, so take it down quickly!"


    "Die!" A group of arhats and bodhisattvas rushed over.


    The ck lotus stepped forward and intoned, "And so themps are snuffed out. Break!"


    The arhats at the forefront exploded from the force of his seals, releasing an incredible quantity of golden spiritual power and the golden lotus hoods that were their spiritual avatars. The ck lotus sent the golden spiritual power straight into Xiao Nanfeng''s body, causing him to radiate with golden light, while it absorbed the golden lotus hoods.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, fight alongside me. You can im their cursed spiritual power while I im their cursed spiritual avatars!" the ck lotus shouted.


    "Understood" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "As for you, head out!" the ck lotus continued.


    With a wave of its hand, Zhao Yuanjiao and the five purple-furred monsters vanished from the illusory realm.


    "Who are you? How can you manipte my illusory realm?!" Yin Shenhua demanded from the coffin.


    "I''m the Past Buddha. I can naturally manipte your realm. Why shouldn''t I be able to send a few cultivators out?"


    "You''re not the Past Buddha. Something''s very wrong with you. Everyone, take it down, quickly!" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "But you''re in trouble, ancestral Buddha!" a Buddha eximed.


    "I may be trapped for the time being, but Emperor Feng won''t be able to do anything against me in the short term. Go catch that impostor. Something''s wrong with it. Hurry!"


    "Understood!"


    All the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats roared as they charged toward the ck lotus and Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 581: Threatening the Two Immortal Emperors

    <h4>Chapter 581: Threatening the Two Immortal Emperors</h4>


    Within Thunderp Hall, Zhao Yuanjiao and a few purple-furred monsters shook and awoke in reality.


    "Just as Martial Aspect Xiao predicted, we''ve made it out," one purple-furred monster said.


    "Where''s the gourd?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    A purple-furred monster opened its mouth wide and began to heave. Very quickly, it spat out a ck gourd sealed with charms to hide its aura.


    The cultivators tore away the charms as a faint glow emerged from the gourd. They uncorked it to reveal a cloud of ck smoke, which condensed into the figure of a ck-robed man.


    "Demonic Sect Master, I''m deeply apologetic for the danger," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    The ck-robed man was none other than the master of the Taiqing demonic sect. He didn''t mind. "Is everything going ording to Xiao Nanfeng''s forecast?"


    "Yes, Sect Master. There were a few unounted variables at the start, but it''s all progressing basically as nned. Earlier, ..." Zhao Yuanjiao recounted what had happened before.


    The demonic sect master nodded. "Very good. Xiao Nanfeng''s dealing with the Buddhas now to buy time for us, so let''s deal with your curse as quickly as we can."


    "A Golden Immortal sealed our cultivation," Zhao Yuanjiao said in worry. "The seal is particrly strong."


    "Don''t worry. Let me help," the demonic sect master said.


    Then, he struck a purple-furred monster with his palm, causing a golden burst of energy to emanate from it. The monster trembled and shook as its bindings were removed.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gaped. "Aren''t you only an Earth Immortal, Sect Master? How can you remove a Golden Immortal''s bindings?!"


    "We''re short on time. Don''t ask these unrted questions at the moment," the demonic sect master replied.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was clearly curious, but he nodded anyway. "Understood!"


    The demonic sect master than unsealed him and the rest of the purple-furred monsters.


    "Sit cross-legged and start to meditate. Do not resist my probes," the demonic sect master warned.


    "Understood!"


    "As for you five generals, use the formation I taught you to help me break the curse on Zhao Yuanjiao''s body. I shall take the lead, and you five will support me."


    "Understood!" the purple-furred monsters replied.


    The six cultivators simultaneously struck Zhao Yuanjiao''s body with their palms, causing six bursts of light to re. He groaned in pain.


    Within the illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus, disguised as the Past Buddha, took on Yin Shenhua''s subordinates. They were able to kill ordinary arhats readily, and though Xiao Nanfeng was unable to deal with the bodhisattvas, the ck lotus could do so and send the resulting golden spiritual power into Xiao Nanfeng''s body to make him stronger.


    The ck lotus only began to falter when facing a group of Buddhas, but it was particrly skilled at dodging. The Buddhas were unable tond an effective attack against it.


    As for Xiao Nanfeng, by sending his spiritual moon into the air and harmonizing time and again, he too could avoid the Buddhas'' pursuit. As spiritual power surged into his body, he too grew stronger and stronger.


    Some Buddhas attempted to strike down his spiritual moon, but after the moon swallowed one of the Buddhas, none of them dared try to attack it any longer.


    "Two cursed effigies, and they''re both cursed kings?" Yin Shenhua eximed. "Xiao Nanfeng, why are they helping you?"


    "The Past Buddha is helping me," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "If you have any questions, you should ask it instead."


    "It''s not the Past Buddha at all," Yin Shenhua retorted.


    "If you don''t believe me, then so be it."


    "Something''s wrong. It might not be the Past Buddha, but why isn''t it devouring ordinary spiritual power? Why is it only devouring my cursed variant? Just who is it? Tell me!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    ''Believe me or not, it''s up to you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Just who are you?!"


    By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus were ignoring him. They grew stronger and stronger as they fought, until they were able to take down even bodhisattvas in one blow.


    Before long, they had finished off all the arhats and bodhisattvas in the vicinity.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power had grown to such extremes that he was even able to resist blows from Buddhas, and the ck lotus was approaching them in strength as well.


    The duo shot forward, leaving a trail of defeated Buddhas in their wake until they had finished off them all.


    "Yin Shenhua, all your subordinates have been dealt with. No one can help you now, haha!" Emperor Feng roared inughter.


    "Victory has yet to be decided. Who''s to say who''s going to win? Emperor Feng, this ck coffin of yours won''t be able to trap me for long."


    Your lotus of existence is your final resort, isn''t it? Do you think you''ll be able to defend against me if Xiao Nanfeng and the others destroy it?" Emperor Feng chuckled.


    "They won''t be able to manage such a feat," Yin Shenhua replied.


    "Have you forgotten how the ck coffin was removed from your lotus barrier?" Emperor Feng asked.


    Yin Shenhua fell silent as a premonition of danger overwhelmed him.


    Emperor Feng continued, "Xiao Nanfeng, destroy his lotus of existence! That lotus of his contains incredible cursed spiritual power¡ªperfect for the ck lotus."


    "The ck lotus? That cursed effigy impersonating the Past Buddha?" Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes.


    Neither Xiao Nanfeng nor the ck lotus made a move. Xiao Nanfeng said, "Emperor Feng, how can I dispel the curse on my avatar?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re talking about that curse now?" Emperor Feng fumed.


    "Emperor Feng, I can help you destroy Yin Shenhua''s lotus of existence and aplish your n, but surely you can''t let my senior brother and me walk around with a sword hanging over our heads. I''d like to know how to dispel the curse on our bodies."


    He wanted to give Emperor Feng a chance; everything was up to Emperor Feng now.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, have you noticed something?" Emperor Feng demanded.


    "I did notice some problems with the curse that frighten me. Won''t you teach me how to dispel it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    "Don''t worry, Xiao Nanfeng. If you follow my orders, I won''t hurt you. Once I deal with Yin Shenhua, I''ll dispel that curse. Only I can do so myself; even if I teach you how, it won''t work."


    "That''s not true. I can see that I can dispel the curse if I know how. I''ve helped you this much, and all I''m asking for is the method of dispelling the curse. That''s not unreasonable, is it?" Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly.


    Emperor Feng seemed vexed. "Believe it or not, it''s up to you! I won''t teach you how to dispel the curse. Even without your help, I would have managed to take down Yin Shenhua. It was only a matter of time."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed,pletely giving up on his erstwhile ''ally''. "Emperor Feng, do you really think that this is it for Yin Shenhua? He can still call on the power of his empire."


    "He can, but he''s already trapped in my coffin and is of one body with me. If he tries to do so, I''ll benefit as well. He won''t do something so disadvantageous. Don''t try to go against me. Follow my n and you''ll benefit as well," Emperor Feng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head and called out, "Yin Shenhua, how would you like to make a trade?"


    Emperor Feng roared, "What are you nning to do, Xiao Nanfeng? Are you going to betray me?"


    Yin Shenhua could tell that there was a dispute that he might be able to take advantage of. He immediately asked, "What trade?"


    "Hand over the 60% of your fortune owed as a tithe to the Imperial Court. If you do, my subordinates and I will leave Dayin''s capital immediately."


    "Ha! Are you threatening me?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "I could help Emperor Feng and destroy your lotus of existence, then escape," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "At worst, my actions will only serve to benefit Emperor Feng. However, I''d be giving up on a Martial Aspect mission just for a lotus. Given that Emperor Feng''s unwilling to even dispel my curse, I don''t think I can trust his promises. That''s why I''m willing to give you a chance."


    "Do you think you''ll be able to escape from Dayin''s capital?" Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    "Oh, don''t worry about me. I''m just asking if you''ll ept," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "If I do, you''ll need to release Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci as well," Yin Shenhua negotiated.


    "No, I don''t think so. You refused to exchange them for 60% of Dayin''s fortune, and that deal is now off the table. I have to keep some hostages just in case you regret your decision and try to kill me, after all. I think you had better free yourself first before worrying about others."


    "Fine!" Yin Shenhua replied, epting Xiao Nanfeng''s offer.


    Emperor Feng thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng, do you want me to kill you? Do you really think I won''t do so?"


    "Emperor Feng, I treat my allies with respect and sincerity. I gave you a chance just now, but you chose not to take it. I saved you from your prison, but you tried to kill me with a curse. There''s no reason for me to continue working with you."


    "In that case, die!" Emperor Feng roared. The next moment, he eximed, "What? My curse didn''t take effect! How could this be? The ck lotus isn''t by your avatar, so how did you free yourself from my curse?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother to exin. He faced Yin Shenhua. "Hurry up, Yin Shenhua. The sooner we leave, the more time you''ll have to deal with Emperor Feng. Otherwise, I might really help Emperor Feng out."


    Yin Shenhua: ...


    Emperor Feng: ...


    Both Yin Shenhua and Emperor Feng fell silent, unable to believe that two Immortal Emperors like them would actually be subject to Xiao Nanfeng''s threats. He even controlled whether or not they got to live, and he barely had any power of his own!


    "I, Yin Shenhua, hereby tithe 60% of Dayin''s fortune to the Imperial Court, to be carried out immediately!" Yin Shenhua cried out.


    The sea of fortune above Dayin began to roil. A humongous golden dragon of fortune rose up from the sea in a wave of mournful keening.


    Then, as the citizens of Dayin''s capital watched on, much of the sea of fortune parted and flew away across the horizon, vanishing from sight. The golden dragon of fortune slumped weakly down on what remained of the sea, pale and exhausted.


    The cultivators in Dayin began murmuring to each other in shock, unable to believe what had just happened.

 Chapter 582: Acquired Fortune

    <h4>Chapter 582: Acquired Fortune</h4>


    Back in the Thunderp Hall''s illusory realm, Yin Shenhua gritted out, "The tithe has been deposited."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''ve been informed. In that case, I''ll fulfill my promise and leave Dayin immediately."


    "And what of Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci?"


    "We''ll discuss thatter," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "If your subordinates dare to bother Dazheng again, I''ll kill them."


    "How dare you! I just handed over 60% of Dayin''s fortune. Do you realize what a tremendous sum that is? You had better hand over Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci immediately.


    "Don''t forget, Yin Shenhua, that that fortune was owed to the Imperial Court to begin with, not to me. You might have lost that fortune, but you''ve gained another five years to gather more."


    "Hm?" Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes.


    The implicit meaning behind Xiao Nanfeng''s words was clear¡ªYin Tianci could dy his rebellion another five years. That didn''t seem too bad.


    "What''s more, I even brought you Emperor Feng. I think you''ll gain almost as much from defeating him, won''t you? It''s not a loss for you either way," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yin Shenhua was silent.


    "Very well, then. We''ll be leaving," Xiao Nanfeng said. He turned to the ck lotus. "Past Buddha, we should leave."


    "Amitabha." The ck lotus nodded.


    Just then, Emperor Feng roared, "Xiao Nanfeng, if you dare work together with Yin Shenhua, I won''t forgive you! I''ll kill you and Zhao Yuanjiao!"


    By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng had written Emperor Feng off as aplete disappointment and was ignoring him.


    The ck lotus brought itself and Xiao Nanfeng out of the illusory realm.


    "Hold it!" Emperor Feng roared.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll deal with you, then take them on afterwards. They won''t be able to escape from the Thousand-Lotus Formation," Yin Shenhua replied.


    "Who knows? Don''t you remember how the ck coffin got removed from your lotus barrier? I''m sure he can escape," Emperor Feng fumed.


    "If I say that they can''t leave, then they won''t be able to leave. It''s not clear that Xiao Nanfeng will necessarily be able to make it out of the Thousand-Lotus Formation, but even if he does, I have countless guards outside of it. Not even you from the past would have been able to escape," Yin Shenhua replied confidently.


    "And what of Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci? Xiao Nanfeng kidnapped them despite your confidence," Emperor Feng spat out.


    "You''re simply far too confident, you see. You want to deal with them on my behalf? Don''t you think I can do that on my own? Once I master you, I''ll take them down!" Emperor Feng dered.


    "Oh? Do you think you''ll seed? Let''s see, then!" Yin Shenhua retorted.


    The two Immortal Emperors began to fight once more as Xiao Nanfeng returned to the Thunderp Hall in reality.


    The ck lotus also dispelled its transformation and surrounded itself in ck fog. It floated by Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    "How do you feel, Senior Brother?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Thanks to you stalling for time, and the help of the demonic sect master and the gathered generals, the curse only triggered after we had dispelled 99% of its strength. I really was lucky," Zhao Yuanjiao said wryly.


    "My thanks, Demonic Sect Master," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately.


    "No time to waste," the demonic sect master said. "We can talk more once we''ve made it out."


    "Very well. Please follow my n, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The demonic sect master nodded. He retrieved the ck gourd in which he had hidden, then infused gic energy into it until it spat out another figure: Mo Shanhe. Mo Shanhe was perfectly still, either unconscious or dead.


    "You brought me Mo Shanhe in a very timely fashion," the demonic sect master remarked.


    "Not quite, Sect Master. After I got him back from Emperor Feng''s hands, I deliberately had Emperor Feng help Ye Dafu and the others raise their cultivation to stall until Mo Shanhe could be delivered to your hands."


    "How cautious! Very well. I''ve sealed Mo Shanhe''s spirit, but he''s still alive. I''ll leave the rest to you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Let''s go!" the demonic sect master continued.


    He absorbed Zhao Yuanjiao and the five purple-furred monsters into the gourd, then flew in himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng capped the gourd.


    He, the ck lotus, and the unconscious Mo Shanhe were the only figures remaining in the hall. Yin Shenhua''s lotus of existence flew atop the ck coffin, pulsing with golden light as it helped him against Emperor Feng.


    "Senior, Yin Shenhua and Emperor Feng''s battle might conclude at any moment. We''re short on time, and there may be a trap within this lotus to prevent us from touching it. Shall we leave for now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Very well." The ck lotus nodded, flying into Mo Shanhe''s mindscape and taking over his body. He ''awakened''.


    Xiao Nanfeng passed the gourd to ''Mo Shanhe'' as the two cultivators walked up to the Thousand-Lotus Formation outside the Thunderp Hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, activating his candleme powers and summoning a red portal before him.


    At the moment, Xiao Nanfeng was in his yin body. He too darted into Mo Shanhe''s mindscape as Mo Shanhe stepped through the portal and vanished.


    He then reappeared outside the Thousand-Lotus Formation as the red light behind him vanished. Within his mindscape, Xiao Nanfeng said, "Senior, let me take over his body."


    "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng possessed Mo Shanhe and saw what was happening outside the Thunderp Hall for himself.


    The greater half of the sea of fortune above Dayin''s capital had vanished, and the golden dragon of fortune that soared within it seemed to have grown gaunt and haggard. It slumped atop the sea of fortune, exhausted. The whole capital was in an uproar, and the golden-armored cultivators on the za before him were panicking as well.


    As Mo Shanhe stepped out of the Thousand-Lotus Formation, everyone nced toward him in surprise.


    "Prime Minister?" a group of golden-armored cultivators called out, surrounding him.


    "Maintain order!" Mo Shanhe shouted. "There is no need to panic."


    "We..." The golden-armored cultivators stiffened.


    Suddenly, one of them frowned. "Who are you? The prime minister was taken captive by an assant! How could you have appeared here?"


    "It was part of a trapid out by me and the Immortal Emperor. Need I provide a full ounting to you?" Mo Shanhe demanded.


    "Ah, no, of course not, Prime Minister!" The golden-armored cultivator stiffened.


    Clearly, the golden-armored cultivators had deduced through some means that the Mo Shanhe who stood before them was the real thing. However, it was strange that the prime minister had appeared before the Immortal Emperor after such a shocking event as the loss of Dayin''s fortune.


    "His Majesty sent me out of the Thunderp Hall on urgent business. You there, apany me, now!" Mo Shanhe shouted.


    "But..." The golden-armored cultivators visibly hesitated.


    "You won''t be able to pay the price of ruining His Majesty''s ns. Now!" Mo Shanhe demanded again.


    "Understood!" the golden-armored cultivators replied.


    Any other official, or even Dayin''s princes, wouldn''t have been able tomandeer them, but Mo Shanhe was different. He was Yin Shenhua''s closest confidante and the one in charge of Dayin when Yin Shenhua was in secluded cultivation. No one dared to doubt his words.


    Several golden-armored cultivators immediately shrouded him in fog as they soared into the air toward the outskirts of Dayin''s capital.


    City guards were out in full force, quelling any disturbance that was about to arise. They inspected just about every group of fliers in the air, but none dared to intercept Mo Shanhe and the golden-armored cultivators, personal guards to Yin Shenhua himself.


    Very quickly, they made it out of the capital.


    "Prime Minister, it''s dangerous outside the capital. You''ve been taken hostage out there once before, after all," a golden-armored cultivator warned.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? That was part of a scheme!" Mo Shanhe retorted.


    "But the third prince was taken hostage outside the capital as well..."


    "You''re unaware of the whole story. Don''t bother trying to second-guess me. Simply obey my orders."


    "Understood!" the golden-armored cultivators replied.


    As they reached a forest in the distance, Mo Shanhe said, "This will do. Someone will be here to receive me. You may return."


    "But..." The golden-armored cultivators were clearly hesitant to obey.


    Mo Shanhe''s face grew more dour. "What''s the matter? Do you intend to pry when ites to the Immortal Emperor''s secrets?"


    The golden-armored cultivators nched. One immediately said, "We wouldn''t dare, Prime Minister! We''ll return immediately."


    "Good." Mo Shanhe nodded.


    A group of golden-armored cultivators bowed toward Mo Shanhe as they flew off. One was so curious he considered heading back to check out the situation, only to turn and see Mo Shanhe standing on a mountain peak in the distance staring at him. He was so shaken that he shook his head and turned back immediately.


    Only when the golden-armored cultivators had all vanished did Mo Shanhe fly into the forest and vanish from sight.


    At the same time, in the Thunderp Hall, a huge explosion rang out, causing even the dragon-head mountain to shake violently. The Thousand-Lotus Formation cracked and exploded in mes.


    "Emperor Feng, do you intend to oppose me even in death? How dare you!" Yin Shenhua roared, his words reverberating throughout the pce.


    "Immortal Emperor!" A group of golden-armored cultivators rushed over.


    What remained of The Thousand-Lotus Formation was nothing more than ruins. The Thunderp Hall had likewise crumbled away. Yin Shenhua''s draconic robes seemed a little tattered where he stood; anger and fury shed in his eyes as he considered his surroundings.


    "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng and the others? Could they really have escaped?" Yin Shenhua eximed. He looked toward the golden-armored cultivators. "Xiao Nanfeng escaped. Didn''t you see him?"


    "We didn''t. Only the prime minister made it out. He rushed out of the city with a few golden-armored cultivators in tow," one cultivator reported.


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes, finally realizing what was going on.


    "Mo Shanhe, whom I''ve been looking for for so long¡ªhe was right under my nose the entire time! Damn it. Chase after them, now! Bring the prime minister back!" Yin Shenhua roared.

 Chapter 583: Shaking the Sieve of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 583: Shaking the Sieve of Heaven</h4>


    Within the Hall of Martial Aspects in the Sieve of Heaven, Ao Canghai was taking part in a banquet as he dined and conversed with a group of cultivators.


    "Martial Aspect Ao, I heard that the Eastern Quadrant was the first to reach the designated target of tithed fortune this year. You''re very impressive. The Immortal Emperors of the three quadrants that we oversee are all refusing to tithe their fortune, as if they''d nned it in advance. It''s infuriating!"


    "The ten-thousand-year cmity draws near, and the legends of the world continue to strive for the apex. We expected this, and the Heavenly Emperor has allowed the various divine empires to rise up¡ªyet we Martial Aspects shoulder a heavier burden," Ao Canghai replied, sighing.


    "Eastern Aspect Ao, are the Immortal Emperors of the east more personable than elsewhere? How do you ensure that they submit their tithes on time?" the Martial Aspect asked again.


    "Who said they were? The prime counterexample is Dayin. It''s been over three years since theyst paid their tithe, and they might cause trouble at any moment. That would be particrly devastating news for us," Ao Canghai replied, shaking his head.


    "Yin Shenhua, you mean? I heard that you sent a Heaven Immortal Martial Aspect to collect the tithe¡ª60% of Dayin''s umted fortune, too! How brave you are," one cultivator said.


    Ao Canghai could hear the sarcasm from a mile away. He replied calmly, "Didn''t you ask about my secret for collecting these tithes? It''s to send someone out to collect them, of course."


    The cultivators at the banquet gave Ao Canghai strange half-smiles. It was clear that Ao Canghai was trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng; that he was putting such a spin on things was rather shameless.


    "It''s difficult to reim even 20% of an empire''s fortune now, let alone 60%¡ªand all you sent was a single Heaven Immortal Martial Aspect! Don''t you know that the situation''s being discussed all over the Sieve of Heaven? Do you think everyone a fool?" that cultivator mocked.


    "eptance of this Martial Aspect mission wasn''t enforced, and Xiao Nanfeng chose to participate himself. Perhaps he really does have some means of acquiring the fortune. Also, don''t be mistaken. Half of the fortune is the reward for the Martial Aspect mission, and such an incredible reward naturally entailsmensurate risk. Isn''t that so?" Ao Canghai replied, unruffled.


    "High reward? The risk is far too high for that. A lone Heaven Immortal in Dayin might as well be dead!"


    Everyone nodded, believing in the futility of Xiao Nanfeng''s actions.


    Just then, the distant tolling of a bell could be heard, surprising all the gathered cultivators.


    A dragon''s keening reverberated across the sieve of heavens, so loud and so resonant that they gaped in shock.


    "What a deep resonance. Was some fortune just tithed to the Imperial Court? Which quadrant was it from?" one cultivator eximed.


    Everyone looked at each other in confusion. The cultivators knew very well the status of their respective quadrants, and none were expecting a tithe at that very moment. They would have been informed in advance if such a tithe were taking ce.


    "Cardinal Aspects, a tithe of fortune has just been imed by the Imperial Court. Those responsible for harvesting the tithe are making records at the moment. It came from the Eastern Quadrant," an official rushed over and reported to the gathered Martial Aspects.


    "From the Eastern Quadrant? Eastern Aspect Ao''s region, then! Who did it?" someone in the banquet asked.


    "I''m afraid I don''t know, Cardinal Aspect."


    "Investigate!"


    "Understood!"


    Everyone turned to Ao Canghai. Someone began, "Well done, Eastern Aspect Ao¡ªanother tithe of fortune!"


    Ao Canghai seemed flummoxed himself. He wasn''t aware of the situation, and quickly had his subordinates investigate.


    One of his subordinates quickly returned to report to him.


    "Whose fortune was it?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "It was the divine empire of Dayin''s, Eastern Aspect. The tithe of fortune is estimated to be 60% of Dayin''s current reserves, and all the officials responsible for collecting tithes have been mobilized to record and harvest it. It''s thergest tithe collected at once over thest thousand years, and it''s causing a huge hubbub."


    "What? Dayin?"


    "60% of Dayin''s fortune... What''s Yin Shenhua thinking?!"


    "A Heaven Immortal managed to reim 60% of Dayin''s fortune? How could this be?"


    "Eastern Aspect Ao, your subordinate''s incredible! How did Xiao Nanfeng manage such a feat?"


    Everyone at the banquet was staring at Ao Canghai in shock.


    Ao Canghai himself was taken aback. He was as shocked as anyone else in the banquet¡ªno, more so. He had sent Xiao Nanfeng to Dayin to die. How had Xiao Nanfeng managed to return with 60% of Dayin''s fortune? Dayin''s rebellion was drawing near, and that much fortune would have been an incredible boon. Something was clearly wrong!


    "Come on, let''s go have a look ourselves. I''ve never seen such arge sum of fortune deposited at once!" someone suggested.


    "I''ll go too!"


    Everyone at the banquet got up to have a look at the situation for themselves.


    Ao Canghai got up and joined the crowd, disbelief writrge on his face.


    The news that 60% of Dayin''s fortune had been tithed as one lump sum quickly spread across the Sieve of Heaven and caused a hugemotion¡ªnot just because of the magnitude of the tithe, but also because of what a struggle it had been to retrieve it all. Perhaps because Ao Canghai had been deliberately spreading news of Xiao Nanfeng''s trip to Dayin, it had be public knowledge in the Sieve of Heaven.


    Furthermore, the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had had countless purple-furred monsters seeking strategies to reim Dayin''s fortune had caused a fair share of gossip in its own right.


    However, no one could have expected that Xiao Nanfeng really would have seeded. Many were arguing over how he had done it, and as many were praising and congratting Ao Canghai on his foresight.


    Ao Canghai, meanwhile, waspletely enraged by Xiao Nanfeng''s sess. Not only that, he had to pretend to be pleased himself. Deeply upset, he chose to enter secluded cultivation to avoid entertaining any guests.


    Above a stretch of the sea, Ao Shuai frowned at a subordinate before him. "What? Repeat what you said."


    "Master, my avatar''s at the Imperial Court and has confirmed these news multiple times. 60% of Dayin''s fortune has been tithed to the Imperial Court."


    "How in the world did Xiao Nanfeng manage such a feat?" Ao Shuai fumed.


    "Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng caught and brought to the Thunderp Hall? Isn''t he dead?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost asked.


    Another subordinate replied, "My avatar is in Dayin''s capital. Everything''s currently locked down, and countless forces are out of the city searching for Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts. Of course, it''s more like they''re hunting him down, but they can hardly say that publicly."


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng managed to escape, too?" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "He wasn''t the only one to do so. The ten thousand purple-furred monsters escaped as well," the subordinate continued.


    "Impossible! The fact that Yin Shenhua''s trying to hunt him down means that the negotiations must have broken down. Why would he submit such a huge tithe of fortune, then?!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    "I don''t know, Master!"


    "What''s the situation in Yongding?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost asked.


    "Right, if Yin Shenhua wants to take down Xiao Nanfeng, he''ll surely strike at Xiao Nanfeng''s empire. Has Yongding been destroyed?" Ao Shuai asked.


    "No, Master. I just received word that everything is well in Yongding. There isn''t a Dayin presence there."


    "That''s impossible..." Ao Shuai frowned.


    "Perhaps the Dayin soldiers are on their way?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost suggested.


    "That has to be the case. Yin Shenhua''s sending people to hunt down Xiao Nanfeng. Surely Yongding won''t remain untouched, either," Ao Shuai replied.


    The cultivators waited patiently for two days.


    "Why hasn''t Dayin struck at Yongding when they seem so set on hunting down Xiao Nanfeng? Are they fools?" Ao Shuai murmured.


    "Perhaps Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci''s disappearance are stopping Yin Shenhua. He won''t do anything so hostile before capturing Xiao Nanfeng," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost analyzed.


    "That has to be the case. But with Xiao Nanfeng currently alive, do our ns have to be scrapped?" Ao Shuai frowned.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost mirrored Ao Shuai''s frown as he fell deep in thought himself.


    "And 60% of Dayin''s fortune¡ªthat''s ridiculous! If Xiao Nanfeng really can make it back to the Imperial Court, doesn''t that mean he''ll get half of it as a reward for the mission?" Ao Shuai demanded.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost narrowed his eyes. This oue was deeply dissatisfying to him as well.


    "Master, return to the Imperial Court. I''ll head to Dayin and check out the situation there," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.


    "Let me go with you," Ao Shuai replied.


    "You can''t. You''re only a True Immortal, and it''ll be dangerous," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t make a fuss. I know that Xiao Nanfeng has a ck fog cursed effigy around him, so I''ll definitely remain by your side. With you around to guard me, I should be safe."


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned in thought.


    "And I have a means of luring out Xiao Nanfeng as well," Ao Shuai said confidently.


    "Oh?"


    By a secluded forest in Dayin, Xiao Nanfeng and his party hid and nced furtively at the soldiers in the sky. Only when they flew away did the party rx in a collective sigh.


    "Demonic Sect Master, you had better leave first. No one knows that you''re responsible for helping us, and we can''t implicate you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The demonic sect master shook his head. "That can wait until we''re out of Dayin proper. I''ll send you on your way."


    Xiao Nanfeng found that the demonic sect master was an enigma, quite unlike the Earth Immortal he had been thest time Xiao Nanfeng had witnessed him. Along the way, despite him describing how he had killed Mo Lengxuan, the demonic sect master seemed perfectly unruffled.


    The fact that the demonic sect master was even willing to escort them out of Dayin was an unusual kindness as well.


    "Demonic Sect Master, is there something you''re eyeing from me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The demonic sect master shook his head. "It''s nothing like that. I don''t seek anything from you, and I''ll be leaving once you''re out of danger."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew more perplexed, but he still thanked the demonic sect master gratefully.


    "It''s not a problem, but have you considered the potential ramifications to Taiqing Ind that might result from Yin Shenhua''s displeasure?"


    "Don''t worry. I have ns in mind in case he tries to pull something."


    "Good!" The demonic sect master nodded in relief.

 Chapter 584: Crisis on Taiqing Island

    <h4>Chapter 584: Crisis on Taiqing Ind</h4>


    By Taiqing Ind on the Eastern Sea were a group of Dayin cultivators making a beeline straight to the ind, dour looks on their faces.


    "Where''s Taiqing Ind?" one golden-armored cultivator demanded.


    "It was right here!" an ordinary Dayin cultivator exined.


    "There aren''t any inds here, only the vast sea itself. Are you trying to trick me?" the golden-armored cultivator demanded.


    "I wouldn''t dare! I can swear to the heavens that I''m not lying."


    "The Immortal Emperor ordered us to catch Zhao Yuanjiao if we can''t find Xiao Nanfeng. Zhao Yuanjiao''s frequently around Taiqing Ind, so he surely won''t stand by if something happens to it. Now, however, we can''t even find Taiqing Ind itself! Are you sure you''re not spouting nonsense because you intend on betraying Dayin?" the golden-armored cultivator demanded.


    "I would never! Please let me take a closer look," the official replied.


    He scouted the vicinity, then frowned harder. "This is where Taiqing Ind once was. I can confirm it from the locations of those other inds in the vicinity¡ªI left markers there. Follow me."


    The soldiers headed over and indeed found a few special markings on a small, dpidated ind.


    "I''m sure I''m not mistaken. Taiqing Ind''s right there. If it isn''t shrouded by a formation, it must have sunk."


    "We''ll go have a look." The golden-armored cultivators, sensing that something was amiss, flew over immediately.


    They hovered over where Taiqing Ind should have been, narrowed their eyes, and dove into the sea.


    There, they found that the seabed seemed to have cracked.


    "I figured it out. Taiqing Ind was moved elsewhere!" a golden-armored cultivator cried out.


    "What? How? It''s such arge ind!"


    "A particrly potent formations master must have done so. Damn it¡ªit must be the imperial astronomer of Dazheng!"


    "What do we do now?"


    "Find it! We''ll search all around this expanse of the sea. Taiqing Ind can''t be far off!"


    "Understood!"


    The borders of Dayin were simply toorge. Despite the strongest cultivators of Dayin being mobilized in force to search for Xiao Nanfeng, Xiao Nanfeng''s party was able to avoid all pursuers and reach an uninhabited stretch of the sea.


    "We''ve escaped. Thank you for your help, Demonic Sect Master," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The demonic sect master nodded. "In that case, I''ll bid you all farewell. Take care."


    The cultivators were about to bow in return when Xiao Nanfeng frowned, a serious expression on his face.


    "Is something the matter?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Something has finally happened to Taiqing Ind," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What''s going on?"


    "I had Blue Lantern hide Taiqing Ind in an uninhabited part of the sea shrouded by fog. In principle, no one should have found it, but a group of Dayin soldiers did."


    "Could some sea spirits have witnessed the move and reported it to Dayin?" Zhao Yuanjiao wondered.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I had subordinates spread out to ensure that no one was in sight. All of Ao Zhou''s dragons have been dispatched for surveince with packs of sea spirits in their own right. I''m rather certain no one on the outside would have been able to figure out what happened."


    "You mean that there''s a spy on the ind?" Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes.


    "I don''t want to admit it, but it''s looking likely," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sighing.


    "What? All the disciples on Taiqing Ind should have been vetted! Who would dare betray the sect now? I''ll kill them!" Zhao Yuanjiao cursed.


    "Demonic Sect Master, take care. We''ll be heading off now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I''ll apany you," the demonic sect master replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "This is a problem I brought down on the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I''ve already burdened you enough."


    "Nonsense. Let''s go!"


    "In that case, thank you, Demonic Sect Master!" Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    The party headed straight toward Taiqing Ind.


    Over a stretch of the sea, roiling fog was dispersed by a huge wave of force.


    A group of Dayin cultivators suppressed the ind below them with their fearsome auras.


    Plenty of disciples on the ind were vomiting out blood from the pressure that the Dayin cultivators gave off. They were paralyzed on the ground and ring at the cultivators in the air.


    One of the golden-armored cultivators shouted, "Disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, you''d better not make a move, or I''ll kill you!"


    A wave of killing intent swept over the ind, causing yet more disciples to spit out another mouthful of blood. Even so, they refused to submit.


    Suddenly, one Taiqing elder called out, "I have an avatar in Yongding. Division Leader Xiao has ordered the disciples to prioritize their own safety rather than resist."


    In the blink of an eye, the Taiqing disciples calmed down and turned to the speaking elder.


    "Oh? Is Xiao Nanfeng aware of the situation here, then?" a golden-armored cultivator asked.


    The Taiqing elder replied, "That''s right. Division Leader Xiao wants me to inform you all not to be hasty. Otherwise, he''ll retaliate against you."


    "Against us? Ha!" The golden-armored cultivatorsughed disdainfully. "And how will he do so?"


    "Division Leader Xiao said that daring to attack Taiqing Ind just because you couldn''t find Division Leader Xiao and Division Leader Zhao is akin to harming the innocent and a measure of your inadequacy. If you dare hurt the disciples on Taiqing Ind, Dazheng''s assassins will strike at your families," the elder threatened.


    "What? Repeat that!" the golden-armored cultivators cried out.


    "Division Leader Xiao said that the disciples on Taiqing Ind are his family. If you don''t respect the rules of engagement and hurt his family, he''ll do the same to yours," the elder replied firmly.


    "Does he want to die? Does he think that he''ll be able to do so?!" the golden-armored cultivators seethed.


    "Division Leader Xiao said that Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci''s disappearance should be proof enough."


    The Dayin cultivators sucked in a deep breath and reined in their killing intent. Many of the cultivators didn''t know what to do. They had families themselves. If Xiao Nanfeng was able to kidnap even the prime minister and the crown prince, assassinating their families would be straightforward.


    "I''ve already transmitted your appearances to Division Leader Xiao, who has started to investigate your identities. I''m sure he''ll be able to figure out who you are in no time. Do you really want to risk it?" the Taiqing elder demanded.


    The Dayin cultivators: ...


    "Seal this area. No one''s to leave," the golden-armored cultivators finallymanded.


    "Understood!" a group of Dayin cultivators replied.


    They retrievedrge quantities of formation gs and began to erect a formation in the sea that would block off Taiqing Ind.


    "Have your avatar report on the situation here immediately and ask what our next steps should be," a golden-armored cultivator told one of her subordinates."


    "Understood!"


    Just then, the Taiqing elder who had spoken before flew up toward the Dayin delegation on his own.


    "What do you want?" the golden-armored cultivators demanded.


    "Fellow cultivators, I know that you''re only acting on orders and have no choice but to carry this out. Please rx. I''ll make sure Division Leader Xiao knows that you''re under duress, and he won''t harm your family."


    The Dayin cultivators: ...


    "Division Leader Xiao wants me to ask how you easily found Taiqing Ind despite how well it was hidden," the elder continued.


    The Dayin cultivators fell silent. They nced at the golden-armored cultivator, their representative, and waited for him to decide whether or not to speak.


    "Are there spies from Dayin on Taiqing Ind?" the elder asked.


    The golden-armored cultivator paused for a moment. "It''s not one of our spies. Someone sent us a message describing your location. By the time we found the messenger, he had dived into the sea and vanished from sight. He was stronger than we anticipated."


    The Taiqing elder was taken by surprise. "I''ve reported this information to Division Leader Xiao, who wanted me to ry the possibility that someone might be waiting to prey on both our factions."


    "Hm?" The golden-armored cultivator narrowed his eyes and looked around.


    Just then, on an ind some distance away, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, Ao Shuai, and others were staring at Taiqing Ind, where a group of Dayin cultivators were suppressing Taiqing cultivators in force.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shielded them all in a barrier that isted all sound. He asked, "Master, how did you end up with a spy on Taiqing Ind? Did you arrange for that red-robed man to be there?"


    Ao Shuai nced at the red-robed man behind him and smirked. "A sect is like a forest, and all manner of birds nest there. I didn''t arrange for any spies. Rather, he decided to throw in his lot with me. I did it out of curiosity and boredom, not expecting that it would pay off as it did today."


    "Will he be alright?" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve vetted both his bodies with hypnosis, and I had him kill a Taiqing disciple as proof of his allegiance. His avatar''s on Taiqing Ind and can report on the situation there in real time," Ao Shuai said.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nodded, but warned, "Traitors can''t be trusted readily."


    "I understand. He''s only a piece on the game board for me. I wouldn''t trust him fully," Ao Shuai replied, smiling.


    "Good, good." The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nodded.


    "But what are these Dayin soldiers doing? They''re useless. Aren''t they going to make a move?"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost seemed surprised as well. He called the red-robed man over and asked, "What''s going on over in Taiqing Ind?"


    The red-robed man recounted what his avatar had witnessed there.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s threatening those Dayin soldiers? This is worrisome..." Ao Shuai murmured.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shook his head. "No, this is fine."


    "Oh?"


    "Do you think the soldiers of Dayin would be threatened so easily? Just you wait. They''ll make their move soon enough."


    "Are you sure?"


    "If they could be so easily threatened, they wouldn''t have been sent out on this mission. Yin Shenhua wouldn''t dispatch trash for something like this. Just wait a little. There''ll be a show in no time. Perhaps we really will be able to lure Xiao Nanfeng here," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost analyzed.


    "Very good! I''ll wait, then," Ao Shuai replied in excitement.

 Chapter 585: Ao Shuais Death

    <h4>Chapter 585: Ao Shuai''s Death</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s party stealthily made their way to the outskirts of Taiqing Ind, where they saw it being sealed by a group of Dayin cultivators.


    "Are these Dayin cultivators really not going to make a move? Did you manage to threaten them?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Not necessarily."


    "Oh?"


    "How can the elite soldiers of a kingdom be threatened so easily? I had that Taiqing elder speak up so they wouldn''t harm anyone while executing their n. They were waiting for such an excuse themselves,too."


    "You mean they''re pretending to be threatened, but their goal was to surround Taiqing Ind to lure us into rescuing them in the first ce?" Zhao Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes.


    "That''s right. We''re their targets. I''m sure there''s more to these cultivators than meets the eye."


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned. "Are we going to show ourselves, then?"


    "If we want to rescue them, that''s what we''ll have to do. What''s more, that Taiqing elder''s questioning revealed that the spy on Taiqing Indes from a third party."


    "Could that be a lie, too?"


    "It''s the truth. If a third party weren''t involved, the golden-armored cultivators wouldn''t have brought it up. The reason they deliberately exposed this third party means that they want to know who''s meddling, too."


    "Oh?"


    "They''re searching for that third party, as are my subordinates. We''ve found them, actually. They''re right on that ind over there." Xiao Nanfeng pointed in another direction.


    "Who''s there?" Zhao Yuanjiao nced over.


    "My subordinates didn''t dare approach, but I''m sure there are strong cultivators there. We''re going to have to make a move, but we can''t give that third party an opportunity to leave so easily."


    "What''s your n?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked curiously.


    "I''ll lure the third party into the fray. You all focus on rescuing the Taiqing disciples. We can give up on Taiqing Ind for the time being and rebuild itter."


    Zhao Yuanjiao sighed, but nodded. "Understood!"


    On Ao Shuai''s ind, Ao Shuai, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, and the others continued to stare at Taiqing Ind from afar. Even so, the Dayin soldiers and Taiqing disciples both restrained themselves from fighting, as though they were waiting for something.


    "Is nothing else happening on the ind?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost asked the red-robed man.


    The red-robed man shook his head. "Nothing. All the Taiqing disciples are gathered on a za, and Xiao Nanfeng''s speaker has been pacifying them."


    "Violetfrost, you said that these Dayin soldiers wouldn''t be threatened so easily, didn''t you? Why aren''t any of them making a move, then?" Ao Shuai wondered.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. "Master, there''s something wrong with the situation. We''d better leave right now."


    Ao Shuai was just about to nod when a figure emerged from the water and flew into the sky above their ind.


    "Xiao Nanfeng!" Ao Shuai eximed.


    "So the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost himself is paying a visit to the Taiqing Immortal Sect! You should have let me know¡ªI would have prepared a grand wee, haha!" Xiao Nanfeng''s voice boomed.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Ao Shuai nched.


    "Damn it. We have to flee!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cried out, dragging Ao Shuai off.


    Just then, a beam of golden light descended from the heavens. A golden-armored cultivator in the distance had discovered Xiao Nanfeng. His eyes lit up as he immediately tossed a gleaming golden relic over, a golden lotus.


    The golden lotus flew up into the air and manifested a golden barrier in the form of a golden bowl. The bowl inverted itself and mmed down on the ind in which Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    The whole ind was sealed; neither the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nor Ao Shuai managed to escape in time.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you?!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.


    He struck at the golden lotus, which shook violently but didn''t break. He frowned.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, we''re both officials of the Imperial Court. What''s this about harming each other? I simply greeted you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Suddenly, death chants infused with cursed spiritual power began to ring out from within the barrier. Everyone was taken aback.


    "Master,e over here!" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost grabbed Ao Shuai and released golden light from his body to block the death chants. However, the other cultivators with him immediately grew dazed before swiftly being possessed thereafter.


    "Die!" They charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hold it right there!" Ao Shuai cried out.


    "For daring to assassinate a Martial Aspect, you''ll all die!" Xiao Nanfeng dered, eyes cold, swinging his de toward them.


    The shes struck the cultivators'' bodies and tore them apart in sshes of blood. Golden lotus hoods bloomed and floated in the air.


    They gradually transformed into monks.


    "From the looks of it, there are three Golden Immortal and twenty True Immortal cursed effigies here. The Dayin soldiers came prepared!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost eximed.


    "Three bodhisattvas and twenty arhats, then?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    Just then, the ck lotus emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, having transformed into the Past Buddha.


    "Amitabha. Wherefore have youe, bodhisattvas?" the ck lotus asked.


    The three bodhisattvas nched. One asked, "Just who are you? Why do you continue to pretend to be the Past Buddha?"


    "I am the Past Buddha; there is no pretense. Now that the Buddhas of Three Aspects have split up, why don''t you three bodhisattvas join my faction?"


    "Nonsense! Die, demon!" a bodhisattva shouted, striking at the ck lotus.


    The bodhisattva and ck lotus began to attack each other as they gave off waves of energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, these cursed effigies are descending upon us! Please fight alongside me."


    Then, he dashed behind the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re doing this deliberately, aren''t you?!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost thundered.


    The other two bodhisattvas and the twenty arhats were heading straight for him, Ao Shuai, and Xiao Nanfeng.


    "We have no business with Xiao Nanfeng. Don''t drag us into your fight!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shouted.


    The two bodhisattvas frowned and hesitated.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately shouted, "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, if you can escape, make sure you summon reinforcements for me. Your subordinates all died because of them¡ªwe''ll take them all down when you return!"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nched.


    "You intend to take revenge? Dream on!" A bodhisattva mmed a palm toward the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.


    "Die!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost raged, counterattacking with his own palm.


    The attacks gave rise to a ming tempest all around them.


    "Don''t you know who I am? Didn''t Yin Shenhua tell you about the grudges between me and Xiao Nanfeng? Why would I cooperate with him to deal with you?!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.


    However, the bodhisattvas and arhats had been cultivating in a Buddha''s Grotto all this time, and were naturally unaware of the enmity between the two Martial Aspects.


    "Die!" the bodhisattvas and arhats shouted, charging forward.


    Their tremendous strength sent the cultivators flying.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was unharmed, while Xiao Nanfeng took little damage thanks to the strength of his physical body. Ao Shuai, however, suffered grievously. He was badly wounded and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "He''s the son of the Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court. If you dare kill him, the Eastern Aspect will surely take revenge on you!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shouted even as he defended Ao Shuai.


    The two bodhisattvas hesitated.


    "I''m a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly shouted. "If you dare kill me, the Heavenly Emperor will take revenge on you!"


    The two bodhisattvas came to a sudden realization. If they were already taking down a Martial Aspect and ignoring potential retaliation from the Heavenly Emperor himself, why would they care about an Eastern Aspect and his son?


    "Die!" The bodhisattvas and arhats charged forward again.


    These bodhisattvas weren''t like those from the illusory realms in the past. In reality, they were far stronger, and power surged from them.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost stumbled back from a heavy blow, while Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Shuai were sent flying as well.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you kill Ao Shuai, the Eastern Aspect would never forgive you!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, don''t malign me. It''s clear that these cursed effigies are the ones targeting him, not me," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    He then shouted at the bodhisattvas, "Did you hear that? If you kill these two cultivators, you''ll be putting me in dire straits! Theirpanions won''t forgive me."


    The bodhisattvas and arhats narrowed their eyes. Indeed, that was a good thing!


    What''s more, they had already attacked those two cultivators and started a feud. It didn''t make sense to back down now.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost blocked a bodhisattva as Xiao Nanfeng hung around Ao Shuai while attracting the attention of another bodhisattva. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying by a heavy blow, a trickle of blood dripping from his lip, while Ao Shuai''s injuries worsened as he vomited out blood violently.


    He transformed into the form of a golden dragon and roared, "Xiao Nanfeng, this was a deliberate scheme to kill me! My father isn''t going to forgive you!"


    "Nonsense. I simply saw the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost beyond Taiqing Ind and came to greet him. How should I have known that you were here too? Why would you be hanging around Taiqing Ind, anyway?"


    Ao Shuai: ...


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost: ...


    How were they to respond to such a pointed question? It was obvious Xiao Nanfeng knew what was going on!


    The cursed effigies began to attack more and more ferociously. Death chants continued to ring out within the golden bowl that had manifested. Xiao Nanfeng, protected by the ck lotus, was perfectly unharmed, but Ao Shuai suffered more and more damage. Even the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was unable to defend him.


    As Ao Shuai''s injuries worsened, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost opened his mouth and spat out a few relics, then detonated them.


    "Break!" he roared.


    The explosions,bined with the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost''s strongest blow, shattered the golden lotus and the barrier it had conjured. Because the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was so close to the explosion, he too suffered incredible damage.


    "Flee, Master!" he roared at Ao Shuai.


    "It''s toote!" a bodhisattva shouted, mming down on the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost with a palm.


    The bodhisattva held the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost back.


    "Flee, Master!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared again.


    Ao Shuai dove deep into the sea.


    "You won''t get away!" The arhats charged forward and struck Ao Shuai''s head with their strongest blows.


    Ao Shuai''s head exploded as he died on the spot.


    "Master!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared, having transformed into a violet dragon.


    The violet dragon writhed in outrage, knocking aside the bodhisattva blocking his way and charging forward.


    However, he was toote. As Ao Shuai''s yin body escaped from his corpse, a group of arhats struck it and caused it to dissipate. With his body and spirit gone, Ao Shuai perished in truth.


    "No!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.

 Chapter 586: Sinking the Island

    <h4>Chapter 586: Sinking the Ind</h4>


    Ao Shuai was dead in a n gone so badly awry. He had intended to lure the Dayin soldiers toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to have been killed in the cross-fire.


    Countless strikes of lightning erupted from the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost as he barreled forward, straight toward Ao Shuai''s corpse.


    "Master, how am I going to report to the Eastern Aspect now?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled in despair.


    The bodhisattva that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost had shrugged off rushed forward and struck him, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood from the sneak attack.


    He instantly grew more clearheaded. He retrieved Ao Shuai''s corpse and flew into the air, gaze filled with hatred. He hated these bodhisattvas and arhats, and especially Xiao Nanfeng.


    They all had to die! Could he kill them all?


    Perhaps not. The three bodhisattvas boasted incredible strength. Even if he managed to kill them and all the arhats as well, he would only be helping Xiao Nanfeng resolve his crisis.


    Xiao Nanfeng was whom he hated most. If not for Xiao Nanfeng, Ao Shuai wouldn''t have died!


    He watched on as Xiao Nanfeng continued to struggle against the gathered bodhisattvas and arhats, spitting out blood as he was struck by blow after blow. Without any hesitation, he flew into the clouds with Ao Shuai''s corpse and escaped from the battlefield.


    "I''ll have Xiao Nanfeng die to these cursed effigies first, then ask the Eastern Aspect to take revenge," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost gritted out.


    Because the Imperial Court strongly prohibited Aspects from killing each other, he didn''t dare to make a move against Xiao Nanfeng. Not even Ao Canghai would dare to kill Xiao Nanfeng himself, but it would be easy for Ao Canghai to kill the three bodhisattvas.


    "Hold it!" a bodhisattva roared.


    However, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost wasn''t weaker than that bodhisattva. If he attempted to flee at maximum speed, the bodhisattva wouldn''t be able to catch up.


    Indeed, after the bodhisattva gave chase for some time, he decisively chose to give up on the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost. Securing Xiao Nanfeng was the top priority, after all.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost turned and nced at the ind far beneath him. "Two bodhisattvas and twenty arhats¡ªXiao Nanfeng, let''s see how you''ll take them on!"


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and his crew, who had been hiding in the sea, emerged around Taiqing Ind.


    The twelve golden cultivators were now True Immortals and boasted immense strength. They took down the Dayin soldiers and killed them easily.


    As the Dayin soldiers perished, the situation on Taiqing Ind grew far less dire.


    Zhao Yuanjiao, five True Immortal purple-furred monsters, and the demonic sect master were all already chasing down the Dayin soldiers.


    The twelve golden cultivators then rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s ind, where they blocked the arhats from attacking him.


    Even so, the two bodhisattvas rushed straight to Xiao Nanfeng, who immediately transformed into his yin body.


    His silver moon rose into the air. A blizzard began to fall. His deific domain chilled them to the moon as Xiao Nanfeng invoked spiritual harmony and vanished from sight.


    Both bodhisattvas missed.


    They frowned, knowing that this was an unfavorable development for them. They had heard of Xiao Nanfeng''s capabilities, so they peered at his silver moon in the air¡ªand cautiously decided not to attack it.


    With Xiao Nanfeng gone, how were they to fight him?


    Just then, one of the bodhisattvas reached for something. A bright, golden pearl appeared in his palm.


    "Yang affixation!" the bodhisattva cried out.


    Golden light poured forth from the pearl, illuminating the sky and piercing through Xiao Nanfeng''s deific domain.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in surprise. His figure was revealed for all to see, his body gleaming golden.


    "What sort of relic is this? How can it break my spiritual harmony?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "This is a pearl of yang affixation, and is designed specifically to deal with cultivators who invoke spiritual harmony. Xiao Nanfeng, you''re done for now!" The bodhisattva roared inughter, then shot forward in a beam of golden light, so quickly that Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    He narrowed his eyes and threw a punch forward with a howl.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the bodhisattva''s fists met in a wave of me, neither party losing out against the other.


    "Impossible! How can your strength beparable to mine?" the bodhisattva cried out.


    Everyone around stared at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise.


    "No, something''s wrong. Your strength is quickly dissipating. This spiritual power doesn''t belong to you, does it?" The bodhisattva immediately noticed that something was amiss.


    Indeed, none of that spiritual power belonged to Xiao Nanfeng. It was the golden spiritual power that he absorbed from the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats in the Thunderp Hall when he fought alongside the ck lotus. There had been more of that golden spiritual power initially, but a fair bit had dissipated away.


    "If you had so much strength, why didn''t you use it from the beginning? This was all part of your scheme, wasn''t it? You wanted us to kill that golden dragon from before!" Another bodhisattva flew over and threw a punch at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying as he tried to defend against both bodhisattvas simultaneously.


    Killing Ao Shuai was naturally part of his n, but he could hardly say anything of the sort, even if there weren''t anyone from the Imperial Court around.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? I would never do so. I simply forgot about the strength that I possessed," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No need for such exnation. Give up now¡ªor die," a bodhisattva spat out.


    The bodhisattvas attacked Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously, causing more and more of his golden spiritual power to dissipate. He quickly began to lose ground.


    While one bodhisattva''s fist struck Xiao Nanfeng''s in a stalemate, the other attacked Xiao Nanfeng from the side.


    "Die!" the bodhisattva roared, his fist roaring like a dragon as it shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s brain.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body wouldn''t be able to sustain a blow of this magnitude; if it were to strike him, he would be done for. However, the bodhisattva''s attack was so fast that he wouldn''t be able to block it in time.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng was preparing to sacrifice part of his body to defend against the blow, a ck figure appeared beside him and blocked the bodhisattva.


    A huge wave of mes washed over him. The shockwaves that resulted were so strong that they spawned tidal waves in the sea.


    "The demonic sect master¡ªyou''re a Golden Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The demonic sect master blocked the bodhisattva''s fist with one of his own; the cultivator and cursed effigy seemed to be on equal footing.


    Thest time he had seen the demonic sect master, he had only been an Earth Immortal. How had he grown so strong that he could take on a Golden Immortal now?


    He wasn''t using a relic or anything of the sort, either, but the brute strength of his body! How could this be?


    "Who are you?" the bodhisattva eximed.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost had run off, but a Golden Immortal had reced him.


    The demonic sect master ignored the bodhisattva and told Xiao Nanfeng, "I''ll hold one of the bodhisattvas back for you. Watch out."


    "Thank you!" Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    He reimed his silver moon and began to fight against one of the bodhisattvas, though he was knocked back once again. Clearly, his current strength stemmed not from his own spiritual power, and it would drain quickly as he defended against the bodhisattva''s attacks.


    "Senior, Demonic Sect Master, please leave this area for now. Give the Taiqing disciples a chance to evacuate," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Then, he began to fly into the distance.


    "I won''t let you flee!" A bodhisattva immediately gave chase.


    The ck lotus, still in the guise of the Past Buddha, followed suit.


    "Hold it!" The bodhisattva fighting against the ck lotus took to the sky as well, as did the demonic sect master and the bodhisattva he took on.


    The arhats also left the twelve golden cultivators behind as they flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Wait up!" Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators chased after them.


    The cultivators vanished over the horizon.


    Not too longter, Zhao Yuanjiao and the others slew thest Dayin cultivator.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nced toward the departing cultivators in surprise. "As expected, the demonic sect master was a Golden Immortal. Incredible..."


    Suddenly, a hugemotion rang out from around them. Blue Lantern had just dispelled the formation gs that were keeping Taiqing Ind trapped.


    Just then, a Taiqing elder rushed forward. "Division Leader Zhao, my avatar is in Yongding. Division Leader Xiao said that these Dayin cultivators were chasing after you, that they didn''t expect Division Leader Xiao to be present. That was why they didn''t make sufficient preparations and only sent three bodhisattvas. By now, Dayin should know that we''re both here, and Yin Shenhua will send even stronger cultivators over. Division Leader Xiao wants you to evacuate everyone as quickly as possible!"


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    The Taiqing elder turned to the five purple-furred monsters. "Generals, Division Leader Xiao asks that you support Division Leader Zhao and escort the Taiqing disciples to safety.


    "Understood!"


    "Everyone, listen up! Gather at the za. We''ll leave immediately!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared.


    Many of the Taiqing disciples had already gathered on the za. Only a few were hiding around Taiqing Ind. Upon hearing Zhao Yuanjiao''smand, they swiftly rushed to the za as well.


    "Right, where''s the red-robed elder who betrayed the sect? Division Leader Xiao said that he saw the culprit," the Taiqing elder continued.


    "What?" The Taiqing disciples looked around furiously in search of the red-robed elder, but to no avail.


    Just then, a gray-robed figure silently headed toward the sea, preparing to dive into it and flee.


    "Don''t you think it''s a little toote to be leaving?" an ice-cold voice called out beside him.


    Blue Lantern had been hiding deep within Taiqing Ind and was observing everything with his formations. With a wave of his arm, a gust of ck wind appeared from thin air and blew the gray-robed figure into a crowd of Taiqing disciples.


    "No!" the gray-robed figure cried out.


    "This must be the red-robed elder!" the Taiqing disciples eximed.


    "Seal his cultivation and knock him unconscious. We''ll question himter!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    While the rest of the disciples watched on furiously, a few disciples sealed the elder''s cultivation and knocked him unconscious.


    Zhao Yuanjiao and the others eyed Taiqing Ind with some reluctance. In the end, however, he and all the Taiqing disciples took to the air as they flew away.


    Only Blue Lantern remained behind.


    He waved an arm and called out, "With the universe at mymand, guided by a thousand dragons, lower this ind into the abyss!"


    Dragons roared from underneath Taiqing Ind, which began to sink rapidly. The seawater it disced rushed to fill the gap.


    The whole ind sank deep into the sea.


    There was no other choice. There was simply no time to move Taiqing Ind again; rather than leave it to be destroyed by the next group of Dayin cultivators toe, why not sink it into the sea in hopes that they might overlook it?


    Before long, even the tallest mountain on the ind was fully submerged. The entire ind faded from view.


    After that, Blue Lantern quickly flew off in Xiao Nanfeng''s direction without any hesitation.

 Chapter 587: Obliterating the Cursed

    <h4>Chapter 587: Obliterating the Cursed</h4>


    Across a stretch of the wide sea, cultivators of incredible strength were fighting each other to the death.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng had obtained an incredible quantity of spiritual power from the illusory realm, as the spiritual power was expended, he became less and less able to defend himself against the bodhisattva before him.


    The bodhisattva sent Xiao Nanfeng flying time and time again, until his True Yin body was unable to stand it any longer. During a gap in the attacks, he swapped back to his physical body instead.


    Even so, his physical body was sent flying by the bodhisattva as he sprayed out a mouthful of blood.


    "Stubborn fool! Let''s see how long you canst," the bodhisattva roared.


    He shed before Xiao Nanfeng and used all his strength to summon a golden palm that was poised to cripple Xiao Nanfeng in a single blow.


    Just then, a golden figure rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, shielding him and defending with a palm of its own.


    As the two palms shed, the void trembled. The bodhisattva''s attack waspletely blocked.


    "You''ve won, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    The Past Buddha, into which the ck lotus had transformed, was now standing before Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Leave it to me," the ck lotus said.


    It was apparent that the ck lotus had devoured the bodhisattva it had been facing and now had the time to help Xiao Nanfeng instead.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng replied, then retreated.


    The demonic sect master and the ck lotus were each now taking on one bodhisattva, while Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators were fighting the gathered arhats. The fighting seemed to have reached an equilibrium.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t attempt to break the equilibrium; he was afraid of scaring the cursed effigies off.


    "Where is my junior brother? Have you killed him? Who are you?" the bodhisattva roared.


    The ck lotus ignored the bodhisattva and continued to drag things out.


    Neither bodhisattva intended to back off. They knew that news of themotion would surely have been sent back to Dayin, and that reinforcements would arrive in no time at all. Dragging things out would be advantageous to them.


    Just then, Blue Lantern flew back from afar.


    "Blue Lantern, what''s the situation like on Taiqing Ind?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Everything''s handled."


    "There''s a formation set up around here, isn''t there?"


    "There is. You had me trap the surroundings in case it woulde in handy. I didn''t expect it to be of use so quickly," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Let''s get started, then!"


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Blue Lantern waved a hand. The seabed all around them began to react, as if something had been activated. Blue light shone into the air. Then, high overhead, 361 giant stars shone down.


    "Formation of the Complete Heavens, activate!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    Rays of starlight descended. Blue fog rose up from the surface of the sea, covering up the sky and enveloping arge stretch of it. Everyone was trapped within.


    "The Formation of the Complete Heavens is a special type of spatial formation. Although it wouldn''t be able to trap bodhisattvas for long in its own right, with Golden Immortals here to stop them from escaping, they won''t be able to break free," Blue Lantern said.


    "That''s good enough. I''ll join in and help take down the bodhisattvas, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward where Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators were located.


    The golden cultivators were enjoying the beating from the gathered arhats. Although theirbat strength was middling, they were more than able to withstand damage. They were sessfully holding back all twenty arhats on their own.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed into his True Yin body again. A silver moon rose into the air as a blizzard began to fall.


    "Go help out the Past Buddha. Leave these arhats to me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and hisckeys replied.


    They were very much looking forward to being beaten up by a Golden Immortal, but would Xiao Nanfeng be able to handle the twenty arhats all by himself?


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng vanished as he invoked spiritual harmony. Then, clumps of snow gathered all around the arhats, forming a hundred snowmen with his exact form.


    "Die!" A hundred snowmen charged toward the gathered arhats.


    The twenty arhats were all sent flying.


    Ye Dafu and the others opened their mouths wide in shock.


    "His Majesty really is as incredible as ever!"


    "Come on, let''s go! With His Majesty being in the fray, the fighting''s going to end quickly. Let''s see if we can get hit by a few punches first!"


    "Hold on, wait up!"


    The golden cultivators rushed toward the ck lotus.


    "Die!" they shouted, charging at the bodhisattva.


    "Insolence!" the bodhisattva roared.


    He was already exasperated at being suppressed by the ck lotus. The group of strange, golden cultivators that had just emerged immediately roused his ire, and he swung at them with abandon.


    The twelve golden cultivators were all sent flying, their bones audibly cracking. They spat out mouthfuls of blood as they slumped to the ground in tangled heaps.


    Meanwhile, the ck lotus'' fist struck the bodhisattva''s head and dealt it a lethal blow, sending the bodhisattva flying.


    Just then, the ck lotus emitted a tremendous cloud of ck smoke that surrounded the bodhisattva.


    "No. Who are you? Don''t swallow me, don''t!" the bodhisattva howled in shock.


    Suddenly, the ck fog dissipated, revealing the Past Buddha once again. The bodhisattva''s body waspletely gone, having been devoured.


    Meanwhile, the demonic sect master continued to fight against thest bodhisattva. Suddenly, upon sensing that he was the sole remaining one, he turned tail and ran without any hesitation.


    Unfortunately, trapped by the Formation of the Complete Heavens as he was, he simply couldn''t escape. He struck the formation with a palm thatnded with a bang. The entire formation shook as a huge hole was torn in it. Just as it was about to escape, the demonic sect master caught up and prevented its escape.


    He and the bodhisattva began to fight each other once more as the formation restored itself.


    "Scram!" the bodhisattva shouted.


    Unfortunately for him, with the demonic sect master barring his way and the Formation of the Complete Heavens surrounding him, he waspletely unable to escape.


    Then, the ck lotus joined the fray as well.


    Two against one, the oue of the fight was obvious. The demonic sect master held the bodhisattva down as the ck lotus executed a sneak attack, a heavy blow that left the bodhisattva dazed. Then,rge quantities of ck fog erupted from the ck lotus and surrounded him.


    "Release me! The ancestral Buddha won''t let you go! No!" the bodhisattva shouted.


    Suddenly, the ck fog retreated, revealing that the final bodhisattva had vanished from sight.


    The demonic sect master retreated, clearly somewhat fearful of the ck lotus.


    The ck lotus shed over to Xiao Nanfeng''s side, reverting back to its original form, surrounding itself in ck fog, and devouring all the arhats at once.


    The fighting finally came to a close.


    The hundred snowmen copsed all at once as Xiao Nanfeng reappeared, reining in his silver moon and returning to his physical body.


    The ck lotus flew up to Xiao Nanfeng and tossed a golden orb at him. "This is the pearl of yang affixation that that bodhisattva left behind, and it should be a Golden Immortal relic. However, Yin Shenhua has likely done something to it, so I would rmend absorbing its strength to advance your cultivation instead."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The ck lotus flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and then vanished from sight.


    "Demonic Sect Master, we shouldn''t stay here for long. Let''s leave," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood," the demonic sect master replied.


    Blue Lantern stripped away the foundation of the Formation of the Complete Heavens as everyone swiftly flew away.


    During the flight, Xiao Nanfeng struck at the pearl of yang affixation with his de, chipping a small hole in it. He began to suck in the essence of the pearl from that hole, absorbing a golden stream of pure yang energy into his body.


    "What incredible purity," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Without any hesitation, he began to drink it inrger andrger gulps, causing his body to swell with mes.


    Then, when the pearl of yang affixation had lost all its reserves of energy, it shattered and crumbled away into powder.


    At the same time, beams of light shot toward where Taiqing Ind had once been.


    Quite a few figures descended in a gust of wind that spawned tidal waves in the sea.


    "Buddha, it looks like we''re a bit toote. Taiqing Ind has sunk into the sea, and everyone has escaped," a monk reported.


    The gathered figures looked toward a resplendent golden man, their leader. The man turned to his surroundings, but there wasn''t a trace of anyone in sight.


    "Search the area," the Buddhamanded.


    "Understood!" The crowd quickly scattered and scoured the vicinity.


    Unfortunately, they didn''t find anything. They tracked the three bodhisattvas to the point where their trails vanished, but there was nothing remaining there except turbulent seawater.


    "No remnants of their bodies were left behind. Is Xiao Nanfeng''s party that strong? Three bodhisattvas..." a monk murmured.


    "They must have had reinforcements from the Imperial Court, or the three bodhisattvas wouldn''t have been finished off so quickly," the Buddha replied.


    "What do we do now?"


    "Expand the search area. There''s no way such arge group of people left no traces behind," the Buddha replied.


    "Understood!" The cultivators continued to scour the sea.


    On a dpidated ind shrouded by fog, in a particrly secluded part of the sea,y arge group of Taiqing disciples in hiding.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng was seated cross-legged in meditation as Zhao Yuanjiao and others guarded him. Beside them were Ye Dafu and his crew of golden cultivators, recuperating from the injuries they had sustained.


    A huge wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he opened his eyes and breathed out.


    "The eighth stage of the Heaven Immortal realm? The reserves of energy you need to raise your cultivation is truly incredible," the demonic sect master murmured.


    "It''s manageable, I suppose," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a weak smile.


    "Alright. Since all of you are safe and secure now, it''s time for me to leave," the demonic sect master said.


    "Let me send you off," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The demonic sect master, though taken somewhat by surprise, nodded.


    "Senior Brother, youe too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao cocked his head, but followed suit.


    The trio flew out of the ind. Along the way, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t speak, nor did the demonic sect master. Zhao Yuanjiao flew behind them, rather perplexed.


    Finally, theynded on another remote ind in the vicinity.


    "Is there something you wanted to say?" the demonic sect master asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gave Xiao Nanfeng a curious look as well. Was there something wrong with the demonic sect master?


    "Might I see your true appearance, Demonic Sect Master?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.

 Chapter 588: Greeting Their Master

    <h4>Chapter 588: Greeting Their Master</h4>


    Zhao Yuanjiao turned to the demonic sect master in surprise.


    "When did you discover it?" the demonic sect master asked.


    "I was already a little suspicious in the past, but I couldn''t be certain until a few hours ago, when I saw you fight. You used exactly the same techniques and tricks that you taught me."


    The demonic sect master sighed. "It looks like I''m not quite as skilled at deception as I would like."


    Slowly, the demonic sect master removed his cowl to reveal his true appearance.


    "You¡ªMaster!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Revealed underneath the cowl was Ku Jiang, long thought dead¡ªthough his eyes now shone brilliantly with light.


    "Master, it really is you! I knew you hadn''t perished," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "You knew?" Ku Jiang was taken by surprise.


    "In the past, after I had returned to Taiqing Ind from the undying realm and was being targeted by Nn Qiankun''s son, I recall that you had left the sect in order to break through. Everyone thought you were ascending to the Yin Body realm, but upon your return, you told me that you had been granted opportunities from the heavens themselves. That surely indicated a tribtion, but your corpse wasn''t that of an Immortal. I had a sense that something was amiss then," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "So my deception was already wed by then," Ku Jiang murmured, smiling.


    "How did you end up bing the demonic sect master, Master? Were you the demonic sect master we encounteredst time as well?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked, astonished.


    "It was me," Ku Jiang replied, nodding.


    "Oh?" This drew frowns from both Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Do you remember the tribtion that the Taiqing Sect faced, the one I talked about?" Ku Jiang asked.


    "I remember, Master. Two centuries ago, the Taiqing Sect had built up sufficient reserves to advance into a holynd, and the sect had funneled its resources into a disciple to found a divine empire and be an Immortal Emperor. That Immortal Emperor then betrayed the sect and caused internal strife. In the end, only a few weak disciples remained. They managed to escape to Taiqing Ind and were tasked with the revival of the sect."


    "Not only that, the resulting strife exacerbated a schism. The Taiqing Sect split into two, the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Taiqing Demonic Sect," Zhao Yuanjiao added.


    Ku Jiang nodded. "Despite the subsequent protection of the Yuqing holynd, the traitorous Immortal Emperor continued to send his subordinates into both Taiqing sects as he attempted to destroy both sects to thest."


    "Oh?"


    "The previous demonic sect master was assassinated in that manner. Before his death, he had me take over as the new demonic sect master to identify the culprit," Ku Jiang said, sighing.


    "And no one else was aware of this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ku Jiang nodded. "No one knows of this. All these years, I''ve been operating with two bodies as I cleared away what traitors remained in the two sects. Last time, I chose not to reveal myself because Nanfeng had had the strength to deal with Nn Qiankun himself."


    "In that case, was that red-robed elder who betrayed Taiqing Ind today a subordinate of that traitorous Immortal Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, caught by surprise.


    Ku Jiang nodded. "That is likely so. In the past, with the Taiqing sect''s power waning and able to be snuffed out at any moment, few of its past enemies paid much attention to it. Your meteoric rise has drawn the attention of that traitor. Though he''s not quite wary, he doesn''t want to see you grow any further, either."


    "That damn traitor," Xiao Nanfeng spat out.


    "As for Mo Lengxuan, whom you killed, that''s not much trouble at all. Actually, I''ve known for quite a while that he was abusing the privilege of his station as the right division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, but I didn''t strike at him because he wasn''t a concern. Not only that, I could use him to attract the attention of the traitorous Immortal Emperor, and as a shield for loyal disciples. After you killed him¡ªwell, I suppose it''s for the best," Ku Jiang said.


    "Master, did you intend for your other body to be killed by Nn Qiankun, too?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ku Jiang nodded. "My other body was in the red moon illusory realm. I had to enter it and investigate its depths for personal reasons, so I triggered that whole series of events."


    "Thank goodness." Xiao Nanfeng sighed, rxing. Then, he took out a coffin. "Master, this is your avatar''s physical body."


    "Thank you." Ku Jiang stored the coffin away, then sighed again. "You''ve grown too strong too quickly. That traitorous Immortal Emperor will surely strike at us once more, and Taiqing is bound to suffer more cmity. What''s more, you''ve truly offended the divine empire of Dayin. With attacks from two fronts, your situation will only grow more precarious."


    "Please rx, Master. The cursed effigies of Dayin won''t be able to live for long," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Oh?"


    "My ns areing to fruition, and they should be ready momentarily."


    "Wonderful! Very well. I look forward to seeing how you intend to topple an empire," Ku Jiang said, smiling.


    "Would you like to remain to spectate?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ku Jiang shook his head. "I''ve been in the capital of that traitorous Immortal Emperor''s divine empire, and I need to keep an eye on the situation there. I won''t be able to stay for long."


    "Do you need my assistance, Master?" Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao both asked.


    "There''s no need. I''ve umted sufficient resources after all these years, but the rest of you should be careful," Ku Jiang warned.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    "I''ll be leaving, then," Ku Jiang said.


    "Take care, Master!" Both his disciples bowed.


    Ku Jiang gave them a faint smile, threw his cowl over his head, and vanished across the sea.


    "Thank goodness Master''s still alive! I never expected he would be so strong," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured.


    "Master really is very strong. Although he seems to have tricked everyone, I believe the sect master Lu Yan had some knowledge of what was happening," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh?"


    "Remember? When he had to leave the sect, he gave Master the sect master''s token. Master had the authority and trust tomand the sect in his absence," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I did forget," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured. "No wonder the sect master trusts Master to this extent."


    "However, I don''t think the sect master knows the extent of our master''s strength. Several years ago, he underwent what I now believe is the True Immortal tribtion. In just a few years, he''s already grown to the level of a Golden Immortal. Master''s opportunities are no inferior to ours," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.


    "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "It is, but it''s too dangerous for him to deal with that traitorous Immortal Emperor in his own right. We''ll have to do our best to advance our own cultivation and follow in his footsteps."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded firmly. "You''re right."


    "Senior Brother, I''ll leave Taiqing Ind in your care, then. I need to head to the Imperial Court at once," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    The two cultivators flew back to the remote ind.


    Xiao Nanfeng bade his farewell, then flew off toward the Imperial Court with his five purple-furred monsters in tow.


    Back in Dayin''s capital, within the Thunderp Hall, Yin Shenhua sat atop his draconic throne, his face dour beyond belief. Word had been received from Taiqing Ind: all the subordinates he had sent there had been killed. In other words, Xiao Nanfeng had escaped again.


    "Have you found Tang?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "Not yet," a golden-armored cultivator replied.


    "Hm?"


    "We''ve been keeping track of His Highness all along, and we have a record of Tang''s behavior as well. That day, if Tang had goaded His Highness out of the city, we would have done our best to stop him. However, Tang was far too sly. He feigned unconsciousness on ount of his injuries, causing us to drop our guard. When His Highness was reported missing and we wanted to search for him, we learned that he was long gone. Only then did we determine that there was something wrong with him," the golden-armored cultivator reported.


    Yin Shenhua scowled. "Xiao Nanfeng really did n this all out."


    "The prime minister was responsible for maintaining our military might. Now that he''s been captured by Xiao Nanfeng, what are we going to do?" the golden-armored cultivator asked in worry.


    "Send your subordinates to Yongding and negotiate with Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar. Ransom back Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci at any cost!" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "Understood!" the golden-armored cultivator replied.


    Back in the Imperial Court, by the Eastern Gate, all the purple-furred monsters that had left Dayin were waiting outside, no one having entered.


    Only when Xiao Nanfeng arrived did they swarm around him and call out, "We greet the Martial Aspect!"


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the nearly-ten-thousand-strong group of purple-furred lifeforms replied.


    Theirbined shouts caused even the Eastern Gate to rumble, surprising the soldiers in charge of guarding it. Although they were curious and surprised by the purple-furred monsters'' regained intelligence, they were even more shocked by Xiao Nanfeng''s arrival.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s aplishments had already spread throughout the Sieve of Heaven.


    He had recovered 60% of Dayin''s fortune, a crippling sum for any divine empire. Not only that, he had managed to retreat in full and unharmed¡ªand was allegedly holding the prime minister and crown prince of Dayin hostage. This would have been unimaginable for any inhabitant of the Sieve of Heaven beforehand, but Xiao Nanfeng had truly done it.


    No one believed that this was out of luck; surely there were no Immortal Emperors who would be so foolish. Despite the fact that he was only a Heaven Immortal, the guards of the Eastern Gate nevertheless treated him with fear and respect.


    "We wee Martial Aspect Xiao back to court," the guards said, bowing.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then led his army of purple-furred monsters through the Eastern Gate.


    All the Immortals who were entering or leaving the Sieve of Heaven by the Eastern Gate pointed at those troops, clearly shocked by their presence.


    The news that Xiao Nanfeng had returned to the Imperial Court quickly spread across the Sieve of Heaven. Countless Immortals watched on curiously.


    Meanwhile, things werepletely different within Ao Canghai''s manor in the Sieve of Heaven.


    Arge number of Martial Aspects had gathered to witness Ao Shuai''s corpse, their faces grim. When they heard the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost recount how Ao Shuai had perished, they raged with killing intent.


    Not far away, Ao Canghai sat expressionlessly as he stared at his son''s corpse. His hand gripped his armrest with such strength that veins protruded from his skin, his anger deeply repressed.


    "Eastern Aspect, I apologize for being useless. I allowed Xiao Nanfeng to scheme against the young master and kill him," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said, kneeling on one knee, his voice wretched.


    The entire hall was filled with silence; no one dared speak.


    Just then, a report was delivered from outside the hall. "Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspect Xiao has returned with his army. Countless Immortals within the city are bearing witness to his return and congratting him. It''s a bustling scene outside."

 Chapter 589: The Venerable Buddha

    <h4>Chapter 589: The Venerable Buddha</h4>


    "Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng clearly took advantage of themotion to cause the young master. Now, however, he''s back here and being publicly acimed! I won''t stand for this," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.


    The other Martial Aspects agreed, all infuriated by Xiao Nanfeng''s actions.


    Ao Canghai forcibly quashed his anger and turned to look at the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost. "And do you bear no culpability in Ao Shuai''s death?"


    "I¡ª" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nched, then continued, "I was overconfident, Eastern Aspect. I was responsible for bringing the young master into such a dangerous location to begin with."


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "Forget it. We''ll drop the matter here."


    "Eastern Aspect, are we going to leave things as is? At this rate, Xiao Nanfeng''s future can be nothing short of illustrious. His reward for the Martial Aspect mission he undertook is half of Dayin''s tithe of fortune! Why should we give it all to him? He''s already cultivating more than fast enough. If he were to receive such a boon..." the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost trailed off.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. "And what would you have me do? Refuse him his reward? He''s a rising star in the Sieve of Heaven, and everyone is paying attention to him. How do you expect to take him down?"


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost dipped his head, frowning.


    "Leave things be. Xiao Nanfeng might have reimed 60% of Dayin''s fortune and even taken Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci hostage, but he''ll be the sole target of Yin Shenhua''s wrath. Yin Shenhua won''t be an easy foe to handle, and he won''t be spared."


    "But¡ª"


    "But what? Yin Shenhua is already starting to take on Xiao Nanfeng. Even if he didn''t know where Taiqing Ind was located at the moment, he was sure to have other tricks up his sleeve. Why did you insist on interfering? You could have simply watched on as spectators, but you chose to get your hands dirty instead. Are you fools?!" Ao Canghai thundered.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost nched. He lowered his head and didn''t dare to speak any further.


    "Don''t do anything. Don''t meddle with anything. Let Yin Shenhua and Xiao Nanfeng deal with the grudges between themselves on their own. The higher Xiao Nanfeng''s star rises, the more vengeful Yin Shenhua will be. We''ll wait and see what happens," Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Dismissed!" Ao Canghai said.


    The Martial Aspects departed from the hall, leaving only Ao Canghai and a coffin before him. He nced again at his son within the coffin, his face fearsome with rage.


    In one of the gardens of the Imperial Court up on Mt. Kunlun, the Heavenly Emperor Yu Fuli was fishing in idyllic peace. Xiao Nanfeng had requested an audience with Yu Fuli the moment he returned.


    "Heavenly Emperor, this was my experience within the divine empire of Dayin," Xiao Nanfeng recounted what he had experienced during his stay there.


    Yu Fuli gave him a faint smile. "Brave you are. Weren''t you afraid of being assassinated by Yin Shenhua midway through?"


    "I had no choice, Your Majesty. Coincidentally, I encountered Emperor Feng along the way and took advantage of their mutual enmity."


    "You''ve done very well. I''m impressed you actually seeded," Yu Fuli said.


    "I had my subordinates bring Yin Tianci to the Imperial Court. Have you had the opportunity to investigate his body, Your Majesty? Is he the Future Buddha?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He is, but not fully."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The Future Buddha has already been killed by Yin Shenhua. Yin Tianci bears only the guise of the Future Buddha."


    "The guise?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed confused.


    Just then, the ck lotus flew out from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. "The revival of the Buddhas of Three Aspects was predicated on reincarnation. The Present Buddha reincarnated in the form of Yin Shenhua, whereas the Future Buddha reincarnated in the form of Yin Tianci. They could have coexisted, but Yin Shenhua decided to forge the Future Buddha into his own puppet. Yin Tianci should only have preserved the Future Buddha''s propensity for goodness and evil; all his memories and consciousness would have been lost."


    "Yin Shenhua would strike down even one of his aplices?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "What aplices? They''re just three conspirators, each with their own agendas," the ck lotus said.


    Yu Fuli cocked his head curiously. "Might I ask where you stand with regards to the Buddhas of Three Aspects?"


    The ck lotus fell silent for a moment. "Eighty thousand years ago, when Buddhist sects ruled the world, I served as the Venerable Buddha, with ten Buddha Emperors as my subordinates. My creed involved saving the world from suffering. That very year, I had sacrificed countless treasures and fortune to recover a golden lotus hood from the world away. As I attuned to it, three of my Buddha Emperors suddenly rebelled, bringing cmity and destruction to the world."


    "Oh? And you were deposed then, too? With seven Buddha Emperors supporting you, how could you have lost to the Buddhas of Three Aspects?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "The heavens struck ahead of schedule and assisted the three Buddhas," the ck lotus replied.


    "No wonder." Yu Fuli nodded.


    "I had reached a crucial period in my attunement to the golden lotus hood when I was attacked from behind, then ultimately suppressed and killed. The ten Buddha Emperors fought and warred with each other, transforming into demons that roamed the world and feasted on the people whose suffering they were supposed to relieve. To heal their wounds and continue to fight, the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats consumed people all over the world. It is no exaggeration to say that the resulting struggle decimated the human poption."


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath.


    The human poption, decimated¡ªwhat manner of cmity was this?


    "In the end, the three Buddhas secured victory. However, there was only a single golden lotus hood, and the Buddhas were poised to fight each other to determine an ultimate victor. The heavens interceded and split the golden lotus hood in three, allowing them to rule over the world for an era and transform into the Buddhas of Three Aspects."


    "And so what? In the end, the heavens reaped them too," Yu Fuli said, shaking his head.


    "Quite so. To the heavens, they''re nothing more than pawns. Their revival in this era must have been nned as well. They might look as though they get along, but they''re more than happy to scheme against one another."


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Yin Tianci might be a shell, but he still possesses imprints of naturalw left behind by the heavens. You can''t im his body for the moment, and won''t be able to devour him anyway."


    "Very well!"


    "As for you, Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve created a mess for yourself from your time in Dayin. Have you nned how you''ll deal with it?" Yu Fuli continued.


    "I''d like to borrow troops from you, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "I know you''re busy dealing with the machinations of the heavens, Your Majesty, and can''t step onto the battlefield yourself. Dealing with the Dayin empire won''t require your presence, either. I simply ask for temporarymand over the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant."


    "Indeed?" Yu Fuli asked curiously.


    "The divine empire of Dayin has already rebelled. It''s only reasonable for the Imperial Court to send forces over to suppress it. Isn''t that so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Have you any proof?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "Isn''t attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court proof enough?"


    "Ha! Very well." Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you protect my empire of Dazheng," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "You make quite a few requests, don''t you?"


    "I serve as vanguard on the Imperial Court''s battlefield, Your Majesty. I ask only that you guard me from the rear."


    Yu Fuli stared at Xiao Nanfeng for some time, deep in thought. "Very well. Yongding shall be secured after the next session of court."


    "I understand, Your Majesty. I shall provide evidence of Dayin''s rebellion then."


    Yu Fuli nodded. "You may go."


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, is the princess doing well?"


    Yu Fuli nced at Xiao Nanfeng and smiled. "Don''t worry. You''ll see her shortly."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed and retreated.


    The ck lotus didn''t stay to converse any longer with Yu Fuli, either. It flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and left with him.


    After Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the pce, he rushed straight to the Hall of Martial Aspects.


    Though there were still many eyes on him, he didn''t mind them much. He couldn''t rx just yet. The Heavenly Emperor''s promise was only the start of the war toe. Time was tight, and he had to fight for every second.


    He and a group of his purple-furred monstersnded on the za and handed a document to the officials in charge.


    "These are the mission specifications and rted documentation for the Martial Aspect mission I just finished. Please dispense the associated rewards immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood. Everything will be ready within half a day, Martial Aspect Xiao," the official said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Before he departed, he saw the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and other Martial Aspects close by.


    They were ring at him, their faces cold. Clearly, Ao Shuai''s death wouldn''t be something they could ignore.


    However, he didn''t care. He wasn''t in the wrong. Even if they were to bring it all the way up to the Heavenly Emperor''s purview, he could hardly be faulted for what he had done.


    He headed back toward his own manor.


    There, he marched toward the Yin-Yang Cauldron, where Chang Bing and arge group of the Earth division disciples awaited him.


    "Division Leader, you''re back!" Chang Bing eximed.


    "You''ve worked hard," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "It''s no trouble at all. We''ve advanced greatly thanks to what happened, Division Leader. However, what should we do with Yin Tianci?" Chang Bing asked.


    "Continue to question him. Just leave him alive," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Chang Bing nodded.


    "In half a day, Sage Blue Lion will be sent over. He''s a Golden Immortal spirit, and I want his inner core. You can use his physical body for whatever you''d like," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Sage Blue Lion? That legendary Immortal spirit who once devoured a hundred thousand citizens of a city?" Chang Bing''s eyes lit up.


    "Indeed. He''s a vile menace who bears incredible karmic sin. Such a demon ought to be melted down into pills," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Don''t worry, Division Leader. We''ll do our best!" Chang Bing''s eyes lit up.


    "All your cultivation has improved, hasn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We''ve been making pills all day long, Division Leader! Many of us have already broken through," Chang Bing replied excitedly.


    "I''ll have more demons for you to handle yet. Work hard and aim to reach the realm of Heaven Immortals soon."


    "Understood!" Chang Bing replied.

 Chapter 590: Session of Court

    <h4>Chapter 590: Session of Court</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, Xiao Nanfeng was in secluded cultivation. Sage Blue Lion''s inner core rested before him, glowing with resplendent light and zing with fire. However, this would clearly be insufficient in its own right. Xiao Nanfeng had also prepared arge number of other pills to supplement it.


    He rapidly absorbed everything¡ªthe Golden Immortal''s inner core and auxiliary pills¡ªinto his body. Roiling energy ravaged his body, causing mes to ze from within.


    His ten golden crows furiously absorbed all that energy, causing radiant light to be released from his body. His Jade Emperor''s Frame grew brighter and brighter.


    Four hourster, a gust of ming energy erupted from his body.


    "The ninth stage of the Heaven Immortal realm..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, opening his eyes and exhaling.


    Just then, a beam of golden light shot through the formation around his hall and straight toward his body.


    Incredible waves of fortune surrounded him, so massive in quantity that it dwarfed the entire supply that Dazheng possessed many times over.


    "Is this the reward from the Martial Aspect mission, the 30% of Dayin''s fortune that was promised to me?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He immediately retrieved the Divine Seal of Dazheng and channeled the fortune within. The seal began to glow with gleaming light.


    Before long, once all the fortune had been stored securely in the seal, he sat cross-legged in meditation, drew some fortune from the seal, and began to clear away his karmic consequence as he attempted to advance his spiritual cultivation.


    However, considering theplexity and depth of his spiritual cultivation technique, despite the countless star maps that he was able to contemte, each sessive breakthrough would drain a tremendous quantity of fortune. It took him half a day and almost a third of the fortune he had received as reward before his cultivation finally budged¡ªand not with his main body, but his avatar in Yongding instead.


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar looked up into the air. Twin moons shone bright in the sky, red and blue light intermingling in the shape of taiji, like yin and yang revolving about each other. Suddenly, his body vanished from sight as he invoked spiritual harmony. A hundred figures in red and blue fog manifested in his deific domain, the figures of red fog wielding lengths of red rope and charged with cursed spiritual power, while the figures of blue fog were potent in their own right as well.


    The hundred figures of fog popped and vanished from sight as Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar manifested again. He opened his eyes, causing the red and blue moons to float back into his body, and reined in his deific domain.


    "Mid-stage Yin Body... Cultivating the Taiqing Yin Body and Shangqing Yin Body simultaneously really is draining my reserves. This breakthrough alone expended a tenth of Dayin''s fortune!" Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "The remaining fortune won''t be enough for a subsequent breakthrough. With a huge fight soon to break out, I''d better save what remains just in case."


    He slowly stepped out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and headed to Yongding''s study.


    Just then, an official requested a meeting.


    "Come in!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The official entered the study and reported, "Your Majesty, Dayin has sent envoys to Dazheng hoping to ransom Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci. They request that you establish terms for the ransom and are seeking to effect it as quickly as possible."


    "Tell them they don''t qualify to discuss things with me. Have Yin Shenhuae himself. I''m busy dealing with affairs at the moment and won''t be holding audiences at court. I''ll only be present for the court session in the Sieve of Heaven in three days'' time for a moment. Have Yin Shenhuae then."


    "Understood!"


    In a hall in Dayin, Yin Shenhua was ring at the golden-armored cultivator before him.


    The golden-armored cultivator frowned. "That''s what Xiao Nanfeng said. What''s more, his aura was difficult to detect and frequently appeared in and out of existence. I''m afraid his words may be no excuse."


    "Ha! He''s simply stepping in and out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm," Yin Shenhua said coolly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng refuses to meet with us. There''s no chance for negotiations at all," the golden-armored cultivator reported.


    Yin Shenhua''s eyes shed with killing intent. "He wants to negotiate with me? Very well, then. I''ll have a look and see just what he wants."


    "Understood!" the golden-armored cultivator replied.


    Three dayster, in the Sieve of Heaven, an announcement rang out throughout thend. "The Heavenly Pce is open for a session of court! All officials are invited to attend!"


    Sessions of court were rarely held in the Imperial Court, and each session represented a prelude to an important event or announcement. All those eligible to participate rushed into the Heavenly Pce from all over, not daring to miss out.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou did the same.


    Many officials of the Imperial Court had already gathered by the za, and were led to their designated spots by officials from the Hall of Rites and Rituals.


    Xiao Nanfeng was the subject of many people''s attention, not only because he had recently reimed 60% of Dayin''s fortune just a few days ago, but also because there were tens of thousands of his purple-furred monsters nearby. Everyone anticipated that he would be a focal point of this session of court.


    "Why have you brought all these purple-furred monsters, Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Zhou whispered by his side.


    Xiao Nanfeng lowered his voice as well. "The Heavenly Emperormanded it."


    "Oh?" Ao Zhou seemed perplexed.


    Just then, an official from the Hall of Rites and Rituals walked right up to him. "Martial Aspects, please follow me."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou nodded, then entered the Heavenly Pce behind the official.


    The Heavenly Pce was particrlyrge. Its exterior had been built from countless relics and colored ss, and was ornate and resplendent. The building itself seemed to be a natural ma for spiritual aether. Merely stepping within the pce made the officials feelfortable.


    The interior of the Heavenly Pce was a cavernous space. Its floor was made of crystal, and its ceiling seemed to be covered with clouds bearing fortune. Fog spiraled up into the air, ethereal and wispy. A throne of nine dragons rested in the distance.


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng had entered the pce, there were already a full crowd of officials before him. There seemed to be no fewer than a thousand officials present, and Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou were at the very back.


    "Has there been a mistake? We''re Martial Aspects. How could they have put us at the end?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Don''t talk nonsense, lest someone weaponize your remark against you. The Imperial Court is filled with the legends of the era. Do you really think the 72 Martial Aspects necessarily stand out among them? It''s already a rarity that we''d be invited at all."


    "Ah, I''m just joking around," Ao Zhou said immediately.


    Officials continued to stream in rapidly, dividing themselves into two domains, with five rows in each domain and at least a hundred officials in each row. An open passageway in the middle led straight to the nine-dragon throne.


    Everyone in the pce was silent as they awaited the presence of the Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli.


    After a moment, an official shouted, "The Heavenly Emperor has arrived!


    A rainbow arces across the air outside the pce and straight to the nine-dragon throne. Yu Fuli, dressed in white draconic robes, with a crown of white jade on his head, strode down the rainbow and toward his throne.


    He waved an arm, dispelling the rainbow, as he turned to survey the officials of the Imperial Court.


    "We greet the Heavenly Emperor!" All the officials of court bowed.


    "Rise," Yu Fuli said.


    "Thank you, Heavenly Emperor." All the officials stood up straight.


    Only then did Yu Fuli sit down. As he did so, a haze of rainbow-colored light red into existence behind him and spread out all around him, giving him an aura of nobility.


    Yu Fuli''s gaze swept over the gathered officials. "Today, I have convened this session of court to discuss an old affair of court."


    All the officials faced the Heavenly Emperor, knowing that nothing he spoke of could be but extraordinary.


    "Do all of you remember when the Princess of the Moon attempted to assassinate me during an anniversary banquet?" Yu Fuli continued.


    "We witnessed it with our own eyes, Your Majesty!" countless officials replied.


    "Your Majesty, if I may, the Princess of the Moon ever respected you. There had to be an underlying plot behind this affair!"


    "Your Majesty, I concur. The Princess of the Moon was an icon of benevolence and grace. She would never harbor ambitions toward the throne."


    "Your Majesty, I concur. The Princess of the Moon must have been exploited by another!"


    Many of the officials attempted to speak up.


    The Princess of the Moon had been beloved by the court, and the Heavenly Emperor seemed to intend to seek redress.


    Yu Fuli patiently listened to the officials'' testimony and support for the Princess of the Moon. Only as themotion winded down did he state, "You are correct, my officials. I have confirmed that the Princess of the Moon had been possessed by a cursed effigy, that she bears no responsibility for her crimes. The cursed effigies are to me," Yu Fuli dered.


    He was the Heavenly Emperor, the premier cultivator of the era in strength and in authority. His words werew; he did not need to provide exhaustive exnation nor evidence. If he dered the Princess of the Moon innocent, then innocent she would be.


    "Wise be the Heavenly Emperor!" all the officials chorused.


    "Where is Princess Lingjun?" Yu Fuli continued.


    Then, Zhang Lingjun slowly walked into the pce. Her purple robes showed off her exquisite features and illuminated her in radiant ir.


    As everyone watched on, Zhang Lingjun stepped down the middle passageway and stopped right by the throne.


    "Zhang Lingjun greets the Heavenly Emperor." She bowed in obeisance.


    "Rise," Yu Fuli said.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Lingjun stood up.


    "The Princess of the Moon has been maligned for many years. Today, I right this wrong. I authorize you to avenge the death of the Princess of the Moon and inherit her former position. Henceforth, let Princess Lingjun receive a distribution of fortune granted to premier officials of court and ownership over the Pce of the Moon. What once belonged to the Princess of the Moon shall now be bequeathed upon Princess Lingjun."


    A golden dragon of fortune swooped down from the sea of fortune high above the Heavenly Pce and darted into Zhang Lingjun''s body, causing it to glow with radiant golden light. Thereafter, even more fortune descended and surged into her body until she illuminated the entirety of the Heavenly Pce.


    A golden dragon of fortune, over ten times asrge as the initial one, flew out of her body and into the sea of fortune, where it thrashed about in excitement.


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes were red as she bowed down once more. "I thank the Heavenly Emperor for righting the wrongs that befell my mother."


    "We congratte Princess Lingjun!" Countless officials within the Heavenly Pce cheered for her.

 Chapter 591: The Princess Justice

    <h4>Chapter 591: The Princess'' Justice</h4>


    Zhang Lingjun had now formally be a princess of the Imperial Court in truth. The sudden transformation shocked countless officials and left them envious, but they all gathered to congratte her.


    Yu Fuli continued, "The guards of the Princess of the Moon are likewise to be deemed innocent. Let them be freed from the yokes of their curse."


    Outside the Heavenly Pce, all the purple-furred monsters suddenly found themselves itching all over. The purple fur fell from their bodies in clumps, faster and faster, as though a curse were being unraveled. Within moments, they had transformed back into the soldiers they once had been.


    "We''re back to normal!"


    "Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!"


    "Thank you for restoring the princess'' name, Heavenly Emperor!"


    Countless soldiers bowed toward the Heavenly Pce, tears welling up in their eyes.


    The purple fur didn''t disappear. It all gathered in clumps high in the sky,bined into one big lump, and then quickly flew into the Heavenly Pce right before Yu Fuli.


    Yu Fuli condensed the lump of fur until it was nothing more than a purple fleck of light, which he flicked at Zhang Lingjun.


    The light struck Zhang Lingjun''s forehead and embedded itself right in the middle of it. Her exquisite features grew even more radiant.


    Yu Fuli didn''t exin what the fleck of light was, but everyone knew that it had to be extraordinary, that it was a boon from Yu Fuli to Zhang Lingjun.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhang Lingjun said.


    "From today onwards, whosoever dares to malign the Princess of the Moon shall not be spared," Yu Fuli warned.


    The officials froze. Many of their foreheads began to bead with sweat. It was clear that Yu Fuli had known that the Princess of the Moon was innocent to begin with. Whoever had spoken ill of the Princess of the Moon in the past had likely roused his ire.


    "Take your position," Yu Fuli told Zhang Lingjun.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Lingjun strode toward the ranks of the officials.


    An official of rites immediately stepped forward and ushered Zhang Lingjun to a new ce befitting her enhanced station. She was brought to an empty seat in the second row.


    The hall fell silent again as Yu Fuli considered his officials of court. He said calmly, "Do the four quadrants have anything to report?"


    The officials nced at each other. No one dared speak up; who wanted to call attention to their own problems? What''s more, if what they said somehow offended the Heavenly Emperor, they would only suffer for it.


    The officials remained stoically silent. No one spoke¡ªuntil Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, drawing the attention of all.


    "Your Majesty, the Immortal Emperor of Dayin is fomenting rebellion against the Imperial Court. Does that count as a matter of interest?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Hm?" The officials nced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise, then at Ao Canghai, wondering why he had allowed Xiao Nanfeng to speak of this publicly.


    Aplicated expression flitted across Ao Canghai''s face. He nced at Yu Fuli thoughtfully and said nothing.


    "Have you any evidence?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "I have, in my avatar''s body in the city of Yongding. Officials from the surveince department of the Imperial Court have their avatars present as well and may disy it for the entire court."


    "Do so," Yu Fulimanded.


    "Summon the relevant officials!" an official of rites called out.


    Very quickly, several officials made their way into the pce. Following Xiao Nanfeng''s orders, they set up a few relics before sitting cross-legged in meditation, activating the relic and disying a hologram for all to see.


    The officials were transmitting their vision through the relic to form a three-dimensional projection¡ªnot a particrly difficult ability to master, though ordinary cultivators would have a hard time reproducing the fidelity of the resulting hologram.


    The hologram captured both sight and sound.


    The officials were positioned in the Xuanhuang Hall in Yongding, where Dazheng was itself holding a session of court.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was dressed in red draconic robes. He sat on his throne as several avatars of officials from the Imperial Court continued to record what was happening.


    In the hologram, the officials of court were ring thunderously at a resplendent golden figure, none other than Yin Shenhua himself.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, meeting with you is rather challenging, isn''t it?" Yin Shenhua chuckled coldly as he stepped into the hall.


    "Guards!" an official shouted.


    The next moment, the official fell silent, as did all other officials in Xuanhuang Hall. Their eyes widened in panic; their lives rested in Yin Shenhua''s hands.


    "Yin Shenhua, what do you want?" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar demanded.


    "Weren''t you the one who wanted me to discuss things with you? Let''s do it, then. What do you want from me to free Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci?"


    A wave of frightening killing intent shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng. If not for Xiao Nanfeng''s recent breakthrough, even speaking might have been arduous for him.


    "Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci were part of Dayin''s ploy to overthrow the Imperial Court. I don''t dare free them so carelessly, and intend to hand them over to the Imperial Court''s judiciary.


    "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, do you still intend to keep talking about this nonsense? I''m asking you if you''ll hand them over."


    "If I do, you''d have no qualms about attacking me. Would I do so?"


    "Then why did you invite me here today?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "You were responsible for the death of the Princess of the Moon, weren''t you? I advise you to head to the Imperial Court and surrender yourself. Otherwise, you shall rue the vengeance of the court for the rest of your life."


    "Did you invite me here to humiliate me?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "I hardly humiliated you. Rather, Yin Tianci and Mo Shanhe have indicted you. That year, you allowed the Past Buddha to possess the Princess of the Moon and attempt to assassinate the Heavenly Emperor, causing a ruckus during his birthday banquet. Your intention was to nder the Heavenly Emperor and demonstrate that he was unable to protect even his own daughter, and hence to reveal to the world that he was a cultivator who might easily be overthrown. Isn''t that so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Hm?" Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes.


    "At the time, there were other divine empires, including Dayin, who were poised to rebel, to rece the Heavenly Emperor from his vaunted position as youunched your coup over the Imperial Court. However, none of you expected that the Heavenly Emperor would resolve the situation with incredible speed, without even revealing the possession of the Princess of the Moon. The princess gave her life and reputation to save the Heavenly Emperor, and she ought to be heralded as a hero. As for you, none of you lot will be able to escape. You''ll pay a price for the death of the princess."


    Yin Shenhua was silent, his face dour. Far away, within the Heavenly Pce of the Imperial Court, countless officials raised their eyebrows upon learning of the truth of the matter. Many had already guessed the outlines of the plot, but this was the first time many were hearing of the truth as well.


    To think that such a massive scheme would have undey the Princess of the Moon''s attempted assassination...


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re trying to trick me, aren''t you? Even if such a thing were true, what would Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci know about it?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "Then let''s have the judiciary judge you for your crimes," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You dare? I might just kill you right away!" Yin Shenhua threatened, unleashing killing intent around him.


    "I am a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, and one of its representatives. If you strike at me, you''ll be indicted for looking down on the Imperial Court¡ªit''ll be akin to rebellion," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you saying all this because you want to get the upper hand in negotiations? Go on. State your price. What do you want from me to release Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci?" Yin Shenhua said.


    "No price is high enough for the lives of traitors¡ªunless you''re willing to apany me to the Imperial Court, prove your innocence, and swear not to attack Dazheng."


    "Ha! Do you really think two hostages suffice tomand me? I didn''te to Yongding to negotiate. I''m going to leave with Mo Shanhe and Yin Tianci, regardless of what you intend," Yin Shenhua dered.


    "And if I don''t hand them over?"


    "Then perish¡ªboth this avatar of yours and your body in the Imperial Court."


    "I am a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. Do you dare strike at me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Martial Aspect? Perhaps that''s enough to scare the ignorant, but it means nothing to me. If you don''t believe me, I''ll kill you right now," Yin Shenhua spat out.


    He mmed a palm forward, causing a huge technique to manifest out of nowhere.


    "Yin Shenhua, how dare you attempt to kill a Martial Aspect and rebel against the Imperial Court?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    The force of the technique caused Xuanhuang Hall to copse and Xiao Nanfeng''s throne to be crushed. At thest moment, Xiao Nanfeng shed away and vanished from sight.


    "Have you hidden within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm? So be it. Open!" Yin Shenhuamanded.


    With his arm as a de, he sliced open a passageway into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm.


    However, by then, the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm was filled with blue fog, a sign of the formations that had been set up within.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t be able to escape. I''ll kill this avatar of yours and make you pay the price of taking me on. Die!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    He mmed his palm toward Xiao Nanfeng''s fleeing form. The formation of blue fog shattered.


    Yin Shenhua gazed into the entirety of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, only to find that it was empty. No¡ªthere was a crack in the void in the distance, from which Xiao Nanfeng seemed poised to escape.


    "You won''t be able to get away!" Yin Shenhua strode forward and gave chase. In one great leap, he left the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and found himself in the Eastern Sea.


    He shed right up to Xiao Nanfeng, who nched and shed away once again.


    "Again? Is this the red moon illusory realm, now? Do you really think I won''t be able to find you there? Break!" Yin Shenhua shouted, punching at the void.


    The void cracked. Shockingly, Yin Shenhua had managed to trace Xiao Nanfeng''s route into the red moon illusory realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped as well. This was the first time he had seen a pursuer able to follow him within. Yin Shenhua was truly a strong cultivator.


    Xiao Nanfeng fled into the depths of the red moon illusory realm while Yin Shenhua cackled. "Running, still? Let''s see how far you can run!"


    Yin Shenhua gave chase. The void shed, and all entrances and exits to the red moon illusory realm vanished.


    At the same time, within the Heavenly Pce, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body bowed toward Yu Fuli. "Your Majesty, Yin Shenhua is clearly in contempt of the Imperial Court and attempting to kill a Martial Aspect. I present this evidence to the Imperial Court and volunteer to take him down."


    The officials of court immediately understood Xiao Nanfeng''s ploy. He had deliberatelyid a trap for Yin Shenhua in order to fish for evidence.


    Under other circumstances, some of the officials would immediately have stepped forward to criticize what he had done, but upon hearing him speak of the death of the Princess of the Moon, and connecting that to what the Heavenly Emperor had just done to Princess Lingjun, it was apparent that the Heavenly Emperor was behind, or at least had approved, this entire scheme.


    Who would dare point out the ws in Xiao Nanfeng''s ''evidence'' now? It was clear that the Heavenly Emperor now intended to take revenge for the Princess of the Moon. Would anyone dare to defend Yin Shenhua at this point?

 Chapter 592: Capturing the Traitor

    <h4>Chapter 592: Capturing the Traitor</h4>


    Within the Heavenly Pce, the officials of court deferred to the Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli.


    Yu Fuli thought for a moment before he dered, "Yin Shenhua is attempting to kill a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court and has tarnished the Imperial Court''s reputation. This is treason."


    Yu Fuli''s words finalized Yin Shenhua''s crimes and confirmed the thoughts of many officials of Dayin.


    The Imperial Court responded to all forms of traitorous behavior, though the responsergely depended on Yu Fuli''s mood.


    "Ao Canghai!" Yu Fuli called out.


    "Present, Your Majesty!" Ao Canghai stepped forward.


    "How does the Eastern Quadrant deal with Immortal Emperors who have turned traitor?" Yu Fuli demanded.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched. He could see that Xiao Nanfeng was taking advantage of Yu Fuli''s strength to deal with Yin Shenhua. It was clear that the Heavenly Emperor intended to support Xiao Nanfeng, despite the fact that Ao Canghai himself was counting on Yin Shenhua to finish Xiao Nanfeng off. What was he to do now?


    "Such traitors are to be caught that very day and beheaded the next for their crimes in order to bring justice to the world," Ao Canghai said in exasperation.


    "In that case, I hereby mobilize the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant to capture this traitor," Yu Fuli said.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ao Canghai replied.


    "Yongding is Xiao Nanfeng''s home, isn''t it?" Yu Fuli continued.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No Martial Aspects are to have their homes destroyed in the name of pursuing justice. Martial Aspects, your secondary duty is to protect Yongding from further damage," Yu Fuli continued.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched again, but he had no choice but to bow down in response. "Understood, Your Majesty!"


    "Understood, Your Majesty!" the other Martial Aspects said.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.


    "Princess Lingjun," Yu Fuli continued.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Lingjun stepped forward and bowed.


    "You shall oversee the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant as they attempt to capture Yin Shenhua. Record what actions they undertake in their efforts to pursue justice."


    "Understood, Your Majesty!"


    Although Ao Canghai didn''t let any of his emotions show, he fuming internally. With Zhang Lingjun there to oversee them, it would be difficult for any of them to try to move against Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Are there any other matters of concern?" Yu Fuli turned to the officials of court.


    Although many of the officials had their own affairs to deal with, there was nothing major worth bringing up during these rare sessions of court. Doing so might even cause the Heavenly Emperor to think them useless. As a result, no one else dared speak.


    "In that case, let us hereby end this session of court." Yu Fuli arose from his draconic throne as a rainbow appeared underfoot. He stepped up onto the rainbow and flew out of the Heavenly Pce, vanishing from sight.


    "We send off the Heavenly Emperor!" all the officials chorused, bowing.


    Only when Yu Fuli hadpletely vanished did the officials rx, huddling together in groups as they discussed what had happened as they walked out of the Heavenly Pce.


    Of course, many of them were staring at Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun, but neither wanted such attention. They flew out of the Heavenly Pce quickly.


    Outside the pce, they found tens of thousands of soldiers waiting for them, the purple fur having vanished from their skin. They too had been restored to their former glory.


    "We greet the princess!" The soldiers'' eyes began to well with tears once again.


    Zhang Lingjun was teary-eyed herself. "Generals, soldiers, my mother''s reputation has been restored! We''ll pay our respects to her immediately!"


    "Understood!" Thebined shout of tens of thousands of soldiers caused Mt. Kunlun itself to quake.


    They flew toward the Pce of the Moon, as did Xiao Nanfeng.


    All that had belonged to the Princess of the Moon had now been inherited by Zhang Lingjun. The guards outside the Pce of the Moon had already been dispatched. Although there were still countless formations within the pce, the generals and the princess herself easily took control over them all.


    They inspected the entire ind on which the pce was located, then modified the formations to prevent entry to any other cultivator.


    Therge, purple barrier that shielded the outskirts of the castle had been dispelledpletely, revealing the greenery and natural scenery thaty within, along with countless halls.


    Zhang Lingjun and all her soldiers arrived at the Princess of the Moon''s residence and paid their respects.


    Before long, Zhang Feifan had learned of the news and rushed over himself.


    "Father! Mother''s name has been cleared. No one will be able to tarnish her reputation any longer!" Zhang Lingjun leapt into her father''s arms.


    Zhang Feifan patted Zhang Lingjun on the back, his own eyes wet. "Yue''er''s reputation has finally been restored. She''s the kindest woman in the world, and no one will be able to ruin her name any longer."


    "But we''ll never be able to see her again..." Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    Zhang Feifan shook her head. "Perhaps not in the past, but there may yet be a chance."


    Zhang Lingjun''s head jerked up. "What did you say, Father?"


    Zhang Feifan frowned. He shook his head. "Nothing. I was too agitated and misspoke."


    "No, Father, you¡ª" Zhang Lingjun said, refusing to back down.


    "Princess, why don''t you pay your respects to the Princess of the Moon right now? We can talkter if need be," Xiao Nanfeng interrupted.


    Zhang Lingjun turned to Xiao Nanfeng, aplicated expression shing over her face. She btedly realized that they were in an insecure location, that it wasn''t the right ce to have such a sensitive discussion.


    She nodded, then paid respects to the Princess of the Moon''s memorial tablet alongside her soldiers before retiring to a small cottage with Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Feifan.


    She set up a few formations in the vicinity before asking Zhang Feifan again, "Father, what did you mean?"


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately said, "I''ll head outside and guard this conversation against intruders."


    Zhang Feifan shook his head. "There''s no need. I trust you won''t harm Lingjun."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in thanks and stayed behind.


    "What''s going on, Father?" Zhang Lingjun pressed.


    Zhang Feifan gathered his thoughts for a moment before he got started. "Your mother and I met by chance. She headed down to the mortal world to have fun, only to be hurt by a spirit while off-guard. I found her unconscious by a stream and saved her. She was very badly injured then and didn''t dare to reveal her identity. I was attracted to her at first sight and slowly developed bonds of affection with her as I nursed her back to health. We decided to get married thereafter."


    Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng had questions of their own, but they didn''t interrupt. They continued listening to Zhang Feifan''s ount of his affairs.


    "Just as we had concluded our marriage ceremony, arge number of imperial soldiers appeared and surrounded us. It was only then that I learned that your mother was a princess of the Imperial Court," Zhang Feifan said.


    "What was your cultivation then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Ha! I was but a mortal, whereas Yue''er was beloved of the Heavenly Emperor. She had countless suitors in the Imperial Court and plenty of Golden Immortal guards and supporters. I might as well have been the lowest of the low. There were countless cultivators who wanted to kill me upon knowing that Yue''er and I loved each other."


    "And then what?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "I was naturally imprisoned for deceiving a princess of the Imperial Court and toying with her feelings."


    "Oh?"


    "Yue''er did her best to protect me. In the end, the Heavenly Emperor himself learned of the affair. I might well have been the pariah of the entire Sieve of Heaven. The various Immortal Emperors of the world wisely kept their mouths shut, but were secretly waiting tough at Yue''er and the Heavenly Emperor for what I had done with Yue''er."


    "And didn''t the Heavenly Emperor me you?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.


    Zhang Feifan shook his head. "The Heavenly Emperor is no ordinary person. He cared little for my looks or for my cultivation. Instead, thinking that Yue''er would be happy beside me, he chose not to separate us. Instead, he even hosted an incredible wedding for us."


    "His Majesty really does adore the Princess of the Moon," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Zhang Feifan nodded. "And so it came to be that I joined the Imperial Court myself as a minor official. Though many stared at me with envy and ridicule, I was happy enough to be beside Yue''er."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun continued to listen.


    "The day Yue''er perished, I was by her side," Zhang Feifan said.


    "You were, Father?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "The Heavenly Emperor seemed to be dealing with some invisible existence. He had me hide within the red moon illusory realm, and your mother''s truesoul perished in myp there."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "The red moon illusory realm? In that case..."


    Zhang Feifan nodded. "Precisely!"


    Zhang Lingjun, however, remained perturbed. "What do you mean?"


    "The red moon illusory realm is particrly special. Any who die within will transform into a red-furred lifeform that poptes the realm," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What? You mean that my mother is a red-furred lifeform, now?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    Zhang Feifan nodded.


    Zhang Lingjun trembled with unbridled excitement. "In that case, it''s possible for me to find the red-furred lifeform into which my mother has transformed?"


    "No one has yet seeded, but as the sessor of the Taiqing Grandmaster, as the wielder of his praying mat, you might have a chance to seed," Zhang Feifan said.


    "I can''t believe it!" Zhang Lingjun cried out, her eyes red.


    "Of course, it''s only a chance. I don''t know how exactly you''d be able to do it. Lingjun, please do your best to attune yourself to his praying mat," Zhang Feifan said expectantly.


    "Don''t worry, Father. I''ll do my best and work hard to cultivate so I can bring Mother back and reunite our family," Zhang Lingjun promised.


    "Very well, very well!" Zhang Feifan nodded, sniffing. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Division Leader Xiao, please allow me to entrust you with Lingjun''s affairs."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Zhang Lingjun. "The princess'' affairs are my own. Please rx, Senior Uncle."


    "I shall, I shall. Very good!" Zhang Feifan smiled, then turned to Zhang Lingjun. "Keep chatting. I''d like to head into your mother''s room and apany her in peace. Don''t bother me, please."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    Zhang Feifan departed, giving Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng some time alone as well.


    The two cultivators looked at each other, unable to help recalling thest time they had been alone together in the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Phoenix Hall. Though the curse of affection between them had been broken, their feelings remainedrgely unchanged.


    "In Phoenix Hall..." Zhang Lingjun bit her lips, her face bright red.


    "I''ve forgotten it all," Xiao Nanfeng replied, giving her a faint smile.


    Zhang Lingjun hesitated, her face burning. Those memories from that day had been deeply imprinted in her head. How could Xiao Nanfeng have forgotten them? He had to be saying this so she wouldn''t be embarrassed.


    "I''m afraid my avatar is in trouble. Allow me to meditate," Xiao Nanfeng said, leaving her behind.


    As she watched him leave, Zhang Lingjun''s eyes crinkled with warmth. She bit her lip shyly, then firmed up her resolve. "So what if I have to fight over him with Yu''er and Yaoguang? I''ll do whatever it takes!"

 Chapter 593: Holy Chants

    <h4>Chapter 593: Holy Chants</h4>


    Within the red moon illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar ran rapidly as Yin Shenhua gave chase.


    Yin Shenhua was far too strong. Somehow, he had been able to bring his physical body into this illusory realm.


    "Hold it!" Yin Shenhua howled.


    Unfortunately, they weren''t the only two people within the red moon illusory realm, which was home to countless red-furred monsters. The moment the two cultivators barged into the realm, countless red-furred monsters had shot toward them.


    Because Xiao Nanfeng''s red moon bore the aura of the red moon illusory realm, there were far fewer headed toward Xiao Nanfeng than Yin Shenhua.


    The red-furred lifeforms roared as they leapt toward Yin Shenhua.


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes and punched forward, causing all the red-furred monsters headed his way to explode. Clumps of red fur fell from the skies, then lumped together and allowed the red-furred monsters to regenerate.


    Both Xiao Nanfeng and Yin Shenhua continued to attack the red-furred lifeforms headed their way as they forged deeper into the red moon illusory realm. Within moments, the sky was filled with red fur.


    Yin Shenhua grew closer and closer to Xiao Nanfeng, causing thetter to panic.


    Just then, deep within the red moon illusory realm, bells rang out.


    Ding, ding, ding!


    The red-furred monsters suddenly seemed to grow far more ferocious, stopping Xiao Nanfeng in his tracks.


    Ding, ding, ding!


    The bells rang out more and more loudly. For some reason, they seemed to reverberate in Xiao Nanfeng''s head, causing his thoughts to grow muddied.


    "Something''s wrong. Where am I? Who am I?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    He could sense that his thoughts were quickly being drained away. He forgot where he was, what he was doing, and even who he was.


    He clutched his head and forced himself to recall what he could, but the more he did, the more he lost.


    Red-furred monsters continued to leap toward him. He instinctively summoned a blue barrier from within his body, the signature blue moon barrier of his Shangqing blue moon.


    The barrier blocked the red-furred monsters'' attacks.


    The sudden attack caused Yin Shenhua to falter as well.


    As the bells continued to ring, Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes. "These bells are trying to hypnotize me. As if they could!"


    In a sh, death chants began to resound. Cursed spiritual power seeped from chants to counteract the ringing of the bells.


    As the waves of sound shed in a cacophony, the void itself began to shake violently.


    "What potent sound," Yin Shenhua eximed.


    He sat cross-legged in meditation, waves of golden light emanating from his body. Death chants spread out around him, but the bells in the distance were equally potent. He could sense that there seemed to be countless monks chanting scripture amidst the bells.


    The sh of discordant sound caused the void itself to vibrate intensely.


    Droves of red-furred monstersunched themselves at Yin Shenhua, seemingly immune to the death chants all around him. Yin Shenhua immediately found himself drowned within the piles of monsters.


    From afar, it looked as though there were two mountains of red-furred monsters shaking in the void.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, still in the Imperial Court, quickly entered secluded cultivation. He could sense himself losing his connection to his avatar.


    "Senior, something''s wrong with my avatar. I''ve been rendered immobile by a series of bells. Would you help me?"


    "Madam Rouge sealed the entrance into your mental world, so I can''t head over that way. I''ll send death chants into it to help you resist the bells," the ck lotus replied.


    "Got it!"


    A series of death chants resonated within Xiao Nanfeng''s head.


    After a while, however, Xiao Nanfeng continued to frown. "It''s useless. I still can''t sense my avatar."


    "Your avatar has fallen into a state of deep hypnosis, and the bells that have hypnotized your avatar are no weaker than my death chants. They''re blocking my assistance. Unfortunately, I''m not by your avatar''s side. Your avatar might be in precarious condition," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What now?"


    "Either you enlist Yu Fuli''s assistance, or have Zhang Lingjun bring us into the red moon illusory realm so that we can search for it."


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng got up and was just about to head out of the hall when he suddenly stopped.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I can sense my avatar now. My avatar''s getting farther away from the bells. Someone''s rescuing me!"


    "Oh?" The ck lotus seemed perplexed.


    Xiao Nanfeng returned to his meditation and began to sense what was going on with his avatar.


    His avatar had indeed been rescued within the red moon illusory realm. A red-furred monster was dragging him away, moving so rapidly that he left quite a number of other ones in its wake.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly regained consciousness and rity from his groggy state of mind. His lost memories flooded back into his mind as he awakened.


    The man and the red-furred monster had run a significant distance before they stopped by a secluded part of the red moon illusory realm.


    "Have you awoken? If not for my presence, you would have be a red-furred monster yourself," the red-furred monster said.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. His eyes widened in pleased surprise. "Master, is that you? I didn''t expect your avatar would be clear-headed, too!"


    "I''m skilled with the musical arts, and my means of spiritual cultivation differs from yours. That''s why I can maintain my consciousness even under these circumstances."


    "Thank you for saving me, Master."


    "As long as you''re alright. Those were loss chants. The fact that you were able to hold out for so long is no easy feat, either."


    "Loss chants?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Indeed. These loss chants are one of the signature techniques of the Supreme Monarch, and exposure to these chants can cause you to lose your memories, self, and even life. Thank goodness you weren''t exposed to them for long," Ku Jiang murmured.


    "How frightening..." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "What are you doing here? And how did Yin Shenhua enter as well?"


    Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened.


    "So that''s how it is. You were lucky. Do you really think the red moon illusory realm would be shelter and sanctuary? Even I don''t dare head into its depths myself," Ku Jiang chastised.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I was unaware of the nature of the danger, Master."


    "Forget it. Since you''re safe, you had better leave. Yin Shenhua''s own death chants are rather extraordinary, and he should be able to free himself soon enough."


    "Can''t his death chants counteract the loss chants?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m not certain, but I have the sense that his death chants are iplete, and that he''s not able to manifest their full strength,"


    "The Buddhas of Three Aspects'' death chants are simr to that of the ck lotus, but do seem a little different. Perhaps the original death chants were split into pieces, and the fragmentation weakened them," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Whatever the case may be, you''ll have to leave. I can sense more red-furred lifeforms approaching. They must have sensed your presence¡ªand they''re rather strong ones, too."


    "Understood, Master. Take care!"


    "Go!"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. A portal out of the red moon illusory realm appeared before him, and he stepped out.


    The moment the portal vanished, Ku Jiang himself fled into the distance, vanishing within the depths of the realm.

 Chapter 594: A Battle at Yongding

    <h4>Chapter 594: A Battle at Yongding</h4>


    Dayster, in Yongding, despite the fact that Yin Shenhua had destroyed Xuanhuang Hall, it had been repaired within a few days'' time.


    Just then, Ao Zhou, Zhang Lingjun, and arge group of imperial soldiers were gathered in the za of Xuanhuang Hall. Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was waiting for them there.


    "Xiao Nanfeng," Zhang Lingjun said, her eyes brightening as she walked over and saw him.


    "Princess, it''s good to see you here." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ao Zhou frowned. "Why did you leave us along the way, Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "My other body has other affairs it has to handle. Isn''t it fine for my avatar to wee you?"


    "Where''s everyone else?" Ao Zhou nced around him.


    "Purportedly, you''re the first Martial Aspect to arrive," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects really loathe you, don''t they? Princess, you''re the overseer responsible for noting what the Martial Aspects are doing, aren''t you? It''s clear that they''re deliberately wasting time right now!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Zhang Lingjun turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Is the situation urgent?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Yin Shenhua''s been trapped in the red moon illusory realm for a few days. Plenty of his subordinates have arrived and are surrounding Yongding."


    "Yin Shenhua''s subordinates? Golden Immortals, then?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Golden Immortals¡ªand perhaps even stronger cultivators, too."


    Ao Zhou nched. "Is this a joke? How are we supposed to help you with Golden Immortals surrounding Yongding? If Ao Canghai and the others aren''t yet here, doesn''t that mean that we''re in danger?"


    "Ao Canghai and the others should already be here by now. Ao Canghai''s a wily old fox. He wouldn''t dare deliberately disobey the Heavenly Emperor''smands," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "They must be hiding and observing the situation from a distance," he surmised.


    "Those damn scumbags!" Ao Zhou cursed.


    "What now?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "We''ll wait for Yin Shenhua," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "Yin Shenhua entered the red moon illusory realm by tracing the portal I opened. If he frees himself, he''ll likely emerge somewhere around me. I predict he''ll be showing up shortly," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Just then, with a rip, a huge portal opened up in the sky above Yongding. Red light shed within the portal, and a tremendous aura emanated from it. Everyone in Yongding felt an intense pressure pushing them down.


    "Did Yin Shenhua just free himself? What a coincidence..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you tricked me into heading into the depths of the red moon illusory realm! But even that clearly hasn''t trapped me. Where are you going to run now?" Yin Shenhua demanded, noticing Xiao Nanfeng and the others by the entrance to Xuanhuang Hall immediately.


    "Yin Shenhua, shouldn''t you ask why I''m waiting here for you instead?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Yin Shenhua stepped out of the portal leading into the red moon illusory realm, which vanished behind him. Killing intent exuded from him as golden beams of light surrounded Yin Shenhua.


    "Immortal Emperor, Xiao Nanfeng was scheming against you! What you said a few days ago in Xuanhuang Hall was reported in real time to the Imperial Court!"


    "Our subordinates within the Imperial Court have passed on word that the Heavenly Emperor has deemed you a rebel and sent the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant to capture you."


    "This was all part of Xiao Nanfeng''s scheme!"


    Yin Tianci''s subordinates quickly reported the situation to him.


    "What?" Yin Shenhua nched.


    "Yin Shenhua, I rmend that you surrender. The eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant have already set up a formation to trap you. Neither you nor your subordinates will be able to leave Yongding today."


    Yin Shenhua''s eyes widened. He inspected his surroundings carefully.


    Outside Yongding, on the peak of a fog-wreathed mountain, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects watched on, hidden within the fog.


    They frowned upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s words.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s a bastard. He knows we''re here and is trying to force us to work on his behalf!"


    "He didn''t send his other body over, only Princess Lingjun. Is he trying to use her against us?"


    "He went into hiding himself, and he wants us to take on Yin Shenhua on his behalf! How much more shameless can he get?"


    The Martial Aspects were all fuming.


    Beside them, Ao Canghai was stony-faced. He had been waiting for Yin Shenhua to strike Xiao Nanfeng down before making his move, but that didn''t seem feasible in this scenario.


    Indeed, Yin Shenhua''s senses were strong enough that he quickly sensed the bulk of the eighteen Martial Aspects atop the fog-wreathed mountain.


    He frowned and sent des of killing intent all around him.


    He clearly knew that there were many cultivators of incredible strength among the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant, far stronger than Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou were. If they were to strike at him at full force, he would be in significant danger.


    However, because news of what had happened within the Imperial Court had spread, his subordinates had all received word and were ready to assist him.


    "Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, thank you for helping me protect Yongding on my behalf. I''ll surely acknowledge your efforts andmend you to the Heavenly Emperor!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The fog on the mountain peak vanished, revealing Ao Canghai and the gathered Martial Aspects.


    Ao Canghai eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly, feeling deeply aggrieved. If not for the Heavenly Emperor''s direct order, he would never havee to protect Yongding.


    In exasperation, Ao Canghai called out, "Yin Shenhua, for attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect, the Heavenly Emperor has deemed you a traitor. Follow us."


    "Follow you? On what grounds? Ao Canghai, haven''t you been preparing to fight me already? We''re simply having this fight in advance! Since we''re both here, we might as well start now!" Yin Shenhua called back.


    Ao Canghai was deeply frustrated. He had been waiting for Yin Shenhua to take on Xiao Nanfeng. How had the situation been warped to such an extent?


    However, with Zhang Lingjun overseeing them from afar, he had no choice but to step forward. He suspected that Zhang Lingjun wasn''t the only one observing the fight. The Heavenly Emperor''s gaze might well be on the area, too. He had no choice but to strike.


    "So be it. Martial Aspects, seize this traitor alongside me!" Ao Canghai roared.


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects all around replied.


    Then, Ao Canghai shot straight toward Yin Shenhua, apanied by his fellow Martial Aspects.


    "Attack," Yin Shenhuamanded coldly.


    "Understood!" Yin Shenhua''s subordinates replied.


    Yin Shenhua sent a fist at Ao Canghai. The two cultivators'' fists struck each other in mid-air in a ming tempest. The other Martial Aspects likewise began to coordinate against Yin Shenhua''s subordinates in a barrage of fire and storm.


    Meanwhile, the defensive formations around Yongding activated in its entirety, and 361 stars began to glow in the night sky as the Formation of the Complete Heavens fully activated. Blue fog surrounded the city''s civilians to protect them, dissipating all the force that came their way. The fog vibrated intensely as attacksnded, but all the civilians remained safe.


    By the entrance to Xuanhuang Hall, Xiao Nanfeng stood right before Zhang Lingjun as he opened a portal into the red moon illusory realm with one arm and held on tightly to the Dazheng Code of Laws with the other. He had never before fought with the Code of Laws before, but it was undoubtedly his greatest treasure.


    At present, however, everything was going ording to Xiao Nanfeng''s n, and he didn''t need to use his ultimate techniques just yet.


    Zhang Lingjun couldn''t help but feel warm, pressed tightly against Xiao Nanfeng as he protected her.


    Meanwhile, Ao Zhou gaped as he watched the Martial Aspects fight against Yin Shenhua and his subordinates. "This is ridiculous. They''re all Golden Immortals, aren''t they? The void itself is rippling from the shockwaves of their attacks! If I join in, I''d be done for!"


    "No one expects you to fight. You''re just here for an even count," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh?"


    "The eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant must all be present for the capture of Yin Shenhua, even if you''re all but useless. Otherwise, it''d be easy for someone to take advantage of your absence," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ao Zhou frowned thoughtfully.


    Zhang Lingjun asked by his side, "Will Ao Canghai and the others really be able to take down Yin Shenhua?"


    "I don''t know, but even if Ao Canghai can do so, he surely wouldn''t."


    "Oh?"


    "Ao Canghai wants me to suffer, after all. The only reason Yin Shenhua didn''t attack me directly was because the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant took him off guard. Sooner orter, he''s going to understand the situation and attack me. He''d rather withstand a few blows from Ao Canghai than to let me go free."


    "Is it really that dangerous? Why don''t we run off and let them keep fighting, then?" Ao Zhou asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "The only reason Ao Canghai and the others are making a move is because I''m here. If even I flee, they''ll have a reason to stop protecting Yongding, and Ao Canghai will decide to evacuate."


    "What are we to do, then? If we drag things out, it won''t be in your favor!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Don''t worry. I''m prepared. That''s why my other body split up from you."


    "What can it do? Take on Yin Shenhua?" Ao Zhou asked disbelievingly.


    "I can''t take down Yin Shenhua, of course, but I can attack where he''s undefended."


    "Oh?"


    "Most of Dayin''s strongest cultivators are here at Yongding to protect Yin Shenhua. Doesn''t that mean that Dayin''s capital is defenseless?"


    "What? Your other body''sunching an attack on Dayin''s capital? Are you crazy? You''re only a Heaven Immortal! Even if the bulk of Dayin''s forces are here, you''d never be able to take down its capital. It''s Yin Shenhua''s home base, and there are sure to be plenty of Golden Immortals there. You''ve got a death wish!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "With effort, one can achieve anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body had just arrived outside Dayin''s capital. The ck lotus floated beside him.


    "Senior, the battle at Yongding has begun. Please assist me in making a mess of Dayin''s capital," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "You really are bold to be attacking Dayin''s capital at this juncture..." the ck lotus remarked.


    "I''ve never been able to get anywhere by treading lightly. Let''s make our move!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well," the ck lotus replied.

 Chapter 595: A Mess in Dayins Capital

    <h4>Chapter 595: A Mess in Dayin''s Capital</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed back to his True Yin body as he flew toward Dayin''s capital. A silver moon hung in the sky as a blizzard began to form. Countless people in Dayin raised their heads in surprise.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? He''s back again?"


    "Isn''t the Immortal Emperor searching for him? I heard that he''s done for now! How can he have the guts to return?"


    "Is that really Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Many were astounded by the sight of him.


    The officials of Dayin, in particr, were taken by surprise. They knew that Xiao Nanfeng was responsible for kidnapping Yin Tianci and Mo Shanhe, and the Immortal Emperor himself was trying to take him down. Did he have a death wish?


    "Everyone from Dayin, listen up! Yin Shenhua''s attempted assassination of me has been deemed a rebellion by the Heavenly Emperor himself. The eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant have been sent out to capture Yin Shenhua and bring him back to the Imperial Court. Now, show yourself, Yin Shenhua!" Xiao Nanfeng hollered.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s promation shocked the people of Dayin''s capital.


    "What''s going on? How could His Majesty have be a criminal?"


    "This must be a joke. It''s all nonsense, isn''t it?"


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng here to capture the Immortal Emperor?"


    Countless people gaped in surprise, as did the officials of the city. One immediately shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, if you continue talking nonsense, we''ll arrest you!"


    "I am a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court and a representative thereof! I''m here to arrest Yin Shenhua. Whoever dares go against me shall be considered an aplice!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Take him down!" someone shouted.


    A group of golden-armored cultivators rose into the air and struck at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t make a move. The ck lotus behind him manifested in the form of the Past Buddha, sending a palm forward and mming the golden-armored cultivators toward the ground at multiple times the rate at which they had flown up. They spat out mouthfuls of blood as they struck the ground, plumes of dust rising all around them.


    "Does the Immortal Emperor intend to hide against a summons¡ªa warrant!¡ªfrom the Imperial Court? Yin Shenhua, how much more cowardly can you get?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The citizens of Dayin''s capital nced at each other in worry.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t get too cocky!" someone called out.


    Although the citizens of Dayin''s capital were hardly all loyal to their king, many did seem protective of Yin Shenhua. It was only natural that they would speak up as Xiao Nanfeng trampled on his dignity.


    "Yin Shenhua, if you''re not going to show yourself, then we''ll be heading in!" Xiao Nanfeng reined in his silver moon and flew toward the dragon-headed mountain.


    "Insolence! Is Dayin''s capital a ce you can enter at will? Activate the defensive formation!" someone within the city shouted.


    A golden barrier spun into existence, leaving Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus stranded on the outside.


    Just then, the Past Buddha sped its hands together. Death chants resounded across the void as the formation trembled violently. A …d rune appeared before them. Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus stepped into the barrier via the …d rune.


    "They know how to get in through the defensive formation!" someone eximed.


    Death chants continued to resound as another group of cultivators shot into the air. Struck by the death chants, however, they suddenly clutched their heads in pain. They weren''t able to get close to Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus headed straight for the Thunderp Hall. Although some strong cultivators remained behind in Dayin''s capital and were able to forge onwards despite the death chants, they were far weaker than the ck lotus. The Past Buddha sent them all flying with a fist.


    There were all manner of formations surrounding the pce, but the ck lotus seemed to be particrly familiar with them. Deft maniption disabled the formations.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus were about to reach the Thunderp Hall, a Buddhist chant rose up.


    "Amitabha. Who might you be to dare barge into the Thunderp Hall?"


    The Buddhist chants formed a bulwark of golden waves that rose into the air and countered the death chants. A different source of death chants came from the void and began to neutralize the ck lotus'' death chants.


    Quite a few monks had appeared out of nowhere in front of the entrance to the Thunderp Hall. The one in the lead radiated with golden light and clearly possessed incredible strength. His aura was palpable.


    "One Buddha and three bodhisattvas¡ªand they''re powerful ones, too," the ck lotus said.


    "The strongest cultivators of Dayin are all in Yongding. There are but a scant few left to protect Dayin''s capital. Senior, I''m counting on you."


    "Very well." The ck lotus nodded.


    The ck lotus, still in the guise of the Past Buddha, sped its hands together as ck fog roiled.


    "A mere Golden Immortal dares impersonate the Past Buddha and make a ruckus in Dayin''s capital? Since you''vee, you might as well stay," the Buddha dered.


    The Buddha and three bodhisattvas all struck with their palms. The fourfold attack rose into the air, striking and attempting to dispel the ck fog around the ck lotus. However, the ck fog suddenly swelled as it was struck, expanding until it had encapsted the Thunderp Hall.


    "Something''s wrong!" the Buddha shouted.


    Within the ck fog, some incredible relic had obliterated their attacks and was heading straight for them.


    "Be careful. Flee!" the Buddha shouted.


    The relic shone with incredible light as it struck them.


    Two of the bodhisattvas were barely in the range and were able to escape, but the Buddha and remaining bodhisattva had been targeted by the relic and had no time to do so.


    They found themselves fully suppressed.


    "Buddha Ananda!" the two fleeing Buddhas cried out.


    "An imperial seal? Is this Xiao Nanfeng''s imperial seal? Break!" the Buddha roared.


    The Buddha fought for purchase against the Divine Seal of Dazheng, but the seal was simply too strong. The power of an imperial seal depended on the quantity of fortune it contained, and Dazheng''s now had a fifth of Dayin''s fortune in it, a staggering sum.


    The incredible quantity of fortune within the seal, along with the remarkable material out of which the seal had been forged, resulted in its absolute power of suppression.


    The entire dragon-headed mountain began to shake violently from the force of the suppression, preventing the Buddha and bodhisattva from escaping.


    "Assist me! Dayin''s fortune is in his imperial seal, and there''s too much of it. Hurry!"


    The two bodhisattvas who had fled nched as they rushed back into the ck fog.


    However, the moment they returned, the ck lotus struck, blocking the two bodhisattvas'' attacks. Thanks to all the cursed effigies it had devoured recently, the ck lotus was growing stronger and stronger. It was now able to fight on equal footing with two bodhisattvas.


    A ming storm formed within the ck fog, then spread to all the floating inds around. The entire capital seemed to be quaking.


    The strongest cultivators of Dayin''s capital were all away. Ordinary cultivators tried to enter the domain of ck fog, but they werepletely unable to do so. The zing fires and howling gales at its outskirts were sufficient to deter them.


    "Don''t eat me! No!"


    A bodhisattva managed only an aborted shout before the ck lotus swallowed it whole.


    The other bodhisattva nched as it tried to flee.


    "Do you think you''ll still be able to leave? Get back here!" the ck lotusmanded.


    A huge golden palm extended out of the ck fog and caught the bodhisattva in its grip.


    "Who are you? The ancestral Buddha will never forgive you!" the bodhisattva roared.


    "Don''t worry. I intend to make Yin Shenhua pay. He won''t be able to escape, either," the ck lotus replied coolly.


    "Don''t eat me! No!"


    With a sudden gulp, the ck lotus swallowed a second bodhisattva.


    "What now?" the final bodhisattva shouted, suppressed by Xiao Nanfeng''s imperial seal.


    "Self-destruct, hurry!" the Buddha shouted. "We need to break free of Xiao Nanfeng''s suppression!"


    "But¡ª"


    "If you don''t do anything, we''ll be swallowed up. If I self-destruct, you won''t be able to take them on. Why don''t you self-destruct and give me the opportunity to deal with them? Hurry!" the Buddha roared.


    The bodhisattva had no choice. "Explode!"


    "Seal!" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    The entire dragon-headed mountain shook violently.


    Xiao Nanfeng expended a generous heaping of fortune to prevent the Buddha''s escape.


    The violent rumbling continued for a moment. By the time the smoke cleared, the Buddha was still trapped underneath the seal.


    "What''s this seal made of? How can it be able to transmit so much fortune so quickly?" the Buddha roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the Buddha. To the ck lotus, he said, "Senior, I''m running out of fortune. Hurry!"


    "Got it."


    The ck lotus reverted to its original form, though now many timesrger in size. Its underside was like a ck hole, one that devoured Xiao Nanfeng, the Divine Seal of Dazheng, and the Buddha trapped underneath all at once.


    Xiao Nanfeng had to continue to channel the strength of the Divine Seal of Dazheng to seal the Buddha, and he would be upied until the Buddha was devoured as well.


    Finally, as all the fortune drained from the Divine Seal of Dazheng, the Buddha found himself freed. The seal lost its power of suppression as Xiao Nanfeng and the seal were sent flying.


    Having regained his freedom at thest moment, the Buddha attacked. "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    Suddenly, however, the ck lotus spat out Xiao Nanfeng and his seal. He returned to the real world, saved right in the nick of time.


    Meanwhile, the Buddha remained trapped in the interior of the ck lotus, struggling furiously and attacking the ck lotus from within, intent on destroying the ck lotus'' body. Even so, the ck lotus continued to trap him.


    The ck fog continued to persist as the ck lotus'' aura blocked countless Dayin cultivators from drawing near. However, given that it had to dedicate its attention to the Buddha it had trapped, it likely wouldn''t be able to protect Xiao Nanfeng for long.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his Immortal''s Destruction and activated it. Arge quantity of golden chains emerged and dove into the dragon-headed mountain, preparing to excavate the superior draconic vein thaty within.


    A dragon howled from deep underneath the mountain.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s destroying Dayin''s foundations! Stop him!" Dayin cultivators roared from outside.


    The dragon-headed mountain copsed as a resplendent dragon, thirty kilometers long, was dragged out from deep underground. Itnded beside Xiao Nanfeng.


    The superior draconic vein roared. The roar resounded across heaven and earth, and a wave of draconic might emanated from it.

 Chapter 596: Three Dragons Expulsion

    <h4>Chapter 596: Three Dragons'' Expulsion</h4>


    High in the sky above the city of Yongding, a group of Martial Aspects fought against the strongest cultivators of Dayin. The situation seemed to be a stalemate, though it was likely that neither side was expending all its strength.


    The most intense fight was between Yin Shenhua and Ao Canghai, taking ce in the highest echelons of the sky. A ming tempest surrounded them. Mirage-like backdrops surrounded the two cultivators.


    Behind Yin Shenhua was a lofty, majestic mountain filled with Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats. He was ring at Ao Canghai, who stood opposite him. As death chants echoed around him, the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats attacked Ao Canghai alongside Yin Shenhua in a wave of towering might.


    Behind Ao Canghai was a raging sea within which dragons thrashed. Spirits roared, ring at Yin Shenhua. A tide swept across Ao Canghai as he and countless sea spirits struck at Yin Shenhua.


    The sh between Yin Shenhua and Ao Canghai pitted their respective backdrops against each other in a bout of incredible force.


    Yin Shenhua and Ao Canghai continued to struggle against each other.


    "Yin Shenhua, on the Heavenly Emperor''s orders, we won''t let you destroy Yongding today!" Ao Canghai shouted.


    He was hinting at Yin Shenhua to deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but to do so away from Yongding.


    If Yin Shenhua were calm, he would naturally be able to understand what Ao Canghai was implying, but he could hardly remain calm now. His subordinates were sending him urgent mental transmissions.


    "Ancestral Buddha, I have an avatar in Dayin''s capital. Xiao Nanfeng and that cursed effigy pretending to be the Past Buddha are attacking the capital! Only Buddha Ananda and three bodhisattvas are there to repel them!"


    "Ancestral Buddha, Xiao Nanfeng''s suppressing Buddha Ananda and another bodhisattva with his imperial seal. The other two bodhisattvas won''t be able to hold on for long!"


    "Ancestral Buddha, the two bodhisattvas have fallen. The sealed bodhisattva self-destructed, but was unable to free Buddha Ananda from the imperial seal. Things are looking dire!"


    "Ancestral Buddha, Xiao Nanfeng''s using his Immortal''s Destruction to excavate the superior draconic vein underneath the Thunderp Hall! Dayin''s capital ispletely in disarray now!"


    Yin Shenhua felt as though he were about to go crazy after hearing his subordinates'' reports.


    Ever since meeting Xiao Nanfeng, nothing had gone right for him. His subordinates had been captured, and Xiao Nanfeng had even stolen 60% of Dayin''s fortune. After that, Xiao Nanfeng had tricked him into being attacked by the Imperial Court and being deemed a traitor by the Heavenly Emperor himself. Now, there were eighteen Martial Aspects attacking him.


    And not only that, Xiao Nanfeng was nowunching a sneak attack on Dayin''s capital! How was he supposed to hold back when faced with such targeted attacks?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!" Yin Shenhua roared, his eyes bright red.


    Meanwhile, Ao Canghai nodded, gratified. He thought that Yin Shenhua had understood his hint. Given Yin Shenhua''s hatred of Xiao Nanfeng, all he needed to do was relent a little, and Yin Shenhua would immediately give chase after Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Desist!" Ao Canghai roared, shoving Yin Shenhua aside in Xiao Nanfeng''s direction.


    He watched on expectantly, waiting for Yin Shenhua to capture Xiao Nanfeng and kill him. Then, Ao Canghai would pretend that he had tried, but failed, to rescue Xiao Nanfeng in time. He was simply too weak, after all, and Yin Shenhua too strong. How could anyone me him?


    Indeed, Yin Shenhua swiftly gave up on fighting against Ao Canghai and turned to flee.


    "We won''t let you leave! Take him down!" Ao Canghai roared.


    Of course, he would need to act things out properly. If Yin Shenhua intended to take on Xiao Nanfeng, he would at least have to attempt to save Xiao Nanfeng¡ªthough of course he would fail.


    "Everyone, return to Dayin!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    The cultivators of Dayin struck their opponents and took advantage of the recoil to fly into the skies. Then, they rushed off with Yin Shenhua, straight toward Dayin''s capital.


    The fighting had ended, just like that.


    The Martial Aspects gaped in shock and confusion.


    "Yin Shenhua fled? Why would he?"


    "Why would he run off out of nowhere? Their side wasn''t losing!"


    "Just why would they have done that...?"


    The Martial Aspects were confused, one and all. Rather than give chase, they looked toward Ao Canghai, still floating in the sky. After all, Yin Shenhua was the one who had given the order to retreat. Ao Canghai, who had been fighting him, surely knew about what was going on.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes were twitching as he stared in the direction in which Yin Shenhua had fled. What had gone wrong? Shouldn''t Yin Shenhua be chasing after Xiao Nanfeng? Why had he run off?


    Beneath them, Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Thank you for protecting Yongding, Martial Aspects!"


    The Martial Aspects'' gazes flicked toward Xiao Nanfeng. They frowned.


    "Thank you for defeating Yin Shenhua and rescuing the people of Yongding, Martial Aspect. You truly possess the strength of legends," Xiao Nanfeng continued. "Even Yin Shenhua was forced to flee against you."


    High in the sky, Ao Canghai couldn''t help but feel deeply repulsed. How had he ended up helping Xiao Nanfeng out? That shouldn''t have been the case! Was Yin Shenhua crazy? His hint had been obvious! How had he not noticed a thing?


    Back in Dayin''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng dragged a superior draconic vein out from underground.


    He continued to manipte the Immortal''s Destruction, freeing the draconic vein from its chains.


    The superior draconic vein exuded a fearsome aura as its howls resounded across heaven and earth.


    "Who dares wake me from my slumber?" the superior draconic vein thundered.


    "Superior dragon, the divine empire of Dayin sealed and trapped you here with hypnosis. I awoke you and freed you," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Hm?" The superior draconic vein red at Xiao Nanfeng, still shrouded within the ck fog.


    The ck lotus had returned to its usual size, but was still trembling violently. Clearly, the Buddha it had swallowed was still attempting to struggle. It flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape to distill the Buddha down to reserves of energy, while the ck fog dissipated to reveal Xiao Nanfeng.


    As the superior draconic vein nced toward Xiao Nanfeng, an incredible wave of energy shot toward him.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t relent. He activated the Immortal''s Destruction once more, releasing countless Immortal-binding chains deep underground.


    The dragon-headed mountain was where the superior draconic veinsy hidden; Xiao Nanfeng didn''t need to hunt or catch them down. As a result, the chains quickly found their next target.


    With another howl, the dragon-headed mountain continued to copse as another superior draconic vein was unearthed.


    The second superior draconic vein''s howl likewise reverberated around Dayin''s capital.


    "Who dares disturb my slumber?" the second superior draconic vein roared.


    The first superior draconic vein btedly realized what was going on. Xiao Nanfeng had saved it.


    By then, Dayin''s cultivators had rushed over and were surging with killing intent.


    "Superior dragons, halt them! We''ll escape together in a moment. If you don''t listen to me, none of us will be able to escape!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The first superior draconic vein still didn''t have a firm grasp of the situation, but its allies and enemies at least were obvious. These Dayin cultivators were surely enemies.


    "You wretched fools! I remember now. Cultivators bearing your robes were the ones who seized me in the first ce! Die!" the first superior draconic vein roared.


    With a swipe of its tail, it sent the approaching cultivators flying.


    Meanwhile, the Dayin cultivators tossed relic after relic at the superior draconic veins. At that point, the second draconic vein likewise understood what was going on. It roared and spat out countless bolts of lightning, sending the relics back.


    Then, the Immortal-binding chains thrust deep underground once again.


    A third superior draconic vein howled.


    "Rise!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The dragon-headed mountain copsed as the third superior draconic vein was unearthed.


    "Who dares disturb my slumber?" the third superior draconic vein roared.


    "None of this nonsense," the second superior draconic vein roared. "Deal with those bugsing from that side!"


    The third superior draconic vein: ...


    Upon seeing its two brethren, it had more or less realized what was going on.


    "Superior dragons, we''re short on time. Yin Shenhua''s about to arrive with arge batch of strong subordinates. We need to flee immediately!"


    "Very well," the first superior draconic vein replied.


    It shot up toward the multyered barriers high in the air, breaking a fewyers. Even so, the moment it twisted its body, the brokenyers restored themselves.


    "Damn formation!" it roared.


    "Don''t strike over there! The formation''s weakness is by the southern watchtower. Follow me!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The three superior draconic veins followed behind Xiao Nanfeng without any hesitation as Xiao Nanfeng guided them toward the southern watchtower.


    "Activate all our defenses, hurry! Don''t let them escape!" a general howled.


    More and more defensive formations activated, forming barrier after barrier.


    Meanwhile, by a formation node along the southern watchtower, You Jiu had killed quite a few cultivators responsible for setting up the various formations that were now being activated. He had destroyed much of the formation node, dramatically weakening the barriers in that area.


    "Break through!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The three superior draconic veins roared, striking at the barriers'' weak spot simultaneously. The ground rumbled around the southern watchtower as an earthquake spread throughout Dayin.


    Arge number of floating inds copsed to the ground as the southern watchtower crumbled, revealing a gaping hole.


    "Let''s flee!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The three superior draconic veins, Xiao Nanfeng, and You Jiu rushed out of Dayin''s capital.


    The three superior draconic veins had regained their freedom in the blink of an eye. They prepared to leave without any hesitation.


    "Everyone, be careful. Dayin''s cultivators might tail you. I am Xiao Nanfeng, of the empire of Dazheng. May we meet again!"


    The three superior draconic veins eyed Xiao Nanfeng thoughtfully, then split up. The three dragons and two cultivators scattered, vanishing from sight.


    There was indeed arge group of Dayin cultivators following behind them, but they were fast enough to shake off their pursuers within moments.


    Just then, Yin Shenhua and his subordinates returned to Dayin''s capital in a mad rush.

 Chapter 597: Strategizing Against Dayin

    <h4>Chapter 597: Strategizing Against Dayin</h4>


    Back in Yongding, after Yin Shenhua left with his subordinates, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects didn''t give chase. Clearly, capturing Yin Shenhua wasn''t going to be an easy feat.


    "Martial Aspects, I''ve prepared a banquet in your honor. Please attend," Xiao Nanfeng invited everyone.


    The Martial Aspects frowned at each other. Yin Shenhua had left out of nowhere, and the Martial Aspects were certain that something had happened. Perhaps Xiao Nanfeng knew of what was going on.


    Although Ao Canghai seemed rather upset, he did descend toward the za of Xuanhuang Hall.


    The Martial Aspects followed Ao Canghai.


    "Please," Xiao Nanfeng said, beckoning them in.


    "We protected Yongding only on the Heavenly Emperor''s orders, and we failed to capture Yin Shenhua. Forget the banquet. With regards to Yin Shenhua''s sudden departure, however¡ªare you aware why that happened?" Ao Canghai asked brusquely.


    "I was responsible for Yin Shenhua''s departure, naturally. Why don''t we talk as we dine? I''ll describe the situation in detail," Xiao Nanfeng said again.


    Ao Canghai frowned, but finally nodded and epted the invitation.


    Just then, a group of Martial Aspects'' subordinates flew toward Yongding from afar. As theynded on the za, they hurriedly sent their respective Martial Aspects a mental transmission to inform them about what had happened in Dayin''s capital.


    Everyone stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock, but by then, they had already epted the invitation to his banquet.


    The procession walked toward a hall set up specifically for the banquet.


    "As the host, allow me to take the seat of honor. Princess, Martial Aspects, please join me!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng took his seat at the far end of the banquet table. Zhang Lingjun sat directly to his left, and Ao Canghai to his right. The other Martial Aspects trailed in.


    "I have all of you to thank for saving Yongding from certain destruction. Please allow me to toast you." Xiao Nanfeng raised his cup of wine and downed it in a single gulp.


    The Martial Aspects looked toward Ao Canghai. Upon seeing him down his cup of wine, so did they.


    "While you held back Yin Shenhua, I made a fuss in Dayin''s capital..." Xiao Nanfeng briefly sketched out what had happened in Dayin.


    By then, the seated Martial Aspects had learned about these details from their subordinates. They weren''t as shocked as they should have been.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, who''s that cursed effigy who apanied you to Dayin''s capital?" Ao Canghai asked.


    He had long since been aware of the ck lotus cursed effigy, though not of its identity.


    "I don''t know myself. I only know that it bears Yin Shenhua great enmity, and that it was willing to assist me against him."


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of providing too much information, but some unimportant details wouldn''t hurt.


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai frowned.


    "The Heavenly Emperor hasmanded us to seize Yin Shenhua. Might I ask if any of you have any ns in mind?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Since that cursed effigy by your side is Yin Shenhua''s enemy, it must know more about his background than we do. Why don''t you share those details with us so we mighte up with a n?" Ao Canghai proposed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I''ll share what I know. Yin Shenhua was once the supreme cultivator of his era eighty thousand years ago: the Present Buddha. He established the holynds of Mount Ling and the Thunderp Hall, and once had countless Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats as subordinates. Then, after having transformed into a cursed effigy, he was destroyed by the heavens above. He revived having reincarnated into Yin Shenhua''s body, and his cursed effigy subordinates, who revived alongside him, set up Buddha''s Grottos'' all over the world in order to recover their strength in seclusion. Over these past few years, they''ve grown to be quite a potent force. Most of the enemy fighters you faced were such revived Buddhas and bodhisattvas."


    "Oh?"


    "The method they use to regain their power is cruel. Using the Buddha''s Grotto on Thousand-Spirit Ind as an example, they catch countless cultivators and spirits, which they feed to a superior draconic vein to extract elemental force suitable for their cultivation. The other Buddha''s Grottos operate on the same principles. Although this allows them to regain their strength rapidly, it''s built on a foundation of carnage and ughter, a karmic morass. That''s why they''ve been carrying it out only in secret," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Stealing others'' cultivation¡ªthough an ancestral Buddha''s followers they might be, they practice demonic arts. How evil," a Martial Aspect murmured.


    "Though they''ve regained much of their strength, they''re still far from their peak. They need war. Once war breaks out, they won''t have to hide in the darkness anymore. They can take advantage of war to disguise their misdeeds and ughter countless cultivators, absorbing their cultivation and bringing disaster to the world. The greater the chaos, the faster they can recover."


    The Martial Aspects frowned in unison. One began, "No wonder they dare stand against the Imperial Court despite theircking cultivation. It''s all an attempt to strengthen themselves. They''re vultures of war!"


    "They had been hiding what they were doing, but now that the Imperial Court is attempting to capture Yin Shenhua, I suspect they''ll drop all pretenses and unleash carnage en masse. Every day we waste is a day where they grow far stronger. We need to blitz them down and seize Yin Shenhua to end this conspiracy," Xiao Nanfeng surmised.


    "How?" a Martial Aspect demanded. "Yin Shenhua might not be at peak strength yet, but he''s back in Dayin''s capital now. He can easilymand his forces from Dayin. We failed to take him down just now and have lost the initiative. No one will be able to capture him in Dayin''s capital."


    "We just have to demolish his empire," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What?" the Martial Aspects eximed.


    "We''ll obliterate Dayin!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Martial Aspects gave Xiao Nanfeng odd looks.


    "Are you joking? Do you know how difficult it is to obliterate a divine empire?" a Martial Aspect asked dubiously.


    "You need not worry about that, Martial Aspects. I''m familiar with war between empires. As the king of the Dazheng Empire, I am happy to dere war on Dayin for the horrific conduct that I have uncovered. I shall call for aid across the world to exterminate this evil."


    "You, a representative of an ordinary empire, intend to dere war on a divine empire?" the same Martial Aspect asked.


    "And why not?"


    "Dazheng is only an ordinary empire, and a middling one even among such empires. How do you intend topete against a divine empire? That''s ridiculous!"


    "Despite being a Heaven Immortal, I managed to reim 60% of Dayin''s fortune from Yin Shenhua. Others would have called that equally ridiculous before I had done it. Wouldn''t you agree?"


    The Martial Aspects frowned at each other. Even now, they still had no idea how Xiao Nanfeng had seeded in such a gambit.


    It was clear that Yin Shenhua could easily have taken down Xiao Nanfeng. Why would he hand over 60% of Dayin''s fortune instead¡ªand allow Xiao Nanfeng to leave unimpeded?


    "Martial Aspects, worry not about the war. The Dazheng Empire will lead the charge, but I''ll need your assistance against Golden Immortals and higher-realm cultivators," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You intend for us to help you expand your borders?" Ao Canghai scoffed.


    "Hardly. You need not participate in the war. I simply ask that you remain in Yongding and take down whatever Golden Immortals from Dayin arrive in istion. Once Yin Shenhua loses his empire and his subordinates, we''ll easily be able to take him down."


    Silence reigned in the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng really did seem like he was serious about this war. Was he crazy? His own empire against a full-fledged divine empire?


    The Martial Aspects frowned at each other, then turned to Ao Canghai as one, waiting to hear his opinion.


    Ao Canghai nced at Zhang Lingjun, their overseer, who was quietly sipping on her cup of alcohol. He frowned and deliberated over the proposal before finally giving Xiao Nanfeng a tiny smile. "Very well. If you''re so confident, Martial Aspect Xiao, then we''ll await your good news."


    "Are you in agreement, Martial Aspect?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.


    "Naturally."


    Whether he would dedicate himself to such an agreement, however, remained to be seen.


    "What do you think, fellow Martial Aspects?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Martial Aspects grimaced, but no one objected.


    "Very well. Thank you, Martial Aspects. Allow me to toast you again. May we quickly capture Yin Shenhua on behalf of the Heavenly Emperor." Xiao Nanfeng raised his cup of wine in a toast.


    Beside him, Zhang Lingjun emted his actions. "Martial Aspects, let''s cooperate to take down Yin Shenhua. I shall report in detail on today''s banquet to the Heavenly Emperor."


    Ao Canghai inwardly frowned, understanding that Zhang Lingjun was preventing them from recanting.


    "Very well!" Ao Canghai smiled grimly as he raised his cup.


    The other Martial Aspects all followed suit. None believed that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to seed; they were all waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

 Chapter 598: Denunciation and Crusade

    <h4>Chapter 598: Denunciation and Crusade</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body left Dayin''s capital in a mess. The southern watchtower had copsed entirely, and plenty of floating inds had fallen to the ground. Even the dragon-headed mountain on which the pce was situated wasrgely in ruins. Everyone in the city was on edge.


    Just then, Yin Shenhua reimed with his strongest subordinates. They stood where the ruins of the dragon-headed mountainy, their faces dour.


    "Your Majesty, we did our best to stop Xiao Nanfeng, but we weren''t able to do anything against him," one official said, stepping forward with his head bowed.


    Yin Shenhua ignored him. He looked straight ahead at the dragon-headed mountain. "Have a look at its foundations."


    Some of his subordinates immediately darted into the ruins. It took them quite a while before they returned again.


    "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng only freed three superior draconic veins. The secret of the mountain has yet to be exposed," one subordinate reported.


    "Very good." Yin Shenhua rxed imperceptibly.


    Suddenly, another dragon''s cry rang out from deep underground. The dragon-headed mountain rumbled again.


    "Another superior draconic vein has awakened!" an official cried out.


    Dust and smoke poured into the air as a thirty-kilometer-long golden dragon emerged from deep underground.


    Its draconic might terrorized all those around it.


    The next moment, however, it seemed to shake itself awake as it whirled to see Yin Shenhua and his subordinates close by.


    "Yin Shenhua? You really don''t intend to leave me alone, do you?" the superior draconic vein howled.


    Rather than attack him, it was so frightened that it shot straight into the sky as it attempted to flee.


    Because Yin Shenhua was back, the defensive formation around the city had already been taken down. The superior draconic vein flew off into the clouds in a sh.


    "You won''t escape!" a group of Dayin cultivators roared, poised to give chase.


    "Leave it be," Yin Shenhuamanded.


    The cultivators turned to Yin Shenhua in surprise.


    "The roc is out of secluded cultivation now," Yin Shenhua exined.


    Everyone nodded in understanding.


    The next moment, a huge plume of smoke and dust emerged from the mountain as a golden ray of light shot into the sky, straight toward the escaping superior draconic vein.


    It took a long moment before the blur of light resolved into a resplendent golden roc that caught up to the superior draconic vein with a single, strong p of its wings.


    Then, the roc''s sharp ws thrust into the superior draconic vein.


    The superior draconic vein struggled to break free, but found itselfpletely unable to do so. The roc pecked a huge hole in the superior draconic vein''s head, causing it to slump. Then, the roc tossed it into the air and swallowed it down in one gulp.


    The cultivators of Dayin gaped at the sight of what they had just witnessed.


    Countless citizens had watched the three superior draconic veins smash apart the floating inds and the southern watchtower as they made their escape. They couldn''t help but feel as if the divine empire of Dayin was about to meet its downfall.


    However, upon seeing the roc swallow a superior draconic vein in one gulp, they suddenly felt as though the escape of the three draconic veins meant little inparison.


    Were there such strong existences in Dayin besides the Immortal Emperor himself?


    The roc returned to Dayin''s capital with a p of its wings, then transformed into a young man. His eyes sparkled with divine light as a fearsome aura emanated from him.


    "The second prince!"


    "It''s His Highness, Yin Peng! What incredible strength!" [1]


    "His Highness is incredible!"


    Countless Dayin cultivators gaped at what they had seen.


    The roc who had transformed into a man alighted before Yin Shenhua and bowed. "I greet you, Father."


    "Peng''er, have you regained your memories of the past?" Yin Shenhua asked.


    "Everything, Father, though it took me a while to raise my cultivation," Yin Peng replied.


    "Good, very good!" Yin Shenhua eximed. "War draws near. Dayin must concentrate its power and prepare to take on the Imperial Court. Mo Shanhe has been captured, and arge group of spirits are now unbound. You shall take the lead andmand Dayin''s spirit troops.


    "Understood, Father!" Yin Peng responded.


    "Start repairing the Thunderp Hall," Yin Shenhuamanded one of his subordinates.


    "Understood!"


    The subordinate walked over,pass-shaped diagrams appearing underfoot as he walked, revolving around him in rings. Clearly, he was one of Daying''s formations experts.


    With a wave of his hand, the ruins of the dragon-headed mountain began to quake.


    Dragons cried out from deep underground as a new mountain emerged from underground, pushing aside the ruins of the old one. Another earthquake rumbled across Dayin''s capital as its citizens saw the dragon-headed mountain restored to its former glory.


    The formations master continued to manipte his surroundings. A forest rapidly grew out of the dragon-headed mountain, at a rate visible to the naked eye. Then, he surrounded the mountain with formations, reproducing the mountain of yore¡ªthough without many of the halls and pces that had once decked its peaks.


    A group of officials began theirbor simultaneously, restoring the Thunderp Hall to its former glory.


    Before long, much of the restoration work had beenpleted. Yin Shenhua and some of his subordinates stepped up the mountain.


    Even so, the formations master didn''t stop there. He then headed to the southern watchtower and restored it with the help of several officials, and then inspected the defensive formations around Dayin''s capital.


    The Imperial Court was the crown jewel of the world. Whatever the Sieve of Heaven set in motion, news would quickly spread throughout the world.


    That the Princess of the Moon''s purported rebellion had been overturned, that the culprit appeared to be Yin Shenhua, that the Imperial Court had sent eighteen Martial Aspects to arrest him¡ªforces around the world quickly learned of such shocking news.


    Of the many Immortal Emperors, some were content to remain bystanders, but others began to set ns in motion.


    Few ordinary empires were aware of what had transpired, but those around Dayin and Dazheng did.


    The battle at Yongding and crisis in Dayin''s capital made local news, after all.


    A vigorous debate was urring in the court of an empire that bordered Dayin.


    "How bold Xiao Nanfeng is. He''s clearly intending to take on Yin Shenhua!"


    "The eighteen Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court boast incredible strength. They even beat back the strongest cultivators of Dayin!"


    "Ao Canghai is a force to be reckoned with."


    A harried official rushed in to interrupt the session of court.


    "Your Majesty, Dazheng has just issued a denunciation of Dayin and is intending to lead a crusade against it!" he reported.


    "What?!" The officials of court were in uproar.


    The emperor was astounded as well. "Who against whom?"


    "Dazheng against Dayin!" the official repeated.


    "You must have gotten things mixed up." The officials all around refused to believe such nonsense.


    An ordinary empire, pitting itself against a divine empire? The ordinary empire would be crushed in the blink of an eye! Of course there were exceptions, but those had only urred when the divine empires in question were nearing their death to begin with.


    That Dazheng would do so now was inconceivable.


    "Read the denunciation," the emperormanded.


    "Understood, Your Majesty!"


    The official began, "Yin Shenhua is a cursed effigy of yore who has returned to the mortal world and established the divine empire of Dayin. During his reign, he disrespected the Imperial Court and treated his own citizens with malice. Ambitious, he assassinated the Heavenly Emperor''s own daughter and sought to control the Imperial Court to bring evil to the world. Eighteen Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court have been sent to seize him, only to face stubborn resistance. Let the world know that all who conspire with him shall be destroyed alongside him. He has raided Dazheng; my capital, Yongding; and destroyed my pce. The heavens themselves stand witness to what evil he has unleashed. Today, I, Xiao Nanfeng, emperor of Dazheng, hereby dere war on Yin Shenhua. All righteous cultivators of the world are invited to join Dazheng''s army to aid in his capture, as is blessed by the auspices of heaven and the Heavenly Emperor himself. Dazheng swears not to hurt the innocent; its sole target is the traitor Yin Shenhua and his aplices. Let my message be known to the world."


    The officials frowned at each other upon hearing the denunciation in its entirety.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? ''All who conspire with him shall be destroyed alongside him''? Is he warning us not to help Dayin, or face destruction as well?"


    "''All righteous cultivators of the world are invited to join Dazheng''s army to aid in his capture.'' He wants others to join him in this suicide mission?"


    The officials were all flummoxed.


    "State your opinions, advisors," the emperormanded.


    "Your Majesty, Dayin has deep, potent reserves of strength, but the Imperial Court has sent eighteen Martial Aspects. I believe we should wait and see how the situation unfolds before making a decision."


    "Indeed. This isn''t just a war between an ordinary empire and a divine empire, but also between cursed effigies of a past era and the Imperial Court of the present. What ramifications arise from this war are sure to be consequential. The entire world may well be affected."


    "We must deliberate, Your Majesty, and not take action in haste."


    The officials werergely in agreement.


    "Very good," the emperor replied.


    Back in Yongding, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects had decided to stay in the city for the time being. They too were eyeing each other regarding the denunciation that Xiao Nanfeng had issued.


    "Does Xiao Nanfeng really intend to take on the divine empire of Dayin? What gives him the courage to do so?"


    "He''s simply trying to y political games using us as his chips."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s crazy. Others might be unaware of the situation, but wouldn''t Yin Shenhua know what he''s doing? Is this promation useful?"


    The Martial Aspects scoffed at Xiao Nanfeng''s antics.


    Ao Canghai shut his eyes and thought for a moment. "This denunciation isn''t targeted at Yin Shenhua."


    "Oh?"


    "It''s meant for those forces that haven''t yet joined the fray to prevent them from taking a side," Ao Canghai continued.


    "On what grounds? What''s he nning?" a Martial Aspect asked, frowning. He too had noticed something amiss.


    "Could he be that ambitious?" Ao Canghai frowned.


    "What are you thinking, Eastern Aspect?" one Martial Aspect asked.


    "I suspect Xiao Nanfeng wants to absorb the divine empire of Dayin all by himself," Ao Canghai said. His frown deepened, as if he could hardly believe Xiao Nanfeng''s daring.


    "What? That''s crazy! How does he intend to take on a divine empire all by himself?!" another Martial Aspect shouted.


    1. Åô (peng) means roc. ?

 Chapter 599: First Sally Against Dayin

    <h4>Chapter 599: First Sally Against Dayin</h4>


    Within an ordinary city of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng and Wen Zhong were having tea in the governor''s manor.


    "You''ve caused quite amotion this time around, Your Majesty," Wen Zhong said, smiling.


    "What do you think of my strategy to destroy Dayin, Mr. Wen?" Xiao Nanfeng had a sip of tea.


    "Others might call me a genius tactician, Your Majesty, but you must have ten times my genius."


    "Hardly," Xiao Nanfeng demurred immediately.


    Wen Zhong shook his head. "It''s the truth, Your Majesty. Though I may be able to devise ns of suchplexity, I would have needed to spend far more time on setup. On the other hand, your n is well poised to take down Dayin quickly. Worry not, Your Majesty. I shall carry out your n perfectly."


    "I would prefer to go with a slower, stabler n like yours, Mr. Wen, but there simply isn''t time. We''ll have to take this risk. I trust your skills, Mr. Wen, and I believe you''re the most suitable candidate for carrying out this n." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "It''s a pity that Dazheng''s still too small. I suspect it won''t be able to devour Dayin all by itself," Wen Zhong replied, sighing.


    "I''m aware. Once war breaks out between Dazheng and Dayin, the other forces all around will eventually join in. Everyone will see what a feast this is, after all. However, we must be positioned to im thergest portion of Dayin," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.


    "I''m sure we will, Your Majesty. Our preliminary move has already demonstrated its efficacy. With the public denunciation in y, the forces all around will surely hesitate in choosing a side and instead spectate for the time being. That is sure to lose them opportunity and initiative."


    "Dayin is going to retaliate in kind for this denunciation, I''m sure."


    "We''re prepared for the counterattack, Your Majesty."


    Just then, ten figures appeared above the city as a frightening aura emanated from them.


    "To think Yin Shenhua would send ten Immortals to a small city like this one," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, smiling.


    Wen Zhong looked up, narrowing his eyes. "There are five thousand cities in Dazheng. If Dayin is sending ten to each one, that''s fifty thousand Immortals in all¡ªand just as a preliminary salvo. The reserves of a divine empire are truly frightening..."


    "Fifty thousand, you say? They might as well all remain behind," Xiao Nanfeng replied expectantly.


    Just then, an Immortal in the air shouted, "Everyone in the city, listen up! The emperor of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng, has challenged and insulted the divine empire of Dayin. On our Immortal Emperor''s orders, we shall destroy Dazheng. When you die, remember that the one who killed you was Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The citizens of the city gaped at the Immortals in the sky as they began to panic.


    The ten Immortals struck simultaneously, sending glowing palms descending toward the ground. Countless people were suppressed by the pressure; a looming crisis befell them all.


    "No! Don''t kill me!"


    "You''re all demons!"


    "Save us, Your Majesty!"


    Countless people cried out in fear.


    Suddenly, ten rays of golden light emerged from the city and struck at the Immortals.


    The ten Immortals'' attacks werepletely repelled as a frightening surge of energy erupted in the air, terrorizing the region. The entire city quaked.


    "Who dares attack the Dazheng Empire? Die!"


    "Guards, protect the civilians! The rest of you, defend Dazheng with me!"


    "Die!"


    Ten figures shot into the air.


    Ten Immortals flew out of the city and began to attack the invaders in a disy of force.


    "They have ten Immortals, too? How could this nameless city have ten Immortals guarding it?"


    "Are we really that unlucky to have picked out a city guarded by Immortals?"


    "Forget all that. Kill them!"


    The Immortals on both sides began to attack each other, not just within this city, but across the five thousand cities of Dazheng atrge.


    Storms raged across the skies of each city as Immortal light bloomed.


    Back in Dayin''s capital, within the Thunderp Hall, Yin Shenhua sat on his draconic throne, dressed in golden robes. His courtly officials stood on either side of him, waiting to hear about the news.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s denunciation is nothing but a joke. Does he really think he can take on a divine empire as the ruler of an ordinary empire? It''s clear that he wants his own empire to perish."


    "An ordinary empire? Howughable. How dare he try to challenge a divine empire! The soldiers I''ve sent to Dazheng will be able to eradicate the five thousand cities that it possesses."


    "You are wise, Your Majesty. Byunching a blitz, you''ll be able to terrorize the forces who might otherwise gather together against you."


    The officials, by andrge, approved of Yin Tianci''s decisions. They held their heads high, filled with pride.


    Just then, a guard rushed into the hall.


    "Your Majesty, something has happened to the army you''ve dispatched!" the guard cried out.


    "What?" Yin Shenhua frowned.


    The courtly officials all turned over.


    "I bring word from the frontlines. The army is meeting incredible resistance. Every city seems to be guarded by ten of Dazheng''s Immortals, and the Immortals are locked in a stalemate."


    An official nched. "Impossible! We dispatched fifty thousand Immortals, whereas Xiao Nanfeng only has thirty thousand purple-furred monsters as subordinates. Even if they''re no longer monsters, that''s only a force of thirty thousand. How could he hope topete against our forces?"


    "Does every Dazheng city have exactly ten Immortals?" Yin Shenhua asked.


    The hall fell silent as all the officials waited for the guard''s response.


    The guard nodded. "That''s what I was told."


    The silence that followed was so profound that the cultivators would have heard a needle fall to the floor. Everyone turned toward Yin Shenhua, who rapped on the armrest of his throne as he fell deep in thought.


    Could other Martial Aspects have sent their forces onto the battlefield to help Xiao Nanfeng? Perhaps there may be more Immortals hidden in each city who have yet to make a move, too," Yin Shenhua murmured, frowning.


    "Aren''t the Martial Aspects on bad terms with Xiao Nanfeng? Why would they assist him?" an official fumed.


    "Keep scouting," Yin Shenhuamanded.


    He didn''t seem to be in a hurry. Clearly, he had other ns up his sleeve.


    "Understood!" the guard replied.


    Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, he asked, "Has Dayin''s counterattack started?"


    "It has. We have our own subordinates keeping track of what''s going on. To think Xiao Nanfeng would dare to provoke Dayin¡ªthis initial counterattack alone would be enough to destroy Dazheng!"


    "Dazheng would fall to a single blow from a divine empire."


    "With fifty thousand Immortals gathered, even Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to make his way out of this disaster!"


    The Martial Aspectsughed at the cmity Xiao Nanfeng was about to suffer.


    Just then, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost rushed into the hall. "Eastern Aspect, something''s wrong. We''ve just received word that Xiao Nanfeng has ten Immortals stationed at every city in his empire."


    "Every city?" Ao Canghai asked.


    Beside him, another Martial Aspect said, "You must be mistaken. Dazheng has five thousand cities. Do you im that Xiao Nanfeng has fifty thousand Immortals in his employ? What a joke! There were only thirty thousand purple-furred monsters to begin with. Where would the other twenty thousand Immortals havee from?"


    "We''ve been keeping an eye on the Imperial Court as well. There haven''t been any reinforcements. Could you be mistaken?"


    The Martial Aspects were clearly dubious of this im.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shook his head. "That''s what I''m hearing from all my sources. Ask your subordinates if you don''t believe me."


    The Martial Aspects hurriedly rushed out to make inquiries of their own subordinates, then returned with dour looks on their faces.


    "Is it true?" Ao Canghai asked, frowning.


    "It is. Our subordinates'' avatars are reporting the same thing."


    "So Xiao Nanfeng has twenty thousand Immortal subordinates in addition to the thirty thousand purple-furred monsters? How did he aplish such a feat? Why didn''t we know about this at all?" One Martial Aspect was clearly very difited.


    "What else is he hiding?" Ao Canghai murmured.


    The Martial Aspects all seemed unhappy with how the situation had unfolded.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard from outside the hall. "Is the Eastern Aspect present?"


    "Come in!" Ao Canghai replied.


    As the Martial Aspects watched on, Xiao Nanfeng walked into the hall. He looked toward Ao Canghai. "Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, as promised, I''m in charge of the imperial war, while you''ll deal with individual Golden Immortals from Dayin. Dayin''s army is on its way, and itsmander is a Golden Immortal. We''ve figured out his location, so please make your move." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The Martial Aspects: ...


    They had agreed to Xiao Nanfeng''s proposal because they thought his n foolish enough that it would nevere into effect. Was it already time for them to strike?

 Chapter 600: The Fallen Martial Aspects

    <h4>Chapter 600: The Fallen Martial Aspects</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng left the hall in which Ao Canghai was located as tension grew rife. The Martial Aspects frowned at each other.


    "Eastern Aspect, must we strike?" a Martial Aspect asked.


    "We''ve given our word, and we naturally have to keep it," Ao Canghai replied.


    "Will it be problematic for us?"


    "We''ll see, won''t we? You four, go," Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Understood!" the four Martial Aspects replied.


    The four Martial Aspects flew out of the hall and soared into the sky toward the location that Xiao Nanfeng had pinpointed. Before long, they had reached their destination. Even so, they were particrly careful. They shrouded themselves with fog and stopped \in a forest outside a city.


    mes licked the clouds above the city as a storm swelled. It was clear that intense fighting was taking ce within.


    Ye Dafu''s group of twelve golden cultivators were taking on a ck ape spirit. Plenty of Immortals were standing in two halves of the city, as though waiting for the ape and golden cultivators to finish their battle before making a move themselves.


    The ape was incredibly strong. It sent out a flurry of punches, repeatedly knocking the golden cultivators back. Although the golden cultivators were badly injured, they happily flew back to rejoin the fight.


    "You insolent fools! You dare stand before me?!" the ape spirit roared.


    "You''re the fool! Eighteen Martial Aspects are guarding the empire of Dazheng. You must have a death wish if you''re attempting to attack it!"


    "Right, beat me to death if you dare!"


    "If you can''t, it means you''re clearlycking in strength!"


    "Imagine calling yourself Sage ck Ape when you''re nothing more than a weakling! Put more force in your punches!"


    The golden cultivators continued to taunt the ck ape.


    "I''ll kill you!" Sage ck Ape roared.


    The twelve golden cultivators were sent flying like flowers being scattered from a basket. Though they were beaten ck and blue, they continued to fly toward the ape.


    The four Martial Aspects hidden in the forest eyed each other skeptically.


    "Sage ck Ape? This is the general leading the fifty thousand Immortals of Dayin? Is it that difficult for a Golden Immortal to handle a group of True Immortals?" A Martial Aspect frowned.


    "Beware of a trick," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.


    "What should we do now? Should we strike?" the Martial Aspect asked.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost narrowed his eyes. These golden cultivators are part of Xiao Nanfeng''s retinue. Let''s wait until one of them dies before making our move."


    "Very well!" the other three Martial Aspects replied.


    They were Ao Canghai''s subordinates and were perfectly happy to see Xiao Nanfeng''s forces be weakened by the war that he had started. They had promised to take on the Golden Immortals of Dayin, but when to do so was up to them.


    As the four Martial Aspects watched on, Ye Dafu suddenly turned in their direction. "Martial Aspects, save us!"


    Afar, the four Martial Aspects frowned. They didn''t know how Ye Dafu had noticed them despite how well they had hidden.


    Just then, a golden bowl was suddenly flung their way.


    "An ambush!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cried out, punching at the bowl.


    Lightning shed down, blocking the golden bowl. Next came a golden lotus, followed by arge quantity of Golden Immortal relics.


    Not only that, a number of figures rushed right over. In the lead was a golden roc glowing with light. It swooped forward at incredible speed, closing in on a panicking Martial Aspect and wing at it.


    "Damn it, it''s an ambush! Inform the Eastern Aspect immediately!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled.


    A howling storm was unleashed where the four Martial Aspects were located, destroying the forest that was their hiding spot. A group of Golden Immortals began tounch their attack as Ye Dafu and the golden cultivators continued to hinder Sage ck Ape.


    Sage ck Ape clearly wanted to help his fellow cultivators, but he was infuriated by the golden cultivators that continued to get in his way.


    "You wretched fools! I was simply dying until reinforcements arrived. Do you really think I can''t kill you? Die!" the ck ape shouted.


    The twelve golden cultivators were sent flying one after the other, all spitting out mouthfuls of blood. Their injuries had clearly worsened.


    Just then, a cloud of ck fog appeared behind Sage ck Ape. A golden palm emerged from the fog, striking his lower back and sending him flying into a mountain. The mountain was smashed to bits.


    "Who dares?!" Sage ck Ape cried out.


    The ck fog shed over to its side and dealt him a heavy blow that caused the mountains themselves to rumble.


    "No!" Sage ck Ape cried out, then drew breath no more.


    The ck fog shed away.


    The moment the ck fog appeared, the golden cultivators and the Dazheng Immortals they led made to strike at the Dayin Immortals that had previously only been watching the fight. Though they were no match for the ck ape, they easily finished off these ordinary Immortals.


    Just then, more beams of golden light appeared. Some of the Martial Aspects'' subordinates had rushed over, noticed that something was wrong, and quickly sent word to Ao Canghai. The other Martial Aspects were making their way over now.


    "Flee!" a voice shouted.


    The Golden Immortals of Dayin soared into the air and flew off toward the horizon.


    "Don''t let them run off. Give chase!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.


    The four Martial Aspects hidden in the forest had been the subject of a sneak attack. Three of them were bloodied and badly injured, whereas the fourth had transformed into dragon form. A roc had speared its ws through its body and was fleeing with it.


    "Stand right there, you bastard!" Ao Canghai gave chase.


    The Martial Aspects who had just rushed over surrounded the three badly wounded Martial Aspects. "What happened?"


    "It was a trap. Dayin''s general, Sage ck Ape, deliberately held off Ye Dafu and his fellow cultivators in a stalemate to lure us out. They even had a group of Golden Immortalsy an ambush for us. We were caught unprepared," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.


    "Is Yin Shenhua that malicious?" The Martial Aspects all seemed vexed.


    Before long, Ao Canghai returned from afar, with half a dragon''s corpse in his hands.


    "The Martial Aspect of Bluefrost is dead!" the other Martial Aspects eximed.


    Ao Canghai''s face was dark and furious as he held the remnants of the corpse. In a chilling tone, he shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, I know you''re around. Show yourself!"


    A figure flew in from close by, none other than Xiao Nanfeng himself.


    "Martial Aspect, has the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost perished?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Did you know that there would be arge number of Golden Immortals nning an ambush here?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "I didn''t. I only just learned of what had happened. Yin Shenhua''s far too malicious," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shook his head. "That''s not true. Ye Dafu discovered us first. You must have been aware of the situation in advance. You did this deliberately!"


    "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, Ye Dafu was saving you. Couldn''t you tell?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Saving us? If he hadn''t exposed us, we wouldn''t have been attacked!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost raged.


    "Martial Aspects, I don''t know what all of you were thinking. The Eastern Aspect sent you to deal with Sage ck Ape. Why were you hiding in the dark to observe the fight instead? Were you going to wait for Sage ck Ape to kill off my subordinates first?"


    "We had to figure out what was going on in order to make our move," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    "Ridiculous! You were being idiotic. You''ve ruined my ns and my advantage," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "What?!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.


    "If even Ye Dafu had been able to sense your location, do you think the Golden Immortals lying in ambush would have failed to do so?"


    "We¡ª" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned.


    They had hidden themselves well. How had they been discovered?


    "If you had struck sooner and killed Sage ck Ape together, those Golden Immortals from Dayin would have made their move sooner. You might all have escaped injury. However, you were trying to be clever, thinking that youy hidden when in fact you were exposed to one and all! Why else do you think the Golden Immortals of Dayin prepared an ambush for you? If Ye Dafu hadn''t warned you in advance, those Immortals would have been able to prepare further and kill more of you simultaneously. All four of you may have perished! Ye Dafu forced them to strike when they weren''t yet ready, exposing you and saving your lives! How dare you criticize him?!"


    The three badly wounded Martial Aspects frowned. They nced at Ao Canghai, not knowing how to exin themselves at that moment.


    Ao Canghai nced at that half of a dragon corpse he held in his hands. His eyes were cold. "I shall investigate the situation. All those who plotted to kill the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost shall be taken down in turn."


    "I regret the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s passing. However, just now, my senior arrived and slew Sage ck Ape. Consider the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s vengeance partially satisfied," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    He retrieved Sage ck Ape''s carcass, which the ck lotus had given to him. Of course, it was the ck lotus who had discovered the four Martial Aspects hidden in the forest and had sent Ye Dafu a mental transmission as well.


    "That cursed effigy of yours is here too?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "That''s right. It''s chasing down those Golden Immortals from Dayin right now."


    Ao Canghai frowned. He instantly guessed what had happened. The Golden Immortals of Dayin hadid an ambush, which Xiao Nanfeng had discovered. Then, he superimposed his own plot to wound both the Martial Aspects and the Golden Immortals of Dayin, leaving his side to benefit.


    "I see what you''ve done, Xiao Nanfeng," Ao Canghai said. His eyes shed.


    "You honor me, Eastern Aspect. It''s a pity that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and the others deliberately dragged out the battle. Otherwise, this situation wouldn''t have turned out quite so dire," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Canghai red at Xiao Nanfeng, then turned. "Let''s return."


    He flew off toward Yongding with half a dragon''s corpse in his hands. His subordinate Martial Aspects joined him after giving Xiao Nanfeng a re.


    Once all the Martial Aspects had departed, Ye Dafu headed over as well. "Your Majesty, we''ve dealt with all the other Dayin Immortals who havee to attack this city."


    "That''s not good enough. The Golden Immortals of Dayin have fled, and the remaining Immortal invaders will likely do the same. Now, ording to our n, we''ll kill off as many of them as we can, as quickly as possible!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others replied.

 Chapter 601: A Magnificent Start

    <h4>Chapter 601: A Magnificent Start</h4>


    The Dayin Immortals who attacked every city of Dazheng varied in strength, but Wen Zhong had made arrangements in advance. There were more than ten Dazheng Immortals within each city, and the ones with significantly higher cultivation were scattered across the entirety of Dazheng to be able to respond quickly in case ofrge disparities in strength. Dazheng wasn''t aiming for overwhelming victory; it sought instead to dy and trap the Dayin Immortals from leaving.


    As Dayin''s Golden Immortals retreated, the other Dayin Immortals likewise received orders to retreat.


    High in the air above a small city, ten Dazheng Immortals fought against ten Dayin Immortals. None of them were able to extricate themselves.


    Just then, within a forest outside the city, a hidden Dayin soldier suddenly rushed into the air.


    "The general hasmanded that¡ª" The soldier had made half his pronouncement when a sudden beam of sword energy killed him in the blink of an eye.


    The ten Dayin Immortals who were fighting, not having received themand to retreat, continued to fight.


    In another small city, a man dressed in Dayin attire shot into the air.


    "The generalmands all Dayin cultivators to keep fighting the Dazheng Immortals and stall for time. Reinforcements are on their way!"


    The next moment, a Dayin soldier rushed out of the nearby forest. "No, that''s a lie! The general never¡ª"


    Before he could finish speaking, a golden arrow had struck him in the head, killing him.


    In the middle of yet another group of cities, a Dayin soldier released fireworks in the air as a signal re.


    However, the moment the fireworks shot up, an avian spirit hovering in the sky leapt toward it and sent it back to the ground.


    "You dare ruin my signal?" the Dayin soldier cried out.


    He was preparing tounch another set of fireworks when a ck specter appeared behind him and thrust a sword through his chest. He fell to the ground, lifeless.


    Simr situations urred all across the five thousand cities of Dazheng.


    The officials that Mr. Wen had fostered were paying particrly careful attention to those Dayin soldiers responsible for transmitting orders to the Dayin Immortals throughout Dazheng territory.


    Of course, some of the Dayin Immortals had avatars of their own and were able to receive orders in real time. They could call out for theirpanions to turn and flee, but they were in the majority.


    Simrly, some means of intercepting messengers failed, and the Dayin Immortals in those areas managed to receive the order to retreat.


    However, the majority of Dayin Immortals had been cut off from their informationwork.


    The twelve golden cultivators and any Immortals nearby, on Xiao Nanfeng''s orders, scattered throughout Dazheng toward twelve separate battlefields.


    They quickly defeated the Dayin Immortals present in those cities, killing all 120 present.


    The 120 Dazheng Immortals that had now been freed up quickly split up to assist their allies in neighboring cities as well.


    Ao Zhou and his countless dragons and sea spirits also joined the fray, as did Croak, Warble, and the spirit Immortals they had managed to convince to join their cause.


    They stopped those Dayin Immortals attempting to flee and killed those that continued to fight. The fighting grew protracted.


    Just then, as Sage ck Ape died, Xiao Nanfeng consumed his inner core. After sending off his subordinates, he hurriedly entered secluded cultivation.


    Trying to advance at his level of cultivation required more than a single Golden Immortal''s inner core. He was also consuming arge number of pills that he had prepared in advance. Energy gushed through his body and began to resonate with his cultivation.


    Four hourster, as a fiery ze of energy emanated from him, he opened his eyes wide and exhaled. "The peak of the Heaven Immortal realm... I''m finally there."


    He stood up and was just about to leave secluded cultivation when the ck lotus silently flew back and returned to his mindscape.


    "Senior, were you sessful?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Those Golden Immortals of Dayin attempted to rejoin the battlefield, but ran off the moment I impersonated a Martial Aspect and appeared before them," the ck lotus reported.


    "Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "It''s a pity that no bodhisattvas appeared. Only that roc was a cursed effigy, but it was too fast for me to catch up to."


    "Those cursed effigies are Yin Shenhua''s most trusted subordinates, and I don''t expect he''ll send them out untilte into the war. Perhaps he''s guarding against you, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Forget it. There''ll be more opportunities yet. I still have to finish digesting the bodhisattvas and three Buddhas I devoured, too."


    "How strong are you now, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "After I finish distilling this Buddha, I''ll be about as strong as Emperor Feng initially was. It won''t be enough to deal with Yin Shenhua yet."


    "I''lle up with ideas to help you regain your strength more quickly, Senior."


    "Very well." The ck lotus retired within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    After a day and a night of fighting, the first confrontation of the war had finally ended.


    Of the fifty thousand Dayin Immortals, five thousand had managed to escape. The remainder perished or surrendered. Those that had been killed were given as fertilizer to Xiao Nanfeng''s blood peach tree, while those that had surrendered were detained.


    Countless forces had been eyeing the war. When they learned of what happened from the very first sh, they were incredibly shocked.


    "This can''t be. How could Dazheng have won to such an incredible extent during its first sh against Dayin?"


    "You can''t say that, can you? The Imperial Court lost one of its Martial Aspects!"


    "The Martial Aspect of Bluefrost is on the weaker side as Martial Aspects go. He was merely unlucky."


    The discussion among the forces grew more and more heated. They couldn''t help but be shocked at the hidden forces of Dazheng that had propelled it to a sudden victory.


    At the same time, within Xuanhuang Hall in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng sat hosting a session of court. He wore red draconic robes with golden trim and a red crown as he stared at his ebullient, indignant officials.


    "Your Majesty, fifty thousand Immortals from Dayin tried to kill all the civilians of Dazheng! If we hadn''t made sufficient preparations, our entire empire might be done for. We can''t let things stand like this. I, Ye Sanshui, volunteer to lead an army against Dayin!"


    "Your Majesty, let us bring war to Dayin!" the other officials echoed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly. "Yin Shenhua attempted to destroy Dazheng as a matter of enmity between our empires, but to do so by striking at ordinary civilians is barbaric and demonic. Today, I hereby announce the formation of a demon-ying army. Ye Sanshui shall serve asmander, and Ye Dafu as vicemander. Raise the army immediately. It shall march against Dayin and y the demons of thend for the good of the world!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu echoed.


    "Wise is Your Majesty!" the courtly officials agreed.


    Dazheng was formally sending an army against Dayin.


    In the imperial study within Dayin''s capital, Yin Shenhua was ring at the reports before him. The second prince Yin Peng and a group of officials had gathered in the study alongside him.


    "A demon-ying army? Ha!" Yin Shenhua scoffed.


    "Father, though we''ve suffered significant losses, we managed to kill a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. It was hardly a great victory for Xiao Nanfeng. But what informed your decision not to send more subordinates over? Perhaps we might have been able to take down all four Martial Aspects..." Yin Peng murmured.


    "Don''t underestimate Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed effigy," Yin Shenhua warned.


    "Oh?"


    A monk beside them exined, "The ancestral Buddha is taking advantage of this opportunity to probe that cursed effigy''s strength. If we had apanied you and it had discovered us, Xiao Nanfeng would surely have alerted Ao Canghai. There would have been more than four Martial Aspects heading to the battlefield in that case."


    "Have you uncovered the cursed effigy''s identity?" Yin Peng asked.


    Everyone turned to Yin Shenhua.


    Yin Shenhua shook his head. "Not yet, but the fact that it can detect your presence sensitively and devour these golden lotus hood cursed spiritual avatars at will¡ªI have two suspects in mind."


    "Oh?"


    "One is the true Past Buddha."


    "Father, didn''t you say that it couldn''t be the Past Buddha?" Yin Peng asked.


    "Perhaps someone has entered a symbiotic rtionship with the Past Buddha, suppressed its will, and stolen its cultivation. Possession, in other words."


    "Oh? And what''s the alternative?"


    Yin Shenhua frowned. He seemed a little worried. "Perhaps that cursed effigy is the Venerable Buddha."


    "The Venerable Buddha?" Everyone in the study seemed to gape.


    "Wasn''t the Venerable Buddha killed in the past?" Yin Peng eximed.


    "It was once the supreme cultivator of his era. Don''t you think it would have aces up its sleeve? It too attuned to the original golden lotus hood, so it shares the powers of the Buddhas of Three Aspects."


    Yin Peng''s eyes twitched. "But it''s no longer the Venerable Buddha''s era. So what if it managed to regenerate? From the looks of it, it''s still very weak at the moment."


    Yin Shenhua nodded. "That''s right. Eighty thousand years ago, I was able to supnt it. I''ll be able to do the same again."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Dazheng''s demon-ying army has already crossed into Dayin''s borders. They''re a group of thieves and bandits, and we should get rid of them before they can be a threat. Raise a bandit-quelling army in my name. You, Yin Peng, shall be themander of this army. Lead the spirits into battle against these bandits," Yin Shenhuamanded.


    "Yes, Father!" Yin Peng replied.


    The next day, the bandit-quelling army was formed under the auspices of the officials of court and announced publicly to the world atrge.


    By that time, Dazheng''s demon-ying army had officially set off toward Dayin, moving so quickly that the spectating forces were taken aback.


    "An ordinary empire, sending troops out against a divine empire... Just what is Xiao Nanfeng thinking?!"


    "A demon-ying army, followed by a bandit-quelling army¡ªdoesn''t it take a tremendous amount of time to raise an army? How could Dazheng and Dayin have done it in just a few days? Isn''t that way too fast?"


    "The two armies must have been all but ready to begin with. Dayin was poised to rebel against the Imperial Court, so that''s understandable. As for Dazheng, on the other hand¡ªit must have been preparing to take on Dayin well in advance if it already has an army, but that''s ridiculous!"


    The spectating forces observed the confrontation between Dazheng and Dayin with bated breath.


    What would Dazheng, which had shown itself to be a worthy opponent from the very first sh, do next?

 Chapter 602: Recruiting Dayins Immortals

    <h4>Chapter 602: Recruiting Dayin''s Immortals</h4>


    Within a hall, a Dayin Immortal whose cultivation had been sealed and whose body was bound stared fiercely forward. Wen Zhong stood before him.


    Behind Wen Zhong was a group of young schrs, the likes of which he continued to foster.


    "You want to turn me into your spy? Dream on! I lived as a general of Dayin and will die as a ghost of Dayin. I''d never betray my empire!"


    "Chen Shiwu, right? Your father is the city lord of the Immortal city of Luye. He must be a rather high-ranking official if he''s in charge of a city himself," Wen Zhong murmured, smiling.


    "How did you know?" Chen Shiwu narrowed his eyes. "It must be the other Immortals who were caught alongside me¡ªthey must have betrayed my identity! How could they turn against their empire?!"


    "Chen Shiwu, if your father''s the city lord of the Immortal city of Luye, you must have quite a few members of your family there as officials," Wen Zhong continued.


    Chen Shiwu bared his teeth. "Do you intend for me to convince my n to betray Dayin? What a joke!"


    "Does Dayin deserve your family''s loyalty?" Wen Zhong asked.


    "The Chen n is forever grateful to the Immortal Emperor for what he''s done for us. Do you think an ordinary empire like yours would be worth our betrayal?" Chen Shiwu scoffed.


    "Is that true? Do you owe Yin Shenhua such loyalty? I think not." Wen Zhongughed lightly.


    "You''d best save your breath. I''m not going to be moved by your provocation."


    "If I''m not mistaken, every year, Dayin hosts apetition to secure talent from all over the empire. Those with unique constitutions are recruited to join a secret organization in Dayin, and few ever make it back after their recruitment. Isn''t that so?" Wen Zhong asked for confirmation.


    "They were sent on special missions! Are you trying to fool me into thinking that they''ve perished? Plenty of cultivators from the Chen n have participated. If there truly were a problem, would anyone from my n attend?"


    "Countless cultivators are chosen for this secret organization every year¡ªand not just in your Immortal city, but across all three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin. Howrge would this secret organization be if it kept umting more members year after year?"


    "You have no evidence to back up your ims, do you? What makes you think I''d believe such conjecture?"


    "Just think about it. As for whether or not I''m telling you the truth, you''ll hear plenty ofpelling arguments soon enough." Mr. Wen turned to his students. "Untie him."


    The students untied the bindings on Chen Shiwu''s body, taking him by surprise. Even so, Chen Shiwu''s cultivation was sealed, and he wouldn''t be able to take on the gathered cultivators.


    "What are you intending to do?" Chen Shiwu demanded.


    "We''ll talkter. I''ll let you have some time to chat with whom I''m sending in," Wen Zhong replied.


    Wen Zhong and his students left the hall. At its entrance, Wen Zhong said to a woman veiled in white, a conical bamboo hat covering her features. "Miss Chen, I hoped not to bother you, but your identity was particrly crucial. I thank you for epting my request to save more of the innocent."


    "And I thank you for not killing my brother, Mr. Wen," the woman choked out.


    Within the hall, Chen Shiwu nched. He stared at the woman in disbelief, his body trembling.


    The woman stepped into the hall as Wen Zhong secured it from the outside, leaving Chen Shiwu and the woman as its sole upants.


    The woman removed her hat. Tear tracks lined her face. "Brother!"


    "Nuo''er! You''re still alive?" Chen Shiwu was overjoyed.


    "Brother!" The woman leapt into hisp.


    "Don''t cry, Nuo''er, Nuo''er! We all thought you had died. Thank goodness you''re still alive. Father and Mother will be d beyond belief as well. Mother always cries whenever she''s reminded of you," Chen Shiwu eximed.


    The woman continued to sob, as though she had to drain her body of the pent-up grievance she had umted over the years.


    It took long moments before the woman finally calmed down, though tears continued to well up.


    "Don''t cry, Nuo''er. Where have you been all these years? And where''s Zhi''er? If you''re alive, then surely she is too? Where is she?" Chen Shiwu asked gently.


    "My sister-inw, she¡ªshe was unable to bear the shame of what had happened andmitted suicide!"


    "What? What happened?!" Chen Shiwu eximed.


    "That year, for the talent recruitment, Father picked out all manner of cultivators from the city bearing unique constitutions. Among the delegation sent from the capital was a female official who spoke to me and my sister-inw. She had a conversation with us and examined our constitution," the woman began.


    "That official? I remember she offered to take you and Zhi''er as disciples, but you refused. Things were settled then, weren''t they?"


    "No. Afterwards, she kidnapped my sister-inw and me."


    "What?!"


    "She was a disciple of the Buddha of Dual Cultivation, whose sole purpose was to help the Buddha find female cultivators who had unique constitutions. After we were captured, we were trapped in the Buddha''s Grotto and repeatedly..." The woman began to cry once more as she described what she had suffered.


    "What? You and Zhi''er¡ªwere raped?!" Chen Shiwu''s eyes were red with anger.


    "After my sister-inw awoke, realizing that she had been vited, shemitted suicide out of shame. Before she died, she repeatedly called out for you..."


    Chen Shiwu''s body trembled. "Zhi''er was calling out for me as she died?!"


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation is Yin Shenhua''s subordinate. I saw Yin Shenhua more than once while trapped in the cave."


    "Impossible. Impossible! The Chen n has been loyal to the throne and are skilled custodians of the city granted to us. His Majesty would never do something so treacherous!"


    The woman continued to sob. "During the annual talent recruitment, all those cultivators with unique constitutions were sent off to the various Buddha''s Grottos. That year, plenty of women ended up in the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto. Because my sister-inw and I refused the offer to participate, we were kidnapped by force. We..."


    "Nuo''er, please, tell me everything. I can''t believe this! I¡ª" Chen Shiwu trembled, not daring to believe what he was hearing, but his sister''s sobs left his mind in disarray.


    After consoling his sister, Chen Shiwu coaxed more of her ount out of her. Overwhelmed by the evidence, he had no choice but to face the truth. If not for Xiao Nanfeng''s assistance, she too would have perished, with him none the wiser.


    Chen Shiwu''s sister''s suffering had clearly taken a toll on her. Just recollecting what had happened left her in a wrack. In the end, with her brother''s arms tightly wrapped around her, she fell asleep in tears.


    Even so, in her dreams, she murmured and shook uneasily, as though she were haunted by nightmares even then.


    Chen Shiwu continued to hug his sister tightly, his features clenched in rage and shock and anger. What loyalty he bore his empire was cracked and tarnished beyond repair.


    Two hourster, the doors to the hall creaked open.


    Chen Shiwu set his sister aside and stood up to bow to Wen Zhong. "I apologize for my misdeeds. Please, convey my utmost gratitude to Emperor Xiao for saving my sister."


    "Chen Shiwu, I sympathize with your sister''s plight. I did not wish for her to have to revisit such fresh wounds, but it was unavoidable if I wanted a chance to convince you."


    "That I was able to see her again is beyond what I can repay in gratitude alone." Chen Shiwu shook his head, then sighed. "The Chen n was once a noble n whosends contained draconic veins. Even if we hadn''t joined Dayin, we would have fared no worse than an ordinary Immortal sect. Yin Shenhua''s repeated entreaties finally persuaded us to join Dayin. We believed that he valued our n in earnest, though I only now realize that he was taking advantage of our n''s local influence to control thend. My sister was not the only one to suffer at his hands. Countless talents of the Chen n have likely perished¡ªand I survived solely because of my ordinary talent. The Chen n will stop at nothing to take down Dayin. I am willing to aid the Imperial Court against it."


    Mr. Wen nodded. "It''s good that you understand. I do have to inform you that, owing to your n''s particr importance in Dayin, Dazheng''s assassins have already marked your n as targets. If I were unable to convince you, then what awaited you back home would have been disaster."


    Chen Shiwu nched.


    "I state this not to threaten you, but to exin why you might sense Dazheng''s assassins skulking about on your return. Do not resist them¡ªconsider yourself lucky, I suppose. We didn''t expect to have caught you, nor that your sister was one of the lucky few rescued by His Majesty."


    "I understand. Thank you, sir," Chen Shiwu replied gratefully.


    "I''ll need you to return to your n and convince the n head¡ªyour father," Mr. Wen continued.


    Chen Shiwu nced at his sister, sleeping beside him. He nodded. "Very well. I ask that you take good care of my sister in the meantime. I will persuade my father to turn against Dayin at greatest haste."


    "There''s no need to worry. We don''t need your sister as a hostage. She''s already suffered more than enough. I hope she''ll be able to reunite with her loved ones."


    "What? Aren''t you afraid I''ll go back on my word?" Chen Shiwu eximed.


    "Your n is hardly the only one in Luye who has suffered to such an extent." Mr. Wen smiled mirthlessly.


    Chen Shiwu btedly realized the truth. Other ns in Luye had surely been co-opted by Dazheng as well. The Chen n yed an important role in Dayin, but it was hardly an irreceable asset to Dazheng, and could be reced at any time. A simr situation was urring in the other Immortal cities of Dayin; of that there could be no doubt.


    "Thank you for your honesty, sir," Chen Shiwu said.


    "When you return, do not show yourself in public, lest others notice what''s going on," Mr. Wen warned.


    "I understand." Chen Shiwu nodded firmly.


    Mr. Wen then exined the situation to Chen Shiwu, informing him how to contact the spectral guards in the city when he returned. Then, he unsealed Chen Shiwu''s cultivation and had him leave with his sleeping sister.


    He was currently in one of Dazheng''s five thousand cities, one that was unremarkable andrgely ordinary in every way. Chen Shiwu''s departure didn''t draw particr attention.


    After leaving the city, Chen Shiwu slid an errant lock of hair behind his sister''s ear as he teared up once more.


    "Zhi''er, I promised to guard you for life. What sort of useless husband am I, to have been working for your killer all along? How can I face you and Nuo''er? On my life, I swear to take revenge." Chen Shiwu wiped away the tears on his face, gritted his teeth, and flew off.

 Chapter 603: Storming the Immortal City of Luye

    <h4>Chapter 603: Storming the Immortal City of Luye</h4>


    Dazheng and Dayin didn''t share a border; there were plenty of empires and kingdoms separating them from each other. By the Eastern Sea, however, was a long, narrow stretch of desert whose ends joined the two empires. The desert was particrly devoid of aether and filled with all manner of poisonous bugs. No one wanted to im the territory, allowing the two empires'' war to proceed without trespassing over other kingdoms'' and empires'' borders.


    The Immortal city of Luye directly bordered the desert, and Dazheng''s demon-ying army was headed right for Luye.


    Within Luye, Yin Peng, dressed in golden robes, stood on thergest floating ind above the city as he nced out past it. Beside him stood a middle-aged man.


    "Was I correct, City Lord Chen?" Yin Peng smiled.


    The middle-aged man was none other than the lord of Luye. He sighed. "Wise you are, Your Highness. If not for your warning, I would never have suspected that Dazheng''s assassins would have made it into my manor. If they were to strike, our n would be done for."


    Yin Peng smirked. "The demon-ying army is headed straight for Luye, not any other Immortal city. It''s clear what their ns are. There are plenty of assassins in other officials'' manors all over the city, too. They''re waiting until Dayin attacks the city to strike down the top officials and open the city gates from within."


    "Your Highness, how should we handle these assassins?" City Lord Cheng asked.


    "Since you''re already on guard against them, they don''t pose much danger. Don''t capture them for now, lest you alert Xiao Nanfeng," Yin Peng said.


    "Understood," City Lord Chen replied. "Your Highness, I''ve reorganized the governance of the city and installed my loyal subordinates in critical positions. There won''t be any trouble in the future. I''ve had them modify the city''s defense formation to guard against Dazheng as well."


    "Well done," Yin Peng replied. "We fight against Dazheng''s army of bandits. City Lord Chen, I hope you''ll remain loyal to Dayin."


    City Lord Chen''s eyes shed with hatred. "Worry not, Your Highness. Even without what I owe to Dazheng, my eldest son was recently sent out against Dazheng and perished at the hands of those treacherous bandits. I''ll kill them all as revenge!"


    Yin Peng smiled with satisfaction. "Very good. Simply follow my orders."


    "Understood, Your Highness. I''ll do my best to support your army."


    Yin Peng nodded again.


    Just then, several figures shed by from afar. Theynded before him.


    "Your Highness, the bandits of Dazheng have arrived. They''re starting to make camp in the distance," one reported.


    "Oh?" Yin Peng was taken by surprise.


    Far across the horizon, tens of thousands of cultivators were flying out of the endless expanse of a desert. They dropped down by a forest high in the mountains and began constructing a base of operations immediately. Fog rose into the air, a clear sign of an active formation.


    "I thought Dazheng''s army would have crept into Dayin, avoiding our lines of sight. To think they would attack us head-on and even establish a garrison in the vicinity... How strange. What are they trying to do?" Yin Peng narrowed his eyes.


    "There must be a ploy if they''re daring to act so openly. Perhaps they want to lure us into attacking them," a subordinate suggested.


    Another replied, "What n could they possibly havee up with? Our bandit-quelling army has been waiting here for days. We can destroy them at any time. What''s more, the Golden Immortals in our employ wouldpletely wreck them."


    Yin Peng narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng''s spies have infested Luye, and he surely knows that my bandit-quelling army is stationed here. That they haven''t been scared off¡ªthere must be some reason for that. I''ll investigate."


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    Night fell.


    Yin Peng silently crept toward Dazheng''s demon-ying army''s garrison.


    There were plenty of Dazheng spies in the city whom he didn''t bother catching, because he was certain that they knew nothing about the demon-ying army''s ns. The spies were only acting on orders, after all. Rather than interrogate them and alerting Xiao Nanfeng that he was aware of their presence, why not check out the garrison himself?


    He was particrly confident in his own strength. He had even managed to escape from Ao Canghai before, and he would be able to flee rapidly if there were any danger. Indeed, if he found that the demon-ying army was far weaker than they appeared, he might even be able to take down the entire army all by himself.


    He cautiously made his way toward the garrison, only to find a formation that had manifested a huge barrier hiding whaty within.


    He reined in his aura and didn''t rush in. Rather, he waited until a few guards out on patrol were about to retreat back into the barrier before he transformed into his roc form, then shrank his body down until he was the size of a mosquito. He hitched a ride in via one of the guard''s sleeves.


    Then, he continued to fly about as a mosquito-sized roc.


    He quickly found themander''s tent in the center of the garrison.


    "Haha, allow me to toast everyone!" Laughter came from within the tent.


    "That''s Xiao Nanfeng''s voice. As expected, he''s here himself. He instated Ye Sanshui as themander-in-chief of the demon-ying army, but that was clearly misdirection. One of Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies is going to take the lead, isn''t it?" Yin Peng murmured to himself.


    He didn''t fly into the tent itself to have a look, because he heard a voice that shocked him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, when will we strike?" Ao Canghai asked.


    Yin Peng nched. He hurried away, hiding in the darkness, not daring to draw near. He reined in his spiritual power again, not daring to emit any trace of it at all.


    "Eastern Aspect, night has just fallen. We''ll strike an hour past midnight. I''ve already arranged everything within the city, and my subordinates are poised to kill the important officials of Luye at any time. At that point, those within will open the city gates for us and we''ll defeat the army in one fell swoop."


    "How troublesome," Ao Canghai said coldly.


    "The death of the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost has tarnished our reputation as Martial Aspects. Unless we can destroy this supposed bandit-quelling army in one fell swoop, how will we restore our reputation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Can''t we just move on them directly?"


    "This bandit-quelling army won''t be an easy foe. It''sposed of the Immortal spirits of Dayin, and there are even five Golden Immortals among them besides Yin Peng himself. If we can defeat them all, that would surely be a huge boon for the war. However, my subordinates have discovered that not all five Golden Immortals are within the city. Some are out on urgent business, and may only return after two or three hours. If we strike past midnight, we''ll be able to get them all at once."


    Outside the tent, Yin Peng narrowed his eyes. How could Xiao Nanfeng possess such detailed knowledge about the bandit-quelling army, and even information about the five Golden Immortal spirits'' whereabouts?


    "How can this be? Thank goodness I came here to have a look myself. Otherwise, Dayin would have suffered tremendous casualties today..." Yin Peng murmured.


    "Past midnight, then," Ao Canghai finally eded.


    "Very well. Once the city gates are open, my subordinates will pinpoint the Golden Immortal spirits'' locations for all Martial Aspects. Two Martial Aspects can take on each Golden Immortal spirit¡ªdon''t worry about killing them. Just dying them is sufficient. Meanwhile, the Eastern Aspect and two Martial Aspects will take on Yin Peng. Once Yin Peng dies, the Martial Aspect will be free to assist others. We''ll need to finish them all off before Yin Shenhua receives word and rushes over," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll cooperate fully with you to avenge Bluefrost," Ao Canghai replied.


    "My thanks. Please, ept another toast from me." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Within the tent came the sound of clinking cups.


    Yin Peng shuddered. He didn''t dare release any spiritual power to investigate the inside of the tent, because Ao Canghai and twelve Martial Aspects, all Golden Immortals, were present. If he were to expose himself, he would be taken down immediately.


    Scared beyond belief, he flew out of the camp and emerged from the barrier the same way he entered, hitching a ride on a guard''s sleeve.


    After that, he shot back toward Luye and returned to the floating ind where he had been meeting with his subordinates. A sheen of sweat was visible on his forehead.


    "Your Highness, how did your scouting mission go?" one subordinate asked.


    Yin Peng exined what he had learned.


    "What? What insidious foes! Should we inform His Majesty?"


    Yin Peng narrowed his eyes. "The bandit-quelling army has yet to engage with Dazheng. It would be far too embarrassing to request aid at this point. What''s more, now that I''ve seen through their n, we hardly need any assistance."


    "What should we do, then, Your Highness?"


    "Of the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant, if we exclude the deceased Martial Aspect of Bluefrost, Xiao Nanfeng, Ao Zhou, and Ao Canghai, only fourteen remain. Ao Canghai and twelve Golden Immortals are garrisoned outside the city. Doesn''t that mean that there are only two Golden Immortals guarding Yongding?" Yin Peng''s eyes lit up.


    "Your Highness, could you be intending tounch a sneak attack on Yongding?" his subordinate eximed.


    "And why not? You two Golden Immortals, apany me. You''ll stall the two Martial Aspects while I destroy Yongding. Once that happens, Dazheng''s morale will drop precipitously. The empire itself might even be done for. I''ll be able to take advantage of the opportunity to destroy Xiao Nanfeng''s other body as well. Although Ao Canghai will quickly rush back once he learns of the news, it''ll be toote by the time the Martial Aspects return to Yongding. If we''re lucky, we might even be able to kill one of the Martial Aspects stationed in Yongding," Yin Peng said.


    "Should we wait for the other three Immortal spirits? They should be returning shortly," the two subordinates suggested.


    "There''s no need. Xiao Nanfeng has eyes on them. Have them stay here and provide cover for us to lure Ao Canghai and the others into a false sense of security. We''ll move out at once!"


    "Understood!" the two subordinates replied.


    Yin Peng summoned a few other subordinates loyal to him and gave them simple orders. Then, he and the two Golden Immortals secretly left Luye and headed straight for Yongding.


    They left covertly and in haste, not realizing that City Lord Chen of Luye had been lying in wait, his eyes baleful as he watched them leave. Then, he retreated into the darkness and vanished from sight.

 Chapter 604: Xiao Nanfeng Takes Down the Bandit-Quelling Army

    <h4>Chapter 604: Xiao Nanfeng Takes Down the Bandit-Quelling Army</h4>


    Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun stepped within. Ao Canghai and ten Martial Aspects were already seated. The other Martial Aspects weren''t in Yongding; it wasn''t clear where they were.


    Ao Canghai had a sip of tea. "Xiao Nanfeng, why have you summoned all of us at thiste hour?"


    "Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, I''m here on ount of the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s death," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost scoffed. "You killed Bluefrost. How can you be so shameless as to summon us here?"


    Zhang Lingjun frowned and interrupted, "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, do you have any evidence of your ims? It''s clear who killed the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost. If you insist on making a fuss over purported wrongdoing and ndering Xiao Nanfeng, we''ll seek out the Heavenly Emperor for arbitration."


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost''s gaze was frosty. He was about to reply when Ao Canghai broke him off. "Enough. We''ll listen to what Xiao Nanfeng has to say."


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost barely suppressed his anger as he turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng said anew, "Eastern Aspect, I''m sure you saw the culprit behind the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s death."


    "It was a roc, along with some aplices. If I''m not mistaken, that roc must be Yin Shenhua''s second son, Yin Peng," the Eastern Aspect replied.


    "Since you know the identity of the killer, everyone, would you be willing to avenge the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost by taking down Yin Peng and his aplices?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost scoffed again. "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, Yin Peng''s themander in charge of the bandit-quelling army, and he''s poised to strike down your army. Do you intend for us to take him down on your behalf since you know you won''t be able to defeat him head-on?"


    "No," Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly. "As I said, I don''t intend to request your assistance when ites to the war atrge. I have my own ns in mind. I simply ask for your aid when there are isted Golden Immortals that you may attack. I don''t intend to go back on my word. However, I feel obligated to do something given the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s death," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai said.


    "If I can bring the culprit behind the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s death before you, Eastern Aspect, are you willing to avenge the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "And can you send Yin Peng before me? Do you intend to lure the entire army over, then have me take down itsmander?" Ao Canghai retorted.


    "I won''t¡ªonly Yin Peng and several of his aplices, no one else."


    Ao Canghai was taken aback.


    Beside him, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was clearly doubtful of Xiao Nanfeng''s im. "What nonsense are you talking about, Xiao Nanfeng? We''re all in Yongding. Why would Yin Peng barge into Yongding on his own? Do you take him for a fool?"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He turned toward Ao Canghai. "Eastern Aspect, what do you think?"


    "If you can bring Bluefrost''s killer over, we won''t let them flee," Ao Canghai dered.


    "We won''t!" the other Martial Aspects agreed.


    "Very well. I''ll give it a try, then. However, once the culprits are dead, except for Yin Peng''s head, which shall be sacrificed to pacify the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost''s soul, I want the rest of their corpses," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The group of Martial Aspects gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. So that was Xiao Nanfeng''s n¡ªto gain all that profit for minimal expenditure in his own right.


    "Try it, then," Ao Canghai said, disbelief stark on his face.


    "I shall bear witness of this arrangement," Zhang Lingjun dered.


    Ao Canghai couldn''t help but frown at this pronouncement, sensing that something was amiss. He immediately added, "However, I''ll only give you ten days. After ten days, no matter what happens next, this arrangement shall be nullified.


    "Ten days is more than sufficient. Yin Peng will be delivered to you within a quarter of an hour," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Hm?" The Martial Aspects were taken aback.


    Just then, a frightening aura surrounded Yongding. The entire city shook violently.


    "An enemy raid!"


    "The defensive formation around the city''s in ruins!"


    "Golden Immortals?!"


    Frenzied shouts could be heard from outside.


    All the Martial Aspects rushed out of the hall to see the defensive barrier around Yongding cracked to an incredible extent, as if it would shatter at any moment. High in the air, a roc could be seen, its wings outspread, golden radiance illuminating it in the night. Beside it were two Golden Immortal spirits, one a giant elephant and the other a blue lion. Killing intent surged around them all.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the roc howled.


    The elephant and lion spirits roared and charged toward the defensive formation around the city once more.


    The formation shattered. A howling tempest surrounded the city as the elephant and lion spirits'' attacks shot toward the pce, intending to turn it into rubble.


    "You bastards! Do you think you''ll be able to get away with killing Bluefrost?" the Martial Aspects roared out.


    They made their move, obliterating the two Golden Immortal spirits'' attacks before charging into the air to take on the three Golden Immortals.


    "What? What''s Ao Canghai doing here?" the lion spirit eximed.


    "Your Highness, didn''t you say that all the Martial Aspects were outside the Immortal city of Luye?" the elephant spirit trumpeted.


    "Damn it, it''s a trap! We''ve fallen for it! Escape!" The roc nched and turned to flee, but Ao Canghai blocked his way and mmed forward with a palm. The roc, sensing death looming, found his feathers standing on end. He defended to the best of his ability, but was still flung back. A ming tempest formed from the impact.


    "Don''t you think it''s toote to flee?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "Die!" the Martial Aspects roared, charging forward.


    Ao Canghai was present alongside ten other Martial Aspects; their opponents consisted solely of the golden roc and two Golden Immortal spirits. If they somehow allowed their opponents to escape, they might as well give up their title of Martial Aspect.


    Fire and wind howled in the skies above Yongding.


    Yongding''s secondary defensive formation activated rapidly, protecting the civilians of the city.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you tricked me!" the roc screeched.


    Down below, Xiao Nanfeng stood before Zhang Lingjun, protecting her, as he looked up at the sky.


    "How did you manage such a feat?" Zhang Lingjun eximed in surprise.


    "I came up with a trap. It worked wonders, didn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You really are incredible," Zhang Lingjun murmured, her eyes filling with admiration.


    Meanwhile, within Luye, not long after Yin Peng and the two Golden Immortal spirits left the city, several golden beams of light headed back to the city from different directions. The other three Golden Immortal spirits had made it back in time.


    "Isn''t His Highness around?" one asked.


    "His Highness isunching a sneak attack on Yongding. He wanted me to ry to you that there are plenty of Martial Aspects in ambush outside the city. If something is amiss, you''re to flee immediately," one of Yin Peng''s subordinates reported.


    "Oh?" One of the Golden Immortal spirits clearly seemed confused.


    "However, His Highness wishes for all of you to rx. He''s about to take down Yongding, and the Martial Aspects outside Luye will likely return once they receive the news. His Highness asks that you aid him by stalling the Martial Aspects outside."


    "Very well." The three Golden Immortal spirits all nodded.


    Far from the city, within Dazheng''s demon-ying army''s garrison, Xiao Nanfeng walked out of themander''s tent. The cultivators behind him were dressed in Martial Aspects'' robes, their faces shrouded in fog.


    "There''s no need for the act any longer. Everything''s been settled. You may go," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    The cultivators immediately cleared away the fog surrounding them, revealing a group of unfamiliar faces. One bowed. "Understood, Your Majesty!"


    That man clearly wasn''t Ao Canghai, but his voice was identical. It had been him pretending to converse with Xiao Nanfeng within the tent all along.


    Just then, Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the others rapidly flew over.


    "Your Majesty, are we about to attack Luye?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Do so now, and do so quickly!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Ye Dafu rallied the army as it began to march toward Luye.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng flew toward Luye. "Senior, it''s all thanks to your spiritual senses. I wouldn''t have known where Yin Peng was otherwise."


    The ck lotus flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape. "He''s a reincarnated cursed effigy as well, and he shares the same source of cursed spiritual power as I do. I sensed him the moment he got past the barrier, which was oveid with my cursed spiritual power. As for you, you truly are a schemer."


    "Thank you for the praise, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "There are three Golden Immortal spirits in the city, and I''ll need your assistance once more."


    "Golden Immortals? If they all attempt to flee, I won''t be able to take them down," the ck lotus said.


    "There''s no need to worry, Senior. Blue Lantern is positioned within the city and is now in control of all its formations thanks to the city lord''s help. I and Blue Lantern will stall two of the Golden Immortal spirits while you quickly take down thest one. We''ll have to work fast before Yin Shenhua sends reinforcements over."


    "Very well!"


    By then, the demon-ying army had marched right up to Luye.


    "Enemy attack!" a guard on the watchtower shouted.


    With a creak, the gates to Luye were flung open.


    "Who opened the gates?!" the guards demanded angrily.


    "Over here, quickly!" Someone directed the demon-ying army into Luye.


    "Spies! Dazheng''s spies have let Dazheng''s army in!" the guard shouted.


    Just then, the city lord ordered, "All soldiers of Luye, do not resist. Do not strike. Remain at your positions and do nothing, or you shall be branded a traitor."


    "Is that the city lord? What''s he nning? Why aren''t we to resist?" countless soldiers and guards cried out.


    The city lord''s newly appointed generals made their rounds, forbidding any of the soldiers and guards from taking action.


    Meanwhile, glimmering lights shot up all around Luye, forming miniature barriers that locked down the city.


    "Who''s activating these formations and trapping the bandit-quelling army?!" a Golden Immortal spirit shouted.


    The next moment, as a ray of golden light shed by, the Golden Immortal spirit was sent flying. He smashed into the barrier in the air. Chains of light emerged from the barrier and bound him to its surface tightly.


    "Damn it, let me go!" the Golden Immortal spirit yelled out.


    "Something''s wrong. We have to flee!" another Golden Immortal spirit shouted.


    "It''s toote!" the ck lotus called out.


    As golden radiance illuminated the skies, the ck lotus transformed into the form of the Past Buddha and thrust a palm toward the bound spirit.

 Chapter 605: Eradicating the Bandit-Quelling Army

    <h4>Chapter 605: Eradicating the Bandit-Quelling Army</h4>


    Within Luye, Blue Lantern trapped a Golden Immortal spirit in a formation as the ck lotus pursued a second and Xiao Nanfeng struck at the third.


    The third Golden Immortal spirit had been preparing to run when Xiao Nanfeng struck at it with his sword. Although it was uninjured, it immediately gave up any thought of retreating. Taking down Xiao Nanfeng would be a tremendous boon, and Xiao Nanfeng was but a Heaven Immortal. Taking him down would be easy, wouldn''t it?


    As it considered its options, Xiao Nanfeng struck at it again. "Die!"


    "Come!" the Golden Immortal spirit shouted, wing at him with a palm.


    The palm met the de in a sh that shattered Xiao Nanfeng''s technique. Xiao Nanfeng was forced back as the palm continued toward him, but he leapt up and avoided the blow.


    "Let''s see just how long you can run for!" the Golden Immortal spirit shouted.


    It swiped at Xiao Nanfeng again at maximum strength, mes in the arc of its wake. Its palm struck Xiao Nanfeng and sent him flying into a giant floating ind, causing the entire city to rumble.


    "What? How could you be alright?!" the Golden Immortal spirit shouted.


    Despite the fact that Xiao Nanfeng''s robes were now rather tattered, his body seemed just fine. He wiped at a trickle of blood by a corner of his lips, barely wounded.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, raising his de up high.


    "How can a mere peak Heaven Immortal block my palm? Just what sort of technique do you cultivate?!" the Golden Immortal spirit eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly rxed. He smiled. "I suppose you won''t have the chance to figure that out."


    The ck lotus had finished off one of the Golden Immortal spirits in the blink of an eye. In the visage of the Past Buddha, it shed to Xiao Nanfeng''s front and protected him.


    "Damn it," the Golden Immortal spirit cursed.


    Without any hesitation, it made for the city gates.


    "Do you think you can escape?" the ck lotus demanded.


    It caught up to the Golden Immortal spirit in no time.


    "You can''t kill me! The Immortal Emperor will be here in no time. If I die, the Immortal Emperor will never let you go!" the Golden Immortal spirit cried out anxiously.


    However, the ck lotus didn''t waste any time. It struck immediately, a palm mming into the Golden Immortal spirit''s chest and causing thetter to strike the ground. Luye rumbled as if a huge earthquake had struck it. The Golden Immortal spirit spat out a mouthful of blood as itnded, its injuries worsening.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had transformed into his True Yin body and was flying toward a certain formation within the city, the base of the Immortal spirits'' bandit-quelling army. They had been trapped within the formation, and Ye Dafu''s demon-ying army was already making its way in. The two armies were at a stalemate, neither quite able to ovee the other.


    As Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the formation, he was immediately discovered by countless Immortal spirits.


    "Take down Xiao Nanfeng! He''s right there!" a group of Immortal spirits shouted.


    Almost a hundred Immortal spirits charged toward him.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Thousands of fists manifested all over the sky, sending the Immortal spirits flying like dandelion seeds from a puff of air. The sight was so shocking that the Immortal spirits who were rushing toward Xiao Nanfeng halted, shocked.


    "The Golden Immortal spirits have fallen. Surrender now, and you won''t be killed!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "The Golden Immortal spirits have fallen. Surrender now, and you won''t be killed!" countless Dazheng Immortals echoed.


    All the Immortal spirits currently inbat nced over in shock to see that the ck lotus had killed its second Golden Immortal spirit. It was now shing into the air toward the final Golden Immortal spirit, which had been bound by a formation.


    "No!"


    The final Golden Immortal spirit screamed piteously as the ck lotus'' blow struck it directly in the head. Blood and bone sprayed out as it perished on the spot.


    All the Immortal spirits froze. Upon hearing that they wouldn''t be killed if they were to surrender, they lost whatever courage they had to keep fighting.


    How were they meant to fight this battle? They were unable to suppress their enemies, without leadership, and trapped within a formation. They couldn''t run even if they wanted to.


    "I''ll surrender!"


    "I''ll surrender too!"


    Countless Immortal spirits surrendered at once.


    Of course, some continued to resist, but they were easily and quickly overwhelmed by the Dazheng Immortals.


    The vast majority of the Immortal spirits had surrendered, and the Dazheng Immortals rushed to seal their cultivation.


    The battle of Luye ended quickly; the bandit-quelling army had been all but wiped out.


    Back in Yongding, Ao Canghai rushed into the air alongside ten Martial Aspects to block their three Golden Immortal enemies. The roc was the strongest of them all. Without Ao Canghai present, he would easily have been able to escape¡ªbut Ao Canghai was present, after all.


    "Endless is the sea!" Ao Canghai intoned.


    With a wave of his hand, a flood of seawater materialized out of nowhere, forming a raging sea in the air that trapped the roc.


    "Power over naturalw? No!" the roc shouted in fear.


    No matter how the roc struggled, he was unable to free himself from the raging sea.


    Ao Canghai wasn''t in too much of a hurry to kill the roc. He nced down at Xiao Nanfeng, not having expected that Xiao Nanfeng really would have been able to lure Yin Peng to Yongding.


    How could Yin Peng have been such a fool as toe to Yongding knowing that Ao Canghai was present? Was he to kill Yin Peng now and deal with themander of the bandit-quelling army for Xiao Nanfeng? He didn''t want to help Xiao Nanfeng out, after all.


    "Trap but don''t kill them. Wait for Yin Shenhua toe provide assistance." Ao Canghai sent out a mental transmission to his loyal Martial Aspects.


    By then, the Martial Aspects had crippled the lion and elephant spirits. When they heard Ao Canghai''smands, the frequency of their attacks immediately slowed.


    Down below them, Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, seemingly having predicted Ao Canghai''s intentions.


    "Leave now, Princess," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "No. Let me apany you," Zhang Lingjun refused, shaking his head.


    Moments before, within Dayin''s imperial study, Yin Shenhua had been discussing a few matters with his subordinates when a guard rushed into the study.


    "Your Majesty, there''s trouble at Luye. Dazheng''s army has made it into the city!"


    "Into the city? Did Peng''er not do his job adequately?" Yin Shenhua frowned mightily.


    Another guard rushed toward the study. "His Majesty, His Highness brought the lion and elephant Golden Immortals with him on a sneak attack of Yongding. He''s been trapped by Ao Canghai and his ten Martial Aspects, and his life''s on the line."


    "Those ipetent fools! Who had them head to Yongding?!" Yin Shenhua shouted. He stood up immediately.


    Then, beams of light shot into the air and toward the south.


    Back in Yongding, despite the Martial Aspects going easy on their opponents, the lion and elephant Golden Immortal spirits had fallen, leaving only the badly injured roc.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. "Looks like even you can''t lure out Yin Shenhua. Forget it, then. Die!"


    With a wave of his hand, the raging sea in the sky froze and turned into countless icicles that shot toward the roc. The icicles chipped off the roc''s feathers in spurts of blood.


    "No! Save me, Father!" the roc howled in despair.


    Just then, a golden palm struck at Ao Canghai from the back.


    "Is he here?" Ao Canghai frowned as he retaliated with a palm of his own.


    A loud boom caused intense mes to light up the night.


    Ao Canghai retreated, his endless sea having shattered in the aftermath of the attack. The roc had been saved. A golden figure stood before the roc, protecting him.


    The Martial Aspects surrounded the enemy who had just arrived as they drew their relics and trapped him in a formation.


    "So you''vee, Yin Shenhua," Ao Canghai said, smiling coldly.


    "Father!" The roc lowered his head in shame.


    "Who had youe to Yongding?!" Yin Shenhua shouted.


    "Xiao Nanfeng tricked me! He lied to me and made me think that Ao Canghai and his Martial Aspects had gone to Luye. That was why I decided tounch a sneak attack on Yongding," the roc replied.


    "You fool!" Yin Shenhua replied.


    The roc grimaced, but didn''t dare retort.


    Yin Shenhua nced at the Martial Aspects all around him. "The Imperial Court''s Ten Absolutes formation? It won''t be able to trap me."


    "With my assistance, it''ll be enough," Ao Canghai dered. "Die!"


    "Die!"


    The Martial Aspects all activated their relics simultaneously, forming a ster river that surged toward Yin Shenhua.


    "Ri''s Golden Body!" Yin Shenhua shouted.


    A giant Buddha in gold appeared over Yin Shenhua''s body, with his precise features. The Buddha struck with a palm, immediately making a tear in the ster river of the Ten Absolutes formation.


    Ao Canghai struck with his palm clenched in the form of a dragon''s w as he struck at the Buddha''s golden body.


    The void itself pulsed, and mes roared up even more brightly into the air.


    Yin Shenhua himself wouldn''t be able to escape, but he threw the roc out through the tear he had formed.


    "You''re wounded. You leave first!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    Then, he engaged in a heated battle against the eleven Martial Aspects.


    High in the air, what was going on was shrouded from those below. Fire and wind raged around thebatants, and all the spectators could see were glimpses of a golden Buddha taking on a giant golden dragon.


    The shockwaves resulting from the battle flung the roc into the distance. The roc grimaced. He didn''t dare join in the fight, but he didn''t want to flee having aplished nothing, either. He lowered his head and looked toward Yongding.


    Though Yongding was protected by a defensive formation, the shockwaves from the fight high above were battering it. It shuddered as if it might copse at any moment.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun were standing before Xuanhuang Hall and observing the fight from down below. Suddenly, as though sensing something, Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze swung toward the roc.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, look at what you''ve done to me! Even if I have to flee, I''ll take you with me!" the roc shouted.


    He swooped straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Martial Aspects and Yin Shenhua saw what the roc was doing, Yin Shenhua frowned, but didn''t stop the roc.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. This turn of events would only benefit him. He made to cooperate. "Capture Yin Shenhua on His Majesty''s orders!"


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    No one stepped forward to help out Xiao Nanfeng; everyone thought he would be done for.


    Indeed, the roc easily broke through the formation above Xuanhuang Hall and dove down toward him. He shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, die!"

 Chapter 606: Dazhengs Code of Laws Seals Yin Peng

    <h4>Chapter 606: Dazheng''s Code of Laws Seals Yin Peng</h4>


    The roc swooped down, its sharp ws like pointed spears as it headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Without any hesitation, Zhang Lingjun unleashed the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat. "Seal!"


    The praying mat blocked the roc as a tempest formed around them, causing the formations in the vicinity to shake.


    "A praying mat? It won''t stop me!" the roc shouted.


    He spat out a beam of golden light that encased a divine halberd. With all his strength, he charged toward the praying mat.


    Another tempest was unleashed as the halberd shed against the praying mat. Though it trembled, the praying mat held firm.


    "Yin Peng''s too strong. He''s no ordinary Golden Immortal, and I can''t use too much of the praying mat''s strength just yet. I won''t be able to hold on for long!" Zhang Lingjun fretted.


    As the halberd grewrger andrger, the praying mat trembled more and more violently, as though it could be sent flying at any moment.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly retrieved a token and activated it, opening up a portal through the void.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, pulling Zhang Lingjun inside with him.


    The two cultivators passed through the portal.


    "Hiding in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, are you? You won''t be able to escape. Even if I have to give up this halberd, I''ll kill you! Detonate!" the roc roared.


    The halberd detonated with incredible strength, sending the praying mat flying in a burst of fire and wind. The formations all around began to crack.


    Gritting his teeth and bearing with his wounds, the roc rushed through the explosion and chased Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun through the portal right before it sealed shut.


    The praying mat trembled and was about to give chase when it btedly realized that the portal had vanished. A burst of red light was emitted from the praying mat, as if it were about to tear apart the void, only to have the portal appear once more as Zhang Lingjun was pushed out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng!" Zhang Lingjun eximed, attempting to fly back inside.


    However, the portal snapped shut before she could do so.


    "No! Let me in, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    She tried to w at the void, but she hardly had the strength to open up a portal on her own.


    "Ao Canghai, Martial Aspects, please save Xiao Nanfeng! Just one or two Martial Aspects will do!" Zhang Lingjun begged anxiously.


    However, the Martial Aspects high in the air smirked coldly. None lent their aid.


    Meanwhile, the praying mat flew back to Zhang Lingjun. She begged again, "Grandmaster, please save Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The praying mat ignored her. It flew back into her hands and began to protect her.


    "Grandmaster, please! I''m begging you, save Xiao Nanfeng!" Zhang Lingjun was so distressed that she knelt to the praying mat, her eyes red with worry.


    Moments before, after Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun entered the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, when Xiao Nanfeng saw that the roc had chased them within, he hurriedly opened another portal and pushed Zhang Lingjun out.


    Simultaneously, with a wave of his hand, countless lengths of red rope descended from the heavens and attempted to bind the roc.


    He could hide in the red moon illusory realm, but was worried that the roc would be able to tear his way out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and hurt Zhang Lingjun or even destroy Yongding. He could hardly count on the Martial Aspects; no, he would have to take the roc on himself.


    "This red rope is useless against me. Xiao Nanfeng, die!"


    The roc broke the lengths of red rope that tried to restrain him and charged forward again. Xiao Nanfeng chose not to dodge. He drew Dazheng''s code ofws and unfurled it.


    "Dazheng''s Code of Laws, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    A brilliant beam of golden light from the code ofws struck the roc.


    The roc suddenly saw a starry sky around him. Countless stars shot toward him as an aura of incredible strength surrounded him.


    "So many naturalws? How could this be?!" the roc eximed.


    In a sh of light, the roc was absorbed into the Dazheng Code of Laws and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng clutched his code ofws in shock. That was it?


    On the scroll was a new drawing of a roc. The roc was clearly frightened and shocked. He struggled furiously, but his surroundings were filled with star maps that continued to seal him and render him motionless.


    "I seeded... A three-dimensional roc, sealed into a two-dimensional drawing? Dazheng''s Code of Laws bears truly incredible strength," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Then, the scroll began to tremble in his hands. The roc on the scroll began to make a move, as though it were trying to escape.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart thumped. "Fortune of Dazheng, to me!"


    The sea of fortune in Dazheng began to rumble. The fortune passed through the void and shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, who infused it into his scroll. Bolstered by fortune, Dazheng''s Code of Laws emanated another incredible burst of golden light as the seal grew even stronger. The roc was rendered immobile once again.


    However, the roc represented a constant drain on his fortune. He would have to continuously expend fortune¡ªat an rming rate, no less¡ªto maintain the enhanced seal.


    "Dazheng''s Code of Laws and the Divine Seal of Dazheng¡ªthey really are going to drain me of fortune, aren''t they?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    He didn''t rush out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm right away, worried that the Martial Aspects and Yin Shenhua would be shocked by the fact that he was unscathed. More variables might be introduced then. Instead, he was waiting for assistance.


    Before long, the ck lotus passed through the void and appeared before him.


    "Senior, thank goodness you''re here! If you had been just momentster, I wouldn''t have been able to trap him," Xiao Nanfeng called out, his eyes brightening.


    "Where''s Yin Peng?" the ck lotus asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng unfurled the scroll he held in his hands, revealing the drawing of the roc within.


    "Your code ofws is truly incredible. Despite being the code ofws of a mere empire, it has the strength of that of a divine empire," the ck lotus murmured.


    "Senior, I''m releasing him now."


    "Very well," the ck lotus replied.


    The ck lotus expanded in size, and the hole on its underside was poised to suck up anything that emerged from Dazheng''s Code of Laws.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing the roc in the scroll to pop out into reality again, regaining his three-dimensional form.


    Frantic, the roc tried to escape the moment he was freed, but he was unable to escape from the ck lotus.


    "No!" the roc howled in despair.


    It was sucked up into the ck hole at the base of the ck lotus. Then, the ck lotus began to vibrate.


    "It''s still struggling," the ck lotus murmured.


    It gradually shrunk until it reached its normal size, then flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape to slowly distill the roc''s essence.


    "Senior, what''s the situation in Yongding now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t know. I entered the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm through other means. You had better take a look yourself," the ck lotus said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    High in the sky above the city of Yongding, rays of golden light shot toward Yin Shenhua from afar¡ªhis subordinates, btedly catching up to him owing to his incredible speed. By the time they arrived, Yin Shenhua had already been engaged in battle with the Martial Aspects for quite some time.


    Thebined strength of Ao Canghai and the ten Martial Aspects was incredible indeed. By then, blood was trickling out of a corner of Yin Shenhua''s lips. He had sustained a fair few wounds and was unable to flee.


    "Protect the ancestral Buddha!" his subordinates shouted.


    Yin Shenhua''s subordinates attacked simultaneously and struck the Martial Aspects surrounding him.


    Sensing the opportunity, Yin Shenhua struck at full force. "Break!"


    Another tempest was unleashed high in the air, illuminating the skies above Yongding.


    The tremendous explosion repulsed the Martial Aspects from Yin Shenhua.


    As he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood, Yin Shenhua clutched his chest and shouted, "Flee!"


    "Understood!"


    Yin Shenhua''s subordinates escorted him off.


    "You won''t be able to escape!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shouted as he gave chase.


    "Don''t bother. Yin Shenhua might be wounded, but not debilitatingly so. If he attempts to flee unhindered, we won''t be able to catch up," Ao Canghai said, scowling.


    "Understood!" The Martial Aspects stopped in their tracks.


    "Eastern Aspect Ao, Martial Aspects, please rescue Xiao Nanfeng!"


    Zhang Lingjun''s praying mat had refused to pay heed to her cries for help. She had no choice but to batter at the void herself, but her limited strength meant that she had no chance of sess. She was tearing up in panic and earnestly begged the Martial Aspects now that they were no longer upied.


    Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects nced at each other, smirking lightly. Ao Canghai said, "Very well. Let''s have a look at the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm."


    They were certain that Xiao Nanfeng had been torn apart by the roc by now. All they would see when they entered the realm was nothing but his corpse. Just thinking about it was making them feel rxed.


    Just then, a void portal appeared beside Zhang Lingjun. Xiao Nanfeng strode out to see Zhang Lingjun in tears.


    "Princess? What''s the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Impossible! That golden roc was a peak Golden Immortal! Even if it were badly injured, Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t have been able to stand against it. How could he be alright?!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cried out.


    The other Martial Aspects were taken aback as well. Ao Canghai grimaced, his good moodpletely ruined.


    Zhang Lingjun gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. She wiped at her eyes to check that it wasn''t an illusion or a trick. Then, she leapt into his embrace and choked out, "I thought you died!"


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feelforted by the depths of her emotion. He patted Zhang Lingjun''s back. "Don''t worry. I''ve returned, safe and sound. What''s more, even if I really had perished, I still have another body."


    Zhang Lingjun slowly calmed down. When she discovered herself in his embrace, she instantly flushed and broke free from his arms.


    "None of that nonsense! I won''t have you die in either of your bodies," Zhang Lingjun pursed her lips.


    Xiao Nanfeng wiped at her tears with a small smile. "Very well. Your wish is mymand, Princess."


    Zhang Lingjun''s face was still red, but she didn''t back down. She seemed to be enjoying the warmth of their mutual affection.


    "Ahem!" the Martial Aspects coughed from nearby.


    They red at the couple, their faces dour.

 Chapter 607: The True Immortal Tribulation

    <h4>Chapter 607: The True Immortal Tribtion</h4>


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how''s Yin Peng doing now?" Ao Canghai asked.


    The other Martial Aspects all stared at Xiao Nanfeng, clearly shocked and annoyed that he had made it out alive despite having been trapped with Yin Peng.


    "I don''t know." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "How can you not know? Wasn''t he chasing you?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost retorted in disbelief.


    "I lured him into the Eastern Sea, then hid within the red moon illusory realm. By the time I came out, he was gone," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Martial Aspects: ...


    None of them believed Xiao Nanfeng''s nonsense, but they didn''t know how to refute what he had said, either.


    "Right, in ordance with our agreement, will you hand me the lion and elephant spirits'' carcasses now?"


    The Martial Aspects felt disgusted by Xiao Nanfeng''s sunny smile. All that work¡ªand it was Xiao Nanfeng who would benefit!


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost retrieved the two carcasses, beheaded them, imed their storage treasures, and even imed their inner cores before handing the headless carcasses to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Those inner cores are clearly part of their bodies," Zhang Lingjunmented icily.


    "Princess, the inner cores are clearly separate from the carcasses themselves," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    Zhang Lingjun, annoyed, was just about to protest on Xiao Nanfeng''s behalf when he stopped her. "It''s alright, Princess."


    Zhang Lingjun continued to re at the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost in dissatisfaction.


    "Once again, Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, I thank you for protecting Yongding." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Ao Canghai''s brows furrowed lightly. "We Martial Aspects will carry out the Heavenly Emperor''s orders to the best of our ability, of course. As for everything else, you''ll have to handle it yourself."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Ao Canghai and the Martial Aspects turned to leave. They felt angry just catching sight of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Princess, thank you for your help today," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "There''s no need for such formalities," Zhang Lingjun said gently, her face taking on a pink tinge.


    Within Dayin''s imperial study, Yin Shenhua nced at a number of worried subordinates standing before him.


    "There''s no need to worry. I''m not badly injured, and will recover after just a few days. If only I were at my peak! I''d easily squash Ao Canghai underfoot as if I were crushing an ant," Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve just received word that Luye has fallen. The entire bandit-quelling army has been obliterated," one official reported.


    "The Immortal city of Luye?" Yin Shenhua''s face fell.


    "Ancestral Buddha, would you like us to head over to Luye and reim it?" one monk asked.


    Yin Shenhua considered the situation for a moment before shaking his head. "Don''t bother."


    "Why not, Ancestral Buddha?"


    "Peng''er being lured out and the subsequent fall of Luye must have been carefully plotted. If you head there now and act carelessly, you might end up being ambushed yourself," Yin Shenhua warned.


    "An ambush?" Yin Shenhua''s subordinates gaped.


    "We''ve lost too much today and can''t afford to take any more risks. Right now, Dayin is the only divine empire that is openly against the Imperial Court; the other divine empires are just watching us struggle. This isn''t how the situation should be. They need tomit to the rebellion themselves, or all that we''ve aplished thus far will only be in service to them," Yin Shenhua said coldly.


    "Understood!"


    "I need to recuperate. As for the rest of you, figure out what''s going on in Luye and see what Dazheng''s nning. We''ll decide on a strategy then. Have the other divine empires strike alongside me and take down the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant."


    "Understood!"


    Just then, Yin Shenhua nced sharply into the air. His face turned colder than ever.


    "What''s wrong, Ancestral Buddha?" one monk asked.


    "The sea of fortune¡ªPeng''er''s dead," Yin Shenhua spat out.


    "What?!" everyone cried out.


    "Investigate what happened!" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "Understood!"


    As dawn broke, the situation in Yongding and Luye was revealed to forces neighboring Dazheng and Dayin.


    When those of power learned of the news, they were astounded. They stared at their reports in disbelief.


    "The bandit-quelling army waspletely wiped out? How could this be?"


    "The demon-ying army took down Luye... That''s impossible!"


    "Yin Peng is badly wounded, his whereabouts are unknown... Yin Shenhua sustained serious injuries in Yongding and fled? Who wrote this nonsensical report?"


    Thundering in outrage, monarchs, lords, and administrators demanded to speak with the spies who had issued such reports, who confirmed and stood by what they had written, as impossible to believe as it was. Dazheng had secured a massive victory in their second confrontation, once again.


    It all seemed fantastical. How could an ordinary empire have taken down a divine empire.


    Countless forces sent more and more spies to Dazheng and Yongding to figure out just what was going on.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body had headed to a secluded ind on the Eastern Sea.


    He sat cross-legged in meditation as the ck lotus floated alongside him.


    "This is the roc''s storage bangle, and there''s quite a few treasures within, including Golden Immortal relics and arge number of top-notch pills. I suppose they should be enough for your ascension," the ck lotus murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the relics and pills before him as he nodded. "In addition to the three Golden Immortal inner cores I ingested, they should be enough."


    He shed at a resplendent golden bowl before him, causing roiling golden energy to gush out. He absorbed it all into his body, then repeated the process with a ming kasaya.


    The fact that he was destroying Golden Immortal relics just to get at the mes and energy within them¡ªif others knew of what he was doing, they would surely call him a wastrel. At that moment, however, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t care less. Advancing his cultivation was paramount.


    He swallowed the top-notch pills in bulk as well, causing mes to re all over his body.


    The ck lotus exined, "There are six grades of Immortals. The lower three grades involve cultivating your qi, your body, and your bones. These form the foundation of your strength and cultivation. As for the upper three grades, those involve contemting on your path and on naturalw as you forge your own way toward the heavens. During your tribtion, meditate on your purpose and see if you can identify your attunement."


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond. He closed his eyes and sensed his cultivation advancing in leaps and bounds.


    Within his dantian, his ten golden crows grewrger than before¡ªnot in terms of size, but more like maturity, as though they had gone beyond fledglings and were now trending toward adulthood. The Imposing Avatar of Ri shone with incandescent light that seemed to be infused with imcable will. The Jade Emperor''s Frame''s manifestation was the most muted. It shone like nurturing jade, as though in possession of the strength to purify the entire world.


    His body resonated as he underwent yet another metamorphosis.


    After an indeterminate period of time, lightning crackled overhead. Dark clouds surged toward him out of nowhere, covering a now-raging stretch of sea.


    A tribtion had arrived, Xiao Nanfeng''s True Immortal tribtion.


    The ck lotus rushed into the distance to avoid the tribtion, lest its presence disturb the advancement.


    It peered carefully at the tribtion once it was sufficiently far away.


    "There''s something wrong with that tribtion! The True Immortal tribtion of the Thousand Buddhas I underwent was fifth in intensity out of all known tribtions. His tribtion, however, is the most intense, the most destructive¡ªthe tribtion of Immortal Annihtion!"the ck lotus gasped. It shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, summon the superior yin pearl, now!"


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng stood up and prepared to undergo his tribtion. When he heard the ck lotus'' cries, he cocked his head in confusion, but quickly changed to his True Yin body. A silver moon rose into the air.


    The tribtion of Immortal Annihtion had locked in on Xiao Nanfeng; it didn''t matter whether he was in his physical or spiritual body. The dark clouds roiled as an increasingly frightening aura gathered around him.


    "Superior Yin Pearl, hurry over now!" the ck lotus called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s silver moon flew toward the ck lotus as Xiao Nanfeng transformed back into his physical body and looked up at the skies.


    The ck lotus said, "Xiao Nanfeng''s undergoing the tribtion of Immortal Annihtion. In the annals of history, none have ever survived this tribtion¡ªat the very least, I''ve never heard of anyone undergoing it as a Heaven Immortal. However, if anyone can do it, it''s Xiao Nanfeng."


    The silver moon considered the ck lotus'' words. Although it didn''t respond, it bobbed up and down, as though nodding and agreeing with the ck lotus.


    "These tribtions ur as a matter of course, and the heavens above don''t tend to pay much attention to them. However, if any Immortal manages to survive the tribtion of Immortal Annihtion¡ªthat''s apletely different story altogether. You don''t want to be exposed to the heavens'' attention, do you?"


    The silver moon was silent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation is still too weak for him to survive heavenly attention. We need to work together to reverse yin and yang, to seal this domain from heavenly sight. I know you can do it. We''ll only need to work together this once, but we have to do it quick!"


    The silver moon didn''t hesitate. Silver light burst forth from its body, a clear sign of agreement.

 Chapter 608: A Drop of Golden Liquid

    <h4>Chapter 608: A Drop of Golden Liquid</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng had been preparing for his uing tribtion for some time, but he didn''t expect it to be quite so intense. The dark clouds surrounded him and everything around him, striking at heaven and earth alike. He had witnessed Zhao Yuanjiao, Ye Dafu, and the others'' True Immortal tribtions, but none had been as sinister as his.


    He took a deep breath and waited patiently, poised to resist the tribtion to the best of his ability, when the dark clouds suddenly vanished.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He stared in shock at the skies that had cleared up as far as his eyes could see. The next moment, however, he felt a sense of imminent death. Those clouds had entered his body.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He quickly sat cross-legged in meditation as he activated his defenses in full force. His ten golden crows, his Imposing Avatar of Ri, his Jade Emperor''s Frame¡ªeverything circting all at once.


    He turned his sight within his body and searched for where the clouds of tribtion had gone. They weren''t in his dantian, nor in his mindscape. Where were they?


    He scanned his entire body and found not a single trace of those clouds, despite the fact that all his senses were reporting that a barrage of annihtion was imminent.


    "True Immortals seek the truth, the pure, the sincere¡ªmy heart," he murmured, stunned.


    He suddenly recalled a fewmon descriptions of True Immortals he had once seen in scripture.


    The heart... Madam Rouge once mentioned that the cultivation of the heart involved cultivating his mental world. Could those clouds of tribtion be in his mental world?


    The first wave of the tribtion began then. Countless strikes of violet lightning appeared out of nowhere, coursing through his body from within to without, electrifying his limbs, muscles, bones, skeletons, and qi meridians.


    His ten golden crows cawed simultaneously in pain, as though injured by the bolts of lightning they had sustained.


    Violet lightning emerged from every pore in his body, tearing his insides apart. Even the Imposing Avatar of Ri sustained a myriad minuscule cracks.


    He spat out a mouthful of blood, already deeply wounded from the first wave of the tribtion alone. It was stronger than a blow from a Golden Immortal.


    In the sea far in the distance, the ck lotus floated above its surface. More and more illusory ck lotuses manifested all across the sea, surrounding the ind on which Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    The ck lotus began to vibrate. ck smoke seeped out of its body, rising into the air and sinking into the sea. The ck smoke gradually turned transparent. The ck smoke seemed vaguely to be interacting with some transparent lines revealed in the void.


    The silver moon rose into the air and shone with pure light. It too began to pluck at the countless revealed threads.


    The threads that the ck lotus manipted joined up with those that the silver moon did, as though forming a huge cage of naturalw protecting Xiao Nanfeng and isting him from the machinations of heaven.


    On the ind, Xiao Nanfeng felt weak all over, but he had survived the first wave of the tribtion. He wiped at the blood trickling down his lips and sank back into meditation, sensing that a second wave was about to begin.


    Before long, a malicious wind blew by, marking the start of the second wave. This time, however, the tribtion took on the form of hands, not of lightning.


    Pitch-ck arms trailing with ck smoke emerged from within his body and wed at his face. The ck arms, though seemingly ethereal, seemed to possess incredible might. They struck his skin with the nk of metal on stone.


    "These hands seem to be charged with cursed spiritual power," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The next moment, they struck his body simultaneously, pounding at him and wing at him and tearing him apart.


    Fortunately, he cultivated the Imposing Avatar of Ri. Though the ck hands did little actual damage, they continued to w at him and multiply the number of minuscule cracks on the Imposing Avatar of Ri.


    In the blink of an eye, they had surrounded his body. Xiao Nanfeng could sense that the hands were trying to pull off not just his superficialyer of skin, but also the blood and flesh beneath, and even his internal organs. He was wracked with pain. Finally, the hands struck his very bones.


    The Jade Emperor''s Frame shone with golden light, melting away the hands like snow struck by the sunlight. They dissolved into ck smoke as they sizzled.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to channel his qi into the Jade Emperor''s Frame until the ck hands and arms fully melted away.


    From afar, the ck lotus floating on the surface of the sea murmured, "To think that Xiao Nanfeng would have been able to deal with the Heavenly Demon''s Hands so easily... the Jade Emperor''s Frame is truly extraordinary."


    High in the sky, the silver moon vibrated. It pulsed out white light, as though in response to the ck lotus.


    "The tribtion of Immortal Annihtion consists of three waves. The first wave alone is enough to annihte most Immortals, though Xiao Nanfeng survived with his Imposing Avatar of Ri and Sky of Ten Suns. The second wave is the Heavenly Demon''s Hands, which Xiao Nanfeng escaped with his Jade Emperor''s Frame. The rumored third wave has the cursed spiritual power of the world away, and no one in antiquity has ever managed to pass it. I don''t know what the situation''s like myself, either," the ck lotus murmured in worry.


    By the conclusion of the second wave, Xiao Nanfeng''s injuries had worsened. The Jade Emperor''s Frame had used up too much strength; Xiao Nanfeng''s bones were turning a little pale, and had even begun to crack. Who knew how much longer he would be able to survive? The tribtion wasn''t yet over. He could sense a third wave of tribtion approaching as an even more sinister force filled his body.


    A gust of purple light surged into his body¡ªnot toward his physical body, but toward his soul. Though he was in physical form, he could clearly sense the assault on his spirit.


    "Something''s wrong!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He immediately switched to his True Yin body, only to see the purple light bind his spirit in a purple cocoon.


    "This third wave of the tribtion is attacking his spirit! Superior Yin Pearl, return him his spiritual moon, hurry!" the ck lotus eximed.


    However, the silver moon remained hanging in the air.


    "What? There''s no need? This third wave of tribtion isn''t targeting his spirit, but his truesoul?!" the ck lotus eximed.


    Afar, surrounded by purple light, Xiao Nanfeng began to resist this third invasion of his body. Suddenly, he found himself being tossed toward outer space, toward a patch of starry sky. All that he could see was the twinkling of stars and the darkness of space. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of chilly void.


    He was tossed forward by a force beyondpare, unable to grasp or take ahold of anything around him. All he could sense was the passage of time quickening once and again. A day, a year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years¡ªno one spoke to him. He continued to fly, sensing a loneliness without end. All he could do during this thousand-year period was close his eyes and contemte the star maps, naturalws, and divine abilities he had already begun to grasp. Naturally, he made great strides forward.


    After an interminable period of time, he finally reached a giant golden screen of light, so big it seemed to have cut off part of the universe. It was endless in expanse.


    Beyond the golden screen of light were countless cursed effigies, all overflowing with cursed spiritual power. They seemed to be trapped on the opposite side. Some of their cursed spiritual power seeped out past the screen, taking him by surprise.


    He tentatively touched the screen of light. With a buzz, countless cursed effigies surged toward him, as though attempting to possess him from the other side of the barrier. For some reason, however, the golden screen seemed to radiate some form of affection toward him. Not only did it block all the cursed effigies in the way, it even granted him a drop of a curious golden liquid. Then, the screen suddenly vibrated.


    He was sent flying back through the endless expanse of space, unable to struggle, unable to resist. All he could do was count the passage of time. A day, a year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years¡ªhe continued to contemte the mysteries of the star maps, naturalw, and divine abilities.


    And during that trip through space and time, he learned of a truth: the golden screen of light really had granted him a drop of golden liquid, one so arcane that he hadn''t managed to gain any understanding of it even after a thousand years.


    With a hum, he returned to the real world, suddenly shivering as he found himself back in his True Yin body. He was still seated on his ind; his passage through space and time seemed almost like a vanishing dream. The purple light that had cocooned his body had likewise vanished.


    The clouds of tribtion within his body began to transform¡ªfrom pitch-ck to rainbow-colored, shining with prosperity and fortune, looming with opportunity. The clouds infused his limbs, bones, and spirit with the potential for growth, causing rainbow light to emanate from him.


    Afar, the ck lotus was taken aback. "Has he ovee the third wave of tribtion? How did he do it? Were you able to sense what he did, Superior Yin Pearl?"


    The silver moon high in the sky pulsed with white light in response.


    "You can''t tell, either? That does make me feel better. What secrets could he possess, I wonder? To be able to ovee even a tribtion aimed at his truesoul... There must be more secrets he''s still hiding," the ck lotus murmured to itself.


    For the time being, Xiao Nanfeng ignored the transformation that was happening all across his body. Rather, he was deep in search for the golden drop of liquid that he had brought back from the golden screen of light.


    However, despite searching all over his body, he couldn''t find where that golden drop of liquid had gone.


    "I''m sure I brought it back with me, and I can sense it within my body. But I can''t find it! Could it have hidden in my mental world, or elsewhere?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Just then, the silver moon flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and vanished. The ck lotus drew up to him as well. "Xiao Nanfeng, what are you waiting for? You''ve passed your tribtion, haven''t you? You have to advance all your techniques with the rainbow energy you''ve acquired. Don''t waste it!"


    "I understand." Xiao Nanfeng intoned, "Cut apart the false and keep the true, and be reborn as a True Immortal."


    The Sky of Ten Suns, the Imposing Avatar of Ri, and the Jade Emperor''s Frame were techniques that Xiao Nanfeng had picked up during his cultivation that were meant to serve him throughout his entire journey as a cultivator. To this end, they could be upgraded as he grew stronger, and the rainbow energy that was the reward for sessfully oveing a tribtion was crucial to those upgrades. Though his tribtion had been the strongest of all known tribtions, the energy he received for oveing it wasmensurate in extent.


    He swiftly consumed all that radiant energy as his ten golden crows underwent another metamorphosis. They hadpletely left their fledgling bodies behind and be adult crows in truth. The cracks in the Imposing Avatar of Ri were smoothed over as Buddhist light radiated from his body, along with a burst of invincible me. The Jade Emperor''s Frame glowed with renewed radiance and the domineering aura of a monarch.


    The moment he expended all the rainbow energy he had umted, a surge of incredible energy emanated from his body. Deep gullies formed underfoot, radiating in every direction.


    "The first stage of the True Immortal realm," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He opened his eyes and exhaled in excitement.

 Chapter 609: Return Our Loved Ones

    <h4>Chapter 609: Return Our Loved Ones</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng''s main body underwent a tribtion, Luye was in turmoil.


    Not all the cultivators of Luye had been willing to revolt alongside the city lord. Many had been unaware of what was happening and taken by surprise. The fact that the city lord had betrayed Dayin for Dazheng left them stunned.


    An average Immortal city had reservesparable to an ordinary empire. Why would the city lord of Luye have any reason to be loyal to an ordinary empire? Such a situation beggared belief.


    As a result, Luye was trapped in turmoil. The strongest ns of the city immediately took up arms as they attempted to overthrow the city lord in a coup and return the governance of Luye to Dayin.


    The demon-ying army didn''t interfere. City Lord Chen and a group of ns that had already sworn loyalty to Dazheng defended against the rebels.


    Very quickly, the turmoil localized itself to a huge za. Cultivators on both sides drew their weapons and engaged in a fight to the death.


    "Chen Xiaotian, you''ve betrayed the Immortal Emperor''s faith in you!"


    "We chose to serve Dayin as officials and allowed you to lead the city out of respect to your n. Is this how you repay our efforts?!"


    "You traitor! Our expectations, the public''s trust, Dayin''s faith¡ªyou''ve undermined everything!"


    Many of the prominent ns of Luye were in uproar.


    Chen Xiaotian took a deep breath. Our ns have known each other for generations. I take full responsibility for what has happened. I apologize. It is true that I''ve undermined your expectations and the public''s trust."


    "In that case, you should turn against Dazheng now! Once Dayin sends reinforcements, fight together with them to chase Dazheng''s army out of Luye!" one cultivator suggested.


    "No, you misunderstand me. I said that I''ve undermined your expectations and the public''s trust¡ªbut I owe Dayin nothing. Rather, Dayin has made fools of us all!" Chen Xiaotian roared.


    "What?" the n heads demanded.


    "Are you aware of what happens to those geniuses of ours chosen in the annual talent recruitment? Where have they all gone?" Chen Xiaotian''s eyes shed with fury.


    "Aren''t they all in secret organizations all across Dayin? I heard that my son was sent to be a spy in another divine empire. The Immortal Emperor''s ns are deep and far-reaching. It''s clear he has grand ambitions for the empire," a n head said.


    "No, you''re wrong. We were all wrong," Chen Xiaotian refuted him, his voice choked with emotion.


    "What do you mean? Where else could they have gone?"


    "Chen Xiaotian, tell us what you know!"


    "Where is my daughter?"


    The n heads demanded an answer from Chen Xiaotian.


    "They''ve all been eaten," Chen Xiaotian replied.


    The za was silent. Many were certain that they had misheard. They stared at Chen Xiaotian, utterly bbergasted.


    Chen Xiaotian''s eyes filled with tears. He bowed deeply toward the gathered n heads, causing them to feel an uneasy premonition that cut through their shock and anger.


    "Once again, I apologize. I believed in the words of a treacherous tyrant and didn''t uncover the truth. Yin Shenhua is a cursed king from an era eighty thousand years in the past. His subordinates are all cursed effigies who have revived. He established the divine empire of Dayin in an attempt to secretly grow in strength, to restore his own cultivation and those of his cursed effigies. However, ordinary methods were too slow for them. Yin Shenhua chose to take shortcuts, waging wars and taking hostages. Haven''t you all wondered why Dayin frequently destroyed cities rather than take them over during its expansion?


    "Why destroy these cities? It''s because those cursed effigies need to consume people to grow stronger more quickly! Only when the divine and ordinary empires around us began to ally together did they finally relent. And when they couldn''t devour any enemy cultivators from nearbynds, they turned on us instead. How many of our criminals are sent off toward the capital, never to be seen again? Have you considered this?" Chen Xiaotian asked.


    The n heads gulped. Their uneasy premonition grew even stronger.


    "He has all sorts of cursed effigies as subordinates, and they benefit from a variety of cultivators. For instance, those who focus on dual cultivation im all manner of women with unique or rare constitutions, whereas those who focus on spiritual cultivation prefer cultivators of either gender born during certain celestial phenomena. Those who cultivate their body absorb simr cultivators and leave them as husks. Just about everyone we''ve sent to the capital is now dead!" Chen Xiaotian eximed.


    "Impossible. That''s impossible!" the n heads shouted.


    "Do you know why these n heads working with me have all chosen to betray Dayin?" Chen Xiaotian pointed at those cultivators standing behind him.


    They gnashed their teeth in hatred and nodded at the n heads they were facing. Chen Xiaotian was telling the truth.


    "You''re lying!" a n head roared, unwilling to ept that such cruelty could be the truth.


    "The official responsible for the talent recruitment is the prime minister of Dayin, Mo Shanhe. Xiao Nanfeng has caught and interrogated Mo Shanhe, forcing him to reveal the truth. Mo Shanhe has detailed records of which cultivators were sent to which cursed effigies. The lists are exhaustive. Allow me to show them to you now. See where your rtives have ended up!" Chen Xiaotian eximed.


    With a wave of his hand, silk banners were unfurled from the air.


    Upon seeing the densely packed records, the n heads shuddered in fear.


    "How could that be? Do you have any evidence? You''re only telling us your side of the story!" a n head countered.


    "I''m the city lord of an Immortal city! My status isparable to that of an ordinary emperor. Why would I betray a divine empire and be an official of an ordinary empire otherwise? You''ll find old enemies of mine among the n heads supporting me. Why would they suddenly have changed their mind?" Chen Xiaotian roared.


    Many of the n heads were frowning and shaking violently now. They were on the cusp of changing their minds.


    "We officials are a monarch''s limbs, the implements by which the monarch rules. We exalt our monarch beyond our very parents¡ªand yet Yin Shenhua''s sole aim is to rear us like cattle. He has caused the deaths of the most talented cultivators of our ns. I would kill him if I could. I would feast on his flesh, drink his blood, and avenge my rtives! I have made a terrible mistake¡ªto my n, to all of you gathered here, and to the people of Luye," Chen Xiaotian admitted.


    "But to turn to Dazheng instead? They''ve killed their fair share of our ns'' cultivators, too!" someone argued.


    Just then, Chen Xiaotian''s son, Chen Shiwu, stepped forward. "Senior n heads, I am Chen Shiwu. I was once dispatched to Dazheng as part of the initial salvo of cultivators and forced to attack Dazheng civilians. I waster taken hostage and have been allowed to return. The ultimate culprit and mastermind behind the deaths of our Immortals is none other than Yin Shenhua. Many of us Immortals remain alive as Dazheng''s hostages. Once theye to their senses, Dazheng will release them and allow them to return, as they did with me."


    "In that case, my son might yet return from Dazheng?"


    "Could Yin Shenhua really be such an evil demon?"


    "My sister was selected during the talent recruitment. Could something have happened to her...?"


    The n heads stared at each other, shaking their heads in mute horror.


    The Chen n was renowned within the Immortal city of Luye, and many chose to believe in Chen Xiaotian''s promation. They dropped their weapons and looked around anxiously in panic.


    Their fear, their hatred¡ªall of it was spreading out from the za toward the far reaches of the city.


    As for those dense lists of talented cultivators and their subsequent whereabouts, many cultivators couldn''t even bear to catch sight of them. They turned their heads away as the banners fluttered in the wind.


    Just then, Chen Xiaotian said again, "In the name of the former city lord of Luye, I invite all those from the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin to revolt against the tyrant Yin Shenhua! Let us confront him for the sake of our loved ones'' lives!"


    "Return our loved ones!" the cultivators behind him roared.


    "Return our loved ones!" the cultivators all over Luye roared.


    The news rapidly spread across the entire city. When ordinary civilians learned of it, they flocked toward the silk banners that had been unveiled, screaming in terror and fear as they caught sight of their children and rtives'' names.


    "My dear daughter, I told you not to participate, but you defied me! Oh, my dear daughter!"


    "My three brothers are all dead. They''ve all been eaten? This can''t be..."


    "My beloved son...!"


    Countless cries all over the city resolved into a united shout: "Return our loved ones!"


    The turmoil in Luye was over, but an even more violent disturbance was about to spread across the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin.


    Many cultivators in Luye had clones, allowing them to spread information at an incredible rate. The spectral guards scattered all over the Immortal cities of Dayin also did the same. Such news, which concerned the rtives of all cultivators across the empire, could hardly be hidden. All of Dayin began to rage.


    Countless Immortal cities were in a frenzy.


    In some Immortal cities, civilians and n cultivators were already marching toward their respective city lords'' manors.


    "Governor, is it true that the Immortal Emperor and his cursed effigy subordinates have eaten our rtives?"


    "Governor, if you im it''s a lie, then show us our rtives who have been chosen to serve the empire!"


    "Countless cultivators have been chosen over the years. Even if the majority have been sent to spy on other divine empires, surely it isn''t hard to have a batch return to Dayin for the time being? How else can we be confident that you''re telling the truth?"


    Many cities were in an uproar. Even Dayin''s capital was under siege from all manner of cultivators.


    "Return our loved ones! Return our loved ones!" Such chants could be heard all over Dayin, leaving its officials panicking and frantic. Yin Shenhua was in secluded cultivation as he recuperated; the topmost officials had no guidance as to what to do.


    Within Yongding, in a secluded pavilion, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was having a match of go with Wen Zhong.


    "Your Majesty, the second step of our n to destroy Yin, involving civil unrest, seems to be going well." Wen Zhong smiled.


    "We were lucky to have City Lord Chen Xiaotian spread the word on our behalf. He''s a renowned cultivator, and his status speaks for itself." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Wen Zhong shook his head. "Even if he weren''t so inclined, Your Majesty, it would only have slowed you down by a day or two."


    "Once those cursed effigies show themselves, Yin Shenhua''s ims will clearly be exposed for the lies they are," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "But after such a disturbance, I''m afraid Dayin will surely counterattack," Wen Zhong continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously. "That''s only natural."


    "The counterattack will be swift and fierce. Taking on Dayin alone is stretching us to our limits; we need to ensure that no other force meddles in this war. Otherwise, the oue might well be disastrous."


    "Inform the officials of rites and rituals that they may make their move. Force our neighboring powers into dering for Dayin or Dazheng¡ªat the least, ensure that they won''t act rashly," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood, Your Majesty." Wen Zhong nodded.

 Chapter 610: A Cruel Peacock

    <h4>Chapter 610: A Cruel Peacock</h4>


    An empire sharing a border with Dayin received word of the rumors guing Dayin. Their current session of court was particrly animated.


    "Xiao Nanfeng really is acting rapidly. That bombshell of his..."


    "Is Yin Shenhua really rearing cultivators like livestock? I''m shivering just thinking of it."


    "Who knows if it''s the truth? There''s all sorts of rumors flying about. Dayin''s citizens are in an uproar."


    "Didn''t some Dayin officials decry those rumors as falsehoods?"


    "So what? It''s true that none of those cultivators picked in Dayin''s annual talent recruitments have ever returned. Their officials can state whatever they want, but they can''t hide the truth."


    "Officials, what are your thoughts on this affair?" the emperor asked.


    The officials fell silent as they turned to their emperor and began to present their thoughts in turn.


    "Your Majesty, the Immortal city of Luye has surrendered to Dazheng, so any ims that Luye makes can''t be trusted. Furthermore, it''s obvious that Dazheng is deliberately spreading this rumor all over Dayin; the news would have been suppressed otherwise. We cannot trust such propaganda."


    "On the other hand, Your Majesty, I am of the belief that these rumors are the truth. It is easily verifiable that those cultivators who have been selected from Dayin''s talent recruitments have all vanished. It would be trivial for Dayin to prove these rumors false, and doing so would only result in bacsh against Dazheng. Would Xiao Nanfeng do something so foolish?"


    "I agree, Your Majesty. Dayin is truly despicable."


    The majority of the officials believed that the rumors held at least some credence.


    The emperor narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. There was tremendous benefit to be imed in the war between Dazheng and Dayin, though he had been vaciting about whether or not to go for it in earnest.


    Just then, an official rushed into the hall and bowed. "Your Majesty, envoys from Dazheng request an audience with you."


    "What? Envoys from Dazheng?" The officials of court were taken aback.


    "Send them in," the emperor dered.


    "Send for Dazheng''s envoys!" the officials at the back echoed.


    Dazheng''s envoys were quickly ushered into the pce.


    The envoys bowed. "I am Zhao Lang, representing His Majesty of Dazheng. I greet the emperor of Dalie."


    "On what business do you visit Dalie today?"


    "Yin Shenhua and his cadre of cursed effigies rear cultivators as livestock. Now that their demonic deeds have been exposed, they are enemies of the world. On His Majesty''s orders, I hereby invite Dalie to join Dazheng on the battlefield to save the world!" Zhao Lang eximed.


    The officials of court were taken aback. Was Xiao Nanfeng searching for allies to take on Dayin together?


    On his throne, the emperor fumed. Couldn''t these envoys havee in secret? Discussing an alliance in a public venue¡ªwhat could he do? Helping one side necessarily meant offending the other. Would he be able to handle Dayin''s revenge?


    Several dayster, within Dayin''s imperial study, though his injuries had all recovered, Yin Shenhua stared at his officials with a frustrated look on his face. "Is there yet unrest?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Although we''ve denied all rumors, the people are all in uproar. Meanwhile, Dazheng''s cultivators are continuing to make things worse. The problem is that the lists of cultivators they''ve revealed are far tooprehensive. It''s very difficult for us to suppress the truth," an official said.


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes. "Lists? To think that Mo Shanhe would still have them in his possession. He ought to have disposed of them well in advance."


    "Your Majesty, what do we do now?" the official asked.


    "Continue to deny the rumors and suppress any issues that arise. Once Dazheng is dealt with, everything will die down.


    "Understood!"


    "Ancestral Buddha, Xiao Nanfeng''s sly and cunning. He has a group of Martial Aspects in his employ, and he won''t be easy to kill. Ao Canghai is a Boundless Immortal, and none of the rest of us can handle him," a monk murmured.


    "If you can''t take down Ao Canghai on your own, then enlist the help of others," Yin Shenhua said coldly.


    "Ask the other Immortal Emperors to strike with us, Your Majesty?" the monk asked.


    "Indeed. The Immortal Emperor of Dachi, among others, is allied with me. I have evidence that they intend to rebel against the Imperial Court, so they''ll be forced to cooperate," Yin Shenhua replied confidently.


    Just then, an official rushed into the study. "Immortal Emperor, I have urgent news about the divine empire of Dachi."


    "Hm?" Yin Shenhua frowned.


    "My main body headed to Dachi as an envoy to request Dachi''s aid against the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. Coincidentally, Dazheng''s envoys were present as well."


    "Oh?"


    "Dazheng''s envoys invited Dachi to take down Dayin together, iming that if Dachi dared to assist the demonic Dayin, the Imperial Court would surely rain down lightning strikes in retaliation."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s threatening the Immortal Emperor of Dachi? Is he crazy? What did the emperor say?" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi told me that, not only had Xiao Nanfeng invited him into an alliance, he had invited all the ordinary and divine empires nearby to take on Dayin together. The whole world''s aware of what he''s doing. He ims that it''s a particrly sensitive period, that everyone will be eyeing who joins which side. He''s forced to remain neutral for the time being, and he wants you to suppress the rumors from your empire first. Otherwise, no one will dare to ally with you, Your Majesty," the official reported.


    Yin Shenhua''s tone was icy. "Xiao Nanfeng again?"


    Just then, the study rumbled. A huge crash could be heard.


    "An earthquake?" several officials cried out.


    "The disturbance is from an underground Buddha''s Grotto. Has the first prince emerged from secluded cultivation?" A monk''s eyes lit up.


    Yin Shenhua immediately got up and stepped out of the study. The monks trailed him in an orderly row. They headed toward a part of the pce sealed with a formation. Fog shrouded the area, preventing anyone from seeing whaty within.


    An abyss awaited Yin Shenhua and the monks, the depths within as dark as ink. Suddenly, shining blue light emerged from the abyss and illuminated it in its entirety.


    A huge peacock appeared in sight, releasing a tremendous aura as it did so.


    "I''m hungry. Father, I''m so hungry! I need to eat!" the giant peacock cawed.


    "We greet Your Highness." The officials bowed respectfully.


    Yin Shenhua stared at the peacock. "If you''re that hungry, go hunt outside Dayin''s borders. Have some officials apany you so they can update you on what has happened in Dayin since.


    "Yes, Father!" the peacock replied. He turned toward a monk. "You, follow me."


    The peacock soared into the air with the monk, impatient and famished, disappearing over the horizon in a sh of blue light.


    Before long, they flew out of Dayin and toward a city in the distance. The peacock was about to descend when the monk interjected, "Dayin''s been having some trouble recently, and this location is too exposed. You can''t eat anyone here, Your Highness. Let''s head further toward the Eastern Sea and find some Immortal sect where you can eat your fill."


    The peacock was famished, but he nodded and flew further toward the horizon.


    Before long, he and the monk arrived on an ind guarded by a defensive formation.


    With a p of the peacock''s wings, a gust of ck wind shattered the formation. Rosy light shot into the air as incensed shouts came from the ind.


    "Who dares attack our Immortal sect?!" the Immortal in the lead shouted.


    The peacock ignored them. With another p of his wings, ck gusts of wind swept across the entire ind, sucking up all the cultivators on it.


    "Save us, Sect Master!"


    "Free my disciples, you beast!"


    "Run!"


    All manner of shouts could be heard from the ind, but none of the disciples within were able to escape the force of the ck wind. They were quickly flung into the peacock''s mouth and swallowed up.


    Before long, the entire sect had been consumed.


    "Has your hunger been relieved, Your Highness?" the monk asked.


    "It''s far from enough. I''ll need more. Bring me to the nearest Immortal sect!" the peacockmanded.

 Chapter 611: The Second Wave of Retaliation

    <h4>Chapter 611: The Second Wave of Retaliation</h4>


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, a teary-eyed soldier reported to Xiao Nanfeng, "Your Majesty, please assist me! My avatar and all the cultivators of my sect were eaten by a peacock spirit. A monk was guiding the peacock, and I recognized him as Yin Shenhua''s subordinate. He fought at Yongding not long ago!"


    "If I''m not mistaken, your Immortal sect is in the Eastern Sea, but far from Taiqing Ind, isn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. I''m from an Immortal sect from a far-flung ind with a higher concentration of spiritual aether than around Taiqing Ind, and there are plenty of Immortal sects there. I came here as a traveler and, having learned of your strength, chose to join the Dazheng Empire. I know that my Immortal sect bears no connection to you, Your Majesty, but I simply don''t know what else to do about the utter annihtion of my sect..." the soldier gritted out.


    "I''m aware of the situation. I''ll have my subordinates investigate that peacock spirit. If it really is from Dayin, I''ll take care of it," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" The soldier bowed in gratitude.


    As the soldier left, Xiao Nanfeng rapped his knuckles against his table as he considered what he had just learned. "A peacock with a bodhisattva as a guard? Who could he be?"


    "He''s the cruel peacock of Mt. Ling from eighty thousand years ago, the older brother of that roc, Yin Peng," the ck lotus said from his mindscape.


    "The roc''s older brother? If he reincarnated as the roc''s older brother again in this life, then he must be Yin Shenhua''s eldest son, Yin Mingwang," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "I''m not familiar with the specifics," the ck lotus replied.


    "How strong is that peacock? And what''s his personality like?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "In my era, despite the fact that the peacock was only a bodhisattva, he was strong enough to win against quite a few Buddhas. He''s cruel and possesses essentially no humanity, and has quite a repertoire of tricks. He was the fiercest avian of Mt. Ling of the era, and was on particrly good terms with the roc. Once, he even fought the Future Buddha on the roc''s behalf," the ck lotus recalled.


    "A brotherplex?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I suspect he has just recovered his memories of the past. If he truly is Yin Shenhua''s son, however, he must have received the lion''s share of cultivation resources. ording to that soldier''s description, he''s surely stronger than the roc from before," the ck lotus warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your pointers, Senior."


    At that moment, hovering above a stretch of the Eastern Sea, the peacock had finally sated his hunger after devouring the cultivators of eighteen Immortal sects. He transformed into a blue-robed man.


    "What? Yin Peng''s dead? Who killed him?!" the peacock, Yin Mingwang, demanded.


    "We don''t know, Your Highness. The situation was like this..." The monk exined everything that was known about Yin Peng''s death, then analyzed, "Xiao Nanfeng should have been no match for His Highness. Even if Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed effigy had made a move, His Highness should have been able to flee if he put his mind to it. The fact that he still died made us conclude that..."


    "Conclude what?"


    "There were eleven Martial Aspects trapping the ancestral Buddha, but four more Golden Immortal Martial Aspects remained unounted for. We guessed that Xiao Nanfeng didn''t actually head into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm to escape. Rather, the four Martial Aspects might have been hiding there. They, along with Xiao Nanfeng''s cursed effigy, took down His Highness together," the monk said.


    Yin Mingwang''s face contorted with fury. "Martial Aspects? Cursed effigies? For killing my brother, all of them will pay. We''ll head back right away!"


    "Understood!"


    The two cultivators shot toward Dayin''s capital.


    On the way, the bodhisattva told Yin Mingwang about everything that had happened to date. His face turned dark and dour. He rushed back to Dayin''s pce and found Yin Shenhua as quickly as he could.


    "Father," Yin Mingwang called out, bowing toward him.


    "Have you learned what''s going on?" Yin Shenhua asked.


    "Yes, Father. You''ve been too indecisive," Yin Mingwang said bluntly.


    The monks in the vicinity gave Yin Mingwang an rmed nce, but they didn''t say anything. Within the divine empire of Dayin, only Yin Mingwang dared to speak to Yin Shenhua in this fashion.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s a slippery foe, especially considering that he''s shielding himself with Ao Canghai. However, I''ve sent envoys to other Immortal Emperors to invite them to deal with Ao Canghai together," Yin Shenhua replied.


    Yin Mingwang asked, "And have those Immortal Emperors epted? They haven''t, have they?"


    Yin Shenhua frowned.


    "The Imperial Court sent only eighteen Martial Aspects against Dayin as a warning: if other forces interfere, then the Imperial Court will send more of its cultivators over. That''s why none of the Immortal Emperors dare make a move. What''s more, they''re waiting for us to weaken the Imperial Court on their behalf. Why would they help us out?" Yin Mingwang asked.


    Yin Shenhua nodded. "I am aware, but..."


    "I know what you''re worried about, Father. You don''t want to expose your army of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats, causing even more negative attention directed your way. However, we''re already taking on the Imperial Court. What''s there to hide? As long as we destroy the Martial Aspects and Dazheng, all those rumors and discussion will quickly fade," Yin Mingwang said.


    A Buddha spoke up. "But if we were to expose ourselves, the Immortal cities of Dayin would surely rebel in earnest."


    "The citizens of this empire are nothing more than ants. Eat them all to strengthen ourselves, then! Those who go against us shall die. That''s how it''s always been, and how it was in the past. Kill, kill, kill! Victory is built on a mountain of corpses," Yin Mingwang retorted.


    "This era cannot bepared to that eighty thousand years in the past," Yin Shenhua replied, frowning.


    "Father, this isn''t about eras. Eighty thousand years ago, we tore apart the world and decimated the popce in pursuit of individual power. That''s what their purpose in life is¡ªto provide us with food and rations! As long as they don''t all die, they can be repopted in the future as our livestock. We''ll eat them as we please. Why care about them? Father, where has your ambition gone?!" Yin Mingwang shouted in exasperation.


    Yin Shenhua took a deep breath. "I know you want to avenge Peng''er, but the state of the world is indeed different from before."


    "How?"


    "Eighty thousand years ago, only a scant few cursed effigies had revived. In the present day, however, all cursed effigies from past eras seem to have made their way back all at once."


    "What?!"


    "Do you really think all the other Immortal Emperors are just figureheads? No¡ªthey''re just like us. Either they''re being supported by cursed kings, or they''re cursed kings themselves. Do you remember the divine empire of Dawei from a millennium ago? Emperor Wei fell because he was fighting against a cursed king. Emperor Feng, from a century past, likewise received the help of a cursed effigy. The other divine empires are much the same."


    "Is that true?" Yin Mingwang eximed.


    "I''ve confirmed it myself. The Heavenly Emperor of the present, Yu Fuli, bears immense strength. For him to be able to suppress the world despite the revival of the cursed kings of the past¡ªwe live in a different world now," Yin Shenhua concluded.


    Yin Mingwang scowled. "Even so, we have to fight and seize power for ourselves! If we remain this cowardly¡ªare we going to allow those Martial Aspects to clip our wings?"


    Yin Shenhua frowned, considering the pros and cons of Yin Mingwang''s approach.


    "Father, I studied the two confrontations between Dayin and Dazheng. During the second confrontation, Yin Peng was tricked. During the first, however, it''s clear that you underestimated your opponent. When I retaliate, my emphasis will be on taking down critical targets," Yin Mingwang said.


    "What do you intend to do?" Yin Shenhua asked.


    "Father, you and your subordinates dy Ao Canghai and his Martial Aspects. I''ll bring my subordinates to destroy Dazheng. After we take down Dazheng and ughter the Martial Aspects, we''ll be able to quell any rumors that persist."


    Yin Shenhua nodded. "Very well."


    Three dayster, in the skies above Dazheng, Yin Mingwang looked down at one of Dazheng''s many ordinary cities. Several subordinates were behind him.


    "We''ll strike simultaneously in an hour," Yin Mingwangmanded.


    "Understood!" one of his subordinates replied.


    High above the clouds, Yin Mingwang stared at Yongding in the distance. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, let''s see how you intend to resist my forces this time."


    Golden arhats were poised above the clouds in all five thousand cities of Dazheng. They stared at the city thaty below them, killing intent in their eyes.


    An hour passed in an instant.


    Yin Mingwang was the first to strike. He spread his wings and transformed into a peacock.


    He spread his wings wide, causing a gust of ck wind to strike the city below him. The city''s defensive formation activated instantly, but was unable to bear the attack for more than a single moment.


    The defensive formation shattered as the entire city rumbled violently.


    Countless cultivators, sensing that something was amiss, attempted to flee as quickly as they could.


    "The formation shattered. Let''s run!"


    "This is Dazheng''s highest alert. Don''t counterattack. Run at any cost!"


    "Everyone, let''s flee!"


    Though the cultivators within the city shouted to each other, it was all for naught.


    The peacock, his eyes cold, pped his wings again. ck wind surrounded the city, preventing anyone from escaping. They were sucked toward the peacock''s mouth.


    "No! Save us!"


    "Save us, Your Majesty!"


    "Save me!"


    Countless civilians cried out in fear as they tumbled into the peacock''s open mouth, unable to stop the carnage unfolding around them.


    Simultaneously, countless arhats descended from the air and attacked the cities down below. The arhats were all True Immortals, and each was easily able to destroy a city of ordinary civilians and cultivators.


    The five thousand cities of Dazheng were all struck by a barrage of attacks.


    In Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng had been perusing a stack of documents when a guard rushed into his study.


    "Your Majesty, countless True Immortal arhats are simultaneously attacking all the cities of Dazheng. The city of Linsha, by the border, is being besieged by a peacock spirit. Its ck winds are raging across the city as it devours all the civilians within," the guard reported quickly.


    "They''re targeting civilians themselves? Those damned bastards!" Xiao Nanfeng stood up immediately. His features were contorted in rage. He looked toward another guard. "Let your avatar inform the senior that the peacock is in Linsha. Request that it hold back the peacock and save as many civilians as it can for the moment. I''ll support it as quickly as I can."


    "Understood!" the guard replied.


    Clearly, the ck lotus was stationed in another city so as to reduce the travel time needed to respond to any threats in Dazheng.

 Chapter 612: Prepared Countermeasures

    <h4>Chapter 612: Prepared Countermeasures</h4>


    Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, Ao Canghai and his Martial Aspects were deep in discussion when a shout rang out from outside. "Martial Aspect Xiao, you can''t barge in!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored themand and entered the hall.


    "Martial Aspects, Yin Shenhua''s eldest son has arrived in the city of Linsha in Dazheng. It''s likely a peak Golden Immortal. Please kill him. Dayin may be mobilizing in force, and we cannot afford to back down now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Martial Aspects all turned to Ao Canghai, who smiled. "That peacock, you mean?"


    "Are you aware of him, Eastern Aspect?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Quite so. This attack involves more than that peacock¡ªthere are a group of True Immortal cursed effigies, too. Unfortunately, we''ll have to keep a close eye on Yin Shenhua, so we can''t help. You''re on your own. Be careful, now," Ao Canghai said.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He turned to leave, not interrogating Ao Canghai as to how he knew of the enemy''s ns in such detail. There simply was no time to lose.


    Only after Xiao Nanfeng had left the hall did the Martial Aspects begin tough.


    "Eastern Aspect, has Yin Shenhua made up his mind to crush Dazheng?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost asked expectantly.


    Ao Canghai nodded. "That''s right. Yin Mingwang''s appearance is only the tip of the iceberg. Just wait patiently."


    "Understood!" the other Martial Aspects replied.


    They clearly understood Ao Canghai''s meaning. This time, they wouldn''t let Xiao Nanfeng manipte them. Let those cursed effigies destroy every city of Dazheng! All they had to do was defend Yongding and fulfill the Heavenly Emperor''s orders. As for killing Dayin''s Golden Immortals, that could wait until Dazheng was entirely destroyed.


    The Martial Aspects waited expectantly for Dazheng to be destroyed, not knowing that Xiao Nanfeng was headed toward a nearby hall in the vicinity.


    Moments after he entered the hall, about a dozen male cultivators rushed out, their robes almost the same as the Martial Aspects''. However, fog surrounded their faces.


    Subsequently, one of Ao Canghai''s subordinates rushed into the hall in which the Martial Aspects were located. "Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, there were cultivators impersonating you in a nearby hall!"


    "What?" the Martial Aspects eximed.


    Then, the Martial Aspects suddenly heard a voice from the outside, one that sounded exactly like Ao Canghai. The fake Ao Canghai shouted, "Everyone, with me! We''ll kill Yin Mingwang!"


    Within the hall, Ao Canghai shot up, thundering in outrage, "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng''s nning to impersonate us and force his foes to show themselves!"


    Indeed, the next moment, Yongding was suddenly pitch-ck. Dark clouds covered the air as a frightening aura manifested.


    "All of you, die!" a voice roared.


    A giant palm descended from the heavens, radiating with golden light, imbued with speed and strength. A single blow might crush Yongding.


    "It''s Yin Shenhua!" Ao Canghai eximed. He had no choice but to defend himself with a counterattack.


    He shattered the hall he was in,unching a palm technique of his own to take on the radiant golden palm in the air.


    The two giant palms shed against each other in a ming tempest.


    Yin Shenhua wasn''t the only one who had made his move. There were plenty of strong cultivators attacking Yongding, causing its defensive formation to shatter. The Martial Aspects finally rushed out of their hall, holding the cultivators of Dayin back.


    There were several defensive formationsyered around Yongding. After the first few had shattered, thest few were barely able to defend the city. Even so, they flickered as if they would copse at any moment.


    Yin Shenhua and his subordinates were taken aback.


    "Where did those other Martial Aspectse from?" a monk eximed.


    In the other hall not too far away, the fake Martial Aspects who had been making a big fuss quickly slunk away.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you have cultivators impersonate us?!" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "They''re my subordinates, and all they said was that they would kill Yin Mingwang. They never imed to be Martial Aspects. How have they impersonated you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ao Canghai: ...


    Yin Shenhua: ...


    "At any rate, Martial Aspects," Xiao Nanfeng continued. "Since Yin Shenhua''s here, I''ll leave the situation in Yongding to you."


    The Martial Aspects'' eyes twitched. Had Xiao Nanfeng tricked them again? Though fuming and exasperated, they had no choice but to obey the Heavenly Emperor''s orders and protect Yongding.


    Yin Shenhua scowled as well. He had no choice but to take on Ao Canghai again.


    "Ao Canghai, for killing my son, I''ll kill you," Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    "I didn''t kill Yin Peng. You''ve found the wrong culprit," Ao Canghai retorted.


    The two cultivators struck at each other, their attacks forming a tempest around them.


    Meanwhile, the rest of the Martial Aspects continued to take on Dayin''s cultivators. Explosions rang out through the air.


    Meanwhile, an official hurriedly flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your Majesty, Linsha has been razed to the ground. All the civilians have been devoured by that peacock!"


    "Yin Mingwang will die for this!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    He raised his head, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Listen up, citizens of Dazheng! I am your emperor, Xiao Nanfeng! I know that you''ve all seen the attacks from Dazheng''s cursed effigies by now. If we want to live, we''ll have to take them down. Otherwise, we''ll die! Just now, the city of Linsha was wiped from the world, its citizens devoured to thest by a cursed effigy. I ask for your support in these trying times. Raise your right hand and channel your power into me! I will take on the perpetrators myself, protect Dazheng, and avenge our fallen!"


    The sea of fortune above Yongding roiled. Xiao Nanfeng''s words were transmitted into the ears of each citizen.


    All across the five thousand cities of Dazheng, countless people were raising their heads and staring at the arhats outside their cities'' defensive formations. The arhats were fierce. Every attack caused the formations to shake violently, as did the cities themselves. The citizens shrank back in fear, but even so, heeded the promation.


    "Your Majesty, take my strength and kill those demons!"


    "Your Majesty, my strength is yours!"


    "Everyone, raise your right hands, now!"


    Countless people across the five thousand cities of Dazheng raised their hands. The people''s strength, absorbed by the sea of fortune, rushed toward Yongding.


    At the same time, those from the undying realm and the Netherworld Pce, likewise hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s summons, also raised their right hands and pooled their strength together.


    In the Immortal city of Luye, which had recently been seized by Dazheng, many people heard Xiao Nanfeng''s cries as well. Many of them had lost their rtives and were stewing in hatred of Yin Shenhua and his cursed effigies. They too raised their hands.


    The power of countless people across the world surged toward Yongding''s sea of fortune, causing a dragon to rise up from within it, howling.


    Incredible fortune and incredible strength surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    With a boom, golden light shot out of Xiao Nanfeng''s body as an incredible aura emanated from him. The void itself trembled as his strength reached its peak.


    He rushed into the air, out of Yongding, and toward the city of Linsha.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s escaping! Don''t let him get away!" Yin Shenhuamanded.


    Two bodhisattvas immediately ignored their opponents and gave chase after Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Martial Aspects they were fighting allowed them to do so with a smirk.


    Three beams of light vanished over the horizon.


    In the city of Linsha, the peacock was dissatisfied even after having devoured all the civilians in the city. He raised his head and looked toward the distance. His astounding sight revealed a city in that direction.


    An arhat had been attacking the defensive formation for some time, but had still yet to break through.


    "Something''s wrong. How can such an ordinary city have a defensive formation that can resist a True Immortal?" the peacock eximed.


    He flew toward the city, his subordinates following swiftly behind.


    "What''s going on?" Yin Mingwang demanded.


    "I don''t know. This formation''s particrly strong, and I can''t break through," the arhat replied.


    The peacock narrowed his eyes and asked his subordinates, "Go see if the situation is the same across Dazheng."


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    They closed their eyes and mobilized their avatars. One quickly replied, "I don''t have information from all the cities I''m responsible for, but over half the cities have managed to repel the arhats thus far."


    "More than half? Then we might as well assume it''s like that for all the cities. Just where did Xiao Nanfeng find a relic that can support the cities'' defensive formations all across his empire? Someone must be lending aid to Dazheng. Could Xiao Nanfeng have predicted our attack in advance?" the peacock eximed in shock.


    He pped its wings and sent a gust of ck wind toward the defensive formation before him, which shattered.


    With another gust of his wings, the peacock sent more ck wind surging toward the city.


    "No!" the civilians cried out.


    Just then, a huge palm scattered the wind.


    The peacock turned to see a cloud of ck fog in the distance, which slowly dissipated to reveal the Past Buddha. Clearly, the ck lotus had arrived.


    "You bastard! You devoured all the people of Linsha? I''ll kill you!" the ck lotus cried out.


    The peacock demanded, "Have you taken over the Past Buddha? Are you the Venerable Buddha?"


    "I should have killed you in the past. You won''t get away this time!" the ck lotus roared, sending a palm toward the peacock.


    "For killing my brother, even if you''re the Venerable Buddha, I''ll kill you!" the peacock screeched.


    The two cultivators'' attacks caused a ming tempest to form in the air.


    "I''ve already taken down the defensive formation around this city. ughter the people within," the peacock ordered his subordinates as he fought.


    "Understood!" the arhat and the peacock''s subordinates replied.


    Just then, another beam of golden light shed by from afar. Ye Dafu and his subordinates were the first to arrive on the scene.


    "Kill them!" Ye Dafumanded.


    The fighting began anew in this ordinary city by Dazheng''s borders.

 Chapter 613: The Hanging Arhats

    <h4>Chapter 613: The Hanging Arhats</h4>


    By a small city close to the empire of Dazheng, an arhat red in frustration as he attacked the city''s defensive formation. The formation shook and rattled, as though it would shatter at any moment, but nevertheless continued to hold firm.


    Within the city, countless citizens nced at each other in panic.


    Within the city lord''s manor, a group of esteemed cultivators were staring at the arhats in the air. They were led by the city lord of Luye, Chen Xiaotian.


    "Everyone, the five thousand cities of Dazheng''s defensive formations would have been too weak to defend against the attacks of these True Immortals if not for your ns'' borrowed relics," Chen Xiaotian eximed.


    The cultivators by his side frowned. One said, "Chen Xiaotian, are you fully loyal to Dazheng now? Have you brought all the relics of Luye to Dazheng?"


    Chen Xiaotian shook his head. "I''m not loyal to Dazheng. I simply want to seek revenge. I know many of you still doubt whether or not Yin Shenhua really has consumed your ns'' disciples, and that you were forced to surrender your treasures because of Dazheng holding your ns'' Immortals hostage. That said, Dazheng''s intention is to have you understand precisely what''s going on in this war."


    "What''s there to see? These arhats? There are plenty of arhats in Dayin, and we acknowledge that they came from Dayin. That doesn''t mean that Yin Shenhua is a cursed effigy," one cultivator replied.


    Just then, the arhat in the air snarled and released death chants all over the city.


    Countless civilians staggered, but the city was, fortunately, prepared. The formation remained active, and although the death chants remained a persistent annoyance, the arhat wasn''t able to make his way through the formation.


    Furthermore, the arhat''s death chants weren''t as strong as those of a bodhisattva or Buddha. They were infused with thick, cloying cursed spiritual power.


    "Do you still refuse to acknowledge that that''s a cursed effigy?" Chen Xiaotian demanded.


    The cultivators were silent.


    "There are members of your n in other cities at the moment, and you should be aware that this situation is representative of what''s going on outside all five thousand cities of Dazheng. These are all True Immortal arhats! How do you think they managed to get so strong? Stop lying to yourselves!" Chen Xiaotian roared.


    The cultivators clenched their fists tightly, though they remained silent.


    "We''re from different Immortal cities. I''m not here to stand up for Xiao Nanfeng, but isn''t it clear to you how well Xiao Nanfeng treats his citizenspared to Yin Shenhua? How are you going to make it up to those rtives of yours whom you sent to your deaths? How are you going to make it up to your people?" Chen Xiaotian demanded.


    "Stop!" one cultivator shouted, gritting his teeth. "I won''t believe you!"


    "Do you truly not believe me, or do you simply not dare to believe me?" Chen Xiaotian retorted.


    The cultivators grimaced, their eyes red.


    "This is all I''ll say. On behalf of Xiao Nanfeng, I thank you for sharing your ns'' relics. They were obtained through extraordinary means, but Dazheng will thank you for your kindness in saving its citizens."


    The cultivators sighed as they exhaled.


    As Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the ck lotus, he found two figures tailing him. Even so, he rushed off as fast as he could.


    Before long, he arrived where the ck lotus was located.


    The ck lotus was taking on the peacock. The two cultivators were surrounded by a ming tempest, and a peacock and a Buddha could barely be glimpsed through the mes.


    Ye Dafu and his crew of golden cultivators continued to take on the arhat and a few of the peacock''s subordinates. They currently had the upper hand. Though the opposing arhats had death chants, the ck lotus was releasing its own death chants to nullify their effects.


    Xiao Nanfeng paused. Meanwhile, the two bodhisattvas following him caught up, one at his front and the other at his back.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, let''s see how you n to escape now," one bodhisattva called out.


    "You won''t be able to run!" the other bodhisattva said.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the two bodhisattvas and smirked. "Run? Why would I?"


    "What?" One bodhisattva frowned.


    "I said, I''m going to kill you demons and avenge my citizens!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    With a wave of his hand, he summoned his red spiritual moon. Red clouds filled the air, which took on a crimson tint. What looked like a sea of blood, filled with cursed spiritual power, covered up the sky.


    "What''s that?"


    "What incredible cursed spiritual power..."


    The two bodhisattvas were shocked by Xiao Nanfeng''s move.


    "Crimson moon in the sky, fog as far as the eye can see!" Xiao Nanfeng intoned.


    Blood fog sprayed out from the blood-colored clouds, surrounding the two bodhisattvas.


    The two bodhisattvas instantly felt a tremendous sense of threat. One said, "We have to make a move, now!"


    The two bodhisattvas shot up to Xiao Nanfeng and each punched forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with his Hegemon''s Fist, sending countless fists raining down on the two bodhisattvas.


    The sh resulted in an explosion that sent the two bodhisattvas staggering back.


    "He''s calling on his empire''s strength. He''s as strong as we are for the time being!" one bodhisattva eximed.


    "Die!" the other bodhisattva roared.


    Just then, countless lengths of red rope were tossed down from the bloody clouds in the sky, each a whip of order that struck the two bodhisattvas.


    "Break!" the two bodhisattvas shouted, attacking the lengths of red rope.


    The red rope exploded from the impact, though a few stragglers managed to take advantage of the opportunity to wrap around the two bodhisattvas'' limbs.


    "Damn it, these lengths of red rope really are cursed!" a bodhisattva cried out.


    He continued attacking the lengths of red rope binding his limbs, but more and more of the red rope wound around them and tied them together. Some even coiled around their necks and hoisted them up.


    "Argh!" the two bodhisattvas cried out.


    They stared at Xiao Nanfeng in fright, not expecting him to have grown so strong after invoking his empire''s strength.


    "Death chants!" the two bodhisattvas cried out.


    With a hum, countless death chants surged toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem to mind. "Do you know why I waited until I got here before I attacked you? It''s because your death chants are useless here."


    The next moment, another bout of death chants could be heard in the air. The ck lotus had released its own death chants to help Xiao Nanfeng block out the other two bodhisattvas'' assault.


    "You''re on borrowed time. Your strength will only weaken, and you won''tst for long. The ancestral Buddha will make his way here shortly, and you won''t be able to escape then," a bodhisattva roared.


    "If we focus on protecting ourselves, all your red rope can do is bind us. You won''t be able to hurt us. Just you wait. His Highness will win his fight soon enough¡ªand then you''ll be dead!" the other bodhisattva cried out.


    They released rays of golden light from their bodies and protected themselves from the red rope with their strengthened defenses.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved his hand, summoning even more lengths of red rope from the air that bound the two bodhisattvas until they looked like they were wrapped within red cocoons as they hung in the air.


    Red fog surrounded them. Xiao Nanfeng looked into the distance to see a man that Ye Dafu had brought over.


    "Did you hear what they said? Let''s get started, then," Xiao Nanfeng sent the man a mental transmission.


    The man nodded and suddenly shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, you bastard! I''ll kill you!"


    The man was imitating the voice of one of the bodhisattvas and had done so quite well. Xiao Nanfeng caused the bloody fog to reverberate, making it sound as if the bodhisattva really had spoken in reality.


    "You fools! What are you waiting for? Send for help, now! Have all those arhats who can''t break down the defenses of their formation head over to deal with Xiao Nanfeng. Hurry!" the man shouted again.


    Outside, the peacock''s subordinates, who had been fighting with Ye Dafu and his crew, replied, "Understood!"


    They had already been wanting to call for reinforcements, but none of their superiors had given that order yet. Now that one bodhisattva was ordering them to do so, they immediately sent out word to all the arhats.


    All across Dazheng, the arhats who were infuriated by their inability to take down the cities'' defensive formations were suddenly ordered to head toward Jinsha and assist the bodhisattvas in taking down Xiao Nanfeng.


    The arhats carried out their orders immediately, arriving at Jinsha one after another and seeing the two battlefields at y.


    On one battlefield, the ck lotus continued to fight against the peacock. That fight was far too intense and overwhelming for the arhats. The other battlefield was Xiao Nanfeng''s battlefield, filled with red fog. Although the sound of fighting could be heard from within, it was certainly within what the arhats could handle.


    One arhat rushed into the red fog, at which point a length of red rope shot toward him.


    The red rope coiled around his neck and hung him in the air. He struggled in pain as he tried to tear off the rope, but the cursed spiritual power the rope exuded suppressed its strength. Shocked, it tried to shout for help, but found itself unable to make any sound at all. The red rope coiled tightly around his neck, making him feel as though he were about to suffocate to death. He had no choice but to kick his legs repeatedly in an attempt to contort his body, as though he were hanging himself like a mortal.


    Just then, that arhat saw that there were many arhats like him also hanging in the air, as though they were part of a mass suicide. It was a frightening scene to behold.


    More and more arhats were lured into the red fog, at which point the same series of events unfolded.


    Meanwhile, out in the world atrge, after the peacock''s subordinates had finished rying the bodhisattva''s ''orders'', they were no longer of any use to Xiao Nanfeng. Ye Dafu and his crew killed them all.


    More and more arhats surged toward Jinsha, rushing into the red fog and finding themselves hung in the air.


    More and more arhats continued to hang themselves.


    The peacock fighting against the ck lotus swiftly noticed that something was amiss. He suddenly shouted, "Something''s wrong. Xiao Nanfeng''sying a trap for all the arhats! I''ll kill him for this!"


    The peacock tried to rush over, but the ck lotus held him back. "I''m your opponent."


    The fighting between the ck lotus and the peacock grew fiercer and fiercer.

 Chapter 614: Sweeping Across Dayins Capital

    <h4>Chapter 614: Sweeping Across Dayin''s Capital</h4>


    Outside Dayin''s capital, in a mountainous patch of fog-shrouded forest, three giant golden dragon heads eyed Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, Zhang Lingjun, and Ao Zhou.


    "Thank you for your assistance," Xiao Nanfeng said, bowing to the three golden dragon heads.


    "It''s not just to assist you. Yin Shenhua did something to our bodies. He might not have the time to hunt us down just yet, but he surely won''t just let us go. We''re helping you to help ourselves," one golden dragon said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Just follow our n. This is Ao Zhou. When the situation gets dangerous, please cooperate with him. His secret techniques will allow us to remain unharmed." Xiao Nanfeng pointed toward Ao Zhou.


    The three golden dragon heads looked toward Ao Zhou in surprise, but they nodded regardless.


    "We don''t have much time. Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    The three golden dragon heads roared, emerging from underground in the form of three superior draconic veins, the three that Xiao Nanfeng had released from Dayin''s capital in the past.


    As they did so, they followed Xiao Nanfeng''s trio straight toward the southern gate of Dayin''s capital.


    "An enemy assault! Activate the city''s defensive formations to maximum strength!" a guard shouted from within.


    "Something''s wrong. We can''t activate it!" another guard shouted anxiously from the distance.


    Signal res filled the air above the city.


    "Sir, there''s something wrong with the formation you set up, and there''s an enemy assault imminent. Pleasee help!" someone shouted.


    Just then, a man in purple flew up into the air, a transparentpass in his hands. He waved it about. "Formations, on my order, activate!"


    Thepass in his hands burst with golden characters that shot toward the formations all around the city. They vibrated and glowed with light, but rather than activate, they copsed at an even faster pace.


    "Who dares destroy my formations? Show yourself!" the purple-robed man shouted.


    He continued to manipte hispass and pinpointed that the disturbance wasing from a certain direction at the foot of the southern watchtower. Blue Lantern stood there, holding a bluepass of his own, with blue light ring around him.


    "Damn it, catch that formations master! He''s ruining my formation!" the purple-robed man shouted.


    Just then, the southern watchtower was taken down by three superior draconic veins in unison in a plume of dust.


    "Get rid of him, first!" Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the purple-robed cultivator.


    The three superior draconic veins, without any hesitation, spat out bolts of lightning toward the man.


    "Ah!" the purple-robed cultivator shrieked.


    Three bolts of lightning struck the man directly, sending him flying. Blood spurted through the air as hispass shattered. Grievously wounded, he fell to the ground, vomiting out a huge pool of blood. His face was pale. Without any hesitation, he bolted and attempted to flee.


    "Let''s go, Blue Lantern!" Xiao Nanfeng announced.


    Blue Lantern flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and rushed toward Dayin''s pce with him.


    "Who dares barge into Dayin''s capital? Kill them!" a voice shouted.


    Arge quantity of golden light shed into existence as a group of Dayin cultivators rushed over with their relics.


    The three superior draconic veins shot forward with a swish of their bodies.


    A huge explosion was unleashed as the cultivators'' relics shattered. They were sent flying as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng shouted, his voice echoing across the entire city, "Citizens of Dayin''s capital, listen up! I am Xiao Nanfeng. Ie here today to reveal the truth that Yin Shenhua feasts on human flesh. You must have heard the rumors over thest few days. I know the Dayin officials are doing their best to quash these rumors, but I''m here to expose them once and for all. You''ll see for yourselves whether your rtives are still alive."


    The entire city was taken aback. Many ordinary cultivators had intended to swarm Xiao Nanfeng to defend their city, and they remained trusting of Dayin despite the rumors that had been spreading.


    However, now that Xiao Nanfeng was invoking their families'' lives, they were starting to hesitate.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s group of cultivators quickly reached the dragon-headed mountain.


    "Amitabha. Xiao Nanfeng, are you attempting to spread rumors and cause even more unrest in Dayin?" a voice demanded.


    Three monks stood at the peak of the dragon-headed mountain, their faces filled with killing intent. They red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yin Shenhua really has quite a number of cursed effigies as subordinates. You three are new to me," Xiao Nanfeng said, frowning.


    The three monks shot toward Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously, eachunching a palm attack.


    "Hold them back!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a roar, three superior draconic veins shot toward them, spitting out lightning as they charged forward with their heads. The three monks'' palm strikes shattered as the three dragons barreled forward.


    Two of the monks were sent flying back, but the third monk seemed the strongest of them all. He sent one of the superior draconic veins flying with a single palm strike, causing it to m into the ground, a furrow trailing behind it.


    "That''s a Buddha! You won''t be able to beat him. Quick, possess me!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    Ao Zhou transformed into a ck dragon, but as a True Immortal, he wouldn''t be able to contribute to the fight at all.


    The superior draconic vein that had fallen to the ground rushed toward the ck dragon and burrowed into his body.


    "Ancestral Technique: Draconic Merge!" the ck dragon roared.


    ck fog seeped out of the ck dragon''s body as it grewrger. Its aura became more pronounced, as if it had gained all the strength of the superior draconic vein.


    "Die!" the ck dragon shouted, charging toward the Buddha.


    "Dragon-Quelling Palm!" the Buddha shouted.


    The ck dragon was sent flying again.


    Meanwhile, the other two superior draconic veins corralled the two bodhisattvas together.


    "Praying mat, seal!" Zhang Lingjun intoned.


    She spurred forth her praying mat and sent it toward the two bodhisattvas, who were trapped by the red light that the praying mat emitted.


    "Die!" the Buddha shouted, rushing over to save them.


    "Hold it!" I''m your opponent!" the ck dragon roared, charging forward.


    "Scram, beast!"


    The Buddha unleashed a palm attack that sent the ck dragon flying again.


    Then, the other two superior draconic veins charged toward the ck dragon and burrowed into his body as well.


    The ck dragon let out an ear-splitting roar as he grew evenrger. Wisps of ck smoke shot out of his body as his aura was magnified in strength.


    He shot toward the Buddha again.


    The ck dragon, having absorbed the strength of three superior draconic veins, reached maximum power. He fought against the Buddha on equal footing.


    "Quick, attack Zhang Lingjun and rescue the two bodhisattvas!" a city guard shouted.


    Countless guards shot forward in an instant.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood protectively before Zhang Lingjun and raised his hands. "Ten suns, emerge!"


    His ten golden crows flew out of his body and cawed, causing the sky to darken.


    "Sky of Ten Suns!" Many cultivators recognized Xiao Nanfeng''s technique instantly.


    The sunlight all across Dayin''s capital was absorbed by the ten golden crows. Facsimile srfire exploded from each crow as they burnt everything in their vicinity.


    The guards that shot toward him screamed as they were immted in mes.


    "This can''t be. Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng a Heaven Immortal? How can his golden crows resist even True Immortals?"


    "Has Xiao Nanfeng be a True Immortal?"


    "Didn''t Xiao Nanfeng lose four of his ten suns? Why are there still ten left?"


    Countless shouts could be heard from the cultivators all over the city.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t need to make a move himself at all; his ten golden crows were sufficient to keep all the guards at bay.


    "Blue Lantern, are you ready?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "I am. Draconic veins, emerge!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    Blue Lantern had activated Dawei''s Immortal''s Destruction, sending countless golden chains deep underground and extracting a superior draconic vein.


    The superior draconic vein emerged with a thud and a huge cloud of dust. It had been intending to roar as it did so, but it was stunned by the forces gathered around it.


    "We''ve saved you from your prison, but Yin Shenhua has left a mark on your body. You won''t be able to escape. If you don''t want to die, you''ll cooperate with us. Head toward the ck dragon. He''s already merged with three superior draconic veins. Lend him your strength, and you''ll be able to leave after the fight," Xiao Nanfeng told the superior draconic vein.


    The superior draconic vein hesitated.


    Just then, as Blue Lantern continued to operate the Immortal''s Destruction, another superior draconic vein was pulled out from deep underground.


    The first superior draconic vein nodded hesitantly.


    Afar, the ck dragon shook as the Buddha continued to push him back. A superior draconic vein popped out of his body and shouted to the two superior draconic veins that Blue Lantern had just rescued, "Come over and help! Or do you want to be trapped here in Dayin forever? Just touch the ck dragon, like me!"


    Then, the superior draconic vein burrowed back into the ck dragon''s body.


    The two newly freed superior draconic veins sensed their bodies and confirmed that Yin Shenhua had indeed left a mark on them.


    "Let''s go!" the first superior draconic vein to be freed shouted.


    It rushed over and burrowed into the ck dragon''s body, causing the ck dragon to grow even stronger than before. He was instantly on equal footing with the Buddha.


    The final superior draconic vein hesitated for a moment before doing the same.


    The ck dragon roared once more. ck smoke erupted from his body as he reached the pinnacle of strength. He sent the Buddha flying with a blow.


    "Ao Zhou, you can leave now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" the ck dragon roared.


    The ck dragon soared into the air and caught the Buddha with his ws as he made for the horizon. The dragon and Buddha continued to fight even as they vanished into the distance.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng was the center of attention.


    "Citizens of Dayin''s capital, the three superior draconic veins who escaped during myst visit here mentioned that underneath this dragon-headed mountainy not just several superior draconic veins, but also some Buddha''s Grottos that Yin Shenhua manufactured here. Your rtives participated in an annual talent recruitment to be sent into these caves. I can''t guarantee that any remain alive, but I will expose the truth to all of you here."


    The people tensed up as they flew into the air and looked toward the ruins of the dragon-headed mountain from afar.


    "Blue Lantern, uncover the ruins and show everyone the truth!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern replied.


    Dayin''s officials shouted from nearby, "Hurry up and make a move! Don''t let their n seed!"


    However, the civilians weren''t the only ones curious about what would be uncovered. So too were some of Dayin''s guards.


    A few guards charged forward, but Xiao Nanfeng blocked their attacks with his ten golden crows. None of the guards were able to break through his defenses.


    "Reveal what is hidden!" Blue Lantern intoned.


    Rubble was sent flying all over as a huge pit was revealed. The pit shone with golden light, and chanting could be heard from within.

 Chapter 615: A Frightening Buddhas Grotto

    <h4>Chapter 615: A Frightening Buddha''s Grotto</h4>


    Back in Dayin''s capital, ten suns soared across the sky, shining with fiery radiance. Other cultivators would quickly drain their reserves of strength to generate such power, but Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows extracted an endless supply of facsimile srfire from the sun itself. As long as it was daytime, they would be able to produce facsimile srfire without any limit whatsoever.


    The facsimile srfire red, blocking the cultivators attempting to approach Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng alone was able to suppress ten thousand cultivators at his level.


    Meanwhile, Blue Lantern had fully cleared away the rubble around the dragon-headed mountain, revealing a deep abyss within which golden light could be seen and chanting heard.


    "Rise, draconic veins!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    Dayin''s capital contained a few superior draconic veins in addition to countless ordinary draconic veins. Blue Lantern uncovered all these secrets hidden deep underground.


    In an outpouring of earth and rocks, what was hidden in the abyss was lifted up into the air and revealed to the world. Six giant Buddha''s Grottos could be seen, each shining with golden …d runes. Chanting could be heard from all around.


    "Stop it, Xiao Nanfeng!" one of the bodhisattvas being suppressed by the praying mat shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and called out, "Everyone, look over here! Whether or not the rumors that Yin Shenhua has been feasting on the people of Dayin shall be revealed in an instant. This is the evidence. Within these caves are where your loved ones have perished. Allow me to open up the first Buddha''s Grotto now!"


    Xiao Nanfeng drew his divine undying de and shed at the first Buddha''s Grotto.


    It shook violently as the sword bit into it, but the sword was unable to cut all the way through to expose its interior.


    Just then, 361 stars shone brightly in the sky. Beams of starlight shot straight toward the Buddha''s Grotto, illuminating it and obstructing the seals on its surface.


    "Try it again, Your Majesty," Blue Lantern said.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ten golden crows channeled their strength into his body as he swung downward with his de, bisecting the Buddha''s Grotto.


    This particr cave was surprisingly stable. Despite the fact that it had been cut in half, the formations in its interior remained active. The two halves of the cavernous space were revealed to one and all.


    At the bottom of each half of the cave were a thousand arhats, with parched, desated bodies hanging overhead. Those bodies weren''t dead just yet. They gritted their teeth, refusing to submit, but were unable to resist any further.


    "They''re all dried up..."


    "Who are those people hanging up there?"


    "Could the rumors be real?"


    Countless civilians gasped in shock within Dayin''s capital.


    "This is all part of Xiao Nanfeng''s ploy to trick you! You can''t believe him. Stop Xiao Nanfeng''s farce at once. Attack that formations master!" a Dayin official shouted.


    Arge group of Dayin cultivators rushed over.


    However, they were all blocked by a pulse of incredible golden light¡ªradiating from a Golden Immortal who looked like an old man.


    That Golden Immortal thrust his palm forward, sending all the soldiers and guards flying out.


    "Who are you?!" everyone eximed.


    Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. Indeed, as he had suspected, there were other Golden Immortals within Dayin''s capital.


    "No one move. I intend to witness the truth for myself. Sixteen of my descendants were chosen by the annual talent recruitment," the old Golden Immortal stated.


    "Are you a Dayin civilian?" an official eximed.


    More shes of light appeared all over Dayin''s capital. There were plenty of strong cultivators among the civilians present, Heaven and True Immortals alike. They stood before Dayin''s guards and obstructed their way forward.


    The people who had seen Xiao Nanfeng''s expose were dumbstruck and seething in anger. Although they had all heard the rumors about Yin Shenhua that had recently been circting, many continued to put their faith in Dayin''s monarch and officials. Even so, they could hardly disbelieve what they saw with their own eyes.


    Countless civilians who had lost their rtives stepped forward to block Dayin''s guards and allow Xiao Nanfeng to continue speaking.


    By then, the thousand arhats had awoken from their cultivation to see what was happening outside. They nched.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck instantly, shooting toward the arhats in a beam of light.


    A hundred arhats were sent flying. They weren''t all True Immortals; some were weaker.


    Even against True Immortals, however, Xiao Nanfeng was able to send them flying with a single punch each.


    However, a thousand arhats were too many for him to handle all by himself. The arhats grew alert as one of them shouted, "Hurry! Take them all down!"


    They attempted to destroy all the bodies in the cave, but the old Golden Immortal struck again. He unleashed his aura, freezing the arhats in ce. The few arhats that could still move, he sent flying with an arm.


    The disposal of the bodies stopped short.


    "Take them down!" the old Golden Immortal shouted.


    Countless civilians made their move.


    "Head of the Xueyuan Merchant Association, how dare you disturb the peace of Dayin?! Do your merchants not want to operate in Dayin any longer?"


    "As for you, head of the Wulong Escort Agency, are you intending to rebel too?"


    "Sect Leader of the Forgecraft sect, even you?!"


    The Dayin officials attempted to scare the civilians into inaction, but it was useless. More and more of the civilian cultivators began to take a stand as they held down and restrained the arhats one after another. Some of Dayin''s guards did the same.


    The arhats activated their death chants in fear, causing many cultivators to stumble.


    "They are cursed effigies, after all! To think they would even attack the masses with their cursed chants! Die!" a voice shouted coldly.


    From among the civilians, a female Golden Immortal showed herself.She knocked the arhat who had been emitting death chants unconscious.


    "Flee!" an arhat shouted.


    The arhats, realizing that the situation had turned against them, attempted to flee.


    However, the cultivators all around blocked their way.


    The fighting began in earnest. The majority of the arhats ended up caught by the civilians, though some managed to escape.


    Meanwhile, Blue Lantern, on Xiao Nanfeng''s orders, left the crowd and chased after Ao Zhou, who had fled into the distance.


    After the skirmish was over, everyone looked toward the parched bodies in the Buddha''s Grotto again.


    One stick-thin man suddenly wheezed, "Great-great-grandfather, are you here to save me?"


    Everyone suddenly quieted down as they strained to hear what the man had said.


    The old Golden Immortal''s eyes lit up. "My child, you''re still alive!"


    "Great-great-grandfather, I was mistaken. I shouldn''t have participated in the talent recruitment. They''re all demons! They torture our souls day after day, burning us and feeding on our negative emotions and pain. They''re all demons, Yin Shenhua and everyone else!" the man said weakly.


    A hugemotion erupted all at once. With this victim''s testimony, how were the civilians supposed to reject Xiao Nanfeng''s ims?


    Could all this be true? That old Golden Immortal was from a famed n in Dayin''s capital. Surely he couldn''t be working with Xiao Nanfeng... Was Dayin really feasting on its citizens?


    "Everyone, if you have family in Dayin''s capital, let me know. Any of your rtives who are present will be able to fetch you away. Otherwise, I''ll take responsibility for your short-term care and help you contact your family on your behalf," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Some of the hanging bodies immediately tried to call out for attention.


    Their rtives shot forward from the masses, heartbroken and tearing up. All thanked Xiao Nanfeng profusely, expressing their gratitude.


    "Where''s everyone else? Where are our rtives?!" countless civilians shouted.


    "Everyone, please be prepared for the worst. Many will surely have perished. However, there are five more Buddha''s Grottos. Golden Immortals in the audience, would you help break them down?" Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    In addition to the two Golden Immortals who had revealed themselves, a third Golden Immortal, a muscr man, stepped forward.


    "We''ll help," the three Golden Immortals said near-simultaneously.


    In quick session, the remaining five Buddha''s Grottos were broken apart, revealing the arhats cultivating within.


    The Golden Immortals struck at the arhats in anger. The arhats were all of rather middling cultivation, and all of them tried to flee. Although they weren''t as strong as the Golden Immortals, they were able to possess cultivators in the crowd and escape. Only a few were caught and forced to remain behind, knocked unconscious and with their cultivation sealed.


    Whaty within the Buddha''s Grottos was quickly exposed to the public eye. Unfortunately, only two of the caves contained civilians chosen by the talent recruitment.


    Within one Buddha''s Grotto was a ck banner that the arhats within had been attuning to. Within the ck banner were women born during yin years on yin months on yin days at yin hours of the day. These women had all been forged into malevolent specters of pure yin. They screamed shrilly in pain. As the Golden Immortals channeled their energy into them, they awoke amidst frenzied screeching. Although they had been rescued, their physical bodies were long gone.


    Within another Buddha''s Grotto was a sea of blood. Blood-colored figures floated over its surface, screaming in bitter pain, as if they had been forged into some demonic horror, until their consciousness was awakened once more.


    Several of the civilians found their rtives among these unfortunate souls, but the vast majority had no idea where their rtives had gone.


    The truth that had been revealed to them left all the people in despair and fear. Those officials that had been pushing to stop this spectacle were so hoarse that they could no longer speak. Of the guards in the city, half had turned against the officials. More and more people began to roar in outrage.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng broke them off. "Everyone, I need to leave. Yin Shenhua has learned of what has happened here, and he''s about to rush back. Any victims who haven''t found their rtives, follow me. I''ll take care of you for the time being."


    "Thank you!" The piteous victims thanked Xiao Nanfeng with profuse gratitude.


    Countless civilians continued to shout, "Where are our rtives? Why aren''t they here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed, but didn''t exin the situation in detail. Everyone knew that the missing cultivators were likely all dead.


    He retrieved a gourd, a True Immortal relic that the roc had had in his possession. It was used for storage and could, surprisingly, store live humans within.


    He kept the shattered pieces of the Buddha''s Grottos and the unconscious, sealed arhats within.


    The two bodhisattvas that Zhang Lingjun had suppressed with her praying mat had been grievously wounded by the three Golden Immortals, then had their cultivation sealed. Xiao Nanfeng kept them in the gourd as well.


    "Everyone, I hope you''ve seen the truth for yourselves. I advise you to leave Dayin immediately. Otherwise, once Yin Shenhua returns, you may all suffer," Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Then, he and Zhang Lingjun rushed out of Dayin''s capital.


    No one within the capital attempted to stop their passage any longer. The three Golden Immortals did the same without any hesitation. They flew toward their ns and left Dayin''s capital with them.


    Dayin''s capital quickly became a pocket of chaos as the people protested or fled. News of what had happened spread quickly across Dayin via those who had avatars in Dayin''s capital.

 Chapter 616: Yin Shenhua Lies to the People

    <h4>Chapter 616: Yin Shenhua Lies to the People</h4>


    Above Yongding, a tempest bloomed. Fires zed across the air.


    Yin Shenhua and his subordinates fought against Ao Canghai and his Martial Aspects more and more intensely.


    Ao Canghai knew that he wouldn''t be able to take down Yin Shenhua immediately, but he was familiarizing himself with Yin Shenhua''s techniques to n for his future capture.


    The two cultivators grew more and more intense as the fight progressed. Within the mes, the image of a Buddha fighting a golden dragon could vaguely be glimpsed.


    Meanwhile, both cultivators'' subordinates sent them mental transmissions.


    "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng''s other body and the three superior draconic veins that escaped from Dayin''s capital have returned!" a monk said.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s in Dayin''s capital again? That bastard. Is the cursed effigy impersonating the Past Buddha there with him?" Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    "No, Your Majesty. It''s currently fighting His Highness in the city of Jinsha," the monk replied.


    "Good. With Buddha Mahakasyapa protecting Dayin''s capital, nothing untoward will happen," Yin Shenhua replied.


    Then, he nced toward Ao Canghai. "Ao Canghai, neither of us will be able to ovee the other today. Let''s end it now. We''ll fight again some other day."


    Ao Canghai had received transmissions from his subordinates as well. Knowing that Yin Shenhua was about to take on Xiao Nanfeng, he was inclined to agree to Yin Shenhua''s proposal and have him kill Xiao Nanfeng on his behalf.


    Suddenly, a shout came from within Yongding. "Eastern Aspect Ao, if your Martial Aspects can''t take down Yin Shenhua, we Martial Aspects of the Southern Quadrant are more than happy to take over, haha!"


    Raucousughter passed straight through the mes and into Ao Canghai''s ears.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes and nced down, but he couldn''t see who had spoken.


    "Eastern Aspect, that person who spoke was a Golden Immortal."


    "He said he was a Martial Aspect of the Southern Quadrant? Why does his voice sound so foreign?"


    "He''s hiding his identity, but it''s clear he''s a Golden Immortal."


    The Martial Aspects came to a consensus quickly.


    Ao Canghai found his scalp prickling. What were other Golden Immortals doing in Yongding? Was it really one of the Martial Aspects of the South? No¡ªthat might be information intended to mislead. However, why else would other Golden Immortals be in Yongding now?


    Could Zhang Lingjun have reported on his ambivalence inmitting to subduing Yin Shenhua?


    Ao Canghai frowned. If that were the case, then the Heavenly Emperor was clearly upset with what they had done to date. If other Martial Aspects were to interfere, then the authority that hemanded would surely be diluted.


    "Die, Yin Shenhua!" Ao Canghai shouted at once.


    He struck Yin Shenhua with a heavy strike as he gave up on his n to let him leave. He guessed that the Heavenly Emperor was paying attention to this fight; if he were to allow Yin Shenhua to target Xiao Nanfeng, it would surely affect his standing in the Imperial Court.


    "Follow me. We''ll head to Dayin''s capital as we fight!" Yin Shenhuamanded.


    Yin Shenhua and his subordinates flew toward Jinsha, where the peacock was embroiled in a fight against the ck lotus. Ao Canghai and his Martial Aspects gave chase, forcing Yin Shenhua and his subordinates to slow down tremendously.


    Meanwhile, by Jinsha, within the red fog, some cultivators were reporting to Xiao Nanfeng about what had happened in Yongding.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the arhats hanging in the air in annoyance.


    "What a pity. I''ve only managed to catch three thousand arhats, and I don''t have time to wait for the rest." Xiao Nanfeng sighed, then turned and asked, "How''s the situation at Jinsha?"


    "Sir Wen hasmanded for all the citizens in Jinsha to be evacuated. Sir Ye and the Immortals that have rushed over from the vicinity have almostpleted the evacuation," a cultivator in the distance shouted.


    "Got it!"


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng manipted the red fog as he flew further away. Some arhats that had just arrived, confused about what was going on, followed the red fog as it departed.


    Meanwhile, on the other battlefield at Jinsha, the ck lotus continued to hold back the fierce peacock. He had just realized that something was wrong with the red fog and was about tomand the arhats not to head over when he saw it was steadily moving away.


    The peacock hesitated, then roared, "Xiao Nanfeng, hold it right there!"


    However, the red fog continued to drift away. Soon, it was by the horizon. The ck lotus had more or less guessed what was going on as well. As it continued to fight the peacock, it brought him away from Jinsha.


    The ck lotus and the peacock rose into the air as they fought, then drifted away from the city themselves.


    Just then, a number of figures flew toward them from afar, only to be halted by Ye Dafu and his crew.


    "Kill off all of these Dayin scouts!" Ye Dafumanded.


    "Understood!" his group of golden cultivators replied.


    The scouts were killed one after another. The golden cultivators divided themselves into two groups that trailed the red fog and the ck lotus as they cleaned up after the two battlefields.


    Before long, word had spread to Yongding as well.


    "Your Majesty, the two bodhisattvas chasing after Xiao Nanfengmanded all the arhats to head to Dayin''s capital to assist them, but none trapped within Xiao Nanfeng''s red fog have responded to the summons. All our scouts around Jinsha have been killed, and we don''t know what''s going on there ourselves. When we rushed over, Jinsha was already empty. There''s no one in the vicinity, only arge number of arhats swarming over," one of Yin Shenhua''s subordinates sent him a mental transmission.


    "Damn it!" Yin Shenhua cursed.


    Just then, another monk shouted, "Ancestral Buddha, something''s gone terribly wrong in Dayin''s capital. Xiao Nanfeng'' managed to extract all the superior draconic veins from the dragon-headed mountain. They''ve infused themselves into a ck dragon''s body, and the ck dragon ispletely suppressing Buddha Mahakasyapa. Buddha Mahakasyapa''s been seized and is being taken away!"


    Yin Shenhua frowned. He could feel a sense of growing unease.


    "Ancestral Buddha, Xiao Nanfeng''s formations master has excavated the Buddha''s Grottos underground. They''re about to break them and reveal the truth to the people!" the monk eximed.


    Yin Shenhua nched. He roared, "We return to the capital, now!"


    He fended off Ao Canghai with incredible effort, as did his subordinates against the gatheredMartial Aspects. Then, they rushed off toward Dayin''s capital.


    Ao Canghai frowned as well. "Guard Yongding. I''ll head over to Dayin to have a look at what''s going on."


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    Ao Canghai stealthily followed behind Yin Shenhua and his subordinates.


    Yin Shenhua flew extremely quickly, but no matter how quick he was, it would take significant effort to return to Dayin''s capital.


    By the time they did so, they saw countless people fleeing the capital in horror. The entire capital was a chaotic mess.


    Yin Shenhua and his subordinates'' features contorted in annoyance. On the way back, they had learned about everything that had happened.


    "Ancestral Buddha, things aren''t looking good."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s actions have made what we''re doing public knowledge. All the Immortal cities of Dayin are going to revolt."


    "What do we do now, Your Majesty?"


    The monks themselves were in an uproar.


    Yin Shenhua was considering his options when a sh of blue light suddenly appeared by the horizon. The peacock had returned.


    Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes and absorbed the peacock into the world of his palm.


    "Suppress your aura. Don''t show yourself," Yin Shenhua warned.


    The peacock did so, transforming back into a human as Yin Shenhua freed him from the world of his palm.


    "Father, I just managed to break free from the Venerable Buddha''s pursuit and headed to Yongding. I found that the battle there had ended. On the way back, I found a scout who told me that something had happened in Dayin''s capital." Yin Mingwang seemed infuriated.


    Yin Shenhua nodded. "Our actions have been exposed. Xiao Nanfeng, sly and crafty as he was, took the opportunity to counterattack Dayin''s capital and caused chaos."


    Yin Mingwang gritted his teeth. "That damned weasel!"


    "We''ll have plenty of time to deal with himter, but the situation here will be rather dangerous. He struck at the very core of our empire," Yin Shenhua said, his brows furrowed.


    "Father, since we''ve already been exposed, why not reveal the truth once and for all? Rather than watch these civilians flee, why not eat them all?" Yin Mingwang stared fiercely at the fleeing civilians.


    "We can''t! If we ughter even a single city, the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin will surely all defect," Yin Shenhua retorted.


    "Then we''ll eat them all, one city after another! We''ll grow far stronger than before, then take over the entire world as tyrants! We can easily invade the Imperial Court and devour the Immortal Emperor as well," Yin Mingwang eximed.


    "Nonsense! Do you think it''s that easy to massacre the Immortal cities? You''ll need time to digest what you''ve consumed. During that period of time, the Imperial Court will surely send more cultivators over, as will external forces in the vicinity. They''ll fight over Dayin''s Immortal cities, and the entire world will take us on. We haven''t yet reached the height of our power. How do you expect us to defend against an assault from every direction?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "But we can''t stop the civilians from fleeing Dayin anymore! Once news of what happened in the capital spreads, all the Immortal cities will surely rise up against us," Yin Mingwang said.


    Yin Shenhua took a deep breath. "Are you certain?"


    "Oh?"


    "And what if those Buddha''s Grottos had been deliberately nted by Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "nted?" Yin Mingwang eximed.


    "Are you certain that the cursed effigy by Xiao Nanfeng''s side is the Venerable Buddha?" Yin Shenhua asked.


    "I am."


    "Good, very good. From now on, remember this. The Venerable Buddha is one of my subjects and is responsible for everything to do with the annual recruitment. I had the Venerable Buddha pick out all sorts of talents to be groomed into positions of power, not realizing just how ambitious it was. Against my orders, it cultivated a group of arhats that were loyal only to itself, then devoured the talents picked out from the annual recruitment. Then, worried that I would discover what it had done, the Venerable Buddha escaped from Dayin and joined the Imperial Court, hatching a scheme with Xiao Nanfeng against me. I warred with the Venerable Buddha many times, but failed to take it down because of the interference of the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of the opportunity to sow chaos in Dayin. I now summon loyal citizens of Dayin to take revenge for their loved ones and kill the Venerable Buddha and Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Shenhua proimed.


    "Father, you mean to pin the me on Xiao Nanfeng and the Venerable Buddha? You''ll make it appear as though they''re the ones devouring these cultivators, not us?" Yin Mingwang''s eyes brightened.


    "Quite so. The Venerable Buddha is familiar with these death chants and traces its powers to the same roots as we do. That''s easy information to learn. To stabilize the situation at Dayin, we have no other choice," Yin Shenhua said.


    "But will anyone believe us?" Yin Mingwang asked in worry.


    "Some will, and some will believe Xiao Nanfeng. As long as Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t garner everyone''s trust, the Immortal cities of Dayin will be safe."


    "Understood, Your Majesty! We''re all victims. It''s the Venerable Buddha who''s been devouring these poor people!" Yin Shenhua''s subordinates replied.


    "Good. Now, let''s go!" Yin Shenhuamanded.


    Yin Shenhua and his subordinates flew toward Dayin''s capital. Countless civilians began to panic upon spotting him and fled all the more quickly. Of course, some cultivators who had lost their rtives and found themselves with no other purpose in life than to seek revenge rushed forward and sought out Yin Shenhua.


    Dayin''s officials were likewise disorganized. Some panicked, and others fled.


    Yin Shenhua didn''t criticize anyone. Rather, he took a deep breath. "Citizens of Dayin, like you, I was caught in a trap. Vile criminals have tarnished my reputation and falsely indicted me of crimes I did notmit."


    His voice boomed across Dayin as he began his performance.

 Chapter 617: Confronting the Five Dragons

    <h4>Chapter 617: Confronting the Five Dragons</h4>


    Above a stretch of the Eastern Sea, the ck dragon fought intensely against the Buddha Mahakasyapa in a surge of tidal waves.


    Although the Buddha Mahakasyapa was ate-stage Golden Immortal, the ck dragon was infused with the power of five superior draconic veins. He suppressed the Buddha Mahakasyapa and dealt him more and more injuries. Fire and windshed out above the surface of the sea.


    Gradually, the Buddha Mahakasyapa became so heavily wounded that he couldn''t exert any more of his strength. He was sent smashing onto a barren ind, his body crashing into the countless rock mountains on it.


    He spat out a mouthful of blood as he slumped over.


    The ck dragon hurriedly approached him and used the ancestral dragon''s techniques to seal his cultivation.


    "It took significant effort, but we did manage to finish off this cursed effigy. Thank you for your assistance," the ck dragon said to the superior draconic veins.


    With a pop, the five superior draconic veins emerged from his body and transformed into human form.


    The five draconic veins exuded incredible strength, causing tidal waves to rise up all around the ind.


    "Yin Shenhua has left a mark on all your bodies. Xiao Nanfeng and I have manors in the Imperial Court in which you may temporarily reside, and Yin Shenhua wouldn''t dare head there to hunt you down. Would this arrangement be eptable to you?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "Head to the Imperial Court to avoid Yin Shenhua? There''s no need for that," one superior draconic veinughed.


    The five superior draconic veins had spread out around Ao Zhou and were staring covetously at him.


    "What are you thinking of doing?" Ao Zhou frowned.


    One superior draconic vein said, "There''s something wrong with your bloodline. It was able to stimte my draconic might multiple times over. We already took advantage of it to destroy the marks that Yin Shenhua left on our bodies."


    "In other words, Yin Shenhua won''t be able to track you down? That''s good to hear," Ao Zhou said.


    "What''s the secret behind your bloodline?" the superior draconic vein demanded.


    "Tell us!" the other superior draconic veins echoed.


    The five superior draconic veins eyed Ao Zhou with greed.


    "What are you nning?" Ao Zhou asked again, furrowing his brows.


    "Your bloodline is attuned to mine," a superior draconic vein suddenly said.


    "No, it''s mine!" another superior draconic vein said coldly.


    The five superior draconic veins instantly started to re at each other. All of them wanted Ao Zhou at any cost.


    Ao Zhou said in warning, "Everyone, I''m allied with Xiao Nanfeng. Don''t forget that we were the ones who saved you from captivity. Do you intend to return our kindness with malice?"


    The superior draconic veins all turned to Ao Zhou as one.


    "Xiao Nanfeng did free us, but so what? Even if we had remained trapped in Dayin''s capital, we wouldn''t have perished. We would only have our freedom restrained until there was an opportunity to escape. What Xiao Nanfeng did for us was unnecessary."


    "We allied with Xiao Nanfeng not out of gratitude, but because we didn''t want Yin Shenhua to capture us again."


    "What''s more, we already helped Xiao Nanfeng deal with that Buddha and repaid that favor. We''re hardly obliged to let you go."


    The five superior draconic veins stared maliciously at Ao Zhou, who chose to give up talking to them. He turned and dove into the sea.


    "You think you can run? Where can a True Immortal like you hide? Show yourself!"


    The five superior draconic veins pped at the sea with their tails simultaneously in a huge surge of water that exposed countless sea spirits.


    However, Ao Zhou wasn''t among them. The five superior draconic veins were taken aback.


    "Damn it, he really does have all sorts of secret techniques, doesn''t he?"


    "Don''t let him run."


    "We can fight after we catch him. At worst, we''ll split his bloodline into five portions."


    "We have to catch him first!"


    The five superior draconic veins roared as they shot into the sea toward Ao Zhou.


    Just then, incredible blue light glimmered from under the sea, surrounding the five superior draconic veins like a that had bound them.


    "What?" the superior draconic veins eximed.


    They furiously struggled to break free from the, but only ended up being bound even more tightly.


    Just then, 361 stars appeared in the air, shining brightly. Beams of light shot into the, which quickly closed up to form a blue spherical barrier thatpletely trapped the five superior draconic veins within.


    "This is a formation. An ambush!" the five superior draconic veins cried out.


    Then, they saw figures approach from the sea all around them, formation gs in hand.


    Among them were Ao Zhou, Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, Warble, You Jiu, and others. They staked their gs into the ground, securing and stabilizing the barrier.


    Blue Lantern approached from the sky, invoking the power of the stars and infusing them into the formation gs.


    "Damn it. Break!" a superior draconic vein shouted.


    The dragon crashed into the blue barrier, causing it to shake. A crack formed.


    "Blue Lantern, there''s a crack in the barrier!" Ao Zhou shrieked.


    "I''m aware. It''s alright," Blue Lantern replied.


    He waved a hand. Starlight surged into the barrier, restoring it rapidly.


    "You deliberately headed to this stretch of the sea while trying to chase that Buddha down, didn''t you? Did you have a trap prepared here beforehand? What despicable scumbags you are!" a superior draconic vein howled.


    "Who asked you to turn against me? We were just protecting ourselves. If you hadn''t tried to make a move, we wouldn''t have activated this formation," Ao Zhou retorted.


    "Do you really think a puny formation like this will be able to trap us? We''ll be able to break out in no time!" a superior draconic vein roared.


    The five superior draconic veins smashed into the barrier simultaneously as they spat out bolts of lightning from their mouths.


    The cracks on the blue barrier grew more and more numerous until it spread across the entire barrier like a spiderweb.


    "Blue Lantern, is this formation going to hold?" Croak croaked in worry.


    Ao Zhou was fretting anxiously as well. "I said the Cursed Earth Formation wouldn''t be good enough, but you insisted on it! All it could do was trap a bunch of True Immortals back when we used it on Thousand-Spirit Ind. These five superior draconic veins are like five Golden Immortals. We won''t be able to hold them all off!"


    "I had His Majesty borrow the Cursed Earth Formation specially from the Hall of Martial Aspects. It''s true that it alone wouldn''t be able to trap Golden Immortals, but I was able tobine it with the Formation of the Complete Heavens to augment its strength. It''ll be able to trap even Golden Immortals," Blue Lantern said.


    "You''re trying to trap not a single Golden Immortal, but five of them! This barrier is about to break!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Blue Lantern frowned, but he was restricted by his cultivation. This was as strong as he could make his formations.


    "Just be patient and wait a moment," he said. "Xiao Nanfeng will be here shortly.


    "If the five superior draconic veins escape before Xiao Nanfeng arrives, we''re all done for!" Ao Zhou shouted in exasperation.


    Warble scowled. "Shut up, Ao Zhou. If you have enough energy to talk, you might as well infuse more of it into the formation instead!"


    "Right. Even though you''ve grown sorge, you don''t seem to have matured at all. You''re far worse than my dear Warble!"


    "I''m talking to Blue Lantern, not to the two of you!" Ao Zhou grumbled. Then, he frowned. "I haven''t seen either of you for some time. When did the two of you be True Immortals?"


    "We''re guardian spirits of Dazheng, and part of the treasure that Dazheng acquires goes to us. Some True Immortal pills were concocted from the carcasses of some Golden Immortal spirits, and we got one each. Didn''t you?" Croak asked.


    Ao Zhou frowned. He certainly hadn''t. He couldn''t help but feel a sudden bout of disappointment.


    "Of course he wouldn''t have. He''s not a guardian spirit like us. He''s just a mercenary! Why would he get any of our benefits?" Warble said.


    Ao Zhou: ...


    Why did he feel so weary whenever he chatted with Croak and Warble? He worked himself half to death to reach the realm of a True Immortal, but Croak and Warble viewed their ascension as a matter of course! How much more frustrating could they get?


    Just then, the five superior draconic veins shattered the formation trapping them.


    "We''re done for! They''re out!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    The five dragons roared.


    "You dare entrap us? Die!" The five draconic veins shot toward Ao Zhou simultaneously.


    "I wasn''t the only one responsible for the formation. Why are all of you rushing toward me? You''re crazy!" Ao Zhou yelled back.


    Just then, a praying mat descended from the heavens and began to suppress the superior draconic veins. However, they were strong enough that three managed to escape. Only two remained underneath the praying mat.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" the superior draconic veins eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun had arrived. Zhang Lingjun had manipted the praying mat to suppress two of the superior draconic veins.


    "You''ve gone overboard," Xiao Nanfeng dered, looking at the superior draconic veins.


    "Youid a trap for us here. Haven''t you gone overboard, too?" a superior draconic vein challenged him.


    "Ao Zhou told me that his bloodline would be particrly effective to superior draconic veins as well. I was only guarding against you, not trying to plot against you. If you hadn''t chosen to attack Ao Zhou, I wouldn''t have targeted you with this formation," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    The superior draconic veins snorted as Ao Zhou hurried behind Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t waste time talking with him. He won''t be able to withstand ourbined strength!" another superior draconic vein stated.


    The three superior draconic veins thundered in anger as they charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we''re done for. What now?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he retrieved his Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    Just then, a golden figure appeared before Xiao Nanfeng.


    It unleashed three sessive palm strikes, grievously wounding the three superior draconic veins and sending them flying.


    "Who dares?" the three superior draconic veins roared.


    They raised their heads to see the ck lotus, now in the form of the Past Buddha, hovering before Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yin Mingwang took me a while to deal with, so I''mte," the ck lotus exined.


    "No, Senior, your timing was perfect," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.

 Chapter 618: The Black Lotus Chides the Praying Mat

    <h4>Chapter 618: The ck Lotus Chides the Praying Mat</h4>


    The ck lotus shed forward, instantly appearing before a superior draconic vein and thrusting a finger through the center of the dragon''s forehead. A hole was sted through the dragon''s head as it slumped down and lost consciousness.


    "Defeating a superior draconic vein with a single blow?" Ao Zhou eximed. "That''s ridiculous..."


    "No!" the other two superior draconic veins shouted, so panicked they immediately attempted to flee.


    However, the ck lotus was even faster than they were. It quickly shed up toward another superior draconic vein and sted a hole through its forehead with a finger. The second superior draconic vein fell to the ground, unconscious.


    By then, the third superior draconic vein had already made it all the way to the horizon, but even so, the ck lotus easily caught up.


    "Please calm down, Senior! I know what I''ve done wrong!" the superior draconic vein eximed.


    The ck lotus pointed a finger at its forehead. With a muted explosion, it lost consciousness and slumped to the ground.


    The ck lotus shed back to Zhang Lingjun''s side.


    "Don''t hurt us! We''ll cooperate!" the two suppressed superior draconic veins eximed.


    However, the ck lotus ignored them. It shed forward and took them both down with two more of its fingers. They too copsed to the ground.


    Everyone gaped in shock at the ck lotus.


    "How ridiculous... No, as expected of an elder of the Qitian Alliance!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Bring the superior draconic veins to that ind over there," Xiao Nanfengmanded his subordinates.


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators quickly made their move, dragging the five superior draconic veins toward the ind on which the Buddha Mahaksyapa was located.


    "Thank you for your assistance, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said, flying up to the ck lotus.


    "How did the situation in Dayin go?"


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled out a gourd. "Senior, let''s talk over there."


    The ck lotus nodded. Everyone followed Xiao Nanfeng to the ind in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the six shattered Buddha''s Grottos, two bodhisattvas, and arge quantity of arhats from the gourd. As for the victims, he kept them within at the moment.


    With a wave of its hand, golden light exuded from the ck lotus as it sealed the Buddha Mahakasyapa, the two bodhisattvas, and the group of arhats.


    "Senior, aren''t you going to devour them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I''ll wait. I can help you deal with these first."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "These five superior draconic veins won''t help your cultivation much, but the fragments of these Buddha''s Grottos can help you break through."


    "These Buddha''s Grottos?" Xiao Nanfeng cocked his head curiously.


    Just then, shes of red light emanated from the praying mat and shot toward the fragments of the Buddha''s Grottos, as though intending to devour them.


    The ck lotus frowned coldly and waved an arm at the praying mat.


    Threatened, the praying mat was forced to defend itself with a barrier of red light. It was forced to retreat; though it remained unhurt, it was interrupted from absorbing the fragments of the Buddha''s Grottos.


    "Taiqing Grandmaster, I might not be able to see your appearance, and I don''t know what you''re ying at, but your actions are entirely inappropriate," the ck lotus criticized.


    The praying mat hummed with red light, clearly dissatisfied with the ck lotus''ments.


    "When Xiao Nanfeng was being chased by that roc, regardless of how Zhang Lingjun begged you, you refused to save Xiao Nanfeng. You''re prejudiced against him, aren''t you? In that case, what right do you have to im his spoils of battle? Do you think it makes sense for you to do so just because Xiao Nanfeng is a Taiqing disciple himself? You''re purportedly the Taiqing Grandmaster, but you''ve never once done anything to protect the Taiqing Immortal Sect. What right do you have to Xiao Nanfeng''s possessions?"


    The praying mat vibrated as it grew even more upset.


    "In the past, I wasn''t strong enough to prevent your thick-skinned behavior, but I''m able to do so now. Don''t touch what doesn''t belong to you. Though you did y a part in acquiring these six Buddha''s Grottos, you didn''t provide any key support, and neither did you take the lead in acquiring them. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun deserve to im these fragments for themselves. You can have whatever chaotic portions they can''t absorb," the ck lotus said coldly.


    The praying mat vibrated again, still fuming, but made no further disturbance beyond that. Clearly, it was agreeing to the ck lotus'' proposal.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun," the ck lotus began.


    The two cultivators walked forward.


    "These Buddha''s Grottos will aid you tremendously in your growth. The praying mat absorbed themst time around, but only diverted a small portion of it to Zhang Lingjun. Don''t feel too indebted to it," the ck lotus said.


    Zhang Lingjun gave the ck lotus aplex look. She nodded faintly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll help you both absorb these fragments of the Buddha''s Grottoster. As for these five superior draconic veins, they won''t help your cultivation much. How do you intend to split them up?" the ck lotus asked.


    "Give one each to Blue Lantern, Zhao Yuanjiao, Ao Zhou, Croak, and You Jiu."


    "Very well!"


    Then, the ck lotus sent the fragments of the six Buddha''s Grottos flying into the air.


    "Golden lotuses, bloom! Let all things revert to their origin!"


    The image of a golden lotus appeared in the void, blooming as it encapsted the fragments of the six Buddha''s Grottos. Three pirs of light shot out of the lotus. A golden one surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s body, a red one into Zhang Lingjun''s body, and a turbid ck one into the praying mat.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun hurriedly sat cross-legged in meditation as they absorbed the potent beams of energy.


    Meanwhile, the ck lotus turned to the five cultivators that Xiao Nanfeng had designated.


    "These superior draconic veins are toorge for you to absorb all at once, and it''s easy to generate waste. The five of you, start to meditate. I''ll help you absorb these superior draconic veins. The rest of you, stay on guard," the ck lotus said.


    "Understood!" The cultivators did as they were told.


    With a wave of the ck lotus'' hands, a golden lotus appeared underneath each of the five cultivators. The ck lotus absorbed all five superior draconic veins and had them revolve around the ring of the five cultivators.


    "Golden lotuses, close up. Let all approach their origin." The ck lotus waved a hand.


    The five golden lotuses'' petals quickly snapped shut, enclosing the five figures within them. They shone with golden light.


    Warble wasn''t able to share in the superior draconic veins, but it wasn''t upset because Croak would stand to benefit. Along with the other cultivators and spirits, it stood guard around the ring of golden lotuses.


    Ayer of fog surrounded the ind, blocking it from sight.


    Booms resounded from within the golden lotuses as the cultivators within quickly broke through.


    Zhang Lingjun continued to advance rapidly as well. Only Xiao Nanfeng''s lotus remained cid.


    It took Xiao Nanfeng an incredible quantity of energy to advance, and it was little wonder that the ck lotus had told him that the superior draconic veins would be all but useless to him. In an hour alone, he had already absorbed enough energy from the fragments of the Buddha''s Grottos to rival five superior draconic veins.


    After four more hours, Blue Lantern''s golden lotus shriveled up, then vanished. He was the first to have finished absorbing his superior draconic vein in its entirety, and his cultivation had advanced tote-stage True Immortal.


    "Thank you, Senior." Blue Lantern bowed.


    The ck lotus nodded. "Stay here and remain on guard."


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    After some time, Ao Zhou''s golden lotus shriveled up. He was the second to finish. He cried out in excitement upon feeling the power surging through his body.


    "Shush," Blue Lantern warned. "The others are still meditating."


    Ao Zhou turned to Blue Lantern in shock. "You finished absorbing the superior draconic vein even before I did?"


    "Don''t waste time talking nonsense here. You''ll disturb the others. Guard them from the skies," Blue Lantern continued.


    With a flick of his arms, he tossed Ao Zhou out of the ind.


    Ao Zhou sshed into the sea in the distance, gasping in shock. "How could this be? Blue Lantern''s stronger than I am? That''s impossible. I have the ancestral dragon''s inheritance. What does he possess?"


    Before long, Croak, You Jiu, and Zhao Yuanjiao finished absorbing their respective superior draconic veins as well. They had all bete-stage True Immortals.


    "Thank you, Senior." The three cultivators bowed toward the ck lotus in gratitude.


    The ck lotus nodded. "Guard the meditating cultivators.


    "Understood!"


    They flew out of the ind, leaving only Blue Lantern behind.


    After some more time, the gigantic golden lotus that encased the six Buddha''s Grottos likewise shrank and withered until it finally vanished, the essence of the fragments entirely consumed.


    The praying mat trembled as it flew toward Zhang Lingjun''s hands.


    A huge wave of energy emanated from Zhang Lingjun as she awakened.


    "Senior, is Xiao Nanfeng still meditating?" she asked in worry.


    "He cultivates a different path," the ck lotus told her.


    After even more time, a wave of ming energy finally emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body, so intense it caused everyone''s robes to flutter wildly.


    "The second stage of the True Immortal realm..." Blue Lantern murmured.


    He could see that the ck lotus had channeled the majority of the essence from the fragments of the six Buddha''s Grottos into Xiao Nanfeng. Even so, whereas Zhang Lingjun had already be ate-stage True Immortal, Xiao Nanfeng had only advanced by one minor step in cultivation.


    "Did you see that, Blue Lantern? Xiao Nanfeng''s foundation is sturdier and stabler than anyone else''s here, and he will surely ascend to greatness. Your joining his service in Dazheng benefits not him, but yourself. I hope you''ll remember this moment. When you have to make a decision, be certain you know what you can give up and what you can''t." The ck lotus suddenly stared grimly at Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern nched, as though the ck lotus had seen through his secrets. He took a deep breath. "I understand, Senior."


    The ck lotus nodded. "I spoke in warning because you seek the same goal that I do."


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern bowed.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng stood up and blinked. "Senior, what were you discussing?"


    "You don''t have to worry about it. Focus on your affairs," the ck lotus said.


    Xiao Nanfeng cocked his head in confusion. Was there some secret between the ck lotus and Blue Lantern?


    The ck lotus dropped its visage as the Past Buddha and transformed back into a ck lotus. Then, it absorbed the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats before flying back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, dispelling the fog all around him and revealing the cultivators guarding the ind.


    "We shouldn''t stay here long. Let''s leave!" he said.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.

 Chapter 619: The Third Step: Claiming the Cities

    <h4>Chapter 619: The Third Step: iming the Cities</h4>


    After returning to Dazheng''s borders, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body reunited with his avatar. The three thousand arhats and two bodhisattvas were swallowed up by the ck lotus, which returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape to digest its gains. As for Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, the fortune that remained within his body was sent back to the skies above Yongding.


    Then, the cultivators split up again. Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar left with Zhao Yuanjiao, while Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and Zhang Lingjun returned to Yongding.


    When the Martial Aspects saw Xiao Nanfeng''s return, they shot him a series ofplicated looks.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, did you request aid from the Imperial Court?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost demanded.


    "I didn''t," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Someone from the city, a Golden Immortal, imed to be a Martial Aspect of the Southern Quadrant. Who was that?"


    "I don''t know."


    The Martial Aspects: ...


    No one believed Xiao Nanfeng''s nonsense, but what could they do if he refused to tell them the truth?


    "I heard that a few superior draconic veins allied with you," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost probed again.


    "They did cause a ruckus in Dayin''s capital with me, but left thereafter," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Martial Aspects were silent. Just what did Xiao Nanfeng mean? Left? Would theye back the next time they were summoned, then?


    "Martial Aspects, thank you for guarding Yongding on my behalf." Xiao Nanfeng thanked the gathered Martial Aspects.


    "I will report on your actions truthfully to the Heavenly Emperor," Zhang Lingjun added beside him.


    The Martial Aspects nced at each other and made no attempt to continue the conversation. As the two cultivators flew toward the pce, one Martial Aspect frowned and ventured, "Zhang Lingjun''s cultivation seems to have improved by quite a bit."


    "Oh?" The other Martial Aspects frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng returned to the pce and devoted himself once again to his endless work.


    "Focus on pacifying the citizens all over Dazheng. Publicly report on the destruction on Linsha and our countermeasures to prevent further attacks. Starting today, the entire empire will be in mourning for three days for those civilians whose deaths were in vain," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the officials replied, Zheng Qian leading them.


    On an ind in the Eastern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and Zhao Yuanjiao waited patiently for a ck-robed figure to approach.


    "Master!" The two cultivators'' eyes lit up.


    Ku Jiang had arrived. He nced at Zhao Yuanjiao in surprise. "You''ve broken through tote-stage True Immortal! Have you had a chance encounter?"


    "Thanks to Nanfeng, I was able to absorb a superior draconic vein," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, smiling.


    "Hardly, Senior Brother! You deserved it," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately.


    The two cultivators quickly rted all that had happened thus far to Ku Jiang.


    Ku Jiang nodded and turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Acquiring the help of this ck lotus is truly a blessing."


    "I am truly grateful to the ck lotus and to you, Master. Otherwise, things wouldn''t have gone quite so smoothly."


    "I hardly did anything," Ku Jiang said, shaking his head.


    "Master, if you hadn''t been willing to remain in Yongding and impersonate a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court at the right time to scare Ao Canghai and the others, Ao Canghai might have allowed Yin Shenhua to leave so that he could deal with us. Master, did we mess up your ns by requesting your presence here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Though I have to return soon, it isn''t otherwise a big deal. However, your current circumstances are far too dangerous," Ku Jiang remarked, frowning.


    "Master, please rx. Once the ck lotus distills the cursed effigies it has devoured into essence, it will grow greatly in strength. At that point, I won''t be in any danger at all. As for Yin Shenhua, the truth that we''ve revealed to the world will suffice to ruin his reputation for good. Dayin will fall before us just like that," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "In that case, I''ll be able to leave in peace. I await your good news," Ku Jiang said.


    "Farewell, Master!" the two cultivators eximed, bowing.


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng received thetest news from Dayin.


    Wen Zhong stood beside him. "Yin Shenhua was decisive in ming Your Majesty and the ''Venerable Buddha'' by your side for the purported deception. If nothing else, he is a skilled actor."


    "Has the situation in Dayin stabilized?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Themon people are no fools. They can judge what they''ve been told for themselves. The people of Dayin are split: some trust Yin Shenhua, and others don''t. Dayin''s Immortal cities are all divided. Stable? Only to the extent that it hasn''t yet copsed." Wen Zhong smiled.


    "As we expected. This is the best situation. If Dayin were to copse, it would be difficult for us to absorb the various Immortal cities into Dazheng. Not only would some choose to be independent, the forces all around Dayin would try to snatch them up as well. Right now, if they attempt to pilfer the Immortal cities of Dayin, Yin Shenhua will surely counterattack vigorously, stabilizing the situation for us."


    "Isn''t that so? We can carry out the third step of our n to destroy Dayin, then." Wen Zhong''s eyes glittered.


    "The third step is to fold the various Immortal cities into our empire. We''ll see how skilled your students are, Mr. Wen."


    "Worry not, Your Majesty. The time draws near for Dazheng''s rise. What''s more, the survivors you reimed from those Buddha''s Grottos are a tremendous resource. They''ll be instrumental in helping us absorb the various Immortal cities of Dazheng," Mr. Wen said.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but frown. "We don''t need to take advantage of these victims in our ns. Let''s not force them to do anything. If they''re willing to help us expose Yin Shenhua''s evil, that''s for the best. We''ll spread their words far and wide¡ªbut if they don''t want to reveal themselves, we won''t make them, either."


    "You are benevolent, Your Majesty. I won''t do anything untoward, but given my analysis, I suspect the victims would support your cause out of gratitude regardless," Wen Zhong said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Then let''s begin."


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied.


    Two dayster, as the situation at Dayin continued to evolve, the Immortal cities of Dayin became starkly divided. Some shouted that Yin Shenhua had to be taken down. Others said the same for the Venerable Buddha.


    After all, although information spread rapidly through the divine empire thanks to those cultivators who had avatars of their own, it wasn''t instantaneous. On the other hand, Yin Shenhua was able to speak to his entire empire at once thanks to the sea of fortune above Dayin. His rapid countermeasures meant that many were brainwashed by Yin Shenhua''s words before news of what had been revealed at the capital could spread to them.


    Even so, the two conflicting exnations continued to vie for dominance within the various cities of Dayin.


    Just then, a group of guests headed to the city lord''s manor for a particr Immortal city. The guests were led to a hall in the backyard of the manor, whereupon a group of cultivators rushed over.


    A male cultivator was stained with blood, his entire body skinned. He weakly reached out for the cultivators who had rushed over. "Father, Mother, Sister! I''m back! It''s all thanks to Xiao Nanfeng, who rescued me. Otherwise, those cursed effigies would have forged me into a demonic puppet!"


    "Oh, my son, my son!" A middle-aged woman was overwhelmed with tears.


    "Brother, I thought you were dead..." A young woman sniffed as she wiped her tears away.


    "Son, did you see who the culprit was?" an imposing middle-aged man asked.


    "I did, Father! I was forced to be in close proximity with those cursed effigies, and I saw Yin Shenhua with my own eyes. He was responsible! I even saw Second Uncle, who shared the same constitution I did. He was going to be forged into a puppet as well, but he wasn''t able to survive the ordeal. He perished three years ago and melted into a pool of blood!"


    "I understand. The best pills and elixirs have been prepared for you, and we''ve sent for the most skilled physicians around. Once they''ve stabilized your condition, I''ll be by your side," the middle-aged man promised.


    "Understood!"


    The weeping cultivators left the hall with the victim.


    Only the imposing middle-aged man remained within the hall, along with the victim''s escorts.


    "My deepest gratitude for bringing my son back to me. Please convey my thanks to Emperor Xiao on my behalf," the middle-aged man began.


    Among the escorts, the youth in the lead bowed. "His Majesty said that Dazheng used extraordinary means to seize several relics from your estate with which to fortify his cities'' formations in an effort to protect his people. He bade me apologize to you on his behalf, City Lord Mo. Those relics are all ounted for and will be returned to you once the wares to and end."


    "It isn''t urgent," City Lord Mo replied. "We were ignorant and rashly decried Emperor Xiao, and I apologize for myments as well."


    "Dazheng will not forget your grace in loaning us those relics. Before my departure, His Majesty also bade me inquire about your subsequent ns," the youth continued.


    City Lord Mo frowned. He was thankful that Xiao Nanfeng had returned his son to him, but not to the extent that he would necessarily swear loyalty to him. He hesitated, thinking about precisely how to respond to this youth.


    The youth smiled. "City Lord Mo, I ask that you not feel pressured. Dazheng does not intend to force you into an agreement or anything of the sort. His Majesty simply hopes that he might deliver a proposal to you."


    City Lord Mo exhaled in relief. "Emperor Xiao is wise and just. I will at least hear him out."


    "City Lord Mo, twopeting narratives have emerged in Dayin. One suggests that Yin Shenhua and his cursed effigy subordinates feast on people; the other, that Yin Shenhua is the victim. Which do you believe more?" the youth asked.


    "My son would never lie to me, and I''m hardly blind. It''s clear that Yin Shenhua is the culprit," City Lord Mo replied.


    "In that case, City Lord Mo, have you considered how Yin Shenhua will treat those who betray him?"


    City Lord Mo raised an eyebrow.


    "Though it may yet take some time, he should be able to identify that His Majesty saved your son. Could he have guessed that we would send your son back so as to subvert your loyalty to him? Would he be worried that you would use your influence to turn the people against him?" the youth asked.


    City Lord Mo''s eyes twitched.


    You may not intend to risk such trouble to denounce Yin Shenhua, but would Yin Shenhua believe you? If he thought you a rebel, might he not try to get rid of you?"


    City Lord Mo was silent for a moment. "That may be so. Yin Shenhua is cruel and callous. If he senses any potential for rebellion, he will surely eradicate my n."


    "No," the youth corrected grimly. "He may well devour your entire n."


    City Lord Mo flinched.


    "With Dayin so close to the brink of copse, if Yin Shenhua were to go on a rampage, no other force would dare to stop him, and no other force would be able to protect you¡ªnone save Dazheng. Though Dazheng is only an ordinary empire at the moment, it has taken on Yin Shenhua and Dayin in a few critical shes ande out ahead each time. Furthermore, Dazheng is backed by the Imperial Court. Not only has the Imperial Court already sent eighteen Martial Aspects to take on Yin Shenhua, it can even summon more reinforcements as necessary. Only Dazheng can defend against and even annihte Yin Shenhua," the youth replied confidently.


    City Lord Mo frowned, pondering the youth''s words.


    "Dazheng promises any Immortal city who wishes to join it the same policy of governance as that for Luye," the youth continued.


    "Oh?"


    "The garrison and governance of each Immortal city will be split in the Dazheng Empire. Each Immortal city will control its own garrison and standing forces, while Dazheng is responsible for overall governance. All cities will adopt Dazheng''s code ofws, and Dazheng''s designated officials will handle administration. Control over the garrison will be ceded to individual city lords. Of course, cities who need assistance from Dazheng''s army can request it at any time," the youth said.


    "You don''t want control over our standing forces?" City Lord Mo eximed.


    He knew how important military control would be, and that was what he cared about most.


    "We trust in City Lord Mo," the youth replied, smiling.


    He was a student of no less esteemed a strategist than Wen Zhong himself, and he knew full well the importance of having a loyal military. Even so, given the current situation, Dazheng could hardly make overbearing requests. The priority was to gain the cooperation of the city lords and secure the cities themselves before they fell into others'' hands. As for their subsequent governance, all that was a problem forter.


    "Allow me to consider the proposal," City Lord Mo said.


    "Of course, City Lord. We''d like to leave one of our number here to facilitatemunication. Once you make a decision, please contact him."


    "Allow me to send all of you off," City Lord Mo replied, nodding in agreement.


    The youth smiled as he departed, firm in the belief that, though City Lord Mo might still be deliberating, he would surely submit to Dazheng once his other peers did the same. This trip was a sess.

 Chapter 620: Learn and Live, Copy and Die

    <h4>Chapter 620: Learn and Live, Copy and Die</h4>


    Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, Ao Canghai asked, "Have you found the Golden Immortal in Yongding? Was it one sent by the Imperial Court?"


    The Martial Aspects all shook their heads. "We haven''t found a thing."


    "We might have been tricked. These supposed Martial Aspects from the Southern Quadrant could have been sent by Xiao Nanfeng himself," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.


    Everyone else frowned.


    Ao Canghai, on the other hand, warned, "Do not drop your guard. That Golden Immortal could havee from the Imperial Court."


    "If that were so, shouldn''t we have received some news? But the Heavenly Emperor didn''t send anyone over," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.


    Ao Canghai frowned. "The Golden Immortal who appeared might be one of our rivals in the Imperial Court."


    "Oh?" The Martial Aspects nced at each other seriously.


    "But don''t worry. We''re here rightfully on His Majesty''s orders. Even if other Martial Aspects have appeared, they won''t be able to cause a ruckus."


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    "Eastern Aspect, Yin Shenhua''s actions really are strange, aren''t they? The three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin are close to rebellion. How can he stand to do nothing?" a Martial Aspect wondered.


    "How can he?" Ao Canghai retorted.


    "The Venerable Buddha working with Xiao Nanfeng is about as strong as Yin Mingwang. It''s no opponent for Yin Shenhua, and Yin Shenhua should be able to destroy all of Dazheng''s ordinary cities," the Martial Aspect replied.


    Ao Canghai didn''t respond. Instead, another Martial Aspect did. "How can an Immortal Emperor¡ªa Boundless Immortal at that¡ªattack a city of ordinary cultivators? That would wipe out Yin Shenhua''s reputation faster than the rumors going around! Dayin barely has any standing left. If Yin Shenhua does something so remarkably foolish, it would be done for."


    "But even if he doesn''t do that, he can start by recapturing Luye, can''t he?" the Martial Aspect asked.


    "The rumors that he consumes his citizens have fully taken off after Xiao Nanfeng''s expose. The people won''t just listen to Yin Shenhua¡ªthey''re already starting to doubt his credibility. Xiao Nanfeng''s been repeatedly reuniting the survivors of the ordeal with their families in Dayin, causing Yin Shenhua''s reputation to copse at an even faster rate. He''s already failed to take on Dazheng several times, and he won''t be able to sustain any more defeats," Ao Canghai said.


    "He''s worried he won''t be able to reim Luye andpletely lose the faith of the Immortal cities of Dayin?" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    "Indeed," Ao Canghai said.


    "But how can Xiao Nanfeng stand against him if he were to fight to reim Luye at full force?" the Martial Aspect replied in disbelief.


    "What if we were to suddenly appear there?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "Why would we help Xiao Nanfeng defend Luye?" the Martial Aspect retorted.


    "Yin Shenhua doesn''t know that."


    The Martial Aspects fell silent. They didn''t dare reach out to an enemy like Yin Shenhua, but if only he knew the truth...


    "What Yin Shenhua needs to do now is regain the trust of the people and tighten his control over the various Immortal cities. He can''t do it with force lest he cause more rebellion. The cities won''t fall back in line so easily¡ªthis will be aplicated process, and Yin Shenhua must have his hands full by now," Ao Canghai said.


    "Can we take advantage of the situation to seize those Immortal cities ourselves?" a Martial Aspect asked, eyes brightening.


    The other Martial Aspects looked toward Ao Canghai expectantly as well.


    "Eastern Aspect, Dayin is about to copse. I''m sure the forces all around are eyeing those cities as well," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said eagerly.


    "Indeed. I heard that some other divine empires and even ordinary empires are approaching the Immortal cities of Dayin themselves," Ao Canghai replied.


    "Are they intending to divide Dayin up? If other forces can do so too, why not us? We can''t just watch on as Xiao Nanfeng and those other forces take advantage, can we? Eastern Aspect, we have to send our subordinates to seize cities of their own, too!"


    "Right, just a single Immortal city would represent incredible wealth. Even if we no longer want the city afterwards, we''d be able to sell it for a great profit."


    "Eastern Aspect, let''s make a move!"


    The Martial Aspects were all in agreement.


    Ao Canghai nodded. "Very well, but before you do so, report to me beforehand. Let''s prevent any conflicts."


    "Oh?" The Martial Aspects cocked their heads in confusion until one Martial Aspect''s eyes lit up. "Eastern Aspect, does that mean that you''ve already made your move?"


    Ao Canghai nodded. "Just so. Three hundred Immortal cities is more than enough for us to divide up."


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects called out eagerly.


    "Eastern Aspect, which cities are you negotiating with? Our subordinates will stay away from them," the Martial Aspect continued.


    "The Immortal city of Honghai."


    The other Martial Aspects allmitted that name to memory. Just then, one of Ao Canghai''s subordinates rushed into the hall.


    "Eastern Aspect, I have private news to report!" the subordinate called out urgently.


    The gathered Martial Aspects made to leave, but Ao Canghai stopped them. "There''s no need. He''s responsible for the Immortal city of Honghai, and all of you have already learned of my ns." He turned to his subordinate. "What''s the matter?"


    "Something''s wrong in Honghai. Our envoys sent to meet with Honghai''s city lord were abruptly told that he had chosen to join the Dazheng Empire instead. He presented Xiao Nanfeng''s notice of appointment to them."


    "Xiao Nanfeng got to Honghai before we did?" the Martial Aspects eximed.


    "Are you certain?" Ao Canghai asked, frowning.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect, twice over! He''s already handling official appointments in consultation with Dazheng, though nothing''s been released publicly just yet," the subordinate replied.


    "Damn it, how could Xiao Nanfeng have acted so quickly?"


    "What if Honghai''s not the only one? Could other Immortal cities have joined Dazheng already?"


    "How long has it been? How could Xiao Nanfeng react so quickly?"


    The Martial Aspects began to fret anxiously.


    "Xiao Nanfeng must have taken advantage of the victims he rescued to do so. Damn it! He has the upper hand now!" Ao Canghai shouted, his eyes shing with rage. Hemanded his subordinate, "Ignore Honghai for now. Work on other Immortal cities. Hurry!"


    "Understood!" The subordinate bowed and left the hall.


    Ao Canghai turned to the other Martial Aspects. "If you want cities of your own, you''ll have to act quickly."


    "Understood!" The Martial Aspects rushed off to inform their own subordinates as well.


    Back in the Immortal city of Honghai, within the city lord''s manor, a ck-robed man bowed to the city lord. "City Lord Mo, our divine empire will extend its greatest sincerity to you. As long as you''re willing to join our divine empire, you''ll remain the city lord of Honghai, and our empire''s technique repository will be freely essible to you."


    City Lord Mo couldn''t help but smile wryly. How many representatives had he already met withtely? Was it that obvious that Dayin was undergoing internal turmoil?


    "I apologize, but you''re toote. I''ve already agreed to work with Ao Canghai of the Imperial Court, and I wouldn''t dare renege on my word and suffer the wrath of a Boundless Immortal. Why not try other Immortal cities instead?"


    The ck-robed man frowned. This was terrible news, but there was no time to waste. Rather than waste more time on City Lord Mo, it would be far better to try his luck in other Immortal cities.


    "Very well," the ck-robed man said. "My apologies for the disturbance."


    Then, he retreated.


    Once the man had left, a young man walked out of a side hall¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s diplomat and lead representative.


    "Apologies for the trouble, City Lord Mo," the youth said.


    City Lord Mo sighed. "Everything is as you predicted. Quite a few forces have attempted to probe my loyalty, and I''ve only managed to send them off by pitting them against each other."


    The young man nodded. "There are too many cities up for grab, so no force would want to waste too much time on any single one. However, Yin Shenhua is sure to send a delegation over as well. He may well decide to strip you of your position as city lord. Please be prepared."


    "As for that..." City Lord Mo frowned in worry.


    "Worry not. This will be a battle of wits and diplomacy that concerns the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin. Other Immortal cities will experience the same issues. What you need to do now is ensure your safety, your n''s safety, and the safety of all that you possess. Soon enough, you''ll be able to reim your position."


    City Lord Mo nodded. "I''ll listen to you."


    "Thank you for your cooperation, City Lord Mo. Dazheng will reward you for your endeavors in kind. You may peruse all the policies that Dazheng has established to date. By expanding Dazheng''s borders, you''ll be earning merit that no one will dare to dispute."


    "Very well."


    In a certain garden in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun were seated on the grass as they heard insects chirping all around them. The moon shone brightly overhead as the two of them enjoyed a sk of wine together. They spoke of politics and of Dazheng''s n against Dayin. Of course, Xiao Nanfeng led much of the conversation, while Zhang Lingjun nced at him from the side.


    "All the Martial Aspects and forces around are emting you and trying to seize Dayin''s Immortal cities for themselves. Will they cause you any problems?" Zhang Lingjun asked. Her cheeks were flushed from the wine, her pupils dted.


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "Those who learn from me might benefit, but those who emte me blindly will be in deep trouble."


    "Oh?"


    "Just wait and see. Dayin is about tounch its third wave of retaliation. Those forces who are now attempting to subvert those Immortal cities will shoulder the burden on our behalf." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed confidently.


    His confidence was particrly alluring to Zhang Lingjun, who was interested in Xiao Nanfeng to begin with.


    Perhaps because of how much she had drunk, Zhang Lingjun leaned over and pressed her body against Xiao Nanfeng''s.

 Chapter 621: Dividing Up Dayin

    <h4>Chapter 621: Dividing Up Dayin</h4>


    In a small garden in Dazheng''s pce, Xiao Nanfeng smiled as he hugged Zhang Lingjun.


    She had gotten drunk and was pinning his body down on the grass. Suddenly, she bared her emotions and seemed primed to make a move on him when, after murmuring sweet nothings, shey down on his chest and fell asleep.


    Nothing happened between the two cultivators; there were just a few more lipstick marks on Xiao Nanfeng''s face.


    "Can True Immortals get drunk, too?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured uncertainly.


    "Zhang Lingjun drugged the wine," the ck lotus suddenly said.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfneg was taken aback.


    "That foolish girl¡ªshe likes you, but doesn''t know how to express it. That''s how she came up with such an idea. She drugged the wine but used more of the drug than she should have. Your techniques passively filter out the drug, so you''re perfectly fine, but she fell asleep instead..." the ck lotus murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled even as he groaned.


    "Zhang Lingjun is unfamiliar with matters of romance and love, but it''s clear that she harbors deep feelings toward you. I can tell she''s prideful and doesn''t like to lose at anything or to submit to anyone, but even so, while you were being chased by the roc, she was willing to get down on her knees to beg others to save you. She''s a good girl, and you shouldn''t let her down," the ck lotus warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng affectionately ran his hand through her hair. "I won''t."


    The ck lotus fell silent as Xiao Nanfeng spent the night by Zhang Lingjun''s side.


    The next morning, when Zhang Lingjun awoke, she suddenly found herself in Xiao Nanfeng''sp. She blinked, then remembered that she had drugged the winest night. Her face flushed.


    She checked her body and found her clothes in perfect condition. She nked: just what had happenedst night?


    "Have you awoken?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, blinking his eyes and smiling.


    "What did I dost night?" Zhang Lingjun murmured.


    The next moment, she saw the lipstick marks on Xiao Nanfeng''s face. Her memories ofst night quickly took shape.


    "Last night, you¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng was right about to exin when Zhang Lingjun darted out of Xiao Nanfeng''sp. "Don''t say it!"


    She ran off, flushing. She had suddenly remembered everything that had happened.


    She was too embarrassed to speak with Xiao Nanfeng. What nonsense had she saidst night? Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem to have been affected at all. Would heugh at her in private?


    Xiao Nanfeng watched her run off, his mouth still open. He hadn''t even said a thing. What was she running for?


    "Don''t run off! Hear me out. I actually¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "I won''t! Nothing happenedst night. I''m going to enter secluded cultivation. Don''t bother me. We can talkter!" Zhang Lingjun called out from afar.


    Then, a gust of red wind blew by with the cups and sk of wine in tow.


    At the same time, all the windows and doors of Zhang Lingjun''s residence mmed shut with a creak before they were sealed with a formation.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    A few dayster, within Dayin''s capital, Dayin''s formations master had somehow brought in a new superior draconic vein from afar and repaired the dragon-headed mountain and Thunderp Hall.


    Within Dayin''s imperial study, Yin Shenhua perused a few documents. He frowned while deep in thought. Before him stood a group of officials and monks.


    "Have you concluded your investigation?" Yin Shenhua asked.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Some of the victims that Xiao Nanfeng saved from the Buddha''s Grottos actually have rtives who are city lords of a few of the Immortal cities. They''ve been causing plenty of trouble, and quite a few strangers have been entering the manors of the Immortal city lords. We suspect that plenty of them are nning to betray Dayin," an official reported.


    "These bastards! Father has already exined that the Venerable Buddha was responsible for everything. Are they still going to betray Dayin regardless?" Yin Mingwang scowled.


    "I''ve anticipated this situation. Though many of the three hundred Immortal cities are intending to change their allegiance, the fact that they''re still Dayin''s cities in name is good enough. The damage to our reputation can be restored in time. The people will soon forget what atrocities we''vemitted, after all, and they can''t prove that the Venerable Buddha is innocent," Yin Shenhua said.


    "Father, should I kill off all those traitorous city lords?" Yin Mingwang asked.


    Yin Shenhua shook his head. "Don''t make a fuss, or the citizens may well rise up once more. It might even cause a chain reaction that topples the entire empire."


    "Then are we to allow these cultivators to remain city lords? They''re surely trying to finish off our loyal officials in secret so as to help Xiao Nanfeng and external forces take over their Immortal cities! They''re just waiting for the right time to let the world know. We can''t just allow this to happen. The longer things drag out, the more unfavorable the situation will be for us," Yin Mingwang said, frowning.


    "I''ve been picking out reliable subordinates over thest few days. It''s just about time for us to make our move. You''ll head to the various Immortal cities with them with edicts of appointment from me."


    "Edicts of appointment? To those traitors?" Yin Mingwang furrowed his brows.


    "Indeed. They''ve earned significant merit for themselves by ruling over their respective Immortal cities. Don''t they deserve a promotion? They''ll be officials of court in Dayin''s capital. Meanwhile, our loyal subordinates shall take over the Immortal cities that they govern," Yin Snehua said.


    "Reassigning these traitors to Dayin''s capital, where they''ll be watched? And if they refuse the edict, that would be treason, a crime punishable by death! The people wouldn''t revolt if that were the case, and the forces eyeing our territory wouldn''t be able to strike! Father, how wise you are!" Yin Mingwang''s eyes lit up.


    "I''d like to see who dares pilfer from Dayin then. Kill all those who try!" Yin Shenhua dered coldly.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Go on. Start by recing the most suspicious city lords with loyal subordinates, thenb through the administration of each city to sort out what''s going on. Finally, brainwash the people and have the Venerable Buddha shoulder the responsibility for all the crimes that have been revealed."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, a group of Martial Aspects were toasting each other in glee.


    "Eastern Aspect, we''ve seeded! Our subordinates have all convinced an Immortal city each to join us."


    "None of those city lords are fools. They can tell that Xiao Nanfeng''s strength is all but illusory, and they''re more than willing to serve us instead. Of course, much of it is due to your reputation, Eastern Aspect, because only you can take on Yin Shenhua."


    "We''ve got more than a dozen Immortal cities among us!"


    The Martial Aspects gossiped with each other about their sesses.


    Ao Canghai smiled in satisfaction. The Martial Aspects had all managed to im an Immortal city each in his name, and he had had even more sess.


    "Time is tight. There are forces all around Dayin angling for its Immortal cities. We''ll have to speed up our recruitment efforts as well," Ao Canghai said.


    "Don''t worry, Eastern Aspect. We''ll do our best!" a Martial Aspect promised.


    Just then, one of his subordinates rushed into the hall.


    "Eastern Aspect, something''s wrong! Quite a number of city lords are requesting aid," the subordinate reported.


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai said.


    "Yin Shenhua has sent his subordinates to the various Immortal cities, bringing them edicts of appointment promoting them to courtly officials. The city lords are expected to head to the capital immediately to assume their new positions."


    "What?" Ao Canghai nched.


    The next moment, the other Martial Aspects'' subordinates all rushed into the hall, repeating the same time.


    "Is Yin Shenhua trying to regain control over the Immortal cities of Dayin?"


    "What do we do now? We spent significant effort and significant cost in order to take down the Immortal cities we did! Are we going to give them all up?"


    "Eastern Aspect, what do we do?"


    The Martial Aspects all looked toward Ao Canghai anxiously.


    "What about those city lords loyal to other forces? And what about those loyal to Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "I don''t know, Eastern Aspect."


    "Then find out!"


    "Understood!"


    The celebratory mood in the air had been entirely wiped out.


    "An Immortal city represents a tremendous source of wealth. It would be too much of a pity to just give up on one..."


    "Does Yin Shenhua intend on saving his empire? Dream on! An Immortal city isn''t just a source of wealth, but also of the fortune that its people can generate. We can''t relent."


    "Much of Dayin''s strongest forces have fallen, and they''re nothing to be afraid of. Why shrink back?"


    The various Martial Aspects attempted to persuade Ao Canghai into continuing their seizure of the various Immortal cities.


    Ao Canghai frowned. In the end, he decided, "The other forces attempting to steal Dayin''s Immortal cities must feel the same way. Since Yin Shenhua has roused such ire, let''s cooperate with those forces and split up Dayin together. Signal the leaders of those forces and arrange for a meeting."


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects called out eagerly.


    In Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng and Wen Zhong were enjoying a game of go in a pavilion.


    "Your Majesty, it''s begun. There is a group of cultivators ready to split up Dayin," Wen Zhong said, smiling.


    "Greed blinds all. A pack of wolves circles a vile tiger, wounded and nearing death¡ªbut not yet dead. If the wolves want tiger meat, they''ll have to suffer the tiger''s bacsh. Think about how vicious the tiger would be when it knows it''s not going to survive," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "This will be a difficult fight, but Dayin shouldpletely copse thereafter," Wen Zhong said.


    "Tell our subordinates and those city lords who have agreed to work with us to prioritize their own safety. Make sure they aren''t embroiled inbat," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "I''ve already warned them, Your Majesty," Wen Zhong said, setting a piece down on the go board.


    "You''re as reliable as ever, Mr. Wen." Xiao Nanfeng smiled as he too made his move.


    "I only followed the n you outlined, Your Majesty," Mr. Wen demurred.


    "Nonsense, Mr. Wen," Xiao Nanfeng said, making his move. "You shall be foremost in merit in this maneuver to take down Dayin."


    The two cultivators nced at the game board before them as if they were seeing the dissolution of Dayin.

 Chapter 622: A Legendary Slaughter

    <h4>Chapter 622: A Legendary ughter</h4>


    In the city lord''s manor in the Immortal city of Honghai, the entire city''s officials were convened to greet the Dayin envoys that had just arrived.


    Dayin''s officials strode forward in an orderly procession. The lead official stopped before City Lord Mo and read off an edict. Monks stood guard on either side of the official, staring grimly at City Lord Mo, as if they would strike him down if he were to show any sign of resistance.


    "City Lord Mo, the Immortal Emperor hereby appoints you a courtly official. Head to the capital immediately to receive your new assignment. ept the edict!"


    "I, Mo Feiyan, thank the Immortal Emperor for his grace." City Lord Mo bowed respectfully, then stepped forward to receive the edict.


    The Dayin official was taken aback. This wasn''t the way things were supposed to go! It was far more likely than not that Mo Feiyan had already rebelled, and Dayin had even impersonated an envoy of an external force to probe his motives. Only after Mo Feiyan responded that he had already been approached by another force did Dayin''s procession head over, waiting for the slightest resistance to make an example out of him, a promation against the world.


    And yet¡ªMo Feiyan had readily epted the edict. What were they to do?


    The officials considered the situation silently, then finally handed Mo Feiyan the edict.


    Mo Feiyan imed the edict, then handed a document over. "Since I am no longer the city lord of Honghai, I may not submit reports to His Majesty myself. I bid you report to His Majesty that there have been disturbances all throughout Honghai. Not only have the citizens been in rebellion, plenty of envoys from external forces have reached out seeking to subvert my loyalty to Dayin. In order to stabilize the situation, I used all manner of excuses to send them away. I recorded the actions of these envoys in detail in this document. Please hand it to His Majesty as quickly as possible, and warn the next city lord of Honghai about these attempts."


    The official in charge: ...


    Could he have been mistaken? Had Mo Feiyan been loyal to Dayin all along?


    "Lord Mo, worry not. Your thoughts will be conveyed to His Majesty," the official said.


    "In that case, please allow me a moment''s reprieve to handle some matters at home. I shall apany you to Dayin''s capital to assume my new position thereafter," City Lord Mo replied.


    "Very well," the official said, nodding.


    Since Lord Mo was a loyal official who hadn''t participated in the rebellion, there was no need to make an example of him.


    Mo Feiyan headed toward the back of his manor to handle his personal affairs as he prepared for the sudden move.


    Meanwhile, the procession of Dayin officials began to appoint the new city lord that would take over Honghai.


    The newly appointed city lord did nothing in particr. He knew of the situation in Dayin, and was doing his best to pacify the officials of Honghai to ensure that they would continue to maintain the stable operation of the city.


    The officials waited patiently for quite some time, satisfied with what the newly appointed city lord was doing. However, Mo Feiyan never returned.


    "Where is Mo Feiyan? Go check on him!" an official finally stated.


    A group of cultivators rushed toward the city lord''s manor, only to find that there was no one remaining.


    "He ran off? Chase after him!" the official in charge thundered in rage.


    Just then, Mo Feiyan''s voice could be heard all over Honghai. "Citizens of Honghai, hear me! I, Mo Feiyan, am being pursued by Yin Shenhua. On fear of death, I intend to flee to safer territory and seek aid. The new city lord is a loyal servant of Yin Shenhua, privy to his evil and malice, here to cheat and swindle you! Citizens of Honghai, I ask you to protect yourself well, to stay safe until I return with reinforcements."


    Countless people gasped in rm as Mo Feiyan''s voice spread throughout the city.


    "Catch him!" the official in charge hissed.


    A number of cultivators flew toward the source of the voice, but by the time they arrived, Mo Feiyan was nowhere to be seen.


    Chaos andmotion overwhelmed Honghai.


    Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, Ao Canghai''s subordinates stood milling around, a sea of foreign faces.


    "Eastern Aspect, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi ims that he will send Golden Immortals in support of the n to collectively split up Dayin, as long as you hold back Yin Shenhua as necessary."


    "Eastern Aspect, the Immortal Emperor of Dazhen is likewise willing to ally with us and has agreed to your conditions."


    These cultivators were reporting to Ao Canghai in real time about negotiations unfolding all over the world. It was clear that they all possessed avatars of their own, which were facilitatingmunication between Ao Canghai and the leaders of various forces.


    "Very well. I thank all of you in advance for your cooperation. We shall divide up Dayin among ourselves. If any Golden Immortals from Dayin attack, I ask for your support so that we may weather this crisis together," Ao Canghai replied.


    His subordinatesmunicated his words to the foreign leaders and ryed their responses back. "Very well!"


    Then, Ao Canghai dismissed his subordinates and sent for the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant.


    "Eastern Aspect, were the negotiations sessful?" one Martial Aspect asked expectantly.


    "They were. With all these forces in cooperation, Yin Shenhua''s done for. Head to the Immortal cities under your control and stand guard there. Kill any Dayin officials or delegations that arrive, and publicly announce that your Immortal cities are defecting from Dayin," ao Cnaghai said.


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    "Eastern Aspect, what about you?" one Martial Aspect asked.


    "I''ll be keeping an eye on Yin Shenhua, of course. As long as I''m there, no one from Dayin will be able to make a move."


    "If we all leave, what will happen to Yongding?" the Martial Aspect frowned.


    "We''ve helped Xiao Nanfeng guard Yongding for long enough. If anything happens to Yongding while I''m gone, it''ll be his responsibility. Now, let''s go!" Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    The cultivators shot out of Yongding and quickly vanished over the horizon.


    Within Dayin''s imperial study, Yin Shenhua scoffed as he received reports from all over Dayin. "These city lords are pretending to ept the edicts before stoking popr rebellions and vanishing? How childish."


    "Father, this foreign alliance may be troublesome," Yin Mingwang remarked, frowning.


    Yin Shenhua shook his head. "Ignore them. I have a method for dealing with them. All you need to do is keep an eye on these Martial Aspects. Xiao Nanfeng killed quite a few of our subordinates. It''s time for some payback. Kill them all!"


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The Dayin cultivators rapidly scattered across their empire.


    Meanwhile, announcements rang out all over the Immortal cities of Dayin.


    "I, the city lord of the Immortal city of Zixia, hereby condemn Yin Shenhua''s vile misdeeds in brutalizing his own citizens. Zixia now deres its independence from Dayin! For the safety of the people, Zixia has sought the support of the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and the Imperial Court atrge, who shall protect its citizens from Yin Shenhua and his host of cursed effigies!"


    "I, the city lord of the Immortal city of Yaori, hereby announce that Yaori shall join the divine empire of Dachi to prevent its citizens from being devoured by Yin Shenhua."


    "I, the city lord of the Immortal city of Houtu, hereby announce that Houtu shall join the divine empire of Dazhen to prevent its citizens from being devoured by Yin Shenhua."


    The city lords of each Immortal city were dering their new allegiance as they ughtered the Dayin officials and delegations in their cities.


    Dozens of Immortal cities of Dayin defected simultaneously, causing ripples of strife across the empire.


    At that moment, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was standing within the city lord''s manor at Zixia. He smiled in satisfaction upon seeing the entire city under his control.


    "Well done," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said to the city lord of Zixia. "With me around, your city will be safe from all assault."


    "I am honored to serve you, Martial Aspect," the city lord replied.


    Just then, the defensive formation around the city shook violently.


    Everyone turned to the skies and gasped as Yin Mingwang''s fierce figure was revealed.


    "Yin Mingwang?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost eximed.


    "Traitors to Dayin who collude with foreign forces, prepare to die!" Yin Mingwang shouted.


    The city lord of Zixia nched. He shouted, "Martial Aspect, he''s here! What do we do?"


    "Worry not. I''m here," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied confidently.


    Yin Mingwang attacked the city''s defensive formation once again. It shook violently, causing a crack to appear.


    "Inform all nearby Golden Immortals to assist me in taking down Yin Mingwang," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrostmanded his subordinates.


    His subordinates'' avatars immediately contacted the Golden Immortals in other Immortal cities.


    As Yin Mingwang continued to attack the city''s defensive formation until it was just moments from breaking, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost thundered, "Well? What''s going on? Why hasn''t there been a response from the other Golden Immortals yet?!"


    "Something''s wrong, Martial Aspect," a subordinate reported. "Those Golden Immortals are embroiled in fighting themselves. Their avatars can''t assist us."


    "Why would they be fighting among themselves?!"


    "Allegedly, some Golden Immortals started turning on their allies. Everything''s in turmoil now."


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost narrowed his eyes. "Damn it. We''ve been tricked! Some forces in collusion with us must have been Yin Shenhua''s allies. They''re ruining our ns at this critical moment."


    With a huge, resounding crash, Yin Mingwang broke through Zixia''s defensive formation and headed straight for the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.


    The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cursed as he took to the skies.


    "Trying to run? It''s toote!" Yin Mingwang transformed into the form of a peacock as he swooped down toward the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, sending thetter flying.


    "Hurry! Inform the other Martial Aspects to help me!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled.


    "The other Martial Aspects are being targeted by Dayin''s Golden Immortals themselves!"


    "Then inform the Eastern Aspect! Hurry!"


    "The Eastern Aspect is taking on Yin Shenhua!"


    "What? No¡ªthis was a ploy against us!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost eximed.


    The peacock''s attacks grew fiercer and fiercer. Though the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was strong, he was no stronger than the peacock, whose heavy blows left him spitting out blood.


    He had no inclination to fight any longer. He turned to flee.


    However, before he could get away, he saw a Buddha appear in front of him, cutting off his escape route. The Buddha''s attack caught him by surprise, sending him flying back. The peacock, chasing after him from behind, pierced through his chest with sharp ws.


    "No!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shrieked. The peacock tore his body in half and devoured it all.


    Then, without any hesitation, he shouted, "Time to take down the next Martial Aspect!"

 Chapter 623: Full-Fledged War

    <h4>Chapter 623: Full-Fledged War</h4>


    Beyond Dayin''s capital, Ao Canghai and a group of his subordinates stood beneath the peak of a mountain, staring at the city. He could sense Yin Shenhua''s aura, and he knew that Yin Shenhua''s Golden Immortals had all been dispatched.


    At the moment, all the external forces'' Golden Immortals were part of an alliance that intended to split the spoils of Dayin. He was at Dayin''s capital because he was confident that the other Martial Aspects would be able to guard his Immortal cities; all he needed to do was ensure that Yin Shenhua couldn''t get away.


    Just then, one of his subordinates nched. "Eastern Aspect, something''s wrong! The Immortal cities in which the Martial Aspects are located¡ªDayin''s Golden Immortal cursed effigies are heading straight to them!"


    "So be it. Inform the other Golden Immortals to support them," Ao Canghai replied.


    "All those Golden Immortals are fighting among themselves! No one''s avable to provide assistance."


    "What?!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "Some of those Golden Immortals are even working together with the Golden Immortal cursed effigies to gang up on the trapped Martial Aspects..."


    "Could there have been traitors among those in collusion with me?!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "Eastern Aspect, the Immortal Emperor of Dazhen requests aid. They''ve been trapped by Dachi''s Golden Immortals!" another subordinate reported.


    "Those bastards¡ªthey''re working with Yin Shenhua! Damn it!"


    The next moment, Ao Canghai took to the skies. He was just about to leave when a giant palm from the heavens descended toward him.


    Ao Canghai grimaced as he defended himself.


    The two palms met in an explosion of energy.


    "Yin Shenhua?" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "Ao Canghai, since you''ve alreadye to Dayin''s capital, why leave?" Yin Shenhua smirked.


    Was this a trap?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "You shouldn''t have been so greedy. You caused me significant losses in the past, so it''s your turn to suffer now," Yin Shenhua said.


    The two cultivators began to fight.


    Outside an Immortal city of Dayin, a Martial Aspect was fighting against a Buddha. The Buddha was stronger, but the Martial Aspect had the support of many of its subordinates. The two forces were rtively evenly matched, at least for the time being.


    In a forest in the distance, Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus, in the guise of the Past Buddha, were staring at the battlefield before them.


    "Do you really intend to help?" the ck lotus asked.


    "Yin Shenhua allied with the leaders of a few forces to take down the Martial Aspects. If they all die, we''ll be in danger too. What''s more, if the Martial Aspects are badly hurt or killed and we do nothing, we would be held ountable when we return to the Imperial Court," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Should we wait a little longer?" the ck lotus asked.


    "Not too long. Yin Shenhua likely gave up several of his cities to gain the help of these other forces. It''s an alliance that involves actual transactions, one far more stable than Ao Canghai''s promises alone. If things drag out and the equilibrium is shifted beyond recovery, the situation will be highly unfavorable to us. Now is the best time to strike," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck lotus nodded. "Very well. I''ll make my move now, then."


    "Senior, don''t worry. Not all the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant are necessarily loyal to Ao Canghai. We won''t save those who arepletely loyal to him, nor those whom he trusts without fail."


    "Very well!"


    The ck lotus shot into the battlefield.


    Although the death chants that the Buddha gave off were useless against the Martial Aspect, they were clearly effective against the Martial Aspect''s subordinates. Dazed, they were easy prey for the Buddha. The resulting chain reaction left the Martial Aspect grievously injured as well.


    "Martial Aspect, flee! Ignore us!" one of his subordinates cried out.


    The Buddha sneered. "If you leave, I''ll kill your subordinates to thest."


    "You¡ª!" The Martial Aspect gritted his teeth in outrage.


    Just then, a golden palm descended from the heavens, shocking the Buddha. The Buddha quickly retaliated with a palm, but was nevertheless sent flying by the attack.


    The Martial Aspect gaped in shock. Someone¡ªthe ck lotus¡ªhad saved him.


    "Martial Aspect of Lightseeking, assist the Venerable Buddha! Don''t let that enemy Buddha escape!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from afar.


    The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking blinked in surprise, not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be the one to save him.


    There was no time to lose. He nodded immediately and shot toward the Buddha.


    The Buddha struck the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking and sent him flying back, but its dy in doing so meant that the ck lotus was able to m a palm directly against the Buddha''s head, dizzying and disorienting it.


    Then, the ck lotus reverted to its original form and absorbed the Buddha from the underside of its body before flying back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and bowed gratefully. "Thank you for your assistance, Martial Aspect Xiao."


    "Of course, Martial Aspect. You''ve guarded Yongding for me all this time, and it''s only natural that I would assist you in your time of need."


    The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking''s features scrunched up in guilt. Although he wasn''t one of Ao Canghai''s confidantes, he tended to obey Ao Canghai''s orders to cause Xiao Nanfeng trouble.


    "Martial Aspect of Lightseeking, Dayin is retaliating against the Martial Aspects in full force. Let''s hurry up and help out the others," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Very well. Please allow me to express my gratitude again, Martial Aspect Xiao. I shall thank you properly once all this is over."


    Then, the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking gathered his subordinates and ughtered the Buddha''s remaining subordinates. After making arrangements, he headed off to help out the other Martial Aspects.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the ck lotus left quickly as well. The ck lotus had just devoured a Buddha and was in the process of distilling it into essence.


    After some time, Xiao Nanfeng arrived in another Immortal city, whereupon he quickly hid in the forests.


    From afar, he saw two bodhisattvas surrounding a Martial Aspect, who was in dire straits.


    "Just like the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking, this Martial Aspect isn''t one of Ao Canghai''s confidantes. We can rescue her."


    "Very well." The ck lotus transformed into the Past Buddha and flew over.


    Outside Dayin''s capital, Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua''s fight grew more and more intense.


    "Leave? Didn''t you refuse to let me leavest time? Then you can hardly object if I were to do the same to you this time," Yin Shenhua retorted.


    Ao Canghai sighed in frustration. He wanted to exin that he had been intending to let Yin Shenhua off, only to be tricked by a Golden Immortal impersonating a Martial Aspect of the Southern quadrant.


    "Eastern Aspect, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost has been killed!" a subordinate howled from afar.


    Ao Canghai nched. He shouted back, "Contact Xiao Nanfeng and have him support the other Martial Aspects!"


    At the same time, a Dayin official shouted, "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng and the Venerable Buddha saved the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking and killed Buddha Gavampati!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is truly an annoyance," Yin Shenhua murmured coldly. He sent his subordinates a mental transmission. "Have the Immortal Emperor of Dachi deal with the Venerable Buddha, now!"


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    In a dim hall, a man sat on a draconic throne as he listened to his subordinates'' reports.


    "Your Majesty, Yin Shenhua requests that you deal with the Venerable Buddha," his subordinate said.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi, from atop his throne, murmured, "Yin Shenhua is fond ofmanding others, isn''t he?"


    Just then, another subordinate rushed into the hall. "Your Majesty, an envoy from Dazheng seeks an audience."


    "Oh? That youth Xiao Nanfeng sentst time? Has he remained behind specifically to facilitatemunication? Send him in, then," the Immortal Emperor of Dachimanded.


    "Understood!"


    Very quickly, a youth was brought into the hall, which was dim to the extent of being sinister. Even so, the youth didn''t seem perturbed. He bowed. "On His Majesty''s orders, I greet the Immortal Emperor of Dachi."


    "Xiao Nanfeng should be busy making advances in Dayin at the moment, shouldn''t he? What are you doing here?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi asked.


    "His Majesty would like to know how many Immortal cities Yin Shenhua promised you, Immortal Emperor," the youth replied.


    "Hm?" The Immortal Emperor of Dachi raised an eyebrow. His gaze turned cold.


    "His Majesty said that, ording to Dazheng''s predictions, Yin Shenhua likely promised you twenty Immortal cities, Immortal Emperor," the youth continued.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi stared at the youth. Yin Shenhua had only promised him ten Immortal cities, not twenty.


    The youth continued, "Dayin is undergoing a crisis the likes of which have never been seen. Yin Shenhua can no longer control the Immortal cities of his empire. If you were to turn against Yin Shenhua, Immortal Emperor, you would easily acquire twenty Immortal cities without any effort whatsoever."


    "What''s Xiao Nanfeng trying to say?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi demanded.


    "His Majesty believes that you deserve to own more Immortal cities, Immortal Emperor, and that you might do so without the risk of working for Yin Shenhua at all. A moment''s carelessness might see you being pursued by the Imperial Court. The risk is far toorgepared to the reward."


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng threatening me?"


    "No, Immortal Emperor. His Majesty states that, though Dayin might still exist, Yin Shenhua has already lost the loyalty of his people. Those whoy im to his Immortal cities shall be able to keep them. Yin Shenhua''s trying topel you using those Immortal cities that should be yours to begin with. What a joke, he says," the youth reported.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi''s face was ice-cold.


    "Immortal Emperor, I have ryed His Majesty''s words. I shall not trouble you any further. Farewell." The youth left the pce unhurriedly.


    Within the hall, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and his officials were silent.


    Under his agreement with Dayin, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi would be able to gain ten Immortal cities from Dayin just by sending a few of its Golden Immortals out. Everyone had been satisfied with the agreement¡ªuntil the youth presented Xiao Nanfeng''s remarks.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s envoy is no mere youth."


    "Indeed. Despite being a mortal, he doesn''t quail in front of us even as he presents an unpopr opinion."


    "That said, doesn''t it seem that Yin Shenhua promised us far too little for our efforts? He wants the Immortal Emperor himself to make a move¡ªand only for ten Immortal cities, at that!"


    The officials murmured among themselves.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi was perceiving his agreement with Yin Shenhua in an entirely different light as well. He wasn''t prepared to take on the Imperial Court at the moment; profit was naturally what mattered most.


    "If the Golden Immortals of Dayin and the eighteen Martial Aspects all perished in battle¡ªwouldn''t it be better for us to make our move then?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi wondered out loud.


    "Using Yin Shenhua to erode the reserves of the Imperial Court is a wise decision, Your Majesty!" an official eximed.


    "A wise decision," the other officials echoed.

 Chapter 624: Slaying the Peacock

    <h4>Chapter 624: ying the Peacock</h4>


    Back in Dayin''s capital, as Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua''s fight grew more and more intense, their subordinates continued sending them mental transmissions to keep them up to date with regards to the fighting.


    "Eastern Aspect, after the death of the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, the Martial Aspects of Redfrost, Greenfrost, and Indigofrost have all perished at the peacock''s hands. The peacock and a growing number of cursed effigies are headed toward another Immortal city to kill the next Martial Aspect now!"


    "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng and the Venerable Buddha are repeatedly saving the Marital Aspects from His Highness'' assault. Four Buddhas and bodhisattvas have already fallen."


    Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua''s subordinates continued to ry information about the fighting to their respective masters. Both cultivators grew more and more frustrated.


    "Yin Shenhua, let''s stop here. Others are only going to take advantage of our mutual destruction. Why bother?" Ao Canghai fumed.


    The two cultivators attacked each other with their palms, then separated. Even so, they stared balefully at each other, as though the slightest provocation would cause them to resume their fight.


    Yin Shenhua''s face was dour. He was clearly tempted to call a truce. His n seemed to be unraveling because of Xiao Nanfeng, and the Immortal Emperor of Dachi hadn''t chased after the Venerable Buddha as had been nned. He was in a remarkably passive position. Why not cut his losses now?


    Just then, both cultivators'' subordinates sent them urgent mental transmissions.


    "Eastern Aspect, the Venerable Buddha, along with some Martial Aspects, are facing off against the peacock in the Immortal city of Fengdu. The Venerable Buddha is taking on the peacock itself!"


    "Your Majesty, His Highness encountered the Venerable Buddha outside Fengdu. A huge fight is about to break out!"


    Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua immediately reacted upon hearing that news.


    Yin Shenhua said, "Very well, Ao Canghai. Let''s end the fight between us here."


    He didn''t want to fight any longer, but Ao Canghai''s attitude was entirely different. With the peacock killing his confidantes all across Dayin, he naturally didn''t want to fight in case his losses grew to an uneptable degree. Now, however, the peacock was taking on the Venerable Buddha. He would benefit regardless of which side lost out. Why would he give up on such an opportunity?


    "End the fight here? Your son has been killing my Martial Aspects. How can we stop just like that? Yin Shenhua, I won''t let you leave!" Ao Canghai roared,unching himself toward him.


    "Ao Canghai, I''ll kill you!" Yin Shenhua thundered, retaliating with a palm.


    The two supreme cultivators'' fight resumed in the air.


    Outside the Immortal city of Fengdu, the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking and several other Martial Aspects whom the ck lotus had rescued stared at the cursed effigies before them. They were led by a fierce peacock.


    Both sides prepared to take on their opponents.


    "Venerable Buddha, you again? You truly intend to hound me, don''t you?" the fierce peacock demanded.


    "You''vemitted enough evil," the ck lotus replied. "You should have been dealt with sooner."


    "Ha! Do you think we''re still in the past? Times have changed. You lost to us back then¡ªwhat good do you think reviving in the present will do for you? All you''re good for is being eaten up by me!" the peacock roared, swooping forward.


    "Die!" the ck lotus shouted, charging forward as well.


    The twobatants met in a ming tempest.


    "You''ve devoured the Past Buddha and are taking advantage of its strength, aren''t you? I''ve fought against the Past Buddha before. Last time, you managed to get away, but not this time! Die!" the peacock roared.


    The twobatants struck each other in an intense series of blows.


    Meanwhile, the peacock''s subordinates surged forward, only to be stopped by the Martial Aspects on the opposing side.


    "Die!" the Martial Aspects thundered.


    The two forces crashed against each other as they too began to fight in earnest.


    Arge number of arhats rushed to the scene from afar, only to be held back by Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows.


    All of Fengdu was mired in the fight. shes of me and howling wind could be seen from far beyond the city.


    "Guards of Fengdu, activate the defensive formation around the city to the maximum!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood, City Lord Xiao!" the guards within the city replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng had temporarily been the acting city lord of Fengdu in the past, and he had rescued all the civilians within the city more than once. The people adored him; and although there had been some bad press with themotion at Dayin, the revtion that Yin Shenhua had been devouring his citizens caused popr opinion to turn decisively in his favor.


    Meanwhile, the external forces had all heard of themotion and were secretly gathering in the distance, all hoping to be able to seize a greater fraction of Dayin for themselves. They watched on as the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court took on the cultivators of Dayin, none stepping in themselves.


    The fightingsted a whole day and night.


    The peacock was powerful indeed, second only to Yin Shenhua within Dayin. He had devoured plenty of cultivators and absorbed their strength¡ªbut his opponent was the Venerable Buddha.


    The Venerable Buddha had taken over the world eighty thousand years ago. Though it was now in a temporarily weakened state, with Xiao Nanfeng''s help, it had regained enough strength to have be a peak Golden Immortal. It was gradually starting to suppress the peacock. After the fighting that hadsted an entire day and night, both cultivators had wounded each other severely.


    "Five-colored divine light!" the peacock intoned.


    A screen of multicolored light shot straight toward the Venerable Buddha, who charged forward and tore apart the screen as it closed in on the peacock.


    "No!" the peacock cried out.


    The Venerable Buddha tore apart the peacock''s chest and thrust through it from the front, bisecting the peacock and tearing his body apart.


    "Your Highness!" the Buddhas and bodhisattvas cried out.


    The Venerable Buddha transformed into a gigantic ck lotus, sucking up the peacock''s body from its underside.


    The cursed effigies attempted to flee in panic, but the Martial Aspects prevented them from doing so. "Don''t you think it''s toote to try to flee?"


    The cursed effigies were already badly wounded to begin with. Their morale had fallen sharply, while the morale of the Martial Aspects had risen instead. They were roundly defeated.


    The ck lotus transformed back into the Past Buddha, striking at the gathered cursed effigies and crippling their ability to fight.


    Then, it returned to its ck lotus form and absorbed them all up as well.


    The battle was over. All the Martial Aspects rxed, sighing in relief. They were all stunned by the ck lotus'' prowess.


    After all, the ck lotus had demonstrated incredible strength.


    The ck lotus rushed back into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, saying, "Guard me. I''m about to make a big breakthrough."


    "Understood," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He turned to the gathered Martial Aspects. "Martial Aspects, please assist me in standing guard over the Venerable Buddha."


    "Very well," the Martial Aspects replied smoothly.


    The Venerable Buddha had just saved their lives, and none of them were Ao Canghai''s confidantes. It was only natural that they would return the favor in kind.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Martial Aspects swiftly left the Immortal city of Fengdu.


    He knew that the fight that had unfolded over the course of a day and a night would surely have attracted the attention of external forces. Plenty of strong cultivators had to be lying in wait.


    Perhaps there were even Golden Immortals among their number. If any bore him and the ck lotus malicious intent, the encounter would surely go poorly. Recruiting the Martial Aspects for help was an obvious decision.


    The group of cultivators headed to a remote part of the Eastern Sea.


    The ck lotus flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape andnded in the sea, emitting a huge cloud of ck fog.


    A tremendous aura could be sensed within the fog. It was growing stronger and stronger, causing the Martial Aspects to be taken aback.


    "Could the Venerable Buddha be aiming to break through toward the realm of a Boundless Immortal?"


    "A Boundless Immortal? From the looks of this aura... that could be the case!"


    The Martial Aspects were gossiping among themselves as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on intently from the side. He knew that there were six grades of Immortal. The three lower grades were Human, Earth, and Heaven; the three upper grades were True, Golden, and Boundless.


    Was the ck lotus attempting to break through to the highest realm, that of the Boundless Immortal?


    The ck fog surrounding the ck lotus exploded in an instant as a frightening aura swept across the sea. The seawater caved in as far as the eye could see; by the horizon, tsunamis brewed.


    Then, the ck lotus absorbed all the ck fog it had emitted, as well as the spiritual aether all around its domain.


    "A Boundless Immortal¡ªthis is the aura of a Boundless Immortal!" the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking eximed.


    "A Boundless Immortal? The same realm as Yin Shenhua and the Eastern Aspect?" another Martial Aspect gasped.


    The ck lotus immediately flew back to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Inform Ao Canghai immediately. We''ll take on Yin Shenhua right now!" the ck lotusmanded.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Martial Aspects nodded seriously.


    "With two Boundless Immortals against one, Yin Shenhua will be done for!"


    "Not only that, Yin Shenhua doesn''t have many Golden Immortal Buddhas or bodhisattvas left, does he? We have a tremendous advantage."


    "Quite a few Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court have perished. It''s time we take revenge."


    The Martial Aspects were all in agreement.


    They flew back tond, heading straight for Dayin''s capital.


    Just then, Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua continued to take on one another as they waited to hear about the results of the fighting at Fengdu.


    "Your Majesty, His Highness perished! He was devoured by the Venerable Buddha!"


    "Eastern Aspect, Fengdu was a huge victory. The peacock and gathered Golden Immortal cursed effigies all perished!"


    "Damn it!" Yin Shenhua cursed.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched. He wasn''t happy about this conclusion at all. He was hoping that the Venerable Buddha and peacock would both perish simultaneously. How could one side have obtained such an overwhelming victory?


    He and Yin Shenhua faced off with their palms once again, allowing each other''s blows to propel them back.


    Yin Shenhua and Ao Canghai stared at each other from afar as they waited for more news from their respective subordinates.


    Yin Shenhua had been intending to rush to the scene to take down the Venerable Buddha, only to have his subordinates reveal that Xiao Nanfeng and the Venerable Buddha had been escorted away by a group of Martial Aspects. Their whereabouts were unknown.


    Yin Shenhua stayed where he was as he nned out his next move, as did Ao Canghai. Their subordinates continued to report news from the various Immortal cities of Dayin.


    Before long, someone suddenly shouted, "Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng had me send word. He and the other Martial Aspects are heading straight here to take down Yin Shenhua! He wants you to stall Yin Shenhua and prevent him from escaping!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''sing?" Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua were both taken aback.

 Chapter 625: Dividing Up the World

    <h4>Chapter 625: Dividing Up the World</h4>


    Back in Dayin''s capital, by the time Xiao Nanfeng and the gathered Martial Aspects arrived, the defensive formations around the city had been activated, and all its gates were tightly shut.


    Ao Canghai looked toward the Venerable Buddha and probed, "Venerable Buddha, have you be a Boundless Immortal?"


    The ck lotus nodded. "Is Yin Shenhua around?"


    Ao Canghai was clearly difited by the fact that his guess was correct, but he rallied, "Upon learning of your intentions, Yin Shenhua guessed that you might have recently broken through. He rushed back into the city and erected a special defensive formation."


    "Oh?" Everyone looked toward Dayin''s capital.


    The defensive formation was embedded with …d runes and radiated with golden light.


    "Venerable Buddha, the two of us should be able to break down this defensive formation. Shall we attack?"


    Since the ck lotus was now a Boundless Immortal, it deserved Ao Canghai''s full attention.


    The ck lotus considered the proposal for a moment. "You cannot break through this formation."


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai said.


    "This formation is filled with an incredible expanse ofw, natural and artificial. Yin Shenhua must have used Dayin''s code ofws to establish this formation, and it even includes the naturalws that he contemted in his past life. It could devour a Boundless Immortal if we were to batter it down forcibly," the ck lotus said.


    "Dayin''s code ofws?" Ao Canghai frowned and looked up at the sky. He narrowed his eyes. "Indeed, Dayin''s sea of fortune is roiling. It''s likely been connected to this formation."


    "Yin Shenhua must be searching for supporters at this moment. If things drag out, we''ll lose our decisive advantage. Venerable Buddha, do you have any means of breaking down this formation?" Ao Canghai asked.


    The ck lotus shook its head. "I''ve only regained a fraction of my power, and cannot break this formation.


    "It''s not difficult to break this formation," Xiao Nanfeng opined from their side.


    "Oh?" Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "As long as all three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin defect from the empire, this sea of fortune would copse immediately. By that time, Dayin''s code ofws wouldn''t be able to support this formation."


    "You make it sound easy, but we''ve only managed to secure roughly a dozen cities among ourselves, and the situation is hardly finalized. How long would it take to wrest control of all three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin? What if Yin Shenhua manages to secure strong support before then?" Ao Canghai frowned.


    "Dayin is even closer to copse than before, and Yin Shenhua wouldn''t dare casually manipte Dayin''s fortune. His citizens might not lend him any of their strength, after all. As for the destruction of Dayin and its three hundred Immortal cities¡ªthat''s within my grasp," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ao Canghai gaped at Xiao Nanfeng, sure that he was just bragging.


    "Leave it to me. Dayin will lose all of its Immortal cities within three days'' time," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    All the gathered Martial Aspects stared at Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief.


    In Dayin''s imperial study, Yin Shenhua had curbed his anger and was avoiding a direct confrontation. He knew full well how strong the Venerable Buddha was. Although the Venerable Buddha had just be a Boundless Immortal, the fact that he was able to overwhelm the ten Buddha Emperors of eighty thousand years past was testament to his strength.


    "Xiao Nanfeng was the one helping the Venerable Buddha regain its strength. Damn him! If I had known about this earlier, I would have killed him," Yin Shenhua gritted out. He turned to his subordinates. "Why hasn''t the Immortal Emperor of Dachi replied yet?"


    "My avatar just encountered him, Your Majesty," a subordinate volunteered.


    "I''ll speak with him directly. Ry his words to me," Yin Shenhuamanded.


    "Understood!"


    "Immortal Emperor of Dachi, you promised that you would take on the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant alongside me. Why have you retreated?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    The subordinate replied, parroting the Immortal Emperor of Dachi''s words, "I''ve already made my move. Didn''t my subordinates help you hold some Martial Aspects back? My subordinates helped you defend against external forces as well."


    "You haven''t done enough. You didn''t stop the Venerable Buddha from killing my son," Yin Shenhua used.


    "You''ve given me far too little. This is as much as I''m willing to contribute at present."


    Yin Shenhua''s eyes twitched. "You intend to extort me at this point?"


    "You want me to work for you. Do you think I''m that cheap?"


    Yin Shenhua''s tone grew cold. "What do you want?"


    "In addition to the Immortal cities I subverted on my own, I want a hundred more. That''s the price for my assistance."


    An expression of malice flickered over Yin Shenhua''s features.


    "Very well. Assist me, then," Yin Shenhua spat out, eyes red.


    He would start by coaxing the Immortal Emperor of Dachi into making a move. Once the crisis was resolved, he would have final say over whether or not to hand over those hundred cities.


    "That won''t do. If I make a move, I''ll officially be dering war against the Imperial Court. If you want me to do so, it''ll have to wait until those hundred Immortal cities are handed over first," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi replied.


    "You dare make a fool of me?!" Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    Within the pce at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Wen Zhong. "Mr. Wen, I need Dayin''s three hundred Immortal cities to fall within three days."


    Wen Zhong nced at him seriously. "The final step," he murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The various Immortal Emperors will surely bargain with Yin Shenhua for the time being as they try to get maximum benefit for minimum effort. Yin Shenhua won''t relent easily, but they maye to an agreement with sufficient time. We can''t afford to dy. Within three days, I want to ensure that Yin Shenhua has no chance of revival."


    "Very well, Your Majesty. Let us act ording to the fourth step of the n you have outlined: to divide up Dayin."


    "Let''s begin," Xiao Nanfeng agreed.


    "Understood!"


    Within the city lord''s manor of a seemingly loyal Immortal city of Dayin, a youth looked toward a middle-aged man seated within the manor. "On His Majesty''s orders, I havee to seek another audience, n Head Li. I beg your pardon."


    The middle-aged man, n Head Li, gave him a small smile. "It matters not. Does Xiao Nanfeng have new information for me?"


    "n Head Li, you''re aware of the situation in Dayin''s capital, aren''t you?" the youth asked.


    "We do pay careful attention to the empire atrge, but I''d like a detailed summary from you to confirm the facts," n Head Li stated.


    "After the Venerable Buddha absorbed a host of cursed effigies, it reached the realm of a Boundless Immortal and is prepared to take on Yin Shenhua alongside Ao Canghai and the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. However, Yin Shenhua has gone into hiding within Dayin, and even erected a formation using Dayin''s code ofws. No one is able to enter, and the Martial Aspects have all been stymied. In addition, he''s currently seeking aid from the Immortal Emperors in the vicinity of his empire. They must be discussing terms at the moment," the youth said.


    "As we expected," n Head Li surmised. He continued, "And what are your ns?"


    "We hope for Dayin to lose its supply of fortune as quickly as possible in order for Dayin''s code ofws to lose its efficacy and to shatter the formation around Dayin''s capital. At that time, the Venerable Buddha and Ao Canghai will take down Yin Shenhua together. We''ll need your support, and it has to be provided within the next two days," the youth said.


    n Head Li narrowed his eyes. "Taking down a divine empire in two days? How bold Xiao Nanfeng is. Does his n have a chance of sess?"


    "Of course, n Head Li. Just like has been done here, ten Immortal cities can be liberated all at once."


    "Oh?" n Head Li narrowed his eyes.


    "n Head Li, you''ve been stationed in Dayin all this time. I''m sure the members of your sect have been roaming all over the empire as well.Dayin''s people are losing their respect and faith in their emperor. You have plenty of disciples in your sect, n Head Li, who serve as city lords in the various Immortal cities. Countless disciples from your sect are in instrumental positions for the cities'' continued function. If you''re willing to split up from the empire and establish a new, independent empire in your own right, then these ten Immortal cities shall be yours. The fortune they generate will be a strategic reserve for your sect."


    n Head Li stared at the youth. "Do you intend for my sect''s disciples to rebel against Dayin?"


    The youth smiled. "Isn''t that what you''ve been busy withtely, n Head Li?"


    "Rebellion will invite bacsh, and Yin Shenhua is no easy opponent."


    "n Head Li, you''re a Golden Immortal, and your sect is strong in terms of cultivators and resources. You have little need to worry about bacsh. Yin Shenhua will surely fall after the war; who would punish you for your rebellion? Rather, the time hase to strike. This opportunity is fleeting: if Yin Shenhua has the chance to recover and enlist the support of other Immortal Emperors, all your nning will be for naught. You don''t want to lose this opportunity yourself, do you?" The youth smiled.


    n Head Li''s eyes twitched. Indeed, he was moved.


    "n Head Li, don''t worry. Dazheng has nned to take on Dayin for a long time, and we''re confident that there are many independent factions like yours, in addition to external divine empires and ordinary empires alike. They''re all nning on making a move. We''ve already established connections with multiple independent parties. Just like me, other Dazheng envoys have been sent to convince the city lords and n heads from all across Dayin to revolt at the same time. Three dayster, Dayin''s three hundred Immortal cities will be split apart," the youth promised.


    n Head Li considered the situation for a long moment before he nodded. "Very well. Xiao Nanfeng''s actions have built a strong foundation on which we may take action against Dayin. We owe him a favor. We are willing to support and coordinate with Xiao Nanfeng on our defection."


    "My gratitude, n Head Li," the youth replied.


    "There is no time to lose. I shall gather my disciples and prepare to found a new empire. We will take two days to establish our n. On the third day, we will do as Xiao Nanfeng suggests."


    "That is excellent news." The youth smiled.


    The same situation was taking ce in many Immortal cities all across Dayin. Dazheng''s envoys were convincing the scattered city lords, or the factions behind them, into seizing their independence.


    Dazheng would gain little direct reward from their independence, no status, position, ornd. Even so, it still exerted tremendous effort to have these nse to fruition at a rapid rate.


    On one hand, it would allow Xiao Nanfeng to deal with Yin Shenhua more quickly. On the other, the dissolution of Dayin into many small empires was a superior option to allowing other external forces to gain control of them. Furthermore, if Dazheng were to wage war in the future, it would be far easier to take down many independent empires than a few stronger enemies.

 Chapter 626: Dayins Dissolution

    <h4>Chapter 626: Dayin''s Dissolution</h4>


    On the third day, outside Dayin''s capital, Ao Canghai nced at Xiao Nanfeng and spoke coldly. "I see you''ve imed the Immortal cities that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and the others had been handling."


    "I''m upset that the Martial Aspects have perished, but Dayin''s cultivators were poised to regain control of their cities thereafter. Rather than having them reimed by Yin Shenhua, wouldn''t we be better off if I seized control of them instead?"


    "You even wrested control of the Immortal cities that various external forces initially seized. They convinced various city lords to switch their allegiance, but you worked on those officials whose authority were second only to those city lords! They took down the city lords and seized control of the cities themselves," Ao Canghai continued, frowning.


    "I was simply fortunate that they chose to do so," Xiao Nanfeng replied smoothly.


    "Fortunate? In addition to the Immortal cities that have suddenly dered for Dazheng over thest two days, you must have gotten almost forty Immortal cities in all! An astounding feat," Ao Canghai said enviously.


    He had only imed a scant few cities himself, but Xiao Nanfeng had acquired forty all at once, an order of magnitude higher. How was he to swallow this discrepancy?


    "The people havepletely lost their faith in Dayin. I was lucky to have made my move in time," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Was it all luck? I heard that Zhang Lingjun and your other body, along with arge number of your subordinates, have been running back and forth along these Immortal cities and ughtering all those who resist," Ao Canghai said.


    "That''s right. There are so many cities that I''m exhausted," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Canghai: ...


    Why did listening to Xiao Nanfeng speak make him so angry?


    Forty Immortal cities in a mere two days¡ªit was only natural that he would be exhausted. Plenty of cultivators would have dly suffered such exhaustion!


    Ao Canghai didn''t want to speak with Xiao Nanfeng any longer, but had no choice but to ask, "You said that you would make Dayin lose its three hundred cities within three days. You''ve taken control of almost forty yourself, but what about the remaining two hundred or so? It''s already the third day. You weren''t ying a joke on us, were you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the position of the sun. He was silent for a moment. "It''s about time. The cities should soon be lost in their entirety."


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai continued to look toward Xiao Nanfeng, confused.


    Just then, one of Ao Canghai''s subordinates rushed over and reported, "Eastern Aspect, ten of the northeastern Immortal cities of Dayin have suddenly dered their independence. They have unanimously nominated one city lord as emperor to form the empire of Dali."


    "What?" Ao Canghai eximed.


    The sea of fortune in the skies suddenly cracked. A portion of fortune flew in the northeastern direction as the golden dragon in Dayin''s sea of fortune howled mournfully.


    "It''s true! Dayin is rapidly losing its fortune, just as it did when Xiao Nanfeng seized control of his Immortal cities over thest two days.


    Then, the sea of fortune cracked further as anotherrge batch of fortune flew away.


    "Could something else have happened?" a Martial Aspect eximed.


    Another of Ao Canghai''s subordinates came to report. "Eastern Aspect, eight of Dayin''s Immortal cities in the northwest have suddenly dered their independence. They have unanimously nominated one city lord as emperor to govern them all."


    "Another one?" Ao Canghai stared.


    The golden dragon of fortune howled once again as even more fortune flowed away. The dragon itself seemed to shrink into its own body.


    "Eastern Aspect, nine Immortal cities to the west of Dayin have dered their independence."


    "Eastern Aspect, the divine empire of Dachi has imed ten Immortal cities of Dayin."


    "Eastern Aspect, the divine empire of Dazhen has imed three Immortal cities of Dayin."


    "Eastern Aspect, another ten Immortal cities have dered their independence."


    "Eastern Aspect..."


    The information continued to pour in. It seemed as though the Immortal cities had all been in agreement to revolt at the same time.


    Dayin lost more and more of its fortune rapidly. The giant golden dragon that had roamed the sea of fortune above Dayin''s capital howled as it was weakened severely.


    This shocking sight took all the cultivators in the vicinity by storm.


    Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects suddenly turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Everyone guessed that he had been responsible for this n.


    Dayin had been among thergest of divine empires! Xiao Nanfeng had given himself a three-day deadline, and he had met it. Just what had he done? This was ridiculous!


    "There''s no need to stare at me, everyone," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling. "This may well be a coincidence."


    Ao Canghai: ...


    The Martial Aspects: ...


    No one would believe in such a coincidence. They were all incredibly shocked as they continued to listen to the news and reports pouring in from all over as the sea of fortune in the sky grew smaller and smaller.


    Within Dayin''s capital, by the entrance to Thunderp Hall, Yin Shenhua lifted his head to the ever-shrinking pile of fortune overhead. His eyes were filled with vengeance and hatred.


    He didn''t care about the deaths of the various Buddhas, nor the downfall of Yin Mingwang and Yin Peng. After all, cursed effigies would regenerate in time. As long as he killed the Venerable Buddha and forced him to regurgitate all he had devoured, he was confident that he would be able to revive all his cursed effigy subordinates.


    The copse of Dayin, on the other hand, was a critical blow to his ns. It had taken him countless years to establish such a domain for himself, but its destruction had taken but a scant few months.


    "The city of Beiyou deres its independence."


    "The city of Beiguang deres its independence."


    "The city of Xiye deres its independence."


    Behind him, subordinate after subordinate read out the reports they had brought to his intention, causing Yin Shenhua to grow more and more angry.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!" Yin Shenhua shouted, almost as if he were invoking a curse.


    The golden dragon in the sky roared as it dissipated, scattering into powder.


    Even so, the sea of fortune continued to shrink at an elerated rate, until a once raging sea was norger than ake.


    "Your Majesty, in addition to Dayin''s capital, about a dozen Immortal cities of Dayin are still under our control. Those Immortal cities are ruled by various Buddhas and bodhisattvas. They''ve sent word that there are Golden Immortals attacking their cities, and that they might not be able tost for long. They wish to inquire as to what to do," a subordinate reported.


    "External forces must be trying to im as much of Dayin as they can. It''s pointless to have those Buddhas and bodhisattvas remain in those cities¡ªthey might as well return," Yin Shenhua spat out.


    "Understood, Your Majesty!" one subordinate replied.


    As those Buddhas and bodhisattvas retreated to Dayin, the cities previously under their control were taken down as well. Theke of fortune above Dayin''s capital cracked once more as a critical amount of fortune was depleted.


    "Your Majesty, Dayin''s capital is the only city we have remaining," one subordinate reported in worry.


    Yin Shenhua didn''t speak. His eyes were filled with fury and killing intent. As he attempted to rein in his anger, hemanded, "Ask the Immortal Emperor of Dachi when he''ll arrive."


    One subordinate quickly replied, "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi said that he didn''t receive a hundred Immortal cities from us and doesn''t intend to show himself at the moment, but he promises that he will do so eventually."


    "And the other Immortal Emperors?"


    "Their responses are simr, Your Majesty. They don''t intend toe over immediately. They im that..."


    "Ha! Cowards and fools all! They intend to take full advantage of me and treat me like a scapegoat. Well¡ªthey shall be disappointed," Yin Shenhua cursed.


    Beyond Dayin''s capital, the Martial Aspects sucked in deep breaths as they heard the reports ryed by their respective subordinates.


    "All of them? The three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin, all save Dayin''s capital itself, have fallen..." a Martial Aspect murmured.


    "It''s true," one subordinate confirmed. "The Immortal cities are all under different allegiances now. None have remained with Dayin."


    The Martial Aspects gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Although they had confirmed this reality, they couldn''t help but be perturbed at seeing how calm Xiao Nanfeng was.


    His machinations had taken down a divine empire, thergest and most influential territories in the world! Even the Imperial Court would have had to exert great effort to take down a divine empire, but Xiao Nanfeng had done so in what seemed like no time at all. How long had it been since the initial denunciation against Dayin and its destruction?


    How could, in fact, an ordinary empire have taken down a divine empire? No one would have thought it possible, but it had happened right before their eyes.


    Not long ago, Dazheng had been so weak it could be destroyed by a sweep of their arms. By now, however, it had grown strong enough to destroy a whole divine empire.


    The Martial Aspects had yed a part in this, but what they had done was minuscule. This was a war between empires, a fight between two interlocking mechanisms of incredibleplexity and scale. Countless situations and cultivators were involved¡ªand yet, having paid an insignificant price, Xiao Nanfeng had won an overwhelming victory.


    The Martial Aspects were certain that Xiao Nanfeng''s reputation would rise rapidly as a result of this war. When was thest time such a feat had been attempted? How could Dazheng, an underdog in every means, have achieved such sess?


    All the Martial Aspects present felt an intense desire to pry at Xiao Nanfeng''s secrets, to understand what he had done to aplish what he did, to make use of his stratagems for themselves. This war would be one studied and analyzed throughout history¡ªof that they were certain.


    Meanwhile, in the distance, the defensive formation around Dayin''s capital had finally petered out. Too much of its fortune had been drained to continue sustaining the formation. The loud boom it made as it cracked interrupted everyone''s thoughts.


    They turned toward Dayin''s capital, knowing that this war was almost at an end, but not quite yet.


    Dayin had a single cultivator of means remaining: Yin Shenhua. Only by defeating Yin Shenhua would this war truly end.


    Everyone waited with bated breath for the denouement of the war. Even the Venerable Buddha, who had been meditating silently by the side, suddenly opened its eyes and took a few steps forward.

 Chapter 627: I Would Resist the Heavens a Million Times Over for the Common People

    <h4>Chapter 627: I Would Resist the Heavens a Million Times Over for the Common People</h4>


    The fortune of Dayin drained rapidly, causing the defensive formation around the capital to grow weaker and weaker. It began to crack in pieces and patches.


    The subordinates to Yin Shenhua''s back panicked. Yin Shenhua himself had nothing but hatred and anger remaining. He had worked hard all these years to carve out his own territory¡ªbut all that was about to be destroyed.


    "Your Majesty, what do we do?" his subordinates shouted.


    Yin Shenhua ignored them. He flew out of the defensive formation.


    Rather than wait for it to be destroyed, it would be better for him to take the lead instead.


    He appeared high in the air, facing the cultivators to the south.


    Xiao Nanfeng, the Venerable Buddha, Ao Canghai, and the eleven Martial Aspects had all gathered by the peak of a mountain to watch Yin Shenhua as he flew out of his city.


    "Dayin''s fortune is all but lost. Even if Yin Shenhua tries to manipte it, it won''t grant him much strength. Ao Canghai, we can attack Yin Shenhua now," the Venerable Buddha announced.


    Ao Canghai paused for a moment. "There are cultivators from various forces hidden in the darkness, even Boundless Immortals among them. If we take on Yin Shenhua together, those with malicious intent might attack us."


    The Venerable Buddha nced disdainfully at Ao Canghai. "Then you may guard the surroundings while I take on Yin Shenhua."


    Ao Canghai was taken aback. Although that was his intention, the fact that the Venerable Buddha was saying so directly left him difited.


    Xiao Nanfeng, too, watched on from the side. He knew that Ao Canghai was simply trying to trick the Venerable Buddha into fighting against Yin Shenhua alone so that it could im a greater share of the rewards once both parties were weakened.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, die!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    Everyone looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, including the cultivators skulking about in the forest, who were taken by surprise.


    After all, Yin Shenhua should have been most bitter about the Venerable Buddha and Ao Canghai. Why was he only calling Xiao Nanfeng out? Everyone suddenly came to the revtion all at once: Xiao Nanfeng was the one who had destroyed the divine empire of Dayin, and Yin Shenhua hated him most of all out of anyone present.


    The Venerable Buddha took a deep breath. "Xiao Nanfeng, protect yourself."


    It shot into the air and faced off against Yin Shenhua.


    Afar, Yin Shenhua narrowed his eyes. Though he hated Xiao Nanfeng, he could identify who the real threats to him were.


    "Isn''t Ao Canghai going to attack me alongside you? He really is as petty as always. No wonder he didn''t dare make a fuss when he was chased out of the Southern Sea Draconic Pce. Howughable he is¡ªhe has no guts," Yin Shenhua said, staring disdainfully at Ao Canghai.


    Countless gazes followed Yun Shenhua''s and rested on Ao Canghai, instantly angering him¡ªthough he didn''t take the bait.


    Then. Yin Shenhua turned to the Venerable Buddha. He addressed it coldly. "Venerable Buddha, it''s been eighty thousand years since west met. Are you going to keep presenting yourself as the old man that the Past Buddha was?"


    "And so what if I''m an old man? My appearance is superfluous; it doesn''t matter how I present myself," the Venerable Buddha replied coldly.


    Yin Shenhua shook his head. "Hardly. If not for your appearance, would the ten Buddha Emperors have chosen to submit to you? Do you think so many would have been besotted with you if you showed yourself as an old man? The Venerable Buddha, supreme cultivator of her era, should hardly hide her own appearance after eighty thousand years."


    The Venerable Buddha considered Yin Shenhua''s argument for a moment before ck fog sprayed from its body. The Past Buddha''s appearance receded away, revealing a woman d in ck veils. She held a seal in one hand and a Buddhist relic in another. The image of a jade bottle seemed to appear over her palms. Her bearing was graceful and elegant, her features exquisite, her eyes like deep pools, cid and merciful.


    The sudden transformation left the hidden onlookers gasping. They had seen beauties before, of course, but never one who seemed to harbor such deeppassion, one that seemed beyond the realm of humanity. Many felt thepulsion to bow, to join her service.


    "Venerable Buddha of Benevolence and Compassion, if only you had agreed to be my empress eighty thousand years ago! You would hardly have died such a tragic death then," Yin Shenhua called out.


    "You don''t deserve me," the Venerable Buddha replied.


    "Indeed? And does Xiao Nanfeng? You remain by his side, waging war against the world. Do you think he deserves you?" Yin Shenhua''s words were shot through with envy.


    "I helped Xiao Nanfeng not because of whether or not he deserves me, but because what he does is worth my support. He knows of the ails of the world, and treats every citizen like he would his own children. All are the same before him. This is no deceit, but a reflection of his mentality. All are equal; any difference results from a difference in background, in upbringing. As for you, you believe in innate castes. Themon people are only food for your kind, mere livestock," the Venerable Buddha criticized.


    "Is he so saintly?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "That he is charitable at all sufficespared to your evil," the Venerable Buddha retorted.


    "Oh? And has he not killed his fair share of people?" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    "Those he killed deserved to die. He killed to save; you kill to kill. You think of yourself as heavenly beings segregated from themon people¡ªand yet, if the heavens are unjust, the heavens themselves should perish."


    "I should think you''re the stubborn one. Naturalw separates heaven and earth. You go against naturalw and deserve to be killed," Yin Shenhua eximed.


    The heavens are the heavens; the world is the world. The world is not subject to heavenlyw, but naturalw. A lucky cultivator who rises to worldly domination and engages in very, in mortal destruction, is but a demon. As people of the world, instead of ridding the world of demons, you instead d yourself in demonic influence. Shameless, I say. For the good of the world, for the lives of the people, for the birth of heroes far and wide, I am willing to wield a sword against the demons of heaven, against those hypnotized by demonic influence! My life for the world!" the Venerable Buddha eximed.


    Radiant light emanated from the Venerable Buddha''s back, forming the image of a giant dozens of kilometers tall.


    The giant began to absorb spiritual aether from all over the world as its image materialized into reality. A fearsome aura was released from its body, shocking the cultivators all around.


    Yin Shenhua nched. "How can you control your Ri eidolon so quickly after having reached the realm of a Boundless Immortal?"


    He too waved a hand. Radiant light emanated from his body as a giant eidolon, kilometers tall, manifested in reality. It began sucking up spiritual aether from his side of the battlefield.


    Neither party made the first move. Perhaps they were both so aware of each other''s techniques that they knew that the only way they could restrain the other would be with these Ri eid.


    Yin Shenhua''s Ri eidolon took on the shape of a golden Buddha, like the ancestral Buddha statues of monasteries and temples. It radiated with divine golden light. As it stepped across the air, the sound of scripture rang out. It possessed a holy majesty, as though it would stand invincible against the world.


    The Venerable Buddha''s Ri eidolon was a dignified Buddha veiled in ck, a seal in its right hand and a jade bottle in its left. Its mien was one ofpassion, as though it was sympathizing with the evils of the world. The cultivators couldn''t help but feel a sense of piety upon gazing at it.


    The two Ri eid were awash in strength, and even seemed to dwarf the cultivators themselves. One gave off blinding golden light; the other, unfathomable shadowy light.


    Yin Shenhua retreated and melded into his Ri eidolon, as did the Venerable Buddha.


    The two eid seemed suddenly toe alive. They struck at one another, one''s features contorted in malice, the other''s inpassion.


    A ming tempest surrounded them as they fought each other.


    Roiling waves of energy surged across their surroundings, causing thend to vibrate and rumble as they fought.


    The Martial Aspects down below nched at the sight of the fighting.


    "So these are what Buddhist eid look like..."


    "These Ri eid boast incredible strength. If they were to attack us, we''d surely die instantly!"


    "As expected of the supreme cultivator of eighty thousand years past. They''re ridiculously strong!"


    The Martial Aspects marveled at the incredible disy of power.


    Everyone was staring at the sky even as they were on guard against attacks from external forces.


    Suddenly, beams of starlight shot across the air¡ªGolden Immortal cursed effigies, rushing to Dayin''s capital from afar. They were the Buddhas and bodhisattvas who had been guarding Dayin''s scant remaining Immortal cities before Yin Shenhua had recalled them. As they arrived, they quickly flew toward the capital.


    Zhang Lingjun had appeared as well. Shended by Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    "What are you doing here? Didn''t I ask you to hide?" Xiao Nanfeng stared at Zhang Lingjun in surprise.


    Zhang Lingjun shook her head. "Yin Shenhua killed my mother in the past. I want to be here when he dies."


    "It''s too dangerous! Yin Shenhua isn''t the only enemy. There are other Immortal Emperors lying in wait in the darkness," Xiao Nanfeng worried.


    "The Taiqing Grandmaster had mee. He wanted to see how the Venerable Buddha fought," Zhang Lingjun continued.


    She left something unsaid: she had chosen toe primarily because she was worried for Xiao Nanfeng''s safety. Protected by her praying mat as she was, she might be able to lend Xiao Nanfeng some aid if danger arose.


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng said, sighing. "Follow me closely."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded.


    The cultivators watched the fight in the sky unfold earnestly. The two Ri eid struck each other with such force that mes and howling winds blew around them, surrounding them with elemental force.


    The two supreme cultivators seemed evenly matched. They fought that way for an entire day and a night, with no resolution to be found.


    "Eastern Aspect, will you assist the Venerable Buddha?" Xiao Nanfeng asked Ao Canghai.


    Ao Canghai shook his head. "The Venerable Buddha isn''t on the losing end of things and doesn''t require my assistance. What''s more, over the past day, even more cultivators have snuck into the forests around us to witness the fight. I need to be on guard to ensure that no idents ur as before."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned in annoyance. "Though there are a great deal of hidden cultivators, they don''t dare strike at all. If you don''t lend your assistance to the Venerable Buddha now, Eastern Aspect, you might lose this opportunity to take Yin Shenhua down altogether."


    "I need no instruction from you," Ao Canghai retorted acidly.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    Just then, the two great eid smashed into each other and stumbled apart. The Venerable Buddha''s eidolon suddenly seemed to transform. Its pair of arms multiplied over and over again.


    "The Thousand Palms of Ri!" the Venerable Buddha invoked.


    A thousand arms struck Yin Shenhua''s eidolon all at once, sending it flying. It fell from the skies andnded on the ground in a huge crater that spawned earthquakes all around.


    "Has the Venerable Buddha won?" everyone eximed in shock.

 Chapter 628: The Primordial Altar

    <h4>Chapter 628: The Primordial Altar</h4>


    Yin Shenhua''s Ri eidolon fell to the ground, obliterating countless mountains and causing the earth itself to rumble violently.


    "The Thousand Palms of Ri? How could you use that technique after just having reached the realm of a Boundless Immortal?" Yin Shenhua''s eidolon eximed.


    The Venerable Buddha''s eidolon flew toward Yin Shenhua steadily, a thousand arms spreading out along its sides. Each sped a treasure.


    "Buddhist techniques are used not for senseless fighting, but to invoke transcendence. Such too is the case for the Thousand Palms of Ri. Thosepassionate Buddhas of history have ever been able tomand such techniques, even in the form of mortal bodies, yet those steeped in evil would never gain ess to them in earnest. Today, let me end the disaster of your life once and for all! Thousand Palms of Ri!" the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon shouted again.


    Its thousand palms magnified in size and extent, covering up heaven and earth as they struck at Yin Shenhua''s eidolon.


    "How incredibly strong..." the watching cultivators murmured. They felt an overwhelming sense of despair.


    "I don''t believe that you''ll be able to ovee me. I should be the Ri!" Yin Shenhua''s eidolon howled, meeting those thousand palms with incandescent golden light.


    In the resultingmotion, huge furrows lined the ground. Rubble and dust flew into the air in such quantities that the skies turned dark.


    Even from afar, an oppressive pressure could be felt. The Martial Aspects shuddered, while those hidden in the forests further back attempted to flee, worried that the shockwaves from the fighting alone would overwhelm them.


    "How can the Venerable Buddha possess such strength as a newly minted Boundless Immortal? This is crazy!" Ao Canghai eximed, aplicated expression on his face.


    Zhang Lingjun likewise retreated when faced with such waves of energy, only to have Xiao Nanfeng hold tightly onto her hand and stabilize her. She instantly felt a sense offort and safety.


    After the initial shockwave, plumes of dust rose up from all around. Everyone could sense that the Venerable Buddha still boasted incredible energy, though Yin Shenhua was far weakened.


    "Yin Shenhua''s Ri eidolon has been shattered!" someone cried out.


    Indeed, the mountain range in the distance had been razed into tnd. Lying atop those ruined mountains was Yin Shenhua''s eidolon, body spiderwebbing with cracks. It was clear that he was no match for the Venerable Buddha.


    The Venerable Buddha''s thousand arms waved, extracting strength from the void and charging up for an ultimate blow.


    "Yin Shenhua, your choices led you down this path. Serving as the ws and fangs of the heavens, you chose to take on the world. For this crime, on this day, you shall die," the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon eximed coldly.


    "The ws and fangs of the heavens? Ha! The whole world belongs to the heavens; the heavens can do as they please. So what if they reap the lives of themon people? In the end, there shall always be a few seeds left over for subsequent propagation. It''s just like how farmers till thend, nting crops in anticipation of reaping them. Don''t forget that the only reason you were able to live is because of the mercy of the heavens. Just as the heavens can control whether you live, so too can they control whether you die. I choose not to die. All I can be is the scythe of the heavens, reaping the world and leaving a few seeds behind. Such is the heavens'' mercy. If you resist the heavens, your only fate is death," Yin Shenhua eximed.


    "You really have forgotten that you were once a human yourself," the Venerable Buddha eximed.


    "Say whatever you want. The heavens are my shield; I am the heavens'' scythe. The heavens have granted me strength. I wasn''t nning to use it, but now that you''ve forced my hand, I''ll reap you on behalf of the heavens above."


    Yin Shenhua raised a hand. "Heaven''s Hands!"


    Dayin''s capital rumbled as an incredible surge of white fog gushed out.


    "Help!"


    "No!"


    "Save me!"


    Piteous cries could be heard all over Dayin''s capital.


    Everyone looked over to see a cloud of white fog rising up from Dayin''s capital, obscuring the scenes thaty within. Ten Buddhas and bodhisattvas flew out of the fog in fear. When themon people took to the air, they were sucked back into the city. All that could be heard were their chilling screams.


    "What happened?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Your Majesty, a huge pit suddenly appeared within Dayin''s capital, and white fog is gushing out of it. It''s absorbing everyone in the vicinity. Some spectral guards attempted to escape, but were unable to flee in time. They were instantly sucked into the pit and killed!"


    "Your Majesty, the pit within Dayin''s capital is devouring the whole city¡ªnot just cultivators, but any relics that possess even the slightest trace of spiritual energy. Some formations, halls, houses, and city walls have been absorbed as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates rapidly conveyed what they were observing from afar, as were the Martial Aspects'' subordinates within Dayin''s capital.


    "It''s a ritual to summon Heaven''s Hands!" the Martial Aspects gasped from beside Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What do you mean? What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking exined, "This isn''t the first time that such a sight has been seen. Invoking Heaven''s Hands is a boon that the heavens grant to their subordinates, a seal of naturalw that encapstes a Heaven''s Hand. Once the seal is broken, a fearsome suction will devour all spiritual energy in the vicinity, fill the seal, and manifest a Heaven''s Hand that the heavens'' subordinates can control."


    "You mean that Yin Shenhua has unleashed this seal and is using all the people and spiritual energy within his capital to manifest a Heaven''s Hand? He''s willing to kill off all that remains of his citizens to deal with the Venerable Buddha?!"


    "Indeed," the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking replied.


    "Yin Shenhua truly is a blight on this world. Can we stop him?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "No. For Golden Immortals to escape from the destruction is the limit. As for stopping them, that''s impossible. The power inherent in this seales from the heavens above. It''s too strong for anyone to be able to revert, not even a Boundless Immortal."


    "Not even a Boundless Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng grimaced.


    "The ritual has a range limitation. It appears to be targeting only Dayin''s capital. The people within can''t be saved," the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking concluded.


    Xiao Nanfeng clenched a fist.


    Beside him, Zhang Lingjun inteced his fingers with her own as she squeezed. She consoled, "You''ve done your best. After what happened in Dayin''s capitalst time, you warned everyone to flee. Those who listened to you have already done so; those who haven''t, who chose to stick with Yin Shenhua, made their decision on their own."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He was upset not just for Dayin''s citizens, but also arge number of spectral guards who had yet to leave. There was no saving them now.


    In mere moments, there were no longer any screamsing from Dayin''s capital. The rites had ended, leaving smoke and dust in their wake. The white fog was retreating back into the city.


    "Yin Shenhua ought to die!" Xiao Nanfeng gritted out.


    Afar, after the Venerable Buddha saw what Yin Shenhua had done, it fumed and shouted once more, "Thousand Palms of Ri!"


    A thousand palms shot toward Yin Shenhua. He tried to escape the blows, but waspletely unable to do so. He was beaten up worse and worse.


    Just then, amidst the palms that rained down like a storm, a pristine Heaven''s Hand charged out and shot toward the Venerable Buddha.


    The Heaven''s Hand shed against the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon in a huge burst of mes and wind. The tremendous energy that radiated from the impact caused the void itself to shudder. Even from far away, Xiao Nanfeng and the others felt suppressed by the fearsome aura that was unleashed.


    Almost half of the Venerable Buddha''s thousand arms were scattered in an instant. It was flung back far into the distance before it was able to regain control of its own body.


    As the smoke gradually faded, Yin Shenhua''s eidolon was revealed with countless cracks, as if it would shatter at any moment. However, standing before him was a Heaven''s Hand that was kilometers wide, facing off against the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon.


    Yin Shenhua''s eidolon did shatter then, breaking off into countless pieces that were absorbed by the Heaven''s Hand. As it did so, the Heaven''s Hand suddenly grew evenrger and released a stronger aura.


    Yin Shenhua''s body was revealed once more. Though his eidolon had been destroyed, his physical body seemed more or less unharmed.


    He flew up to the Heaven''s Hand and shouted coldly, "Venerable Buddha, despite all your techniques, you face naught but the heavens themselves. You are but a speck of dust in the face of the heavens. I didn''t want to use the Heaven''s Hand; you forced my hand."


    "Is that all the strength it can bring to bear? It''s hardly worth mentioning," the Venerable Buddha remarked, its eidolon slowly rising to its feet.


    "Strength enough to kill you, you and everyone here present. This Heaven''s Hand contains a mote of the heavens'' spirit, and can immediately awaken the heavens above. When the heavens'' gaze shines down, all those against me shall perish!" Yin Shenhua roared inughter.


    The Venerable Buddha suddenly nched as it noticed Xiao Nanfeng in the distance. Its gaze grew stern. It sped its hands together in an expression of benevolence. "Altar of yore, I invoke your presence. With my life as offering, I ask for the strength to shatter the mote of the heaven''s spirit in that Heaven''s Hand. I pray you ept this request."


    The next moment, ck fog gushed out of its body. A giant ck altar appeared in sight, wreathed in ck fog. The thickness of the fog meant that the cultivators could only catch glimpses of the altar, but the primordial aura it released caused their souls to shudder.


    At the same time, suction could be felt from the altar. A ck lotus was extracted from the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon and absorbed into the center of the altar. Pitch-ck energy gushed out into the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon; then, with the transactionplete, the altar and the fog vanished together.


    "Why did you suddenly make an offering to the primordial altar? Are you crazy?!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    With a wave of his hand, the Heaven''s Hand reached out for the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon.


    The Venerable Buddha''s eidolon exploded with ck smoke, as though it had suddenly grown far stronger. With a wave of its hand, the remainder of its thousand armsbined into a single pair. It infused its right palm with all its strength and met the charge of the Heaven''s Hand.


    The sh of ck and white was so intense that even the void began to ripple. All that interacted with those void ripples vibrated violently. Mountains copsed, rivers dissipated, clouds vanished entirely, and the gathered Golden Immortals were so shocked they were forced to protect themselves with relics.


    Xiao Nanfeng shielded Zhang Lingjun and his subordinates with the power of the Imposing Avatar of Ri. Despite his incredible physical body, the void ripples left his entire body vibrating, his internal organs hurt.


    "Let me!" Zhang Lingjun shouted, invoking the praying mat.


    Yin Shenhua''s shout could be heard amidst the explosion. "You gave up your life for the strength to block the sight of the heavens? Just what are you protecting?!"


    A huge crash could be heard from the skies.


    The Heaven''s Hand and the Venerable Buddha''s eidolon were sent flying in opposite directions. The surfaces of both entities were riddled with cracks.


    The Venerable Buddha''s eidolon was sent flying back toward Xiao Nanfeng. When itnded, it shattered into fragments. A cracked ck lotus appeared in sight, particrly fragile, as though it too would shatter at any moment.


    "Attend to me, Xiao Nanfeng," the ck lotus said weakly.


    "Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng rushed over anxiously.

 Chapter 629: Xiao Nanfengs Rulai Eidolon

    <h4>Chapter 629: Xiao Nanfeng''s Ri Eidolon</h4>


    "Ao Canghai, I''ve destroyed the Heaven''s Hand, and Yin Shenhua won''t be able to activate it for the time being. He looks unharmed, but I''ve actually grievously wounded him. Aren''t you Martial Aspects going to seize him now? What are you waiting for? For Yu Fuli to punish you for dereliction of duty?!" the ck lotus demanded.


    Afar, Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched. He shouted, "Martial Aspects, apany me in taking down Yin Shenhua!"


    "Understood!" the Golden Immortal Martial Aspects replied.


    "Will you take the Venerable Buddha''s word for the extent of my injuries? Die!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    Yin Shenhua and Ao Canghai mmed their palms into each other in an explosion of fire and wind. The ten Buddhas and bodhisattvas shot toward the Martial Aspects, but seemed to be no match for them. They were quickly sent flying.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng rushed over to where the ck lotus was. "Senior, are you alright?"


    The ck lotus floated in the air, its lotus form filled with cracks. The outeryer of its petals suddenly dissipated into ash that the wind blew into the air. New lotus petals grew out from within the ck lotus, only to begin to crack as well. They too dissipated into ash; the cycle repeated again and again. The ck lotus seemed incapable of preventing its own demise.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I won''t be able tost any longer. This is the end of my life," the ck lotus said.


    "Senior, aren''t you a cursed effigy? You ought to be unkible!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "This is the end of my current life, but I may be able to revive during the next era. As for whether or not that era wille, however¡ªthat remains to be seen. Xiao Nanfeng, I don''t have time to talk. I''ll use thest vestige of my truesoul to assist you. Follow my instructions at once," the ck lotusmanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have much he wanted to say, but he took a deep breath, visibly mped his mouth shut, and nodded. "Very well, Senior."


    "Activate your Imposing Avatar of Ri fully."


    Xiao Nanfeng did so. Brilliant golden light emanated from him.


    "Fragments of Ri, condense and revive. With Xiao Nanfeng as master and I as support, reforge a Ri eidolon."


    The fragments of the ck lotus'' Ri eidolon began to vibrate. The countless fragments, as though summoned, rushed straight toward Xiao Nanfeng''s body. Golden light radiated from his body and formed the outlines of an image, as if he too were condensing a Ri eidolon himself. His Ri eidolon was but a mirage without any strength at all, but as the countless fragments of the ck lotus'' eidolon infused itself within it, Xiao Nanfeng''s Ri eidolon grewrger and and more solid, until it too became a giant in its own right.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s actions roused the attention of many cultivators.


    Afar, the fighting Yin Shenhua nched.


    "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng cultivates a Buddhist technique too? He''s manifesting his eidolon! A True Immortal doesn''t deserve such a technique. Don''t bother with me. Go stop Xiao Nanfeng, now!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    "Understood!" the ten Buddhas and bodhisattvas shouted. They charged straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hold it!" the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking eximed.


    The Martial Aspects were about to give chase when Ao Canghaimanded, "All Martial Aspects, take down Yin Shenhua alongside me! This is His Majesty''s orders!"


    The Martial Aspects stopped short and gave up on suppressing the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, all save the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking and three other Martial Aspects. They continued to charge straight toward Xiao Nanfeng. They had never been Ao Canghai''s confidantes to begin with, and Xiao Nanfeng and the Venerable Buddha had saved their lives. They naturally had to repay this debt.


    Ao Canghai cursed as he saw the four Martial Aspects depart.


    "Die!" the four Martial Aspects shouted.


    They shot straight toward the cursed effigies, stopping six of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas by themselves.


    Even so, four bodhisattvas continued to head toward Xiao Nanfeng¡ªuntil Zhang Lingjun and the others stepped forward.


    "Praying mat, seal!" Zhang Lingjun intoned.


    The praying mat suppressed two of the bodhisattvas.


    Croak, Warble, Ao Zhou, and the twelve golden cultivators shot forward as well.


    The two bodhisattvas sent the golden cultivators flying, but the pain didn''t faze them. They continued to rush forward, risking their lives to hold the bodhisattvas back. Meanwhile, Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou each attacked using a Golden Immortal relic they had obtained from the peacock''s body. Finally, they too held back the final two bodhisattvas.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained safe.


    Just then, a ck figure shot over from a forest in the distance, intending to stop Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon manifestation.


    At the same time, a golden bowl shot out of another part of the forest, straight for the figure.


    "You dare?" The ck figure pped at the golden bowl, but the moment the figure did so, the bowl detonated. A huge explosion rang out, filling the air with mes. The ck figure was sent flying, spitting out blood in mid-air.


    "What? Detonating a Golden Immortal relic...?" the ck figure eximed.


    He would never have expected Xiao Nanfeng''s hidden guards to be willing to go to such lengths to protect him. Were they even willing to sacrifice Golden Immortal relics just like that?


    Just then, a bolt of red light shot into the air. Crescent-shaped projectiles of sword energy shot over, slicing an arm off the ck figure.


    "Taiqing''s Crescent Sword? Another Golden Immortal relic?" the ck figure eximed.


    With a shout of panic, he clutched his wounded arm and ran off, not daring to interfere further.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s preparations were far tooplete. How many ambushes had he prepared in the forests all around? He was even willing to give up on Golden Immortal relics, just like that! Who would be able to challenge him now?


    The ck figure rushed off, while Zhao Yuanjiao, wielder of the crescent sword, likewise retreated back into the forest.


    The hidden cultivators in the vicinity sucked in deep breaths, suddenly recalling that Xiao Nanfeng had taken Dayin''s capital by storm with the help of five superior draconic veins. Could those five superior draconic veins be hidden in the forest too? Were they poised to attack any who dared interfere?


    All the concealed cultivatorsy hidden, not daring to show themselves.


    Just then, with the help of the ck lotus, Xiao Nanfeng''s Ri eidolon grewrger andrger. It was rapidly dozens of kilometers tall. The eidolon looked like him, and it radiated with golden light. The sound of scripture could be heard all around him. His body melded with the eidolon, and he began to manipte it in earnest. However, his eidolon remained cracked.


    "Your Ri eidolon was formed from the shards of my shattered eidolon, and won''t be perfect just yet. Take down the nearby Buddhas and bodhisattvas and devour them. I''ll help you distill them into energy that can refine your eidolon.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon caught a bodhisattva in its hand.


    "No! Release me!" the bodhisattva cried out.


    He struggled furiously, but was unable to escape from Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon. The eidolon swallowed him whole.


    "No!" the bodhisattva shouted, but its cries were quickly stifled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon continued to take down the nearby bodhisattvas. He caught two more, one in each hand, and crammed them in his mouth.


    The eidolon''s strength wasparable to that of a Boundless Immortal, and it was trivial for him to take down these Golden Immortal cursed effigies. Within mere moments, he had gobbled up all ten Buddhas and bodhisattvas.


    Just then, with the ck lotus'' assistance, those ten Buddhas and bodhisattvas were quickly distilled into special energy that filtered into Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon. The cracks in it vanished, as though the eidolon had been restored to perfection.


    Afar, Ao Canghai and the Martial Aspects found out that they had been tricked by Yin Shenhua. He wasn''t injured at all, and defeating him would prove to be a troublesome challenge. Even so, the Martial Aspects working together were able to suppress him.


    Yin Shenhua gritted his teeth. He shouted, "Immortal Emperors, aren''t you going to make your move? How long are you going to wait?!"


    Unfortunately for him, no support came from the forests in the vicinity.


    He cursed, knowing that the Immortal Emperors had chosen to discard him. They didn''t intend to be enemies of the Imperial Court just yet; they were simply waiting for him to erode the Imperial Court''s strength, and to benefit as a result.


    His features turned wretched. What shocked him more, however, was Xiao Nanfeng. After Xiao Nanfeng''s Ri eidolon devoured ten Buddhas and bodhisattvas, it had grown even stronger.


    He knew that the situation wasn''t in his favor. If he were to drag things out, he would be the one who suffered.


    "Forget it. I don''t need the Heaven''s Hand anymore, and I don''t have time to wait for it to be restored. All fragments of the Heaven''s Hand, merge with my Ri eidolon and restore it!" Yin Shenhuamanded.


    The shattered Heaven''s Hand rumbled. It reformed with Yin Shenhua''s eidolon at its center. Incredible heavenly strength surged into the eidolon.


    The eidolon''s cracks sealed themselves as its original appearance was restored.


    Then, with a hum, it flew toward Yin Shenhua.


    "Unite!" Yin Shenhua intoned, melding his body with the eidolon.


    "Damn it, stop him!" Ao Canghai shouted.


    Ao Canghai transformed into a giant golden dragon. A boundless sea manifested in his surroundings.


    "Scram!" Yin Shenhua''s eidolon shouted.


    The eidolon threw out a punch, sending the Martial Aspects flying in a series of frenzied shouts.


    Yin Shenhua wasn''t satisfied just yet. He then attacked Ao Canghai, who was surrounded by a floating sea.


    "The Boundless Sea!" Ao Canghai howled.


    "Ri''s Divine Palm!" Yin Shenhua retorted.


    His eidolon attacked the raging sea and dealt it a heavy blow.


    The void itself trembled as the raging sea burst apart. The golden dragon in the sea was struck by a gleaming golden palm and sent flying.


    In mid-air, the golden dragon spat out a mouthful of blood. "How could you have grown so much stronger? That can''t be!"


    "My Ri eidolon is infused with heavenly strength. It''s naturally stronger than it was before. Ao Canghai, you fool! You''re not skilled at all, but you''ve ruined my ns multiple times. I''ll have you perish!" Yin Shenhua''s eidolon called out.


    It chopped at the golden dragon''s body with a palm. The barrier surrounding the dragon shattered, and Yin Shenhua''s strength chipped off arge swathe of its scales. The cultivators could almost hear a bone crunch and break.


    The golden dragon was sent flying, its maw bloodier than ever.


    "Flee!" Ao Canghai shouted.


    "It''s toote!" Yin Shenhua called out, ready to give chase.


    Suddenly, however, Yin Shenhua stopped short. He whirled around to see Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon hovering in the air. It was radiating with golden light, as well as a shroud of sinister ck smoke.


    Yin Shenhua couldn''t help but feel a sense of incredible dangering from Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon.

 Chapter 630: Yin Shenhuas Decisive Defeat

    <h4>Chapter 630: Yin Shenhua''s Decisive Defeat</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t going to interfere in Yin Shenhua''s chase of Ao Canghai when the ck lotus called out weakly, "Don''t wait any longer. You need to fight Yin Shenhua and win quickly. I don''t have much time left."


    Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to give chase. He instantly attracted Yin Shenhua''s attention, allowing Ao Canghai to flee in an instant.


    Yin Shenhua red at Xiao Nanfeng, sensing a dangerous aura from him.


    Both cultivators boasted Ri eid. Yin Shenhua''s eidolon was surrounded by a sheen of white fog, the remaining strength of the Heaven''s Hand. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon was surrounded by a sheen of ck fog, the remaining strength that the ck lotus had borrowed from the primordial altar.


    The two eid red at each other, then suddenly made a move simultaneously. They charged forward, their fists raised. A howling tempest unfolded where they struck each other as they both stumbled back, their strength matched.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve gained significant strength today, but it''s useless if you don''t know how to use it. I''ll kill you today!" Yin Shenhua''s eidolon roared. It shot over once again.


    "You''re too conceited!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    The two Ri eid shed against each other in mid-air.


    Yin Shenhua had been an ancestral Buddha in his past life, and had had incrediblebat experience. Given equal strength, thatbat experience would have allowed him to dominate over hispetitors¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t far off himself. He had Emperor Wei''s inheritance, and his understanding of Hegemon''s Fist had reached a pinnacle. What''s more, thanks to his years of fighting, he too had developed significantbat experience. He had even fought quite a few cursed kings himself, and he wasn''t afraid to confront Yin Shenhua.


    The two cultivators continued to fight each other in the air.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    His Ri eidolon filled the entire air with fists, much like the Venerable Buddha''s Thousand Palms of Ri.


    "Flower-Plucking Palms!" Yin Shenhua retorted.


    Yin Shenhua''s fists were like falling flower petals, shing against Xiao Nanfeng''s technique in a storm of fire and wind.


    Neither cultivator seemed able to get the upper hand, at least at the moment.


    The fight shocked the hidden cultivators.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s techniques are truly frightening. Isn''t that Emperor Wei''s Hegemon''s Fist?"


    "I was fortunate enough to have seen Emperor Wei fight in the past. His Hegemon''s Fist was about as skilled as Xiao Nanfeng''s."


    "Does Xiao Nanfeng now have enoughbat experience to challenge even an Immortal Emperor?"


    The Martial Aspects were all taken aback.


    Even Ao Canghai, who had been poised to flee just moments ago, calmed down. His face contorted as he transformed back into a human. He was bleeding all over and grievously wounded. He looked toward the fight before him, the envy in his gaze deepening.


    He hadn''t been able to do anything against Yin Shenhua; why was Xiao Nanfeng able to? Didn''t that make him look useless?


    Afar, Zhang Lingjun''s eyes clouded in worry. She looked toward the praying mat. "Grandmaster, can you assist Xiao Nanfeng?"


    The praying mat hovered in the air. Except for Zhang Lingjun, no other could see the figure resting on it.


    Zhang Lingjun waited for a moment, but she never heard a response. In the end, she sighed, forlorn, and ignored the praying mat.


    In the air, Xiao Nanfeng and Yin Shenhua continued to fight against each other.


    Yin Shenhua was growing somewhat frustrated. He cried out, "Your fist technique is no weaker than Emperor Wei''s, but your understanding of naturalw is surely weaker. Take this¡ªWorld of My Palm!"


    Yin Shenhua''s eidolon mmed a palm toward Xiao Nanfeng, a world forming within it. Xiao Nanfeng seemed about to be trapped within when he suddenly vanished from sight.


    "The world of his palm? We''re done for! Xiao Nanfeng''s been trapped within Yin Shenhua''s palm. Xiao Nanfeng''s going to lose!" the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking eximed.


    Yin Shenhua chuckled. "You were able to escape from my world by detonating a Golden Immortal relic, but this time, I constructed that world using the remnant heavenly energy from the shattered Heaven''s Hand. Even with a Boundless Immortal relic, you wouldn''t be able to escape!"


    Just then, red light shed beside Yin Shenhua''s eidolon. Countless golden fists emerged from the air and shot toward him like a storm. Yin Shenhua''s eidolon was sent flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon had emerged and was attacking him once more.


    "Impossible! How did you break out of my world? Just how did you do it?!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon roared.


    Countless fists struck Yin Shenhua''s eidolon and sent it flying.


    "This can''t be. I invoke thews of space and time¡ªWorld of My Palm, seal!" Yin Shenhua intoned.


    He raised both his eidolon''s palms as a bolt of white light emerged, ready to suck Xiao Nanfeng into his palm once more. The next moment, red light shed from his back as Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon appeared and punched forward.


    Yin Shenhua''s eidolon was struck right in the back with such strength that shards of its body were sent flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Impossible. You possess authority over space¡ªand it eclipses mine! How could this be?" Yin Shenhua''s eidolon called out.


    By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon had flown up to him again.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!"


    Countless fists flew down toward Yin Shenhua''s eidolon like an apocalyptic meteor shower.


    They struck Yin Shenhua''s eidolon directly, sending him crashing into the ground. Yin Shenhua''s eidolon formed a huge pit as itnded, with clouds of rock and dust flying into the air.


    The hidden cultivators gaped.


    "This can''t be. If they''re of roughly equal strength, how could Xiao Nanfeng have gained the upper hand?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng has a perfect counter to Yin Shenhua''s palm technique¡ªit''s as if Xiao Nanfeng shed right behind Yin Shenhua''s body! How could that be? Is this teleportation?"


    "How can Xiao Nanfeng have gained mastery over space? And something that specifically counters Yin Shenhua, too?"


    The cultivators were all stymied by the same question. They opened their eyes wide, intent on catching precisely what Xiao Nanfeng was doing.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to give them any more chances to do so. His eidolon shot toward the pit, which Yin Shenhua''s eidolon had just scrambled out of. As he saw Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon approach, he punched forward. "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    With a sh of red light, Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon vanished once more. It reappeared behind Yin Shenhua''s back.


    "Impossible!" Yin Shenhua shouted.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng intoned.


    A loud rumble came from within the pit. The earth itself shook as countless boulders shot into the air. Dust streamed upward.


    "What sort of naturalw do you control? Spatial hops?!" Yin Shenhua eximed.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    The two eid fought in the pit more and more fiercely as boulders and mountains exploded. The whole world was rumbling around them; the ground cracked, and rock filled the air. The hidden cultivators in the distance nched.


    The fighting grew so intense that those hidden cultivators were forced to flee, lest they too be affected by the fighting.


    High up in the air, the Martial Aspects watched on with wide eyes.


    "All those cries seem to being from Yin Shenhua!"


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng actually beating him up? This can''t be!"


    "To think Xiao Nanfeng would win in a situation in which they had equal strength..."


    The Martial Aspects were all taken aback; Ao Canghai grew even more jealous.


    The fighting continued as dirt, earth, and rocks were upturned. Finally, two hourster, with a shrill cry from Yin Shenhua, the fighting abruptly ceased.


    By then, the skies were clouded with dust. It was quiet all around; everyone watched on with bated breath, staring toward the battlefield in the distance. They nced at each other. No one knew what the situation was like, but none dared rush over.


    Zhang Lingjun attempted to do so, but the praying mat stopped her.


    Just then, a red figure emerged from the forests: Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" Zhang Lingjun eximed in surprise.


    "Don''t head over!" the red-robed Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    That was Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar. After he stopped Zhang Lingjun, he flew over toward the heart of the smoke.


    As he did so, the hidden cultivators hissed in surprise.


    "Xiao Nanfeng was hiding by my side all along!"


    "I was nning tounch a sneak attack on Xiao Nanfeng, but I didn''t even know that he had snuck up on me!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s frightening. He has too many aces up his sleeve..."


    The hidden cultivators hurriedly found different hiding spots.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar quickly dove underground, where the Divine Seal of Dazheng was located. Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and Yin Shenhua had continued fighting within.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar entered the seal as well.


    Before long, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body emerged from the seal. He picked it up and flew over.


    By then, countless cultivators were staring grimly at the battlefield, and he wouldn''t be able to flee from deep underground. Rather than attempt to escape and be discovered, it would be better to show himself publicly.


    The moment he did, everyone widened their eyes.


    "Did Xiao Nanfeng win? Has he defeated Yin Shenhua?"


    "Is Yin Shenhua dead?"


    "Is the battle over?"


    The cultivators were taken by surprise, unable to believe that Yin Shenhua, once a pioneering cultivator of the era, would suffer defeat in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands. All this was like a dream.


    Zhang Lingjun rushed forward in excitement as she saw Xiao Nanfeng emerge from the cloud of dust.


    The Martial Aspects nced at each other, stunned.


    "How could this be? His Majesty sent us eighteen Martial Aspects to take down Yin Shenhua, but Xiao Nanfeng took him on himself¡ªand won!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng defeated Dayin and even Yin Shenhua. As for us, all we did was watch on from the sidelines. How are we going to exin away our actions?"


    "Won''t the Martial Aspects from the other quadrantsugh at us?"


    The Martial Aspects frowned in annoyance and worry.


    Ao Canghai''s mood grew even more dour. Yin Shenhua had badly wounded him to the point where he had had to flee. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had finished him off, just like that! This wasn''t an issue of reputation anymore. When they returned to the Imperial Court, he might even face open doubt as to his ability as a Cardinal Aspect.


    He flew up to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, where''s Yin Shenhua?"

 Chapter 631: Blue Lotus

    <h4>Chapter 631: Blue Lotus</h4>


    Within the Divine Seal of Dazheng, fragments of Xiao Nanfeng and Yin Shenhua''s eidy scattered all over. Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was ncing at the ck lotus in worry. It floated in the air as it continued to dpose.


    Within the ck lotus, Yin Shenhua cursed, "Venerable Buddha, your truesoul is already dissipating! And yet you intend to spend your remaining time melting me down? You''re only going to kill yourself more quickly!"


    "I''ll be able to distill your essence before my truesoul dissipates in full. Die in peace," the ck lotus murmured.


    "You maniac! No matter your n, I won''t let you seed. Detonate!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    Yin Shenhua detonated his own body, causing ripples of energy to surge across the ck lotus. The rate at which its petals shattered increased tenfold.


    "Senior, what''s going to happen now? What can I do for you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck lotus forced a calm facade. "There''s nothing you can do now. I''ve given my life to the primordial altar, and all that remains of me is a small portion of my truesoul, my cursed spiritual avatar, and some cursed spiritual power. I won''t be able tost for long, but what I set out to do has been aplished."


    "Senior, you''re a cursed effigy! Is there really no means of saving you?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Memories of the past resurfaced. All the cursed effigies who had surrounded Xiao Nanfeng had once tried to hurt him. Only the ck lotus had been supportive since the very beginning, resolving crisis after crisis on his behalf. He bore the ck lotus deep gratitude and appreciation, and its imminent death was hard for Xiao Nanfeng to ept.


    "You need not be upset about me. Eighty thousand years ago, when I learned of the truth behind this world, I transcended life and death. It''s a pity that the heavens targeted me before I was able to effect much change. In this life, even if I were to reach my former peak, I would still be no match for the heavens¡ªuntil I met you. I think you have the qualifications to challenge the heavens, to defeat the cmity thates once every ten thousand years. Fulfill this wish on my behalf."


    "Anything, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied politely.


    After a moment, however, the ck lotus sighed. "Forget it. You''re already doing the best you can. When you face the heavens, you''ll have a choice like I did. This is Yin Shenhua''s storage relic, and it should be able to help you advance further."


    The ck lotus spat out a storage bangle and tossed it to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily at a loss.


    "I once helped you probe Madam Rouge and the Divine Emperor, and they will do you no further harm. However, I can''t tell what the superior yin pearl is up to. Be careful," the ck lotus warned.


    "Very well."


    "Remember: before you be a Boundless Immortal, stay away from the sight of the heavens."


    "Senior, did you give up your life just so the heavens wouldn''t discover me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, rmed.


    The ck lotus didn''t respond. It replied, "I believe in your abilities."


    Xiao Nanfeng gulped. He nodded even as he held back the desire to cry. "Thank you, Senior. If I can, I''ll surely revive you."


    He didn''t ask why the ck lotus believed in him, but that wasn''t important at this moment. What mattered was the ck lotus'' act of sacrifice.


    "Do not be upset. There are plenty of cultivators in the world like me, like Yu Fuli himself. He generously shared the Jade Emperor''s Frame with us, and although he doesn''t favor you the way I do, he can certainly be an ally in resisting the heavens," the ck lotus continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Even so, he felt a sense of misery.


    "Release your Shangqing blue moon."


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t understand what the ck lotus was about to do, but he did so. The blue moon shone brightly in the air.


    "Senior, what are you intending to do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ll meld my monk hood cursed effigy into your blue moon. It shall be yours thereafter," the ck lotus said.


    "What about you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m already dead. What''s the point?" the ck lotus countered.


    "But¡ª"


    "No buts. I''m about to die, but Yin Shenhua hasn''t perished yet. If I don''t give you the cursed effigy, should I leave it for him to im? You are a far better option than he."


    "Yin Shenhua hasn''t perished yet? You mean¡ªthe Future Buddha, Yin Tianci!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The Buddhas of Past, Present, and Future have cursed spiritual avatars separated in time. The Past Buddha must be devoured first, then the Present Buddha, then the Future Buddha. Otherwise, if I had distilled Yin Tianci beforehand, he wouldn''t have died. He would only have been reborn elsewhere. Yin Shenhua forged Yin Tianci into an avatar. Although he screamed shrilly as he perished, that was meant to be misleading. You''ll have to rush to where Yin Tianci is and deal with this threat quickly."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "My body contains the cultivation of the Past and Present Buddhas. If you sessfully attune to my cursed spiritual avatar, you''ll also be able to devour the Future Buddha''s cultivation as well. Doing so will allow you to unleash the full strength of the monk hood," the ck lotus said, as it prepared to die.


    "Senior, have you any other requests?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, eyes red.


    "None. I''ve said my share. I am honored to have resisted the heavens for the good of the people. If we are so fated, let us meet again in a future life."


    The ck lotus shook. It and the two Ri eid''s shards flew toward the blue moon.


    The two Ri eid possessed incredible strength, as well as remnants of power from the heavens and the primordial altar.


    All that energy gushed into the blue moon.


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense that the ck lotus'' aura was weakening bit by bit. He told himself, "I suppose I''ll at least be able to remember andmemorate the ck lotus when it merges with my blue moon..."


    He sat cross-legged in meditation as he sensed the changes to his moon.


    The blue moon radiated with blinding light¡ªblue moonlight, white heavenly energy, ck primordial energy, and the gold and ck energies of the two Ri eid.


    The rays of light criss-crossed, surrounding the blue moon in a cocoon.


    He felt a gust of incredible paining from deep within the recesses of his soul, but he gritted his teeth and bore with the assault, allowing that strength to forge his blue moon anew.


    Sweat beaded on his forehead even as he persisted.


    An interminable amount of time passed before the blue moon radiated with blinding rays that swallowed up all other sources of light around him.


    The energy encapsted within the Ri eid, Heaven''s Hand, and primordial altar was entirely used up tobine the ck lotus with the blue moon.


    "Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    However, the blue moon didn''t respond.


    He hung his head, knowing that the ck lotus had truly perished in truth.


    The ck lotus had given up its life to shield him from the sight of the heavens, affection that touched him to his very core. He had never been so deeply trusted by anyone like the ck lotus, who despite having reached the peak of strength as a Boundless Immortal, had nevertheless chosen to sacrifice it all for him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, let me help you."


    The ck lotus'' sincere words continued to echo in his head. His eyes welled up with tears.


    He wiped his eyes dry and smiled bleakly. He turned to his blue moon. "Senior, if I cannot fulfill your request, I shall do everything in my power to revive you."


    The moonlight shone gently, but without any sign of response.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He turned to the blue moon, which suddenly shifted in form. It transformed into a blue lotus.


    "A blue lotus? The golden lotus hood¡ªits color can be changed?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He suddenly recalled that the golden lotus hood had transformed into a ck lotus because of the Venerable Buddha. And if it could transform into a ck lotus, then why not a blue lotus? His blue moon was certainly strong enough to effect such a transformation.


    With a transmitted thought, a hole appeared on the underside of the blue lotus, able to devour Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats just like the ck lotus.


    With another transmitted thought, the blue lotus transformed back into a blue moon. Death chants resounded all over.


    The death chants had changed as well. They were as resonant as ever, but seemed to have gained more of their majesty. He could sense that they had grown stronger.


    Finally, he had the blue moon retreat into his body, vanishing from sight.


    Outside the Divine Seal of Dazheng, the moment Xiao Nanfeng''s main body showed himself not too long ago, he was made the center of attention.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where''s Yin Shenhua?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    Everyone looked at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yin Shenhua is dead," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Truly? Where''s his corpse?"


    "He and my Ri eidolon perished simultaneously. His Ri eidolon has been lost as well."


    "And yet you''re perfectly alright?"


    "I was lucky."


    Everyone frowned, none believing such a flimsy excuse.


    "Did he leave nothing behind?" Ao Canghai asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Nothing. Of course, if you don''t believe me, Eastern Aspect, you''re wee to check the pit."


    Ao Canghai: ...


    He murmured inwardly, "Do you treat me for a fool? Even if he had left anything behind, you would have imed it for yourself already!"


    "Have a look," he ultimatelymanded his Martial Aspects.


    The Martial Aspects rushed toward the pit out of which Xiao Nanfeng had emerged.


    They released their spiritual power and examined their surroundings, but there was nothing to be found. They returned and shook their heads at Ao Canghai, causing him to frown.


    "Having finished your missions, when will you return to the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired.


    "What are your ns?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "We should return to the Imperial Court immediately lest anything unnecessary ur."


    The Martial Aspects all fell silent. With Yin Shenhua dead, they naturally had to report back to the Imperial Court. They could hardly let Xiao Nanfeng return alone and im all the credit!


    "Let''s go, then," Ao Canghai said, nodding.


    Xiao Nanfeng readied his subordinates and set off alongside the Martial Aspects.

 Chapter 632: Yin Tiancis Death

    <h4>Chapter 632: Yin Tianci''s Death</h4>


    Only after Xiao Nanfeng and the Martial Aspects had left did the skulking cultivators all around show themselves.


    They too headed to the underground pit in search of treasure, but there was nothing to be found.


    "There''s nothing at all. Xiao Nanfeng must have taken everything. Something must have happened underground that we don''t know anything about."


    "To think even Yin Shenhua would perish at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands... Xiao Nanfeng''s far too vicious."


    "Isn''t it because he benefited from the Venerable Buddha''s generosity?"


    "That''s already incredible enough. Didn''t the Venerable Buddha fall, too?"


    The cultivators sighed, but then they suddenly stopped short. They turned toward Dayin''s capital.


    By then, all the dust had settled, and Dayin''s capital was revealed to one and all in full¡ªwhat was left of it, at any rate. There was nothing remaining save a pile of ruins, not even the city walls.


    "The divine empire of Dayin was among thergest in the world. Just a few months ago, it challenged the Imperial Court and its name echoed throughout the world. How could it have been defeated by an ordinary empire so utterly?" someone eximed.


    Many cultivators were still in shock about what they had witnessed.


    "Investigate," someone said. "Investigate how Xiao Nanfeng managed to destroy the divine empire of Dayin. I want to know everything he did in detail."


    "Understood!"


    Countless such orders were being passed down all over the world.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s procession left Dayin''s capital.


    After ensuring that there was no longer anyone following them, Xiao Nanfeng immediately instructed one of his subordinates, "Use your avatar to tell Chang Bing to flee from the prisoner Yin Tianci immediately. Do not approach him. Stay far away until I get there."


    "Understood!" the subordinate replied.


    Not far away, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects nced at him in confusion, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin himself. Hemanded his other subordinates, "Return to Yongding immediately. There may well be a sneak attack."


    "Understood!" Croak, Warble, Ye Dafu and the others replied, then left with their subordinates.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued flying toward the Imperial Court with the other Martial Aspects. Along the way, some tried to ask him how he had defeated Yin Shenhua, but he refused to provide any details.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what manner of naturalw did you invoke to break out of Yin Shenhua''s captivity?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "I don''t know. The Venerable Buddha did it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Canghai frowned. He sensed that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t telling the truth, but had no means of exposing him.


    In the end, he chose not to continue with that line of questioning. The procession flew for two whole days before they arrived at the eastern gate to the Sieve of Heaven.


    The Martial Aspects were weed by the guards as soon as they arrived.


    "Congrattions on defeating the divine empire of Dayin," the guards chorused.


    Ao Canghai nodded coolly.


    The guards then ignored Ao Canghai and praised Xiao Nanfeng. "Martial Aspect Xiao, it''s amazing that you were able to defeat Yin Shenhua like that!"


    "Everyone yed a role. I was simply lucky. How did youe to learn of what happened in Dayin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Several days ago, when the Martial Aspects attacked Dayin''s capital, many cultivators in the Imperial Court who had avatars ryed what was happening in real time. The Martial Aspects first destroyed the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin before taking on Yin Shenhua. The Sieve of Heaven has been in an uproar over the news. Everyone knows of you, Martial Aspect Xiao," the guard informed him.


    "I see. Thank you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    Beside him, Ao Canghai frowned. He hadn''t managed a good showing for himself in terms of his behavior and his results. Who knew what criticism awaited him back in the Sieve of Heaven?


    He hmphed as he stepped through the eastern gate, the other Martial Aspects trailing in behind him.


    The moment they stepped through the gate, they found someone waiting for them there.


    "Princess! Division Leader Xiao!" a white-robed woman called out, stepping forward.


    "What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized her. She was a Heaven disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, who was part of Zhang Feifan''s faction.


    "Word of your feats in Dayin''s capital have spread throughout the Sieve of Heaven. When the division leader learned of the news, he was overjoyed. He guessed that you were about to return and has specially prepared a banquet for you. I was tasked to wait here and extend an invitation to you." The woman smiled.


    Zhang Lingjun smiled, pleased. "Surely there''s no need for all this ceremony?"


    "I need to head back to my manor first. Tell Senior Uncle not to worry about the banquet for the moment¡ªwe do still have to report to the Heavenly Emperor first, after all. Why not schedule the banquet for once everything''s settled?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The woman in white smiled wryly. She ryed, "The division leader has already prepared the banquet in the Pce of the Moon. He intends to discuss matters between Division Leader Xiao and the princess there."


    "Father!" Zhang Lingjun''s face flushed red. She turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll go talk to him for the time being. Forget the banquet for now. Once you''re ready, let me know and we''ll report to His Majesty together."


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then added, "Tell Senior Uncle that we''ll have a gathering after that. We can discuss matters between us then."


    Zhang Lingjun was taken aback for the moment. Her cheeks flushed again as she replied, "Very well. We''ll be leaving first, then."


    Zhang Lingjun and the white-robed woman flew off.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Ao Canghai. "Eastern Aspect, we''ll have to write a report on what we''ve done to receive a summons from His Majesty. Would you do so? I have urgent business I must take care of in my manor. When His Majesty summons us, I''ll be ready."


    He didn''t care how the report was written, given that news of the fight had spread throughout the Sieve of Heaven. No one would be able to wipe away the merit he had umted. The most urgent task at hand was to return to his manor and check on Yin Tianci.


    Ao Canghai nodded and departed with the Martial Aspects in tow.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou headed straight for his manor.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why are you in such a rush? Did something happen to your manor?" Ao Zhou asked, curious.


    "Hopefully not yet. Let''s hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Along the way, they met plenty of Immortals hoping to greet and catch a glimpse of the young hero of legend, but Xiao Nanfeng was in such a rush that he could only nod hastily as he made his way to his manor as quickly as he could.


    There, he found Chang Bing and the others waiting for him outside.


    "Division Leader, you''re finally back!" Chang Bing eximed.


    Upon seeing his expression, Xiao Nanfeng''s heart thumped. He felt uneasy.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Yin Tianci''s dead. We didn''t dare do anything, so we were waiting for you to return."


    "He''s dead?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He rushed into the manor.


    Chang Bing and the others followed swiftly behind him. They quickly ended up in a huge hall, the center of which was a furnace. Beside the furnace was a rack on which Yin Tianci was bound, though he no longer drew breath.


    "Yin Tianci''s cultivation waspletely sealed. His eyes have been shut and he hasn''t beenmunicative over this period of time. When I received word from you, Division Leader, I rushed back to check on him and was preparing to evacuate everyone when I discovered that he was dead," Chang Bing reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to investigate Yin Tianci''s body. Indeed, Yin Tianci was dead, but there were no visible wounds anywhere to be seen.


    "We''ve checked his body, but can''t determine his cause of death," Chang Bing said.


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to examine Yin Tianci''s body several times with spiritual power, only to discover that it contained no cursed spiritual power at all. The golden lotus hood he had once seen on Yin Tianci''s body had vanished as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. "Is everyone responsible for guarding Yin Tianci present? Have them report to me."


    Chang Bing nodded. Though he didn''t understand what was going on, he rushed to get everyone.


    "Junior Brother Qingmei is gone. Everyone else is ounted for," Chang Bing reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng investigated the Earth disciples arrayed before him. There were no abnormalities.


    "Where''s Qingmei?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Qingmei rushed out of the manor just now. We don''t know where he went," Chang Bing replied.


    "Did you all hear about what happened in Dayin''s capital?"


    "We did. We were all outside listening to the news. A junior brother''s avatar was present and told us what was going on.


    "When Yin Shenhua perished, where was Qingmei?"


    Chang Bing thought for a moment. "We were all outside, so he must have been the only one guarding Yin Tianci here."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I remember that when we told Junior Brother Qingmei of the news, he was abnormally silent. He hung his head and left. Then, he went missing. Before long, you sent us a message telling us to avoid Yin Tianci, and that was when we found out that he had died."


    "So that''s what happened," Xiao Nanfeng said, lowering his head.


    "Division Leader, could Qingmei have killed Yin Tianci?" Chang Bing asked.


    "No. Rather, Qingmei''s likely dead," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Indeed?"


    "I suspect he''s been possessed by a cursed effigy." Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. Hemanded Chang Bing, "Find out where Qingmei is. Hurry!"


    He didn''t exin that Yin Shenhua had ended up in Yin Tianci''s body, given up on it, possessed Qingmei, and departed. He was worried that it would cause unduemotion.


    The Earth disciples rushed off in search of Qingmei.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Ao Zhou, you boast the ancestral dragon''s techniques, and have considerable strength. To prevent anything untoward from happening, I need you to guard my manor for the time being. I''m going to seek an audience with the Heavenly Emperor."


    "Aren''t you going to wait for Ao Canghai to finish his report first?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "There''s no time to waste. The Heavenly Emperor gave me permission to meet with him directly if there''s any urgent business. This affair is too time-sensitive for me to go through the usual procedure. Guard this ce for me," Xiao Nanfeng repeated, then rushed straight toward Mt. Kunlun.


    Yin Shenhua had to be incredibly weak for the time being. If he were able to possess Qingmei, then he would surely have been able to possess other cultivators along the way as well. Only by doing so several times would he be able to shake off any pursuit. If he were to flee, he would pose incredible danger to the world. The best strategy for finding him had to be asking for Yu Fuli''s help.

 Chapter 633: Monster of Black Smoke

    <h4>Chapter 633: Monster of ck Smoke</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to fly toward Mt. Kunlun in search of the Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli, when a huge crash rang out from afar. The noise could be heard throughout the Sieve of Heaven.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and nched. "The Pce of the Moon!"


    A cloud of white fog had appeared beyond the floating ind on which the Pce of the Moon was located. A monster seemed to be within, furiously contorting its body and causing the white fog to surge.


    "Yu Fuli, how dare you lie to me?!" the monster in the white fog roared.


    Countless cultivators within the Sieve of Heaven turned toward themotion. Who would dare criticize the Heavenly Emperor in the Sieve of Heaven, his seat of power?


    Strong cultivators rushed toward the Pce of the Moon from every direction.


    Xiao Nanfeng did so as well, heart thumping.


    "I should have thought of this earlier. If Yin Shenhua had revived in Yin Tianci''s body and wasn''t nning to flee, he would surely attempt to take revenge on me and my loved ones. Zhang Feifan¡ªsomething may have happened to Zhang Feifan!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    Zhang Feifan had been preparing a banquet in the Pce of the Moon to celebrate Xiao Nanfeng''s victory over Yin Shenhua. Xiao Nanfeng had thought this ordinary at first nce, but it didn''t make sense on second thought. The banquet had been organized far too hastily.


    What if Zhang Feifan had been controlled? Could something have happened to Zhang Lingjun?


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly approached the exterior of the Pce of the Moon. From beyond the white fog, he could see the gleam of a fishing line connecting to the interior of the fog, as though a monster within had been hooked. The monster was struggling furiously.


    "Could the Heavenly Emperor have made a move?" someone eximed from the crowd.


    "Don''t move. The Heavenly Emperor must be fishing. Some supreme monster has invaded the Sieve of Heaven!" Ao Canghai called out, blocking those cultivators in the vicinity from approaching.


    The officials of the Imperial Court who rushed over watched sternly from outside.


    "Show yourself!" Yu Fuli shouted.


    The fishing line drew taut as the white fog exploded. A frightening lifeform dozens of kilometers tall emerged from the fog.


    The lifeform''s features were particrly obfuscated. Roiling ck smoke spouted from all over its body, shrouding it from sight. A huge mouth could vaguely be seen; a fishhook was embedded in it. As Yu Fuli dragged it away, it released an overwhelming aura that caused all the cultivators in the vicinity to shudder.


    "It''s¡ª" Ao Canghai nched as even he stepped back.


    The strange lifeform that gave off ck smoke roared as it struggled free from the hook.


    "We''ll take you down, foul beast!"


    "Martial Aspects, take down this monster!"


    A group of Martial Aspects drew their weapons and stormed toward the monster within the ck smoke.


    Agitated, the monster shot forth and smashed into the weapons with its bare body, sending all the attackers flying as they spat out blood¡ªdespite the fact that many of the Martial Aspects were Golden Immortals themselves.


    "Die!" Just then, two figures charged forward, weapons in hand.


    From their auras alone, they seemed as strong as Ao Canghai. Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Were they Boundless Immortals too? He quickly recognized them as two Cardinal Aspects of the Hall of Martial Aspects.


    Their heavy blows struck the monster directly, causing the monster to screech. It seemed to be suppressed, but grew even more violent as it thrashed about. ck smoke red from its body.


    "Ao Canghai, what are you waiting for? Attack!" the two Cardinal Aspects roared.


    However, Ao Canghai seemed unusually fearful of this monster. He stood frozen, not daring to step forward.


    Just then, the ck smoke around the monster froze. Then, the monster and the smoke simultaneously transformed into a ck hand dozens of kilometers tall.


    "A Heaven''s Hand!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The ck hand gave off an aura incredibly simr to that which Yin Shenhua had activated, and it seemed about as strong as well. However, it was pitch-ck all over.


    The ck hand shot forward and knocked the two Cardinal Aspects aside as it rose into the sky, intending to flee toward the Southern Heavenly Gate.


    "Do you think you can enter and exit my Sieve of Heaven at will? Heart Sword!" An icy-cold voice could be heard from the void.


    A pale-white sword, its de dozens of kilometers long, descended from the sky like a heavenly pir as it shed at the ck hand.


    "Yu Fuli, I''ll im your head!" the ck hand roared.


    The giant white sword sliced apart the ck hand as it exploded in a terrifying storm, causing the floating inds of the Sieve of Heaven to shudder madly.


    With a whoosh, the giant white sword vanished alongside the ck hand.


    The Martial Aspects were astounded by what they had seen. Even Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. Yu Fuli hadn''t shown himself at all. Even so, he had defeated the ck hand with a single sh of his sword. Just how strong was he?


    "Ao Canghai, you''re familiar with that monster, aren''t you?" A group of officials from the Imperial Court surrounded Ao Canghai.


    Ao Canghai''s face was pale. He didn''t seem to want to reveal anything.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored themotion as he rushed straight toward the Pce of the Moon. He reached the floating ind within moments.


    "Where''s the princess?" he asked a guard.


    "She''s in the pce, Martial Aspect Xiao," the guard replied.


    "Bring me to her. Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Understood!"


    The guard led Xiao Nanfeng deep into the pce. They flew toward a hall, but Zhang Lingjun was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where''s the princess?" Xiao Nanfeng asked a servant.


    "She''s in that yard alongside Sir Zhang."


    "Bring me over, now!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The servant beckoned Xiao Nanfeng toward a small yard surrounded by a defensive formation.


    The yard was a mess; the food and drink from the banquet that was being prepared was scattered over the ground.


    The cultivators present had all copsed, including Zhang Lingjun and Zhang Feifan. Several looked particrly badly injured and were vomiting out blood.


    "Division Leader Xiao, something''s wrong!" one white-robed woman who had copsed on the ground murmured weakly.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized her instantly: the Heaven disciple who had been waiting for him at the Eastern Heavenly Gate.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately checked on Zhang Lingjun and Zhang Feifan. He rxed as he confirmed that they were simply in their yin bodies, having left their physical ones behind.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the white-robed woman.


    "The division leader was possessed by a golden lotus. He tricked us all! The princess was speaking with the division leader when she suddenly realized that something was wrong. She raised her doubts as death chants suddenly resounded," the woman murmured weakly.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately infused a burst of Immortal qi into the white-robed woman''s body, causing her to feel much better.


    "And then?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "And then the division leader suddenly awoke. His yin body emerged from his physical body as a red moon illuminated the air. Suddenly, a golden lotus appeared before the princess'' head. The golden lotus had almost managed to possess her. The division leader''s yin body shot toward the golden lotus and began to fight with it."


    "Continue," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "When the princess realized that something was wrong, she retrieved her praying mat and was about to help the division leader when a cloud of ck smoke shot toward her. If she hadn''t protected us all with the praying mat, we might all have died. Even so, we were very badly injured. As the ck smoke descended, the division leader and the golden lotus vanished from sight, likely having passed into the red moon illusory realm."


    "Did the princess head in as well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "She did. She was worried about the division leader''s safety, and her yin body vanished from sight as well. She likely entered the red moon illusory realm."


    "From where?"


    "Over here!" The white-robed woman pointed at a specific spot in the void.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his Divine Seal of Dazheng. His avatar stepped out and likewise entered the red moon illusory realm in a sh of red light.


    Within the red moon illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng tried searching for the missing cultivators, but they were nowhere to be found. His surroundings were red all over, without any distinguishing structures in sight. Fortunately, there were clumps of unconscious red-furred lifeforms in the vicinity.


    He followed the unconscious red-furred lifeforms in a certain direction, moving so quickly that he quickly heard the sound of fighting in the distance.


    "Yin Shenhua, for harming my wife, I''ll have you pay with your life! Die!" Zhang Feifan roared.


    "Praying mat, seal!" Zhang Lingjun intoned.


    "You ants! Do you think the likes of you can hurt me? Die!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    A huge boom rang out from the distance, as though something had exploded.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched and shot forward even more quickly. A huge tempest had formed.


    Zhang Lingjun was sent flying by the fiery explosion. Xiao Nanfeng caught her in an embrace just in the nick of time.


    He hugged her tightly, causing her to tense up. Only when she saw that it was Xiao Nanfeng did she rx.


    "Yin Shenhua isn''t yet dead!" Zhang Lingjun shouted anxiously.


    "I''m aware," Xiao Nanfeng replied grimly.


    He waved a hand, dispelling the ming tempest to see two figures within.


    One was Yin Shenhua. He punched at a white longsword wielded by none other than Zhang Feifan. The red moon behind Zhang Feifan shone resplendently, his features contorted in rage. He was actually able to fight on equal footing with Yin Shenhua for the time being.


    "Is this the heart sword that Yu Fuli granted you? It''s rather powerful, but you''re only at Yin Body, aren''t you? You can''t exhibit the sword''s true power. Zhang Feifan, do you think the likes of you can scheme against me? Die!" Yin Shenhua shouted, punching at Zhang Feifan with his other fist.


    "Father!" Zhang Lingjun eximed, attempting to rush over.


    Just then, a length of red rope descended from the skies and caught Yin Shenhua''s fist.


    "What?" Yin Shenhua eximed, looking upwards.


    The skies were filled with red clouds. Another length of red rope dropped down around him and coiled tight around his neck. With a jerk, his neck was elongated as he winced in pain.


    "Yin Shenhua, your new self''s cultivation is restricted by Yin Tianci''s original cultivation. You''re far weaker than you used to be."


    Yin Shenhua''s face was a mask of rage. "Xiao Nanfeng, you again?!"

 Chapter 634: The Future Buddhas Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 634: The Future Buddha''s Cultivation</h4>


    Yin Shenhua''s eyes glinted viciously as he released golden light around his body, shattering the red ropes binding him.


    "I have been restricted, and I''m far weaker than before, but I have more than enough strength to deal with the likes of you!" Yin Shenhua gritted out.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He waved his hands again as lengths of red rope unfurled like a waterfall, heading straight for Yin Shenhua.


    "Red rope cursed effigies? They won''t be able to trap me. Buddha''s Light!" Yin Shenhua intoned.


    More radiant golden light poured forth from his body, forming a golden barrier that blocked the attacks from the red rope.


    Meanwhile, death chants began to resound as a huge wave of malice surged toward the cultivators.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, bring Lingjun away. You won''t be able to withstand these death chants!" Zhang Feifan howled.


    Zhang Feifan was continuing to resist Yin Shenhua with a white longsword in hand. The two cultivators were on equal footing.


    With a sudden hum, death chants began to emanate from Xiao Nanfeng''s back as well, heading straight for Yin Shenhua. The two death chants formed a cacophony of sound as they shed in the air.


    Yin Shenhua''s eyes widened. "Didn''t the Venerable Buddha perish? Where did these death chantse from?!"


    He red at Xiao Nanfeng as a blue moon floated up into the air behind Xiao Nanfeng''s back. It was the source of the death chants.


    "The Venerable Buddha passed on everything to you?!" Yin Shenhua demanded.


    Sensing that something was amiss, he ignored Xiao Nanfeng and punched Zhang Feifan with his other fist once again.


    "Lingjun, use the praying mat!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Seal!" Zhang Lingjun shouted, releasing her praying mat.


    "This again? The praying mat is useless against me," Yin Shenhua spat out. He reached out for it with a fist.


    His fist tightened around the praying mat, preventing it from moving.


    He had one hand blocking Zhang Feifan''s heart sword and one hand clenched tightly around the praying mat. Golden light radiated from his body and blocked the assault of the red ropes from above. He possessed incredible strength.


    "I was going to deal with all of you one by one, but since you''re all here, we might as well end things right now! Ten Thousand Palms of the Buddha¡ªkill them!" Yin Shenhua roared.


    The golden light radiating from his body manifested in the form of palms that struck the gathered cultivators.


    "Red Rope King, materialize!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    In mid-air, Xiao Nanfeng''s red moon suddenly changed shape. It transformed into a length of thick red rope, shattering the golden palms and shooting forward like a poisonous dragon, drilling through Yin Shenhua''s barrier and heading straight for his body.


    "What''s this?!" Yin Shenhua eximed. He cursed.


    A sound wave struck the red rope king, but it was no ordinary length of red rope. It deflected the sound wave as it wound around Yin Shenhua''s neck and wrenched.


    Yin Shenhua screeched in agony.


    The red rope king then coiled the rest of its body around Yin Shenhua, rendering him unable to move.


    "Hold on tight for just a while longer. Everything will be over in just a moment!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    His blue moon overhead transformed into a blue lotus that descended from the heavens. Its underside opened wide as it attempted to suck Yin Shenhua into its body.


    "Damn you, Venerable Buddha! How could it have given everything to you? It swallowed up the Past Buddha and my original body, that of the Present Buddha. Are you trying to steal the Future Buddha''s cultivation now, too? Dream on! I''ll never let you seed!" Yin Shenhua howled in pain.


    "It''s not up to you," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    As they spoke, the blue lotus drew near to Yin Shenhua, the suction growing stronger and stronger.


    "Forget it. Count yourself lucky. I might not have been able to kill you today, but I''ll be back to seek revenge. Xiao Nanfeng, you''d better protect this blue lotus of yours well. I''ll be back to collect it in the future. As for you, Zhang Lingjun, and you, Zhang Feifan, you''ll both die! Haha!" Yin Shenhua cackled.


    Yin Shenhua''s chest began to glow. Unusual energy seemed to be pouring out from it, causing the void to vibrate. A portal opened up before him.


    "He''s trying to run!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "Damn it, hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng urged the blue lotus forth, but Yin Shenhua''s radiant light was slowing down the blue lotus. Just as Yin Shenhua was about to escape, Zhang Feifan suddenly shouted, "Taiqing red moon, with soul and heart, I infuse you into my de. y this foe!"


    The red moon behind Zhang Feifan melded with his body; then, his body itself seemed to melt and flow into the white longsword he held.


    "Father!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    The white longsword shone with gleaming white light, cutting off Yin Shenhua''s arm and heading toward the rest of his body.


    "No!" Yin Shenhua cried out.


    He attempted to flee, but it was toote. The white longsword struck his body andnded on the ground.


    The portal that Yin Shenhua had been conjuring snapped shut.


    "How could this be?!" Yin Shenhua eximed, his eyes bulging.


    With a crack, the two halves of Yin Shenhua''s body split apart diagonally. Blood spurted gruesomely.


    The golden light from his body dimmed as the red rope king uncoiled. The blue lotus descended from the skies and devoured both parts of his body.


    Within the blue lotus, Yin Shenhua''s two halves thundered, "Impossible! I couldn''t have lost!"


    The blue lotus vibrated. The two halves of Yin Shenhua''s body continued to struggle, but Xiao Nanfeng was channeling all his energy into the blue lotus to distill Yin Shenhua''s body down. He was trapped.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing the blue lotus to fly into his mindscape. He would be able to take his time now.


    The red rope king reverted back to the form of a red moon and returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape as well.


    Zhang Lingjun stored her praying mat and ran toward the white longsword, her face a mask of fear. "Father, where are you?"


    The white longsword began to crack as it vanished.


    "Father,e out! Father!" Zhang Lingjun cried out.


    The white longsword slowly dissipated. A glimmer of red light could be seen from within, resolving into Zhang Feifan''s features. However, his body too was lined with cracks, and he seemed to be phasing in and out of reality. If anyone were to touch him, he might shatter right then and there.


    "Lingjun, don''t cry," Zhang Feifan said gently.


    "Father, what''s wrong with you? I''ll call on the Heavenly Emperor to save you right away!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    She suddenly seemed to guess something, but was unwilling to ept it.


    "It''s alright. I''m already dead. All that''s left of me are a few scattered thoughts."


    "No! You can''t die!"


    "Don''t cry. I''m free from all my burdens now. I''m going to find your mother. Furthermore, I already knew that this was going to be the oue of the fight. Don''t bet upset."


    Zhang Lingjun choked on her tears as she stared at Zhang Feifan.


    "Don''t cry," Zhang Feifan repeated. "You don''t know how happy I am to have avenged your mother. You''ve grown up, and I can rx now. I''ve left a will behind in the cupboard by my bed. Have a look when you return."


    "Father, how could you¡ª" Zhang Lingjun gasped.


    Zhang Feifan turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''m d you''re here too. I''d like to entrust Lingjun to you. Consider this my final request."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I will defend Zhang Lingjun with my life. Whoever intends to hurt her will have to step over my corpse to do so."


    Zhang Lingjun widened her eyes. She felt a sense of embarrassment and sweetness that was quickly diluted by Zhang Feifan''s death.


    Zhang Feifan nced at the two cultivators and smiled. "Then I can truly pass away without reservation."


    His specter dissipated in the air in a cloud of red mist.


    "Father, don''t go! Father!" Zhang Lingjun wed at the red fog, but it escaped her fingers.


    Xiao Nanfeng hugged Zhang Lingjun tightly. "It''s alright. It''s alright. Senior Uncle may have died, but just like your mother, he died in the red moon illusory realm. He''ll transform into a red-furred lifeform, and he might yet be revived."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s constion calmed Zhang Lingjun down, but the tear tracks on her face continued to glimmer. She was iparably upset.


    "We''ll have to leave for the time being. Yin Shenhua isn''tpletely dead just yet, and we can''t let him die here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Then, with a wave of his hand, he opened a portal through the void and stepped out of the red moon illusory realm alongside her.


    By then, a group of cultivators had gathered outside.


    "Return to your physical body for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded firmly.


    Her yin body returned to her physical body. With a shock, she awoke.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body held out the Divine Seal of Dazheng, allowing his avatar to walk inside to focus on distilling Yin Shenhua''s body down into essence.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, what just happened?" an official of the Imperial Court asked, rushing over.


    Arge group of officials from the Imperial Court looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Everyone, I can''t reveal anything at present. Allow me to petition His Majesty for approval before I exin," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Indeed, none of the officials of the Imperial Court dared pressure him after he invoked the Heavenly Emperor''s name.


    Zhang Lingjun awoke in tears.


    "Princess, what happened to the division leader?" the Heaven disciples cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head firmly. "Don''t ask. All will be made clear in due time."


    The Heaven disciples fretted, but had no choice but to wait.


    "Everyone, there are plenty of affairs that the princess and I have to handle. I apologize that I can''t wee you all for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The officials of the Imperial Court frowned. They knew that Xiao Nanfeng was hiding something, but they couldn''t find an excuse to press him on it before they were sent out.


    Once everyone was gone, Xiao Nanfeng asked Zhang Lingjun, "Princess, where''s Senior Uncle''s residence?"


    "Over here," Zhang Lingjun said, rushing in.


    The Heaven disciples followed behind them.


    Very quickly, Zhang Lingjun found the will that Zhang Feifan had left behind.


    Her fingers trembled as she opened it up.


    "Don''t be upset. I firmly believe that we''ll be able to rescue your parents one day. That''s why you shouldn''t think of them as having died¡ªconsider it a temporary separation. Now, let''s see what your father had to say," Xiao Nanfeng said gently, patting Zhang Lingjun on the back.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded, feeling much better after his constion. She wiped away her tears and began to read from his will.

 Chapter 635: The New Heaven Division Leader

    <h4>Chapter 635: The New Heaven Division Leader</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun read Zhang Feifan''s will together.


    Lingjun, forgive me for leaving you so abruptly. I simply miss your mother too much.


    The day your mother perished, I felt the world copse around me. I intended tomit suicide to apany your mother, but your cries halted me in my tracks. With your mother departed, what would you do alone without me? I couldn''t bear the idea, nor what your mother would say.


    That''s why I decided to wait until you became an adult before seeking out your mother. However, at that point, I grew worried about your future. I then decided to wait until your marriage.


    After that, when the truth behind your mother''s death was revealed, I thought to avenge her.


    However, my cultivation was so weak that I couldn''t do anything at all.


    Though I couldn''t hope to surpass either you or Xiao Nanfeng, I waited and observed everything that happened.


    I was very d to see you and Xiao Nanfeng take down the Past Buddha together, killing the culprit who assaulted your mother.


    Even so, there was a mastermind remaining: Yin Shenhua.


    When you fought against the divine empire of Dayin, there was nothing I could do. I could only pray earnestly that you would seed.


    I sought an audience with the Heavenly Emperor and came to the conclusion that you would win, and that Yin Shenhua would escape in Yin Tianci''s guise.


    The Heavenly Emperor wanted to use Yin Tianci to fish out an evenrger mastermind, but I earnestly begged the Heavenly Emperor for the strength to kill Yin Shenhua. Though he was initially unwilling, my repeated request in hopes of avenging your mother myself, even in the event of my death, touched the Heavenly Emperor. He granted me my wish and bequeathed me with a heart sword, allowing me to kill Yin Shenhua once the true mastermind was unveiled.


    I waited in front of Martial Aspect Xiao''s manor so that Yin Shenhua would encounter and possess me once he escaped.


    These choices were my own.


    By the time you read this will, I should have seeded in my goal. I will have avenged Yue''er, and I can seek her out with no regrets.


    Lingjun, do not be upset on my behalf. I''m very happy.


    You''re my sole remaining concern. I hope you will find someone who loves you.


    I ask that you convey the following information to the Taiqing sect master and the various division leaders.


    Sect Master and Division Leaders, I, Zhang Feifan, have betrayed your trust. By the time you receive this message, I will no longer be able to take down the sect''s enemies alongside you. I ask that you consider my judgment regarding what will happen to the Heaven division.


    Of the four divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, the Heaven division is first and foremost. Even so, because of my deficiency as a division leader, it has remainedcking. I apologize for failing to live up to expectations.


    I am stationed at the Imperial Court, as are the disciples of the Earth division. I have seen that the Earth disciples have risen sharply in strength thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s leadership, and many of them have be Immortals, even Heaven Immortals, in a short period of time. Chang Bing, foremost of the Earth division, is already a mid-stage Heaven Immortal.


    The Earth division focuses on the forge, and is backed by the Dazheng Empire. It no longer needs much guidance, and I would like to request that Xiao Nanfeng be made the new Heaven division leader.


    The Heaven division encapstes the most mystical aspect of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, but its strengths have been long forgotten. I firmly believe that Xiao Nanfeng will ably take over this position.


    Xiao Nanfeng, I ask that you consider this request seriously. In addition to this will, I have left other messages to the various disciples of the Heaven division to ensure that you receive their support. May the Taiqing Immortal Sect regain its former glory.


    Xiao Nanfeng is the sole candidate I will advance for my position. To you all, I make this final request.


    In evesting gratitude,


    Zhang Feifan


    Zhang Lingjun''s eyes teared up as she read the will, while Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but frown. Had Zhang Feifan been intending to die from the beginning? And the Heavenly Emperor himself had known of this...


    "Division Leader Xiao, Princess Lingjun, what has happened to the division leader? And as for this letter..." Several Heaven disciples fretted anxiously beside them.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Have a look for yourself."


    He passed the letter to the disciples, who gaped upon seeing it.


    "How could the division leader be dead? This is impossible. He was just fine beforehand!"


    "The division leader''s dead?"


    The Heaven disciples were all upset by the sudden and unexpected news.


    Suddenly, one Heaven disciple spoke up. "The division leader passed me a sealed jade box not long ago. Could it be..."


    The Heaven disciple quickly retrieved the jade box, which glimmered with golden light. The seal faded, and the disciple quickly opened the box to find a posthumous letter from Zhang Feifan.


    The contents of the letter were basically the same as those in Zhang Lingjun''s letter, verifying his will.


    "I have one too!"


    "Me too..."


    "Has the division leader been nning to die all along?"


    The Heaven disciples grimaced and shook their heads.


    Even so, all of them agreed with Zhang Feifan''s decision. They would have been unwilling to ept any other cultivator as the next division leader¡ªany other save Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng was technically skilled, and the Earth division had, with his auspices, shared the countless pills they concocted with the rest of the sect. The majority of the Heaven disciples had benefited from this policy, and plenty of those disciples had received his tutge and support when he was the seniormost disciple of the sect in the past.


    Furthermore, Zhang Feifan had strongly rmended him as his recement. Everyone now turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Division Leader Xiao, what should we do? What will happen to the Heaven division?" one disciple asked, wiping away at his tears.


    "Inform the sect master and the various division leaders immediately. We''ll convene on Taiqing Ind and discuss the matter, as well as send Senior Uncle off. This won''t be a funeral¡ªSenior Uncle perished within the red moon illusory realm, and I firmly believe that we''ll be able to rescue him one day," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the Heaven disciples replied, buoyed by Xiao Nanfeng''s arrangements.


    They hurriedly began nning everything.


    Xiao Nanfeng consoled Zhang Lingjun as well. "Princess, I know you''re upset, but let''s help Senior Uncle deal with his affairs for now, shall we?"


    "I''ll help," Zhang Lingjun said, wiping at her tears and sniffling.


    Everyone quickly got to work.


    Zhang Feifan''s corpse would have to be properly preserved. The cultivators used a special technique to seal him within a crystal coffin, which would be kept in a hall of the Pce of the Moon.


    The rest of the Sieve of Heaven was also in turmoil. After all, the appearance of the monster wreathed in ck smoke had sparked significant discussion from the Sieve''s inhabitants. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng focused entirely on preparations for the uing meeting to be convened on Taiqing Ind.


    A dayter, within the Divine Seal of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar sat cross-legged in meditation. The blue lotus overhead shook as though poised to evolve. Its petals had grown a sizerger, and death chants resounded all around him. The death chants were far stronger than they had been¡ªthis was surely theirpleted, perfected form. Not only would they cloud his opponents'' minds, they would even protect his heart and spirit.


    "The Past, Present, and Future Buddhas, their cultivations condensed and honed as one... This blue lotus has truly be sublime," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    With a thought, he transformed his blue lotus into a blue moon, which he absorbed into his mindscape.


    Then, he stepped out of the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body headed to a secluded location, where he released his avatar from the Divine Seal of Dazheng. His features clouded with fog, he covertly left the Pce of the Moon.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar didn''t remain in the Sieve of Heaven for long. He quickly approached the Eastern Heavenly Gate, and had a token that permitted him easy ess in and out without being searched. As a result, no one knew that he had left the Sieve of Heaven. He rushed toward Yongding.


    Within the Pce of the Moon, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body continued to handle Zhang Feifan''s affairs. Countless Heaven disciples sought to see Zhang Feifan''s corpse one final time as they said their farewells.


    Just then, one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates came by to report, "Your Majesty, Mr. Wen said that the fighting at Yongding is still ongoing. They might not be able to hold out for more than a few days."


    "Tell Mr. Wen that I''m already on my way back, and there''s no need to worry."


    "Understood!" The subordinate bowed and left.


    The Heaven disciples said their farewells to Zhang Feifan''s corpse over the course of three days.


    After those three days, though the Heaven disciples remained somewhat upset, they had already begun gathering around Xiao Nanfeng. Though nothing concrete had been confirmed just yet, everyone had all but acknowledged Xiao Nanfeng as the future division leader.


    Xiao Nanfeng had the Heaven disciples continue with their assigned roles for the time being. After all, he wasn''t the Heaven division leader just yet, and it would be inappropriate tomand them directly at the moment.


    Zhang Lingjun had withdrawn into her body. She sat in a pavilion at the back of her quarters, ncing at the pool before her, stewing in her emotions. She almost felt as though she could hear the cheerful, joyous sounds of her parents ying with her as a kid.


    Now, however, her parents were both gone. She was alone.


    A sudden sadness overwhelmed her as her eyes filled with tears.


    "Are you thinking of your parents again? They can be saved, I''ll promise you that. One day, you''ll be able to reunite¡ªjust like my parents with me," Xiao Nanfeng said in constion, sitting down beside her.


    Zhang Lingjun recalled Xiao Nanfeng''s background and couldn''t help butmiserate.


    "I''m alright," she said, wiping at her tears. "I''ll be fine in just a few moments."


    However, Xiao Nanfeng reached out with his right hand and began gently wiping at her tears. "Your parents might not be around, but I''m here. Your father entrusted you to me."


    Zhang Lingjun smiled wryly. "That day in the red moon illusory realm, I know you were just humoring my father. I¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Xiao Nanfeng kissed her directly on her fine red lips.


    Her eyes bulged. She gasped at Xiao Nanfeng, her face flushing red, not having expected him to do so so suddenly. She suddenly felt as though she couldn''t think straight.


    Even by the time the two cultivators'' lips parted, she was still taken aback by what had happened. Her face was bright red, and she panted with shock and surprise.


    "Who said I was consoling Senior Uncle? I seriously intend to be with you for life," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I..." Zhang Lingjun blushed. Her eyes dted.


    "Leave the praying mat aside for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhang Lingjun didn''t understand what he was intending to do, but followed his instructions. She summoned the praying mat and ced it by the side of the pavilion.


    The praying mat: ???


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng swept in and lifted Zhang Lingjun up in a bridal carry. He brought her toward her room.


    "What are you doing?" Zhang Lingjun gasped, her face flushing. She seemed almost expectant.


    "I''m ready to finish off what we would have done that night if we hadn''t gotten drunk," Xiao Nanfeng replied, depositing her on her bed.


    The doors to her bedroom creaked shut, and the room itself was fortified with formations. It was sealed from the world atrge.


    The praying mat left alone in the pavilion: ...

 Chapter 636: Golden Immortal Politics

    <h4>Chapter 636: Golden Immortal Politics</h4>


    Within a dim hall in the pce of the divine empire of Dachi, several officials were reporting to the Immortal Emperor of Dachi.


    "Stratagems Against Yin?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi asked for rification.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Although Xiao Nanfeng''s strategy to defeat Dayin was carried out covertly, the scale of his actions means that he can''t scrub all traces of his deedspletely. The n he devised, Stratagems Against Yin, was divided into four portions: quelling external forces, inciting popr revolt, absorbing its cities, and dividing up the empire. The four steps are tightly coupled and build off of each other. The n itself is exquisite in its simplicity, and I have written what we know of it in a booklet. Please have a look, Your Majesty," one official began.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi nced at the proffered booklet and took a deep breath. "Yin Shenhua''s loss was understandable. Xiao Nanfeng''s fourfold stratagems are truly potent."


    "Your Majesty, I believe the fault ultimately lies with Yin Shenhua for devouring his citizens and attempting to hide what he has done," the official suggested.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi shook his head. "How many divine empires in the world do you think are truly innocent of such crimes? Every empire harbors a darkness; the ends justify the means."


    The official bowed, not daring to speak.


    "However, with the spread of this Stratagems Against Yin, countless empires around the world will surely attempt to strike at us divine empires. After all, if they can protect their own territory while exposing the darkness inherent in neighboring divine empires, they''ll be able to reproduce Dazheng''s sess," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi said.


    "Surely not, Your Majesty? Xiao Nanfeng only seeded because the Martial Aspects were guarding his capital," the official argued.


    "As you know, the Martial Aspects were only responsible for guarding Dazheng''s capital. They weren''t of much use otherwise. An ordinary empire, invoking the power of its people, should simrly be able to defend its capital from harm. What''s more, ordinary empires can even band together to take on a divine empire. Wouldn''t they have even greater sess than Xiao Nanfeng then?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi suggested.


    The official sucked in a deep breath in response.


    "The Stratagems Against Yin might well turn the tide of the world," the Immortal Emperor of Dayin predicted.


    "We are prepared, Your Majesty," the official replied. "The Stratagems Against Yin won''t have such a deleterious effect on our empire. What''s more, it''s not necessarily a good thing for Xiao Nanfeng to be so sessful."


    "Oh?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s capital, Yongding, has been attacked by Golden Immortals again."


    "By whom?"


    "We don''t know, Your Majesty. They''re hiding their identities, but it''s clear that these Golden Immortals are only attacking now that the Martial Aspects have returned to the Imperial Court and the Venerable Buddha has perished. They''re taking advantage of the situation. I suspect they''re from empires in the vicinity who are attacking Dazheng for profit."


    "For profit?" The Immortal Emperor of Dachi mulled over this reasoning.


    "Indeed. Dayin''s three hundred Immortal cities were divided among the world. Dachi only managed to im sixteen of them, whereas Xiao Nanfeng himself gained forty. Attacking Dazheng will surely be a profitable venture as a result."


    "Indeed. If Dazheng itself were to fall, we could vie over those forty Immortal cities as well." The Immortal Emperor of Dachi nodded.


    "More importantly, there likely aren''t any Golden Immortals in Yongding," the official replied.


    Yongding''s defensive formation had been activated at maximum strength.


    Three ck-robed cultivators hovered in the sky outside of Yongding. Their auras were overbearing¡ªshockingly, they were all Golden Immortals.


    Countless cultivatorsy in wait within Yongding.


    Ye Dafu stepped forward and announced, "Are you three cultivators confident that you want to take on Yongding? Dazheng was able to destroy Dayin, and it can do the same to the forces who have fostered you. If you dare attack Dazheng''s capital, then we shall take revenge in kind."


    "The Martial Aspects have left and the Venerable Buddha is dead. You True Immortals won''t be able to guard the city against us."


    "Xiao Nanfeng isn''t back yet, is he? Looks like our timing is perfect."


    "Let''s make our move!"


    The three Golden Immortals struck at Yongding simultaneously as Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators soared into the air.


    They were sent flying by the three Golden Immortals, only to have the wind all around Yongding rise up. ck gales spawned from nowhere as they surged toward the three attackers.


    "A formation? Unfortunately for you, it won''t be of any use against us Golden Immortals. Break!" a Golden Immortal shouted, striking at the formation.


    Much of the ck wind dissipated, but what remained propelled the three Golden Immortals into three void portals that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.


    "Is this the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm? It won''t be able to trap us!" one Golden Immortal shouted as they were sucked in.


    The three Golden Immortals blinked out of existence. Then, the twelve golden cultivators rushed into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm to way them as well.


    Silence reigned once more within the city of Yongding. Had the danger been nullified just like that?


    Back in Yongding''s pce, Wen Zhong stood by a secluded corner of a hall. "Blue Lantern, please trap these three Golden Immortals for longer."


    "Of course, Mr. Wen. I''ve erected plenty of formations within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. My cultivation has advanced, as has the strength of my formations. With Ye Dafu and the others holding them back, the three Golden Immortals won''t be freed for quite a while. However, I expect more Golden Immortals lie in wait."


    "Worry not, Blue Lantern. I have a n to deal with the other two."


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Blue Lantern himself stepped into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm.


    Wen Zhong suddenly turned around and smiled. "Croak, you don''t have to follow right behind me all the time."


    Croak shook its head. "Xiao Nanfeng told me to prioritize your safety at any cost. He told me to stick beside you and prioritize saving you in case of danger."


    "Ah," Wen Zhong replied, smiling wryly. "Very well."


    He turned away from Croak and toward a spectral guard waiting for him. "Have you uncovered their background?"


    "We have, sir. Of the remaining two Golden Immortals, one is residing within an inn in Yongding, while the other is hidden in a forest right outside. Sir Blue Lantern sensed him with a formation," the spectral guard reported.


    "And what do you know of them?" Wen Zhong asked.


    "ording to your strategy, Sir Wen, we''ve been preparing for a sneak attack. We keep careful track of the Golden Immortals directly or tangentially associated with us. Nine managed to evade our surveince, and we believe that five among the nine are responsible for this assault."


    "Good," Wen Zhong said.


    Then, he turned to two of his subordinates. "Interact with the two Golden Immortals. Study their tone, appearance, and actions, then use the method of elimination to confirm their identities."


    "Understood!" the two subordinates replied.


    Three gray-d figures stood by a window of a luxurious suite within an inn in Yongding. They watched on until the fighting outside Yongding ended and the three cultivators were whisked away.


    "Grandmaster, aren''t we going to make a move?" one gray-d figure asked their leader.


    "Do not underestimate Dazheng. Those three Golden Immortals weren''t able to muster any resistance against Yongding. Who knows what other secrets lie hidden here? Have them serve as our scouts for the time being. We''ll make a move ordingly," the middle-aged gray-d man replied.


    "Understood, Grandmaster."


    "Dazheng is skilled to have been able to carry out its n to destroy Dayin, but trying to im forty Immortal cities on its own is a clear act of overextension. If Dazheng were at the peak of ordinary empires, it might have been reasonable¡ªbut for a medium-sized empire to try to devour forty Immortal cities all at once? Ha!"


    "Wise you are, Grandmaster. We''ve been lying in wait within Yongding for some time. I''m sure their officials don''t suspect that we''re already here."


    "If not for your prudence in trying to tease out Dazheng''s aces, Grandmaster, you would easily be able to wipe out Yongding with a wave of your hand."


    "Wise is our grandmaster!"


    The other cultivators continued to fawn on their grandmaster.


    Suddenly, a few knocks on the door to the suite abruptly terminated their conversation.


    "Who''s there?" one gray-d man demanded.


    The knocks continued.


    Their leader frowned. His spiritual power could sense what was going on outside. He took a deep breath. "Open the door."


    "Understood!"


    The door to the suite quickly opened, revealing a youth dressed in the robes of a Dazheng official.


    "Greetings, cultivators. I oversee rites and rituals in service to Dazheng." The youth smiled as he walked into the suite.


    The gray-d cultivators in the suite all had their faces covered in clouds of white fog.


    From the cultivators'' posture, the youth quickly deduced who their leader was, and stepped over to him.


    The grandmaster smelled a strange aroma from the youth and subconsciously flicked it away.


    The youth''s eyes lit up as he smiled.


    At the same time, a youth was reporting to Wen Zhong.


    "Sir Wen, my avatar has entered the suite. Their leader seems to dislike the aroma of muscats, and attempted to dispel it in my presence. His left hand''s fourth fingernail is somewhat clouded. His shoe size corresponds to the third standard, and the height of his shoulders to the fourth standard," the youth reported.


    "Then that cultivator must be n Head Li. Begin negotiations," Wen Zhongmanded.


    "Understood! With his identity revealed, things should proceed easily." The youth smiled.


    Within the suite, the youth bowed. "I had been intending to send a cultivator familiar with you for discussions, n Head Li, but all such cultivators are currently away from Yongding. I''m afraid I had to serve as a substitute."


    "What did you call me?" the gray-d grandmaster demanded.


    The other gray-d cultivators surrounded the youth, as if they were facing a fearsome foe.


    The youth smiled. "Please don''t be upset, n Head Li. Ie to negotiate bearing the sincerity of Dazheng. I am but an ordinary mortal. Surely you Immortals aren''t afraid of me?"


    n Head Li said frostily, "How did you know of our presence here?"


    "Dazheng has a well-equipped informationwork. As for who betrayed you, n Head Li, I don''t know myself. After all, we don''t operate in the same department. I''m reaching out to you on behalf of the Department of Rites and Rituals," the youth continued.


    n Head Li narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"


    "We want to do what you want to do, n Head Li." The youth smiled again.


    n Head Li raised an eyebrow. He was intending to destroy Yongding and ruin Dazheng''s foundations. Could Dazheng be nning to do the same to the empire he had recently gained?

 Chapter 637: Similar Interests

    <h4>Chapter 637: Simr Interests</h4>


    Within a certain inn in Yongding, the youth in the Department of Rites and Rituals smiled as he faced n Head Li.


    "Is this a threat?" n Head Li demanded.


    "Hardly, n Head Li! You are a guest from afar, and Dazheng helped you considerably in the formation of the empire of Dali, did it not? n Head Li, you even mentioned that you would generously reward His Majesty for what he had done for you." The youth smiled.


    "I did say that," n Head Li acknowledged.


    "That''s the spirit!" The youth smiled again. "We remember your promise, n Head Li, and we haven''t requested anything from you. That said, we believe our help should be the foundation of a positive rtionship between our two empires. Don''t you agree?"


    n Head Li slightly furrowed his brows, unsure of the youth''s intentions. He frowned, not quite getting angry, and chose to nod. "You are correct."


    "n Head Li, I''ve reserved the entire inn and have made preparations for a banquet at the best location in the inn. Would you join me in a celebration and discussion?" the youth suggested.


    n Head Li shot a nce at his disciples, who nodded.


    "Very well."


    "Please follow me."


    n Head Li followed the youth toward an open-air patio in the courtyard of the inn, where a banquet had beenid out.


    There were plenty of delicacies, and the scent of fragrant alcohol drifted in the air. Everything seemed unusually ornate.


    The two cultivators sat down and began to chat. The youth was adroit at conversation, bringing up the situation in the various Immortal cities that n Head Li controlled and the actions that the empire of Dali had taken to date. n Head Li''s eyes twitched: just how much did the youth know? It was almost as though the empire had no secrets of which he was unaware. The youth had even pointed out a few crucial errors in judgment that might well have ended the empire. He sucked in a deep breath in surprise.


    Throughout the banquet, n Head Li listened to the youth talk. He knew that Dazheng''s informationwork had thoroughly dissected his empire from top to bottom. If he were to fight with Dazheng, the oue would be disastrous.


    Just then, several of his disciples sent him mental transmissions.


    "Grandmaster, my avatar made a few inquiries. Something has happened in the sect. Your eldest grandson had suddenly gone missing."


    "Grandmaster, my avatar made a few inquiries as well. All ten city lords of Dali''s ten Immortal cities have had important descendants go missing out of nowhere."


    The disciples'' mental transmissions caused n Head Li to nch.


    "What tricks Dazheng ys," n Head Li suddenly said, his voice cold.


    The youth smiled ndly. "Whatever could you mean, n Head Li?"


    "My grandson has gone missing. Were you aware?" n Head Li demanded.


    "Of course. Plenty of them have disappeared, haven''t they. The spectral guards of Dazheng have reported that they share simr interests with those young masters, and they''re all out hunting by the Eastern Sea. Isn''t it great for young cultivators to explore the world together?" The youth smiled again.


    n Head Li: ...


    The spectral guards? Sharing simr interests? n Head Li cursed. Did Dazheng think him a fool? It was clear that his grandson had been kidnapped!


    "n Head Li, Dali was founded with the help of Dazheng, and it''s a good thing that the youths of both kingdoms are congregating. Worry not. They''ll return to Dali in no time. Don''t you agree?"


    n Head Li grimaced at the bold threat, but what choice did he have?


    He had no choice but to smile. "You''re right. It''s a good thing for these young people to congregate."


    "That''s the spirit!" The youth toasted him. "Let''s keep on drinking."


    n Head Li''s face grew dour. He knew that if he were to continue carrying out his n, not only would his rtives fall prey, Dazheng would retaliate against Dali on all fronts. Given what the youth had ryed to him, he was almost certain that there were Dazheng spies all over his empire. How quickly would Dali fall?


    Surely he shouldn''t make a move today?


    Although it was true that he was in alliance with a few other forces, such alliances were based on profit. Given his situation, the profitability of making a move was surely negative¡ªand steeply so, as well. Why would he act, then?


    After hesitating for a moment, n Head Li interjected, "I have some matters to deal with. I only coincidentally stopped by Yongding today, so I don''t want to be a bother any further."


    "n Head Li, won''t you wait for His Majesty''s return? He''s already on his way, and would be more than happy to wee you himself," the youth suggested.


    "There''s no need. We can meet again some other day," n Head Li demurred.


    "Very well, then. Allow me to send you off, n Head Li." The youth smiled.


    "There''s no need. I''m curious if you''re aware when my grandson''s hunt will be over, however."


    "I suspect that the young masters will be home by the time you return, n Head Li." The youth''s smile widened.


    "Very well. Farewell, then. We won''t take up more of your time."


    "Nonsense, n Head Li! It''s been my pleasure. Dazheng wees you."


    n Head Li glowered as he left with his disciples in tow.


    To himself, he muttered, "Dazheng wees me? To the extent that it would kidnap my rtives? Is that the grand wee Dazheng offers me?"


    He stewed all the way as he flew out of Yongding and toward Dali.


    "Grandmaster, should we return in secret? We can hide in Yongding and make a move if there''s an opportunity," a disciple suggested.


    "We don''t even know how they discovered us. Aren''t you afraid these spectral guards will kill you if they find you back there?" n Head Li demanded.


    "Grandmaster, you''re a Golden Immortal! Surely you''ll be alright?"


    "If I don''t return to my manor, do you think my grandson and the descendants of the various city lords will be freed?!"


    "What?" His disciples reacted with dismay.


    "Dazheng was able to defeat Dayin for good reason. It''s my fault, at least partially. I was tempted by those other forces'' talk of profit and tricked intoing here. I see how the situation is now. Those forty Immortal cities of Dazheng look tempting, but there''s no way we''d be able to seize them," n Head Li said, sighing.


    The other gray-d disciples could only return to Dali with their grandmaster.


    In addition to n Head Li, the other Golden Immortal that had been in the forests outside Yongding had been convinced to return by Wen Zhong as well.


    There was no other choice, after all. The spectral guards had kidnapped his family. If he didn''t return, he would essentially be condemning his family to death.


    Yongding''s crisis was resolved in the blink of an eye.


    The greatest danger remaining came from the three Golden Immortals who had been trapped at the beginning of the confrontation.


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, 361 stars glowed in the air. Beams of starlight poured into the giant formation beneath them.


    Within the formation, twelve golden cultivators fought against three Golden Immortals. They were sent flying again and again, but they relished the feeling of being pummeled and beaten up.


    "Come on, again! Beat me up!"


    "Like a tornado, these feelings are sweeping away my heart."


    "If you don''t beat me to death, none of you will be able to escape!"


    Once the twelve golden cultivators were beaten to a pulp, Blue Lantern quickly brought them out of the formation.


    The three Golden Immortals were exasperated. One of them frowned. "Something''s wrong. Why haven''t those two Golden Immortals around Yongding made their move yet?"


    "At any rate, let''s break out of this formation for now," another Golden Immortal suggested.


    "Very well."


    The three Golden Immortals struck simultaneously, causing a crack in the formation. The next moment, the crack vanished, having been filled up with starlight. The eye of the formation contained three resplendent treasures.


    "Three Golden Immortal relics as the basis of this formation? What extravagance!"


    "Damn it, we can''t break out!"


    "Attack at full force. We have to make it out now before it''s toote. Hurry!"


    Sensing something amiss, they charged at the formation again and again, causing it to shake and crack. It looked as though it would break at any moment, but the three Golden Immortals always seemed to fall just short of the energy needed.


    Before long, Ye Dafu and the others had healed from their injuries. Their cultivation had all advanced.


    "Haha, we''re back!"


    "Let''s have fun together, you three Golden Immortals!"


    "We haven''t rxed so well in far too long. I want another massage!"


    The twelve golden cultivators tittered to each other in a way that sent shivers up the three Golden Immortals'' spines. They froze. Were these cultivators maniacs?


    "Die!" one Golden Immortal roared.


    The three Golden Immortals began to strike the twelve golden cultivators again. After a ferocious beating, however, they fell silent. They were stunned. Those maniacs'' shouts had quickly turned to moans. If spectators had been watching the fight with closed eyes, they might have envisioned apletely different sight.


    "Trap them!" a Golden Immortal called out. "We need to pressure the creator of this formation!"


    The Golden Immortals caught two golden cultivators with each of their palms.


    "Now they won''t be able to free themselves!" a Golden Immortal called out,ughing.


    Just then, Blue Lantern manipted the formation. The three Golden Immortal relics struck at the three Golden Immortals, shattering the palms and freeing the golden cultivators.


    "Aren''t those three Golden Immortal relics serving to power this formation? How could they still be usable?"


    "If those relics could be used against us, why didn''t they do so sooner?"


    "Could it have been deliberate?"


    The Golden Immortals nched.


    "Die!" the twelve golden cultivators shouted, attacking the Golden Immortals again.


    The three Golden Immortals had no choice but to counterattack. If they were to try to trap the golden cultivators again, Blue Lantern would surely strike them with the Golden Immortal relics. However, he wouldn''t interfere if they were to beat the golden cultivators up.


    "These cultivators are sick in the head. If they want to die, then we''ll grant them their wishes!" a Golden Immortal shouted.


    The twelve golden cultivators were beaten ck and blue. Grievously injured, they signaled for Blue Lantern to rescue them.


    The three Golden Immortals: ...


    Had they wasted their time fighting the golden cultivators again?


    Before long, the twelve golden cultivators had healed up and were charging into the formation again.


    "Ignore those maniacs. Focus on breaking the formation, now!" a Golden Immortal shouted anxiously.


    The Golden Immortals continued to attack the formation, causing it to crack. The twelve golden cultivators hurriedly got in their way.


    Blue Lantern continued overseeing everything from the vicinity.


    Just then, a red figure appeared beside Blue Lantern.


    "Your Majesty, you''re back!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "How''s the situation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of these three Golden Immortals, one has a Golden Immortal relic. If he were to detonate that relic while all three Golden Immortals struck at the formation simultaneously, they should be able to break free. He hasn''t yet been willing to detonate that relic, but I believe that he''ll do so soon enough if they still can''t break free," Blue Lantern said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Now that I''m here, none of them will be able to escape."

 Chapter 638: Possessing a Golden Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 638: Possessing a Golden Immortal</h4>


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, the three Golden Immortals struck the twelve golden cultivators viciously, wounding them severely. They retreated as a red figure stepped into the formation, drawing everyone''s attention.


    "Your Majesty!" the twelve golden cultivators eximed in glee.


    "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng''s back! Just what are those two Golden Immortals on the outside doing?!"


    "Could something have gone wrong?"


    "You won''t be able to use that relic of yours if you lose your life! Come on, detonate it and let us out!"


    The three Golden Immortals shouted at each other, seemingly exasperated¡ªbut that was only a ploy to cause their opponents to drop their guards. The three cultivatorsunched themselves at Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously.


    "Protect His Majesty!" the twelve golden cultivators shouted.


    They were all sent flying.


    The red and blue spiritual moons rose into the air simultaneously and transformed. The red moon became the red rope king and shot toward a Golden Immortal, while the blue moon became a blue lotus and rushed after it.


    Death chants emanated from the air, causing the three Golden Immortals to freeze in surprise.


    "Death chants? How can this be? Isn''t the Venerable Buddha dead?"


    "We''re Golden Immortals. Death chants won''t be able to do anything against us."


    "That''s not true. These death chants seem stronger than the ones before."


    The three Golden Immortals nched.


    The death chants were starting to take effect¡ªuntil radiant light shone from their bodies and neutered some of their effects. The Golden Immortals shook their heads, growing clear-headed once more.


    Just then, the red rope king, like a poisonous dragon, shot forth toward a Golden Immortal.


    The Golden Immortal''s eyes widened as she pped at the dragon. The red rope king was sent flying back from one end, but the other end whipped around and caught the Golden Immortal''s neck. Then, it drew taut.


    The Golden Immortal yelped in agony as she scrambled to free herself, but waspletely unable to do so.


    The blue lotus flew toward her head.


    "Be careful!" the other two Golden Immortals shouted.


    However, with the twelve golden cultivators holding them back, they weren''t able to make a move.


    The stricken Golden Immortal intoned, "Divine light, protect me!"


    Radiant golden light surged out of her body and arrested the red rope king''s movements. Although she wasn''t able to free herself from it, she had defended against its attacks for the time being.


    Meanwhile, however, the blue lotusnded squarely above her head and began sending death chants deep into her mind and soul.


    The blue lotus perfectly encapsted the cultivation of the Past, Present, and Future Buddhas. It was aplete cursed spiritual avatar, and its death chants had been honed to an astounding degree. Although Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t yet able to draw out all of its strength, such close contact between the blue lotus and a Golden Immortal would be devastating.


    The Golden Immortal shrieked in pain. "You won''t be able to suppress my consciousness. Break!"


    The red rope king coiled taut around her neck once more, and the blue lotus possessed her. She suddenly stood immobile.


    "Wake up! Wake up!" the other two Golden Immortals called out.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and into the immobile Golden Immortal''s mindscape.


    The Golden Immortal''s eyes opened wide, then suddenly shrank. She had awoken.


    The blue lotus followed Xiao Nanfeng into the Golden Immortal''s mindscape and continued to suppress her consciousness. The red rope king loosened its grip on her neck and flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s body as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng had well and truly gained control over the Golden Immortal''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng manipted the Golden Immortal''s body as he turned toward the two Golden Immortals not far from him. He smirked. "Fellows, you must think me someone easy to bully."


    The two Golden Immortals gulped. Was this Xiao Nanfeng''s true strength?


    Not far away, Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators watched on in shock. Xiao Nanfeng was incredible¡ªhe could even possess Golden Immortals!


    "Go heal up. I''ll deal with these two Golden Immortals," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the twelve golden cultivators replied, stepping aside.


    The two remaining Golden Immortals nched. "Xiao Nanfeng, we''ve lost. If you free us from this formation, we''ll retreat immediately."


    "You''re already here. Why leave? If I let you leave and you return tomorrow, you''d only cause more trouble for me. We might as well finish things off right now."


    He flew toward the other two Golden Immortals, who snarled. One said, "You may have possessed her, but can you use her strength properly?"


    Xiao Nanfeng began to fight against the two Golden Immortals.


    At the start, hisck of familiarity with the Golden Immortal''s body was a handicap, but it didn''t much matter. He had considerablebat experience, allowing him to grow morefortable with surprising speed.


    In just a few moments, he was already able to fight the two Golden Immortals on equal footing¡ªand in a few more moments, he had the advantage.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfeng punched forward. Fists filled the sky as they struck the two Golden Immortals, who were quickly sent flying.


    They too had significantbat experience, but not as much as Xiao Nanfeng had.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    The two cultivators were sent flying once more. They spat out blood in mid-air.


    "How can this be? Xiao Nanfeng''s stronger in her body than in his own physical body!" a Golden Immortal cried out.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    The two Golden Immortals were sent flying for a third time, their injuries worsening.


    "If this keeps up, we''ll both be done for here. Are you still unwilling to give up on your Golden Immortal relic?"


    "My Golden Immortal sword won''t be able to y him. Didn''t you see? I''ve been using it!"


    "Then give up and detonate it!"


    The two Golden Immortals continued to shout at one another.


    Finally, the sword-wielding Golden Immortal snarled, "Xiao Nanfeng, die! Explode!"


    He tossed his Golden Immortal relic toward Xiao Nanfeng, who didn''t bother evading it. Rather, he careened forward, bringing the relic toward the other two Golden Immortals.


    The relic exploded, causing all three Golden Immortals to vomit out blood. They were all grievously injured, especially the Golden Immortal whom Xiao Nanfeng was controlling.


    "He won''t be able to survive much longer. Good work!" one of the Golden Immortals shouted.


    "So what? This isn''t my physical body. I don''t care if you ruin it," Xiao Nanfeng said disdainfully.


    The two Golden Immortals: ...


    "It''s my turn now. Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shot toward them.


    He cocked his fists and attacked the two Immortals simultaneously, with more strength than ever before. The two Golden Immortals could only defend themselves.


    Just then, they could see a beam of blue light emerge from the forehead of the cultivator he was possessing.


    They frowned in unease, but it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng''s body had self-destructed.


    A ming tempest engulfed the three Golden Immortals. The detonation of a Golden Immortal was even more destructive than that of a Golden Immortal relic, especially at such close range.


    "No!" the two Golden Immortals cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng had long since escaped. From a distance, in pristine condition, he looked toward the tempest he had unleashed.


    After the fire and the wind dissipated, two charred, broken bodies were revealed in sight. The Golden Immortalsy paralyzed on the ground, vomiting out fresh blood, ncing at him with shock and disbelief.


    How were they supposed to fight? Xiao Nanfeng could possess them andunch kamikaze attacks on them with their own bodies. If they were to keep fighting, they would surely perish.


    "Emperor Xiao, I admit defeat. We shouldn''t have attacked Yongding, and I am willing to furnishpensation for what I''ve done," a Golden Immortal called out.


    "I''ll surrender and providepensation myself!" the other Golden Immortal added.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced coldly at the two cultivators as he considered how to deal with them. Was he to kill them directly as a warning to external forces, or to ransom them off for greater profit?


    Just then, Ye Dafu stepped forward. He nced at Xiao Nanfeng pleadingly. "Your Majesty, would you spare them?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked over at him. The twelve golden cultivators were all eyeing him, as though hoping that he would show clemency on the two Golden Immortals. He gave them all an odd look, having deduced what they were after.


    "Very well. We''ll keep them for the time being. Blue Lantern, can you seal them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    From outside the formation, Blue Lantern nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."


    "Then I''ll leave them to you. Seal their cultivation first," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    The two Golden Immortals exhaled in relief, d that they had been saved from death.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" they eximed.


    "Don''t thank me. Thank them," Xiao Nanfeng replied, pointing at the twelve golden cultivators.


    The two Golden Immortals bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Sir Ye! Thank you, everyone!"


    The twelve golden cultivators'' eyes gleamed. Ye Dafu chuckled. "No need for courtesy. We feel a sense of attachment to the two of you, you see, and we''d love to develop closer bonds with you."


    "Of course!" The two Golden Immortals would agree to anything as long as they could keep their lives.


    Then, Blue Lantern invoked the Formation of the Complete Heavens, as well as the power inherent in the three Golden Immortal relics, and infused them into a Golden Immortal''s body.


    "Do not resist," he said. "I''m sealing your cultivation."


    Though the Golden Immortal was worried, he didn''t resist. His body was quickly surrounded with golden light. He shuddered as his cultivation was sealed.


    Seeing that the first Golden Immortal was unharmed, the second one didn''t resist. He allowed Blue Lantern to seal his cultivation as well.


    "Blue Lantern, when will we be able to regain the use of these two masseuses?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "Although their cultivation has been sealed, Golden Immortals can regain their strength quickly. They''ll be back to normal in no time."


    "Good, good! I''m looking forward to when they can massage us all again. Thank you for your help," Ye Dafu replied, beaming.


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    Not far away, the two Golden Immortals stilled. They nced at each other and murmured, "Why is Ye Dafu calling us masseuses? What''s he talking about?"


    "I don''t know either. I can''t understand what they''re saying!"

 Chapter 639: A Black Coffin and Golden Mountain

    <h4>Chapter 639: A ck Coffin and Golden Mountain</h4>


    Within Zhang Lingjun''s rooms in the Pce of the Moon, sunlight filtered in through the windows and struck a patch of snowy-white skin. Zhang Lingjun was in deep sleep, a sweet smile on her face.


    Xiao Nanfeng stirred. He awoke and saw a sleeping beauty beside him, sighing in soft admiration.


    That year when he first escaped from his manor and headed to the Taiqing Immortal Sect in order to find a master to apprentice under¡ªthat was when he had met Zhang Lingjun for the first time. He had been moved by her beauty then; who would have thought that, yearster, they would have ended up together?


    He stroked Zhang Lingjun''s hair as he pulled out a storage bangle.


    It had once belonged to Yin Shenhua. However, he had been too busy recently to give it a good look. Now that he was well-rested, he intended to uncover its secrets.


    The storage bangle was sealed to an astonishing extent, but with Yin Shenhua''s death, much of those seals had faded in strength. Xiao Nanfeng battered them with his spiritual power for some time before they finally snapped open. His spiritual power snaked in to catalog its contents.


    Within the bangle were Yin Shenhua''s incredible reserves of treasure, pills, and relics.


    "The treasure in here is more than sufficient to advance Dazheng by a huge step forward." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in satisfaction as he nced through and organized the items within.


    There were plenty of Golden Immortal relics; it was a pity, however, that there were no Boundless Immortal ones too.


    "He was an Immortal Emperor, and one of the most powerful ones at that! Doesn''t he have any Boundless Immortal relics of his own?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed in regret.


    Suddenly, he reached into the pile of relics and pulled out a huge ck coffin, one whose surface was pitch-ck like ink. Countless seals were stered over the coffin.


    "This ck coffin..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He recalled that, when he and Emperor Feng had gone to challenge Yin Shenhua together, this coffin had managed to suck Yin Shenhua into it. Yin Shenhua had almost perished then and there. Emperor Feng should have been long dead, but was this ck coffin cursed effigy still around?


    He wasn''t certain of the nature of the ck coffin cursed effigy. All he knew was that it was a cursed effigy in its own right, and that Emperor Feng had lived in symbiosis with it. He had suppressed the ck coffin''s original will and stolen its cultivation.


    Yin Shenhua likewise paid particr attention to the ck coffin and had even transformed it into his draconic throne. He had sat on it for a hundred years. Surely there was some incredible secret lying within the coffin.


    Yin Shenhua had sealed the ck coffin particrly tightly, and Xiao Nanfeng didn''t rush to open it.


    After all, a cursed effigy that Yin Shenhua hadn''t managed to subjugate even after a hundred years could hardly be an easy opponent. If he were to unseal the coffin now without making sufficient preparations, he would surely trigger an incredible disaster.


    With a wave of his hand, he stored the coffin within the storage bangle once more.


    Such a potent relic would have to be carefully considered at length.


    He continued looking through the storage bangle. There were countless documents, scrolls, and other pieces of writing present. He didn''t intend to peruse them himself; rather, he would pass them to specialized officials of Dazheng. Any such writing that Yin Shenhua kept in his own storage bangle was surely a treasure.


    Finally, Xiao Nanfeng found arge mountain.


    The entire mountain was filled with …d runes, resplendent and golden. It shone so brilliantly that it almost blinded his sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he considered it. He analyzed it within moments. "This is the material used to construct Buddha''s Grottos!"


    He confirmed his initial analysis with another careful look. He had seen and touched Buddha''s Grottos himself, and the material out of which they were made was identical to that of the mountain before him.


    The golden mountain was filled with resplendent runes. Brief snatches of chanting could also be heard from afar.


    "Can I absorb all this for my cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    He recalled how the ck lotus had dposed the energy from the fragments of six Buddha''s Grottos, then channeled a portion into him and a portion into Zhang Lingjun. The excess was given to the praying mat.


    That was a sure sign that this golden mountain could be absorbed to advance his cultivation.


    He picked up a small fragment that had chipped off the gold mountain and swallowed it. Within his dantian, the ten golden crows quickly began to melt it with their mes.


    The small fragment was melted down into different pools of energy. He was able to absorb the golden-colored one easily, but there was also a red-colored pool that felt particrly cold and attuned to yin. He could absorb that pool of energy as well, but to vanishing effect.


    "That red energy must be energy of pure yin¡ªthat was what the ck lotus filtered off to Lingjun!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    In addition to the golden and red pools of energy, there was a final ck pool, turbid andposed of bits and pieces of energy of varying attunement. Not only was it difficult to absorb, the energy would run rampant throughout his body, leaving him highly ufortable.


    "Damn it, this ck energy must be cursed energy¡ªand it''sposed of many different types of curses, too! Now that it''s within my body, even trying to purify it is a huge problem," Xiao Nanfeng hissed.


    He did his best to expel the ck energy from his body, causing wisps of ck smoke to erupt from his pores. Dealing with this cursed energy posed a significant challenge.


    Just then, a hand caressed his back.


    "Nanfeng, what''s the matter?" asked a voice that was simultaneously gentle and worried.


    Zhang Lingjun had woken up. The first thing she had seen was Xiao Nanfeng''s pained expression. ck smoke surrounded her body, and she immediately reached out to him in order to help.


    The moment Zhang Lingjun touched Xiao Nanfeng, the ck, cursed energy suddenly swarmed toward her as though attracted. It flooded out of Xiao Nanfeng''s body and straight into hers.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, pushing Zhang Lingjun aside.


    However, it was all toote. The ck energy had gushed into Zhang Lingjun''s body, heading straight to her mindscape. A grain of violet crystal had manifested on her forehead, and it was absorbing all the cursed energy. Then, it radiated with pale violet light.


    "This is..." Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    He knew what that grain of crystal was. It was what the purple-furred curse had be when Yu Fuli had cleansed the curse from all the purple-furred lifeforms. It had condensed into a granule of violet light, which Yu Fuli had then bestowed upon Zhang Lingjun, cing it on the center of her forehead.


    No one knew what good this violet crystal was; all they knew was that it had formed from an unusual curse and surely had to be a treasure of some sort, but it had remained inert all this time.


    Now, it was finally reacting to something. The violet crystal was able to absorb the pitch-ck energy¡ªor rather, cursed energy.


    "Nanfeng, what was that?" Zhang Lingjun asked in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng exined what had just happened.


    "It''s that dangerous?" Zhang Lingjun eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stared at Zhang Lingjun.


    Zhang Lingjun frowned. She followed his gaze to her own body, then flushed. She hurriedly covered her chest. "Don''t look at me!"


    "Lingjun, you really are beautiful." Xiao Nanfeng leaned toward her.


    "Ah, don''t just kiss me like that!" Zhang Lingjun''s voice turned breathy.


    "Lingjun, I found a golden mountain in Yin Shenhua''s storage bangle. It''sposed of a material that can be distilled into three types of energy. I''ll absorb the golden energy, and you the red energy, that of pure yin. As for the cursed ck energy, your violet crystal can absorb that. We won''t have to share anything with the praying mat," Xiao Nanfeng whispered into her ear.


    "But how?" Zhang Lingjun''s face was turning redder from close proximity.


    "Do you remember those wall murals from the Phoenix Hall in the Buddha of Dual Cultivation''s Grotto? We can perform dual cultivation that way," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Zhang Lingjun took a deep breath. "But those murals were so embarrassing!"


    "Shall we?" Xiao Nanfeng waited until Zhang Lingjun had collected herself sufficiently as to look him in the eye, then smiled gently.


    A dayter, the two cultivators had finished off the entire mountain. Roiling energy had filled their bodies, no less energy than what they had extracted from the fragments of the six Buddha''s Grottos previously.


    A wave of me emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    He quickly reached out to protect Zhang Lingjun from injury.


    When the energy had dissipated, he let out a long breath. "The third stage of the True Immortal realm!"


    "Your techniques must be incredibly hard to cultivate. Have you only advanced that little from an entire day''s worth of exertion?" Zhang Lingjun murmured gently beside him.


    "What about you? I notice you''ve had more sess," Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I''m at the peak of the True Immortal realm now, and I''m just a step away from bing a Golden Immortal. I have the feeling that I''ll be able to break through in just a few days," Zhang Lingjun replied.


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Zhang Lingjun''s advancement would only be a blessing for him.


    "I even feel as though I can control the grain of violet crystal on my forehead now," Zhang Lingjun continued.


    "Truly? Will you try it?"


    Zhang Lingjun closed her eyes and began to manipte the grain of violet crystal. A violet membrane quickly covered up Zhang Lingjun''s body.


    Purple fur grew quickly from the membrane, encasing her body.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped as he watched Zhang Lingjun transform into a purple-furred lifeform.


    "What''s wrong? What''s the matter?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.


    "Have a look for yourself." Xiao Nanfeng handed her a mirror.


    "Ah!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    All that purple fur retreated back into her granule of violet crystal.


    Zhang Lingjun sighed in relief as she found herself back to normal. "I was so scared!"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Try again. The crystal might have granted you a particrly potent defense."


    Zhang Lingjun was a little unwilling to do so, but she repeated the experiment, transforming back into a purple-furred lifeform. She tested her defense with her own body, then tried to stab herself with a Golden Immortal sword that Xiao Nanfeng gave her, to no avail.


    "Indeed, the violet crystal the Heavenly Emperor gave you is no ordinary relic. It can provide absolute defense by transforming you into a purple-furred lifeform," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Truly..." Zhang Lingjun nodded as she returned to human form.


    "The more cursed energy the violet crystal can absorb, the stronger your defense surely will be. It''s a pity that the praying mat absorbed all that cursed energy from the previous Buddha''s Grottos. Your crystal should absorb any that wee across in the future."


    Zhang Lingjun nodded firmly.


    "What''s more, even though the Buddha of Dual Cultivation might have been evil, his dual cultivation technique''s very promising. Let''s cultivate more often so you can be a Golden Immortal more quickly." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Zhang Lingjun pouted, her features red from embarrassment once more.


    Just as the two of them were fooling around with each other, a Heaven disciple called out from outside, "Division Leader Xiao, Princess, the Heavenly Emperor has considered the report that Ao Canghai submitted. The princess and all Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant have been summoned to court!"


    "There''s never enough time for fun. It''s a pity," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    Zhang Lingjun, still furiously blushing, mock-pounded on his chest with a fist.

 Chapter 640: The Saints

    <h4>Chapter 640: The Saints</h4>


    In his study on Mt. Kunlun, Yu Fuli sat with Ao Canghai''s report unfurled before him. The Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant, along with Zhang Lingjun, stood before him.


    Yu Fuli was well aware of how Dayin had been obliterated, but he still read through Ao Canghai''s report carefully once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun, having bypassed thest barrier between man and woman, were now standing facing each other, their ten fingers intertwined. The other Martial Aspects nced askance at them.


    They were shocked that Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun dared disy their affection for each other so publicly¡ªespecially in front of the Heavenly Emperor himself.


    Yu Fuli put down the scroll and raised his head to see their public disy of affection. Zhang Lingjun flushed red. She immediately wrested her hands out from Xiao Nanfeng''s grip.


    Yu Fuli nced past them, notmenting on their behavior.


    "You''ve all done well," Yu Fuli said.


    "It''s all thanks to Martial Aspect Xiao and the Venerable Buddha," Ao Canghai replied. "The rest of us did little."


    Ao Canghai did want to im credit, but it was near-impossible to do so when word of what had happened had spread throughout the Sieve of Heaven so quickly. Xiao Nanfeng''s Stratagems Against Yin had been widely disseminated and publicized. He would only appear to be a fool if he tried to seize the credit from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re far too modest, Eastern Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately. "If the Martial Aspects hadn''t done their best to protect Yongding and hold off the strongest cultivators from Dayin, the Venerable Buddha and I could hardly have seeded in our n. Everyone was jointly responsible for our sess."


    The Martial Aspects rxed upon seeing that Xiao Nanfeng was willing to credit them for what they had done.


    Although he didn''t say anything, Ao Canghai frowned. Regardless of what Xiao Nanfeng said, he wouldn''t be getting an outsized portion of the credit. As the Eastern Aspect, he was expected to take on a leadership role, and he had clearly failed in his duties here.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "You are all to be rewarded for Yin Shenhua''s death. As for the rewards, those will be distributed during the next session of court."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Furthermore, do you all remember that monster of ck smoke that appeared outside the Pce of the Moon?" Yu Fuli continued.


    The Martial Aspects turned serious. They all nodded. How could they have forgotten? They all participated in that fight, and some of them had even been injured as a result. It had taken two Cardinal Aspects working together to suppress the monster, and had even escaped in the end in the form of a huge ck hand. If not for Yu Fuli''s blow, the hand would have escaped out of the Southern Heavenly Gate.


    "Of course, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Official Zhang Feifan used the heart sword you bequeathed him to bring a cursed effigy to a stalemate, forcing the monster of ck smoke to strike. It was then that you managed to hook him."


    He didn''t mention that the cursed effigy was Yin Shenhua. Everyone who was aware of the fact already knew, and those who didn''t, didn''t need to know.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Indeed. I''ve been searching for it all this time, and it has finally shown itself."


    "Your Majesty, what was that monster?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    Yu Fuli didn''t respond. He turned to Ao Canghai. "Ao Canghai, you recognized that monster, didn''t you?"


    Everyone turned toward Ao Canghai, suddenly recalling how he had initially refused to strike.


    Ao Canghai frowned and was silent for a long moment before he finally smiled grimly. "I do, Your Majesty."


    "Exin," Yu Fuli said.


    Ao Canghai paused before he replied, "I''m unaware of the monster''s identity, but I know its aura. As you are aware, Your Majesty, I used to be the Dragon King of the Southern Sea, and I controlled the Southern Sea Draconic Pce. One day, however, the pce was taken over by a monster. I escaped with arge group of sea spirits and ultimately found my way to the Imperial Court, whereupon you were generous enough to take me as a Martial Aspect. The aura that that monster radiated was identical to that given off by the monster of ck smoke."


    The Martial Aspects all gasped in surprise. No wonder Ao Canghai hadn''t made a move back then. Ao Canghai''s confidantes were particrly shocked by the secret that hade to light.


    "Your Majesty, the aura that monster gave off felt weaker than when it upied my former pce. I suspect what you killed wasn''t its main body," Ao Canghai continued.


    The Martial Aspects nched. If that monster''s avatar alone had been so strong, how much stronger would its main body be?


    Yu Fuli nodded. "That monster has been in hiding all this time. However, now that it''s finally revealed itself, it''ll be easier to investigate and analyze. The fact that it once upied the Southern Sea Draconic Pce means that it must have left significant traces of itself behind."


    "Yes, Your Majesty. It continues to upy the Southern Sea Draconic Pce even now," Ao Canghai replied.


    "Since it''s a being of the Southern Sea, I shall have the Southern Aspect lead the investigation. However, owing to the fact that you were once the Dragon King of the Southern Sea, I''m certain you''re more familiar with the terrain. Have a talk with the Southern Aspect and tell him all you know about the monster," Yu Fuli said.


    "Understood!" Ao Canghai exhaled in relief as he nodded.


    He was particrly fearful of the monster; he was worried he would have been tasked with the investigation.


    "All of you may leave. Xiao Nanfeng, remain behind," Yu Fuli continued.


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    Zhang Lingjun didn''t want to leave Xiao Nanfeng behind, but she too replied in the affirmative.


    Everyone save Xiao Nanfeng left the study.


    Yu Fuli smiled. "You''ve done very well by taking down Yin Shenhua."


    "Would that the Venerable Buddha were still alive," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a sigh.


    "The Venerable Buddha''s demise is a loss for us all, but it didn''t regret its decision to the end. It''s worthy of our respect," Yu Fuli said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "What''s more, the Venerable Buddha saved you from cmity. You would have been in incredible danger otherwise," Yu Fuli continued.


    "I know that the Venerable Buddha sacrificed its life to block heavenly sight, but it values me far too much. Surely the heavens wouldn''t target a mere True Immortal like me?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly.


    "I don''t know why the Venerable Buddha made such a decision either, but it must have been privy to knowledge unknown to me. Not only that, it helped you avoid the attention of many of the heavens'' underlings as well."


    "Oh?"


    "To ordinary cultivators, you yed an important, instrumental role in destroying Dayin, but to the heavens'' underlings, your only achievement was in the Stratagems Against Yin. You share some credit for taking down Yin Shenhua, but the Venerable Buddha was ultimately responsible for taking him down."


    "Your Majesty, you mean that the heavens'' other underlings might target me if I had the ability to threaten them?" Xiao Nanfeng rified.


    "Indeed. That''s why I praise your decision to credit the Venerable Buddha for taking down Yin Shenhua.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned serious. "Your Majesty, how many such underlings do the heavens possess in the world?"


    "Are you worried?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Those who are ignorant fear nothing. I know too little of the machinations of the heavens," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling wryly.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Very wise."


    "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli thought for a moment. "I don''t know the identities of all the heavens'' underlings myself, but I believe that monster of ck smoke is one such."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "It operates under the heavens''mand, and Yin Shenhua only managed to contact the heavens with it serving as an intermediary."


    "In other words, the monster is the true underling of the heavens, and Yin Shenhua only an underling of an underling?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s urate," Yu Fuli replied, nodding. "That monster of ck smoke is deeply trusted by the heavens."


    "You must know what that monster''s true identity is, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng hedged.


    "A saint."


    "A saint?"


    "Saints are the most trusted underlings of the heavens, handpicked by the heavens themselves. Sages are granted power over naturalw and serve as wardens and custodians of the world in ce of the heavens. Shepherds, if you will. They can draw on heavenly strength as necessary."


    "Why haven''t I heard of the like before, Your Majesty?"


    "Because the heavens only instated such a position ten thousand years prior."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "They''ve been growing over the past ten thousand years¡ªbut by the time they matured, I had already seeded in crafting an Imperial Court."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. The implications¡ª"Your Majesty, you mean that your strength alone suffices to prevent these saints from revealing themselves?"


    "Not quite to that extent. They''ve shown themselves several times before, but they don''t tend to fare very well against me¡ªjust like this time, for instance."


    Xiao Nanfeng felt as though he had to revise his own estimates of Yu Fuli''s strength.


    "How many saints exist?"


    "I''m not certain. Only a handful, I suspect. After all, the naturalw of the heavens is unlike that which we can master as cultivators, and only eachw can only be bestowed on a single cultivator. The heavens won''t disseminate them widely, or they might easily lose control."


    "Did Yin Shenhua attempt his premature rebellion on this saint''s orders?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Quite so. You were lucky to have gained the Venerable Buddha''s assistance. Otherwise, that sage might well have focused on you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly and bowed. "Thank you for the information, Your Majesty."


    "As long as you''re aware of the danger you face. I suspect you''lle face to face with this saint in no time at all. Be careful. Don''t make Lingjun a widow."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Was Yu Fuli already aware of what was going on between him and Zhang Lingjun? No wonder he had revealed so much information to him.


    "Your Majesty, might I ask why you think I''ll encounter a saint? And under what circumstances will I do so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu Fuli smiled gently and shook his head, revealing to provide more information.


    Xiao Nanfeng lowered his head. Was Yu Fuli using him as a pawn?


    "Go on. Treat Lingjun well, or you''ll face my wrath."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Still confused, Xiao Nanfeng bowed and retreated from the study.

 Chapter 641: The Heaven Division Leader, Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 641: The Heaven Division Leader, Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    Dayster, in his imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng asked Zheng Qian, "Mr. Zheng, how are the Immortal cities doing?"


    "The forty Immortal cities'' governance is now separate from their standing armies. The predominant ns in those cities might be somewhat difited, but it hasn''t been a problem thus far. They''re responsible for maintaining standing armies and defending the cities, while we deal with administration and popr rights. When we rece the various Immortal cities''ws with Dazheng''s own, there are sure to be conflicts of interest with prominent ns in those cities, and it''ll take some time to smooth everything out," Zheng Qian replied.


    "We''ll go slowly, then. It''s good to have some conflicts. That way, the forces around us will drop their guard," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Ourws are focused on the people first and foremost. I''m sure they''ll see whose rule benefits them more." Zheng Qian smiled.


    "As you will, Mr. Zheng. Work to provide practical gains for themon people. If any choose to stand in stubborn resistance, the spectral guards will deal with them."


    "Understood!" Zheng Qian replied.


    "Mr. Wen, is there anything you''d like to add?" Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Wen Zhong.


    Wen Zhong smiled. "I am only skilled as a strategist in warfare, Your Majesty, not in administration. I''m sure Mr. Zheng can do a far better job than I can."


    "You humble yourself, Mr. Wen. There are sure to be plenty of conflicts that arise within each Immortal city as a result of the division between military and administrative strength. I ask for your support in resolving them." Zheng Qian smiled.


    Wen Zhong shook his head. "Mr. Zheng, your policies are clearly developed with the people in mind. They''re sure to gain popr support before long. As for the standing armies, if they are truly attuned to Dazheng''s policies, they shall quickly be molded into offshoots of Dazheng''s forces; otherwise, you''ll easily be able to get rid of them. What''s more, as His Majesty states, minor conflicts won''t hurt us."


    "You overpraise me, Mr. Wen," Zheng Qian said.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Now that we''ve taken down Dayin, it''s time to reward all involved. Mr. Zheng, please prepare the relevant documents for the next session of court."


    "Understood!" Zheng Qian responded.


    "Mr. Wen, you yed the most instrumental role in taking down Dayin, and I intend to name you the fourth Marquis of Dazheng. You shall be granted a share of Dazheng''s fortune on a regr basis."


    Wen Zhong turned to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    By that point, Wen Zhong had more or less chosen to ignore the fact that his pact with Xiao Nanfeng was only for a single decade. Dazheng was brimming with vitality and would only keep growing stronger and stronger. In addition, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng respected him and held him in high esteem.


    Who would object to being an advisor for such an empire? He had thought himself too skilled for such a station, but Xiao Nanfeng''s Stratagems Against Yin made it clear that Xiao Nanfeng''s abilities surpassed his own. Rather, Xiao Nanfeng was simply too busy to deal with the minutiae of such stratagems. He had been proud of taking down the empire of Dafeng, but Xiao Nanfeng''s scheme against Dayin was clearly superior inparison. At this point, he was fully loyal andmitted to Dazheng.


    "Mr. Zheng, please focus on securing the loyalty of the people of the forty Immortal cities. Mr. Wen, please be on guard against those external forces eyeing those cities. I will help both of you as far as I am able," Xiao Nanfeng concluded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the two officials replied.


    After handling what urgent matters remained in Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng left the city.


    The sect master had returned to Taiqing Ind, and a meeting was about tomence.


    Taiqing Ind had recently been sunk to ensure that it wouldn''t be attacked by Yin Shenhua''s subordinates during the war between Dazheng and Dayin. After the war had ended, Blue Lantern had raised the ind once more and moved it to a new location.


    When Xiao Nanfeng arrived on Taiqing Ind, he found that the density of spiritual aether in the air had increased considerablypared to that in its original location.


    Taiqing Ind looked as good as new, and plenty of new disciples had been recruited as well. When they saw Xiao Nanfeng fly toward the ind, they all bowed in excitement. "We greet Division Leader Xiao!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in acknowledgment, then headed for Taiqing Hall.


    A group of cultivators had already gathered them.


    In the lead was naturally the sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Lu Yan.


    Beside him stood the Ascended division leader Zhao Yuanjiao, the Mortal division leader Ye Dafu, and some important disciples of the Earth and Heaven division.


    "Sect Master, I had urgent business to deal with in my empire. I apologize for beingte," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Lu Yan gave Xiao Nanfeng a contemtive look. "You aren''tte. Everyone else simply arrived early."


    "I''m sure you must be aware of Senior Uncle''s demise by now, Sect Master."


    "The elders of the Heaven division just told me everything. Zhang Feifan''s death is truly a pity," Lu Yan replied, sighing.


    Chang Bing stepped forward and handed a storage bangle to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng proffered it to Lu Yan. "This is Senior Uncle''s storage bangle. His daughter, Zhang Lingjun, has already recovered all his private and personal belongings. What remains are the charms and rted paraphernalia for his position. Please have a look, Sect Master."


    Lu Yan didn''t im the bangle. Instead, he asked, "I''ve read through Zhang Feifan''s will and am aware of his request. What are your thoughts, Division Leader Xiao?"


    To be frank, he didn''t much want to adopt Zhang Feifan''s suggestion and make Xiao Nanfeng the new Heaven division leader.


    The four divisions of the Taiqing sect were each intended to have a distinct division leader in a system of mutual checks and bnces, with him, the sect master, presiding over them all.


    Now, however, Zhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng were clearly close allies, and Xiao Nanfeng had already been the Mortal and Earth division leaders. If he were to be the Heaven division leader too, all four divisions of the Taiqing sect would be on his side. If he were to have a falling out with Xiao Nanfeng, whom would the sect side with?


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "The Earth division focuses on forgecraft, and has since developed to the point that Chang Bing can independently lead it without any input from me. My presence is unnecessary. I hadn''t intended to work with the Heaven division, but I can hardly refuse Senior Uncle''s request as is. I''m willing to give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    By the side, several Heaven disciples jumped in. "We are willing to acknowledge Division Leader Xiao as the Heaven division leader. We have surveyed the Heaven division atrge after publicizing Division Leader Zhang''s will, and they are all in agreement."


    Lu Yan nodded. Xiao Nanfeng was willing, as were the Heaven disciples. What of the other division leaders?


    "I have no objections," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "I have no objections either," Ye Dafu added.


    Lu Yan could hardly object now. Xiao Nanfeng''s poprity was pervasive, and he could find no good rationale against his taking on the position.


    Lu Yan nced at Xiao Nanfeng. "Very well. Since you are willing to take on this position, I shall leave the Heaven division in your care. Xiao Nanfeng, you have advanced the Taiqing Immortal Sect greatly, and the sect atrge is grateful to you. Even so, remember that you remain a member of the sect, and keep your master''sst wishes close to heart. Do not betray the sect."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Lu Yan an odd look. His master, Ku Jiang, was hale and hearty¡ªbut this wasn''t a secret he could and would divulge.


    "Understood," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Henceforth, Xiao Nanfeng shall be the Heaven division leader, and Chang Bing the Earth division leader. Are there any objections?" Lu Yan asked.


    "None, Sect Master!" the cultivators chorused.


    "In that case, let us make preparations for the ceremony."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    What followed would be the same structured routine they had all undergone. There was a public announcement that Xiao Nanfeng would be the next Heaven division leader. No Heaven disciple objected; on the other hand, the Earth disciples were all upset to varying degrees. Even so, Chang Bing was a known and able recement, and they had no choice but to ept it.


    Once the ceremony was over, Lu Yan prepared to leave once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward. "Sect Master, might I ask where you''ve been all these years?"


    The Taiqing Immortal Sect had suffered multiple life-and-death crises over the past few years, and Lu Yan had been nowhere to be seen until matters had concluded. What could be so pressing as to be worth the sect''s future?


    "I have urgent sect matters to handle."


    "Are you handling traitors, Sect Master?"


    Lu Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Indeed. Two centuries ago, the Taiqing Immortal Sect had the opportunity to advance into a holynd before a traitor almost doomed us all. It''s a pity that that traitor is so strong that I haven''t been able to do much of note at all."


    "Just so, Sect Master. Would you be willing to reveal some details about the traitor to us so that we might helpe up with ns?" Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "Don''t worry about it for the moment. Focus on restoring the sect to its former glory. I will, of course, request your help as and when it is necessary."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Farewell, everyone," Lu Yan called out.


    "Farewell, Sect Master!" The four division leaders bowed.


    Lu Yan flew off toward the horizon and vanished from sight.


    After Lu Yan left, Zhao Yuanjiao asked Xiao Nanfeng for a private meeting.


    "Nanfeng, are you upset with the sect master?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked curiously.


    "Do you think what he''s saying is the truth?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    Zhao Yuanjiao thought about the situation for a moment. "Master''s trying to deal with that traitor now. He told us that he didn''t know what the sect master was doing, and neither had he seen the sect master. There are only two possibilities: the sect master really is dealing with the traitor with a near-imprable disguise, or he''s lying."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I can''t quite get a sense of the sect master''s motives. He doesn''t seem to care much about the sect. He never checked up on us during the multiple crises we faced, but is more than willing to return when requested. It''s strange, isn''t it?"


    "What are you thinking about?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Dazheng will be in a period of peace for the moment. Since we''re both rtively free now, why don''t we think of a way to help Master?"


    "You want to take revenge on that traitor?"


    "Not revenge, not quite yet. We know that traitor is an Immortal Emperor and won''t be easy to deal with. I simply want to make preparations in advance and help relieve Master''s load. I was hoping the sect master would provide us with some information, but he doesn''t seem to want to tell us anything. It''s a pity."


    "I''ll contact Master and ask about the situation."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well."

 Chapter 642: The Heaven Divisions Gate

    <h4>Chapter 642: The Heaven Division''s Gate</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Xiao Nanfeng''s manor, The Earth-division disciples stared at Xiao Nanfeng as though they were unwilling to see him go. One groused, "Division Leader, how could you be the Heaven division leader? What about the rest of us?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I might not be the Earth division leader any longer, but I''m happy to help if there''s anything you need. What''s more, Chang Bing was always the one responsible for your affairs. It''s only natural that he would be the division leader instead."


    "No matter what, you''ll always be our division leader! Senior Brother Chang Bing can only be considered the vice-division leader at most," one Earth disciple eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng patted him on the shoulder. "All this is for the good of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I might be the Heaven division leader now, but that doesn''t mean I won''t care about the Earth division. Dazheng has cleaned out countless spiritbeastirs, and I''ll need your help dealing with the spoils. I shall bequeath the Yin-Yang Cauldron to the Earth division as well. I ask for your continued support."


    "Of course!" the Earth disciples chorused.


    "In that case, I''ll leave the rest to you. Chang Bing is waiting for you all at Yongding. Meet up with him. I''ve arranged for guards as well."


    "Understood!" the Earth division disciples replied.


    During their time with Xiao Nanfeng, the Earth disciples had quickly acknowledged his strength and wisdom. Their cultivation had risen sharply. If not for the fact that Xiao Nanfeng himself had chosen to take on the mantle of the Heaven division leader, they would have epted no one else in his position, not even Chang Bing.


    The Earth disciples scowled at the Heaven disciples, who were waiting close by, until Croak, Warble, and other Dazheng cultivators arrived to escort them away.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng turned to face the Heaven disciples arrayed before him.


    "We greet the division leader," the Heaven disciples chorused, bowing.


    Although Zhang Feifan had been beloved, they were excited for Xiao Nanfeng to serve as their new division leader. In Xiao Nanfeng''s hands, the Mortal division had risen sharply in strength. In addition to the twelve golden cultivators of Ye Dafu''s crew, there were more Immortals in the Mortal division than any other division to date.


    The Earth division ranked second; in what little time had passed since Xiao Nanfeng took over the leadership of the Earth division, it had regained its former glory in forgecraft. The disciples of the other three divisions had been very envious.


    Now that Xiao Nanfeng had taken over the Heaven division, perhaps it too could reim its former glory.


    "The Heaven division has long been considered first and foremost among the Taiqing divisions. What secrets does it possess?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He recalled that, when he first took over the Earth division, he had made a fool of himself by not knowing about the incredible forgecraft legacy the Earth division possessed.


    Now that he was taking over the Heaven division, he certainly had to ensure that the same situation didn''t happen again.


    "Allow me to exin, division leader. I''ve been with Master perhaps the longest out of all of us here." A cultivator in white stepped forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew of him: he was one of Zhang Feifan''s prized disciples, Su Qing.


    "Please go ahead, Junior Brother Su Qing."


    "Those disciples intending to be part of the Heaven division are subject to a particrly demanding selection process. Not only must they have incredible potential and aptitude for cultivation, they must have perfect pitch."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    Many Heaven disciples cocked their heads curiously. They hadn''t known of this fact themselves.


    "This is because a secret technique passed down within the Heaven division requires perfect pitch to cultivate. Unfortunately, no one has had any sess with it for thest thousand years." Su Qing smiled wryly.


    "What sort of technique?"


    "The Taiqing Grandmaster once manifested an article of naturalw, which lies hidden deep within the red moon illusory realm. Learning this technique allows you to control the naturalw of the red moon illusory realm via perfect pitch."


    "Naturalw!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Because no cultivator has been able to sessfully cultivate that technique for the past millennium, it has remained a secret of our division. Even so, all of us senior members of the Heaven division have never dared to forget it. The crux to the secret lies in the Heaven division token."


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the token of the Heaven division leader from Zhang Feifan''s storage bangle.


    The token was inscribed with arge number of arcane runes, and looked significantly different from the Earth and Mortal division tokens.


    "These runes are the source of the technique, and can only be activated via special means," Su Qing exined.


    "You do it," Xiao Nanfeng said, offering him the Heaven division token.


    Su Qing hesitated. "You had better do it, Division Leader. After all, only division leaders have the right to use these tokens."


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "It''s hardly as if you''re an outsider! Should I be worried that you''re going to covet my position?"


    The other disciples began to chuckle.


    Su Qing blushed, bowed, and epted the token.


    He formed a few seals with his hand and motioned them into the Heaven division token, which began to vibrate and emit red light. Arge red screen of light appeared before the gathered cultivators, filled with vibrating runes.


    "This is...?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This is the Heaven Division''s Gate. Opening this gate and attuning to the article of naturalw within allows for control of the red moon illusory realm."


    "Open it, then."


    Su Qing smiled wryly. "Master had me try in the past, but I''ve never been able to seed. I know the secret technique, but no one in the past millennium has been able to use it properly."


    "Where is it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Su Qing handed over a jade tablet. "It''s recorded here. Spiritual power is needed to open the gate."


    Xiao Nanfeng scanned the jade tablet and realized theplexity of this secret technique. It contained abstruse elements of naturalw that even he hadn''t encountered to date.


    "Has no one been able to open the gate in a millennium?" Xiao Nanfeng asked for confirmation.


    "Quite a number of us core disciples have tried it, but we can''t do it. The four division leaders of the past generation all failed, and even the sect master himself," Su Qing reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment. "All of you will try it."


    "Division Leader, this is the most crucial secret technique of the Heaven division. We''ve never passed it down to ordinary disciples before," Su Qing warned.


    "To me, everyone here is a core disciple of the Heaven division. Don''t worry. Everyone can give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    All the Heaven disciples couldn''t help but be grateful to Xiao Nanfeng for this opportunity. They stepped forward to peruse the technique.


    "The Heaven division needs to rise rapidly. Who knows which of you might have the talent to seed? Anyone who isn''t an outsider can give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He had already checked the background of all the disciples gathered here several times, and was certain that they were all loyal to the sect. Otherwise, he would hardly have been so generous.


    "Allow me," a volunteer stated.


    She sat cross-legged in meditation and manifested a translucent red palm in ordance with the technique she had just learned. She pped it against the Heaven Division''s Gate.


    The palm passed right through the gate as if it weren''t present at all.


    "Does this gate truly exist in reality? I can''t touch it at all!" the cultivator eximed.


    "Senior Sister, let me have a try!" another cultivator said.


    The cultivators all tried to interact with the door via the secret technique, but none of them had had any sess.


    "Senior Brother Su, is this technique legitimate?" the cultivators asked.


    "I''m certain it is. Despite having cultivated the Taiqing Yin Body, Master was unable to interact with the door himself. I don''t know where the problem lies," Su Qing replied, sighing.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed into his yin body as he strode up to the gate.


    Everyone quieted down and watched on with anticipation.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the gate, made a set of specific seals with his hands following the technique, and then rapped on the door with a spiritual palm.


    The Heaven Division''s Gate vibrated.


    "Division Leader Xiao¡ªseeded?" someone eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual power spread throughout the gate, which filled with silver light. A small slit appeared as the gate parted from the middle.


    "That easily? How could it be?!" Su Qing eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s seals were exactly the same as their own. They had all given it a try, but none of them had managed to seed. How could Xiao Nanfeng have done so?


    "Division Leader, you''re incredible!"


    "The Heaven Division''s Gate is open! Could it have attuned to you, Division Leader?"


    The Heaven disciples were all in an uproar.


    Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, was frowning. How had he seeded? The gate certainly hadn''t attuned to him, or anything of the sort.


    He suddenly nced toward his hands.


    "Could it be the source of my spiritual power?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered to himself. "I cultivate the Body of Yin, not the Shangqing, Taiqing, or Yuqing variants of spiritual cultivation. Could that be the key? That I can open this gate¡ªthe Taiqing Grandmaster isn''t trying to trick me into a trap, is he?"


    The disciples all cheered, but Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t certain if he ought to interact with the gate at all.


    Some snatches of chanting could be heard from beyond the gate.


    The Heaven disciples all blinked and shook their heads, all having been caught off-guard.


    "Loss chants!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Death chants from his avatar''s blue moon quickly permeated his main body''s mindscape, waking him up.


    However, the gathered disciples had all been struck by the effect.


    "Who am I? What am I doing here?"


    "I seem to have forgotten something..."


    "I don''t remember anything!"


    The cultivators all looked around groggily.


    Xiao Nanfeng shut the gates with a series of seals, following the secret technique he had just learned.


    As the gate shut, the loss chants vanished.


    The disciples finally managed to grasp a modicum of their memories as the remainder flooded back.


    Quickly, they all recalled what had happened.


    "This is incredible. These chants can make our enemies forget everything they know!"


    "Can we really possess such power?"


    "No wonder the Heaven division was first and foremost among the Taiqing divisions in the past. If we can use these chants well, we''d be invincible!"


    "Incredible," Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself. "I already control the death chants. With the loss chants as well..."

 Chapter 643: The Heavenly Emperors Reward

    <h4>Chapter 643: The Heavenly Emperor''s Reward</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng picked up the Heaven division token and activated it once more following what Su Qing had done. The Heaven Division''s Gate manifested in the air.


    "Su Qing, be careful," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Su Qing nodded.


    "Everyone else, step back."


    The disciples retreated and sealed off their hearing. They protected themselves with relics.


    Xiao Nanfeng rapped on the Heaven Division''s Gate, causing a slit to open. Loss chants filtered out.


    "Enter!" Xiao Nanfeng beckoned.


    Su Qing gritted his teeth, formed seals rapidly with his hands, and rushed through the gate. A length of rope was tied around his body; Xiao Nanfeng held its end.


    The loss chants suddenly seemed to grow weaker.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited for some time until he felt a tug on the rope, one so strong it almost felt as if he too would be pulled within. He frowned and began to haul on the rope, dragging Su Qing out.


    With a wave of his hand, the Heaven Division''s Gate vanished.


    Everyone surrounded Su Qing, trying to see what had happened to him. Su Qing was seated cross-legged in meditation, red light shing by his forehead. He seemed to be cultivating.


    Everyone waited patiently until Su Qing opened his eyes.


    "Su Qing, what did you see?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The moment I passed through the gate, I saw countless beams of red light, with runes floating in them. The runes burrowed into my mindscape, causing me to forget everything. Then, when a red-furred lifeform suddenly grabbed ahold of me and tried to pull me deeper into the space, the division leader hauled me out."


    The disciples nced at each other in surprise, as did Xiao Nanfeng. Whaty within the gate certainly didn''t seem to be safe.


    "ording to the Heaven division''s records, plenty of senior disciples in the Heaven division used to go missing after passing through the gate. That''s why a sentry was designated to pull out any disciples within," Su Qing continued.


    "How do you feel?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can sense a red bell deeply embedded within my soul," Su Qing said.


    "Try to activate it," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Su Qing gently did so.


    The bell resounded. Suddenly, loss chants began to emanate from him. The sound of chanting overwhelmed everyone.


    "Again?" the disciples cried out.


    Except for Xiao Nanfeng, everyone else was caught by the technique. They stumbled around in a daze, as though having forgotten all that was on their mind.


    Then, as Su Qing stopped, the disciples btedly came to their senses, their memories flooding back. They stared at Su Qing in shock.


    "These really are loss chants! But they''re far weaker than the chants that emanate from within the gate," a disciple murmured.


    "You''ll need spiritual power to activate the bell. The stronger the spiritual power, the more potent the loss chants. This is as strong as I can make mine," Su Qing said.


    "What''s the consumption like?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Su Qing nodded and smiled wryly. "Very high, but it''s worth it. If you can catch enemies off guard, these loss chants can turn the tide of a fight or battle."


    "Very good. Who''s next?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Division Leader, can we all participate? In the past, only the most senior of core disciples were eligible to learn the associated techniques," a Heaven disciple asked timidly.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the gathered disciples. "I''ve checked the background of all the disciples gathered here today. You''ve all been exceptionally loyal to the Taiqing Immortal Sect, so I consider all of you core disciples. I hope you won''t betray my trust."


    The Heaven disciples nodded fervently. The fact that Xiao Nanfeng had acknowledged them made them particrly touched.


    "Thank you, Division Leader!" they all said.


    "That said, I do want you to keep something in mind. These loss chants aren''t necessarily a valuable treasure, and might even result in bacsh in the future. Consider your options carefully. Think it through for a day. Tomorrow, those who are willing to establish a link with these chants will wait here for me. If you''re unwilling to do so, that''s fine," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Yes, Division Leader!" everyone chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself didn''t intend to establish a link with these loss chants. Given Su Qing''s experience, it was clear that passing through the Heaven Division''s Gate would case many runes to be forged on one''s soul, which would gather to form a red bell.


    This seemed like a valuable asset, but the praying mat had given Xiao Nanfeng a terrible impression. He didn''t want to brand his soul with a bell while blinded by greed and end up as part of the Taiqing Grandmaster''s scheme. In addition, he already controlled the death chants, which were no weaker than the loss chants.


    The loss chants did have an incredible effect, but Xiao Nanfeng would be fine without them.


    Furthermore, he was in possession of the Heaven division token, and he could always open up the Heaven Division''s Gate to release these loss chants when in need.


    Over the next day, he had several willing subordinates attempt to pass through the Heaven Division''s Gate, but they were unable to do so. He confirmed that only those whose spiritual cultivation employed a Taiqing technique and who possessed perfect pitch were able to form a link with whaty behind the gate.


    A dayter, all the Heaven disciples had made up their mind to establish a link with the loss chants, and Xiao Nanfeng granted their wish. After several days, all the Heaven disciples present were able to cast their loss chants at will. The incredible boon left them all ted.


    "Remember this: if it''s not a life-and-death situation, if it''s not a crisis, don''t use these loss chants at will. If I discover that you''ve been using them carelessly, you''ll be punished," Xiao Nanfeng stated coldly.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Don''t worry, Division Leader," Su Qing said. "We''re all bound by the customs of the Heaven division. Those who use these loss chants maliciously will have their cultivation stripped at the very least¡ªand even potentially put to death."


    "Good. As you know, the power of these loss chants depends on your cultivation. Work hard to advance yourselves."


    "Understood!" the disciples chorused. Su Qing continued, "Division Leader, these loss chants can help advance our spiritual cultivation as well. The chanting serves to forge and refine our soul, and I feel that my spiritual power has already improved by leaps and bounds in just a few days.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Wonderful."


    The loss chants could indeed help the disciples with spiritual cultivation, butrgely because their spiritual cultivation was weak. They werepletely ineffective to someone like Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng left the Heaven disciples to cultivate as he headed off to handle other affairs.


    Dayster, another session of court took ce in the Heavenly Pce. Countless officials were gathered in the Sieve of Heaven.


    The agenda was filled with major matters reported by all manner of officials; rewards for the destruction of Dayin were also distributed then.


    Princess Lingjun and the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant had killed Yin Shenhua and taken down the divine empire of Dayin. They were rewarded with a lump sum of fortune equal to that which Dayin had had at its peak, to be distributed among the Martial Aspects and princess, and awarded a few Immortal pills and relics.


    Though such rewards were precious, Yin Shenhua''s storage bangle trumped much of what the Heavenly Emperor offered. He was pleased with the distribution of fortune, but there wasn''t much for him when divided neen ways.


    After the court session ended, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun headed to the Pce of the Moon.


    "The Heavenly Emperor really is petty! You basically took down the whole of Dayin yourself, but your rewards were the same as everyone else''s! This isn''t fair," Zhang Lingjunined.


    She was so loyal to Xiao Nanfeng that she would even grumble about her own grandfather.


    Xiao Nanfeng patted Zhang Lingjun. "Don''t be upset. The Heavenly Emperor''s trying to protect me."


    "To protect you?" Zhang Lingjun was taken aback.


    "He wants to minimize my role in killing Yin Shenhua, lest the heavens'' underlings take revenge on me."


    "Really?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, recounting what he had learned about saints during his previous conversation with Yu Fuli.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded slowly in understanding.


    "But even if he can''t reward you in public, surely he can do so in private!" Zhang Lingjun continued. "Isn''t he petty?"


    "Hardly. He''s already given me the best treasure in the world, after all."


    "What? Where?" Zhang Lingjun''s eyes brightened.


    "You, of course." Xiao Nanfeng lifted Zhang Lingjun up in a hug.


    Zhang Lingjun flushed. "The Heavenly Emperor knows about us?"


    "He does. He doesn''t object to our being together." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Thank goodness." Zhang Lingjun sighed in relief as well.


    "Lingjun, I''ve been busy thesest few days. Now that I''m free, we ought to cultivate." Xiao Nanfeng brought Zhang Lingjun into her bedroom.


    "Who wants to cultivate with you?" Zhang Lingjun snorted, but her face flushed red.


    She retrieved the praying mat and tossed it toward the pavilion outside her bedroom.


    Then, the door to her bedroom mmed shut. Light poured out from it, forming countless formations that sealed her bedroom off.


    The praying mat was flung against the pavilion''s stone table in a plume of dust.


    The praying mat: ...


    In Ao Canghai''s manor, the gathered Martial Aspects looked toward Ao Canghai. One asked curiously, "Eastern Aspect, why wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng rewarded more heavily for his role in the destruction of Dayin? I was sure I had misheard during the court session!"


    Ao Canghai pursed his lips. "That''s the reward, you see. The Heavenly Emperor is protecting Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Oh?"


    "It''s not a good thing for us that the Heavenly Emperor seems to be recognizing Xiao Nanfeng''s strength."


    "So what if he thinks highly of Xiao Nanfeng? All the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant have to listen to you, Eastern Aspect!"


    Ao Canghai frowned. "We''ve suffered considerable losses."


    The Martial Aspects sighed. Five had perished, all close confidantes of Ao Canghai.


    "Eastern Aspect, what should we do about the reward bequeathed to Violetfrost and the others?" one Martial Aspect asked.


    "Those will go to their families. None of you are to touch that treasure," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects chorused.


    They did want more treasure for themselves, but none would dare covet that which had been put aside. After all, if they were to perish one day, they wanted a sum of treasure to be given to their families, too.


    "Xiao Nanfeng will surely contest us for those five Martial Aspect positions. We''ll have to be careful," Ao Canghai warned.


    The Martial Aspects nodded seriously. One of them said, "Don''t worry, Eastern Aspect. What happenedst time was an ident, and Ao Zhou simply got lucky. It won''t happen again."


    "Good." Ao Canghai nodded as well.

 Chapter 644: The Demon Child

    <h4>Chapter 644: The Demon Child</h4>


    Dayster, in the Pce of the Moon, while Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun were resting, a Heaven disciple called out, "Division Leader, someone''s making a fuss at your manor!"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He shot Zhang Lingjun a look.


    "How strange. Who would do that?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Who would dare?" Zhang Lingjun added, curious.


    "It''s a pity. I was going to help you break through to the Golden Immortal realm, but I suppose that''ll have to wait," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhang Lingjun bit her lip as she made herself presentable and walked out.


    She picked up the praying mat in the pavilion, then walked toward the Heaven disciple with Xiao Nanfeng beside her.


    "Let''s head there as we talk. What''s the situation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We''ve all been working hard on our spiritual cultivation thesest few days, and Ao Zhou has been supervising us. Today, however, a little child, perhaps seven or eight years old, appeared by the manor out of nowhere. He was particrly arrogant and demanded to meet with the division leader. We said that the division leader wasn''t around, so he insisted that we find you. Ao Zhou was annoyed enough to start criticizing the boy, and they''ve been fighting since."


    "A seven- or eight-year-old child, fighting against Ao Zhou? Ao Zhou''s ate-stage True Immortal!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That boy''s really strong, and he has some incredible relics. He took the lead from the start."


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun gaped at each other. How could this be? Ao Zhou, with his ancestral dragon''s inheritance, losing to a young boy?


    "Could it be some True Immortal who fixed his appearance as that of a child? Surely not¡ªwhat True Immortal would do something like that?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.


    "It really is strange. Who would dare challenge a Martial Aspect in the Sieve of Heaven. He must have some important backer," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Let''s hurry!" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    The trio of cultivators flew out of the Pce of the Moon. From afar, they saw the fighting that was urring outside Martial Aspect Xiao''s manor.


    They weren''t the only cultivators heading there. Other onlookers had gathered to watch themotion.


    A ck dragon roared in the air, a fearsome aura emanating from its body. Somehow, the dragon''s body had been bound by a red sash, rendering him immobile and struggling to move.


    Atop the dragon''s back was a small child dressed in red, surrounded by mes, smiling in excitement. He held a golden hoop with one hand and the dragon''s body with the other, then smashed down with the golden hoop.


    Booms resounded from the impact between hoop and dragon.


    "Die, you little bastard!" Ao Zhou roared.


    ck rays of light shot out from Ao Zhou''s body, causing the red sash to shake violently. Even so, Ao Zhou wasn''t able to free himself from the relic and the boy.


    The boy continued to hold onto Ao Zhou''s scales as he smashed the hoop down onto Ao Zhou''s body. "You''re nothing but a little loach! You dare challenge me? I''m here for Xiao Nanfeng¡ªit''s none of your business. You''ve made me mad, so I''m going to skin you, strip you of your tendons, and make a soup out of you!"


    "Scram!" Ao Zhou roared back. "Get rid of this red sash and I''ll swallow you up!"


    "You''d even lie to a child! I''ve already gotten you under my control. Why should I free you? Dream on!" the boy cried out.


    He smashed the golden hoop against Ao Zhou''s head, causing it to loll in dizziness.


    Ao Zhou roared in outrage, but the child was no easy opponent.


    Countless cultivators were watching the fight unfold. No one jumped in.


    "The Taiqing red sash and demon-subduing golden hoop! These are important treasures lost to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. How could this boy be in possession of them?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s the Taiqing red sash? Nanfeng, the Taiqing Grandmaster sent me a mental transmission. He hopes you''ll be able to reim the sash," Zhang Lingjun said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. What did the Taiqing Grandmaster mean? Was he to snatch the relic from the boy?


    Now that he was here, however, he naturally had to step in.


    "Ao Zhou, what''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The dragon and boy fighting in the distance quickly looked over.


    "Xiao Nanfeng,e help me! I thought he was a mere boy and nothing to be concerned about, but heunched a sneak attack on me and bound me with this red sash! I can''t use my ultimate techniques!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng winced. Ultimate techniques? The fact that Ao Zhou had been defeated by a mere boy didn''t seem to curb his bragging.


    The boy''s eyes lit up as he saw Xiao Nanfeng. "Ha! You must be Xiao Nanfeng, then. I''ve taken down this ck dragon. If you want to ransom him back, you''ll have to give me something in exchange."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the boy an odd look. Was he ying at being a bandit?


    "And who are you to cause such a ruckus in the Sieve of Heaven? Do you know that you''ve been dealing with a Martial Aspect?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I do, but it''s disappointing, isn''t it? Look at the sorry state of this so-called Martial Aspect. I thought they were supposed to be strong!" The boy seemed disdainful.


    "Insolence! How dare you criticize a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, flying over.


    "Good, good! I''d like to see just how strong you are, Martial Aspect Xiao. You''ve been the talk of the world!" the boy shouted in excitement. "Demon-subduing golden hoop, go!"


    The golden hoop radiated blinding golden light as it shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, moving so quickly and shining with such energy that it almost seemed like a miniature sun.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He struck with his divine undying de.


    "Break!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The divine undying de shed against the hoop in an explosion of fire and wind. The resulting shockwaves caused the spectators to gasp.


    Zhang Lingjun watched Xiao Nanfeng take on the boy.


    The demon-subduing golden hoop was sent crashing back.


    The boy eximed, "Well done!"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop there. He shot over to the boy and struck at him with his de.


    "I think not!" the boy shouted, defending with the golden hoop.


    The de and hoop shed against each other once more in another humongous explosion. Just then, Xiao Nanfeng curled his other hand into a fist.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Countless fists shot toward the small boy.


    "Please have mercy, Martial Aspect Xiao!" someone cried from afar.


    However, it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng had no intention to relent at that point.


    The fists struck the little boy, smashing him into the ground. He fell like a meteor; the earth shook as hended. The demon-subduing golden hoop rushed down to protect its master.


    Xiao Nanfeng tore at the Taiqing red sash around the ck dragon''s body, freeing him.


    The ck dragon roared in outrage. "Die, you bastard!"


    He swooped down toward the huge pit in the ground.


    A man in ck flew toward the little boy. Upon seeing the ck dragon approaching, he nched and called out, "Martial Aspect Xiao, Martial Aspect Ao Zhou, please calm down! It was all a misunderstanding!"


    "A misunderstanding?! After the beating he gave me, you expect me to drop things just because it''s ''a misunderstanding''? I think not. It''s my turn!" Ao Zhou shot forward, ring at the boy.


    The man in ck sighed in exasperation. He transformed into a ck dog spirit hundreds of meters tall, bracing for impact from the ck dragon into which Ao Zhou had transformed.


    The dog and dragon shed in mid-air, causing a fiery explosion all around them. Both cultivators were forced back, neither having gained the upper hand.


    "Martial Aspects, please calm down. I serve the Southern Aspect, Yang Chuan. I ask for this courtesy in his name," the ck dog spirit said anxiously.


    The ck dragon growled and was about to charge forward regardless until Xiao Nanfeng blocked his path. "Hold it, Ao Zhou."


    "Damn it, you weren''t the one he beat up! I''ve lost all my reputation. You want me to stop now?!" the ck dragon fumed.


    "Look at that boy again," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The boy''s cheeks were swollen after having been hit by Xiao Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist. He was bawling out loud, without any care for his reputation.


    "He''s crying? He''s some ancient spirit pretending to be a child, isn''t he? To think he would act things out to this degree..." the ck dragon murmured.


    "Let''s ask about the situation first. The demon-subduing golden hoop he holds is a lost relic of the Taiqing Immortal Sect," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck dragon sniffed in exasperation, but relented. He transformed back into human form.


    The ck dog spirit sighed in relief, transforming into a thin man as well.


    "I am ck Dog. Thank you for relenting, Martial Aspects," the thin man said.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and Ao Zhou nced at each other. This man''s name was particrly... apt.


    "You''re a subordinate of the Southern Aspect Yang Chuan? Where is he?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "On His Majesty''s orders, he''s investigating the situation in the Southern Sea. He isn''t in the Imperial Court at the moment," ck Dog replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He had been present when the Heavenly Emperor had assigned the Southern Aspect to check on the monster of ck fog.


    "What''s with this child?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This is a holy child of the Yuqing holynd known as the Demon Child. He''s a junior brother of the Southern Aspect, and is residing in the Sieve of Heaven temporarily. He''s unfamiliar with the rules of the Imperial Court, and I beg your forgiveness for the ruckus he created," ck Dog said.


    "The Demon Child, a holy child of the Yuqing holynd?" Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    He hadn''t known that the Southern Aspect hailed from the Yuqing holynd.


    He was intimately familiar with the Yuqing holynd. Yu''er''s father was a member of its upper echelons. Two centuries ago, when a cmity befell the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the sect was almost obliterated by a traitor, the Yuqing holynd had stepped in to save the sect. In other words, the sect owed the Yuqing holynd arge favor.


    "Very well. I''ll drop this matter on ount of Southern Aspect Yang and the Yuqing holynd," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    ck Dog rxed. "Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao."


    After all, for an outsider to offend a Martial Aspect was a serious crime, especially within the Sieve of Heaven. If the Martial Aspects in question chose to pursue the matter, the Demon Child would surely suffer.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you hit me! I''m going to tell my senior brother. He''ll take revenge for me and give you a spanking!" The Demon Child climbed out of the pit and continued to cry.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    ck Dog: ...

 Chapter 645: Eight Years Old

    <h4>Chapter 645: Eight Years Old</h4>


    Upon seeing the sniffling Demon Child before him, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but be stunned into silence. Was he going to continue making a fuss despite Xiao Nanfeng''s concession?


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, the Demon Child is only eight years old and remainsrgely immature. That''s why his behavior has been so unruly," ck Dog said.


    Beside Xiao Nanfeng, Ao Zhou eximed, "Eight? You must be joking. How can he only be eight given his cultivation?"


    "It''s true. If you don''t believe me, Martial Aspects, feel free to verify the im from the Yuqing holynd. The Demon Child''s mother was pregnant with him for three years before she finally gave birth. Celestial phenomena marked his birth, prompting the Yuqing holynd to adopt him as a holy child," ck Dog said.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou eyed each other. Was this boy only eight?


    "No wonder he refused to listen to reason. He''s truly an eight-year-old boy? That''s crazy. Even if he had started cultivating in the womb, there''s simply no way," Ao Zhou murmured, an odd look on his face.


    ck Dog smiled wryly. "The Demon Child has ever surpassedmon logic. Fortune wreathed his body the moment he was born, and his cultivation advances at a rate the rest of us can only dream of."


    "What sort of monster is he? Some reincarnated deity?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "I wouldn''t know, Martial Aspect Ao," ck Dog said.


    Ao Zhou frowned again.


    Xiao Nanfeng tittered. "So you really were beaten up by an eight-year-old boy, hmm?"


    Ao Zhou red, his face turning dark.


    "Return my sash to me! And you''d betterpensate me, or I''ll tell Senior Brother Yang on you and have him spank you!" the Demon Child shouted, clutching his demon-subduing golden hoop fiercely.


    "I''ve chosen to spare you considering your status as a Yuqing holy child, but you''re the one who should be paying. You barged into my manor and even beat up Ao Zhou. Why?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Beside them, ck Dog didn''t dare jump in. That Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t intending to kill or otherwise punish the Demon Child was already a blessing. Furthermore, it was true that the Demon Child had been too arrogant and domineering. He was only eight! An ordinary eight-year-old boy would be ying with mud, not beating up Martial Aspects! If no one taught him a lesson, what if he set his sights on the Heavenly Pce instead? At that point, even the Southern Aspect wouldn''t be able to protect him.


    "I wanted a trade, but your subordinates refused me! Then, this ck dragon mocked me. Of course I''d beat him up!" the Demon Child replied.


    "A trade for what?"


    "A nomination for a substitute Martial Aspect."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "Someone told me that you managed to get five of them from Ao Canghai. Why can''t I trade for one? But your subordinates kept saying no, and this ck dragonughed at me! I had to teach him a lesson."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "If you want a nomination, why don''t you just ask Southern Aspect Yang?"


    "Hmph!" The Demon Child scowled, unwilling to reply.


    ck Dog smiled wryly. "Martial Aspect Xiao, as you''re aware, five Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant have fallen, and new Martial Aspects will soon be nominated. I don''t know where the Demon Child learned of this information, but he''s gotten the idea that it would be cool to be a Martial Aspect stuck in his head. That''s why he wants to be a Martial Aspect. The Southern Aspect can indeed provide him with a nomination, but he doesn''t want to meddle with inter-quadrant politics, and he''s worried that the Demon Child will only grow morewless as a Martial Aspect. He strictly warned all of us not to help the Demon Child secure a nomination."


    Xiao Nanfeng, having seen the Demon Child''s behavior for himself, temporarily believed ck Dog''s story.


    He thought for a moment. "Few know that I have five nominations. How could word have spread to the Demon Child? Could someone have tried to send the Demon Child over to me to start a conflict, potentially leading to his death?"


    "Ah?" ck Dog was taken aback by the suggestion.


    The Demon Child fumed as well. "Xiao Nanfeng, as if you could kill me! I''m invincible among True Immortals! I wouldn''t have lost to you if you hadn''t dealt me a sneak attack!"


    Ao Zhou chuckled disdainfully. "You did the same to me! Do you want your face to be even more swollen?"


    "Die!" the Demon Child howled, clutching the demon-subduing golden hoop and charging forward.


    "Calm down!" ck Dog shouted, running forward and grabbing hold of the Demon Child.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. He had no interest in arguing with an eight-year-old boy.


    "I won''t provide you with a nomination. Southern Aspect Yang doesn''t want you to be a Martial Aspect, and I already have ns for the five nominations I do have."


    "Then return me the sash!"


    "I won''t. I''ve already relented by not killing you outright, and I don''t intend to coddle you. You''ve made a fuss at my manor, and you have to pay a price. I''ll take the Taiqing red sash aspensation."


    "Thief! I won''t let you steal my treasures!" the Demon Child roared, ready to charge over at him.


    ck Dog held tightly onto the Demon Child. "Don''t make a fuss. Martial Aspect Xiao is a seasoned killer. If you keep causing trouble, you really might end up dead."


    Xiao Nanfeng scowled. Him, a seasoned killer? ck Dog was tarnishing his reputation!


    "If you keep bothering me, I''ll take your demon-subduing golden hoop, too," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "You wouldn''t dare!" The Demon Child hurriedly hugged his hoop tightly.


    "ck Dog, release him. He can try me if he wants," Xiao Nanfengmanded coldly.


    The Demon Child stared at Xiao Nanfeng, who exuded killing intent, and thought back to the fists that had filled heaven and earth. He could feel his swollen face starting to hurt again.


    "Wah! Bully! My senior brother will beat you up!" The Demon Child suddenly began to bawl again as he rolled on the floor.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Everyone: ...


    Ao Zhou''s face twitched. "How could this boy have beaten me up?"


    "Thank you for your clemency, Martial Aspect Xiao. I''ll keep careful watch over him so he doesn''t bother you again," ck Dog said.


    Then, ck Dog scooped up the Demon Child and flew off. Along the way, even as the Demon Child continued to cry, he struck ck Dog with the golden hoop, causing ck Dog to wince in frustration. But he didn''t have a choice save to serve as the Demon Child''s nanny¡ªthe Demon Child was the prized holy child of the Yuqing holynd, and ck Dog would suffer if he didn''t take care of the Demon Child.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, ckie, just you wait! I''ll be back to get my revenge!" the Demon Child cried out as he was dragged off.


    "What a farce," Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng rxed and flew back to his manor with his subordinates in tow. There were countless cultivators watching the scene, and he didn''t want to be a spectator any longer.


    After entering his manor and activating its defensive formations to seal it from the outside world, the Heaven disciples gathered around him.


    "Well? Did the Demon Child notice anything?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Heaven disciples all shook their heads. Su Qing said, "The Demon Child''s appearance seemed fishy, so we all stopped practicing and allowed Martial Aspect Ao Zhou to challenge him."


    Ao Zhou asked, "Do you think this Demon Child''s trying to act like a kid to snoop around the Heaven division of the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m uncertain myself, but I think we can all agree that his sudden appearance here wasn''t a chance urrence. Only Ao Canghai and his confidantes know about my five nominations. How could the Demon Child have learned of it? We need to investigate."


    The gathered cultivators nodded.


    "The loss chants are our secret weapon, but you''ll all need to enhance your spiritual cultivation first before we reveal it in earnest," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Division Leader, we''ve been cultivating at a rapid clip recently. The loss chants are passively strengthening our soul, and we''ve all noticed marked gains in spiritual cultivation," Su Qing reported.


    "That''s good, but it isn''t enough. Keep working hard," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng pull out the Taiqing red sash he had taken from the Demon Child.


    Su Qing nced at it curiously. "The Taiqing red sash was a treasured relic of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Allegedly, it was lost during the cmity two hundred years ago. How could it have ended up in the Demon Child''s possession?"


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zhang Lingjun. "What can this Taiqing red sash do?"


    "ording to the Taiqing Grandmaster, he can dpose the Taiqing red sash into energy to advance my cultivation."


    "In that case, let''s give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The praying mat released a beam of red light that shot toward the Taiqing red sash. When struck by the strange beam, the red sash was obliterated and transformed into a cloud of red mist.


    The praying mat didn''t absorb any of it. Rather, it sent the energy into Zhang Lingjun''s body, causing her to be shrouded by the cloud of red fog.


    She hurriedly sat cross-legged in meditation as she tried to distill its essence. The red fog roiled; thunder seemed to rumble around her. It took two hours before she finally absorbed thest of the red fog, causing a wave of energy to emanate from her body. All the onlookers stumbled back as she radiated with golden light.


    "The Golden Immortal realm!" everyone eximed.


    At the same time, in another part of the Sieve of Heaven, ck Dog was tending to the Demon Child, who hadn''t stopped bawling. "Stop making a fuss, please! If Xiao Nanfeng kills you, what am I going to tell the Southern Aspect?"


    "I don''t care!" the Demon Child cried out. "I want my red sash!"


    "Well, you shouldn''t have provoked Xiao Nanfeng, then. Hold on. Once the Southern Aspect returns, I''m sure he''ll intercede with Xiao Nanfeng on your behalf. He''ll bring you back the red sash," ck Dog advised.


    The Demon Child was poised to continue crying when he suddenly frowned. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "My red sash''s been destroyed! Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you?!"


    ck Dog was taken by surprise. "How could it be? Master said that your red sash was imbued with all sorts of potent curses, that it would render you impervious to myriad techniques. It can''t be destroyed that easily!"


    "It''s true!" The Demon Child was in tears again. "My red sash, my treasure! Xiao Nanfeng''s a true viin, a demon! Bring Senior Brother back now. I want my revenge!"


    A vein throbbed on ck Dog''s temple. He ignored the Demon Child and turned to his subordinates. "Who told the Demon Child about Xiao Nanfeng? Investigate this matter immediately!"

 Chapter 646: Criticism Before Praise

    <h4>Chapter 646: Criticism Before Praise</h4>


    Within the Pce of the Moon, the praying maty forlorn in a pavilion, with cold wind blowing by. It had been abandoned once more.


    Beside the pavilion was Zhang Lingjun''s bedroom, sealed with countless formations.


    Within, Xiao Nanfeng had his arms draped around Zhang Lingjun. He crooned, "A Golden Immortal''s physique is truly incredible. You can even overwhelm me in bed now."


    Zhang Lingjun blushed and pounded on Xiao Nanfeng''s chest. "No more of this cultivation talk!"


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "Alright, alright, I''ll stop."


    "Should I really not learn these loss chants?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "Why would you?"


    "With the praying mat''s assistance, my loss chants might be even stronger than usual. What''s more, they can help boost my spiritual cultivation too. Isn''t it a good deal?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You''re already cultivating quickly enough. I don''t want you to take the risk."


    "Is it risky?"


    "I don''t know. I told the Heaven disciples about my worries. and they chose to attune to these loss chants themselves. As for you, I don''t want to experiment with you. Even the tiniest hint of danger is too much for me."


    "Very well," Zhang Lingjun said, her heart oozing with sweetness. "I''ll listen to you." Shey in Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace. Then, momentster, she asked, "Have you not broken through recently?"


    "I''ve advanced significantly, but I''m still far from my next breakthrough. We haven''t been cultivating together for long, so it''s only to be expected. Let''s not get hasty."


    "No one''s asking about that!" Zhang Lingjun blushed again. "Will it be troublesome for you to apany me daily?"


    "That''s my most important task at the moment. I haven''t forgotten about my other responsibilities, but they''rergely being handled by my avatar. The investigation within the Imperial Court is still in progress as well."


    Zhang Lingjun smiled fondly. "Has anythinge out of the investigation into the Demon Child?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Demon Child was taken advantage of."


    "By whom?"


    "We don''t know yet, but the motive likely has to do with the uing Martial Aspect selection."


    "Could one of Ao Canghai''s confidantes be responsible, then? Is he trying to sour the rtionship between you and the Demon Child so as to incite him to take revenge on your candidates during the selection?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "If only it were so straightforward."


    "Oh?"


    "The selection starts in two days. We can watch the uing spectacle together," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded firmly.


    Two dayster, in the Sieve of Heaven''s violet drill grounds, a forested area surrounded by arge-scale barrier of violet light, the vast majority of the Imperial Court''s Martial Aspects had gathered to witness the selection of five new Martial Aspects in the Eastern Quadrant.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun and Ao Zhou were at the scene alongside Ye Dafu and his crew of golden cultivators.


    "Wasn''t the n to have Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and the others participate? Why are none of them here?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "They aren''ting. We''ll have Ye Dafu and the others take the stage for now."


    "Why?"


    "Our nominees have to experience defeat before sess, and they''ll have to make a spectacle of it. Ye Dafu and his crew have better acting skills," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhang Lingjun cocked her head, not understanding the n fully.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Ye Dafu and the others. "Are you all ready?"


    ''Don''t worry, Your Majesty. We''re excellent at getting beaten up," Ye Dafu said.


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Your Majesty, is it that little brat radiating killing intent over there?" Ye Dafu asked, pointing in a certain direction.


    Everyone turned to see the Demon Child ring daggers at Xiao Nanfeng, as if he wanted to eat him alive.


    "That''s right. That''s the Demon Child," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Wonderful. We''ll head his way in a moment," Ye Dafu said in excitement.


    Just then, Ao Canghai strode up to the front of the za as everyone quieted down.


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "The other three Cardinal Aspects have rmended that I oversee this Martial Aspect selection. Five Martial Aspects have recently perished within the Eastern Quadrant, and their seats must be filled quickly. All who qualify as substitute Martial Aspects may participate in the selection process. Observe the Martial Aspect banners in my hand. In three days'' time, when the barrier sealing the violet drill grounds is opened up once again, whoever emerges with a banner will be one of the new Martial Aspects."


    Ao Canghai unfurled five banners and tossed them through the violet barrier. The nominees eyed them fervently.


    "Now, all those with nominations may enter the drill grounds," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!"


    The substitute Martial Aspects swarmed toward the barrier, where they were let in by dedicated officials.


    Meanwhile, Ao Canghai walked toward a hall in the vicinity, where he could sit and rest while observing everything urring within the grounds.


    "Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng''s five True Immortal subordinates have entered bearing nominations," a Martial Aspect whispered.


    Ao Canghai''s expression was dour. He had handed those five nominations to Xiao Nanfeng to help clear his son''s name for the crime he hadmitted. He had thought little of it at the time, believing that Xiao Nanfeng would perish in Dayin''s capital. However, Xiao Nanfeng had lived to return to the Imperial Court as a hero, whereas his son had died as a result of Xiao Nanfeng. His hatred was, at that moment, overwhelming.


    "And the arrangements?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "They''re all settled. Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates will die," the Martial Aspect replied.


    "Very good." Ao Canghai nodded.


    The violet barrier was extraordinary and behaved like a one-sided mirror. Those outside could see those inside, but not the other way around. A group of cultivators were waiting by the peak of a mountaintop within the barrier, scanning their surroundings and in search of something.


    "Watch them closely. Once Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates enter, finish them off in the name of eliminatingpetition for the banners. Avenge Young Master Ao for the Eastern Aspect," their leader said.


    "Understood!"


    "Shout out once you''ve found them," the cultivator in purple said.


    The cultivators continued to watch the iingpetitors until one of them suddenly called out, "I''ve found them! Ye Dafu''s group of five is all over there!"


    The cultivators'' eyes brightened. They were about to rush over when a shout could be heard in the distance.


    "There they are! Beat them up! Beat them to death!" a child''s voice called out.


    The Demon Child, demon-subduing golden hoop in hand, was rushing toward Ye Dafu and his group of golden cultivators. A group of fierce cultivators radiating malice followed behind him.


    "Die!" they roared.


    Ye Dafu and the others ''nched'' as they turned to run, but they were unable to outrun the Demon Child. They were quickly subject to a beating, one that sent clouds of dust rising into the air.


    "No, no more! It hurts!"


    "Spare me! Ouch!"


    "I want to go home! Stop beating me!"


    Ye Dafu and his crew began to howl and whine piteously, while the Demon Child watched on in excitement. He began to cackle. "Ha! Serves you right for being Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. I''m going to beat all of you to the point where your own mothers won''t recognize you, haha!"


    The Demon Child and his gang continued to beat up Ye Dafu and his crew. Meanwhile, Ao Canghai''s cultivators nced at each other in consternation. What was going on? Ye Dafu was already getting beaten up! Were they supposed to jump in, too?


    Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Zhang Lingjun frowned. "As you predicted, the Demon Child ended up securing a nomination as a substitute Martial Aspect. He''s even gathered up a group of people to beat up Ye Dafu and the others..."


    Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak, ck Dog suddenly appeared by their side.


    He grimaced in sympathy. "Please spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao. I came to provide an exnation. The Demon Child threw a horrible tantrum that whole day, making a fuss even after we wrote to the Southern Aspect about what had happened. The Southern Aspect had no choice but to have me write him a nomination."


    "Southern Aspect Yang intends for the Demon Child to take revenge on me, and even my subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "No, Martial Aspect. We investigated the situation and found that someone was deliberately trying to incite the Demon Child to cause trouble for you. I suspect Ao Canghai or his confidantes. I''ve exined the situation carefully to the Demon Child, and he was infuriated when he realized what was going on. He''s participating in this selection only in an attempt to find the mastermind and take his revenge."


    "Hm?"


    "Please rx, Martial Aspect Xiao. The Demon Child''s still a child, and I expect he''s still mad at you for beating him up. He promised me that he would only take revenge on Ao Canghai''s subordinates, not yours. He''s just having a tantrum at the moment," ck Dog said apologetically.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "You im that Ao Canghai was responsible. Is this what the Southern Aspect deduced?"


    "No, Martial Aspect. The Southern Aspect is still in the Southern Sea and doesn''t have time to figure out what''s going on. This investigation was carried out by me and several Southern Martial Aspects," ck Dog replied.


    "Oh? Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Please allow me to apologize about your subordinates again."


    "It doesn''t matter. As long as the Demon Child doesn''t kill them, they can chalk their beating up to a difference in skill. I won''t me you. I''m sure you have your own affairs to handle."


    "Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" ck Dog bowed again.


    He was still feeling guilty as he left, but while passing by the golden cultivators watching from the outside, he heard a few strange remarks.


    "Ah, I''m envious! Getting beaten up by the Demon Child must feel particrlyfortable."


    "I''d like to be pounded with that golden hoop, too..."


    "Me too! Why isn''t it my turn?"


    "Hear, hear!"


    The golden cultivators on the outside of the barrier were whispering to themselves.


    ck Dog paused, blinking. He frowned. Was he hearing things? Surely that couldn''t be...

 Chapter 647: Traitor in the South

    <h4>Chapter 647: Traitor in the South</h4>


    Within the violet drill grounds, Ye Dafu and his group of golden cultivators were crying out loud.


    "Stop hitting us! We''re going to die!"


    "It hurts! Help!"


    "I can''t take it anymore!"


    The Demon Child struck them with his demon-subduing golden hoop time and again, finally able to vent his emotions on Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates.


    "Holy Child, something''s wrong with these guys'' techniques. We can''t even seem to cut their skin!" one of his subordinates shouted.


    "Then you must not be using enough strength. Keep beating them! Focus on their faces!" the Demon Child shouted.


    The cultivators pummeled Ye Dafu and the others until their faces were all bruised and swollen. They gradually stopped shouting.


    "Holy Child, they''re not making any noise! Could they be dead?"


    "Alright, stop!" the Demon Child shouted.


    The cultivators halted immediately. The Demon Child stepped forward and inspected them. "They''re still alive, if barely. This is good enough. I promised ck Dog not to kill them, so I have to keep my word."


    "We''re really stopping here?" someone asked.


    "Didn''t you hear me?" The Demon Child red at that cultivator.


    "As you say, Holy Child!" the cultivator immediately replied.


    The Demon Child turned to his surroundings.


    The fighting all around hadrgely ended. None of the other Cardinal Aspects had meddled with the selection for the new Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant, and all five banners had been imed by Ao Canghai''s subordinates. They nced at the Demon Child curiously, not having figured out why he was beating up Ye Dafu and his group.


    "Are Ye Dafu and the others dead?"


    "Something''s wrong. Why''s the Demon Child staring at us?"


    "It must be a coincidence."


    "No, look! He''sing our way!"


    The cultivators were all astounded.


    "Beat them up! Beat them to death!" the Demon Child roared.


    The cultivators stilled. Their leader shouted, "Demon Child, could you be mistaken? We don''t have any association with you at all!"


    "You''re all my targets! How dare you use me? You''re all dead!" the Demon Child roared, striking at them with his demon-subduing golden hoop.


    "They''re really going to attack us. Watch out!" the cultivators cried out.


    Some were struck by the demon-subduing golden hoop and instantly sent flying.


    The cultivators of both parties began tearing into each other, causing a huge explosion.


    The sudden outbreak ofbat caught the cultivators off guard.


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and the others, who had dragged themselves up from the ground, had secretly made their way to the depths of a nearby forest to watch the fighting unfold from afar. They were perfectly hale and hearty, as if they hadn''t just endured a heavy beating.


    "Just like His Majesty predicted, they''re turning on each other now," one golden cultivator said.


    "Good! Let them attack each other. We''ll jump in at the end," Ye Dafu said.


    The other golden cultivators nodded as they hid.


    Outside the barrier, Ao Canghai suddenly frowned. "Why''s the Demon Child attacking us?"


    "I don''t know. It''s strange, isn''t it?" a Martial Aspect beside him remarked.


    Ao Canghai''s frown deepened. "Something''s wrong. What if beating up Ye Dafu and the others was just a ploy? Do the Demon Child and his subordinates intend to im the five openings for Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant?"


    "Could Yang Chuan be trying to interfere with business in our quadrant?" The Martial Aspect frowned as well.


    Ao Canghai''s face was dour. "We four quadrants have never meddled in each other''s affairs. Something may be wrong. Investigate the situation immediately.


    "Understood!"


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfengughed. "To think there would be two Golden Immortals helping out the Demon Child¡ªthey''ve really hoodwinked him."


    "Aren''t those two Golden Immortals the Demon Child''s subordinates?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "Of course not. Otherwise, they would never have watched me beat him up. The Demon Child''s being manipted again."


    "You mean Ao Canghai''s subordinates weren''t the ones causing trouble for you?" Zhang Lingjun eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Ao Canghai''s a wily old fox. He wouldn''t make such an obvious provocation. ck Dog was foolish enough to be tricked by the other Martial Aspects in the Southern Quadrant."


    "You mean there are Martial Aspects in the Southern Quadrant taking advantage of Yang Chuan''s absence to scheme against Ao Canghai by manipting the Demon Child?"


    "That''s right."


    "But why?" Zhang Lingjun seemed confused.


    "For these five Martial Aspect nominations."


    Zhang Lingjun considered Xiao Nanfeng''s words for a moment. "That does make sense. Martial Aspect missions are particrly rewarding, and if something goes wrong, the Imperial Court will back them up. There are countless cultivators who would salivate over a single Martial Aspect''s position, let alone five of them."


    "I wonder who the mastermind is. They intend to take on Ao Canghai, it seems," Xiao Nanfeng said,ughing.


    "But why would the mastermind incite the Demon Child to cause you trouble?" Zhang Lingjun asked.


    "Because, without Yang Chuan''s permission, the Martial Aspects of the Southern Quadrant wouldn''t have been allowed to nominate Golden Immortals for the selection. The mastermind took advantage of the Demon Child''s unruly behavior to subvert this rule and arrange for two Golden Immortals to join him. In name, they''re to help the Demon Child take revenge; in truth, they''re both angling for positions as Martial Aspects."


    "Did you predict this from the start?" Zhang Lingjun eximed.


    "More or less. It''s a good thing for us, after all. With someone to draw all the attention, Ye Dafu and the others won''t need to work so hard." Xiao Nanfeng smiled again.


    "Did you make arrangements with Ye Dafu and the others, too?"


    "Indeed. With the situation as is, Ye Dafu and the others stand a very good chance of victory."


    Zhang Lingjun nced at him admiringly. "You really are talented."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and was about to reply when an official from the Imperial Court suddenly flew close to them. He bowed and said, "Princess Lingjun, Martial Aspect Xiao, the Heavenly Emperor requests a meeting with you."


    "Oh?"


    The two cultivators eyed each other. Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Lead the way."


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave Ao Zhou and the others some orders before departing with the official.


    The two cultivators quickly arrived at Yu Fuli''s study.


    "We greet Your Majesty!" They bowed.


    Yu Fuli considered Zhang Lingjun. "Are you a Golden Immortal now?"


    The two cultivators shot each other a nce again before Zhang Lingjun nodded. "A few days ago, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli sighed. "I thought it would take you quite some time, not anticipating the timeline to have shortened by this extent. Very well. So be it, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng asked, "Isn''t it a good thing that the princess has reached the Golden Immortal realm?"


    Yu Fuli shot Xiao Nanfeng a nce. "It is, but it means she''ll have to depart for some time."


    "Depart? Where to?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Zhang Lingjun held on tightly to Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, clearly unwilling to leave him behind.


    "The Taiqing Grandmaster negotiated with me to have Lingjun take over the red moon illusory realm when she bes a Golden Immortal."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I thought that there would be plenty of time remaining before that happened, but the Taiqing Grandmaster sent me a mental transmission stating that the time hade. I didn''t expect that that would be truly the case," Yu Fuli continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He said immediately, "Princess Lingjun recently broke through to the peak of the True Immortal realm. Although she was just a step away from the Gold Immortal realm, that step would have had to bridge an immense chasm. The only reason she had managed it so quickly was because of the Taiqing red sash we recently acquired."


    Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened.


    Yu Fuli frowned. "In that case, the Taiqing Grandmaster interfered?"


    The two cultivators nodded immediately.


    The praying mat suddenly flew out and hovered in the air, as though eyeing Yu Fuli.


    "Taiqing, how could you have distilled all the essence in that red sash and infused it into Lingjun''s body? All that in order to help her break through? You''re far too impatient," Yu Fuli criticized.


    The praying mat glowed with red light, as though the Taiqing Grandmaster sat atop it and was currently conversing with Yu Fuli. Yu Fuli glowed with white light. The two colors of light intermingled, as though participating in a heated discussion.


    After some time, Yu Fuli sighed. He turned toward Zhang Lingjun. "Lingjun, the Taiqing Grandmaster intends for you to master the red moon illusory realm. Are you willing to do so?"


    "Your Majesty, I don''t understand what that implies," Zhang Lingjun said.


    "I''m aware of the Taiqing Grandmaster''s n, but I can''t reveal any details. If you''re willing, you''ll have to enter the red moon illusory realm for some time. During this period of time, he''ll help you attune to the red moon illusory realm and im it for yourself. At that point, all the red-furred lifeforms within will listen to your orders and serve as your subordinates."


    "All of them? Will I be able to find my parents, then?!" Zhang Lingjun''s eyes lit up.


    "That should be possible," Yu Fuli said. He too wanted to see his daughter again.


    "I''m willing!" Zhang Lingjun eximed immediately.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly jumped in.


    Zhang Lingjun turned to Xiao Nanfeng. She knew that he was worried for her, but she really did want to find her parents as quickly as possible.


    "Your Majesty, the Taiqing Grandmaster refuses to speak with me, so I can only turn to you. What price must the princess pay for iming the red moon illusory realm? What dangers will there be?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The reason the Taiqing Grandmaster picked Lingjun was in order to fortify her to resist the heavens in the near future. The price she has to pay is to give her all to do so when the timees. If we ovee the heavens, she will live; otherwise, she dies. As for the danger, the Taiqing Grandmaster is invested in helping Zhang Lingjun resist the heavens. He would never let her be in danger."


    Xiao Nanfeng still seemed worried. "How is the Taiqing Grandmaster''s personality?"


    Yu Fuli seemed to be taken aback. He smiled. "He likes to keep his cards close to his chest."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "However, Lingjun still has the violet granule I gave her. If the Taiqing Grandmaster means her ill, I''ll know immediately. You don''t have to be worried about her safety," Yu Fuli continued.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty. Please take care of her," Xiao Nanfeng said, rxing.


    Yu Fuli smiled and murmured, "The Taiqing Grandmaster''s looking at you in an unkindly fashion for doubting his integrity."


    Zhang Lingjun immediately bowed down to the seemingly empty praying mat. "Please calm down, Grandmaster. Nanfeng spoke carelessly."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...

 Chapter 648: The Wastrels

    <h4>Chapter 648: The Wastrels</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng could see that Zhang Lingjun was enraptured by the idea of reuniting with her parents. If he hadn''t interceded, she would have agreed to the n instantly. With the Heavenly Emperor''s violet granule guarding her, however, he too could rx. He sighed and raised no further objections.


    "Please take care of Princess Lingjun, Grandmaster." Xiao Nanfeng bowed to the praying mat as well.


    "Worry not," Yu Fuli said. "You need not appeal to the Taiqing Grandmaster. I shall ensure Lingjun''s safety. Lingjun will likely be gone for quite some time, so you won''t be able to meet each other for the short term. You have three days to say farewell to each other. After that,e back here and see her off."


    "I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng said, bowing gratefully to Yu Fuli.


    "The praying mat will remain with me for the time being. I intend to have a serious discussion with the Taiqing Grandmaster. You may leave."


    "Understood!" The two cultivators bowed and left the study.


    Over the next three days, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t leave Zhang Lingjun''s side. Zhang Lingjun almost couldn''t bear to leave him behind, but ultimately made up her mind owing to her parents'' circumstances.


    Three dayster, they returned to Yu Fuli''s study.


    "I''ve already had a discussion with the Taiqing Grandmaster. Lingjun shouldn''t be in any danger in this excursion into the red moon illusory realm, but should nevertheless remain careful," Yu Fuli said.


    Zhang Lingjun nodded. "I understand!"


    "Go on, then," Yu Fuli said.


    The praying mat trembled as a burst of red light emerged from it, illuminating a red passageway.


    Only when Xiao Nanfeng nodded did Zhang Lingjun leave him behind. With a hum, even her physical body made it into the illusory realm.


    The praying mat flew into the realm with Zhang Lingjun before the portal winked shut.


    When everything settled once more, Yu Fuli said, "Alright. They''re gone now."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed and nodded.


    "What did you talk about with Lingjun over thest three days?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "Your Majesty, I was able to have a heartfelt conversation with Lingjun thanks to your diverting the Taiqing Grandmaster''s attention. I told her to be wary of the Taiqing Grandmaster, to trust him but not to trust him fully."


    Yu Fuli nodded at Xiao Nanfeng. "Careful indeed. If Lingjun manages to seize this opportunity, however, it would be an incredible feat that may well shake the world."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "The selection for the five new Martial Aspects is about to end soon, isn''t it?" Yu Fuli smiled. "Interesting ploy on your part. You should have a look."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed, then headed straight for the violet drill grounds.


    Among thepetitors, there were two Golden Immortals among Ao Canghai''s faction, along with quite a few True Immortals. Meanwhile, the Demon Child was working with two Golden Immortals and a few True Immortals as well.


    Both parties had eyed each other viciously, neither able to im a decisive upper hand. In the end, the four Golden Immortals had each imed a banner, while the Demon Child made off with thest one.


    Both parties were wounded, but neither could gain any further advantage over the other.


    "Demon Child, is the Southern Quadrant going to meddle in the Eastern Quadrant''s affairs?!" a Golden Immortal howled.


    "As if! I just wanted to beat you all up and mess up your ns. You shouldn''t have manipted me!"


    "Do you think I''m a fool? The Martial Aspect selection is about to end. Just you wait¡ªsee what happens when we all make our way out!" the Golden Immortal retorted.


    The Demon Child refused to budge. He red at the cultivators fiercely. The two Golden Immortals behind him sighed regretfully at their inability to acquire more of the banners, but there was little they could do.


    While they couldn''t see what was going on outside, the spectators outside could see everything going on inside.


    Ao Canghai''s face had only grown darker and darker throughout the tournament. "Have you uncovered what''s going on?"


    "We have, Eastern Aspect. The two Golden Immortals behind the Demon Child were nominated by different Martial Aspects, but they ultimately seem to answer to Martial Aspect Tu Feng," a Martial Aspect reported.


    "Martial Aspect Tu Feng from the Southern Quadrant?" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!" the Martial Aspect replied. "We also found that, after Xiao Nanfeng beat up the Demon Child, he mistakenly believed that we were responsible for instigating the conflict between him and Xiao Nanfeng. Martial Aspect Tu Feng took the opportunity to install two of his Golden Immortals by the Demon Child''s side."


    Ao Canghai frowned. "The Demon Child is just an immature boy. He''s being hoodwinked by Martial Aspect Tu Feng, as is ck Dog. Tu Feng, is it? Tired of being suppressed by Yang Chuan, so he''s setting his sights on my quadrant instead?"


    "Eastern Aspect, what should we do?" the Martial Aspect asked.


    Ao Canghai sneered. "Tu Feng might be malicious, but he can''t trump Yang Chuan. Does he think I''m an easy target to bully? Does he fancy himself Xiao Nanfeng? He''ll regret provoking me soon enough."


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!"


    Just then, another anomaly urred within the drill grounds.


    Ye Dafu and his group had rushed forward at thest moment.


    "Hand over the banners, or we''ll beat you to death!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    Everyone turned to them, including the Demon Child and four Golden Immortals.


    "Ha! We defeated you at the very beginning. What''s the point of jumping out now? Do you want another beating?" the Demon Child called out.


    "You little brat, your punches don''t even hurt! You might as well be trying to scratch an itch for me. Hand over your banner, then go back home and keep ying with mud!" Ye Dafu bragged.


    "If you weren''t a Yuqing holy child, I''d long since have beaten you up!"


    "Go on, little brat!"


    "Go home and y with mud instead!"


    The arrogant voices of the golden cultivators had the Demon Child raging in no time.


    "Damn it, I''ll kill you all!" the Demon Child thundered. "Kill them!"


    "Understood!"


    His subordinates rushed toward the five golden cultivators.


    "They''re nothing but piles of trash! Beat them up!" Ye Dafu roared.


    They quickly sent a pack of ordinary cultivators flying.


    "Ha!" Ye Dafu shouted. "Do you think the likes of you could take me on?"


    By then, he had already flown close to the Demon Child.


    "Did you forget how I beat you up at the start of the selection? Die!" a Golden Immortal shouted as he flew forward. As he closed in on Ye Dafu, however, he eximed in shock, "A Golden Immortal relic?"


    Ye Dafu shot forward with a golden bowl in his hand, clearly an exceptional treasure given its radiance.


    If the Golden Immortal had been in peak condition, he wouldn''t have feared the relic at all. After three days and nights of fighting, however, he was already badly injured. He instantly grew more careful than before, but tried not to show it. "You True Immortal can''t draw out the full strength of such a relic. Die!"


    He clutched at Ye Dafu with a palm technique, causing Ye Dafu''s golden bowl to fly toward him.


    "You can''t even hold onto your relic? I suppose this treasure''s mine, now!" The Golden Immortal reached out for the golden bowl in surprised glee.


    "Explode!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    The golden bowl exploded with such strength that the Golden Immortal and Ye Dafu were instantly drowned in intense, raging mes.


    The shrieksing from the cultivators within took everyone by surprise.


    "That was a Golden Immortal relic¡ªand Ye Dafu detonated it just like that! Is he crazy?"


    "Even a Golden Immortal can''t withstand the explosion of a Golden Immortal relic, let alone such a wounded one. Was Ye Dafu trying to kill his opponent?"


    "Doesn''t he want to live? Is he intending to die alongside that Golden Immortal?"


    The spectators murmured to each other in shock.


    The Demon Child and other three Golden Immortals were taken aback as well. No one had expected Ye Dafu to make such a y.


    The mes and dust dissipated to reveal charred, smoking ruins, along with the scorched-ck form of the Golden Immortal whoy paralyzed on the ground with severe injuries. Meanwhile, Ye Dafu was wrapped in a kasaya that was glowing with golden light, which had absorbed the majority of the impact. What little struck him, he was able to withstand.


    "Ye Dafu had two Golden Immortal relics? One to detonate, and one to protect himself with?" someone cried out.


    Ye Dafu grabbed the banner in the Golden Immortal''s hands.


    "So what if you''re a Golden Immortal? I can take you on!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    He punched the Golden Immortal in the head, smashing it into the dirt.


    "Hold it right there, you bastard!" another Golden Immortal shouted.


    "No, I''m your opponent!" Another golden cultivator shot forward.


    "Scram!" The Golden Immortal pped at the golden cultivator, only to find the golden cultivator tossing a wooden fish shining in resplendent gold at him.


    "Another Golden Immortal relic?" the Golden Immortal eximed.


    Golden Immortal relics were particrly rare. None of the four of them had any such relics. How could these True Immortals have so many?


    "Explode!" the golden cultivator cried out.


    "No!"


    The second Golden Immortal relic exploded in a ball of raging me.


    The spectators watched on in shock.


    "What sort of situation is this? They''re willing to give up Golden Immortal relics just like that?"


    "Could they each have two Golden Immortal relics, one to detonate and the other to protect themselves with? What a waste, what a waste!"


    "They''re all wastrels!"


    The cultivators watching from the outside were all in an uproar.


    The other three golden cultivators all shot toward the Demon Child and remaining two Golden Immortals.


    The Demon Child and two Golden Immortals nched, not knowing how to respond to this ridiculous style of fighting. Who among them could tolerate the explosion of these Golden Immortal relics?


    "Don''te over!" a Golden Immortal cried out.


    "Explode!"


    The third Golden Immortal relic detonated in a ball of mes, as shy as fireworks in the night.


    The cultivators both inside and outside the barrier were astounded by what was happening.


    "Just how many relics did Xiao Nanfeng manage to retrieve from Dayin? He''s willing to give up Golden Immortal relics just like that!" Quite a few Martial Aspects watching from the sidelines were staring at Ye Dafu and the golden cultivators enviously.


    Ao Canghai furrowed his brows in annoyance. "Xiao Nanfeng again?"


    ck Dog watched on anxiously. Not far from him, a handsome man''s features contorted in anger. He cursed inwardly, "That damn Xiao Nanfeng, ruining my ns!"


    The cultivators on the outside watched on as the mes dissipated. A threat could be heard from within.


    "Demon Child, your golden hoop can''t save you now. Hand over your banner, or I''ll detonate this relic in your face!"

 Chapter 649: The Five Martial Aspects

    <h4>Chapter 649: The Five Martial Aspects</h4>


    In peak condition, the Golden Immortals wouldn''t have been worried about the explosion of Golden Immortal relics beside them, but they had already undergone three whole days'' and nights'' worth of fighting and were already on theirst legs. Dealing with a close-ranged explosion now was an incredibly strenuous affair.


    It was obvious they would lose their banners; just protecting their own lives was difficult enough.


    The four Golden Immortals, badly injured, weakly turned to flee.


    Ye Dafu and his four golden cultivators surrounded the Demon Child in the sh of an eye.


    "Go on, attack them!" the Demon Child howled.


    A group of True Immortal candidates rushed over, but they had already been defeated by the golden cultivators before. With their Golden Immortal relics in hand, the golden cultivators quickly trounced them once again.


    "Listen up!" Ye Dafu shouted. "Any of you who dares to bother us, you''ll have to pay with your lives. If you want to take that risk, feel free!"


    The True Immortals hung back in hesitation.


    Then, Ye Dafu turned to the Demon Child. "Come on. Hand your Martial Aspect banner over."


    "Dream on! You liars, pretending to have lost! I''ll take you all down!" the Demon Child roared as he shot over.


    The gathered golden cultivators activated their Golden Immortal relics, deflecting the demon-subduing golden hoop. Ye Dafu threw a punch at the Demon Child''s face, causing it to swell up.


    "Wah! You''re bullying a child like me? You''re horrible! I won''t let you go! My Senior Brother will take you all down!" the Demon Child shouted, clutching his swollen face.


    "If you don''t hand over your banner, we''ll keep beating you up!" Ye Dafu shouted, raising a fist.


    "Dream on! Never!" the Demon Child refused stubbornly.


    "Beat him up, then!" Ye Dafumanded.


    His crew of golden cultivators leapt forward and began to pummel the Demon Child.


    The Demon Child cried and screamed in a chilling fashion.


    For five hulking cultivators to beat up a young child¡ªcountless cultivators on the outside watched with bated breath. What a horrifying scene!


    ck Dog anxiously ran toward Ao Zhou. "Martial Aspect Ao Zhou, can you contact the five True Immortals within? The Demon Child is still young and immature. Please spare him!"


    "Spare him? The same way he spared Ye Dafu when he gave him a beating?" Ao Zhou retorted.


    The Demon Child had shamed him greatly by beating him up, but there was little he could do with Xiao Nanfeng having brokered peace and resolved the matter. Now that the Demon Child was getting beaten up himself, Ao Zhou was feeling particrly exuberant.


    ck Dog fretted anxiously, not knowing what to do, when Xiao Nanfeng flew back toward the za. "Don''t worry, ck Dog. I''ll have Ye Dafu and the others go easy on him. The Demon Child ought to pay a price for being bossy and domineering, and I''m happy to teach him a lesson on behalf of the Yuqing holynd."


    "But¡ª"


    "He won''t die," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    ck Dog sighed, but had no choice but to nod in exasperation. The Southern Aspect wasn''t present, and he hardly had the authority to interfere with the business of Martial Aspects from other quadrants.


    Just then, a voice rang out, "Time''s up!"


    The violet barrier unfolded as the Martial Aspect selection came to an end.


    The four weakened Golden Immortals rushed out from hiding and headed straight for the Martial Aspects with whom they were familiar for protection.


    "Time''s up! No more fighting!" ck Dog shouted, rushing over to the Demon Child.


    The golden cultivators in the distance turned around.


    "What? It''s already over? I just started beating him up!"


    "We haven''t even warmed up yet!"


    "That''s it? I demand more!"


    The golden cultivators were fuming.


    They walked out of the barrier, each with a banner in hand, leaving the Demon Child behind in a pile of ruins, bruises all over his body.


    "You''re inhumane! How could you beat up a little kid like me? Wah!" The Demon Child''s bawling could be heard all over.


    ck Dog sighed as he flew over to the Demon Child.


    "Thank you for relenting," ck Dog said immediately.


    "Of course. Next time, when the Demon Childes back to get revenge on us, make sure to find some stronger cultivators," Ye Dafu said seriously.


    "What? No, we''d never!" ck Dog eximed.


    "I''m not joking. Seriously, bring stronger cultivators next time," Ye Dafu emphasized.


    "Right, don''t fight us without at least Golden Immortals in tow!"


    "Right, right!"


    The other golden cultivators all agreed with Ye Dafu.


    ck Dog: ???


    Then, Ye Dafu took the Demon Child''s banner and walked out of the violet drill grounds.


    Countless cultivators gave Ye Dafu and his group odd looks as they left. How vicious they had been even against a child!


    "We''ve secured the Martial Aspect banners. Will we be deemed Martial Aspects now, then?" Ye Dafu called out.


    Ao Canghai grimaced, not expecting that all his ns would be waid by Xiao Nanfeng. He red at Tu Feng in hatred.


    Tu Feng seemed quite upset himself. All his efforts had only served to benefit Xiao Nanfeng!


    "ording to the rules of the Hall of Martial Aspects, those banner-wielders at the end of the selection shall be deemed new Martial Aspects. Bring the relevant paperwork to the Hall of Martial Aspects in three days'' time," Ao Canghai said.


    Then, he stalked off.


    Ye Dafu and the others flew toward Xiao Nanfeng in excitement.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve done it!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "We''d better hurry off now," Xiao Nanfeng said,ughing. "Otherwise, that boy''s going totch onto us again.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Indeed, as Xiao Nanfeng''s delegation departed, the Demon Child began to shout, "Get them! Hurry, or I''ll tell Senior Brother! Wah! No one has ever beaten me up! No, don''t touch me, it hurts!" the Demon Child shouted.


    But who would dare try to pursue five Martial Aspects? That would only get them killed! Those cultivators who had been willing to obey the Demon Child''s orders moments before suddenly pretended to be deaf.


    "You''re all bullying me, all of you! Wah!" the Demon Child shouted.


    ck smoke emerged from his head, with red light glimmering within. A wave of demonic aura emanated from him.


    "The Demon Child''s about to undergo another demonic transformation! Quick, bring the Demon Child back to the manor and inform the Southern Aspect immediately!" ck Dog cried out.


    A mess erupted in the drill grounds.


    Three dayster, on the Hall of Martial Aspects'' floating ind, Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou arrived alongside Ye Dafu''s five-man crew to submit the paperwork and be officially recognized as Martial Aspects.


    "By the will of the heavens, the Heavenly Emperor deres that Ye Dafu is awarded the title of Martial Aspect as substitute for the deceased Martial Aspect of Violetfrost."


    "By the will of the heavens, the Heavenly Emperor deres..."


    The five golden cultivators were all granted the title of Martial Aspect.


    "Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!" the five cultivators chorused.


    "im this edict and the Martial Aspect''s charm."


    "Understood!"


    Just as the five cultivators each epted their own edict and Martial Aspect''s charm, a roiling wave of fortune from atop Mt. Kunlun enveloped them as it transformed into five dragons that surged back toward the sea.


    "We''re all Martial Aspects now, haha!" the golden cultivators cried out in excitement.


    "Don''t get cocky just yet. There are still a few administrative matters to handle, and you''ll have to im your individual manors as well," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Understood!" the five golden cultivators said.


    After they were led through the paperwork, an official led them away. "The Eastern Aspect wishes to speak with you."


    The newly minted Martial Aspects all turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Go on. The Eastern Aspect has the keys for all the Martial Aspects'' manors, and you''ll need to greet him regardless," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The cultivators nodded and followed Xiao Nanfeng to a nearby hall.


    Everyone entered to see Ao Canghai standing with his hands behind his back, staring at a map pinned on the wall.


    "We greet the Eastern Aspect." The cultivators bowed.


    Only then did Ao Canghai turn around. He smiled. "Martial Aspect Xiao, your subordinates are rather skilled, aren''t they?"


    "You overpraise me, Eastern Aspect. They were simply lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes shed with annoyance and hatred before he stered a smile across his face. He addressed the five new Martial Aspects. "I''ll leave Martial Aspect Xiao to exin the customs of the Hall of Martial Aspects to you. These are the keys to your new manors. I hope none of you will disgrace your new titles."


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!" Ye Dafu and the others chorused, bowing.


    "Ao Zhou," Ao Canghai began.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!" Ao Zhou replied.


    "New Martial Aspects are responsible for Martial Aspect missions after a half-year grace period. You''ve passed that threshold, and it''s time you ept a task of your own," Ao Canghai said.


    "Didn''t I just participate in the destruction of Dayin?" Ao Zhou frowned.


    "That was a special order from the Heavenly Emperor himself, and doesn''t count as a Martial Aspect mission," Ao Canghai replied.


    Ao Zhou frowned. "Understood, Eastern Aspect. What are your orders?"


    "An empire that provides a tithe to the Imperial Court is requesting aid by the south of the Eastern Sea. There''s a spiritbeastir known as the Southeastern Aquatic Pce that has been disturbing the peace in its vicinity. They''ve petitioned the Imperial Court for help, and the Imperial Court is obliged to provide assistance given their tithe of fortune. This mission involves clearing out the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, and the time limit for this mission is a year. Are you willing to ept it?" Ao Canghai asked Ao Zhou.


    Ao Zhou turned to Xiao Nanfeng, who nodded.


    "I am, Eastern Aspect," Ao Zhou said.


    "Very good. im this task, then."


    "Understood!" Ao Zhou nodded.


    "All of you may go."


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!" The Martial Aspects retreated from the hall.


    After they all left, Ao Canghai''s eyes glinted coldly.


    As they walked away from the hall, Ao Zhou asked Xiao Nanfeng, "Ao Canghai''s sure to be trying to target me. Why did you have me ept?"


    "If he''s going to target you regardless, it doesn''t matter what task you ept, does it? They''ll all be problematic," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh?"


    "I''ve heard of this Southeastern Aquatic Pce before."


    "You have?"


    "That''s right, but only in thest few days. The Southeastern Aquatic Pce has been a nuisance for years, and it''s never been dealt with to date. The reason is that it''s backed by a certain Martial Aspect," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Which one?"


    "Martial Aspect Tu Feng."


    "And who''s that?" Ao Zhou asked.


    "He''s the Martial Aspect in the Southern Quadrant responsible for scheming against the Demon Child in an attempt to seize some Martial Aspect positions during the selection."


    Ao Zhou frowned. His eyes widened in understanding. "Ao Canghai''s nning to take advantage of us to get revenge on him!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

 Chapter 650: The Yuqing Holy Land

    <h4>Chapter 650: The Yuqing Holy Land</h4>


    Within a hall in the Sieve of Heaven surrounded by formations were Martial Aspect Tu Feng and a deferential man.


    "Martial Aspect, my avatar is inmunication with the Immortal Emperor and Empress," the man said.


    "Very good. Convey my words to them both."


    "Yes, Martial Aspect!"


    After a while, the man said, "The Immortal Emperor wants to know why you failed.


    Tu Feng replied, "Please pardon me, Your Majesty. Xiao Nanfeng foiled my ns. He took all five Martial Aspect positions as follows..."


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Thatd who''s helping the Taiqing Immortal Sect rise up again?"


    Tu Feng nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. He''s a huge variable. The Taiqing Immortal Sect has been revitalized to arge extent thanks to him, and even has plenty of True Immortals by this point. We can''t leave them be any longer, Your Majesty."


    The other party was silent for a moment. "I promised the Yuqing holynd not to finish off the sectpletely."


    "Your Majesty, the Taiqing Immortal Sect was weak enough that allowing it to live would showcase your magnanimity. Now that they''re rising up again, however, we can''t just watch on. They''ll surely seek revenge against you for our actions in the past if we don''t finish them off now. What''s more, five of their disciples just became Martial Aspects. We can''t allow them to be a threat!" Tu Feng eximed.


    The other party fell silent again. "Very well. Collect what information you can about Xiao Nanfeng. I''ll have someone take care of it."


    "Understood," Tu Feng said. Then, after a pause, he continued, "Your Majesty, I took advantage of the Demon Child to handle Xiao Nanfeng this time around. I''m afraid what I did will be uncovered, and I don''t know how to handle the aftermath."


    "It doesn''t matter. The Demon Child is about to undergo another demonic transformation. It''s about time we make use of him."


    The Martial Aspect of Windform raised an eyebrow. "Is it time to strike?"


    "That''s right. There''s no need for you to worry any longer."


    Tu Feng watched on in anticipation. "Will I need to take part, Your Majesty?"


    "You''re a spy I''ve positioned in the Imperial Court. Your safety is of paramount importance, so don''t act out of turn. Worry not. You''ll be awarded any benefits we obtain regardless."


    "Understood. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Tu Feng eximed gratefully.


    In Dazheng''s imperial study at Yongding, Zhao Yuanjiao had personally shown up to meet with Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng dismissed his aides.


    "Senior Brother, what are you doing here yourself? You could have just had your subordinates send a message!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I''ve contacted Master."


    "Oh? What did he say?"


    "He said that he doesn''t need our assistance at present. That Immortal Emperor is apparently particrly skilled, and he may target our sect now that it''s showing signs of rising up again. He warns you to be careful," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Naturally. I''m prepared for that traitor''s assault at any moment, but wouldn''t it be difficult for him to attack the Taiqing Sect in the east when he''s in the south?"


    "Master just wants you to be careful. He also mentioned that Yu''er might be in trouble. If you have any subordinates, send them my way. I''ll be heading over to help her out."


    "What''s wrong with Yu''er? Many of my spectral guards are already stationed by the Yuqing holynd, but they haven''t heard anything amiss. What did Master say?"


    "He simply wants you to send a few subordinates over and help her regain control of the situation. As for the precise nature of the trouble, he didn''t mention anything. I''ll be taking a look myself," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "There''s no need. Let''s leave immediately."


    "You, yourself? What about Dazheng?"


    "My other body will return from the Imperial Court, so don''t worry. I just have a few misceneous affairs I need to handle first."


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng summoned a few trustworthy subordinates, gave them some orders, and then secretly left Yongding.


    The two cultivators flew toward the south at great speed.


    The Yuqing holynd was in the purview of the Southern Quadrant, and was a particrly long distance away.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao were both True Immortals. They pushed themselves to get there as quickly as possible, and managed the journey in just ten days.


    They spotted the Yuqing holynd from afar.


    The Yuqing holynd was located by the side of the Southern Sea, its southern border adjoining the sea. Mountains surrounded it from the other three cardinal directions. Clouds and fog hung around it, as did visible wisps of spiritual aether. Countless Immortals, spirits, and divine beasts were flying in and out of the vicinity, an incredible sight to behold.


    "As expected of the Yuqing holynd. It has twelve peaks, with one Golden Immortal for each peak; the twelve Golden Immortals of Yuqing are known throughout the world. In the past, the Taiqing Immortal Sect could almost have be a holynd itself¡ªwhat a pity," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured, ncing wryly at the scenery before them.


    "Yu''er''s father is among those twelve Golden Immortals, isn''t he?"


    "Indeed. It was all thanks to him that the traitor wasn''t able to finish off the sect."


    "In that case, we''ll need to show him utmost respect," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    The two cultivators flew toward a valley by the side of a giant mountain, where a huge stone tablet proimed the territory to be the ''Yuqing Holy Land''.


    As theynded in the valley, their True Immortal auras were quickly recognized by the Yuqing disciples guarding the holynd.


    One stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Immortals."


    The two cultivators bowed as well. Zhao Yuanjiao stepped forward. "We are disciples from the Taiqing Immortal Sect¡ªZhao Yuanjiao and Xiao Nanfeng. We''re here to pay a visit to our senior, Han Bingdie, of Chiyang Peak."


    They didn''t mention Yu''er considering her rtiveck of status in the holynd, which might cause her unnecessary trouble if word were to spread to her father. It would be preferable for them to first contact Yu''er''s mother, Han Bingdie, a Taiqing elder and one who was familiar with both of them.


    The Yuqing disciple was taken aback. He nced at the other young man to his back, dressed in blue. Upon hearing Zhao Yuanjiao''s words, he too was shocked.


    "You''re Xiao Nanfeng?" The young man in blue looked toward Xiao Nanfeng angrily.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned but nodded. "I am. We''d like to see Senior Han Bingdie from Chiyang Peak. Please inform her of the matter."


    The young man continued to re furiously at Xiao Nanfeng, as if he hadmitted an incredible crime. Rather than erupting in anger, however, he only spat out, "Wait here!"


    Then, he headed into the depths of the mountain to report the news.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao eyed each other.


    The young man quickly returned with Han Bingdie, who nced at them in surprise. "What are you two doing here?"


    "We greet our senior!"


    "Come, follow me," Han Bingdie said.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    The young man who had just gone to report to her was still frowning. "Madam Han, is that the Xiao Nanfeng whom Yu''er keeps mentioning?"


    Han Bingdie smiled wryly at the young man. "Xia Lan, he''s indeed Xiao Nanfeng. Sorry for causing you all this trouble. Your mother and I have been persuading your father to let you return, and you''ll be able to do so in just a few days."


    "No, that''s not what I mean. I¡ª" The young man fumed. "At any rate, Xiao Nanfeng''s not a good person."


    "We''ll talkter, alright?" Han Bingdie smiled.


    Then, she brought Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao into the depths of the Yuqing holynd.


    "Senior, that was...." Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Yu''er''s older brother. They have the same father, but different mothers. His name is Xia Lan. He fought with his father in order to protect Yu''er and was punished by having to guard the entrance to the holynd."


    "What? Yu''er''s older brother?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Upon hearing that Xia Lan had been punished while trying to defend Yu''er, Xiao Nanfeng''s annoyance at him drained away.


    The trio flew toward the depths of the Yuqing holynd, which was surrounded by clouds and fog. There were many cultivators atop the mountain peaks around them, flitting back and forth.


    "Senior, is Yu''er here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Han Bingdie gave Xiao Nanfeng a wry smile. "You really have an impressive informationwork. To think you''d show up of your own ord without my having contacted you..."


    "What''s wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Xia Lan mentioned that you''re both advanced cultivators. What realm have you reached?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "We''re both True Immortals," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "True Immortals? That quickly? It''s barely been any time at all. How have you ascended so quickly?" Han Bingdie eximed.


    "Too much happened over the past two years. We were forced to grow strong quickly."


    Han Bingdie furrowed her brows and sighed. "Even so, even as True Immortals... There''s a big problem."


    "Senior, we only know a little of what''s going on. Won''t you tell us what happened to Yu''er?" Xiao Nanfeng pleaded.


    "You''re both aware that Yu''er''s a Yuqing holy maiden now, right?"


    "What?"


    "You didn''t? How did you learn of the news, then?"


    "Please continue, Senior."


    "Yu''er had only just be a Yuqing holy maiden when it somehow became public knowledge. There are plenty of delegations who have traveled here hoping for her hand in marriage."


    "What? Hoping for her hand in marriage?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Naturally. The position of a Yuqing holy maiden is equivalent to, or even superior to, that of a princess of a divine empire. The birth of a holy maiden spawns a proliferation of suitors."


    "And what does Yu''er think?" Xiao Nanfeng asked immediately.


    "Well, you''re here, aren''t you? What do you think Yu''er thinks?"


    "Me?"


    "Hmph! If not for you, why would Yu''er get into such a big fight with her father?"


    "Ah?"


    "Yu''er''s refusing to wee or meet with any of these suitors," Han Bingdie sighed.


    "If she''s unwilling, then why does Mountain Lord Xia insist?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Han Bingdie nced askance at Xiao Nanfeng. "And what would you know? Her father''s the lord of the Chiyang Peak. He has to consider not just his family, but the peak and even the holynd''s future. A marriage born of politics might be cruel, but it may prove necessary."


    "What if I ask for her hand in marriage?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "You? Your little empire would hardly appeal to my husband," Han Bingdie sighed.


    "No, Dazheng has expanded considerably since then. It now controls forty Immortal cities and boasts a massive quantity of fortune. Dazheng is growing stronger by the day," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Forty Immortal cities? You must be joking! Where could they havee from?" Han Bingdie replied in disbelief.


    "Haven''t you heard of themotion I''ve caused recently, Senior?"


    "Oh?"


    Beside them, Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "Senior, Nanfeng led a group of cultivators to destroy the divine empire of Dayin, and his Stratagems Against Yin have spread throughout the world."


    Han Bingdie sighed. "It seems as though I''m not up to date with regards to worldly affairs, though wars of this sort arergely of interest to empires. For holynds, such conflicts, especially distant ones, are of little interest to the majority of cultivators. Is what you said the truth?"


    "Absolutely, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Han Bingdie considered Xiao Nanfeng more thoughtfully. "If that''s the case, though your cultivation may be somewhatcking, it''s clear that you do have potential. Tell me more about the situation. I''ll arrange for your lodgings at the foot of Chiyang Peak before heading up the mountain to inquire as to my husband''s thoughts."


    "Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed gratefully.

 Chapter 651: Xia Xingchen

    <h4>Chapter 651: Xia Xingchen</h4>


    The Yuqing holynd was significantlyrger than Dayin''s capital, though the majority of thatnd was filled with mountains and rivers. Countless Immortal avians and beasts roamed the majestds.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao followed Han Bingdie to a mountain whose peak extended into the clouds. It was surrounded with spiritual aether, and there were arge number of floating inds arrayed around it.


    "This is Chiyang Peak. You may both stay at the guest lodgings at the foot of the mountain for the time being," Han Bingdie said.


    "As you will, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Han Bingdie brought both of them toward a valley. The Yuqing disciples all bowed respectfully to her upon seeing her presence. There were all manner of exquisite pavilions and gardens in the vicinity. On Han Bingdie''s orders, all the disciples departed, leaving only the three of them present.


    "This valley is where you''ll be staying," Han Bingdie told them.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    "Now, tell me about what''s been going on thesest two years."


    In a pavilion, the two cultivators sketched out all that had happened in the meantime.


    Han Bingdie''s eyes widened as she listened to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao describe shock after shock. "Lan Jiguang and Zhang Feifan are both dead? To think all this would happen to the Taiqing Immortal Sect in so short a period of time..."


    "Senior Uncles Lan and Zhang both perished in the red moon illusory realm, so it''s possible for them both to be revived," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He didn''t mention that Zhang Lingjun was now attempting to gain control over the red moon illusory realm, not when it was still a secret.


    "It''s hardly so easy! Plenty of cultivators have died in the red moon illusory realm over thest ten thousand years, but no one has ever been revived." Han Bingdie sighed.


    "Senior, who knows? With effort, anything is possible," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Han Bingdie shook her head. "Forget it. Let''s not speak of this for the time being. You''ve really ovee danger after danger to get this far."


    "We have to fight for every opportunity, after all. The Taiqing Immortal Sect has already recovered a portion of its former glory. It might not be straightforward for it to advance into a holynd for the time being, but in a few years, once the Taiqing Immortal Sect has a new batch of Golden Immortals, it surely won''t be too difficult."


    "You make it sound so easy, but do you think it''s that easy to reach the realm of a Golden Immortal?" Han Bingdie sighed even as she smiled.


    "Don''t you believe in us, Senior?"


    Han Bingdie nced at the two cultivators again. They had reached the True Immortal realm in just two years, after all. What if it really were possible?


    "I''m very d that your generation is striving hard to excel," Han Bingdie replied. "Rest here while I seek out my husband."


    "Thank you, Senior."


    Han Bingdie got up to leave.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Zhao Yuanjiao. "Senior Brother, though I''ve had subordinates stationed outside the Yuqing holynd, they''re still not very familiar with the situation within, especially with regards to Yu''er''s family. Are you aware of any details?"


    "I''m not, either. I only know that Yu''er''s father had two wives to begin with, both of whom gave birth to boys. Then, Yu''er''s father married Senior and gave birth to Yu''er," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Meanwhile, Han Bingdie ascended Chiyang Peak.


    In a hall outside the mountain, a group of nominal disciples were busying themselves with chores as they shot furtive nces at a male and two female cultivators close by.


    "You brat, if you remain that obstinate, I''ll lock you up within!" the man shouted.


    Beside him, two beautiful women attempted to pacify him.


    "Husband, this is your only daughter. Don''t get mad at her, will you? Look at what a wonderful girl Yu''er is! She wants to stay by your side and spend more time with you. Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "I don''t need herpany. She''s grown wild ever since her trip, and she hasn''t changed," the man replied, fuming.


    The other woman interceded, "Husband, please calm down. You don''t want others tough at us, do you? You used to dote on Yu''er so much. She''s grown up, and she can think for herself now. Can''t we avoid forcing her into such matters?"


    "Who''s forcing her to do anything? I just want her to meet these suitors. I''m not insisting that she choose any of them, but she refuses to even give them a single nce! She''s going to ruin my reputation¡ªshe''s been far too coddled!"


    "Please calm down, Husband!"


    Just then, Han Bingdie flew over. "Husband, Sisters," she greeted.


    When the man saw Han Bingdie return, he thundered, "What did that brat want? Did he beg you for mercy again? He can''t even do his duty as a guard well! He''ll stay there until his punishment''s over."


    Han Bingdie hid a smile. "Husband, Yu''er was the one who got you mad. Why punish Xia Lan? Haven''t you always spoken of the importance of unity between siblings? Surely Xia Lan shouldn''t be punished for speaking up on Yu''er''s ount. What father would be so unreasonable?"


    "I''m an unreasonable man. Deal with it!" the man thundered.


    "If that''s the case, then I won''t share what information I have with you."


    The man frowned, while the two women turned to her. One asked, "Sister, what did Lan''er ask you about? Is there some important business?"


    Han Bingdie lifted her chin. "I''d happily tell both of you, Sisters, but just you."


    The man: ...


    The two women nced at her curiously. They both gave her sly nces, knowing that she was deliberately trying to frustrate their husband.


    "Sister, tell us! Don''t beat around the bush," one woman begged.


    "Very well, but I insist that my husband not interrupt. He''ll have to wait until I reveal everything before sharing his opinion," Han Bingdie emphasized.


    The two women nced at the man, knowing that what she said could well be inmmatory.


    "Don''t worry. If our husband gets mad, I''ll restrain him," one woman volunteered.


    "Tell us, Sister!" the other woman said.


    Han Bingdie nodded. "Xiao Nanfeng is here."


    "What? That bastard?!" the man roared.


    The two women each held tightly onto one of their husband''s arms.


    "Husband, Xiao Nanfeng is a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, and he recently led a delegation to destroy the divine empire of Dayin. Aren''t you aware?" Han Bingdie asked.


    The two women eximed in surprise, "What? He destroyed a divine empire?"


    The man frowned. "I did hear of it, but there''s far too much uncertainty in the information we received. Who''s to say that it''s the truth? What''s more, I heard that eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant were involved, along with some Venerable Buddha or another. What does it have to do with Xiao Nanfeng? As for that Stratagems Against Yin, how can you be confident that Xiao Nanfeng wrote it?"


    The other two women nced at each other, not anticipating that the man would know so much about Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Husband, I just questioned Xiao Nanfeng. I''m happy to tell you about him now," Han Bingdie said.


    "Tell us, Sister! What sort of man is he? I''ve been interested for some time."


    "Right, Yu''er keeps telling us about him. I''m sure he must be extraordinary."


    The two womentched onto Han Bingdie''s words with interest. Only the man continued to fume, though by now, he had curbed his anger and was listening carefully.


    Han Bingdie recounted what she knew.


    The two women were both amazed by what she had revealed.


    "Incredible. To think Xiao Nanfeng would have done so much within a decade..."


    "Dazheng already governs forty Immortal cities? That''s an impressive feat."


    "Would Dazheng be a divine empire in another ten years'' time, I wonder?"


    "Husband, Xiao Nanfeng is more than adequate a candidate for our Yu''er."


    "Right, Husband. You might have looked down on him before, but what do you think about him now?"


    The two women continued to badger the man, who frowned as he fell deep in thought.


    Han Bingdie likewise advised, "Husband, I know the weight of Chiyang Peak lies heavy over your shoulders. You might even have to consider the future of the Yuqing holynd¡ªbut if there are multiple qualified suitors, won''t you think of Yu''er''s own feelings? Yu''er and Xiao Nanfeng have gone through thick and thin together. If not for Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er might already have perished! It''s true that she''s not always obedient, but you dote on her! Surely you won''t deny her happiness?"


    "Right, Husband, Xiao Nanfeng''s perfectly suited for Yu''er!"


    "Don''t make things difficult for Yu''er, will you, Husband?"


    The two women jumped in again, nodding at Han Bingdie.


    The man growled. "What would you women know of this?"


    "You''re right. We women don''t know anything, do we? You''d better note to my room tonight, then."


    "Nor mine."


    "I won''t be avable tonight!"


    The three women threatened the man.


    The man: ...


    Seeing how upset all three of his wives were, the husband sighed. "I don''t me you, but¡ªvery well. Xiao Nanfeng might be an excellent candidate, but things are far too dangerous for him."


    "Dangerous? How?" the three women asked.


    "Ignoring the fact that Xiao Nanfeng''s hounded by cursed effigies, think about all his aplishments to date. Just how much ughter, how much bloodshed, has he experienced over thest decade? He''s a troublemaker or trouble ma. He managed to survive this long out of luck, but a chance encounter could leave him crippled or dead. I don''t want Yu''er to be a widow."


    The three women pursed their lips. That was true. Xiao Nanfeng had created legends, but even a moment''s carelessness might unmake him. What of Yu''er then?


    Han Bingdie shook her head. "You looked down on Xiao Nanfeng''s qualifications; now that he''s made a name for himself, you im that what he''s doing is too dangerous. How else would he have changed your mind if not for his doing what he did?"


    "At any rate, I won''t ept it for the time being. Not only is his cultivation inadequate, he hasn''t aplished enough. His skill at causing trouble alone would be worth making me reconsider," the man dered.


    "You stubborn fool! Xiao Nanfeng''s an excellent man with unlimited potential. Why won''t you give him a chance?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "He''s not your son-inw yet. Why are you heaping so much praise on him? It''s true that he might ascend even further, but he might also suffer his downfall. There are plenty of cases like his."


    "But¡ª"


    "No buts. I, Xia Xingchen, will provide my daughter with only the best. I might consider Xiao Nanfeng in the future, but I won''t have them tangled together at the moment. This is final. You''re all making short-sighted decisions based on your intuition, which can easily lead you astray. Yu''er''s marriage will be a lifelong affair, and I have to ensure that it''s a sess," Xia Xingchen announced.


    "We three women are short-sighted, you im? Are you the only one who can predict the future?"


    "Don''te find us tonight!"


    The three women red at him and stalked away.


    Xia Xingchen: ...

 Chapter 652: Beating Up the Suitors

    <h4>Chapter 652: Beating Up the Suitors</h4>


    Within the Yuqing holynd, at the foot of Chiyang Peak, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao waited until the evening, when Han Bingdie returned. Two beautiful women apanied her.


    "Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao called out.


    Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously, "Senior, these cultivators are..."


    "They''re my husband''s first and second wives, here to have a look at you," Han Bingdie said.


    "I greet both seniors." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply, though an odd look crossed his face.


    "So this is Xiao Nanfeng! No wonder Yu''er''s besotted."


    "Not bad, not bad! Yu''er''s clearly as discerning as I am."


    The two women nced at Xiao Nanfeng with significant interest while he shivered.


    "Sisters, let''s talk business, shall we?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "Please go ahead, Sister," one of the women replied.


    Han Bingdie smiled wryly. "Very well. I didn''t want to go against my husband''s wishes, but since you both agree... I''m counting on both of you to help me out if he mes me, alright?"


    "He''s a stubborn fool who wants to sacrifice Yu''er''s happiness for the Yuqing holynd. Can''t his three sons do that? Why is it Yu''er who has to give up her man? Dream on!"


    "Don''t worry. If he mes you, we''ll be on your side."


    The two women promised to ally themselves with Han Bingdie.


    "Thank you, Sisters," Han Bingdie said.


    "Seniors, what are all of you discussing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.


    "Nanfeng, we won''t make any promises about whether you can be with Yu''er in the future, but are you willing to fight others on her behalf at the moment?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "Of course."


    "Good. Here''s the situation. For some reason, Yu''er''s father chose to induct her as a Yuqing holy maiden. The title is no blessing¡ªsuch holy maidens are expected to make marriage alliances with foreign powers to strengthen the Yuqing holynd''s reserves. The matter wouldn''t have been pressing if not for the fact that several powers are now seeking Yu''er''s hand in marriage under the pretext of taking part in her father''s uing birthday. Somehow, even the hierarch has approved of this.


    "My husband is willing to do anything for the future of the Yuqing holynd, and he is naturally in agreement with the hierarch. This makes matters difficult for Yu''er: he wanted her to meet with these prospective suitors, but she''s been refusing to see any of them. That''s the cause of the conflict, and we can''t do anything about it," Han Bingdie exined.


    "Oh? Senior, you mean I should elope with Yu''er?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The three women were all taken aback. Han Bingdie scoffed, "Elope? This is the Yuqing holynd! Do you think you''d seed? Don''t think of doing anything with Yu''er at the moment."


    "Understood," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "How am I to help Yu''er, then?"


    "Didn''t you say that you had plenty of fierce subordinates and relics? My husband''s birthday is in ten days. Over the next ten days, send these prospective suitors packing with your fists," Han Bingdie said.


    "With my fists?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "Indeed. There are plenty of strong suitors around, and you two True Immortals won''t be able to handle them all by yourselves. Aren''t you a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court? Send for other Martial Aspects to help you out, then," Han Bingdie said.


    "Would it cause any problems if I were to get into fights in the Yuqing holynd?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, worried.


    "What problems could there be? You''re not beating up Yuqing disciples, after all. You''re a guest, and they''re guests as well. There aren''t any restrictions on guests fighting each other.


    "You need to showcase your strength not just to my husband, but also to the other Mountain Lords and the Hierarch himself. At the very least, you need to make them think that those losers aren''t qualified to marry Yu''er. I''ll champion you and extol your virtues then as well," Han Bingdie said.


    "Senior, are there Boundless Immortals among these suitors?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Han Bingdie scoffed. "Do you think Boundless Immortals are a dime a dozen? If a Boundless Immortal were toe as a suitor, the Hierarch would never dare have them stay at the foot of Chiyang Peak. Yu''er would be bound for marriage in an instant. These are True Immortals at best. There''s only a single Golden Immortal, supposedly from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, and he hasn''t be one for long. That''s why you''ll need reinforcements."


    "In that case, I''ll make my move immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What? And what if the two of you were to lose?" Han Bingdie eximed.


    "I''m invincible among True Immortals, and I''m certain I can beat an early-stage Golden Immortal. There''s no time to lose. Who knows what''ll happen if I wait?"


    The three women nced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. Han Bingdie frowned. "Nanfeng, your master is Ku Jiang, and he isn''t skilled at bragging. Is this a joke?"


    "I''ve taken on a Golden Immortal before, Senior, and I''ll have relics as a safeguard. I''ll be fine."


    The three women eyed each other before Han Bingdie finally said, "Very well. This is as much as we can help you. If you end up wasting this opportunity yourself, there''s nothing more we can do."


    "Please rx, Senior. I won''t disappoint or embarrass you or Yu''er. We''ll pen the letters of challenge today and take them on the very next morning," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well." Han Bingdie nodded.


    She still seemed somewhat unable to believe Xiao Nanfeng''s ims. After all, despite the fact that True Immortals and Golden Immortals differed by but a single major realm, the difference might as well be that between night and day.


    She pointed out to Xiao Nanfeng where the prospective suitors were located.


    Meanwhile, on Chiyang Peak, Yu''er was still locked in her room, not having realized that Xiao Nanfeng hade to pay her a visit.


    The Mountain Lord Xia Xingchen frowned as he eyed the valley, knowing that his three wives had gone to talk to Xiao Nanfeng. Rather than stop them, he seemed to be waiting to see what Xiao Nanfeng would do with anticipation.


    The next day, at the entrance to the Yuqing holynd, Xia Lan was standing guard when a Yuqing disciple rushed out to find him. "Senior Brother Xia Lan, something''s wrong!"


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Do you remember Xiao Nanfeng from yesterday?"


    "What about him?"


    "Last night, he penned a letter of challenge against all the prospective suitors seeking your sister''s hand. They''re all fighting today!" the Yuqing disciple cried out.


    "What? You must be mistaken. There''s no way he''s going to cause such a fuss right after arriving here!"


    "It''s true! Chiyang Peak''s in a hugemotion about the news. No, it''s already spread to the other peaks. There are disciples from all over waiting for the show!"


    "Are you serious?"


    "Of course! He''s going to take on all the suitors in one go. The fight''s about to start!"


    "Damn it, he really is a troublemaker, isn''t he? I''m going to go have a look!" Xia Lan called out.


    "Senior Brother Xia Lan, your guard duty¡ª"


    "What''s there to guard? Come on!"


    He rushed in through the gate and quickly vanished from sight.


    Xia Lan passed through cloud and fog cover as he zipped toward the foot of Chiyang Peak, where countless Yuqing disciples had already gathered.


    Those Yuqing disciples were standing atop the various mountain peaks, chatting with each other as they pointed out the various suitors. Some had even brought tables with fruit, wine, and snacks with them as they watched the show unfold.


    After all, for the holy maiden''s suitors to take on each other would be rare entertainment indeed.


    "Look! That''s Xiao Nanfeng over there. The fight''s starting!"


    "He looks in and ordinary. Is he really going to be able to take down the other suitors?"


    "Ah, those fists are multiplying!"


    The Yuqing disciples were taken aback.


    In a valley surrounded by disciples, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and punched at his opponent, a monk. Suddenly, countless fists emerged all around the monk, sending him flying as he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "They''re really getting into a fight? Xiao Nanfeng, that bastard! To think my sister would devote herself to him¡ªnot only is Father going to be upset, none of my mothers are going to speak up on his behalf anymore!" Xia Lan eximed.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao sat enjoying a gon of wine in a pavilion, without any intention of making a move himself. Xiao Nanfeng strode forward, eyeing the forces gathered around him.


    The suitors'' delegations wereposed of thousands of cultivators in all, and they were all ring at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Once again, I''m perfectly happy to wee you to celebrate Mountain Lord Xiao''s birthday, but I don''t intend to allow you to extend an offer of marriage," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    "And who are you to deny us that opportunity?" a cultivator shouted.


    "I don''t intend to order you about with my station, lest others think that I''m unqualified. If you insist, then you''ll have to beat me up first. Actions speak louder than words, after all."


    "Allow me." A muscr monk with a ferocious air about him strode forward.


    "A monk as a prospective suitor? Aren''t you ashamed?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He punched forward, and the sky filled with fists. The monk was sent flying.


    "Junior Brothers, take down this fool with me!" the monk shouted.


    "Yes, Senior Brother!" the monks chorused.


    Seventeen monks shot forward alongside him, all of them boasting significant strength. They were all Heaven Immortals. The eighteen monks stood in a formation that released an overwhelming aura, shocking the gathered Yuqing disciples.


    "It''s the Golden Arhat Temple''s eighteen-arhat formation!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s done for now."


    "Did he really think he could take on so many cultivators alone? What a joke!"


    Countless disciples murmured to each other from around the valley.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I gave you the opportunity to take me on one after another. You''re going to gang up on me all at once instead?"


    "Ha! As if there''s a need to fight you in an ethical fashion," the muscr monk thundered.


    "Very well, then," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    A red moon appeared behind his head, rising into the air. Red clouds formed around it as cursed spiritual power filled the valley.


    The cursed spiritual power left everyone uneasy, including the gathered monks. Their leader abruptly shouted, "Hurry!"


    "Die!" the eighteen monks shouted as one.


    They clutched their staffs and shot forward, the eighteen staffs boasting thebined strength of a whole battalion of troops as they struck at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, coils of red rope unfurled from the clouds above,shing at the gathered monks like whips of order.


    The lengths of red rope each coiled around a monk''s neck. The muscr monk in the lead was tied up with so much rope that he looked like a dumpling.


    The monks were left hanging in the air, their staffs ttering to the ground. Their faces flushed red as they tore at the rope around their necks without any luck.


    "R-Release me!" the muscr monk shouted in fear.


    All the Yuqing disciples were taken aback.


    "What a sinister technique, and what dense cursed spiritual power..."


    "That monk in the lead''s a True Immortal. He can''t even seem to move!"


    "They''ve all been hung..."


    The disciples gaped at the sight unfolding before them.

 Chapter 653: Hanging as a Means of Attack

    <h4>Chapter 653: Hanging as a Means of Attack</h4>


    A group of monks hung in the air, dangling as if they were hanging themselves.


    All the spectators were taken aback, and the Yuqing disciples around the scene stopped chatting with each other.


    "All of you, listen up! I''m perfectly happy to wee you to celebrate Mountain Lord Xiao''s birthday, but I don''t intend to allow you to extend an offer of marriage to Holy Maiden Xia Yu''er," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want to kill anyone in the Yuqing holynd, especially leading up to Xia Xingchen''s birthday celebration. Otherwise, the monks would already have perished.


    "Ha! Do you think you can really take us on all by yourself? You must not have much of this red rope. Everyone, charge him together! Let''s see if he can overwhelm us then!" someone shouted.


    Arge group of cultivators immediately shot forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed them coldly. "Ignorant fools."


    More lengths of red rope descended from the heavens¡ªnot dozens, but hundreds.


    "Be careful!" the cultivator in the lead shouted.


    He cut apart a length of red rope, only for another one to swoop toward him from the back.


    Yelps and pained cries rang out as cultivator after cultivator found themselves hung. What was once sinister now seemed majestic as over a hundred cultivators found themselves being hung. The Yuqing disciples arrayed around the battlefield gaped in shock.


    "These lengths of red rope vanish instantly after being cut. They have to be conjured out of spiritual power. I bet he isn''t that strong. Charge forward!" someone else called out.


    The cultivators continued to advance, one after another. Even so, more lengths of red rope unfurled from the sky in ever greater quantities. Soon, there were a thousand coils of red rope in all.


    Heaven Immortals found themselves hung in the blink of an eye, unable to muster any resistance.


    True Immortals were strong enough to defend against the attack for a few moments, shing apart the red rope that shot toward them, but a moment''s carelessness would see their limbs and subsequently neck bound. The rope grew taut, giving them a sense of the intense pain that woulde from having their bodies torn apart.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode across the air, staring arrogantly at the gathered cultivators. A tremendous pressure overwhelmed everyone.


    Xia Lan gaped in shock as he ascended Chiyang Peak.


    "The man Yu''er has her eyes on is... remarkable," Xia Lan murmured.


    He reached the peak of the mountain in no time at all.


    There, the Chiyang Mountain Lord Xia Xingchen was staring coldly at the fighting urring down below. Han Bingdie and the two other women were beside their husband, smiling in satisfaction.


    "Did you have him make such a fuss?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng is my nephew when ites to cultivation, and he''se here to pay respects to you for your birthday celebration. He''s a guest from afar, as are those other prospective suitors. Do you intend to help out one group of outsiders over another? Xiao Nanfeng might as well be half a rtive of ours. If you help those outsiders instead, I won''t spare you," Han Bingdie dered, her head held high.


    "That''s right!" The other two women stood by her side as well.


    Xia Xingchen watched on. He looked toward the distance. "What he''s doing now means little against this motley group of low-tier Immortals and a few True Immortals. That Golden Immortal over there hasn''t even made a move yet."


    "That Golden Immortal from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? Who''s to say Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to win against him?" Han Bingdie retorted, frowning.


    Just then, Xia Lan flew by from the side.


    The three women''s eyes lit up. One of them beckoned at Xia Lan, motioning for him to hide in the back.


    Xia Lan did so, hiding from Xia Xingchen''s gaze.


    Then, one woman pointed at the hall to the back. Xia Lan nodded gratefully and flew over.


    Just then, one Chiyang Peak disciple saw Xia Lan and was just about to shout out a greeting when Xia Lan nched and cupped a palm over his mouth. He froze, btedly understanding the situation, before stepping back and feigning ignorance. This wasn''t the first time that Xia Lan had snuck back, after all.


    Xia Xingchen nced in the direction in which Xia Lan had flown, then looked elsewhere as if he had never seen Xia Lan in the first ce.


    Xia Lan crept toward the halls in the back of the manor to find a group of maids standing guard outside one of them in particr. That hall was sealed with a formation that prevented anyone from hearing what was going on within.


    "What are you all doing?" Xia Lan eximed.


    "The Mountain Lord had us keep guard over this hall and prevent anyone from drawing near," one maid said.


    "You can all go now," Xia Lan said.


    "But the Mountain Lord''s orders¡ª" the maid replied.


    Xia Lan ignored the maid and pushed past her. He rapped on the formation. "Yu''er,e out!"


    The formation trembled, but there was no response.


    "Miss locked herself within after her confrontation with the Mountain Lord, stating that she was going to go without food for ten days and only emerge after the Mountain Lord''s birthday celebration," the maid reported.


    "What a girl," Xia Lan murmured, not knowing whether tough or to sigh.


    He reinforced the outermostyer of the formation that isted any sound, then retrieved a relic and struck Yu''er''s formation with it.


    The formation shook violently.


    "I won''te out! Stay away from me. I won''t show myself even if you beat me or starve me to death!" Yu''er shouted, hearing themotion.


    Xia Lan sighed again. Starve to death? An Immortal? She''d survive for a whole year without food! What tricks she had employed as a child wouldn''t work any longer.


    "Yu''er, it''s me. Open up!" Xia Lan called out.


    "Third Brother? You aren''t here to help Father get me out, are you? I won''t!" Yu''er called back.


    "You ingrate! Have you forgotten who it was who stood up for you? Open up!" Xia Lan fumed.


    "I won''t! I''m going to starve myself until they''re all gone!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s here," Xia Lan said in exasperation.


    The door to the hall opened up in an instant.


    Xia Lan was speechless. Yu''er hadn''t been willing to open up for him, but would do so immediately for Xiao Nanfeng!


    Yu''er, dressed in red, slipped out. Her mouth was gleaming with oil. She had a roasted chicken wing in her hand and had finished half of it.


    "You, you were cooking for yourself in your room? You call that starving yourself?" Xia Lan eximed.


    Yu''er''s eyes were aglow. "What did you say? Xiao Nanfeng''s here? Where?"


    "Where else? Beating up those suitors of yours out there. Didn''t you know?"


    "What? What if he gets hurt?!"


    Xia Lan gaped. His sister was showing more care for a stranger than her own brother!


    Yu''er immediately dispelled the formation and ran toward the outside of the peak.


    "You''re going to take that roast chicken wing with you?" Xia Lan shouted.


    "Ah, I forgot!"


    She hurriedly deposited the chicken wing in her brother''s hands, wiped her mouth with his sleeve, then ran off before he came to his senses.


    Xia Lan''s face twitched. He grimaced, then cursed, "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait! You''ll pay for stealing my little sister away!"


    Meanwhile, the fighting¡ªone-sided beatdown, rather¡ªreached its climax.


    No matter how many cultivators showed themselves, they were all hung one after the other.


    The Yuqing disciples watched on raptly.


    "This is crazy. I never thought hanging could be used as a form of attack!"


    "Doesn''t it seem incredible to have so many cultivators being hung at once?"


    "To think Xiao Nanfeng alone could hang them all to death..."


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng here as a suitor, too? Given his strength alone, he''s qualified to im Xia Yu''er''s hand."


    Countless Yuqing disciples whispered to themselves as they watched the show unfold.


    Themotion had drawn the attention of not just ordinary disciples, but also a few Mountain Lords.


    "Old Xia, that suitor seems rather impressive, doesn''t he?"


    "Holy Maiden Yu''er is truly an asset."


    "Thisd isn''t bad. Have you done a background check on him?"


    Several of the Mountain Lords had gathered beside Xia Xingchen.


    Xia Xingchen frowned at them. "I''ve got to teach all of you a lesson, too. Who among you revealed that Yu''er became a holy maiden? We''re the only ones who knew!"


    "Ah? I don''t know. It wasn''t me!"


    "It''s none of my business!"


    The Mountain Lords all denied any responsibility.


    Xia Xingchen grimaced, ignoring them as he continued to watch the fighting down below.


    Of the twelve prospective suitors beside Xiao Nanfeng himself, eleven had been taken down. Only the final suitor and his delegation remained.


    Xiao Nanfeng noticed them as well. He called out to the hung cultivators, "Have you all taken my warning to heart, everyone?"


    "We have!" one cultivator called out. "We aren''t skilled enough to qualify to ask for Holy Maiden Xia Yu''er''s hand in marriage. We''re simply here to congratte Mountain Lord Xia!"


    Then, all the cultivators begged for mercy.


    "In that case, let''s stop here."


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. All the red rope loosened as hundreds of cultivators were freed, shivering as they nced at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, a figure stepped into the air, shining with golden light. An impressive aura emanated from him, causing raging winds to form in his vicinity. Many cultivators were forced back.


    "A Golden Immortal?" Countless Yuqing disciples were astounded.


    A difference of a single major realm was like that between heaven and earth. Xiao Nanfeng was a True Immortal; how could he beat a Golden Immortal?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, is it? Rather strong you are," the Golden Immortalmented.


    He was a middle-aged man of middling looks, though his eyes seemed extraordinarily sharp.


    "Are you here to test the strength of my ropes, too?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Not to test them, but to beat you. I was going to wait until ten days passed before formally propositioning the Yuqing holynd, but I suppose there''s no need now. All this fuss of yours is perfect timing. I chose not to make a move back then so no one could criticize me for using numbers against you. Now, however, you will fall." The Golden Immortal smirked.


    He transformed into a beam of golden light and shed right up to Xiao Nanfeng, striking him with a palm. The palm emanated an imposing aura as it shot toward him like a meteor of annihtion.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out anxiously from atop Chiyang Peak.


    She too was an Immortal; she knew how frightening Golden Immortals were. She nced at the scene in despair.


    Countless disciples watched on with bated breath, even Han Bingdie and the two women beside her.


    Only Xia Xingchen raised an eyebrow. He murmured to himself, "This isn''t Xiao Nanfeng''s body at all! It''s a double he made with spiritual harmony..."

 Chapter 654: Victory in One Slash

    <h4>Chapter 654: Victory in One sh</h4>


    As countless cultivators watched on, that Golden Immortal''s palm struck Xiao Nanfeng in an explosion of red fog.


    "It''s fake? How could it be?"


    "Spiritual harmony¡ªa domain avatar?!"


    "Is he a mid-stage True Yin cultivator? How could his spiritual harmony be soplete that I can''t even detect him?"


    Cries rang out from all around.


    Atop Chiyang Peak, Yu''er sighed in relief. She had been so worried, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be alright.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng''s body manifested once again.


    He floated in the air as he eyed the Golden Immortal coldly. "And were you intending to kill me outright?"


    "I have a name. Call me Long Si. I don''t particrly enjoy sparring with others; if I strike, others will bleed." The Golden Immortal smirked.


    He made his move once again, leaving a series of afterimages in the air as he shed before Xiao Nanfeng and struck at him with a palm.


    Before the crowd could gasp in amazement, Xiao Nanfeng was cut in twain yet again. The two halves of his body dissipated in clouds of fog.


    "Fake, again?" Long Si fumed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s figure appeared once more in the distance. "You draw blood whenever you strike, you say? Rather arrogant, but you don''t seem to have the skills to back it up."


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be deliberately provoking Long Si.


    Long Si''s eyes glinted coldly as he appeared before Xiao Nanfeng again.


    This time, before Long Si could make his move, however, Xiao Nanfeng vanished again.


    "You can''t even touch the hem of my robes. You call yourself a Golden Immortal? You''re hardly any better than I am," Xiao Nanfeng mocked.


    "Don''t run from me, then!" Long Si retorted.


    "I''ve never run. I''ve been right here all this time, but it seems as if you''re too blind to notice my presence," Xiao Nanfeng provoked him once more.


    Long Si seethed. "Do you think your deific domain is infallible? Just you watch!"


    He soared into the air, toward the red clouds in the sky.


    "Be careful. He''s going to destroy your spiritual moon!" Yu''er cried out.


    "It''s toote. You''re done for!" Long Si shouted, striking at the red moon hidden behind the clouds.


    His fist shattered the moon, revealing a red orb within.


    "What? It was fake?" Long Si eximed.


    The red orb shattered as a kasaya shrouded his body, one teeming with such energy that all his hair stood on end.


    He nched and shouted, "Golden Barrier!"


    A wave of golden light surrounded his body, resisting the kasaya''s attempts to bind him. Just then, the red rope king burrowed through his golden barrier and coiled taut around his neck.


    "Damn it, what''s this?!" He instinctively tried to pull the red rope king away from his neck in fear.


    The red rope king was particrly sinister. It was suppressing the golden light emanating from his body, as well as his cultivation.


    Just then, a blue lotusnded atop his head, sending a burst of death chants deep into his soul.


    "Argh!" Long Si cried out.


    The death chants left his mind turbid and his thoughts in disarray. The red rope king tightened further; he could feel his thoughts fading away.


    Just then, a glimmer of golden light appeared before him. Xiao Nanfeng was charging forward, an Immortal sword in hand.


    "No!" Long Si cried out.


    His head was flung away from the rest of his body.


    All this happened in the blink of an eye. Red fog shrouded the scene from the onlookers, preventing them from clearly seeing what had happened. They heard Long Si scream¡ªand then saw a bloodstained head fly out of the red clouds.


    "What''s going on?!" they eximed.


    Just then, a green palm struck at the red clouds.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, control yourself!" a voice shouted.


    The red clouds dissipated, exposing Xiao Nanfeng. He was flung back by the sudden attack. The red rope king transformed back into a red moon and guarded him, while the blue lotus flew into his mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t injured; he had defended himself with Long Si''s body in the nick of time and hidden the kasaya from sight.


    "Who''s there?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Yuqing disciples all around gaped in shock.


    "He took down a Golden Immortal!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng won? How?"


    "How could it be?"


    Countless shouts could be heard from the cultivators all over.


    A blue-robed elder had caught Long Si''s head with one hand and was reaching out for his body with another.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of surrendering the body. He retreated with it in tow.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do not cause amotion. Hand Long Si''s body to Sage Green Lotus. He''s the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak," Han Bingdie called out from high atop Chiyang Peak.


    Xiao Nanfeng instantly relented.


    "I apologize, Elder. I was unaware of your identity," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Rather than criticize Xiao Nanfeng, Sage Green Lotus immediately reattached Long Si''s head, murmuring a mantra and pointing a finger where Long Si''s neck had been severed. The wound healed with a sh of green light, and Long Si regained consciousness once more. However, the brief moment of separation between head and body had disrupted the proper flow of energy in his body. The rampant energy had caused severe internal injuries.


    Long Si spat out a mouthful of blood, then turned to Sage Green Lotus. "Thank you for your assistance, Sage."


    Sage Green Lotus rxed upon seeing that Long Si had been revived. He finally turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Young you might be, but vicious you are."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and was about to defend himself when Yu''er descended from the heavens. "Old Green Lotus, he was the one who attacked Nanfeng first! And what about the behavior of your disciple, the Demon Child? You can''t even teach your disciples how to behave properly¡ªhow can you criticize others?"


    "Yu''er! Do not speak out of turn," Han Bingdie eximed, flying down alongside her and grabbing her hand.


    "Nanfeng waspeting fairly with that other cultivator. When that cultivator executed a killing blow, why didn''t Old Green Lotus step forward? He''s clearly biased!" Yu''er continued relentlessly.


    Sage Green Lotus flushed in anger.


    "Insolence! This isn''t your ce to speak," Xia Xingchen thundered.


    Yu''er hmphed and turned away.


    A moment of awkward silence filled the air.


    Xia Xingchen had no choice but to step forward. "Senior Brother Green Lotus, I apologize for theck of discipline."


    "Hmph!" Sage Green Lotus whirled around and flew off.


    Long Si grimaced. He bowed toward Xia Xingchen. "Mountain Lord Xia, I''ve embarrassed myself."


    "Lord Si, my daughter spoke out of turn. I hope you won''t take offense," Xia Xingchen said.


    "Of course not. I came to celebrate your uing birthday, Mountain Lord, and to seek out your daughter''s hand in marriage as a representative of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce," Long Si continued.


    "My daughter is yet young, and I''d like to keep her by my side for a few more years. Let''s not speak of such affairs at the moment," Xia Xingchen replied bluntly.


    Long Si frowned for a moment. "Very well. My apologies for acting rashly, Mountain Lord."


    "Are you well, Lord Si? Do you need any assistance with regards to your injuries?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    "There''s no need. A brief moment to recuperate is all I need. I won''t bother you any longer," Long Si said.


    "Very well." Xia Xingchen nodded as Long Si flew away, surrounded by his subordinates.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew up to Xia Xingchen. "Xiao Nanfeng greets Mountain Lord Xia."


    Xia Xingchen eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you? A match for Golden Immortals despite your cultivation."


    "No, Mountain Lord. I simply caught Long Si by surprise, and I took advantage of the relics in my possession. I intended for this to be a gift for your birthday, Mountain Lord Xia. It''s nothing but a trifle; I hope you won''t disdain it." Xiao Nanfeng drew his Immortal sword and proffered it to Xia Xingchen.


    Countless Yuqing disciples nced at the sword.


    "That sword managed to sever a Golden Immortal''s neck in one blow!"


    "It must be a Golden Immortal relic itself. To think Xiao Nanfeng would be willing to give up such a treasure..."


    "A Golden Immortal relic? They''re so rare that many Golden Immortals don''t even have a single one. How generous Xiao Nanfeng is!"


    The Yuqing disciples gaped at thevish gift.


    Xia Xingchen frowned. "A birthday present? Or one to seek my daughter''s hand in marriage? Forget it. It''s too precious for the likes of me."


    "Husband, what are you saying? Nanfeng''s here to celebrate your birthday. Don''t put on airs!"


    "Right, he''s clearly sincere. Let''s retire to the mountain peak for a private discussion, shall we?"


    Two of Xia Xingchen''s wives stepped forward to pacify their husband.


    One of them said, "Nanfeng, you and Zhao Yuanjiao should join us. Let''s talk inside."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    Yu''er wanted to rush forward, but Han Bingdie held on tightly to her arm. She knew how agitated Yu''er was; if she were to do something inappropriate out here in public, it would reflect badly on Xia Xingchen.


    "Go on. I''ll have to speak to the Hierarch about what happened today first," Xia Xingchen said.


    He turned and flew off.


    The three women frowned, but none of them flew off after him.


    "Senior, I apologize. I seem to have caused more trouble than anticipated," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling wryly.


    "Hardly! It''s not as if Long Si died. Who would cause you any trouble? That was a de well struck. If you hadn''t done so, there might have been even more problems down the line," Han Bingdie whispered.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "Many of the prospective suitors were ones that Long Si himself invited, against whom he intended to distinguish himself. He was hoping to seed in securing Yu''er''s hand in marriage right away, so he made significant preparations in advance. Now, all his ns are dashed."


    "That''s right. We''ve all been concerned about who leaked the news that our Yu''er has be a holy maiden. It looks like Green Lotus was responsible¡ªha! Serves him right that he had to suffer Yu''er''s scolding in public!" another of Xia Xingchen''s wives said.


    The cultivators flew up to Chiyang Peak alongside Xiao Nanfeng. Yu''er watched on in excitement. She couldn''t help but want to smile upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng. She tried to fly toward him to have a talk, but Han Bingdie stopped her each time.


    Just then, Xia Lan called out to the gathered disciples, "What''s there to look at? If you''ve got so much time to waste, go cultivate some more!"


    The Yuqing disciples scattered. All they could talk about was Xiao Nanfeng, who had managed to behead a Golden Immortal as nothing but a True Immortal. That fight today had truly allowed him to make a name for himself.

 Chapter 655: The Yuqing Hierarchs Scheme

    <h4>Chapter 655: The Yuqing Hierarch''s Scheme</h4>


    Atop Chiyang Peak, Han Bingdie gave Xiao Nanfeng an apologetic smile. "Don''t mind him, Nanfeng. That''s how Yu''er''s father has always been."


    "I would hardly criticize Mountain Lord Xia, Senior. I acted rashly," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "We''ve already exined the situation to you yesterday. Now that you''ve defeated the twelve prospective suitors, we''ll have to see to them as well so that none can criticize the Yuqing holynd for not treating its guests with appropriate respect. You haven''t spoken to Yu''er in quite a while, have you? Why don''t you chat a bit for now?" Han Bingdie suggested.


    "Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng said gratefully.


    "Thank you, Mother," Yu''er replied in excitement.


    "Xia Lan, apany them."


    "Understood!" Xia Lan replied.


    Han Bingdie was intentionally leaving Xia Lan here as a third wheel.


    The moment the three women left, Yu''er leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xia Lan nced toward them and coughed. "Ahem!"


    Yu''er red at him. "Brother, you can leave now."


    Xia Lan scowled. Was his sister going to ignore him now that she had found a lover?


    "Madam Han wanted me to apany you," Xia Lan replied, ncing warily at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Why don''t you apany Zhao Yuanjiao?" Yu''er asked. "It''s his first time here at Chiyang Peak. You can show him around."


    Xia Lan: ...


    "It''s alright," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Isn''t it fine for Senior Brother Xia Lan to apany us? Let''s find somewhere for us to talk."


    Han Bingdie had helped him greatly this time around, and she had specifically designated Xia Lan to watch them. He could hardly just shrug him off.


    "How bothersome Brother is," Yu''er groused.


    Xia Lan: ...


    Ignoring Xia Lan''s reaction, Yu''er hurriedly grabbed Xiao Nanfeng''s hand and led him away. "Come on. Let''s go have a look at my ce. I tend to my very own garden in the yard."


    "Alright," Xiao Nanfeng said, nodding. He turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. "Shall we head there together, Senior Brother?"


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    The party of four walked toward a garden in the back of the hall.


    The garden was indeed beautiful. Xiao Nanfeng discovered that some parts of the garden were precisely like that in his manor. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of warmth. Yu''er had to have deliberately recreated those parts of his garden out of loneliness.


    The four cultivators sat down in a pavilion.


    "Nanfeng, how have you been all these years? You''re strong enough to take down even a Golden Immortal now!" Yu''er eximed.


    "These past few years..." Xiao Nanfeng described what he had done since he hadst seen Yu''er.


    Xia Lan watched on with rapt attention, but the more he heard, the more astonished he became. Xiao Nanfeng had to be bragging. What kind of cultivator could aplish such feats?


    "It was that dangerous? I should have stuck with you all along!" Yu''er fumed.


    What Xia Lan got out of Xiao Nanfeng''s story was honor and glory heaped with a healthy dose of exaggeration, whereas Yu''er focused more on the dangers that Xiao Nanfeng had had to ovee.


    "It''s alright. I had to make a name for myself in order to ask for your hand in marriage," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "There''s no need to take such risks," Yu''er replied worriedly.


    "I''m afraid there is," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "No, there isn''t! Ignore my father. He''s stubborn and pig-headed. If he forces me to entertain these suitors again, I''m going to flee from home!" Yu''er said resolutely.


    "I doubt you can make it out," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "Senior told me Mountain Lord Xia keeps you under particrly heavy guard, and doesn''t even want you to leave the holynd."


    "That''s fine! Third Brother will help me," Yu''er replied confidently, ncing at Xia Lan.


    "I wouldn''t!" Xia Lan eximed.


    His father had forced him to serve as a guard just because he had spoken up on her behalf. If he were to help her elope, his father would surely break his legs!


    "Third Brother, you''re my favorite. Won''t you even do me this small favor?" Yu''er pleaded pitifully.


    Xia Lan narrowed his eyes. "This is no small favor."


    "If you don''t help me, I''ll tell Eldest Brother and Second Brother that you''ve been bullying me!" Yu''er eximed.


    Xia Lan stiffened. Yu''er was beloved by her siblings. If his other two brothers were to think that he was bullying her, he''d surely suffer!


    "Alright, Yu''er, don''t make things difficult for your brother." Xiao Nanfengughed.


    "As you say." Yu''er smiled at Xiao Nanfeng. "Now that you''re here, it''s hardly as if I''d need to run off, anyway."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll try to convince Mountain Lord Xia," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er frowned in frustration. "You won''t be able to convince my father. He''s far more stubborn than you think. All he cares about is the Yuqing holynd and its future prosperity. He''s even willing to use me to that end!"


    The three males present fell silent. None of them dared to criticize Xia Xingchen in the heart of his power, after all.


    In a dim hall within the Yuqing holynd, a ck figure sat cross-legged in meditation within the shadows, as though cultivating some technique or another. Beside him was Xia Xingchen, who had just arrived.


    "Hierarch, you must have seen the fighting that took ce at the foot of Chiyang Peak. Although Xiao Nanfeng''s only a mid-stage True Immortal cultivator, he''s already able to take down a Golden Immortal, an impressive feat. What''s more, the empire of Dazheng that he founded now controls forty Immortal Cities, and he was even responsible for destroying a divine empire! I believe he''s a respectable option for an alliance with the Yuqing holynd. Furthermore, we helped out the Taiqing Immortal Sect two centuries ago, and this alliance will serve to cement rtionships between our two forces," Xia Xingchen argued.


    No one would have expected Xia Xingchen, seemingly staunchly against Xiao Nanfeng, to now argue in his favor in front of the hierarch of the holynd.


    In the darkness, the Yuqing hierarch pondered this suggestion. "Xingchen, do you remember why we chose to rescue the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    Xia Xingchen smiled wryly. "I was fond of Han Bingdie of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and decided to render my assistance despite the objections of the other Mountain Lords."


    The Yuqing hierarch shook his head. "If that were the case, you would have gone alone. Why would I have apanied you?"


    Xia Xingchen thought about this question for a moment. "For the Taiqing Yin Body?"


    "Indeed. Not everyone can cultivate the Taiqing red moon; the 48,000 scrolls of scripture of the Taiqing Immortal Sect serves as its foundation. Only the highest echelons of the sect were aware of these details. We would protect what remained of their disciples as long as they were willing to hand over that technique. We did it out of profit, not magnanimity," the Yuqing hierarch emphasized.


    "Understood!" Xia Xingchen replied, nodding.


    "And have you forgotten why we wanted that particr cultivation technique?"


    Xia Xingchen frowned. "I wouldn''t, Master. We did so in hopes of figuring out how to ess the purple moon illusory realm."


    "Indeed. The Taiqing red moon allows easy ess into the red moon illusory realm, a realm carved out by the Taiqing Grandmaster of yore. The Yuqing Grandmaster was no weaker a cultivator from the same period; he too created his own realm, the purple moon illusory realm. Even so, after all these years of tumult, no one from the Yuqing holynd has managed to open it anew. Do you know why?"


    Xia Xingchen was silent.


    "The purple moon illusory realm seems to have been sealed by some strange power. Despite the fact that cultivators like me have managed to invoke our own purple moons, we haven''t been able to bypass this seal and enter the realm. Over the years, all our efforts have been to no avail."


    "I understand," Xia Xingchen said.


    "And as for why your daughter, Xia Yu''er, was elevated to the position of Yuqing holy maiden, you know that as well. Even as a mortal, she showed signs of unusual talent, especially after she became a disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. The first time she returned, I noticed unusual sparkles by her mindscape, as if she possessed the mystical third eye¡ªdespite having no knowledge of the Yuqing Yin Body at that point! It was then that I recognized that she might be the opportunity we have long sought, initiated proceedings to appoint her a holy maiden, and taught her the Yuqing Yin Body. You''ve seen the results for yourself. Her progress has been remarkable. She''s already able to invoke her purple moon¡ªthe rate at which she cultivates this technique is unmatched in the holynd."


    "If she''s that important, Hierarch, why force her into a marriage so early?" Xia Xingchen refused to give in just yet.


    "Do you me Green Lotus for spreading news that she was to be appointed a holy maiden? Don''t me him. I had him tell the Southeastern Aquatic Pce."


    "What?!" Xia Xingchen eximed.


    "Have you forgotten what lies beneath the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" the Yuqing hierarch asked.


    "Was this all a ploy to let Yu''er gain ess to that and break the seal leading into the purple moon illusory realm?"


    "Indeed. If Yu''er receives the aid of that which is controlled by the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, she may be able to break that seal and usher in a new era of prosperity for us all. Therein lies the key to the advancement of the Yuqing holynd."


    "That¡ª" Xia Xingchen was taken aback.


    "As for Xiao Nanfeng, he''s irrelevant. It''s true he can bring the Yuqing holynd some resources, but they''re hardlyparable to our grandmaster''s inheritance. I ask that you act for the good of the holynd," the Yuqing hierarch said.


    Xia Xingchen frowned. In the end, he sighed. "I understand, Hierarch."


    "Very good." The Yuqing hierarch nodded.


    "That said, there are four lords of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, and the fourth lord clearly is an inferior match to my daughter. Even if the two of them are to be married, will she have ess to that which lies beneath the pce?" Xia Xingchen continued.


    It was the Yuqing hierarch''s turn to pause. "You are correct. Unless the premier lord of the pce marries Yu''er himself, it won''t do. I shall arrange for these matters."


    "I understand. Thank you, Hierarch," Xia Xingchen replied.


    At the very least, it seemed as though Yu''er wouldn''t have to marry Long Si for the time being.


    "Go on. Send Xiao Nanfeng away lest something untoward urs. The revival of the Yuqing holynd is paramount."


    "I understand," Xia Xingchen replied, sighing again in his mind.

 Chapter 656: Ordered to Elope

    <h4>Chapter 656: Ordered to Elope</h4>


    Two dayster, within a hall at the foot of Chiyang Peak stood two cultivators, Long Si and Sage Green Lotus.


    "How are your injuries?" Sage Green Lotus asked.


    "I''ve more or less recovered by now," Long Si said.


    "What happened within those red clouds? How could Xiao Nanfeng have beheaded you? You''re a Golden Immortal!" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    Long Si fell silent for a moment. "I was caught in his scheme. I didn''t expect Xiao Nanfeng to possess so many Golden Immortal relics."


    "Oh?"


    "All of you thought that he simply sliced through my neck with his sword; in truth, heid an ambush for me involving four Golden Immortal relics: a kasaya to bind me, a coil of red rope to sap my strength, a hat to release death chants into my soul, and finally the Immortal sword that beheaded me. Not only that, he lured me into the trap with a red orb." Long Si scowled in annoyance.


    "Four Golden Immortal relics? Just how much treasure did he acquire from taking down Dayin?" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    "Despite all his relics, he''s only a True Immortal. All he can do isunch sneak attacks on me. If I were on guard, he would hardly be an opponent¡ªand those four Golden Immortal relics would be mine." Long Si''s eyes shone with greed.


    "You''re eyeing his treasure now? Focus on your role as suitor! Xia Xingchen has more than sufficient excuse to reject your proposal now," Sage Green Lotus said.


    Long Si frowned. "Before I came, I promised my eldest brother that I would return with Xia Yu''er''s hand in marriage. If the proposal were to be rejected..."


    "Have your eldest brother ask for her hand in marriage himself," Sage Green Lotus said.


    Long Si shook his head. "He''s not free."


    "This should have been a straightforward affair, but you ruined it. There''s no choice but to have your brother show himself now. Otherwise, Xiao Nanfeng''s going to im her first."


    Long Si''s eyes widened. "Others might not be aware of the situation in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, but you are. My eldest brother has to guard the treasure, and he won''t be able toe himself. What about my second or third brothers?"


    "That won''t do. Unless your eldest brother personally shows up to ask for Yu''er''s hand in marriage, Xia Xingchen is likely to reject them outright."


    "There''s another approach..." Long Si murmured.


    "Oh?"


    "If I were to have sex with Xia Yu''er, Xia Xingchen would have to allow me to marry her for the sake of her reputation," Long Si murmured quietly.


    Sage Green Lotus frowned. "Do you think Xia Xingchen is a fool? You would dare assault Xia Yu''er? Xia Xingchen might not have done much of importance thesest few years, but I assure you, he''s no easygoing fool. He has plenty of strength in reserve. If you try something like that, you''d be dead meat."


    "No, I don''t intend to make a move within the Yuqing holynd. I''ll kidnap her and bring her out before doing so," Long Si said.


    "Indeed? And how will you do that?"


    "It''ll be Xia Xingchen''s millennium celebration in a few days'' time. He''ll have to greet all manner of guests, as will his wives. That will be when the situation is the most chaotic, and the best time to strike. I might not be able to manage anything alone, but you''ll help me, won''t you?" Long Si asked expectantly.


    Sage Green Lotus frowned again. He furrowed his brows and considered the idea.


    "You''ll do me this small favor, won''t you?" Long Si pressed.


    "She''s a holy maiden of the Yuqing holynd. I''d be viting sect orders by doing so."


    "As if you haven''t done plenty of that! What''s more, once Xia Yu''er and I end up together, I''ll tame her into an obedient wife. Everyone will be satisfied¡ªwho''d pin the me on me? Are you doubting my womanizing abilities? My women are loyal only to me when I''m done with them," Long Si bragged, smirking.


    This n was starting to tempt Sage Green Lotus.


    Three dayster, at the foot of Chiyang Peak, where Xiao Nanfeng had been staying, Xiao Nanfeng found himself surrounded by a group of Yuqing disciples.


    "As for you, Junior Brother, you''re putting too much strength into your punches. Save some of your energy so that you can respond flexibly to your opponent. Watch this," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He replicated the disciple''s techniques, but with far more strength than before. The gathered Yuqing disciples nced at each other in amazement.


    "So that''s how it is! No wonder I haven''t been able to draw out its true strength."


    "Thank you for your pointers, Senior Brother Xiao."


    "Incredible..."


    The Yuqing disciples were amazed by what Xiao Nanfeng had revealed.


    "It''s no problem at all. The Taiqing Immortal Sect and Yuqing holynd might as well be sister sects. I''m more than happy to provide a few pointers," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    After Xiao Nanfeng''s fight that day in the mountain valley, several Yuqing disciples had grown interested enough in him to reach out. Xiao Nanfeng''s affable personality and willingness to give them pointers quickly made him popr among the disciples.


    Once word spread, plenty of Yuqing disciples headed his way for advice. Xiao Nanfeng worked with all of them patiently, gathering popr support among the disciples.


    Xia Lan flew over, a strange look on his face.


    He too was a senior of Chiyang Peak, but the disciples had never treated him with such respect. On the other hand, they exclusively addressed Xiao Nanfeng as Senior Brother Xiao, as if he had been their senior all this time.


    "Ahem!" Xia Lan coughed.


    Upon seeing Xia Lan, Xiao Nanfeng turned to the Yuqing disciples. "Everyone, let''s end the session here. Try out what I suggested. I''ll be here again tomorrow if you need further advice."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" the Yuqing disciples eximed.


    It was apparent that Xiao Nanfeng had business of his own; they would hardly disturb him now. Over the past few days, they had benefited tremendously from Xiao Nanfeng''s experience and wisdom. He seemed to know something about every field of scripture, and he was able to provide inspired and immediately applicable advice to all the cultivation problems they hade across.


    After sending the Yuqing disciples away, Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Xia Lan gathered by a pavilion for tea. Zhao Yuanjiao even sealed the pavilion with a formation to prevent any sound from leaking out.


    Xiao Nanfeng said, "Senior Brother Xia Lan, I''ve been waiting for good news. What do your parents think?"


    Xia Lan sighed in exasperation. "You know my father''s personality. He refuses to allow Yu''er to leave the peak, not even when she''s making a huge fuss. My three mothers have all tried to persuade him, but to no avail."


    "Mountain Lord Xia''s being rather ridiculous, isn''t he? He''s unwilling to even let Nanfeng and Yu''er meet each other now! It''s almost as if he''s worried he''d elope with her." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows. "Perhaps not. Maybe Mountain Lord Xia is putting on a show for someone."


    "Oh?" Zhao Yuanjiao nced abruptly at him.


    "Though Yu''er and I clearly like each other, I''m sure we can be trusted to handle ourselves around each other. With Senior Brother Xia Lan to supervise us, surely we''d at least be allowed to meet." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Xia Lan folded his arms. "Who''s to say you aren''t going to steal my sister away?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Senior Brother Xia Lan, please calm down. Will you think about this logically with me? Please don''t treat me like a thief. Is this something your father would truly do?"


    "And why not?" Xia Lan replied. Even so, he too started to frown.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s defense was sensible. In the past, despite knowing that Ku Jiang had once pursued Han Bingdie, he had had no problem allowing them to head into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm together. Xia Xingchen wasn''t such a petty man.


    In that context, forbidding him and Yu''er from meeting on grounds of suspicion seemed considerably unnatural.


    "Senior Brother Xia Lan, did Yu''er mention anything?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yu''er..." Xia Lan frowned.


    "Senior Brother Xia Lan, you''re Yu''er''s third brother, and I know you adore and dote on her. You''re the only means ofmunication between her and me now, and I think you can tell that his behavior has been unusual. Perhaps he''s struggling with something himself. I may be able to assist Yu''er and even your father," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "My father''s the Mountain Lord of Chiyang Peak. What help could he need from you?" Xia Lan eximed disdainfully.


    "I know I may appear too forward, but the situation is rather strange, isn''t it? The three of us should investigate what''s doing on carefully. I won''t ask that you help us with anything beyond figuring out the truth. Shall we?"


    Xia Lan hesitated for a moment. Eventually, havinge to the conclusion that his father was indeed behaving strangely, he nodded.


    "What did Yu''er say?"


    "She threatened Father that she would elope if he continued forbidding the two of you from meeting. In the end, Father was so enraged that he locked her in the manor, and that he would even disown her if she continued behaving in such a fashion. My three mothers have been trying to persuade Father to relent, but he''s very upset. None of the Yuqing disciples of Chiyang Peak dare to intercede. Some tried to defend Yu''er, only to receive a stern scolding from Father."


    "Oh? Did Madam Han say anything?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "She said that she had had a private conversation with Father, but that he wouldn''t reveal anything. Instead, he was praising the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. None of my mothers are even willing to speak with him at the moment, except to intercede on Yu''er''s behalf."


    "The situation doesn''t seem good," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you going to analyze the situation? What''s going on, then?" Xia Lan asked. He took a sip of tea and nced disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Your father wants me to elope with Yu''er."


    Zhao Yuanjiao and Xia Lan sprayed out their mouthfuls of tea simultaneously.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you shameless bastard! When did my father ever say anything like that? Do you want him to beat you to death?!" Xia Lan used.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t get upset. He nced at Xia Lan. "You''re too young to understand."


    "Nonsense! I''m older than you are. Who''s too young to understand what? If you continue speaking nonsense, I''ll tell Father on you!" Xia Lan eximed.


    "You''re only proving my point. When you encounter a problem, rather than thinking about it, your first instinct is to report to your father. Does that seem mature to you?"


    Xia Lan choked on his tea. He pointed a finger at Xiao Nanfeng, but was so outraged he didn''t know how to start criticizing him.

 Chapter 657: Eloping with a Brother-in-Law in Tow

    <h4>Chapter 657: Eloping with a Brother-in-Law in Tow</h4>


    Before Xia Lan could get upset again, Xiao Nanfeng said, "Let me analyze the situation for you."


    "If you can''t satisfy me, I''ll tell Madam Han, if not Father!" Xia Lan gritted out.


    "Over thest few days, while I was sparring with the gathered Yuqing disciples, I found out that a holy maiden''s marriage is of paramount importance for the Yuqing holynd''s future, and requires the approval of the hierarch. Isn''t that so?"


    "Is that why you''ve been providing guidance to the Yuqing disciples these past few days?" Xia Lan frowned.


    "That''s one aspect of it, but this isrgely irrelevant. Is my understanding of a holy maiden''s marriage correct?"


    "It''s no secret," Xia Lan replied. "So what if that''s the case?"


    "I beheaded Long Si, proving my strength. Your father didn''t acknowledge me; rather, he immediately sought out an audience with the Yuqing Hierarch. I don''t know what they discussed, but your father insisted that I leave immediately thereafter. I suspect that something happened during their conversation to turn your father against me."


    Xia Lan frowned, deep in thought.


    "I don''t me your father. Rather, I feel like what he''s doing isrgely for show¡ªperhaps targeted at the hierarch. I believe the Yuqing Hierarch is against me for some reason or another."


    Xia Lan replied, "If the hierarch doesn''t approve of you, Father wouldn''t go against him."


    "What''s more, you said that your father praised the Southeastern Aquatic Pce in front of Madam Han. Doesn''t that seem abnormal to you? I just defeated Long Si, after all. What''s praiseworthy about the Southeastern Aquatic Pce''s delegation? In addition, he chose to do so in Madam Han''s presence, as if trying to stir up conflict. Why?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Xia Lan frowned. Now that Xiao Nanfeng was enumerating these anomalies, they did seem strange to him.


    "Perhaps your father was trying to hint that the Yuqing hierarch is in favor of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce."


    "So what?"


    "Well, why should that be the case? And why would Sage Green Lotus assist Long Si? Is there a secret that none of us know about? One that forces your father''s hand, perhaps," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You must be overthinking things. What if my father just doesn''t like you?" Xia Lan frowned.


    "I''m an excellent cultivator. Why would your father dislike someone like me?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Xia Lan scowled. "Narcissist!"


    "Let''s look at things differently, then. If your father really were against me, why would he forbid Yu''er from seeing me?"


    "Isn''t that nonsense? My father doesn''t want Yu''er interacting with you, of course!"


    "No," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head. "If that were the case, he should have spoken with me directly or expelled me from the Yuqing holynd¡ªbut he chose neither option. Rather, he allowed me to continue interacting with Yuqing disciples and secure their goodwill."


    "You''ve been instructing these Yuqing disciples to see what my father would do?" Xia Lan eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t deny it. "My conclusion is that your father is rather satisfied with me¡ªor rather, he dotes dearly on Yu''er, but can''t reveal his true thoughts for some reason."


    "Of course he dotes on Yu''er," Xia Lan replied.


    "You agree, then. Do you really think Yu''er would be happy in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? As a father who dotes on his daughter, would Xia Xingchen watch his daughter suffer for no reason?"


    Xia Lan fell deep in thought. Considering these issues simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng''s conclusion did seem obvious.


    "Your father''s not just testing me¡ªhe needs me to make a move. If I can''t even analyze and resolve such a simple situation, then I wouldn''t be a suitable son-inw regardless," Xiao Nanfeng concluded.


    "What are you going to do?" Xia Lan asked.


    "You said it, didn''t you? Yu''er insists on eloping with me. That''s what your father wants me to do!"


    "Nonsense! That''s just your one-sided perspective. My father would never approve!"


    "Under ordinary circumstances, don''t you think your father would have erected a sound barrier of some sort upon knowing that Yu''er wants to elope with me? That''s a sensitive subject about personal thoughts best kept secret¡ªit might reflect poorly on Yu''er herself. Your father dotes on Yu''er, and would surely be conscious of such details. He simply isn''t able to act on his own. He''s using Yu''er as a mouthpiece to send me a message, telling me to elope with her."


    Xia Lan froze. "Don''t lie to me. I won''t be tricked!"


    "Think about it yourself, then. Can you identify a w in my logic?"


    Xia Lan grimaced. The situation seemed obvious, but Xiao Nanfeng was intent on sketching out a conspiracy that might not even exist! His argument did seem logical at first nce, but how was he supposed to ept his sister eloping with him?


    "Of course, by ''eloping'', I''m just referring to taking Yu''er away from the Yuqing holynd. I don''t intend to make any advances on her," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "As if!" Xia Lan gritted out. "Don''t even dream of it. We''re in the Yuqing holynd, and there are disciples on guard everywhere. If the hierarch doesn''t want you and Yu''er to be together, you''d never be able to take her away."


    "That''s why I''ll need your help."


    "My help? How is this any of my business?" Xia Lan frowned.


    "You''re Yu''er''s third brother, the one she respects most! Whose business would it be if not yours? Her future depends on it!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xia Lan''s face twitched. "So not only do you intend to elope with her, you want my help in doing so? Dream on!"


    "It''s your father''s will," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "My father would never!"


    "If he didn''t want you to, would he allow you to send word to me? It''s a measure of your father''s trust in you¡ªwith your help, I''ll easily be able to bring Yu''er away. You can''t let your father down."


    Xia Lan stiffened. He shot up in anger. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you a demon? Damn it, you want me to help you elope with my sister?!"


    "Your father wants you to help," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    "Nonsense! You''re just trying to trick me, I''m sure of it!"


    "This isn''t the sort of thing he can state outright. All he can do is hint at it. If you still remain unconvinced, I can exin it in greater detail," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Lan red at Xiao Nanfeng, falling deep in thought once again.


    "Yu''er''s future happiness depends on you, her third brother. You need to show some responsibility for her, don''t you?"


    Xia Lan gaped. Was Xiao Nanfeng attempting to make an ethical argument here? If he didn''t help Xiao Nanfeng elope with his sister, would he really be sacrificing her happiness?


    "This is all conjecture on your part. If you''re mistaken, my father will beat me to death!" Xia Lan shouted.


    "Rx. Your father would never kill his own son. What''s more, don''t you think a beating is worth your sister''s lifelong happiness?"


    "You''re not the one getting beaten up!"


    "Don''t worry. I''m 90% confident¡ªno, 100% confident in my conclusion. I guarantee it''ll be alright."


    Xia Lan''s eyes were red with anger. "Of course it''ll be alright for you¡ªyou''ll have run off with Yu''er! I''d be the one in danger!"


    "Don''t be so emotional, will you? Think about what I''ve told you so far. Don''t you think my argument is logical?"


    Xia Lan red. He didn''t want to believe Xiao Nanfeng, but he didn''t know how to refute his argument. Could his father truly...


    Xia Lan grimaced. "It''s not that easy for you to elope with Yu''er. As you know, the hierarch himself is paying attention to this uing marriage. Even if Father were to allow you to leave, others would be on guard."


    "I''ve analyzed the situation. We have a few days until your father''s millennium celebration. There''ll be plenty of guests at that time¡ªit''ll be the most crowded, the most dangerous, and simultaneously the safest time to strike. After I pay my respects to him, I''ll leave. You''ll bring Yu''er to me and help me get away at that point," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Lan''s face twitched. "You''ve already nned out your route and time of departure? You were just waiting to hook me!"


    "I''m trying to lighten your burden," Xiao Nanfeng rified. "If I make these arrangements, you won''t have to worry about them."


    Xia Lan rolled his eyes. "You''re just trying to involve me and make me the scapegoat!"


    "You''re more than wee to leave with us if you''d like," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You''re going to elope with me?!" Xia Lan shot him a dubious nce.


    "And why not? I''d bring your parents, too, if it were possible."


    Xia Lan stared at Xiao Nanfeng in open amazement. "You call that eloping?"


    "It doesn''t matter what I call it as long as we can leave," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xia Lan: ...


    "You''ll have to go with us. Only then will your father be able to make a fuss about the situation and put on a show for the hierarch."


    "Let me think." Xia Lan frowned.


    "What''s there to think about? The conclusion is obvious! You''d be doing good."


    "Doing good? As if! More like you''re trying to trick me!"


    "Don''t worry. If there''s a woman you''re interested in in the future, Yu''er and I will help the two of you elope too. We''re going to be one big, happy family, aren''t we? There''s no need to overthink things."


    Xia Lan couldn''t help but feel that he was falling deeper and deeper into Xiao Nanfeng''s trap.

 Chapter 658: Making Preparations

    <h4>Chapter 658: Making Preparations</h4>


    Over the next few days, Xiao Nanfeng continued tutoring the Yuqing disciples in spiritual and physical cultivation alike. His offhand remarks alone were able to stoke breakthroughs, and more and more came to interact with him daily¡ªHuman, Earth, Heaven, and even True Immortals.


    Xiao Nanfeng was particrly modest, describing these sessions asmunal forums in which everyone could help each other out so that the disciples wouldn''t feel embarrassed about needing or wanting assistance. As a result, his poprity soared; everyone seemed to address him as Senior Brother Xiao.


    In fact, because of how many disciples there were, Xiao Nanfeng was forced to stop his one-on-one consultations and instead switch to impromptu lectures. He was able to answer just about any question with startling rity, for which he received effusive praise from the audience.


    "Senior Brother Xiao''s amazing. Master tried to teach me those principles many times, and I was never able to understand them. Senior Brother Xiao resolved my misunderstanding right away!"


    "My master''s paying attention himself, and he told all of us to do so as well. Apparently, Senior Uncle Xiao''s understanding of cultivation is on par with that of the Mountain Lords!"


    "He''s able to expound on every scripture we''ve asked for help about¡ªit''s incredible!"


    The disciples were murmuring to each other in open amazement.


    Xia Lan was astounded by the sight.


    He turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. "They must be joking. Xiao Nanfeng''s only been cultivating for a decade. How could he know so much about scripture and fist techniques?"


    Zhao Yuanjiao nced at Xia Lan. "Are you aware of the 48,000 scrolls of scripture that the Taiqing Immortal Sect owns?"


    "I''ve heard of it. Taiqing''s Vault of Scriptures might contain only fundamental and foundational scriptures, but even so, many Taiqing disciples could spend their entire lives cultivating without understanding them all."


    "Nanfeng mastered them all in no more than three years," Zhao Yuanjiao told him.


    Xia Lan frowned in disbelief. "That can''t be. 48,000 scrolls¡ªeven if he read them day and night, he wouldn''t even be able to finish them all, let alone master them!"


    "Not only that, during those three years, Nanfeng explored arge hidden realm, then led his fellow Taiqing disciples to take down spiritbeastirs all across the Eastern Sea, excavated countless draconic veins, and then explored the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. Not only that, heid the groundwork for establishing an empire."


    "That has to be a joke!"


    "Just ask these Yuqing disciples," Zhao Yuanjiao said, sighing. "See what they say."


    Xia Lan nced at the Yuqing disciples paying rapt attention to his every word. He couldn''t help but start to believe those oundish ims. Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t just a talented cultivator; his understanding of cultivation theory and philosophy was unparalleled. Even Yuqing''s True Immortals were acknowledging him as their senior.


    "Everyone, it''s gettingte. Considering that it''s Mountain Lord Xia''s millennium celebration tomorrow, let''s stop here. I''ll have to rest in preparation as well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Yuqing disciples nodded in regret, but Xiao Nanfeng had already taught them plenty, and they would have to reflect and meditate on what he had imparted.


    "Thank you for your pointers, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "Thank you for your pointers, Senior Uncle Xiao!"


    The Yuqing disciples bowed respectfully as they were dismissed. Only then did Xiao Nanfeng make his way over.


    Zhao Yuanjiao and Xia Lan walked up to him. Zhao Yuanjiao was smiling. "Are you nning to be the seniormost disciple of the Yuqing holynd, too?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head, smiling. "There are countless disciples scattered among the twelve peaks of the Yuqing holynd. Only a small fraction of them were present."


    Xia Lan gave him a strange look. "I can''t believe how quickly you''re gaining their respect."


    Xiao Nanfeng set up a soundproof barrier. "It''s all for tomorrow''s sake. Didn''t you say that the Yuqing holynd would be well guarded? What if I were to encounter a few patrols while escaping with Yu''er? Better to establish a good rtionship and make them embarrassed to search me."


    Xia Lan rolled his eyes. "What a schemer you are."


    "Well? Will we be able to escape? We''re making a move tomorrow, after all," Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Xia Lan sighed. He couldn''t help but think that he was making the mistake of his life by helping Yu''er elope, but he had already given his word. He had already told Yu''er about the situation, and she was overjoyed. He could hardly change his mind now.


    "Everything''s going smoothly, save for one spot of trouble," Xia Lan said.


    "Hm?"


    "Father''s keeping Yu''er locked up in a hall with a relic to supervise her. It''s known as the Eight-Treasure ss Lock, and is currently attuned to her. Once Yu''er gets a certain distance away from the relic, it''ll alert others to its presence," Xia Lan said.


    "The Eight-Treasure ss Lock?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "A relic of Chiyang Peak, one that plenty in the holynd are familiar with. It''s specifically designed to detain cultivators. My mothers made a big fuss about it with my father, and they caused such a hugemotion that others in the holynd have had to step in to mediate. Xiao Nanfeng, I''m sure you must have been mistaken. Father can''t be intending for you and Yu''er to elope, or he wouldn''t be using such a relic!"


    "No, you''re mistaken. This is precisely why he''s using such a relic and making sure that everyone''s aware of it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xia Lan frowned. No matter how the situation evolved, it seemed that Xiao Nanfeng was always able to turn it around to favor his argument.


    "Is there a way to disable it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao jumped in. "It''s doable."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Lan turned toward Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "This relic once belonged to the Taiqing Immortal Sect before it was given to the Yuqing holynd out of gratitude for their support during a time of crisis. I know how to deactivate the Eight-Treasure ss Lock," Zhao Yuanjiao exined.


    "How?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Master said that you''ll have to find a substitute for Yu''er, then use her blood to transfer the relic''s attunement to that substitute."


    "Mountain Lord Xia is as thoughtful as expected." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. He turned toward Xia Lan. "Do you have anyone trustworthy to take Yu''er''s ce?"


    Xia Lan shook his head. "Who would dare help Yu''er escape? I''m only doing it because the two of you tricked me into it."


    "Don''t you have any loyal friends or subordinates after all this time?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, shocked.


    Zhao Yuanjiao shook his head. "I do pity you..."


    Xia Lan red at them. "What nonsense are you talking about? We''re on Chiyang Peak. I do have loyal friends and allies, but they wouldn''t dare lie to my father!"


    Xiao Nanfeng considered Xia Lan. "Well, what about you?"


    Xia Lan stiffened, then jumped up in shock. "You want me to take the me for this? My father would kill me!"


    "Don''t worry. Once we and Yu''er leave the Yuqing holynd, you can leave, secretly make your way out, and meet us outside," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No¡ªyou''re trying to trick me again! I won''t let myself be fooled!" Xia Lan shouted resolutely.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao tried to persuade him some more, but to no avail.


    "I''ll do it, I suppose," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Lan widened his eyes. "What sort of situation is this? How do you intend to elope with Yu''er if you''re staying behind?"


    "Don''t worry. I''ll secretly make my way out once you leave with her."


    "But what if you get caught?" Xia Lan frowned.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "Xia Lan''s right. You can''t risk yourself. Let me do it."


    "You?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "That''s right. Even if I end up discovered, it won''t matter. I''m not the one attempting to escape, after all. The Yuqing holynd might rebuke me, but that''s it."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. If you do end up caught, Senior Brother, me Xia Lan and me for everything. We''ll be gone by then¡ªand with Madam Han''s help, I can''t imagine they''d hurt you."


    "Why me me?" Xia Lan frowned.


    "Aren''t you going to leave with us? You can stay behind if you''d like."


    Xia Lan shook his head hurriedly. "If I do, I''d be the scapegoat!"


    "Then everything''s settled," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Tomorrow at the banquet, I''ll have to make a big fuss with Senior Brother. Cooperate with us then."


    "Aren''t you trying to elope with Yu''er? Everyone else does it in secret, afraid that they''ll be caught. You intend on making a hugemotion instead?"


    "You''ll see what''s going on when the timees," Xiao Nanfeng replied smoothly.


    Xia Lan: ...


    At the foot of Chiyang Peak, in Long Si''s hall, Sage Green Lotus and Long Si were taken aback upon hearing a subordinate''s report.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s instructing Yuqing disciples during his stay here? Is he trying to umte goodwill?" Sage Green Lotus sniffed disdainfully.


    "What can he do? Once I leave with Yu''er tomorrow, all his ns will be for naught." Long Si chuckled coldly.


    "Yu''er''s bound to the Eight-Treasure ss Lock. Be careful," Sage Green Lotus warned.


    "With your help, nothing will go wrong! Once I leave with Xia Yu''er, I''ll consummate our marriage immediately. You know how I am with taming women. I guarantee everything will be settled even if Xia Xingchen himself chases after us."


    Sage Green Lotus nodded. "If something goes wrong, I''ll be med. You''d better watch out."


    "Rx! She won''t be able to escape my clutches," Long Si dered confidently.

 Chapter 659: Disfigured

    <h4>Chapter 659: Disfigured</h4>


    The next day, during Xia Xingchen''s millennium celebration, the festivities began early. In the morning, the disciples of all twelve peaks of the Yuqing holynd arrived to congratte him and help out¡ªthere would be plenty of guests affiliated with the Yuqing holynd streaming in throughout the day.


    Xia Xingchen greeted the most important guests himself, apanied by several of the twelve Mountain Lords.


    His three wives were particrly busy themselves. After all, those guests hade with their families in tow, and the women werergely responsible for greeting and amodating them. Fortunately, they could split up the work among the three of them.


    Xia Lan was likewise assigned to greet ordinary guests, but he had plenty of senior and junior brothers to help him out, and he wasn''t too busy. He nced at Xiao Nanfeng, who was hovering close by.


    Over thest few days, Xiao Nanfeng had gained significant poprity within the Yuqing holynd. The moment he showed up, he was swarmed with arge group of Yuqing disciples.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, the method you taught me was really effective! My spiritual cultivation is a lot faster now."


    "Same, same! My older brother always beat me when it came to our fist techniques, but I was able to beat him after your pointers!"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, thank you for guiding us!"


    The Yuqing disciples bowed in gratitude.


    "Hardly, Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers. We''ve all benefited from each other''s expertise. That said, today''s Mountain Lord Xia''s millennial celebration, so let''s focus on celebrating him rather than talking about cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    The Yuqing disciples nodded fervently.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot Xia Lan a nce. Xia Lan stiffened, but was forced to act. He had already cast his lot with Xiao Nanfeng, after all.


    Xia Lan walked toward a throng of people, including Long Si, who had just arrived.


    Long Si''s delegation had just flown toward Chiyang Peak and was in search of Sage Green Lotus when Xia Lan approached them.


    "I greet you, Lord Si," Xia Lan said, bowing.


    "Greetings, Young Master Xia," Long Si replied.


    "My father is engaged in conversation with his honored guests, and I''ve been entrusted with leading the most esteemed guests toward him. Please follow me, Lord Si." Xia Lan gestured.


    Long Si nodded with a smile. "Very well."


    His delegation scattered and began to mingle with the other guests while he followed Xia Lan through a patch of white fog. He suddenly frowned. Why was there fog around here?


    Just then, within the fog, a sword thrust toward him from the back in a burst of killing intent.


    "Who''s there? Die!" Long Si''s eyes shed with rage as he swiped at his back with a hand.


    The white fog exploded around him as Xia Lan was sent flying from a shockwave of energy. A ck figure was sent flying back. Blood sttered all over.


    The disturbance immediately drew everyone''s attention.


    "What''s going on? Who''s fighting here?!" someone eximed.


    Golden Immortals were hardly known for their subtlety, after all.


    Xia Xingchen''s three wives, and even Xia Xingchen himself, hurriedly rushed toward the source of themotion, only to see a ck figure strike the ground.


    That ck figure was none other than Zhao Yuanjiao. He spat out a mouthful of blood, a crystal sculpture falling from his hands and shattering as it struck the ground.


    "Senior Brother, are you alright? How did you end up fighting?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, rushing forward.


    "I don''t know myself. I was preparing my gift for Mountain Lord Xia when Long Si suddenly attacked me." Zhao Yuanjiao choked on a mouthful of blood, clearly badly injured.


    His face was a mess of blood; it seemed that he had been struck by Long Si''s attack, then hurt by the crystal sculpture shattering by his face.


    "Long Si, how dare you? I know you bear me a grudge after the fight that day, but how could you attack my senior brother instead of me? Do you want to die?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    Long Si red. "He tried to strike me with a sword first!"


    "A sword? What sword? That''s clearly an excuse for you to beat him up!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    He was about to step forward when Xia Xingchen called out, "Hold it!"


    Xia Xingchen stepped toward the two cultivators.


    "What''s going on?"


    Everyone was drawn to themotion.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately stepped forward. "Mountain Lord Xia, Long Si suddenly beat up my senior brother! I don''t want to cause trouble for you during your millennial celebration. Instead, please permit me to duel Long Si to the death outside the Yuqing holynd."


    "Don''t be ridiculous. Who would attack your senior brother out of nowhere? I was only retaliating because he tried to attack me. Would I be so crazy as to cause trouble during Mountain Lord Xia''s celebration? The two of you are scheming against me together, aren''t you?!"


    Zhao Yuanjiao, drenched in blood, howled back, "I was simply checking on my gift! Why would I have attacked you?!"


    "I felt killing intent and the keen edge of a sword. Who else could that have been from but you? Mountain Lord Xia''s third son was beside me at the time. He witnessed it with his own eyes!" Long Si retorted.


    Everyone turned to Xia Lan.


    "Xia Lan, is that true?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "I didn''t notice this sword or the killing intent. When we passed by Senior Brother Zhao, Lord Si suddenly attacked him," Xia Lan reported.


    "You didn''t notice it? Are you all in cahoots?!" Long Si thundered.


    "Long Si, while I am familiar with Senior Brother Zhao, I would hardly stand on his side any more than I would stand on yours. Your altercation with each other is none of my business. I was simply leading your way," Xia Lan said.


    Xia Xingchen frowned at Zhao Yuanjiao. He too sensed something amiss. There would be no reason for Long Si to attack Zhao Yuanjiao out of nowhere, so something had to have triggered his rm.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, before Lord Si made his move, where were you and what were you doing?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, you forbade Nanfeng from presenting that Immortal sword as a gift, nor anything precious. Instead, we picked a meaningful, decorative relic to present to you. I was about to hand over the gift and had made it conjure a cloud of white fog when I was suddenly attacked out of nowhere," Zhao Yuanjiao said, spitting out flecks of blood.


    "Is that truly all that you were doing?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "Yes, Mountain Lord Xia. It''s a pity that the relic shattered. It took Nanfeng and me forever to find a suitable one. It was called ''Surging Clouds, Crashing Wake'', and meant to invoke your future dominion across the world, but..." Zhao Yuanjiao grimaced.


    Xiao Nanfeng restored the crystal sculpture with a wave of his hand, revealing a beautiful work of art. The bottom of the sculpture exuded a cloud of white fog, like a sea of clouds, while four giant crystal dragons flew overhead. A man, likewise made of crystal, stood in their center, a longsword in his hand, its tip pointed at the four dragons.


    The sculpture was particrly lifelike and engraved with an exquisite formation. Unfortunately, it had been shattered beyond any hope of repair; Xiao Nanfeng was only holding it together with his qi.


    "You felt a sword, you say? Do you mean this small sword that the crystal sculpture wields, Long Si?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Everyone began murmuring to one another.


    "Long Si? The four dragons? This crystal sculpture is about a man ying four dragons. Could Long Si have thought it was about him? Is that why he''s so upset?" [1]


    "Xiao Nanfeng beheaded Long Si once. Upon seeing this gift from Zhao Yuanjiao, he must have acted out of anger and embarrassment!"


    "There''s no reason for Zhao Yuanjiao to attack Long Si here in the most public of ces, let alone set him up."


    "Surging Clouds, Crashing Wake¡ªthis small relic alone caused Long Si to seek revenge on Zhao Yuanjiao? How narrow-minded he is."


    "Those cultivators from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce really arewless."


    The spectators all around were pointing at Long Si.


    This was a possible, if not particrly usible, exnation for the series of events that had unfolded. Xia Xingchen could hardly defend Long Si now.


    "Lord Si, don''t you think you''ve been rather ridiculous?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "Xia Xingchen, your son and Zhao Yuanjiao are colluding to scheme against me!" Long Si thundered.


    Beside them, Xiao Nanfeng said coolly, "Long Si, there''s no need to prolong this farce. Today marks Mountain Lord Xia''s thousandth birthday, and we shouldn''t disrupt the festivities any longer. I challenge you to a duel outside the Yuqing holynd."


    Long Si grimaced. He was sure this was part of a scheme, but what could he do? How could he leave now? He hadn''t managed to kidnap Xia Yu''er yet!


    Sage Green Lotus had to step forward. "As I see it, all this is a mere misunderstanding. Considering what a grand asion it is, why don''t we put aside all grudges for the moment?"


    Everyone turned to Sage Green Lotus in surprise. This was a ''mere misunderstanding''?


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Very well. I won''t cause more trouble on such a festive asion. Three dayster, I''ll meet you over the sea 150 miles south of the Yuqing holynd. Do you dare to duel me then?"


    "Very well. Three dayster, I''ll settle this score," Long Si spat out.


    He was incensed about having been manipted to this extent.


    "Senior Brother, we''ll take revenge in three days'' time. Let''s treat your injuries now before they end up scarring," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    Themotion ceased in the blink of an eye. Everyone was secretly gesturing at Long Si while simultaneously praising Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao''s magnanimity.


    Xia Xingchen frowned as if he were unhappy with Long Si''s behavior, but Long Si was a Golden Immortal and a representative of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce beside. He could only suppress his anger for the time being. "Please follow me, Lord Si."


    Long Si nced at Xiao Nanfeng and the others now walking away. He couldn''t help but feel as if something were amiss, but he couldn''t pinpoint precisely what. He turned and stalked off after Xia Xingchen.


    Meanwhile, Han Bingdie headed toward Zhao Yuanjiao. "Yuanjiao, are you alright?"


    "Don''t worry about me, Senior. It''s just a few superficial wounds. I''ll be fine once Senior Brother Xia Lan guides me to get myself cleaned up," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    "Senior, there are too many guests around for you to be worrying about us. We can speakter if necessary. With Senior Brother Xia Lan around, we''ll be alright," Xiao Nanfeng added.


    "Very well. I''ll have my husband deal with Long Si the very next day," Han Bingdie said. She turned toward Xia Lan. "Guard them well. If anything else goes wrong, I won''t spare you!"


    Xia Lan grimaced. Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao were the ones who had set everything up; why was he getting med?


    Xia Lan brought the two cultivators toward a rather secluded yard, where Zhao Yuanjiao finished dealing with the blood on his face. He changed his clothes and put on a bamboo hat to hide his wounded face from public view.


    Quite a few disciples had gathered around them by then, grumbling about how unfair it was for Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Senior Brother Xia Lan, word of what happened might have already spread to Yu''er. We''ll let her know not to worry," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well," Xia Lan replied, an odd look on his face.


    The three of them walked up to the hall in which Yu''er was currently located.


    The doors to the hall were shut, with a dome-shaped barrier on the outside. A revolving ss ball was located right above the dome¡ªthe Eight-Treasure ss Lock that had attuned to Yu''er.


    There were a few Yuqing disciples around them manipting the formation. Upon learning that the three cultivators were about to visit her, they created an opening to allow them in.


    The three cultivators walked into the hall, then let the doors swing shut to reveal Yu''er within.


    She was dressed in robes precisely like Zhao Yuanjiao''s, with a bamboo hat over her face. She smiled in excitement. "I''ve been waiting for far too long!"


    "We had to manufacture a reason for Senior Brother to hide his face, after all. Senior Brother disfigured himself for you, you know," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Well done, Zhao Yuanjiao. I''ll forgive you everything you''ve done wrong in the past." Yu''er smiled.


    Zhao Yuanjiao rolled his eyes. "You brat, you''re still keeping track of those past matters? Nanfeng and I flew thousands of kilometers to see you¡ªand you treat me like this? You''re heartless, you are."


    "I''ll thank you properly once I''m free. Have a look at my outfit. Will this do?" Yu''er immediately put on her hat, as did Zhao Yuanjiao. Indeed, the two cultivators looked identical from far. Yu''er had even padded her robes to ensure that her stature looked like Zhao Yuanjiao''s.


    "Take a few steps and let''s see," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er walked around in a circle.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned instantly. "You walk in too feminine a fashion. You''ll have to change things around. We''re going to be leaving right away, so make sure no one notices."


    1. Long Si (ÁúËÄ) means dragon-four; hence the fourth lord of the Southeastern (Draconic) Pce. ?

 Chapter 660: Eloping

    <h4>Chapter 660: Eloping</h4>


    Because Xia Lan and Zhao Yuanjiao were present, no outsiders would think too hard about Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er being alone in the secluded hall. Furthermore, it was Xia Xingchen''s thousandth birthday, a festive asion. No one was going to make a fuss and call attention to themselves.


    Even so, there were a few scattered nces eyeing Yu''er''s hall, as if they were on guard against something or awaiting it.


    Fortunately, Xiao Nanfeng''s group wasn''t in there for long. Xiao Nanfeng, Xia Lan, and Zhao Yuanjiao, face hidden under a bamboo hat, walked out.


    As they did so, the doors to the hall mmed shut. Yu''er seemed to be angry.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I suppose we''lle talk to Yu''er some other day."


    Beside him, ''Zhao Yuanjiao'' nodded seriously.


    "Let us out!" Xia Lan eximed.


    The guards manning the formation opened another small portal to let the three cultivators out.


    At that point, those cultivators eyeing the hall from afar nced away.


    "Xia Lan, we''ll have to prepare a new gift for your father. Let''s head back to our residence for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "I''ll apany you."


    Xia Lan led the way. Plenty of Yuqing disciples stepped forward to greet them, but Xia Lan shook his head. "It''s my father''s anniversary today. If you''re looking for some pointers from Xiao Nanfeng, please wait until the next day."


    The Yuqing disciples drawing near bowed in embarrassment, then stopped bothering them. The three cultivators flew down Chiyang Peak toward Xiao Nanfeng''s residence at the foot of the mountain.


    There, the three cultivators set up a formation.


    Xia Lan slumped down by a chair and immediately downed a few cups of tea.


    "I was scared stiff!" Xia Lan eximed, shuddering.


    Meanwhile, ''Zhao Yuanjiao'' removed her bamboo hat to reveal Yu''er''s face. She frowned in disdain. "What''s there to be scared of?"


    "Mother and Father were watching this whole time! It''s the first time I lied to their face," Xia Lan replied, exhaling.


    "It''s hardly a lie. Your father likely knew what we were doing all along," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Lan stiffened. "You''d better not be lying to me, or I might be done for."


    "Rx. Have I ever lied to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    Xia Lan''s face twitched. He couldn''t help but feel as though Xiao Nanfeng had been lying to him all along.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned. "Yu''er, I have a gourd that can store living beings within. You''ll stay inside while Xia Lan and I lead you out of the holynd."


    Yu''er nodded in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng took out a gourd, pointed it at Yu''er, and sucked her within. He reced the cork.


    "Let''s go, Xia Lan," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Are we really leaving?" Xia Lan frowned in worry.


    "If you don''t trust me, you can stay behind. You''ve already helped your sister elope, so you''d be your father''s perfect scapegoat," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Lan shuddered. "Go on, let''s go!"


    "That''s right." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The two cultivators flew out of Xiao Nanfeng''s residence toward the outskirts of the Yuqing holynd.


    They saw plenty of patrolling disciples along the way, but plenty of them had received Xiao Nanfeng''s guidance over the past few days. Xiao Nanfeng had gained considerable renown, and even those disciples who hadn''t received his guidance were particrly polite to him. They nodded from afar; no one inquired as to where they were heading, especially with Xia Lan beside him.


    As they headed to the mountain pass, they met Xia Lan''s senior and junior brothers.


    "Senior Brother Xia Lan, where are you and Senior Brother Xiao headed?" someone asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s gift for my father was broken by Long Si. He has to go out hunting for another one, and I''ll be apanying him," Xia Lan said.


    "What an ass," the Yuqing disciplesmiserated.


    Xia Lan nodded and flew off with Xiao Nanfeng in tow. The two cultivators quickly vanished over the horizon, then hid within a secluded forest.


    Xiao Nanfeng released Yu''er.


    "Did we really manage to escape from the Yuqing holynd?" Yu''er eximed in surprise.


    Xia Lan grimaced. "We have, but it seems as though I''m trapped out here with you now. This was all a trick, wasn''t it?"


    "Third Brother, isn''t it a good thing that we''ve made it out? Or would you rather stay behind and let Father beat you up?"


    Xia Lan sighed. How had he let Xiao Nanfeng and his sister talk him into this?


    "Are we going to wait here for Zhao Yuanjiao?" Yu''er asked.


    "That''s right. He can''t quite leave the hall where you were trapped just yet, but I know that there''ll be a fire magic performance this evening before the banquet. There''s to be all sorts of shy performances and music then, and it will be his best opportunity to escape. He''ll break out of the hall and blend in with the crowd. No one will suspect that he''s you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "No wonder you had her hide in the gourd..." Xia Lan eximed.


    "Everything will be alright. We just have to wait for him to emerge," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "But won''t you be suspected if you don''t return?" Yu''er asked.


    "Don''t worry. Xia Lan''s in charge of recording the gifts that your father has received, and he''s already helped Senior Brother and me furnish and record another gift. Even if someone were to check the records, with so many people around, who would know when we returned to present the gift? And after that, it''s only to be expected that we would leave. Even if the guards by the mountain pass are questioned, it won''t be a problem either. Plenty can leave and enter the Yuqing holynd at will with the appropriate identification token, and no one bothers checking their identities. Perhaps Xia Lan and I entered the same way." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "In other words, you''ll be above suspicion?" Yu''er asked.


    "I''m sure some will still suspect me, but they won''t have any proof."


    "Wonderful!" Yu''er cried out in excitement.


    "What about me?" Xia Lan nched. "How can I miss my own father''s millennial celebration? I''m going to be the scapegoat!"


    "What''s there to worry about? You''re already on the run. At worst, all you did was help your sister escape," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "In other words, I''m going to be held responsible for all of this?!" Xia Lan eximed.


    "Third Brother, aren''t we all on the run together? What''s there to be worried about?" Yu''er frowned.


    Xia Lan red at her. "If he catches me, I''m dead meat!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There really isn''t any need to be worried. All this is within your father''s expectations. You''ve finally done something to make him proud. Others might me and chastise you, but isn''t your father''s praise worth it all?"


    "I feel as if you''ve been lying to me all this time. I''ve been tricked, haven''t I?" Xia Lan groaned.


    The skies darkened.


    It was almost time for the fire magic performance, and then the banquet thereafter.


    Long Si hastily sidled up to Sage Green Lotus.


    "How are the preparations?" He sent him a mental transmission.


    "Are you really going to make a move?" Sage Green Lotus seemed to be having second thoughts.


    "There''ll be amotion during the fire magic performance toe, and Xia Xingchen himself will be participating. It''s our best opportunity. If not now, then when?"


    Sage Green Lotus grimaced, but ultimately nodded. "Very well. Prepare to get started¡ªbut you''ll have to go quickly."


    "Don''t worry. I have a relic that will allow me to store Xia Yu''er within, but you''ll have to handle the Yuqing disciples all around," Long Si said.


    "I can misdirect their attention for a short period of time, causing them to focus on the performance, but you''ll only have a split second. I''ll also block the Eight-Treasure ss Lock with a lotus root to prevent it from attuning to her. You''ll have to leave right away."


    "Understood," Long Si replied, nodding.


    At the same time, within Yu''er''s hall, Zhao Yuanjiao clenched his fist, a cloud of white fog around him. He was waiting for the performance to start before rushing out to join the crowd and subsequently leaving the Yuqing holynd. Everything was going ording to n.


    Before long, the banquet was ready.


    Xia Xingchen and his wives, urged onward by a group of Mountain Lords and honored guests, headed to a tform above the za. An altar was waiting there, radiating with rosy light.


    "Hurry up, Lord Xia! We''re all waiting for the banquet to start," one of his friends called out.


    "We''d like to see the performance unfold!" Titters ofughter came from the crowd.


    Xia Xingchen nodded. He led his three wives toward the altar, then lit it up. A burst of fire surged into the heart of the altar, causing a roaring me to ze. A pir of light shot into the air and exploded within the clouds. The intery between light and shadow caused countless divine avians, spiritbeasts, and holy maidens to fly across the air.


    "Congrattions, Mountain Lord Xia! May you be blessed with immortality and fortune!" An exmation came from within the clouds.


    The clouds burst apart, illuminating the sky in fortune and rosy light. Music began to pour out. The cinematic scene unfolding above them was the climax of the celebration.


    All the guests shouted, "Congrattions, Mountain Lord Xia! May you be blessed with immortality and fortune!"


    Xia Xingchen smiled. "Thank you, everyone."


    Just as everyone turned toward the altar, Zhao Yuanjiao found his chance to escape. He rushed out the doors, surrounded in white fog, and was about to break through the barrier and hide within the crowd when the barrier suddenly shed and vanished. Those guards responsible for manning the formation all seemed to be enraptured by the performance overhead; no one had sensed anything amiss.


    Zhao Yuanjiao frowned. Intuitively, he knew that something was wrong¡ªbut before he could think more about it, he found himself sucked into a ck cloth bag, which cinched tightly shut.


    Then, a burst of spiritual power swept over Yu''er''s hall to confirm that there was no one within. The doors creaked shut as a ck figure rushed off with the bag.


    The barrier suddenly manifested once again. A green lotus appeared by the side of the Eight-Treasure ss Lock, merging into it and preventing it from raising an rm.


    The Yuqing guards turned back to the hall, finding nothing amiss.


    Long Si rushed off with the cloth bag, surrounded by fog. He flew down Chiyang Peak and headed straight for the mountain pass leading out of the Yuqing holynd.


    "We''ll consummate our marriage today, beauty, haha!" Long Si''s eyes were wild with excitement.

 Chapter 661: Coming to Light

    <h4>Chapter 661: Coming to Light</h4>


    As the fire magic performance took ce, Xia Xingchen nced at where Yu''er was located. He could sense a fluctuation in the formation that bound her, but he made no move to reveal it.


    The performancested only a short period of time, but the scenes that had filled the air were deeply imprinted in the spectators'' memories.


    Once everyone had settled down, Xia Xingchen began, "Thank you foring here to celebrate my thousandth birthday. A banquet has beenid out for you; please enjoy the feast."


    The guests cheered.


    The banquet was held in a wide-open field atop Chiyang Peak, thergest there was. There were countless small tables dotting the field, with open seating for the guests.


    Xia Xingchen''s three wives were still mad at him, but that was a private affair. In front of the guests, they yed their parts as gregarious hostesses to perfection.


    As the guests sat down, Xia Xingchen began, "A few days ago, some prospective suitors came to Chiyang Peak to seek my daughter''s hand in marriage and caused a greatmotion. I''m sure many of you were present in advance and have since learned of the news. Allow me to toast you all now in hopes that you won''t make fun of my daughter!"


    "Haha, of course not! Holy Maiden Yu''er is a beauty we all admire. We would neverugh at her¡ªadmire her, more like!" someone replied.


    Everyone smiled as they drank up.


    "I''ve coddled my daughter far too much, it seems. On my birthday, allow me to summon her to toast you all in my stead," Xia Xingchen continued. He turned to Han Bingdie. "Bingdie, would you summon her out?"


    Han Bingdie smiled at the gathered guests, but she inwardly frowned at the request. She sent her husband a mental transmission. "I know the two of you are upset with each other, but do you have to bring it up during the banquet, too?"


    "Bingdie, please summon Yu''er," Xia Xingchen called out.


    Han Bingdie stered a fake smile on her face. "Alright, everyone. Please wait."


    She stood up and headed toward the hall in which Yu''er was bound.


    Meanwhile, Sage Green Lotus, seated nearby, nched.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, let''s not make things difficult for the child. Come, allow me to toast you!" Sage Green Lotus began.


    Xia Xingchen shook his head. "She''s not a child any longer, but the Yuqing holy maiden instead. She is, in many respects, a representative of the Yuqing holynd. I''ve summoned her here so that she may gain fluency interacting with others on such asions and so she may apologize to you, Senior Brother Green Lotus."


    "Apologize to me? No, no, there''s no need," Sage Green Lotus replied.


    He knew that Yu''er had already been kidnapped; what would happen now? And it was all his fault, too!


    "It''s necessary, Senior Brother. You govern the Taiyi Peak, and any disrespect to you is disrespect to the Taiqing holynd as a whole. For Yu''er to have acted so rudely speaks poorly of me, and I insist that she apologize to you today," Xia Xingchen said resolutely.


    "No, there''s really no need!" Sage Green Lotus was growing more anxious by the second.


    Just then, Han Bingdie cried out from afar, "Husband, Yu''er''s gone missing!"


    Everyone turned to a hall shrouded by a hemispherical dome, at the top of which the Eight-Treasure ss Lock was radiating light.


    "How could Yu''er have gone missing? The Eight-Treasure ss Lock should have alerted me the moment she left its boundary. Let me have a look," Xia Xingchen said, flying over.


    Many of the Yuqing Mountain Lords followed him.


    After all, the prowess of the Eight-Treasure ss Lock was widely known. How could Holy Maiden Yu''er have vanished into thin air?


    "We''re done for," Sage Green Lotus murmured.


    The cultivators crowded around the hall, only to see that its doors were flung wide open. Han Bingdie was interrogating the Yuqing guards standing around the hall. "Where is she? How could she have vanished?"


    "We don''t know, either," the guards replied, bewildered.


    "Bingdie, what''s going on?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "Yu''er''s gone missing! Husband,e have a look!" Han Bingdie cried out.


    "The Eight-Treasure ss Lock should have been attuned to Yu''er. How could it have stopped functioning?" Xia Xingchen reached out and tapped the relic with a finger.


    The relic hummed, bright light bursting forth. The faint shadow of a green lotus root could be seen.


    "What? Senior Brother Green Lotus, were you responsible for this? Why would you have blocked the relic with your technique? What has happened to Yu''er?!" Xia Xingchen whirled around toward Sage Green Lotus.


    Sage Green Lotus nched. He had infused his technique with additional energy so that Long Si would have a little more time to flee. Even so, it was close to dissipating already. If no one had gone to check on Yu''er that very moment, there wouldn''t have been any trace of his involvement remaining. He didn''t expect that it would implicate him now.


    "That is, that is..." Sage Green Lotus trailed off in panic.


    A group of Mountain Lords familiar with Xia Xingchen checked the relic themselves to confirm that Sage Green Lotus was indeed responsible. They frowned.


    "Senior Brother Green Lotus, where have you hidden Holy Maiden Yu''er?"


    "Senior Brother Green Lotus, what have you done?!"


    Those Mountain Lords were all in support of Xia Xingchen.


    Xia Xingchen suddenly frowned. "Is Lord Si of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce present?"


    Everyone looked around, but there was no sign of Long Si to be seen.


    Xia Xingchen thundered, "Sage Green Lotus, have you conspired with Long Si to abduct my daughter?!"


    "What? Sage Green Lotus, you wouldn''t dare! Yu''er''s a holy maiden of the Yuqing holynd. How could you have conspired with an outsider to tarnish her innocence?!" Han Bingdie eximed.


    "I-I didn''t! I¡ª" Sage Green Lotus didn''t know how to exin the situation.


    Xia Xingchen flew into the air and shouted, "On order of Chiyang Peak, all Yuqing disciples are to chase after Long Si of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. If anyone has any news, report to me immediately!"


    Xia Xingchen''s voice boomed across the Yuqing holynd.


    Sage Green Lotus rushed forward, rmed. "Junior Brother, why go to this extent? Weren''t we..."


    "Weren''t we what? I don''t mind entertaining marriage offers, but I do expect any suitors to stick to propriety and formality. Even if Yu''er isn''t a Yuqing holy maiden, she''s my daughter¡ªthe daughter of Xia Xingchen! Should I allow others to insult or demean her? Green Lotus, if anything happens to my daughter, I''ll never forgive you!" Xia Xingchen howled.


    Everyone turned toward Sage Green Lotus simultaneously.


    Some of the Mountain Lords were aware of the hierarch''s ns, and they knew that he intended for Yu''er to marry into the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. Even so, such deception was beyond the pale. A holy maiden of Yuqing, kidnapped and coerced...


    If Sage Green Lotus were willing to do this to Xia Xingchen''s daughter, what might he do to their families? Didn''t he care about his reputation at all?


    "Taiyi Mountain Lord, your actions are inexcusable."


    "Taiyi Mountain Lord, how could you do something so deplorable?"


    Sage Green Lotus was drowned in a storm of criticism.


    He wanted to defend himself, but had no avenue with which to do so. How was he supposed to deny the evidence in in sight?


    "Green Lotus, return my daughter to me!" Han Bingdie cried out, tears in her eyes.


    Upon hearing Yu''er''s mother''s pained cries, everyone red at Sage Green Lotus, while the Yuqing disciples shuddered in shame at what he had done.


    Just then, a voice came from afar. "Chiyang Mountain Lord, Long Si has been found by the mountain pass leading out of the Yuqing holynd!"


    "Keep an eye on him. Stop him in his tracks!" Xia Xingchen roared, rushing into the air.


    That Long Si had run away was further evidence for the crime that he had purportedlymitted.


    Xia Xingchen''s three wives rushed after him, streaming toward the mountain pass like meteors. Several of the Mountain Lords and countless guests joined them.


    Along the way, though Xia Xingchen seemed incensed, his gaze was surprisingly calm. He made his way to the source of the alert.


    "Where''s Long Si?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "He went that way. We weren''t able to stop him in time," a Yuqing disciple said, pointing into the distance.


    Xia Xingchen gave chase without any hesitation.


    Afar, Long Si cursed, a cloth bag to his back. "Ridiculous¡ªI haven''t even made it out of the Yuqing holynd yet! How could Sage Green Lotus have let them discover me? Damn it."


    He patted the sack and smirked. "But that only makes it all the more thrilling, doesn''t it? Right after the mountain up ahead, we''ll hide somewhere and consummate our marriage immediately.


    Then, he even cupped Zhao Yuanjiao''s body via the sack.


    Zhao Yuanjiao continued to attack the sack from within, but it was remarkably sturdy. Not only was he unable to deal any damage to it, it even bound him tightly like a, conforming to the contours of his body.


    He writhed a little, but, unable to free himself, sighed and stopped moving.


    Suddenly, he felt a hand cupping his buttocks. He howled, "Pervert! Let me out!"


    However, the cloth sack blocked all sound from within. Long Si couldn''t hear his cries at all.


    "It feels pretty good. I love it, haha!" Long Siughed in satisfaction.


    Just then, a palm descended from the heavens. An incensed shout could be heard from overhead. "You bastard, release my daughter!"


    "What?!" Long Si eximed.


    The palm sent him careening into the distance. Despite the fact that he was a Golden Immortal, he was all but defenseless against the heavy blow.


    He stopped only after smashing through a huge mountain.


    Long Si spat out a mouthful of blood as he fell to the ground, gasping at Xia Xingchen in disbelief.


    "How did you find me?" Long Si eximed.


    Plenty of cultivators caught up to him: the gathered Yuqing Mountain Lords, Xia Xingchen''s three wives, and a few guests that had followed after them.


    "Long Si, return my daughter to me!" Han Bingdie thundered.


    Long Si nched and tightened his grip around the cloth sack to his back.


    A golden sh shot toward him. Long Si nched and defended with a palm, but his technique shattered instantly. The sword thrust into Long Si''s chest.


    "No!" Long Si cried out.


    He transformed into a huge ivory dragon whose chest had been impaled by a golden broadsword. He writhed and struggled to no avail.


    "Keep moving and I''ll kill you!" Xia Xingchen roared.


    The ivory dragon Long Si shuddered in fear.


    Han Bingdie seized the cloth sack and wrenched it open, breaking any inscriptions in her way.


    "Yu''er, how are you?!" she shouted.


    Everyone peered toward the sack only to see a ck figure emerge¡ªbut rather than Xia Yu''er, they found themselves looking at Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Senior? What''s going on?" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed, emerging from the sack.


    "Yuanjiao?" Han Bingdie eximed in surprise.


    Hadn''t Long Si seized Xia Yu''er? Who was this man?


    "You? How could it be you?" Long Si demanded.


    He too was astounded. Hadn''t he caught Xia Yu''er? How had she be Zhao Yuanjiao? Was it his butt that he had been caressing?!


    Everyone was astonished, everyone save Xia Xingchen. Xia Xingchen exhaled in relief, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.

 Chapter 662: Possessing Long Si

    <h4>Chapter 662: Possessing Long Si</h4>


    "Where''s Yu''er? What have you done with her?!" Han Bingdie eximed anxiously.


    "Lord Si, what are you doing?" the Yuqing Mountain Lords demanded.


    Long Si''s expression changed. Upon discovering that Yu''er had be Zhao Yuanjiao, his mind had nked. Even so, he rapidly came to his senses.


    "I don''t know where Holy Maiden Yu''er is. I kidnapped Zhao Yuanjiao because of my grudges against him. I apologize for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me," Long Si said.


    "You didn''t kidnap Yu''er? Where is she, then?" Han Bingdie demanded in disbelief.


    "I really don''t know. The only one I kidnapped was Zhao Yuanjiao. Search me if you don''t believe me!" Long Si eximed.


    "You must be lying!" Han Bingdie shouted.


    She and Xia Xingchen''s two other wives hurriedly inspected Long Si''s body and belongings, but found nothing rted to Yu''er at all.


    "See?" Long Si crowed.


    The three women fretted anxiously as they nced at Xia Xingchen, hoping that he would have an idea as to what to do.


    "Did you really kidnap Zhao Yuanjiao only because he tarnished your reputation earlier in the day?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "I did," Long Si replied resolutely.


    By the side, a guest scoffed. "More like you''re kidnapping Zhao Yuanjiao to threaten Xiao Nanfeng over your duel in three days'' time!"


    "To think a Golden Immortal would have to resort to such underhanded tricks against a True Immortal..."


    "Is this what those from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce are like? Ha!"


    The guests all around taunted and mocked Long Si, but he could hardly dispute their ims. It was far better to be denounced than to be held responsible for kidnapping a Yuqing holy maiden.


    "Say something, Husband!" Han Bingdie eximed.


    Xia Xingchen nced coldly at Long Si. "Long Si, I need to find Yu''er at any cost. I don''t have time for your nonsense. If Iter discover that you were responsible for her disappearance, I''ll kill you."


    "I wasn''t responsible," Long Si said again, though his head reared back.


    He didn''t doubt that Xia Xingchen would make good on his threat; from their altercation, it was clear that he couldn''t even defend against one of Xia Xingchen''s blows.


    "Let''s leave with Zhao Yuanjiao. If we want to determine where Yu''er is, we''ll have to interrogate Green Lotus."


    "Right," Han Bingdie agreed, nodding anxiously. "He must know where she is."


    Xia Xingchen drew his sword from Long Si''s body. Huge quantities of fresh blood bubbled from Long Si''s wound, but he was just relieved to be freed.


    "Thank you for rescuing me, Mountain Lord Xia," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    Xia Xingchen nced at Zhao Yuanjiao, though he didn''t respond. He immediately flew off with his guests in tow. Finding Yu''er was his singr priority, and he would let nothing get in his way.


    After the guests left, Long Si reverted to human form as he clutched at his wound. He nced at the cloth sack, stunned.


    "How could it be? How did Xia Yu''er be Zhao Yuanjiao? Could Sage Green Lotus have tricked me? I have to report back to my brothers immediately." Long Si''s face twisted in annoyance.


    After confirming that Xia Xingchen and the others were all gone, he slowly got up and prepared to fly away.


    Just then, death chants covered up the sky. Fog gushed around him, filling his surroundings, ensuring that nothing would be detected in the dead of night.


    "Who''s there?" Long Si demanded, ncing all around him.


    Red clouds covered up the sky as countless lengths of red rope shot toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Show yourself!" Long Si eximed.


    He punched at the red rope around him, causing the rope to explode. Just then, an Immortal sword shot over.


    "That Golden Immortal sword again? Do you think you''ll be able to take me down with the same technique twice? Ha!" Long Si punched at the sword, only to have it detonate. A ming tempest shattered his attack and sent him flying.


    He had already been grievously wounded by Xia Xingchen; this close-range detonation exacerbated his injuries. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? You''d even sacrifice a Golden Immortal relic just like that?!" Long Si eximed.


    A beam of red light shed by as the red rope king shattered his qi barrier and coiled around his neck.


    "Damn it!" Long Si cried out.


    He struggled to free himself from the red rope as he tried to get more distance between him and Xiao Nanfeng. However, he was so badly injured that he simply couldn''t move quickly at all.


    A kasaya suddenly wrapped around his body.


    "No!" Long Si cried out.


    This was the same technique that Xiao Nanfeng had used to trap him that very day!


    As he struggled furiously, a blue lotusnded atop his head. Death chants filled his mind and soul.


    "Damn it, release me, Xiao Nanfeng!" Long Si eximed in fear.


    However, the red rope king was restricting him and draining his strength, while the blue lotus struck at his soul. Very quickly, he found himself losing consciousness.


    Xiao Nanfeng showed himself, stepped toward Long Si, and entered his mindscape.


    The blue lotus followed him in, continuing to suppress his consciousness.


    Long Si''s dted pupils suddenly contracted as he awoke, possessed by Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng reimed the kasaya and red rope king with a wave of his hand. The red clouds in the air likewise vanished from sight, and the thick fog dissipated. Xiao Nanfeng, still in Long Si''s body, flew into the forest where Yu''er and Xia Lan had been waiting for him. When they saw Long Si, they immediately reared back in shock.


    "Don''t worry. I''m controlling him. Let''s go," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Are you really Xiao Nanfeng?" Xia Lan asked.


    "In the undying realm, whose inheritance did I obtain?" Yu''er asked.


    "The Red Emperor''s, of course. Come on. If Long Si had taken me down, how would I have known where the two of you were?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er nodded. Then, she smiled in excitement. "Does that mean you''re a Golden Immortal now?"


    "It''s all thanks to your father for wounding him. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been so easy to defeat," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "But you lost a Golden Immortal relic too! He''s not worth it," Yu''er fumed.


    "Trading a Golden Immortal relic for a Golden Immortal is more than worth it. If you insist, though, we can hand Long Si over to Chang Bing and the others and forge a relic out of him to get our investment back," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er nodded firmly. "That''s a good idea! It''s worth it, then."


    Xia Lan frowned at him. "So you weren''t bragging¡ªyou really have forged a Golden Immortal into a relic before?"


    "Let''s get out of here first before we keep talking," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The other two cultivators nodded. Xia Lan felt as if he were dreaming.


    The three cultivators left the forest, flying out of the mountain pass leading out of the Yuqing holynd. They waited until Zhao Yuanjiao finally flew out to join them.


    He too was shocked to see Xiao Nanfeng in Long Si''s body, and only rxed after repeated confirmation.


    "Yu''er, you don''t know what I had to sacrifice to help you elope," Zhao Yuanjiao told Yu''er with a grimace.


    "What you had to sacrifice? Aren''t you unscathed?" Yu''er replied, confused.


    Zhao Yuanjiao opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. In the end, he chose not to mention that Long Si had caressed his ass.


    "How did you end up catching Long Si?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked them.


    "We were waiting for you outside the mountain pass when we suddenly saw Long Si emerge, followed quickly by Mountain Lord Xia and his guests. We naturally followed after them, not expecting to be able to pick up such a prize." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Thank goodness you all made it out. You don''t know how chaotic it is back in there. Xia Xingchen and his subordinates are interrogating Sage Green Lotus now, and he''s being forced to divulge Yu''er''s whereabouts. He won''t be able to free himself from suspicion at this point," Zhao Yuanjiao told them all.


    Xia Lan''s eyes brightened. "So Sage Green Lotus is going to be the scapegoat, not me!"


    "That''s right. Everyone thinks that Sage Green Lotus colluded with some outsiders to kidnap Yu''er. No one''s going to me you," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Doesn''t that mean that I can return?"


    "You should be able to. Do you want to?"


    "Third Brother, why don''t you head back?" Yu''er said.


    Xia Lan was initially excited, but quickly became wary. "I won''t let you trick me. Sage Green Lotus might be the scapegoat for the time being, but what if Father figures out the truth? It''d be better for me to apany you. At worst, I''ll write a letter home stating that I''m leaving in search of you, Yu''er."


    "You can go experience the world on your own, too. There''s no need for you to follow us," Yu''er said.


    Xia Lan gave her a dour look. "You''re trying to get rid of me? Dream on! All I''m doing is helping you leave the Yuqing holynd, not to elope. I''m going to keep an eye on you and Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "Don''t meddle in our business," Yu''er replied irritably.


    Xia Lan: ...


    Zhao Yuanjiao turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Shall we leave?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Let''s wait a bit longer."


    "For whom?"


    "They''re here."


    A group of cultivators were emerging from the mountain pass from afar.


    "Long Si''s subordinates? They had to have been interrogated by the Yuqing disciples. They''ve finally been freed!" Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.


    "Let''s follow after them. Senior Brother, I''ll leave you in charge of capturing them and interrogating them about what they know. I need to know if Long Si has an avatar, but you can''t ask them that directly," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    The cultivators skulked about, trailing behind Long Si''s subordinates until they found a good ce to ambush them. Zhao Yuanjiao shrouded his features as he attacked them, while Xiao Nanfeng and the others sealed their surroundings with relics.


    Very quickly, Zhao Yuanjiao knocked them all unconscious and brought them to a valley, where he began interrogating them.


    Zhao Yuanjiao was particrly skilled at interrogation, managing to obtain the information he needed without revealing any of his own.


    "Don''t worry. Long Si doesn''t have an avatar, and no one will know that you''ve possessed him for the moment," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Good. There''s an Immortal city nearby, with some spectral guards stationed there. Let''s bring these cultivators there and I''ll have them see what further information they can extract," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    They left with the unconscious cultivators in tow.

 Chapter 663: Impersonation

    <h4>Chapter 663: Impersonation</h4>


    In an Immortal city beyond the Yuqing holynd, a group of spectral guards were interrogating the cultivators that Xiao Nanfeng had brought back. Within half a day, they had obtained preliminary results.


    "Your Majesty, we interrogated them individually and pruned away those with avatars. We''ve obtained some information," a spectral guard reported.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "These people are just underlings who aren''t high enough up the hierarchy to have much information. All they know is that Long Si''s extending an offer of marriage to Xia Yu''er on the order of the premier lord of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. They seem dead set on acquiring her at any cost. Sage Green Lotus would fully support Long Si in bringing her to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce at any cost from within Yuqing."


    "Do you know roughly why?"


    "No, Your Majesty. Long Si''s subordinates are likely unqualified to learn of further information. They did report that, after Your Majesty beheaded Long Si, Sage Green Lotus met with him multiple times in his residence, conspiring for a prolonged period each time."


    "Continue the interrogation. I want to know everything there is to know about the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and its most important cultivators: their looks, their habits, and their special characteristics. Figure out everything you can about Long Si. I want to know about any catchphrases he might have, his subconscious mannerisms, and his acquaintances and how he treats them."


    "Understood!" the spectral guard replied.


    "Check the backgrounds of all the prisoners again. Make sure no one with an avatar can report on what we''re doing," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the spectral guard said again. He retreated from the room.


    "Aren''t you being a little too careful?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There has to be some reason the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and Yuqing holynd are working together to abduct you. Even your father has gotten involved. It''s clear that you''re of exceptional importance."


    "But I''m safe now! What''s there to worry about?"


    "Considering how important you are, they won''t stop trying to find you. The Yuqing holynd and Southeastern Aquatic Pce have significant resources at their disposal, and you''ll be in grace danger. We need to think of a way to resolve this problem¡ªwe have to be active, not passive," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Lan jumped in. "We have to be active? What are you nning to do, destroy the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I was nning to do so already, but I''ll have to move up my ns since they concern Yu''er."


    Xia Lan gaped. He gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "You alone? You must be bragging!"


    "Third Brother, you don''t know anything. Don''t speak to Xiao Nanfeng like that," Yu''er replied, dissatisfied.


    Xia Lan froze. "Yu''er, you believe him?"


    "What, do you want me to believe you instead? If you aren''t going to help, stop making a fuss. Go on! I have important matters to discuss with Nanfeng," Yu''er said.


    Xia Lan gaped. He felt so upset he might well spit out blood. Just what had happened for Yu''er to trust Xiao Nanfeng so blindly?


    Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao frowned. "The Southeastern Aquatic Pce must have something that the Yuqing holynd fears. Otherwise, there''s no need for the Yuqing holynd to prey on its own holy maidens."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It''s inconvenient to contact Mountain Lord Xia at the moment, but Sage Green Lotus surely knows more than we do. Perhaps we can start with him."


    "You want to meet Sage Green Lotus?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "Let''s wait a few more days first. I''ll need to get a grasp of all of Long Si''s subconscious mannerisms and figures of speech."


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    Three dayster, in a hall in which Xia Xingchen was located in Chiyang Peak, a teary-eyed Han Bingdie grumbled at Xia Xingchen, "You''re heartless! Green Lotus hurt your daughter. How could you let him go so easily? How are you going to answer to Yu''er?!"


    "Husband, this is too much. You''re the Mountain Lord of Chiyang Peak. How could you have let Long Si and Green Lotus go so easily? They''re bothplicit in her disappearance, I''m sure!"


    "Husband, you really have disappointed us."


    His other two wives grumbled at him as well.


    "My banquet''s been canceled, and all the guests have promised to help us hunt down Yu''er. What more do you want?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "Is that it? Interrogate Green Lotus, of course! Why did you let him leave? Oh, my Yu''er!" Han Bingdie was so upset she could barely speak. "How could I have doomed you with such a cruel father?"


    "You don''t seem to care that Yu''er''s gone missing today. Are you going to care if we go missing tomorrow, too?"


    "I''m sure Green Lotus has set his sights on us now. Aren''t you going to care? How can we trust you?"


    Xia Xingchen''s other two wives made a fuss as well. They all wanted Xia Xingchen to interrogate Sage Green Lotus.


    Xia Xingchen couldn''t help but smile wryly upon seeing the three women so incensed. "Forget it. Stop crying. Yu''er''s alright¡ªI''m sure she''s happy where she is right now."


    "What?" The three women nced up at Xia Xingchen in shock.


    Han Bingdie was the first to narrow her eyes. She demanded, "Hus band, do you know where Yu''er is?"


    "Husband, you''re not lying to us, are you? Where is she?" the other two women demanded as well.


    "Where else? She eloped with Xiao Nanfeng. That damn brat! I''ll punish her once shees back," Xia Xingchen replied.


    The three women froze. They stared at him in disbelief.


    "Yu''er left with Nanfeng? How could it be? How do you know?" Han Bingdie demanded.


    "How could I not? Why haven''t you heard from Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao thesest few days?"


    "Xia Lan wrote to say that he''s off in search of Yu''er with Nanfeng and Yuanjiao..." Han Bingdie murmured.


    "That''s nonsense. The only people they''d be able to fool are you lot!" Xia Xingchen eximed.


    The three women suddenly seemed revitalized. Han Bingdie wiped away her tears. "Husband, tell us what''s going on, now."


    "Right, exin yourself!"


    Xia Xingchen sketched out what he expected had happened. "Xiao Nanfeng really is intelligent. I dropped a few hints here and there, not expecting that he would be able to pick up on my intentions just from that¡ªnor that he would sessfully elope with Yu''er, too. That said, I didn''t suspect Sage Green Lotus would be so daring as to collude with Long Si to kidnap my daughter. I intend full well to make life difficult for him. I''m going to take advantage of this opportunity to tarnish his reputation."


    "What? You were nning for Yu''er and Nanfeng to elope? You''ve been lying to us all this time?"


    "You should just have told us! Look how much we''ve been suffering!"


    "This is ridiculous, Husband!"


    The three women gasped at their wayward husband.


    Xia Xingchen shook his head. "What if your acting skills weren''t up to par? You were all in the limelight. What if you had revealed something unintentionally? How can Yu''er get married then? It''s not good for you women to know too much."


    The three women were greatly relieved by what Xia Xingchen had intimated, but were still dissatisfied with him.


    "We women? We''ll show you how strong we women are."


    "How dare you lie to us! Think about all the tears we shed thesest few days while you watched us make a fool of ourselves! I''ll kill you!"


    "We''re not letting you out of bed tonight!"


    The three women leapt toward Xia Xingchen simultaneously.


    In the main hall of Taiyi Peak, Sage Green Lotus smashed a vase to pieces in a fit of anger. A group of Taiyi disciples had gathered in the distance, asionally shooting odd nces at him as they eyed each other.


    After all, for someone so esteemed to have colluded with an outsider to take advantage of a Yuqing holy maiden¡ªeven within Taiyi Peak, many disciples and elders were unable to ept his behavior.


    "Damn it!" Sage Green Lotus cursed.


    The image of a wise, mysterious sage that he had painstakingly cultivated all these years had been shattered in an instant. He had made a fool of himself not just in front of the Yuqing disciples, but also the countless guests who had been in attendance for Xia Xingchen''s banquet.


    Some had even called him a pimp! His reputation was entirely tarnished now.


    "It''s all Long Si''s fault! That damned scumbag!" Sage Green Lotus smashed another vase.


    He had no choice but to serve as scapegoat for this entire affair.


    Just then, a Yuqing disciple walked into the hall.


    "What are you doing here?" Sage Green Lotus demanded.


    The Yuqing disciple bowed down. "Mountain Lord, Long Si from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce has sent subordinates to arrange a meeting with you."


    "Long Si?" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    "Yes, Mountain Lord!" the Yuqing disciple replied.


    "Where is he?"


    "The messenger followed me into the holynd, but didn''t dare venture too far in due to the nces he was receiving from the Yuqing disciples around."


    Sage Green Lotus paused for a moment. "Who else knows that Long Si wants to talk to me?"


    "Only I do, Mountain Lord."


    "Listen well. I don''t want anyone else to know of this, or I''ll hold you ountable," Sage Green Lotus demanded.


    "Understood!" the Yuqing disciple replied, trembling.


    "Where?"


    The Yuqing disciple reported the location immediately.


    Sage Green Lotus nodded and secretly left Taiyi Peak.


    He headed out the mountain pass and in a certain direction. Quickly, he found himself at sea. An ind appeared over the horizon.


    Long Si was flying above the ind.


    "Long Si, how dare you!" Sage Green Lotus thundered.


    "This isn''t a safe ce to talk. Let''s talk elsewhere," Long Si replied.


    He led the incensed sage toward another ind in the distance.


    "This is all your fault. Not only did you fail to catch Xia Yu''er, you even implicated me!"


    "Who said I didn''t catch her?" Long Si smirked.


    Sage Green Lotus red at him in disbelief. "You managed to take her away? But didn''t you kidnap Zhao Yuanjiao instead? Ah¡ªI understand now! You deliberately caught Zhao Yuanjiao as well to use him as bait!"


    Long Si nodded. "That''s right. I caught Zhao Yuanjiao to cover up my tracks. Fortunately, I did the right thing. Otherwise, all our efforts might have been in vain."


    Sage Green Lotus huffed. "Why didn''t you tell me about this?"


    "The Yuqing holynd has been in an uproar thesest few days. How would I have told you?"


    Sage Green Lotus nodded grudgingly. "You''ve gotten what you wanted, but you''ve ruined me in the process!"

 Chapter 664: Xia Lan, the Actor

    <h4>Chapter 664: Xia Lan, the Actor</h4>


    Clearly, Xiao Nanfeng was now possessing Long Si. He asked, "Are you in dire straits?"


    "My reputation''s ruined because of my involvement in your kidnapping!" Sage Green Lotus gritted out.


    "But it was all worth it in the end, wasn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Sage Green Lotus blew up. "Worth it? What''s worth it to me? You benefited, but everyone''s cursing my name now!"


    "But now I have Xia Yu''er in my grasp, don''t I? Why else would I have wanted her?" Xiao Nanfeng probed.


    Sage Green Lotus frowned. In the end, he huffed again. "Your Southeastern Aquatic Pce has ruined me. At the very least, you managed to acquire Yu''er. Have her interact with what lies beneath the Eye of the Sea so I didn''t do all this in vain."


    "I''ll let my eldest brother know once I return," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Hurry back, then! You''re cleared of all suspicion now, aren''t you? Xia Xingchen doesn''t doubt you either. Bring Yu''er back to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce!" Sage Green Lotus urged.


    "But to have her interact with what lies beneath the Eye of the Sea directly is a little..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off, trying to get more information from Sage Green Lotus.


    "What? Are you intending to go back on your word now? You won''t be able to pay the price of betrayal. If I hadn''t defended you to the Yuqing holynd, it would long since have exterminated yourir!" Sage Green Lotus spat out.


    "Don''t try to threaten me. You can''t, at any rate. I understand the situation better than you do. I''m simply sharing my thoughts. Believe me or not, I don''t care."


    Sage Green Lotus narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. He scoffed. "What do you want, then?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart thumped anxiously. He felt that Sage Green Lotus had gotten suspicious of him, and chose to drop his inquiries.


    "My subordinates have gone missing."


    Sage Green Lotus seemed taken aback. He frowned again. "That''s the reason you beat around the bush?"


    "Well? Is there a problem?"


    Sage Green Lotus shook his head. "All your subordinates have been released."


    "Where are they? Could the Yuqing disciples have caught them again?"


    "Impossible. They''ve already questioned them. There''s no way they''d capture them again."


    "I haven''t seen hide nor hair of them at all. I can''t trust you."


    Green Lotus sighed in annoyance. "I''ll help you investigate. Bring Xia Yu''er back to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce as soon as possible. Don''t forget what you came to do here. If you''rete, your eldest brother won''t spare you, either. Don''t forget how you became a Golden Immortal. Your eldest brother can cripple you as easily as he helped you advance."


    "You don''t have to worry about my affairs. Get me my subordinates," Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Oh? Do they have some secrets I should be privy to?"


    "Don''t worry about that."


    "I''ll keep an eye out," Sage Green Lotus said.


    The two cultivators talked for a little while longer before they terminated the meeting.


    After returning, Xiao Nanfeng reunited with Yu''er and the others.


    "Nanfeng, what did he say?" Yu''er asked.


    "Green Lotus was on high alert, so I didn''t dare to press him too much. That said, I can tell that he''s part of some conspiracy, and that there''s some major secret behind the premier lord of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. He has a means of advancing a cultivator into a Golden Immortal..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "What? How can that be?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng repeated his conversation with Sage Green Lotus.


    "Helping someone be a Golden Immortal should be impossible, but my body is allegedly living proof..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    From beside them, Xia Lan asked, "What next?"


    "Considering how important Yu''er is to their ns, I can''t allow them to scheme about her any longer. I''ll have to uproot the Southeastern Aquatic Pce as quickly as I can," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Taking on Long Si alone was difficult for you. How do you intend to deal with the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? If it were that easy to handle, why would the Yuqing holynd bother with all these marriage shenanigans?"


    "I''ll use all the forces at my disposal," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "And what forces are those?"


    "Your father, of course. Go home and talk to your father. We''ll have to work together."


    Xia Lan stiffened. He thundered, "I knew you were up to no good! You''re even nning to manipte my father now. What if your n fails?"


    "Don''t worry about it. All you need to do is send word on my behalf. Your father knows far more than you do, and I''m sure he has a clear grasp of the situation."


    "What do you mean? Aren''t we all eloping together? Why are you sending me to report back to my father now?" Xia Lan eximed.


    "That was because you were the scapegoat. Sage Green Lotus has taken responsibility on your behalf, so you''re safe. You can easily return now."


    "Liar! My father''s going to beat me to death if I do!"


    "He won''t. Rx. Just hand him my letter."


    "I won''t!"


    Xia Lan was particrly fearful of his father. He had just disobeyed his father''s orders in helping Yu''er escape; how could he return now? He would surely be punished, be subject to the brunt of his father''s anger! Unfortunately, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem to care about his objections. He had already retired to a room to write his letter.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I didn''t say I was going to help you! You''d better not make a fuss!" Xia Lan cried out.


    "Third Brother, how could you be so timid? It''s hardly as though we''re trying to get you to do something bad. Aren''t you even willing to deliver a letter on my behalf?" Yu''er demanded.


    Xia Lan: ...


    Indeed, his sister did care for Xiao Nanfeng more than she did her very own brother!


    "Yu''er, don''t you know how difficult it was for me to escape? If I return now, Father will beat me to death. Don''t you pity me? Can''t you get another messenger?"


    "It''s least suspicious if you''re the one who returns, and this has to be kept a secret," Yu''er argued.


    "That''s right," Zhao Yuanjiao added, nodding. "You''re the only candidate."


    Xia Lan stiffened.


    Before long, Xiao Nanfeng had returned. He passed a letter to Xia Lan. "After you return, make sure you hand this to your father, and your father only. What''s more, when you do it, make sure you''re in your father''s private chambers in Chiyang Peak. Do it in front of your mother lest someone''s impersonating your father."


    "You must be overthinking things. Who would do something like that? Don''t you think I''d be able to tell?" Xia Lan grumbled.


    "It''s a matter of utmost importance. Follow my instructions," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.


    Xia Lan frowned. "Why does it feel like you''re trying to trick me again?"


    "Don''t worry. You''re Yu''er''s third brother. I would never hurt you."


    "I feel like you feel like you can do it precisely because I''m Yu''er''s third brother!"


    "Don''t worry, Third Brother," Yu''er said. "Just go!"


    Xia Lan huffed.


    "Time is of the essence, Xia Lan. Go!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Xia Lan kept the letter in his robes. He nced at the others in worry, but he eventually nodded. "If I learn that you''ve tricked me, all of you are done for!"


    Then, he flew off toward the Yuqing holynd.


    Xia Lan hung his head all the way back.


    When he reached the mountain pass, some of the Yuqing disciples on guard stepped forward to console him. "Don''t worry, Senior Brother Xia Lan. All twelve peaks have sent out search parties for Holy Maiden Yu''er. I''m sure she''ll be found in no time."


    Xia Lan''s haggard and forlorn expression looked exactly like that of a brother who had just lost his sister. All the disciples familiar with him stepped forward in constion.


    "I¡ª" Xia Lan found himself at a loss for words.


    The excuses he had thought up along the way were all unnecessary¡ªhis fellow disciples had already fallen for it just from his expression.


    Xia Lan returned to Chiyang Peak, his heart pounding. He couldn''t help but fear that Xiao Nanfeng was mistaken, that he would receive the beating of his life once he returned to his family manor.


    The thoughts that preupied him were apparent in his expression, leaving no doubts as to his authenticity in the eyes of the Yuqing disciples he met along the way. They too all stepped forward to console him.


    "Am I such a good actor?" Xia Lan murmured to himself.


    By the time he made it back to Chiyang Peak, many of its disciples had already left in search of Yu''er, and the mountain wasrgely unupied. However, Xia Xingchen and his three wives were all present in the manor as they awaited news of Yu''er.


    They were all shocked by Xia Lan''s sudden return.


    "What are you doing back here, Xia Lan?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    He seemed anxious; he thought that something had happened to Yu''er.


    "Father!" Xia Lan eximed, shuddering.


    Despite his fears, he stepped into the manor before its doors swung shut.


    The three women set up barrier after barrier to iste all sound from within. One of them was even stationed outside the manor to stand guard.


    "What are you doing back here? Has something happened to Yu''er?" Xia Xingchen demanded again.


    "Father, it''s none of my business! Xiao Nanfeng eloped with Yu''er. I advised him many times not to do so, but he refused to listen to me. I was coerced into it!" Xia Lan eximed, babbling in fear.


    Han Bingdie sighed in relief. Conjecture was one thing, and proof from her son another entirely. She smiled. "That wasn''t what your father asked about. He wants to know if Yu''er is alright. Why did you suddenly return?"


    Xia Lan''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Xia Xingchen frowned. He shook his head. "Look at that expression of yours! Do you want others to know that we have something to hide?"


    "Was Xiao Nanfeng really telling the truth? You knew all about me helping Yu''er elope?" Xia Lan eximed.


    "What do you think?!"


    "Alright, alright, that''s enough," Han Bingdie jumped in. "Don''t frighten Xia Lan anymore. Xia Lan, why are you back here? Did something happen?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng had me bring a letter back. He wants to destroy the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and free Yu''er from any threat permanently."


    "Destroy the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" the three women eximed.


    "Where''s the letter?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    "Right here!"


    Xia Xingchen tore the seal and unfolded it immediately.


    Han Bingdie pulled Xia Lan to one side. "How did you manage to sneak Yu''er out? You even fooled us all!"


    Xia Lan didn''t dare hide anything. He recounted what had happened in full.

 Chapter 665: My Father-in-Laws Wisdom

    <h4>Chapter 665: My Father-in-Law''s Wisdom</h4>


    In his study in the Sieve of Heaven, Ao Canghai frowned as he considered a report in his hands. A Martial Aspect stood before him, giving a report.


    When that Martial Aspect finished speaking, Ao Canghai put down the report and gave him his full attention. "You mean to say that Ao Zhou imed a relic from the Hall of Martial Aspects and then rushed straight toward the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?"


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect. Strangely enough, the relic he chose was the Cage of the Sea."


    "Cage of the Sea?" Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect. This relic is only useful against Eyes of the Sea, and has limited functionality in terms of offense and defense otherwise. I don''t know what Ao Zhou''s thinking," the Martial Aspect replied disdainfully.


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "It looks like it''s true."


    "What''s true?"


    "Have a look." Ao Canghai handed over his report to the Martial Aspect.


    The Martial Aspect scanned the document and eximed in surprise, "Eastern Aspect, you have spies among Ao Zhou''s subordinates? You know what he and Xiao Nanfeng have been discussing!"


    "Some of his sea spirits know who the better master is," Ao Canghai replied, smirking.


    "ording to the report, Xiao Nanfeng managed to discover that the four lords of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce have be Golden Immortals thanks to the Eye of the Sea. Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates are already heading to the pce in preparation to im the relic for themselves!" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng must be skilled to have uncovered the Southeastern Aquatic Pce''s secrets so quickly. In the past, I only advanced to the realm of a Boundless Immortal after attuning to the Eye of the Sea of the Southern Sea Draconic Pce. To think there would be one here, too," Ao Canghai murmured.


    "If Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou were to acquire an Eye of the Sea for themselves..."


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng won''t seed so easily, not when the Southeastern Aquatic Pce is in possession of such a treasure."


    "But what if he does seed? Yin Shenhua was a Boundless Immortal too, but he lost to Xiao Nanfeng anyway!"


    Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched.


    "Eastern Aspect, we can''t let Xiao Nanfeng acquire that relic. What''s more, Ao Zhou possesses an ancestral dragon''s inheritance. Things will be dangerous for us whether they seed or fail. If the Southeastern Aquatic Pce gains control of that inheritance, we''d suffer huge losses!"


    Ao Canghai furrowed his brows. "You''re right. We can''t let either of them win."


    "Eastern Aspect, what if I secretly follow behind them?"


    "You alone? You won''t be sufficient. ording to the report, the Southeastern Aquatic Pce has at least four Golden Immortals. The fact that Xiao Nanfeng himself is going regardless means that he has some way of dealing with the four of them, so you''ll be going up against eight Golden Immortals'' worth of strength. If you want to interfere, you''ll need overwhelming strength. I''ll go myself," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!"


    Dayster, on a small ind, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er sat side-by-side on a boulder as they watched the sun set over the horizon.


    "Nanfeng, I''m d you saved me," Yu''er said, leaning against his shoulder.


    "I could hardly desert you after that disy of affection," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What disy of affection?" Yu''er blushed.


    "Don''t you remember the kiss you gave me before you left?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "Ah, stop! Pretend that never happened!" Yu''er''s face flushed red as she palmed Xiao Nanfeng''s mouth.


    "Yu''er, there''s something I need to return to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Don''t call me Yu''er. Call me Senior Sister," Yu''er replied archly.


    "Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "What do you intend to return me?" she continued.


    "This."


    Xiao Nanfeng kissed Yu''er.


    "Ah!" Yu''er''s mind turned nk.


    She felt a wave of happiness suffuse her. Xiao Nanfeng hugged her tightly as they kissed.


    After what seemed like forever, he finally pulled back. By then, Yu''er''s flush had spread across her entire face.


    "You lecher! How could you bully your own senior sister like that? I''ll beat you up!" Yu''er''s fists pounded on Nanfeng''s chest, though without any force whatsoever.


    Xiao Nanfengughed as he held onto Yu''er''s fists. "We''re even now."


    "Hmph! Let me go!"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t do so. He looked her in the eyes. "I came to save you, and I don''t intend to let you go anymore. I''m going to bring you home and make you my empress."


    "Dream on!" Yu''er pursed her lips.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but kiss her again, until she was feeling numb and tingling all over. She barely managed to push Xiao Nanfeng away before she could make a fool of herself.


    "You bully! I''ll tell my father about you!" Yu''er eximed.


    "You won''t have a chance. I won''t let you escape from my clutches now," Xiao Nanfeng continued,ughing.


    "Ah, you!" Yu''er pounded on Xiao Nanfeng''s body with her fists again.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t retaliate. He pulled Yu''er into another embrace.


    "What''s going on with Lady Yaoguang now?" Yu''er asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"


    Yu''er scowled. "Of course I have to ask about her. In the undying realm, I obtained the Red Emperor''s inheritance, she received Empress Bai''s, and you Emperor Wei''s. Have you been intending to take us both as wives all this time?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gulped.


    Yu''er made herselffortable in Xiao Nanfeng''sp. "Lady Yaoguang put herself in danger on your behalf. If you intend to marry her too, I won''t mind, but I want to be your first wife."


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked, surprised by Yu''er''s train of thought. What woman wanted her husband to take on multiple wives? He had been prepared to forge a third avatar so that he could have one self with each of his wives at any time. Yu''er''s statement left him stupefied.


    "What? That doesn''t satisfy you?" Yu''er puffed up her lips in mock anger.


    "No, no, of course I''m satisfied! I didn''t expect you would be so generous," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu''er leaned into Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace. "My father married three women too. My three mothers are on good terms with each other, and they stand up for each other when my father bullies them. The three of them together can force my father onto his knees, hmph!"


    So Yu''er''s family background made her amenable to such an arrangement...


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but be relieved that Xia Xingchen was Yu''er''s father. Such a father-inw would be more than worthy of respect.


    As to whether Xia Xingchen really was being bullied by his three wives, Xiao Nanfeng begged to differ.


    Xia Xingchen boasted an impressive cultivation. Could he really lose to his three wives? Perhaps he set up such a scheme deliberately to ensure that his household would be in good order, to ensure that his three wives would work with, rather than against, each other.


    He was wise indeed, and well worth learning from.


    "What''s the matter? Why aren''t you saying anything?" Yu''er eximed.


    "No, no, it''s nothing. I''m just thinking about how harmonious your family is. It''s wonderful," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Of course!" Yu''er replied proudly.


    Xiao Nanfeng caressed Yu''er''s hair. "Once we take down the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and there''s no longer any pressing danger, I''ll return to the Yuqing holynd and ask your father for your hand in marriage again."


    "What? We still have to return?" Yu''er frowned in worry.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "You''ve been incredibly thoughtful, Yu''er. How can I wrong you? I''ll surely convince your parents that I''m the best candidate for you. We can return home once I get their blessing. I won''t let anyone in the Yuqing holyndugh at you or your parents!"


    Yu''er smiled gently and leaned into Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace once more.


    The two of them watched the sun set, their hearts attuned to each other.


    Just then, a strident voice interrupted, "Hold it right there! Xiao Nanfeng, let go of Yu''er!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er turned around in surprise to see Xia Lan rushing angrily at them.


    "What are you doing here, Third Brother?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xia Lan dragged his sister away. He thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng, you lecher! What have you done with my sister while I was gone?"


    "Third Brother, why are you making such a fuss?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Making such a fuss? If I had been anyter, he might have done something unspeakable to you!" Xia Lan eximed.


    "But I don''t mind," Yu''er replied.


    Xia Lan stiffened.


    "Third Brother, have you never been in a rtionship?" Yu''er asked slyly.


    Xia Lan: ...


    He staggered back. How could his sister wound him so?


    "Nanfeng and I were enjoying the sunset together! You''ve ruined our time with each other," Yu''er criticized.


    Xia Lan took a deep breath and rallied. "Our parents want me to watch over Xiao Nanfeng and make sure he''s not bullying you. Before you formally be betrothed, you aren''t to be intimate with each other."


    "We''ve hardly done anything of the sort. You''re making a mountain out of a molehill!" Yu''er eximed.


    "But just now¡ª"


    "What about just now? Mother''s already aware of it."


    Han Bingdie had allowed her to spend some time with Nanfeng before their separation thest time they had met. She was even the one who suggested kissing Xiao Nanfeng before their departure! This was nothing inparison.


    "What?!" Xia Lan eximed.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng changed the subject. "Xia Lan, what did your parents say when you returned? I wasn''t lying to you, was I?"


    Xia Lan grudgingly turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Your guess was right. My mothers even praised you."


    "And your father?"


    "He didn''t say anything. He told me to keep an eye on you and make sure you''re not bullying Yu''er."


    Xiao Nanfeng rxed. "Good. That means he approves of my n."


    "What? My father didn''t say anything! How could that mean that he approves?"


    "Third Brother, you''re just going to make a fool of yourself if you keep trying to second-guess Nanfeng. Just listen to him if you''re not smart enough to get the big picture," Yu''er said.


    Xia Lan clutched his chest. Was Yu''er really his own sister? How could she criticize him so harshly?


    Xia Lan pretended that his sister hadn''t spoken. "If you and Yu''er are having fun with each other, what about Long Si?"


    "I have two bodies. Didn''t Yu''er tell you?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What? Your other body''s here, too?"


    "That''s right. If we don''t take down the Southeastern Aquatic Pce right away, Yu''er''s going to remain in danger. That''s why we need to strike at full force and uproot the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. I was enjoying a rare moment of peace with Yu''er before you barged in," Xiao Nanfeng replied crabbily.


    "Right, Third Brother! You should find yourself a wife instead of wedging yourself into our rtionship like a third wheel," Yu''er added.


    Xia Lan scowled. "So what if I''m a bachelor?!"

 Chapter 666: The Four Golden Immortals of the Southeastern Aquatic Palace

    <h4>Chapter 666: The Four Golden Immortals of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce</h4>


    The Eastern and Southern Seas met in a vast expanse of the sea with concentrated spiritual aether.


    There were countless inds and Immortal sects that had set up on those inds. One of the many forces here was known as the Southeastern Aquatic Pce.


    The Southeastern Aquatic Pce was located in a trench in the sea, with a huge underwater barrier encapsting a scintiting draconic pce. All manner of dragons and their subordinate sea spirits approached and left the pce in pilgrimages of sorts. The pce was bustling with activity.


    Within the pce, there were quite a few mysterious regions shrouded in fog.


    In the main hall of the pce, Crystal Hall, sat two rows of men and women. At the head of the two rows were two hulking men with frustrated looks on their faces.


    At the front of the hall was a bundle of mist. The cultivator shrouded in the mist was hidden from sight, but everyone seemed to treat that cultivator with utmost respect.


    "Is there any word of Fourth Brother?" the man at the head of the left row asked.


    "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I''ve been checking all over these past few days. I even got in contact with Sage Green Lotus. There''s no word of Fourth Brother at all. Could something have happened to him? "the man at the head of the right row said.


    Clearly, these two men were none other than the second and third lords of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, Long Er and Long San. [1]


    The figure shrouded in mist, of course, was the premier lord of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, Long Yi.


    "I''ve summoned all of you here today to discuss Long Si. What''s going on?" Long Yi demanded.


    "Something must be wrong. Long Si''s subordinates are hardly as important as Xia Yu''er. Rather than bringing Xia Yu''er back to us, he chose to seek out Sage Green Lotus in search of his subordinates. That''s not a reasonable course of action."


    "He knows that you urgently need Xia Yu''er, Eldest Brother, but he hasn''t returned or contacted us at all. Either something happened to him, or he''s intending to betray us!" Long Er said.


    "Ha! Betray the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? Let''s see if he can," Long Yi replied, scoffing.


    "Eldest Brother, have you received any news?" Long Er asked.


    "One of my scouts'' avatars just reported that he saw him heading our way underwater," Long Yi said.


    "Eldest Brother, do you think Fourth Brother could have betrayed us all?" Long Er asked, "Sage Green Lotus told us that something seemed amiss with Fourt Brother when he reached out to him. Could something really have happened?" Long San asked, though he seemed dubious of that possibility.


    "We''ll have to see. Since he''sing back, let''s hear him out for now," Long Yi dered.


    "Understood!" Long Er and Long San replied.


    As for the other cultivators in the meeting, though they had the right to attend, none of them had the right to interrupt the four draconic lords or speak out of turn.


    Before long, a raucousmotion could be heard from afar.


    "We greet Lord Si!"


    "Lord Si''s back!"


    "Lord Si, what happened?"


    Themotion naturally drew the attention of the other three draconic lords.


    "Where are my three brothers?" Long Si shouted.


    "They''re at Crystal Hall, Lord Si!"


    "Good," Long Si replied.


    He headed straight for Crystal Hall, only to see it packed to the brim with important members of the pce.


    "Lord Si." A few of the lower-ranking cultivators stood up and bowed respectfully to him, but Long Si ignored them. He headed toward the cloud of white mist at the forefront of the hall, along with the two men seated at the very front.


    "Brothers, I''ve returned," Long Si announced.


    He was bedraggled, his clothing singed and scorched, his hair and brows burnt to a crisp, a sorry sight to behold.


    "What took you so long?" Long Yi demanded.


    Long Er frowned as well. "Fourth Brother, where''s Xia Yu''er?"


    "Why haven''t you sent word to us, Fourth Brother?" Long San said coolly.


    Long Si nced at the cultivators in the hall. "Except for my three brothers, the rest of you, get out."


    "Hm?" Long Yi seemed perplexed.


    "What do you want, Fourth Brother?" Long San demanded.


    Long Si ignored his third brother. He shouted at the rest of the cultivators, "Didn''t you hear me? Get out!"


    Long Si turned to Long Yi. "Eldest Brother, I have vital news to report. I''ll provide the detailster, but only among the four of us."


    "All of you, leave," Long Yi said coolly.


    "Understood!" The remaining cultivators retreated in an orderly fashion.


    After everyone had left, Long Si waved an arm, sealing the doors to the hall.


    "Eldest Brother, I''ve been ambushed. I just escaped," Long Si said, gritting his teeth.


    "Oh?" Long Yi''s attitude was surprisingly cold.


    It was clear that he had be suspicious of his fourth brother after thetter''s prolonged absence.


    "When I fled from the Yuqing holynd, as a safety precaution, I kidnapped both Xia Yu''er and Zhao Yuanjiao. Because time was of the essence, I knocked Xia Yu''er unconscious, sealed her cultivation, and hid her deep within the Yuqing holynd. Then, I ran off with Zhao Yuanjiao. Fortunately, my preparations allowed me to escape from Xia Xingchen''s pursuit."


    "You caught Xia Yu''er and hid her within the Yuqing holynd?" Long San eximed.


    "The most dangerous location is often the safest, after all. Who would have expected me to hide her there? After themotion, Iid low and waited in the vicinity of the Yuqing holynd. Three dayster, I disguised myself and sought out Sage Green Lotus'' subordinate to arrange for a private discussion. It was then that I brought Xia Yu''er out with me."


    "Oh?"


    "Then, since I was feeling good, I met with Green Lotus. I''d already caught Xia Yu''er by then, so there wasn''t much to discuss with him. I talked about some nonsense, then asked him to help look for my missing subordinates. I left thereafter."


    "No wonder he said you were acting funny," Long San murmured.


    "Silence, Third Brother. Listen to Fourth Brother for now," Long Er hissed.


    He didn''t seem pleased that Long San had divulged some information.


    Long Si didn''t seem to mind. "After that, I was ambushed."


    "Who did it?" Long Er asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao. They were tailing Green Lotus all this time¡ªthat idiot! He didn''t even realize what they were doing. They caught me as a result," Long Si said, hissing.


    "Xiao Nanfeng might have a few Golden Immortal relics, but he shouldn''t have caught you easily," Long Yi said.


    "There were other Golden Immortals with him, all with powerful relics of their own. I couldn''t hold them back," Long Si said wryly.


    "And what of Xia Yu''er?" Long Yi asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng rescued her. I really am sorry, Eldest Brother."


    The cultivators all frowned. Long San was the first to believe in their youngest brother. "That idiot, Green Lotus. How dare he try to tell us you were responsible?"


    "How did you escape?" Long Yi asked.


    Long Er and Long San looked toward Long Si.


    "That''s precisely what I wanted to report to you about, Eldest Brother," Long Si said. Xiao Nanfeng has summoned Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court to uproot the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. He''s heading over toy the groundwork for his ns. He sealed my cultivation, bound me, and tossed me into a furnace, intending to forge my body into pills. I overheard their conversations from within the furnace."


    "Oh? So these burns are from that furnace?"


    "That''s right. I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to escape because Xiao Nanfeng and his party had already set off. The mes from the furnace broke my seals and allowed me to escape. I killed those forgemasters Xiao Nanfeng left to guard me and rushed back immediately."


    "Do you have any proof?"


    Long Yi wouldn''t be tricked so easily.


    "Eldest Brother, I don''t know whether any of those forgemasters have any avatars, but I know where Xiao Nanfeng is located. They''re nning to attack the Southeastern Aquatic Pce right now, and we need tounch a counter-attack immediately."


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s close by?" Long Yi asked.


    "He is. I was afraid that I''d draw attention to myself, so I didn''t dare fly toward the pce. Rather, I swam underwater to get here instead. If you don''t believe me, Brothers, I''ll lead you to him right now."


    Long Yi fell silent. There was nothing unusual he could pinpoint from Long Si''s ims.


    "Eldest Brother, I''ll go verify Long Si''s ims," Long Er volunteered.


    "Me too," Long San added.


    Long Yi hesitated.


    Long Si sighed in exasperation. "Eldest Brother, I know all of you must be suspicious of me because of my prolonged absence, but I''m not lying. I''ll prove it to you¡ªjust follow me!"


    After a moment''s hesitation, Long Yi finally said, "Second Brother, Third Brother, follow Fourth Brother''s lead. Be careful."


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    "We''ll set off right away, Eldest Brother. Time''s of the essence, and I''m afraid they''ll run off before we can get to them," Long Si said immediately.


    "Go on," Long Yi said.


    Although he was suspicious of Long Si, he couldn''t be certain of his suspicions just yet.


    The three dragons left the hall.


    "Second Brother, Third Brother, let''s go right away!" Long Si urged.


    The two Golden Immortals nodded without any hesitation.


    They emerged from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and swam some distance across the sea before they surfaced by the side of an ind shrouded with fog.


    "It''s right here. Hurry!" Long Si shouted.


    He struck at the fog in the vicinity, dispelling it. Shockingly, there was a formation on the ind that shattered as a result of Long Si''s attack.


    "Who''s there?!" Shouts came from the ind.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? And Ao Zhou and Ye Dafu, too? The Imperial Court really did send its Martial Aspects over," Long Er eximed.


    Long Er was already aware of Xiao Nanfeng; even if he weren''t, Long Si''s disappearance meant that he had familiarized himself with just who Xiao Nanfeng was and what forces he had at his disposal.


    "Has Long Si escaped? Damn it. We have to flee!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The cultivators dove into the sea, intending to escape underwater.


    "Brothers, don''t let any of them go! Leave Xiao Nanfeng to me. I''ll make him regret what he''s done to me!" Long Si roared.


    He transformed into an ivory dragon and swam off in the direction in which Xiao Nanfeng escaped.


    Long Er and Long San likewise transformed and shot toward Ao Zhou and Ye Dafu.


    The cultivators scattered across the sea. Trying to get them all would be somewhat troublesome, but they were all Golden Immortals, ivory dragons, and underwater no less. How could they lose to those cultivators in their own domain?


    Huge waves surged across the sea.


    1. Yes, their names are just ''dragon-two'' and ''dragon-three''... ?

 Chapter 667: Canghai Saves Zhou

    <h4>Chapter 667: Canghai Saves Zhou</h4>


    High above the clouds stood three figures: Ao Canghai and two of his loyal Martial Aspects.


    The three cultivators were staring at the sight unfolding beneath them. Long Er, Long San, and Long Si had appeared out of nowhere, catching Xiao Nanfeng off guard.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s done for now!"


    "Haha, to think he has such moments too!"


    The two Martial Aspects roared inughter.


    Ao Canghai furrowed his brows, unconvinced. "Xiao Nanfeng''s particrly careful and diligent. I don''t think he''d be discovered so easily."


    "Eastern Aspect, everyone makes mistakes at times. No matter how good Xiao Nanfeng is at scheming, he can get unlucky too," the two Martial Aspects replied.


    Ao Canghai nodded, grudgingly epting this viewpoint.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates dove into the sea, causing a series of huge tidal waves as they were pursued by the draconic lords.


    Ordinary cultivators wouldn''t have seen what was going on underwater, but Ao Canghai could do so easily.


    Xiao Nanfeng was the fastest to escape, but Long Si was no easy opponent. The two cultivators fought viciously against each other. Although Xiao Nanfeng had a number of strong techniques, he was ultimately only a True Immortal, whereas Long Si was a Golden Immortal. Xiao Nanfeng quickly found himself in the losing end of things.


    Meanwhile, Long Er caught up to Ao Zhou.


    Ao Zhou transformed into a ck dragon wtih a roar as he sent the seawater around him surging toward Long Er.


    "How dare you!" Long Er thundered.


    He transformed into an ivory dragon, simrly manipting the seawater around him in offense.


    The two dragons caused such a hugemotion as they fought against each other that it felt as though tidal waves were ravaging the sea.


    Ao Zhou had arge assortment of techniques from his inheritance, but Long Er''s Golden Immortal cultivation was too great a gulf to ovee.


    A few golden cultivators rushed forward to help him out.


    They saved Ao Zhou, but the golden cultivators were sent flying.


    "I won''t let you run!" Long Er yelled out.


    Ao Zhou had just dealt him a heavy blow. He yelped in pain, eyeing Ao Zhou in rage and doing everything in his power to prevent him from leaving.


    Despite the fact that the golden cultivators continued to harass him and he sent them flying time after time, he refused to allow Ao Zhou to flee.


    "Why are you only chasing me? Help!" Ao Zhou shouted in fear.


    He was no match for Long Er; he had no choice but to flee.


    Ao Zhou even activated a Golden Immortal relic, but Long Er had one of his own. Ao Zhou was forced to retreat.


    "Explode!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    His Golden Immortal relic exploded, causing Long Er''s to do so as well. Long Er was sent stumbling back from the explosion, bleeding from his head.


    Even so, he was wholly enraged. He shot toward Ao Zhou, ignoring his injuries, and beat him up until Ao Zhou was coughing out blood. The golden cultivators that flew at him from all around were unable to do anything to stop the brutal beating.


    "Help!" Ao Zhou cried out again.


    Up in the air, Ao Canghai and the others nched.


    "Eastern Aspect, they''re going to capture Ao Zhou! He has an ancestral dragon''s inheritance!"


    "The Southeastern Aquatic Pce is led by four draconic lords. They''re not such fools as to overlook Ao Zhou''s secret. We can''t let them seize him!"


    The two Martial Aspects pleaded with Ao Canghai to intervene.


    Ao Canghai frowned in distaste, but ultimately nodded. "The two of you, head down to save Ao Zhou¡ªbut only him."


    "Understood!" the two Martial Aspects replied, diving down.


    They quickly arrived by Ao Zhou''s side.


    By then, Long Er had caught Ao Zhou in his ws, rendering him immobile. He was struggling futilely when the two Martial Aspects made their move.


    They forced Long Er back, freeing Ao Zhou.


    "Golden Immortals? It''s just like what Fourth Brother mentioned..." Long Er murmured.


    "Martial Aspects, finish him off, quickly!" Ao Zhou was overjoyed to find assistance.


    Long Er nched as he turned to flee, diving into the depths of the sea and vanishing from sight.


    The two Martial Aspects: ...


    They had been nning to show off their strength, but Long Er had fled at the sight of them!


    Not only that, Long Er howled, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, disperse!"


    Long Er''s voice boomed throughout the sea.


    Long San and Long Si, hearing their brother''s words and sensing that something was amiss, turned and fled without any hesitation.


    The fighting abruptly came to an end.


    Within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, Long Er was the first to return. The moment he made it through the doors of Crystal Hall, he shouted, "Eldest Brother, Fourth Brother was right! The Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court came prepared. If not for Fourth Brother''s warning, we would have been caught off guard!"


    Long Er manifested an image of the two Golden Immortals with his w.


    Long Yi nced at the image and frowned. "We''ll talk about this once they return."


    Just then, Long San made it back as well.


    He came back in dragon form, then spat out Ye Dafu and three of the golden cultivators from his mouth.


    "Run!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Do you think you''ll be able to flee? Dream on!" Long San scoffed.


    The four golden cultivators were quickly suppressed by Long Er and Long San. The two dragons sealed their cultivation and even their mouths.


    "Second Brother, what happened? I was enjoying the chase. Why did you call us back?" Long San eximed.


    "They had Golden Immortals," Long Er replied. "Fourth Brother was right."


    Long San''s eyes widened. "It''s only thanks to Fourth Brother that we managed to catch these cultivators. This Ye Dafu is a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court too, isn''t he?"


    Long Er nodded. "That''s right. The two Golden Immortals I fought against were Martial Aspects from the Immortal Court too."


    "Eldest Brother, I''m sure Fourth Brother is still loyal to us. You can''t imagine he would ally himself with them, could you?" Long San eximed.


    Long Yi hadrgely dropped his guard against Long Si, but just in case, he said, "We''ll talk once Fourth Brother returns."


    Long Si arrived in just a few short moments, but he seemed almost as battered as before. He was bleeding all over, but had managed to catch Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng was in a sorry state, his clothing disheveled, his cultivation sealed, his mouth taped shut. Long Si tossed him on the ground.


    "What happened, Fourth Brother?"


    "You really managed to catch Xiao Nanfeng? I heard he was a sly cultivator!"


    Long Er and Long San were very impressed with their brother.


    "Ahem! Eldest Brother, Xiao Nanfeng detonated a Golden Immortal relic and dealt me significant injury. I almost let him escape¡ªbut luckily, given my past experience, I forged forward and managed to catch him. I''ll be able to restore my reputation now, haha!" Long Siughed even as he coughed out blood.


    Long Yi nodded in praise. "Well done, Fourth Brother."


    Long Yi''s suspicions that Long Si had betrayed them was founded on Xiao Nanfeng''s involvement. Now that Long Si had caught Xiao Nanfeng, however, it was clear that he remained loyal to the Southeastern Draconic Pce. Fortunately, he hadn''t expressed his doubts directly to Long Si just yet.


    "I was lucky enough not to encounter any of the Golden Immortals while taking him on. Perhaps they thought that I was an easy opponent after he managed to behead mest time¡ªtheir loss, clearly." Long Si smirked.


    "You might not have encountered any, but I met two," Long Er said.


    "Oh?" Long Si was taken aback.


    Long Er exined what had happened.


    "Those damn bastards! They really ought to die. If they hadunched an attack on us, we really might have lost," Long Si cursed.


    "You''re right, Fourth Brother. You''ve done very well this time," Long Er said.


    "Of course I''d do my part, Brothers!" Long Si replied.


    Long Er''sughter boomed throughout the hall.


    "It''s a pity that Xiao Nanfeng was sly enough to toss all his treasures into the depths of the sea right after I caught him. I heard that he managed to acquire plenty of treasure from that divine empire¡ªDayin, was it? But I didn''t manage to get any of it." Long Si hissed.


    "These cultivators I caught did the same, too," Long San said. "They''d rather throw away all their treasure than let us have any."


    The two dragons fumed in shared anger.


    "Brother, we might have caught Xiao Nanfeng and his aplices, but the situation still doesn''t look good for us. Who knows how many Golden Immortals are waiting outside? Just how many did the Imperial Court send?" Long Si asked in worry.


    "Interrogate the prisoners. I''ll ask around," Long Yi said.


    "Understood!" the three dragons chorused.


    Long Er, Long San, and Long Si left with Xiao Nanfeng and the four golden cultivators in tow.


    As they emerged from Crystal Hall, Long Si said, "Brothers, I have a debt to repay with regards to Xiao Nanfeng. Let me interrogate him myself."


    "Very well." Neither Long Er nor Long San seemed to mind.


    "As for Ye Dafu and the others, I''ll have to trouble you with them, Brothers. Please keep them alive for now. They might still be useful as bait, after all¡ªbut feel free to beat them within an inch of their lives. Use the strongest poisons you have," Long Si hissed.


    "Fourth Brother, you really do hate them, don''t you?" Long Sanughed.


    "Don''t worry, Fourth Brother. We''ll avenge you. Their mothers wouldn''t recognize them by the time we''re done." Long Er smirked.


    "Thank you, Brothers," Long Si replied.


    The three dragons brought Xiao Nanfeng, Ye Dafu, and the others down to the dungeon.


    Within Crystal Hall, Long Yi beckoned for a subordinate to approach. "Have your avatar contact Martial Aspect Tu Feng immediately."


    "Understood!" the subordinate replied. Before long, he reported, "My avatar has met with Martial Aspect Tu Feng. He''d like to have a direct conversation with you. I shall serve as intermediary."


    Long Yi nodded, recounting what had happened to date. He manifested an image of those two Martial Aspects as well.


    The subordinate was silent for a moment before he parroted back Martial Aspect Tu Feng''s words. "Xiao Nanfeng? Ye Dafu? Ao Zhou? And those two Martial Aspects? Something doesn''t seem right."


    "What''s the matter?" Long Yi asked.


    "Those two Martial Aspects are Ao Canghai''s loyal confidantes. Ao Canghai hates Xiao Nanfeng, so why would they work together? Hold on. Let me find out what the situation''s like."


    "Very well." Long Yi waited patiently.


    Two hourster, the subordinate began speaking once more. "Damn it, Ao Canghai secretly issued a Martial Aspect mission to destroy the Southeastern Aquatic Pce! Ao Zhou epted that mission and even borrowed the Cage of the Sea from the Hall of Martial Aspects. It specifically targets Eyes of the Sea!"


    "What? How do they know about the Eye of the Sea?!" Long Yi eximed.


    "Long Yi, something''s wrong. Be careful regarding Ao Canghai. I''ll report to the Immortal Emperor and Empress immediately. They''ll send reinforcements to help you out."


    "Very well," Long Yi replied uneasily.

 Chapter 668: Theyve Confessed

    <h4>Chapter 668: They''ve Confessed</h4>


    In a dungeon of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, Long Er and Long San were beating up Ye Dafu and the three other golden cultivators. Screams echoed around the dungeon.


    Despite their cries, neither Ye Dafu nor any of the others would reveal anything.


    "Keep beating them up until they tell us what they know!"


    "Bring some poison over. We have plenty of ways to get them to talk!"


    Long Er and Long San instructed their subordinates to bring them specialized supplies as the screams continued to echo.


    Meanwhile, Long Si was interrogating Xiao Nanfeng on his own, having set up a formation to prevent anyone else from approaching. No one knew what was going on within, but considering Long Si''s public humiliation at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands, it wasn''t hard for them to guess that Xiao Nanfeng was enduring inhumane torture.


    No one would have suspected the reality: that Xiao Nanfeng and Long Si were deep in meditation, with neither of them speaking to the other. After all, Long Si was currently being possessed by Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    After some time, the two cultivators opened their eyes simultaneously, then began to add to each other''s disguise. Xiao Nanfeng gave his body a few wounds, then caused his face to swell up. Then, he pretended to lose consciousness.


    Long Si rolled up his sleeves, making it look like he had just exerted himself.


    Then, he dispelled the formation and walked out of the torture chamber.


    "Lord Si!" A group of subordinates rushed toward him.


    "No one is to enter. Keep an eye on the door. I intend to continue questioning himter," Long Simanded.


    "Understood!" his subordinates said.


    They nced into the chamber to see Xiao Nanfeng wounded and scarred all over. He had fainted from the severity of his wounds. They nodded at each other.


    Then, Long Si shut the chamber and sealed it off with a formation.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think I''ll let you go just because you''re unconscious? I''ll make your life a living hell!" Long Si spat out.


    Then, he stalked off and headed toward Long Er and Long San''s torture chambers.


    Upon seeing that Ye Dafu and the other three cultivators had been beaten almost to a pulp, he nodded in satisfaction. Long Er and Long San seemed pleased as well.


    "Second Brother, Third Brother, what have you uncovered?" Long Si asked.


    "We finally got them to talk. Ao Canghai''s been nning to take down the Southeastern Aquatic Pce for quite a while. He even managed to have a few spies infiltrate the pce. I can''t believe it," Long San said.


    "Although we don''t know precisely who the spies are, we learned that they''re going to strike within the next few days. We really were lucky," Long Er said.


    "I uncovered where their base is," Long Si reported.


    "What?" the two cultivators eximed in surprise.


    "Come on. Let''s report back to Eldest Brother," Long Si said.


    "Very well!"


    The three dragons returned to Crystal Hall, where they found Long Yi waiting for them.


    "Eldest Brother, we managed to get something out of the prisoners. Ao Canghai''s trying to seize our Eye of the Sea!" Long Er eximed.


    The three cultivators revealed what they had learned from their interrogations to Long Yi.


    "The fact that Ao Canghai''s working with Xiao Nanfeng means that he''s intent on seizing our treasure. He''s been revealed, so he''s going to act quickly. He might even be nning to raid us right away," Long Si said.


    "It''s strange for him to be cooperating with Xiao Nanfeng, but perhaps there was some private deal between them. Considering Ao Canghai''s personality, I''m sure he''ll strike at us directly within moments." Long Yi nodded.


    "Eldest Brother, rather than sit here and wait for them toe to us, why don''t we make a move against them?" Long Si proposed.


    "Are you sure Xiao Nanfeng''s telling the truth?" Long Yi asked Long Si.


    "Don''t worry, Eldest Brother. The only reason Xiao Nanfeng''s been sessful all this time is because nothing has ever gone wrong for him. Now that we''re in full control, he would never dare lie. What''s more, he and Ao Canghai are enemies. He''d hardly bat an eye at betraying Ao Canghai," Long Si promised.


    "But wouldn''t Ao Canghai be on guard against him?" Long Yi frowned.


    "I expect he can''t be," Long Si replied. "ording to Xiao Nanfeng, Ao Canghai was nning for Xiao Nanfeng to take the lead. Ao Canghai never revealed the location of his camp to Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng was sly enough to have found out where it was beforehand," Long Si replied.


    Long Yi was silent as he considered the situation.


    "Eldest Brother, this is our territory. If we don''t make a move, we''re giving them the opportunity to take the lead!"


    "Eldest Brother, let''s attack them. We aren''t going to give up on our own treasure, are we?"


    Long Er and Long San sided with Long Si.


    "We''ll have reinforcements here before long," Long Yi revealed, frowning. He didn''t seem to want to take the risk.


    "Eldest Brother, will those reinforcements ensure that we''ll be able to take down Ao Canghai?" Long Si asked.


    "We likely won''t be able to do so, but we''ll be able to force him to retreat."


    "What if Ao Canghai attacks us before those reinforcements arrive? If they can''t decisively take down Ao Canghai, then they might as well be useless. Once they leave, Ao Canghai will only batter us with even more forces! If we attack him now, we''ll be able to catch him unprepared. We aren''t going to get such an opportunity again!" Long Si said.


    "Right, Eldest Brother! We can''t miss out on such a good opportunity," Long Er added.


    Long Yi fell silent again. He didn''t doubt Long Si any longer; he was carefully considering his brothers'' viewpoints.


    In the end, he nodded. "Very well. Let''s give it a try. We''llunch a sneak attack on them and probe just how many Golden Immortals Ao Canghai brought with him."


    "Eldest Brother, Ao Canghai is a Boundless Immortal. We can''t underestimate him," Long Si said.


    "A Boundless Immortal? Only a fledgling one. Perhaps we really might be able to take him down," Long Yi murmured.


    "Eldest Brother, are we really going to make use of the Eye of the Sea?" Long Er asked.


    "Our enemies are right at our doorstep. What are we waiting for?" Long Yi retorted. "Prepare to strike."


    "Understood!" the three dragons chorused.


    Back when Ao Zhou was rescued by Ao Canghai''s two Martial Aspects and Long Er had left, the two Martial Aspects eyed each other, then looked sharply at Ao Zhou. They were considering the prospect of taking him down right then and there.


    Just then, shouts could be heard from afar. "Martial Aspect Ao Zhou, something''s wrong! His Majesty has been caught!"


    A group of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates rushed over anxiously.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has a bunch of treasures¡ªhow could he have been caught?!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "It''s true! Our avatars are already in the process of seeking aid," Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate replied. Then, he turned to the Martial Aspects in surprise. "Martial Aspects, what are you doing here? Please assist us."


    The two Martial Aspects grimaced, knowing that they had lost their best opportunity to strike. They stared at Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates coldly, not intending to lend any assistance.


    "Bring me over," Ao Zhou said.


    When the cultivators saw that the two Martial Aspects were refusing to help, they had no choice but to leave with Ao Zhou. They headed to where Xiao Nanfeng had beenst witnessed. Then, Ao Zhou asked the witnesses what they had seen before he could confirm that Xiao Nanfeng really had been taken away.


    He fretted anxiously, turning his head and suddenly spotting the two Martial Aspects, who had followed behind him. He marched up to them. "Is the Eastern Aspect around?"


    One of the Martial Aspects hesitated, clearly not wanting to expose the fact that Ao Canghai was present.


    "He isn''t around, then? Xiao Nanfeng and I have already found an Eye of the Sea. We know how to extract it, but we were attacked before we could make a move," Ao Zhou revealed.


    "What? How could the likes of you have figured that out?" one Martial Aspect eximed in disbelief.


    "Forget it. If the Eastern Aspect isn''t around, I''ll inform the Yuqing holynd immediately and have them dispatch their disciples to help. They''re closer, after all," Ao Zhou said.


    "And why would those cultivators from the Yuqing holynd help you out?" the other Martial Aspect asked.


    Ao Zhou didn''t exin. He looked toward one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. "Immediately have your avatar seek an audience with the Mountain Lord of Chiyang Peak. Tell him that Xiao Nanfeng''s trapped within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and have him send reinforcements as quickly as possible. Tell him that we''ve found an Eye of the Sea and have a very good chance of being able to im it. We''re willing to split the profits with the Mountain Lord of Chiyang Peak."


    "Understood!"


    One of the Martial Aspects nudged the other one. He shouted, "Hold it! The Eastern Aspect is here. Time is of the essence, so it''ll be faster if he rescues Xiao Nanfeng instead."


    "The Eastern Aspect is here? You aren''t lying to me, are you?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "He''s right outside. I''ll bring you there," the Martial Aspect replied.


    Ao Zhou pursed his lips, but he and his subordinates followed the Martial Aspects out of the sea. Time was of the essence, after all, and they couldn''t waste even a single second.


    High in the air, Ao Canghai raised an eyebrow. He didn''t understand why his two subordinates had chosen to expose his presence until they drew near and exined themselves. Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes greedily.


    "Ao Zhou, isn''t the Eye of the Sea in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? Have you found a second such eye?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "There''s only one, and it is located within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, but it''s so strong that it has formed a secondary current that we can follow straight toward the Eye. Only we know where that secondary current is. I borrowed the Cage of the Sea from the Hall of Martial Aspects precisely to extract the Eye, but we were discovered before we could make a move.


    "Oh? And where''s that current?" Ao Canghai asked.


    Ao Zhou nced around shiftily, not wanting to reveal that information.


    "Ao Zhou, you should know how strong an Eye of the Sea is. A Golden Immortal using the Eye will have the strength of a Boundless Immortal. If we don''t prevent the Southeastern Aquatic Pce from using its abilities, we won''t have a chance at victory. The longer we stall, the more likely Xiao Nanfeng will die. Don''t you want to save him?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "Let me think..." Ao Zhou furrowed his brows.


    He flew toward his subordinates and began discussing the situation with them, but then seemed to get into an argument.


    Just then, one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates stepped forward and whispered, "His Majesty''s avatar has sent word stating that the draconic lords of the pce are torturing him, and he may be in grave danger. He wants you to agree to cooperate with Ao Canghai for the moment¡ªat the very least, to distract the cultivators of the pce. He''s already sent some subordinates to seek assistance from the Yuqing holynd. Slow the Eastern Aspect and his Martial Aspects down as much as you can."


    Ao Canghai was a Boundless Immortal. If he wanted to listen in to a conversation, he would be able to do so no matter how quietly the cultivators whispered to each other. When he overheard the conversation, he smiled in satisfaction and excitement. He wasn''t in a hurry, either. He was more than happy to wait.


    After a moment, Ao Zhou flew toward him with his subordinates in tow.


    "Follow me, Eastern Aspect," Ao Zhou said.


    "Let''s go," Ao Canghai said coolly.


    Very quickly, Ao Zhou led them toward a small ind shrouded with fog, clearly the result of some formation or another.


    As theynded on the ind, Ao Canghai immediately began searching the neighboring sea.


    "Are you sure it''s here? Where''s this current you were talking about?" Ao Canghai asked in confusion.


    Just then, Long Yi arrived having triggered the power of the Eye of the Sea.


    The waves all around the ind surged forth, encroaching on thend.


    "What?!" Ao Canghai eximed.

 Chapter 669: The Second Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 669: The Second Coffin</h4>


    Just then, outside Crystal Hall, Long Er, Long San, and Long Si simultaneously looked toward a domain of white fog by the pce, where Long Yi resided.


    The three cultivators watched as ck smoke gushed out of the domain, billowing outwards until it covered up the entirety of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce.


    All that smoke swirled around the pce before congealing into a hemispherical dome that locked the pce down.


    The sea spirits within the pce found themselves sealed byyers of ck barriers that sealed them in. Long Si rapped on the surface of the barrier and found it sturdy enough to pose a challenge even to him.


    Long Er and Long San seemed to have seen this sight before; they weren''t particrly taken aback.


    The three cultivators continued to look toward Long Yi''s residence. The white fog had entirely vanished, leaving only the ck smoke behind. Suddenly, a transparent blue aqueous sphere with a diameter of roughly 300 meters emerged from the smoke, furiously gushing out water at such a rapid pace that it was as if the heavens themselves were flooding.


    "The Eye of the Sea!" Long Si eximed.


    An ivory dragon shot toward the Eye of the Sea, merging together with it. The Eye of the Sea transformed from a sphere to a transparent dragon of water.


    The dragon roared, causing the ck barriers to vibrate violently. A fearsome aura caused Long Si''s heart to thump.


    "A Boundless Immortal''s strength..." Long Si eximed, his eyes twitching.


    "Let''s go!" the dragon shouted.


    It broke through theyers of ck barriers and toward the sea atrge.


    Long Si and the other cultivators followed swiftly behind. In no time at all, the shatteredyers of ck barriers restored themselves until they were as good as new.


    The entire pce was sealed within those barriers.


    The dragon of water led the charge. Water gushed out along its trail to such an extent that the burgeoning pressure caused the sea to roil.


    "Lead the way, Fourth Brother," the dragon of watermanded.


    "Follow me, Eldest Brother!" Long Si replied.


    Long Si led them toward the ind in which Ao Canghai was located. As they reached that ind, the dragon of water induced the seawater all around the ind to flood it.


    Waves of seawater covered up the sky, forming a huge cage of water that surrounded the ind.


    "A branch current!" Ao Canghai flew toward the source of the current in excitement.


    The moment he did so, however, he saw a flood of water rise up around him, forming a three-kilometer-long dragon of water snapping its snout and waving its ws about. It spat out a burst of howling frost and storm.


    "No¡ªthat''s Long Yi! He''s controlling the Eye of the Sea!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng told us about this ce. Let''s see if you can escape now!" Long Si shouted.


    Ao Canghai thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng told you about the Eye of the Sea? How could he divulge such secrets so easily?"


    By then, the dragon''s breath was about to strike Ao Canghai. He didn''t dare underestimate the attack. Transforming into a golden dragon, he shot forward with all the water he could control.


    "Endless is the sea!" Ao Canghai intoned.


    "Die!" the dragon of water shouted.


    The two floods of water smashed into each other in a storm of ice and hail.


    The ind quickly became a cier, and the sea froze over for miles on end.


    Ao Canghai and the dragon of water began to take on each other. Chips of ice filled the sky as the two dragons fought each other vigorously.


    "Brothers, let''s help Eldest Brother out! Be careful of the Golden Immortals on the enemy side!" Long Si shouted.


    "Got it!" Long Er and Long San replied.


    They charged toward two Golden Immortal Martial Aspects.


    The four Golden Immortals began to fight each other as Long Siunched himself toward Ao Zhou and Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates.


    Fierce fighting unfolded all around as the entire stretch of the sea rose up in turbulence.


    Within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, in the torture chamber where Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was located, he was naturally aware of what was happening outside. He smirked. "Finally. It''s time for the malicious to pay a price for their misdeeds."


    He stood up, wiped away the ''wounds'' on his body walked up to the wall of the torture chamber, and used his candleme powers to pass right through.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s breaking out! Get him!" a warden shouted.


    The wardens rushed straight toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed in distaste. He blurred away, drawing his divine undying de and slicing apart the gathered wardens in the blink of an eye.


    Then, he walked toward the other torture chamber in the vicinity.


    Within, Ye Dafu and the other cultivators were hanging in the air, their skin bruised and mottled. They looked moments away from death.


    "How are your injuries?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The four golden cultivators immediately opened their eyes. Ye Dafu sighed. "Your Majesty, they weren''t strong at all. Those two Golden Immortals from before made us feel far morefortable."


    Xiao Nanfeng cut the ropes binding the cultivators.


    "And how about the seals on your cultivation?"


    "Before we left, Blue Lantern infused a formation restriction into each of our bodies, giving us the ability to nullify others'' seals while giving off the impression that we''ve been sealed. We''re just fine," Ye Dafu said.


    Golden runes poured out of the golden cultivators'' bodies as their cultivation was quickly restored.


    "Blue Lantern really is amazing." Xiao Nanfeng nodded in relief.


    "What now, Your Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "We''ll act ording to n."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The moment they stepped out of the dungeon, they were discovered by some guards stationed around the perimeter. Fortunately, Xiao Nanfeng had been thoughtful enough to shroud himself and his subordinates in fog.


    "Who are you?" a guard demanded. "Why are you hiding yourselves?"


    The four golden cultivators rushed forward and finished them off.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward the source of the ck smoke.


    There were plenty of ck smoke barriers along the way, but they might as well have been useless against Xiao Nanfeng.


    With his candleme powers, he was able to quickly pass through them with the four golden cultivators in tow. They headed straight for whaty at the very center.


    Those cultivators trapped by the barriers were shocked to see a cloud of white fog zip through the barriers, but they were unable to do anything against it.


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng and his party reached the epicenter, where Long Yi had merged with the Eye of the Sea.


    Thick ck smoke hung cloying in the air, gushing out and maintaining the strength of the barriers that filled their surroundings.


    "This ck smoke contains tremendous cursed spiritual power," Ye Dafu eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng forged forward with his divine undying de in hand, cautiously wading into the smoke while a procession of people followed closely behind him.


    Deep within the smoke, a ck coffin could be seen. It had been uncovered, its lid having been nudged aside. Incredible bursts of ck smoke billowed out.


    "This ck coffin..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He had one such coffin himself, the one that had melded with Emperor Feng''s physical body and was subsequently imed by Yin Shenhua and forged into his throne. It had been in Thunderp Hall for a century; after Yin Shenhua was defeated, Xiao Nanfeng had imed his storage bangle, and the coffin was sealed within.


    Xiao Nanfeng had yet to unseal the coffin, believing it too dangerous to interact with. He hadn''t expected to see another such coffin, especially one that was unsealed. Cursed spiritual power billowed from it.


    "Your Majesty, this coffin is making me fearful," Ye Dafu said, frowning.


    "It''s a particrly dangerous relic, and can even trap Boundless Immortals within. Be careful. ce the lid properly over the coffin for now," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    He wasn''t sure what was going on, but the coffin lid surely had to be of some importance.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu was just about to step forward when a figure suddenly sat up from within the coffin.


    "Who''s there?!" Ye Dafu demanded.


    ck smoke emanated from the figure in the coffin, shrouding his features from sight. He gave off a chilling aura.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? To think you would have escaped..." The figure in the coffin was shocked to see them.


    Although the figure''s features were obscured, his voice wasn''t. Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Are you Long Yi''s avatar?"


    He struck at the figure with his de in a prating thrust.


    Within the coffin, Long Yi defended with a fist. The two attacks met in a shockwave of energy that spawned a ming tempest, disturbing the ck smoke all around them.


    "What tremendous strength. Despite being a True Immortal, you''re almost as strong as a Golden Immortal. Xiao Nanfeng, what secrets are you hiding?" Long Yi hissed.


    Surrounded with ck smoke, he flew out of the coffin with lethal killing intent.


    "It''s a pity that you''re only a True Immortal¡ªyou can hardly best me. Now, die!" Long Yi roared, leaping toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed at Long Yi with his de. Ten golden crows emerged from his body to harass Long Yi.


    "Overconfident fool! Die!" Long Yi shouted.


    He batted away the golden crows and dashed toward Xiao Nanfeng, striking his chest with a palm. Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying, but his Imposing Avatar of Ri protected him from injury.


    In the air, Xiao Nanfeng used his golden crows to block Long Yi''s line of sight as he continued to sh at him.


    "What a strong body¡ªbut even so, a True Immortal will only ever be a True Immortal. You''re hardly fast enough for me," Long Yi thundered.


    The two cultivators began to fight once more.


    As for the four golden cultivators, rather than help Xiao Nanfeng, they reached out for the coffin lid nearby and attempted to ce it over the coffin.


    Just then, another ck hand emerged from the coffin, preventing the lid from closing over the coffin.


    "There''s another person within?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    Another figure billowing with ck smoke sat up from the coffin.


    "So this is what you''re nning. You really do want me to kill you, don''t you?" The figure in the coffin smirked.


    Ye Dafu gaped in astonishment. "Another avatar?"

 Chapter 670: The Purple Moon Enters the Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 670: The Purple Moon Enters the Coffin</h4>


    Long Yi''s two avatars were both Golden Immortals. ck smoke gushed from their bodies, causing the golden cultivators to panic.


    As he smirked at Ye Dafu and his subordinates, the second Long Yi climbed out of the coffin and suddenly struck at Ye Dafu with a palm.


    Ye Dafu was sent stumbling back, but he wasn''t badly hurt. He had managed to defend himself with a kasaya in time, which absorbed much of the force.


    "Attack!" Ye Dafu howled.


    "Die!"


    The four golden cultivators, each equipped with a Golden Immortal relic, struck Long Yi simultaneously.


    "You overestimate your capabilities!" Long Yi dered,unching a sweeping attack at them.


    A fierce bout of fighting ensued. Long Yi quickly imed the upper hand.


    Meanwhile, by the other side, Xiao Nanfeng was taking on the first of Long Yi''s avatars on his own.


    He motioned for his ten golden crows to strike at Long Yi simultaneously. Although he was able to exert considerable strength, his opponent, Long Yi, was a Golden Immortal. His ten golden crows were sent flying one after another.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng possessed the Imposing Avatar of Ri and would be able to defend himself for quite a while, the four golden cultivators fighting against Long Yi''s avatar were barely able to hold on much longer. One had already detonated his Golden Immortal relic to save himself.


    The explosion of a Golden Immortal relic destroyed a considerable portion of the ck barriers and caused the entire seabed to shake, but the ck coffin didn''t seem to move at all. It was particrly sinister.


    Xiao Nanfeng activated the Heaven division token, summoning the Heaven Division''s Gate behind him.


    "And what good is this door of yours?" Long Yi smirked. "What can it do?"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, recalling his ten golden crows that had been sent flying.


    "You think I''ll let you run? Dream on!" Long Yi frowned and shot over to him.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng opened up the Heaven Division''s Gate, unleashing a wave of sound. Long Yi had no time to consider the situation. He reached out for Xiao Nanfeng as thetter seemingly stepped through the gate, but, in reality, had used his candleme powers to vanish in a burst of red light.


    "You won''t get away!" Long Yi, thinking that Xiao Nanfeng had fled through the gate, rushed in to chase after him.


    He vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng appeared beside the door and shut it.


    "The Heaven Division''s Gate is more useful than I expected," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, nodding in satisfaction.


    Just as he was about to dispel the Heaven Division''s Gate, a gust of ck smoke filtered out from the coffin. The smoke manifested in the form of a palm that slid through the gap in the Heaven Division''s Gate and seemed to be grasping about for Long Yi, who was trapped within.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He immediately attempted to activate the Heaven division token to dispel the gate, but found that he couldn''t do so while the ck smoke was within.


    "The ck coffin''s trying to fight over Long Yi with the Heaven Division''s Gate..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Meanwhile, Long Yi''s other avatar, who was beating up the four golden cultivators, suddenly halted in his tracks. He nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. "What''s on the other side of that door? Why is my avatar''s consciousness dissipating?!"


    Long Yi sent the four golden cultivators flying as he shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly retreated as Long Yi struck the Heaven Division''s Gate with a palm. The gate remained entirely immobile; it didn''t even shudder.


    "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng, what have you done to my avatar? Open these doors up!" Long Yi howled at him.


    He sent Xiao Nanfeng flying, then caught him with a palm.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows swooped toward Long Yi, who scowled and pped at the crows with his other palm.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ten golden crows exploded with such force that Long Yi was sent flying, and the palm technique with which he had captured Xiao Nanfeng shattered. Having regained his freedom, Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the gate again.


    "How dare you!" Long Yi shouted, stabilizing himself beforeunching at Xiao Nanfeng once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng pushed open the Heaven Division''s Gate and vanished once again in a sh of red light.


    Long Yi leapt toward the gates, only to freeze once he was at the threshold.


    "Do you think you''ll be able to trick me again? Dream on!" Long Yi scoffed.


    Just then, the Divine Seal of Dazheng crashed down toward him.


    "Seal!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Long Yi was sent flying through the gate, whereupon Xiao Nanfeng shut it once again.


    "Perhaps not, but you know nothing about my abilities," Xiao Nanfeng said, nodding in satisfaction.


    Suddenly, another burst of ck smoke emerged from the coffin and slithered into the gate. The two bursts of ck smoke seemed to have grasped onto one copy of Long Yi''s avatar each, preventing them from being swallowed up by the gate.


    "Your Majesty, two of Long Yi''s avatars have already emerged from the coffin. Could there still be more hiding within?" Ye Dafu ventured.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Hemanded, "Try covering up the coffin again."


    "Understood!"


    Two of the golden cultivators stepped forward, each grabbing hold of opposite sides of the coffin lid. They brought it toward the coffin once again.


    This time, no further copies of Long Yi''s avatar emerged, but a cloud of ck smoke knocked the coffin lid and those two golden cultivators away.


    "This ck coffin doesn''t want to be sealed, it seems," Ye Dafu murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the side of the coffin and looked in. The interior was pitch-ck, and ck fog gushed out, as if there were a world within the coffin.


    He reached out tentatively toward the coffin, but it vibrated and knocked his hand away.


    Ye Dafu and the others also gave it a try, but to no avail.


    "What a sinister coffin," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Should we have Senior Sister Yu''er have a look?" Ye Dafu asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He manipted the Divine Seal of Dazheng. Yu''er appeared from within in a sh.


    Yu''er came out and looked around in surprise. "Nanfeng, didn''t I say to let me know when you ended up in a fight? You finished without me!"


    "They were just small fry," Xiao Nanfeng said. "You would have been overkill."


    Yu''er then nced toward Ye Dafu and the others, who still had bruises covering their heads and bodies. She gave him a skeptical look. "Are you sure they were small fry?"


    "The fighting''s already over, at any rate. Have a look at this coffin, will you?"


    Yu''er frowned. "What about this coffin?"


    "ording to Sage Green Lotus, the Yuqing holynd and Southeastern Aquatic Pce were conspiring against you in order to acquire what lies beneath the Eye of the Sea. I saw the Eye of the Sea being unleashed here, which means that what lies beneath it must be this ck coffin."


    "Oh?" Yu''er inspected the coffin curiously.


    "I wrote to your father asking about it, but the fact that he didn''t respond means that he doesn''t know, either."


    "If my father is unaware of the circumstances, why would he cooperate with the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" Yu''er asked.


    "He might be unaware, but the Yuqing hierarch surely knows something about it. If he insists on marrying you into the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and ims that doing so is crucial for the future development of the Yuqing holynd, your father could hardly oppose him. We''ll have to figure out just what sort of treasure this ck coffin holds, though."


    Yu''er reached out to touch the coffin, only to be sent flying as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught her with an arm. "Be careful. Something''s unusual about it."


    "Could the treasure lie within the coffin?" Yu''er asked.


    "I tried to probe it with my spiritual power. It''s so deep I can''t sense where its other side stops. It''s spacious and seemingly boundless, so there''s surely at least a miniature world within, but I expect it''s extremely dangerous as well. We have to be careful," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What are we going to do, then?" Yu''er asked.


    "The Southeastern Aquatic Pce tried to kidnap you, and the Yuqing hierarch wanted to send you over. It''s clear that you have a crucial role to y in acquiring this treasure. What''s special about you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu''er blinked. "I don''t know myself..."


    "Then do you know why you were chosen to be a holy maiden? Did the Yuqing hierarch ever tell you anything?"


    Yu''er frowned as she scoured her memories. "Ah, I remember now! I told you I had a power passed down my bloodline, didn''t I?"


    "You did. There was a sliver of rainbow light emanating from your forehead, wasn''t there?"


    "That''s right. That was why the Yuqing hierarch chose me to be a holy maiden. Look!" Yu''er eximed.


    A vertical slit opened up in the center of Yu''er''s forehead and cracked open. A beam of violet light emanated from within, revealing a purple eye.


    "A third eye¡ªthe Yuqing Heavenly Eye!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "A Heavenly Eye? No, it''s just my Yuqing purple moon. The Yuqing purple moon can be integrated into my physical body in a manner like a third eye."


    "The Yuqing purple moon? Like the Taiqing red moon?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. Upon reaching a certain level of cultivation with the Yuqing purple moon, it''ll be endowed with rainbow light. For me, however, the situation was reversed. I began with the rainbow light, then manifested the Yuqing purple moon. My purple moon is among the highest in quality in the sect."


    Yu''er waved a hand, causing the purple moon to emerge from her mindscape. It grewrger andrger until it transformed into a full moon that floated overhead.


    "Though I only recently reached Yin Body, my purple moon is matched only by a select few in the sect, all of whom are Mountain Lords. Even the Yuqing hierarch''s purple moon is no superior to mine," Yu''er whispered.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed in anger. "This is no kindness on the Yuqing hierarch''s part. There''s likely significant danger associated with securing this treasure. He doesn''t want to risk himself; among the qualified candidates, you''re the easiest to bully."


    Yu''er hade to the same conclusion. She too seemed upset.


    Even so, she took a deep breath. "Nanfeng, should I try lowering my purple moon into the ck coffin?"


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips in contemtion. He could sense tremendous danger from the coffin, and he instinctively wanted Yu''er to give up on the notion.


    In the end, though, he nodded gravely. "Let''s give it a try. If you seed, it could prove to be an astounding boon. If you fail, don''t try to cling to your purple moon¡ªjust give it up. I''ll be guarding you throughout the process."


    "Understood!" Yu''er nodded seriously.


    She lowered her purple moon into the coffin. The moment it was entirely submerged within, a hefty cloud of ck smoke appeared from it and manifested in the form of a huge hand that grasped the moon tightly, as if intending to crush it.


    More ck smoke surged out of the coffin, reaching for Yu''er.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, stepping forward to shield her.

 Chapter 671: Exchanged for Anything

    <h4>Chapter 671: Exchanged for Anything</h4>


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng pulled Yu''er behind him, ten hands of ck smoke emerged from the ck coffin, heading straight for Yu''er.


    "Die, vermin!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a wave of his hand, the ten golden crows that had exploded revived and flew toward the ten ck hands.


    The ten ck hands clenched tightly around the ten golden crows, then attempted to pull them into the darkness of the coffin.


    "What...?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. He frowned and shouted, "Explode!"


    The ten golden crows exploded in bursts of golden me, causing the ten hands of smoke to dissipate. The crows returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian in streams of golden light, reborn once again.


    Because they were deep within the sea, they were unable to gather as much sunlight as they normally would have, sharply reducing the force of the explosions. Smoke drifted away from the ten ck hands as they reached out for Xiao Nanfeng once again.


    "Guard His Majesty!" Ye Dafu shouted. The golden cultivators all began to head toward him.


    "Stay away. Don''t provoke them!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He knew that the ck hands were targeting him because he was defending Yu''er, but he didn''t regret what he did. He drew his divine undying de and prepared to defend himself.


    Suddenly, however, the hands stopped short. They hovered around Xiao Nanfeng, causing him to frown.


    "Why have they stopped moving?" he eximed.


    Yu''er''s eyes widened in rm. "There are so many hands trying to tear apart my purple moon!"


    Within the coffin, the purple moon was under attack by a whole suite of ck hands. Even more manifested from the ck smoke within the coffin, furiously tearing at the purple moon. They seemed to have seded¡ªno, they had ripped open a portal of some sort, which was now flooding the surrounding space with purple fog.


    The ck hands seemed particrly attracted to the purple fog, which they were attempting to bring into the depths of the coffin. More and more began to tear at it, and even the ten ck hands that had been attacking Xiao Nanfeng quickly returned into the coffin to join in.


    "My soul¡ªit hurts, it hurts!" Yu''er stumbled and almost fell to the ground.


    Xiao Nanfeng hugged her tightly, but she was in so much pain that her whole body was vibrating.


    Suddenly, a huge shout could be heard from the void portal across the surface of the purple moon. Something seemed to have shattered. The purple fog surged forth in a tempest, filling the coffin and even permeating through theyers of ck barriers surrounding the coffin. The entire Southeastern Aquatic Pce was filled with purple fog; even then, it continued to spread until the whole stretch of the sea was dyed purple.


    That purple fog continued to expand upward into the sky.


    At the same time, within the Yuqing holynd, the twelve mountains of the Yuqing holynd suddenly began to vibrate, as if in resonance with some unknown phenomenon.


    On Taiyi Peak, Sage Green Lotus''s eyes widened in surprise. "The Southeastern Aquatic Pce must have managed to catch Xia Yu''er and sacrificed her to the ck coffin. The seal on the purple moon illusory realm is about to be broken!"


    "Mountain Lord, all twelve mountains of the Yuqing holynd are vibrating!" a disciple reported.


    "Don''t worry about it. I''ll be entering secluded cultivation immediately. Let everyone know not to bother me," Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    He began to meditate, thinking to himself, "I''ll have to be the first to enter the purple moon illusory realm. I''ll seize whatever treasures lie within!"


    The other Mountain Lords all did the same, including the Yuqing hierarch himself.


    Meanwhile, by the surface of the sea, Long Yi continued to fight against Ao Canghai in the form of a dragon of water a few kilometers long. The shockwaves emanating from the fight had caused a hailstorm around them.


    Before long, the dragon of water thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you for daring to mess with my avatars!"


    Ao Canghai was taken by surprise, not understanding what was going on. Even so, it wasn''t particrly important. As long as he could defeat the dragon of water, he would be able to im the Eye of the Sea for himself. His attacks grew more and more vicious.


    Just then, a cloud of purple fog dyed the entire stretch of the sea, and then the sky, purple.


    The dragon of water reared back in shock before he began to roar inughter. "Xiao Nanfeng, what have you done? Did you bring Xia Yu''er to me as a gift? Haha, haha!"


    Ao Canghai stared at the purple fog in confusion. "What''s going on, Long Yi?"


    "You don''t need to know what''s going on. Let''s continue, haha!"


    He had initially wanted to rush back to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, but not anymore.


    "Eldest Brother, what''s going on?!" Long Si eximed from afar.


    Long Er and Long San also nced over at their eldest brother as they continued fighting.


    "Don''t worry. This is a good development for us. Keep holding them back. Don''t bother returning to the pce," Long Yi instructed.


    "Understood!" the three other ivory dragons replied.


    The fighting continued in earnest.


    Deep within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, more and more ck hands surged out from the coffin and dragged in as much purple fog as they could.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued guarding Yu''er; Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators were arrayed around him.


    "How could there be so much purple fog within my purple moon?" Yu''er eximed, even as she shivered from the paining from deep within her soul.


    Just then, a ray of golden light shot toward them from afar. It broke throughyer afteryer of ck barriers and approached them in the blink of an eye.


    "Who''s there?!" Ye Dafu and the others demanded, preparing to face yet another enemy.


    "Father!" Yu''er suddenly eximed.


    Xia Xingchen had arrived right beside them.


    "Thank goodness you''re here, Mountain Lord Xia." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in relief.


    Xia Xingchen gave him an unamused look. "There''s no need to pretend. You''ve known that I was here for quite a while, haven''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng dipped his head in a smile.


    "I suppose you do have some tricks of your own." Xia Xingchen sniffed.


    "Thank you for the praise, Mountain Lord Xia." Xiao Nanfeng smiled again. "How''s the situation outside?"


    "I won''t have to step in at the moment, at least."


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Mountain Lord Xia, do you recognize this coffin?"


    Xia Xingchen nced at the coffin with a frown. "All the hierarch told me was that the Southeastern Aquatic Pce was in possession of a relic that would be able to break the seal to the purple moon illusory realm. I never expected it to be this coffin¡ªthis cursed relic!"


    "You''re aware of this coffin, Mountain Lord Xia?"


    Xia Xingchen shook his head. "I''ve never seen it myself, but I''ve heard others bring it up. A strange ck coffin cursed effigy has appeared throughout the ages; whenever it appears, the entire world begins to fight for it."


    "Oh? What''s so special about it?"


    "The spirit of the ck coffin can manifest whatever item you desire."


    "Manifest? In what sense?"


    "Whatever you want, the ck coffin can present to you. However, you''ll have to give the coffin the equivalent of thrice its worth."


    "Anything? Anything at all?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Xia Xingchen shook his head. "I''m not sure. Allegedly, in legend, plenty of cultivators have traded with the coffin for all manner of treasures over the course of history. The Eye of the Sea was one such famous treasure."


    "Oh?"


    "From the looks of it, the Southeastern Aquatic Pce exchanged for the Eye of the Sea in its possession with the help of this coffin."


    "Truly? But you said that they''d have to give up thrice its worth to do so¡ªwouldn''t this have been a losing proposition for Long Yi?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Long Yi might have managed the exchange, but I doubt he handed over thrice the worth of the Eye of the Sea."


    "Do you mean to say that the coffin epts exchanges on credit?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "Perhaps..." Xia Xingchen frowned as he nced at the coffin.


    "Isn''t it worried that Long Yi would run off after making the exchange?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You were fighting against two of Long Yi''s avatars, weren''t you? Long Yi must have left his two avatars in the coffin as coteral for the Eye of the Sea. The ck coffin must be able to track down Long Yi given his link to his avatars, so there''s nothing for it to fear," Xia Xingchen said.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. No wonder the coffin was trying to break down the Heaven Division''s Gate¡ªthis was coteral for an exchange it had been responsible for!


    "However, I heard that all the treasures thate from the coffin are imbued with cursed energy. The wielders of those treasures will eventually die from the curse," Xia Xingchen continued.


    "Die? Then who would dare make such an exchange?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I don''t know about the details. All of this is hearsay," Xia Xingchen replied.


    "We can worry about itter. Considering the situation at hand, the ck coffin must be under the impression that the purple moon is being ceded to it in exchange for the Eye of the Sea," Xiao Nanfeng suggested. "It even tried to im my ten golden crows, too¡ªthat must be why!"


    "That''s right. You were lucky that the ck coffin managed to identify the link to the purple moon illusory realm in time¡ªit wouldn''t have left you alone otherwise."


    "Can the coffin swallow up the purple moon illusory realm?"


    "Hardly," Xia Xingchen replied. "But the purple moon illusory realm has been sealed, and that seal can be absorbed by the coffin. I understand what the hierarch was trying to do now¡ªto borrow the ck coffin''s power to break the seal leading into the purple moon illusory realm for the disciples of the Yuqing holynd."


    Yu''er eximed, "So Long Yi needed something valuable to pay off his debt for exchanging for the Eye of the Sea, while the hierarch wanted to break the seal leading into the purple moon illusory realm! But why drag me into all this? Why couldn''t they have performed this exchange on their own?"


    Xia Xingchen sighed. "For one thing, Long Yi doesn''t want the coffin to be stolen. You''re far easier to control than they would be. For another, the hierarch and the other Mountain Lords are wary of the danger they would have incurred in the process."


    "So I was the obvious option for them to manipte?!" Yu''er shouted angrily.


    Xia Xingchen sighed. He patted Yu''er on the shoulder. "Don''t worry. Even if that n hade to pass, I would have secretly followed you here to protect you."


    "Hmph!" Yu''er''s features contorted in anger.

 Chapter 672: Purple Moon Illusory Realm, Open

    <h4>Chapter 672: Purple Moon Illusory Realm, Open</h4>


    High above the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, the purple fog that filled the sky vanished as quickly as it had appeared, shrinking back into the sea, toward the pce, heading straight for the ck coffin.


    Purple fog continued to pour out of the void portal over the surface of the purple moon; the ck coffin devoured it all.


    Beyond the void portal were countless shing purple runes that could vaguely be seen. Those runes were crumbling one after another. As they did so, more purple fog was released and subsequently absorbed by the coffin.


    "So those runes are sealing up the purple moon illusory realm? Father, what lies within that realm?" Yu''er asked.


    "I don''t know. ording to legend, the Yuqing Grandmaster left a tremendous opportunity within the realm to be imed by whatever future disciple managed to make it in."


    Xiao Nanfeng was still holding onto a little sample of purple fog that he had imed for examination.


    "So this purple fog must be some form of cursed smoke, too?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That''s right. This is a cursed seal left behind by none other than the Yuqing Grandmaster himself. No one else in the world would be able to break it." Xia Xingchen nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He had seen this sort of cursed smoke before¡ªit was precisely the cursed smoke that hade from the violet granule embedded in Zhang Lingjun''s forehead.


    Zhang Lingjun''s violet granule came from the curse that the Heavenly Emperor Yu Fuli had applied to countless purple-furred monsters years ago. In other words, there was at least one cultivatorpetent enough to manipte it.


    Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself, "Yu Fuli? The Yuqing Grandmaster? Could there be a connection between them?" [1]


    "What are you thinking about, Nanfeng?" Yu''er asked.


    "Has the Yuqing Grandmaster been revived?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly asked.


    "Hm?" Xia Xingchen nced at Xiao Nanfeng in confusion.


    "It may be difficult to believe, but the Taiqing Grandmaster recently came in contact with the Taiqing Immortal Sect. He may be on his way to revival¡ªor perhaps he already has been revived. Has the Yuqing Grandmaster initiated any such contact?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The Taiqing Grandmaster has revived?" Xia Xingchen eximed.


    "I apologize, but I can''t share more details. This is a secret of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, you understand."


    Xia Xingchen nodded gravely; he was shocked by the news. After a momentary silence, he replied, "The Yuqing Grandmaster has never contacted us nor, to our knowledge, been resurrected."


    In the end, Xiao Nanfeng chose not to bring up Yu Fuli.


    Just then, as more and more runes shattered within the depths of the void portal and gushed into the coffin in the form of purple fog, Xia Xingchen''s eyes lit up in anticipation. "The seal is all gone now!"


    The Yuqing hierarch and Mountain Lords gathered within the Yuqing holynd likewise sensed the transformation. The wall of runes that had forbidden their entry had been entirely demolished.


    Sage Green Lotus eximed, "We can unlock the inheritance that the grandmaster left to us now!"


    His forehead shone with light as his yin body emerged and attempted to make its way into the purple moon illusory realm¡ªonly to find himself blocked by a purple membrane.


    "What? Hasn''t the seal been removed? Why can''t I make it in?" Sage Green Lotus thundered.


    Some purple text suddenly appeared deep within the illusory realm.


    [Whosoever has unsealed the path into this realm shall be granted preferential ess.]


    Sage Green Lotus''s eyes bulged in shock. "What? Where did this rulee from? Doesn''t that mean that Xia Yu''er has priority?!"


    At the same time, angry shouts came from the various peaks of the Yuqing holynd.


    "Why? Why should that girl be the one to receive the inheritance?!"


    "Damn it, I would have volunteered to go to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce if I had known!"


    "How can this be?"


    Clearly, the ones who had been paying closest attention to the purple moon illusory realm were those who had conspired against Xia Yu''er within the Yuqing holynd. They were nning to fight for the spoils of their scheme¡ªonly to find that none of them were qualified to do so.


    The only one who had qualified was Xia Yu''er.


    "Bastard!" Shouts of fury echoed around the peaks of the Yuqing holynd.


    Within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, the ck coffin devoured all the purple smokeing from the runes, but still seemed dissatisfied. It conjured even more ck hands that sought to enter the purple moon illusory realm, only to be blocked by the same membrane that stymied the Yuqing hierarch and the Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd.


    The ck hands found no purchase on the membrane at all.


    "Yu''er, recall your purple moon," Xia Xingchen said.


    Yu''er nodded and beckoned toward her purple moon. It flew out of the coffin and toward her; the void portal vanished along with it.


    The ck hands seemed unwilling to let the purple moon leave so easily. They rushed after it.


    "Don''t push your luck!" Xia Xingchen red at them, shing at the ck hands with a sweep of his sword and causing them all to dissipate.


    "Father, why isn''t the coffin continuing to hound me?" Yu''er eximed.


    "The cursed smoke it has devoured is more than sufficient to pay for the Eye of the Sea¡ªbut it wants more out of greed. I severed the connection between it and your purple moon. This exchange hase to an end," Xia Xingchen dered.


    "The coffin doesn''t seem interested in Long Yi''s avatars any longer, either," Xiao Nanfeng pointed out.


    He opened up the Heaven Division''s Gate once again, allowing the two clouds of ck smoke that had chased the two avatars through the gate to pull the avatars back out. The ck smoke grew fainter and fainter, until it vanished entirely.


    Long Yi''s two avatars were no longer surrounded by ck smoke. They regained their original appearance, but their faces were pale and their expressions vacant. They seemed not to respond to external stimuli.


    Xiao Nanfeng dashed forward and swung down with the divine undying de.


    "Who dares?!" Long Yi''s two avatars turned toward Xiao Nanfeng instinctively, but by the time they reacted, it was toote. The de had beheaded both their bodies.


    Two spirits emerged from their heads, only to be cut apart by Xiao Nanfeng again. With their souls scattered, Long Yi''s two avatars were now entirely dead.


    Xia Xingchen suddenly jerked his head up. "I can hear Long Yi''s shrieks from outside. We can''t stay much longer. We''ll have to leave immediately."


    "Ye Dafu, bring this coffin with you," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators ced the lid on the coffin.


    This time, the ck coffin made no move to block it. However, when Ye Dafu then tried to move the coffin, the ck coffin refused to budge.


    "Your Majesty, we can''t seem to move it," Ye Dafu reported.


    Xia Xingchen waved a hand at the coffin, summoning a gust of wind to strike at it. Even so, the coffin was immobile.


    Xia Xingchen nced at the coffin in surprise. "Something''s wrong."


    He walked up to the coffin and tried to lift it, but found himself unable to do so.


    Xia Xingchen frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and gave it a try, but to no avail.


    "If even my strength isn''t sufficient to move the coffin, yours won''t be, either. Let''s leave. Right, do you still need to deal with those cultivators outside?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    "If we want to avoid any future trouble, we''ll have to take them on now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well." Xia Xingchen nodded.


    "Father, look at this line of text! I''m going to be the first to be able to enter the purple moon illusory realm. Does this mean the treasure will be mine?" Yu''er suddenly eximed.


    Xia Xingchen turned to nce at the portal into the realm. Indeed, it was written that [Whosoever has unsealed the path into this realm shall be granted preferential ess.]


    "A rule imposed by the grandmaster? This isn''t a good sign." Xia Xingchen frowned.


    "Isn''t it? What''s wrong?" Yu''er asked.


    "Some of the Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd might attempt to steal this treasure from you."


    "What?" Yu''er nched.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, why don''t we stop here for now and head into the purple moon illusory realm with Yu''er?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Xia Xingchen grimaced, but shook his head. "There''s no need. We still have time, but we need to finish the battle quickly."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Moments ago, above the sea, Long Yi suddenly felt his two avatars perish. He shrieked in despair.


    He attempted to get rid of Ao Canghai and return to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce as quickly as he could, but Ao Canghai had no intention of giving up on this decisive advantage. The two dragons tore into each other ferociously, causing Long Yi to feel more and more frustrated.


    Before long, Ao Canghai executed a decisive blow. His sharp ws curled around Long Yi''s neck, their tips piercing through skin and leaving Long Yi writhing in pain.


    "You''ve been defeated! A Golden Immortal like you doesn''t deserve to possess an Eye of the Sea. It''s mine now, haha!" Ao Canghaiughed viciously.


    "No!" Long Yi shouted piteously.


    Just then, a golden sword descended from the heavens, heading straight for Ao Canghai.


    "Who dares?!" Ao Canghai sent a wave of seawater into the air to deflect the attack.


    The golden sword sliced straight through the seawater and struck Ao Canghai directly on the head.


    The sword''s edge zed with me as it stabbed into Ao Canghai''s head, leaving him dazed and bleeding. His grip ckened and Long Yi forced his way free.


    "Who dares interfere?!" Ao Canghai roared, staring into the heavens.


    A sword-wielding figure in ck was standing high above the clouds, shrouded with fog. Behind him were arge group of ck figures, likely his reinforcements. Some wielded swords of their own, while others waved formation banners about as they set up a certain formation.


    "Eldest Brother, the reinforcements you sent for are here! Thank goodness!" Long Si eximed from afar.


    1. The Yu of Yu Fuli and of Yuqing is the same character Óñ (meaning jade) in Chinese. ?

 Chapter 673: Trapping the Water Dragon

    <h4>Chapter 673: Trapping the Water Dragon</h4>


    Long Si''s exmation made Ao Canghai''s attacker''s identity clear: Long Yi had reinforcements.


    Ao Canghai nched. Although the sword that had struck him had been a sneak attack, it had managed to injure him¡ªhis assant was ate-stage Golden Immortal, at the very least.


    What was more, there was a whole group of cultivators waiting to attack him.


    Long Yi himself was taken aback, not having expected his reinforcements to arrive so quickly. Regardless, it was hardly a bad thing.


    "Die, Ao Canghai!" Long Yi shouted.


    The death of his two avatars was a huge loss, but taking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng could wait¡ªthe empire of Dazheng was a prime target, and hardly one that could run away. However, this was his one opportunity to take down Ao Canghai. If he failed to do so now and allowed Ao Canghai to escape, thetter would surely muster up overwhelming force against him.


    The fighting between Long Yi and Ao Canghai resumed once more.


    "Test out how strong those reinforcements are!" Ao Canghai shouted.


    With Long Yi harassing him, Ao Canghai couldn''t fly into the air. His two Golden Immortal subordinates answered hismand, shrugging off Long Er and Long San as they headed straight for the leader of the reinforcements.


    "Die!" The two Golden Immortals each struck at that figure with their swords.


    The figure in the lead didn''t make a move; rather, one of his subordinates did, drawing a de that gave off a sh of golden light. The overwhelming strength of the attack caused the two Golden Immortals to nch.


    "Save me!" one cried out.


    He dodged to the side, his Immortal sword shattering from the force of the impact. Even so, the strength of his opponent''s attack seemedrgely undiminished. It continued along its trajectory as if it were about to bisect the Golden Immortal''s body. The other Golden Immortal hurriedly drew his own sword to defend hispanion¡ªbut his sword also shattered. Both Golden Immortals were sent flying from the resulting force of the attack, each spitting out a mouthful of blood before they were able to regain their footing.


    "Ate-stage Golden Immortal? Impossible. Just who are you?!" one of the Golden Immortals shouted.


    They were shocked beyond belief that a mere subordinate from Long Yi''s group of reinforcements could be so strong. Just who were they? Could an Immortal Emperor havee to support Long Yi?


    Ao Canghai cursed as well. The leader of those reinforcements might well be a Boundless Immortal!


    It had been hard enough for him to deal with Long Yi on his own; with another Boundless Immortal in the fray, would he be able to escape?


    He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to flee.


    The leader of Long Yi''s reinforcements shouted, "Cover up the skies with fog, then use the dragon-trapping formation. I want him alive!"


    "Understood!"


    The shrouded figures activated their formation banners, causing fog to rise up all around them and covering up the skies.


    Pirs of light even emanated from some inds in the distance, as though in resonance with the fog-conjuring formation that had beenid out.


    Then, the cultivators manifested a giant sphere of blue fog. A tremendous aura emanated from it as it descended toward the battlefield.


    "The aura of a Boundless Immortal¡ªflee!" Ao Canghai shouted.


    He knocked Long Yi aside as he attempted to flee, but the sphere of blue fog was already by his side. A golden sword shed toward Ao Canghai.


    "Long Yi, stop Ao Canghai from escaping! Get him alive!" the leader of the reinforcementsmanded.


    Long Yi barreled toward Ao Canghai, attempting to block his path. The two dragons struck each other once more.


    "Let me go, you bastard!" Ao Canghai cried out.


    He could sense the sphere of blue fog descending ever closer. The moment it caught him, he would be done for.


    "Explode!" Ao Canghai shouted, detonating a few of the relics he had on hand. A titanic tempest formed around him, sending Long Yi careening away.


    Long Yi was badly injured from the explosion, but so was Ao Canghai himself. He fled as quickly as he could, barely managing to avoid the blue sphere, though he was struck by one of the golden swords that were arrayed along the outer surface of the sphere.


    The sword cut into his flesh in a spray of blood, so painful that he howled again.


    If a single one of those golden swords was already such a powerful attack, how much more of a threat would the blue sphere itself be?


    Ao Canghai didn''t dare find out. He rushed out through the fog and vanished from sight.


    "Hold it!" Long Yi roared, but he was unable to catch up to Ao Canghai.


    The two other Golden Immortal Martial Aspects, realizing that the tide had turned, quickly escaped through the fog as well.


    "Stop right there!" Long Er and Long San shouted.


    Unfortunately, they too were unable to catch up to the Golden Immortal Martial Aspects.


    In exasperation, Long Yi, Long Er, Long San, and Long Si headed back toward the group of shrouded reinforcements.


    "Why didn''t you go after Ao Canghai?" Long Yi eximed.


    The leader of the reinforcements suddenlymanded, "Return!"


    The sphere of blue fog slowly began to float toward him. The four draconic lords could see arge number of cultivators manipting formations within the sphere.


    "Eldest Brother, just who did you send for? This formation is incredibly strong. It even managed to deal Ao Canghai a heavy blow!" Long Si eximed, flying up to him.


    Long Yi frowned. "I did send for reinforcements, but I didn''t expect it to arrive so quickly. I''ve never seen anything like this formation myself. Even one of those golden swords alone was incredibly strong."


    Thanks to Long Si, he naturally thought that these cultivators were his reinforcements, so he wasn''t overly concerned even when the blue sphere neared him. Suddenly, however, it headed his way.


    "What? Something''s wrong," Long Yi cried out. "Run!"


    He was toote to react. By then, the blue sphere was right by his side. Despite the fact that he had already started to move, half his body was already encapsted.


    "No¡ªwhat''s this? These golden swords are just an illusion!" Long Yi eximed.


    The majority of the golden swords were illusory. Only one was real. That golden sword left a deep cut in the body of the water dragon into which Long Yi had transformed.


    "Only one of these swords is real? So this sphere wouldn''t have been able to deal with Ao Canghai at all. The aura of a Boundless Immortal that it''s giving off must be fake as well¡ªno, there''s a Cage of the Sea within!" Long Yi shouted.


    The half of his body that was trapped within the blue sphere had been rendered immobile, as if he had been nailed to the spot.


    "They were intentionally scaring away Ao Canghai¡ªtheir target was us all along!" Long Yi raged.


    He desperately tried to writhe away from the blue sphere, but he was almost entirely trapped.


    Within the blue sphere were a group of cultivators manipting formations, as well as ate-state Golden Immortal draining away his strength.


    Long Yi struggled furiously to break free, causing the blue sphere to shake violently.


    Just then, high in the sky, the figure in the lead shouted, "Formation of the Complete Heavens, resonate!"


    From the heavens above, beams of starlight shot toward the blue sphere, causing it to suck in the rest of Long Yi''s body even more violently.


    "You''re Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate¡ªBlue Lantern! Have you been targeting me from the beginning?!" Long Yi howled.


    Blue Lantern shouted, "Mountain Lord Xia, please stabilize the formation and prevent Long Yi from escaping."


    "Got it," Xia Xingchen replied.


    The cultivator who had initially attacked Ao Canghai, the one who had sent the two Golden Immortal Martial Aspects fleeing, the one who had struck Ao Canghai with a golden sword by the exterior of the blue sphere¡ªXia Xingchen had done it all. His involvement had made Blue Lantern appear far stronger than he really was.


    "You won''t be able to trap me. Brothers, help me!" Long Yi shouted anxiously.


    He had wedged himself into an unstable equilibrium¡ªjust a bit more force, and he would be able to break out of the blue sphere.


    "We''ll help you, Eldest Brother!" Long Er, Long San, and Long Si shouted.


    They transformed into three ivory dragons and rushed toward Long Yi and his water dragon''s body. Long Si was the fastest; he sped up and crashed into Long Yi.


    "Long Si, what are you doing?!" Long Er and Long San eximed.


    Long Si''s momentum sent Long Yi flying into the depths of the blue sphere.


    "Fourth Brother, how dare you?!" Long Yi shouted.


    The blue sphere hummed with growing intensity now that its prey was fully trapped within.


    Meanwhile, Long Si sent his tail whipping into Long Er and Long San, who were flying toward him.


    The three dragons crashed into each other in a heap.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body rushed out of the fog and began to help Long Si against Long Er and Long San.


    "Long Si, you''re in cahoots with Xiao Nanfeng? You betrayed the Southeastern Aquatic Pce! Die!" Long Er thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the skies. "Blue Lantern, I''ll leave Long Yi''s capture to you and Mountain Lord Xia."


    "Don''t worry, Your Majesty. Long Yi might be invoking the power of the Eye of the Sea, but the Cage of the Seapletely nullifies his strength. I can even magnify the properties of the cage with my formation. Given Mountain Lord Xia''s support, he won''t be able to escape," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Very good!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He and Long Si faced off against Long Er and Long San together.


    Long Er and Long San were spooked by Xiao Nanfeng''s appearance. It was clear that Ao Canghai had been part of Xiao Nanfeng''s scheme as well¡ªhe had tricked everyst one of them!


    "Fourth Brother, for betraying the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, the price is death!" Long San shouted. He rushed toward Long Si.


    "Take me down first!" Long Si replied, charging toward his brother.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body shot toward Long Er.


    The four cultivators fought viciously among each other, spawning a huge tempest of fire and wind.


    Meanwhile, fights were breaking out within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce as well.


    With the lid ced over the ck coffin, theyers of ck barriers around the Southeastern Aquatic Pce had slowly weakened and shattered.


    Countless sea spirits of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce were freed, only to find themselves facing a battalion of Immortals.


    Xiao Nanfeng had sent his army consisting of tens of thousands of Immortals to the pce, led by Ye Dafu''s golden cultivators, Ao Zhou, Zhao Yuanjiao, and his other trusted subordinates.


    "Surrender or die!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Surrender or die!" the countless Immortals behind him echoed.

 Chapter 674: Tremendous Victory

    <h4>Chapter 674: Tremendous Victory</h4>


    Over the fogden sea, Long Si returned to human form and began to fight against Long San.


    "Fourth Brother, you''ll pay for betraying Eldest Brother!" Long San yelled.


    "You''re the one who''s going to die," Long Si said.


    He punched Long San with Hegemon''s Fist, sending him flying. It was as if a tsunami had struck him.


    "What? Fourth Brother wouldn''t know this fist technique. Did you possess him? Who are you?!" Long San eximed.


    Long Siunched a flurry of attacks at Long San.


    Long San frowned. He spat out a frosty breath that forced Long Si back, then charged forward and whipped his tail at him.


    "And so what if you''ve managed to possess Fourth Brother? He''s barely a Golden Immortal, and his physical body is no match for mine. Now, die!" Long San roared.


    His tail smashed into Long Si''s body, causing him to spit out blood as he was hurled into the sea.


    In the sh of an eye, Long San had appeared by his side and thrust his ws into Long Si''s body, causing fresh blood to spurt out.


    "Die, wretch!" Long San cursed.


    Long San tore at Long Si''s shoulder in a devastating spurt of blood, then struck at his other shoulder.


    Meanwhile, a sh of blue light emerged from Long Si''s mindscape.


    "What?" Long San frowned, tense. He suddenly sensed something amiss.


    The next moment, Long Si''s body self-destructed in a ming explosion.


    "What? How could this be?" Long San was badly injured by the explosion.


    He never expected Long Si to self-destruct¡ªno, whoever had possessed Long Si in the first ce must have given up on his body and caused it to explode.


    Being in close proximity to the explosion of a Golden Immortal''s body was deadly even to Long San. He was sent flying, grievously injured.


    Within the mes, the red rope king suddenly coiled around Long San''s neck, causing his eyes to widen.


    He scrabbled to remove the red rope taut around his neck, only to have a kasaya suddenly wrap his body up and a blue lotus settle above his head. A bout of death chants was sent straight into the depths of his soul.


    "No!" Long San shouted in panic.


    He finally understood how Long Si had ended up being possessed. He was under attack from multiple fronts¡ªhis Immortal qi being suppressed by the red rope king, and his will and soul being eroded by the blue lotus. He struggled to get free, but his consciousness was already muddled by the time he fought off the kasaya.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar darted into his mindscape.


    There was fog all around them, and Xiao Nanfeng hadyered an additional cloud of red fog in his surroundings to ensure that no one could see what he was doing.


    As Xiao Nanfeng and the blue lotus entered Long San''s mindscape, he gained absolute control over Long San''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng was in charge now.


    Long San retrieved the red rope king and kasaya, then scattered the red fog all around with a shake of his body.


    "Death is too light a punishment for someone like you," Long San roared.


    He looked up at the skies. "Second Brother, I''ming to assist you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was holding Long Er back.


    Long Er was particrly strong. A sweep of his tail was sufficient to send Xiao Nanfeng flying, but Xiao Nanfeng''s defenses were strong enough not to have sustained much injury.


    "Long Er, is this the extent of your strength? Are you trying to scratch my itches?" Xiao Nanfeng asked,ughing. He shot back over.


    "Impossible. How are you unharmed? I don''t believe it!" Long Er eximed.


    His huge ws suddenly swiped at Xiao Nanfeng, who deflected them with his de.


    His de technique shattered as he was sent flying back once more.


    "How could this be?!" Long Er eximed.


    He had struck Xiao Nanfeng at full force¡ªbut not only was Xiao Nanfeng unharmed, so was his copper de. How could that be? He couldn''t help but doubt his own strength.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, charging forward.


    Long Er was about to strike Xiao Nanfeng again when he heard Long Yi shouting in the distance. "It hurts! Damn it, what are all of you doing? Save me first! Attack those responsible for keeping the formation active! Hurry!"


    Long Er blinked. He had been too wrapped up in his fight against Xiao Nanfeng to have seen the bigger picture. He decisively shrugged off Xiao Nanfeng and whirled around to Blue Lantern instead.


    "Die!" Long Er roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. He had been taking on Long Er to give Blue Lantern what time he needed to carry out his preparations¡ªhe couldn''t let Long Er leave now!


    He was intending to enrage Long Er before tricking him into the Heaven Division''s Gate, but there was simply no time now.


    With a sh, as he invoked his candleme powers, Xiao Nanfeng appeared on Long Er''s head.


    Long Er was currently in the form of an ivory dragon. When he felt a human''s weight overhead, he reared back in shock.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Get off me!" Long Er shouted, shaking his head back and forth. A frightening aura emanated from his body as he attempted to flush Xiao Nanfeng away from his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly used his candleme powers to send a wooden fish through Long Er''s qi barrier and into his eardrum.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The wooden fish exploded in Long Er''s head in a gruesome shower of blood.


    Long Er was sent flying with an anguished cry.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, drawing his de.


    Long Er stumbled back, his head dripping with blood, his eyes dazed.


    "I''ll kill you!" he shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t overly concerned. His Imposing Avatar of Ri was overwhelmingly strong, and it could easily survive a confrontation against Long Er.


    Xiao Nanfeng was knocked aside. Long Er whirled around, attempting to strike at Blue Lantern instead, only to have Xiao Nanfeng pop back in front of him.


    "Bastard!" Long Er shouted.


    Just then, a cry came from afar.


    "Second Brother, let me help you out!" Long San shouted.


    Long Er sighed in relief. He replied, "Ignore me, Third Brother! Go finish off the formations master and save Eldest Brother!"


    "Got it!" Long San replied.


    Momentster, his tail descended from the heavens and struck Long Er''s head, right where Xiao Nanfeng had caused an explosion.


    Long Er blinked in shock, overwhelmed by a sense of vertigo. Was Long San deaf? Why was Long San attacking him?


    More blood gushed out from Long Er''s injury as he was sent flying once more.


    "Third Brother, are you going to betray Eldest Brother too?!" Long Er eximed.


    Long San didn''t respond. He charged straight at Long Er as the two ivory dragons began to fight in earnest, allowing Xiao Nanfeng''s main body to roam about. He rushed into the air toward Blue Lantern.


    "Well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Everything''s going smoothly, and the Cage of the Sea and Xia Xingchen have managed to suppress Long Yi and his water dragon transformation. However, Long Yi''s refusal to cancel the transformation is causing issues. He won''t be able tost much longer, but until then..."


    "We''re short on time, and we can''t wait for too much longer. We managed to scare Ao Canghai away, but he''ll likely react quickly considering how sly he is. Furthermore, the various Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd and Long Yi''s own reinforcements might arrive at any time. We need to finish him off as quickly as possible. Let me in. I''ll strip the Eye of the Sea from him."


    "Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Blue Lantern waved a hand, surrounding Xiao Nanfeng in a barrier of blue light. He shot straight toward the blue sphere and passed through its boundary.


    Within, a group of cultivators was manipting the Formation of the Complete Heavens to suppress the giant dragon of water alongside Blue Lantern.


    Huge nails were embedded all over the dragon of water''s body, the effect of the Cage of the Sea. Xia Xingchen''s sword was sticking into the dragon''s head, pinning him down.


    "Get out here!" Xia Xingchen howled.


    The dragon of water had been rendered immobile, but he snarled and refused to obey. "Xia Xingchen, do you really think you''ve managed to trap me? My reinforcements will be here in no time. I just need tost a little longer before the tables are turned."


    Xia Xingchen snarled ferociously, but to no avail.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, I''m going to extract Long Yi''s body. Please cooperate with me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The dragon of water scoffed disdainfully. "Extract my body? Dream on. The Eye of the Sea is protecting me. No one will be able to bypass its protection."


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother arguing with him. Instead, he activated his candleme powers, causing a sh of red light to appear by Long Yi''s head. Xiao Nanfeng reached in and tugged on the head, causing the dragon of water to shudder as an ivory dragon''s head was peeled away from it.


    "What?!" Xia Xingchen eximed in surprise.


    Long Yi was caught off guard as well. How could Xiao Nanfeng have removed his body so easily?


    "No!" Long Yi cried out.


    He tried to shake Xiao Nanfeng''s hand away, to shatter the red light that Xiao Nanfeng had somehow evoked.


    "Dream on!" Xia Xingchen roared, shing at the ivory dragon''s head and beheading him in an instant.


    "This is impossible. No!" the ivory dragon''s head eximed.


    Xia Xingchen didn''t dare take Long Yi lightly. He struck at the ivory dragon''s head again, causing Long Yi''s features to contort. A spectral figure emerged from Long Yi''s mindscape¡ªhis soul.


    Xia Xingchen split Long Yi''s head in half, whereas Xiao Nanfeng grabbed ahold of Long Yi''s soul.


    "You''re done for, Long Yi." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "No! Release me!" Long Yi''s soul cried out in fear.


    However, without his physical body, he was no match for Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng clenched tightly around his soul, causing it to shatter.


    The dragon of water, now freed from Long Yi''s maniption, coalesced into a giant ball of water¡ªthe original shape of the Eye of the Sea. Long Yi''s body was suspended within, and Xiao Nanfeng quickly imed it.


    The fighting had finallye to an end.

 Chapter 675: Uprooted

    <h4>Chapter 675: Uprooted</h4>


    "Activate the formation!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    Within the giant blue sphere, the cultivators activated the formation banners as quickly as they could. The sphere flew away as Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Xingchen emerged from it.


    As they did so, they saw Long Er being trapped by a kasaya in the distance while Long San, in human form, continued to deal his wounded head a flurry of heavy blows.


    Long Er screamed as he suddenly fell to the ground. Long San followed after him, sealing Long Er''s cultivation.


    Xia Xingchen was astounded. "How did you manage to capture Long Er so quickly? He''s even stronger than Long San. Even if Long Er were no match for him, Long Er should at least have been able to run off!"


    "I detonated another Golden Immortal relic," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Xia Xingchen gave him an odd look. Was this what a parvenu would do?


    "Mountain Lord Xia, we''re tight on time. Let''s hurry back to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Xia Xingchen nodded as the two cultivators made their way to the bottom of the sea.


    By then, the underwaterbat was over.


    Yu''er''s eyes brightened upon seeing the two cultivators head over together. She rushed up to Xiao Nanfeng. "Nanfeng, is the fighting at the surface over? Are you injured?"


    Xia Xingchen cleared his throat in annoyance upon seeing Yu''er focus her attention on her boyfriend rather than himself.


    Xia Lan, following behind them, eximed, "Father, have you managed to take down the four lords of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?"


    "Isn''t that to be expected? What nonsense," Xia Xingchen replied brusquely.


    Xia Lan: ...


    Had he said something wrong? Why did his father seem so upset?


    "Father, what do you think of Xiao Nanfeng now?" Yu''er clutched Xiao Nanfeng by the wrist and smiled at her father proudly.


    "Hmph!" Xia Xingchen snorted, even more unhappy than before.


    Ye Dafu rushed toward them from nearby. "Your Majesty, we''ve quelled the spirits of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. The majority have surrendered and have had their cultivation sealed. Only a few managed to escape."


    "Ignore those that have. Send these sea spirits to Dazheng immediately. Filter them ording to their backgrounds. Those that haven''t acted in malice will be allowed to redeem themselves with merit; otherwise, send them to Chang Bing and have them forged into relics and pills," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu replied, nodding.


    "Scour the Southeastern Aquatic Pce for any remaining treasure. Then, we''ll leave."


    "We''ve already started retreating, and the treasure-hunting teams are about to finish up."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The cultivators flew into the depths of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. Indeed, the fighting was already over, and the sea spirits had all been taken away by the Immortal army. A scant few were trying to cart off whatever was unsecured within.


    Very quickly, the Southeastern Aquatic Pce became nothing but a pile of ruins.


    Xia Lan turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Your subordinates really are...prehensive... with their task. There''s nothing remaining here¡ªyou''ve even taken the stone bs used for flooring away!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced askance at Xia Lan. "You don''t have a family of your own, and naturally don''t understand how expensive such materials can be. Do you know how many generals and soldiers Dazheng has to feed? Being wasteful is shameful."


    Yu''er nodded fervently beside him. "That''s right, Third Brother! Don''t talk about stuff you don''t know anything about."


    Xia Lan glowered at them. If not for his father''s presence by his side, he would have given the couple a good scolding.


    "Can we not drag the ck coffin away?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    Ao Zhou shook his head. "We can''t. Damn it, I even tried using an ancestral dragon''s technique on it, but nothing seems to work!"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing a spectral figure of light to emerge from his palm¡ªwhat remained of Long Yi''s soul.


    Xiao Nanfeng asked, "Long Yi, how do you activate and move this ck coffin?"


    "I don''t know. I can''t move it myself!" Long Yi''s soul replied anxiously.


    "Do you intend to lie to me even when I have your very soul in my grasp?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I''m telling the truth. I really don''t know how to move the coffin. I was following orders to guard the ck coffin and asionally allowed to exchange for some treasures myself. I''m not familiar with it at all," Long Yi eximed.


    "On whose orders were you guarding the coffin?"


    Long Yi pursed his lips in silence, as if he didn''t dare to respond.


    "I control your life. Whose secrets are you still trying to protect? Tell me!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Long Yi gritted his teeth. He was just about to speak when a red me suddenly appeared in the center of his forehead, burning away what remained of his soul.


    "No! Forgive me, Immortal Emperor. I never said anything. Spare me! No!" Long Yi shrieked.


    The red mes quickly encased and devoured his soul.


    "Who dares?!" Xiao Nanfeng attempted to obtain a sample of those mes, but they suddenly dissipated before he could.


    "Someone was trying to hide the truth," Yu''er murmured.


    Xia Xingchen frowned. "Cursed mes? Someone must have deposited this curse in Long Yi''s soul long ago to kill him remotely at any time..."


    "The Immortal Emperor that Long Yi''s talking about, you mean. He knows of the situation in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce and is worried that Long Yi will reveal his secrets. That must be why he made his move." Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He turned toward Xia Xingchen. "Mountain Lord Xia, do you know who this Immortal Emperor might be?"


    "How would I? Continue investigating slowly. I''m going to leave with Yu''er," Xia Xingchen said.


    "Please let me join you in the purple moon illusory realm."


    "What good would you be there? You don''t cultivate the Yuqing purple moon and won''t be able to get in. Yu''er and I alone will suffice," Xia Xingchen replied.


    "I can help guard you," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "There''s no need. It''s best that as few people know where we''ll be in secluded cultivation as possible," Xia Xingchen refused.


    "Father, Nanfeng isn''t an outsider!" Yu''er eximed.


    "None of that, now. Follow me. Some Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd must already be on their way. Hurry!"


    Yu''er frowned. She had no choice but to exchange a reluctant farewell with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What about me, Father?" Xia Lan eximed.


    "Go y on your own!" Xia Xingchen flew off with Yu''er.


    Xia Lan stiffened. Did Father favor his daughter over his sons?


    "Also, go tell your mothers not to worry. I''ll return in a few days'' time," Xia Xingchen called out from afar.


    Xia Lan sighed in exasperation, but he nodded. "Yes, Father..."


    Xiao Nanfeng attempted to make the ck coffin budge once again, but it refused to obey him.


    "Very well. Everyone, you can leave," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The cultivators swiftly departed, leaving the Southeastern Aquatic Pce in a pile of ruins.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to study the ck coffin, but to no avail. Before long, however, Blue Lantern showed up.


    "Your Majesty, I just heard about the situation regarding the ck coffin. Let me have a look," he suggested.


    "Have you finished scouring any sign of fighting from our surroundings?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yes, Your Majesty, and we''ve taken the Eye of the Sea with us as well. It''s being guarded by Ye Dafu and the others."


    "Good. Have a quick look, but we''ll have to leave soon. People are going to show up here in no time."


    "Got it." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Blue Lantern considered the ck coffin from all four sides, then sent a small construct of spiritual power at the ck coffin. A translucent membrane shed into existence, rippling from the contact, before it vanished.


    "Can you move this coffin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "I can''t. This coffin is being bound by heavenlyw."


    "Heavenlyw? You''re certain it''s not naturalw?"


    "Heavenlyw indeed. If I''m not mistaken, Your Majesty, someone must have deliberately fixed it in this location. As for who in the world can control heavenlyw¡ªI''m sure you can guess, Your Majesty."


    "Saints?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "I''m uncertain as to the specifics, but that''s likely the case."


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly recalled that, back in the Sieve of Heaven, the avatar of the saint that had been helping Yin Shenhua had transformed into a giant ck hand upon facing thebined assault of the Martial Aspects. It looked just like a Heaven''s Hand, and was equally as invincible.


    Furthermore, the ck smoke that emanated from the ck coffin had initially manifested in the form of a ck hand.


    "A saint''s involvement¡ªand very likely the same saint from before..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Saints don''t act for no reason. There''s likely a deeper scheme behind all this," Blue Lanternmented.


    "Indeed, there may be far more than meets the eye. I''ll have to report to the Heavenly Emperor immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said. Then, he sighed. "It''s a pity I can''t use this coffin myself."


    Blue Lantern was silent for a moment before he suggested, "Your Majesty, even though we might not be able to move the coffin, I could try helping you exchange for treasure."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "My sect boasts a record of a ck coffin that was acquired long ago, though it waster lost again. I still know how to mediate such an exchange, but the records warned that the treasures thate from the ck coffin are imbued with cursed spiritual power. We ought not make such exchanges lightly, lest their wielders be cursed to death."


    "You know how to use the ck coffin?"


    Blue Lantern nodded. "I do, Your Majesty. What would you like?"


    Xiao Nanfeng considered his options. "I heard that Long Er, Long San, and Long Si all became Golden Immortals with Long Yi''s assistance. If I''m not mistaken, they must have done so with this coffin. Do you know how to use this coffin for that purpose?"


    "There were such records in my sect, and we did make such attempts before. Exchanging for Golden Immortal pills requires three living or recently deceased Golden Immortals, and the resulting Golden Immortal pills will be cursed. Trying to dispel that curse will be very troublesome."


    "But do you know how to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "My sect dide up with a method, but one applicable only to us formations masters. I can''t help others with it." Blue Lantern frowned.


    "You won''t need to help others. Can you use the pill yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You intend to hand me that pill, Your Majesty?" Blue Lantern eximed in surprise.


    "Dazheng needs a Golden Immortal to defend it. I''d like to give you the honor," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    His own cultivation techniques were far too domineering for such pills to have any effect. Rather than transform the Golden Immortal corpses into a few True Immortal pills, why not go for a single Golden Immortal pill instead?


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Blue Lantern eximed, touched.


    Xiao Nanfeng deposited three corpses on the floor, that of Long Yi and his two avatars.


    "Will exchanging for a Golden Immortal pill take a long time?"


    "No. It''s a quick process."


    "Let''s get started, then!"


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern replied.

 Chapter 676: Li Qianjun

    <h4>Chapter 676: Li Qianjun</h4>


    On a lone ind in the midst of a vast sea, unbeknownst to all, were three supreme cultivators recuperating from their wounds: Ao Canghai and two of his Martial Aspect confidantes.


    Ao Canghai wasn''t badly injured. The injuries he had sustained werergely from detonating his own relics when he attempted to flee. Although Xia Xingchen''s two attacks had dealt him heavy wounds, they werergely superficial.


    The bulk of those injuries had already healed up. Rather than leave the ind, however, he was frowning, deep in thought.


    "Eastern Aspect, our injuries havergely healed," one Martial Aspect said.


    However, Ao Canghai didn''t seem to have heard him. He was still deep in thought.


    "What''s the matter, Eastern Aspect?" the other Martial Aspect asked.


    Ao Canghai shook his head as he came to his senses. "I''m trying to make sense of what happened back at the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, but something feels off to me."


    "Oh?"


    "Everything was too much of a coincidence. How could Xiao Nanfeng have been caught so easily? What''s more, the branch current that Ao Zhou was talking about never existed at all. Right after wended on the ind, we were attacked by the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. There''s something wrong with this series of affairs. Furthermore, if there really were a Boundless Immortal among those reinforcements, why didn''t that Boundless Immortal chase me down, or the rest of you?"


    The two Martial Aspects blinked. One asked, "Martial Aspect, do you think that this was a scheme against us?"


    Ao Canghai nodded. "Xiao Nanfeng''s a masterful nner. You''ve seen how he ns ten steps ahead¡ªwe''ve all faced him before. The fact that he was caught is exceptionally unusual."


    "But what would have been his motive?"


    "I suspect he took advantage of us," Ao Canghai said, his features contorted in a frown.


    "What?!"


    "Let''s return and have a look," Ao Canghai suddenlymanded.


    "Understood!" the two cultivators replied.


    At the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, right in front of the ck coffin, Blue Lantern murmured a mantra before invoking the coffin. "Ancient coffin, I, Blue Lantern, wish to sacrifice three recently deceased Golden Immortals in hopes of receiving a pill to ascend to the Golden Immortal realm. Please grant this request!"


    The coffin vibrated before its lid cracked open. A burst of ck smoke emanated from within, quickly shrouding Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern stood immobile as the ck smoke explored his body. After some time, the ck smoke retreated and the coffin lid slidpletely off.


    A cloud of ck smoke appeared on each end of the coffin, where head and feet would ordinarily reside. A radiant golden pill was at the center of one cloud; the other was empty.


    Blue Lantern immediately tossed Long Yi''s three corpses into that empty cloud of ck smoke.


    Countless ck hands formed from the ck smoke dragged the corpses into the coffin''s depths.


    Then, the two clouds of ck smoke dissipated, leaving only the radiant golden pill behind.


    "Your Majesty, it was a sess!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    He retrieved a jade bottle and carefully stored the pill within.


    "It''s that simple?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Indeed," Blue Lantern replied, nodding.


    The coffin''s lid slowly slid shut with a snick, as if nothing had happened.


    "Good. Be careful with ingesting this pill. I don''t want you to suffer any bacsh," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I used to be a Golden Immortal in the past. With my n''s specialized techniques, I''m sure there won''t be a problem."


    "Good. Let''s leave¡ªpeople are on their way," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    By then, everyone else had already departed. The two remaining cultivators left in haste.


    Rather than depart, however, they instead swam to a secluded patch of seabed in the distance, where they hid themselves as they stared at the ruins of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. Blue Lantern had previously prepared a specialized formation to hide themselves; no one would be able to detect them.


    Mere moments after they had sequestered themselves, a group of cultivators rushed toward the Southeastern Aquatic Pce.


    They were wearing ck armor, and a hulking, middle-aged man was in the lead. His eyes were sharp, and a pitch-ck nineyered pagoda floated above his right hand. A devastating ck aura emanated from him.


    "That''s Li Qianjun, from the Hongyue divine empire!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly eximed.


    "The divine empire of Hongyue?" Blue Lantern seemed perplexed.


    "You must have heard about how a traitor was responsible for the downfall of the Taiqing Immortal Sect two centuries ago. The sect heaped him with treasure so that he could found the divine empire of Hongyue, but heter became a traitor to the sect. He killed much of the remaining disciples, leaving it a husk that was forced to flee to what is now Taiqing Ind. The divine empire of Hongyue is the greatest enemy of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    "The Southeastern Aquatic Pce is in cahoots with the divine empire of Hongyue?" Blue Lantern eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Perhaps the Southeastern Aquatic Pce is subordinate to the divine empire of Hongyue and gets its hands dirty where Hongyue doesn''t want to make a move directly."


    "And that cultivator who wields that pitch-ck pagoda is known as Li Qianjun?" Blue Lantern asked curiously.


    "Indeed. His name is Li Qianjun. He serves as a city lord to an Immortal city of Hongyue, and he''s the birth father of the Demon Child. He too used to be an elder of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, but he chose to betray the sect along with the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue. He deserves to die," Xiao Nanfeng spat out coldly.


    Blue Lantern nodded. He was aware that Xiao Nanfeng was intent on avenging the Taiqing Immortal Sect.


    In the distance, Li Qianjun''s voice brimmed with anger. "How could this have happened to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? I was only a momentte!"


    "City Lord, the pce is in ruins. There''s nothing of value left behind, and there are bloodstains in the vicinity. The blood hasn''t yet dried, suggesting that whatever fighting took ce recently concluded," one subordinate reported.


    Li Qianjun rushed over to where the ck coffin was and sighed in relief to find it still present.


    Then, activating the ck pagoda in his hand, he shouted, "Ghostfire Battalion, search the pce for any living beings that can talk. Go!"


    The tiny doors on the topmostyer of his nineyered pagoda opened wide as countless wisps of blue, ghostly me emerged. Each me seemed to contain a soul. They scattered in every direction.


    None of these mes seemed to fear water. They passed through the barriers in the vicinity as they headed toward the depths of the sea, searching for any witnesses to exin what had happened.


    The wisps of me filled the air as they scattered. Some even passed by where Xiao Nanfeng was located, but Blue Lantern''s formation was so strong that none of the mes noticed a thing.


    Before long, screeches could be heard from a distance.


    "Seize them and bring them over!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    A group of ck-armored cultivators behind him rushed off in the direction of the screeches. They quickly returned with a few sea spirits in tow.


    The spirits were flung to the ground before Li Qianjun.


    "Please spare us!" they cried out.


    "Are you spirits from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" Li Qianjun demanded.


    "I, I¡ª" The sea spirits babbled in panic.


    "Answer the question!" Li Qianjun demanded.


    The sea spirits shuddered. They didn''t dare hide anything. "We are."


    "What happened here? How could the Southeastern Aquatic Pce have been uprooted? Where are its four draconic lords?" Li Qianjun asked.


    The spirits quickly reported what they had witnessed.


    "An army of tens of thousands of Immortals took them down? Xiao Nanfeng''s, or Ao Canghai''s?" Li Qianjun asked.


    "W-We don''t know, sir."


    Li Qianjun''s face turned dour. It was clear he had a rough idea of the situation before bringing his reinforcements over, but he clearly hadn''t expected the Southeastern Aquatic Pce to be taken over so quickly.


    He took a deep breath, then waved an arm over his pagoda. "Absorb!"


    "Spare us, please!" the sea spirits begged, but Li Qianjun ignored them. All of them were sucked into the pagoda, as were the ghostly mes that had been sent out.


    "Use your avatar to inform His Majesty about what''s going on. We''ll await hismands," Li Qianjun instructed.


    "Understood!" a ck-armored cultivator replied.


    Li Qianjun waited patiently as beams of light arrived at the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, leaving huge waves of water in their wake.


    Li Qianjun frowned and rapidly covered up the ck coffin in ayer of fog.


    "Who''s there?" the ck-armored cultivators behind him shouted, drawing their weapons.


    "Don''t make a move," Li Qianjun shouted.


    "Understood!" The ck-armored cultivators sheathed their weapons again as the neers showed themselves. They were led by Sage Green Lotus of the Yuqing holynd, and the few cultivators behind him were high-ranking members as well.


    "Don''t act rashly," Sage Green Lotus warned, raising an arm to his side to block any aggression from those to his back.


    "Li Qianjun? What are you doing here?"


    "What happened to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?"


    "Where are the four draconic lords?"


    The high-ranking members of the Yuqing holynd were full of questions for Li Qianjun and his cadre.


    Sage Green Lotus flew up to Li Qianjun and bowed. "Greetings, City Lord Li."


    "Greetings, Sage Green Lotus." Li Qianjun nodded at his fellow cultivator.


    "What happened here? City Lord Li, have you seen the Yuqing holy maiden Xia Yu''er?" Sage Green Lotus asked.


    Li Qianjun shook his head. "We just arrived ourselves. This was what we saw: the Southeastern Aquatic Pce has beenpletely uprooted. We don''t know where the four draconic lords are either, but we suspect they''re likely dead."


    "How could that be?" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    Li Qianjun sighed. "Ao Canghai and Xiao Nanfeng attacked the Southeastern Aquatic Pce together. By the time I received the news and headed over, it was already toote."


    Sage Green Lotus and the group of cultivators with him frowned in unison.


    "Junior Brothers, Xia Yu''er must be in hiding. She might already be within the purple moon illusory realm. Searching for them will be fruitless," Sage Green Lotus said.


    "Damn it!" The cultivators in Sage Green Lotus''s group cursed in frustration.


    "City Lord Li, what lies behind that fog of yours? Is it the ck coffin of legend?" someone suddenly asked.


    Li Qianjun frowned, not wanting to reply.


    "City Lord Li, the ck coffin isn''t a secret any longer. Why don''t you show it to us?" Sage Green Lotus asked.


    The Yuqing cultivators all stepped forward curiously.

 Chapter 677: Returning to Yuqing

    <h4>Chapter 677: Returning to Yuqing</h4>


    Afar, Li Qianjun seemed to be mired in conflict with some Yuqing cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern took advantage of the opportunity to slip away.


    They had reaped tremendous rewards by uprooting the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, and properly digesting those rewards would take significant effort.


    Shortly after the two cultivators left, Ao Canghai and his subordinates returned, though they were focused on stealth and only observed the pce from a distance.


    "Eastern Aspect, what happened to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" a Martial Aspect eximed.


    Ao Canghai deted. "We were toote. Xiao Nanfeng has likely imed the entire pce for himself."


    "What?!"


    "Li Qianjun was the leader of Long Yi''s true reinforcements. To think the Southeastern Aquatic Pce would be supported by the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue..." Ao Canghai eximed.


    "What are Li Qianjun and the cultivators from the Yuqing holynd fighting over?" the Golden Immortal asked.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. "We suffered huge losses today. Regardless of what they''re fighting over, it''ll be ours in the end."


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the ongoing fighting in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. He fled with Blue Lantern by sea for some time before finally emerging into the sky and flying off.


    They stopped on a certain ind shrouded by fog, clearly the result of some formation or another.


    Ao Zhou, Zhao Yuanjiao, Ye Dafu and the others were all ncing excitedly at a huge sphere of water, hundreds of meters wide.


    The sphere of water was pinned in ce by countless nails and was no longer gushing out water.


    "The Cage of the Sea really is perfect for this." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, why don''t you give me this Eye of the Sea? I don''t want any other reward," Ao Zhou begged shamelessly.


    Ye Dafu red at him. "Ao Zhou, how can you be so shameless?"


    "What do you mean? I''m hardly being shameless. If I hadn''t borrowed the Cage of the Sea, how would all of you have managed to uproot the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" Ao Zhou sniffed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You won''t be getting any treasure from me. We helped you finish your Martial Aspect mission, after all, so you''ll be rewarded by the Imperial Court."


    "What? But this Eye of the Sea¡ª" Ao Zhou didn''t want to give in at all.


    "This Eye of the Sea is mine," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.


    Ao Zhou sighed, though he hadn''t really expected his shameless begging to bear fruit.


    "Your Majesty, this Eye of the Sea is the source of water, and is imbued with various forms of naturalw at its core. It''s a rare treasure," Blue Lantern said.


    "Indeed. It''s a Boundless Immortal relic, and I intend to consume it."


    Ao Zhou widened his eyes. He gaped. "Don''t you cultivate a fire-attuned technique? What''s the point of consuming an Eye of the Sea? You''re wasting an incredible treasure!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Zhou. He turned to Blue Lantern. "Do you have any advice?"


    "Many peak Golden Immortals have advanced to Boundless Immortals by attuning to Eyes of the Sea. It''s an incredible treasure for cultivation, and being able to attune to it would provide a tremendous boost. However, there are two points worth noting," Blue Lantern began.


    "Oh?"


    "First, the cursed nature of this Eye of the Sea, which was obtained from the ck coffin. Considering the quality of this relic, it surely contains more cursed spiritual power than lesser treasures¡ªten times that within my Golden Immortal pill, at the very least, and maybe even a hundred times."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded slowly. "It won''t be a problem."


    His Jade Emperor''s Frame could cleanse all cursed smoke and even cursed spiritual power as well, so he didn''t have much to fear.


    "Second, the Eye of the Sea contains an elementary spirit. Although this spirit is without intelligence, the unusual naturalw that gives rise to it is difficult to handle, and attuning to it directly can hurt your soul."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Just then, Ao Zhou jumped in. "I can deal with that nascent spirit! I know precisely how to do it thanks to the ancestral dragon''s techniques I received. Let me help!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Zhou and focused on Blue Lantern, who nodded. "The dragons are in possession of such a technique, though it''s been lost for quite a long time. If Ao Zhou came across it via an ancestral dragon''s inheritance, though, I would believe it''s genuine."


    Ao Zhou nodded in excitement. "I''ll help you absorb that spirit, and I guarantee I won''t touch anything else. Even so, it''s going to be a long and difficult process."


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the offer. Although he didn''t much trust Ao Zhou to be honest about such things, Blue Lantern seemed to support the idea, and Xiao Nanfeng didn''t think Blue Lantern would lie about it.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Ao Zhou grinned, then continued, "Aren''t you going to give me a little something for doing you such a huge favor?"


    Everyone gaped at Ao Zhou''s shamelessness. Even Blue Lantern couldn''t watch on any longer. "Nascent spirits are particrly rare. If you don''t want it, extract it and let me forge it into a formation. You can discuss remuneration with His Majesty then."


    "Forget it, then," Ao Zhou replied immediately. "I''ll do it for free. All I want is that nascent spirit."


    Everyone: ...


    "Fine. Let''s get started and not waste any more time," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Ao Zhou nodded, then transformed into a ck dragon. He dove straight into the Eye of the Sea.


    "Clear away the Cage of the Sea," Ao Zhou called out.


    Blue Lantern did so, causing the nails binding the Eye of the Sea to retract. Huge quantities of seawater began to pour out from the Eye of the Sea again.


    Ao Zhou intoned, "Halt the water. Retrieve the spirit!"


    ck smoke erupted from Ao Zhou''s body, filling up the Eye of the Sea and preventing water from gushing out.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll be meditating as I attempt to retrieve the spirit. This process will take upwards of half a month, and I''ll need you to guard me throughout the process."


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a gourd and pointed it at the Eye of the Sea, absorbing the Eye of the Sea and Ao Zhou within. Then, Xiao Nanfeng hung the gourd by his waist.


    "My other avatar is already making its way back. All of you should return as well. I''ll be fine with just Ye Dafu and the others," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Got it." Blue Lantern nodded.


    He and the others flew off in silence.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Zhao Yuanjiao again. "Senior Brother, what are your ns?"


    "Have you uncovered the backer of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It''s the divine empire of Hongyue. I saw Li Qianjun as I was leaving."


    Xiao Nanfeng recounted what he had seen.


    "Li Qianjun? He''s one of the traitors of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and he''s the city lord of Taixu!" Zhao Yuanjiao''s face grew dark with fury.


    "The city of Taixu? Is there anything special about it?"


    "Two centuries ago, Taixu was where the Taiqing Immortal Sect was initially situated. Subsequently, it turned into a pile of ruins after the betrayal, but it waster rebuilt. Beneath Taixu lies the corpses of countless elders and ancestors of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, which Li Qianjun is sealing," Zhao Yuanjiao gritted out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in amazement.


    He hadn''t paid much attention to the sect''s history in the past; this was the first he was learning about the city of Taixu.


    "You should leave first. I''d like to head to Taixu and have a look," Zhao Yuanjiao said.


    "Be careful, Senior Brother. I''ll be in the Yuqing holynd for some time. If anything happens, send word to me immediately. I''ll have spectral guards head to Taixu to get in touch with you."


    "No, there''s no need. Some of my ckguards are already there, and they can contact you if necessary."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Zhao Yuanjiao flew off, leaving Xia Lan, Xiao Nanfeng, and the twelve golden cultivators behind.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you intend to return to the Yuqing holynd? Whatever for?" Xia Lan asked.


    "I''m going to marry Yu''er, of course."


    Xia Lan rolled his eyes. "We haven''t promised to marry her off to you just yet."


    "I''m not in a hurry," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "I can wait."


    Xia Lan growled, "You really are shameless!"


    "I''m going to the Yuqing holynd not just to await Yu''er, but also to support you. Can''t you tell? No wonder Yu''er says that you aren''t smart."


    Xia Lan stiffened, then thundered, "Who needs your support? We''re doing just fine! Who would dare cause trouble for us within the Yuqing holynd?"


    "A group of Mountain Lords who can''t make their way into the purple moon illusory realm, of course. If they force you to tell them Yu''er''s whereabouts, what are you going to do? Your father''s with Yu''er. Do you think you alone can handle the matters of your father''s station? Are you going to make your mothers stand up to those Mountain Lords on your behalf? Do you have any filial respect at all?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "That''s none of your business!"


    "My inws'' business might as well be my business."


    Xia Lan red again. "My father hasn''t approved your marriage just yet!"


    "Don''t talk nonsense. Let''s hurry up and go. Your mothers must be quite worried by now."


    "Hmph!"


    They headed straight for the Yuqing holynd.


    Dayster, as they neared the holynd and were spotted by some Yuqing disciples, the disciples'' eyes lit up as they quickly ran off. By the time Xiao Nanfeng''s group had reached the mountain pass, there were already arge number of Yuqing disciples waiting for them.


    "What''s with this grand wee? There''s no need for all this." Xia Lan smiled.


    The Yuqing disciples ignored Xia Lan and instead bowed politely toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, thank goodness you''ve returned to the Yuqing holynd! You have to stay longer this time."


    "Senior Brother Xiao, thanks to your pointers, my cultivation has improved rapidly!"


    "I''ve managed to obtain some excellent alcohol, Senior Brother Xiao. Let''s share some together!"


    "I have a few cultivation questions on my mind, Senior Uncle Xiao. Would you please resolve my concerns?"


    The Yuqing disciples were all raring to get a little of Xiao Nanfeng''s time.


    "I''m grateful for all your support, everyone. Allow me to greet my seniors for the moment¡ªI''ll be with all of you shortly." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" The Yuqing disciples beckoned him forth as they flew back into the holynd together, leaving Xia Lan behind alone. His hair was windswept from all the currents they had stirred up. Were all these Yuqing disciples crazy? Why were they all sucking up to Xiao Nanfeng, an outsider?

 Chapter 678: Yuqing Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 678: Yuqing Cultivation</h4>


    Atop Chiyang Peak, Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Lan were called in for questioning by Xia Xingchen''s three wives.


    Upon hearing what had happened within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, the three women all sighed in relief. A huge burden had been lifted from them.


    "Nanfeng, you''ve done very well. It''s all thanks to you that Yu''er is safe," Han Bingdie said, smiling.


    She was very satisfied with Xiao Nanfeng, and was more than happy for Yu''er to marry him.


    Xia Lan shook his head from beside them. "Father wasrgely responsible. How else would Xiao Nanfeng have been able to handle the Southeastern Aquatic Pce otherwise?"


    Xia Lan''s mother tutted at him. "You''re growing older, but you don''t seem to be maturing at all. We''re talking to Nanfeng¡ªdon''t you know it''s rude to interrupt?"


    Xia Lan''s face turned dour.


    Betrayed, he nced at his mother.


    "Madam, Xia Lan was of significant assistance as well. Without him, we wouldn''t have been able to carry out many stages of our n," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Don''t bother speaking up for him. We''re well aware of what Xia Lan''s like. He''s heartless and speaks without thinking. Don''t mind him. Help him out, will you?" Xia Lan''s mother asked.


    Xia Lan''s jaw dropped. Was the woman in front of him really his mother? What mother would speak of her own son in this manner?


    "Don''t worry, Madam. Xia Lan is Yu''er''s third brother, and I''m naturally obliged to help him."


    "Very good." Xia Lan''s mother smiled. "As I said, Nanfeng''s a good choice. Yu''er has discerning taste."


    "Indeed," the other woman agreed, nodding approvingly.


    All three of Xia Xingchen''s wives were happy with Xiao Nanfeng, a significant relief. Xiao Nanfeng would only have to win Xia Xingchen over now.


    "Nanfeng, what are you nning to do next?" Han Bingdie asked.


    "For the moment, I''d like to stay by the foot of Chiyang Peak while I wait for Yu''er to emerge from the purple moon illusory realm. Would I be a hindrance?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Hardly! Treat this ce like your own home. There''s no need for you to stay by the foot of the mountain¡ªjust live up here with us!" one woman eximed.


    "Right, it''s hardly as if you''re an outsider," the other added.


    Xiao Nanfeng dipped his head. "I''m honored you think of me that way, Madams, but I think I had better stay at the foot of the mountain regardless. I have a few subordinates with me, and I intend to interact with the Yuqing disciples during my stay. I might cause a littlemotion, and I wouldn''t want to disturb you. What''s more, while Mountain Lord Xia might notment on my staying here without his permission, it won''t give him a good impression. Better that I stay at the foot of the mountain; it would give me more freedom to act as well."


    The three women eyed each other approvingly.


    "Very well. If there''s any issue, though, head up the mountain and let us know at any time," Han Bingdie said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Xia Lan, prepare the best guest house at the foot of the mountain for Nanfeng. If he''s mistreated in any way, I''m holding you ountable," Xia Lan''s mother said.


    Xia Lan suddenly felt as if he were an adopted son.


    "There''s no need," he said irritably. "The disciples at the foot of the mountain have already prepared everything."


    "Oh?" The three women were surprised by the news.


    "All the ordinary disciples adore Xiao Nanfeng. They were fighting to prepare his lodgings even without my saying anything. Not only that, they''ve even brought over all sorts of nts and cultivation aids for him. His guest house is probably even better furnished than mine is at this point."


    The three womenughed.


    "Even better," Han Bingdie said.


    "You''d better learn from Nanfeng, you hear? I don''t want to keep having to worry about you," Xia Lan''s mother said.


    Xia Lan''s face twitched. It wasn''t as if he had done anything wrong! Why was he the one being verbally abused here? Could he stay here much longer?


    "Senior, Madams, I''ll be heading down the mountain now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Go on." Han Bingdie nodded.


    "Xia Lan, what are you doing there? Head on over with Nanfeng! Help him handle anything he''s unfamiliar with," Xia Lan''s mother chastised.


    "Yes, Mother..."


    He couldn''t help but feel that his mother would rather have Nanfeng than her own son.


    He followed Nanfeng down Chiyang Peak, where they found a group of Yuqing disciples busying themselves in his guest house and decorating it with whatever treasures they had on hand¡ªstones of meditation, flowers that blossomed from a seed of naturalw, and sacred figs. He had asked to borrow these treasures from his senior and junior brothers a number of times, but they refused to lend them to him. Now, however, they were presenting them to Xiao Nanfeng of their own ord.


    "Senior Brother Xiao!" The Yuqing disciples greeted Xiao Nanfeng as they saw him heading down.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed the treasures all around him and smiled. "Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, what are you doing?"


    "Senior Brother Xiao, we''d just like to show our appreciation for your pointers," one Yuqing disciple said.


    "That''s right!" the other disciples shouted.


    "I can''t keep these treasures, but I''d be more than happy to have them here for us all to enjoy for a few days. Once I head back, please make sure to take your belongings with you. Don''t lose them," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, these are tokens of our appreciation!" one disciple cried out.


    "I appreciate the thoughts, but I won''t keep these treasures," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head. "Or would you rather we not continue to have our little discussions?"


    "I understand, Senior Brother Xiao," the cultivator replied, sighing.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" everyone praised.


    Xia Lan muttered to himself, "You think he''s generous? You don''t know anything at all. You didn''t even see how Xiao Nanfeng stripped the Southeastern Aquatic Pce to its foundations. He didn''t even give up on the stone bs they used for flooring! If he''s not epting your treasures, it must mean he''s seeking something else from you."


    "Don''t hold back, everyone. Our discussions and exchanges benefit us all. Come on, let''s go speak by that za over there. I''m happy to hear your recent thoughts on cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yes, Senior Brother Xiao!" the Yuqing disciples eximed in delight.


    The Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd didn''t have much time for their disciples, whereas Xiao Nanfeng was a peerless expert in terms of cultivation theory. He knew no less than the Mountain Lords with regards to the various facets of cultivation, and he was kind, approachable, and patient. He was able to pinpoint and immediately resolve any disciple''s confusion, and it was only natural that those same disciples would praise him to such an extent.


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng became surrounded by disciples.


    Xia Lan watched on from afar, muttering to himself, "Xiao Nanfeng chose to lecture on cultivationst time in order to kidnap Yu''er, and he''s doing so now to gain the gratitude of the masses. What is he nning? Why do I have an uneasy premonition? I can''t tell what Xiao Nanfeng''s thinking!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s new guise as a lecturer began in earnest.


    Hisst lecture had drawn the attention of many, and when word spread that he was about to do so anew, even more disciples came to listen.


    There were disciples from all twelve peaks present, and Xiao Nanfeng dropped the pretense that this wasrgely a discussion. Rather, he began to orate, and everyone listened.


    During the first two days, there were only a few hundred disciples present; after that, a few thousand; by the tenth day, almost ten thousand.


    The sight was astounding. The za at which Xiao Nanfeng had first lectured was too small to host such an audience, so countless Yuqing disciples expanded thend overnight. The za grewrger day by day as Xia Lan watched on sourly.


    Atop Chiyang Peak, Xia Xingchen''s three wives were looking at the scene unfold from high above.


    "Sister, how did your junior nephew cultivate? Did he really get this far within just ten years?"


    "His understanding of scripture is truly remarkable. One of those disciples asked a truly obscure question about naturalw, one that neither of us would have been able to exin offhand, but he did so with ease starting from fundamentals! It really is unbelievable."


    The women shook their heads in amazement.


    Han Bingdie frowned. "I wonder if he did all this for Yu''er."


    One of the women sighed. "That would exin it, wouldn''t it? He wants to marry Yu''er, and he wants every Yuqing disciple to give her well wishes. With disciples from all twelve peaks here, anyone who dares to criticize her or the wedding would surely gain a significant number of enemies immediately.


    "Yu''er really is blessed," the other woman agreed.


    Xia Lan shook his head. "I feel like Xiao Nanfeng has an ulterior motive."


    All three women red at Xia Lan. Xia Lan''s mother shook her head. "What sort of nonsense are you talking about now? Why haven''t you grown up yet?"


    Xia Lan grimaced. He was just expressing his own opinion; why was he getting scolded again? Didn''t he have any say in this household anymore?


    "Xiao Nanfeng initially told me that he was worried the Mountain Lords would trouble you about Yu''er, so he wasing as support. But none of the Mountain Lords have bothered us at all! He''s lying!" Xia Lan used.


    "Better to be prepared for something that didn''t happen than not to be prepared for something that did. He''s showing filial respect with his actions. What have you, my own son, done during this period of time?" Xia Lan''s mother asked.


    Xia Lan scowled. Fine! He''d stop talking before he got himself into more trouble.


    Just as he was stewing, a shout came from down below.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare youe to the Yuqing holynd! You must want to die. I''ll teach you a lesson today, haha!" The domineering voice of a child echoed about Chiyang Peak.


    The three women frowned as they scanned the surroundings, as did countless Yuqing disciples at the foot of the mountain.


    The Demon Child, glowing with red light, was flying through the air. He had dark circles around his eyes, as if he hadn''t slept for quite some time. He was brimming with excitement and held the demon-subduing golden hoop in one hand.


    "The Demon Child? What''s he doing back here?" Han Bingdie frowned.


    "That troublesome pest¡ªhe''s back!" one of the other women eximed.


    Afar, the Demon Child howled at the Yuqing disciples, "Scram, all of you! Why are you surrounding Xiao Nanfeng? I''m going to teach him a lesson. If any of you dare to stand in my way, I''ll beat you up too!"


    The Yuqing disciples red at the Demon Child, infuriated.

 Chapter 679: Fooling a Child

    <h4>Chapter 679: Fooling a Child</h4>


    On a pavilion high up in the mountains in the Yuqing holynd, Sage Green Lotus and a few other cultivators were observing what was happening by the foot of Chiyang Peak far below them.


    "Sage Green Lotus, is it really alright for you to have allowed the Demon Child to cause problems for Xiao Nanfeng?" a cultivator standing behind him asked.


    Sage Green Lotus nodded firmly. "Very. The best-case scenario would be forcing Xiao Nanfeng out of the Yuqing holynd, so we can arrest and question him as to Xia Yu''er''s whereabouts."


    The cultivators frowned, but nodded.


    Afar, the Demon Child looked down toward Xiao Nanfeng from high above. Energy billowed from him in shockwaves that sent the Yuqing disciples flying. Howling winds raged over the za on which Xiao Nanfeng was situated, causing dust to swirl up into the air.


    "Haha, Xiao Nanfeng, I bet you can''t believe that I''m a Golden Immortal now! I''m going to take revenge for the humiliation I suffered at your hands!" the Demon Child shouted,ughing.


    Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak, the Demon Child began to attack him with his demon-subduing golden hoop.


    "Holy Child, please control yourself!" a group of Yuqing disciples shouted as they attempted to rush forward.


    "Control myself? I''m a holy child of the Yuqing holynd! I set the rules around here. If you don''t make way, I''ll beat all of you up too! Demon-subduing golden hoop, go!" the Demon Childmanded.


    He tossed out his golden hoop, which suddenly duplicated itself thousands of times over. The copies of the hoop smashed into the Yuqing disciples, sending them flying.


    Just then, twelve beams of golden light shot toward the Demon Child.


    "You lot again? Come on, then! All of you ought to die!" the Demon Child shouted.


    The countless copies of the golden hoop flew back toward him and smashed into the twelve golden cultivators, sending all of them flying as well.


    "Haha! You can''t even take a single blow from me anymore," the Demon Child said,ughing.


    With a wave, all those copies of the golden hoopbined into one and flew toward his hand.


    Just as he was about to catch it, Xiao Nanfeng reached out in a sh of red light. The demon-subduing golden hoop leapt through space and suddenly appeared in his hand.


    "What? Where did my demon-subduing golden hoop go?!" the Demon Child eximed.


    He turned to see that it hadnded in Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    "When did you steal that away? Return it to me!" the Demon Child shouted.


    He beckoned at the relic, trying to reim the golden hoop, but Xiao Nanfeng held the hoop tightly in his hands and refused to let go. It trembled violently, then radiated with golden light, but was unable to free itself from Xiao Nanfeng''s clutches.


    "Demon Child, your cultivation has risen to a considerable extent, but you''re still nothing more than a child. Charging at me so recklessly will make you embarrass yourself regardless of whether you win or lose. You im you want to take revenge¡ªdo you really dare?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''ll beat you to death!" the Demon Child shouted, charging forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng drew his divine undying de and shed at the golden hoop.


    The sh between the two relics produced a huge wave of mes.


    Everyone was taken aback. They didn''t understand what Xiao Nanfeng was attempting to do. Shouldn''t he have been on guard against the Demon Child? Why was he attacking his golden hoop?


    "No! My demon-subduing golden hoop!" the Demon Child cried out in fear.


    Xiao Nanfeng had destroyed his Taiqing red sash; he was worried Xiao Nanfeng would do the same to his golden hoop too.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed at the golden hoop, then tossed it far into the distance.


    The Demon Child hurriedly rushed off toward it as if he had forgotten about Xiao Nanfeng altogether.


    "My golden hoop!" the Demon Child shrieked.


    Many of the spectators watched on in confusion, but Xiao Nanfeng rxed. He was all but certain that the Demon Child was nothing more than an eight-year-old child in truth now. Hisck of maturity was something that would make him easily manipble.


    An adult would hardly have cared for the relic, but what about a child? Fighting might have been important, but so were his toys!


    The Demon Child caught the demon-subduing golden hoop and hurriedly inspected it for any damage. Only when he was satisfied that it was still in good shape did he sigh in relief.


    Then, he btedly remembered that he was trying to seek revenge on Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you trick me?!" the Demon Child thundered.


    "I''m not tricking you. I simply didn''t use my full strength. If I had, that hoop of yours would already have been ruined. If you don''t believe me,e at me again," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    "You!" The Demon Child hugged his golden hoop tightly.


    Then, perhaps thinking that even that wasn''t safe enough, he shrunk the golden hoop down to the size of a bangle, which he put on. He shouted, "I can beat you up even without my golden hoop!"


    "Ha! You can''t even beat Ye Dafu and the others up. What makes you think you can challenge me?" Xiao Nanfeng called out disdainfully.


    The twelve golden cultivators flew back toward him, striking battle poses.


    "Who says I can''t beat them up? I just did!"


    "Why don''t we make a bet? If you can make them surrender to you, I''ll give you a relic no inferior to the Taiqing red sash. If you can''t, you''ll give me your demon-subduing golden hoop."


    "What? You want my golden hoop, don''t you?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "Do you dare?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    The Demon Child was, at his heart, a child. He didn''t think to question Xiao Nanfeng''s intent; given what he knew of Ye Dafu and the others'' strength, he was confident he would win.


    "I ept! I''ll beat you up once I kill them!" the Demon Child shouted.


    "Don''t kill them¡ªbeat them up until they surrender, until they''re on their knees begging you for mercy," Xiao Nanfeng corrected.


    "Begging me for mercy? I like the sound of that! I''ll pay them back for humiliating me!" The Demon Child nced at the twelve golden cultivators eagerly.


    "Ye Dafu, all of you can go have fun with the Demon Child," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators were ted. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"


    The Yuqing disciples watching the scene from afar were astounded. What were they so excited about? They were only True Immortals; the Demon Child would obviously give them a thrashing!


    Sage Green Lotus, watching the fight from afar, was likewise shocked. "This isn''t right. What''s the Demon Child doing? Didn''t we say he was going to cause Xiao Nanfeng trouble? Why is he fighting Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates now?"


    Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators flew into the air and taunted the Golden Child.


    "Hey, kid, bring your h hoop over and let''s go fight over there! Don''t bother His Majesty!"


    "We''ll beat you up until you''re kicking and screaming!"


    "My hands are itching¡ªit''s been too long since west gave you a beating. Let''s go!"


    "Let us know when you''re hurt. Don''t sniffle and make us look like we''re bullying you, alright?"


    Given the Demon Child''s personality, these taunts were shockingly effective. He hated Xiao Nanfeng, but he hated the golden cultivators equally as much¡ªperhaps more. Anger welled up in his heart.


    "I''ll beat you all to death!!!" the Demon Child shouted.


    He chased after the twelve golden cultivators, sending them flying.


    The Yuqing cultivators scattered around Xiao Nanfeng gaped at him. "Senior Brother Xiao, will your subordinates be alright?"


    "It''s fine. He''s just a little boy. There''s no need to worry about him," Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.


    "That''s the Demon Child, a cmity in living form! What''s more, given his aura, he must be a Golden Immortal now. Isn''t this dangerous?" another cultivator asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment, then turned and shouted at Ye Dafu, "Ye Dafu, bring the Demon Child to the mountain pass. Don''t disturb the Yuqing disciples from cultivation!"


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu shouted back from afar.


    "No, no, that''s not what I mean," the Yuqing disciple said. "The Demon Child doesn''t have a good sense of his strength, so..."


    "It''s fine. There''s no need to worry about them. We''ll continue with the discussion. Where were we?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Yuqing disciples: ...


    As a result, two brand-new attractions had been unveiled in the Yuqing holynd: the first, Xiao Nanfeng''s lectures; the second, the Demon Child''s fight against the twelve golden cultivators by the mountain pass in the distance, which drew the attention of countless disciples.


    After finishing that day''s lecture, Xiao Nanfeng prepared to retire to his rooms. By then, the fight by the mountain pass had ended.


    Ye Dafu and the others were beaten ck and blue, their faces long having swollen up, whereas the Demon Child was lying on his back like a dead dog, exhausted beyond belief.


    "Kid,e back and fight us tomorrow if you dare!"


    "We''ll be taking revenge on you for beating us up to this extent!"


    "Your wrists and legs are far too thin! You''re not strong enough to dole out more than one or two good blows. Do you really think you can take on His Majesty? What an embarrassment!"


    "Do you dare fight us again tomorrow?"


    The golden cultivators continued to taunt the Demon Child.


    The Demon Child red at the twelve golden cultivators, unable to understand why none of them were willing to submit despite the extent of their injuries. His wrists were about to break!


    "I''lle back tomorrow and beat you all to death!" the Demon Child howled.


    "See that you do!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "See that you do!" the Demon Child retorted.


    "Senior Brothers, would you bring us back to Chiyang Peak?" Ye Dafu called out.


    A group of disciples from Chiyang Peak escorted Ye Dafu and the others back toward their residence, while some from Taiyi Peak brought the Demon Child back to his.


    Once the Demon Child was back on Taiyi Peak, Sage Green Lotus gave him a pill to replenish his reserves.


    "Disciple, you''ve been tricked. There''s no need for you to mess around with Ye Dafu and the others. Just take Xiao Nanfeng on himself¡ªand fight them to the death! Why waste your energy with what you''re doing?"


    "None of that nonsense, old geezer! Bring me your best pills so I can heal up. I''ll beat them up again tomorrow. I won''t let them call me a coward!"


    "I''ll lend you a spear tomorrow so you can kill them all," Sage Green Lotus suggested.


    "That''s not good enough! I''m going to beat them up with my golden hoop until they beg for mercy. I won''t let Xiao Nanfeng look down on me!" the Demon Child replied stubbornly.


    "Forget about that bet! You''re a Golden Immortal. What''s the point of wasting your energy on Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates? Just take him on yourself!"


    "I won''t! I''m going to make his subordinates submit to me. Any more of this nonsense, and I''ll burn Taiyi Peak to the ground!" the Demon Child shouted.


    Sage Green Lotus red at his prodigal disciple¡ªhe had no respect for his master at all!

 Chapter 680: Gathering for a Feast

    <h4>Chapter 680: Gathering for a Feast</h4>


    Within the Yuqing holynd, at the foot of Chiyang Peak, Xia Lan had been forced to listen to Xiao Nanfeng''s lectures at the foot of the mountain by his mothers. Although Xiao Nanfeng was very skilled at lecturing, Xia Lan had been betrayed too many times by the dear sister he doted on to have a good impression of Xiao Nanfeng. He couldn''t help but be suspicious of Xiao Nanfeng''s every move.


    As Xiao Nanfeng finished lecturing on a certain scripture, one Yuqing disciple suddenly asked, "Senior Brother Xiao, now that we''ve had some sess in cultivation, we''ll soon be headed toward various empires in the vicinity to earn fortune as officials. One of my seniors said that you had founded an empire of your own, Senior Brother Xiao. Do you have any advice for us when we choose which empires to serve?"


    "Right!" another disciple added. "Should we found our own empires, or should we serve directly under higher-ranking empires and even divine empires? Divine empires give the best starting wages, but have the least opportunities for earning merit. Ordinary empires might not provide a lot at the beginning, but being instrumental in the advancement into a divine empire would be a windfall. Of course, the chance of sess for that is minimal."


    Parched after the lecture, Xiao Nanfeng took a sip of tea, then smiled. "I wouldn''t want to nudge you one way or another, but here''s a piece of advice from me: Don''t join the divine empire of Hongyue."


    "Why not?" The Yuqing disciples leaned in curiously.


    "Because the divine empire of Hongyue is my enemy, and I intend to take it down. I wouldn''t want to fight against any of you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    The Yuqing disciples roared inughter as well.


    Xia Lan, who remained dubious as to Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions, suddenly had a sh of insight. He murmured to himself, "Could Xiao Nanfeng be trying to found a new empire here in the south, one specifically for targeting the divine empire of Hongyue? Is he trying to recruit Yuqing disciples for that purpose¡ªcould he be trying to drag in all of the Yuqing holynd?"


    After reaching this conclusion, Xia Lan nced at the over ten thousand disciples gathered around Xiao Nanfeng with newfound insight. Perhaps Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be able to recruit any of them at present, but the more lectures he gave, and the more gratitude he amassed, the more likely it would be that these Yuqing disciples would fall prey to him.


    Xia Lan''s eyes widened as he left the za, flew up to Chiyang Peak, and got ahold of a Yuqing disciple.


    "Yes, Senior Uncle?" the Yuqing disciple asked.


    "Your avatar''s by my second brother''s side, isn''t it?" Xia Lan asked.


    "Yes, Senior Uncle. My master''s currently attacking an Immortal city, but victory''s already in sight. Is there something you need?"


    "Tell him to return right away. The fish he''s been growing in his pond are all about to be scooped up!" Xia Lan shouted.


    "Ah¡ªsorry, Senior Uncle, what fish pond?" the Yuqing disciple asked, perplexed.


    "Don''t ask so many questions. Tell my second brother exactly what I said. He''ll understand!"


    "Yes, Senior Uncle!" the Yuqing disciple replied immediately.


    Over a stretch of the sea outside the Yuqing holynd, countless Yuqing disciples had gathered in the distance to watch the Demon Child take on the twelve golden cultivators. Huge waves raged across the sea as howling winds swept overhead.


    The Demon Child was a Golden Immortal, but even an early-stage Golden Immortal wasn''t someone the golden cultivators could take on. The Demon Child clearly had the upper hand as he sent the twelve golden cultivators flying time and time again.


    "Smash that hoop right over my head¡ªdon''t miss!"


    "Make me submit if you can! I''m not even going to groan in pain!"


    "Kid, did you not have breakfast this morning? You can''t be that weak!"


    The twelve golden cultivators continued to taunt the Demon Child, one after another.


    "You fools! You wretched idiots! I''m going to beat you all to death!" the Demon Child roared.


    He ripped off his robes in frustration, revealing a green lotus tattooed onto his chest.


    "Oh? Kid, don''t you think you should be a little older before you start ying with tattoos?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Tattoo? This is a green lotus totem that old geezer gave me. With its strength, I''ll take you all down!"


    The green lotus totem radiated with light. A green aura surrounded the Demon Child, significantly boosting his strength and speed. Ye Dafu and the others were sent flying once more.


    "You damn brat, it looks like we have to beat some sense into you! Don''t get tattoos at such a young age!" Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators shouted.


    Another huge fight ensued.


    The cultivators fought until noon. By then, the Demon Child was so exhausted that he was panting, while Ye Dafu and the other cultivators were heavily wounded once more, with bruises blooming all over their bodies.


    "Hold it!" a voice shouted.


    The cultivators paused and turned to find Xiao Nanfeng flying over.


    "Your Majesty?" The twelve golden cultivators rushed over to him immediately.


    The Demon Child thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng, what are you doing here? Why are you interfering? Come on, I''ll take you on too! I''ll beat you up until you''re crying out for mercy!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shot the Demon Child a nce. "Aren''t you tired of fighting like this?"


    "Hm?" The Demon Child clearly didn''t understand what Xiao Nanfeng meant.


    Of course he was tired! These twelve golden cultivators were all battle-crazed maniacs. They got more excited the more they were beaten up. His arms were throbbing from smashing his golden hoop against their bodies!


    "Even if you want to fight, you need to know when to stop. You''re never going to make any progress like this, and you''ll all be exhausted afterwards. Isn''t that crazy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Demon Child, clearly thinking that Xiao Nanfeng was referring to him, thundered, "Who did you say was crazy?!"


    "What I''m saying is, if you''re tired, you should rest a little. Why make things harder on yourself? You''ve been fighting for the whole morning, so it''s time to take a break. I''ve brought some nice food¡ªgo eat your fill."


    "Understood!" the twelve golden cultivators replied.


    The Demon Child gaped. Resting in the middle and having a feast? Why hadn''t he thought of that? He hadn''t prepared anything!


    "You cane, too," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    The Demon Child pursed his lips and was just about to refuse when Xiao Nanfeng continued, "What, are you afraid I''ll poison you? Don''t be such a coward!"


    The Demon Child sniffed. "Who''s being a coward? I''ll join you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng hid a smile as he led the cultivators toward an ind not far away.


    The Demon Child was, after all, still a child. He was very easy to fool.


    The cultivators arrived at the ind to find that a feast had been prepared for them by the best chefs.


    The Demon Child couldn''t help but drool.


    He was only eight years old; what would he know about food? Before him wasid out a wide expanse of sugar paintings, cotton candy, candied hawthorns, fried chicken, fries, and roast meat. He couldn''t help but take a deep breath.


    "Dig in!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng picked up a stick of candied hawthorns and began to eat it.


    The Demon Child hesitated awkwardly.


    "If you''re worried that it''s poisoned, you don''t have to eat anything," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Who''s worried? No poison can harm my body. Watch me!" The Demon Child picked up a stick of candied hawthorns and bit into it.


    His eyes widened. He might have been a genius at cultivation, but he was still a child. The feastid out before him might as well have been a fantasye to life.


    "This is wonderful! It''s way better than what my cook makes. What''s this?"


    "Ice cream? It''s amazing!"


    "This cotton candy is really sweet."


    The Demon Child rushed around the table, sampling everything in turn.


    Ye Dafu and the others had already tried these snacks and desserts before within the Dazheng Empire, but they still enjoyed the feast.


    In addition to the food, there were even all sorts of drinks.


    The cultivators spent two hours devouring the entire table''s worth of food. Then, the Demon Child groaned as he leaned back on his chair, rubbing his bulging tummy.


    "As thanks for this feast, I''ll go easy on you when we fight in the afternoon," the Demon Child offered.


    "Don''t!" Ye Dafu shouted. "You''d better use all your strength, or we''ll look down on you!"


    "Fine!" The Demon Child rested a little longer, then shouted, "Come on, let''s get going!"


    "Let''s go!"


    The cultivators began to fight again.


    Raging waves filled the sea, but the Demon Child, now aware that this ind contained plenty of delicious treats, deliberately avoided damaging it during the fight.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched the fight unfold with anticipation.


    Just then, Xia Lan''s voice piped up from behind. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you eyeing the Demon Child?"


    "Of course. If he''s a Golden Immortal at eight, think about what his future would be like," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Then, feeling as if he had revealed too much, he frowned. "What are you doing here? Why are you asking me such questions?"


    "Hmph! Don''t dream of it. He''s a little demon lord in his own right¡ªhe won''t work for anyone," Xia Lan said disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced askance at Xia Lan, then ignored him. How he chose to convince the Demon Child to join him was none of Xia Lan''s business.


    "What''s more, the Demon Child is Sage Green Lotus''s disciple. He won''t let you seed," Xia Lan continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It doesn''t matter. I''ve found out that the Demon Child doesn''t respect his master at all. His master can''t do anything to him."


    "Even so, it''s hardly as if you''ll have an opportunity to make a move. Trying to secure the loyalty of the Demon Child is futile," Xia Lan said.


    "None of your business," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xia Lan''s face turned dour.


    "Well, let''s go. I had a good lunch, and it''s time to head back to lecturing."


    Xiao Nanfeng flew back toward the mountain pass leading into the Yuqing holynd.


    Xia Lan nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s back anxiously. "Second Brother, Xiao Nanfeng''s nning to run off with all the Yuqing disciples, even the Demon Child! You''d better rush back now, or you won''t be able to get reinforcements for your army!"


    That evening, the Demon Child and the twelve golden cultivators returned to the ind for a meal.


    The Demon Child, holding a gigantic hamburger in one hand and a supersized ice cream cone in the other, was humming as he returned to Taiyi Peak.


    Sage Green Lotus, who had just emerged from secluded cultivation to see his overjoyed disciple, was taken aback. "Disciple, where did you get... whatever that is?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s side prepared dinner," the Demon Child replied, smiling in satisfaction as he licked at his ice cream.


    Sage Green Lotus stiffened. What sort of situation was this? Why did it feel like his disciple was being bribed by Xiao Nanfeng after just a single day?


    "Disciple, don''t be tricked by Xiao Nanfeng''s deception. He''s surely trying to bribe you by giving you all this food. He''s a terrible man. You have to avoid such bribes in the future," Sage Green Lotus warned.


    "What? I think Xiao Nanfeng''s a rather good person. Don''t teach me the wrong things, old geezer!" the Demon Child cried out.


    "What?" Sage Green Lotus gaped.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brainwashing went further than he thought!


    "I''m going to go cultivate now. I have to keep fighting them tomorrow, after all. Xiao Nanfeng promised that there''d be chocte, gummy candy, jelly, pudding, bubble tea, whatever that is¡ªall sorts of things tomorrow!" The Demon Child gulped down his saliva as he pictured an endless supply of treats.


    Sage Green Lotus: ...

 Chapter 681: Xiao Nanfeng Takes on Sage Green Lotus

    <h4>Chapter 681: Xiao Nanfeng Takes on Sage Green Lotus</h4>


    Another afternoon, the Demon Child was resting on a folding chair at the seat, an ice-cream cone in hand, as he watched a puppet show about the Cbash Brothers being put on.


    "Come on, fight them! They''re just little snake spirits. How could they have taken down all of you? Spit out fire and burn them to death! All of you suck! I would have stomped them to death with my feet!" the Demon Child eximed.


    From his side, Ye Dafu called out, "Alright, Demon Child, you''ve eaten and drunk your fill, so let''s keep fighting!"


    "Right, it''s time to fight!" the golden cultivators shouted.


    But the Demon Child was reluctant to stop watching the puppet show. He frowned. "Hold on. Let me finish the show first!"


    "What''s there to see? The Dazheng Empire is full of such puppet shows. We''ve all grown tired of them. Don''t you want to fight instead?" Ye Dafu called back.


    "What? You''ve grown tired of them?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "Of course. His Majesty has puppet shows involving those Cbash Brothers, some Ginseng Brothers, little sheep roaming through the ins, Ultraman, the adventures of Egghead and Dogbear¡ªthere''s far too many of them. None of us like them very much," Ye Dafu boasted.


    The Demon Child''s eyes lit up. "You lot might not like them, but I do! How can your taste be so bad?"


    "Right, what''s with this new tattoo of yours? You have another green lotus totem on your body now," Ye Dafumented.


    The Demon Child nced at the second green lotus on his body and frowned. "That old geezer insisted on helping me fight you. I didn''t want it, but he insisted."


    Xiao Nanfeng walked up to them and inspected the green lotus in detail.


    "Something''s wrong with this green lotus. It seems to embody some sort of naturalw," he murmured.


    "Naturalw? What''s that?" the Demon Child asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others: ...


    Just how did the Demon Child be a Golden Immortal if he knew so little about cultivation?


    "Proper use of naturalw can endow your attacks with tremendous strength, but improper use can be dangerous. I heard that some malicious cultivators carve naturalw onto other cultivators'' bodies, allowing them to manipte those cultivators. It''s a particrly dangerous affair, so very few would dare subject themselves to it," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "There''s no way the old geezer would harm me!" the Demon Child eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng scrutinized the green lotuses more carefully. "Considering that your strength hasn''t improved by much with these totems, I rmend that you don''t get any more."


    The Demon Child took a big bite of his ice-cream cone. "We''ll talk about thatter!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. It wasn''t his ce to interfere too much; after all, the "old geezer" the Demon Child was talking about was none other than his master, Sage Green Lotus.


    "Very well. Keep on fighting with Ye Dafu and the others, then. I''ll have to head back to lecture on cultivation as well."


    "See you tonight!" the Demon Child called back.


    Shockingly, the Demon Child hadn''t realized how his attitude toward Xiao Nanfeng and the others had changed.


    "Right, the chefs tonight will be making shaved ice and roast duck spirit. Take a bath after you fight and get some dinner before you go."


    The Demon Child''s eyes lit up. Saliva drooled from the corner of his lips. "I''ll do you the honor of showing up, then!"


    "Come on, let''s fight!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted.


    "Let''s fight!" the Demon Child echoed.


    The cultivators began to fight once more as Xiao Nanfeng returned to lecture on cultivation.


    That night, the Demon Child held a cup of bubble tea in one hand and a spicy roast wing in the other. He hummed jauntily as he made his way back to Taiyi Peak.


    Sage Green Lotus watched him with some trepidation. "Disciple, why don''t you end things with Xiao Nanfeng? Let bygones be bygones¡ªstop fighting with him any longer."


    He could see that Xiao Nanfeng was clearly trying to abduct the Demon Child after preparing such good food and entertainment for him. If this were to continue, his disciple would vanish in the blink of an eye!


    "Why not? I like what I''m doing. Don''t cause trouble for me, old geezer!" the Demon Child retorted.


    Sage Green Lotus: ...


    What was he supposed to say now? How much did his disciple even know about his own strained rtions with Xiao Nanfeng?


    "In that case, you had better showcase your strength. Come here. I''ll engrave another green lotus onto your body," Sage Green Lotus said.


    "There''s no need. It''s useless, and doesn''t boost my strength by much," the Demon Child replied curtly.


    Sage Green Lotus choked on his tea. The reason he had tricked Li Qianjun into handing over the Demon Child was precisely to engrave these green lotus totems on his body. Was his n already ruined?


    "I won''t let you ruin my reputation! You have to win. Let me add more," Sage Green Lotus coaxed.


    "No! They''re useless!"


    Sage Green Lotus grimaced, but what was he to do if his disciple wouldn''t cooperate? Xiao Nanfeng was truly a menace.


    Another day passed. The fighting continued. At lunch, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Demon Child, why do you have another tattoo on your body?"


    The Demon Child sighed. "That old geezer forced me to get one before I could leave. I don''t want them, either."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s ominous feeling deepened. He felt as though Sage Green Lotus meant the Demon Child ill¡ªcould Sage Green Lotus really be intending to control the Demon Child?


    Even so, given his position, making such a dangerous usation simply wasn''t appropriate. After all, Sage Green Lotus was the Demon Child''s master.


    "If these tattoos really are necessary, why don''t we tattoo the Cbash Brothers on your back?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    He wasn''t able to stop Sage Green Lotus, so why not do it in his ce instead? His tattoos, at least, could be removed by a technique to restore fair, unmarked skin. At the very least, Sage Green Lotus wouldn''t be able to hurt the Demon Child any longer. Once he had reached a sufficient threshold of friendship with the Demon Child, he would abduct him and flee.


    "Great idea! Why didn''t I think of it?" The Demon Child jumped up in excitement.


    That night, he returned to Taiyi Peak after having eaten his fill, as usual.


    Sage Green Lotus called the Demon Child to him. "Disciple, let me add another green lotus totem to your body. We''ll do your back this time."


    "There''s no need," the Demon Child replied. "I already have something on my back."


    "What?" Sage Green Lotus was perplexed.


    The Demon Child took off his clothes to reveal a full-back tattoo.


    Sage Green Lotus goggled. "Wh-What sort of nonsense have you tattooed on your back? Who allowed you to do this?!"


    "I wanted it. What do you think? It looks great, doesn''t it?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "Great? What sort of nonsense are you tattooing on your own body? An old man smoking tobo? You''ve been tricked!" Sage Green Lotus screeched.


    "This is the Cbash Brothers'' grandfather. When they see me, they''ll have to bow down to me!" the Demon Child exined, pleased with himself.


    Sage Green Lotus was moments away from spitting out a mouthful of blood. If the Demon Child had gotten a full-back tattoo, where was he supposed to engrave another green lotus?


    The next day, the fighting continued. At lunch, Xiao Nanfeng frowned and asked, "Demon Child, why is there a green lotus totem on your thigh?"


    "The old geezer insisted, and I didn''t have a choice. I refused, but he insisted. He even forbade me froming today, and I barely got away from him!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frown deepened. This couldn''t be anything good.


    "In that case, you might as well not go back tonight. Just stay on this ind. I''ll prepare some extra-fun stuff for you," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "Really?" the Demon Child eximed in excitement. Then, his face fell. "Before I came here, I promised my parents that I''d sleep at that old geezer''s ce every night. I have to listen to my mother."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s feeling that there was a conspiracy around the Demon Child grew even stronger.


    "How about this? You''ve watched quite a few puppet shows thesest few days. Why don''t we tattoo your favorite all over your body? I''ll help you reinforce those tattoos with a secret technique, too," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "Good idea! Let me see!" the Demon Child agreed instantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng carefully studied the green lotus totems. His avatar engaged Blue Lantern''s help and did the same.


    That night, the Demon Child left the ind and returned to Taiyi Peak reluctantly.


    Sage Green Lotus was waiting for him there. When he saw him return, he instantly began to smile. "Disciple, let me add another green lotus totem to your body."


    Sage Green Lotus had no other choice; the technique he was using needed him to engrave a single lotus a day. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have needed to go to all this trouble.


    "There''s no need," the Demon Child replied, shaking his head. "My body''s full!"


    "Full?" Sage Green Lotus was taken aback.


    "Look here! My leg''s full of the monsters from Ultraman. Doesn''t it look great? There''s a small monster on the sole of my foot, too. And on this arm, it''s Mr. and Mrs. Wolf from the ins. Here, it''s the Dogbear Brothers. On my neck is the Bald Woodcutter!" the Demon Child exined, happily enumerating his tattoos.


    Sage Green Lotus goggled. His green lotus totems needed clear, unblemished skin. What was he to do?


    "These green lotuses are better. Why don''t we remove your Big Bad Wolf tattoo and rece it with a green lotus?" Sage Green Lotus advised.


    "No! Those green lotuses are ugly¡ªthe Big Bad Wolf is far better! What''s more, all these tattoos have been reinforced. They''llst for a month at least," the Demon Child replied.


    Sage Green Lotus narrowed his eyes. He suspected that Xiao Nanfeng knew what he was trying to do, but didn''t have the authority or standing to expose him. Sage Green Lotus had to tattoo seven green lotus totems on the Demon Child''s body for the sake of his technique, and there were only four. What was he to do?


    "What if we tattoo it on your face?" Sage Green Lotus suggested.


    "What? That''s too embarrassing! Who would tattoo something on their face?" The Demon Child looked at his master disdainfully.


    Sage Green Lotus grimaced as if he were constipated. He wouldn''t have had to go to all this trouble if his disciple hadn''t tattooed his entire body!

 Chapter 682: The Shadow Cursed Effigy Once Again

    <h4>Chapter 682: The Shadow Cursed Effigy Once Again</h4>


    The next day, at the foot of Chiyang Peak, ten thousand disciples came to listen to Xiao Nanfeng lecture on cultivation. His voice was like a tolling bell, clear and resonant.


    Far in the back stood a group of ck-robed cultivators led by an armored man exuding a martial air. Xia Lan stood beside him.


    "Second Brother, that''s Xiao Nanfeng! He tricked our three mothers and is even intending to lure Yu''er away. She''s currently trying to im the treasure of the purple moon illusory realm, and he''s shamelessly using it as an excuse to stay here! He''s even trying to secure the goodwill of these Yuqing disciples and bind them to him. Second Brother, I''m worried for you," Xia Lan maligned.


    The armored man was none other than Xia Lan''s second brother, Xia Hong.


    Xia Hong frowned at the orating Xiao Nanfeng. "I''ll have a look for myself."


    "Second Brother, you won''t notice anything amiss. He''s a skilled actor, and he''s already got Yu''er in his clutches. He''s even going to steal the disciples you were grooming! Don''t let him fool you too," Xia Lan whispered.


    Xia Hong didn''t respond. He continued listening to Xiao Nanfeng orate.


    Though he didn''t make his own intentions clear, the gaze of those dark-robed cultivators behind him glimmered with red light, as if their killing intent had been roused.


    The lecture finished quickly.


    "Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, let''s end things here and continue our discussion tomorrow," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" countless Yuqing disciples shouted.


    The disciples had gained significant insight from Xiao Nanfeng''s lectures and had much to reflect on. None dared to disturb Xiao Nanfeng''s rest. Xiao Nanfeng himself left in a hurry, with much on his mind.


    Only then did the Yuqing disciples disperse.


    Xia Hong nodded in admiration. "Xiao Nanfeng''s mastery of cultivation is impable. It''s little wonder the Yuqing disciples praise him so."


    Xia Lan''s face soured as if he had bitten into a lemon. He wasn''t deliberately trying to malign Xiao Nanfeng, but he was used to being doted on by his family. Xiao Nanfeng''s presence, however, had upended everything. Infuriated, he tried to find an ally in his second brother to support his cause, but...


    "Just because he''s intelligent doesn''t mean that he has good morals. Don''t let him trick you, Second Brother!" he repeated.


    "It''s too early to draw any meaningful conclusions. Let''s go greet our mothers first. The rest can wait."


    Xia Lan nodded.


    Xia Hong turned to the ck-robed cultivators behind him. "Everyone, stay in the residences prepared for you while awaiting my return."


    "Understood!" the ck-robed cultivators chorused.


    They marched off toward those residences as Xia Lan and Xia Hong flew up Chiyang Peak.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng rushed straight to Ye Dafu after his lecture.


    "Is there still no news of him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ye Dafu shook his head. "None at all. It''s almost as if the Demon Child has gone missing. He didn''t show up for the morning fight, nor the afternoon one. It feels sinister."


    "Have you asked the disciples from Taiyi Peak?"


    "We did. They saw the Demon Child returnst night, but there''s been no sign of him since."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face was dour. "Sage Green Lotus must be responsible. He knows we know what''s going on. He must have imprisoned the Demon Child."


    "Is Sage Green Lotus that strong? The Demon Child''s a Golden Immortal," Ye Dafu eximed.


    "The Demon Child''s only an early-stage Golden Immortal. He''s certainly not as strong as Sage Green Lotus just yet, and he''s still a naive child. He''s no match for a wily old fox like his master. Sage Green Lotus must have struck while he was off guard."


    "This morning, Sage Green Lotus left via the mountain pass in a rush," Ye Dafu reported.


    "He really is wary," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "What now?"


    "Find out where he''s gone. I expect you won''t be able to find anything, but try anyway. Next morning, have the disciples of Taiyi Peak bring you to the mountain proper to search the premises.


    "Can we?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Rx. Just say that you''re there to search for the Demon Child. I expect the Taiyi Peak disciples I''ve been interacting with will show you that courtesy, at least."


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave them a few more orders before Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators scattered.


    At the same time, back in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar told Blue Lantern, "Blue Lantern, we''re running out of time. Try to speed up your analysis of the green lotus totem as fast as possible."


    "Got it." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng left in search of You Jiu.


    "Have all the spectral guards in the south search for the whereabouts of Sage Green Lotus and the Demon Child. Report back the moment you find any information," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    That night, a full moon rose in the sky. At the foot of Chiyang Peak, by Xiao Nanfeng''s guest house, there were plenty of patrols whose purpose was to maintain a restful environment for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Who''s there? Why are you making such a loud noise while walking about? What if you disturb Senior Brother Xiao from resting?"


    "If you''re moving things, do so more quietly! Don''t you know how to soundproof your actions?"


    "Don''t cultivate here! What if you cause amotion?"


    The patrolling disciples nitpicked about even the smallest disturbances, but those disciples that were held responsible didn''t mind. In fact, they even felt ashamed about their actions. As a result, there was only ever the chirping of insects in the vicinity of Xiao Nanfeng''s house.


    None of the patrolling disciples noticed the ck, shadowy figures gliding across the ground.


    They darted by in the blink of an eye as they congregated about Xiao Nanfeng''s abode.


    There were a few formations set up around Xiao Nanfeng''s yard, but the shadows were somehow able to pass straight through.


    The door leading into the living room was shut, but the shadows were able to slide straight through the cracks at the very bottom.


    They made their way inside, where they found Xiao Nanfeng sitting cross-legged in meditation.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shot open as he sensed a threat descending around him.


    The alert shadows hurriedly shrank into the dimmest, darkest corners of the room, where they could meld with the environment.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood up and called out, "Who''s there? Show yourself!"


    A shadow appeared to his back and quickly wrapped around his waist. A gust of energy shot straight into his body, causing him to freeze.


    "Shadow cursed effigies?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Only then did the shadow to his back untten itself from two to three dimensions, manifesting in the form of a humanoid figure, its lower half wrapped around Xiao Nanfeng''s body even as its upper half vibrated in excitement.


    "Haha, Xiao Nanfeng isn''t as strong as the rumors im at all! I''ve already pinned him in ce. Brothers, show yourself!" the shadowy figure called out.


    The other shadow cursed effigies emerged from the darkness, unttening themselves and revealing mouths with sawtooth-like teeth. They roared inughter.


    "Let''s finish him off quickly," one shadow said.


    "Very well!" the shadow tangled around Xiao Nanfeng''s body replied.


    It put both hands on either side of Xiao Nanfeng''s head, as though about to twist and pluck it off before eating it whole.


    "Ha! Don''t you think it''s rather impolite of you to be attacking me like this?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Something''s wrong. Finish him off, quickly!" a nearby shadow called out.


    The shadow bound to Xiao Nanfeng''s body sped up, but Xiao Nanfeng was even faster. He caught the shadow by the neck and held it up.


    "Impossible. How can he touch our bodies? My cursed spiritual power is useless against him!" the caught shadow cried out.


    "Save him, hurry!" another shadow shouted.


    The shadow cursed effigies all showed their teeth as they shot toward Xiao Nanfeng in rapid blurs.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and waved a hand. A sh of red candlelight formed around him, illuminating the shadows, causing them to sizzle, and sending them flying. The red light seemed anathema to the shadows.


    "Impossible!"


    "Candleme powers? Candlelight that specifically counters us? Just who are you?!"


    "The Spirit Emperor¡ªare you the Spirit Emperor? No!"


    The shadows cried out in fear.


    Somehow, the candlelight gushed out in the form of a wave, pinning them to the walls as it dissolved their bodies.


    The shadow cursed effigies shrieked in fear. Rendered immobile, they were unable to do anything but watch as their bodies melted away. They nced at each other in despair.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. The candlelight vanished.


    The pinned shadows fell to the ground, all frozen in fear.


    "Flee!" one shadow eximed.


    "Do that and I''ll unleash the candlelight again," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    The shadows froze as if they had been pinned by the candlelight again. None of them dared move.


    "Please spare us on ount of the Divine Emperor, Spirit Emperor! We mustn''t have been in our right minds," one shadow murmured.


    "Who called me the Spirit Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "What?" The shadow cursed effigies were taken off guard.


    They knew that only the Spirit Emperor possessed the candleme that countered them. The person in front of them didn''t look like the Spirit Emperor¡ªbut who else could be?


    "Is the Divine Emperor doing well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You¡ªaren''t the Spirit Emperor?" the shadows asked, ncing at Xiao Nanfeng. They were very worried.


    They all knew that the Spirit Emperor was besotted with the Divine Emperor. If Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t the Spirit Emperor, why would he care so much about the Divine Emperor?


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in exasperation. "Hasn''t the Divine Emperor mentioned me to you?"


    The shadows fell silent. They were clearly unaware of the link between Xiao Nanfeng and her.


    "It''s little wonder, I suppose. If the Divine Emperor had mentioned me, you wouldn''t have dared to attack." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    It was a pity, but he couldn''t help but be happy to see the Divine Emperor''s subordinates here.

 Chapter 683: The Shenfeng Empire

    <h4>Chapter 683: The Shenfeng Empire</h4>


    After incidentally catching a few shadow cursed effigies, Xiao Nanfeng was feeling rather pleased.


    "Where''s the Divine Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You must be mistaken. I don''t know what you''re talking about," a shadow cursed effigy replied. Then, feeling as though it had said something amiss, it added, "We don''t know where the Divine Emperor is."


    "You really are on guard against me, aren''t you? Haven''t you had a look at the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realmtely? Don''t you know that it''s mine, now? I defeated the Spirit Emperor alongside the Divine Emperor. Were you all really unaware?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The shadows gaped. Clearly, they hadn''t heard about the news at all.


    "Can you contact the Divine Emperor? I''ll allow you to ask her," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Would you spare us, sir?" one shadow asked, frowning.


    "I am allied with the Divine Emperor. When Ist saw her, she said she was in search of her subordinates¡ªthe likes of you, I imagine."


    The shadow cursed effigies frowned, but they had had a taste of Xiao Nanfeng''s candleme powers themselves. Upon hearing his words, one of the shadows suddenly eximed, "You¡ªYou''re Xiao Nanfeng?!"


    "What nonsense are you talking about? Weren''t you already aware that his name is Xiao Nanfeng?" another shadow asked.


    "No¡ªdon''t you remember what the Divine Emperor said upon founding a kingdom?"


    "What?" The other shadows all stiffened, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng in fear.


    In the end, the leader of the shadows bowed deeply. "Sir, we offended you out of ignorance. Please forgive us."


    "What''s with the sudden formality?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The shadow chuckled gingerly. "We are subordinates of the Divine Emperor. She rescued us from captivity recently, then founded a kingdom with our support just over a year ago. It''s be an empire since, the Shenfeng Empire. One of Her Majesty''s attendants once asked about the origin of the name, and Her Majesty replied that it was based on one character of her name and someone else''s name. From the looks of it..." [1]


    Xiao Nanfeng was nodding even before the shadow had finished. Thebination of "Divine Emperor" and "Xiao Nanfeng" might well produce "Shenfeng"¡ªit was clear that the Divine Emperor still had him in her thoughts.


    "How did she end up founding an empire? I thought she wasn''t a fan of hegemony," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Allegedly, it''s intended as a gift for someone in the future..."


    The shadows all looked toward Xiao Nanfeng together. Was he the person the Divine Emperor had been talking about? Was Xiao Nanfeng her lover? And they had foolishly tried to assassinate him!


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled warmly. "Where is she? I''d like to meet with her."


    "The Divine Emperor is currently in secluded cultivation, sir, but we''ll immediately send word to let her know once she shows up."


    "I''m counting on you, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Of course!" the shadows eximed eagerly.


    "What were you doing here in the first ce?"


    "We were apanying General Xia Hong to recruit disciples as soldiers from the Yuqing holynd."


    "Xia Hong? Xia Lan''s second brother?"


    "Indeed. Xia Hong is a Yuqing disciple who joined the Shenfeng Empire not long after its founding and has been waging war to expand the empire ever since. He''s a skilled strategist and strong fighter in his own right, so the Divine Emperor thinks highly of him. He boasts a good reputation in the Yuqing holynd, and once promised that he would lead arge group of Yuqing disciples with him to join the Shenfeng Empire as officials. A few days ago, however, he received news that someone was about to make off with all the disciples he was eyeing, so he rushed back in force."


    "Oh?"


    "As loyal subordinates of the Divine Emperor, we naturally couldn''t allow anyone to ruin the development of the Shenfeng Empire. We were secretly nning to assassinate you without Xia Hong''s knowledge, but it was a misunderstanding. Please forgive us," the shadow exined.


    Calling what they had done a misunderstanding was frankly ridiculous. The Divine Emperor had founded the Shenfeng Empire for Xiao Nanfeng, and here they were trying to assassinate its future king! If the Divine Emperor were to learn of this, death wouldn''t have been enough of a punishment for them.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in understanding. Even if the cursed effigies hadn''t attempted to assassinate him, he would surely have faced others in the future.


    That said, these shadows were more vicious than he had expected. If they were enemies, he would have to get rid of them all; it was lucky that they were allies instead.


    "I won''t me you. Rx," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Thank you, sir!" The shadows were all greatly relieved.


    Xiao Nanfeng chatted with the shadows a little about the Divine Emperor''s current circumstances. Fortunately, nothing seemed to be wrong. He gave them a means of contacting him before having them return.


    Then, he considered what he had learned. "The Shenfeng Empire neighbors the divine empire of Hongyue, and has had a few confrontations with it before. War even seems to be on the horizon... Divine Emperor, I intend to avenge the Taiqing Immortal Sect myself. There''s no need for you to put in so much effort for me."


    Xiao Nanfeng was deeply touched by the Divine Emperor''s gestures, and he couldn''t help but long for her.


    The next morning, Han Bingdie had Xia Lan invite Xiao Nanfeng up Chiyang Peak. Along the way, Xia Lan hummed and smiled with satisfaction.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him an odd look. Was Xia Lan bing a fool?


    Before long, the two cultivators reached a hall atop Chiyang Peak.


    Xia Xingchen''s three wives were all present to greet Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nanfeng,e here," Han Bingdie said with a smile. "Let me introduce someone to you."


    "Yes, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Another of the women turned back and called into the hall, "Hong''er,e greet Nanfeng! Don''t just sit there!"


    "Yes, Mother!" Xia Hong emerged in a suit of armor.


    "This is Senior Brother Xia Hong, Yu''er''s second brother, isn''t he?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Xia Hong was taken by surprise, but he nodded. "I am Xia Hong. Greetings, Junior Brother Xiao."


    "Alright, let''s talk inside," Han Bingdie said.


    "Very well!"


    The group of cultivators walked back into the hall.


    "Hong''er arrived yesterday. We were going to make introductionsst night, but were worried that you would be tired after lecturing the entire day," one of the women said.


    "Hardly, Madam. I''m avable at any moment," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You really are obedient, Nanfeng! There''s nothing urgent at hand to discuss during this meeting. We simply wanted Hong''er and you to have a chance to get to know each other. There aren''t any outsiders here, after all."


    "Of course, Madam. I heard that Senior Brother Xia Hong is a peak True Immortal, and I''d be honored to learn from him." Xiao Nanfneg smiled.


    Last night, Xia Lan had gossiped boldly about Xiao Nanfeng the entire night, and the mental image he had built up as a result was wholly iparable to the Xiao Nanfeng he now saw before him. He nced askance at Xia Lan.


    Xia Lan shook his head, as though warning Xia Hong not to be tricked by Xiao Nanfeng''s appearance.


    "Junior Brother Xiao, I''ve heard about what you''ve done as well. It really is impressive for you to have aplished so much in so little time. I''d do well to learn from you, too."


    "Hardly, Senior Brother. I heard that the Shenfeng Empire that you serve has evolved from a kingdom to an empire in just over a year. I''d love to get some pointers for Dazheng''s development."


    Xia Hong could hardly make life difficult for Xiao Nanfeng after receiving such effusive praise.


    Xia Lan jumped in. "Of course! The Shenfeng Empire is developing even faster than your Dazheng Empire. It''s filled with strong cultivators and generals!"


    One of the women instantly grabbed Xia Lan''s ear and twisted it. "Just because you have a seat at the table doesn''t mean you should interrupt! Your second brother''s just a general, whereas Nanfeng founded his own empire. Nanfeng''s just being modest!"


    "It hurts! Mother, stop! I won''t speak anymore, alright?" Xia Lan clutched his ear in pain.


    "No one would think you mute even if you didn''t speak. Why are you always trying to put Nanfeng down?" The woman tsked.


    Xia Lan grimaced. His own mother was exposing him!


    Xia Hong had his own intentions in mind. He continued questioning Xiao Nanfeng, "Junior Brother Xiao, the Shenfeng Empire is in great need of talent, and I''m intending to recruit a group of Yuqing disciples to conquer and expand its territory. What do you think?"


    Xia Hong knew that Xiao Nanfeng was likely to be his sister-inw; it was hardly reasonable to engage in infighting. He had returned not to fight over the Yuqing disciples with Xiao Nanfeng, but toy out and discuss the situation alongside him as family. If the Yuqing disciples were intent on following Xiao Nanfeng, he would neither express his views and certainly not act on them, though he might be inwardly rather upset.


    "That''s only natural, Senior Brother. It makes perfect sense for you to recruit them. I''ve developed some goodwill with many Yuqing disciples during my stay here, and would be happy to engage them to the best of my ability."


    "What?" Xia Lan and Xia Hong were both taken aback.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t sticking to the script!


    The three women seemed rather perturbed themselves. They could tell that Xia Hong and Xiao Nanfeng might have ended up fighting over Yuqing disciples, so they had arranged this meeting beforehand before anything untoward could happen. Could they have been mistaken regarding Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions?


    Xia Hong nced at Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief, then at Xia Lan in surprise. This was entirely different from what Xia Lan had intimated.


    "Senior Brother, we should be united in our goal. Why don''t you prepare a little speech and apany me down the mountain? I''ll help you invite the Yuqing disciples I''m working with to head to the Shenfeng Empire with you. I''ll support you to the best of my ability," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.


    Xia Hong''s eyes widened at Xiao Nanfeng''s sincerity. Xiao Nanfeng was hardly going to lie baldly to his three mothers; Xiao Nanfeng had to be telling the truth.


    "Junior Brother Xiao, I''m ashamed not to be doing anything for you in return. Why don''t you recruit some of the Yuqing disciples yourself?" Xia Hong lowered his gaze in embarrassment.


    "There''s no need for such pleasantries, Senior Brother. I''m not looking for any reinforcements at the moment. I''m happy to help."


    Xia Hong couldn''t help but feel guilty and petty about his initial misgivings.


    "Senior Brother, I''ll be lecturing shortly enough. When we get partway in, I''ll rmend you then. That will be the best time for it¡ªplease make sure to show up," Xiao Nanfeng said. He smiled as he got up.


    The three women rxed upon seeing the two cultivators interact politely. One was a son they were all proud of; the other was their future son-inw. That they could and would work together was a source of palpable relief and joy.


    "Right, Xia Hong, why don''t you join Nanfeng? He''s a frank and magnanimous man," Han Bingdie asserted.


    Xia Hong took a deep breath. "I''m deeply grateful for the offer, Junior Brother. If you need anything, please let me know at once."


    "We''ll be a family soon enough. I do intend to ask you for help as and when necessary," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Haha, indeed, indeed!" Xia Hongughed gaily in return.


    "I''ll be heading down to make arrangements now. You''ll show upter, won''t you, Senior Brother?"


    "Of course," Xia Hong replied.


    As Xiao Nanfeng descended the mountain, Xia Hong turned to Xia Lan with a frown. "Third Brother, why were you lying to me?"


    "Second Brother¡ªI don''t understand what''s going on myself. Could it be that..." Xia Lan trailed off, not knowing how to exin himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng had gone to great lengths to prepare his lectures. Wasn''t it all because he wanted to recruit the Yuqing disciples to further his own ends? Why was he giving all of them up now? What had he been trying to do all along?


    The three women, seemingly having sensed Xia Lan''s intentions, all red at him. Clearly, there would be a reckoning toe.


    In the end, however, Xia Hong didn''t criticize Xia Lan further. He patted him on the shoulder. "Men ought to be more magnanimous," he concluded. "You''ll need to learn from Nanfeng."


    Xia Lan stiffened. He had summoned his second brother back to be an ally¡ªwhy was he betraying him and joining his mothers'' side now?!


    1. Shen (Éñ) means divine, hence Divine Emperor. ?

 Chapter 684: Where the Wind Blows

    <h4>Chapter 684: Where the Wind Blows</h4>


    At the foot of Chiyang Peak, Xiao Nanfeng began his lecture. Countless Yuqing disciples listened to him, entranced by the ring of truth that echoed his every word. At noon, he suddenly paused and smiled. "Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, you''ve asked me many times about how to choose among kingdoms, empires, and divine empires. I''vee to some conclusion about my thoughts, which I''d like to share with you now."


    "Please do, Senior Brother Xiao!" everyone eximed.


    Trying to found an empire of your own requires far too much in terms of resources. When I did so myself, it was only with the resources umted from a few Immortal sects. Doing so is risky, and there''s a chance to fail¡ªand perish¡ªat every junction. Although the benefits for seeding are immense, they won''t matter if you fail, and the overall chance of sess is minute. I do not endorse this option," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    Countless disciples nodded.


    "Another option is to join a pre-existing force: a kingdom, an empire, a divine empire, or even the Imperial Court. Divine empires and the Imperial Court are certainly filled with riches, but it''ll be near-impossible for you to get even a small sliver of it from the very start. You''ll have to umte merit over the course of years¡ªdecades, centuries even."


    The disciples continued to nod. They had been thinking about such matters as well.


    "As such, my advice for all of you is to join a kingdom or empire. That way, you can start to establish merit from the very beginning. If nothing else, you''ll quickly be able to rise up through the ranks, gain power, and possibly a share of fortune in your own right."


    Many disciples seemed to approve.


    "That said, a kingdom is likely too weak. Kingdoms have no fortune of their own to begin with; their foundations aren''t strong enough to support it. Only after they advance into empires will you be able to get a share of fortune, but the vast majority of kingdoms end up as nothing more than cannon fodder. In summation, they provide too minor an avenue for you to showcase your talents."


    "You''re right, Senior Brother Xiao!" a disciple eximed.


    "That''s why I rmend joining an empire. Empires arerge enough for your talent to shine, but small enough that you''ll be able to rise up through the ranks quickly. It won''t take long before you''re receiving a consistent stream of fortune. By helping an empire expand its borders, you''ll be able to umte merit for yourself at a reliable pace."


    "How should we choose among empires?" a Yuqing disciple wondered.


    "Choose those blessed by the heavens, those that will rise straight up. If you stand where the wind blows, after all, even a pig can rise up to the heavens. The same principle applies to empires. Even a mediocre cultivator can be propelled forward in the right empire, let alone such talented cultivators as all of you here." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, as did all the Yuqing disciples. Xiao Nanfeng''s analogy had been perfect.


    "And what empires like that exist, Senior Brother Xiao? I heard that your kingdom ascended into an empire within just a few years, and that you even control forty Immortal cities now! Is your Dazheng Empire one such ce where the wind blows?" a Yuqing disciple asked.


    Many Yuqing disciples frowned right then and there. Was Xiao Nanfeng deliberately trying to manipte them into joining his empire?


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "It might be one such, but I don''t rmend that you join me."


    "Why not?" Countless Yuqing disciples were taken aback.


    His lectures had caused many of the disciples to be interested in joining him. Why would he refuse?


    "In principle, I ought to be overjoyed at your interest. I''d love to nab all you Yuqing disciples while I''m here," Xiao Nanfeng said,ughing.


    The disciples did so as well, but they grew even more curious.


    "That said, you know how I feel about the Yuqing holy maiden Xia Yu''er. You''re all part of her family as far as cultivation goes, and these discussions arergely motivated by that rtionship we share. How could I induce all of you to make an improper judgment out of personal interest?"


    "You''re far too polite, Senior Brother Xiao." The Yuqing disciples were all touched.


    They were grateful to Xia Yu''er for having given them such an excellent opportunity to learn from Xiao Nanfeng; in the future, if anyone were to speak ill of her, they would surely be censured by everyone present.


    "Why don''t I rmend all of you to head to Dazheng? It''s because it''s simply too far away. Trying to earn merit in an empire isn''t particrly difficult, but it''s not easy, either. For example, if you were to try to take down an enemy city with enemy forces of roughlyparable strength, if they manage to withstand your incursion for long enough, what will you do? If you belong to a nearby sect, you could easily summon reinforcements for help. However, Dazheng''s located in the east, and it''ll take forever for you to summon reinforcements even with the help of avatars. By the time your fellow disciples rush over, the situation might havepletely changed. Those vagaries of the battlefield will cause you to miss out on many opportunities to earn merit."


    The disciples nodded. They were grateful to Xiao Nanfeng; after all, he was trying to help them out regardless of personal benefit.


    "I''ve been familiarizing myself with the southern empirestely, and there''s one that has caught my interest, one so incredible that it could even send a whale flying toward the heavens. I''m sure you''ll all find incredible sess there," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh? What empire, Senior Brother Xiao? What empire are you praising sovishly?" the disciples cried out.


    They were enthralled by his pronouncement.


    "Have you heard of the Shenfeng Empire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked. [1]


    "The Shenfeng Empire?" Many cultivators were perplexed.


    Someone suddenly eximed, "That empire that only took a year to advance from a kingdom?"


    "It looks like there are many disciples here knowledgeable about the state of the world," Xiao Nanfeng said, nodding. "It is precisely that kingdom."


    "Is the Shenfeng Empire that strong?" someone asked.


    "Rather than hear it from me, why not hear it from someone who knows intimately about the empire''s inner workings? Let me introduce you to Yu''er''s second brother, General Xia Hong," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Hong flushed. He didn''t expect to be fished out in such a manner. Given how much effort Xiao Nanfeng had gone to to advertise on his behalf, he couldn''t help but sigh at Xia Lan''s antics. Inparison to Xiao Nanfeng, Xia Lan really was far too narrow-minded!


    "Everyone, General Xia Hong joined the kingdom of Shenfeng a year ago. Within just a year of expansion, Shenfeng grew into an empire, and General Xia Hong has now be a core political figure in the empire in his own right, with amensurate share of fortune. It''s rare for him to have the time to return, so why don''t we hear him out? Just how has the Shenfeng Empire experienced such remarkable sess?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Let''s!" countless disciples eximed.


    "General Xia Hong, please," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Everyone watched as Xia Hong took to the stage, describing the development of the Shenfeng Empire. The Shenfeng Empiremanded a group of shadow cursed effigies that easily and readily broke down otherwise stalwart defenses. In the time since its evolution from kingdom to empire, it had won a string of unbroken victories. Xia Hong''s recounting made many of the disciples wish that they could have taken advantage of such an opportunity like him.


    "Alright. Thank you, General Xia Hong," Xiao Nanfeng said once Xia Hong had finished.


    Xia Hong nodded. He still didn''t know just how to recruit the Yuqing disciples. After all, being too direct would cause them to be wary, so Xiao Nanfeng''s involvement was invaluable.


    Once Xia Hong returned to the crowd, Xiao Nanfeng began to orate anew. "As you''ve seen, everyone, this is a ssic example of a where the wind blows, and General Xia Hong might as well be a roc ascending into the heavens. In just a year, he''s aplished this much. On the other hand, making the wrong choice could easily set you back a hundred years or more. The choice is obvious, isn''t it?"


    "Of course!" the disciples replied.


    "Now, do any of you think I''m deliberately trying to help General Xia Hong embellish the Shenfeng Empire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Of course not!" a disciple eximed. "We all know that it''d help you more if you weed us to the Dazheng Empire outright. The fact that you aren''t doing so means you aren''t motivated by personal gain, Senior Brother Xiao, and the Shenfeng Empire that Senior Brother Xia Hong is in really is amazing to have aplished so much in so little time."


    Everyone else nodded.


    "I''m d you understand. I do want to warn you that, when you''re joining an empire as an official, it''s best to have someone there to advise you. After all, officials and generals are drawn from Immortal sects all over the world, and there are sure to be factional disputes among them. Do not blindly trust those around you," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Thank you for your words of wisdom, Senior Brother Xiao." Everyone nodded.


    "General Xia Hong has already carved out a significant position of power in the Shenfeng Empire. If you''re willing to join him there, not only will you be able to experience its meteoric rise, you''ll also gain his support and aegis. With his help, as long as you''re talented enough, you''ll easily be able to advance up the ranks and earn merit for yourselves," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Everyone turned expectantly to Xia Hong.


    "I even heard that the Shenfeng Empire is even making preparations to advance to a divine empire as quickly as possible," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "What?" The Yuqing disciples were all taken by surprise.


    Being able to earn merit for themselves in a high-ranking empire was already an incredible opportunity. If in addition they were able to help an empire advance into a divine empire, they would receive tremendous rewards for their effort.


    "Of course, I know it''s a little early to be speaking of such matters. I''m sure many of you rightfully want to learn about such empires on your own. What emperor doesn''t intend on advancing further and further? Sess is only granted to a rare few¡ªbut I am confident that the Shenfeng Emperor is more than qualified to seize such an opportunity. If you believe in my foresight, everyone, I urge you to join General Xia Hong. To date, I''ve never been misled," Xiao Nanfeng said frankly.


    "We trust you, Senior Brother Xiao!" the disciples eximed.


    The fact that Xiao Nanfeng had managed to found his own empire within just a short period of time, seed as a Martial Aspect in the Imperial Court, and even endorse his subordinates into bing Martial Aspects themselves was clear evidence of his acumen. What was more, the Shenfeng Empire''s exploits seemed no less inferior to those of the Dazheng Empire''s.


    The disciples turned toward Xia Hong with sudden, surprising intent.


    Xia Hong was incredibly touched. Xiao Nanfeng''s final words were the equivalent of putting his own reputation at stake for the Shenfeng Empire.


    Xiao Nanfeng was providing him with far more help than he could have expected. How could Xia Lan still think so poorly of him? He would have to teach Xia Lan a lesson.


    1. Wait until they learn that the Feng in Shenfeng refers to Xiao Nanfeng... ?

 Chapter 685: Taixu City

    <h4>Chapter 685: Taixu City</h4>


    That afternoon, countless Yuqing disciples surrounded Xia Hong. Thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s strong rmendation, everyone was flocking toward the Shenfeng Empire.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a break. As he was resting, he saw Ye Dafu and the others rushing back.


    "Your Majesty, we headed to Taiyi Peak in search of the Demon Child. We saw signs of fighting, and even recovered a wooden puppet the Demon Child dropped," Ye Dafu reported.


    He handed a toy puppet to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is¡ªthe Cbash Brothers'' grandfather!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Ye Dafu nodded. "You gave this wooden puppet to the Demon Child yourself, Your Majesty. He''s kept it by his side ever since. Perhaps he''s trying to tell us that, just like the Cbash Brothers'' grandfather, he''s been captured and needs to be rescued!"


    "I want to save him, but who knows where Sage Green Lotus went?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I remember that the Demon Child mentioned that his parents were aware of Sage Green Lotus bringing him to the Yuqing holynd. Should we ask them about the situation?" Ye Dafu suggested.


    "I''ve already sent some subordinates to contact Senior Brother Zhao. He''s currently at the city of Taixu, where the Demon Child''s home is¡ªbut I haven''t been able to get in contact with him just yet," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What should we do, then?" Ye Dafu was beside himself in worry.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "What''s the matter, Your Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "ording to the ckguards, something is happening in Taixu. The whole city''s in lockdown and is surrounded byyers of formations. No one''s allowed in or out, and there''s a sinister aura lingering about, as if somerge-scale sacrificial rite is about to take ce..."


    "A sacrificial rite?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Prepare to head to Taixu immediately!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed out of the hall as well.


    Outside, there were still countless Yuqing disciples gathered around Xia Hong.


    Xiao Nanfeng cut straight through them; the disciples all made way for him.


    "Senior Brother, something urgent hase up. I''ll have to leave the Yuqing holynd for a moment."


    "Something urgent? Do you need my help?" Xia Hong asked.


    "No, but I won''t have time to say my farewells to your mothers. Would you let them know of the situation?"


    "It''s that urgent?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly. He turned to the Yuqing disciples. "Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, I have urgent business to take care of, and I''ll be leaving temporarily. I won''t be able to have our usual discussions in the meantime. We''ll start them back up again once I return."


    "Senior Brother Xiao, do you need our help?" the Yuqing disciples offered immediately.


    "I appreciate it, but I should be able to handle matters on my own. Thank you for the concern."


    Then, he flew off with Ye Dafu and the others in tow.


    Xia Hong likewise bade farewell to his fellow disciples as he flew up Chiyang Peak.


    There, Xia Xingchen''s three wives were taking turns lecturing Xia Lan, who looked as though all the life was slowly being sucked out of him.


    When Xia Hong walked in, Xia Lan suddenly grew animated upon seeing his savior. "You''re finally here, Second Brother! I was right about to drop dead!"


    "Don''t say that! Are you trying to curse yourself?" Xia Lan''s mother eximed.


    Xia Lan grimaced as he pressed his lips shut.


    "Mother, Xiao Nanfeng had urgent business to take care of and has left the Yuqing holynd for the time being. He asked me to convey his apologies," Xia Hong said.


    "What business? Was it that pressing?" Han Bingdie asked, frowning in worry.


    "He didn''t borate, but it looked particrly important."


    Xia Lan''s eyes lit up. "Second Brother, I know why Xiao Nanfeng left in such a hurry!"


    "Oh?" Everyone turned to Xia Lan.


    "He must be regretting helping you recruit new soldiers, Second Brother, so he ran off. He''s going to wait until you leave beforeing back and manipting them into joining his empire instead!"


    The three women gaped at him, then shook their heads simultaneously. "That''s impossible. Nanfeng isn''t like that."


    Xia Hong frowned as well. "Third Brother, that''s enough. I didn''t chastise you beforehand for the sake of your reputation, but you''re getting more and more ridiculous. How can you be so petty?"


    Xia Lan''s eyes widened in rm.


    What did his brother mean?


    "Mother, don''t listen to Third Brother''s nonsense. Nanfeng did his utmost to help me recruit the Yuqing disciples to my cause, and he even staked his reputation on it. He could easily have influenced those disciples to join his empire instead¡ªbut he chose to support me wholeheartedly! He really does treat us like his family," Xia Hong asserted.


    "Nanfeng really is understanding. How did Xia Lan get such a warped image of him?"


    "We really ought to thank Nanfeng. Xia Lan, this is getting ridiculous."


    "Lan''er, you must be itching for a beating!"


    The three women red angrily at Xia Lan.


    Xia Lan stiffened. He shook his head in disbelief. "What? Did Xiao Nanfeng do all this just to get me in trouble?"


    "Enough! If you keep trying to stain Nanfeng''s reputation, I''m going to punish you," Xia Hong shouted.


    Xia Lan: ...


    "Xia Lan needs to be punished before he actively starts to go against Nanfeng."


    "Perhaps a beating is a good idea, after all. Xia Hong, since your father isn''t around, you''ll do it in his ce."


    "Beat him up! Teach him how to be respectful to his family. I''m fully in support."


    The three women quickly came to a consensus once more.


    Xia Lan nched. How could Xiao Nanfeng have tricked his second brother, too? He was done for!


    "Mothers, please don''t worry. Once I finish my recruiting, I''ll bring Third Brother to the barracks with me. It''s clear that he''s gotten toocent in such afortable environment. It''s time for him to get a sense of what the real world is like," Xia Hong said.


    Xia Lan: ...


    Xia Lan gaped in shock at the sudden betrayal. He had helped out Yu''er when she was being kept under house arrest¡ªXiao Nanfeng was the outsider, not him!


    "It''s settled. Bring Lan''er with you," Xia Lan''s mother said.


    "Yes, Mother! Please continue lecturing Third Brother. I''ll continue with the recruitment now. Nanfeng''s support has been invaluable, and I expect I''ll be off again in no time," Xia Hong replied.


    "Very good." The three women nodded, then turned back to Xia Lan.


    Xia Lan stiffened. He took a deep breath. His brother had deserted me; was there to be no escape?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s party flew out of the Yuqing holynd, dove into the Southern Sea, swam briskly for some time, and finally resurfaced at a secluded stretch of the sea.


    "Did we shake off all the spies following us?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The golden cultivators scouted their surroundings before responding in the affirmative.


    "There''s no one following behind us now," Ye Dafu confirmed.


    "Good. Let''s set off, then."


    The cultivators surrounded themselves with fog, then rushed off in a certain direction. A sonic boom rippled behind them as they vanished by the horizon.


    A dayter, in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar followed Blue Lantern into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, where a huge formation of light had been constructed.


    361 beams of starlight shone down overhead, and all sorts of auxiliary light festooned the formation. At the very center of the spectacle was the image of a green lotus.


    "Have you managed to analyze the green lotus totem?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "It''s all thanks to that Golden Immortal pill. If my cultivation hadn''t been restored, I would never have been able to manifest this reconstruction. I''m confident I know how the green lotus totem works now."


    "Exin," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Sage Green Lotus likely possesses a Boundless Immortal relic of incredible strength, imbued with naturalw of its own."


    "Oh?"


    "The records of my sect made mention of one such relic. If I''m not mistaken, Sage Green Lotus is in possession of the Yuqing holynd''s seventh-grade lotus. The Demon Child is to be tattooed with seven green lotus totems to form a seal.


    "For what purpose?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The green lotus seal can distill the Demon Child''s soul and physical body down into essence that the seventh-grade lotus can then absorb. In the end, the Demon Child will be an avatar for Sage Green Lotus."


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "Sage Green Lotus is the Demon Child''s master. Is he willing to do that to his own disciple? How despicable can he get?"


    "Li Qianjun should be more than capable of figuring out Sage Green Lotus''s intent. Why would he send his son to the Yuqing holynd regardless?" Blue Lantern wondered.


    "We''ll find out in no time."


    "Oh?"


    "My avatar has arrived at Taixu. If everything goes smoothly, I''ll be able to catch Li Qianjun and interrogate him about all this."


    In Taixu, right by the sea, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was hiding in the clouds and surrounding his body in fog to hide himself. He was observing Taixu far below him.


    Taixu wasn''t a particrlyrge city, as far as Immortal cities went. The city seemed to have a propensity for darkness, and even its walls were pitch-ck.


    At the moment, huge ck clouds were obscuring the sky overhead, leaving the city dim and dismal. Layers of formations extended around the city walls, and ck fog roiled within. It was impossible to make out what was happening within the city. Some of its citizens could be seen rushing up to the boundary of the formations, only to be dragged back in by others within.


    "What a sinister ce."


    "Doesn''t it look like there are specters within the fog?"


    "This doesn''t look like anywhere good."


    The golden cultivators shivered as they eyed each other.


    "This is where the ruins of the Taiqing Immortal Sect lie," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Countless Immortals of the Taiqing Immortal Sect are buried beneath Taixi. Do not be disrespectful."


    The golden cultivators stilled and bowed, ashamed.


    "A ckguard just sent word to me. ording to Senior Brother Zhao, it''s a mess inside. A huge fight is about to break out, but this formation of ck fog is keeping everyone trapped within," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao''s ate-stage True Immortal! Can''t he make it out of this formation?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Apparently not. We''ll be heading inside to meet up with him."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Perhaps others would be stymied by the formation of ck fog, but entering and leaving it was trivial to Xiao Nanfeng. He demonstrated his candleme powers with a snap of his fingers as he ushered everyone within.

 Chapter 686: Sacrificing the People

    <h4>Chapter 686: Sacrificing the People</h4>


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng and his party stepped through the barrier surrounding Taixu, they could hear frenzied shoutsing from within the ck fog.


    "Save me! Don''t kill me! No!"


    "I can''t defend against these cursed soldiers anymore! Save me!"


    Countless shouts could be heard from all over. Xiao Nanfeng and his party rushed forward to find a group of cultivators covered in blood, trying to batter down the barrier of ck fog with thest of their strength. They seemed to have been forced into desperate circumstances. Behind them were wisps of blue, ghostly fire. Spectral soldiers phased in and out of existence from around those mes as they chased after the cultivators.


    "Save them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Die!" Ye Dafu and the others charged forward.


    The golden cultivators were incredibly strong. They easily took down the spectral soldiers one after another, but the soldiers didn''t die. Rather, they scattered into shards of ghostly blue fire and vanished deep into the fog.


    "We can''t kill them? What''s going on?" Ye Dafu and the others eximed.


    "Thank you, benefactors!" The cultivators bowed down in gratitude, simultaneously relieved at having been saved and fearful about what had just happened.


    "What was that?" Ye Dafu demanded.


    "Spectral soldiers," a cultivator replied. This morning, the city lord sent word stating that a seal had broken open within the city. Countless spectral soldiers are emerging and killing all the citizens within. The city lord himself was screaming¡ªI''m afraid he may have perished as well," one cultivator spat out bitterly.


    "Spectral soldiers? They look more like puppets animated by spiritual power to me," Ye Dafu replied.


    "Why is there a barrier trapping you in here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "The city lord suddenly activated it yesterday saying that some demon was about to emerge. He said he was going to seal the city and y the demon for the good of the world, and we had no choice but to wait within. This morning, the demon broke out of its seal and began to rampage. ording to the city lord, these spectral soldiers are its doing."


    "This is what Li Qianjun said?" Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "What a farce. He must have released these spectral soldiers himself."


    Xiao Nanfeng had witnessed Li Qianjun releasing such spectral soldiers with his ck pagoda relic back at the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. It was clear that Li Qianjun was deliberately killing his citizens¡ªand trying to trick them with an excuse while he was at it.


    "Benefactor, the whole city is in a mess. Please save us!" the cultivator begged.


    "Please save us!" All the cultivators in the vicinity dropped to their knees.


    They had been chased around the city for half the day, and they had seen countless others killed by these spectral soldiers¡ªand almost lost their lives themselves. They were naturally going to grasp at whatever hope they could find.


    "You can follow us for the time being, but let me make this clear: if we can defend you, we will, but if we can''t, we''re going to focus on our own safety first. Do you understand?" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yes¡ªthank you, benefactors!" the cultivators eximed.


    Any hope was better than none. The fact that these cultivators were even willing to provide a modicum of support was better than they could hope for.


    "Let''s go have a look around," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Got it!" everyone chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought the cultivators toward where the closest screams wereing from.


    Xiao Nanfeng was defending these cultivators out of pity on one hand, and because of their importance as eyewitnesses on the other.


    He had to take on the divine empire of Hongyue, and any negative attention that Hongyue received would make his life significantly easier. The rumor that he had once spread about Yin Shenhua rearing his citizens like livestock had dealt great damage to the morale of Dayin. The fact that Li Qianjun was trying to kill everyone in his city would be an incredible asset if he could make it widely known.


    The cultivators followed behind him as they ran toward a street. The spectral soldiers there were ughtering cultivators wholesale. All those they killed were shrouded in ck smoke before all their blood was extracted from their bodies and sent spiraling into the air. The resulting corpse shriveled up and ttered to the ground.


    "Sacrificing one''s people for the sake of a relic is against the will of the heavens. Kill these spectral soldiers!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Kill them!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted.


    They quickly took down one spectral soldier after another, causing them to burst into fragments of ghostly fire that vanished into the fog. The rescued cultivators dropped to their knees in exhaustion and gratitude.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s words nted a thought in their heads: "sacrificing people for the sake of a relic"? What did he mean?


    "Everyone, protect your rtives and friends. If any of you can kill these spectral soldiers, help us take them down. We''ll fight our way out!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the rescued cultivators replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and shouted into the air, "All citizens of Taixu, I am Xiao Nanfeng, Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. I''m willing to join you in defeating these spectral soldiers and take down the demon trying to sacrifice your lives for power''s sake. All those who have nowhere to flee,e to me! Let''s work together to take down this foe!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice boomed across Taixu.


    The cultivators who had found themselves in dire straits all across the city perked up.


    "Hurry over there! Someone''s leading a defense against these monsters!"


    "Follow me! We''ll all head over and meet up with Martial Aspect Xiao. We might be able to save ourselves then."


    "We''ll only die if we stay here. If we head over there, we might be able to make it out alive."


    The scattered cultivators all across the city rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s location.


    Just then, in a certain corner of the city, Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes widened as he heard Xiao Nanfeng''s voice. "Nanfeng? What''s he doing here?"


    "Division Leader Xiao must be here to find us," a ckguard suggested. "Given the thick fog in the city, it''s likely impossible for him to identify where we are, so he must be trying to get us to head toward him instead."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded and sighed. "I''m sorry he had to go through all this trouble. Come on, let''s go."


    "Got it!" his party of ckguards replied.


    Meanwhile, in the city lord''s manor in Taixu, countless ck-armored soldiers were stationed around a wide-open space with a gigantic circr blood-red altar at its center. ck smoke striated with fresh blood swirled around the altar, sending the blood within. Then, the ck smoke surged out from the altar again as it headed back into the city.


    As the altar absorbed the deluge of fresh blood, it glowed a sinister red color. Countless blood-red chains around the altar bound the Demon Child tightly around its center. The chains seemed as though they were burrowing into the Demon Child''s body, causing blood to flow thickly down the Demon Child''s head.


    "Mother, it hurts! Mother, help me, please..." the Demon Child cried out.


    Beside the altar were two figures: the Demon Child''s father, Li Qianjun, and Sage Green Lotus.


    "You really are troublesome," Li Qianjun murmured.


    Sage Green Lotus grimaced. "If not for Xiao Nanfeng, I wouldn''t have had to go to this extent. That said, as far as you''re concerned, doesn''t it just move all your ns one day ahead? Surely it''s not a big deal."


    "I wasn''t yet prepared, and there are some special citizens I wanted to evacuate from the city. Your sudden kidnapping of my son forced me into action. If people find out about what''s going on here, you''ll have ruined my reputation," Li Qianjun said coldly.


    "So be it. These citizens might as well be livestock. Why do you care about them? They should be honored to be sacrifices to this altar. What''s more, even if there are cultivators with avatars atrge, aren''t you ming all this on a demonic outbreak? Let the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue help you suppress the news, and it''ll all blow over." Sage Green Lotus smiled.


    Li Qianjun snorted. "I shouldn''t have worked with you in the first ce."


    "If you didn''t, how would you have managed to produce the Demon Child in the first ce? Without my seventh-grade lotus, you would never have unlocked the true power of your pagoda."


    Li Qianjun nced at Sage Green Lotus coldly. "Enough. None of this nonsense. Let''s hurry up and activate the seal."


    Sage Green Lotus eyed the Demon Child on the altar. Heughed. "We''re almost ready. The altar has all but finished absorbing the fresh blood it needs. It''ll be able to boost the power of my seventh-grade lotus and crack open the seal for you. We''ll be done in no time."


    Li Qianjun nodded grudgingly.


    The Demon Child continued to bawl in pain. "Mother! Father! It hurts¡ªplease help me!"


    Li Qianjun watched on stonily.


    Just as everyone''s attention was fixated on the altar, Xiao Nanfeng''s voice could be heard in the distance.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What''s he doing here?" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    "Did he follow you in?" Li Qianjun gave him a dour look.


    "That''s impossible. He''s only a True Immortal. I would have easily discovered him if that were the case," Sage Green Lotus murmured.


    "The formation around Taixu activated yesterday and has sealed the city since. That means he must have made it here yesterday¡ªhe must have followed you in."


    "What a pest," Sage Green Lotus spat out.


    "But isn''t it good that he''s here? We won''t have to hunt him down, then." Li Qianjun''s eyes shed with frost.


    He activated the pagoda in his hand. The doors on its third floor were suddenly flung open, causing wisps of ghostly fire to appear en masse. Rather than humanoid spectral soldiers, however, the wisps manifested as ferocious tigers.


    Li Qianjun conjured up an image of Xiao Nanfeng. "This is Xiao Nanfeng. He''s going to be where the fighting is most concentrated. Catch him or kill him, it doesn''t matter."


    The tigers roared, then vanished into the ck fog.


    "This pagoda of yours really is an incredible relic." Sage Green Lotus eyed the pagoda greedily.


    Li Qianjun smirked. "Do you want it?"


    Sage Green Lotus shook his head. "It''s an amazing relic, but if you were to hand it to me, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue would stop at nothing to hunt me down."


    "You could exchange it for your seventh-grade lotus," Li Qianjun said, smirking.


    "Dream on!"


    The two cultivators continued to focus on the altar, readily having dismissed Xiao Nanfeng''s sudden appearance, fully confident that the spectral tigers would be able to finish him off.

 Chapter 687: Deranged and Demented

    <h4>Chapter 687: Deranged and Demented</h4>


    After hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s shout, countless cultivators all over the city swarmed toward his location. Of course, chasing after them were even more spectral soldiers.


    "Die!" the twelve golden cultivators shouted as they charged forward.


    The spectral soldiers were particrly strong foes who didn''t die even when their bodies were blown to pieces. Rather, they dispersed into fragments of ghostly me and fled. The cultivators snuffed out what fragments they could, but a significant portion was nevertheless allowed to flee.


    "Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao," the rescued cultivators chorused.


    "All of you who are injured, get your injuries treated first. Otherwise, if you can fight,e join in," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!"


    More and more spectral soldiers found their way toward Xiao Nanfeng as the fighting grew more intense. The spectral soldiers were of varying strength; some were even early-stage True Immortals. When they all flocked forward, even the golden cultivators were stymied. Fortunately, some of the unaffiliated cultivators stepped forward and filled any gaps in the defense.


    Zhao Yuanjiao made his way over as well. He sighed in relief as he found Xiao Nanfeng. "You really made it here quickly, Nanfeng."


    "What''s the situation like?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There are far too many of these spectral soldiers to kill, and they simply don''t die¡ªtens of thousands of them! Ordinary civilians lie dead on the streets, nothing more than desated skin and bones. I expect the majority of them have already been killed, and the bulk of the cultivators remaining in the city are strong enough to defend themselves against them to have made it this far. I expect there''s a blood sacrifice of some sort."


    "A blood sacrifice? What''s Li Qianjun nning?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I don''t know, but I saw traces of a foundation beingid out around the city lord''s manor."


    "Let''s make our way there and have a look, then. If we can get the word out, this will be a huge scandal for the divine empire of Hongyue," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    Just then, Ye Dafu shouted, "Your Majesty, there are too many spectral soldiers! We aren''t going to be able to handle them much longer!"


    "Don''t worry about it. Follow me. We''re heading to the city lord''s manor!"


    He drew his divine undying de and raised it into the air as he cut a path forward. A huge number of spectral soldiers were blown to pieces around him.


    "Die!" Zhao Yuanjiao, Ye Dafu, and the golden cultivators shouted.


    "Die!" The ordinary cultivators of Taixu were following in the wake of Xiao Nanfeng''s group as they rushed through the city.


    They all knew that, if they didn''t fight their way out, they would all perish in Taixu that day. The strength of Xiao Nanfeng''s group gave them the hope they sorely needed to keep pushing forward.


    More and more spectral soldiers appeared, but they were quickly whittled down as the group grewrger andrger. Eventually, they were being cut down faster than they could regenerate. The cultivators gasped in relief, all eyeing Xiao Nanfeng with respect and reverence.


    The cultivators continued to head toward the city lord''s manor.


    Just then, a ferocious spectral tiger emerged from the ck fog.


    It sucked in a deep breath, absorbing all the fragments of ghostly me in the vicinity. The more of them the tiger absorbed, therger it grew, and the more overwhelming its aura.


    "There''s something wrong with that tiger. Kill it!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Let me!" Ye Dafu charged forward.


    The spectral tiger leapt at Ye Dafu, only to be sent reeling from a punch.


    "A True Immortal?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    The tiger roared again. Even more of the spectral soldiers were sucked into its maw as it grew stronger and stronger.


    "Something''s wrong. It can absorb spectral soldiers to strengthen itself!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    He leapt forward, charging toward the spectral tiger once more. This time, both parties were forced back from the confrontation.


    "It''s growing stronger too quickly!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    As the tiger devoured even more of the spectral soldiers, it grew in fits and spurts, then leapt toward Ye Dafu again. A ming tempest was unleashed in mid-air as man and tiger fought. The more specters the tiger devoured, the more troublesome the fight became for Ye Dafu.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Sensing that something was amiss, he stepped forward and shed down with his sword.


    Threatened, the tiger roared and leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng was too strong for him. He easily bisected the tiger, only to have it disperse into countless fragments of ghostly me that vanished into the fog.


    "Your Majesty, I''m afraid these tigers can regenerate too..." Ye Dafu murmured.


    "Keep heading toward the city lord''s manor!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" Everyone followed Xiao Nanfeng onward.


    Before long, another bout of roaring could be heard from within the ck fog.


    Ten ferocious spectral tigers emerged.


    They sucked in deep breaths, absorbing all the spectral soldiers in their vicinity as they suddenly grew to multiple times their original size.


    The ten tigers roared in unison, producing a wave of such intensity that all the cultivators reared back in shock.


    "How can they be this strong?!" someone cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at the tigers coldly as he waved a hand.


    Ten golden crows emerged from his dantian.


    Considering that the city was surrounded by thick ck fog, he hadn''t expected the golden crows to be able to absorb any sunlight and disy their true strength. However, as the golden crows emerged, their surroundings grew even darker.


    The golden crows swelled in size as golden mes erupted from them. They zed like ten suns as they shot toward the tigers and sent them flying.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao is incredible. He defeated those tigers in just a single blow!" the cultivators eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked up at the sky. He murmured to himself, "It might be dark here, but sunlight can apparently still filter in. Can the birds draw power from their surroundings and use facsimile srfire as long as it''s daytime outside...?"


    The crows cawed in unison as the tigers were sent back again and again.


    "Let''s keep going. Don''t stop now¡ªhead for the city lord''s manor!"


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    More and more cultivators joined Xiao Nanfeng''s group, and more and more spectral soldiers gave chase. It felt as if all of Taixu''s forces were congregating around them.


    The fighting continued as they rushed toward the city lord''s manor. Along the way, they saw countless copsed buildings and the desated remains of those who had been killed by the spectral soldiers, a harrowing sight.


    Although the ten spectral tigers were strong, Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows were stronger. Before long, the crows caused them all to burst apart.


    "Thank goodness!" the cultivators cheered.


    Along the way, it felt as though the number of spectral soldiersing at them had suddenly dropped dramatically, but as the cultivators closed in on the city lord''s manor, they couldn''t help but feel a dangerous aura encroaching upon them. They shuddered in fear.


    Suddenly, another set of roars could be heard from afar.


    Ten more spectral tigers were roaming outside the city lord''s manor. No one knew whether they had just been revived or were a different set of ten entirely.


    Rather than rush forward headlong, the tigers were absorbing the spectral soldiers and fragments of ghostly me all around them. They seemed to have summoned all the spectral soldiers in the city and were devouring them all as they grew stronger and stronger.


    "Your Majesty, they''ll be Golden Immortals in no time at this rate!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "It doesn''t matter," Xiao Nanfeng said, eyeing them coldly.


    The ten golden crows rushed forward and knocked aside countless spectral soldiers. Even so, all they did was scatter the resulting fragments of ghostly me about and make it even easier for the tigers to absorb them.


    It took them quite some time before they finally made it to the tigers.


    They crashed into the tigers in an incredible wave of heat and me. This time, the crows and tigers seemed to be on equal footing. Neither was able to definitively take down the other.


    The tigers were still continuing to devour the spectral soldiers and growing stronger even in the midst of the fighting. The ten golden crows tried their best to stop their tiger counterparts, but were unable to do so. The spectral soldiers had no sense of self-preservation and obeyedmands without fail.


    With all the spectral soldiers having ended up in the tigers'' bodies, they grew stronger than they had ever been.


    Together, they swiped at the golden crows and sent them flying.


    Ye Dafu and the golden cultivators leapt forward, but to no avail. The tigers were simply too strong. With a swipe of their ws and tails, they easily dispatched the cultivators.


    "These tigers are slower than Golden Immortals, but they''re just about as strong," Ye Dafu shouted, worried.


    The tigers roared.


    The sound waves alone were enough to badly injure many cultivators. They staggered about and spat out mouthfuls of blood.


    "All of you, retreat! Protect everyone. I''ll take on these tigers," Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The cultivators retreated as the ten golden crows shot toward the tigers once more, falling like meteors and causing facsimile srfire to surround the tigers.


    However, the tigers didn''t fear the mes at all. They even caught the crows in their paws and bit down, intending to eat the crows whole.


    "Be careful, Your Majesty!"


    "Be careful, Martial Aspect Xiao!"


    The cultivators fretted¡ªit was apparent that the golden crows couldn''t take down the tigers in their current state.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ten golden crows suddenly exploded in a torrential wave of me, causing the ten golden tigers to burst apart as well. The ck smoke was expelled from the surroundings, revealing the city lord''s manor in full.


    Even with Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates protecting the ordinary cultivators, many were struck by the shockwaves in the aftermath of the explosion. Their internal organs were badly injured, and they vomited out blood.


    Then, everyone saw something that left them stunned.


    A huge palm emerged from within the city lord''s manor, blocking the shockwaves from the explosion. The loss of the ck smoke uncovered a huge, wide-open area with countless ck-armored guards and soldiers encircling an altar glowing with red light. Fresh blood was being funneled into the altar through the ck smoke. A huge red cocoon had formed on top of the altar, but it wasn''t clear whaty within.


    To the north, right up ahead, were Li Qianjun and Sage Green Lotus.


    Li Qianjun was holding a pagoda in his hand. A huge quantity of spectral me was flying into the firstyer of the pagoda. Spectral soldiers reformed on the secondyer, and eleven spectral tigers leapt out of the third.


    Li Qianjun gaped at the cultivators, not having expected to be revealed in in sight.


    Sage Green Lotus yelled, "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? You''ve just crippled yourself and your cultivation of the Sky of Ten Suns!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes brightened. This was precisely the scene he had been hoping for, one that he had now revealed to all those cultivators behind him.


    "So you''re the ones responsible for killing all the citizens of Taixu. You''re both deranged and demented!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    The cultivators'' eyes widened in shock.


    "This was Li Qianjun''s doing all along? He tricked us all!"


    "City Lord, how could you kill us all just for the sake of your relic?"


    "Li Qianjun, you''re a demon! You don''t deserve to call yourself human!"


    Countless cultivators raged at what they were seeing.

 Chapter 688: Taking on Sage Green Lotus

    <h4>Chapter 688: Taking on Sage Green Lotus</h4>


    In the city lord''s manor at Taixu, Li Qianjun nched. He hadn''t expected Xiao Nanfeng to detonate his ten golden crows along with the spectral tigers, shattering the formation outside the city lord''s manor and exposing everything in in sight. His reputation would be ruined.


    His eyes filled with killing intent, he called out, "Sage Green Lotus, I''m going to be activating the altar. I''ll leave these cultivators to you."


    "Very well!" Sage Green Lotus stepped forward.


    "Strike now! Destroy the altar first," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" The golden cultivators rushed forward.


    "Insolence!" Sage Green Lotus eximed. He waved an arm at the gathered cultivators, causing the strands of the horsetail whisk to sweep over them in the form of a tidal wave. The golden cultivators were sent flying, but they quickly stabilized themselves and rushed back over.


    "You overconfident fools!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    He waved an arm at them. His horsetail whisk struck the twelve golden cultivators like a whip.


    The other cultivators rose up, but they were quickly suppressed by Li Qianjun''s ck-armored subordinates. A huge fight began to unfold.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao remained where they were.


    "Li Qianjun stillmands eleven spectral tigers. They absorbed all those fragments of spectral me, and they''re growing even stronger," Zhao Yuanjiao murmured.


    "It''s alright, Senior Brother. Please help me unseal this," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He conjured a cloud of fog around the two cultivators to hide what they were doing. Then, he unstrapped a gourd from his waist. The Eye of the Sea and Ao Zhou were within, along with something else¡ªhe shook the gourd a few times until a humanoid figure emerged: Long Er, whom he had captured within the Southeastern Aquatic Pce.


    Long Er''s body had been sealed multiple times over, and he couldn''t move at all.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, release me!" Long Er thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. With a flick of his body, he transformed into his yin body and stepped into Long Er''s mindscape.


    "You''re trying to possess me? Dream on! You won''t be able to seed," Long Er roared.


    In Long Er''s mindscape, Xiao Nanfeng activated the Heaven division token and opened up the Heaven Division''s Gate, sending loss chants rushing into Long Er''s mind.


    "What sort of cursed chants are these? Damn it, what have you done to me?!" Long Er yelled.


    Very quickly, Long Er lost his memories. "Who are you? Why are you in my mindscape? Ah, who am I? What am I doing here?"


    As the loss chants continued to echo in his mind, he forgot more and more about himself. Gradually, his pupils began to dte.


    "Taiqing''s art of possession," Xiao Nanfeng intoned.


    Long Er''s pupils suddenly flickered as if he had awakened¡ªXiao Nanfeng had suppressed his soul and taken over his body.


    "Senior Brother, help me remove these seals," Long Er said.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    He quickly stripped the seals from Long Er''s body, including the specialized Taiqing seal on his chest.


    Long Er broke free of the remaining seals and shook himself. The aura of a Golden Immortal exuded from him.


    Right then, the eleven spectral tigers from before had finished absorbing everything they could and had returned to peak strength. When they roared, a frightening wave of sound sent all the cultivators flying.


    "Save me!"


    "Save us, Martial Aspect Xiao!"


    "No!"


    The cultivators shrieked and cried out as they were sent flying into the fog where Xiao Nanfeng was located.


    A spectral tiger leapt forward ahead of the pack and tore into a cultivator right within the fog.


    A fist struck the tiger in the head, causing it to instantly explode into a cloud of spectral me.


    "What?!" everyone eximed.


    The fog dispersed to reveal Zhao Yuanjiao and Long Er.


    "Who''s that?!" the cultivators eximed.


    "Don''t worry, everyone. I''m Xiao Nanfeng," Long Er said.


    Another spectral tiger rushed over. Long Er frowned and punched at it with a fist.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Within moments, the air all around Long Er filled with fists, all of which punched the tiger simultaneously. It exploded before it could even howl in pain.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao is invincible!" the gathered cultivators cheered.


    "You''ve possessed Long Er?" Li Qianjun eximed from afar. He howled, "Stop him!"


    The remaining spectral tigers all leapt toward Long Er.


    "Senior Brother, there''s something wrong with that avatar. Destroy it as quickly as you can¡ªleave these tigers to me," Long Er said.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    He flew toward the altar, taking down all ck-armored soldiers in his way.


    By the altar, Sage Green Lotus sent the golden cultivators scattering once more. When he saw Zhao Yuanjiao flying over, he cursed. "I''ll kill you!"


    He struck with the horsetail whisk again, sending Zhao Yuanjiao flying.


    Simultaneously, Long Er''s eyes shed with anger as he shot toward Li Qianjun.


    A group of spectral tigers blocked his way.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Long Er shouted.


    Ten thousand fists struck a spectral tiger and caused it to explode.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Long Erunched a series of Hegemon''s Fists on the tiger horde, causing them to explode one after another.


    Li Qianjun held the ck pagoda in one hand and manipted the altar with the other. He seemed to be unable to move owing to the sacrificial rite, but he wasn''t particrly worried. Another spectral tiger had just emerged from his pagoda, absorbing all the spectral fragments that Xiao Nanfeng had just produced. It immediately grew into a fearsome opponent.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Long Er shouted.


    The fists struck the tiger in a wave of intense me. The spectral tiger had managed to concentrate all the energy present in the spectral mes and had reached the realm of a Golden Immortal, but was still unable to ovee Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent the tiger flying again and again as he closed in on Li Qianjun.


    "Sage Green Lotus, swap opponents with my spectral tiger. Hurry!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    "Your spectral tigers aren''t very strong, are they?" Sage Green Lotus smirked.


    "If I fail, you won''t get what you want, either," Li Qianjun howled. "Hurry!"


    "Fine! I''ming," Sage Green Lotus replied. He snapped his horsetail whisk, flinging the twelve golden cultivators and Zhao Yuanjiao away as he rushed toward Long Er.


    Just as Long Er was about to strike Li Qianjun, Sage Green Lotus arrived and sent a palm technique flying toward him. Huge shockwaves radiated outwards on impact.


    Long Er was sent flying. He grimaced. "You''re ate-stage Golden Immortal?"


    Sage Green Lotus smirked. "Long Er''s only a mid-stage Golden Immortal. He''s no match for me."


    "Let''s try it, then. Hegemon''s Fist!" Long Er shouted.


    Ten thousand fists struck Sage Green Lotus''s palm and sent him stumbling back.


    "Impossible. How could you be so strong? Die!" Sage Green Lotus thundered as he rushed forward.


    A ming tempest formed around them as they fought.


    Meanwhile, the tiger leapt toward the altar and sent the twelve golden cultivators and Zhao Yuanjiao flying once again.


    "Die!" the golden cultivators thundered, charging forward without any hesitation.


    There was intense fighting all around.


    Just then, by the foot of the altar, ck smoke began to surge straight up toward the blood cocoon at its center. The blood cocoon began to warp and distend after absorbing all that smoke. A frightening aura emanated from within.


    Long Er nched. He thundered, "We don''t have time! Hurry up and detonate a Golden Immortal relic to destroy the altar and break that cocoon!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others replied.


    Just then, a hoarse shout came from within the cocoon. "Mother, it hurts! Mother, save me!"


    "No¡ªthat''s the Demon Child! Don''t st the cocoon!" Long Er eximed.


    "The Demon Child?!" Ye Dafu and the others cried out in astonishment.


    "Li Qianjun, what have you done? That''s your own son in there! Can''t you hear him crying out for you?!" Long Er shouted.


    "The Demon Child of the Yuqing holynd?"


    "To think Li Qianjun would sacrifice even his own son..."


    "Just what is he trying to achieve? What''s he trying to summon with the lives of all the citizens of Taixu and his own son?!"


    The cultivators were taken aback by this revtion.


    Li Qianjun eyed Long Er, but didn''t offer an exnation.


    "Mother, it hurts! Please save me, Mother!"


    The Demon Child''s shouts, even muffled, could be heard all throughout Taixu. His cries stopped abruptly as the cocoon''s aura intensified. The currents of aura that leaked out caused the cultivators all around to rear back in fear.


    Long Er anxiously reached toward his mindscape and took out a gourd from within. He manipted it and poured a giant orb of water out¡ªthe Eye of the Sea.


    "Ao Zhou, the situation is urgent. I''ll have to disrupt your meditation. I''m going to meld with the Eye of the Sea, and you may be forcibly repulsed from it," Long Er warned.


    Then, he transformed into an ivory dragon and tried to burrow into the Eye of the Sea.


    "You won''t make it in time. Don''t you dare!" Sage Green Lotus shouted, rushing over.


    Just then, a wave of energy emanated from the Eye of the Sea and sent Long Er flying.


    "What?!" Long Er eximed.


    The Eye of the Sea bulged and transformed into a gigantic dragon of water.


    The dragon of water roared, causing waves of energy to reverberate around the entire city. Its aura was so frightening that even the barrier of ck fog surrounding Taixu shook violently. Sage Green Lotus stepped back in shock.


    "The aura of a Boundless Immortal¡ªimpossible! Did someone meld with the Eye of the Sea beforehand?!" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    Long Er''s eyes twitched. He thundered, "Ao Zhou, how shameless can you get? You must have finished absorbing the spirit long ago. Have you been hiding in the Eye of the Sea all this time? Were you trying to steal it from me?"


    The dragon of water stopped howling abruptly. "You didn''t tell me toe out! I had time to spare, so I thought I''d just cultivate some more."


    "Don''t waste your breath. Destroy that altar and save the Demon Child. Hurry!"


    The dragon of water roared and shot toward the altar.

 Chapter 689: Burial Pagoda

    <h4>Chapter 689: Burial Pagoda</h4>


    Whenbined with the Eye of the Sea, Ao Zhou boasted an incredible aura and had the might of an early-stage Boundless Immortal. He bellowed, sending waves surging all around it like a tsunami.


    "Hold it!" Sage Green Lotus shouted, attacking Ao Zhou with a palm.


    Ao Zhou ignored the attack as he flew toward the altar, then sent his tail sweeping toward Sage Green Lotus almost as an afterthought. Thetter was sent flying.


    "Stop him!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    Unfortunately, no one was able to do so. The dragon of water moved with a speed that belied his bulk. He approached the altar instantly.


    Before the altar, the lone spectral tiger remaining sent everyone flying, then charged toward Ao Zhou.


    "You think you can stop the likes of me? Die!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    He spat out a torrent of ice and wind straight at the spectral tiger, freezing it instantly. The dragon of water smashed into it and shattered its body.


    "Stop him, Li Qianjun!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    "There''s no need. We''ve already seeded!" Li Qianjun replied.


    The blood cocoon suddenly pulsed, revealing the Demon Child within¡ªthough he now had demonic mes ring all over his body. A blood-colored rune on his forehead shone with an eerie red light, and his eyes were blood-red as they opened. He shouted, "Die!"


    The Demon Child struck at the dragon of water''s sharp ws with a palm.


    Where palm and w met, a fiery explosion boomed. A tremendous shockwave caused the ground to quake violently. Nearby buildings crumbled, and the formation of ck fog around Taixu finally dispersed. The weaker cultivators were flung back from the impact.


    "What? The Demon Child''s as strong as an early-stage Boundless Immortal now, too! This is impossible!" Ao Zhou howled.


    Cries rang out from all around. Quite a few of the weaker cultivators had been killed just from the shockwaves resulting from the impact, but Zhao Yuanjiao and the others had managed to protect the majority of them.


    "The formation''s gone now. Leave!" Zhao Yuanjiao shouted.


    "Thank you, Benefactors! Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" The cultivators turned and fled, seeing salvation at longst.


    The Demon Child looked all around him, now a demon in truth.


    "Sage Green Lotus, the demonic corpse aura has already pervaded my son''s body. Control him!" Li Qianjun hissed.


    Sage Green Lotus nodded and shouted, "Seventh-grade lotus, attend to me!"


    Green light shot out of the Demon Child''s body and surged into his forehead. The blood-colored rune was quickly reced by a green lotus.


    "Argh! Ah, argh!" The Demon Child clutched his head in pain.


    In the air, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Having guessed what was happening, he immediately shouted, "Ao Zhou, ignore the Demon Child. Kill Sage Green Lotus!"


    The dragon of water roared and shot straight toward Sage Green Lotus.


    "By the green lotus, Demon Child, kill this dragon of water immediately!"Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    The Demon Child, face still a mask of pain, shot into the air. He sent his demon-subduing golden hoop smashing down on the dragon of water.


    The two cultivators smashed into each other in a storm of wind and me.


    "Demon Child, are you mad? They''re the ones trying to hurt you!" the dragon of water shouted.


    The Demon Child roared, eyes shining with red light. He seemed to be under mind control.


    He roared and charged toward the dragon of water, mes bursting forth from him as heunched attack after attack on the dragon. Taixu quickly became nothing more than a pile of ruins. Ao Zhou filled the air around him with water, and the Demon Child did the same with me. The ground split and cracked.


    Meanwhile, with his pagoda relic, Li Qianjun quickly restored the spectral tiger that Ao Zhou had shattered.


    "Die!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    The spectral tiger leapt forward, roaring ferociously.


    "Block it!" Ye Dafumanded.


    "Die!"


    A group of True Immortals rushed toward the spectral tiger, only to be sent flying by a swipe of the tiger''s w. Even so, none of them shrunk back. Ye Dafu and the others began to use their Golden Immortal relics to defend against the tiger as the fighting continued in earnest.


    Meanwhile, Long Er had made his way to Sage Green Lotus. "If I kill you, the Demon Child will awaken, won''t he? Hegemon''s Fist!"


    A thunderstorm of punches rained down on Sage Green Lotus, who was forced to defend with his horsetail whisk. He was sent flying by a heavy blow, his face red and his body aching.


    "Impossible! Long Er was only a mid-stage Golden Immortal. How can you best me, ate-stage Golden Immortal, in strength? This is impossible!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    Hegemon''s Fist was simply overpowering. The punches that rained down from the air were testament to Xiao Nanfeng''s prowess and training. A punch sent Sage Green Lotus flying for hundreds of meters, then another, then another. He spat out a mouthful of blood.


    Xiao Nanfeng, in Long Er''s body, quickly gained the upper hand.


    "Help me, Li Qianjun!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    "I''m trying to im what''s been sealed. I can''t assist you," Li Qianjun replied tersely.


    "If you don''t help me, I''ll reim my seventh-grade lotus," Sage Green Lotus threatened.


    Li Qianjun grimaced. "Fine. Be careful!"


    He pointed his arm at Xiao Nanfeng. "Go!"


    The ck pagoda in his palm flew into the air as it suddenly ballooned in size. In the blink of an eye, it was asrge as a small mountain. It flew straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Absorb!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    Tremendous suction came from the underside of the pagoda as it tried to drag Xiao Nanfeng within.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He didn''t think he would be able to escape. An uneasy premonition befell him as he rushed straight to Sage Green Lotus.


    "Damn it, stay away!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    Sage Green Lotus sent a palm flying toward Long Er, who took the blow head-on in order to close in on him.


    Long Er spat out a mouthful of blood as he hugged Sage Green Lotus tightly.


    "Let me go!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    The pagoda was drawing closer and closer to the two cultivators, and the suction was growing even stronger. Despite the fact that both cultivators were Golden Immortals, they didn''t seem to be able to escape. They were sucked into the underside of the pagoda.


    "Li Qianjun, I''ve been trapped as well!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll easily be able to rescue you even when you''re within the pagoda," Li Qianjun called back.


    Sage Green Lotus huffed.


    On the other hand, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of being dealt with so easily. He wasn''t sure just how strong the pagoda was, but he knew it was a risk he couldn''t take.


    Just as the two cultivators were about to be sucked into the pagoda, Long Er took a deep breath. "Explode!"


    Sage Green Lotus didn''t expect Long Er''s kamikaze attack at all. Long Er''s body was right around him¡ªhow was he to withstand an explosion of such magnitude?


    "No!" Sage Green Lotus shouted in fear.


    An explosion erupted by the underside of the pagoda.


    Sage Green Lotus tried to shield himself to the best of his ability, but to little avail. Blood streaked down his body, his four limbs broken, blood leaking from his mouth.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had transformed into his physical body, activated the Imposing Avatar of Ri at full strength, and even protected himself with a kasaya as he hunkered down and bore the force of the explosion.


    Despite it all, they were both sucked into the pagoda.


    "Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted from afar, preparing to rush toward the pagoda to save him.


    Just then, a ckguard shouted, "Don''t! Division Leader Xiao has tasked me to tell you to protect yourselves. Don''t worry about him."


    Ye Dafu and the others rxed and turned back to the spectral tiger as the pagoda shrank back down and returned to Li Qianjun''s hand.


    With a wave, Li Qianjun pulled Sage Green Lotus out of the pagoda, but he remained bruised and bleeding all over.


    "Li Qianjun, look what you''ve done!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    "I''ve given you my own son. Aren''t you satisfied? You''ll be able to recuperate from those wounds in no time," Li Qianjun replied, unruffled.


    Sage Green Lotus slumped onto the ground as he began to meditate. "What''re you doing with Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Just wait. He''ll quickly be distilled into energy for my burial pagoda, and his soul will be transformed into another spectral soldier."


    "Good! This damn Xiao Nanfeng¡ªhand him over to me once he bes a spectral soldier. I''ll exact my revenge then!" Sage Green Lotus snarled.


    "As you will." Li Qianjun nodded.


    He held the pagoda in one hand as he manipted arge mass of ck threads in another. The ck threads were connected to the ground beneath the altar, and Li Qianjun seemed to be trying to extract something valuable from there.


    Within the pagoda, Xiao Nanfeng found himself in an unusual space filled with dark smoke. des of wind shot toward him from within the smoke, which he deflected with his own de. Nevertheless, the force of the impact sent him flying. Then, more des of wind cut toward him from all over.


    "What strong des," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He hurriedly activated his candleme powers.


    The next moment, red light shed. He vanished from where he stood as the wind des passed harmlessly on.


    He appeared in another secluded space, dark but with a hint of light.


    "Hm? I''m not out of the pagoda? Where am I?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Just then, he heard a heart-wrenching scream from a sobbing woman somewhere close by.


    "Master, please spare my child! Master!"


    The woman''s cries were wretched; she was entirely distraught.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked over to see a middle-aged woman trussed up in the air with iron chains. Her body was bruised and battered, with bloodstains all over. Her voice had already gone hoarse from shouting.


    "You''re¡ªthe Demon Child''s mother?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    He had once had his subordinates search for a portrait of the Demon Child''s family, so he was able to recognize this woman at a nce.

 Chapter 690: A Mothers Love

    <h4>Chapter 690: A Mother''s Love</h4>


    The woman who was hung up in the air stopped short upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s voice. She looked toward Xiao Nanfeng with swollen, bloodshot eyes.


    "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the woman eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. "I''m the Heaven division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Xiao Nanfeng. What do you think I''m doing here? Traitor, did you betray the sect just to end up like this?"


    "You, you¡ª" The woman began to panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shone with killing intent. "You were once a Taiqing disciple yourself. How does it feel to live the life you do now?"


    The woman paused, then began to sob anew. "Division Leader Xiao, I would be more than happy to die to atone for my sins, but please, save my son! Let me take all responsibility. When my son was captured, he kept calling out for me to find you. Please, Division Leader Xiao, save my son''s life!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was somewhat perplexed. He continued coldly, "We can speak of your sonter. As for you, why do you have to say for yourself for betraying the sect in the past?"


    "I was once Li Qianjun''s disciple. When my master betrayed the sect, I had no choice but to join him. I did want to save my fellow disciples, but I couldn''t do it. I was powerless to help them."


    "Powerless, or unwilling?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The woman''s eyes turned wet with tears. She bit her lip. "By the time the cmity struck the sect, I was already pregnant with Master''s child. He told me not to worry about what was going on, that he would handle everything. I didn''t realize what was going on until it was toote¡ªuntil the sect was ruined, and an Immortal Emperor was leading his troops to exterminate thest of us. I tried to help out then, to the point of ending up with a miscarriage. I was so weak that I passed out¡ªand when I next awoke, the Taiqing Immortal Sect had already turned into ruins. I was unable to do anything."


    Xiao Nanfeng would have to verify this im independently, but given the circumstances and his own intuition, he would give her the benefit of the doubt for the time being. His face softened.


    "How did you end up pregnant with Li Qianjun? Wasn''t he your master? But¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng cut himself off as the woman continued to sob.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. It was obvious, wasn''t it? Li Qianjun was a bastard who eyed even his own disciples.


    "How did you end up with the Demon Child?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I was unable to stop the destruction of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Master advised me not to think about it. When I became pregnant once more, perhaps because of retribution, I suffered another miscarriage¡ªthen several more times in a row. It''s all retribution for what I failed to do, I''m sure of it!" The woman continued to weep.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a dubious look. Retribution? He didn''t believe in such a thing. Li Qianjun certainly had the power and wealth to ensure that a pregnancy was carried to term. How could there have been a problem?


    "Are you Li Qianjun''s only wife?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I wasn''t initially his wife," the woman replied. "Master has his own wife, who has several children with him, but she''s currently in the Hongyue capital."


    "Is his wife someone powerful?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "She''s part of Empress Hongyue''s n."


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "Isn''t it obvious that she was responsible for your miscarriages?"


    The woman sobbed quietly. She knew. Of course she knew, but this wasn''t something she could say or admit to.


    "Li Qianjun truly is a bastard. Even if he''s not willing to name you his wife, the fact that he even turned a blind eye while his wife poisoned you¡ªhow much more shameless can he get? No, if that''s the case, how did you end up with the Demon Child?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Twelve years ago, Sage Green Lotus came to find my master intending to gain the power of the Taiqing burial pagoda. It was only then that Master sent his wife and children into the capital of Hongyue and agreed to take me as a proper wife. He forced me to bear the demonic corpse aura of the Taiqing burial pagoda."


    "The Taiqing burial pagoda? You mean the ck pagoda we''re trapped in?"


    The woman nodded. "The Taiqing burial pagoda was one of the treasures left behind by the Taiqing Grandmaster ten thousand years ago. All the Taiqing disciples since have agreed to be buried within the pagoda. It was once a mass grave, but Sage Green Lotus convinced Master to seize it for himself and convert it into a relic."


    "How did you end up with the Demon Child? And why were you finally made his wife?"


    "Ten thousand years'' worth of Taiqing disciples buried in the mound gestated an incredible concentration of demonic corpse aura, and trying to im it as a relic would cause bacsh from it all. Sage Green Lotus provided a suggestion: he would use his seventh-grade lotus to filter that aura and allow Master to im the pagoda for himself.


    "Oh?"


    "The resulting demonic corpse aura was imbued with the remnant impressions of the Taiqing dead. After the seventh-grade lotus filtered it all out, a Taiqing disciple would be needed to nurture and pacify all the remnant impressions. I was the disciple that was chosen, and Master made me his wife then. He infused all the demonic corpse aura into my body in the form of a fetus."


    "And that''s what the Demon Child is? The offspring of countless Taiqing ancestors'' demonic corpse aura?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Yes," the woman said weakly.


    Xiao Nanfeng was astounded. He finally understood why the Demon Child had been able to be a Golden Immortal at eight¡ªat its core, his body had been made of fragments of countless cultivators across the ages, all gathered into one body.


    "Don''t you know that close contact with such aura would harm you permanently? Let alone the fact that all this demonic aura was formed from the remnants of Taiqing disciples! What were you thinking?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "I know, but I had no choice!" The woman continued to weep.


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. It was clear that the woman had been brainwashed by Li Qianjun, who had sent his true wife away and allowed this woman to suffer the consequences in her ce.


    "Does that mean that the Demon Child is unrted to Li Qianjun?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The woman nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "And you treated it like a real pregnancy? Such intimate contact with demonic corpse aura for a prolonged period of time¡ªI can''t even imagine it."


    "At the start, when the demonic corpse aura was first infused into my body, I was wracked with pain. One day, however, I could sense a heartbeat in my stomach. I didn''t fear the pain thereafter. It was my child, a child I would surely be able to birth safely." Despite the pain, the woman suddenly smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed again. The woman clearly knew that her miscarriages had been because of Li Qianjun, but they had left her with an overwhelming desire to nurture a baby in her own right.


    "The demonic corpse aura initially tormented me, but as I talked to the baby, sang to him, and pacified him, he gradually grew very obedient. He stopped making a fuss, and even made sure to rein in all the demonic corpse aura within himself so as not to make me ufortable. My dear, sweet child!" the woman sighed.


    "You were pregnant for three years?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Three whole years. The moment the baby was born, demonic corpse aura filled the manor. All the domestic fowl we kept died. Master began calling me his wife then, and he named the baby the Demon Child and acknowledged him as his son." The woman smiled in bliss.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned at her.


    "He was mischievous and made such a mess everywhere, but I know he''s a good boy. Whenever I told him not to do something, he would always listen to me. He''s more obedient than any baby I''ve ever seen," the woman recollected.


    "What happened thereafter? What are they trying to do with the Demon Child now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The woman grimaced. "The Taiqing burial pagoda consists of tenyers. Master was only able to extract the first nineyers. They''ve never been able to do anything about the finalyer, the one containing the Taiqing elders and sect masters across the ages. The demonic corpse aura in that finalyer is the most concentrated. Apparently, once the Taiqing burial pagoda is fully excavated, Master''s strength will beparable to that of a Boundless Immortal."


    "No wonder the Demon Child suddenly had the strength of a Boundless Immortal¡ªhe''s absorbed thatst portion of demonic corpse aura!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Already? Doesn''t that mean he''s about to bepletely controlled?"The woman began to sob again.


    "How did you end up being detained here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Sage Green Lotus came to us a few days ago with the Demon Child in tow. He was struggling furiously, and the sage could barely contain him. Master told me to tell the boy to be obedient. I initially thought that he was just misbehaving, so I told him not to resist, and he stopped struggling. Then, Sage Green Lotus seized full control of him. Oh, how foolish I was! It''s all my fault!" the woman cried out.


    "And then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I thought that Sage Green Lotus, as the Demon Child''s master, would never harm him. It was onlyter that I found out that he was going to forge my baby into his avatar! I knelt and begged Master for mercy, but he was unwilling to save the baby. I couldn''t just watch on¡ªthe Demon Child is everything to me. I tried to stop him, and ended up like this."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Li Qianjun beat you up and imprisoned you here?"


    "I can''t let the Demon Child be harmed, even if I have to die! Division Leader Xiao, I don''t know what to do. Please, please save my child!" The woman wept.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "There was a blood-colored rune on the Demon Child''s forehead, whichbined with a seal from Sage Green Lotus''s seventh-grade lotus. The Demon Child won''t listen to reason anymore, and he''s particrly strong. I do want to rescue him, but I can''t."


    "Won''t listen to reason? You mean he hasn''t been fully forged into Sage Green Lotus''s avatar yet? He''s suffering from confusion because of the blood curse. He can still be rescued. Can you take me out of here? Let me save him!" the woman suddenly shouted.


    "Can you awaken his consciousness?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can. Division Leader Xiao, I can! Can you bring me out? If we don''t break that curse, he really will die!" the woman pleaded with renewed hope.


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, Division Leader Xiao, thank you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng cut apart the chains suspending the woman''s body, then broke whatever seals remained on her.


    "It''s somewhat dangerous outside. Hide in the gourd for the time being. I''ll let you know and bring you out once it''s safe," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I understand," the woman said.


    Xiao Nanfeng sucked the woman into the gourd, then used his candleme powers and vanished from sight.

 Chapter 691: The Taiqing Art of Substitution

    <h4>Chapter 691: The Taiqing Art of Substitution</h4>


    With the help of his candleme powers, Xiao Nanfeng quickly escaped from the burial pagoda.


    He emerged to see the skies pouring with rain. Violent fighting was taking ce in the air and on the ground. There were mes and howling winds everywhere.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" Li Qianjun eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to see Li Qianjun and Sage Green Lotus performing a ritual by the altar. They seemed to be at a critical juncture¡ªrather than rush toward him, they were only staring at him in shock and anger.


    "How did he escape from the burial pagoda?" Sage Green Lotus thundered. "Didn''t you say that he would be trapped? Go and seize him!"


    "Ignore him for now. Focus on the business we have at hand. The spectral soldiers will take care of him," Li Qianjun replied.


    Sage Green Lotus could only nod in frustration.


    The two cultivators continued to perform their ritual as they attempted to wrestle the finalyer of the pagoda into submission.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother with the two of them. Li Qianjun, especially when wielding his pagoda, would be a tricky foe to deal with. Furthermore, he had to secure enough time to break the Demon Child''s bindings before he waspletely mastered.


    High in the air, the dragon of water continued to take on the Demon Child. The fighting was intense, and shockwaves of pure force rippled through the air, sending a deluge of water and furious mes flying.


    "Be careful, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted from afar.


    The spectral tiger, which Zhao Yuanjiao and the twelve golden cultivators had been encircling, suddenly broke out and rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, likely on Li Qianjun''s orders. Zhao Yuanjiao and the golden cultivators rushed after it.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem particrly worried. He waved a hand and covered up his surroundings in red fog.


    The spectral tiger growled ferociously, as if taunting Xiao Nanfeng for making a move toote. With a roar, it charged into the red fog¡ªand then stopped short.


    Ye Dafu rushed into the red fog, only to find a set of gates mming shut behind Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your Majesty, where''s the spectral tiger? Could you have trapped it within the Heaven Division''s Gate?" Ye Dafu''s eyes brightened in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng manipted the Heaven division token, causing the gate to vanish. "That''s right. I''ve trapped the tiger, but we can''t let Li Qianjun realize that. Try to make somemotion and cover for me."


    "Understood!"


    By then, the rest of the golden cultivators and Zhao Yuanjiao had made it into the fog as well.


    Upon learning of the situation, they too began to act.


    "Damn it, this bastard! Kill it!"


    "Save me, Your Majesty!"


    "No!"


    With a loud ruckus, the golden cultivators were repeatedly ''sent flying'' from the red fog before they hurriedly made their way back. The spectral tiger seemed to be causing a hugemotion, but no one else realized that this was all an act.


    "Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the gourd and brought out the Demon Child''s mother.


    "The Demon Child''s over there. He''s insensate. How can we awaken him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It is the blood curse, after all!" The woman sobbed. "Oh, my dear son!"


    "Is there a way?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    The woman wiped her tears away. "There is. Can you send my soul into my son''s mindscape?"


    "I can try."


    "Thank you, Division Leader. I can''t thank you enough!"


    The woman shuddered. Her yin body emerged from her forehead as her physical body toppled, but she didn''t seem to care.


    Xiao Nanfeng caught her body. "Let me store your body for safekeeping for now."


    "It doesn''t matter. I won''t be using this physical body anymore," the woman said.


    Suddenly, she knelt down and bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Division Leader Xiao, my son told me that you''ve been particrly close to him. Please take care of him. He wasn''t involved in the cmity that befell the Taiqing sect, and he''s even formed out of the demonic corpse aura of Taiqing disciples across the ages. He bears the aegis and will of Taiqing¡ªhe''s no traitor. Please, Division Leader Xiao!"


    "The cmity naturally has nothing to do with him. I''ll do what I can for him," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Thank you, Division Leader Xiao!"


    "Do you need me to do anything more than send your yin body into the Demon Child''s mindscape?"


    "That''s sufficient. Leave the rest to me."


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He caught the woman''s yin body in his palms, then looked up at the sky. "Ao Zhou, freeze the Demon Child in ce!"


    The dragon of water roared and sent a torrent of water flying straight at the Demon Child. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng had likelye up with some way to deal with him.


    The Demon Child roared back, deflecting the torrent of water with his demon-subduing golden hoop.


    The golden hoop smashed into the dragon of water.


    "You rascal, do you know how much your attacks hurt? Now, stay in there!" the dragon of water roared.


    Ao Zhou coiled around the Demon Child, forming a huge bubble of water with his body and trapping him within. The Demon Child struggled furiously to break free, and his demon-subduing golden hoop shone with intense light. Ao Zhou roared in pain and anger, but the Demon Child was rendered stationary for the time being.


    Xiao Nanfeng made his move then.


    He invoked his candleme powers as a sh of red light appeared by the Demon Child''s forehead.


    The Demon Child roared in frustration and was just about to retaliate when a woman suddenly called out, "My dear boy!"


    The Demon Child''s fiery eyes suddenly grew unfocused for a moment, giving the woman''s yin body an opportunity to enter his mindscape.


    The Demon Child roared and tried to seize the yin body, only to have her begin to chant. "Heavens above, the Taiqing red moon, I invoke thee. Substitute body for body, curse for curse. Let my body bear the burden of the blood curse!"


    The Taiqing red moon to the back of the woman''s head glowed with incandescent light as a sinister, mysterious beam formed between her and the blood curse on the Demon Child''s forehead. The blood-colored lotus, attracted by the beam, slowly shifted toward her body.


    The Demon Child suddenly clutched his head in pain. "Mother, it hurts!"


    "Don''t cry, my dear boy. I''m right here. Help Mother out and let''s remove the blood curse from your body, alright? Listen to me. Resist them. You can do it. I''m right here with you!" the woman murmured gently.


    "Mother? Mother, it hurts!" The Demon Child continued to clutch his head in pain.


    "Keep going. It''ll stop hurting soon, alright. Keep pushing! I''m right here!"


    "Mother!" The Demon Child sobbed in pain.


    The dragon of water transmitted the sound within the bubble to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Zhao Yuanjiao gasped in shock. "The Taiqing Art of Substitution? She must be crazy¡ªshe''s going to die!"


    "She''s saving her son," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Even with the Demon Child''s unique constitution, he couldn''t stand the pain of the blood curse. How can she bear with it all while soothing and pacifying the Demon Child? Her willpower is extraordinary..."


    "I suppose this is the strength of motherly love," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sighing.


    Just then, a huge rumble rang out from afar. The ground burst open as mounds of dust shot into the air, and a fearsome aura emerged from underground.


    "We''ve seeded, haha!" Li Qianjun roared inughter.


    Sage Green Lotus turned around in shock. "They''re trying to break the blood curse! Now that you''ve cleared out the tenthyer of the burial pagoda, help me stop them!"


    "Very well," Li Qianjun replied.


    A pitch-ck pagoda rushed toward the cultivators.


    Compared to before, the pagoda now had an additional tenthyer, and its aura had grown even stronger. An intense suction struck everyone.


    "Ao Zhou, don''t worry about the Demon Child anymore. Stop Li Qianjun!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The bubble of water enveloping the Demon Child burst apart and returned to the shape of a dragon. Ao Zhou flew toward the pagoda and smashed into it in a shockwave of force.


    The pagoda was sent flying back toward Li Qianjun.


    "What a fearsome relic. It''s a Boundless Immortal treasure! Damn it, it hurts even with the Eye of the Sea to shield me! Xiao Nanfeng, you really are a troublemaker. I''ve never had peace with you around!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The dragon of water roared and shot toward Li Qianjun once more.


    Li Qianjun red at Ao Zhou, his eyes cold. He sent the pagoda toward Ao Zhou again. The dragon and pagoda shed with each other repeatedly in bursts of water and fire. The underside of the pagoda released a tremendous suction, while Ao Zhou countered with a huge torrent of water. They seemed to be in a precarious equilibrium.


    Meanwhile, Sage Green Lotus flew over. Though Xiao Nanfeng''s detonation of Long Er body had wounded him severely, his injuries had recovered to a significant extent since. He held his seventh-grade lotus in hand.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you! Stop right there!" he howled.


    "Stall him!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Die!" the golden cultivators shouted, charging toward Sage Green Lotus.


    "Sea of Swords!" Sage Green Lotus intoned.


    Blue spiritual swords gushed out of the seventh-grade lotus, forming a veritable sea of swords that surged toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Be careful!"


    The twelve golden cultivators were all sent flying. Not only that, despite their Indomitable Bodies, the swords left nicks and cuts all over at an elerating rate.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s crescent sword deflected many of the spiritual swords, but the attack ultimately ended up striking him as well. Blood sprayed out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed. He activated his candleme powers and teleported to Sage Green Lotus''s side.


    "You can manipte space? How can you control naturalws to such an extent?!" Sage Green Lotus cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck him with a palm, causing a percussive boom to ring out from his body.

 Chapter 692: Causing Sage Green Lotus to Explode

    <h4>Chapter 692: Causing Sage Green Lotus to Explode</h4>


    Though Xiao Nanfeng was just a True Immortal, his extraordinary techniques gave him an overwhelming boost to strength. He fought on the level of an early-stage Golden Immortal.


    If Sage Green Lotus were in peak condition, Xiao Nanfeng''s blow wouldn''t have harmed him at all. However, he was still debilitated by the injury he suffered from Long Er''s detonation, and the brunt of the attack caught him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s primary target, however, wasn''t Sage Green Lotus, but rather his seventh-grade lotus relic.


    The lotus sent countless spiritual swords toward Xiao Nanfeng, tearing apart his clothes and embedding themselves in his flesh.


    "What potent spiritual energy," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    It had bypassed even the defenses of his Imposing Avatar of Ri. Blood sprayed out as he suffered a serious injury.


    "You intend to steal my relic? Dream on! Seventh-grade lotus, return to me!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    Unfortunately for the sage, the lotus vibrated before it vanished from sight, leaving nothing but Xiao Nanfeng''s bloody body behind.


    "Where''s my lotus? Return it to me!" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    The relic had disappeared in a sh, and his connection to it had even been severed. He gaped in shock.


    "What a frightening relic. As expected of a Boundless Immortal treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. "Those swords almost pierced straight through my body."


    He stored the Divine Seal of Dazheng once more. The reason he had risked serious injury to get in close range of the lotus was precisely to trap it within his seal. Though it had been a risky move, it had paid off.


    Of course, it had only worked because Sage Green Lotus had been careless andmanded it to attack Xiao Nanfeng. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to get close at all.


    "Thank you for the treasure, Sage Green Lotus, haha!"


    Sage Green Lotus thundered in fury, "Return me my treasure!"


    He shot toward Xiao Nanfeng in a fit of anger, only to find the golden cultivators and Zhao Yuanjiao blocking his way.


    "Die!"


    With Xiao Nanfeng''s help, the cultivators were able to hold back Sage Green Lotus for the time being.


    "How are you, Nanfeng?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked in worry.


    This was the first time he had seen Xiao Nanfeng so badly injured. Xiao Nanfeng''s chest was a mess of flesh and blood, despite the fact that not even a Golden Immortal had ever been able to deal serious damage to his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng spat out a mouthful of blood. "At any rate, I''m not going to die just yet. Let''s deal with Sage Green Lotus first," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" The cultivators ruhsed forward.


    The fighting grew more and more intense. Though Sage Green Lotus was seriously injured, he was still ate-stage Golden Immortal, and he could at least fend off the gathered cultivators. Of course, the fact that he could do nothing more was humiliating enough.


    "Demon Child, assist me and kill them!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    High in the air, the Demon Child''s body froze. He seemed about to be controlled once more.


    Within his mindscape, however, his mother whispered, "My dear son, resist the call. Don''t let yourself be controlled. The blood curse is about to pass to me. Stay strong, alright? Mother is waiting for you."


    "Mother, it hurts, it hurts so badly! I can''t hold on much longer, Mother!" the Demon Child sobbed.


    "You can do it, my dear boy. I''ll take you fishing once everything''s over, alright? We''ll enjoy the best food and travel the world. You can do it. Stay strong!"


    "I''ll try, Mother, but it hurts so much!"


    "Ah!" the woman suddenly cried out in pain.


    "Mother? Mother, what''s wrong?" the Demon Child shouted.


    From her, there was only silence.


    The Demon Child fretted anxiously, "Mother? Mother, speak to me, please! Mother, I''m scared! I''ll try to bear the pain¡ªplease!"


    Long moments passed before the woman murmured weakly, "My dear boy."


    "I''m right here, Mother!"


    "My dear boy, if I ever vanish, you have to live on and stay strong without me. Do you understand? Smile daily. Be happy daily! I''ll watch over you from the heavens above. If you''re happy, I will be too."


    "Mother, what are you talking about? Aren''t you going to apany me?!"


    "I won''t be able to hold on much longer. My soul has shattered, and I''m about to dissipate. I''m sorry, my dear boy. I won''t be able to be with you as you grow up. Stay strong. Live on!" The woman''s voice grew weaker and weaker.


    "Mother, what are you talking about? I don''t understand¡ªI don''t understand!" Even so, the Demon Child seemed to intuit something. Fearced his voice.


    "Don''t listen to your father ever again. Your father, Li Qianjun, will only try to scheme against you. In fact, he''s not your father at all, so don''t worry about him. Xiao Nanfeng will protect you. You''re still young, and there''s much you don''t know. You''ll learn with age. Before you turn 20, as long as Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t hurt you, listen to him. Do you understand, my dear boy?"


    "What are you talking about, Mother?!" the Demon Child screamed.


    "My dear boy, you have to grow up and mature quickly. Marry a good woman for me, but don''t hurt her, alright? Make sure to give her the status and treatment she deserves!" The woman''s voice continued to grow ever fainter.


    "No, Mother! I don''t want a wife. All I want is you! Don''t frighten me, Mother!" The Demon Child began to sob piteously.


    Just then, Sage Green Lotus''s voice rang out within the Demon Child''s mindscape.


    "So you''re the wench responsible for breaking the Demon Child''s blood curse? Die!" Sage Green Lotus shouted furiously.


    "My dear boy, you''ll have to be on your own from now on. I know you''ll be able to ovee whatever troubles you face," the woman whispered.


    Then, her shattered soul was forcibly dissipated by Sage Green Lotus''s lotus seal.


    "No!" the Demon Child shrieked.


    He could sense what was happening to his mother''s soul. Sage Green Lotus was eviscerating it, leaving nothing behind.


    The Demon Child screamed in agony. Memories of the past shed before his eyes.


    "My dear boy, you were the greatest blessing of my life."


    "Don''t be mischievous, alright? Your father''s forcing you to kneel so you understand the magnitude of what you''ve done. But I''ve secretly brought you a little piece of cake."


    "My dear boy, when will you grow up?"


    "My dear boy, please stay safe."


    His mother''s voice faded away, never to be heard again.


    Her soul had been shattered.


    The Demon Child was a ship unmoored, its tether broken.


    Sage Green Lotus''s voice resounded in his mindscape again. "That wench really was the cause of all this, wasn''t she? Now that she''s dead, the Demon Child isn''t resisting anymore! Haha! Lotus seal, activate!"


    Mysterious energy shot toward the Demon Child and attempted to erode his will, but the Demon Child''s willpower suddenly seemed to ze up.


    "Who did you call a wench? Bastard, you killed my mother! I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child suddenly roared, his voice like that of a malevolent specter from the deepest pits of hell.


    Demonic me rose up around him.


    "No! Impossible! How could your will be so strong?!" Sage Green Lotus eximed.


    The blood curse was wiped awaypletely from the Demon Child''s forehead, leaving the green lotus totem behind. It shone with incredible light as it surrounded the Demon Child''s head, then his body, as it tried to distill him down to his essence.


    "Scram! I''ll kill you for killing my mother!" the Demon Child howled.


    ck smoke gushed out of the Demon Child''s body and headed straight toward the green lotus totem.


    "Damn it, it''s all that wench''s fault! No!" Sage Green Lotus panicked.


    "I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child echoed.


    With a bang, the green light surrounding him dispersed, as did the green lotus totem on his forehead. The formless bindings restraining him fell away.


    The Demon Child howled, releasing a wave of sound all around him and sending everything flying. For an instant, the whole world was filled with mes.


    The Demon Child had finally awoken. His eyes were bright red, his face a mask of anger. Hatred billowed from his gaze.


    Sage Green Lotus stumbled as he suffered a serious bout of bacsh from the breaking of the green lotus totem. He spat out a mouthful of blood, then looked into the air to see the Demon Child''s bright-red gaze staring back at him.


    His eyes were filled with hatred and tears.


    "Bastard, I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child shouted, then shot over.


    "No!" Sage Green Lotus cried out.


    He rushed up and began to flee, knocking everyone else aside.


    However, the Demon Child was far faster than he was now. The Demon Child smashed a fist into Sage Green Lotus''s body, sending him flying toward a huge mountain nearby. The mountain shattered and unleashed a rockslide.


    "Save me, Li Qianjun!" Sage Green Lotus shouted.


    However, Li Qianjun was being held back by the dragon of water and could render no assistance. The Demon Child rushed over.


    "Bastard, I''ll kill you!" The Demon Child shed right up to him.


    Sage Green Lotus was bleeding profusely from every orifice, his chest caved in and his bones shattered. Even so, the Demon Child didn''t relent. He continued to punch Sage Green Lotus''s head.


    "Disciple, I''m your master! Don''t do this to me!" Sage Green Lotus shrieked.


    Then, with a wet st, his head burst open.


    "Bastard, return my mother to me. Return my mother to me!" the Demon Child cried. He bawled even as he continued to punch his erstwhile master''s corpse.


    It mattered little to him that Sage Green Lotus had already perished. He punched and punched, each punch stronger than thest. When Sage Green Lotus''s spirit emerged, he punched it until it dissipated, then wrecked the rest of his body.


    The Demon Child had be a veritable demon in truth. He cried his heart out, his agonized screams echoing far across the heavens.

 Chapter 693: Nine-Tailed Fox

    <h4>Chapter 693: Nine-Tailed Fox</h4>


    The dragon of water smashed into the Taiqing burial pagoda. He was growing stronger and stronger. Li Qianjun, sensing that something was amiss, hurriedly stepped through a door leading into the pagoda.


    "Assimtion!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    A huge burst of smoke burst forth from the pagoda, causing its strength to increase rapidly. It smashed toward the dragon of water again in an explosion of astounding magnitude.


    "How much more annoying can you get? I''ll st you to pieces!" the dragon of water roared.


    The dragon and pagoda shed with each other again and again in bursts of wind, water, and me. Torrential rain flooded the city of Taixu.


    By then, the cultivators that had been trapped within had escaped beyond the confines of the city, but they still weren''t safe. They continued to fall back, staring in shock at what was happening in the sky above them.


    "A fight between Boundless Immortals really is frightening."


    "The whole city is flooding¡ªthis dragon really is amazing."


    "How could the Immortal Emperor have favored someone as vile as Li Qianjun?"


    The cultivators gaped at the scene before them even as they cursed Li Qianjun''s name.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng clutched his wounds as he took stock of the situation.


    The Demon Child was still pounding madly at Sage Green Lotus''s corpse, not intending to spare even that. As for the golden cultivators, they were now attacking Li Qianjun''s ck-armored subordinates instead.


    Without the protection of a Golden Immortal, the ck-armored cultivators were quickly ughtered to thest.


    Zhao Yuanjiao stood guarding Xiao Nanfeng as he looked up into the air. "The fight between the dragon of water and the Taiqing burial pagoda is no less intense than it was against Ao Canghai¡ªno, it seems like it''s even more intense, doesn''t it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. "That damn Ao Zhou!"


    "What''s the matter? Isn''t he fighting hard?"


    "He is, but the Eye of the Sea isn''t his, so he doesn''t care for it at all. He wouldn''t mind sacrificing my Eye of the Sea if it means he can take down Li Qianjun," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Zhao Yuanjiao realized the problem as well. He frowned. "Ao Zhou really is a bastard."


    Up in the air, Li Qianjun, who had melded with the Taiqing burial pagoda, realized how intensely Ao Zhou was fighting as well. He was using the Eye of the Sea to the point where it was about to break down, and even Li Qianjun couldn''t bear the intensity of his attacks.


    "Are you crazy? Even a Boundless Immortal relic can''t withstand this level of damage! Don''t you know how to use it properly?!"


    "It''s not my relic, at any rate. I don''t care even if it gets damaged. I''m just going to finish you off!"


    "Damn it¡ªdie!" Li Qianjun howled.


    Ao Zhou might not care about the Boundless Immortal relic currently in his possession, but Li Qianjun very much cared for his own pagoda!


    The underside of the Taiqing burial pagoda began to release another wave of suction against the dragon¡ªto little effect, considering he was at the level of a Boundless Immortal.


    "Come at me. We''ll perish together!" the water dragon roared.


    The dragon of water smashed into the Taiqing burial mound again in a fiery wave of energy so intense no one else could get near.


    "You lunatic!" Li Qianjun howled.


    "Again! Come at me again!" the dragon of water roared.


    "Are you crazy?!"


    The dragon of water smashed into the pagoda with such intense force that the pagoda cracked audibly.


    "My burial pagoda!" Li Qianjun cried out.


    The dragon''s head seemed to crack as well.


    "Something''s gone wrong with the naturalws governed by the Eye of the Sea!"


    "It''s all your fault, you maniac!" Li Qianjun''s voice was vibrating in anger.


    "Who cares? Again!" the dragon of water howled.


    Li Qianjun stared, gobsmacked. "Again? I gave up my son, my people, and my reputation all for this Boundless Immortal pagoda. Why would I waste it to take you down?!"


    "Die!" The dragon of water roared, charging toward Li Qianjun.


    "Scram, you bastard!" Li Qianjun was forced to run off with the pagoda in tow.


    "Li Qianjun, you coward! Come on, let''s keep fighting! I''ll take you down alongside me!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "Stay away from me, lunatic!" Li Qianjun thundered.


    He didn''t want to waste any more time on Ao Zhou¡ªand Ao Zhou wasn''t the only proble, either. The Demon Child had managed to beat Sage Green Lotus to death, and he would be done for if they came for him together.


    "Don''t run! Stay right there. We haven''t perished together just yet!" the dragon roared.


    Down below, after the Demon Child had beaten Sage Green Lotus into nothing resembling a human, he started bawling again.


    "Return my mother to me! Return her now!" the Demon Child cried out, starting to punch at the unrecognizable mess once more.


    "Wake up, Demon Child!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Demon Child ignored him. He wiped away his tears and looked into the air.


    "I''ll kill everyone who hurt my mother. She told me you weren''t my father at all, and I saw you beat her up. I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child thundered.


    The Demon Child rushed into the air, heading straight for the dragon of water and the Taiqing burial pagoda.


    "Damn it, you bastard, scram!" Li Qianjun shouted again.


    He knocked aside the dragon as he tried to flee, but the Demon Child had already closed in on him. He punched at the man he once thought his father.


    "You dare strike your father?" Li Qianjun roared from within the Taiqing burial pagoda.


    "For beating up my mother, I''ll take your life!" the Demon Child shouted back, undeterred.


    The Demon Child pummeled the Taiqing burial pagoda until it shook and burst with me.


    "Die!" the dragon of water roared, charging into Li Qianjun.


    "You maniacs, both of you!" Li Qianjun was so mad he was about to spit out blood.


    As a result of the intense attacks, the Taiqing burial pagoda cracked in earnest, as did the dragon of water.


    Li Qianjun was devastated. He had gone to all this effort in order to upgrade his Taiqing burial pagoda, but if it were to break, all his efforts would have been useless!


    "Li Qianjun, I''m going to kill you!" the Demon Child roared, pping at him.


    "Don''t!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    His burial pagoda wouldn''t be able to afford any further attacks. He nched in despair.


    Suddenly, a giant white object appeared in the void, almost like a tail a few hundred meters long. It shot toward the Demon Child, sending him flying as the void vibrated intensely.


    The Demon Child spat out a mouthful of blood, badly injured.


    "What''s this? A fox''s tail?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Without any hesitation, however, he continued charging at the Taiqing burial mound. "Let''s die together!"


    "Again?" Li Qianjun growled. He turned toward the heavens. "Empress, please save me!"


    The giant fox''s snowy-white tail appeared in the void once again, this time striking the dragon of water instead.


    The fox''s tail sent the dragon crashing into the distance, the cracks all over its body propagating to such an extent that the whole construct was about to copse.


    "A Boundless Immortal? A real Boundless Immortal? We won''t be able to win. Demon Child, hurry! We have to flee!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    The Demon Child''s eyes were bright red. He was still stewing in grief over his mother''s death. Rather than stop, he shot straight toward the Taiqing burial pagoda again.


    "I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child howled.


    Just then, nine snowy-white tails manifested through the void, causing it to ripple and pulsate, then twined together to strike at the Demon Child.


    The Demon Child was sent flying again. Blood sprayed from all over his body as his bones broke, a gruesome sight.


    "Concentrated demonic corpse aura? What a rare ingredient," a woman''s voice resounded.


    One snowy-white tail curled around the Demon Child and caught him in its grip.


    "To me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from afar.


    A burst of red light shed by the fox''s tail as the Demon Child vanished from sight and reappeared in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately fled into the sea, alongside Zhao Yuanjiao and the gathered golden cultivators.


    The womanughed scornfully. "Oh? Do you think you''ll be able to steal something from my grasp? Let''s see how skilled you are at fleeing, then!"


    The nine snowy-white tails shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng so quickly that even he wasn''t able to escape.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched, not anticipating such danger.


    Just as he was about to transform into his yin body and escape via spiritual harmony, a figure clouded in ck fog appeared before him, pping at the fox''s tails with his palm.


    A ming tempest formed at the point of impact, and the resulting shockwaves sent tidal waves surging across the sea.


    After that blow, however, the fighting ceased. The nine tails all slunk back as the figure in ck stood firmly before Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Who are you?" the woman eximed in surprise.


    In front of the shattered Taiqing burial pagoda, the image of a woman dressed in a white Chinese gown slowly manifested. She possessed incredible beauty, though her exquisite features were currently rigid in anger. Nine snowy-white tails floated behind her as she stared at the figure before Xiao Nanfeng.


    The ck fog clouding the figure left his appearance indistinct, but the blow he had dealt was a testament to his strength.


    "Another Boundless Immortal? Xiao Nanfeng, where did you find such a helper?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the aura permeating the ck fog before him and instantly guessed who it was. His heart thumped with joy¡ªthe Divine Emperor, whom he had been thinking about so much recently, had made her appearance once again. But what was she doing here?


    The Divine Emperor didn''t reveal her identity, and Xiao Nanfeng knew better than to expose her identity. He deliberately said, "We shouldn''t stay here for long. Let''s return to the Imperial Court for now."


    High in the air, the woman narrowed her eyes and considered them seriously.

 Chapter 694: Youre My Wife

    <h4>Chapter 694: You''re My Wife</h4>


    By then, Li Qianjun had emerged from the Taiqing burial pagoda. He nced at the pagoda that had all but crumbled away in abject loss, but he knew there was little he could do given the situation. Pressing his lips together, he retreated behind the woman.


    The woman narrowed her eyes as she stared at the figure within the ck fog standing in front of Xiao Nanfeng, a Boundless Immortal. She was particrly wary of that unknown figure, but didn''t have a clue as to who it was until Xiao Nanfeng mentioned the Imperial Court.


    Was the figure a Boundless Immortal of the Imperial Court?


    "Are you unwilling to show yourself?" the woman ventured.


    The figure in the ck fog didn''t speak and instead continued to stare at the woman.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediatelymanded, "Everyone, retreat! We''ll leave by sea. All cultivators of Taixu, if you don''t want to be killed by Li Qianjun''s helpers, you''d better leave at once!"


    Countless cultivators who had been watching the fight unfold in the distance nched. Heeding Xiao Nanfeng''s warning, they scattered across the sea.


    "Nanfeng, the ckguards found this storage bangle by the side of Sage Green Lotus''s corpse. The Demon Child might have killed him, but he left this storage bangle untouched." Zhao Yuanjiao handed over the bangle.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the bangle and nodded. "All of you should leave immediately, too."


    Zhao Yuanjiao, the golden cultivators, and the ckguards fled at once. The dragon of water flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''m returning you the Eye of the Sea. See? It''s in good condition. If you ruin it, it''s not my fault."


    The dragon of water transformed back into an orb, one that wasced through with white scars.


    Then, Ao Zhou flew out of the orb, which began to gush water immediately.


    "Hand me the Cage of the Sea. I''ll help you seal the Eye," Ao Zhou said.


    Xiao Nanfeng passed Ao Zhou a relic, which he quickly activated. Huge nails pinned the Eye of the Sea in ce and prevented it from gushing water.


    "It might not look like it''s in good shape, but it hasn''t broken yet. If anything happens, it''s not my fault. I''m leaving now!"


    Ao Zhou rushed off into the sea and vanished near-immediately.


    The Eye of the Sea looked as though it would shatter at any moment.


    Xiao Nanfeng hardly had the time to castigate him now. Rather, he shook his head and stored the Eye of the Sea in his gourd.


    The Divine Emperor continued to face off against the unknown woman. The atmosphere was tense, but neither of them made a move.


    "Let''s go," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The Divine Emperor nodded, grabbed Xiao Nanfeng, and flew away.


    The woman watched on as Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor left, her eyes furrowed in thought, but she didn''t give chase. Li Qianjun fretted anxiously by her side, but didn''t darement.


    Just then, a purple-robed woman flew toward her from close by. "Jiuniang, why did you allow them to leave? Even if there were a Boundless Immortal in that cloud of ck fog, you''re one too! It would be easy enough to hold them down until the Immortal Emperor got here."


    The woman shook her head. "The figure in the ck fog was incredibly strong. I couldn''t be confident I would be able to do so, and the Immortal Emperor''s unable to free himself at the moment."


    The purple-robed woman pursed her lips, then turned to Li Qianjun with a frown. "Husband, didn''t you say that everything was under control? Why did you suddenly send me a mental transmission? If I hadn''t summoned the empress, you would have been done for!"


    "I was careless," Li Qianjun replied, sighing.


    "I told you not to keep that wench around, didn''t I? I was right," the purple-robed woman said.


    "Indeed. She deserved to die. Thank you for your assistance, Your Majesty," Li Qianjun said to the woman with nine tails floating behind her.


    She was none other than the empress of Hongyue, Tu Jiuniang.


    "I''ve shattered the Demon Child''s demonic corpse body. Even if he lives, he''ll be crippled," Tu Jiuniang informed him.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty," Li Qianjun repeated.


    "Do you know who that Boundless Immortal was?"


    "I don''t. If Xiao Nanfeng had a Boundless Immortal helping him out, why didn''t the Immortal appear from the very beginning?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng mentioned that he was returning to the Imperial Court. Are there any Boundless Immortals with whom he''s familiar there?" Tu Jiuniang pressed.


    "Not ording to our information. He''s only familiar with Ao Canghai, but they don''t get along at all," Li Qianjun reported.


    "You''re confident?"


    "Not entirely. Perhaps they just act that way¡ªafter all, when Xiao Nanfeng took down Dayin, Ao Canghai was helping out. When Xiao Nanfeng took down the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, Ao Canghai was witnessed there as well. Although it looked as though he had been tricked by Xiao Nanfeng after the fact, how could a Cardinal Aspect be tricked so easily? It really might be a manufactured feud, after all," Li Qianjun replied.


    Tu Jiuniang snarled, "In that case, Ao Canghai was the Boundless Immortal who dared get in my way?"


    "That damn Ao Canghai," Li Qianjun and the purple-robed woman echoed.


    "Sister, let''s return," Tu Jiuniang suggested.


    The purple-robed woman nodded firmly.


    They shot a nce at Taixu, which was by now nothing but rubble. No sign of vitality remained in the region; there was little to miss. The procession left quickly.


    The Divine Emperor flew in a circle over the sea before returning tond. The two cultivators stopped in a secluded valley shrouded with fog, with ornate buildings within. There were shadow cursed effigies in the vicinity, who all bowed upon seeing the Divine Emperor''s return.


    With a wave of her hand, she dismissed them all, leaving just her, Xiao Nanfeng, and the unconscious Demon Child behind.


    By then, all the ck fog around the Divine Emperor had dissipated, revealing her unparalleled beauty and long, luscious hair.


    She was wearing form-fitting ck robes that entuated her body. Her beauty eclipsed even her incredible strength.


    "Your cultivation has improved at a tremendous rate," the Divine Emperormented. Her tone was casual, her eyes gentle.


    "I''ve missed you too." Xiao Nanfeng didn''t release her hand.


    A faint blush appeared on the Divine Emperor''s cheeks. "I''m hardly anyone to you. Why would you think of me?"


    "You''re my wife, and we lived together for an interminable period of time. We encountered all manner of affairs and overcame the challenges we faced. Do you consider me a stranger?" Xiao Nanfeng caressed her hand.


    The Divine Emperor tried to free herself from her grip. "That was a dream, and we were both struck by a curse of affection! That can''t count."


    Xiao Nanfeng held up their hands and shook his head. "One person''s delusions would be a dream, but two people''s shared experience? Hardly. So what if we were under a curse of affection? Even without it, I would still consider you my wife."


    "You!" The Divine Emperor was flustered, but her eyes remained as gentle as ever.


    "Let''s reminisce about the pastter. Have a look at the Demon Child for now. He seems to be rather badly injured," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Divine Emperor calmed down, then inspected the Demon Child alongside Xiao Nanfeng.


    "His body''s a mess, as far as I can tell," Xiao Nanfeng said, cing the Demon Child on the ground. "There are all sorts of chaotic energies ravaging his body."


    The Divine Emperor inspected him as well, then frowned. "This isn''t looking good."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Tu Jiuniang gave him a critical blow, shattering his demonic constitution. Demonic corpse aura is running wild throughout his body. Not only is his body in bad shape, so too is his mind. He has no will to live at all. If this drags on, his body might explode."


    "It''s because of his mother''s death."


    "He needs to regain the will to live in order to slowly master the rampant energies ravaging it."


    "Can you awaken him?"


    "I can, but it''ll be meaningless if he doesn''t do anything. He needs the will to live, too," the Divine Emperor said in worry.


    "Awaken him, please. I''ll try to persuade him."


    The Divine Emperor nodded, sending a wisp of ck energy into the Demon Child''s mindscape. The Demon Child''s body shuddered as he opened his eyes.


    However, they looked like nothing more than soulless pits.


    "Demon Child, are you awake?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Demon Child didn''t say anything. He might as well have been a dummy.


    "Have you forgotten about your mother? What would she think of your actions?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    A glimmer of emotion appeared in the Demon Child''s eyes. Tears began to leak instantly. "Mother''s dead. Mother''s dead!"


    "She''s watching over you from the heavens above," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Demon Child suddenly turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "You''re lying! She''s dead. Her soul dissipated. I saw it with my own eyes. How could she be watching over me?"


    "She died without any regrets, sacrificing herself for you. You can''t let her efforts go to waste," Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    "All I want is my mother! If she''s dead, I''ll die alongside her!" the Demon Child cried.


    In the end, the Demon Child was but a child wracked with emotions.


    "Your mother doesn''t want you to die! She wants you to be a strong, independent man. Aren''t you going to fulfill herst wishes? She spent her life being looked down on and bullied. Aren''t you going to defend and uphold her legacy?"


    The Demon Child continued to cry, but as a child, he was also easily manipted. The despair slowly left his eyes.


    "What''s more, you haven''t finished avenging your mother yet. Don''t you want to take down everyone who hurt her?"


    "I do. I do! I want to take revenge for my mother. She told me to listen to you until I was twenty. Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll help me take revenge, won''t you?" the Demon Child cried out.


    A fearsome will to live had ignited in his eyes once more. Xiao Nanfeng''s maniption had quickly taken effect.

 Chapter 695: Reforging a Physical Body

    <h4>Chapter 695: Reforging a Physical Body</h4>


    With the Demon Child determined to live once more, Xiao Nanfeng was able to rx.


    "What now?" he asked the Divine Emperor.


    "His physical body was made out of demonic corpse aura. Though it may be strong, his future growth might well be stunted, let alone in its current shattered state. Demonic corpse aura is running rampant throughout his body, and it''ll end up being destroyed soon enough if we don''t do anything. We''ll have to reforge his physical body, but ordinary flesh would hardly be able to withstand the concentrated demonic corpse aura. We need a treasure that possesses incredible vitality, one which will ultimately determine his future strength."


    "What about this?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    He revealed the Divine Seal of Dazheng and retrieved an item from within.


    "This is¡ªa seventh-grade lotus?" the Divine Emperor''s eyes lit up.


    "Indeed. Wouldn''t this suffice?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It certainly would, but can you afford to give up such a relic yourself?" The Divine Emperor frowned.


    "The Demon Child will be with me for a decade or so, so it would hardly be a waste. What''s more, precious though the lotus might be, it''s not something I can hope to im for myself."


    The Divine Emperor inclined her head. "I do recall hearing that the seventh-grade lotus is one of the supreme treasures of the Yuqing holynd, and it certainly wouldn''t give up the lotus easily. Very well, then. Let''s use this treasure."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded as well. It was true that he could forcibly consume the seventh-grade lotus himself, and he did have the ability to do so, but it would irreparably damage his rtionship to the Yuqing holynd.


    This was the best-case scenario. He could save the Demon Child, keep the seventh-grade lotus, and add a fearsome cultivator into his ranks.


    The Divine Emperor took the seventh-grade lotus and infused a bout of energy within, causing it to glow with green light.


    The Divine Emperor was a Boundless Immortal. Though she had yet to recover her full strength, it was trivial for her to wipe away all the seals binding the lotus, and she quickly attuned it to her needs.


    "Demon Child, I''m going to be reforging your body. You may feel significant difort, but I promise this is for your own good. If you really can''t bear it any longer, think about your mother. She certainly wants you to grow stronger, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Demon Child nodded, tearing up once more. "I haven''t fulfilled my promise to Mother yet, either. I''m not going to be afraid. Do it!"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the Divine Emperor, who nodded and infused the seventh-grade lotus into the Demon Child''s body.


    The seventh-grade lotus exploded with green light, as though trying to resist the fusion, but its resistance was futile in the Divine Emperor''s presence. Lotus flowers surrounded the Demon Child.


    With a hum, the lotus flowers shone with divine light. It was clear that the reforging of the Demon Child''s physical body would be a rather time-consuming process.


    "Can I help?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There''s no need. It''ll likely take several hours," the Divine Emperor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''ll enter secluded cultivation myself too, then."


    "Go treat your wounds," the Divine Emperor agreed.


    Xiao Nanfeng moved some distance away, then sat cross-legged in meditation as he began to recuperate. After all, he had been hurt badly by the swords that the seventh-grade lotus had manifested.


    After two hours, his injuries had healed to a significant extent. Only then did he change his clothes, take out the gourd strapped to his waist, and inspect the Eye of the Sea.


    He wasn''t in a particr hurry to advance his cultivation, but the Eye of the Sea was hardly in a usable state.


    He sucked the Eye into his dantian.


    Just like his mindscape, though his dantian was part of his body, it had a vast internal space within, which could amodate even the gigantic Eye.


    His ten golden crows cawed and struck the Eye of the Sea simultaneously.


    The Eye of the Sea was at its core arge ball of water, but specially infused with naturalws that granted the water incredible energy. That energy was still bound by the naturalws governing the ball¡ªuntil the golden crows smashed into it and finally released all that energy.


    Incredible spiritual energy filled Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian as he activated all his techniques in quick session: Sky of Ten Suns, the Imposing Avatar of Ri, and the Jade Emperor''s Frame. The spiritual energy was most potent for the Jade Emperor''s Frame; golden rays of light shot out from around Xiao Nanfeng.


    Suddenly, clouds of ck smoke gushed out into Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian, with grasping hands that tried to tear at the internal space within.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "The Eye of the Sea really does contain the cursed spiritual power of the ck coffin."


    Just then, beams of golden light filtered into his dantian and purified the ck smoke and grasping hands.


    "The Jade Emperor''s Frame really can cleanse any cursed energy Ie into contact with," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, nodding in satisfaction.


    Where his dantian had been damaged, paper fragments shot out and filled his wounds. Before long, his dantian was as good as new. Just like the ten golden crows, Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian was forged with the Records of Life and Death, which boosted his regeneration to an exceptional degree.


    Without the interference of the cursed spiritual power, he continued to break through.


    Another four hours passed as his aura suddenly swelled. A wave of energy burst out from him. He opened his eyes and spat out the Cage of the Sea that had been binding the Eye of the Sea.


    "The fourth stage of the True Immortal realm? Advancing your cultivation requires an incredible amount of energy, but you don''t seem to have any bottlenecks at all," the Divine Emperor eximed, astounded.


    "You''re aware of my strong intuition, after all. If not for how unusual my techniques are, I would already have be a Golden Immortal. But this isn''t necessarily a bad thing, I suppose. I''ll be able to shore up my foundations to an incredible level." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The Divine Emperor nodded as well. "Indeed. The stronger your foundations, the more benefits you''ll gain as a Boundless Immortal. Carving out a naturalw of your own is no easy task."


    "Has the Demon Child''s physical body been reforged?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ve only helped him fuse the seventh-grade lotus into his body. He''ll have to work out how to meld the demonic corpse aura with the lotus himself. I expect it''ll take a few days of secluded cultivation."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded gratefully. "Thank you."


    The Divine Emperor manifested a cloud of ck smoke to cover up the giant lotus around the Demon Child''s body, akin to a protective barrier.


    "It''s best to avoid moving his body for the time being. Let''s have him stay here for now," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Very well. Shall we go talk over there?" Xiao Nanfeng gestured in a certain direction.


    The Divine Emperor nodded and brought Xiao Nanfeng toward a pavilion not far away.


    "I heard you''ve proposed to Yu''er," the Divine Emperor said. She was smiling, but there was a tinge of worry in her features.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly as he nodded.


    "I witnessed the growth of the rtionship between you and Yu''er¡ªand all the other women you''ve encountered, too. What do you n on doing in the future? Do you n to propose to them all, or do you have other thoughts?" the Divine Emperor asked seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "My rtionships really have been growing moreplicated. I''m sorry for troubling you."


    "Of these women, do you only intend to pick one, or do you want them all?"


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "In my life, in just a few short decades, I was blessed to have encountered all of you¡ªand I am indebted to you all as well. I might already be dead if not for everyone''s continued support. My rtionship with all of you is not merely of affection, but also of debt."


    "So you intend to marry us all, then? Just like how Emperor Wei had both the Red Emperor and Empress Bai in the undying realm?" the Divine Emperor gave Xiao Nanfeng a contemtive look.


    "I understand your qualms. I am grateful to all the women in my life, and I don''t want to harm any of them. This is what I''m nning to do. I haven''t aplished the feats I''m striving toward just yet, so I don''t dare make lofty promises. The ten-thousand-year cmity draws ever nearer¡ªif we can''t ovee it, our ns will hardly matter. If we can, however, I intend to forge a few new avatars, split up my memories so that each avatar possesses only those memories and feelings associated with a single woman, then sever my rtionship with all my avatars. There shall be one of me for each of you," Xiao Nanfeng proposed gently.


    "What?" the Divine Emperor eximed in shock.


    "If we survive the ten-thousand-year cmity, I would be honored to present you with aplete me who only cares about you and none other," Xiao Nanfeng pledged.


    The Divine Emperor was taken aback. She had been prepared for Xiao Nanfeng to choose between one of them or all of them, not this third option.


    Xiao Nanfeng was nning to mutte his body to this extent for them all!


    In this world where taking multiple wives and even concubines was epted, Xiao Nanfeng''s gesture was particrly touching.


    She suddenly held Xiao Nanfeng''s hand and said, "Don''t. If you do divide up your thoughts, you''ll be iplete. I want you the way you are, healthy and hale."


    As Xiao Nanfeng nced at the Divine Emperor''s exquisite features, the care for him brimming in her eyes, he couldn''t help himself any longer. He stepped forward and held her in an embrace.


    The Divine Emperor tensed, but didn''t resist.


    Xiao Nanfeng still recalled his memories of that lifelong dream they had shared, as did the Divine Emperor herself. How could she have forgotten those memories when she had lived with Xiao Nanfeng as husband and wife. She recalled every detail. And though in this world that dream had yet to be realized, Xiao Nanfeng''s resolute attitude made her believe that what she had awaited all these years was worth it.


    Their eyes met each other''s. The Divine Emperor began to blush.


    Xiao Nanfeng leaned it and gave her a peck on her lips. The Divine Emperor tensed up again, gripping Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulders tightly.


    The kiss seemed tost forever before the two cultivators finally broke it.


    The Divine Emperor''s cheeks were bright red. "You bullied me again!"


    "Dreams are inferior to reality, after all. Divine Emperor, I really am d I can interact with you like this in person," Xiao Nanfeng said gently.


    The Divine Emperor caressed Xiao Nanfeng, who carried her up and took her toward her residence not far away.


    Although this was Xiao Nanfeng''s first time in this valley, it was obvious from a quick scan with his spiritual energy where her bedroom was.


    Xiao Nanfeng carried the Divine Emperor in before all the doors within suddenly sealed themselves, and a glimmering formation isted everything inside.

 Chapter 696: Ao Canghai the Scapegoat

    <h4>Chapter 696: Ao Canghai the Scapegoat</h4>


    The next morning, a ray of sunlight filtered into the room through a window.


    Xiao Nanfeng was seated cross-legged in meditation. Suddenly, a burst of energy shot out from him and rushed out of the room.


    "The fifth stage of the True Immortal realm? How did you break through again?" the Divine Emperor eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes only to be dazzled by the sight of the Divine Emperor nude beside him.


    "What''re you looking at? Haven''t you gotten your fill after the entire night?" The Divine Emperor blushed and quickly covered her body with the sheets.


    "You''re simply too beautiful. I''d never get enough of looking at you," Xiao Nanfeng whispered, lifting her up and hugging her.


    "Liar!" the Divine Emperor replied, blushing.


    She traced a finger over Xiao Nanfeng''s chest. "How did you break through again?"


    "It''s all thanks to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Me?" The Divine Emperor raised a brow, then inspected herself. "It looks like my cultivation has risen by quite a bit too..."


    "Truly? Despite being a Boundless Immortal? Our dual cultivationpatibility must be incredible," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The Divine Emperor prodded him. "Right, I was going to ask¡ªwhat sort of dual cultivation technique is that? It was so embarrassing! Where did you learn it?"


    "I took down a Buddha cursed effigy in the past, the Buddha of Dual Cultivation, and learned it there," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "The Buddha of Dual Cultivation? The name alone is disturbing," the Divine Emperor said, blushing.


    "Of course. I''ve already finished him off¡ªbut this dual cultivation technique isn''t bad, is it?"


    "No dual cultivation technique should have such tremendous effect. Otherwise, there would be no reason for people to cultivate on their own. Perhaps it''s because of a synergistic effect between the candleme powers you possess, and the shadow powers that I do," the Divine Emperor murmured.


    "Why don''t we try it and see, then?" Xiao Nanfeng began to kiss the Divine Emperor again.


    "No more of that!" the Divine Emperor cried out, halfheartedly pushing him away.


    yfulughter echoed within the room once again.


    What had happened in Taixu quickly spread across the world. The cultivators of the Yuqing holynd naturally learned of the news as well.


    The disciples of Chiyang Peak gaped upon hearing the news.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng rushed there to save the Demon Child? That''s impossible! He and the Demon Child don''t get along at all," Xia Lan told the Yuqing disciple before him.


    "It''s true! The news of the fight at Taixu has already spread throughout the Yuqing holynd," the Yuqing disciple said.


    Xia Hong sighed in astonishment. "Xiao Nanfeng really is incredible."


    "Incredible? They killed Sage Green Lotus. He''s done for!" Xia Lan eximed.


    The three women red at him simultaneously.


    "Better that someone like him die! He dared to scheme against Yu''er. He deserves it!"


    "Right! What''s more, the Demon Child was the one who killed Sage Green Lotus. It''s none of Nanfeng''s business. Should Nanfeng have suffered a beating without counterattacking?"


    "Nanfeng isn''t to me for what happened."


    The three women all stood on Xiao Nanfeng''s side.


    Xia Hong nodded. "We won''t let anyone pin Sage Green Lotus''s death on Nanfeng, but it''s troublesome for him to have taken the seventh-grade lotus."


    "In what way? That''s rightfully Nanfeng''s bybat," Han Bingdie replied.


    Xia Hong shook his head. "It''s not that simple. The seventh-grade lotus is a relic of the Yuqing holynd, and we''re obligated to reim it if it falls into an outsider''s hands."


    "But Nanfeng''s not an outsider," one of the women replied, frowning.


    "That''s precisely why it''s troublesome. I''m afraid some people will be so shameless as to force us to ask for it back," Xia Hong replied.


    "Would they dare? How much more shameless can they get?" another of the women cried out.


    "If they weren''t shameless, they wouldn''t have forced Yu''er to marry into the Southeastern Aquatic Pce," Xia Hong replied.


    The cultivators grimaced.


    "Even if the hierarch himselfes, we can''t agree. Tell him that your father makes all the decisions around here, and that we can''t do anything without his being here," a woman suggested.


    "Right! Say that. Let them find Nanfeng and try to reim the relic on their own. There''s a Boundless Immortal helping him out, after all. They won''t seed!" another woman added.


    Xia Hong nodded as well.


    Just then, a Chiyang Peak disciple rushed into the hall.


    "Seniors, a few Mountain Lords are seeking an audience," the disciple reported.


    The cultivators present eyed each other. Then, after taking a deep breath and readying themselves, one of the women said, "Invite them in."


    In the Hall of Martial Aspects within the Sieve of Heaven, Ao Canghai walked into his office, trailed by several Martial Aspects, with a frown.


    "What''s going on? Why are there people giving me odd looks today?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "We don''t know." The other Martial Aspects all seemed perplexed.


    "Something must be wrong. Go find out what''s going on," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!" A Martial Aspect rushed out of the hall.


    Just as Ao Canghai was about to take a seat, an official entered the hall and reported, "Martial Aspect, several officials have requested an audience with you."


    Ao Canghai nced at the notice. "How strange. What do all these people want with me today?"


    "I don''t know, Eastern Aspect," the official reported.


    "Let one in for now," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!"


    Very quickly, an official was brought into the hall.


    "Eastern Aspect Ao, the Cardinal Aspect I serve is currently away on business in the west, and can''te meet you himself. Allow me to apologize on his behalf in advance," the official began.


    "What''s the matter?" Ao Canghai asked.


    "The Cardinal Aspect I serve learned of your recent acquisition of the seventh-grade lotus and would like to trade it for a relic of his own. Please consider the request, Cardinal Aspect Ao."


    "What did you say?" Ao Canghai was taken aback.


    "The Cardinal Aspect I serve mentioned that using a Boundless Immortal relic obtained frombat in this manner will be difficult to deal with, and that you''ll end up being pursued by the party you offended. It will be far easier to use a relic that has exchanged hand a few times¡ªand coincidentally, the Cardinal Aspect I serve has just obtained a Boundless Immortal relic to offer in trade."


    Ao Canghai frowned. "Who imed I obtained this seventh-grade lotus?"


    The official was taken aback. "Why, everyone knows about it by now..."


    "I don''t have this relic. Leave!" Ao Canghai demanded coldly.


    "Eastern Aspect Ao¡ª" The official tried to argue a little longer.


    "Do you need me to send you out?" Ao Canghai demanded imperiously.


    The official gulped, bowed, and retreated.


    Ao Canghai fell deep in thought, as if there were a conspiracy that now threatened to engulf him.


    Rather than admit any further visitors, he waited patiently until his subordinate Martial Aspect returned.


    "Eastern Aspect, we''ve figured out what''s going on. News of the battle that took ce at the city of Taixu has spread to the Sieve of Heaven."


    "The city of Taixu? The one Li Qianjun rules over?" Ao Canghai rified.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect."


    "That damn Li Qianjun. He made a big fuss about that ck coffin with us, but it couldn''t even be moved to begin with! So what''s going on with Taixu now?"


    "This is the situation..." The Martial Aspect recounted what had happened within Taixu.


    "You mean Xiao Nanfeng was lucky enough to im the seventh-grade lotus for himself?!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "Not only the seventh-grade lotus, but also the Eye of the Sea from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. It''s in terrible shape, but we can conclusively confirm that he was responsible for tricking us there."


    "Damn that Xiao Nanfeng. How could he be so lucky?" Ao Canghai roared. "Are you certain a Boundless Immortal hidden behind a cloud of ck fog rescued Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Certainly. Thest thing Xiao Nanfeng said was ''Let''s return to the Imperial Court.'' That''s why everyone believed that you were the Boundless Immortal responsible¡ªand that you received the seventh-grade lotus for helping him," the Martial Aspect reported.


    Ao Canghai scowled. "What sort of analysis is that? What makes them think I would help out Xiao Nanfeng? Are they crazy?"


    "Eastern Aspect, it''s possible that you may have been maligned," the Martial Aspect replied.


    "It''s possible? Aren''t you certain? Do you suspect that I''m colluding with Xiao Nanfeng, too?" Ao Canghai shot the Martial Aspect a re.


    "I would never, Eastern Aspect! However, Xiao Nanfeng''s history isn''t a secret at all. Except for you, he hasn''t interacted with any Boundless Immortals who might be willing to help him out. That''s why everyone misunderstands."


    Ao Canghai gritted his teeth. "Xiao Nanfeng had to have done this deliberately. Damn it, he even tried to get me involved at the very end!"


    "Was it really not you, Eastern Aspect? Who could that Boundless Immortal be, then?" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    Ao Canghai scowled. He too was uncertain. That Xiao Nanfeng had managed to manipte the Eye of the Sea and transform into a dragon of water was well within range of expectations, but this Boundless Immortal who had appeared out of nowhere¡ªAo Canghai felt tremendous danger.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s growing more and more dangerous while unchecked," Ao Canghai murmured. Killing intent shed in his eyes.


    In a garden in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was having tea. He smiled at the man before him. "How thoughtful of the Yuqing hierarch to leave a spy like you in Yongding."


    The man frowned and shook his head. "My avatar was simply out exploring and happened to pass by Yongding. Coincidentally, the hierarch hoped to seek an audience with you through me."


    "Do you even believe your own excuse?" Xiao Nanfeng said disdainfully.


    The man''s face twitched. "Regardless, Emperor Xiao, I represent the sincerity of the Yuqing holynd. You''ve had a rtively peaceful and enjoyable stay there, and I hope we''ll be able tomunicate effectively."


    "What do you have to discuss? The death of Sage Green Lotus? Do you intend to seek revenge on me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Hardly, Emperor Xiao. We''re concerned about the seventh-grade lotus, a peerless treasure of the Yuqing holynd. Emperor Xiao, when a cmity befell the Taiqing Immortal Sect two centuries ago, the Yuqing holynd lent its assistance to save the sect. Now that a treasure of Yuqing hasnded in your possession, would you be willing to return the seventh-grade lotus to us?"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes at the man and shook his head. "The Taiqing Immortal Sect is grateful to the Yuqing holynd for what it has done, but that doesn''t mean it''s easily bullied. A relic on the level of the seventh-grade lotus¡ªshould I let anyone just im it so easily? Send someone more qualified to discuss things with me."


    "Emperor Xiao, what sort of cultivator do you think would suffice for such a meeting?" the man asked, frowning.


    "The seventh-grade lotus is a Boundless Immortal relic. Send a Boundless Immortal to discuss terms with me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The man gaped, thinking that he had misheard.

 Chapter 697: Yang Chuan

    <h4>Chapter 697: Yang Chuan</h4>


    A dayter, in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was perusing a stack of documents when a sh of rainbow-colored light appeared outside his study. A wave of energy surged toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brush paused. This was the effect of Blue Lantern''s new formation¡ªthe fact that it was vibrating and releasing colored light meant that someone was trying to sneak into Dazheng''s pce.


    "Do cultivators of the Yuqing holynd enjoy sneaking around?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Suddenly, a man in white appeared by the entrance to the study. He was particrly handsome, with a muscr physique and a paper fan in his hand. He smiled as he entered the study with a natural air of arrogance and elegance.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, you are skilled. The formation around this pce is no inferior to that in many divine empires''," the man in white eximed.


    "The Southern Aspect¡ªa rare guest," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The man was none other than Yang Chuan, the Southern Aspect.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I naturally had to ept your invitation." Yang Chuan continued to smile.


    "But I didn''t invite you, Southern Aspect Yang."


    "You asked for a Boundless Immortal from the Yuqing holynd. Who else could you be referring to but me?" Yang Chuan spread his fan.


    "There are surely multiple Boundless Immortals in the Yuqing holynd. At the very least, the Yuqing hierarch himself must be one," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew very well that, given the Yuqing hierarch''s status, he would never show up himself to discuss the matter of the seventh-grade lotus. In that case, Yang Chuan was the only candidate. Of course, there may have been other Boundless Immortals the Yuqing holynd had cultivated in secret, but this would hardly be the appropriate ce to reveal them.


    "Let''s cut to the chase. Martial Aspect Xiao, shall we discuss the seventh-grade lotus?" Yang Chuan asked.


    "Very well, Martial Aspect Yang. What did you think of the battle at Taixu?"


    "In what sense?" Yang Chuan countered.


    "I''d like to know whether you think the treasure I obtained frombat should belong to me," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    "If it were any other treasure, we wouldn''t mind¡ªbut the seventh-grade lotus is different. It''s one of the representative treasures of the Yuqing holynd, and we''re obligated to reim it if it''s ever lost. The reason we haven''t attacked you directly is on ount of the rtionship between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Yuqing holynd," Yang Chuan said.


    "We fought for the seventh-grade lotus with our lives. Taiqing and Yuqing might be close allies, but that''s no excuse for Yuqing to demand or steal Taiqing resources. Southern Aspect Yang, how do you intend to trade for my seventh-grade lotus?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Trade?" Yang Chuan frowned.


    "Or do you intend to steal it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan fell silent. He stared at Xiao Nanfeng, then suddenlyughed. "You''re an interesting man, Martial Aspect Xiao. What do you want from me, then?"


    "And how do you know I want something from you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You requested me in all but name. There must be something in my possession you''re interested in. Go on. If it''s not too oundish a request, I''m happy to satisfy it outright," Yang Chuan replied.


    The intent and implication of Xiao Nanfeng''s insistence on meeting with a Boundless Immortal of the Yuqing holynd had been quite clear.


    "Very well, Southern Aspect Yang. I require fair arbitration from you."


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan was taken aback. He wasn''t quite sure exactly what Xiao Nanfeng meant.


    "I''m happy to return the seventh-grade lotus to the Yuqing holynd as long as you return to the Yuqing holynd to provide fair judgment regarding a dispute ording to the rules of the sect. I do not require any partiality on my behalf."


    Yang Chuan frowned. "Is this about Xia Yu''er?"


    "I won''t tell you what it''s about at the moment. Would you ept this request, Southern Aspect Yang?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan knew that Xiao Nanfeng had to have an ulterior motive in mind, but the seventh-grade lotus, a Boundless Immortal relic, was more than worth a mere favor of this sort.


    "What''s the matter?" Yang Chuan asked.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, I''m offering a Boundless Immortal relic for this! Do you really need to think more about the deal?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Yang Chuan frowned. "And yet I expect I won''t like what I''m going to hear from you. Even so, as long as it doesn''t hurt me or the Yuqing holynd as a whole, I''ll ept."


    "You''re known to be a man who keeps his word, Southern Aspect Yang. I''ll thank you in advance, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Now, what''s the matter you want me to adjudicate?" Yang Chuan asked again.


    "If I recall correctly, the Yuqing holynd has a certain rule that states that holy children of Yuqing are of equal status as its Mountain Lords. Is that so?"


    "Indeed," Yang Chuan replied.


    "In that case, since the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak, Sage Green Lotus, has been killed, does that mean that the holy child of Taiyi Peak can inherit his position?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Do you mean the Demon Child? I heard that his demonic corpse body was shattered by Tu Jiuniang. Isn''t he dead yet?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I paid a tremendous price in order to save him."


    Yang Chuan''s eyes widened in shock. He guessed what had happened immediately. "You used the seventh-grade lotus to reforge the Demon Child''s physical body, didn''t you?"


    "The Demon Child is pitiful indeed. He was betrayed by his father and master, and almost perished as a result of their nefarious ns. Although he killed Sage Green Lotus, he did so only in self-defense. If I''m not mistaken, Yuqingws absolve the defender of all me in such cases. The Demon Child might be Sage Green Lotus''s disciple, but as a holy child, his status is equal to that of a Mountain Lord. As such, taking down a Mountain Lord in self-defense should leave him meless."


    Yang Chuan narrowed his eyes as he considered the situation at hand.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, I heard that you''re now the Mountain Lord of Yujiang Peak. You used to be a holy child of Yuqing in the past, and you ascended to your current position after the death of the former Mountain Lord there. Perhaps you share a little sympathy with the Demon Child. I even heard that you''ve helped him out and cared for him quite a bit in the past. It won''t be too much trouble for you to assist him now, will it?"


    Yang Chuan replied, "The Demon Child''s too young. There''s much that he doesn''t understand just yet."


    "That he is, but you and I can help him out. A holy child is backed by others; a holy child without backers is but a pawn. If the Demon Child does not be the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak, do you truly think that he''ll survive after a new Mountain Lord is instated?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan frowned again as he considered Xiao Nanfeng''s hand in this series of affairs. "So you handed the seventh-grade lotus to the Demon Child, who''s basically going to listen to you. The seventh-grade lotus might as well still be yours."


    "I admit I share a close rtionship with the Demon Child, but I don''t mean him any harm. What''s more, he''s going to be nine years old soon enough. Even if he''s not good at judging others just yet, he can develop that skill. If he bes the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak, you''ll be able to help him as well¡ªand the seventh-grade lotus will certainly remain within the peak. Only the identity of the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak will have changed."


    Yang Chuan mulled it over for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I''ll ept this. That said, the Demon Child should return to the sect as quickly as possible."


    "His body is currently being reforged with the seventh-grade lotus, and it''ll be a few days before he''s fit to travel. We''ll return to the Yuqing holynd then. I''m counting on you, Southern Aspect Yang," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yang Chuan spread his fan and smiled. "Martial Aspect Xiao, you are indeed powerful. I see why Ao Canghai has lost to you several times now."


    "Thank you for the praise, Southern Aspect Yang," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Alright. We''ll talk again in the future."


    Yang Chuan stepped out of the study and vanished across the horizon.


    Just then, a group of guards rushed into the study in panic. "Please forgive us, Your Majesty. We were suddenly restrained and rendered immobile."


    "It''s fine. You may leave," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood!" The guards left the study, still wide-eyed in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed thoughtfully. Yang Chuan was strong indeed.


    Back in the south, in the valley in which the Divine Emperor was residing, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor walked out of her bedroom. They had groomed themselves by then, but the Divine Emperor still had a radiant flush on her face. She tugged on Xiao Nanfeng''s hand in happiness and satisfaction.


    "Haven''t you been in secluded cultivation all this time? How did you manage to get to Taixu all of a sudden?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Who said I was in secluded cultivation?"


    The Divine Emperor smiled at Xiao Nanfeng, her beauty so breathtaking that Xiao Nanfeng was stupefied for a moment.


    "What''re you looking at? Haven''t you seen your fill?" The Divine Emperor blushed even as she smiled.


    "My beautiful wife, how could I ever get my fill of you?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Nonsense!" The Divine Emperor''s eyes were radiant with mirth. She continued gently, "My subordinates believed you, but notpletely. That''s why they lied and told you that I was in secluded cultivation¡ªthen rushed back to inform me of the news."


    "Oh? They''re rather alert, aren''t they?"


    "Naturally. They were already with me fifty thousand years ago. I have plenty of experts in military affairs and in administration, and they''re no worse than those of your Dazheng Empire."


    "Not my Dazheng Empire, but ours," Xiao Nanfeng corrected.


    The Divine Emperor smiled and clicked her tongue. "I misspoke."


    "You''re the empress of Dazheng," Xiao Nanfeng told her gently. "Don''t misspeak next time."


    The Divine Emperor smiled warmly as she leaned into Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I left in too much of a hurry to tell them where I was headed. How did you find me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I headed to the Yuqing holynd first, only to find out that you had already left. Then, one of my subordinates'' avatars coincidentally reported seeing you outside Taixu. That''s why I went. Fortunately, I wasn''t toote." The Divine Emperor shuddered at the thought of what would have happened otherwise.


    "Thank goodness my wife was here to save me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Divine Emperor blushed in a mix of embarrassment and pride. If her subordinates were present, they would have been shocked to see their invincible leader behaving like a young woman in love for the first time.

 Chapter 698: Adopting the Demon Child

    <h4>Chapter 698: Adopting the Demon Child</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor walked up to the side of the barrier of ck fog. The Divine Emperor waved an arm and dispelled the barrier, revealing a giant green lotus within.


    "Demon Child, are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    With a hum, the petals of the green lotus wilted away in a cloud of green smoke, revealing a figure seated atop a lotus tform¡ªa boy in green robes cross-legged in meditation.


    As all the petals faded away, the boy''s eyes opened, gleaming like a sword. A boulder not far away shattered into powder.


    "I''m fine now! It doesn''t hurt anymore. Xiao Nanfeng, I feel like I''m filled with energy!" The Demon Child stood up and inspected his body with amazement.


    The lotus tform at his feet dissipated into dust.


    Beside him, the Divine Emperor nodded approvingly. "The body was forged well. Come on, let''s go test your strength."


    The Demon Child looked toward Xiao Nanfeng inquiringly.


    "She''s my wife. Listen to her as you would me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Demon Child nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin the Divine Emperor''s name and status to the Demon Child not because he was unwilling, but because it wasn''t yet appropriate to do so. They would have to return to the Yuqing holynd, and he was worried that someone would try to trick information out of the Demon Child then. He could exin things to the Demon Child once they were done with the visit.


    The three cultivators shot into the air and toward the sea in the distance. Before long, they were above a secluded stretch of the sea.


    "Try to attack me," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Really?" The Demon Child seemed worried. "I feel really strong right now. I wouldn''t want to hurt you badly."


    "It''s fine. Do it," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling. He retreated into the distance.


    The Demon Child ultimately nodded. As he punched forward, the void itself trembled and rippled. His fist technique descended like a meteor, ring with sparks.


    The Divine Emperor concentrated and sent a probing palm forward.


    The two techniques shed in an explosion of energy.


    "Ah, you can block it! Then I''ll keep going." The Demon Child struck again.


    A flurry of fists shot toward the Divine Emperor like a meteor shower. The sight of the technique alone was staggering.


    The Divine Emperor stood where she was, retaliating with palm after palm. The resulting shockwaves devastated the sea.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in satisfaction. He too could sense that the Demon Child''s strength wasparable to the dragon of water from before.


    "Alright, let''s stop here," the Divine Emperor called out.


    A huge palm descended with tremendous force, sending the Demon Child flying out for thousands of meters.


    The Demon Child gaped in amazement. He flew toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, I can''t believe how strong your wife is. She sent me flying with just a palm! But if I use a relic, I''m sure I can block her attack."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the Demon Child a strange look. His golden hoop could hardlypete with the Divine Emperor''s bell.


    "Demon Child, I''d like to invite you to be a general of my empire. What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "My word''s as good as steel! I promised my mother I''d listen to you until I''m twenty." The Demon Child patted himself on the chest, then continued, "But I want all the snacks and food you gave me back on the ind, too."


    "Of course. You''ll have a dedicated chef and puppeteer," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "Great!" The Demon Child smiled as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the Divine Emperor. "How''s the Demon Child?"


    "He has the strength of an early-stage Boundless Immortal, but he''s still slightly weaker than a true one."


    "Hm?"


    "At the realm of a Boundless Immortal, you can manipte naturalw, exerting great force with rtively little energy. The Demon Child can''t do that just yet. He doesn''t know how to manipte naturalw, and is fighting only based on brute force. He''ll be able to maintain an early-stage Boundless Immortal''s strength for a short period of time, but his stamina will quickly run out."


    "Naturalw?" Xiao Nanfeng asked. "I remember seeing the seventh-grade lotus release incredible bursts of sword energy before. The Demon Child''s eyes radiated with that energy when I first saw him just now as well. Why didn''t you use it, Demon Child?"


    The Demon Child shook his head in exasperation. "I can sense the energy in my body, but I can''t seem to control it. I don''t know how I made my eyes light up, either."


    The Divine Emperor replied, "Those sword manifestations are part of the naturalw now imbued in his body. His demonic corpse aura is another."


    "Oh?" The two cultivators turned toward the Divine Emperor.


    "The Demon Child is different from other cultivators. Other cultivators will have to slowly develop and intuit their own manifestation of naturalw. It''s an arduous process, and there are plenty of people who don''t seed in their entire lifetimes. The Demon Child''s body is inherently imbued with naturalw, so his starting point as a cultivator is a Boundless Immortal. He just can''t properly use that strength just yet."


    "How can he learn?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He''ll have to discover that on his own. Considering that he''s intimately attuned to the naturalws governed by both the seventh-grade lotus and the demonic corpse aura, he''ll be fearsome once he discovers how to take advantage of them."


    "The Demon Child''s demonic corpse aura contains the wills of countless Taiqing ancestors, as well as their intuition and individual experience about aspects of cultivation. His intuition is, therefore, unparalleled. He''s simply too young as yet. I''m certain that he''ll be incredible once he seriously dedicates himself to cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng slyly added.


    The Demon Child gasped at the effusive praise. He murmured to himself, "Xiao Nanfeng really does know me best. Once I get serious, I''ll be the strongest of them all! I should have met Xiao Nanfeng sooner."


    "Just you wait," he said out loud. "I''ll quickly grow ten times as strong as I am now!"


    Xiao Nanfengughed. Children really were easy to encourage.


    "I believe you will grow stronger, but we have more important business at hand right now."


    "What business?"


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a crystal coffin with a woman lying within.


    "Mother?" The Demon Child''s eyes turned red as he rushed over.


    "Before your mother saved you, she left her physical body in my care.Now that you''re out of secluded cultivation, I''m sure she has no further regrets. I''ll leave her corpse with you for the moment. Say your final farewells to her."


    "Mother!" The Demon Child''s face screwed up in misery. "If only you were alive¡ªMother!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor flew some distance away and allowed the Demon Child some privacy with his mother''s corpse. He seemed to have much to say to her. He cried and talked as he flew.


    After what felt like forever, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor flew back to the Demon Child''s side. Even then, there were tears and snot all around his face.


    "Alright, alright. Don''t cry anymore. Your mother wouldn''t want that, either." Xiao Nanfeng wiped the tears off the Demon Child''s face with a towel.


    "I don''t want to cry either, but I can''t help it!"


    "Why don''t I tell you about how I encountered your mother?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The Demon Child nodded fervently.


    Xiao Nanfeng exined what he had found while trapped within the Taiqing burial pagoda, including every word that the Demon Child''s mother had told him.


    "Li Qianjun, that bastard!" the Demon Child cried out when Xiao Nanfeng was done. "He''s the reason for my mother''s miscarriages. I''ll kill him!"


    ck aura surged around him, and demonic mes sprung out of nowhere. Though he was young, that didn''t mean he was a fool. The truth of Xiao Nanfeng''s words was self-evident. His mother had been bullied her entire life. A beast called Li Qianjun had yed around with her, then bullied her and caused her multiple miscarriages.


    Who would be able to bear learning about such an odious truth? He would happily strip Li Qianjun''s tendons from his body, eat his flesh, and drink his blood!


    "Our goals are aligned, you see. Li Qianjun isn''t alone. He''s backed by the divine empire of Hongyue. You''ve seen what happens if you try to rush forward recklessly. Not only will you be unable to exact your revenge, you''ll even end up being caught yourself. We need to strike strategically. Don''t worry. I''ll bring you to seek revenge on him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Demon Child wiped his tears away and nodded. "I''ll listen to you. I''ll do anything if it means being able to avenge my mother!"


    "We''ll need a n for that first. The most important thing right now, however, is to allow your mother to rest in peace."


    "My mother''s soul has already dissipated. What''s there toy to rest?" The Demon Child scrunched up his face again.


    "Her soul might have dissipated, but who knows whether or not it might persist in another world? Could your mother''s truesoul have been sent to another world?"


    "What? Do you mean there''s a chance that my mother''s still alive?" the Demon Child eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Who knows? The world is mysterious. Can anyone really im to understand it all? Your mother told you that she would watch over you from the heavens. What if she really were able to do that? That''s why you need to make sure that you live properly, that you live well. She might just be watching over you from another world."


    The Demon Child wiped his tears away and nodded fervently. "You''re right. I need to live well to make sure my mother''s at ease."


    "That''s right. Now, let''s find somewhere to bury her. It''s a custom passed down since antiquity, and it really might help her truesoul ascend. Let''s send her along; then, you can embark on a new life."


    "My mother once said that she wanted to remain in Taixu forever to watch me grow up and get married," the Demon Child said.


    "Then let''s bury her in the vicinity."


    The Demon Child nodded fervently.


    The three cultivators again flew back to Taixu.


    It was still a pile of ruins, but there were already plenty of cultivators poking around.


    Rather than enter Taixu proper, Xiao Nanfeng''s group headed toward a secluded valley some distance away from the city. ording to the Demon Child, his mother frequently brought them there, where she would teach him about cultivation. This was where they had had many fond memories together.


    With Xiao Nanfeng''s help, they buried the Demon Child''s mother.


    The Demon Child knelt in front of his mother''s grave for a day and a night, smiling one moment and crying the next. Even the Divine Emperor, leaning against Xiao Nanfeng, couldn''t help but sigh.


    Another dayter, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and headed to the Demon Child''s side. "Alright. Your mother shall lie in peace from now on. I''ll have guards stationed here to protect this valley. If you have time,e back and visit your mother. We''ll have to set off on business now."


    "What business?" The Demon Child wiped at his tears.


    "We''ll be returning to the Yuqing holynd to reim everything that belongs to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.

 Chapter 699: A Ruckus at Taiyi Peak

    <h4>Chapter 699: A Ruckus at Taiyi Peak</h4>


    Within the Yuqing holynd, news of Sage Green Lotus''s demise left all the Yuqing disciples at odds with each other.


    "It''s all Xiao Nanfeng''s fault! He¡ª" someone stated, frowning.


    "Why are you ming Senior Brother Xiao? He''s not the one who killed Sage Green Lotus. How could you malign someone like that?"


    "Right, the Demon Child was responsible. Why are you besmirching Senior Brother Xiao''s name? At most, all he did was save the Demon Child."


    "In the past, Senior Brother Xiao even gave you advice on cultivation and helped you break through. Don''t you think it''s shameless of you to be talking ill of him behind his back?"


    A group of disciples spoke up for Xiao Nanfeng, causing those who had been criticizing him to flush in anger.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s lectures had earned him an incredible supply of goodwill, and there were few disciples who would dare speak badly of Xiao Nanfeng in public. Some didn''t care, but the majority wouldn''t join in.


    Countless Yuqing disciples had gathered atop Taiyi Peak as they argued vigorously.


    "Elder Zhao is the strongest cultivator on the peak. With the Mountain Lord dead, Elder Zhao should inherit that position."


    "Nonsense! Senior Brother Ma is superior in terms of spiritual cultivation. He''s the one who should take over."


    "Senior Brother Chen was the Mountain Lord''s foremost apprentice. He''s the ideal candidate!"


    The cultivators were all arguing about the unexpected vacancy for the position of Mountain Lord.


    Although they couldn''t unterally decide on the next Mountain Lord by themselves, they were trying to garner mass support for their preferred candidate, with which they would then appeal to the Yuqing hierarch. As a result, there was a huge ruckus on Taiyi Peak.


    In a pavilion on another mountain, Yang Chuan was enjoying some liquor on his lonesome. He looked disdainfully at themotion happening in the distance. Beside him, his subordinate, ck Dog, stood attending to him.


    "Master, the situation on Taiyi Peak is much like what we experienced on Yujiang Peak, isn''t it?" ck Dog smiled.


    "It''s exactly the same. If not for what I went through myself, I would hardly perform this favor." Yang Chuan finished his cup of liquor.


    "The hierarch has sent for you several times, Master. Do you intend to continue shrugging off his invitation?" ck Dog asked curiously.


    "There''s nothing much to discuss with him. Let''s wait for Xiao Nanfeng to return first."


    "Understood!" ck Dog nodded.


    Just then, surprised cries could be heard from the distance.


    "Senior Brother Xiao''s back!"


    "Really? Where?"


    "It really is him¡ªand the Demon Child, too!"


    The Yuqing disciples were all in a frenzy.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Child were flying toward Taiyi Peak.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare youe back! Return the seventh-grade lotus to Yuqing!" someone cried out.


    "Demon Child, how do you have the nerve to return after brutalizing the Mountain Lord to death?!" many others shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled, but didn''t respond to the disciples. He sent the Demon Child a mental transmission to teach him how to respond to these allegations.


    The Demon Child raised his voice. "What are all of you shouting about? Is this the right attitude to show a holy child of Yuqing?!"


    "You?" the disciples thundered.


    "We''re in the Yuqing holynd. Is this any way to treat an elder of the sect?" the Demon Child demanded again.


    Many of the disciples red at him. The Demon Child was known to be rambunctious and had long since lost all authority in the eyes of the disciples.


    "Listen to me. Sage Green Lotus, that old geezer, attempted to kill me. ording to the Yuqingws, I had the right to kill him in self-defense. I have reimed the seventh-grade lotus of Taiyi Peak. From now on, I''ll be the new Mountain Lord of Taiyi." The Demon Child parroted what Xiao Nanfeng had taught him.


    "What? You intend to be the next Mountain Lord?" the disciples eximed.


    "Who agrees with me, and who doesn''t?" the Demon Child demanded.


    "I object, you thief! You killed the Mountain Lord and are even trying to steal his position now! Dream on!" a disciple thundered.


    The Demon Child sent that disciple flying with a p.


    Everyone else suddenly gulped. They paused and nced at the Demon Child in disbelief.


    "I am a holy child of Yuqing. Even if I''m not the Mountain Lord just yet, how dare any of you disrespect my position? Consider this p light punishment. If any of you dare to disrespect me again, I''ll consider it a betrayal of the holynd. I can kill you at any moment," the Demon Child continued to repeat what Xiao Nanfeng was telling him.


    Taiyi Peak fell silent as everyone sucked in a deep breath. The Demon Child had been unreasonable and unruly in the past, but it always felt as though he was in the wrong. Now that he hade up with a good excuse to attack them, they were all caught by surprise.


    Furthermore, that disciple from before had been ate-stage True Immortal. A single p had sent him flying¡ªand he was now bloody all over, his bones cracked. He had even fallen unconscious.


    How were they supposed to take on the Demon Child now?


    Several disciples who had been intending to go against him slunk back. None of them wanted a taste of the Demon Child''s palm. He was a holy child, and they were in the wrong. Even if he killed them, he would go unpunished.


    "No one objects, then? Very good. All of Taiyi Peak is united in rmending me as the new Mountain Lord," the Demon Child said.


    The disciples of Taiyi Peak grimaced, not knowing what to say. None of them wanted to speak up for fear of getting hit by the Demon Child again.


    "ording to Yuqingws, since no disciple of Taiyi Peak objects, let''s inform the various Mountain Lords and the hierarch about my uing ascension. Go¡ªring the Taiyi Bell and summon the Mountain Lords and hierarch!" The Demon Child pointed at one disciple.


    The disciple was about to refuse, but the Demon Child walked up to him and ced a hand on his shoulder. With a crack, his corbone broke. In fear, the disciple eximed, "Of course, holy child! I''ll do it immediately!"


    Only then did the Demon Child loosen his grip. The tolling of the bell quickly echoed across the Yuqing holynd.


    Before long, beams of light flew over from every corner of the Yuqing holynd. The Mountain Lords had arrived.


    Not all the Mountain Lords of Yuqing''s twelve peaks were present, but six of them had been summoned.


    They had been keeping an eye on Taiyi Peak all this time. The Demon Child seemed to have transformed into a different person entirely, and was suppressing countless disciples of Taiyi Peak by force. Some of them were diforted by this transformation, others didn''t care, and yet others began to smile.


    "Long time no see, Demon Child."


    "Demon Child, you killed Sage Green Lotus? How dare you!"


    "Sage Green Lotus shouldn''t have done what he did, but you didn''t have to kill him outright."


    The Mountain Lords all seemed to havements of their own about what had happened.


    The Demon Child, despite his distaste for them, followed Xiao Nanfeng''s instructions and bowed toward them.


    "Mountain Lords, I am the Demon Child, a holy child of Yuqing. Sage Green Lotus and his aplice, Li Qianjun, attempted to kill me. Sage Green Lotus even killed my mother. I acted to kill him only in self-defense. By thews of Yuqing, I have done no wrong. I hereby return with the treasure that Sage Green Lotus had in his possession, including the inheritance of the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. I am the foremost sessor of Taiyi, and I ask to be acknowledged as a candidate for the position of the next Mountain Lord."


    The Mountain Lords were taken aback to see the Demon Child speak so formally. They all turned to Xiao Nanfeng, who was standing by one side. Was it Xiao Nanfeng who had taught the Demon Child to speak like this?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you stole the seventh-grade lotus and left Sage Green Lotus defenseless. That''s why he died at Taixu. How dare you show up here uninvited? You''ll pay for what you''ve done!" a Mountain Lord shouted.


    "I brought Xiao Nanfeng back here, and I shall take full responsibility for what has happened. However, the matter in question is the candidacy for the next Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. Once that matter is settled, Sage Green Lotus''s death will naturally be investigated," the Demon Child continued.


    The Mountain Lords all stared at him in surprise. They were certain the Demon Child wouldn''t have been able to talk like this without any coaching. They were at a loss for words¡ªthey wanted to chastise the Demon Child, but what excuse did they have to do so? A holy child of Yuqing was of equal status as the Mountain Lords.


    "The disciples of Taiyi Peak are all willing to nominate me as the new Mountain Lord. I ask for your support as well," the Demon Child said.


    Just then, a Taiyi Peak disciple ventured forward. "No, we''re not in support! The Demon Child killed my master, and he deserves to die! We were pressured into this. We¡ª"


    Before the disciple could finish, the Demon Child had pped the disciple and sent him flying.


    He fell unconscious to the ground, a mouthful of blood pooling there.


    "I apologize for the disturbance. There are some traitorous disciples in Taiyi unting Yuqingw, which I intend to handle on my own in due time," the Demon Child continued.


    The Mountain Lords were taken aback. The Demon Child really was a menace¡ªespecially now that he was backed by Yuqingw!


    No Mountain Lord spoke up in favor of the disciple who had been knocked unconscious. After all, it really was an internal matter for Taiyi Peak to handle on its own. If they were to interfere regardless, the Demon Child would surely strike at them. If they beat the Demon Child, so be it; but if they lost to him...


    The Taiyi Peak disciples didn''t dare to say anything given what had happened to the first disciple who did.


    "Mountain Lords, with the Yuqing hierarch not in attendance, it is customary for you to approve a candidate. What do you think?" the Demon Child asked.


    "The Demon Child is a holy child of Yuqing and a disciple of Taiyi Peak besides. I approve of his candidacy as Mountain Lord."


    "I''m in support as well."


    "Me too."


    "And me."


    Suddenly, four Mountain Lords spoke up in agreement.


    The remaining two Mountain Lords were astonished.


    "Are you all crazy? Such a child as a Mountain Lord?"


    "It''s likely that Xiao Nanfeng is controlling him somehow. How can you leave Taiyi Peak to an outsider?!"


    The four Mountain Lords shook their heads, signaling their continued support of the Demon Child. The two other Mountain Lords frowned, feeling as if a conspiracy were unfolding around them.


    Xiao Nanfeng, who had been standing at the side, brightened. He knew that someone had to have helped provide these four straightforward votes of approval.


    As for who it was, that didn''t need to be said. Yang Chuan was the only one who would have done so.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. The matter was almost settled, then.

 Chapter 700: Status Conferred

    <h4>Chapter 700: Status Conferred</h4>


    Atop Taiyi Peak, the six Mountain Lords in attendance were divided into two factions. Four supported the Demon Child as Mountain Lord, and two did not.


    The situation quickly grew moreplex.


    As the Taiyi bell continued to toll, more cultivators arrived. The remaining Mountain Lords, however, didn''t appear in person. They only sent their representatives, who weren''t qualified to discuss the nomination of the Demon Child.


    "The hierarch has arrived!" a voice suddenly shouted.


    A group of Yuqing disciples were flying toward Taiyi Peak, a middle-aged man in purple robes at their lead. He held a horsetail whisk in hand and had a natural air of authority and grace about him, even without unleashing his aura.


    "We greet the Yuqing hierarch!" All the Yuqing disciples bowed.


    The middle-aged man was none other than the Yuqing hierarch Shi Tianbei.


    Shi Tianbei turned to the gathered crowd. "The tolling of the Taiyi bell signals that a major event will take ce. What is the nature of this event?"


    The Demon Child stepped forward. "Hierarch, I am the Demon Child, a holy child of Yuqing. Sage Green Lotus conspired against me, and I was barely able to defeat him in self-defense. I have just returned to the sect, only to be ndered and maligned by some Yuqing disciples. I ask for your support in enforcing sectw. Can ordinary disciples of the Yuqing holynd so casually denigrate me?"


    Everyone turned toward the Demon Child in astonishment.


    When had the Demon Child learned to speak like that? He was taking advantage of his status to make life difficult for ordinary disciples!


    If any of them were to speak out publicly against the Demon Child now, they would surely be punished by sectw.


    A few disciples of Taiyi Peak had been hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to report their misgivings to the Yuqing Hierarch, but how were they supposed to do so now? The Demon Child had done so first, and his actions were just ording to sectw. They fell silent, knowing that they would only be disadvantaged by speaking up now. No one wanted to end up like the two unconscious disciples from before.


    Shi Tianbei and the Mountain Lords all eyed Xiao Nanfeng.


    One Mountain Lord demanded, "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re the one who taught the Demon Child to say all this, aren''t you? Do you treat him as your puppet? Are you trying to take over the Yuqing holynd?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Hardly, Mountain Lord. I''m only a guest that the Demon Child has invited. His cultivation is extraordinary. How could I have made him into a puppet? If you don''t believe me, Mountain Lords, feel free to examine him and see if I''veid a curse or anything of the sort on him."


    The Demon Child himself cried out, "How dare you criticize my guest? Why does it matter to you how I talk? You''d use me of being controlled? Come examine my body, then! If you can''t, I''ll beat you up myself!"


    The Mountain Lord grimaced. What was there to examine? Everyone knew full well that the Demon Child certainly wasn''t being controlled. However, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng had undue influence in teaching him how to act, making him particrly annoying to deal with.


    Shi Tianbei frowned. "Demon Child, I will investigate the disciples that are besmirching your name. However, my question is why the Taiyi bell is ringing. What''s going on?"


    "Hierarch, the Taiyi Peak is now without a Mountain Lord. I am the foremost sessor to that position, and I ask for your and the other Mountain Lords'' support."


    One Mountain Lord stepped forward. "Hierarch, the Demon Child is indeed the foremost sessor to be the next Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."


    "Hierarch, the Demon Child can take on that role."


    "The Demon Child is the rightful sessor."


    "We Mountain Lords support nominating the Demon Child as the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."


    Three Mountain Lords stepped forward to pledge their agreement.


    Shi Tianbei frowned. "The position of Mountain Lord is monumentous. How can we decide on one this readily? We''ll need to think more carefully about this. Don''t make a fuss about it today."


    The Demon Child frowned, but Xiao Nanfeng sent him a mental transmission to calm down.


    Just then, loudughter suddenly came from afar. "Hierarch, the representatives of all twelve peaks of Yuqing are present, as are you. We''re already treating this matter with due diligence. Is there any need to tarry? Could there be secret ns in motion?"


    Everyone turned to see Yang Chuan heading over, waving a white paper fan as he did so. He looked particrly carefree and rxed.


    "We greet the Mountain Lord of Yujiang!" chorused countless Yuqing disciples.


    Yang Chuan smiled and nodded. He flew up to Taiyi Peak and looked toward Shi Tianbei.


    "I greet the Yuqing hierarch." Yang Chuan sketched a brief bow.


    Shi Tianbei frowned. "Mountain Lord Yang, what do you want?"


    "Nothing, Hierarch. As a Yuqing disciple, I have the duty to uphold Yuqing''sws. I saw the situation at Taiyi Peak earlier. Perhaps you see farther than I do, but the Yuqingws must be upheld. The selection of a Mountain Lord should be in ordance with thosews," Yang Chuan said firmly, even as he smiled.


    Many were astonished. Yang Chuan seemed to be going against the Yuqing hierarch. Of course, some people had been informed of what was going to happen beforehand.


    "The Yuqingws, you say? Very well." Shi Tianbei smiled.


    "First, the nomination of a new Mountain Lord requires a nominee, who has to secure the rmendation of half the disciples of Taiyi Peak. The Demon Child is an exception, considering that he''s a holy child of the peak and is thus inherently a nominee. Isn''t that so?" Yang Chuan began.


    "Indeed."


    "Next, at least half the Mountain Lords in attendance must approve of this nominee, followed by the hierarch."


    One Mountain Lord objected. "Some Mountain Lords aren''t present. What do we do about them?"


    "Only six Mountain Lords need to agree, so it doesn''t matter if the remaining six are all absent. As for me, I intend to uphold the sectws and support the nomination of the Demon Child as the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."


    "I support the nomination."


    "I approve."


    "I''m in support."


    "Me too!"


    The four Mountain Lords from before immediately agreed with Yang Chuan.


    "What do you think, everyone?" Yang Chuan asked.


    Shi Tianbei frowned. He didn''t speak. He nced at another Mountain Lord, who turned to Yang Chuan. "Mountain Lord Yang, only five Mountain Lords are in support of the Demon Child at the moment. I''m afraid that''s insufficient."


    "Another Mountain Lord should be back soon enough. Let''s wait a little longer," Yang Chuan said.


    Everyone was confused, even Shi Tianbei.


    With Yang Chuan present, the stalemate between the original six Mountain Lords had been broken. Xiao Nanfeng could tell that Yang Chuan had paid no small price to have the four Mountain Lords support the Demon Child in this venture.


    However, not only did Yang Chuan need to secure half the Mountain Lords'' approval, Shi Tianbei himself would have to approve as well. How was Yang Chuan going to gain Shi Tianbei''s approval?


    Could the final Mountain Lord Yang Chuan was waiting for be able to change Shi Tianbei''s mind? Who was it?


    Just as everyone was getting impatient, loud cries could be heard from afar.


    "Mountain Lord Xia is back!" someone suddenly shouted.


    "Xia Xingchen''s back?" The Mountain Lords'' eyes lit up in surprise.


    "Xia Xingchen?" Shi Tianbei was taken aback as well.


    Even Xiao Nanfeng was surprised. What was Yu''er''s father doing here? Wasn''t he supposed to be guarding Yu''er? Or could she already have returned, too?


    Light shed by as Xia Xingchen descended on Taiyi Peak.


    "Apologies for the bother to have you return, Mountain Lord Xia," Yang chuan said.


    The implication was that Yang Chuan had specifically sent for Xia Xingchen, whom no one had been able to contact to date. How had Yang Chuan done it?


    Xia Xingchen nced around him and gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look when he noticed him.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, have you been there?" Shi Tianbei asked expectantly.


    Many Yuqing disciples didn''t know what the Yuqing hierarch was talking about, but all the Mountain Lords did. The greatest secret of the Yuqing holynd, the purple moon illusory realm, had been activated. Xia Yu''er was the first to enter, and Xia Xingchen had been guarding his daughter. It was likely that he too had ventured within the purple moon illusory realm.


    "Hierarch, Mountain Lords, let''s discuss that somewhere quietter," Xia Xingchen replied, bowing.


    "Very well!" Shi Tianbei said.


    The other Mountain Lords nodded in anticipation.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, I''ve conveyed the situation regarding the Demon Child to you. Are you in support of the Demon Child being the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak?" Yang Chuan asked.


    Xia Xingchen nced at the Demon Child and ultimately nodded. "I''ve learned of what''s going on. Sage Green Lotus deserved to die for willfully ignoring Yuqingws. The Demon Child is innocent, and indeed the foremost sessor to the position. I am in support."


    "Very good. In that case, we have a quorum. The nomination of the Demon Child now passes to the hierarch. Hierarch, what do you think?"


    Shi Tianbei frowned, not expecting that Yang Chuan would have convinced five Mountain Lords on behalf of the Demon Child. Why was he trying so hard?


    "The Demon Child is ultimately too young," Shi Tianbei replied, frowning.


    Xia Xingchen shook his head. "Hierarch, when you sought to marry my daughter into the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, you imed that age was immaterial to holy children and maidens the moment that status was conferred on them, that their role was to serve the Yuqing holynd in whatever capacity applicable."


    Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes. He knew that Xia Xingchen was still upset about his arrangements regarding Xia Yu''er''s marriage. He had said that age was no obstacle.


    He already had someone in mind for managing Taiyi Peak, but Yang Chuan and Xia Xingchen both seemed intent on protecting the Demon Child. This was troublesome¡ªhe might be able to ignore Yang Chuan''s request, but he had to care about Xia Xingchen''s attitude. After all, thetter had critical information about the purple moon illusory realm. If he were to go againstw and custom now, would Xia Xingchen do the same and report nothing of value about the purple moon illusory realm to him?


    In order to learn everything he could about the purple moon illusory realm, Shi Tianbei could only nod. "Since there are six Mountain Lords in agreement, I too shall approve. I hereby dere the Demon Child the new Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."

 Chapter 701: Informing Yang Chuan

    <h4>Chapter 701: Informing Yang Chuan</h4>


    The Yuqing hierarch officially made the Demon Child the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately sent the Demon Child a mental transmission, urging him to respond. The Demon Child eximed, "I thank the hierarch and the gathered Mountain Lords for approving my nomination. I''ll develop Taiyi Peak to the best of my abilities."


    Shi Tianbei nced at the Demon Child. The annoyance in his eyes shed and faded away in an instant. "Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak, we''ll follow customary routine and announce your promotion to the Yuqing holynd atrge."


    "Understood!" The Demon Child nodded.


    Shi Tianbei then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, I heard you stole the seventh-grade lotus of the Yuqing holynd."


    Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''m d I can clear up this misunderstanding now, Yuqing Hierarch. As you know, I was forced to oppose Sage Green Lotus in order to protect the Demon Child. The seventh-grade lotus was too powerful for me to defend against, so I temporarily seized it. I''m aware that the seventh-grade lotus is one of the representative treasures of the Yuqing holynd, and iming it for myself would be utmost discourtesy. Considering my rtion with the Yuqing holynd, I would never do so. I''ve already returned it to a Mountain Lord of Yuqing," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Countless Yuqing disciples sighed in relief. Many seemed embarrassed. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had won the seventh-grade lotus fairly by right ofbat. Forcing him to return it just because he had a close rtionship with the Yuqing holynd hardly seemed fair.


    "Oh? Have you?" Shi Tianbei looked toward Yang Chuan.


    This had to be why Yang Chuan had helped the Demon Child out to this extent.


    The Demon Child shook his head. "The seventh-grade lotus is with me. Xiao Nanfeng used it to help me reforge my physical body. It was a treasure of Taiyi Peak to begin with, and it''ll remain that way."


    "What?" Everyone turned to the Demon Child in astonishment.


    Then, they sighed. They wouldn''t have a chance to im the seventh-grade lotus for themselves, after all.


    Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes as he guessed what had happened. "How adroitly you y politics, Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Thank you for the praise, Hierarch Shi. I am but a guest of the Yuqing holynd." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Shi Tianbei eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. What was done was done, and there was no point wasting more time talking about it further. He turned toward Xia Xingchen. "Mountain Lord Xia, shall we speak elsewhere?"


    "Very well." Xia Xingchen nodded.


    Shi Tianbei and the Mountain Lords followed Xia Xingchen away. Only Yang Chuan remained behind.


    Yang Chuan continued fanning himself as he walked up to the Demon Child. "Demon Child, though you might now be the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak in name, there''s plenty you''ll still have to handle in terms of administration and paperwork. Don''t get careless just yet."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother," the Demon Child replied gratefully.


    "Thank you, Southern Aspect Yang." Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow as well.


    "No need for thanks. We made a deal, after all," Yang Chuan said.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You must have spent quite a few favors to arrange all of this. The Demon Child and I will owe you a favor each."


    "Haha, very well! Remember to pay me back, then, Martial Aspect Xiao." Yang Chuanughed out loud.


    He had called in quite a few favors and even gone against the Yuqing hierarch. Even so, he didn''t mind.


    "That said, I don''t like owing too much in terms of favors. How about this? I have a piece of information I was going to report to the Heavenly Emperor, but I''ll use it to repay you instead." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, erecting a barrier to iste all sound. "I heard that you were investigating the Southern Sea Draconic Pce, Southern Aspect Yang."


    "You''re aware?" Yang Chuan snapped his fan shut.


    The Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli, had asked him to investigate the situation. No one else was supposed to know about it.


    "I was present when the Heavenly Emperor had you investigate the saint," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    Yang Chuan nodded in understanding. "I forgot that you were familiar with Princess Lingjun, Martial Aspect Xiao. The Heavenly Emperor must think highly of you."


    "Southern Aspect Yang, might I ask about the status of the investigation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan''s brows furrowed slightly before he sighed. "I haven''t been very sessful. The entire Southern Sea Draconic Pce seems to have vanished in an instant. I searched for a long time, but found no trace that it was ever present."


    "Saints really do have incredible abilities," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Have you found a clue?" Yang Chuan asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Are you aware of the ck coffin at the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?"


    Yang Chuan nodded. "I heard that Ao Canghai and Li Qianjun had a big fight in the vicinity, and some Mountain Lords of Yuqing were involved as well. No one was able to move the ck coffin, which I expect is a cursed effigy. It allows you to exchange for any desired item with thrice that item''s value, which isn''t a particrly worthwhile trade," YAng Chuan said.


    "I''ve seen that coffin before. ck hands emanated from it, reminding me of the ck hands that a saint''s avatar manifested in the Imperial Court. Furthermore, the immobility of the ck coffin is a result of heavenlyw, which only saints can manipte."


    "Heavenlyw? Are you certain?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    "I am highly confident. You may be interested in checking on it yourself, Southern Aspect Yang." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "I will. Do you expect that the saint I''m looking for left that ck coffin there?"


    "I think that''s highly likely," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "Thank you for the information. I''ll be able to report back to the Heavenly Emperor with this. I ept this favor with gratitude."


    "Furthermore, I suspect the original inhabitants of the Southeastern Aquatic Pce were working with the divine empire of Hongyue. If the ck coffin is rted to a saint, Hongyue might be as well."


    Yang Chuan frowned upon hearing this information. "Allow me to confirm your findings, Martial Aspect Xiao. I''ll discuss any follow-ups that arise with you."


    "My pleasure to be of service."


    He didn''t mind Yang Chuan''s reticence. After all, it was no secret that he was enemies with the divine empire of Hongyue, and Yang Chuan was wary of being manipted by Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''ll be heading out, then. I''ve left a few subordinates behind to help the Demon Child with the process of being instated as a Mountain Lord and his subsequent administrative duties."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Yang Chuan motioned for his subordinates to assist the Demon Child as he flew off.


    Xiao Nanfeng had a short discussion with the Demon Child before leaving Taiyi Peak and heading to Chiyang Peak.


    Xia Hong found him along the way.


    "Nanfeng, to think you were able to make the Demon Child into the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak!" Xia Hong eximed in disbelief.


    "When did you get here, Senior Brother?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I saw the whole thing. Since you were helping out the Demon Child, I didn''t want to interrupt."


    "Let''s talk back at Chiyang Peak," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well!" Xia Hong nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng followed Xia Hong back to Chiyang Peak, whereupon the three women ventured out to meet them.


    Xia Lan frowned. He had followed Xia Hong to Taiyi Peak too, but he had returned in advance to exin what had happened to the three women.


    "Nanfeng, why did you end up giving the seventh-grade lotus to the Demon Child?" One of the women frowned.


    "He''s a pitiful child, after all. He..." Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened in Taixu, though he didn''t bring up the Divine Emperor''s involvement.


    The three women sniffed upon hearing of the Demon Child''s plight.


    Xia Hong asked immediately, "Doesn''t that mean that the Demon Child will assist you whenever you need?"


    "More or less. The Demon Child might still be young, but he knows how to repay kindness in kind. Senior Brother, if you intend to wage war against Hongyue and need any assistance, please let me know. I expect I should be able to get the Demon Child to help you out."


    "Haha, good!" Xia Hong was naturally ted.


    "Have you managed to recruit many disciples to your cause?"


    "Thanks to your help, there were far more disciples than I had anticipated. I was preparing to return to the divine empire of Shenfeng, but I dyed several days after hearing of what happened to you. Since you''re alright, there''s no need for me to worry. When Father gets back, I''ll speak with him a little and ask about Yu''er. I n to leave thereafter."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I wish you all the best, Senior Brother."


    "And you as well," Xia Hong replied.


    The cultivators chatted for a little longer before a beam of golden light shed by. Xia Xingchen had returned to Chiyang Peak.


    Everyone swarmed him. Xia Lan asked anxiously, "Father, where''s Yu''er?"


    "Right, is Yu''er alright? Is she in danger?" the others added.


    "Don''t worry. She''s doing very well," Xia Xingchen replied.


    "Oh?"


    "Yu''er and I both entered the purple moon illusory realm, where we found a specter of the Yuqing Grandmaster. He epted Yu''er as his official apprentice and is teaching her the secret techniques of Yuqing."


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. "Has he been revived as well?"


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster?" Everyone was taken aback.


    The Mountain Lords and even the Yuqing hierarch himself were stunned by this revtion. Their nascent ns to force him to guide them into the purple moon illusory realm were foiled.


    After all, if the Yuqing Grandmaster were still alive, how could they dare to barge into the realm?


    "The grandmaster permitted me to enter the purple moon illusory realm at will. Yang Chuan summoned me back with a secret technique. I''ll be in secluded cultivation at Chiyang Peak for some time as I return to the purple moon illusory realm to guard Yu''er and ept the Yuqing Grandmaster''s teachings myself," Xia Xingchen said.


    "Wonderful!" Xia Lan eximed.


    Xia Hong and the gathered women were relieved and happy as well.


    "Congrattions, Mountain Lord Xia." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Xia Xingchen gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Then, ultimately, he sighed and shook his head. "You really do know how to cause trouble, don''t you?"


    "Thank you for the praise, Mountain Lord Xia."


    "The hierarch and a few of the Mountain Lords are now strongly opposed to you after your machinations to make the Demon Child the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. You better not remain in the Yuqing holynd for the time being. Leave quickly," Xia Xingchen urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

 Chapter 702: Beat Them Up

    <h4>Chapter 702: Beat Them Up</h4>


    Dayster, Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Child stepped out of the Yuqing holynd together.


    Xia Xingchen was in secluded cultivation, and Xia Hong and Xia Lan had left with the Yuqing disciples they had recruited a few days ago. If not for the fact that the paperwork and administration for bing a Mountain Lord of the Yuqing holynd was soplicated, Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Child wouldn''t have needed to wait thesest few days.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are we leaving just like that? We''re not bringing anything with us?" the Demon Child asked, frowning.


    "Your reputation in Taiyi Peak isn''t particrly ster. Aren''t you happy enough to be the Mountain Lord? What do you expect to bring with you?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "I feel like I didn''t gain anything by doing this. What''s the point of all this work?" the Demon Childined.


    "Status is everything. You might not understand it right now, but you will as you grow older. Your status as Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak is more important than any physical reward you could have gained. No one in the Yuqing holynd will dare cause you trouble, and you''ll be able to im more benefits from the Yuqing holynd itself."


    The Demon Child nodded uncertainly, then asked, "Where are we headed next?"


    "To fight."


    "To fight where?" The Demon Child suddenly perked up.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The two cultivators zoomed away, moving so rapidly that they reached an ind far across the sea in just a day.


    There, Ao Zhou and the twelve golden cultivators were waiting for them alongside arge group of chefs and puppeteers.


    "Your Majesty!" The twelve golden cultivators rushed over.


    "What''s the matter with you? Why are all of you in such bad shape?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, rmed.


    Their clothes had been worn down to nothing but rags, as if they had just had a big fight.


    "Of course they''re in bad shape! I was the one who attacked them. Mere survival was all they could hope for," Ao Zhou said arrogantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Ao Zhou with a raised eyebrow. "You''re a Golden Immortal now?"


    "Of course! I''m a cultivation genius. It''s only natural that I would have be a Golden Immortal so quickly," Ao Zhou replied, preening.


    Beside him, Ye Dafu said, "Ao Zhou was a Golden Immortal when he emerged from the Eye of the Sea. It''s clear that he must have advanced by consuming the nascent soul in the Eye. He took advantage of you, Your Majesty!"


    Ao Zhou stiffened and thundered, "Who took advantage of Xiao Nanfeng? We each imed what we needed from the other!"


    Xiao Nanfeng understood what had happened as well, but he didn''t mind. It was a good thing for Ao Zhou to grow stronger. In the future, when he inveigled Ao Zhou into more fights, Ao Zhou would have a greater impact.


    "Is Ao Zhou that strong as a Golden Immortal? Were you all beaten ck and blue despite attacking him together?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No, we were worried that his stamina would be limited, so we took turns fighting him. In the meantime, we also beat each other up. Not all the damage was inflicted by Ao Zhou," Ye Dafu reported.


    "Ye Dafu, what do you mean, my stamina is limited? Weren''t you screaming after I pummeled you? I''m not trying to target any of you, but all of you are trashpared to me!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "Trash? Come on, you little loach. I''ll take you on!" the Demon Child cried out.


    Ao Zhou nced at the Demon Child and froze. He still remembered the Demon Child''s frightening strength. He probed, "Didn''t your demonic corpse body end up being shattered? Have you reforged your body? If I''m not mistaken, the strength of your new body is rted to the relic you used to reforge it. What sort of relic could you even possess? You''re simply trying to fake it, aren''t you?"


    "Try me on, then!" the Demon Child called out.


    "I bet it''s only a Golden Immortal relic. You won''t be able to best me like this. Very well!" Ao Zhou shouted, rushing straight toward the Demon Child.


    The Demon Child waved a hand, causing a huge palm to descend from the heavens. The clouds in the sky burst apart as incredible force shot down toward Ao Zhou.


    "No!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    He was sent flying by a single blow. He smashed into the sea, causing a huge wave to form.


    "A Boundless Immortal''s strength? Demon Child, you tricked me!" Ao Zhou fumed.


    "A Boundless Immortal?" The twelve golden cultivators'' eyes lit up.


    Before long, Ao Zhou returned with a swollen face. The Demon Child''s technique had struck him there, leaving him looking much the worse for wear.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you reforged the Demon Child''s body with a Boundless Immortal relic? You''re wasting such treasure!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "The Demon Child is a general of Dazheng. What treasure I use to reforge his physical body with is none of your business."


    Ao Zhou grimaced. "Does the Dazheng Empire provide such impressive benefits? Why not count me in?"


    He recalled how Croak and Warble had easily advanced in cultivation thanks to the benefits they obtained from being part of the Dazheng Empire, and they were nowte-stage True Immortals. They had reached that level of cultivation readily, with hardly any effort¡ªand he wanted that for himself too.


    "Ha!" Xiao Nanfengughed disdainfully at Ao Zhou.


    "You really are bothersome!" Ao Zhou fumed.


    He was upset at not having obtained anything from Xiao Nanfeng for free.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, who do you want me to beat up?" the Demon Child asked curiously.


    "Them." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the twelve golden cultivators.


    "Aren''t they your subordinates? Why would I beat them up?"


    "They''re currently allte-stage True Immortals. Beat them up until they be Golden Immortals!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "What?" The Demon Child was taken aback.


    "For the next few days, all of you will live on this ind. I''ve prepared the best chefs for you, who will make all sorts of delicacies you''ve never tried before. There''ll be entertainment aplenty as well. You can have your fill of entertainment. All you need to do is cooperate with Ye Dafu and the others to help them advance their cultivation. Just beat them up like you always do," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I don''t understand..." The Demon Child was taken aback.


    Ye Dafu shook his head. "Demon Child, I''ll teach you what to do. Come on, why don''t we start by eating our fill?"


    The Demon Child nodded fervently, already starting to drool.


    Xiao Nanfeng chatted with the gathered cultivators for some time before he left for the Shenfeng Empire.


    He returned to the same valley as before, but alone this time. He was immediately surrounded by a group of shadow cursed effigies.


    He had been hiding his appearance behind a cloud of white fog, but when he realized that his assants were all shadow cursed effigies, he waved away the fog. "It''s me."


    The shadow cursed effigies immediately bowed and made way, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to pass toward the valley down below.


    From the air, it was clear that the valley was located within a giant city.


    There was arge tablet in the distance proiming the city to be the capital of the Shenfeng Empire.


    The moment Xiao Nanfeng descended into the valley proper, a shadow cursed effigy floated up to him. It bowed respectfully. "Sir, the Divine Emperor is currently in a session of court."


    "That''s fine. Bring me to a vantage point from which I can see the whole city," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the shadow cursed effigy replied.


    It brought Xiao Nanfeng to the peak of a mountain from which the whole city was visible. The mountain was part of the ptialplex, and he could see a wide-open field at the front of the pce.


    Countless Yuqing disciples had gathered there.


    "General Xia Hong has recently recruited arge group of Yuqing disciples. The Divine Emperor is granting them titles and positions appropriate for their expertise," the shadow cursed effigy exined.


    "I see." Xiao Nanfeng nodded and observed them, his hands behind his back.


    In the za in the distance, the Yuqing disciples were all ted because of how highly the Shenfeng Empire seemed to value them. The Divine Emperor had even hosted a special session of court in order to grant them all positions within the empire¡ªand they hadn''t even stepped foot on the battlefield just yet! Would they be able to be officials without having done a thing?


    They could tell that their positions would easily allow them to umte merit.


    "The Divine Emperor really is wise¡ªa monarch worthy of respect. No wonder the Shenfeng Empire has grown so strong in just a year."


    "It''s all thanks to Senior Brother Xia Hong. How else could we have obtained such coveted positions right away?"


    "Or Senior Brother Xiao''s strong rmendation, rather. We wouldn''t have learned of such an opportunity otherwise."


    "It really is thanks to Senior Brother Xiao!"


    The Yuqing disciples chatted with each other in excitement.


    Not far away, Xia Lanmented, "Second Brother, I didn''t expect you the Shenfeng Empire to treat you like such an asset."


    Xia Hong frowned. "I didn''t expect this myself. There are plenty of martial generals in the Shenfeng Empire, and True Immortals from a variety of sects. I wouldn''t have expected the emperor to have been so concerned with my recruits..."


    "It must be because of your talent," Xia Lan said.


    Xia Hong frowned. Something still seemed off. It felt as though, for some reason or another, the Divine Emperor had suddenly ced considerable trust in him.


    Just then, the Divine Emperor slowly walked out of the pce.


    "Continue appointing the new officials. I have something to attend to," the Divine Emperor said.


    "We send off the Divine Emperor! Long live the Divine Emperor!" Countless officials and generals bowed as the Divine Emperor made her exit.


    Upon seeing the Divine Emperor''s appearance, Xia Lan was taken aback. "I can''t believe how beautiful your monarch is. If only I could marry her¡ªI''d give up a thousand years of my life!"


    Xia Hong pped Xia Lan on the head.


    "What''re you looking at? I''ll dig out your eyes if you keep it up! Don''t you dare sully her with your carnal desires.


    "Second Brother, why are you beating me? Did I say anything wrong? She''s so strong and beautiful¡ªwho wouldn''t want to be with her? Haven''t you had those thoughts, too?" Xia Lan clutched his head and scowled at his older brother.


    Xia Hong naturally felt the same way inwardly, but he sighed. "No one in this world is a match for her."


    "Ha!" Xia Lan said. "Just you watch me woo her!"


    They watched the Divine Emperor fly high up a mountain, where a stately figure shrouded in fog appeared to be waiting for her.


    When the Divine Emperor saw the figure, a smile bloomed across her face. She said something, then blushed. The figure in the fog reached out for her waist with an arm as they flew down the mountain together and vanished from sight.


    Xia Hong: ...


    Xia Lan: ...


    The two brothers'' dreams were shattered in an instant. The Divine Emperor already had a man! Why was this world so unfair?!


    "That beast!" the two cultivators cursed.

 Chapter 703: Two Empires Ties

    <h4>Chapter 703: Two Empires'' Ties</h4>


    The ptial valley of the capital of Shenfeng was shrouded by a formation. In a hall within the valley, Xiao Nanfeng inspected a visualization of the entire kingdom before him thoughtfully.


    Beside him, the Divine Emperor reached out for Xiao Nanfeng''s arm. "The Shenfeng Empire belongs to us both, too. Should we unify it with the Dazheng Empire?"


    "There''s no need. Dazheng is in the east, and Shenfeng in the south. They''re too far away for the unification to have much meaning at the moment. It''s more efficient if we each expand rapidly first," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I agree. Even so, the Shenfeng Empire belongs to both me and you. Would you like to have a look at my officials?"


    "No, it''s alright. As long as your core shadow cursed effigies know of my existence, that''s enough. We should try to hide our rtionship from others. Once our identities are exposed, the two empires won''t be able to function independently any longer."


    Of course, he was only hiding the rtionship from outsiders. He would tell his core subordinates¡ªYe Dafu, the Demon Child¡ªand naturally exin the situation to Yu''er as well.


    He simply didn''t want to publicize the rtionship just yet in case anything were to happen.


    "Your shadow cursed effigies are indeed skilled at administration, but I believe that there''s a fundamental w in the empire''s public policy."


    "Oh?" the Divine Emperor said.


    "Perhaps it''s simply the difference between the Dazheng Empire and other empires. The Dazheng Empire fully prioritizes its citizens so as to derive the greatest quantity of fortune. The officials of the Shenfeng Empire ultimately still behave as if they''re lording over their citizens. You won''t get enough fortune this way."


    "What then? Shall I gather my administrative officials and have you instruct them?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "I wouldn''t be enough. How about this? I''ll send over a group of officials from Dazheng, and I''ll make a few modifications to Shenfeng''s public policy with your supervision. How about a thousand to start off with?"


    "That many? What if people notice something amiss?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "That''s alright. We can make it look like the two empires are forging a rtionship with each other. Conveniently, Xia Hong''s in the empire at the moment. Have him contact me, and I''ll be able to send a thousand officials over as a delegation."


    "But wouldn''t that expose our rtionship?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "We''ll be taking on the divine empire of Hongyue together, so everyone will know that there''s a rtionship between us regardless¡ªjust not the specifics of it. Few will think too deeply about an alliance between two empires, especially ones on different quadrants of the continent. After all, allying with empires from afar and attacking ones nearby is a standard policy, and plenty of empires do the same.


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    "As for the news of Li Qianjun ughtering his citizens to forge a treasure, we can''t allow that to slowly die out. We''ll have to find specialized people to spread that news throughout all the Immortal cities to ensure that it remains a topic of discussion whose influence will spread."


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "One of my officials says the same."


    "Have your subordinates hand me a report coting the relevant information on the empires around you. I''ll have to study them."


    "I''ve arranged for it already," the Divine Emperor said, smiling. "I knew you''d want to do something like this."


    A dayter, in a hall of the Shenfeng Empire, Xia Lan frowned at Xia Hong. "Second Brother, why would the Divine Emperor give us such a task?"


    Xia Hong looked at the edict as he frowned. "The Divine Emperor must be aware of our rtionship with Nanfeng. That''s why we were entrusted with such an important task."


    "An alliance between two empires so distant from each other? What''s the point of an alliance? Would Xiao Nanfeng even agree? She even wants him to send a few officials to Shenfeng in an exchange to offer guidance! This is impossible. The two of us could never arrange all this."


    "Who knows? Nanfeng would likely entertain the request, at least," Xia Hong replied.


    "I don''t think it''s possible. Perhaps if it''s a private exchange, but one involving two empires? Doesn''t that need a mutual understanding of each other and delegations of envoys? Would we really be able to seed? Xiao Nanfeng''s not a fool. No matter how closely he''s tied to our family, he would never agree." Xia Lan shook his head.


    "Her Majesty instructed us to do this herself. We have to give it our best effort, at least. Come with me when we discuss this with Nanfeng," Xia Hong said.


    "I won''t! You want me to grovel and beg Xiao Nanfeng? Dream on!" Xia Lan refused abruptly.


    "We''re going to be a family. What do you mean, grovel and beg? Don''t make up nonsense."


    "At any rate, this is impossible. Considering how petty Xiao Nanfeng is, he would never agree to such a thing." Xia Lan shook his head.


    Just as the two brothers were speaking, one of Xia Hong''s subordinates walked into the hall. "General, a cultivator outside the residence ims to be one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates and requests an audience with you. He provided this."


    Xia Hong took the token and recognized it as something he had given Xiao Nanfeng to facilitatemunication.


    "Send him in immediately," Xia Hong instructed.


    "Understood!"


    A man was quickly invited inside.


    "I am a spectral guard of Dazheng and have been tasked with contacting General Xia Hong. His Majesty had us scatter across the world, and I was responsible for keeping an eye on the Shenfeng Empire. I canmunicate any information directly to His Majesty. General Xia Hong, if you ever wish to contact him, please find me at any time." The man bowed, then provided him with his contact information within the Shenfeng Empire.


    Xia Hong gave him an odd look. A spy in Shenfeng who had directly professed his identity¡ªwhat a strange thing indeed. If he were from any other empire, Xia Hong would have arrested him immediately, but this spy was stationed here by Xiao Nanfeng. He didn''t know quite what to do.


    In the end, he quashed his desire to arrest the man before him and asked, "Can you contact Xiao Nanfeng immediately?"


    "Of course, General. My avatar is in Yongding, and I can help you contact His Majesty at any time. Would you like to request an audience now?"


    "Do so."


    "Very well. Please wait a little, General."


    Xia Lan and Xia Hong waited patiently until the spectral guard turned toward them again. "My avatar is with His Majesty. I will be responsible for conveying your words to each other."


    "Very well!" Xia Hong nodded.


    The spectral guard ryed Xiao Nanfeng''s words first. "Haha, Senior Brother, what''s going on? Is something the matter?"


    Xia Hong grimaced before chuckling wryly. "I do have something to trouble you with."


    "We''re family, aren''t we? It''s hardly troublesome. What do you need?" The spectral guard even mimicked Xiao Nanfeng''s casual tone.


    "Shenfeng would like to forge an alliance with Dazheng. Would you be interested?" Xia Hong probed.


    "With any other empire, I''d have to think far more about it. Considering it''s the empire you''re in, Senior Brother, there''s no problem at all. Allying with empires afar is a good idea. I''ll send a delegation of envoys to Shenfeng immediately. You''ll help me protect them, won''t you, Senior Brother?"


    Xia Hong sighed in relief. He couldn''t help but feel immense gratitude toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure that they''re well taken care of. Here''s the situation: remember when you told me about Dazheng''s policy of governance? The Divine Emperor asked me regarding such matters, and I presented the Dazheng Empire as an example. She thinks very highly of your policies, and would like to adopt them in Shenfeng as well. She''d like to request some officials from Dazheng to assist with the process," Xia Hong exined, with some embarrassment.


    "Anything to help you, Senior Brother. I''ll send a thousand administrative officials to assist with the process. Have Shenfeng send a group of envoys and administrative officials to Dazheng to learn about what we do as well. Since the two empires are inclined to forge an alliance, it''s only natural that we would have such exchanges."


    Xia Hong gaped, not expecting things to have progressed so smoothly. "I really have to thank you for this."


    "Senior Brother, there''s hardly any need for all this politeness! If you keep doing so, you''ll make me feel like a stranger." Xiao Nanfengughed out loud.


    "Even so! I''ll report to the Divine Emperor immediately and have envoys and officials dispatched as quickly as possible," Xia Hong said.


    "Very well. I''ll do the same myself. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you can report back."


    "Very well!" Xia Hong nodded.


    The conversation ended, and the spectral guard made his leave.


    After the spectral guard left, Xia Hong sighed. "Yu''er really made the right choice in marrying Nanfeng. We''re blessed to have such a brother-inw."


    "Second Brother, none of this seems real. He''s not trying to trick us, is he?" Xia Lan frowned.


    Xia Hong red at his brother. "Third Brother, don''t you think that''s enough? You keep maligning Nanfeng whenever he''s brought up. How could you have be so petty?"


    "I didn''t! I just feel as if everything''s progressing far too smoothly. Considering how petty Xiao Nanfeng is, there''s no way he would be so amenable to the idea."


    "It looks like you need more training. Head to the drill grounds immediately and join the soldiers in their routine," Xia Hong ordered.


    "Second Brother, surely not! I''m an Immortal. You want me to train with those ordinary cultivators? What about my reputation?!" Xia Lan eximed.


    "Go, or I''ll beat you up. Whoever drops to the ground first will have to obey the other. How about that?" Xia Hong chided.


    Xia Lan stiffened. Xia Hong was a peak True Immortal, and Xia Lan''s cultivation was far worse. The oue of the fight would be obvious.


    Slightly more than ten dayster, Dazheng''s delegation arrived at the capital of Shenfeng. The Divine Emperor herself weed them and formally established rtions between the two empires.


    The Divine Emperor treated the Dazheng officials with extreme generosity, instating them as officials in major cities all across the empire and causing no smallmotion.


    Meanwhile, Xia Lan continued to train alongside a group of cultivators. He was shocked to receive the news.


    "Did Xiao Nanfeng really send a delegation over? How could it be? Could I really have misjudged him before?" Xia Lan wondered, frowning.

 Chapter 704: Against Evil

    <h4>Chapter 704: Against Evil</h4>


    A monthter, in the valley within Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng was seated in a small courtyard and perusing a stack of documents. The Divine Emperor walked by and smiled. "Your administrators really are skilled. They''re making a fuss all over Shenfeng."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced up and smiled. "Are there more officials upset about the uing reforms?"


    The Divine Emperor sat down beside Xiao Nanfeng and nodded. "Your policies that prioritize the people are in danger of infringing on some officials'' benefits, so they''re naturally opposed to it."


    "It''s only been a month, but Shenfeng''s fortune seems to have doubled. Can''t they tell?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor looked up at the sky, at the billowing sea of fortune high above. "More than double¡ªtriple, even, and it''s increasing faster and faster, without any expansion necessary. I''m shocked at how this could be possible."


    "Themon people are the weakest but most loyal of us. Treat them well, and they''ll reciprocate in kind. Losing officials by prioritizing the people speaks poorly of those officials; losing people by prioritizing officials speaks poorly of your empire."


    "I know, I know. Even if I lose some officials, I can always recruit more¡ªbut if I lose all the people, I''ll have nothing. I''ve been ignoring those officials most upset about these policies." The Divine Emperor smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng caressed the Divine Emperor. "There''s nothing my wife isn''t good at."


    "But the mass reforms we''ve been introducing will likely ignite our rivalry with Hongyue. Our scouts report that Hongyue has been exhorting several neighboring empires into attacking us. They might send out troops at any moment," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Neighboring empires? I haven''t even thought about them yet, but they''re already trying to attract our attention by conspiring against us?It''s almost as if they want to be destroyed as quickly as possible." Xiao Nanfeng chuckled.


    "If they cooperate, they''ll have far more troops than we do." The Divine Emperor frowned.


    "We''re in a world of Immortals now, not the mortal world. So what if they have troops? The most important thing is to have skilled generals who can rout the enemy. Numbers are hardly relevant by this point."


    "My shadow cursed effigies haven''t regained their full strength yet, and Shenfengcks such skilled generals," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Don''t worry. Dazheng''s generals might as well be Shenfeng''s. I can send Ye Dafu and the others over to assist you."


    "Will their presence here cause trouble for Dazheng?" the Divine Emperor asked in worry.


    "I doubt it. As long as we don''t im outright that Dazheng and Shenfeng are a single empire, we should be fine. We''re already allies who have loaned administrative officials from one another. Why not martial generals too?"


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "Very well. Let''s show off our strength, then."


    "I''ve been waiting for this day for quite some time too," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "Have you been nning stratagems all month long? Just like the Stratagems Against Yin?" the Divine Emperor asked curiously.


    "The Stratagems Against Yin were surprisingly effective, but as far as wars among equals go, it''s safer to go for an overwhelming victory at the outset."


    "A direct sh?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "Why not?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "But¡ª"


    "Don''t worry. I know that Shenfeng currently has limited resources, but that''s alright. We''ll take it one step at a time. First, we''ll take down all the neighboring empires to showcase our strength and invite aspiring cultivators all over the world into Shenfeng. We''ll take on Hongyue thereafter."


    "Oh?"


    "The first step of my n is to umte fame and reputation by crusading against evil. I''ve researched the neighboring empires. There are plenty of kingdoms and empires in the vicinity who frequently wage war on one another, making life particrly difficult for themon people. Corpses are strewn all over thend. This is a cmity for their people, but a blessing for us. Only by taking down such vile empires can we contrast and demonstrate our wise and just governance. We''ll attack them and take them down as quickly as possible, gain fame, and then conquer the world," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "There are six big empires and forty kingdoms in the vicinity. Are we taking them all down at once?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "We have the strength for it. Why not?" Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    The Divine Emperor smiled wryly. "I didn''t expect your appetite to be sorge. It''s easy to wage war, but what next? How do you n to properly administer the conquered territories thereafter?"


    "I''ll send for another twenty thousand officials from Dazheng. We can guarantee that the transition goes smoothly. They all have experience and expertise in doing so," Xiao Nanfeng told her.


    "Twenty thousand officials? Are you joking?" the Divine Emperor gasped.


    "If it''s insufficient, I can send for even more."


    "No, no, it''s far too many!" The Divine Emperorughed.


    "Hardly! Six empires and forty kingdoms¡ªthe twenty thousand officials I send for surely won''t be enough. You''ll need to recruit from among the people as well. Don''t you have plenty of administrative officials who have nothing to do and are trying to secure as many benefits for themselves as possible? Make them work so that they don''t have the time toe up with such ns," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well," the Divine Emperor replied, nodding.


    "I know that many officials have been with you for an extended period of time, and that you can''t bear to criticize them¡ªbut this is important. Since they''re serving as officials in the Shenfeng Empire, they have toply with the empire''s policy. Only when the whole empire is united can we move forward as one. I don''t want anyone to hold us back," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "I understand. I''ll establish a supervisorymittee specifically for this purpose."


    "Good! Waging war against all these empires and kingdoms will quickly help Shenfeng be famous. There are plenty of disciples in sects and holynds trying to choose among empires to join, much like the Yuqing disciples who have joined you. The stronger Shenfeng is, the more they''ll revere it and anticipate joining it. With our fame, we''ll get more recruits; with those recruits, we''ll take on Hongyue."


    "You''re right. That was the same with me fifty thousand years ago. The more victories I won, the more cultivators were willing to join me. By the end, I didn''t need to recruit any cultivators at all¡ªthe whole world wanted to join my cause." The Divine Emperor nodded.


    "What''s more, I suspect that the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue will be a troublesome foe. He may have an association with a saint who''s been troubling us. Although you''re a Boundless Immortal, I''m still worried. It''s best if we can expand Shenfeng in terms of manpower and fortune. At that point, even if Hongyue is forced to summon a saint to assist them, you''ll at least be able to protect yourself with your empire''s strength."


    "I''ll do as you say," the Divine Emperor replied, nodding.


    A few dayster, in Xia Hong''s manor, Xia Lan was ncing at an edict with an astonished expression. "Second Brother, isn''t the Divine Emperor being ridiculous? Weren''t the thousand officials from Dazheng enough? She wants even more¡ªand generals as well! Xiao Nanfeng''s not an idiot. Why would he dispatch his subordinates to an empire he barely knows about?"


    Xia Hong frowned. "Nothing''s impossible for me. Nanfeng just agreed to these requests, actually. The officials and generals are already on their way."


    Xia Lan fell silent. Why was it that something went wrong for him whenever he criticized Xiao Nanfeng?


    Above a stretch of the sea, an intense fight unfolded. Fire and wind filled the air, and tidal waves washed over the sea.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew toward the scene. As he closed in, the cultivators quickly stopped fighting and rushed over.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, what took you so long? I''m bored to death!" the Demon Child grumbled.


    "Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others rushed over.


    They were gleaming in gold, and their auras billowed from them.


    "You''re all Golden Immortals? Your Indomitable Body really is shocking. Have any of you even encountered bottlenecks to date?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve all be Golden Immortals!" Ye Dafu cried out in excitement.


    "The Demon Child''s attacks really hurt. A Boundless Immortal''s strength is terrifying!"


    "It''s all thanks to the Demon Child. He''s been a huge asset!"


    "I underestimated the Demon Child beforehand. He''s really amazing."


    The golden cultivators all began to tter the Demon Child, who forgot all about hisints upon hearing thepliments.


    "I am impressive, aren''t I?" The Demon Child grinned.


    "Demon Child, I really do have to thank you. If not for you, who knows how much longer it would have taken them to be Golden Immortals?"


    "Haha, it was nothing!"


    The Demon Child had spent all month fighting the twelve golden cultivators and had grown particrly sick of it by the end. The puppet shows and feasts were the only things keeping him going¡ªalong with the effusive praise from all the golden cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Ye Dafu and the others with joy. Twelve Golden Immortals would be a tremendous boost to Dazhengs strength.


    Unfortunately, however, there were now few other True Immortals in Dazheng, but this wouldn''t be much of a problem. Low-tier Immortals could easily be recruited from various sects and holynds.


    "Where''s Ao Zhou?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He headed back to the Imperial Court to turn in his mission to take down the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, and hasn''t yet returned," Ye Dafu said.


    "Alright, then. We won''t wait for him." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "What''s the matter, Your Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.


    "We''re going to wage war. I''m here to lead you to your troops," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh? Have cultivators invaded Dazheng?" The golden cultivators were taken aback.


    "No¡ªwe''ll be fighting in the Shenfeng Empire," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" Ye Dafu''s eyes brightened. "Great. I''m looking forward to it!"


    "Morebat!" The golden cultivators grinned at each other.


    "What about me? Do I have to go to Shenfeng to fight, too?" the Demon Child asked.


    "No, you won''t be needed. There''s an even more important task that I need your help with. No one else can do it," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Really? Haha, count me in, then!" the Demon Child promised.

 Chapter 705: Taking on the Six Empires Alone

    <h4>Chapter 705: Taking on the Six Empires Alone</h4>


    A monthter, in Shenfeng''s capital, the sea of fortune overhead had doubled in size once again. A promation was currently being issued in court.


    "The heart of governance lies in its people. The Shenfeng Empire prioritizes its citizens over all else, suppressing all chaos so that order and peace may reign. Meanwhile, six neighboring empires have been abusing their people and fomenting evil. They have repeatedly sent spies into Shenfeng and have gathered troops in preparation for an invasion. For their provocation and in self-defense, the Shenfeng Empire formally deres war on all six empires along with their subsidiary forces in hopes of vanquishing evil and saving the world."


    The promation spread throughout Shenfeng, then all over. The twenty Immortal cities and countless ordinary cities of Shenfeng received the news near-immediately.


    In the past, the people might have resented such a war, but over thest three months, they had changed their stance. The sweeping reforms over Shenfeng had been incredibly sessful.


    In the past, sevenrge empires had fought over these wartornnds. Though themon people were able to eke out a living, they did so with the heavy pall of fear and death hanging over them¡ªuntil the kingdom of Shenfeng was founded. It quickly defeated and took over one of the seven empires.


    Over the past year, despite the numerous wars, the Shenfeng Empire had treated its people well. There were no obscure tithes or petty taxes; proper administration had taken over. The people believed that a prosperous future awaited them after just a few years of hard work.


    Over thest three months, however, things had changed beyond recognition. The officials of Shenfeng had suddenly grown far more attentive to themon people''s needs. When there wererge-scale construction projects for which people were drafted, they would receive pay. There were systems in ce to report any corrupt officials, who would have their wealth stripped upon confirmation. A portion of that wealth would be given to whoever had reported them.


    The officials in the city no longer seemed as stuck-up or ignorant of themon people''s affairs as before. Rather, they mingled with themon people and listened to their grievances. Allegedly, they were trying to reach a quota for an examination of some sort.


    Furthermore, bandits and criminals that were reported and had their crimes confirmed would be dealt with alongside whatever backers they had. Allegedly, arge-scale Immortal sect had been supporting a gang of bandits in a certain city. After the gang was reported, it vanished in its entirety¡ªalongside the Immortal sect.


    Though not everyone lived in luxury, the stable conditions within the empire left themon people at ease. They were grateful for the reforms that had been implemented, and they felt that they would find no better empire in their lifetime.


    Themon people, who had suffered disaster after disaster, prized their current living conditions above all else. Now that the Shenfeng Empire was about to be invaded, they would naturally rise up in defense. Many even urged their children to train as officials or participate in the military draft.


    The people''s support notwithstanding, there were plenty of officials seeking to make a name for themselves, including the Yuqing disciples who had just been recruited to Shenfeng.


    As a result, there was overwhelming, if not unanimous, support for the war.


    The promation of war spread to the six neighboring empires as well.


    Quite a few figures had gathered together within a certain hall.


    "Who divulged our ns? Damn it, that wench is attacking us even before we dered war on Shenfeng!"


    "Hongyue advised us to take on Shenfeng. They won''t just watch on, will they?"


    "I don''t trust Hongyue, myself. We should try to take on Shenfeng on our own for now. We were already nning to make a move regardless¡ªour ns have just been advanced."


    "Right. Won''t it be straightforward for our six empires to take on the newly ascended Shenfeng Empire? We have far more generals than they can handle."


    "The twenty Immortal cities that the Shenfeng Empire took over were supposed to be ours, but we hadn''t yet had time to secure them, and the Shenfeng Empire took advantage. How can we allow those cities to retain control of them?"


    "Right. If we six empires attack Shenfeng together, its troops will quickly be nothing more than a joke."


    "In that case, let''s not dy things any further. We''ll send out troops immediately to take down Shenfeng. Whatever Immortal cities you can im will be yours."


    "I''ve seen the Divine Emperor before. She''s exactly the type I like, and I''ve been looking for a new concubine. Don''t fight for her with me, you hear?"


    "Dream on! Who wouldn''t want such a beautiful woman? Whoever takes her down will get her."


    "Right, I want her as a concubine as well. We''ll see who can get to her first, haha!"


    The emperors thought little of Shenfeng and believed it would be trivial to take it down.


    Before long, Shenfeng''s army had divided into eighteen regiments that set off toward the six neighboring empires.


    The six empires'' troops likewise set out in force. The forty kingdoms scattered across these seven empires were on high alert. If the intense fighting decimated these empires, the kingdoms might be able to take advantage and advance into empires themselves.


    As a result, the entire region was focused intently on the war.


    Ten dayster, the eighteen regiments formally encountered the six empires'' troops on the battlefield.


    By then, not only were the forty neighboring kingdoms paying attention, but also a few divine empires in the vicinity. After all, Shenfeng was attempting the unbelievable feat of taking on six empires at once. Would it fall, or would it usher in the rise of a new legend?


    On the battlefield, Ye Dafu stood at the forefront, a golden mask covering his face. Ten thousand troops marched at his back. Before him were a hundred thousand enemy forces, led by several generals with fearsome auras.


    "Identify yourself, enemymander!"


    "Do you think ten thousand troops can take on our hundred-thousand-strong army? You''ll perish!"


    "Everyone, listen up! If you take down that masked enemymander, I''ll promote you by three ranks and grant you utmost merit for this battle!"


    The enemymanders'' shouts caused their soldiers'' morale to spike.


    Meanwhile, the soldiers behind Ye Dafu all seemed worried. Their maskedmander hade out of nowhere, and the majority of them had never seen his face. There were at least two True Immortals among the enemymanders. What were they to do?


    "You? You''re nothing more than riffraff. Hand me a spear!" Ye Dafu reached out for the spear of the soldier behind him.


    Everyone nced at him curiously, not realizing what their maskedmander was up to.


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu infused a burst of energy into the spear, causing it to glow with radiant light.


    Then, Ye Dafu tossed the golden spear straight at an enemymander. It streaked by like a shooting star, moving so quickly that everyone was caught off-guard.


    "Be careful!" someone cried out.


    It pierced right through one enemymander''s chest in a spray of blood. The enemymander was sent flying, his mouth agape, unable to believe that he hadn''t even had time to react.


    The spear continued undeterred as it shot into arge mountain, which copsed in a heap of rubble.


    "Impossible. Themander-in-chief''s a True Immortal. How could he not have blocked the blow?!"


    "Senior Brother, are you alright? How could you have been injured?!"


    The othermanders were all making a fuss.


    The two armies nced at the masked Ye Dafu. He had taken down one of the strongest enemymanders with just a single toss of a spear. How could that be?


    "He must be¡ªa peak-grade True Immortal!"


    "No, he might well be a Golden Immortal. How could themander-in-chief have been unable to retaliate at all otherwise?"


    "A Golden Immortal? Impossible!"


    The enemy soldiers and generals were incredulous about what had happened.


    The troops behind Ye Dafu suddenly had their spirits lifted. They were overjoyed. The strength of the allied and enemymanders often determined victory or defeat.


    "Generals, soldiers, charge forward and ughter the enemy alongside me!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Die!" his army roared.


    Ye Dafu shot forward wielding a de.


    "Release the Immortal-destroying arrows!" the enemymanders shouted.


    Beams of purple light shot toward Ye Dafu, a secret weapon that the enemies had prepared well in advance to deal with Shenfeng''smanders.


    Ye Dafu ignored the beams of light and allowed them to strike his body.


    "Haha, these Immortal-destroying arrows can kill evente-stage True Immortals. He''s done for!" an enemymander cried out.


    "Be careful, Commander!" Shenfeng''s troops shouted.


    The beams of purple light shattered and dispersed in a rain of fragments. Ye Dafu had blocked them all with nothing but his physical body alone.


    "Impossible!" the enemies shouted.


    By then, Ye Dafu was drawing near the enemymanders. With a sweep of his de, he sent a massive de technique, hundreds of meters long, descending toward another enemymander.


    "No! He''s a Golden Immortal!" the enemymander shrieked.


    With an earth-shattering explosion, themander was split in two. A huge furrow was left in the ground where his body had stood.


    The generals and soldiers on both sides of the battlefield were taken aback.


    "A Golden Immortal? What can any of us do against a Golden Immortal?!"


    "Weren''t the strongest forces of Shenfeng, like General Xia Hong, merely peak True Immortals? Where could these Golden Immortals havee from? This is impossible!"


    "What are we going to do? He''ll ughter us all!"


    "No!"


    The enemy cultivators cried out in fear, whereas the Shenfeng troops were in high spirits. With a Golden Immortal on their side, victory was all but guaranteed.


    "Die!" the Shenfeng troops hollered.


    This was a one-sided fight; there was no way the Shenfeng troops would lose.


    Ye Dafu and his army rushed forward and ughtered the enemy cultivators.


    Before long, his troops were shouting, "Surrender and live. Resist and die!"

 Chapter 706: More Golden Immortals

    <h4>Chapter 706: More Golden Immortals</h4>


    The Shenfeng troops'' first battle ended in aplete victory.


    Of the eighteen regiments, six were led by masked Golden Immortals, resulting in a one-sided ughter.


    The news shocked the six empires, forty kingdoms, and countless Immortal sects and holynds paying attention to the war.


    Under ordinary circumstances, the fact that the Shenfeng Empire was taking on six empires at once should have been a death sentence. The stunning victory they won shocked all the onlookers.


    "How can the Shenfeng Empire have Golden Immortals as generals?That''s impossible¡ªonly the strongest empires have that level of strength!"


    "One of my sect''s disciples is an official in Shenfeng. Allegedly, those generals appeared out of nowhere."


    "Even so, doesn''t that mean that the Shenfeng Empire has trump cards in reserve?"


    "Could the rumors be true? Does Shenfeng really possess the resources to advance into a divine empire?"


    Many of the onlookers rushed to get more information about Shenfeng.


    The leaders of the various Immortal sects in the vicinity fell deep in thought as they wondered whether to throw in their lot with Shenfeng. Though the limits of Shenfeng''s reserves were yet unknown, they were simply developing and expanding too quickly not to have wealth in abundance.


    In fewer than two years, Shenfeng was already able to take on six empires simultaneously. Would it be able to ascend into a divine empire in another few years? If they didn''t pledge their allegiance to the empire immediately, they might miss an incredible opportunity.


    The disciples of various Immortal sects who had joined Shenfeng were ted to hear about its outstanding sess. They quickly sent word back to their sects, requesting further investment in Shenfeng.


    The six empires were shaken by their immediate and overwhelming defeat. Their six emperors quickly convened for another meeting.


    "This is unbelievable. How can Shenfeng have six Golden Immortals?"


    "For Golden Immortals to appear in a battle between empires¡ªwe''d never win."


    "The six of us are Golden Immortals, but it would be beyond ridiculous for us to lead the fighting ourselves..."


    "We''ll have to ask for support from Hongyue. At worst, we''ll cede them a greater share of Shenfeng''snds."


    "It''s settled, then!"


    The emperors quickly got to work.


    They knew that requesting aid from Hongyue might well be dangerous in the long run, but they had no choice. With Golden Immortals on Shenfeng''s side, they were bound to lose otherwise. It would be better to rope Hongyue in now and deal with the consequencester.


    Within Hongyue, the empress Tu Jiuniang smiled as she eyed a hall filled with treasure. "Sister, are these gifts from the six empires?"


    Before Tu Jiuniang stood Li Qianjun''s wife, Tu Siniang.


    "Indeed. Six masked Golden Immortals suddenly appeared in Shenfeng, one for each empire. The emperors don''t believe that they''ll be able to handle them on their own, so they''re requesting assistance from the Immortal Emperor. The Immortal Emperor has refused to respond thus far, so they''re seeking your help instead. You are Empress Hongyue, after all. They''re bribing you in hopes that you''ll petition the Immortal Emperor on their behalf." Tu Siniang smiled.


    "Do they think they can bribe me with such inferior treasures? Howughable! Return them all," Tu Jiuniang said.


    "Jiuniang, we''ll have to take on Shenfeng as well, anyway. Why refuse them?" Tu Siniang eximed.


    Tu Jiuniang shook his head. "Hasn''t your husband, Li Qianjun, told you why the Immortal Emperor''s unwilling to interfere?"


    "He''s been busy thinking about how to repair his Taiqing burial pagoda. It''s been days since Ist saw him," Tu Siniang grumbled.


    "He''s working hard in preparation for the Immortal Emperor''s subsequent ns. Don''t me him too much," Tu Jiuniang replied.


    "Oh?" Tu Siniang eximed.


    "Let''s not speak of the Immortal Emperor''s ns at the moment. I''ll exin the situation regarding these seven empires."


    "Very well."


    "The seven empires all border the divine empire of Hongyue. To us, the best-case scenario would be if they all perished while fighting each other."


    Tu Siniang narrowed her eyes. "So the Immortal Emperor wants all seven empires''nd?"


    "Of course." Tu Jiuniang smiled.


    Tu Siniang sighed and smiled wryly. "To think I almost fell for these six empires'' scheme! I almost ruined His Majesty''s ns."


    Tu Jiuniang frowned. "That said, Shenfeng is rising far more quickly than anticipated. Who knows what other resources it''s hiding? It even has six Golden Immortals. I suppose this is for the best¡ªlet the six empires uncover the depths of Shenfeng''s reserves. We can''t waste our cultivators on their battlefields."


    "But what if the six empires can''t take down Shenfeng?" Tu Siniang asked in worry.


    "Don''t underestimate those empires. Do you really think they''ll fall so easily? They simply don''t want to waste all their resources in doing so. If we don''t agree to help, they''ll simply seek aid elsewhere."


    Tu Siniang nodded. "You''re right, of course."


    "The Immortal Emperor is devising a grand n. Inform the other spirit kings not to bother him. We''ll strike once the seven empires wound each other," Tu Jiuniang instructed.


    "Understood!" Tu Siniang nodded again.


    Back in Shenfeng, within the ptial valley, Xiao Nanfeng was humming as he examined a series of battle reports.


    "Ye Dafu and the others fought very well. The six empires are allegedly seeking reinforcements urgently. Good¡ªlet them find what help they can. They''ll discover that we have more than six Golden Immortalmanders, haha!" Xiao Nanfengughed in satisfaction.


    The Divine Emperor plucked a grape brimming with spiritual energy and fed it to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Should you really be so rxed? Shenfeng is your empire, after all, but you''re making me keep an eye on all the battle reports in your stead," Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "Shenfeng is mine, but also yours. Could you really bear to leave me eyeing these reports all day?" The Divine Emperor blinked coquettishly.


    The Divine Emperor''s charm and allure left Xiao Nanfeng''s throat parched and his heart thumping.


    He put down the reports, lifted the Divine Emperor up, and brought them both into their bedroom.


    "Those spiritvine grapes¡ªI picked them from a mountain this morning! We''ll have to eat them right away while they''re fresh. What''re you doing now?" The Divine Emperor blushed.


    "We can eat those grapester. I''d like to eat something else right now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The doors mmed shut as a formation was erected around the house.


    Shenfeng''s troops continued to take down Immortal city after Immortal city, racking up a huge chain of victories.


    At that moment, in a certain city, a city lord spoke to a ck-faced man. "Senior, I''ll be counting on you."


    The ck-faced man smiled. "Don''t worry. I''ve epted the benefits your emperor has given me, and will naturally help defend against the enemy Golden Immortals. As for the rest of the enemy troops, that''s up to you."


    "That''s enough. We''ve made plenty of preparations on our own to deal with the rest," the city lord replied.


    "Good."


    Ye Dafu''s troops appeared over the horizon, their morale through the roof, their fighting spirit surging. They had already taken down one Immortal city, and were ncing at the second expectantly. All their sesses would allow them to umte merit and gainvish rewards once the war ended.


    "Commander, that Immortal city''s defensive formation is active. It''s likely going to be very difficult to take down," a soldier murmured.


    Ye Dafu didn''t seem to mind. "The formations masters in ordinary empires can''tpare to those in divine empires. It''s just a stalling tactic. Stay back while I take down this formation."


    "Understood. Ourmander is invincible!" the soldiers cried out.


    Ye Dafu shot into the sky, de in hand. His de was a Golden Immortal relic, and Ye Dafu, now a Golden Immortal himself, was able to draw out all its power.


    "Break!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    His technique struck the formation head-on in a burst of fire. A huge crack opened up in the barrier.


    "Impossible!" countless defenders in the city cried out.


    A single blow from Ye Dafu had badly damaged the formation. How were they supposed to withstand Shenfeng''s assault?


    The ck-faced man''s eyes, on the other hand, lit up. "What a keen de. That''s a Golden Immortal relic, isn''t it? It''s mine!"


    He shot into the air and headed straight for Ye Dafu.


    "A Golden Immortal?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Die!" The ck-faced man threw a punch at him.


    Ye Dafu narrowed his eyes and shed at the man with his de. The sh of fist and de emanated countless shockwaves of intense force.


    "What fearsome defense," Ye Dafu eximed.


    "Haha, you''re just an early-stage Golden Immortal, after all! Lad, you''re done for."


    The ck-faced man threw another punch at Ye Dafu, who retaliated with one of his own. The two fists met in mid-air as Ye Dafu was sent flying.


    "You''re a mid-stage Golden Immortal?" Ye Dafu''s eyes lit up.


    "Come at me! Where''s your de?" the ck-faced man taunted.


    Ye Dafu sheathed his de. "I was using it only to break the formation. Since you''re here, I won''t need to use it any longer. Wonderful!"


    The ck-faced man was taken aback. Was his opponent an idiot? He had chosen not to use a relic in a matter of life and death. Did he have such faith in unarmedbat?


    "Come on,e beat me up, you coward!" Ye Dafu taunted.


    "Die!" the ck-faced man roared.


    The image of a huge ck boar appeared by his back as he leapt toward Ye Dafu.


    "So you''re a pig spirit? I''ll get to have pork today, haha!" Ye Dafu continued throwing insult after insult.


    The two Golden Immortals began to fight in mid-air. A tempest of wind and mes formed around them as they shed intensely.


    Ye Dafu seemed to be rather overwhelmed by his opponent, but the more overwhelmed he was, the more he seemed to insult his opponent. The ck-faced man''s defenses were incredible, but so were Ye Dafu''s own. The two cultivators gradually headed further and further away from the city.


    The city lord watched on with satisfaction. "Alright. Now that the enemy''s Golden Immortal has been lured away, it''s our turn to make a move. Everyone, charge forward with me!"


    "Understood!" the soldiers in the city replied.


    They rushed straight toward Shenfeng''s troops. They had a decisive numerical advantage, and seemed intent to crush Shenfeng''s troops with a single charge, with the city lord in the lead.


    "Die!" he shouted, striking down with his de.


    "Be careful!" someone eximed. "He''s a True Immortal!"


    Before the de couldnd, however, a Shenfeng general caught it bare-handed. Everyone gaped at the sight.


    "Do you think you can do whatever you want just because our boss is gone? Howughable," the general scoffed.


    It was then that the cultivators realized that he was wearing a golden mask behind his hooded ck robes.


    The general struck the city lord''s chest with a palm, causing it to cave in as he was sent flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air, clearly grievously injured.


    "Another Golden Immortal? They had two Golden Immortals among their forces? No, this can''t be!" the city lord shouted in despair.

 Chapter 707: Investigating the Black Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 707: Investigating the ck Coffin</h4>


    One monthter, within a hall in the ptial valley at Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng nced at the reports from the frontlines with satisfaction. "The six empires don''t seem particrly strong, do they? They''ve all already lost half theirnd each."


    "But your twelve Golden Immortals have all been exposed..." the Divine Emperor murmured.


    "It doesn''t matter. They''re still masked, at least. It''ll take some more time before their identities are actually revealed. That said, I have been getting a strange feelingtely," Xiao Nanfeng said, frowning.


    "Oh?"


    "ording to the reports from your shadow cursed effigies, Hongyue is already massing troops by its borders. If I''m not mistaken, it''s nning to wait for us seven empires to wound each other before taking on us all."


    "I''ve been on guard against Hongyue all this time. If they dare interfere, I''ll make them pay," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "What''s strange is that Hongyue doesn''t seem to have made a move even after learning about our twelve Golden Immortals."


    "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "Not quite. They want us and the six empires to be on roughly equal footing, but they''ve known about our twelve Golden Immortals for quite a while. Everyone can tell that we''re swiftly destroying the six empires. The longer they wait, the stronger we be. How can Hongyue not do anything?"


    "They must not have had the time to respond," the Divine Emperor suggested.


    "No, they have! A single edict from the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue would cause their Golden Immortals to descend on the battlefield in force, but they''ve allowed us to rise to fame and recruit stronger cultivators. Isn''t that strange? Something''s wrong," Xiao Nanfeng concluded, frowning.


    "Oh?"


    "Hongyue would never just sit back and watch an enemy grow stronger. Even if they don''t send out their troops, they should at least have gone against us in secret¡ªbut they''re not doing a single thing! I suspect they''re nning something big, something they can''t divert their attention from," Xiao Nanfeng surmised.


    "An even greater conspiracy?" the Divine Emperor asked, frowning.


    "No matter what they''re nning, the moment they seed, they''ll cause trouble for us. In that case, our priority should be to finish off the six empires before Hongyue can join them," Xiao Nanfeng surmised.


    "I''ll have my shadow cursed effigies assassinate key targets, then." The Divine Emperor nodded.


    "Let''s move as quickly as we can. We''ll have to recruit more cultivators from Immortal sects, too. Our fame is rising sharply, and this is our best opportunity to have Immortal sects and holynds join our cause. They''ll stake their bets on us, and we''ll have more allies with whom to take on Hongyue together."


    "Understood!" the Divine Emperor replied.


    Just then, a shadow cursed effigy rushed into the hall. "Your Majesty, there''s been news from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce."


    "What''s going on?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "The ck coffin in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce is being guarded by a group of Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court, Mountain Lords from Yuqing, and Hongyue soldiers. Many forces have sent spies to learn about the situation. Just now, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue and Li Qianjun were spotted beside the coffin. They used it to fix Li Qianjun''s badly broken Taiqing burial pagoda," the shadow cursed effigy reported.


    "He must have paid no small price to do so," the Divine Emperor said.


    "They exchanged a group of convicts with the ck coffin," the shadow reported.


    "Living sacrifices?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "That''s right. Later, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue even stepped into the coffin with a group of cultivators and vanished."


    "What? The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue brought his cultivators into the ck coffin?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    The shadow cursed effigy nodded. "No one knows what they''re doing within."


    Xiao Nanfeng asked anxiously, "How many people saw it?"


    "Quite a few. In addition to representatives from Hongyue, there were those from other divine empires and holynds present. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue brought a huge procession in, and Li Qianjun''s guarding the coffin from the outside."


    The Divine Emperor frowned. "Could the conspiracy that Hongyue is nning be rted to this coffin?"


    "It''s very likely. After all, there''s no need for the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue to show himself heading into the ck coffin. The fact that he did so so ostentatiously is abnormal¡ªit''s like telling everyone that the coffin hides a tremendous secret."


    "The ck coffin appeared fifty thousand years ago, and I had heard rumors of its existence even then. The interior of the ck coffin isn''t meant to be traversed. No one who has entered it has evere out¡ªit ought to be a forbidden zone," the Divine Emperor murmured.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue must be nning some major conspiracy," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "It''s a pity I can''t examine the ck coffin myself. Otherwise, I might be able to learn something," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed. He dismissed the shadow cursed effigies in the hall. "All of you, leave us for the moment."


    "Understood!" The shadows bowed and retreated.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. The doors to the hall mmed shut, and the formation surrounding the hall activated.


    "This is an office! Don''t do anything weird in here," the Divine Emperor grumbled, blushing.


    "I have something to show you. Would you prefer we move elsewhere?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    The Divine Emperor stiffened, realizing that her thoughts had been entirely off-base. "No, no, it''s nothing. What do you want to show me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. A huge coffin appeared before the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor gaped at him. "When did you head to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce? Wasn''t that coffin supposed to be immobile? How did you manage to steal it?"


    She had never seen the ck coffin for herself, but she had certainly at least seen images of it. It was clear that this ck coffin was precisely like the one from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce.


    "Look more closely," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The ck coffin before her was sealed with runes multiple times over. The Divine Emperor corrected her mistake quickly. "No, you never left, did you? Could there have been a second coffin?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right. This is a different coffin from the one in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. I found it in Yin Shenhua''s storage bangle after his death."


    Xiao Nanfeng summarized the origins of the ck coffin, causing the Divine Emperor to frown.


    "Let me have a look." The Divine Emperor leaned down to inspect the coffin carefully.


    There were plenty of runes and seals that Yin Shenhua had left on the coffin, but they were trivial for the Divine Emperor to deal with. She broke through the seals and runes until only the ck coffin was left.


    A tremendous amount of ck smoke burst out from the coffin and into their surroundings.


    The Divine Emperor reached out and waved an arm. Her Divine Emperor''s bell tolled, forcing all that ck smoke back into the coffin.


    "What concentrated cursed spiritual power," she eximed. "No wonder Yin Shenhua had to seal it."


    "A relic that even Yin Shenhua wasn''t able to handle is likely particrly dangerous. Be careful," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    The Divine Emperor nodded. She wasn''t any weaker than Yin Shenhua in her current state, but she still proceeded with extreme caution.


    She slowly pushed open the coffin lid.


    A frightening suction pulsed from the coffin and tried to drag the two cultivators within.


    "What incredible suction," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He too had ended up flying involuntarily toward the coffin.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell tolled again. A barrier of sound protected him as the Divine Emperor mmed the coffin, causing it to shake and the suction to btedly vanish.


    "There''s something wrong with this coffin," the Divine Emperor said.


    She inspected the coffin carefully. The interior of the coffin was pitch-ck, as if there really were some extradimensional space within that she couldn''t see into.


    "Shall we test it and see if we can exchange for any items?" Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Following what Blue Lantern had taught him, Xiao Nanfeng prayed to the coffin and inserted three pills brimming with spiritual energy into it, exchanging them for a pill of a different sort. The new pill was quickly deposited into Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    "It does work," Xiao Nanfeng said, his eyes brightening.


    He popped the pill into his mouth.


    "Be careful," the Divine Emperor warned. "The items that these coffins produce might contain cursed spiritual power."


    "Don''t worry. I even ate the Eye of the Sea that one of these ck coffins produced. This pill is nothing inparison."


    He closed his eyes and extended his senses throughout his body. As expected, the center of the pill was filled with cursed spiritual power, though it didn''t take on the form of ck hands. He activated his Jade Emperor''s Frame and cleansed it.


    "Well?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "There is cursed spiritual power within, but no manifestations of ck hands. It''s clear that some saint must have meddled with that ck coffin at the Southeastern Aquatic Pce."


    The Divine Emperor nodded, then continued, "I''ve probed this coffin with cursed spiritual power, but I can''t seem to inspect what lies within its depths. Unless I step in myself, it''s very difficult to figure out what the situation''s like within."


    "Don''t!" Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly pulled the Divine Emperor back and shook his head. "This coffin can even trap Boundless Immortals within. I don''t want anything to happen to you."


    "I''ll be careful. What''s more, didn''t the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue step into the other one?"


    "He''s him, and you''re you! I don''t care if he dies, but I won''t let anything happen to you. I don''t want you to take any risk at all!"


    The Divine Emperor smiled gently and nodded. "Very well."


    "Let''s wait for the moment. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue must have a n¡ªwe have resources and time aplenty. You can investigate and study this coffin for now, but be careful and make sure not to enter," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Alright, then. I''ll study it carefully from the outside." The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng rxed. With the Divine Emperor''s strength, she should be unharmed from examining the coffin from the outside.


    "Don''t forget about the uing court session, either. We''re in a critical period in which the six neighboring empires are about to fall. We''ll have to take the opportunity to recruit as many disciples from thergest Immortal sects around as we can."


    The Divine Emperor nodded again.

 Chapter 708: Seven-Day Command

    <h4>Chapter 708: Seven-Day Command</h4>


    A certain Immortal sect''s disciples had all gathered in one hall.


    "Sect Master, we can''t dy matters any further. The Shenfeng Empire is on the rise. With twelve Golden Immortals leading the way, Shenfeng''s growth will be unparalleled. If we don''tmit to the cause now, we won''t stand to benefit from joining Shenfeng at all!"


    "Right, Sect Master! The Shenfeng Empire already possesses the reserves of strength appropriate for a divine empire. Shouldn''t we take advantage of the opportunity to join Shenfeng before it advances? Sect Master, if we miss this opportunity, it won''te again!"


    A group of disciples were trying to persuade their sect master to endorse their cause.


    The sect master frowned. "It''s hardly that easy to advance an empire into a divine empire. Do you think the other divine empires would simply watch on as another rival rises up around them? What''s more, Shenfeng is close in proximity to Hongyue. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue would never allow an enemy so close by."


    The hall fell silent.


    Just then, a disciple asked, "Sect Master, how do you know the Divine Emperor isn''t a Boundless Immortal?"


    "What?" Everyone turned toward the disciple who had spoken.


    "None of us have ever seen her fight. What if she''s a Boundless Immortal? What''s more, Shenfeng reached this level of strength in just two years. Can you imagine what it''ll be like in another two years? Who''s to say that it won''t be a divine empire? If all empires have to worry about being suppressed by other divine empires, then surely none would ever advance," the disciple said.


    Everyone considered this argument. One disciple was in immediate agreement. "That''s right. Shenfeng has advanced so much in just two years. What if it has hidden reserves of strength we don''t know anything about?"


    "Sect Master, no matter what, we''ll be betting on one empire or another. If not Shenfeng, who would we support?"


    The cultivators in the hall fell silent. They seemed to havee to a consensus.


    Just then, a disciple rushed into the hall. "Sect Master, a Shenfeng official is requesting an audience! He''s outside the sect right now."


    "Oh? Send him in quickly," the sect master replied.


    The Shenfeng official made her way into the hall and bowed. "I hail from Shenfeng and greet everyone in the capacity of a ceremonial official."


    "Is something the matter, Envoy?" the sect master asked.


    "On Her Majesty''s orders, we have been tasked with heading to Immortal sects far and wide to invite cultivators to Shenfeng''s uing imperial examination in a month. The best administrative officials and martial generals all over the world shall be invited to join Shenfeng and advance our illustrious empire."


    "An imperial examination for cultivators all over the world? Isn''t Shenfeng in the midst of a full-scale war?" the sect master eximed.


    "The six empires are expected to fall within the month, and Shenfeng is already making preparations for the uing imperial examination. Her Majesty seeks talent irrespective of status or background. All who join Shenfeng will have an opportunity to showcase their skill. She particrly values those fromrge-scale Immortal sects like this one. I have been tasked with conveying a personal invitation." The official handed over an ornate scroll.


    The sect master was taken aback. From the official''s attitude, it was clear that Shenfeng treated its victory over the six neighboring empires as a predestined affair. It was already making ns for what woulde next.


    But why was it only recruiting cultivators after a month? By then, all six neighboring empires would have fallen. Just what was it nning next?


    Suddenly, a thought shed across everyone''s minds. Could Shenfeng be about to start another war as it made preparations to advance into a divine empire? Everyone gasped.


    "Will the imperial examination only start in a month? Is Shenfeng amenable to epting cultivators before that?" the sect master asked.


    "Of course. Shenfeng is under rapid development and urgently needs manpower. Any who are interested in operating under Shenfeng''s aegis are wee to apply at any time. However, the Shenfeng Empire only has two years'' worth of history, and its reputation has yet to spread far and wide. We worry that we won''t be taken seriously by the various Immortal sects, and have decided to schedule the imperial examination after our uing victory over the six empires so that external forces can get a sense of our worth." The official smiled.


    "The Divine Emperor truly is thoughtful. We receive this invitation with gratitude," the sect master replied.


    The official bowed. "I apologize for being brusque, but there are more Immortal sects on my agenda. Thank you for your time."


    "Allow me to see you off." The sect master personally led the envoy out.


    Only when the envoy had left did the cultivators begin to voice their opinions once more.


    "Sect Master, it''s clear that Shenfeng values us enough to send an envoy to our sect. This is a huge advantage¡ªwe can''t just waste it!"


    "Shenfeng needs talented cultivators immediately. If we wait another month, after it takes over its six neighboring empires, it''ll have a vast pool of talent to choose from. We have to join now!"


    "Not only that, if we participate in the war now, we''ll be able to earn merit for ourselves immediately!"


    The sect master, elders, and core disciples continued their earnest discussion.


    Finally, the sect master nodded. "Very well. Since we have near-unanimous support for Shenfeng, we need wait no longer. The Yuqing disciples have already taken the upper hand, and we can''t allow ourselves to fall further behind."


    The disciples cheered. "We''ll head to Shenfeng immediately!"


    There were plenty of other Immortal sects who had just received the final push they needed to join Shenfeng.


    Dayster, in a hall in the ptial valley in Shenfeng''s capital, the Divine Emperor gave Xiao Nanfeng a glum look. "It''s all thanks to you that I''m so busy! We''ve gotten such an influx of cultivators over thest few days because of these envoys."


    "You should hardly have to greet them yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said, embracing the Divine Emperor. "You''re a Boundless Immortal! Just send some of your subordinates over."


    "But there are sect masters of Immortal sects among them! Don''t I have to show them proper courtesy? Shenfeng belongs both to me and to you, after all..."


    "I know you want to recruit more people and leave them with the best impression of us, but you should know that our situations have been reversed. In the past, we hoped to invite the various Immortal sects to join Shenfeng. Now, however, the Immortal sects are hoping to join us. We''re giving them the opportunity to do so, not vice versa. Ordinary officials are sufficient reception for them. If any sect masters leave because they feel slighted, it''s a loss for them, not for us."


    The Divine Emperor frowned, but ultimately nodded. "Very well. I won''t greet them myself, then."


    "Right you are, my wife," Xiao Nanfeng said, kissing her on the mouth.


    "What''re you doing? We''re out in public!" The Divine Emperor pushed Xiao Nanfeng aside in embarrassment.


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to respond when a voice eximed from outside the hall, "Your Majesty!"


    The two cultivators btedly stopped their tomfoolery. The Divine Emperor cleared her throat. "Enter!"


    A shadow stepped into the hall and bowed. "Your Majesty, we have news from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce."


    "Oh?"


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue has emerged from the ck coffin along with one of his subordinates, Yuan Wudi. Yuan Wudi was originally a Golden Immortal white ape spirit, but he emerged as a Boundless Immortal."


    "A Boundless Immortal!" the two cultivators eximed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Everyone was already interested in the ck coffin upon seeing that iit was able to repair Li Qianjun''s Taiqing burial pagoda. When the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue emerged, he left with Li Qianjun, leaving Yuan Wudi to guard the coffin. A Golden Immortal taunted him, only to be sent flying. He definitely had a Boundless Immortal''s aura."


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, the empress, Tu Jiuniang, and this Yuan Wudi¡ªHongyue has three Boundless Immortals to its name, and a Boundless Immortal relic in the form of Li Qianjun''s pagoda!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the Divine Emperor''s hands tightly. "Don''t worry."


    The Divine Emperor nodded.


    "What''s the situation like in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce at the moment?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yuan Wudi waited for some time while Hongyue''s officials emerged. Then, he left alongside all those officials."


    "Oh?"


    "After that, cultivators from various forces who had been on guard around the coffin stepped inside together."


    "Was the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s goal to lure more people into the ck coffin? It looks like there must be a secret hidden within," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "I''ll need to speed up my research," the Divine Emperor said via mental transmission.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I''ll oversee the war against the six empires. Nothing will go wrong."


    The Divine Emperor nodded, then turned to the shadow. "From now on, I''ll be in secluded cultivation. Listen to Nanfeng in regards to everything concerning Shenfeng, and pass him my imperial seal and edicts. He''s my husband and emperor of Shenfeng."


    "Understood!" the shadow cursed effigy replied.


    Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Send word to themanders of the various regiments. Within seven days, I want all the regiments to have advanced to the capital of their respective empires. Within ten days, I want all the empires defeated."


    "Understood!" the shadow replied, bowing.


    On the frontlines, Ye Dafu and his army had just taken down another Immortal city and were resting when an official reported, "Commander, on His Majesty''s orders, you''re to advance to the capital within seven days and take down the empire within ten."


    Ye Dafu was just about to nod when a few generals beside him began toin.


    "Is it that urgent? Don''t we even have any time to rest?"


    "Let us take a breather, won''t you? We just took down this Immortal city!"


    "Right, give us a chance to recuperate first!"


    The official who had just reported to Ye Dafu turned to the gathered generals and soldiers. "Everyone, if you''re tired or injured, His Majesty permits you to stay behind and rest. You will still receive merit for all the battles you''ve participated in to date. Shenfeng now has plenty of reinforcements who can take over in your stead, but the seven-day limit is non-negotiable."


    The generals and soldiers'' eyes widened in shock. One of them immediately shook his head. "No, don''t! We aren''t tired anymore. We don''t need any recements!"


    "Right, with Commander Ye in the vanguard, it isn''t tiring at all."


    "When are we next going to get an opportunity to earn merit for ourselves? No, we have to keep going!"


    "Even if I''m injured, I''ll find my own recements! My sect''s chosen to join Shenfeng as well. We don''t need any outsiders. A week is plenty of time!"


    The cultivators'' fighting spirit rose the moment they realized they could be reced.


    Ye Dafu, naturally, had no objections. He stood up. "If you''re wounded, stay behind. Everyone else, summon your fellow disciples. We''ll set off immediately so the other regiments can''t steal our merit from us!"


    "Understood!" the generals and soldiers chorused.

 Chapter 709: The Twelve Golden Cultivators Unmasked

    <h4>Chapter 709: The Twelve Golden Cultivators Unmasked</h4>


    The eighteen regiments of Shenfeng fought so fiercely that they had finished taking down the six neighboring empires'' Immortal cities within a week. After that, they then gathered at the empires'' capitals.


    This astounding feat left all the spectating cultivators and external forces astonished. The war had only been going on for two months! Just how strong was Shenfeng''s army?


    Of course, this was partly thanks to the involvement of the various Immortal sects.


    Shenfeng''s rapid rise and imminent ascension caused all the cultivators serving as officials within Shenfeng to reach out to their own Immortal sects and holynds in order to garner more support and make them aware of this incredible opportunity. The Immortal sects, by andrge, chose to join Shenfeng even before the uing imperial examination so as to umte merit more quickly. As a result, Shenfeng''s regiments grew stronger and more numerous in an instant.


    Plenty of strong cultivators had gathered by Shenfeng''s capital, one and all intent on joining its regiments to participate in the war. However, by then, the process had be moreplicated. At the very least, they would need their identities and backgrounds verified lest any spies be admitted into Shenfeng''s regiments. Not only that, prospective applicants needed guarantors who were already in Shenfeng. Some sect masters who had arrived in thest few days found that they were no longer granted an audience with the Divine Emperor herself, but only with her subordinate officials.


    "Senior Brother, I told you to hurry up, didn''t I? You insisted on waiting. We''ve missed out on an incredible opportunity!"


    The other cultivator frowned. "I didn''t expect that Shenfeng would deploy its troops so quickly. Didn''t they say that the imperial examination was scheduled for a monthter? It''s only been two weeks!"


    "You took too long! I heard that, until recently, Immortal sect masters inclined to join Shenfeng were greeted by the Divine Emperor herself. All their disciples have umted a wealth of merit during the war, and in a rtively safe environment, too! By now, Shenfeng doesn''t need us any longer. We''ll barely have any opportunity to fight!"


    "In that case, should we leave?"


    "We can''t! It''s clear that Shenfeng is making preparations to advance into a divine empire. We''ll still have opportunities to gain merit. If we leave now, other Immortal sects will take our ce!"


    "Shall we wait, then?"


    "We don''t have any other choice. Just one wrong move¡ªthat''s all it takes. I just hope we''re not toote yet."


    Cultivators were sighing all across Shenfeng''s capital as they regretted not joining Shenfeng more quickly. Shenfeng''s reputation had soared over the past two months.


    Within the ptial valley, while the Divine Emperor was still in secluded cultivation as she analyzed the ck coffin and its contents, the shadow cursed effigies reported to Xiao Nanfeng instead.


    "The interior of the ck coffin in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce is a hidden realm, you say?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. ck fog fills the hidden realm, and cursed effigies of some sort popte it. It''s particrly dangerous, and those who enter may easily perish. The majority of those daring to brave the depths of the ck coffin have avatars. They im that there are countless treasures within, even Boundless Immortal ones."


    "Oh?"


    "A popr rumor states that these coffins can be used to exchange for any treasure in the world at thrice its usual value. Over the course of millennia, they must have umted incredible treasure. For some reason, the ck coffin seems to be able to preserve them immactely. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue and Yuan Wudi entered the coffin not too long ago. Yuan Wudi rose to the ranks of a Boundless Immortal as a result, and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue might have obtained some priceless treasure within as well."


    "And these rumors are spreading far and wide?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. We''ve witnessed a considerable number of cultivators enter from the south and the east, with countless Immortals among them. Southern Aspect Yang Chuan headed in himself as well."


    "A Boundless Immortal entered? More and more will show up, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


    "The news is spreading faster and faster. Should we prepare to enter as well, Your Majesty?"


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the option. "No. Just keep watch."


    "Understood!" replied the shadow cursed effigy, if rather unwillingly.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue and Yuan Wudi are both Boundless Immortals. If the treasures within the ck coffin were so easy to retrieve, why wouldn''t they bring more out with them? It''s clear that there''s considerable danger in doing so. What''s more, we don''t even know what sort of cursed effigies lie within. There''s no need to take unnecessary risks. We should focus on overwhelming the six neighboring empires at the moment."


    "Understood!" the shadow replied.


    After the shadow retreated, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he thought to himself. Just what could the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue be nning by luring cultivators all over the world into the ck coffin?


    Outside a certain empire''s capital, three regiments of Shenfeng''s army had gathered: Ye Dafu, Xia Hong, and a True Immortal from some Immortal sect.


    They were discussing how to siege the empire''s capital within arge tent.


    Of course, the cultivators couldn''t help but eye the masked Ye Dafu, who was the only Golden Immortal among them.


    "His Majesty hasmanded us to conquer this capital within three days," Ye Dafu said.


    "The defensive formations around this city have been activated in their entirety," Xia Hong replied, frowning. "It won''t be easy to conquer it."


    "Perhaps not to you, but it shouldn''t be too hard for us Golden Immortals. I''ll attack with one of my brothers-in-arms. With two Golden Immortals taking the lead, we should have the formation down in no time. The problem will be dealing with the emperor within."


    "He''s a Golden Immortal and will likely be particrly dangerous for us to face. We''ll have to trouble you two Golden Immortals," Xia Hong replied.


    "Very well. As for the rest of the capital''s defenders, I''ll have to leave that to you."


    "Understood!" the other twomanders replied.


    "Let''s set off, then!"


    Ye Dafu and a golden cultivator charged toward the capital.


    The two Golden Immortals struck simultaneously, causing the barrier to shake violently.


    "Continue!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Got it!" the other golden cultivator replied.


    The two golden cultivatorsunched a flurry of intense attacks as they continued to batter down the capital''s defenses.


    Meanwhile, those cultivators within the capital were running around madly.


    Because Shenfeng''s army had been rapidly taking down the six empires'' Immortal cities, the empires were losingnd, cultivators, fortune, and imperial might.


    The emperor was standing within his pce and eyeing the sky with despair. His face was wretched. Two months ago, we emperors were thinking about how to take down the Divine Emperor and make her a concubine. How could the situation have deteriorated so badly since?"


    "Your Majesty, I''ve sent assassins at the Divine Emperor, but none of them have made it back. Shenfeng''s assassins are far superior to ours," a ck-robed cultivator beside him sighed.


    "The Divine Emperor really has been hiding her reserves, it seems. Is Hongyue content to watch us all fall?" the emperor gritted.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is busy with that business involving the ck coffin. As you surmised, Your Majesty, he''s likely pursuing some grand n and has no time for our war."


    The emperor shook his head in defeat. "We underestimated Shenfeng."


    "Your Majesty, I am in possession of a secret technique that can stimte my body and allow me to reach the realm of a Golden Immortal for a short period of time. Shall I¡ª"


    The emperor shook his head. "It''ll cost you your life."


    "It''s a sacrifice I''m willing to make, Your Majesty."


    The emperor nced at the barrier around his empire''s capital, which was slowly starting to shatter. In the end, he nodded. "Very well. If you do perish, I shall take care of your family."


    "Understood!"


    The emperor raised his head to the heavens. "My citizens, hear me! Our empire, ournd, our families¡ªthe time hase for our final stand. I seek your help in quelling the wretched invaders that seek to take down this empire. Raise your right hand and lend me your strength!"


    The sea of fortune overhead boomed, transmitting the emperor''s voice to all his citizens.


    The citizens raised their heads in silence. The six empires that Shenfeng was attacking were well known for extorting themon people, and there was no love lost between them and their monarch. They had heard about the shocking policies that Shenfeng had implemented in the Immortal cities it had conquered. What empire''s policies would favor them to such an extreme?


    They who had suffered under the reign of the current emperor made no move to lend him their power.


    Therge and influential ns of the capital had long since arranged for some of their cultivators to defect to Shenfeng. They had no loyalty to the current emperor and would side with whoever ended up the victor. They didn''t intend on helping out the emperor¡ªin fact, they were afraid that Shenfeng would deal with them if they did so. They kept a tight rein on their strength and chose not to lend any to the emperor.


    Of course, a rare few cultivators did respond to the emperor''s summons, but far fewer than was necessary.


    Fortune and limited donations of strength were infused into the emperor''s body, causing it to exude a golden sheen. Embarrassingly enough, it only managed to advance him into ate-stage Golden Immortal.


    Beside him, the ck-robed official downed a pill.


    His aura evolved into that of an early-stage Golden Immortal.


    With a huge crash, the defensive formation around the capital was shattered.


    "Die!" Ye Dafu and his fellow golden cultivator shot straight toward the pce.


    "Die!" The emperor and ck-robed official soared into the sky.


    The four cultivators faced off against each other, unleashing a tempest of wind and me all around them.


    Meanwhile, Xia Hong and three of Shenfeng''s regiments shouted, "Attack the city!"


    "Die!"


    Shenfeng''s troops rushed into the city, which had been plunged into chaos as a number of ns who had chosen to side with Shenfeng attacked their erstwhile allies.


    "Everyone, put on your red headband and attack our enemies with me!" a n head roared.


    Arge number of cultivators had suddenly defected from the capital''s garrison and were now attacking their own, taking Shenfeng''s troops by surprise.


    "Whoever''s wearing a red headband is with us!" Xia Hong instructed. "Don''t attack them!"


    "Understood!" the three regiments chorused.


    The entire capital transformed into a huge battlefield.


    High in the air, the emperor''s empowered strength allowed him to send Ye Dafu flying. Ye Dafu''s golden mask cracked, revealing his identity.


    "Aren''t you Martial Aspect Ye from the Imperial Court? Why are you helping Shenfeng?!" the emperor eximed.


    Countless cultivators saw the unmasked Ye Dafu for themselves. Those who didn''t recognize him didn''t care; those that did were shocked.


    "Ye Dafu? Wasn''t he a True Immortal? When did he be a Golden Immortal?" a Yuqing disciple cried out.


    Xia Lan''s eyes widened. "I was wondering where the generals Second Brother borrowed from Xiao Nanfeng were¡ªthey''re here! Could the twelve Golden Immortals of Shenfeng all be Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates? How could that be?!"

 Chapter 710: Masters Summons

    <h4>Chapter 710: Master''s Summons</h4>


    The emperor had drawn on the might of his empire as war dawned over his capital. Though there was little left of his empire, his reserves of fortune conferred an important boon. Using that power, he had exposed Ye Dafu''s identity. The same situation was unfolding in the other five empires'' capitals, revealing the golden cultivators one after another.


    Although Dazheng was far away, the alliance between Shenfeng and Dazheng that sparked the exchange of tens of thousands of administrative officials from Dazheng had drawn considerable attention, and many were aware of the twelve golden cultivators of Dazheng.


    "Weren''t they all True Immortals? How did they all be Golden Immortals together?"


    "Are these twelve Golden Immortals all from Dazheng? Doesn''t that mean that Shenfeng''s reserves are more limited than we expected?"


    "Hold on¡ªif the twelve Golden Immortals all return to Dazheng, won''t there be openings for their current positions?"


    Countless cultivators were shocked by the identities of the twelve mysterious Golden Immortals that were serving as Shenfeng''s vanguard. They tried to analyze how they could take advantage of their newfound knowledge.


    Some were disappointed in Shenfeng''s trickery, while others admired their cunning.


    Regardless, the war against the six neighboring empires wasing to an end. The fighting continued in all six capitals.


    The six emperors had received a notable boost to their strength, but they were ultimately still onlyte-stage Golden Immortals. They might be able to wound Ye Dafu and the others, but that was the limit of their strength. The emperors were on borrowed time, and their strength was rapidly draining away.


    "Why are your attacks growing weaker and weaker?" Ye Dafu cried out with dissatisfaction.


    "How can your damn body be so sturdy? Why can''t I damage you?!" the emperor shouted back.


    As the two cultivators continued to face off, the emperor''s imperial might slowly faded away.


    Just then, the other golden cultivator finally seized victory and killed his ck-robed opponent.


    "Boss, let me help you out!" he shouted.


    "Die!"


    The two golden cultivators attacked the exhausted emperor simultaneously, who was forced to retreat and defend. Blood sttered his body.


    Even when defeat was all but imminent, he refused to give up on his empire, his life''s work.


    "How could this be happening? Aren''t you from Dazheng? What are you doing here in Shenfeng? Are you crazy?" the emperor howled.


    "Don''t you know that Dazheng and Shenfeng are allies now? It''s perfectly normal to borrow troops and the like. You should have found allies of your own to work with, idiot!" Ye Dafu retorted.


    The emperor grimaced. He had found allies! The six neighboring empires were working together against Shenfeng, but they were still losing badly.


    The emperor was sent flying, his body bruised and bleeding.


    "I can''t ept this!" the emperor howled.


    A golden cultivator sent him flying. He was just about to retaliate when Ye Dafu beheaded him with his Golden Immortal de.


    "No!" the emperor roared.


    His head fell to the ground.


    His soul escaped out of his mindscape, only to be met with the other golden cultivator''s fist.


    "No!" the emperor''s soul roared again.


    Then, his soul shattered from the force of the golden cultivator''s attack.


    The remnants of the sea of fortune high overhead, and the fortune that had been imbued within the emperor''s body, began to flood toward Shenfeng''s capital.


    The two golden cultivators raised the emperor''s head and body up high and roared, "Your emperor has perished! Surrender now!"


    Their voices resounded throughout the capital.


    The defending cultivators gasped at the sight of their deceased emperor.


    "Your Majesty!" they shouted in anguish.


    Every emperor had a band of loyalists no matter their crimes and the extent of their cruelty. When these loyalists saw their emperor dead, the sea of fortune high overhead lost, they broke down in despair. This was the end of the empire they served.


    "Surrender and live. Resist and die!" Xia Hong shouted.


    "Surrender and live. Resist and die!" echoed countless Shenfeng soldiers.


    The defenders''st ray of hope had been extinguished.


    A small fraction of the defenders attempted to escape. The majority were either unable to flee or had obligations tying them to the capital. They chose to surrender.


    One empire had fallen to Shenfeng.


    The same scenario was ying out within the other five empires as well.


    Without any external interference, it was straightforward for two Golden Immortals to take on one emperor each. Though there were a few incidents along the way, Ye Dafu''s golden cultivators were nearly impossible to kill, and they would win every battle of attrition.


    Shenfeng had been holding a session of court when the six empires fell one after another.


    Given the asion, Xiao Nanfeng had brought the Divine Emperor out of secluded cultivation in advance. She was dressed in ck draconic robes lined with gold and seated on a draconic throne. An incredible aura emanated from her. Countless officials had gathered and were waiting for news from the six empires.


    Just then, a flood of fortune entered Shenfeng from afar, surging into the sea of fortune thaty overhead like rivers returning to the sea.


    "Your Majesty, the first, seventh, and thirteenth regiments have in an emperor and seized his empire''s capital," an official eximed with mounting excitement.


    His avatar was on Ye Dafu''s battlefield, and he was able to convey information back in real time.


    "Very good." The Divine Emperor nodded in satisfaction.


    "Your Majesty, the third, ninth, and fifteenth regiments have in an emperor and seized his empire''s capital!" another official cried out.


    "Very good." The Divine Emperor nodded in satisfaction.


    "Your Majesty..."


    Reports came from all six battlefields.


    The court officials were all vibrating in excitement. Their army had beenpletely victorious. All six neighboring empires had been taken down. Shenfeng had seized an overwhelming victory!


    "Shenfeng''s star is on the rise. Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" they chorused.


    The Divine Emperor nced at her officials, but she was thinkingrgely of Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng had orchestrated this war, and he had handily won against six empires with the might of one¡ªas expected of her husband.


    "Though the six empires have been defeated, the same cannot be said for its hounds. Forty kingdoms have supported these six empires'' reign of tyranny. Since they''ve chosen to ally with those empires against Shenfeng, they''ll have to pay a price. We shall take down those forty kingdoms and rescue their people as well!" the Divine Emperor proimed.


    "Understood!" all the officials chorused.


    Indeed, there were forty kingdoms interspersed about the six empires'' territory. The six empires had forced them to render aid to them, so it was well within reason for Shenfeng to attack them and absorb their territory as well.


    Once these kingdoms were taken care of, Shenfeng''s borders would bepletely contiguous, and itsnds would berger than ever before.


    "Court dismissed," the Divine Emperor said, rising from her throne.


    "We send off the Divine Emperor!" countless officials chorused.


    The Divine Emperor walked out of the hall as Shenfeng''s army continued to advance.


    The people of Shenfeng cheered when the news of Shenfeng''s overwhelming victory spread to them. Countless cultivators who had been preparing to participate in Shenfeng''s imperial examination learned of the news as well.


    Some were shocked that the twelve masked Golden Immortals had been loaned from another empire, while others were taken aback by the Divine Emperor''s foresight and acumen. The kingdoms in the vicinity were easy prey¡ªand once all was said and done, Shenfeng''s borders would be at the upper extremes for an empire.


    "A hundred Immortal cities¡ªShenfeng could well advance to a divine empire from the results of this war. I''ll have to make a good showing during the imperial examination."


    "It''s a pity that those twelve Golden Immortals were borrowed from another empire. I''m worried that, without them, Shenfeng won''t be able to withstand attacks from the divine empires in the vicinity."


    "You can''t afford to be picky now. What do you know about Shenfeng''s hidden reserves, at any rate? We''ve already missed several opportunities. Do you intend to let this one pass by, too?"


    Countless disciples from various Immortal sects in the vicinity were bickering with each other. Some were worried, while others were expectant. In the end, worried about the potential of losing an opportunity that might nevere again, no one was deterred by the identities of Shenfeng''s twelve Golden Immortals.


    After holding court, the Divine Emperor headed to the valley at the back of the ptialplex.


    When she found Xiao Nanfeng sitting there, she happily tugged on his hands. "We''ve won! You managed to take down six empires during my few days of secluded cultivation¡ªyou really are amazing!"


    "We have twelve Golden Immortals, after all. That''s the equivalent of a few empires'' worth ofbat strength. It should have been straightforward." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "The twelve Golden Immortals'' identities have been exposed, and word will soon spread to the east. I''m afraid your enemies might take advantage of the opportunity to attack Dazheng," the Divine Emperor said in worry.


    "The Demon Child''s there. There''s nothing to fear." Xiao Nanfeng''s smile deepened.


    "That''s true!" The Divine Emperor''s eyes lit up before she frowned again. "But the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue and the Taiqing Immortal Sect are mortal enemies. I''m sure the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is about to make a move."


    "I have a n for that, too. Right now, however, we need to focus on the uing imperial examination. We might even be able to attract a Golden Immortal into the empire."


    The Divine Emperorughed. "With you around, I''m sure we can reel in a good catch."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''ll have to leave for some time."


    "What''s wrong?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I was very wary of the prospect of entering the ck coffin, but it seems as if I''ll have to do so regardless."


    "Why?"


    "My master sent word, and I''m honorbound to respond. He''s been trapped in the ck coffin and needs my help. That said, he ims to have a means of entering and leaving the ck coffin, so there''s little for me to worry about. I just have to find him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Your master, Ku Jiang? He''s currently spying on Hongyue, isn''t he?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "You might not believe this, but he''s since be a top official of Hongyue''s court."


    "What? How can that be?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "It''s true! I don''t know how he managed such a feat. Perhaps even the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue didn''t expect he would be so bold. He changed his appearance, and no one has suspected a thing. I can''t believe it myself. No wonder he hadn''t been able to help me out for long in the past¡ªhe has responsibilities befitting his station, after all."


    "Let me apany you," the Divine Emperor offered immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You can''t. You''ll have to prepare for the imperial examination. I''m all but certain Hongyue will interfere. You''ll need to remain in Shenfeng''s capital to deal with whatever they try."


    "But¡ª"


    "Master knows about the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s ns, and he''s aware of the danger that the ck coffin represents. With him to protect me, I expect I won''t be in big danger," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Divine Emperor sighed. "It''s a pity that I haven''t gotten much out of my analysis. I don''t feelfortable letting you go alone."


    "My avatar can contact you at any time. If I''m in serious danger, I''ll inform you immediately. You''ll have time to rush over to help me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well." The Divine Emperor could only nod in exasperation.

 Chapter 711: The Black Coffin Hidden Realm

    <h4>Chapter 711: The ck Coffin Hidden Realm</h4>


    Into a hall in Hongyue''s capital rushed Tu Siniang, clutching a sheaf of reports with her. She nced up at the empress, Tu Jiuniang. "Jiuniang, something''s gone wrong. Shenfeng has taken down its six neighboring empires, and its twelve Golden Immortals turned out to be Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates!"


    Tu Jiuniang grimaced as she nodded. "I received the news as well. I originally thought that Xiao Nanfeng had allied with the Divine Emperor so as to disgust us. To think he would go this far!"


    "Not only that, those twelve Golden Immortals are all disciples from the Taiqing Immortal Sect, too. Taiqing''s developing far too rapidly, and it''s surely going to seek revenge on the Immortal Emperor. We have to strike now, Jiuniang. Tell His Majesty!" Tu Siniang eximed.


    Tu Jiuniang shook her head. "He''s very busy at the moment and can''t spare Shenfeng any mind. However, it''s true that we can''t leave Dazheng and Shenfeng around any longer."


    "Do you intend to strike personally?" Tu Siniang eximed in surprise.


    "Indeed. Since we''re going to attack them, we might as well finish them off right away. If my husband isn''t free, then I''ll do it myself. That said, perhaps we should wait a little."


    "For what?"


    "For an auspicious asion. Isn''t Shenfeng about to hold an imperial examination? We''ll take down Shenfeng in full view of the world then." Tu Jiuniangughed coldly.


    "I''ll inform the spirit kings immediately, then," Tu Siniang said.


    "Very well!" Tu Jiuniang nodded.


    By the ck coffin lying where the Southeastern Aquatic Pce had once stood, new buildings were being erected over the ruins. They were guarded by three forces: Ao Canghai''s subordinate Martial Aspects, the Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd, and Li Qianjun of Hongyue.


    The three forces had fought with each other to little conclusion. In the end, it was decided that they would share ownership of the ck coffin. They allowed others to enter the ck coffin, though only at a price.


    At the moment, there were plenty of cultivators lining up to enter the ck coffin.


    "One Heaven Immortal relic or pill grants you entry into the coffin," a guard dered.


    The cultivators rushed forward, ceded their treasures, and stepped into the ck coffin.


    Amidst the crowd was Xiao Nanfeng, wearing a conical bamboo hat and shrouded in a cloud of white fog. He listened as the cultivators around him whispered to one another.


    "They''re truly despicable. Think about how much they''ve managed to steal from us cultivators!"


    "Even if they divide the fortune of Heaven Immortal relics and pills three ways, they''re making a tremendous profit."


    "Isn''t that so? If not for their strength, we''d long since have taken them down!"


    Those cultivators lining up were eyeing the three factions jealously.


    Xiao Nanfeng stayed hidden within the crowd, waiting patiently for his turn.


    Not wanting to expose himself, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to hand over a Heaven Immortal relic with nobat utility.


    "A starlight pearl? The only thing this relic can do is project illusions. It''s useless! Hand over a different relic," a guard demanded.


    "This is my only Heaven Immortal relic," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The guard frowned. Telling Xiao Nanfeng to scram would be a waste¡ªand it didn''t matter to him, at any rate. It was hardly as if he would be given any of the relics that he imed from the gathered cultivators.


    "Fine. Enter!" the guard gritted out.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stepped toward the ck coffin. He hesitated as he looked into its obscured depths.


    If not for his master, Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t have wanted to enter the coffin at all. He was certain of the veracity of the report: Tang had informed Xiao Nanfeng himself. Tang had an avatar in Dazheng, and his main body was within the coffin with Ku Jiang.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and stepped into the coffin.


    He entered the ck coffin''s hidden realm with a whoosh. He found himself in what seemed like the sky.


    The hidden realm was particrly dim and dark. Even with his spiritual power, he found it impossible to probe at whaty around him. Sinister clouds of ck smoke pervaded the air and made him shudder involuntarily.


    The ck smoke propelled Xiao Nanfeng forward as if he were caught in a riptide. It struck him with such ferocity that even he was sent flying.


    Before long, he fell to the ground.


    "It is a hidden realm, but a rather sinister one. And the exit has vanished, too..."


    There were clouds of ck miasma around him, turning the dismal darkness even darker. A sliver of moon seemed to hang high overhead, though it wasrgely luded by the ck smoke and miasma.


    "Master said he was in what''s called Wolfsbane Cave, but how am I supposed to find it?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    Just then, within Dazheng, Tang''s avatar was seated next to a spectral guard.


    "Marquis Tang, His Majesty is within the ck coffin hidden realm now, but he doesn''t know how to find your whereabouts. Where''s this Wolfsbane Cave?" the spectral guard ryed.


    "I don''t know myself. I followed Senior Uncle Ku into the hidden realm. He''s been behaving rather unusuallytely, and refuses to meet with me." Tang grimaced.


    "Are there any special markers in your surroundings?" the spectral guard asked.


    "I don''t know," Tang replied.


    "Hm?"


    "The interior of the hidden realm is filled with ck miasma, and it''s dark and gloomy day and night. However, I can see a lot of mountains around with caves of various sizes scattered about. All the caves are named, and I expect ours is named ''Wolfsbane Cave''. I''m afraid I''ll have to trouble His Majesty to search through them one by one."


    "Why don''t you leave the cave to see if there are any distinguishing features around? If not, describe the mountains in the vicinity at least."


    "I''d like to, but Senior Uncle Ku refuses to let me out. He ims that it''s exceedingly dangerous outside, that we might well die if we leave. He asks that His Majestye as quickly as possible¡ªhe can''tst much longer," Tang said.


    "But without any information, what can His Majesty do? Why don''t you have Master Kumunicate with His Majesty through me instead?"


    Tang smiled wryly. "I''m afraid that''s impossible. I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, I found myself in Wolfsbane Cave. Senior Uncle Ku has been all but ignoring me. He won''t let me out, but he won''t enter the cave, either. There''s a lot of ruckus outside. I expect he''s fighting someone in the vicinity, and I don''t know when he''ll return."


    "Just what happened to Master Ku?"


    "I don''t know." Tang shook his head with a frown.


    The spectral guard ultimately nodded. "His Majesty has been made aware of this conversation. He asks that you listen to Master Ku''s orders, and he''ll find you as quickly as possible.


    "Very well." Tang nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Though Tang hadn''t revealed much information, it seemed as if his master weren''t simply trapped. He would have to find him as quickly as possible.


    He searched the valley he was in, but to no avail. Then, he rushed into the ck fog to find these supposed mountains and mountain caves.


    Before long, he heard shoutsing from afar.


    "Save me, Senior Brother!"


    "Hurry up and destroy these cursed effigies!"


    "What are these? My de just bounces right off!"


    There was amotion in the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng reined in his aura and crept over to find a group of cultivators trying to take on some cursed effigies that were gushing ck smoke from all over their bodies.


    "Cursed effigies rted to the ck coffin..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The ck smoke obscured the cursed effigies'' appearance, but they were clearly humanoid in origin. If not for the cursed spiritual power surging around them, Xiao Nanfeng would have thought them ordinary cultivators as well.


    The cultivators'' swords and des clinked against their skin, as if the cursed effigies had metallic exteriors. Their physical bodies were particrly sturdy and seemingly resistant to ded weapons. The cultivators had the upper hand in terms of numbers, but whenever the effigies had a chance, they would lunge toward the cultivators as if they were going to bite them. Unfortunately, they were never able to seed.


    Just then, a loud roar caused their surroundings to shake. The air currents turned turbulent.


    Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, a huge cave by the foot of a nearby mountain over which ''Tigerbane Cave'' had been written.


    A cursed effigy wreathed in ck smoke stood at the opening of the cave. A fearsome aura emanated from it, causing the cultivators to shudder in fear even some distance away. It roared loudly and headed straight for the battlefield.


    "This is a True Immortal cursed effigy. Be careful!" a cultivator eximed.


    His shouts attracted the cursed effigy''s attention. It sped up, charged toward him, and sent him flying.


    Blood sprayed out as he smashed into a mountain and fell to the ground. He was just about to mber back up when the cursed effigy leapt forward and descended on him.


    "No! Save me!" the cultivator shouted.


    It was toote. The cursed effigy had suddenly widened its maw to reveal two blood-red fangs¡ªwhich impaled themselves in his flesh.


    The cultivator shrieked again as the cursed effigy sucked in the cultivator''s blood and the ck smoke in the vicinity, revealing its features.


    The cursed effigy was humanoid with a pitted, decaying face that made him look like a demon. His two blood-red fangs were gleaming with blood-colored light after having drained the cultivator''s blood. Then, he infused a mysterious energy into the cultivator''s neck, who stopped struggling.


    The cultivator''s gaze had turned vacant. He stood still and unmoving, even when the cursed effigy before him released him and shot toward the other cultivators.


    Before long, that cultivator began to release ck smoke as well.


    "Senior Brother, what''s going on?" A red-robed cultivator rushed toward him.


    The cultivator who had been bitten by the cursed effigy remained still and unmoving until the red-robed cultivator jostled him. He suddenly seemed to reanimate. With a fierce expression on his face, he opened his mouth wide. Two blood-red fangs had appeared among his teeth. He hugged the red-robed cultivator and bit down on his neck.


    "Senior Brother, you''re a monster now, too? You''ve bitten me¡ªno!" the red-robed cultivator shrieked.


    Hidden afar in the darkness, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. "These cursed effigies are all zombies, aren''t they? They can even infect others!"

 Chapter 712: The Zombie King

    <h4>Chapter 712: The Zombie King</h4>


    The zombies looked much like those in the zombie movies that Xiao Nanfeng had seen in his past life. However, these were far more nimble and agile. Those they bit would undergo the same transformation as ck smoke poured out from them.


    Rather than assist them, Xiao Nanfeng stayed hidden in the vicinity as he observed what was going on.


    Just then, a hugemotion came from the Tigerbane Cave in the distance.


    A beam of golden light shed by as a giant ck dog spirit was sent flying. The ck dog was injured all over, but it firmly held onto a golden bamboo slip in its mouth.


    "ck Dog?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in shock.


    Zombies emerged from the cave, ck smoke roiling from them. They all gave off the aura of True Immortals. They soared into the air and headed straight for ck Dog.


    ck Dog turned to run, but one zombie was faster than he was. It shed right before him and held up a palm, sending ck Dog flying.


    ck Dog refused to let go of the golden bamboo slip in his mouth. Before he could steady himself, however, another zombie sent him flying. There were dozens of zombies at this level of cultivation. ck Dog was able to defend himself against one, but not a whole horde of them. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his injuries worsening by the second.


    "If ck Dog is here, doesn''t that mean Yang Chuan is, too?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He rushed out into the battlefield.


    On his request, Yang Chuan had helped the Demon Child be the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. Although he had told Yang Chuan a little about the ck coffin in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce inpensation, on bnce he still owed Yang Chuan at least a little. ck Dog was Yang Chuan''s subordinate, and he could hardly just watch on as ck Dog perished. What was more, he was hoping to get some information about Wolfsbane Cave from ck Dog.


    By then, ck Dog had been pressed down by a horde of zombies. One of them had revealed blood-red fangs and was just about to bite down on ck Dog''s exposed neck when Xiao Nanfeng suddenly appeared and sent the zombie flying with a punch. The other zombies reacted btedly and began to attack Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Fists surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, forcing the zombies to retreat as he pulled ck Dog away.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t fear these True Immortal zombies, but he could sense that even stronger zombies seemed to be located within Tigerbane Cave. He didn''t want to drag out the fight at all.


    With a whoosh, he flew straight toward the horizon. The horde of zombies chased after him for some time before abruptly stopping and turning back.


    He continued flying with ck Dog until they found a secluded valley at which to stop.


    As theynded, ck Dog transformed back into human form. He gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "You''re Martial Aspect Xiao, aren''t you?"


    "You can tell?" Xiao Nanfeng took off his hat and smiled.


    "Few but Martial Aspect Xiao would have been able to master Hegemon''s Fist to such an extent, and I could smell some unusual smells that I associate with your body," ck Dog exined. He bowed gratefully. "Thank you for your assistance, Martial Aspect Xiao."


    "What were you doing in that zombie cave?"


    ck Dog nced at the golden bamboo slip in his hand. He exhaled in relief. "I went to steal this treasure. Fortunately, there were a group of people who had just attacked the cave and attracted the attention of the bulk of the zombies. I snuck in and was fortunately sessful."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng eyed the golden bamboo slip curiously.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I apologize for always troubling you, but I''m out of options. My master, Southern Aspect Yang, has been trapped by a certain zombie. I came to steal this treasure to rescue him. Since you''re a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court as well, would you be willing to rescue my master?" ck Dog asked.


    "Has something happened to Yang Chuan?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "He encountered a zombie king who''s extremely difficult to deal with. He''s trapped inbat right now," ck Dog exined.


    "Come on. We''ll speak as we move. Let''s go have a look. If I can help him, I will, but if I can''t, don''t me me."


    "I understand. Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" ck Dog repeated.


    ck Dog led the way as the two cultivators flew off in a certain direction.


    "What''s going on within this hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This hidden realm is full of zombies. They''re guarding a variety of treasures, but trying to im or steal those treasures is exceedingly difficult. Though some have seeded, the majority have been caught and zombified."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a frown. He had seen how strong the zombies here were, too. "Just how many zombie caves are there around here? Are you aware of their names and locations?"


    He only wanted to know about Wolfsbane Cave, where his master was located, but it would be dangerous to ask that outright.


    "We followed our master in here and learned of the locations of a few zombie caves. Each of us were responsible for investigating a different part of the hidden realm, and I only know a limited quantity of information. Master will know much more than I do," ck Dog replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng understood that ck Dog was trying to get him to rescue Yang Chuan at any cost.


    He nodded and allowed ck Dog to lead him toward a gigantic valley.


    Rather than rush in, they flew halfway up a mountain and hid in the forests there as they studied the valley down below.


    A huge formation had been erected within the valley. Within it, Yang Chuan was using a folding fan to take on a zombie with a huge polearm. The fan and polearm shed in frightening shockwaves of force. Neither seemed to be able to overwhelm the other immediately.


    "That''s the zombie king. It has the strength of a Boundless Immortal. If Master and the zombie king were to fight more seriously, they could easily destroy that valley and everything surrounding it," ck Dog stated.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced over. Indeed, the zombie king was obviously a strong foe. Though there were clouds of fog surrounding it, it clearly wore an emperor''s crown and was dressed ordingly.


    With a roar, the zombie king''s aura magnified again. Afar, Xiao Nanfeng watched on tensely.


    There were other zombies in the valley as well. They seemed to be activating a golden bamboo scroll. Countless golden characters emerged from the slips and flooded toward Yang Chuan with astounding force.


    If Yang Chuan weren''t being attacked by the zombie king, he wouldn''t have feared the power of the golden bamboo scroll. At the moment, however, the mounting pressure was distorting his qi barrier and starting to overwhelm him. His face flushed in agony.


    "What is that golden bamboo scroll? It''s incredibly strong!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s a Boundless Immortal relic of fearsome strength. My master would have been able to take on the zombie king alone, but not with that golden bamboo scroll around as well. I don''t know how long he''ll be able to withstand their assault."


    "How about the others in your retinue? You surely couldn''t havee alone!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "A number were bitten by zombies and became zombies themselves. The remaining scattered in an attempt to get help. There are far too many zombies, you see, and we can''t help Master at all even if we remain here," ck Dog exined.


    "Oh?"


    "My nose is particrly sensitive. While passing by Tigerbane Cave, I sensed a significant quantity of treasure in the vicinity, including this bamboo slip I stole. This is why I braved that zombie den. I''m sure that this is the key to freeing Master. Martial Aspect Xiao, would you be able to help?" ck Dog asked with anticipation.


    He knew that he wouldn''t be able to save Yang Chuan himself, not even with this relic in his possession. He could only hope that Xiao Nanfeng would be willing to help.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected the bamboo slip and had a look at it. "Considering its shape, it looks to be part of that Boundless Immortal relic."


    "I think so too. I tried to attune to it on the way here, but I waspletely unable to seed," ck Dog replied.


    "Let me try."


    "Please!" ck Dog watched on expectantly.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the bamboo slip in his hand and attempted to attune to it. To his surprise, the bamboo slip vibrated and repelled his qi.


    "Interesting. As expected of a portion of a Boundless Immortal relic. I might be able to attune to it given enough time, but not in the short term."


    "What do we do, then?" ck Dog fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. In the end, he decided to help. "Head to the other end of the valley and make amotion to attract the zombies'' attention. I''ll attempt to rescue Southern Aspect Yang."


    "You''re willing to help, Martial Aspect Xiao? Thank you, thank you!" ck Dog eximed.


    "If I seed, there will be chaos. We''ll meet up in the valley where we rested prior toing here," Xiao Nanfeng told him.


    "Understood! I''ll be heading to the other end of the valley now, then."


    ck Dog rushed toward the other end of the valley, detouring around the formation within which Yang Chuan and the zombie king were fighting. Along the way, with a loud shout, he sent a series of huge boulders flying toward the zombies in the distance.


    The zombies turned toward ck Dog.


    "ck Dog, you''re no match for them. Leave!" Yang Chuan roared.


    ck Dog ignored his master''smand as he continued to taunt the zombies, enraging them until they began heading in his direction.


    Meanwhile, opposite them, Xiao Nanfeng activated his candleme powers. A portal of red light formed between him and the golden bamboo scroll. He reached out for the scroll.


    The golden scroll, viewing him as a threat, immediately released a burst of golden light that knocked Xiao Nanfeng''s grasping hand away.


    "Damn it," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    He stabbed at the golden light with the golden bamboo slip in his hand. As expected, the light didn''t reject the unconventional weapon. Xiao Nanfeng thrust forward with it until the scroll began to vibrate madly, forming a golden storm that knocked all the zombies in the vicinity flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng intended on using the golden bamboo slip to nudge the entire scroll toward him, but the scroll was more powerful than he anticipated. It attracted the bamboo slip to itself so strongly that Xiao Nanfeng''s body almost went flying into the portal, forcing him to release the slip.


    The slip reunited with the golden bamboo scroll, making it whole once more.


    The golden scroll radiated intense light from within. It seemed to reject any attempt to control it, and it stopped suppressing Yang Chuan.


    Yang Chuan''s eyes brightened. He shouted, "Break!"


    A fearsome wave of energy knocked the zombie king aside and rushed down the valley. Even the mountains in the vicinity rumbled.


    "ck Dog, let''s go!" Yang Chuan shouted, flying straight for his subordinate.


    The zombie king caught the golden scroll in the air, then chased after Yang Chuan and ck Dog with his zombie subordinates. Some discovered Xiao Nanfeng and went after him instead.


    Xiao Nanfeng hastily retreated.

 Chapter 713: The Zombie Ku Jiang

    <h4>Chapter 713: The Zombie Ku Jiang</h4>


    Within a pitch-ck valley, Xiao Nanfeng, Yang Chuan, and the badly wounded ck Dog reunited.


    On the way here, Yang Chuan had learned about the situation from ck Dog.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I am deeply grateful for your assistance." Yang Chuan bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hardly, Southern Aspect Yang. You assisted me with the Demon Child as a casual favor, and I''m only doing the same here. What''s more, given your strength, I''m sure you would have been able to free yourself." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    With this act, he had repaid Yang Chuan''s favor in full¡ªand even made Yang Chuan owe him a little.


    "I could have, but the price would have been exorbitant." Yang Chuan smiled wryly.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, might I ask how much you know about this hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan had learned about Xiao Nanfeng''s request from ck Dog. He handed him a jade slip.


    "This is a map of all the zombie caves that we''ve identified to date. It''s iplete, but this is all we know," Yang Chuan replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected the jade slip with his spiritual power and instantly noted that the Wolfsbane Cave was marked. He sighed in relief at having found what he was looking for.


    "Thank you, Southern Aspect Yang. This map is particrly useful to me."


    "Good." Yang Chuan smiled.


    "Are you aware of how strong the zombies in the zombie caves in the vicinity are?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This hidden realm is divided into three major domains, each ruled over by a zombie king. Each zombie king possesses arge number of ordinary zombies as subordinates with which to excavate these caves. The zombie kings are all Boundless Immortals, and ordinary zombie caves are guarded by a Golden Immortal zombie. If you''re looking for any in particr, you had better be careful."


    "Three zombie kings?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "I was facing off against one such king. I haven''t been here for long, unfortunately, and I know of no other information. There may yet be other secrets hidden within this realm."


    "Thank you for the information, Southern Aspect Yang. I have urgent matters to attend to, and I must leave immediately. Let''s talk again another day."


    Xiao Nanfeng was in a rush to find Ku Jiang, and he didn''t want to waste too much time.


    "I intend to head back and continue attacking that zombie king I was fighting earlier to see if I can make a breakthrough on that end. Take this signaling relic. If you activate it in close proximity to me and I see the signal, we''ll reconvene here." Yang Chuan handed him a relic.


    Xiao Nanfeng epted it gratefully, knowing that Yang Chuan meant well. "Thank you. Farewell!"


    They bowed to each other before departing from the valley in opposite directions.


    With the jade slip that Yang Chuan had loaned him, Xiao Nanfeng quickly arrived in the vicinity of Wolfsbane Cave and began looking around.


    ck fog severely dampened the visibility within the region. Xiao Nanfeng could hear shoutsing from all over. There were zombies flying by overhead intermittently. They nearly caught sight of him, but he was alert and managed to avoid them all.


    Finally, he managed to locate Wolfsbane Cave.


    The exterior of the cave was surprisingly peaceful, if gloomy. No one seemed to be present.


    Suddenly, a zombie flew by from afar andnded in front of Wolfsbane Cave. The zombie howled probingly at the interior of the cave.


    Suddenly, a ck figure rushed out of the cave, knocked the zombie down, and bit down on the zombie with a pair of blood-red fangs.


    The bitten zombie struggled furiously but was quickly rendered immobile. It dissipated into a cloud of ck fog, which the zombie from the cave absorbed.


    Far away in the darkness, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. "These zombies can even devour each other..."


    Rather than rush out, he waited patiently until the zombie trudged back into the cave.


    At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had the spectral guards contact Tang''s avatar.


    "Marquis Tang, His Majesty is waiting outside Wolfsbane Cave, but it seems to be guarded by a particrly potent zombie. He''s lying in wait at the moment. Can you inform Master Ku of the news and have him meet up with His Majesty? There''s a strange ball-shaped boulder near where His Majesty is hiding," the spectral guard ryed.


    "I understand," Tang replied.


    Shouts came from within Wolfsbane Cave.


    "Senior Uncle Ku!"


    Tang was shouting so loudly that Xiao Nanfeng could hear him even from his hiding spot.


    However, themotion quickly died down. Before long, the zombie from before emerged from Wolfsbane Cave.


    ck smoke surrounded him as he nced at his surroundings. He quickly pinpointed Xiao Nanfeng''s location and flew toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He had a bad feeling.


    "Nanfeng, you''re finally here!" the zombie wheezed.


    "Master?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The ck smoke around the zombie slowly dissipated to reveal a shriveled face. Though parts of the zombie''s face were decaying, Xiao Nanfeng quickly recognized Ku Jiang''s features. Not only that, there were two blood-red fangs protruding from his mouth, ferocious and horrifying.


    "I''m d you''ve been able to find your way here. I won''t be able tost for long. Follow me."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, bowing.


    He could sense Ku Jiang''s unique aura from this zombie, so he was certain of the zombie''s identity. He followed Ku Jiang into Wolfsbane Cave.


    "Master, where are the other zombies here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I ate them all."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng tensed up.


    The interior of Wolfsbane Cave was dark but expansive. The two cultivators walked toward the depths of the cave and quickly found themselves before a stone chamber.


    Ku Jiang opened the chamber to reveal Tang within.


    "Your Majesty, you really dide!" Tang eximed. Then, he saw Ku Jiang and gasped. "Is that a cursed effigy from around here?"


    "It''s me," Ku Jiang said.


    "What? Senior Uncle Ku? What happened to you?" Tang eximed.


    Ku Jiang didn''t reply to Tang''s question. He told Xiao Nanfeng, "Though all outsiders who know of Tang''s identity are dead, just in case, I had Tang change his identity and taught him how to modify his facial structure. Of course, it''s hardly a foolproof technique, but we were lucky that no one seemed to notice. Within Hongyue, Tang is known as "Tang Zhengqi", and he''s an official of rites in Hongyue''s capital.


    "I''m aware," Xiao Nanfeng said, nodding. "Tang told me."


    "Tang is undoubtedly a talented individual. Though he has yet to receive official recognition from the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, he has established firm footing for himself. He ys a tremendously valuable role in our n to take down Hongyue. You can''t let anything happen to Tang, and you have to bring him out of this realm safely to the best of your ability."


    "Of course, Master." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue brought some of us officials into the ck coffin hidden realm because he had suspicions against us, and he wanted to take advantage of the altar within the hidden realm to verify our loyalty. Invoking the naturalw of the altar, he hypnotized all of us and forced us to reveal the truth. Sensing that something was amiss, I used a secret technique to shield Tang and absorb the power of the altar. I managed to save him, but my true identity was immediately revealed."


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue really is nefarious..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "There were spies from other forces who were revealed just like me. We banded together and fought our way out. Although the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue managed to kill some of us, the rest escaped. We took some officials loyal to Hongyue as captives; I seized Tang. To make things look realistic, I knocked him unconscious and carried him away.


    "And then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Unfortunately, I was unlucky and ended up being bitten by a zombie in the hidden realm. I transformed into a zombie as well. In order to protect Tang, I killed all the zombies in this cave while waiting for you to arrive."


    "You were unlucky?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he turned to Tang.


    Tang stiffened. "Your Majesty, it''s not my fault!"


    Tang knew that he was supposedly an omen of cmity, and he might have doomed Ku Jiang. However, this was hardly something he could admit to.


    "Don''t me Tang. It was only because I was bitten by a zombie that I was able to hide my own aura. Otherwise, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue would long since have found me. I may have perished even more quickly then."


    "Master, what should we do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "When you leave, have Tang bring my head back to Hongyue. Let him im the credit for taking me down and killing me¡ªit''ll improve his standing in Hongyue''s court. I considered this when I inducted him into the ranks of Hongyue''s officials. We have been pretending to be rivals, and I''ve been helping him rise up the ranks by having him foil me. He might be able to advance to an even higher position with my head."


    "With your head, Master? But what are you going to do?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "You don''t understand. The zombies here are exceedingly unusual. After being bitten by a zombie, your soul will either dissipate or be devoured. You''ll quickly lose your sense of self. My soul has already dissipated, and the only reason I''ve been able to maintain rity for so long is because of the special nature of my guqin-rted cultivation. I''ve managed to stabilize parts of my consciousness through resonance, though not for much longer."


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Worry not. You''re aware of my situation, and you know this is only an avatar of mine. My main body''s soul is unharmed."


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He knew that Ku Jiang''s main body was in the red moon illusory realm in the form of a red-furred lifeform. He hadn''t expected Ku Jiang to have sent for him to say his farewells.


    "Master, I''ve already started preparing to take on the divine empire of Hongyue. I wanted you to witness my revenge on the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, but¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng cut himself off with a wretched expression on his face.


    Ku Jiang smiled. "I''m d to hear that you haven''t forgotten about avenging the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I regret not being able to witness Hongyue''s downfall with you, but I''m sure you''ll have a chance to tell me about it in the future, my dear disciple."


    "I understand." Xiao Nanfeng nodded helplessly.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue gave all his officials a talisman to enter and leave the ck coffin hidden realm. Allow me to pass mine to yours. Tang has one of his own as well." Ku Jiang handed over a ck talisman.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected it carefully.


    "The ck coffin hidden realm is a trap. If I''m not mistaken, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is luring countless cultivators within in order to transform them into zombies. He intends to perform some sort of grand, sacrificial ritual here, but that''s the extent of my knowledge. You must be careful. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue hasn''t left this realm; that he apparently did was only an illusion. He''s likely hidden somewhere within the depths of the realm, observing everything that unfolds within," Ku Jiang warned.


    "I understand, Master. I''ll be careful."

 Chapter 714: Farewell, Calamity

    <h4>Chapter 714: Farewell, Cmity</h4>


    "Master, can you really not maintain your current state as is? Even if you''re in the form of a zombie, it doesn''t matter," Xiao Nanfeng fretted.


    Ku Jiang shook his head. "These zombies are very strange. I do have a technique that allows me to merge my truesoul with this zombie''s body, but my truesoul is the basis of my existence. If I do so, I''ll have to give up on my main body."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s face fell.


    "What''s more, I can sense an abnormal twist of naturalw in these zombified bodies. Once this article is triggered, my body will be a puppet to be controlled. I don''t want to refine this zombified body only to end up as a puppet," Ku Jiang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng could only sigh.


    "I''m afraid I have nothing to bestow upon you but this storage bangle, which contains my paltry treasures."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''ll await your return, Master. Allow me to safeguard this bangle for you for the time being."


    "Very well. After all, you have more and better treasures than I do. I''m afraid what I have is rather limited and shabby inparison. That said, there are a few jade slips within that contain my insight into cultivation and several secret techniques. They may be of use to you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "This Wolfsbane Cave was filled with arge quantity of treasure and Immortal relics, though I doubt they''re of much value to you. I''ve stored them all in the bangle. If you need them, feel free to use them. The best relic here is this guqin, a Golden Immortal relic. Neither you nor Yuanjiao have introduced music into your cultivation. Give this to Yu''er so that she may maintain her training with the musical arts." Ku Jiang passed a guqin to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I understand, Master!"


    "There were arge number of spiritual herbs here as well. I''ve absorbed them all and used my own body as a cauldron to concoct a divine pill. I discovered that the spiritual herbs here all contained cursed spiritual power, which I was able to extract with my body. With thetent spirituality of the herbs, and of my own cultivation, I was able to condense this pill that may be able to help Yuanjiao advance into a Golden Immortal. Hand it to him when you return," Ku Jiang said.


    Ku Jiang''s body trembled. Except for his head, which remainedrgely unchanged, the rest of his body suddenly withdrew into itself until he was all but a skeleton.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly stepped forward to support him as Ku Jiang opened his mouth and spat out a resplendent golden pill.


    "This is akin to a Golden Immortal pill. I hope it''ll be of use to Yuanjiao. I''ve transferred all my body''s vitality into it," Ku Jiang said weakly.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the pill as Ku Jiang''s withered body dissipated into clouds of ck smoke. ck hands seemed to manifest weakly within the smoke, which gushed out of the cave and vanished from sight.


    "Master!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    "Remember: let Tang bring my head back to Hongyue. We will reunite one day," Ku Jiang promised, smiling.


    Then, even his consciousness faded away, leaving only his zombified head behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a long, shuddering breath. He kowtowed at the zombified head. Tang mimicked his actions.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng handed the head to Tang. "Take it with you on Master''s behalf."


    "I understand." Tang kept the head, then asked, "Your Majesty, what''s the situation like outside?"


    "It''s very dangerous. We aren''t safe here, either. Zombies maye looking for us, so we can''t remain here for long. We''ll have to set off immediately."


    "Understood!" Tang shuddered.


    The two cultivators examined their surroundings as they flew out of the cave and headed toward the mountainous forests in the distance. When they reached the forests, they found that a group of zombies had already flown toward Wolfsbane Cave and were investigating it.


    "We were almost trapped by those zombies!" Tang eximed in relief.


    "They''re strong, too," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning. "There''s a Golden Immortal zombie among that horde."


    If he hadn''t left at once, the zombies would have trapped him and Tang within. He could take on even a Golden Immortal zombie, but who knew what further dangersy in wait?


    Given Tang''s nature as an omen of cmity, what if he lured a zombie king toward them? What would Xiao Nanfeng do then?


    As they flew to safety, Xiao Nanfeng immediately said, "Tang, you should leave the ck coffin hidden realm for now."


    Although Xiao Nanfeng believed in his ability to survive even under disastrous circumstances, he hardly wanted to trigger Tang''stent curse.


    "Aren''t you going to leave as well, Your Majesty?" Tang asked.


    "Not at the moment. Go reunite with the officials of Hongyue. It''ll be suspicious for you to remain with me for too long."


    Under his breath, he muttered, "Better that you go curse Hongyue instead."


    "I understand, Your Majesty. Farewell." Tang bowed.


    "Remember to think of a good excuse for managing to escape. Don''t let your fellow officials catch you off-guard."


    "Of course, Your Majesty." Tang smiled. "I''m skilled at this."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Tang was meticulous, and it was unlikely that he would have any trouble.


    Tang retrieved a ck talisman and activated it. A bubble of ck light surrounded him, lifting him into the heavens. Xiao Nanfeng flew up alongside him as a precaution.


    Suddenly, numerous figures flew toward him.


    "Zombies? How did they find their way here?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It isn''t my fault, Your Majesty!" Tang cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. Was this because Tang was an omen of cmity? Despite their rtive safety, they had still been cursed with bad luck. The zombies had found them even in this secluded region of the hidden realm!


    "Forget it. Don''t worry about the situation. I''ll guard you, so keep ascending!"


    "Understood!" Tang replied.


    By then, the zombies had closed in on them. Xiao Nanfeng shot forward and punched the zombie in the forefront.


    The other zombies leapt forward, but none were a match for Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng held back all the zombies with his Hegemon''s Fist.


    Unfortunately, for some reason, more and more zombies were gathering around the area.


    Xiao Nanfeng gritted his teeth. In order to allow Tang to leave safely, he had no choice but to take on all the zombies. The fighting grew more and more intense.


    "Tang''s powers as an omen of cmity must have grown even stronger. How can there be so many zombies in the vicinity? He''s like a horseman of the apocalypse now!" Xiao Nanfeng muttered.


    Only when Tang vanished entirely from sight did Xiao Nanfeng sigh in relief. He then sensed a frightening aura home in on him, as if a Golden Immortal zombie had spotted him.


    He nched and flew off immediately, vanishing beyond the other end of the forest.


    Before long, back in Dazheng, Tang''s avatar reported to a spectral guard. "Inform His Majesty that my main body safely made it out of the ck coffin and has reunited with Hongyue''s officials. I wasmended for bringing out Senior Uncle Ku''s zombified head with me."


    "Your report has been received, Marquis Tang. His Majesty informs you to be careful."


    Tang nodded.


    Back in the ck coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng continued roaming through the forests. Somehow, he had been chased by a zombie horde day after day. Though there were some close calls, he had all but verified a certain truth.


    "Tang''s bad luck really has grown even stronger than before. I flew through a huge expanse of the realm without attracting any zombies'' attention while searching for Master, but after just a short interaction with Tang, zombies have been chasing me for a few days. Could he really have cursed Master to death? No wonder Master trapped Tang in a stone chamber and refused to interact with him while having transformed into a zombie." Xiao Nanfeng sighed, then consoled himself. "Forget it. Tang''s with the Hongyue officials now, at any rate. I''m sure his curse on me is close to expiring."


    He continued to skulk around the realm, trying to uncover what the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue was up to. Without figuring out his ns, Shenfeng would have a far harder time in the uing war against Hongyue.


    Over thest few days, he saw some cultivators seed in stealing Immortal relics and pills from the zombies, but the majority found themselves zombified instead.


    After yet another few days, he found his way to a gathering spot teeming with cultivators, who were exchanging information and relics.


    He joined them while wearing a bamboo hat and obscuring his appearance with fog and spiritual power, preventing others from recognizing him.


    Just then, he suddenly saw a familiar face. "Ao Canghai''s subordinate!"


    A Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court was hovering in the air. He shouted at the cultivators within the valley, "Eastern Aspect Ao is intending to take on a zombie king. Does any cultivator here wish to join him?"


    All the cultivators lifted their heads in surprise.


    "Eastern Aspect Ao will be responsible for taking on the zombie king, and we will handle the zombie king''s subordinates. You will receive whatever share of treasure you im for yourself. Is anyone willing to join in? Of course, if you aren''t going to participate in the fight, you won''t be allowed to im any of the spoils. If you''re caught doing so, you''ll be put to death," the Martial Aspect continued.


    "A zombie king? I did see that zombie king''s cave filled with treasure the other day. If Eastern Aspect Ao is going to take on the most challenging foe..."


    "With Ao Canghai taking on the zombie king, what do we have to fear?"


    "I''ll go!"


    "I''ll go as well!"


    Countless cultivators volunteered in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned at the news. Did even Ao Canghai need reinforcements?


    He couldn''t help but feel that there was something amiss about Ao Canghai''s recruitment. It wasn''t a logical thing for him to do¡ªrecruiting a group of strangers that weren''t particrly trustworthy or reliable was dangerous, unless Ao Canghai only intended to treat them as cannon fodder.


    He was interested, but didn''t register.


    The majority of the cultivators present in the valley, however, signed up to take on a zombie king alongside Ao Canghai.

 Chapter 715: The Zombies Weaknesses

    <h4>Chapter 715: The Zombies'' Weaknesses</h4>


    From the jade slip he received from Yang Chuan, Xiao Nanfeng learned of the three zombie kings of the ck coffin hidden realm. Their respective domains were the Dragon Cave, Phoenix Cave, and Qilin Cave.


    Ao Canghai had gathered hundreds of cultivators to take on the Dragon Cave.


    A fight broke out soon after the cultivators set off.


    Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court began to round up the cultivators that were following behind their party without having registered to join them.


    "As I said, all those cultivators who think they''ll be able to take advantage of us will be killed!" a Martial Aspect called out. "Catch them and feed them to the zombies!"


    "Understood!" the cultivators hollered.


    They naturally bore no goodwill to these cultivators who were nning to profit at their expense. They would be charging forward at the forefront, whereas these cultivators were intending to remain behind and jump in at thest moment.


    Ao Canghai himself inspected the party from high above. With a Boundless Immortal''s senses, he was trying to determine whether there were still cultivators tailing their party. He pointed in several directions as groups of Martial Aspects set off and caught the cultivators following behind them.


    Xiao Nanfeng was one such cultivator, but he had been wary enough to stay farther away. The direction in which the group had set off made it clear that the cultivators were headed to the Dragon Cave. He headed there following an alternate route, intending to arrive before the main party so as toy an ambush.


    There were other cautious cultivators out there, and quite a few had arrived at the Dragon Cave in advance like Xiao Nanfeng.


    Before long, Ao Canghai''s party made its way there as well.


    Surviving within this realm required tremendous strength, and the hundreds of cultivators present were naturally all in advanced realms of cultivation. Though they had joined Ao Canghai''s party, they were still on guard against him. They gradually closed in on the Dragon Cave.


    Ao Canghai hovered in the air as he eyed the cave from afar. He took a deep breath. "Alright. We''re here. Prepare to strike."


    "Got it!" everyone replied.


    One of Ao Canghai''s subordinates tossed a boulder toward the Dragon Cave.


    A group of zombies shattered the boulder at the entrance to the cave.


    They nced at the group of cultivators that were surrounding them, then roared as they charged forward.


    The cultivators eyed each other with frowns on their faces. They didn''t expect Ao Canghai to take such a blunt approach to the fight. Were they going to take on the zombies head-on without luring any away first? They too were wary of Ao Canghai using them as cannon fodder.


    Just then, Ao Canghai''s subordinates charged forward and knocked aside a group of zombies.


    Everyone was taken aback. What was going on? Why had Ao Canghai''s subordinates rushed forward? What was Ao Canghai''s n?


    "Don''tze around, everyone! Prepare to strike!" a Martial Aspect roared.


    "Understood!" The gathered cultivators shook their heads to clear their thoughts and charged forward.


    In the distance, under cover of darkness, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. The zombies were far weaker than the Martial Aspects that had rushed forward, but the Martial Aspects hadn''t yet finished a single one off.There was a ploy here, he was sure of it.


    More and more zombies rushed out of the cave.


    Ao Canghai''s subordinates were the ones taking on the brunt of the attacks, leaving what zombies remained to the other cultivators present. The two sides fought on equal footing with one another, bnced for the moment.


    In other words, despite the drawn-out conflict, not a single zombie or cultivator had died.


    Ao Canghai watched on from the air without making a single move. He seemed to be waiting for the zombie king to emerge.


    Very quickly, two Golden Immortal zombies appeared.


    "Be careful. These Golden Immortal zombies are exceptionally strong. We''ll take them on!" a Martial Aspect shouted.


    The Martial Aspects rushed forward to take on the Golden Immortal zombies, leaving the other cultivators grateful and relieved. They felt as if they had mistaken Ao Canghai, who really did seem to intend to cooperate with them.


    The fighting outside the Dragon Cave unfolded intensely¡ªbut again, there were still no deaths.


    Just then, a zombie king wearing ck draconic robes and a crown on his head finally emerged from the Dragon Cave. ck smoke gushed out from the zombie king as a malevolent aura filled the air. The cultivators stumbled as they collectively held a breath.


    "It''s the zombie king!" a Martial Aspect roared. "Watch out!"


    By then, the zombie king had seen Ao Canghai hovering in the sky. The two Boundless Immortals eyed each other with burgeoning fighting spirit.


    Ao Canghai waved a hand. "Release them!"


    "Don''t! We made a mistake. We shouldn''t have tailed you. Don''t kill us, please!"


    The cultivators who had been caught by the Martial Aspects cried out in fear as they begged for mercy, but their cries were ignored. Their cultivation had been sealed, and they were now tossed toward the zombie king one after another.


    The zombie king extended its right arm, causing the cultivators to stop short. They were held aloft in the air around the zombie king. A cloud of ck smoke surrounded the cultivators as the zombie king opened its mouth wide to reveal two blood-red fangs. Fangs manifested within the clouds of ck smoke and bit down on the cultivators'' necks.


    "No! Save us!" the cultivators cried out, but they were unable to resist the attack at all.


    Within moments, the cultivators'' blood and souls were drained. Their vital essence was absorbed by the zombie king, who spat out a ball of unusual ck energy. That energy was infused into the fangs that manifested from the ck smoke, and then into the cultivators'' bodies. The cultivators'' eyes dted, and they stood motionless. Before long, ck smoke gushed out of their bodies as they were zombified themselves.


    After the zombie king had finished zombifying these cultivators, it shot toward Ao Canghai, who retaliated with a punch. The two fists connected in a howling tempest that sent both Ao Canghai and the zombie king flying.


    Ao Canghai smashed into arge mountain, while the zombie kingnded in the midst of the cultivators taking on the zombie king''s subordinates.


    They instantly staggered back in shock upon feeling the zombie king''s fearsome aura.


    "What''s the zombie king doing here?! Hurry and flee!" a cultivator cried out.


    The zombie king bellowed and belched out a cloud of smoke that surrounded the unfortunate cultivators. Their blood and souls were extracted from them as they became zombified themselves.


    As the other cultivators began to panic, Ao Canghai thundered, "Hold it, fiend!"


    Ao Canghai flew toward the zombie king as the two Boundless Immortals began to fight once more.


    The cultivators that had been nning to flee could only continue fighting. Coincidentally, Ao Canghai''s subordinates began to fight more ferociously, taking on more of the zombies and lightening the load for the remaining cultivators.


    All of a sudden, Ao Canghai was sent flying into another mountain, while the zombie king struck another group of cultivators.


    "Run!" the cultivators cried out.


    The zombie king quickly surrounded them with clouds of ck smoke and transformed them into zombies once more.


    The battle continued on, but the same thing happened over and over again.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Can''t the zombie king think for itself? Why is it bothering to turn those cultivators into zombies when it''s taking on Ao Canghai? Does it just not have the capacity to think, or is there an article of naturalw binding its actions?"


    Ao Canghai continued to lure the zombie king into zombifying the gathered cultivators.


    By then, the majority of the gathered cultivators had perished, and many of the remaining were starting to panic. Someone shouted, "We can''t keep fighting these zombies, or we''re all going to die! Let''s run!"


    A Martial Aspect interrupted, "Everyone, you promised to fight to the end. If you flee now, what are we going to do?"


    "Why don''t we all flee?" someone suggested.


    "Nonsense! We''ve already invested too much time and energy into this. We can still win. Let''s continue," the Martial Aspect replied.


    The cultivators had no choice but to continue taking on the zombies.


    Xiao Nanfeng, watching from afar, had more or less figured out Ao Canghai''s scheme.


    "Ao Canghai''s subordinates are deliberately holding the ordinary zombies back, not allowing them to bite these cultivators. He only wants the zombie king to zombify them¡ªbut why?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Some of the cultivators had realized what was happening as well. They cried out fearfully, "No, we don''t want to take on the zombie king anymore. We won''t take any share of the treasure, either. Let us go!"


    Unfortunately, the zombies they were fighting prevented them from fleeing. The remaining cultivators were quickly zombified by the zombie king.


    Everything was proceeding in a sinister fashion.


    "No¡ªthat zombie king seems to be weakening!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed. That had to be Ao Canghai''s n. "The zombie king''s consuming its own reserves of energy by zombifying those cultivators. It really isn''t very smart, is it? Ao Canghai found a loophole!"


    Finally, as thest group of cultivators were all zombified, Ao Canghai could drop his act.


    "Chase all the zombies away. Don''t let them die, or they''ll only serve to strengthen the zombie king again," Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.


    The Martial Aspects sent the zombies flying and subdued them with relics, but without killing a single one of them.


    Then, Ao Canghai swooped down from the heavens and struck the zombie king with an empowered punch.


    He didn''t have to rein in his strength any longer. He suppressed the zombie king with absolute power, battering him into the ground.


    "You''ve exerted the majority of your strength, haven''t you?" Ao Canghai smirked.


    The zombie king roared and charged toward Ao Canghai once more, but Ao Canghai still had the bulk of his strength in reserve. He easily seized the upper hand. The zombie king was knocked back again and again, unable to do anything.


    "Where''s your ancestral fire dragon''s pearl? Aren''t you going to use it?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    The zombie king bellowed in rage and spat out a dragon pearl filled with incredible ck me. It shot toward Ao Canghai.


    The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl was a Boundless Immortal relic whose aura was enough to cause Ao Canghai to stagger.


    "I''ve finally forced the zombie king to unveil its relic. It''s mine now, haha!" Ao Canghai shouted in excitement.

 Chapter 716: Xiao Nanfeng Seizes the Treasure

    <h4>Chapter 716: Xiao Nanfeng Seizes the Treasure</h4>


    The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl zed with ck me. A frightening aura shot toward Ao Canghai.


    "Well met. Vast seas, I invoke you!" Ao Canghai dered.


    An endless deluge of seawater appeared out of nowhere, forming a raging ocean that attempted to drown the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl. The sh of fire and water created huge clouds of steam as the seawater vaporized.


    The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl''s momentum was quickly drained by the seawater. Though Ao Canghai was eagerly aiming for the relic, he had no choice but to take on the zombie king first to prevent being struck by a pincer-type attack.


    Ao Canghai struck the zombie king with a flurry of blows, causing the ck smoke surrounding it to dissipate.


    The resulting shockwaves caused the ground itself to crack and the mountains in the vicinity to copse.


    The zombie king grew weaker and weaker, and its actions became more and more sluggish. The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl gradually stopped attacking Ao Canghai; it was encased by a bubble of water.


    "Good!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    With what remained of his strength, he sent a palm technique mming into the zombie king and propelling it into the ruins of a nearby mountain. Then, he turned and reached for the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl within the bubble of water.


    Just then, a shadow darted forward. The shadowy figure attacked Ao Canghai with a palm, who was forced to defend with his fist.


    The two attacks struck each other and unleashed shockwaves of energy, causing the bubble of water surrounding the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl to burst. The shadowy figure reached out and caught the pearl first.


    "Another Boundless Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes from afar.


    Someone else was attempting to snatch the relic before he could!


    The Boundless Immortal was shrouded in ck fog, his features obscured. He reached out for the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl, whose mes instantly shot up his arm and caused him to shudder. He was unable to attune to it instantly.


    "Do you think I''ll let you steal my relic? Dream on!" Ao Canghai thundered as he shot forward.


    The two Boundless Immortals began to take on each other, releasing countless waves of energy into the air. The other Boundless Immortal seemed to be slightly weaker than Ao Canghai, but not by much. The two cultivators continued to fight over the relic, neither quite managing to secure it while holding the other back.


    "Damn it, who are you? Are you too ashamed to reveal your identity?" Ao Canghai roared.


    The Boundless Immortal was naturally unwilling to do so. He shouted, "The rest of you, attack! I''ve immobilized the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl for the time being, and you can im it at will. Hurry!"


    "Understood!" Arge group of cultivators flew by from afar.


    "im the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl!" Ao Canghaimanded his subordinates as well.


    "Understood!" Ao Canghai''s subordinates sent the zombies flying and rushed over.


    The zombies, now undeterred, began to head toward the pearl as well.


    More importantly, the zombie king had emerged from underneath a pile of rubble as well. It began to manipte the dragon pearl from afar, causing it to shake off its pursuers and fly toward the zombie king.


    "Damn it!" the two Boundless Immortals both shouted.


    They shot toward the pearl without any hesitation, as did the zombie king itself.


    A three-way fight unfolded.


    The zombie king possessed only rudimentary intelligence, and didn''t consider the possibility of allowing the two Boundless Immortals to weaken each other first. It treated them both as its enemies and attacked them to the best of its ability.


    Ao Canghai and the Boundless Immortal were both frustrated by this turn of affairs, but neither was quite willing to cooperate with the other against the zombie king. As a result, they were each forced to fight two other Boundless Immortals. The situation quickly grew chaotic.


    Meanwhile, Ao Canghai''s subordinates, the subordinates of the Boundless Immortal cloaked in ck fog, and countless zombies all shot toward the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl.


    Xiao Nanfeng made his move then as well.


    "Die!" The Golden Immortals were the first to make their way to the pearl. They each unleashed an indiscriminate attack at their surroundings.


    Thebined force of the group of Golden Immortals was incredible. A huge tempest blossomed where the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl was located, preventing any other cultivator from drawing near. The Golden Immortals eyed each other, none of them expecting any otherpetition for the pearl.


    Their fingers strained to grasp the pearl, only to find themselves being knocked away the moment they did so. The pearl vibrated violently. Some attempted to suck the pearl into their storage relics, but those relics burned to a crisp the moment the pearl came into contact with them. They had no choice but to continue fighting each other.


    Just then, a sh of red light appeared before the pearl. A figure burst out and grabbed ahold of it.


    The Golden Immortals gaped. "Die!"


    They reacted instantly. Six Golden Immortals'' palms struck the figure, causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood as he was mmed into the ground. Even so, the figure continued to hug the pearl tightly. The pearl''s mes burned his clothes to a crisp and dispelled the ck fog around him, revealing his identity.


    "It''s Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "How could it be?"


    "Catch Xiao Nanfeng! Don''t let him run off with the pearl!"


    The cultivators all began to holler.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng smashed into the ground, still stubbornly holding onto the pearl. A thick cloud of dust rose up around him.


    The cultivators swooped down into the cloud of dust, only to find that Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is he?!" the Golden Immortals cried out.


    They inspected their surroundings with spiritual power, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have vanished¡ªalong with the pearl.


    "He''s running off in that direction! Hold it!" a blue-robed cultivator suddenly shouted.


    A group of cultivators chased after the blue-robed cultivator.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" Ao Canghai roared. He was still fighting the two other Boundless Immortals in the distance. His eyes were red with anger.


    It had taken him incredible effort to gather the cultivators and defeat the zombie king, but Xiao Nanfeng managed to swoop in at thest moment and steal his treasure! Was Xiao Nanfeng his nemesis?!


    "Go catch Xiao Nanfeng!" the other Boundless Immortalmanded.


    "It''s all your fault!" Ao Canghai fumed, howling at the Boundless Immortal before him.


    Ao Canghai allowed the zombie king to strike him in exchange for wing at the other Boundless Immortal''s chest. The Boundless Immortal spat out a mouthful of blood as his chest caved in, grievously injured.


    The zombie king grabbed the Boundless Immortal and revealed two blood-red fangs. It bit down on the Boundless Immortal''s neck.


    "No! Please save me, Eastern Aspect Ao. I''m willing topensate you for what you''ve lost!" the Boundless Immortal cried out.


    Ao Canghai had no intention of helping the Boundless Immortal out. He rushed after the cultivators chasing Xiao Nanfeng, vanishing from sight in an instant.


    "No!" the Boundless Immortal cried out.


    The zombie king had bitten him on the neck, forcibly absorbing his blood and soul, then injecting a special blend of cursed spiritual power into his body.


    "Sect Master!" a cultivator cried out from afar.


    However, it was already toote. The Boundless Immortal soon stopped struggling. He hovered in the air, immobile, as the transformation took ce.


    The zombie king had grown incredibly weak after zombifying a Boundless Immortal, but even so, he was stronger than the Golden Immortal cultivators that remained. With a howl, he shot toward them.


    Cries and shouts rang out from all over.


    In the distance, a few cultivators hidden in the darkness began to shudder. They could see that the Boundless Immortal''s body was already starting to give off ck smoke¡ªa sure sign of his zombification.


    The zombified Boundless Immortal suddenly howled into the air as two blood-red fangs appeared in his mouth.


    "Another zombie king? Hurry up¡ªwe have to flee!" Countless cultivators scrambled to get away, shrouded by the darkness.


    One zombie king was fearsome enough; two would surely kill them.


    In the distance, Ao Canghai continued to chase after Xiao Nanfeng, only to find the pursuers ahead of him suddenly stop.


    "Where is he? Where''s Xiao Nanfeng?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "He''s gone! We can''t find him," a Martial Aspect reported.


    "Impossible. Even if his cultivation techniques are unique, he''s only a True Immortal. He can''t outrun you, and that ancestral fire dragon''s pearl is potent enough that no ordinary storage relic can handle it. He can''t just have vanished!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    "We''ve lost him," the Martial Aspect replied, grimacing.


    "Hold on. Who told you he was flying in this direction?" Ao Canghai suddenly asked alertly.


    "Hm? Where did that blue-robed cultivator go?" someone eximed.


    The cultivators looked around them. That blue-robed cultivator that had pointed out Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts had vanished without a trace.


    "That cultivator must have been in cahoots with Xiao Nanfeng all along. You''ve all been tricked!" Ao Canghai roared.


    The cultivators nched as they considered this possibility.


    "But we weren''t able to find Xiao Nanfeng at all after he was pummeled into the ground. We made sure to examine our surroundings with spiritual power, but we found no trace of him. If Xiao Nanfeng was already gone by then, what was the point of the blue-robed cultivator leading us astray?" another Martial Aspect asked.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes suddenly twitched. "That blue-robed cultivator had to be Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "What? Impossible! We badly injured Xiao Nanfeng to the point where he was vomiting out blood. His robes were ruined by our attacks and the fire from the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl. How could he have changed his appearance and robes so quickly?" a Martial Aspect eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng must have an artifact of high-enough quality for him to store the pearl within. Furthermore, have you forgotten about the rumors regarding what happened at Taixu, and how Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of Long Er''s body?"


    "Possession? You mean that that blue-robed cultivator might have been a body double that Xiao Nanfeng prepared in advance? He possessed that blue-robed cultivator to mislead us?!" the Martial Aspect cried out.


    "Damn it, if we had been any more observant, we''d have noticed signs of possession on that blue-robed cultivator''s body¡ªbut we were all so anxious about catching Xiao Nanfeng that we didn''t think of it! He really did trick us!" another Martial Aspect gritted out.


    "Head back and keep searching for him!" Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Understood!" The Martial Aspects rushed off furiously.


    Meanwhile, in a secluded valley, Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body emerged from the blue-robed cultivator''s mindscape.


    The blue-robed cultivator transformed into a giant sheep with a dazed expression on his face, as if he wereing to his senses.


    Xiao Nanfeng knocked him unconscious and sealed his cultivation.


    "Thankfully, I caught this sheep spirit just in case. It''s a pity that its identity must have been exposed by now, so I can''t use it any longer." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    He stored the sheep spirit''s body in the gourd by his waist, then pulled out an unconscious wolf spirit from his gourd.


    He unsealed the bindings around the wolf spirit''s body, then entered its mindscape. The wolf spirit woke with a shudder, then transformed into a different human.


    Possessing the wolf spirit''s body, Xiao Nanfeng rushed off into the distance, away from his pursuers.

 Chapter 717: Devouring the Dragon Pearl

    <h4>Chapter 717: Devouring the Dragon Pearl</h4>


    In a valley in the ck coffin hidden realm, Yang Chuan was recuperating with a group of his wounded subordinates. He was clutching a golden bamboo scroll with a satisfied expression on his face.


    It had taken him tremendous effort and a bout of intense fighting alongside his subordinates to take down the zombie king of qilin cave and seize his golden bamboo scroll.


    He was currently analyzing the relic when a ck shadow flew into the valley.


    The wounded cultivators recuperating in the valley were preparing to defend themselves when they saw that it was ck Dog. Only then did they rx.


    ck Dog flew up to Yang Chuan. "Master, I''ve learned about the situation. Those cultivators aren''t searching for us."


    "Indeed. Considering I''ve imed the golden bamboo scroll, I should hope they''ve given up on it." Yang Chuan nodded in satisfaction.


    "All those cultivators are in search of Xiao Nanfeng," ck Dog continued.


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan cocked his head in confusion.


    "Ao Canghai and another Boundless Immortal were fighting over the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl that the zombie king of the Dragon Cave possessed. In the end, however, Xiao Nanfeng managed to seize it. Countless cultivators have learned of the news and are in search of Xiao Nanfeng now," ck Dog continued.


    "Xiao Nanfeng managed to im the ancestral dragon''s pearl? How can that be?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    He knew that each of the three zombie kings had a Boundless Immortal relic of their own, which countless cultivators were eyeing. He hadn''t expected that Xiao Nanfeng would have been able to nab one.


    "It''s true! And Xiao Nanfeng''s only a True Immortal. That''s why everyone''s going crazy. It''ll be far easier to steal a treasure from a True Immortal, after all."


    Yang Chuan frowned and sighed. "Xiao Nanfeng really is lucky."


    "Isn''t he? I heard that the Boundless Immortal who was fighting with Ao Canghai over the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl has be a zombie king himself. There are two such zombie kings in the Dragon Cave now!"


    Yang Chuan frowned. "Another zombie king? Things aren''t looking good..."


    "Is something wrong, Master?" ck Dog asked.


    "When I fought against the zombie king, though I managed to im his golden bamboo scroll, a Boundless Immortal tried to steal the relic from me at thest moment. In the end, she became a zombie king herself. Though the zombie king might have lost its relic, it has since gained another helper. At this rate, the zombies will only keep growing stronger..."


    ck Dog nched. "As more and more cultivators filter in and be zombies themselves, the danger to us will only grow."


    "Don''t worry about anything else. Have everyone search for a way out of here immediately," Yang Chuanmanded.


    "Understood!" ck Dog replied.


    By arge mountain in the ck coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng had secretly dug a cave and sealed its entrance. Then, he retrieved the Divine Seal of Dazheng and entered its internal space.


    There, he transformed back into his physical body.


    Although he boasted fearsome defenses in the form of his Imposing Avatar of Ri, the simultaneous attacks of six Golden Immortals still caused him no small amount of damage. Fortunately, it was within the range of what he could tolerate.


    He consumed a few pills to heal the bulk of his injuries.


    The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl floated before him. ck mes red up all over its surface. The mes seemed to be filled with ck hands that were grasping at their surroundings in a chaotic and erratic manner.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Could the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl be bound by some form of naturalw? Now that it''s within the Divine Seal of Dazheng, its connection to the outer world has been cut off, so these ck hands are all in a frenzied state..."


    He suddenly had the feeling that all the zombies and relics from the ck coffin hidden realm were connected via a great web of conspiracies.


    "Even if that''s the case, it doesn''t matter. Now that I have the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl in my possession, I''ll use it to advance my cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He swallowed the pearl and directed it into his dantian.


    The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl zed with ck mes, but he hardly feared me.


    His ten golden crows struck at the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl simultaneously while he activated all his cultivation techniques and began to attune to the pearl immediately.


    Countless ck, grasping hands emerged from the pearl, attempting to resist his assault and destroy his dantian, but to no avail. His Jade Emperor''s Frame shone with blinding light, causing the ck hands to burst into clouds of ck smoke and then dispelling that smoke.


    A torrent of energy flooded his body.


    Before long, the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl burst apart and sent even more waves of energy gushing forth.


    He was fully absorbed in the process of mastering that energy and directing it to his own purposes. He sat in meditation for hours before he managed to distill it all.


    Then, his eyes opened wide. A burst of me emanated from his body.


    "The sixth stage of the True Immortal realm... I''m advancing rather slowly, aren''t I?" Xiao Nanfeng grimaced.


    His Imposing Avatar of Ri, Jade Emperor''s Frame, and Sky of Ten Suns all required a tremendous quantity of energy to enhance. Although even a Boundless Immortal relic was only able to advance his cultivation by a minor stage by now, his strength was iparable to that of other cultivators within his realm.


    He changed his clothes before stepping out of the Divine Seal of Dazheng, then kept the seal and reverted to his yin body. He uncorked the gourd he kept by his waist and shook out a spirit he had previously caught. The spirit was unconscious and sealed. After breaking the seal, he entered its mindscape, possessed it, transformed his appearance, then unblocked the entrance to the cave he had dug and finally emerged once more.


    The ck coffin hidden realm was fraught with danger, but also opportunity. There might yet be more chances to acquire treasure.


    Xiao Nanfeng walked out of the cave and headed toward where a number of cultivators had gathered. There were only a scant few cultivators around, exchanging the treasures they had obtained as part of small groups.


    He was a little confused, but nevertheless walked over and asked, "What are all of you still doing here?"


    He had turned his head so as to avoid giving off any signs of possession. However, none of the cultivators before him were particrly advanced in terms of cultivation, and they didn''t notice a thing.


    "We''d have liked to hunt down Xiao Nanfeng too, but we aren''t skilled enough to. We''d be useless," a cultivator sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. Had all those cultivators left in search of him?


    He asked again, "Do you know how many cultivators are trying to hunt down Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "How many? Ao Canghai''s going crazy. He''s even issued a bounty for Xiao Nanfeng. You don''t even need to catch him¡ªjust catching sight of him and reporting it will earn you a Golden Immortal relic. Just about everyone''s hunting him down now."


    Another cultivator said, "What''s more, if you can defeat him, you''ll even earn a Boundless Immortal relic. Many are going crazy trying to hunt him down. If we weren''t so weak as to be afraid of even ordinary zombies, we''d be participating too."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and sighed. "Ao Canghai really is set on catching Xiao Nanfeng, isn''t he?"


    "Just so. I heard that plenty of cultivators ended up zombified because they were too engrossed in the hunt," the cultivator replied. "Right, are you interested in trading some treasure?"


    "I obtained a Heaven Immortal relic a few days ago. Have any of you got anything in trade?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The cultivators weren''t particrly enthused about it, but Xiao Nanfeng managed to get a trade as cover for the information he was seeking. Then, he left.


    Atop a mountain in the ck coffin hidden realm, Ao Canghai was pacing around the peak as he red at his surroundings, as though in search of something.


    Just then, a Martial Aspect flew up to him and sighed. "Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng''s far too crafty. We can''t find him at all. He must be in hiding."


    Ao Canghai red. "That damn Xiao Nanfeng. He killed my son and stole my treasures countless times. I won''t let him get away with it this time¡ªhe won''t leave the ck coffin hidden realm!"


    "Eastern Aspect, is it alright for us to be taking on Xiao Nanfeng in such a public fashion? He is still a Martial Aspect, after all," the Martial Aspect worried.


    "We''ll disguise it behind reiming the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl. No one will be able to say anything about that. Then, we''ll find an excuse to toss Xiao Nanfeng into the mouth of a zombie king. If a zombie king finishes him off, it''s none of our business."


    "But Xiao Nanfeng has an avatar. What if¡ª"


    "Don''t worry. Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar will die as well. We''ll have a convenient alibi, since we''re in the ck coffin hidden realm," Ao Canghai said.


    "Ah? Understood!" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    "Keep on searching for Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts, and keep an eye out on the exit to the ck coffin hidden realm. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue can enter and exit at will, so we must be able to do the same. Hurry! I have a bad premonition." Ao Canghai frowned.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!"


    In a hall in Hongyue''s capital, Tu Jiuniang and Tu Siniang were staring at an official before them. Tu Siniang''s eyes brightened. "Is that true?"


    "Absolutely! My avatar was in the ck coffin hidden realm. I personally witnessed the fight and saw Xiao Nanfeng seize the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl from Ao Canghai," the official reported.


    "Very good. Dismissed," Tu Jiuniang said.


    "Understood!" The official swiftly retreated.


    "What do you think, Jiuniang?" Tu Siniang asked.


    Tu Jiuniang smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng''s only a True Immortal. How can he escape from the clutches of a group of Golden Immortals, especially with a Boundless Immortal relic in his possession?"


    "Do you think Ao Canghai and Xiao Nanfeng are in cahoots with each other again?" Tu Siniang frowned.


    "It''s not the first time they''ve done something of the sort, after all. Do you think a Cardinal Aspect of the Imperial Court would really issue a bounty on a Martial Aspect? Ao Canghai wouldn''t dare. What''s more, Xiao Nanfeng has an avatar. Wouldn''t Ao Canghai be worried about reprisal from the Imperial Court? It has to be a ploy." Tu Jiuniang chuckled to herself.


    "You really have a good mind for these things, Sister. What do you intend to do?" Tu Siniang asked curiously.


    "There are only entrances, not exits, to the ck coffin hidden realm. Except for my husband, no one will be able to get out. He''s busy handling affairs within the hidden realm, so let''s help him take care of what lies beyond it," Tu Jiuniang said.


    "Are we going to make a move? I''ll summon all the spirit kings, then," Tu Siniang said.


    "That won''t be enough. If we''re going to strike, we might as well take down our enemies cleanly. Call Li Qianjun and Yuan Wudi over as well," Tu Jiuniangmanded.


    "Very well!" Tu Siniang replied.

 Chapter 718: Shenfengs Imperial Examination

    <h4>Chapter 718: Shenfeng''s Imperial Examination</h4>


    It had been a month since Shenfeng sent out invitations to the various Immortal sects about its uing imperial examination.


    During that month, Shenfeng had taken down its six neighboring empires, and had pretty much finished off its forty neighboring kingdoms as well.


    Forty kingdoms seemed like arge number, but Shenfeng''s troops only had to strike at their capitals. Kingdoms weren''t bolstered by fortune, and their kings couldn''t even draw on imperial might. How could such kings defend against Shenfeng''s onught?


    Over twenty kingdoms surrendered immediately. Those who stubbornly resisted found their capitals destroyed.


    Shenfeng had managed to take down a vast expanse of territory, but the administration required to integrate all these territories into Shenfeng was no easy task. Shenfeng had borrowed tens of thousands of officials from Dazheng, but even that was insufficient.


    Shenfeng now had over a hundred Immortal cities and countless ordinary ones. Each required a significant number of officials.


    Even though Shenfeng had done its best to nurture new officials over thest few months, it still had far fewer than were necessary.


    Digesting suchrge tracts of territory required time¡ªand arge standing army. Otherwise, bandits and robbers would appear and pige what was left unprotected.


    It was under this backdrop that Shenfeng''s imperial examination took ce.


    Officials shouted loudly by the pce, "Martial candidates shall be divided by cultivation across the various drill grounds outside Shenfeng''s capital. All martial registrants, head to your respective drill ground!"


    "Understood!" chorused a group of cultivators from within and without Shenfeng''s capital.


    "Schrly candidates, be you cultivator or citizen, gather at the central zas within the capital and prepare for the examination!" the official continued.


    "Understood!" chorused the candidates from across a hundred testing grounds.


    The martial examination would take ce outside the capital, and the schrly examination inside. Therge-scale imperial examinationmenced immediately.


    Of course, considering that the examination had been scheduled in haste for the first time, there were sure to be plenty of deficiencies and even instances of cheating. However, Shenfeng was in need of talent, and a few cheaters could be overlooked for the time being. Once everything had settled, Shenfeng would re-examine the results of the imperial examination. The priority now was recruiting as many experts as possible.


    A tense atmosphere befell Shenfeng''s capital.


    Countless candidates were fighting and writing intently. Many ordinary citizens were participating in the schrly examination and were treating it with utmost concentration. They had never before been treated on equal footing with Immortal cultivators.


    The whole world seemed to be watching as Shenfeng''s imperial examination unfolded.


    The courtly officials watched on in excitement.


    They had been with Shenfeng for almost two years, but even they couldn''t have imagined how rapidly Shenfeng would grow. They nced at the Divine Emperor with reverence.


    She was dressed in draconic robes with ck brocade and gold motifs, with a crown of ck jade on her head. She watched on dispassionately from her throne, though inwardly she was worried about Xiao Nanfeng being in the ck coffin hidden realm.


    Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes and stood up frostily.


    "Your Majesty? Is something the matter?" an official ventured.


    "We have guests. Follow me out and we''ll receive them together," the Divine Emperormanded.


    She strode toward the entrance to the pce. The courtly officials'' eyes widened, all having guessed that enemies were approaching. None cowered; they all followed the Divine Emperor out of the pce.


    Just then, a hugemotion rang out from outside the city.


    A huge elephant spirit was sent flying into the air.


    "Someone''s causing trouble during the imperial examination!" a cultivator shouted from afar.


    Everyone nced over at themotion to see a golden cultivator shoot into the air and catch the elephant spirit that was sent flying. He shouted, "Those who dare disrupt Shenfeng''s imperial examination shall be killed!"


    "Save me!" the elephant spirit cried out in fear.


    A de struck at the golden cultivator from afar, but the golden cultivator ignored it and punched the elephant''s head instead.


    The elephant spirit''s head burst apart with a st as the de struck the golden cultivator''s body¡ªto no avail.


    The golden cultivator turned toward the source of the attack to see a man staring at his de in disbelief. He didn''t understand how the golden cultivator had withstood his attack.


    "You have helpers? Very well. Send them all out!" the golden cultivator shouted as he charged forward.


    The de-wielding cultivator reared back in shock. "Help me!"


    "Die!"


    A group of cultivators transformed into spirits as they shot toward the golden cultivator, who yelled out and sent them flying.


    The same situation was urring all over Shenfeng''s capital. Spirits had gathered en masse to attack the examination grounds. As the fighting intensified, formations suddenly sprung up all around Shenfeng, while the spirits were held back by Shenfeng''s troops that had been lying in ambush.


    Countless Immortal spirits had flocked to Shenfeng with killing intent, causing many of the candidates to nce up in shock.


    "This was bound to happen at some point. I wonder who''s attacking Shenfeng?"


    "Who else? It has to be Hongyue. Don''t you recognize that Immortal spirit taking on Ye Dafu?"


    "Hongyue really is strong. Will the Divine Emperor be able to hold them back?"


    The candidates murmured to themselves as they watched the spectacle unfold.


    "There''s nothing to gawk at!" an official eximed. "Shenfeng''s soldiers will guard you for the period of the examination. Return to your tests!"


    The candidates were taken aback.


    Hongyue hade to attack them in force. Would the Shenfeng Empire really be able to withstand their onught? What if the entire empire were destroyed? What would be the point of the imperial examination then?


    However, no one contradicted the officials. They returned to their examination papers even as they furtively nced up at the sky from time to time.


    By then, the Divine Emperor had emerged from her pce. As she eyed the fighting unfolding all across Shenfeng, she scoffed. "Since you''re already here, what''s the point of skulking about in the shadows? Or are you too ashamed to reveal yourselves?!"


    The Divine Emperor nced at the fog-shrouded peak of a mountain far in the distance outside the capital.


    A gust of wind blew by, dissipating the fog and revealing a group of figures.


    In the lead was a woman dressed in a white gown, a phoenix''s crown on her head. She looked particrly elegant and graceful. Behind her were a group of her subordinates.


    "It''s the empress of Hongyue, Tu Jiuniang! She''s a Boundless Immortal. How could she have shown up herself?!" eximed cultivators from within the city.


    "A Boundless Immortal? How can Shenfeng defend against her?"


    "Perhaps by invoking the empire''s might..."


    "Will the Divine Emperor be able to withstand her attacks?"


    The citizens of Shenfeng nced at each other fearfully. Some were expectant, others worried.


    "You''re the Divine Emperor? You are a pretty thing, but you shouldn''t have joined forces with Xiao Nanfeng." Tu Jiuniangughed slyly.


    The Divine Emperor scoffed. "How dare a vile-smelling fox like you criticize me? A den of foxes sought to submit to me in the past, but I couldn''t stand their stench. To think another one would appear before me!"


    "You wench! I was going to give you the opportunity to draw on your imperial might. Forget it, then!"


    Tu Jiuniang pointed at the Divine Emperor. The image of a white fox''s tail, hundreds of meters long, appeared in the air above Shenfeng''s capital and whipped at the Divine Emperor.


    A Boundless Immortal''s techniques were fearsome indeed. The tail swept downward, trailed by two gusts of wind. Such was the force of the attack that Shenfeng''s cultivators shook their heads in despair.


    "We''re done for. The Divine Emperor hasn''t even had time to draw on Shenfeng''s might! How can she withstand the attack?!" someone eximed.


    Just then, the Divine Emperor reached out for the heavens. She manifested a giant palm that curled around the tail. The two techniques met in a shockwave of energy.


    Everyone was taken aback. They stared at the Divine Emperor in shock.


    "She... caught the tail? So easily?"


    "The Divine Emperor must be a Boundless Immortal herself!"


    "Thank goodness I didn''t flee! I ignored those idiots and came to participate in the imperial examination. I''m going to witness Shenfeng''s rise into a divine empire!"


    "Well done!"


    The cultivators of Shenfeng cheered in excitement.


    A monarch''s individual strength determined the limit of her empire. Many cultivators from Immortal sects had been worried that the Divine Emperor wouldn''t be strong enough to support Shenfeng''s growth, but their worries had clearly been for naught.


    The masters of the various Immortal sects sighed in relief¡ªthen frowned.


    "We were far too conservative. We should have had more of our disciples participate in this imperial examination. Even if they decide they don''t want to stay in Shenfeng, it would be far better to give up on a position as an official than to have to fight for one in the future."


    "The sect grandmaster''s a Golden Immortal who was too embarrassed to participate in the imperial examination given his cultivation, but I registered him for it anyway. Quick, have him head to the Golden Immortal examination grounds immediately! Have him tell the examiners that he arrivedte!"


    Opposite the Divine Emperor, Tu Jiuniang gaped in shock. "Impossible. How could you be a Boundless Immortal?"


    She waved a hand. Eight more gigantic fox''s tails appeared amidst the void, sweeping toward the Divine Emperor with overwhelming might.


    "A nine-tailed heavenly fox? I''ve killed more than my fair share of them in the past. Do you really expect to be able to show off in front of me?" the Divine Emperor demanded coolly.


    She punched forward. A fist of incredible proportions shot toward Tu Jiuniang, causing eight of the tails to dissipate in a whirlwind and sending Hongyue''s spirits flying. The Divine Emperor''s palm technique jerked on Tu Jiuniang''s final tail, tearing it off.


    Then, she shed forward right up to Tu Jiuniang.


    "Be careful!" those cultivators behind Tu Jiuniang shouted.


    Tu Jiuniang gasped in shock. She instinctively threw out a punch.


    A huge tempest formed around the two female cultivators. Mountains underfoot were crushed into powder, and Tu Jiuniang''s subordinates were all sent flying. They fell to the ground, vomiting out blood. A particrly weak cultivator among them simply exploded.


    The fight between the two Boundless Immortals was so intense that countless cultivators were watching with bated breath.

 Chapter 719: Punching Yuan Wudi

    <h4>Chapter 719: Punching Yuan Wudi</h4>


    Two figures stood above the clouds overlooking Yongding.


    One was Li Qianjun, with the Taiqing burial pagoda in hand. The other was a white-robed man who looked youthful but had snowy-white hair.


    "Her Majesty is far too cautious. She had the two of use to destroy Yongding together, despite the fact that you have a Boundless Immortal''s strength when melded with your pagoda, and I''m a Boundless Immortal myself. Isn''t it ridiculous for the two of us to strike at an ordinary empire''s capital?" the white-haired man asked.


    "General Yuan, don''t forget that my wayward son is with Xiao Nanfeng at the moment," Li Qianjun remarked.


    The white-haired man raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Haha, indeed. That said, the Demon Child only has a Boundless Immortal''s strength thanks to a relic. He''s not one in truth. I, Yuan Wudi, will kill him at any cost!"


    "We just received word that one of Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies and Ao Canghai are within the ck coffin hidden realm. We have two objectives: destroy Yongding, and kill Xiao Nanfeng''s body here," Li Qianjun summarized.


    "I''m aware. Both are straightforward. Do you want to strike first, or shall I?" Yuan Wudi asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng destroyed the ghostfire battalion housed in my pagoda. It''s time that I replenish their numbers. Let me go first."


    "Very well." Yuan Wudi shrugged.


    Li Qianjun activated the Taiqing burial pagoda and sent a cloud of ck smoke billowing forth from it. Then, he tossed it forth.


    The Taiqing burial pagoda grewrger andrger as it fell from the heavens, swiftly reaching the size of a mountain peak. It gave off a tremendous aura. The citizens of Yongding nced up in shock.


    "Enemy attack!" someone shouted.


    An incredible suction emanated from the underside of the Taiqing burial pagoda, targeting the citizens of Yongding. With the force of a raging wind, it lifted even a few carriages around Yongding into the air.


    However, a golden light shed over Yongding. A giant barrier shimmered as it blocked the incredible suction.


    "Oh? Yongding''s defensive formation, is it? It won''tst long against my Taiqing burial pagoda!" Li Qianjun shouted disdainfully.


    The pagoda''s suction suddenly grew multiple times stronger. Dust rose into the air in clouds, and the barrier vibrated violently. Even so, it managed to block the pagoda''s power.


    "Activate all subsidiary defensive formations. Everyone, await orders. Stay alert!" a soldier called out.


    All sorts of lights shed as one defensive formation after another was activated.


    A tense atmosphere befell the city as countless Dazheng soldiers prepared to defend their city.


    Li Qianjun scowled upon seeing that the pagoda hadn''t managed to break through Yongding''s defenses. He shouted, "Suppress!"


    The Taiqing burial pagoda smashed into the barriers as raging winds sprung up all around it. The outermostyer shattered, but there were still plenty of other barriers in ce around Yongding.


    Just then, 361 giant stars appeared in the air. Beams of starlight descended from the heavens and infused the barriers with their strength.


    "How can this be? Yongding''s defensive formations are strong enough to block my Taiqing burial pagoda! Could it already have a superior draconic vein?" Li Qianjun eximed.


    "We''ve lost the element of surprise. It''s my turn!" Yuan Wudi shouted.


    Yuan Wudi drew a gleaming golden rod and sent its tip smashing against the barriers down below.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar emerged from the pce with a group of subordinates behind him. They nced up into the air with serious looks on their faces.


    "As you predicted, Your Majesty, they''re here," Blue Lantern said.


    "Will the defensive formations be able to hold them back?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "For a time, Your Majesty. I''ve reconfigured the defensive formations around the city. Combined with the Formation of the Complete Heavens, the defenses are incredibly strong," Blue Lantern replied.


    "That''s good enough."


    Yuan Wudi''s rod smashed into Yongding''s barriers with incredible momentum, causing yet more barriers to shatter. Even the mountains around Yongding began to rumble. Clouds of dust rose into the air as the buildings within the city quaked. Even so, a number of barriers remained.


    "Impossible. How can the defensive formations around Yongding be so strong?" Yuan Wudi eximed.


    "We''ll strike together. The most important thing right now is to break all those barriers," Li Qianjun said anxiously.


    "Very well!" Yuan Wudi nodded.


    Though they were surprised by Yongding''s resilience, they had no doubt they would be able to break through its defenses eventually. They were just about to make a move when a beam of golden light shot toward Li Qianjun.


    "The demon-subduing golden hoop? Who dares?" Li Qianjun demanded, retaliating with his fist.


    The fist struck the hoop in a ming tempest. Li Qianjun was knocked back.


    He grimaced as he defended himself with the Taiqing burial pagoda, which blocked further attacks from the golden hoop.


    "Die, my wayward son!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    The Demon Child was standing at the peak of a mountain outside of Yongding. His face was a mask of fury. "I''m no son of yours, you bastard! I''ll kill you!"


    The Demon Child caught the demon-subduing golden hoop and waved it about. It duplicated itself again and again. Tens of thousands of golden hoops shot toward Li Qianjun all at once.


    Li Qianjun cursed and motioned for the Taiqing burial pagoda to absorb them all. The copies of the golden hoops were all sucked in via the underside of the pagoda, but none were real. The true golden hoop had stealthily appeared behind Li Qianjun. It smashed into his body and sent him flying.


    "You!" Li Qianjun fumed.


    Then, he entered the Taiqing burial pagoda himself and melded with it.


    Yuan Wudi didn''t attempt to help Li Qianjun. Rather, he continued smashing his rod into the barriers shielding Yongding. The might of a Boundless Immortal rained down on thend.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on coldly. He called out, "Citizens of Dazheng, I am your emperor, Xiao Nanfeng. Demons are attempting to assault Yongding and destroy Dazheng. I ask that you raise your right hand and lend me your strength so that we may take down ourmon enemy and protect Dazheng together!"


    Within the sea of fortune overhead, a dragon roared. Xiao Nanfeng''s words were transmitted to all the citizens of Dazheng.


    The people of Yongding immediately raised their right hands¡ªconsidering that the danger was right before them, they could hardly do anything but.


    The people of the five thousand cities of Dazheng raised their right hands in unison and loaned Xiao Nanfeng their strength.


    As for the forty Immortal cities that Dazheng had recently acquired, though it had no control over their standing armies, Dazheng handled all the administration for those cities. The major ns might not support Xiao Nanfeng, but the ordinary people were beneficiaries of Dazheng''s policies and fully supported him. They too raised their right hands.


    The strength of themon people, in the form of white light, rushed toward Yongding from all corners of the Dazheng Empire. All that strength was absorbed by Xiao Nanfeng, causing him to grow so strong that even Yuan Wudi was shocked.


    "There''s no way he could have obtained such tremendous strength even with forty Immortal cities¡ªunless 80% of Dazheng''s people were willing to support him. But how can that be?!"


    Yuan Wudi tried to attack the fortune with his rod, but his attack passed straight through the ethereal wisps of fortune.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body suddenly grewrger. An intense aura emanated from him. A whirlwind formed with him in its eye.


    "Damn it, break!" Yuan Wudi howled.


    He smashed his rod down on Yongding once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with frost. He shot into the air and threw out a punch.


    His fist met Yuan Wudi''s rod in a storm of me and wind, one which buffeted at Yongding''s defensive barriers.


    The defensive barriers around the city were one-way, permitting exit but not entry. Xiao Nanfeng stepped out of the formation and looked toward the astounded Yuan Wudi.


    "Demon Child, you can take revenge now. I''ll take on Yuan Wudi. You take on Li Qianjun!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Got it!" The Demon Child had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.


    If not for Xiao Nanfeng warning him not to charge forward recklessly lest the two enemies gang up on him, he would already have done so.


    "I''ll kill you for hurting my mother!" the Demon Child shouted, taking to the air.


    He smashed his demon-subduing golden hoop into the Taiqing burial pagoda, causing sparks to fly and mes to re where the two relics shed.


    "Die!" Li Qianjun roared back.


    The Taiqing burial pagoda crashed into the Demon Child.


    Meanwhile, Yuan Wudi shot toward Xiao Nanfeng and shouted, "Without your defensive formations to protect you, you might as well be dead meat. Die!"


    "I knew Hongyue would send assassins over, but I''m disappointed by the fact that there''s only the two of you," Xiao Nanfeng retorted. "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!"


    Fists filled the air and rained down on Yuan Wudi like a meteor shower.


    Yuan Wudi attempted to defend with his rod, but Hegemon''s Fist was a peerless technique, and he could hardly block all the fists. The fists rained down and overwhelmed him, sending him flying. His clothes were left as tattered rags, and his skin turned blotchy and red.


    "You''ve just reached the Boundless Immortal realm, haven''t you? You''re no match for me!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Yuan Wudi was furious. "And yet I''m a Boundless Immortal! You would be a weakling if you weren''t bolstered by imperial might!"


    He transformed into a giant white ape, from whose body incredible aura gushed out. He swung his golden rod in a blow of incredible strength.


    "There are no ifs in the world. Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out again.


    Countless fists rained down on Yuan Wudi. Fire and wind roared into existence around them. Yuan Wudi''s golden rod cracked in half. He was sent flying as he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Impossible. I''m a Boundless Immortal!" Yuan Wudi cried out.


    He couldn''t believe that he was being beaten back in his first battle as a Boundless Immortal by a True Immortal opponent.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted for a third time.


    Yuan Wudi was sent flying as he bellowed in rage.


    Blood sprayed out from his wounds. He was a terrible sight to behold.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward once more. He had to take down Yuan Wudi before his imperial might drained away.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.

 Chapter 720: Successive Victories

    <h4>Chapter 720: Sessive Victories</h4>


    The emperors of the strongest empires would be able to take on a Boundless Immortal, at least for a time. Although Dazheng wasn''t quite at that level yet, its citizens were unusually loyal to its monarch. With almost 80% of the citizens lending their might, Dazheng''s imperial might was no inferior to that from the strongest empires.


    He sent Yuan Wudi flying once again. Yuan Wudi was bruised and bleeding all over.


    "Impossible. Impossible!" Yuan Wudi howled.


    He mmed his rod down with overwhelming strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed. He met the rod with a punch. "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Thousands of punches concentrated on one spot: the tip of Yuan Wudi''s rod. mes surged across the length of the rod as the golden fists struck the rod one after another. The rod shattered into powder, and blood and skin exploded from Yuan Wudi''s hands.


    "Impossible!" Yuan Wudi eximed, howling in shock.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng leapt forward and struck Yuan Wudi in the abdomen.


    "No!" Yuan Wudi bellowed.


    A tremendous impact shattered Yuan Wudi''s bones.


    He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he was sent flying.


    How could he have lost so badly? This was impossible!"


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted again.


    Countless fists rained down on Yuan Wudi like a meteor shower, each boasting tremendous power. Yuan Wudi looked up in despair.


    "Flee!" Yuan Wudi shouted.


    He turned and ran. Fists struck his back, drenching it in blood. Even so, without any hesitation, Yuan Wudi ran off in such a wretched state that all the spectators gaped at the sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t give chase. After all, trying to catch up to a fleeing Boundless Immortal was no trivial task.


    He turned to the Demon Child and the Taiqing burial pagoda. They had initially been focused on each other, but at some point, they had both turned toward Xiao Nanfeng instead.


    They watched on incredulously as Xiao Nanfeng easily took down Yuan Wudi, a Boundless Immortal, an existence who should have been invincible. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng had almost beaten him to death.


    "Demon Child, I''ll help you take down the Taiqing burial pagoda!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Li Qianjun''s eyes widened in fear. He caused the pagoda to release a burst of scintiting ck light that repelled the Demon Child, then zoomed off into the distance.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. We''lle back and deal with youter!" Li Qianjun yelled.


    "Stay right there!" the Demon Child shouted back, chasing after him.


    "Don''t bother, Demon Child," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The Demon Child turned back anxiously. He was clearly reluctant, but having promised to listen to Xiao Nanfeng''s orders, he had no choice but to fly back.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we could have taken him down! Your imperial might is really strong. Destroying his Taiqing burial pagoda would be easy!" the Demon Child shouted in frustration.


    "I''ve used up the majority of my imperial might. That was just for show," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Demon Child: ...


    "To take down Yuan Wudi as quickly as possible, I channeled as much of my imperial might as could. Otherwise, I would never have been able to injure Yuan Wudi so easily."


    The Demon Child pursed his lips. "I thought you had more strength..."


    "I do, enough to have killed Yuan Wudi if he had remained behind¡ªbut continuing to fight Li Qianjun would have exposed my trick quickly. We should be satisfied with what we''ve already achieved," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well..." The Demon Child still seemed somewhat upset.


    "The war against Hongyue will start soon enough, and you''ll be able to fight Li Qianjun again quickly. I''ll help you ensure that he doesn''t flee then." Xiao Nanfeng patted the Demon Child on the shoulder.


    The Demon Child nodded fervently.


    "Come on, then. Let''s head back." Xiao Nanfeng flew back to the pce in Yongding alongside the Demon Child.


    At the same time, in Shenfeng''s capital, the Divine Emperor and Tu Jiuniang caused countless mountains to crumble as their attacks struck each other. The resulting shockwaves were so intense that the cultivators in the vicinity were all sent staggering back, blood dripping from their mouths.


    A frightening burst of me caused the candidates participating in the imperial examination to smile in amazement.


    "The Divine Emperor''s amazing!"


    "Tu Jiuniang has been a Boundless Immortal for many years, but she seems to be no match for the Divine Emperor!"


    "The Divine Emperor hasn''t even invoked her imperial might. Is this her base level of strength?!"


    "Shenfeng really does look as though it could ascend into a divine empire at any moment."


    Countless cultivators were cheering in excitement.


    At the epicenter of the explosion, the Divine Emperor and Tu Jiuniang continued to face off.


    "Shroud the skies!" Tu Jiuniangmanded.


    Countless white fox''s tails appeared out of nowhere, so densely packed they blocked all the sunlight in the vicinity. Frightening waves of pressure drowned the two cultivators.


    "Your overconfidence knows no bounds," the Divine Emperor said, shaking her head. She raised a hand toward the heavens. "Divine Rays!"


    Countless rays of golden light illuminated the surroundings, raining down like golden des and chopping off the fox''s tails. Tu Jiuniang''s domain was rapidly shattering.


    "You''re the one who rescued Xiao Nanfeng at Taixu, not Ao Canghai!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    Upon sensing the Divine Emperor''s aura, she deduced that her initial guess was mistaken.


    "Explode!" the Divine Emperormanded.


    The fox''s tails that had been chopped off rapidly exploded. The Divine Emperor''s blow sent Tu Jiuniang flying.


    Tu Jiuniang stabilized herself with no small amount of shock. "You''ve grown even stronger. How did you break through?!"


    The Divine Emperor sneered. "You really like talking nonsense, dont'' you?"


    She shot forward again at incredible speed, throwing a punch straight at Tu Jiuniang''s face.


    Tu Jiuniang nched. She waved a hand, summoning what seemed like arge shelf in front of her. It had sevenpartments, each with seven red bells hanging from them. Each bell was as tall as a person, and the whole shelf looked like a wall of red bells. It gave off a tremendous aura as she activated it as quickly as she could.


    The bells began to chime, one and all. Sound waves reverberated and manifested in the form of a red aegis of sound that slowly advanced toward the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor''s fist struck the aegis in a burst of me.


    "The Bloodbell Aegis? Isn''t this the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s relic? Did he lend it to Tu Jiuniang?"


    "It''s a Boundless Immortal relic. What fearsome sound waves!"


    "Tu Jiuniang has the Bloodbell Aegis¡ªwill the Divine Emperor really be able to take her own?"


    Countless shouts could be heard from all over.


    Tu Jiuniang smiled in excitement. "Come on, then! I''d like to see you try to defend against this relic of mine."


    She activated the Bloodbell Aegis again. Following a series of chimes, red sound waves manifested anew in the form of clouds of red fog. Specters draped in red appeared from within the fog and shot toward the Divine Emperor.


    "Be careful, Divine Emperor! Those bloodbell specters target and will control your very heart. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue has taken down many Boundless Immortals with this relic!" a cultivator shouted anxiously from afar.


    Tu Jiuniang chuckled. "You won''t be able to find an effective defense against these specters.


    Countless bloodbell specters shot toward the Divine Emperor, who nced coldly at Tu Jiuniang. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a golden bell. A resonant aura filled her surroundings.


    "The Divine Emperor has a treasure of her own¡ªand it looks strong, too!"


    "Could that be a Boundless Immortal relic as well?"


    Countless shouts could be heard from all over.


    "Hurry!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    She could sense that something was amiss. She infused more and more energy into the Bloodbell Aegis, causing the bloodbell specters to speed up. They were right before the Divine Emperor when she pped her bell.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell tolled, sending a wave of golden sound into its surroundings. As that golden wave struck the bloodbell specters, they shrieked and dissipated into dust.


    All the red sound waves were destroyed in an instant.


    "Impossible. What sort of relic is this?!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    Even the weakest of cultivators could see how strong the Divine Emperor''s bell was. It seemed topletely nullify the effects of the Bloodbell Aegis.


    "And what would you know?" The Divine Emperor shot forward, her bell trailing behind her. As she got in close proximity, Tu Jiuniang nched and activated her Bloodbell Aegis again.


    The two sound-based relics gave off incredible bursts of light as they struck each other. shes of gold and red illuminated the air.


    As the Divine Emperor''s bell smashed into the Bloodbell Aegis, the blood-colored bells on the shelf began to burst one after another.


    A dozen bells exploded simultaneously as the Divine Emperor mmed a palm against Tu Jiuniang''s chest. She and her broken relic were sent flying. In mid-air, Tu Jiuniang spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, seemingly grievously injured.


    "Could the Divine Emperor have won?" Countless cultivators were shocked by the scene.


    They knew that the Divine Emperor was a Boundless Immortal, but no one could have imagined that she would be so strong. Even without drawing on her imperial might, she was able to take down Tu Jiuniang in moments.


    Tu Jiuniang stared at the Divine Emperor in panic. She grabbed her broken Bloodbell Aegis and shouted, "Flee!"


    She ran off so quickly that the remaining cultivators could only gape in amazement.


    No ordinary cultivator could keep up with a Boundless Immortal, after all.


    The Divine Emperor seemed to show no sign of giving chase. She watched as the spirit kings attempted to flee alongside Tu Jiuniang.


    "You might as well stay!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Her bell tolled once more. Sound waves struck the fleeing spirits, disorienting them and causing them to fall to the ground.


    The twelve golden cultivators and arge group of Shenfeng soldiers charged forward. Before long, they returned with all the spirits in tow.


    Xia Lan, responsible for ensuring the safety of the examination grounds, was astounded by the turn of events. "The Divine Emperor really is incredibly strong..."


    Those candidates who were participating in the imperial examination couldn''t help but be thankful that they had made the right decision. They hadn''t listened to those idiots'' advice about leaving¡ªotherwise, they would have missed out on their one and only opportunity to be part of Shenfeng. They had to make a strong showing of themselves!


    "The Divine Emperor is invincible! Long live the Divine Emperor!" a cultivator shouted in excitement.


    "The Divine Emperor is invincible! Long live the Divine Emperor!"


    The chant quickly echoed throughout Shenfeng''s capital.

 Chapter 721: Assassins

    <h4>Chapter 721: Assassins</h4>


    Back in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Childnded on the za. Xiao Nanfeng proimed, "Citizens of Dazheng, because of your support, I was able to repel those demons who dared to attack us. I am deeply grateful for your assistance. We were able to defend Dazheng together."


    Tremendous fortune gushed out of Xiao Nanfeng''s body, returning to the sea of fortune overhead and conveying his words to all the citizens of Dazheng.


    "Have we defeated those demons? Wonderful!"


    "Any invaders will have to step over my dead body. I''ll definitely support you in the future too, Your Majesty!"


    "Dazheng is invincible!"


    The people of Dazheng began to cheer.


    Meanwhile, the spies scattered across Yongding were amazed by the oue of the fighting.


    "Report back immediately. Xiao Nanfeng took down a Boundless Immortal!"


    "Dazheng might only have an average quantity of resources as far as empires go, but the power he can draw on is that of a top-tier empire. Dazheng''s developing too quickly. We have to let our sect know right away!"


    A flurry of messages were quickly being sent out of Yongding.


    After the fortune left his body, Xiao Nanfeng''s strength returned to normal.


    "Your Majesty is invincible! Long live Your Majesty!" the officials of Dazheng cheered.


    Just then, from within the midst of the officials, Marquis Ye Sanshui suddenly shouted, "Take them down! They''re assassins! Hurry!"


    Ye Sanshui''s shout surprised the cheering officials, who all turned in the direction of Ye Sanshui''s arm. Two of Ye Sanshui''s guards nched, then quickly flew off.


    "You won''t be able to flee!" A group of imperial guards rushed into the air.


    "Be careful. They''re very strong," Ye Sanshui warned.


    The two ''guards'' were sent flying. They didn''t seem to be very strong; they had even fallen unconscious in mid-air. However, two spectral figures emerged from their mindscapes.


    The two yin bodies attacked simultaneously, freezing Dazheng''s guards and sending them flying.


    "Late-stage True Yin cultivatorsparable to Golden Immortals in strength!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He narrowed his eyes.


    "Who dares attack Dazheng in my presence?!" the Demon Child demanded.


    He shed toward the two yin bodies and struck them with his demon-subduing golden hoop. One crashed into the ground.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you don''t release us, I''ll kill all the citizens in Yongding!" The other True Yin cultivator pulled out a fortune in relics and threatened Xiao Nanfeng with the possibility of detonating them all.


    Beams of starlight quickly rained down on the two True Yin cultivators, sealing them within two starlit barriers.


    "Impossible!" They attacked the barriers in outrage, causing them to vibrate, but to no avail.


    "Blue Lantern, let the Demon Child in to seal their cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Blue Lantern replied.


    The Demon Child flew into a starlit barrier and struck the cultivator within with his demon-subduing golden hoop. zing mes burst forth.


    "I''ve knocked one down and sealed his cultivation. I''ll do the next one too!"


    Blue Lantern manipted the barriers to allow the Demon Child out and into the other.


    The True Yin cultivator there thundered, "Ye Sanshui, you asked for this. Now, die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. Seemingly having guessed what was about to happen, he rushed toward Ye Sanshui, opened a portal to the red moon illusory realm, and was just about to push Ye Sanshui within. As he did so, Ye Sanshui''s body ignited in mes and exploded. A wave of superheated air surged toward the officials, who were sent staggering back.


    Xiao Nanfeng was furious. Even so, he hurriedly found a ball of light from what remained of Ye Sanshui''s body, which he protected with his own spiritual power.


    "Blue Lantern,e over and have a look!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Blue Lantern rushed over.


    "Let''s enter the red moon illusory realm and speak there," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern sat cross-legged as his yin body emerged from his mindscape and entered the red moon illusory realm.


    Meanwhile, the Demon Child had knocked the second True Yin cultivator unconscious as well.


    "Demon Child, help guard Blue Lantern''s physical body. Spectral guards, protect Ye Sanshui''s family!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern rushed into the red moon illusory realm.


    The ball of light that Xiao Nanfeng had protected with his spiritual power was none other than Ye Sanshui''s soul. However, cracks were spiderwebbing across its surface, as if it would shatter at any moment.


    Blue Lantern inspected Ye Sanshui''s soul carefully, submerging it within a shroud of blue light. Then, he frowned. "Ye Sanshui''s soul has shattered. He''s about to die."


    "Save him, no matter what! You must save Ye Sanshui," Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Blue Lantern activated a series ofplex techniques, infusing blue light into Ye Sanshui''s soul.


    Ye Sanshui''s shattered soul shook his head. "There''s no need, Your Majesty. I expected this oue. Dying in the red moon illusory realm is more than enough for me."


    "What was going on, Ye Sanshui? Who were those two True Yin cultivators?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    Ye Sanshui smiled wryly. "It''s all my fault."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "As you know, I married my wife this year."


    "Of course. It was a joyous asion, and I was there for the banquet myself. I never met your wife, but I heard that she was a beauty, one who''s now pregnant. You''re about to be a father, aren''t you? I was waiting to bequeath a boon of fortune on your child."


    Ye Sanshui smiled wryly. "It was all a scheme, a scheme targeted at me."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I don''t know who''s trying to harm you, Your Majesty, but someone must have tried to target me after being unable to get close to you. Whoever it was tried to take advantage of your trust in me. I don''t even know if my wife''s working with them. At any rate, they snuck into my manor disguised as my wife''s family. Just now, when Yongding was being besieged by the two Hongyue cultivators, they found their opportunity to strike. They suddenly revealed themselves and forced me to get them close to you."


    "Hm?"


    "They threatened me by taking my wife and unborn child hostage, then cast some sort of secret technique on me with which they can detonate my body. If I refuse to listen to them, they''ll kill off my family. Those two cultivators were allegedly my wife''s brothers. They said that, as long as I cooperated, my family would be able to live," Ye Sanshui continued.


    "Those two cultivators approached you iming to be your wife''s brothers? If your wife weren''t in the know, it wouldn''t matter, but if she did... That''s a considerable price to pay," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "They hoped that you would lose against the Boundless Immortals. If you won, you''d return injured¡ªor at least having dropped your guard. You wouldn''t be prepared for an assassination from a loyal subordinate. Given your trust in me, Your Majesty, you wouldn''t have feared my two guards. That''s why they were trying to attack you then. Of course, it would be best if they struck during a private audience between the two of us."


    "Why did you expose them in advance, then?"


    Ye Sanshui shook his head. "Your Majesty, my family is deeply indebted to you, and Ye Dafu and his group are loyal subordinates of yours. How could I ever betray you, even at the cost of my life? I would never be able to live down the shame."


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feel a sense of warmth. Ye Sanshui had been resolute even when his family''s lives were on the line. He would give up his own life, even his unborn child''s life, to foil an assassination attempt on Xiao Nanfeng...


    "Worry not. Blue Lantern has incredible means, and I believe he should be able to save you. The spectral guards are protecting your family. I promise you that they''ll be safe."


    Ye Sanshui shook his head. "My soul is cracked. It''s useless. I don''t mind dying here and transforming into a red-furred monster."


    "Don''t be nonsensical! I don''t want you to give up until the end. You''re the first marquis of the Dazheng Empire. You must live on!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty," Ye Sanshui whispered.


    "How''s the situation, Blue Lantern?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern frowned. "It''s useless. With his soul shattered, Ye Sanshui is all but doomed. Otherwise, Emperor Wei wouldn''t have had to seek coexistence with a cursed effigy back in the undying realm. The most I can do now is temporarily seal Ye Sanshui''s shattered soul and truesoul, then nurture them with draconic aura in preparation for subsequent transferral."


    "Transferral?"


    "There are two options. The first is to let Ye Sanshui die here and be a red-furred monster. The second is to find some cursed effigy that can be controlled, then to transfer Ye Sanshui''s soul into it after suppressing the cursed effigy''s will. This would be a form of coexistence, but it''s not a trivial one."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Let''s seal Ye Sanshui''s shattered soul and truesoul for the time being, then. I''ll think of a way to save him."


    "Got it!" Blue Lantern replied.


    "Ye Sanshui, I''ll keep working on a solution to this. If there''s no other choice, we''ll have you be a red-furred lifeform," Xiao Nanfeng told Ye Sanshui.


    "As you will, Your Majesty!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    Blue Lantern cast a secret technique, encapsting Ye Sanshui''s shattered soul in a ball of blue light.


    "Your Majesty, let''s head out. Leave Ye Sanshui''s shattered soul to me for the time being. I''ll nurture it with a draconic vein.


    "I''ll leave Ye Sanshui to you, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood, Your Majesty!"


    The two cultivators emerged from the red moon illusory realm as Blue Lantern''s yin body returned to his physical one. Blue Lantern immediately uncorked a small bottle and transferred Ye Sanshui''s soul within.


    Just then, the Demon Child cried out, "Xiao Nanfeng, something''s wrong! Those two assassins whose cultivation I sealed are melting!"


    Everyone looked over to see that the two True Yin cultivators that the Demon Child had wounded, who were still trapped in their starlit barriers, had been surrounded by ice and snow. Their bodies had turned snow-white, as if they were two unconscious snowmen. Then, their bodies rapidly began to melt into puddles of icy water.


    "This is..." Xiao Nanfeng gaped.


    "This is¡ªthe snowmelt technique of the Snowborne!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "You''re aware of it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "Snowborne is an organization of assassins. Its assassins have all been imnted with this snowmelt technique so that they can be killed remotely to prevent them from giving away any information."


    "How vicious. They''re even willing to give up onte-stage True Yin cultivators?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "A thousand years ago, I met the head of Snowborne in the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce. He was meeting with the Eastern Sea Dragon King alongside the previous Southern Sea Dragon King. I don''t know if it has any rtionship with this affair, though," Blue Lantern recalled.


    "Could Ao Canghai have sent these two assassins?" Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed.


    "I don''t know, Your Majesty, but I believe this has to be investigated," Blue Lantern replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Personally, he wasrgely confident that Ao Canghai was responsible. Killing intent red in his gaze.

 Chapter 722: The Demon Child Beats His Master

    <h4>Chapter 722: The Demon Child Beats His Master</h4>


    In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward You Jiu. "How''s the investigation going?"


    "Ye Sanshui''s manor is under full surveince, and we''ve caught several of the assassins''panions. However, the moment we did so, they were all killed remotely and turned into puddles of snow. We weren''t able to identify anything," You Jiu reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "And what of Ye Sanshui''s wife?"


    "Allegedly, Ye Sanshui and his wife got along very well on their first date and appeared to be attracted to one another. That was when they became targeted by a group of assassins, who possessed Ye Sanshui''s wife''s brothers before taking control of their family. Then, they manipted Ye Sanshui''s wife into serving their objectives. They''ve been lying in wait for a long time in preparation for this single attack."


    "In other words, Ye Sanshui''s wife was unaware of anything?"


    "That''s what our preliminary investigation suggests. She really does love Ye Sanshui, and her child is his."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Ye Sanshui is cautious and prudent. I wouldn''t have expected his wife''s brothers to have been possessed, but I''m sure he would have noticed something amiss with his wife if she were in the know. He was simply trying to be impartial when he said he couldn''t be certain of his wife''s allegiance."


    "Should we inform her about what happened?" You Jiu asked, worried.


    "Don''t. Tell her that I''ve sent Ye Sanshui out on urgent business. Ensure that no one leaks the news of his death to her. We may be able to revive Ye Sanshui. We can''t allow the news to agitate her¡ªnot before she gives birth to the child, at least. Focus on pacifying her."


    "Understood! I''ll arrange for a number of female spectral guards to serve as her bodyguards."


    "Very well. You may go."


    You Jiu retreated from the imperial study.


    Before long, the Demon Child appeared in a huff.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''m a Boundless Immortal! Why make me learn all that nonsense? And this man tried to rap my palm with a ruler!" The Demon Child looked aggrieved.


    He had dragged a man with mediocre cultivation along with him. The man''s face was swollen; he had clearly been beaten up by the Demon Child.


    "I apologize for having failed my duties, Your Majesty. I''ve embarrassed you," the man said, kneeling down and bowing his head.


    "Mr. Li, I''m the one at fault. I didn''t arrange things properly. You haven''t embarrassed me." Xiao Nanfeng quickly stepped forward to help the man up.


    The Demon Child was speechless. "He''s only a mortal at Ascension realm! Why bother treating him like this?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the Demon Child a disapproving look. "Demon Child, do you remember your mother''sst words? Don''t you want her to rest in peace?"


    "What''re you talking about? What did I do?" the Demon Child retorted.


    "Before her death, your mother told you to listen to me, to be an honorable man. I found you the best teacher from my academy to instruct you, but not only did you disobey me, you even beat your teacher up. Do you think you''re obeying your mother''s words like this? If you don''t attend to your studies, how do you expect to learn what it means to be honorable, to live a just and upright life? Do you want to remain a child forever? Do you want your mother to turn over in her grave?"


    "I, I''m a Boundless Immortal! He''s just an ordinary mortal. What can he teach me? What good is all that nonsense?" the Demon Child retorted weakly.


    "Your cultivation is impressive," Xiao Nanfeng affirmed. "You''re stronger than I am, but that cultivation wasn''t something you earned. It was something innate to you. The heavens granted you that power, and they can reim it all. When your demonic corpse body was shattered, without our help, would you have been able to save yourself? All you can do is fight. You don''t think about the aftermath!"


    "I¡ª" the Demon Child was at a loss for words.


    "I had the best teacher instruct you not in matters of cultivation, but of moral philosophy. If you want to be an honorable man, you''ll have to learn these principles. Li Qianjun didn''t bother teaching you anything¡ªall he wanted was a sacrifice, not a son. All that you know, you must have learned from your mother in secret. That''s not good enough. You''ll need to learn how to study and analyze people, think about issues, and solve problems on your own. You are blessed with intuition and talent, but you need to learn to treasure your gifts. If you meet someone else who destroys your body once more, you''ll be left with nothing."


    The Demon Child clenched his fists. He wanted to argue with Xiao Nanfeng, but he didn''t know where to start.


    "You''re a Boundless Immortal. You could memorize all those texts with a single nce. How hard could it be to learn the entire corpus? You just don''t want to do it, that''s all¡ªand that''s what Li Qianjun has been aiming for all along. He brought you up as an unreasonable, tyrannical child who can''t reason on his own. That''s what makes you easy to control, you see. Would you want to be what your father wants you to be? Why not your mother''s vision, instead? Didn''t she teach you how to interact with others?"


    The Demon Child recalled what his mother had tried to teach himboriously, what he had written off as mere nagging.


    "My dear boy, you can''t steal others'' possessions when we''re out in the streets, alright? That''s wrong. If you meet someone strong, your behavior could even get you killed."


    "My dear boy, what am I going to do with you in the future?"


    "My darling, don''t get into random fights like that, please. Won''t you listen to me? I really am worried..."


    The Demon Child thought back to how his mother would frequently cry because of what he had done. He clenched his teeth, then turned to the teacher whom he had beaten up. He lowered his head in guilt. If his mother learned of this, she would be so upset she would start crying again.


    Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be able to sense the Demon Child''s change of heart. He sighed. "It might take you but a day to read what someone else could in a year. However, you''ll also need toprehend what you''re reading. Do you understand? Mr. Li might be weak in terms of cultivation, but he''s a skilled schr and was repeatedly acimed as a wise teacher in my academy. Despite the fact that you beat him several times, he''s never tattled to me. Instead, he stubbornly continued to try to teach you. How dare you beat him up and try to use him of wrongdoing to me? What would your mother think?"


    The Demon Child''s face scrunched up. "I''m sorry, Mr. Li."


    "No, it''s alright. I shouldn''t have struck your palm." Mr. Li was momentarily at a loss upon seeing the Demon Child recant.


    "Wrong is wrong, and right is right. Mr. Li ought to be strict, and striking a recalcitrant student''s palm with a ruler is no mistake. Mr. Li, do not fear the Demon Child. If he causes further trouble, let me know. I''ll write down his actions and burn my records at his mother''s grave to inform her of his actions," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "No! I was just so angry. I¡ª" The Demon Child shuddered uneasily.


    Xiao Nanfeng pped the Demon Child on the shoulder. "Mr. Li''s doing his best to teach you. That''s why he struck your palm when you misbehaved. He doesn''t fear authority nor those of advanced cultivation. You should consider yourself lucky to have the privilege of learning from him."


    "I understand." The Demon Child looked down unhappily.


    He still had a child''s temperament, after all. He had found it embarrassing to have his palm struck, which was why he had attacked Mr. Li. With someone like Xiao Nanfeng to watch over him, though, he would think twice about misbehaving.


    "Mr. Li, the Demon Child is mischievous. I''ll have to keep troubling you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "It''s not a problem, Your Majesty," Mr. Li replied.


    "Let me help heal you, Mr. Li," the Demon Child offered.


    Mr. Li smiled at the change in the Demon Child''s attitude.


    After the two of them walked off, Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. The Demon Child was a precious asset, and he did want the Demon Child to develop the maturity befitting his power and station.


    Dayster, within the ck coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body flew rapidly onward as a few zombies trailed him.


    "The zombies have been going crazy thesest few days. They''re chasing whatever cultivators they can find. All the spots where cultivators used to gather are empty now. Could everyone have perished?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured. He stared at the growing number of zombies tailing him. "How did these zombies find me?"


    He retrieved an ordinary treasure he had picked up some time ago and tossed it into the distance.


    Half the zombies flying behind him split up and chased after that treasure.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "It''s the treasure we picked up! These zombies can sense the cursed spiritual power emanating from them, can''t they?"


    He quickly retrieved all the treasure he had picked up in the meantime. Rather than discard them all, he activated his Jade Emperor''s Frame and cleansed them all with its golden light.


    ck smoke drifted out of and dissipated from the treasures.


    Then, he did the same with the storage bangle that Ku Jiang had left him. Once all his treasures were cleansed, he rushed into a cloud of ck fog. All the zombies behind him gave up on him and scattered.


    Hended by the mouth of a valley. "What a scheme. Anyone who has obtained treasure from the ck coffin hidden realm will be exposed to the eyes of the zombies. No matter where they''re hiding, they won''t be able to remain hidden for long. Someone''s intending to nab all the cultivators in here in one fell swoop.


    His heart thumped. He nced at the zombies flitting through the air. An uneasy premonition dawned. "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s all but finished with his n, isn''t he?"


    He mulled it over and ultimately decided that he had better inform Yang Chuan of the news. He covertly flew toward the valley next to the Qilin Cave.


    By then, the Qilin Cave was deserted. All the zombies had flown out.


    He retrieved the signaling relic that Yang Chuan had given him during their first encounter in the realm and activated it.


    A ray of light shot into the air and released a bloom of fireworks. The light persisted for quite a while without dissipating, and was visible even from afar.


    Plenty of zombies noticed themotion and flew over as Xiao Nanfeng skulked away, heading toward the valley in which he had first met with Yang Chuan.

 Chapter 723: Let Me Borrow Your Body

    <h4>Chapter 723: Let Me Borrow Your Body</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t have to wait in the valley for long before a shadowy figure emerged.


    "You''re still alive, Xiao Nanfeng!" the figure eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Are you cursing me, ck Dog?"


    "No, no. Something strange is going on, and the zombies are killing cultivators everywhere within this hidden realm. You''re rather incredible to have survived being chased by a group of cultivators one moment and zombies the next."


    "Aren''t you doing fine, too?"


    "I was just lucky. Quite a number of us were attacked by zombies. Even Master found himself besieged by them twice."


    "That''s normal."


    "What''s normal?" ck Dog cocked his head, confused.


    "I was just about to mention it. It''s lucky that I managed to encounter you here, too, all things considered. I wasn''t sure if you''d have seen my signal."


    "We might not have. Master left Qilin Cave after acquiring the golden bamboo scroll, but he said that, considering how dangerous the situation was growing and the favor he still owes you, he can''t just leave you here to die. We take turns keeping guard outside of the Qilin Cave in case you ever use that signal re. If you do, we''re to lead you to the rest of our retinue as fulfillment of the favor."


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "Yang Chuan really is an interesting man. He likes to be upfront about his favors, doesn''t he?"


    "Naturally. My master is an honorable gentleman," ck Dog bragged.


    "You don''t carry around the treasures you obtained in the ck coffin hidden realm with you, do you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "How did you know?" ck Dog eximed. "I don''t need those treasures. Plenty of my fellow cultivators died this time around, so I donated everything I got to help support their families."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "That''s the origin of your luck."


    "Oh?" ck Dog frowned, then seemed toe to a conclusion. "You mean that there''s something wrong with the treasures from this hidden realm?"


    "That''s right. The zombies can sense the location of the treasures that came from within the hidden realm, even if they''re in storage bangles or the like. That''s why the zombies can find you no matter where you go."


    ck Dog nched. "So that''s how it is. Master''s in huge danger, then!"


    "Oh?"


    "I have to report to Master right away!" ck Dog shouted anxiously. "You should join me. There''s safety in numbers, after all."


    "Let''s go."


    The two cultivators shot into the air. ck Dog led the way.


    As they flew, they noticed a lot of zombies headed in a certain direction. A huge rumble came from afar, causing Xiao Nanfeng to frown.


    He hurriedly held ck Dog back.


    "What''re you doing?!" ck Dog eximed.


    "Don''t head over. Hurry up and hide!"


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled ck Dog into the forests right below them. ck Dog didn''t know what was going on, but he followed Xiao Nanfeng''s lead and retracted his aura.


    In the distance, a huge explosion sent Yang Chuan flying into the air. His robes were tattered, and he was in bad shape. Not only that, a cloud of bloody fog had surrounded him. Bloody fangs seemed to manifest from within the fog, piercing his flesh and extracting a stream of blue energy from within. Yang Chuan''s features distorted in pain. He had been pinned in ce and couldn''t escape.


    "Master!" ck Dog made to rush over as Xiao Nanfeng leapt toward him to hold him down. "Are you crazy? Don''t you see how many zombie kings there are over there?!"


    ck Dog turned to see six zombie kings with ck crowns high in the air. They were surrounding Yang Chuan and attacking him together with clouds of bloody fog. Yang Chuan writhed in pain.


    Behind the zombie kings was arger zombie king with a golden crown. No ck smoke drifted out from around its body. It was holding onto a relic¡ªthe golden bamboo scroll Yang Chuan had managed to obtain.


    "Six zombie kings all at once? How''s Master going to escape?" ck Dog cried out in panic.


    "Not just six. That golden-crowned zombie king is likely a Boundless Immortal as well. No one can save Yang Chuan but himself now." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "I''ll head over and attract their attention. That''ll give Master the opportunity he needs to escape!" ck Dog said resolutely.


    Just then, three figures shot into the air from a forest in the distance, trailed by a horde of zombies.


    "Those are the three Great Sages that serve Master! They''re wounded, too?" ck Dog eximed.


    As the three sages closed in on Yang Chuan, the zombies trailing after them attacked and pierced through their chests. Their lives were in the bnce.


    "Flee, Southern Aspect! We''ll be your subordinates again in a future life. Explode!" they shouted.


    The three sages detonated their own bodies in a frightening wave of energy that sent all the ordinary zombies in the vicinity flying. The strength of the explosion carried all the way into the bloody fog that surrounded Yang Chuan, freeing him from the fangs that pierced his body.


    "No!" Yang Chuan shouted.


    He took advantage of the opportunity to release a burst of tremendous force that caused even the six zombie kings to reel.


    He nced back at the location where his three subordinates had sacrificed themselves on his behalf, then turned to flee.


    "Don''t let him escape. Chase after him!" the golden-crowned zombie kingmanded.


    The six zombie kings rushed toward him, and they all quickly vanished from sight.


    The golden-crowned zombie king followed after them, along with a horde of ordinary zombies.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained hidden with ck Dog in the darkness as they reined in their auras until all the zombies had departed.


    ck Dog grimaced. "The three sages don''t have avatars. They..."


    "The dead are dead. Focus on the living. Yang Chuan''s life is on the line. He must have paid a heavy price to free himself just now. Do you know how to find him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can track him with my nose," ck Dog replied. "Follow me."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The two cultivators pursued Yang Chuan for an entire day. Yang Chuan had roamed all over in huge circles to prevent the zombies from finding him, weakening himself and exacerbating his injuries in the process. Eventually, the zombies lost track of him after a day.


    When Xiao Nanfeng and ck Dog arrived at a secluded valley to find the exhausted Yang Chuan, he raised his head wearily. "Who''s there?"


    The pursuit he had undergone left him easily spooked. He was almost about to fly away when ck Dog called out, "Master, it''s me!"


    Yang Chuan sighed in relief upon hearing ck Dog''s voice.


    The two cultivators rushed into the valley to see Yang Chuan lying in a pool of blood. He was in an extremely weak state, his robes tattered and his body covered with wounds. His eyes were even having trouble staying open.


    "Master!" ck Dog shot forward.


    He quickly fed Yang Chuan a few pills he had on hand. Yang Chuan clearly trusted ck Dog deeply, swallowing the proffered pills without any hesitation.


    Then, he turned to nce at Xiao Nanfeng with some surprise, though no wariness. He closed his eyes and quickly began to digest the medicinal essence of the pills.


    After some time, once some color returned to his face, he slowly opened his eyes and smiled wryly. "Martial Aspect Xiao, you''ve seen me at my worst."


    "You have my respect for taking on seven zombie kings alone, Southern Aspect Yang. I was just about to ask if you still had more treasures from the ck coffin hidden realm in your possession. If so, hand them over to me immediately. I can deal with them on your behalf."


    Yang Chuan grimaced. "I was careless. If I hadn''t detonated those relics to stop the zombie kings'' advance, I wouldn''t have realized that they were what exposed my whereabouts. I don''t have any more on hand."


    He had clearly guessed how the zombie kings were able to pinpoint his location so urately¡ªbut by then, it was already toote.


    "Master, are the generals..." ck Dog trailed off, worried.


    Yang Chuan''s eyes glimmered with tears. He nodded. "I was responsible."


    ck Dog fell silent. He had no further questions; it was obvious everyone in Yang Chuan''s retinue had died. He knew just how close Yang Chuan was to his subordinates, and their deaths were something that would take time and effort to process.


    "What are your next steps, Martial Aspect Yang?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan sighed. "The ck coffin hidden realm doesn''t have an exit¡ªat least, not one we can find. I''ve had my subordinates'' avatars contact the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue in hopes that he''ll lend his assistance."


    "Surely there''s a better option?" Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    Yang Chuan fell silent, then sighed. "I know. There''s been so many deaths heretely that no cultivators are willing to enter anymore. I suspect the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is responsible for the entire affair, but what other options do I have?"


    "Can''t you seek help from the Heavenly Emperor?"


    "I didn''t expect thatst fight to have been so brutal. I thought I would have been able to handle it myself, but the zombie kings appeared en masse. My subordinates all perished before I could seek assistance."


    "How are your injuries now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    ck Dog frowned warily, as if thinking that Xiao Nanfeng would take advantage of Yang Chuan in his weakened state, but Yang Chuan didn''t mind. "I haven''t sustained many physical wounds. The issue is that the six zombie kings managed to drain too much of my spiritual power, hindering my ability to fly and move around. If I encounter them again, I doubt I''d be able to handle them."


    Xiao Nanfeng was impressed by Yang Chuan''s honesty despite his circumstances.


    "I''d like to borrow something from you, Southern Aspect Yang," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What is it?"


    "Your physical body."


    ck Dog nched. He hurriedly stood in front of Yang Chuan. "Martial Aspect Xiao, what are you intending to do?!"


    "Don''t worry, ck Dog. If Martial Aspect Xiao meant me ill, he wouldn''t have waited until now. Move aside," Yang Chuan said.


    "Understood," ck Dog replied, though aplicated expression flitted across his face.


    "Southern Aspect Yang is right. Considering our ties to one another, I naturally don''t mean you ill. What''s more, we''re both Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. If the Southern Aspect were to fall in battle, the Heavenly Emperor himself would participate in the investigation. I would only be causing trouble for myself." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "You want to possess my physical body, don''t you? What''s your n?" Yang Chuan asked.


    "I simply want to see what the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is doing, but my cultivation is too weak. With a Boundless Immortal''s body, I might actually be able to discover something and even make a move of my own."


    Yang Chuan''s eyes shed. He didn''t doubt Xiao Nanfeng''s ability. He took a deep breath. "Very well. My soul and spirit will need some time to recuperate, anyway. You may have the use of my body. If you can ruin the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s n, do it to the best of your ability."


    "My thanks, Southern Aspect Yang."


    "Master!" ck Dog eximed.


    Yang Chuan shook his head, motioning for his subordinate not to interfere. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Remember to bring us out once you''re done."


    "What? Has Martial Aspect Xiao already found the exit to the ck coffin hidden realm?" ck Dog eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken by surprise as well. He had been nning to reveal things to Yang Chuanter. He hadn''t anticipated that Yang Chuan would notice something amiss. Perhaps it was because he had seemed entirely too rxed about the whole affair.


    "Of course. I''d been nning on it. I obtained a talisman to leave the hidden realm just a few days ago, but it''s a single-use item. It''s not the right time to use it just yet."


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.

 Chapter 724: Fan-Shaped Altar

    <h4>Chapter 724: Fan-Shaped Altar</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the gourd from his waist and bade Yang Chuan enter it to recuperate.


    "ck Dog, you have a good nose, and you were able to track down Martial Aspect Yang even from all the way across the hidden realm. Can you sense where other cultivators are located?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "My nose is stronger than that of an ordinary cultivator, but the only reason I was able to track Master down was because he left a special scent behind to facilitate my efforts. My skills would be considerably weaker with respect to other cultivators. I did sense a few ces where other cultivators are hidden. They''ve retracted their auras as much as they can to hide from the zombies. I can sense where nearby zombies are, too."


    "Excellent. I''ll need you to use your senses to help me avoid nearby zombies."


    "Understood!"


    The two cultivators left the valley and headed silently in a certain direction. They did encounter a few groups of zombies along the way, but were able to avoid them with the help of ck Dog''s nose.


    "Where are we headed?" ck Dog asked.


    "To an altar."


    "Oh?"


    "There are too many zombies in the vicinity. I''ve been there several times, but I was always discovered on the outskirts. With your help, I''ll be able to sneak further in."


    "I see." ck Dog nodded, if dubiously.


    The altar Xiao Nanfeng was headed toward was where the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue had hypnotized Ku Jiang, Tang, and other officials of Hongyue. Tang had given him a map of the area long ago, but he had never been able to make his way in.


    With ck Dog''s help, he intended to try again.


    They quickly arrived at a region filled with concentrated ck fog.


    ck Dog sniffed and gasped. "There are sentries and patrols everywhere. How can there be so many zombies? This is ridiculous!"


    "That''s why I need your help. Let''s head in, then," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The two cultivators withheld their auras. They brushed by several groups of zombie patrols, barely having hidden themselves in time, as they made their way straight toward the altar.


    Without ck Dog''s assistance, Xiao Nanfeng would have been found in no time.


    Suddenly, ck Dog stopped short.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "There''s a barrier here. The scents on either side are distinct."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced in front of him. The ck fog before him was slowly drifting in the wind, but he saw no sign of this supposed barrier. Even so, he believed in ck Dog''s senses.


    "Is there an entrance or exit?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Not as far as I can tell. The barrier seems to encapste a valley-sized region. I can sense that there are people within, but no zombies," ck Dog said.


    "People, but not zombies? Could the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue be within?"


    "There''s something sinister about this barrier. If we interact with it, I''m sure someone will notice. Are we going to barge in?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Let''s leave for the time being."


    ck Dog nodded.


    The two cultivators left the region teeming with zombies and stopped to discuss things by a safe valley further away.


    "ck Dog, I''d like to head into that valley, but it''s very likely that the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is within. The situation is particrly dangerous. We may have to lure those within out," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "How?" ck Dog asked.


    "At the moment, the zombie kings are still pursuing cultivators all across the hidden realm. It''s a good time to strike. However, we can''t be the ones to lure out whoever''s within the valley.


    "Oh?"


    "You know where some cultivators in the hidden realm are hiding, don''t you? Send word telling them that you''ve discovered the zombies'' base camp. It''s empty within, and there may be a huge secret hidden there."


    "Me? Would they believe me?" ck Dog eximed.


    "Everyone''s nervous and anxious. They know that they''re trapped here. Unless they can save themselves, they''ll die¡ªbut how? Tell them what you''ve seen, and they''ll definitely act."


    "What if they inquire as to my master''s condition and whereabouts?" ck Dog frowned.


    "Just pass them whatever information you want them to have on a jade tablet. The important part is bringing it to them¡ªdon''t bother having an extended conversation. How about this? I''ll go with you. If there''s any danger, I can protect you as well."


    "Alright!" ck Dog nodded.


    The two cultivators crept toward the closest valley in which a group of cultivators were hiding.


    There, the cultivators were cowering in fear. They were at their wits'' end as far as making their way out of the ck coffin hidden realm was concerned.


    "Are there zombies approaching?" someone cried out. "Everyone, prepare to fight!"


    The cultivators eyed each other as if they were about to face the fight of their lives.


    "No, it''s not a zombie! No one move!" someone else shouted.


    The cultivator stepped forward and picked up the object that had been tossed at them.


    "What is it?" someone asked.


    The cultivator inspected the object with his spiritual senses. Then, he frowned. "Ask the sentries up ahead who tossed this jade tablet over."


    One sentry was quickly summoned.


    "I saw two cultivators who were bundled up too tightly for me to discern their features. When one of them tossed the jade tablet over, though, that cultivator''s aura and technique reminded me of Yang Chuan''s subordinate, ck Dog."


    "Oh? How can you tell?"


    "I''m a dog spirit myself, you see, and I''m intimately familiar with the spiritual techniques avable to us."


    "ck Dog?"


    "I''m all but certain. We''ve already discarded all the treasures we obtained from the hidden realm, so the zombies won''t be able to find us for the time being. Dog spirits have a potent sense of smell, and ck Dog''s far stronger than I am. I wouldn''t be surprised if he could find us."


    "I see. Continue keeping watch."


    "Understood!" The sentry bounded off.


    "What''s in the jade tablet that ck Dog gave us?" another cultivator asked.


    "They''ve discovered where the zombies''ir is. The zombie kings are currently preupied chasing cultivators all across the realm, and their is empty. They''re trying to gather a group of cultivators to investigate it¡ªor to take advantage of us going there to achieve some goal or another."


    "There might be a way out of the ck coffin hidden realm there. Should we head over?"


    "We don''t have any other choice. The zombie kings might find us at any moment. Quick, inform all the other groups of cultivators you''re aware of about this. We''re going, but we''ll all go together. I don''t intend to serve as ab rat for the others."


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and ck Dog dropped off a series of jade tablets at every encampment they could find, then returned to the barrier surrounding the valley in which the altar was located.


    "Will theye?" ck Dog asked, somewhat worried.


    "I''m sure of it."


    ck Dog and Xiao Nanfeng waited patiently.


    As Xiao Nanfeng had predicted, after about half the day, there was amotion in the distance. Some cultivators had attempted to creep into the valley, only to be discovered by zombies on patrol.


    A huge fight was about to unfold.


    "Damn it, they noticed me! Save me!" a cultivator shouted.


    Arge group of cultivators began to take on the swarming zombies. The fighting grew more and more intense. Several beams of light shot forward, destroying everything in their way as they headed toward the altar in the valley.


    The zombies howled as they charged toward the cultivators in the lead, but those cultivators were simply too strong. A Boundless Immortal seemed to be leading the way, quickly taking down the zombies blocking the way as they charged into the valley.


    Just then, a palm technique descended from the heavens, intercepting the Boundless Immortal''s attack in a fiery explosion.


    A figure rushed out of the valley and began to engage in battle against the cultivators with a horde of zombies. The cultivators'' charge stalled.


    "You''re not a zombie. Why are these zombies obeying you? Just who are you?" the Boundless Immortal in the lead roared.


    The mysterious figure didn''t respond. He beckoned more and more zombies forward to take on the cultivators.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and ck Dog nced at each other with a smile.


    The valley should be unguarded now, but I''m afraid someone will sense us crossing this barrier," ck Dog said.


    "Get into the gourd. I''ll bring you in."


    ck Dog nodded and flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s gourd.


    Xiao Nanfeng corked it and used his candleme powers, making a portal that led him within without touching the barrier at all.


    Then, he uncorked the gourd and released ck Dog.


    "We''re in? How did you do it? Could you be a formations expert who knows how to deconstruct this formation?" ck Dog eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t exin. "Use your nose. Keep an eye on the surroundings, and try to avoid any paths that others have taken."


    ck Dog nodded.


    The two cultivators forged forward to the heart of the valley as they waded through thick grass. There, they found a fan-shaped altar of ck jade, surprisinglyrge in size, engraved with all sorts of mysterious runes. Due north of the altar was a bejeweled throne¡ªand nothing else.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, I can''t smell anything else here in this valley besides this altar," ck Dog reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. There was no information to be found here. The situation was just like Tang had described. Had they made their way here for nothing? Surely not.


    "Help me find somewhere safe to hide. I''m going to stay here and observe what''s going on for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What? You''re not leaving? But the zombie kings will be back in no time!"


    "Don''t worry. Use your nose to find somewhere safe, a blind spot they don''t focus on. I''ll hide there while possessing Yang Chuan''s body and use his strength to shroud my aura. I won''t be discovered in the short term¡ªand even if I am, with Yang Chuan''s strength, I''ll be able to flee."


    ck Dog ultimately nodded.


    He found Xiao Nanfeng a small cave by the side of a nearby mountain, which simultaneously boasted an expansive view of the altar down below and was difficult to notice from the altar.


    Xiao Nanfeng uncorked his gourd and retrieved Yang Chuan''s body.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, please be prepared. I''m going to possess your body."


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed into his yin body and stepped into Yang Chuan''s mindscape.


    There, he activated the Heaven Division''s Gate and released loss chants from it. Yang Chuan''s soul, already weak, was instantly suppressed. He would remember nothing of what ensued.


    Although Yang Chuan was cooperating with Xiao Nanfeng, Xiao Nanfeng went forplete possession as a precaution in case something were to go wrong.


    He stored ck Dog in the gourd once more as he retreated into the cave and cloaked his aura as much as he could. He let his gaze roam over the altar and waited.

 Chapter 725: Rainbow Soul-Suppressing Jade

    <h4>Chapter 725: Rainbow Soul-Suppressing Jade</h4>


    Within the small stone cave, Xiao Nanfeng could hear significantmotion in the distance. Before long, the zombie kings'' roars echoed through the region.


    They seemed to have returned to the altar. Their howls were so loud that even the void was trembling, along with the mountain range in which Xiao Nanfeng was situated.


    Only after a series of shouts and cries rang out did the tremors slowly stop.


    Before long, figures descended from the sky.


    The golden-crowned zombie king and its six zombie king subordinates had returned. Beside them was a middle-aged man dressed in a red robe. His long hair wasbed behind his back, his brows and beard thick, his eyes shining with pride. He gave off the clear impression of being a domineering tyrant from his looks alone.


    "Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, have you lost something?" the golden-crowned zombie king asked.


    The middle-aged red-robed man looked around him and shook his head. "The formation I erected here has yet to be disturbed. No one has entered this space."


    The golden-crowned zombie king looked outside the barrier. "My subordinates have found fewer and fewer cultivators in the realm, to the point that I thought they were all dead. To think that there would still be so many of them, and that they''ve even found their way here..."


    "Have you recovered all the Boundless Immortal relics used as bait?" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue asked, frowning.


    "We recovered two, but the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl of the Dragon Cave has gone missing."


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue narrowed his eyes. "We agreed that I would help you lure cultivators into this hidden realm to be zombified, but that those three treasures used as bait would be mine."


    The golden-crowned zombie king shook his head. "The ancestral fire dragon''s pearl is missing. I can''t do anything about it, either. If you don''t believe me, you can go search for it yourself."


    With six zombie kings as subordinates, he felt no need to treat the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue with much respect or reverence.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue thought about it for a moment before giving the golden-crowned zombie king a faint smile. "So be it, then. Two relics. Hand them over!"


    The golden-crowned zombie king, cautious about something or another, chose not to cause more trouble. Two shining relics appeared in his hands, one a golden bamboo scroll, the other a red bird''s nest. Both relics gave off impressive auras; it was clear they were no ordinary treasures.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue examined the two relics and confirmed that they were genuine before saying, "I''m going to be conducting an exchange using this altar. Do you wish to leave?"


    "An exchange of relics? You''ll need topensate with a Boundless Immortal relic of your own, then. A three-for-one exchange¡ªdon''t you consider it a waste?" the golden-crowned zombie king asked.


    "I don''t need a surfeit of relics, but rather ones suitable to me."


    "I''d like to see just what relic you''re willing to trade three other Boundless Immortal relics for, then." The golden-crowned zombie king smiled, with no intention of leaving whatsoever.


    "So be it, but send these six zombie kings of yours out. They''recking in intelligence and will disturb me."


    The golden-crowned zombie king eded. He waved a hand andmanded, "Go stand guard outside."


    The six zombie kings flew out of the valley and vanished from sight.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue waved an arm as well. The barrier around the valley shimmered into visibility in a solid red color that isted whaty within from whaty without.


    "You don''t trust them still? They might not have much intelligence and will act ording to naturalw, but I''m in control of them. They''re hardly going to infuse those ck hands into your relics."


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue shook his head and didn''t exin things further. He stepped toward the altar, murmuring an incantation under his breath.


    The golden-crowned zombie king didn''t seem to mind. He sat on his bejeweled throne by the side of the altar and leisurely watched on as the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue conducted his exchange.


    The countless runes on the altar seemed toe to life. They began to twist and distort as ck smoke gushed out, forming a huge ck whirlpool atop the altar.


    "With these three treasures, I ask that the ck coffin provide me with the relic of my desire via the primordial altar. Let the ck coffin im all that is present in excess," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue stated.


    Two clouds of ck smoke appeared atop the altar, just as had happened when Xiao Nanfeng made his exchange with the ck coffin outside the hidden realm.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue ced the golden bamboo scroll and red bird''s nest in one cloud of smoke, then retrieved a resplendent golden pearl and ced it there as well. He spoke softly, as if specifying the relic he wanted in exchange.


    The altar hummed and vibrated. The three relics were sucked into the depths of the altar as rainbow light emanated from the other cloud of ck smoke. A treasure seemed to be condensing in sight.


    It took quite some time before that treasure appeared in full. However, the rainbow light around it didn''t dissipate, making it difficult to identify just what it was. The exchange havinge to an end, the clouds of ck smoke dissipated, revealing the altar once more.


    "Oh? Is it done? Let me see what you got." The golden-crowned zombie king flew over immediately and snatched up the relic before the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue could make a move.


    "Oh? The Rainbow Soul-Suppressing Jade¡ªa relic specifically to counter us zombies! Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, what are you nning?!" the golden-crowned zombie king eximed.


    Suddenly, a finger shining with red light stabbed into the back of its head. Red light flooded into its body as a red moon shone overhead, immobilizing the zombie king.


    "Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, how dare you attack me! What are you nning?!"


    "Don''t you understand?" The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue smirked.


    "Are you crazy? You want to kill me just because I gave you one fewer treasure?" the zombie king screeched. "All zombies, attend to me!"


    The red moon vibrated and quivered as it attempted to break free of the red moon''s control, but to no avail.


    "Don''t bother. You won''t be able to issue anymands from within my red moon cage."


    "You''re trying to kill me? The old saint won''t forgive you!"


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue ignored the zombie king''s threat. "I''ve awaited this day for a long time."


    His mindscape thrummed. Another Immortal Emperor of Hongyue flew out of his forehead: his avatar.


    His avatar imed the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade from the golden-crowned zombie king''s hands. The jade was disc-shaped and radiated resplendent rainbow light.


    "Don''t! We can negotiate. What do you want from me?" the golden-crowned zombie king cried out.


    "Everything." The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue smirked again as his avatar ced the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade over the zombie king''s head. Rainbow light red, causing white smoke to rise up from the zombie king''s body.


    "You intend to possess this ancestral zombie''s body? Aren''t you afraid the saint will punish you? Betraying the saint¡ªdo you want to die?!"


    "The saint? It doesn''t matter even if he learns of it. After all, with you gone, I''m the only one he can rely on."


    "No! The saint would never forgive you!" the golden-crowned zombie king cried out.


    "We''ll see, won''t we? Your body''s mine¡ªand with your body, I''ll be able to control all the zombies here, haha!" The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue roared inughter.


    "No! The saint gave all of this to me. You can''t steal it from me. You can''t!"


    "The ancestral zombie''s body wasn''t yours to begin with. You don''t deserve it¡ªand now it''s mine," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue dered.


    The red light emanating from his fingertip increased in intensity, as did the suppression of the rainbow jade.


    The golden-crowned zombie king shrieked in pain.


    "Annihte!" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue intoned.


    Intense light exploded from the rainbow jade, illuminating the whole valley. A wave of light speared through the golden-crowned zombie king''s head as his body convulsed.


    A small crack marred the surface of the rainbow jade, which had emitted too much of its special power.


    Meanwhile, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s avatar darted into the gold-crowned zombie king''s mindscape.


    The zombie king''s body began to convulse even more rapidly, as if it and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s avatar were fighting for control over its body.


    Raging energy billowed from the zombie king''s body. If not for the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s red barrier, the entire valley might well have been destroyed.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on grimly from up high.


    "What a scheme. No wonder the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue didn''t bother with Shenfeng," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, his face dour.


    Although he had possessed Yang Chuan''s body, he was unable to manifest any control over naturalw. All he had was brute strength, just like the Demon Child. He was worried he wouldn''t be able to take on the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, but even so, he had to act. This was a critical period for the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, and he could hardly just sit back and do nothing.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, triggering his candleme powers.


    A portal of red light appeared before him, as well as by the altar down below.


    Although the area by the altar was a spectacle of blinding light, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue noticed something amiss. He thundered, "Who''s there?"


    Xiao Nanfeng controlled Yang Chuan''s arm as he reached out for the rainbow jade.


    "Die!" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue roared.


    Instantly tracing the source of the interference, he turned back and sent a palm technique straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The mountain on which Xiao Nanfeng was located burst apart as the huge palm headed straight for Yang Chuan. Yang Chuan crashed into the red barrier.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He could keep fighting, but he didn''t know just what trump cards the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue had up his sleeve. The situation could easily go badly for Xiao Nanfeng. In the end, he activated his candleme powers once more and escaped through the barrier.


    "Catch him!" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue roared.


    Outside the barrier, the zombies were ignorant of the fact that the golden-crowned zombie king had been suppressed. They heard the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s orders and were ustomed to obeying him. As a result, they shot toward Yang Chuan all at once.


    Yang Chuan knocked aside the zombies and quickly flew off.

 Chapter 726: Emerging From the Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 726: Emerging From the Coffin</h4>


    The reason Xiao Nanfeng had stolen the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade was in order to help the golden-crowned zombie king. Both it and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue were Xiao Nanfeng''s enemies. Wouldn''t it be great if they were to wound each other?


    As a safety precaution, he shot out of the red barrier without looking back. He didn''t dare tarry.


    No ordinary zombie would be able to stop him, but there were six zombie kings guarding the barrier from the outside. Upon seeing Yang Chuan fly out, and after hearing the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s shouts, they gave chase without any hesitation.


    Yang Chuan and the six zombie kings vanished over the horizon in the blink of an eye.


    Meanwhile, a group of people emerged from the far side of the valley, led by none other than Ao Canghai.


    "Yang Chuan really was responsible for the messenger. He must have obtained something good from that valley," Ao Canghai murmured expectantly.


    "Eastern Aspect, now that Yang Chuan has lured the six zombie kings away, that valley poses much less of a threat," one of his subordinate Martial Aspects stated.


    "Let''s go have a look at what''s in the valley while they''re gone," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!" everyone chorused.


    Ao Canghai and his subordinates rushed toward the valley alongside a few other groups of cultivators.


    The first to reach the valley dealt the red barrier a heavy blow.


    Within, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue frowned. He was at a critical period with regards to possessing the golden-crowned zombie king, and any disturbances were particrly troublesome to deal with.


    "Yang Chuan, I''ll kill you," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue gritted out.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng continued to maneuver Yang Chuan''s physical body as he fled, the six zombie kings behind him refusing to give up the chase. Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to activate the talisman that his master had given him.


    A bubble of ck light surrounded Yang Chuan as the talisman activated. It floated up toward the heavens.


    The zombie kings to his back rushed forward to w at him.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Countless fists forced the zombie kings to retreat in a burst of fire and wind¡ªbut the effect had been pronounced only because he had caught the zombie kings by surprise. Trying to escape their grasp entirely was prohibitively difficult.


    Just as he approached a region of ck wind high in the sky, the zombie kings suddenly stilled. They seemed to be fearful of something.As one, they turned around and gave up on chasing Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng was perplexed, but he didn''t have time to think about the situation in more detail. The ck light seemed to be agitating the ck wind, causing the ck wind to generate a suction force that propelled the bubble forward. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t resist. He was quickly pulled toward a ball of light.


    "Is that the exit?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He flew out of the exit, still in Yang Chuan''s physical body.


    "Southern Aspect!"


    "Mountain Lord!"


    Relieved exmations could be heard from outside the ck coffin from which he emerged.


    News of what had happened to Yang Chuan had quickly spread to cultivators on the outside, and Yang Chuan''s friends, rtives, and subordinates had all gathered by the ck coffin.


    The cultivators of Hongyue certainly didn''t dare hold back someone like Yang Chuan.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at the gathered cultivators awaiting him. He said, "Don''t apany me. Wait until I contact you."


    Yang Chuan flew into the clouds and vanished from sight.


    His friends, rtives, and subordinates all exhaled in relief upon seeing that he was well. The other cultivators around, however, all seemed forlorn. "Southern Aspect Yang made it out safely. Where''s everyone else? Why isn''t my sect master out yet?"


    No one dared venture into the ck coffin any longer. Instead, countless cultivators representing a whole assortment of different forces were gathered around the coffin as they awaited those they knew who had gone within.


    Yang Chuan flew rapidly across the sky for a prolonged period of time before hended on an uninhabited ind on a secluded stretch of the sea. There, he emerged from Yang Chuan''s mindscape.


    He then shook ck Dog out from his gourd.


    ck Dog emerged to find himself no longer cloaked in dim darkness.


    "We''re out, we''re out! Thank goodness. Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and nodded. "I''m happy to oblige."


    ck Dog quickly shot Yang Chuan''s prone body a worried look.


    "Rx. He''ll awaken naturally after a while," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Indeed, shortly thereafter, Yang Chuan opened his eyes groggily as his memories returned to him.


    Yang Chuan nced around him and saw that they had indeed escaped from the ck coffin hidden realm.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao, were those the loss chants of the Taiqing Immortal Sect? That was a surprise," Yang Chuan said wryly.


    "I apologize, Southern Aspect Yang. I have a few secrets I''d rather not expose, and I wouldn''t want to add to your burdens," Xiao Nanfeng said frankly.


    Yang Chuan gave Xiao Nanfeng aplicated look, but nodded. "I don''t want to pry, either. I do have to thank you for getting us out of here."


    "Hardly, Southern Aspect Yang. We helped each other. This is a secluded ind on the Eastern Sea. There were a group of cultivators who had been waiting for you outside the ck coffin. Considering your circumstances, and worried that some among them might have bad intentions, I sent them away. Do you need my help with anything?"


    "I''m fine, thank you. Let''s leave it at this. I''ll contact you again once I''ve fully recuperated."


    "Very well. Farewell, Southern Aspect Yang."


    Yang Chuan nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew off the ind and vanished across the horizon. Though he and Yang Chuan were familiar with each other by now, it wasn''t to the point where they would recuperate together.


    "Master, Xiao Nanfeng really is mysterious, isn''t he?" ck Dog wondered.


    Yang Chuan nced at his right hand. "I sense the remnant traces of some potent treasure on my right hand. Xiao Nanfeng must have obtained something good."


    "Oh? Let me have a sniff," ck Dog offered.


    "No, forget it. It''s his by right, and we shouldn''t pry. Let''s leave. I''ll have to recuperate, then avenge me and mine." A fierce look crossed Yang Chuan''s face.


    "Understood!" ck Dog replied.


    ck Dog and Yang Chuan left the ind and quickly vanished over the horizon themselves.


    A dayter, in the ptial valley of Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng arrived out of nowhere. The Divine Emperor had long since been waiting for him.


    "Why didn''t you ask me for help? I heard you were in incredible danger!" The Divine Emperor fussed over Xiao Nanfeng as she examined his body to ensure he was alright.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled gently and lifted her up for a hug and a kiss. "I''m alright. I returned safe and sound."


    "Oh, you! You were far more serious in the past," the Divine Emperor said. She pushed Xiao Nanfeng aside with a blush.


    "You weren''t my wife back then, so of course I had to be more gentlemanly. Things are different now," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    The Divine Emperor hmphed. "You really are thick-skinned, aren''t you!"


    "Will you have a look at this treasure for me? See if there are any traces of secret techniques the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue might have left behind," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    He handed over the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade he had stolen from the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue.


    The Divine Emperor inspected the treasure carefully. After a while, she carefully wiped her palm over it intently. A red aura shed and faded away.


    "Nothing particr, just the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s residual aura. He might have been able to track you down with it, but there''s no need to worry now. I''ve dealt with it," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfengughed again. "Indeed, with a virtuous wife, everything seems to be going ording to my will."


    The Divine Emperor blushed. "There''s a little crack in the relic, which has weakened it by a considerable extent. It''s still usable, though."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "This is a piece of Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade. I''ve seen its like before. It''s a particrly special piece of jade imbued with naturalw rted to sealing, and boasts the ability to suppress souls. When used properly, it can bypass even the physical body of a Boundless Immortal and directly attack the soul instead. It''s particrly effective against zombies. Though it''s been damaged, there''s still a considerable portion of its energy left."


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue used it to deal with the zombie king¡ªno, I suppose it''s an ancestral zombie," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He recounted what had happened.


    The Divine Emperor had received some word of what was going on within the ck coffin hidden realm, but not in such detail. When Xiao Nanfeng finished, she frowned. "I wonder if the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue seeded. If he did, we''ll be in danger."


    "Isn''t that so? An ancestral zombie and six zombie kings¡ªthat''s seven more Boundless Immortals, let alone the countless ordinary zombies in the ck coffin hidden realm. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue made tremendous gains with his venture. No wonder he was willing to leave Shenfeng be." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "He might have benefited from this opportunity, but so did we," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I''ve already attuned that ck coffin to some extent. I have control over its entrance now, and we may be able to im whatever lies within."


    She was speaking not of the ck coffin in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, but the one that Xiao Nanfeng had given her.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue had managed to possess an ancestral zombie within the ck coffin hidden realm he had ess to. Perhaps the ck coffin with the Divine Emperor boasted simr opportunities. Could there be zombie kings and even an ancestral zombie within, too? Even Boundless Immortal relics?


    "If there''s an ancestral zombie in there, can we use this rainbow jade on it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    The Divine Emperor''s eyes lit up. She examined the jade once more. "It may be possible."


    "Oh?"


    "There''s a crack marring this piece of jade, but the sealing power within can still handle an early-stage Boundless Immortal¡ªespecially since it''s particrly effective against zombies. If we work together, I''m sure we''ll seed."


    "Great," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "And you''re certain we can enter and exit the coffin at will?"


    "Absolutely."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "In that case, let''s go in and have a look. We''ll scout the hidden realm and n out what we''re going to do."


    "Very well." The Divine Emperor smiled.


    She retrieved the ck coffin, whose oppressive aura left the two cultivators in eager anticipation.

 Chapter 727: Meeting Emperor Feng Again

    <h4>Chapter 727: Meeting Emperor Feng Again</h4>


    The Divine Emperor summoned a few of her subordinates to stand guard, and Xiao Nanfeng asked the same of his golden cultivators.


    "Everything''s settled. Let''s head in," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    The ck coffiny t on the ground. With a wave of her hand, the coffin lid slid open as a bout of suction attempted to suck them in. The Divine Emperor struck the body of the coffin with a palm, causing the suction to wink out. Then, she jumped into the ck coffin while holding onto Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    The two of them entered a passageway.


    "You said that Emperor Feng once forged this ck coffin into his physical body?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "Right. Senior Brother and I rescued Emperor Feng''s soul together. If he had helped us take down Yin Shenhua, I would have been happy to cooperate with him, but he sought to kill the two of us instead. I had no choice but to let him perish alongside Yin Shenhua. It''s a pity that he wasn''t able to take Yin Shenhua down in the end," Xiao Nanfeng said, sighing.


    "Better that such cultivators die. Have a look. Is this hidden realm identical to that in the other ck coffin?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    The two cultivators didn''t fly into its depths just yet. They watched as gusts of ck wind billowed around them.


    "I can''t be certain, but it feels much the same at the moment."


    "There''s a vortex of ck wind over there that''s trying to suck us in," the Divine Emperor said, pointing at a certain location nearby.


    "Let''s mark this area first so we can return to it."


    "I''ve already done so. I''m confident we''ll be able to make it back."


    "Shall we get going, then?"


    The two cultivators jumped into the vortex. The Divine Emperor led them onward through the wind and into the huge, mysterious world down below.


    The two cultivatorsnded on the peak of a mountain.


    "Everything here reminds me of the other ck coffin hidden realm so far," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Let''s keep going."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The two cultivators began their hunt through the hidden realm. Before long, they found their first zombie cave.


    Their eyes lit up as they flew over, only to find the zombies at the cave roaring and charging at them.


    "There are fewer zombies here, and they seem to be weaker, too..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He punched at about a dozen of them that had charged over, all of which exploded into ck smoke. Then, the smoke flew into a nearby zombie cave.


    The zombies within roared as they flew out. Their leader absorbed all that ck smoke into its body.


    "These zombies are far too weak," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? It''s you!" the zombie in the lead eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken by surprise. After all, in the other ck coffin, even the zombie kings'' intelligence was limited. Only the golden-crowned zombie king had been able to converse at a reasonable level. How could this ordinary-looking zombie do so¡ªand how did it recognize Xiao Nanfeng? Something was clearly off.


    "Who are you? How do you know who I am?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Ha! I didn''t even have to go search for you. Xiao Nanfeng, don''t you recognize me? You ruined all my ns," the zombie sneered.


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes. "You''re Emperor Feng, aren''t you? You haven''t died?"


    "Of course not. But you lost me my physical body. I could have beaten Yin Shenhua if I had had it, but Yin Shenhua was able to wound me instead. Now that you''ve shown up, you might as well not leave!"


    "Have you possessed this zombie?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "If you hadn''t hurt me, I wouldn''t have had to give up on symbiosis with the ck coffin¡ªI wouldn''t have had to find an inferior substitute. Where''s that ck lotus? Let it show itself!"


    His understanding of Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t changed since hisst showdown with him. He naturally wasn''t aware of how much stronger Xiao Nanfeng had grown since then.


    "Emperor Feng, I''ll give you a chance. Tell me what''s going on within this hidden realm, and I''ll spare your life."


    The zombie didn''t charge forward recklessly. It narrowed its eyes at Xiao Nanfeng, then smirked. "The ck lotus shouldn''t fear me. If it hasn''t shown itself, does that mean that it''s dead?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze frosted over. "Did you hear me?"


    The zombieughed. "It looks like it really is dead, then! But even if it weren''t, I''d have finished it off."


    "Are you stalling?" Xiao Nanfeng shot over.


    "Take him down!" the zombiemanded.


    Its subordinates shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You really are overconfident."


    Countless fists manifested around Xiao Nanfeng, each one pummeling a zombie and causing it to explode.


    "You''re a True Immortal now?" Emperor Feng eximed.


    It sucked in a deep breath, absorbing all the ck smoke from the fallen zombies.


    "Shall I test out the strength of your new body?" Xiao Nanfeng shot toward Emperor Feng.


    "Die!" Emperor Feng cursed.


    The man and zombie exchanged blows in mid-air, a tempest roaring around them. Emperor Feng was sent flying.


    "Impossible. How could you be so strong? How could you have reached the peak of the True Immortal realm so quickly?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng closed in on Emperor Feng. "I gave you a chance, but you refused it. Very well, then. I''ll investigate myself. Die! Hegemon''s Fist!"


    "You bastard!" Emperor Feng yelled out.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck Emperor Feng''s body with a flurry of punches, causing it to explode into a cloud of ck smoke, which was sucked away into the distance.


    "Is this zombie cave protected only by True Immortal zombies? There doesn''t seem to be any relics within, either," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Some strong cursed effigies are drawing near," the Divine Emperor said.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head. Countless zombies were flying over from three different directions, all brimming with killing intent. The ck smoke that had once been Emperor Feng''s body flew toward one of those directions before being absorbed by one of the zombies in the lead, a zombie king wearing a crown on its head and boasting an impressive aura.


    "Three zombie kings?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, to think you''ve grown so strong," one zombie king murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the three zombie kings an odd look. "Just how many avatars did you make?"


    The three zombie kings'' expressions were near-identical. Could they all be Emperor Feng''s avatars?


    "How many do you think?" one zombie king retorted, sneering.


    "Forward! Take him down," another zombie kingmanded.


    Countless zombies shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Something''s strange about their aura. Don''t make a move. Let me test their strength first," Xiao Nanfeng told the Divine Emperor.


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward to meet the zombies in the lead.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    A flurry of punches took down the majority of the horde of zombies. Some exploded on the spot into clouds of ck smoke.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Even more zombies were sent flying; the clouds of ck smoke in the air grew thicker and thicker. The three zombie kings absorbed them all.


    "Let me see just how strong you''ve grown!" A zombie king shot toward Xiao Nanfeng and punched forward.


    Two fists met in a howling tempest that sent Xiao Nanfeng flying, though he was otherwise unharmed.


    "What? How could you be alright?" the three zombie kings eximed in unison.


    "A Golden Immortal''s strength¡ªand just an early-stage one, at that. When did the zombie kings grow so weak?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    In the other ck coffin hidden realm, all the zombie kings were Boundless Immortals. Were the ones here just inferior substitutes?


    "So what if we''re Golden Immortals? It''s more than enough to take you down!" the three zombie kings roared, charging at Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously.


    The Divine Emperor shed toward Xiao Nanfeng and prepared to make a move herself.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the Divine Emperor back. "You''re only a Golden Immortal, too. You''ll only be able to hold them back at best. Be careful!"


    The Divine Emperor nodded, understanding what Xiao Nanfeng was trying to do. He wanted her to serve as bait by presenting herself as merely a Golden Immortal.


    "Understood!" the Divine Emperor replied.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Die!" the three zombie kings echoed.


    An intense fight broke out in the air.


    The Divine Emperor used just enough strength to hold back the three zombie kings while Xiao Nanfeng beat up the ordinary zombies.


    The zombies exploded one after another, forming clouds of ck smoke that surged toward the three zombie kings.


    "Damn you, Xiao Nanfeng! Where did you find a mid-stage Golden Immortal wench? Die!" the zombie kings roared.


    The Divine Emperor''s eyes grew cold. "I won''t brook your disrespect."


    She pped the three zombie kings on the cheek.


    "All zombies, kill them!" the three zombie kingsmanded.


    More and more zombies flooded toward the two cultivators from all over the hidden realm. Unfortunately, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor had the decisive advantage.


    Just the shockwaves from the Divine Emperor''s fight against the three zombie kings were enough to prevent ordinary zombies from drawing near.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng was surrounded by a flurry of fists that would cause any zombie around him to explode into clouds of ck smoke that surged into the zombie kings'' mouths.


    Though the zombie kings were at a disadvantage, they weren''t in a rush. As they continued to absorb the ck smoke, they grew stronger.


    After a day, as Xiao Nanfeng took down all the reinforcements that the zombie kings had summoned, they advanced tote-stage Golden Immortals.


    Even so, however, they were unable to take down the Divine Emperor.


    "What? Something''s wrong. You''ve been hiding your strength, haven''t you? You''re actually a peak Golden Immortal!" the three zombie kings eximed.


    The Divine Emperor didn''t deign to respond. Xiao Nanfeng taunted them, "Emperor Feng, is this all you''ve got?"

 Chapter 728: Trapped by the Bell

    <h4>Chapter 728: Trapped by the Bell</h4>


    No matter how the three zombie kings attacked, the Divine Emperor countered them time after time. If this situation were to continue, they would surely perish at her hands.


    In the end, the three zombie kings eyed each other intently and made up their minds.


    Before long, another figure emerged from afar.


    "I managed to lure it over, after all." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Another zombie king was flying over, one with a golden crown atop his head and an immense aura emanating from its body. ck smoke surged forth.


    "A golden-crowned zombie king? As expected, it''s another ancestral zombie." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "How did you know?" a zombie king eximed.


    "Emperor Feng, just how many avatars did you make?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "And why should I tell you?" that zombie king scoffed.


    "It''s likely a way to nurture the soul," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "It''s not amon technique. He splits up his soul and imnts it into many living beings so as to nurture each fragment separately. Once they rbine into one, the resulting soul bes exceptionally strong. From the looks of it, though, we destroyed the soul fragments before they could rbine anew." The Divine Emperor smiled.


    The three zombie kings'' eyes widened. One of them eximed, "How do you know?!"


    "It''s not a particrly valuable technique. It''s true that it can enhance your spiritual cultivation, but there are numerous significant drawbacks. Why wouldn''t I know about it?" the Divine Emperor replied disdainfully.


    "Just you wait and see," another zombie king spat out.


    The golden-crowned zombie king shouted as it charged toward the Divine Emperor, who defended with a fist of her own. The two fists met in a ming explosion, one which caused both the Divine Emperor and the golden-crowned zombie king to retreat.


    "This zombie king''s a peak Golden Immortal! How can you haveparable strength? That can''t be! The ancestral zombie''s body should be stronger!" the golden-crowned zombie king thundered.


    "Is this all you''ve got?" The Divine Emperor scoffed.


    The four zombie kings all snorted in annoyance as they shot over.


    The golden-crowned zombie king leapt toward the Divine Emperor, while the three subordinate zombie kings shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "As I said, I''m your opponent! Why are you running off?" the Divine Emperor demanded.


    She was like a specter. Moving at an incredible pace, she shed before the three zombie kings and sent them all flying one after another. The golden-crowned zombie king tried to attack her from behind with a punch, only to be readily countered. A huge explosion erupted around her.


    "Impossible. How can you take on my four bodies simultaneously?!" a zombie king cried out.


    The Divine Emperor scoffed. If Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t asked her not to reveal her true strength, she would long since have destroyed all these zombies.


    The Divine Emperor stepped forward once more and forced the zombie kings to retreat with punch after punch.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on from close by. He had a n in mind, and was waiting for an opportunity to strike.


    "Just who are you?" a zombie king howled.


    As the fighting continued, even the golden-crowned zombie king slowly began to lose out against the Divine Emperor. She easily trumped all four of them.


    "Don''t hold back anymore," Xiao Nanfeng said, flying close to her side. "Take down that golden-crowned zombie king first."


    The Divine Emperor was just about to make a move when Xiao Nanfeng held her back by the arm.


    The zombie kings, having heard Xiao Nanfeng''s shout, nched. They rushed toward the golden-crowned zombie king as it suddenly opened its mouth and absorbed all three subordinate zombie kings. Then, ck smoke gushed out of its body as its aura increased in potency.


    "You''ve been having me stall them for this very moment, haven''t you? What are you nning?" asked the Divine Emperor curiously.


    "These zombies are cursed effigies, which aren''t easy to possess. Even so, Emperor Feng chose to divide his soul among arge number of these zombies. Isn''t that strange? Perhaps it wouldn''t be a problem if the coffin had remained sealed, but you unsealed it some time ago. Emperor Feng must have noticed, but he didn''t attempt to leave or anything of the sort. There must be something he''s seeking in here, and our arrival may have disrupted his ns."


    "You mean he''s trying to secure this golden-crowned zombie king?"


    "That''s right. This one might be weaker than that in the other ck coffin, but it''s an ancestral zombie through and through. I suspect Emperor Feng''s ultimate goal with regards to soul-splitting is to exist in perfect symbiosis with this ancestral zombie."


    "But hasn''t it seeded?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "Not quite. If it were wless, Emperor Feng would have used it from the very start."


    "Oh?"


    "Stall for time while you fight it, please. I have a feeling that we might have caught something big."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Meanwhile, the golden-crowned zombie king''s strength had risen to an extreme. A frightening wave of energy emanated from it.


    "A Boundless Immortal!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "Haha, Xiao Nanfeng and you wench over there, it''s toote for you now! Die!" roared the golden-crowned zombie king as it shot over.


    "And you''re as unpleasant as ever," the Divine Emperor replied. She threw a punch at the golden-crowned zombie king.


    As their fists met, the void itself rippled. The mountains in the vicinity burst apart from the incredible impact.


    "You''re a Boundless Immortal? You were tricking me all this time?!" the golden-crowned zombie king roared.


    "Don''t you think you should be ming yourself for not seeing through my trick?" the Divine Emperor replied, smiling coldly.


    She began to fight with the golden-crowned zombie king anew. A raging storm formed around the two cultivators, who seemed to be fighting on equal footing with one another.


    "What''s the point of ying around with me if you''re a Boundless Immortal? You''ve ruined my ns!" the golden-crowned zombie king cried out.


    It turned and fled.


    "Do you think you can escape?" the Divine Emperor demanded.


    She caught up to the zombie king in an instant, then forced it to retreat with a powerful blow.


    "Scram!" the zombie king roared.


    However, the Divine Emperor continued to pursue it relentlessly.


    The twobatants fought in that manner for some time. With the Divine Emperor withholding part of her strength, neitherbatant was able to obtain a decisive victory. As the fight drew on, however, the golden-crowned zombie king''s actions visibly started to slow.


    "Damn it. Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve ruined my ns again!" the golden-crowned zombie king howled.


    It suddenly stopped moving. ck smoke gushed out of its body as it began to convulse violently, especially around its head.


    The Divine Emperor stopped attacking. She flew in front of Xiao Nanfeng to protect him. "There''s another will within this ancestral zombie''s body, one that''s trying to wrest control of the body from Emperor Feng."


    "As I expected. Emperor Feng''s will can''t suppress the ancestral zombie''s. That''s why he''s trying to cultivate his soul by dividing it up into fragments and imnting them among the zombies. He''s hoping that he''ll be able to strengthen his soul to the point where he can gainplete control. We really have ruined his n." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The golden-crowned zombie king continued to convulse for some time before it roared loudly. A ck figure was sent flying from the body¡ªnone other than Emperor Feng''s spiritual avatar.


    Emperor Feng spat out a mouthful of blood and red balefully at Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor. Then, he turned to run.


    "Do you think you can escape, Emperor Feng?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Divine Emperor struck Emperor Feng at once, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood. His spiritual avatar almost dissipated entirely. In his weakened state, the Divine Emperor managed to grab him with a palm technique.


    "Release me! It''s about to awaken. If we don''t leave now, we''re all going to die!" Emperor Feng eximed.


    "Emperor Feng, you haven''t exined to us what''s going on yet. Why should we leave?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "You don''t understand just how strong it is. I only managed to split its strength into multiple subordinate zombies using thest of the ck coffin''s power. That''s how it became as weak as a Golden Immortal. I was only able to suppress it that way, but it''s since merged together again! It''s incredibly strong even for a Boundless Immortal. Hurry up and get away!"


    The golden-crowned zombie king''s eyes shed in anger, especially when it caught sight of Emperor Feng.


    "Die!" it shouted.


    It shot toward the gathered cultivators in a beam of light.


    The Divine Emperor nched and met its charge with a fist as the golden-crowned zombie king likewise threw a punch.


    The two fists met in an explosive impact that forced bothbatants back.


    "It really is strong," the Divine Emperor murmured. "You should leave now. It''s no weaker than I am."


    Xiao Nanfeng flew into the distance. "It doesn''t seem to be particrly intelligent. Hand Emperor Feng over to distract it."


    "Understood!" the Divine Emperor replied.


    The golden-crowned zombie king struck the Divine Emperor, who retaliated in kind. The zombie king boasted incredible strength, and the Divine Emperor was unable to seize a decisive advantage even with her full power.


    Just then, she threw Emperor Feng forward.


    The golden-crowned zombie king was aware of what Emperor Feng had done to it. With brimming hatred, it immediately shrugged off the Divine Emperor and punched Emperor Feng instead.


    "No!" Emperor Feng shouted.


    Emperor Feng''s body dissipated in a spray of fresh blood. He seemed to have lost any ability to flee.


    Even so, the golden-crowned zombie king wasn''t satisfied. He bit down on Emperor Feng''s soul, impaling it with two blood-red fangs as it absorbed Emperor Feng''s essence.


    "No!" Emperor Feng screamed again.


    Within moments, he had vanished entirely.


    Suddenly, the golden-crowned zombie king sensed that something was amiss. It looked high overhead, where a giant bell had appeared in sight.


    As the Divine Emperor''s bell tolled, a frightening wave of sound surged toward it and immobilized it.


    It roared and tried to continue struggling¡ªbut the Divine Emperor waved an arm and caused her bell to descend, trapping it within. It attacked the bell furiously, causing it to toll again and again.


    "I''ve trapped it. It won''t be able to free itself from the bell for the time being," the Divine Emperor stated.

 Chapter 729: Ye Sanshui, Ancestral Zombie

    <h4>Chapter 729: Ye Sanshui, Ancestral Zombie</h4>


    The Divine Emperor''s bell shrank as itnded in her palm, but it continued to reverberate and toll. Clearly, the golden-crowned zombie king within was continuing to struggle furiously.


    The Divine Emperor formed a barrier around the bell to iste the sound.


    "I don''t suppose there are any zombies remaining here. All of them together only produced a single Boundless Immortal ancestral zombie¡ªit''s less than we''d hoped for, isn''t it?" The Divine Emperor gave Xiao Nanfeng a wry smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The zombies in the other ck coffin must have grown stronger because they''ve been specially cultivated by the saint and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue. The zombies here haven''t received that sort of treatment. Yin Shenhua might have obtained the ck coffin in the past, but I expect he never figured out how to unseal it. That''s why Emperor Feng was the only one who knew about the secret of this hidden realm."


    "And Emperor Feng was just devoured by the ancestral zombie, so he won''t be able to revive." The Divine Emperor frowned.


    "It doesn''t matter. I wouldn''t trust Emperor Feng''s information, at any rate. Why don''t we have a look around?"


    "Very well," the Divine Emperor replied.


    The two cultivators flew across the hidden realm. Along the way, the Divine Emperor emanated spiritual energy as she tried to seek out any remaining life in the hidden realm, but there were no zombies to be found. They quickly arrived at arge valley.


    "It''s just like in the other ck coffin. There''s a fan-shaped altar here, too." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "And a copper tombstone," the Divine Emperor eximed, staring at the north of the altar.


    "There wasn''t one in the ck coffin hidden realm I went to. A bejeweled throne was in its ce, a brand-new one that didn''t really seem to fit the environment. Perhaps there was a copper tombstone there, too, before it was taken away."


    "Did the master of these ck coffin cursed effigies write the inscription?" the Divine Emperor wondered, frowning as she scanned the tombstone.


    Xiao Nanfeng began to read as well.


    "In life, I conquered all thends of the world and received the recognition of the heavens. I was granted this karmic altar, a branch of the primordial altar, and sacrificed all manner of treasure and fortune to receive a cursed effigy from the world away: a pool of ck blood.


    "I infused the ck blood into my body, transforming myself into an indestructible ancestral zombie, in order to resist the heavens.


    "Yet so strong were the heavens that, despite possessing all the strength of the world, I fell short and sumbed to their might.


    "I revived as ck blood, a cursed effigy.


    "Once again, I mastered the world and conquered the legends of the present era. I regained my former strength and attempted to take on the heavens with the power I umted over ten thousand years.


    "In this life, I sacrificed countless treasures and fortune once more to obtain a new cursed effigy from the world away: a ck coffin.


    "The ck coffin boasted incredible strength, but I was unable to fuse it into my body. The ck blood into which I had be seemed to possess a terrible w: perhaps intrinsic, or perhaps one that had lingered during my confrontation with the heavens. I was unable to meld any more cursed effigies into my body.


    "I had prepared for ten thousand years to contend against the heavens, and the final battle was drawing near.


    "I chose to deposit my karmic altar into the ck coffin, then split it into three.


    "If I conquer the heavens, then all is moot.


    "If I fail, I shall revive once more by the karmic altar.


    "For those in the future fortunate enough to encounter one of these coffins, reunite all three and I shall grant you a tremendous blessing. Together, let us take on the heavens again."


    The contents of the tombstone sinctly described the achievements of the former hegemon of an era.


    "The zombies must havee from that ck blood cursed effigy¡ªand there are three of these ck coffins!" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "Is the karmic altar this fan-shaped altar over here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I once heard the Spirit Emperor mention that he had a karmic altar of his own, but it was circr. Allegedly, all hegemons of their respective eras are awarded one such altar by the heavens. These altars connect to the primordial altar and can be used for sacrificial rites," the Divine Emperor recalled.


    "In other words, the ck coffin''s ability isn''t to facilitate exchanges. That derives from this altar..." Xiao Nanfeng strode forward to inspect it more carefully.


    "This fan-shaped altar is rather interesting¡ªno, if webine three of these altars, they''d form a perfect circle," the Divine Emperor pointed out.


    "That exins it, then. The ck coffin was split into three, as was the karmic altar."


    "Only the hegemon of the era will obtain a karmic altar. I''d believe in the authenticity of these ims," the Divine Emperor surmised.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly recalled that the Venerable Buddha had invoked an altar while fighting Yin Shenhua. At the time, Xiao Nanfeng had believed that to be the primordial altar, but that now no longer seemed to be the case. It must have been the Venerable Buddha''s own karmic altar, which had a connection to the primordial altar of yore.


    "We can''t trust the inscribed ount fully. It can only serve as reference," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?"


    "Why would this supposed hegemon leave a tombstone behind but not reveal his name? What''s more, isn''t this tombstone rather extraneous? If he really could revive, why would he need others to reunite the three coffins for him? What''s the point of informing cultivators of subsequent eras about all this?"


    The Divine Emperor frowned and nodded. "You''re right. Even the ancestral zombie that I''ve trapped in the Divine Emperor''s bell doesn''t seem all that intelligent. Could a former hegemon of the era have been suppressed by Emperor Feng for so long?"


    "How did you feel during the process of attuning to this ck coffin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Perhaps no one has attuned to it fully before. It had a very strange feel to me. There were signs that Emperor Feng had attuned to it at a superficial level, but nothing deeper. Emperor Feng''s supposed ck coffin physical body invoked only the barest hint of a connection."


    "Oh?"


    "Perhaps I''ll have to attune to all three coffins simultaneously. This single ck coffin isn''t a coherent whole, which may exin Emperor Feng''s and others'' failure."


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed thoughtfully. "I suspect that the saint ced that ck coffin at the Southeastern Aquatic Pce not just to lure cultivators in and zombify them, but also to fish out the bearers of the other two ck coffins. The saint must want to unify all three coffins as well."


    "It''s very likely. Thank goodness you didn''t bring this ck coffin over, or the saint might have homed in on you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in relief.


    "Right, how should we deal with this ancestral zombie in the bell? It may be acking portion of the true ancestral zombie¡ªthe consciousness of this supposed hegemon hasn''t been restored."


    "Do you want an avatar?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t need one, let alone one with the w described in the tombstone."


    Xiao Nanfeng tilted his head. "Do you think it''d be possible for me to make Ye Sanshui into an ancestral zombie?"


    The Divine Emperor blinked and nodded. "It''s viable."


    "Good. Since this coffin is ultimately linked to the ancestral zombie, as a precaution, let''s carry out the attunement outside."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Dayster, in the ptial valley of Shenfeng''s capital, ck smoke surged into the air as a formation blocked anyone from observing what was happening from afar.


    Ye Dafu and the others were standing vigntly on guard within the valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor had left the ck coffin and secured it. Before them was Blue Lantern, who had just arrived at the scene.


    "Blue Lantern, release Ye Sanshui," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Blue Lantern nodded and retrieved a small bottle. He upended it, causing a blue ball of light to float out from within. The ball of light was being nurtured and held together by energy from a draconic vein.


    As Blue Lantern cast a technique, the blue ball of light resolved into Ye Sanshui''s form. There were more cracks across his body now, and it was evident he wouldn''tst long.


    "Your Majesty!" Ye Sanshui bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Ye Sanshui, I''ve acquired a cursed effigy''s spiritual avatar with which you can exist in symbiosis. However, this cursed effigy is particrly domineering, and you''ll have to focus intently during the assimtion," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "I understand. As you will, Your Majesty," Ye Sanshui said.


    Xiao Nanfeng was worried about Ye Sanshui''sck of mental fortitude owing to his limited cultivation. To bolster him, he continued, "I''ve investigated the matter of the assassination carefully. Your wife waspletely clueless about what had happened. She''s innocent. She''s been particrly attentive to her unborn child as ofte, and she murmurs your name all the time. You must live on. Don''t make your wife a widow, and don''t make your unborn child lose a father."


    Ye Sanshui''s eyes glimmered with tears. "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    He didn''t believe that his wife was involved, but having it confirmed as a certainty was still a huge relief. At the same time, his longing toward his wife and child deepened.


    "Blue Lantern, you''ll assist Ye Sanshui in assimting with the ancestral zombie''s body. This is the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade. The majority of its energy has been drained, but the remaining should suffice," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Blue Lantern took the piece of jade with an astonished expression. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was particrly capable and efficient, but this was ridiculous! Blue Lantern himself had been considering ordinary cursed effigies which would be suitable hosts for Ye Sanshui, but Xiao Nanfeng had already prepared an ancestral zombie and a Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade in a matter of days."


    "I understand." Blue Lantern nodded.


    The Divine Emperor manipted her bell, releasing the golden-crowned zombie king.


    The golden-crowned zombie king roared as it tried to break free from the Divine Emperor''s bell. Unfortunately for it, the bell continued to immobilize it with bursts of golden soundwaves, freezing it in ce.


    Then, with a finger, the Divine Emperor sent a beam of ck energy straight toward the back of the golden-crowned zombie king''s head.


    The golden-crowned zombie king screeched in pain, but to no avail.


    Blue Lantern immediately ced the piece of rainbow jade over its head and activated it. An incredible burst of energy pierced through its head.


    "Enter, Ye Sanshui!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    With a wave of his hand, he sent Ye Sanshui''s shattered soul into the golden-crowned zombie king''s mindscape.


    Ye Sanshui shouted in pain the moment he entered. Clearly, it wasn''t going to be easy to exist in symbiosis with the golden-crowned zombie king.


    "Your cultivation is too weak, so the assimtion process will be particrly painful," Xiao Nanfeng said. "You need to bear with the pain. Don''t let it deter you. Think of your wife and child."


    Ye Sanshui gritted his teeth and howled. He continued to forge onward despite the pain, risking his life to assimte with the golden-crowned zombie king.


    The rainbow jade''s energy surged madly into the golden-crowned zombie king''s body as more cracks developed over its surface.


    After almost an hour, drained of all its energy, the rainbow jade dissipated in the form of a cloud of powder.


    The golden-crowned zombie king had stopped struggling by then. Its eyes were closed and its body unmoving.


    Blue Lantern cautiously released his grip, and the Divine Emperor stopped immobilizing it as well.


    Everything fell silent as the Divine Emperor stood guard beside Xiao Nanfeng and waited patiently.


    After an hour, the golden-crowned zombie king''s eyes suddenly opened as an incredible aura emanated from it.


    Everyone took a deep breath and stared at it warily.


    The next moment, the golden-crowned zombie king bowed down and eximed in excitement, "I, Ye Sanshui, thank Your Majesty for my new body and life!"

 Chapter 730: Emerging from the Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 730: Emerging from the Coffin</h4>


    In a secluded valley, Yang Chuan spat out a turbid breath as he opened his eyes.


    Beside him, ck Dog''s eyes lit up. He rushed forward. "Master, have you recovered?"


    "More or less," Yang Chuan replied, nodding. "Has anything happened in thesest few days?"


    "The day after we emerged from the ck coffin hidden realm, a group of cultivators made it out as well," ck Dog said.


    "Oh?"


    "Apparently, after Xiao Nanfeng lured away the zombie kings with your body, Master, the cultivators surged into the valley and saw a red-robed figure fleeing with a golden-crowned zombie king. All the cultivators gave chase."


    "That red-robed figure must be the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue."


    "He didn''t reveal himself, but many suspect that that''s the case. They chased after him for a day before a giant vortex suddenly appeared in the sky leading out of the ck coffin hidden realm. At once, many of the cultivators gave up on the chase and rushed out of the hidden realm."


    Yang Chuan frowned as he analyzed the situation. "In other words, the cultivators were bothering the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue at a crucial stage of his n. To prevent them from chasing after and disturbing him further, he had no choice but to reveal the exit to the hidden realm and allow them out."


    "That''s what we suspect. The exit closed after just half a day, and many cultivators who weren''t able to flee in time were trapped within. Then, yesterday, a Boundless Immortal cloaked in ck fog emerged from the ck coffin, knocking aside those surrounding him before flying away."


    Yang Chuan cursed. "Damn the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue."


    "Master, plenty of us died in the ck coffin hidden realm, and the rest are worried about you. They keep asking me for more information. Shall I inform them that you''re well?"


    Grief flitted across Yang Chuan''s face. "Let''s go. I''ll pay their families a visit myself."


    "Master, you aren''t to me for the deaths," ck Dog said immediately.


    Yang Chuan shook his head and didn''t speak. He flew off with ck Dog.


    In the capital of Hongyue, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue suddenly reappeared.


    "You''re finally back, Husband! I''m afraid I''ve ruined things," Tu Jiuniang cried out.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Tu Jiuniang recounted what had happened in his absence.


    "You all lost?" The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue frowned.


    "I did. To think the Demon Child would side with Xiao Nanfeng! The Divine Emperor was slightly stronger than I was, but she''s sure to be no match for you, Husband. It''s just her relic that''s the problem. That bell was so strong that it crippled my Bloodbell Aegis."


    "The Demon Child''s not a concern. As for the Divine Emperor, she reminds me of a powerful cultivator of the same name who was active fifty thousand years ago. She may have revived as a cursed effigy, but it''s true that her strength pales inparison to mine. She''s not a huge problem either. I''ll finish her off quickly enough."


    "Was your scheme in the ck coffin hidden realm a sess?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    "There were a few small issues, but things ultimately worked out. After I make a few more arrangements, we''ll be in control of a zombie army. It''s a pity that I had to release arge number of cultivators thanks to that meddlesome Yang Chuan, though."


    "I heard that a few of the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court perished in the ck coffin hidden realm. It''s no small matter, and you''ll be enemies with Yang Chuan, himself the Southern Aspect, from now on. What if he takes advantage of the situation to bring down the Imperial Court on us?" Tu Jiuniang eximed in worry.


    "The zombies were the ones who killed the cultivators. It''s none of my business, and it''s not as if I forced them to enter the ck coffin hidden realm to begin with," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue replied disdainfully.


    "But Yang Chuan knows that you''re responsible! What if he starts keeping an eye on us?"


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue pursed his lips. "We can''t allow that, of course. Isn''t Tu Feng a Martial Aspect himself? Have him handle any negative attention."


    "My third brother? It took him tremendous effort to get a position as a Martial Aspect. If he''s exposed, wouldn''t our ns in the Imperial Court go to waste?"


    "I don''t intend to have him expose himself. Rather, get him more power in the Imperial Court. Didn''t a few Martial Aspects die? We''ll help supplement their number, then. They''ll listen to Tu Feng and take on Yang Chuan."


    "You really have thought of everything, Husband." Tu Jiuniang smiled.


    "That said, don''t expect Tu Feng to be able to remain hidden for long. Perhaps he''s already been exposed," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue said.


    "Oh?"


    "He was responsible for protecting the Southeastern Aquatic Pce several times, and we sent Li Qianjun to assist the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. There''s a clear connection between us and the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. What''s more, I asked him to change his surname before sneaking into the Imperial Court, but he insisted on using the surname Tu. That''s only going to deepen his association with us through you."


    Tu Jiuniang grimaced. "I apologize. My third brother was stubborn, and I couldn''t change his mind."


    Dayster, in Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng rested on a grassy slope as the Divine Emperor peeled some fruit beside him. She fed them to him one after another.


    "No, no more! I''m going to be a pig," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "I like seeing you eat. I''m going to make you fat!"


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled over and kissed the Divine Emperor. "How dare you! It seems like I''ll have to teach you a lesson."


    "Don''t," the Divine Emperor said, blushing. "We''re outside, and there are quite a few pce maidens around who might see."


    "I''ll just hug you. Will that do?"


    The Divine Emperor inclined her head fractionally.


    "I''m surprised Ye Sanshui beating up his nephew rather than returning to his wife and unborn child now that he''s been granted a new lease on life," the Divine Emperor murmured,ughing.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "As a zombie, he''d scare his wife to death. Far better for him to beat up Ye Dafu and the others to train them and familiarize himself with his newfound body. He''ll need to gain control over it if he wants to manipte his form at will."


    "And once he acquires that control, we''ll have anotherbat-ready asset to assist us in taking on the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue," the Divine Emperor replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Don''t worry. There''s no rush. We''ll have to digest the territory we just imed during the war, first. It''s important to make sure that the empire''s stable before we take on external powers, or others might easily take advantage."


    The Divine Emperor nodded again.


    "From the news we received, it seems like the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue seeded, after all. All the zombies in that ck coffin hidden realm are under his control now. That''ll be problematic." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "What should we do?"


    "Many cultivators died at those zombies'' hands. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue must be fearful of exposing his army, so he won''t use it in the short term. Let mee up with a countermeasure in the meantime."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor smiled and fed Xiao Nanfeng another fruit.


    Just then, a shadow cursed effigy flew over.


    "Your Majesty," the shadow began, its head bowed, not daring to witness the affections between the Divine Emperor and her consort.


    "What''s the matter?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "There''s someone calling himself ck Dog outside hoping to meet with you, sir," the shadow said.


    The Divine Emperor nced at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Me?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised as well.


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Ao Canghai''s manor, a Martial Aspect reported, "Eastern Aspect, I heard that Yang Chuan has been visiting his dead subordinates'' families and paying his respects ever since he return. Many are praising him for his virtuous actions."


    Ao Canghai gave him a cold smile. "Five of his subordinate Martial Aspects were killed, and he suffered significant losses. He has few confidantes remaining among the Martial Aspects of the southern quadrant. Considering how badly the situation went for him, even his position as Southern Aspect might well be in question. If he doesn''t do so, the other Martial Aspects could easily revolt."


    "It really was dangerous. Two of our Martial Aspects died, too. Fortunately, they''re not in our inner circle," the Martial Aspect murmured.


    "They''re not my confidantes, so I don''t intend to protect them. Better that they die. Prepare some candidates from our side to fill their positions," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!"


    "On the Heavenly Emperor''s orders, seven new Martial Aspects are to be selected within ten days. Make your preparations quickly," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood! Right, do we need to inform Xiao Nanfeng and the others?"


    "We''re obligated to. That said, they don''t have any nominations left, so it''s hardly as if they can do anything about it. Let them know," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood!"


    Ten dayster, outside the violet drill grounds in the Sieve of Heaven, Xiao Nanfeng and his twelve golden cultivators arrived on the scene.


    Xiao Nanfeng encountered one of Ao Canghai''s subordinates helping to vet the iing candidates'' background.


    "What are you doing here, Xiao Nanfeng?" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    "I''m here to sponsor some of my nominees, of course."


    "You don''t have any nominations! How could you have any nominees?" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    "Here are seven nominations for seven nominees," Xiao Nanfeng replied, handing over seven documents for the seven golden cultivators that he pointed out.


    The Martial Aspect was taken aback. "Without a Cardinal Aspect''s approval and the agreement of ten Martial Aspects, your nominations are invalid."


    "And who says that my nominations are invalid?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "The Eastern Aspect would never have signed them. Don''t cause trouble," the Martial Aspect warned.


    "I signed them," a voice replied from behind Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Martial Aspect raised his head to see Yang Chuan walking over.


    "Southern Aspect Yang?" the Martial Aspect eximed.


    He nched. Xiao Nanfeng had sought Yang Chuan''s support, not Ao Canghai''s!


    "Well? Are these nominations invalid, as you im?" YAng Chuan demanded.


    The Martial Aspect sucked in a deep breath as he panicked. "Southern Aspect Yang, how could you help him?"


    "And why can''t I help him?" Yang Chuan replied coolly.


    Flustered, the Martial Aspect was at a loss for words.

 Chapter 731: Scamming the Heavenly Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 731: Scamming the Heavenly Emperor</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, outside the violet drill grounds, Ao Canghai red at Xiao Nanfeng. He had already written off Xiao Nanfeng''s involvement in this uing recruitment for new Martial Aspects, only to have Yang Chuan jump in at thest moment.


    He very much wanted to interrogate Yang Chuan about this decision, but Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan seemed to be having an animated conversation. He had no choice but to wait.


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "All candidates, listen up. These are the Martial Aspect banners. The two purple banners are for the two openings in the eastern quadrant, while the five red banners are for the five openings in the southern quadrant. They''ll be ced within the drill grounds. A barrier will be erected to prevent any candidates from leaving for a week. When the barrier is taken down, those candidates with banners in their possession will be new Martial Aspects."


    "Understood!" all the candidates eximed.


    With an unhappy expression on his face, Ao Canghai tossed the seven banners into the drill grounds.


    "All vetted candidates, enter the drill grounds and prepare forbat!" Ao Canghaimanded.


    "Understood!" The candidates all filtered in through the barrier, as did the seven golden cultivators.


    As they did so, they began to fight over the Martial Aspect banners. The seven golden cultivators, clearly Xiao Nanfeng''s allies, were a particr target.


    Such allied Golden Immortals were the most dangerous, after all. If the others couldn''t band together to take them down at the start, their numerical advantage would surely win out by the end of the selection process.


    "A whole week? We get to be beaten up for a whole week?"


    "These might only be Golden Immortals, but it''s a whole week''s worth of beatings!"


    "Hurry. We have to get these banners. Once we have them in hand, the others will surely keep beating us up!"


    "Really? Let''s go!"


    The seven golden cultivators shot toward the banners simultaneously as fighting broke out.


    Golden Immortals possessed incredible strength. Though the barrier of violet light was particrly resilient, it began to shake as it absorbed attacks from dozens of Golden Immortals.


    Ao Canghai retreated to a hall not far away as he observed the fighting.


    "Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates, these golden cultivators, are particrly resilient. Now that they''re all Golden Immortals, the situation doesn''t look good for us," one of Ao Canghai''s subordinates murmured.


    "It''s a seven-day process. They won''t be able tost long. Xiao Nanfeng''s too ambitious. Does he really think he''ll be able to get seven candidates through simultaneously? It''s clear that everyone else will target them. Just you wait. They''ll die one after another.


    "Yes, Eastern Aspect!"


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng stood beside Yang Chuan as they looked at the fighting unfolding within the barrier. Yang Chuan sighed. "Martial Aspect Xiao, it looks like I''ll have to trouble you again."


    "Hardly, Southern Aspect Yang. I should thank you for signing these seven rmendations on my behalf," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    Yang Chuan smiled wryly. "To be honest, the five Martial Aspects in the southern quadrant who died were all my confidantes. I''m to me for their deaths, and, more importantly, I''m seeing signs that quite a few of the Martial Aspects in the southern quadrant are being won over by other factions. If over half of them denounce me for the losses our quadrant suffered, it''s possible that I may have to give up my position."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng responded in surprise.


    "I do have other Golden Immortals I can call on to participate in the selection process, but I can''t guarantee that they''ll win. Time is tight, and trying to find so many Golden Immortals all at once will be particrly difficult, too."


    "What makes you so confident that my subordinates will be sessful?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I was going to invite the Demon Child, who''s disyed interest in being a Martial Aspect in the past. He''d just have to snatch up all the banners and hand them to my subordinates," Yang Chuan said, sighing.


    "The Demon Child''s busy," Xiao Nanfeng said, refusing him outright. "He''s in school, and education is of paramount importance. He doesn''t have time for a side job."


    Yang Chuan gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look.


    "Don''t worry. My subordinates won''t disappoint you. They''ll surely be able to im two or three, at least, but it''ll take some luck if they want to im all of them."


    "Two or three would be more than sufficient," Yang Chuan replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The selection process will take a week, and it doesn''t make sense for us to just stand here. Why don''t we petition for an audience with the Heavenly Emperor and exin what we learned in the ck coffin hidden realm?"


    "We should. I need to inform the Heavenly Emperor of my misdeeds, too." Yang Chuan nodded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng had Ye Dafu and the others continue to watch over the fighting as he left with Yang Chuan.


    In the Heavenly Emperor''s study on Mt. Kunlun, Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan sat on one side of the table as they watched Yu Fuli clean a violet longsword with a handkerchief.


    "Your Majesty, I''m to me for what happened. I thought I would be able to glean some information about the saint within the ck coffin hidden realm, not anticipating such ughter. We Martial Aspects initially scattered to investigate the realm. After two died in quick session, I noticed that something was amiss and had everyone gather¡ªonly to be caught off-guard by the seven zombie kings. I ask that you punish me, Your Majesty." Yang Chuan''s face was a mask of sorrow and shame.


    Yu Fuli continued to wipe at his sword. "You should be punished. As the Southern Aspect and leader of your subordinates, how could you be so attached to that golden bamboo scroll that you didn''t notice a thing? Or was it that you didn''t want to notice that something was wrong with that relic?"


    Yang Chuan made a pained expression. "I was enticed by the relic because it recorded a miraculous technique that might even be able to resurrect the dead. Though I felt as if something were amiss, I stubbornly clung onto the scroll and caused a huge incident. Please punish me, Your Majesty."


    Upon hearing Yang Chuan bring up his mother, Yu Fuli''s severe features softened. He sighed. "At the very least, you can keep your position as Southern Aspect for the time being. Once you avenge the dead Martial Aspects, I''ll see about your punishment."


    Yang Chuan took a deep breath. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I''ll do my best. I don''t seek any merit or recognition for my actions¡ªI simply want to avenge my brothers-in-arms."


    Yu Fuli turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "And what are you doing here with Yang Chuan? You don''t seem to have suffered any losses at all. You even benefited quite a bit from the ck coffin hidden realm, didn''t you?"


    "I came with Southern Aspect Yang to report on the traitorous saint," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Yu Fuli frowned. "You''re quite a busybody."


    After all, Yang Chuan was responsible for investigating the saint, not Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Though it wasn''t part of my duties, any threat to the Imperial Court is my responsibility," Xiao Nanfeng replied smoothly.


    Yu Fuli gave him an odd look. "Very well. What''s the matter?"


    "When I possessed Southern Aspect Yang''s physical body, I overheard the following conversation in the valley..." Xiao Nanfeng recounted what he had witnessed.


    Yang Chuan''s hands clenched into fists. "It really was a trapid by the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue! And how greedy he is, too."


    "And then?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "As for why the saint chose to expose the ck coffin and ce it in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, I believe I know his n."


    Yang Chuan frowned. "Isn''t the saint simply trying to nurture those zombies by having them take down ignorant cultivators? I''ve mentioned it in my report¡ªor is there more to it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The saint is hoping to use that ck coffin to locate two other identical ck coffins in the wild."


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan was taken aback.


    Yu Fuli, on the other hand, seemed to have been aware of this. His expression was calm and serene.


    "Your Majesty, there are three such ck coffins, a cursed effigy left behind by a hegemon of eras past. No one has yet managed to attune to the ck coffin cursed effigy; it''s particrly valuable as an unkible, indestructible body."


    Yang Chuan frowned again. "Are you confident? You can''t be spreading rumors to His Majesty."


    "I know it to be the truth. I have the second ck coffin," Xiao Nanfeng revealed.


    Yang Chuan: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the ck coffin from storage and ced it in the study.


    Yang Chuan was astonished. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was incredibly capable and often seemed to possess preternatural means, but not to such an extent. The same ck coffin that had caused him innumerable losses, Xiao Nanfeng possessed himself.


    Yu Fuli remained unruffled. "Continue."


    Xiao Nanfeng exined what had been recorded on the copper tombstone within this ck coffin.


    He didn''t want to reveal that he was in possession of the ck coffin, but he couldn''t hide it any longer.


    It was evident that the saint was looking for the two other ck coffins urgently. He might have been able to hide his possession of one for a while, but the moment Ye Sanshui''s new ancestral zombie body made an appearance, the saint would learn of it. The war between Shenfeng and Hongyue was drawing near, and Ye Sanshui would surely have to participate. At that point, he would be forced to take on the saint.


    The saint''s avatar alone had been an enemy not even the Cardinal Aspects could deal with. If he were to show himself, Xiao Nanfeng would surely be forced to give up the ck coffin¡ªand his life would be in danger as well.


    The ck coffin might as well have been a cmity, and its ability to exchange for treasures at a three-to-one value was all but useless to him. There were far better things he could do with his possessions under ordinary circumstances.


    As a result, he was hopeful that he would be able to hand the ck coffin over to Yu Fuli in exchange for some useful treasures. He was sure that Yu Fuli had plenty of rare and valuable relics, which he was eyeing.


    "How honest of you." Yu Fuli smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng cocked his head. Yu Fuli''s expression wasn''t what he had expected.


    "Your Majesty, since this ck coffin is intimately rted to the saint''s affairs, it''s my responsibility to share everything I know. It may be an artifact of priceless value, but anything is worth the Imperial Court''s stability."


    Yu Fuliughed. "Continue."


    Upon hearing Yu Fuli''sughter, Xiao Nanfeng grew rather worried. "Your Majesty, is there something wrong with what I''m saying?"


    "No, no. Keep going. I''m curious how thick-skinned you can get."


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. He sighed. Had the Heavenly Emperor noticed that something was amiss? He didn''t seem angry...


    "I and Southern Aspect Yang both have to take down the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, and our actions will surely catch the eye of the saint. I hope that I''ll be able to use this coffin as coteral to borrow a treasure of equal value from you, Your Majesty, to assist in my efforts in taking down the saint and restore peace to the Imperial Court."


    Yu Fuli''sughter grew even more uncontrolled. It took some time before heposed himself again and replied, "You want to exchange this worthless coffin for some valuable relic from me in the Imperial Court''s name? Just how desperately do you want to scam me?"


    "Hardly, Your Majesty. I propose this exchange as a loyal servant of the Imperial Court," Xiao Nanfeng pledged.


    Yu Fuli raised an eyebrow at Xiao Nanfeng in clear disbelief.


    Meanwhile, Yang Chuan nced at Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. This was the first time he had seen anyone attempt to scam the Heavenly Emperor. If nothing else, Xiao Nanfeng had guts.

 Chapter 732: Seven New Martial Aspects

    <h4>Chapter 732: Seven New Martial Aspects</h4>


    Within his study, Yu Fuli began, "I know about the ck coffins and the conspiracy they represent. It''s nothing good, and I don''t need a ck coffin of my own."


    "Ah..." Xiao Nanfeng stiffened.


    Had he failed in trying to persuade Yu Fuli, then? If he weren''t able to exchange his ck coffin for a rare treasure, then this was all but a wasted trip.


    "As for the saint you''ll be facing, I can grant you my heart sword as a contingency." Yu Fuli tossed over the violet sword he had been wiping down.


    Xiao Nanfeng imed the sword in surprise.


    "Two attacks from my heart sword are sealed in this de. Whenever you execute an attack, I''ll be alerted."


    "I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather shaken. Yu Fuli had been wiping down the purple sword since they entered the study. Could he have been prepared to lend him the sword from the beginning? Was he already aware of his circumstances?


    "As for this ck coffin, take it with you. Use it to fish out the saint who''s been lurking about. Can you aplish that?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "Of course. I''ll do my best, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    At any rate, the Heavenly Emperor''s sword would confer him protection and serve as insurance. Yu Fuli surely had ess to more resources than he did.


    "Someone has imed that you''re treating positions in the Hall of Martial Aspects as your own possession, that you''re trying to install as many of your subordinates as Martial Aspects as you can," Yu Fuli suddenly said.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Your Majesty, I¡ª"


    Yu Fuli waved a hand to cut off Xiao Nanfeng. "I don''t mind your subordinates taking those positions, but if they do so, I expect them to avenge the deceased Martial Aspects as quickly as possible. Don''t let others find an excuse to lodge aint about you."


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that Yu Fuli intended to protect him. He bowed. "Absolutely, Your Majesty."


    "Dismissed." Yu Fuli nodded as the two cultivators bowed and retreated from the study.


    As they left, Yang Chuan gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "I''ve never seen anyone try to scam His Majesty. Martial Aspect Xiao, you really are quite something."


    "Hardly, Southern Aspect Yang. His Majesty is more than happy to support us if we''re acting on his behalf for the good of the Imperial Court," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    Southern Aspect Yang rolled his eyes. Xiao Nanfeng really was thick-skinned if he could spout such rubbish.


    "There''s plenty of time before the new Martial Aspects'' selectiones to an end. Why don''t we find somewhere to have tea as we discuss how to deal with the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well." Yang Chuan epted readily.


    The two cultivators left together.


    A week passed by in the blink of an eye.


    The seven golden cultivators were beaten to an inch of their lives, but they refused to give up the banners in their possession. They focused entirely on defense, allowing the gathered Golden Immortals tounch whatever attacks they could. The spectators watched on in shock.


    "Are these cultivators still human? Their physical bodies are as strong as relics!"


    "They''ve been beaten ck and blue, but they''re still clinging on to those banners for dear life..."


    "Are they trying to exhaust their opponents to death?"


    This was the strangest Martial Aspects'' selection that the spectators had ever seen.


    Eighteen Golden Immortals were ganging up on seven golden cultivators, with roughly 2.5 Golden Immortals per cultivator. All eighteen were injured to some extent, but the seven golden cultivators were clearly the worst off.


    "Time''s up!" an official of the Imperial Court shouted.


    "No! I can still fight. I''m going to beat them to death!"


    "Can''t we fight just a little longer? Just another day and these golden cultivators will be done for!"


    "They won''t be able to hold out much longer. Another day¡ªno, half a day would be good enough!"


    The eighteen Golden Immortals cried out in dismay, but to no avail. Yang Chuan had already stepped through the barrier.


    "Time''s up! The new Martial Aspects have been selected. If you continue attacking one another, the punishment is death!" Yang Chuan dered.


    The eighteen Golden Immortals gritted their teeth and clenched their fists, but didn''t dare strike the seven golden cultivators any longer.


    "Eastern Aspect Ao, why don''t you announce the results of the selection?" Yang Chuan turned to Ao Canghai.


    Ao Canghai''s face was distorted in fury. He had guessed that the other candidates would gang up on Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates, but not that they would be able to withstand all the attacks directed their way. How could they survive a barrage of attacks from eighteen Golden Immortals for a whole week and emerge unscathed?


    None of his own candidates had managed to acquire a banner, a devastating opportunity lost.


    "Where are the Martial Aspect banners?" Ao Canghai called out.


    The seven golden cultivators stumbled up. They really had been beaten to within an inch of their lives, and even the simplest of movements was starting to prove prohibitively difficult. Even so, they pulled out the wrinkled banners they had protected with their bodies.


    "Here!" the golden cultivators eximed.


    Ao Canghai''s face was dour. "Then you seven candidates shall now be Martial Aspects. Head to the Hall of Martial Aspects in three days'' time to receive your new titles."


    "Understood!" the seven golden cultivators chorused.


    Ao Canghai made a sharp turn and was just about to stalk off when someone called him back. "Eastern Aspect Ao!"


    Ao Canghai turned to see Xiao Nanfeng walking toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are lucky, aren''t you?" Ao Canghai''s eyes shed with barely concealed fury.


    "Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have managed to avoid Snowborne''s assassination attempt." Xiao Nanfeng smiled thinly.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes, but his expression didn''t otherwise change. "It looks like you''ve made quite a few enemies. You ought to be careful."


    "Eastern Aspect Ao, do you know who issued a bounty on me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I would hardly know, Martial Aspect Xiao," Ao Canghai replied.


    "Naturally. You would hardly be acquainted with whoever was petty enough to do so, Eastern Aspect Ao. If you did know, you would already have taken revenge on my behalf."


    "Are you trying to use me?" Ao Canghai demanded coldly.


    "Hardly. I simply wanted to ask for your advice, Eastern Aspect."


    "With that attitude of yours? Xiao Nanfeng, you''re a Martial Aspect of the eastern quadrant, and you answer to me. If you treat me with such disrespect, expect reprisal in kind."


    "Try it and see," Xiao Nanfeng spat out.


    Ao Canghai red at Xiao Nanfeng, who met his gaze and refused to flinch. In the end, Ao Canghai whirled around and strode off.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimly watched Ao Canghai leave.


    "Martial Aspect Ao, why bother provoking Ao Canghai? He''s a Cardinal Aspect. Doing so in public is particrly disadvantageous for you," Yang Chuan said.


    "I was hoping to verify something, and I have." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He had only been about 80% confident that Ao Canghai was the one who had ced a bounty on his head via Snowborne before the conversation. Now, he was sure of it.


    If not for Ao Canghai''s guilty conscience, he would surely have reported Xiao Nanfeng''s provocation to the Heavenly Emperor as an opportunity to take him down a peg or two. There could only be one exnation as to why Ao Canghai didn''t do so: because Xiao Nanfeng''s usation was right on the mark. If the Heavenly Emperor were to investigate, he would be found to be the guilty party.


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan was taken aback.


    "Let''s go. I''ve gotten what I came for, and there''s no need to remain here any longer. There are still three days remaining before my subordinates can formally be Martial Aspects. Who knows what''ll happen in the meantime? We can''t allow their hard work to go to waste."


    He nced at Martial Aspect Tu Feng, who was in the vicinity.


    Yang Chuan nced where Xiao Nanfeng was looking. Martial Aspect Tu Feng immediately spun around and walked off.


    "Did you sense killing intent from Martial Aspect Tu Feng?" Yang Chuan whispered.


    "No," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "He hides his emotions well, but his surname is Tu, as is the Hongyue empress''. Not only that, he backed the Southeastern Aquatic Pce in the past and is clearly against you. Those factors, considered together, make him particrly suspicious."


    "Oh? You know quite a bit about the Martial Aspects of the southern quadrant..."


    "If my subordinates are to assist you, I naturally have to learn about your situation. There''s more than meets the eye to Martial Aspect Tu Feng, I''m afraid."


    Yang Chuan nodded. "Let''s go. I''ll guard your seven subordinates personally. No one will dare attempt anything funny with me around."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Ye Dafu and the others supported the golden cultivators as they left alongside Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan.


    In the distance, in a pavilion high up in the mountains clouded with fog, Martial Aspect Tu Feng watched Xiao Nanfeng''s party leave with an annoyed expression on his face. Behind him stood two Golden Immortals who had been candidates in the recent Martial Aspects'' selection.


    "Martial Aspect Tu Feng, we really did our best. Those golden cultivators were impossible to defeat. They were forced to give up the banners several days ago, but after recuperating, they worked together to im them all and have defended them since. The eighteen of us had to be on guard against each other, so we couldn''t use our full strength against them," one of the Golden Immortals said.


    Martial Aspect Tu Feng sighed. "Forget it. I''ll report this matter to the Immortal Emperor. It''s not your fault."


    "Are we still going to make a move, then?" the other Golden Immortal asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s on high alert. No one will be able to strike at his subordinates now," Martial Aspect Tu Feng said.


    "But¡ª"


    "We''re in the Sieve of Heaven. You''re wee to try regardless if you want to die."


    "Understood!" the two Golden Immortals replied, despite their apparent frustration. "We wouldn''t dare."


    Three dayster, in the Hall of Martial Aspects, the seven golden cultivators stood beaming in excitement. They had recovered from the bulk of their injuries, and their cultivation had even advanced as a result of the beating they had suffered.


    An official of the Imperial Court announced, "By the will of the heavens, the Heavenly Emperor deres..."


    As the official read out the edict, fortune gushed down from the sea of fortune atop Mt. Kunlun and shot into the seven golden cultivators'' bodies, then transformed into seven dragons that surged back toward the sea.


    The seven golden cultivators were now officially Martial Aspects who would be filling in the seven vacancies in the eastern and southern quadrant, two in the east and five in the south.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched over them as they finished the paperwork.


    In another hall, the seven golden cultivators imed their respective manor keys from Ao Canghai and Yang Chuan.


    Ao Canghai red at his two golden cultivators throughout the process, while Yang Chuan shot his five a sunny smile. The contrast enraged Ao Canghai to no small extent.


    Just then, Ye Dafu said, "Eastern Aspect, our half-year grace period is almost up. We''d like to ept our own Martial Aspect tasks."


    "It''s not time yet, is it?" Ao Canghai frowned.


    He hadn''te up with dangerous and life-threatening tasks for them just yet.


    Yang Chuan jumped in from the side. "Martial Aspects are more than wee to ept tasks before their grace period is up. Coincidentally, there are a few in the Hall of Martial Aspects right now. ept them at your leisure."


    "I''ll pick the fourth!"


    "And I the sixth!"


    Ye Dafu''s five-person group immediately began picking out their own tasks.


    "Oh? It looks like I was the one who issued all the tasks you picked. That makes things much simpler, then. You won''t need Eastern Aspect Ao''s help with those. I can assign them to you myself." Yang Chuan smiled.


    Ao Canghai frowned. He knew that this was a ploy that Yang Chuan and Ye Dafu had set up, but there was nothing he could do about it.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, don''t you think you''re overreaching?" Ao Canghai demanded.


    "Hardly, Eastern Aspect Ao. I''m simply acting ording to our rules." Yang Chuan smiled.


    Ao Canghai snorted in disgust as he flew off.

 Chapter 733: A Zombies Weakness

    <h4>Chapter 733: A Zombie''s Weakness</h4>


    Two monthster, within a hall in the ptial valley at Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor were going through a few documents together.


    "The hundred Immortal cities and twenty thousand ordinary cities are all in good order now. There''s been a few spots of trouble here and there, but we dealt with them quickly. It''s clear the people appreciate our reforms by andrge. Look at how much the sea of fortune above Shenfeng''s capital has grown! It''s ten times its original size," the Divine Emperor eximed.


    The sea of fortune overhead roiled like a raging ocean, as if a giant beast were frolicking within.


    "It''s not yet sufficient. Without first materializing a golden dragon of fortune, we won''t be able to contend for the world. Our enemies are going to be eyeing us, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "But the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue hasn''t made a move recently, has he?" the Divine Emperor replied.


    "Hardly. There are plenty of his spies in Shenfeng, and I''m sure some of his people have made it through our screening. We''ve been recruiting officials for two whole months, after all."


    "How do you know?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "Didn''t we detect a few recently? They might as well be drops of water in an ocean. We''ve been prioritizing talent over all else. If I were the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, I''d try to funnel spies into Shenfeng en masse, too."


    "What should we do, then?"


    "Don''t worry. As long as the people are on our side, all will be well. People are the bedrock of empire, and officials the end product. We just need to focus on the people. Officials can be changed at will. As long as our systems are rigorous enough, they''ll merely be cogs in the machine. If they dare overstep their bounds, the people themselves will report and deal with them."


    "No wonder you''ve set up this intricate system of checks and bnces. Anyone can report officials who vite the powers of their station, and they''ll be rewarded generously if the usations prove to be true."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "There will be false positives, of course, but none of the spies who have snuck into Shenfeng will be able to do anything untoward without their actions being noticed. Then, once we take down Hongyue, we can flush them out."


    "The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s ns will bepletely foiled, then," the Divine Emperor murmured.


    "He''s ambitious and ruthless, and a rather talented strategist himself. Once he discovers that his spies are ineffective, he''ll surely counterattack. We''ll have a hard time dealing with things then."


    "The best defense is offense. Should we dere war right now?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. "We''re still missing an opportunity and a motive. Yang Chuan has been gathering evidence of the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s misdeeds and securing the cooperation of his enemies. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is a dangerous foe at the moment with his seven zombie kings. Let''s wait a little and amass more strength for now."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Just then, a shadow rushed into the hall. "Your Majesty, Ye Dafu and the other generals seek an audience."


    "Have them enter."


    "Understood!" The shadow backed off.


    Very quickly, the twelve golden cultivators stepped into the hall. A figure cloaked in ck fog followed after them.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve finished our respective Martial Aspect tasks," Ye Dafu reported.


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "Yang Chuan specifically picked out easy tasks for you. Considering you have a Boundless Immortal by your side, I would be more surprised if you couldn''t."


    "We were lucky to have Third Uncle with us. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have been able to take down the Immortal spirits of those five spiritbeastirs simultaneously," Ye Dafu agreed.


    "Ye Sanshui, have you familiarized yourself with your new form?" Xiao Nanfeng asked the cloud of ck fog.


    The golden-crowned zombie king dispelled the cloud of ck fog cloaking me. Although its appearance had changed a little, it still didn''t look quite like Ye Sanshui.


    Ye Sanshui smiled wryly. "To some extent, Your Majesty, but it''ll take me more time to be able to change my appearance at will."


    "Have you not returned to your home at all?"


    "I have a few times in secret. My wife is doing well, and I didn''t dare show my face. I''m worried that she''ll receive a big shock if I reveal myself. She doesn''t know that I''ve been back, but I can tell that she misses me. I don''t know how to console her."


    "Why don''t you write her a letter?"


    "Ah¡ªyou''re right, Your Majesty! I forgot!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Third Uncle, maybe you''ve grown less intelligent because you''re in a zombified body now," Ye Dafu said, chuckling.


    Ye Sanshui faux-pped his nephew on the head. "If you''re so intelligent, why didn''t you remind me?"


    Ye Dafu: ...


    Ye Sanshui shook his head, then turned back to Xiao Nanfeng. "Your Majesty, though I haven''t fully attuned to this ancestral zombie''s body, I believe there''s something wrong with it."


    "Hm?"


    "I feel as if I''m growing weaker and weaker every moment. It''s as if there''s some w in my body from which energy is leaking." Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "Are you certain?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. It''s not obvious at the moment, but the losses will surely umte over time."


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor strode forward to inspect Ye Sanshui''s body. The Divine Emperor wiped at her eyes as they released a sh of ck light.


    "Indeed. With my mind''s eye, I can tell that Ye Sanshui''s body is leaking an almost indiscernible quantity of ck smoke. It''s rather like that from the ck coffin," the Divine Emperor confirmed.


    "Let''s go back to the ck coffin hidden realm and have a look, then. Ye Dafu and the rest of you, guard us!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" the golden cultivators chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the ck coffin. The Divine Emperor activated it, and the three cultivators stepped within.


    Inside the ck coffin hidden realm, Ye Sanshui reported, "Your Majesty, I don''t feel like I''m leaking energy anymore."


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "Indeed. This hidden realm is filled with ck smoke, which is surrounding Ye Sanshui."


    "I get it now. No wonder we haven''t seen any of the zombies under the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''smand in thesest three months. I thought he was simply being prudent, but it''s more like they can''t leave the ck coffin."


    "Are those zombies like Ye Sanshui?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "They''re the same type of cursed effigy. I''m sure of it. Even Ye Sanshui''s ancestral zombie body will weaken outside of this hidden realm, let alone the weaker ones. The moment they leave the ck coffin, they''ll be on a timer. This is the crucial downside of such zombies," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    "Ye Sanshui, is it possible for you to prevent this energy loss outside the ck coffin?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "There does seem to be a way," Ye Sanshui replied.


    "Oh?"


    "Killing people. The ancestral zombie''s body is urging me to bite people. I''ve been resisting the impulse. I did bite arge spirit and devour its soul and blood, which made me feel much morefortable, though it didn''t curb the loss of my energy. I injected zombifying venom into the spirit, transforming it into a zombie that would obey me. In a month, the ck blood I injectedpletely changed its body structure and reforged it into a pure zombie. After I devoured it, I discovered that it gave off much more ck blood than I injected. When it surged back into my body, it replenished much of my losses."


    "In other words, if you want to maintain a reservoir of strength, you''ll have to kill others and transform them into low-grade zombies, then devour those zombies?" Xiao Nanfeng confirmed.


    "Yes, and very many of them. If a few spirits were enough to counteract the loss, I wouldn''t have reported it, Your Majesty, but I believe I''ll have to zombify arge number of spirits in order to reach equilibrium. I''m worried that I''ll develop an innate bloodthirst."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Well done. This is crucial information."


    The Divine Emperor frowned. "Perhaps this is the w that the copper tombstone mentioned. Could it be a w deliberately left by the heavens?"


    "I''m not sure. Perhaps it was deliberate on the part of the ancestral zombie," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The Divine Emperor nodded. That hypothesis was possible, too.


    "But if the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s zombies have the same problem, then that''s excellent news for us." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed thoughtfully. "I may have a strategy to take down the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue. Let me think about it a little. We may be able to strike at Hongyue soon."


    Ye Sanshui and the Divine Emperor''s eyes brightened.


    Dayster, in a certain Immortal sect, a group of disciples saw a letter in their sect master''s hands.


    "Sect Master, is that an invitation from Yang Chuan? What does he want us to do?" a disciple asked.


    "Seven Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court have perished. Yang Chuan, Xiao Nanfeng, and other Martial Aspects are inviting the friends and family of the cultivators who perished in the ck coffin hidden realm to discuss matters of revenge," the sect master replied.


    "A Cardinal Aspect of the Imperial Court is getting involved? This must be serious, then. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is going to have a bad time," one disciple eximed.


    "Sect Master, should we participate? If Yang Chuan is intending to wage war against the divine empire of Hongyue, we''re going to be nothing more than cannon fodder," another disciple said, frowning.


    "What do you mean, cannon fodder? We''re going to take revenge for our fallen seniors!"


    The disciples of the sect quickly split up into two camps, those who wanted to join in and those who didn''t.


    In the end, the sect master stepped forward. "Our sect has suffered tremendous losses, and we cannot afford to take risks at this point in time. Even so, let''s head to this meeting and figure out what their n is. If the situation is favorable to us, we''ll participate. If they just want us to serve as cannon fodder, then we won''t."


    All the disciples nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 734: Lou Yujing

    <h4>Chapter 734: Lou Yujing</h4>


    In the imperial study of Hongyue, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue frowned as he perused a set of reports and articles. Beside him, Tu Jiuniang peeled him some grapes and tenderly fed them to him.


    "Is there something on your mind, Husband?" Tu Jiuniang asked, seeing her husband''s frown.


    "The spies we sent to Shenfeng are useless," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue spat out.


    "Oh? But haven''t they made their way into various cities all across the Shenfeng Empire? They''ll easily be able to make a mess of the administration on yourmand, Husband. Could they all have been discovered?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "No¡ªit''s a matter of the policies that Shenfeng devised. They''repletely bound to their roles, and they''re unable to do anything beyond what they''re responsible for. What''s more, themon people can report any officials they see acting suspiciously. Our spies can''t do anything¡ªno, they''re only serving to help Shenfeng!"


    "How does Shenfeng retain its officials, then?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Shenfeng is emting the Dazheng Empire and grants its recruited officials high wages. They receive generous remuneration for fulfilling their roles and nothing beyond it."


    "That damn Xiao Nanfeng," Tu Jiuniang gritted out. "He must have deliberately allied with the Divine Emperor. He''s trying to go against us at every turn!"


    "This isn''t the worst of it. Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan have convened a gathering of our enemies and are intending to take me on together."


    "They would dare?!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "They sent out invitations en masse. Have a look," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue said, passing her a few documents.


    Tu Jiuniang immediately began scanning the documents herself. "Husband, they''re inviting the cultivators to take revenge, but the zombies were the ones responsible for their deaths, not us!"


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue shook his head. "They''re not fools. I may not have yed an obvious role, but I was the first to lure them into the ck coffin hidden realm. Many know that I''m likely the one to me."


    "What do we do, then?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Don''t worry. They don''t have any conclusive evidence¡ªthey wouldn''t dare attack me out of nowhere. What''s more, the strongest cultivators are the ones most likely to have perished. Those who remain are nothing more than weaklings. We''d easily be able to take them on," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue said confidently.


    "Of course, Husband. I can''t imagine any of them would be a match for you!" Tu Jiuniang said with reverence.


    "However, they intend to meet in the vicinity of the ck coffin, which may prove troublesome. My zombies are still within the ck coffin, after all." The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue narrowed his eyes.


    "Husband, are you worried Yang Chuan is plotting something?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue shook his head. "No. Yang Chuan isn''t much of a concern. I''m worried about Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "I didn''t expect someone like Xiao Nanfeng to emerge from the husk of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    "He''s only a True Immortal, isn''t he? Why worry yourself over him?"


    "Don''t underestimate him. He took down a divine empire by himself."


    "What? But¡ª"


    "No buts. Cultivators who are nothing but brawn aren''t fearful at all, but Xiao Nanfeng isn''t one such. He''s far too intelligent and far too skilled. The divine empire of Dayin isn''t particrly strong, but think about what limited reserves of strength Xiao Nanfeng possessed at the time! How could someone like him take down Dayin? Not long ago, Yuan Wudi and Li Qianjun personally attempted to destroy Yongding, only to return crippled. You can''t underestimate someone like him. I then had Tu Fengpete for some of the new Martial Aspect openings, only to have Xiao Nanfeng im them all. What''s more, though the Divine Emperor''s the one who leads Shenfeng, Xiao Nanfeng clearly ys an instrumental role in the empire. He''s a particrly dangerous foe."


    "Are you worried that Xiao Nanfeng''s nning something?" Tu Jiuniang asked in worry.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue nodded. "He might only be a True Immortal, but he emerged unscathed from the ck coffin hidden realm and even managed to steal the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl from Ao Canghai. We can''t leave him be."


    "What do you want to do, Husband?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    "We should take him down first."


    "You think so highly of him?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Of course."


    "I thought Yang Chuan or the Divine Emperor would be more pressing targets. To think it would be Xiao Nanfeng..."


    "Yang Chuan and the Divine Emperor are threatening, but I know how to deal with their like. Xiao Nanfeng might look weak, but his decisions surprise and perplex me. I don''t like such surprises. He''s the most dangerous element at y, so I''ll have to deal with him first. My intuition has never been wrong," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue dered.


    "I believe you. Xiao Nanfeng it is." Tu Jiuniang nodded firmly.


    Where the Southeastern Aquatic Pce had once been, all sorts of halls and buildings had been rebuilt around the ck coffin. Yang Chuan''s subordinates and the golden cultivators were weing the guests and invitees who were streaming in. Meanwhile, Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng were having tea in a nearby hall.


    "Do you really think we''ll be able to fish out the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue this way?" Yang Chuan asked curiously.


    "Don''t worry. I''m confident," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You''d better be careful. You can only cast that heart sword twice, and you''re only a True Immortal. Boundless Immortals can evade your attack if they''re really so inclined," Yang Chuan warned.


    "I''ll keep that in mind." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''ve only managed to gain the support of a few allies who are willing to take on the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, whereas you''re already making a move. No wonder the Heavenly Emperor thinks highly of you. You really do act quickly," Yang chuan murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Don''t think too much of your supposed allies, or even the cultivators here today. They''re actingrgely for their own benefit. If the situation goes well, they''ll fight over the rewards; if it goes poorly, they''ll be the first to flee."


    Yang Chuan''s brows furrowed. "I know, but surely it''s better than nothing?"


    "We''ll see. Let''s hope we can get something out of this." Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "I''m happy to support you to the best of my ability as long as I can avenge my brothers-in-arms."


    "In that case, let''s wait for the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue to show himself."


    Yang Chuan nodded. The two sipped at their cups of tea as they waited patiently.


    Just then, ck Dog rushed into the hall. "Master, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is here!"


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan''s eyes lit up. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "It''s as you predicted."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Let''s go greet him, then."


    Yang Chuan nodded. He stood up and strode out of the hall, Xiao Nanfeng following quickly behind him.


    As they emerged, the two Martial Aspects saw that all manner of cultivators were already present. The official meeting was ted to start the next day; all of them had arrived early.


    Some were fortunate to have escaped from the ck coffin hidden realm, while others were friends and rtives of those who had perished. They were all eyeing a group of red-armored cultivators, led by the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, coldly.


    "Lou Yujing, how dare you show yourself?!" Yang Chuan demanded.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, Lou Yujing, smiled. "I heard that you were inviting those friends and rtives of the cultivators who perished in the ck coffin hidden realm to take revenge. Why didn''t you send me an invitation, too? There are plenty of cultivators in Hongyue who perished to the zombies. I''m more than happy to take revenge alongside you."


    "The pot calling the kettle ck, I see. Aren''t you the mastermind who caused the deaths of so many cultivators?" Yang Chuan demanded.


    Everyone turned toward Lou Yujing with dark expressions on their faces.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, I advise you to choose your words wisely. Do you have any proof of your ims?"


    "I witnessed it myself in the valley containing the altar. You were in cahoots with the zombies. You even backstabbed them in order to gain full control over them!" Yang Chuan used.


    "Can anyone else corroborate these ims?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    "Who else would have seen it?" Yang Chuan demanded.


    "I know there must be a misunderstanding between us, Southern Aspect Yang. We can''t just trust you blindly. What if I were to im that you were the mastermind?"


    "You wouldn''t dare!" Yang Chuan''s gaze grew colder than ever.


    "Of course, if you insist on defaming me, I can''t stop you¡ªbut I''ll request that you not mislead other cultivators. The zombies were the ones who killed the cultivators in the ck coffin hidden realm. I''m not to me."


    "I''ll find evidence," Yang Chuan dered.


    "I await the very day," Lou Yujing replied, smiling.


    The cultivators around them frowned as they fell deep in thought.


    Then, Lou Yujing turned to Xiao Nanfeng, who was standing by Yang Chuan''s side. "Martial Aspect Xiao, I heard that everyone else suffered heavy losses in the ck coffin hidden realm except for you. You even acquired an ancestral fire dragon''s pearl!"


    Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng with a frown. They had all lost friends and rtives; how could Xiao Nanfeng have escaped unscathed? They couldn''t help but feel a sense of antipathy toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Your information must be outdated. I did obtain the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl, but was forced to return it in self-defense. The locations of all the treasure within the ck coffin hidden realm could be sensed by the zombies, you see. Surely you don''t expect that I was able to safeguard such a relic?"


    The cultivators nodded. That was a far more reasonable conclusion, and one that made them feel much better.


    Lou Yujing frowned. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was lying, but could hardly prove it.


    He red at Xiao Nanfeng, who met his gaze without flinching. The atmosphere suddenly seemed to grow tense.

 Chapter 735: Destroying the Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 735: Destroying the Coffin</h4>


    By the ck coffin where the Southeastern Aquatic Pce once was, Lou Yujing stood forward. His aura was so intense that no cultivator in the vicinity dared to use him.


    Yang Chuan attempted to step forward several times, but Xiao Nanfeng held him back.


    "Lou Yujing, how do you intend to avenge your subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "By killing the zombies, of course," Lou Yujing replied, smiling. "Will you join me?"


    "We need to consider whether you''re worth forming an alliance with. Why don''t you take the lead?"


    Lou Yujing narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng, then nodded. "Very well. Let''s have a look, then."


    "Understood!" one of Lou Yujing''s subordinates said. She strode toward the coffin.


    "Follow and observe, Ye Dafu," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Hold it!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    His subordinate stopped short.


    Lou Yujing turned coldly to Xiao Nanfeng. "What are you nning?"


    "Didn''t you ask us whether we were willing to apany you? I would be happy to do so," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a small smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions were obvious. He was sending Ye Dafu into the ck coffin hidden realm alongside Lou Yujing''s subordinate because he wanted Ye Dafu to kill thetter. Ye Dafu might very well emerge from the hidden realm the moment he killed her, without heading deep inside where the zombie kings Lou Yujingmanded were.


    "Very well, then." Lou Yujing scoffed.


    He motioned for more subordinates to head into the ck coffin.


    "All of you, enter alongside Ye Dafu," Xiao Nanfengmanded the rest of the golden cultivators.


    "Understood!" the golden cultivators chorused.


    The twelve golden cultivators would easily be able to take on Lou Yujing''s additional subordinates.


    Lou Yujing scowled. "You think yourself bold, don''t you, Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Hardly. I''m simply aware of how I should treat a traitor to the Taiqing Immortal Sect." Xiao Nanfeng looked Lou Yujing straight in the eyes and gave him a cid smile.


    The other cultivators around them quieted down. Many were aware of the enmity between Xiao Nanfeng and Lou Yujing. They couldn''t help but read killing intent into his smile.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really think I don''t dare kill you?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    "You''re wee to try."


    Lou Yujing grimaced. He nced around him, suddenly feeling as if there may be ambushes in the vicinity.


    "Wudi, you enter," Lou Yujingmanded.


    "Understood!" Yuan Wudi emerged from the back of the crowd.


    Xiao Nanfeng had seriously wounded him not too long ago. He red at Xiao Nanfeng viciously, but didn''t dare make a fuss with Lou Yujing around.


    He was a Boundless Immortal. Even Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators together wouldn''t be a match for him.


    "Southern Aspect Yang, please join them," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.


    Lou Yujing frowned. He knew how skilled Yang Chuan was, but even Yang Chuan couldn''t kill Yuan Wudi outright. As long as Yuan Wudi was able to escape deep into the ck coffin hidden realm, Yang Chuan would be outnumbered.


    Yang Chuan ought to know this as well, so what was his goal in entering alongside Xiao Nanfeng''s party?


    "Yuan Wudi, is it? Shall we head into the ck coffin hidden realm together, then?" Yang Chuan smiled.


    Yuan Wudi pursed his lips. He shot a nce at Lou Yujing, then at Xiao Nanfeng. There was surely a plot at y, but he didn''t know precisely where the trap was.


    "Yuan Wudi, why are you looking at me? Didn''t you get enough of a beating from mest time? Or do you think Lou Yujing will do something to me out here once Southern Aspect Yang enters the ck coffin hidden realm with you? Don''t worry. He wouldn''t dare. I''m a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, and he won''t kill me even if I''m standing right in front of him." Xiao Nanfeng chuckled.


    The cultivators around him swallowed a gulp of saliva. Did Xiao Nanfeng really want to die? Those who knew Xiao Nanfeng to some extent were certain that he had insurance of some sort. Just what was Lou Yujing, Xiao Nanfeng, and Yang Chuan nning?


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue frowned. He was uncertain how Xiao Nanfeng could afford to be so bold.


    "Lou Yujing, I suggest that you return to your territory. It''s not yet time for the meeting to seek revenge over what happened in the ck coffin hidden realm. We''ll find evidence as to the mastermind behind the deaths of all these cultivators and reveal him publicly, I''m sure."


    "You want me to leave?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    "You''re not wee here. Return to your pce and wait there. Once we conclude our meeting, we''ll head there to find you. I hope you don''t intend to run," Xiao Nanfeng dered boldly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really think you''re all that impressive?" Lou Yujing smirked. He rescinded his previousmands to his subordinates. "All of you, guard the coffin. I will head in personally and kill the zombies within to avenge the fallen cultivators of Hongyue."


    "Understood!" Yuan Wudi and the other cultivators chorused.


    Lou Yujing eyed Xiao Nanfeng. "You''re wee to join me if you''re interested."


    He stepped toward the ck coffin.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng simply watched on, his face dour. It was obvious that Lou Yujing was intending to secretly bring all the zombies out of the coffin.


    Yuan Wudi and the other cultivators of Hongyue surrounded the ck coffin.


    The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue stepped inside it.


    Just as everyone thought that Xiao Nanfeng had chosen to relent, Xiao Nanfeng shouted, "Attack!"


    "Die!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted, charging straight for the Hongyue cultivators.


    "Insolence!" Yuan Wudi roared, punching at the golden cultivators.


    Yang Chuan shed forward in the blink of an eye, throwing out a punch to defend against Yuan Wudi''s blow. Yuan Wudi was sent flying.


    Rather than give chase, Yang Chuan punched the ck coffin.


    "What are you doing, Southern Aspect Yang?!" the cultivators all around eximed, dismayed by his actions.


    A Boundless Immortal''s strength was incredible. Yang Chuan''s attack caused the ck coffin to crack.


    "Hold it!" Yuan Wudi shouted.


    "Die!" It was the golden cultivators'' turn to shine.


    They surrounded Yuan Wudi. Though they were sent flying one after another, they managed to hold him back. Meanwhile, Yang Chuan''s subordinates took on the rest of Hongyue''s forces.


    Yang Chuan continued to pummel the ck coffin, causing the cracks within to grow more and more numerous. The void began to ripple around the coffin, as if a formation were being activated.


    "Hurry out, Your Majesty! Yang Chuan''s trying to kill you!" Yuan Wudi roared.


    However, Lou Yujing had already vanished into the depths of the coffin, and had no idea what was going on outside.


    The cultivators gathered around the coffin were all taken aback, not expecting that this was the extent of Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan''s n. Had they intended this from the beginning? Was everything that happened beforehand a ploy to lure the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue into the coffin?


    Xiao Nanfeng turned and gave the gathered cultivators a warning nce. "Everyone, the ck coffin hidden realm is far too dangerous. It might be easy to enter, but getting out is prohibitively difficult. If we head in, we might be killed by the zombies within. Rather than waste our time taking them all down, why not destroy the ck coffin and trap all the zombies in the hidden realm? If anyone objects to my n, make your objections known now."


    The cultivators gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Was he really trying to trap the zombies? He seemed far more interested in trapping the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue.


    As Xiao Nanfeng''s cold gaze swept over them all, however, no one jumped out to defend the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue. The Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court were on one side, and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue on the other. They couldn''t afford to offend either party; why not just watch the show instead? After all, if nothing else, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue had lured their friends and rtives within, causing their deaths.


    Within moments, the ck coffin was filled with cracks. It looked as if it would shatter at any moment.


    From deep within the ck coffin, Lou Yujing suddenly thundered, "Yang Chuan, how dare you?!"


    Yang Chuan released all his energy in a staggering blow that caused the ck coffin to explode.


    After all, the saint had only fixed the ck coffin in ce and rendered it immobile, not indestructible.


    Fragments of the ck coffin shot into the air and dissipated in bursts of golden light. Where the ck coffin had once been, there was now only a huge pit.


    It wasn''t the case that the hidden realm was located within the ck coffin. Rather, the ck coffin only served as an entrance and exit.


    Xiao Nanfeng had learned long ago that all hidden realms were fixed in space. They were immobile, but entrances and exits could be affixed to various relics. The ck coffin was one such relic that was likely equipped with some sort of teleportation power that served as a portal bridging the hidden realm with physical reality.


    With the ck coffin being destroyed, that portal had now vanished as well.


    "Your Majesty!" Yuan Wudi eximed.


    The Hongyue cultivators stared at each other uncertainly. Was their Immortal Emperor truly trapped?


    The cultivators all around gaped at Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng, knowing that both of them were confident that Lou Yujing was responsible. However, they didn''t expect the two cultivators would make such a bold move. Was it that easy to trap an Immortal Emperor?


    "Did we seed?" Yang Chuan murmured. He nced at Xiao Nanfeng in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "I''m worried we haven''t. Look. What''s that?"


    Yang Chuan looked in the direction of Xiao Nanfeng''s finger to see a ck line of void flickering in the air. As it did so, the space around it pulsed.


    "It''s a spatial fold. Although the ck coffin was just destroyed, there are remnant traces of naturalw connected to its hidden realm that yet persist. Lou Yujing has found these traces and is forcibly trying to break open the spatial fold," Yang Chuan exined.


    "Surely it''s not so simple? Even Boundless Immortals were trapped inside the ck coffin hidden realm with us," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Lou Yujing''s not alone. All the zombies are under his control. With eight Boundless Immortals working together, it''s very likely that he''ll seed." Yang Chuan frowned.


    Indeed, the ck line suddenly burst open in the form of a portal. A huge shockwave of energy sent all the cultivators in the vicinity of the pit flying. Some stumbled back and spat out mouthfuls of blood.


    Meanwhile, a concentrated cloud of ck smoke erupted from the spatial fold. A fearsome aura could be felt within it.


    "He really did seed," Yang Chuan eximed. "Damn it!"


    "Your Majesty!" Yuan Wudi and the other Hongyue cultivators rushed over.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Yang Chuan, and the other cultivators grimaced as they nced at the pit, which was now surging with ck smoke. The void itself trembled as the spatial fold restored itself piece by piece. A red-robed figure emerged from the ck smoke, none other than Lou Yujing himself.


    Lou Yujing''s face was darker than any of them had ever seen it. Killing intent pulsed in his aura, and his eyes were cold and fierce.

 Chapter 736: The Zombie Army Descends

    <h4>Chapter 736: The Zombie Army Descends</h4>


    All the cultivators were arrested by Lou Yujing''s aura and intensity. Their breathing stilled; their backs turned cold.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan looked directly at Lou Yujing, neither of them intending to relent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Yang Chuan, were you trying to kill me?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    "As far as other cultivators are concerned, if I don''t stand up for them, their friends and rtives will. However, I''m duty-bound to the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. You unmasked yourself the moment you caused their deaths. If you want to fight, let''s do so directly. Dispense with the nonsense," Yang Chuan retorted.


    "Where are your zombie subordinates? Call them out!" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    All the cultivators'' eyes widened. A huge battle was about to break out.


    Lou Yujing''s killing intent red. Intense frost froze the seawater in the vicinity and caused the resulting ice to crack.


    Lou Yujing red at the gathered cultivators. He found to his surprise that Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem to fear him at all. How could that be?


    He suddenly took a deep breath, reined in his killing intent, and continued to talk.


    "As I said, you misunderstand me. The zombies have nothing to do with me, but if I make a move now, wouldn''t I simply be ying into your hands? Yang Chuan, just you wait. I''ll report what you''ve done to the Heavenly Emperor. Let''s see how he punishes you then!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    The cultivators all around were taken aback. None of them had expected Lou Yujing not to relent. How could that be?


    Lou Yujing whirled around to the void hole from which he had emerged. The damage to the void was swiftly being restored. Within moments, the hole had closed up and be a ck line. Then, even that ck line vanished as well.


    Lou Yujing''s eyes shed with annoyance. He red at the gathered cultivators, thenmanded his subordinates, "Let''s go!"


    He flew off with his subordinates in tow, cracking the ice that had formed all around them.


    Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop him. They eyed him coldly as he departed.


    The cultivators all around were perplexed by Lou Yujing''s behavior. Wasn''t a fight about to break out? Why had the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue left so suddenly?


    "Everyone, our meeting will continue as nned. We''ll start once others who have been invited arrive," Yang Chuan announced.


    "Understood!" the cultivators replied.


    Although quite a few of the buildings had been destroyed in the earlier confrontation, some were still structurally sound.


    Yang Chuan, Xiao Nanfeng, Ye Dafu, and the others headed into a hall and vanished from sight.


    Before long, one of Yang Chuan''s subordinates emerged. He flew up toward the underwater barrier, out of the sea, and into the clouds.


    Deep within cloud cover, he uncorked a gourd and shook Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan out.


    "You may return," Yang Chuan said.


    "Understood!" Yang Chuan''s subordinate bowed and retreated, while Xiao Nanfeng secured the gourd by his waist.


    Yang Chuan asked, "Do you know in which direction they set off?"


    "I had Ao Zhou''s subordinates keep watch in the vicinity. Their avatars pointed out that Lou Yujing set off in that direction. Let''s go!"


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.


    Yang Chuan flew off with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "It''s a pity that Lou Yujing didn''t attack us. Otherwise, if we had caught him off-guard, I would have been able to take him down with the Heavenly Emperor''s heart sword." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "He''s too cautious," Yang Chuan agreed.


    "It doesn''t matter, I suppose. We''ll have plenty of opportunities to strike in the future."


    Yang Chuan''s eyes shed as he nodded.


    Meanwhile, Lou Yujing was flying through the clouds with his subordinates in tow.


    Yuan Wudi''s face was a mask of rage. "Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng were deliberately targeting you, Your Majesty. They waited until they tricked you into the ck coffin before they destroyed it. If not for your overwhelming strength, you might have been trapped for good! Should we really have let them go so easily?"


    "Let them go? Hardly. My intuition simply told me not to attack them then." Lou Yujing shook his head.


    "Intuition?" Yuan Wudi eximed.


    "Now, however, our circumstances have changed. It''s time to let them pay the price for what they''ve done," Lou Yujing dered.


    He retrieved a jade bottle and shook out a zombie radiating ck smoke, the ancestral zombie that Lou Yujing''s avatar had taken over.


    The ancestral zombie flew off in a certain direction.


    "Is that zombie heading to Yongding?" Yuan Wudi asked.


    He immediately guessed that Lou Yujing had retrieved all the zombies from the ck coffin hidden realm during his short time there. They were likely all within that jade bottle.


    "Indeed. I''ll take them all down at once. The zombies will suffice to finish off Yongding. As for you, join me in Shenfeng''s capital."


    "Understood!"


    Just then, a red-armored cultivator strode forward. "Your Majesty, Hongyue''s capital is under attack by a Boundless Immortal, but the defensive formation appears to be holding up for the moment."


    "A Boundless Immortal?" Lou Yujing narrowed his eyes.


    Yuan Wuji shook his head in surprise. "How could that be? A Boundless Immortal attacking Hongyue''s capital now?"


    "With Li Qianjun stationed at the capital, there won''t be any issue in the short term. If I''m not mistaken, however, the assant is likely someone linked to Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan."


    Yuan Wudi''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "I''ll have to defend Hongyue, then. Head to Shenfeng''s capital immediately and follow Jiuniang''s orders," Lou Yujing instructed.


    "Understood!"


    Yuan Wudi and a subordinate with an avatar shot off in a certain direction while Lou Yujing and some of his subordinates with avatars headed straight for Hongyue''s capital. The other Hongyue cultivators trailed behind at a slower pace.


    Above a stretch of the sea, Xiao Nanfeng said, "Let''s continue heading to Yongding."


    "Did you receive word from your subordinates'' avatars?" Yang Chuan asked curiously.


    "I did. I had plenty of people stationed in the air. Three beams of light shot off in three different directions, likely three Boundless Immortals headed for Yongding, Shenfeng''s capital, and Hongyue''s capital," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Oh? Which Boundless Immortals are with them in addition to Lou Yujing and Yuan Wudi? The ancestral zombie?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    "That has to be it. I''ve sent Ye Sanshui to Hongyue''s capital to attack it, so Lou Yujing''s main body is likely headed there to defend it. The zombies must be off attacking Yongding. As for Shenfeng''s capital, if the Divine Emperor draws on her imperial might, there shouldn''t be any problem. We need to return to Yongding immediately."


    "Got it!" Yang Chuan replied.


    He flew off toward Yongding with Xiao Nanfeng as quickly as he could.


    Lou Yujing moved at an incredible pace. Before long, he arrived in Hongyue''s capital. He paused in the air, a howling wind trailing behind him.


    By then, the defensive formation around Hongyue was fully active. Smoke and dust filled the air.There had clearly been a hugemotion in the vicinity.


    The moment he appeared, cheers rang out all across Hongyue''s capital.


    "The Immortal Emperor is back!" someone eximed.


    Arge number of Hongyue cultivators soared into the air, with Li Qianjun in the lead.


    "We greet the Immortal Emperor!" the cultivators chorused.


    "Where''s the assant? Isn''t there a Boundless Immortal attacking the capital?" Lou Yujing asked.


    Li Qianjun frowned. "Your Majesty, a Boundless Immortal did attack. He was shrouded in ck fog and hiding his appearance. He attacked the capital for some time before fleeing into the southern forests. There hasn''t been anymotion since, but we didn''t dare leave the capital."


    "Do you know what techniques that Boundless Immortal used? Could he be the Demon Child?" Lou Yujing asked.


    "Given his stature, it''s unlikely. We couldn''t identify what techniques he used, nor who he is. He was particrly cautious," Li Qianjun reported.


    Lou Yujing furrowed his brows. "Could Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan have summoned another Boundless Immortal from the Imperial Court? Is it Ao Canghai or someone else?"


    "What do we do now, Your Majesty?" Li Qianjun asked.


    "Whoever it is must be gone by now, but they may have left some traces behind. Have someone search for clues in that forest."


    "Understood!"


    Lou Yujing headed straight for his pce. He didn''t want to take risks; a capital was of prime importance to an empire, and he had to ensure that nothing went wrong.


    High in the air above Yongding, a ck figure remained suspended in the heavens: Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie body.


    From afar, it saw blinding golden light around Yongding, which was surrounded byyer afteryer of defensive formations. 361 stars hung high overhead, beams of starlight filtering down to Yongding and empowering its defenses.


    "Xiao Nanfeng may have expected that I woulde here, but it doesn''t matter. Yongding will perish today!" the ancestral zombie dered.


    It uncorked the jade bottle it had brought along with it and upended it. ck smoke gushed out, descending from the heavens, dyeing the entire sky ck and turning day into night. Six zombie kings appeared from the smoke, trailed by arge horde of zombies.


    It was as if a portal to hell had opened up. A fearsome aura emanated from the zombies and caused the cultivators in Yongding to shudder.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar emerged from his pce in Yongding, followed by arge number of officials. They were staring at the ptich-ck sky with trepidation.

 Chapter 737: Slaying the Zombie King with the Heart Sword

    <h4>Chapter 737: ying the Zombie King with the Heart Sword</h4>


    Shenfeng''s capital suddenly entered a state of lockdown. Its defenses activated as fog gushed out around it, preventing others from observing what was urring within.


    On a mountain peak outside the city, Tu Jiuniang frowned at the sight of what was happening.


    "Your Majesty, Shenfeng''s capital suddenly activated its defenses. The situation doesn''t seem favorable to us," one of her subordinates reported.


    "Are there any spies in the capital who can report to us?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    "There are, but they can''t approach the capital. The Divine Emperor is nowhere to be seen. We don''t know why they suddenly activated their defenses."


    "Could they have learned of our n?" Tu Jiuniang murmured in worry.


    She turned to another subordinate. "Have you reported what''s going on to the Immortal Emperor?"


    "I have, Your Majesty. He said that Yuan Wudi would soon arrive to assist you. Your objective is to stall the Divine Emperor and prevent her from leaving."


    "Very well!" Tu Jiuniang nodded.


    Just then, a beam of light shot toward Tu Jiuniang from afar. Yuan Wudi had arrived at blinding speed, a sonic boom to his back.


    Tu Jiuniang flew into the air to meet up with him.


    "I am at yourmand, Your Majesty," Yuan Wudi said.


    "Attack Shenfeng''s capital immediately. Destroy it!" Tu Jiuniangmanded.


    "Understood!"


    Without any hesitation, Yuan Wudi retrieved a brand-new golden rod and cast it toward Shenfeng''s capital.


    His overpowering attack was like an avnche raining down on Shenfeng''s capital.


    Just then, the Divine Emperor''s bell floated into the air straight toward the golden rod. The rod struck the bell and caused it to toll. A golden wave of sound emanated from the bell.


    Yuan Wudi was struck by the sound wave and sent flying.


    Just then, a shadowy figure shot toward Yuan Wudi and attacked him with a palm.


    "No!" Tu Jiuniang''s eyes widened as she sent a palm technique toward the mystery assant.


    The two palm techniques exploded on contact in mid-air. Shockwaves rippled through air as Tu Jiuniang was forced back, blood seeping from her mouth.


    "You''ve grown stronger!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Are you here to die at my hand?" the Divine Emperor demanded.


    Tu Jiuniang smiled, not seeming frustrated at all. After all, her goal was to prevent the Divine Emperor from leaving to save Yongding, not to win.


    "Yuan Wudi, continue attacking!" Tu Jiuniang instructed.


    "Die!" Yuan Wudi shouted, charging forward.


    The two Boundless Immortals struck at the Divine Emperor simultaneously. The Divine Emperor, her bell in hand, raised her chin proudly and fearlessly.


    "Die!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    Her bell reverberated in the air.


    In Yongding, standing in front of the pce, the officials of Xiao Nanfeng''s court shuddered as they sensed the overwhelming aura of the horde of zombies that had surrounded Yongding.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to protect his officials.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, it feels like we''re facing seven Boundless Immortals. It''s terrifying," the Demon Child eximed.


    Even the fearless Demon Child was stupefied by the enemy before them.


    "I just need you to take down one of them. I have a n for dealing with the rest," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" the Demon Child seemed a little concerned, but he nodded.


    Even if he held one back, there would still be six remaining. How was Xiao Nanfeng going to handle them all?


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head toward the sky. "Lou Yujing, what are you trying to aplish?"


    High in the air, Lou Yujing, in an ancestral zombie''s body, red down at Xiao Nanfeng. Rather than respond, he shouted, "Destroy the city!"


    The zombies all howled simultaneously as they shot down toward Yongding.


    "Damn it!" the Demon Child cursed. He shot into the air, straight toward one of the zombie kings.


    Meanwhile, two beams of light appeared from afar.


    One struck a zombie king and forced it back. The zombie king whirled around to see Yang Chuan''s folding fan returning to his hand.


    The other beam of light was Yang Chuan himself, who threw a punch at another zombie king and sent it flying. Then, he leapt toward a third zombie king.


    "Yang Chuan? He managed to catch up?" Lou Yujing eximed.


    "Die!" The twelve golden cultivators charged forward, taking on a group of Golden Immortal zombies by themselves.


    The Demon Child held back a fourth zombie king.


    Cloaked in ck fog, Ye Sanshui shot toward the fifth zombie king and sent it flying.


    The final zombie king punched the defensive barrier around Yongding, causing the ground to shudder. Though the barrier flickered, it sessfully blocked the zombie king''s initial blow.


    High in the air, Lou Yujing frowned, his face dour. He had hardly anticipated that Dazheng would have more Boundless Immortals to call on save the Demon Child. Who was the Boundless Immortal cloaked in ck fog?


    Although Lou Yujing was surprised by Xiao Nanfeng''s preparations, there were seven Boundless Immortals in his group, versus Xiao Nanfeng''s three. There was no reason to be afraid.


    "Continue! Break through Yongding''s defenses and destroy the city!" Lou Yujingmanded.


    The zombies howled as they poured endlessly forward.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar called out, "Citizens of Dazheng, I am your emperor, Xiao Nanfeng. A horde of zombies is attempting to assault Yongding and destroy Dazheng. I ask that you raise your right hand and lend me your strength so that we may take down ourmon enemy and protect Dazheng together!"


    Within the sea of fortune overhead, a dragon roared. Xiao Nanfeng''s words were quickly transmitted to all the citizens of Dazheng.


    Over the years, the people of Dazheng had grown more and more attached to Dazheng. They valued how much their lives had improved, and they quickly responded to Xiao Nanfeng''s summons.


    "Take my strength, Your Majesty!"


    "Everyone, stop working and raise your right hands! I''ll cover any losses we suffer today!"


    "My strength for His Majesty!"


    Voices old and young, loud and soft, coarse and genteel spoke up in unison. Streams of white light flooded the air, forming an ocean of strength that melded with Yongding''s sea of fortune.


    The incredible flood of strength caused Lou Yujing to frown.


    "As if that would do anything!" he shouted.


    He too shot down toward Yongding, only to see a figure cloaked in white fog flying straight for Yongding.


    Some zombies attempted to stop him, only to have the figure send them flying.


    "Hegemon''s Fist?" Lou Yujing eximed.


    Although the figure within the white fog had tried to hide the technique he invoked, Lou Yujing was simply too familiar with Hegemon''s Fist. He instantly realized the figure''s skill with the technique andughed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s other body? Does he really think he can make it into Yongding? I''ll kill both his bodies in one fell swoop!" Lou Yujing eximed. "Take him down!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was struck by one of the zombie kings that closed in on him and knocked him into a forest in the distance. A crater formed where his body struck the ground, causing a cloud of dust to rise up.


    "Be careful!" Yang Chuan shouted, leaping toward him.


    The zombie king in the lead, Lou Yujing, and Yang Chuan all converged in Xiao Nanfeng''s direction. Behind Yang Chuan was another zombie king, all of whom were headed toward the smoking crater where Xiao Nanfeng''s body was.


    Lou Yujing was the fastest of them all. His eyes widened in glee as he attempted to beat Yang Chuan to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, a sudden sense of fear overtook him.


    "Something''s wrong!" Lou Yujing murmured.


    He looked more closely into the fog. A purple longsword had appeared in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands. As Xiao Nanfeng activated it, a beam of white light skewered everything thaty in its path as it shot toward him, a seemingly unavoidable attack.


    "Block that sword!" Lou Yujing cried out.


    The white light illuminated the heavens. Yang Chuan fled into the distance. He knew that this was the heart sword that the Heavenly Emperor had given Xiao Nanfeng.


    The attack struck Lou Yujing in an instant, sending him flying as he screamed.


    It pierced through his defenses as if they didn''t exist, and would have bisected him if he hadn''t retreated and had two zombie kings step forward in defense.


    The cloud of dust dissipated, revealing Xiao Nanfeng in the pit down below, trickling blood from the corner of his mouth.


    The purple sword that Xiao Nanfeng was holding onto began to crack upon having executed the technique stored within it. The two zombie kings before Lou Yujing were cleaved in half as ck smoke gushed out of their bodies. One of Lou Yujing''s arms had been cut off, but he had avoided instant death.


    Lou Yujing clutched his arm as he shouted, "Why do you have the Heavenly Emperor''s heart sword?!"


    Meanwhile, Yang Chuan shot over and sent Lou Yujing flying back with a punch.


    The two zombie kings whose bodies had been bisected hadn''t quite died. Rather, ck smoke surrounded the two halves of their bodies as they attempted to fuse themselves together.


    Just then, Ye Sanshui shot over, unveiled a ck coffin, and sucked the two weakened, bisected zombie kings within.


    "What?" Lou Yujing shouted. "Wasn''t the ck coffin destroyed? Where did thate from?"


    Ye Sanshui stored the ck coffin and punched at another iing zombie king with a fist in an explosion of ck me.


    Yang Chuan was likewise held back by one of the zombie kings, giving Lou Yujing some time to catch his breath.


    "Is that an ancestral zombie? Xiao Nanfeng, where did you find that ck coffin?!" Lou Yujing demanded.


    Just then, imperial might suffused Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    Raging winds billowed from his body.


    "Lou Yujing, neither you nor your zombies will make it out of Yongding today!" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar shot into the sky.


    "Lou Yujing, have another taste of my sword!" Xiao Nanfeng''s main body shouted simultaneously.

 Chapter 738: Lou Yujing Flees in Defeat

    <h4>Chapter 738: Lou Yujing Flees in Defeat</h4>


    The Demon Child and Ye Sanshui each held a zombie king back. Yang Chuan defended against two.


    The twelve golden cultivators were strong, but there were simply too many zombies around. They were quickly surrounded by a group of Golden Immortal zombies who leapt forward and tried to bite down with their bloody fangs.


    To their surprise, their fangs merely sparked as they came in contact with the golden cultivators, unable to break through their defenses. One of the zombies, having used too much force, even broke off its own fangs.


    "Come on, you trashy zombies! Take us down if you can!" the golden cultivators taunted.


    The zombies roared as they furiously attacked the golden cultivators.


    Meanwhile, Lou Yujing reattached the severed half of his arm. He could recognize the signature of Yu Fuli''s attack. He didn''t think Yu Fuli would have given Xiao Nanfeng more than one heart sword, but he didn''t dare risk it.


    "All zombies, attack him!" Lou Yujingmanded, pointing at Xiao Nanfeng''s main body.


    Though he didn''t dare try to block Yu Fuli''s heart sword, he could try to bait it out with ordinary zombies.


    Countless zombies shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, whose main body retreated into Yongding, behind the defensive formation. He had no intention of wasting his heart sword on a horde of ordinary zombies.


    Meanwhile, his avatar stepped out and quickly took down the horde with Hegemon''s Fist. The fists rained down like a meteor shower, knocking the zombies flying as he shot straight toward Lou Yujing.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar shouted.


    Imbued with the might of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng leapt toward Lou Yujing like a golden dragon as he threw out a punch.


    Lou Yujing nched. He had just reattached his arm and wouldn''t be able to fight with it just yet. He had no choice but to defend with his other arm.


    The two fists met in a blistering explosion. Lou Yujing, who had defended with just a single arm, was forced back.


    "Attack with me!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    Countless zombies flocked toward him, but the four remaining zombie kings were being held back by the other cultivators. Only ordinary zombies remained to take down Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Do you really think these ordinary zombies will be able to save you? Howughable," Xiao Nanfeng said, charging forward.


    "Your imperial might is going to be drained soon enough. Let''s see you try to fight me after that! These zombies might not be able to take you down right now, but enough termites can eat through a tree. I''ll kill you soon enough!" Lou Yujing roared back.


    Xiao Nanfeng sent countless zombies flying with a punch as he fought his way forward to Lou Yujing.


    They began to fight once again. Xiao Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist filled the sky. If Lou Yujing hadn''t suffered a critical injury, he might have been able to fight Xiao Nanfeng on equal footing¡ªbut not at the present moment.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!"


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Mountainbane!"


    Lou Yujing was sent flying time and time again.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s attacks were lethal. Lou Yujing spat out blood as he retreated.


    "You''ve grown far too quickly over the past decade. I should have killed you long ago," Lou Yujing spat out.


    "Do you regret it? The Taiqing Immortal Sect regrets sponsoring you, too. Think about how many resources it devoted to you, only for you to betray the sect outright. You should have been killed right then and there, ingrate!" Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    He sent Lou Yujing flying with another punch.


    The ordinary zombies all around them tried to close in on them, only to be deterred by the two cultivators'' powerful auras. At the most, all they could do was block Xiao Nanfeng''s way when the two cultivators shed, but Xiao Nanfeng would easily sweep them away with his fists.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s imperial might grew weaker as the fighting continued, but Lou Yujing''s body was quickly getting battered, too. He spat out mouthfuls of blood as they fought.


    "If not for the damnable restrictions on this body, you would never have gotten the better of me!" Lou Yujing thundered.


    "Come fight me with your main body, then. I''ll await you at Yongding at any time," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    Lou Yujing grimaced. From the looks of it, Xiao Nanfeng really might have a second heart sword waiting for him. It would be far too risky to chance it.


    If he were to keep fighting here and now, his body would only grow more and more wounded. The defensive formations around Yongding were too strong; without any zombie kings in the lead, the ordinary zombies would never be able to break into Yongding. Staying here would only prove disadvantageous to him.


    "All zombies, gather up and enter this bottle!" Lou Yujingmanded. He tossed the bottle toward a Golden Immortal zombie nearby.


    Except for the zombies holding enemy cultivators at bay, the zombies all swarmed toward the bottle.


    "Let''s go!" Lou Yujing roared.


    All the remaining zombies flung their opponents back simultaneously and gathered around Lou Yujing.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. I''ll be back!"


    Lou Yujing shot off toward the south, zombies trailing behind him.


    "Don''t give chase," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The cultivators of Yongding stopped short.


    "Why not, Xiao Nanfeng?" the Demon Child asked, somewhat dissatisfied.


    "We may not be able to kill him even if we give chase. Lou Yujing''s main body could unite with him at any point, and there may still be assassins from Snowborne in the vicinity. Don''t let others take advantage of us now," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Demon Child nodded grudgingly.


    "Let''s head back to Yongding for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Everyone flew back toward Yongding.


    By then, the battle at Shenfeng''s capital had ended with Tu Jiuniang and Yuan Wudi fleeing for their lives, grievously injured.


    On the way back, Tu Jiuniang spat out a mouthful of blood. "How could the Divine Emperor have grown so strong in just a few months?!"


    "Coupled with that bell of hers, she''s far too strong. If she draws on Shenfeng''s imperial might, I''m afraid even the Immortal Emperor won''t be able to take her down," Yuan Wudi replied, nodding.


    "Hardly!" Tu Jiuniang shot him a dissatisfied look. "My husband''s stronger than anyone else. No one can defeat him."


    She wouldn''t allow anyone to badmouth Lou Yujing in her presence.


    "Of course, Your Majesty. I misspoke. But what will you do now that you''ve lost your Bloodbell Aegis?" Yuan Wudi asked in worry.


    Tu Jiuniang frowned. "We''ll figure that out once we get back."


    "Understood!"


    The two cultivators fled for Hongyue''s capital.


    In Shenfeng''s capital, countless cultivators cheered at the Divine Emperor''s disy of prowess. They grew even more astounded by Shenfeng than before.


    Three Golden Immortals had joined Shenfeng with ulterior motives in mind, believing that Shenfeng was lucky to have recruited them than the other way around. After witnessing this battle, however, they hadpletely changed their minds.


    The Divine Emperor had managed to take down two Boundless Immortals readily even without drawing on imperial might, an incredible show of power. They really were lucky to have joined Shenfeng.


    After all, in another divine empire, a foreign Golden Immortal would find it prohibitively difficult to rise to a high station, but Shenfeng had easily fulfilled that request. In addition, once Shenfeng advanced into a divine empire, their stars would continue to rise. They bowed down in loyalty.


    The Divine Emperor returned to her ptial valley, seemingly unbothered and unfatigued even by the unexpected battle. She asked one of her pce maidens with an avatar, "What''s the situation like in Yongding?"


    The pce maiden recounted everything that had urred there.


    The Divine Emperor sighed in relief. "It''s good that they won."


    She was clearly worried about Xiao Nanfeng''s safety. Upon hearing that he was safe and sound, she rxed.


    "Your Majesty, Emperor Xiao wishes to speak with you," the pce maiden continued.


    "Oh? Ry the conversation." The Divine Emperor''s eyes lit up.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" She bowed. "How did the fight go? Are you hurt?"


    "I''m just fine, thank you. I even picked up a treasure for you."


    "Really? Hold on. I''ll head right over."


    "Very well." The Divine Emperor smiled.


    Back in Yongding, Ao Zhou grinned cockily. "Look, Xiao Nanfeng! We managed to catch the zombies that failed to evacuate."


    On a za clouded with fog, arge number of zombies had been tied up and bound. They howled and hissed to no avail.


    "Well done." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Ye Dafu and the others weren''t being cooperative. We asked them to lure more zombies into the forests, but they just stood there like punching bags! We would have caught many more zombies otherwise." Ao Zhou shook his head.


    Ye Dafu rolled his eyes. "You''re the only Golden Immortal in your group. If we had lured more zombies into the forest, wouldn''t they have overwhelmed you? We were trying to protect you!"


    "Nonsense! A few zombies won''t get the better of us," Ao Zhou retorted back.


    "Enough, enough. All of you did well. Ao Zhou, you''ll be awarded merit for your actions." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Good, you get it! Why don''t you award me the most merit for this battle, too?"


    Everyone else rolled their eyes at Ao Zhou''s shameless behavior.


    Warble couldn''t take it any longer. "Ao Zhou, don''t be ridiculous. You caught the fewest zombies. Both I and Croak caught more than you did!"


    "All of mine are zombies with advanced cultivation. They''re worth far more than yours!" Ao Zhou countered.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Zhou''s shameless request as he kept all the zombies in a storage artifact.


    "Ye Sanshui, are you ready?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ve written a letter for my wife," Ye Sanshui confirmed.


    "In that case, let''s go."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded.


    "What about me, Xiao Nanfeng? Why don''t I join you and have fun, too?" the Demon Child asked impatiently.


    "I''ll call you over once the war begins in earnest. For now, stay here and continue your lessons," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    "My lessons?" The Demon Child shook his head and sighed.


    Yang Chuan smiled as he patted the Demon Child on the shoulder. Then, he, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, and Ye Sanshui secretly left Yongding.


    The three cultivators flew high up into the clouds. "Once I finish gathering allies, I''ll take on Hongyue with you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The three cultivators split up. Yang Chuan returned to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce to start the meeting for revenge, while Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui headed straight to Shenfeng.

 Chapter 739: The Careful Lou Yujing

    <h4>Chapter 739: The Careful Lou Yujing</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Sanshui rushed toward the ptial valley in Shenfeng''s capital as quickly as they could.


    When the Divine Emperor saw Xiao Nanfeng''s pallor, she rushed forward. "Have you been injured?"


    "I''m fine. One of the zombie kings dealt me a heavy blow, but I''ve pretty much recovered now."


    "That damn Lou Yujing," the Divine Emperor cursed. Her gaze was icy.


    "Are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng asked worriedly.


    "My cultivation has advanced recently, and Yuan Wudi only managed to break through to the Boundless Immortal realm because of external support. I''ve beaten Tu Jiuniang once before. They could never best me!" the Divine Emperor said.


    "I''m d. Let''s deal with the zombie kings in the ck coffin for now, then."


    The Divine Emperor nodded, then arranged for some of her subordinates to stand guard.


    Ye Sanshui retrieved the ck coffin.


    The Divine Emperor opened it up to find ck smoke gushing out. A figure attempted to escape, but the Divine Emperor pped it back into the coffin.


    "Let''s go!" she said.


    Ye Sanshui and Xiao Nanfeng nodded and followed her into the coffin.


    Two figures shot toward them from within.


    "Insolence!" Ye Sanshui shouted, punching back at them.


    He sent one zombie king reeling back while the Divine Emperor took care of the other.


    "His Majesty bisected both of these zombie kings, and they''ve only recently rbined. Their strength has been greatly diminished," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "Let''s seal them for now," Xiao NAnfeng said.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell tolled as a wave of sound rushed toward one of the zombie kings.


    The zombie king would have been no match for the Divine Emperor even at peak strength, and certainly was no match for her in its injured state. The Divine Emperor strode forward and pointed at its chest. A beam of ck light shot toward the zombie king''s body, freezing it in ce.


    Meanwhile, Ye Sanshui had taken down the other zombie king, but he was having a harder time trying to seal it. The Divine Emperor stepped forward to help.


    "Alright, Ye Sanshui. See if you can control these two zombie kings as well," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!"


    The cultivatorsnded in a valley close by as Ye Sanshui attempted to master the two zombie kings.


    He even opened his mouth wide to reveal two bloody fangs, then bit down on their exposed flesh. Even so, the zombie kings didn''t seem to respond.


    After some experimentation, Ye Sanshui frowned as he returned. "Your Majesty, I apologize. I can''t seem to control them."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Though I''m an ancestral zombie, these two zombie kings aren''t derived from me. They''ll only obey Lou Yujing."


    "You can''t control them at all?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I can''t." Ye Sanshui smiled wryly.


    "In the past, Emperor Feng managed tobine several Golden Immortal zombies into a Boundless Immortal zombie. If you can absorb these two zombie kings, would you grow stronger as well?"


    "I suspect not."


    "Why not?"


    "I have the feeling that this body of mine is under a restriction of some sort. There''s an upper limit to the strength that this body can support, and nothing beyond that limit will have any effect."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "No wonder Lou Yujing didn''t devour his zombie subordinates."


    "I feel as if I may be able to rectify this w by absorbing another ancestral zombie. All I can aplish by absorbing these derivative zombies is replenish my supply of cursed spiritual energy."


    "In that case, I''ll hand these two zombie kings to you, along with all the zombies we caught. We''re about to go to war with Hongyue, and you''ll be able to restore any wounds you sustain with them."


    Xiao Nanfeng handed over the storage artifact containing the zombies that Ao Zhou and the others had caught.


    "Understood!"


    "Very well, then. Let''s go," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ye Sanshui imed the two zombie kings as the cultivators emerged from the ck coffin.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng assigned him a few tasks and sent him on his way.


    "And here I thought we''d be able to gain two more Boundless Immortals. What a pity." Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    "Don''t worry. Look what I got you!" The Divine Emperor smiled.


    She summoned a wall of bells before her.


    "Is this the Bloodbell Aegis?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Indeed. I snatched it from Tu Jiuniang. I have my bell, so this is useless to me. Why don''t you use it?" the Divine Emperor offered.


    Xiao Nanfeng inspected the relic and rapped his knuckles against a bell. A wave of red sound emanated from it.


    "Didn''t you break this Bloodbell Aegisst time? How did it get restored?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This relic is imbued with naturalw that allows it to restore itself with sufficient energy. Lou Yujing must have fed it a tremendous quantity of energy," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Naturalw?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "You aren''t¡ª" The Divine Emperor gave him a surprised look. "You aren''t nning on consuming it, are you?"


    "Why not?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "It''s a Boundless Immortal relic. Even if it can''tpare to my bell, it''s still exceptionally strong. Isn''t it rather a waste to just strip it for energy?"


    "Not eating it would be the real waste. I''m a True Immortal. Could I really do much with a Boundless Immortal relic? Rather than have to work around my restrictions inbat, why not improve my cultivation instead?"


    The Divine Emperor pursed her lips. She was at a loss for words. After all, what other True Immortal in the world would react like Xiao Nanfeng when given a Boundless Immortal relic?


    "Will you guard me while I attune to it?"


    "Very well," the Divine Emperor replied, nodding.


    Xiao Nanfeng absorbed the relic into his dantian, then sat cross-legged in meditation. Within his dantian, ten golden crows rushed out and attacked the Bloodbell Aegis.


    The Bloodbell Aegis instantly attempted to defend itself in shes of red light, but its automated defenses could hardlypare to Xiao Nanfeng''s targeted assault.


    Before long, one of the bells burst apart in an explosion of energy, which was absorbed by his Sky of Ten Suns, Imposing Avatar of Ri, and Jade Emperor''s Frame.


    The second bell burst, then the third, and then...


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to activate his techniques as his aura red.


    Six whole hours passed before he finished off the Bloodbell Aegis.


    mes burst out of his body as he opened his eyes. Two rays of golden light shot out.


    "The seventh stage of the True Immortal realm¡ªjust how much energy do you need to advance in cultivation?" The Divine Emperorughed.


    "Right? If not for the fact that the ck coffin is a cursed effigy, I''d have eaten it too."


    The Divine Emperor was taken back. A relic that even a saint wanted¡ªXiao Nanfeng had already destroyed one and wanted to consume another. She didn''t know what to say.


    In Dazheng''s imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was chatting with Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Senior Brother, are you a Golden Immortal now?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Zhao Yuanjiao smiled. "It''s all thanks to that Golden Immortal pill you brought me."


    "It was from Master," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sighing. "He gave all that he could extract from his body to you."


    Zhao Yuanjiao grimaced. "Master¡ªit really is a pity."


    "Don''t be too concerned, Senior Brother. Master still has a body in the red moon illusory realm, and we can still revive him."


    Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "You''re right. Master has been wanting to kill Lou Yujing, that traitor, his entire life. We need to aplish that goal on his behalf."


    "I''m about to dere war on Hongyue," Xiao Nanfeng told him.


    "Why didn''t you ask me to participate in Yongding''s defense?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.


    "I thought you were breaking through, Senior Brother, so I didn''t want to disturb you."


    "Forget it. I would have been useless before advancing into a Golden Immortal, at any rate¡ªbut make sure you call on me for subsequent fights, alright?"


    "Of course, Senior Brother. Except for a few disciples who are to remain safeguarding the sect in case something goes awry, I expect everyone to participate in the war against Hongyue. The Taiqing Immortal Sect finally has the ability to punish a traitor it''s allowed to roam free for far too long. All the deceased elders of the sect will be watching over us from the heavens, I''m sure."


    "Very good!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    "Senior Brother, I know that the Taiqing Immortal Sect has a few nomadic disciples that roam the world and aren''t part of the four divisions. Although we haven''t contacted them for many years, I''d like them to return and do their part in this war. The sect master must contribute as well¡ªwe need everyone''s participation," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    "I''ll contact them all, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you."


    In a hall in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing was seated with a particrly dour expression on his face.


    To one side of the hall, Yuan Wudi was recuperating from his injuries. Tu Jiuniang seemed to have just finished doing so. She headed toward him and asked about how the fight at Yongding had gone.


    "Husband, how did Xiao Nanfeng have Yu Fuli''s heart sword? Could he have granted it to him? Does Yu Fuli intend to meddle in our business?"


    "I doubt he will unless there''s a very good reason to."


    "Thank goodness."


    Lou Yujing shook his head with a frown. "Xiao Nanfeng''s as dangerous as I thought. We''ve lost quite a few resources."


    "Husband, didn''t you say that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be able to subvert those zombie kings he caught, regardless? We still have a decisive advantage over him."


    "Never underestimate your opponent, especially one we''ve lost to several times. We need to treat Xiao Nanfeng seriously," Lou Yujing warned.


    "In what sense?"


    "Let''s get the saint involved," Lou Yujing replied. Killing intent gleamed in his eyes.

 Chapter 740: Minister of Rites Tang Zhengqi

    <h4>Chapter 740: Minister of Rites Tang Zhengqi</h4>


    In Hongyue''s capital, within a hall that served as an office for the Department of Rites and Rituals, Tang¡ªnow Tang Zhengqi¡ªwas seated before a table and reading an edict of appointment. His brows furrowed.


    An official beside him said, "Don''t be upset, Sir Tang. Although you were awarded the most merit for this mission, you''re still an outsider, after all."


    "How am I an outsider? I brought that old geezer''s head back to Hongyue! Even if I''m not appointed as the Minister of Rites, I should at least be a secretary or assistant minister or something of that sort! All my effort went to waste!" Tang fumed.


    "They said that you were simply lucky to get the position you did. The previous Minister of Rites became a zombie and was killed, so..." the official trailed off.


    "And so what if I was lucky? Doesn''t my merit count for anything? I was going to be promoted to Right Assistant Minister of Rites, but the promotion was dyed because of the excursion to the ck coffin hidden realm. I earned great merit there¡ªbut instead of being promoted further, I even lost my ted promotion! Isn''t that unfair?!"


    "Her Majesty herself decided to appoint a member of her n to that position, so there''s little you can do. Both the Left and Right Assistant Ministers are her rtives, so you shouldn''t expect to be promoted unless one of them dies. Be happy in your current role," the official said.


    "So the minister and both assistant ministers have to die first? When are they going to die, then?" Tang fumed.


    Just then, an enraged voice roared, "Who wants us to die?"


    A group of officials strode into the hall. The three officials in the lead had murderous expressions on their faces.


    "Minister, Assistant Ministers! What are you doing here?" Tang eximed. "You must have misheard me. I was praying that you would live for a millennium!"


    The three officials red at Tang. "Deputy Official of Rites, assemble a delegation. You''ll be apanying us to greet a particrly distinguished guest."


    "Where, and what guest? What level of formality is required?" Tang asked.


    "The highest formality. As for your other questions, those are not matters that concern you."


    "Understood!" Tang replied.


    He quickly made his preparations and informed his subordinates about the uing trip.


    The Minister of Rites and two Assistant Ministers stood in the hall and watched Tang running about with smirks on their faces.


    "Brother, that Tang Zhengqi was cursing us behind our backs. We''ll have to take care of him," one of the Assistant Ministers whispered.


    "Does he really think he canpete with us just because of what little merit he earned? Howughable. No matter how hard he works, he''s nothing but a servant. This uing mission is particrly important, and all fourth- and higher-grade officials in the Department of Rites and Rituals must attend. We''re forced to bring everyone with us as a show of courtesy and respect. Once we return, though¡ªwe''ll make Tang Zhengqi suffer." The Minister of Rites smirked, as did his two assistants.


    Before long, Tang had gotten everything in order. He flew out of Hongyue''s capital alongside a group of other officials, heading straight to the Southern Sea. They flew for several days before reaching an ind cloaked with fog.


    "The Minister of Rites of the divine empire of Hongyue, and all prominent officials of the Department of Rites, seek an audience on the Immortal Emperor and Immortal Empress'' orders," the Minister of Rites began formally.


    The officials waited patiently, but there was no response to their deration.


    Everyone nced at the Minister of Rites and his two Assistant Ministers in confusion. The three leading officials eyed each other in worry.


    "Tang Zhengqi, bring a delegation to the ind to meet with the honored personage there," the Minister of Ritesmanded.


    Tang Zhengqi looked perplexed. "Sir, who''s on the ind? How should I receive this guest?"


    "Don''t worry about his identity. Just do as you''re told," the Minister of Rites replied.


    "Why don''t you go yourselves?"


    "Are you talking back to me? I ordered you to go. I don''t want to hear your nonsense," the Minister of Rites said coldly.


    "Understood!" Tang replied, though his frustration was evident.


    It was clear that there was some danger inherent to the ind, and whoever was present there had to be treated with utmost caution.


    As he passed through the fog and stepped foot on the ind,Tang immediately knelt.


    "I, Tang Zhengqi, seek an audience with the honored personage on this ind under themand of the Minister of Rites of Hongyue," Tang began as he kowtowed.


    It was safest to treat this situation with utmost formality until and unless he was told otherwise. His subordinates emted him and knelt down.


    Even so, nothing but silence came from the depths of the ind. Thick fog clouded its depths; Tang couldn''t see if anyone or anything was present.


    Tang stood up, took a step forward, and knelt down again. "I, Tang Zhengqi, seek an audience with the honored personage on this ind under themand of the Minister of Rites of Hongyue."


    Tang''s subordinates stiffened. Was he going to kneel with every step? Surely this was overdoing things. Such a level of respect would be ludicrous even for an Immortal Emperor of another divine empire. Wasn''t Tang going to damage the reputation of Hongyue this way?


    Of course, they could hardly contradict their superior. Once again, they emted his behavior.


    Tang couldn''t care less about damaging the reputation of Hongyue. He was just a spy, after all, and he prioritized his life over all else.


    He continued to head deeper into the ind, kneeling with every step. The Minister of Rites and his subordinates watched him with twitching faces, all under the impression that Tang was making a fool of himself and wasting their time. The Minister of Rites urged him forward, but Tang ignored him and continued at a cial pace.


    Finally, after he had proceeded deeper and deeper into the ind over the course of two hours, the fog on the ind suddenly roiled. Then, it turned from white to blood-red, shocking everyone present.


    "I, Tang Zhengqi, seek an audience with the honored personage on this ind under themand of the Minister of Rites of Hongyue." He kowtowed once more.


    A fearsome aura emanated from the depths of the ind, causing everyone to recoil in fear.


    A weathered voice could be heard from within the fog. "Lou Yujing''s subordinate? Why isn''t he here himself?"


    The Minister of Rites'' eyes brightened. "Senior, the divine empire of Hongyue is suffering from cmity, and the Immortal Emperor cannot extricate himself. I have been tasked to request your aid in his stead. This is a letter the Immortal Emperor penned himself."


    The Minister of Rites'' letter was sucked into the bloody fog.


    "Lou Yujing is growing more and more audacious. Does he really think he can summon me with the likes of you? What does he treat me as? That pompous fool!" The elderly figure''s tone was icy.


    The bloody fog suddenly transformed into blood-colored spears that were pointed at all the cultivators present. They reared back in shock, stunned and fearful.


    "I''m the Minister of Rites of Hongyue! You can''t kill me!"


    "Do you want to be enemies with Hongyue?"


    "Don''t kill me!"


    The cultivators turned tail and ran, but the blood-colored spears were far too fast for them. They pierced through the cultivators'' foreheads, killing body and soul in one fell swoop.


    Their bodies burst apart in sprays of blood that were devoured by the bloody fog on the ind.


    All the high-ranking officials present had perished¡ªall save Tang and his subordinates, who were kneeling on the ground. The reason they had survived wasn''t because of supetive skill; the spears simply hadn''t pointed their way.


    Tang''s subordinates shuddered in fear. How could they have looked down on what Tang was doing? Tang was the only cultivator present who had been prepared for a situation like this!


    To be honest, the only reason Tang hadn''t fled was because he had been stunned by the elderly figure''s fearsome aura. That he would kill the entire delegation over nothing more than a perceived slight was beyond even Tang''s expectations.


    He didn''t dare move. He remained where he was, patiently waiting for the elderly figure to make his next move.


    The bloody fog roiled as the elderly figure finally appeared in sight: an ancient old man with a wizened face.


    He wore red robes and had blood-red hair. His eyes were cold, indifferent, and proud. He nced at the group of cultivators kneeling on the ground.


    "Who are you? Why such respect?" the red-robed elder demanded.


    "I am Tang Zhengqi, Deputy Official of Hongyue''s Department of Rites. I was unaware of your identity, sir, and knew only that you were a distinguished personage. I believed that only utmost respect would be appropriate under such circumstances. Please forgive me if I''ve made a mistake." Tang was a consummate bootlicker, and that skill served him well here.


    The elder seemed very pleased with Tang''s exnation. "Well said. I do not suffer fools."


    "Thank you for your praise, Elder!" Tang replied immediately.


    "Tell Lou Yujing to wait. I''ll find him in three days'' time," the elder continued.


    "Three days!" Tang eximed. "I apologize, Elder, but I won''t be able to make it back that quickly..."


    The elder ignored Tang. With a wave of his arm, a strong wind blew the cultivators into the air.


    The cultivators yelped in surprise. The wind was bringing them rapidly back to Hongyue. They could sense that they were moving at incredible speed.


    It took them only half a day before they were deposited back in Hongyue''s capital in a heap.


    Lou Yujing and Tu Jiuniang, who were in the capital, raised their brows in surprise as they sensed the return of the delegation.


    "They''re already back?" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He maneuvered the delegation into the hall in which he was currently located. They fell to the ground dizzily.


    Guards and officials rushed toward them, only to be shooed away by Tu Jiuniang.


    "What happened to you?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    The cultivators slowly came to their senses. They recounted everything that had happened.


    "Husband, I told you we should have sought out the saint ourselves. It seems as if he''s rather mad at us now." Tu Jiuniang smiled wryly.


    "You know how he is. He''s prideful and ornery, and looks down on everyone. I have no interest in kowtowing to him."


    "But¡ª" Tu Jiuniang grimaced.


    "What''s the matter? Do you miss those rtives of yours?"


    "Not quite. I warned them not to be disrespectful and to show utmost respect, but they didn''t listen to me." Tu Jiuniang sighed.


    "So be it. We''ll have to rece the officials in the Department of Rites, then. You can pick your favorite candidates," Lou Yujing said.


    Tu Jiuniang nodded with some exasperation. She turned to Tang and asked, "Did the saint say anything else?"


    "He said that he favored my attitude, and that I had a good eye," Tang replied.


    Tu Jiuniang frowned.


    Before long, Tang and his subordinates emerged from the hall.


    "Congrattions on your promotion, Minister Tang. You''re the head of the Department of Rites now!" One of his subordinates began to tter him immediately.


    "Haha, it was all luck," Tang replied. "The empress is wise."

 Chapter 741: Three Denunciations

    <h4>Chapter 741: Three Denunciations</h4>


    In an empire adjacent to both Shenfeng and Hongyue, court was in session. The emperor sat on a draconic throne as he eyed his officials before him. One official had been designated as the emperor''s representative and was leading a discussion.


    "Is anyone unaware of the enmity between Shenfeng and Hongyue?" the official asked.


    "Prime Minister, all of us are aware of the feuds between these two neighboring empires. Not long ago, Yuan Wudi and Tu Jiuniang attacked Shenfeng''s capital and fled in disgrace. News of that fight has spread far and wide."


    "I even heard that Dazheng, Shenfeng''s ally, is even more impressive. Its capital was besieged by a horde of zombies, including seven Boundless Immortal zombie kings, and yet it still survived unscathed! I can hardly believe it."


    "Dazheng became known around the world for having taken down the divine empire of Dayin; now, its reputation will only be enhanced."


    "The rising star of the south is Shenfeng, and that in the east is Dazheng. The two empires have allied despite being half the continent away. It really is remarkable."


    The officials made their points all at once. They were all shocked by the events that had transpired to date.


    The prime minister shook his head. "It seems like you haven''t received thetest news¡ªor, more urately, the news hasn''t had time to spread."


    "Oh? What''s going on now, Prime Minister?" an official asked.


    "Just moments ago, the Taiqing Immortal Sect, the Southern Aspect Yang Chuan, and the Shenfeng Empire simultaneously issued denunciations and derations of war."


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect? Wasn''t it destroyed two centuries ago? I heard that Lou Yujing was from the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Could it still have extant disciples? How did they end up allied with Shenfeng and the Hall of Martial Aspects?" someone eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng seems to be the Heaven division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect at present," the prime minister exined.


    "Oh?" Many officials were taken aback, though arge fraction was aware as well.


    "Prime Minister, could you provide more information?" an official asked.


    The prime minister turned to the emperor, who nodded. "Recite the denunciation."


    "Understood!"


    The officials all turned to the prime minister, who began, "The first denunciation is issued by the Taiqing Immortal Sect.


    "In times of yore, the Taiqing Immortal Sect, once a bastion of righteousness and glory, had disciples spread far and wide across the world. One such was Lou Yujing. The sect granted him its full support and a tremendous quantity of resources to help him establish the Divine Empire of Hongyue in exchange for a tithe of fortune to help the sect advance into a holynd. Yet Lou Yujing, traitor and ingrate, attempted to eradicate the sect to avoid repaying the promised sums of fortune. Tens of thousands of Taiqing disciples and elders were killed in the cmity, and its ancestralnds, now the city of Taixu, were taken over. Even that did not suffice for Lou Yujing. His underlings exhumed the Taiqing dead and forged their specters and residual spirits into a relic, torturing and taking advantage of them even in death. The Taiqing Immortal Sect hereby denounces Lou Yujing as a cold-blooded murderer and demon whose death is rightly deserved. Though 231 years have passed since the cmity that befell Taiqing, its disciples will never forget the deeds that Lou Yujing wrought. As our ancestors watch over us, we shall march to Hongyue for his head! Death to the traitor and ingrate of the Taiqing Immortal Sect!"


    All the officials took a deep breath.


    "Shocking," an official murmured.


    "If this is true, I can understand why Lou Yujing engenders such hatred. I only knew that the Taiqing Immortal Sect copsed due to an internal schism, but it seems that it was orchestrated entirely by Lou Yujing."


    "''A cold-blooded murderer and demon''..."


    "This denunciation will surely win the sympathy of many. If these crimes can be corroborated, it''s clear that the Taiqing Immortal Sect stands on the moral high ground."


    The officials eyed each other and nodded.


    "The second denunciation is issued by Yang Chuan.


    "Few knew of the ck coffin thaty hidden in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce until Lou Yujing ostentatiously stationed a garrison around it and attracted the world''s attention. He used the ck coffin to repair a damaged treasure, then to aid a white ape in breaking through to the Boundless Immortal realm, in order to lure cultivators across the world to surge into the coffin''s hidden realm for the express purpose of strengthening the zombies within. Lou Yujing trapped the cultivators within the hidden realm, killed numerous Boundless Immortals, and transformed them into zombies for his nefarious ends. He mastered an ancestral zombie and thereby gained control of the entire horde of zombies, and is the perpetrator of countless deaths. His zombie army must be fed and nourished by daily human flesh and blood¡ªbut when has such a drawback ever stopped Lou Yujing? He even permitted his subordinate, Li Qianjun, to ughter all the people of Taixu in order to enhance a relic. As the cmity of the heavens looms, I, Yang Chuan, Southern Aspect of the Imperial Court, implore the world to join me in taking down the demon Lou Yujing. You may do nothing now as he feasts on another sect. You may do nothing in the future as he takes down another empire. Who, then, will be left to do anything to him when hees for you? Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."


    The officials made even more of a ruckus as Yang Chuan''s denunciation was read out.


    "Did Lou Yujing really gain control of a zombie horde?"


    "That''s obvious, isn''t it? Lou Yujing must have headed to the Southeastern Aquatic Pce to bring that zombie horde out of the ck coffin. Then, he used them immediately in a siege against Yongding. Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan were both there. What a frightening battle! The ancestral zombie didn''t admit to being Lou Yujing, but it''s not hard to guess its identity, is it?"


    "A zombie horde has to feast on human flesh daily, doesn''t it? Do you think Lou Yujing might try to take down our empire?"


    "Think about the scale of that army! He''d have to conquer a city a day to kill enough people to maintain it."


    The officials were shaken and disturbed by the news.


    "The third denunciation is issued by the Shenfeng Empire.


    "The Shenfeng Empire has been righteous and just in its dealing with its fellow empires since its founding, repaying kindness with kindness and grudge with grudge. During its recent imperial examination, it was attacked by Hongyue representatives. Despite taking no action against them, it was then attacked by Hongyue once again. Two Boundless Immortals of Hongyue sought to destroy Shenfeng''s capital. No longer will the Shenfeng Empire ignore these provocations. Lou Yujing is a demon in human guise. Traitor to his sect, butcher of his empire, demon to his foes. His repeated provocations will surely result in cmity for Shenfeng''s people if he is left unchecked. Shenfeng invites the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court to ally against Hongyue and take down the demon Lou Yujing. We will not suffer demons. Let them die, die, die, die, die!"


    Silence reigned in the court as the third denunciation was read out. Then, the officials began shouting all at once.


    "I knew the Divine Emperor was trying to advance her empire into a divine empire, but I didn''t expect that she would do so so quickly. It''s only been a few months, but Shenfeng is alreadyunching another war! That''s crazy."


    "Allying with the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Yang Chuan? Is the Divine Emperor going to take advantage of these feuds to conquer Hongyue?"


    "A fivefold ''die''¡ªthe Divine Emperor must be determined. War really is going to break out again, isn''t it?"


    "The whole world''s attention is going to be on Hongyue now!"


    The officials were all taken aback.


    Under ordinary circumstances, no empire would ever dare take on a divine empire alone. Alliances of multiple empires were standard, and only when the divine empire was suffering from internal strife.


    The Shenfeng Empire, however, seemed intent on taking on Hongyue alone. Few empires would ever do such a thing¡ªno, Dazheng had done so before. Now, Shenfeng was following in its footsteps!


    "Your Majesty, the impact of the three simultaneous denunciations will be felt across the world," an official murmured.


    The emperor nodded. "An ordinary empire taking on a divine one is significant news."


    "Shenfeng and Hongyue''s war is looming over the horizon, and we''re caught between them. How should we respond?" the prime minister asked, inviting officials to state their thoughts.


    The officials fell silent. The slightest misstep could result in cmity, and no one wanted to offer a potentially wed solution. They all looked toward the emperor.


    "What do you think, Prime Minister?" the emperor asked.


    "I remember Xiao Nanfeng''s Stratagems Against Yin, which sketched out how he took down Dayin with limited manpower and resources. He too started by issuing a denunciation and inviting other forces to take down Dayin alongside him. He even sent delegations to many empires seeking an alliance. At the time, many lost out on an incredible opportunity because they were too cautious to participate. I believe we have to take advantage of this opportunity this time."


    "Do you suggest that we take on Hongyue alongside Shenfeng, then?"


    The prime minister shook his head. "No. I believe we ought to participate, but which faction we side with should depend on what benefits they promise to us."


    The officials nced at each other and nodded thoughtfully.


    "If I''m not mistaken, envoys from the two empires will be arriving shortly," the prime minister continued.


    "Indeed. We ought to think about which side will promise us more profit."


    "Wise you are, Prime Minister! We should negotiate for the best terms."


    Many officials agreed with the prime minister''s suggestion, but the emperor felt somehow uneasy about the whole situation.


    In the imperial study in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing''s face was grim as he stared at the three denunciations. Then, with a bang, he tossed the three scrolls at the wall.


    "Husband, what are we going to do? It''s almost like what happened when Xiao Nanfeng took down Dayin! What should we do? Pacify the neighboring empires around us?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Absolutely not! There''s no such need. If they dare attack, I''ll have my zombie army take down their capital. They''re not worth our time," Lou Yujing said.


    "I understand." Tu Jiuniang nodded, though she was concerned by her consort''s vehemence.


    In the ptial valley of Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng was ncing through the documents neatly arranged on his table as the Divine Emperor peeled him some fruit.


    "We''ve formally dered war on Hongyue. Shall we send envoys to the neighboring empires to prevent Hongyue from seizing control of them first?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "Ignore them. They''re weak and hardly worth our time to bother with."


    "Oh?"


    "Shenfeng has far more resources than Dazheng did when it took on Dayin. We don''t need allies," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    A dayter, a certain empire''s prime minister spoke with several officials in charge of their empire''s informationwork.


    "Have Shenfeng''s envoys been around?"


    "No."


    "And Hongyue''s envoys?"


    "We haven''t seen them either."


    "How can that be? Do they not intend to bother with us?!" the prime minister thundered.

 Chapter 742: The Saint Emerges

    <h4>Chapter 742: The Saint Emerges</h4>


    In a hall in Shenfeng''s capital, Yang Chuan frowned as he eyed Xiao Nanfeng. "Three simultaneous denunciations and an official deration of war against Hongyue? It feels like we''re in too much of a rush. I haven''t finished nning things with my allies, and Shenfeng has just finished its recent war. Is it ready for another one so quickly? And what about the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    Xiao Nanfeng poured Yang Chuan a cup of tea and smiled. "I know, I know. Everything is a bit rushed, but we have no other choice."


    "Oh? Why not?" Yang Chuan sipped his tea.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Lou Yujing has enlisted the saint''s assistance."


    Yang Chuan''s teacup wobbled as he spilled tea all over and eximed, "Are you joking?"


    "I''m confident. He''s due to arrive at Hongyue''s capital today, and Lou Yujing will surely attempt to persuade him to attack us. It''s very likely that he''ll seed."


    "Oh?"


    "If the saint attacks us furtively, things will be even more troublesome. That''s why I''m trying to attract his attention with the three denunciations. I want to lure the saint into attacking us directly."


    "Can you seed?"


    "I believe so. Let''s try it and see."


    Yang Chuan frowned.


    He couldn''t help but feel hesitant about Xiao Nanfeng''s idea.


    "I''ve already reported this matter to the Heavenly Emperor as well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Oh? What did he say?"


    That was far more reasonable. The Heavenly Emperor''s support would be invaluable against the saint.


    "He told us to evaluate the saint''s strength, and that he would be paying attention."


    "And then?"


    "That was it."


    Yang Chuan was taken aback. "The Heavenly Emperor''s not going to make a move himself? But we''re facing a saint! His avatar alone was incredibly strong. How are we going to take on his main body, if that''s what he''s sending over?"


    "That''s why I issued the three denunciations and sent a deration of war to Hongyue in advance," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "A deration of war?"


    "Indeed. I want to cause amotion and attract the world''s attention, as well as that of the saint."


    "But..." Yang Chuan still seemed worried.


    "Don''t be too concerned. Although the Heavenly Emperor isn''t going to make a move himself, his attention is definitely on us. If the saint''s main body appears, the Heavenly Emperor will surely step in. If the saint uses an avatar or manifests in some other way, we''ll have to do our best to broadcast his attacks publicly. These denunciations and the deration of war will be our best tools in doing so."


    "Very well. As long as you''re confident. That said, I''m not sure it''ll be easy for Lou Yujing tomand the saint considering the saint''s elevated status."


    Xiao Nanfeng agreed. "That said, we have to prepare for the worst. War is on the horizon."


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.


    In a hall in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing sat on a draconic throne as Tu Jiuniang, Yuan Wudi, Li Qianjun, and Li Qianjun''s wife, Tu Siniang, stood before him. Also in attendance were Lou Yujing''s other confidantes, including the new Minister of Rites, Tang Zhengqi.


    Everyone was silent. They shot furtive nces at Tang Zhengqi.


    After all, the cultivators gathered here were all in the upper echelons of Hongyue, and had known each other for many years. That a foreigner like Tang Zhengqi would be present for this meeting was beyond their expectations.


    Just then, in the center of the hall, a cloud of blood-colored fog suddenly manifested. The iron tang that apanied the cloud left everyone wary.


    Lou Yujing stood up. "We wee the saint."


    "We wee the saint," everyone echoed. They bowed down.


    Tang Zhengqi went so far as to kneel down and prostrate himself. "We wee Your Eminence!"


    Everyone gave him an astonished look once again. Was Tang Zhengqi out of his mind? Why was he going so far?


    Tang ignored everyone else''s dubious looks. This was how the other officials had died back on the saint''s ind. The only reason he had been spared was because of how obsequious he had been.


    The blood-colored fog suddenly drew back and condensed into the form of an elderly man in blood-colored robes, the saint whom Tang had been sent to meet.


    The saint''s gaze swept coldly across the gathered cultivators beforending on Tang''s prostrate form. He nodded in satisfaction and pride.


    "Rise," the saint said calmly.


    Everyone obeyed.


    The other cultivators had bowed at their waist, so it was easy enough for them to rise. Only Tang would have to stand back up.


    To show his deep respect, however, Tang rose and bowed thrice more, then stood to the side. The saint was very pleased with his deference, even as the other cultivators eyed him disdainfully.


    "Lou Yujing, you dared to take advantage of my ploy in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce?" the saint demanded.


    Lou Yujing took a deep breath and shook his head. "I wouldn''t dare, Saint. The cultivator that you had entrusted the coffin to attempted to take advantage, and I did what I did to clean up the mess."


    "Oh?"


    "That cultivator only gained your favor because of his bootlicking behavior, Saint. You helped him take over an ancestral zombie''s body. He was polite and deferential toward you, but was very different in private. You had him cooperate with me, but he made things difficult for me at every turn and even dared to im your relics for himself. He betrayed you and sought to kill me. In self-defense, I was forced to take him down."


    "And you expect me to thank you for what you did, then?" the saint demanded.


    "I''ve worked tirelessly for you all these years, Saint, and I''ve never betrayed you. I ask that you consider my circumstances," Lou Yujing replied.


    The saint eyed Lou Yujing coldly; thetter calmly met his gaze.


    The saint smirked. "You''re trying to push back against my authority now, are you? Have you forgotten about how you begged for my assistance two centuries ago?"


    "We were cooperating to take down the Taiqing Immortal Sect together, and we both stood to gain from doing so. I owe you nothing," Lou Yujing dered firmly.


    The saint sneered. "Very well. Why have you sought out my assistance, then? More trouble that you can''t handle on your own?"


    "Indeed, Saint. I asked for this meeting for two reasons: the first, to exin what happened in the ck coffin; the second, to request your assistance¡ªwith payment, of course."


    "Oh?"


    "I''m sure you''ve learned about the situation with the ck coffin over the course of thest three days, Saint. I won''t waste your time expounding further on that matter. I''d like to seek out your help in killing a certain cultivator who bears great enmity against me and poses a great threat."


    "Someone like you fears another cultivator so? Who is it? An Immortal Emperor, or some hierarch?"


    "Neither an Immortal Emperor not a hierarch. His name is Xiao Nanfeng, Emperor of Dazheng," Lou Yujing said.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? An ordinary emperor? How advanced in the Boundless Immortal realm is he?"


    "He isn''t a Boundless Immortal, but a True Immortal with two bodies."


    The saint was taken aback. He looked at Lou Yujing in disbelief. "You sought out my help for a mere True Immortal?"


    Was Lou Yujing crazy? Was this really the Lou Yujing he knew?


    "I admit it. He''s a True Immortal, but I''ve already lost to him several times. I attacked him with a horde of zombies and even had Yuan Wudi and Tu Jiuniang deter his allies, but I still lost," Lou Yujing said.


    "Oh?"


    Although the saint had heard about Xiao Nanfeng quite a few times over thest three days, he had only performed a cursory investigation. He knew little of Xiao Nanfeng''s skills or reserves of strength.


    Lou Yujing summarized Xiao Nanfeng''s exploits for the saint, who began to take this True Immortal much more seriously.


    "In other words, you believe this cultivator to be blessed by fortune. You fear not his strength, but his fortune and ability?" [1]


    "Yes, Saint. I remember that you once taught me that the Heavenly Emperor Yu Fuli was one such cultivator. With his blessing, he managed to create the Imperial Court, winning against all cultivators in his way despite always being of lesser cultivation. No matter the opponent, all perished before him. This sinister fortune has, I believe, resurged in Xiao Nanfeng."


    The saint frowned. "Are you certain? How can this Xiao Nanfengpare to Yu Fuli?"


    "Saint, Xiao Nanfeng only took a decade to reach this point. He destroyed the divine empire of Dayin and even killed Yin Shenhua. Wasn''t Yin Shenhua another subordinate of yours? I''m sure you must have heard of him before," Lou Yujing said.


    The saint frowned. "That same Xiao Nanfeng?"


    He did recall hearing about Xiao Nanfeng in the past. Then, however, he believed Xiao Nanfeng to be nothing more than Yu Fuli''s pawn, that Yu Fuli and the Venerable Buddha were the true powers behind Yin Shenhua''s demise, with Xiao Nanfeng nothing more than a puppet. Now, however, he had cause to reevaluate his perspective.


    "Saint, although Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation is limited, he is surrounded by a group of Boundless Immortals. His individual strength is weak, but he has momentum on his side. Others only consider his individual strength, not the blessing of fortune nor the prowess he brings to bear. I think him an exceedingly dangerous threat, and had no choice but to enlist your assistance."


    The saint was silent. He didn''t expect that Lou Yujing would think so highly of Xiao Nanfeng.


    "And what price do you intend to pay?"


    "Whatever you demand, Saint."


    The saint nced at Lou Yujing in true surprise. Was Lou Yujing that fearful of Xiao Nanfeng?


    1. Protagonist aura made manifest... ?

 Chapter 743: Saint Chi Hai

    <h4>Chapter 743: Saint Chi Hai</h4>


    The saint couldn''t believe that Lou Yujing was willing to pay whatever he demanded.


    He eyed Lou Yujing. "And if I want all of Hongyue''s fortune?"


    Everyone in the hall was taken aback. Wasn''t the saint being far too greedy? All of Hongyue''s fortune?


    Lou Yujing smiled. "Saint, if I were to do so, my empire would fall to ruin instantly. Would you really ask that of me?"


    "You were the one who offered," the saint replied.


    "Under the premise that I can retain my power, surely?"


    "You imed what you did, and you refused what I asked for. Do you intend to go back on your word?" the saint demanded.


    "How about this? If you want all of Hongyue''s fortune, I can agree to that request, but in two batches. I''ll give you half the fortune now and the same quantity of fortune next year. Will that suffice?"


    The saint was taken aback. Indeed, a year''s dy was all but irrelevant to him. He hadn''t expected that Lou Yujing really would ede to the request.


    "You value Xiao Nanfeng over your entire sea of fortune?"


    "Regardless of how others feel about the deal, I think it''s worth it," Lou Yujing answered in the affirmative.


    The saint cocked his head thoughtfully. He believed Lou Yujing''s assertion that Xiao Nanfeng was a skilled cultivator, but wouldn''t have taken him so seriously if not for the sea of fortune that Lou Yujing had pledged.


    "The fortune in two batches will suffice. Where are the zombies from the ck coffin hidden realm?"


    Lou Yujing handed a jade bottle to the saint. "They''re all in here, Saint. It cost me four Boundless Immortal treasures to safeguard the zombies. I would be happy to hand you the zombies, but ask that you reimburse me for the expenses I incurred."


    "Four Boundless Immortal relics? And why have I not been informed of this?"


    "Three relics are ones that you promised me. Among them, the ancestral fire dragon''s pearl was lost by the ancestral zombie, and I used the remaining two, along with a third I supplemented myself, to exchange for the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade via the altar. It was only then that I was able to take down the ancestral zombie. My expenses were four Boundless Immortal treasures in all."


    The saint eyed him coldly. "How much more thick-skinned can you get? Three of those relics were originally mine."


    "You granted them to me, Saint. I''m sure you won''t renege on your word."


    The saint snorted and ignored him.


    He uncorked the jade bottle and poured out five zombies from within: Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie body, and four zombie king subordinates.


    He eyed the five zombies, then at Lou Yujing, who was waiting for his four Boundless Immortal treasures.


    "I won''t hand you four Boundless Immortal treasures for these zombies, but I''ll need to borrow these four zombie kings to take down Xiao Nanfeng." The saint pointed at the ordinary zombie kings.


    "Very well, Saint. However, these zombies are continuously dissipating energy. Is there a solution to this problem?" Lou Yujing asked.


    "Resolve it yourself."


    Perhaps the saint did have a solution in mind, but not one he was willing to reveal.


    Lou Yujing nodded. "Then I''ll have to try and seize Xiao Nanfeng''s ck coffin from him."


    The saint arched an eyebrow. "That coffin belongs to me, not you."


    "I understand." Lou Yujing smiled.


    The saint absorbed the four zombie kings'' bodies into his sleeves as Lou Yujing reimed the jade bottle and the ancestral zombie within.


    He wrote an imperial edict with a brush, then stamped it with his imperial seal.


    "Half of Hongyue''s fortune is to be ceded to Saint Chi Hai," Lou Yujing dered.


    The sea of fortune above Hongyue''s capital roiled as half its mass vanished and was sucked into the saint''s body.


    The cultivators in Hongyue''s capital were astonished by what they had just witnessed.


    "What did the Immortal Emperor do with all that fortune?"


    "Half of Hongyue''s fortune¡ªjust what could have been so costly?"


    "Something big must have happened. Is he preparing for war?"


    Countless shouts could be heard from all over.


    The saint was satisfied with the fortune he had received.


    This was sufficient payment to request a favor from even him.


    "Tell me about Xiao Nanfeng''s circumstances," the saint said.


    Lou Yujing nodded and passed him a stack of documents that his subordinates hadpiled. The documents carefully described Xiao Nanfeng''s growth¡ªas far as they knew, at any rate. Xiao Nanfeng''s secrets were safe for the moment.


    The saint scanned through the documents quickly.


    When he finished, he frowned. "You''re right to think that Xiao Nanfeng is simr to Yu Fuli. He may well be a threat to the heavens."


    "He''s only a True Immortal at the moment. If he''s allowed to develop any further, he''s only going to be more of a threat. I hope that my request will also serve to help you deal with atent future threat, Saint."


    Saint Chi Hai raised an eyebrow. "How do you think Xiao Nanfeng should be handled?"


    "As you will, Saint."


    "And if I insist on your opinion?"


    "I know not, Saint. Why not ask the others for their opinion?"


    Chi Hai could only turn to Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates.


    "What do you think?" Chi Hai looked toward Li Qianjun.


    Li Qianjun frowned. "I''m sure that one of Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies is located in Yongding. Though Yongding''s defenses are significant, there can''t be three Boundless Immortals guarding it at all times. I think it may be viable for you to head to Yongding and catch one of Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies in secret, Saint."


    Chi Hai nodded, then turned to Yuan Wudi. "Your turn."


    "Why not capture the Divine Emperor, Saint? She surely knows of Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts. They may even be together," Yuan Wudi replied.


    Chi Hai nodded and continued questioning the others.


    Everyone in the hall expressed their thoughts. Chi Hai made noment; he simply listened patiently.


    Finally, he turned to Tang Zhengqi, who had been standing alone by the side of the hall. "And you."


    Tang Zhengqi hurriedly knelt and kowtowed at Chi Hai.


    Everyone eyed him warily again. What was Tang Zhengqi going to pull this time?


    "Why are you kowtowing?" Chi Hai frowned.


    "Your Eminence, I wouldn''t dare refuse to answer your question, but my views differ from everyone else''s. In fear that I would offend you, I''m kowtowing to you in advance."


    Everyone: ...


    What sort of strange reasoning was this?


    "Say it," Chi Hai said, even more satisfied with Tang Zhengqi than before.


    The other cultivators had treated the saint as if he were actually asking them from advice. As if he would need it! Tang Zhengqi''s humility would serve him well.


    "I believe that now may not be the best time to strike, Your Eminence."


    "Oh?"


    "That the Immortal Emperor thinks so highly of Xiao Nanfeng is clear proof of his prowess. Xiao Nanfeng cannot be allowed to grow, but a direct attack may not suffice. If it did, the Immortal Emperor would make a move himself. Furthermore, Xiao Nanfeng wields a heart sword bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor. Might he be anticipating your attack?" Tang asked.


    "Hm?" Chi Hai narrowed his eyes.


    He btedly came to the realization that Lou Yujing was concerned not merely with Xiao Nanfeng himself, but also with his backer, Yu Fuli. Yu Fuli might be a foe that he would have to take on in the process.


    If he were to rush over, would he have fallen for Yu Fuli''s trap? Would Lou Yujing have sessfully used Xiao Nanfeng as bait for him to take down Yu Fuli instead?


    Chi Hai''s face turned cold. He red at Lou Yujing. No wonder Lou Yujing had refused toment. He was waiting for Chi Hai to fall into his trap!


    Lou Yujing really was deceptive, and his subordinates were either fools or pretending to be fools.


    Only Tang Zhengqi truly respected him and showed him the courtesy he deserved.


    He eyed the other cultivators with displeasure.


    "Tang Zhengqi, you may talk to me standing up," Saint Chi Hai dered.


    "Thank you, Your Eminence!" Tang kowtowed once more before standing up, making Chi Hai very pleased.


    "How do you think Xiao Nanfeng should be handled?"


    "Your Eminence, I''m sure you''ve already thought about this, but perhaps you should observe Xiao Nanfeng or probe him to see if he really does have Yu Fuli''s support before making a move," Tang suggested.


    Chi Hai nodded. It was a reasonable suggestion. Although it was clear that Tang was deliberately ttering him, he believed that his status afforded such treatment.


    "What was your role in Hongyue?" Chi Hai asked.


    "Thanks to Their Majesties'' favor, I currently serve as the Minister of Rites in Hongyue," Tang exined.


    "From today onwards, you''ll be with me. You''ll be my liaison with Hongyue and deal with matters involving Xiao Nanfeng," the saint said.


    "Yessir! I''m honored to be given this responsibility. I''ll serve you to the best of my ability, sir!" Tang eximed. He knelt and kowtowed once more.


    Everyone in the hall stared at Tang''s shameless behavior. They were taken aback. Where had such a bootlickere from?


    "I need an opportunity to test Xiao Nanfeng''s skill. Lou Yujing, can you arrange for it?" Chi Hai asked.


    Lou Yujing frowned. How was he to do so?


    "Your Majesty, Shenfeng has sent an envoy bringing a deration of war!" a guard reported from outside.


    "Wait outside the hall!" Tu Jiuniang chided anxiously.


    No one could disturb them while the saint was present.


    The guard fell silent.


    "A deration of war from Shenfeng? This supposed Divine Emperor is allied with Xiao Nanfeng, isn''t she?" Chi Hai asked.


    "Indeed. Shenfeng has issued three denunciations to date. If I''m not mistaken, Xiao Nanfeng wrote them," Lou Yujing said.


    "Oh? In that case, Xiao Nanfeng may have written this deration of war as well. That''s an opportunity to interact with him. See what''s involved," Chi Hai instructed.


    "Understood!" Lou Yujing nodded.

 Chapter 744: The Declaration of War

    <h4>Chapter 744: The Deration of War</h4>


    In Hongyue''s court, Lou Yujing sat on his draconic throne in a red robe lined with golden draconic motifs. He watched on impassively as the envoy strode forward.


    The entire court red at the Shenfeng envoy, as if intending to devour him whole.


    However, the Shenfeng envoy seemedpletely unperturbed. She was clearly well trained and experienced in her station.


    "I greet the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue in my capacity as an envoy of Shenfeng." The envoy bowed respectfully.


    "For what have youe?" Yuan Wudi demanded. He was standing among the other officials at court.


    The Shenfeng envoy took a deep breath. "I expect Hongyue''s court is aware of Shenfeng''s three denunciations. I am here today to officially dere war on Hongyue on behalf of the Shenfeng Empire."


    "Insolence!" Yuan Wudi eximed.


    The Shenfeng envoy ignored Yuan Wudi as she retrieved a scroll. "Shenfeng and Hongyue are contiguous by the domains of three Hongyue cities: Danxian, Bingxian, and Dunxian. This serves as a formal deration of war. In half a month, Shenfeng will split its army three ways and attack the three named Immortal cities. We ask that Hongyue prepare itself."


    "Insolence!" the officials of court thundered.


    Shenfeng was being far too arrogant. Not only was it dering war, it was going as far as to state the ce and time of its attack. What right did an ordinary empire have to be so atrocious?


    The officials of Hongyue''s court were all exuding killing intent.


    Though the Shenfeng envoy was more pressured than ever before and could barely speak from the pressure, she forged onward. "This deration of war will be simultaneously announced to the world. Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, do you dare face Shenfeng in war?"


    The officials grew even more displeased, but the woman before them was ultimately nothing more than an envoy, which enjoyed diplomatic immunity.


    Furthermore, considering that the deration of war was to be simultaneously announced to the world, they would be publicly humiliated if they killed the envoy out of anger.


    An official stepped forward and delivered the deration to Lou Yujing.


    He stared at the Shenfeng envoy, smiling coldly. "I ept this challenge."


    The officials of court were all taken aback, none having anticipated that the Immortal Emperor would ept so readily. Even so, now that he had done so, no one dared speak up to object.


    "In that case, I bid you all farewell." The Shenfeng envoy bowed and retreated from the hall. Without Lou Yujing''smand, no one dared to stop her.


    The officials of Hongyue fretted. Once the envoy was out of earshot, they began to mor.


    "Your Majesty, this deration of war is a joke. How can we ept such a restriction?"


    "Your Majesty, offense is the best defense! We should strike preemptively."


    "Are we really going to give them half a month to prepare, Your Majesty?"


    The officials all made their case, but Lou Yujing ignored them. He said calmly, "Let''s end this session of court here. I will be happy to entertain any suggestions in writing. Dismissed!"


    Some of the officials clearly wanted to object, but had no choice but to relent. "We send off Your Majesty!"


    By the time they turned to each other, perplexed by how the session of court had ended, Lou Yujing had already left.


    Then, in another hall, he continued his session with Saint Chi Hai alongside the seniormost officials of Hongyue.


    "Saint, what do you think about this deration of war?" Lou Yujing handed the deration to Chi Hai.


    "Shenfeng is likely intending to take advantage of this war to bolster its reputation," Chi Hai summarized.


    "Indeed," Lou Yujing said. "The fact that the Divine Emperor ns to attack three cities simultaneously, coupled with the three denunciations she publicized, suggests that the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Yang Chuan''s alliance will be participating as well. There are three groups of forces in all, one for each city. Xiao Nanfeng will likely represent the Taiqing disciples and participate in the fighting himself."


    "In that case, I''ll take advantage of this opportunity to test his strength."


    "Understood! I await your good news, Saint. I''ll send my troops to these three Immortal cities to await yourmand."


    The saint nodded in satisfaction. "Very good."


    A dayter, in a secluded hall in Hongyue''s capital, Saint Chi Hai sat on a bejeweled throne as a few figures knelt down before him. The two figures in the lead were the Hongyue Empress Tu Jiuniang, and her sister Tu Siniang.


    Chi Hai red balefully at them. "It looks as if yourfortable lives in Hongyue have caused you to forget your identities."


    The figures nched. Tu Jiuniang immediately began, "Please calm down, Saint. We would never forget your gratitude."


    "If not for your assistance, we would still have been trapped in the green knoll hidden realm. We are ever indebted to you, Saint," Tu Siniang added.


    "Truly? And what of the task I assigned to you? Or have you forgotten about it already?"


    "We would never! We''ve been advancing higher up the divine empire of Hongyue and are spying on Lou Yujing on your behalf, Saint," Tu Siniang exined.


    "Saint, my consort cares greatly about me. I am always by his side, and I''ve filled many important positions in Hongyue with my subordinates. We would never dare neglect yourmands," Tu Jiuniang agreed.


    "Indeed?"


    "We remain loyal to you, Saint!" everyone chorused.


    Saint Chi Hai nodded in satisfaction. "It''s good that you know your ce. I trust you know the consequences of going against me as well."


    "Of course, Saint!"


    "Has Lou Yujing exhibited any suspicious behaviortely?"


    Everyone turned to Tu Jiuniang, who frowned and shook her head. "No, Saint. He doesn''t know that we serve you. He has disyed no signs of unusual behavior."


    "Good!" Chi Hai nodded.


    Just then, Tu Siniang said, "Saint, my husband, Li Qianjun, obeys my every word. However, he made countless enemies given the situation with the Taiqing burial pagoda. His cultivation is somewhatcking, and I beseech you to help him advance. I guarantee that he will be loyal to you."


    "Li Qianjun? I''ll consider it," the saint replied.


    Meanwhile, in the imperial study in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing perused a stack of documents. He suddenly stopped and nced in the direction of a wall. The wall was in and unadorned; there was nothing in sight. If the wall weren''t present, however, his gaze would have extended all the way to the secluded hall in which the saint was meeting with Tu Jiuniang, Tu Siniang, and the others.


    Lou Yujing said nothing. Though he couldn''t clearly see into the distance, it seemed that he knew what was going on.


    He rapped his knuckles against the table as he pondered the situation. After a moment, he smiled coldly.


    It took little time before news of Shenfeng''s deration of war against Hongyue spread across the world.


    Perhaps because Xiao Nanfeng had deliberately spread the news, the people of both empires were all discussing the uing war.


    Forces all over the world had learned of the impending war within moments, and the world''s attention was on Shenfeng and Hongyue.


    The Shenfeng Empire''s rapid growth and development over thest few months reminded the world of Dazheng''s miracle against Dayin.


    The battlefield would unfold in the three Immortal cities of Hongyue that the Divine Emperor had pinpointed. This initial sh would determine the two empires'' standing and invoke a chain reaction that brought more forces into the fray.


    Half a month passed rtively peacefully like the calm before the storm.


    At that moment, in the ptial valley of Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor were poring over some reports.


    "Will this deration of war be useful? Will Hongyue actually follow our stiptions?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "As a strategist, hardly. With the saint''s involvement, however, things might be different."


    "Oh? How so?"


    "ording to my intelligence, Lou Yujing is being excessively cautious. He invited the saint specifically to deal with me."


    "What?!" the Divine Emperor eximed. She stood up in shock.


    "Don''t worry. The saint''s a wily old fox, and he''ll hardly let Lou Yujing take advantage of him. He thinks of himself as the chosen of the heavens, far beyond the likes of ordinary mortals. He would never submit to Lou Yujing."


    "But won''t you be in grave danger? You said that saints could manipte even heavenlyw! Why do you think the Spirit Emperor and I lost when we fought against the heavens? Heavenlyw is one such factor."


    "Oh?"


    "Heavenlyw is the basis of the heavens'' power. Allegedly, the heavens sliced apart the heavenlyw that bound the universe in order to seize it for itself. Saints, who possess a fraction of that power, will surely pose a considerable threat."


    "I''ve contacted Yu Fuli about this. If I''m in grave danger, he''ll intercede," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Divine Emperor frowned and pursed her lips.


    "The saint will only be an observer for the time being. He wants to probe my strength, and our deration of war serves as an opportunity to do so. I can''t guarantee whether Lou Yujing has alternative ns in mind, but the battle at the three Immortal cities will surely take up the bulk of Hongyue''s manpower," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The Divine Emperor suddenly asked, "If I give you all of Shenfeng''s fortune, will you be able to advance your spiritual cultivation?"


    She wanted to help Xiao Nanfeng advance so that he would be better equipped to protect himself.


    "It''s insufficient, I''m afraid. My techniques draw on a vast number of articles of naturalw, and I''ll need more fortune to advance. I don''t require Shenfeng''s fortune at the moment."


    "In that case, once Shenfeng advances into a divine empire, I''ll help you break through."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a smile. "After this battle, Shenfeng should have the qualifications to do so."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.

 Chapter 745: Warring Against Hongyue

    <h4>Chapter 745: Warring Against Hongyue</h4>


    Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.


    During that period of time, the three denunciations and deration of war caused the world''s attention to be fixated on Shenfeng and Hongyue¡ªbut neither empire engaged in provocation of any sort.


    The more this strange peace persisted, the more sinister things became. This was the calm before the storm. A frightening war was about to break out.


    As the half-month period ended, the Divine Emperor officially announced the start of the war and sent its troops toward the three designated Immortal cities.


    The first army was led by Yang Chuan. His army wasposed of his own subordinates, bolstered by the forces of friends and rtives of the countless cultivators who had perished in the ck coffin hidden realm. It headed for Danxian.


    The second army was led by Zhao Yuanjiao, and wasposed of Taiqing disciples and Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. It headed for Bingxian.


    The third army was led by Ye Sanshui, and wasposed of Shenfeng''s troops. It headed toward Dunxian.


    The three armies traveled in force, moving rapidly toward the three Immortal cities of Hongyue.


    The Divine Emperor remained in Shenfeng''s capital, awaiting news from the frontlines. She nced at one of her pce maidens in worry.


    "Are you sure it''ll be alright to just send out our troops like this?"


    The pce maiden, through her avatar, ryed Xiao Nanfeng''s words to her. "Rx. Everything will be alright. Hongyue has been shoring up the defenses of the three Immortal cities over the past two weeks. However, I expect them to try to strike elsewhere as well, so we''ll need to be on our guard."


    "I''ll keep an eye out around here. There won''t be an issue," the Divine Emperor said firmly.


    In a hall in Bingxian, Saint Chi Hai sat on a jeweled throne. Tang Zhengqi, his loyal follower, stood before him, along with Tu Siniang. They were all eyeing Li Qianjun, who was seated cross-legged in meditation.


    ck smoke surged around Li Qianjun''s body. With a sudden boom, a frightening wave of energy shot out from him. It would have caused a ruckus if Saint Chi Hai hadn''t waved a hand and suppressed it.


    An incredible aura manifested around him as if he were a peerless sword ascending into the heavens.


    Beside him, Tu Siniang''s eyes widened in excitement. "Thank you for helping my husband break through to the Boundless Immortal realm, Saint!"


    Li Qianjun slowly stood up. He too was exceptionally excited. He bowed gravely toward Saint Chi Hai. "My gratitude, Saint."


    Saint Chi Hai nodded.


    Even so, he was somewhat displeased by Li Qianjun''s behavior. He had helped Li Qianjun get past his bottleneck and reach the Boundless Immortal realm, but all Li Qianjun did was bow. He didn''t even bend his knee! Did he have no sense of courtesy?


    "Saint, Shenfeng''s army is about to arrive. I need to prepare for battle immediately. I apologize for cutting this meeting short."


    "Go," Chi Hai said coldly.


    Li Qianjun bowed again and retreated from the hall.


    Tu Siniang gulped. She knew how much emphasis the saint ced on respect and propriety¡ªand her husband had all but snubbed him after receiving his aid.


    "Saint, I beg your forgiveness. My husband is eager to use his newfound strength to aid you and probe Xiao Nanfeng''s strength."


    "You leave too," Chi Haimanded.


    He was too incensed to care much about Tu Siniang at the moment.


    Tu Siniang stiffened. She bowed deeply and retreated from the hall, leaving only the saint and Tang Zhengqi behind.


    "Tang Zhengqi, do you think I''ve been too magnanimous with them?" Saint Chi Hai still seemed angry.


    Tang immediately knelt on the floor. "Your Eminence, please calm down! Your grace demands gratitude in kind. If I were to have received your benevolence, I would have kowtowed thrice over. You are a hallowed saint, the chosen of the heavens! The world ought to revolve around you. I have never seen such ungrateful cultivators."


    Saint Chi Hai nodded in satisfaction upon hearing Tang''s shameless response. This was how people should behave upon seeing a saint, wasn''t it? Li Qianjun was an ingrate!


    "You''re quite right. Some cultivators don''t deserve my assistance," Saint Chi Hai said.


    "Your Eminence, I''ve heard that Shenfeng''s three armies are all particrly strong. Might I ask if you have any intention of interceding?"


    "What are your thoughts?"


    Tang''s brows furrowed a little. "I believe that Shenfeng is far more dangerous than it appears at first nce. It would not befit your saintly body to participate in battle directly. I would advise observing from afar and examining what Xiao Nanfeng reveals of his strength. After all, Your Eminence, Xiao Nanfeng is your sole target. Why worry about the war between these two empires? They''re beneath your concern."


    Saint Chi Hai shook his head. "I am obliged to use this battle to probe Xiao Nanfeng''s strength. He will hardly be able to deter the likes of me."


    "I pray for your sess, Your Eminence. But how will you know among which army Xiao Nanfeng is hiding?"


    "Ha!" Saint Chi Hai chuckled.


    Four figures flew out of his sleeves, the four zombie kings he had borrowed from Lou Yujing. The zombie kings stood immobile as they awaited Chi Hai''s orders.


    Chi Hai sent four drops of fresh blood flying out of his fingertip, then drew out arge quantity of special energy from the void and infused it into them. He made seals with his hands and impressed the drops of blood with countless blood-colored runes.


    "Let this blood congeal into my avatars!" Saint Chi Hai intoned.


    The four drops of flesh blood shot toward the zombie kings'' mindscapes.


    The four zombie kings suddenly howled in pain. Blood-colored light red from their bodies as spiritual energy from the air was sucked in around them.


    Within moments, their bodies shuddered as they fell still. Then, the blood-colored light emanating from them was absorbed entirely into their bodies. Their pupils contracted, then dted. Their expressions had all changed. They twisted their heads and limbs independently.


    "They''re a little weak, but I suppose they''re fine as far as avatars go." One of the zombie kings suddenly smirked.


    Tang was astonished. He knelt down again, as was his custom by now. "Your Eminence, were you able to forge the four zombie kings into your avatars instantly? Your powers are truly incredible! I am sure the legends of the world would be nothing but fleas inparison to your strength. I am grateful that you would be willing to demonstrate such a technique to me. I am truly blessed to be able to serve you!"


    Tang''s shamelessness knew no bounds. Even Saint Chi Hai was starting to feel a little embarrassed, but Tang''s ttery was as effective as ever.


    "You have a good eye indeed," Saint Chi Hai praised.


    "I speak from my heart, Your Eminence," Tang dered.


    "Very good. Allow me to demonstrate more of my strength on the battlefield, then," Saint Chi Hai said with satisfaction.


    "Thank you, Your Eminence!"


    At the same time, in a secluded hall of Dazheng, Tang''s avatar told a spectral guard, "Report to His Majesty immediately. The saint has helped Li Qianjun be a Boundless Immortal, and he''s forged four avatars from four zombie kings. They''ve all split up. I can only follow one of them."


    The spectral guard nodded. "Very well. My main body is with His Majesty. I''ll ry your report immediately.


    By the outskirts of Dunxian, Ye Sanshui and his army stopped near a mountain peak.


    The army wasposed of Shenfeng''s generals, including the brothers Xia Lan and Xia Hong. Many of the cultivators had been displeased by Ye Sanshui''s sudden appearance and the fact that he had been grantedmand of Shenfeng''s army¡ªuntil they learned that he was a Boundless Immortal.


    Not only did he far outstrip them in terms of cultivation, he would be able to protect them especially in dangerous circumstances.


    Ye Sanshui stood on the peak of the mountain as he listened to Xiao Nanfeng''s advice. As Xiao Nanfeng spoke, Ye Sanshui nodded and answered him respectfully.


    "Second Brother, why do you think a Boundless Immortal like Ye Sanshui would obey Xiao Nanfeng? Isn''t he crazy?" Xia Lan''s envy was rising by the second.


    "Isn''t that a good thing? Or are you trying to find fault with Xiao Nanfeng again? If you dare make a fuss right before the war begins, I''m going to punish you." Xia Hong red at Xia Lan.


    "I was just curious!"


    "The chain ofmand is paramount in the army. Wait until the war is over to be curious," Xia Hong hissed.


    "Understood!" Xia Lan replied, sighing.


    On the mountain peak, Ye Sanshui frowned. "Your Majesty, weren''t you going to operate in the background? Why have you shown yourself?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I expected the saint to use one or two avatars at most, but he''s attacking with five bodies simultaneously."


    "What? We have to handle five saints?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Four are in the zombie kings'' bodies, but the saint will surely have infused them with power beyond what they''re supposed to have. The saint''s five bodies will have incredible destructive might. I showed myself to attract more of them to me."


    "This battle will be rather dangerous, then." Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "Worry not. Everything is still under control. We''ll operate in ordance with our original n. Now, let''s siege the city!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    He waved a hand, summoning thick fog from the vicinity. The thick fog quickly dissipated, revealing Ye Sanshui once more. However, Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be seen.


    Ye Sanshui turned to the army behind him. "We strike at Dunxian immediately!"


    "Understood!" all the cultivators chorused.


    Ye Sanshui charged forward with his army in tow as they fought their way toward Dunxian.

 Chapter 746: You Omen of Calamity

    <h4>Chapter 746: You Omen of Cmity</h4>


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s army of Taiqing disciples reached Bingxian. The Immortal city''s gates were tightly shut and its defensive formations activated; it was ready for a siege.


    Zhao Yuanjiao suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Li Qianjun!"


    Above the city walls, Li Qianjun appeared bearing the Taiqing burial pagoda.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao, you''re nothing but a whelp. Do you really think you can take me on?"


    Li Qianjun''s voice was loud and bright. It echoed like thunder and bore the intensity of lightning. A wave of pressure emanated from him, causing Zhao Yuanjiao''s army to quail.


    "Li Qianjun, do you hear that? Someone''s calling your name," Zhao Yuanjiao retorted.


    "Oh? Who?" Li Qianjun smirked.


    "The Taiqing elders and ancestors you killed¡ªyour senior brothers, uncles, masters, nephews. All of them are hovering around you, seeking vengeance for their lives!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared.


    "Li Qianjun, return my life to me!" the Taiqing army roared.


    Li Qianjun visibly shuddered. A wave of cold air surged up his body from his feet.


    Li Qianjun shook his head and shouted, "Zhao Yuanjiao, your father wanted to join me, but I refused him for hisck of talent and spared your life. Even so, you dare turn against me? Come at me if you want the Taiqing Immortal Sect to die for good. None of you will survive the day!"


    "Don''t worry about us just yet. There''s another debt you have to repay first," Zhao Yuanjiao said coolly.


    From within the army''s ranks, a youth walked out¡ªnone other than the Demon Child.


    With his demon-subduing golden hoop in hand, the Demon Child red at his erstwhile father with killing intent. "Traitor, you''ve insulted and hurt my mother for many years. Today, I''ll im your head to avenge her!"


    The Demon Child soared into the air as he tossed out his golden hoop. The hoop split up into thousands, tens of thousands of copies, all of which fell toward Bingxian in a meteor shower.


    The defensive formations around Bingxian quaked.


    Li Qianjun narrowed his eyes. "Die, wayward son!"


    With a wave of his hand, the Taiqing burial pagoda soared into the air and grew in size until it was asrge as a small mountain. It attempted to suck in all the copies of the golden hoop.


    "Dream on!" the Demon Child shouted. He threw a punch into the air, forcing the Taiqing burial pagoda to sputter as the suction abruptly stopped.


    Li Qianjun strode forward and punched at the Demon Child in an explosion of fire and wind.


    Many of the disciples nched. "Li Qianjun''s a Boundless Immortal now?!"


    "Do you know what a wench your mother was? She did everything I told her to. When I beat her, she was d to have my affection! Not only that, she even gave birth to a lowly mutant like you," Li Qianjun taunted.


    The Demon Child immediately red with rage. "I''ll kill you!"


    The fighting between the two Boundless Immortals grew more and more intense.


    Afar, quite a few disciples began to frown. "Li Qianjun''s deliberately trying to antagonize the Demon Child. With the support of the Taiqing burial pagoda and the Demon Child''s single-minded attacks, Li Qianjun will quickly gain the upper hand."


    "Ye Dafu, lead your troop forward to assist the Demon Child!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu replied.


    The twelve golden cultivators shot into the air to stall Li Qianjun.


    "Do you really think a group of Golden Immortals will suffice to stop me?" Li Qianjun demanded.


    He sent the golden cultivators flying one after another, giving the Demon Child an opening to strike.


    "Demon Child, we''ll stall Li Qianjun for the time being. Destroy his Taiqing burial pagoda for now!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    By then, however, the Demon Child was in a fit of rage. He attacked Li Qianjun madly, without the presence of mind to do anything else.


    Above the walls of Bingxian were another group of cultivators, among them Tu Siniang, Tang Zhengqi, and one of the saint''s four zombie king avatars.


    "Li Qianjun''s rather overconfident, isn''t he? I warned him to slowly draw out the enemy, but he rushed right ahead only to be stopped by the enemy forces." Tang tutted.


    "Silence! It''s not your ce toment," Tu Siniang hissed.


    "And why not? Don''t you think it''s appropriate for me to point out errors in the chain ofmand?" Tang retorted.


    "Continue, Tang," the saint''s avatar said.


    When the saint interceded, Tu Siniang could only mp her mouth shut with an air of great reluctance.


    Tang took a deep breath. "Your Eminence, the goal of this battle is to help you scope out Xiao Nanfeng''s strength. In principle, we ought to proceed in waves, drawing out the enemy''s trump cards one after another. Li Qianjun, the maniac, jumped in straight from the start. How can we get a sense of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength now? He''s ruined the n entirely and forced you into passivity, Your Eminence!"


    Tu Siniang thundered, "Tang Zhengqi, the saint is asking you about the battle. It''s not a free pass to criticize anyone you want!"


    "My criticism is directly tied to the battle before us. You''ve created a mess for His Eminence to fix," Tang dered. "You''re all up to no good!"


    "Insolence!" Tu Siniang cried out.


    The saint, however, was very satisfied with how thoughtful Tang was being. "Tang Zhengqi, what do you suggest?"


    "Your Eminence, I believe we ought to head to a different battlefield. They''ve already made a mess of this one. A Boundless Immortal has already appeared from the enemy ranks; a second may well appear. Rather than take the risk, Your Eminence, we should head to one of the other cities. Li Qianjun instigated this attack: let him reap what he sows."


    Tu Siniang roared, "Tang Zhengqi, do you want to die?!"


    "Am I mistaken, Madam Tu? Why should His Eminence have to deal with your problems? You''re only adding to his burdens!" Tang roared back.


    "Silence!" Tu Siniang hissed. She turned to the saint''s avatar. "Saint, my husband is simply probing at our enemies'' defenses. At the very least, he managed to lure out a Boundless Immortal on the enemy side. If you were to attack, we would swiftly gain control of the situation."


    "And how do you intend for me to strike?" the saint asked.


    "Zhao Yuanjiao leads the enemy army. As long as we can take him down, this army will be done for."


    "How dare youmand His Eminence! Can''t you send troops to deal with Zhao Yuanjiao yourself?" Tang eximed.


    "Saint, Zhao Yuanjiao is being guarded by Golden Immortals. If we send our troops forward, he''ll only hide behind his guards. Only with your aid can we take him down immediately with the element of surprise. Once we catch him, the enemy army is done for. Whatever their trump cards are will quickly be revealed."


    "Your Eminence, you can''t listen to her!" Tang knelt down and begged. "She''s trying to trick you!"


    "Saint, this is the fastest means of winning this battle!" Tu Siniang insisted.


    The saint eyed the two cultivators. Though Tang Zhengqi was a good bootlicker, he believed that Tu Siniang was the more loyal. Tu Siniang was his pawn, after all, and would never hurt him. She wasn''t wrong, either. Dealing with the enemymander would quickly end this battle. Why drag things out?


    As for Tang Zhengqi, though he seemed loyal to a fault, perhaps he wasn''t a particrly good strategist.


    "I shall do so once and once only," the saint dered coldly.


    "Of course! Thank you, honored Saint!" Tu Siniang eximed.


    "How dare you disturb His Eminence!" Tang fumed. "I won''t spare you!"


    The saint ignored the two cultivators'' petty squabbles as he eyed Zhao Yuanjiao, who was watching the fight unfold. He smirked and leapt straight toward him in a beam of light.


    "Protect themander!" some cultivators suddenly cried out.


    Zhao Yuanjiao immediately drew his sword and stepped back in an attempt to avoid the sudden blow, but the figure had shot toward him far too quickly.


    "A Boundless Immortal?!"


    "Be careful, Commander!"


    The figure shed right up to Zhao Yuanjiao, whose sword suddenly emitted with blinding light. A frightening attack infused within the sword immediately activated.


    "A heart sword?!" the figure yelled out, startled.


    However, the figure was simply too close to Zhao Yuanjiao to dodge the attack. The glowing sh cleaved the figure in two, then continued all the way into the heavens.


    The purple sword in Zhao Yuanjiao''s hands, already cracked, shattered after releasing the second of the stored techniques within it.


    The soldiers formed ranks around theirmander, Zhao Yuanjiao.


    The moment the zombie king had been cleaved apart, a blood-red pir of light formed between heaven and earth for the barest moment before it vanished. The sh had bisected the zombie king vertically, and the two halves of its body stood immobile before Zhao Yuanjiao.


    "Seal this body!" Zhao Yuanjiaomanded.


    A group of Taiqing disciples separately stored the two halves of the zombie king''s body in two different relics after cing countless seals on them both.


    Only then did Zhao Yuanjiao exhale in relief. "If Nanfeng hadn''t handed me the heart sword, all of us would have died today..."


    He shook his head. There was more work to be done just yet. "Everyone, take down the city!"


    "Understood!" shouted countless soldiers and Taiqing disciples .


    Afar, Tang Zhengqi cried out in pain as he witnessed the saint''s avatar being bisected. "Your Eminence! It''s all their fault!"


    Then, he turned toward Tu Siniang. "You omen of cmity! You were the one who cursed His Eminence to death. He won''t forgive you for this!"


    Then, Tang fled from Bingxian.


    Alone above the city walls, Tu Siniang was stunned. She still hadn''t recovered from the shock of what had happened. "How could this be? It''s not my fault. What do I do now?!"


    "Die!" the invaders shouted. They charged toward the city.

 Chapter 747: Fighting the Saints Avatar

    <h4>Chapter 747: Fighting the Saint''s Avatar</h4>


    In Dunxian, a group of Hongyue cultivators stood within the southern watchtower as they watched Ye Sanshui''s army approach them¡ªas well as Xiao Nanfeng.


    Some were anxious, others excited. Lou Yujing''s confidantes knew that Xiao Nanfeng''s appearance would draw the attention and focus of the saint.


    The next moment, Ye Sanshui summoned a cloud of fog. By the time it dissipated, Xiao Nanfeng was gone.


    Themander looked toward a figure shrouded in ck fog. He was aware that the figure was their strongestbatant: one of the saint''s avatars.


    "Senior, Xiao Nanfeng has gone into hiding," themander said respectfully.


    The saint''s avatar nodded. "I saw it. He''s rather skilled at that, if nothing else. I can''t sense his aura at all."


    "They''re starting to attack the city, Senior. The enemymander is a Boundless Immortal, and we''re no match for him. Would you lend us your support?" themander continued.


    Ye Sanshui had rushed forward and smashed his fist into the defensive formation around Dunxian.


    A Boundless Immortal''s attacks were more fearsome than any relic. The void rippled as a huge wave of force struck the barrier.


    A storm of fire and wind billowed from Ye Sanshui as the defensive formation cracked under his empowered blow. It seemed as though a little more force would cause the formation to shatter entirely.


    Ye Sanshui eyed the formation coldly. "Strong though this formation might be, it''s useless against me!"


    He threw another punch, this time straight toward the southern watchtower. Not only was he intending to shatter the barrier, he would take down the countless troops gathered around it simultaneously. The ripples in the void grew stronger and stronger. Even before the punchnded, the barrier was starting to copse under the force of the shockwaves emanating from it.


    In the watchtower, countless cultivators fretted as they eyed theirmander, who was ncing at the saint in turn.


    The saint smiled coldly. "With Xiao Nanfeng gone, I suppose I''ll test that ancestral zombie''s strength for now."


    The saint''s avatar threw a punch toward Ye Sanshui. The two attacks struck each other in a ming explosion that caused the defensive formation to shatter and the southern watchtower to copse.


    Ye Sanshui''s army was shaken by the devastation he had wrought.


    "Thank goodness for Commander Ye Sanshui. We would have been done for otherwise!" Xia Lan eximed.


    All the soldiers were stunned.


    Indeed, a war between Immortals was far different than that between mortals. Individual strength could easily decide the oue of battle.


    "Die!" Xia Hong roared.


    The rest of the army btedly reacted and shouted, "Die!"


    They charged toward the southern watchtower, which had copsed entirely from the impact between the two Boundless Immortals'' attacks.


    The fight broke out in earnest between the Immortal cultivators present as Ye Sanshui and the saint''s avatar shot into the air and continued their duel.


    "Die!" Ye Sanshui roared.


    "Ha!" the saint''s avatar replied.


    A vortex of fire spawned around them, sending waves of me into their vicinity.


    The people of Dunxian and the spies scattered around the city watched on in shock.


    Within a secluded patch of the forest, a group of cultivators murmured to one another.


    "Your Majesty, no wonder Shenfeng didn''t send an envoy to us. We''re far beneath their notice."


    "The frontlinemanders are all Boundless Immortals. The scale of this war is more frightening than between most divine empires!"


    "Your Majesty, my avatar has received news. Fighting has broken out at Danxian and Bingxian. There are Boundless Immortals leading both groups of forces in the two locations as well."


    "That many Boundless Immortals? Can we contribute?"


    The officials shot each other worried nces, causing the emperor they represented to frown.


    The leaders of the other forces watching the battle unfold were terribly shaken as well.


    Even without the two Boundless Immortals, the number of Golden Immortals gathered here would have been shocking enough on its own. In light of the two Boundless Immortals, however, the Golden Immortals paled inparison.


    It hardly mattered whether one side''s Golden Immortals beat the other, as long as its Boundless Immortal did.


    Everyone swallowed a gulp of saliva as they watched an incredible duel unfold in the air. Unfortunately for them, the mes emanating from the two cultivators were too intense for most to catch sight of what was happening.


    Ye Sanshui and the saint''s avatar seemed to fight on equal footing, though not for long. The saint had far more experience and skill; even with an ordinary zombie king''s body, he was stronger than Ye Sanshui in an ancestral zombie''s body.


    Before long, the saint took advantage of a gap in Ye Sanshui''s defenses and threw out a punch. Ye Sanshui fell like a meteor and destroyed a mountain in the process.


    The Hongyue cultivators cheered, their morale soaring.


    The Shenfeng cultivators nched and frowned in worry.


    The saint''s avatar smirked. "You''re no match for me. Where''s Xiao Nanfeng? Send him out."


    Ye Sanshui slowly got to his feet and wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. His eyes suddenly dted. Ye Sanshui''s aura grew as sharp as a sword.


    Abruptly, he looked into the sky and smiled. "Are you looking for me?"


    The saint frowned, surprised by the abrupt change in Ye Sanshui''s behavior. Upon seeing that Ye Sanshui''s expression was different from before, he narrowed his eyes. "No, you''re a different person, aren''t you? You''re Xiao Nanfeng! You were hiding in this ancestral zombie''s mindscape, but now you''ve possessed him."


    Ye Sanshui''s body slowly floated into the air. He stretched as he familiarized himself with the body.


    "You''ve got a good eye," Ye Sanshui replied. "You''re in symbiosis with this zombie king, I take it? Who are you?" Ye Sanshui pretended not to be familiar with the saint.


    No¡ªthis wasn''t Ye Sanshui any longer. Xiao Nanfeng was controlling Ye Sanshui''s body. He didn''t yet have the strength to possess a Boundless Immortal, or he would long since have made use of the two zombie kings'' bodies that were now in his possession. However, the situation was different when the Boundless Immortal voluntarily ceded control.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you must really want to die! Come! Let me get a sense of your strength," the saint exhorted.


    Even so, he didn''t reveal his own identity. He charged forward and threw a punch at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with a punch of his own. "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!"


    Fists rained down from the sky like a meteor shower.


    The twobatants'' fists met in another explosion. This time, the saint''s avatar was sent stumbling back.


    Though the saint knew that Xiao Nanfeng had mastered Hegemon''s Fist, his degree of proficiency still shocked him.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted. "Hegemon''s Fist: Mountainbane!"


    He sent the saint''s avatar hurtling to the ground, where he too crashed into a mountain.


    The Shenfeng cultivators cheered as their positions were reversed.


    "Die!" the saint''s avatar roared as he charged into the air again.


    The twobatants began to fight in earnest.


    Hegemon''s Fist was an impressively powerful technique, one that sent the saint''s avatar stumbling back time and time again¡ªor perhaps because of the natural deficiency in a zombie king''s bodypared to an ancestral zombie''s. The saint was fuming at his inability to beat Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You really are weak, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    Just then, an attack shot toward him from behind. He frowned and defended as he was knocked back.


    Only then did he see that the second assant was a zombie king. Another of the saint''s avatars had rushed over in haste.


    The two avatars caught Xiao Nanfeng in a pincer attack, one from the front and the other from the back.


    The spies watching the battle unfold widened their eyes.


    "Two Boundless Immortals against one? Just how much did Hongyue prepare for this war?"


    "They''re all zombie kings, too. It looks like that denunciation was urate. Lou Yujing was the mastermind behind the cmity in the ck coffin hidden realm!"


    Many were stunned by the scale of the fighting.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced resolutely at the two avatars, but no fear crept into his expression. "Will you not reveal your identity? No matter how many of these zombies you throw at me, the oue will be the same. Die!"


    "Insolent fool! Die!" the two avatars shouted simultaneously.


    The threebatants began to fight even more fiercely than ever before. Far beneath them, the ground cracked and split.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist was powerful, but the saint was no easy opponent. The two avatars gradually gained the upper hand.


    If Xiao Nanfeng had to charge up all his punches, his energy expenditure would go through the roof. He was quickly sent flying by one of the saint''s avatars.


    "Your fist technique is powerful, but it consumes an incredible sum of energy. You''ve already used up most of your stamina, haven''t you?"


    "It''s only a little expenditure. I just have to make up for it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He retrieved one of the two zombie kings that he had caught in Yongding, which had been bound with arge number of seals.


    Then, he absorbed the zombie king''s body.


    "No! Hold it!" one of the saint''s avatars cried out.


    The ancestral zombie could absorb other zombies to replenish its energy.


    The saint''s two avatars shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, but they were toote. ck smoke suddenly erupted from Xiao Nanfeng''s ancestral zombie body as his stamina was replenished.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    Within a cloud of ck smoke, the threebatants'' fight reached fever pitch.

 Chapter 748: The Saint in the Door

    <h4>Chapter 748: The Saint in the Door</h4>


    Sustained by the zombie king''s energy, the ancestral zombie whose body Xiao Nanfeng was co-opting instantly recovered to peak strength. It even gained plenty of stockpiled energy to be used up.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!"


    Even fighting against two opponents at once, Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be disadvantaged for the time being.


    The saint was starting to feel exasperated as he controlled his avatars. As the fighting grew more intense, the rate at which they lost energy began to elerate. His initial advantage had been depleted, and trying to take on an ancestral zombie with ordinary zombie kings was foolhardy behavior. He didn''t see how he could win, especially considering that Xiao Nanfeng had an extra zombie king he could consume at any time to regain energy. At this rate, he would lose.


    "Aren''t you going to identify yourself? If you wait any longer, you won''t have an opportunity to do so," Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    The saint frowned. Seemingly having made up his mind, he sent his avatars leaping toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng darted back, sensing something amiss.


    "You won''t be able to get away!" one of the avatars cried out.


    The saint''s two avatars struck simultaneously as they defended against his Hegemon''s Fist. Suddenly, a cloud of ck fog appeared behind Xiao Nanfeng''s body. Countless ck hands reached out for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Is that the third ck coffin?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The ck fog seemed to be surging from a ck coffin that was filled with cracks.


    "The third coffin''s whereabouts remains unknown. For now, I''ll be taking your coffin," one of the saint''s avatars shouted.


    The two avatars attempted to push Xiao Nanfeng into the ck coffin with what remained of their strength.


    Xiao Nanfeng figured out what was going on almost immediately. This had to be the ck coffin from the Southeastern Aquatic Pce. Yang Chuan had shattered it, but the saint must have used some secret technique to reconstruct it from its fragments.


    The two avatars were about to seed in pushing Xiao Nanfeng within.


    "Damn it!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    He tried to defend against the two avatars, but there were too many grasping ck hands emerging from the ck coffin. Theirbined strength was about equal to that of a Boundless Immortal; in total, three Boundless Immortals were cooperating to drag him into the ck coffin.


    Despite his resistance, he was faltering one step at a time.


    As the ck coffin drew ever closer to him, he sighed in exasperation. "I wasn''t going to use this trick, but it looks like I have no other choice."


    The red Heaven Division''s Gate appeared before them all. It creaked open, and the sound of chanting surged out from within.


    "What''s this?!" the saint''s avatars cried out. They could instinctively sense a dangerous aura from within.


    "We might as well enter the realm together, I suppose!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.


    With all his strength, he made his way through the gate, dragging the two avatars and the ck coffin with him.


    Then, the gate creaked shut and vanished.


    The spectators'' eyes widened.


    "Where did all the zombies go? They''re all gone!"


    "Even if they destroyed each other, surely there would still be traces of their bodies left behind?"


    "What sort of door was that? It felt so sinister!"


    "They''re all gone?"


    Shouts peppered the air as the Hongyue and Shenfeng troops momentarily grew disordered.


    "All generals, hear me! While themander is otherwise upied, I, Vice-Commander Xia Hong, shall assume his duties. Charge forward and take down Dunxian!" Xia Hong roared.


    There were a group of about a dozen vicemanders prepared to takemand in case Ye Sanshui was incapacitated. Xia Hong was the first in line, then the second vicemander, then the third and fourth, and so on.


    "Die!" the army roared.


    The fighting grew more intense as the two armies met each other inbat.


    Within Shenfeng''s pce, a scout with an avatar reported to the Divine Emperor anxiously, "Your Majesty, arge horde of zombies has been spotted in the air above the Immortal city of Haijiao."


    The Divine Emperor frowned. "Led by whom? Can you tell?"


    "It''s Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie body! He smashed apart the defensive formation around Haijiao with a punch. His zombies are ughtering the people of Haijiao!"


    The Divine Emperor nched. She turned to a pce maiden. "Lou Yujing''s making his move."


    The pce maiden ryed Xiao Nanfeng''s words via her avatar. "Haijiao isn''t far from Shenfeng. Lou Yujing must be luring you over. Shenfeng is his target."


    The Divine Emperor grimaced. "I know, but I can''t just watch Lou Yujing ughter my people. How dare he!"


    "Lou Yujing''s trying to attack Shenfeng''s core philosophy. Shenfeng prizes its people over all else. Now that he''s targeting our people, if you rush over, you''ll fall into his trap. If you don''t, he''ll use our inaction to nder our philosophy."


    "That damn Lou Yujing! I''ll head over, then," the Divine Emperor replied.


    "Be careful. If you sense anything amiss, leave immediately."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    The Divine Emperor gave her subordinates expressmands as she silently left Shenfeng.


    Before long, she arrived at Haijiao.


    By then, ck smoke was filling the air. Countless pained screams could be heard within the city.


    "Help! The zombies are here!"


    "Hurry and let Her Majesty know! I don''t want to die!"


    "Don''t bite me! Stay away!"


    Though the guards were doing their best, the zombies were far too strong. Soon, the cultivators were overrun and turned into zombies themselves.


    The people tried to run, only to find themselves blocked by arge number of zombies in the air. The entire city was trapped in ce.


    Lou Yujing''s avatar, in the form of an ancestral zombie, hovered in the air as if waiting for a certain person. When he saw a shadowy figure fly over, he smirked. "You''re finally here, I see."


    A huge wave of sound shot toward Haijiao, knocking a swathe of zombies away and allowing the people to escape.


    "Her Majesty is here to save us!"


    "Please help us, Your Majesty!"


    Countless people called out to her.


    As the Divine Emperor tried to fly over, Lou Yujing blocked her and sent a punch her way.


    She retaliated with a punch of her own. An explosion erupted around them as Lou Yujing and the Divine Emperor were both knocked back.


    The Divine Emperor stared at the horrified people beneath her. "Lou Yujing, how dare you massacre my people? Die!"


    She mmed a palm into her bell, sending a golden wave of sound straight toward Lou Yujing.


    Lou Yujing''s eyes shed with frost. "Kill her!"


    Arge number of Golden Immortal zombies struck at the Divine Emperor alongside Lou Yujing. Waves of golden sound surged toward the massed horde.


    Lou Yujing broke through the sound waves with brute strength and suddenly appeared before the Divine Emperor.


    Both cultivators punched each other as the golden soundwaves sent the zombies closing in on the Divine Emperor flying.


    "You were revived toote, Divine Emperor. Your cultivation is inferior to mine, and you''ve sent your strongest subordinates to the frontlines. With me around, you won''t be able to help out your city. Watch it turn into a zombie necropolis, haha!" Lou Yujingughed.


    "If you were able to guess my identity, surely you wouldn''t have forgotten about my subordinates," the Divine Emperor spat back.


    Shadowy figures zipped toward Haijiao from afar. They reached the Divine Emperor in the blink of an eye.


    "Destroy the zombies and save the people!" the Divine Emperormanded.


    "Understood!" The shadows shot into Haijiao and fended off the massive zombie horde.


    Lou Yujing frowned, but he couldn''t attack the shadows¡ªthe Divine Emperor''s counterattack had started. Waves of golden sound surrounded him.


    "Now that you''re here, you might as well not leave," the Divine Emperor dered.


    "That''s not up to you to decide!" Lou Yujing retorted.


    The two cultivators began to fight once more.


    Outside Shenfeng''s capital, Tu Jiuniang grimaced as she stared down at the city. "This is my third time here. Will I finally seed in taking down Shenfeng''s capital?"


    Just then, one of her subordinates ryed Lou Yujing''s message. "Jiuniang, my avatar is holding the Divine Emperor back. You''re free to destroy the capital. Make your move."


    "Understood!"


    Tu Jiuniang flew down toward Shenfeng''s capital and attacked the defensive formation there with a palm.


    "Enemy attack!" shouted the guards from within the capital.


    Unfortunately for them, it was toote. Tu Jiuniang''s palm strike crashed into the defensive formation like a meteor. Fire swept across the defenses, but ultimately failed to destroy them.


    Then, 361 stars appeared high overhead. Beams of starlight shone down on Shenfeng''s capital, reinforcing the defensive formations around it.


    "Impossible!" she eximed.


    She sent another palm strike down toward Shenfeng''s capital. The outermost defensive formation flickered before suddenly glowing with light. It remained intact.


    "When did Shenfeng''s defensive formations grow so strong?!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    A cloud of fog suddenly surrounded Shenfeng''s capital.


    Shenfeng''s formations masters stared at a ck-robed man in shock.


    "Senior Blue Lantern, your formation is incredible. It''s even able to block a Boundless Immortal''s attack!" one of them shouted.


    They had all been distrustful of Blue Lantern when he arrived to take control of Shenfeng''s formations¡ªbut the results spoke for themselves.


    "Is it supposed to be difficult to block Tu Jiuniang''s attacks?" Blue Lantern asked calmly.


    "You really are amazing, Senior!" One formations master bowed deeply in embarrassment. "I apologize for doubting your abilities. Please forgive me!"


    "Please forgive us!" the others all chorused.


    Blue Lantern nodded and smiled at them.

 Chapter 749: The Saint Falls for the Ploy

    <h4>Chapter 749: The Saint Falls for the Ploy</h4>


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was reviewing the battle reports that flooded in from the battlefields, while Wen Zhong assisted with the analysis.


    "Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie avatar headed to Haijiao, and Tu Jiuniang to Shenfeng. How strange. I would have swapped the two of them to cause more damage to Shenfeng," Wen Zhong said, frowning.


    "Why do you think Lou Yujing arranged things this way?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can''t tell at the moment, Your Majesty, but I believe this was an intentional choice."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "We are in agreement, then. There''s something we''re still not seeing. Would you review Lou Yujing''s entire background, including his time in the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    "I will, Your Majesty." Wen Zhong nodded seriously.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng seemed to sense something. He narrowed his eyes. "The saint is here. Let''s head outside to meet him."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the officials chorused.


    Xiao Nanfeng strode out of the imperial study, followed swiftly behind by his officials.


    Outside Yongding, on a mountain peak shrouded by fog, Saint Chi Hai made his appearance. His four zombie king avatars were all on other battlefields; he had arrived in Yongding himself. It was clear how much importance he ced on Yongding.


    He had been told that all of Xiao Nanfeng''s elite subordinates had been sent out, that Yongding was but an empty husk at the moment.


    Yongding''s gates were flung wide open, and the only defensive formation active was a thin, diaphanous membrane in purple that looked as if it would shatter in a single blow.


    He had been intending to kill his way over, but his cautious personality caused him to hold back. He had studied Xiao Nanfeng''s past victories and knew that Xiao Nanfeng possessed almost supernatural means. He was a skilled strategist who would never make such a low-level mistake.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng and his officials walked out from a hall in the pce in the distance.


    "I came as stealthily as I could. Could he have discovered my presence regardless?" Saint Chi Hai frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly looked toward his location. Though thick fog surrounded him, Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze seemed to pierce right through.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "It looks like a guest has arrived. Sir, don''t you think you ought to show yourself?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice, loud and resonant, could be heard throughout the city and even beyond.


    The people and cultivators of the city were perplexed. Just who was His Majesty talking to?


    The saint raised an eyebrow and knew that he could hide no longer. With a wave of his sleeves, the fog around him dissipated and revealed his face.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how did you find me?" the saint demanded.


    The saint''s voice crackled like thunder. It shook Yongding and caused its people to gasp in surprise.


    "Do not hurt my people with your divine might," Xiao Nanfeng warned curtly.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s words relieved the people and made them feel at ease. They nced toward the saint curiously.


    The saint''s eyes twitched. This wasn''t how it was supposed to go! How could Xiao Nanfeng be so calm?


    "Do you know who I am?" the saint demanded.


    "I wouldn''t mistake your gaze. The two zombie kings at Dunxian were your avatars, weren''t they? Do you intend to serve as Lou Yujing''s hound and make a fuss at Yongding now?"


    "Insolence!" the saint thundered.


    "You''re the insolent one, I should think. No one who besieges Yongding leaves unscathed," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    The saint stared at him coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve arranged for all your subordinates to head to Shenfeng, haven''t you? How do you intend to stand against me?"


    Saint Chi Hai was particrly cautious. Though Xiao Nanfeng''s taunts had enraged him, he wouldn''t allow himself to fall for them just yet. He still wanted to get a sense of Xiao Nanfeng and Yongding''s reserves.


    "Ha! Are you a coward? Do you dare step into Yongding and speak to me face to face?"


    The saint''s eyes twitched. This wasn''t going as nned at all. Yongding was devoid of Xiao Nanfeng''s reinforcements, wasn''t it? Why would Xiao Nanfeng invite him within?


    The saint frowned. He kept feeling as if there were some hidden threat in the city that he wasn''t aware of, but that too might be a ploy by Xiao Nanfeng to keep him off-bnce. He didn''t know whether to respond to Xiao Nanfeng''s invitation.


    Just then, his avatars began to transmit feedback about the situation at the other battlefields. Somehow, Zhao Yuanjiao had managed to cleave his avatar at Bingxian. His two avatars were being suppressed by Xiao Nanfeng''s other body in Dunxian. Yang Chuan was on a rampage against his final avatar at Danxian.


    "Coward!" Xiao Nanfeng dered with augh. "You''re here to cause trouble, but don''t even dare to enter Yongding proper?"


    The saint grew more and more perplexed. What was Xiao Nanfeng nning? Why did he want to get him into the city so desperately? There must be some incredible threat within.


    But weren''t Xiao Nanfeng''s elites all elsewhere? Even that formations master, Blue Lantern, had gone to Shenfeng. What was left in Yongding?


    "Aren''t you going to speak at all? Are you here to put on a show?"


    "What show?" the saint demanded coolly.


    "A cowardly viin who''s getting cold feet. I have to praise you for the act. Your face is frozen stiff, but your eyes are particrly expressive. Your hatred and unwillingness to back down, your fear and cowardliness¡ªyour eyes state it all." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The saint''s face grew more and more dour. He didn''t know what Xiao Nanfeng was trying to pull. If not for the unknown threat that Yongding represented, he would already have killed Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Aren''t you going to make a move? I don''t have much time to waste with your acting," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The saint gaped. What act? He was clearly trying to analyze Xiao Nanfeng!


    The more Xiao Nanfeng provoked the saint, the more infuriated the saint became. However, the saint was surprisingly able to tolerate the insults¡ªuntil Xiao Nanfeng''s main body dragged his two zombie king avatars through the Heaven Division''s Gate. He narrowed his eyes.


    Because of Lou Yujing''s behavior, he hadn''t underestimated Xiao Nanfeng at all. He had been carefully scrutinizing Yongding in search of the best time during which to strike. As his avatars fell prey one after another, however, he grew more and more wary of Xiao Nanfeng.


    Yongding might not look threatening at all, but it seemed to hide some great horror just waiting to be unveiled.


    He wasn''t going to make a move now, not when Xiao Nanfeng was right there waiting for him!


    "Come on, then! What''s the point of waiting outside the city? Come in!" Xiao Nanfeng invited.


    The saint red at Xiao Nanfeng, having finally made up his mind. He took a deep breath. "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. I''ll be back for your head."


    Then, the saint flew off.


    The guards stationed around Yongding widened their eyes. What had happened? Why had the invader suddenly run off?


    Behind Xiao Nanfeng, the officials'' eyes lit up. They stared at Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief. Was it all a scheme? Xiao Nanfeng had managed to scare a fearsome foe into retreating with nothing more than his wits! The officials stared at their emperor with awe and respect.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled faintly as he watched the saint leave.


    Such were the saint''s means that, though he had already vanished over the horizon, he was still able to observe what was happening in Yongding. He discovered Xiao Nanfeng smiling as he left, and the officials behind Xiao Nanfeng staring at him with reverence.


    "This was all a trick! I''ll kill him!" the saint shouted. He was madder than ever before.


    He rushed back toward Yongding in a beam of light, so quickly that anyone who saw him would have been taken aback.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he saw the saint charging toward him and mming a palm against the purple barrier.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you! How dare you trick me? I''ll take down Yongding, then finish you off!" he roared.


    Even when incensed, he remained incredibly cautious. He was worried that Xiao Nanfeng still possessed Yu Fuli''s heart sword. Rather than attack Xiao Nanfeng directly, he would start by massacring Yongding''s people and forcing Xiao Nanfeng to attack him instead.


    "No!" the people cried out.


    The officials surrounding Xiao Nanfeng panicked, but to no avail. The saint moved far too quickly. His palm technique struck the purple barrier around Yongding, which seemed entirely too thin to provide any resistance. The moment the saint struck it, however, it flew away from Yongding and wrapped up the saint instead.


    "This isn''t a barrier!" the saint eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng had taunted him while tricking him with a ploy, infuriating him to such an extent that he failed to consider the possible danger this purple barrier could possess.


    With extreme strength, he forced his way out of the purple barrier, now a web around his body. Gale winds shot out from around him.


    Everyone defended themselves and stood firm as they saw a shocking sight. The saint''s head had been caught by a pitch-ck fishhook, with a fishing line extending high into the clouds. Someone seemed to be fishing, and whoever it was had caught a big fish indeed: the saint himself.


    As the fishhook thrust into his body, the saint felt an overwhelming strength surround him. He was rendered weak and immobile.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you dare conspire with Yu Fuli against me?!"


    If Xiao Nanfeng''s ploy hadn''t made him drop his guard, he would surely have noticed that something was wrong with the purple barrier around Yongding. How could he have attacked in such a foolhardy fashion? How could he have allowed Yu Fuli''s fishhook to catch him off guard?


    He knew what a potent relic Yu Fuli''s fishhook was, and he was confident that it would never have been able to catch him under ordinary circumstances. However, Xiao Nanfeng''s trick had changed everything.


    "Your Majesty, the shockwaves from his errant struggles may hurt my people. Would you please take him away quickly?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    With a yank, the saint flew up toward the heavens.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you insult me like this! I''ll kill you!" the saint thundered.


    Then, he vanished into the clouds, having been caught by the Heavenly Emperor.


    The sudden reversal caught many officials by surprise. They didn''t understand what had just happened.


    Wasn''t Yongdingpletely undefended? The officials thought that theck of defenses had been a ploy, but it was actually a trap!

 Chapter 750: Seizing the Black Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 750: Seizing the ck Coffin</h4>


    The saint''s arrival hadn''t caused much of a fuss. Few knew of his identity, and they wouldn''t have suspected a significant threat if the Heavenly Emperor himself hadn''t fished him away.


    The cultivators shuddered as they realized what a cmity they had just avoided. Some spies made up their mind to leave Yongding entirely. Was this really the capital of an ordinary empire? The crises that befell it were frightening beyond belief. If they remained, they feared that they would randomly perish one day.


    Xiao Nanfeng dismissed his officials and returned to the imperial study alone.


    He bowed in a certain direction. "Thank you for your assistance, Heavenly Emperor."


    The air shimmered in the void. Fog manifested; within the fog, he could vaguely see Yu Fuli reeling in a catch.


    "You were the one who arranged the circumstances so that I could catch him," Yu Fuli replied calmly.


    "If not for your assistance, Your Majesty, Yongding would have been in grave danger. I owe the safety of my empire to you," Xiao Nanfeng said modestly.


    "There''s no need for such ttery. I''m well aware of what you''re like. You intentionally smiled so he would realize he had been deceived and rush back toward Yongding. Without my presence, you would have scared him off fully. That said, the Chi Hai I fished up is still merely an avatar."


    "What? That was an avatar too?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Chi Hai is exceedingly cautious. Do you think he would fall for a trick so easily without any insurance? His main body has never appeared to my knowledge. He''s turtled up somewhere in the world, unwilling to show himself."


    "How troublesome." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He couldn''t help but feel a sense of urgency. He had dealt the saint a heavy blow; would he be able to survive the saint''s retaliation?


    "He''ll surely attack you again. Be careful," Yu Fuli warned, a smile on his face.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "Your Majesty, you promised me that you would keep an eye out on my bodies. Might I ask why you didn''t intercede when my other body fell in danger?"


    It was hardly appropriate for him to interrogate Yu Fuli, but his main body had been in serious danger. The saint''s two avatars had almost managed to drag him into the ck coffin.


    "And yet you had a n to deal with it. Even if I hadn''t made a move at Yongding, you would have been able to lure the saint away. You saved your other body with your own effort."


    "My other body ended up past the Heaven Division''s Gate. It''s in grave danger," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Indeed. That was the Taiqing Grandmaster''s goal, after all. It''s part of the danger of cultivating Body of Yin." Yu Fuli smiled again.


    "Your Majesty, you know of my spiritual cultivation technique?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Body of Yin was among his greatest secrets, and he had never told anyone about it. How could Yu Fuli know?


    "Aren''t you aware how the Taiqing Grandmaster created the Taiqing Yin Body technique?"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. His master, Ku Jiang, had mentioned that three grandmasters had reigned over the previous era ten thousand years ago. They had each received a copy of the Body of Yin, from which they derived the Taiqing Yin Body, Yuqing Yin Body, and Shangqing Yin Body. The three grandmasters were therefore known as the Taiqing Grandmaster, Yuqing Grandmaster, and Shangqing Grandmaster.


    "But I''ve never told anyone about my spiritual cultivation technique. How could you tell, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I studied Body of Yin before, so it was apparent to me once I saw your spiritual power."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng responded in surprise.


    "That said, I chose not to cultivate the Body of Yin. I merely used it as reference, extracting the best features from it."


    "Is there a problem with the technique?"


    "The Body of Yin hides a grave horror. Although I don''t fear it, I would rather avoid provoking it. You aren''t the only one who has a copy of the technique. I don''t know who has been distributing it¡ªperhaps many parties, among them the Taiqing Grandmaster. They spread the technique far and wide, though few have ever been able to cultivate it."


    "Why not?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu Fuli gave Xiao Nanfeng a curious look. "How strange. You should know best as a practitioner of the technique. Did you not find it difficult to cultivate?"


    "Ah, of course I did!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    It hadn''t seemed particrlyplicated to him at the time, but it wouldn''t do to refute Yu Fuli.


    "I may just have been luckier than most, and haven''t suffered from many bottlenecks. Might I ask why other cultivators experienced failure?"


    "The grave horror inherent in the Body of Yin ate them all," Yu Fuli said.


    "Eaten by their own techniques?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The three grandmasters of the previous era all cultivated Body of Yin. Each modified it in his own way, greatly diminishing the danger inherent in the technique: hence the resultant Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqin Yin Body. If their disciples had been forced to study Body of Yin directly, the vast majority would have died.


    "Your Majesty, you said that the Taiqing Grandmaster wants to lure me within the Heaven Division''s Gate. Could you exin more?"


    "Not just you, but all who cultivate Body of Yin. Your souls will be of use to him."


    "No wonder I was the only one able to open the Heaven Division''s Gate..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "That said, there''s not much to worry about. The Taiqing Grandmaster is distracted with Lingjun at the moment. In fact, there''s a significant opportunity waiting for you, which is why I refrained from interceding."


    "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."


    "The domain that lies behind the Heaven Division''s Gate is a special part of the red moon illusory realm in which a great treasure lies hidden: the Loss Diagram. If you can secure that relic, you''ll have a means of defending against the saint¡ªeven his main body."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in shock. "Where is the Loss Diagram?"


    "Right behind the gate. Look carefully, and you should be able to find it readily. The Taiqing Grandmaster hasn''t guarded the area carefully. If you can retrieve the relic, it will serve as invaluable insurance.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave the Heavenly Emperor a thoughtful look. Yu Fuli was all but suggesting that he steal from the Taiqing Grandmaster. Wouldn''t the Taiqing Grandmaster attack him as a result?


    "But even if I do secure the Loss Diagram, how will I leave? The Heaven Division''s Gate vanished after I passed through it, and the Heaven division token doesn''t function within. My current body can open a portal into the red moon illusory realm, but the realm is far toorge for my avatar to find that portal."


    "Aren''t Chi Hai''s two avatars in there with you? Their souls contain imprints of heavenlyw. You''ll be able to leave by taking advantage of them," Yu Fuli pointed out.


    "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli nodded. The fog faded away along with his image as he cut the connection between the two of them.


    Back by the Heaven Division''s Gate, the gate had mmed shut right after Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and the saint''s two avatars had gone through. Then, the gate vanished.


    Immediately thereafter, the loss chants struck them. A group of red-furred monsters pounced on the three figures and sent the ck coffin flying.


    Another red-furred monster caught the ck coffin.


    "This is¡ªan illusory realm?" one of the saint''s avatars eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken by surprise himself. He recalled that there weren''t so many red-furred monsters in the area when he had arranged for the Heaven division disciples to enter. What had happened since then?


    This wasn''t entirely bad news, at least. Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng rushed toward the red-furred monster carrying the ck coffin.


    "Hold it! The ck coffin''s mine!" cried the saint''s two avatars.


    Their surroundings were red all over. They seemed to be located within a valley, with a huge, towering pce in their vicinity: the Loss Pce.


    The doors to the Loss Pce were tightly shut, though loss chants seeped out from within. The chants filled the air, leaving the saint''s two avatars frowning. Although they could defend against the chants, it was particrly troublesome for them to do so.


    They began to fight over the ck coffin with Xiao Nanfeng.


    The three cultivators were hindered by arge number of red-furred monsters, but considering their strength, no ordinary red-furred monster would be able to stop them.


    "Die!" the saint''s two avatars roared.


    The three cultivators sent the red-furred monsters flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng took the lead. He reached the red-furred monster hugging the ck coffin first.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Countless fists struck the red-furred monster, sending it flying. The ck coffin sailed through the air. Xiao Nanfeng leapt up and caught it.


    "Hold it!" the saint''s two avatars roared.


    They sent Xiao Nanfeng flying into a mountain, but he had caught the ck coffin just in time.


    "Return my ck coffin to me!" one of the saint''s avatars screeched.


    "Come for it if you can, then! I''ll return it if you can catch me, haha!" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    He stored the ck coffin and fled into the distance.


    "Hold it right there!" the saint''s two avatars roared.


    They chased after Xiao Nanfeng in fury.

 Chapter 751: The Loss Diagram

    <h4>Chapter 751: The Loss Diagram</h4>


    As Xiao Nanfeng fled with the coffin, arge wave of red-furred lifeforms attempted to stop him. Fortunately, the saint''s two avatars faced the same problem, making it far harder for them to give chase.


    Before long, Xiao Nanfeng shrugged off the saint''s two avatars and hid in a nearby forest. Only when the two avatars had flown off did he emerge.


    "They''re finally gone." Xiao Nanfeng exhaled in relief.


    He could beat the two of them, but now wasn''t the time to try.


    He considered his surroundings in surprise. "The red moon illusory realm really isrge. Despite flying so far, I still haven''t seen any sign of its boundaries. Is this really an illusory realm? How strange!"


    In the past, he had found it exceedingly strange that Yin Shenhua was able to enter the red moon illusory realm with his physical body. Then, the fact that the Heaven Division''s Gate allowed the same thing to happen made him suspicious, but he had never investigated it himself.


    Now that he too had entered the realm with his physical body, he was taken aback. Just how could an illusory realm support that?


    "Aren''t illusory realms all mental worlds? They shouldn''t have a presence in reality. Why does the red moon illusory realm seem different?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Suddenly, he saw arge city rise up in the distance. It shed with red light and surged with cursed spiritual power, so strong that even he hesitated uponing into contact with it. He could see countless red-furred monsters roaming about within.


    He wanted to get a closer look, but suddenly felt a tremendous sense of threat from the city that caused his hair to stand on end.


    He took a deep breath and ultimately quashed his curiosity, turned, and headed toward where he had first entered the red moon illusory realm via the Heaven Division''s Gate.


    A pce awaited him there, the Loss Pce.


    The saint''s two avatars had ignored the pce in favor of retrieving the ck coffin from Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng was aware that what he was searching for might very well be within.


    Loss chants emanated from the Loss Pce with such intensity and force that even the saint''s avatars were hard-pressed to deal with them.


    Thanks to the perfected death chants that his avatar was radiating, Xiao Nanfeng was barely able to retain his consciousness, though with no small amount of difort.


    A number of red-furred monsters rushed toward him from the vicinity, but he sent them all flying as he drew closer to the pce.


    Finally, as he reached the pce, he attempted to open its doors, but they didn''t budge at all. He was still in his ancestral zombie''s body. How could a Boundless Immortal''s strength falter against these doors?


    "Could the Loss Pce itself be a treasure?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    He tried to unearth the entire pce, but it too was immobile. He sighed. He couldn''t bring it with him, then.


    He continued to push and prod at the doors, but they wouldn''t budge. Suddenly, he had an idea. He infused the doors with his spiritual power, which slowly creaked open.


    "I knew it!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The next moment, the loss chants emanating from the pce suddenly surged in intensity, forming a red wave of sound that gushed out like a flood. The red-furred monsters in the vicinity were all sent flying.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng stood firm against the current, forging forward one step at a time.


    Golden light shimmered around his body. He was barely defending himself with his death chants, but even so, the red sound waves were exceedingly strenuous to bear.


    He headed into the Loss Pce one step at a time. Red sound waves battered the interior of the pce like the giant waves of a tsunami.


    At the heart of the deluge was a red object, a word that hovered in the air: LOSS. The word itself looked two-dimensional, as if it had been cut out from thin paper. Even so, it seemed to possess an inexhaustible supply of energy. Red sound waves shot out of it in a stato rhythm.


    "The Loss Diagram?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened.


    Was this the relic that Yu Fuli had mentioned that would allow him to deal with a saint?


    Even from some distance away, he could sense the terrifying power of the Loss Diagram. Rather than rush over himself, he retrieved a ck coffin from within.


    "I''ll start by iming it!" He tossed the ck coffin over¡ªnot the shattered, partially restored one he had just stolen, but rather his own. Although he hadn''t attuned fully to this ck coffin, using it to transport the Loss Diagram shouldn''t be a problem.


    The ck coffins'' original owner might have been nning some great conspiracy with his three coffins, but the Taiqing Grandmaster was no easy opponent, either. If the Taiqing Grandmaster were to hunt down the thief, the ck coffins'' original owner might shoulder some of the burden on his behalf.


    The Loss Diagram released more and more loss chants as it attempted to stave off the ck coffin, but to little avail.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly manipted the Loss Diagram into the coffin.


    Even so, the loss chants could still be heard emanating from the coffin, though at a much reduced intensity.


    The pce had grown significantly quieter with the Loss Diagram dealt with.


    Then, a cloud of red fog suddenly emerged within the pce.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He could sense a great dangering from the red fog. Rather than investigate, he rushed out of the Loss Pce, then sealed its doors shut with another burst of spiritual power.


    The Loss Pce had stopped releasing loss chants, but the Loss Diagram in the ck coffin in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands seemed to be doing so with ever greater intensity. Even when he put the ck coffin into a storage treasure, the loss chants could still be heard.


    They surrounded him, leaving him ufortable and greatly disturbed. If not for the death chants protecting him, he would already have sumbed.


    He fled from the Loss Pce and into another forested region. He retrieved the second ck coffin he had imed from the saint''s avatars and opened it up. A huge cloud of ck smoke drifted into the air, forming grasping ck palms that seemed to be contacting the saint''s avatars.


    Xiao Nanfeng waited patiently as the avatars flew back toward him, whereupon he kept the ck coffin again.


    The saint''s two avatars frowned upon sensing the loss chants emanating interminably from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "In Yongding, you schemed against me alongside Yu Fuli. How did you learn of my identity?" one of the saint''s avatars demanded.


    "I''m unfamiliar with your identity. How might I address you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    "Ha! How did my avatar in Yongding end up being discovered? Yu Fuli had to be responsible. If you weren''t aware of my identity, Yu Fuli would never have helped you."


    "I heard that you were a saint, but I don''t know your name. How might I address you?"


    "I am Saint Chi Hai. Now that you''ve roused my ire, you''re done for!" the saint dered.


    "Plenty have told me that, but they''ve all died right before my eyes," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    The saint''s two avatars were all staring coldly at him. The saint clearly hadn''t expected that Xiao Nanfeng would be so arrogant despite knowing who he was.


    "Where are we, Xiao Nanfeng?" the saint''s avatar demanded.


    "Can''t you tell?"


    "I''m fully aware that this is the red moon illusory realm, but how can it be sorge? I''ve never seen anything on this scale, and I can''t even find its boundaries."


    "Why should I tell you?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Hm? No¡ªno one from the Taiqing Immortal Sect has known all these years. You must be unaware yourself," the saint''s avatar concluded.


    "There''s a secret I do know," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "All those who die here will be red-furred lifeforms, including you."


    "Ha! You call that a secret? You want to transform me into a red-furred monster? Howughable. Do you think this illusory realm can trap the likes of me?"


    Just then,rge clouds of ck smoke erupted from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. ck hands manifested from the smoke and tore at his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He could sense the second ck coffin vibrating furiously within his storage treasure, causing ck smoke to flood out from it. The only reason the second ck coffin hadn''t yet escaped was because of the presence of the first ck coffin and the Loss Diagram.


    Even so, ck smoke was surging out from his storage treasure and influencing the world atrge.


    "So that''s why you were willing to waste time talking to me¡ªyou were manipting the ck coffin in the background! It''s a pity that you won''t be able to control it now that it''s in my possession," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Ha! You won''t be able to suppress it for long." The saint''s two avatars shot over now that their ploy had been exposed.


    "If you can''t control that ck coffin, I''ll easily be able to take you both down. You''d fit right in here!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The threebatants began to fight each other once again in a storm of fire and wind. Despite taking on both of the saint''s avatars simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng seemed to have the upper hand.


    "How can the loss chants emanating from your body be so strong?" one of the saint''s avatars roared.


    "Damn it, these loss chants are still affecting me!" the other saint''s avatar cried out.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Mountainbane!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    One avatar''s head burst open as Xiao Nanfeng punched it. ck smoke exploded out as the avatar perished instantly.

 Chapter 752: Freed

    <h4>Chapter 752: Freed</h4>


    How had Xiao Nanfeng killed one of the saint''s avatars so quickly?


    "The loss chants have been dramatically weakening me¡ªbut why aren''t you affected?!" the saint''s other avatar cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the saint as he examined the saint''s avatar that he had defeated. He had deliberately struck its head so that it would perishpletely.


    However, it was hardly easy to kill a saint, even in avatar form. The moment the zombie king''s body perished, a cloud of red fog appeared in the red moon illusory realm and attempted to snatch up the fragment of the saint''s shattered soul.


    "Do you think you can transform me into a red-furred monster? Dream on!" the saint''s other avatar shouted.


    A pir of red light appeared by the saint''s avatar, piercing into the heavens and dissipating the red fog. The saint''s shattered soul quickly vanished within the pir, which shed out of existence.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He understood what the Heavenly Emperor had been getting at now. That pir of red light had to be the heavenlyw that the saint had mastered! Did his soul fragment escape using that pir of light?


    While Xiao Nanfeng was distracted, the saint''s other avatar sent him stumbling back.


    The saint''s avatar widened its mouth and absorbed the headless corpse of itspanion. ck smoke gushed out of its body as it replenished its strength.


    "Come at me now, Xiao Nanfeng!" the saint''s avatar roared.


    The twobatants fought intensely against each other as a firestorm erupted around them.


    Before long, bothbatants were badly wounded, though the saint''s avatar was naturally worse off. Realizing that Xiao Nanfeng would surely im victory if the fight continued, the saint''s avatar stared grimly at him.


    As Xiao Nanfeng threw a punch forward, intending to cause the saint''s avatar''s head to explode, the saint''s avatar sidestepped him and shot forward. He shouted, "Explode!"


    A tremendous firestorm erupted around him and caught Xiao Nanfeng entirely in its midst. The saint had detonated his own avatar in a kamikaze attack.


    Xiao Nanfeng wanted to dodge the attack, but he knew he couldn''t do so. This was his one opportunity to escape from the red moon hidden realm. All he could do was defend to the best of his ability in hopes that he could protect the ancestral zombie''s blow.


    In the heart of the explosion, he suffered a blow the likes of which he had never experienced. He hunkered down with his arms protecting his head. The force of the explosion tore the flesh from his arms. He lost his right leg and left hand, and the rest of his body was blistering and in intense pain.


    Just then, that red pir of light appeared again. The soul of the saint''s avatar attempted to meld into the pir and escape.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed forward and caught ahold of the shattered soul fragment, causing him to be pulled into the pir of light as well.


    The saint''s soul fragment roared, "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!"


    The pir of red light shed out of existence. The saint''s soul fragment vanished along with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Dragged into the pir of light, Xiao Nanfeng found himself in what seemed like a wormhole in spacetime.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you dare brave my conjuration of heavenlyw? You''re done for now. Join me where my main body is, haha!" The saint''s soul fragment cackled.


    It vanished into the red light, whereas Xiao Nanfeng''s body, caught by currents in the void, was tossed through space and time as he headed to an unknown location.


    He knew the situation would be unfavorable to him; he had to escape.


    As red light shed, Xiao Nanfeng activated his candleme powers and vanished from sight.


    From within the wormhole, the saint''s soul fragment eximed, "Impossible! Where did Xiao Nanfeng go? How could he have escaped?!"


    A red wormhole shed into existence over a stretch of a calm sea.


    Xiao Nanfeng fell from the wormhole and sshed into the water.


    By that point, Xiao Nanfeng¡ªno, the ancestral zombie¡ªwas in terrible state. Half the flesh on its body had sloughed right off, revealing gleaming white bone. One arm and one leg were gone entirely. If not for the ancestral zombie''s remarkable constitution, it would already have perished.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s yin body emerged from the ancestral zombie''s mindscape. He, at least, was perfectly unscathed.


    He imed the ancestral zombie''s body as he quickly flew off.


    Loss chants were still emanating from his body, so Ye Sanshui''s consciousness couldn''t awaken.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know where he was, but he quickly came across a sea spirit that he caught.


    "Where are we?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The loss chants emanating from the ancestral zombie''s body caused the sea spirit''s mind to be sluggish, but before it lost consciousness, it said, "The Southern Sea."


    Xiao Nanfeng tossed the sea spirit back into the sea as he flew due north.


    It took him quite a while before he came acrossnd, at which point he grabbed the first cultivator he saw to determine his whereabouts.


    He quickly flew toward a secluded valley. Within half a day, a spectral guard had rushed over.


    "I''ll leave Ye Sanshui with you for the time being," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the spectral guard replied.


    His mind quickly grew dazed from the effects of the loss chants, and his memories were fading away.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t dare tarry for long. He flew into the air and vanished across the horizon.


    The spectral guard shook his head, btedlying to his senses. Ye Sanshui slowly regained his consciousness as well.


    He spat out a mouthful of blood and weakly sat up.


    "Marquis Ye, His Majesty has assigned me to take care of you. He''s currently in Yongding and canmunicate with my avatar there. Allow me to ry his words."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded.


    The spectral guard began, "Ye Sanshui, I had an intense fight with the saint''s avatars. I apologize for the damage to your body."


    "Hardly, Your Majesty. The only reason I even have a body now is all thanks to you. As long as I''m alive, I can recuperate from any injury," Ye Sanshui replied immediately.


    "I''ll leave you to recuperate, then. There should be ordinary zombies within your storage treasure. Eat them first and restore the damage to your physical body. Once you''ve recovered a little, consume the final zombie king. Prioritize your own safety. I await your return."


    "Understood! Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body continued to emanate loss chants as a result of the Loss Diagram he now possessed. He was unable to go anywhere, primarily because he didn''t want to set the Loss Diagram aside.


    He flew straight to the southern gate of the Sieve of Heaven and arranged for his subordinates at the Imperial Court to petition for an audience with Yu Fuli.


    The Loss Diagram was so strong that the Taiqing Grandmaster would surely pursue him regarding its loss. Rather than ask for assistance from the Divine Emperor, he headed toward Yu Fuli immediately. If the Taiqing Grandmaster were to me him, Yu Fuli could help shoulder some of that burden as well.


    Before long, Yu Fuli had learned of the news and arranged to meet him by a pond. He smiled upon hearing of Xiao Nanfeng''s exploits from Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate.


    "Tell him to remain still where he is."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate replied.


    His avatar quickly came in contact with Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, and Xiao Nanfeng''s main body halted where it was once he received word.


    The void shimmered around him as a ck fishhook appeared in sight.


    "Hold onto the fishhook and I''ll pull you over," Yu Fuli said.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng grabbed the ck fishhook as Yu Fuli yanked his fishing pole sharply and pulled Xiao Nanfeng out of the pond.


    The loss chants echoed all around Xiao Nanfeng as he retrieved a ck coffin. "Your Majesty, this is the Loss Diagram. Its chants are too potent for me to suppress."


    Yu Fuli stored his fishing pole, stood up, and walked over to the ck coffin.


    He raised an eyebrow upon seeing the ck coffin. "You really are lucky¡ªand I suppose the original owner of this ck coffin will suffer thanks to you."


    "What owner?" Xiao Nanfeng blinked.


    Yu Fuli didn''t exin. "How do you intend to use the Loss Diagram?"


    "I''m unaware of how to use it against the saint, Your Majesty. Please enlighten me."


    Yu Fuli cocked his head thoughtfully. "The Loss Diagram can be infused into a vessel-type relic¡ªlike this ck coffin, though it''s tied to a conspiracy and won''t be suitable. Switch to a different Boundless Immortal relic."


    "A Boundless Immortal vessel-type relic? But I don''t have such a treasure," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu Fuli gave him an odd look. "You do, and more than one, too."


    "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli scoffed. "You really are thick-skinned, aren''t you? Your Divine Seal of Dazheng and Yin-Yang Cauldron are both Boundless Immortal relics¡ªor do you have others that you''re worried of revealing to me?"


    Xiao Nanfeng blushed. He knew that the Divine Seal of Dazheng surely had to be a Boundless Immortal relic, or perhaps even stronger, but he was unable to draw out its strength just yet. He hadn''t wanted to expose it, not anticipating that Yu Fuli was aware of its existence. Of course, his Dazheng Code of Laws was a treasure on equal footing. Thankfully, the Heavenly Emperor wasn''t aware of that just yet.


    "I was unaware that the Yin-Yang Cauldron was actually a Boundless Immortal relic, Your Majesty. I always believed it to be a Golden Immortal relic. Would you assist me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He retrieved the Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    He had it in his possession because the Taiqing disciples were all participating in the war against Hongyue, and Chang Bing had ceded it to him for the time being.


    Yu Fuli nodded. He reached into the ck coffin and pulled out the Loss Diagram.


    Waves of red sound buffeted the air, but Yu Fuli easily neutralized it all.


    Then, he opened up the Yin-Yang Cauldron, tossed the Loss Diagram within, and reced its lid. He activated it at low intensity as a burst of red light red from the Yin-Yang Cauldron. The Loss Diagram seemed to be weakening bit by bit.


    Yu Fuli seemed to be doing things in a casual, haphazard fashion, but Xiao Nanfeng knew just how incredible his actions were. Even the ck coffin had been unable to seal the Loss Diagram''s chants, but Yu Fuli had easily suppressed them almostpletely. Just how strong was he?

 Chapter 753: The Cauldron of Loss

    <h4>Chapter 753: The Cauldron of Loss</h4>


    Yu Fuli possessed incredible means. Before long, the Yin-Yang Cauldron stopped emanating loss chants. The entire cauldron turned bright red but looked otherwise ordinary.


    "This cauldron will be able to trap the saint''s main body. You''ll just have to get him in here," Yu Fuli said.


    "Can the cauldron suck the saint in directly?"


    "It can''t. You''ll have to be careful not to use it carelessly. If the saint notices anything amiss, he won''t fall for the trap," Yu Fuli warned.


    "Your Majesty, you mean that this cauldron is only a cage, and if I want to trap the saint, I''ll have to catch him myself and stuff him inside? How would I ever do so?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I believe in your abilities," Yu Fuli said, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng stiffened. What good was it that Yu Fuli believed in him when he didn''t believe in himself? It was ludicrous to have a True Immortal catch a saint!


    "Alright. If there''s nothing else, you may go. The saint maye after you at any time. Don''t let him leave empty-handed."


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. He couldn''t just leave like this!


    "Your Majesty, I can''t take on a saint with just this cauldron! I''m ill-prepared for it, and I caught the saint''s attention out of nowhere. Please, save me!"


    Yu Fuliughed. "Out of nowhere? More like he was deliberately going after you in the first ce."


    "Your Majesty, I''m a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. I ask for your protection after having been threatened by the saint," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Yu Fuli scoffed. "You remember your position now, do you? And here I thought you had forgotten about it entirely. Lingjun maintains deep affection and strong feelings for you¡ªhave you had a good time phnderingtely? Do you im to reciprocate her feelings?"


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He was hardly a phnderer, but it would be unwise to argue with the Heavenly Emperor on this.


    "Please calm down, Your Majesty. I''m aware of my misgivings," Xiao Nanfeng eventually said, sighing.


    Yu Fuli didn''t press the matter further. He was aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s situation to some extent, and the Divine Emperor and Xia Yu''er''s involvement couldn''t be wholly med on Xiao Nanfeng. However, as Zhang Lingjun''s grandfather, he had to criticize Xiao Nanfeng at least a little.


    "I must be careful with heavenly affairs, so I cannot ordinarily intercede against the saint lest the heavens cause the era-ending cmity to descend early. My involvement before was a special exception. I suppose you''ve exhausted the heart sword by now; I can replenish that, at least. Two more strikes: use them carefully."


    He handed Xiao Nanfeng another purple sword.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed gravely. "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Then, he presented the Heavenly Emperor with the other ck coffin. "Your Majesty, this ck coffin is imbued with countless ck hands, possibly due to the saint''s involvement. Will it be of any use in capturing him?"


    Yu Fuli considered the shattered coffin. As he opened it up, ck smoke gushed out, manifesting into grasping ck hands.


    "What a mediocre technique." Yu Fuli tsked.


    He reached into the ck coffin, causing purple light to glow around it.


    A loud howl came from within the coffin. Then, as the purple light flooded the coffin, all the ck hands dissipated and vanished entirely.


    The ck smoke outside the coffin retreated back inside. By then, there was no sign of any ck hands remaining.


    "Has the saint''s influence been wiped away entirely?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Indeed. This coffin is safe for you to use."


    He turned toward the other ck coffin. "Both of these coffins were originally marked with traces of their original owner''s aura. That owner is plotting something; he was the hegemon of a certain past era, and he too sought to resist the heavens. I will not help you against any who pursue the same quest I do, but the markers he left behind have been wiped away: in one case by Saint Chi Hai, and in the other by the Loss Diagram. In the short term, he won''t be able to manipte the two coffins, so I''llbine them on your behalf."


    He reached out for the two coffins. Purple light from his hands surrounded the two coffins and sent them crashing into each other with such blinding light that Xiao Nanfeng was forced to turn away.


    After some time, with a hum, the light receded to reveal a single ck coffin.


    The two ck coffins had beenbined into one. The new coffin looked roughly the same as before, but a character had appeared over its surface: longevity.


    "Your Majesty, what use does this ck coffin have?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    "Nothing in particr. It''s essentially the same as before, though the two ck coffin hidden realms within havebined and grownrger."


    Xiao Nanfeng was unimpressed.


    "There are three such ck coffins. If you can find thest one and merge them all together, it''ll be quite strong."


    "Oh? Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."


    He felt that trying to find thest coffin might very well be feasible. Perhaps whoever owned that final coffin would seek him out, in fact.


    "You''ll see for yourself once you find it and ce it within this coffin. You''ll know how to use it even without my assistance," Yu Fuli replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Go on, then," Yu Fuli said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, packed up, and left with his subordinates.


    Outside Shenfeng''s capital, Tu Jiuniang was growing extremely frustrated as she tried to batter down its defenses.


    "How can this be? How can the defensive formation be so strong?!" Tu Jiuniang thundered.


    She attacked it repeatedly, sending zing mes surging across its exterior, but the formation remained strong and firm.


    After some time, a voice called out from afar, "Your Majesty, the Immortal Emperor has retreated. He asks that you do so as well!"


    Tu Jiuniang clenched her teeth. She had done nothing this entire battle! Despite her fury, she turned and left with her subordinates.


    "Long live Shenfeng!" cheered the soldiers guarding the capital.


    Though the defensive formation around Shenfeng''s capital had managed to withstand Tu Jiuniang''s attacks, the situation had been particrly stressful for the cultivators on guard, many of whom knew that the Divine Emperor had headed to rescue Haijiao, and that they would be done for if Tu Jiuniang had managed to break through the defenses.


    Fortunately, the defenses had held.


    Before long, a shadowy figure zipped back to Shenfeng''s capital. The Divine Emperor had rushed back as quickly as she could.


    "Her Majesty''s back!"


    "Her Majesty forced the zombie army to retreat!"


    "My avatar was right there. Many of the zombies have been captured and subdued."


    The people cheered as the Divine Emperor hovered in the air. She smiled upon seeing the people''s excited expressions. "Citizens of Shenfeng, thank you for your support. Victory is ours!"


    "Long live Your Majesty! Long live Shenfeng!" the people cheered.


    By then, Blue Lantern had dispelled the defensive formation around Shenfeng''s capital, and the Divine Emperor rushed toward the pce. A group of officials responsible for maintaining Shenfeng''s informationwork met her there.


    The Divine Emperor first looked toward a pce maiden, whose avatar was in Yongding, by Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    "How''s the situation there?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "Both my bodies are safe. I''m in the Imperial Court at the moment," the pce maiden replied, rying Xiao Nanfeng''s words.


    "Thank goodness."


    "And how did the fight at Haijiao go?"


    "It was a huge sess. Lou Yujing was hindered in his ancestral zombie body and was weaker than I am. What''s more, I have my bell. His zombie army might have been strong, but my shadow cursed effigies aren''t weak either. In the end, he only managed to escape with a portion of his forces by using a Boundless Immortal relic to hold me back."


    "You won? You managed to suppress himpletely?"


    "Of course. My subordinates even managed to catch a third of the zombies. In order to escape, Lou Yujing was even willing to detonate a Boundless Immortal relic in a kamikaze attack. Fortunately, I was quick enough to enclose the relic within my bell and sever the connection between him and the relic," the Divine Emperor replied happily.


    "How does he have so many relics?"


    "Who knows? Come on over quickly. I''ll hand you the relic. You might just be able to consume it." The Divine Emperor smiled, then suddenly second-guessed herself. Why was she suggesting consuming Boundless Immortal relics now, too?


    "I''m already on my way. It''ll take me a little time to get there."


    "Good! Right, how''s the situation with the three armies?" the Divine Emperor asked.


    "Li Qianjun fled Bingxian and its defenses are crumbling. We''ll be able to seize it quickly enough. We have an absolute advantage at Dunxian, and should be able to take it down shortly as well. However, we lost Danxian."


    "Yang Chuan lost?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "He did. Danxian was protected by Yuan Wudi and one of the saint''s avatars. Yang Chuan initially had the upper hand even against the two foes, but the saint used some secret technique to strengthen himself and fight on equal footing with Yang Chuan. Then, heunched a kamikaze attack, badly wounding Yang Chuan. Yuan Wudi snuck up on him and beheaded him thereafter."


    "Yang Chuan''s been beheaded?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "And Yuan Wudi allegedly caused his head to explode as well. The Demon Child is heading over to provide assistance."


    "What a pitiful death," the Divine Emperor replied, sighing.


    "Yang Chuan doesn''t seem to be dead."


    "What? Even with his head and soul destroyed?"


    "I don''t know about the details, but Yang Chuan''s golden dragon within the Imperial Court''s sea of fortune hasn''t yet dissipated."


    The Divine Emperor was taken by surprise.

 Chapter 754: Lou Yujing Grasps the Situation

    <h4>Chapter 754: Lou Yujing Grasps the Situation</h4>


    Within the imperial study in Hongyue''s capital were two people.


    Lou Yujing sat behind his table as he eyed Li Qianjun on its other side. "Did Chi Hai''s avatar at Bingxian die?"


    Li Qianjun nodded. "He did. Yu Fuli''s heart sword is truly potent."


    Lou Yujing nodded. "Very good. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t disappoint me, after all."


    "Your Majesty, you predicted that Xiao Nanfeng would win?" Li Qianjun eximed.


    "Of course. With Yu Fuli supporting him, how can Xiao Nanfeng lose? The question is what it cost him to win. That he took down all five of the saint''s avatars is excellent," Lou Yujing said.


    "But wouldn''t Xiao Nanfeng and Shenfeng have the upper hand now? We had victories of our own, but it''s clear that they had more." Li Qianjun frowned.


    "Worry not about such minor details. Any price is worth being able to achieve our objectives. Xiao Nanfeng might appear to be winning for the time being, but we can easily deal with him afterwards. The stronger Xiao Nanfeng is now, the better it is for us."


    "Understood!" Li Qianjun nodded, then frowned. "But will the saint really show up in his main body?"


    Lou Yujing smirked. "I might have been worried before the oue of this battle, but now I''m certain of it."


    "Why?"


    "Because of Tang Zhengqi," Lou Yujing said. He pursed his lips.


    "The Minister of Rites, Tang Zhengqi? What''s so special about him?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, he''s Xiao Nanfeng''s spy."


    "What? How can that be?!" Li Qianjun eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is exceedingly skilled. Why wouldn''t he be able to install a spy in my court?" Lou Yujing replied coolly.


    "But in such an elevated position? How did you learn of it, Your Majesty?"


    "Tang Zhengqi isn''t his real name. I suppose we ought to call him Tang? He might have disguised himself a little, but I can easily see through him. I''ve been paying careful attention to the Taiqing Immortal Sect thesest two centuries, and I have records of every disciple inducted into its ranks. More than anyone else, I''m aware of the defining features of all its disciples. Tang, an omen of cmity¡ªha. Though he appears to have been working against Xiao Nanfeng all this time, he''s killed arge number of Xiao Nanfeng''s enemies by his mere existence alone. It''s too much of a coincidence. That''s why I suspect he''s working with Xiao Nanfeng."


    "What do we do, then?" Li Qianjun frowned.


    "Isn''t it a good thing for us that he''s sticking so closely to the saint?" Lou Yujing smirked.


    "You intend to take advantage of Xiao Nanfeng to get rid of the saint, Your Majesty?" Li Qianjun eximed.


    "That remains to be seen. I wonder if Xiao Nanfeng can acquire some means of dealing with the saint''s main body from Yu Fuli?" Lou Yujing frowned.


    "If he doesn''t seed, do we need to help him?"


    "No. We can''t participate at all, lest the saint get wary."


    "Understood!" Li Qianjun nodded. "The saint lost five of his avatars in abject defeat. Will he take his anger out on you, Your Majesty?"


    "Considering his pride and arrogance, I''m certain he will¡ªbut I was active during the battle and suffered grave defeat myself. There''s nothing he can criticize me for."


    "Your Majesty, is that why you deliberately had your avatar head to Haijiao? Was it all to pacify the saint?" Li Qianjun eximed.


    Lou Yujing nodded. "Not only did I lose a significant portion of my zombie army, I even had to discard a Boundless Immortal relic. The saint won''t be able to me me."


    "You are wise, Your Majesty," Li Qianjun murmured.


    Dayster, in the ptial valley of Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng returned and inspected Yang Chuan''s headless body alongside the Divine Emperor, Demon Child, and Ye Dafu.


    "By the time we rushed over, they were fighting over Yang Chuan''s headless body. I blocked Yuan Wudi while Ye Dafu struck. Is Yang Chuan really not dead? He doesn''t even have a head anymore!" the Demon Child eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed the wound-ridden corpse and frowned. "There are countless secret techniques in this world, far more than we know of. The Divine Emperor and I have both examined Yang Chuan''s corpse. We don''t understand what''s going on, but there''s budding vitality in it somewhere."


    "Your Majesty, Yang Chuan is the Southern Aspect. Do we need to report this to the Heavenly Emperor?" Ye Dafu asked.


    "I''ve already assigned some subordinates to do so, but His Majesty said that everything was fine, that Yang Chuan would regenerate soon enough."


    "Oh?" The cultivators frowned.


    They stared at Yang Chuan''s body. To their surprise, flesh sprouted from where the stump of Yang Chuan''s neck. That flesh was rapidly regenerating, along with bone. Yang Chuan''s head was reforming in real time.


    Everyone was stupefied by what they had witnessed, even the Divine Emperor.


    After four hours, Yang Chuan''s head finally regrewpletely. He shuddered as his eyes blinked open.


    "Yang Chuan, how did you do that?" the Demon Child eximed.


    Yang Chuan nced at his surroundings and realized where he was. He turned to the gathered cultivators. "How did your fights go, everyone?"


    "We all won except for you!" the Demon Child shouted.


    Yang Chuan stiffened. He sighed in embarrassment, then smiled. "It looks like I''ve embarrassed myself, then."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Hardly. You destroyed a saint''s avatar by yourself, and your resurrection technique is incredible."


    "It''s one of the most secret techniques of the Yuqing holynd. I''m sorry to say I can''t discuss it in more detail."


    "It doesn''t matter. Could you exin how the saint''s avatar you faced suddenly grew stronger?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    Yang Chuan frowned. He was deep in thought. "He invoked heavenlyw to borrow strength from the void, and I was caught off guard. However, as he did so, his physical body began to split apart. I believe that this technique is extremely costly and can only be used once. He was nning to die along with me the moment he used it."


    "So that''s how it is." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "You''ve made the saint suffer, and he''ll likely take revenge," Yang Chuan warned.


    "I''ll be careful. You still need to recuperate, don''t you? Leave everything to me."


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.


    "As for your subordinates, I don''t know how trustworthy they are, so I didn''t allow them to approach you. Now that you''re awake, I''ll leave you to handle matters yourself. I''ll summon ck Dog to assist you."


    "Very well." Yang Chuan nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng did so. ck Dog quickly arrived and left with Yang Chuan.


    "Demon Child, I apologize. The circumstances didn''t permit me to take down Li Qianjun with you, and he managed to escape. Next time, I promise I''ll help you take him down," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The Demon Child nodded.


    "Now that you''ve taken down Bingxian, I''ll have to trouble you to remain there for some time in case we need your strength. Listen to my senior brother''smands and try not to show yourself to avoid being targeted."


    "I know." The Demon Child smiled. "So says the art of war: hide your capabilities and your existence."


    "Oh? It looks like you''ve been working hard on your studies. I''ve sent for your tutor, who will be escorted to Bingxian. Keep it up." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "What?!" the Demon Child''s face fell. "I have to study even during war?"


    "Studying will help you understand the world, wars, and even other people. It''s essential," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re a demon!" the Demon Child proimed.


    In the end, he resigned himself to his fate. Suddenly, war didn''t seem quite so interesting to him anymore.


    "Why don''t you head to Bingxian and pray at your mother''s grave? Burn a copy of the books you''ve mastered for her. Tell her that you''ve been working hard to seed like she wanted you to. Your tutor remarked on your dedication as well¡ªshow her that."


    The Demon Child''s eyes lit up. "Got it!"


    He smiled in excitement, no longer troubled about his studies. He really had put in a lot of effort these past few months. Surely his mother would be pleased!


    Xiao Nanfeng had one of his subordinates leave with the Demon Child.


    Then, he turned to Ye Dafu. "Guard Ye Sanshui for the time being and bring him the zombies that the Divine Emperor caught. Help him recover as quickly as you can."


    "Of course, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched his subordinates leave before turning to the Divine Emperor.


    "Two victories and a defeat is an astounding sess. I''m sure the forces eyeing us must be bbergasted," the Divine Emperor said, smiling.


    "Ignore them. They won''t dare interfere," Xiao Nanfeng replied, though he too smiled.


    "I just wonder what Hongyue''s ns are going forward."


    "What else? It looks like Lou Yujing intends to involve the saint. He''s going to make us fight each other while he reaps all the spoils."


    "Oh?"


    "I almost feel as if he intended for the saint to lose all five of his avatars," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.


    "What? Is Lou Yujing trying to scheme against the saint?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    "That''s my suspicion. However, he was smart enough to suffer a terrible defeat at Shenfeng, giving the saint no excuse to criticize him."


    "You mean he lost deliberately?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "He lost a Boundless Immortal relic, didn''t he? I suspect it''s not anything particrly valuable."


    The Divine Emperor passed him a pearl of many colors. "You''re right. This is a divine pearl of resplendence. Though it contains an incredible amount of energy, it''s too chaotic to be of much use¡ªbut as a Boundless Immortal relic, it''s simultaneously too valuable to pass up."


    "Was I actually right?" Xiao Nanfeng inspected the pearl happily. "Even if it''s useless to the majority of cultivators, it''s a great gift for me."


    "Who would have expected you to break open Boundless Immortal relics for mere consumption?" The Divine Emperor sighed wearily.


    "Would you guard me? Let me attune to it right now."


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng swallowed the pearl as he sat cross-legged in meditation.

 Chapter 755: Reliance on Tang Zhengqi

    <h4>Chapter 755: Reliance on Tang Zhengqi</h4>


    The divine pearl of resplendence possessed an incredible quantity of energy, though in so many forms and different elements that it was all but useless.


    As Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows shattered the naturalw binding the pearl, a tremendous burst of energy filled Xiao Nanfeng''s body from within. The Divine Emperor saw all sorts of rainbow-colored light emanating from his body.


    Fortunately, his techniques boasted incredible strength. At full power, his Sky of Ten Suns, Imposing Avatar of Ri, and Jade Emperor''s Frame sealed all that energy within his body, without allowing even a little to dissipate.


    Six hourster, a tremendous wave of mes erupted from Xiao Nanfeng and flooded the pce.


    The Divine Emperor suppressed the mes, then ced a hand on Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder to examine his body. "The eighth stage of the True Immortal realm... It really does take you forever to advance your cultivation. But don''t worry¡ªI''ll help you find more Boundless Immortal relics in the future."


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes to see the Divine Emperor''s peerless beauty and the concern radiating from her eyes. He couldn''t help but be touched.


    "Is something wrong? Did you have a problem with your breakthrough?" the Divine Emperor asked immediately. She had noticed something unusual about Xiao Nanfeng''s expression.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled gently. "I''m fine. You, on the other hand..."


    "What about me?"


    "You''re really beautiful today."


    The Divine Emperor flushed. "Haven''t you seen enough of me?"


    "I would never get tired of looking at you." Xiao Nanfeng lifted the Divine Emperor into the air as passion ignited deep within him.


    The war between Shenfeng and Hongyue caught the attention of the world.


    Although Shenfeng was known as a rising star, many believed that Hongyue was more likely to win. After all, Hongyue''s reserves of strength were unparalleled, and Lou Yujing even had control of a zombie army.


    After the first battle, however, they were shocked to see that Hongyue had only managed to defend one city while losing the other two. How could that be?


    Hongyue had mobilized nine Boundless Immortals, a frightening quantity of strength that would have caused just about any other force to despair¡ªbut it had still lost. Just how much stronger did that make Shenfeng?


    The forces continued to watch on. They had been nning to join the winning side as the war continued so that they could seize the losing side''s territory, but they quickly changed their minds. A war between empires on this scale wasn''t something they could interfere in. No matter which side they offended, they would be done for.


    The forces observing the war btedly realized that the reason neither empire had sent envoys or delegations to them was because it hadn''t been necessary. They were neither a threat nor an advantage.


    Though frustrated, there was nothing any of these forces could do but to remain where they were and maintain neutrality.


    Strangely enough, after Shenfeng took down the two Immortal cities, it stopped advancing forward. Hongyue did the same. A strange peace befell the two empires again, leaving countless people and cultivators confused about what was going on.


    The whole world''s attention remained focused on the two empires.


    At that moment, in a hall in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing had summoned a group of his confidantes and was awaiting the saint''s presence.


    Tu Jiuniang, Tu Siniang, and the others all nced at each other in unease. Only Tang Zhengqi stood calm, poised, and even expectant.


    Lou Yujing sat on a draconic throne. He nced at the cultivators before him, smirking a little as he turned to Tang Zhengqi. The expression vanished in an instant; Lou Yujing was skilled at hiding his emotions.


    Before long, a cloud of red fog emerged from the center of the hall, causing everyone to tense up.


    The red fog condensed into the saint''s figure.


    "We greet the saint." Lou Yujing stood up and bowed. Everyone emted him.


    "We greet Your Eminence!" Tang Zhengqi was, again, the only one who knelt down to greet the saint.


    Tu Siniang grimaced. The strategy she had proposed to the saint had caused the death of his avatar. She too wanted to kneel and beg the saint''s forgiveness, but she didn''t want to make her deep connection to the saint apparent to Lou Yujing. She could only grit her teeth and bear with it.


    The saint eyed everyone coldly as he emerged, his features softening only when he saw Tang Zhengqi''s sincere bow. Finally, he turned to Lou Yujing.


    "Lou Yujing, you dare scheme against me?" the saint demanded.


    "Hardly, Saint. I wouldn''t dare," Lou Yujing replied.


    "You''re still trying to make excuses for yourself?!"


    Though he sensed that something was amiss from the fact that he had lost five avatars at once, he didn''t realize that Lou Yujing was responsible. He was simply ying up his losses so that Lou Yujing would feel even more indebted to him.


    "Please calm down, Saint. That Xiao Nanfeng would emerge victorious was within my predictions," Lou Yujing said.


    "Oh?" The saint narrowed his eyes.


    "I know how skilled Xiao Nanfeng is, after all! It was precisely because I couldn''t defeat him on my own that I enlisted your assistance, Saint. I was willing to cede all of Hongyue''s fortune to get rid of him. Jiuniang and I went to Shenfeng ourselves to take on the enemy forces. We too suffered losses. Saint, you must have underestimated Xiao Nanfeng!"


    "You dare me me?!"


    "No, I would never dare, Saint. That said, you''re bolstered by heavenlyw, so the loss of your avatars doesn''t affect your main body. To assist you, Saint, I lost a Boundless Immortal relic, a third of my zombie army, and even the four zombie kings you borrowed. Would you be willing topensate me for my losses, Saint?"


    The saint had borrowed four zombie kings from Lou Yujing to make his avatars. Was Lou Yujing going to call in the debt?


    The saint pursed his lips. He would admit that he owed Lou Yujing something, but he had no intention of repaying him right away, even if he could.


    And if he wanted to avoid repaying that debt, it would be better not to criticize Lou Yujing too much.


    The saint sniffed haughtily and changed the subject. "Let''s talk about Xiao Nanfeng, then. Do you have any thoughts on how to catch him?"


    Lou Yujing''s eyes lit up. From that moment on, he was certain that the saint and Xiao Nanfeng had be enemies. The saint wasn''t targeting Xiao Nanfeng for remuneration, but because of his own hatred for Xiao Nanfeng¡ªand in doing so, became less rational, more impulsive, and more careless.


    "If I did, Saint, I wouldn''t have required your assistance," Lou Yujing replied. "My officials, however, are all skilled at strategy. Would you like them to help youe up with tactics and ns?"


    The saint turned to Lou Yujing''s officials. Their attitudes made him ufortable; only Tang Zhengqi, who remained kneeling, could pacify him a little.


    "Why are you still kneeling, Tang Zhengqi?" the saint asked.


    "I beg your forgiveness, Your Eminence, for not providing adequate warning during the battle. If I had been a little more adamant, perhaps the oue of the battle would have been different. Please forgive me!"


    Tu Siniang nched. Tang had been entirely against her proposal to have the saint''s avatar take to the battlefield. Her insistence had caused the death of the saint''s avatar. Tang wasn''t just begging the saint for forgiveness¡ªhe was trying to implicate her!


    The saint thought back to what had happened at Bingxian. Tang had desperately attempted to stop him from making a move, but his trust in Tu Siniang led him to ignore Tang. His avatar had shot toward Zhao Yuanjiao, only to be cleaved by a single blow. At that point, it wasn''t a matter of victory or defeat, but rather of shame. How could a Golden Immortal have taken him down so readily? If other saints were to learn about what had happened, he would be ridiculed to death!


    The saint red at Tu Siniang, who shuddered. "Please calm down, Saint! No one would have expected Zhao Yuanjiao to have a heart sword!"


    Tang Zhengqi shook his head. "Tu Siniang, how dare you make excuses for yourself! The saint had been about to leave the battlefield following my warning. If you hadn''t urged him on, he would never have attacked Zhao Yuanjiao! It''s true that Zhao Yuanjiao had a heart sword, but his cultivation was weak. If you had continued fighting on your own and forced him to use the heart sword prematurely, His Eminence wouldn''t have embarrassed himself. Not only that, Li Qianjun was the one who made a mess of battlefieldmand and forced His Eminence to intercede in the first ce!"


    "Tang Zhengqi, how dare you besmirch my reputation?" Li Qianjun roared.


    He sent a palm technique flying at Tang, only for one to send him flying instead. The saint had interceded in Tang''s favor.


    "Husband, how could you make a move in the saint''s presence?!" Tu Siniang eximed. She bowed toward the saint anxiously. "Saint, please calm down. My husband acted in haste."


    The saint eyed Li Qianjun coldly. "You really are unskilled and petty, aren''t you?"


    Tang was absolutely right. How could he be med for being cut apart by Zhao Yuanjiao''s heart sword? Tu Siniang had implored him to attack, and Li Qianjun''s ineptitude asmander had forced him to intercede. If not for them, his avatar wouldn''t have perished!


    These useless fools! Meanwhile, Tang, who had been thoughtful and considerate, had seen through the enemy''s scheme from the very beginning.


    Li Qianjun grimaced, but didn''t dare retort. He red balefully at Tang.


    Lou Yujing remained seated on his throne. He nced at Tang thoughtfully. If he really were Xiao Nanfeng''s spy, he was very skilled at what he did.


    "Tang, I don''t me you for the situation. Stand up. I''ll give you an opportunity to redeem yourself for what you''ve done."


    "Thank you, Your Eminence!" Tang slowly stood up.


    The saint nodded in satisfaction. "Now, how do you think we should deal with Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Tang hadpletely gained the saint''s trust. The saint was convinced that Tang was intelligent and loyal to him. If Tang''s suggestion were reasonable, he would indeed consider adopting it.

 Chapter 756: Tang Zhengqi, Unparalleled Schemer

    <h4>Chapter 756: Tang Zhengqi, Unparalleled Schemer</h4>


    Everyone turned toward Tang Zhengqi. No one expected that he would have gained the saint''s favor so quickly and sopletely.


    Tang nced at the saint, then at the other cultivators in the hall. He suddenly fell silent.


    "What''s the matter? Are you unwilling to say it?" the saint demanded.


    Lou Yujing began tough. "Tang Zhengqi, do you suspect that there are traitors in our midst who might leak the strategy you''vee up with?"


    Everyone began to frown. Did Tang Zhengqi really think that he had some genius n that would allow the saint to catch Xiao Nanfeng, that he had a better idea than even the Heavenly Emperor and the saint?


    The saint was taken aback as well. His momentary displeasure with Tang suddenly faded away. Tang really was trying to help him out! Could he really havee up with some incredible n?


    Tang turned to Lou Yujing in surprise. He had been nning to refuse twice or thrice before finally discussing his ''genius idea'' in order to astound the saint with his sincerity, but Lou Yujing''sment forced him to change his ns. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of doubt.


    "I apologize, Your Eminence. I do have some inkling of an idea, but it would be useless if it were to leak, and I worry that..." Tang trailed off.


    The saint nced at the cultivators in the hall. To be frank, he had no intention of dismissing anyone because of Tang''s worries. He didn''t expect Tang toe up with a n that could astound him; he wasrgely looking for ideas.


    "Don''t worry. Reveal your n out loud. If anyone dares to leak it, I''ll kill his entire n," the saint dered.


    The saint exuded a burst of killing intent, but no one dared to object. Everyone focused intently on Tang Zhengqi.


    Tang took a deep breath. "As you will, Your Eminence. I believe that, if we want to take down Xiao Nanfeng, we can''t just be thinking about his defenses or attacking his territory. Doing so is useless and subjects us to his ambushes. We can''t let Xiao Nanfeng control our pace. Rather, we have to control his instead."


    "Oh?"


    "We can set up an ambush in advance and lure Xiao Nanfeng into our trap, transforming his battlefield into ours."


    "Lure him into our trap? How?" Tang had sessfully whetted the saint''s curiosity.


    "It''s just like fishing. We''ll need bait¡ªwhatever Xiao Nanfeng wants."


    "And what does he want?"


    "Your Eminence, I remember that you had a ck coffin in Dunxian that you used in battle. I overheard your conversation with the Immortal Emperor and learned that Xiao Nanfeng had one of his own. Is this ck coffin precious? Perhaps..."


    "Using the ck coffin as bait is viable," Lou Yujing murmured, nodding.


    The saint grimaced. "Xiao Nanfeng has already stolen that coffin from me due to my carelessness. Yu Fuli wiped away the mark I left on the coffin to track it, too."


    "What? The ck coffins are all in his possession now?" Tang eximed.


    "There are three ck coffins in all. When the three arebined, a potent relic will be unveiled. I had left one of the coffins in the Southeastern Aquatic Pce in an attempt to fish out the other two, but I was careless. Not only did I fail to seize Xiao Nanfeng''s coffin, I even lost my own." The saint pursed his lips.


    "Then one coffin remains. This is our opportunity!" Tang''s eyes lit up.


    "I don''t possess the third coffin. Whencees this supposed opportunity?" The saint sounded very displeased.


    "It doesn''t matter, Your Eminence. You could easily be in possession of it."


    "Did you mishear me? I don''t have the third coffin." The saint frowned.


    "Your Eminence, I know you don''t have it, but Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t. We can pretend that you''re in possession of the third coffin."


    The saint raised an eyebrow as he realized what Tang was nning. He urged, "Continue."


    "Yes, Your Eminence. The fact that you too are searching for the third coffin must mean that these coffins are particrly precious. That Xiao Nanfeng would steal the second one from you implies that he wants it too."


    "Indeed." The saint nodded.


    "Then if there were rumors that the third ck coffin had been found, Xiao Nanfeng would surely have to investigate. That would fish him out."


    "You intend to lure Xiao Nanfeng out with news of the third coffin?" The saint''s eyes lit up.


    "Yes, Your Eminence! I believe we can easily ambush Xiao Nanfeng in this fashion. If he is alone and unprepared, you will surely have a decisive advantage over him."


    Enthused, the saint nodded approvingly at Tang. "Continue."


    "Your Eminence, if we want to trick Xiao Nanfeng, we have to ensure nothing leaks out." Tang turned to survey the room again.


    The saint, convinced by the viability of Tang''s scheme, recognized the need for secrecy.


    "If anyone dares to leak a single word of this conversation, not only will I destroy him and his n, but also ensure that his soul will never reincarnate," the saint threatened.


    The cultivators'' eyes widened as they nced at each other. No one dared to speak.


    "Your Eminence, we can''t directly inform Xiao Nanfeng about the third coffin. We''ll have toy the groundwork to entice his spies and have them investigate the clues wee up with. Xiao Nanfeng must uncover the location of the third ck coffin for himself if we want to ensure that he''ll fall for it."


    "Indeed. We can have Lou Yujing send someone to pursue the third ck coffin''s ancestral zombie and pique Xiao Nanfeng''s interest that way."


    "In addition, Your Eminence, you''ll have to prepare a fake ck coffin in advance. That''s the trap we''ll set for Xiao Nanfeng. It has to look identical from the outside. Ideally, we''d lure him within and trap him there."


    "That''s easy." The saint nodded. "I can forge such a treasure to trap him. It shall look indistinguishable to the other ck coffins."


    "Of course, we''ll have to prepare for the possibility that Xiao Nanfeng isn''t fooled, either. If we can''t trick him into the false coffin, we''ll have to attack him outside of it. We have to use our full strength to take him down in one blow. Otherwise, he''ll grow wary, and we won''t have such an opportunity again."


    "Our full strength?" The saint frowned.


    "Your Eminence, you must be on guard against Xiao Nanfeng''s heart sword. We can''t risk anything," Tang warned.


    The saint frowned. Xiao Nanfeng''s heart sword could cleave his avatar, but it would hardly be effective against his main body.


    The problem was that he didn''t want to expose his main body.


    Lou Yujing could guess why the saint was hesitating. He nced at Tang in shock. Of everyone in this room, he was the most clear-headed when it came to Tang. Though Tang''s scheme was devious and indeed seemed as if it would work, Tang was likely Xiao Nanfeng''s spy. That implied that the scheme wasn''t meant to target Xiao Nanfeng, but rather the saint¡ªmore precisely, the saint''s main body.


    Lou Yujing could guess that Xiao Nanfeng hade up with this scheme, with Tang Zhengqi serving as his mouthpiece. He grew inwardly wary. Thebination of Xiao Nanfeng and Tang Zhengqi was lethal indeed.


    Even so, he had no intention to expose Tang. No¡ªhe would even support him.


    "Saint Chi Hai, Tang is right. We know that Xiao Nanfeng is in possession of Yu Fuli''s heart swords, and he has a number of Boundless Immortals supporting him. You''ve experienced his prowess before. If we can''t take him down in a single attempt, we might as well not risk it, lest we waste such an exquisite n," Lou Yujing said.


    "You think this n exquisite?" The saint frowned at Lou Yujing.


    "Indeed. If you intend to adopt it, Saint, I will give you my full support. However, I am wary with regard to Yu Fuli''s heart swords. If you can''t deal with them, then so be it."


    The saint frowned. Was Lou Yujing looking down on him? That ingrate!


    Even so, the saint didn''t reveal any outward emotion. He stared at Lou Yujing. "I shall think about this n carefully. You had better ensure your subordinates don''t reveal anything, or else."


    "Of course, Saint. No one outside this hall shall learn of it."


    "That won''t suffice. I''ll cast a secret technique on all cultivators present that allows me to overhear all conversations you and your avatars have," the saint demanded.


    Lou Yujing frowned, but nodded. "Very well."


    The cultivators in the hall were naturally forced to agree as well. The saint sent beams of red light into their bodies, all save Lou Yujing and Tang Zhengqi.


    Then, the saint smiled in satisfaction and turned to Tang. "Refine your n over the next few days, then discuss the specifics with meter."


    "Yes, Your Eminence! Thank you for your trust. I''ll do my best!"


    It was all but guaranteed that the saint would adopt his n by this point.


    The saint stepped forward, dissipated into a cloud of blood-red fog, and then vanished from sight.


    The gathered cultivators rxed upon seeing the saint depart.


    Tu Siniang and the others eyed Tang jealously, but didn''t dare cause trouble for him.


    "Tang Zhengqi!" Lou Yujing suddenly eximed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "Since the saint has enlisted your assistance with such an important task, you''ll have to do your best. Don''t worry about your other responsibilities for the time being. Ask for any resources you need."


    Tang nced at Lou Yujing in surprise, but didn''t dare express his suspicions. He bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I''ll do my best."


    "Very well. You may all leave!"


    "Understood!" everyone replied.

 Chapter 757: Trapping the Saint

    <h4>Chapter 757: Trapping the Saint</h4>


    Dayster, in a hall in Hongyue''s capital, the saint listened to Tang''s report.


    "Everything is under your control, Your Eminence," Tang said.


    The saint was very pleased with Tang''s attitude. He nodded. "How''s the situation going?"


    "We discovered a spy from Shenfeng and piqued her interest with a zombie. She chased it into a forest, where it began to fight with another zombie to the death."


    "The two zombies fought each other?" the saint asked.


    "Yes, Your Eminence. Only the Immortal Emperor and Xiao Nanfeng are known to possess such zombies. The fact that two zombies are fighting, neither of which belong to Xiao Nanfeng, will certainlymand his attention. We won''t reveal too much information. The goal is to have Xiao Nanfeng investigate personally and fall into Your Eminence''s trap."


    "Well done." The saint nodded, satisfied.


    "That said, Your Eminence, Xiao Nanfeng is particrly sly and crafty. I don''t believe he''ll fall for the trap as is."


    "Oh?"


    "It''s likely that Xiao Nanfeng will be suspicious of the supposed owner of this third coffin, so we need to act quickly. We have to ensure that Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t have time to get more information or think more critically about the situation. Ideally, the Immortal Emperor''s ancestral zombie will start fighting with the third coffin''s owner immediately."


    "Continue," the saintmanded.


    "The second ck coffin is in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands, and the Immortal Emperor desperately needs a new ck coffin with which to grow his zombie army. The appearance of the third coffin''s owner will give the Immortal Emperor an opportunity to strike. From a logical perspective, the Immortal Emperor will surely attack at full strength in order to obtain the third coffin for himself¡ªat the very least, he''ll use his ancestral zombie body. The third coffin''s owner must fight the Immortal Emperor as well."


    "You intend to have Xiao Nanfeng watch on in hopes of iming the coffin once bothbatants are weakened?"


    "Indeed. Given Xiao Nanfeng''s wariness, he''ll surely lie in wait rather than make a move. That''s why the Immortal Emperor must fight viciously against the third coffin''s owner. Otherwise, Xiao Nanfeng will retreat the moment he senses something amiss. Furthermore, this fight must take ce far from the two empires lest he suspect that it''s a trap."


    "And bothbatants must fight on rtively equal footing, I assume?" The saint frowned.


    "Indeed. Only a Boundless Immortal will be able to take on the Immortal Emperor''s ancestral zombie body, and that Boundless Immortal would ideally be unknown to Xiao Nanfeng."


    "That won''t be hard. It''s easy enough for me to change my appearance. What''s more, as long as Xiao Nanfeng doesn''t get close to me, he won''t realize that I''m involved. I''ll simply fake an ancestral zombie''s aura."


    "You intend to take Xiao Nanfeng on yourself, Your Eminence?" Tang''s eyes lit up.


    "Indeed."


    "In that case, I''m sure I won''t have anything to worry about. We''ll have to act quickly. Ideally, we can lure Xiao Nanfeng out within a few days'' time."


    "Arrange for it," the saintmanded, nodding in satisfaction.


    Dayster, above an ind on the Eastern Sea, Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie body, along with a horde of ordinary zombies, faced off against another horde of zombies.


    The ground quaked and mes red as the battle unfolded. Huge waves spawned over the Eastern Sea. The zombie hordes fought viciously and intensely.


    Lou Yujing''s body was grievously wounded from the battle, as was the ''ancestral zombie'' cloaked in ck fog who was his opponent.


    "Die, Lou Yujing!" the false ancestral zombie roared.


    "Hand over the ck coffin, or I''ll kill you!" Lou Yujing retorted.


    The twobatants struck at one another, mes zing over their fists as they fought intently. Neitherbatant was about to give in.


    "Lou Yujing, are you stalling for time?" the fake ancestral zombie roared. "Are you waiting for your main body to get here?"


    Lou Yujing roared and didn''t exin himself. He continued to attack the fake ancestral zombie furiously. The fake ancestral zombie tried to flee, but Lou Yujing prevented it from doing so.


    "You intend to leave? Dream on! Now that I''ve found you, your ck coffin is mine!" Lou Yujing thundered.


    The fake ancestral zombie roared in rage as it revealed a gleaming treasure.


    "A Boundless Immortal relic? Why didn''t you use it beforehand? It must not have much use," Lou Yujing surmised.


    "Explode!" the fake ancestral zombie shouted.


    "What?!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    The fake ancestral zombie held on tightly to Lou Yujing as it detonated the relic. A huge mushroom cloud erupted above the Eastern Sea.


    After the explosion, both Lou Yujing and the fake ancestral zombie were more wounded than ever. Blood streaked from their bodies, and their limbs were broken.


    "Are you crazy?!" Lou Yujing roared, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    The fake ancestral zombie tried to flee.


    "You won''t get away!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    Incensed, he had no intention of giving up on his prey.


    Just then, the fake ancestral zombie pulled out another relic.


    "You have another relic? What are you doing?!" Lou Yujing roared.


    "Explode!"


    Another relic erupted into mes. The huge explosion engulfed both cultivators.


    By the time the fire and smoke dissipated, the twobatants were even worse off than before. Half of Lou Yujing''s body had been destroyed by the two sessive explosions, and much of his skeleton was now exposed. The fake ancestral zombie fared worse. Even its storage treasure had been destroyed, revealing countless relics, a ck coffin among them.


    "The ck coffin!" Lou Yujing cried out in surprise.


    Despite his serious injuries, Lou Yujing shot toward the coffin immediately.


    "Hold it! The coffin''s mine!" roared the fake ancestral zombie.


    The two Boundless Immortal cultivators faced off again. Neither managed to seize the ck coffin; it flew toward an ind in the distance.


    "Hurry up and retrieve the coffin!" the fake ancestral zombiemanded.


    "Everyone, seize that coffin!" Lou Yujing roared.


    "Understood!" Their subordinates all rushed off toward that ind as the two ancestral zombies continued to fight, deterring each other from seizing it.


    The ck coffinnded on the ind in a huge plume of dust.


    Zombies on both sides rushed toward the ck coffin, only to find themselves blocked by a shadowy figure.


    The shadowy figure sent all the zombies flying.


    "Who''s there?!" everyone demanded.


    By then, the smoke had dispersed to reveal an antique ck coffin, its lid having been blown off in themotion.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor had appeared out of nowhere and were holding the zombies back.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?!" Lou Yujing cried out.


    The fake ancestral zombie roared and charged toward them.


    "Lou Yujing, I suppose I have you to thank for helping me gather the three ck coffins, haha!" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    The Divine Emperor''s long hair fluttered in the wind as she held the two ancestral zombies back. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng leapt toward the ck coffin.


    Just then, a pir of red light shot out of the coffin and pierced through the air. A frightening aura emanated from it, quelling even the waves surging across the Eastern Sea.


    "This is a trap!" the Divine Emperor suddenly cried out. "You have to flee!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nched as he turned to flee.


    "Flee? Don''t you think it''s toote to do so?" The saint''s voice could be heard from afar.


    A fearsome aura emanated from around the red pir, so intense that even the void began to ripple. A sea of blood manifested in the void, filling the air and sealing off any escape routes.


    The Divine Emperor transformed into a ck shadow as she tried to flee with Xiao Nanfeng, but the sea of blood trapped them within.


    "You won''t be able to escape. I''ve prepared a cage of heavenlyw for you. Now, be my prisoners, haha!" The saint''s voice could be heard from afar.


    The sea of blood quicklypressed around the two cultivators as the saint''s figure manifested within the sea of blood. With a wave of his hand, he sucked Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor into the ck coffin.


    "I can still hold him off for a bit. Hurry up and escape into the red moon illusory realm!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The saint frowned. "It''s toote. You''re all done for!"


    The saint, bolstered by his sea of blood, shot into the coffin, dragging Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor inside along with him.


    The next moment, red light shed. Xiao Nanfeng had activated his candleme powers to bring the Divine Emperor out with him. He quickly mmed a lid over the coffin in a sh of light.


    Meanwhile, the fake ancestral zombie and Lou Yujing nched at what was happening.


    "Impossible! That''s not the ck coffin I forged!" the fake ancestral zombie roared.


    The ck coffin began to shake violently. The tremendous strength that the saint had unleashed shattered the ck coffin to reveal a bright red cauldron within, which was rocking back and forth from the impact of something trapped within.


    The Divine Emperor reached out and stabilized the cauldron.


    Lou Yujing cried out, "Impossible! Xiao Nanfeng must have exchanged the coffin for another one when it struck the ind in a cloud of smoke. But how could Xiao Nanfeng have known about our n?!"


    The fake ancestral zombie was naturally one of the saint''s avatars. He roared in anger, "Who betrayed me? I''ll kill him!"


    The fake ancestral zombie leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng, but Ye Sanshui appeared out of nowhere and punched it. Lou Yujing and the fake ancestral zombie were sent flying.


    Ye Sanshui wasn''t particrly strong; rather, Lou Yujing and the fake ancestral zombie had expended too much of their reserves during their orchestrated battle to block his attack.


    "We''ve been tricked. This is an ambush. We have to flee!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    "You can''t leave me! My main body''s still in that cauldron. Something''s wrong with it¡ªit''s preventing me from essing heavenlyw! Save my main body!" the fake ancestral zombie roared.


    "We can''t! If we don''t leave now, we''ll be done for!"


    Lou Yujing turned to flee.


    "No!" The fake ancestral zombie refused to give up. It continued to attack Ye Sanshui, who retaliated at full strength. mes erupted around them as they began to fight in earnest.

 Chapter 758: An Unjust Cause

    <h4>Chapter 758: An Unjust Cause</h4>


    In a hall in Hongyue''s capital, a palm technique shot toward Lou Yujing, seated on a draconic throne.


    "Please calm down, Saint!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    Badly wounded, the saint''s avatar didn''t have much strength. Lou Yujing was able to defend against his attack readily.


    Tu Jiuniang and Tu Siniang fretted anxiously by the side of the hall. "Please calm down, Saint! Please!"


    They wanted to hold him back, but didn''t dare interfere.


    "Calm down? And how do you expect me to calm down? My main body has been sealed. I can''t call on heavenlyw any longer! You''ve ruined me!" the saint''s avatar roared.


    "Saint, I''ve been supporting you to the best of my ability. You devised the n with Tang Zhengqi yourself, and I did as you instructed. Even my ancestral zombie avatar has been badly hurt because of you. When have I harmed you? If there''s anyone to me, it''s Tang Zhengqi," Lou Yujing asserted.


    "Where is he? Where''s Tang Zhengqi?" the saint''s avatar demanded.


    "He ran off. No one knows where he is now," Lou Yujing replied.


    "Is Tang Zhengqi Xiao Nanfeng''s spy? He must be!" the saint''s avatar suddenly roared.


    "That''s the only exnation for this series of events." Lou Yujing nodded.


    "How could you not have known that he was Xiao Nanfeng''s spy? You even made him the Minister of Rites! Lou Yujing, you did this intentionally, didn''t you?!"


    Lou Yujing shook his head. "To be honest, Saint, Tang Zhengqi was never part of my inner circle. When I sent a delegation to you, you killed all the important officials of my Department of Rites, leaving only him and his subordinates unscathed. Because you deliberately praised Tang Zhengqi, we believed that Tang was your subordinate. That was why we appointed him Minister of Rites. Siniang and the others have long suspected that something was wrong with Tang Zhengqi and tried to argue against him several times, but you continued to trust him because of his ttery. There was nothing we could do."


    Tu Siniang sighed in relief. She had finally cleared her name, but at what cost? The saint''s avatar was still fuming mad, and she didn''t dare draw attention to herself.


    "How could I have let Tang Zhengqi trick me? No!" the saint roared.


    Lou Yujing said nothing, but he was inwardly very happy. He disdained Saint Chi Hai''s love of ttery and belief in his self-importance. That was his fatal w. If Tang Zhengqi hadn''t taken advantage of him now, someone else would have done so in the future. He had survived for so longrgely because no ordinary person would dare try; only Xiao Nanfeng, backed by Yu Fuli, dared to take advantage of this exploit.


    "Hunt down Tang Zhengqi. I''ll crush him! I''ll pulverize his corpse and destroy his soul and body!" the saint''s avatar howled.


    "I think you ought to figure out how to rescue your main body first, Saint," Lou Yujing replied.


    "You''re right. My main body is more important," the saint murmured.


    "Where is it?" Lou Yujing asked.


    "It''s trapped in a cauldron. I can sense that the cauldron is moving rapidly."


    "In other words, it''s likely being sent to the Imperial Court. We still have a chance to save it right now, but not after it ends up in Yu Fuli''s hands. You had better contact the other saints you know to help."


    "I''ve already done so."


    "You have other avatars?" Lou Yujing eximed in surprise.


    The saint snorted. "Evidently!"


    Deep within a forest, Saint Chi Hai''s avatar rapped at the void. The void rippled to reveal a towering pce formed of light, within which a man was ying around with a group of women.


    "Chi Hai? What brings you here?" the man eximed.


    "I''m in trouble. Yu Fuli has caught my main body, and I need your help saving it. Here''s my spiritual trace," Chi Hai said urgently.


    "Oh?" The man focused.


    He waved an arm, and the women around him retreated.


    Saint Chi Hai recounted what had happened to date.


    The man imed Saint Chi Hai''s spiritual trace. A pir of blue light manifested from him and pierced into the heavens. The light infused tremendous energy into his body; he pinched his fingers as if calcting something.


    "Have you found it?" Chi Hai asked.


    "I have. A group of cultivators are escorting your cauldron to the Eastern Gate of the Sieve of Heaven. They''re on their way."


    "Hurry and reim it for me! You just have to open up that cauldron," Chi Hai eximed.


    The man shook his head. "I won''t. It''s clearly a trap."


    "What? Why not? What trap?"


    "Yu Fuli must be aware that your main body has been caught. He can easily fish you into the Imperial Court. The reason he chose not to do so but instead to have the cauldron be conveyed across thousands of miles¡ªcan''t you see?"


    "I, but¡ª"


    "I can''t save your main body because Yu Fuli is surely eyeing the escort. He can fish the cauldron away at any time and attack me simultaneously. I don''t want to expose myself, not even as an avatar. I''m not prepared to attack him just yet."


    "What about me, then? I''ve been caught!" Chi Hai shouted anxiously.


    "You asked for it. Why did you reveal yourself? The heavens have already intimated that Yu Fuli will be killed soon enough. Why didn''t you wait?"


    "I¡ª"


    Chi Hai gritted his teeth. How foolish he was! If only he could have gone back in time and pped himself. Why did he have to take on Xiao Nanfeng? He was just causing more trouble for himself!


    "I can tell you where this cauldron is located, but I won''t make a move myself," the man reiterated.


    "What am I going to do about my main body, then?!"


    "Who knows? It might just survive unscathed."


    "How can that be? Yu Fuli has wanted to kill me for a long time!"


    "So be it, then. me yourself for being unlucky. Once you die, the heavens will just elect a new saint."


    "Won''t you save me? I''ll promise you anything, anything!"


    "I don''t want to die. Don''t waste time here. If you have so much energy, go seek out other saints and hope for the best." The man shook his head.


    "No! You can''t just leave me in the lurch. The heavens will hold you ountable!" Chi Hai eximed.


    The man nced at him disdainfully, then waved a hand. The void shed, and he vanished from sight.


    "You can''t just ignore me!" Chi Hai''s avatar roared.


    He knew that the other saints would only treat him the same way. He might very well be done for.


    In the imperial study in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing was going over a series of edicts when a howling wind blew by. The saint''s avatar barged into his study.


    "Guard His Majesty!" a group of guards shouted from outside.


    "I''m alright," Lou Yujing called out. "Leave me be!"


    "Understood!" The guards returned to their positions.


    "Saint Chi Hai, what are you still doing here? Haven''t you gone to request aid from the other saints?" Lou Yujing asked.


    "Before that cauldron reaches the Imperial Court, apany me to retrieve my main body. Inform all the Boundless Immortals among your subordinates. Hurry!" Chi Hai urged.


    "Are the other saints unwilling to help?"


    "Just obey mymands! You were the one who requested that I help you take down Xiao Nanfeng. Now that I''ve been trapped, are you going to ignore me? I''ll take you down even if it costs me my life!" Chi Hai roared.


    "This is a trap, isn''t it? Yu Fuli will attack us the moment we show ourselves," Lou Yujing murmured.


    Chi Hai frowned. Was Lou Yujing aware of this, too?


    "Will you go or not?" Chi Hai gritted out.


    "Of course I will, Saint. I can hardly leave you be, but none of us have any respectable treasures to our name. I know you have plenty. Would you loan them to us for the time being? It''ll allow us to assist you better, at the very least."


    "Fine! Just follow me now, or it''ll be toote!"


    "Of course."


    Lou Yujing immediately summoned Tu Jiuniang, Yuan Wudi, and Li Qianjun, leaving only his ancestral zombie avatar to guard Hongyue''s capital.


    Within the clouds, Xiao Nanfeng, Ye Sanshui, Yang Chuan, and the Demon Child were escorting a bright-red cauldron toward the Imperial Court. They were flying rapidly.


    "Is the saint''s main body in this cauldron?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    He had been shocked by Xiao Nanfeng''s missive stating that he had caught the saint''s main body. He had almost perished just trying to deal with the saint''s avatar, but Xiao Nanfeng had caught his main body out of nowhere! How could he have done so? Yang Chuan shook his head, still feeling as if he were in a dream.


    "I''m sure of it. His Majesty hasmanded us to bring him to the Imperial Court, and we may face enemy assants along the way. How are your injuries?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ve recovered fully, Your Majesty," Ye Sanshui replied.


    Yang Chuan frowned. "I can fight as well."


    "Good. In that case, I''ll focus on protecting the cauldron, and all of you on guarding me and taking on any enemy assants."


    "What if a new saint shows up?" Yang Chuan frowned.


    "That''s what we''re hoping for, but I wonder if it''ll happen." Xiao Nanfengughed.


    "The Heavenly Emperor''s watching over us, then?" Yang Chuan murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Let''s go!"

 Chapter 759: Slaying Multiple Saints

    <h4>Chapter 759: ying Multiple Saints</h4>


    In the Heavenly Pce, a session of court had been convened with great haste. All the important officials of the Sieve of Heaven had rushed over as quickly as possible, certain that something big was brewing.


    Yu Fuli sat on a draconic throne in white draconic robes lined with gold, a crown of white jade on his head.


    "Long live the Heavenly Emperor!" chorused the officials of his court as they bowed.


    Yu Fuli nodded and cast his gaze over his officials. "Rise."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    The officials nced at Yu Fuli as they awaited his exnation for the sudden summons.


    "My officials, those of you who are aware of the provenance of saints, inform the others what you know," Yu Fuli instructed.


    The officials nced at each other. Some had an inkling of what was about to happen.


    "Saints are the malignant tumors of the world,ckeys of the heavens who cause cmity wherever they go. Because of your strength, Your Majesty, the saints of the current era only dare hide amidst the darkness as they stubbornly cling onto power."


    "Saintsmand heavenlyw and have incredible power of their own. They incite war and unrest all over the world, and deserve to die!"


    "Even their avatars have the might of Boundless Immortals, and their power can''t be underestimated."


    "The Hall of Martial Aspects has been searching for these saints, but to no avail."


    The officials each reported what they knew, making everyone aware of the existence of saints and what they represented.


    Of course, the majority of the officials in Yu Fuli''s court were aware of the existence of saints to begin with.


    "Where are the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court?" Yu Fuli continued.


    "Here, Your Majesty!" The Martial Aspects stepped forward in a row.


    "Martial Aspect Xiao Nanfeng has sessfullyid a trap for Saint Chi Hai and caught his main body. He is escorting the saint''s main body to the Imperial Court now. All Martial Aspects in the Sieve of Heaven, escort him here! A guide will lead you to his current location outside the Eastern Gate. Head to him immediately," Yu Fulimanded.


    "What?!" Ao Canghai and the others were shocked beyond belief.


    How could Xiao Nanfeng have managed to entrap a saint? What kind of joke was this?


    The next moment, as they confirmed that they weren''t dreaming, they immediately bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    Only a fraction of the seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court were present, but that was more than sufficient. They rushed out of the Heavenly Pce and toward the Eastern Gate, naturally catching the attention of many.


    The information to be presented in that session of court hadn''t been confidential; as a result, the officials'' avatars quickly spread word of what was happening.


    "Xiao Nanfeng caught a saint? Impossible. Saints are bolstered by heavenlyw!"


    "Even some Immortal Emperors don''t dare take on saints. How could Xiao Nanfeng have caught one?"


    "This has to be fake news!"


    Countless supreme cultivators were astonished by the information, while many Immortals were perplexed by what was going on. Who were these saints, and why was there such a huge fuss about them?


    As Ao Canghai and the others arrived at the Eastern Gate, they found a guide who directed them toward Xiao Nanfeng''s location. The Martial Aspects quickly flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Ao Canghai, what''s going on with that Martial Aspect of yours? How could he have caught a saint''s main body?" another Cardinal Aspect asked.


    Ao Canghai grimaced. "How would I know?"


    He had just convinced an even stronger assassin from Snowborne to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng, but would he still dareplete his mission after learning about this news?


    "This is impossible! Xiao Nanfeng, a True Immortal, catching a saint?"


    "The Heavenly Emperor himself said it. Do you dare doubt him?"


    "It really is unbelievable. He''s only a True Immortal, isn''t he?"


    "We''ll find out once we head over and have a look, I suppose."


    The Martial Aspects continued to gossip among themselves.


    They flew rapidly; it took them only two hours or so before they came across Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng in the distance.


    To their surprise, a fight had broken out.


    Yang Chuan was taking on Lou Yujing and Tu Jiuniang, Ye Sanshui was taking on Yuan Wudi, and the Demon Child was taking on Li Qianjun. mes and howling winds filled the air.


    At the heart of the battlefield was a deific domain in which a heavy blizzard was blowing.


    Within it, Saint Chi Hai''s three avatars were furiously hunting something down.


    "Spiritual harmony? How could your spiritual harmony be so perfect? This is impossible!" the saint''s three avatars roared.


    Despite their overwhelming strength, despite the fact that they were incinerating the endless snow with their mes, they weren''t able to sense Xiao Nanfeng''s presence at all. This was the first time they had ever encountered such a situation.


    One of the saint''s avatars red at Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon high in the air. He shot up toward it.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll destroy your spiritual moon and see how you intend to hide then! Die!" The saint''s avatar struck Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon with a palm technique¡ªonly to have a beam of white light illuminate the sky as a heart sword appeared out of nowhere and cleaved the saint''s avatar apart.


    "No!" the saint''s avatar cried out.


    The shocking sight caused the gathered Martial Aspects to gape.


    "Was that the saint''s avatar? He was killed in a single strike! How could that be?"


    "That''s His Majesty''s heart sword!"


    "Quick! They won''t be able to hold out for long."


    The Martial Aspects rushed over.


    After one of the saint''s avatars was in, another avatar took advantage. He appeared beside the silver moon and struck it with a palm.


    The silver moon opened its mouth wide as if to bite down on the hand, but would a saint''s avatar be such easy prey?


    The silver moon was sent flying. A thin hairline crack appeared over its surface.


    Meanwhile, the saint''s avatar yelped in pain as he clutched his hand. Three of his fingers had been bitten off.


    The Martial Aspects were shocked yet again.


    "How can a True Yin cultivator''s spiritual moon bite off a Boundless Immortal''s fingers? No¡ªhow can a spiritual moon have a mouth to begin with?!"


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng''s moon injured, too? How could it have taken on a saint''s avatar by itself?"


    Countless shouts could be heard from all over.


    "Saint Chi Hai, the Imperial Court has sent reinforcements. We have to flee!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    The saint''s two remaining avatars gritted their teeth. "No! My main body still hasn''t been rescued. I''ve clearly damaged Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon. One more time, and I''ll be able to cause it to explode. Continue attacking!"


    The saint''s two avatars leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon simultaneously.


    Just then, snow clumped together not far away. Xiao Nanfeng had reappeared. He shouted, "I''m right here, Chi Hai! You''re running the wrong way!"


    Xiao Nanfeng had a red cauldron by his side and wielded a cracked purple sword.


    It was apparent that he had revealed himself in order to save his silver moon.


    The two saints immediately shot toward Xiao Nanfeng in two beams of light.


    They were so fast that everyone else was caught off guard. They intended to defeat him and open up the cauldron before Xiao Nanfeng could invoke spiritual harmony again.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. His purple sword could only deal with one of the saint''s avatars. He unleashed in one direction immediately.


    The saint''s two avatars didn''t hesitate. Even if they were killed, the saint had to rescue his main body. They continued advancing toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The heart sword glimmered in the air. Another blinding sh took down one more of the saint''s many avatars. The cracked purple sword shattered and dissipated into the air.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng tossed the red cauldron aside and invoked spiritual harmony.


    Because the red cauldron was so massive and so unique, it took Xiao Nanfeng far too long to invoke spiritual harmony with it in his presence. All he could do was toss it toward the gathered Martial Aspects instead.


    Xiao Nanfeng was still in the process of harmonizing when the final saint''s avatar struck him.


    "I won''t make it in time. Yu Fuli will save me as promised, won''t he?" Xiao Nanfeng stiffened.


    Yu Fuli had promised to protect him, but Xiao Nanfeng could sense no trace of his involvement at this precise moment. He had no choice but to bolster his defenses as he tried to speed up the process of spiritual harmony, hoping that Yu Fuli would keep his word.


    Just as the saint''s attack was about to strike Xiao Nanfeng, white light shed by. His silver moon had blocked the blow in the nick of time.


    A huge shockwave sent Xiao Nanfeng flying. As he did so, he finally harmonized with the world and vanished.


    Because the silver moon had taken the brunt of the saint''s attack, even more cracks appeared over its surface. It was clearly badly wounded.


    "Superior yin pearl!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    His silver moon had never cared about his safety. Why had he done so this time? Could it be because he had lured the saint''s avatars away to protect his silver moon?


    Though badly wounded, the silver moon quickly flew into the air.


    The saint fumed at his failed attack, but then quickly shot toward the cauldron that had now left Xiao Nanfeng''s protection.


    By then, the three Cardinal Aspects had closed in on the cauldron. One struck at the saint''s avatar with a palm, forcing him back. Another Cardinal Aspect seized the cauldron with a huff.


    "Saint, we''ve lost our chance. Let''s retreat!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    "No! My main body is still within the cauldron. Help me rescue it!" the saint''s avatar roared.


    "We''re here to help you, not to die with you! Everyone, retreat!" Lou Yujingmanded.


    "Understood!" Li Qianjun and Yuan Wudi replied.


    Tu Jiuniang wanted to remain, but ultimately lowered her head and retreated with the others.


    In an instant, the saint''s avatar had been left behind alone.


    "Take down the saint''s avatar!" Yang Chuanmanded.


    The Martial Aspects rushed over toward him.


    The saint''s avatar grimaced. He looked regretful, but understood that he had no chance at turning the tides.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!" the saint''s avatar hissed.


    He summoned the corpses of his two in avatars with the wave of a hand, turned, and fled.


    The Martial Aspects watched him flee without giving chase.

 Chapter 760: The Bloodstained Sieve of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 760: The Bloodstained Sieve of Heaven</h4>


    After the battle ended, Xiao Nanfeng emerged from spiritual harmony and reimed his silver moon.


    All the Martial Aspects nced at him in shock and awe. He had in two of the saint''s avatars by himself. Even if they were as moths to a me, and even if Xiao Nanfeng had used Yu Fuli''s heart sword, it was an impressive aplishment.


    Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched. What if Xiao Nanfeng had another heart sword. Would his Snowborne assassin still dare to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng?


    "Be careful!" Yang Chuan eximed. "The saint''s main body is within the cauldron. Now, pass it to me!"


    Yang Chuan imed the red cauldron and drew everyone''s attention.


    "Why not keep the cauldron in a storage treasure?" a Cardinal Aspect asked.


    "It needs to be supervised at all times. If we drop our guard even a little, he might escape. We can''t store the cauldron in a storage treasure," Yang Chuan replied.


    Everyone nodded seriously.


    "Demon Child, Ye Sanshui, head back for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    The Demon Child nodded.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    The two cultivators flew off.


    The Martial Aspects all turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Had he justmanded two Boundless Immortals?


    They eyed Ao Canghai furtively. Everyone knew that Ao Canghai and Xiao Nanfeng were on bad terms with each other, and Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be growing stronger and stronger. Would Ao Canghai be able to suppress him?


    Ao Canghai didn''t speak, but he was starting to feel more and more pressured.


    "The Heavenly Emperor has arranged for us to guard you," a Martial Aspect began. She recounted what had happened in court.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "Since His Majesty is awaiting us, let''s head back to the Imperial Court immediately."


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    Over a stretch of the sea, Lou Yujing and the others reunited with the saint''sst avatar.


    "Why did all of you retreat?!" the saint''s avatar roared. "Didn''t you hear memand you to keep fighting?"


    "You saw the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court yourself! All four Cardinal Aspects were gathered. If we were to keep fighting, we would all have died!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    "I lent all of you a Boundless Immortal relic each. How could you not have been able to beat them? Lou Yujing, you must have been going easy on Yang Chuan. How could you fail to take him down with Tu Jiuniang assisting you?" the saint demanded.


    "Wouldn''t it be easier for me to simply refuse to assist you? It''s true that I didn''t fight with Yang Chuan to the death, but you have to understand that I''m merely here to help, not to get killed. What would I have done if Yang Chuan had a heart sword himself?"


    He had gone easy on Yang Chuan, but he could hardly admit that outright to the saint. He had his own ns in mind.


    "You!" the saint used.


    "You must realize that my subordinates and I were holding back Yang Chuan, the Demon Child, and Ye Sanshui for you. Your only opponent was Xiao Nanfeng. Were you unable to take him down even with three of your avatars? It looked like you were about to seed. If you had a fourth avatar, you would have been able to steal the cauldron and even kill Xiao Nanfeng. Why didn''t you use your full strength?"


    "I don''t have any other avatars. Don''t you think I would have mobilized them if I did?!"


    "Is that so? I must have been mistaken, Saint." Lou Yujing acknowledged his mistake readily, though he was inwardly exuberant. This was what he most wanted to hear.


    "What now?" The saint was going mad with fury.


    He didn''t know what to do. The other saints were ignoring him, and he couldn''t rescue his main body on his own. He could only watch on as it approached the Sieve of Heaven.


    "There''s one more thing we can try," Lou Yujing said.


    "Oh?" The saint was grasping at straws.


    "The Martial Aspects are responsible for bringing the cauldron to the Sieve of Heaven. If a Martial Aspect were to open up its lid, perhaps you may be able to flee. I have a spy among the Martial Aspects who can help you."


    "You''re right. There''s still hope! Have Tu Feng assist me, now!" the saint''s avatar said urgently.


    "Saint, how did you know that Martial Aspect Tu Feng was my spy?" Lou Yujing frowned.


    The saint momentarily panicked before replying, "Why wouldn''t I know? I keep a close eye on all the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. Tu Feng is Tu Jiuniang''s brother, isn''t he? Now isn''t the time for all this. Tell him to make a move!"


    "Don''t worry, Saint. I''ve already informed him of what''s going on, and I''ll have him do his best to rescue your main body. He''ll make a move when there''s an opportunity to strike."


    "Good. Good! You are thoughtful indeed," the saint''s avatar said.


    "Let''s return to Hongyue''s capital," Lou Yujing suggested. "We can await the good news there."


    "Very well!"


    Lou Yujing and the others returned to Hongyue''s capital.


    Yang Chuan personally guarded the cauldron during the journey back to the Imperial Court.


    Though the cauldron continued to vibrate, the saint within was unable to escape at all.


    Before long, they had arrived at the Eastern Gate.


    The guards there hardly dared to stop the Martial Aspects, who were quickly allowed through the gate.


    Martial Aspect Tu Feng eyed the cauldron, though he revealed no particr emotion on his face.


    Just as the Martial Aspects passed through the gate and rxed fractionally, Martial Aspect Tu Feng made his move. He attacked the cauldron.


    "What?!" Everyone was caught off-guard save Yang Chuan, who narrowed his eyes and defended with a palm strike. "I knew you were a problem, Tu Feng."


    The two Martial Aspects'' attacks struck each other in a burst of fire and wind. Shockingly, Yang Chuan hadn''t managed to send Tu Feng flying.


    "No¡ªyou''re not a Golden Immortal, are you? You''re a Boundless Immortal! You hid it well," Yang Chuan eximed.


    Not only that, Tu Feng retrieved a relic and activated it.


    "He''s going to detonate that relic!" the other three Cardinal Aspects shouted. "Be careful!"


    "Southern Aspect, let me guard the cauldron on your behalf!" one of Yang Chuan''s confidantes called out.


    "Explode!" Tu Fengmanded.


    A huge explosion erupted by the Eastern Gate.


    Yang Chuan passed the cauldron to his confidante as he defended himself to the best of his ability. The other Cardinal Aspects simultaneously made a move to help him.


    The Martial Aspects barely deflected the explosion as they struck Martial Aspect Tu Feng simultaneously. Tu Feng spat out a mouthful of blood in the air.


    "Tu Feng, you''re done for now." Yang Chuan smirked.


    Tu Feng stabilized himself and wiped away the blood by the corner of his lips. Heughed. "Are you certain about that?"


    The Martial Aspects narrowed their eyes. They felt as though something was about to happen.


    Yang Chuan''s confidante suddenly opened up the cauldron, causing a potent aura to gush out from within.


    "No! Close the lid!" Yang Chuan shouted.


    The Martial Aspects all rushed over to the cauldron, but it was toote.


    The lid exploded from the cauldron, sending the Martial Aspects flying.


    "Well done, Tu Feng, well done! Haha!" The saint''sughter echoed from the cauldron.


    A sea of blood shot out of the cauldron and flooded the Sieve of Heaven. At the same time, a pir of piercing red light emerged from it and left the Martial Aspects in shock.


    "The saint has escaped!" someone cried out.


    Yang Chuan roared at his confidante, "What are you doing? Do you intend to betray the Imperial Court?!"


    "He''s been possessed," Xiao Nanfeng called out. "I was carefully observing Tu Feng. He and your confidante didn''tmunicate with each other, but were able to cooperate perfectly. I suspect he''s been possessed by Tu Feng''s avatar!"


    "What?!" everyone cried out.


    The Martial Aspect suddenly rushed toward the Eastern Gate alongside Martial Aspect Tu Feng. Even the saint did the same the moment he emerged from the cauldron.


    "Seal the Cardinal Gates!" Yu Fulimanded from the Heavenly Pce.


    The Eastern Gate shed and vanished from sight.


    The saint and Tu Feng had both barely failed to escape.


    "Yu Fuli, do you think you''ll be able to trap me like this? Heavenlyw, I invoke your strength!" the saint dered.


    The pir of red light that surrounded him grew brighter and brighter as a deluge of seawater surged into the pir. The saint appeared to be trying to flee via that pir of light¡ªbut the next moment, the seawater gushed out of it.


    "Impossible. How could I have failed to invoke heavenlyw? Yu Fuli, what have you done?!" the saint roared.


    "Now that you''re within the Sieve of Heaven, you might as well not leave. You won''t be able to escape," Yu Fuli dered calmly.


    "Do you really think I won''t be able to break out?" the saint thundered.


    His sea of blood roiled as it attempted to crack a portal open in the void, but to no avail.


    "Impossible. What have you done?!"


    "Martial Aspects, take down the enemy!" Yu Fulimanded again.


    "Understood!" all the Martial Aspects replied.


    They rushed toward the sea of blood.


    The saint panicked upon not being able to break out of the Sieve of Heaven, but the fact that he wasn''t trapped in the cauldron any longer made his situation far better than before.


    "Yu Fuli, if you don''t want me to leave, then I won''t. I''ll crush the Sieve of Heaven and turn it into a sea of blood!" the saint dered. "Flood!"


    His sea of blood suddenly grew farrger in size. Many Martial Aspects were sucked into its midst. The sea of blood was sorge that it even filled up the sky and blocked the sun.


    Countless citizens of the Sieve of Heaven shuddered in fear upon sensing the power emanating from the saint. Just how strong was he? How had Xiao Nanfeng managed to catch him?

 Chapter 761: A Fuss at the Heavenly Palace

    <h4>Chapter 761: A Fuss at the Heavenly Pce</h4>


    As the pir of red light pierced the skies, energy surged from the void. The sea of blood rose into the air as an apocalyptic sight dawned over the Sieve of Heaven.


    Giant waves swept the Martial Aspects away as the sea of blood extended toward Mt. Kunlun with unassable force.


    Where it passed by, it left nothing but destruction in its wake.


    "Help!" the citizens of the Sieve of Heaven cried out.


    Many of those cultivators who had been on floating inds were swept into the sea of blood, while a few had dropped from great heights.


    "Hold it right there!" the four Cardinal Aspects shouted simultaneously.


    The Eastern Aspect transformed into a golden dragon radiating with resplendent light. He took to the sea of blood and hindered its advance with a sea of his own.


    The Southern Aspect morphed into a huge purple eye floating above the sea of blood. Aser of incredible intensity shot out of the eye and caused the sea to vaporize.


    The Western Aspect became a huge Buddha that shone with golden light, cleansing the sea.


    The Northern Aspect took the form of a golden crow that zed with mes, causing the sea of blood to turn to steam.


    "Is this all that you four Cardinal Aspects of the Imperial Court can do? Ha!" a voice thundered from the sea of blood.


    A huge wave emerged from the sea, manifesting in the form of a blood-colored giant who was kilometers tall. It looked just like Saint Chi Hai.


    The giant strode across the sea of blood. With the wave of a hand, four giant palms emerged from the sea and shot toward the four Cardinal Aspects.


    "Die!" the four Cardinal Aspects roared simultaneously as they charged toward Chi Hai.


    The four palms enclosed the four Cardinal Aspects, crushing the golden dragon, giant eye, Buddha, and golden crow.


    "Explode!" they cried out.


    With four tremendous explosions, the four palms burst apart as the four Cardinal Aspects rushed out.


    "Die!" they roared. They shot toward the giant.


    "You fools! Aren''t you aware of what heavenlyw is? My strength is infinite! My sea of blood shall never dry out, and no one will be a match for me!"


    More palms emerged from the sea of blood¡ªnot four of them, but forty thousand. The four Cardinal Aspects looked around in despair.


    Though they had managed to free themselves from those palms, it had taken tremendous effort to do so. This time, they would each have to take down not one palm, but ten thousand of them. Just ncing at the palms left them in despair.


    The forty thousand palms sent the saints crashing into the sea of blood.


    The citizens of the Sieve of Heaven nced at each other in despair. How could the saint have taken down the four Cardinal Aspects so easily? How could it be?


    "Is this the power of a saint? It''s unbelievable!"


    "He can''t be destroyed until we vanquish his sea of blood? It''s impossible..."


    "Just how did Xiao Nanfeng manage to catch him in the first ce?!"


    "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng?" Saint Chi Hai demanded. "Show yourself!"


    He wanted to take revenge on Xiao Nanfeng, only to have Xiao Nanfeng vanish from sight.


    "Chi Hai, don''t you think you''re making too much of a fuss around my heavenly pce?" a cold voice demanded.


    The saint turned to see Yu Fuli emerge from his pce, countless officials trailing behind him.


    Saint Chi Hai red. "Yu Fuli, I might not have fought you in person before, but do you really think I''m scared of you? So what if you''re the hegemon of the era? All such hegemons in the past have fallen to the heavens. I too possess an article of heavenlyw, one with which I can kill you!"


    With a wave of his hand, the pir of red light transmitted boundless strength into his body. The sea of blood grewrger andrger, covering up half the sky.


    The citizens of the Sieve of Heaven shuddered in fear. Even some of the officials behind Yu Fuli began to quail.


    Of course, others brimmed with fighting spirit.


    "Your Majesty, let us serve as your sword and shield!"


    "Father, please lead us into battle!"


    "Your Majesty!"


    All sorts of shouts rang out around the Heavenly Pce.


    Despite the four Cardinal Aspects'' failure and the overwhelming power that the saint had demonstrated, many of the officials weren''t deterred. Their fighting spirit soared, causing Saint Chi Hai to scowl in annoyance.


    "Do you really think you can take me on? Come on, then. I''ll destroy the Heavenly Pce and kill all you traitors to the heavens. Die, Yu Fuli!" Saint Chi Hai roared.


    Yu Fuli smiled. "Saint Chi Hai, you overestimate yourself."


    Yu Fuli pointed at the heavens. A beam of white light shot into the air as the entire Sieve of Heaven began to radiate with light.


    Saint Chi Hai nched. He felt a tremendous sense of threat surging from the Heavenly Emperor.


    "What sort of skill is this?" Saint Chi Hai hissed.


    "Heart swords, execute!" Yu Fuli intoned.


    Countless shes of light emanated from the void as heart swords manifested one after another. With a wave of Yu Fuli''s hand, they transformed into a sea of swords that shot toward Chi Hai.


    "What? How can there be this many heart swords? It''s impossible!" Saint Chi Hai hissed.


    The heart swords struck the sea of blood and cut it apart one stroke at a time. The sea of blood began to vaporize quickly.


    Another forty thousand palms manifested from the sea of blood, but even they could do little about the barrage of swords.


    Yu Fuli''s attack was quickly depleting Chi Hai of his strength.


    "My sea of blood!" Chi Hai shouted.


    He continued to draw energy from the pir of red light, as he invoked heavenlyw again and again, trying to replenish the power of his sea of blood. However, he was in the Sieve of Heaven, Yu Fuli''s domain of power. As Yu Fuli pointed into the air, even more heart swords manifested.


    Tens of thousands¡ªno, a hundred thousand swords descended over the Sieve of Heaven, shocking the gathered cultivators.


    The domain of the sea of blood shrank as more of it was depleted by the heart swords. The Martial Aspects who had been trapped in the sea of blood were slowly being rescued, including the four Cardinal Aspects. Despite the fact that they had been entirely submerged, their defenses shielded them from the bulk of the damage.


    Upon their rescue, they saw a veritable sea of swords descending from overhead, destroying Saint Chi Hai''s domain.


    "How many years has it been since west saw the Heavenly Emperor fight seriously? What a terror he is..."


    "He''s not the hegemon of the era for no reason."


    "The Heavenly Emperor alone can take on the entire world!"


    The four Cardinal Aspects shook their heads in awe and disbelief.


    The citizens of the Sieve of Heaven looked toward the Heavenly Emperor in reverence as they were saved from the sea of blood.


    By now, the sea of blood only encapsted the Eastern Gate and its surroundings, and was continuing to shrink in size.


    The saint, a giant of blood who was dozens of kilometers tall, was likewise shrinking in proportion to the size of his domain. He looked wretched.


    "Impossible. Impossible! Yu Fuli, you don''t have any control over heavenlyw at all. How could you be so strong? It''s as if you have near-infinite energy!" the saint howled.


    "Who ims that I don''t possess heavenlyw?" Yu Fuli demanded.


    "You''re a liar! No other heavenlyw can exist in this world except that possessed by the heavens and granted to us saints!"


    "I can construct heavenlyws of my own," Yu Fuli dered. "Heavenlyws are like trees, and naturalw their branches. You might jealously guard ess to your trees, but I can nt my own. These heart swords are the manifestation of the heavenlyw that is uniquely mine. Today, I''ll demonstrate to you the true strength of heavenlyw. My heart swords shall eradicate your corruption."


    Countless heart swords surged toward the sea of blood once again, striking the saint and his domain.


    The saint found that, despite drawing on the energy from his pir of red light, he was unable to ovee the rate of depletion of his domain. Was he truly done for?


    Was this the strength of the hegemon of this era? No wonder the other saints didn''t dare attack Yu Fuli or even draw his attention. With this much power, he was all but invincible.


    "You said you wouldn''t lose until I depleted your sea of blood. Is that so? Howughable. Your sea of blood will be drained soon enough, and you too will vanish along with it," Yu Fuli dered coldly.


    "No!" the saint shrieked.


    Moments before the sea of blood vanished in full, Martial Aspect Tu Feng cried out, "Saint, what do we do now?!"


    He had betrayed the other Martial Aspects. Once the saint perished, so would he.


    The saint''s eyes suddenly lit up when he remembered that Tu Feng was by his side.


    "You siblings are linked in heart and soul, aren''t you?"


    "Ah, yes, Saint! Lou Yujing imparted a secret technique to us siblings that allows me tomune with Siniang and Jiuniang. It''s not particrly strong, though, and all we can do is share a few feelings with each other with sufficient concentration."


    "That''s good enough. The link between your hearts and souls might not be particrly strong, but it''s enough for me to escape through it. I''ll be safe!" the saint cried out, overjoyed.


    "What? You intend to escape through my heart, Saint? But what about your physical body? And if you flee, what about me?!"


    "Bare your heart and let me escape!" the saintmanded.


    A burst of red light shot toward Tu Feng''s heart. In order to flee, Chi Hai was willing to give up on even his physical body. Anything would suffice as long as he didn''t end up in Yu Fuli''s hands!


    "Don''t leave me behind!" Tu Feng shrieked.


    However, the saint ignored him and vanished in a sh of red light.


    Just then, a barrage of heart swords struck the ground where Chi Hai had been, obliterating thest of his sea of blood. The pir of red light vanished from sight.

 Chapter 762: Fall of the Saint

    <h4>Chapter 762: Fall of the Saint</h4>


    The sea of blood vanished, as did the pir of red light that formed a conduit for heavenlyw. Yu Fuli''s heart swords circled the area before rising into the air and vanishing from sight, leaving clear skies and a group of wounded Martial Aspects.


    All four Cardinal Aspects had been seriously injured by the saint''s attacks. They eyed Tu Feng viciously as they shot toward him.


    "Tu Feng, you''re done for!"


    If Tu Feng hadn''t opened up the cauldron, the saint would never have been able to escape and do so much damage.


    Tu Feng nched as he tried to flee, but he could hardly escape the four infuriated Cardinal Aspects. They struck simultaneously and grievously wounded him.


    Tu Feng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he was sent flying. The Martial Aspect that he had possessed was caught by the other Martial Aspects, who forcibly purged Tu Feng''s avatar from his body and allowed him to awaken.


    "Leave him alive for interrogation!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Martial Aspects turned to Xiao Nanfeng and nodded. They bound Tu Feng and sealed his cultivation.


    With everything settled, the Martial Aspects turned back to Xiao Nanfeng in shock.


    They hadn''t realized just how powerful the saint was until they had to face him in person.


    Just how had Xiao Nanfeng caught him? He was only a True Immortal!


    The residents of the Sieve of Heaven were equally shocked. Who else but the Heavenly Emperor himself could have taken on such a frightening cultivator?


    Tu Feng and his spiritual avatar were brought to the Heavenly Pce.


    There, Yu Fuli frowned as he stared at Tu Feng''s heart.


    In the end, Saint Chi Hai had managed to escape through Tu Feng''s heart.


    He had given up his physical body, the sea of blood that Yu Fuli had vanquished. Though it was particrly strong and potent, he was still no match for Yu Fuli.


    "How frightening Yu Fuli is. No wonder the other saints don''t dare cross him. He truly is the hegemon of the era¡ªand he''s more powerful than many in ages past, too," Chi Hai murmured to himself.


    As he escaped, he nced at his spirit. "It doesn''t matter if I lose my physical body as long as my spirit is intact, and, more importantly, the charm that allows me tomand heavenlyw. Once I''m safe, I''ll reforge a physical body and hide until the heavens kill Yu Fuli before taking revenge. All those who harmed me will die¡ªincluding Xiao Nanfeng and Tang Zhengqi!"


    He flew through the passage between linked hearts, a strange mental world clouded with fog and through which movement was particrly arduous. Even so, Chi Hai would do anything to escape from Yu Fuli.


    "I suppose I have to thank Lou Yujing. He taught them this secret technique in order to control them better, didn''t he? Ha! As if I wouldn''t be aware of it. He just wants to spy on them. Lou Yujing doesn''t know that they''re all my subordinates, that what he''s done has been a great help to me instead, haha!"


    Suddenly, he saw a patch of light amidst the fog: an exit. He rushed out into the light, emerging in a hall.


    Just then, a palm grabbed him and held him tightly.


    "What? Who''s there?" Chi Hai demanded.


    "It''s me, Saint. You''ve brought your charm of heavenlyw with you, haven''t you?" a familiar voice replied.


    "Lou Yujing?" Saint Chi Hai eximed.


    Lou Yujing''s hand clenched around his spirit as Tu Jiuniang, Tu Siniang, and the other members of the Tu n who had learned the secret technique stood around the hall. Some Golden Immortals and Li Qianjun were present as well.


    "It''s me. I''ve been waiting for you for a long time," Lou Yujing said.


    He opened his mouth and swallowed Chi Hai''s spirit.


    "No! What are you doing?!" Chi Hai demanded.


    "Your Majesty, you can''t do this!" Tu Siniang eximed. She tried to rush toward him, only to have Li Qianjun hold her back.


    The saint struggled. A piercing beam of red light surrounded Lou Yujing, as if attempting to seal and wound him.


    Behind Lou Yujing, a red moon rose into the air¡ªnot a full moon like Xiao Nanfeng''s, but a waning moon like Zhao Yuanjiao''s.


    The moon radiated with incredible strength, suppressing the might of the pir of red light.


    "Struggle as much as you want. It won''t matter," Lou Yujing said, chuckling.


    "Lou Yujing, you dare challenge me?" Chi Hai thundered. "What are you doing? Tu n, save me! I''ve trapped Lou Yujing, and he can''t move. Strike now!"


    "Die!" the Tu n cultivators chorused as they rushed toward Lou Yujing.


    "Who dares?!" Tu Jiuniang threw a punch at the cultivators and forced them back.


    "Jiuniang, what are you doing? The saint cast a secret technique on our souls. If we disobey him, he might kill us at any moment! Hurry up and join us!" Tu Siniang and the others shouted.


    "This is my husband," Tu Jiuniang dered. "I won''t let anyone harm him!"


    "Then die!" Saint Chi Hai thundered.


    A sh of red light emerged from Tu Jiuniang''s body. She felt an unknown force rock her body as she copsed to the ground.


    "Move it!" Chi Hai howled.


    "Die!" the Tu n cultivators shouted, charging forward without any hesitation.


    Lou Yujing''s other subordinates held the Tu n cultivators back, neither side able to ovee the other.


    The only cultivators left were Tu Siniang and Li Qianjun.


    "Husband, join me. Hurry up!" Tu Siniang said anxiously.


    Li Qianjun held Tu Siniang back and prevented her from advancing.


    "Husband, don''t stop me! If you do, my entire n will perish. Let me head over!"


    Li Qianjun pierced Tu Siniang''s head with a sword.


    "Husband, you¡ª" Tu Siniang''s mouth opened in astonishment.


    She knew that Li Qianjun might try to stop her, but she never expected him to attempt to kill her! She was Li Qianjun''s wife of many years. She had shared countless resources with him and had always prioritized him. Even so, did Li Qianjun intend to murder her in cold blood?


    Li Qianjun replied, "I gave you two chances. You refused them."


    "I handed you everything you possess! Even your cultivation was something I begged the saint to grant to you. Why?!" Tu Siniang shrieked.


    "I gave you a choice," Li Qianjun said coldly.


    "I don''t have a choice! If I don''t help the saint, my entire n will perish. Can''t you see?!"


    "Then die!"


    He bisected Tu Siniang''s body, killing her on the spot.


    The saint, who was still trying to fend off Lou Yujing, eximed, "Li Qianjun, you ingrate! And as for you, Lou Yujing, were you already aware that the Tu n served me?"


    "What do you think?" Lou Yujing retorted coldly.


    "I see how it is. I see how it is now. You taught the Tu n that technique deliberately. This was all a trap for me! You requested that I take on Xiao Nanfeng for you in order to take me down. You even nned for me to die at Yu Fuli''s hands! What a malicious scheme!" Chi Hai eximed.


    "I am no puppet of yours," Lou Yujing replied coolly.


    "Release me! I''ll let bygones be bygones and evenpensate you for your losses!" Chi Hai offered.


    "Once I master your spirit, everything you possess will be mine regardless."


    "You won''t seed! I still have other avatars," Chi Hai thundered.


    "Oh? And do you think I haven''t thought of that?" Lou Yujing smirked.


    Chi Hai suddenly frowned and cried out, "Your ancestral zombie avatar and Yuan Wudi¡ªyou intend to take me down?"


    "Your avatar''s a Boundless Immortal. Yuan Wudi alone wouldn''t suffice."


    "As if adding your ancestral zombie avatar will be enough! You''re far too weak for the likes of me, Chi Hai thundered.


    "Indeed?"


    "No¡ªwhy are there two ancestral zombies? Could one be Ye Sanshui? No, it isn''t. This second ancestral zombie..."


    Lou Yujing smiled.


    "You have two ancestral zombie avatars? Could you have been in possession of the third ck coffin all along?!" Saint Chi Hai roared.


    "Haven''t you noticed where we are?"


    "We''re in¡ªthe third ck coffin hidden realm! No wonder my heavenlyw has been suppressed. You did this intentionally, didn''t you?"


    "More or less. Your avatar''s about to die, I think."


    "You can''t kill my avatar! No, Lou Yujing, I curse you!"


    "Enough. Now that your avatars are gone, it''s your turn. Don''t try to struggle. I''ve used countless treasures to trap you here and suppress you," Lou Yujing said.


    Chi Hai could feel his spirit growing weaker and weaker. Evenmanding heavenlyw was beyond him now.


    "You intend to master me and steal my charm of heavenlyw?!"


    "You don''t even know how to use that charm properly. What a failure of a saint you are! No wonder the other saints look down on you. Once I have it in my possession, I''ll make sure it''s used properly on your behalf."


    "No! If you kill me, you''ll be punished by the heavens. You''ll die a terrible death!"


    "The heavens need saints to do their bidding, but they don''t care who the saints are. If you can be a saint, so can I. Or do you think I''m unqualified for that position?" Lou Yujing sneered.


    "No!" Chi Hai screamed.


    "Rest in peace. All that you possess is now mine," Lou Yujing said.


    His waning moon entered his body. Saint Chi Hai felt a huge force shatter his soul, and the pir of red light he had conjured blinked out.


    Red light radiated from Lou Yujing''s body as he rapidly attuned to the charm of heavenlyw.

 Chapter 763: The Charm of Heavenly Law

    <h4>Chapter 763: The Charm of Heavenly Law</h4>


    Just then, Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child arrived at a valley outside Hongyue''s capital, a spectral guard in tow.


    "What are we doing here?" the Demon Child asked.


    "His Majesty wants us to keep guard over Hongyue. He said that Lou Yujing was a skilled schemer, and that he barely put up a fight when he and his subordinates came to rescue the saint''s main body. It''s likely that he has some sort of scheme in mind, and we''re to watch out for anything of the sort in Hongyue''s capital," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "Oh? You adults really like twisting everything up..." The Demon Child frowned.


    Just then, a hugemotion rang out from a forest in the distance. Light shed in the air as killing intent red.


    "Is there a fight happening over there?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie avatar is attacking the saint''s avatar alongside Yuan Wudi!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Aren''t they allies? Why are they fighting each other?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "Report this to His Majesty immediately," Ye Sanshui instructed the spectral guard, who ryed the information via his avatar.


    Another Boundless Immortal suddenly appeared out of nowhere.


    "Another zombie king?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "No, that''s not an ordinary zombie king. It''s an ancestral zombie! Could the third ck coffin have appeared?!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "I will ry His Majesty''s urgent response," the spectral guard suddenly called out.


    "While ensuring your own safety, intercede on behalf of the saint''s avatar. Save him if you can."


    "What? Aren''t we enemies?" the Demon Child cried out.


    "Follow mymand. I''ll exin everything to you in due time¡ªbut remember to prioritize your own safety. Leave immediately if there''s anything amiss."


    "Very well!"


    They rushed toward the battlefield in the distance.


    By then, the fight was almost over. The saint''s avatar roared in rage, but was unable to win against the three Boundless Immortals who had suddenly attacked him. He was grievously wounded and entirely suppressed.


    "Die!" Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child shot toward them.


    The saint''s avatar nced at the neers. Enemies though they were, the saint''s eyes lit up. "Save me!"


    "Ignore them. Finish off the saint''s avatar, now!" Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie avatarmanded.


    "Understood!" Yuan Wudi replied.


    The three cultivators suppressed the saint''s avatar as the Demon Child and Ye Sanshui found themselves stymied by a barrier. Though they sted the barrier at full strength, it shook but didn''t give way.


    "How can this barrier withstand our attacks?" the Demon Child eximed.


    He smashed the demon-subduing golden hoop down onto the barrier while Ye Sanshui pummeled it with his fists. The barrier shook violently. Four treasures glowed with light in four cardinal directions, stabilizing the barrier.


    "The treasures that Lou Yujing and the others were using..." the Demon Child murmured.


    The saint himself had loaned Lou Yujing and his subordinates four Boundless Immortal relics to use while saving his main body.


    "Did Lou Yujing anticipate that we''d show up?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    Just then, one of the ancestral zombies bit down on the saint''s avatar.


    "No!" The saint''s avatar shrieked.


    The ancestral zombie''s zombification ability was too strong, and the saint''s avatar was pinned down and couldn''t escape. He could only watch on as his body zombified. This was his final remaining avatar; if he detonated it, his main body wouldn''t be able to escape at all.


    But the more concerned he was with his main body, the more Lou Yujing could take advantage of him. Before long, the saint was motionless.


    Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child continued to attack the defensive formation. It looked as if they were about to break it down, but the fight within had already ended.


    "Marquis Ye, Demon Child, His Majesty orders you to evacuate!" the spectral guard called out from a distance.


    The two Boundless Immortals eyed each other in exasperation. They could only fly back to the spectral guard and leave with him.


    Before long, the ancestral zombie released the saint''s avatar, which continued to stand motionlessly. ck smoke erupted around him.


    "Your Majesty, is the saint''s avatar a zombie king now?" Yuan Wudi eximed.


    "Indeed. Things went sessfully," one ancestral zombie replied.


    "Those two cultivators were Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child, weren''t they? Do we need to chase after them?"


    "It''s fine. We won''t be able to catch them, and we need to ensure nothing goes wrong back in Hongyue. We''ll return for the moment."


    "Understood!"


    In a certain hall, Li Qianjun guarded Lou Yujing as the Tu n cultivators were killed to thest.


    Radiant light emanated from Lou Yujing''s body. A huge, circr rune manifested by his back and slowly began to revolve. It gave off a magnificent, unassable aura that could be felt all throughout the hall and even beyond it.


    Then, momentster, the phenomenon vanished from sight as all that energy was absorbed into Lou Yujing''s body.


    Lou Yujing slowly opened his eyes and reined in his aura.


    "Your Majesty, were you sessful?" Li Qianjun asked in anticipation.


    Lou Yujing smiled and nodded. "I was. I''ve gained the saint''s strength. Once I familiarize myself with his charm of heavenlyw, I''ll be able to use it myself."


    "Congrattions, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" Li Qianjun eximed.


    "Congrattions, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" boomed Lou Yujing''s subordinates.


    Lou Yujing nodded in satisfaction. He looked around him to see the Tu n cultivators dead in pools of their own blood.


    "Qianjun, I''m sorry about Siniang''s death," Lou Yujing said.


    Li Qianjun''s eyes shed resolutely. "You warned me from the start, Your Majesty. I gave her plenty of chances, but she chose not to take them."


    Lou Yujing patted Li Qianjun''s shoulder. "Let''s go."


    He waved an arm and shrouded Tu Jiuniang in red light, then carried her out of the hall with all the officials in tow.


    The exterior of the hall was pitch-ck and guarded by arge number of zombies.


    Lou Yujing and his officials flew into the air and toward the exit of the ck coffin hidden realm.


    Then, after he dismissed everyone, he brought Tu Jiuniang to his personal chambers andy her in bed. With a secret technique, he extracted a translucent shimmer from her body: Tu Jiuniang''s soul. It was badly cracked and looked as if it would dissipate at any moment.


    "Jiuniang, your actions today shocked me."


    Tu Jiuniang''s soul knelt down as she cried, "I''m sorry, Husband. All these years, I was nothing more than the saint''s puppet. I had to act on his orders. I didn''t want to hide things from you, but I had no choice."


    Lou Yujing sighed. "I know. I knew from the beginning. I was worried that you would have tried to kill me on Chi Hai''smand, and even arranged for Li Qianjun to watch over you. I didn''t expect that, in the end, you would..."


    "You''re my husband. I would rather die than hurt you. I''ve wanted to tell you everything for quite some time, but I never was able to drum up the courage to do so. I apologize, Husband."


    "Would you give up your life for me? Was it worth it?"


    Besotted, Tu Jiuniang nced at Lou Yujing. "Of course. Anything for you, my husband. Please live on well!"


    Lou Yujing wiped away Tu Jiuniang''s tears. "In my heart, you''ll always be that naive little fox. Don''t you know that I''ve been taking advantage of you?"


    "I don''t care!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    Lou Yujing smiled gently. "Now that I too control heavenlyw, I would never let you die. Shall I transnt your soul into a zombie''s? I''m afraid your cultivation as a Boundless Immortal will be lost."


    "I don''t care. Being by your side would be the greatest blessing afforded to me!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    Lou Yujing summoned a female zombie from the ck coffin, then helped infuse Tu Jiuniang''s soul into it.


    "It''s a pity that your physical body can''t be zombified so shortly after your death. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have to go through all this trouble."


    "I''m very satisfied, Husband," Tu Jiuniang replied. She smiled.


    Lou Yujing sealed Tu Jiuniang''s prone fox body, then infused her zombie body with power. Before long, its appearance morphed into Tu Jiuniang''s.


    Tu Jiuniang embraced Lou Yujing tightly, smiling in satisfaction.


    "Husband, you don''t know how much I fretted thesest few years. I wanted to tell you the truth, but was afraid you wouldn''t want me anymore."


    "I apologize for the destruction of your n," Lou Yujing replied.


    "That''s unimportant!" Tu Jiuniang shook her head.


    Lou Yujing patted Tu Jiuniang''s back. "I heard you came from the so-called green knoll hidden realm."


    "I did! How did you know about it, Husband?"


    "Show me around in the future."


    "Of course," Tu Jiuniang promised.


    Three dayster, within Lou Yujing''s ck coffin hidden realm, Tu Jiuniang and Lou Yujing''s two ancestral zombie avatars stared at the saint''s avatar before them. By then, he had transformed into a zombie king.


    "Husband, what are you nning to do?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    "An ancestral zombie''s strength is limited, and can only grow by devouring other ancestral zombies. Before that, however, it must be supplied withrge quantities of high-grade ck blood. The zombie king formed from Chi Hai''s avatar will help with that."


    "Husband, you intend onbining the two ancestral zombies and devouring the saint''s avatar?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Indeed. I''ve already mastered Chi Hai''s soul, but just in case, I intend to leave no trace of him behind, even via his avatars. Over thest two days, his body haspletely zombified and can now be devoured. Use your senses to ensure that nothing disturbs me during the process. Inform me immediately if something goes wrong."


    "Very well!" Tu Jiuniang nodded.

 Chapter 764: Lou Yujing, Guest of Yongding

    <h4>Chapter 764: Lou Yujing, Guest of Yongding</h4>


    In his study in the Sieve of Heaven, Yu Fuli nced at Xiao Nanfeng, who sat before him. "The Venerable Buddha spoke highly of you, but I was skeptical. To think you managed to catch a saint so easily..."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "Unfortunately, he got away in the end."


    "I know that he escaped to Lou Yujing via Tu Feng''s heart. By now, he''s probably been reduced to a ve."


    "You''re aware, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "What do you think?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    "In that case, Your Majesty, why not press the attack?"


    "It doesn''t matter anymore. My purpose was only to shock the other saints."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    Yu Fuli grew serious. "I''ve reached a level of strength that even the heavens fear. Before long, they''ll start to attack me directly. In the meantime, I want to try to advance as much as I can¡ªbut it''ll be troublesome if the other saints show themselves now. It suffices to kill Chi Hai and have them all cower."


    "In that case, has Saint Chi Hai really died, then?"


    "Lou Yujing has already seized his charm of heavenlyw. Of course he''s dead. As for Lou Yujing, though he might have obtained the charm, he hasn''t been recognized by the heavens. He wouldn''t dare do anything extreme at the moment," Yu Fuli said confidently.


    "But I''m in danger now, Your Majesty! The saint might be done for, but I''ll have to worry about Lou Yujing now. Please assist me," Xiao Nanfeng pleaded.


    "You should be rewarded for capturing the saint. What sort of assistance would you like?" Yu Fuli asked, smiling.


    "I have two requests, Your Majesty. First, would you grant me that convict, Tu Feng?"


    "Oh?"


    "I know that Tu Feng hasmitted great evil and must be formally executed for his crimes, but he may be of great use to me. Would you consider having another convict ted for death die in his ce and covertly hand Tu Feng over to me instead? If he proves to be useless, I''ll kill him. Otherwise, I''ll make sure he hides his name and identity."


    Yu Fuli considered Xiao Nanfeng''s offer for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Tu Feng was exposed thanks to your efforts, anyway."


    "Secondly, Your Majesty, would you help me suppress the Loss Diagram?"


    "Oh? You don''t want any more heart swords?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    "I know that you handed me the two heart swords solely for use against the saint, Your Majesty. Now that he''s been killed, I would be overreaching to ask for more. After all, every attack from a heart sword conveys a figment of your will. If I use them too often, the other saints may start to act out of fear, and the heavens may even attack you in advance. That would hurt your ns."


    "Well said. You do have a good eye," Yu Fuli praised.


    "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I''m sure everyone will think that I have more heart swords kept hidden in case of a threat, regardless." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Yu Fuli blinked, thenughed himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng dipped his head and took out the red Yin-Yang Cauldron.


    Yu Fuli nced at it. "I should warn you that, even if I suppress the Loss Diagram, you may not be able to do much with it."


    "Lou Yujing has acquired a charm of heavenlyw and possesses two ancestral zombie avatars. If I want to take him on, this Loss Diagram is all I can count on. Please grant my wish, Your Majesty."


    ¡±You do deserve a reward, but be careful. The Loss Diagram ultimately belongs to the Taiqing Grandmaster. When you stole it, I helped you cover it up for the time being, but he''ll learn of it eventually. I can suppress the Loss Diagram on your behalf and allow you to use it once, but the Taiqing Grandmaster will learn of it and chase you down thereafter," Yu Fuli warned.


    "That''s sufficient, Your Majesty. I''ll be careful."


    "Very well."


    Yu Fuli infused a burst of purple light into the Yin-Yang Cauldron, suffusing it as he attuned to the Loss Diagram.


    In Dazheng''s imperial study at Yongding, a group of officials were ring at a Hongyue envoy.


    "I greet Emperor Xiao. I havee on the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue''s behest regarding a personal matter. Please forgive theck of ceremony as a result," the envoy began politely.


    "Why has Lou Yujing sent you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Three dayster, the Immortal Emperor intends to visit Yongding for an informal chat," the envoy replied.


    "Oh?"


    Ye Sanshui and the others frowned. Was Lou Yujing intending to attack Yongding again?


    "His Majesty would like to settle old grudges and disputes with you in person, Emperor Xiao. He shall arrive in a Golden Immortal avatar to demonstrate his sincerity."


    Xiao Nanfeng was somewhat perplexed, but he nodded. "I await him in Yongding, then."


    "Understood!" The Hongyue envoy bowed and retreated.


    Once the envoy had left, Ye Sanshui began anxiously, "Your Majesty, Lou Yujing must be nning some scheme or another. He would never show up with nothing more than a Golden Immortal avatar! We have to make preparations immediately. What''s more, who''s to say he won''t arrive early? He may be trying to mislead us with his three-day im."


    "Ye Sanshui, you can travel fast. Head to the Sieve of Heaven immediately and escort my avatar back," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "But what if Lou Yujing attacks in advance?" Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "If he were nning to do so, it doesn''t make sense for him to send an envoy at all."


    "Understood. I''ll head to the Sieve of Heaven immediately!"


    Three dayster, by Yongding''s pce, there was a pavilion high up in the mountains.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat patiently as he sipped on freshly brewed Immortal tea.


    Suddenly, a sh of red light appeared outside the city. A pir of red light manifested, one that shot into the heavens. Countless cultivators within Yongding cried out in fear.


    Many of them recognized the pir of red light; what had happened in the Sieve of Heaven was now public knowledge, at least among the countless supreme forces of the world. It represented a saint''s authority over heavenlyw, and was a source of incredible energy. The saint who had appeared had been strong enough to take down all four Cardinal Aspects on his own. Could this pir of red light mark the appearance of another saint?


    The spies instated in Yongding were shocked stiff by what they saw.


    "We have to flee, now! This is ridiculous. Is Yongding a ma for cmity? All those who attack Yongding are insanely strong..."


    "Could the saint have returned? Did he not die? Is he trying to seek revenge on Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "We''re done for. Hurry up and flee!"


    The spies rushed out of Yongding as quickly as they could, but the bulk of the Dazheng cultivators were particrly confident in Xiao Nanfeng. Despite the presence of a strong foe who might be a saint, they stayed on guard and didn''t flee.


    Suddenly, the pir of red light vanished to reveal a figure in red, whose features were clouded in red fog.


    A Dazheng official flew up to the figure and bowed. "I greet the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue. His Majesty awaits you. Please follow me."


    "Very well." Lou Yujing nodded.


    He followed the official into Yongding. The defensive formation around Yongding was inactive for the time being, allowing the two cultivators to enter readily.


    "Oh? Is Xiao Nanfeng intending to meet me within Yongding?" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He had given Xiao Nanfeng three days'' warning to ay his concerns and allow him to prepare a secure location in which to host the meeting. Lou Yujing didn''t expect Xiao Nanfeng to meet him within Yongding.


    After all, Yongding was the heart of Dazheng. Any other ruler would have done their utmost to prevent enemies from entering. What was Xiao Nanfeng ying at?


    "His Majesty said that the best ce to have an informal discussion was in Yongding. If you intend to attack, he could trap you there and prevent you from ever fleeing," the Dazheng official replied.


    Lou Yujingughed. "Haha! Very well. Xiao Nanfeng is worth my time, after all."


    The two cultivators flew toward the mountain peak by the pce.


    The cultivators of Yongding watched on in confusion, and those that had tried to flee were taken aback.


    "Despite looking like a saint, he didn''t attack the city¡ªand Xiao Nanfeng even dispelled the city''s defenses to let him in. How could that be?" they wondered.


    No one provided an exnation.


    Lou Yujing stepped toward the pavilion in which Xiao Nanfeng was waiting.


    There was ayer of fog surrounding the pavilion and obscuring whaty within from sight. Lou Yujing dispelled the red fog around him and revealed himself.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you are bold, aren''t you?"


    "That honor surely goes to you. Lou Yujing, to think you would dare scheme against a saint!"


    Lou Yujingughed.


    He walked right up to Xiao Nanfeng and sat down. A cup of tea was ced before him.


    Lou Yujing didn''t even bother checking the tea for poison or anything of the sort. He took a sip. "This is good tea."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows couldn''t help but furrow slightly. Perplexed as to his intentions, hemanded, "All of you may leave."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates chorused, leaving Xiao Nanfeng and Lou Yujing alone in the pavilion.


    Neither cultivator spoke; the atmosphere grew tense. Both were eyeing each other carefully, as if attempting to uncover each other''s motives and methods.

 Chapter 765: Avatar Farm

    <h4>Chapter 765: Avatar Farm</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lou Yujing faced each other within the pavilion. In the end, Lou Yujing broke the tense silence. "To think a legend like you could have appeared from the Taiqing Immortal Sect within the past two centuries. A praiseworthy feat indeed!"


    "It''s strange to hear something like that from you," Xiao Nanfeng demurred. "After all, you were responsible for its downfall."


    Lou Yujing shrugged off the criticism. He had another sip of tea. "I know you hate me, as do the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. But have you ever considered how I tried to serve the disciples of the sect that year? In order to protect the sect, I risked my life over and over on the battlefield."


    "You?" Xiao Nanfeng was clearly dubious.


    "All my aplishments and actions taken for the Taiqing Immortal Sect have been stricken from the records because of my betrayal.


    "In my tenth year in Taiqing, I was tasked to be a spy. I infiltrated an enemy force for three years before risking my life to escape with crucial intel. The information I obtained allowed the Taiqing Immortal Sect to destroy the enemy force in a single, lethal strike. To this end, I sacrificed an arm and a leg.


    "In my thirtieth year at Taiqing, I explored a hidden realm on behalf of the sect. My fellow disciples and I were attacked by a group of strong cultivators. In order for my fellow disciples to escape, I volunteered to stay behind and take them on. An attack pierced my chest and almost killed me on the spot. I barely managed to escape and only fully recovered after a year.


    "In my eightieth year at Taiqing, I assisted a senior brother with establishing an empire of his own. We were attacked by supreme cultivators from an enemy kingdom. In order to protect my senior brother, I faced those enemies alone. Again, I barely survived. It took me two years to recuperate from the injuries I suffered.


    "In my hundred and twentieth year at Taiqing, I established another empire with my senior brothers and senior uncles. I put in the most effort, but was subsequently assigned elsewhere without anypensation whatsoever.


    "In my hundred and..."


    Lou Yujing recalled his meritorious deeds. Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback by what he had revealed. Over thest few days, Xiao Nanfeng had investigated Taiqing''s records and had found discrepancies between them and what he had independently uncovered. Lou Yujing''s summary of events matched up perfectly with his information.


    There was all sorts of evidence to show that Lou Yujing had been particrly loyal to the sect, as much as his own master, Ku Jiang, had been.


    But how could such a loyal disciple have ended up destroying the sect?


    "There are far too many such memories for me to go through one by one. I simply want to make the point that I too was a loyal Taiqing disciple once upon a time."


    "And then? How did you end up destroying the sect?"


    "I didn''t destroy the sect; I just betrayed it," Lou Yujing emphasized.


    "Aren''t they the same thing?"


    "Hardly. At the very least, the Taiqing Immortal Sect was allowed to live on. Don''t you think I could have finished it off at any point during thest two centuries? I chose not to."


    "That''s what confuses me, too. The Taiqing Immortal Sect became pitifully weak after your treachery. Why didn''t you take down the sect? I don''t believe you stayed your hand because of the Yuqing holynd. The Yuqing holynd hardly means much to you, and you''re hardly the type to go easy on your opponents."


    "Why don''t you make a guess?"


    "I''d rather not. Tell me outright."


    "You don''t dare, you mean."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He didn''t speak. He waited for Lou Yujing to continue.


    "When I was three hundred years old, I established the kingdom of Hongyue, which advanced into an empire and subsequently a divine empire. Allegedly, I chose to betray the Taiqing Immortal Sect because I didn''t want to cede the fortune from my divine empire, but do you really think I would be so petty?" Lou Yujing sniffed disdainfully.


    "I can tell that you aren''t. So why did you do it?"


    "Because Saint Chi Hai was about to destroy the Taiqing Immortal Sect. It couldn''t be allowed to remain."


    "Ha! Do you intend to tell me that your actions were meant to save the sect? That you cooperated with the saint in order to keep the sect alive?" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    "Do you think it all a lie? I''ve finally managed to avenge the deceased Taiqing elders and killed Saint Chi Hai. Doesn''t that prove my innocence?"


    Xiao Nanfengughed coldly and shook his head. "Get someone else to pity you instead. Don''t try your tricks on me. It''s true that the logic seems to work out, but I won''t judge you by your logic. I judge you by your personality. You betrayed the Taiqing Immortal Sect¡ªand not to save it."


    "All that I did, I did to preserve the sect. What will it take for you to believe that I really am loyal?" Lou Yujing frowned.


    "Enough! You must have made preparations for this well in advance, but I''m not going to be fooled. I know I haven''t mistaken your intentions. Or are you underestimating me? Do you really think you can change my attitude with just a few honeyed words?"


    Lou Yujing eyed Xiao Nanfeng in frustration, not knowing how to exin himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t budge. After a pregnant pause, Lou Yujing finally exhaled and smiled. "As expected, you really are skilled."


    "There''s no need to praise me. If this was the whole point of our meeting today, you might as well leave now," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    Lou Yujing nodded. "I suspect you have some idea of what''s going on. Before I turned traitor myself, I too was uneasy and in disbelief. Your guess is right. Those were the circumstances under which I betrayed the Taiqing Immortal Sect. You''d do the same if you were me."


    "Not everyone''s like you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "You''re saying that now because you haven''t uncovered theplete truth just yet." Lou Yujing shook his head.


    "What truth?"


    Lou Yujing took a few sips of tea, paused, then finally began, "Do you know what sort of Immortal sect the Taiqing Immortal Sect used to be?"


    "A traditional sect led by the Taiqing Grandmaster," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lou Yujing shook his head again. "It''s nothing more than a farm designed to cultivate avatars for the Taiqing Grandmaster."


    "What?!"


    "I know you have some idea of what''s going on, but you don''t dare verify your ims. The Taiqing Grandmaster imparted the Taiqing Yin Body to the sect, allowing for the cultivation of the Taiqing red moon. It''s the key to essing the red moon illusory realm¡ªbut do you know what else is special about it?" Lou Yujing smiled.


    "Hm?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Lou Yujing was right. He had made a few guesses along these lines, but he had never revealed his own thoughts on the matter.


    "All those who cultivate the Taiqing red moon are essentially the Taiqing Grandmaster''s avatars. You might risk your life to advance your cultivation¡ªbut once the Taiqing Grandmaster revives, a puppet is all you''ll be. All you''re doing only serves to nourish the Taiqing Grandmaster."


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect is an avatar farm?" Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    "Indeed. Your body, for instance¡ªno matter your cultivation, the Taiqing Grandmaster can possess it at will. Your Taiqing red moon isn''t your own, but rather the Taiqing Grandmaster''s. If he wants it, he can seize it at any time."


    "Are you trying to mislead me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded coldly.


    "I''m sure you know whether or not I''m telling the truth. To be frank, even this information alone wouldn''t have made me betray the sect. After all, the Taiqing Immortal Sect nurtured me. I could easily have crippled my cultivation and started from scratch, or fled to a distant corner of the world. There would have been no need for me to betray it."


    "So why did you?"


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect isn''t a ce you can enter or leave at will. Even changing your cultivation technique is impossible. There are so-called guardians of the sect, fanatics of the Taiqing Grandmaster, who maintain the farm on his behalf. Any who dare to make a fuss are swiftly dealt with. You must have heard of the rumor that those who cultivate the Taiqing red moon don''t live long."


    "Indeed. The Taiqing red moon is said to be cursed, and those who cultivate this technique don''t live long. Are these guardians involved?"


    "Precisely. The majority of the Taiqing disciples who die are killed because they realized the truth behind the Taiqing Immortal Sect and attempted to escape from the farm or restart their cultivation from scratch."


    "Oh?"


    "The guardians of the sect give those disciples who have discovered the truth two options: join them and be fanatics of the Taiqing Grandmaster, or die."


    "And you refused to join them?"


    "I hardly want to be livestock. I resisted, of course. Saint Chi Hai was eyeing the Taiqing Immortal Sect at the same time, and I joined forces with him. Of course, I was forced to act because the guardians were about to strike at me. I seized the upper hand and dealt the sect a grievous blow."


    "You really are decisive." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "It was that or die. The Taiqing Immortal Sect boasted countless supreme cultivators in the past, and the guardians of the sect were madmen. I had to kill them to thest, leaving only a few weak disciples who didn''t know anything behind. They weren''t guardians, and they knew little of the conspiracy that gripped Taiqing at its root. I left them alive on Taiqing Ind to fend for themselves."


    "Ha! You didn''t care about sparing them, did you? You simply wanted to fish out the guardians that had escaped, then kill them all off, too."


    Lou Yujing gave Xiao Nanfeng a small smile. "I can''t hide anything from you, it seems."


    "So everything that happened over thest two centuries was part of your n?"


    "Indeed, including the fact that your master, Ku Jiang, attempted to infiltrate Hongyue to seek revenge. The only exception was you. You were too astounding, so astounding to the point that I was able to finish off the saint earlier than expected."


    "Oh? Should I thank you for thinking highly of me, then?" Xiao Nanfeng scoffed.


    "You should." Lou Yujing gave him a meaningful smile.

 Chapter 766: The Discussion Breaks Down

    <h4>Chapter 766: The Discussion Breaks Down</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned at Lou Yujing. "Is that what you''vee to talk about today?"


    "I merely wanted you to know that the grudge you bear against me is but a misunderstanding. I came to resolve it."


    "Resolve that misunderstanding? This easily?" Xiao Nanfeng sneered.


    "And why not? If you were me, you would have done the same thing."


    Xiao Nanfeng was rapidly growing tired of this conversation. "Why have youe?"


    Lou Yujing smiled. "Upon studying your history of cultivation, it''s clear to me that you''re no idle cultivator. Your assistance in helping me take down the saint proves it. You''re the most outstanding cultivator of the era save myself."


    Xiao Nanfeng chuckled dryly. "You mean that we''re the only two legends of the era?"


    "Indeed. No one else deserves that title," Lou Yujing said proudly and confidently.


    "You must be crazy. What about the various Immortal Emperors all over the world? What about the Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli?"


    "They''re just corpses who haven''t yet stopped moving," Lou Yujing said dismissively.


    "Oh?"


    "The cmity of the era looms. Even Yu Fuli will be unable to survive its onught. He might look strong now, but so what? No cultivator can take on the heavens."


    "And what about you?"


    "I''m different. I''m going to be a new saint, and the cmity will exclude me. I''ll enter the next era as its hegemon," Lou Yujing dered.


    "Is that why you schemed against Saint Chi Hai?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Indeed. The saints are akin to administrators chosen by the heavens. With Yu Fuli ruling over this era, however, the saints have been forcibly disced from their positions. The next era will be different. When all is destroyed to be rebuilt anew, only the saints will survive cmity. Now that I''m a saint myself, a glorious future awaits me."


    "You really n for the long term, don''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "It won''t be much longer before the cmity. I came to inform you that the grudge between us is nothing but a joke. The cmity will destroy the entirety of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Why continue feuding with each other over such an obvious conclusion? You should value the fact that I think highly of you instead."


    "Oh?"


    "There are multiple saints across the world. Don''t you want to im another saint''s charm of heavenlyw and be a new saint, just as I did?"


    "Is that the point of this conversation?"


    "Of course. With my assistance, you''ll easily seed in your goal. Yu Fuli trusts you implicitly, and you can even get the help of the Imperial Court."


    "Why choose me?"


    "As I said, we''re the only two cultivators of our era who deserve to be called legends. The others don''t deserve such an invitation."


    "And your subordinates? Don''t you care about their lives?"


    "None but saints may survive a cmity. If you''re worried about your subordinates, you should make them all into cursed effigies. It''s not difficult, and you should be able to do it on your own. Of course, if you can''t, I''ll assist you. They''ll die and revive in the next era."


    "How thoughtful of you," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    "Well? Are you satisfied with this opportunity?" Lou Yujingughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression was ice-cold. "I''m afraid our objectives are different. If this is all you came to talk about, please leave."


    "I''m sharing this opportunity with you only because I think highly of you. Do you intend to refuse my courtesy?" Lou Yujing''s face turned cold.


    "You think too highly of yourself. Do you really think the heavens won''t investigate what happened? Do you really think that you can be a saint so easily, that you won''t be punished for your involvement?"


    "What are you trying to say?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    "You should know what I mean better than I do. Without the heavens'' permission, you could never be a new saint. You''re trying to drag me and others down with you so that you can have morepany when ites time for the heavens'' judgment. Do you really think we wouldn''t be punished? You''re nothing more than a pitiful dog hoping for the heavens'' pity."


    "You¡ª" Lou Yujing''s eyes shed with frost.


    "You look down on Yu Fuli, do you? And yet Yu Fuli''s preparing to take on the heavens in a final showdown. Whether he wins or loses, he will be hailed as a hero who dared to challenge the final frontier against all odds, to protect the world and all its inhabitants. The world owes him its respect. As for you, you intend to recruit me not for my own sake, but because you know that Yu Fuli thinks highly of me, and you want to take advantage of his resources. You''re even going to use me to take him down, aren''t you? You think it''ll make you look good in the eyes of the heavens, so that they''ll permit you to officially take Chi Hai''s ce as saint."


    "You dare look down on me? I offer you a chance at survival, and you denigrate and insult me instead."


    "Have I insulted you? I merely told the truth. Your goodwill is more than I can bear, and your supposed opportunity is but a poisoned gift. I don''t intend to bow down to the heavens."


    "You''ll regret it once the timees," Lou Yujing sneered. "Just you wait for the cmity to descend!"


    "I won''t. Just like countless sages before me, I''d rather live with honor than be a ve. The heavens are merciless; even if you kneel before them and beg, they won''t go easy on you. I suggest you give up on your unrealistic dream," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    "How would you know without giving it a try?" Lou Yujing demanded.


    "Give it a try? Ha! Lou Yujing, I thought you were a legend of the era despite the fact that you destroyed the Taiqing Immortal Sect, despite the fact that you were rumored to have betrayed the sect out of pettiness. From what you''ve rted, though, it''s clear that I was mistaken. You''re nothing but a cowardly and merciless man."


    "How dare you!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    "Am I wrong? You tried to embellish your actions, but that doesn''t mean you''re in the right. Leaving aside the question of whether the Taiqing Immortal Sect is really an avatar farm as you im, so what if it''s true? I can''t imagine there are many of these guardians left. You im to have killed the majority of the sect just to get rid of them? Is that your so-called loyalty? Howughable!"


    "The guardians are hidden among ordinary Taiqing disciples. They can''t be rooted out by ordinary means alone. This was the only method to take them down," Lou Yujing hissed.


    "Ridiculous! Does that give you the right to kill just about everyone in the sect? Would you kill all the people in a city if there were some demons hiding among their number? How much more shameless can you get?"


    "You¡ª"


    "So what if there are these supposed guardians? The rest of the disciples are innocent victims like you! Did you show them any mercy when you killed them¡ªyour senior brothers, sisters, uncles, masters? They fought alongside you to establish the divine empire of Hongyue, but you chose to kill them all just because you couldn''t ascertain their identity!"


    "Even if I hadn''t made a move, the saint would have," Lou Yujing replied coldly.


    "Enough with your nonsense. If you had told the entire sect to hide, the saint would never have gotten everyone. If you had informed Yu Fuli, he would never have ignored your petition. If you had done your best to save the Taiqing Immortal Sect, surely you could have gotten at least half the disciples to safety. You chose not to do so. It''s clear what your goal is: to take advantage of the saint to kill whoever can threaten you. You''d rather kill hundreds, even thousands of innocents to save yourself, then take advantage of the opportunity to get on good terms with the saint in preparation for killing him far into the future. You only think about yourself¡ªeverything is for your goal of bing the heavens''pdog!"


    "You¡ª"


    "You did sacrifice a lot for the Taiqing Immortal Sect, but didn''t it do the same for you? Think about how many resources it funneled your way. Where would you be now if not for the Taiqing Immortal Sect? Perhaps you''d be nothing more than a skeleton! You''re ungrateful and cold-blooded, and you even delight in it! You have no right to discuss ethics with me. All who know you ought to disdain you. I shall never forgive you for what you did to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Your life is forfeit!" Xiao Nanfeng dered coldly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you know nothing!" Lou Yujing thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "I will never be in cahoots with the likes of you. I am a Taiqing disciple first and foremost, and I was granted the protection of the Taiqing Immortal Sect in a time of personal crisis. I was granted ess to sect techniques, and for that I am grateful. These guardians you mention, I may well turn against, but I will never forget what Taiqing has given me, and I will repay kindness with kindness. You are a traitor to Taiqing, and I have you in my sights. Lou Yujing, face me if you dare! I will avenge the innocent Taiqing dead with your head," Xiao Nanfeng dered.

 Chapter 767: Tu Feng Returns

    <h4>Chapter 767: Tu Feng Returns</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lou Yujing eyed each other coldly within the pavilion.


    Their discussion had broken down, and killing intent shed in Lou Yujing''s eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng, this was your choice. Whatever happens now, you only have yourself to me."


    "And as for you, Lou Yujing, remember this: the heavens know what you''ve done. Retribution wille in due time."


    "So be it. Come at me, then!" Lou Yujing dered.


    He knocked his teacup to the ground. A sh of red light surrounded his body in a pir of light.


    Xiao Nanfeng formed a seal with his hands in preparation, but Lou Yujing onlyughed. "Don''t worry. I don''t intend to strike at you today. I''ll destroy the Shenfeng Empire first."


    Then, he vanished within the pir of red light, which shed and disappeared itself.


    Lou Yujing left; Xiao Nanfeng was left frowning. He discovered that Lou Yujing might have guessed the rtionship between Shenfeng and Dazheng.


    "Lou Yujing, you really are familiar with the Taiqing Immortal Sect, aren''t you?"


    From the conversation, it was clear that Lou Yujing had been eyeing the Taiqing Immortal Sect carefully all these years, and it wouldn''t have been hard for him to deduce the rtionship between him and the Divine Emperor as a result.


    He got up and walked out of the pavilion himself. He knew that this marked the true start of the war against Hongyue.


    Deep within a prison, Martial Aspect Tu Feng hung on a huge rack, his body bloody all over¡ªno, he wasn''t a Martial Aspect any longer. Having been in cahoots with Saint Chi Hai, he had betrayed the Imperial Court and was ted for death by execution.


    He had been tortured within an inch of his life. Though blood stained his features and body, his expression was calm. He neither shrieked nor groaned in agony. His face wasn''t contorted in grievance or dissatisfaction. He was so quiet it was frightening.


    Just then, a series of footsteps could be heard at the far end of the prison. Before long, a figure was standing in front of him.


    He raised his head to eye the visitor and narrowed his eyes. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng? Is it your turn to interrogate me? Come on, now. Let''s see what you''ve got. If I cry out in pain, I''ll change my surname to match yours. How''s that?"


    Xiao Nanfeng gave him a serious look. "I heard that you were tortured by both the imperial judiciary and the Hall of Martial Aspects, but to no avail. You should know that your crimes are punishable by death. No one will be able to save you."


    "Death it is. What''s the point of all this fuss? Execute me and be done with it all. Don''t bother trying to get more information out of me." Tu Feng chuckled.


    "Do you think dying like this will be worth it?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "It''s not a question of worth. I chose my side; I lost. I''ll have to pay the price. As for you, Xiao Nanfeng, I have to admit I underestimated you several times." Tu Feng frowned.


    "Oh? In what way?"


    "When you were nominated as a Martial Aspect by Zhang Lingjun, you were nothing more than an Earth Immortal. I thought you were Zhang Lingjun''s gigolo, only able to advance to such a vaunted position thanks to her infatuation. I never expected you to be able to reim sixty percent of Dayin''s fortune, an impossible task. And when I thought that merely luck, you then took advantage of the Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant to destroy Dayin entirely. Surely that was your limit, I believed¡ªuntil you managed to overwhelm even the divine empire of Hongyue and capture the saint''s main body. You''re clearly skilled. If not for the fact that we belong to different factions, I''d have liked to get to know you better."


    As conceited as he was, he had to admit that Xiao Nanfeng was talented¡ªno, far beyond that.


    "No enemies are absolute. You could always switch your allegiance," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Ha! You''re just trying to get more information out of me, aren''t you? Forget it." Tu Feng sneered disdainfully.


    "I''m well aware of who you are. You''re a spy twice over: for Lou Yujing and for Chi Hai."


    Tu Feng frowned. He had noment for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What, are you still trying to protect Lou Yujing?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "So what if I do, and so what if I don''t? Are you going to change your n based on what I tell you?"


    "I won''t," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Then what''s the point? Why bother asking all these questions?" Tu Feng shook his head.


    "I''d like you to know the truth."


    "Are you trying to manipte me? It''s true that I loathe the saint for having discarded me, but so what? No one can save me at this point."


    "To the saint, you''re nothing more than a pawn, nothing more than a tool. I know you''vee to terms with this, but how do you think Lou Yujing feels about you?"


    "That''s not important."


    "What''s important, then?"


    Tu Feng frowned. "Just what are you trying to get at?"


    "I know you don''t fear your own death. You''d die if it means that your whole n can be at ease, don''t you?"


    "How did you kno¡ªWhat nonsense are you talking about?!"


    "You became the saint''s pawn for two reasons: first, because the saint meddled with your soul, and second, in order that the rest of your n can live peacefully. But do you really think that''s what''s happening now?"


    "You''re trying to threaten me with my n, now?" Tu Feng sneered disdainfully.


    "Do you really think Lou Yujing will shelter your n?"


    Tu Feng smiled coldly but didn''t speak. Indeed, that was what he believed. After all, Jiuniang was the empress of Hongyue, and Siniang was Li Qianjun''s wife. His n held high positions in Hongyue, and Xiao Nanfeng''s empty threats were meaningless.


    "I came to inform you that your n is likely all but dead."


    "And why should I believe you, Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "I''ve been dying my visit to you in order to gather evidence. Fortunately, I found a few fleeing foxes."


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand as a few small kits bounded in from behind him.


    "What happened to you, Granduncle?"


    "Granduncle, everyone''s dead! My parents¡ªeveryone!"


    "Granduncle, you''ll be alright, won''t you?"


    The kits leapt toward the bloodied Tu Feng and began to cry.


    "What are all of you doing here?" Tu Feng eximed. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng in shock. "Are you trying to threaten me with their lives?"


    "Tu Feng, speak with them. We''ll resume our discussionter." Xiao Nanfeng walked to the side of the prison.


    Tu Feng turned to the crying kits. "Did Xiao Nanfeng abduct you?"


    "No, he saved us! We would have died otherwise."


    "What? Tell me everything!"


    "Lou Yujing killed all our great-grandparents. Grandaunt¡ªno, Tu Jiuniang¡ªtried to kill us too!"


    "What? Impossible. Be more specific," Tu Feng demanded.


    "My father and all the elders of the n were summoned into a ck coffin by Lou Yujing. My father''s avatar was beside me, and he was informing me about what was going on. Then..." The little kit described how Lou Yujing had devoured the saint.


    "Why would Jiuniang help Lou Yujing? Doesn''t she care about the rest of her n?!"


    "Then, Lou Yujing''s people killed our whole n. My father died. My mother died! All our great-grandparents died, avatars and all! My father told us to run into the forests. There were lots of scary people chasing after us. My little sister fell behind¡ªshe died too. If the spectral guards didn''t show up then..."


    "Lou Yujing was going to kill us all!" another kit cried out.


    The kits each exined what had happened to them. From their ounts, Tu Feng was able to piece together the sordid tale in its entirety..


    "No¡ªLou Yujing, that bastard! How could he have killed my entire n? Jiuniang, a traitor? I don''t believe it. This can''t be!" Tu Feng was so agitated that all the chains around him were rattling.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng make his way over. "Tu Feng, why did you only rescue the saint''s main body when within the Sieve of Heaven? Why not do it beforehand? Lou Yujing must have ordered it explicitly. He was eyeing the saint''s charm of heavenlyw from the beginning, and he intended for you to die there."


    "I''ll kill you, Lou Yujing!" Tu Feng snarled.


    He shouted hoarsely for some time before ncing down at himself and the chains that bound him. He sighed bitterly. "How foolish I am. I''m an idiot!"


    "Do you want revenge?"


    "Of course I do, but it''s impossible now. I have to be held ountable for my crimes¡ªto the Heavenly Emperor and to the whole world. I''ll be executed tomorrow."


    "I can help you."


    Tu Feng pinned Xiao Nanfeng with a stare. "Very well. I''ll reveal everything to you as long as you promise to kill Lou Yujing¡ªand the traitor of the Tu n, Tu Jiuniang!"


    "No¡ªI can help you leave. You can secure your own revenge," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What? How could that be?" Tu Feng frowned disbelievingly.


    "I''ll help you on the condition that you serve as a loyal official of Dazheng for fifty years."


    Tu Feng''s frown deepened. He was sure he was ted for death, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed confident that he could get him out. Could he be serious?


    "Your loyal servant Tu Feng greets you. Long live Your Majesty!" Tu Feng eximed.


    He was shaking out of gratitude not for being saved, but for having the chance to avenge his deceased n members himself.

 Chapter 768: Taking on Lou Yujing

    <h4>Chapter 768: Taking on Lou Yujing</h4>


    Back in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing sat on his draconic throne as a session of court took ce. "The empire of Shenfeng has been encroaching on our borders and capturing our citizens. How should Hongyue respond?"


    "Those who dare attack Hongyue should be destroyed with due haste for the integrity of our empire!" an official shouted immediately.


    "I am in agreement!"


    "I am in agreement!"


    The officials immediately voiced their support, as if they had nned this out in advance.


    That Lou Yujing was bringing this up in court meant not that he wanted a discussion, but rather unified support for his cause. He surely already had a n in mind.


    "Very well. We shall draft an army to take on Shenfeng. Li Qianjun will bemander-in-chief, and Yuan Wudi his vicemander. We shall take on Shenfeng and maintain the integrity of our empire!" Lou Yujing dered.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Li Qianjun and Yuan Wudi shouted immediately.


    "Hongyue is invincible! Long live Hongyue!" the officials of court chorused.


    News of Hongyue''s army rapidly spread far and wide. Hongyue''s counterattack had officially begun.


    Lou Yujing dismissed the court and met Tu Jiuniang as he returned to the pce.


    "Husband, this is porridge I made just for you. Won''t you try it?" Tu Jiuniang proffered him a bowl of porridge.


    Lou Yujing had a spoonful and smiled in satisfaction. "Excellent. You''re getting better and better at cooking."


    Tu Jiuniang smiled happily. She stared at Lou Yujing, besotted, as she continued feeding him.


    Once Lou Yujing had finished, Tu Jiuniang wiped at his mouth.


    Lou Yujing suddenly said, "Tu Feng was just executed at the Imperial Pce. Divine lightning struck him 81 times in all."


    Tu Jiuniang grimaced. She bowed her head in silence, then smiled as she looked up at Lou Yujing again. "My third brothermitted a serious crime. No one could have saved him. Don''t me yourself, Husband."


    "It''s good that you understand. I heard you''ve even been killing off the other members of your n..."


    "The only n members I care about are my brothers and sisters. I worry that the others will bear you hatred and attempt to take revenge on you, Husband. They''re not particrly skilled, but they could be troublesome to deal with. That''s why I''m finishing them all off on your behalf."


    "There''s no need for you to go to such extents," Lou Yujing saint gently.


    Tu Jiuniang shook her head. Her eyes zed with determination. "Any who dare hinder you will be my enemy, Husband."


    "My dear Jiuniang." Lou Yujing hugged Tu Jiuniang and kissed her.


    Tu Jiuniang smiled blissfully, then frowned. "Husband, will you really be able to take down Shenfeng so easily?"


    "It''s only a stalling tactic while I digest what I obtained from Chi Hai. Once I do that, I''ll be able to create more Boundless Immortals easily. We''d overpower Shenfeng then.


    "Why not directly demolish Shenfeng''s capital and Yongding?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    "Don''t underestimate Xiao Nanfeng. He may have contingencies in mind, or even Yu Fuli''s assistance. I don''t want to reveal my hand before I''ve finished my preparations."


    "You really do think of everything, Husband." Tu Jiuniang nodded.


    Hongyue and Shenfeng were at war once more after a tense period of peace.


    The sh between Shenfeng and Hongyue''s armies again drew the attention of the world. This time, just as before, no external forces dared to interfere. They still recalled the shock of the first confrontation between these two supreme empires¡ªand the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had managed to secure the saint''s main body all by himself not too long ago. More and more forces began to fear Xiao Nanfeng and Shenfeng''s strength.


    If they were to interfere now, they might easily end up dead.


    Of course, this was when the various Immortal sects around the two empires were at their most active. They sent their disciples into the two empires as officials, hoping that they would be able to umte merit during the uing war and hence be promoted into high-ranking positions.


    At Danxian, where Yang Chuan had once been beheaded, two men dressed in ornate robes were rushing into the city lord''s manor. One was the city lord of Danxian himself.


    "Father, what did Li Qianjun say when you met with him?" the other man asked.


    The city lord of Danxian frowned. "The war is starting anew. Danxian will be part of the primary battlefield, and Li Qianjun intends to use Danxian as bait for Shenfeng''s army. It may very well perish."


    "Is Li Qianjun preparing to give up on Danxian, then?"


    "Not giving up on it, but using it as bait," the city lord of Danxian corrected.


    "Bait is meant to be consumed. Are we going to die?"


    The city lord of Danxian fell silent and sighed. "Li Qianjun said that his son would being himself, that we should rx. They won''t let anything happen to us."


    "How can we rx, Father? Look at the Tu n¡ªall its members have been killed. Do they really care a whit about us? What if it''s our turn to die next?"


    The city lord of Danxian grimaced. He stopped short and turned to his son seriously. "The Tu n betrayed the Immortal Emperor. That''s why they were all killed. It doesn''t concern us. Forget about it entirely."


    "But¡ª"


    "No buts. We don''t want to cause trouble for ourselves, not when we''re as weak as we are."


    "Father, don''t lie to yourself! We''ve been followers of the Tu n since our stay in the green knoll hidden realm. If the empress is willing to kill even the Tu n, why would she care about our lives? We''re done for!"


    "Silence! I won''t allow you to say anything of the sort." The city lord of Danxian red.


    "I..." The city lord''s son stiffened.


    The city lord continued, "I''m aware of your reservations, but there are things we can''t state publicly. Leave with your siblings. Leave Hongyue in secret."


    "Not you, Father?"


    "I can''t leave, and I won''t be able to."


    The two men walked in silence, sighed, and entered the city lord''s manor.


    Just then, the city lord of Danxian nched. Thick fog surrounded the manor, and all the servants and guards had fallen unconscious. He was taken by surprise.


    "Who''s there?!" his son cried out.


    "Flee!" The city lord of Danxian was about to turn tail and run with his son when a sh of white light surrounded them and swept them into the yard. A huge fox''s tail was curled around them and was preventing them from sending any signals to the outside.


    "Please spare us, Empress! My son spoke out of ignorance. He didn''t mean what he said!" the city lord of Danxian eximed. He bowed in fear.


    "I''m not your empress," a male voice replied.


    The city lord of Danxian''s eyes widened in surprise. "Might I ask who you are, Elder?"


    His son immediately bowed down.


    The fog dissipated to reveal a chair in the yard, on which Tu Feng was seated.


    "Third Elder? You''re still alive? Haven''t you been executed? You¡ª"


    The city lord of Danxian eximed.


    Tu Feng frowned. "Are you disappointed that I''m still alive?"


    The city lord of Danxian knelt down in relief. "We are blessed that you still live, Third Elder. We''ve always been loyal to your branch of the n. We would surely be killed if you hadn''t appeared."


    Tu Feng eyed the city lord of Danxian coldly. "I heard you just went to meet with Li Qianjun."


    "Yes, Third Elder!" the city lord of Danxian replied immediately.


    He didn''t dare hide this information; he had just brought it up with his son, after all.


    "I intend to ask for your help to kill Li Qianjun. Are you willing to do so?"


    "Yes, Third Elder! I would brave hell or high water for you!"


    Tu Feng nodded. "Very good. How many subordinates of the Tu n still live?"


    The city lord of Danxian quickly realized Tu Feng''s intent. Was he here to seek revenge?


    "Well? Are you thinking about how to report me to Lou Yujing?" Tu Feng asked coolly.


    "No, Third Elder. Lou Yujing and Tu Jiuniang have wiped out the Tu n. The rest of us will be discarded sooner orter. The only reason they haven''t yet struck is because of the impending war. I was just about to have my children escape. I had nned to stay in case Lou Yujing were to pursue us. Now that you''ve returned, Third Elder, I am yours tomand," the city lord of Danxian replied immediately.


    Tu Feng eyed the city lord of Danxian for quite some time before he ultimately nodded. "You have my trust for the time being. We''ll see how well you cooperate."


    "Of course, Third Elder. I''ll do my best."


    In a hall in the ptial valley of Shenfeng''s capital, the Divine Emperor nced at Xiao Nanfeng. "Must we strike immediately?"


    "Indeed. We have to take on Lou Yujing now."


    "Why? Wouldn''t it be better to take down Hongyue''s Immortal cities one by one first?"


    "I''m afraid we don''t have time."


    "Why not?"


    "I was prepared to fight Lou Yujing when he headed to Yongding. I even deliberately provoked him then hoping that he would make a move, but he chose not to. It means that his preparations are yet iplete, and this army of his is only a stalling tactic."


    "Oh?"


    "Lou Yujing is a frightening enough foe as is. If we allow him time to finalize his preparations, he''ll be even more dangerous. I can scheme and strategize him all I want, but I believe that now is the best time to strike. If we miss this opportunity, we''ll have to exert multiple times the energy to take him down."


    "Very well. I trust you. We''ll take him on right now, and I''ll fly to Hongyue''s capital immediately." The Divine Emperor nodded.

 Chapter 769: General in the Midst

    <h4>Chapter 769: General in the Midst</h4>


    Outside Taixu, the city lord of Danxian secretly arrived at a prearranged location with Li Qianjun and his retinue in tow.


    "Are you sure your information is reliable?" Li Qianjun asked.


    "Absolutely, Commander Li. I''ve been sending spies in an attempt to lure Shenfeng''s army into attacking Danxian, only to discover that theirmanders are all hiding around Taixu. Worried that I would startle them, I didn''t dare investigate in more detail. That''s why I sent for you, Commander."


    "Taixu?" Li Qianjun frowned at the barren ruins of the city.


    He had once been the city lord of Taixu, the original location of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. He was very familiar with the area.


    He felt a little uneasy, but with his Boundless Immortal relic in hand, he didn''t think he had anything to fear.


    "Where are they?" Li Qianjun asked.


    "Over there!" The city lord of Danxian pointed at a forest shrouded with fog.


    Li Qianjun looked over and frowned. "That is a good hiding spot."


    The next moment, Li Qianjun turned to the city lord of Danxian. "You''ve already betrayed Hongyue, haven''t you?"


    "Of course not, Commander Li!"


    "Our spies haven''t received any information about Shenfeng''s ns. How could you have identified where itsmanders are? Do you really think I''m so easy to trick? It looks like you have a death wish," Li Qianjun said coldly.


    "No, no! I haven''t betrayed Hongyue, Commander Li!"


    "Arrest him!"


    "Understood!" Li Qianjun''s subordinates shot forward.


    Just then, a burst of golden light came from afar.


    "Who''s there?"


    The cultivators whirled around to see the golden light split up into hundreds, thousands, then tens of thousands of diffuse beams. They headed straight for Li Qianjun and his subordinates.


    "The demon-subduing golden hoop?" Li Qianjun frowned.


    He threw a punch. His fist transformed into a ck vortex that deflected the countless copies of the demon-subduing golden hoop. They coalesced back in the Demon Child''s hand.


    The Demon Child shot forward and roared, "Li Qianjun, I''ll make you pay for what you''ve done!"


    "Ridiculous!" Li Qianjun tossed out his Taiqing burial pagoda, which shed against the demon-subduing golden hoop in a flurry of sparks.


    The city lord of Danxian turned to flee.


    "No one can save you now!" Li Qianjun shouted. He reached out for the city lord of Danxian himself.


    Just then, a shadowy figure shot straight at Li Qianjun and punched him.


    "Who''s there?" Li Qianjun frowned as he retaliated with a punch of his own.


    Li Qianjun exchanged blows with the shadowy figure. The resulting shockwave sent everyone flying.


    "Ye Sanshui? Die!" Li Qianjun roared.


    Ye Sanshui scoffed. "You''re the one who should die!"


    Ye Sanshui sent Li Qianjun stumbling back with a fist just in time for him to witness the city lord of Danxian escaping.


    "Take down that traitor at any cost!" Li Qianjun roared.


    "Understood!" His Golden Immortal subordinates rushed toward the city lord of Danxian.


    "Help!" the c ity lord of Danxian eximed.


    Just then, beams of light shot out of the forests in the vicinity. Ye Dafu and a group of golden cultivators had emerged.


    "Die!" the golden cultivators roared.


    They blocked Li Qianjun''s subordinates, allowing the city lord of Danxian to flee.


    "Demon Child, today, on His Majesty''s orders, I''ll be clearing away the rabble on your behalf. Li Qianjun is yours to handle. Leave the Taiqing burial pagoda to me!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    He shot toward the Taiqing burial pagoda and blocked it for the Demon Child.


    The Demon Child turned to Li Qianjun and roared, "Li Qianjun, die!"


    Li Qianjun exchanged blows with the Demon Child. There seemed to be little disparity in strength between them; both retreated about a hundred meters from the impact.


    "You really are overconfident, aren''t you?" Li Qianjun said coldly.


    "Say whatever you want. You won''t have an opportunity to do so after today," the Demon Child replied coldly.


    The two cultivators began to fight each other once more.


    Meanwhile, in another Immortal city, Yuan Wudi was listening to a subordinate''s report.


    "Vice Commander, my avatar is with Commander Li. The Demon Child and Ye Sanshui are attacking him at the moment, and Ye Dafu and the others are attacking us in turn. What do we do?"


    Yuan Wudi was silent for a moment. "Have you reported this to His Majesty?"


    "One of us has an avatar at Hongyue''s capital. His Majesty should have heard of it," his subordinate reported.


    "Good." Yuan Wudi nodded.


    "Will themander be in danger?" the subordinate asked.


    "Don''t worry. Nothing will happen to Li Qianjun. His Majesty predicted that something like this might happen, though not this quickly," Yuan Wudi replied.


    "Understood!"


    Yuan Wudi smiled coldly. "Since Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child are attacking Li Qianjun, then Yongding must be unguarded at the moment."


    "Vice Commander, do you intend to raid Yongding?" his subordinate eximed.


    "And why not?"


    "Yongding''s particrly dangerous. Didn''t you suffer at Xiao Nanfeng''s handsst time?" his subordinate replied cautiously.


    "So what? What happened back then is different from what''s going to happen now. Follow me!" Yuan Wudi dered.


    "Yes, Vice Commander!"


    Yuan Wudi secretly left the barracks and vanished over the horizon.


    Back in Taixu, the fight continued.


    Li Qianjun was simultaneously attacking Ye Sanshui with the Taiqing burial pagoda and taking on the Demon Child personally. As a result, he was forced back by the Demon Child again and again.


    Even so, he didn''t panic. Everything seemed to be under his control. Just as he was about to be defeated, Li Qianjun drew a longsword and shed at the Demon Child.


    The sword brimmed with energy, and the Demon Child was sent flying back.


    "That Immortal sword from before? A Boundless Immortal relic?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "I deliberately went easy on you when attempting to rescue the saint''s main body. That''s the only reason you escaped unharmed. I don''t n on going easy on you again. Die!" Li Qianjun roared.


    He sent another sh at the Demon Child, who nched and defended with his demon-subduing golden hoop. Both he and his relic were sent flying.


    "I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child roared.


    He duplicated his golden hoop once more. Tens of thousands of copies of the relic struck Li Qianjun.


    "It''s only a Golden Immortal relic. Do you really think you can take me on with it?" Li Qianjun scoffed.


    His sword emitted thousands of des of energy that cut all the copies of the hoop apart.


    The hoops all vanished, leaving only the original copy behind¡ªonly for that to break into countless fragments as well.


    "My golden hoop!" the Demon Child suddenly cried out in despair.


    "That golden hoop is a relic your mother, that wench, stole from the Taiqing Immortal Sect. She attuned to it for many years and never even let me touch it. In the end, she gave it to you¡ªand now it''s ruined. Aren''t you upset? Haha!"


    The Demon Child suddenly thought about what his mother had told him when she handed him the relic.


    "My dear child, this is my finest treasure. It''ll surely guard you and keep you safe. No matter where you go, keep it with you, alright? It''ll protect you like I do."


    His mother''s words echoed in his ears. After her death, whenever he thought of her, he rubbed his golden hoop tightly. Now, Li Qianjun had taken even that away from him.


    "Mother!" the Demon Child cried out in anguish.


    ck smoke gushed out from his body as if he were about to undergo a demonic transformation again. His body spasmed in pain.


    "Demon Child, Li Qianjun''s trying to provoke you! Come to your senses!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    "Ha! As if he''d listen to the likes of you. His mind might as well be under my control. Now, die!" Li Qianjun roared inughter.


    He swung his Immortal sword at the Demon Child again.


    "Be careful!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    Just as his sword technique was about to strike the Demon Child, a green sword array emerged from the ck smoke around him and shot straight toward Li Qianjun.


    "What?!" Li Qianjun eximed.


    The two sword techniques exploded as they struck each other, then dissipated in the air.


    The next moment, green swords manifested all around the Demon Child, slowly revolving around him in a loop.


    "When did the Demon Child develop such a potent technique?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Third Uncle, the Demon Child''s body is forged out of the seventh-grade lotus, a Boundless Immortal relic. Has the Demon Child managed to attune to it?" Ye Dafu''s eyes widened in surprise.


    He had witnessed just how frightening the relic was. Unfortunately, the Demon Child had never yet been able tomand it¡ªuntil now.


    "You!" Li Qianjun thundered.


    He regretted his provocation immediately. How had slicing apart the Demon Child''s demon-subduing golden hoop given him the enlightenment he needed? That was ridiculous!


    "Li Qianjun, I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child bellowed in rage.


    More and more swords manifested around him. As the Demon Child charged forward, all the swords hurtled toward Li Qianjun like a flood.


    "Damn it!" Li Qianjun cursed, defending with his own sword.


    The two techniques shed in the air in another blistering explosion.

 Chapter 770: Fighting on All Fronts

    <h4>Chapter 770: Fighting on All Fronts</h4>


    Yuan Wudi arrived at Yongding with a group of his Golden Immortal subordinates in the blink of an eye.


    He nced at the quiet, peaceful city below him and drew a golden staff, one of the Boundless Immortal relics that Saint Chi Hai had loaned him for his rescue. With this relic in his possession, Yuan Wudi had grown even stronger than before.


    "What are your orders, Vice Commander?" one of his subordinates asked.


    "Strike immediately. Don''t give them a chance to prepare, or for Xiao Nanfeng to draw on imperial might. Charge!" Yuan Wudi shouted.


    "Understood!" a group of cultivators replied.


    Yuan Wudi smashed his staff down on Yongding''s defensive formation. The power of a Boundless Immortal with an apanying relic was incredible. The earth rumbled as mountains in the vicinity of Yongding began to shake and crumble. A frightening wave of energy terrorized the people of the city.


    "Another assault? Why are there so many Boundless Immortals causing trouble in Yongdingtely?!"


    "It''s Yuan Wudi again, and he seems to have grown even stronger than before! Run!"


    "We can''t stay here anymore. Run!"


    The spies stationed at Yongding screamed in panic as they attempted to flee.


    As Yuan Wudi''s staffnded, an unopened fan shot into the air and grewrger as it ascended. Soon, it was the size of a small mountain.


    The fan and staff struck each other in mid-air in an explosion of astonishing force.


    Yongding was surrounded by defensive formations supported by 361 beams of starlight that rained down from the air. Those within were protected; those outside were sent flying by the wave of energy.


    "Ah, save us! Let us back inside the city!"


    The cultivators who had just fled from Yongding made a fuss, but they were ignored entirely. They could only defend against the shockwaves to the best of their ability.


    High in the air, Yuan Wudi frowned. "Yang Chuan? What are you doing here?"


    Yang Chuan stepped out of the defensive formations around Yongding. He smirked. "Yuan Wudi, did you have fun beheading me? It''s time for me to do the same to you."


    Yuan Wudi scowled. Xiao Nanfeng invoking his imperial might would be troublesome enough, but with Yang Chuan in the mix as well...


    He shook his head. Lou Yujing had tasked him with attacking Yongding, and he couldn''t leave unless he was in mortal danger. What''s more, he was far stronger with a Boundless Immortal weapon. As long as Xiao Nanfeng didn''t show himself, he could defend against Yang Chuan.


    "Come at me, then!" Yuan Wudi shouted.


    He raised his staff as Yang Chuan raised his fan. The two cultivators began to fight once again.


    "Everyone, take down Yongding!" Yuan Wudi roared.


    Blue Lantern sniffed disdainfully from within the imperial pce at Yongding. Did a group of Golden Immortals think they could break through his defenses? What a joke.


    He deftly manipted the formations as the Golden Immortals made a fool of themselves outside Yongding.


    Yang Chuan revealed his fearsome strength that had made him the Southern Aspect of the Imperial Court. Though Yuan Wudi had a Boundless Immortal relic, he was still easily ovee by Yang Chuan.


    Back in Hongyue''s capital, Lou Yujing and Tu Jiuniang listened to their subordinates'' reports.


    "The Demon Child has intuited how to control his seventh-grade lotus? Is Li Qianjun crazy? Why did he insist on agitating the Demon Child when he could easily have won without any effort?!" Tu Jiuniang fumed.


    The subordinate didn''t dare respond.


    Lou Yujing frowned. "Yang Chuan was waiting for Yuan Wudi in Yongding? Xiao Nanfeng really did n for everything."


    "Husband, the situation doesn''t look good for us. What should we do now?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is skilled enough to figure out what we''re up to. He must be attacking now because he''s worried that a dy would be disadvantageous to him," Lou Yujing dered.


    "Does that mean we''re going to lose out?"


    "No. We still have the advantage in strength at the moment."


    "Do you intend to strike directly, Husband?" Tu Jiuniang frowned in worry.


    Lou Yujing nodded. "I''ll have to. Li Qianjun and Yuan Wudi might have Boundless Immortal relics of their own, but they won''tst for long."


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry. My main body has almost finished attuning to the charm of heavenlyw, and I''ll have good news for you soon. Apany my main body while I head over there to check out the situation with this avatar."


    Tu Jiuniang bit her lip and nodded.


    Lou Yujing stood up, ck smoke surrounding his body. Clearly, this was his ancestral zombie avatar.


    He shot into the sky and vanished over the horizon, moving as fast as lightning. Before long, he arrived outside Taixu.


    He hovered in the air as he observed the battlefield below.


    The Demon Child was still fighting against Li Qianjun. He grew stronger the longer the fight progressed; swords raged around him and surged toward Li Qianjun like a tsunami. Li Qianjun was forced back time and again.


    "Impossible. How can you be growing stronger?!" Li Qianjun yelled.


    "Die, Li Qianjun!" the Demon Child howled.


    A burst of energy sent Li Qianjun flying. Li Qianjun was gradually being suppressed, and the situation was growing less and less favorable to him.


    Eventually, streaks of blood appeared over Li Qianjun''s body as he became wounded by the Demon Child''s sword technique.


    Just as the Demon Child was about to finish off Li Qianjun, Lou Yujing descended from the heavens, brimming with killing intent.


    Ye Sanshui noticed him, batted aside the Taiqing burial pagoda, and rushed into the air. "Lou Yujing, I''ve been waiting for you. Die!"


    Lou Yujing red at Ye Sanshui, who was also in an ancestral zombie''s body.


    The two ancestral zombies shot toward one another. Their fists met in an incredible explosion of fire and wind. Ye Sanshui was sent plummeting to the ground like a meteor. A huge pit formed where he crashnded.


    Ye Sanshui mbered up in shock. "How could you be so much stronger than I am?!"


    Lou Yujing stared coldly at Ye Sanshui. "I''m not strong. You''re just weak."


    "These ancestral zombie bodies are limited in strength. Could you havebined two of them together?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Indeed. But rather thanbine two, why not three? Ye Sanshui, you won''t get away today." Lou Yujing smirked.


    He shot forward in a beam of light as he headed straight toward Ye Sanshui, moving so rapidly that Ye Sanshui was caught off-guard. He could only hastily raise a hand in defense, but Lou Yujing was even faster. He sent Ye Sanshui flying, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood in the air. Lou Yujing gave chase, caught him, and revealed two bloody fangs. He made to bite at Ye Sanshui, only for a golden sh of light to cause him to reel back.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell escaped with Ye Sanshui.


    Ye Sanshui spat out another mouthful of blood as hended on the ground. The Divine Emperor appeared before him, her long hair fluttering in the wind, her aura billowing, her bell revolving around her.


    "Be careful. He''s very strong," Ye Sanshui warned.


    "Don''t worry. Leave it to me."


    Lou Yujing narrowed his eyes. "You left Shenfeng''s capital unguarded and came here yourself?"


    "You fled quickly during ourst fight. I''d like to see you try that again," the Divine Emperor replied coolly.


    "Run? I deliberately lost to you to scheme against Chi Hai. Aren''t you aware? You won''t be so lucky this time. I''m far stronger than you are!" Lou Yujing said coldly.


    Lou Yujing charged toward the Divine Emperor.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell tolled as a wave of golden sound enveloped her. As she punched forward, the two cultivators'' fists met in an overwhelming explosion.


    Neither seemed able to ovee the other easily.


    "Ye Sanshui, go help the Demon Child. Hurry!" the Divine Emperormanded.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui shot into the air.


    Li Qianjun, wielding both a Boundless Immortal sword and the Taiqing burial pagoda, was finally able to defend against the Demon Child properly. Before the tide of the battle could turn, however, Ye Sanshui had rushed over. He and the Demon Child together suppressed Li Qianjun.


    "Bastard!" Lou Yujing tried to help Li Qianjun, only to see the Divine Emperor ringing her bell. Waves of sound apanied her fist. "I''m your opponent."


    The two cultivators continued to fight intensely. The void rippled and shuddered around them as the fighting grew fiercer and fiercer.


    Back in Hongyue''s capital, Tu Jiuniang fretted as she nced at her subordinate. "What did you say?"


    "We don''t know how His Majesty''s fight against the Divine Emperor is going, but Li Qianjun and Yuan Wudi are both struggling badly. They may not be able tost for long."


    Tu Jiuniang grimaced. "What now?"


    The doors to the hall behind her suddenly mmed open. Everyone turned to see Lou Yujing''s main body emerge in a sh of red light.


    "Husband, why have you emerged?" Tu Jiuniang asked in worry.


    Lou Yujing frowned. "If I don''t, they''re all going to die."


    Yuan Wudi and Li Qianjun weren''t the only ones in danger. Once both of them perished, they would target his ancestral zombie avatar next.


    "Husband, have you finished attuning to the charm of heavenlyw?" Tu Jiuniang asked in worry.


    Lou Yujing took a deep breath. "Not entirely, but I can wield enough of its strength. Come. I''ll help you regain your Boundless Immortal cultivation for now."

 Chapter 771: Grandmasters Eidolon

    <h4>Chapter 771: Grandmaster''s Eidolon</h4>


    Lou Yujing retrieved Tu Jiuniang''s nine-tailed fox body and unsealed it.


    "Now that your truesoul is in symbiosis with a cursed effigy, you won''t be able to manifest an avatar. However, it''s not too difficult to boost the strength of your zombie body. Conveniently, your physical body is that of a Boundless Immortal, so I can help you merge the two bodies and help you break through into a zombie king."


    "Very well!" Tu Jiuniang nodded.


    With a wave of his hand, red light enveloped Tu Jiuniang''s zombie body and the nine-tailed fox. The light drew the two bodies close to each other as they began to merge as a wave of incredible energy was released.


    "Your zombie body is a Golden Immortal, so breaking through won''t be difficult. Now, merge!" Lou Yujingmanded.


    Blinding shes of red light surrounded Tu Jiuniang, so bright that even his subordinates were forced to avert their eyes.


    Before long, a huge burst of wind erupted from Tu Jiuniang''s body and forced Lou Yujing''s subordinates to step back.


    Only then did the red light recede as Tu Jiuniang''s two bodiesbined. Nine ethereal tails appeared behind her body once again.


    "Husband, it worked! My strength''s back!" Tu Jiuniang eximed in delight.


    Lou Yujing caressed Tu Jiuniang''s cheeks. "Wonderful."


    "Shall I go help Li Qianjun and the others?"


    Lou Yujing shook his head. "Remain in Hongyue. I''ll go."


    "But..."


    "Haven''t you noticed? Xiao Nanfeng has yet to show himself at all. Where are his two bodies?" Lou Yujing asked.


    Tu Jiuniang narrowed her eyes. "You mean that Xiao Nanfeng intended for the Divine Emperor, Yang Chuan, and others to defend those key locations¡ªand Xiao Nanfeng''s hiding somewhere, preparing to ambush me?"


    "That''s right. Don''t underestimate Xiao Nanfeng. I don''t want anything to happen to you. You should stay right here."


    "But¡ª"


    "Don''t worry. With the charm of heavenlyw, I can manipte the forces of heaven and earth. It''s no weaker than imperial might. I can y Xiao Nanfeng at any time."


    "Very well, Husband. You be careful too!"


    Lou Yujing nodded. He turned to the officials waiting outside the hall. "While I''m away, Empress Tu Jiuniang shall lead the empire."


    "Understood!" the officials chorused.


    Then, Lou Yujing shed away from sight. The next moment, he was nothing more than a speck over the horizon.


    Within Shenfeng''s capital, many officials nced at each other in worry. They had just received word that a heated fight was taking ce in Taixu, one between Boundless Immortals.


    The Demon Child and Ye Sanshui taking on Li Qianjun was one matter; the Divine Emperor and Lou Yujing was another entirely.


    Were their monarchs going to fight to the death from the start?


    After the initial shock came debilitating worry. The Divine Emperor wasn''t in Shenfeng''s capital, and neither was that powerful formations master, Blue Lantern. What if a Boundless Immortal came to attack? Wouldn''t they be done for?


    Such nightmares often manifested in reality.


    A frightening burst of energy radiated from high above Shenfeng''s capital, dispelling the clouds in the air. Even from afar, the officials could see a figure dressed in a red draconic robe hovering in the air.


    "It''s Lou Yujing!"


    "Lou Yujing''s here to destroy Shenfeng''s capital? Inform the Divine Emperor immediately!"


    "He deliberately timed it for when the Divine Emperor was out!"


    Countless people began to scream in panic.


    Lou Yujing eyed Shenfeng''s capital coldly. He suddenly shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, I know you''re here. Show yourself!"


    Lou Yujing''s voice carried across Shenfeng''s capital, causing those within to nce around them in astonishment. Lou Yujing was here in search of Xiao Nanfeng? Was he lost?


    In a fog-shrouded mountain peak by the ptial valley, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Lou Yujing. He took a deep breath. To Tu Feng, who stood behind him, he said, "I was nning to have you lead me to Lou Yujing once he showed himself, but it looks like there''s no need for that anymore. You may head to Hongyue''s capital."


    Tu Feng gave him a frown. "Your Majesty, that''s Lou Yujing''s main body, and he''s in possession of a charm of heavenlyw. Do you intend to take him on alone?"


    Though Tu Feng had just recently joined Dazheng and knew little of Xiao Nanfeng''s abilities, he couldn''t believe that Xiao Nanfeng would dare to attack Lou Yujing outright.


    "Worry not. I nned for this."


    Tu Feng frowned, but nodded. "I shall head to Hongyue''s capital, Your Majesty."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and took to the air. He flew out of Shenfeng''s defensive formation.


    "It really is Xiao Nanfeng!" countless cultivators in Shenfeng eximed.


    They had heard Xiao Nanfeng''s name again and again recently. Many were astounded to see him face Lou Yujing alone.


    Tu Feng turned to nce at Xiao Nanfeng again before leaving Shenfeng''s capital and rushing due north.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew up to Lou Yujing. "How did you know I was here?"


    Lou Yujing eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "If you weren''t, I would have destroyed Shenfeng''s capital before heading to the next location."


    "In that case, there''s nothing more to discuss. Let''s fight."


    Lou Yujing narrowed his eyes. He hadn''t expected Xiao Nanfeng would be so direct; he hadn''t had time to probe Xiao Nanfeng''s trump cards.


    Even so, he wasn''t afraid. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a pir of red light that pierced into the heavens, brimming with energy.


    "And what do you call this pir of light?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This is the pir of vitality. The heavenlyw imbued in it grants its wielder an endless supply of energy," Lou Yujing stated.


    Energy flooded into Lou Yujing''s body. A red waning moon emerged from it, seemingly infused with great strength. The red light radiating from it dyed the sky red.


    Killing intent manifested from the void, which shuddered as cracks began to form.


    "Die!" Lou Yujing roared.


    Crescent des shot out of the void cracks straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, leaving spatial rends along their trajectory. Howling winds surrounded Xiao Nanfeng.


    Lou Yujing watched Xiao Nanfeng, his eyes brimming with killing intent. Even an average Boundless Immortal would suffer grievous injury from the attack.


    Xiao Nanfeng crushed a jade talisman with the word "loss" emzoned on it.


    The word "loss" freed itself from the jade talisman and grewrger andrger as it surrounded Xiao Nanfeng. Then, a huge wave of red sound emanated from him and deflected all the crescent des.


    "Loss chants?" Lou Yujing frowned.


    He was well aware of how potent the loss chants were. It was an article of naturalw that the Taiqing Grandmaster had carved out himself. How could Xiao Nanfeng have gained control of it?


    Red waves of sound surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, obscuring his figure. Red light began to re around him as the sound waves grewrger andrger.


    The red light seemed to manifest in the form of a giant red moon that began to pulsate. Red waves of sound shot out from it as it rose in opposition to Lou Yujing''s red waning moon.


    Two lunar domains warred against each other, fighting for territory.


    A region of howling wind that separated the two domains.


    "Impossible. Your loss chants are only an article of naturalw. How can theypare to heavenlyw? Vitality, I invoke you!"


    An endless supply of energy was infused into Lou Yujing''s waning moon, whose light grew brighter and brighter. Its domain expanded, but the loss chants didn''t relent. The infusion of energy only served to intensify the howling winds between the lunar domains.


    Loss chants continued to pulse from the full moon. Lou Yujing saw the citizens of Shenfeng far below them stand stock-still.


    The power of the loss chants was incredible. The civilians far below lost all memory of themselves. They froze in ce like soulless statues.


    Only Lou Yujing, empowered withmand over vitality, was able to fend off the loss chants'' assault.


    Then, the full moon cracked open from within. A figure walked out¡ªnot Xiao Nanfeng, but an old man, an elder, hundreds of meters tall. His expression was as vacant as that of a statue. He was dressed in a red robe and held a red horsetail whisk in his hand. He looked the very picture of a saint. An incredible aura of dignity emanated from him. Even Lou Yujing couldn''t help but freeze.


    "Is this the Taiqing Grandmaster? Impossible!"


    Suddenly, the elder''s vacant eyes opened wide. He stared at Lou Yujing.


    "That''s... Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze! This isn''t the Taiqing Grandmaster¡ªit must be his eidolon. Xiao Nanfeng, you dare control the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon?!" Lou Yujing eximed.

 Chapter 772: We Are One Family

    <h4>Chapter 772: We Are One Family</h4>


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon bore tremendous strength. Xiao Nanfeng, controlling the eidolon, whipped the horsetail whisk in Lou Yujing''s direction. A river of red energy surged toward him, vast and coursing with incredible strength. It broke through the stalemate between the two lunar domains as it headed toward Lou Yujing.


    Lou Yujing grimaced. With a wave of his arm, he caused the void to fracture around him as he unleashed a storm of crescent des.


    The des struck the red river in an earth-shattering explosion. Even the void reeled from the impact.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon stepped forward and phased through the lunar domains. He arrived instantly before Lou Yujing and struck him with his palm.


    "You bastard, do you really think you can fight me now that you have the grandmaster''s eidolon? Vitality!" Lou Yujing invoked.


    Even more energy flooded into Lou Yujing''s body. He suddenly expanded in size as his palm rose into the heavens to defend against the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon.


    Both cultivators were incredibly strong. Their attacks caused the void to ripple as a firestorm formed around them.


    From afar, all that could be seen was a sphere of red light hovering in the air, surrounded by shes of fire and wind. A huge fight was clearly unfolding, but it was obscured from everyone''s sight.


    The Loss Diagram, which had been able to seal even Saint Chi Hai, clearly possessed incredible strength. Despite having a saint''s powers, Lou Yujing was unable to take Xiao Nanfeng down.


    Meanwhile, Tu Feng arrived at Hongyue''s capital.


    Hongyue''s capital was surrounded by a defensive formation that no ordinary person could bypass, even a Boundless Immortal¡ªbut Tu Feng was hardly ordinary.


    An official responsible for maintaining the formation around Hongyue''s capital was bowing toward Tu Feng within a forest.


    "Third Elder, everything is ready. Please follow me."


    Tu Feng nodded and flew into Hongyue''s capital behind the official.


    There were plenty of followers of the Tu n who had secured high-ranking positions in Hongyue.


    Tu Jiuniang, who thought that all the high-ranking members of the Tu n except for her was dead, naturally didn''t guard against the possibility that one might still be alive.


    To the Tu n''s followers, though Tu Jiuniang might have been the empress of Hongyue, Tu Feng held the higher position.


    Tu Feng was the de facto leader of the Tu n out in the wider world.


    At that moment, he was stealthily bypassing the defensive formation by Hongyue''s capital with the help of the official guiding him. Then, he quickly made it into the pce.


    In a certain hall, Tu Jiuniang was eyeing her subordinates. She wanted to know how the various fights were progressing in real time.


    "Is there still no news from Shenfeng''s capital?" Tu Jiuniang asked anxiously.


    One of her subordinates pointed at another. "The spies at Shenfeng''s capital were all suddenly disabled, perhaps because of the effect of the loss chants. He''s close by but far enough from the capital to have avoided those effects."


    Everyone turned to the designated official, who bowed. "I can barely get a glimpse of what''s going on, Your Majesty. There''s a red full moon and a red waning moon hanging in the air high above me. His Majesty is fighting against a giant within a firestorm. I cannot clearly identify what''s going on within, but I can sense the powerful shockwaves radiating from the twobatants'' attacks even from afar."


    "And?"


    "I cannot say, Your Majesty. I don''t dare approach. I can hear snippets of chanting that leave my mind foggy. I''m fleeing as quickly as I can."


    "Continue keeping an eye on Shenfeng''s capital. Let me know immediately if there''s any further development," Tu Jiuniang instructed.


    "Understood!"


    "And what about the fights elsewhere?"


    "Outside Taixu, His Majesty''s avatar is still embroiled in an intense fight with the Divine Emperor. Li Qianjun is suffering against the Demon Child and Ye Sanshui, and he''s growing weaker and weaker."


    "Yang Chuan is defending Yongding and is exceptionally strong. Even with two Boundless Immortal relics, Yuan Wudi is being pushed back," another subordinate reported.


    Tu Jiuniang nodded. She cared little about Li Qianjun and Yuan Wudi; all she wanted was to ensure that Lou Yujing lived.


    Just then, another official suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I just caught a small fox from the Tu n. I''ve brought it to the pce. What should I do with it?"


    Tu Jiuniang frowned. "Don''t bother me with such trifles. Go kill it. I care only for His Majesty''s battlefield."


    "Understood!" The official lowered his gaze and continued, "Your Majesty, that fox mentioned that, while running, it was caught by Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. It apparently knows about some secret of Xiao Nanfeng, but it refuses to tell anyone but you."


    "Oh? Who''s the fox?" Tu Jiuniang''s interest was quickly piqued.


    She cared only for Lou Yujing. Any information rted to him, she was interested in. Lou Yujing was currently fighting against Xiao Nanfeng, so Xiao Nanfeng''s secrets would be crucial information.


    "It''s Tu Liushan''s granddaughter," the official reported.


    "Her? I heard she was rescued by the spectral guards. To think she was caught again! Bring her to me," Tu Jiuniang said. The next moment, she got up. "I''ll join you. It''ll be faster that way."


    "Understood!" The official bowed.


    He brought Tu Jiuniang toward apound for prisoners in the pce. All the guards bowed as she walked in.


    From afar, she could see a small fox curled up on the ground in the distance, blood streaking its body.


    "It is her." Tu Jiuniang''s eyes lit up as she flew over.


    The official who had escorted her here told the others, "Her Majesty is going to interrogate a member of the Tu n. They may discuss secrets we''re not privy to. We''ll stay here and wait for Her Majesty to summon us."


    "Understood!" the other officials chorused.


    They were aware that this official was one of Tu Jiuniang''s confidantes, who had been with her from the start. No one questioned his judgment, and the kit they had captured dide from the Tu n. Despite the fact that fog suddenly filled the courtyard, no one believed that anything was amiss.


    After all, Tu Jiuniang was a Boundless Immortal. What could happen to her within the pce?


    As Tu Jiuniang flew into the courtyard, a formation activated. Thick fog rose up around her.


    She frowned, instantly realizing that something was amiss. She was shocked. Had her confidante betrayed her?


    "Jiuniang, why are you fleeing?" a familiar voice called out.


    Tu Jiuniang stopped short and looked back at a green-robed man in shock.


    "You! How are you still alive?!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Granduncle!" The pitiful kit leapt up into the green-robed man''sp.


    The green-robed man patted the fox in constion and passed it to a subordinate standing behind him. "Leave. Let me talk with Jiuniang."


    "Understood!" everyone in the courtyard chorused.


    Clearly, they were all loyal to Tu Feng.


    Tu Jiuniang shuddered as she looked at Tu Feng. Her body seemed to turn cold. In fear, she ventured, "Third Brother, w-weren''t you executed in the Imperial Court?"


    "Are you hoping that I was?" Tu Feng retorted, meeting her gaze.


    "I..." Tu Jiuniang''s face turned progressively whiter.


    Tu Feng nced at her impassively. He took a deep breath. You''re the youngest of us nine siblings. You were very mischievous in your youth, and you made a fuss even before you were born. You would frequently disturb our mother while she was trying to rest, and she suffered as a result. While carrying you to term, she suffered an enemy assault and gave birth to you prematurely. As a result, she almost died."


    "I¡ª" Tu Jiuniang pursed her lips.


    "You were born weak, and Father infused all the Immortal qi he had just cultivated into your body. His hair turned white overnight, and he only recovered after prolonged rest.


    "Even so, no one med you. Everyone cherished and doted on you.


    "While we were in the green knoll hidden realm, though we were beset by enemies on all fronts, we always, always let you have your way. We banded together against anyone who dared to bully you.


    "I remember that one year, you made a fuss about wanting a red damask robe. Sixth Brother braved enemy territory and almost died for you in order to snatch you one.


    "I remember that one year, you reached a bottleneck in your cultivation and was stymied. Fourth Sister spat out her own inner core and distilled it for you so that you could break through.


    "We didn''t care that you were willful; everyone was willing to support you because we were family.


    "When Mother died, she kept telling us to take care of you, that you were mischievous and disobedient, that we needed to help you out.


    "When Father died, he told us to keep our family united, to care for and cherish one another.


    "All these years, despite all the life-and-death struggles we faced, we faced them together with each other''s help.


    "For you siblings, I was willing to be a Martial Aspect in the Imperial Court and suffer in silence. I would rather have died than reveal any information about you, because I know that we''re family.


    "Fourth Sister was always thoughtful. As a youth, she would let you tag along with her wherever she went.


    "Sixth Brother would let you ride on his neck and go shopping with you. He didn''t care that you frequently made obnoxious demands andughed everything off.


    "Eighth Brother always shared whatever pills and herbs he found with you first.


    "And Eldest and Second Brothers fought to give up their opportunity to leave the green knoll hidden realm for you.


    "Have you forgotten how everyone treated you?


    "Or have we been a joke to you all along? Were we just people you could take advantage of when we were useful, and discarded when we weren''t?"


    Tu Jiuniang stumbled back and almost fell to the ground. Her face contorted in fear as she began to cry. "I, I wasn''t nning to. I¡ª"


    "Is Lou Yujing really more important than the rest of us to you? You''d sacrifice us all for him?" Tu Feng demanded.

 Chapter 773: Kinkiller

    <h4>Chapter 773: Kinkiller</h4>


    Tu Jiuniang stared at Tu Feng with tears in her eyes. She bit her lip, but stubbornly refused to give in.


    "Well? Have you nothing to say?" Tu Feng asked.


    Tu Jiuniang took a deep breath. Her eyes were red. "Third Brother, call me what you want. I won''t let anything happen to my husband. There''s no one else for me but him."


    "And that''s enough for you to kill your entire family?!" Tu Feng''s tone wasced with frost.


    "The saint used a forbidden technique on us. We had no choice!" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "Nonsense. Lou Yujing could easily have suppressed Fourth Brother and the others with Li Qianjun to guard him. He could easily have broken all their limbs¡ªthat would have been better than killing them, at least. Why do you think Lou Yujing had Li Qianjun kill all my siblings?" Tu Feng''s eyes were burning with rage.


    "He had no other choice at the time..."


    "What do you mean, no other choice? It''s clear that Lou Yujing intends to take over the green knoll hidden realm and steal the foundation of our n. He killed us all because he was worried we would stand in his way. As for you, you''re just a pawn in his n to seize control of the realm!" Tu Feng roared.


    "No! My husband would never do such a thing," Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    "And if he does?"


    Tu Jiuniang gritted her teeth. "I''ll apany him."


    "My dear sister, is this what you''vee to? You''ll kill the entirety of the Tu n alongside Lou Yujing? I shouldn''t have hoped for anything better from you. I was hoping I''d be able to shock you into realizing what you''ve done, but I was clearly fooling myself. You''re even killing off the youngest kits of the Tu n, the ones who still consider you their grandaunt! You''re chasing them down and killing them to thest. Enemy you are, traitor you are!"


    "Third Brother, regardless, I have to advise you to leave as quickly as you can. Once my husbandes back, you won''t be able to leave."


    "Leave? I do intend to leave¡ªbut I''ll be leaving with your life as well. What Father, Mother, and all our siblings gave you, I''m taking back with me."


    "I won''t let you!" Tu Jiuniang shouted.


    She turned to run. Tu Feng manifested nine ethereal fox''s tails behind his back that reached out for Tu Jiuniang and wrapped her up.


    Tu Jiuniang nched. She shouted, "Everyone, listen to me! Tu Feng isn''t dead!"


    She intended for the whole city, for the whole empire, to hear her cries. Though she didn''t know how Tu Feng had escaped execution, she knew that the Imperial Court needed to maintain its reputation. If it were to discover that Tu Feng was still alive, it would definitely send hunters to chase him down.


    "You really are helpless!" Tu Feng thundered.


    He shed toward Tu Jiuniang and met her palm with his own. A frightening shockwave of energy filled the courtyard, but Tu Jiuniang was unable to escape before she was pushed into a ck coffin.


    "The ck coffin hidden realm?" Tu Jiuniang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng had passed his ck coffin to Tu Feng, who intended to finish her off within.


    Tu Jiuniang''s shout had attracted the whole city''s attention, but Tu Feng was, at least for the moment, out of sight. No one could confirm what they had heard.


    However, plenty of officials frowned upon hearing Tu Jiuniang''s shout and flew toward the pce.


    A formation shimmered into existence around the pce, blocking those outside from entering.


    The guards within the pce rushed into the small courtyard where Tu Feng had been. They dissipated the fog to see a Golden Immortal recing the lid on a ck coffin.


    "Who are you? Where''s Her Majesty?" a guard eximed.


    Suddenly, arge group of Golden Immortals from Dazheng took to the air. They had been waiting in ambush. Two of the cultivators looked particrly unfamiliar.


    "I''ll hand Tu Jiuniang to your main body, then," the Golden Immortal holding onto the coffin said.


    "Of course, Your Majesty. I''ll deal with the matter quickly," the other Golden Immortal replied.


    Clearly, one of these Golden Immortals was Xiao Nanfeng, and the other was Tu Feng''s avatar. They had possessed two Golden Immortals'' bodies.


    "Something''s fishy about them. Take them down!" a guard cried out.


    "Die!" The guards charged forward.


    "You dare?!" Dazheng''s Golden Immortals surged forward in defense.


    The resultingmotion sent cultivators flying through the air. A huge firestorm erupted, causing countless buildings within the pce to copse. Smoke and dust rose in a cloud as mes red.


    No one could have expected that enemies had made their way into the pce. How could they have done so? Were there spies?


    Hongyue''s Golden Immortals had all been deployed to the field given the war at hand, and few remained in Hongyue''s capital. There were only two within the pce, but they were suppressed immediately.


    The defensive formation around the pce separated whaty within from whaty without. The pce had be an isted battlefield.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t drop his guard. He stared at a hall not far away, where Lou Yujing had gone into secluded cultivation.


    The doors to that hall burst open as a figure enveloped in red light emerged¡ªnone other than Lou Yujing himself.


    "You''re Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you? To think you would have been able to sneak into my pce," Lou Yujing thundered.


    "Your Majesty? You still have an avatar here!" Hongyue''s cultivators surrounded him in relief.


    Xiao Nanfeng easily recognized that this was Lou Yujing''s Golden Immortal avatar who had met him in Yongding several days ago.


    "Lou Yujing, today is the day you''ll die," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "How overconfident you are. Since you''re here now, you might as well not leave."


    Lou Yujing''s avatar revealed a ck coffin, whose lid was wide open. A huge group of zombies rushed out, with plenty of Golden Immortals among them.


    "Kill them!" Lou Yujingmanded.


    The zombies roared in outrage and shot toward the Golden Immortals that Xiao Nanfeng had brought with him.


    "Kill them!" Xiao Nanfeng echoed.


    "Understood!" Dazheng''s Golden Immortals rushed toward the zombies.


    Fighting ensued the moment the two sides met.


    Xiao Nanfeng headed straight for Lou Yujing. "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Countless fists struck at Lou Yujing, whose face turned cold. He retaliated with a punch of his own, causing an explosion. He was sent stumbling back.


    "Impossible! How could you be able to suppress me with a Golden Immortal''s body?" Lou Yujing shot forward again, unwilling to back down.


    An intense fight unfolded between the two cultivators. Lou Yujing was forced back again and again. Xiao Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist was simply too potent for him to block. The zombies all around him were rapidly suppressed by Xiao Nanfeng''s forces as well.


    Fuming, Lou Yujing shouted, "Citizens of Hongyue, I am your emperor, Lou Yujing! Forces from Shenfeng and Dazheng are attempting to attack Hongyue''s capital and destroy Hongyue. I ask that you raise your right hand and lend me your strength to eradicate these evildoers!"


    The golden dragon within the sea of fortune high overhead roared, transmitting Lou Yujing''s words to all the citizens of Hongyue.


    The people''s eyes widened in disbelief. Even so, they all raised their right hands and lent Lou Yujing their power.


    Intense power surged toward the sea of fortune. The golden dragon absorbed the power and shot down toward Lou Yujing, who was far below.


    Incredible power entered Lou Yujing''s avatar, causing his strength to rise explosively.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. Knowing that the situation was unfavorable to him, he shouted, "Everyone, to me!"


    "Understood!"


    His Golden Immortals rushed to him as he uncorked a gourd and sucked them all inside. Then, he sent the gourd into his mindscape.


    After that, countless zombies swarmed over Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Golden Immortal that Xiao Nanfeng had possessed exploded, sending zombie bits flying. Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng vanished entirely.


    Lou Yujing, who had drawn on imperial might and reached the peak of strength, suddenly discovered that his opponent was missing. He was taken aback. Had he done all that for nothing?


    "Are you hiding in the red moon illusory realm? Do you really think you can escape?" Lou Yujing thundered.


    He punched toward where Xiao Nanfeng had vanished. A huge hole opened up in the void, radiating with light. Lou Yujing had broken into the red moon illusory realm by force.


    Within, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He turned tail and ran.


    "You won''t get away!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    Lou Yujing rushed into the red moon illusory realm, giving chase after Xiao Nanfeng.


    Outside Taixu, Ye Sanshui blocked the Taiqing burial pagoda''s advance and was intermittently able to attack Li Qianjun, leaving him flustered.


    Meanwhile, the Demon Child continued to grow in strength as the battle progressed, leaving trails of blood all across his body. Li Qianjun became more and more injured. At this rate, he was certain that he would die to a thousand cuts.


    "Die!" Li Qianjun shouted, his eyes shing.


    His Boundless Immortal sword shed at the Demon Child, who retaliated with a series of lotus swords.


    The techniques crashed into each other as a firestorm formed around them.


    The Demon Child charged forward as he made to seize Li Qianjun''s Boundless Immortal sword.


    "Explode!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    The Boundless Immortal relic exploded in a wave of intense heat that engulfed the Demon Child at close range.


    "Demon Child!" the cultivators afar cried out.


    Who could withstand such an explosion? The mes slowly dissipated, revealing whaty within. The Demon Child stood ckened, his clothes all but scorched by the mes. Blood spurted from his charred skin as he fell to the ground, spitting out a few mouthfuls of blood as he attempted to stabilize himself.


    Rather than cry out in pain, he focused on Li Qianjun. His eyes brimmed with hatred. "Li Qianjun, now that you don''t have that sword to defend yourself, you''re done for! Haha!"


    The Demon Child rose into the air and sent another flurry of swords straight toward Li Qianjun.


    "No!" Li Qianjun shouted in fear.

 Chapter 774: Overwhelming Victory at Taixu

    <h4>Chapter 774: Overwhelming Victory at Taixu</h4>


    Though the Demon Child was injured, he ignored his injuries and sent Li Qianjun flying with his swords. A hole appeared in Li Qianjun''s chest, one that extended all the way out his back. The wounds he had just sustained were at least ten times worse than those he had experienced before. He spat outrge mouthfuls of fresh blood as hended, struggling just to mber back up.


    "Taiqing Pagoda!" Li Qianjun summoned his relic, which flew toward him. Without any hesitation, he allowed it to encase his body as he attempted to flee.


    "You won''t get away!" Ye Sanshui roared.


    "Ye Sanshui, stall him! I won''t let him flee this time!"


    "Got it!"


    Ye Sanshui struck down the Taiqing burial pagoda with a fist.


    "Bastard, do you intend to kill your own father?!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    "You''re the bastard¡ªand you''re not my father! Die!"


    A deluge of swords shot into the Taiqing burial pagoda as Ye Sanshui pummeled it with his fists. The Taiqing burial pagoda attempted to absorb the attacks with its suction, but to no avail. The Demon Child''s lotus swords chipped and cracked its exterior.


    Li Qianjun was done for now. He was wounded to begin with, and had expended a great deal of energy in order to control and manipte the Taiqing burial pagoda. Meanwhile, the Demon Child was attacking him furiously. The more he fought, the more he attuned to the Boundless Immortal relic that made up his body, and the stronger he became.


    "No! Save me, Your Majesty!" Li Qianjun cried out.


    He didn''t know how much longer he couldst. The Taiqing burial pagoda was starting to crack, and his circumstances were growing more and more dangerous. Unfortunately, Lou Yujing himself was in trouble; he would hardly be able to save Li Qianjun.


    Ye Sanshui had fought for an extended period of time, and was weakened from the injuries he had sustained to date. Even so, he was an ancestral zombie and could easily replenish his reserves. He retrieved half a zombie king''s corpse and devoured it to return to tip-top shape once again.


    The fighting continued intensely. More cracks appeared over the Taiqing burial pagoda, as if it were close to breaking apart.


    Once that happened, how was Li Qianjun to take on Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child? Li Qianjun took a deep breath and steered the pagoda straight toward the Demon Child.


    "Die!" the Demon Child roared, unleashing another deluge of swords.


    The Taiqing burial pagoda began to copse as Li Qianjun manipted it to its limits. Once he had closed in on the Demon Child, he shouted, "Explode!"


    "Run! He''s going to detonate the Taiqing burial pagoda!" Ye Sanshui cursed.


    The Demon Child charged forward and was engulfed by the explosion.


    Ye Sanshui, on the other hand, had managed to escape it in the nick of time. His eyes twitched. "Li Qianjun dared to detonate the pagoda while he was still inside it? Is he intending tomit suicide?"


    After the explosion, the Demon Child''s injuries only worsened. Streaked with blood, he fell to the ground. Li Qianjun was nowhere to be seen¡ªno, there were bits of flesh scattered all about.


    "Did Li Qianjun really kill himself?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Did you die just like that, you bastard? I didn''t get to kill you!" the Demon Child shouted.


    The Demon Child roared in frustration at having failed to take revenge himself. He was in no state to fight; he was barely keeping himself conscious.


    Just then, a sh of red light appeared in the air. A void portal appeared. Within the portal, Li Qianjun was being chased by a group of red-furred monsters.


    "No!" Ye Sanshui eximed. "Li Qianjun must have given up on his physical body and escaped into the red moon illusory realm at thest moment."


    "How could there be so many red-furred monsters?!" Li Qianjun shrieked. He had been chased out of the realm.


    He looked to be in a particrly bad state. He turned to flee, thinking that Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child had both been incapacitated by the explosion. He didn''t realize that Ye Sanshui wasrgely unharmed and had even shed behind him. He caused Li Qianjun''s red moon to explode with a punch.


    "Who''s there?!" Li Qianjun cried out.


    He whirled around. With his red moon destroyed, Li Qianjun''s yin body crumpled and fell to the ground.


    "No!" Li Qianjun shrieked in despair.


    His soul was only at the level of a True Yin cultivator, and could barely withstand any damage. Ye Sanshui''s sneak attack was a crippling wound.


    "Demon Child, I''ll leave Li Qianjun to you," Ye Sanshui called out.


    Not far away, seeing that Li Qianjun hade back to ''life'', the Demon Child was excited beyond belief. Despite his wounds, he ran over to Li Qianjun''s prone form. "You won''t be able to get away this time, Li Qianjun!"


    "Bastard¡ªno, my son, I''m your father. You can''t kill me!" Li Qianjun shouted.


    The Demon Child easily ignored Li Qianjun''s begging. With his fiercest anger and hatred, he sent a deluge of swords straight toward Li Qianjun.


    "Die!"


    "No!" Li Qianjun panicked.


    The swords tore Li Qianjun''s soul apart as it dissipated. He had finally died.


    "Congrattions, Demon Child. You''ve finally avenged your mother," Ye Sanshui said.


    As the Demon Child watched Li Qianjun''s soul dissipate, he suddenly began to cry. He turned toward the direction of his mother''s grave and bawled, "Mother, did you see that? I killed the demon who tormented us. I''ve avenged you! Mother, I miss you!"


    The Demon Child slumped to the ground and fainted.


    "Demon Child!" Ye Sanshui rushed over to check on him.


    By then, Ye Dafu and the others had finished off Li Qianjun''s subordinates.


    "Third Uncle, how''s the Demon Child?" Ye Dafu asked in worry.


    "He''s badly wounded and just experienced a particrly abrupt shift in emotion. That''s why he fell unconscious, but he''ll recover quickly," Ye Sanshui analyzed.


    "Thank goodness."


    "What happened to your opponents?"


    "We easily took down Li Qianjun''s subordinates. Your fight took too long. We were all getting anxious just watching you," Ye Dafu replied.


    Ye Sanshui sighed. Did his nephew not know how to be diplomatic at all?


    "In that case, take the Demon Child somewhere safe to recuperate," Ye Sanshuimanded.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu replied.


    The Golden Immortals left with the Demon Child in tow.


    Meanwhile, Ye Sanshui turned to the other fight in the distance, where the Divine Emperor was taking on Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie avatar. In terms of strength, the Divine Emperor was slightly inferior to Lou Yujing, though she had far more experience when it came to fighting.


    As the fighting continued, however, Lou Yujing''s strength was clearly depleting faster than his opponent''s. He lost his advantage and gradually began to be pushed back.


    "Damn it," Lou Yujing cursed.


    He reached out for a jade bottle and was just about to consume its contents when the Divine Emperor, who had anticipated his actions, knocked it aside with a fist.


    The jade bottle exploded in a cloud of ck smoke. Zombies stood in their midst.


    "Don''t you think I know how quickly energy drains from these zombies? Have you forgotten that Ye Sanshui is an ancestral zombie himself? I''ve been waiting for this. Now, Lou Yujing, die!" the Divine Emperor roared.


    "All zombies, fly into my mouth!" Lou Yujingmanded.


    The zombies flew toward Lou Yujing, only to have a golden wave of sound send them flying. Ye Sanshui shot toward the zombies.


    "Ye Sanshui, you bastard, return my subordinates to me!" Lou Yujing roared.


    Ye Sanshui ignored Lou Yujing and finished off the zombies.


    Lou Yujing''s circumstances were going from bad to worse. His strength was quickly being depleted, and the Divine Emperor''sbat experience augmented her advantages.


    Lou Yujing was sent flying time after time.


    "Lou Yujing, you''re done for now!" the Divine Emperor dered.


    The Divine Emperor sent him flying with another fist.


    Lou Yujing attempted to flee, but the Divine Emperor was faster than he was. She instantly shot toward him. My speed is unmatched by anyone at my level of cultivation. Die!"


    Lou Yujing reeled from the impact of the Divine Emperor''s blows. His injuries were rapidly worsening, and he wasn''t going to be able to hold out for long.


    "No. I can''t lose!" Lou Yujing shouted in despair.


    His other two bodies wouldn''t be able to reach him in time.


    "It''s not up to you!" the Divine Emperor dered.


    She sent Lou Yujing flying with another punch. He smashed into the ground and vomited out blood.


    The Divine Emperor shed toward him. "Give up. You''ve lost!"


    Lou Yujing''s eyes suddenly shed. "Just you wait, Divine Emperor. I''ll pay you back for this. None of you will be able to escape then."


    "Be careful!" Ye Sanshui shouted. "He''s going to self-destruct!"


    The Divine Emperor nched and summoned her bell to her.


    Meanwhile, Lou Yujing''s body erupted in an explosion of mes. The Divine Emperor''s bell surrounded his avatar and absorbed the bulk of the energy as a pir of red light rose into the air. Lou Yujing''s soul fragment was trying to escape.


    "I won''t let you flee!" the Divine Emperor shouted.


    She shed into the bell and gritted her teeth against the barrage of energy in the enclosed space. Before Lou Yujing''s soul fragment could escape, she caught it and arrested it in ce.


    "No!" Lou Yujing cried out.


    The pir of red light faded away. Lou Yujing''s soul fragment, in the end, failed to escape. It dissipated as it was struck by the shockwaves that resulted from the explosion. Even in her shadow form, the Divine Emperor had sustained significant damage from the explosion as well.


    Ye Sanshui fretted anxiously outside. He saw a huge wave of energy ripple out of the Divine Emperor''s bell, which had almost distorted in shape from the explosion it withstood.


    Only after quite some time did the Divine Emperor emerge from her bell.


    She spat out a mouthful of blood as she coughed.


    Ye Sanshui''s eyes widened. "Is Lou Yujing dead?"


    The Divine Emperor wiped at the blood by the corner of her mouth. Somewhat weakly, she nodded. "He''s dead."


    "Good! Where should we go now?"


    "I''ll return to Shenfeng''s capital. You head to Hongyue''s capital. Hurry!"


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    The cultivators split up and headed off in two different directions.

 Chapter 775: Red Rope Destroys the Immortal Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 775: Red Rope Destroys the Immortal Emperor</h4>


    Within the red moon illusory realm, Lou Yujing''s Golden Immortal avatar invoked imperial might, growing as strong as in his ancestral zombie form. He caught up to Xiao Nanfeng in the blink of an eye.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, no one can save you this time!" Lou Yujing roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng unfurled the Dazheng Code of Laws.


    "As if an ordinary empire''s code ofws would be able to trap me!" Lou Yujing shouted. "Watch me tear it apart."


    "Dazheng Code of Laws, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Dazheng Code of Laws glowed with resplendent light as Lou Yujing was sucked into its interior and sealed there.


    "What? Impossible. What sort of code ofws is this? How can it be able to suppress me? Could it be a Boundless Immortal relic?!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    Lou Yujing struggled furiously, causing the scroll to shake violently as Xiao Nanfeng''s fortune rapidly depleted.


    "How can this be?!" Lou Yujing thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t waste time responding to his shouts. He frowned as he considered his options. Yang Chuan, the Divine Emperor, Ye Sanshui, and the Demon Child would surely have won an overwhelming victory. Tu Feng might seed as well. He''d have reinforcements soon enough, but that would require time.


    For the moment, all he could do was seal Lou Yujing with his code ofws, but he knew that this wasn''t a viable n in the long term. Doing so drained too much of his fortune, and Lou Yujing would be able to escape once it was all depleted.


    "Should I see just how Tu Feng''s doing now?" Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    Suddenly, he saw arge group of red-furred monsters leaping toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "How could there be so many of these red-furred lifeforms in the vicinity?"


    He ran the moment he saw the hundreds of monsters headed his way. He didn''t dare to release his subordinates from his gourd because he was currently within the red moon illusory realm.


    It was an unusual ce. Despite being an illusory realm, parts of it interfaced with reality, like the reverse side of the Heaven Division''s Gate. However, the majority was ethereal in nature, and only souls could survive there. Somehow, Lou Yujing was strong enough that he could chase after Xiao Nanfeng even in his physical body.


    The red moon illusory realm was full of mystery and danger. He didn''t want to let his subordinates take any risks; in that case, he would have to continue dodging the red-furred monsters as he maintained the seal on Lou Yujing.


    The longer he ran, the more abnormal the situation began to seem. More and more red-furred monsters were flooding toward him from every direction¡ªordinary ones at first, but stronger onester.


    "Is this a city of red-furred lifeforms?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He flew past a mountain before suddenly widening his eyes. "Another city?"


    There was a huge red city in the distance, into which countless red-furred monsters were entering and from which they were leaving. They roamed about aimlessly like specters, as if they were living within the city out of mere habit from their past lives.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t be able to trap me for long. Once I emerge, I''ll kill you!" Lou Yujing thundered from within his code ofws.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. He would have to find a way to deal with Lou Yujing.


    He looked toward the giant city. "Perhaps..."


    Without any hesitation, he rushed straight toward it.


    When the red-furred monsters discovered someone heading their way, they all began to mobilize. They would respond to any enemy incursion with force.


    The red-furred monsters roared as they shot toward Xiao Nanfeng¡ªnot just those outside the city, but also those inside.


    Upon seeing the thousands, even tens of thousands, of red-furred monsters, even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. The monsters in the city seemed exceptionally strong, too.


    Xiao Nanfeng punched at the closest monsters, sending them back, but more rushed in to take their spots.


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng caused death chants to emanate around him.


    Those red-furred monsters who heard the death chants suddenly slowed down, but the strongest among them were still able to make their way toward Xiao Nanfeng despite the deterrent.


    He was sent flying by some of the red-furred monsters, but continued to make his way into the city regardless.


    To his surprise, he counted three frightening auras heading toward him from within the city.


    "Three Boundless Immortal red-furred monsters?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Without any hesitation, he tossed Lou Yujing out of his Dazheng Code of Laws.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve exhausted your reserves of fortune, haven''t you? You''re done for now!" Lou Yujing shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The next moment, he whirled around. Something seemed amiss. He looked to see the sky full of red-furred monsters charging toward him, three Boundless Immortals among them.


    "What?!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He sent the monsters flying with a fist.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re trying to use those red-furred monsters against me, aren''t you? Dream on! You''re the one who''s going to die," Lou Yujing roared.


    He turned and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to discover that Xiao Nanfeng had vanished.


    Lou Yujing: ...


    No, Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t vanished. His Divine Seal of Dazheng had appeared in his ce. And Xiao Nanfeng was making his way inside.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re intending to hide within your divine seal? You''re just going to die!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He knew that there was an internal space within the Divine Seal of Dazheng, but he didn''t understand why Xiao Nanfeng was hiding in it. He was going to be a punching bag for all the red-furred monsters!


    He sent all the red-furred monsters heading his way flying with his fists. Then, he took on the three Boundless Immortal red-furred monsters in turn and cleared them out as well. Once his surroundings were devoid of red-furred monsters, he seized the Divine Seal of Dazheng and chopped at it with the side of his hand.


    A sh of golden light from the seal repelled Lou Yujing''s attack.


    "Impossible!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He could tell that the Divine Seal of Dazheng was bolstered by Xiao Nanfeng''s fortune, but how could it be so resilient?


    "Is something wrong with this seal? It can''t be¡ªit''s also a Boundless Immortal relic?!" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He struck at it several times to no avail.


    Meanwhile, even more red-furred monsters had surrounded him. The whole city seemed to be out to get him. The red-furred monsters shot toward him without care for their own lives, frustrating and flustering him.


    "Get out here, Xiao Nanfeng!" Lou Yujing thundered.


    Of course, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of doing so.


    And if Xiao Nanfeng didn''t open a portal out of the red moon illusory realm, Lou Yujing would be trapped within as well. He could only break out of the realm by taking advantage of portals that had been recently opened and closed.


    Lou Yujing attacked the red-furred creatures in the vicinity as he fled into the distance.


    No ordinary red-furred monsters could catch up to him¡ªbut the three Boundless Immortal ones could. They followed him in rapid pursuit.


    "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng, you bastard!" Lou Yujing thundered.


    Much of the strength that he possessed in this body came from the people, and that strength was rapidly fading away. The situation was hardly in his favor.


    He had no choice but to take on the three red-furred monsters.


    Shockingly, he was able to hold out against all three of them, at least for the moment¡ªbut that was precisely why he felt a sense of despair. Sooner orter, his borrowed strength would run out, and he would falter.


    "Die!" Lou Yujing roared.


    As the other two red-furred monsters wounded him, he focused all his energy on attacking the third and caused its head to explode.


    Though he did manage to kill one of the monsters, his arm had been broken, and he was badly wounded from the other two monsters'' attacks. He vomited out blood as the two remaining monsters continued to charge toward him, seemingly immune to fear.


    "Die!" Lou Yujing howled.


    With all his remaining strength, he took on another of the red-furred monsters and burst its head. Meanwhile, the final monster broke both his legs and tore one of them off.


    Lou Yujing had no chance against the final red-furred monster.


    With much of his strength having drained away, he sighed in despair. The final red-furred monster grabbed his avatar and began to tear it apart.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. I''ll make you die a horrible death. Explode!"


    Lou Yujing detonated his body in an intense burst of fire and wind as he sent the final red-furred monster flying.


    A pir of red light manifested at the heart of the explosion. Lou Yujing''s soul fragment was attempting to escape.


    Just as his soul fragment was about to be transported away, a length of red rope suddenly tightened around his neck and pulled him back.


    Xiao Nanfeng had emerged from the Divine Seal of Dazheng and had tossed out a length of red rope.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" Lou Yujing roared.


    He manipted the pir of red light as he tried to flee, but the red rope was tugging him away from it.


    "To think the red-furred lifeforms in the city would be able to wound you to this extent... That''ll save me a lot of work," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    By then, the red-furred monsters that had been sent flying were starting to make their way back.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng opened up a portal out of the red moon illusory realm and emerged with Lou Yujing. Then, he quickly shut the portal to bar the red-furred monsters'' way.


    He returned to Hongyue''s pce, continuing to tug on Lou Yujing''s soul fragment with the red rope.


    "Vitality, I invoke you!" Lou Yujing shouted.


    A pir of red light appeared beside Lou Yujing once again.


    "It''s toote!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    With a wave of his hand, a huge quantity of rope looped around Lou Yujing and began to pull from all directions.


    Lou Yujing''s soul fragment was torn apart by thebined force and dissipated in the air.


    The officials who were rushing to defend their emperor shrieked, "No!"


    Countless zombies in the vicinity were left stumbling as well.

 Chapter 776: Louer

    <h4>Chapter 776: Lou''er</h4>


    In Shenfeng''s capital, two moons filled the air. Loss chants echoed throughout heaven and earth, preventing anyone from drawing near.


    The fight between the twobatants had produced countless void ripples that flooded the battlefield.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lou Yujing continued to attack each other intensely. Xiao Nanfeng controlled the Taiqing grandmaster''s eidolon, whose horsetail whiskunched thousands of streams of red light at Lou Yujing. His Hegemon''s Fist leveled mountains for dozens, hundreds of miles around. Either cultivator''s fist or leg seemed able to shatter the very stars.


    Lou Yujing, wielding heavenlyw over vitality, was able to draw endlessly from the world''s energy.


    The grandmaster''s eidolon seemed to be able to draw from an infinite supply of energy as well, leaving Lou Yujing shocked and bewildered.


    "How could the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon be so strong?" Lou Yujing eximed.


    His other two avatars had sessively been defeated, a source of great frustration for him.


    "Lou Yujing, when you ughtered the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, did you ever consider that the Taiqing Grandmaster would take revenge? If you can''t even win against his eidolon, what will you do if he shows up himself?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Strong though he might be, the heavens still defeated him," Lou Yujing hissed.


    "You''re not the heavens."


    "And you''re not the Taiqing Grandmaster!"


    The two cultivators'' fight continued even more intensely than before.


    Neither seemed as if they would run out of energy anytime soon. For the moment, neither was able to overwhelm the other.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feel a sense of urgency. Once he used the Loss Diagram, the Taiqing Grandmaster would be aware of what was going on. Though Yu Fuli had helped him weaken the connection between the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon and the Taiqing Grandmaster himself, it wouldn''tst for long.


    If things were to drag out, Xiao Nanfeng would be in grave danger.


    He recalled his final conversation with Yu Fuli.


    "At the level of ate-stage Boundless Immortal, naturalw starts to fade in importance, as does physical strength. What will truly y a role in a decisive victory is a battle of the heart. Focus on that if you end up in a stalemate with Lou Yujing."


    "What does a battle of the heart entail?"


    "Strike at the depths of Lou Yujing''s heart. I doubt you have any understanding of such principles just yet, but if you''re using the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon, it''ll likely be worth a try."


    "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."


    "Within the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon is potent energy that stems from the heart. I''ll teach you how to use it."


    "Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!"


    Recalling Yu Fuli''s teachings, Xiao Nanfeng began to focus.


    As the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon waved his horsetail whisk, a red river surged toward Lou Yujing.


    Lou Yujing frowned coldly and defended with a fist. Crescent des shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    The two cultivatros were, again, evenly matched.


    Just then, the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon formed a seal with his free hand and pointed at Lou Yujing. A sinister beam of red light shot straight toward him.


    Lou Yujing instinctively defended with a qi barrier, but the sinister beam of light passed straight through and struck his body.


    Red light enveloped Lou Yujing, giving him a sense of palpable unease.


    Both Lou Yujing and the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon suddenly froze as they hovered in mid-air, though their techniques continued tounch at each other. Fire and wind zed.


    Both cultivators suddenly found themselves in a new mental world.Xiao Nanfeng, as the cultivator who had attacked Lou Yujing with heart energy, remained conscious. He seemed to see deep into Lou Yujing''s soul.


    Lou Yujing initially seemed to beatose; the next moment, he awoke. He found himself in a strange room.


    He frowned. Not quite so strange. It was a room steeped deep within his memories.


    As he awoke, he saw a beautiful young woman by his side. When she noticed that he had awakened, she leapt up from her chair and smiled. "Lou''er, you''re awake! Wonderful!"


    Lou Yujing stared at the beautiful young woman in shock. With some astonishment and fear, he cried out, "M-Master?"


    The young woman was excited beyond belief. "You were saved thanks to the grandmaster. I thought you might never recover! I''ll send for them."


    She rushed out of the room, without any of the dignity that a master should possess.


    Only then did Lou Yujing btedly discover that he had lost all this cultivation. Only a trace quantity of qi remained in his body, and his hands seemed to have grown far smaller.


    "What''s going on?" Lou Yujing eximed.


    He nced around in a daze, as if there were something he had forgotten. He got off the bed and walked up to a mirror to see a small child''s reflection¡ªprecisely what he had looked like when he was little.


    "Who am I?" Lou Yujing murmured.


    Just then, a group of people walked into the room.


    The young woman reached out for a middle-aged man''s elbow. "Father, look! Lou''er''s awake. Your pill worked!"


    "You''re too old for such rash behavior," the middle-aged man replied, patting the young woman on the head.


    "Ah, don''t do that! I''m not a child anymore." The young woman pouted.


    "Junior Sister, is this the child you managed to rescue? You won''t be the youngest among us anymore," a cultivator joked. "You''ll have a junior brother yourself."


    "What do you mean, a junior brother? He''s going to be my disciple! He''ll have to call me Master in the future," the young woman replied proudly.


    "Nonsense! Your cultivation is hardly sufficient for you to be taking on disciples." The middle-aged man frowned.


    "Well, I want to! Lou''er has already gone through the rites to take me as master. Father, he''ll be my disciple in the future. None of you are to take him away," the young woman cried out.


    The middle-aged man shook his head, but did nothing.


    "Don''t worry. I can guarantee that he''ll be loyal to me. His entire family was killed by a spirit, and I avenged him. He swore to be my disciple after that. I''ll teach him about cultivation properly. I promised!"


    The middle-aged man sighed while the young woman''s senior brothers and sisters crowded around her.


    Lou Yujing nced at his new master in a daze. She was vivacious, youthful, and exuberant. He couldn''t help but sniff.


    "Master!" Lou Yujing suddenly began to cry.


    "Don''t cry, Lou''er! I''ll take good care of you." The young woman patted her chest firmly.


    Thereafter, Lou''er became the young woman''sckey.


    The young woman was neither obedient nor docile. One day, she brought Lou''er with her to dig up an Immortal herb that her senior uncle had cultivated for many years; the next, she stole a spiritual chicken an elder had been rearing; the day after, she ced a stone that gave off vile fumes within an esteemed elder''s cauldron. She made a fuss wherever she went, causing all sorts of trouble throughout the sect.


    "Don''t me Lou''er! I was the one who roasted that bird. It''s not Lou''er''s fault!"


    "me me for what I did. Don''t bully Lou''er!"


    Even so, whenever anyone tried to cause trouble for Lou''er, she would jump out and defend him.


    Whenever he thought of this, Lou''er couldn''t help but frown. He seemed to recall that he was the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, but also not¡ªor rather, with his master before him, he didn''t want to think about those memories at all.


    Lou''er gradually grew older and taller. He was particrly handsome and talented at cultivation, and gradually attracted the admiration of his senior and junior sisters.


    "What are all of you doing? Go and focus on cultivation! Or do you want to die at your enemies'' hands? Go on, shoo!" The young woman chased away all the female disciples that had gathered around Lou''er.


    "Lou''er, you aren''t allowed to stare at other women! Focus on your cultivation," his master chastised.


    Lou''er nodded and focused entirely on cultivation. Thereafter, she would frequently sneak nces at him while he was cultivating. Sometimes, she would stare at him in a daze, her face red.


    "A present for you, Lou''er."


    "Lou''er, my father introduced me to a prospective suitor today, but I don''t want him at all. I just want you to remain by my side."


    "Lou''er, once my cultivation advances, I''ll help you found a kingdom. We can leave the Taiqing Immortal Sect then. You can be emperor, and I''ll be... I''ll apany you."


    "Wouldn''t it be great if we weren''t disciples, Lou''er? If that were the case, we could have..."


    "Lou''er, I''m going for training with my fellow disciples. Make sure to train obediently, alright? I''ll bring you the best treasure when I return. I''m going to help you advance past your bottleneck. Don''t worry. I''ll definitely seed. No one will look down on you then!"


    Suddenly, Lou''er shook his head in fear. "No, Master, don''t go!"


    However, his reality seemed to be nothing more than a dream. The young woman didn''t notice his distress. She smiled. "I''m heading off now, Lou''er. Wait for me to return!"


    "No, Master! Don''t go. You''re going to die! Don''t go!" Lou''er shrieked.


    "I''ll be right back!" The young woman flew off alongside a group of Taiqing disciples.


    Lou''er''s face was filled with tears. He tried to chase after her, but the dream realm ignored his will. Everything was predetermined; the young woman vanished over the horizon.


    Before long, she did return, but only as a corpse. The majority of the Taiqing disciples had perished during the training.


    "No! Master!" Lou''er bellowed in pain.


    His young master had been exuberant and passionate in life; in death, she was nothing but an ice-cold corpse.


    "Chi Hai, I''ll kill you! Return my master to me!" Lou''er cried out in despair.


    Since then, Lou''er became reticent and umunicative. Whenever the Taiqing Immortal Sect issued missions, he would be the first to volunteer. He achieved great deeds for the sect, but everyone had noticed that, ever since his master''s death, Lou''er had stopped smiling.


    Lou''er was forced to learn how to smile for one of the missions that he took on. He forced himself to face a mirror, to contort his face into a passable representation of a smile. With enormous effort, he learned to smile stiffly; it took him far more time to make his smile look more natural, though there was always something a little off about it.


    Things proceeded until one day, he encountered a saint known as Chi Hai. His entire body was shuddering.


    "Lou Yujing, the guardians of the Taiqing Immortal Sect will surely kill you. Are you willing to destroy the Taiqing Immortal Sect alongside me?" Saint Chi Hai asked.


    Lou''er nced at the saint before him and smiled. "I am willing to serve, Saint."


    Lou''er''s smile was the happiest and most genuine smile he had disyed in many years.

 Chapter 777: Lou Yujings Death

    <h4>Chapter 777: Lou Yujing''s Death</h4>


    Then, Lou''er would frequently conspire with Saint Chi Hai, while thetter arranged for the Tu n to assist him.


    Tu Jiuniang of the Tu n particrly admired Lou''er.


    The kingdom of Hongyue soon became the empire of Hongyue, and hence the divine empire of Hongyue.


    At the same time, Lou''er began to incite conflict between various branches of the sect. Despite the fact that the sect guardians continued to pacify the various branches, it was useless. Lou''er''s position continued to rise as his incitement proved decisive.


    A schism developed within the Taiqing Immortal Sect as the various branches of the sect tore into each other.


    Only when a significant portion of the sect had perished from these bitter struggles did the upper echelons of the Taiqing Immortal Sect suddenly realize that something was amiss. They prepared to reunite the sect¡ªbut at that point, the divine empire of Hongyue rebelled.


    Lou''er led a huge army to wipe out the strongest cultivators of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, leaving only a few weak disciples to be rescued by the Yuqing holynd.


    That day, blood flooded out of Taixu and dyed the blue skies red. Lou Yujing became the nightmare of the sect.


    That day, Lou Yujing and Saint Chi Hai celebrated over fine liquor. Saint Chi Hai praised Lou Yujing effusively; Lou Yujing drank quite a bit and smiled happily.


    After sending Saint Chi Hai away, Lou''er was alone once more. He raised a cup to the moon as a tear dripped down his face. He said nothing, but he smiled at the sky and downed the cup of alcohol in one long gulp. Another cup of alcohol sat on the stone table to his side, which he didn''t touch and didn''t allow anyone else to touch.


    "It''s time to awaken. I''m still fighting Xiao Nanfeng," Lou''er murmured to himself. His body trembled.


    He knew that he was in a dream from the start¡ªor rather, among his most deeply treasured memories. Even so, the chance to see his master again was something he would never give up. He remained within the dream realm like a moth attracted to me.


    Now, however, he took a deep breath and shattered the void around him, destroying his reality and causing it to break apart in shards of ss.


    The next moment, however, he found himself back in the Taiqing Immortal Sect, at the moment when he had attacked it. Corpses were scattered all over thend, and the blood pooled until it could form a viscous, cloying river.


    "A dream within a dream?" Lou Yujing frowned.


    "Lou Yujing, why did you be a traitor to the sect? Why kill us?!"


    "Lou Yujing, I hold you ountable for my death!"


    "Lou Yujing, return my life to me!"


    Countless corpses who had copsed within pools of blood suddenly seemed toe back to life. They shrieked and shouted as they stood up and demanded restitution from Lou Yujing.


    Lou Yujing frowned, ignoring their demands. He didn''t care for them at all. The next moment, however, he could hear a crisp feminine voice.


    "Lou''er, what have you done?!"


    The woman''s voice quavered, causing even the aloof Lou Yujing to suddenly whirl around. He found his master dressed in understated beauty.


    Had his master been revived?


    Her face was full of tears. When she looked at Lou Yujing, she did so with disappointment and fear.


    "M-Master?" Lou Yujing nched.


    The woman''s cries gradually grew louder and louder. "Why did you kill my father? Why did you kill my senior brothers and sisters? What do you want from me?!"


    Lou Yujing''s face turned pale. "I..."


    Though he might be aloof to others, he always, always wanted to please his master.


    "Wench, look at what you''ve done! Your disciple has killed us all!" one of the dead howled.


    "My daughter, why did you end up epting someone like him as your disciple?" the woman''s father asked in disappointment.


    "Junior Sister, your disciple killed me. Junior Sister, it''s all your fault!"


    "I won''t recognize you as my junior sister. Your disciple betrayed the Taiqing Immortal Sect and ruined us all. You''ll be an enemy of the sect forevermore!"


    Countless corpses began to criticize the woman, insulting and ming her for all that had been done to them.


    "Lou''er wasn''t like this in the past. It''s all my fault," the young woman sobbed. She knelt down and began to beg for mercy, but none of the corpses were willing to forgive her.


    "You killed us all. We''ll kill you, too!"


    "I''m going to eat your flesh and drink your blood. I''ll take your life just as you''ve taken mine!"


    "Junior Sister, return my life to me!"


    "Devour her!"


    The corpses, seemingly knowing that Lou Yujing didn''t care about their insults, focused all their attention on his master. Flesh was torn from her prone body in a gruesome sight.


    "Scram! I''m the one who killed you. How dare you me her?!" Lou Yujing suddenly shouted. He rushed over intending to save his master, but he wasn''t able to do so at all. The corpses continued to torture her.


    "No, no. This is fake! Shatter!" Lou Yujing howled in fear.


    This time, however, the dream realm didn''t shatter.


    Lou Yujing watched as his master was tortured cruelly: maligned, criticized, then beaten. Even so, she continued to protect Lou Yujing, though she looked at him with disappointment and sadness. Lou Yujing''s heart felt as if it were being torn apart.


    "Torture me if you must. Don''t torture my master!" Lou Yujing bellowed.


    Unfortunately for him, the dream realm wasn''t under his control. His master continued to protect him, though her disappointed gaze caused his emotions to plummet, for despair to overwhelm him.


    Standing outside the dream realm, Xiao Nanfeng witnessed everything that had happened. His scalp prickled.


    "Is this what it means to attack the heart?" Xiao Nanfeng shuddered.


    Yu Fuli had told him about the potency of attacking one''s heart and how it was even more frightening and dangerous than mastery over natural or heavenlyw. It was only now, upon seeing what was befalling Lou Yujing, that he truly understood the power of the heart.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s energy had shattered Lou Yujing''s defenses and prated him to the core. This sort of attack was frightening to the extreme. Everyone would be stricken by despair and unable to defend themselves from the attack.


    Lou Yujing couldn''t deal with what he was facing; could Xiao Nanfeng?


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on as Lou Yujing was subdued by despair, by self-criticism, by sorrow. In the end, he descended into the abyss. After an indeterminate amount of time, a sh of red light cut Lou Yujing''s body like a sword.


    Lou Yujing didn''t defend, and neither did he resist. He allowed the strike tond as if he were seeking death.


    Lou Yujing''s body shattered before his eyes as the dream realm shattered. Shockingly, what appeared on Lou Yujing''s face moments before the attacknded was relief.


    With the dream realm shattered, both cultivators awakened and returned to reality.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon and Lou Yujing were repelled from each other. Neither seemed inclined to fight.


    Lou Yujing''s body began to crack, as if the wounds he had incurred in the dream realm were replicated in reality.


    He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as he copsed. The pir of vitality behind him shuddered and shook as if it too would crack at any moment.


    Lou Yujing awoke and eyed the Taiqing Grandmaster''s giant eidolon. He smiled bitterly. "You''ve won, Xiao Nanfeng."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Lou Yujing, the one who beat you was Lou''er, not me."


    He could tell that Lou Yujing was in dire straits. Not only had he incurred wounds to his physical body, but also his soul. His soul had shattered¡ªwas he going to die?


    "Lou''er died that year. I cared not at all for anyone else in the Taiqing Immortal Sect, but my master did. She gave her life for the sect, but I destroyed it all. Ha, ha, haha! What a fool I''ve been!" Lou Yujing looked up at the heavens and began tough piteously.


    "Haven''t you recovered from the dream?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He continued to examine Lou Yujing. He knew how frightening the visions of the heart could be, but didn''t realize that their influence would pervade Xiao Nanfeng to such an extent.


    "So what if I have, and so what if I haven''t? Do you remember what I told you, Xiao Nanfeng? We''re the only two cultivators of any value in the world. Everyone else is chaff."


    "How arrogant you are."


    "I simply speak the truth that I see. Mark my words. We''re very simr. We both came from the Taiqing Immortal Sect. But you''ve been lucky, and your choices have been antipodal to mine. You can head all the way to the peak."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent, not understanding the point of Lou Yujing''s final promation.


    Suddenly, Lou Yujing rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "Of the legends under heaven, there are only two: you and me."


    With thest of his energy, Lou Yujing threw a punch at Xiao Nanfeng. He invoked heavenlyw, causing the attack to grow stronger and stronger.


    "Perhaps so," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon punched Lou Yujing.


    The two cultivators'' fists shed in the void in an earth-shattering explosion.


    Lou Yujing''s physical body, strained to the utmost, cracked and scattered.


    Even so, he was calm. His face harbored no fear, no pain, no desperation; only calmness, absolution, and peace.


    "Thank you, Xiao Nanfeng." Lou Yujing suddenly smiled.


    "For what?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "For avenging the Taiqing Immortal Sect. For all that you''ve done."


    Then, his physical body scattered in a cloud of dust. The pir of red light vanished, as did the waning moon in the air¡ªor it was about to, before a strange, mysterious charm appeared within the waning moon, vibrating as if it were attempting to flee.


    "The charm of heavenlyw?" the Divine Emperor eximed in excitement.


    Her bell shot into the air as she attempted to trap the charm within it.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother looking at themotion in the heavens; he turned to Lou Yujing, who remained before him. His physical body had scattered, leaving only his cracked soul, which was poised to dissipate as well. There would be no saving him now.


    "I have one final request. Can you allow me to return to Hongyue''s capital once more?"


    Xiao Nanfeng considered it before nodding. "Very well."


    Just then, an ice-cold voice could be heard from high above. "You dare steal my Loss Diagram? How dare you!"

 Chapter 778: Return to Hongyues Capital

    <h4>Chapter 778: Return to Hongyue''s Capital</h4>


    "You dare steal my Loss Diagram? How dare you!"


    An ice-cold voice could be heard from the red moon far above him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He quickly rushed out of the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon and fled into the distance.


    Just then, the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon shook as it released arge burst of red light. A huge sound wave shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    High in the air, the Divine Emperor nched and shot straight toward him.


    She batted aside the sound wave with a palm and ushered Xiao Nanfeng protectively behind him. At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng reached out to shield Lou Yujing''s soul.


    Though Xiao Nanfeng and Lou Yujing were enemies, somehow, after having witnessed Lou Yujing''s memories and his death, Xiao Nanfeng still protected what remained of his body.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon shook as it suddenly seemed toe to life. He flicked his horsetail whisk and red at Xiao Nanfeng and his group.


    "Nanfeng, leave now. I''ll take on the Taiqing Grandmaster with Shenfeng''s imperial might," the Divine Emperor said seriously.


    "No, there''s no need! Someone has already agreed to intercede on my behalf."


    "Oh?"


    Just then, not far from the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon, the void shimmered. A figure of light emerged, none other than Yu Fuli himself.


    "What do you intend to do, Taiqing Grandmaster?" Yu Fuli asked.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon red at Yu Fuli, as if he knew precisely what had happened. He stated coldly, "Yu Fuli, you overreach."


    "Hardly. I believe the opposite is true. Do you intend to revive now?" Yu Fuli asked, smiling.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster red balefully at Yu Fuli, seemingly infuriated because of him.


    "The Loss Diagram was your bait. Are you upset that it was eaten by a fish? I remember your ns having more weight to them," Yu Fuli said with a smile.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster continued to stare at Yu Fuli for some time before he turned to Xiao Nanfeng. He understood that Yu Fuli was serving to back Xiao Nanfeng up, that he wouldn''t be able to terrorize Xiao Nanfeng as he had anticipated.


    The Taiqing Grandmaster took a deep breath. "Yu Fuli, once I return, I''ll deal with you then. The heavens are about to attack you. I hope you won''t die too much in advance."


    Yu Fuli smiled. "I''ll host a banquet for you when you return to the Sieve of Heaven."


    The Taiqing Grandmaster eyed Yu Fuli, and then Xiao Nanfeng, again. He gave them sinister looks.


    Then, the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon flew into the red full moon, which buzzed and vanished from sight.


    Where Yu Fuli''s figure had been, the void shimmered and returned to its usual state. Yu Fuli vanished, not having spoken to Xiao Nanfeng throughout the exchange.


    The skies returned to their usual color, as if nothing had ever happened. Only Lou Yujing''s shattered soul remained as testimony to the events that had taken ce.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell began to vibrate rapidly.


    "The charm of heavenlyw is struggling to escape. I need to suppress it immediately," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Do so. I''ll bring Lou Yujing back to Hongyue''s capital."


    "Why?" the Divine Emperor eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Lou Yujing. "He might be my opponent, but I''d like to put him at ease.


    The Divine Emperor seemed perplexed, but she nodded. "Let me apany you."


    "Let''s go, then. Focus on attuning to the charm for now. If something goes wrong, I''ll summon you.


    "Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.


    She flew into the Divine Emperor''s bell, which suddenly shrank in size until it became a ring. Xiao Nanfeng slid it over his ring finger, where it had been at the very start.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward with Lou Yujing''s shattered soul in tow, rushing off toward the capital of Hongyue. He quickly vanished over the horizon.


    Only then did the countless people of Shenfeng''s capital btedly recover their memories.


    "What happened to me?"


    "Is the battle over? Did Xiao Nanfeng win, or did Lou Yujing?"


    Many were perplexed.


    Not long ago, back in Hongyue''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had torn apart Lou Yujing''s avatar''s soul fragment, then retrieved the Golden Immortals of Dazheng from the gourd in which he had safeguarded them.


    A group of zombies rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to be held back by the Golden Immortals from Dazheng. Fighting ensued within the entire pce, which was fortunately protected by a formation. Though some shockwaves were still able to escape from the grounds, they didn''t cause too much havoc.


    After a while, a shadowy figure appeared. Ye Sanshui was the first to emerge.


    "Your Majesty, I''vee to protect you!" Ye Sanshui shouted from outside the pce.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head to the air. "Allow him in."


    The cultivators responsible for maintaining the defensive formation around the pce opened up a hole by which Ye Sanshui could enter.


    As he did so, he struck immediately. He suppressed and sealed the Golden Immortal zombies, allowing Dazheng''s Golden Immortals to finish off the rest of the lesser zombies.


    The pce quickly fell silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved his ck coffin. "Ye Sanshui, enter the ck coffin hidden realm and assist Tu Feng."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui rushed into the coffin.


    Meanwhile, more and more Hongyue cultivators attempted to batter down the defensive formation around the pce.


    Just then, Dazheng''s Golden Immortals shot forward and blocked the Hongyue cultivators from making a move, protecting the defensive formation for the time being.


    Before long, as Lou Yujing''s main body was split apart by the Taiqing Grandmaster''s eidolon''s heart energy, the sea of fortune above Hongyue''s capital began to crack.


    The golden dragon of fortune howled in grief.


    Countless citizens raised their heads to find that the dragon had begun to crack.


    "The golden dragon of fortune has shattered!"


    "Did something happen to His Majesty? Has His Majesty fallen?"


    "When an Immortal Emperor falls, his golden dragon of fortune will dissipate. The golden dragon''s still present. Surely nothing has happened?"


    "But look at the extent to which it''s cracked! I''m sure something must have happened to His Majesty."


    "Is the divine empire of Hongyue done for?"


    Countless citizens and officials stared at the sky in shock.


    The news quickly spread throughout Hongyue. The spies in Hongyue rapidly disseminated the news as they too learned of it.


    Back in the ck coffin hidden realm, Ye Sanshui joined Tu Feng against Tu Jiuniang. Though Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng were badly injured and vomiting blood, though dozens of mountains had been leveled, and pits filled thend, they had finally managed to kill Tu Jiuniang.


    "I apologize for implicating you, Marquis Ye." Tu Feng grimaced.


    Ye Sanshui shook his head. "It''s not your fault. She had a Boundless Immortal relic that she detonated! It would have been tremendously dangerous otherwise."


    "Isn''t that so? I might have been done for if you hadn''t shown up." Tu Feng smiled wryly.


    Ye Sanshui shook his head. "I was merely acting on orders."


    The two cultivators walked up to the heart of the battlefield, where Tu Jiuniang''s physical body had dissipated. All that remained of her was a white fox''s tail.


    Tu Feng frowned and sighed. He reached out for the fox''s tail, only for Tu Jiuniang''s soul to appear. It was translucent and quickly fading into transparency, and was cracked to the point that it would scatter into powder at any moment. Clearly, now that she had lost her zombie''s body, her soul would be doomed as well.


    "Jiuniang, you deserve far more than death," Tu Feng gritted out angrily.


    Tu Jiuniang stared at Tu Feng in fear before she steeled her resolve and began to cry stubbornly. "Third Brother, I know you don''t understand me, but that''s because you don''t know what love is. I''m willing to give everything for him, to be an enemy of the world in his stead, to regret nothing even if I have to die a thousand times."


    "You!" Tu Feng''s eyes bulged with anger.


    He didn''t understand how Tu Jiuniang could still be so besotted with him even at the end of her life.


    "Third Brother, I know I''ve made plenty of mistakes. I''ve betrayed your expectations of me. But now that I''m dead, I''ve finally paid back my debt. May I ask something of you?" Tu Jiuniang''s eyes were red.


    She knelt down and begged Tu Feng.


    Tu Feng wanted to cry upon seeing his little sister reduced to such a state. How could his beloved sister have destroyed the entire n?


    "What do you want?" Tu Feng demanded.


    Tu Jiuniang raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears. "Please allow me to see my husband one more time."


    "You!" Tu Feng roared.


    Some timeter, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body returned to Hongyue''s capital with Lou Yujing''s shattered soul.


    Hongyue''s capital was a mess by then. Plenty of citizens were fleeing, while the cultivators of Hongyue were rushing into the city.


    Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng, they were poised to strike at him with killing intent when some among them nched.


    "It''s His Majesty!" they eximed.


    Their eyes widened in surprise, then shock. They could see that Lou Yujing was in terrible shape. His soul was clearly about to dissipate.


    "Your Majesty!" the cultivators cried out, bowing down toward him.


    Themotion drew the attention of all the citizens and officials of Hongyue. When they saw Lou Yujing about to breathe hisst, they were all astounded.


    "Your Majesty!" they cried out.


    Lou Yujing smiled bitterly at the citizens of his capital, then turned toward the pce.


    The defensive formation there had broken down, and everything within could be seen.


    Tu Feng and Ye Sanshui had emerged from the ck coffin. Tu Feng shrouded himself with fog; Tu Jiuniang''s shattered soul floated beside him. In the end, he had granted her her final wish.

 Chapter 779: Deliverance

    <h4>Chapter 779: Deliverance</h4>


    Lou Yujing''s appearance caused the Hongyue cultivators to stop short. Xiao Nanfeng likewise waved his arm, motioning for Ye Sanshui and the others to stop fighting. Silence reigned in Hongyue''s capital.


    All the officials and cultivators panicked. Lou Yujing was clearly dead, and his soul shattered.


    "Your Majesty!" Countless citizens cried out for him.


    Though Lou Yujing had been a traitor to the Taiqing Immortal Sect, he was skilled enough to have established a divine empire in a short period of time, and had incredible charm besides. Many officials were heartbroken to learn of his death.


    Lou Yujing smiled at the officials. There was a hint of bitterness in his eyes. He didn''t console any of them; rather, he simply flew toward the pce alongside Xiao Nanfeng.


    More and more Hongyue officials and cultivators gathered around him.


    Though they knew that Xiao Nanfeng was an enemy, that Xiao Nanfeng could kill them at any time, they still trailed after Lou Yujing as he embarked on his final pilgrimage.


    Afar, when Tu Jiuniang''s shattered soul saw Lou Yujing''s state, she clutched her mouth as tears began to fall from her eyes.


    Only when Lou Yujing drew close to her did she rush toward him. "Husband!"


    Lou Yujing nced at Tu Jiuniang with a sh of guilt.


    "I''m sorry, Jiuniang." Lou Yujing patted Jiuniang''s back.


    Lou Yujing didn''t exin what he was apologizing for, but he could sense Tu Jiuniang''s soul tremble, as if she understood his meaning.


    Lou Yujing released her and continued to fly deeper into the pce. Tu Jiuniang, her eyes red, quickly followed after her husband.


    The pce was a mess; countless buildings had simply copsed.


    "Clean up the area, but be careful," Lou Yujing warned his subordinates.


    "Understood!"


    Many officials rushed to clean up the pce. A small flower garden was restored. It clearly used to be exquisite, but had since be a mess. It was clear that the garden used to be full of fresh flowers, all of which had been destroyed.


    The officials were perplexed. They were aware of this flower garden''s existence, but it was forbidden to anyone else in the pce, including the empress Tu Jiuniang.


    Lou Yujing nced at the small garden and smiled.


    "Husband, do you intend to be buried here by her side?" Tu Jiuniang asked.


    Lou Yujing nced toward Tu Jiuniang in surprise. "You''re aware?"


    Tu Jiuniang nodded, then shook her head. "I don''t, not quite, but I can sense it. Whenever youe across a problem, Husband, you drink in this flower garden. You nted every flower here yourself. Whenever something troubles you, you talk it through here. I''m sure there must be someone buried here who''s always on your mind."


    Lou Yujing gave her a pained smile. "So you do know everything, after all."


    Tu Jiuniang nodded, her eyes as red as ever.


    "I know you me me," Lou Yujing murmured, sighing.


    "No. I don''t me you. I''d never me you, Husband." Tu Jiuniang squeezed Lou Yujing''s shoulders more tightly.


    "I''m sorry," Lou Yujing said gently.


    "Husband, have you ever loved me all these years? Even just once, even just a little?" Tu Jiuniang asked anxiously.


    Lou Yujing''s eyes softened. She really did know everything, after all.


    Lou Yujing nodded after a moment''s thought. "I have."


    Tu Jiuniang smiled more radiantly than ever before, despite the tears trailing down her face. She was like a flower in bloom.


    "I''m sorry," Lou Yujing reiterated.


    Tu Jiuniang''s body shook. More tears fell from her eyes. "It''s enough, Husband. It''s more than enough. I''m satisfied with what you''ve given me!"


    Lou Yujing smiled and took ahold of Tu Jiuniang''s hand. She smiled in excitement; this moment alone made everything she had suffered seem worth it.


    Lou Yujing turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "My thanks."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It''s hardly worth mentioning."


    Lou Yujing nodded. "I hid the third ck coffin underground, beneath the pce, in the mouth of a superior draconic vein. You can im it yourself."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Lou Yujing turned to the shattering golden dragon of fortune high overhead. He took a deep breath. "All the people of Hongyue, listen to me. I am your emperor, Lou Yujing. This is thest time I''ll be able tomunicate with you. From today onwards, the divine empire of Hongyue shall be part of the empire of Shenfeng. All citizens of Hongyue will now belong to Shenfeng, and all officials, generals, and soldiers shall obey officialmands from the Divine Emperor. Those who refuse suchmands shall be deemed traitors to the empire."


    Lou Yujing''s words were quickly transmitted to Hongyue''s people via the golden dragon of fortune, all of whom were taken aback.


    "How can this be? It has to be fake! Has Hongyue submitted to Shenfeng? Surely it should be the other way around!"


    "This can''t be His Majesty. I won''t believe it!"


    "Is this the end of the divine empire of Hongyue? Impossible!"


    If not for the fact that the golden dragon of fortune had transmitted Lou Yujing''s words, no one would have believed them. How could this be? What Immortal Emperor would bow down to an ordinary emperor?


    And yet such was the truth, the incontrovertible truth passed to the citizens of Hongyue via the golden dragon of fortune high overhead. Lou Yujing''s orders were absolute and unable to be faked.


    The people of Hongyue nced at each other in fear, shock, confusion, and disbelief. The entire empire seemed to grind to a halt.


    The forces in the vicinity immediately learned of the news as well.


    "Impossible. Is Lou Yujing crazy?"


    "Considering how ambitious Lou Yujing is, why would he give up his empire just like that?"


    "Aren''t Hongyue and Shenfeng bitter rivals? Why would Lou Yujing do such a thing?!"


    The forces were astounded by the turn of events.


    Though they didn''t dare to participate in the war between the two empires, they had been paying careful attention to what was happening in hopes of profiting once one side started to lose¡ªbut what would they do now? The two empires hade to an ord!


    Within Hongyue''s capital, countless cultivators stared at Lou Yujing in shock¡ªincluding Xiao Nanfeng himself. He didn''t expect that Lou Yujing would bequeath his entire empire to him.


    Lou Yujing turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "I know of the rtionship between you and the Shenfeng Empire. This will help you, won''t it?"


    "Why go to this extent?"


    Lou Yujing sighed as he nced at Xiao Nanfeng. "Why do you think I said that we were the only legends in this world?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Wasn''t that because Lou Yujing was arrogant?


    Lou Yujing continued, "It''s because you seem just like a young me. I can sense your ambition, your hard work, your struggles¡ªit reminds me so much of myself. Before my master perished, I was just like you. I cared little about the struggles and challenges before me, confident that I would be able to ovee each and every one, that I would be able to take on the heavens themselves. I hid my pride, not wanting to advertise my strength until the day I seeded. Then, I would share my sess with the woman of my dreams, repay those who had favored me hundredfold, and bring eternal peace to thend. The whole world would be mine¡ªand would be the better for it."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced sharply at Lou Yujing.


    "But as you know, after I suffered a terrible shock, everything changed. My new beliefs and attitude made my old dreams untenable, but I don''t regret what I did. You haven''t encountered the same setbacks I did, and you continue on the path I was forced to leave behind. I hope you''ll be able to seed in fulfilling what I never managed to achieve."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you."


    "Do what you wish with the traitors to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. And finish off Yuan Wudi on my behalf. He''s a spy for another saint, though I''ve pretended not to be aware of it."


    "I had no intention of letting the traitors go free," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lou Yujing nodded. He slowly walked toward the small garden in which he had buried his master, though no one else knew of it. He ceded Hongyue to Xiao Nanfeng not merely because of the reasons he had mentioned, butrgely because Xiao Nanfeng had brought him here before his death.


    If they couldn''t be together in life, they would at least be united in death. His physical body and soul were lost to the heavens, but his truesoul had found its home at longst.


    Where he stood at the center of the flower garden, starlight emanated from Lou Yujing''s soul as it began to dissipate.


    The golden dragon of fortune high overhead bellowed in grief. Hongyue''s fortune flew toward Shenfeng as Hongyue crumbled away.


    "Your Majesty!" Countless Hongyue officials and soldiers knelt in grief as they saw their emperor off for the final time.


    "Husband!" Tu Jiuniang shouted.


    Lou Yujing stood in the flower garden looking at Tu Jiuniang. He suddenly smiled and spread his arms wide.


    Tu Jiuniang was overjoyed. She rushed into the flower garden herself and into his embrace.


    "Husband!"


    Tu Jiuniang and Lou Yujing''s shattered souls dissipated simultaneously into a cloud of starlight.


    In the end, they had lost everything but each other.


    "Farewell, Your Majesty!" countless Hongyue officials cried out.


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng and the others bowed as they watched Lou Yujing and his consort vanish from sight.


    Though they had won the war, for some reason, Xiao Nanfeng was left with a heavy heart.

 Chapter 780: Claiming the Kingdom

    <h4>Chapter 780: iming the Kingdom</h4>


    Both of Xiao Nanfeng''s bodies had departed, leaving Ye Sanshui to remain stationed in Hongyue''s capital. Simultaneously, arge number of officials were being sent from Shenfeng.


    The copse of Hongyue and thest-minute delegation of the empire to Shenfeng caused tremendous waves throughout the Immortal cities of Hongyue.


    Some were willing to be loyal to Shenfeng, but the majority panicked. Some attempted to flee, others fomented rebellion, and yet others entangled themselves with neighboring forces, seeking to sell out their empire for profit.


    Even so, Lou Yujing''s final promation had considerably smoothened the transition of territory and people from Hongyue to Shenfeng.


    Back in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had rushed over at great speed with Tu Feng''s assistance.


    In a certain hall, Xiao Nanfeng found the badly wounded Yang Chuan. He teased him. "As the Southern Aspect, shouldn''t you have had an easier time against Yuan Wudi?"


    Yang Chuan scowled. "What''s there tough at? I wouldn''t have been injured to this extent if I weren''t helping you!"


    "Not only that, surely. You wanted to take revenge yourself, too. If you hand me Yuan Wudi''s corpse, I''ll believe you."


    "Dream on! Think about the injuries I suffered. Are you so shameless as to ask for the spoils from my fight, too?" Yang Chuan scoffed even as heughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I heard Yuan Wudi had two Boundless Immortal relics."


    Yang Chuan pursed his lips. "He detonated them in a kamikaze attack. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been harmed to this extent."


    "What a pity. Rest well, then."


    Yang Chuan looked at him curiously. "I heard Lou Yujing died¡ªand that he even handed Hongyue to the Divine Emperor before his death."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s true."


    "What? Has he gone crazy?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng briefly fell silent. In the end, he didn''t attempt to exin Lou Yujing''s mentality. "You can think of it that way, I suppose."


    Yang Chuan blinked. "The Divine Emperor must have gotten a windfall, then. Right, what''s the rtionship between the two of you?"


    "We''re just ordinary friends."


    Yang Chuan narrowed his eyes in clear disbelief.


    Back in Shenfeng''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body returned triumphantly with the Divine Emperor, who was still meditating within her bell as she sought to attune to the charm of heavenlyw.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately convened a meeting with the Divine Emperor''s confidantes to handle the absorption of Hongyue into Shenfeng.


    Wen Zhong had been dispatched all the way from Dazheng. Recently, he had been sending his subordinates all over Hongyue as spies in preparation for a decisive strike¡ªonly to have Lou Yujing cede the entire empire to Shenfeng. Wen Zhong was taken aback.


    "Your Majesty, what''s going on? Why would Lou Yujing cede his empire just like that?" Wen Zhong was astounded.


    "Is it good or bad?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Good, of course! My subordinates can take control just like that."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Ye Sanshui will stand guard in Hongyue''s capital and protect the seat of power there. We''ll start by taking control of the various Immortal cities. As for the people causing trouble, kill them outright as much as possible¡ªmobilize the Shenfeng army. Otherwise, send the spectral guards and shadow guards to assassinate them. We''ll absorb all the Immortal cities as quickly as we can."


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied, nodding.


    "We''ll leave the rebelling Immortal cities be for the time being. Once we subdue all the Immortal cities we can, we''ll take them down then."


    "Of course, Your Majesty. My subordinates are already heading toward the city lords'' manors," Wen Zhong replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Wen Zhong, and the Divine Emperor''s trusted confidantes focused fully on gaining control of the Immortal cities all over Hongyue.


    Those officials and cultivators willing to switch their allegiance to Shenfeng were weed with generosity. Whatever they had done during the war would be pardoned, though their future conduct would be subject to Shenfengw.


    Some cultivators, however, weren''t afforded such an opportunity: those who had betrayed the Taiqing Immortal Sect two centuries ago alongside Lou Yujing, traitors who had massacred Taiqing disciples. Zhao Yuanjiao himself hunted them down alongside disciples from all four divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect.


    Dayster, the Divine Emperor officially emerged from secluded cultivation.


    The Divine Emperor''s bell tolled as she stepped out, her long hair flowing in the wind, her waist delicate, her legs long, her expression aloof, her beauty unparalleled. Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily dazed.


    "Have you attuned to the charm of heavenlyw?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor smiled warmly, like a sculpture of iceing to life. Xiao Nanfeng was beset by passion.


    "Who said I was going to attune to it myself? I suppressed it so that you can attune to it instead. Its power over vitality might help you advance your cultivation quickly, too. You should try it."


    She passed him a red charm. The word ''vitality'' seemed to sh across its surface before continuously morphing and transforming.


    "Me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Who else? Give it a try," the Divine Emperor urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and reached out for the charm.


    It quavered. Ripples of red light emanated from it and repelled Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    The Divine Emperor frowned. "Suppress."


    She infused a tremendous quantity of energy into the charm, which shook violently and even began to crack.


    "Again!" the Divine Emperor urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng infused his spiritual power into the charm, which was repelled again.


    "How can this be?" The Divine Emperor frowned.


    "The charm''s starting to crack¡ªand it''s expanding," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Perhaps the heavens have done something to prevent continued transmission of the charm. Its potency is fading," the Divine Emperor said.


    "Fading?"


    "This is a charm of heavenlyw, not an actual manifestation of heavenlyw itself. It''s used to facilitate control. It must have been designed ording to Saint Chi Hai''s specifications, and won''t be attuned to others so easily. If I''m not mistaken, the reason Lou Yujing wasn''t able to gain full control of it because Lou Yujing was ipatible with the charm in the first ce. Its potency has been weakening ever since leaving Saint Chi Hai''s body."


    "In that case, Lou Yujing''s im of stealing the charm and bing the new saint is all fake, isn''t it?"


    "It is. There''s still some time left before this charm loses all its potency. If you can attune to it for now, you''ll be able to advance your cultivation rapidly while itsts. Try again."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and continued to try it a few times, but the charm repelled his energy each time.


    "I don''t know why it seems to be responding unfavorably to you in particr," the Divine Emperor said.


    "The number of cracks on the charm is increasing. Is my strength causing its deterioration?"


    "I''m not sure myself. It''s possible."


    "Can you use the charm on yourself to advance your cultivation?"


    "Me? I suppose I can. I just tried it."


    "Then you should attune to it and take what advantage of it you can."


    "No, no. I prepared this for you. Even if it refuses your main body, how about your avatar?"


    "My avatar needs fortune, not this. You take it. Advance your cultivation¡ªit''ll be like me raising mine. We''re a couple, after all. There''s no need to differentiate between you and me."


    The Divine Emperor smiled gently at Xiao Nanfeng as she ultimately nodded. "Very well."


    She sat cross-legged in meditation as she ced the charm in her mouth.


    A pir of red light erupted around her and pierced the heavens. An endless surge of energy filled her as her aura magnified. Her long hair floated in the air; she was the very picture of beauty.


    She remained in meditation for a whole day before she slowly opened her eyes. The pir of red light slowly faded away.


    "Have you attuned to it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Divine Emperor nodded. "I infused what energy I could into my body through the void. However, perhaps because of my cursed spiritual avatar, the charm deteriorated more and more quickly. It''ll likely break apart before long."


    "That''s fine. Once that happens, we can get a few more," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    The Divine Emperor rolled her beautiful eyes. "Do you think they''re that easy to acquire?"


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but hug the Divine Emperor upon witnessing her enticing gaze.


    "What are you doing?" the Divine Emperor eximed, her cheeks tinged with red.


    "Perhaps I can experience the effects of the charm with you while you''re attuning to it..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, lifting the Divine Emperor up.


    The Divine Emperor flushed as she realized what Xiao Nanfeng was getting at. She wrapped her snow-white arms around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck. "You dirty-minded man!"


    Xiao Nanfengughed loudly as he brought them both into a bedroom. The doors creaked shut as a formation activated, sealing them within.

 Chapter 781: The Divine Empire of Shenfeng

    <h4>Chapter 781: The Divine Empire of Shenfeng</h4>


    Within a valley, a group of bloodied, badly wounded cultivators in tattered robes nced warily at their surroundings.


    "Have we managed to shake them off?"


    "We have. They''re all crazy. We should have killed them all long before this."


    "Just how did His Majesty die? How did this happen? What should we do?"


    The cultivators were all exhausted.


    Just then, atop a nearby mountain, Zhao Yuanjiao emerged. "Traitors, it''s time for you to pay with your lives!"


    "They''ve caught up!" one of the cultivators eximed.


    Taiqing disciples flooded the mountains all around them, their eyes shining with killing intent. The cultivators were at their wits'' end.


    "We killed all those Taiqing disciples that year following His Majesty''s orders. He was the mastermind. We were all forced to join him!" a cultivator eximed.


    "Since you''ve joined him in life, you might as well join him in death," Zhao Yuanjiao stated coldly.


    The cultivators nched. "Take them down!"


    They drew their des and prepared to strike at the Taiqing disciples.


    Zhao Yuanjiao''s eyes shed coldly as he struck at them with his crescent de.


    "Die!" the Taiqing disciples chorused.


    A massacre was unleashed¡ªthere, and in countless ces all across Hongyue.


    By the side of a river, Ye Dafu and his subordinates surrounded a group of traitors and forced them to edge closer and closer toward the bank.


    "Die!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    Meanwhile, in another stretch of the forest, the Heaven division disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect activated their loss chants to suppress a group of traitors. "Die!"


    Die, die, die!


    Today was the day that all the traitors to the Taiqing Immortal Sect would be dealt with once and for all. None of them would escape; none of them could.


    The day of carnage and ughter finally allowed the Taiqing disciples closure over what had happened two centuries ago.


    Hongyue had had three hundred Immortal cities to its name.


    Some of the Immortal cities suffered from internal revolt, but it was all within Shenfeng''s control. Shenfeng had four absolute advantages.


    First, Lou Yujing had ceded his empire to Shenfeng.


    Second, Wen Zhong''s strategists were skilled and experienced negotiators, and the Hongyue officials were allowed to remain in their original roles. This made them much happier to ept the transfero f ownership.


    Third, the Tu n supporters held high-ranking positions in the empire, and they obeyed Tu Feng. With their support, there was limited friction between the bureaucrats and Shenfeng''s own ruling body.


    Fourth, there were no empires in the vicinity who could hope to challenge Shenfeng''s might.


    As a result, within two months, the majority of the three hundred Immortal cities were under Shenfeng control.


    Shenfeng''s army pacified the remaining Immortal cities easily.


    Finally, after another month passed, all of the Immortal cities that previously belonged to Hongyue were now firmly under Shenfeng control.


    Over the next two weeks, Blue Lantern directed the superior draconic veins underneath Hongyue''s capital to Shenfeng''s capital.


    Blue Lanternid formations, shifted draconic veins, gathered fortune, and outright transformed Shenfeng''s capital, molding it to the level required for ascension into a divine empire. He leveled mountains and raised new ones to craft the entire capital into a huge natural formation meant to draw in spiritual aether. He augmented the formations all throughout the capital, leaving it no inferior to that of the capital of any other divine empire in the world.


    The sea of fortune in Shenfeng grewrger by an order of magnitude. Fortune roiled in huge waves across the sea.


    The countless officials and soldiers of Shenfeng watched the growth in their capital with excitement and anticipation. They were proud to have joined Shenfeng when they did; in just a few months, they had aplished something that countless would never achieve in their lifetimes. Shenfeng had given them power, prestige, position, and fortune. Everyone was grateful to Shenfeng and the Divine Emperor herself.


    After another month, in Xia Hong''s manor, Xia Lan eximed, "Second Brother, we''re rich! It''s only been a year. Shenfeng''s already going to ascend into a divine empire!"


    Xia Hong was very excited as well. He hadn''t expected that everything would progress so smoothly and so quickly. It was all like a dream¡ªdespite only being a peak True Immortal, he was about to be a high-ranking official of a divine empire!


    "It''s all thanks to Nanfeng," Xia Hong murmured.


    "Nanfeng? The Divine Emperor''s the skilled one!" Xia Lan eximed.


    "Silence! If you speak ill of Nanfeng again, I''ll send you back to the Yuqing holynd. He''s ten thousand times stronger than you are, and ten times stronger than me!" Xia Hong red at Xia Lan.


    Xia Lan stiffened.


    "But Xiao Nanfeng ran off with Yu''er! I don''t like him."


    "Are you crazy? Who wouldn''t want someone like Nanfeng as their sister-inw? Do you have to target him at every turn?" Xia Hong red.


    "But haven''t you forgotten what we witnessed in Shenfeng''s capital?" Xia Lan urged.


    "You mean that man who was with the Divine Emperor?" Xia Hong frowned.


    "Second Brother, who do you think that man is?" Xia Lan asked.


    Xia Hong''s heart thumped. "You mean¡ªsurely not!"


    "It has to be Nanfeng, I''m sure of it! I had some subordinates examine his background, too. He has an ambiguous rtionship with Princess Zhang Lingjun of the Imperial Court. How can we entrust him with Yu''er?" Xia Lan eximed.


    Xia Hong''s brows furrowed. "Let our parents worry about this. Don''t meddle."


    "But¡ª"


    Just then, an official rushed over. Both brothers instantly shut up.


    "Sir Xia, we can''t let anything go wrong during the ceremony today. Would you head into the pce soon? Many officials have already stepped inside."


    "Very well," Xia Hong replied.


    After the official retreated, Xia Hong told Xia Lan, "Present yourself well. When the ascension urs, you''d better not make a clown of yourself."


    "Rx. I know how to present myself well," Xia Lan replied, patting his chest.


    Xia Hong gave him an odd look. It was precisely because he knew his brother well that he was giving him a reminder.


    Xia Hong brought Xia Lan toward the pce. Countless Shenfeng officials were already entering in orderly lines. They were excited but quiet, and they gathered in a huge za within the pce grounds.


    There, a five-colored altar had been constructed.


    The officials stood in position, ready for the ceremony to begin.


    An official of rites shouted, "The auspicious time hase!"


    "We wee Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" countless officials and cultivators began.


    As everyone watched on, the Divine Emperor emerged in a ck draconic robe lined with gold, a crown on her head. She walked out of the pce, stoic and serious.


    The officials bowed deeply as music began to y. Golden light shone in the air; the entire capital seemed captivated by the pomp of the asion.


    Everyone held their breaths as the Divine Emperor walked toward the five-colored altar.


    She watched her entire empire bow down to her as she slowly turned in a circle. Finally, she looked high up toward the peak of a mountain within the pce, where a pavilion had been erected.


    The pavilion was clouded with fog, preventing any ordinary cultivator from seeing whaty within. The Divine Emperor''s sight easily pierced through it. She could see Xiao Nanfeng holding a cup of alcohol up to her with a smile. Her smile mirrored his own.


    The Divine Emperor nodded firmly, assured, as she turned back to her people.


    She took a deep breath. "Citizens of Shenfeng, today marks a momentous asion. I intend to invoke heaven and earth to request Shenfeng''s ascension into a divine empire. I ask that all citizens follow my lead and seek this boon from the heavens."


    The sea of fortune transmitted the Divine Emperor''s words to all the people of her empire.


    Excited, they dropped what they were doing and stood stock-still, their arms sped together in prayer.


    The Divine Emperor retrieved her imperial seal and code ofws.


    They flew into her sea of fortune. Fortune gathered around them.


    The Divine Emperor bowed toward the sky. "The Shenfeng Empire and its people seek a boon from the heavens: ascension into a divine empire. As its emperor, I shall lead by example. Let the empire rise into a pinnacle of strength. I ask that the heavens grant us a golden dragon of fortune."


    "We ask that the heavens grant us a golden dragon of fortune!" the people of Shenfeng echoed.


    Their voices were transmitted to the sea of fortune high above Shenfeng''s capital.


    "We ask that the heavens grant us a golden dragon of fortune!"


    Their voices, magnified, caused the void to ripple. Howling winds suddenly formed in the air. Dark clouds obscured Shenfeng from sight.


    The chanting of the people seemed to have sparked a heavenly phenomenon. The dark clouds rotated quickly in the form of a vortex. Barely visible within the vortex was a huge primordial altar.


    Though the altar itself was hidden from sight, it radiated a palpable aura of strength, as if it represented nothing less than fate itself.


    "The primordial altar..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The altar suddenly vibrated as it absorbed Shenfeng''s sea of fortune. Shenfeng''s imperial seal and code ofws were sucked toward the altar as well.

 Chapter 782: An Empires Fortune for Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 782: An Empire''s Fortune for Cultivation</h4>


    The primordial altar was a mysterious force, one that seemed central to the world atrge. It was able tomunicate with the world away and facilitate the exchange and acquisition of a cursed effigy body.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on intently as all of Shenfeng''s fortune was absorbed within.


    After a prolonged period of time, the primordial altar quaked. The fortune that it had absorbed was expelled once again, though its quantity had diminished greatly. Fortune descended from the heavens and headed straight for the Divine Emperor. It surged into her body, causing her to glow in resplendent light. A dragon''s cry could be heard from within her body, resounding across the heavens and all throughout Shenfeng.


    Then, a giant golden dragon of fortune erupted from the Divine Emperor''s body. All the empire''s fortune had gone into manifesting the dragon, which was thousands of meters long andrge beyond belief. It hovered in the sky above Shenfeng''s capital, a magnificent sight.


    In its mouth were the Divine Emperor''s imperial seal and code ofws, both seemingly infused with special energy and bathed in golden light.


    The Divine Emperor epted the two treasures from the golden dragon of fortune, who roared again and rose into the air. At a designated location, it stopped and began to coil its body up.


    All of Shenfeng''s fortune had been consumed to manifest this golden dragon of fortune. Shenfeng formally advanced from an empire to a divine empire.


    "On behalf of Shenfeng, I thank the heavens for granting Shenfeng a golden dragon of fortune. I am deeply grateful to the primordial altar," the Divine Emperor eximed.


    The golden dragon of fortune transmitted her words across the divine empire of Shenfeng.


    Countless shouts and exmations rang out across the empire.


    "We''ve seeded! Shenfeng''s a divine empire now!"


    "Long live Shenfeng!"


    The citizens all across Shenfeng were jubnt about what had just happened.


    Wisps of fortune rose into the air all throughout the divine empire of Shenfeng, manifestations of the gratitude of the people. They formed a golden haze around the golden dragon of fortune, one which would rapidly condense into a sea of fortune.


    The primordial altar vibrated and vanished from sight. The dark clouds in the air faded away.


    "Citizens of Shenfeng, the empire of Shenfeng shall henceforth be known as the divine empire of Shenfeng. All of you shall remain citizens. Shenfeng will dedicate itself to guarding and defending the rights of its people, both within the empire and outside of it. If anyone offends you, report the matter to your closest magistrate. Shenfeng shall stand behind you and investigate your ims!"


    The golden dragon of fortune transmitted her words throughout the empire.


    "Long live Shenfeng!"


    "Long live the Divine Emperor!"


    A festive spirit bloomed across Shenfeng.


    The officials cheered in excitement, and the disciples who had joined Shenfeng during its imperial examination a few months ago were ted.


    "Now, official appointments!"


    The officials of rites took over the ceremony. Those who had earned the greatest merit during the recent war would now be granted titled positions.


    Xia Hong had earned an incredible amount of merit and was granted the position of marquis.


    The cultivators of Dazheng, who belonged to another empire, weren''t granted titles but insteadrge sums of fortune.


    Though that fortune couldn''t be disbursed just yet, the sums of fortune would be delivered as quickly as possible.


    Xia Hong was radiant with joy, and all the disciples from the Yuqing holynd were excited for him.


    "It''s all thanks to Senior Brother Xia Hong. We wouldn''t have gotten such a wonderful opportunity otherwise."


    "No, we should thank Senior Brother Xiao instead. He was the one who heavily rmended Shenfeng to us."


    "Right, Senior Brother Xiao really had incredible foresight!"


    The ceremony was almost over.


    The Divine Emperor nced again at the peak of a mountain in the distance, where Xiao Nanfeng sat in a pavilion and continued to watch her.


    Two monthster, as Shenfeng impressed its policies upon the various Immortal cities of Hongyue, countless civilians who had originally been from Hongyue btedly realized that Shenfeng''s treatment of themon people was far beyond what they had anticipated. Roiling fortune flooded the sea of fortune above Shenfeng''s capital.


    The fortune had quickly snowballed to the point that it wasparable to the quantity of fortune that Hongyue had had at its peak.


    The Divine Emperor smiled. Wielding her imperial seal and code ofws, she announced, "I award all of Shenfeng''s fortune to Xiao Nanfeng."


    Fortune descended from the heavens and flooded into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of the fortune to enter secluded cultivation as he focused on clearing away the karmic consequence of his spiritual cultivation.


    He transformed to his True Yin spiritual avatar. White light radiated from him, along with intense frost.


    If his spiritual cultivation involved an ordinary cultivation technique, it would have been straightforward to break through. However, what he cultivated was Body of Yin, aplex, arcane technique that dealt with the core of spiritual cultivation itself. He hadplemented his spiritual cultivation with countless star maps of heavenly domains that dealt with both natural and heavenlyw, greatly magnifying the difficulty of his cultivation.


    With so much fortune avable to him, however, things were very different. His bottlenecks burst open from the force of the fortune that flooded into him as previously inessible insights became clear.


    More and more light brimmed from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. Frost gushed out from him. Despite the fact that he kept his spiritual moon firmly within his mindscape, snow began to fall in his vicinity.


    A blizzard began to form around the pce and quickly spread outward until it covered the entirety of the capital.


    Guards and cultivators cried out in surprise as the Divine Emperor hurriedly informed the people of the capital about the news.


    Snow fell for an entire day as Xiao Nanfeng''s aura grew stronger and stronger. The ptial valley froze over and became encased in a block of ice. Even the Divine Emperor hadn''t suppressed it¡ªthough that was partly because she was worried it would interrupt Xiao Nanfeng''s breakthrough.


    Finally, as thest drop of fortune was consumed, a white wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    He reined in his aura and returned to normal as he opened his eyes.


    "Well? Have you broken through?" the Divine Emperor asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''m ate-stage True Yin cultivator now."


    "Good. Once Shenfeng amasses enough fortune, I''ll cede it all to you again." The Divine Emperor smiled.


    "Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood up. "It''s time for me to set off now."


    "Must you go?"


    "Don''t worry. With my strength now, what''s there for me to fear? Ye Sanshui will assist me too."


    "Be careful," the Divine Emperor murmured. She didn''t want to see him leave.


    "Don''t worry. You need to be careful too. That charm of heavenlyw is deteriorating further and further. Before it dissipates, try to recover the strength you had in your past life."


    "I will." The Divine Emperor nodded firmly.


    "I''ll leave the Demon Child with you. Urge him to study, will you? While you''re in secluded cultivation, he can guard the empire on your behalf."


    The Divine Emperor smiled gently at the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had nned all this out for her. "Very well. Come back as soon as you can."


    Xiao Nanfeng hugged and kissed her.


    "Don''t!" The Divine Emperor flushed, but didn''t refuse the kiss.


    It was only quite a whileter that Xiao Nanfeng finally released her. "I''ll be back."


    He flew off from the pce; the Divine Emperor, her cheeks still flushed, saw him off.


    Xiao Nanfeng met up with Ye Sanshui as they departed from Shenfeng''s capital.


    With Ye Sanshui leading the way, the two cultivators flew quickly due east.


    "Ye Sanshui, the Divine Emperor has collected what remains of the ck blood cursed effigy that was left behind when Lou Yujing''s ancestral zombie avatar exploded, and I''m now in possession of it. However, I don''t want to hand it to you for the time being. I''m worried that something bad may happen when the three ancestral zombies'' bodies are united. The Divine Emperor believes this to be the case as well. I''ll ask the Heavenly Emperor about the situation and help you advance your cultivation only when I can be sure that nothing bad will happen."


    "As you will, Your Majesty."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Not only did he not allow Ye Sanshui to absorb the other two ancestral zombie bodies, he didn''t merge Lou Yujing''s third ck coffin with the other two, either. He was worried that the original owner of the ck coffin and ck blood cursed effigy had a conspiracy in mind. He didn''t want to be embroiled in it just yet.


    The two cultivators arrived on Taiqing Ind as quickly as they could, only to see the remnants of a huge, celebratory banquet. Plenty of Taiqing disciples were cleaning up the mess with radiant smiles.


    When they saw Xiao Nanfeng arrive, they turned to him and bowed deeply. "We greet the Heaven division leader!"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and nodded, then flew toward the Taiqing Hall with Ye Sanshui in tow.


    There, Ye Dafu, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Chang Bing were all already present. They seemed to have been in the middle of a discussion. When they heard the Taiqing disciples greet Xiao Nanfeng, they all rushed out of the hall.


    "Nanfeng, you''rete! If you hade two days earlier, you would have made it for the banquet. Everyone''s overjoyed that we''ve finally exterminated the traitors to our sect."


    "I''m afraid I was waid by some affairs. Let''s speak inside, Senior Brother," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    All four division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect had gathered. They entered the hall.


    "Nanfeng, ording to the sect master''s letter, he should arrive within the next two days. Why have you gathered all of us here?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked curiously.


    Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "The sect master was not present for Taiqing''s revenge on the traitors from two centuries ago. How many times has he neglected his duties in recent memory? He never shows himself even when the Taiqing Immortal Sect is beset by grave danger. What right does he have to be the sect master of Taiqing? I have gathered all of you here today in hopes of deposing him."


    The gathered cultivators were taken aback.


    "Lu Yan isn''t qualified to remain the sect master any longer," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.

 Chapter 783: Renounce Your Position

    <h4>Chapter 783: Renounce Your Position</h4>


    Above a stretch of the sea, the sect master of Taiqing, Lu Yan, was quickly flying toward Taiqing Ind with a group of white-robed subordinates. In the lead beside him was a in, ordinary-looking man.


    "Mr. Bai? How did you know I was heading back to Taiqing Ind?" Lu Yan asked the man beside him.


    "If you don''t return, you''ll all be giving up your position as sect master," Mr. Bai replied.


    "Oh? Do you know much about the internal workings of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, then?" Lu Yan frowned.


    "Don''t worry. We''ve been allies for many years, and I''d hardly make your life difficult now. I intend to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng. I just need you to cooperate."


    "Do you think you should be telling me about a n to assassinate one of the high-ranking cultivators of my sect?" Lu Yan demanded.


    Mr. Bai sniffed in disdain. "You don''t have to pretend. Don''t you want to kill Xiao Nanfeng yourself? While he''s alive, the Taiqing Immortal Sect will listen only to him. You''ve ignored sect affairs for many years. Though you might still be the sect master in name, you have essentially no authority left."


    "Hm?" Lu Yan frowned.


    "Don''t you think I know that you''re a guardian of the Taiqing Immortal Sect? You don''t dare do much in the sect because you''re afraid that Lou Yujing would discover your identity. Now that he''s dead, you have nothing to worry about. You intend to maintain control over the Taiqing Immortal Sect from now on, don''t you? Xiao Nanfeng might be summoning you to hold you ountable for your actions¡ªor rather yourck thereof. But you want to kill him too. You''re worried that he''ll be the next Lou Yujing. That''s why you''ve permitted me to join you, isn''t it?" Mr. Bai smiled.


    Lu Yan frowned. "As for Snowborne¡ªyou''ve epted another mission to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng, haven''t you?"


    Mr. Bai nodded. "Otherwise, I have no intention of crossing Xiao Nanfeng. He''s no easy foe."


    "I recall you not batting an eye even when assigned to assassinate a Boundless Immortal. Is Xiao Nanfeng that troublesome?"


    "Boundless Immortals aren''t easy to kill. I only seeded the once, and only because that Boundless Immortal was badly wounded. Xiao Nanfeng might be nothing more than a True Immortal, but look what he''s managed to do all these years. Not only that, he just finished off Lou Yujing. Even if he made use of the Loss Diagram to do so, it''s incredible."


    "You''re aware of the Loss Diagram?" Lu Yan eximed.


    Mr. Bai nced askance at Lu Yan. "You guardians might know a lot about the Taiqing Grandmaster, but Snowborne has its means, too."


    "That''s true. Snowborne''s arge-scale group of assassins. It''d be stranger if you couldn''t discover that much." Lu Yan nodded.


    "It''s rare for Xiao Nanfeng to return to Taiqing Ind, so I''ll have to rely on this visit. Conveniently, you have to deal with him as well. We''ll kill him together and allow you to regain control of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, while I get toplete my mission."


    Lu Yan considered the proposal. "You''ll owe me a favor, then."


    "Of course."


    "Very well." Lu Yan smiled. "Let''s go, then!"


    He quickly arrived on Taiqing Ind.


    When the disciples saw him return, they immediately bowed. "We greet the sect master."


    Though many of the Taiqing disciples showed the sect master due respect, they were inwardly ambivalent about him. They rarely saw him except during important asions in the sect. On the other hand, Xiao Nanfeng had grown alongside them, given them lectures on cultivation, protected them when the entire sect was in danger, and even waged war alongside them.


    They certainly valued and respected Xiao Nanfeng more than their sect master.


    Lu Yan ignored the ordinary disciples and headed straight toward the peak of a mountain, where Taiqing Hall was situated.


    There, Xiao Nanfeng and a group of cultivators were awaiting him.


    When Lu Yan alighted there, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to greet him. "We wee the sect master."


    "We wee the sect master!" everyone else chorused, bowing.


    "Haha, Xiao Nanfeng, you''ve done very well. I heard about the situation in Hongyue. You''ve yed an incredible role in seeking revenge for Taiqing." Lu Yan smiled.


    Zhao Yuanjiao and the others nced at their sect master thoughtfully. In the past, they would have believed him magnanimous for granting such des to others in the sect. Now, they were btedly discovering what a phony he was.


    When the sect needed him most, he was nowhere to be seen; only when everything was settled would he show up and praise them for what they had done, as if his leadership had been instrumental to their sess.


    If Zhao Yuanjiao and the others had had any doubts about Xiao Nanfeng''s suggestion, they were all dispelled by now.


    "Please follow me, Sect Master," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Lu Yan nodded. His subordinates and Mr. Bai followed him into Taiqing Hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced curiously at these ordinary-looking cultivators, but he ignored them in favor of Lu Yan. He had bigger fish to fry.


    The cultivators all headed into the hall. Lu Yan naturally took the seat of sect master, while his guests were seated in seats of honor.


    Once everyone had settled in, Xiao Nanfeng began, "Sect Master, I know that my senior brother sent you a letter about our campaign to take revenge on Hongyue long before it began. Why have you not shown yourself until now?"


    Lu Yan blinked in surprise. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng would take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble for him, but he hadn''t expected him to do so this early. He paused for a moment. "I was waid by important sect business that I was forced to handle. I had been intending to rush over right away, not having expected all of you to deal with Hongyue so quickly. Xiao Nanfeng, you have exceptional ability."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Lu Yan''s praise. "Sect Master, I once asked you whether you had been making preparations to deal with Hongyue all along. You nodded firmly in response to my question, and I believed that you had infiltrated Hongyue. However, I was mistaken. Might I ask what exactly you''ve been busy with? What''s so important that it trumps even Taiqing''s revenge on Hongyue?"


    Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. "What are you implying, Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled." Sect Master, you''re a guardian of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, aren''t you?"


    "What? What did you say?" Lu Yan narrowed his eyes.


    "All this can be exined only if the sect master is a guardian of the sect. Lou Yujing has been spying on the Taiqing Immortal Sect all along, and he''s been trying to fish out whatever sect guardians remain. That''s why you haven''t been in the Taiqing Immortal Sect at all, Sect Master¡ªyou''re worried that Lou Yujing would uncover your identity."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you doubt my authority? Don''t forget that I was the one who put you in your position. Without my permission, you wouldn''t have been able to be the division leader that you are today," Lu Yan said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "I became the Mortal, then Earth, then Heaven division leaders naturally as a matter of circumstance. You didn''t raise an objection because you didn''t dare to: you were worried that you would reveal yourself and have Lou Yujing uncover your true identity."


    "Insolence!" Lu Yan shouted, getting to his feet.


    "Even if you''re a sect guardian, I don''t mean you any ill will just because of that. After all, you''re our sect master, and you haven''t done anything against the Taiqing Immortal Sect or against me all these years. However, if you intend to rear Taiqing disciples like livestock¡ªI won''t stand for it."


    "Do you know what you''re talking about?!" Lu Yan demanded.


    "I don''t bear you ill will, Sect Master. I''ve sent for you on behalf of the vast majority of the sect''s disciples. I''d like to ask you to cede your position as sect master. The Taiqing Immortal Sect doesn''t need someone who intends to prey on its disciples," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You!" Lu Yan eximed.


    He didn''t expect that Xiao Nanfeng would be so direct.


    As the Heaven division leader Xiao Nanfeng made his stance clear, the other three division leaders stood up as well.


    "Sect Master, please renounce your position," Chang Bing, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Ye Dafu said. They bowed.


    Lu Yan: ...


    All four division leaders were against him now. What was he to do?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you forcing my hand?" Lu Yan demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Sect Master, if you renounce your position now, we can leave the matter at that. None beyond this hall will learn of what transpired here."


    "And if I refuse?"


    "Then we''ll remove you by force."


    "Insolence!" Lu Yan thundered.


    "Why go to this extent, Sect Master? Thews of Taiqing state that the four division leaders together can depose the sect master, and the disciples of the four divisions are under our control. Your position might as well be in name only. Why not cede your position voluntarily?" Xiao Nanfeng advised.


    Zhao Yuanjiao and the others nodded in agreement.


    Lu Yan frowned. Give up on the Taiqing Immortal Sect? How could he? He might easily have agreed a decade ago when it was at its weakest, but it had since grown far stronger! Why would he cede his position?


    Lu Yan nced at Mr. Bai, who waved a hand and caused the doors of Taiqing Hall to creak shut.


    The cultivators in the hall frowned. Zhao Yuanjiao and the others hadn''t expected Lu Yan to musterst-ditch resistance against them.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Sect Master, it looks like you came prepared for this eventuality."


    The cultivators formed ranks. On one side was Xiao Nanfeng, the division leaders, and their associates; on the other, Lu Yan, Mr. Bai, and their subordinates. A sh seemed imminent.

 Chapter 784: The Second Superior Yin Pearl

    <h4>Chapter 784: The Second Superior Yin Pearl</h4>


    Lu Yan and Xiao Nanfeng confronted each other. The atmosphere quickly grew tense.


    "Sect Master, you should be aware of my circumstances. I urge you to drop the matter now. Leave this hall and walk out with your head held high. Don''t ruin your own reputation," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you think too highly of yourself. I am the Taiqing sect master," Lu Yan dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Something was wrong. The oue of the war between Shenfeng and Hongyue was no secret; Lu Yan had to know about the strength he had ess to and the trump cards he possessed. The fact that he hadn''t backed down meant something was wrong.


    "Be careful, Senior Brothers!" Xiao Nanfeng called out alertly.


    Zhao Yuanjiao and the others blinked in surprise. What was there to fear? They were Golden Immortals, and Ye Sanshui was a Boundless Immortal! Lu Yan appeared to be nothing more than a Heaven Immortal¡ªno, perhaps a True Immortal by now.


    Ye Sanshui was the first to figure out what Xiao Nanfeng meant. He attacked Lu Yan immediately.


    "What''re you waiting for? Strike!" Lu Yan shouted.


    Behind Lu Yan, Mr. Bai tossed a white pearl into the air. The pearl shed and emitted blinding white light that illuminated the hall.


    The white light froze the cultivators'' souls, leaving them immobile. Even Ye Sanshui couldn''t move.


    Only Mr. Bai, who wielded the pearl, remained clear-headed¡ªand Xiao Nanfeng, of course.


    Mr. Bai smirked. He was preparing to assassinate the cultivators in the hall when he saw Xiao Nanfeng eyeing him. He nched. "Impossible. How could you be unaffected?"


    "So you''re Lu Yan''s backer, I see." Xiao Nanfeng shot toward him.


    "Damn it!" Mr. Bai cursed.


    Rather than retreat, he shot forward and attempted to attack Xiao Nanfeng with a palm. Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with Hegemon''s Fist.


    Just as the two cultivators struck each other, Xiao Nanfeng noticed that Mr. Bai continued to hold that pearl in his hand even during the attack.


    As the white pearl came in contact with Xiao Nanfeng''s fist, it emitted a wave of chilly air that struck Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "What powerful frost," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He counteracted the frost with a burst of mes, but the frost was too powerful. It froze his entire body before superheated me melted it all.


    Mr. Bai nched. "Your soul''s been hidden!"


    Xiao Nanfeng burned as brightly as the sun, dissipating the frost around him.


    Mr. Bai gritted his teeth and tossed the pearl toward Xiao Nanfeng. The pearl turned ethereal, passed through Xiao Nanfeng''s palm, and melded with his soul.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly froze, as did Mr. Bai.


    The pearl had passed through the physical barrier of his body and struck his soul directly.


    The next moment, Xiao Nanfeng felt himself being sent flying. He flew into and of ice and snow.


    Mr. Bai appeared by his side.


    The two cultivators struck the ground and steadied themselves.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng discover that they were in an icy snowfield. The world was white as far as he could see. A blizzard surrounded them.


    "An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in surprise.


    As his spiritual cultivation advanced, there were only a vanishingly few cultivators who could drag him into an illusory realm by force. How had Mr. Bai seeded?


    Not far away, Lu Yan and a group of white-robed subordinates were attacking Zhao Yuanjiao, Ye Sanshui, and the others.


    Although they were strong, their strength wasrgely limited to their physical bodies. Their spiritual cultivation had fallen behind. Though they had received plenty of support and fortune from Dazheng, they were still no match for the enemy cultivators.


    With a boom, Zhao Yuanjiao and the others were sent flying.


    "Mr. Bai, why have you entered yourself?" the white-robed cultivators eximed.


    Lu Yan was taken by surprise as well. "Mr. Bai, isn''t it better for us to hold them back in the illusory realm while you strike in reality?"


    "So your name is Mr. Bai?" Xiao Nanfeng eyed him coldly.


    He flew toward Zhao Yuanjiao and the others, shielding them behind him.


    Mr. Bai scowled at him. "I knew Xiao Nanfeng would be a problem, but I didn''t expect him to almost shrug off the illusory realm entirely."


    "What?" everyone else eximed.


    "Forget it. Be careful. Xiao Nanfeng''s a mid-stage True Yin cultivator. His spiritual cultivation is particrly impressive," Mr. Bai warned.


    "Understood!" his subordinates chorused.


    They all turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, sneered at Lu Yan. "You must have returned to kill all of us off and regain control of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I gave you a chance. You failed to cherish it: that''s your fault."


    "I could say the same to you. None of you will get away today."


    Xiao Nanfeng shot toward Lu Yan, who had no choice but to retaliate in kind.


    Killing intent surged from both cultivators. Lu Yan seemed particrly confident in his abilities. He punched forward, sending a windstorm headed right for Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Lu Yan, do you really think me so easy to defeat?" Xiao Nanfengughed.


    The two cultivators'' fists met in a huge explosion of ice and snow. Lu Yan fell like a meteor, smashing into a mountain of ice and crashing to the ground, badly injured.


    "Impossible!" Lu Yan shrieked.


    Meanwhile, a group of white-robed cultivators shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Countless fists surged toward the white-robed cultivators like a blizzard.


    "He''s stronger than a mid-stage True Yin cultivator," someone shouted. "Be careful!"


    The majority of the cultivators exploded in bursts of light, leaving only threee remaining: Mr. Bai and his two subordinates, who barely stumbled back.


    "He''s ate-stage True Yin cultivator, just like us!" Mr. Bai nched.


    "The three of you aren''t Taiqing disciples, are you? Why gang up with Lu Yan against us?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Mr. Bai ignored Xiao Nanfeng. "He must have recently advanced intote-stage True Yin. Don''t bother wasting time with him. Finish him off now!"


    "Understood!" His two subordinates replied, charging at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He told the others, "I''ve wounded Lu Yan badly. Finish him off. Leave the other three to me!"


    "Got it!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.


    They shot straight toward Lu Yan while Xiao Nanfeng took on Mr. Bai and his two subordinates.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The tremendous force sent Mr. Bai''s trio flying.


    "Impossible. We''ve beente-stage True Yin cultivators for many years. How could we lose out to someone like him?!"


    "Again!" hispanion shouted.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Once more, Xiao Nanfeng sent the three cultivators flying. They fell to the ground and spat out fresh blood.


    "How can this be?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng shed toward one of the cultivators and activated Hegemon''s Fist at full strength.


    "Save me! No!"


    The other two cultivators rushed over, but they were toote. Xiao Nanfeng''s fists caused the man''s body to explode in a shower of light.


    The other two cultivators'' attacksnded on Xiao Nanfeng, but he wasn''t injured.


    "Now it''s just the two of you left." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed with killing intent.


    The two cultivators nched. Mr. Bai''s remaining subordinate cried out, "Mr. Bai, summon the superior yin pearl! Hurry!"


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. The superior yin pearl? Wasn''t the superior yin pearl in his hands?


    Mr. Bai, clearly panicking, did as instructed. A white pearl flew forth, the white pearl that had dragged Xiao Nanfeng into this illusory realm.


    The moment it emerged, a tremendous aura of frost manifested around it. The snow in the vicinity froze into ice that was steadily growing thicker.


    "It really is a superior yin pearl..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The superior yin pearl was just like his own, though his had alreadybined with his spiritual moon.


    "Superior Yin Pearl, I''llpensate you for this afterwards. Please, kill him!" Mr. Bai requested.


    The superior yin pearl glowed with light and shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, who retaliated with a palm technique.


    Just then, a crack appeared over the superior yin pearl''s surface, revealing a mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth. It bit down on Xiao Nanfeng''s palm technique and tore half of it off. The remaining half dissipated.


    Xiao Nanfeng retreated, staring at the superior yin pearl in surprise.


    "We''ll help the superior yin pearl take down Xiao Nanfeng!" Mr. Bai eximed.


    "Understood!"


    The two cultivators surrounded him. Xiao Nanfeng forced them back, but the dy was sufficient for the superior yin pearl to make its move. It shot forward.


    "Haha, Xiao Nanfeng, you''re done for!"


    "Ate-stage True Yin cultivator is nothingpared to the superior yin pearl''s might. You''ll die today!"


    Mr. Bai and his subordinate watched on expectantly.


    Just as the superior yin pearl was about to bite down on Xiao Nanfeng''s body, however, a burst of white light emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s head and shot toward the superior yin pearl. The white light knocked it flying.


    "What?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon rose into the air and released an aura of frost.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon?"


    "No¡ªdoesn''t it give off the aura of a superior yin pearl? It looks like Xiao Nanfeng has one of his own! Impossible!"


    The two cultivators cried out in shock.

 Chapter 785: Mr. Bai Surrenders

    <h4>Chapter 785: Mr. Bai Surrenders</h4>


    A burst of frost emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon. His deific domain expanded as a blizzard manifested around him.


    His spiritual moon took on the enemy''s superior yin pearl.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s superior yin pearl looked all the stranger because of how it had merged with his spiritual moon.


    Mr. Bai''s superior yin pearl opened its mouth wide and bellowed at Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon in rage.


    The roar echoed throughout the illusory realm, causing more snow to fall.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon roared back at the superior yin pearl.


    The two pearls smashed into each other in a wave of ice and frost.


    They were like natural enemies, neither of which seemed poised to stop until they had killed the other.


    They struck each other in the air like meteors, percussive booms ringing out as they struck each other.


    The entire illusory realm began to shake madly.


    "Where did you acquire that superior yin pearl? This is impossible!" Mr. Bai eximed.


    "It''s your turn now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He shot forward and punched Mr. Bai in the face.


    Mr. Bai nched. "Save me!"


    By the time he yelled, it was toote. His subordinate shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiao Nanfeng was no weaker than they were. His spiritual power was purer and more refined. Bolstered by Hegemon''s Fist, he was all but invincible.


    Mr. Bai''s subordinate was sent flying as well.


    Mr. Bai nched. He wanted to escape, but he was in an illusory realm. He couldn''t get out!"


    "Superior Yin Pearl, release us from this illusory realm!" Mr. Bai shouted.


    However, his superior yin pearl was shing against Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon and gradually losing ground. It didn''t have time to worry about Mr. Bai and the others.


    "No one can save you now!" Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfeng charged forward and sent the two men flying. He punched at Mr. Bai''s subordinate with overwhelming force.


    "No!" he cried out.


    His body exploded in a shower of light, leaving Mr. Bai alone and helpless. Xiao Nanfeng turned to him with killing intent in his eyes.


    "Don''te over!" Mr. Bai turned to run.


    But how would he be able to escape from Xiao Nanfeng? Xiao Nanfeng unleashed another punch and sent a flurry of strikes toward Mr. Bai.


    With a crash, Mr. Bai was sent flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood in the air, gravely injured.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward, poised to finish him off with another blow.


    "Stop, please! I surrender! I''ll tell you everything. Someone hired me to kill you. I''m just the assassin. Please, spare me!" Mr. Bai shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s fist halted inches from Mr. Bai''s face. A violent snowstorm swirled around him.


    Mr. Bai shivered, drenched in cold sweat. Xiao Nanfeng had spared his life¡ªfor now.


    "Death in an illusory realm won''t kill you in reality. Are you that scared of dying?"


    Mr. Bai gave him a wry smile. "If I didn''t beg for mercy and you killed me here, my spiritual power is sure to be depleted. I''ll be too weak to plead for my life once I''m out of the illusory realm. That would truly doom my fate."


    "Oh? You do understand your situation well, then."


    "I don''t have an avatar, after all. If I die here, I''ll be done for."


    "Reim your superior yin pearl."


    Mr. Bai grimaced. "I can''t. It controls me, not the other way around."


    "Are you refusing to cooperate with me?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "No, no! I truly can''t control it. It''s a treasure that Snowborne painstakingly obtained. We serve the pearl like our master, collecting souls and cursed spirits for it to feast on in exchange for asional help. We''ve never been able to suppress it."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "I thought I''d easily beat you with the superior yin pearl in hand, not expecting you to have one of your own. We''ve clearly miscalcted. Please, Martial Aspect Xiao, spare my life!" Mr. Bai begged.


    High above, the fight between the two superior yin pearls raged on. The situation was intense. Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon had the upper hand, though not by arge margin.


    "Where are you from, and who sent you to assassinate me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Mr. Bai nced at him for quite a while before answering, "I''m an assassin of Snowborne sent to kill you. I have some authority and ess to privileged information, so I know that Ao Canghai was the one who hired me."


    "You''re not lying to me, are you?"


    "If it were anyone else, I might have tried to lie, but I wouldn''t dare deceive you, Martial Aspect Xiao. I know you too well. Lu Yan didn''t send us. We approached Lu Yan knowing that he would be meeting with you."


    Xiao Nanfeng scrutinized Mr. Bai. He didn''t believe him outright.


    Mr. Bai hastily said, "I always prepare contingencies just in case. I have evidence that it was Ao Canghai who ordered your assassination. I''m willing to exchange it for my life."


    "Oh?"


    "Please spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao!" Mr. Bai begged again.


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed thoughtfully. "If you have real, irrefutable evidence, I''ll spare you."


    "Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao! I swear it''ll be of use. You''ll definitely be able to take down Ao Canghai in one strike," Mr. Bai promised.


    Xiao Nanfeng was, frankly, surprised by how Mr. Bai had covered all his bases.


    "Where''s the evidence?"


    "It''s by my physical body, stored within a certain treasure that''s primed to self-destruct if ites into contact with anyone but me."


    "You''ve really thought things through, haven''t you? Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng struck Mr. Bai with a powerful punch. On his part, Mr. Bai made no move to defend himself.


    He was sted apart in an instant.


    This way, once he emerged from the illusory realm, Mr. Bai would be severely weakened¡ªbut he would be secure in the fact that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t kill him just yet.


    In addition, incapacitating Mr. Bai would prevent him from trying anything for the time being as well.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the distance. Lu Yan, despite being gravely injured, clearly had a strong spiritual cultivation. He was still putting up a fight against Zhao Yuanjiao and the others.


    Xiao Nanfeng swiftly appeared before them.


    "Don''te any closer!" Lu Yan shouted in panic.


    His allies had all been defeated by Xiao Nanfeng. His heart sank. Was he going to die today?


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t bother with words. He struck Lu YAn with a powerful punch.


    "No!" Lu Yan shouted.


    The badly injured Lu Yan was sted apart in a shower of light.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked up at the air, where his spiritual moon was still facing the superior yin pearl. His spiritual moon had the advantage, but not a decisive one.


    Xiao Nanfeng leapt into the air.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Countless fists surged toward the superior yin pearl.


    Another mouth appeared to the back of the pearl. It bit at the iing fists, but there were too many for it to handle. Though it managed to absorb some of the fists, it was struck by the others. Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon likewise shot forward and bit down on it, leaving a deep gouge in its body.


    The pearl roared in fury and charged at Xiao Nanfeng. Though Xiao Nanfeng was outmatched, his interference gave his spiritual moon a decisive advantage. The superior yin pearl knew that it would have to take down Xiao Nanfeng first¡ªbut they were fighting within Xiao Nanfeng''s deific domain. Xiao Nanfeng easily avoided the superior yin pearl''s attacks with spiritual harmony.


    The superior yin pearl howled in outrage, but it couldn''t do anything.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his spiritual moon grievously wounded the superior yin pearl with their perfect cooperation. The pearl sustained more and more injuries.


    Finally, after onest sneak attack, it faltered. Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon shot up to it, opened its mouth wide, and swallowed the superior yin pearl whole.


    In an instant, the illusory realm shattered. Everyone was ejected back into reality, shivering as they awoke.


    A silver moon hung above Xiao Nanfeng''s head, shining brilliantly after having consumed the superior yin pearl. It quickly flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and vanished from sight.


    The cultivators all breathed a sigh of relief.


    "That was far closer than I expected, Nanfeng," Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He nced toward Lu Yan and his subordinates. They had died in the illusory realm, but would only be severely weakened in reality.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t get away with this...!" Lu Yan cried out. He was barely conscious, barely able to open his eyes¡ªand yet he still red at Xiao Nanfeng in hatred.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. "Since Lu Yan refuses to step down, we''ll do so in his stead as the four division leaders of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. He''ll be branded a danger to the sect and one of its so-called guardians. Let all Taiqing disciples know about the sordid history of these supposed ''Taiqing guardians''."


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    "As for Lu Yan, we''ll seal his cultivation and interrogate him. I believe there are likely still quite a few guardians out there who will try to interfere with the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Let''s learn more about them and prepare to defend ourselves."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    As for the Snowborne assassins, Xiao Nanfeng naturally secured them all. He didn''t reveal the fact that Mr. Bai had surrendered to him, nor the contents of his negotiation with him. He intended to catch Ao Canghai off guard.

 Chapter 786: Xiao Nanfeng, Sect Master of Taiqing

    <h4>Chapter 786: Xiao Nanfeng, Sect Master of Taiqing</h4>


    The announcement of the guardians'' existence caused an uproar among the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect.


    Only now did it be clear why Lou Yujing had been so ruthless when he betrayed the sect in the past, and what they themselves had experienced all these years.


    Every disciple directed their anger and hatred toward Lu Yan, whose cultivation had been sealed. It didn''t matter that he was the sect master. Who would willingly allow themselves to be treated like livestock? Who would want to be raised as mere substitutes?


    The revtion sent chills down every disciple''s back.


    The disciples were standing in a massive za. As one, they turned toward Xiao Nanfeng, simultaneously grateful to him for having unveiled this conspiracy and uncertain as to what the future held.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood before the furious and confused disciples. He took a deep breath. "I understand how you all feel. When I first learned of this, I felt the same way."


    The crowd grew silent. All eyes focused on him.


    "I know you''re afraid of remaining within the sect. It must feel like you''ve been living within a prison¡ªbut there''s no need for you to feel this way. The Taiqing guardians may harbor evil intentions, but the other Taiqing elders are innocent. We can''t paint everyone with the same brush. The Taiqing guardians represent only a small portion of the sect¡ªand we can preserve the rest of it by excising that rot," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "But if the Taiqing Grandmaster were to revive, what will we do?" one Taiqing disciple asked worriedly.


    "The Taiqing Grandmaster is the Taiqing Grandmaster, and the Taiqing Immortal Sect is the Taiqing Immortal Sect. They aren''t the same. The Taiqing Immortal Sect has existed for millennia and has had countless masters and grandmasters. Even though the Taiqing Grandmaster was the founder of the sect and passed down the Taiqing Yin Body, everything else¡ªevery technique, every insightes from our other forebears over the years," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Senior Brother Xiao, do you mean that we need not revere the Taiqing Grandmaster?" someone asked in shock.


    "Not disrespect, but discerning respect. If the Taiqing Grandmaster sees us as part of a family, a n in truth, we ought to respect him like an elder. But if he sees us as mere cattle, why should we honor him? Who we truly ought to respect are the countless forebears who have dedicated themselves to the sect for millennia, not an opponent who treats us like livestock. The Taiqing Immortal Sect is a spirit of being, an ideal, a legacy¡ªnot the personal property of any one person."


    The disciples nodded. Xiao Nanfeng''s words were wise and clear.


    "Lu Yan, for example: now that we''ve exposed his hypocrisy, we''ll strip him of his position as sect master. If any future sect master were to act with such selfish intent, we would strip them of their position as well."


    "Well said, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "The Taiqing Immortal Sect shall not be enved by viins!"


    The disciples erupted in agreement, united behind Xiao Nanfeng''s speech.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in satisfaction.


    Just then, Zhao Yuanjiao stepped forward. "Now that we intend to remove Lu Yan from his position as sect master, we''ll need someone to fill that role. I nominate Xiao Nanfeng as sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He interrupted anxiously, "Senior Brother, I''m currently the emperor of Dazheng. Wouldn''t it be improper for me to serve as sect master as well? I''d like to nominate you instead."


    "As Mortal division leader, I support Xiao Nanfeng as the new sect master!" Ye Dafu said quickly.


    "As Earth division leader, I support Xiao Nanfeng as the new sect master!" Chang Bing added.


    They wouldn''t submit to Zhao Yuanjiao; Xiao Nanfeng was the only one they would bow down to.


    With the support of three division leaders, the other elders and disciples began to cheer.


    "Division Leader Xiao, please don''t decline the role. We fully support your ascension as the sect master of Taiqing!"


    "We''re all in support of you as the sect master of Taiqing, Senior Brother Xiao!"


    "We all support you!"


    With the overwhelming support of the crowd, Xiao Nanfeng ultimately bowed and epted the nomination. "Very well, then. I humbly ept. Thank you for trusting me."


    "We greet Sect Master Xiao!" Zhao Yuanjiao eximed.


    "We greet Sect Master Xiao!" all the Taiqing disciples echoed in unison.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "In that case, let''s carry out the induction ceremony now."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Over the next few days, Xiao Nanfeng officially assumed the position of sect master.


    Afterpleting the rites of session, he entrusted the position of Heaven division leader to Ye Sanshui, a Boundless Immortal whom Xiao Nanfeng had personally rmended. Naturally, he quickly gained everyone''s approval.


    A few dayster, in a grand hall on Taiqing Ind, Xiao Nanfeng met with Mr. Bai, who handed over a jade box. "Martial Aspect Xiao, I''ve unsealed this relic. Within is all the evidence that Ao Canghai is responsible for this assassination attempt, including letters bearing his spiritual power. The head of Snowborne had been about to destroy them all, but I preserved them in secret."


    "You''ve certainly covered your bases," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "You''re a skilled opponent, Martial Aspect Xiao, and I had to n for the possibility of being captured. I hope you understand."


    "Allow me to verify the evidence myself."


    "Of course," Mr. Bai replied immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and left the hall.


    Outside, Zhao Yuanjiao approached him with a smile. "As you expected, they''ve exposed themselves."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "The Taiqing guardians are insane. They''re fanatics loyal only to the Taiqing Grandmaster. Even after enduring severe torture, Lu Yan refused to tell us anything. However, your strategy to weaken security around the area and have the other guardians show up to rescue him worked."


    "How many of them are there?"


    "Quite a few. We deliberately made it tedious for them to rescue Lu Yan so that they would need the support of as many people as they could find. We''ve likely gotten them all. They had to use every trick they had to free Lu Yan."


    "And where''s Lu Yan now?"


    "We have everything under control. He''s been rescued, and our subordinates are giving chase. Ye Sanshui is watching from the shadows."


    "Very good." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, satisfied.


    "Now that we''ve drawn out the guardians from the sect, we''ll wait for the ones beyond the sect to meet up with him and capture them all in one fell swoop," Zhao Yuanjiao continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Ye Sanshui is skilled. I won''t need to worry with him in charge of this mission."


    Just then, a shadow streaked across the sky. The Taiqing disciples were rmed and about to defend themselves when they realized that it was Ye Sanshui. Relieved, they lowered their guard.


    Ye Sanshui descended in a blur andnded beside Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in confusion.


    "Your Majesty, something''s wrong. Lu Yan managed to escape!"


    Though Xiao Nanfeng had be the Taiqing sect master, Ye Sanshui still preferred to refer to him as "Your Majesty".


    "He escaped?"


    "Did a Boundless Immortal guardian intervene?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked in surprise.


    Ye Sanshui shook his head. "There was apparently a hidden realm located close to Taiqing Ind. They escaped within."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng responded in surprise.


    "We thought everything was under control. Our subordinates were pretending to chase Lu Yan while Ye Dafu kept an eye by sea and I by sky. We were waiting for the other guardians to fall for the bait when Lu Yan vanished in a patch of void. We struck at the guardians chasing after Lu Yan then, only for them to kill themselves like madmen," Ye Sanshui exined.


    "Senior Brother, you guard Taiqing Ind. I''ll check out the situation with Ye Sanshui," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.


    Ye Sanshui led the way, with Xiao Nanfeng following swiftly behind.


    They quickly arrived by a stretch of the sea where Ye Dafu and the others were searching anxiously.


    As Xiao Nanfeng approached, they rushed over. "Your Majesty, we''ve failed in our duties."


    "Where did Lu Yan enter the secret realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Right here. He vanished in this precise spot." Ye Dafu pointed at a certain location.


    However, there was nothing to be seen.


    "I''ve searched thoroughly, but I can''t sense anything. I don''t know how Lu Yan escaped."


    Xiao Nanfeng investigated as well, but to no avail.


    After a long pause, he said, "Summon Blue Lantern and have him help."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Not long after, Blue Lantern arrived. Despite a thorough search, he couldn''t find anything either. "Perhaps this hidden realm is too advanced even for the likes of me. It may have wiped all traces of entry and exit."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng grew more perplexed.


    "I have a theory, Your Majesty," Ye Dafu suddenly said.


    "Go on."


    "Do you remember when we first met? We were traveling to Taiqing Ind as prospective disciples. We encountered Princess Zhang Lingjun, who was fighting an opponent. Later, I heard one of her subordinates mention that they had juste from a hidden realm¡ªand that battle took ce nearby."


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He did remember what happened. Zhang Lingjun had obtained the superior yin pearl from some hidden realm, only to be ambushed by one of her subordinates. It had happened around this area.


    "Could Lu Yan have entered that same hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew serious.

 Chapter 787: Accusation Against Ao Canghai

    <h4>Chapter 787: usation Against Ao Canghai</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Ao Canghai''s manor, a man of average appearance stood before Ao Canghai.


    The man bowed respectfully. "Eastern Aspect Ao, my main body is currently with the head of Snowborne. I''ll be rying the conversation between him and you."


    Ao Canghai nodded, then asked, "Did the assassination fail?"


    "There were some minor issues, but everything is still under control."


    "Another failure? Doesn''t Snowborne always seed? How much fortune have I already paid you for this?!" Ao Canghai eximed irritably.


    "I told you not to bother me for no reason. If it were that easy to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng, you wouldn''t have needed my help. If not for my dealings with your father in the past, I''d have made you pay dearly for that attitude of yours."


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath and suppressed his frustration. "I was too impatient. I just heard that Xiao Nanfeng has be the new Taiqing sect master, and was infuriated to learn of the news. We can''t dy things any longer. Xiao Nanfeng is growing ever stronger, ever more quickly. If this drags out, even Snowborne won''t be a match for him."


    "As if Xiao Nanfeng canpare to the likes of Snowborne. The Dazheng Empire is but an ordinary empire. Snowborne has killed innumerable emperors, even Immortal Emperors. Xiao Nanfeng is nothing inparison. He won''t be so lucky next time."


    "As long as you kill him soon. Under no circumstances are you to reveal my involvement," Ao Canghai warned seriously.


    "Snowborne never leaves evidence behind. Rest assured," the head of Snowborne replied.


    "Good." Ao Canghai nodded.


    Suddenly, a voice came from outside the hall. It was one of Ao Canghai''s close subordinates. "Eastern Aspect, the Heavenly Emperor has sent word. He will soon arrive at the Hall of Martial Aspects and requests that all Martial Aspects in the Sieve of Heaven greet him."


    "The Heavenly Emperor''sing to the Hall of Martial Aspects?" Ao Canghai eximed in surprise. He turned back to the average-looking man. "Are you sure my involvement wasn''t leaked?"


    "No one knows of your involvement," the head of Snowborne repeated.


    "Good." Ao Canghai nodded again.


    He stepped out to find several of his trusted Martial Aspects waiting for him.


    "Why is His Majestying to the Hall of Martial Aspects?" Ao Canghai asked one of them.


    "We don''t know, Eastern Aspect. All we heard was that he was on his way. He might already have arrived."


    "Let''s go quickly, then."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Ao Canghai and his group headed toward the floating ind where the Hall of Martial Aspects was located.


    Before long, they were in the za right outside of it.


    By then, the za was filled with officials of the Imperial Court and arge number of Martial Aspects besides. All eyes were fixed on a throne at the entrance to the hall, where Yu Fuli sat sipping on divine tea. The Martial Aspects in the vicinity were reporting to him.


    Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. Xiao Nanfeng was right there.


    "When did Xiao Nanfeng return to the Imperial Court? Why didn''t anyone inform me of this?" Ao Canghai frowned. He had a sinking feeling.


    He rushed forward. "I apologize for the dy, Your Majesty. Please forgive us."


    Yu Fuli turned to Ao Canghai.


    Yu Fuli smiled. "Here you are, Eastern Aspect Ao. Let''s begin, then."


    The crowd was puzzled by Yu Fuli''s words. Was the Heavenly Emperor here specifically for Ao Canghai?


    Ao Canghai''s heart skipped a beat. Something seemed very wrong.


    "Might I ask why you''vee to the Hall of Martial Aspects today, Your Majesty?"


    "Moments ago, someone came to me with a formal usation charging you of attempting to harm your colleagues and plotting the murder of a Martial Aspect."


    "What?!" The Martial Aspects in the vicinity turned to Ao Canghai in shock.


    Ao Canghai himself turned pale. Panic washed over him. He nced at Xiao Nanfeng; things were badly awry. Without solid evidence, who would dare make such a serious usation?


    "Your Majesty, I''ve always performed my duties with utmost diligence. These ims aren''t credible. Someone must be intent on ndering me," Ao Canghai replied quickly.


    He didn''t dare use Xiao Nanfeng of nder directly. That would only make him seem more guilty.


    "I''ve been watching you," Yu Fuli said. "Whether or not this usation is true, we''ll quickly find out. Coincidentally, the intiff is here. Both of you may defend yourselves."


    "Understood!" Ao Canghai bowed respectfully.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, didn''t you want to lodge a formalint? Go ahead."


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I am Xiao Nanfeng, a Martial Aspect of the eastern quadrant. While it is improper for me to use a superior, I can''t sit idly by while assassination attempts are made on my life. I humbly ask that you investigate this matter thoroughly."


    "Continue."


    "I have now survived two assassination attempts from a force known as Snowborne. Though I narrowly escaped both times, I can hardly do so indefinitely. Fortunately, during the second attempt, I uncovered information about the culprit from my assant. To my utter disbelief, Ao Canghai was the one who ordered my assassination."


    "Ao Canghai hired Snowborne to kill Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Snowborne never leaves any evidence behind. How can this be?"


    "Xiao Nanfeng isn''t deliberately trying to frame Ao Canghai, is he?"


    The surrounding Martial Aspects were shocked, but many seemed to believe Xiao Nanfeng. They remained silent and nced at Ao Canghai to see how he would respond.


    Ao Canghai''s heart pounded wildly. He was certain that Xiao Nanfeng had solid evidence; he would never dare level a public usation otherwise. He cursed the head of Snowborne and his empty promises.


    "Is this true, Ao Canghai?" Yu Fuli asked.


    Ao Canghai''s eyelids twitched. Though Xiao Nanfeng had yet to present his evidence, Ao Canghai was certain that there was enough to at least secure severe punishment¡ªexile, at the very least.


    But dare he lie to the Heavenly Emperor?


    "Your Majesty, there''s some truth to this," Ao Canghai said seriously.


    "What?!" The crowd looked toward Ao Canghai in disbelief.


    Was Ao Canghai going to confess even before the evidence was presented? Surely something was wrong.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He sensed Ao Canghai''s cunning at y.


    "You admit that you hired Snowborne to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng?" Yu Fuli demanded.


    "I did, Your Majesty. But it was all for the sake of the Imperial Court."


    "Oh? Exin that to me," Yu Fuli pressed, smiling coldly.


    "Everyone here is aware of how capable Xiao Nanfeng is. Though his cultivation iscking, he''s meticulous and skilled enough to take on even a Boundless Immortal inbat. He defeated Yin Shenhua, captured a saint''s main body, and then defeated Lou Yujing. He truly is blessed by the heavens, and his talent is prodigious."


    The Martial Aspects nced at each other. Wasn''t this the first time Ao Canghai had praised Xiao Nanfeng¡ªand to this extent, no less?


    "I was certain that the Snowborne assassins wouldn''t be able to harm Xiao Nanfeng. That was why I dared to hire them."


    Yu Fuli''s voice turned cold. "Do you mean that Xiao Nanfeng ought to thank you for attempting to assassinate him?"


    "No, Your Majesty. Hardly. My intent in hiring Snowborne was to infiltrate it and use their intelligence to hunt down the primordial altar."


    "Oh?"


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, you''ve had a standing order in the Hall of Martial Aspects to search for the location of the primordial altar, but there hasn''t been any news. I learned that the head of Snowborne was aware of the whereabouts of the altar, but was unwilling to divulge that information. In order to strengthen my rtionship with the head of Snowborne, I was forced to use such a method."


    Yu fuli eyed Ao Canghai as he had a sip of tea. "And have you any proof of that?"


    "A subordinate of Snowborne is currently present in my manor. His main body is with the head of Snowborne, and I''ve been attempting to persuade him to reveal more of Snowborne''s secrets. I''ve had some preliminary sess, and I have evidence that the head of Snowborne is indeed aware of the primordial altar''s location. I believe I''ll be able to uncover the truth before long. This is the evidence."


    Ao Canghai presented a jade slip to Yu Fuli.


    Yu Fuli epted the jade slip, examined it briefly, and frowned at Ao Canghai.


    Seeing Yu Fuli''s reaction, Xiao Nanfeng knew that Ao Canghai had to be telling the truth¡ªpartially, at least. The head of Snowborne was indeed aware of the primordial altar''s whereabouts.


    His face turned dark. "Ao Canghai, you''re changing the topic. Your investigation into the primordial altar is a different matter entirely. Why did you hire Snowborne to assassinate me?"


    Ao Canghai replied, "I knew that Snowborne couldn''t kill you, and I needed a pretext to engage with the head of Snowborne in order to probe his secrets. You''re the most suitable target: we''ve had conflicts in the past, and I know you''re skilled. Though I may have acted rashly, all I did was for the benefit of the Imperial Court."


    The Martial Aspects nced at each other again. Ao Canghai''s shamelessness knew no bounds.


    "I ask that you judge this matter fairly, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli studied the jade slip. "Ao Canghai, why didn''t you report this n to me beforehand?"


    "I was overly eager to contribute, Your Majesty, and was hoping to wait until after I had found the primordial altar. I ask for your punishment," Ao Canghai replied directly.


    Purportedly, he was anxious to make a contribution¡ªand he had indeed made progress. If the Heavenly Emperor gave him a harsh sentence, the other Martial Aspects would surely be dissuaded from working hard for the Imperial Court.


    Many of the Martial Aspects eyed Ao Canghai coldly. It was apparent Ao Canghai did want to kill Xiao Nanfeng, but he hade up with too ingenious an excuse. If Ao Canghai were punished, it would discourage loyal officials from going above and beyond; if he weren''t, it would be unjust to Xiao Nanfeng and a vition of heavenlyw.


    Everyone turned to Yu Fuli as they awaited the Heavenly Emperor''s judgment.

 Chapter 788: Eastern Aspect Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 788: Eastern Aspect Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    Yu Fuli had a sip of tea as he looked toward Ao Canghai.


    The gathered cultivators fell silent as they awaited Yu Fuli''s decision.


    "Being eager to contribute to the Imperial Court ismendable and praiseworthy, but betraying a colleague for personal gain is in direct vition of heavenlyw. Though you may have been confident in Xiao Nanfeng, your unwise action to act without due oversight necessitates punishment in kind. Given the extenuating circumstances, I intend to strip you of your position as Eastern Aspect. What say you?"


    "It is a fitting punishment, Your Majesty. Thank you for your leniency!" Ao Canghai eximed.


    He was well aware of how strict heavenlyw was. Betraying a Martial Aspect and hiring assassins to kill him would normally have led to imprisonment and severe penalties. Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance and had managed to escape with nothing but the loss of his position.


    Even so, losing his position as Eastern Aspect was a severe blow. Being a Cardinal Aspect granted immense power, something no one understood better than he did.


    The seventy-two Martial Aspects were the face of the Imperial Court, and the four Cardinal Aspects wielded considerable authority over the continent, including the right to oversee the collection of fortune. Though he acted officially in the Imperial Court''s name, he had made plenty of hidden dealings that allowed him to gather a vast supply of resources. Now, all that was lost to him.


    Ao Canghai took a deep breath. His eyes shed resolutely. Though he had lost his position for the time being, he was certain it would only be temporary.


    "Do the rest of you have anyments?" Yu Fuli asked the other Martial Aspects.


    "Your Majesty is fair and just. We have no objections," the Martial Aspects replied one after another.


    Just then, Ye Dafu stepped forward. "Your Majesty, may I?"


    Everyone looked toward Ye Dafu in surprise.


    Ye Dafu began, "We Martial Aspects ought not go without a leader. With Ao Canghai removed from his position, the eastern quadrant needs a new Eastern Aspect. I nominate Xiao Nanfeng for this position."


    The Martial Aspects eyed each other. Had Xiao Nanfeng nned all this? Everyone knew that Ye Dafu was Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate. Xiao Nanfeng was clearly attempting to seize power for himself!


    Ao Canghai was furious. Could Xiao Nanfeng be any more shameless?


    Unfortunately for him, Ao Canghai could hardly speak up now. He had just been punished and stripped of his position.


    Yu Fuli was amused by Ye Dafu''s antics. He turned toward Xiao Nanfeng, almost as if he wereughing at him.


    Xiao Nanfeng blushed faintly, but lowered his head and remained silent. The embarrassment was more than worth it. The position of Eastern Aspect provided not just power, but countless resources that would be vital for his growth.


    The seventy-two Martial Aspects were the face of the Imperial Court, but there were far more of its agents scattered throughout the world, responsible for gathering vital information. Only the four Cardinal Aspects had ess to this information, and Xiao Nanfeng knew how valuable it was.


    Ao Zhou spoke up. "I support Martial Aspect Ye''s proposal."


    "I agree!"


    "I agree!"


    All of Xiao Nanfeng''s allies among the Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant hurriedly spoke up.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Ao Zhou, Ye Dafu, and six other golden cultivators¡ªnine in total, fully half of the eastern quadrant.


    Their support caused the other Martial Aspects to eye each other again. Clearly, Xiao Nanfeng hade prepared.


    The situation had taken a remarkable turn.


    Ao Canghai was furious. He red at Xiao Nanfeng with murderous intent, wanting nothing more than to kill him on the spot, but he knew that he couldn''t do so¡ªnot with Yu Fuli''s oversight, at least. Demotion alone was a lenient punishment; if he acted out of turn now, he might never reim his position.


    "Oh? Eight Martial Aspects in support? And what do you think, Xiao Nanfeng?" Yu Fuli asked with a smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng could brazenly im that he was capable, but doing so would surely hurt his reputation.


    "Perhaps we should hear from the other Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant," Xiao Nanfeng demurred.


    "Oh?" Yu Fuli turned to them. "And what do you think?"


    Ao Canghai remained silent, but of the five remaining Martial Aspects present, three were loyal to him.


    "I object, Your Majesty. Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation is too weak."


    "I object as well."


    "I object as well."


    Ao Canghai''s three confidantes rejected the suggestion resolutely.


    All eyes then turned to the two final Martial Aspects¡ªneither loyal to Ao Canghai nor aligned with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I believe Xiao Nanfeng is suited to the position."


    "I support Xiao Nanfeng."


    Their words shocked Ao Canghai. He couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    They might not be close to him, but they weren''t Xiao Nanfeng''s allies, either. Why would they support him rather than abstain? Had Xiao Nanfeng made some secret deal with them?


    "Ten of the eighteen are in support, then." Yu Fuli smiled at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng rubbed his nose. It was clear that Yu Fuli was teasing him.


    Even so, he had no intention of backing down now. He took a deep breath. "I am grateful for my colleagues'' support."


    The other Martial Aspects were stunned. When had Xiao Nanfeng be so shameless, too?


    Ao Canghai clenched his fists in fury. His body trembled with anger.


    Only Yu Fuli dared tough aloud. He was well aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s thick-skinned behavior.


    "With the majority of the Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant supporting Xiao Nanfeng, I suppose he''s the favored candidate. ording to heavenlyw, any Martial Aspect from the east can challenge this candidate with their own position on the line. Does anyone wish to do so?" Yu Fuli nced at all the Martial Aspects.


    The ten Martial Aspects who supported Xiao Nanfeng remained silent; the others all turned to Ao Canghai.


    A duel against Xiao Nanfeng?


    ording to heavenlyw, a Cardinal Aspect had to be superior in strength to the Martial Aspects he oversaw.


    Xiao Nanfeng was only a True Immortal, while Ao Canghai was a Boundless Immortal. Considering the vast gulf in power, Ao Canghai would easily win in a duel¡ªwouldn''t he?


    But Ao Canghai''s eyes twitched as he dismissed the idea immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng was a True Immortal, yes, but who would ever treat him like one? He had plenty of treasures to his name.


    Xiao Nanfeng had once used the Eye of the Sea to fight Ao Canghai to a draw. He had then used Yu Fuli''s heart sword to kill a saint''s avatar in one shot. Furthermore, not even the assassins of Snowborne were able to take him down.


    Ao Canghai was certain that Xiao Nanfeng had more hidden tricks up his sleeve. If he challenged him and failed to win decisively, he would even lose his position as Martial Aspect.


    "I won''t challenge him," Ao Canghai was forced to admit.


    "We won''t challenge him!" the other Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant echoed.


    Yu Fuli turned to Ao Canghai with a flicker of disappointment, then back to Xiao Nanfeng. He nodded in satisfaction.


    "Let Xiao Nanfeng be the new Eastern Aspect," Yu Fuli announced.


    In the sea of fortune high overhead, with a resounding roar, the golden dragon of fortune linked to Xiao Nanfeng visibly swelled in size as Ao Canghai''s shrank.


    Yu Fuli''s words were equivalent to an official decree.


    "I, Xiao Nanfeng, humbly thank Your Majesty for this honor!" Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply.


    Yu Fuli slowly rose to his feet. "At tomorrow''s session of court, this matter shall be made public to the world."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Yu Fuli stepped into the imperial chariot. Though he could sh back to Mt. Kunlun in an instant, for some reason, he had chosen to travel in his chariot this time.


    "Prepare for departure!" an official cried out.


    The nine-dragon chariot rose into the air, escorted as it was by ceremonial guards. It flew toward Mt. Kunlun.


    "We send off the Heavenly Emperor!" the Martial Aspects chorused.


    For some unknown reason, Yu Fuli gazed out the window at the Sieve of Heaven, a trace of mncholy and determination in his eyes.


    Back by the Hall of Martial Aspects, a group of Martial Aspects stepped forward to congratte Xiao Nanfeng. "Congrattions, Eastern Aspect Xiao. We look forward to your guidance."


    Xiao Nanfeng gave them a slight bow. "Hardly. Let''s help each other out in the future."


    Ao Canghai and his supporters stormed off.


    Ao Zhou was about to mock them, but Xiao Nanfeng held him back.


    "Ao Canghai''s been trying to scheme against us for a long time. We should kick him while he''s down! Why are you holding me back?" Ao Zhou eximed.


    "He''s definitely trying to plot his revenge against me now. If you want to be the first one he targets, feel free."


    Ao Zhou nched as he realized the truth. Indeed, Ao Canghai would surely try to take revenge against Xiao Nanfeng. If he antagonized Ao Canghai now, he would just be asking for trouble.


    "Ah, haha! I didn''t mean it, of course. Don''t take me so seriously." Ao Zhouughed dryly and stepped aside.


    Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes. Ao Zhou was a habitual coward.


    Of course, he didn''t want to provoke Ao Canghai more just yet. Dealing with Ao Canghai would require careful strategy. If he were to push Ao Canghai too far and incite immediate retaliation, even if he could survive Ao Canghai''s revenge, the same couldn''t be said for his subordinates.


    There would be a lot on his te now that he had be the Eastern Aspect, including seizing all authority and power associated with the position. For now, he would have to stabilize the situation and avoid further agitating Ao Canghai.


    The next day, in court, officials formally announced Ao Canghai''s demotion and Xiao Nanfeng''s promotion.


    The news spread like wildfire throughout the Sieve of Heaven¡ªand then quickly to the world atrge.


    No one could believe that a True Immortal had be a Cardinal Aspect. Some thought that Xiao Nanfeng''s appointment was absurd, but others believed that he had earned it. After all, Xiao Nanfeng''s achievements were nothing short of extraordinary.

 Chapter 789: The Three Qings Enlightenment Grounds

    <h4>Chapter 789: The Three Qings'' Enlightenment Grounds</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, by Xiao Nanfeng''s residence, a man stood before Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I invited you here today to inquire about something. I apologize for the trouble." Xiao Nanfeng poured the man a cup of tea.


    The man shook his head, flustered. "Please don''t say that, Eastern Aspect Xiao. You are the princess'' consort, and I her subordinate. Please summon me whenever you need me."


    "Don''t be nervous," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "Let''s chat casually."


    Even so, the man remained somewhat anxious. "Please ask me whatever you''d like, Eastern Aspect Xiao."


    "When I first headed to the Taiqing Immortal Sect as an apprentice, I saw the princess fighting against a spiritual cultivator. That was the first time I met her. Since the princess isn''t here now, I can''t ask her about the specifics of the event. I''m hoping you can shed some light on the hidden realm she had just emerged from."


    The man nodded. "Of course, Eastern Aspect Xiao. It''s not a big secret. My avatar followed the princess into the hidden realm, but in the end, only she and Donglin escaped alive. Everyone else perished within it."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "At the time, the princess had obtained a treasure map leading to an incredible relic known as the superior yin pearl. ording to the princess, it was an extraordinary item that she had to acquire at any cost. However, the hidden realm was disadvantageous to ordinary cultivators and particrly advantageous to spiritual ones. We decided to seek help from Donglin, a spiritual cultivator¡ªwho turned out to be treacherous and tried to harm the princess. Fortunately, she was able to escape."


    "Did he not know of the princess'' identity? What nerve," Xiao Nanfeng hissed coldly.


    Though he had killed Donglin years ago, the thought of Zhang Lingjun almost dying at Donglin''s hands still enraged him.


    "At the time, the princess was in ignominy due to her mother''s suspicions of treason. None took her seriously," the man exined.


    "Very well. Let''s put Donglin aside for the time being. Tell me more about that hidden realm," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Lu Yan had escaped into that realm, and Xiao Nanfeng was still figuring out how to follow him in. Fortunately, the princess had once ventured there.


    "That hidden realm is known as the green knoll hidden realm," the man recalled.


    "What? The green knoll hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    That was a name intimately familiar to him¡ªit was from that hidden realm that Tu Jiuniang, Tu Feng, and plenty of Shenfeng''s officials hailed.


    "Precisely." The man nodded.


    "As I recall, the green knoll hidden realm is located within the northern quadrant. How could there be an entrance near the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"


    "Indeed. I don''t know how an entrance came to be located near the Eastern Sea. Perhaps it''s due to the unique nature of the hidden realm¡ªjust like how the Sieve of Heaven has its four heavenly gates that connect to the four quadrants of the world."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously. He continued to question the man about the green knoll hidden realm.


    Unfortunately, the man knew little beyond what he had already revealed. He had been lucky to find a superior yin pearl alongside the princess, but they had been continuously pursued thereafter. He hadn''t had time to pick up on much.


    "That''s sufficient. Thank you for the information."


    "Of course, Eastern Aspect Xiao. If there''s nothing else, allow me to take my leave now."


    "Very well. I''ll see you out."


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed contemtively to himself, lost in his thoughts.


    Now that he knew about the identity of the realm, he wasn''t in a rush at all. He could ask Tu Feng and the followers of the Tu n about the situation; they surely knew more.


    Several dayster, in Yu Fuli''s study, Yu Fuli smiled at Xiao Nanfeng. "How does it feel to be a Cardinal Aspect?"


    "Thank you for the great honor, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Hardly. Ao Canghai was too much of a disappointment to me, after all."


    "I''ll ensure that the Martial Aspects of the east are properly managed."


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "It doesn''t much matter. I''ll be fighting against the heavens before long. If I win, I''ll be restructuring the world, including the Hall of Martial Aspects."


    "Before long? How long?"


    "A few months at the earliest, a few years at thetest."


    "That soon?" Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Now that Saint Chi Hai has fallen, the heavens will surely intervene."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Is there anything I can do, Your Majesty?"


    Yu Fuli gave him a faint smile. "There''s nothing you can help me with. It would be convenient if you could help me find the whereabouts of the primordial altar, but I won''t insist on it."


    "Can''t you summon the primordial altar at will, Your Majesty?"


    "I can, but it only affords me a connection with the altar. I can''t summon the altar itself."


    "Your Majesty, do you intend to perform a grand ritual to exchange for a cursed effigy from the world away?"


    "No. I have no such need," Yu Fuli replied.


    "Why not? Wouldn''t you be immortal that way? Even if you fell in battle against the heavens, you could revive in the future."


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "That train of thought is precisely why the hegemons of past eras failed."


    "Oh?"


    "How can you fight the heavens without the conviction of being invincible? Leaving yourself an escape rope is tacit admission of the possibility of failure. Reaching the level of a primordial requires cultivation of the heart; invincible you must feel, and invincible you will be. Transforming into a cursed effigy as a safeguard¡ªno, that would only create a w in your heart. The hegemons of the past failed as a result."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Yu Fuli in shock. Was he willing to risk his life just for this invincible heart?


    "The heavens reap what the world has wrought every ten thousand years, growing stronger time after time. The hegemons of previous eras missed their opportunity. It''s toote for them to start from scratch. Invincibility means never losing; losing once mars your record for good. I intend to nurture a heart of invincibility."


    "I understand, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Then, he added, "Your Majesty, if the head of Snowborne knows the whereabouts of the primordial altar, why not pursue that lead?"


    "The head of Snowborne? Ha! As if he would qualify to know. Ao Canghai was deceived."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "For what reason have youe to see me today?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Your Majesty, I''ve acquired the third ck coffin and the ck blood cursed effigy from the other two ancestral zombies. I wanted to see if I would be in danger by merging the coffins and the ancestral zombies together."


    Yu Fuli nced at Xiao Nanfeng. "You really are cautious, aren''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "I''ve suffered quite a few losses, Your Majesty. It''s clear I need to be more careful."


    Yu Fuli scoffed at Xiao Nanfeng''s ''humility''. "You''re quite right. If youbine the three coffins and the three ancestral zombies, that hegemon of a previous era would be able to take advantage of the situation to awaken."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned serious. "A close call, then."


    "Though he missed his chance to take on the heavens, I admire his resolve to oppose them. I won''t deal with him on your behalf."


    "Just knowing about the situation is good enough. Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli nodded. He would treat all who intended to oppose the heavens the same way.


    "Your Majesty, I have another question."


    "Oh?"


    "I''d like to learn more about the green knoll hidden realm."


    "The green knoll hidden realm?" Yu Fuli frowned.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. There are superior yin pearls within this realm, and the previous Taiqing sect master, Lu Yan, was effortlessly able to escape into it. Though Tu Feng and other subordinates of mine grew up there, they have but a faint impression of the realm and can''t describe it well. The green knoll hidden realm is shrouded in mystery. I''ve made an enemy of the Taiqing guardians, and I wish to understand the realm better so that I may prepare myself."


    "And how do you know that I have information for you?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Such a mysterious realm known across the world¡ªI''m sure your intelligencework is bound to have provided you with some insight, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Well said. Few besides me know about the history of the green knoll hidden realm in the present day."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The green knoll hidden realm was where the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing Grandmasters went to seek enlightenment¡ªthe three Qings, if you will. It may even be considered a prison of sorts."


    "Where the three Qing Grandmasters went to seek enlightenment?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Indeed. There are plenty of traces of their presence there, and three major entrances excavated by the three grandmasters: one in the north, close to the Shangqing holynd, the main entrance the world knows about today; one in the south, close to the Yuqing holynd; and, I suppose, one by Taiqing Ind, where the Taiqing Grandmaster set up his ''farm''."


    "I see..."


    "The green knoll hidden realm isn''t strictly a hidden realm, but rather an illusory realm, one that mirrors the physical world."


    "Mirrors the physical world?"


    "Are you aware of what an illusory realm is?"


    "A mental world of sorts, a world constructed by one''s mind."


    "And what''s a mental world?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment.


    "It''s your heart. Your mental world is the world of your heart. In the end, everything is shaped by the heart."


    "My heart?"


    "An illusory realm is a world of the heart. Low-grade illusory realms admit only one''s mind; mid-grade ones admit one''s soul and spiritual treasures; high-grade ones admit even physical bodies and matter, an intersection between the real and the illusory. However, your cultivation is still too weak to detect such principles at y."


    "Understood!"


    "As for the green knoll hidden realm, the three grandmasters left countless traces of their presence within. It''s particrly dangerous. It was where they conducted countless experiments. They had arge group of cultivators study Body of Yin within, and were able to manufacture arge number of superior yin pearls as a result. It was from one of those experiments that they intuited the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing Yin Body techniques. It was both an illusory realm and a prison, one they controlled. It harbors great danger," Yu Fuli warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced as he nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty."

 Chapter 790: The Uninterested Lady Yaoguang

    <h4>Chapter 790: The Uninterested Lady Yaoguang</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Ao Canghai''s manor, several of Ao Canghai''s trusted Martial Aspects hurried in and began to conspire with him.


    "Eastern Aspect, the situation is dire!" one of the Martial Aspects cried out.


    "Don''t call me Eastern Aspect. I don''t hold that position any longer," Ao Canghai said irritably.


    "Xiao Nanfeng will only be the Eastern Aspect temporarily. You''ll always be the true Eastern Aspect in our hearts, Eastern Aspect. We''re all in support of you!" the Martial Aspects said one after the other.


    "Wait until the time is right. Don''t call me Eastern Aspect for the moment. We don''t want any outsiders catching wind of this."


    "Understood. Shall we address you as Dragon King, like before?" one of his subordinates suggested.


    "Very well." Ao Canghai nodded.


    "Dragon King, things aren''t looking good. Xiao Nanfeng has consolidated his power over thest few days and has summoned all the spymasters responsible for overseeing the eastern quadrant. They''ve been seized and reced by his own subordinates, and their methods of contacting each other in private have been disrupted. All the resources and intelligenceworks that once belonged to you have beenpletely taken over," one of the Martial Aspects reported.


    Ao Canghai''s expression turned dark. "I understand. You''re all dismissed."


    The Martial Aspects wanted to say more, but given Ao Canghai''s mood, they had no choice but to retreat.


    Once they were gone, Ao Canghai summoned a in-looking man.


    "I need to speak with the head of Snowborne," Ao Canghai said.


    "Understood," the man replied. "My main body is with the head of Snowborne. I shall ry this conversation."


    Ao Canghai paused, then took a deep breath. "Xiao Nanfeng has be the Eastern Aspect. His growth is far beyond what we anticipated. It''s time to implement your proposed n."


    Several dayster, in Xiao Nanfeng''s manor in the Sieve of Heaven.


    Xiao Nanfeng was busy taking full control of his newfound station as Eastern Aspect. It wasn''t until now that he truly understood the immense authority wielded by his position.


    All divine empires and holynds in the eastern quadrant had arge number of spies from the Imperial Court. The amount of intelligence avable left him astonished.


    "How much more ipetent can Ao Canghai get? To think he''d been sitting on such a gold mine for centuries without exploiting it properly! He even failed to be properly greedy. No wonder the Heavenly Emperor was disappointed..."


    With all this information and all these spies under his control, Xiao Nanfeng had gained an incredible advantage.


    Just then, one of his spectral guards hurried over.


    "There''s urgent news, Your Majesty."


    "Hm?"


    "The spectral guards near the Shangqing holynd report that Lady Yaoguang has been harassed recently."


    "Harassed?" Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned cold.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Someone headed to the Shangqing holynd to propose to her. Although he was rejected, the suitor persisted and even persuaded some of the elders in the holynd to pressure her."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s frowned. He pondered the situation for a moment before his eyes glinted. "Ao Canghai''s scheming against me, is he? He truly doesn''t know what his opponent''s capable of."


    The Shangqing holynd to the north was located along the coast of the Northern Sea. Its vast territories spannednd and sea, and countless inds served as residences for various branches of the holynd.


    The Shangqing holynd was happy to admit spirits among its ranks, and many of its elders were powerful spirits.


    At present, on a particrlyrge ind, a bustling scene unfolded. Many Immortal spirits wereing and going from the ind, which bore arge stone stele on which "Cursebane Ind" was engraved.


    Inside a fog-wreathed courtyard on the ind, by a garden blooming with vibrant and beautiful flowers, under the eaves of a small cottage, a graceful woman in blue sat ying the erhu with her eyes closed. Her beauty was so breathtaking that the flowers'' paled inparison. She was none other than Lady Yaoguang, who had shared a kiss with Xiao Nanfeng and pledged her heart to him when they parted ways at the Netherworld Pce.


    As Lady Yaoguang yed the erhu, a soft smile graced her lips as a fond memory came to mind. The erhu''s mncholy tune briefly gave way to a note of joy. That emotion quickly faded, to be reced with longing.


    Several maids passed by outside the courtyard. Though they had seen plenty of breathtaking Immortal beauties, Lady Yaoguang still left them awestruck. They couldn''t help feeling inadequate byparison. The heavens had bestowed every form of beauty upon Lady Yaoguang; her only w was that she was as cold, distant, and aloof as an iceberg. Only when she yed that seemingly in and ordinary erhu would she asionally smile. None understood why she cherished it so greatly, unaware that Xiao Nanfeng had made it for her by hand.


    A man''s voice called out, "Yaoguang!"


    Her concentration broken, Lady Yaoguang furrowed her brows in irritation. She opened her eyes. "Uncle, what are you doing here again?"


    She carefully put away her erhu, as if worried that her uncle might damage it.


    Her visitor was none other than her uncle, Qu Jianfeng.


    "Yaoguang, the elders have invited you to pay them a visit several times. Why do you refuse to do so?"


    Lady Yaoguang shook her head. "I''m not interested."


    "Yaoguang, this is a great opportunity. The Immortal Emperor of Dahan is approaching you himself as a suitor. He wants to take you as his empress. All the elders of Cursebane Ind expect good things of this union, and the other branches of the holynd are incredibly envious."


    Lady Yaoguang''s expression turned cold. "I''m not interested."


    "Yaoguang, don''t be stubborn! An Immortal Emperor himself wants to take you as his consort. Even though he inherited his empire from his father, he''s still an Immortal Emperor. If you marry him, you''ll be an empress and be granted a share of immense fortune. You could elevate countless disciples of the holynd and enrich it to no small extent."


    "Aren''t you listening, Uncle? I''m not interested. I''ll inform the hierarch myself once he returns."


    "Yaoguang, you willingly became a holy maiden, and the holynd gave you all its resources as a result. You know what you''re obligated to do in return. How can you refuse this political marriage now?" Qu Jianfeng frowned in annoyance.


    Lady Yaoguang bit her lip. She had initially done so for Xiao Nanfeng, worried that he would be harmed by the cursed effigies that gued him. She had needed the Shangqing Yin Body to help him.


    Now that Qu Jianfeng was criticizing her, she replied in frustration, "I am a direct disciple of the Shangqing Grandmaster, and I inherit his legacy. I don''t want to marry into Dahan."


    "You''re not the Shangqing Grandmaster''s only disciple, and the Shangqing holynd doesn''t need you to remain here. That''s no excuse. If the suitor were ordinary, I would have refused him for you myself¡ªbut he''s the Immortal Emperor of Dahan! He''s been waiting outside the mountain pass for days."


    Lady Yaoguang grew more frustrated. "I don''t like him, Uncle!"


    "Is there someone you''re already interested in?" Qu Jianfeng frowned.


    Lady Yaoguang blushed and quickly shook her head. "No!"


    Qu Jianfeng''s face turned even darker. "Don''t lie to me. Your demeanor is just like your mother''s. She used to act the same way¡ªshe rejected the excellent matches the holynd arranged for her and ended up choosing your father, that good-for-nothing. Look how it all turned out! They died together. You can''t f ollow in her footsteps."


    Lady Yaoguang grew even more difited. "My father wasn''t a good-for-nothing. Don''t you dare insult him."


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng the one you''re interested in?"


    Lady Yaoguang''s eyes widened upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s name, but she hurriedly denied it. "No."


    Qu Jianfeng sighed. "To be honest, if not for the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Xiao Nanfeng might well be a good match."


    "What?" Lady Yaoguang was stunned.


    Qu Jianfeng had always looked down on Xiao Nanfeng. If anyone from the Shangqing holynd were to learn that she cared for Xiao Nanfeng, it would ce him in great danger. That was why she had been forced to distance himself from him.


    "There have been some rumors about Xiao Nanfeng from the east and the south. If those rumors are true, then Xiao Nanfeng is indeed far more talented than I had given him credit for. Even so, no matter his capabilities, he''s but an ordinary emperor. He can''tpare to the Immortal Emperor of Dahan."


    "What rumors? Why haven''t I heard about them?"


    Qu Jianfeng frowned.


    "Uncle, I''m a holy maiden of Shangqing! I told you I had to be informed of any news rted to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Have you been deliberately cutting off any contact with them?"


    Qu Jianfeng grimaced in embarrassment. "Yaoguang, this is all for your own good."


    "For my own good? I don''t need your help! I need the authority thates with being a holy maiden. If you''ve taken away my authority, then don''t expect me to serve my duty. I''m not interested in the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s proposal. Let whoever is interested im it."


    "Don''t be so willful, Yaoguang," Qu Jianfeng said sternly.


    "Uncle, do you need me to repeat myself? I''m not interested in the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s proposal!"

 Chapter 791: Xiao Nanfeng Storms Shangqing

    <h4>Chapter 791: Xiao Nanfeng Storms Shangqing</h4>


    On Cursebane Ind, Xiao Nanfeng and a group of ck-robed subordinatesnded on the za outside of the ind''s defensive formation.


    They immediately drew the attention of several Shangqing disciples.


    Before they could do anything, however, one of Xiao Nanfeng''s spectral guards stationed outside the ind reached him first.


    "I greet Your Majesty."


    "What''s the situation like now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Your Majesty, the divine empire of Dahan''s suitor delegation is on that ind."


    Xiao Nanfeng looked over to see officials and generals dressed in imperial robes. They were surrounded by an array of dazzling treasures, clearly intended as bridal gifts.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed coldly, though he didn''t have much time to survey the scene. The Shangqing disciples had arrived.


    "Might I ask who you are, honored guest, and why you havee to Cursebane Ind?" one of the Shangqing disciples asked.


    "I am Xiao Nanfeng, Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court. I''m here to visit Lady Yaoguang. Kindly pass notice to her on my behalf." Xiao Nanfeng handed over a calling card.


    "Isn''t Ao Canghai the Eastern Aspect?" the disciple asked, surprised.


    "You may verify that easily, I believe." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The disciple was taken aback, but nodded quickly. "I understand. Please wait here."


    He turned to the group of disciples, who all hurried off to find someone in charge. Upon confirming his identity, shock rippled through the group.


    The Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court¡ªsuch a revered position would normally draw the attention of the Shangqing hierarch himself. Why was he meeting only with Lady Yaoguang?


    The calling card quickly made its way to Lady Yaoguang''s residence, only to be intercepted by her uncle, Qu Jianfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What''s he doing here?" Qu Jianfeng''s face showed a trace of panic.


    "Senior Uncle, Xiao Nanfeng''s waiting on the za by the far end of the ind," the disciple informed him.


    "Very well. You may leave. I''ll handle this," Qu Jianfeng said.


    "Understood!" The disciple nodded and left.


    Qu Jianfeng stared at the card, his eyelids twitching nervously. Rather than heading into Lady Yaoguang''s courtyard, he hurried to a nearby hall to confer with others.


    "Elders, something''s wrong. Xiao Nanfeng is here! What should we do? I don''t dare face him myself," Qu Jianfeng said worriedly.


    The elders nced at each other. One took a deep breath. "It''s toote now. We''ll have to send him away. Let me go."


    "Very well," the others replied.


    Soon, the elder arrived at the za on the outskirts of the ind and met Xiao Nanfeng there.


    "I am an elder of the Shangqing holynd. Greetings, Eastern Aspect Xiao."


    He sketched a bow, which Xiao Nanfeng returned. "Greetings, Elder. I request an audience with Lady Yaoguang."


    "Unfortunately, Lady Yaoguang is in secluded cultivation and cannot receive guests at the moment. Once she emerges, we will contact you, Eastern Aspect Xiao. Will that be eptable?" The elder smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He shook his head. "I''ve alreadye. I don''t intend to leave before I see her. Have you handed her my calling card?"


    "Lady Yaoguang is in seclusion and hasn''t been able to receive any messages."


    "Is she in secluded cultivation on this ind?"


    "Indeed."


    "In that case, I''ll go find her myself."


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, the holy maiden isn''t to be disturbed!" the elder eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at him and was certain that he was deliberately trying to keep him from meeting her. Extremely worried, he had no interest in wasting more time with him. Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want to wait any longer.


    He ignored the elder and flew toward the entrance to the formation.


    The elder thundered, "Eastern Aspect Xiao, haven''t you heard me? Do you intend to make a fuss in the Shangqing holynd?!"


    He moved to block Xiao Nanfeng, only to be hauled up by the cor by one of Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates.


    "What are you doing?!" the elder shouted in rm.


    The ck-robed subordinate hurled the elder into the sea. He fell with a loud ssh.


    The Shangqing disciples were stunned by this disy of brute force. Qu Jianfeng and the others, secretly watching from within the ind''s defensive formation, were shocked as well. None expected Xiao Nanfeng to be so bold as to attack directly.


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, this is the Shangqing holynd. You cannot act so recklessly!" A group of Shangqing disciples rushed forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze turned cold. The situation seemed very amiss. He continued toward the entrance of the formation as the ck-robed subordinates to his back engaged the disciples.


    With a series of loud crashes, the disciples were thrown into the sea. Even the guards stationed around the formation had been overpowered.


    "Stop this, Xiao Nanfeng!" a voice shouted.


    Qu Jianfeng was forced to show himself.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Long time no see, Qu Jianfeng."


    "Yaoguang is in seclusion. Do you really intend to make a mess of the Shangqing holynd?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Qu Jianfeng, you''re Yaoguang''s uncle, so I''m willing to settle things amicably. If you don''t want me to make a move, I insist on seeing her today."


    "Dream on! Xiao Nanfeng, don''t think that you can act recklessly here just because you''ve made a name for yourself in the south. The hierarch has already analyzed the situation. Your sess was only due to the Heavenly Emperor''s help. You aren''t qualified to stir up trouble here in Shangqing!"


    Suddenly, one of Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates grabbed Qu Jianfeng by the throat and lifted him off the ground. "Say another word against His Majesty and I''ll snap your neck."


    Qu Jianfeng trembled in terror. "Xiao Nanfeng said he won''t use force. How dare you attack me!"


    "His Majesty said he wouldn''t use force, but he said nothing about us. I''m Ye Dafu, and I''ve in countless cultivators. Are you going to test me?" the ck-robed man threatened.


    Qu Jianfeng stiffened.


    "Qu Jianfeng, are you going to lead the way, or do I have to find someone else?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded coldly.


    Now that he had the power to free Yaoguang from this prison, there was no need for him to hold back. Yaoguang had remained in Shangqing only because of him. Though she was revered as a holy maiden, she might as well have been imprisoned. He intended to take her away today; no one could stop him.


    "Hurry up and summon the grand elders! Someone''s causing trouble in Shangqing!" a voice shouted from nearby.


    Simultaneously, the ind''s protective formation activated. It glowed with a bright green light as it blocked Xiao Nanfeng''s path.


    "Break it!" one of the ck-robed cultivators shouted.


    He struck the formation with a single punch, which exploded in a wave of fiery energy. The disciples nearby were thrown into the sea as a tsunami surged outward, causing the ind to shake.


    The protective formation shattered as the Shangqing disciples reeled.


    "Who dares cause trouble in the Shangqing holynd?!" a voice boomed from the depths of Cursebane Ind.


    Streaks of light shot into the sky as the grand elders of Shangqing, disturbed from their seclusion, rushed to the scene.


    Xiao Nanfeng flew into the air, his ck-robed subordinates following closely behind him.


    "Who are you? Who dares to stir up trouble here?" a middle-aged female Golden Immortal demanded.


    "I am Xiao Nanfeng, Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court. Greetings, elders."


    "Isn''t the Eastern Aspect Ao Canghai? Has there been a change?" the female Golden Immortal eximed.


    "I was recently appointed to the position. Verifying my identity shouldn''t be troublesome. You may ask your disciples who keep track of Imperial Court matters."


    The female Golden Immortal eyed a group of Shangqing disciples in the vicinity, all of whom nodded.


    "Even if you are the Eastern Aspect, how can you simply destroy our ind''s defensive formation?" The female Golden Immortal frowned.


    She was deeply uneasy. The defensive formation around Cursebane Ind was no simple formation. Even a Golden Immortal would have trouble breaking it quickly; how could it have shattered in an instant?


    "I came to see Holy Maiden Yaoguang, and had my calling card presented to her. I was obstructed and had no choice but to use force."


    "You want to see Yaoguang?" the female Golden Immortal eximed.


    "Indeed. Please allow me to meet with her. I''vee with good intentions and would prefer not to leave on bad terms."


    From her tone, Xiao Nanfeng could tell that this Golden Immortal seemed to have a close rtionship with Yaoguang. He made sure to show her respect.


    The female Golden Immortal frowned and looked toward Qu Jianfeng, whom Ye Dafu had caught. "Qu''er, are you the one preventing Yaoguang from receiving this guest?"


    "Ah, I..." Qu Jianfeng stiffened.


    "That''s enough. Since the Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court is here, have Yaoguange out to speak to him. If he acts improperly, I''ll take up the matter with the Heavenly Emperor myself."


    "I..." Qu Jianfeng stammered, his face pale.


    "What''s the matter? Summon Yaoguang!"


    "She''s not on Cursebane Ind," Qu Jianfeng forced out.


    "Yaoguang needs my permission to leave the ind. What do you mean, she''s not here? Where have you taken her?!"


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dahan came as a suitor, and we sent her to him," Qu Jianfeng said.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dahan? Why didn''t you inform me? Yaoguang is a holy maiden of Shangqing. Even if an Immortal Emperor is proposing to her, the proper rites have to be followed. What do you mean, you ''sent her to him''? Did she agree to this?" thundered the female Golden Immortal.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face grew cold. "Qu Jianfeng, how did you send her off the ind?"


    Qu Jianfeng grimaced. He didn''t know what to say; he seemed too ashamed to exin.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed with killing intent. Something seemed terribly wrong. Yaoguang could very well be in danger.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the distant ind. "Capture the entire Dahan delegation. Don''t let anyone escape. Kill whoever resists!"


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates replied.


    Half their number flew off toward the distant ind.


    Meanwhile, the Dahan delegation spotted the iing ck-robed figures and were about to confront them when a series of deafening booms were heard. The ck-robed cultivators swiftly overwhelmed and severely injured them.


    For the ck-robed cultivators, the fastest way to handle the situation wasn''t through threats or negotiations, but rather by beating their opponents into submission.

 Chapter 792: Kill Them All

    <h4>Chapter 792: Kill Them All</h4>


    The entire delegation from Dahan on the nearby ind was swiftly subdued.


    "Your Majesty, something''s not right. These people are all very weak," Ye Dafu called out from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He had learned that the Immortal Emperor of Dahan himself hade to propose to Lady Yaoguang. It was odd enough that the emperor wasn''t present with his delegation, and odder still that the entire delegation was weak.


    Ye Dafu and his men continued interrogating the members of the delegation, all of whom imed ignorance. Xiao Nanfeng was certain that there was a conspiracy at y.


    "Qu Jianfeng, where is Lady Yaoguang?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I don''t know myself," Qu Jianfeng replied, genuinely shocked.


    "You were the one who sent her out of Cursebane Ind. How can you not know?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "I..." Qu Jianfeng stammered, unable to exin himself.


    The female Golden Immortal from earlier red at him coldly. "Qu''er, Yaoguang''s your niece. How could you have plotted against her?"


    Qu Jianfeng''s face flushed with shame. "I didn''t mean to. Yaoguang didn''t want to marry the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, but some of the elders suggested letting them talk and sort it out between themselves. I thought it wouldn''t be a problem so I agreed..."


    "You secretly brought the Immortal Emperor of Dahan onto Cursebane Ind to meet Lady Yaoguang?" The female Golden Immortal''s eyes red in anger.


    "Those elders persuaded me to do it. I..." Qu Jianfeng nced down in shame.


    "Which elders?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Them." Qu Jianfeng pointed at a few elders in the distance, all of whom were soaking wet. Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates had thrown them into the sea. They looked utterly wretched. When they saw Qu Jianfeng pointing at them, their faces turned pale as they tried to flee.


    "Seize them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the ck-robed men chorused. They closed in on the elders.


    "Help us, Grand Elder! This is the Shangqing holynd. Outsiders can''t make a fuss here!"


    "Save us, Grand Elder!"


    With a series of loud thuds, the ck-robed men punched the elders in the stomach, causing them to contort in pain. They were so badly hurt that they couldn''t even scream. They were quickly dragged before Xiao Nanfeng.


    The female Golden Immortal looked at them coldly. "How dare you conspire with outsiders to harm a holy maiden of Shangqing? And you even had the nerve to call out for help! Aren''t you ashamed?"


    The elders'' faces turned red, either from pain or shame.


    "Now, exin how Lady Yaoguang was taken away," Xiao Nanfeng demanded coldly.


    "The elders suggested that Lady Yaoguang and the Immortal Emperor of Dahan be allowed some time to talk alone. I agreed. They spoke briefly in her courtyard while we waited outside. Not long afterwards, the Immortal Emperor presented himself to us, ready to leave. I thought that their discussion hadn''t gone well, so we politely escorted him from the ind. When I returned, I discovered that Lady Yaoguang was gone too," Qu Jianfeng confessed.


    "So the Immortal Emperor of Dahan abducted Lady Yaoguang, with your cooperation no less?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly.


    "I... Afterwards, I attempted to seek out the Immortal Emperor of Dahan on the delegation''s ind, but he was nowhere to be seen. He had left a message behind saying that he wanted to speak with Yaoguang privately, promising to marry her. The elders advised me to drop the matter at that, so I returned. Not long thereafter, you arrived."


    Xiao Nanfeng pped Qu Jianfeng across the face.


    Blood and teeth flew from Qu Jianfeng''s mouth. He was stunned by the blow.


    "If you weren''t Lady Yaoguang''s uncle, I would already have killed you."


    Qu Jianfeng was about to resist, but he was cowed by Xiao Nanfeng''s murderous gaze.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the elders. "Where''s Yaoguang? Speak!"


    "We don''t know!" the elders cried out.


    "Destroy his body and seize his soul," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    One of his ck-robed subordinates instantly struck the elder''s head with such force that his body was obliterated. He caught the elder''s soul in his hand.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you!"


    "Insolence! This is the Shangqing holynd!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you dare kill a Shangqing elder?!"


    Furious shouts came from the onlookers.


    The female Golden Immortal was appalled by the elders'' betrayal, but she was outraged herself. Even if punishment was warranted, shouldn''t ite from within the Shangqing holynd itself? How could an outsider get involved to this extent?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, aren''t you going too far? Let me remind you that we''re in the Shangqing holynd," the female Golden Immortal said coldly.


    With a rush of overwhelming energy, one of Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates released his aura. Everyone present was forced back from the pressure. Even the female Golden Immortal felt her breath catch in her throat.


    Xiao Nanfeng addressed her coldly. "I shall interrogate these criminals. Do not interfere. If anything happens to Lady Yaoguang, I will not spare anyone involved. Don''t try to pressure me with the authority of the Shangqing holynd. I''ve already destroyed two divine empires, and I''m not afraid to take on this holynd, either."


    "You!" the female Golden Immortal cried out in rage.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze swept over the other Shangqing disciples and elders heading toward the ind from nearby, but no one dared to speak.


    Their intimidating presence had frozen all other cultivators in ce.


    "Lady Yaoguang is missing, her whereabouts unknown. Anyone who stands in my way, I will consider an enemy."


    His threat echoed as if it came from the underworld itself.


    He turned to the elder whose body had just been destroyed. "You''re nothing but a soul now. Will you reveal what you know?"


    "I truly don''t know anything! The Immortal Emperor of Dahan gave me some treasure that I''ve coveted for ages. That''s why I helped him. I don''t know where he took her!"


    "You betrayed the holy maiden for a mere artifact? You''re unforgivable!" the female Golden Immortal shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng caused the elder''s soul to dissipate with a punch.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you¡ª"


    Though the elder hadmitted a grave crime, it wasn''t appropriate for an outsider to execute him.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored her and looked toward the remaining elders. "Anyone who knows where Lady Yaoguang is can live. Otherwise, you''ll all die."


    The elders went pale. They didn''t know where Lady Yaoguang was at all.


    "Please spare us, Eastern Aspect Xiao! We were blinded by greed. I''ll return whatever I received from the Immortal Emperor!"


    "I''ll give back everything I received as well¡ªand forfeit all the treasures I possess!"


    "I don''t want to die! I''ll return all the treasures I epted. Please spare my life!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes were filled with killing intent. He nced at the growing crowd of Shangqing disciples in the vicinity. "Whoever can tell me where Lady Yaoguang is will receive three Golden Immortal treasures as a reward."


    However, no one knew where Lady Yaoguang was. Silence reigned.


    The female Golden Immortal spoke up. "Eastern Aspect Xiao, please allow us to deal with these traitors. The Shangqing holynd will punish them gravely for this."


    "No need. All those who conspired against Lady Yaoguang shall perish," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly. "Kill them!"


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates replied.


    "No!" the elders and quite a few Shangqing disciples screamed.


    With another loud explosion, the remaining elders were all obliterated. Their bodies were destroyed and their souls extinguished.


    Everyone present felt a chill run down their spines, none more so than Qu Jianfeng. He trembled all over, his mind in turmoil.


    He had been involved in Yaoguang''s abduction himself. Would Xiao Nanfeng kill him too?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think the Shangqing holynd defenseless?!" a Golden Immortal shouted from afar.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to that Golden Immortal and pinned him down with an icy look. "I came to Shangqing today to find Lady Yaoguang. I don''t have time to waste with you. Settle whatever score you have with me thereafter. Send me a formal challenge if you want. I''ll return to Shangqing and face you then."


    "You!" The Golden Immortal''s eyes red with rage.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t waste more time on him. He turned toward the distance. "Ye Dafu, has anyone from the delegation confessed yet?"


    "No, Your Majesty! They''re being incredibly stubborn. They refuse to say anything!"


    "Don''t bother questioning them. Kill them all," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    With another resounding explosion, the delegation was wiped out entirely.


    At that moment, the Shangqing disciples realized a crucial truth: Xiao Nanfeng clearly cared for Lady Yaoguang, and would kill whoever dared stand in his way.


    All of Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates flew back to him.


    "What do we do now, Your Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked, worried.


    "Head to Dahan''s capital. We''ll attack the capital until the Immortal Emperor of Dahan shows himself. We''ll wipe out the empire if need be."


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates shot into the sky and disappeared over the horizon.


    Qu Jianfeng was left lying on the ground, dazed. He and many of the Shangqing disciples were utterly bewildered.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s going to destroy Dahan?"


    "How can that be? He can''t take on a divine empire by himself!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s already taken down two divine empires. What''s one more?"


    A wave of shock rippled through the Shangqing disciples. Though Xiao Nanfeng had embarrassed them, all he had done was in an attempt to save their holy maiden. Many of the disciples didn''t hold his actions against him; some of the female ones even watched him leave in admiration, their cheeks flushed with excitement.


    Qu Jianfeng shook his head, his mind still abuzz in confusion. The only reason he had survived was because he was Lady Yaoguang''s uncle¡ªotherwise, he would already have been killed. Xiao Nanfeng, whom he had once looked down on, had returned with overwhelming strength.


    He had once said that Yaoguang had been blind to fall for Xiao Nanfeng, but it was now clear that he was the one who had failed to identify Xiao Nanfeng''s incredible potential.

 Chapter 793: Chaos at Dahans Capital

    <h4>Chapter 793: Chaos at Dahan''s Capital</h4>


    As soon as Xiao Nanfeng left the Shangqing holynd, the events that had just unfolded rapidly spread across the sect.


    Despite some dissatisfaction among the disciples about the fact that Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t shown the Shangqing holynd proper respect, many understood that he was acting out of concern for Lady Yaoguang, a holy maiden of Shangqing. In contrast, many looked toward Qu Jianfeng, Lady Yaoguang''s uncle, with contempt. How could he betray his own niece?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s bold determination to save Lady Yaoguang, even at the cost of offending the Shangqing holynd and making an enemy of Dahan, ignited admiration especially among female disciples, who envied his devotion to Lady Yaoguang. Many were curious as to how the confrontation at Dahan''s capital would unfold.


    "Whoever has an avatar at Dahan''s capital, step forward! Let''s hear about what''s going on there!"


    "Does anyone have an avatar at Dahan''s capital? Or even nearby? Quickly, go report on what''s happening there! I want to know about Senior Brother Xiao''s whereabouts!"


    "When did Xiao Nanfeng be your Senior Brother?"


    "I heard that Xiao Nanfeng once addressed Lady Yaoguang as Senior Aunt. Well, Lady Yaoguang''s my Senior Aunt too, so Xiao Nanfeng is naturally my senior brother. He''s amazing! I want to find apanion in cultivation like Senior Brother Xiao."


    Countless Shangqing disciples were excitedly following this development of events, especially the female ones. How would this saga of passionate romance unfold?


    Dahan''s capital was located in the far north of the realm, and was frequently covered in snow and ice. Towering snow-capped mountains, like frozen titans, stood guard over the imperial city. At its heart stood the majesticplex of the imperial pce. It was perched atop the peak of a mountain shaped like a dragon''s head and shimmered in the cold light.


    A couple stood within one of its halls.


    The woman was none other than Lady Yaoguang, trapped within a radiant blue barrier. Her expression was cold as she red at the white-robed figure before her, a young man whose features were twisted in an unsettling mix of lust and arrogance. He stared at her with tant desire. "My harem is full of beauties, but none are as exquisite as you. They weren''t lying when they said that you were a divine beauty. I caught you as part of a deal, but you''d make a fine empress. At the very least, you could well outshine every woman in my pce, haha!"


    "Immortal Emperor of Dahan, if you don''t free me, the Shangqing hierarch won''t let you go," Lady Yaoguang thundered.


    "The Shangqing hierarch? He''s stuck in the green knoll hidden realm, isn''t he?Who knows if he''ll even make it out? Instead of waiting for him, you should be focusing on how to please me." He reached out to grab her.


    Lady Yaoguang paled as she hurriedly reinforced the barrier around her.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s palm pressed down on the barrier, causing it to creak. He smirked. "Shangqing is well known for its barriers, which can suppress the authority of the strong¡ªbut your cultivation is far too weak. Shatter."


    The blue barrier shattered in an instant. Simultaneously, a blue sword emerged from its midst and shed through the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s palm strike. The sword exploded into countless sharp des, forming a protective cocoon around Lady Yaoguang.


    "The Cursebane Sword of the Shangqing holynd?" The Immortal Emperor of Dahan frowned.


    "Don''t you daree any closer," Lady Yaoguang shouted. Her voice quavered. "If you dare do anything to me, the hierarch will surely avenge me!


    She didn''t know what to do. Her opponent was a Boundless Immortal. The only threat she could invoke was the Shangqing hierarch. Of course, she inwardly longed to call on Xiao Nanfeng''s name for protection, but she held back lest it drag him into danger as well.


    "I don''t fear the Shangqing hierarch at all. To think that your Cursebane Sword is a Boundless Immortal relic... but so what? I''ll be able to break through its defenses quickly enough," the Immortal Emperor of Dahan said.


    He pressed his palm against the Cursebane Sword''s formation, his overwhelming force taking on the sword''s defenses once more. The formation shuddered as it grew weaker by the moment.


    The emperor smirked. "My dear beauty, it looks as if your barrier won''t hold out for long."


    "No..."


    Lady Yaoguang could sense the truth of his words. As the barrier crumbled, her heart raced with fear and hopelessness.Her eyes teared up. She couldn''t help but recall when Xiao Nanfeng had embraced her, when she had felt safer than ever before.


    Would she no longer be able to see Nanfeng again?


    Just as despair began to grip her, a thunderous voice echoed across Dahan''s capital.


    "Immortal Emperor of Dahan, release Lady Yaoguang at once, or I''ll destroy your pce and the capital along with it! You have until the count of three!"


    The voice was unmistakable¡ªit was Xiao Nanfeng.


    The citizens of Dahan''s capital looked up in shock. Who would be so arrogant as to threaten Dahan?


    Lady Yaoguang''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Xiao Nanfeng? How could that be?"


    "Who dares? What insolence!" the Immortal Emperor of Dahan roared.


    "One!" Xiao Nanfeng''s voice boomed.


    A chilling wave of killing intent enveloped the city. The Immortal Emperor of Dahan was forced to stride out of the pce to confront his challenger.


    "Two!" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    There had barely been a pause between his shouts. His killing intent grew stronger and stronger. By now, the guards stationed around the capital were in a frenzy. They hastily reinforced the city''s defensive formation.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan emerged from the pce and looked to the skies, where he spotted Xiao Nanfeng amidst a contingent of ck-robed cultivators.


    "Who are you? Who dares threaten me in my capital?" bellowed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan.


    All eyes turned to the emperor.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s cold gaze fixated on him. "Are you the Immortal Emperor of Dahan? Where''s Yaoguang?"


    "Are you here in search of Lady Yaoguang? She''s right here, but you''re toote¡ªshe''s to be my empress. Who are you, boy? Shall I let you attend my wedding feast?"


    "Do you not know who I am?"


    "Should I?" the emperor retorted, his tone dripping with condescension.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. There was something strange about this emperor. Trying to marry a holy maiden by force was unreasonable enough, but to not have heard of him... Xiao Nanfeng had yed a major role in events in the Imperial Court. Ordinary sects might pay little attention to him, but Immortal Emperors, major yers on the world stage, surely had to. How could this Immortal Emperor of Dahan not know who he was?


    "I am Xiao Nanfeng. Hand over Lady Yaoguang now, and I''ll spare your life. Refuse, and I''ll show no mercy."


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" The Immortal Emperor of Dahan frowned, momentarily puzzled. He felt as if he had heard the name before, but he truly was unfamiliar with it. Heughed dismissively. "Try it, then. I''d like to see how you intend to take on my Formation of Crystalline Ice."


    He was particrly confident in his defensive formation, and was certain that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be able to crack it.


    As the emperor finished speaking, a shadow streaked across the sky¡ªfrom the interior of the capital. Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates had long since infiltrated Dahan.


    Xiao Nanfeng had learned about Dahan''s marriage proposal before heading to Shangqing. As a safety precaution, he had arranged for Ye Sanshui and others to head to Dahan''s capital first.


    Fortunately, they had made it in before Dahan''s capital entered a state of lockdown. There was no need to break through the formation at all. Ye Sanshui headed straight for the Immortal Emperor of Dahan.


    Heunched a devastating attack as the Immortal Emperor of Dahan narrowed his eyes and defended with a hasty punch.


    The blinding explosion of energy that resulted sent shockwaves across the capital and formed avnches on the snow-capped mountains.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan stumbled back, having lost to Ye Sanshui in strength.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the emperor roared.


    From high above, Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Break down the city''s defenses!"


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates replied.


    They struck at the defensive formation simultaneously, causing it to ripple violently. The ground shook; the mountains quaked.


    "A powerful formation indeed," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Continue!" one of the ck-robed cultivators shouted.


    The cultivators continued attacking the Formation of Crystalline Ice, which suddenly began to crack.


    "Continue!"


    The cracks grew wider and wider.


    Meanwhile, Ye Sanshui forced the Immortal Emperor of Dahan back with every exchange.


    In addition to Ye Sanshui, arge number of spectral guards and a few golden cultivators had snuck into the capital. They cut through the emperor''s guards as they made their way to Lady Yaoguang.


    Lady Yaoguang gaped in astonishment. The same emperor who had just overpowered her was now being pushed back in battle. Could this really be happening?


    "Nanfeng has grown incredibly strong," Lady Yaoguang murmured. Her heart swelled with pride. Her face flushed.


    The Immortal Emperor''s voice rang out in desperation. "Citizens of Dahan, this is your emperor! We are under enemy attack! Raise your right hand now and lend your power to me. Help me crush these invaders and protect the empire!"


    The golden dragon of fortune high overhead transmitted his words across Dahan.


    Lady Yaoguang''s face paled. "He''s drawing on imperial might! Nanfeng''s going to be in danger..."


    Meanwhile, a group of golden cultivators had arrived at the hall in which Lady Yaoguang was imprisoned.

 Chapter 794: Triumph over Dahan

    <h4>Chapter 794: Triumph over Dahan</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s challenge and the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s response to that challenge made Lady Yaoguang''s location within the pce apparent.


    A group of golden cultivators shot toward her location, crushing any opposition they encountered along the way.


    Just then, they were sent flying by an overwhelming force.


    "Be careful! It''s a Boundless Immortal!" one of the golden cultivators eximed.


    More of Dazheng''s forces arrived on the scene, only to be sent flying as well.


    Two figures cloaked in dense mist appeared by the front of the hall. They blocked all attempts to approach Lady Yaoguang.


    "Head of Snowborne, is this the extent of your n?" one of the fog-wreathed figures asked coldly.


    "Rest assured, Saint Lun Hui. From today onwards, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan will be forced to swear loyalty to you. He has no other choice," the other figure replied.


    "Forcing the Immortal Emperor of Dahan to choose a side and simultaneously taking advantage of the situation to kill Xiao Nanfeng, I see. Not bad, but in the end, we''ll have to step in ourselves."


    The head of Snowborne smiled wryly. "I didn''t expect Xiao Nanfeng to be so vignt, either. He disrupted my n by sending a Boundless Immortal into Dahan''s capital ahead of time¡ªbut regardless, once the Immortal Emperor harnesses his imperial might, we''ll win."


    "Very well," Saint Lun Hui grumbled. "That said, Lady Yaoguang truly is a rare beauty. None among my prized vespare to her. What a waste to have promised her to the Immortal Emperor of Dahan."


    "If you''re interested in Lady Yaoguang, I may be able to arrange for something," the head of Snowborne whispered.


    "Oh?"


    "Leave it to me. Let''s wait until the Immortal Emperor of Dahan gathers his imperial might and destroys Xiao Nanfeng."


    "Very well." Saint Lun Hui nodded in satisfaction.


    Just then, the golden dragon of fortune high overhead, infused with imperial might, surged down toward the Immortal Emperor.


    Locked inbat with Ye Sanshui, the Immortal Emperor had been slowly losing ground. When he saw the dragon of fortune nearing, however, heughed madly. "You''re done for now, haha!"


    Just then, a shadow streaked toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan from the back.


    "Who''s there?" the Immortal Emperor demanded.


    Sensing danger, he quickly unleashed his qi barrier in self-defense. He wasn''t too worried; his qi barrier would stop even a Boundless Immortal. Furthermore, once imperial might enveloped him, his strength would only multiply.


    Ye Sanshui shoved the emperor with all his strength, causing him to stumble back toward the shadow behind him. He passed straight through the shadow and into a pitch-ck space.


    "A coffin?" the Immortal Emperor of Dahan eximed.


    The Demon Child had appeared out of nowhere with a ck coffin that had engulfed the emperor. In an instant, he was trapped within.


    As soon as he entered the ck coffin hidden realm, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan immediately realized that he had fallen for a trap. Ye Sanshui freed himself as the golden dragon of fortune surged through the coffin and into the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body. He felt his strength skyrocket as Ye Sanshui mmed the coffin''s lid over the coffin, sealing the Immortal Emperor of Dahan within.


    Inside the ck coffin hidden realm, though the Immortal Emperor of Dahan had suddenly gained tremendous strength, he found himself without an opponent. The exit to the ck coffin hidden realm had vanished; he was trapped within.


    "Get back here, you bastards!" he thundered.


    He smashed at the void, sending shockwaves throughout its interior¡ªbut despite his immense power, the space held firm.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan bore incredible strength. If he had been trapped by Xiao Nanfeng''s single ck coffin alone, perhaps he would have been able to break out by force just as Lou Yujing and his six zombie kings had done, but this coffin wasposed of two ck coffins. The stability of the resulting hidden realm had increased dramatically.


    Try as he might, even at peak strength, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan wasn''t able to break free.


    In that case, he would surely remain trapped as his imperial might dissipated.


    Outside, as the shaking subsided, Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child breathed a sigh of relief. The Immortal Emperor of Dahan would be trapped for good.


    The onlookers, on the other hand, were stunned. What had happened to the Immortal Emperor of Dahan? He had vanished after gathering the strength of the entire empire!


    "Damn it, not only did Ye Sanshui manage to sneak in, so did the Demon Child! How could he not have shown up until now?!" the head of Snowborne eximed.


    Saint Lun Hui grimaced. "Perhaps Xiao Nanfeng anticipated our ambush. If the Demon Child had appeared earlier, we would have countered him. His sudden appearance now caught us all off guard."


    The head of Snowborne gritted his teeth. "You mean that he was deliberately lowering our guard by heading to the Shangqing holynd? Was he preparing to take us on here all along?"


    "It''s possible¡ªor perhaps he was simply ready for both possibilities."


    "I underestimated him," the head of Snowborne gritted out.


    Just then, a massive explosion rocked the capital.


    The city''s protective barrier, the Formation of Crystalline Ice, had finally fallen. Xiao Nanfeng''s forces surged into the capital unhindered.


    Ye Sanshui handed the ck coffin to Xiao Nanfeng, while the Demon Child took on the head of Snowborne and Saint Lun Hui.


    "Die!" the Demon Child roared, unleashing a storm of sword energy.


    "Damn it," the head of Snowborne cursed. He defended with a sword.


    A tremendous shockwave erupted as the two cultivators shed against one another.


    Ye Sanshuiunched himself at the other fog-wreathed figure, Saint Lun Hui. His fist shot toward the saint at incredible speed.


    "Insolent fool!" Saint Lun Hui roared, retaliating with a punch of his own.


    The two fists collided in a fiery explosion that caused the entire mountain to shake.


    The four Boundless Immortals fought each other so intensely that none other could approach them. The buildings they surrounded was on the verge of copse.


    Xiao Nanfeng observed the scene. Lady Yaoguang was trapped in a hall in the center of the conflict. The figures could destroy it and hurt her at any time.


    "Use what I gave you to deal with them," Xiao Nanfeng instructed one of his subordinates.


    "Understood!" Tu Feng responded.


    Tu Feng dashed into the fray as Xiao Nanfeng drew on his spiritual cultivation and invoked spiritual harmony. He vanished from sight.


    Ye Sanshui seemed to be no match for Saint Lun Hui alone. He took a heavy blow, sending him stumbling, but seized the opportunity to grapple with the saint even as the saint beat him ck and blue.


    Just then, Tu Feng rushed in and trapped the two cultivators within a second ck coffin.


    "Another ck coffin?!" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    He struggled furiously to free himself as Ye Sanshui vomited out blood, but was ultimately trapped in the ck coffin alongside him.


    "You bastards, if I can''t have her, no one can. Shatter!" Saint Lun Hui roared.


    With his remaining strength, he shattered the foundations of the hall in which Lady Yaoguang was trapped before the ck coffin sucked him within.


    "Bastard!" the head of Snowborne roared furiously.


    Unfortunately, the Demon Child prevented him from aiding his ally.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng reappeared in the air with the ck coffin in tow. He gestured to Tu Feng. "Get in and assist Ye Sanshui."


    "Understood!" Tu Feng darted into the coffin.


    Just then, the head of Snowborne unleashed a devastating sword strike at Xiao Nanfeng. Right before it couldnd, Xiao Nanfeng invoked spiritual harmony and vanished.


    He reappeared high above as Tu Feng and Ye Sanshui emerged from the ck coffin, both covered in blood.


    "Hurry and seal the coffin, Your Majesty!" Ye Sanshui cried out.


    With a resounding ng, Saint Lun Hui was trapped on his own within the ck coffin.


    "Your Majesty, that hall was destroyed. Did Lady Yaoguang survive?" Ye Sanshui asked worriedly.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I entered while invoking spiritual harmony, but she wasn''t there. They must have moved her away."


    "Oh?"


    "We''ve caught two of the three Boundless Immortals. Thatst one, the weakest of them all, might be the rumored head of Snowborne. Take him down."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng charged at the remaining cultivator.


    Afar, the head of Snowborne nched. He wasn''t even able to take on the Demon Child by himself, let alone two other Boundless Immortals besides.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just you wait. Lady Yaoguang is mine now. You''ll never see her again!" the head of Snowborne gritted out.


    He allowed the Demon Child to strike him with a tempest of sword energy as he turned to flee.


    "Hold it!" Ye Sanshui thundered.


    The head of Snowborne fled, Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child giving chase as quickly as they could.


    Tu Feng remained behind to protect Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your Majesty, has Lady Yaoguang been caught again?" Ye Dafu asked worriedly.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "No. If she had been, that Boundless Immortal would have used her as leverage. She''s likely still within Dahan''s capital. Seal the capital and conduct a search for her immediately!"


    "Understood!"


    With thatmand, the battle drew to a close. Xiao Nanfeng had achieved an overwhelming victory. The presence of his ck-robed cultivators intimidated the cultivators of Dahan and prevented them fromunching an assault to save their emperor.


    News of the battle spread swiftly throughout the world. The Shangqing holynd received the clearest and most detailed ounts of what had happened.


    When they learned that three Boundless Immortals hadin in ambush for him, only to be roundly defeated, they were left utterly dumbfounded.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng really that incredible? He just wiped out the strongest forces of Dahan without breaking a sweat!"


    "I''m not dreaming, am I? How could the Immortal Emperor of Dahan have lost so badly?"


    "Whoever said that Xiao Nanfeng was nothingpared to the Immortal Emperor of Dahan had to be out of his mind!"


    The Shangqing holynd was abuzz with disbelief and excitement.


    Qu Jianfeng, having learned of the news, pped himself in frustration. "What kind of joke is this? Didn''t the hierarch say that Yu Fuli was responsible for defeating Lou Yujing, not Xiao Nanfeng? It almost feels as if Xiao Nanfeng''s even more formidable than the rumors suggested..."

 Chapter 795: Controlling the City

    <h4>Chapter 795: Controlling the City</h4>


    In the aftermath of the battle, as news of Xiao Nanfeng''s victory over the Immortal Emperor of Dahan spread, empires, ordinary and divine, sent their scouts toward Dahan in order to figure out just what was going on. This seemed to be a golden opportunity.


    Of Xiao Nanfeng''s two ck coffins, one trapped the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and the other Saint Lun Hui. Naturally, Xiao Nanfeng was unaware of the saint''s true identity¡ªand it surely wasn''t his main body regardless.


    Xiao Nanfeng locked down Dahan''s capital, plunging the city into chaos.


    While some of Dahan''s soldiers attempted to rescue their emperor, they were quickly subdued by Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. The city''s residents were thrown into panic. Many attempted to flee, but with the city gates sealed, no one could escape. Tension and chaos spread throughout the city.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. His voice boomed across the city. "Citizens of Dahan''s capital, hear me. I am Xiao Nanfeng, Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court."


    His words reverberated throughout the city. All eyes turned toward the sky where Xiao Nanfeng hovered. Many scowled in anger and seemed unwilling to listen.


    "I know that you''re worried about my ns. Allow me to exin the situation. I bear the divine empire of Dahan no enmity, and did note here today for conquest. I am here because your Immortal Emperor abducted mypanion in cultivation, Lady Yaoguang of the Shangqing holynd. It was for no other reason that I braved the capital''s defenses to save her."


    The people quieted down.


    If Xiao Nanfeng were a cruel tyrant, they would have felt far more fear and unease¡ªbut as a man desperately trying to rescue his beloved, they could sympathize with him. The anger and fear that had gripped their hearts began to dissipate.


    "I don''t intend to harm any of you. Do not be afraid. I won''t tarnish the name of the Imperial Court."


    Many of the people were reassured. The Imperial Court was a well-known authority they respected.


    "You need not guard against me. Rather, guard against those who might use this opportunity for evil¡ªthose who would stir up trouble or manipte you for their own ends. I ask that you return to your homes or shelter in a safe ce to avoid involvement. I shall leave as soon as I find mypanion, and no harm wille to you."


    The people were greatly relieved by this deration. Many had seen chaos unfold as looters spread throughout the city. They began to retreat to safety.


    Just then, a Dahan official suddenly yelled out, "Xiao Nanfeng, release our Immortal Emperor!"


    Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly, "I have your Immortal Emperor in my possession. He''s unharmed for the time being. Until I find mypanion, he''ll remain in my possession. If you want him to leave, start searching for Lady Yaoguang. Otherwise, I''ll kill him."


    "How dare you!" the official thundered.


    "If you intend to provoke me, I may well kill him sooner," Xiao Nanfeng replied icily.


    The official stiffened as others began to speak up.


    "Prime Minister, don''t provoke Xiao Nanfeng! The safety of our Immortal Emperor is of utmost priority. We have to find Lady Yaoguang and conduct an exchange."


    "Exactly! Prime Minister, you''ll get the emperor killed if you keep behaving in this manner!"


    "We need to mobilize the city guards immediately.


    As the officials argued, Xiao Nanfeng waved his hand and conjured an image of Lady Yaoguang in the sky.


    "Citizens of Dahan, this is a portrait of Lady Yaoguang. Whoever finds her will be rewarded with three Golden Immortal treasures. In addition, I will personally ensure the finder''s safety and help them leave Dahan and settle anywhere else in the world if they so wish."


    The citizens'' eyes lit up.


    Without the incentive of a reward, few would have deigned to help. Now, with three incredible treasures on the line and promise of safe passage from the empire, excitement spread like wildfire.


    The fear and panic that had gripped the city quickly transformed into fervor, precisely the effect that Xiao Nanfeng had been hoping for.


    Earlier, via spiritual harmony, he had inspected the building in which Lady Yaoguang hadst been sighted. There was a huge hole in the floor, clear evidence that someone had intentionally tunneled into the building and abducted her during the fight.


    When Xiao Nanfeng ordered his subordinates to seal the city, it wasn''t simply a matter of shutting the city gates, but also to reactive the city''s defensive formation and prevent anyone from leaving by sky, sea, or even underground, so as to ensure that Lady Yaoguang couldn''t be brought out of the city.


    Within half a day, the Demon Child and Ye Sanshui returned.


    "Your Majesty, I failed in my duties. He escaped," Ye Sanshui admitted.


    "He escaped into the sea and vanished entirely! I searched throughout the area but couldn''t find him at all. It''s ridiculous!" the Demon Child grumbled.


    "Based on his actions, I suspect he''s the head of Snowborne. Don''t worry. I already have a n. Demon Child, return to Shenfeng''s capital immediately and continue protecting the Divine Emperor. I''ll handle things here."


    "What? Already? But I haven''t even had any fun yet! I don''t want to go back and keep studying just yet!" the Demon Child groaned in frustration.


    "I''ll give you a two-day break, but remember to keep an eye on the city." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "That''s more like it!" The Demon Child whooped and took off.


    "Your Majesty, has Lady Yaoguang still not been found?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. "Return to Yongding immediately and bring Mr. Bai over. He should be able to help me contact Lady Yaoguang."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    Two dayster, in a hidden vi within Dahan''s capital, Lady Yaoguang sat meditating within a barrier formed by the Cursebane Sword. Above her head, a superior yin pearl floated, emitting a pale light that attempted to suppress her spirit. The pearl continuously tried to approach her, only to be repelled by the blue aura from her Cursebane Sword.


    The superior yin pearl seemed infuriated. No matter how it approached, the sword''s aura repelled it.


    Meanwhile, a group of white-robed men were deep in conversation outside the room.


    "Is she still resisting?" one of them asked.


    "She is. She hasn''t fallen into the illusory realm just yet," another man reported.


    "Unbelievable. This is the strongest superior yin pearl that Snowborne possesses. It''s never failed before. How can it be ineffective against her?"


    "It''s because she possesses the Cursebane Sword from the Shangqing holynd. I heard that it was specifically designed to counter evil objects, but never imagined that it would be this powerful." The man seemed frustrated.


    "It doesn''t matter. Even if we can''t batter down her defenses, we''ve trapped her. The problem is how we''ll get out."


    "Is there any way out?"


    "No. With the entire city under lockdown, it''s only a matter of time before they find us. We''ll be exposed soon enough."


    "What do we do, then? Bribe someone?"


    "How? Xiao Nanfeng is offering three Golden Immortal treasures for finding us. If we attempt to escape, we''ll be hunted down. The city''s officials would happily hand us over in exchange for their emperor. We''re done for."


    "How did things turn out this way? How did Xiao Nanfeng even know that Lady Yaoguang was still in the city?"


    "I''ve managed to contact the head. He''s injured too, and can''t provide help right now. He told us to hold out until hees up with a solution."


    "We don''t have any other choice, do we?"


    As the group continued to strategize, another white-robed man rushed over. "One of our spies in Dahan has sent word that he can help us escape. He has strong connections in the city."


    "What?!" everyone cried out.


    "He says he doesn''t have an avatar, so he can only contact us via primitive means. I''ve managed to secure a connection with him. I''ve confirmed his identity, and he''s trustworthy."


    "You can meet with him first. If you''re certain that he''s safe, bring him to me. I''ll decide what our next steps are," the leader of the white-robed men ordered.


    "Understood!"


    Not longter, he returned¡ªthis time apanied by a group of ck-robed subordinates.


    "What are you doing?" the white-robed leader hissed.


    The man remained silent as the ck-robed cultivators stormed the vi and took it over.


    "What? Who are you lot?!" the leader shouted.


    The next moment, a shadow appeared with lightning speed. A heavy blow sent the white-robed men flying.


    Their leader spat out a mouthful of blood and gasped in mid-air, "A Boundless Immortal? You''re Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates?! No!"


    A gust of wind blew through the vi, dispersing the fog in the area and revealing Xiao Nanfeng in the air.


    "Seize them all!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "Understood!" The ck-d cultivators charged toward the remaining assassins.


    The Snowborne assassins attempted to resist, but it was toote. Within moments, they were overpowered and left severely injured, on the verge of death.

 Chapter 796: Reunion with Yaoguang

    <h4>Chapter 796: Reunion with Yaoguang</h4>


    In a vi in Dahan''s capital, the Snowborne assassins within had all been captured. All eyes turned toward the building in which Lady Yaoguang was held.


    A ck-robed cultivator stood beside Xiao Nanfeng. "Eastern Aspect Xiao, it looks like we''ve seeded."


    "Mr. Bai, I was able to take down Ao Canghai thanks to you, and I was able to find this location with your assistance. If Lady Yaoguang is unharmed, then our grudges are settled," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Thank you, Eastern Aspect Xiao," Mr. Bai replied gratefully.


    He had given Xiao Nanfeng evidence about Ao Canghai to save his life; he had rendered assistance now to buy his freedom. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was a man of his word, and he was very grateful for this opportunity.


    "Are you familiar with the aura radiating from within?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I am. It''s the aura of a superior yin pearl that Snowborne possesses. It''s even stronger than the one I used on you. It can ensnare minds and is particrly dangerous."


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "I understand. Mr. Bai, you may leave for the moment. Do not expose your identity."


    "Thank you, Eastern Aspect Xiao." Mr. Bai bowed and quickly left.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and transformed into his yin body. His spiritual moon floated high overhead.


    By then, his subordinates had cleared off the area. They too were aware of the dangers thaty within. Even Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng didn''t dare barge in.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped toward the entrance, his divine undying de in hand. He pushed the door wide open.


    The door burst open as Xiao Nanfeng entered the building.


    What he saw left him stunned. Lady Yaoguang, wielding a blue sword, had pierced through a massive superior yin pearl.


    The pearl was releasing an eerie, blood-curdling wail as it emitted bursts of white light and bitter cold. Even so, the blue sword held it firmly in ce, preventing it from escaping. Lady Yaoguang, entirely focused on the sword, clearly had the upper hand.


    When Xiao Nanfeng entered, she whirled toward him in surprise. A radiant smile filled her face even as tears glistened in her eyes¡ªtears of joy mixed with longing.


    "Nanfeng!" she cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart skipped a beat. He smiled tenderly. "I''vee for you."


    Without any hesitation, he shot toward the superior yin pearl and swung his divine undying de down in a crisp strike.


    The de shed into the pearl, cracking its surface.


    The superior yin pearl screamed in agony. It shuddered violently and, despite suffering further damage, tore itself free from the sword''s hold. It lunged toward Xiao Nanfeng with terrifying fury.


    It opened its mouth wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth that were poised to grind Xiao Nanfeng to pieces.


    "Be careful!" Lady Yaoguang shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed coldly as he prepared to strike once more. Just then, his spiritual moon shot forward and widened its mouth to reveal rows of sharp teeth as well.


    "What?!" Lady Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon shed against the superior yin pearl in an icy blizzard that destroyed the building. Xiao Nanfeng darted forward and scooped Lady Yaoguang into his arms as they soared through the sky.


    Lady Yaoguang tensed the moment Xiao Nanfeng caught her, but didn''t resist. She allowed him to carry her to safety.


    High above, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon and the superior yin pearl shed repeatedly in a blizzard of immense proportions, engulfing all of Dahan''s capital.


    Xiao Nanfeng finally realized just how strong this superior yin pearl was. Despite having been pierced through by Lady Yaoguang''s sword and cracked by his own, it was still able to fight on equal footing with his spiritual moon. And his spiritual moon had even advanced significantly in strength after consuming another superior yin pearl!


    "No wonder Mr. Bai said that this superior yin pearl was incredibly strong," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Nanfeng, shall I help your spiritual moon?" Lady Yaoguang asked.


    "Can you?"


    "When that pearl suppressed me, it seemed to stimte my Cursebane Sword. I can restrain it again."


    "Let''s give it a try, then." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Lady Yaoguang sent her blue Cursebane Sword flying toward the superior yin pearl, piercing it through once again.


    The superior yin pearl screamed in pain as Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon seized the opportunity to swallow it whole. The Cursebane Sword returned to Lady Yaoguang''s hand.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon shone with radiant light as it flew back to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape to digest its gains.


    Xiao Nanfeng shifted back to his physical body. Even so, he didn''t release Lady Yaoguang.


    "You can let me down now, Nanfeng." Lady Yaoguang''s cheeks flushed.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng realize that there were plenty of people watching them. Reluctantly, he let her go, but continued to keep a firm grip on her hand.


    Lady Yaoguang gently tugged at her hand, trying to extricate herself, but turned pink when she saw that Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to let go. Even so, she didn''t pull away.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and addressed the city. "Citizens of Dahan''s capital, I have found Lady Yaoguang. We will be retreating from Dahan''s capital momentarily. Protect yourselves."


    His ck-d subordinates rounded up the captured Snowborne assassins and prepared to leave with Xiao Nanfeng.


    Just then, an official of Dahan blocked their way. "Eastern Aspect Xiao, what about our Immortal Emperor? Now that you''ve found Lady Yaoguang, please free him."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the official coldly. "I may have found Lady Yaoguang, but it was through no assistance from the likes of you. You have no right to demand his freedom. I''m not done with Dahan just yet. Once I discuss terms with the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, we may speak again."


    "We''re willing topensate you¡ªanything you desire!" the official eximed.


    "Some wrongs can''t be undone withpensation. The suffering that Lady Yaoguang endured is beyond what you can repay," Xiao Nanfeng retorted icily.


    The official stiffened. What was he to do now?


    Without further discussion, Xiao Nanfeng flew out of Dahan''s capital, Lady Yaoguang and his subordinates in tow.


    Dahan''s capital wasn''t safe any longer. Powerful enemies were gathering and watching from the shadows. The situation was uncertain, and no one wanted to be the first to strike¡ªnot yet. Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of waiting for them to.


    Lady Yaoguang felt a little shy to be holding hands with Xiao Nanfeng out in the open, but joy blossomed from within.


    Xiao Nanfeng, whom she had once bullied, had since be a strong and dominant cultivator. She blushed as she felt his warm hand in her grip.


    The cultivators vanished over the horizon.


    Back in the Shangqing holynd, the disciples who had been paying close attention to the news cheered when they realized that Lady Yaoguang had been found. Many female disciples were filled with envy and admiration for her.


    "He defied an entire divine empire for her, imprisoning its emperor and threatening its allies! Senior Brother Xiao is amazing. He''s a true man."


    "If only my lover would challenge an empire on my behalf. I''d dly let myself be kidnapped, too..."


    "Where did Lady Yaoguang find such a man? I want one too!"


    The female disciples'' admiration for Xiao Nanfeng soared. Those male disciples who had previously criticized him were quickly silenced by overwhelming support from the women.


    Elsewhere, the leaders of various factions smiled with gleaming eyes.


    "Prepare the troops. It''s time to invade Dahan."


    "This is the perfect opportunity to strike. With their emperor captured, now''s our chance to carve up the divine empire."


    "I hope Xiao Nanfeng finishes off the Immortal Emperor of Dahan. If he does, Dahan will be ours!"


    Ambitions swirled all around the divine empire of Dahan as it was beset by foes from all corners.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang finally arrived at a safe location.


    Xiao Nanfeng ordered some of his ck-d subordinates to leave, and others to guard them from a distance. Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang themselves walked hand-in-hand along a sandy beach inpanionable silence.


    "Nanfeng, how long are you going to hold my hand? Let go already!" Lan Yaoguang teased, her cheeks flushed red.


    "I''d like to hold it forever. Will you allow me to?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled at her.


    Flustered, Lan Yaoguang looked away, her heart racing. "I''m not anyone to you. Who said you could hold my hand? Let go!"


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng sighed as he released her hand.


    As their hands parted, Lan Yaoguang couldn''t help but feel an unexpected pang of sadness. She nced toward Xiao Nanfeng, her eyes filled with a mix of disappointment and longing. Had he let go just because she told him to?


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly pulled her into his arms and lifted her chin gently. As she gasped in surprise, he kissed her tenderly.


    Lan Yaoguang''s eyes widened in shock as she stared into Xiao Nanfeng''s face, mere inches from her own. Her mind went nk, and her heart burst with a mix of joy and embarrassment. She surrendered to the warmth and tenderness of the kiss, in the happiness it brought her.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 797: Justice for You

    <h4>Chapter 797: Justice for You</h4>


    The kisssted a long time. Lan Yaoguang felt her head spinning. After what seemed like ages, the duo finally parted. They stared into each other''s eyes.


    Lan Yaoguang''s ears flushed bright red. She pushed Xiao Nanfeng away. "You rogue, what''re you doing?!"


    "It''s what you owed me," Xiao Nanfeng said, his eyes bright.


    He was referring to when Lan Yaoguang had forcefully kissed him before her departure. Now, he was returning the favor.


    "Y-You rogue!" Lan Yaoguang was so embarrassed that she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Her fists pounded weakly against Xiao Nanfeng''s chest, though of course they didn''t hurt at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Lan Yaoguang, beautiful and bashful. His gaze softened as he caught her fists.


    "You''ve changed. You''ve even grown bold enough to dare to bully me now!" Lan Yaoguang sighed as she tried to pull her hands free from Xiao Nanfeng''s grasp.


    "More like I''ve realized some things. I used to be held back by my thoughts and couldn''t express myself properly. Now that I''ve figured things out, I don''t intend to let go of the good things in life that I''ve grasped."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lan Yaoguang felt her heart flutter. A wave of warmth spread throughout her body. Without realizing it, she had stopped struggling.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t press further. He held her hand as they strolled along the beach.


    After walking for a while, Lan Yaoguang suddenly turned to him, concerned. "How have you been all these years? Are those cursed effigies still hounding you?"


    "I''ve been lucky. The majority of the cursed effigies have be my friends. Rather than harming me, they''ve saved my life countless times in dangerous situations."


    "Oh?"


    As they continued to stroll along the beach, Xiao Nanfeng shared the experiences he had umted over the past few years.


    While listening to his stories about the powerful enemies he had faced, Lan Yaoguang felt a surge of anxiety. Even though Xiao Nanfeng was standing safe and sound by her side, she couldn''t help but feel worried. Her hand gripped his more tightly.


    Naturally, Xiao Nanfeng noticed her reaction.


    "Everything''s fine now. Don''t worry," he reassured her.


    "You''re always so reckless. What would I do if something were to happen to you? I..." Lan Yaoguang''s voice was filled with concern.


    "But I''m standing right here, aren''t I?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Seeing him close by, Lan Yaoguang gradually rxed. She couldn''t help but say, "You have to promise not to be reckless again."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There are things I have to do. We don''t have much time, and the cmity of the era approaches. I have to seize every moment I can."


    Lan Yaoguang opened her mouth wide, but she didn''t know what to say. It wasn''t just her¡ªcountless powerful figures across the world were facing the same fate. They were filled with dread. They hoped that the tribtion wouldn''te or that they wouldn''t be caught in it, but it was all a matter of deception.


    "No matter what happens in the future, regardless of whether we win or lose, I''ll fight with everything I have. I won''t miss out on you, either. I don''t want to leave any regrets behind."


    Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng''s words, a warm feeling filled Lan Yaoguang''s heart. All the fear and tension she had felt was starting to melt away.


    Though the road ahead was full of danger, uncertainty, and even death, their momentarypanionship was enough. Xiao Nanfeng had mentioned Zhang Lingjun, Xia Yu''er, and the Divine Emperor¡ªbut now, Lan Yaoguang didn''t feel as troubled by it all.


    Hand in hand, the couple walked along the beach, sharing their feelings and thoughts from their years apart.


    The two of them talked all the way until nightfall.


    At dusk, beside the bonfire, Xiao Nanfeng once again demonstrated to her his long-awaited cooking skills.


    "You¡¯ve gotten even better at this over the years," Lan Yaoguang said with a cheerful smile as she ate the food Xiao Nanfeng had just prepared.


    "My skills haven''t improved much. Rather, the ingredients have gotten better. Over the years, after every battle, I''d collect the freshest and finest ingredients and store them for this very day¡ªwhen I can cook for you again. I personally picked out all the food you see here."


    Upon hearing that, Lan Yaoguang suddenly felt that the feast was even more delicious. All these years, despite the life-and-death battles he had faced, he never forgot her love of eating.


    She smiled at the tender, juicy roast meat in her hands. She felt as if it was the most precious treasure in the world, having been basted in love and tender affection.


    "You have some too." Lan Yaoguang held a skewer of roast meat up to Xiao Nanfeng''s mouth.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a bite. The two cultivators shared a smile. They understood each other profoundly, without any need for words.


    After their dinner by a campfire, they sat on arge rock and continued to rte to each other everything that had happened over the years. It was Lan Yaoguang''s turn to speak; she seemed to have an endless number of things to talk about.


    They talked all the way until sunrise.


    As dawn broke, Lan Yaoguang rested her head on Xiao Nanfeng''s shoulder. The two of them gazed quietly at the rising sun,pletely at peace.


    Only when the sun had risen high did the two cultivators finally stand up.


    "It''s time for us to go," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Where to?"


    "To give you justice."


    Lan Yaoguang: ???


    The couple swiftly departed from the beach as Xiao Nanfeng summoned a group of his ck-robed subordinates. They set off toward Yongding.


    By the time they reached the city, the Demon Child was already there.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are we going to get into a fight again?" he asked excitedly.


    He was overjoyed to have been summoned so quickly after his two-day vacation and subsequent return to his studies. Studying was important, of course, but who didn''t like to y truant? Especially when he could participate in a fight like a delinquent youth, too...


    "Let''s go. We''re heading to the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm."


    He ushered everyone in to find Blue Lantern, Ye Sanshui, Tu Feng, and others already waiting for him. They weren''t surprised to see Lan Yaoguang with Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Your Majesty, everything''s ready. How should we proceed?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    Not far from themy two ck coffins, each containing a Boundless Immortal.


    "Let''s take them on one at a time. First, we''ll try to subdue them¡ªbut if we can''t, we''ll kill them and turn them into elixirs."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    "Which one first?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dahan is weaker, so let''s start with him. His imperial might must have drained away over the past few days. That said, stay cautious," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    It was prudent never to underestimate one''s opponent. Though the Immortal Emperor of Dahan seemed to pale in strengthpared to Ye Sanshui, Xiao Nanfeng had still prepared three Boundless Immortals to take him on simultaneously.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out and opened up the coffin. Ye Sanshui, the Demon Child, and Tu Feng stepped in, followed quickly after by Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang.


    With a whoosh, they found themselves within the ck coffin hidden realm.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan was lying at the top of a mountain peak with a look of embarrassed frustration. How had he ended up in such a predicament?


    He had tried to conserve his imperial might, but had already lost most of it upon trying to break out of the void. Over the next few days, even more had dissipated, leaving him with only a sliver of energy.


    What was he to do?


    Just then, three beams of light shot toward him.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s eyes snapped open in rage and shock. "Three Boundless Immortals?"


    "Immortal Emperor of Dahan, will you surrender, or do we need to subdue you by force?" Ye Sanshui demanded.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s expression darkened. How dare an ordinary emperor''s subordinate threaten him?


    He nced up at the open exit to the ck coffin hidden realm. His eyes brightening, he prepared to make his escape.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Tu Feng demanded.


    With a shout, he manifested nine white fox tails around his back. They wrapped around the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, whose face twisted as he threw a punch. A powerful storm erupted in the void.


    "Take this!" the Demon Child yelled out gleefully.


    He sent a torrent of lotus swords toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, engulfing him and forcing him to retreat.


    Just then, Ye Sanshui appeared behind him and struck him with a powerful punch.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan screamed in pain as he was sent flying again.


    The three Boundless Immortals ganged up on the Immortal Emperor, leaving him battered and bruised.


    Hovering high above in the air, Xiao Nanfeng held Lan Yaoguang''s hand tightly. "Do you feel a little better now?"


    "I wasn''t that bothered to begin with," Lan Yaoguang replied pridefully.


    However, her eyes sparkled with excitement. The Immortal Emperor''s threats really had scared her quite a bit. Seeing him get hiseuppance now was immensely satisfying.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He wasn''t so gauche as to call her out on her obvious delight.


    The fighting grew more and more intense. Xiao Nanfeng had deliberately left the exit to the dark coffin hidden realm open so that the Immortal Emperor of Dahan would have a sliver of hope. He didn''t want the Immortal Emperor to resort to desperate measures, after all. Then, the three Boundless Immortals would slowly wear him down.


    Finally, after a day of fighting, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan was too badly injured to continue fighting.


    "Stop!" he cried out. "I surrender!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates were taken aback. An Immortal Emperor, surrender? Surely not.


    All Immortal Emperors were ambitious and powerful beyond belief. They had to be; they would never have been able to found a divine empire otherwise. They would never surrender without a hidden agenda. Admitting defeat mid-fight was unheard of.


    The three Boundless Immortals were prepared to cripple him before he could be subdued. How could the Immortal Emperor of Dahan be giving up now?


    "He''s definitely trying to trick us. Keep attacking. We''ll cripple him first!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s eyes opened wide. "Don''t! I really am surrendering!"


    "I don''t believe you. What kind of Immortal Emperor would give up on their pride?" Tu Feng demanded.


    He had encountered many Immortal Emperors before. None would have behaved as shamefully as the Immortal Emperor of Dahan did.


    "I simply inherited my father''s position. I''m not like the others¡ªI don''t care that much about my pride. I really am surrendering!" the Immortal Emperor of Dahan eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Everyone: ...

 Chapter 798: The Second-Generation Immortal Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 798: The Second-Generation Immortal Emperor</h4>


    Ultimately, Xiao Nanfeng epted the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s surrender. He ordered that his body and soul be split up and sealed individually.


    Though the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s soul was at the level of ate-stage True Yin cultivator, it didn''t pose a threat after being sealed.


    "Please forgive me, Lady Yaoguang. I was deceived by the head of Snowborne. He manipted me into asking for your hand in marriage, and into abducting you as well! I''m innocent!" the Immortal Emperor begged for mercy.


    Lan Yaoguang ignored his pleading. HEr expression was ice-cold.


    "How do you want to deal with him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t really care. Deal with him however you want," Lan Yaoguang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    After leaving the ck coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng put away the ck coffin and began to interrogate the Immortal Emperor of Dahan while Ye Sanshui and the others tended to their injuries.


    "There were three Boundless Immortals opposing me in Dahan''s capital: you, the head of Snowborne, and someone else. Who is he?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I don''t know."


    "How can you not know?"


    "The head of Snowborne tricked me! He deliberately plotted against me, and I didn''t realize that my proposal would rouse your attention. I didn''t even know that he hade to Dahan''s capital, let alone that he had brought others with him."


    "How are you even an Immortal Emperor?"


    "I never wanted to be emperor in the first ce! While my father lived, all I had to do was enjoy my life as the crown prince. I drank the best wine, always had the most fun, and surrounded myself with the most beautiful women. Life was wonderful. One day, however, my father returned to the pce badly injured. He told me that he was about to die. Before he did so, he infused all his cultivation into my body, leaving me a Boundless Immortal. Then, hepleted the ritual of session before his soul dissipated. Now that I''m the Immortal Emperor, I have to worry about all sorts of schemes daily. It''s driving me crazy. I miss the past, and I miss my father!" the Immortal Emperor of Dahan eximed. His voice was choked with emotion.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others nced at him, their eyes twitching. When had they evere across an Immortal Emperor who was so pitiful?


    "Your Majesty, what if he''s just acting? Maybe he''s attempting to trick us," Tu Feng suggested.


    "Trick you? I''m telling the truth!" the Immortal Emperor of Dahan fumed.


    "Lock him up for now. We''ll investigateter," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng also performed a cursory inspection of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s storage treasures. Indeed, he had vast wealth, perhaps his father''s inheritance. Unfortunately, there were no Boundless Immortal treasures to be found.


    After dealing with the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, everyone turned to the second ck coffin.


    "Who could be within this coffin?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Why don''t the three of us Boundless Immortals go take him down together, just like before?" the Demon Child asked.


    "We should easily be able to seed," Ye Sanshui added.


    "I will give it my all," Tu Feng said.


    "Let''s strike, then¡ªbut be cautious. Don''t underestimate your opponent. Go all out from the start."


    "Understood!" the three cultivators replied in unison.


    With a ng, Xiao Nanfeng opened the coffin lid. The three Boundless Immortals rushed in.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang didn''t step inside. They waited patiently. Last time, Xiao Nanfeng had overseen the fight against the Immortal Emperor of Dahan in order to let Lan Yaoguang vent her frustrations on him. Now, though, there was no need to be involved¡ªthey could simply wait for the oue.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After some time, a huge crash came from the ck coffin. The Demon Child was flung outside by incredible force.


    "You think I''m easy to bully just because I''m young? You target me over the two adults? I''ll kill you!" the Demon Child roared.


    Then, Ye Sanshui was also sent flying from the coffin. He quickly stabilized himself in mid-air.


    Finally, Tu Feng was thrown out as well.


    The next moment, a middle-aged man in green robes stepped out of the ck coffin. His clothes were torn and tattered, his face bruised. Though he had managed to expel the three Boundless Immortals, he had clearly paid a hefty price to do so.


    "How troublesome," the green-robed man muttered coldly.


    "Die, you bastard!" the Demon Child shouted. He summoned a massive array of swords.


    "Die!" Tu Feng and Ye Sanshui charged in simultaneously.


    This green-robed man was far stronger than the Immortal Emperor of Dahan. He rushed toward the Demon Child, crushing his nascent technique with a fist and sending him stumbling back. Then, he took on Tu Feng and Ye Sanshui simultaneously, defending against theirbined attack. Both parties were driven back.


    "Die!" everyone shouted.


    A chaotic battle erupted as the four Boundless Immortals fought. The green-robed man was clearly incredibly powerful; he could hold his own against the three Boundless Immortals working together. He never lingered in one ce for long, engaging only for a brief instant before breaking away again and continuously forcing the three Boundless Immortals to retreat. His fist technique was extraordinarily refined.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He turned to nce at Blue Lantern, who quickly nodded in response.


    With a wave of his hand, 361 stars appeared overhead. Beams of starlight tracked the green-robed man.


    The green-robed man scowled. "A formation!"


    Entangled by the three Boundless Immortals, however, he was unable to flee. The beams of starlight quickly homed in on him as a barrier of blue light enveloped him.


    He punched the blue barrier, causing it to crack¡ªbut the next moment, the three allied Boundless Immortals struck at him simultaneously. The Demon Child''s swords, Tu Feng''s fox tails, and Ye Sanshui''s fist technique struck the man head-on, shattering his qi barrier and causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!" he roared.


    He frantically attacked the blue barrier, but Blue Lantern, a formations master, was able to continuously restore the damage with the power of the stars. Meanwhile, the three Boundless Immortals'' attacks continued unabated.


    The green-robed man grew weaker and weaker.


    "Die!" the three Boundless Immortals howled.


    Blood poured from his wounds. His bones snapped.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t motion for his subordinates to stop. The three Boundless Immortals pummeled him viciously. His injuries worsened; one of his arms broke.


    If this continued, he wouldn''t just be crippled. He might well die.


    Unlike the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, however, this man didn''t beg for mercy. He shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, if you don''t free me now, we shall be bitter enemies unto death."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze turned icy. "And who are you?"


    "That''s none of my business. All you need to know is that you can''t afford to provoke me. This is just my avatar. If my main body were here, you''d already be dead."


    Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "That''s what Saint Chi Hai told me as well. In the end, I captured him. If your main body is really so powerful, why haven''t you been rescued yet? Or are you unable to show yourself?"


    The green-robed man grimaced. He didn''t expect Xiao Nanfeng to be so difficult to deal with.


    "Let me go and I''ll let bygones be bygones," he said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew colder. "Do you think I''ll take your words at face value? If you had caught me, would you have freed me? Since your main body can''t show itself, all the better. Destroying this avatar will only serve to weaken you."


    "Die!" the green-robed man roared.


    "Die!" Ye Sanshui, Tu Feng, and the Demon Child roared back.


    Their attacks grew fiercer and fiercer. The green-robed man was drenched in blood. He wouldn''tst much longer.


    Finally, the man''s eyes shed with a vicious glint. "Explode!"


    "Be careful!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    With a deafening explosion, the man self-destructed, shattering the barrier of blue light trapping him and sending the three Boundless Immortals flying.


    Just then, a pir of green light shed into existence beside Xiao Nanfeng. The man''s soul grabbed Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang.


    "You''re a saint?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Come where my true body is. I''ll make you pay!" the man''s soul roared.


    With a whoosh, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang''s souls were plunged into a green tunnel.


    The two cultivators reacted quickly. Lan Yaoguang shed at him with her sword, while Xiao Nanfeng punched at the man''s soul. Even so, the man didn''t care. He would rather have his avatar destroyed then allow them to go free.


    As the man''s soul was torn apart from theirbined attacks, heughed. "I''ll be waiting for the two of you, haha!"


    His soul dissipated into thin air, but by then, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang were already being sent across space and time.


    "To think this saint would have been able to forcibly drag your soul out of your physical body..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Wary, he had transformed into his yin body ahead of time, but Lan Yaoguang wasn''t quite so fortunate.


    Lan Yaoguang nced around anxiously. "What do we do now?"


    The tunnel seemed to be pulling them apart, but Xiao Nanfeng grabbed ahold of her hand tightly. "Don''t worry. We''ll be fine."


    With a wave of his hand, he activated his candleme powers.


    A red portal appeared before him. He and Lan Yaoguang jumped in and vanished from the tunnel in spacetime. They found themselves in a snowfield, a blizzard rising up around them.

 Chapter 799: Blue-Furred Monsters

    <h4>Chapter 799: Blue-Furred Monsters</h4>


    Within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang''s souls were sucked into the saint''s green tunnel and vanished from sight. Lan Yaoguang''s physical body copsed to the ground.


    A female spectral guard quickly stepped forward and caught Lan Yaoguang''s soulless body.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s other avatar entered the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm.


    "Your Majesty, Lady Yaoguang''s soul appears to have left her body," the female spectral guard reported.


    "Indeed." Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar picked up Lan Yaoguang''s physical body.


    "We''ve failed you, Your Majesty," Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng reported, stepping forward.


    "It''s not your fault. Don''t me yourselves. My main body and Lady Yaoguang''s soul are safe."


    "Understood!"


    On vast, snow-covered ins, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and Lan Yaoguang''s soul were considering each other and the environment in which they were situated.


    Lan Yaoguang was a True Yin spiritual cultivator, though she was only in the early stages of the realm and couldn''tpare to Xiao Nanfeng''ste-stage True Yin cultivation. It was fortunate that they had nevertheless remained together even after escaping from the saint''s green tunnel. Somehow, Lan Yaoguang''s Cursebane Sword had managed to follow her here.


    "Where are we? What a massive snowstorm..." Lan Yaoguang murmured.


    The two cultivators flew into the air and surveyed the endless expanse of the horizon.


    Just then, a beast''s roar echoed from a distant snowy mountain. They turned to see a humanoid monster, covered entirely in blue fur, ring fiercely at them from the mountaintop.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "A blue-furred lifeform?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Are you familiar with it?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.


    "It''s my first time seeing one, but I feel like it may be connected to the Shangqing Grandmaster."


    "Why?"


    "In the Taiqing Grandmaster''s red moon illusory realm, there were plenty of red-furred lifeforms. The Shangqing Grandmaster may have a blue moon illusory realm popted with blue-furred lifeforms too."


    "That sounds like a stretch, but it''s true that there''s been a persistent rumor involving the existence of a blue moon illusory realm in the Shangqing holynd. However, no one''s been able to find it."


    "It''s likely that each of the three grandmasters excavated an illusory realm of their own, though the Taiqing Grandmaster''s red moon illusory realm has long since been essible, whereas the Yuqing Grandmaster''s illusory realm was just opened."


    "You mean that we may be in the legendary blue moon illusory realm?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    ''It''s possible, but I can''t be certain just yet."


    Just then, the blue-furred monster on the distant mountaintop howled again.


    Its howl seemed to have conveyed a message to its surroundings. More blue-furred monsters began to emerge from the blizzard, all of whom were charging fiercely toward Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang.


    "These blue-furred lifeforms seem to be as bloodthirsty as the red-furred ones from the red moon illusory realm..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He brandished the divine undying de and stood protectively before Lan Yaoguang.


    "Let me fight alongside you, Nanfeng." Lan Yaoguang drew her Cursebane Sword.


    The blue-furred monsters closed in on them.


    "Die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng unleashed a tremendous sh that sliced through the charging monsters, whose bodies disintegrated into blue mist and dissipated into the air.


    Lan Yaoguang struck another blue-furred monster with her Cursebane Sword. The moment her sword connected, it absorbed the monster, which only managed to let out a brief cry before it vanished. The Cursebane Sword glowed with blue light that filtered into Lan Yaoguang''s body.


    "Ah!" Lan Yaoguang gasped.


    "What''s wrong?" Xiao Nanfeng asked quickly.


    He wrapped an arm around her as he used the divine undying de to cut down the rest of the blue-furred monsters with his other arm.


    Lan Yaoguang shut her eyes, reopening them long momentster. Her face was filled with disbelief as she stared at the Cursebane Sword.


    "I think I''ve figured out the correct way of using my sword," Lan Yaoguang suddenly eximed.


    "What do you mean?"


    "When I killed that blue-furred monster with the Cursebane Sword, the sword absorbed and refined its spirit, then channeled it to me. Myprehension of the Shangqing Yin Body increased notably, as did my reserves of spiritual power."


    "You absorbed the blue-furred lifeform''s spiritual power and insights?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I did! I''ve asionally seen the Shangqing Grandmaster in my dreams. He passed on countless secret techniques to me, and once said that the Cursebane Sword was an incredible treasure for cultivating the Shangqing Yin Body. I never quite understood why¡ªuntil now."


    "Truly? What if there are side effects? Will it be fine for you to absorb these insights?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    "No, no, none of that. The Cursebane Sword filtered the blue-furred monster''s spiritual power before channeling it to me. I was able to distill it immediately. The insights are granted in such a way that I experience them myself, too." Lan Yaoguang''s eyes lit up in delight.


    "So this might as well be a treasure trove for you?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded. Her cheeks flushed in excitement.


    "In that case, I''ll help you find more blue-furred lifeforms to kill," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "You cultivate the Shangqing Yin Body too, don''t you? Why don''t you try using the Cursebane Sword as well?" she urged eagerly.


    "My avatar cultivates it, not my main body. It''s better if you reap all the benefits," Xiao Nanfeng demurred.


    "It won''t hurt to give it a try, would it?" Lan Yaoguang tugged at Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, her voice filled with yful insistence.


    "If you insist." Xiao Nanfeng smiled and nodded.


    The two cultivators continued flying until they encountered another group of blue-furred monsters.


    Xiao Nanfeng sheathed his de and flew over with Lan Yaoguang.


    With a roar, the monsters charged toward them.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfeng sent the blue-furred monsters in the vicinity flying, leaving only a few weaker stragglers for Lan Yaoguang to take down. She cut them down with the Cursebane Sword, triggering the same effect. Insight and spiritual power coursed through her body.


    As Xiao Nanfeng sent the stronger threats flying, Lan Yaoguang''s cultivation continued to rise.


    After she had absorbed dozens of blue-furred monsters'' worth of spiritual power and insight, she handed the Cursebane Sword over to Xiao Nanfeng. "Now you try."


    Xiao Nanfeng did so, ying one of the blue-furred monsters with the sword, but nothing happened. The Cursebane Sword absorbed the monster''s essence¡ªand didn''t transfer it to him.


    Lan Yaoguang: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Try again," Lan Yaoguang urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng killed a few more blue-furred monsters, but the sword continued to ignore him.


    "How can this be? Cursebane Sword, don''t y favorites!" Lan Yaoguang fumed.


    "Don''t worry about me. Come on, let''s help you absorb what you can," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Despite her annoyance, Lan Yaoguang nodded and resumed fighting.


    "Die!" she shouted, shing her sword at a group of blue-furred monsters.


    The Cursebane Sword absorbed their spiritual power and insights, then channeled them into her body.


    The two cultivators fought for an entire day. Lan Yaoguang grew stronger and stronger, and her understanding of the Shangqing Yin Body deepened.


    Finally, a dayter, after they had ughtered just about all the monsters in the vicinity, Lan Yaoguang sat cross-legged atop a snowy peak as she entered a meditative state.


    Not long after, a surge of energy exploded from her body. Snow flew from all directions and caused a massive avnche below her.


    "You''re at mid-stage True Yin now?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The insight from killing all these blue-furred monsters seems to be equivalent to consuming fortune. It''s clearing my karmic consequence away!" Lan Yaoguang analyzed.


    "Not quite the same, I believe. Fortune works for any sort of karmic consequence, but this insight only seems to apply to the Shangqing Yin Body. Try using another spiritual cultivation technique and see if it has any effect," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Lan Yaoguang experimented with another technique only to find that Xiao Nanfeng was right.


    "Even so, being able to advance the Shangqing Yin Body is incredible enough," Lan Yaoguang said. "Once I''m stronger, it''ll be my turn to protect you."


    "Alright, then. I''ll look forward to that," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    Hand in hand, they continued to fly across the snowyndscape. Before long, they spotted another pack of blue-furred monsters.


    "I''m charging in!" Lan Yaoguang''s face was filled with excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng followed behind her, providing cover as she fought. Before long, their battle attracted an evenrger group of monsters over.


    Just then, within a massive snow-filled valley, something seemed to stir beneath the surface of the snow.


    The snow trembled as it split apart, revealing a snowy-white superior yin pearl. It opened its mouth wide, baring its sharp teeth and letting out a deafening roar that caused the nearby mountains to quake.


    It floated into the air like a bright moon, radiating a soft white glow. As its light fell upon thend, the nearby blue-furred monsters below began to bow in reverence.


    Sensing the distant battle, the pearl let out another roar that reverberated throughout thend. All the blue-furred monsters in the vicinity trembled as if receiving orders from their king. They began to rush toward the source of the disturbance.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang, frowning at themotion, turned to the source of the sound.

 Chapter 800: The Enlightenment Grounds

    <h4>Chapter 800: The Enlightenment Grounds</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang turned their heads to see a massive mob of blue-furred monsters charging toward them. Above them floated a huge superior yin pearl.


    With an ear-splitting roar, the superior yin pearl caused all the blue-furred monsters to charge toward the duo.


    "Are the blue-furred lifeforms obeying the superior yin pearl? This might not be the blue moon illusory realm after all." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "There''s an incredible number of blue-furred monsters, and they all seem rather powerful. This superior yin pearl looks even stronger than thest one we encountered..."


    "I''ll handle the superior yin pearl. You keep killing the blue-furred lifeforms," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    As her strength grew, she wielded the Cursebane Sword with increasing precision and ease. The sword shed in swift strokes, cutting down wave after wave of the blue-furred monsters.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon rose to the back of his head.


    "Senior, I''ll be leaving this superior yin pearl to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    His spiritual moon shot toward the superior yin pearl, roaring with its mouth wide open.


    The superior yin pearl clearly hadn''t expected to encounter another of its kind.


    The superior yin pearl and the spiritual moon collided with each other in a tempest of snow and ice.


    As the snowstorm raged, Xiao Nanfeng invoked spiritual harmony and blended into the environment. In an instant, hundreds of snowkes coalesced into snowmen that looked just like Xiao Nanfeng.


    The hundred Xiao Nanfengs shot forward, unleashing a series of Hegemon''s Fists at the densely packed blue-furred monsters and sent them flying like scattered petals.


    They formed a protective circle around Lan Yaoguang, allowing her to continue killing a steady stream of blue-furred monsters with ease. The remainder, Xiao Nanfeng''s snowmen held back.


    Xiao Nanfeng cultivated the Body of Yin. Against arge group of blue-furred monsters whose cultivation paled inparison to his, he was able to restore his lost energy quickly. Despite the prolonged battle, he remained in peak condition without having drained his reserves of energy.


    The blue-furred monsters seemedrgely unintelligent; the situation was, at least for the moment, under his control.


    Meanwhile, back in Yongding''s imperial study, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was questioning Tu Feng.


    "Tu Feng, I recall you mentioning that there are strange locations within the green knoll hidden realm known as Enlightenment Grounds. Is that right?"


    Tu Feng nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. I don''t know how it received that name, but everyone in the green knoll hidden realm refers to it as such."


    "Tell me more about it."


    "Of course. There are plenty of Enlightenment Grounds scattered across the green knoll hidden realm. They''re rumored to be particrly dangerous, and are filled with strange monsters and superior yin pearls. The enlightenment grounds are mobile and move constantly. Like beasts roaming thend, they devour everything in their path. Most who end up trapped in these Enlightenment Grounds are ted for death."


    "What monsters exist within such locations?"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "One of my subordinates'' avatars once ended up in one of them. He saw many blue-furred monsters inside before his avatar was torn to pieces. He also caught a glimpse of a superior yin pearl floating in the air and controlling them."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded thoughtfully.


    "Why do you ask, Your Majesty?" Tu Feng wondered curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "It''s possible that my main body is in one of these Enlightenment Grounds."


    "What? Your Majesty, your main body is within the green knoll hidden realm?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It seems very likely."


    "In that case, Your Majesty, please be careful. I''ve heard countless tales of terrifying dangers from within."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Back where Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was, his spiritual moon fought the superior yin pearl to a standstill. Beneath them, Lan Yaoguang was furiously cutting down the blue-furred monsters with Xiao Nanfeng''s support. Despite their overwhelming numbers, they couldn''t withstand her relentless attacks.


    The Cursebane Sword had absorbed so many blue-furred monsters that it was glowing with a brilliant blue light. With each swing, it unleashed torrents of sword energy that cut through waves of the monsters. Each in monster was quickly absorbed by the sword, providing Lan Yaoguang with tremendous quantities of insight and spiritual power.


    After an entire day of fighting, she finally wiped all of them out. Lan Yaoguang''s aura rose to new heights. Xiao Nanfeng''s hundred snowmen melted away and reformed into a singr Xiao Nanfeng once again.


    Up in the air, his spiritual moon and the superior yin pearl remained in deadlock.


    "Cursebane Sword, attack!" Lan Yaoguangmanded.


    The Cursebane Sword soared into the air and pierced through the superior yin pearl, which let out a final, agonized scream before Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon swallowed it whole.


    The Cursebane Sword returned to Lan Yaoguang''s hand, and Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon to his mindscape. The two cultivators quickly fled and headed into a quiet snow-filled valley. Xiao Nanfeng revealed his hypothesis.


    "We''re in one of these so-called Enlightenment Grounds of the green knoll hidden realm?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "This ce could well be a treasure trove for us. Once my spiritual moon finishes absorbing the superior yin pearl and you finish digesting your gains, we''ll keep going. We can quickly grow stronger."


    "Got it. Let me consolidate these insights, then," Lan Yaoguang said eagerly.


    She sat down and immediately entered a meditative state while Xiao Nanfeng stood guard. He nced at the snowy expanse. Though a saint''s interference had dragged them into this situation, it didn''t seem like such a bad turn of events.


    He didn''t fully trust the superior yin pearl embedded in his spiritual moon; he couldn''t be certain of its true intentions. It would be better to put up a front for now, but he didn''t want to let it consume too many superior yin pearls and empower it beyond his control. For now, though, circumstances left him no choice.


    The two cultivators rested for half a day before encountering another horde of blue-furred monsters, sparking another fierce battle thatsted a day and a night. Lan Yaoguang''s strength soared as his spiritual moon absorbed another superior yin pearl.


    They repeated this process day after day, but even as Lan Yaoguang grew stronger and stronger, and his spiritual moon more and more resplendent, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feel a growing sense of unease.


    As his spiritual moon consumed an eighth superior yin pearl, a chilling voice boomed across thendscape.


    "Who dares ruin my Enlightenment Grounds? Such audacity!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang eyed each other in shock. They prepared to flee.


    Before they could flee, however, an overwhelming presence appeared overhead. They looked up to see a woman dressed in flowing white robes, her face beautiful and cold, her eyes filled with killing intent. She radiated white light just like the superior yin pearls.


    The woman''s appearance seemed to intensify the snowstorms in the vicinity. A freezing chill enveloped thend.


    "A Boundless Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The woman''s aura was unmistakably, overwhelmingly strong.


    "Who are you?" the woman demanded."


    "And who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "I am the master of thisnd. What have you done? Where are my subordinates? How could four-fifths of them have gone missing?" the woman demanded.


    More auras began to converge on their location from afar.


    Soon, more blue-furred monsters arrived; and behind them, two more superior yin pearls. They fell in line behind the white-robed woman as though they were her subordinates.


    "I apologize. We unintentionally wandered into this ce. Will you allow us to leave?"


    "Leave? Entering this ce of enlightenment renders you my ves. I won''t let you leave. Now, tell me, what happened to my subordinates?!" the woman demanded, her voice booming.


    Her shout created a shockwave that crashed toward them with such intensity that they were sted into a cavern down below.


    As they fell, Xiao Nanfeng pulled Lan Yaoguang into his arms to shield her from the impact.


    "Nanfeng, this woman is frightening. We''re no match for her," Lan Yaoguang said in worry.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll stick with the same n as before. You take on the blue-furred lifeforms, and my spiritual moon will handle the superior yin pearls. I''ll attack the white-robed woman."


    "What? She seems to be a Boundless Immortal! Are you sure you can handle her?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "Senior, please distract them," Xiao Nanfeng whispered.


    His spiritual moon rose out of the cavern and gleamed with blinding white light, obscuring the two cultivators'' figures within the cavern.


    The moment the spiritual moon revealed itself, the white-robed woman and the two superior yin pearls turned toward it.


    "You? Are you a superior yin pearl from another of these Enlightenment Grounds? How dare you! Do you intend to start a three-way fight?" the woman thundered.


    Her voice formed another shockwave that sted toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon. The moon retreated, seemingly no match for the white-robed woman.


    Just then, a massive palm rose from the snowy cavern, shattering the sound waves in the air.


    "Insolence!" the white-robed woman eximed.


    From within the cavern emerged two cultivators: Lan Yaoguang and the Immortal Emperor of Dahan.


    No, not the Immortal Emperor of Dahan¡ªjust his physical body. The Immortal Emperor of Dahan, cowardly as he was, had surrendered and allowed his body and soul to be sealed separately.


    Xiao Nanfeng had naturally possessed the emperor''s physical body. He now stood before his spiritual moon and Lan Yaoguang.


    The Immortal Emperor''s physical body had been slowly recovering, and now had the strength of a Boundless Immortal. His aura swept toward the white-robed woman, their auras shing in a deafening boom and a violent storm.

 Chapter 801: White Jade Fragment

    <h4>Chapter 801: White Jade Fragment</h4>


    Upon seizing control of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, Xiao Nanfeng immediately felt a surge of powerful energy coursing through him. The next moment, however, he quickly realized something was wrong. He felt ufortable; he couldn''t seem to unleash the full power of his body.


    "A Boundless Immortal''s physical body? You dide prepared, boy, but this isn''t the outside world. Physical cultivation is restricted here. Even while possessing a Boundless Immortal''s body, you won''t be able to unleash a Boundless Immortal''s strength," the white-robed woman sneered.


    "Let''s try it, then." Xiao Nanfeng shot into the sky.


    The woman''s eyes shed coldly. She raised her hand; a towering pir of white light appeared behind her. The pir seemed to channel immense power into her body, making her aura surge further. She thrust a palm in his direction, and Xiao Nanfeng countered with a strike of his own. The two forces collided with a thunderous explosion that sent shockwaves through the area.


    Despite his effort, Xiao Nanfeng could intimately feel that the body he had possessed was unable to perform up to its usual standards. He was quickly sent flying by the woman''s overpowering attack.


    "As I said, your physical body is no match for me here. It''s only an early-stage Boundless Immortal in the world atrge. Here, the physical restrictions at y make it even weaker."


    What Xiao Nanfeng felt most acutely was that this body responded only sluggishly to his control, as if his possession were imperfect.


    Even so, it was still a Boundless Immortal''s body.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shot forward as the two cultivators began to fight once more.


    Meanwhile, the two superior yin pearls and a horde of blue-furred monsters had rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon and Lan Yaoguang.


    With a roar, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moonunched itself at the two superior yin pearls. It smashed into one, then charged at the other.


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    Though outnumbered, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon held its own against the two pearls and matched them blow for blow.


    Lan Yaoguang, meanwhile, fought fiercely with the Shangqing Yin Body and the Cursebane Sword. Again any other opponent, she might have suffered, but she had a clear advantage against these blue-furred monsters. Whenever she slew one of them, the sword absorbed its energy and replenished hers.


    Though she was sent flying by a horde of the blue-furred monsters, the damage she incurred was insignificant. She reaped the blue-furred monsters at a fric pace.


    The fightingsted for an entire day and night.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body became soaked in blood. It was badly damaged. Because of the restrictions imposed on this hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng was unable to exert his full strength. If not for his Hegemon''s Fist, he would long since have been defeated.


    Even so, he couldn''tst much longer.


    By then, his spiritual moon and the two superior yin pearls were all badly damaged as well.


    Only Lan Yaoguang continued to grow stronger as the fighting progressed. The Cursebane Sword grew to an incredible degree, replenishing her spiritual power and augmenting her strength.


    After a day and a night of fighting, she had finally taken down all the blue-furred monsters in the vicinity. Her aura had been strengthened to an incredible degree.


    Rather than focus on consolidating her insights immediately, she moved to the other two battlefields.


    In a sh of light, she arrived by the side of the superior yin pearls and pierced through one of them with her sword. That superior yin pearl shrieked as Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon swallowed it whole.


    It ground down the pearl, allowing it to replenish its own energy and heal from the wounds it had sustained.


    The white-d woman shrieked, "Impossible! Superior yin pearls can''t devour each other. Who are you? What are you?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon ignored her. It focused on its next target, which had already been skewered by the Cursebane Sword.


    The superior yin pearl roared in shock. In desperation, it risked severe injury to free itself from the sword in an attempt to flee¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon would hardly allow it to do so. It had been revitalized and was stronger than the superior yin pearl in the first ce.


    With a single gulp, it swallowed the pearl whole.


    It glowed even more brightly as it absorbed its newfound strength.


    "Just who are you?!" the white-d woman cried out.


    She shot toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon.


    "You''ll stay right here!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, blocking her path with the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body.


    "Scram!" the white-d woman shouted. She sent a storm of crystalline swords of ice toward Xiao NAnfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng countered with a flurry of fists as his spiritual moon flew up toward him and caused a blizzard to descend. Then, it shot toward the white-d woman.


    Unfortunately, the white-d woman was too strong even against thebined forces of Xiao Nanfeng and his spiritual moon.


    Her palm passed through the heart of the blizzard and caught his spiritual moon in its grasp.


    Go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, unleashing his candleme powers.


    He and his spiritual moon shed away from the white-d woman.


    "You won''t be able to escape, haha! To think your superior yin pearl can devour others... Amazing. It''ll be mine! With this power, I''ll be able to control everything!" the woman shouted in excitement.


    She grew faster and faster as she dove toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon again and again. It waspletely unable to defend itself against her attacks. If not for Xiao Nanfeng''s repeated use of his candleme powers, it would already have been caught.


    "Let''s see how long you''ll be able tost," the woman called out confidently.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that he couldn''t continue using his candleme powers indefinitely. They consumed a great deal of energy. With a grimace, he activated it one more time.


    He shed before the white-d woman, who was startled to see him approach her rather than run away. She was just about to strike on instinct when Xiao Nanfeng suddenly hugged her.


    "Ha! Do you think you can stop me like this?"


    Arge number of icicles emerged from her body and prated into the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s flesh. His body was instantly covered in blood; some of the spikes had even pierced through his body. His injuries were devastating.


    "Yaoguang, thrust the Cursebane Sword through my back! Hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng howled.


    "Cursebane Sword, attack!" Lan Yaoguangmanded.


    The Cursebane Sword pierced through the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s physical body and into the white-d woman.


    "Argh!" She screamed in agony.


    Behind her, the towering pir of white light began to shake violently. A surge of energy flowed from the pir toward the woman.


    Suddenly, however, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon positioned itself between the pir of light and the white-d woman. It absorbed the immense power from the pir and began to shudder violently.


    "Let me go, you bastard!"


    However, Xiao Nanfeng, still in the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, held her tightly and prevented her from escaping. The Cursebane Sword released waves of energy into her body, causing her unbearable pain.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon continued to absorb the pir''s energy, seemingly intent on wresting control of it from her.


    "No! Return me my pir of naturalw!" the white-d woman shrieked.


    Even so, her pleas were in vain. Immobilized by Xiao Nanfeng and the Cursebane Sword, she was unable to stop Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon from gaining control over the pir.


    After that, her strength began to recede rapidly. Her body quickly weakened. Xiao Nanfeng gaped at her in surprise. "All your strength was from that pir of light. You''re only a peak True Yin cultivator..."


    "No!" the white-d woman shrieked again.


    Her body began to change in form until it was nothing more than a massive superior yin pearl, one which Xiao Nanfeng was hugging, and one which the Cursebane Sword had pierced.


    "She was a superior yin pearl, too?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon opened its mouth wide, wider than ever, and swallowed the entire pearl whole.


    It glowed even more brightly than before.


    Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s broken body. Its flesh was mangled and severe wounds stretched across it. He quickly stored it back in his storage treasure.


    "Senior, are you aware of what''s going on here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked his spiritual moon.


    Though it had never deigned to respond to him, they had just undergone a strenuous fight together. Perhaps it had had a change of heart.


    Indeed, the spiritual moon wrote back, manifesting a series of letters with white light, "These enlightenment grounds are governed by superior yin pearls. Different enlightenment grounds can sh and merge with each other; the victor bes king, and the loser must submit. That woman was the king of these grounds, and the other ten superior yin pearls were her subordinates. Their eleven individual enlightenment grounds werebined into a cohesive whole. She invoking the naturalw of her domain to greatly amplify her power, as you saw."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. His spiritual moon was finally willing tomunicate with him, and the information it provided was invaluable.


    "Thank you, Senior."


    "These enlightenment grounds were left behind by the Shangqing Grandmaster. They''re useless to me¡ªabsorb them into your soul and you''ll be able to invoke spiritual harmony within it."


    "Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon trembled. The massive pir of white light condensed into a fragment of white jade, which floated into Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    The spiritual moon flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape to consolidate its gains.


    "Can this fragment of white jade control these Enlightenment Grounds, then?" Lan Yaoguang eximed in anticipation.

 Chapter 802: The Immortal City of Qingyun

    <h4>Chapter 802: The Immortal City of Qingyun</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng took hold of the fragment of white jade and looked toward Lan Yaoguang. "Have you already consolidated the spiritual power and insight from the Cursebane Sword?"


    "I''m fine. You should activate that jade fragment and see what you can do with it. It might help us get out of here," Lan Yaoguang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Focus on consolidating what you have first. Let me analyze the jade fragment a little while longer.


    "Very well." Lan Yaoguang nodded and sat down in meditation.


    By then, the vast snowy ins had gonepletely silent. The superior yin pearls and blue-furred monsters were all gone. Except for the swirling snowkes in the sky, there was nothing else around them but themselves.


    After some time, Lan Yaoguang opened her eyes with a frown.


    "Well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''m almost atte-stage True Yin, but I''m just shy of reaching it," Lan Yaoguang murmured, a frustrated expression on her face.


    "That''s good enough. We''ll find more blue-furred lifeforms once we get out of here." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Alright." Lan Yaoguang''s mood improved.


    "Now, will you guard me while I meditate?"


    "Of course." Lan Yaoguang nodded seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng switched back to his physical body.


    "Didn''t your spiritual moon suggest that you merge the jade fragment with your soul? What''re you doing now?" Lan Yaoguang asked, puzzled.


    Xiao Nanfeng swallowed the jade piece.


    Lan Yaoguang''s eyes opened wide. "You... swallowed it?"


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond. He closed his eyes and began to meditate.


    In the end, he still didn''t fully trust his spiritual moon. Though it had suggested that he merge the jade fragment with his soul to control the enlightenment grounds, he feared the possibility of a hidden threat. Cautious as ever, he decided to absorb the power via a different means, even if it meant wasting some of its potency.


    The fragment of white jade contained the naturalw of these enlightenment grounds¡ªand could therefore be used for physical cultivation.


    Within his dantian, his ten golden crows shattered the jade fragment, which exploded into a vast surge of energy.


    Simultaneously, the snow-coveredndscape around him began to shake and crack. The entire realm seemed to be crumbling.


    Lan Yaoguang''s expression widened as she continued to guard Xiao Nanfeng.


    Snowstorms hurtled toward Xiao Nanfeng from every direction. Even the mountains, ins, and sky seemed to surge toward his dantian.


    "What...?" Lan Yaoguang watched on in shock.


    The condensed energy of the world atrge, along with the naturalw of the realm, surged toward Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian. Roiling strength filled him. His clothes billowed madly as his surroundings blurred into chaos. Only Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang remained as well-defined existences in the region amidst the swirling distortions of space and time.


    Six hours passed in this manner. Then, a sudden gust of energy sted out from Xiao Nanfeng''s body and scattered the chaotic energy around him.


    "Have you broken through?" Lan Yaoguang asked, her eyes lighting up in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes and smiled. "I have. From the eighth stage of the True Immortal Realm to the ninth."


    "Only one small stage? I thought the white jade fragment would contain far more energy," Lan Yaoguang replied, sounding unimpressed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. He was prepared to exin that the jade fragment had contained as much energy as a Boundless Immortal treasure¡ªbut upon seeing her particrly funny expression, he just chuckled and decided not to borate. He had already broken down the Enlightenment Grounds, after all.


    The two of them took in their surroundings and found themselves in a lush green valley.


    They flew toward a nearby mountain peak, standing atop it and looking out at the misty world beyond.


    "So this is the green knoll hidden realm?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.


    "It must be. The green knoll hidden realm is known for its thick fog and roaming Enlightenment Grounds that devour the living," Xiao Nanfeng recounted what Tu Feng had told him.


    "I heard it mentioned that the Shangqing hierarch''s in the green knoll hidden realm now, too." Lan Yaoguang frowned.


    "Really? For what reason?"


    "I don''t know. Apparently, many Shangqing disciples followed him in."


    "Let''s not worry about that for now. Come on, let''s go. We should see if we can ask about where we are precisely."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    The two cultivators flew for a while and eventually spotted a massive city in the distance. There was a giant stele by the city gates proiming it to be the Immortal City of Qingyun.


    "There are Immortal cities within the green knoll hidden realm, too?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "Let''s head inside while we recover. I''d like to let the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body regenerate, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    The two cultivators flew toward the Immortal city. Its city guards behaved in an exceedingly strange manner. They didn''t bother to search any of the Immortals who entered. In fact, the stronger the Immortals'' aura, the more respectful the guards became, and the more they allowed them in without question.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang decided not to conceal their strength. They were instantly weed into the city by a group of respectful guards.


    They found arge inn and rented a small ce where they could rest.


    Over the next two days, Xiao Nanfeng possessed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body and tended to its injuries. Once it had mostly recovered, he took Lan Yaoguang out to explore the streets of Qingyun. They strolled freely, hand in hand, the conflicts of the outside world momentarily ignored for the time being.


    Lan Yaoguang''s beauty drew constant attention from passersby, so the two were forced to shroud themselves in fog to conceal their appearances "Nanfeng, wouldn''t it be wonderful if time could stop right now?" Lan Yaoguang asked dreamily. She gazed at him, her eyes filled with happiness.


    "Once the ten-thousand-year tribtion is over, we''ll have plenty of moments like this," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a gentle smile.


    Lan Yaoguang''s eyes sparkled sweetly as she nodded in agreement.


    They flew back to their estate having bought countless items.


    "Are we just going to stay here over the next few days without doing anything? Shouldn''t we try to figure out what''s going on in the outside world?"


    "There''s no need. My subordinates have already entered the green knoll hidden realm. They''re gathering information for us as we speak."


    "Your subordinates?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "That''s right. My other body''s here now, too. I brought you your physical body as well."


    "What?" Lan Yaoguang was stunned.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "They''re still on their way, though. It''ll take another day or two for them to reach us. The fog in the green knoll hidden realm makes navigation difficult, but fortunately enough, Qingyun is easy to find."


    "My physical body? But why?" Lan Yaoguang then blushed slightly as he realized what he might be implying.


    "Well, there are certain things we can''t do without your physical body," Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "What mischief are you nning?" Lan Yaoguang''s face flushed red as she shot him a re.


    Just then, a tremendous explosion rocked the air outside Qingyun. The entire city seemed to shake.


    "The Enlightenment Grounds are here again! Hurry, activate the defenses!"


    "That demon from the Enlightenment Grounds is going to attack the city again!"


    "I am the city lord of Qingyun! I ask all cultivators to gather by the south of the city and lend us their assistance!"


    The city erupted in panic.


    Countless figures took to the skies and headed toward the south.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang eyed each other and followed suit.


    By then, the walls were packed with cultivators. The two of them blended in at the outskirts of the crowd.


    As everyone pointed toward the distance, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang spotted a white, spherical domain moving toward the city. The interior of the domain was obscured by a swirling blizzard, but there were two ck eye-like vortices by the surface of the domain that seemed to stare menacingly toward Qingyun. Beneath it was a gaping mouth-like storm, opening and closing like a ravenous demon roaring.


    The gaping maw of the domain suddenly let out a roar. The entire domain, like a monstrous creature hundreds of meters tall, hurtled toward Qingyun.


    The monster struck the city''s defensive formation, which shuddered violently as if it would shatter at any moment.


    "Is that... one of these Enlightenment Grounds?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "This is what I ate earlier?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The white jade fragment he had consumed was essentially equivalent to the entity before them. He hadn''t realized that this was what such Enlightenment Grounds looked like from the outside.


    The defensive formation shuddered again. It wasn''t going to be able to hold out for long.


    Many cultivators on the southern wall began to panic.


    Just then, a man dressed as an official called out, "Fellow cultivators, over the past few years, these Enlightenment Grounds have started to go mad. They''re attacking cultivators all over the green knoll hidden realm, and more and more frequently and aggressively at that. Recently, another Immortal city was breached and its entire poption devoured. Every day, more Immortal sects are found and wiped out, leaving no survivors behind."


    Everyone turned to the official, their faces tense.


    "As a representative of the Immortal Emperor of Daliang, I summon cultivators across the hidden realm to attack these Enlightenment Grounds simultaneously. His Majesty has sought out help from cultivators beyond the realm in order to save themon people from our shared foe. These Enlightenment Grounds are demons that devour the innocent¡ªbut they are not invincible! By joining forces, we can destroy them. Many Immortal cities have reported victories over these Enlightenment Grounds. I ask all of you here today to stand with me and defend Qingyun. Together, we shall y this demon and save the world. His Majesty will generously reward those who aid us in victory!" the official proimed.


    "Don''t worry, City Lord of Qingyun. We came to Qingyun today to stand and fight with you. These Enlightenment Grounds can sense whererge groups of cultivators gather. If we don''t work together with you, we''ll be easy prey when theye for our sects. We''ll support Daliang!" one cultivator dered.


    "Right! We''ll fight alongside Daliang!" many cultivators echoed.


    Within the crowd, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Could all these cultivators be paid actors?

 Chapter 803: Destroying the Enlightenment Grounds Again

    <h4>Chapter 803: Destroying the Enlightenment Grounds Again</h4>


    Atop the southern wall of Qingyun, the city lord''s stirring speech caused many cultivators to voice their support.


    The city lord drew a longsword. "All Immortals, follow me into the Enlightenment Grounds!"


    Countless cultivators cheered in response.


    The city lord led a group of soldiers into the Enlightenment Grounds outside the city. They passed through the boundary of the domain in a sh and vanished within.


    Back on the wall, quite a few cultivators hesitated as they weighed risk and reward. Meanwhile, a group of provocateurs¡ªcultivators Xiao Nanfeng believed were in cahoots with the city lord¡ªbegan riling up the crowd.


    "What''re you all waiting for? The city lord has already charged inside! Let''s follow him too. Every person counts!"


    "That''s right. If we join forces, we''re sure to seed. Otherwise, we''ll be picked off one by one!"


    "If Qingyun falls, the surrounding Immortal sects will be next. When that happens, there''ll be even less support."


    "Let''s charge!"


    The provocateurs spurred the crowd into action.


    Many cultivators ended up falling for the ploy.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang stood by the outskirts, unmoved.


    "What do you think?" Lan Yaoguang asked, frowning.


    "There''s no rush. Let''s wait and see what happens," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    Indeed, there were quite a few cautious Immortals like Xiao Nanfeng who stayed back to observe the situation. Among them were cultivators with avatars providing real-time updates on what was happening within.


    "There are an incredible number of blue-furred monsters within the Enlightenment Grounds. They''re all crazy. They attack anyone they see!"


    "It''s an icy wastnd in there¡ªlike a separate world entirely."


    "There''s a superior yin pearl in the air, which the city lord of Qingyun and his followers are attacking."


    Those with avatars described the chaos within.


    Lan Yaoguang frowned. "It''s just like what we encountered. I wonder how many superior yin pearls are in this one."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    A full day and night passed.


    "We''re about to win! It was a brutal fight, but the city lord and the strongest of the other cultivators are about to suppress the superior yin pearl. Victory is in sight!"


    "I heard that superior yin pearls were the ones who controlled these Enlightenment Grounds. It looks like it''ll be a massive victory for Qingyun..."


    "The city lord and his followers are badly injured, but as long as we win, that''s all that matters."


    Those cultivators with avatars were excitedly describing the scene.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang nced at each other in surprise. Would victory really be that easy?


    Suddenly, a panicked shout rang out. "A horde of blue-furred monsters just arrived¡ªa seemingly endless number of them!"


    "And two more superior yin pearls? How can this be?!"


    "There''s a woman in green atop one of the pearls. She''s incredibly strong¡ªshe sent the city lord flying with just one blow.


    "They''re too powerful. We can''t hold them off!"


    "We''re surrounded. We''re all going to die! Ah, my avatar''s done for!"


    Cries of terror filled the air.


    The cultivators outside the Enlightenment Grounds felt a collective chill run through them. It was clear that the cultivators within were going to lose¡ªand terribly, at that. Not even the city lord could stand against the onught.


    Just then, a voice echoed throughout Qingyun. "Citizens of Qingyun, this is your city lord. My avatar has been killed within the Enlightenment Grounds. We won''t be able to hold them off. The city''s defensive formation might buy us a little time, but not much. All citizens, prepare to flee through the eastern, western, and northern gates immediately!"


    "No!" Cries of despair erupted throughout the city.


    While the southern gate remained sealed, the other three gates were thrown open. Countless civilians and cultivators began to flee in panic.


    The cultivators atop the southern wall were equally gripped by fear. They turned to flee in droves.


    "This Enlightenment Grounds seems to be weaker than the one we dealt with earlier. Four superior yin pearls¡ªone queen and three subordinates," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "You want to enter?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Just as before, you''ll take down the blue-furred lifeforms. My spiritual moon will handle the superior yin pearls. I''ll deal with the queen."


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    The two cultivators charged into the Enlightenment Grounds, causing the fleeing crowd to gasp in surprise.


    "Who''s heading into the Enlightenment Grounds? Are they crazy?"


    "They''re just going to get themselves killed!"


    Many cultivators turned to stare at them in disbelief, unable toprehend their boldness.


    Even so, the two cultivators flew on, undeterred.


    Once inside, they felt as if they had entered a brand-new world¡ªa realm of endless snow and ice, stretching as far as the eye could see.


    Those who had entered before them had all died. Their bodies littered the ground. Blue-furred monsters roamed about as three superior yin pearls floated in the sky. Above them hovered a woman in green.


    Upon seeing the neers, the green-d woman sneered. "Morembs to the ughter, I see!"


    Xiao Nanfeng transformed to his True Yin body. He summoned his spiritual moon and had it take to the air, then possessed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan.


    "Same as always, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Very well," his spiritual moon wrote.


    "Die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang charged forward.


    "Insolence!" the green-d woman scoffed.


    Xiao Nanfeng, in the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, collided with the green-d woman in a titanic explosion. This time, she was sent flying instead of him.


    "A Boundless Immortal?" the woman thundered.


    She was clearly weaker than the woman in white whom Xiao Nanfeng had fought earlier. Despite being in her domain, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan could overpower her.


    "Well? Come on!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot forward and continued to attack her from melee range.


    Blow after blow rained down on her as Xiao Nanfeng relentlessly drove her back. Even when she tapped into the power of the white pir of light, she couldn''t turn the tide.


    Meanwhile, his spiritual moon seemed to have the upper hand even while taking on the three superior yin pearls simultaneously, and Lan Yaoguang was ughtering the blue-furred monsters with ease.


    After a day of intense battle, Lan Yaoguang was the first to finish, just likest time. Then, she impaled one of the superior yin pearls with her Cursebane Sword, allowing Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon to devour it, then another.


    Very quickly, it swallowed all three superior yin pearls.


    Then, Lan Yaoguang and the spiritual moon headed to help Xiao Nanfeng against the woman in green. While the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body restrained her, Lan Yaoguang pierced her body, and the spiritual moon stripped her of control over the pir of white light.


    "No! Who are you people? My master will never let you go!" she shouted.


    Unfortunately for her, her cries were in vain. With her connection to the pir severed, she became a superior yin pearl once more¡ªone that Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon quickly severed.


    After that, it once again produced a fragment of white jade that it handed to Xiao Nanfeng, then returned to its mindscape. Xiao Nanfeng put away the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body. The Enlightenment Grounds was his now.


    "We''ve won again, then." Lan Yaoguang smiled.


    "I''ll guard you while you digest your gains," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded. Countless fragments of insight and spiritual power poured into her body. She sat in meditation for four hours, until a tremendous wave of spiritual power emanated from her. She opened her eyes as a snowstorm roared across thendscape.


    "You''re ate-stage True Yin cultivator now? Excellent. I''m even more assured of your safety now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "My turn to guard you now," Lan Yaoguang replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He transformed to his physical body and sat cross-legged as he swallowed the white jade fragment.


    Immense power surged through his body. The surrounding space shook as if it were about to copse.


    Given her past experience, Lan Yaoguang merely waited patiently.


    Two hourster, the entire world was sucked into Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian. Light distorted as fog filled the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng was brimming with energy as he slowly opened his eyes.


    "Well?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "No breakthrough, I''m afraid. There wasn''t enough energy in these Enlightenment Grounds."


    "What? Did you do all that for nothing, then?" Lan Yaoguang sighed.


    "It''s a bit of a pity, but we still have plenty of opportunities ahead."


    "Alright!" Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    The fog faded away as they reappeared by the south of Qingyun, surrounded by arge group of cultivators.


    The cultivators who had fled over the past two days had all returned. They witnessed the Enlightenment Grounds copse with their own eyes before Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang walked out.


    "They were thest to enter the Enlightenment Grounds."


    "Could they have won? They defeated all the superior yin pearls and seized control of the grounds?"


    "The grounds shrank and vanished just now. They must have attuned to them!"


    The crowd buzzed in excitement and disbelief. Many stared at the two cultivators in greed.


    Many of those who had fled hadn''t been weak. There were some particrly strong cultivators among them, but they had been waiting to see how things would y out before making a move.


    Now that Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang had emerged victorious, they wondered if they had won easily¡ªor if they had incurred significant damage from the battle.


    Even the city lord of Qingyun was eyeing them now.


    "I am the city lord of Qingyun. I apologize for any disrespect, and I thank you both for saving this city from disaster," he said cautiously, attempting to probe their strength.

 Chapter 804: Xiao Nanfeng the Bully

    <h4>Chapter 804: Xiao Nanfeng the Bully</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng stood up and nced coldly at the city lord of Qingyun alongside Lan Yaoguang. It was clear that the city lord bore them ill.


    The city lord of Qingyun stumbled back upon sensing their hostility. He immediately retreated.


    "Benefactors of Qingyun, you have my deepest gratitude. Please, take your time to recover from the fight. I shall guard you personally."


    He couldn''t believe that he had let greed cloud his judgment. Why had he stepped forward so recklessly? If they hadn''t been injured at all, he would have been done for. Even if they were weakened, there were plenty of greedy cultivators around them with ulterior motives, all waiting for an opportunity to strike. Others would only have swooped in and benefited from his efforts. How much more foolish could he get?


    With that in mind, the city lord waved a hand andmanded, "Keep everyone away. If anyone disturbs these esteemed cultivators while they recuperate, kill them!"


    "Understood!" the soldiers all around echoed.


    The cultivators surrounding them were taken aback. Many had been hoping that the city lord would test Xiao Nanfeng''s strength by attacking first¡ªbut not only had he refused to make a move, he was even preventing them from doing so. Was he crazy?


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows. He could tell that the city lord''s offer to guard them was a means of making amends. Xiao Nanfeng chose to ignore the man''s earlier malicious intent¡ªafter all, he still had questions for the city lordter.


    Just then, several shadows descended from the sky. Theynded before Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang.


    "How dare you disturb these esteemed cultivators!" a Qingyun guard shouted. He swung a de at one of the intruders.


    With a loud boom, the guard was sent flying with a kick.


    "Who are you?" the city lord of Qingyun eximed.


    These cloaked figures clearly had overwhelming strength.


    "My subordinates," Xiao Nanfeng replied crisply.


    "Ah? My deepest apologies." The city lord of Qingyun bowed, smiling.


    Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. It was a good thing he hadn''t acted rashly earlier¡ªhe would have been in serious trouble.


    "City Lord, are you familiar with other Enlightenment Grounds in the vicinity?"


    "I''m aware of a few. We keep careful track of the ones around us," the city lord replied.


    "Since these Enlightenment Grounds are causing you trouble, why don''t I help you deal with them? Provide me with their locations and we''ll handle the cleanup."


    "T-That would be most appreciated!" the city lord of Qingyun eximed.


    "Bring me a map."


    "At once!"


    The city lord immediatelyplied, no longer daring to scheme now that the ck-cloaked figures had made themselves known. Theirbined auras pressed down on him like a mountain.


    A map was quickly brought over. The city lord marked several locations on it.


    "Whenever these Enlightenment Grounds consume a group of new cultivators, they remain stationary for some time while digesting their gains. Based on our observations, they should be in these locations," the city lord of Qingyun exined."


    Xiao Nanfeng handed the map to one of his subordinates, who scanned it carefully before replying, "I''m familiar with all the marked locations on the map. I can lead the way, Your Majesty."


    "Very good." Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you, City Lord."


    "Hardly, sir. This is the least I could do after you saved my city."


    "Farewell, then," Xiao Nanfeng said, not wanting to waste any more time with formalities. He saw no reason to linger further.


    While other cultivators may have been frightened by the threat of these Enlightenment Grounds, to him, they were treasure troves of opportunity.


    Following the lead of the ck-cloaked figure, Xiao Nanfeng and his party flew into the sky and disappeared over the horizon.


    The city lord of Qingyun''s smile vanished as he saw Xiao Nanfeng''s party leave. He quickly flew back toward his manor, where he summoned an attendant. "Contact the Immortal Emperor with your avatar immediately. Tell him that a group of strong cultivators have appeared near Qingyun and were able to subdue a four-pearl stretch of Enlightenment Grounds.They''re particrly dangerous, and I suspect them to be from the outside world."


    "Understood!"


    After leaving Qingyun, Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates split up.


    Xiao Nanfeng brought Lan Yaoguang to a scenic valley.


    "Why did you send them away?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.


    "My other body is with them. They''ll be verifying the map''s uracy. Once they finish, we''ll regroup."


    "Why wait? What are we doing here?" Lan Yaoguang asked.


    "My other body gave me something earlier. Have you forgotten?" Xiao Nanfeng passed her a gourd.


    Lan Yaoguang nced within to find her physical body resting within.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You brought me here alone¡ªjust what are you nning?" Her cheeks flushed red.


    "You should return to your body. Do you intend to remain a soul for good?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "B-But I''m not ready!" Lan Yaoguang stammered. She blushed all the way down to her neck "Ready for what?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, puzzled.


    Lan Yaoguang nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s innocent expression and realized that she had misunderstood his intentions.


    ''Nothing. Forget I said anything!"


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng chuckled. "You didn''t think I would have brought your physical body here just so we could have carnal rtions, did you?"


    "Of course not! Shoo¡ªI''m going to return to my physical body now," Lan Yaoguang replied. She was so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her up. Her forehead felt feverish.


    How could she have had such thoughts? How could she have said them aloud? How would she face anyone now?


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and backed off. "Very well. Your soul has strengthened quite a bittely, so you probably need some time to adjust."


    He left the valley as Lan Yaoguang extracted her body from the gourd. Her soul slipped back into her mindscape as she awoke. Her physical body had inherited her flush; she was so red it felt like her skin would melt from the heat.


    "That awful, awful Nanfeng! I bet he wasughing at me!" Lan Yaoguang muttered to herself. Even so, a smile crept onto her face.


    Her soul had indeed grown stronger by a considerable extent, and her body felt almost unfamiliar. After some meditation, however, she rapidly adapted to the changes.


    Once her blushing subsided, she left the valley to find Xiao Nanfeng by a stream, cooking a fresh meal.


    "Come on over. This is your favorite¡ªgrilled spirit poultry," Xiao Nanfeng called out, offering her a te of the delicious meat.


    "Thank you." Lan Yaoguang took the te with a smile, a blush having crept back into her cheeks.


    "Eat up. We''ll have to get back to fighting afterwards. They''ve already scouted out some Enlightenment Grounds that''ll be suitable to us."


    "Nanfeng, why did you bring so many people here?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned serious. "I didn''t expect the Enlightenment Grounds here to be such valuable opportunities. I n to take them all down and use them to elevate the strength of me, my allies, and my subordinates."


    "To elevate our cultivation? But you failed to..."


    "Thest Enlightenment Grounds wasn''t enough for me to break through, but it was enough for you, and for my subordinates. Power is everything. The ten-thousand-year cmity draws near. We need to take advantage of everything we can to try to grow stronger."


    "So you brought my physical body here in order to help raise its cultivation?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "What else? Did you think we were going to have sex out here in the wilderness, perhaps?" Xiao Nanfeng waggled his eyebrows.


    "You rascal!" Lan Yaoguang tossed a drumstick at Xiao Nanfeng, who caught it and took a big bite. "It really is fragrant."


    "You''re asking for it now. Daring to bully me like that¡ª" Lan Yaoguang chased after him, flushing in embarrassment and frustration.


    Xiao Nanfeng darted back and forth as Lan Yaoguang chased after him.


    After a while, Lan YAoguang suddenly tripped, lost her bnce, and fell right into Xiao Nanfeng''s arms. They tumbled to the ground, their eyes locking as theyy there. Lan Yaoguang''s heart raced and thudded loudly in her chest. Her breathing grew shallow.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng pulled her closer and kissed her.


    This time, Lan Yaoguang''s eyes were filled with warmth and tenderness. She shut her eyes and focused on the kiss. They lingered in that moment for what seemed like an eternity before finally parting.


    Breathless, her heart still pounding wildly, Lan Yaoguang rested her head against Xiao Nanfeng''s chest and hid her face there. She was too shy to look back up.


    Xiao Nanfeng held her close and gently patted her back. "This ce is too shabby four our first time," he said. "Once we return, we''ll find a better spot, and I''ll teach you a special technique."


    "Too shabby? I hardly want to¡ªwhat? A special technique?"


    Lan Yaoguang, still flushed with embarrassment, suddenly paused. She realized that she might have misunderstood him again. Just what was he talking about?


    "Yes, a special cultivation technique," Xiao Nanfeng confirmed with a smile. "But to make the most of it, you''ll have to advance your cultivation quickly. The stronger you are, the more effective the technique. For now, let''s focus on improving your strength."


    "What do you mean? I don''t understand. What kind of special technique?" Lan Yaoguang asked, thoroughly confused.


    Xiao Nanfeng leaned in close and whispered a few words into her ear.


    Lan Yaoguang''s eyes widened in surprise. Her pale neck instantly turned bright red once again. She jumped out of his arms. "In your dreams! I''m not going to practice such... lewd... techniques with you!"


    "Alright, alright." Xiao Nanfeng chuckled. "Let''s eat first before we focus on cultivation."


    "I don''t want to! You''re a scoundrel. You''re always trying to take advantage of me!" Lan Yaoguang huffed, though her tone was more yful than angry. Despite her words, the blush on her face gave way to affection beneath mock indignation.


    "You''re the empress of Dazheng. How could I possibly be taking advantage of you?" Xiao Nanfeng teased. He offered her another dish. "Here, try this."


    Despite her earlier protest, Lan Yaoguang eventually gave in. She was unable to resist the delicious food or Xiao Nanfeng''s charm. Perhaps deep down, she did enjoy his teasing, even if she would never admit it. After they were done with their meal, they soared into the sky and headed toward the battlegrounds that had been scouted out for them.

 Chapter 805: The Immortal Emperor of Daliang

    <h4>Chapter 805: The Immortal Emperor of Daliang</h4>


    Atop a mountain peak, Xiao Nanfeng, Lan Yaoguang, and a group of ck-robed figures were staring at some Enlightenment Grounds in a distant valley.


    The Enlightenment Grounds was curled up and motionless, but the surrounding forest was in disarray. A fierce battle seemed to have just taken ce.


    "These Enlightenment Grounds recently destroyed a nearby Immortal sect. Only a few cultivators managed to escape, whom we captured for questioning. One of them had an avatar within, and we learned that this is likely a four-pearl territory."


    "It devoured an entire Immortal sect? It must be digesting the cultivators'' blood, flesh, and spiritual energy..." Lan Yaoguang analyzed with a frown.


    "Perhaps increasing the number of the blue-furred lifeforms as well," Xiao Nanfeng added.


    "Oh?" Lan Yaoguang asked, puzzled.


    "Let''s not worry about it for the time being. Since we''re here, let''s get started," Xiao Nanfeng said decisively.


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Lan Yaoguang, and the ck-robed figures advanced into the Enlightenment Grounds, only to be instantly discovered by countless blue-furred monsters. They roared ferociously and charged toward them.


    Lan Yaoguang had long since grown ustomed to the sight. She handed her physical body over to Xiao Nanfeng for safekeeping. Her soul emerged from her mindscape, Cursebane Sword in hand, as she swiftly advanced on the blue-furred monsters.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lan Yaoguang, now ate-stage True Yin cultivator, was far stronger than she had been before. With a single sword strike, energy swept out around her like a storm and tore through the blue-furred monsters.


    She easily felled arge group of the monsters with a single sh. The Cursebane Sword quickly absorbed their essence, feeding the harvested spiritual power and insight to her.


    Lan Yaoguang carved out a path of devastation as she slew everything in her way.


    Suddenly, a furious shout rang out from afar. A red-robed woman, apanied by three superior yin pearls, descended with an expression full of murderous intent. Despite just having annihted an Immortal sect, her killing intent was palpable.


    "Attack!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself refrained from leading the charge, but his subordinates surged forward.


    Tu Feng took the lead and arrived before the red-robed woman in an instant. With a tremendous sh, he sent the red-robed woman flying backward.


    Meanwhile, the ck-robed cultivators engaged the three superior yin pearls in fighting. They seemed equally matched.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched patiently, not intending to interfere. Just then, his spiritual moon rushed out of his mindscape and toward the three superior yin pearls. It knocked one of the pearls flying and joined the fray.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He didn''t want his spiritual moon to participate; it would surely devour the pearls and grow strong enough to threaten him.


    However, now that it had struck, there was little he could do. Fortunately, his moon''s rate of growth had slowed down, and the current situation was tolerable. What was more, he would need its help to condense the Enlightenment Grounds into a fragment of white jade.


    After a period of intense fighting, it ultimately devoured all three superior yin pearls. Swiftly thereafter, Lan Yaoguang killed all the blue-furred monsters as well. The cultivators charged toward the red-robed woman, whose fierce resistance couldn''tpare to thebined strength of Xiao Nanfeng''s forces.


    "No!"


    With a final scream, the red-robed woman lost control of the Enlightenment Grounds and transformed into a superior yin pearl, which Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon promptly devoured.


    Once again, the spiritual moon condensed the naturalw within the Enlightenment Grounds into a fragment of white jade, which it tossed to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Perhaps this was an equitable trade for the spiritual moon: Xiao Nanfeng would help it devour more superior yin pearls, while it helped him refine these Enlightenment Grounds.


    "Nanfeng, it was much easier this time around," Lan Yaoguang said, smiling.


    "Now, return to your body and distill this fragment of white jade along with Croak and Warble," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "I have a secret technique that the Shangqing Grandmaster taught me to refine foreign energy. Can Croak and Warble do the same?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "They have their own special cultivation methods as well."


    "Got it. This fragment seems about asrge as the previous one, though, and even that wasn''t enough to help you break through. Will the three of us benefit?"


    "We''ll find out soon enough," Xiao Nanfeng replied, grinning.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    Croak, Warble, and Lan Yaoguang sat cross-legged in meditation in front of the fragment of white jade.


    Xiao Nanfeng summoned his ten golden crows to shatter the fragment, causing it to crack in an immense wave of energy.


    The ten golden crows rapidly formed a formation to contain that energy, then split it three ways and directed it into the three cultivators'' bodies.


    As the energy surged into their bodies, all three of them trembled.


    "What powerful energy! How could there be so much?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    Croak and Warble, who were more advanced in terms of cultivation, simply opened their mouths and swallowed the energy whole. Their natural abilities,bined with their unique techniques, allowed them to absorb the energy with ease. Illusory forms of massive golden toads appeared around them as they basked in the flood of energy.


    Waves of energy rippled from Lan Yaoguang''s body.


    One breakthrough followed another.


    She had initially been in the first stage of the True Immortal realm, and her repeated breakthroughs left her ted.


    Four hourster, as a massive burst of energy erupted from Lan Yaoguang, all the energy from the fragment of white jade was finally consumed entirely. The ten golden crows returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s body as the Enlightenment Grounds dissipated.


    Lan Yaoguang opened her eyes in disbelief. "The sixth stage of the True Immortal realm? I just broke through five stages in one go!"


    At that moment, Croak and Warble both emitted powerful waves of energy, shocking Lan Yaoguang.


    "Haha, I''m a Golden Immortal now!" Croak croaked proudly.


    "Don''t get too cocky. There are still more stages of cultivation to go," Warble warbled. Even so, it smiled.


    "You''re both Golden Immortals now?" Lan Yaoguang eximed in shock.


    Her own excitement over her breakthrough suddenly seemed to diminish.


    "You''re not like them," Xiao Nanfeng exined. "Croak and Warble were alreadyte-stage True Immortals who were nearly at the peak. Most of the Enlightenment Grounds'' energy went to them, so they were able to undergo more demanding breakthroughs."


    "But¡ªno, didn''t you say earlier that these fragments don''t contain much energy?Absorbing a full fragment didn''t even help you advance by a single stage..."


    "Lady Yaoguang, don''tpare us to a freak like Xiao Nanfeng," Croak urged.


    "Exactly. Have you ever seen a True Immortal fight a Golden Immortal ande out on top? He even killed a Boundless Immortal before!" Warble eximed.


    Lan Yaoguang scowled at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Come on. Let''s head to the next Enlightenment Grounds. You''ll be able to be a Golden Immortal soon enough, too," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Lan Yaoguang clutched Xiao Nanfeng''s elbow. "Hold on. Are we stealing your resources?"


    "No, no. Fragments at this level aren''t too useful for me. It''s better to boost your cultivation instead."


    "But couldn''t you umte multiple shards and use them to break through?" Lan Yaoguang asked with concern.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "My breakthroughs require massive quantities of energy, but also more advanced forms of energy. My previous breakthrough came from an eleven-pearl territory. The four-pearl territories'' energy is too weak and diffuse for me."


    "But can''t webine such Enlightenment Grounds to raise their overall level?"


    "I asked my spiritual moon about it, but it doesn''t seem possible. I don''t know how the superior yin pearls do it." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.


    "Is that so? Then we''ll keep advancing our cultivation so we can help you with the stronger Enlightenment Groundster, then," Lan Yaoguang said resolutely.


    "Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    The cultivators moved on to the next Enlightenment Grounds, again a four-pearl territory.


    Before long, they won another resounding victory.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon once again absorbed four superior yin pearls, while Lan Yaoguang, You Jiu, and several high-ranking spectral guards got to absorb the energy from the fragment of white jade.


    Once again, energy filled the cultivators'' bodies. Lan Yaoguang reached the peak of the True Immortal realm, along with several high-ranking spectral guards. Only You Jiu began to radiate golden energy as he became a Golden Immortal proper.


    "Onto the next Enlightenment Grounds!" Lan Yaoguang eximed expectantly. "I want to be a Golden Immortal too."


    "Let''s go, then." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s group rapidly swept through the Enlightenment Grounds, drawing plenty of attention.


    The city lord of Qingyun had been paying attention to them ever since handing the map to Xiao Nanfeng.


    News quickly came pouring in.


    "What? They''ve wiped out another one? How can that be?!" eximed the city lord of Qingyun.


    No matter how incredulous he was, facts were facts. Even after sending several groups to investigate the situation, their reports were all identical: Xiao Nanfeng''s group seemed to be unstoppable.


    The city lord had no choice but to send one of his subordinates to ry the news to the Immortal Emperor of Daliang immediately.


    In Daliang''s capital, a cold and beautiful woman in imperial robes listened on as her subordinate ryed what the city lord of Qingyun had to say.


    "Your Majesty, they''re taking down the Enlightenment Grounds one after another! They''ve already finished off five of them, and they''re showing no signs of stopping."


    "What do they look like?"


    "The majority wear ck robes, and we can''t make out their appearance. Their two leaders, a man and a woman, revealed themselves during a fight. They look like this."


    Her subordinate formed images of Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang''s pupils constricted in shock. "Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang? That wretched couple! To think they would dare enter the green knoll hidden realm¡ªour paths really are bound to cross again!"

 Chapter 806: Meeting at Daliangs Capital

    <h4>Chapter 806: Meeting at Daliang''s Capital</h4>


    In another valley, Lan Yaoguang''s body shook as a surge of powerful energy radiated in all directions.


    "Have you broken though?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.


    "I did. I''m a Golden Immortal now!" Lan Yaoguang eximed in excitement. Then, she frowned. "But it feels like this sort of energy won''t be as effective for me anymore..."


    "Its level is too low," Xiao Nanfeng agreed. "But don''t worry. We''ll figure something out soon enough."


    "Alright. You should continue to train your subordinates, then. Let''s get as many Golden Immortals as we can."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Right, isn''t your other body here as well? I can hand you the Cursebane Sword again. Perhaps you''ll be able to get some spiritual power and insight with it now."


    "Let''s give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng agreed.


    They quickly rushed into another set of Enlightenment Grounds.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar wielded the Cursebane Sword against a group of approaching blue-furred monsters.


    A single sweep cut down several of the monsters. The sword absorbed their energy and sent a faint blue glow toward Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    "It does work!" Lan Yaoguang eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng closed his eyes and mentally tabted what he''d obtained. Meanwhile, the others guarded Xiao Nanfeng and held back the majority of the monsters.


    After a while, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes. "There''s a slight effect, but it''s not very significant."


    "I saw it. It''s only about 1% of what I obtained..." Lan Yaoguang frowned.


    "Any return is better than none. I do feel like I understand the Shangqing Yin Body better now," Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar replied with a smile.


    "Then you should y the blue-furred monsters from now on. Another breakthrough in my spiritual cultivation would take far too much time," Lan Yaoguang offered.


    "Thank you, then." Xiao Nanfeng agreed without any hesitation.


    Once again, he rushed into the fray. His sword shed as it cleaved through waves of blue-furred monsters.


    Although he received only 1% of the insight and spiritual power that Lan Yaoguang did, the cumtive effect would still be significant.


    Another territory was taken down just like that.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar slew the blue-furred monsters, his spiritual moon devoured the superior yin pearls, and Xiao Nanfeng''s designated subordinates absorbed the fragment of white jade.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s forces grew stronger with each battle.


    After conquering a total of twelve Enlightenment Grounds, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar suddenly sensed something. He hurriedly sat down cross-legged in meditation.


    Above him, his red and blue spiritual moons floated, radiating concentrated spiritual power.


    Two hourster, a tremendous burst of energy exploded from his avatar''s body, shattering the snow-capped mountains nearby.


    "You''re atte-stage True Yin now too, aren''t you?" Lan Yaoguang''s eyes lit up.


    "My avatar has been stuck on the cusp of the breakthrough for quite some time. I''ve finally crossed that threshold," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "You should keep going," Lan Yaoguang urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It''s impossible for me to break through again anytime soon, even if I killed a hundred times more blue-furred monsters. You do it. My avatar will have to investigate something with my subordinates, anyway."


    "Alright!" Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng assigned a few of his subordinates to absorb the energy of the final fragment of white jade, producing one more Golden Immortal.


    After leaving the territory, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar donned a set of ck robes and secretly left with a group of his subordinates in tow.


    Meanwhile, just as Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and Lan Yaoguang were about to leave the area, a group of cultivators arrived on the scene, led by the city lord of Qingyun.


    "I''ve finally found you both!" the city lord eximed.


    It was, of course, a lie. He had been keeping track of Xiao Nanfeng''s whereabouts all this time. He was shocked to see them vanish so quickly, one after another. Just what sort of monsters were these cultivators?


    "Is something the matter, City Lord?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    To be frank, if not for the map that he had provided, finding these Enlightenment Grounds would have proven far moreborious.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Daliang would like me to invite both of you to Dalian''s capital," the city lord began.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, surprised.


    "For some reason, these Enlightenment Grounds have been aggressively attacking Daliang, and the capital has been the hardest hit¡ªand by the strongest Enlightenment Grounds, no less. The Immortal Emperor has even sent envoys beyond the green knoll hidden realm in search of reinforcements. Many powerful cultivators have gathered at the capital. Upon hearing of your extraordinary prowess, the Immortal Emperor personally requested that I extend an invitation to both of you for assistance. A generous reward will be provided."


    "Daliang''s capital..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned and pondered the situation carefully.


    His subordinates had learned about the situation outside the capital, and he had been considering heading there¡ªnot expecting the Immortal Emperor''s invitation.


    He didn''t particrly want to get involved with the Immortal Emperor, but it was inevitable that he would encounter Daliang''s forces if he intended to fight near the capital, which could have led to unnecessary conflicts.


    Now that the Immortal Emperor had taken notice of him, it might be best to meet and assess the situation.


    "Please let me know if I may assist you in any way," the city lord of Qingyun added.


    "Since the Immortal Emperor of Daliang has extended such a kind invitation, we''ll head to the capital and have a look," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Thank you, sir! Please, follow me."


    The city lord of Qingyun led Xiao Nanfeng all the way to Daliang''s capital.


    They arrived two dayster.


    Daliang''s capital was enormous, with swirling clouds of fortune in the sky and dense fog in the area. From time to time, the sounds of battle could be heard from various parts of the city.


    Thanks to the city lord of Qingyun and the advance notice he sent via his subordinates'' avatars, they encountered no difficulty during their way here. The Immortal Emperor of Daliang and her officials were even waiting for them in arge za.


    From afar, Xiao Nanfeng spotted a cold, beautiful woman dressed in white draconic robes with gold motifs.


    "Gan Qing of Daliang greets Eastern Aspect Xiao and Lady Yaoguang," the woman said politely. She gave them a small smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised to see that the Immortal Emperor of Daliang actually recognized him. He smiled. "I greet the Immortal Emperor of Daliang."


    "I greet the Immortal Emperor of Daliang," Lan Yaoguang echoed. She too smiled.


    "The Enlightenment Grounds have ravaged mynds and harmed my people. I was at a loss as to how to target them. I truly am overwhelmed with relief to hear of your willingness to lend aid, Eastern Aspect Xiao, Lady Yaoguang. I''ve prepared a banquet in your honor and hope you''ll grace us with your presence."


    Though an Immortal Emperor was high in status, Xiao Nanfeng was no less exalted as a Cardinal Aspect of the Imperial Court. As such, the Immortal Emperor was treating him with utmost courtesy.


    "Thank you for your hospitality," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "This way, please." The Immortal Emperor of Daliang smiled.


    The cultivators made their way toward a nearby hall, where tables had beenid out in preparation for the feast well in advance. The ck-robed cultivators behind Xiao Nanfeng remained standing silently behind him; only Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang took their seats.


    "I am deeply grateful that you have honored my invitation, Eastern Aspect Xiao, Lady Yaoguang. Allow me to offer you a toast." The Immortal Emperor of Daliang raised her cup.


    Xiao Nanfeng verified that the wine was safe to consume before smiling. "You''re too kind, Immortal Emperor."


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    Lan Yaoguang raised her cup as well.


    The three of them clinked their cups together and began to drink. The atmosphere grew rxed.


    "It''s impressive that you''re so well informed about the Heavenly Court despite being within the green knoll hidden realm, Immortal Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    The Immortal Emperor smiled. "Daliang can''tpare to the great divine empires of the outside world. We''ve managed to hold sway only in this hidden realm. We still keep track of affairs outside, but the foundation we''veid here is so vast that venturing out into the world atrge to establish something new will be difficult."


    "You''re too modest, Immortal Emperor. You''ve fought bravely against the Enlightenment Grounds to protect the people of this hidden realm. It''s a great blessing for them, I''m sure," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "The Enlightenment Grounds are powerful, and we''ve been struggling to hold them off by ourselves. That''s why we''ve summoned aid from the outside world atrge. With your assistance, I''m confident we can defeat them. Upon victory, I''m willing to reward you both with fortune as a token of gratitude."


    "Then I''ll thank you in advance, Immortal Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a casual smile.


    The Immortal Emperor raised her cup to them again. "I heard from the city lord of Qingyun that you recently took down over a dozen of these Enlightenment Grounds?"


    "Only by chance," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "For such a long streak of sesses? Hardly! You must be very strong. Might I ask if those Enlightenment Grounds are of any use to you? I''m willing to offer substantial treasures in exchange."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m sorry, but I''d rather not."


    They had already consumed all the Enlightenment Grounds; there was nothing left to trade. He nced curiously at the Immortal Emperor. Was she collecting them?


    "I understand." The Immortal Emperor of Daliang didn''t make a fuss over the news.


    At that moment, a guard rushed into the hall. "Your Majesty, the Shangqing hierarch is here."


    "Oh? Please, invite him in." The Immortal Emperor''s eyes lit up.


    "Understood!" The guard rushed out of the hall.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang turned to Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang. "Coincidentally, the Shangqing hierarch was nearby. I took the liberty of inviting him to join us. I hope you don''t mind, honored guests?"


    Lan Yaoguang remained silent. She was a holy maiden of Shangqing, and could hardly speak out against the Shangqing hierarch.


    Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes slightly. The Immortal Emperor of Daliang had invited the Shangqing hierarch without giving them any notice, which felt like a calcted move. Just what was she nning?

 Chapter 807: The Shangqing Hierarch

    <h4>Chapter 807: The Shangqing Hierarch</h4>


    Soon, a group of cultivators dressed in blue robes entered the hall, led by a strikingly handsome middle-aged man, who exuded an aura of authority from the forefront.


    "Immortal Emperor of Daliang, why have you summoned me in such a hurry?" he asked.


    "Shangqing Hierarch, I apologize for the inconvenience. I invited you in haste because I would be hosting a holy maiden of Shangqing today. Since the two of you are acquainted, I thought it would be nice for you to meet." The Immortal Emperor of Daliang smiled.


    "Oh?" The Shangqing hierarch nced over curiously to see Lan Yaoguang rise gracefully and bow. "I greet the hierarch."


    "Yaoguang?" the Shangqing hierarch eximed. "What are you doing here?"


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng stood up and smiled. "I am Xiao Nanfeng, Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court. I greet the Shangqing hierarch, and I thank you for taking care of Yaoguang all these years."


    Xiao Nanfeng had heard from Lan Yaoguang that the Shangqing hierarch had been rather protective of her. When she was acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword, many elders in the sect were reluctant to pass the treasure to her. It was the sect master who opposed them and supported Lan Yaoguang. His assistance was instrumental in securing her position as a holy maiden and helping her resolve many of the problems that would havee her way.


    The Shangqing hierarch turned to Xiao Nanfeng in surprise. "Xiao Nanfeng? I''ve heard of you¡ªbut not that you''ve be the Eastern Aspect."


    "The Heavenly Emperor granted me the position," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Shangqing hierarch''s expression shifted. He nced at Lan Yaoguang thoughtfully, then Xiao Nanfeng. He seemed to sense something, though he quickly schooled his expression.


    "I see. Eastern Aspect Xiao, how did youe to be with Yaoguang?" the Shangqing hierarch continued.


    "Don''t you know, Hierarch?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    One of the Shangqing hierarch''s subordinates immediately spoke up. "Hierarch, I didn''t have a chance to inform you of the news in advance¡ªyou were summoned by the Immortal Emperor of Daliang right after a bout of fighting in the Enlightenment Grounds."


    "Oh?"


    "My avatar remains within the holynd, and I witnessed the altercation that took ce. The Immortal Emperor of Dahan attempted to seek out Holy Maiden Yaoguang''s hand in marriage, but she refused. A group of elders in the holynd, who epted his bribes, secretly brought him into the Shangqing holynd, whereupon he abducted her. Among the culprits was Holy Maiden Yaoguang''s uncle, Qu Jianfeng."


    The Shangqing hierarch''s eyes widened in anger. "Those scoundrels¡ªthey dared to collude with an outsider against a holy maiden? Do they have a death wish?!"


    The Shangqing hierarch looked genuinely furious. He seemed prepared to cripple all the elders who had been responsible for the affair.


    "Except for Qu Jianfeng, all the elders have been killed by Eastern Aspect Xiao. He arrived at the scene just in time, and then..." The Shangqing hierarch''s subordinate recounted what had happened between Xiao Nanfeng and the Immortal Emperor of Dahan.


    After hearing the entire story, the Shangqing hierarch narrowed his eyes. He looked at Xiao Nanfeng incredulously.


    "You managed to capture the Immortal Emperor of Dahan? Quite a feat, Eastern Aspect Xiao."


    "I was merely lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied, not wanting to dwell on the matter.


    Just then, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang interjected, "To think Eastern Aspect Xiao was so skilled! I truly envy Lady Yaoguang."


    "Are you interested in this matter, Immortal Emperor?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Of course. Eastern Aspect Xiao, your bold actions in defense of your beloved are admirable indeed¡ªthough I confess it does make me uneasy. As a fellow Immortal Emperor, should I be worried that you''ll arrest me too, Eastern Aspect Xiao?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang joked.


    "You''ve shown me nothing but sincerity, Immortal Emperor. I would hardly disrespect you."


    "Indeed, indeed. Eastern Aspect Xiao, I feel great kinship with you. Allow me to offer you another toast¡ªand to the Shangqing hierarch as well, in congrattions of the bond between the Shangqing holynd and Eastern Aspect Xiao." The Immortal Emperor of Daliang raised his cup.


    By then, the Shangqing hierarch had been seated by an attendant.


    Upon hearing the Immortal Emperor''s words, his eyebrows twitched slightly. Nevertheless, he raised his cup and epted the toast gratefully. For some reason, however, Xiao Nanfeng sensed a trace of enmity in his gaze.


    "Yaoguang, what brings you to the green knoll hidden realm?" the Shangqing hierarch asked.


    Before Lan Yaoguang could respond, Xiao Nanfeng interjected, "I brought her here, Hierarch. We heard that the Enlightenment Grounds here would be of particr value for her cultivation. To our surprise, the effect was even better than expected."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s response was deliberately intended to evoke a reaction from the Shangqing hierarch.


    As expected, the Shangqing hierarch''s eyes narrowed briefly before he smiled. "It looks like you''ve discovered some of the secrets of these Enlightenment Grounds already, then. I was nning to bring Yaoguang here myself in due time¡ªbut it seems you''ve beaten me to it. Even better."


    Xiao Nanfeng could tell that the Shangqing Hierarch was aware of the interaction between the Cursebane Sword and the blue-furred monsters, but had deliberately withheld the information from Lan Yaoguang for some reason. Something was clearly going on.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang smiled. "Hierarch, you must not be aware of this¡ªEastern Aspect Xiao and Lady Yaoguang have already taken down many small-scale Enlightenment Grounds. They make quite the couple. They''re truly a match made in heaven!"


    The Shangqing hierarch grimaced slightly, clearly annoyed. Even so, he kept his anger under control, and his expression quickly turned neutral.


    Upon seeing this, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but sense that both the Immortal Emperor of Daliang and the Shangqing hierarch both had ulterior motives in mind.


    "Yaoguang, is what the Immortal Emperor of Daliang said true?" asked the Shangqing hierarch, smiling. It was quite obvious that his smile was forced.


    Lan Yaoguang moved to Xiao Nanfeng''s side and sat on the praying mat beside him. She took his hand and smiled. "Indeed, Hierarch. Xiao Nanfeng is the only husband I shall take in this life."


    Xiao Nanfeng intertwined his fingers with hers. He smiled. "What better wife could I ask for?"


    The Shangqing hierarch''s face was slowly turning red, but he forced his anger down once again. He frowned. "Eastern Aspect Xiao, I''ve heard that you''re engaged to the princess of the Imperial Court, Zhang Lingjun. Yaoguang, were you aware of this?"


    Lan Yaoguang nodded. ''Indeed, Hierarch. You have a few wives of your own, don''t you? Isn''t it rather inappropriate for you to try to sow discord between Nanfeng and me in front of everyone?"


    The Shangqing hierarch gaped. He was speechless; he didn''t know how to respond to such blunt criticism.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliangughed before the silence could grow more awkward. "I hope you''ll invite me to the wedding, Eastern Aspect Xiao, Lady Yaoguang."


    "Of course," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lan Yaoguang blushed. She held Xiao Nanfeng''s hand more tightly.


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    Meanwhile, the Shangqing hierarch''s eyes twitched. He raised his cup of wine and downed it all in one gulp.


    "Regarding my request to handle the Enlightenment Grounds, shall we discuss a potential coboration?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang continued.


    The Shangqing hierarch interjected before Xiao Nanfeng could respond, "There''s no need toplicate things. Eastern Aspect Xiao and Yaoguang should join our group. We can take care of each other."


    "Oh? Would you like to team up?" The Immortal Emperor of Daliang''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng, however, shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, Hierarch, but Yaoguang and I arefortable taking on these Enlightenment Grounds on our own."


    The Shangqing hierarch''s expression darkened. "Eastern Aspect Xiao, you might not be aware of this, but the Enlightenment Grounds here by the capital are particrly dangerous¡ªthey''re at least ten-pearl territories. The masters of these Enlightenment Grounds are at least at the level of Boundless Immortals."


    "Thank you for the warning, Hierarch," Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly, "but we prefer to act on our own."


    The Shangqing hierarch clearly wanted to say more, but he gritted his teeth and shut his mouth upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s expression.


    Xiao Nanfeng then turned to the Immortal Emperor of Daliang. "Immortal Emperor, would you pass me what information you have on the Enlightenment Grounds nearby?"


    "Of course. I''m counting on your help, Eastern Aspect Xiao." She instructed her subordinates, "Bring Eastern Aspect Xiao all the data we have on the Enlightenment Grounds around the capital."


    An official quickly arrived and handed Xiao Nanfeng a jade slip, who inspected it briefly. "Thank you, Immortal Emperor."


    "It is I who should thank you both for your help," the Immortal Emperor replied graciously.


    The Shangqing hierarch''s eyes continued to sh with emotion, though he remained silent.


    The banquet continued, but the atmosphere was clearly tense. Afterwards, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang showed her guests to their respective guest quarters.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang were escorted to a floating ind, while the Shangqing hierarch was given separate amodations. The three groups parted ways.


    Once everyone departed, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang conjured a cloud of fog around herself. Her smile vanished, reced by a cold, calcting expression.


    Just then, a man shrouded in fog appeared beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She leaned into his embrace.


    "Do you think the Shangqing hierarch will go after Xiao Nanfeng, Husband?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang asked softly.


    "Of course. I know exactly what the Shangqing hierarch is thinking about. He''s long since considered Lan Yaoguang a personal possession of his. The only reason he hasn''t made a move is because she wields the Cursebane Sword."


    "The Shangqing hierarch desires Lan Yaoguang?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang asked.


    "It''s not a matter of desire¡ªhe simply wants to possess her for himself. The Cursebane Sword is one of the four great swords of Shangqing, and Lan Yaoguang''smand over it is particrly valuable to the Shangqing hierarch. That''s why he''s kept such a close watch over her¡ªbut he never expected her to fall in love with Xiao Nanfeng. Otherwise, he would have sent someone to assassinate him long ago."


    "Oh?"


    "The Shangqing hierarch had been pondering the idea of doing so back when Lan Yaoguang''s mother was the wielder of the Cursebane Sword, but when she unexpectedly married Lan Jiguang, his ns fell through. Now that Lan Yaoguang has inherited the sword, his sights are set on her."


    "You''re very well informed about the Shangqing holynd."


    "When I sought to dominate the region, I made sure to learn about the surrounding powers. It''s a pity that our son doesn''t know anything about such intricacies," the man replied, sighing.


    "Didn''t you give Bing''er anymands before you left?"


    "Of course I did. I specifically told him not to provoke anyone from the Shangqing holynd. He agreed¡ªbut went after Lan Yaoguang anyway. He''s simply too enamored with women. That''s how he ended up in such a mess."


    "Now that Bing''er''s in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands, what should we do?"


    "Don''t worry. The sea of fortune around Dahan hasn''t crumbled, which means that Bing''er''s still alive. We''ll bide our time and weaken Xiao Nanfeng''s forces, then capture either his avatar or Lan Yaoguang''s body to use as leverage for an exchange," the man said coldly.


    "Very well," the Immortal Emperor of Daliang replied, nodding.

 Chapter 808: Xiao Nanfengs Trap

    <h4>Chapter 808: Xiao Nanfeng''s Trap</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang entered the floating ind that the Immortal Emperor of Daliang had prepared for them. The luxurious amodations offered a breathtaking view over the city. As they sat in a pavilion, Xiao Nanfeng held Lan Yaoguang close. They gazed out over the beautiful sights of Daliang.


    "Nanfeng, I can''t help but feel like something''s wrong with both the Shangqing hierarch and the Immortal Emperor of Daliang," Lan Yaoguang said, frowning.


    "You noticed too?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Were you already aware?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Shangqing hierarch controlled his expression well, but it was clear that he was looking at you with desire and me with hostility. Meanwhile, though the Immortal Emperor of Daliang was praising our rtionship, it seemed more like she was trying to fan the mes¡ªto stimte the Shangqing hierarch''s hostility toward me."


    "That''s exactly how it felt, but why? Why would she do such a thing?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m not sure yet, but I''m sure she''s doing it deliberately. She seems to know quite a lot about him."


    "Oh?"


    "What I''d like to know is what kind of person the Shangqing hierarch truly is. Why is he hostile toward me, and does he n to do you any harm?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "He favored me after I was acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword," Lan Yaoguang said. "He helped me fend off many elders'' jealousy when they targeted me."


    "I know. That''s why I treated him politely at first¡ªbut I want to know precisely why he favors you."


    "Well, that¡ª"


    "Your beauty is stunning, of course, and any man would be drawn to you. Just like me¡ªI''m captivated," Xiao Nanfeng said with a grin.


    Lan Yaoguang blushed and yfully punched Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder. "Hardly!"


    "It''s absolutely the case," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly. "But a man like the Shangqing hierarch, who possesses the ability to rise to such a high-ranking position, must have a better reason for expressing such interest in you."


    Lan Yaoguang shook her head. "I don''t know what he''s plotting myself."


    "You mentioned that he began protecting you after you were acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword. Could it be rted to that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Lan Yaoguang frowned. After a moment, she replied, "I fear it''s connected."


    "Oh?"


    "The Cursebane Sword is one of the four great swords of Shangqing¡ªCursebane, Heavenbane, Deathbane, and Earthbane. I was acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword, and the hierarch by the Deathbane Sword. This acknowledgment doesn''t have anything to do with the Shangqing disciples¡ªthe swords themselves judge their wielders. Allegedly, they were granted this ability by the Shangqing grandmaster himself, and no one can oppose the swords'' choices."


    "Are there any rumors about the four swords, or anything of the sort?"


    "Allegedly, when the time is right, the four swords of Shangqing will be able to open the blue moon illusory realm."


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "That may be the Shangqing hierarch''s true objective, then."


    Lan Yaoguang pursed her lips. "Was the hierarch protecting me only out of self-interest, then?"


    "Even if that''s starting to seem more likely, he did protect you. We should give him a chance to prove his intentions."


    "How?"


    "I''ll set up a trap. If he means you harm, then his past favors hardly matter. Otherwise, if he doesn''t, we can have a frank discussion with him."


    "What sort of trap?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.


    "You''ll see once my subordinates thoroughly investigate Daliang''s capital. Give me two days."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    Two dayster, the Shangqing hierarch listened to one of his disciples'' reports in a certain hall.


    "Hierarch, Xiao Nanfeng and Holy Maiden Yaoguang have made their move."


    "Which Enlightenment Grounds have they gone to?"


    "The sixteen-pearl territory to the west of the capital," the Shangqing disciple reported.


    "Oh? Let''s go have a look."


    The Shangqing hierarch and his trusted subordinates shrouded themselves in dense fog as they left the capital and headed west of it.


    They arrived at a mountain peak from which they could see the huge Enlightenment Grounds in the distance.


    Just then, another Shangqing disciple flew over.


    "How''s the situation?" the Shangqing hierarch demanded.


    "Hierarch, I just saw Xiao Nanfeng leading a group of ck-robed subordinates into the territory," the Shangqing disciple reported.


    "You witnessed them entering with your own eyes?"


    "Yes, Hierarch. My fellow disciples can vouch for me as well. I''m certain that Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates have entered."


    The Shangqing hierarch nodded. He was confident that the disciple before him was loyal.


    "A sixteen-pearl territory¡ªthat''s extremely dangerous! Xiao Nanfeng must not know much about these Enlightenment Grounds if he''s charging into one so recklessly. Does he want to die?" one Shangqing disciple murmured.


    The Shangqing hierarch considered the situation for a moment. "One of his subordinates must be a Boundless Immortal. That''s why he''s so confident."


    "Ah?"


    "Over thest two days, I''ve learned about the situation in the outside world. Based on the battle that took ce at Dahan''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng has three Boundless Immortals under hismand. The Demon Child is reportedly hunting outside Shenfeng''s capital, and Ye Sanshui is training troops in Yongding. That leaves Xiao Nanfeng and the unknown Boundless Immortal in the green knoll hidden realm. This Boundless Immortal appears to be an early-stage one at best. Given how these Enlightenment Grounds suppress physical cultivation, I doubt he can even exert the strength of a Boundless Immortal."


    "But in that case¡ªaren''t Xiao Nanfeng and the others going to die?!" one Shangqing disciple eximed.


    The Shangqing hierarch narrowed his eyes. "Don''t underestimate Xiao Nanfeng. He mightst longer than you think."


    "What should we do, Hierarch?"


    "We''ll wait for now."


    "Understood!"


    Meanwhile, on a nearby mountain, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang were eyeing the fog-shrouded mountain peak from afar.


    "As you predicted, the hierarch''s here. He''s been watching us all along..." Lan Yaoguang frowned.


    "Indeed." Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned cold.


    "Will your avatar be safe in the Enlightenment Grounds?" Lan Yaoguang asked in worry.


    "My avatar had to enter in order to lure the Sect Master here, but don''t worry. It''s hidden safely within, so there won''t be any danger."


    "What do we do now?"


    "Wait."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    They stayed hidden for a full day and continued to observe the mountain peak from a distance.


    Finally, the Shangqing hierarch made his move. He led a group of disciples into the Enlightenment Grounds.


    "Have they gone inside?" Lan Yaoguang frowned.


    "They did, after waiting for an entire day. They must think that we''re in the midst of heated battle against the entities within¡ªand that it''s the perfect time to im the spoils of battle."


    Lan Yaoguang''s face darkened. "To think I trusted the hierarch..."


    "Well, at least you''ve seen his true colors now. We can deal with him without any reservations."


    Lan Yaoguang sighed. Her eyes shed coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled as he patted her hand gently. "Don''t bother. It''s not worth getting angry over people like this."


    "I can''t help but feel betrayed. I used to think that he was a benevolent man!"


    "You don''t have to return to the Shangqing holynd. Don''t waste your energy on such people. Now, let''s go. We still have Enlightenment Grounds to take down."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    They departed alongside a group of ck-robed subordinates, all cloaked in fog.


    Within the sixteen-pearl territory, the Shangqing hierarch surveyed the snowyndscape before him with a frown. He turned to one of his disciples coldly. "I had you send your avatar in first to investigate. Didn''t you say that Xiao Nanfeng was heavily injured and about to die?"


    The disciple nched. "Yes, Hierarch! My avatar saw a bloodied ck-robed figure being chased by blue-furred monsters. He imed to be one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. He said that they had been defeated by the master of the territory and the superior yin pearls under itsmand. He barely escaped and was pleading for help."


    "And? Where is he now? Where''s your avatar?" the Shangqing hierarch demanded.


    "The moment we entered, he suddenly ambushed my avatar and killed it," the disciple reported.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate ambushed you and killed your avatar?!"


    "Yes, Hierarch. I don''t know why¡ªI didn''t even have time to report the matter."


    The Shangqing hierarch suddenly nched. "We''ve fallen for a trap."


    "What?" asked the confused disciples.


    "Xiao Nanfeng and Yaoguang never entered in the first ce. They''ve tricked us!"


    "They have? But I saw Xiao Nanfeng enter with my own eyes!" one Shangqing disciple cried out.


    Suddenly, a thunderous roar sounded from a distance. Two superior yin pearls and arge group of blue-furred monsters shot toward them.


    "Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates must have lured them over! We can''t escape now," the Shangqing hierarch said grimly.


    The blue-furred monsters roared menacingly as the superior yin pearls eyed them with malice. The disciples fretted as they turned toward the hierarch. "What do we do now, Hierarch?"


    "What else? We fight!" the Shangqing hierarch replied, frustration evident in his voice.


    He drew a longsword and led the disciples forward into battle with a roar.

 Chapter 809: A Difference

    <h4>Chapter 809: A Difference</h4>


    There were a total of eight Enlightenment Grounds outside Dalian''s capital, each of which was a ten-pearl territory at the very least.


    Somey dormant, while others were relentlessly attacking the city''s defensive formation.


    Though the divine empire of Dalian had summoned a number of powerful cultivators to take on the Enlightenment Grounds, none were willing to brave danger quite like Xiao Nanfeng. The majority of them formed alliances and collectively challenged one or two such Enlightenment Grounds at most.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no interest in crowded battlefields, nor in allowing others to watch him fight. His strength and resources were sufficient to not need others'' assistance. After careful examination, he set his sights on a particrly secluded Enlightenment Grounds that was currently in a resting phase.


    "This is a fourteen-pearl territory that once devoured an entire Immortal city whole, leaving nothing but destruction behind. We have to eradicate it."


    "Have you made up your mind?" Lan Yaoguang asked.


    "I have. Now, let''s go."


    The group nodded. They shrouded themselves in white fog to conceal their appearance as they followed Xiao Nanfeng into the fourteen-pearl territory.


    Upon entering, they immediately encountered countless blue-furred lifeforms.


    Just as before, a fierce battle erupted. With the cursebane sword in hand, Lan Yaoguang tore through her enemies.


    The superior yin pearls, sensing themotion, roared in fury as they rushed toward the intruders, only to meet with fierce resistance from Xiao Nanfeng''s Golden Immortal subordinates.


    Suddenly, a powerful aura surged toward them¡ªthe master of the fourteen-pearl territory, a vicious-looking woman dressed in white. Tu Feng charged toward her, only to be sent flying. She was incredibly strong.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly possessed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body and shot forward.


    Two against one, they were gradually able to fight the master of the Enlightenment Grounds to a standstill.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s other subordinates helped support Lan Yaoguang as she furiously ughtered the blue-furred monsters.


    As the fierce battle dragged on, neither side seemed able to gain the upper hand¡ªuntil, after a day and night of fighting, Lan Yaoguang was the first to finish off her foes. With the assistance of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates, his spiritual moon devoured all the superior yin pearls. Finally, the entire group converged on the master of the territory.


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    As the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng pinned the master of the territory down, Lan Yaoguang dealt the finishing blow with the Cursebane Sword and pierced through her body.


    Sated, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon finally condensed the massive pir of energy into a fragment of white jade, which it then tossed to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Rest and recover," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" his ck-robed subordinates replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon returned to his mindscape as he packed up the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s physical body, transformed back into his own physical body, and then sat cross-legged in meditation.


    He tossed the fragment of white jade into his mouth, after which point it was beset by his ten golden crows in his dantian. Energy surged around Xiao Nanfeng and filled his surroundings.


    Everyone immediately grew alert and began to guard him.


    The energy of this fragment exceeded even that which he had originally used to break through.


    Six hourster, as the fragment of white jade waspletely absorbed, an immense wave of fiery energy billowed out from Xiao Nanfeng''s body. It gradually faded as his aura settled, and he slowly opened his eyes.


    "Did you break through?" Lan Yaoguang asked.


    "I''m a peak True Immortal now," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    Lan Yaoguang, on the other hand, pursed her lips in worry. "It took you such a vast supply of energy to advance a single realm. How are you going to be a Golden Immortal at this rate?"


    The transition between realms required an exorbitant consumption of energy¡ªlikely ten times that which Xiao Nanfeng had just used. It wasn''t a matter of quantity alone, either. Xiao Nanfeng would need an ever-increasing quality of energy.


    How could Xiao Nanfeng continue cultivating at this rate?


    Xiao Nanfeng simply chuckled. "Don''t worry about it. When the timees, I''ll find a way."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded, though it was clear that she worried about him.


    By then, the fog around them had gradually dissipated. They found themselves in the valley that the Enlightenment Grounds had previously upied.


    The soldiers of Daliang gaped at the valley in surprise.


    "What happened to the fourteen-pearl territory? It''s gone!"


    "Did someone take it down already? Impossible! We didn''t even notice people entering..."


    "Notify the Immortal Emperor at once!"


    A flurry of exmations broke out among the soldiers as they rushed to send word back to the pce.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his group had noticed the distant onlookers, but they paid them no mind as they quietly slipped away.


    Within the sixteen-pearl territory, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar watched as the Shangqing hierarch and his subordinates fought against the master of the territory.


    Though the Shangqing hierarch was powerful, he was no match for her in terms of cultivation. Even so, his Deathbane Sword, a natural bane to all cursed effigies, leveled the difference.


    The fierce battle continued for quite some time.


    "The four swords of Shangqing are truly remarkable," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The struggle between the Shangqing hierarch and the master of the territory continued for a day and a night.


    The Shangqing hierarch was barely able to hold on any longer. He shouted, "Did you send for reinforcements yet? Are theying?"


    "Hierarch, two supreme Shangqing elders are currently in another Enlightenment Grounds and haven''t responded to our summons¡ªah, they''re out!" a disciple eximed.


    "What are you waiting for? Have theme assist us immediately!"


    "Understood!" the disciple answered.


    Before long, shes of light streaked across the sky. Two dignified middle-aged women, apanied by a group of Shangqing disciples, arrived to support him.


    They each wielded a blue longsword and radiated killing intent.


    "Hierarch, how did you end up facing a sixteen-pearl territory on your own?"


    "Didn''t you say that we should avoid this one if possible?"


    The Shangqing hierarch grimaced. He didn''t want to admit that he had fallen for a trap.


    "Elders, please support me with the Earthbane and Heavenbane Swords. I can''t hold on for much longer. I''ll exin everything once we''re out of here," the Shangqing hierarch urged.


    The two middle-aged women frowned slightly, but did as requested.


    "Die!" they shouted.


    With a roar, the two swords in their hands unleashed torrents of energy, striking the master of the territory with overwhelming force. The two women were both Boundless Immortals.


    The three Boundless Immortals and their respective swords granted their side an absolute advantage as they gradually suppressed the master of the territory."


    "Three of the four wielders are here to take advantage of the opportunity... It looks like they did deliberately leave Yaoguang behind, after all. The Shangqing hierarch truly is a schemer," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He didn''t show himself; he continued to observe the situation without making his presence known.


    Two hourster, the Shangqing hierarch and his subordinates finally managed to subdue the master of the territory.


    With a scream of despair, she fell as the Earthbane, Heavenbane, and Deathbane swords simultaneously pierced her body.


    The Shangqing hierarch retrieved a blue box and stored the master of the territory''s corpse within.


    "Enlightenment Grounds, lend me your strength!" the master of the territory cried out.


    Suddenly, a piercing pir of white light descended upon the scene, infusing tremendous energy into her body. She struggled fiercely and almost managed to break free from the box.


    "Shangqing Art: Seal of Cardinality!" the Shangqing hierarch intoned.


    "Shangqing Art: Seal of Cardinality!" the two other women echoed.


    The three cultivators'' simultaneous invocation attempted to seal the master of the territory and prevent her from essing the power of the pir of white light.


    Meanwhile, countless blue-furred monsters and superior yin pearls lunged toward the Shangqing disciples, who fought desperately to hold the line.


    Even so, victory was close at hand. The pir of white light grew weaker and weaker as its connection was severed.


    "Elders, strike with full strength. She won''t be able tost much longer!" the Shangqing hierarch eximed.


    "Understood!" the two elders replied.


    As they poured their power into the seal, the master of the territory grew weaker and weaker.


    "You worms dare attempt to seal me? I won''t let you go. Even if I have to perish, I''ll take you all down with me. Explode!"


    "Be careful!" everyone shouted.


    As the master of the territory self-destructed, the pir of white light exploded in a massive wave of fiery energy.


    The Shangqing hierarch and the two supreme elders bore the brunt of the explosion.


    "No!"


    The explosion ripped through the entire territory, sending shockwaves of destruction outward. Xiao Nanfeng, hidden in the distance, quickly shielded himself from the st.


    The Enlightenment Grounds shattered. Fragments of the territory suddenly swirled back toward the center of the st, as if time itself had reversed.


    As the entire territory copsed, so too did the blue-furred monsters and superior yin pearls.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar returned to the valley in the world outside.


    The majority of the Shangqing disciplesy wounded and moaning in pain.


    At the epicenter of the st, the Shangqing hierarch and the two supreme elders were likewise covered in blood. Theyy stunned on the ground. If not for their swords'' protection, they would have suffered far worse injuries.


    One of the elders spat out a mouthful of blood. "Hierarch, did you manage to subdue the Enlightenment Grounds at the end?"


    The Shangqing hierarch likewise spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Even so, he was exuberant. He clutched a blue orb in hand and smiled. "I''ve done it!"


    "Wonderful!" The Shangqing disciples eyed the orb in excitement as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he continued to observe from afar. "How strange. Shouldn''t the naturalws from these Enlightenment Grounds take the form of a fragment of white jade? Why is it a blue orb now?"


    From the cultivators'' faces, there was clearly nothing strange about this¡ªso what was peculiar had to be his spiritual moon''s method of subduing these Enlightenment Grounds.

 Chapter 810: The Failed Framing

    <h4>Chapter 810: The Failed Framing</h4>


    The Shangqing hierarch held a blue orb in his hand, the core of the Enlightenment Grounds that he and his subordinates had just subdued. Despite their injuries, the Shangqing disciples could hardly contain their excitement.


    "Allow me to keep this core safe for the moment. I¡ª" the Shangqing hierarch began.


    Suddenly, a group of ck-robed figures descended from the heavens and rushed directly toward the Shangqing hierarch.


    "Who''s there?!" Startled, everyone looked up, their faces filled with rm.


    However, the figure in the lead was incredibly fast. He closed in on the Shangqing hierarch in an instant.


    The Shangqing hierarch swung his sword hastily, only to be blocked by a punch.


    "A Boundless Immortal?" he eximed.


    The other cloaked figures joined in the fray. They radiated faint golden auras as they attacked the Shangqing disciples with swords and fists.


    "Die!" the two supreme Shangqing elders thundered. They struck at the intruders, all of whom were sent flying. Though the two elders were badly wounded, they were both Boundless Immortals with overwhelming strength.


    The bulk of the Shangqing disciples, however, suffered against the ck-cloaked attackers. Already injured and drained from the continuous fighting, they were overwhelmed andy groaning in pain.


    "Help us, Elders!" they cried out desperately.


    The elders were forced to defend the disciples and couldn''t focus on pursuing the intruders.


    If the Shangqing hierarch were at full strength, he wouldn''t have feared this Boundless Immortal''s sudden assault¡ªbut in his weakened state, he struggled to hold the intruder back. The blue orb was sent flying.


    Another cloaked figure seized the opportunity and grabbed it.


    "Show yourselves! Return me the core of these Enlightenment Grounds!" the Shangqing hierarch roared.


    "Retreat!" the ck-cloaked cultivator holding the orb shouted.


    "Understood!" the other ck-robed cultivators replied.


    The ck-cloaked cultivators began to withdraw.


    The Shangqing hierarch shouted in fury, "Xiao Nanfeng, I know you''re responsible for this! Do you intend to make enemies of the Shangqing holynd?!"


    His voice echoed throughout the valley.


    "Could they be Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates?" the Shangqing disciples eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar gaped. Was someone trying to frame him? Could it be the Shangqing hierarch himself, or someone else entirely?


    If these people managed to get away, he''d be saddled with the me. He wasn''t afraid of confrontation, but he had no interest in being falsely used.


    His gaze turned icy as a red moon rose into the air. A red cloud formed overhead, causing a length of red rope to descend. It wrapped tightly around the neck of the ck-cloaked figure holding onto the orb and squeezed until he grimaced in pain.


    "Who''s there?" the ck-cloaked figures shouted in rm.


    "It''s me. Who are you to impersonate me?!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    With a wave of his hand, countless lengths of red rope descended from the red cloud and tangled around the ck-robed cultivators, binding them within moments.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s sudden arrival caused everyone to be taken aback.


    The Shangqing disciples rubbed their eyes. Were these cultivators not Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates?


    "Shangqing Hierarch, have I wronged you in any way? To think you would frame me in this manner! If I hadn''t passed by coincidentally, you would have stained my reputation," Xiao Nanfeng eximed coldly.


    The Shangqing hierarch froze. Could he have been mistaken? No, something wasn''t right¡ªthis could still be a ruse.


    "Insolence!" the ck-robed Boundless Immortal thundered hoarsely.


    He shot toward the blue orb, which had been caught by a length of red rope, and shattered the rope in an instant. He caught the orb and turned toward Xiao Nanfeng in the sh of an eye.


    Xiao Nanfeng invoked spiritual harmony and vanished from sight, causing the intruder''s attack to miss.


    He reappeared by the side of the two elders. "Boundless Immortals of Shangqing, take on that Boundless Immortal intruder. I''ll handle everyone else."


    "Understood!" the two supreme elders replied.


    The Shangqing hierarch hesitated, but ultimately joined the others and attacked the ck-cloaked Boundless Immortal.


    Meanwhile, the remaining ck-cloaked cultivators struggled to free themselves from the red ropes. As the ropes snapped, more would descend in a relentless wave, eventually trapping them all once again.


    "You''ll regret this, Xiao Nanfeng!" the ck-cloaked Boundless Immortal shouted again.


    He shook off the three Boundless Immortals from Shangqing and shot straight for Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon, as if intending to crush it. Just then, the red moon flickered and transformed into the red rope cursed king.


    "It can transform?!" the Boundless Immortal eximed.


    His palm struck the red rope cursed king''s body, flinging it back into the red cloud.


    He then attempted to cause the cloud to dissipate, but the three Boundless Immortals of Shangqing had caught up to him by then. They struck him simultaneously, sending him flying, his body battered and bloodied.


    "Retreat!" he shouted.


    He escaped alongside a few of his Golden Immortal subordinates. The rest were left behind, bound by Xiao Nanfeng''s red rope.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing the bound figures to fallt o the ground in a series of deafening crashes that left enormous craters and clouds of dust in their wake.


    The injured Shangqing disciples stepped forward and quickly subdued the captives. Xiao Nanfeng loosened the ropes, allowing them to survive rather than die of strangtion¡ªhe needed them interrogated, after all. Furthermore, his red moon had suffered a significant blow, and he didn''t want to waste more spiritual power on them.


    The red rope returned to the red cloud overhead, which slowly faded away. The red rope king transformed back into a red moon and returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    The battle had concluded with no one satisfied. The core of the Enlightenment Grounds that the Shangqing hierarch and his group had worked so hard to obtain¡ªstolen.


    The two supreme elders, having learned of Xiao Nanfeng''s identity, stepped forward and bowed. "Thank you for your assistance, Eastern Aspect Xiao."


    "It''s not a problem at all. I only stepped in to stop the hierarch from falsely using me."


    The Shangqing hierarch grimaced. Though he hadn''t yet confirmed the ck-robed cultivators'' identities, Xiao Nanfeng had taken down a Golden Immortal and a group of True Immortals. He would hardly sacrifice so many of his own subordinates on mere guesswork on the Shangqing hierarch''s part, which meant he really had been wrong.


    Upon recalling how Xiao Nanfeng had tricked him, however, the Shangqing hierarch still felt a strong dislike for him.


    "My apologies, Eastern Aspect Xiao. These imposters deliberately impersonated you," the Shangqing hierarch said through gritted teeth.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    The Shangqing hierarch really was good ating up with nonsense.


    "It matters not. I simply hope you won''t be tricked so easily again in the future, Hierarch."


    The Shangqing hierarch took a deep breath, but said nothing more. He was in the wrong, after all.


    "Let''s interrogate them and see who dared to attack us," one of the supreme elders suggested.


    Afar, the Shangqing disciples had restrained the ck-robed cultivators and removed their hoods to reveal a series of unfamiliar faces.


    "Interrogate them separately using our Shangqing arts. We''ll get the truth out of them one way or another."


    The captured cultivators gritted their teeth. One cried out, "Explode!"


    "Be careful!"


    The man exploded in a fiery st that engulfed the nearby disciples, as did the other captives, all of whom were reduced to a ball of mes that tore across the valley and dyed the sky red.


    The massive explosion caught the Shangqing disciples off guard and resulted in considerable casualties among their number.


    "They were willing to die..." Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Such ruthlessness, even among True Immortals!"


    "And a Golden Immortal, too. Just who could they have been...?"


    "Don''t die, Senior Brother!"


    The surviving disciples cried out, some for help, others in horror.


    "Just who would have such devoted followers?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    Themotion quickly drew the attention of numerous powerful figures. As they took in the devastation, expressions of shock rippled through the crowd.


    Shortly thereafter, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang arrived herself.


    "What happened here?" she eximed.


    The Shangqing hierarch treated his disciples'' wounds before exining the situation to her. The Immortal Emperor of Daliang visibly quivered in anger. She vowed to investigate the situation thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice, then personally escorted the wounded Shangqing hierarch away for treatment.


    Xiao Nanfeng took his leave, though he couldn''t shake the nagging feeling that the Immortal Emperor of Daliang was somehow implicated in the ambush.


    The following day, the Shangqing hierarch convened a meeting with his disciples to discuss the recent events that had unfolded.


    "Hierarch, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang has been investigating these ck-cloaked attackers, but to no avail," one Shangqing disciple reported.


    The Shangqing hierarch narrowed his eyes. "Of course she wouldn''t find anything¡ªshe''s responsible. How dare she!"


    "What? The Immortal Emperor of Daliang was responsible?" the disciple eximed.


    "She has ears and eyes outside each of the Enlightenment Grounds. She would have learned of our ambush near-immediately, so why did she arrive sote?"


    "Why would she do that, Hierarch?" the Shangqing disciple eximed.


    "It all makes sense now. She was trying to incite me against Xiao Nanfeng during the banquet as well. She wants me and him to exhaust each other and allow her to reap the benefits."


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    "But why?"


    "We''ll find out soon enough once I take her down," the Shangqing hierarch replied. "If she''s going to be ruthless, then I won''t show her any mercy either."

 Chapter 811: A Sudden Change of Plans

    <h4>Chapter 811: A Sudden Change of ns</h4>


    Within the pce in Daliang''s capital, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang reclined within a man''s arms as she recounted the events of the day.


    "Xiao Nanfeng truly is cunning. He tricked the Shangqing hierarch into a sixteen-pearl territory while he took on a fourteen-pearl one. I was intending to frame Xiao Nanfeng when his avatar showed up and ruined my n!" she shouted in frustration.


    "To think so much would have happened in thesest few days while I was gone... But you''ve made a critical mistake," the man said. He frowned and sighed.


    "Where?"


    "With the number of spies you have monitoring these Enlightenment Grounds, you should have been among the first to notice that something was wrong. Your arrival waste enough to be suspicious."


    The Immortal Emperor sighed in frustration. "I was injured and needed some time to recuperate so no one would notice my condition. Do you mean that I exposed myself?"


    The man nodded. "The Shangqing hierarch must have guessed that you were involved."


    "With his temperament, he''ll surely seek revenge. What should I do now?"


    The man thought for a moment. "Perhaps this isn''t so bad after all."


    "Indeed?" The Immortal Empress of Daliang seemed perplexed.


    "Have you forgotten why we invited the Shangqing hierarch into the green knoll hidden realm in the first ce?"


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang''s eyes lit up. "Do you think he''ll act rashly?"


    "Indeed. That''s why you can''t stay in the capital any longer."


    "Very well. I''ll listen to your advice."


    Elsewhere, in a certain hall, the Shangqing hierarch told the two supreme elders, "Please return to the holynd without me."


    The elders exchanged nces with each other. "Hierarch, we don''t all have to leave together."


    The Shangqing hierarch shook his head. "We''ve lost too many disciples, and I have to handle their passing appropriately. I need to remain here to investigate just who the attackers were. Please, return and arrange their funerals on my behalf."


    "But..." One of the elders still seemed reluctant.


    "I don''t intend to head into any of the Enlightenment Grounds in the short term. We''ll have timeter. I''ll remain here and await the two of you."


    The elders ultimately nodded. "Very well. We''ll leave things here to you, then, Hierarch."


    The hierarch nodded and watched as the two elders departed.


    Once they were out of sight, he turned. His eyes red with fierce resolve as he headed toward one of the Enlightenment Grounds.


    This time, he didn''t bring anyone with him. He ventured into the territory alone, and was quickly detected and surrounded by countless blue-furred lifeforms and several superior yin pearls. Rather than engage inbat, however, he evaded them until he encountered the master of the territory, a woman in blue.


    She was just about to attack when the Shangqing hierarch called out, "Hold it!" I want to meet with your overseer!"


    The woman raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"


    "Tell him that I''m the Shangqing hierarch, and I have something he wants. I''m here to propose a deal."


    Two dayster, on Xiao Nanfeng''s floating ind, he and Lan Yaoguang were ncing at an invitation together.


    "The Shangqing hierarch is inviting us to a banquet in order to apologize for his misunderstanding the other day..." Lan Yaoguang murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "We won''t attend."


    "Oh?"


    "The Shangqing hierarch lost a significant fraction of his forces as a result of what happened. He failed to scheme against us once; he''s certainly going to try to do so again."


    "Didn''t you say that the Immortal Emperor of Daliang was likely the culprit?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s right. It was very unusual for her to show up sote, and there were no Boundless Immortals present near any of the strong Enlightenment Grounds in the region. She may very well have been the culprit behind the assault."


    "Perhaps the Shangqing hierarch figured it out too. What if he wants to work with us to get back at her?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "He must hate the Immortal Emperor, but he also despises me. He''s far more likely to try to manipte us than to seek an alliance."


    "What do we do, then?"


    "We''re leaving the capital immediately."


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know how the Shangqing hierarch intends to scheme against us, but I''m certain it''ll be very dangerous. Our best option now is to go into hiding and vanish from everyone''s sight. That will prevent him from ensnaring us. We''ll leave immediately."


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    In a certain hall, the Shangqing hierarch asked one of his disciples, "Has Xiao Nanfeng arrived?"


    "He said he was attending a banquet at the imperial pce and sent a letter of apology over. He and his entourage are currently shopping for gifts in the capital," a Shangqing disciple reported.


    "He doesn''t intend to show me any respect, does he?" the Shangqing hierarch said coldly.


    "It really is rather arrogant of him," the Shangqing disciple agreed.


    "No matter. As long as he''s still in the capital, all will be well." The Shangqing hierarchughed coldly.


    Just then, shouts echoed from the outside.


    "A snowstorm¡ªand such a heavy one, at that."


    "Is the defensive formation around the capital broken? How could we have been hit by such a massive snowfall otherwise?"


    "This isn''t right¡ªthe snow''s getting heavier and heavier!"


    All sorts of voices rang out in rm, prompting the Shangqing hierarch to emerge with his disciples. They looked around and saw snow nketing the entire city, growing denser and covering everything in sight.


    "What''s happening? Why isn''t the city''s defensive formation holding the snow back?" a Shangqing disciple eximed.


    Everyone looked toward the outskirts of the capital, where an even fiercer blizzard was raging. The entirendscape was snow-white.


    Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Buildings across the city crumbled. From beneath the earth came the anguished roar of a superior draconic vein.


    "Something strange is going on. Quick, send for the Immortal Emperor!"


    "I want to leave! Let me out of the city!"


    People began to flee. Some rushed toward the pce, while others tried to escape from the city.


    Those who did so, however, quickly turned back in horror.


    "What''s the matter? Why are you back here?"


    "Everything outside has changed..."


    "We''re¡ªWe''re all trapped in the Enlightenment Grounds!"


    More and more people screamed in terror as chaos overtook the city.


    Just moments earlier, Xiao Nanfeng and his entourage had barely left the capital when a sudden wave of ice and snow surged forth.


    "Run!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, fleeing with the rest of his group.


    They had to fly an incredible distance before the ominous feeling finally faded.


    Only then did they look back to see an enormous barrier covering up Daliang''s capital. A massive snowstorm raged within. Swirling eyes and a grinning mouth up in the clouds cast a menacing re at them.


    "Are those¡ªEnlightenment Grounds? One forming around the entire capital?"


    "It''s going to swallow up the capital whole..."


    The group was stunned.


    "Your Majesty, something''s wrong. We''ve never seen Enlightenment Grounds of this size or scale before," Tu Feng said, astonished.


    Just then, another cultivator shouted, "Look over there! What''s that?"


    Everyone turned to see a small Enlightenment Grounds approaching.


    "A four-pearl territory," Lan Yaoguang murmured.


    It shot into the massive Enlightenment Grounds around the capital and merged seamlessly with it like two bubbles colliding.


    "They merged!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The Enlightenment Grounds are growing..."


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    "There''s one more over there!"


    "And one here!"


    More Enlightenment Grounds followed suit, one after another.


    The colossal Enlightenment Grounds swelled.


    "Your Majesty, my avatar was near an Immortal city. The Enlightenment Grounds there suddenly vanished."


    "Your Majesty, my avatar was near another Immortal city. The Enlightenment Grounds near it suddenly vanished as well. We''re trying to search for it right now."


    "Your Majesty..."


    More scouts came forward with simr reports about what was happening all around the empire.


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng''s group came to a chilling realization. Tu Feng finally spoke up. "If we''re right, every Enlightenment Grounds in the vicinity of Daliang has converged into this huge territory..."


    "Isn''t it difficult to merge these Enlightenment Grounds together? How could they do so now so seamlessly?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "Does the Shangqing holynd have any records on the matter?"


    "I don''t know," Lan Yaoguang replied, shaking her head. Her eyes suddenly widened. "Do you think the Shangqing hierarch was responsible?"


    "It''s possible. After all, the Enlightenment Grounds here were created millennia ago by the Shangqing Grandmaster. The Shangqing hierarch might know a little about their secrets."


    "What do we do now?"


    "Nothing. We''ll leave this ce immediately and get as far away as we can. Let''s hurry!"

 Chapter 812: A Bidirectional Rush

    <h4>Chapter 812: A Bidirectional Rush</h4>


    The enormous Enlightenment Grounds continued to expand as Xiao Nanfeng and his group turned and fled.


    They had no desire to get caught up in the chaos, but weren''t able to avoid the disaster in time. A massive pir of white light suddenly appeared in their path, trapping them.


    "We''ve been discovered," Xiao Nanfeng shouted. "Hurry up and break out of the pir!"


    Everyone struck at the pir with all their might.


    Theirbined punches struck the inner wall of the pir, which trembled and cracked slightly. However, the pir began to move at incredible speed, dragging them into the giant Enlightenment Grounds.


    With a thud, they found themselves pulled into a snowfield.


    Everyone frowned as they gathered around each other.


    Before them was a vast, snowy-white in with heavy snow falling from the skies. Not far off, they could see Daliang''s capital. Screams were emanating from within as close to a million blue-furred monsters rampaged and ughtered everything in their path.


    Daliang''s capital had be a frozen hell.


    Above the city floated hundreds of superior yin pearls¡ªalmost two hundred in all, making everyone shudder in fear.


    They had been able to deal with a few pearls simultaneously with rtively ease. Against a dozen, things quickly became challenging. Two hundred was a nightmare, one they couldn''t possibly take down.


    The worst was yet toe. The stronger these Enlightenment Grounds, the more powerful their masters. A fourteen-pearl territory''s master had required Xiao Nanfeng and Tu Feng''sbined efforts to suppress. What kind of terrifying power would a two-hundred-pearl-territory''s master possess?


    At that moment, the crowd suddenly seemed to sense a powerful presence above them. The cultivators looked up to see a figure veiled in white mist atop a blue lotus tform, with a towering pir of white light behind him stretching into the heavens. He was clearly the master of this territory. His aura was overwhelming; his pressure weighed down on everyone.


    Standing beside him was a man in blue¡ªnone other than the Shangqing hierarch himself.


    The Shangqing hierarch was scanning his surroundings as he searched for something. When he noticed Xiao Nanfeng and his group being dragged into the Enlightenment Grounds, his face lit up.


    "Overseer, you are truly incredible. Even Xiao Nanfeng and his group couldn''t escape your clutches, haha!"


    Seated atop the lotus tform, the overseer replied, "Shangqing hierarch, this blue praying mat of yours is a true treasure."


    The Shangqing hierarch smiled. "I hope you''re not getting any funny ideas, Overseer. The praying mat can allow you to fuse all of Shangqing''s Enlightenment Grounds simultaneously, but with a flick of my hand, I can break them all up again."


    The veiled overseer replied, "Don''t worry. I''ll fulfill my end of the bargain."


    "In that case, allow me to thank you in advance. Before that, though, can you help me restrain that group of people over there?" The Shangqing hierarch pointed at Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates.


    Everyone tensed and braced themselves for a fight. Xiao Nanfeng immediately summoned the physical body of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and possessed it.


    However, the overseer''s power was overwhelming. All he said was, "As you wish."


    Then, he raised his hand and pointed a finger at Xiao Nanfeng''s group. A beam of white light shot toward them.


    "Run!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    However, the beam was far too quick. It engulfed all the cultivators within moments.


    Suddenly, they found themselves trapped within individual blocks of ice. The ice was incredibly cold and extraordinarily tough, and even Xiao Nanfeng and Tu Feng couldn''t break out.


    It was clearly a form of containment.


    "Break!" Tu Feng shouted.


    He struggled with all his strength, but the ice held firm.


    High above, the Shangqing hierarch floated close to them and sneered. "Don''t bother struggling. Even without tapping into the strength of these Enlightenment Grounds, the overseer might as well be a god in this domain. If he uses the Enlightenment Grounds'' power, he''ll be unmatched. He could easily take down a group of early-stage Boundless Immortals within moments."


    "Shangqing Hierarch, were you responsible for this? For merging all the Enlightenment Grounds together? Is this the power that that blue praying mat possesses?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    The Shangqing hierarch smirked. "Indeed. It''s a priceless artifact left behind by the Shangqing Grandmaster with the ability to do so. I''m helping the overseer of these Enlightenment Grounds. What are you going to do about it?"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Do you know what you''re doing? I''m a Cardinal Aspect of the Imperial Court. Are you prepared to bear its wrath?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Hah! The wrath of the Imperial Court? Do you really think I''m afraid of you? After today, unless Yu Fuli himself shows up, there''s no one I''ll have to fear. Besides, Yu Fuli is making preparations for the cmity of the era. He can''t leave his domain¡ªthere''s no reason for him to remain cooped up in the Sieve of Heaven for years otherwise."


    "You''re being overconfident," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "Oh? Try and summon him right now if you don''t believe me!" the Shangqing hierarch mocked.


    "Did you cooperate with this so-called overseer and fuse all these Enlightenment Grounds together just to deal with me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He was deliberately trying to buy time while he tried out a variety of means to escape.


    The Shangqing hierarch scoffed. "Don''t tter yourself. You''re hardly worth it."


    "Let me guess. Did this overseer promise to hand you all the blue-furred lifeforms in these Enlightenment Grounds?"


    "Just a lucky guess," the Shangqing hierarch replied.


    "It''s hardly a difficult conclusion toe to. It seems that the Shangqing hierarch the world knows is nothing but a facade, after all. People think that you''re a noble man who protects the world from evil, that you care for themon people¡ªbut I see that you''re willing to sacrifice the people of a whole city, a divine empire''s capital at that, for personal gain. You didn''t even hesitate to abandon your own disciples. How much more ruthless can you get?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Meanwhile, he finally managed to loosen the ice around him slightly. Though he was still sealed, it wouldn''t be difficult for him to escape whenever he wanted with his candleme powers.


    The Shangqing hierarch didn''t notice anything unusual. He sneered. "I don''t care what you think of me. You''re nothing more than a dead man walking at this point."


    "Once my other body gets you, you won''t be able to withstand my fury," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Ha! Try it if you dare," the Shangqing hierarch called back dismissively.


    He turned to the frozen Lan Yaoguang as his face grew dour. "Yaoguang, haven''t I treated you well enough? How could you give up on being a holy maiden of Yaoguang just to cavort with this man? Have you even considered my feelings?"


    Lan Yaoguang nced at the Shangqing hierarch coolly. "I don''t recall being so familiar with you that I have to take your thoughts into ount."


    "I was intending to make you my wife!" the Shangqing hierarch eximed.


    "I''m not interested¡ªand don''t pretend to be infatuated with me. You''re simply after my Cursebane Sword," Lan Yaoguang replied coolly.


    The Shangqing hierarch''s eyes red with anger. "It''s clear that Xiao Nanfeng has corrupted you. Very well. You''ll still be my wife¡ªyou have no other choice, after all."


    "Indeed? And how do you intend to change my mind?"


    "Why else would I have agreed to help the Immortal Emperor of Daliang?"


    He held up a crimson talisman covered in pink runes, which pulsed with sinister energy.


    "What''s that?" Lan Yaoguang suddenly had a bad feeling.


    "This is something the Immortal Emperor of Daliang awarded me in exchange for the core of a ten-pearl Enlightenment Grounds. Unfortunately, she grew suspicious of my ns and fled, so I wasn''t able to reim the core. Even so, this talisman of love is good enough," the Shangqing hierarch said with a twisted smile.


    "A talisman of love? It bears a curse of infatuation?!" Lan Yaoguang nched.


    She had heard of such curses before. They were powerful spells that targeted a cultivator''s heart and twisted a person''s nature. Two people who otherwise had no interest in each other could quickly develop an ardent attraction as a result.


    "Precisely. I prepared this for you. Resist all you like, Yaoguang¡ªit''ll only make you even more submissive afterwards, haha!"


    "Get away from me!" Lan Yaoguang shrieked.


    "Scream if you want, the more the better!"


    He activated the talisman, which burst into pink mes as it formed a pink orb of energy. The orb split into two. The Shangqing hierarch absorbed one half, wrapping him in a pink aura.


    "Now, all I have to do is ce this other orb within your body. I was nning to do this with your mother, but you''ll be a fine recement. Don''t worry. I''ll treat you well in the future." The Shangqing hierarch roared inughter.


    He shot the other half of the pink orb straight toward Lan Yaoguang.


    "No!" Lan Yaoguang cried out in terror.


    Just then, red light shed. Xiao Nanfeng had activated his candleme powers to free himself and appear before Lan Yaoguang.


    "Let''s go!" he shouted.


    With the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, he struck at the ice imprisoning Lan Yaoguang. To his dismay, however, the ice didn''t budge.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? How did you manage to escape?!" the Shangqing hierarch eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. If he couldn''t free Lan Yaoguang, she would be struck by the curse!


    In desperation, he threw himself in front of her.


    The pink orb sshed against the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, engulfing it in a pink glow as the curse of infatuation took effect.


    Everyone froze, stunned by the sudden turn of events. This curse was between two people, the Shangqing hierarch and... the Immortal Emperor of Dahan?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy?!" the Shangqing hierarch shrieked.


    A shiver ran down his spine. The curse of infatuation was mutual, after all. What was he supposed to do now?!

 Chapter 813: The Shangqing Hierarchs Death

    <h4>Chapter 813: The Shangqing Hierarch''s Death</h4>


    The curse of infatuation truly was formidable. The moment it struck the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, Xiao Nanfeng leapt out via its mindscape to avoid the curse.


    At the same time, far in the distance, in one of Yongding''s prisons, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s sealed soul suddenly shuddered and entered a dream realm.


    Also present in the dream realm was the Shangqing hierarch.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan and the Shangqing hierarch eyed each other, feeling a strange and inexplicable attraction, and began to engage in... intimacy.


    Within the massive Enlightenment Grounds, Xiao Nanfeng had just escaped from the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body and was whirling back toward the Shangqing hierarch, only to find him motionless.


    Xiao Nanfeng had experienced a simr curse of infatuation. Although he had managed to avoid its influence, he understood that one often remained entranced until after the dream of infatuation wasplete. He was certain that the Shangqing hierarch was currently deep in a fantasy of passionate love.


    As he nced at the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, which was encased in a pink glow, he immediately realized what had happened.


    Just imagining what was happening in the dream realm made him shudder. His scalp tingled as he dispelled those thoughts.


    He didn''t attack the Shangqing hierarch while he was defenseless, because the former''s Deathbane sword was circling him and guarding him while he was incapacitated.


    Instead, he reached toward the ice block holding Lan Yaoguang captive and activated his candleme powers again. In a sh of red light, he pulled her free.


    The moment Lan Yaoguang emerged, she threw herself into his arms. "Nanfeng, are you alright? Did you..."


    "Don''t worry. I''m fine. Right now, it seems that the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and the Shangqing hierarch are under the curse''s influence."


    Lan Yaoguang froze. She gaped in shock, her eyes opening wide.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t waste time on further exnations. With his candleme powers, he freed all his subordinates from their icy prisons.


    After learning about what had happened to the Shangqing hierarch, they couldn''t help but grimace.


    For the moment, however, there was still a pressing threat: the overseer floating above them. An eerie silence had already overtaken Daliang''s capital.


    "Your Majesty, are we going to attack the Shangqing hierarch?" Tu Feng asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned serious. He knew the overseer was the greatest remaining threat.


    He gestured for Tu Feng to wait as he called out to the figure in the sky, "Overseer, we mean no offense. Would you allow us to leave?"


    The overseer hadn''t interfered while Xiao Nanfeng was freeing everyone from their icy prisons, making him think that there might be room for negotiation. That was why he had refrained from provoking him.


    High in the air, the overseer remained silent on his blue praying mat.


    Meanwhile, within Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape, his spiritual moon wrote out, "He''s trying to attune to the blue praying mat, and doesn''t want to be disturbed."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The overseer of this territory and the Shangqing hierarch weren''t allies, and the former was currently scheming to take control of the blue praying mat.


    For the time being, Xiao Nanfeng had no way of leaving the giant Enlightenment Grounds. Even with his candleme powers, he hadn''t been able to escape from the domain.


    Was waiting the only option?


    Afar, countless blue-furred monsters and superior yin pearls had ughtered all the people of Daliang''s capital, but none of them flew over toward Xiao Nanfeng''s group, as if wary of provoking it.


    Xiao Nanfeng made up his mind. "Kill the Shangqing hierarch, now!"


    He had concluded that the overseer was merely stalling for time in order to attune to the Shangqing hierarch''s blue praying mat.


    However, he clearly had no intention of freeing Xiao Nanfeng''s group. Rather than wait and allow themselves to be subdued once the overseer was free to act, it would be better to disrupt his n immediately.


    "Attack!" Everyone charged toward the Shangqing hierarch.


    "Bastard!" the overseer cursed.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng suspected, the overseer had merely been stalling for time. Upon realizing that his n had been disrupted, he quickly raised his hand in a sweeping motion.


    With a whoosh, the Shangqing hierarch was quickly pulled into the air as Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates'' attacks missed.


    Airborne, the Shangqing hierarch suddenly jolted and woke up.


    "Overseer, why didn''t you wake me up sooner?!" the Shangqing hierarch demanded.


    He was fuming at what had happened¡ªthough when he looked toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, aplicated emotion flickered in his eyes.


    "I just saved you. Watch your tone," the overseer replied coolly.


    "Watch my tone? I was caught off guard because you didn''t even do your part to seal them!" the Shangqing hierarch thundered.


    "How dare you speak to me in such a tone," the overseer replied.


    "I''ll speak to you however I want! If you won''t take care of things, then we''re done here. I''ll split up this entire territory," the Shangqing hierarch threatened.


    The overseer suddenly extended a white-gloved hand and caught the Shangqing hierarch by the neck.


    The Deathbane Sword attempted to defend its master, only to be struck by the overseer''s other fist. The sword was sent flying.


    "What do you think you''re doing?!" the Shangqing hierarch eximed.


    He had been rendered immobile. The overseer''s strength was quickly flooding into his body and leaving him powerless.


    "No one threatens me. You''re far from qualified to do so," the overseer dered.


    "Are you insane? If not for this blue praying mat, how could you hope to wield such strength? I''ve already woven a failsafe into the praying mat. If I die, it''ll immediately separate your Enlightenment Grounds!" the Shangqing hierarch roared.


    "Try it, then." The overseer sneered.


    The Shangqing hierarch attempted to activate his failsafe, but to no avail.


    "Impossible! Even if you''ve suppressed much of my strength, I should be able to activate it. Why isn''t it working?!"


    "Because I''ve already erased the failsafe, you fool," the overseer replied.


    "Impossible. This is the Shangqing Grandmaster''s relic¡ªyou wouldn''t be able to attune to it!"


    "Not in the short term, but it''s easy enough to deal with the failsafe that you ced on it, at the very least." The overseer smirked.


    "No! We had a deal. You can''t betray me!"


    Fear finally overtook the Shangqing hierarch. He had no leverage against the overseer any longer. His life rested solely in the overseer''s hands.


    "Do you know what I hate most? Being threatened by others." The overseer cackled.


    "I understand. I was wrong¡ªplease, spare me! Consider the blue praying mat a gift," the Shangqing hierarch hastily pleaded.


    "It''s already mine. Do you intend to offer me one of my own possessions as a gift?" The overseer scoffed.


    The Shangqing hierarch paled. "Name your price. Anything I have¡ªas long as you release me."


    The overseer nodded thoughtfully. "As it so happens, I do need something of yours. It''s good to know you''re willing to give it to me."


    "Name it, anything!" The Shangqing hierarch sighed in relief.


    "I want your body."


    "What?!"


    The overseer''s other hand sent a beam of white light straight into the Shangqing hierarch''s mindscape.


    "No!" the Shangqing hierarch cried out.


    A boom rang out from his mindscape as his body went limp.


    "You''re not very strong, are you?" The overseer smirked.


    He sent a droplet of his own blood into the Shangqing hierarch''s mindscape, whose body suddenly shuddered. Before long, it stilled as his eyes closed.


    A blood-red glow emanated from his body. After a few moments, he opened his eyes again. A powerful aura surged outward with a hum, filling the surrounding area.


    The overseer released his grip. The Shangqing hierarch looked like a different person entirely.


    "Did the Shangqing hierarch die? Has he been possessed?"


    "No¡ªit looks more like he''s been transformed into the overseer''s avatar."


    "What frightening strength..."


    The cultivators gulped. Their scalps prickled as they took in the full extent of the overseer''s strength.


    The Shangqing hierarch had been nothing more than an ant in front of the overseer.


    With a hum, the Deathbane Sword flew away from the Shangqing hierarch and toward Lan Yaoguang, who grasped it in her hand.


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    "Has the Deathbane Sword recognized you as its new master, too?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "No¡ªit can simply identify Shangqing disciples. It sensed that the Shangqing hierarch has perished, so it''s returning to the hands of the closest Shangqing disciple," Lan Yaoguang exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He took a deep breath. "Overseer, I bear you no grudge nor malice. My appearance forced the Shangqing hierarch to cooperate with you, ultimately leading to your acquisition of the blue praying mat. We''re happy to offer suitable terms in exchange for our freedom."


    With the Shangqing hierarch dead, Xiao Nanfeng held out hope for a deal with the overseer.


    However, he only chuckled coldly. "No grudge nor malice? Don''t you remember me?"


    "Hm?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Did this overseer, whoever he was, know him?


    "Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "You caused the death of one of my avatars not too long ago. Don''t you remember?" The overseer smirked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened as he nched. "You''re¡ªthat saint?!"


    Not long ago, while capturing the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Xiao Nanfeng had encountered a saint''s avatar. When that avatar had self-destructed, it had caught Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang''s souls in a pir of green light, casting them into a spatial rift. That was how Xiao Nanfeng had ended up in these Enlightenment Grounds to begin with.


    "Now you remember, I see," the overseer replied darkly. "I am Saint Lun Hui."

 Chapter 814: The Shocked Saint

    <h4>Chapter 814: The Shocked Saint</h4>


    "Saint Lun Hui?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    As the Eastern Aspect, he possessed an extensive informationwork that gave him detailed knowledge on world affairs atrge. He naturally knew of Saint Lun Hui by name, but he rarely revealed himself and there was little information about him. However, anyone who qualified for sainthood clearly had unimaginable power.


    His subordinates were equally dismayed. The overseer possessed incredible strength; the fact that he was also a saint would make him even stronger. No wonder he had been able to trap all of them with nothing more than a beam of white light.


    Lan Yaoguang tightened her grip on Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, her face anxious and worried.


    "Don''t worry. With me around, everything will be fine." Xiao Nanfeng patted her hand in reassurance.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    For some reason, whenever Xiao Nanfeng was by her side, it was very easy for her to calm down.


    Saint Lun Hui chuckled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really think you should beforting my woman when you''re about to die? You truly have no sense of self-preservation."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned cold. "What nonsense are you talking about?"


    "I said, Lan Yaoguang is my woman. Didn''t you hear me?" Saint Lun Hui scoffed.


    "Saint Lun Hui, I have no interest in you!" Lan Yaoguang thundered.


    Saint Lun Huiughed. "You should consider yourself lucky that you''ve caught my eye. Unlike the Shangqing hierarch, who only cared about your Cursebane Sword, I''m interested in your beauty. Any woman I''m interested in will be mine."


    "Dream on!"


    "Now, now. There''s no need for such anger. The women I take a liking to often react the same way at first¡ªbut now they all kneel at my feet and call me Master. I don''t need something as inferior as a talisman of infatuation to train you to obey my whims." Saint Lun Hui''s eyes gleamed lecherously.


    Lan Yaoguang''s anger intensified. As she opened her mouth to hurl another insult, Xiao Nanfeng pulled her back. "Yaoguang, don''t waste your time with him. He''s about to die, after all."


    Lan Yaoguang nced at Xiao Nanfeng in confusion.


    Saint Lun Hui narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng, have you gone crazy?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression remained calm. "If you hadn''t revealed yourself to be a saint, I wouldn''t have known how to deal with you¡ªbut now that you''ve exposed your identity, you''re the one who''s going to suffer."


    Saint Lun Huiughed. "Ha! As if you''d be able to handle me more easily because of my identity! You must be going insane."


    He waved a hand. Nearly two hundred superior yin pearls and an endless horde of blue-furred monsters rushed toward them. The sheer numbers alone made Lan Yaoguang panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, didn''t seem fearful at all. "Did you forget what happened to Saint Chi Hai?"


    "What?" Saint Lun Hui suddenly paused as he thought of something.


    All the superior yin pearls and blue-furred monsters halted where they stood.


    "The Heavenly Emperor himself killed Saint Chi Hai. Do you really think you ought to be unting your powers or attempting to kill a Cardinal Aspect of the Imperial Court? He might tolerate other troublemakers, but he won''t show any mercy to saints."


    "You¡ª" Saint Lun Hui''s face turned dark.


    "My other body''s reporting to the Heavenly Emperor within the Sieve of Heaven right this moment. He''s likely aware that you''ve trapped me here. Go on¡ªattack me! Let''s see if the Heavenly Emperor will overlook this." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Saint Lun Hui: ...


    All he feared in this world was Yu Fuli. All the other saints felt the same way¡ªthey recalled how Saint Chi Hai had perished. What if Yu Fuli really did attack him? He would be done for!


    "If I''m not mistaken, the Heavenly Emperor''s gaze should be able to see through any location in the world, as long as he''s focusing. I''ve reported where I am to the Heavenly Emperor. Perhaps he''s already eyeing us now."


    Saint Lun Hui shuddered.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the sky and bowed. "I greet the Heavenly Emperor! I was trapped by a saint and had no choice but to summon you, Your Majesty. Please forgive me for the disturbance."


    Saint Lun Hui grimaced. He suddenly felt as if he had attracted Yu Fuli''s attention.


    "Are you trying to trick me, Xiao Nanfeng?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Why don''t you attack me and see?"


    Saint Lun Hui: ...


    Though they were within a set of Enlightenment Grounds, Saint Lun Hui was certain that Yu Fuli was strong enough to prate its defenses.


    He deeply regretted his actions. What was the point of revealing his identity? Wouldn''t it have been far better to take down Xiao Nanfeng in the guise of the overseer of this territory?


    "Saint Lun Hui, what are you waiting for? Go on, attack!" Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The situation was bizarre. Xiao Nanfeng, by far the weaker party, was repeatedly taunting the saint and leaving him at a loss.


    "This is only one of my avatars! My main body isn''t here. I hardly believe Yu Fuli will leave the Sieve of Heaven and take me on himself just to kill one of my avatars," Saint Lun Hui replied scornfully.


    "Why bother arguing about it with me? Tell the Heavenly Emperor himself! I can''t make that call. What''s the point of trying to convince yourself otherwise, anyway? Do you think that''ll change the Heavenly Emperor''s stance?"


    Saint Lun Hui: ...


    Saint Lun Hui was seething with rage. He wanted nothing more than to tear Xiao Nanfeng apart, but he didn''t dare strike. What if the Heavenly Emperor really were watching?


    But he didn''t want to let Xiao Nanfeng go just like that, either. He was a saint! How could he be thwarted by any old threat?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, this is a personal grudge between the two of us. It doesn''t concern your status. You killed my avatar, so I intend to take revenge on you," Saint Lun Hui replied coldly.


    "And yet I''m the Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court. That''s something fundamental to my identity, and attacking me would be akin to insulting the Imperial Court itself. That would be a challenge to the Heavenly Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    Saint Lun Hui: ...


    Could Xiao Nanfeng be any more infuriating?


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    "Then how do you intend to settle this?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    He was left with no choice. If he were to strike at Xiao Nanfeng, he would be an aggressor challenging the Imperial Court openly and forcing the Heavenly Emperor''s hand. However, if Xiao Nanfeng offered a reasonable solution, resolving the situation on his own ord, then the Heavenly Emperor would have far less justification to intervene.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes gleamed. He could tell that Saint Lun Hui had entirely bought into the idea that the Heavenly Emperor was watching.


    Xiao Nanfeng now had the initiative. He desperately wanted Saint Lun Hui to free him, but he could hardly say so outright.


    Given the circumstances, making such a request would be akin to revealing his bluff. The saint might even attack him outright.


    Instead, he needed to project his authority and augment the saint''s fear.


    "Ha! Convenient for you, isn''t it? You don''t dare make a move on me, so you expect me to provide a solution on your behalf."


    "Are you too afraid to propose a solution?" the saint demanded.


    "Afraid? Hardly. If you want to resolve our grudge, then let''s fight."


    "Oh?" Saint Lun Hui narrowed his eyes.


    He was still probing Xiao Nanfeng. If Xiao Nanfeng intended to run, that would imply that he was bluffing. Xiao Nanfeng, however, seemed to be doing nothing of the sort. Yu Fuli must really have been watching if Xiao Nanfeng dared to act this boldly.


    "How do you propose we fight?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Nanfeng produced a ck coffin.


    "These Enlightenment Grounds are your territory, so I have no intention of fighting here. We can fight inside this ck coffin. You''ve been there before. We''ll duel inside, relying solely on our abilities¡ªa fight to the death."


    "The ck coffin hidden realm?" Saint Lun Hui frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng pushed open the coffin lid, revealing an opening within.


    Saint Lun Hui cast a beam of white light into the coffin as he scanned its interior. After a moment, the beam of white light shot back out.


    "Well? I''m hardly so underhanded as to set up traps or ambushes," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.


    Saint Lun Hui narrowed his eyes at Xiao Nanfeng. He was, indeed, telling the truth.


    "Just you and me?" he asked.


    "I''ll be using the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s physical body and taking a subordinate with me, while you''ll use your two avatars. Everyone else will wait outside the coffin," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" Saint Lun Hui raised an eyebrow.


    "If you''re unwilling to do so, that''s fine. Attack me however you want. Summon the power of these Enlightenment Grounds and do your worst!" Xiao Nanfeng smiled coldly.


    Saint Lun Hui frowned. He didn''t want to fight any longer, but he couldn''t bear to walk away just like that. He was a saint, after all.


    "Very well. You chose this yourself. I''m sure Yu Fuli wouldn''t be inclined to protect you from your own recklessness," Saint Lun Hui said coldly.


    Lan Yaoguang and the others were still trapped in the Enlightenment Grounds, which was filled with arge number of his subordinates. He wasn''t afraid that Xiao Nanfeng would pull a trick.


    Xiao Nanfeng sped Lan Yaoguang''s hand. "Don''t worry. Wait for me toe out."


    Lan Yaoguang could sense Xiao Nanfeng stuffing something into her hand. She took it firmly and nodded as she pretended that nothing was amiss. "I''ll be waiting."


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng take possession of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body once more. He turned to Saint Lun Hui. "Let''s go, then!"


    Xiao Nanfeng and Tu Feng stepped into the ck coffin hidden realm.


    Saint Lun Hui''s two avatars frowned. He couldn''t help but feel an odd sense of foreboding, but he could hardly turn back at this point. He grunted and entered the ck coffin as well.


    The moment his two avatars entered the ck coffin hidden realm, the ck coffin''s lid mmed shut.

 Chapter 815: Taking on Saint Lun Hui

    <h4>Chapter 815: Taking on Saint Lun Hui</h4>


    The ck coffin lid mmed shut once more as Lan Yaoguang opened her palm to reveal Xiao Nanfeng''s miniaturized spiritual moon.


    "Why did Nanfeng leave his spiritual moon with me?" she murmured, frowning.


    The spiritual moon was a versatile and powerful source of spiritual power; once it was separated from his soul, recovering any spiritual power that he expended would be much more difficult. Saint Lun Hui would be a tremendously tough opponent for Xiao Nanfeng, so why would he leave his spiritual moon behind?


    Just then, several shadows suddenly swept toward her from a distance. A new group of ck-robed figures rushed into the Enlightenment Grounds toward Lan Yaoguang.


    The superior yin pearls and blue-furred monsters in the vicinity didn''t interfere. Perhaps theirmands only extended as far as keeping watch over Lan Yaoguang and the others, nothing more.


    One of the ck-robed figures approached Lan Yaoguang and slowly lowered his hood to reveal his face.


    "Ah, how did you get here?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had entered the Enlightenment Grounds.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar smiled at Lan Yaoguang. He turned to the spiritual moon with a smile. "Senior, I''ve lured Saint Lun Hui away. Can you seize control of these Enlightenment Grounds?"


    He then nced at the blue praying mat in the air.


    The blue praying mat, seemingly essential for keeping these Enlightenment Grounds fused together, remained suspended high in the air. Saint Lun Hui had specially encased it in a column of white light in order to ensure that no other could interfere with it.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon wrote out, "I can, but no one is to disturb me during this process. You''ll need to protect me."


    "Understood! Leave it to us. Please seize control of these Enlightenment Grounds as quickly as possible. My other body likely won''t be able to hold back Saint Lun Hui for long."


    "Very well."


    Lan Yaoguang looked around, astonished. "Nanfeng, do you mean we''ll have to take down all these superior yin pearls and blue-furred monsters?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar nodded as he held his spiritual moon in hand. "That''s right. You''ll be in charge of the blue-furred monsters while everyone else guards you. I''ll deal with the superior yin pearls."


    Lan Yaoguang gulped as she nced at the million blue-furred monsters, but nodded resolutely. "Very well!"


    Xiao Nanfeng reimed the ck coffin, provoking roars from the gathered superior yin pearls. They seemed to be warning Xiao Nanfeng to put the coffin back and not to y any tricks.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, summoning a blue moon in the air. It began to release eerie, arresting death chants.


    Under the influence of the death chants, all the superior yin pearls and blue-furred monsters froze for a moment. Then, they roared in unison and charged toward the gathered cultivators.


    "Strike!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Attack!" all his subordinates echoed.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself led the charge toward the pir of white light. He had summoned not only his blue moon, but also his red one as well. Countless red clouds spread across the sky, from which lengths of red rope rained down. They shot toward the superior yin pearls.


    The pearls attempted to resist the red rope''s attacks as they shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Some were immediately sent flying by Xiao Nanfeng''s powerful fist technique.


    He broke through the pearls'' defense and reached the pir of white light, setting his silver spiritual moon down beside it. It glowed with radiance before merging with the pir.


    A tremor ran through the pir of white light, as if something within it had been deeply disturbed.


    Sensing that something was wrong, the gathered superior yin pearls roared and surged forward.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng invoked his deific domain.


    His red and blue spiritual moons formed a yin-yang domain centered around his body.


    All superior yin pearls that entered the field felt two powerful forces striking their cores and exploding from within, dealing them immense pain. They reeled back and were forced to back out of the domain.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual domain was particrly sinister. Two prizing forces seemed to coexist in harmony, but once a third party entered, the two forces would simultaneously target that third party and cause a tremendous explosion.


    The superior yin pearls staggered from the internal explosions, from the blue moon''s death chants, and the red moon''s red ropes.


    Their strength diminished under this relentless assault, and Xiao Nanfeng''s punches hit with unstoppable force.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Dozens of superior yin pearls were sent flying simultaneously.


    The superior yin pearls could tell that Xiao Nanfeng was only about as strong as they were. In fact, some of the superior yin pearls were stronger than Xiao Nanfeng himself, but thebination of his spiritual domain and two moons'' special powers prevented them from drawing on their full strength.


    His Hegemon''s Fist was an incredible offensive technique, one that had struck down all the superior yin pearls at least once.


    Frustrated, they surged toward his red and blue spiritual moons in the air.


    "Dream on!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    He invoked spiritual harmony and vanished in a sh. The next moment, he reappeared in front of his spiritual moons and invoked Hegemon''s Fist again.


    The superior yin pearls were sent flying once more.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Again and again, Xiao Nanfeng held the superior yin pearls at bay.


    There were only about two hundred superior yin pearls. If Xiao Nanfeng focused entirely on defense, he was naturally able to hold them back.


    Meanwhile, Lan Yaoguang charged into the horde of blue-furred monsters. Her Cursebane Sword cleaved through them easily. As ate-stage True Yin cultivator, she was nearly invincible against them.


    So what if there were a million such lifeforms? She was able to kill them with ease. Not only that, even the Deathbane Sword was flying up to her.


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    It seemed to have recognized her as its master. It floated by her side and guarded her as she unleashed havoc on the blue-furred monsters.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates likewise guarded her as she went on a rampage.


    After Xiao Nanfeng repeatedly sent the superior yin pearls flying, some of them turned to Lan Yaoguang instead. They shot over, prompting a few of the ck-robed cultivators to rush protectively before Lan Yaoguang.


    The fighting grew more and more intense.


    Back in the ck coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng and Tu Feng were facing off against Saint Lun Hui''s two bodies.


    "You deal with the Shangqing hierarch. I''ll take on the overseer!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Understood!"


    The four cultivators made their moves. Tu Feng and the Shangqing hierarch were about on par in terms of strength, and it would be difficult for one of them to emerge as the victor in the short term.


    On the other hand, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan seemed quite a bit weaker than Saint Lun Hui''s overseer avatar.


    He was sent flying from an attack.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you chose this for yourself. Are you really that weak? I''ll be able to finish you off without even drawing on my power as a Deific Yin cultivator!" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "It''s too soon to tell who''s going to win. Don''t get toofortable just yet."


    He was well aware of how strong a Deific Yin cultivator was. A Boundless Immortal was at the peak of physical cultivation; a Deific Yin cultivator was its analogue for spiritual cultivation. He was currently ate-stage True Yin cultivator, just a single step away from the realm of Deific Yin, but that step might as well have been the difference between heaven and earth.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body was no match for Saint Lun Hui''s in strength. He could have made up for some of the difference with Hegemon''s Fist, but he chose not to do so. He was deliberately holding back and hoping to stall for time; he didn''t want Saint Lun Hui to attack him at full strength just yet.


    "Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan tried to punch Saint Lun Hui, only to be sent flying immediately.


    "Fool! You''re no match for me," Saint Lunhui eximed,ughing.


    He harbored a deep-seated grudge for Xiao Nanfeng and reveled in each blow. Xiao Nanfeng had humiliated him before; now, he intended to savor his revenge.


    What Saint Lun Hui didn''t realize was that Xiao Nanfeng was simply trying to reduce his consumption of spiritual power to its minimum. As for injuries his physical body sustained, he hardly cared. It wasn''t his body, after all.


    Whether or not the Immortal Emperor of Dahan suffered a beating was immaterial to him.


    "Saint Lun Hui, I''ll kill you!" Xiao Nanfeng roared with feigned fury.


    "Ha! As if you have the strength to do so. I thought you were stronger than this, but it looks like you''re all show and no substance, haha!"


    He sent the Immortal Emperor of Dahan flying again and again, grinning as he did so.


    After what seemed like an interminable period of time, he suddenly nched. "What? What happened to my Enlightenment Grounds? What have you done?!"


    He had sensed something amiss and was starting to panic.


    "Are you running out of energy? Come on, attack me!" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    A dreadful suspicion crossed Saint Lun Hui''s mind. "Have you been stalling for time all along? You''re trying to do something back in the Enlightenment Grounds, aren''t you? Die!"


    His fury palpable, Saint Lun Hui summoned a white moon from behind his head, which bathed the world in pure-white light.


    An endless sea of white filled the realm. Snowkes descended from the sky as Xiao Nanfeng found himself trapped in a vast, snowy in.


    "This is the deific domain of a Deific Yin cultivator..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!" Saint Lun Hui roared.


    With a wave of his hand, beams of white light shot toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body and encased it in a massive block of ice.


    "This technique again? It won''t be sufficient to trap me," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    With his candleme powers, he teleported out of the ice and headed straight for Saint Lun Hui.


    Saint Lun Hui red and waved his hand. Countless beams of white light shot toward him again.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurled an endless series of punches at the beams of white light. The sh unleashed a devastating blizzard that sent a snowstorm roaring through the battlefield.

 Chapter 816: Taking Down Lun Hui Again

    <h4>Chapter 816: Taking Down Lun Hui Again</h4>


    Within the massive Enlightenment Grounds, Lan Yaoguang''s fight was by far the easiest. She quickly struck down even the million blue-furred monsters. Each swing of her sword sent radiant light and waves of sword energy sting across the grounds, leaving nothing but devastation in her wake.


    The Cursebane Sword continuously replenished her spiritual power and insight, allowing her essentially unlimited consumption of spiritual power even as she deepened herprehension of the Shangqing Yin Body.


    As she eliminated the final blue-furred monster, a brilliant blue light began to emanate from her. The intensity increased until it reached a certain threshold, at which point Lan Yaoguang sat down cross-legged in meditation.


    At that moment, some superior yin pearls hurled themselves toward her with a roar. Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates shot forward to defend her.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng himself was locked inbat with the majority of the superior yin pearls. He couldn''t break away. The space around them shook violently, as did the pir of white light to his side.


    The superior yin pearls froze. As one, they realized that something was wrong. They hurled themselves toward Xiao Nanfeng in a frenzy, only to be held back.


    Finally, in desperation, they shot toward Lan Yaoguang.


    Just then, however, an incredible storm of energy erupted from Lan Yaoguang''s body and engulfed everything around her.


    All the superior yin pearls who had been charging toward her were swept up by the storm and transported into a vast world of blue. Within that space illuminated by a radiant blue moon, the superior yin pearls were forced into a hasty retreat. The source of all this energy was Lan Yaoguang, who had now risen to her feet.


    "She''s a Deific Yin cultivator now!"


    "Has Holy Maiden Yaoguang broken through? What a frightening aura!"


    "Wonderful!"


    The ck-robed cultivators cheered for her as she advanced toward Xiao Nanfeng. A superior yin pearl charged toward her, but she easily split it apart with her Cursebane Sword.


    The two halves of the pearl tried to reattach to each other, but blue energy from the cut prevented them from doing so. They cried out in agony as they realized what she had done.


    The other superior yin pearls reared back in terror as Lan Yaoguang swung her Cursebane Sword once more.


    Another dozen or so superior yin pearls were split apart, causing the remainder to flee.


    Xiao Nanfeng was only able to wound them without dealingsting damage; Lan Yaoguang, on the other hand, could cripple them instantly. When had she be so strong?


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Lan Yaoguang demanded.


    Swift as lightning, she chased them down, slicing through nearly twenty superior yin pearls one after another. The remainder fled even more quickly than before.


    "Don''t chase them, Yaoguang! I need your help in the ck coffin hidden realm!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Lan Yaoguang''s eyes widened as she nodded urgently. She recalled her blue moon and rushed into the ck coffin hidden realm, which Xiao Nanfeng had opened up for her.


    Within the ck coffin hidden realm, in a snowy-white world the Immortal Emperor of Dahan continued to fight against Saint Lun Hui. Though the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s Hegemon''s Fist was particrly powerful, he was ultimately far weaker than Saint Lun Hui himself. His injuries worsened, and, without his spiritual moon to replenish his spiritual power, his soul grew weaker and weaker.


    "And here I thought you were supposed to be strong. Is this the limit of your strength?" Saint Lun Hui scoffed.


    With a powerful blow, he sent the Immortal Emperor of Dahan flying once again. This blow shattered his bones and pulverized his organs, crippling his ability to fight.


    Saint Lun Hui, however, wasn''t finished. Waves of freezing white light enveloped Xiao Nanfeng''s body, encasing him in ice. The frost creeped toward his mindscape, as if intending to freeze his very soul as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to activate his candleme powers and flee from the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body.


    "You''ve finally shown yourself. Now, Xiao Nanfeng, it''s time for you to die!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    He sent a deadly blow toward Xiao Nanfeng, one that seemed poised to kill him outright.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He had no choice but to retrieve his other ck coffin, intending to hide within the other ck coffin hidden realm.


    "It''s toote for you!" Saint Lun Hui cried out. His palm shot toward Xiao Nanfeng rapidly.


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    Just then, a sh of blue light intercepted the blow with a massive explosion.


    "Who dares interfere?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    As the dust cleared, a brilliant blue moon showed itself and vied for dominance against Saint Lun Hui''s radiant moon. The snowy-white domain was quickly dyed blue; the blue glow spread to cover half the world.


    Where the two colors met, they collided in sparks of crackling light.


    "Lan Yaoguang? You''re a Deific Yin cultivator now? Impossible!" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    Lan Yaoguang had positioned herself protectively before Xiao Nanfeng.


    She nced at the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s badly injured body, then the weakened Xiao Nanfeng, with a surge of distress.


    "Nanfeng, leave the rest to me," she said firmly.


    Xiao Nanfeng had consumed the majority of his spiritual power, but he didn''t feel particrly bad. He nodded. "Be careful."


    Lan Yaoguang returned the nod. She drew her de and shattered the ice encasing the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body.


    "Foolish girl! So what if you''re a Deific Yin cultivator now? You''re still no match for me!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    He shot over toward Lan Yaoguang, who retaliated in kind.


    The ensuing collision filled the space with a storm.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng had quickly retrieved the battered body of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, confident that the battle was now in their favor.


    Though Lan Yaoguang had only just be a Deific Yin cultivator, she had inherited countless techniques from the Shangqing Grandmaster, which would give her the edge she needed in order to fight on equal footing with Saint Lun Hui.


    "My connection to the Enlightenment Grounds is slipping¡ªno, this can''t be! I have to leave immediately. Die!" Saint Lun Hui roared.


    "You won''t be leaving. I''ll kill you!" Lan Yaoguang retorted. She shot over with the Cursebane Sword.


    The fighting between the two cultivators intensified.


    Meanwhile, the Enlightenment Grounds outside stopped shaking. Silence reigned over the area.


    The superior yin pearls who had been fighting against Xiao Nanfeng all froze as they sensed the change. They turned to his spiritual moon, which had emerged from the pir of white light. The pir of light bathed it in incredible strength, causing it to erge and release blinding white light.


    "It worked!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    The superior yin pearls immediately turned to flee, only for Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon to release a ferocious roar in the form of a huge soundwave. The soundwave rippled outward, freezing each of the superior yin pearls solid, all two hundred of them.


    Then, it opened its mouth wide and absorbed them all in one powerful gulp.


    As it crunched down on the pearls, everyone trembled in shock. Just how strong would Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon be now?


    Then, the moon wrote out, "I''ve imed these Enlightenment Grounds for myself, and can now draw on its strength. Release the cultivators from the ck coffin. I''ll handle the rest."


    "Very well!"


    Xiao Nanfeng opened up the coffin once more as a group of figures tumbled out: Tu Feng, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, Lan Yaoguang, and the saint''s two avatars.


    They all bore fresh wounds from the recent struggle.


    "No¡ªmy Enlightenment Grounds! Return them to me!" the saint''s two avatars shrieked.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon roared again as sound waves edged with frost shot toward them.


    "No!"


    The saint''s two avatars turned to run, but it was toote. They were immediately frozen in ce.


    The cultivators watched in awe. Just how powerful had Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon gotten?


    With a sh, the moon teleported toward the two avatars.


    "No! Don''te over!" Saint Lun Hui shrieked.


    The moon ignored him and swallowed both avatars simultaneously. The sound of crunching bone filled the air, causing everyone to shudder.


    "Wasn''t that a Boundless Immortal and a Deific Yin cultivator? But neither could do anything against the spiritual moon..." Tu Feng eximed in shock.


    Xiao Nanfeng was overwhelmed as well. His spiritual moon had grown far beyond his control.


    After a while, the moon finished digesting its meal and turned back to Xiao Nanfeng. It wrote out, "Worry not. My strength derives from these Enlightenment Grounds. Once they''re absorbed, I won''t be your equal."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. Had his spiritual moon been aware of his reservations?


    Even so, the spiritual moon didn''t seem upset. Its body shrank as it transformed the Enlightenment Grounds into a jade fragment in blue and white.


    "These Enlightenment Grounds were formed with the blue praying mat''s help. When you absorb its power, do not interact with the blue praying mat, lest it undo your efforts," the spiritual moon warned.


    It tossed the fragment of jade to Xiao Nanfeng, then darted into his mindscape to digest its gains.


    A flush of relief and embarrassment colored Xiao Nanfeng''s face as he bowed. "Thank you, Senior."

 Chapter 817: The Shangqing Grandmaster

    <h4>Chapter 817: The Shangqing Grandmaster</h4>


    The fragment of white jade from the fourteen-pearl Enlightenment Grounds had allowed Xiao Nanfeng to break through to the peak of the True Immortal realm. What would this fragment of blue and white jade from the nearly two-hundred-pearl Enlightenment Grounds allow for?


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body handed several possessions over to his avatar as he sat cross-legged in meditation. He confirmed that his body was functioning at peak condition before switching to his physical body and swallowing the fragment of blue and white jade.


    His ten golden crows shattered the jade fragment, causing a surge of energy to spread throughout his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s body shuddered as a storm of mes burst out from him, forcing everyone to step back.


    Standing beside Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, Lan Yaoguang asked, "Nanfeng, will you be able to break through to the Golden Immortal realm this way?"


    "It should be enough, I think," Xiao Nanfeng replied, though he frowned uncertainly.


    Lan Yaoguang was silent for a moment before she burst outughing. "All this energy, and you''re uncertain if you can break through?"


    "I''m focusing on my foundations, after all," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    "Very well. But was it really necessary to fight with Saint Lun Hui? The Heavenly Emperor was watching, wasn''t he? What if something had gone wrong?" Lan Yaoguang asked, worried.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "The Heavenly Emperor wasn''t watching at all.


    "What?" Lan Yaoguang was stunned.


    "I never reported this matter to him."


    "But why not?"


    "He''s already protected me several times. I feel deep gratitude toward him. He''s currently preparing for war and can''t afford to be distracted. How can I trouble him now?"


    "But¡ª"


    "I know what you''re concerned about, but everything was within my expectations. I did end up scaring Saint Lun Hui, didn''t I?" Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    "What if it hadn''t worked?"


    "I stationed someone outside the Heavenly Pce as backup. If things were under control, he would know not to disturb the Heavenly Emperor; otherwise, he would report the matter at once," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded in relief. "Very well."


    "So, how does it feel to be a Deific Yin cultivator?"


    "I can sense that there''s a lot of power newly essible to me, but I''ve only just breached the realm and can''t use my cultivation to its full potential just yet. ording to the Shangqing Yin Body, a Deific Yin cultivator can create a world, but I''m far from that level."


    "Take your time. Just look at how far you''vee in such a short time," Xiao Nanfeng encouraged.


    Thinking back to her past cultivation from even just a week ago, Lan Yaoguang was astonished. The rate at which she had advanced was unbelievable.


    "Being by your side is wonderful," she murmured affectionately.


    "I could say the same to you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Suddenly, Lan Yaoguang''s expression stiffened. Her eyes grew wide and alert.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I see someone on the blue praying mat. What a fearsome aura he has..."


    "The blue praying mat?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    He looked up to see the blue praying mat hovering in the air, even though the pir of white light had already vanished. ording to his spiritual moon, the blue praying mat was responsible for stabilizing the Enlightenment Grounds, and couldn''t be disturbed for the time being.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    To Xiao Nanfeng''s sight, there was no one on top of the blue praying mat. He couldn''t even sense the terrifying aura tha Lan Yaoguang did.


    "Are you certain?"


    Lan Yaoguang turned to him in shock. "Can''t you see him?"


    Indeed, Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t see anything, but he had a suspicion as to just who the invisible figure was. In the past, there had once been an invisible figure seated on the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat, visible only to Zhang Lingjun.


    Since the blue praying mat was the Shangqing Grandmaster''s relic, that invisible person must be none other than the Shangqing Grandmaster.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Had all three Qing Grandmasters revived?


    "This must be the Shangqing Grandmaster," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    She suddenly recalled Xiao Nanfeng mentioning how a man no other could see had been present on the Taiqing Grandmaster''s praying mat.


    "Lan Yaoguang, holy maiden of Shangqing, greets the grandmaster," Lan Yaoguang began, bowing deeply toward the blue praying mat.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court and Sect Master of Taiqing, greets the Shangqing Grandmaster," Xiao Nanfeng said, bowing deeply as well.


    The ck-robed subordinates around them were confused, but all did as Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang had done.


    Even so, the blue praying mat remained motionless.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Lan Yaoguang. "The grandmaster nced at all of us, then closed his eyes and resumed meditation."


    "Did he say anything?"


    "No," Lan Yaoguang replied, shaking her head.


    "Can you lend me your Deathbane Sword?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar summoned his blue spiritual moon and held the Deathbane Sword that Lan Yaoguang passed him, but to no avail.


    He still couldn''t see anyone atop the blue praying mat.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled weakly, resigned. "Alright, then. I can''t see him even with the Deathbane Sword.


    He passed it back to Lan Yaoguang.


    "I already have the Cursebane Sword. Why don''t I lend you the Deathbane Sword to use for the time being?"


    "I''m not sure that''s a good idea. The four Shangqing swords belonged to the Shangqing Grandmaster. He must have left them behind for a reason. I might have been able to use it in the past, but now that the Shangqing Grandmaster has returned, he must have his own ns for the four swords," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded helplessly.


    "Why don''t you try to attune to the Deathbane Sword? As the Shangqing Grandmaster''s own disciple, you may be able to wield two of his swords simultaneously."


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    She sat cross-legged in meditation as she held the Deathbane Sword in her hand. With a hum, it began to glow in resplendent blue.


    "It seems like I really can do so!" Lan Yaoguang eximed in surprise.


    "That''s great. Focus on refining it, then. The rest of us will guard you."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded and began to focus on meditation.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng turned to the blue praying mat, then retrieved the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s physical body that his main body had passed him.


    The body was badly wounded, almost to the point of being crippled.


    "Tu Feng, please heal the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s physical body," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He could do so himself, but he would have been far slower with it than Tu Feng.


    "Understood!" Tu Feng began treatment immediately.


    Arge cloud of white fog surrounded him and the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body as he used a secret technique.


    The cultivators waited for a day and a night before the Enlightenment Grounds began to shake and rumble. Xiao Nanefng realized that it was finally breaking down as its energy flowed into his main body''s physical form.


    Over a day earlier, in a hidden forest in a mountainous region, a group of cultivators was in a standoff.


    Two cultivators were in the lead: the Immortal Emperor of Daliang and a ck-robed man to her side with a hulking physique. His arm was around the Immortal Emperor''s waist as they observed the giant Enlightenment Grounds before them.


    "The Shangqing hierarch has finally activated his treasured artifact, I see. I was starting to think it was a legend," the man remarked with a chuckle.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang frowned. "Husband, all the Enlightenment Grounds associated with Shangqing have fused together here except for the ones we''ve already imed. There''s far too much energy in this territory now. Will we really still be able to secure that Shangqing artifact?"


    The man considered it for a moment. "The Shangqing hierarch probably only coborated with the overseer to take down Xiao Nanfeng. Once they kill him, they''ll turn on each other. That''ll be our chance to strike."


    "Understood," the Immortal Emperor of Daliang replied.


    "It''s a shame that we lost Daliang''s capital and much of its fortune," the man murmured.


    They nced up at the sky to see that half the fortune in the sea overhead had dissipated. This was Daliang''s capital, after all; its destruction would naturally have serious consequences.


    "Don''t worry, Husband. As long as we''re alive, we can easily rebuild. All that fortune will soon be ours again."


    The man nodded. Upset though they were, they seemed to care not a whit for the countless citizens of the capital who had perished in the assault.


    They waited patiently for over a day as the giant Enlightenment Grounds suddenly began to rumble.


    "Why does it look so unstable? It''s almost as if it''s about to copse!" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang eximed.


    "Could the Shangqing hierarch and the overseer have turned on each other? Is he trying to use that artifact to forcibly separate the Enlightenment Grounds...?" the man eximed as well.


    "You mean they''ve started fighting?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang asked eagerly.


    "I don''t know, but let''s send someone in to check," the man said.


    The Immortal Emperor turned to one of her subordinates. "You, head inside with your avatar and have a look!"


    "Understood!" the subordinate replied.


    He shot straight into the Enlightenment Grounds, only to find it shaking violently as if it were about to copse. The moment he entered the Enlightenment Grounds, however, Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates sensed him.


    "There''s a spy over there," one of the ck-robed cultivators called out. "Go take him down!"


    A group of ck-robed cultivators shot over as the subordinate reported what he had seen to the Immortal Emperor of Daliang.


    "What? The Shangqing hierarch is gone, as is the overseer? Xiao Nanfeng''s deep in meditation, and Lan Yaoguang''s attuning to the Deathbane Sword..." the Immortal Emperor of Daliang repeated in shock.


    "Yes, Your Majesty! There''s a blue praying mat floating high in the air. Xiao Nanfeng is surrounded by mes, and he seems to be absorbing the Enlightenment Grounds." The next moment, his eyes widened. "They''ve caught my avatar!"


    "So both the Shangqing hierarch and overseer have perished? Xiao Nanfeng managed to take advantage of the situation!" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang eximed.


    She turned toward her husband, who frowned. They were both equally perplexed by this unexpected turn of events.

 Chapter 818: The Shangqing Grandmasters Might

    <h4>Chapter 818: The Shangqing Grandmaster''s Might</h4>


    Within the Enlightenment Grounds, after Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates captured the spy, they quickly enveloped him in fog and began to interrogate him.


    Even so, the man refused to reveal any information. When they attempted to use a secret technique to interrogate him, he even chose to self-destruct.


    "Your Majesty, the spy was like those cultivators who ambushed the Shangqing hierarch the other day," You Jiu reported to Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "That means the Immortal Emperor of Daliang is likely waiting outside for us."


    The others exchanged nces and nodded. They shared the same suspicion.


    "Let''s prepare ourselves for an impending attack, then," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Meanwhile, fragments of the Enlightenment Grounds continued to pour into Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, whose cultivation had reached a threshold.


    An endless stream of energy infused with naturalw surged into the ten golden crows'' bodies, into his Imposing Avatar of Ri, into his Jade Emperor''s Frame, and even into a mysterious part of his body.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t sense where it was going, either, only that there was a lone golden drop of fluid there.


    Xiao Nanfeng had obtained that golden drop of fluid from the world away as he underwent his True Immortal tribtion.


    It seemed to have vanished until now, but for some reason, he was suddenly able to sense it clearly.


    It had absorbed some special articles of naturalw from the energy of the Enlightenment Grounds, and was now starting to vibrate. It gave off ripples of aura that seemed connected to some arcanew. Xiao Nanfeng, fixated on the golden drop and its ripples, was drawn into a profound trance.


    Suddenly, a massive storm of me burst forth from his body.


    The ten golden crows let out a resonant cry as they dove into the mes. The silhouette of a massive golden Buddha appeared, along with the faint glow of human bones.


    Everyone was astonished by his sudden surge of power.


    "The first stage of the Golden Immortal realm," Lan Yaoguang murmured. By then, she had awoken from meditation. She smiled in joy at Xiao Nanfeng''s sess.


    "That''s right. I''m finally a Golden Immortal now," Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar said.


    The entire Enlightenment Grounds had been reduced to fragments and absorbed by Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, leaving only dense white fog in the vicinity.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Although the mes around Xiao Nanfeng''s main body were slowly subsiding, he remained deep in meditation.


    "Hasn''t your main body already broken through? Why hasn''t it awakened yet?" Lan Yaoguang wondered.


    "I''m gaining insight into something very important," Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar replied.


    His main body was focusing on the golden drop and the mysterious ce in which it resided. If he could capture the nature of that ce, it would surely yield great rewards. As such, his main body remained deep in meditation.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded, though she still seemed puzzled. Suddenly, she nced upward as her expression shifted abruptly. "Nanfeng, the Shangqing Grandmaster is standing up and ncing over at your main body."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar quickly turned to the blue praying mat, which remained suspended in mid-air. It appeared empty to Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes, which sent a shiver down his spine.


    He looked toward Lan Yaoguang, who nodded in worry. The Shangqing Grandmaster was still observing his main body.


    A surge of anxiety filled him. He wasn''t certain just what secrets that golden drop of liquid contained, but he knew he didn''t want to be scrutinized by others.


    He hurriedly produced a ck coffin, walked up to his main body, and sealed his main body within. Several ck-robed subordinates followed him inside to guard him.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know whether the Shangqing Grandmaster would be upset, but even if he was, Xiao Nanfeng had no intention of exposing his secrets to such powerful beings.


    Just then, a powerful gust of wind blew through the area and dispersed the remaining fog in the vicinity.


    A formidable aura descended; everyone immediately became alert. A group of ck-robed cultivators hovered in the air, led by none other than the Immortal Emperor of Daliang.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang narrowed her eyes as she considered the situation down below. "How lucky you are, Xiao Nanfeng. It appears both the overseer and the Shangqing hierarch perished, leaving you with the spoils."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Luck? Who''s to say I didn''t defeat them myself?"


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang pursed her lips. She had imed it was because of luck to see how Xiao Nanfeng would respond. If he confirmed it, she would have attacked without hesitation. On the other hand, if he were truly responsible, she would have to act with caution.


    She took a deep breath and asked, "Xiao Nanfeng, does this blue praying mat belong to you?"


    Her group had spotted the blue praying mat upon entering the territory and were certain that it was the artifact they sought. However, they remained cautious upon noticing that Xiao Nanfeng''s group hadn''t taken it.


    "If you want it, go ahead. There''s no need to ask me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang narrowed her eyes again as she gestured to one of her subordinates to approach the blue praying mat.


    The man extended his hand. Just as he was about to touch the blue praying mat, his body froze. Suddenly, it exploded into a shower of blood and gore as he died on the spot.


    Everyone was shocked by the sight.


    "How could this be?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang eximed.


    She instinctively turned to one of the ck-robed cultivators behind her as she awaited guidance.


    Xiao Nanfeng noted her strange behavior. It seemed as if that ck-robed cultivator was the true leader of that group.


    "Immortal Emperor, could you introduce your ck-robedpanion to me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He suddenly sensed that this man wasn''t someone to be taken lightly.


    The Immortal Emperor of Daliang tensed as she realized that she had inadvertently exposed a secret. The ck-robed man stepped forward, no longer hiding behind his consort.


    "You have sharp eyes, Xiao Nanfeng," he said coldly.


    The Immortal Emperor fell silent as she stood deferentially behind him.


    "And who might you be, sir?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The ck-robed man didn''t answer. He stared intently at the blue praying mat and Xiao Nanfeng''s group.


    Eventually, he said, "You must all be scared of this blue praying mat. It''s more dangerous than your entire group, then?"


    "What are you trying to get at?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "Capture Lan Yaoguang and interrogate Xiao Nanfeng," the ck-robed man ordered.


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    They shot toward the cultivators, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang fastest among them. Not only did she want to interrogate him about the blue praying mat, she had to take Lan Yaoguang as hostage in exchange for her son, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan. Of course, if she could catch Xiao Nanfeng as well,that would be even better.


    "Your Majesty, I''vergely restored the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body," Tu Feng said from within the fog.


    He passed it over to Xiao Nanfeng, then shot into the air toward the Immortal Emperor of Daliang.


    Their fists collided with a tremendous sh, sending shockwaves in all directions.


    The remaining ck-robed figures took on Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates in a fierce battle, but their leader remained still. He merely hovered in the air.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar possessed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, causing the Immortal Emperor of Daliang to narrow her eyes. She nced at the ck-robed man from afar.


    "Come at me, then!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, bracing himself.


    Considering the ck-robed man''s influence over the Immortal Emperor of Daliang, Xiao Nanfeng was certain that he was someone extraordinarily dangerous.


    The ck-robed man paused for a moment. He eyed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, not wanting to risk harming it¡ªit was his own son''s body, after all.


    He took a deep breath and sent a stream of frigid energy toward the blue praying mat instead.


    He had given up on dealing with Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang. What was most pressing now was figuring out just how dangerous the blue praying mat was.


    The ck-robed man was particrly careful. All that frost manifested in the form of a snow giant hundreds of meters tall. Shockingly, it gave off the aura of a Boundless Immortal.


    The snow giant reached out for the blue praying mat, only for Lan Yaoguang''s Cursebane Sword to tremble as it flew into the air. It appeared beside the blue praying mat in a streak of light.


    "The Shangqing Grandmaster''s wielding the Cursbane Sword¡ªand now he''s swinging it!" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    The ck-robed man, realizing that something was wrong, hastily urged the snow giant forward.


    The Cursebane Sword, quick as lightning, shed downward with blinding blue light that illuminated the heavens. For a moment, everyone present was blinded.


    "Impossible!" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang shouted.


    As she collided with Tu Feng, her vision returned. She was struck by a scene of pure horror.


    The snow giant looked to be frozen in ce. The next moment, a vertical line bisecting its body gleamed, and the two halves of its body fell to the ground.


    High in the air, a cloud of fog was likewise bisected. The ck-robed cultivator in the lead, who stood between the cloud of fog and the snow giant, was suddenly rendered motionless as well.


    "Husband!" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang screamed.


    Dread filled her body. She had a horrible premonition as she rushed toward him.


    His hood had split down the middle, as did his robes.


    All the cultivators felt their skin crawl. They realized that the man had been cleaved by an impossibly swift strike, one so fast that his body was only btedly registering the damage.


    The hood peeled away to reveal a man''s face, split with a line of blood down the middle.


    "No!" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang cried out.


    Though the man''s body was split in two, he didn''t seem to be dead quite yet. He muttered weakly, "Run!"

 Chapter 819: Han Gucheng

    <h4>Chapter 819: Han Gucheng</h4>


    "Run!" After saying these words, the man suddenly copsed. His body fell to the ground as blood gushed from a deep vertical cut on his body.


    "Husband!" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang screamed.


    She caught him as he fell and shouted, "Retreat!"


    Without any hesitation, she flew off, carrying the man with her. Her ck-robed subordinates did the same.


    Xiao Nanfeng motioned for his followers not to pursue. Given the dense fog within the green knoll hidden realm, there might still be hidden dangers up ahead.


    Then, he frowned. "That man seemed familiar. I feel as though I''ve seen his likeness before..."


    Just then, You Jiu hurried forward. "Your Majesty, that may be the former Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Han Gucheng."


    "Han Gucheng? He''s not dead?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng had possessed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, whose name was Han Bing. He had mentioned that his father had empowered him to be a Boundless Immortal before dying and leaving him the divine empire of Dahan.


    Han Gucheng''s death had been suspicious; was it a coincidence that someone who looked just like him had appeared?


    No. It couldn''t be just a resemnce. That had to be Han Gucheng himself.


    "So Han Gucheng faked his death, leaving his son Han Bing in charge, while he withdrew into the green knoll hidden realm to establish a new foundation? The Immortal Emperor of Daliang is his consort and serves as his puppet in public..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Han Gucheng''s appearance had shocked Xiao Nanfeng, but he was even more concerned about the presence of the Shangqing Grandmaster on the blue praying mat.


    The power of the Shangqing Grandmaster was terrifying. With the Cursebane Sword in hand, he could cleave through everything in his vicinity. Even someone like Han Gucheng wasn''t able to retaliate at all.


    From a distance, the blue praying mat slowly floated toward them.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the body of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, kept it, and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for your assistance, Shangqing Grandmaster.


    The blue praying mat remained silent as the Cursebane Sword returned to Lan Yaoguang''s hand.


    "Thank you, Grandmaster!" Lan Yaoguang bowed deeply.


    Then, she nced at the blue praying mat in surprise, then nodded, seemingly acknowledging some instruction from the Shangqing Grandmaster.


    After a while, sheposed herself. "As youmand, Grandmaster."


    She carefully rolled up the blue praying mat.


    "Has the Shangqing Grandmaster left?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded. "For the moment, but he''s entrusted me with a task."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "The Shangqing Grandmaster has instructed me to return to the Shangqing holynd and open up the blue moon illusory realm to allow all Shangqing disciples to cultivate there for a period of time. They''ll be led by the wielders of the four Shangqing swords."


    "You''re entering the blue moon illusory realm? Let me join you, then," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Lan Yaoguang shook her head. "The Shangqing Grandmaster specifically stated that no outsiders are allowed to enter, particrly not disciples of the Taiqing and Yuqing sects."


    "Why?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I don''t know either," Lan Yaoguang replied wryly.


    "Does that mean that I can''t apany you in?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    He was somewhat reluctant to have Lan Yaoguang enter the blue moon illusory realm on his own.


    "The grandmaster also emphasized that I have to enter myself," Lan Yaoguang continued.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He wasn''t trying to be overprotective, but he was certain that there could be potential danger ahead. He was reluctant to let her take such a risk.


    However, she could hardly disobey the Shangqing Grandmaster''s directmand. He boasted terrifying power, and none of them were strong enough to defy his will.


    "Don''t worry, Nanfeng," Lan Yaoguang said gently, sensing his concern. "I''ll be careful."


    Xiao Nanfeng paused for a moment, then shook his head. "Let me arrange for a few Dazheng officials to apany you and serve as your guards."


    "But they''re not Shangqing disciples..." Lan Yaoguang murmured in worry.


    "Have them be your disciples, and they will be."


    "But ording to the rules of the Shangqing holynd, only the hierarch is allowed to bypass the one-year probationary period for new disciples!"


    "Then you''ll be the new Shangqing hierarch."


    "Me, the new hierarch?" Lan Yaoguang was taken aback.


    "Exactly. I''ll guide you through it." Xiao Nanfeng nodded firmly.


    "But..." Lan Yaoguang frowned.


    "It''s settled," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded, touched by his determination. She could feel his warmth and protectiveness toward her.


    "I have to head back to the Shangqing holynd immediately. The grandmaster told me not to tarry."


    "My avatar won''t apany you, but take my main body. It''s still in meditation, but it should wake up soon."


    "Got it!" Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed her some additional items. With that, they parted ways. Lan Yaoguang was apanied by a group of ck-robed cultivators, while Xiao Nanfeng left with a group of his own.


    Meanwhile, somewhere within the green knoll hidden realm, a group of cultivators rushed through the clouds. The Immortal Emperor of Daliang anxiously held the weakened Han Gucheng in her arms.


    Han Gucheng''s body was covered in frost, seemingly to prevent any further damage to it.


    "Are you alright, Husband?" the Immortal Emperor of Daliang, Gan Qing, asked in distress.


    Han Gucheng replied weakly, "This avatar''s soul has been severed. It''s about to disintegrate. You won''t be able to save it."


    "What happened?" Gan Qing fumed.


    "The Shangqing Grandmaster''s will must have lingered on that blue praying mat. He was likely the one who struck me. I could hardly have beaten him," Han Gucheng replied weakly.


    "The Shangqing Grandmaster? How can that be? Even if he returned as a cursed effigy, he can''t possibly be that powerful. You''re a Boundless Immortal!" Gan Qing eximed.


    "This world is far more dangerous than you can imagine. The three Qing Grandmasters of the previous era were iparably strong. The green knoll hidden realm was something that they created and discarded, and it''s taken us everything we have just to gain a modicum of control over it," Han Gucheng said.


    "Were they really that powerful?" Gan Qing eximed, incredulous.


    "Very. They''re said to have surpassed the hegemons of all previous eras."


    "What do we do, then? Are we still going to try to im the blue praying mat for ourselves?"


    "Forget it. If the Shangqing Grandmaster still controls it, then we''re doomed."


    Gan Qing was clearly reluctant to give up just like that.


    "This body won''tst much longer. Bring me back to my main body immediately so I can transfer the remnant energy in this avatar to another one."


    "Alright." Gan Qing nodded firmly as the group sped up.


    Dayster, within the Shangqing holynd, the two supreme elders who had just returned held a grand funeral for the Shangqing disciples who had perished in the green knoll hidden realm. Then, they summoned another disciple to inquire about what had happened after their departure.


    "After we left, a giant Enlightenment Grounds engulfed the capital of Daliang and ughtered the entire poption of the city with an endless horde of blue-furred monsters? And more and more superior yin pearls appeared?" one of the supreme elders eximed.


    "Yes, Elder. My avatar saw it with my own eyes. There were at least a hundred superior yin pearls."


    "Impossible. How could such a massive Enlightenment Grounds exist?"


    "No¡ªit may be possible indeed," the other supreme elder said.


    "You mean¡ªthat Shangqing relic?"


    "Indeed. Have you forgotten about the Shangqing Grandmaster''s praying mat that the hierarch safeguarded?"


    The two elders fell silent, troubled by what they had learned.


    "What happened next?"


    "I don''t know. All our avatars died. One of my junior brothers said that there was a blue praying mat hovering in the air. There seemed to be someone faintly visible on it, but the figure was obscured by fog."


    "What else? Was anyone else there?"


    "We don''t know. Our avatars were killed immediately after."


    The two elders were silent. They were certain that the Shangqing hierarch was involved, but didn''t know whether his involvement was willing or unwilling.


    "We''ll have to wait for him to return before inquiring as to what happened, I suppose," one of the supreme elders finally concluded.


    Just then, another Shangqing disciple rushed into the hall.


    "Elders, Holy Maiden Yaoguang has returned with the hierarch''s Deathbane Sword!"


    "The Deathbane Sword? That''s the hierarch''s personal weapon. How could it be in Holy Maiden Yaoguang''s possession?" one of the elders eximed.


    "I don''t know, Elder, but there were a few ck-robed cultivators following behind Holy Maiden Yaoguang. They might be Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates."


    "Bring me over!" one of the supreme elders instructed.


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators rushed out of the hall.


    Meanwhile, the news of Holy Maiden Yaoguang''s return and her retrieval of the Shangqing hierarch''s sword spread across the Shangqing holynd.


    The Shangqing hierarch never let his sword out of his sight; Lan Yaoguang could hardly be in possession of it unless he was dead.


    The news quickly spread across the Shangqing holynd. More and more cultivators rushed over.


    Indeed, Lan Yaoguang, apanied by a group of ck-robed cultivators, had arrived in the Shangqing holynd. Their destination wasn''t her Cursebane Ind, but rather the main sect grounds by the seaside. She retrieved the Cursebane and Deathbane Swords.


    "By the authority vested in these two swords, I convene a meeting of the division leaders to discuss the death of the hierarch. Please have all division leaders gather in Shangqing Hall to discuss the sect''s future," Lan Yaoguang announced.


    "Understood!" the Shangqing disciples answered in unison.


    They quickly began to spread the word, ording to standard protocol.


    Meanwhile, her uncle, Qu Jianfeng, rushed up to her.


    "You''re back, Yaoguang!" Qu Jianfeng''s face was guilty. He smiled awkwardly.


    It was his fault that Lan Yaoguang had been captured by the Immortal Emperor of Dahan. Although Xiao Nanfeng had spared his life, his reputation within the Shangqing holynd had nosedived. Other disciples ridiculed him, and he had been miserable since.


    "Uncle," Lan Yaoguang greeted him. She didn''t seem particrly resentful.


    Seeing herck of hostility, Qu Jianfeng rxed and asked, "Yaoguang, why do you have the Deathbane Sword? What happened to the Shangqing hierarch?"


    "He''s dead," she replied.


    Qu Jianfeng: ...


    "I''ve returned today in hopes of iming the position of Shangqing hierarch," Lan Yaoguang continued. Please inform all the elders of our division to support me at any cost."


    Qu Jianfeng looked at her, bewildered. How did she intend to im that position with her middling cultivation? Had he misheard?

 Chapter 820: Ive Seen the Grandmaster

    <h4>Chapter 820: I''ve Seen the Grandmaster</h4>


    In the za outside Shangqing Hall within the Shangqing holynd, as more and more Shangqing disciples learned of the Shangqing hierarch''s demise, they began to panic.


    "How could the Shangqing hierarch have fallen?"


    "Where''s Lady Yaoguang? Doesn''t she know the truth? Just what could have happened?"


    "She''s inside with the division leaders and the supreme elders..."


    The disciples muttered and cast nces at the closed doors of the hall.


    Inside Shangqing Hall, the division leaders, supreme elders, and holy children of the Shangqing holynd had all gathered. Their gazes were fixed on Holy Maiden Yaoguang, who was standing reverently at the north of the hall and bowing toward arge statue of the Shangqing Grandmaster.


    Though everyone was full of questions, they could hardly interject while she was paying respects to the Shangqing Grandmaster. A few ck-robed cultivators stood beside her. Everyone watched her silently as she finished the routine and turned to face the assembly.


    The high-ranking cultivators of the Shangqing holynd peppered her with questions immediately.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, why are you in possession of the hierarch''s Deathbane Sword?"


    "You im that the hierarch has died. What happened? Did you witness his death yourself?"


    "Hurry up and exin!"


    The cultivators weren''t particrly respectful when it came to the questioning. Though Lan Yaoguang was a holy maiden of Shangqing, to them, she was nothing more than a junior.


    Holy Maiden Yaoguang turned toward them, and said, "I''ve met with the grandmaster."


    The hall fell silent. Everyone''s eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at her.


    The cultivators who had been preparing to interrogate her based on their seniority abruptly found themselves at a loss for words. Who among them could take on the Shangqing Grandmaster himself?


    "By the grandmaster, you mean..." one supreme elder began cautiously.


    "The Shangqing Grandmaster, naturally," Lan Yaoguang replied.


    The cultivators of the assembly nced at each other.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, be prudent. Invoking the grandmaster''s name is a grave offense," the supreme elder warned.


    "I am aware," Lan Yaoguang replied. "I have returned to the Shangqing holynd on his orders. Before long, all of you will be able to meet the grandmaster and verify the truth of my words."


    The cultivators looked doubtful. They wouldn''t believe her so easily, but they wouldn''t challenge her directly either.


    "What proof do you have?" another supreme elder asked.


    "This Cursebane Sword was recently wielded by the grandmaster and should still carry a trace of his aura. Please verify it, Division Leaders," Lan Yaoguang replied.


    She handed the sword over.


    The assembly stiffened. Could what Lan Yaoguang said be true?


    The supreme elders and division leaders examined the Cursebane Sword using the secret techniques avable to them.


    Indeed, as imed, they were quickly able to detect a wisp of an aura, weak but undeniably refined. The Shangqing Grandmaster had left a few relics behind in the holynd, and the division leaders familiar with his aura immediately turned to the Cursebane Sword and paid homage to it.


    "It''s the grandmaster''s aura. There is no doubt."


    "I examined the Cursebane Sword myself years ago, and the Shangqing Grandmaster''s aura had long since dissipated from it. This aura is clearly new."


    "Indeed, this is the grandmaster''s aura."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After these senior figures of the Shangqing holynd confirmed the truth of the affair, everyone else quickly epted Lan Yaoguang''s words.


    The assembly''s attitude toward Holy Maiden Yaoguang changed significantly.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, could you tell us where you encountered the grandmaster? Did he leave us any instructions?" a division leader asked politely.


    The hall fell silent as all eyes turned to her.


    Lan Yaoguang, who had prepared for this conversation with Xiao Nanfeng''s guidance, recognized that she had taken control of the hall.


    "Division Leaders, Supreme Elders, Holy Children, I have gathered all of you here today to exin the circumstances under which I encountered the Shangqing Grandmaster, his instructions, and the death of the hierarch."


    Everyone nodded fervently.


    She had set the stage, and no one dared to interrupt her now.


    "I will start after my meeting with the supreme elders who wielded the Earthbane and Heavenbane Swords. After they left Daliang''s capital..." Lan Yaoguang began, recounting the events that had taken ce thereafter. She described the situation carefully and framed it as if the Shangqing hierarch had maliciously conspired with the overseer to target her and the capital of Daliang. Then, the Shangqing hierarch and the overseer had a fallout and took each other down.


    "What? How could the Shangqing hierarch do something like that? Why would he conspire against Holy Maiden Yaoguang?"


    "To think he would help the overseer of the Enlightenment Grounds destroy Daliang''s capital and kill the Shangqing disciples there..."


    "This is unforgivable!"


    The cultivators were all astounded.


    Some remained skeptical of Lan Yaoguang''s words, but the two supreme elders who were wielders of the four Shangqing swords corroborated her ount with their own testimonies.


    Of course, without the Shangqing Grandmaster''s ''backing'', few would have believed a mere holy maiden so easily, especially given how many of the Shangqing hierarch''s supporters were present.


    Even so, there were quite a few dubious cultivators.


    "Allow me to continue my ount. Please hold any questions for the moment," Lan Yaoguang said.


    The crowd quieted down.


    Lan Yaoguang continued, "After the Shangqing hierarch and the overseer perished, the Enlightenment Grounds disintegrated. At that point, the Immortal Emperor of Daliang arrived with a group of ck-robed cultivators, including the former Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Han Gucheng."


    "What? Han Gucheng isn''t dead?!" the assembly eximed.


    Clearly, many were familiar with Han Gucheng.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded and exined how Han Gucheng had tried to seize the blue praying mat, only to be struck down by the Shangqing Grandmaster with the Cursebane Sword.


    Upon hearing this, the entire hall grew silent.


    Lan Yaoguang then revealed the blue praying mat. After the cultivators sensed the Shangqing Grandmaster''s lingering aura on it, many immediately bowed in reverence. They were starting to believe Lan Yaoguang.


    "The Shangqing Grandmaster handed the blue praying mat to me and instructed me to return to the Shangqing holynd and erect the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation, at which point he will unlock the blue moon illusory realm. Those wielders of the four Shangqing swords will then lead the disciples within to seek great opportunities within the realm."


    "Indeed?" The crowd could barely contain its excitement.


    "The grandmaster himselfmanded it. I dare not disobey his instructions. He may very well be aware of our words and actions even now¡ªand he may be able to sense the conduct of all within this hall."


    Everyone fell silent and straightened up.


    "We greet the grandmaster!" Everyone bowed deeply toward the blue praying mat.


    No one dared show any disrespect to the Shangqing Grandmaster after his promise of unlocking the blue moon illusory realm. Those who had wanted to question Lan Yaoguang were now secretly relieved that they had held their tongues.


    "In that case, shall we begin preparing the formation immediately?" one division leader suggested.


    The crowd nodded quickly.


    Lan Yaoguang, however, shook her head. "If I may, let us first discuss the matter of the new hierarch."


    This time, no one objected.


    The Shangqing hierarch hadmitted unforgivable acts against Holy Maiden Yaoguang, by attempting to cast a curse of infatuation on her; Daliang''s capital, by causing its demise, and even Shangqing disciples, by leading them to their deaths. Moreover, he was dead.


    No one spoke up on the former hierarch''s behalf.


    "Indeed, no one would dare im Yan Ziqun as hierarch any longer. He has vited everyw that Shangqing upholds. He must be stricken from our histories!"


    "Yan Ziqun hasmitted heinous crimes. We can''t have a hierarch like him!"


    "Yan Ziqun got what he deserved!"


    The supreme elders and division leaders on bad terms with the former Shangqing hierarch, Yan Ziqun, spoke up without hesitation. No one dared to argue in his favor, especially with the Shangqing Grandmaster tacitly supporting Lan Yaoguang.


    Lan Yaoguang nodded. "Then we must discuss the matter of appointing a new hierarch."


    Everyone turned to Lan Yaoguang in surprise.


    "Once the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation isplete, we''ll be in the presence of the grandmaster. We''ll need someone to lead the Shangqing disciples in paying homage to him and epting his directives. We would hardly want him to be displeased by the chaos otherwise," Lan Yaoguang began.


    The assembly eyed each other.


    With the Shangqing Grandmaster having appeared, the position of hierarch was far less significant than before, since all the Shangqing cultivators would end up obeying him instead.


    Even so, before he showed himself publicly, many still coveted the position of hierarch.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, are you seeking that position for yourself?" a supreme elder asked, sounding conflicted.


    Lan Yaoguang replied, "The grandmaster instructed that the wielders of the four Shangqing swords will lead us into the blue moon illusory realm to seek our fortunes. I already possess the Cursebane and Deathbane Swords, thetter of which I attuned to in the Shangqing Grandmaster''s presence. All those who support me as hierarch, I will wee when ites to exploring the blue moon illusory realm."


    Her deration was straightforward, even audacious, and she risked bad publicity and the possibility of subsequently being overthrown as a result. However, she didn''t care about retaining the position; she only needed the special authority that came with the position to enlist Xiao Nanfeng''s followers as disciples for the subsequent venture into the illusory realm.


    The crowd fell silent, clearly conflicted. Considering the Shangqing Grandmaster''s instructions, it was clear that the four Shangqing swords would y a critical role in the blue moon illusory realm.


    Lan Yaoguang wielded two of the swords herself, and she could very well provide double the potential rewards.


    Who would dare to contest her for that position now?

 Chapter 821: Shangqing Hierarch Lan Yaoguang

    <h4>Chapter 821: Shangqing Hierarch Lan Yaoguang</h4>


    Once they learned that they would soon be meeting the Shangqing Grandmaster, many within the Shangqing holynd were far less enthusiastic about bing the hierarch than before. After all, once he returned in earnest, he would surely take the position of hierarch for himself.


    They couldn''t help but wonder why Lan Yaoguang suddenly wanted the position. Could the grandmaster have told her something that she wasn''t sharing?


    For a moment, the room was filled with spective nces and silent contemtion.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, is everything you said true?" a division leader asked, frowning.


    Lan Yaoguang smiled. "You''ll see soon enough once the Shangqing Grandmaster shows up. If you don''t trust me and feel as if I''ve mimunicated his instructions or that I''ve deceived you, you can easily remove me as hierarch then."


    Everyone fell silent. Lan Yaoguang was right. If she really had deceived them, her life would be forfeit. Not only would they be able to remove her from her position, they could even hold her ountable.


    With that reassurance, they began to trust her much more.


    "Very well. Following the customs of the Shangqing holynd, we''ll hold a vote. All division leaders, supreme elders, and holy children are eligible topete for the position. Anyone wishing to take on the role of hierarch, step forward," a supreme elder called out.


    The cultivators exchanged nces, but then collectively shook their heads.


    Competing for the position now would clearly be unwise. The Shangqing Grandmaster had stated that the wielders of the four Shangqing swords would guide the sect into the blue moon illusory realm. Everyone was counting on them for their own chances at fortune. Competing with them now would only make things difficult, especially as the position of hierarch would be irrelevant once the Shangqing Grandmaster returned.


    Even so, the wielders of the Earthbane and Heavenbane Swords stepped forward.


    "Though I may be unworthy, as the wielder of the Heavenbane Sword, I am willing to assume temporary responsibility for managing the sect."


    "And I as well."


    The two supreme elders reasoned that Lan Yaoguang had to be going for the position of hierarch for some reason, and they didn''t want to miss out on whatever opportunity might be in store.


    The atmosphere in the hall grew tense as everyone looked toward the three candidates for hierarch.


    They all wanted to enter the blue moon illusory realm as quickly as possible, so everything was proceeding at an unusually fast pace. No one dared to raise objections.


    As the three candidates prepared to garner support, one of the supreme elders spoke up.


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, I know that you''ve been favored by the previous hierarch, but you''ll need to demonstrate proficiency in cultivation tomand respect atrge. You''ve only been with us for a short period of time, and I worry that you may not..." the supreme elder wielding the Heavenbane Sword trailed off.


    Lan Yaoguang smiled. "With the Shangqing Grandmaster''s guidance, I was able to make significant progress with his legacy, the Shangqing Yin Body. Would this suffice to earn everyone''s trust?"


    She summoned a blue spiritual moon from her mindscape, radiating such light that it filled the hall. In an instant, the room seemed to fade away. Everyone found themselves in a vast blue space lit by her blue moon.


    "This is... the world of a Deific Yin cultivator!"


    "How could this be? Has Lady Yaoguang reached the realm of a Deific Yin cultivator?"


    "Did she say that the Shangqing Grandmaster helped her reach that realm?"


    "Doesn''t that mean that the grandmaster intends for her to be the next hierarch? Why else would he favor her to such an extent?"


    "There are a few Boundless Immortals in the Shangqing holynd, but no other cultivator has reached the realm of Deific Yin with the Shangqing Yin Body!"


    The assembly was amazed.


    Reaching the Deific Yin realm with the Shangqing Yin Body was simply too difficult. Lan Yaoguang''s achievement made it clear that she was favored by the Shangqing Grandmaster.


    The blue moon and Lan Yaoguang''s spirit returned to her body and the hall reverted to its original state.


    By then, however, the crowd''s attitude toward her hadpletely changed.


    "My physical cultivation is only at the level of a Golden Immortal, but my spiritual cultivation ought to suffice, surely." Lan Yaoguang smiled.


    The supreme elder who had questioned her gave her a wry smile. "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, you should have mentioned that the grandmaster was helping you from the start. I withdraw from the hierarch selection."


    "As do I," said the other supreme elder.


    The two elders realized that Lan Yaoguang had to have reached the Deific Yin realm thanks to the Enlightenment Grounds, and they were certain that the Shangqing Grandmaster had allowed her to do so. How else could she have reaped all those monsters?


    Competing against someone with the Shangqing Grandmaster''s support was a poor decision. If they were to end up offending the Shangqing Grandmaster, they would surely pay dearly for it.


    With the elders'' withdrawal, the atmosphere in the hall turned rather strange. No one else stepped forward as a candidate for the role.


    "In that case, we may confirm our new hierarch," someone called out.


    "Let''s appoint Holy Maiden Yaoguang as our new hierarch!"


    "I approve!"


    The crowd soon reached an agreement.


    With the Shangqing Grandmaster''s presence looming over them, no one dared harbor their private ambitions. They didn''t mind Lan Yaoguang temporarily bing hierarch, considering that she would eventually yield the title to the Shangqing Grandmaster.


    "We greet the new hierarch!" The assembly bowed in unison.


    Lan Yaoguang smiled, having aplished her goal.


    "Thank you for your support. I''ll do my best until the grandmaster descends in earnest and we receive his guidance."


    "Understood!" everyone shouted.


    "In that case, allow me to start assigning tasks immediately. Supreme Elders, please begin setting up the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. Division Leaders, please recall all disciples and have them return to the holynd. We must prepare to enter the blue moon illusory realm immediately. Keep these ns confidential to prevent hostile forces from interfering."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    The cultivators discussed how to keep news of the Shangqing Grandmaster''s return and the blue moon illusory realm secret. All disciples would be recalled with the hierarch''s authority, and the division leaders and supreme elders would enforce the recall. With everyone working quietly and efficiently, there would be little opportunity for outsiders to take advantage.


    It took two whole days and nights of nning before the cultivators finalized every detail.


    No one questioned Lan Yaoguang''s authority or assigned her any duties; she was responsible for the most important task of all: preparing for contact with the Shangqing Grandmaster.


    On the third day, the doors to Shangqing Hall creaked open.


    The disciples gathered in the za outside surged forward, eager to know what had happened.


    "Master, what''s going on? Did the hierarch really perish?"


    "Master, was Holy Maiden Yaoguang responsible for the hierarch''s death?"


    "Quiet!" one division leadermanded.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The crowd fell silent as all eyes turned to Lan Yaoguang, who was surrounded by the holynd''s highest-ranking members.


    "Yan Ziqun hasmitted atrocities against cultivators of the holynd and met the end he deserved. From today onwards, Yan Ziqun is no longer recognized as the Shangqing hierarch," the division leader dered.


    "What? The hierarch has been removed from his position?"


    "How could that be possible? Has there been a mistake?"


    "Impossible!"


    Amidst the shock and disbelief, the division leaders and supreme elders silenced the crowd, allowing the announcement to sink in.


    "From today onwards, Holy Maiden Yaoguang will be the new Shangqing hierarch," the division leader continued.


    "How could it be?"


    "Holy Maiden Yaoguang, the new hierarch...?"


    "Master, you must be joking!"


    Though disbelief filled the crowd, the elders and division leaders quickly stamped out any dissent, leaving them in stunned silence.


    Typically, the various factions of the holynd would argue endlessly over major decisions. That day, however, every division leader seemed unified.


    The disciples quickly came to the conclusion that something momentous was at y.


    Perhaps the most astonished of all was Qu Jianfeng.


    He could never have imagined that his niece would actually be the new hierarch. He even pped himself to make sure he wasn''t dreaming.


    Lan Yaoguang turned to the crowd, then to the division leaders. "I suppose we should go through all relevant formalities."


    "Understood!" the division leaders replied, bowing slightly.


    The gathered disciples widened their eyes, realizing that this was no joke. Though they found it hard to ept this reality, it was clear that the bnce of power in the holynd had shifted¡ªand significantly, at that.


    Soon, the Shangqing holynd was abuzz with activity.


    Orders were issued to recall all disciples. The supreme elders set up fog-shrouded formations around the four corners of the holynd, hiding their work from outsiders as they prepared the foundation for the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation.


    Amidst countless murmurs, Lan Yaoguang was officially appointed the new Shangqing hierarch.


    Her first act was to induct Xiao Nanfeng''s followers into the holynd, recording their names and spiritual imprints in the Shangqing holynd''s stele of disciples.


    All the division leaders and supreme elders btedly realized that this might well have been Lan Yaoguang''s goal. She intended to bring them into the blue moon illusory realm in search of promised opportunities.


    None dared to protest; after all, this was a privilege afforded to the Shangqing hierarch, and this hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.


    Instead of moving into the hierarch''s residence, however, Lan Yaoguang remained on Cursebane Ind, in her familiar vi.


    Though the entire holynd was preparing for the Shangqing Grandmaster''s descent, she kept to herself and entertained no visitors. She nced at a ck coffin before her.


    "Nanfeng, I''ve already be the hierarch. Aren''t you out of seclusion just yet?" Lan Yaoguang propped her chin up, a wistful look in her eyes.

 Chapter 822: The Golden Sprout

    <h4>Chapter 822: The Golden Sprout</h4>


    Back in the ck coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng remained deep in meditation. He was focused on a particr spot within his body. It seemed vague and illusory and was shrouded in fog. Even so, there was a golden droplet within it that trembled delicately.


    After an interminable amount of time, a brilliant golden core appeared within the droplet. It pulsed gently as it absorbed a mysterious energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on as the core began to grow, eventually drawing the entire golden droplet within it. Then, the core split open, forming a seed-like structure. Fine roots grew out of one side, and a golden sprout from the other.


    As the golden droplet waspletely absorbed, the seed began to grow. Its roots were anchored in the fog-shrouded ground as the sprout stretched upward.


    Soft golden light radiated from the sprout, filling Xiao Nanfeng with an inexplicable sense of tranquility. In this light, he was able to "see" the surroundings for the first time.


    The space appeared to be deste and shrouded in mist, creating an atmosphere of istion and secrecy. The sprout''s roots dug deep into the ground as its leaves and stem continued to mature.


    At this point, Xiao Nanfeng had a few guesses as to where he was.


    "A foggy realm within the mind¡ªthe heart''s domain, a realm shrouded in illusions, holding infinite potential and the keys to controlling desire and emotion..." Xiao Nanfeng recalled the description he had seen in an ancient text.


    "This must be my heart! But shouldn''t I only have been able to cultivate my heart, to open my ''Heartgate'', as ate-stage Boundless Immortal? How can I do so right upon having broken through into the Golden Immortal realm?" Xiao NAnfeng eximed.


    He wasn''t certain if this counted as cultivating his heart, but at any rate, he was now able to ess this unique space no matter where he was. The golden sprout drew in energy from its surroundings and glowed softly, bringing him peace andfort.


    Curious to see if his discovery would also apply to his other self, he quickly seated his avatar in meditation as well. Soon enough, it too sensed the realm of the heart and the golden sprout''s glow. Both bodies were able to share the unique connection between them.


    His avatar stood back up and began to work, while his main body did the same as he opened his eyes.


    "Your Majesty!" One of his ck-robed subordinates guarding him stepped forward and bowed respectfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''m finished with cultivation. Let''s head out."


    "Understood!"


    The day before, in a dimly lit hall beyond the Shangqing holynd, a supreme elder of the Shangqing holynd stood facing the man in front of him. The man was none other than the previous hierarch, Yan Ziqun¡ªor rather, an avatar of his.


    "Hierarch, that''s the situation. Lan Yaoguang has since be the new Shangqing hierarch," the supreme elder reported.


    Yan Ziqun frowned, deep in thought. "How lucky Lan Yaoguang is. How did she manage to escape from the overseer''s clutches?"


    "Could it be because of the Shangqing Grandmaster?" the supreme elder asked.


    Yan Ziqun''s face darkened. What he dreaded most was the possibility that Lan Yaoguang''s ims were true.


    "Hierarch, you''re now a wanted man. Your crimes in the Shangqing holynd have been firmly established. Why don''t you leave before theye for you?"


    "Leave? Why should I leave? I''m the true Shangqing hierarch, not Lan Yaoguang!" Yan Ziqun replied coldly.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "But the Shangqing Grandmaster himself appointed her to lead Shangqing!" the supreme elder eximed.


    "She''s lying. The only reason the Shangqing Grandmaster favored her is because she wields the Cursebane Sword, the foremost of the four Shangqing swords. That was why I set my eyes on her in the first ce. Now she''s using a fake promation to deceive cultivators and win their loyalty? Outrageous!"


    "What do you intend, then?"


    "Lan Yaoguang must die. Once she does so, her lies will copse and my name will be cleared. I must reim the title of Shangqing hierarch," Yan Ziqun said coldly.


    "But won''t that anger the grandmaster?"


    "Do you think he really cares about Lan Yaoguang''s life? She''s not that important at all. Otherwise, don''t you think the grandmaster would have granted her all four swords? He simply wants four representatives. If she dies, he has three others who can take her ce."


    "But what if that isn''t the case?"


    "There''s no such possibility. What''s mine is mine, and no one will be able to steal it from me. Once the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation is activated and the Shangqing Grandmaster returns, I''ll lead our sect into the blue moon illusory realm to im whatever opportunities lie within," Yan Ziqun dered.


    "But Lan Yaoguang''s a Deific Yin cultivator now! We''re no match for her. If we act, all of Shangqing will know what''s going on."


    Yan Ziqun paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No matter. Sometimes, cultivation alone isn''t enough to win."


    "Oh?"


    "There''s a specter heartstone sealed within the Shangqing holynd, isn''t there? These specters of the heart counter all cultivation. Retrieve it and our victory will be assured."


    "The specter heartstone? But isn''t that a cursed item? I don''t know where it is, either..."


    "I sealed it in a special location. I''ll tell you how to retrieve it. As for the curse, I have a few heart-cleansing amulets that can ward off its effects temporarily," Yan Ziqun said.


    "Understood!"


    Back on Cursebane Ind, in a small courtyard in Yaoguang Vi, a ck coffin sat quietly in a corner of the courtyard. Lan Yaoguang would nce at it from time to time, waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to emerge. Even so, she wasn''t wasting her time. She was working on a set of robes meant for a man, the dimensions of which perfectly fitted Xiao Nanfeng. She embroidered intricate cloud designs onto the robes and garnished them with protective spells, ensuring that the garment would be elegant and practical.


    Her attention to detail stood out. By its cor, she even discreetly stitched her name, Yaoguang. When she thought about Nanfeng wearing it one day, she smiled shyly.


    Lost in her task, she didn''t notice that the fog in the courtyard was growing stronger.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng suddenly appeared before her.


    "Nanfeng, you''re finally out!" Lan Yaoguang eximed in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I heard you were making new clothes for me. Are these it?"


    "You found out? Come on, then, try it on!" Lan Yaoguang flushed slightly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and nodded. He removed his outer robe to reveal well-defined muscles, which made her blush further. She stammered, "Wh-What are you doing?"


    "Changing, of course. What else?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Instead of putting on the robe, however, he stepped closer to her.


    "What are you doing? Why are youing closer?" Lan Yaoguang''s cheeks were red, and her neck was tinged with pink.


    "What would you like me to do?" Xiao Nanfeng asked softly.


    He picked her up and gently lifted her chin as she moved in for a kiss. Yaoguang blushed but didn''t resist.


    Suddenly, a pitch-ck hand punched through his chest with a sickening squelch, sttering her with blood.


    "No!" Lan Yaoguang cried out in terror.


    A man surrounded by ck fog had caught Xiao Nanfeng, who was now bleeding profusely. He lifted Xiao Nanfeng up with one hand and sneered. "Haha, is this your lover? He''s pathetically weak."


    "Don''t hurt Nanfeng!" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "Don''t move, or I''ll kill him," the figure in the ck fog warned.


    Then, he yanked off one of Xiao Nanfeng''s arms with a sickening tear. Blood sprayed everywhere, and Xiao Nanfeng screamed in pain.


    "No!" Lan Yaoguang froze in terror, unable to move.


    Desperation filled her as she watched Xiao Nanfeng suffer. It felt as if her very soul was being torn apart.


    She had no idea why she felt so terrified; fear consumed her and paralyzed her entirely.


    "Release Nanfeng and I''ll do whatever you want," Lan Yaoguang promised.


    "I might let him go... if you destroy your spiritual moon right now," the figure said.


    Lan Yaoguang nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s anguished expression. Though she hesitated, she ultimately nodded. "I-I''ll do it."


    "Hurry, then!" the figure urged.


    For some reason, an inexplicable dread rooted Lan Yaoguang in ce, as if there were specters of the heart surrounding her. Even thinking about resistance was impossible. Her rational mind had slowly be clouded with fear, preventing her from thinking altogether. She bit down on her lip and prepared to destroy her blue spiritual moon.


    At that moment, a strong hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.


    With a jolt, she felt herself break free of the fog and wake up. She btedly realized that what she had experienced was just a nightmare.


    There was no dark figure, no blood, and no injured Xiao Nanfeng. It had all been an illusion!


    Just then, she looked up and realized that Xiao Nanfeng was the one who had shaken her awake. He stood before her with several of his ck-robed subordinates. Behind him, the ck coffin was open. He had clearly just emerged.


    "Yaoguang, are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, concerned.


    Moments ago, when Xiao Nanfeng finally emerged from the coffin, he had sensed something strange in the courtyard and noticed Lan Yaoguang''s terror-stricken expression. He had touched her and jolted her from her reverie as a result.


    "Nanfeng? Are you really alright? Thank goodness!" Lan Yaoguang hugged him tightly and began to sob uncontrobly.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at her, surprised by how vulnerable she was acting. Something was seriously wrong. Yaoguang was usually calm andposed, but she was now trembling and genuinely frightened.


    Just what had happened?


    As heforted her, he nced around and noticed that his guards seemed to have been affected by terrifying visions of their own.


    "No! Please spare my mother. I''ll do anything!"


    "Don''t hurt my sister. I''ll trade my life for hers!"


    One by one, they cried out in despair, their faces twisting in fear and desperation.


    "Something''s wrong!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.

 Chapter 823: The Specter Heartstone

    <h4>Chapter 823: The Specter Heartstone</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression darkened as he extended his hand and pushed away hispanions, jolting them out of their trance.


    "An illusion...? Were we caught in an illusion?" one of them asked, astonished.


    The next moment, that person''s face twisted in terror as they fell under the illusion once more. The others, too, had barelye to before they were dragged back into their respective nightmares.


    "What a potent illusion..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, shocked.


    He reached for his ck coffin, grabbed several of his ck-robed subordinates, pped them awake, and then threw them into the ck coffin hidden realm. He shut the coffin lid with a loud clunk.


    "Nanfeng, why weren''t you affected?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    "That reminds me¡ªwhat did you see in that illusion that scared you so much?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I..." Lan Yaoguang hesitated, then recounted what she had seen.


    As Lan Yaoguang exined how she had nearly destroyed her own blue spiritual moon to save him, Xiao Nanfeng patted her tenderly.


    "I''m sorry I arrived sote. You must have been very frightened," Xiao Nanfeng said tenderly. He held Lan Yaoguang close and gently stroked her hair.


    Lan Yaoguang closed her eyes. With Xiao Nanfeng by her side, she could be at ease.


    However, sensing the urgency of their situation, she quickly pulled herself out of his embrace to examine their surroundings.


    The moment she left Xiao Nanfeng''s arms, however, she felt a wave of dizziness. In an instant, the fog around her thickened as the terrifying vision of Xiao Nanfeng on the verge of death reappeared before her.


    "No! Nanfeng, please!" Lan Yaoguang screamed, petrified.


    She seemed to have lost her earlier ritypletely. Once again, she was consumed by her nightmare.


    Suddenly, a strong hand pulled her back into reality. Once again, she found herself in Xiao Nanfeng''s arms as her mind regained its awareness.


    "What happened? How did I fall for that illusion again?" she asked, baffled.


    "Some sort of emotional energy field has flooded this courtyard. Coming into contact with it pulls you back into the illusion."


    "But why aren''t you affected?" Lan Yaoguang asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He hadn''t felt anything unusual. Why was he immune to its effects?


    "Also, I seem to be fine when I''m in your arms, but the moment I step away, I end up being affected again. What''s going on? You seem to be emanating some sort of protective aura."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed. Perhaps there was an exnation for all this, after all. Yu Fuli had mentioned that illusory realms and mental worlds were all projections from the heart. This sort of emotional attack would, therefore, target the heart as well.


    The heart...


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t have any defense against such attacks until very recently, when a golden seed sprouted in his heart. Could that be what had shielded him?


    He focused inwardly and immediately sensed the golden sprout glowing gently with golden light, illuminating his heart and radiating a faint protective barrier around his body. That golden membrane was surely what was protecting him from the emotional attack.


    When he embraced Lan Yaoguang, she too was enveloped in that golden light, protecting her from the emotional assault.


    He probed his heart more deeply. He could vaguely see ck miasma in the air, something invisible to the naked eye. This miasma was surely the reason behind the nightmares that befell all cultivators in the vicinity.


    The miasma took on the form of dark specters that screeched and wailed like demonic creatures from the depths of hell. They wed and lunged at him and Lan Yaoguang, but the moment they touched his golden barrier, they let out horrific screams.


    Despite shrieking in agony, they continued to swarm toward the light¡ªor rather, his golden membrane actively absorbed them into the realm of his heart to serve as fertilizer for his golden sprout, hastening its growth and intensifying its golden glow.


    "Nanfeng, what''s going on?" Lan Yaoguang asked.


    "Someone''s trying to target you using some strange special technique, one that''s perfectly countered by something I recently intuited during my breakthrough.


    "Really?" Lan Yaoguang eximed in surprise.


    "Let''s go. We''ll find out who''s behind this," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    This was a frightening assault. If not for his golden sprout, he would have been trapped in the effect as well. If he hadn''t emerged from the ck coffin in time, Lan Yaoguang could have been severely wounded.


    He grew angrier and angrier when he thought about what might have happened.


    As they walked out of Lan Yaoguang''s vi, they saw unconscious guards syed out on the ground.


    "These guards look to have been ambushed. The attackers seem intimately familiar with this area," Lan Yaoguang surmised. Her expression turned dark.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced around. "The fog around here almost seems to be frothing. Could someone have messed with the formation?"


    Lan Yaoguang nced around and nodded. "That''s right. The formation''s only supposed to block outsiders from seeing inside the vi, but someone modified it to prevent sound from leaking out as well."


    The two of them continued their investigation and soon found the source of a problem: a small, fog-shrouded courtyard.


    Inside the courtyard, two cultivators seemed to be engaged in conversation.


    "Hierarch, the specter heartstone is too powerful. Even with a heart-cleansing talisman, I can barely withstand it. I almost found myself dragged into an illusion several times," a nervous voice said.


    "Bear with it. I''m not having an easy time myself. Why hasn''t there been anymotion from Lan Yaoguang''s courtyard yet?" another voice replied.


    "Hierarch, do you think Lan Yaoguang might have some way of dealing with these specters?"


    "It''s impossible. The specter heartstone targets the realm of the heart. There''s no way Lan Yaoguang can withstand that. She might be a Deific Yin cultivator, but that applies only to the soul. Her heart remains weak and unprotected.


    "But didn''t you say that, once she falls under the illusion, she would destroy her blue spiritual moon? Why hasn''t anything happened yet?"


    "Be patient. It''ll happen any moment now..."


    The two cultivators conversed,pletely unaware that Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang were closing in on them. Perhaps they were distracted by the side effects of handling the specter heartstone themselves.


    The closer Xiao Nanfeng got, the more he could sense his golden sprout absorbing the emotional energy around them. The dark miasma that had once been teeming with sinister specters now seemed to shrink back in terror as Xiao Nanfeng''s golden glow swallowed the miasma and the specters within.


    Of course, the only one who could perceive this happening was Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Yan Ziqun? Didn''t he perish?" Lan Yaoguang eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "He''s definitely dead. This must be one of his avatars."


    "So Yan Ziqun and a traitor within the Shangqing holynd are trying to plot against me?" Lan Yaoguang thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, havinge to the same conclusion.


    "That traitorous snake! I''ll kill them," Lan Yaoguang thundered.


    "Kill Yan Ziqun, but leave the traitor alive," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Very well." Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    She didn''t hold back. Her yin body emerged from her mindscape, as Xiao Nanfeng continued to embrace her.


    The moment her yin body emerged, a blue moon rose into the sky.


    It gleamed with brilliant blue light, catching Yan Ziqun''s attention. "Isn''t that Lan Yaoguang''s blue spiritual moon? Shouldn''t it have been destroyed? Why is it appearing in reality?"


    Blue moonlight could be seen all across Cursebane Ind and arge stretch of the sea, drawing the attention of countless Shangqing disciples.


    "Why is the hierarch''s blue moon floating in the air? Did something happen in Cursebane Ind?"


    "Is she fighting against someone? Who would dareunch a sneak attack on the hierarch now?!"


    "Those who dare interfere in Shangqing''s ascendance ought to be killed!"


    "Quick, we need to help the hierarch!"


    Cries of rm sounded from all directions as high-ranking Shangqing cultivators rushed toward Lan Yaoguang.


    In Yaoguang Vi, Yan Ziqun and the traitorous supreme elder likewise realized that something was amiss. "Hierarch, we''ve been discovered!"


    "Run!" Yan Ziqun shouted.


    "Run? Do you think you''ll be able to escape?" Lan Yaoguang demanded.


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    They looked up to see Lan Yaoguang''s Cursebane Sword descending from above. "Die!"


    "No!"


    Yan Ziqun''s avatar was only at the Golden Immortal realm, and he was no match for a Deific Yin cultivator.


    Within Lan Yaoguang''s spiritual world, her sword descended like a divine de from the heavens. It shot straight toward Yan Ziqun.


    "No!" Yan Ziqun howled desperately.


    The sh bisected his body, and a small ck stone fell from his hand. This was the stone that had been responsible for releasing the miasma.


    Xiao Nanfeng reached out for the stone. "So this is what was responsible..."


    The golden sprout within his heart pulsed, absorbing the specter heartstone into it. It was quickly surrounded by the golden sprout''s roots, then broken down and absorbed.


    Fueled by the specter heartstone''s energy, the golden sprout was rapidly growing.


    Meanwhile, streaks of light shed across the sky, heading straight for Lan Yaoguang.


    "Hierarch, has something happened?"


    "Are there assassins in the vicinity?"


    "Where are the assassins? I''ll kill them!"


    Division leaders, supreme elders, and holy children of the Shangqing holynd had rushed over in a flurry.


    "Right here," Lan Yaoguang stated, pointing at Yan Ziqun''s corpse and the traitorous supreme elder who was trying to flee.

 Chapter 824: Youre All I Need

    <h4>Chapter 824: You''re All I Need</h4>


    Lan Yaoguang withdrew her blue moon and returned to her physical body.


    By then, Yaoguang Vi was surrounded by numerous high-ranking cultivators of the Shangqing holynd.


    They immediately recognized the corpse on the ground as Yan Ziqun, the previous hierarch. His corpse had been neatly split into two halves. By its side was an elder who was trying to flee, whom they arrested.


    "This is what happened," Lan Yaoguang began, recounting what she had experienced. "If Nanfeng hadn''t shown up in time, I would likely be dead. We can''t tolerate such traitors."


    "An assassination attempt on the hierarch demands the harshest punishment Shangqing has to offer. Elder Zhao, how dare you!" someone shouted.


    The gathered cultivators eyed the traitorous elder. A surge of killing intent caused him to tremble in terror.


    "Yan Ziqun tricked me! I¡ª" the elder began.


    Xiao Nanfeng hadrgely guessed what was going on. Yan Ziqun, upset that the position of hierarch had been stripped from him, intended to kill Lan Yaoguang and malign her in order to regain his position as hierarch.


    Even if the assassination were to end in failure, he still had followers and arge group of supporters within the Shangqing holynd, some of whom he could ckmail for support. It would have caused a schism in the holynd and a power struggle against Lan Yaoguang.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t afraid of trouble, but he saw no need for pointless conflict. That was why he had advised Lan Yaoguang to kill Yan Ziqun immediately.


    With Yan Ziqun dead, everyone would surely side with Lan Yaoguang. The traitors in the holynd would need to be rooted out immediately.


    "Rest assured, Hierarch. We will investigate this matter thoroughly. No one involved in this assassination plot will escape punishment." A supreme elder responsible for Shangqing''s judiciary stepped forward and bowed.


    "Very well." Lan Yaoguang nodded firmly.


    She was eager to speak with Xiao Nanfeng privately about the affair, and didn''t want to waste time on lengthy discussions.


    No one asked any questions about the missing specter heartstone; whatever had happened to it would be revealed from the interrogation.


    The female Shangqing cultivators'' eyes lit up upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You must be Eastern Aspect Xiao. I''m Holy Maiden Qingshui from the Shangqing holynd. Eastern Aspect Xiao, I have a few questions about cultivation I''d like advice on. May I schedule a private session with you?" A rather beautiful woman stepped forward.


    Qingshui wasn''t the only one who behaved that way. Plenty of female cultivators surged toward him, their eyes bright as they caught sight of him.


    Their enthusiasm was palpable. They jostled aggressively with each other to introduce themselves to him. Lan Yaoguang frowned at the sight, irritated by their behavior.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and shook his head. "I apologize, but I don''t have time to discuss cultivation at the moment."


    "In that case, when might you be free, Eastern Aspect Xiao?" Holy Maiden Qingshui didn''t seem inclined to relent.


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, I heard that you once lectured at the Yuqing holynd. Would you be willing to do the same for us?" another Shangqing cultivator suggested.


    Lan Yaoguang clenched her fists tightly, inwardly cursing at these vixens for trying to steal her husband.


    "I apologize, but I truly have no time at the moment. I''m spending time with my wife," Xiao Nanfeng replied, his tone polite but firm.


    He took Lan Yaoguang''s hand, causing all eyes to shift to her. Lan Yaoguang blushed as a surge of warmth and satisfaction welled up, while the female Shangqing cultivators looked toward her with varying expressions of disappointment and jealousy.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang departed, leaving a group of disheartened Shangqing cultivators behind.


    "The hierarch is beautiful, but we''re good-looking too, aren''t we? Couldn''t Eastern Aspect Xiao spare a moment for us?"


    "Right? Could the hierarch be against him meeting with all of us?"


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao really is devoted. Our hierarch is very lucky..."


    The female disciples slowly dispersed as they grumbled in disappointment.


    After returning to Yaoguang Vi, Xiao Nanfeng immediately instructed his subordinates tob through the grounds and reset the formations in the area, ensuring that no unauthorized cultivators could enter.


    In a secluded courtyard, Lan Yaoguang gave him a look. "Why didn''t you ept those holy maidens'' invitation to share your cultivation insights with them?"


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "I didn''t know you could get so jealous, Yaoguang."


    "Who''s jealous? I didn''t forbid you from doing so," Lan Yaoguang replied, her face flushed. She looked away in mock indignation.


    Xiao Nanfeng embraced her. "You''re all I need. I have no interest in anyone else."


    Lan Yaoguang''s eyes shone with affection. She suddenly leaned in and kissed him.


    Xiao Nanfeng responded in kind, wrapping his arms around her as they indulged in a deep, passionate kiss. Only after they were panting for breath did they finally pull apart.


    Lan Yaoguang draped her arms around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck and looked into his eyes.


    Smiling, Xiao Nanfeng lifted her up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom.


    The doors to her bedroom sealed shut as the room''s defensive formation was activated, preventing anyone else from drawing near.


    In the divine empire of Dahan, after Xiao Nanfeng captured the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, the whole empire was beset by chaos.


    Nearby forces, emboldened by the news of his capture, began sending armies to attack Dahan. The officials and generals of Dahan were paralyzed by fear and indecision.


    Some insisted on negotiating for the emperor''s freedom, while others, believing that Dahan''s downfall was near, were attempting to seek new allegiances.


    Within Dahan''s capital, the officials of court were arguing loudly in the Immortal Emperor''s absence.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s already killed two Immortal Emperors and taken down two divine empires. He''ll surely do the same to His Majesty."


    "Nonsense! As long as His Majesty lives, we can negotiate for his life."


    "Negotiate? How? All our neighboring forces are already starting to invade us!"


    "Not only that, a few city lords of Immortal cities have already defected. This is the end of Dahan..."


    "Traitors! Are you suggesting we surrender?"


    Chaos erupted in the hall.


    Many of the officials were bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Everyone knew that if the Immortal Emperor of Dahan didn''t return, the empire would be done for.


    Several of the officials remained silent despite the chaos. They observed the situation dispassionately.


    As the argument grew more and more intractable, some of the officials even came to blows. Only then did the group of silent officials quietly move toward a side chamber and bow toward it respectfully.


    A fog-shrouded figure emerged. None of the brawling officials noticed him until he calmly sat down on the throne.


    "Who dares sit on the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s throne? Do you intend to stage a coup?!" an official suddenly shouted.


    The usation drew everyone''s attention.They turned to the figure as he dispelled the fog around himself and revealed a familiar face.


    "Y-Your Majesty?!" the officials eximed in shock.


    Seated on the draconic throne was none other than Han Gucheng.


    "It can''t be. Isn''t thete emperor dead? What''s going on...?"


    "Who are you? Who dares impersonate the former Immortal Emperor of Dahan?!" another official demanded.


    Han Gucheng eyed the officials coldly and turned toward those who had remained silent. "Have you noted everything down?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty," one of them replied. "We have a list of every official who disloyal towards the empire."


    "Arrest them," Han Guchengmanded.


    "Understood!"


    A group of guards burst into the hall and seized the provocateurs among the officials.


    "No! You can''t arrest me! I haven''t betrayed Dahan!"


    "He''s lying! The former Immortal Emperor is long dead. This is all a scheme!"


    "Catch him!"


    Several disloyal officials tried to cause a ruckus, but Han Gucheng''s personal guards were more than equipped to handle them. They were suppressed within moments.


    The officials'' eyes widened as they noted several familiar faces among Han Gucheng''s private guards, who had vanished after his "death."


    Was this really the real Han Gucheng?


    The traitorous officials hurriedly begged for mercy.


    "Your Majesty, I was wrong! Please spare my life. I''ve dedicated half my life to the empire¡ªplease spare my n at least!"


    "Have mercy, Your Majesty! I was foolish. Please spare me!"


    "I was wrong, Your Majesty. I was deceived! Please have mercy!"


    "Take them away," Han Gucheng ordered coldly.


    "Understood!" the guards replied.


    The pleading officials were quickly dragged out of court.


    "Your Majesty, it''s wonderful that you''re still alive," one official eximed, ovee with emotion.


    The rest of the court was equally shocked and ted.


    Although Han Bing was the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, he had seeded the throne rather than establishing it himself. Many of the officials remembered the founder of the empire, Han Gucheng, fondly; they had been loyal to him from the beginning and had witnessed the rise of his empire. Now that he was back, their loyalty was quickly restored.


    "Draft an official decree to the forces surrounding Dahan. I don''t care what reasons they have for attacking us, but any force that has invaded Dahan must cede double of what they''ve taken aspensation."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the officials chorused.


    "As for those city lords across Dahan daring to rebel and dere independence from the empire¡ªkill their ns to thest," Han Guchengmanded.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The divine empire of Dahan had been powerful and upromising under Han Gucheng''s rule. It quashed its neighbors, leaving them cowering and keeping any ambitious forces in check. With Han Gucheng''s return, Dahan would likewise return to its original status quo.


    One official stepped forward in concern. "Your Majesty, Emperor Han Bing was captured by Xiao Nanfeng. What should we do?"


    "Where is the Minister of Rites?"


    "Here, Your Majesty!" An official stepped forward.


    "Lead a delegation to Dazheng. Bring gifts to negotiate for Han Bing''s release. If Xiao Nanfeng agrees, we''ll leave it at that. If he refuses, warn him that the Immortal Empire of Dahan will dere war. If he dares harm my son, I''ll see his entire empire razed to the ground!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the official replied, bowing.

 Chapter 825: Pouring Out Their Hearts

    <h4>Chapter 825: Pouring Out Their Hearts</h4>


    In the divine empire of Dahan, Han Gucheng''s appearance swiftly suppressed the chaos within the empire.


    Han Gucheng had a terrifying reputation forged when he first established the divine empire of Dahan. Those who defied him faced annihtion; he had carved his empire out of mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.


    After Han Gucheng''s ''death'', however, the empire''s reputation gradually waned. His sessor, Han Bing, indulged in personal pleasure and handled state affairs poorly. Even so, for decades, the divine empire of Dahan remained safe and stable¡ªnot because of Han Bing, but rather the overwhelming fear that was Han Gucheng''s legacy. His influence lingered; despite his supposed demise, his name and reputation continued to deter any insubordination for decades.


    Now, however, it seemed that Han Gucheng was in fact alive.


    The news shook the entire nation.


    Officials and city lords who had dered independence or plotted rebellion despaired. Many packed up their families and attempted to flee under the cover of night, with no thought of resistance at all.


    Those who had hesitated and refrained from acting on their ideas now thanked the heavens for their precaution.


    Not long thereafter, they were even more relieved. The escapees were found dead, their corpses hung from the gates of their own mansions as a warning. Not a single one escaped; their ns were entirely eliminated.


    Everyone was terrified by what Han Gucheng had done. He quelled the chaos that threatened to overwhelm Dahan within a matter of days.


    The leaders of the neighboring forces were stunned by the news.


    "That demon''s still alive? This can''t be!"


    "What should we do now? Withdraw our troops, quickly!"


    "Double thend aspensation? Fine! Just make sure that that demon doesn''t turn his gaze to us!"


    "How could I be so unlucky? Xiao Nanfeng really cost me dearly!"


    Their leaders groaned in regret as Dahan stabilized itself in no time at all. Outsiders were shocked to hear of the news, but the situation was undeniable.


    Meanwhile, the Minister of Rites led a group of diplomats to Dazheng.


    In Dahan''s imperial study, an official respectfully reported, "There''s something strange going on in the Shangqing holynd. They''ve issued an emergency summons to recall all their disciples, and they''re currently setting up a special array."


    "Oh?" Han Gucheng frowned.


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    "It''s all very strange. Lan Yaoguang, once a holy maiden of the sect, has be its new hierarch. We''ve just received word that Yan Ziqun''s avatar attempted to assassinate her, only to be defeated by Lan Yaoguang in the process. Xiao Nanfeng also appeared during the incident."


    The official ryed everything he had discovered.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, again? I really did underestimate him." Han Gucheng''s face darkened.


    "Who could have known that Xiao Nanfeng would be so strong? He may even have orchestrated Lan Yaoguang''s ascension into the Shangqing hierarch."


    "His renown is well-earned. He''s a formidable opponent," Han Gucheng spat out.


    The official, who was one of Han Gucheng''s confidants, raised a new concern. "I suspect His Highness was manipted. How could he havee in contact with Lan Yaoguang? As far as I recall, the head of Snowborne was among those responsible for deceiving him."


    "Snowborne? And an avatar of Saint Lun Hui, if I''m not mistaken. While I was setting up a trap for them in the green knoll hidden realm, they were hereying traps for my son. Very well. I''ll set another trap for them, then," Han Gucheng replied icily.


    "What about the Shangqing holynd, Your Majesty?"


    "Send your subordinates to monitor it. If I''m not mistaken, the upheaval likely concerns the Shangqing Grandmaster. He was shockingly strong, and I have no interest in provoking him at the moment."


    "Understood, Your Majesty!" Then, the official continued, "Xiao Nanfeng''s currently in the Shangqing holynd. Should our diplomats still head to Dazheng regardless?"


    "Proceed as nned. Xiao Nanfeng has at least two bodies. One is in the Shangqing holynd, but the other may be in Yongding¡ªor perhaps the green knoll hidden realm. Let our envoys head to Yongding and probe the defenses there. Find out where his other body is," Han Gucheng ordered.


    "Understood!"


    In Lan Yaoguang''s private chambers within the Shangqing holynd, beads of sweat dampened her temples. Strands of her hair clung to her flushed cheeks. Her already stunning beauty was tinged with the allure of maturity.


    Shey quietly in Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Her gaze was dreamy and intoxicated.


    "Nanfeng, you really are a scoundrel," Lan Yaoguang murmured shyly.


    Her voice was such that a spark reignited within Xiao Nanfeng. Her eyes widened in rm. "Don''t! I''m done, so you''d better not try anything fishy."


    Xiao Nanfeng suppressed his impulses and gently stroked Lan Yaoguang''s hair. "Don''t worry. I won''t."


    "Good," Lan Yaoguang replied, her face flushed red.


    "Did you break through?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I advanced several stages. I''m almost at the middle of the Golden Immortal realm," Lan Yaoguang replied in disbelief.


    "Good. I didn''t teach you that technique in vain, then," Xiao Nanfeng teased, smiling.


    "Don''t ever mention such embarrassing things again!" Lan Yaoguang pinched him yfully.


    Xiao Nanfengughed. "Alright, I won''t."


    "Did you break through too?"


    "To the second stage of the Golden Immortal realm. It''s all thanks to you," he replied.


    She blushed further and pinched him again.


    "Alright, alright! Let''s change the topic."


    "Hmph!" Lan Yaoguang smiled at him.


    The two cultivators conversed quietly in bed for some time before they rose, washed up, and dressed in fresh clothes. Xiao Nanfeng proudly donned the new robes that Lan Yaoguang had personally stitched for him.


    When they emerged from her room, both of them felt a renewed sense of intimacy.


    Lan Yaoguang took Xiao Nanfeng by the arm and led him on a tour of the Shangqing holynd, showing him its many beautifulndscapes.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s recent exploits had caught the attention of many female cultivators at the holynd. Even with Lan Yaoguang by his side, there were plenty of admirers who approached him.


    Lan Yaoguang no longer felt troubled or jealous. She clung to his arm and smiled confidently. She was proud that so many admired him; to her, it was only natural that her man would have qualities that were highly sought after.


    Xiao Nanfeng courteously declined all the invitations extended to him, leaving Lan Yaoguang feeling even more pleased and content.


    As the many disappointed female cultivators withdrew, Qiu Jianfeng arrived. He paused upon seeing the couple. "Yaoguang, you look somehow different..."


    Lan Yaoguang flushed. What was her uncle implying?


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly changed the subject. "Elder Qu, how''s the investigation going regarding the recent assassination attempt on Yaoguang?"


    Qu Jianfeng nced at him awkwardly. He had once looked down on Xiao Nanfeng; now, Xiao Nanfeng was far above his station.


    "Some division leaders bade me bring you the news."


    "Oh?"


    "The traitorous supreme elder was a close confidant of Yan Ziqun, who held incriminating evidence against him and forced him intopliance. Though he was naturally given a death sentence, his disciples were unaware of his betrayal and have been spared. The division leaders wish for me to convey their deepest apologies to Yaoguang."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned slightly. The traitor''s disciples had likely formed ties with others within the holynd,plicating matters.


    "The traitor''s disciples and followers can be exempt from punishment on one condition: they need to find an elder from another division to serve as guarantor. If they hurt Yaoguang in the future, their guarantor will be penalized as well."


    "A guarantor?" Qu Jianfeng eximed in surprise.


    "Of course. Otherwise, what would you do if someone were to assassinate Yaoguang again?" Xiao Nanfeng''s tone left no room for negotiation.


    "And what if no one''s willing to do so?"


    "If they can''t secure a guarantor, it suggests that they have poor character and aren''t trustworthy. Such disciples don''t deserve to remain in the holynd. Better to expel them than risk future plots against the current hierarch."


    "Understood. I''ll ry this to the division leaders. If they can''t find guarantors, we''ll expel them from the holynd."


    "Does Yan Ziqun have any other avatars?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He doesn''t. We''ve confirmed that he only has two bodies, both of which have now been destroyed," Qu Jianfeng replied.


    "Very good." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Qu Jianfeng watched Lan Yaoguang, who had been silent throughout the conversation and was now clinging to Xiao Nanfeng. He couldn''t help but feel unsettled. Did Xiao Nanfeng intend to be the Shangqing hierarch by proxy?


    "Uncle, is there anything else?" Lan Yaoguang asked.


    "No, that''s all."


    "Very well. We''ll be on our way, then."


    She linked arms with Xiao Nanfeng as they departed, leaving a perplexed Qiu Jianfeng behind. Was his niece going to leave everything in his hands?


    Lan Yaoguang continued bringing Xiao Nanfeng on a tour of the holynd.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her his undivided attention, knowing that they would soon part ways while she prepared to enter the blue moon illusory realm. Until then, however, he wanted to spend as much time as he could with her.


    During the day, they explored the holynd''s beautiful scenic sites, and Xiao Nanfeng personally cooked for her.


    That night, they returned to her residence and spent the evening in each other''s arms, pouring out their hearts.

 Chapter 826: The Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds

    <h4>Chapter 826: The Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds</h4>


    Within the green knoll hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar led a group of cultivators through an area shrouded in dense mist.


    "Is this part of Taiqing''s territory?" Xiao Nanfeng asked Tu Feng.


    Tu Feng nodded. "Indeed, but the green knoll hidden realm is quite different than I remember it. Back then, there were only ordinary empires here, no divine ones. There were dozens of empires who were constantly at war, and the relentless attacks from the Enlightenment Grounds made it impossible for divine empires to take root. Now, however, all the ordinary empires have been wiped out. Three divine empires rule the hidden realm now."


    "Daliang, Daxue, and Dadong¡ªthree divine empires, each reigning over a separate part of the hidden realm... And their names are all rted to winter. Each divine empire controls one set of Enlightenment Grounds, correct?" [1]


    "Indeed. Daliang''s territory oveps with the Shangqing Enlightenment Grounds, Daxue''s with the Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds, and Dadong with the Yuqing Enlightenment Grounds."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "These divine empires are likely all ruled by Han Gucheng."


    "Han Gucheng¡ªyou mean to say that he''s unified the green knoll hidden realm?"


    "I suspect that that''s the case. Han Gucheng controls Daliang, but chose not to serve as its Immortal Emperor. This suggests that he has other domains. I believe all three divine empires are his, unified under his rule but split three ways, each under a puppet ruler."


    "I don''t understand, Your Majesty," Tu Feng replied. "Why would Han Gucheng divide his empire?"


    "The green knoll hidden realm contains overseers¡ªa saint''s avatars. Perhaps Han Gucheng intends to maneuver against them."


    "Oh?"


    "There must be some valuable treasure in the green knoll hidden realm, something that has attracted both the saint''s and Han Gucheng''s attention."


    "I''ve never heard of such a treasure." Tu Feng frowned.


    "That''s fine. We''ll wait and see just what could be sopelling as to have Han Gucheng give up on Dahan, feign his death, and conquer the green knoll hidden realm here. We''ll see just what has drawn Saint Lun Hui''s attention.


    "Understood!"


    "Now, these are Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds, aren''t they? They''re likely left behind by the Taiqing Grandmaster. Let''s head into one and investigate."


    Tu Feng nodded firmly.


    The cultivators flew quickly through the fog until they reached an Immortal city thaty in shambles. It had been reduced to rubble; from its wreckage rose Enlightenment Grounds emitting wisps of eerie red energy.


    "Have the people of this city been devoured?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    You Jiu, beside him, reported, "Our spectral guards have scattered throughout the three divine empires to gather intelligence. They apparently respond to the Enlightenment Grounds in very different ways. Daxue ispletely unable to muster a defense against the Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds¡ªor are perhaps purposely not doing so."


    "Oh?"


    "More than half of Daxue''s Immortal cities have already fallen to the Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds. The divine empire itself appears to be on the verge of copse. Some officials are attempting to resist their incursion to protect the people, but theyck the power and support to do so. These Enlightenment Grounds have been free to run rampant throughout the cities in the region."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "In other words, Daxue is deliberately allowing these Enlightenment Grounds to devour its people?"


    "That''s what I suspect, though I can''t be certain," You Jiu replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng thought for a moment. "This Enlightenment Grounds is roughly at a four-pearl level, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty," You Jiu confirmed.


    "Then let''s take a look inside."


    A four-pearl territory wasn''t a significant threat to the gathered cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng led his group toward it.


    The cultivators passed through its boundary and entered the Enlightenment Grounds proper.


    Snow nketed the ground. A vast snowfield unfolded around them, but strangely enough, the sky was red.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates stood atop a snowy peak and gazed into the distance.


    A host of red-furred monsters rampaged through the snow, relentlessly hunting down a group of fleeing cultivators. They fell one by one; where they fell, more red-furred monsters arose, shaped by crimson light.


    "These Enlightenment Grounds differ from the Shangqing variety. There are far more red-furred lifeforms here than blue-furred ones in the Shangqing Enlightenment Grounds¡ªby over an order of magnitude, it seems," You Jiu eximed.


    Some red-furred monsters in the distance roared as they discovered Xiao Nanfeng''s party, causing countless monsters to turn their attention to Xiao Nanfneg.


    The cultivators ignored the red-furred monsters and flew deeper into the Enlightenment Grounds instead.


    Very quickly, red-furred monsters shot up to them, only to be sent flying by a group of ck-robed cultivators.


    More and more red-furred monsters swarmed them, but it was pointless. Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates were simply too strong.


    Before long, four superior yin pearls showed up. They roared in rage as they flew toward the group.


    Tu Feng stepped forward, striking each pearl with a single punch and sending them flying.


    "Who dares make a fuss in my Enlightenment Grounds?" a voice thundered from afar.


    A man in red robes, backed by a towering pir of light, approached them from a distance.


    "Are you the master of these Enlightenment Grounds?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    For some reason, the man before him seemed familiar.


    "You''re¡ªXiao Nanfeng?" the red-robed man eximed, rmed and furious.


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised as well. How did he know Xiao Nanfeng?


    "Why are you here?" the man in red demanded.


    "Capture him!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "Understood!" Tu Feng replied. He shot forward.


    "Die!" the man in red roared. He drew his sword and shed at Tu Feng.


    The impact of their sh unleashed a wave of energy as a fierce battle unfolded.


    Some of the ck-robed cultivators kept the superior yin pearls and red-furred monsters at bay, while others joined Tu Feng in attacking the man in red.


    "Why are there four superior yin pearls? Isn''t this supposed to be a four-pearl territory?" You Jiu murmured.


    "No, something''s wrong. This should be a four-pearl territory, but the master of this territory isn''t a superior yin pearl himself."


    "How can that be?" You Jiu eximed.


    "I just remember where I saw him. He''s an elder of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, likely a Taiqing guardian, in the same vein as Lu Yan."


    After bing the Taiqing sect master, to prevent more guardians like Lu Yan from resurging, Xiao Nanfeng had gone through the sect''s archives to identify possible guardians. The man before him was deemed to be one such.


    "Have the Taiqing guardians be masters of these Enlightenment Grounds?" You Jiu eximed.


    "Capture him. Everything will be clear after we interrogate him," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" the other ck-robed cultivators replied.


    Except for a few subordinates who were still taking on the superior yin pearls and red-furred monsters, everyone else shot toward the man in red.


    The master of the Enlightenment Grounds, who had previously been able to hold his own against Tu Feng, was now pushed into a corner. He was barely able to defend himself, and his injuries continued to mount.


    "Attack!" Tu Feng shouted.


    With a resounding blow to the man''s spine, Tu Feng shattered his vertebrae, leaving him immobilized and in agony.


    "It''s over. You''ve lost," Tu Feng said triumphantly.


    Just as the cultivators were about to surge forward, the man in red shouted, "Transfer the authority over these Enlightenment Grounds!"


    The pir of white light to his back flickered. The entire Enlightenment Grounds trembled as cracks appeared in the sky, threatening to tear it apart. Though it didn''t entirely copse, the man''s aura was rapidly diminishing. Meanwhile, the pir of white light headed toward a nearby superior yin pearl and empowered it with its strength. The superior yin pearl''s aura expanded as it began to mutate.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately understood that the man in red had transferred control over the Enlightenment Grounds to the superior yin pearl.


    "Retreat!" he shouted.


    "Understood!" the cultivators answered.


    They withdrew through the rift in the Enlightenment Grounds'' boundary. Tu Feng brought the paralyzed man in red along with him.


    Just as they retreated, the thick fog in the distance began to rumble. Two more Enlightenment Grounds seemed to be closing in.


    "Did this man in red call for reinforcements?" Tu Feng eximed.


    "Knock him out. Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    A quick blow to the head rendered the man unconscious. Xiao Nanfeng''s group moved quickly as it disappeared into the fog.


    After some time, they stopped in a secluded valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng left the spectral guards to interrogate the man.


    Before long, You Jiu returned to report, "Your Majesty, he''s a fanatic. We were halfway through our investigation when he suddenly grew clear-headed and killed himself."


    "The Taiqing guardians are all this way. They''re fervent devotees of the Shangqing Grandmaster and are even willing to die for his cause. Were we able to learn anything before his death?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    You Jiu nodded. "We were, Your Majesty. It seems that the masters of the Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds are allposed of such guardians. Lu Yan has be one as well.


    "Oh?"


    "Recently, they encountered the overseer of this region, who directed the Taiqing guardians to take ownership of these Enlightenment Grounds. Because the Taiqing guardians all cultivate the Taiqing red moon, after they became masters of these Enlightenment Grounds, they''ve been able to transform all those they kill into red-furred monsters," You Jiu reported.


    "In other words, the overseer is working with these guardians in order to transform all the people of Daxue into red-furred monsters?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "And the Immortal Emperor of Daxue is cooperating with this n for some reason?"


    "It appears so. It''s very strange."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. In Daliang, although Han Gucheng and the saint weren''t strictly enemies, they were clearly at odds with each other. Why were things different in Daxue? Something was clearly off.


    1. Á¹ (liang), Ñ© (xue), ¶¬ (dong) = chill, snow, winter. ?

 Chapter 827: Movement

    <h4>Chapter 827: Movement</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and a group of his subordinates investigated the divine empire of Daxue, then explored two more Enlightenment Grounds. As anticipated, the master of each was a Taiqing guardian. Although they had yet to encounter the former Taiqing sect master, Lu Yan, the Taiqing guardians were certainly aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s group.


    In fact, the Enlightenment Grounds had been moving erratically in search of their whereabouts in preparation for an ambush.


    While Xiao Nanfeng was considering his next steps, You Jiu approached him and reported, "Your Majesty, we''ve just received word. Han Gucheng has dispatched an envoy to Yongding."


    Xiao Nanfeng listened attentively.


    "Han Gucheng quickly stabilized the situation within Dahan, and is now sending envoys to Yongding. The envoys have been unusually forceful, and are demanding the release of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Han Bing. They im that you may set whatever terms you''d like for his release, and that Dahan would march on Yongding if you refuse."


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He pondered the implications of this information.


    "Your Majesty, is Han Gucheng preparing to start a continental war against Dazheng?" You Jiu asked, concerned.


    "He''s already begun," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "Indeed?" Everyone seemed surprised.


    Xiao Nanfeng ordered, "Send word to Wen Zhong. Arrest the Dahan envoys for their threats against Dazheng. Seize them and lock them up in the dungeons."


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    "Your Majesty, won''t detaining the envoys prompt retaliation from Han Gucheng?"


    "They''re trying to probe where my avatar is¡ªwhether I''m present in Yongding myself. If we don''t detain them, Han Gucheng might act immediately."


    "In other words, by detaining them and presenting a firm stance, we''ll keep him guessing as to your whereabouts?" Tu Feng concluded.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "But we won''t be able to keep it from him for long. That old fox has already left his empire to target me, and he won''t back down."


    "How should we proceed?"


    "We can''t stay in the green knoll hidden realm any longer. Han Gucheng is a worthy opponent, and cannot be underestimated."


    "Understood!" the guards replied.


    Everyone flew out of the hidden realm following Xiao Nanfeng''s lead.


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Ao Canghai''s manor, a subordinate stood respectfully before Ao Canghai and reported, "Dragon King, the current situation is as follows. Lan Yaoguang has be the new Shangqing hierarch, and Xiao Nanfeng practically has her at his beck and call. Now, the Shangqing holynd is all but under Xiao Nanfeng''s control."


    Furious, Ao Canghai swept his cup off the table. It shattered as it struck the floor.


    His expression darkened. "Is everyone in the Shangqing holynd insane? I can understand if they submit to Lan Yaoguang, but how can they follow Xiao Nanfeng''smands, too?"


    Every strategy he had devised to take on Xiao Nanfeng was crumbling as he received reports about Xiao Nanfeng''s continued growth. He was gathering strength at an inhuman rate. How had he securedmand of a holynd so easily?


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    How was he supposed to take on Xiao Nanfeng now?


    Ao Canghai felt an overwhelming sense of despair.


    Just then, another of his subordinates frowned. "Dragon King, I have additional information on the Shangqing holynd, though I''m unsure of its uracy."


    "What is it?"


    "One of my subordinates overheard a conversation between two Shangqing disciples. They mentioned that Lan Yaoguang''s promotion to hierarch was due to intervention from the Shangqing Grandmaster. Currently, the Shangqing disciples are preparing some sort of formation on his orders so that they can enter the blue moon illusory realm. It appears that Xiao Nanfeng is staying in the Shangqing holynd only to enjoy a measure ofpanionship with Lan Yaoguang before her uing departure."


    "What? The Shangqing Grandmaster?" Ao Canghai eximed.


    The subordinate nodded. "But this hasn''t been made public. All I know came from that overheard conversation, so I can''t confirm its authenticity."


    Ao Canghai considered this for a moment. "In that case, once the Shangqing disciples enter this blue moon illusory realm, we may be able to iste Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "I''m not sure, Dragon King."


    Ao Canghai considered this information thoughtfully.


    Just then, another subordinate rushed in. "Dragon King, my subordinates have some intelligence pertaining to the divine empire of Dahan."


    "Oh?"


    "When Xiao Nanfeng captured Han Bing, the two Boundless Immortals at his side were the head of Snowborne and an avatar of Saint Lun Hui. Han Gucheng himself mentioned that Xiao Nanfeng killed Saint Lun Hui''s avatar. The saint and Xiao Nanfeng are bitter enemies now."


    "Oh?" Ao Canghai''s eyes lit up.


    "Dragon King, I haven''t confirmed the veracity of its report, but given its relevance to Xiao Nanfeng, I thought it best to present it immediately," Ao Canghai''s subordinate continued.


    "Very well. You are all dismissed."


    "Understood!"


    Once he was alone, Ao Canghai began to pace back and forth. His eyes gleamed as if he had reached some decision.


    In the imperial study at Dahan, Han Gucheng nced at one of the officials before him. "Has the information been leaked?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. We were lucky. Yan Ziqun and a supreme elder of the Shangqing holynd tried to assassinate Lan Yaoguang. Although the supreme elder was sentenced to death, we managed to secure his avatar. We''re now aware of the secret that has taken the Shangqing holynd by storm. By now, word should have been transmitted to Ao Canghai."


    "Good." Han Gucheng nodded. "Ao Canghai will be an excellent pawn for us."


    "Your Majesty, shall we spread the news that the cultivators of the Shangqing holynd is about to enter the blue moon illusory realm en masse?" an official asked.


    Han Gucheng shook his head. "The Shangqing Grandmaster is hardly a benevolent figure, and entering the blue moon illusory realm may well spell doom for the Shangqing disciples. Spreading this information would achieve nothing but risk his wrath. Better to let them depart and then focus on dealing with Xiao Nanfeng thereafter."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "How about the envoys that were sent to Dazheng? I hear they''ve been arrested."


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Dazheng acted decisively. Our envoys didn''t even have a chance to meet with Xiao Nanfeng. It''s unclear whether he''s actually in Yongding."


    Han Gucheng narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng''s decisiveness is indeed impressive. It doesn''t matter if he''s actually in Yongding or not. We''ve already roused his attention."


    "What should we do, Your Majesty?"


    "It matters not. Stirring the pot has its advantages. Xiao Nanfeng may well reveal his weaknesses himself," Han Gucheng said.


    "Oh? Have you discovered something, Your Majesty?"


    Han Gucheng nodded. "Gan Qing just reported that Dazheng has tightened security around Han Bing and moved him to a new cell."


    "Is the empress personally in Yongding? Indeed, she has a secret technique to detect captive souls! Doesn''t that mean that the crown prince''s spirit is being detained in Yongding?" The official''s eyes lit up.


    Han Gucheng nodded. "Indeed."


    "Your foresight is astounding, Your Majesty!"


    A dozen or so dayster, within Yaoguang Vi in the Shangqing holynd, Lan Yaoguang had just had the happiest period of her life: spending time together with Xiao Nanfeng as they finally consummated their rtionship. But no joyful moment couldst; it was already time for their farewells.


    She clung onto Xiao Nanfeng, reluctant to part with him. Xiao Nanfeng gently patted her back infort.


    Moments ago, Qu Jianfeng had shown up to ry the supreme elders'' message that the formation had beenpleted, and all disciples were to prepare for departure. The hierarch herself was to lead the ceremony.


    Qu Jianfeng didn''t know what ceremony Lan Yaoguang had to perform, but Lan Yaoguang did.


    With the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation ready, the blue moon illusory realm would soon be opened up. The thought of leaving Xiao Nanfeng left her heart heavy. She had sent everyone else away and was now embracing Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Why did they have to finish so quickly?" Lan Yaoguang sighed.


    Xiao Nanfeng stroked her hair softly. "Don''t worry. I''ll be here waiting for you when you return."


    A look of frustration shed across Lan Yaoguang''s face, but she nodded. She understood that she had no choice. The Shangqing Grandmaster had personally ordered her to enter the blue moon illusory realm, and she could hardly dy.


    "We''re still both too weak. I''ll do my best to grow stronger while you''re gone so that you won''t have to leave me ever again when you return," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    "Take care," Lan Yaoguang whispered.


    "My subordinates will apany you into the blue moon illusory realm. Some of them have avatars outside, and I''ll be keeping track of your situation. If you ever need to contact me, let them know."


    Lan Yaoguang nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng cupped her face and kissed her deeply.


    They beheld each other for a long time. When they finally pulled apart, the love and longing in their eyes conveyed more than any words could.


    In silence, they held hands and left the small courtyard.


    Outside, a group of ck-robed cultivators awaited her.


    "To Shangqing Hall!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" his ck-robed subordinates replied.


    These were Xiao Nanfeng''s trusted aides, who would enter the blue moon illusory realm alongside Lan Yaoguang in order to ensure her safety.


    Together, they flew toward the za outside Shangqing Hall.


    The za was packed with elders, many of whom were puzzled. Even now, they didn''t know what the upper echelon of the Shangqing holynd was nning. Surrounding the za were countless Shangqing disciples, likewise in the dark.


    Those in the know, however, eagerly anticipated Lan Yaoguang''s arrival.


    "We greet the hierarch!" they called out with reverence.


    "We greet the hierarch!" Countless Shangqing disciples followed suit and bowed deeply.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguangnded in the za and stood before everyone.

 Chapter 828: The Blue Moon Illusory Realm

    <h4>Chapter 828: The Blue Moon Illusory Realm</h4>


    All the Shangqing disciples turned to look at Lan Yaoguang, who asked, "Has the situation been exined to everyone?"


    "Not yet," a division leader said.


    "Let everyone know now," Lan Yaoguang announced.


    "Understood!" the division leader replied. He surveyed the gathered disciples and announced, "Many of you have been wondering why you were recalled. This matter is critical to the future of the Shangqing holynd, so we''ve kept things secret¡ªuntil now."


    The Shangqing disciples, now intensely curious, listened closely.


    "Our new hierarch has received special favor from the Shangqing Grandmaster, who generously bestowed blessings onto her in the green knoll hidden realm. Furthermore, he ordered her to lead the entire sect in establishing the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. This formation is key to entering the blue moon illusory realm; all Shangqing disciples are to be led inside in search of the opportunities that lie within."


    Excitement immediately spread among the Shangqing disciples, who took pride in their ten-thousand-year legacy. The Shangqing Grandmaster had once been a hegemon of his era, unmatched in power, and had left them with endless wealth and mysteries in reserve, including the fabled blue moon illusory realm.


    Unfortunately, the entrance to the blue moon illusory realm had long been lost, and the Shangqing Grandmaster himself had long since perished.


    What they were hearing now seemed ludicrous¡ªthe Shangqing Grandmaster was still alive, and he would guide them all into the blue moon illusory realm! The disciples were thrilled beyond measure.


    "Quiet! The hierarch will lead us in initiating the formation," the division leader called out.


    "Understood!" all the Shangqing disciples shouted in unison.


    They trembled with excitement. Any doubts about Lan Yaoguang serving as the hierarch had quickly evaporated. With the Shangqing Grandmaster''s endorsement, who would dare object to her?


    Lan Yaoguang became the focal point of all the Shangqing cultivators.


    "Activate the formation," Lan Yaoguangmanded.


    "Understood!" the gathered supreme elders replied.


    They removed four massive fog-shrouded formations from the vicinity, revealing the foundations of the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. The foundations glowed a brilliant blue.


    Lan Yaoguang raised her hand as the Cursebane and Deathbane Swords flew toward two of the four foundations. At the same time, two other supreme elders directed the Heavenbane and Earthbane Swords toward the remaining foundations.


    "Heavens-Extinguishing Formation, activate!" Lan Yaoguang called out.


    With a wave of her hand, four streaks of light shot toward the four bases. The four Shangqing swords trembled. Dazzling light emanated from them. The earth shook with a loud boom, and the formation glowed an intense, dazzling blue. Four giant pirs in blue reached toward the sky.


    Under the thundering hum of the formation, all the cultivators'' swords began to tremble, as if paying homage to a supreme sword.


    Blue energy surged upward from the formation, forming a vortex of sword energy that swirled violently around the pirs.


    Even the sea surged with massive sword-shaped waves; the clouds in the sky took on the form of swords, all revolving around the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation.


    A frightening pressure shook the Shangqing disciples to their core.


    The spies that had been stationed around the Shangqing holynd were so shocked by the sudden pressure and phenomena that theyy stunned, not daring to move.


    The Shangqing disciples, on the other hand, were ecstatic despite the heavy pressure. This was their formation, after all.


    After the initial awe had passed, all eyes turned to Lan Yaoguang, who cautiously retrieved a blue praying mat and ced it before her.


    She respectfully bowed toward the praying mat. "Grandmaster, in ordance with yourmands, I have prepared the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation. Please guide us into the blue moon illusory realm."


    The cultivators looked on in anticipation, but the praying mat remained empty.


    As everyone watched on curiously, Lan Yaoguang''s eyes lit up. "I will follow the grandmaster''s orders."


    Many disciples were left bewildered. Was the hierarch having a conversation? But with whom?


    Lan Yaoguang pointed in a certain direction. "Disperse from that area. The grandmaster will be activating a technique there."


    "What?" The disciples were astonished.


    Was the hierarch putting on a show for them all? The Shangqing Grandmaster was nowhere to be seen!


    From beside her, Xiao Nanfeng called out, "The Shangqing Grandmaster has appeared. Pay your respects!"


    Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng, only to see him bow. "I greet the Shangqing Grandmaster."


    The disciples were taken aback. Could the grandmaster really be present on the praying mat? Was he visible only to the Shangqing hierarch and Xiao Nanfeng?


    "We greet the grandmaster!" Countless disciples bowed in respect despite their doubts.


    Then, following Lan Yaoguang''s instructions, they moved away from a certain part of the za.


    The blue praying mat floated toward the vacant area.


    Everyone eyed the praying mat and confirmed that no one was using a technique on it; it was moving of its own ord.


    As the praying mat reached the area, a tremor ran through the Heavens-Extinguishing Formation.


    An incredible burst of sword energy converged on the blue praying mat, forming a giant portal that radiated with blue light.


    "Is this really the blue moon illusory realm?"


    "The grandmaster is truly with us!"


    "Our hierarch really must have the grandmaster''s favor. She''s the only one who can see him!"


    A chorus of awe rippled through the crowd, silencing any doubts the Shangqing disciples had about the supposed existence of the Shangqing Grandmaster. Their respect for Lan Yaoguang deepened considerably.


    "The grandmastermands that all disciples enter the blue moon hidden realm in an orderly fashion," Lan Yaoguang announced.


    "Understood!" all the Shangqing disciples shouted in unison.


    One by one, the disciples entered the blue moon illusory realm, led by their respective division leaders.


    The blue moon illusory realm was particrly special; despite being an illusory realm, cultivators could enter with their physical bodies. The first division quickly entered, followed by the second, and then the third. The disciples stepped into the realm in an orderly procession.


    Not only that, the inds of the Shangqing holynd were likewise extracted from the seabed, stored in specialized storage treasures, and taken along for the expedition.


    All the Shangqing cultivators would be taking part in this expedition; they had no intention of leaving the holynd vacant and unguarded. All valuables would be taken into the blue moon illusory realm with them, leaving nothing of value behind.


    Powerful cultivators from nearby forces witnessed the spectacle from afar, all of them left in awe by the formation''s incredible might.


    No one dared interfere; doing so would surely draw reprisal from the entirety of the holynd.


    Some cultivators from forces on good terms with the Shangqing holynd attempted to inquire about the situation, but they were quickly deflected by a group of elders.


    Bit by bit, the entirety of the Shangqing holynd was packed up for the excursion into the blue moon illusory realm.


    After a day, when all the Shangqing disciples had finally entered, leaving only a few supreme elders and Lan Yaoguang behind, Lan Yaoguang turned to Xiao Nanfeng. She looked toward him with deep longing. Xiao Nanfeng sped her hand and said, "I''ll wait for you to return."


    "Wait for me," Lan Yaoguang nodded, her eyes flush with emotion.


    After a tender embrace, she finally led Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates into the blue moon illusory realm.


    Once everyone had entered, the four massive blue pirs of the formation vanished, and the foundations of the formation were destroyed. The four Shangqing swords let out a resonant hum before following the praying mat into the blue moon illusory realm.


    The portal trembled, then sealed shut. A ripple of blue energy was sent outward before the sea and sky calmed down once again. Only Xiao Nanfeng remained alone on the now-barrennd.


    The cultivators who had witnessed the Shangqing exodus were left dumbfounded.


    "What just happened? The Shangqing holynd is no more!"


    "Could they have entered the blue moon illusory realm? That fabled realm is said to possess countless opportunities. All the Shangqing cultivators have entered it en masse!"


    "Aren''t they intending oning back? They''ve taken the entire holynd with them!"


    Many cultivators were astounded, though the most astute of them knew or could guess what was going on.


    Even so, they didn''t know about the details of the operation.


    "Perhaps he knows." Someone suddenly pointed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Isn''t that Xiao Nanfeng?" One of the cultivators immediately recognized him.


    Many were conflicted about approaching him. Those who knew or knew of him remained where they were; those who didn''t rashly flew forward.


    As he hovered in the air, Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the approaching crowd with a frown. He waved a hand, causing several cultivators in ck robes to fly quickly toward him. They gathered respectfully behind Xiao Nanfeng.


    "He has reinforcements?" Those unfamiliar with Xiao Nanfeng were taken aback.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the onlookers. He had made a name for himself in the vicinity of the Shangqing holynd; he assumed anyone who didn''t recognize him was unimportant.


    "Lad, who are you? What just happened to the Shangqing holynd?" a voice called out from the crowd.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t respond. One of the ck-robed subordinates behind him struck the speaker with a palm, sending him hurtling away like a shooting star.


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    A hush fell over the crowd. Someone murmured in disbelief, "His subordinate''s a Golden Immortal..."


    Realizing their mistake, the crowd quickly backed away. "Apologies, Senior. We were just passing by."


    They hastily retreated, fleeing from Xiao Nanfeng.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t let down his guard. There was still a threat in the vicinity.


    "Come out. I know you''re there," he said coldly.

 Chapter 829: You Call This Being Alone

    <h4>Chapter 829: You Call This Being Alone</h4>


    After Xiao Nanfeng''s deration, four towering pirs of green light rose up along the four cardinal directions, connecting to form a rectangr barrier that sealed off the entire area.


    "What''s going on? We''ve been trapped in some kind of formation! Who did this?" the cultivators shouted, emerging from the shadows as they rushed toward the barrier. They bombarded its inner walls with attacks, but despite theirbined efforts, the barrier didn''t budge.


    "We can''t get out? This can''t be. Everyone, attack!" someone yelled anxiously.


    A barrage of attacks struck the barrier, but it remained unscathed. It was impervious to even the most powerful attacks.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood still and watched on. He could still sense thetent threat in the area. Suddenly, he turned toward a certain direction, from which a group of ck-robed cultivators were approaching. Leading them was Saint Lun Hui.


    The two cultivators stared each other down across the barrier. Tensions rose as a surge of killing intent red from both cultivators.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we meet again," Saint Lun Hui called out.


    "Saint Lun Hui? Is this an ambush? Do you know what you''re doing? The Imperial Court will hunt you down!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Saint Lun Huiughed coldly. "You fooled mest time, didn''t you? You never reported the situation to Yu Fuli at all."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.


    "I found out that you stationed your subordinates outside the Heavenly Pce as if they were going to report to Yu Fuli, but they never did. You must have known that he would ignore you, so you didn''t dare approach him. You tricked me into giving up my advantage," Saint Lun Hui said coldly.


    "How did you know?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "It''s hardly difficult to investigate what''s happening in the Imperial Court, especially when I have my subordinates keeping an eye on yours. Someone reported every detail to me."


    "You have spies within the Imperial Court, then?"


    "Think of them as spies if you''d like. Now that Lan Yaoguang and the Shangqing holynd''s forces are gone, you won''t be able to escape."


    Saint Lun Hui and a ck-robed cultivator charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t move; instead, two of his own ck-robed cultivators shot forward.


    Their fists met in a fiery collision that sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the barrier.


    "Whatever you have nned today, it''s over for you!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the cultivator beside Saint Lun Hui. "The head of Snowborne, is it? This time, there''s no running away. Today will be the day of your death!"


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng''s two subordinates shouted in unison.


    They shot forward, moving so quickly that the wind whipped their hoods back to reveal Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child''s faces. The Demon Child sent waves of sword energy against the head of Snowborne, while Ye Sanshui took on Saint Lun Hui. Of course, this was only one of Saint Lun Hui''s avatars; he would hardly risk showing his main body.


    "Head of Snowborne, you managed to escapest time, but you won''t be so lucky this time around!" the Demon Child shouted.


    His strength only seemed to increase as the fighting progressed.


    Meanwhile, Ye Sanshui was struggling against the saint''s avatar, prompting Xiao Nanfeng''s other subordinates to jump into the fray. Despite only being Golden Immortals, they were able to withstand blow after blow, helping Ye Sanshui handle the saint''s avatar.


    "If this is all you''ve got, none of you will be leaving today," Xiao Nanfeng dered coolly.


    He retrieved the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s physical body, transformed into his yin body, and possessed the Immortal Emperor.


    "Strike!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng joined the fray, heading toward the head of Snowborne and Saint Lun Hui respectively with a ck coffin.


    "Send them into the ck coffin hidden realm," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child replied.


    With a deafening explosion, the head of Snowborne and Saint Lun Hui were sent flying. The two ck coffins closed in on them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think the same trick will work on me again?" Saint Lun Hui demanded coldly.


    Two more ck-robed cultivators shot toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng.


    "Two more Boundless Immortals?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng had no choice but to store the ck coffins away and attack with their fists.


    Four cultivators struck at full force, unleashing a storm of mes and wind. Howling gales unhooded the cultivators.


    Tu Feng hurriedly clouded his face with fog, but neither of the two neers did so. They looked just like Saint Lun Hui.


    "Two more of the saint''s avatars?" Tu Feng eximed.


    "Quite the preparation, Saint Lun Hui. Three of your avatars, just for me?"


    The saint smirked. His three clones called out, "I can''t afford to underestimate you, it seems. Now, it''s time for you to die!"


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The battle erupted into a chaotic storm. Tremendous shockwaves emanated from the fighting cultivators and killed many trapped within the barrier.


    "Eight Boundless Immortals? This is insane! Help!"


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    The weaker cultivators cried out in terror and coughed up blood from the force of the sts.


    The two sides shed. They were locked in a stalemate for the moment.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, did you know we wereing for you?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    He had been told that Xiao Nanfeng would be alone, that it was a perfect opportunity to strike.


    This was what his informant meant by "alone"?!


    "I expected an ambush, though I wasn''t sure you would be responsible. Saint Lun Hui, did you only bring three avatars?" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.


    The saint''s face darkened. Boundless Immortal avatars were hardly so easy to prepare; he had already lost three clones to Xiao Nanfeng. These were thest that he could spare. How could he have known that Xiao Nanfeng would be so well prepared?


    "Only three avatars? You won''t stand a chance, then. I''ve already sent for reinforcements. None of you will be leaving here today," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    The saint red, gritting his teeth. He turned and shouted, "Ao Canghai, aren''t you going to make your move?"


    "Ao Canghai?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    A ck-robed figure nearby hesitated, his face twisting with frustration. He had believed that Xiao Nanfeng would be isted, and had even invited the head of Snowborne, and by extension Saint Lun Hui, to help catch Xiao Nanfeng off guard¡ªnot expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be so prepared.


    He didn''t want to expose himself, but Saint Lun Hui demanded that hee. In order to convince the saint, he had no choice but to agree. Saint Lun Hui had promised not to expose his identity, but it seemed that he had gone back on his word.


    Gritting his teeth, Ao Canghai had no choice but to fly over.


    Knowing that his standing in the Imperial Court was nowpromised, Ao Canghai frowned in resolve. His grudge against Xiao Nanfeng had ballooned. If killing Xiao Nanfeng required turning his back on the Imperial Court, then so be it.


    He was no longer concerned about his former position as Eastern Aspect. Considering that he had been dismissed by Yu Fuli, it was unlikely that he would be able to reim his position. It would be better to seize this opportunity to side with the saint. Once he killed Xiao Nanfeng, he would seize Ao Zhou''s inheritance.


    "As youmand, Saint." Ao Canghai stepped forward.


    He didn''t bother concealing his appearance. He tossed back his hood, his body radiating with killing intent.


    "Ao Canghai, do you realize what you''re doing? A Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, conspiring with outsiders to assassinate a Cardinal Aspect¡ªthis is a capital offense on par with treason!"


    Ao Canghai sneered. "And what of it? I no longer care about my position as Martial Aspect. Xiao Nanfeng, it''s time we settled our score. Today, you''ll die!"


    He vanished in a blur of movement, then reappeared close to Xiao Nanfeng. His fist shot forward as he roared like a dragon. The image of a dragon manifested around his fist as it swung toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s head.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan, held back by one of Saint Lun Hui''s avatars, was unable to defend himself.


    "Die!" Ao Canghai cackled.


    Just then, a folding fan appeared out of thin air and deflected Ao Canghai''s punch. The fan and fist collided with an earth-shattering boom, unleashing a massive shockwave.


    Ao Canghai''s punch was abruptly halted, and he staggered back.


    "Who''s there?!" the onlookers gasped.


    Ao Canghai stared in disbelief at yet another ck-robed cultivator who had stepped between him and Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Another Boundless Immortal? Xiao Nanfeng, just how many reinforcements did you prepare?!" Saint Lun Hui shouted in fury. He turned to Ao Canghai. "Didn''t you say that Xiao Nanfeng would be alone?!"


    Saint Lun Hui was livid. Driven by hatred, he had eagerly epted Ao Canghai''s invitation to ambush Xiao Nanfeng. Ao Canghai had assured him that Xiao Nanfeng would be isted. Saint Lun Hui was skeptical and hade well prepared.


    With five Boundless Immortals on his side, he should have been able to take down even a divine empire. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng had matched his strength. His side likewise had five Boundless Immortals¡ªsomething that beggared belief.


    Ao Canghai stared at the person who had deflected his attack. "Yang Chuan? What are you doing here?"


    Standing protectively before Xiao Nanfeng was the Southern Aspect Yang Chuan.


    "I invited Southern Aspect Yang to join me just in case," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly. "Ao Canghai, you''ve been exposed as a traitor now. Not even the heavens will be able to protect you."


    Yang Chuan sneered. "Ao Canghai, how foolish can you get? How dare you coborate with a saint to assassinate a Cardinal Aspect? You''ll be executed in the Sieve of Heaven for all to see."


    "You¡ªno!" Ao Canghai cried out.


    He knew that, if he were to lose now, he would be branded a traitor to the Imperial Court. Realizing that his chances of victory were dwindling, he let out a furious roar and charged forward in frenzied assault.


    "Still trying to resist, are you? I''ll kill you!" Yang Chuan shouted.


    With another earth-shattering collision, the former Eastern Aspect and current Southern Aspect began to fight once more.

 Chapter 830: Madam Rouges Teasing

    <h4>Chapter 830: Madam Rouge''s Teasing</h4>


    With a thunderous roar, the green, rectangr barrier shattered.


    This was a formation that Saint Lun Hui had erected to trap Xiao Nanfeng. The barrier was strong enough to withstand the attacks of one or two early-stage Boundless Immortals, but it could hardly withstand thebined shockwaves of ten Boundless Immortals fighting. It burst apart.


    Most of the cultivators within had perished from the residual shockwaves from the fighting alone. The few who survived scrambled away in terror as the barrier copsed.


    By the outskirts of the barrier, a multitude of cultivators began to flee, shaken by the intensity of the fighting. Word of the event began to spread rapidly across the continent.


    On a mountain peak outside Yongding, shrouded in dense fog, were a group of cultivators led by Han Gucheng.


    "Your Majesty, my avatar is right outside the Shangqing holynd. The saint''s barrier was shattered by the shockwaves from the fight. The ten Boundless Immortals in battle there have destroyed everything in the vicinity. Towering waves are surging across the sea," a subordinate reported.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, the Demon Child, Ye Sanshui, a mysterious Boundless Immortal, and Yang Chuan? Xiao Nanfeng certainly is alert. He even anticipated the possibility of a major ambush at this juncture," Han Gucheng remarked, narrowing his eyes.


    "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng''s growth really is shocking," another of his subordinatesmented.


    Han Gucheng nodded. "He does have the aura of a warlord. No wonder he was able to destroy the divine empires of Dayin and Hongyue."


    "Even so, Your Majesty, you''re wiser than he is. With a single subtle move, you''ve managed to trap the majority of Xiao Nanfeng''s forces."


    Han Gucheng thought for a moment. "Xiao Nanfeng still has one ally."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Do you mean the Divine Emperor of Shenfeng?"


    "Indeed. She is allied with Xiao Nanfeng, and her whereabouts are currently unknown. Things may still go awry."


    "The Divine Emperor appears to have been in secluded cultivation for the time being, but we haven''t been able to confirm that. Since the empress''s secret technique can sense souls, perhaps she will be able to confirm if the Divine Emperor is in Shenfeng''s capital," Han Gucheng''s subordinate suggested.


    "Gan Qing is already heading over," Han Gucheng replied.


    "Wise you are, Your Majesty."


    A short whileter, a woman spoke up. "Your Majesty, my avatar is with the empress. She has news to report, which I will convey."


    "Go ahead." Han Gucheng nodded.


    The woman began, "Husband, I''m outside Shenfeng''s capital at the moment. Using my secret technique, I can sense a Boundless Immortal in secluded cultivation¡ªone far stronger than I anticipated."


    "Then the Divine Emperor is in Shenfeng''s capital," Han Gucheng concluded.


    "Shall I test the waters?"


    "There''s no need. I have a good estimate of the Divine Emperor''s strength, and you''re not a match for her. If you do so, you''ll be in danger."


    "But she''s in secluded cultivation, isn''t she? Perhaps I may be able to surprise her."


    "The Demon Child was meant to be guarding the Divine Emperor, but Xiao Nanfeng has already called him away twice. Though the Divine Emperor is in secluded cultivation, it''s clear that she''s not in great need of protection at the moment. Do not provoke her."


    "What should I do?"


    "Nothing. Stay there and keep an eye on the area. As long as the Divine Emperor doesn''t show up, there won''t be any danger here," Han Gucheng replied.


    "Understood. Please make sure you rescue Bing''er, Husband."


    "Of course," Han Gucheng reassured her.


    With that, he turned toward Yongding. "Let''s go!"


    Han Gucheng began to march toward Yongding.


    Yongding seemed to be prepared for a threat. Its defensive formations were activated in full.


    Unable to enter, Han Gucheng hovered in the air. Despite the fog shrouding him, the city guards soon detected his presence.


    "Who''s there?" a guard demanded.


    Han Gucheng struck the city''s defensive formation, unleashing a blizzard from his palm.


    The defensive formation around Yongding trembled violently. Severalyers of barriers shattered, but the foundation held.


    "An impressive defensive formation, but it won''t stop me," Han Gucheng said confidently.


    He struck the defensive formation again, shattering several moreyers of barriers and causing cracks to spread over those that remained.


    Moments earlier, in a garden within Yongding''s pce, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was having tea with a woman.


    She was dressed in peach-colored robes, her figure full and alluring. She exuded a captivating femininity as she sat gracefully by the jade table, her expression serene, her beauty stunning. Her faint smile seemed to drain all color from the surrounding flowers. She was none other than Madam Rouge, a cursed effigy who had once haunted Xiao Nanfeng.


    Madam Rouge had a sip of tea. She set her cup down, a slight lipstick stain on its rim. She smiled. "Xiao Nanfeng, life''s been going well for youtely, hasn''t it? First, the Divine Emperor; now, Lan Yaoguang. How does it feel? Who do you like better?"


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at her, bemused. "I called you here for assistance, not to start drama. They''re both my women; who I like more is none of your business."


    "I was just curious who you think is more beautiful," Madam Rouge replied, undeterred. Sheughed.


    "I''m bad with faces. I can''t tell," Xiao Nanfeng replied ndly.


    Madam Rouge nced at him and rolled her eyes. "How shameless of you."


    "Regardless, I could really use your help this time," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "It''s not as if you really need me here, do you? The Divine Emperor coulde help you out. She''s just distilling a charm of heavenlyw. You simply don''t want her to waste her energy. You want her to improve her cultivation as much as possible. That''s why you called for me instead," Madam Rouge surmised, a hint of displeasure in her tone.


    "What? How did you know that she''s distilling a charm of heavenlyw?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "I even know that you''ve been cooking up borate meals for Lan Yaoguang daily. How mushy you sound when you talk! And all this about ''teaching her new techniques''¡ªwhat a charming excuse," Madam Rouge replied, her voice tinged with sarcasm.


    Xiao Nanfeng abruptly stood up, frowning. "Have you been spying on me?"


    She was talking about intimate moments in Lan Yaoguang''s quarters! How could she be aware of them? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Had she been spying on his private affairs?


    "I''m not spying on you. I just asionally check in to see if there''s anything entertaining going on," Madam Rouge replied, chuckling.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Madam Rouge, you''re crossing the line."


    "Alright, alright. Don''t be mad. I just took a look or two. You should have taken better precautions!" Madam Rouge replied, patting his arm and smiling.


    "Are you saying this is my fault?" Xiao Nanfeng scowled.


    "Who else?"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Don''t sulk, now. I''m not even ming you, but you''re getting all huffy. I came all the way from the west just to help you out!"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. How could he not be upset? Madam Rouge was spying on his private affairs and his intimate moments with Lan Yaoguang. Did she have... some kind of perverse interest in such matters?


    "I''d like to know just how you did it," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Isn''t it straightforward? You should take more precautions, you know," Madam Rouge replied.


    "I did! I even put up istion formations each time. Just how are you getting around them?"


    Madam Rouge smiled, but didn''t exin further.


    "Did you do something to my body?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, suddenly recalling how Madam Rouge had opened and closed his Heartgate by force in the past.


    "Come now, let''s not dwell on that. Let''s talk about your enemy," Madam Rouge deflected.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face darkened. She was the one who had brought this up in the first ce!


    "Spying is hical," he grumbled, frustrated that he couldn''t yet figure out Madam Rouge''s methods. He had no recourse but to emphasize his disapproval.


    "Han Gucheng must be outside Yongding by now. Let''s discuss how to deal with him," Madam Rouge said evasively again.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. It was evident that she was here just to tease him. Back when he had been stronger than she was, he had done the same; now, the tables had turned.


    "By the way, you haven''t mentioned my reward for this little favor," Madam Rouge said mischievously.


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. "What do you want?"


    Han Gucheng was clearly prepared, as the ambush at the Shangqing holynd had shown. He had invited Madam Rouge knowing that there would be danger, and he had no intention of skimping on remuneration.


    "Why don''t you sing me ten songs?" she suggested, her eyes twinkling.


    Xiao Nanfeng stiffened. "Dream on! Go ask someone else to sing for you."


    "No one sings as well as you do. Thest song you wrote for me, The Moon Represents My Heart, was amazing. Let''s count that as one. Sing me nine more new songs, and I''ll promise to drive Han Gucheng back on your behalf."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. That one song alone had embarrassed him to death. He was hardly going to sing more!


    "I don''t intend to sing," he said stiffly.


    Just then, a fierce shout could be heard from outside as Han Gucheng began his assault on the city in earnest.


    Madam Rouge''s eyes lit up. "It''s settled, then! Ten songs. Once I drive him back for you, you''ll have to sing for me!"


    Before Xiao Nanfeng could protest, she rushed out of the garden and vanished.


    "Hey, hold it! I didn''t agree to that!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted urgently.

 Chapter 831: Madam Rouge Takes Action

    <h4>Chapter 831: Madam Rouge Takes Action</h4>


    High in the sky above the city of Yongding, Han Gucheng took down multipleyers of the defensive formation around Yongding in just two blows. His strength was formidable indeed.


    A frightening blizzard spawned around Yongding.


    "Again? Is Yongding some sort of disaster ma? Boundless Immortals keep showing up to attack it!"


    "This Boundless Immortal is terrifyingly strong. What are we going to do?"


    "I should never havee to Yongding as a spy. My heart can''t take it!"


    Countless spies from various factions were filled with dread; in contrast, the bulk of the citizens remained calm. By now, they had grown used to such fights. They believed in Xiao Nanfeng and were certain that they would survive this crisis.


    After Han Gucheng struck the city twice, he frowned suspiciously. Why hadn''t Xiao Nanfeng shown up?


    "Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng in Yongding? That''s even better. Now, break!" Han Gucheng shouted.


    He punched forward once more. This time, his strike produced an endless vortex of ice and snow that swirled around his fist, like an army charging forward. It crashed into the finalyer of Yongding''s defensive formation. Even before the devastating blownded, the barrier around Yongding was shaking violently.


    At that moment, a delicate hand reached up from below and formed a seal with two fingers. The seal surged with a soft pink glow and was surrounded by countless peach blossom petals. It was beautiful, refined, and looked as if it wouldn''t withstand any damage at all. Even so, as it struck Han Gucheng''s technique, unparalleled force burst forth in a dazzling pink glow.


    The sh of energies exploded into a storm of peach blossoms and snow that spread in a fierce st acrossnd and sky, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.


    Amidst a series of deafening booms, the two techniques canceled each other out, leaving the city''s defensive formation unscathed.


    Startled, Han Gucheng shouted, "Who''s there?"


    He had anticipated that Yongding would be defended only by Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and whatever imperial might he could draw on. Who was this Boundless Immortal who had emerged out of nowhere? She was so powerful that she could block his empowered attack with just a casual move!


    Emerging slowly from within the city was a woman in a dress adorned with peach blossoms, a stunning beauty whose gaze was filled with arrogant confidence. Her blend of beauty and dominance struck everyone with awe.


    "Han Gucheng? You''re in the wrong ce," she said with a faint smile.


    Han Gucheng narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"


    He felt a dangerous aura emanating from the mystery cultivator, a domineering aura he didn''t feel even from saints¡ªand from a woman, no less! Just who was this mysterious opponent?


    "I''m a guest whom Xiao Nanfeng invited. I suggest you leave before I start to fight you in earnest, or I can''t guarantee that you''ll walk away alive."


    The woman was, of course, Madam Rouge. Her gaze was cool andmanding. It was clear she considered Han Gucheng beneath her; she hadplete confidence in herself.


    Han Gucheng''s face contorted in surprise. Just where had Xiao Nanfeng found such a powerful helper?


    "I would advise you not to meddle in others'' affairs, Miss," Han Gucheng replied coldly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has already promised me a reward, and I must secure it at any cost. I''m meddling whether you like it or not."


    Down on the ground, Xiao Nanfeng had emerged from a hall to observe the fight. He frowned upon hearing Madam Rouge''s words. What reward? He hadn''t promised her anything! He would rather fight Han Gucheng on his own than sing for her!


    Even so, with Madam Rouge already having engaged Han Gucheng, he could hardly interrupt now. He grumbled silently to himself.


    "Did he promise you a reward? Very well. If you don''t interfere, I''ll give you ten times what he offered," Han Gucheng replied.


    Ten times?


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his eyebrows. Was Han Gucheng going to sing Madam Rouge a hundred songs? That would be a sight to behold.


    Madam Rouge clearly seemed to be considering the same mental image. A look of disgust shed across her face. "I don''t want a reward from you. Get lost!"


    Han Gucheng was momentarily stunned. How could she have rejected his offer?


    "If you insist, then don''t me me for showing no mercy," he warned.


    "Let''s see what you''ve got, then," Madam Rouge replied coolly.


    Han Gucheng narrowed his eyes. "You asked for it."


    The world suddenly seemed to spin. A realm of endless snow manifested around him. The skies darkened; thick white snow nketed the ground in mere moments.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "A deific domain? But he''s in his physical body. No¡ªthis feels like an Enlightenment Grounds."


    His gaze sharpened as he eyed Han Gucheng.


    With another gesture, Han Guchengpacted the endless snow together into three towering snow giants, each hundreds of meters tall.


    Though they were made of snow, they exuded the aura of Boundless Immortals.


    It was as if Han Gucheng had summoned three Boundless Immortals to fight alongside him in an instant.


    "Just what kind of technique is this...?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "This is yourst chance to leave," Han Gucheng warned.


    Madam Rouge chuckled at the sight before her. "I suppose you''re rather skilled. You''ve already opened your Heartgate..."


    "You know what I''m doing?" Han Gucheng suddenly narrowed his eyes.


    Not everyone could refine their heart¡ªearly-stage Boundless Immortals wouldn''t have ess to the heart at all. Only middle- orte-stage Boundless Immortals could start cultivating the heart, and doing so would require both tremendous talent and a rare opportunity.How could the woman before him understand what he was doing?


    "Your cultivation of the heart is rather crude," Madam Rouge replied, shaking her head dismissively.


    "Let''s see how long you can keep up that arrogance," Han Gucheng replied coldly.


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    With a gesture, he caused the three snow giants to roar and charge toward Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge casually formed another seal with her hand and pointed upward. "A heart technique can only be countered with another. Now, grow."


    Peach blossoms sprouted all over the snow giants, blooming and causing thepacted snow to crack.


    "How can this be? Snowmen, grow!" Han Guchengmanded.


    Even more snow surged toward the snow giants. Their bodies grewrger andrger, with snow piling up to cover the blossoms. Even so, the peach blossoms continued to grow, emerging all over their bodies no matter how much snow Han Gucheng summoned. Soon, the snow giants were covered in denseyers of flowers; no snow could be seen at all.


    "Impossible! Snowmen, attack!" Han Gucheng shouted.


    "Disperse," Madam Rouge crooned, sweeping her hand expansively.


    As the three snow giants closed in on Madam Rouge, they scattered in a shower of pink petals that filled the sky.


    Han Gucheng gaped in horror.


    No trace of snow had remained within the snow giants'' bodies; everything had turned entirely into peach blossoms.


    "Your cultivation of the heart is interesting, but you''re no match for me." Madam Rouge smiled.


    The peach blossoms into which the snow giants had transformed didn''t all fall to the ground. Rather, they spread across the vast, snowyndscape, infecting the snow and turning it all into peach blossoms.


    All the snow that came into contact with the peach blossoms exploded in a puff as new peach blossoms bloomed.


    The entire realm of snow was quickly overtaken by peach blossoms, as if the flowers and snow were fighting for dominance over the realm.


    This scene left the countless cultivators of Yongding utterly bewildered. They were unable toprehend what they were seeing.


    Han Gucheng''s scalp pricked in horror. "Just who are you?!"


    "Are you going to leave, or not?" Madam Rouge demanded.


    Han Gucheng grimaced in a mix of defiance and hesitation. This woman''s strength truly shook him to his core, but how could he leave so easily?


    "If you won''t reveal your identity, then so be it. I''d like to see just how strong you are," Han Gucheng dered. He charged toward Madam Rouge.


    Madam Rouge''s eyes grew cold. "More like you''re so ignorant and inexperienced that you don''t recognize who I am. If you want to die, then so be it."


    Madam Rouge struck with her palm, summoning a whirlwind of peach blossoms that surged around her. A fierce storm swept toward Han Gucheng.


    "Die!" Han Gucheng roared, punching forward.


    A torrent of snow surged from his fists.


    Palm and fist collided with a thunderous boom, creating a massive storm of snow and blossoms that erupted into a dazzling burst. The st sent shockwaves through the void, causing it to ripple and warp. The intense light left many onlookers temporarily blinded.


    As the shockwave subsided, Han Gucheng was sent flying. He tumbled thousands of meters before stabilizing himself.


    Blood trickled from his mouth in disbelief as he turned to Madam Rouge, who still seemed to be treating everything casually.


    "Your Majesty?" His subordinates rushed over to him.


    "We''re leaving!" Han Gucheng dered.


    Without any hesitation, he and his subordinates fled toward the horizon.


    Madam Rouge watched them leave thoughtfully, without giving chase.


    Within moments, Han Gucheng and his subordinates had vanished into the horizon.


    There, Han Gucheng spat out a few more mouthfuls of blood.


    "Your Majesty, are you alright?" one of his subordinates asked.


    Han Gucheng wiped the blood from his mouth. He replied, "That woman is as strong as my main body. Where in the world did Xiao Nanfeng find such a formidable cultivator? Investigate her. I want to know exactly who she is!"


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    Back in Yongding, after repelling Han Gucheng, Madam Rouge turned and flew back to the city. Her disy had left countless people in shock and awe. Just who was this woman? Could she be the empress of Dazheng?


    Madam Rouge returned to Xiao Nanfeng. Her arrogant demeanor faded away, reced by an expectant smile. "There. I''ve sent him away. Don''t forget the reward you promised me."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dour. Had he been tricked?

 Chapter 832: Capturing Ao Canghai

    <h4>Chapter 832: Capturing Ao Canghai</h4>


    In the territory where the Shangqing holynd had been, a battle between ten unparalleled powerhouses raged on. Mountains and rivers were reduced to ruins as the Northern Sea surged wildly. The sky was a storm of fire; the ground was scorched ck for hundreds of miles on end. Observers from various forces had long since retreated. They were watching from afar in horror.


    The two sides fought intensely; neither could gain a clear upper hand. After half a day of fiercebat, however, one of the cultivators trumped his opponent.


    Yang Chuan had been fighting against Ao Canghai, who was in the form of a massive golden dragon. He had summoned a vast ocean with which to attack Yang Chuan. Yang Chuan, on the other hand, was nked by a giant purple eye floating above him that radiated dazzling purple light. Beams shot out, forming a purple formation that enclosed the golden dragon.


    The dragon thrashed violently, but failed to break free.


    "You''ve lost, Ao Canghai!" Yang Chuan dered coldly.


    "No, I haven''t! Break, damn you!" the golden dragon roared furiously.


    He hammered away at the formation, but failed to break out of it.


    "Help me!" Ao Canghai shouted toward the distance.


    "Did you really think that you were the only one with subordinates around?" Yang Chuan sneered.


    In the distance, four Martial Aspects loyal to Ao Canghai had transformed into dragons, but were trapped in fiercebat with Yang Chuan''s subordinates and Ao Zhou, who had taken on the form of a ck dragon. The four of them were thoroughly outmatched and had no chance of rescuing their master.


    "Damn it, break!" Ao Canghai roared.


    He cursed as he struggled to escape, but Yang Chuan was stronger than he was, and he couldn''t break free.


    Fighting raged on around him. One of the saint''s three avatars was locked into an even fight against Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and their subordinates; another was suppressing Tu Feng; and a third was taking on Xiao Nanfeng.


    With a loud boom, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Saint Lun Hui struck each other. They were in a tense stalemate.


    "In the green knoll hidden realm, your body stood no chance against me. The oue will be the same here," Saint Lun Hui called out.


    "And yet this body of yours is weaker than that overseer''s from back then," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    "It''s more than enough to subdue you," the saint replied, scoffing.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "Did you really think I had no way of dealing with you back then?"


    "What?" Saint Lun Hui frowned. He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of threat.


    "Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Saint Lun Hui looked up to see a massive imperial seal plummeting toward him.


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    "Ha! Imperial seals draw power from fortune. How much fortune could you possibly have? Break!" Saint Lun Huimanded.


    He spat out a green gale of energy to counter the Divine Seal of Dazheng, which emitted a blinding golden radiance as its aura magnified a thousandfold. With an explosive boom, it tore through the green wind and descended on the saint''s head.


    "What? How could you have this much fortune? That''s impossible!" Saint Lun Hui cried out.


    Before he could react, the seal shattered his qi barrier and struck his head, splitting it open as blood and brain matter sttered in a gruesome fashion.


    The momentum of the seal left him stunned and powerless for a brief moment.


    Just then, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan swung his divine undying de at Saint Lun Hui''s avatar, beheading him.


    Saint Lun Hui watched on in disbelief. How could Xiao Nanfeng have killed him again? This was impossible!


    The Divine Seal of Dazhengnded in the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s hands. He whirled and shed once more.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t get away with this. Explode!" Saint Lun Huimanded.


    His head exploded with a massive shockwave that swept through the area as his spirit fled into a pir of green light.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan was forced to flee in order to avoid being caught by the explosion.


    Meanwhile, the saint''s other two avatars flung their opponents back and hurriedly secured his remaining avatar''s headless body.


    "Let''s go!" they shouted simultaneously.


    With one of their avatars dead, the fight had clearly shifted in favor of Xiao Nanfeng. If they allowed it to drag on further, they would all be killed. Without any hesitation, Saint Lun Hui chose to flee.


    The head of Snowborne forced the Demon Child aside as he turned to flee with the saint''s two avatars.


    "Hold it!" the Demon Child thundered.


    "Don''t give chase," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    The cultivators who had been about to set out in pursuit immediately stopped.


    Xiao Nanfeng did want to press the advantage, but doing so was impossible. If the saint''s two avatars and the head of Snowborne were to split up, how would they be able to chase them all down? What if they led their pursuers into an ambush? Better to focus on what they had already secured.


    In an instant, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, the Demon Child, Ye Sanshui, and Tu Feng closed in on the captured Ao Canghai.


    Surrounded by five Boundless Immortals, Ao Canghai paled. Despair washed over him as he cursed the saint for abandoning him.


    "Hold on! Wait for me! Someone, save me!" Ao Canghai howled desperately.


    However, Saint Lun Hui and the head of Snowborne had already vanished beyond the horizon. He was on his own.


    "Don''t leave me behind!" Ao Canghai cried out. He nced at the cultivators that were encircling him. "Stay back. Don''te any closer!"


    "Strike together and prevent him from self-destructing," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "Understood!" the guards replied.


    "Wait!" Ao Canghai shouted, but it was toote.


    Everyoneunched a series of powerful blows at him. Yang Chuan dispelled his formation of purple light and joined the attack.


    "No!" Ao Canghai screamed.


    A massive st of mes erupted around him. What could he do against the might of five Boundless Immortals? His bones shattered and his internal organs were pulped. He coughed up blood and fell unconscious.


    Everyone quickly sealed him. With five Boundless Immortals working in tandem, he was immobilized in no time at all.


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and the others charged toward the fighting Golden Immortals in the distance. Very quickly, Ao Canghai''s four loyal subordinates were caught as well.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had emerged from the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body. He stored it away before turning to Yang Chuan. "Thank you for the help, Southern Aspect Yang."


    Yang Chuan also dispelled his giant purple eye. He gave Xiao Nanfeng a look. "You seem to stir up a disturbing number of fights."


    He still remembered the harrowing battle against the divine empire of Hongyue. Somehow, in what seemed like no time at all, Xiao Nanfeng had provoked yet another saint and ended up in another life-and-death struggle.


    "I''m just a victim," Xiao Nanfeng said ndly.


    Yang Chuan rolled his eyes. "Have some shame."


    If Xiao Nanfeng was the victim, how about the saint''s avatar whom he slew? How about Ao Canghai''s group?


    Xiao Nanfeng shrugged. "If you don''t believe me, there isn''t much I can do."


    Yang Chuan sighed. He didn''t want to continue this thread of conversation. "There are five vacant Martial Aspect positions now that I''ve helped you take down Ao Canghai and his four subordinates. I''d like them for myself."


    "Colluding over these Martial Aspect positions doesn''t seem quite right..." Xiao Nanfeng joked.


    Yang Chuan scowled. "You had mee all the way over, and now a saint has me in his sights. Would I have done all this for nothing?"


    "It''s not such a big deal, is it? So what if we''re on bad terms with Saint Lun Hui? We just have to take down his main body too." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''ve already risked a saint''s wrath to help you. I''m not going to be freebor for you any longer!" Yang Chuan refused immediately. "Besides, you''re clearly the mastermind here. Perhaps the saint will ignore me. If you want to drag me down with you, forget it."


    Xiao Nanfeng grinned. "Very well. I''ll have my five Martial Aspects in the south transfer to the east, freeing up five positions for you."


    "That''s more like it." Yang Chuan nodded in satisfaction.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the Demon Child. "You''ve improved by quite a bit, haven''t you?"


    The Demon Child grinned. "Of course! I''m a genius."


    "Clearly, your studying is paying off. Shall I have your tutor give you more assignments?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The Demon Child gaped, then shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re a backstabber!"


    "Haha, I really do have to thank you for your help this time around. Would three days'' vacation suffice?"


    The Demon Child was instantly all smiles.


    "Why don''t you return with Ye Sanshui and the otherster once things are all settled here?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The Demon Child nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Yang Chuan. "Southern Aspect Yang, let''s return to the Imperial Court and report back. We''ve caught quite a few traitorous Martial Aspects, after all, and we should follow proper procedure."


    Yang Chuan nodded.


    The cultivators flew off. Many watched on as they departed, but none dared to pursue them. Once they were far out of sight, Xiao Nanfeng''s group split into two, each going its separate way.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan escorted Ao Canghai and his Martial Aspects back to the Imperial Court, while Ye Sanshui, the Demon Child, and Tu Feng left for Shenfeng.


    This time, Xiao Nanfeng headed to the Northern Heavenly Gate.


    The gatekeepers were stunned to see Ao Canghai and other Martial Aspects beaten bloody and restrained. What in the world had happened?


    Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng ignored them and headed straight into the Sieve of Heaven.


    A distantmotion could be seen from afar.


    "Is something happening at Ao Canghai''s residence?" Yang Chuan asked, frowning.


    "I stationed a few subordinates to secure Ao Canghai''s estate. It looks like his subordinates aren''t aware that he''s been caught. They must be resisting," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Ao Canghai was once the Dragon King of the Southern Sea. He''s sure to have plenty of treasure," Yang Chuan said, smiling.


    "Suppress the disturbance," Xiao Nanfengmanded Ye Dafu and the others. "Don''t let anyone take anything away."


    "Understood!" The golden cultivators rushed over.


    "Wait for me! I want a share of the treasure too!" Ao Zhou rushed over eagerly.

 Chapter 833: The Second Song

    <h4>Chapter 833: The Second Song</h4>


    In the Sieve of Heaven, within Ao Canghai''s manor, as Ye Dafu, Ao Zhou, and the others joined the fray, Ao Canghai''s subordinates were quickly subdued.


    The residents of the Sieve of Heaven were naturally surprised by this oue, but since Ao Canghai was no longer the Eastern Aspect, his influence had waned. No one dared to stand up for him.


    With Southern Aspect Yang Chuan as a witness, Xiao Nanfeng reported Ao Canghai''s betrayal to the Sieve of Heaven''s judiciary. News spread quickly across the Sieve of Heaven; its residents were in an uproar. Who would have thought that Ao Canghai would stoop to such a level?


    The Sieve of Heaven''s judiciary began its investigation immediately. The fight had caused a greatmotion and drawn significant attention, so they quickly confirmed the details of what had transpired.


    Then, they submitted a report to the Heavenly Emperor pending his approval.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and his group remained in the Sieve of Heaven as they waited for the Heavenly Emperor''s summons.


    In Xiao Nanfeng''s residence, right after he assigned a number of tasks to his subordinates, he suddenly saw a woman standing at the entrance to the main hall in the distance¡ªMadam Rouge herself.


    "Who''s that? How did she get in here?"


    "I didn''t even notice anything. She just appeared out of nowhere!"


    "Who are you?"


    The guards shouted in rm. No one knew how Madam Rouge had appeared where she did, and she seemed to have bypassed even the defensive formations around the residence.


    "That''s enough," Xiao Nanfeng called out. He waved them off.


    His subordinates and guards quickly retreated. Madam Rouge walked toward him.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I helped you drive away a powerful foe. How could you have left without a word?" Madam Rouge asked, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng was a bit embarrassed. "Didn''t I leave a letter for you? I suddenly had a bout of insight and had to enter secluded cultivation immediately."


    "Do you really think I would believe such an excuse?" she asked, continuing to smile as she approached him.


    Xiao Nanfeng gave her a wry smile, but didn''t argue the point.


    "I came all the way from the west to help you out and drove off Han Gucheng on your behalf, but even after all that, you left me hanging! Are you getting tired of me?" Madam Rouge made a mock-aggrieved expression.


    Xiao Nanfeng reared back dubiously. "Can we cut the theatrics, Madam Rouge? You''re making me look like a heartless scoundrel."


    Madam Rouge smiled brightly. "You''ll keep your word, then?"


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. There seemed to be no escaping this.


    "Give me some time. I''ll need to learn the songs properly," Xiao Nanfeng stalled.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "How much time?" Madam Rouge pressed.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Are you that eager to hear me sing?"


    "Of course! Why else would I drop my duties as an Immortal Emperor ande all the way to Dazheng? Do you have any idea how much work I have every day? How could you be embarrassed about singing me just ten songs given how much I sacrificed to help you out?"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng was speechless. This woman was definitely trouble.


    "Come on, now. I know you can sing, and no one else is around to listen," Madam Rouge coaxed.


    "You''re an Immortal Emperor. Do you really have the time to be listening to music? Or are you just too bored?"


    "I don''t want to listen to just any song. I want to hear you sing," Madam Rouge emphasized.


    "I don''t have anything prepared. Wait a little longer," Xiao Nanfeng muttered irritably.


    "That won''t do. If you don''t sing, I''ll have to tell Yu Fuli about it." Madam Rouge smiled.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "You can''t keep putting this off forever. Just go along with it," Madam Rouge urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face twitched. How had he gotten himself into such a mess?


    "Give me a little while longer," Xiao Nanfeng replied, resigned.


    "Very well, but I want to hear one of the ten songs right now."


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced.


    "What''s more, it has to be a new song I haven''t heard before, and it has to be about romance in the same vein as The Moon Represents My Heart. Otherwise, it won''t count," Madam Rouge continued.


    "You really are troublesome."


    "But you won''t go back on your word, will you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng felt harassed. When had Madam Rouge developed such weird tastes? Well¡ªit didn''t seem like she was normal to begin with. She had started out wanting to choke him to death, then shock him to death. After that, she hounded him daily, watching him eat, bathe, and sleep. When his strength finally eclipsed hers, he had teased her once, but she had grown weirder since. She was teasing him now, and even wanted him to sing her love songs!


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath, resigned. "Fine. Just one song."


    Madam Rouge''s eyes lit up. "Excellent!"


    "Let''s head to the garden over there. There''s no one else around," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He didn''t want anyone else witnessing such an embarrassing scene.


    Since he did owe Madam Rouge a favor, and since his avatar was hiding in seclusion, leaving so abruptly was rather unfair. Now that Madam Rouge had tracked him down to the Sieve of Heaven, he couldn''t just turn her down. He would think of it as a private karaoke session; as long as no one else saw what he was doing, he could handle it.


    They walked toward a secluded garden, where Xiao Nanfeng carefully set up several defensive formations. After ensuring that no one could eavesdrop, he turned back to Madam Rouge.


    She sat nearby and watched him intently.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt his face heat up. He was an emperor; how could he sing someone a love song? If anyone were to find out, he''d be too mortified to show his face.


    "What''s the name of the song?" Madam Rouge asked in anticipation.


    "Legend. It was sung by a famous singer from my hometown. Let me practice a little first."


    "A famous singer from your hometown? Ha!" Madam Rouge gave him a knowing smile.


    She had already investigated Xiao Nanfeng''s background thoroughly. His "hometown" was Yongding, and there were no famous singers there at all. Even so, she let it slide.


    "Once I glimpsed you in the crowd once again, I''ve been unable to forget your face... ?"


    "When I think of you, you''re far away; when I think of you, you''re right in front of me... ?"


    "When I think of you, you''re in my mind; when I think of you, you''re in my heart... ?"


    The song was beautiful and captured a universal human emotion. It was a song from Xiao Nanfeng''s previous life on Earth, and the feelings it conveyed were genuine.


    At first, Madam Rouge didn''t seem particrly moved. As she continued listening to it, however, her gaze softened. She suddenly looked toward Xiao Nanfeng far more gently than before.


    The song ended in what felt like a brief instant. Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.


    Madam Rouge blinked. Her gaze became focused and intense. She licked her lips, almost as if she wanted to devour him.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "It''s just a song. What''s up with that expression of yours?"


    "Did you write this song just for me?" Madam Rouge asked, smiling.


    "I already told you, it''s a song from my hometown. I just learned it," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.


    He wasn''t sure if she was being genuine or simply toying with him. Madam Rouge seemed rather untrustworthy at the best of times.


    "Your hometown?" She continued to smile at him even as she gave him a skeptical look.


    "This has to stay private, you hear? Don''t let anyone else find out," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Madam Rouge chuckled. "Since you sang it specially for me, I won''t let anyone know."


    "Good." Xiao Nanfeng breathed a sigh of relief.


    Finally, he had managed to repay his debt to Madam Rouge. As for the remaining nine songs, those could wait. He''d stretch it out as long as possible¡ªperhaps a thousand years, or even ten thousand. He never wanted to relive such an embarrassing moment again.


    Just then, Madam Rouge frowned. "Who''s there?"


    She extended a hand and sent a st of energy into the sky. The void trembled,revealing a flickering figure¡ªYu Fuli''s visage.


    "Yu Fuli? Were you spying on us?" she demanded coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face froze. Damn it, had Yu Fuli overheard his song?


    "Were you eavesdropping, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Yu Fuli smiled. "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, you really are a casanova, aren''t you?"


    "Your Majesty, eavesdropping is impolite," Xiao Nanfeng replied primly.


    "Haha! It was just an ident. I was reviewing the report regarding Ao Canghai''s case and was just about to find you, only to discover the two of you engaged in... a rather unique activity. Anyway,e to my study when you''re ready."


    Yu Fuli''s visage vanished with a hum.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt numb all over.


    "Didn''t you say no one would hear?" heined, ncing at Madam Rouge in frustration.


    "This is the Sieve of Heaven, a realm created from Yu Fuli''s heart. No one can block his scrying in his ce of power. Besides, if your avatar hadn''t been hiding from me, I wouldn''t have had toe all the way here. I would have been able to shield you from his gaze."


    "Are you saying this is my fault?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Of course." Madam Rouge rolled her eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Alright. This song was eptable, but remember, you still owe me nine more." Madam Rouge said, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Come on. I need to speak to Yu Fuli too. Let''s head over to his pce."


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng had a sneaking suspicion that Madam Rouge had known he was watching all along. For some reason, she hadn''t called him out.


    Begrudgingly, he and Madam Rouge left his residence and headed over to the Heavenly Pce atop Mt. Kunlun.


    With Yu Fuli''s summons, no one dared to bar their way. They quickly arrived at his study.


    "Rx. No one else knows what happened. Yu Fuli just happened to hear it, but he probably isn''t interested in your singing. I''m the only one who cares. Not everyone is as curious as I am about you, you realize?" Madam Rouge said, trying to reassure him.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That''s true."


    Just as they entered his study, however, they heard a familiar song¡ªthe one Xiao Nanfeng had just sung, which was now being reyed. Yu Fuli had somehow recorded it and was listening to it now.


    "When I think of you, you''re far away; when I think of you, you''re right in front of me... ?"


    "When I think of you, you''re in my mind; when I think of you, you''re in my heart... ?"


    Hearing his own voice echo throughout the study, Xiao Nanfeng felt his scalp prick. Was Yu Fuli really going to embarrass him like this? What was he going to do now?

 Chapter 834: Relaxing

    <h4>Chapter 834: Rxing</h4>


    Yu Fuli had specifically dismissed the guards around his study for Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge''s visit, allowing them to enter freely.


    As soon as they entered the study, they saw Yu Fuli seated at his desk, leisurely sipping Immortal tea while listening intently to Xiao Nanfeng''s mortifying song.


    Madam Rouge suddenly smiled as she realized something, whereas Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dour. Madam Rouge was bad enough; was the Heavenly Emperor going to bully him too? Why was the Heavenly Emperor listening to a man like him sing when he could have his pick of fair maidens?


    "Your Majesty, don''t you think it''s rather impolite to listen to my song like this?" Xiao Nanfeng said pointedly.


    Though he was Yu Fuli''s subject, Yu Fuli had always been lenient with him, and their conversations tended to be informal.


    Yu Fuli smiled. "It''s amusing, and listening to it once in a while helps me rx."


    He waved a hand, pausing the song.


    "Your Majesty, I''m sure there are many singers all over the world who would be delighted to sing for you. Surely there''s no need to listen to me?"


    Before Yu Fuli could respond, Madam Rouge interjected, "Yu Fuli is about to face the heavens. Your singing could well increase his chance of victory."


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped at Madam Rouge. Surely she was joking.


    "You don''t understand. At Yu Fuli''s level, cultivation is all about the heart. The cultivation of the heart is profound beyond belief, and a calm, cheerful mind can result in tremendous strength. Rxing before a battle will surely boost hisbat power. Though your singing doesn''t intrinsically have any benefit, as long as Yu Fuli can rx because of it, it will help," Madam Rouge exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned uncertainly. Was this really the case?


    "As expected of the first cultivator to wound the heavens, Madam Rouge, your insight into the heart''s path is profound," Yu Fuli praised.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the two of them. Were they coordinating to y a prank on him? Or were they being serious?


    Was Madam Rouge cultivating her heart by listening to him sing, too?


    He suddenly recalled that Yu Fuli hadn''t been very involved in matters of the Imperial Courttely. He had been focusing on his own affairs instead.


    "Are the heavens back?" Madam Rouge asked.


    "Almost. I can sense his impending return," Yu Fuli replied.


    Madam Rouge produced a pink jade slip and passed it to Yu Fuli. "Here are some insights from my cultivation of the heart, as well as a record of my fight against the heavens above. Although I was defeated, I hope this will provide some inspiration for you."


    Yu Fuli smiled. He understood that Madam Rouge, like him, was dedicated to opposing the heavens above. She had no reservations about sharing her experience. The jade slip didn''t just contain information about the heavens, but also about her fighting techniques. In the wrong hands, it could prove a potent threat.


    "Thank you," Yu Fuli said seriously. He epted the jade slip.


    "In thest era, the three Qing Grandmasters reigned supreme. I heard that their insights into the heart were unparalleled by all who came before them. Do you have any of their insights?" Madam Rouge asked.


    Yu Fuli considered the question. "Only of the Yuqing Grandmaster, which I can share with you."


    With a wave of his hand, beams of light coalesced into a purple jade slip, which he handed to Madam Rouge.


    "Thank you," Madam Rouge replied, epting the jade slip with a smile.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feel a bit puzzled. How had Yu Fulie to possess theplete cultivation insights of the Yuqing Grandmaster? Was there some kind of connection between them?


    It seemed that Madam Rouge''s main purpose foring to the Sieve of Heaven was to exchange cultivation insights with Yu Fuli, while hearing him sing was just an extra bonus. Xiao Nanfeng began to wonder if she had tricked him.


    "Sit down and make yourselvesfortable," Yu Fuli said.


    Yu Fuli treated Madam Rouge with significant respect. After all, she had once been the hegemon of her era. They were equals.


    Madam Rouge epted the invitation, sat down, and poured herself a cup of Immortal tea.


    Yu Fuli turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "For the good of the world, Eastern Aspect Xiao, surely you wouldn''t deny us your song?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned, but ultimately gave in. "Very well. Just don''t let anyone else hear it."


    Yu Fuli burst outughing.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng was his subject, he was certainly an unusual one. Yu Fuli found their rtionship especially pleasant.


    "Ao Canghai is in my custody, and I have evidence of his crimes. I''d like to make use of his physical body," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Just as you did with Tu Feng, handle it as you see fit."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli had always been amodating and had helped him on numerous asions. He even allowed him the freedom to sit casually like Madam Rouge.


    The three cultivators continued to chat, but only about light-hearted matters¡ªnothing serious like cultivation or worldly affairs. Perhaps, just as Madam Rouge had suggested, Yu Fuli had reached a level where things that brought him joy were of paramount importance.


    After a while, Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge left.


    Thanks to Yu Fuli''s orders, it was easy for them to handle Ao Canghai.


    A decoy of Ao Canghai was publicly executed as a warning, while the real Ao Canghai remained in Xiao Nanfeng''s custody.


    Ao Canghai''s faction had held power for many years, and hiswork of loyalists included many powerful figures scattered beyond the Sieve of Heaven.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ye Dafu and his group of Golden Immortals swiftly rounded up and arrested them all in one fell swoop, yielding Xiao Nanfeng an incredible bounty of treasure.


    Ao Canghai''s subordinates were judged for their crimes. Those who hadmitted vile misdeeds were sent to Yongding and forged into pills by Chang Bing and the others.


    The five golden cultivators who had been Martial Aspects in the southern quadrant were reassigned to the five openings in the eastern quadrant. Of the eighteen Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant, fourteen were now in Xiao Nanfeng''s faction.


    Xiao Nanfeng met with the four remaining Martial Aspects personally, who treated him with great respect¡ªa promising start.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s influence in the Sieve of Heaven continued to grow. Plenty of sects in the Sieve of Heaven were eager to join his ranks.


    In almost no time at all, Xiao Nanfeng had managed to secure more and more powerful allies.


    Everything was progressing smoothly, except for one pointed source of frustration¡ªMadam Rouge. She seemed to have be thedy of his residence, and waited there daily for him to return from his official duties.


    "Don''t you have a divine empire to keep track of in the west? Won''t staying here keep you from your responsibilities?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge smiled charmingly at him. "I''m waiting for the other nine songs."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I really don''t have any inspiration at the moment."


    "No hurry, then. I''ll wait." Madam Rouge gave him a wink.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt a chill. Madam Rouge was starting to cling to him again, just like when she was still a skeleton.


    Suddenly, a spectral guard rushed forward and reported, "Your Majesty, something has happened in the green knoll hidden realm."


    "Hm?"


    "The divine empire of Daxue has been destroyed. Apart from a few civilians who escaped from the Enlightenment Grounds, everyone else has been devoured. The Enlightenment Grounds have all gathered at Daxue''s capital, as if preparing for something major."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. No wonder Han Gucheng hadn''t been causing trouble for him recently. He had to have turned his focus back to the green knoll hidden realm¡ªand Saint Lun Hui must have done the same.


    "Shall we head to the green knoll hidden realm?" Madam Rouge asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I''d like to go check it out. There may be a great opportunity awaiting us. Are you willing to apany me?"


    "Naturally. Let''s go, then," Madam Rouge said with a smile.


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He brought no other subordinates with him. He and Madam Rouge flew straight for the Northern Heavenly Gate and hence toward the north.


    They reached the entrance leading into the green knoll hidden realm and swiftly made their way inside.


    Having been there once before, Xiao Nanfeng quickly brought Madam Rouge toward Daxue''s capital.


    Standing on a mountain peak, they observed the fog-shrouded Immortal city in the distance. The cityy in ruins. A broken stone tablet outside the city proimed that this was, in fact, Daxue''s capital.


    Within the ruins, they saw massive Enlightenment Grounds digesting their recent gains.


    "A hundred Enlightenment Grounds¡ªand all from Taiqing, by the looks of it." Madam Rouge frowned.


    "You know the difference between them?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, surprised.


    Madam Rouge rolled her eyes. "Do you think my intelligencework is just for show?"


    She had once been the hegemon of her era, and was now the ruler of a new divine empire. It was only natural that she would gather information on various powers across thend, and the green knoll hidden realm had naturally been included in her investigations.


    "Still, the information I have is limited. Why don''t you tell me what you know?" Madam Rouge suggested.


    "They are Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds, but they all seem to be under the control of Saint Lun Hui. As for the destroyed divine empire of Daxue, it seems to have belonged to Han Gucheng. He deliberately refrained from providing support to Daxue and allowed its citizens to be sent into the Enlightenment Grounds," Xiao Nanfeng told her.


    "Oh? Then Han Gucheng must be plotting something significant, as is Saint Lun Hui. They must each have their own agenda in mind..."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Madam Rouge had understood the situation quickly, and he didn''t need to exin things further.


    The two cultivators continued to watch patiently. Soon, the hundred Enlightenment Grounds all began to tremble. They formed a circle, slowly surrounding one of the Enlightenment Grounds.


    "Something must be happening there," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Madam Rouge snapped her fingers. A mirror appeared before her. It floated in mid-air and revealed what was happening within the Enlightenment Grounds.


    Several superior yin pearls led a horde of red-furred monsters toward a man standing at its center¡ªnone other than Saint Lun Hui himself.


    "Saint Lun Hui''s avatar is the overseer there, after all," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. His face grew serious.

 Chapter 835: The Taiqing Heart Lantern

    <h4>Chapter 835: The Taiqing Heart Lantern</h4>


    "Saint Lun Hui? He doesn''t seem impressive at all," Madam Rouge replied disdainfully.


    "Can your mirror peer into other Enlightenment Grounds? I''d like to have a look," Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Madam Rouge nced at Xiao Nanfeng and waved a hand.


    With a rustling sound, nearly a hundred additional mirrors appeared out of thin air, surrounding the central one just like the Enlightenment Grounds in the distance.


    Each mirror disyed what was happening in the corresponding Enlightenment Grounds. Apart from the central mirror, which showed Saint Lun Hui, the other mirrors each featured different figures in robes, male and female alike. Xiao Nanfeng recognized most of them¡ªthey were Taiqing guardians, and the former sect master Lu Yan was included in their number. They all seemed to be solemnly waiting for something.


    The hundred Enlightenment Grounds were packed with red-furred monsters, an endless sea of them that left Xiao Nanfeng stunned.


    "Saint Lun Hui is casting a spell," Madam Rouge murmured.


    The two of them turned their attention back to the central mirror. Indeed, the saint seemed to be chanting. The air before him rippled slightly as if he were summoning something.


    After about two hours, the space in front of Saint Lun Hui split open with a rumbling crack. ck fog poured out from the rift, filling the Enlightenment Grounds with a primordial aura that surged in all directions. It even spilled out toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "What a familiar aura," Madam Rouge murmured, surprised.


    In the center of the ck fog, a huge circr tform began to emerge¡ªa circr altar a few kilometers wide. A few runes pulsed along its surface.


    "The primordial altar?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    They watched on as Saint Lun Hui took a deep breath and chanted loudly, "Primordial Altar, hear my plea! In the past, the Taiqing Grandmaster sacrificed the Taiqing Heart Lantern to you. Today, Ie with a simr offering in exchange for the relic. Please ept me plea!"


    The primordial altar emitted an even more powerful burst of ck fog, which coiled around the altar in a swirling storm. A terrifying maw formed, seemingly ready to devour everything in its path.


    "Masters of the Enlightenment Grounds, drive the red-furred monsters toward the primordial altar!" Saint Lun Huimanded.


    "Understood!" the Taiqing guardians replied.


    Immediately, the superior yin pearls within the Enlightenment Grounds began to direct the countless red-furred monsters toward the primordial altar, where they were quickly consumed by the hungry ck fog.


    The red-furred monsters in the central Enlightenment Grounds were devoured in an instant.


    One by one, the other Enlightenment Grounds forged a connection with the central territory, each forming a portal through which the red-furred monsters were driven toward the primordial altar.


    The monsters surged forward in droves, vast as the ocean. Theyprised nearly the entire poption of the divine empire of Daxue. Despite the Taiqing guardians'' best efforts, it would take quite a bit of time to drive all the monsters toward the altar.


    "They''re sacrificing an entire divine empire''s poption? These people are truly heartless..." Xiao Nanfeng murmure,d frowning.


    The red-furred monsters were devoured by the primordial altar without so much as a scream.


    When thest of the monsters had finally been consumed, the ck fog by the surface of the altar began to dissipate, though a faintyer remained behind to shroud the altar''s true appearance.


    It trembled briefly before a red glow emerged from within, illuminating the central Enlightenment Grounds.


    A small red me appeared, followed by a wick, and then the Taiqing Heart Lantern itself¡ªa simple red oilmp with an eerie crimson me.


    Even through the mirror, Xiao Nanfeng felt a chill at the sight of thentern despite its small size and unassuming appearance.


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern? It''s said to contain the Taiqing Grandmaster''s heart force and insight into his cultivation of the heart. No wonder they''re going to such lengths to retrieve it from the primordial altar," Madam Rouge murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up with a sudden realization. "Are you saying that it''s possible to exchange offerings to retrieve items once sacrificed to the primordial altar?"


    Madam Rouge frowned for a moment. "I''m not sure. I''ve never tried it, at least. I don''t know if this Taiqing Heart Lantern was the one sacrificed long ago, or if the primordial altar was able to create a copy."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The thought filled him with anticipation.


    As the Taiqing Heart Lantern emerged from the primordial altar, it bathed the Enlightenment Grounds in red light. The central territory seemed to exert a pull on the surrounding Enlightenment Grounds, drawing them all in.


    One quickly merged with the central Enlightenment Grounds, like two soap bubbles bing one.


    Pop, pop, pop...


    The Enlightenment Grounds continued to merge in rapid session.


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern, like the Shangqing praying mat, can merge Enlightenment Grounds together?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Merging Enlightenment Grounds simply requires a corresponding source of heart energy. The Taiqing Heart Lantern contains ample heart force from the Taiqing Grandmaster himself. It''s ideal for merging Enlightenment Grounds from the same lineage."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "So that''s how it is." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The central Enlightenment Grounds continued to expand as the pir of white light behind Saint Lun Hui grewrger, amplifying his aura and power. The saint''s face lit up with excitement, realizing that his power would reach an apex once all the Enlightenment Grounds had merged together.


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern is worth every bit of effort I put into securing it, haha!" he shouted.


    Just then, a beam of white light shot toward him.


    "Who''s there?" he demanded, mming his palm forward.


    The white light exploded into dense white fog that instantly enveloped Saint Lun Hui, coalescing into a block of solid ice that trapped him within.


    Saint Lun Hui froze. The solid ice seemed to be able to sever his connection to the pir of white light. All the energy that Saint Lun Hui tried to draw from the pir was reflected as it struck the ice.


    "The Ice Casket of the divine empire of Dahan? Han Gucheng, show yourself!" Saint Lun Hui called out.


    Out of nowhere, a figure emerged from the void¡ªnone other than Han Gucheng himself.


    He was holding the relic that had sealed the saint in his hand. He smiled. "I''ve been waiting for you for quite some time, Saint Lun Hui. You''ve been rather slow about all this."


    "What?" Saint Lun Hui suddenly felt a sense of unease.


    "Without my assistance, you wouldn''t have been able to finish the offering so quickly. I was right, after all¡ªthe primordial altar is in your possession. Now, it''ll be mine!" Han Guchengughed triumphantly.


    Saint Lun Hui''s eyes twitched. "No wonder the divine empire of Daxue fell so easily. I thought it was due to those Taiqing guardians, but it was your doing! How did you find out?"


    "Was it really that hard? The Taiqing Heart Lantern is a priceless treasure, as is the primordial altar," Han Gucheng replied, his voice brimming with excitement.


    He flew over to the two relics.


    "Stop him!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    The superior yin pearls charged toward Han Gucheng as they emitted murderous auras.


    At that moment, a figure stepped between Han Gucheng and the superior yin pearls. With a single blow, she sent all of them flying backwards.


    "Gan Qing?" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    She was none other than the former emperor of Daliang.


    Han Gucheng quickly approached the Taiqing Heart Lantern, eyes gleaming with anticipation. He reached out for it, but the moment his hand drew near, thentern emitted a brilliant red light that repelled him.


    "Strange. Why does the heart energy around the Taiqing Heart Lantern seem so strong? It''s actively repelling anyone who tries to touch it¡ªcould this be the original Taiqing Heart Lantern from thousands of years ago?" Han Gucheng eximed.


    Just then, another figure rushed into the Enlightenment Grounds¡ªa second avatar of Saint Lun Hui, who flew straight toward the Ice Casket and struck at it with a fist.


    "Break!" he shouted.


    However, a woman suddenly appeared before him, meeting his punch with her own. The sh generated a fearsome shockwave.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Daxue, Lin Wanqing? Are you one of Han Gucheng''s subordinates, too?"


    Lin Wanqing, having intercepted Saint Lun Hui''s avatar, red back at him coldly.


    "Han Gucheng is my husband. What do you think?"


    The saint''s avatar was taken aback. He hadn''t realized that both the Immortal Emperors of Daliang and Daxue were allied with Han Gucheng.


    With a whoosh, yet another avatar of Saint Lun Hui joined the fray.


    Gan Qing abandoned her assault on the superior yin pearls and rushed to meet him, her fist shing with his in a mighty explosion that halted his advance.


    Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing each held off one avatar from Saint Lun Hui, leaving him helpless.


    "What are you waiting for? Help me break out of this Ice Casket!" he shouted.


    The superior yin pearls rushed toward the casket once again.


    Han Gucheng smirked and waved a hand. "Freeze!"


    A beam of white light shot forth, instantly encasing all the superior yin pearls in ice.


    The superior yin pearls emitted frost themselves and were highly resistant to it. They would break free soon enough, but Han Gucheng merely needed a moment''s dy.


    He turned and prepared to seize the Taiqing Heart Lantern again.


    At that moment, another figure appeared beside it¡ªMadam Rouge.


    Her eyes lit up with anticipation as she too reached out for the Taiqing Heart Lantern.


    "You? This is my relic!" Han Gucheng thundered.

 Chapter 836: The Power of the Heart Lantern

    <h4>Chapter 836: The Power of the Heart Lantern</h4>


    Within the central Enlightenment Grounds in Daxue territory in the green knoll hidden realm, a conflict was brewing between Madam Rouge and Han Gucheng.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately summoned his spectral guards, who rushed toward him from afar.


    He hade to the green knoll hidden realm with Madam Rouge and no one else; these were spectral guards that had already been stationed in the green knoll hidden realm. They had been informed of the situation by Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar, and had been in the vicinity waiting to step in as needed.


    "Who among you has an avatar in the Imperial Court? Take my Cardinal Aspect charm and head to the Heavenly Pce at once. Request an audience with the Heavenly Emperor immediately. Hurry!"


    "Understood!" one of the spectral guards responded.


    Her avatar rushed straight for the Heavenly Pce with Xiao Nanfeng''s charm in hand. No one stopped her, but she caused quite a stir. Considering that it was one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates, however, Yu Fuli guessed that something important was happening. He granted the audience immediately.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Your Majesty, Eastern Aspect Xiao has sent me to report that the primordial altar has appeared within the green knoll hidden realm, where he currently is."


    "Oh?" Yu Fuli raised an eyebrow, taken by surprise.


    With a wave of his hand, a screen of light appeared before him, disying Xiao Nanfeng''s location.


    Seeing that Yu Fuli could nowmunicate with Xiao Nanfeng directly, the spectral guard bowed and retreated.


    Meanwhile, on Xiao Nanfeng''s side, the air beside him rippled as Yu Fuli''s projection appeared.


    "Your Majesty, please have a look¡ªis that the primordial altar you''re searching for? I didn''t report it immediately because we couldn''t confirm if it was the actual primordial altar or just a connected subsidiary. Madam Rouge suggested that it might be real, so I hastily initiated contact with you."


    Yu Fuli nced over, only to see the primordial altar tremble slightly before vanishing into a spatial rift.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He was anxious, but didn''t want to disturb Yu Fuli.


    Only when it had vanished entirely did Xiao Nanfeng begin, "I apologize, Your Majesty. Was I mistaken?"


    "No. You really are lucky, aren''t you? That''s the real primordial altar." Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Why didn''t you act just now, Your Majesty?"


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "It wouldn''t have made a difference. The primordial altar is likely nearby, but what you saw was simply Saint Lun Hui''s distortion of spacetime to move it a short distance. When I scried the area, Saint Lun Hui must have sensed my aura. He used the heavenlyw hemands to revert his distortion of spacetime, hiding it once more."


    "What do we do, then?"


    "Worry not. Once the primordial altar is fixed in ce, no one can move it. Saint Lun Hui''s ability to manipte space is limited, so the altar must be close by. It''s within the green knoll hidden realm, certainly. Now, let''s count on your luck to find it."


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "Your Majesty, isn''t it rather unreliable to count on my luck?"


    "Try it. I believe in you," Yu Fuli replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He couldn''t help but think that Yu Fuli was taking all this too lightly. Perhaps Yu Fuli had some secrets that he couldn''t reveal even to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "I''ll give it a try." Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to nod.


    "I''ll leave it to you, then. I''m going back to listen to some music," Yu Fuli told him.


    Yu Fuli''s image faded away, leaving Xiao Nanfeng rmed. Listen to music? What music? The song he had sung?


    Meanwhile, in the mirror, Madam Rouge reached for the Taiqing Heart Lantern. As her hand neared it, it emitted a pulse of crimson light that forced her hand back.


    "Oh? What strong heart force," Madam Rouge murmured.


    Han Gucheng rushed forward. "The Taiqing Heart Lantern is mine!"


    Their eyes shed aggressively as they struck at each other, their fists colliding with a thunderous explosion that sent a fiery st through the air. Han Gucheng was far stronger than he''d been at Yongding.


    "Is this your main body?" Madam Rouge asked in surprise.


    "Strong as you may be, you''re not taking the Taiqing Heart Lantern today!" Han Gucheng dered.


    The two cultivators unleashed torrents of peach blossoms and snow with such force that shockwaves rippled through the air and tore open the void itself.


    From the opening in the void, the two cultivators shot up into the open sky. They fought with increasing ferocity, filling the heavens with storms of peach blossoms and blizzards.


    The tear in the Enlightenment Grounds soon healed, but the fighting within continued fiercely. Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing fought against two of Saint Lun Hui''s avatars in a fearsome sh between Boundless Immortals, filling the area with booming explosions.


    Meanwhile, the superior yin pearls finally broke free from their icy prison and rushed toward the Ice Casket that imprisoned the overseer of the Taiqing Enlightenment Grounds¡ªnaturally one of Saint Lun Hui''s avatars as well.


    "Break me out!" he called out urgently.


    The superior yin pearls crashed into the Ice Casket and caused it to tremble violently.


    At that moment, another figure appeared, sending the superior yin pearls flying back with a barrage of powerful strikes¡ªXiao Nanfeng, wielding the body of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, had joined the fray. He didn''t move toward the Taiqing Heart Lantern. If even Han Gucheng and Madam Rouge hadn''t been able to seize it, he would hardly seed. Better to secure victory here instead.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He had no idea how the Ice Casket functioned, but it was clearly potent if it could iste the overseer of the Enlightenment Grounds from the pir of white light that would grant him strength.


    With the emergence of the Taiqing Heart Lantern, the Enlightenment Grounds were merging rapidly. If the saint gained control over them all, he would be unstoppable.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? You again?!"


    "That''s right." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    He took out a ck coffin and threw it over the saint.


    "No!" the saint shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no intention to hesitate. The ck coffin engulfed the saint along with the Ice Casket, pulling both into the hidden realm within.


    Then, he shut the coffin lid and put it away.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you!" the saint''s two avatars shouted from afar.


    He could have be unstoppable with the Enlightenment Grounds'' power, but Xiao Nanfeng had ruined his opportunity! The saint''s avatars were furious.


    No one noticed as a certain figure darted toward the Taiqing Heart Lantern and seized it in one swift motion.


    "Lu Yan?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    As Lu Yan touched the Taiqing Heart Lantern, he smiled expectantly. "Taiqing Grandmaster, I am a Taiqing guardian. Please bestow upon me the right to wield this Taiqing Heart Lantern and extinguish these viins!"


    With a hum, the Taiqing Heart Lantern emitted waves of red light. A tidal wave surged forth and washed over the Enlightenment Grounds, filling it with dense red fog that shrouded everything from sight. The entire world seemed to spin; soon, none of them could see anything.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. He had been attempting to rush toward Lu Yan, but now he was disoriented and lost.


    Realizing that he was in a dangerous situation, he reined in his aura and retreated to avoid bing a target.


    Meanwhile, the saint''s two avatars stopped fighting with Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing. They nced at their surroundings in surprise.


    "Lu Yan? Did you gain control of the Taiqing Heart Lantern? Very good! Now, bring it to me!" one of the saint''s avatars called out.


    Unfortunately, there was no response from within the red fog.


    "Lu Yan? Didn''t you hear me?" the saint''s avatar demanded.


    Lu Yan still didn''t respond. A group of superior yin pearls flew over; the Taiqing guardians remained suspiciously silent.


    The saint''s avatar was growing irritated. "Do you intend to rebel? Obey me or prepare to die!"


    Just then, Lu Yan called out, "Saint Lun Hui, when we joined forces, you promised that once the red-furred monsters were sacrificed, you would im the Enlightenment Grounds, while the Taiqing Heart Lantern would remain with us. Are you going back on your word?"


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern belongs to me! Who do you think you are to question me? Surrender thentern and I''ll grant you the chance to serve me!" the saint called out coolly.


    "In other words, you never intended to keep your promise to us?"


    The saint''s avatar charged toward where Lu Yan''s voice hade from, only to find nothing there.


    "How dare you bastards try to bargain with me? Obey me or I''ll kill you all!" the saint threatened.


    "Ha! Without sufficient power, we might not have been worth bargaining with¡ªbut now that we''ve secured the Taiqing Heart Lantern, the tides have turned. Everything here now obeys my will," Lu Yan retorted coldly.


    "What did you say?" the saint''s avatar demanded.


    "This is now the world of the Taiqing Heart Lantern. My fellow Taiqing guardians, you need not conceal your power anymore. Don''t shame the Taiqing Grandmaster!" Lu Yan dered.


    "Understood!" came a chorus of voices.


    The next moment, a blinding red light emerged, revealing a massive red moon that filled the red fog with a searing glow. The aura it emitted was so intense that it sent shivers through everyone present.


    "A Deific Yin aura? Impossible. None of you are at that level¡ªunless the Taiqing Heart Lantern has empowered one of you!" the saint''s avatar cried out.


    "In the world of the Taiqing Heart Lantern, one who possesses a Taiqing red moon will be a Deific Yin cultivator," Lu Yan replied coldly.


    "So what if you''re a Deific Yin cultivator? Even with the Taiqing Heart Lantern, you''re barely a match for my avatar. Do you want to die?" the saint''s avatar threatened.


    "You misunderstand. The effect applies not just to the wielder of the Taiqing Heart Lantern. Within this world, everyone with a Taiqing red moon will be a Deific Yin cultivator," Lu Yan replied coldly.


    The next moment, another red spiritual moon appeared, matching the intensity of the first.


    "A second Deific Yin cultivator?" Gan Qing exined.


    Soon, a third red moon rose, then a fourth, then a fifth...

 Chapter 837: Xiao Nanfengs Willfulness

    <h4>Chapter 837: Xiao Nanfeng''s Willfulness</h4>


    One red moon corresponded to a single Deific Yin cultivator. Now, there weren''t just a few red moons in the sky¡ªbut a full two hundred of them.


    The Taiqing guardians were ardent followers of the Taiqing Grandmaster and weremitted to cultivating the Taiqing Yin Body. Even if their progress was slow, they were unwavering in terms of dedication.


    With the power of the Taiqing Heart Lantern, the two hundred Taiqing guardians had now been elevated to the level of Deific Yin cultivators.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The presence of two hundred such cultivators was enough to shock even the saint''s avatars.


    "That can''t be!" one of the saint''s avatars cried out.


    Gan Qing and Lin Wangqing''s eyes widened in shock. Gan Qing frowned. "This is impossible. How can the Taiqing Heart Lantern be this powerful? It could topple an entire divine empire!"


    Figures gradually emerged from the red fog, each with their own red moon¡ªTaiqing guardians with looks of excitement on their faces.


    "What''s so impossible about it? You know nothing about the power of the Taiqing Grandmaster. Now, surrender quietly, or don''t me us for being ruthless," said Lu Yan coldly as he wielded the Taiqing Heart Lantern.


    Everyone nched. No one could have expected that the unassuming Taiqing guardians would have turned out to be instrumental in the conflict.


    "Don''t go overboard, Lu Yan. If not for me, you''d still be skulking about in the green knoll hidden realm!" a saint''s avatar shouted.


    "True. We were once like your dogs, begging you for mercy just to survive. But that''s not the case any longer. If you refuse to surrender, we''ll help you do so," Lu Yan replied coldly. He turned to the other Taiqing guardians. "Attack!"


    "Understood!" the guardians replied in unison.


    They charged swiftly toward their opponents.


    "You can''t all be Deific Yin cultivators.I won''t believe it!" one of the saint''s avatars thundered.


    He threw a punch at a Taiqing guardian, unleashing a storm of power, but the Taiqing guardian responded with equal strength as he invoked the power of his Taiqing red moon.


    The two fists collided in a massive explosion that sent shockwaves through the air. They really did seem matched in strength.


    "They really are Deific Yin cultivators..." the saint''s avatar murmured in disbelief.


    Just then, two more Taiqing guardians joined the attack. They struck him at full force and sent him flying, causing him to vomit out blood as he flew through the air.


    "Impossible!" Gan Qing shouted in disbelief, as she too was struck and sent flying.


    All two hundred Taiqing guardians attacked simultaneously. Their ovepping auras alone were terrifying and oppressive.


    The four Boundless Immortals were sted backwards.


    As for the superior yin pearls, they were utterly outmatched. They were smashed to the ground and shattered into countless fragments.


    "Where''s Xiao Nanfeng? The Immortal Emperor of Dahan, whom he possessed, is here as well. Don''t let him flee. Search for him!" Lu Yanmanded.


    "Understood!" the Taiqing guardians chorused.


    They quickly dispersed as they swept the now-massive Enlightenment Grounds in search of him.


    The world of red fog was oveid on the same Enlightenment Grounds as before, so they knew that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t be able to escape.


    In a fog-shrouded valley, Xiao Nanfeng remained hidden within the mindscape of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan.


    The red fog in the vicinity was particrly strong. It was able to prate even the Immortal Emperor''s physical body and reach within his mindscape.


    The red fog was a form of heart force. Though others might not be able to handle it, Xiao Nanfeng could resist it to some extent.


    Despite the fact that his current body hadn''t cultivated the Taiqing red moon, his world of the heart contained a golden sprout.


    Previously, when Yan Ziqun had attempted to use the specter heartstone to influence him, the emotional power within the stone had beenpletely absorbed by the golden sprout, which had also drained the entirety of the heartstone as nourishment After absorbing it all, the golden sprout had doubled in size.


    Since then, Xiao Nanfeng had attempted to stimte its growth further, but nothing he tried had had any effect. As the red fog invaded his heart, however, the golden sprout showed signs of life again.


    It emitted waves of golden light that enveloped him¡ªnot as a protective shield, but rather a devouring mouth that quickly absorbed the red fog.


    The red fog was, in essence, heart force left behind by the Taiqing Grandmaster. It would be particrly valuable for the golden sprout''s growth, just like the specter heartstone.


    The golden sprout absorbed the red fog with increasing speed, creating a vortex in the air that drew in even more fog.


    "This is good, but I''m attracting too much attention, aren''t I...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.


    As the golden sprout absorbed more and more of the red fog, the vortex erged as well.


    Finally, the conspicuous disturbance caught the attention of a Taiqing guardian.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s over here!" the Taiqing guardian shouted.


    "Seize him!" Lu Yan called out from a distance.


    Immediately, a group of Taiqing guardians shot toward him with murderous intent.


    Instead of engaging with them, Xiao Nanfeng quickly fled.


    "Hold it right there!" the Taiqing guardians shouted.


    They quickly gave chase.


    The Enlightenment Grounds were massive, but how long could Xiao Nanfeng hide against such arge group of Deific Yin cultivators? Before long, he found himself trapped.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body unleashed a barrage of punches, sending one of the Taiqing guardians flying.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng charged through the gap that had just opened up, even at the cost of enduring a blow to his back.


    "Don''t let him get away!" the pursuers shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to flee.


    Meanwhile, the superior yin pearlsy shattered and broken on the ground.


    The saint''s two avatars, Gan Qing, and Lin Wangqing were all fleeing like Xiao Nanfeng, their bodies covered in wounds.


    "Lu Yan, you''re going too far. This is but my avatar. If my main body were here, you would be dead even with the Taiqing Heart Lantern!" one of the saint''s avatars shouted.


    Lu Yanughed. "Bring it here, then."


    "Do you think I wouldn''t dare?!"


    "Ha! I overheard you mentioning that there was a trace of Yu Fuli''s aura earlier before you hurriedly hid the primordial altar. He''s watching us right now, isn''t he? He''s not interested in your avatar, but rather your main body. If you show yourself, he''ll kill you instantly. You wouldn''t dare," Lu Yan replied confidently.


    "You!" The saint''s avatar was furious.


    "I didn''t want to cross you, but you broke your word. If we let you go now, you''ll onlye after uster. I''d rather destroy your avatar now and weaken you," Lu Yan said coldly.


    "Presumptuous! Yu Fuli may be powerful, but the heavens above will soon deal with him. Once my main body emerges, no one will be able to save you then!"


    "Do you think we''re afraid? The Taiqing Grandmaster has already survived one era; he can survive the next one, too. With him around, we have no one to fear."


    "The Taiqing Grandmaster lost ten thousand years ago," the saint''s avatar dered.


    "On the next attempt, I''m sure he''ll be able to win," Lu Yan replied coldly.


    As a fanatical follower of the Taiqing Grandmaster, Lu Yan had no doubt about the grandmaster''s eventual victory against the heavens.


    Frustrated by the Taiqing guardians'' zealotry, the saint''s avatars found themselves with no remaining means of intimidation.


    "Kill them!" the Taiqing guardians shouted, charging forward once again.


    The saint''s two avatars were quickly overwhelmed.


    "Taiqing Guardians, if you dare hurt me, my husband won''t spare you. He''s right outside, and he''s a mid-stage Boundless Immortal who has opened his Heartgate. Even with the Taiqing Heart Lantern, you won''t be able to stop him!" Gan Qing shouted.


    Lu Yan snorted. "We''ll go into hiding within the red moon hidden realm after killing you. Let''s see him follow us there."


    "You!" Gan Qing shouted in outrage.


    Lin Wanqing called out, "We have no enmity with you. In fact, Xiao Nanfeng is ourmon enemy. Let us go, and we''ll leave you alone."


    Lu Yan shook his head. "You gave up the entire divine empire of Daxue to acquire this Taiqing Heart Lantern, didn''t you? Do you really expect us to believe that you''d let bygones be bygones after sacrificing so much? Not a chance. Besides, we''re already at odds with Han Gucheng. Why not kill two of his Boundless Immortals and weaken him?"


    "You!" Lin Wanqing cried out as well.


    Lu Yan was far too shrewd and unyielding; they had no leeway at all. As the former Taiqing sect master, he wasn''t an easy opponent, and certainly not one to show mercy or hesitation.


    At this point, the Taiqing guardians had an overwhelming advantage. Dozens of Deific Yin cultivators were pursuing each Boundless Immortal in a one-sided ughter. If the Boundless Immortals didn''t focus entirely on fleeing, they would already have been wiped out.


    Even so, their injuries were steadily growing more severe. Blood streaked down their bodies.


    "No, I can''t die here! Xiao Nanfeng, let''s work together. Where''s your ck coffin? Open the ck coffin hidden realm so we can escape inside. It''s the only way we''ll survive!" one of the saint''s avatars shouted desperately.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the saint''s avatar from afar, ignoring him.


    "Didn''t you hear me, Xiao Nanfeng? If we don''t cooperate, we''re both going to die! Or release my other avatar¡ªquickly!"


    "Give up," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sneering.


    "Aren''t you afraid of dying? These Taiqing guardians hate you to the core! You''re already covered in blood. Aren''t you even a little worried?"


    "What does it matter if I''m covered in blood? This is the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, not mine. I don''t care if it''s destroyed," Xiao Nanfeng said intentionally.


    The saint''s avatar stiffened. He was at a loss for words.

 Chapter 838: Dont Provoke Taiqing Disciples in Your Next Life

    <h4>Chapter 838: Don''t Provoke Taiqing Disciples in Your Next Life</h4>


    Within the red fog, Gan Qing, Lin Wanqing, and the saint''s avatars all knew that they couldn''t afford to stop moving. If they halted for even a moment, they''d be killed. Even so, it was torture to be hunted by a group of Deific Yin cultivators.


    Despite their powerful secret techniques and relics, they couldn''t keep up with the overwhelming number of enemies. Dozens of Deific Yin cultivators were pursuing each of them. Though they managed to hold out for a time, they became increasingly injured. They were covered in blood and battered beyond recognition.


    Xiao Nanfeng, who had possessed the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, was also drenched in blood. Even so, his body seemed to be absorbing the surrounding red fog strangely.


    "Send more people to deal with Xiao Nanfeng! He''s using some sort of treasure to absorb the red fog, and it''s affecting the Taiqing Heart Lantern. Quickly!" Lu Yan ordered.


    "Die!"


    Instantly, over a hundred Deific Yin cultivators surrounded the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, temporarily giving Gan Qing and the others some breathing room. The Immortal Emperor''s body deteriorated rapidly under the onught of attacks. Bones and limbs shattered; it was reaching its limit.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dahan forced his enemies back with a desperate final surge, only to cripple the bodypletely.


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    "Serves you right, Xiao Nanfeng! The Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body is ruined now, isn''t it? Let''s see how you intend to continue resisting them!" the saint''s avatar cried out.


    Just then, a golden dragon burst from the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body. The Immortal Emperor''s body fell to the ground limply; Xiao Nanfeng quickly reached out and stored it away as his yin body entered the golden dragon''s mindscape.


    With a deafening roar, the dragon surged forward with overwhelming force. Two Deific Yin cultivators were sent flying from the impact.


    "It''s Ao Canghai! No¡ªjust Ao Canghai''s physical body. Xiao Nanfeng must have possessed it!" the saint''s avatar cried out.


    In the distance, Ao Canghai bellowed, "Saint Lun Hui, I refuse to cooperate with you. You''re useless!"


    The golden dragon knocked another Deific Yin cultivator aside and flew away.


    The saint''s avatar: ...


    No wonder Xiao Nanfeng was indifferent to their plight. He didn''t care about taking any damage to his physical body at all, since he could rece them at will.


    The fighting continued as the saint''s avatars, Gan Qing, and Lin Wangqing grew increasingly injured. However, they gradually began to notice something strange: the power of the Deific Yin cultivators seemed to be waning.


    "They''re weakening, aren''t they?" Gan Qing murmured weakly.


    "Is this Xiao Nanfeng''s doing?" one of the saint''s avatars eximed.


    They turned to see that the golden dragon, now in Ao Canghai''s form, was unleashing a flurry of Hegemon''s Fists.


    The powerful punches knocked back several Deific Yin cultivators. Ao Canghai was no longer fleeing; rather, with his Hegemon''s Fist, he was easily repelling the waves of attackers.


    "This can''t be. How could he have grown so much stronger?" a Taiqing guardian shouted.


    "He''s not growing stronger. We''re growing weaker," another Taiqing guardian eximed.


    They nced up at the air, only to see that their red moons were shrinking in size bit by bit.


    "What''s happening, Lu Yan?" a Taiqing guardian eximed.


    Lu Yan''s eyes twitched. "I don''t know, but it seems like the Taiqing Heart Lantern is losing power."


    "What''s going on?"


    "I think Xiao Nanfeng''s responsible. He''s been absorbing the red fog and is somehow disrupting the Taiqing Heart Lantern''s power!" Lu Yan called out.


    Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. Indeed, the red fog was swirling around Ao Canghai''s body. He had been absorbing it steadily during the fighting, and no one realized just how much he had absorbed.


    The once-dense fog was starting to thin to a very noticeable extent.


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern is continuing to grow weaker! Kill Xiao Nanfeng, now!"


    "Die!" the Taiqing guardians shouted. They shot toward Xiao Nanfeng simultaneously.


    Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to flee under thebined assault, but he continued to absorb the red fog all the while.


    As the red fog faded away, the Taiqing guardians'' strength continued to wane.


    "Quickly! We''re running out of time! Forget about the others. We have to catch Xiao Nanfeng, fast!" a Taiqing guardian shouted.


    Meanwhile, the saint''s avatars and the others, enjoying their momentary reprieve, gazed at Xiao Nanfeng in stunned disbelief.


    "What did he do?" Gan Qing eximed.


    "Could he have some way of nullifying the Taiqing Heart Lantern''s strength?" Lin Wanqing wondered.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to absorb the red fog at an elerating rate. The golden sprout within his heart, which had already doubled in size, was growing even more quickly as it consumed the red fog voraciously.


    "My strength is quickly being depleted!" a Taiqing guardian eximed.


    Just then, Ao Canghai shed before him and swung his divine undying de at him.


    "No!"


    The Taiqing guardian was sliced in two. His red moon plummeted from the sky.


    "We can''t contain Xiao Nanfeng any longer!" another Taiqing guardian shouted in terror.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    One sh, then another¡ªXiao Nanfeng was unstoppable as he mowed down his foes.


    He hadpletely stopped fleeing entirely, and was now on the offensive. As the Taiqing guardians weakened, he grew ever stronger.


    Within moments, dozens of Taiqing guardians had been taken down.


    "H-How could this be?!" the guardians eximed.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon flew out of Ao Canghai''s mindscape and into the air. It opened its mouth wide, swallowing a fallen red moon whole and rumbling as it digested it.


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon has appeared! Quickly, destroy it!" one Taiqing guardian shouted, leaping forward.


    With a frightening snap, however, the Taiqing guardian and his red moon were swallowed whole. More rumbling sounded from the spiritual moon as it digested its prey, leaving the remaining Taiqing guardians shocked.


    To their shock and horror, their strength had waned to such an extent that even Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon outmatched them.


    "We have to flee!" one of the Taiqing guardians shouted.


    They had lost all their courage. They scattered within moments.


    "It''s toote!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    He pursued them one after the other, his divine undying de shing with every blow as he took down the Taiqing guardians en masse.


    "Something''s very wrong. Hurry¡ªto the red moon illusory realm!" one of the Taiqing guardians shouted.


    The guardians recalled their red moons as they attempted to portal into the red moon illusory realm.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon let out a burst of white light, severing their connection to their red moons and sealing their means of escape.


    "I can''t open an entrance into the red moon illusory realm!"


    "I can''t either. This white light is blocking our connection!"


    "We have to deal with it, or we''re all finished!"


    The Taiqing guardians began to panic as they tried to disperse the white light, but it was toote. Xiao Nanfeng was already before them. His de cleaved through their ranks without mercy.


    "No! Let us go!" the Taiqing guardians screamed in terror, but Xiao Nanfeng showed them no mercy.Before long, they had been ughtered to thest.


    His spiritual moon had imed almost all the fallen red moons. Thereafter, it turned its attention to the severely wounded superior yin pearls.


    The nearly three hundred superior yin pearls had been crippled by the Taiqing guardians, and were no match for Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon now. It absorbed them all in one gulp.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the final Taiqing guardian, Lu Yan. "It''s your turn now, Lu Yan."


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern is the Taiqing Grandmaster''s greatest treasure! How could you have nullified it sopletely? That''s impossible!" Lu Yan cried out.


    Their surroundings had be a realm of ice and snow once more. The red fog had beenpletely absorbed by Xiao Nanfeng, and even the small me atop the Taiqing Heart Lantern was fading.


    Then, with a small pop, even that me was snuffed out.


    "No!" Lu Yan screamed in despair.


    No matter how hard he tried to manipte the Taiqing Heart Lantern, it had no effect.


    Xiao Nanfeng said coldly, "Lu Yan, I''m sure I don''t have to go over our old grudges with each other. In your next life, remember not to provoke a Taiqing disciple."


    With a single stroke, he cut Lu Yan in two.


    The extinguished Taiqing Heart Lantern fell into Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    He turned to the badly wounded Gan Qing and the others. "Now, it''s your turn."


    The four Boundless Immortals nched. They were in grave danger.


    "Let''s cooperate and take down Xiao Nanfeng together!" one of the saint''s avatars called out.


    "Very well," Gan Qing replied.


    "Charge! We''ll take him down with us!" the saint''s other avatar shouted.


    "Attack!" Gan Qing shouted.


    The saint''s two avatars charged at Xiao Nanfeng¡ªwhile Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing turned to flee.


    The saint''s avatars gaped in rage. He thundered, "Why are you running? Didn''t we agree to cooperate?"


    By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng had closed in on the saint''s avatars. He sneered. "You''re both avatars, but they''re here with their main bodies. Do you really think they would stay to die at my hand?"


    Then, he swung the divine undying de at one of the saint''s avatars, easily piercing through his qi barrier. The attack seemed like it would kill the saint''s avatar instantly.


    Sensing that he was done for, the saint''s avatar shouted, "Explode!"


    He self-destructed in an explosion of mes that sent Xiao Nanfeng flying, while his soul fragment disappeared in a pir of green light.


    Xiao Nanfeng stabilized himself and confirmed that Ao Canghai''s body, which he was possessing, hadn''t been seriously injured. With killing intent glinting in his eyes, he said, "Come at me!"


    The final saint''s avatar turned to flee, rushing straight toward Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing. "How dare you two betray me! If I die, I''ll bring you both down with me!"


    Xiao Nanfengughed coldly as he chased after the three Boundless Immortals.

 Chapter 839: Madam Rouges Threat

    <h4>Chapter 839: Madam Rouge''s Threat</h4>


    In the sky by Daxue''s capital, outside the massive Enlightenment Grounds that had formed, Madam Rouge continued to fight against Han Gucheng. By then, however, the fighting was no longer restricted to the physical realm. Auras surrounded them both¡ªpeach blossoms fluttered around Madam Rouge, and snowkes drifted around Han Gucheng.


    They watched each other intently. The void rippled between them like wavespping against each other.


    In a forest far in the distance, a few figuresy hidden as they watched the fighting unfold.


    "Why have they stopped moving? Head of Snowborne, what''s going on?" one of them eximed.


    "They''re still fighting," the head of Snowborne replied.


    "They are? But they aren''t even moving!"


    "This is a battle of the heart."


    "The heart?"


    "Indeed. From the looks of it, Han Gucheng won''t be a match for that woman," the head of Snowborne said, frowning.


    "Why? They look rather evenly matched. Neither is moving."


    "That may be so, but Han Gucheng''s gaze is vacant. All his focus is locked in the mental battle. Meanwhile, the woman is asionally ncing down at the Enlightenment Grounds, suggesting that she''s inplete control."


    "What? How could that be? Isn''t this supposed to be Han Gucheng''s main body? He''s a mid-stage Boundless Immortal!"


    "I haven''t figured out just who this woman is yet, but her strength is truly terrifying," the head of Snowborne said.


    "Forget about them for now. The saint just told us to find a way to rescue him. The Taiqing guardians have gone mad¡ªthey''re using the Taiqing Heart Lantern to hunt down everyone inside. You have to get in there and help the saint!"


    The head of Snowborne shook his head. "It''s useless. There are two hundred Deific Yin cultivators in there. To do so would be suicide."


    "What can we do, then? We can''t just sit around here and do nothing! The saint specifically ordered you to rescue him," the man said anxiously.


    "If we want to contribute, we''ll have to disrupt the bnce between those two cultivators," the head of Snowborne said, ncing at the two figures locked in a mental battle high above them.


    "Do you think they''ll help us?"


    "If the saint''s avatars are in danger, then so must be Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing. Xiao Nanfeng, too."


    "You intend to make use of them?"


    The head of Snowborne nodded. "Wait here. I''ll return shortly."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Very well," the others replied.


    The head of Snowborne shot into the sky in a streak of light. He shed at Madam Rouge with a snow-white longsword.


    As the sword''s edge reached the back of Madam Rouge''s head, she turned sharply and lifted a finger. The sword technique shattered in a burst of peach blossoms that sted the head of Snowborne backwards.


    "What?!" the head of Snowborne eximed.


    He barely managed to shield himself before striking back.


    From just a single touch, his sword shattered. He was sent hurtling back as he coughed out a mouthful of blood in the air.


    "Who dares ambush me?" Madam Rouge demanded.


    Nearby, Han Gucheng flinched. He snapped back to awareness.


    Ignoring his injuries, the head of Snowborne called out, "Something''s wrong in the Enlightenment Grounds. Xiao Nanfeng is about to die, as are Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing!"


    "What?!" Han Gucheng nched.


    He abandoned his fight with Madam Rouge and shot toward the Enlightenment Grounds down below.


    Madam Rouge, on the other hand, nced at the head of Snowborne thoughtfully. Then, rather than give chase, she too flew toward the Enlightenment Grounds.


    Both Boundless Immortals entered the Enlightenment Grounds, one after the other.


    There, Han Gucheng''s expression turned to shock.


    He saw Ao Canghai, wielding the divine undying de, relentlessly pursuing Gan Qing, Lin Wanqing, and one of the saint''s avatars. All three were bloodied and, strangely enough, in an alliance with each other.


    "Ao Canghai? No, you''re Xiao Nanfeng! Die!" Han Gucheng roared.


    He struck at Ao Canghai, who scowled and defended against the attack with his sword. Han Gucheng shattered Xiao Nanfeng''s technique while Ao Canghai was sent flying from the tremendous force.


    Han Gucheng quickly positioned himself between Ao Canghai and the three Boundless Immortals.


    He needed to end things quickly; he knew Madam Rouge was right behind him. He struck at the void with a hand.


    With an earth-shattering st, the void shattered and revealed a wide opening.


    "Han Gucheng, why the rush? Our battle isn''t over yet," Madam Rouge teased. She flew over.


    "Run!" Han Gucheng shouted.


    In an instant, Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing escaped through the void opening, followed by the saint''s avatar.


    Han Gucheng kept a wary eye on Madam Rouge and Ao Canghai. When he saw that neither of them were intending to give chase, without any hesitation, he rushed out of the opening and fled.


    With a wave of her hand, Madam Rouge conjured a mirror before her.


    The mirror showed the scene outside: the head of Snowborne was helping the saint''s avatar flee, while Han Gucheng sped off with the two women.


    "They know their limits well, I suppose," Madam Rouge said, smirking.


    She didn''t give chase. Instead, she turned to Ao Canghai. "Xiao Nanfeng, you do have such interesting secrets. How were you able to absorb the Taiqing Grandmaster''s heart force?"


    Xiao Nanfeng emerged from Ao Canghai''s mindscape, keeping his physical body and frowning at Madam Rouge. "Was it that easy for you to handle Han Gucheng? You even had time to keep an eye on how I was doing."


    "Han Gucheng has only just opened the Heartgate, and his cultivation of the heart is merely at a beginner''s level," Madam Rouge replied pridefully. With a look of curiosity, she repeated, "How did you manage to deal with the Taiqing heart force?"


    "It''s not thatplicated. You would be able to do the same, wouldn''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want to borate.


    Madam Rouge would have been able to do so, but that was owing to her surpassing cultivation. Meanwhile, the fact that Xiao Nanfeng had been able to handle the heart force as nothing but a Golden Immortal left her astonished.


    "You''re hiding things from me now, too?" Madam Rouge nced at him with even more interest.


    "Don''t keep pestering me. Here, take this. It might be useful to you." Xiao Nanfeng tossed Madam Rouge the Taiqing Heart Lantern.


    He had already absorbed all of the heart force within it. He had been examining it earlier; it was nearly empty, save for some residue he couldn''t seem to extract.


    Without Madam Rouge''s assistance, he could hardly have imed thentern. He didn''t mind passing it to Madam Rouge now.


    "The Taiqing Heart Lantern?" Indeed, the relic attracted Madam Rouge''s attention.


    She tapped at thentern with a finger, causing it to crack.


    Then, it shattered into pieces, leaving a small me at its core.


    "Oh? The Taiqing Grandmaster''s insight on heart cultivation..." Madam Rouge eximed in surprise.


    She retrieved a jade tablet and drew the small me into it with aplex series of seals. The me slowly merged into the slip, which began glowing bright red.


    "I''ll study these insights from the Taiqing Grandmaster carefully and remove any traps from them. When I''m done, I''ll make you a copy," she said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    In the end, Madam Rouge didn''t press Xiao Nanfeng further about his secret abilities. Either she wasn''t interested, or she didn''t want to pry. She turned her gaze to a pir of white light not too far away, where Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon was present.


    It was currently in the process of refining the pir of light as it took control over the Enlightenment Grounds.


    "Is that thest cursed effigy guing you?" Madam Rouge asked, frowning.


    "It is. I don''t know its identity, but it''s willing to work with me, at least. It devoured all the fallen red moons and superior yin pearls, and it''s helping me distill the Enlightenment Grounds down now."


    Madam Rouge nodded thoughtfully.


    As Xiao Nanfeng scoured the battlefield for spoils, his spiritual moon suddenly flew out of the pir of white light. It shook and resolved into the form of a jade fragment in red and white.


    The spiritual moon tossed the jade fragment to Xiao Nanfeng, then flew into Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape.


    "I''m going to absorb this fragment to break through. Please guard me," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Then, he transformed into his physical body and swallowed the jade fragment, absorbing it into his dantian.


    Within his dantian, ten golden crows flew toward the jade fragment. It exploded in a burst of naturalw that surged throughout his body.


    Madam Rouge watched on from a mountain peak in the distance. She reached out and formed a mirror in mid-air, with his spiritual moon''s image reflected within.


    Madam Rouge nced at the moon within the mirror. Her face was cold. "I don''t know from what era youe, but you''re surely not one of the three Qing Grandmasters'' ersatz creations. I sense an overwhelming aura of ruthlessness from you."


    Within the mirror, the moon remained silent for a moment before it wrote out with white light, "It''s none of your business who I am."


    Madam Rouge gave it a cold smile. "I don''t need to know who you are, but if you dare harm Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you and ensure that you never rise again."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon didn''t respond.


    Madam Rouge stared at it coldly before snapping her fingers, causing the mirror to vanish.


    Now, alone on the mountain peak, Madam Rouge''s gaze softened as she nced at the meditating Xiao Nanfeng.


    The power of naturalw filtered through his body, forming currents around him. He remained seated for several hours as he absorbed all of the Enlightenment Grounds'' strength.


    Then, he erupted in mes, dispelling the fog all around him.


    "Only the third stage of the Golden Immortal realm? What an interesting set of techniques you must have," she suddenly murmured, smiling.

 Chapter 840: Han Guchengs Happy Family

    <h4>Chapter 840: Han Gucheng''s Happy Family</h4>


    Within the green knoll hidden realm, while Xiao Nanfeng fought off the Taiqing guardians, an unexpected jailbreak urred in the dungeons of Yongding.


    With a loud explosion, the dungeon outside the imperial pce erupted. Countless defensive formations were triggered and activated all across Yongding.


    "There are intruders in Yongding! Deploy all defensive formations!" a guard shouted.


    "How dare these thieves make trouble here in Yongding! After them!" a Golden Immortal shouted as he charged forward.


    Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng, who were on guard in Yongding, were among the first to rush to the scene. As theyunched their attacks into the cloud of dust that had risen up where the dungeons had once been, a figure was sted into the sky and surrounded by the city''s array of defensive formations. The sky was illuminated by 361 stars, with beams of starlight shining down from the heavens.


    Ye Sanshui and the fog-shrouded Tu Feng shot into the sky after the figure who had been sent flying.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar emerged from a hall and looked up into the air. "Han Gucheng?"


    The cultivator who had rushed into Yongding and staged a jailbreak was none other than Han Gucheng. Of course, this wasn''t his main body, but rather one of his many avatars.


    Han Gucheng held a soul in his hand¡ªnone other than that of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Han Bing.


    "Father, you''re still alive? Father, I''ve suffered so much! You have to take revenge for me!" Han Bing eximed.


    Han Gucheng eyed Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng, then turned toward Xiao Nanfeng and smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, I thought you would have left that woman here in Yongding. It seems the treasures in the green knoll hidden realm are more important to you than this city."


    "Did you know I was headed for Daxue''s capital, Han Gucheng?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Han Gucheng didn''t reply. He eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "You''ve had a victory today; now I have one too. We''ll fight again soon in the future."


    Then, he flew off with Han Bing''s spirit.


    "Hold it!" Ye Sanshui shouted, rushing to pursue him.


    "Don''t give chase!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng stopped short, then flew back to Yongding.


    At that moment, a group of officials rushed over to Xiao Nanfeng. One whose face was filled with remorse pleaded, "Please punish me, Your Majesty. I didn''t expect Han Gucheng to infiltrate Yongding."


    "Please punish me as well, Your Majesty. I didn''t think he would find out where we were detaining Han Bing''s spirit!" another official responsible for the dungeon said.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. "See to the injured and handle the aftermath."


    "Understood!" the officials chorused immediately.


    Ye Sanshui and Tu Fengnded nearby and followed Xiao Nanfeng into the study, where several other officials were awaiting them.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Your Majesty, Han Gucheng is simply too strong. Even with abined attack, neither Tu Feng nor I could scratch him. If he truly wanted to escape, I doubt even the two of us together could have done anything," Ye Sanshui said regretfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng reassured him, "Don''t worry. Nothing would have changed even if I had joined in."


    "But..." Ye Sanshui hesitated.


    Xiao Nanfeng shrugged. "Don''t worry. Today''s oue was nned."


    "Oh?" Ye Sanshui was shocked.


    "Mr. Wen, please exin."


    Wen Zhong nodded. "Sir Ye, Sir Tu, don''t be too hard on yourselves. Today''s events unfolded exactly as His Majesty anticipated."


    "How so?" Ye Sanshui asked, confused.


    "Han Gucheng is no easy opponent. Not only is he exceptionally strong, he''s also cunning and strategic. He''s been plotting against Saint Lun Hui within the green knoll hidden realm, fully aware of His Majesty''s presence there. He must have considered both His Majesty and Madam Rouge as potential factors. He likely nned for two oues: if Madam Rouge remained in Yongding, he would overpower everyone in the green knoll hidden realm and seize the Taiqing Heart Lantern. Otherwise, he would instead cause chaos here in Yongding."


    "What? Does Han Gucheng really have no qualms about sacrificing the divine empire of Daxue? Is his son really more important than the Taiqing Heart Lantern?" Ye Sanshui was astonished.


    Wen Zhong frowned. "From what we learned, there''s nothing particrly special about Han Bing. His soul is only at the level of a True Yin cultivator. We can only assume that Han Gucheng holds his family in very high regard. He''s exceptionally devoted to his wives and deeply cares for his son."


    "I see. But Han Gucheng must have some way of sensing his son''s whereabouts. How else could he have found him so quickly from among Yongding''s four dungeons?" Ye Sanshui frowned.


    "No, you''re mistaken. If His Majesty really wanted to hide Han Bing, he would never have been found. The reason Han Gucheng was able to rescue his son was because His Majesty allowed it to happen.


    "But why?" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "Han Gucheng has immense strength. If we had engaged in actual battle, Yongding would surely suffer greatly, and countless civilians would perish. Rather than risk such catastrophe, we used Han Bing''s soul as a bargaining chip to ensure peace for the city," Wen Zhong exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng added, "In addition, I need Han Gucheng''s help to locate the primordial altar. Only with his son''s safe return will he focus fully on Saint Lun Hui. That''s why I never threatened him with Han Bing."


    "I see. Right¡ªearlier, Han Gucheng said that you had seized victory, Your Majesty. Does that mean you seeded in the green knoll hidden realm?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "More or less, but Han Gucheng has impressive ns. He''s definitely after something big."


    "What''s he after?" Ye Sanshui asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m not sure, but he seems to be manipting Saint Lun Hui."


    "What?!" Ye Sanshui was shocked.


    What Immortal Emperor could manipte a saint?


    "Let''s wait and see how things unfold," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" The cultivators nced at each other and nodded.


    High in the clouds, Han Gucheng was flying swiftly with his son''s soul.


    "Father, you''re alive? I thought you were... It''s so good to see you! If only Mother were here too," Han Bing sighed.


    "Your mother is alive," Han Gucheng replied.


    "She is?!" Han Bing eximed.


    Han Gucheng nodded. He exined his ns within the green knoll hidden realm.


    "What? Father, you and Mother managed to gain control of the entire realm?!"


    "We intended for you to safeguard Dahan, but you fell for someone''s scheme," Han Gucheng said, sighing.


    "I did, but it won''t happen again," Han Bing promised.


    Han Gucheng patted his shoulder. "Learn from this lesson. There''s a long road ahead of you."


    "Got it." Han Bing nodded, his eyes red.


    "Let''s go pick something up. Then, I''ll take you to see your mother."


    "As you say, Father." Han Bing nodded.


    Back in the green knoll hidden realm, within a certain hall, Han Gucheng''s main body was healing Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing. His hands caressed their backs gently as he channeled Immortal qi into their bodies. After a while, they slowly began to recover.


    The hall also held a pool filled with a medicinal elixir. Han Gucheng helped the two women in and slowly wiped at their wounds.


    The two women were deeply touched by how tender Han Gucheng was.


    "Forgive us, Husband. That wretched Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of us," Lin Wanqing said, sobbing.


    Han Gucheng gently wiped her tears away. "Don''t me yourselves. I failed to make sufficient preparations. You''ve suffered more than enough."


    "I..." Lin Wanqing''s eyes turned red as she was ovee by guilt.


    "Don''t cry. You won''t look pretty if you keep crying," Han Gucheng said kindly.


    Lin Wanqing nodded, but despite Han Gucheng''sforting words, her tears continued to flow.


    Han Gucheng then tended to Gan Qing''s wounds. She too looked miserable. "Xiao Nanfeng really is relentless. He captured my son, desecrated his body, and robbed you of your opportunities. How did things go so wrong?"


    "Don''t lose heart. We haven''t lost just yet. Xiao Nanfeng may have seized the Taiqing Heart Lantern, but he''s also made a powerful enemy. Saint Lun Hui is sure to hate him now."


    "But..." Gan Qing still seemed unconvinced.


    "Besides, I rescued Bing''er. Soon, our family will be reunited."


    "Really?" Gan Qing''s eyes lit up.


    "I''m collecting some things with Bing''er, and we''ll be back in a few days. You''ll be happier then," Han Gucheng promised.


    "Husband, did you go to Yongding? Didn''t you say it was incredibly dangerous, that the Divine Emperor might show up there at any time? What if something had happened?" Gan Qing asked in worry.


    "Our family''s happiness is worth the risk," Han Gucheng replied.


    Gan Qing''s eyes filled with gratitude as she clung to him.


    Han Gucheng hugged the two women tightly, who flushed and looked toward him with affection...


    Meanwhile, in the ruins of what had been Daxue''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body absorbed the massive Enlightenment Grounds as he advanced to the third stage of the Golden Immortal realm. After chatting with Madam Rouge, he produced a ck coffin.


    Withiny the remnants of the saint''s avatar that had once served as overseer of the Enlightenment Grounds.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the ck coffin with Madam Rouge.


    They quickly arrived at a secluded valley where arge block of ice, the Ice Casket, trapped the frozen saint''s avatar.


    "The saint''s gone..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


    "His yin body is at the level of a Deific Yin cultivator, and he can flee using heavenlyw. The reason he didn''t do it beforehand was because he didn''t want to give up the Enlightenment Grounds; now that that''s gone, there''s no point for him to stay here any longer."


    "I see. But why didn''t he make use of his heart force? I''m sure he''s started cultivating the heart."


    "Saints can do so¡ªbut he didn''t dare. If he does, Yu Fuli would have been able to sense his main body. The fact that you contacted Yu Fuli must have terrified him," Madam Rouge replied, smiling.


    "I see," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Then, he picked up the Ice Casket.

 Chapter 841: A Mutually Beneficial Cooperation

    <h4>Chapter 841: A Mutually Beneficial Cooperation</h4>


    "The Ice Casket is a famous treasure of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, and can even bind early-stage Boundless Immortals. Quite the treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. His eyes lit up.


    "Let me have a look," Madam Rouge said.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed her the Ice Casket.


    Madam Rouge examined it. A hint of surprise crossed her face. "How interesting."


    As she spoke, she formed a seal with a hand and pressed it against the case. "Let the mirror''s reflection dissolve all falsehood. Unseal!"


    With a bang, the surface of the Ice Casket shattered like ss, revealing countless cracks. The Ice Casket hadn''t actually broken; rather, a special seal had been lifted from the relic.


    A powerful burst of cold energy erupted, freezing the entire valley and transforming it into and of frost. The Ice Casket itself changed shape as it turned into three small blue orbs.


    "Are these Enlightenment Grounds that have been conquered?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "That''s right," Madam Rouge confirmed. "They''re just a fusion of several Enlightenment Grounds, but the method of fusion was so sophisticated that it hid their true nature." Madam Rouge tossed Xiao Nanfeng the three orbs.


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows. "Using Enlightenment Grounds to counter one another¡ªno wonder it was able to confine Saint Lun Hui''s yin body and deflect the energy from that pir of white light. This must be why Gan Qing wanted to purchase the cores of these Enlightenment Grounds."


    Madam Rouge nodded. She turned to her surroundings. "This hidden realm is rather interesting, isn''t it?"


    "Could you examine it for me?" Xiao Nanfeng requested. "The Heavenly Emperor mentioned that the original owner of these ck coffins was also someone who opposed the heavens, so he didn''t want to interfere with his ns. However, I suspect that the original owner had some hidden schemes in mind. That''s why I haven''t dared tobine the three coffins. Additionally, Ye Sanshui''s ancestral zombie body is also from this hidden realm. He left a message by that altar over there. Please take a look."


    Madam Rouge examined the hidden realm for some time, then frowned as she read his message. "He lived through a second era?"


    "Indeed. I suspect that, if the three coffins or three ancestral zombies arebined, he may be revived in a third life," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Yu Fuli may be a bit too cautious. Give me the ck coffin and the ancestral zombies'' blood to study," Madam Rouge instructed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Then, the two of them emerged from the ck coffin.


    Outside, Xiao Nanfeng gave his subordinates specific instructions before leaving the green knoll hidden realm with Madam Rouge.


    He was willing to help the Heavenly Emperor search for the primordial altar, but the fact that no one had found it after all these years made him suspect that he wouldn''t be able to locate it just by wandering around. Rather than waste time himself, he would instead dispatch his subordinates for a thorough search.


    Elsewhere, in Dadong''s capital within the green knoll hidden realm, three women stood at the entrance to a hall.


    Han Gucheng''s avatar returned with Han Bing andnded before the three women.


    "Mother, you''re really alive! And Second Madam and Third Madam as well!" Han Bing eximed.


    Gan Qing psed Han Bing''s hand with a look of relief. "It''s good to have you back."


    Lin Wanqing and the Immortal Emperor of Dadong also smiled warmly.


    "Bing''er''s physical body is in Xiao Nanfeng''s possession at the moment. Help him construct a temporary one," Han Gucheng instructed.


    "Of course," the three women agreed in unison.


    "Will you be heading out, Husband?" Gan Qing asked.


    Han Gucheng nodded. "My main body will apany you, but this avatar has matters to attend to." avatars "Take care, Husband!" the three women called out.


    Han Gucheng parted from his family and disappeared into the fog. Soon, he found an Enlightenment Grounds and entered it. Quickly thereafter, he located the master of the Enlightenment Grounds.


    "Are you Han Gucheng?" the master demanded.


    "I want to see your overseer, Saint Lun Hui. There''s something I''d like to discuss with him."


    "What about?" the master asked warily.


    "Just deliver my message. Don''t worry about the details," Han Gucheng replied curtly.


    The master''s expression flickered. In the end, he chose not to engage inbat and used a secret technique to contact Saint Lun Hui.


    Before long, the master replied, "The overseer happens to be nearby. Wait here for him to arrive."


    "Very well." Han Gucheng nodded.


    The master allowed Han Gucheng out of the Enlightenment Grounds. He waited nearby; shortly thereafter, a figure flew over from afar.


    It was Saint Lun Hui''s avatar. Several other figures were hidden in the fog to his back, likely his subordinates, and prepared to surround Han Gucheng at a moment''s notice.


    "What do you want, Han Gucheng?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    Han Gucheng nced at the figures hidden in the fog but paid them no mind. He bowed respectfully. "It is an honor to meet you, Saint Lun Hui."


    "I have no interest in your honor," Saint Lun Hui replied coldly.


    Unbothered, Han Gucheng smiled and replied, "Saint Lun Hui, I know you resent me for opposing you in days past¡ªbut even without me, don''t you think that Xiao Nanfeng''spanion would have caused you equal harm?"


    "What do you want?" Saint Lun Hui reiterated.


    "The animosity between us stems only from conflicting interests. We don''t have a grudge against each other beyond that. I''m reaching out to you with an alliance in mind."


    "An alliance? To deal with Xiao Nanfeng?" Saint Lun Hui sneered.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is our mutual enemy, and we would attack him regardless. My proposal involves something else."


    "Oh?"


    "There''s a pavilion nearby. Why don''t we have a seat and discuss this calmly?" Han Gucheng suggested.


    He gestured toward a pavilion atop a mountain peak in the vicinity, which he had had his subordinates build earlier. Near the pavilion, some of his subordinates had even prepared tea.


    Saint Lun Hui hesitated for a brief moment, but ultimately agreed out of curiosity.


    The two cultivators reached the pavilion and sat down.


    Han Gucheng personally poured Saint Lun Hui a cup of tea.


    "Hmph!" Saint Lun Hui snorted, but lifted his teacup regardless.


    "I assume you''ve realized by now that the three divine empires within the green knoll hidden realm are all mine," Han Gucheng began.


    Saint Lun Hui shot him a cold nce. He had deduced this, though only recently. The Immortal Emperors of all three empires were women¡ªHan Gucheng''s women, to be precise.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They had entered the green knoll hidden realm with altered appearances dozens of years ago, so no one had suspected Han Gucheng''s involvement until recently.


    Saint Lun Hui couldn''t help but marvel at how much Han Gucheng had managed to achieve in the span of mere decades.


    "In truth, I only became interested in the green knoll hidden realm because I learned that you were seeking something there," Han Gucheng continued, smiling.


    Saint Lun Hui frowned. "How much do you know?"


    He didn''t understand how his secret had been leaked, and was deeply curious.


    "Three centuries ago, you once fought against Saint Chi Hai. You forced him out of the green knoll hidden realm¡ªand your objectives haven''t been a secret since."


    "Chi Hai, that bastard, told you about my ns?" Saint Lun Hui''s expression darkened.


    That exined everything. So Chi Hai was responsible!


    Han Gucheng nodded. "That''s right. I know your secret: you''ve been guarding the primordial altar. You''re hoping to gain control over all the Enlightenment Grounds and reim the treasures sacrificed to the altar."


    Saint Lun Hui sipped his tea. "Continue."


    "I initially wanted topete with you for the treasure, but as you saw, our conflict simply benefited Xiao Nanfeng. You must be as frustrated as I am."


    Saint Lun Hui frowned. He indeed loathed Xiao Nanfeng, who had not only stolen his treasures but also killed several of his avatars.


    "You went to Dahan''s capital to provoke my son into abducting Lan Yaoguang, hoping to recruit him to your cause, didn''t you? My son has nothing that would catch your attention save the technique he cultivates, the Frozen Heart''s Elegy. You need that technique to achieve your goals, don''t you?"


    "Did Chi Hai tell you that as well?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    Han Gucheng neither confirmed nor denied the allegations. "He told me quite a bit, but he''s no longer with us. We might as well move on. I''m here to propose a mutually beneficial alliance."


    Saint Lun Hui harrumphed. "And what are your terms?"


    "I taught my son the Frozen Heart''s Elegy, and my mastery of the technique is superior. I''ll cooperate with you," Han Gucheng said.


    "And in return?"


    "I''d like to borrow your primordial altar."


    "Oh?"


    "The primordial altar has existed for countless years, and the strongest cultivators in all of history have made offerings to it. Among these offerings are rare cursed effigies, one of which I intend to im for myself."


    "You intend to turn yourself into a cursed effigy?" Saint Lun Hui narrowed his eyes.


    "Indeed. With the tribtion of the era looming, I, like you, believe that Yu Fuli is doomed to failure. When that happens, all great cultivators will perish. I seek to escape that fate. I intend to transform into a cursed effigy and survive to awaken in another era. I won''t be able to exchange for a new cursed effigy from the world away, so my only other recourse is to obtain one that already exists. I''ll have the primordial altar help me purge the consciousness of the cursed effigy beforehand. It won''tpare to a brand-new cursed effigy, but it''s far better than the symbiotic options widely avable."


    Saint Lun Hui narrowed his eyes. Was Han Gucheng really doing all this in fear of death? That made sense.


    "Saint, we''ll both benefit by working together. What say you?"


    Saint Lun Hui considered this proposal for a moment. He sneered inwardly. Once he got what he wanted, he''d be able to renege on his word and turn Han Gucheng into his pawn. He smiled and replied, "Very well. Let''s work together, then."

 Chapter 842: Madam Rouges Dream

    <h4>Chapter 842: Madam Rouge''s Dream</h4>


    In the imperial study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng was reviewing a stack of documents as Wen Zhong read aloud, filling in gaps in the reports and offering insights of his own.


    "In other words, Han Gucheng''s attention is focused on the green knoll hidden realm for the time being?" Xiao Nanfeng asked thoughtfully.


    "Indeed. Ever since your altercation with the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Your Majesty, we''ve been keeping track of everything that''s happening within his realm. He immediately quelled the troublemakers across the region on his return, but then vanished anew," Wen Zhong said.


    "In other words, he''s using his lingering influence to maintain control over his empire while not operating within it."


    "Yes, Your Majesty," Wen Zhong confirmed. "His ns within the green knoll hidden realm must be more important than Dahan."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "You''re right. He abandoned the divine empire of Daxue without a second thought. He likely doesn''t care much for Dahan, either."


    "Our enmity with Han Gucheng has escted to the point that a showdown will be inevitable. In that case, we should seize any opportunity to weaken him," Wen Zhong emphasized.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the suggestion for a moment, a glint of resolve in his eyes. "In that case, let''s take a bold move."


    "Your Majesty, do you intend to take over Dahan?" Wen Zhong''s eyes lit up.


    "Han Gucheng has been so busy that he hasn''t transferred full control of Dahan away from Han Bing, which gives us an opening. We have Han Bing''s physical body, after all. I''ll leave the task of dealing with Dahan''s key officials to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Under Dazheng''s name?" Wen Zhong asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng considered the options, then shook his head. "No. Makemands in Han Bing''s name."


    "Your Majesty, do you intend to create the illusion that Han Gucheng and Han Bing are at odds andpeting for control of Dahan?" Wen Zhong asked. His eyes gleamed with understanding.


    "That''s right. It''ll be challenging to pull off, but I believe you''re up to the task. Even if the ploy doesn''t work, it doesn''t matter. Just do your best," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied, nodding.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "In addition, I recently acquired three tamed Enlightenment Grounds. I''ll help you raise your cultivation to the Golden Immortal realm so that you can protect yourself, at least," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Understood. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wen Zhong said, deeply moved.


    A few years ago, he would never have imagined being able to be a Golden Immortal in such a short period of time.


    In the garden of the imperial pce, Ye Sanshui, two pools of ck blood, and two ck coffins all stood together as Madam Rouge performed a ritual. Dozens of mirrors surrounded them, casting colorful light that made the objects emit wisps of ck smoke.


    "Argh!" Ye Sanshui cried out in pain.


    "Bear with it," Madam Rouge replied.


    Ye Sanshui clenched his teeth, trembling as he endured the pain.


    ck smoke gradually rose from the pools of blood and Ye Sanshui''s body, then streamed into the ck coffins. Only after an entire day had passed did the process finally stop.


    With a wave of her hand, Madam Rouge made the mirrors around them disappear to reveal Ye Sanshui seated cross-legged in meditation.


    The ck blood remained unchanged, but the ck coffins continued to emit traces of ck smoke.


    "Well?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "As I suspected, the message left by the owner of the ck coffins was meant to deceive you," Madam Rouge said.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "He did manage to live through two eras¡ªwith the ck coffins and ck blood serving as his cursed spiritual avatars. In each ck coffin and pool of blood, he left his cursed will behind. Regardless of whether the three pools of blood or the three coffins merge, he will be instantly revived. You were cautious not to do as he imed," Madam Rouge said.


    "As I thought," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.


    "I''ve transferred the three portions of cursed will from Ye Sanshui''s body and the two pools of ck blood to their respective coffins. Ye Sanshui can now merge with the ck blood without immediately reviving its previous owner¡ªat least for a time."


    "For a time?"


    "As you know, cursed effigies can''t be killed or erased. My measures only serve to dy the revival of the coffins'' owner, not to cancel itpletely. The less ck blood Ye Sanshui absorbs, the longer he''ll be able to survive, and vice versa."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Thank you."


    "Thank me? How will you thank me? With a song?" Madam Rouge teased.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "Haha, no rush. Just make sure you make up for those nine songs sooner orter."


    Xiao Nanfeng scowled.


    Just then, Ye Sanshui stood up and bowed. "Your Majesty, I feel much morefortable now."


    Xiao Nanfeng repeated Madam Rouge''s exnation and said, "Don''t worry. If any issues arise with this ancestral zombie''s body, I''ll procure another cursed effigy you can merge with."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded.


    "These two pools of ck blood, I''ll leave with you. Don''t absorb them unless truly necessary. If you encounter an insurmountable challenge, absorb one," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly as he imed the two pools of blood.


    "You may go," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Ye Sanshui bowed and retreated.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng stored the two ck coffins, then turned to Madam Rouge. "Didn''t you say you had something you needed my help with, too?"


    "Yu Fuli''s copy of the Yuqing Grandmaster''s cultivation of the heart was of great use to me. The Yuqing Grandmaster was a peerless talent. His approach to the heart''s path is different from mine, but it''s given me tremendous inspiration."


    "Oh?"


    "After analyzing my defeat against the heavens, I realized that a critical factor was a w in my heart. In the Yuqing Grandmaster''s insights, I found a method with which to repair this w. I don''t know if it''ll necessarily work, but I''d like to give it a try."


    "Isn''t that great?"


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster''s insight, however, may be somewhat risky to carry out. I need someone I trust to guard me in the process," Madam Rouge continued.


    "Me?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Madam Rouge nced at Xiao Nanfeng. "Precisely."


    "Do you really trust me that much? Don''t you have many subordinates? You..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.


    As he spoke, he saw the serious, hopeful look on her face and paused. Perhaps Madam Rouge''s subordinates might not be entirely trustworthy. That peach bodhisattva from before, for instance¡ªdespite being Madam Rouge''s follower, he had wanted her affection for himself.


    Madam Rouge had to be lonely if she had established such a vast empire without any loyal confidants.


    "I''ll help," Xiao Nanfeng said solemnly.


    Madam Rouge beamed.


    They naturally decided to carry out the secluded cultivation in Yongding.


    The two of them set up arge number of defensive formations to ensure their privacy.


    They sat cross-legged within the hall, facing each other. Madam Rouge waved a hand, causing pink fog to fill the hall. The fog glowed softly and created a dreamlike atmosphere.


    "With Yuqing''s path, I rectify chaos. Circte," Madam Rougemanded, waving her hand.


    The pink fog quickly began to revolve around the two cultivators as it turned purple.


    Meanwhile, Madam Rouge retrieved two empty cups. Forming seals with her hand, she allowed tendrils of purple mist to flow into the cups and condense into purple drops of liquid. In no time at all, both cups were filled with what seemed like purple wine.


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, curious.


    "ording to the Yuqing Grandmaster''s insight into the heart, the liquid formed here is known as the Yuqing dreamliquor. Drinking it allows one ess into the deepest recesses of the heart, the core of the self. Only by transforming that core can a person''s heart be truly altered and any ws repaired. I''d like to attend to my core."


    "Very well. I''ll keep you safe from external threats," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Madam Rouge shook her head. "No, you misunderstand. The danger I face isn''t external, but rather internal."


    "What do you mean?"


    "When I drink the Yuqing dreamliquor, I''ll enter a dream in which I may forget who I am. I''ll relive past events and repeat them in a loop. I''m worried I''ll be trapped and unable to break free."


    "Unable to break free?"


    "If I fail to repair my heart, I may be trapped in its recesses forever. I will forget my identity and purpose. I''ll need someone to pull me out. Apanion within my dream will create a variable by which I may be able to escape."


    "In other words, as long as I drink the other cup of Yuqing dreamliquor, I''ll be able to enter your dream and pull you out?"


    Madam Rouge nodded seriously.


    "Can''t I wake you up directly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "That would damage my heart. You''ll have to enter the dream and wake me there," Madam Rouge replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng grew serious as he recognized the risks of this process. No wonder Madam Rouge needed someone she could trust entirely. If her protector meant her ill, Madam Rouge would be severely injured.


    "Very well. I''ll do my best," Xiao Nanfeng said sincerely.


    Madam Rouge had helped him out tremendously, and he was more than happy to return the favor.


    "In that case, I''ll begin. You''ll be able to see the projection of my dream. If it starts repeating without end,e in and wake me."


    Then, she lifted her cup of Yuqing dreamliquor and drank from it. Instantly, her body was enveloped in a purple glow as she fell into a meditative, dream-like state.


    The swirling purple mist around him suddenly calmed and became perfectly still. Madam Rouge''s dreams came into view within the mist¡ªas did voices.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. Would he be able to see into her dreams directly?


    Through the hazy image, a female voice called out, "Yanzhi, did you draw little turtles on Father''s papers again? You''ll be in big trouble once he gets back!"


    "Serves him right for not buying me peach blossom cakes! Sister, don''t tell him I did it, alright?" a mischievous little girl replied.

 Chapter 843: Little Miss Rouge

    <h4>Chapter 843: Little Miss Rouge</h4>


    "Yanzhi, did you draw little turtles on Father''s papers again? Just wait until hees back¡ªyou''re going to get a beating!"


    An image slowly appeared in the purple fog in the air.


    Within the scene, a little girl, round-faced and adorable, was holding a brush with which she had just drawn a number of little turtles on some official-looking documents. An older girl had noticed her actions. Though the little girl was initially startled, she rxed upon recognizing her sister.


    "Well, Father didn''t buy me any peach blossom cakes! Sister, don''t tell Father it was me, alright?" Yanzhi pleaded.


    "Father''s almost home. You''d better run if you don''t want him to catch you red-handed. Go on!" her sister chided.


    "Okay, okay! Sister, you''re the best. Keep it a secret, alright?" Yanzhi stuck her tongue out yfully before tossing the brush aside. She took her sister''s hand in hers and bolted off quickly. Her sister sighed in exasperation, knowing that Father would find out anyway.


    Sure enough, soon afterwards, an angry shout echoed through the house. Both sisters were called over and forced to kneel as punishment.


    While Father, Mother, and Brother sat at the table for dinner, Yanzhi and her sister remained kneeling on the floor.


    Their stomachs rumbled as they watched everyone else eat. Tears welled up in Yanzhi''s eyes and trickled down her cheeks.


    "What are you looking at? When you make mistakes, you''ll have to face the consequences! Do you want to join them on the floor? Keep eating," Father barked.


    Mother and Brother didn''t dare refute Father. They resumed eating.


    Meanwhile, Yanzhi''s sister tugged on Yanzhi''s arm, as if in constion.


    "Sister, I''m sorry for dragging you into this," Yanzhi murmured.


    Just then, with everyone preupied with their meal, her sister seized the chance to slip something small into Yanzhi''s mouth¡ªa piece of candy, sweet beyond belief. Where had her sister gotten it?


    She looked at her sister in amazement,who winked back at her and made Yanzhi grin. Her eyes curved into grinning crescents. The two girls continued to enjoy their secret moment, unnoticed by one and all.


    After dinner, with Father out of the house once more, their punishment came to an end. By then, however, all the food had been finished.


    "Mother, you ate everything! Sister and I have nothing to eat," Yanzhi pouted.


    "You little rascal, you''re always causing trouble! Here, I kept your favorite dish in the kitchen for you¡ªchicken drumsticks." Her mother smiled as she brought some dishes over.


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    "Chicken drumsticks?" Yanzhi''s eyes lit up.


    "Yanzhi, try to stay out of trouble, alright? Here, I got you some candied hawthorns today." Brother secretly brought her a stick of candied fruit.


    "You''re the best, Big Brother!" Yanzhi eximed.


    That evening, while the rest of the household chatted andughed, Yanzhi ate her fill.


    At night, right when Yanzhi and her sister were about to sleep, their father entered their room.


    "What are you doing here, Father?" Yanzhi eximed.


    Father handed her a small box. "Next time, you can''t scribble all over my papers, understand?"


    "I, I..." Yanzhi pouted.


    Father gently tousled her hair, set the box down, and left the room without criticizing her further.


    Outside, she could faintly hear her mother speaking. "Husband, aren''t you going to rest yet?"


    "You go to bed first. I need to rewrite the report to the emperor. It has to be wless."


    Inside the room, her sister murmured, "Look, Yanzhi! Father''s going to have more work because you were doodling over his papers!"


    "I-I didn''t know!" Yanzhi grimaced.


    "Let''s see what Father brought you. What an exquisite box! I''m going to open it, alright? Ah, peach blossom cakes? Father must have gone out just to get them for you!" Yanzhi''s sister eximed.


    Yanzhi gazed at the pastries in surprise and delight. "Thank you, Father..."


    The two siblings shared the peach blossom cakes with each other, then went to bed.


    The next morning, a loud, stern shout woke the household. "Surround the house! Don''t let even a single fly escape!"


    Yanzhi was roused from sleep amidst the sudden chaos. Her siblings and mother were all pale and worried.


    "Mother, what''s going on?" Brother asked anxiously.


    "Your father''s been framed. They''re using him of treason, and the soldiers outside are here to seize everything. You have to run!" Mother replied, her voice trembling.


    "What?!" The three siblings were stunned.


    Mother strode straight up to a cupboard and slid open a hiddenpartment that led to a small tunnel.


    "Hurry! Crawl through this tunnel and don''te back. Nevere back! Disguise yourselves well. You''ll have to survive on your own. Live on no matter what!" she cried, pushing them into the hidden passage and sealing it behind them.


    "Mother?" Yanzhi cried out, still not fullyprehending what was happening.


    "We have to go," Brother urged.


    Yanzhi''s siblings guided her through the tunnel.


    The three siblings continued crawling through the tunnel, only to hear screams and shouts echoing from behind.


    "There''s a passage here, but the opening is too small for us to fit inside!"


    "We were ordered to catch everyone, dead or alive. We''ll bring down the whole tunnel if we have to!"


    A series of loud shouts followed as the tunnel began to shake violently.


    "This isn''t good. Hurry! We''re going to be buried alive if we don''t hurry!" Brother urged.


    "Go, Yanzhi! Hurry!" Sister added.


    Yanzhi sobbed as she crawled for her life.


    "Brother, what''s wrong?!" Sister suddenly eximed.


    "A huge rock struck me. Leave! Go on without me!" Brother hissed.


    "I won''t!" Sister cried out.


    Another loud rumble shook the tunnel. More rocks and dirt rained down from above,pletely burying her brother alive.


    "Brother!" Sister cried out.


    But there was no reply.


    Sister had no choice but to wipe her tears and push Yanzhi onward.


    "Let''s keep going, Yanzhi. Let''s keep going," she whispered, sobbing as they crawled forward.


    The two sisters didn''t know how long they crawled before they finally emerged into the sunlight. They found themselves in a secluded valley near an estate owned by their family. A few servants were still tending to the property.


    They found the old steward and tearfully recounted everything that had happened.


    The old steward''s initially kind demeanor shifted and hardened. He summoned a few servants to lock them in the woodshed.


    Betrayed, the two sisters slumped against each other in despair.


    Even so, her sister, resourceful and determined, rubbed her hands against the stove until the rope around her wrists frayed. She found a small dog hole by the corner of the wall, one so small that only little Yanzhi could squeeze through.


    "I won''t be able to escape, Yanzhi. Remember, once you''re outside, smear dirt on your face, get a change of clothes, and don''t trust anyone. Just run!" Sister told her tearfully.


    "I don''t want to!" Yanzhi cried.


    "Listen to me, or I''ll never forgive you. Live on. You have to survive! Come back and rescue me one day," Sister urged.


    Only when Sister threatened to kill herself did Yanzhi agree to run. Sister smeared soot from the stove on Yanzhi''s face and pushed her outside.


    It was a dark, stormy night. In the rain, Yanzhi ran out of the estate and into a grove farther away. In the distance, she saw the old steward leading a group of soldiers directly to the manor.


    "You''ve done very well. Once we catch them both, I''ll request that this estate be handed to you," the captain of the guards said.


    "Thank you, Captain," the old steward replied, bowing.


    Yanzhi etched their faces into her memory. She rushed away, not daring to look back. As she ran, she cried and sobbed.


    "Father, Mother, Brother, Sister..."


    Xiao Nanfeng watched the scene unfold from within the hall, silent. Was this whaty at the core of Madam Rouge''s heart? A childhood memory that had marked her for life?


    The scene continued, depicting Yanzhi''s harsh journey as she became an orphan overnight. Her clothes were tattered, her face covered in dirt. She ended up as a beggar in a certain city, bullied by the other children on the streets. Finally, a cultivator noticed her potential and took her in.


    Yanzhi had thought the cultivator was a disciple of some righteous sect, only to discover otherwise. The man was actually a minor ringleader in an assassins'' guild. He brought her into the organization and trained her alongside other children. Yanzhi overcame countless life-threatening ordeals with her innate talent and unyielding spirit, eventually growing into a graceful young woman.


    The cultivator, having noticed her beauty by then, began to harbor improper thoughts for her. Yanzhi narrowly escaped his advances and, in a decisive moment, killed him. She took over his position in the assassins'' guild.


    One of her assignments was to infiltrate a battlefield, where she disguised herself as a soldier. Her exceptionalbat skill earned her numerous des, and she quickly advanced to the rank of general. With her military position, she leveraged the umted power of her forces to eliminate the head of the guild and take over the entire organization.


    Given her charisma and keen intelligence, and the support of an entire guild of assassins, Yanzhi grew into an even more formidable force on the battlefield. Eventually, she returned to seek her family, only to find that they had all perished, her sister among them. She exacted revenge on those responsible, one by one.


    Over time, Yanzhi''s heart froze over. Her reputation as a formidable general spread, and she became known as a warlord of unmatched might. When the emperor of her kingdom sought to marry her by force, she refused. Soon after, the emperor met his end in a coup, and civil war broke out. Yanzhi rallied her forces, seized territories, and joined the battle for supremacy. She ultimately unified thend and crowned herself emperor.


    Madam Rouge''s life was filled with tragedy, resilience, and anguish.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on with a heavy sigh as her life story unfolded.


    Just then, however, the scene flickered. Yanzhi returned to her childhood.


    "Yanzhi, did you draw little turtles on Father''s papers again? Just wait until hees back¡ªyou''re going to get a beating!"


    "Well, Father didn''t buy me any peach blossom cakes! Sister, don''t tell Father it was me, alright?"


    The same scenes from before came into view.


    "What? Is the dream looping? Has Madam Rouge failed? Is she going to be trapped in this endless cycle?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned in worry.

 Chapter 844: I Came from Earth

    <h4>Chapter 844: I Came from Earth</h4>


    Quite a few days passed. Every three days, Madam Rouge''s dream would reset as the same scenes repeated and she relived the same events. Each cycle only deepened her pain. Experiencing that kind of trauma once was hard enough, but living it again and again would be like having knives driven into her heart. Xiao Nanfeng knew that if he didn''t pull Madam Rouge out of her dream soon, the anguish would scar her soul irreparably.


    "It looks like I''ll have to go in after her," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.


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    He didn''t rush into the dream. Before that, his avatar, within the imperial study, immediately summoned a few officials and generals.


    "Mr. Wen, is the situation in Dahan growing smoothly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Wen Zhong began, "Since we''re in possession of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan''s body, we''ve smoothly managed to start recing the key officials in Dahan. We''ve also won over a few previously overlooked officials and their ns, an unexpected gain. Someplications did arise, but with the help of the spectral guards and Sir Tu, everything is proceeding steadily."


    "And You Jiu, how about the situation in the green knoll hidden realm?"


    "Gan Qing is rebuilding the divine empire of Daliang, and some of the Yuqing Enlightenment Grounds have moved into her territory. They may be nning something big, but we don''t have specifics just yet."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Then we''ll carry on with our ns. Mr. Wen, you''re in charge of Dahan. Tu Feng, assist Mr. Wen. You Jiu, keep an eye on the green knoll hidden realm. Avoid any unnecessary moves."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "I''ll be in secluded cultivation for some time. During this period, Mr. Zheng will act as regent. Ye Sanshui will remain in Yongding to guard it."


    The officials were taken aback. It was rare for Xiao Nanfeng to have neither body avable.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng reiterated the details of their ns and drafted a few imperial edicts before withdrawing into seclusion.


    Entering Madam Rouge''s dream wasn''t something to be taken lightly. This form of mental immersion could potentially leave both his bodies unable to think or act independently.


    After making these arrangements, Xiao Nanfeng returned to the hall and looked toward Madam Rouge again.


    Her dream had begun to loop once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that he could wait no longer. He picked up the cup of Yuqing dreamliquor and drank it all in one gulp.


    A surge of violet energy exploded within him, sending shockwaves through his soul. But as he prepared to enter the dream, he sensed something off¡ªthe golden sprout in his heart had begun to glow and absorb the violet energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched as the golden sprout continued to absorb the energy, preventing him from fully entering the dream.


    "Don''t! I need to enter this dream to save someone," Xiao Nanfeng hissed.


    Even so, the golden sprout ignored him. It continued to draw in the purple energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He only had one cup of Yuqing dreamliquor. How was he going to save Madam Rouge now?


    He tried to manipte his golden sprout in a variety of different ways, but waspletely unable to do so.


    In the end, he thundered, "I want you to stop! Don''t you understand? Stop!"


    He sent a burst of anger at the golden sprout, which finally seemed to react and understand Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions. It hummed and stopped its absorption.


    "That actually worked...?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The next moment, without the golden sprout''s interference, the purple energy surged through his body and pulled him into a dark abyss.


    As he fell, a disturbing thought flickered across his mind.


    "Damn it, I feel like I''m starting to forget things... Does the Yuqing dreamliquor cause memory loss like the loss chants?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Before he could contemte on the thought any further, all his thoughts were washed away.


    The purple energy was overwhelmingly potent. Even Madam Rouge had been unable to keep her sense of self, let alone Xiao Nanfeng, who had barely embarked on the cultivation of the heart.


    Darkness engulfed him.


    He didn''t know just how much time had passed.


    Xiao Nanfeng fell from the sky and crashed down onto a bustling street with a loud thud.


    The surge of pain made him feel as though he had broken all the bones in his body. Hey there, unable to move, while people passed by and paid him no heed.


    "It really hurts... Did I fall off a building? Have I been paralyzed? Why isn''t anyone helping me up? Has society really gotten this badtely? Can''t they even call the police for me? Ouch!"


    Xiao Nanfengy on the ground until the pain subsided and he was able to move once more.


    He weakly lifted his head to look around.


    "What''s going on? Why are all these people wearing ancient robes? Did I travel through time? Or am I in a movie set?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He propped himself up and examined his surroundings. The people seemed entirely authentic.


    There were no cameras or modern decor¡ªjust a scene out of time, out of history.


    "Is this real? How could this be...?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He looked down at himself and saw that his hands were smaller. Though he was still dressed in a white shirt and cks, he looked younger, his body was a size smaller, and he was covered in dirt.


    "Have I turned into a teenager? I remember I was ying games at an Inte cafe, until... Could I really have traveled through time?" he wondered, feeling a mixture of annoyance and excitement.


    He was annoyed at having left behind the life he had worked hard to build, but the thrill of returning to his youth, an opportunity that money couldn''t buy, quickly took over. With an adult''s wisdom, he was sure to be able to build a sessful life here. Furthermore, if time travel were possible, even immortality might not be out of reach.


    "Haha, thank you, Heaven!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, grinning with excitement.


    His outburst attracted the curious and judgmental stares of nearby passersby, who began to whisper among themselves.


    "That poor beggar must have gone mad. A street urchin thanking the heavens for his lot? What a pitiful soul..."


    "To have lost his mind at such a young age..."


    "He''s dirty and even seems a bit off, doesn''t he?"


    The passersby nced at him and shook their heads in pity.


    Then, someone tossed a copper coin in front of Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the woman who had tossed him a coin. He nced up in shock. "No, you''re mistaken. I''m not a beggar."


    He picked up the coin and attempted to return it to the woman, but her malepanion immediately pulled her away. "Let''s get going before this street urchintches onto you. I told you not to pity such beggars! Look¡ªnow he''sing over. He''ll ruin your new clothes!"


    "Ah, don''te near me!" the woman squealed. She hastily ran off.


    Xiao Nanfeng held the copper coin awkwardly in his hand.


    In the end, he decided not to chase after her.


    He slowly got to his feet and stretched his sore limbs, then examined the copper coin with a frown. "I didn''t want to start off my journey in this new world by begging, but..."


    Suddenly, his stomach rumbled, a reminder of his ravenous hunger.


    "...I suppose it''s rather timely."


    He nced around and saw a nearby vendor calling out, "Steamed buns for sale!"


    Xiao Nanfeng walked over.


    "Get lost, beggar! You''ll scare off my customers," the vendor snapped.


    "I''d like to buy a bun," Xiao Nanfeng replied, handing over his entire fortune.


    The vendor hesitated, but in the end, chose not to turn away any business. He grudgingly took the coin and handed him two buns from the basket. "Fine. Now, leave. Don''t eat here, or you''ll drive away my business."


    "Ugh, people really look down on the poor, don''t they?" Xiao Nanfeng muttered.


    Not wanting to argue, he walked away with the buns. He finished one in threerge bites, which eased his hunger somewhat, though he was far from full.


    As he was about to eat the second, he heard soft sobbing from nearby.


    He turned to see a little girl huddled in a corner, filthy and disheveled, resembling nothing more than a starving kitten. The passersby gave her a wide berth, their expressions full of disgust.


    "Are these people blind? That''s a real street urchin. Isn''t anyone going to help her?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    His initial excitement about traveling through time quickly faded as sympathy welled up inside him. He nced at the bun, and then at the little girl. Eventually, he sighed and approached her.


    "Well, I wanted to go on a diet anyway. Lucky you," Xiao Nanfeng said, handing the little girl the bun.


    The little girl, of course, was Yanzhi. She had just escaped a tragedy and was now wandering through the city, cold and starving. As she huddled in a corner, the world around her felt all too vast and cruel in its indifference. She longed for the candy her sister would give her, the chicken drumsticks her mother made, the candied hawthorns her brother would buy her, and the peach blossom cakes that her father brought back for her. Now, however, she had nothing but an all-consuming hunger.


    Suddenly, a voice broke through her despair. She looked up with a tear-streaked face. The teenage boy before her was offering her a bun.


    "Here, take this. Next time, if you''re going to beg, you should pick somewhere more crowded," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He stuffed the bun into her hands and left.


    The young Yanzhi stared after him, dumbfounded, until he had disappeared from sight.


    Only when he had vanished did she suddenly sniff,mitting the image of the boy to memory and devouring the bun in a few ravenous bites.

 Chapter 845: Circle of Separation

    <h4>Chapter 845: Circle of Separation</h4>


    As he walked along the street, Xiao Nanfeng nced around and wondered to himself, "Did I travel to a different world entirely, or just back in time?"


    He stopped a passerby to ask a few questions and confirmed what was happening.


    "The name of the country doesn''t match anything from Earth''s history, so this must be another world. But isn''t it strange that I understand thenguage here? Could this be my special ability?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Though everything around him seemed strange, he decided to simply observe his surroundings for now.


    "Let''s set some priorities for myself. I need to make money, gain power, live long, and enjoy life. The order doesn''t matter. I''m in an unfamiliar environment, so I should try to lie low for now and make some money, then use it to further my other objectives," he murmured.


    He observed the people and his surroundings carefully. Given the experience from his past life, he saw countless opportunities to make money.


    "ss, soap, poetry, novels, songs¡ªthese are all my assets. Making money in this world should be easy. Of course, I can''t show all my cards at once, or I might end up drawing too much attention to myself," Xiao Nanfeng thought.


    As he walked, Xiao Nanfeng noticed the passersby staring disdainfully at his dirty appearance, but he didn''t mind. In order to gain a stable footing here, he would clearly have to approach things with careful consideration.


    Finally, he thought, "The mosti mportant thing right now is to understand this world better. I need to find someone I can question."


    He had walked for some time when, suddenly, a wave of unease washed over him. A sense of gut-wrenching dread filled his entire body.


    "What''s going on? Why am I feeling so panicked all of a sudden?" he muttered, hurriedly checking himself over.


    However, nothing seemed to be the problem. Instinctively, he took a step backward, and the feeling immediately vanished.


    "Huh?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    He stepped forward, and the dread returned. He stepped back, and it disappeared again.


    "There''s an invisible boundary here... Something feels off on the other side," Xiao Nanfeng muttered, bewildered.


    Ignoring his difort, he crossed the boundary and made his way to a nearby teahouse. As he approached, a waiter bumpted into him, knocking him down. The waiter stumbled, righted himself, and walked off without even a nce in his direction.


    "What? Did he just ignore me? Doesn''t he mind my dirty appearance?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured in surprise.


    He tried interacting with a few other people in the area, but none acknowledged him. Though they could see him, they acted as if he were inconsequential.


    "Why are these people acting like I don''t exist, even though they can see me? Everyone''s going about their own business and ignoring me," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, puzzled.


    Then, he stepped back across the boundary. He found that the people on this side behaved normally and responded to him just as they had before.


    "Hey, beggar! Scram! You''re scaring off my customers," someone shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew serious. "There''s definitely something strange going on in this world."


    He walked along the boundary, tracing its path, and soon determined that it was a circr area covering a specific region.


    Within this boundary, people epted him; outside of it, he was ignored.


    "What''s going on? The people on the other side won''t even acknowledge me! How am I supposed to make any money? No one''s going to listen to poetry or buy ss or soap!" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    All his previous ns seemed to be for naught.


    "Am I dreaming?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly wondered.


    He pinched and pped himself repeatedly, but nothing changed.


    "It''s not a dream, then? I really traveled to another world? But this world doesn''t seem quite right. It''s as if I don''t fit into it¡ªit''s like a single-yer game where I''m not the protagonist..." A realization hit him. "A game? Am I in a game world? Are all these people just NPCs?"


    The more he thought about it, the stranger it felt. Wasn''t this world too advanced to be a game world? The NPCs were just like real people!


    Or was this instead some sort of divine prank?


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. None of it seemed right.


    Just then, the feeling of unease struck him again.


    "Hm? The boundary''s moving? It''s not fixed in ce?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He carefully observed the boundary''s movements, feeling as though he might havetched onto something important.


    Two dayster, he finally located the center of the boundary: the little beggar girl to whom he had given a bun on his first day here.


    "It''s her? The boundary is a perfect circle with her at the center. It moves when she does. What''s going on? Is she the main character of this game? Or perhaps some sort of chosen one? But she''s destitute right now..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He was deeply confused, but there was no time to question things. The girl was being bullied by a group of other beggars.


    She was curled up and protecting her head as a gang of beggars kicked and punched her.


    "You stupid girl! You''re lucky I allowed you to join us, but you even refused my invitation! Beat her up! Break her arms and legs, then drag her into the crowd. She can beg for us," the lead beggar barked.


    "Stupid girl! We''ll teach you a lesson!" The beggars all began to punch and kick her.


    The little girl, Yanzhi, huddled in terror. Tears streamed down her face. She had never been treated this cruelly before.


    "Father, Mother, Brother, Sister¡ªpleasee save me!" she sobbed.


    At that moment, the lead beggar suddenly squawked in pain.


    The others stopped beating her and looked up, only to see Xiao Nanfeng holding a rock. He had just bashed the lead beggar on the head. Blood was streaming down his face as he fell to the ground, clutching his head in agony.


    "Boss!" The other beggars rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, who pinned the leader to the ground and kept pounding on his head with the rock.


    The repeated blows turned the lead beggar''s head into a bloody mess. The scene was so gruesome that the others froze in shock.


    "Stay back! If youe any closer, I''ll kill him," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    The beggars stopped in their tracks. Without any hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng smashed their leader''s knees with the rock, shattering his kneecaps. He would never walk again.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt no pity for the man. He had heard him threaten to break the girl''s limbs, and he deserved no mercy. Leaving him crippled was already lenient.


    As for any potential revenge, he wasn''t too worried. Beggars owned nothing to begin with. Now that he was crippled, it was unlikely that the others would continue to follow him, let alone avenge him.


    "Does he have any rtives or friends?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, looking around at the other beggars.


    The beggars'' faces shifted uneasily. Finally, one of them said, "No, he''s alone."


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward a thin beggar and pointed at him. "You, answer my question."


    The thin beggar gulped and nodded as well. "He doesn''t have any rtives or friends."


    "Take him and leave," Xiao Nanfeng said, standing up.


    He still held the blood-stained stone. His face was a mask of cold menace, which intimidated the beggars. Xiao Nanfeng might look young, but there was nothing childish about his ruthlessness.


    They nced at the half-dead beggar before him and shuddered.


    "Well? Aren''t you going to leave? Do you want to avenge him? Go ahead! I''ll take one of you down with me if I have to. Before you bring me down, I''ll rip out one of your throats," Xiao Nanfeng growled, baring his teeth.


    Having already lost their leader, the beggars'' resolve crumbled. After all, they were only beggars. If they had had any courage, they wouldn''t have ended up in such a state. They picked up their crippled boss and slunk away in defeat.


    Once they were out of sight, Xiao Nanfeng let out a long breath and slumped to the ground.


    "Phew, I was scared. Keeping up that tough act is exhausting," he muttered, finally allowing himself to rx.


    A short distance away, Yanzhi looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, her expression torn between gratitude and fear. Mother and Sister had told her not to trust anyone. Was this person also a bad guy?


    "Hey, are you a yer?" Xiao Nanfeng asked as he approached her.


    He wanted to confirm if this was a game world. She was at the center of the boundary, and the most likely to be the main character of the game.


    Yanzhi: ???


    "You''re not a yer?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, surprised.


    Yanzhi stared at him nkly. Was he crazy?


    Xiao Nanfeng also looked puzzled. "I suppose I must have been mistaken." Inwardly, he thought to himself, "This girl doesn''t seem too bright, but I''ll figure things out eventually. For now, I need to stay close to her. If she moves away and I''m left outside the boundary, I''d go crazy."


    Just then, Yanzhi''s stomach growled. Her face flushed as she lowered her head.


    "Are you hungry? Let''s go eat, then." Xiao Nanfeng smiled at her kindly.


    Since he''d decided to stick with this little girl, their first priority had to be to improve their living situation. They couldn''t stay beggars forever, after all.


    "A feast?" Yanzhi''s eyes lit up hopefully.


    However, when she nced at Xiao Nanfeng''s scruffy, filthy appearance, doubt crept in. Could he really afford a feast?


    "Don''t worry. We''ll have money soon, but you''ll have to y along with me."


    Yanzhi looked at this overly friendly boy with some confusion.


    Xiao Nanfeng then tore off his already filthy white shirt and grabbed the blood-stained rock he''d used on the lead beggar. With the blood, he began to write on the shirt. He wasn''t sure why, but he seemed to know the characters used in this world, and the words flowed smoothly.


    "My mother, Bai Suzhen, was cruelly imprisoned in Leifeng Pagoda by the monk Fahai. My father, Xu Xian, became a monk to be by her side. I, their son, am determined to pass the imperial examination, earn the emperor''s favor, and beg him for mercy to release my parents. Meanwhile, my little sister, left without care, has tragically starved to death. We humbly ask for your donations to help bury her." [1]


    Once Xiao Nanfeng finished writing this ''letter of misfortune'', he grabbed Yanzhi''s hand and pulled her over to a bustling area.


    "You''ll act as my sister while I share our tragic tale. We''ll have money for that feast soon enough."


    Yanzhi gawked at the bloody shirt, stunned. After a moment, she finally stammered, "I... I don''t know how to lie."


    "What do you mean, lie? It''s a performance. I''m giving people a bit of entertainment in their otherwise dull lives. We''ll perform, and they''ll pay a little. Besides, I''ll handle the sad part. All you need to do is lie still and y dead. There''s no acting needed¡ªwhat''s there to worry about? Lie down, and I''ll cover you with the blood-stained shirt."


    "I..." Yanzhi was at a loss for words.


    In the end, she let Xiao Nanfeng position her on the ground and cover her with the shirt.


    "Now, don''t move, or they''ll realize that this was a trick. It''ll ruin the whole effect."


    "Okay..." Yanzhiy on the ground, stiff and still.


    After a few groups of passersby had gone past them, Xiao Nanfeng began to shout out, "Everyone,e look! Witness my sister''s tragic death!"


    Yanzhi shuddered. Her face turned red in embarrassment.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    1. This references the Legend of the White Snake, a well-known Chinese folktale. ?

 Chapter 846: Primrose

    <h4>Chapter 846: Primrose</h4>


    Outside the city, by a small stream, Xiao Nanfeng washed up in the cool water, scrubbing away the dirt on his face and changing into a set of fresh clothes. Only then did he step back onto the bank in satisfaction.


    By the bank, Yanzhi had long since finished changing as well. She looked like a delicate little doll¡ªan absolutely adorable one. However, she had smeared some mud onto her face.


    "Why dirty your face again after washing it?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "My sister said that I should do so."


    "You''re just a little kid! Who would care about your face? Your sister''s being overly cautious." Xiao Nanfeng then frowned. "But if there are perverts around... Well, forget it. Do as you please, but don''t just use mud. It''s dirty. We can draw a few marks on your face with nt dye instead."


    Yanzhi thought for a moment before she nodded fervently. "Alright!"


    "Go wash up. It''s time to eat," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    Yanzhi rinsed her face in the stream before returning to join him.


    "With all that storytelling earlier, we raked in a decent amount in tips. Quite a few people were staring at our wealth greedily, but we managed to slip away. No one will recognize us tomorrow now that we have new clothes," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "Mmm," Yanzhi replied, still a little shy.


    "Alright, let''s dig in. I know you only had a drumstick on the way here, so you must be starving." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    He unwrapped a few packages of food as they began to eat together. Yanzhi, having gone hungry for so long, devoured her fill of chicken, beef, and roast duck.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched her with a mix of amusement and sympathy. "You''ve really had it tough, huh? Chosen one or not, you''re in pretty rough shape..."


    Xiao Nanfeng himself wasn''t all that hungry. He had her eat her fill before he asked, "How long has it been since youst ate?"


    Finally full, Yanzhi blushed. Her cheeks turned slightly red as she realized just how much she had eaten.


    "Go on. Have as much as you want," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.


    "I''m full," she replied.


    "What''s your name, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yanzhi remained silent, reluctant to answer.


    "You have to keep that a secret, too?" Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised.


    Yanzhi lowered her head, not daring to respond. She frowned.


    "Forget it. If you don''t want to tell me, that''s fine too. Where''s your family?"


    At the mention of her family, Yanzhi''s eyes welled up with tears, which fell silently down her cheeks like pearls.


    "Ah, please don''t cry. I won''t ask about your family anymore," Xiao Nanfeng hastily added.


    Yanzhi wiped at her tears and whispered, "They''re all dead."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent, then sighed softly. "I''m sorry. I didn''t know."


    "It''s alright," Yanzhi replied, attempting to put on a brave face as she wiped her tears away.


    "I''m... Well, I suppose you can just call me Nanfeng," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Nanfeng?" Yanzhi frowned.


    "From the looks of it, I suppose you don''t have any special abilities. You can just stick with me from now on."


    Yanzhi was confused by his words but understood that he was offering to let her tag along.


    "Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked uncertainly.


    Her family''s tragic death had left her wary of strangers. She was filled with distrust and skepticism toward others. If Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t offered her that bun back then, she wouldn''t even have considered speaking to him.


    It was only because of his surprising kindness that a small warmth began to blossom in her heart once more. Even so, she remained wary.


    "Don''t worry about that. For now, just follow my lead," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    This little girl was the protagonist of this world. To Xiao Nanfeng, following her was his best option, especially since he still couldn''t make sense of where he was. Besides, she seemed a little naive, so there was no need toplicate things.


    Yanzhi pursed her lips in mild frustration. She wasn''t entirely convinced by Xiao Nanfeng, but was too tired to argue. Without Xiao Nanfeng''s help, she didn''t know how she would be able to survive on her own.


    She didn''t sense any ill intent from him, either, so she was willing to let things slide for now.


    "Is that story you told earlier about Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen true?" Yanzhi asked.


    "You actually believed that made-up story? There are hardly any gods and demons in this world. That''s all superstition. You need to believe in science instead!"


    "But my father told me that evil cultivators are making a fuss in the empire, and there are demons invading cities and eating people. Are you sure gods and demons don''t exist?"


    Xiao Nanfeng paused. "What? Gods and demons really exist in this world?"


    "Don''t they? I even saw someone flying through the sky," Yanzhi replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng gaped. To himself, he murmured, "Is this a world of myth and legend, then? Can people really cultivate here? Do Immortals really exist? Wonderful. I''ll learn their techniques. If I can make my way back to Earth, I could bring back the secret to eternal life!"


    "What''s the matter? Why are you smiling all of a sudden?" Yanzhi asked, puzzled.


    "Oh, nothing¡ªI just thought of something exciting," Xiao Nanfeng replied, trying to curb his enthusiasm.


    Yanzhi raised her eyebrows, wondering if this Nanfeng was mentally sound.


    "There''s a ruined temple up ahead. We can rest there for the night. Tomorrow, we''ll head into the city to make our next fortune," Xiao Nanfeng said confidently.


    "Are you going to tell the story of the white snake again?" Yanzhi asked curiously.


    "Of course not! That was a one-time thing to get us some funds quickly. I wouldn''t normally stoop to that."


    "Then how will we earn this fortune?" Yanzhi asked, frowning.


    "Can''t you see? This world is practically made of gold! Everywhere you look, there are opportunities to be found. It''ll be easy."


    Yanzhi pursed her lips. "As if!"


    "You''re just a kid. What would you know?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, brushing her off.


    They arrived at the temple, cleaned it up a little, andy down to rest for the night.


    In the middle of the night, Xiao Nanfeng was awakened by the sound of quiet sobbing. He rubbed his eyes and looked around.


    Moonlight streamed in through a hole in the temple''s roof, but he didn''t see Yanzhi anywhere.


    rmed, he got up to search for her. If she were to disappear, how would he handle this strange world?


    He stepped outside to find her sitting on the steps, hugging her knees and sobbing quietly.


    The summer night was calm and warm. Fireflies floated gently around them.


    He sat down beside her and listened as she whispered to himself, "Sister, I miss you so much."


    It was clear that she was grieving for her family. When Xiao Nanfeng remembered that she had said that they were all gone, he felt a pang of sympathy for her.


    They sat in silence for a while before Yanzhi finally realized that he was there.


    "Nanfeng? Did I wake you up?" she asked, embarrassed.


    He handed her a handkerchief. "Here, wipe your tears."


    She took it and turned away as she dabbed at her tears, not wanting him to see her cry.


    Xiao Nanfeng wanted tofort her, but he didn''t know how. Instead, he just sat there beside her.


    Yanzhi didn''t know what to say, either. She felt a bit lost.


    "Shall I sing you a song? Maybe it''ll help you feel better," Xiao Nanfeng offered.


    "Huh?" Yanzhi looked up in surprise.


    "It''s called Primrose. It''s a song from my hometown."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Curious, Yanzhi turned to him intently.


    "The evening breeze stirs the bamboo, And the moon casts long shadows Fireflies flicker, bright and small, Like silver coins spread across the hills. ?


    "Primrose in two lovers'' hands, The heartbeat I hear within my chest.


    Secretly longing, quietly dreaming, That scent that is our love. ?"


    Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.


    Yanzhi stared at him, wide-eyed. Nanfeng had appeared in her life suddenly, out of nowhere, but seemed to know how to do a little of everything. The song was beautiful.


    "Are you feeling a little better now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yanzhi did find herself less sad than she was before. She nodded, then asked, "Could you sing it again? I''d like to learn it."


    "Of course." Xiao Nanfeng didn''t hesitate at all.


    He''d gone to karaoke quite often back on Earth, so it was no big deal to him. Given how heartbroken this little girl was, he didn''t mind singing it a second time.


    After another round of Primrose, Yanzhi had somehow managed to learn it herself.


    "Alright, let''s get some sleep. Tomorrow, we''ll have to head back into town."


    "Got it!" Yanzhi nodded.


    The two of them returned to the worn-down temple, each lying by a side of the wall.


    Yanzhiy awake for a while and stared at her palm, which was clutching the handkerchief he''d given her to wipe her tears with. She tucked it carefully into her pocket and gazed at Xiao Nanfeng, who was sleeping peacefully. At that moment, the fear and unease that she had carried within for days began to fade.


    Though she was young, Yanzhi found that she had far deeper and more mature emotions than would be expected of someone her age.


    She had shut herself off from the world and avoided everyone, but when she was most desperate and alone, a single bun had brought Xiao Nanfeng into her heart.


    She had noticed his nervousness while facing those beggars earlier, but he continued to stand firm like a gode down from the heavens to help her drive them away. After that hade their street performance and daring getaway.


    Somehow, she still distrusted the world atrge, but she couldn''t help but want to trust Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Father, Mother, Brother, Sister... Did you send Nanfeng to look after me?" Yanzhi whispered, her eyes clouding over with tears again.


    A tear slipped down her cheek, but a gentle smile bloomed on her lips as she finally drifted into sleep.


    Outside the temple, the night breeze blew. It mingled with the sounds of crickets and frogs, and fireflies danced in the moonlight. In her dream, there was no fear or sorrow¡ªonly the warmth of her loving family, with her father''s wisdom, her mother''s care, her siblings''ughter, and the gentle notes of Primrose that lulled her back into that world of safety and happiness.

 Chapter 847: Were Twins

    <h4>Chapter 847: We''re Twins</h4>


    The next day, Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi headed back toward the city.


    After their change of clothes, they were so different from the dirty mess they had been before that no one recognized them. On Yanzhi''s face was a red birthmark, a stain that Xiao Nanfeng had created with nt dye that morning, making her even less recognizable.


    As they entered the city, Yanzhi asked Xiao Nanfeng, "Nanfeng, how are we going to make money?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the bustling street. "This street alone is filled with money. I''m just thinking about the safest and easiest way to im it all."


    Yanzhi gaped, then pursed her lips. "You''re just bragging!"


    Still, she didn''t argue. After all, they had been penniless just yesterday, and yet Xiao Nanfeng had managed to make plenty of money just by telling a story.Despite their circumstances, she felt a small flicker of hope.


    As they walked past a teahouse, they overheard some patrons speaking excitedly.


    "Immortal Qingyang is epting new disciples again. Let''s go have a look¡ªwho knows? He might ept us!"


    "Immortal Qingyang only epts children aged eight to fourteen. My son might be eligible..."


    Upon overhearing their conversation, Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi nced at each other in surprise.


    "An Immortal epting disciples?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Nanfeng, I''d like to take a look," Yanzhi said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The two children made their way to therge za in the city. Though they were young, now that they had cleaned themselves up and dressed well, no one chased them away.


    At the north end of the za stood a raised tform, where a man dressed in a cultivator''s robes sat with an aura of otherworldly grace. He had to be the one others were addressing as Immortal Qingyang.


    Around the za, Immortal Qingyang''s disciples tested each child in line''s talent for cultivation. Those who passed were allowed to approach the Immortal; those that didn''t were sent away.


    Immortal Qingyang epted students solely based on talent, regardless of family circumstances or background. The children of officials and beggars alike might well be epted.


    The parents of the sessful children beamed with pride, while everyone else turned away, dejected.


    "Wonderful! There''s going to be an Immortal in my family, too!"


    "Why didn''t they take my son?"


    The za was abuzz with excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi watched from the crowd without stepping forward. They watched for a long time¡ªuntil Immortal Qingyang had taken almost two hundred children as disciples.


    "Something seems off. I overheard some people saying that this Immortal collects disciples every three years, but that few ever return. Those that do quickly leave again. It doesn''t feel right. I think we should wait and explore other opportunities before finding a master," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Yanzhi''s eyes reddened. "I heard that bing an Immortal''s disciple will allow you to learn Immortal techniques and grow strong. I need to grow stronger, since..."


    She wanted to avenge her family, though she was afraid to say it. She didn''t want to wait. As the bystanders had said, such opportunities were rare, and she couldn''t let this one pass.


    "But..." Xiao Nanfeng still wanted to persuade her to stay.


    Yanzhi turned to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed toward him. "Nanfeng, thank you for looking after me, but I''d like to have a try."


    Xiao Nanfeng froze. If Yanzhi did so, he would have to join her. Without her, he''d be stuck outside her boundary, a terrifying thought.


    "Very well, then. I''ll join you, but if we''re not both chosen, we''ll leave together. What do you think? I don''t want us to be separated."


    Yanzhi looked at him and nodded, her face slightly red. "Promise!"


    The two children pushed through the crowd and joined the line. Soon, they reached the tform.


    "Where are your parents?" one of the disciples asked.


    "It''s just the two of us," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Come on, then."


    The two children stepped onto the tform, and the disciple handed them two crystal orbs.


    "Simply clutch the crystal orbs in your hand," the disciple said.


    The two children did so as the disciple sent two bursts of qi into the orbs. Xiao Nanfeng''s crystal orb emitted a faint green glow.


    "Green light? Average talent, and you''re not very young at all. I''m afraid you won''t do." The disciple frowned.


    Meanwhile, Yanzhi''s crystal orb emitted a brilliant red glow, so bright it dazzled everyone around her.


    "A top-tier talent? Impossible! One hasn''t appeared in many years!" Cries rang out from all over.


    Even Immortal Qingyang took notice and headed over. "What''s going on here?"


    "Master, these two siblings are here to test their talent. The brother has a faint green glow, and the sister has a blinding red glow," the disciple replied.


    "Oh?" Immortal Qingyang suddenly turned to Yanzhi.


    Yanzhi, somewhat nervous, hid behind Xiao Nanfeng.


    "My sister is a bit shy, Immortal. Please forgive her," Xiao Nanfeng said at once.


    "What are your names and ages?" Immortal Qingyang asked.


    "I''m Nanfeng, and I''m ten years old," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He looked like a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old, but upon hearing that his talent was middling at best, he had no choice but to try to fake his age to be selected.


    Immortal Qingyang frowned at him. "You call yourself ten years old? Do you know the consequences of lying to me?"


    "Actually, my sister and I are twins. I simply grew a bit faster, so I look somewhat more mature," Xiao Nanfeng replied nonchntly.


    "Twins?" Dumbfounded, the crowd looked at the two of them.


    They looked nothing alike. How in the world could they be twins?


    Even Yanzhi gaped, too shocked to speak. Nanfeng really was thick-skinned, wasn''t he?


    Immortal Qingyang''s face twitched. "And what''s your sister''s name?"


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated. He still didn''t know her real name.


    "Sister, we need to show the Immortal our respect. Go ahead and introduce yourself to him. Tell him your name, or even a nickname¡ªit doesn''t matter. It''s just abel," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    He intended for Yanzhi to pick out a random name at will, but Yanzhi didn''t understand his meaning. She began anxiously, "I''m Yan..."


    ...only to suddenly stop herself mid-sentence, worried that she would reveal herself to her enemies.


    "What''s your name?" Immortal Qingyang repeated, puzzled.


    "Her name is Yan. My sister''s a little shy, Immortal, and she''s somewhat scared of being in the presence of your divine might. Please forgive her," Xiao Nanfeng said glibly.


    "Yan? And Nanfeng?" Immortal Qingyang gave them both an odd look.


    "Yes, Immortal. You can just call me Nan," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Where is your family?" the Immortal asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng was about to make something up when Immortal Qingyang cut him off. "It doesn''t matter, I suppose. Do you wish to be my disciples?"


    "Greetings, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng said instantly.


    He pulled Yanzhi into a bow alongside him. She echoed, "Greetings, Master."


    "Very good. Wait over there," Immortal Qingyang said, satisfied.


    He intended to recruit many disciples during his time here, and an extra one or two wouldn''t make a difference. However, the mismatched twins had left a deep impression on him.


    In three days'' time, Immortal Qingyang managed to secure five hundred disciples in all.


    Immortal Qingyang summoned a group of spirits to whisk away the disciples, Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi among them. They traveled deep into the mountains and finally stopped at the base of a massive bottle-shaped mountain, Mt. Baoping.


    At the mountain were numerous buildings, servants, and fierce-looking, cold-faced cultivators.


    "The servants will show you to your living quarters. Over the next year, you''ll have teachers to guide your cultivation," Immortal Qingyang announced.


    "Yes, Master!" The children cheered.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi received their supplies, settled into their living quarters, and began their training.


    Initially, they learned basic cultivation techniques, which Xiao Nanfeng had been anticipating. He focused intently, but Yanzhi was clearly the most talented of the lot of new disciples, though she kept a low profile as per Xiao Nanfeng''s advice.


    Then, things took a strange turn. They were taught about the weaknesses of the human body, how to use poison to kill others, and basic survival skills.


    "Is this some sort of assassin training? Are all Immortal disciples killers...?" Xiao Nanfeng thought, bewildered.


    Though he was dubious about what they were learning, he continued to focus on the lessons.


    A year passed in that manner. Then, their first trial began.


    They were loaded ontorge avian spirits and flown to the depths of the mountains.


    "Listen up. Your trial is simple: reach Mt. Baoping on foot. If you can make it back, you pass. If not, you''ll die out here. Don''t think about running off, either¡ªthis route is the safest way back. Venture elsewhere, and you''re certain to perish given your cultivation," one of their instructors said.


    "What? We might die?" a child eximed.


    The instructor didn''t provide any further exnation. He grabbed a child and tossed him out of the sky.


    "Ah! No!" the child screamed as he fell.


    One by one, the children were thrown down into the forest, eachnding far from the others.


    Xiao Nanfeng was thrown down from the avian spirit, as was Yanzhi.


    They didn''t know where they had been tossed. At any rate, despite their year of cultivation, thending hurt and left them in pain.


    Xiao Nanfeng was unlucky enough to be tossed onto the back of a tiger spirit, startling it awake.


    The tiger roared in pain as it released an incredible aura.


    "I''m done for. Damn it," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.


    The next moment, the tiger simply nced at him before ignoring him entirely. A deer spirit wandered by to check out themotion. The tiger roared, pounced on the deer, and killed it.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    He was clearly out of Yanzhi''s boundary. Not only would humans ignore him here, so too would spirits, it seemed...


    He got up, brushed himself off, and walked away right in front of the tiger. The tiger didn''t even nce his way.

 Chapter 848: The Graceful Yanzhi

    <h4>Chapter 848: The Graceful Yanzhi</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng searched the forest for Yanzhi, but it was so vast that she was nowhere to be found.


    "Forget it. Who knows where she ended up? She might have moved on by now. I''d be better off heading back to Mt. Baoping and waiting there," Xiao Nanfeng thought to himself.


    He made his way back just like that. Strangely enough, the wild beasts and spirits along the way ignored him altogether. Even the mosquitoes and poisonous snakes that brushed past him didn''t bother with him.


    "What a strange world..." he muttered.


    Of course, it wasn''t all bad. He even attempted to attack a spirit along the way. The injured spirit stared at him for a moment before turning to flee, not wanting to fight with him. In the end, he managed to kill a spirit and brought it back with him to Mt. Baoping.


    No one in Mt. Baoping paid him any attention.


    Outside the mountain, he cooked the spiritbeast''s meat and even snuck into the highly guarded archives. He was able to stroll around without being stopped.


    "This isn''t a cultivation sect at all¡ªit''s an assassins'' guild!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in shock.


    The more he explored, the more worried he became about Yanzhi''s safety.


    "She''s the main character, so she should be fine... right?" he wondered, worried.


    He searched a variety of locations throughout the mountain, not daring to steal too much. He simply picked out a few healing pills and supplements that he''d found.


    Then, heid in wait outside the mountain.


    Gradually, survivors returned, each badly wounded and weakened.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Finally, on the tenth day, he felt his chest unclench. The influence of being outside the boundary zone had abated. Xiao Nanfeng knew that Yanzhi had to have returned, and he rushed over. He found her limping toward him, bloodied and bruised all over.


    "Yan!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out, rushing over.


    The past two weeks had pushed Yanzhi to her limits. She had skirted death multiple times, clinging only to her dream of avenging her family. Along the way, only Xiao Nanfeng''s Primose had kept herpany.


    When she finally made it back to see Xiao Nanfeng rushing toward her, her nose twitched. She felt the urge to pour out all her suffering to him, but she was too exhausted and injured. As she let herself rx, her vision went ck and she copsed, falling into his arms.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart ached. He picked her up and quickly carried her to a secluded valley he had identified in advance.


    There, he fed her the best healing pills he had found. Yanzhi quickly regained consciousness.


    "Nanfeng, I thought I was about to die!" Yanzhi cried out, shaken.


    Xiao Nanfeng held her close and patted her back gently. "You''ve made it through. You''re safe now. I''m here with you."


    Yanzhi clung to him, crying for a long while before she finally calmed down. Only then did she realize that she was still in his arms. She blushed faintly.


    "Alright, now. Have some food, and eat these pills so you can recover more quickly," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Got it!" Yanzhi nodded.


    Being with Xiao Nanfeng made her feel especially safe.


    After the meal, Yanzhi recuperated for a little and felt much better, though he didn''t let her wash up just yet, or it would have been suspicious.


    "These past few days, I learned that the cultivation techniques they taught us are iplete. I found the full version, so let me teach it to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Ah? Alright!" Yanzhi nodded in amazement.


    She didn''t know how Xiao Nanfeng had survived the trip through the forest, but he didn''t seem harmed at all. She couldn''t help but look at him with growing admiration.


    Xiao Nanfeng taught her the full version of the techniques he had obtained.


    They rested for a whole day before returning to the grounds in the mountain.


    Of the five hundred disciples who had been recruited in their cohort, only half had survived the first trial.


    Xiao Nanfeng very much wanted to leave, but he wasn''t skilled enough to flee with Yanzhi just yet. For now, he had no choice but to remain and to keep cultivating.


    Yanzhi''s talent was particrly impressive, and she easily kept up with Xiao Nanfeng. Thanks to their dedication, they were far ahead of their peers, though they both kept their talents hidden.


    As time passed, more trials followed.


    The death toll only continued to rise. Two yearster, of the initial five hundred children, only a hundred were left.


    After the crucible they had endured, these remaining children were all fearsome and skilled at wilderness survival.


    Over the course of the two years, Xiao Nanfeng would wait for Yanzhi after each trial. While the other children grew colder and more ruthless, Yanzhi remained warm and trusting under Xiao Nanfeng''s care. They relied on each other, and she longed to share all her secrets with him.


    Meanwhile, Immortal Qingyang recruited another five hundred children to train.


    The remaining hundred from Xiao Nanfeng''s batch were sent on assassination missions.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi were separated once more.


    For Xiao Nanfeng, assassinations were a dull affair; his targets didn''t notice him even as he held a de to their necks.


    "Do I even need money anymore? I can take as many valuables as I want, but no one will notice me unless I''m next to Yanzhi. What good are poems, soap, or ss?" Xiao Nanfeng thought, frustrated.


    The fact that he could only spend the wealth he had umted when he was by Yanzhi''s side made things particrly awkward for him.


    Still, there were some perks. He could freely ess various techniques and gain valuable knowledge for some time after each mission.


    After leaving Mt. Baoping, they were stationed at a branch of the assassins'' guild. Xiao Nanfeng would return early after each mission to wait for Yanzhi.


    He wished he could leave the organization with her, but unfortunately, her ster performance during her assassinations left her a target of attention among their superiors. He was forced to stay.


    Another three years passed in such a manner. Of the original five hundred disciples, only twenty remained.


    At sixteen, Yanzhi was a graceful young woman and the guild''s top assassin. She attracted significant attention, whereas Xiao Nanfeng remained at the bottom of the rankings due to his unusual circumstances.


    Because of the "birthmark" on Yanzhi''s face, she was spared unwanted attention, and their life together remained peaceful.


    After each mission, Yanzhi would seek out Xiao Nanfeng.


    On one moonlit night, Xiao Nanfeng prepared a feast. The two of them sat on a grassy hillside, enjoying peach blossom cakes, watching fireflies, and basking in the moonlight.


    After a while, Yanzhi''s expression grew somber.


    "What''s wrong? Does it not taste good?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "No... It just makes me miss my dad. He used to buy peach blossom cakes for me," Yanzhi replied, her eyes reddening.


    Seeing her like this made Xiao Nanfeng''s heart ache. Although the two of them had be close to each other, she still hadn''t opened up about her past. Her sadness was buried deep within her.


    "Would you like me to sing for you again?" Xiao Nanfeng asked gently.


    "Hm? Of course!" Yanzhi''s eyes lit up.


    "This song is also from my hometown. It''s called Water Melody," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    Yanzhi''s face lit up with anticipation.


    "When will the bright moon appear? I lift my cup and ask the blue sky. How many years will pass tonight in the celestial pce? ?


    "I hope only for longevity, That we might share this beautiful moon Despite the thousands of leagues that separate us. ?¡±


    Yanzhi was an excellent student even in matters not pertaining to cultivation, and she naturally understood the beauty of the song. Suddenly, she looked toward Xiao Nanfeng and felt her heart stir. He was quite handsome, wasn''t he?


    Sensing her gaze, he turned to her. Yanzhi suddenly blushed.


    "Keep singing. Let me dance to your song," she said, trying to cover up her embarrassment.


    She walked toward a rtively t patch of grass and began to dance in her white dress.


    Under the moonlight, she looked like a fairy who had descended from the heavens, bare-footed and graceful. Her beauty mesmerized Xiao Nanfeng.


    His heart skipped a beat. "If I took her back to Earth¡ªthose influencers and celebrities would hardly stand a chance. Even with their filters and photo edits, they wouldn''t even have a fraction of her beauty and elegance.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to sing, his eyes glued to the dancing beauty before him.


    When the song ended, Yanzhi returned to his side and studied his expression. "What are you thinking about? You have a funny look on your face."


    "I think I finally understand what made some emperors indulge themselves and neglect their duties," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "Huh?"


    "With beauties like you around, I''d ignore courtly affairs too."


    "What nonsense are you spouting?" Yanzhi''s neck and cheeks flushed a deep red.


    "I''m praising your beauty," Xiao Nanfeng replied,ughing.


    "You''re awful!" Yanzhi cried out, flustered. She gave him a yful punch.


    Theyughed as they shared a quiet, joyful moment under the moonlight.


    Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes was watching them from a distant mountaintop¡ªtheir supposed master, Immortal Qingyang. Of course, by now, they had learned that he wasn''t an Immortal at all, nor their master. He was a high-ranking assassin in the guild known as Qingyang Zi.


    Qingyang Zi watched Yanzhi dance with lust in his eyes.


    "So the birthmark on Yan''s face was fake all along... Without it, she''s a true beauty. I recruited such a treasure without even knowing it!" He grinned slyly.


    "She''s always been cold to everyone except her brother," one of his subordinates said. "She''s very skilled, and by far the top of her cohort."


    Qingyang Zi smiled. "No matter. Once she''s mine, I''ll tame her well."

 Chapter 849: When Youre in Danger, Ill Be There

    <h4>Chapter 849: When You''re in Danger, I''ll Be There</h4>


    The next day, Xiao Nanfeng was scheduled for another assassination assignment.


    Xiao Nanfeng reviewed the list with a frown. "Aren''t these missions supposed to be spaced apart? Myst mission just ended, and I haven''t had time to recover. Why am I being assigned another mission so quickly?"


    "Recently, more missions have been passed down from headquarters, so we have no choice but to ask for more of your support. Of course, the rewards for the missions have increased as well," the handler replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression stiffened. He immediately noticed that something was wrong.


    He was well aware of just how many missions the headquarters had issued recently. Over the years, after finishing his missions early, he would either meet up with Yanzhi or spend time investigating the organization''s archives, techniques, and higher-ups. He had even gone to headquarters directly.


    With his unique ability to be ignored, he could investigate openly and thoroughly. He knew this organization''s secrets better than most.


    ording to his intel, the number of missions should have decreased rather than increased. Why would there be a sudden surge?


    He scrutinized his handler, but the man''s demeanor was calm and unassuming. He betrayed no hints of what was going on.


    Still, Xiao Nanfeng''s unease grew. He quickly deduced that he¡ªor perhaps Yanzhi¡ªmight have been targeted.


    "I understand. Let me speak with my sister first before I head out," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well. Safe travels," the handler said with a polite smile before leaving.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the mission dossier again before heading off in search of Yanzhi.


    Yanzhi had just finished washing her hair, and the fragrance of her shampoo wafted in the air. When she saw Xiao Nanfeng approach, she asked curiously, "Nanfeng, what brings you here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng led her to a quiet spot away from prying eyes and said, "Someone''s plotting against me¡ªor maybe you too."


    Yanzhi''s eyes widened. "Oh?"


    "I don''t know why, but stay alert. In the meantime, I need your help with something."


    "Of course. What is it?"


    "There''s a weapon shop in the nearby town we often visit. I ordered a custom sword there. Can you pick it up for me? You can give it to me once I return from my mission."


    Yanzhi nodded. "Of course. I''ll head there right away."


    She had unwavering trust in Xiao Nanfeng, so she didn''t question why he couldn''t pick it up himself. She simply packed her things and left.


    Xiao Nanfeng, meanwhile, seemed to set off in the opposite direction on his mission.


    At that moment, Qingyang Zi was standing on a tform up high in the air. He stroked his goatee with a satisfied smile.


    What he didn''t realize was that Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t gone very far at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng had sent Yanzhi away to move beyond her boundary, allowing him to investigate without any restrictions.


    He walked boldly back toward Qingyang Zi, knowing that Qingyang Zi had to be responsible for assigning that mission to him. Predictably, no one paid him any attention.


    "What''s Yan doing?" Qingyang Zi demanded.


    "Apparently, she''s going shopping at a nearby town. She should be back soon," a subordinate replied respectfully.


    "Good. When she returns, have her bathe ande see me. I''ll be waiting," Qingyang Zi ordered.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Understood!"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. A cold glint flickered in his eyes.


    By evening, Yanzhi had returned. She was informed that she needed to bathe before meeting with Qingyang Zi, her supposed master.


    Yanzhi was puzzled, but remembered Xiao Nanfeng''s warning and stayed vignt.


    After bathing, she headed toward Qingyang Zi''s private residence. No servants or guards were present; a faint aroma filled the air.


    "Master, your disciple seeks an audience," Yanzhi called out respectfully from outside the main hall.


    "Enter," Qingyang Zi replied.


    Yanzhi stepped into the hall to see Qingyang Zi seated and sipping tea. Beside him, a brazier emitted wisps of fragrant smoke¡ªthe source of the scent she had noticed earlier.


    "May I ask why you''ve summoned me, Master?"


    "Your recent missions have been outstanding. As your master, I''m very pleased. This is special spiritual tea I prepared for you. Drinking it will help you break through any bottlenecks in your cultivation. Come, give it a try," Qingyang Zi said with a smile. He offered her a cup.


    Yanzhi nced at the tea. Xiao Nanfeng''s warning was stark in her mind. She shook her head and replied, "Thank you for your kind gesture, Master, but I''ve already received my fair share of rewards. Please save the tea for your own breakthrough."


    "Oh? Are you worried that I''ve poisoned it?" Qingyang Zi asked.


    "I wouldn''t dare, Master," Yanzhi replied, frowning.


    "This is a reward from your master. I insist that you drink it," Qingyang Zi replied.


    Yanzhi frowned, but ultimately nodded. "Yes, Master."


    She picked up the teacup and, covering it with her sleeve, appeared to drink it in one gulp. In reality, out of caution, she had tipped it down her sleeve.


    "Thank you for the tea, Master," Yanzhi replied, cing the empty teacup down.


    Qingyang Zi''s expression softened. "Very good. I would hardly harm you, Yan."


    "Master, if there''s nothing else, may I be excused to return to my room and meditate?" Yanzhi asked.


    "No rush. Let''s discuss your progress."


    "Yes, Master."


    "Among all the assassins in this branch, your missionpletion rate is the highest. You''re on the verge of bing an elite assassin, but there''s something youck to truly reach that level," Qingyang Zi said, sipping his tea.


    "Please enlighten me, Master," Yanzhi replied.


    "Assassins must adapt to all sorts of situations. They must be capable of pretending to be anyone¡ªa noble cultivator or even a base prostitute. Only when you can disguise yourself wlessly in any role will you be considered a true master."


    "I believe I can do so rather well, Master," Yanzhi replied.


    "A brothel worker needs to entertain customers. How do you intend to handle that?" Qingyang Zi asked.


    "I have my own methods, Master."


    "Do you intend to drug or knock out the client? An amateur move. What if the client is stronger and more vignt than you are?" Qingyang Zi demanded.


    "I..." Yanzhi frowned.


    "Your attachment to chastity is your greatest weakness as an assassin. If you''re ever captured, that attachment will be exploited. You could suffer greatly as a result."


    "I will work to ovee it," Yanzhi replied, though her face betrayed her inner turmoil.


    "Allow me to assist you. Once you lose your chastity, you will be free from this limitation and be a wless assassin."


    "Master, please mind yourself." Yanzhi frowned and nced at him sharply.


    "I only intend to help you. Someday, you''ll thank me for this." Qingyang Zi''s gaze burned with lust as he stood and approached her.


    "Master, I don''t need your help. You¡ª" Yanzhi''s voice quavered.


    She backed away, only to stumble and fall to the ground. A sudden wave of weakness overtook her body and left her unable to move.


    "How can this be? I''ve been drugged? But I didn''t drink that tea!" Yanzhi eximed.


    "I taught you all your tricks," Qingyang Zi said,ughing. "Did you really think you could fool me? Not drinking the tea doesn''t mean you won''t get drugged!"


    Yanzhi''s face turned pale as she nced at the incense burner nearby. "You mean... the drug was in the incense?"


    "Correct. As an assassin, you''ll encounter many powerful targets. You''ll fall prey to such a drug eventually, so this is good practice. Your chastity will be your greatest weakness in such situations. Tonight, I''ll help you rectify this w." Qingyang Zi''s eyes gleamed with lust.


    "No! Stay away!" Yanzhi screamed, terrified. Tears filled her eyes.


    "Don''t be afraid. I''ll be gentle with you¡ªyou''ll know what it''s like to be a woman. Haha, I didn''t expect that ugly birthmark on your face would be fake. Today, I''ll finally have a taste of you."


    "No!" Yanzhi cried out in despair.


    Shey still, utterly paralyzed. Her only means of resistance was the poison hidden in her teeth, but using it to save herself would be nearly impossible. She shook with dread and despair.


    Just as Qingyang Zi walked up to her with a lecherous grin, a pained expression suddenly crossed his face.


    "What? I''ve been poisoned?" he gasped in shock.


    He spat out blood and spluttered in disbelief.


    "How could this happen?" he cried, copsing to the ground. "Who poisoned me?!"


    Yanzhi was equally stunned. She didn''t realize what had happened.


    Then, a voice came from the doorway. "That would be me."


    Both cultivators turned to see Xiao Nanfeng strolling into the hall.


    "Nanfeng!" Yanzhi cried out, tears of joy in her eyes. Relief and happiness surged through her.


    "You? You didn''t leave? How did you poison me?!" Qingyang Zi demanded.


    "You drank it yourself in the tea you prepared. Didn''t you realize?"


    "Impossible! I brewed that tea myself. How could it have been poisoned?" Qingyang Zi shouted. He continued to cough up blood.


    "Does it matter at this point?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted disdainfully.


    He walked over to Qingyang Zi and retrieved a small jade bottle from within his robes, then shook a pill out of it and fed it to Yanzhi. Yanzhi, fully trusting Xiao Nanfeng, swallowed it immediately. The effects of the paralyzing drug quickly wore off.


    "How did you know that was the antidote?!" Qingyang Zi eximed weakly.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Qingyang Zi coldly without offering any exnation.


    "Nanfeng, what were you doing here?" Yanzhi asked.


    "You were in danger. How could I not be here?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Despite the simple words delivered in a casual tone, Yanzhi was deeply touched. A warm surge of emotion spread through her body. Her nose tingled, and her eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.

 Chapter 850: Lets Be Together

    <h4>Chapter 850: Let''s Be Together</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi nced at the poisoned Qingyang Zi before them.


    "Yan, kill him," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He was worried that Qingyang Zi''s behavior would leave Yanzhi with mental trauma. By having her take down Qingyang Zi on her own, she would prevent a possible specter of the heart from forming.


    "You would dare? I''m the leader of this branch of the assassins'' guild! If I perish, the higher-ups will investigate what happened thoroughly. You won''t be able to escape. Both of you will be doomed!" Qingyang Zi roared.


    Yanzhi nced at Xiao Nanfeng, concern evident in her expression. She understood the power and reach of this guild of assassins. Killing Qingyang Zi could lead to huge trouble down the line.


    "Kill him. It''ll be alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Got it." Yanzhi nodded firmly.


    Seeing that the pair was serious, Qingyang Zi nched. His tone changed immediately.


    "Don''t kill me! I''m your master! I''m the one who took you in and taught you to cultivate. What happened today was my fault, but I promise it won''t happen again. Let''s act if nothing ever happened. How about that?" Qingyang Zi pleaded.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi remained expressionless. Seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s resolute gaze, Yanzhi stepped forward, her face steeled with determination, and stabbed Qingyang Zi with her sword.


    "No!" Qingyang Zi screamed.


    With a sickening sound, Qingyang Zi copsed into a pool of his own blood, dead.


    "Nanfeng, I''ve killed Qingyang Zi. We need to escape now," Yanzhi said anxiously.


    "Escape? You know this guild of assassins better than anyone. You can''t escape from them."


    "But¡ª"


    "Don''t worry. I''ll face this with you. First, we''ll eliminate Qingyang Zi''s loyal followers, then bribe a few elders in guild headquarters. I know their weaknesses. After that, you''ll take over as the branch leader."


    "What? Me?" Yanzhi eximed.


    "Of course. If I had the strength to deal with all the assassins at the headquarters, I''d make you the leader of the entire guild. For now, however, we''ll have to take it one step at a time."


    "Why me? Why not you?" Yanzhi asked.


    "This guild doesn''t mean much to me. It may be of more use to you."


    Yanzhi''s eyes reddened. "Thank you, Nanfeng."


    "There''s no need to thank me," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    Yanzhi bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before stating, "Nanfeng, my real name is Yanzhi."


    Xiao Nanfeng froze for a moment. This was the first time Yanzhi had revealed her real name to anyone.


    After that, though, Yanzhi refused to say anything more. It was clear that her name carried a deeper meaning, one that she had kept hidden for many years.


    "Let''s keep Yanzhi a secret between us for now. I''ll still call you Yan in public," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yanzhi nodded, smiling gratefully.


    The two began to clean up the scene of the murder. Because Xiao Nanfneg was ignored whenever he left Yanzhi''s boundary, his stealth and cultivation that he had advanced diligently allowed him to quickly eliminate Qingyang Zi''s loyalists.


    Then, he brought Yanzhi to the guild headquarters. He had visited it himself many times, and was very familiar with itsyout. He instructed Yanzhi to bribe the greedy elders withrge sums of money while he quietly assassinated those he knew wouldn''tply.


    Though doing so was a little dangerous, Xiao Nanfeng ultimately seeded in his ploy.


    Yanzhi officially became the leader of the branch and took charge of the region''s affairs.


    During that period of time, Xiao Nanfeng found a piece of information about an old case: a bounty for a girl named Yanzhi.


    The details made it apparent that that Yanzhi was the same one he knew. The bounty also included information about her family background.


    It was only then that he fully understood the sorrow and secrets that Yanzhi had been carrying all these years, and why she had had to hide her name.


    "What are you looking at?" Yanzhi''s voice suddenly came from behind.


    Xiao Nanfeng handed her the document. Yanzhi scanned the bounty and frowned slightly, but her expression remained calm. She trusted Xiao Nanfeng intimately, and knew that he wouldn''t betray her for a reward.


    "You didn''t have to tell me your name," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling wryly.


    Yanzhi bit her lip. She looked at Xiao Nanfeng, her eyes filled with unspoken words. Blushing, she finally said, "I didn''t want to lie to you anymore."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "From what I read, your father was a trusted advisor to the emperor. The fact that someone was able to frame him means that the person responsible must hold significant power and status. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll help you get your revenge."


    Yanzhi stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock, her emotions swirling. After a long pause, she asked, "Nanfeng, why do you treat me so well?"


    From the day they had first met until now, Xiao Nanfeng had been gradually widening the gates of her heart until they finally cracked open. His kindness and unwavering support had long caused her to feel emotionally reliant on him¡ªand she feared the day he would leave her. She had been grappling with this conflict for some time, and her emotions had reached their breaking point. She couldn''t hold back any longer. She wanted to share everything with him, to stop hiding.


    "Because to me, you''re more important than anyone else," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yanzhi''s face instantly turned red. Those were the words she had longed to hear, but she was suddenly ovee with shyness and panic. She stammered, "I-I have something to do. I''ll go now."


    She fled in a hurry, leaving Xiao Nanfeng surprised. He wondered to himself, "Did I word that too suggestively? That wasn''t what I meant¡ªbut there isn''t anything wrong with that meaning either, is there? Yanzhi would be a perfect wife."


    After seizing control of this branch of the assassins'' guild, Xiao Nanfeng implemented structured policies to reduce the assassins'' mortality rate while on missions.


    In addition, he taught Yanzhi how to lead and manage an organization, and she quickly grew adept at managing the assassins. Together, they secretly dispatched some assassins to infiltrate other branches of the guild,ying the groundwork for taking over the entire organization one day.


    A few dayster, Xiao Nanfeng began, "I''ve been doing some research. Your father was a righteous official in the empire of Dahuang, and he was deeply trusted by the emperor. Whoever could orchestrate your family''s downfall had to be of even higher status. Dahuang is home to many cultivators, and while our assassins'' guild is powerful, it''s hard to delve into imperial secrets. If we want to find the mastermind behind your family''s tragedy and exact revenge, the best course of action is to join the imperial court."


    "How?"


    "Dahuang has a so-called Phoenix Army stationed at its borders, and they ept female soldiers. If we enlist there and recruit our guild for assistance, with my ability to eliminate key enemy figures, you''ll quickly rise through the ranks. The assassins'' guild has a standing bounty on themander of the Phoenix Army, so we can use that as a pretext to join the military."


    "Alright!" Yanzhi nodded firmly.


    The two cultivators joined the Phoenix Army with little trouble. Xiao Nanfeng was in a male battalion, and Yanzhi in a female one.


    Whenever Yanzhi participated in a mission, Xiao Nanfeng would join her.


    "Is it really alright for you to be with me? Won''t your absence in the army be noted?" Yanzhi asked, concerned.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve got it handled," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    Nothing would happen, of course. Without Yanzhi nearby, the Phoenix Army didn''t even notice Xiao Nanfeng''s existence.


    Thanks to Xiao Nanfeng''s unique ability, Yanzhi racked up countless achievements. Each mission yielded her the head of an enemy leader. With such aplishments, it would be harder for her not to rise up the ranks.


    Her meteoric rise was undeniable, though she managed to avoid drawing too much attention thanks to the birthmark on her face.


    As Yanzhi advanced in rank, she transferred Xiao Nanfeng to her personal guard, effectively elevating him alongside her.


    One day, while the army was resting and making preparations for subsequent mobilization, they secretly slipped away to a secluded valley. The valley was shrouded in fog and obscured by a formation of small gs that created a concealment array.


    Yanzhi noticed the unusual setup, but Xiao Nanfeng offered no exnation, and she didn''t press him for one.


    The two held hands as they walked toward the fog-shrouded array. Yanzhi''s face flushed red.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng had held her hand before, this was the first time things had felt so intimate, as if they were a couple walking hand-in-hand. She felt a bit uneasy, but didn''t want to let go.


    "Why did you bring me here today?" Yanzhi asked, her cheeks flushed red.


    "I wanted to sing you a song," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "A song? That would be great!" Yanzhi''s eyes lit up.


    Her mood would lift whenever Xiao Nanfeng sang.


    "The song is called Can''t Help Falling for You. It''s a song from my hometown, and it expresses exactly how I feel right now."


    "Can''t Help Falling For you?" Yanzhi repeated curiously.


    "It¡¯s hard to forget the first time I saw you, Your captivating eyes.


    Your image lingers in my mind, I can¡¯t shake it away. ?


    "I¡¯m afraid I might fall for you, Afraid to get too close.


    Afraid I have nothing to offer you, Loving you takes so much courage. ?"


    "What¡¯s the reason?


    How did I meet you again?


    I really, really don¡¯t want to, But I¡¯m trapped in the snare of love. ?


    "I¡¯m afraid I might fall for you, Afraid someday I¡¯ll lose control.


    Yearning only makes me hurt myself.


    Falling for you is beyond my control.


    Falling for you is beyond my control. ?"


    The heartfelt lyrics caused Yanzhi''s heart to race uncontrobly.


    Sure enough, as Xiao Nanfeng finished the song, he waved his hand and dispersed the small gs. The fog cleared, revealing a valley filled with vibrant flowers.


    Flowers of every kind bloomed in a breathtaking disy. Yanzhi''s heart trembled at the sight.


    "Yanzhi, I like you. Will you be together with me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, tugging on Yanzhi''s hand.


    Surrounded by a sea of flowers and dancing butterflies, with the melody of Can''t Help Falling for You still echoing in her ears, Yanzhi''s long-held feelings for Xiao Nanfeng surged to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes reddened as tears welled up¡ªnot of sadness, but of overwhelming joy and emotion. She replied, her voice trembling with happiness, "Yes, let''s be together!"

 Chapter 851: Killing the Emperor

    <h4>Chapter 851: Killing the Emperor</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi were now officially together. They had started dating in earnest.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s vast repertoire of cheesy romance, learned from countless dramas on Earth, now came in handy. His constant teasing and heartfelt gestures caused Yanzhi''s feelings for him to deepen daily. The two of them spent as much time together as possible, often in what seemed like a little world of their own.


    However, they set clear boundaries on their rtionship. They only held hands or asionally shared a hug. Yanzhi was adamant that anything further should wait until they could stand before her parents'' graves and formally dere their union. She wanted to honor them first.


    Xiao Nanfeng respected her wishes wholeheartedly. He adored Yanzhi and wanted to give her the grand ceremony that she deserved.


    One day, Yanzhi noticed something unusual about the cultivation resources Xiao Nanfeng brought her. "Nanfeng, where did you even get all these pills and treasures? These top-grade elixirs and rare herbs are supposed to be incredibly hard toe by, especially these herbs¡ªaren''t they usually guarded by powerful beasts? Have you been taking risks?"


    "Hardly. There are no risks involved. Aren''t these just things anyone can grab if they want to?" Xiao Nanfeng replied nonchntly.


    Yanzhi stared at him, baffled.


    "Anyway, don''t worry about where they came from," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a grin. "Just know that I got them specifically for you. By the way, the main headquarters of the assassins'' guild has reopened their investigation into Qingyang Zi''s death. Those assassins at the headquarters are monstrously strong¡ªI can''t even assassinate them. For now, the most important thing is for us to quickly advance our cultivation. These treasures are our opportunity to do that."


    "Got it," Yanzhi replied, nodding.


    Though she was full of questions, she chose to trust Xiao Nanfeng as always. She joined him in using those treasures to rapidly boost their cultivation.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s unique ability allowed him to find more and more treasures from across the world. These weren''t just for their personal growth¡ªthey were also used to nurture a loyal group of subordinates.


    In the military, bonds formed betweenrades-in-arms on the battlefield were particrly strong. The soldiers trusted each other with their lives, creating deep connections among themselves. Yanzhi further cemented these bonds by sharing cultivation resources with them, earning the soldiers'' gratitude and loyalty.


    For Xiao Nanfeng, however, building his own loyal following wasn''t practical. After all, once he was outside the influence of the boundary surrounding Yanzhi, people wouldn''t even recognize him. Supporting Yanzhi wholeheartedly was his best option.


    Fortunately, his rtionship with Yanzhi continued to deepen. The two became inseparable.


    Yanzhi made a name for herself within the Phoenix Army in such a manner.


    Her rapid ascent was no ident. In just one year, she became a mid-level officer. By the third year, she was in the upper echelons¡ªand this was despite the fact that Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi were deliberately trying not to rise through the ranks too quickly. They wanted to avoid drawing too much attention before they were strong enough to handle it.


    Now that they had gathered sufficient strength, both in terms of followers and individual cultivation, they were ready to make their move.


    Yanzhi had built a solid foundation in the army, gathering loyal supporters from various units under hermand.


    One day, Yanzhi approached Xiao Nanfeng with a document. "The assassins'' guild has ordered me to assassinate themander of the Phoenix Army no matter the cost," she said, frowning.


    "It''s an order from the imperial strategist of Dahuang," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "The imperial strategist of Dahuang, Xuan Kun?" Yanzhi narrowed her eyes.


    "I''ve pieced together what happened over the past few years. When Xuan Kun joined Dahuang, your father used him of being a malevolent force intent on corrupting the court. Xuan Kun clearly held a grudge and used his power to frame your father, leading to your family''s downfall," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Xuan Kun..." Yanzhi''s voice was ice-cold, her killing intent palpable.


    "Xuan Kun is indeed a disaster for the empire. He''s been seducing the emperor with beautiful women and monopolizing power for himself. Many in the court and military oppose him, including themander of the Phoenix Army. That''s why Xuan Kun wants him dead. Themander is powerful and influential, making him a challenging target. Xuan Kun has contracted the assassins'' guild for this task, and the leader of the guild happens to be one of his junior brothers. Naturally, we''re being forced to support his ambitions at any cost."


    "Both Xuan Kun and his junior brother deserve to die," Yanzhi dered coldly.


    "Indeed. Here''s my n: we''ll lure the head of the assassins'' guild and our other enemies into a trap."


    "You want to manipte the situation so that they kill each other?" Yanzhi asked.


    "Precisely. Given our current level of strength, we can certainly orchestrate this battle to our advantage."


    Yanzhi nodded. "Alright. Let''s do it, then."


    Dayster, a battle for the ages erupted.


    Following Yanzhi''s arrangements, the assassins'' guild sent numerous assassins to target themander of the Phoenix Army. However, the army had been forewarned. Led personally by themander, the army counterattacked and drove the assassins back to their headquarters.


    There, themander of the Phoenix Army shed with the head of the assassins'' guild in a brutal fight. Both sides suffered heavy losses, and both leaders were gravely wounded.


    As they prepared to retreat, Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi appeared. Revealing their true strength, the pair overwhelmed both forces and left no survivors in their wake.


    The head of the assassins'' guild and themander of the Phoenix Army both died on the spot.


    After the battle, Yanzhi and Xiao Nanfeng led a purge of dissidents within the assassins'' guild, solidifying Yanzhi''s position as its leader.


    The assassins'' guild, with its vast intelligencework and arsenal of deadly operatives, was a significant asset. With the guild firmly under their control, Yanzhi and Xiao Nanfeng stood at the precipice of fulfilling their ultimate goal¡ªexacting revenge on Xuan Kun and restoring honor to Yanzhi''s family.


    Using her formidable skills, Yanzhi quickly unified the Phoenix Army. She then submitted a report to the imperial court regarding the assassination of themander of the Phoenix Army. Her investigation implicated none other than the imperial strategist Xuan Kun.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Although Xuan Kun wielded considerable influence over the court, the empire of Dahuang wasn''t entirely under his thumb. The empire had arge number of feudal lords, many of whom despised Xuan Kun.


    Armed with Yanzhi''s evidence, the lords began to challenge him openly.


    Despite the fact that the emperor of Dahuang wasrgely preupied with his harem, he still asionally held sessions of court.


    In the midst of these political struggles, and with the help of Xiao Nanfeng''s subtle maniption, Yanzhi was officially appointed as the newmander of the Phoenix Army and granted her own territory.


    However, Xuan Kun, harboring resentment about Yanzhi''s involvement in the affair, persuaded the emperor to summon Yanzhi to the capital under the pretext of bestowing rewards to her.


    Yanzhi, in the meantime, had just gained control of the Phoenix Army and the assassins'' guild. She consulted with Xiao Nanfeng before heading to the capital.


    By then, she had removed the fake birthmark from her face, revealing her true appearance. Years of growth had transformed her appearance so much that she was no longer recognizable as the girl she had been. She was now strong enough to protect herself, and she wanted Xiao Nanfeng to see her at her best every day.


    With a small entourage, Yanzhi arrived at the imperial court, where she was granted an audience with the emperor of Dahuang.


    The emperor, who had inherited the throne from his father, was hardly a brilliant ruler. His pallidplexion betrayed the toll of his excessive indulgences.


    "Greetings, Your Majesty." Yanzhi bowed.


    Her beauty immediately captivated the court. Though they had seen many beautiful women in the capital, none couldpare to the one standing before them.


    Even the emperor, ustomed to the charms of his harem, was momentarily struck breathless. "How can such a beauty exist in this world? I was told you had a birthmark on your face, Commander Yan!"


    "My cultivation has improved, allowing the birthmark to fade away," Yanzhi replied ndly.


    "Wonderful!" the emperor eximed, his gaze filled with lust. "Commander Yan, you''ve done great service to the empire. You''re not yet married, are you? I wish to make you my imperial consort. Would you ept?"


    Yanzhi frowned. "I refuse."


    "How bold of you!" a burly man standing nearby barked in anger. "The emperor has shown you great favor. How dare you refuse? Do you realize your ce?"


    Yanzhi turned to face the new speaker, her sworn enemy Xuan Kun. "Imperial strategist, what do you mean by ''my ce''? Are you suggesting that you''ll fabricate charges against me in the emperor''s name?"


    Xuan Kun narrowed his eyes, but before he could retort, the emperor intervened. He smiled indulgently. "Don''t be upset, Imperial Strategist. We shouldn''t force Commander Yan into a decision."


    The emperor realized his mistake in acting too hastily, and temporarily dropped the subject. Instead, hevished Yanzhi with generous gifts, which she reluctantly epted.


    After the session of court, Yanzhi settled into a residence near her old family estate in the capital. From her new home, she could see the ruins of her childhood estate, a poignant reminder of her past.


    Meanwhile, in the imperial study, the emperor could hardly contain his excitement. "Imperial Strategist, you were right! She''s a rare beauty. My entire harem is worthlesspared to her. I must have her. She must be mine!"


    Xuan Kun, standing nearby, smiled slyly. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Now that she''s in the capital, she won''t be able to escape your grasp. Soon, she will be yours."


    "Haha, excellent!" The emperor smiled in excitement. "Imperial Strategist, if you help me conquer Commander Yan, I''ll grant you one wish¡ªanything you want."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty. I''ll do my utmost to serve you," Xuan Kun replied, bowing.


    "Good!" The emperor pped his hands in satisfaction.


    After Xuan Kun left, the emperor remained in his study, his excitement mounting as he fantasized about Yanzhi.


    "Commander Yan... My beauty... you will be mine!" the emperor murmured, his voice tinged with lust and madness.


    Unbeknownst to the emperor, Xiao Nanfeng was standing silently in the shadows. "You won''t get the chance to do so."


    Before the emperor could react, Xiao Nanfeng''s sword shed.


    "What?!" The emperor''s face twisted in shock.


    With a sickening thud, the emperor''s head flew from his shoulders as blood spurted across the room. Even in death, the emperor''s expression was one of disbelief. He couldn''tprehend just how he had met his end.


    Xiao Nanfeng calmly sheathed his sword and strode out of the imperial study.


    Momentster, a shriek pierced through the air as the sea of fortune overhead copsed, leaving the pce in a frenzy.


    A pce maiden in the imperial study had discovered the emperor''s corpse.


    The news of the emperor''s sudden death spread like wildfire, throwing the pce into chaos. The gruesome nature of his demise sent chills down everyone''s spines. All evidence pointed to Xuan Kun being thest person to meet with the emperor.


    Could Xuan Kun have killed him?


    Xuan Kun had just returned to his residence when he received the news. "What? The emperor''s dead? So soon? I didn''t kill him! He hasn''t even abdicated and passed the throne to me yet. Who could have done this?!"

 Chapter 852: The Grand Wedding

    <h4>Chapter 852: The Grand Wedding</h4>


    Yanzhi walked through the old family estate where she had spent her childhood.


    Her father, once a righteous and noble official, had lived a modest life despite being bequeathed a rural estate as a reward from the emperor. After her family was falsely used of treason and executed, the estate had been abandoned and left to decay.


    The old manor was overgrown with weeds, with cobwebs hanging in the eaves and moss covering the once-pristine floors. Her subordinates had done their best to clean it up, leaving Yanzhi to wander through its familiar halls. She arrived at the now-empty study, memories from her childhood flooding back.


    "Yanzhi, did you draw little turtles on Father''s papers again? Just wait until hees back¡ªyou''re going to get a beating!"


    "Well, Father didn''t buy me any peach blossom cakes! Sister, don''t tell Father it was me, alright?"


    "You little rascal, you''re always causing trouble! Here, I kept your favorite dish in the kitchen for you¡ªchicken drumsticks."


    "Yanzhi, try to stay out of trouble, alright? Here, I got you some candied hawthorns today."


    "Next time, you can''t scribble all over my papers, understand?"


    Father, Mother, Brother, and Sister''s voices seemed to echo in her mind.


    Before she realized it, tears were streaming down her cheeks.


    She walked through the manor, her gaze seeming to pierce the veil of time. She could almost see her younger self, running andughing in this very ce¡ªa life once happy and carefree.


    Now, however, she was the only one left.


    Just as sorrow was about to overwhelm her, a warm hand gently sped hers. She looked up to see Xiao Nanfeng standing beside her.


    With tenderness in his eyes, he brushed the tears from her cheeks and said softly, "I''ll be with you for the rest of your life."


    A surge of warmth filled Yanzhi''s heart. She threw herself into Xiao Nanfeng''s arms and cried freely, letting his embrace soothe her aching heart. Gradually, her grief was reced by a deep, fiery love.


    When she finally calmed down, she tilted her head up and met Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze. Unable to contain her emotions, she leaned in and kissed him.


    Xiao Nanfeng, moved by her deep affection, returned her kiss.


    The two shared a moment of passion, pouring their love and trust into the embrace. Time seemed to stand still until Yan Zhi, breathless, had to pull away.


    "You must have appeared in my life thanks to Father and Mother watching over me from the heavens," Yanzhi murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Xiao Nanfeng gently stroked her hair and replied, "It''s true. The heavens brought me here for you, just as they brought you to me. I don''t want to go back to where I came from. Having you is enough."


    Nestled in Xiao Nanfeng''s arms, Yanzhi''s eyes sparkled with gratitude and love.


    After a long embrace, Xiao Nanfeng broke the silence. "I''ve already found the remains of your father, mother, brother, and sister. I''ve buried them all in your father''s hometown¡ªbut we can''t pay our respects right now. We have to leave immediately."


    "What''s wrong?" Yanzhi asked. Then, she btedly noticed the turmoil in the sky above the capital. "The emperor¡ªhe''s dead?"


    "I killed him," Xiao Nanfeng replied matter-of-factly. "Before his death, I intercepted the edicts he was sending to the various feudal lords. In each one, I dered in his name that, in the event of his unexpected death, the recipient of the edict was to seed him as emperor. Dahuang will quickly fall apart. Soon, there''ll be no shortage of self-proimed emperors."


    Yanzhi''s eyes widened. "What?"


    "Xuan Kun is too powerful for us to assassinate just yet. He''s been consolidating his forces and will likely have military leaders swear fealty to him as the new ruler soon enough. I''ve created this chaos to pit the feudal lords against Xuan Kun''s forces, buying us time to return to the Phoenix Army, rally our troops, and establish our own faction to contend for the empire."


    "But isn''t that going to plunge the realm into chaos?" Yanzhi asked, frowning.


    "You''re worried about the suffering of the people, aren''t you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked gently. "The truth is, Xuan Kun has been nning this coup for years. Conflict between him and the feudal lords will be inevitable. The longer this drags on, the more themon people will suffer. I''ve only expedited the process¡ªwe''ll make this end as quickly as we can. Besides, we''ve been preparing for this moment. With the Phoenix Army and our assassins'' guild, we can end this war faster than anyone else."


    Yanzhi hesitated, but then nodded. "You''re more suited to lead than I am. Why not take the throne yourself?"


    "This world belongs to you, and you have to be its ruler. I''ll stand by your side and support you every step of the way. Don''t let my efforts go to waste."


    Yanzhi''s eyes reddened with emotion as she nodded firmly. "I won''t."


    The two cultivators and their subordinates secretly left the capital.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As news of the emperor''s death spread, Xuan Kun''s ns to seize control of the empire were thrown into disarray. Everyone believed that he was responsible for the regicide. Before long, feudal lords across thend began to rise up in rebellion.


    Emboldened by Xiao Nanfeng''s scheme, each imed to have received an imperial edict naming them the rightful heir.


    "Damn it, who did this?" Xuan Kun roared, his face twisting with rage.


    Though he quickly seized control of the capital and imposed his rule, the chaos had already reached a tipping point.


    Rebellions erupted across thend, and the feudal lords shed with the governors loyal to Xuan Kun.


    Meanwhile, the Phoenix Army, under Yanzhi''s leadership, grew into a formidable power.


    Xiao Nanfeng worked in the shadows, assassinating key enemy leaders and sabotaging opposing factions.


    Within three months, as Xuan Kun and the feudal lords exhausted themselves in bitter warfare, the Phoenix Army emerged as a dominant force. When the dust began to settle, the truth became undeniable.


    "How is this possible?" Xuan Kun muttered, his voice trembling. "She''s just a girl. How can she be so skilled atmanding armies?"


    The feudal lords, too, were shocked. But by the time they realized the threat posed by the Phoenix Army, it was toote. Disorganized and weakened, they were no match for Yanzhi''s united and disciplined forces.


    The Phoenix Army quickly conquered one army after another as it swept across the empire of Dahuang like a rising sun.


    "This is impossible. Where are they finding these assassins? How can they be so powerful? Are our menpletely useless? The army hasn''t even arrived, but ourmanders are already dead! Someone exin this to me!" Xuan Kun roared in frustration.


    Even so, no amount of shouting could change the situation. The Phoenix Army was simply too formidable. By the time another two months passed, the Phoenix Army had imed a third of Dahuang''s territory.


    With the copse of the feudal lords and Xuan Kun''s forces, Yanzhi formally dered the rise of the new kingdom of Danan.


    ''Nan'' came from Xiao Nanfeng''s name.


    Though Xiao Nanfeng avoided taking on an official position, Yanzhi wanted the world to know that this empire belonged both to her and to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng himself was deeply moved by Yanzhi''s gesture.


    Both Yanzhi and Xiao Nanfeng were driven by a shared goal: to bring peace to thend as quickly as possible.


    The kingdom of Danan advanced like a storm. Yanzhi and Xiao Nanfeng were both extraordinary talents, and they wielded their expertise in both cultivation and military strategy with unparalleled skill.


    The assassins'' guild operated in the shadows, and Danan in the open. Together, their coordinated efforts swept through city after city.


    In every region they conquered, the war-weary people were well cared for under Xiao Nanfeng''s meticulous nning. Many came to realize that life under Danan was far better than it had ever been under Dahuang.


    Within two months, nearly half of Dahuang''s territory had fallen to Danan.


    Xuan Kun smashed countless teacups in his fury; many feudal lords were paralyzed with fear.


    Some chose to join forces with Xuan Kun, but many more defected to Danan. Within another month, two thirds of Dahuang''s territory fell to Yanzhi''s control.


    The Phoenix Army fought battle after battle, crushing every opponent with devastating precision.


    Three monthster, Xuan Kun''s remaining forces had beenpletely dismantled. The final confrontation took ce at the former capital of Dahuang.


    Standing atop her imperial carriage, Yanzhi nced coldly at Xuan Kun, whose bloodshot eyes betrayed his desperation. "Xuan Kun, you finally know who I am, don''t you?" Yanzhi said with a mocking smile.


    Xuan Kun''s expression twisted with regret and rage. "It''s you, you little wretch? I should have spared no expense to hunt you down after killing your father, you wretched brat!"


    With a furious roar, Xuan Kun charged forward.


    "Kill him!" Yanzhimanded icily.


    With a loud battlecry, Dahan''s generals surged forward.


    It would be beneath Yanzhi''s station to personally fight someone like Xuan Kun. There were plenty of generals serving under her who were eager to im the glory of defeating him.


    The battlefield erupted into chaos as Yanzhi and Xiao Nanfeng watched calmly from atop an imperial carriage.


    The surrounding officials were no longer surprised by Xiao Nanfeng''s presence. They all knew about the origins of the kingdom of Danan and dared not question his involvement.


    After a fierce battle, Xuan Kun was gravely wounded, his tricks exhausted. He could no longer resist; Danan''s forces closed in on him.


    "No!"


    Xuan Kun screamed as his head was severed from his body.


    The battlefield erupted in victorious cheers.


    "Enter the city!" Yanzhi dered.


    "Enter the city!" the soldiers echoed, their voices thunderous.


    Xuan Kun''s remaining subordinates quickly surrendered, not daring to resist further.


    At least, the entirety of Dahuang''snds fell into the hands of Danan.


    At the same time, the kingdom of Danan began to amass power to elevate itself into an empire.


    For the first time in years, Yanzhi and Xiao Nanfeng could breathe without the urgency and pall of war hanging over them. Together, they traveled to Yanzhi''s family''s ancestral home, apanied by a host of followers, to visit her parents'' and siblings'' graves.


    In the tranquil cemetery, the two carefully cleaned and tended to the graves as they burned incense and paper offerings.


    Xiao Nanfeng knelt solemnly before the graves.


    "Yanzhi''s father, mother, brother, and sister, I humbly ask for your blessing. Please entrust Yanzhi to me. Allow her to be my wife. I promise to cherish her for my entire life. I will never let her suffer any harm or sadness. Together, we shall be forever united in love."


    Xiao Nanfeng kowtowed deeply three times.


    Yanzhi, her eyes red with emotion, knelt beside him. "Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, from now on, Nanfeng will take care of me in your stead. I will live a good life with him. Please rest assured."


    The two kowtowed three more times before rising together.


    Then, as they returned to Danan''s capital, they held a grand wedding.


    The ceremony was extravagant and drew admiration from the entire realm. Countless officials and civilians alike sent their blessings.


    When the festivities concluded, the two finally retired to their bridal chamber.


    Xiao Nanfeng lifted Yanzhi''s red bridal veil, revealing her radiant beauty in the soft candlelight. Her elegance left him utterly captivated.


    "My wife, from today onward, we''ll walk through life together. Never shall we part," Xiao Nanfeng said tenderly, offering her a cup of wine.


    Yanzhi''s eyes glowed with affection as she took the wine. The two drank from their cups, sealing their union. Then, as they sat down their cups, Xiao Nanfeng scooped Yanzhi into his arms. Their gazes met, filled with love and longing.


    The drapes on the bed were unpinned and the candlelight dimmed as their clothes were discarded. The ornate bed began to rock rhythmically, bearing witness to their consummated love.

 Chapter 853: The Dream Ending

    <h4>Chapter 853: The Dream Ending</h4>


    A month after the grand wedding between Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi, the kingdom of Danan officially advanced into an empire.


    Yanzhi became the sovereign of a mighty empire, reigning supreme over her domain.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched on with a bright smile as she ascended to the throne.


    After her coronation, the newly crowned Emperor Yanzhi ran directly to Xiao Nanfeng and threw herself into his arms.


    "Husband, did you see my ascension just now?" Yanzhi clung to Xiao Nanfeng''s neck, beaming with joy.


    "I did. My madam is truly extraordinary," he replied, smiling.


    Yanzhi blushed deeply and buried her head in Xiao Nanfeng''s chest, murmuring to herself.


    "What''s the matter? I can''t make out what you''re saying," Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "I like how you address me," Yanzhi replied, her face flushing red.


    "What do you mean?"


    "When you call me Madam. In the future, call me Madam Rouge," Yanzhi said gently. [1]


    "Very well, my dear Madam Rouge," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He lifted her in his arms and carried her toward the royal bedchamber.


    Yanzhi gazed at Xiao Nanfeng with tenderness, her heart brimming with affection for the man she loved.


    Over the course of the next year, Danan continued to expand its territories as it grew in strength and prosperity. The couple''s bond also deepened, their love bing a cornerstone of their shared lives.


    But one day, while he was walking alone through the streets, Xiao Nanfeng''s face suddenly turned pale with rm.


    "How can this be? The boundary is shrinking! Why is it getting smaller instead of expanding?" Xiao Nanfeng muttered in panic.


    The boundary, a mysterious area centered around Yanzhi, had long defined Xiao Nanfeng''s peculiar existence. Outside this zone, he was ignored, unseen, and forgotten by all. Inside, he was real and acknowledged.


    He had adapted to this strange life, but the sudden contraction of the boundary caused fear to w at him.


    He didn''t care about being invisible to others, but he desperately feared being forgotten by Yanzhi.


    "If the boundary keeps shrinking, will Yanzhi forget me too...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He had a number of ns in mind; helping Yanzhi expand her territory and turn Danan into a divine empire was first and foremost among them.


    Now, however, he abandoned all his ns and rushed back to the pce, his mind racing with unease.


    Yanzhi, sensing Xiao Nanfeng''s distress, immediately grew concerned.


    "What''s wrong, Husband? Why are you so anxious?" Yanzhi asked, her voice trembling slightly.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He told her everything about the boundary.


    "What? Outside the boundary, no one knows who you are?" Yanzhi asked in disbelief.


    "I don''t know what''s going on, but I''m very worried. The boundary is shrinking rapidly, and I''m afraid even you won''t recognize me in just a few days'' time."


    "Impossible. I would never forget you, my husband. No one can separate us!" Yanzhi dered, though her own fear was evident.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s im seemed like utter nonsense, but she trusted her husband with all her heart. It was clear that he wouldn''t lie to her.


    Over the following days, Yanzhi couldn''t focus on governing her empire at all. She delegated affairs to her officials so she could spend her time with Xiao Nanfeng, poring over records and scrolls in search of answers. But there was never any information about this mysterious boundary to be found.


    "Stop searching. I''ve already scoured countless books over the years, and there''s nothing. The boundary keeps shrinking¡ªit encircles just the pce now. During these final days, I''d like to spend every moment with you. When you forget me, at least I''ll be able to remember the time we spent together."


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "No, I won''t forget you, Nanfeng! Never!" Yanzhi replied, the fear evident in her quavering voice.


    Xiao Nanfeng held her tightly and kissed her lips deeply. Tears welled up in both their eyes and spilled out as they clung to each other.


    After the kiss, Xiao Nanfeng sighed deeply and said, "Maybe I''m overthinking things. Perhaps, when the boundary circle shrinks further, the entire world will recognize me. Or perhaps you won''t forget me at all, and I''m just worrying for nothing."


    Yanzhi''s eyes were red. She knew that Xiao Nanfeng was just trying to console her. She didn''t want to say anything that would make him ufortable.


    Yanzhi grasped her imperial seal. She looked skyward and proimed, "Hear me, citizens of Danan! I hereby dere that I, Yanzhi, shall now be known as Madam Rouge. From now on, call me nothing else. Even if one day I forget why I took this name, I hope all of you will remember that I am no longer Yanzhi. I am but Madam Rouge, now and forever, until the end of time."


    With a great rumble, her voice echoed across the empire through the sea of fortune overhead.


    Countless citizens were puzzled by the decree, but no one dared question it. Many were simply curious as to the reason for the name change. Just what did it signify?


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Madam Rouge with profound emotion, deeply moved. He said nothing; he continued to hold her tightly.


    In the days that followed, the couple let the outside world fade away, creating a realm of happiness for just the two of them. But the boundary continued to shrink, growing smaller and smaller until it epassed only a small courtyard.


    Madam Rouge, aware of the shrinking boundary, felt her heart ache with an unbearable fear.


    Neither of them left the courtyard. They spent their days in the moonlit garden, watching the gentle breeze rustling the leaves.


    Xiao Nanfeng whispered to Madam Rouge that the boundary had closed in on just the two of them. Perhaps it was about to vanish entirely; what happened afterwards, no one knew.


    She leaned against Xiao Nanfeng''s chest and trembled, her unease palpable.


    "Yanzhi, don''t be upset. Don''t despair. Even if the boundary disappears and the world forgets me, I''ll still remain by your side, quietly apanying you as you grow. Perhaps we''re still too weak to prevent this separation for now, but one day, when we''re strong enough, we might be able to break this curse. I believe that we''ll meet again. One day, we''ll defy all odds and be together forever," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.


    Tears filled Madam Rouge''s eyes as she nestled deeper into his embrace.


    "Husband, I want to hear you sing," she said, her voice trembling.


    "What do you want to hear? Can''t Help Falling for You, which I sang when I confessed to you?"


    "Primrose, please," Yanzhi replied.


    That song reminded her of another summer night. The moonlight shone down; there was a chorus of crickets and an audience of fireflies. It was the night Xiao Nanfeng first stole her heart.


    Xiao Nanfeng smoothed her hair tenderly and nodded. "Very well."


    "The evening breeze stirs the bamboo, And the moon casts long shadows. Fireflies flicker, bright and small, Like silver coins spread across the hills. ?


    "Above, the Milky Way gleams; On earth, wind chimes sing.


    The Weaver Star lingers far away, Recounting ancient, romantic tales. ?


    "The waters flow through spring and summer, The seasons ever-changing.


    Happiness spreads far and wide.


    Loving you is eternal, never lonely. ?


    "Primrose in two lovers'' hands, The heartbeat I hear within my chest.


    Secretly longing, quietly dreaming,


    That scent that is our love. ?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s song filled the night air as moonlight bathed the garden. Fireflies danced, crickets sang, and the melody was bittersweet in the stillness of the night.


    The two lovers clung to each other as the boundary shrank and shrank. Then, it vanished.


    At that moment, Madam Rouge froze, as did Xiao Nanfeng, the fireflies, and even the moonlight. The stillness of time was interrupted only by faint echoes of Primrose.


    Then, with a great crack, the world shattered into smoke and dissipated into nothingness.


    A dream... It had only ever been a dream.


    As Xiao Nanfeng awakened, rity and awareness returned to him.


    Memories that had been lost upon consuming the Yuqing dreamliquor rushed back into his mind, filling in gaps like the rising tide.


    He swayed slightly as he regained hisposure. He was the emperor of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng.


    Purple mist swirled around the chamber as Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged on the floor. Two empty cupsy nearby. Across from him sat Madam Rouge, enveloped in a halo of pink- and peach-colored mist that enhanced her radiant beauty. Waves of visible energy pulsed around her as if she had made a significant breakthrough.


    Madam Rouge opened her eyes. She smiled at Xiao Nanfeng. "My heart is whole. Xiao Nanfeng, I am truly thankful."


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at her tenderly. He asked, "Do you remember everything that happened within the dream?"


    "Remember what? Everything within the dream has been integrated into my heart. What happened in it?" Madam Rouge asked curiously.


    A pang of pain struck Xiao Nanfeng''s heart. He smiled wryly. The boundary''s power was truly formidable¡ªit had erased all memory of him, even from Madam Rouge.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t know how to exin the situation to his erstwhile lover. He couldn''t help but feel dejected.


    "Alright, I have to go. Now that my heart has been made whole, I''ll have to go cultivate my heart further. Thank you again," Madam Rouge said, standing up.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched her with a mix of emotions whirling in his mind. He didn''t know how to give voice to his feelings.


    Madam Rouge reached out and collected the peach blossoms and pink and purple fog from the hall, dispelling the formation within.


    She handed him a petal of a peach blossom and ced it in Xiao Nanfeng''s palm. "Here. This petal can summon my eidolon once in battle. Its power should be enough to handle, say, a few Han Guchengs."


    Xiao Nanfeng barely nced at the petal. His gaze was fixed on her.


    Madam Rouge, carefree as ever, opened the doors to the hall. "I''ll be off, then. I''ll find you when I return. And remember, you still owe me nine songs."


    With that, she soared into the sky and vanished from sight.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the petal in his hand, then the empty horizon over which she had vanished. He sighed deeply. "What''s there to be upset about? I''ll win her back in due time. My wife¡ªshe won''t be able to escape me."


    He took a few deep breaths to steady himself, tamping down the surge of emotion in his chest.


    High in the sky, Madam Rouge flew swiftly, tears streaming down her face¡ªnot from sadness, but an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude.


    "Does that silly husband of mine really think I forgot everything? Just wait until I finish cultivating my heart. I''ll have so much fun teasing him," she murmured, chuckling.


    As she spoke, she produced a handkerchief.


    If Xiao Nanfeng had been present, he would have been shocked. The handkerchief was the same one that he had given Madam Rouge in the dream¡ªwhen a young Yanzhi had cried alone, and he hadforted her by singing Primrose. How could something from the dream manifest in reality?


    Madam Rouge wiped her tears away with the handkerchief, then examined it carefully.


    "The power of the heart is truly miraculous. With enough heart force, even illusions from a dream can manifest in reality..."


    She tucked the handkerchief away with great care, then shot a nce at distant Yongding.


    "When I was cultivating my heart, I suddenly developed the notion of calling myself ''Madam Rouge''. I didn''t know why at the time, but now it all makes sense. Everything was destined. What a perfect name..."


    Smiling, she stepped forward and vanished in a sh.


    1. ëÙÖ¬ (yanzhi) means rouge; hence, Madam Rouge. ?

 Chapter 854: Han Guchengs Resolve

    <h4>Chapter 854: Han Gucheng''s Resolve</h4>


    Both of Xiao Nanfeng''s avatars emerged from secluded cultivation and summoned his ministers to his imperial study at Yongding.


    "Your Majesty, you''ve been in secluded cultivation for three months. A great deal has happened," You Jiu began, giving him aplicated look.


    "Three months?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    The dream had reset about once every three days. How had he suddenly lost three months? Still, he didn''t dwell on it¡ªtime in the dream world didn''t align with the outside world.


    "Let''s go over everything one by one, then. Mr. Zheng, how''s the situation going with regards to Dazheng and Shenfeng?"


    "Everything remains as it was," Zheng Qian replied.


    "Good." Xiao Nanfeng nodded approvingly, then turned to Wen Zhong. "Mr. Wen, what about the divine empire of Dahan?"


    "Everything is proceeding smoothly. Han Gucheng isn''t paying attention to Dahan at all, so we''ve already gained control of nearly half its Immortal cities under Han Bing''s name. However, if Han Bing''s soul were to return, that may pose a considerable challenge."


    "No matter. If Han Bing returns, I''ll handle it. The important thing now is to ensure that those cultivators we''ve taken in are strictly monitored by the spectral guards."


    Wen Zhong nodded in agreement.


    "Your Majesty, a major upheaval has taken ce in the green knoll hidden realm," You Jiu jumped in.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Daliang and Dadong have also fallen like Daxue. Their citizens were all devoured by the Enlightenment Grounds, assisted by the two Immortal Emperors. We didn''t dare intervene, and couldn''t do anything."


    "Han Gucheng and Saint Lun Hui are working together now? They''re truly ruthless," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, his face sinking.


    "The green knoll hidden realm has now be a wastnd. All three divine empires are gone, and the Enlightenment Grounds have vanished as well."


    "Vanished?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "That''s right. Our people have been keeping watch from a distance. Just a few days ago, all the Enlightenment Grounds entered a patch of dense fog and disappeared in an instant. We searched extensively but found no trace of them."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned deeply as he analyzed the situation. "It seems that Han Gucheng and Saint Lun Hui''s ns are nearing their conclusion, then."


    "I believe so as well, but we can''t find any trace of them at all," You Jiu replied, frustrated.


    At that moment, a spectral guard suddenly rushed into the study. "Your Majesty, I have urgent news from the Sieve of Heaven!"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng nced over.


    "Just now, Han Gucheng appeared in the Sieve of Heaven. As the former Immortal Emperor of Dahan, he submitted a petition requesting an audience with the Heavenly Emperor. He''s currently waiting for the Heavenly Emperor''s summons," the spectral guard reported.


    "Han Gucheng went to the Sieve of Heaven to request an audience with the Heavenly Emperor? Isn''t he in collusion with Saint Lun Hui?" You Jiu eximed, astonished.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes shed. "All the better. I''ll go meet him.


    Before long, Xiao Nanfeng arrived at the Sieve of Heaven.


    His subordinates led him toward Han Gucheng, who was waiting for an audience in a grand hall.


    Han Gucheng noticed Xiao Nanfeng as well. His expression shifted briefly before settling into a small. As the current Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng wielded significant authority over countless Martial Aspects and officials, making it nearly impossible for Han Gucheng''s presence in the Sieve of Heaven to escape his notice.


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, it''s been a while, hasn''t it?" Han Gucheng smiled.


    "Han Gucheng, what are you doing here in the Sieve of Heaven?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "Why, I''m still an Immortal Emperor, even if I''ve passed that position onto my son. All Immortal Emperors under the heavens are officials of the Heavenly Emperor. Is there anything wrong about my requesting an audience with the Heavenly Emperor?"


    His words were reasonable, but Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease upon looking at Han Gucheng.


    "Han Gucheng, something seems off about you," Xiao Nanfeng asserted.


    Han Gucheng''s former hostility was nowhere to be seen. His demeanor was calm, warm even. "Eastern Aspect Xiao, if I remember correctly, there isn''t much enmity between us, is there?"


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s unease deepened.


    "In the green knoll hidden realm, it was you who interfered with my ns and seized the fortune I sought. My son also paid the price for his mistake and remains in your custody. Every time, I''ve been the one suffering losses. By that reasoning, while I have grievances against you, you should have none against me," Han Gucheng replied with a chuckle.


    "What are you trying to say?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    "Not all conflicts are irreconcble. Besides, there''s no hatred between us. Why not work together with me instead?" Han Gucheng smiled.


    Was Han Gucheng proposing a truce? Xiao Nanfeng''s suspicions deepened. Han Gucheng was known for being vengeful, and such a sudden offer of peace was entirely out of character unless he was trying to lull Xiao Nanfeng into a sense ofcency.


    "I know you find it odd, but these are my sincere intentions. I''d rather not fight with you anymore," Han Gucheng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m not unwilling to ept this supposed truce, but I can''t imagine that you would actually offer one."


    "The Heavenly Emperor has yet to meet with me. Why don''t we have a talk for now?" Han Gucheng offered, smiling.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The two cultivators moved to a pavilion outside the hall and sat down.


    At Xiao Nanfeng''smand, tea was served.


    "Go ahead, Han Gucheng," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    Han Gucheng nodded. "I''vee to understand your prowess through our shes. Your subordinates are nning something in Dahan, aren''t they?"


    "Oh? Do you still care about Dahan?"


    "Of course I care about my divine empire¡ªbut there are more important things to me, near and dear to my heart."


    "Hm?"


    "I''vee to understand your prowess through our shes. I''ve also realized that continuing to fight you would only bring mutual destruction, endangering the ones I hold dear. My wife and son are everything to me. For their sake, I''m willing to put aside our grudges.


    Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily taken aback. "What caused you to have such a drastic change of heart?"


    Han Gucheng had a sip of tea. "My family."


    "Your family?"


    Han Gucheng nodded. "I have three beloved wives, and a son whom I adore. They''re my rtives, the most important people to me.


    Han Gucheng''s expression softened. His gaze grew distant and filled with warmth as he spoke of his family.


    "And?" Xiao Nanfeng prompted.


    "I''ve evaluated the cost of fighting you. It would lead to the death of people we both hold dear, and I can''t bear the thought of my family suffering because of my ambitions. For their sake, I wish to reconcile with you."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. He had anticipated deception or maniption, but not this¡ªan enemyying down his arms for the sake of his family''s happiness.


    Was this really Han Gucheng who sat before him?


    Han Gucheng suddenly chuckled. "Now, you mayugh, but though I once schemed endlessly, though my ambitions were as high as the heavens, after starting a family, I''vee to realize that nothing is more important than a harmonious family and the safety of my loved ones. Perhaps this might be a weakness for you to exploit in time, but today, I genuinely want to resolve our enmity. Please, Eastern Aspect Xiao, state your conditions for peace."


    Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily stunned. He didn''t know how to respond. He had never encountered such a request before¡ªit was almost as if he had be a viin threatening someone else''s family.


    "Can you tell me about your family?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, his expression somewhat strange.


    "Of course. I met my three wives back when I was still a rtively unknown figure and my cultivation was still weak. One is my senior sister, another my junior sister, and the final is my childhood sweetheart. In my youth, I had grand ambitions but was inexperienced in matters of the heart. Through life-and-death trials, I came to know and love them.


    "My senior sister is the most gentle of all, willing to forgive me no matter what mistakes I make. My junior sister is the most mischievous. She ys pranks on me often, but she was also the first to step forward to protect me in times of danger, always putting herself in harm''s way on my behalf. As for my childhood sweetheart, she grew up with me. She appears delicate but is strong and steadfast. She doesn''t express herself well, but when ites to me, she transforms into a different person entirely, standing fiercely by my side and refusing to let me suffer any harm."


    As Han Gucheng reminisced, his face was suffused with a warm, happy smile. When he spoke of his three wives, his eyes gleamed with affection.


    "My son, Han Bing, was wrinkled and ugly when he was born. But before long, he became a chubby, adorable little thing. I¡¯ll never forget how excited I was when he first called me ¡®Father.¡¯ Back then, he couldn¡¯t even walk yet. Once, when I was holding him, he peed all over me. That little rascal¡ªhe¡¯s the only one who dares to act up with me like that..." Han Gucheng recalled with augh.


    Xiao Nanfeng listened silently, his expression growing stranger by the moment. The Han Gucheng before him bore none of the hallmarks of a ruthless overlord. Instead, he radiated a profound love for his family.


    Was this really the same Han Gucheng he knew?


    Could this be an act? If it were, Han Gucheng''s acting skills had to be unparalleled¡ªXiao Nanfeng could detect no falsehood in his demeanor.


    As Han Gucheng spoke of his family, his entire being seemed to glow with warmth and happiness.


    It felt unreal and wholly unexpected.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained silent for long moments. He eventually concluded that, if Han Gucheng''s words were genuine, then he was indeed a man worthy of respect.


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, I sincerely wish to reconcile with you. Please, state your terms for ending our feud," Han Gucheng said earnestly.


    Xiao Nanfeng paused. He was just about to respond when an official entered the pavilion and announced, "The Heavenly Emperor will grant an audience with Immortal Emperor Han and Eastern Aspect Xiao in the imperial study."


    The conversation between the two cultivators was interrupted, but Han Gucheng didn''t seem annoyed. Instead, he smiled and said, "Eastern Aspect Xiao, since the Heavenly Emperor has summoned us, shall we continue our discussion afterwards?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 855: Heartslain Bodies

    <h4>Chapter 855: Heartin Bodies</h4>


    Yu Fuli, well aware of the enmity between Xiao Nanfeng and Han Gucheng, was curious about their meeting. He summoned both of them to his study.


    He sat behind his desk, sipping on a cup of tea as he listened to some music. Just then, a shout came from outside. "Your Majesty, Eastern Aspect Xiao and Immortal Emperor Han are here!"


    "Enter," Yu Fulimanded.


    With a wave of his hand, the music abruptly stopped. Han Gucheng and Xiao Nanfeng walked into the study.


    "Greetings, Your Majesty," they said, bowing slightly.


    Yu Fuli nced at Xiao Nanfeng with a smile. "Has Madam Rouge left?"


    "How did you know, Your Majesty?"Xiao Nanfeng was perturbed.


    "Is it hard to tell? Judging from the situation, it looks like you helped her break through. Someone like her, with a heart as steadfast as a rock, would have found it incredibly difficult to modify her cultivation even with the Yuqing Grandmaster''s insight. To think you could have seeded where she didn''t..."


    "You tter me, Your Majesty. It was just a minor change¡ªlikely nothing significant."


    Yu Fuli shook his head but didn''t borate. Xiao Nanfeng, who had yet to embark on the path of heart cultivation, couldn''t understand the profound subtleties involved. Matters of the heart were delicate, and even seemingly minor shifts could lead to monumental transformations. The ''slight'' change in Madam Rouge''s heart could have enhanced her power immensely.


    Then, Yu Fuli turned to Han Gucheng and scrutinized him. "Hmm? Are you really Han Gucheng?"


    "Han Gucheng greets His Majesty," Han Gucheng said again, giving the Heavenly Emperor a deep bow.


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "You''re not Han Gucheng."


    Xiao Nanfeng was astonished, as was Han Gucheng himself.


    "Your Majesty, how could I not be Han Gucheng? Admittedly, this is just an avatar, not my main body," Han Gucheng said.


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "You''re Han Gucheng''s main body."


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. He looked toward Han Gucheng, who had a simrly confused expression on his face.


    "You must be mistaken, Your Majesty. Surely I''m aware of my own circumstances...?"


    "Your cultivation is rtively ordinary, but your aptitude for heart cultivation is exceptional. You cultivate the Heartin Bodies, don''t you?" Yu Fuli asked with a smile.


    "How did you know, Your Majesty?" Han Gucheng asked cautiously.


    "The Heartin Bodies allows cultivators to divide themselves into three bodies: the good, the malicious, and the obstinate. These bodies differ from ordinary avatars; they''re as real as your main body but represent different facets of the self. This form of yours, surrounded by an aura of merit, must be your good body."


    Han Gucheng gave Yu Fuli aplex look before he nodded. "Your Majesty''s insight is unparalleled. Indeed, this is my good body. I currently only have two bodies at present; the other hasn''t been subdivided further."


    Yu Fuli stared at Han Gucheng and added, "Not only are you Han Gucheng''s good body, your body is iplete. Something seems to be missing."


    Han Gucheng nodded again. "Before I came here, my other self tampered with this form, erasing some of my memories. It is indeed iplete."


    Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. Could cultivators manipte their own avatars? Han Gucheng''s forms seemed to have individual consciousness, unlike his avatars, which shared the same consciousness. It was a strange and unsettling notion.


    "What do you seek from me?" Yu Fuli asked, sipping his tea.


    Han Gucheng took a deep breath. "Please deal with Saint Lun Hui, Your Majesty."


    "Oh?" Yu Fuli put down his teacup, ncing at Han Gucheng in intrigue.


    "My other self is currently with the main body of Saint Lun Hui, and I expect that they''re studying the primordial altar together. I''ve discovered that, throughout history, the most powerful figures of each era have used the primordial altar to defy the heavens in some way. Though karmic altars can connect to the primordial altar, having the primordial altar physically present is particrly potent," Han Gucheng said.


    "Are you intending to negotiate with me?" Yu Fuli asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "No, Your Majesty. I only hope to request aid from you. I too have been using Saint Lun Hui and the primordial altar for my own gain, but once I obtain what I seek, there will inevitably be conflict between us. I earnestly entreat that you intervene, Your Majesty."


    Yu Fuli scrutinized him. "I know that you and Saint Lun Hui are conspiring, but what exactly are you after that requires my help to clean up your mess?"


    Han Gucheng smiled wryly. "I don''t know."


    "Oh?"


    "My other body erased this form''s memories and even severed our heart connection. I know nothing about the situation or where my other body is, precisely."


    "Fascinating. Your two selves are scheming against each other? How intriguing."


    Han Gucheng shook his head. "Your Majesty, that''s impossible. My other self and I are one; we can''t work against each other. If I perish, so too will my other self. This was likely done because the personality of this body isn''t suited to handling certain darker matters."


    "Fine. Since your situation is so intriguing, I''ll help you deal with Saint Lun Hui. Besides, I could use the primordial altar myself," Yu Fuli replied with a smile.


    All the Immortal Emperors of the world were Yu Fuli''s subjects. Though Han Gucheng and Xiao Nanfeng had feuded, this was immaterial to Yu Fuli. He agreed readily.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty," Han Gucheng said, bowing deeply.


    "Since your heart connection has been severed, I can''t pinpoint your other self''s location. How can I find it?" Yu Fuli asked.


    Han Gucheng smiled wryly. "Your Majesty, my other self said it would contact me soon¡ªwithin a few days¡ªand share its memories with me."


    "Your other self must be engaged in something extraordinary for him to be so secretive," Yu Fuli mused.


    "I apologize, Your Majesty."


    "It matters not. Although I can''t pinpoint your other self''s location, I can observe his surroundings. Would you like to see what''s happening?" Yu Fuli asked.


    "Truly?" Han Gucheng asked curiously.


    He hesitated for a moment before ultimately nodding. "If you have the means to do so, Your Majesty, I''d love to."


    He didn''t refuse; Yu Fuli was showing him respect by asking for his opinion rather than doing so outright. Refusing might well sour Yu Fuli''s opinion of him.


    "Very well. Let''s use your body as a medium, then. By your shared truesoul, I invoke your other self. Reveal!" Yu Fulimanded.


    He extended a finger to Han Gucheng''s brow, causing purple light to emerge. With a wave of his hand, Yu Fuli cast the light outward to create a glowing purple screen.


    On the screen was a peculiar space, dominated by a massive altar shrouded in ck fog. The symbols on the altar were obscured, but it emanated an overwhelming aura of power.


    "The primordial altar indeed," Yu Fuli said with a smile.


    In addition to the altar, there were countless Enlightenment Grounds visible. Near the altar, a group of figures could be seen.


    Saint Lun Hui sat nearby, sipping on Immortal tea. He was surrounded by a green aura of formidable power.


    "That''s Saint Lun Hui''s main body," Han Gucheng exined.


    Not far away stood Han Gucheng''s three wives and his son Han Bing, all of whom were observing Han Gucheng''s other body curiously.


    Han Gucheng''s other body was focused on a mountain of ice. He flew around the mountain and ran his hands across its surface.


    "What mountain is that? Why would my other self erase this memory?" Han Gucheng''s good body murmured, frowning.


    "The cursed spiritual power of the Superior..." Yu Fuli eximed.


    "Your Majesty, you recognize that mountain of ice?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "More than recognize, in fact. To think Han Gucheng was scheming for that..." Yu Fuli smiled.


    "What is he plotting, Your Majesty?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, Saint Lun Hui is trying to merge the Enlightenment Grounds, while Han Gucheng is seeking to use the icy mountain as a medium to retrieve a cursed effigy from the altar for symbiosis."


    "There are cursed effigies in the primordial altar?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Throughout history, many hegemons of their era have offered cursed effigies as sacrifices to the altar in exchange for power. These entities can be retrieved, and the altar can even purge their malevolence," Yu Fuli exined.


    "So Han Gucheng wants to live in symbiosis with a purified cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


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    "It''s possible. And the cursed effigy he''s targeting is rather extraordinary." Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Your Majesty, what cursed effigy is he intending to retrieve?"


    "If that icy mountain is to serve as the medium... perhaps the Superior," Yu Fuli replied.


    "The Superior?"


    "You should be aware of the Body of Yin, from which the Shangqing, Taiqing, and Yuqing Yin Bodies derive. The Superior was the one who authored Body of Yin."


    "The Superior ended up in the primordial altar? You mean that he was sacrificed?"


    "Indeed. He was jointly sacrificed by the three Qing Grandmasters."


    Xiao Nanfeng was stunned. To think that the Superior, who had taught the three Qing Grandmasters, had been betrayed by them and offered up as a sacrifice!


    And now, Han Gucheng was intending to im that legacy for himself. His ambitions were truly staggering.

 Chapter 856: The Terrifying Han Gucheng

    <h4>Chapter 856: The Terrifying Han Gucheng</h4>


    "The Superior?" Han Gucheng''s good body furrowed his brows as he stared at the scene before him.


    "Aren''t you aware of this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, puzzled.


    Han Gucheng''s good body shook his head. "My main body wiped away some of my memories, so I''m unaware of the details."


    Yu Fuli''s expression grew serious. "If I recall correctly, back then, the three Qing Grandmasters sacrificed everything that the Superior owned. The fact that this mountain of ice is located right by the primordial altar is quite intriguing."


    "Could the three Qing Grandmasters have had their own ns that they wanted to keep hidden from each other? Perhaps that''s the origin of this icy mountain," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Yu Fuli pondered the situation briefly. "I doubt it, but the three Qing Grandmasters are ambitious and cunning. I suppose it''s not impossible that they left a contingency behind."


    "Han Gucheng''s main body is studying this mountain of ice. Could this be the first time he''sing across it? And why would Saint Lun Hui refrain from acting himself?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "The Superior''s cursed spiritual power isn''t something anyone can activate. It requires a specific cultivation technique," Yu Fuli exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression shifted. "If I''m not mistaken, Saint Lun Hui once sought out Han Gucheng''s son, Han Bing. Both father and son practice the Frozen Heart''s Elegy."


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "That''s not a particrly remarkable technique. Han Gucheng likely also cultivates the Body of Yin. Only someone who has achieved proficiency in this technique can manipte the Superior''s cursed spiritual energy."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng responded in surprise.


    Han Gucheng''s good body frowned and smiled wryly. "I indeed cultivate the Body of Yin."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew grave. He had believed himself to be one of the few who had mastered this technique, only to learn that Han Gucheng had, too.


    "The Body of Yin is notoriously difficult to cultivate. Many practitioners are consumed by it, while others undergo drastic personality changes. Han Gucheng, have you noticed any changes in your temperament?" Yu Fuli asked.


    He knew that Xiao Nanfeng cultivated the same technique; his words were directed at both of them.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained silent, while Han Gucheng smiled faintly. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I''ve sensed a slight peculiarity, but it remains within my control."


    "What peculiarities might arise?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired.


    Han Gucheng frowned. "I''m afraid I can''t say. That part of my memory has been erased as well."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and refrained from asking further questions. The group turned its attention back to the scene in the projection.


    Han Gucheng''s main body began to infuse energy into the mountain of ice, causing it to emit a blinding white light. The entire realm became as bright as day. With a wave of his hand, Han Gucheng lifted the massive mountain.


    In the distance, Saint Lun Hui''s eyes lit up with delight. He rose to his feet and eximed, "Excellent, Han Gucheng! You haven''t disappointed me. Even I can''t touch this mountain of ice without it melting and dissipating. You''ve managed to control it. Well done!"


    "Now, let''s proceed with the n," Han Gucheng''s main body dered.


    "Very well," Saint Lun Hui replied.


    Han Gucheng carried the enormous mountain of ice to the primordial altar and took a deep breath. "Primordial altar, hear my plea! I offer all these monsters as coteral and the Superior''s cursed spiritual energy as a medium in exchange for the once-sacrificed Superior. I want his cursed effigy and cursed soul, but not his malevolence. I wish to exist in symbiosis with the Superior, to resonate in mind and spirit. Primordial altar, I implore you to grant my request!"


    As he said this, he hurled the massive mountain of ice toward the swirling ck fog surrounding the primordial altar.


    The Enlightenment Grounds all around them surged toward the primordial altar, ejecting countless-purple furred monsters who were driven into the altar''s ck fog.


    The scene mirrored the past sacrifice of countless red-furred lifeforms to the primordial altar.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He eyed Han Gucheng''s good body. "These are the purple-furred lifeforms into which everyone from the green knoll hidden realm has been transformed, aren''t they?"


    Han Gucheng''s good body sighed. He didn''t exin himself; the truth was evident.


    He didn''t know how they had transformed all the people of the green knoll hidden realm into purple-furred monsters, but almost double the number of purple-furred monsters were sacrificedpared to red-furred ones back then.


    For several hours, the purple-furred monsters were continuously sacrificed to the altar, but even after they were all consumed, the vortex of ck fog persisted. The offerings had been insufficient.


    "It''s not enough. No matter how many purple-furred monsters they offer, it won''t suffice," Yu Fuli said, shaking his head.


    "Why?" Han Gucheng''s good body asked anxiously.


    "Do you think such mundane creatures could summon someone like the Superior, especially when your main body made such specific requests? Only that mountain of ice had any real value."


    "These purple-furred monsters are mundane? What would suffice, then? What sacrifice?" Han Gucheng''s good body asked.


    Yu Fuli turned to Han Gucheng''s good body and smiled at him. "You cultivate the heart. Shouldn''t you know?"


    "Me?" Han Gucheng''s good body frowned.


    "It looks like your memory of this has been erased as well. How pitiful you are. I hope you can bear what''s about to unfold," Yu Fuli murmured.


    "What do you mean?" Han Gucheng asked, confused.


    "Please enlighten us, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Yu Fuli gazed at the primordial altar in the projection. "Han Gucheng''s main body just requested resonance in mind and spirit. Do you know just what that entails?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "The primordial altar is founded on equivalent exchange. To obtain something, one must offer something of equal value¡ªso to gain emotional and spiritual resonance with the Superior, he must sacrifice emotional and spiritual connections of his own..."


    "Ah, you do understand." Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Exchanging emotion for emotion? Han Gucheng must be mad!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Han Gucheng''s good body turned pale. "Impossible. My main body would never do such a thing!"


    In the projection, Han Gucheng''s main body stood motionless, tears streaming down his face.


    @@novelbin@@


    Nearby, his three wives and son, Han Bing, fell to the ground, paralyzed. Their faces were filled with terror.


    "Husband, something''s very wrong!"


    "Husband, save me! I can''t move!"


    "Husband, run! Don''t worry about us. Saint Lun Hui must have tricked us. Escape now!"


    "Father, save me..."


    Han Gucheng''s wives and son all cried out weakly.


    Han Gucheng''s main body, on the other hand, stood frozen. His feet seemed rooted in ce. He didn''t dare turn to face his family.


    Meanwhile, Saint Lun Hui nced at Han Gucheng in disbelief, perhaps guessing just what he had done.


    In Yu Fuli''s study, Han Gucheng''s good body copsed to his knees. "Your Majesty, please save my wife and son. I beg you, save them! I''ll do anything, anything you ask!"


    Yu Fuli shook his head. "Your two selves have severed their heart connection. I can''t locate your main body''s position. Besides, this is your own decision."


    "No, this can''t be! I would never sacrfiice my family! Never!" Han Gucheng''s good body wailed.


    "Sacrifice is required for gain. If he wants resonance with the Superior, it won''te easily," Yu Fuli concluded.


    "No!" Han Gucheng''s good body cried in despair, screaming at the projection before him. "Stop! You can''t do this! I''ll never forgive you!"


    Within the scene, Han Gucheng''s main body began the final sacrifice with tears streaming down his face. He approached his family.


    He lifted Han Bing.


    "Father, what are you doing? I''m scared! Father!" Han Bing cried out.


    He shut his eyes, which were filled with tears, and hurled his son into the ck vortex of the primordial altar.


    "No, Father! Don''t!" Han Bing cried out.


    "That''s our son, Bing''er! Husband, what are you doing?!" Gan Qing cried out.


    Han Bing was sucked into the primordial altar and vanished from sight.


    Close by, Saint Lun Hui watched with wide eyes. He didn''t attempt to interrupt the sacrifice, but he was shocked beyond belief. This man was truly ruthless to be sacrificing his own family.


    The ck fog of the altar continued swirling, still dissatisfied.


    "One bond of kinship won''t suffice," Yu Fuli murmured, shaking his head.


    "No, no! My Bing''er!" Han Gucheng''s good body wept and howled in agony.


    In the projection, Han Gucheng''s main body clutched his chest as if in immense pain. He walked toward one of his wives.


    "Husband!" Though weakened, the three women didn''t scold him.


    His intentions were clear. Their eyes were filled with grief and helplessness, but they were in such pain that they didn''t have the words to express themselves.


    Han Gucheng grabbed one of them and threw her into the vortex.


    "Qing''er!" Han Gucheng''s good body screamed in anguish.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at Han Gucheng''s good body. There was no way he was faking this; this wasn''t a ploy at all.


    When he turned back to the scene of Han Gucheng''s main body sacrificing his family, his blood ran cold.


    "Is Han Gucheng insane? What kind of monster is he? All this for the sake of merging with a cursed effigy? Sacrificing his wives and children? He''spletely lost his mind!" Xiao Nanfeng thought, horrified.

 Chapter 857: Yu Fuli Takes Action

    <h4>Chapter 857: Yu Fuli Takes Action</h4>


    Han Gucheng''s actions left Xiao Nanfeng''s scalp tingling with unease.


    He had sacrificed his son, and then his wives. Han Bing was swallowed up by the primordial altar, whereas Gan Qing and the other two women followed soon after.


    Even putting aside familial love, these three women were all Boundless Immortals. Sacrificing them for the Superior''s cursed effigy¡ªwas it worth it at all?


    Xiao Nanfeng had never seen anyone so deranged.


    Han Gucheng''s main body began to wail as Saint Lun Hui pped mockingly from nearby. It wasn''t clear whether he was apuding Han Gucheng or ridiculing him.


    Han Gucheng''s sacrifice of his loved ones¡ªhis familial bonds and his love¡ªfinally elicited a response from the primordial altar.


    With a hum, a white spherical object slowly emerged from the ck fog surrounding the altar. It radiated with a dazzling light, illuminating the entire realm once more. The temperature of the air plummeted as snowkes began to drift down.


    The object floated toward Han Gucheng and, with a loud boom, merged with his main body. Strangely enough, there didn''t seem to be a conflict at all. The fusion was eerily perfect.


    "No, no! Have you gone mad all for the sake of a mere cursed effigy? Give Qing''er back to me! Give Bing''er back to me! I''ll kill you!" Han Gucheng''s good body howled.


    "Are Han Gucheng''s two bodies going to be at odds with each other now? Is the Heartin Bodies technique really this bizarre? To think he would be at war with himself¡ªpeople who cultivate this technique must be insane!" Xiao Nanfeng turned to Yu Fuli incredulously.


    "Not quite. Han Gucheng''s cultivation of the heart is still rtively weak. His two bodies don''t yet possess independent personalities, and their current conflict stems from severing their heart connection. Once they reconnect, all memories will merge, and their emotions will harmonize. Then, they''ll be able to empathize with each other."


    "Empathize? Over killing his wife and child? Han Gucheng''s clearly a lunatic!" Xiao Nanfeng muttered in disbelief.


    "No, he''s not crazy at all. In fact, he''s being extremely calm and rational. Every action he''s taken is calcted," Yu Fuli said, shaking his head.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "I suspect Han Gucheng holds a pessimistic view of the uing cmity of the era. He believes that everyone will die¡ªme, himself, his wives, and his son. In his mind, whether they die sooner orter doesn''t matter."


    "You mean that he''s letting his family die now to spare them prolonged pain? He ns to fuse with the Superior and revive himself in the next era?" Xiao Nanfeng surmised.


    "Indeed. The cursed effigy he''s chosen to fuse with may not be as potent as one obtained from the world away, but it''s likely the best option avable at present. He can die in this era but return in the next. As for his family, he might attempt to retrieve them from the primordial altar someday, though the emotional cost would be just as great¡ªif not impossible to foot altogether."


    Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. "The Superior''s cursed effigy is among the most potent even as far as cursed effigies go. Did he choose it in order to rise quickly in the next era and seize the initiative?"


    Yu Fuli nodded. "That''s likely the case."


    Nearby, Han Gucheng''s good body was wracked with grief. He copsed to the ground and began to sob uncontrobly, utterly broken.


    @@novelbin@@


    Meanwhile, in the projection, Han Gucheng''s main body was undergoing a transformation. His entire body turned a radiant white as he fully merged with the spherical object.


    "Han Gucheng, now that you''ve fused with the cursed effigy and achieved your goal, it''s time for you to fulfill your promise and merge all the Enlightenment Grounds together for me," Saint Lun Hui demanded.


    Han Gucheng''s main body slowly opened its eyes, which glinted with an icy detachment. He rose into the air and hovered over one of the Enlightenment Grounds. With a wave of his hand, a beam of white light surrounded it.


    "Merge!" Han Gucheng''s main bodymanded.


    A hum resounded as the nearby Enlightenment Grounds slowly began to merge with the targeted one. The first to merge caused the target to growrger.


    Saint Lun Hui''s eyes lit up. "As expected, it does work. I initially thought that only the heart force of the Yuqing Grandmaster would be able to cause these Yuqing Enlightenment Grounds to merge, but it looks like the cursed effigy you fused with can, too!"


    Han Gucheng''s main body didn''t respond. He took a deep breath. "Heart connection, open. Good body and main body, synchronize consciousness."


    Han Gucheng''s main body stilled.


    At the same time, in Yu Fuli''s study, Han Gucheng''s good body stilled as well.


    The two bodies'' hearts reconnected, their minds flooded with each other''s thoughts and memories.


    "Argh!" Han Gucheng''s main body screamed in pain.


    He hadn''t anticipated that his good body would have witnessed everything he had done, which had overwhelmed him with grief. Although he believed that his actions were justified, the emotional toll was immense.


    At the same time, Han Gucheng''s good body, though initially hollowed out by despair, regained a measure of rity as the connection restored his mental faculties.


    "No wonder you erased my memories. You''re ruthless!" Han Gucheng''s good body shuddered.


    He embodied Han Gucheng''s benevolence, so he remained more distraught than Han Gucheng''s main body despite having regained hisposure.


    Han Gucheng''s good body stood up and bowed deeply to Yu Fuli. "Your Majesty, my heart is now reconnected to my main body. You should be able to locate the primordial altar now. I implore you to take action against Saint Lun Hui."


    Yu Fuli, unfazed by Han Gucheng''s skepticism about his ability to counter the heavens, nodded. "As you wish."


    By the primordial altar, under Han Gucheng''s main body''s control, the Enlightenment Grounds continued to merge together as the central Enlightenment Grounds grew increasingly massive.


    Saint Lun Hui''s expression twisted into a mocking sneer. He thought to himself, "You sacrificed everything to fuse with the Superior''s soulless cursed effigy¡ªbut you''ve been naive. Once you finish merging the Enlightenment Grounds, you''ll be useless to me. Then the Enlightenment Grounds will be mine, as will the Superior''s cursed effigy!"


    In the central Enlightenment Grounds, Saint Lun Hui''s avatar served as overseer.


    Around him, Han Gucheng''s subordinates began to emerge one after another.


    The overseer sneered inwardly, murmuring to himself, "Han Gucheng had so many of his subordinates cultivate the Yuqing Yin Body... How considerate of them to transform everyone in the green knoll hidden realm to the purple-furred monsters. Unfortunately, just like Han Gucheng, they''ll all be useless soon enough."


    Han Gucheng''s subordinates had served as masters of the respective Yuqing Enlightenment Grounds, but once they were all merged together, the saint''s avatar would take control as overseer.


    Unaware of the overseer''s disdain, several of Han Gucheng''s subordinates flew toward him. "Saint, do you need us to do anything else?"


    "No. Just wait here," the overseer replied coldly.


    "Understood!"


    Then, Han Gucheng''s subordinates simultaneously attacked Saint Lun Hui, unleashing beams of white light at him.


    "What are you doing?!" the overseer boomed, retaliating with a powerful strike.


    With a thunderous boom, the white light scattered, only to quickly reform into ice crystals, trapping the overseer in a frozen prison.


    "An Ice Casket? Impossible! Wasn''t Han Gucheng''s casket devoured by Xiao Nanfeng''s ck coffin?!" the overseer eximed in disbelief.


    Last time, Han Gucheng had used the Ice Casket on the overseer, allowing Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge to take advantage of the situation. Now, he was doing it again!


    Han Gucheng''s subordinates ignored him as they channeled their spiritual power into the Ice Casket, sealing the overseer and preventing him from drawing on the Enlightenment Grounds'' strength.


    "What are all of you waiting for? Come help me!" the overseer roared.


    Afar, superior yin pearls rushed over to the overseer, but Han Gucheng''s subordinates hade prepared. Soon enough, the pearls were all encased in ice as well.


    "More Ice Caskets? Impossible! Just how many of them do you have?!" the overseer roared.


    The crowd ignored him.


    The overseer struck at the Ice Casket furiously, only to nch. "This Ice Casket is even stronger than the one that trapped mest time! Damn it, are you all nning to turn against me?!"


    Meanwhile, outside the Enlightenment Grounds, Han Gucheng stopped merging more together.


    Nearby, Saint Lun Hui''s main body narrowed his eyes. "Han Gucheng, you''re done for."


    A murderous aura emanated from his body, creating ripples in the void as he prepared to attack.


    Han Gucheng''s main bodyughed coldly. "Saint Lun Hui, our partnership ends here. Your purpose is fulfilled. Now, it''s time for you to die."


    "What did you say?" Saint Lun Hui muttered, stunned.


    He was a saint''s main body! How did Han Gucheng expect to take him down? Was Han Gucheng attempting to challenge his authority? Did he want to die?


    Before he could act, the void trembled violently. An overwhelming aura emerged from it.


    "Yu Fuli''s aura? Han Gucheng, you called Yu Fuli here?!" Saint Lun Hui roared.


    A void rift opened up where Saint Lun Hui''s main body was. He fell in.


    "No!" Saint Lun Hui shrieked. He desperately tried to escape.


    "You''ve already exposed yourself. You might as well stay," Yu Fuli called out from the void rift.


    Meanwhile, a fishhook suddenly shot out from the rift and embedded itself in Saint Lun Hui''s body. With a sharp tug, it reeled him deep into the abyss before the rift snapped shut and everything returned to normal.

 Chapter 858: The Passage of Reincarnation

    <h4>Chapter 858: The Passage of Reincarnation</h4>


    Within the Sieve of Heaven, as the void rippled, Saint Lun Hui was reeled into Yu Fuli''s domain with a fishing rod. He was flung high into the air with a loud boom.


    "This is¡ªthe Sieve of Heaven! No!" Saint Lun Hui screamed in panic.


    He vividly recalled the fate of Saint Chi Hai, who had been captured and brought to the Sieve of Heaven, where he had met his end. Lun Hui had once mocked Chi Hai''s foolishness, never imagining that he would face the same fate.


    Without any hesitation, he turned to flee through the four Heavenly Gates.


    With a hum, the four gates of the Sieve of Heaven abruptly disappeared. The entire realm transformed into a sealed space.


    Saint Lun Hui''s face darkened in fright. "Han Gucheng, you betrayed me! You''ve ruined me!"


    He could see Yu Fuli by the entrance of the Heavenly Pce, and Han Gucheng''s good body with him. He understood everything in an instant.


    He thought that he had Han Gucheng under his thumb. Even if Han Gucheng were to live in symbiosis with the Superior''s cursed effigy, he would be under his control¡ªnever expecting that Han Gucheng would betray him and reach out to Yu Fuli.


    Han Gucheng''s good body red at Saint Lun Hui with an expression of unbridled hatred.


    Saint Lun Hui nced at Han Gucheng with surprise. Shouldn''t Han Gucheng be gloating and basking in his triumph? Why did he look so angry?


    However, he had no time to dwell on Han Gucheng. The most immediate threat was Yu Fuli.


    Yu Fuli put away his fishing rod and looked at him with great interest.


    Recalling the demise of Saint Chi Hai, Saint Lun Hui felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly said, "Yu Fuli, I have no intention of opposing you. Let me leave, and we can act as if nothing has happened."


    Yu Fuli smiled. "Saint Lun Hui, have you forgotten what I said long ago? As long as I exist, you self-proimed saints are forbidden from showing your faces. Since you''ve shown yourself, I insist that you remain. I wouldn''t want to make a mockery of my words."


    Sensing that he had no chance for negotiation, Saint Lun Hui''s expression turned dark. "Arrogant, aren''t you? Do you really think that defeating Saint Chi Hai makes you invincible? Today, I''ll teach you a lesson!"


    As he waved his hand, a massive pir of green light erupted, piercing the heavens and burrowing deep into the ground. It radiated an overwhelming aura that caused the void to tremble.


    "A pir of heavenlyw? What a fearsome aura."


    "So what? Saint Chi Hai''s pir of heavenlyw couldn''t protect him from the Heavenly Emperor himself."


    @@novelbin@@


    The onlookers watched on seriously, but weren''t too worried.


    As Saint Lun Hui extended his hand, countless streams of heavenlyw coalesced into a massive ck cloud that rotated ominously, casting a shadow over all of the Sieve of Heaven.


    As it swirled, a massive vortex began to form. Within the vortex, green light flickered. Faint sounds of wailing emerged from its depths.


    An intense oppressive force radiated from the vortex, causing weaker cultivators to copse to their knees.


    "What''s that? Why are there criesing from within?"


    "Could it be the fabled passage of reincarnation?"


    The crowd murmured in awe.


    Saint Lun Hui sneered. "Passage of Reincarnation, absorb!"


    With a thunderous boom, the passage of reincarnation began to generate a suction force that pulled at everything within the Sieve of Heaven. Floating inds trembled violently, as if they were about to be drawn into the vortex. Even the inhabitants of the Sieve of Heaven were at risk of being swallowed.


    "Your Majesty, allow me to fight!"


    "Your Majesty!"


    Expert cultivators from the Sieve of Heaven rallied to Yu Fuli''s side, but Yu Fuli shook his head and chuckled, "I''ve never been within the passage of reincarnation. Since it''s right here, I might as well take a tour."


    As he spoke, Yu Fuli ascended into the air.


    Saint Lun Hui smirked. "Very good. I''ll show you what true strength is!"


    "Enough chatter. Come on, then. Let''s go. I''ll head to your territory so you can''t im that I had an unfair advantage. While I''m there, you can show me its mysteries," Yu Fuli said with a smile.


    Saint Lun Hui''s eyes widened. "Are you insane? You''re going to step into the passage of reincarnation with me?"


    "What''s the matter? Don''t you want me to?" Yu Fuli smiled.


    "Haha, fine by me!" Saint Lun Huiughed in excitement.


    He ceased pulling in other people and focused solely on absorbing Yu Fuli. Capturing Yu Fuli was the key to everything.


    He hadn''t expected Yu Fuli to be willing to enter the passage of reincarnation. This was a golden opportunity.


    Within his domain, the passage of reincarnation, Saint Lun Hui believed himself to be invincible, even against Yu Fuli.


    As Yu Fuli entered the vortex, Saint Lun Hui followed closely behind him.


    With a loud whoosh, both cultivators disappeared into the passage of reincarnation.


    As soon as they entered, Saint Lun Hui shouted, "Seal!"


    The passage of reincarnation sealed shut, blocking any chance of retreat for Yu Fuli.


    The Sieve of Heaven fell silent. Many onlookers were deeply concerned and didn''t understand why Yu Fuli had relinquished his advantage and willingly entered Saint Lun Hui''s trap.


    However, others realized the truth.


    Yu Fuli hadn''t ceded an advantage; he was simply so powerful that even a saint couldn''t threaten him. He had entered the passage of reincarnation not out of necessity but rather curiosity. It was merely a chance to explore whaty within its depths.


    Such was Yu Fuli: so powerful he could move about unhindered, dominating any arena, any opponent, with ease.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath as he gained a newfound appreciation for Yu Fuli''s overwhelming strength.


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng felt a surge of killing intent. He turned abruptly to see Han Gucheng ring at him with bloodshot eyes that radiated hatred.


    "Han Gucheng, weren''t you trying to resolve our feud just moments earlier? The way you''re looking at me now¡ªdo you want to kill me again?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded coldly.


    Han Gucheng''s eyes zed with fury. "You caused my son pain. My three wives hated you most, and my son always begged me to avenge him. Our feud is irreconcble."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned incredulous. "Are you out of your mind? You''re holding a grudge over your wives'' and son''s past grievances against me? You''re the one who killed them! Why aren''t you ming yourself? Why target me? Are you insane?"


    Han Gucheng''s voice was icy. "The sins I''vemitted, I will atone for one day. My wives'' and son''s hatred for you will be my life''s purpose. I won''t act recklessly in the Sieve of Heaven, but once we''re outside, let''s settle this."


    Han Gucheng whirled around and left, worried that he would lose control and attack Xiao Nanfeng on the spot, risking punishment from Yu Fuli.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he watched Han Gucheng depart. "This guy''s deranged. He killed his own family and is now intending to project his guilt onto me! This is absurd¡ªno, no, he''s trying to convert his guilt into vengeance in a way to bnce his psyche. It might be a way to cultivate the heart. Have I be his emotional scapegoat, then? What a ridiculous grudge."


    At any rate, it was clear that there would be no chance of reconciliation with Han Gucheng at all. Their enmity was one that would only be buried in death.


    "You asshole! If you think you can use me as a stepping stone to refine your heart,e and try me. What a joke you are!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes zed.


    At the same time, within the green knoll hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stood surrounded by a group of ck-d subordinates. After learning about Han Gucheng and Saint Lun Hui''s schemes, he had secretlye to the green knoll hidden realm and deployed his men to monitor the various areas within.


    "Your Majesty, just now, a spectral guard''s avatar reported intense turbulence above a valley. There was a huge storm¡ªbut it vanished without a trace," You Jiu said.


    "Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied.


    Soon, under the guidance of a ck-d figure, Xiao Nanfeng arrived at arge valley where more ck-d figures had already gathered.


    "Your Majesty, this is where the disturbance was. The shockwaves from the storm even caused some nearby peaks to copse," a ck-d figure reported, pointing to a seemingly calm location.


    "Could this disturbance have been caused by the Heavenly Emperor capturing Saint Lun Hui and transporting him to the Sieve of Heaven?" You Jiu spected.


    There were many spectral guards in the Sieve of Heaven, and the altercation between the Heavenly Emperor and Saint Lun Hui was no secret.


    "Indeed. This is likely where the secret space housing the primordial altar is located. Have you searched the area?"


    "Thoroughly, but we haven''t found a passageway into a hidden realm," one of his subordinates replied.


    "Where exactly did the turbulence ur?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Right here." His subordinate pointed to the void.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and carefully examined the area. He too found nothing. Saint Lun Hui had to have sealed the entrance to the hidden space, making it nearly impossible to detect.


    After a moment''s thought, he extended his hand and unleashed a red beam of light.


    With a hum, the void trembled. The other end of the beam seemed to pierce into an unseen space.


    "Have I found it?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    A portal of red light formed, and he stepped through it. Momentster, he reappeared in another realm, where the primordial altar and a massive Enlightenment Grounds awaited him.


    "This is the ce." Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    His ck-d subordinates followed him into the hidden space.

 Chapter 859: Madam Rouges Eidolon

    <h4>Chapter 859: Madam Rouge''s Eidolon</h4>


    Where the primordial altar was located, after Yu Fuli hooked Saint Lun Hui''s body away, Han Gucheng''s main body gained full control of the entire space.


    Unwilling to let others continue managing the Enlightenment Grounds, he stepped into one and coldlymanded, "Transfer the control of this Enlightenment Grounds to me."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the master of the Enlightenment Grounds replied.


    With a boom, a pir of white light descended from the sky and enveloped Han Gucheng.


    Han Gucheng''s body radiated with white light. The aura of the Superior exploded forth from him, causing the entirety of the Enlightenment Grounds to glow in white.


    "All the Enlightenment Grounds shall be merged into this one," Han Guchengmanded.


    "Understood!" came shouts from all the Enlightenment Grounds in the vicinity.


    One after another, the Enlightenment Grounds merged together. Amidst the rumbling, the central Enlightenment Grounds expanded and grewrger andrger.


    Within the Enlightenment Grounds, the superior yin pearls sensed that something was amiss and attempted to flee, but they were all quickly sealed within Ice Caskets. Before long, all the Enlightenment Grounds had fused together.


    Han Gucheng emerged from the pir of white light, his aura surging rapidly.


    Around him, his subordinates stood respectfully, thrilled by his growth in strength.


    Even so, Han Gucheng had a dark expression on his face. He was staring at an Ice Casket in the vicinity, in which Saint Lun Hui''s overseer avatar was trapped.


    "Han Gucheng, how dare you betray me! You''re truly despicable," Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    Han Gucheng''s gaze was icy. "Despicable? Not as much as you are. If I hadn''t contacted Yu Fuli, you''d already have killed me, wouldn''t you?"


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Saint Lun Hui snapped.


    "You pretended not to recognize that mountain of ice earlier in order to bait me, didn''t you? You intended for me to summon the Superior''s cursed effigy and help you fuse the Enlightenment Grounds together¡ªand once that was all done, you''d kill me and steal the Superior''s power for yourself. Am I wrong?" Han Gucheng sneered.


    "You''re just making things up! All I wanted was the power of the Enlightenment Grounds, that''s all!" Saint Lun Hui replied.


    "Do you still intend to lie to me at this point? Do you think I''m a fool? Thebined Enlightenment Grounds does have considerable power, and I can multiply my strength by tapping into it¡ªbut it pales inparison to the might of your heavenlyws. Would you risk exposing your main body just for it? I think not," Han Gucheng retorted coldly.


    "What do you know?" Saint Lun Hui''s expression turned grim.


    "You and I share the same goal: to acquire the Superior''s cursed effigy. He''s weaker now as a result of past battles and the primordial altar''s cleansing, but the Enlightenment Grounds can help nurture it. Isn''t that right?" Han Gucheng continued, smirking.


    "You¡ª" Saint Lun Hui''s eyes shed.


    "That''s enough talk. Saint Lun Hui, today is the day you die," Han Gucheng said icily.


    "Hold on! Listen to me¡ª" Saint Lun Hui cried out, but Han Gucheng ignored him. He swung his hand toward the Ice Casket, unleashing a de of icy energy that shot toward Saint Lun Hui''s avatar.


    "No!" Saint Lun Hui screamed.


    With a thunderous boom, the Ice Casket and Saint Lunhui''s overseer avatar were both cleaved in two.


    Saint Lun Hui''s eyes opened wide as the fragments of his soul dispersed into thin air.


    Having eliminated all potential threats, Han Gucheng now stood silent, his eyes welling up with tears.


    "Beloved wives, Bing''er, rest assured. I''ll help all of you take revenge on Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng shall die," Han Gucheng dered, his voice resolute.


    Just then, a subordinate called out, "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng''s here!"


    "Oh?" Han Gucheng''s eyes lit up with surprise.


    With a wave of his hand, a projection appeared before him. Xiao Nanfeng was leading a group of ck-d figures into the primordial altar''s domain.


    Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng, Han Gucheng''s eyes lit up. He extended a hand. The massive Enlightenment Grounds shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng, who attempted to dodge. Unfortunately, for him, the massive Enlightenment Grounds moved too quickly. It engulfed him and his subordinates within moments.


    "Han Gucheng? Are you the master of this Enlightenment Grounds now?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    Han Gucheng''s aura was several times more potent than when Xiao Nanfeng had seen himst. He immediately tensed as he prepared for a difficult battle.


    "We meet again, Xiao Nanfeng. Did you forget what I told you in the Sieve of Heaven? Yet you walked right into my trap," Han Gucheng said, his voice seething with hatred.


    "Han Gucheng, remember this: I wasn''t the one who killed your wives and son. It was you, Han Gucheng!"


    "My wives and son wanted you dead¡ªand die you will. Where''s your Madam Rouge? If it''s just you and these subordinates of yours, you''re done for," Han Gucheng dered.


    Right then and there, Xiao Nanfeng produced a peach blossom petal, the one Madam Rouge had given him right before she left. She had mentioned that the petal could summon her eidolon to assist him once.


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly channeled energy into the peach blossom petal. It exploded in a surge of pink energy that surrounded him. Then, it quickly absorbed energy from the void to summon a tempest of peach blossom petals that surrounded him. They swirled faster and faster as energy radiated from them.


    "Impossible. What have you done?!" Han Gucheng cried out.


    Heshed out with another icy de, which shattered upon impact with the petals around Xiao Nanfeng.


    The petals condensed into an eidolon hundreds of meters tall.


    The eidolon looked like Madam Rouge, but it was just a facsimile. Xiao Nanfeng melded with her eidolon and gained control of it.


    "Impossible. An eidolon? Why would Madam Rouge lend you her eidolon?!" Han Gucheng cried out.


    "Han Gucheng, if you want a fight to the death, then stop wasting time. Come at me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The eidolon shot right up to Han Gucheng and punched him. "Die!"


    "I''m several times stronger than before. You''re no match for me. You die!" Han Gucheng also threw a punch at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Their fists collided in midair with a thunderous boom. A massive firestorm erupted at the point of impact and swept across the surroundings.


    Madam Rouge''s eidolon was unmoved, but Han Gucheng was sent flying. Blood sprayed from his mouth in mid-air.


    "Impossible! How can you be stronger than I am? Could Madam Rouge have held backst time?" Han Gucheng cried out, then snarled, "Enlightenment Grounds, I invoke your strength!"


    With a rumble, streams of energy surged into Han Gucheng''s body through a pir of white light, causing his aura to grow stronger and stronger.


    Xiao Nanfeng shrank Madam Rouge''s eidolon until it was about the same size as Han Gucheng''s body, then closed in on him.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Die!" Han Gucheng echoed, throwing another punch.


    Their fists shed again, sending Han Gucheng flying backward once more.


    Even with the power of the Enlightenment Grounds at his disposal, Han Gucheng seemed outmatched.


    "Impossible. Die!" Han Gucheng roared.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Countless fists hammered Han Gucheng''s body, sending him flying again. He spat out more blood in mid-air.


    Snowkes scattered from Han Gucheng''s body as the Superior''s cursed effigy helped him neutralize part of the attack¡ªbut it too was in a weakened state and couldn''t provide too much support, leaving him at a clear disadvantage.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Han Gucheng," Xiao Nanfeng growled coldly. "I once admired your willingness to reconcile for the sake of your family. I even thought you might be a man worth befriending. But you''re just a hypocrite, selfish to the core¡ªoffering up your wives and son as sacrifices to secure your own survival through the cmity of the era. You disgust me. Worse, instead of feeling guilt, you shift the me onto others, hoping they''ll carry the burden of your crimes? Despicable! Today, I''ll rid the world of scum like you!"


    He rushed forward once again.


    The two cultivators shed furiously. Madam Rouge''s eidolonpletely suppressed Han Gucheng.


    "No! I did nothing wrong. You''re the one who deserves to die!" Han Gucheng snarled.


    The fighting grew even more intense as storms of destruction were unleashed high overhead. The Enlightenment Grounds was torn apart by their strength and riddled with deep cracks. Those within fled as quickly as they could; then, Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates and Han Gucheng''s subordinates began to sh with one another in an all-out conflict.


    Chaos reigned.


    Xiao Nanfeng could sense that Madam Rouge''s eidolon was gradually weakening. After all, it wasn''t his own eidolon, and he could only use it once. It couldn''t continuously draw power from the void¡ªbut once was good enough. Han Gucheng''s injuries were far more severe than he was. Before long, his entire body was drenched in blood.


    Han Gucheng realized that he was on the verge of defeat. His eyes shed with madness as he raised his hand to summon yet another icy de of energy. "Enlightenment Grounds, full power! Die!"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eidolon raised the divine undying de up high and shed forward. "Eidolon, full power! Die!"


    The two techniques, infused with the cultivators'' full strength, collided with a deafening boom. The sh generated a storm of chaotic energy¡ªpeach blossoms, green light, white light, ice, and fire¡ªthat rippled violently in all directions.


    The ground was torn open, leaving a deep chasm that stretched far into the distance.


    Madam Rouge''s eidolon cracked and shattered, its energy dissipating as it disintegrated. Xiao Nanfeng emerged from its dissipating form.


    Opposite him, Han Gucheng had been cleaved in two. Blood sprayed everywhere as his lifeless body copsed, dead on the spot.

 Chapter 860: Redeeming the Venerable Buddha

    <h4>Chapter 860: Redeeming the Venerable Buddha</h4>


    Madam Rouge''s eidolon could only be used once and would disperse thereafter. Xiao Nanfeng was a little upset about the loss, but quickly switched into his yin body.


    His spiritual moon shot out of his mindscape and headed straight toward the two halves of Han Gucheng''s body, which had turned white as if they were two halves of a snowman. The moment Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon emerged, Han Gucheng began to snarl at it.


    "He''s not dead? How can that be?!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll pay for this some other day. Obsessions, return!" Han Gucheng''s corpse roared.


    With a bang, the two halves of his body self-destructed, exploding into countless fragments of snow that scattered in all directions.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon snapped at the snow with its jaws, only to catch nothing but empty air.


    It roared in stymied frustration.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood in ce, deep in thought. He was certain that he had killed Han Gucheng in body and spirit, so how had he managed to reawaken?


    "Could it be the cursed effigy? It must be because he just merged with the Superior''s cursed effigy..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Given his spiritual moon''s frustration, it was evident that the Superior''s cursed effigy had managed to escape with something from Han Gucheng.


    "He said, ''Obsessions, return!'', didn''t he? In other words, the cursed effigy must have carried his obsessions back to his other body¡ªthe good body." Xiao Nanfeng frowned thoughtfully.


    The spiritual moon continued to howl for some time before flying toward a group of Ice Caskets in the vicinity.


    Within the caskets were superior yin pearls that had been sealed.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon sent a beam of white light into one casket.


    The Ice Casket disintegrated with a rustle, breaking apart into numerous small blue spheres. The superior yin pearls within, now free, attempted to flee in terror¡ªonly for Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon to devour them all in one gulp.


    After crunching noisily on its meal, the moon moved on to the next casket and repeated the process. The caskets all disintegrated into small blue, red, and purple spheres¡ªminiaturized Enlightenment Grounds that had been mastered.


    Xiao Nanfeng collected these spheres. Although they wouldn''t enhance his cultivation, they would be of tremendous assistance to his subordinates.


    After consuming all the superior yin pearls, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon flew toward the pir of white light emanating from the Enlightenment Grounds, ready to break it down.


    Soon, Xiao Nanfeng''s ck-robed subordinates returned to the Enlightenment Grounds.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve captured all of Han Gucheng''s subordinates. We have control of the realm atrge," Tu Feng reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Wait here. I''ll need you to stand guard for me in just a moment."


    "Understood!" Tu Feng replied immediately.


    Before long, the enormous Enlightenment Grounds trembled. Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon emerged from the pir of white light, which condensed into a jade fragment in purple and white.


    The moon dropped the jade fragment into Xiao Nanfeng''s hand before returning to his mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng switched back to his physical body and nced at his subordinates. "We might be the only ones left in this realm, but remain vignt."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged, swallowing the jade fragment and channeling it into his dantian. His ten golden crows smashed into the fragment, causing it to shatter with a loud boom. Instantly, an overwhelming surge of energy associated with naturalw flooded his limbs and body, causing him to ignite in mes.


    His subordinates stood guard patiently as Xiao Nanfeng''s aura grew stronger and stronger. Three hourster, the surge of power dissipated. The giant Enlightenment Grounds cracked apart, crumbling into countless fragments that transformed into smoke and rushed into Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    An immense wave of fire burst from him and forced his guards to retreat.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. "The fourth stage of the Golden Immortal realm... My advancement was sessful, at the very least."


    He stood up as his subordinates congratted him, then turned to Han Gucheng''s captured subordinates. They were unconscious and had their cultivation sealed.


    Not far away, the primordial altar continued to emit ck fog. Only at such proximity could he feel its terrifyingly oppressive aura. Despite the fear it inspired, however, he had no choice but to approach.


    Yu Fuli wanted to take advantage of the primordial altar''s abilities; so too did Xiao Nanfeng, especially after learning just what it could do. He didn''t want to miss this chance while Yu Fuli was busy studying Saint Lun Hui''s passage of reincarnation.


    He walked up to the primordial altar, but felt incredible resistance preventing him from drawing closer as he was about to touch the ck fog by its exterior. It also obscured the runes on the altar from sight.


    Rather than head closer, he climbed a nearby mountain and looked down on the giant primordial altar, recalling how others had made their sacrifices, and finally revealed a wish of his own.


    "Primordial altar, hear my plea. I offer you these cursed effigies, these golden lotus hoods and ck coffins, in exchange for the life of the Venerable Buddha. I wish to redeem all that the Venerable Buddha has sacrificed to you. If there is any excess, please provide the Venerable Buddha with what essentials she needs," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    Then, he retrieved a pile of golden lotus hoods.


    The ck lotus¡ªthe Venerable Buddha¡ªhad sacrificed her life to help him defeat Yin Shenhua, and she had given him her inheritance. If he could bring her back now, any price would be worth it.


    After the Venerable Buddha met her end, Xiao Nanfeng had sent his subordinates to capture all the bodhisattvas and arhats that Yin Shenhua had dispatched, all of whom had transformed back into these golden hood cursed effigies. In a sense, they were linked to the Venerable Buddha by karma, and would be a potentponent of the exchange.


    As for the two ck coffins, he was more than willing to exchange them for the Venerable Buddha''s life. A separate consideration was that they were quickly bing a problem that he had to deal with. They were particrly dangerous, especially after Madam Rouge had transferred the cursed spiritual power from Ye Sanshi''s ancestral zombie avatar and the pools of ck blood into them. He could feel the cursed spiritual power growing stronger and stronger, as if some malevolent entity was about to be born, as if the original owner of the ck coffins would awaken soon.


    The ck coffin hidden realm was particrly convenient, but if the original owner of the ck coffins were to awaken while he was inside, he might not make it out ever again.


    Rather than leave a potential danger by his side, it would be better to sacrifice the two coffins and revive the Venerable Buddha.


    The primordial altar seemed to respond to his words. The ck fog all around it swelled up as he tossed the golden lotus hoods into the primordial altar.


    A ck vortex formed around the primordial altar, devouring them all hungrily.


    Next, Xiao Nanfeng threw in the two ck coffins.


    The mist swirled more violently before finally settling. The vortex dissipated, signaling that the offerings were sufficient to fulfill the request.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. He was worried that it wouldn''t be sufficient. He watched on expectantly.


    It had been years since the Venerable Buddha''s sacrifice. What would she think when she realized that she had been revived?


    The altar rumbled and churned with ck fog for about a quarter of an hour before returning to its original state, ominous but silent.


    "What''s going on? Why isn''t anything happening? Where''s the Venerable Buddha?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    The primordial altar didn''t seem to respond.


    "This can''t be! Surely the altar wouldn''t just steal my offerings..."


    He was sure the exchange had seeded. He looked around, but the Venerable Buddha was nowhere to be seen.


    "Senior? Have you revived?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    No response came.


    He immediately sat cross-legged in meditation as he released his spiritual power, worried that the Venerable Buddha was so weak that she was undetectable to his physical senses. Unfortunately for him, even his spiritual power found no purchase.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Search the vicinity and see if there''s anything unusual¡ªespecially lotus flowers, monk hoods, or the like," Xiao Nanfeng instructed his subordinates.


    "Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates began to scour the vicinity, but they couldn''t find anything at all.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. Could the primordial altar really have stolen his sacrifices? Surely not.


    Just as Xiao Nanfeng''s main body was feeling stumped, his avatar in the Sieve of Heaven seemed to sense something.


    Everyone in the Sieve of Heaven was staring at the ominous clouds in the sky. The Heavenly Emperor and Saint Lun Hui still hadn''t emerged from the passage of reincarnation, leaving countless people worried about the Heavenly Emperor''s safety. Of course, the majority, who firmly believed in Yu Fuli''s strength, weren''t concerned at all. They suspected that Yu Fuli was simply analyzing Saint Lun Hui''s domain.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar suddenly frowned and beckoned his subordinates over to him. "I''m heading into secluded cultivation. Guard me."


    "Understood!" his subordinates replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng rushed over to a nearby hall, sealed it shut withyers of defensive formations and protective wards, before finally invoking his blue spiritual moon. It transformed into a blue lotus flower that trembled gently and emitted a faint ck mist.


    "Senior, is that you? Have you returned?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, his voice tinged with delight.


    The lotus shook. A familiar, melodious voice replied, "Xiao Nanfeng? Did you bring me back from the primordial altar?"


    "I did, Senior. Is it really you?"


    The lotus paused for a long moment before responding with a soft but heartfelt, "Thank you."


    "It''s all thanks to you, Senior. I was only able to get to where I am because of your sacrifice," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.

 Chapter 864: The Black Lotus of Truth

    <h4>Chapter 864: The ck Lotus of Truth</h4>


    Yang Chuan, Xiao Nanfeng, and Liu Miaoyin departed from the Imperial Court together as they headed to the north.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, just how deep is your grudge with Han Gucheng that you need my help to kill him now?" Yang Chuan asked curiously.


    "That lunatic killed his own wives and son, but he mes me for it. There''s no way I''m going to live my life always looking over my shoulder for him. Since he wants a fight to the death, I''m more than happy to oblige¡ªand once again, I''ll need your help," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No problem. As long as there''s something in it for me and you owe me a favor, I''m in," Yang Chuan said nonchntly.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation was rtively weak, all things considered, his resourcefulness made him a valuable ally, and Yang Chuan saw the benefit in deepening their rtionship.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, thinking highly of Yang Chuan''s character. If Yang Chuan could help him eliminate Han Gucheng, the favor would be well worth it.


    "So, where are we headed now?" Yang Chuan asked.


    "To Snowborne," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan''s expression grew serious.


    "I hope he''s still there," Xiao Nanfeng said gravely.


    The trio flew toward the northern continent, heading into a vast, icy expanse where a group of Dazheng forces had already gathered.


    Upon their arrival, theyunched an all-out assault on a heavily fortified area.


    With a loud boom, the massive barrier protecting Snowborne was shattered, revealing a sprawlingplex of crystalline halls. Inside, administrators, clerks, and lower-ranked cultivators looked on in panic.


    "Who are you? Do you have any idea where you are? Do you want to die?!" one of the administrators shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. "We''re toote. Han Gucheng was on guard."


    "Have the strongest cultivators of Snowborne already evacuated?" Yang Chuan asked, quickly piecing the situation together.


    Sure enough, after swiftly taking control of the site, they found that Snowborne''s most valuable resources and personnel had already been moved elsewhere. The remaining people were rtively insignificant, as were whatever items had been left behind.


    "Han Gucheng must have fled before we got here. What''s your next move?" Yang Chuan asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Han Gucheng''s no idiot. He''s highly alert and extremely skilled at hiding. If he''s decided toy low, he''ll be nearly impossible to find."


    "Even you don''t have any recourse against him?" Yang Chuan asked, intrigued.


    "Not at the moment. I''ll think of something. Sorry to have wasted your time."


    "No worries. If you don''t need me at the moment, I''ll be heading back, then," Yang Chuan said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and saw Yang Chuan off.


    After delegating the cleanup efforts at Snowborne to his subordinates, he departed with Liu Miaoyin.


    "Disappointed about the wasted trip?" Liu Miaoyin asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I expected this. If I were Han Gucheng, my first move after acquiring the Superior''s cursed effigy and the charm of heavenlyw would be to go into hiding, consolidate my power, and finally emerge invincible."


    "So, what now? Han Gucheng was already strong to begin with. Now that he has both the Superior''s cursed effigy and the charm of heavenlyw over reincarnation, the longer he hides, the stronger he''ll be. We''re in the open, while he lurks in the shadows like a wolf ready to strike. When he does, it''ll be a killing blow," Liu Miaoyin said with concern.


    "I know, but I won''t be sitting idly by, either. I n to bait him out."


    "Will that work? He''s willing to abandon everything, including three of his divine empires and even his own family. What else could you possibly use to draw him out?" Liu Miaoyin asked skeptically.


    Xiao Nanfeng pondered for a moment before replying, "You''re right. He''s an incredibly tough opponent to deal with right now, but just because he seems invincible doesn''t mean that we do nothing. We''ll take action where we can and leave the rest to fate."


    "I''ll help you," Liu Miaoyin offered.


    "Thank you," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    The two cultivators soon arrived in Dahan.


    At the city lord''s manor in an Immortal city, Wen Zhong was waiting for them.


    "Your Majesty, you''re finally here," Wen Zhong said, smiling.


    "What''s the situation like?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "When I learned that Han Gucheng had sacrificed Han Bing on the primordial altar, I knew that things would get messy. Sure enough, Dahan''s sea of fortune copsed, and everyone now knows that the Immortal Emperor of Dahan is dead. Until recently, we had been using Han Bing''s name to rally the empire''s officials to our cause, but his sudden death has thrown everything into disarray."


    "Han Gucheng sacrificing Han Bing was unexpected even for me. Go on," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "We naturally won''t allow those officials who have already thrown in their lot with us to back out now. However, Han Bing''s death has had severe ramifications, and I was forced to rush over to deal with the aftermath.


    "What''s the problem now?"


    "We managed to recruit nearly half of Dahan''s key officials using Han Bing''s name and by collectingpromising material on them¡ªbut with Han Bing gone, some are already wavering in their loyalty. I fear some may only pretend to submit while plotting against us in secret."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Sorting out the truly loyal from the deceptive will take considerable effort, I fear."


    Liu Miaoyin interjected, "If you''re worried about traitors among your subordinates, I can help."


    "Oh?" Both Xiao Nanfeng and Wen Zhong turned to her.


    "I have a technique known as the ck Lotus of Truth. If someone willingly epts my ck lotus into their soul, it can reveal whether they''re lying when I question them," Liu Miaoyin exined.


    "A lie detector?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured, intrigued.


    "The ck Lotus of Truth?" Wen Zhong echoed, equally curious.


    "Shall we try it out?" Liu Miaoyin asked, smiling.


    Wen Zhong looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, who nodded in agreement. Wen Zhong then instructed his subordinates, "Bring the city lord and the four militarymanders here."


    "Understood!"


    Very quickly, five men were brought up to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Wen Zhong exined the situation to them. "You''ve all pledged loyalty to us, and we need to ensure your sincerity. Please don''t resist."


    The five men looked uneasy but had no choice but to agree. Wen Zhong held significant leverage over them, after all.


    "Go ahead, Senior Miaoyin," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Liu Miaoyin raised her hand. Five phantasmal ck lotuses appeared in her palm. With a wave, they flew into the men''s bodies. A faint ck glow emanated from each lotus as they trembled slightly.


    "Don''t resist," Liu Miaoyin instructed.


    Though they were hesitant, the five menplied. The lotuses melded with their souls.


    Soon, the ck glow faded, and everything seemed back to normal.


    "Alright. Ask your questions," Liu Miaoyin said.


    Wen Zhong nodded and addressed the five men. "Do you truly pledge loyalty to Dazheng?"


    The question startled them; they clearly weren''t expecting such a direct interrogation.


    "We do pledge loyalty to Dazheng," they replied.


    Suddenly, two ck lotuses appeared above the heads of two of the men. The lotuses rotated ominously as they glowed faintly.


    "They''re lying," Liu Miaoyin said.


    Everyone turned to the two men, who began to protest vehemently.


    "No, I''m not lying! I really am loyal to Dazheng!" one cried out.


    "I killed Han Gucheng''s guards myself! How could I be lying? I really am willing to serve Dazheng!" the other shouted.


    Even so, the ck lotuses above their heads continued to rotate and glow.


    "My ck lotuses examine one''s heart. You won''t be able to lie to me," Liu Miaoyin said, shaking her head.


    "Seize them!" Wen Zhongmanded.


    Dazheng''s forces immediately moved in, subduing the two men despite their desperate attempts to escape.


    "This is nder! A ck lotus proves nothing!" one shouted.


    "Right, you''re framing us!" the other used.


    The two men refused to acknowledge that they had been lying.


    The three remaining officials, visibly uneasy, began to question the uracy of the ck lotuses. "Could there be a mistake? After all, they¡ª"


    Wen Zhong interjected firmly, "We don''t make false usations. Since you''ve proven your sincerity, we''ll let you handle interrogating these two traitors."


    The three men exchanged nces with each other before agreeing to Wen Zhong''s proposal. This was clearly intended to be an opportunity for them to gain merit for themselves. "We ept."


    Wen Zhong assigned them several of his subordinates for the interrogation.


    Though it would take some time to get results, Wen Zhong and Xiao Nanfeng fully trusted in Liu Miaoyin''s abilities. The two men had to be lying.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Senior Miaoyin, how many times can you use the ck Lotus of Truth in a day?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There''s no limit."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng responded in surprise.


    Wen Zhong''s eyes widened in surprise. "If that''s the case, we may be able to solve one of our greatest challenges with your help."


    He had his own methods of verifying the loyalty of his subordinates, but it would take a great deal of manpower, resources, and time. Liu Miaoyin''s help would be invaluable.


    Xiao Nanfeng paused in thought before asking Liu Miaoyin, "Senior Miaoyin, do you have any ns for the near future?"


    "None for now. I''ll assist you in the meantime," she replied with a smile.


    "Why not establish a kingdom of your own?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "Oh?" Liu Miaoyin frowned in confusion.


    "Dahan is too far from Dazheng, so I''d have to appoint someone to oversee it. If you''re willing, Senior, I would dly have you take charge. You''d be the perfect candidate."


    "Me? I don''t think I''m suited for that," Liu Miaoyin replied, somewhat surprised.


    "Why not? No one would suspect you of being my ally. After all, as the former hegemon of your era, people would surely assume you''re acting independently. Besides, our bond is strong enough to make this arrangement work."


    "Should I drop my pride, then?" Liu Miaoyin murmured.


    "We''re close enough that pride isn''t an issue, surely?"


    Liu Miaoyin hummed in contemtion. "If it helps you, I''m willing to give it a try."

 Chapter 865: The Dajing Empire

    <h4>Chapter 865: The Dajing Empire</h4>


    Within a certain hall, Han Gucheng listened to a report from one of his subordinates.


    "Your Majesty, just now, an Immortal city has dered independence from Dahan and established itself as a new kingdom, the kingdom of Dajing. We''ve learned that many of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates are present in the city," the subordinate continued.


    "The kingdom of Dajing? Who''s the king?" Han Gucheng asked, frowning.


    "A woman named Liu Miaoyin, though no one has seen her appearance."


    "Liu Miaoyin? Another of Xiao Nanfeng''s acquaintances or subordinates, perhaps? Why are they all women?" Han Gucheng frowned as he fell deep in thought.


    Aside from Xiao Nanfeng''s close allies, only Yu Fuli and Yang Chuan had seen Liu Miaoyin for themselves. Eighty thousand years ago, Liu Miaoyin had been known as the Venerable Buddha. Few knew her real name, especially after so many years had passed.


    "Your Majesty, it''s clear that Xiao Nanfeng intends to stir up trouble in Dahan. Should we act?" Han Gucheng''s subordinate asked.


    Han Gucheng let out a coldugh. "This is the best Xiao Nanfeng can do.


    "Ah?"


    @@novelbin@@


    "He''s arranging for someone to establish a new kingdom in Dahan in order to lure me out. Does he really think I''ll rise to this provocation?" Han Gucheng scoffed.


    A nearby subordinate furrowed his brows. "Your Majesty, do you mean that Xiao Nanfeng is doing this on purpose to lure you into a trap?"


    "Precisely," Han Gucheng replied, nodding. "Xiao Nanfeng alone is no match for me, but he has allies¡ªMadam Rouge and the Divine Emperor, for one. Even though Yu Fuli mentioned that Madam Rouge has left, who knows if that''s true? I won''t fall for their tricks."


    "But if Xiao Nanfeng continues causing trouble in Dahan, the situation could be dire. He has developed highly effective techniques for neutralizing empires," Han Gucheng''s subordinate murmured.


    "It doesn''t matter. Even if we lose Dahan, we can reim it in due time. My power grows stronger by the day. Soon, even Madam Rouge and the Divine Emperor won''t be able to protect Xiao Nanfeng. I''ll behead him right in front of them," Han Gucheng said confidently.


    Having obtained the Superior''s cursed effigy and the charm of heavenlyw over reincarnation, Han Gucheng''s cultivation was advancing rapidly. Only a fool would expose himself prematurely at this point¡ªremaining in hiding was undoubtedly his best option.


    "What about our agents in court? Should they do anything?" Han Gucheng asked.


    "Have them do nothing. Ensure that they hide themselves well. I don''t want to be exposed because of any of you," Han Guchengmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Another monthter, in the same hall with the same people, one of Han Gucheng''s subordinates reported, "Your Majesty, the kingdom of Dajing has officially ascended into the empire of Dajing today. That Liu Miaoyin has formally be the emperor as well.


    Over the past month, Han Gucheng''s power had risen severely. His expression remained calm and devoid of anger.


    "The empire of Dajing? What a joke." Han Gucheng sneered. "What do the forces all around think of it?"


    "There are quite a few forces poised to make a move, but none of them dare set foot within Dahan. After all, Your Majesty, they know that you''re still alive, and your presence strikes fear into their hearts. Your recent actions have reaffirmed your might and are keeping them in check."


    Han Gucheng frowned. "In other words, my reputation is helping Liu Miaoyin intimidate potential threats?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" his subordinate reported.


    "Liu Miaoyin, Xiao Nanfeng, how lucky you are," Han Gucheng spat out coldly.


    "At the moment, twenty Immortal cities have already defected to their rule. Their momentum is growing, and they''re rapidly absorbing more territory from Dahan.


    Han Gucheng frowned. "Is no one in court resisting them?"


    "Following your orders, Your Majesty, our agents haven''t interfered. Some veteran officials and generals haveunched counterattacks against Dajing, but they can''t match the strength of its forces."


    Han Gucheng nodded thoughtfully. "With Xiao Nanfeng pulling the strings, it''s no surprise that they''re struggling."


    "Should we really not intervene, Your Majesty?" Han Gucheng''s subordinate asked again.


    Han Gucheng nodded firmly. "As I said, none of you are to act."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" his subordinate reported.


    Three dayster, in the same hall, Han Gucheng gave his subordinate an incredulous look.


    "Repeat the report."


    "Your Majesty, ''you'' appeared in Dahan''s capital today and summoned the ministers of court. You denounced Dajing and issued orders to prepare for war against them," the subordinate reported, looking equally perplexed."


    "I''ve appeared in Dahan?" Han Gucheng frowned mightily.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. It seems that someone has impersonated you and headed into Dahan''s capital," Han Gucheng''s subordinate reported, looking equally perplexed.


    Han Gucheng overturned a tea table and roared, "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re overstepping your bounds!"


    He immediately guessed that it was Xiao Nanfeng''s doing. The establishment of Dajing had been infuriating enough; now, Xiao Nanfeng was even going as far as to impersonate him. It was audacious and deeply insulting.


    "Do you truly believe that this is Xiao Nanfeng''s work, Your Majesty?" his subordinate asked cautiously.


    "Who else could it be? At a time like this, who else would dare impersonate me?" Han Gucheng snarled.


    "In that case, what should we do, Your Majesty?"


    "Are all the officials in the capital blind? Can''t they differentiate fact from fiction?!" Han Gucheng thundered.


    "He looks just like you, Your Majesty."


    "Looks can be faked. How about aura? Is his aura the same as mine?" Han Gucheng demanded.


    "The impersonator has reined in his aura and prevented others from sensing his true identity. What''s more, key officials like the Minister of Personnel and the Expedition General are standing by his side and vouching for his authenticity. Their support has silenced any doubters," the subordinate exined.


    Han Gucheng''s face twisted with rage. "The Minister of Personnel? The Expedition General? They''ve betrayed Dahan and are coborating with Xiao Nanfeng to install a fake me! Despicable!"


    "Should we expose the imposter, Your Majesty?"


    Han Gucheng clenched his fists tightly. Fury burned in his eyes, but he managed to suppress it. "That''s exactly what Xiao Nanfeng wants¡ªto lure us into acting."


    His subordinate frowned.


    "Bear with it. Let them continue ying their games. It''s just a single divine empire. I''ve already abandoned three divine empires. What''s one more? Keep observing them. Soon enough, I''ll make them regret this," Han Gucheng said coldly.


    "Understood!"


    In the capital of Dajing, within a grand hall in the capital, Liu Miaoyin sat in a ck and gold draconic robe as she looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. "You really are working fast. I barely ascended Dajing into an empire before you came up with a fake Han Gucheng!"


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "I didn''t have a choice. Han Gucheng''s lingering influence is simply too strong. If Dajing were to expand by force, there would surely be countless injured. I want to avoid that as much as possible."


    Liu Miaoyin nodded. "Very reasonable. Your fake Han Gucheng has already scared off several restless factions. Seeing how easily we expanded, they wanted to try the same thing¡ªbut have quickly backed off."


    "They''re just a bunch of cowards. I''m not worried about them. I''m trying to lure out Han Gucheng or at least one of his subordinates. Unfortunately, he''s too cautious and has forbidden his followers from acting. What a shame," Xiao Nanfeng said with a sigh.


    "Just advancing to this extent is fast enough. Who else could match your rate of territorial acquisition?" Liu Miaoyin murmured.


    But Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "The reason we''ve been so sessful is because of your ck Lotus of Truth. I wouldn''t dare to act so boldly otherwise. That said, you''ll likely have a lot to deal with so far as the empire of Dajing is confirmed.


    "What''s mine is yours. What''s there to worry about? At any rate, you''ll be handling it all." Liu Miaoyin smiled.


    "You''re quite the hands-off ruler," Xiao Nanfeng said, shaking his head with augh.


    "Not hands-off¡ªjust a figurehead," Liu Miaoyin replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily taken aback. He noticed that Liu Miaoyin''s demeanor had changed recently. She seemed less serene and more yful.


    Liu Miaoyin noticed his expression and smiled. "Yu Fuli''s advice and the Yuqing Grandmaster''s insights on cultivating the heart gave me much to think about. My heart has be too still, so I''m experimenting with change. If my behavior seems strange, don''t mind it."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up. "That''s a great thing! I''ll do my best to help. You seem much more approachable now."


    "Oh? Was I not beforehand?" Liu Miaoyin asked.


    "Not exactly. You were calm and kind, but you felt distant, like someone high above. Now, you seem more rtable, more... human."


    Liu Miaoyin pondered this and nodded. "It seems that my efforts in worldly cultivation are paying off. If you notice anything else, let me know."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    From that moment, Xiao Nanfeng began treating Liu Miaoyin as an equal and a close friend. Their conversations grew more rxed, filled with humor and camaraderie.


    Their rtionship, too, seemed to shift and be something more profound.

 Chapter 866: Dajing Advances

    <h4>Chapter 866: Dajing Advances</h4>


    Outside the divine empire of Dahan, in a certain empire''s imperial study, the emperor sitting behind the desk was livid. "Who can exin to me what''s going on? Isn''t Han Gucheng supposed to be dead? How did he end up showing up again?"


    "We didn''t expect this either, Your Majesty. Our armies were already assembled and poised to attack Dahan, but Han Gucheng appeared in the capital at thest moment..." an official replied with a bitter smile.


    The emperor suppressed his fury and muttered in frustration, "Han Gucheng is utterly despicable."


    "Your Majesty, while we''ve been forced to halt our advance on Dahan, the empire of Dajing, which has been feeding off Dahan''s chaos, will surely face disaster now," the official continued.


    "Have we figured out who this Liu Miaoyin is? Why are Xiao Nanfeng''s people fully supporting her?" the emperor asked.


    "We''ve uncovered some leads."


    "Oh?"


    "This woman once helped Xiao Nanfeng during his conquest of Dayin. She was reportedly a Boundless Immortal at the time, but was believed to have fallen in battle. Somehow, she''s back. Word has it that Xiao Nanfeng is repaying a debt to her by supporting her bid for dominance," the official exined.


    "Oh? So she''s actually a Boundless Immortal, not one of Xiao Nanfeng''s kept mistresses?" the emperor eximed, startled.


    He had consideredunching a surprise attack on Liu Miaoyin, but upon learning that she was not only protected by Xiao Nanfeng''s people but also a Boundless Immortal in her own right, he realized that it would have been a suicidal move.


    "Indeed. We acquired this information from a reliable intelligencework, and are confident of its truthfulness. However, her precise identity remains unclear."


    "Find out everything. I want to know exactly who she is," the emperormanded.


    "Understood!"


    Simr discussions were unfolding in the domains of various forces in the vicinity as the war between Dahan and Dajing escted.


    The fake Han Gucheng was, of course, nted by Xiao Nanfeng. He had thrown Dahan into chaos. Loyal officials were quickly dismissed, and those harder to remove were sent to battles they were destined to lose.


    Thanks to the groundworkid by Xiao Nanfeng in Han Bing''s name, nearly half of Dahan''s key officials had already pledged loyalty to him. They yed a pivotal role now. Even with a few defectors, the overall situation remained firmly in his favor.


    On the surface, the conflict appeared to be a war between Dahan and Dajing¡ªbut in reality, this was all a carefully orchestrated ploy by Xiao Nanfeng.


    Dajing surged forward triumphantly, capturing twenty cities, then fifty, then eighty, and finally a whole hundred. It expanded its territory at an astonishing pace in just two months. The rapid expansion left the surrounding kingdoms stunned and uneasy.


    "Dajing is winning? How is that possible? Their opponent is Han Gucheng! He''s never lost a campaign. How can he be suffering repeated defeats now?"


    "It doesn''t make sense. Just what is Han Gucheng doing? Is he just sitting in the capital?"


    "Something''s very wrong with Han Gucheng."


    The leaders of countless forces began to suspect that something was amiss, but Han Gucheng''s formidable reputation had cowed them into inaction. Manyforted themselves with the thought that Liu Miaoyin might simply be extraordinarily strong, especially with Xiao Nanfeng''s expert support. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had already toppled two divine empires. Perhaps Dajing was simply too powerful.


    These rulers weren''t genuinely concerned about Han Gucheng; they were merely envious. Why was Dajing able to expand so effortlessly while they could only watch from the sidelines?


    Unfortunately, Han Gucheng''s lingering influence kept them cautious.


    A monthter, Dajing had annexed a whole two hundred Immortal cities, half of Dahan''s territory.


    By then, everyone had realized that something was amiss.


    "That Han Gucheng isn''t a fake, is he?" someone finally spected.


    Once the idea was voiced, suspicion spread like wildfire. Han Gucheng''s behavior waspletely out of character for the once-dominant emperor.


    The leaders of various forces began sending spies to investigate Dahan''s capital.


    As more evidence surfaced, Dajing stopped concealing its actions and began to elerate its conquest of Dahan.


    In just two days, the empire had imed another hundred Immortal cities.


    "Han Gucheng has to be fake. Some of these cities must have been captured by Dajing months ago¡ªthey were just hiding it to lull us intocency!"


    "Liu Miaoyin, Xiao Nanfeng, how despicable you are!"


    @@novelbin@@


    "Let''s head to Dahan''s capital and expose the truth about this fake Han Gucheng!"


    A massive number of leaders and spies converged on Dahan''s capital.


    While they were confident that this Han Gucheng was a fake, without overwhelming evidence, some still feared him. They wanted to learn about the situation firsthand.


    Furthermore, they were certain that Dahan''s destruction was nigh. It was toote for any of them to send out their troops. The best option left to them now was to expose the fake Han Gucheng immediately and allow the people of Dahan to realize that all this was part of Liu Miaoyin''s conspiracy. Once Dahan began to retaliate against Dajing, the chaos wouldst longer, allowing them an opportunity to seize the dregs of Dahan that Dajing had yet to im.


    Very quickly, all manner of strong cultivators arrived in Dahan''s capital.


    By then, there was already chaos within the Dahan court. News of defeat was pouring in daily, sparking heated arguments among officials. The fake Han Gucheng remained indifferent and watched the turmoil unfold.


    Some officials suspected that he was an imposter, but others staunchly defended him, leaving them uncertain and confused.


    Suddenly, a golden arrow shot through the air, zing like a meteor toward the fake Han Gucheng on the throne.


    "What powerful energy. It''s a Golden Immortal''s might! Protect His Majesty!"


    "Save His Majesty!"


    The court descended into panic, but the false Han Gucheng merely narrowed his eyes and reached out. With a loud snap, he caught the golden arrow between his fingers.


    "Impossible!" a figure in the sky eximed, holding a massive bow.


    The fake Han Gucheng leapt out of court and flew toward the archer.


    "Help me!" the archer shouted.


    He tried to flee, but the fake Han Gucheng waved his hand and summoned a massive phantasmal fox tail that mmed into the archer.


    "No!" he cried out.


    The archer spat out blood and was sent flying as he lost his ability to fight.


    The figures hidden in the shadows hesitated as they stopped in their tracks.


    "A Boundless Immortal? How could it be? Even the imposter''s a Boundless Immortal!"


    "His aura is identical to one of Xiao Nanfeng''s Boundless Immortals!"


    "He really is one of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates, then!"


    Many of the leaders of neighboring forces were filled with dread. Though they had confirmed that the imposter was part of Xiao Nanfeng''s plot, they couldn''t act.


    "Come forward if you wish to die," the fake Han Gucheng stated coldly.


    The leaders hesitated.


    Challenging a Boundless Immortal directly was tantamount to suicide. One by one, they retreated.


    "Scram!" the fake Han Guchengmanded.


    The leaders of the various forces, who had just shown themselves, had no choice but to slink back in retreat.


    They were certain that, if they had challenged the Boundless Immortal before them, they would surely have been killed.


    The fake Han Gucheng didn''t make a fuss upon seeing them leave. After all, this period of time was critical for Dajing, which was swallowing up the final bits of Dahan. He didn''t want to cause any more trouble at the moment. Killing these cultivators would be easy, but what followed would be a mess to handle.


    Amidst the chaos, a figure shrouded in white fog remained, drawing the fake Han Gucheng''s attention.


    "Another fool? Who dares face me?" the fake Han Gucheng called out.


    The figure didn''t attack. Instead, he sent the fake Han Gucheng a mental transmission. "I am Saint Lun Hui. I want to meet with Xiao Nanfeng."


    The fake Han Gucheng froze. His killing intent vanished. He was, of course, Tu Feng disguised as Han Gucheng. For weeks, he had hoped to lure the real Han Gucheng into a trap, only to end up catching Saint Lun Hui instead.


    Tu Feng stared at the figure for some time before nodding. "Very well. Follow me."


    The figure nodded and followed Tu Feng to the imperial pce, piquing the curiosity of many onlookers.


    Inside the pce, the figure dismissed the shroud of white fog, revealing his true form and unmistakable aura. He was indeed Saint Lun Hui.


    "Stop staring. You aren''t the one I''m here to talk to. Summon Xiao Nanfeng," Saint Lun Hui said.


    "Very well. Wait here," Tu Feng said, nodding.


    Half a dayter, Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin arrived at the pce.


    Inside a hall, they found Saint Lun Hui calmly sipping tea.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "Saint Lun Hui? You''re thest person I expected to seek me out."


    The saint set down his teacup, aplicated expression on his face. "I''ve been watching Dahan for some time. You''re trying to lure out Han Gucheng, but it looks to be a failure."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Han Gucheng is too cautious. He won''t fall for bait easily."


    It was clear that Saint Lun Hui had been hiding nearby and biding his time. He had clearly been hoping for a confrontation between Xiao Nanfeng and Han Gucheng, after which he would sweep in and im all the spoils of the fight. Unfortunately, with Han Gucheng unwilling to show himself, he had no choice but to join in.


    "I can help you find Han Gucheng," Saint Lun Hui said.


    "Hm?"


    "From your actions, it''s clear that you and Han Gucheng are sworn enemies now. I have my own grudges against him. We should join forces to take him down."


    "Why should I trust you?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "You have no choice. Han Gucheng grows stronger by the day. If we wait any longer, he''ll be unstoppable," the saint warned.


    "But we also have a score to settle between ourselves," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Indeed. You''ve killed several of my avatars, but they''re nothingpared to my main body, which Han Gucheng indirectly destroyed. My hatred for him runs far deeper. Let''s set our feud aside for now. Work with me to eliminate Han Gucheng instead," Saint Lun Hui offered.

 Chapter 867: Fight of the Eidola

    <h4>Chapter 867: Fight of the Eid</h4>


    Saint Lun Hui had endured an agonizing few months.


    After squandering a strong position with catastrophic misys, he had lost his charm of heavenlyw, his main body, and all but one Deific Yin avatar.


    In desperation, he had sought aid from other saints, much as Saint Chi Hai had oncee to him for help, but he was only met with mockery and rejection. Not a single saint was willing to lend a hand.


    Even when he revealed that Han Gucheng had his charm of heavenlyw, no one dared to intervene. The saints were all terrified. This might just be another one of Yu Fuli''s schemes, after all. With two saints already having fallen, none of them were willing to risk exposing themselves, let alone fight on behalf of Saint Lun Hui.


    After receiving rejection after rejection, many saints even went as far as to relocate overnight to sever contact with him entirely. Furious yet powerless, Saint Lun Hui knew that he had no other options.


    Waiting for the heavens themselves to step in was all but impossible. He understood the heavens'' indifference. They used saints as tools, not the other way around. If he proved himself useless, the heavens would simply rece him.


    Time wasn''t on his side.


    He needed to retrieve his charm of heavenlyw, and quickly at that. But who in the world would help him take down Han Gucheng? No one¡ªexcept perhaps Xiao Nanfeng, who was already opposing him.


    Observing the political turmoil within Dahan, Saint Lun Hui deduced the true nature of the conflict. He watched on for weeks. When Han Gucheng refused to take the bait and reveal himself, the saint had no choice but to approach Xiao Nanfeng directly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, even if you don''t trust me, you must know that Han Gucheng''s growing stronger by the day. If we dy any longer, even your full strength may be insufficient to stop him," Saint Lun Hui warned.


    Xiao Nanfeng studied the saint in silence for a long moment. Finally, he asked, "How do you intend to find Han Gucheng?"


    "My charm of heavenlyw is in his possession. Although it''s no longer mine, I held it for many years and have since developed techniques to track its precise whereabouts."


    Reluctantly, Saint Lun Hui revealed the loss of his charm of heavenlyw, something that he had hoped to keep hidden. But if he wanted Xiao Nanfeng''s cooperation, there would be no other way.


    To his surprise, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t seem to react, as if he had already known about the situation.


    "You want to cooperate with me¡ªor, put better, use me to fight Han Gucheng while you wait to swoop in and reim your charm of heavenlyw afterwards. Isn''t that right?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.


    Saint Lun Hui''s expression darkened. That was exactly his n, and he worried that Xiao Nanfeng would reject the proposal.


    "I''m willing to work with you," Xiao Nanfeng said after a pause. "But you''ll need to assist us with everything you have. As for the charm of heavenlyw, we''ll both fight for itter. Agreed?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was eager to eliminate the threat of Han Gucheng and saw no reason to beat around the bush.


    "Very well," Saint Lun Hui said, his eyes lighting up with relief and excitement. "When do we start?"


    "Allow me to finalize some preparations. We''ll leave in two days'' time," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Very well." The saint nodded.


    Two dayster, all of Dahan''s Immortal cities had fallen to Dajing.


    With everything in order, Xiao Nanfeng called upon Yang Chuan and officially set out for the Northern Sea with Saint Lun Hui. Apanying them were Liu Miaoyin and a group of ck-robed individuals moving swiftly across the seas.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re really bold¡ªto be working with him of all people," Yang Chuan murmured, ncing at Saint Lun Hui.


    "More people means more strength. Let go of your grudge against Saint Lun Hui for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I don''t mind." Yang chuan shrugged.


    Saint Lun Hui sighed as he nced at the green glow in his hand. It served as a guide that would point the way toward their destination.


    Before long, the group reached a remote part of the sea shrouded in thick fog and dotted with inds.


    "There," Saint Lun Hui said, pointing at a certain fog-shrouded ind.


    The group turned toward the ind. Yang Chuan opened up his folding fan and waved it at the ind, releasing a whirlwind that tore through the mist to reveal numerous figures and imposing pces within.


    "Your Majesty, it''s Xiao Nanfeng and his forces!" someone shouted in rm.


    A figure stepped out from one of the pces, none other than Han Gucheng himself.


    Han Gucheng narrowed his eyes as he looked at the group in the sky. "You''ve got some impressive tricks to have found me here."


    "That''s his malicious body! Xiao Nanfeng, hurry up and attack!" Saint Lun Hui urged.


    In the distance, Han Gucheng narrowed his eyes. "So it''s you, Saint Lun Hui. No wonder Xiao Nanfeng was able to find me. This is yourst body, isn''t it? Instead of hiding, you''vee to meet your end."


    "Han Gucheng, today is the day you die!" Saint Lun Hui dered.


    "The day I die? You think you''re capable of that? After all these months, you''re far toote," Han Gucheng replied, sneering.


    With a wave of his hand, a massive pir of green light shot into the heavens, connecting sky and sea. Its overwhelming aura churned the sea and caused towering waves to form.


    "No! My charm of heavenlyw¡ªhow have you already refined it to this extent?!" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    "Do you really think everyone is as inept as you are, to have wasted ten thousand years on achieving nothing? Howughable," Han Gucheng mocked.


    As he spoke, dark clouds rolled across the sky, blotting out the sun and plunging the area into shadow.


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    The clouds swirled into a massive vortex, glowing with green light at its center.


    "The passage of reincarnation? Impossible! It took me five hundred years to open it. How have you managed this in mere months?!"


    "Five centuries? Your talent is truly pitiful," Han Gucheng replied coldly.


    Green light surged out from the vortex, enveloping Han Gucheng and forming a towering green giant around him. The immense figure radiated power. Each step caused the air to tremble.


    "He''s so strong¡ªtoo strong! We can''t beat him. We need to retreat!" Yang Chuan shouted.


    "The eidolon of reincarnation? It took me a thousand years to manifest that! How could you have learned to do it so quickly?!" Saint Lun Hui shouted again.


    This was clearly the first time he had seen such monstrous talent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, where''s your Madam Rouge? Bring her out. Only she is worthy of fighting me. The rest of you are nothing," Han Gucheng said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Han Gucheng, you really are a schemer, aren''t you?"


    No one but Han Gucheng quite knew what to make of Xiao Nanfeng''s remark.


    Han Gucheng smirked. "If Madam Rouge isn''t around, then none of you will leave alive."


    Liu Miaoyin took a deep breath. "Leave him to me."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    She stepped forward, conjuring the image of a white jade bottle in her palm. Her other hand formed a seal. The wind surged behind her as an enormous eidolon, identical to her in appearance but imbued with boundlesspassion, took shape.


    Han Gucheng''s face turned dark. He had heard of this eidolon during Xiao Nanfeng''s battle with Yin Shenhua, but seeing it in person was far more intimidating. Xiao Nanfeng had easily finished him off with Madam Rouge''s eidolon. This time, there was another one¡ªwielded directly by its owner, at that.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, how lucky you are to have such people helping you," Han Gucheng gritted out.


    Madam Rouge had been troublesome enough; Liu Miaoyin seemed equally strong.


    Liu Miaoyin merged with her eidolon, which sprang to life.


    "Thousand Palms of Ri, annihte!" shemanded.


    Her eidolon''s hands moved, summoning a thousand arms that sent energy sting toward Han Gucheng like a tidal wave.


    Han Gucheng''s eidolon of reincarnation countered with a hand, but the thousand palms easily overwhelmed his one. Despite the strength of the eidolon of reincarnation, it was sent flying by Liu Miaoyin''s thousand palms. Han Gucheng was sent plummeting into the ocean, causing towering waves to crash down on him.


    Before he could recover, Liu Miaoyin''s eidolon struck again, sending him flying once more.


    The sh of eid sent shockwaves through the sky and sea, with Han Gucheng repeatedly forced back.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Yang Chuan, and Saint Lun Hui watched in stunned silence.


    Saint Lun Hui''s face flickered with unease. He had hoped to pit Xiao Nanfeng against Han Gucheng as a diversion. Now, seeing Liu Miaoyin''s overwhelming strength, he wondered if he had invited an even greater threat upon himself. Would he still be able to seize his charm back?


    Yang Chuan was equally astonished. "Senior Liu Miaoyin is this powerful? She must be a mid- tote-stage Boundless Immortal!"


    "That''s the power of an eidolon, after all," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "If she''s this strong, what''s the point of calling me over? I''mpletely superfluous, by this point..." Yang Chuan murmured.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Han Gucheng isn''t so easy to defeat. He undoubtedly has more tricks up his sleeve, and he''s already starting to reveal them. It''s a good thing I wasn''t careless."


    "Oh?" Yang Chuan looked puzzled.


    "Moments ago, I received word that Shenfeng''s capital is under attack. Yongding has also been targeted, and forces are gathering beyond Dajing''s capital," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "No wonder you called him cunning. He''s been observing your movements and making his own preparations all along. As soon as we came here, heunched attacks elsewhere!" Yang Chuan replied, shocked.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Never underestimate Han Gucheng."

 Chapter 868: The Second Portion of Black Blood

    <h4>Chapter 868: The Second Portion of ck Blood</h4>


    In just a few short days, the entirety of Dahan was absorbed into Dajing. This lightning-fast conquest only reinforced the suspicions of nearby powers.


    "I knew that Han Gucheng was a fake!"


    "Liu Miaoyin deliberately slowed her conquest down earlier to lull us intocency, then struck when we least expected it."


    "If we act now, it''ll be an outright deration of war against the Dajing Empire."


    "This is infuriating! Why didn''t I seize the chance to carve up Dahan''s territories when I could? Now they''re all gone!"


    The leaders of neighboring forces were wracked with regret. Many had been lurking near Dahan''s capital or outside Dajing''s capital, growing increasingly bitter and angry with each passing day.


    Meanwhile, in a forest outside Dajing''s capital, several leaders were holding a secret meeting to discuss how to profit from the current situation when a figure in ck approached.


    "Who''s there?" they demanded, narrowing their eyes.


    "Have you forgotten me already?" the figure asked with a sly smile, lifting his hood.


    "You''re one of Han Gucheng''s personal guards! You''vee to my imperial court on his behalf before," one of the men eximed as he recognized him.


    "Isn''t Han Gucheng dead?" another asked, wary. "What are you doing here?"


    The ck-d figure shook his head. "His Majesty is very much alive. He''s simply been dyed by other matters, which allowed these scheming clowns to wreak havoc in Dahan."


    "Oh?" The crowd exchanged skeptical nces with one another.


    "Neither Liu Miaoyin nor Xiao Nanfeng''s Boundless Immortal subordinates are in Dajing''s capital, leaving it vulnerable. His Majesty is willing to offer a bounty of one hundred Immortal cities to anyone who destroys Dajing''s capital. Here is the imperial edict," the figure said, producing a document stamped with Han Gucheng''s jade seal.


    "And why would Han Gucheng make such an offer?" one of the rulers asked.


    "His Majesty is currently dealing with Liu Miaoyin and Xiao Nanfeng''s Boundless Immortals. He''s asking for your aid to ensure that their focus is divided, thereby increasing his odds of sess. Of course, my lord is always thorough¡ªhe doesn''t actually need your help, but he''s giving you this opportunity as a precaution."


    The cultivators nced at each other. They were starting to believe his words.


    "And how will these hundred Immortal cities be divided?" another cultivator asked.


    "Based on merit. The greater your contribution, the more cities you''ll receive," the ck-d figure replied.


    The cultivators nced at each other, their minds racing.


    Compared to Liu Miaoyin and Xiao Nanfeng, Han Gucheng''s might was far more credible. They reasoned that Dajing would soon fall, its territory reimed by Dahan.


    Han Gucheng''s hundred-city bounty was very tempting.


    "Fine. Let me examine the edict. If everything checks out, we''ll ept Han Gucheng''s terms," one of the cultivators called out.


    The ck-d figure handed over the documents, which included other materials from Han Gucheng meant to persuade the gathered leaders of various forces. After verifying their authenticity, they set off for Dajing, only to discover that someone else was already attacking the city.


    Clearly, Han Gucheng''s subordinates had found other helpers as well.


    "Damn it, they''re trying to steal our credit!"


    "Did Han Gucheng promise them the bounty too?"


    "Get out of the way, you bastards! I''ll be the first to breach the city!"


    Furious, the leaders of various factions descended on Dajing''s capital.


    A hundred Immortal cities was a tempting prize; the more people participated, the fewer Immortal cities they would all get at the end.


    Everyone rushed toward Dajing''s capital, the defensive formations of which were already activated in full.


    "Break!" the cultivators shouted in unison as theyunched a coordinated assault.


    A tremendous force mmed into the city''s barriers, causing them to shake violently.


    Due to the rushed circumstances, Blue Lantern hadn''t yet had time to set up a more robust formation, leaving the city vulnerable. The defensive formation trembled under the repeated strikes and was on the verge of copse.


    Just then, beams of golden light erupted from within the city.


    "Fools, prepare to die!" Ye Dafu roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng had arranged the golden cultivators to guard Dajing''s capital long beforehand.


    A fearsome fight was brewing outside Dajing''s capital.


    In the distance, a ck-d man turned to one of his subordinates. "Send word to His Majesty. Xiao Nanfeng seems to have anticipated an assault and has stationed significant forces in Dajing''s capital."


    One of his subordinates replied, "His Majesty is aware. It''s not a problem¡ªthis is merely a sideshow. The main event is elsewhere. Focus on monitoring this location."


    "Understood!" the ck-d man said, then retreated into the shadows.


    On a mountain overlooking Shenfeng''s capital, a group of ck-d figures stood waiting.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has discovered His Majesty''s hideout. Signal the Snowborne assassins in the city¡ªit''s time to strike," their leader ordered.


    "Understood!" one of his subordinates replied.


    Momentster, a loud shout echoed from Shenfeng''s capital, followed by bursts of light.


    "How dare you trespass in the imperial pce? Seize them!" a voicemanded.


    The city erupted into chaos as battle broke out. Among thebatants, a figure d in golden light soared into the sky.


    The Demon Child roared, "You fools! You dare cause trouble while I''m around? Do you think I''m just an ornament?!"


    He unleashed a flurry of swords at the attackers, driving an unfortunate Golden Immortal back.


    The next moment, a ck figure appeared, intercepting the Demon Child''s attack and saving the Golden Immortal.


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    "What? A Boundless Immortal?" the Demon Child eximed. The next moment, he shot over. "Die!"


    The ck figure retaliated as a firestorm bloomed where the two Boundless Immortals engaged one another.


    Outside the city, the leader of the ck-d group narrowed his eyes. "The Demon Child is here in Shenfeng''s capital. Good¡ªhe''s being held back by the deputy head of Snowborne. Everyone else, continue the assault on the pce."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Streams of light streaked toward the city.


    Snowborne''s forces wereunching a coordinated assault from within and without the city, their objective clear: to pin down the Divine Emperor and prevent her from leaving¡ªor, alternatively, to force the Divine Emperor to return to Shenfeng''s capital to aid in the crisis, thereby preventing her from serving as support for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Meanwhile, in Shenfeng''s capital, a shadow cursed effigy sneered. "Assassins? Ha! What assassins of the mortal world canpare to us?"


    With a wave of its hand, countless shadows shot forth toward the iing Snowborne assassins.


    Very quickly, the Snowborne assassins on the frontlines realized that something was amiss. Their bodies were suddenly frozen stiff and rendered immobile.


    "No! Help me!"


    "I can''t move. What''s going on?"


    "Cursed effigies? Where did all these cursed effigiese from?"


    Screams echoed as one assassin after another was decapitated by the shadows.


    At the same time, on a mountain peak outside Yongding, another group of ck-d figures stood behind one of Han Gucheng''s bodies.


    "Has the attack on Shenfeng''s capital begun?" Han Gucheng asked.


    "It has, Your Majesty, but surely there''s no need to do so? It''ll cost many lives," one of his subordinates replied, frowning.


    "As long as it keeps the Divine Emperor upied, it''s worth the cost. She''s not to be underestimated. Didn''t Xiao Nanfeng destroy my divine empire, Dahan? Today, I''ll destroy Dazheng. Perhaps we''ll gain some unexpected rewards as well," Han Gucheng replied coldly.


    "We''ve confirmed that Xiao Nanfeng held a session of court earlier today. There should still be an avatar of his here," another subordinate reported.


    Han Gucheng nodded as he rose into the air above Yongding.


    Dark clouds gathered, bringing heavy snowfall and a suffocating aura that descended upon the city.


    "It''s Han Gucheng!" someone cried out in rm.


    Without any hesitation, Han Gucheng raised his hand and unleashed a massive de of ice, which he sent shing at the city''s defensive formations.


    Though powerful, the formations couldn''t withstand the de''s immense force.Layer byyer, they crumbled under the assault.


    Yongding''s defensive formations were extraordinary. Even early-stage Boundless Immortals wouldn''t have been able to break through, but Han Gucheng''s ice de quickly cut down oneyer after another. Yongding''s defensive formations continued to shatter, unable to block his blow at all.


    "It''s no use! The formations are breaking apart! Han Gucheng''s even stronger than before! Your Majesty!" someone shouted in desperation.


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the pce, nked by his officials.


    They watched as the finalyer of the city''s defenses gave way as the icy de continued its descent and headed straight for the capital.


    "Who dares?" Ye Sanshui shouted, rushing into the air.


    He shattered the de of ice that had been weakened tremendously after piercing through so many barriers, but he too was forced back from the impact.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, is Madam Rouge still in Yongding? If not, today will be the day of your downfall!" Han Gucheng roared inughter.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised his head. "You must have been waiting at Yongding for quite some time.


    "That''s right. I''ve been here for quite a while. I was nning to wait a little longer, but since you''ve already found my Northern Seair, there''s no need to dy further. Let''s see who can save you today," Han Gucheng said coldly.


    Ye Sanshui floated into the air, his voice equally cold. "Han Gucheng, you''ll have to get through me first."


    Han Gucheng sneered. "Step aside. You''re no match for me."


    "You''re right¡ªI wasn''t before, but now I am," Ye Sanshui replied, producing a vial of ck blood and swallowing it in one gulp. The next moment, his aura grew stronger with each passing moment. His power climbed to dizzying heights. Dark clouds formed around him as he unleashed a torrent of malevolent energy that spread across the sky.


    Han Gucheng''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Just what did you consume? How can your aura rise so rapidly? It''s as if you''re reaching the mid-stage Boundless Immortal realm! This is impossible!"

 Chapter 869: Into Three Bodies

    <h4>Chapter 869: Into Three Bodies</h4>


    In the Northern Sea, the two colossal eid shed violently. In the presence of their towering forms, the sea seemed like nothing more than a shallow pool. The impact of their strikes sent waves surging toward the heavens, transforming the battlefield into a maelstrom of destruction.


    Liu Miaoyin''s eidolon was immensely powerful. Despite being limited by her weaker physical body, it still forced Han Gucheng''s eidolon of reincarnation into retreat, bearing visible cracks as a result of her relentless assault. If this were to continue, it would surely copse.


    "Liu Miaoyin, if you have the guts,e fight me here!" Han Gucheng roared defiantly.


    With a thunderous boom, he pushed past his injuries and flew up into the passage of reincarnation. He taunted Liu Miaoyin from within its glowing maw.


    "Don''t go!" Xiao Nanfeng warned. "The passage of reincarnation is his domain. His power will only multiply there!"


    Saint Lun Hui watched on in anticipation. He clearly wanted Xiao Nanfeng and Han Gucheng to both suffer devastating losses, rather than have one side dominate.


    Liu Miaoyin hesitated. She could see that the energy leaking out of the passage of reincarnation was continuously repairing Han Gucheng''s eidolon. If she were to enter, she would clearly face a severe disadvantage.


    Han Gucheng taunted her merrily. "If you don''t dare follow me, then I''ll simply leave. Today''s battle ends here, haha!"


    Liu Miaoyin narrowed her eyes. She shot toward the passage of reincarnation.


    "Don''t, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.


    Liu Miaoyin''s eidolon shook its head. "Don''t worry. I know what I''m doing. I won''t let him get away today, or he''ll bring great harm to you in the future."


    She charged into the passage.


    Suddenly, Han Gucheng raised a hand. "Seal the passage."


    With a rumbling crash, the entrance to the passage of reincarnation sealed shut, leaving only shes of the battle within visible as the two eid continued their fierce sh.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s face turned dark with worry.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, look!" Yang Chuan suddenly eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned, his eyes widening as he saw another figure emerging from a distant ind. It was Han Gucheng.


    "Another Han Gucheng? How is that possible?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured, stunned.


    "Han Gucheng cultivates the Heartin Bodies. Isn''t it normal for him to have multiple avatars?" Saint Lun Hui asked.


    "No," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "The Heartin Bodies should only give him ess to three bodies. I''ve killed one, so he should only have two left."


    "Oh? You killed a Han Gucheng?" Saint Lun Hui murmured, then frowned. "So there should be two bodies left, and there are two right here. What''s wrong?"


    "No. At this moment, outside Yongding, there''s another Han Gucheng. He''s turning Yongding into a frozen wastnd. I thought that that was his good body, so what''s this? His obstinate body? But I should have killed his obstinate body. How could he have revived within just a few months?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Creating a new physical avatar with independent thought is exceedingly hard. It would be difficult for me even with ess to my charm of heavenlyw. Perhaps his third body is the Superior''s cursed effigy, and this one is his good body," Saint Lun Hui suggested.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    From afar, Han Gucheng''s good body smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, you really have prepared well, haven''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and turned to the cultivators to his back. "Everyone, let''s take him down."


    "Very well," the others replied.


    Han Gucheng''s good body scoffed. "Take me down? You overestimate yourselves."


    With a wave of his hand, the sky was suddenly filled with a raging snowstorm. His presence exuded immense power, making Xiao Nanfeng frown.


    "Han Gucheng''s good body has grown significantly in strength. How?" Xiao Nanfeng muttered.


    When Han Gucheng''s good body headed to Yongding to rescue Han Bing, he had revealed his cultivation then. He had certainly been weaker than he was now.


    "He must have used the charm of heavenlyw to enhance his body''s potential and cultivation¡ªbut how? I only mastered that ability after two millennia with the charm. He''s only had it for months!" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    Han Gucheng didn''t waste time answering any questions. With another wave of his hand, he summoned three enormous snow giants, each hundreds of meters tall, before him.


    The snow giants howled, their cries unleashing waves of icy energy that surged toward Xiao Nanfeng''s group.


    Terrifying bursts of sound shot toward the gathered cultivators, causing them to stumble.


    "What incredible pressure! These snow giants all have the auras of Boundless Immortals. What kind of technique is this?!" Saint Lun Hui eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized the technique immediately. Han Gucheng had used it during his assault on Yongding, though Madam Rouge had neutralized it at the time. Now, without her, they would pose a genuine threat.


    "Kill them!" Han Gucheng ordered.


    With deafening roars, the three snow giants charged forward.


    "Attack!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Die!" his allies shouted as theyunched their counterattack.


    Tu Feng''s nine fox tailsshed out at one of the snow giants, but it shattered several of them with a single punch. Tu Feng was forced to retreat.


    Yang Chuan leapt into action, his folding fan striking another snow giant. The impact pushed the giant back but left Yang Chuan shaken.


    "These snow giants have the strength of mid-stage Boundless Immortals!" Yang Chuan eximed, shocked.


    Saint Lun Hui confronted the third snow giant, their blows causing the air around them to explode in icy shockwaves. The fight ended in a stalemate.


    Of the three Boundless Immortals, one had won, one had tied, and one had lost. At any rate, the snow giants sessfully held them off.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved Han Bing''s physical body and possessed it.


    Han Gucheng shed right up to Xiao Nanfeng and sent Han Bing''s body flying with a punch.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying into the ocean, forming huge waves on impact.


    Han Gucheng had clearly held back to some extent because Xiao Nanfeng had possessed his son''s physical body. When he saw his son''s body again, he felt a series of conflicting emotions. Pain and rage shed in his eyes.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, don''t you have Ao Canghai''s physical body too? Use his body to fight me instead," Han Gucheng demanded coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and rose into the air. "Han Gucheng, you sacrificed your wives and son. Don''t pretend to be a grieving father. If you want to fight, let''s fight!"


    Rage consumed Han Gucheng. "Defiling my son''s body like this¡ªyou ought to die!"


    Their battle resumed with renewed intensity as he threw a punch at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Han Gucheng was forced back several steps, while Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying. Xiao Nanfeng''s Hegemon''s Fist was potent, but Han Gucheng simply had too much raw strength.


    In terms of strength, Han Gucheng had an overwhelming advantage, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t back down.


    The intense fight continued.


    "Bing''er wants you to die, and so does Qing''er. They all want you to die. I''ll fulfill their dying wishes! Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you today!" Han Gucheng snarled viciously.


    "Don''t be a lunatic. You killed your own wives and children. How dare you me others for what you''ve done? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered.


    With a deafening boom, their battle intensified further. The ferocity of their sh churned the sea into towering waves that shook the sky. The residual shockwaves turned water into fine mist, enshrouding the battlefield.


    Han Gucheng was undeniably powerful. His three snow giants had sessfully stalled three other potentbatants while he dominated Xiao Nanfeng in their one-on-one duel. Victory seemed close at hand.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t falter. His fighting spirit burned unwaveringly as he pushed forward, even as Han Bing''s body sustained increasing damage.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you weren''t using my son''s body, I''d long since have killed you!" Han Gucheng roared.


    "It''s toote to pretend to be a grieving father. You disgust me," Xiao Nanfeng retorted coldly.


    The two fighters shed with even greater ferocity than before. Han Bing''s body was nearing its limit, with shattered bones and horrific wounds that threatened to render it unusable.


    "Bind!"


    Han Gucheng shouted, his hand seizing Han Bing''s neck. Torrents of energy surged into the body as he attempted to seal itpletely.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Han Gucheng''s eyes widened in shock and fury. "How dare you!"


    Han Bing''s body detonated in a cataclysmic explosion that unleashed a towering inferno across the battlefield.


    Was Xiao Nanfeng willing to sacrifice a Boundless Immortal''s body just like that?


    The st rocked the heavens and earth as a fiery tempest sent a bloody Han Gucheng flying through the air. "Return my son to me!"


    Han Gucheng fell into the sea, bleeding all over. His eyes were tearful, his face contorted in wrath.


    Just then, a ripple in the void heralded Xiao Nanfeng''s reappearance as he stepped out from the red moon illusory realm. Without hesitation, he retrieved Ao Canghai''s body and possessed that instead.


    "You truly are insane. You sacrificed your family without any hesitation, and now you''re putting on an act. Come on, let''s continue!" Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "Die!" Han Gucheng roared, charging forward with unrestrained fury.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned icy as he charged forward in Ao Canghai''s body. "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    The two cultivators'' fists collided, sending shockwaves rippling across the sky and the sea. This time, with Han Gucheng still recovering from the explosion and Xiao Nanfeng using Ao Canghai''s superior body, their power was evenly matched. Both were forced back hundreds of meters before regaining their footing.


    "We''re bnced in strength now. Again!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "I''ll kill you!" Han Gucheng snarled, diving into the fight once more.


    Xiao Nanfeng unleashed an onught of punches. The void seemed to fill with his energy, his strikes creating an oppressive barrage of afterimages. Han Gucheng retaliated with icy storms that shed against Xiao Nanfeng''s punches, causing a circr wall of waves to rise up from the sea.


    The fighting grew more and more intense as both cultivators sought to dominate their opponent.

 Chapter 870: Killing the Good Body

    <h4>Chapter 870: Killing the Good Body</h4>


    In the Northern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng, now possessing Ao Canghai''s physical body, engaged in a fierce battle with Han Gucheng''s good body. Their sh unleashed storms of me and frost with every strike, but despite the intensity, neither side could gain the upper hand.


    Meanwhile, Yang Chuan, Tu Feng, and Saint Lun Hui fought against three snow giants. That confrontation was also in a stalemate, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage.


    Initially, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t too worried. He was content to slowly whittle Han Gucheng down, but before long, as the dark clouds in the sky above began to calm down, indicating that the battle within the passage of reincarnation wasing to an end, a surge of unease gripped Xiao Nanfeng. His gaze was locked on Han Gucheng, but thetter''s expression remained unchanged. His face was twisted in malevolent aggression, leaving Xiao Nanfeng uncertain about the situation.


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    Han Gucheng, it seems as if your malicious body is done for," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    He was probing for information, desperate as he was to learn about the oue of the battle within the passage of reincarnation.


    "Trying to test me? Say what you want. Soon, you''ll all die together," Han Gucheng sneered.


    He immediately saw through Xiao Nanfeng''s intentions and revealed nothing to him, frustrating Xiao Nanfeng immensely.


    Although Xiao Nanfeng trusted Liu Miaoyin''s formidable strength, he didn''t want to be forced to gamble. He needed rity, and that meant that Han Gucheng had to be eliminated immediately.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared,unching another assault.


    "What''s the matter? Are you getting desperate?" Han Gucheng grinned.


    The two cultivators were evenly matched, and both were waiting for an opportunity to break the stalemate. Xiao Nanfeng''s impatience could easily create an opening for Han Gucheng to exploit.


    With a thunderous sh, their strikes collided. As he had hoped, Han Gucheng found a w in Xiao Nanfeng''s defense. He struck Ao Canghai''s body hard on the arm; a sickening crack made it clear he had fractured bone. Just as Han Gucheng was about to gloat, Ao Canghai suddenly grabbed him.


    "What are you doing?!" Han Gucheng''s expression shifted as he frantically struck back with his elbows.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    With a deafening roar, Ao Canghai''s body self-destructed, taking Han Gucheng with it. The explosion''s shockwave engulfed Han Gucheng in mes.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you lunatic!" Han Gucheng''s furious scream echoed from the center of the explosion.


    Han Gucheng had anticipated that Xiao Nanfeng might lose hisposure in battle, but he wasn''t expecting such a reckless and brutal tactic.


    Xiao Nanfeng had detonated Ao Canghai''s body, a Boundless Immortal vessel, dealing a severe blow to his ownbat strength. How could Xiao Nanfeng afford to do so? As far as he was aware, Xiao Nanfeng only had two Boundless Immortal bodies: Han Bing and Ao Canghai''s. Now that they were both destroyed, Xiao Nanfeng would grow far weaker than before. Why had he risked it?


    Xiao Nanfeng, for his part, was worried about Liu Miaoyin''s safety. A physical body, even a Boundless Immortal one, wasn''t much to give up. He had killed plenty of early-stage Boundless Immortals, by this point.


    Liu Miaoyin''s safety was far more important than Ao Canghai''s physical body.


    As the explosion dissipated, the surrounding sea began to boil and release clouds of mist into the sky. In the exposed seabed, Han Gucheng''s figure appeared, battered and bloodied. He was missing an arm and coughing out blood. He struggled to his feet. Xiao Nanfeng, meanwhile, emerged from the entrance to the red moon illusory realm nearby.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are insane. You could''ve fought me to a draw, but now you''ve lost your edge. Even in my injured state, crushing a mere True Yin cultivator like you is child''s y," Han Gucheng said, sneering. He spat out blood as he advanced toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The Divine Seal of Dazheng, radiating with purple and gold light, unleashed a torrent of power as it mmed into Han Gucheng.


    The immense force left the heavily wounded Han Gucheng immobilized.


    "This is impossible!" Han Gucheng cried out. He choked and coughed up more blood.


    "Nothing is impossible. Have you forgotten that the true strength of emperors lies in their imperial seals?" Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "Help me!" Han Gucheng shouted.


    High above, the three snow giants turned and rushed to his aid.


    "Stop them!" Yang Chuan roared.


    Yang Chuan had been annoyed that mere snow giants were sufficient to hold him back. Seeing that Xiao Nanfeng had even managed to defeat Han Gucheng filled him with both embarrassment and determination.


    He blocked the snow giants with renewed vigor. If he couldn''t even do that much, his reputation would be in tatters!


    Saint Lun Hui eyed Xiao Nanfeng''s battlefield, admiring thetter''s audacity. He had been willing to detonate two of his Boundless Immortal vessels...


    Meanwhile, Han Gucheng''s subordinates began to fly toward the battle from afar, but Xiao Nanfeng wasted no time. He drew a longsword and shed at the immobilized Han Gucheng.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    As the sword closed in, Han Gucheng, unable to move, nced at the sword in despair. Was this to be his end?


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll make sure you die without a grave! Good soul, return! Explode!" Han Gucheng screamed.


    With a massive detonation, Han Gucheng self-destructed as well, unleashing mes that consumed Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    In a split second, Xiao Nanfeng had opened the red moon illusory realm and was sted inside.


    Within the red moon illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng stabilized himself. His body was riddled with wounds, and blood gushed everywhere.


    "Han Gucheng truly is decisive," Xiao Nanfeng muttered. "As expected of someone willing to sacrifice even his wives and children¡ªwhat a terrifying man."


    He took a deep breath, bearing with his injuries, as he stepped back out from the illusory realm.


    Outside, the Divine Seal of Dazheng had been blown away, but Xiao Nanfeng easily recalled it with a gesture.


    Tu Feng, Saint Lun Hui, and Yang Chuan all seemed battered. Han Gucheng''s detonation, as well as that of the three giants, had inflicted severe damage on all of them.


    Tu Feng was the worst off, while Yang Chuan fared only slightly better "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re unbelievable. You sacrificed two Boundless Immortals'' physical bodies like they were nothing..." Yang Chuan eximed.


    "Let''s not dwell on that," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He turned to Saint Lun Hui and asked, "I want to enter the passage of reincarnation and find out about Liu Miaoyin''s condition. Can you help?"


    Saint Lun Hui nced at the dark clouds above. "The clouds are merely a cover. The passage of reincarnation is a mysterious ce, and even entering the clouds won''t guarantee that we can find the entrance.


    "Can you get us in?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I can, but you''ll have to enter one of my treasures. The method works only for myself and the treasure."


    He produced a small green bottle and looked toward the three cultivators, who frowned. They were clearly reluctant.


    Suddenly, Yang Chuan released a purple glow from his mindscape. He looked toward the small bottle, then nodded at Xiao Nanfeng, signaling that it was safe.


    "Tu Feng, you''re the most injured. Stay behind and handle the aftermath," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" Tu Feng replied immediately.


    "Saint Lun Hui, let''s proceed," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Very well." Saint Lun Hui smiled as he opened up the bottle and allowed Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan to enter.


    Saint Lun Hui then sealed the bottle, smiled at Tu Feng, andunched himself into the sky. He passed through the cloud cover, then glowed green as he disappeared into the passage of reincarnation.


    Inside the bottle, after waiting for some time, Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Saint Lun Hui, we''re in the passage by now, aren''t we? Let us out."


    Saint Lun Hui didn''t respond.


    "Are you trying to betray us, Saint Lun Hui? I have an avatar that can report to the Heavenly Emperor at any time," Xiao Nanfeng threatened warningly.


    Even so, Saint Lun Hui ignored him.


    Yang Chuan narrowed his eyes and struck the bottle''s interior with his fists. Runes appeared by the walls, absorbing his attacks.


    "What a formidable treasure¡ªit''s a Boundless Immortal relic, after all," Yang chuan said.


    He punched at the walls of the bottle again, but was still unable to break out.


    "As expected, he''s nning to backstab us," Xiao Nanfeng muttered. "You were giving me a nod just now. What was that about?"


    Yang Chuan took a deep breath. "I looked at the green bottle with my heavenly eye just now. It might be strong, but I can break it. I have a treasure infused with naturalw. If I detonate it andbine it with a strike of my own, I should be able to break out¡ªbut you''ll have to hide to avoid the resulting shockwaves."


    "I''ll retreat into the Divine Seal of Dazheng. You can proceed," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He stepped into the Divine Seal of Dazheng and began to hide there.


    Yang Chuan didn''t hesitate further. He detonated his treasure, shattering the bottle''s runes, as he struck at the bottle simultaneously.


    Indeed, under thebined assault, the bottle cracked.


    "Damn it!" Saint Lun Hui cursed. He abandoned the bottle and fled as Yang Chuan and Xiao Nanfeng emerged from it. Xiao Nanfeng put away his Divine Seal of Dazheng.


    "Damn it, he already ran off," Yang Chuan cursed.


    He kept the remains of the small green bottle.


    "As long as we were able to make it in," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sighing.


    "Right, the treasure I detonated was a Boundless Immortal treasure. You owe me one," Yang Chuan said.


    "Fine. We''ll settle it once all this is done and over with," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    That treasure likely was some weak or broken Boundless Immortal relic; Yang Chuan wouldn''t have been so generous otherwise. But it didn''t matter. As long as Liu Miaoyin was unharmed, a Boundless Immortal treasure was a small price to pay.


    "Are we within the passage of reincarnation, then?" Yang Chuan eximed as he considered his surroundings.


    They weren''t in a tunnel or passage of any sort. Rather, they seemed to be in a certain space, calm and quiet, with green fog surrounding them and making it difficult to see whaty in the distance. Roars and howls could be heard from afar, eerie and chilling.


    Both cultivators tensed as they prepared for the unknown.

 Chapter 871: The Heart Force Killing Array

    <h4>Chapter 871: The Heart Force Killing Array</h4>


    "Where are we? And what''s that roaring in the distance?" Yang Chuan asked.


    "I don''t know. Be careful of this green fog," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a frown.


    Suddenly, a roar echoed from deep within the green fog.


    "Are there ferocious beasts in there? It sounds like a lot of them areing this way. Be careful," Yang Chuan warned, his face changing.


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng''s expression shifted. He felt the golden sprout within his heart tremble, releasing a golden light that enveloped his entire body and began absorbing special energy from the green fog.


    As the golden sprout exerted its power, Xiao Nanfeng was no longer able to hear the roars from before.


    "An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    Meanwhile, Yang Chuan nched. "They''re here! Be careful!"


    Yang Chuan could see an extremely hideous creature charging toward them. It exuded an immensely powerful aura, causing Yang Chuan''s expression to turn dark.


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    With a loud boom, he punched the creature and sent it flying. Then, a swarm of monsters rushed toward them from all around.


    "There are so many monsters," Yang Chuan eximed in shock.


    Heunched a flurry of attacks as he punched and kicked the monsters away. He even drew a folding fan and waved it fiercely, summoning a hurricane that sent the creatures tumbling away in disarray.


    Even so, the monsters were too numerous and terrifyingly feral, showing no fear of death as they charged forward relentlessly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, we can''t stay here! We have to go!" Yang Chuan urged in a panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng had a strange expression on his face. What he saw waspletely different¡ªthere were no monsters. Instead, Yang Chuan was iling about wildly, punching at empty air, and gasping for breath.


    "What are you doing? Hurry and run! The monsters are increasing in number. Damn it, there''s even a Boundless Immortal oneing now!" Yang Chuan called out anxiously.


    "What monsters? Are you out of your mind? There''s nothing here," Xiao Nanfeng replied irritably.


    "What?" Yang Chuan froze, then eximed incredulously, "Can''t you see the monsters?"


    "It''s not that I can''t see them. There simply aren''t any."


    Yang Chuan''s heart skipped a beat. "Do you mean that one of us is hallucinating?"


    "It''s definitely not me," Xiao Nanfeng said with certainty.


    "I don''t believe it! Damn it, I''ve even activated my heavenly eye to maximum power. Are you saying I''m the one hallucinating? That''s impossible!"


    Sure enough, a vertical purple eye had appeared on Yang Chuan''s forehead. However, its gaze was vacant and eerie.


    "That third eye on your forehead looks like it has cataracts. Are you sure it''s meant to be a heavenly eye?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Don''t underestimate my heavenly eye. I may not be very skilled with it, but it''s one of the ultimate secret techniques of the Yuqing holynd," Yang Chuan retorted. "If you don''t believe me, then so be it. Let the monsters give you a hard time."


    Xiao Nanfeng remained nonchnt. He gave Yang Chuan a weird look.


    While Yang Chuan fought, he deliberately left a gap for a monster to rush toward Xiao Nanfeng, only for nothing to happen to him.


    "Are these monsters stupid? While I was blocking them, they were desperate to attack you. Now that I''m leaving you open, they ignore you! Why? Can they understand what I''m saying?" Yang Chuan eximed in disbelief.


    "Have you not confirmed that you''ve fallen for it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.


    He quickly understood just how terrifying the illusion here was. Even now, Yang Chuan hadn''t snapped out of it.


    Yang Chuan frowned. He might not have been able to see through the illusion, but Xiao Nanfeng''s behavior made him doubt himself.


    "Fine, damn it! I''ll test it!" Yang Chuan shut his eyes and stopped attacking.


    In order to confirm that what he was seeing was an illusion, he allowed the monsters to attack him.


    With several loud booms, Yang Chuan was sent flying. He coughed up blood as he crashed to the ground.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you lied to me!" Yang Chuan grumbled, frustrated.


    "Are illusions this advanced now...?" Xiao Nanfeng muttered, dumbfounded, as he watched Yang Chuan get kicked around in thin air.


    "No! I can''t take it anymore! There are a few more Boundless Immortal monstersing from over there. If I don''t run now, I''ll die!"


    He resumed his counterattacks, but the more he fought, the more monsters appeared, leaving him exasperated. Even so, the monsterspletely ignored Xiao Nanfeng as if he didn''t exist. The situation forced him to consider the possibility that this really was just an illusion.


    "Yang Chuan, I don''t see any monsters. This illusion might well be very potent. Strangely, it can even harm you. I suspect there''s some sort of hypnosis that''s causing you to see the monsters. They''re not hurting you; rather, your body''s reaction to the hypnosis is causing the damage," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "What do we do, then? I can''t break out!" Yang Chuan shouted.


    "How about this? Let me take over your physical body temporarily. I''ll possess it and help you navigate through this ce. Deal?"


    He did have ways to free Yang Chuan from the illusion. For instance, when he embraced Lan Yaoguang back in the Shangqing holynd, the golden sprout''s light had enveloped her and absorbed the aspects of the illusion around her. However, he shied at the thought of doing the same to Yang Chuan.


    Yang Chuan frowned. He had been possessed by Xiao Nanfeng once before, but that was under dire circumstances while he was gravely injured. Should he allow Xiao Nanfeng to do so again?


    After some hesitation, Yang Chuan said, "Fine. But you''ll owe me big-time for this."


    Yang Chuan was carefree by nature, and he had shared life-and-death experiences with Xiao Nanfeng before. He trusted Xiao Nanfeng''s character and decided not to overthink things.


    "Same asst time, then. I''ll be sending death chants into your mind. Don''t resist them," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Yang Chuan nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and entered Yang Chuan''s mindscape. At the same time, his blue moon transformed into a blue lotus and descended on Yang Chuan''s soul. The death chants and the blue lotus together, along with Yang Chuan''sck of resistance, caused his consciousness to blur quickly.


    Xiao Nanfeng had sessfully possessed Yang Chuan again.


    His golden sprout emitted a golden light, generating a suction that absorbed the special energy around Yang Chuan. Instantly, all the monsters froze before dissipating into thin air.


    Just now, within the passage of reincarnation, Han Gucheng had been leveraging the advantage of the domain to engage inbat with Liu Miaoyin.


    Though Han Gucheng''s strength had soared, it had only been a few months since he obtained the charm of heavenlyw. He could hardly master the heavenlyw of reincarnation fully during that time despite his exceptional talent.


    Even with his eidolon of reincarnation pushed to its limits, the most he could do was fight Liu Miaoyin to a draw.


    "Why are you helping Xiao Nanfeng? What''s so good about him?" Han Gucheng shouted in frustration.


    He was already jealous of the fact that Madam Rouge was protecting him. Now, another peerless expert had shown up to support Xiao Nanfeng, further fueling his resentment.


    "Stop talking. Die!" Liu Miaoyin replied coldly.


    She continued her assault. Their overwhelming fight continued; Liu Miaoyin only seemed to grow stronger as the battle progressed, causing Han Gucheng to frown uneasily.


    At this rate, he had the suspicion that he might lose.


    Gritting his teeth, Han Gucheng''s eyes shed with determination. He thought to himself, "Forget it. I''ll lead Liu Miaoyin to that battlefield. I don''t understand the naturalws there fully, but I''m sure it''s advantageous to me."


    "Reincarnation, heed mymand¡ªopen!" Han Gucheng shouted.


    A crack in the void appeared before him, and he stepped through.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Liu Miaoyin asked coldly. She followed close behind.


    With a whoosh, the two cultivators entered a space filled with green fog. The battle outside abruptly quieted down, alerting Xiao Nanfeng to the change and causing him to sense that something was amiss.


    Within the domain of green fog, Liu Miaoyin immediately sensed that something was amiss.


    "What a potent heartforce illusion. This is a killing formation!" Liu Miaoyin eximed.


    Roars echoed from fog as countless monsters began to charge toward them.


    "All phenomena are like dreams and illusions, bubbles and reflections, dew and lightning," Liu Miaoyin chanted, pressing her palms together.


    With a hum, eighty percent of the monsters surrounding her vanished. Her peerless Buddhist techniques had constrained the illusions, but she wasn''t able to nullify their effects entirely. About a fifth of the monsters remained untouched.


    Han Gucheng also saw countless monsters rushing toward him. He too took a deep breath and intoned, "Reincarnation, through my Heartgate! Disperse the illusion!"


    Just like Liu Miaoyin, the majority of the monsters in Han Gucheng''s vision disappeared, leaving about a fifth behind. His charm of heavenlyw was able to resist some of the illusion''s effects.


    The two cultivators resumed their battle.


    Han Gucheng had hoped that the illusions would significantly weaken Liu Miaoyin, but it seemed that her abilities were too formidable. While she couldn''tpletely ovee the illusions, they hindered her far less than he expected.


    The two continued to fight for some time, only to sense that something was amiss. The number of monsters was increasing rapidly.


    "Why are more monsters appearing? Could the effect of my charm of heavenlyw be fading?" Han Gucheng eximed.


    Liu Miaoyin sensed the problem as well. She frowned. "What fearsome heart force¡ªand it''s only growing stronger. Is someone manipting it?"


    Before long, they stopped fighting.


    The illusions grew more and more potent. In a sh, their eid broke apart, causing them to reveal themselves.


    "This isn''t good!" Han Gucheng nched.


    He subconsciously tried to leave this space, but he nced at his opponent and saw that Liu Miaoyin was doing worse. Once he opened up an exit, she would escape too.


    This wouldn''t do. He would have to wait for her to die before leaving.


    He waved a hand and enveloped himself in a green barrier. "Charm of heavenlyw, shield me."


    Liu Miaoyin sped her hands together, transforming into a ck lotus that floated in the air.


    Both cultivators suddenly seemed to enter a state of meditation, guarding themselves from the illusions.

 Chapter 872: The Demise of the Evil

    <h4>Chapter 872: The Demise of the Evil</h4>


    Within the green fog, Han Gucheng sat cross-legged, his body enveloped by the power of the charm of heavenlyw as he fended off the invading heart force.


    "Did Liu Miaoyin turn into a lotus? Is she immune to the heart force now, or is she dead?" Han Gucheng frowned.


    He wanted to head over to check on Liu Miaoyin''s condition, but the relentless waves of heart force made it increasingly difficult just to endure.


    Around him, countless monsters emerged, their attacks pressing him harder and harder. Though the charm of heavenlyw continued to provide some protection, it was bing less effective over time. Pain began to seep through, an ominous sign that his defenses were faltering.


    "This isn''t working. The heart force is growing too strong. If this continues, I''ll be injured." Han Gucheng''s face turned grim.


    He stood up and prepared to escape the realm¡ªbut just as he began to act, the number of monsters surged exponentially. Their attacks struck with overwhelming force.


    Han Gucheng was sted through the air. He coughed up blood before crashing to the ground.


    As hended, he channeled the charm of heavenlyw at full strength to shield himself.


    "Just how strong has the heart force outside grown? I can''t even focus enough to open up the exit. No¡ªI have to get out!" Han Gucheng cried out in panic.


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    He tried several more times to open the exit, but each attempt was met with failure. Whenever he diverted even a fraction of the charm of heavenlyw''s energy to escape, the monsters would pounce, forcing him into a cycle of defeat.


    He was unable to open up the exit to the realm of green fog at all.


    "Am I truly trapped here...?" Han Gucheng''s voice trembled with fear.


    He had known that the realm of green fog was dangerous, but hadn''t anticipated that it would be this bad.


    He tried several more times, but to no avail. Each time, he was struck more and more badly.


    He frowned in frustration, anxious and exasperated.


    Just then, a voice echoed from nearby, "Stop struggling. You won''t be able to escape. I''ve sealed this space, and not even the charm of heavenlyw will be able to help you escape."


    "Who''s there?" Han Gucheng called out.


    A man walked out from among a group of monsters nearby¡ªnone other than Saint Lun Hui.


    "You? What are you doing here?!" Han Gucheng eximed.


    "Why do you think?" Saint Lun Hui''s eyes gleamed with malice. "I have to admit, I didn''t expect this. This heartforce killing formation was originally meant for Yu Fuli, but I didn''t manage to use it against him. Somehow, you walked into this trap yourself¡ªand voluntarily, at that! Haha, what a fool you are."


    "Heartforce killing formation?" Han Gucheng eximed.


    "Indeed. The heavens, worried that we saints would end up in danger, made us all a little something. This space was one such, a trap designed using the power of reincarnation. I never thought it''de in handy like this." Saint Lun Huiughed, his delight evident.


    "A heartforce killing formation left by the heavens? Why can''t this charm of heavenlyw protect me fully?" Han Gucheng eximed.


    "You underestimate the power of the heavens. That talisman you hold is only a fragment of the heavenlyw of reincarnation. How much of its power have you truly mastered? It''s impressive that you''vested this long. And just so you know, I''ve amplified the array''s power to its maximum. The fact that you''re still alive is remarkable." Saint Lun Hui smirked as he stepped closer.


    "You''re the one who suddenly intensified its strength just now?" Han Gucheng''s voice turned cold.


    "Of course. Who else would it be?"


    "How can you be unaffected? Why aren''t you being torn apart by the array?" Han Gucheng''s voice rose in desperation.


    "This array was a gift to me. I have the means of controlling it. Now, enough talk about the array. Let''s settle our personal grievances, Han Gucheng. It''s past time you paid the price for your actions." Saint Lun Hui continued to draw closer.


    "No! I''m in control of the heavenlyw of reincarnation. You won''t seed!" Han Gucheng roared.


    Desperately, Han Gucheng tried to channel the charm''s power and use it to attack Saint Lun Hui, but the moment he diverted energy from his defenses, the monsters swarmed him again and hurled him into the air with a powerful blow. Blood spurted from his mouth as he crashed back to the ground.


    "This is the heartforce killing formation. Resistance is futile," Saint Lun Hui gloated. "Honestly, I thought dealing with you would be impossible, but who would have guessed that you''d deliver yourself into my trap? Now, with Liu Miaoyin, Xiao Nanfeng, and Yang Chuan surely incapacitated as well, all I need to do is reim my charm of heavenlyw. Then, victory will be mine!"


    He continued to walk toward Han Gucheng.


    "No. I won''t let you seed. You aren''t qualified!" Han Gucheng roared.


    Saint Lun Hui''s sword gleamed as he drove it into Han Gucheng''s chest. "You''re out of time. Now, die!"


    Saint Lun Hui''s sword pulsed with power as he prepared to annihte Han Guchengpletely.


    Realizing the futility of resistance, Han Gucheng was ovee with fury and despair. He had never suffered so even at Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    Indeed, to him, Xiao Nanfeng was a rare opponent, while Saint Lun Hui was nothing more than a clown. Even so, it was this clown who was going to kill him. He could hardly stand such ignominy, but there didn''t seem to be anything he could do.


    "Malicious intent, return! Charm of heavenlyw, explode!" Han Gucheng roared.


    A deafening explosion consumed the space as Han Gucheng detonated himself and his charm of heavenlyw in a devastating st of energy.


    "No!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    When the smoke cleared, Saint Lun Huiy bloodied and broken on the ground, barely alive.


    Han Gucheng had just a single objective: to kill Saint Lun Hui. Han Gucheng himself had one other body remaining, which could rush over and reim everything that belonged to him.


    Unfortunately for Han Gucheng, causing his charm of heavenlyw to explode was too difficult for him at present. All he could do was cause tremendous strength to burst forth from it.


    Countless mes erupted from the talisman, sending the ck lotus in the distance flying as well. Saint Lun Hui, caught in the st, fell to the ground, bleeding all over.


    He spat out a few mouthfuls of blood before finally stabilizing his condition, a green pearl in his hand. It was the pearl that had blocked the bulk of the damage at a critical moment, or he would already have been killed.


    The charm of heavenlyw fell to the ground nearby. It was green in color, and its surface was clearly cracked. Even so, it was giving off green light and hadn''t been destroyed.


    "Han Gucheng, you scumbag! I''ll kill you and all your avatars!" Saint Lun Hui cried out weakly. The next moment, he smiled in excitement. "As long as I''m alive, everything will be fine. I''ve reimed my charm of heavenlyw, too. I''ll be back at the peak in no time!"


    In excitement, he crawled toward the charm of heavenlyw.


    Suddenly, a figure stepped into his path, causing him to gasp in rm.


    "Yang Chuan? How can you still move?" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    "Saint Lun Hui, we meet again," Yang Chuan said coldly.


    Saint Lun Hui narrowed his eyes at Yang Chuan for quite some time, then frowned. "No, you''re not Yang Chuan at all. You''re Xiao Nanfeng, possessing Yang Chuan!"


    "Oh? You have rather good eyes." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "How can you be unharmed? Shouldn''t you have been killed by the array?!"


    "Do you want me to die that badly?"


    Saint Lun Hui immediately activated the green pearl in his hands, frowning in panic. The green pearl slowly began to vibrate. Xiao Nanfeng felt the special energy surging into his surroundings grow stronger, and the rate at which the golden sprout absorbed it increased as well.


    "That green pearl is the key to controlling this formation, isn''t it?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "How can you be alright? You can''t be immune to this! This is impossible!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.


    He continued to manipte the green pearl, but Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t affected at all. Meanwhile, his body was badly injured. He began to panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng slowly walked over in Yang Chuan''s body. "Since you want me dead that badly, I suppose I''ll send you on your way."


    "Stay away!" Saint Lun Hui cried out.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "No!" Saint Lun Hui shrieked in despair.


    His body, already badly wounded, was pummeled to a pulp. His spirit dissipated.


    As another saint met his end, the green pearlnded in Xiao Nanfeng''s hands.


    Now that there was no longer any threat, Xiao Nanfeng emerged from Yang Chuan''s mindscape, then stored his body within a gourd.


    He inspected the green pearl for some time, discovering that it seemed to have a special link with the green fog in his vicinity. However, he couldn''t seem to control it.


    He walked up to the charm of heavenlyw and inspected it, only for the charm to repel his hand. He could send neither spiritual power nor qi into the charm.


    "Why can''t I refine this?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured. "It''s just like Saint Chi Hai''s charm..."


    He gave it a few more attempts, but repeatedly met with failure.


    "Forget it," Xiao Nanfeng muttered, frustrated.


    He knew that there had to be some secret hidden within his body that was resistant to these charms, but he didn''t worry too much about it.


    He walked up to the ck lotus in the vicinity. It didn''t move, clearly still affected by the killing formation. He embraced the ck lotus tightly as his golden sprout''s glow enveloped it.


    Now immune to the heartforce, the ck lotus swiftly transformed back to Liu Miaoyin''s appearance.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s heart raced as he felt her body soft and warm in his embrace.


    Liu Miaoyin had sealed her senses until she felt the heartforce around her vanish. Only then did she return to human form, blinking¡ªand discovering that Xiao Nanfeng was embracing her tightly.


    "What''s this?" Liu Miaoyin eximed, blushing.


    "Don''t move, or the formation will strike again," Xiao Nanfeng cautioned her immediately.

 Chapter 873: The Golden Sapling

    <h4>Chapter 873: The Golden Sapling</h4>


    Within Xiao Nanfeng''s arms, Liu Miaoyin blushed slightly and said, "Let me go."


    "Be careful. If you can''t block the heartforce assault, don''t hesitate toe back," Xiao Nanfeng warned, releasing his grip.


    Liu Miaoyin stepped forward, but as soon as she did, the heart force surged again. She instantly saw countless monsters rushing toward her, causing her face to turn pale. She quickly retreated and returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace, at which point the monsters disappeared entirely.


    "I was just¡ª" Liu Miaoyin tried to exin, her face flushing.


    "I understand. There''s no need to exin. This is an emergency," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.


    Liu Miaoyin sighed in relief and asked curiously, "Why aren''t you affected by this space? And what happened here?"


    "I had a stroke of fortune that renders me immune to these attacks. Just now, Saint Lun Hui forced Han Gucheng''s malicious body to self-destruct. Then, I killed Saint Lun Hui. The only things left are this charm of heavenlyw and green pearl," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "They''re both dead?" Liu Miaoyin asked in surprise.


    "Right, I got lucky. What should we do now? This green pearl seems to control the space. Why don''t you try using it?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    Liu Miaoyin took the green pearl and frowned. "Just as I thought."


    "What''s this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, curious.


    "This orb contains numerous restrictive seals. It indeed controls the heartforce killing formation, but the heavens designed it so that it would only be usable by Saint Lun Hui. Others can''t activate it," Liu Miaoyin said.


    "Oh?"


    "This green pearl is crafted from clearheart ore. Holding it can help resist some of the offensive heart force," Liu Miaoyin continued.


    "Is it rare?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''s fairlymon. It''s often used by those who cultivate their hearts for added stability. Many consider it a valuable treasure."


    "Oh? Then you should give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    Liu Miaoyin nodded and stepped out of Xiao Nanfeng''s embrace as she held the green pearl. Instantly, the monsters reappeared, but the green pearl emitted a green glow that halved the number of monsters.


    "All phenomena are like dreams and illusions, bubbles and reflections, dew and lightning," Liu Miaoyin intoned.


    A ck glow emanated from her body. The remaining monsters vanishedpletely.


    "Are you able to block all the illusions now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yes, but the clearheart ore only neutralizes half of them. I had to handle the rest myself," Liu Miaoyin exined.


    "It seems that clearheart ore really is a treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "No. It''s both a blessing and a curse. I wouldn''t want to own such a treasure myself," Liu Miaoyin said, shaking her head.


    "Why is that?"


    "As a cultivator of the heart, I wouldn''t want to rely on external aids. Progresses from within, and dependence on external tools undermines the essence of cultivation. If you''re serious about cultivating your heart, never use such aids," Liu Miaoyin warned.


    "I understand," Xiao Nanfeng replied, though with an odd expression on his face.


    He didn''t care about this clearheart ore, especially when his golden sprout was so much more potent. Liu Miaoyin''s advice only made him more cautious regarding how to handle it.


    "What''s your current cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Me? I''m the same as before, an early-stage Boundless Immortal. With my eidolon, I can express the power of a mid- tote-stage Boundless Immortal. Once I raise my cultivation further, my eidolon will grow stronger as well."


    "If you refine this charm of heavenlyw, will you be able to advance more quickly?"


    "This charm of heavenlyw? Aren''t you going to use it? I don''t really mind. You, on the other hand, need to raise your cultivation as much as possible," Liu Miaoyin replied immediately.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head wryly. "The charm of heavenlyw is rejecting me."


    "What? How could that be?" Liu Miaoyin eximed in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng demonstrated, only for the charm to repel him time and time again. She was taken aback.


    "These charms of heavenlyw were created by the heavens for new saints. The fact that this one is rejecting you must mean there''s something the heavens find deeply repulsive about you," Liu Miaoyin spected.


    "Perhaps, but I have no idea what the problem is."


    "That''s good news," Liu Miaoyin said, her eyes lighting up. "That might be the key to defeating the heavens in the future."


    "Let''s not dwell on that for now. The charm of heavenlyw is deteriorating, so it''s better if you use it now to regain your strength. That way, it won''t be wasted."


    Liu Miaoyin was touched by his gesture. After all, even if Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t use the charm himself, it could be given to anyone else¡ªyet he chose to let her have it.


    "Very well. In that case, I''ll use it to restore my strength as quickly as possible. Once I''ve returned to my peak, I''ll be able to provide you with more assistance," Liu Miaoyin replied, no longer refusing.


    She swallowed the charm of heavenlyw, which emitted a brilliant green glow.


    "Give me a moment. Once I refine this charm, I''ll be able to get us out of here," Liu Miaoyin said.


    "Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    @@novelbin@@


    Liu Miaoyin sat cross-legged and began to refine the charm of heavenlyw.


    Xiao Nanfeng also sat down and started to meditate.


    "Golden sprout, you can absorb the power in this space at full capacity," Xiao Nanfeng murmured inwardly.


    His golden sprout''s absorption rate surged dramatically, pulling in the space''s unique energy at an astonishing rate.


    Ripples formed around Xiao Nanfeng as the green fog flowed into him like a river.


    The vibrations startled Liu Miaoyin. Worried about Xiao Nanfeng''s safety, she paused her refining to observe what was going on.


    She saw the green fog being drawn into Xiao Nanfeng''s body more and more quickly.


    "How is this possible? He''s only at True Yin. How can he devour the heart force of the heavens themselves?"


    She stood up and began guarding Xiao Nanfeng, ready to intervene if anything were to go wrong.


    However, upon seeing his peaceful expression and the hint of contentment in his brows, she realized that he was fine.


    As she watched the torrent of green fog swirling around him, her initial shock turned to joy.


    "As expected of the man I championed," she murmured with a smile.


    She was increasingly convinced that Xiao Nanfeng was destined to defeat the heavens.


    As Xiao Nanfeng continued to absorb the green fog, the void began to ripple. The fluctuations in the fog grewrger andrger.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s mind waspletely absorbed in the world of his heart. He was eyeing the golden sprout there. It was rapidly growingrger. Thest time, it had doubled in size; this time, things were different. The special energy it was absorbing now boosted its growth rapidly, causing it to thicken as it transformed into a golden sapling.


    He didn''t know that his rapid absorption had gravely destabilized the space outside. If not for Liu Miaoyin working to stabilize it, it might have copsed at any moment.


    "He''s absorbing all of the heavens'' heart force, isn''t he? If it''s useful to him, then I won''t let any of it be wasted." Liu Miaoyin focused, conjuring her eidolon once more and stabilizing the void, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to continue his absorption.


    After some time, as Xiao Nanfeng absorbed all the green fog, the void began to ripple anew. This time, even Liu Miaoyin couldn''t stabilize it further.


    "You''ve absorbed everything? Good!" Liu Miaoyin eximed.


    As the void trembled and the space shattered, Liu Miaoyin''s eidolon protected Xiao Nanfeng.


    They once again returned to the world atrge. The dark clouds that had covered the sky had all vanishedpletely.


    Around them, Tu Feng and the others had already subdued Han Gucheng''s subordinates. When they saw wXiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin emerge, they brightened up with relief.


    Liu Miaoyin waved a hand, gesturing for everyone to stay back. Tu Feng nodded and motioned everyone away as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the world of his heart to see that his golden sprout had grown into a rather sturdy golden sapling.


    The golden sapling exuded radiant light that dispelled the fog of his inner world.


    Though he couldn''t fully grasp its mysteries, he felt an even deeper connection to it.


    With a hum, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes.


    "Ah, Senior Miaoyin, you brought me out?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Liu Miaoyin chuckled. "Rather, you brought me out. Aren''t you aware?"


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised.


    Liu Miaoyin exined what had happened. "How did you manage to nullify the heavens'' heartforce killing formation so easily?"


    "I don''t know myself, but those arrays seem particrly beneficial to my growth. If we encounter more, I''d like to absorb it.


    "Very well," Liu Miaoyin promised.


    She handed him the green pearl of clearheart ore. "With the array gone, the heavens'' restrictions on this pearl are gone as well. It''s nothing more than simple clearheart ore now. I''ll have you figure out what you want to do with it yourself. Don''t rely on it."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and shook Yang Chuan''s body out of a certain gourd.


    As Yang Chuan stood up, he eximed, "Xiao Nanfeng, we''re out! What happened?"


    "Saint Lun Hui killed Han Gucheng, and then I killed Saint Lun Hui," Xiao Nanfeng summarized simply.


    "That easily?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    "What else?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Alright, then. You just made it sound so simple that it didn''t feel realistic to me," Yang Chuan replied, smiling wryly. Then, his eyes lit up. "What''s that in your hand?"


    "Clearheart ore."


    "Clearheart ore? Really?" Yang Chuan''s eyes lit up.


    "Are you familiar with it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    Yang Chuan nced at it, then hesitated a little. My cultivation technique requires clearheart ore for a breakthrough. I wonder if I might..."


    "Here, for you. Take it as thanks for your help, and aspensation," Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Haha, you''re the best, Xiao Nanfeng. Call me anytime!" Yang Chuan beamed.


    He caught the ore and examined it carefully, then stored it quickly as if worried that Xiao Nanfeng would change his mind.

 Chapter 874: The Real Superior

    <h4>Chapter 874: The Real Superior</h4>


    Back in Yongding, Ye Sanshui consumed a pool of ck blood, causing his strength to surge dramatically. He soared into the sky, unleashing a palm strike at Han Gucheng. Han Gucheng''s expression turned serious as he countered with a punch. A deafening explosion followed as their sh unleashed a storm that rocked the heavens.


    Within Yongding, as Blue Lantern erected formation after formation, the broken city defenses were rapidly regenerating.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood at the entrance of a grand hall as he watched the two figures battle high above. Ye Sanshui had initially been at a disadvantage, but as he gradually digested the ck blood, his strength continued to rise. His attacks grew fiercer, and he went from being repelled by Han Gucheng to trading blows evenly with him.


    "Just what did you consume? How can your cultivation be improving so quickly?" Han Gucheng demanded.


    The overwhelming strength of Madam Rouge and Liu Miaoyin had left him deeply frustrated. Now, yet another formidable ally had appeared at Xiao Nanfeng''s side, making him burn with jealousy.


    Why was Xiao Nanfeng so lucky? How could he have gathered so many powerful allies and subordinates within such a short period of time? Han Gucheng felt a maddening sense of envy.


    "Die, you fiend!" Ye Sanshui bellowed, unleashing increasingly ferocious punches. Each blow was like a divine weapon that shook the heavens with its might.


    Despite his rising strength, however, Ye Sanshui couldn''t overwhelm Han Gucheng. Still adjusting to his newfound strength, he could only hold Han Gucheng off, nothing more.


    As the battle continued to rage, Han Gucheng''s expression suddenly shifted. "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll kill you!"


    The abrupt outburst left the onlookers puzzled. Why had Han Gucheng''s demeanor changed so drastically mid-fight?


    "Your Majesty, is something wrong?" Zheng Qian asked in worry.


    "My other self just defeated Han Gucheng''s good body," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Oh? I see," Zheng Qian said, his eyes lighting up in excitement.


    The officials around them all broke into smiles of relief as well.


    In the sky, Han Gucheng''s attacks grew more savage. Ye Sanshui struggled to keep up and was repeatedly dealt a number of heavy blows.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and dered loudly, "Citizens of Dazheng, hear me! I am your emperor, Xiao Nanfeng. I call upon your assistance now. An Immortal Emperor hase to attack Yongding and seeks to destroy our empire. I ask that you raise your right hand and lend me your strength so that we may vanquish this foe!"


    A dragon''s roar resounded through the sea of fortune high overhead, amplifying Xiao Nanfeng''s voice and broadcasting it across all of Dazheng.


    After years of development, Xiao Nanfeng had earned unwavering loyalty from his people. Upon hearing his plea, countless people set aside whatever they were doing.


    "Your Majesty, take my strength!"


    "Quick, raise your right hand and help the emperor!"


    "Another enemy here to die? Use my power to crush him, Your Majesty!"


    "Raise your right hands, everyone!"


    Countless people across the empire raised their hands. Streams of power flowed from the people and headed straight for the sea of fortune above Yongding.


    All that power headed straight for Xiao Nanfeng, striking his body and causing it to surge with power. Those around him were forced to retreat from the sheet pressure he was giving off.


    Gripping his divine undying de, Xiao Nanfeng shot into the sky.


    At that moment, Han Gucheng sent Ye Sanshui flying with a heavy blow.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Han Gucheng raised his head sharply as a massive de of light descended toward him. His eyes turned cold as he shouted, "Let''s see what you''ve got!"


    He struck with his fist, meeting the de head-on.


    With a resounding explosion, the sh between the two cultivators created a powerful shockwave. In the end, Dazheng was still rather small. Though Xiao Nanfeng had harnessed the strength of his entire empire, his power barely matched Han Gucheng''s. Ye Sanshui, still recovering, prepared to rejoin the fight.


    Han Gucheng sneered. "The Superior''s killing domain!"


    A burst of radiant white light erupted from Han Gucheng, forming a barrier-like field that enveloped Xiao Nanfeng.


    Sensing danger, Xiao Nanfeng tried to retreat, but it was toote. With a sh, the white field contracted and both figures vanished.


    "Your Majesty!" Ye Sanshui shouted in rm.


    Countless cultivators rushed into the sky as they realized that something was amiss¡ªbut Xiao Nanfeng and Han Gucheng were already gone.


    Xiao Nanfeng appeared in an ethereal, snow-white space.


    Towering snowy mountains surrounded him, reminiscent of the Enlightenment Grounds.


    Not far away, Han Gucheng smirked in mid-air. "I''ve been waiting for you."


    "Is this an illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he nced around him.


    "This is the Superior''s killing domain, a special space thates with the Superior''s cursed effigy. It''s like an illusory realm, but not entirely. This ce is real in many ways," Han Gucheng exined.


    With a wave of his hand, the surrounding mountains trembled. Enormous snow giants emerged from within.


    "What are these?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "They''re all Boundless Immortal snow giants. This ce shall be your grave!" Han Gucheng intoned, sneering.


    With a roar, one of the snowmen charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold as he swung his de. "Die!"


    With a thunderous sh, the snow giant''s arm was severed as it was sent flying. Even so, more snow giants surged forward.


    As the battle raged on, Xiao Nanfeng''s de carved a trail of destruction through the snow giants¡ªthough no matter how many he destroyed, they simply kept reforming.


    The snow giants were only at the level of early-stage Boundless Immortals, and were no match for Xiao Nanfeng. However, there were simply too many of them, more than a dozen in all.


    "They can even regenerate..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    With a roar, all the snow giants leapt toward him.


    Xiao Nanfeng took on a whole horde of snow giants by himself. He was starting to feel a little overwhelmed.


    Han Gucheng sneered as he hovered in the air. "Do you know why I chose the Superior out of all the cursed effigies from the primordial altar? It''s because he''s far more ruthless than others. The Superior''s killing domain is just one of its powers. Once inside, no matter how strong you are, it''ll grind you down and eventually kill you."


    "The Superior might be strong, but it''s something you obtained by sacrificing your wives and son. What do you have to be proud of?" Xiao Nanfeng asked coldly. He continued to take down the snow giants one after another.


    "Silence!" Han Gucheng roared furiously. He was clearly unwilling to talk about his family.


    "If you didn''t want others to talk about it, you shouldn''t have done it in the first ce," Xiao Nanfeng continued coldly.


    Han Gucheng''s face twitched in rage, but he forced himself to stay calm. "You''re deliberately provoking me, hoping to disrupt my focus and exploit a mistake, aren''t you? You''ll be disappointed. I, Han Gucheng, have more self-control than that."


    Xiao Nanfeng snorted.


    "The power of Dazheng is formidable, but the strength of your people is finite. Once you''ve exhausted it all, your death wille."


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon flew out of his mindscape.


    As soon as it appeared, it radiated dazzling white light. With a hum, the snow giants bathed in the light suddenly froze. Their movements slowed.


    "What did you just do?" Han Gucheng frowned.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon flew toward one of the snow giants and opened its mouth wide. With a gulp, it devoured the snowman and crushed it with a resounding crunch. The swallowed snow giant didn''t regenerate.


    "What? Impossible!" Han Gucheng eximed. He hurriedlymanded the snow giants, "Kill it, quick!"


    The snow giants, obeying his orders, charged at Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon. However, the light radiating from the moon slowed their movements and left them sluggish.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon darted toward another snow giant and devoured it in a single bite. The sound of crunching snow sent shivers down Han Gucheng''s spine.


    Even so, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon wasn''t satisfied. It moved onto the next snow giant.


    "You wretched thing!" Han Gucheng cursed, lunging at the moon.


    "Han Gucheng, I''m your opponent," Xiao Nanfeng interjected, moving to block him.


    Han Gucheng growled in frustration. "Other snow giants, hold Xiao Nanfeng off!"


    With a roar, several of the snow giants charged at Xiao Nanfeng and blocked his advance.


    Meanwhile, Han Gucheng flew toward Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon.


    As its light reached Han Gucheng, however, he found himself slowing down.


    "What did you do to me? Why can''t I move properly?" Han Gucheng cried out in shock. He retreated quickly.


    Once Han Gucheng distanced himself, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon didn''t give chase. Rather, it focused on the remaining snow giants and devoured them one by one.


    "What is this thing? Xiao Nanfeng, why is your spiritual moon so different from mine?" Han Gucheng eximed.


    Before long, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon consumed all the snow giants.


    It turned its attention back to Han Gucheng. Its voice broke the silence, raspy and hoarse from disuse. It was neither distinctly masculine nor feminine, but brimmed with malicious glee. "Now, it''s your turn. Han Gucheng is your name, isn''t it? Thank you for freeing my cursed spiritual avatar from the primordial altar, haha!"


    Both Xiao Nanfeng and Han Gucheng''s eyes widened as they realized his spiritual moon''s identity.


    "I exchanged for the Superior''s cursed spiritual avatar and cleansed spirit from the primordial altar. Could you be... the Superior in truth?!"


    "Now, return my cursed spiritual avatar and spirit to me!" Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon continued to fly toward Han Gucheng.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Impossible. The Superior was sacrificed! Shouldn''t you be in the primordial altar? How did you manage to escape? This is impossible!" Han Gucheng shrieked.


    "It was very annoying, but that doesn''t mean I couldn''t escape," the spiritual moon hissed.


    "No cursed effigy has ever escaped from the primordial altar, none! You can''t possibly have done it!" Han Gucheng screamed, his fear palpable.


    "I''m not like the other cursed kings," the spiritual moon dered ominously, its aura growing ever more oppressive.

 Chapter 875: Dont Copy Me

    <h4>Chapter 875: Don''t Copy Me</h4>


    Not far away, Xiao Nanfeng''s pupils constricted as well.


    He had always known that his spiritual moon could produce sound. Its ability to manipte vibrations in air and create voices wasn''t surprising. In the past, it simply hadn''t bothered to do so.


    What he didn''t expect was that the entity controlling his spiritual moon, the superior yin pearl, was actually the Superior himself!


    And it had even allegedly crawled its way out of the primordial altar.


    What cursed effigy that had been sacrificed to the primordial altar would have been able to escape on its own? Xiao Nanfeng had previously discussed this with Yu Fuli, who had insisted that such a feat was impossible. Even so, the Superior had done it. Just what kind of existence was he?


    "No! Stay back!" Han Gucheng shouted in terror.


    He swung his fist, unleashing a violent snowstorm, but the storm disintegrated the moment it was illuminated by the spiritual moon''s white glow.


    "This is the Superior''s killing domain that I forged myself in the past. Do you really think you can hurt me with something that belongs to me?" the Superior demanded hoarsely.


    "Impossible! No!" Han Gucheng shouted in panic.


    He attempted to escape from the domain, but was unable to find an exit at all.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon loomed ever closer. Suddenly, his entire body shook as he roared, "No, my malicious body! Saint Lun Hui just killed it!"


    His despair was exacerbated as he continued to run from Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon. Fortunately, he was far faster than it was.


    Suddenly, a figure appeared before him and punched forward. "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    "Scram!" Han Gucheng shouted, defending with a fist of his own.


    The two cultivators'' fists met in an incredible explosion. They seemed evenly matched¡ªbut the next moment, Han Gucheng''s eyes widened in despair. Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon had managed to catch up during the momentary sh.


    "No!" Han Gucheng screamed.


    The moon''s white light engulfed him. His movements slowed, then froze entirely.


    "Get away from me!" Han Gucheng cried out in despair.


    "I''m merely reiming what''s mine. If anyone should leave, it''s you," Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon said coldly.


    With that, the moon mmed into Han Gucheng, sending him flying. As he tumbled through the air, he felt an unsettling lightness.


    He looked down, his expression twisting in horror. His cursed effigy body was still on the ground. He was nothing more than a translucent blue-white soul.


    Back on the ground, Han Gucheng''s cursed effigy body gradually transformed into a glowing white sphere that floated in the air. It wasn''t Han Gucheng''s physical body at all, but rather the Superior''s cursed spiritual avatar, now restored.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon had forcibly expelled Han Gucheng''s soul from his cursed spiritual avatar, severing his control over it.


    "No, that''s mine! Give it back!" Han Gucheng wailed.


    Xiao Nanfeng appeared beside the disembodied soul. "Stop struggling, Han Gucheng. You''ve lost."


    Han Gucheng froze. Xiao Nanfeng''s words struck him like a thunderp. For a while, he simply stood there dazed.


    He nced as Xiao Nanfeng''s spiritual moon devoured his body and suddenly began tough. "I schemed for so long, nned so much¡ªwas it all for nothing? Haha, haha!"


    Han Guchengughed maniacally, as if the truth had overwhelmed him.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t approach him any further. He silently observed his defeated opponent. Without his cursed spiritual avatar, Han Gucheng wouldn''t be able tost long in his current state.


    "All gone? Is it all gone? No, it''s all mine! I survived the cmity of the era! In this era, I''ll be the hegemon, the new Heavenly Emperor! Heavenly Emperor Han Gucheng!


    "I sacrificed countless treasures to bring back Bing''er, Qing''er, and the rest of you! You''re all back! My empresses, my crown prince¡ªthis world belongs to us, to us!"


    Han Guchengughed madly.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng began to frown. How could Han Gucheng be so weak mentally? It didn''t make sense.


    Perhaps this was something that had happened because he had sacrificed his wives and son for nothing. The loss of his cursed effigy had been a crippling blow to his psyche. One moment, heughed; the next, he cried.


    "Don''t go. Don''t leave me, no!"


    @@novelbin@@


    "Qing''er, today''s the day of our marriage. You really are beautiful."


    "I have a son now, haha! Your name will be Han Bing. My dear Bing''er!"


    "Senior Sister, thank you for supporting me time and time again. I''ll definitely be good to you in the future."


    "Junior Sister, if you keep making fun of me, I won''t hold back either, haha!"


    Han Gucheng rambled incoherently, lost in the memories of his loved ones. He was a triumphant ruler, then a grieving husband, a doting father, and a lovestruck youth.


    He seemed to have forgotten his current circumstances. All he could recall was the past.


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but sigh upon witnessing Han Gucheng''s current state.


    He had been a formidable adversary, establishing four divine empires, scheming against saints, and wielding immense power. Despite sacrificing his family, he had once deeply loved them. Without genuine love, the sacrifice would hardly have worked, after all.


    But his selfishness, arrogance, insecurity, and extremism had left him a dangerous but pitiable figure, a paradoxical man.


    This sort of opponent was particrly dangerous. Even Xiao Nanfeng had to dedicate a significant fraction of his resources entirely to Han Gucheng.


    Eventually, Han Gucheng''s translucent form began to fade. The remnants of his truesoul started to scatter. It was only then that Han Gucheng''s lucidity returned to him.


    He awoke from his madness and turned to Xiao Nanfeng, not far away.


    He smiled wryly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, I''ve lost," Han Gucheng said bitterly. "It''s your victory."


    "I was merely lucky," Xiao Nanfeng replied, exhaling deeply.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed. Without Madam Rouge, Liu Miaoyin, and his spiritual moon''s assistance, how could he have finished off Han Gucheng so quickly?


    Han Gucheng shook his head and began tough at himself. "It wasn''t luck. I lost the moment I sacrificed my family."


    "You..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I forgot the original reason I embarked on cultivation. I abandoned what mattered most to me. The moment I gave up the foundation of my happiness, I was doomed. I promised Qing''er and the others that we''d stay together forever. I swore I''d never leave them¡ªbut I failed them. I thought I could control everything, but I let true happiness slip through my fingers." Tears streamed from Han Gucheng''s eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed.


    He didn''t share his own thoughts. He merely eyed his opponent and listened intently to his words, showing him ast measure of respect before his death.


    "Cherish what you have, Xiao Nanfeng. Only that which is real and in your grasp matters. Everything else is but an illusion," Han Gucheng murmured. "Don''t copy me."


    His truesoul slowly dissipated.


    Four blurry figures appeared, his greatest obsessions: his wives and children.


    Laughter echoed faintly.


    "I''ll be a great Immortal Emperor in the future like Father!"


    "You''ve returned, Husband!"


    "Little Han,e rub my shoulders."


    "Senior Brother, give me a hug!"


    The four illusions surrounded Han Gucheng''s fading form. With tears in his eyes, he nced at his wives and children, his loving family.


    He reached out to the illusions in a deep, heartfelt embrace. Then, his soul scattered entirely.


    As he watched Han Gucheng vanish, Xiao Nanfeng stood in silence for a long moment before sighing deeply.


    Then, he took a deep breath and turned to his spiritual moon, which had fully absorbed the Superior''s cursed effigy and now radiated a brilliant white light. An endless expanse of snow swirled around it.


    Xiao Nanfeng patiently waited for the snow to stop.


    "Senior Superior, since you''ve managed to reim your cursed spiritual avatar, you''re able to leave my spiritual moon now, aren''t you?"


    The Superior still seemed to be attuning to his cursed spiritual avatar, which he had just absorbed. After a long moment of silence, he said hoarsely, "Does it make you ufortable for me to remain in your spiritual moon?"


    "What do you mean, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, puzzled.


    The moon paused before replying, "Do you know why you''ve been able toprehend all this scripture and all these spiritual techniques so effortlessly?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "It was because of the superior yin pearl that Zhang Lingjun brought out of the green knoll hidden realm¡ªbecause of you, in other words."


    "Indeed. When I discovered that you also cultivated Body of Yin, I decided to assist you. All my cursed spiritual power was with the primordial altar, and I was extremely weak when I escaped, but I still had some heart force avable to me. That was how you managed to grow stronger so quickly."


    "Heart force? No wonder. Thank you for your assistance, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng immediately bowed.


    That exined it all. Only a mid-stage orte-stage Boundless Immortal was able to cultivate the heart. For someone like the Superior to assist a newbie like him in understanding basic scripture and cultivation was trivial.


    "Do you still intend to chase me out?" the Superior asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng blinked. What sort of logic was this? Didn''t the Superior want to leave his spiritual moon?

 Chapter 876: Suppressing Evil

    <h4>Chapter 876: Suppressing Evil</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng found himself momentarily confused by the Superior''s logic. "Senior, I don''t intend to chase you away, but you''ve already reimed your cursed spiritual avatar, and your current strength must be immense. Why would you still remain hidden within my spiritual moon?"


    After a moment of silence, the Superior replied, "I''m not hiding here. I''m helping you suppress the evil within it¡ªotherwise, you would long since have changed."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    "Why did Han Gucheng sacrifice his wives and children? It''s because he cultivated Body of Yin. The technique didn''t devour him entirely, but it changed his character. No matter how much he loved his family, his ambition ultimately caused him to sacrifice them. Do you want to end up like him?" the Superior asked.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Change my character?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "There are many cultivators who have cultivated Body of Yin, but none have met a good end. Why do you think all three Qing Grandmasters avoided the technique and opted to create their own derivative techniques instead? Why did Yu Fuli not practice it himself? Do you really think you can bear the evil thates with this technique?"


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    "If I hadn''t suppressed this evil, you would long since have changed," the Superior said inly.


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew somber. He now understood why even extraordinary figures like Yu Fuli and the three Qing Grandmasters had avoided the Body of Yin. If the Superior had been helping him suppress its dark side all this time, then it had to be as dangerous as imed.


    "May I ask what your goal is, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, taking a deep breath.


    He didn''t believe that the Superior would assist him selflessly without any ulterior motive in mind.


    "I''ll help you suppress the evil in the technique. In return, you''ll conceal my existence. I don''t wish for my identity to be revealed at this point in time."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. The Superior had to be avoiding his enemies¡ªbut who? The most likely candidates were the three Qing Grandmasters.


    "Senior, I''m the Taiqing sect master, and I may attract the Taiqing Grandmaster''s attention in the future. Will you be discovered if you remain hidden in my spiritual moon?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in worry.


    "It doesn''t matter," the Superior replied.


    "Very well. So be it, then," Xiao Nanfeng said wryly.


    Given the Superior''s position, Xiao Nanfeng could hardly refuse. Of course, it wasn''t as if he could. The Superior could easily remain within his spiritual moon with or without his permission.


    "Good," the Superior replied.


    "Senior, what exactly is the evil that lies hidden within the Body of Yin? Could you give me a few pointers?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s not yet time for you to know," the Superior replied curtly.


    With that, the Superior''s killing domain copsed. Xiao Nanfeng found himself back in the skies above Yongding. His spiritual moon returned to his mindscape and disappeared within.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t help but feel unsettled. It was hard for him to shake the fear that the Superior might be scheming against him in secret.


    At that moment, Ye Sanshui flew over with a group of officials, worry evident on his face. "Your Majesty, what happened to Han Gucheng?"


    Xiao Nanfeng returned to his senses and surveyed the group. "No need to worry. Han Gucheng is dead."


    "Long live His Majesty!" the officials chorused in joy.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and dered, "Thank you, everyone, for lending me your strength. The invaders have been eradicated, and peace has returned to Dazheng."


    With that, the fortune within Xiao Nanfeng''s body returned to the sea of fortune high overhead. A dragon''s roar reverberated through the heavens, broadcasting his voice to all citizens.


    Cheers erupted throughout thend.


    "Ye Sanshui, head to Shenfeng''s capital immediately and help the Demon Child take down any remaining attackers," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.


    Ye Sanshui flew toward Shenfeng''s capital as quickly as he could.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng returned to the imperial pce. Ye Sanshui and others had taken down the rest of Han Gucheng''s subordinates almost immediately after Xiao Nanfeng had entered the Superior''s killing domain.


    Outside Shenfeng''s capital, the assassins from Snowborneunched a fierce assault on Shenfeng''s imperial pce, but ultimately failed. The shadow cursed effigies disyed terrifying power and eliminated all the attackers.


    Only the deputy head of Snowborne remained, engaged in a fierce battle with the Demon Child in the sky.


    Because of the shadow cursed effigies'' terrifying prowess and suppression, the deputy head of Snowborne had no idea that the rest of the assault force had fallen.


    Before long, Ye Sanshui arrived as well.


    "Ye Sanshui? What are you doing here?" the Demon Child eximed.


    "His Majesty had mee help you."


    "There''s no need. This guy isn''t even on my level. With my growing mastery of my green lotus, taking him down will be a piece of cake," the Demon Child boasted,ughing.


    Ye Sanshui rolled his eyes and charged forward.


    The deputy head of Snowborne''s eyes widened as he caught sight of Ye Sanshui. "Ye Sanshui? Shouldn''t you be at Yongding? What are you doing here?"


    Ye Sanshui shed before him and punched forward, shocking the deputy head.


    "No!"


    The deputy head was sent flying, blood spurting from his mouth.


    He stared at Ye Sanshui in disbelief. "How could you be so strong?"


    "Han Gucheng is dead. If you surrender now, you may live. Otherwise, you''ll die," Ye Sanshui said coolly.


    "Impossible! The head of Snowborne would never lose!" the deputy head shouted.


    He suddenly turned to see that the other assassins had long since been eliminated. His face paled as he tried to flee.


    "Do you think you''ll be able to escape?" Ye Sanshui demanded.


    In a sh, he appeared before the deputy head and attacked with another devastating punch. The deputy head fell to the ground, forming a massive pit where hey.


    With a roar, the deputy head transformed into a giant white bear spirit and charged at Ye Sanshui.


    "Stubborn fool¡ªdie!" Ye Sanshui roared.


    He broke the bear spirit''s right arm, sending blood flying. The bear spirit copsed into another crater.


    "Die!" the Demon Child shouted.


    He transformed into a massive green sword that descended from the heavens and skewered the bear spirit''s head.


    "No!" Ye Sanshui shouted.


    The bear spirit''s head exploded, causing blood and brains to stter everywhere. The spirit died in a gruesome manner.


    "Haha, Ye Sanshui, I killed that bear spirit!" the Demon Child said smugly.


    Ye Sanshui sighed in frustration as he inspected the spirit''s body to confirm that it was truly dead. The Demon Child had even shattered its soul. He grimaced. "Who told you to kill it?"


    "Didn''t you say to do so? You said, ''Stubborn fool¡ªdie!''"


    "That was just rhetoric! I wasying the groundwork for capturing it alive. It was a Boundless Immortal. If we could have convinced it to switch allegiance..." Ye Sanshui murmured.


    "You should have made things clearer, then!" the Demon Child eximed.


    "Shouldn''t it have been obvious?" Ye Sanshui sighed. Seeing that the Demon Child looked angry, he consoled him. "Forget it. We''ll just make a pill out of it."


    "Next time, be clearer! I don''t want to be at fault," the Demon Child snapped.


    Ye Sanshui sighed in exasperation. "Fine, fine. I should have been clearer."


    Then, he stored the bear spirit''s carcass and left.


    Peace returned to Shenfeng''s capital.


    Over the Northern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng''s group split up from Yang Chuan.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar and Liu Miaoyin were standing in the sky, ncing at a vast stretch of empty sea in the distance.


    "Why have we stopped here?" Liu Miaoyin asked.


    "This used to be the entrance to the green knoll hidden realm, but it''s gone now," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Liu Miaoyin extended a hand, releasing a beam of ck light that scanned the area. After a moment, the light returned to her hand and formed the image of a ck lotus.


    "The green knoll hidden realm is gone," Liu Miaoyin said.


    "Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng didn''t quite understand.


    "Remember how Yu Fuli had you evacuate everyone from the hidden realm? Did you leave anyone behind?" Liu Miaoyin asked.


    "No, I wouldn''t ignore such a clear directive."


    "Good. If I''m not mistaken, Yu Fuli must have sacrificed the entire hidden realm."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "You can even sacrifice a hidden realm?"


    "All things in the world can be sacrificed."


    "The primordial altar truly is extraordinary..."


    "As for whether other things were sacrificed as well, I can''t say. At his level, anything Yu Fuli''s trying to obtain must be monumental," Liu Miaoyin said.


    "But if the green knoll hidden realm is gone, what about the primordial altar? Is it still in the vicinity?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    This was the reason he had lingered in this location. The mysterious nature of the primordial altar deeply intrigued him.


    "It''s likely gone as well. The primordial altar has likely moved on," Liu Miaoyin replied.


    "Moved on? What do you mean?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.


    "The primordial altar is extremely peculiar. It doesn''t remain in one ce for long. Once it''s been used for multiple sacrifices, it relocates, leaving its original location and appearing in another part of the world. No one can trace where it''ll head to next, nor how it gets there," Liu Miaoyin exined.


    "Is that so? Could the primordial altar be alive? Does it possess its own will?"


    Liu Miaoyin furrowed her brows in thought. "Perhaps, but it doesn''t entirely seem that way. Regardless, it''s extraordinarily unique. I can''t say for sure."


    After pondering matters for a moment, Xiao Nanfeng said, "Well, if the primordial altar is indeed gone, there''s no point in staying here any longer. I''ll leave some people behind to monitor this area for a while, just in case. For now, let''s move on."


    "Very well." Liu Miaoyin agreed with a nod.

 Chapter 877: The Divine Empire of Dajing

    <h4>Chapter 877: The Divine Empire of Dajing</h4>


    By the time Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin rushed over to Dajing''s capital, the battle outside the city had already ended.


    Those who had been lured by Han Gucheng''s bounty of a hundred Immortal cities were no match for the golden cultivators, and they were subdued rapidly.


    As Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyinnded in the pce square, the captured individuals let out expressions of regret.


    "Emperor Liu, Emperor Xiao, we were deceived by Han Gucheng''s schemes. Please, we beg for your forgiveness. We''re willing to offerpensation," a panicking emperor pleaded.


    Upon seeing Liu Miaoyin and Xiao Nanfeng return, they realized that Han Gucheng had undoubtedly been defeated. Naturally, they began begging for mercy desperately.


    "Take them away and imprison them," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others replied.


    The captured emperors were all led away.


    "Are we going to deal with them?" Liu Miaoyin asked.


    "Not at the moment. We''ll keep them imprisoned here, which gives us leverage. Their respective forces will hesitate to act recklessly. While we could eliminate these forces outright, we''ll need some time to digest the divine empire of Dahan first. Excessive expansion is unwise at this point."


    Liu Miaoyin nodded in agreement.


    "For the moment, let''s advance Dajing to a divine empire. Once that happens, gathering fortune will be much easier," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "This quickly?" Liu Miaoyin eximed.


    "The cmity of the era draws near. We can''t afford to waste a single day," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood," Liu Miaoyin agreed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was particrly efficient. In just three days, he had prepared everything necessary for the ceremony.


    Three dayster, Liu Miaoyin formally offered sacrifices to heaven and earth to elevate the empire into a divine empire.


    With a resounding roar, a majestic golden dragon of fate formed in the clouds above Dajing''s capital.


    Standing on the altar, Liu Miaoyin held her imperial seal with one hand and Dajing''s code ofws in the other. She loudly proimed, "Citizens of Dajing, from this moment forth, the empire of Dajing has been elevated to the divine empire of Dajing!"


    The golden dragon carried Liu Miaoyin''s promation across all of Dajing.


    "Long live the Divine Emperor!"


    "Long live the divine empire of Dajing!"


    Cheers erupted from countless officials and citizens.


    The officials of Dajing were a mixed group. Many had defected from Dahan. While they had pledged loyalty to Dajing, their allegiance remained somewhat tenuous.


    Of course, Dajing also included many officials nted by Xiao Nanfeng, many of whom were schrs and administrators that Wen Zhong had trained himself. They had entered Dajing under assumed identities and were deeply impressed by Xiao Nanfeng.


    They knew that Xiao Nanfeng was extraordinary, but not to such an extent. Despite the fact that Dazheng wasn''t yet a divine empire, it now controlled one in secret. To them, the future looked brighter than ever.


    Even so, this wasn''t enough. Following Xiao Nanfeng''s instructions, Liu Miaoyin established the first imperial examination for Dajing to recruit fresh talent and breathe new life into its administration.


    Considering the fact that Liu Miaoyin was preparing to attune to the charm of heavenlyw and would need to remain in secluded cultivation for an extended period of time, Xiao Nanfeng suggested restructuring the court into a cab. Naturally, the cab members would be individuals appointed by Xiao Nanfeng.


    With the cab handling the empire''s affairs, the Immortal Emperor''s prolonged absence from court wouldn''t disrupt governance.


    Everything proceeded as nned. The surrounding powers, wary of Dajing''s growing strength, refrained from causing trouble.


    A monthter, following the first round of imperial examinations, Dajing entered a period of stable development.


    Liu Miaoyin retreated into secluded cultivation to refine the charm of heavenlyw and further elevate her cultivation.


    Xiao Nanfeng, having made extensive arrangements in the meantime, left Dajing as well.


    He had Tu Feng stay to guard Dajing''s capital, and arranged for arge cadre of civil and military officials, as well as spectral guards, to report on the situation if anything were to happen.


    He returned to Yongding and began to prepare for Dazheng''s ascension into a divine empire itself.


    A monthter, the heavens suddenly reverberated with the tolling of bells. The sound resonated across the world atrge.


    The solemn tolling drew everyone''s attention.


    "Your Majesty, these bells are tolling across all four continents. The Heavenly Emperor is convening a grand assembly. All court officials are being summoned to the Imperial Court," Ye Dafu reported.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "A grand assembly? Is it... here?"


    "Is what here?"


    "Send orders to all Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant: drop everything at hand and rush back to the Imperial Court for the assembly immediately. All those who defy these orders will be killed."


    "Understood!"


    He immediately ryed Xiao Nanfeng''s orders, then apanied Xiao Nanfeng as they rushed toward the Sieve of Heaven.


    Powerful individuals around the world shared collective unease about what was toe.


    Though the Imperial Court held many assemblies, these bells had only tolled once before, when Yu Fuli first established the Imperial Court. The fact that they were tolling again meant that something monumental was about to happen.


    The key officials of the Imperial Court dropped all their duties at once and returned to the Sieve of Heaven.


    Emperors, hierarchs, and leaders of various forces around the world suddenly felt an ominous premonition.


    The timing was obvious: the cmity of the era was drawing near. While it didn''t always ur precisely at the ten-thousand-year mark, it was never far off.


    Could the Heavenly Emperor''s summons mean that the cmity had finally descended?


    Xiao Nanfeng and his Martial Aspects quickly arrived at the Sieve of Heaven.


    The atmosphere was particrly tense. Fear and uncertainty permeated the air.


    An official greeted them and reported, "Martial Aspect Xiao, the Heavenly Emperor has decreed that the grand assembly will convene in three days'' time."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He rushed toward the Hall of Martial Aspects, where Yang Chuan and the other two Cardinal Aspects were already present.


    "You''rete, Eastern Aspect Xiao," one Cardinal Aspect teased.


    Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow. "I apologize. My speed is limited by my cultivation."


    "You''re hardlyte by much. We''re allrades here, so there''s no need to be so formal," Yang Chuan chimed in.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded and said, "Cardinal Aspects, I''d like to propose issuing a Martial Aspect decree. Would you all assist me?"


    "Oh?" The three Cardinal Aspects looked intrigued.


    "The grand assembly will ur in three days'' time. Within that period, no one in the Sieve of Heaven is to cause conflict with others. Those who do so and distract the Heavenly Emperor shall be executed," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    The other cardinal aspects exchanged solemn looks. Xiao Nanfeng was worried that someone would ruin the Heavenly Emperor''s mood and thereby weaken his strength.


    "Agreed," they said in unison.


    Thus, the Hall of Martial Aspects issued a promation within the Sieve of Heaven for the first time.


    Many officials frowned upon seeing the promation, believing that the Hall of Martial Aspects was overreaching, but no one made an attempt to stop it. After all, they all understood the intent behind the promation, and many officials issued simr promations within their departments.


    As a result, there was hardly anymotion within the Sieve of Heaven during the next three days.


    Three dayster, the assembly began in earnest.


    On the third day, even before dawn, the Heavenly Pce was already filled with officials. For the first time, Xiao Nanfeng saw the crown prince, the Four Great Emperors, and countless celestial officials. He found himself pushed further back in the ranks, though he didn''t mind¡ªthe protagonist that day had to be none other than Yu Fuli.


    Everyone waited in silence. Not a single voice disturbed the sacred stillness.


    At the appointed hour, Yu Fuli entered the hall, d in white draconic robes lined with gold, a crown of white jade on his head. He radiated an air of regal authority.


    "Everyone''s early, I see," Yu Fuli said with a smile as he strode into the pce.


    "We greet the Heavenly Emperor! Long live the Heavenly Emperor!" the officials chorused, bowing deeply.


    Rxed andposed, Yu Fuli walked up to his throne and took his seat.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Rise, everyone," Yu Fulimanded.


    "Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!" Everyone stood up.


    Yu Fuli surveyed the gathering.


    "It''s been nearly ten thousand years. Some of you have stood here from the very beginning, while others havee and gone. Time truly changes all things," he mused.


    The officials listened quietly.


    "Today, I''ve gathered all of you here not just to see you but also to issue some important instructions."


    "We await yourmands, Your Majesty," the officials replied.


    "I expect that, in ten days, the heavens will descend," Yu Fuli said, smiling.


    The pce fell silent. Everyone looked up at Yu Fuli. Although many had expected this, hearing the exact timeframe sent a shiver through them. A heavy sense of urgency filled the gathering.


    "You all know the heavens'' intent. Precedent tells us that they will seize the world''s fortunes, then reap the lives of Immortal cultivators and ordinary mortals. At most, it''ll leave one person alive in ten thousand to seed the next era. In another ten thousand years, it will revisit the world." Yu Fuli smiled.


    The cultivators grimaced.


    "However, I have prepared for ten thousand years to ensure that the heavens will not seed so easily."


    "The Heavenly Emperor is invincible!" an official shouted.


    A chorus of voices echoed the sentiment.


    Yu Fuli smiled. "Indeed, I am invincible. When the heavens arrive, they shall not leave unscathed."


    The officials nodded earnestly. Yu Fuli was about to engage in the fight of his life, and he had to firm up his belief in his legend, in the impossibility of his defeat. No official dared to voice anything to the contrary.


    "In ten days, I shall confront the heavens. I will require the aid of fortune and imperial might from emperors and Immortal Emperors all across the world. The relevant officials will handle the notifications," Yu Fuli instructed.


    "Understood!" the relevant officials responded.


    "Additionally, the battle with the heavens will cause significant upheaval in the Sieve of Heaven. None of you will be able to withstand the fallout. All of you must evacuate within ten days as well," Yu Fuli ordered.


    The officials'' eyes widened. Was the Heavenly Emperor intending to face the heavens alone, without any assistance?


    "Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

 Chapter 879: Yu Fuli Takes On the Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 879: Yu Fuli Takes On the Heavens</h4>


    In Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng stood at the entrance of Xuanhuang Hall as he watched his officials being forced to their knees by the oppressive pressure. His heart shook.


    Nearby, Wen Zhong reported, "Your Majesty, thetest reports confirm that this phenomenon is urring everywhere. Across the world countless people have been suppressed by the heavens'' aura and are being forced to kneel. The heavens'' mere presence nkets the entire world.


    "This oppressive force is truly unbearable," Xiao Nanfeng said grimly.


    He had long known that the heavens were powerful, but he hadn''t expected that its strength would be so overwhelming. The whole world seemed to be entirely enveloped in the heavens'' aura. Just how strong were the heavens?


    Everyone waited in silence.


    Above, dark clouds churned and blotted out the sky. Then, as if a massive entity were approaching, the clouds trembled and parted slightly, allowing faint beams of sunlight to shine through. At their center, turbulence intensified until a massive face emerged.


    "Your Majesty, reports areing in from the south. A face has emerged in the clouds."


    "A face has emerged in the clouds in the west."


    "A face has emerged in the clouds in the north."


    Informants ryed thetest information throughout the world.


    "A face sorge it can be seen across the entire world? How is this possible?" Wen Zhong eximed.


    The reports confirmed that it was the same face that was visible everywhere¡ªbut how could it be sorge that it could be seen throughout the world? It defied reason.


    "This must be the face of the heavens¡ªor perhaps one of their eid. It all makes sense if the face is asrge as our world itself.


    "A face the size of the world? How can that be?" Wen Zhong eximed in astonishment.


    "Anything is possible," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    He thought back to an old film he had seen on Earth, where a colossal Buddha''s hand, asrge as the Earth itself, had descended from space to suppress everything.


    Now, before his eyes, a simr horror was manifesting¡ªa face of unimaginable size.


    "The heavens are truly terrifying," Wen Zhong murmured, shaken.


    "This face is unsettling, isn''t it?" Zheng Qian added, his expression grim.


    The face in the sky was that of a middle-aged man with his eyes shut. It was pale and lifeless, resembling a corpse painted with mortuary makeup.


    "Close your eyes and try to recall its features," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    The officials obeyed, closing their eyes briefly before opening them again in shock and confusion.


    "I can''t remember it at all. The moment I closed my eyes, I wasn''t able to recall what it looked like," Wen Zhong eximed.


    "Same here," Zheng Qian said.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew tense. Not only was the face of the heavens horrifying, it also possessed a deeply unsettling effect.


    At that moment, Yu Fuli''s voice echoed through the void. "Still that same lifeless face? Can''t you change it up a little for variety?"


    Across the world, people were startled. They quickly realized that this was Yu Fuli, standing in the Sieve of Heaven, confronting the heavens themselves. He had transmitted his voice across the entire world so that everyone could witness the celestial showdown.


    All eyes turned skyward.


    Suddenly, the massive face in the clouds emitted a sharp, piercing tone that sent shivers down the spines of all who heard him.


    "Yuqing Grandmaster, to think you weren''t dead... And that you''ve managed to secure a second life for yourself."


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster?" Countless cultivators across the world widened their eyes.


    This was clearly Yu Fuli. How had he be the Yuqing Grandmaster? Were the heavens unable to identify Yu Fuli because the face hadn''t opened its eyes?


    Those with greater insight understood that the heavens would never make such an elementary mistake.


    In that case, was Yu Fuli the Yuqing Grandmaster? The seconding of the Yuqing Grandmaster, in fact?


    Yu Fuliughed. His voice once again echoed through the void. "I am the current Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli, not the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "And are you not the same man? No matter. In the end, both of you will die," the heavens'' shrill voice replied.


    "Enough talk. If you want to fight,e at me," Yu Fuli dered without any hesitation.


    "You''re bolder than the Yuqing Grandmaster was. Very well. A dying man has nothing to lose. Let''s see how strong the hegemon of this era is."


    The massive eyes of the face of the heavens began to open wide.


    The aura it exuded multiplied tenfold, sending shockwaves throughout the world. Countless cultivators were forced to their knees under its oppressive weight.


    Several cultivators who had been able to resist the incredible pressure back in Xuanhuang Hall were now brought to their knees. Even Immortals, regardless of rank, bowed under the immense pressure. True Immortals and Golden Immortals alike fell one after another. Only Xiao Nanfeng remained standing, though his expression was grim.


    The oppressive force bore down on him, threatening to bring him to his knees. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth against the overwhelming power. The gap between him and the heavens was staggering¡ªjust the heavens'' gaze alone left him feeling powerless. How could anyone possibly stand against such an entity?


    The heavens'' massive eyes were eerie and blood-red. Its gaze was grotesque, like that of twin rivers of blood flowing endlessly.


    "What kind of eyes are these? They''re bleeding out! It''s horrifying!" Many people cried out in terror.


    Those who looked into the eyes of the heavens were overwhelmed by a terrifying vision. They saw an apocalyptic world in which blood rained from the skies, submerging the world in a crimson tide that consumed everything.


    "Blood, so much blood! Save me!" countless people screamed in despair.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw the same apocalyptic scene, but the golden tree within his heart radiated a protective golden light, shielding him from the illusion. He snapped out of it and looked around, realizing that the visions of blood and destruction had vanished. All that remained was the massive face and its bleeding eyes.


    He marveled at the heavens'' strength once again.


    Suddenly, a massive purple moon appeared in the sky, its light illuminating the world. Suspended amidst the dark clouds, it formed a counterpart with the heavens'' face.


    With a hum, the purple moon produced countless beams of purple light, bathing the world in its glow. Those cultivators illuminated by the light jolted awake as the visions of blood vanished.


    "Using your eyes of blood to draw fear from the world and convert it into heart force to use against me? It''s the same old tricks. You used this ten thousand years ago, too. Don''t you have anything new?" Yu Fuli mocked.


    The heavens'' blood-red eyes fixated on the purple moon. "The Yuqing purple moon¡ªand you im you''re not the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "I''ve told you, I''m not. From the looks of it, though, it doesn''t seem like you can see through me," Yu Fuli said, smiling.


    "Is that so? Let''s test the im," the heavens said coldly. The heavens'' voice was as shrill and sharp as ever.


    It suddenly turned its blood-red gaze fully upon the purple moon as it emitted a beam of crimson light.


    @@novelbin@@


    The purple moon trembled under the assault, but held firm. Suddenly, it split open to reveal a massive, white pupil at its center, exuding an unsettling energy that made the onlookers'' hearts quiver.


    The white pupil unleashed a beam of blinding white light that met the heavens'' gaze head-on. The sh between their powers sent ripples across the void.


    "Interesting," the heavens said.


    The next moment, two beams of blood-red light shot out of the heavens'' eyes and toward the purple moon.


    Yu Fuli''s purple moon retaliated in kind, sending a beam of white light out of his moon''s singr eye. It deflected one of the beams of red light, but the other beam seemed poised tond.


    The purple moon bobbed and wove to dodge the attack. The other beam of red light shot toward the ground.


    A rumble seemed toe from somewhere to the east, causing the beam of red light to change its orientation. It shot back up toward the purple moon.


    The purple moon swerved again. A pir of white light emerged from the pupil and shed against the blood-red light.


    Where the two beams of light met, instead of a massive disturbance in the void, the light simply seemed to dissipate.


    All eyes were on the confrontation in the heavens. The standoff appeared deceptively subdued until shocking news began to spread across thend One spectral guard began, "Your Majesty, just now, when that blood-red beam of light struck the ground, it carved out a huge furrow that obliterated an entire Immortal city in the process."


    "An Immortal city?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. It was about the size of Yongding. Everyone in the city perished, and the city itself was reduced to an immense abyss. Fortunately, some of our people stationed outside the city managed to survive," the spectral guard exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Elsewhere, the strongest cultivators in the world also received the news.


    Only then did they fully grasp the terrifying magnitude of the heavens'' power. The obliteration of an entire Immortal city was merely coteral damage from a stray attack. Even so, Yu Fuli had managed to block the heavens'' onught. Across the world, hearts were gripped with awe and hope. All silently prayed for Yu Fuli''s sess.


    "You''ve studied my blood eyes, have you? You must surely have done the same with my hand," the heavens'' sharp voice rang out once more.


    The clouds above churned violently. From their depths emerged a pale, colossal hand.


    As the giant hand descended, it brought forth a tempest that swept across the entire world.


    "A Heaven''s Hand?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    He had witnessed these Heaven''s Hands before in the past, but never anything this powerful nor this immense. It seemed as if it could be seen across the entire world.

 Chapter 881: Slaying the Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 881: ying the Heavens</h4>


    Yu Fuli''s triumphantughter reverberated across the world, stirring up indescribable fervor within every living soul.


    "Yu Fuli pinpointed the heavens'' main body? Was his earlier show of weakness merely a ploy? Excellent strategy," the Superior murmured.


    More and more heart specters continued to surge into the Sieve of Heaven, but everyone now knew that they were unable to do anything against him.


    Indeed, golden light burst forth from the Sieve of Heaven with a thunderous roar. The iing heart specters were repelled by the light and scattered in all directions. Golden brilliance burned through them, reducing many to ashes amidst agonized wails.


    "Wonderful!" shouted countless spectators, exhrated by Yu Fuli''s reserves of strength.


    They were overwhelmed by his sudden victories.


    At that moment, a new celestial body emerged from the Sieve of Heaven, a zing radiant sun. It shone with blinding light as it incinerated the remaining heart specters with its fiery rays.


    "What''s this moonlight? No, this is sunlight! What sort of technique is this?" The heavens'' voice carried an uncharacteristic note of surprise.


    The radiant sun ascended alongside the violet moon. Theirbined light radiated across earth and sky alike, reigniting hope in the hearts of all.


    Yu Fuli''s voice rang out once again. "Rulers and Immortal Emperors, hear my decree! Lend me all the fortune your empires possess!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    In Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar proimed, "Let the fortune of Dazheng be given to the Imperial Court for the Heavenly Emperor''s use!"


    In Shenfeng''s capital, the Divine Emperor proimed, "Let the fortune of Shenfeng be given to the Imperial Court for the Heavenly Emperor''s use!"


    In Dajing''s capital, Liu Miaoyin proimed, "Let the fortune of Dajing be given to the Imperial Court for the Heavenly Emperor''s use!"


    Simr pronouncements echoed across the world. Everyone watched expectantly, hopeful for the Heavenly Emperor''s victory.


    The empires'' fortune surged toward the Imperial Court.


    Before long, the influx wasplete. A deafening dragon''s roar reverberated through the skies.


    "Heavens, you''ve had your turn. Now, it''s mine!" Yu Fuli proimed.


    A powerful wind arose as energy gathered at the Sieve of Heaven from all directions, forming a colossal eidolon so massive it could be seen across the world.


    It was Yu Fuli''s eidolon, an embodiment of his might. The purple moon became its right eye, and the zing sun its left eye.


    The hand of the world became its right hand, and the skeletal hand of his Jade Emperor''s Frame became its left hand.


    Yu Fuli''s eidolon beheld the sun and moon, and its hands took on the very fabric of the heavens. It stood astride earth and sky, radiating an invincible majesty that matched the heavens'' overwhelming presence.


    The heart specters swarmed and wed at Yu Fuli''s eidolon, but were powerless against it.


    "A chaotic body?" the heavens eximed, astonished.


    "Indeed, a chaotic body. On behalf of this realm, I shall reim the dignity of the world, annihte the heavens, and erase the shame of ages past. Now, die!" Yu Fuli roared.


    Yu Fuli''s eidolon shot into the air, its colossal hands forcing the heavens back. With a thunderous crash, it caused countless clouds to dissipate as it forced the heavens'' enormous face back into the void.


    In an instant, Yu Fuli''s eidolon, the heavens'' face, the colossal hands, the heart specters, and the heart swords all vanished.


    The world fell eerily silent, save for the darkened skies that bore witness to the heavens'' invasion.


    "Where did they go?" someone asked, bewildered.


    "Perhaps the Heavenly Emperor forced the heavens'' presence into the void to prevent coteral damage to the world."


    "No, I think the Heavenly Emperor must have found the heavens'' true body and is pursuing it to finish the battle there."


    "Whatever the reason, this battle will decide everything. The Heavenly Emperor will surely emerge victorious!"


    "The Heavenly Emperor will surely emerge victorious!"


    Despite their analyses, there simply was too little information to figure out what was going on.


    All people could do was wait in anticipation.


    Dark clouds covered the sky, luding sight of any celestial battle that might be taking ce. Some cultivators flew into the clouds, only to find a golden membrane that covered the world.


    "The Heavenly Emperor must have left it in ce for the good of the world. Don''t try to break out of it, lest you distract the Heavenly Emperor!" someone shouted.


    Surprisingly enough, that shout spread throughout the world, causing those who attempted to bypass the barrier to stop what they were doing.


    No one dared to distract the Heavenly Emperor. Even if any saints dared to appear now, the whole world would rise up against them.


    Time passed little by little as everyone waited impatiently.


    The waitsted an entire day.


    Then, a beam of golden light pierced through the clouds and descended onto the Sieve of Heaven with a resounding boom.


    "Is that the Heavenly Emperor?" many eximed in shock.


    "To the Sieve of Heaven! Hurry!" someone cried out.


    Countless strong cultivators rushed toward the Sieve of Heaven, eager to discover what had happened.


    Xiao Nanfeng joined them.


    When they arrived, they found the Sieve of Heaven in ruins. Once-majestic floating inds had fallen to pieces, mountains had copsed, rivers had run dry, and thend was fractured.


    Mt. Kunlun was rtively intact, but the Heavenly Pce wasrgely ruined.


    Perhaps this had been caused by the invasion of the heart specters, or because Yu Fuli had extracted all the power from his Sieve of Heaven, leaving it with no reserves of energy.


    Countless cultivators rushed toward the remains of the Heavenly Pce.


    A single golden throne stood intact amidst the wreckage. Seated upon it was Yu Fuli, though his form was faint and ethereal, like a fragile spirit on the verge of vanishing.


    The sight struck fear into the hearts of the assembled warriors. Had he been defeated?


    "We greet the Heavenly Emperor!" the crowd chorused from a distance. Even the most powerful emperors and hierarchs treated Yu Fuli with the utmost respect.


    Yu Fuli was the undisputed hegemon of this era, who had gone against the heavens for the good of the world. The whole world had seen him serve as vanguard against the devastating forces of the heavens.


    Yu Fuli didn''t speak. He nced up at the dark clouds in the sky, a serious look on his face.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood among the crowd, ncing worriedly at Yu Fuli.


    "Senior, how''s the Heavenly Emperor doing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked his spiritual moon.


    The Superior paused for a moment. "He''s dead."


    "What?" Xiao Nanfeng gasped.


    "This is merely a sliver of his truesoul, a fragment of his consciousness that has returned to the world," the Superior said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nched. The weight of this revtion left him reeling.


    Though everyone was confused and concerned about what was going on, no one dared to interrupt Yu Fuli.


    After four hours, as more and more cultivators gathered around the Heavenly Pce, Yu Fuli finally turned to them all.


    He surveyed the gathered cultivators and smiled. "I''m not in the best of shape right now. Who among you can help me amplify my voice to the world? I have something to say."


    "Allow me to help, Your Majesty!"


    "Allow me to help, Your Majesty!"


    Numerous cultivators stepped forward to offer their assistance.


    Yu Fuli nodded, then began, "People of the world, this is Yu Fuli. The battle against the heavens has just ended."


    His voice, carried by a mysterious power facilitated by the supreme cultivators of the world, resounded across the continents.


    All eyes turned to the heavens, filled with a mix of hope and dread.


    @@novelbin@@


    "I bring both good news and bad news."


    The world listened in silence.


    "The good news is this: after a grueling fight, at the cost of my life, I seeded in ying the heavens."


    "What?" Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd, followed by an eruption of jubnt cheers.


    Liu Miaoyin, the Divine Emperor, and the cursed kings across the world, former hegemons of their own era, nced up at the sky in shock. They had hoped that Yu Fuli would deeply wound the heavens and render it incapable of doing anything for some time; that Yu Fuli had in it was beyond their wildest imaginations.


    Yu Fuli would hardly joke about such matters. If he imed that he had done so, then he surely must have.


    "Are the heavens truly dead...?" Countless cultivators felt certain that they were in a dream.


    In the depths of the world, the saints shuddered in fright. They knew that Yu Fuli boasted overwhelming strength, to the point that they were forced to cower in the darkness throughout the era, but even they didn''t anticipate that he would be strong enough to take on the heavens. Was he truly a mortal?


    The monarchs who had been tempted by the saints shivered as they thought of what a cmitous mistake they had almost made. It was only thanks to the Covenant of All Under the Heavens that they were now safe.


    "Long live the Heavenly Emperor! The Heavenly Emperor is invincible!" cheered cultivators all across the world.


    They wouldn''t have to die. They wouldn''t have to die!


    After the initial tion, Yu Fuli continued, "Now, the bad news."


    The world fell silent once more.


    "Before the heavens perished, they left a message behind: ''Next time, your celestial realm will be destroyed.''"


    "What? Next time?"


    The ominous promation chilled everyone to the core.


    "I have three possible interpretations. First, like cursed effigies, the heavens may revive after their death."


    Everyone gasped. Could the heavens truly revive? If that were the case, they would be done for. From the looks of it, Yu Fuli wouldn''t be around to save them a second time.


    "If that happens, I trust you will unite to defeat it again," Yu Fuli said. "If it could be killed a first time, then it can be killed a second time as well."


    Everyone braced themselves for the possibility. There was sce in Yu Fuli''s reassurance. If Yu Fuli had been able to do it, they who were hegemons of their respective eras ought to be able to seed as well.


    "My second interpretation: the heavens have an avatar. This is essentially equivalent to the first interpretation. At any rate, you will all have to work hard together," Yu Fuli said.


    The supreme cultivators nodded. The first interpretation was more frightening than this second one.


    "The third, and most concerning interpretation, is the possibility that the heavens are not a singr entity, but rather a collective."

 Chapter 882: The World Mourns

    <h4>Chapter 882: The World Mourns</h4>


    Yu Fuli''s words astounded one and all.


    What if the heavens were a collective? One representative of the heavens alone had been so powerful as to make them all despair. If there were more, how would they survive?


    "You need not despair," Yu Fuli continued, his voice steady. "I have shown the world that the heavens are not invincible. They have fallen once; they can fall again. I hope you will all shoulder the weight of this realm''s survival."


    Everyone straightened and saluted solemnly. "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    Yu Fuli smiled faintly. "That said, your time is limited. Now that the heavens have fallen, the world away will respond quickly. The next representative of the heavens may arrive sooner than you would expect.


    "The world away?" someone asked.


    Yu Fuli nodded. "Twenty thousand years ago, an ancestral dragon led a group of powerful cultivators toward the world away. Unfortunately, they returned empty-handed, save for a piece of useful intelligence. During his journey, the ancestral dragon noticed traces of the heavens'' presence and concluded that the heavens reside in the world away, the other shore of the celestial firmament."


    "The cursed effigies summoned across the eras likewisee from the world away. Do theye from the same ce as the heavens?" someone asked curiously.


    Yu Fuli thought for a moment. "You''ll have to explore that train of thought yourself."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    "Before I depart, allow me to bestow upon you all a piece of my cultivation insight.


    As he spoke, Yu Fuli raised a hand. His already dim and fragile form faded further. A small purple sphere materialized at his fingertips, one which exploded into drops of liquid that shot into everyone''s mindscapes.


    Xiao Nanfeng found his drop of liquid exploding into a long text.


    "The Yuqing Yin Body," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "The Jade Emperor''s Frame?"


    "The Insights of the Heavenly Sovereign..."


    "The Art of Fishing!"


    Everyone''s eyes opened wide. What Yu Fuli granted the cultivators seemed to be what they were mostcking in.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone bowed.


    "Don''t hold a funeral for me. Some people might find it unsettling," Yu Fuli said with a wry smile.


    Everyone nced at each other, confused. Who would dare feel unsettled by the Heavenly Emperor''s funeral? Even so, sensing his firm resolve, they didn''t dare protest.


    "Understood!" they responded, bowing again.


    "I have said all that I wish to say. From now on, this celestial realm, this world of ours¡ªI leave in your hands." Yu Fuli smiled warmly.


    With those final words, his body disintegrated into countless specks of light that vanished without a trace.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Farewell, Heavenly Emperor!" The entire gathering, including Xiao Nanfeng, solemnly bowed to Yu Fuli.


    "Farewell, Heavenly Emperor!" Everyone on the za bowed deeply, then what seemed like the entire world.


    Just then, the overcast skies turned blood-red.


    Thunder rolled across the continents as torrents of bloody rain began to fall, not only over the Sieve of Heaven but over the entire world.


    "The mourning of the world?" someone eximed.


    "After the cmity of each era, the world itself mourns the loss of the mortal poption with heavy rainfall. This time, however, the mortals haven''t been wiped out. Is the world mourning for the Heavenly Emperor instead?" someone spected in shock.


    "The world weeping for the Heavenly Emperor..." Everyone was dumbfounded.


    The blood rain fell in torrents as an inexplicable sorrow swept across the world, apanied by an etherealmentation.


    As one, the people of the world suddenly cried out, "Farewell, Heavenly Emperor!"


    "Farewell, Heavenly Emperor!"


    A mournful resonance stirred every soul, filling their eyes with tears.


    Even on the ruined za before the Heavenly Pce, people were weeping openly, Xiao Nanfeng among them.


    He wiped his tears, puzzled. He was grieving for Yu Fuli, but he knew how reserved he was. He wouldn''t normally cry. What was going on now?


    Looking around, he noticed that everyone else was crying, too. He nced skyward, suspecting that this was some mystical phenomenon¡ªan emotional resonance triggered by the world.


    With a deep breath, Xiao Nanfeng lowered his head and bowed deeply toward the spot where Yu Fuli had vanished.


    Suddenly, the Sieve of Heaven began to copse. Floating inds crumbled, rivers dried up, and the once-majestic realm fractured into countless pieces.


    Now that Yu Fuli was gone, Xiao Nanfeng didn''t want to stay here any longer. He turned to leave.


    The Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin both possessed charms of heavenlyw. To avoid other cultivators from recognizing what they possessed, Xiao Nanfeng had requested that they stay away.


    There were far too many cultivators at the Sieve of Heaven now, with potential dangers roaming among them. Yu Fuli had given him a manual; out of respect for Yu Fuli, he would dly ept what he was given and not seek anything else, at least not at the moment.


    But just because he didn''t intend to make a move didn''t mean that others would follow the same principle.


    While Yu Fuli was alive and ruled the world, everyone was subject tow and order. Now that he was dead, these cultivators had no such reservations.


    Suddenly, a fight broke out outside the Heavenly Pce, and a storm was unleashed atop Mt. Kunlun.


    Some among them were officials of the Imperial Court, Immortal Emperors, and hierarchs and sect masters. They might have disdained ordinary treasures, but Yu Fuli''s were surely worth fighting for.


    Yu Fuli had the best treasures in the entire world. Now that he was dead, they didn''t have to worry about any repercussions from him.


    A storm was unleashed in the Sieve of Heaven as Xiao Nanfeng and some other cultivators fled.


    As they left, the Superior asked from his mindscape, "Don''t you want Yu Fuli''s relics?"


    "I respect him, and don''t wish to fight for them¡ªat least not at the moment."


    "You''re lucky to have avoided this conflict," the Superior said.


    "What do you mean, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Yu Fuli gave away everything he had. To you, he gave a manual. Those relics were left for specific individuals as well, the three Qing Grandmasters among them. Do you really think these cultivators will be able to leave with them?


    Xiao nanfeng''s eyes widened. He nodded firmly as he prepared to leave. However, as he departed, he sensed danger and stopped abruptly, turning to look around.


    Three figures were trailing him from a distance.


    "Show yourselves. I can see you," he said coldly.


    In an instant, the three figures appeared before him. They wore white robes and obscured their faces with fog, exuding an air of murderous intent.


    "Why are you leaving, Xiao Nanfeng? Don''t you want Yu Fuli''s relics?" a white-robed man sneered.


    "Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "Enough talk. Let''s take him down!" another figure shouted.


    "Very well!"


    The three attacked without further warning.


    Before they could reach Xiao Nanfeng, however, a shadow streaked forward and struck the lead assant with a devastating punch, sending him flying. Then, the figure struck at the other two cultivators as well.


    "Ye Sanshui? What''s he doing here?" the other two cultivators eximed.


    Ye Sanshui rapidly took down the second cultivator, then the third.


    He chased after the first cultivator as Tu Feng and the Demon Child appeared from two different directions.


    Tu Feng''s nine fox tails mmed into one assant, sending him flying.


    "Tu Feng? Shouldn''t you be dead?!" the man shouted in shock.


    "You really are talkative, aren''t you?" Tu Feng retorted, continuing his assault.


    Meanwhile, the Demon Child unleashed a storm of sword energy on his opponent.


    The three attackers were all overwhelmed within moments. Ye Sanshui struck especially fiercely, leaving one white-robed attacker gravely injured.


    Xiao Nanfeng hovered in the air while a group of Dazheng cultivators surrounded him.


    "Your Majesty, we were dyed. If Third Uncle hadn''t brought us here, it would have taken some more time before we caught up," Ye Dafu reported.


    "It''s a pity you failed to make it to His Majesty''s final distribution of gifts, but it matters not. I shall grant you what techniques he has made essible to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu replied, nodding.


    The Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin had emerged from secluded cultivation, so the Demon Child and Tu Feng had no need to remain in the respective capitals any longer. ording to Xiao Nanfeng''s orders, they had headed toward other divine empires to enforce the Covenant.


    Over the course of the day, more fortune had been amassed by every empire around the world. In case Yu Fuli would have need of it all, everyone continued to guard the various empires and divine empires in their vicinity.


    Only when Yu Fuli''s fragment of will reappeared did they end their surveince and head to the Sieve of Heaven as quickly as they could¡ªbut in the end, they were toote.


    Xiao Nanfeng had been intending to meet up with them as he emerged from the Sieve of Heaven, only to encounter three assants along the way.


    The three white-robed cultivators were all early-stage Boundless Immortals.


    Very quickly, Ye Sanshui crippled the first among them.


    "Take him!" Ye Sanshui shouted, tossing the defeated white-robed cultivator to a golden cultivator as he rushed toward the Demon Child''s fight.


    The other two cultivators nched and turned to flee.


    "Hold it!" Ye Sanshui and the others shouted.


    However, against Boundless Immortals intent on fleeing, even they had little recourse.


    "Don''t bother giving chase. There may yet be ambushes in the vicinity. We should return for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The cultivators left with Xiao Nanfeng and the Boundless Immortal they had just caught.

 Chapter 883: The Immortal Emperor of Dachi

    <h4>Chapter 883: The Immortal Emperor of Dachi</h4>


    The blood rain continued for three days and nights, a mournful farewell to Yu Fuli from the world atrge. However, instead of causing a flood, the rain turned into surging spiritual energy that nourished thend.


    Under this baptism, countless cultivators broke through bottlenecks in their cultivation. It was a reward from the world atrge, a reminder that Yu Fuli had gifted them a new lease on life.


    Afterwards, the Demon Child returned to Shenfeng''s capital, and Tu Feng to Dajing''s capital, as the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin continued attuning to their respective charms of heavenlyw.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng returned to Yongding and interrogated the captured Golden Immortal who had attacked him. That questioning eventually bore fruit.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm as he gazed at a white-robed man whose cultivation had been sealed, leaving him in a frail state.


    "Have you figured out who sent him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It was the Immortal Emperor of Dachi," Wen Zhong replied.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi?" Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned grim.


    "Indeed. Back when we dealt with Dayin, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi was watching from the sidelines. Thankfully, Your Majesty''s strategy to destroy Dayin was so effective that he didn''t dare intervene. Dachi bordered Dayin, so if he had acted back then, it would have been a majorplication," Wen Zhong said.


    "How did the Immortal Emperor of Dachi end up targeting me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "He, too, brought a group of subordinates to the Sieve of Heaven to bid farewell to the Heavenly Emperor. It was then that he set his sights on you, Your Majesty¡ªbut he was eyeing the Heavenly Emperor''s relics and couldn''t target you himself. That was why he arranged for three of his subordinates to pursue and ambush you," Wen Zhong exined.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "The divine empire of Dachi managed to secure some of Dayin''s Immortal cities back then, but the Immortal Emperor of Dachi wasn''t satisfied. Over the years, he''s been plotting against us. He even nted spies among the forty Immortal cities we acquired from Dayin and has been trying to turn their city lords against us," Wen Zhong continued.


    "So he''s targeting me directly now? He intends to assassinate me?" Xiao Nanfeng''s tone turned icy.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Moreover, he''s exceptionally secretive. The three Boundless Immortals he sent to attack you had no records in our database."


    "How many more Boundless Immortals does the Immortal Emperor of Dachimand?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We don''t know, Your Majesty. This Boundless Immortal used to be one of his personal guards. The Immortal Emperor of Dachi used some sort of formation to help him ascend into a Boundless Immortal. He doesn''t know how many Boundless Immortals are in the Immortal Emperor of Dachi''s employ, either."


    "Oh? A formation?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He turned to Blue Lantern. "Blue Lantern, are you aware of any formations that would be able to aplish such a feat?"


    Blue Lantern furrowed his brows in thought. "There are indeed formations capable of this, but all of them require an enormous amount of energy. I''m unsure which one the Immortal Emperor of Dachi used."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded thoughtfully.


    After a moment of silence, Blue Lantern added, "Don''t underestimate the Immortal Emperor of Dachi, Your Majesty. His mastery of formations is extraordinary."


    "How does hepare to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern sighed. "To be honest, I believe he''s one of my senior uncles. His proficiency with formations is at least on par with mine."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "I apologize for keeping this a secret, Your Majesty, but I swore an oath upon leaving my sect that I would never reveal its secrets."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. You need not borate."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Blue Lantern sighed in relief.


    "Since this Boundless Immortal is one of the Immortal Emperor of Dachi''s personal guards, does he know how many personal guards there are in total?"


    "Many, Your Majesty," Wen Zhong began, "but he doesn''t know which have be Boundless Immortals. His name is Li Six. The two that ran off are Li Four and Li Five."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    He suddenly had a bad feeling. The fact that these guards simply had numbers for names made it sound like they were merely expendable pawns. Perhaps the five others before Li Liu had also advanced to the realm of Boundless Immortals using simr methods.


    "Keep a close eye on him," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied, nodding. "Your Majesty, now that the Immortal Emperor of Dachi has moved against us, we should prepare our own countermeasures."


    "That would be prudent. As for Li Six, if we can''t get more information from him, separate his soul from his body," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Li Six''s physical body might prove useful for him for possession purposes.


    "Understood!"


    In the divine empire of Dachi, within a dark pce, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi sat on his draconic throne. Before him stood two men, the Boundless Immortals Li Four and Li Five, who had tried to attack Xiao Nanfeng days ago.


    "Your Majesty, our informants confirm that Li Six was captured and taken to Yongding, but we haven''t heard from him since," one of them reported Within the darkness, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi frowned. After a moment''s thought, he waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. Don''t concern yourselves about the issue for now."


    "Understood!" the other two cultivators replied.


    "Make sure that no one disrupts the uing imperial examinations. Oversee them personally," the Immortal Emperor instructed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the two Boundless Immortals replied.


    After they departed, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi sat in silence on his throne for some time.


    Before long, a shadowy figure appeared in the hall. The Immortal Emperor of Dachi rose respectfully. "I greet the saint."


    "Why have you summoned me so urgently?" the saint demanded.


    "Saint, three days ago, I sent my subordinates to kill Xiao Nanfeng, but they fell into his trap. I seek your assistance in eliminating him."


    "You intend tomand me to clean up your mess?" the shadow replied icily.


    "I wouldn''t dare, Saint. The deaths of Saint Lun Hui and Saint Chi Hai are both rted to Xiao Nanfeng, and I was attempting to defend your reputation, Saint. I underestimated Xiao Nanfeng, and now seek your assistance."


    "My reputation?" the shadow scoffed. "Is that why you went to pay homage to Yu Fuli?"


    "I didn''t pay homage to him, Saint. I was there to investigate his death and attempt to fight for his relics. However, Yu Fuli tampered with everything in the Sieve of Heaven beforehand, and we all came away empty-handed."


    "If you can''t even handle Xiao Nanfeng, you have no right to call yourself my follower. Why should I waste my resources on you? Do you treat me as your helper?"


    "I wouldn''t dare, Saint!"


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    "And yet you lent Yu Fuli your empire''s fortune and imperial might despite your promise to the contrary," the shadow said pointedly.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi smiled wryly. "Saint, the Covenant of All Under the Heavens forced my hand. If I hadn''t made a move, I would have been ughtered."


    "You know full well what you''re thinking," the shadow replied.


    "Please forgive me, Saint," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi replied immediately.


    "Your task is to root out supreme cultivators hidden across the world. If you can''t even handle Xiao Nanfeng on your own, you have no right to call yourself our follower. What need would we have of you?" the shadow concluded.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi grimaced. "Understood. I''ll handle things myself, Saint."


    "Good. I know you have many trump cards up your sleeve. Use them. As Yu Fuli mentioned, the heavens may soon revive. Without Yu Fuli to defend against the heavens'' wrath, your trump cards will be nothing but a joke. You might as well help us out and secure our favor."


    "Understood, Saint!" The Immortal Emperor of Dachi bowed.


    "Very well. If there''s nothing else, don''t bother me," the shadow replied.


    It vanished, leaving the emperor to brood in silence.


    Meanwhile, across Dachi''s capital, preparations for the imperial examinations were underway. Thousands of candidates had gathered in the central za, though the hasty organization of the event had led to some confusion. At one point, a quarrel about a certain registration number even sparked a fistfight between two candidates.


    A man firmly grabbed the two candidates by the wrists, halting the brawl.


    "Gentlemen, it''s just a number. If you find yours inauspicious, why not swap it with mine? My number is 66, an auspicious number for smooth-sailing sess."


    Embarrassed, the two candidates quickly calmed down, realizing themotion had drawn the attention of the crowd and examiners. They were forced to back down.


    "Very well. Thank you for stepping in, sir," one said.


    "He should thank his lucky stars you interceded," the other spat out.


    In the end, the man''s timely interruption had defused the feud, and he exchanged his registration number, 66, with one candidate''s 4.


    "You''re truly willing to make this trade, sir? You must be confident. How might I address you?" the candidate asked. [1]


    "Well met. Call me Tang," Tang said.


    "Tang? You must truly be a gentleman of renown."


    Not far away, the chief examiner observed the situation with approval. "He defused the situation skillfully. Suchposure is rare, and Dachi has need for talent. His name is Tang, he said? Mark him for special consideration."


    1. 4, which sounds like ''death'' in Chinese, is generally considered unlucky. ?

 Chapter 884: The Purple Moon Ascends

    <h4>Chapter 884: The Purple Moon Ascends</h4>


    Back in Yongding, within a certain hall, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar carefully reread the Yuqing Yin Body that Yu Fuli had given him.


    Then, he took out another scroll, also titled Yuqing Yin Body. This was a version he had obtained by interrogating Han Gucheng''s subordinates. They had ultimately gotten this copy from coercing Yuqing disciples.


    "To think they''d be different in some critical aspects..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    It was obvious which one he trusted more: Yu Fuli''s version.


    "Could something be wrong with the Yuqing Yin Body that the Yuqing disciples cultivate? Or were there two versions of the technique to begin with?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    After some deliberation, he set aside the wed version of the Yuqing Yin Body and began to practice the version that Yu Fuli had provided him with.


    Having previously cultivated the Shangqing Yin Body, he found the process rather familiar.


    Within his mindscape was a sterke, one whose vast expanse resembled a sea.


    Above the starry sea was a red moon and a blue moon, with countless points of red and blue light scattered across the surface of the sea.


    As Xiao Nanfeng cultivated the Yuqing Yin Body, points of purple light began to appear, immediately stimting the red and blue light. It had taken Xiao Nanfeng incredible effort to force the red and blue lights into a delicate equilibrium, but they were now threatened by a new foe.


    They were like old rivals who had fought for dominance for ages that were now being confronted with a new contender.


    The red and blue light red, attacking the purple points of light in unison. They were determined to obliterate the purple light before it could challenge them.


    If Xiao Nanfeng had been cultivating any other spiritual technique, thebined efforts of the red and blue points of light would long since have exterminated any trace of the purple light from his mindscape, but the Yuqing Yin Body was on equal footing with the red and blue points of light.


    Even so, the relentless suppression of the purple light made expansion a struggle.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body appeared behind his avatar and extended a hand, sending a surge of silver light from the Body of Yin into his avatar''s mindscape. The silver light entered the starry sea and created a barrier against the red and blue light''s assault.


    The purple light began to proliferate and expand rapidly.


    As time passed, the purple light coalesced into a single luminous entity. A burst of purple light illuminated Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape as a purple moon slowly ascended into the sky.


    The red and blue moons, sensing the immense threat posed by the purple moon, red with brilliance as they tried to suppress it.


    "Three moons in harmony," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    All three moons emerged from Xiao Nanfeng''s mindscape and floated in the air.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body used his candleme powers on the purple moon, allowing his avatar to step within.


    The purple moon glowed with radiant light as Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar merged with it. He continued to cultivate as he felt his avatar be one with the purple moon.


    The sensation of his avatar dissolving was bizarre. If not for the fact that he had experienced something simr beforehand, he would long since have escaped from it.


    Now, however, all he could do was bear with his circumstances and continue to cultivate. The purple moon grew increasingly radiant.


    The red and blue moons continued their attempts to suppress the purple moon, but Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stood guard and repeatedly warded off their interference.


    After three days of intense cultivation, the purple moon finally reached some sort of pinnacle. With a loud crack, a tear appeared in its surface. A hand emerged¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s avatar, which had reformed and was now crawling out of the purple moon. The purple moon was pouring all its energy into this newborn body.


    When Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had emerged fully from the purple moon, it swiftly began to repair the hole that had formed over its surface, though it dimmed significantly in the process.


    With the critical stage of cultivationplete, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body wasn''t needed any longer.


    He left the training hall, leaving his avatar to continue meditating.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar sat cross-legged, breathing in spiritual aether to restore his cultivation. Within his mindscape, his starry sea was now divided into three distinct regions upied by red, blue, and purple light. They resisted each other, but had tentatively settled into a newfound equilibrium.


    Over time, the purple moon grew resplendent once more, rivaling that of his red and blue moons. Perhaps because it wasn''t being suppressed by a cursed effigy like his other two moons, the purple moon exuded a more mysterious and otherworldly aura.


    "The purple moon is ready," Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar murmured.


    He extended a finger, conjuring purple light before him. The void shimmered and formed a gateway.


    Xiao Nanfeng stood, startled.


    He nced into the glowing entrance of the portal and saw a purple-furred monster in the distance.


    @@novelbin@@


    "The purple moon illusory realm?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Out of curiosity, he had used the technique for entering the red moon illusory realm but with his purple moon''s spiritual power instead. Unexpectedly, it opened a portal to a realm tied to his purple moon.


    His blue moon, on the other hand, hadn''t been able to open a portal into the blue moon illusory realm.


    He also knew that Han Gucheng''s subordinates hadn''t been able to open a portal into the purple moon illusory realm, either.


    "There must have been something wrong with the Yuqing Yin Body that Han Gucheng obtained. The Heavenly Emperor''s version is the mostplete," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    With rising curiosity, he summoned his three moons back into his mindscape and stepped through the portal, which snapped shut the moment he passed through.


    Upon entering the purple moon illusory realm, he found himself in a vast purple-hued space, a sprawling city that was eerily silent and devoid of human life. Instead, purple-furred monsters roamed the streets.


    "Hold on. Isn''t this... Yongding?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He flew high above the city and looked down, confirming that itsyout matched Yongding. However, it appeared to be crudely constructed andcking the intricate details of the real city.


    Outside the city was a massive stone tablet bearing the words "City of Yongding." In the distance, swarms of purple-furred monsters were being drawn toward the city, as if it had just been conjured into existence.


    "Why would Yongding be within the purple moon illusory realm? What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    He quickly ventured outside the city walls and attracted the attention of several purple-furred lifeforms. Despite their pursuit, he easily outpaced them.


    He flew across the purple moon illusory realm andpared what he was seeing to a map of Dazheng atrge. He was shaken. Though there were some disparities when it came to the locations of mountains and rivers, the major cities of Dazheng were replicated in full, though without much detail or ornamentation.


    "Could the purple moon illusory realm be a replica of the world in full...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He flew for an entire day. The terrain he passed by closely resembled that of the real world.


    He found himself in what corresponded to the Eastern Sea within the purple moon illusory realm. After some contemtion, he shot up high into the clouds. Before long, he reached the cloudyer, and in the distance, he spotted an enormous heavenly gate.


    "The Eastern Heavenly Gate? Is the Sieve of Heaven present here, too? Even though it has already copsed in the real world...?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    A group of purple-furred monsters were standing guard by the entrance to the Sieve of Heaven.


    "These purple-furred lifeforms can actually be controlled?" Xiao Nanfeng marveled.


    He hesitated for a moment as he debated whether or not to enter.


    Suddenly, a group of male cultivators flew out from within the Sieve of Heaven. To his surprise, he quickly recognized one of them¡ªa disciple of the Yuqing holynd who had once attended his seminars.


    "Hm? The purple-furred lifeforms aren''t attacking them," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    The male cultivators all held tokens in their hands. The purple-furred monsterspletely ignored them as they passed by.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He concealed himself within the clouds, shrouding himself with purple fog, as he tailed the men.


    Before long, he noticed a group of purple-furred monsters flying by. He caught one and tossed it toward the group of cultivators.


    "Watch out!" one of them shouted.


    The impact knocked them back several steps.


    "We have purple moon tokens. Why did this purple-furred monster attack us?" one of the men cried out in rm.


    The purple-furred monster merely nced at them before letting out a low growl and flying off, as if searching for the culprit who had unceremoniously thrown it toward the group of cultivators.


    "That startled me. It must''ve been flying too fast and identally bumped into us. Alright, let''s move on," one of the men suggested.


    "Ah, my purple moon token''s gone!" one cultivator suddenly shouted.


    "Wasn''t it in your hand just now?" another asked.


    "But it''s really gone now!"


    "Could you have dropped it when that purple-furred monster bumped into you?"


    "What? Could it have fallen into the sea? Quick, you have to help me find it! If I can''t recover it, I''ll surely be punishedter," the man said, panicking.


    "You''re such a hassle. Fine, let''s go!" the others sighed.


    The group descended toward the sea below.


    Meanwhile, hidden within the purple clouds, Xiao Nanfeng nced at the token in his hand. "So this is a purple moon token. Can it really let you bypass these purple-furred lifeforms...?"


    Still curious, he headed straight toward the Sieve of Heaven within the purple moon illusory realm. Indeed, the purple-furred monsters guarding the Eastern Heavenly Gate didn''t stop him at all. They allowed him in without obstruction.

 Chapter 885: Xia Zi

    <h4>Chapter 885: Xia Zi</h4>


    Within the purple moon illusory realm, in the alternate Sieve of Heaven, Xiao Nanfeng frowned the moment he stepped within.


    The floating inds, mountains, rivers, and countless buildings of the original Sieve of Heaven¡ªnone of them could be found in this replica. They were reced by towering mountain peaks and a differentndscape entirely. Only one thing remained unchanged: the imposing Mt. Kunlun.


    The purple moon illusory realm''s Mt. Kunlun, where Yu Fuli''s Heavenly Pce had once stood, was identical in every detail down to the contours of its peaks.


    "In the real world, the Sieve of Heaven copsed alongside the Heavenly Emperor''s demise. Even Mt. Kunlun vanished. Could it have been moved here?" Xiao Nanfeng spected with a frown.


    Mt. Kunlun was surrounded by fog. There were some purple-furred monsters flying nearby, though they seemed reluctant to approach the mountain.


    Encircling Mt. Kunlun were twelve massive purple pirs of light that stretched into the heavens, positioned evenly around the mountain. Beside each pir of light was a towering peak piercing through the clouds.


    Though thendscape was shrouded in fog, its general outline was visible.


    As Xiao Nanfeng studied the scene, he suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Doesn''t this look like... the Yuqing holynd?"


    Excited, he flew toward Chiyang Peak.


    Along the way, despite the fact that the terrain was rougher and less detailed than in the real Yuqing holynd, the simrities were undeniable.


    The area was patrolled by arge number of purple-furred monsters, but Xiao Nanfeng was able to move freely considering the purple moon token he held.


    Very quickly, he arrived at the foot of Chiyang Peak.


    At close range, he observed that the towering pir of lighty to one side of Chiyang Peak. The pir exuded a chilling aura, but was surrounded by ayer of pure yang energy that shimmered in gold. The intensity of the energy was hundreds of times more concentrated than normal, and left those in the surroundings revitalized and invigorated.


    Chiyang Peak was bathed in this yang energy.


    Xiao Nanfeng had shrouded his appearance in fog so that he could remain hidden.


    Curious, he turned his gaze toward the peak as he prepared to investigate further.


    Just as he began flying up the peak, someone barked, "Another intruder? I''ll kill you!"


    A streak of purple light shot toward him¡ªa purple-robed man moving at incredible speed.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and struck with his own fist.


    Their fists collided in a thunderous explosion, but the energy released in the process was absorbed by the nearby pir of purple light and left the surroundings undisturbed.


    Both cultivators were pushed back by the force of the sh.


    As Xiao Nanfeng steadied himself, he finally got a clear look at his attacker. Though it was their first meeting with each other, Xiao Nanfeng recognized him from portraits.


    The purple-robed man had a fierce expression on his face. Upon seeing that his initial strike had failed, he lunged forward again with another punch.


    "Senior Brother Xia Zi, wait! Don''t attack!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    The man ignored him. "I don''t have a junior brother like you. I''ve already dered that anyone who trespasses on Chiyang Peak will be killed without mercy!"


    Xia Zi shot toward Xiao Nanfeng again.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly and dispelled the fog around his face, revealing his identity as he countered with another punch. Their fists shed again, though neither of them were able to overwhelm each other.


    Only then did Xia Zi finally manage to get a good look at Xiao Nanfeng''s face. His eyes widened in surprise.


    @@novelbin@@


    Both cultivators withdrew their punches. Xia Zi stared at the cultivator before him. "You''re Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "Yes, Senior Brother. Greetings. I''ve regretted not being able to meet with you in person at Chiyang Peak¡ªonly to have a chance encounter with you here," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Zi was Yu''er''s elder brother. Yu''er had three elder brothers: Xia Zi, Xia Hong, and Xia Lan. Xia Hong and Xia Lan were serving as generals in the divine empire of Shenfeng. Thest time Xiao Nanfeng had headed to the Yuqing holynd, the only one of Yu''er''s brothers he hadn''t met was Xia Zi. [1]


    Xia Zi frowned. "How can you prove your identity?"


    It was clear that Xia Zi was on guard against him. Judging from his behavior, Xia Zi had surely encountered some sort of problemtely, so Xiao Nanfeng didn''t take offense.


    He summoned his red moon, then waved a hand. Clouds of red fog appeared, and countless red ropes descended from the heavens and coiled toward Xia zi.


    With a punch, Xia Zi deflected the majority of the ropes, but some managed to wrap around his limbs. A final length of red rope coiled around his neck and tightened.


    "Argh!" Xia Zi yelped.


    Of course, Xiao Nanfeng had held back. He merely demonstrated his power without causing any injury.


    With a wave of his hand, the red ropes receded from Xia Zi''s body.


    This disy left Xia Zi convinced. The technique was unmistakably Xiao Nanfeng''s signature move, impossible for anyone else to replicate.


    Xia Zi exhaled in relief. "What a shock. Junior Brother Xiao, it really is you! I''ve heard so much about you from our parents. I''m thrilled to finally meet you in person."


    "Apologies for startling you by arriving unannounced, Senior Brother Xia Zi," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "No need for formalities. We''re family, after all," Xia Zi replied.


    Clearly, Xia Xingchen and his wives had already acknowledged Xiao Nanfeng''s courtship of Yu''er. Xia Zi, as Yu''er''s eldest brother, was naturally interested in him.


    "Senior Brother, why did you attack me so hastily earlier?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Xia Zi hadn''t even confirmed his identity beforehand. Was something wrong?


    "Father''s currently in secluded cultivation. He''s trying to break through, but others don''t want to see him seed. They''ve been causing trouble over thest few days, and I''ve been on high alert as a result."


    "Oh? Is Mountain Lord Xia here, too?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Not just Father, but Yu''er as well." Xia Zi smiled.


    "Really?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up in surprise.


    Suddenly, Xia Zi frowned. "This isn''t good. Themotion from out fight must''ve drawn those troublemakers here again. They''re about to make a move."


    Xiao Nanfeng, too, could sense several figures approaching Chiyang Peak at high speed.


    "Let me handle this, Senior Brother. Please make a move if I miss any of them," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    With Yu''er present and his prospective father-inw attempting to break through, this was the perfect opportunity for him to prove himself. If anyone dared to disrupt Xia Xingchen''s cultivation, Xiao Nanfeng would take them down.


    His red moon appeared high overhead, and the red cloud it summoned was ten times its usual size. Lengths of red rope descended from the heavens, surging toward the approaching figures like vipers.


    "Damn it, what''s with this red rope?"


    "Get me out!"


    "Help, I''m stuck!"


    In a matter of moments, Xiao Nanfeng''s red rope had subdued all the intruders.


    "Senior Brother Xia Zi, I''ve taken down all the intruders. Do you want them dead or alive?"


    Xia Zi was momentarily stunned. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng had been holding back when fighting him, but not to such an extent.


    He had clearly sensed multiple Golden Immortal auras heading toward them, and he himself was panicking¡ªnot expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to finish them all off in one fell swoop. Not only that, he was asking Xia Zi if he wanted them dead or alive...


    "Just toss them out. Killing them might provoke a response from a Boundless Immortal¡ªwe don''t want that," Xia Zi said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    He waved a hand. The red rope loosened as all the intruders were sent flying.


    Xia Zi took a deep breath and proimed, "All of you, listen up. Chiyang Peak isn''t receiving any guests for the time being. Any intruders will be killed without mercy."


    The fog roiled, as if there were quite a few cultivators in its midst, but none of them showed themselves.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Zi eyed their surroundings, confirming that no one was intending to make a move before Xia Zi led Xiao Nanfeng up Chiyang Peak.


    Though this Chiyang Peak was different from the one in the Yuqing holynd, they were remarkably simr.


    They reached a fog-shrouded za up on the mountain, causing a group of Yuqing disciples to swarm around them.


    "Senior Brother, have you beaten back all the intruders?" a Yuqing disciple asked.


    Xia Zi nodded. "All thanks to Junior Brother Xiao."


    Only then did the disciples notice Xiao Nanfeng. Their eyes widened in excitement. "Senior Brother Xiao, it''s you! Thank goodness you''re here!"


    Xiao Nanfeng recognized that these were all Xia Xingchen''s disciples.


    "Greetings, junior brothers," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    The disciples were overjoyed. After all, they had attended Xiao Nanfeng''s lectures in the Yuqing holynd, and they felt particrly close to him.


    "There hasn''t been a problem here, has there?" Xia Zi asked.


    "No, Senior Brother. We haven''t dared to leave our posts at all. We''ve been guarding Master all this time," the Yuqing disciples promised.


    "Good." Xia Zi nodded.


    "Is Mountain Lord Xia breaking through to the Boundless Immortal realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Indeed. He suddenly wanted to do so a few days ago. Waves of energy began to pour out from him, but they also attracted enemies from other peaks who don''t want to see him seed. That was why I was so wary earlier," Xia Zi exined.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    To think Xia Xingchen would have enemies within the Yuqing holynd... It seemed that there were dangerous undercurrents there, too.


    Just then, a loud explosion erupted from within the hall. Golden light pierced the sky, causing an influx of spiritual aether.


    "A Boundless Immortal''s aura!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    "Has Father broken through? Wonderful," Xia Zi murmured.


    "Now that Master has made a breakthrough, no one will dare make a fuss here anymore!" the Yuqing disciples cheered.


    1. The names Zi, Hong, and Lan trante to purple, red, and blue respectively. They correspond to the colors of the three moons of the three Qing Grandmasters, though it''s unclear if there''s a deeper connection at the moment. ?

 Chapter 886: A Conversation Between Father- and Son-in-Law

    <h4>Chapter 886: A Conversation Between Father- and Son-in-Law</h4>


    In the purple moon illusory realm, atop Chiyang Peak, a ray of golden light shot into the sky, apanied by a surge of intense spiritual energy. Xia Xingchen had sessfully broken through into the realm of a Boundless Immortal.


    Xia Zi and the disciples of Chiyang Peak were all overjoyed.


    Meanwhile, those skulking about in the fog around Chiyang Peak frowned.


    "Xia Xingchen has be a Boundless Immortal. There''s little we can disrupt at this point. Let''s withdraw," one cultivator said.


    "Understood!"


    The group quickly withdrew.


    Xiao Nanfeng was surprised at the remarkable coincidence¡ªhe had arrived just in time to witness his father-inw''s breakthrough.


    After waiting patiently for some time, a loud boom resounded as the doors of a nearby hall swung open.


    "Congrattions, Master!"


    "Congrattions, Master!"


    The Yuqing disciples knelt and congratted Xia Xingchen in delight.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed as well. "Congrattions, Mountain Lord Xia.


    Xia Xingchen emerged from the hall. The moment he saw Xiao Nanfeng, his brows furrowed slightly. "What are you doing here?"


    "Father, Nanfeng was instrumental in driving away those troublemakers just now. Without his presence, I might not have been able to stop them," Xia Zi said immediately.


    He recounted what had happened earlier in detail.


    Xia Xingchen nodded, a glimmer of approval shing in his eyes. He didn''t express gratitude; after all, he had already tacitly acknowledged Xiao Nanfeng''s rtionship with Yu''er. It was expected that his son-inw would help guard him during a breakthrough.


    "How did you make it into the purple moon illusory realm?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    Beside him, Xia Zi suddenly frowned. "That''s right. Nanfeng, how did you make it in? Even my three mothers aren''t qualified to do so. Only direct disciples of the Yuqing holynd who have cultivated the Yuqing Yin Body can enter. Didn''t anyone stop you?"


    "By a fortuitous encounter, I was able to cultivate the Yuqing Yin Body. I opened a portal into the realm myself," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "What?" Xia Xingchen narrowed his eyes.


    Xia Zi''s eyes widened. He turned to the gathered disciples and hissed, "Do not divulge what Nanfeng said."


    "Understood!" The disciples chorused and nodded, but they clearly seemed confused.


    "This way," Xia Xingchen said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He followed Xia Zi and Xia Xingchen toward a pavilion in the distance.


    Xia Xingchen sat down and erected a formation around the pavilion to prevent any sound from leaking out.


    Meanwhile, Xia Zi hurriedly asked, "How did youe across the Yuqing Yin Body? Didn''t you know that the Yuqing holynd pursues those cultivators who learn it without being Yuqing disciples themselves?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Aren''t there plenty of cultivators of the Yuqing Yin Body?"


    Xia Zi pursed his lips.


    Many forces had covertly obtained the manual for the Yuqing Yin Body and practiced it in secret, though this was hardly something that could be revealed in public.


    Suddenly, Xia Zi frowned again. "No, hold on. You said you opened the portal yourself?"


    "That''s right." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Xia Zi''s eyes widened. "How can that be possible? Only the twelve Mountain Lords and the Yuqing hierarch should be able to do so. Others can''t do it at all!"


    "Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Because the Yuqing Yin Body that ordinary Yuqing disciples cultivate is different from that practiced by the hierarch and Mountain Lords. Could you have obtained the Mountain Lords'' version? But that''s a highly guarded secret of the Yuqing holynd! How could it have been leaked?" Xia Zi asked in astonishment.


    "It was a gift from the Heavenly Emperor before his death," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "The Heavenly Emperor?" Xia Zi asked in surprise.


    Xia Xingchen rxed. "No wonder."


    "Father, could the Heavenly Emperor be familiar with the Yuqing Yin Body, too?"


    Xia Xingchen nodded. "In fact, all members of the Yuqing holynd once practiced the ordinary version of the Yuqing Yin Body. The version that we twelve Mountain Lords and the hierarch now practice was granted to us by the Heavenly Emperor himself."


    "What?" Xia Zi was shocked.


    "I''m not certain about the details, but it seems that the Heavenly Emperor had deep ties to the Yuqing Grandmaster," Xia Xingchen exined.


    "That makes sense. I''ve seen the Heavenly Emperor transform his subordinates into purple-furred lifeforms, and even seen him bequeath the Yuqing Grandmaster''s insights on the cultivation of the heart to others. Even the heavens thought that he was the Yuqing Grandmaster," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Actually..." Xia Xingchen hesitated.


    "What is it, Father?" Xia Zi asked curiously.


    "When Yu''er and I first entered the purple moon illusory realm, we once saw a visage of the Yuqing Grandmaster. I was shocked. He looked just like the Heavenly Emperor."


    "Could the Heavenly Emperor be the Yuqing Grandmaster in truth?" Xia Zi eximed.


    "It''s unlikely. The Heavenly Emperor has already passed away, but the Yuqing Grandmaster''s aura remains strong within this realm. In fact, it''s growing more potent, as if he''s slowly recovering."


    "Why can''t I sense the Yuqing Grandmaster''s aura?" Xia Zi asked.


    Xia Xingchen nced at his son, but didn''t furnish an exnation.


    "Nanfeng, your actions earlier may have drawn attention. Be cautious. Someone mighte here to cause trouble for you."


    "Don''t worry, Mountain Lord Xia. If that happens, I''ll leave immediately to avoid making things difficult for you," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Xia Xingchen nodded.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, is Yu''er here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.


    Xia Xingchen nodded in approval to see Xiao Nanfeng ask about Yu''er. He nced at the sky. "Yu''er''s meditating, but should be finished shortly. I''ll take you to her then."


    "Thank you, Mountain Lord Xia," Xiao Nanfeng said gratefully. After a moment, he asked, "When you broke through earlier, your aura seemed incredibly strong. You''ve just entered the realm of a Boundless Immortal, but your strength far surpasses that of an early-stage one, as far as I can tell."


    Xia Xingchen nodded. "My cultivation technique is rather unique and particrly challenging to advance. Thanks to the blood rain about a dozen days ago when the Heavenly Emperor passed, I was able to break through. Otherwise, it would have taken me even longer to do so."


    "Were you able to witness the Heavenly Emperor''s final battle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Of course. The Heavenly Emperor lives up to his title as hegemon of the era. He has truly surpassed the ages."


    "Indeed," Xiao Nanfeng said wistfully. "Is the Mt. Kunlun of this realm the same one that was in the Imperial Court?"


    Xia Xingchen nodded. "Indeed. I believe it to be a gift from the Heavenly Emperor to the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. "Truly?"


    "Have you discovered that everything here seems to be a facsimile of reality?"


    "Quite. I noticed the simrity on my way here."


    "The Yuqing holynd of this illusory realm was initially located in the north of the realm. When the Heavenly Emperor perished, the holynd was suddenly transported here without rhyme or reason. Then, we saw Mt. Kunlun appear out of nowhere with our own eyes¡ªand heard that it had simultaneously vanished from reality."


    "Then there''s no doubt about it. This must be the same Mt. Kunlun. Have you investigated what lies on it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We can''t approach it. Ever since it appeared, no one has been able to get close. Perhaps it''s under the Grandmaster''s protection."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He was growing more and more curious about the identity of the Yuqing Grandmaster.


    "I remember hearing you mention that Yu''er received a boon from the Yuqing Grandmaster upon entering the purple moon illusory realm, Mountain Lord Xia. Can I confirm that she did?"


    "Naturally."


    "What kind of blessing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "These thirteen Yuqing yin pirs," Xia Xingchen said, pointing at his surroundings.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced around at the twelve pirs of purple light, one for each of the Yuqing holynd''s twelve mountains.


    "Yuqing yin pirs? Thirteen of them?"


    "There were thirteen at first, but Yu''er was the first to enter. Guided by the Yuqing Grandmaster''s own specter, she has already absorbed one of the pirs. That''s why there are only twelve left."


    "Oh?"


    "The purple moon illusory realm subsequently allowed other Yuqing disciples to enter. Before the Yuqing Grandmaster''s specter vanished, he appointed twelve holy maidens who cultivated the Yuqing Yin Body to absorb the remaining pirs of yin energy."


    "Twelve Yuqing holy maidens?"


    "Indeed. There weren''t twelve Yuqing holy maidens present at the time, so we had to rush to appoint more. They''re each cultivating underneath one of the yin pirs now. Yu''er is starting to absorb a second, but it''s a lot more difficult without the Yuqing Grandmaster''s assistance."


    "As long as Yu''er is fine," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, nodding.


    Yu''er''s health was paramount; whatever boons she had received were secondary.


    Xia Xingchen could tell that Xiao Nanfeng truly cared for his daughter, and he grew even more pleased with him.


    "The Yuqing yin pirs are unique. They contain pure yin energy, but are surrounded by a barrier of pure yang. Were you able to sense it?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    "I noticed it as I drew near. The yang energy here is hundreds of times more concentrated than in the world atrge. What''s going on?"


    "It''s one of the special features of the Yuqing yin pirs. They absorb spiritual aether furiously, but selectively filter out yin energy. As a result, yang energy concentrates around their surroundings."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng blinked, deep in thought.


    By his side, Xia Zi smiled. "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are lucky. If Yu''er is to marry you in the future, she''ll serve as a natural ma for yang energy¡ªand all of it will go to you."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, understanding that Xia Xingchen was attempting to impress Yu''er''s elevated status on him.


    "I understand, Mountain Lord Xia. As long as I''m around, I won''t let Yu''er suffer even a modicum of indignity." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply.


    @@novelbin@@


    Xia Xingchen nodded. Xiao Nanfeng was insightful and quick to respond to his pronouncements, which made him very satisfied.


    "Let''s go, then. She''s almost finished with meditation now," Xia Xingchen said as he rose.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, bowing.

 Chapter 887: Yuers Curse

    <h4>Chapter 887: Yu''er''s Curse</h4>


    Within a hall in the purple moon illusory realm, the hall shimmered with golden light as a man in green robes stepped within. At the far end of the hall sat a man in a purple robe, seated cross-legged on a prayer mat¡ªthe Yuqing hierarch, Shi Tianbei.


    Shi Tianbei held a horsetail whisk. His face was pale and covered with frost. His body trembled as intense cold surged within him. With the wave of a hand, he absorbed the golden light from the hall. Then, pressing his hand downward, he finally suppressed the intense cold. The frost vanished from his face.


    "What are you doing here?" Shi Tianbei said, opening his eyes.


    The green-robed man frowned. "Hierarch, Xia Xingchen has be a Boundless Immortal."


    Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes. His expression darkened. "In the end, he did manage to break through."


    "Indeed. The Heavenly Emperor himself gave Xia Xingchen some pointers and transmitted the Jade Emperor''s Frame to him. It''s a particrly difficult technique to cultivate, and I never expected him to advance to the realm of a Boundless Immortal¡ªonly to have that rain of blood change everything."


    "It wasn''t just the blood rain," Shi Tianbei said, his tone cold. "The purple moon illusory realm yed a role, and he also observed the Heavenly Emperor''s battle personally. Luck was on his side."


    "Indeed, Hierarch. That technique was capable of taking on the heavens. Xia Xingchen is incredibly fortunate," the green-robed man said enviously.


    "Does Xia Xingchen intend to emte the Heavenly Emperor? It won''t be as easy as it seems. Still, now that he has reached the Boundless Immortal realm, don''t provoke him any longer. Have you erased all traces of our earlier interference?" Shi Tianbei asked.


    "They''ve been wiped clean. No one will trace it back to us¡ªbut this time, it was Xiao Nanfeng who thwarted our ns at the most critical moment," the green-robed man replied.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What''s he doing here? Who allowed him into the purple moon illusory realm?" Shi Tianbei demanded.


    "I don''t know, Hierarch. I''ve already sent my subordinates to investigate."


    Shi Tianbei grimaced. "Have Xiao Nanfeng expelled from the purple moon illusory realm. No outsiders are to be allowed here."


    "Understood!"


    Xia Xingchen led Xiao Nanfeng to a certain Yuqing yin pir.


    A pce surrounded by a formation of fog had been erected there. Beyond that, numerous purple-furred monsters patrolled the area.


    "Yu''er is meditating here. Let''s wait a little," Xia Xingchen said.


    "Understood." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then asked, "Aren''t there any disciples stationed here to guard her?"


    Beside them, Xia Zi smiled. "There''s no need. The formation around this pce can''t be breached unless Yu''er opens it up from within. Plus, these purple-furred monsters only take orders from her and won''t let anyone else approach."


    "They can obey hermands? How?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "The purple-furred monsters and formations here were prepared by the Yuqing Grandmaster''s specter before it dissipated," Xia Xingchen exined.


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng was very relieved. If the Yuqing Grandmaster himself had arranged for those protections, there was nothing to worry about.


    @@novelbin@@


    After some time, the pce doors swung open. A young woman in loose robes stepped out from within. Despite her clothing, her graceful figure was unmistakable. Her fair skin and stunning features revealed her identity: Yu''er.


    However, Yu''er looked rather weary, as if she had been up for many nights in a row. Dark circles shadowed her eyes.


    As she exited the pce, she yawned and stretchedzily.


    Halfway through her stretch, she caught sight of the three men outside. Her hands froze in mid-air.


    "Yu''er, look who''s here!" Xia Zi called out, grinning.


    "Yu''er!" Xiao Nanfeng called out warmly.


    When Yu''er saw Xiao Nanfeng, her body stiffened, and she let out a startled cry. "Ah!"


    Then, she mmed the pce doors shut and hid back inside.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    Xia Xingchen: ...


    Xia Zi: ...


    The three men waited awkwardly until the pce doors opened up again. This time, Yu''er looked radiant. The fatigue and dark circles were gone, reced by an energetic and glowing demeanor. She had also changed into a vibrant red dress.


    "You made us wait for you all this time so you could do your makeup and get a change of clothes? Hmm," Xia Zi teased.


    "Silence!" Yu''er hissed at her brother, blushing.


    Then, waving a hand, she dispelled the formation and excitedly ran over to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Nanfeng, what are you doing here?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Ahem!" Xia Xingchen coughed abruptly, somewhat dissatisfied with Yu''er for ignoring him.


    "Why are you coughing, Father?" Yu''er grumbled.


    "Can''t you be a little moreposed and graceful?" Xia Xingchen chastised.


    "Nanfeng isn''t an outsider, is he?" Yu''er retorted.


    Xia Xingchen''s face darkened further. His daughter wasn''t married yet, but it seemed as if she were already turning on her family!


    "If Nanfeng''s not an outsider, why bother with makeup?" Xia Zi continued teasing his sister.


    "None of your business!" Yu''er scowled at Xia Zi.


    Xia Zi onlyughed.


    Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised. He thought that, since Xia Zi was the eldest Xia brother, he would act with more poise and gravity. Instead, he seemed to be the one who indulged her most.


    "Nanfeng, what are you doing here? Come on, let''s head over there and have a chat," Yu''er said, tugging on Xiao Nanfeng''s hand and pulling him aside.


    Xia Xingchen watched on as his face turned darker and darker. His daughter truly had no sense of propriety.


    Just as their hands touched, however, a burst of purple lightning zapped Xiao Nanfeng''s hand and left it numb.


    "Hm?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed, surprised.


    "Ugh, it''s happening again!" Yu''er fumed.


    "Has your condition worsened?" Xia Xingchen frowned.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, concerned.


    "I don''t know. Recently, whenever I touch others, a surge of purple lightning erupts from my body and pushes them away," Yu''er said, frustrated.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Xia Zi nodded. "It really is troublesome. None of us can touch her. Father has tried to investigate, but he didn''t manage to find anything conclusive. It''s not just her, either¡ªall the other holy maidens are suffering for the same reason."


    "Let me try again. Hold my hand," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "It''ll hurt you," Yu''er replied worriedly.


    "I''ll be fine. Try it," Xiao Nanfeng insisted.


    Xia Xingchen observed quietly.


    Yu''er hesitated, then eventually reached for Xiao Nanfeng''s hand again.


    As soon as their hands came in contact with each other, another bolt of purple lightning erupted and struck Xiao Nanfeng.


    This time, however, Xiao Nanfeng was prepared.


    Despite the intense pain and energy flooding his body, he didn''t let go.


    "Let go if it''s too much," Yu''er said, her eyes filled with worry.


    "I''m fine," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The purple lightning grew stronger, flooding his body until his entire form radiated with light. A storm of lightning swirled around him.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er eximed.


    "Enough! Stop before you get hurt," Xia Xingchen warned. "It''ll only grow stronger and stronger. Even I couldn''t bear it."


    Xiao Nanfeng coughed up a mouthful of blood, causing Yu''er to pull back her hand in panic.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng feel a little better.


    "Nanfeng, are you alright? Don''t scare me!" Yu''er eximed. She was on the verge of tears.


    She fretted anxiously, but didn''t dare touch Xiao Nanfeng anymore.


    Xiao Nanfeng clutched his chest and took a few deep breaths to stabilize himself. He nced at Yu''er with deep concern.


    Xia Xingchen sighed. "We think it might be a side effect of absorbing the Yuqing yin pir. Its energy repels all outsiders, and it may be a restriction left behind by the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "Indeed. All twelve holy maidens are experiencing the same phenomenon," Xia Zi added.


    "Let me try again using my spiritual power," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    "I''d rather not," Yu''er replied, frowning.


    "Please, let''s try again." Xiao Nanfeng grimaced.


    If he couldn''t even touch Yu''er''s hand in the future, what would be the point of all this? The strength of the Yuqing yin pir wasn''t worth this side effect.


    "Let Xiao Nanfeng try," Xia Xingchen said. "I don''t know how to solve this problem, but he might."


    He was very dissatisfied with this side effect as well. He knew that Xiao Nanfeng was skilled, and wanted to see if he would have a solution.


    Xiao Nanfeng tried touching Yu''er again, but even his spiritual power didn''t do the trick.


    He frowned. Next, he turned to his subordinates for help.


    Within Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body described Yu''er''s situation and symptoms to Blue Lantern, who had traveled widely and had arge repertoire of esoteric knowledge. He was one of the advisors that Xiao Nanfeng would frequently summon.


    When Blue Lantern learned of the situation, he frowned. "Your Majesty, check to see if there are small markings on Xia Yu''er''s earlobes."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned as his avatar did so. "Indeed. There are three small purple dots in a triangr pattern on both ears. Do you know what''s going on?"


    Blue Lantern hesitated for a moment before replying, "If I''m not mistaken, Xia Yu''er has been cursed."


    "Cursed?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.


    "This curse isn''t something left behind by the Yuqing Grandmaster. Rather, it seems like something from my sect," Blue Lantern said grimly.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I''m afraid I can''t provide more information without seeing her myself. Ideally, I''d like to scan her body in person."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes twitched. "The Yuqing holynd really is filled with danger. A curse..."

 Chapter 888: Xia Xingchen Kills a Foe

    <h4>Chapter 888: Xia Xingchen Kills a Foe</h4>


    Within the purple moon illusory realm, outside Yu''er''s hall for secluded cultivation, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar examined Yu''er''s body as his expression turned dark.


    "Nanfeng, your expression is frightening. What''s going on?" Yu''er murmured.


    Xia Xingchen and Xia Zi likewise seemed puzzled. They were uncertain why Xiao Nanfeng''s expression had changed so abruptly.


    Taking a deep breath, Xiao Nanfeng replied, "Mountain Lord Xia, based on my initial assessment, Yu''er''s condition isn''t caused by the Yuqing yin pir. Rather, there''s been deliberate interference¡ªsomeone has ced a curse on her."


    "What did you say? A curse?" Xia Zi eximed in shock.


    "How could that be? How could I have been cursed?" Yu''er asked incredulously.


    Xia Xingchen narrowed his eyes. He asked seriously, "What makes you think it''s a curse? How confident are you?"


    "I''m at least 80% certain. I deduced it from the small dots on Yu''er''s earlobes," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xia Xingchen immediately turned to Yu''er''s ears. Sure enough, each of her earlobes had three small, barely perceptible purple dots arranged in a triangr formation.


    "Small dots?" Yu''er immediately took out a mirror and checked her earlobes. As she nced at the dots, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! How could I have missed them?"


    "Mountain Lord Xia, Yu''er has been under your supervision all along. How could someone have had the opportunity to curse her?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.


    Xia Xingchen''s face turned dark. Although Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t entirely confident, Xia Xingchen himself was almost certain that this was a curse, after all. Anger zed in his eyes.


    "Father, could it be...?" Xia Zi frowned.


    "What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    Xia Zi frowned slightly, as if reluctant to speak.


    Yu''er, on the other hand, wasn''t quite so reserved. "It was when the hierarch brought the Yuqing disciples into the purple moon illusory realm. He imed he would help the twelve selected holy maidens advance their cultivation so that we could better absorb the Yuqing yin pirs."


    "Advance your cultivation? How?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "There was arge formation in the hierarch''s residence. He had the twelve holy maidens sit around the formation, then activated the piece of golden jade that supplied energy to it. Powerful waves of energy surged into our bodies. My father and the other Mountain Lords were present to assist with the formation. Our cultivation did improve, but for some reason, we all passed out afterwards," Yu''er exined.


    Xia Xingchen recalled, "The hierarch said that the formation was designed to work this way¡ªthat the holy maidens falling unconscious was part of the process to enhance the absorption of energy. When Yu''er woke up the next day, everything seemed fine, and her cultivation had indeed improved. After that, she began to absorb the Yuqing yin pir. It wasn''t long before her body started to repel others as well."


    "Didn''t you say that Yu''er had already refined one Yuqing yin pir before? She didn''t experience anything like this back then. Did you not suspect Shi Tianbei?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "I did, but there was also the possibility that the first pir might have been different from the others. Besides, all twelve holy maidens had the same issue, so I dismissed the thought," Xia Xingchen admitted, regret evident in his tone.


    "Shi Tianbei? How dare he!" Yu''er fumed.


    "Father, not only did the hierarch try to force Yu''er into marrying into the Southeastern Aquatic Pce, he''s even cursing her now. He''s clearly targeting us!" Xia Zi eximed in anger.


    Xia Xingchen''s face was stormy, but he ultimately said, "Don''t jump to conclusions. We don''t have concrete proof that the hierarch was responsible. Show some respect."


    "What''s there to doubt?" Xia Zi eximed, frustrated.


    "Exactly, Father! You''re being far too soft. Shi Tianbei is clearly out to get us!" Yu''er added indignantly.


    "Enough! We cannot be certain," Xia Xingchen barked, silencing his children.


    Xia Zi and Yu''er nced at each other. They were visibly upset and were just about to speak up when Xiao Nanfeng interjected, "Mountain Lord Xia is simply worried that you''ll act rashly and rm the culprit."


    "Oh?" Yu''er and Xia Zi frowned.


    They immediately grasped the situation now that Xiao Nanfeng had pointed it out. After all, Shi Tianbei was the Yuqing hierarch. If they were to act on impulse now, especially without any evidence, Shi Tianbei might be able to cover up his tracks or even retaliate.


    "Father, couldn''t you just have exined everything to us earlier? Do you always have to be so cryptic?" Yu''er demanded.


    "Exactly!" Xia Zi echoed.


    Xia Xingchen red at his children, but didn''t refute Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, regardless of the circumstances, I think we need to keep Yu''er away from Shi Tianbei. I''d like to leave with her for the time being. Would you proceed with the investigation here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu''er''s eyes lit up. "Great idea! Father, let me go with Nanfeng. You can investigate while we''re gone.


    Xia Xingchen eyed Yu''er. He didn''t object, but if only his daughter would show a little more reserve...


    Just then, a group of figures descended from the sky and stopped short before them. A huge gust of wind caused the surrounding grass and trees to sway violently.


    "How did you get in here, Xiao Nanfeng?" their leader demanded.


    Everyone turned to see a group of Yuqing disciples dressed in green robes. Their leader was staring coldly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is Sage Qingyun, one of the twelve Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd. He''s a Boundless Immortal, and one of Shi Tianbei''sckeys," Yu''er whispered into Xiao Nanfeng''s ear.


    Though Yu''er spoke softly, everyone present was powerful enough to hear her clearly. Sage Qingyun glowered.


    "Senior Brother Xia, is your daughter attempting to insult me?" Sage Qingyun demanded.


    In the past, Xia Xingchen might have attempted to keep up appearances and have Yu''er apologize, but he was extremely upset about the curse that had been discovered.


    He ignored Sage Qingyun''s question and demanded, "Junior Brother Qingyun, what are you doing here?"


    Sage Qingyun red at Yu''er before replying, "Senior Brother Xia, I heard that an outsider had barged into the purple moon illusory realm. I''m here to expel him on the hierarch''s orders."


    "From whom did you hear this?"


    "The battle at Chiyang Peak earlier caused a significantmotion. Quite a few disciples saw Xiao Nanfeng then."


    "While I was in secluded cultivation, some disciples tried to barge into Chiyang Peak and sabotage my breakthrough. Did you hear about that, too?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    "Is that so?" Sage Qingyun feigned ignorance.


    "When a Mountain Lord is attempting a breakthrough, if any disciples attempt to hinder the breakthrough in an attempt to sabotage the Mountain Lord, what is their due punishment ording to Yuqingw?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    Sage Qingyun frowned. "Death, of course. I shall investigate this matter thoroughly."


    "There''s no need. After all, I see them right here. Since you''ve confirmed that the punishment is death, Junior Brother, I won''t hold back," Xia Xingchen said.


    He nced coldly at the Yuqing disciples that had appeared alongside Sage Qingyun, causing them to shrink back in fright.


    "Senior Brother Xia, what are you doing?!" Sage Qingyun eximed.


    "Killing them!" Xia Xingchen spat out.


    He drew his sword and struck at a man beside Sage Qingyun.


    "How dare you, Xia Xingchen!" Sage Qingyun shouted, throwing a punch at him.


    The fist technique struck the sword in an explosion, but the resulting storm waspletely absorbed by the Yuqing yin pir.


    Sage Qingyun was forced back. A shockwave of energy bit into the disciple that Xia Xingchen had targeted, severing his arm.


    The injured disciple shrieked in agony and fled.


    "Xia Xingchen, have you gone crazy?!" Sage Qingyun shouted.


    In the past, though Xia Xingchen was hardly a doormat, he had been reserved and had never dared to disobey an outright order from the hierarch. How could he dare to attack Yuqing disciples in public now?


    "You''re the one who''s crazy, Junior Brother Qingyun. Or do you really think I''m that clueless? You''re the one who has been sending disciples to disrupt my cultivation. Do you really think I''m such an easy target to bully? I''ll settle my score with youter. As for these disciples of yours, whom you dispatched, I''ll kill them right now. It''s clear some people need a reminder that Yuqingws are to be enforced," Xia Xingchen shouted.


    Xia Xingchen shot toward the fleeing disciple as he swung his sword.


    "Stop this madness!" Sage Qingyun yelled.


    He drew a longsword and countered Xia Xingchen as a fight unfolded in the heart of the Sieve of Heaven of the purple moon illusory realm.


    The Yuqing disciples of other peaks rushed over. Themotion had drawn the attention of the other Mountain Lords and holy maidens as well.


    "Die!" Xia Xingchen roared.


    He shook Sage Qingyun aside and cut down the fleeing disciple.


    "Xia Xingchen, how dare you!" Sage Qingyun roared.


    "I am merely upholding Yuqing''sws. Why wouldn''t I dare do so? Now, who''s next?" Xia Xingchen roared.


    Those disciples who had attempted to cause trouble at Chiyang Peak shuddered in fear as they fled, but Xia Xingchen wasn''t to be deterred. He immediately struck down the fleeing disciples. They fell to the ground, grievously injured.


    "Hold it!" Sage Qingyun thundered.


    Though Xia Xingchen had just reached the Boundless Immortal realm, he was shockingly strong. He easily shook off Sage Qingyun.


    By then, the other Mountain Lords had arrived.


    "Calm down, Xia Xingchen! Let''s talk things over!"


    "Qingyun, don''t make a move. We''re all brothers in cultivation here. What''s with all this fuss?"


    The Mountain Lords stepped forward in an attempt to calm the two cultivators down. Of course, during the process, the fleeing disciples were all restrained as well.


    "Qingyun, Xia Xingchen, what''s the meaning of this? Stop this nonsense!" amanding voice thundered from the distance.


    Everyone turned to see a man in purple robes holding a horsetail whisk striding toward them.


    "Hierarch!" the Yuqing disciples eximed.


    Xia Xingchen frowned. Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes narrowed. Yu''er and Xia Zi exchanged a nce with each other, their eyes growing cold with anger.


    Yu''er suddenly sent Xiao Nanfeng a mental transmission. "Nanfeng, Qingyun was targeting you. I''m sure the hierarch will be intent on causing you trouble as well. You won''t be able to leave, so just stay here and stall them for the moment. I''ll be back in no time."


    Though Xiao Nanfeng was confused about Yu''er''s n, he nodded.


    Yu''er turned to Xia Zi. "Brother, follow me. Hurry!"


    @@novelbin@@


    Xia Zi blinked. Where were they going? They were right about to confront the hierarch!


    However, Yu''er seemed resolute. She continued to urge Xia Zi, who nced at his surroundings and ultimately nodded. They retreated to Chiyang Peak together and quickly vanished from sight.

 Chapter 889: Whose Purple Moon Illusory Realm?

    <h4>Chapter 889: Whose Purple Moon Illusory Realm?</h4>


    At the base of Chiyang Peak, within the purple moon illusory realm, themotion had drawn the attention of numerous Mountain Lords and holy maidens. Theirbined efforts finally stopped the battle between Xia Xingchen and Sage Qingyun. However, the two men were still ring at each other with hostility.


    "What are you doing? Do you intend to start an internal war within the Yuqing holynd?" Shi Tianbei demanded.


    "Perfect timing, Hierarch. I''ve been in secluded cultivation while attempting a breakthrough, but a group of Yuqing traitors repeatedly attempted to assassinate me in hopes of causing a deviation in my cultivation. Now that I''ve emerged from seclusion, is it wrong for me to deal with these traitors?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    He didn''t mention the curse on Yu''er, knowing that without any proof, he wouldn''t be able to indict Shi Tianbei. It would be better to focus on Sage Qingyun''s disciples and get some revenge.


    "Ridiculous! Xia Xingchen, on what grounds do you use my disciples of this?!" Sage Qingyun retorted. He turned to Shi Tianbei. "Hierarch, Xia Xingchen is deliberately trying to malign me and my disciples. Please dispense justice!"


    The Mountain Lords and holy maidens in the vicinity watched on with confusion. They had heard rumors about the trouble at Chiyang Peak recently, but hadn''t intervened since Xia Xingchen didn''t seek out their assistance.


    Shi Tianbei took a deep breath and asked, "Xia Xingchen, you im that there are traitors plotting against you. Do you have any evidence for that im?"


    Sage Qingyun nodded firmly. "Indeed. What evidence makes you use my disciples? You''ve been in secluded cultivation. How can you tell who''s responsible?"


    Xia Xingchen''s expression darkened. He knew about the attackers because of Xia Zi, who had fended off two waves of assaults. Though Xia Zi hadn''t seen their faces, he had sensed their auras. But could Xia Zi''s testimony serve as conclusive evidence?


    At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward. "If evidence is what you''re after, I have some."


    "Oh?" The crowd turned its attention to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? What are you doing here in the purple moon illusory realm?" Shi Tianbei demanded.


    "Indeed! Xiao Nanfeng, how did you enter this realm? It''s under the Yuqing holynd''s control, and no outsiders are permitted within," Sage Qingyun said coldly.


    "We can discuss thatter. Let''s focus on matters pertaining to Mountain Lord Xia for now."


    "Hm?" The crowd frowned, but Shi Tianbei could hardly protest too much. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had indicated that they would talk about itter.


    "What evidence do you have, then?" Shi Tianbei demanded.


    "Earlier, Sage Qingyun mentioned that the disturbances at Chiyang Peak caught the attention of many, and that he informed the hierarch about my presence here. The hierarch then dispatched Sage Qingyun to expel me from the realm. Is that correct?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling faintly.


    "Is that so?" Shi Tianbei turned to Sage Qingyun, his gaze sharp.


    The implication was clear: he hadn''t wanted to be dragged into the matter.


    Sage Qingyun looked slightly embarrassed, but he nodded. "Yes, Hierarch."


    "Good. Now that you''ve confirmed that, allow me to rify. I personally stopped the individuals attempting to harm Xia Xingchen. I also left a mark on them, which serves as evidence," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "What?" Sage Qingyun eximed in shock.


    "See for yourselves," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    With a snap of his fingers, several of Sage Qingyun''s disciples suddenly clutched their necks, revealing red ropes that had appeared around them.


    "When did this spiritual powertch onto me? I didn''t even notice!" one disciple eximed.


    He desperately tore at the red rope and eventually did so with a loud crack.


    Even so, the crowd had seen the evidence of their crimes clearly. Xiao Nanfeng had merely snapped his fingers to trigger something hidden on their bodies. The red rope had clearly been present all along.


    "Hierarch, Mountain Lords, the evidence is clear. These Yuqing traitors have vited thews of the holynd, plotting against a Mountain Lord with treacherous behavior. If they are excused, such behavior will only propagate. Shouldn''t the sect''sws be upheld? They ought to be punished as an example for others," Xia Xingchen dered.


    "No! It''s not true! This was Xiao Nanfeng''s doing¡ªhe must have nted these ropes on us to frame us!" one disciple shouted in panic.


    "Right! This is all a setup!" another disciple added.


    "Master, Hierarch, please clear our name!" the disciples pleaded frantically.


    Xia Xingchen remained silent as he awaited Shi Tianbei''s decision. The disciples could have denied their crimes without evidence; with his red rope, their continued denial wasughable.


    If Shi Tianbei were to side with the disciples, he would destroy his own credibility.


    Sage Qingyun frowned, dissatisfied. The cursed spiritual power of the red rope had been hidden too well. Even he hadn''t noticed the issue.


    Everyone waited for Shi Tianbei to pass judgment. Shi Tianbei turned to the trembling disciples, his gaze cold. He took a deep breath. "Treason against the holynd is punishable by death. These disciples shall be executed."


    He flicked his whisk at them.


    "No! Hierarch, please spare us! We were only following orders from¡ª" one disciple shouted.


    His cries were cut short as beams of energy shot out of the horsetail whisk, killing the disciples instantly.


    Sage Qingyun''s face turned dark. His disciples had been executed on the spot. His frustration was palpable, but he didn''t dare voice his objections.


    Xia Xingchen and Xiao Nanfeng exchanged nces with each other, their expressions cold. They suspected that Shi Tianbei had executed the disciples to silence them. Others seemed to share these suspicions, but with the culprits dead, nothing could be proven.


    "Are you satisfied with this oue, Mountain Lord Xia?" Shi Tianbei asked.


    Xia Xingchen nodded. "Thank you for upholding justice, Hierarch."


    Since the culprits were dead, there was no point in pressing further. Feigning ignorance was the better strategy at the moment.


    "As the Yuqing hierarch, it''s my duty to uphold justice," Shi Tianbei replied. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Now, how did an outsider like youe to be in the purple moon illusory realm? Who allowed him in?"


    All eyes turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Most assumed that Xia Xingchen was responsible.


    "Xia Xingchen, have you forgotten about thews of the holynd yourself? Outsiders are strictly forbidden from entering the purple moon illusory realm. All Mountain Lords have agreed to this decision. Have you broken it in secret?" Sage Qingyun used.


    Xia Xingchen sneered. "What proof do you have that I brought Xiao Nanfeng into the purple moon illusory realm?"


    "Who else could it have been?"


    "At any rate, I didn''t do it."


    "You''re lying!"


    Beside them, Xiao Nanfeng spoke up. "Everyone, why not ask me directly about this? Why waste time ming others?"


    "Hmm?" The crowd frowned and turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, exin how you entered the Yuqing holynd''s purple moon illusory realm," Shi Tianbei demanded.


    Not only did he intend to expel Xiao Nanfeng, he also wanted to punish whoever had brought him in.


    "First, Hierarch Shi, allow me to correct you. This isn''t the Yuqing holynd''s purple moon illusory realm, but rather the Yuqing Grandmaster''s purple moon illusory realm," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Hmm?" The crowd was taken aback.


    Sage Qingyun scoffed. "The Yuqing holynd is the ancestral legacy of the Yuqing Grandmaster. The Yuqing Grandmaster''s purple moon illusory realm naturally belongs to the holynd."


    "If the Yuqing Grandmaster were truly dead, perhaps. But he''s on the verge of revival, isn''t he? His belongings are naturally his own, not yours. Or do you intend to steal what belongs to the Yuqing Grandmaster?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.


    "You¡ª" Sage Qingyun''s face turned livid.


    @@novelbin@@


    Shi Tianbei said coldly, "We are all disciples of the Yuqing Grandmaster. The purple moon illusory realm belongs to him, and we have the right to guard it from outsiders before his return."


    "In that case, if the Yuqing Grandmaster allowed me to enter, do you intend to expel me against his wishes?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Sage Qingyunughed. "Nonsense! How could the Yuqing Grandmaster have possibly permitted you to enter.


    Shi Tianbei replied coldly, "The Yuqing Grandmaster has yet to revive. How dare you make such arrogant ims? Are you mocking the Yuqing Grandmaster?"


    Everyone red at Xiao Nanfeng, who shook his head. "I have done no such thing. The reason I have been able to enter the purple moon illusory realm is because the Heavenly Emperor imparted me with the Yuqing Yin Body before his death. As to why he was in possession of that technique, it must have been because of the Yuqing Grandmaster. In other words, the Yuqing Grandmaster must have approved of the Heavenly Emperor granting me the technique."


    He decided not to hide the fact that he had mastered the Yuqing Yin Body, reasoning that he would inevitably use it again in the future. Rather than face trouble from the Yuqing holynd about itter, it was better to reveal it now.


    Furthermore, there was no need to keep it a secret. He had learned it openly and legitimately, not through theft. What could the Yuqing holynd do about it? Moreover, the Yuqing Yin Body practiced by Shi Tianbei and the other Mountain Lords had also been taught to them by the Heavenly Emperor. They had no right to criticize him.


    "You''re lying! The Heavenly Emperor would never do such a thing," Sage Qingyun shouted angrily.


    "What evidence do you have, to question me so? What I''ve said today will surely be heard by the Yuqing Grandmaster once he revives. He can verify my ims then. You have no such right."


    "Insolence!" Sage Qingyun roared.


    "You''re the insolent one here. The Yuqing Grandmaster passed the Yuqing Yin Body onto the Heavenly Emperor, who imparted it to me. Naturally, I have the right to enter this realm at will. Who are you to interfere? The purple moon illusory realm belongs to the Yuqing Grandmaster, not you. You have no authority to expel me," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.


    "You!" Sage Qingyun shouted again, glowering.


    By the side, Shi Tianbei began to frown. How was he supposed to pursue this matter now? He could hardly use the Heavenly Emperor or the Yuqing Grandmaster of their transgressions.

 Chapter 890: Yuer, A Thief

    <h4>Chapter 890: Yu''er, A Thief</h4>


    In the purple moon illusory realm, while Xia Xingchen and Sage Qingyun''s fight caused a ruckus, Yu''er and Xia Zi headed in secret toward another Yuqing yin pir. There were arge number of halls erected around the pir, and many Yuqing disciples and purple-furred monsters were standing guard.


    "Yu''er, what are we doing here? This is Shi Tianbei''s residence," Xia Zi murmured, confused.


    "That''s where I want to go," Yu''er replied.


    "Oh?"


    "How dare Shi Tianbei plot against me? I''m not going to let him get away with it. Stand guard for me. I''m going to head in there and get something," Yu''er said.


    "What? You''re going to steal from Shi Tianbei?" Xia Zi eximed. He hurriedly stepped in front of her. "Are you crazy? This ce is heavily guarded and full of traps and formations. You can''t possibly sneak in!"


    "It''ll be alright. Shi Tianbei never lets anyone in, and I''m sure the interior is unguarded. Father and Nanfeng are stalling him. No one will suspect that I''ve been in his residence."


    "But there are so many guards and purple-furred monsters around, not to mention the defensive formations! How are you going to get inside?"


    "Don''t waste my time! I said I''d do it, and I will. Don''t forget, I''ve already absorbed one Yuqing yin pir. Shi Tianbei''s domain is inside another yin pir, and my body can pass through them. See?"


    As she spoke, Yu''er touched the nearby Yuqing yin pir. Her body began to merge into it. Within moments, she disappeared entirely.


    "You can turn invisible?" Xia Zi eximed. "Yu''er, when did you learn about this ability of yours?"


    However, Yu''er seemed to have left. She didn''t answer.


    Xia zi sighed. He had no choice but to stand on guard, his gaze fixed on Shi Tianbei''s pce in the distance.


    Formations guarded the residence, and purple-furred monsters and Yuqing disciples continued to patrol, but no one seemed to be able to detect her presence.


    Suddenly, the doors to Shi Tianbei''s residence opened ever so slightly, the movement so subtle that neither the guards nor monsters noticed a thing. Only Xia Zi, watching from afar, realized that Yu''er had seeded.


    His heart raced with anxiety. "Sister, you''d better not cause trouble. If anyone notices you, we''d both be dead!"


    Just then, a massive explosion erupted within Shi Tianbei''s residence. A fiery ze rose up; the sound reverberated throughout the entire realm.


    Xia Zi''s eyes opened wide as his face twitched. His worst fear hade true. He was worried that Yu''er would cause even the slightest disturbance¡ªbut instead, she had blown up the entire pce!


    Screams filled the air as the explosion flung Yuqing disciples and purple-furred lifeforms in all directions. None of them had anticipated such a cmity, and they were utterly unprepared.


    Xia Zi stood frozen, uncertain what to do.


    Then, a figure suddenly appeared beside him¡ªYu''er, her face brimming with excitement. "What are you waiting for? Let''s go!"


    "Are you alright? Just what did you do?" Xia Zi eximed.


    Just then, from Chiyang Peak, a furious roar could be heard. "Who dares destroy my residence?!"


    Xia Zi''s eyes widened as he fled with Yu''er in tow. They disappeared in an instant.


    Afar, from Chiyang Peak, the Mountain Lords, holy maidens, and Yuqing disciples rushed toward the source of themotion.


    Back at Chiyang Peak, Xiao Nanfeng''s revtion had left the Yuqing disciples at a loss for words.


    After a moment of tense silence, Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng, if you''re lying, the Yuqing Grandmaster will surely pursue this matter in the future."


    "I have a clear conscience," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly. "I haven''t lied, and I fear no reckoning from the Yuqing Grandmaster. I wonder if you who have monopolized the purple moon illusory realm in his name should be worried instead."


    Sage Qingyun scowled. "What audacity! Have you forgotten the kindness that the Taiqing Immortal Sect owes the Yuqing holynd?"


    "Mountain Lord Xia was the one who protected the Taiqing Immortal Sect, not you. Sage Qingyun, have you ever spoken a word in defense of the Taiqing Immortal Sect?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.


    "How dare you!" Sage Qingyun thundered.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned back to Shi Tianbei and took a deep breath. "Hierarch Shi, esteemed Mountain Lords, I''m not the one attempting to cause trouble here. Rather, Sage Qingyun has been intent on stirring up hostilities¡ªhis arrogance, his desire to treat me as an enemy, to rile up tensions between Yuqing and Taiqing. What''s his motive?"


    Beside him, Xia Xingchen added, "Exactly. Xiao Nanfeng is here to pay me a visit, and he''s not nning to stay for long. He''ll be leaving shortly. What''s there to argue about?"


    The other Mountain Lords nced at Sage Qingyun curiously. Xiao Nanfeng did seem like a reasonable person. Couldn''t Sage Qingyun have handled this more diplomatically?


    Shi Tianbei frowned. He too turned toward Sage Qingyun as doubt crept into his mind. Was he incapable of handling matters properly?


    Sage Qingyun stiffened as the tide of opinion turned against him.


    @@novelbin@@


    Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Let me rify: the Yuqing holynd and Taiqing Immortal Sect are allies. As the master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, I have no intention of causing trouble here. The Heavenly Emperor bestowed upon me the Yuqing Yin Body, and my idental discovery of the purple moon illusory realm was purely a coincidence. I''ve merelye to visit old friends and will leave shortly after."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s exnation reassured the crowd, many of whom nodded in agreement. Xiao Nanfeng had strong ties to Xia Xingchen and other Mountain Lords like Yang Chuan and the Demon Child. Why would he jeopardize his rtionship with the Yuqing holynd?


    Sage Qingyun was glowering. Was he to be held responsible for the entire mess, then?


    The crowd began to nod approvingly at Xiao Nanfeng.


    Shi Tianbei finally relented. "It seems that this was a misunderstanding on my part. Xia Xingchen, see that Sect Master Xiao receives a proper wee."


    Xia Xingchen nodded. "Naturally, Hierarch."


    Sage Qingyun could only grit his teeth in silence.


    At that moment, a deafening explosion erupted in the distance.


    "Hierarch, your residence has been destroyed!" someone shouted.


    "What?!" the crowd eximed.


    From afar, mes and debris shot into the sky as the remains of Shi Tianbei''s residence copsed. Disciples and purple-furred monsters scrambled in the chaos.


    Shi Tianbei''s eyes widened as he thundered, "Who dares destroy my residence?!"


    His face livid with rage, he shot toward the explosion, followed closely by the other Mountain Lords and Yuqing disciples, leaving Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Xingchen standing by the foot of Chiyang Peak.


    Xia Xingchen suspected what had happened. He had seen Yu''er and Xia Zi sneaking away earlier, and knew of their grievances against Shi Tianbei. They were the likely culprits.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, please go have a look. I''m worried about Yu''er and the others," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He hadn''t expected Yu''er to make such a big fuss, himself. Blowing up the hierarch''s residence...


    Xia Xingchen nodded and flew over, but Xiao Nanfeng didn''t follow him. He waited patiently where he was.


    Before long, Yu''er and a visibly shaken Xia Zi returned.


    "Yu''er, did you really blow up Shi Tianbei''s residence?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, simultaneously amused and exasperated.


    He didn''t harangue Yu''er; he was upset at Shi Tianbei himself. If he could have, he would have in Shi Tianbei for his discourtesy.


    "He deserves it! But no, that wasn''t my intention. I was trying to im something from his residence, but Shi Tianbei must have made it the core of his formation. After I removed it, the whole formation exploded automatically. Luckily, I was able to get away," Yu''er said smugly.


    "Are you alright?" Xiao Nanfeng asked worriedly.


    "Of course! I''m not hurt," Yu''er replied confidently.


    Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief, then frowned at Xia Zi. "Senior Brother Xia Zi, how could you have allowed such a thing? What if Yu''er had been injured?"


    Xia Zi grimaced. "As if I could stop her."


    "It''s fine, it''s fine! Let''s head back to Chiyang Peak for now," Yu''er urged, eager to change the subject.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng nod as the three cultivators ascended the peak. Before long, Xia Xingchen returned as well.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, how''s the situation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "It''s a mess. Shi Tianbei seems to have lost something very important. He''s ordered the disciples to scour the realm."


    "Oh?"


    Xia Xingchen turned to Xia Zi and roared, "Who told you to make a fuss?"


    Xia Zi stiffened. "Yu''er insisted!"


    "You''re her elder brother. Don''t you think you should have stopped her? What if something had happened to her?" Xia Xingchen red at Xia Zi.


    Xia Zi: ...


    Yu''er had been the one to pull him along! Why was everyone ming him now?


    "Yu''er, just what did you end up stealing from Shi Tianbei?" Xia Xingchen asked curiously.


    "That piece of golden jade that Shi Tianbei used to curse us."


    "Oh?" Xia Xingchen raised an eyebrow. "That golden jade is one of Shi Tianbei''s treasures. He never lets it out of his sight. How could he have left it in his residence?"


    "Who knows? When I snuck in, I found a huge formation with the golden jade as its core. The formation was as hot as a furnace¡ªwho knows what sort of sinister art he was practicing?" Yu''er recalled.


    "Forget it. We can''t let anyone know of this," Xia Xingchen warned.


    "Worry not, Mountain Lord Xia. I was intending to leave with Yu''er in the first ce. Once we leave the purple moon illusory realm, Shi Tianbei won''t be able to cause trouble for her," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    Only then did Xia Xingchen nod. "Very well. There''s no time to lose. Leave immediately."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    "Father, I''m not going to say anything to anyone, but Brother''s talkative. You should make sure he remains silent," Yu''er said.


    Everyone turned to Xia Zi, who stiffened again. He sighed in exasperation. How had he ended up with such a sister?


    "Don''t worry. If he reveals anything, I''ll skin him," Xia Xingchen promised.


    Xia Zi: ...


    Why had he let his sister drag him into this stupid heist?!

 Chapter 891: Pursuing Xiao Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 891: Pursuing Xiao Nanfeng</h4>


    In the purple moon illusory realm, where Shi Tianbei''s residence had once been, there was now nothing but rubble. Shi Tianbei''s disciples had been dispatched to search for the culprit, leaving the hierarch alone amidst the ruins. Soon, Sage Qingyun returned.


    "Has there been any news?" Shi Tianbei pressed.


    "We sealed the four Heavenly Gates immediately. Everyone who enters or exits has to register and undergo inspection. We questioned those near the gates as well, but there were no unknown individuals reported leaving. My subordinates are still searching the realm. Could one of the Yuqing disciples have done it?" Sage Qingyun spected, frowning.


    "Impossible. The formations around my residence cannot be approached by anyone below the Boundless Immortal or Deific Yin realms. All the Yuqing cultivators at those realms were at Chiyang Peak. How could it have been someone from Yuqing?" Shi Tianbei replied.


    "Could it have been someone Xiao Nanfeng brought in, then?" Sage Qingyun suggested.


    Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes. He frowned.


    "Only Yuqing cultivators and Xiao Nanfeng have ess to the purple moon illusory realm at present. I simply can''t think of any other culprits," Sage Qingyun continued.


    "We''re heading to Chiyang Peak," Shi Tianbei ordered.


    "Understood!"


    The two cultivators flew into the air and quickly arrived at Chiyang Peak.


    "Hierarch, what brings you here? Have you caught the troublemaker?" Xia Xingchen asked immediately.


    Beside him, Xia Zi remained calm, though his heart raced anxiously.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, where is Xiao Nanfeng? I have a few questions for him," Shi Tianbei replied.


    "Hierarch, I''m afraid you''re toote. Xiao Nanfeng has already departed."


    "Departed? This quickly?" Shi Tianbei frowned.


    "Hierarch, Xiao Nanfeng must be hiding something. That''s why he left in such a hurry," Sage Qingyun interjected.


    Xia Xingchen glowered. "Sage Qingyun, watch your words. What reason do you have to be suspicious of Xiao Nanfeng?"


    Sage Qingyun was about to argue when Shi Tianbei stopped him. "Why did Xiao Nanfeng leave so quickly?"


    "Everyone knew he intended to leave after catching up with me. There was nothing unexpected about it," Xia Xingchen replied.


    Shi Tianbei nodded. "I see. Thank you for the information, Mountain Lord Xia."


    "It''s nothing. Might I ask what you wanted with Xiao Nanfeng, Hierarch?"


    "Since he''s gone, it doesn''t matter now."


    After a brief exchange, Shi Tianbei and Sage Qingyun departed.


    After they had left, Xia Xingchen frowned.


    "Father, does he suspect that Yu''er and I went to his residence?" Xia Zi asked anxiously.


    "Don''t speak nonsense. You and Yu''er never did such a thing," Xia Xingchen replied sternly.


    "Understood!" Xia Zi immediately fell silent, understanding the need for caution. Others might be spying on them from afar.


    As Shi Tianbei and Sage Qingyun flew away from Chiyang Peak, Sage Qingyun hurriedly said, "Hierarch, Xiao Nanfeng''s departure is suspicious, isn''t it?"


    "Inform everyone to pursue Xiao Nanfeng. Do not let him leave the purple moon illusory realm," Shi Tianbeimanded.


    "Hierarch, I''m afraid it''s toote. If he really were responsible, he must have sent a Boundless Immortal to do the job."


    "Even if that''s the case, we must pursue him. Time is of the essence. Notify everyone to search for Xiao Nanfeng immediately," Shi Tianbei ordered sharply.


    "Understood!"


    Within the purple moon illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er flew rapidly toward the boundary of the Eastern Sea "Where are we headed?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "I opened up a portal to the purple moon illusory realm in Yongding, so we can only leave this realm there. Just follow me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Very well!" Yu''er nodded.


    The two cultivators flew for some time. Just as they were about to close in on Yongding, a figure suddenly shot toward them from afar.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng immediately pulled Yu''er behind him.


    A strong gust of wind blew past the two of them as Sage Qingyun overtook them.


    "I''ve caught you, Xiao Nanfeng! As I expected, you came to Yongding," Sage Qingyun shouted triumphantly.


    He had guessed that Xiao Nanfeng would approach Yongding, but not from which direction. He had rushed over without finding any useful clues whatsoever, but was lucky enough to have caught Xiao Nanfeng before he managed to escape.


    "What do you want, Sage Qingyun?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He swiftly retrieved a body from his storage¡ªthe body of the Boundless Immortal Li Six, which he had acquired not too long ago. He possessed the body immediately, then turned toward Sage Qingyun.


    Seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s guarded stance, Sage Qingyun frowned. He had wanted to attack him several times, but was worried that he had Boundless Immortal allies in the vicinity.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, who gave you permission to bring Xia Yu''er away?" Sage Qingyun demanded.


    He didn''t mention the possessions that Shi Tianbei had lost. He was merely stalling for time. He had already signaled for his disciples to summon others.


    "It''s none of your business," Xiao Nanfeng replied tersely.


    "Xia Yu''er is a holy maiden of Yuqing, responsible for a task assigned by the Yuqing Grandmaster himself. She cannot leave the purple moon illusory realm at present. I''ll be bringing her back."


    Sage Qingyun had decided to argue over Yu''er to continue stalling Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Her father has given me permission. You have no right to object. Don''t push your luck, Sage Qingyun. You''ve meddled in my affairs more than you should have already. If you try to stop me, don''t me me for what happens next," Xiao Nanfeng warned coldly.


    Then, he grabbed Yu''er and continued flying toward Yongding. He could guess what Sage Qingyun was nning; he would have to leave the purple moon illusory realm immediately. He would be safe outside the realm.


    "Stop right there! I won''t let you leave before you exin yourself!" Sage Qingyun demanded.


    "Hegemon''s Fist!"


    Xiao Nanfeng sent a flurry of punches at Sage Qingyun, who nched and was forced to defend himself hastily. He hadn''t expected that Xiao Nanfeng would attack outright.


    Both cultivators reeled back from the force of the confrontation.


    Sage Qingyun was somewhat stronger than Li Six, but Xiao Nanfeng''s mastery of Hegemon''s Fist was enough topensate. The two were roughly tied in terms of strength.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, pulling Yu''er along with him.


    He could sense that something was amiss. They had to flee immediately.


    "Hold it! You aren''t allowed to leave!" Sage Qingyun shouted.


    "Yu''er, keep flying toward Yongding. I''ll deal with him," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Got it!" Yu''er flew off on her own.


    Xiao Nanfeng whirled around and threw another punch at Sage Qingyun.


    The punches collided in a massive explosion as Xiao Nanfeng and Sage Qingyun began to fight in mid-air.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to fly toward Yongding even as he evaded Sage Qingyun''s attacks. If he weren''t worried that Sage Qingyun would identally end up hurting Yu''er, he wouldn''t have bothered with this farce at all. Flying straight for Yongding was the best strategy at present.


    The intense fighting continued.


    Before long, the three cultivators were within range of Yongding¡ªonly for Sage Qingyun''s reinforcements to finally show up "Nanfeng, be careful!" Yu''er shouted worriedly.


    "Don''t worry. Portal, appear!" Xiao Nanfeng invoked.


    A shimmering purple portal opened up in the void.


    Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and others rushed in from the other side.


    "Who dares to touch His Majesty? Die!" Ye Sanshui roared.


    He shot up toward Sage Qingyun and punched forward, sending him flying. Sage Qingyun spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. A Mountain Lord emerging from behind barely managed to catch him in time.


    Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and the others guarded Yu''er and prevented others from drawing near.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, is this the unity between Taiqing and Yuqing that you invoked?"


    "Unity? I''m on good terms with Yang Chuan and the Demon Child, and allies with Mountain Lord Xia. Of course there''s unity between us. But I simply can''t stand Sage Qingyun''s antics. Should I allow him to kill me without any resistance? If you want to fight,e at me. Bickering with words is pointless," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.


    The Mountain Lord frowned and turned to Sage Qingyun. "Were you intending to kill Xiao Nanfeng?"


    "I simply wanted to stop him from leaving."


    "And what right do you have to stop me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    "You stole the hierarch''s treasure! You have to return it."


    "And what evidence do you have that I did such a thing? You''ve been maligning me ever since the start of my visit here."


    "Do you dare im that the explosion at the hierarch''s residence wasn''t your doing?"


    "Of course it''s not my doing! Are you crazy? Do you intend to take me as a scapegoat for everything that urs here?"


    "Who else could it be?"


    Xiao Nanfengughed. This was ridiculous. "Sage Qingyun, listen well. This supposed unity between Taiqing and Yuqing is no excuse for your repeated insults against me. Taiqing continues to repay Yuqing''s favor from the past. I am the master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. In terms of seniority, Shi Tianbei and I are equals. I will take any further usations against me as a direct challenge to my sect."


    "You¡ª" Sage Qingyun shouted.


    "I don''t care what you''ve lost. If you have no evidence to suggest that I was responsible, I advise you to keep your mouth shut. If you intend to continue maligning me, very well. I will await you at Yongding," Xiao Nanfeng dered coldly.


    Sage Qingyun red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    @@novelbin@@


    He, Yu''er, and his subordinates left the portal leading out of the purple moon illusory realm.


    Sage Qingyun could only watch helplessly as Xiao Nanfeng disappeared into Yongding.

 Chapter 893: Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes

    <h4>Chapter 893: Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes</h4>


    "You do have an idea, then? But you can''t speak of it?" Xiao Nanfeng nced at Blue Lantern with some confusion.


    Blue Lantern hesitated for some time before smiling wryly. "Your Majesty, may we speak of it in private?"


    Blue Lantern''s reluctance was clear. Understanding that the matter might be too sensitive to discuss in public, Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well."


    Xiao Nanfeng, Blue Lantern, and Yu''er returned to the imperial study.


    After a moment of silence, Blue Lantern''s expression grew increasingly conflicted. In the end, he sighed deeply. "Your Majesty, I''m not supposed to reveal this information, but I know how important this matter is to you. Since joining your court, I''ve seen how Dazheng has risen up and ovee challenge after challenge. Like Liu Miaoyin, I have faith in its future. This once, I will break my vow and confront my past mistakes."


    "Oh?"


    "My sect is known as the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes, and its founder was the hegemon of the era ny thousand years ago. He focused predominantly on formations, and just about all the greatest formations of the present originated from the sect," Blue Lantern began.


    "Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes? What a domineering name," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Thank you for thepliment, Your Majesty. From the primordial altar, our founder obtained a cursed effigy¡ªa bronzepass¡ªfrom the world beyond. With this bronzepass, he reached unparalleled heights, creating formations that could rival even the heavens. However, his formations were rooted in the earth, and fully unleashing them would have wiped out all living beings in the mortal realm. Knowing this, our founder chose not to deliver the final blow," Blue Lantern said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously.


    "Our founder''spassion ultimately led to his defeat. The heavens, fearing his might, massacred the people, then sealed the bronzepass and the remains of our sect within the wild wastes hidden realm. Furthermore, the heavens cursed the bronzepass, ensuring that the heavens would be alerted if he were ever to revive."


    "What happened next?"


    "Knowing that he would be targeted by the heavens, our founder made preparations in advance. He split the bronzepass into eight fragments to avoid the heavens'' curse, hoping that future generations would be able to inherit his legacy and fulfill his mission," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Your founder''s sacrifice was truly noble," Xiao Nanfeng remarked.


    "The Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes therefore fragmented into eight factions, each inheriting one piece of the bronzepass. The Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei are leaders of two such factions, and each possess a piece of thepass, granting them unparalleled mastery of formations. In addition, they can cast powerful curses. The curse on Yu''er was ced by Shi Tianbei using his fragment of the bronzepass, and only another fragment can undo it."


    "In other words, aside from the two fragments held by the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei, six are still unounted for?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Yes, but I heard that the remaining factions have since scattered. Most of the factions have left the wild wastes hidden realm and spread out across the world."


    "Do you not know where they went?"


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "I am entirely unaware, Your Majesty. They''ve likely changed their identities. I only became aware of the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei''s involvement recently thanks to Your Majesty."


    Xiao Nanfeng fell silent for a moment.


    "However, one faction, the one I belonged to, is likely still within the wild wastes hidden realm as a result of our special circumstances," Blue Lantern exined.


    "You mean that there''s still a piece of the bronzepass in the wild wastes hidden realm, then?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes lit up.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "It belongs to my faction. Unfortunately, as a result of a grave mistake I made long ago, I was expelled from the sect. I swore never to return or to reveal anything about it."


    Xiao Nanfeng now understood Blue Lantern''s predicament. He sighed. "I apologize for putting you in such a difficult position.


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "It''s alright. I''ve made peace with it, Your Majesty. I swore that I would bear whatever karmic cost came with breaking my oath. I''m willing to guide you to the wild wastes hidden realm to recover the piece of thepass. Your Majesty, I hope you''ll assist me in reiming it as well."


    "Of course. I''ll do everything I can to help. It benefits us both."


    "The wild wastes hidden realm is unusual. Due to the heavens'' restrictions, all cultivation is suppressed to the Golden Immortal realm, and higher-level cultivators will be targeted by the heavens. Your Majesty''s skills will be unmatched there," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Excellent news." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Your Majesty, please give me some time to prepare. I will lead you there once I''m ready."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Hold on! I have something you should see. Is it rted to the bronzepass?" Yu''er suddenly eximed.


    "Oh?" Both cultivators turned to her.


    Yu''er took out a long piece of golden jade that shimmered faintly.


    "This is..." Blue Lantern''s eyes widened.


    "This is the golden jade that Shi Tianbei used as the source of his formation when he cursed me. I stole it. What does it do?"


    "Blue Lantern, are you familiar with this item?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern smiled wryly. "Xia Yu''er truly is lucky."


    "Oh? What treasure is this?" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    "This is one of the eight pure yang pirs of the wild wastes hidden realm. It contains pure yang energy."


    "A pure yang pir?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Indeed. The eight pure yang pirs were left behind by none other than our founder, and can absorb pure yang energy from the world. They''ve done so for ny thousand years, and contain a vast supply of energy. They can even resist heavenlyw. The grave crime Imitted was to cause one of the pirs to topple, leading to cmity within the wild wastes hidden realm. I was expelled from the sect as a result. The eight pure yang pirs were eventually split up among the eight factions. To think you managed to steal Shi Tianbei''s pir! He must be beyond furious..." Blue Lantern murmured.


    "This is called a pure yang pir? How do I use it, then?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "Your Majesty, you once asked how the Immortal Emperor of Dachi was able to advance so many of his subordinates to the Boundless Immortal realm. I was worried about revealing the secrets of my sect then, so I didn''t borate. Now, I will. If I''m not mistaken, he likely used the energy within his pure yang pir to infuse his subordinates with yang energy and facilitate their breakthroughs."


    "One pir can create a whole batch of Boundless Immortals?" Yu''er''s eyes widened.


    "Indeed. Shi Tianbei may have done the same, though he must have kept it hidden."


    Yu''er grimaced. She turned toward Xiao Nanfeng, who nodded. "Don''t worry. I''ll let Father-in-Law know immediately so he can be prepared."


    Yu''er blushed. "Who said he''s your father-inw?"


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled and turned back to Blue Lantern. "Can Yu''er directly absorb the energy from this pure yang pir?"


    "I''m afraid Xia Yu''er won''t be able to digest it. If possible, you should absorb the energy within, Your Majesty."


    "Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "This is pure yang energy. Shi Tianbei and the Immortal Emperor of Dachi must have imparted it only to men; women risk developing masculine traits, such as facial hair and the like," Blue Lantern replied. [1]


    Yu''er''s eyes widened. "I wouldn''t dare absorb this energy. Nanfeng, you take it." Yu''er passed the pure yang pir to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed.


    "Don''t worry. What''s mine is yours," Yu''er said.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled gently and nodded. "Thank you."


    Blue Lantern frowned. "Right, you mentioned that Shi Tianbei used this pure yang pir to erect a formation, and that his residence lies underneath a Yuqing yin pir. Is that so?"


    "That''s right! What''s the matter?" Yu''er asked.


    "Perhaps Shi Tianbei will feel the loss of his pure yang pir more acutely than I imagined," Blue Lantern said,ughing.


    "What do you mean?"


    "The Yuqing yin pir is pure yin in nature. Only the Yuqing Grandmaster was able to corral this energy and control it despite being a man; no other male cultivator would be able to do so. This was why he arranged for twelve holy maidens to absorb the pirs, rather than the twelve Mountain Lords."


    "We previously hypothesized that one of the holy maidens was a decoy, and that Shi Tianbei was absorbing the Yuqing yin pir in her ce. Did he need this pure yang pir to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Indeed, Your Majesty. Even Shi Tianbei is unlikely to be able to control the pure yin energy from the Yuqing yin pir on his own. He needs the pure yang pir to ward off its effects."


    "In that case, can Shi Tianbei continue absorbing energy from the pir?" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    @@novelbin@@


    "In theory, yes, but strange things may happen." Blue Lantern smiled.


    "What things?" Yu''er pressed.


    "If he cannot suppress the pure yin energy, Shi Tianbei may exhibit feminine traits."


    "Is the yin energy from the Yuqing yin pirs that strong?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It''s possible," Blue Lantern replied.


    In Yu''er''s mind, an image rose unbidden: Shi Tianbei having lost his beard, with protrusions on his chest, daintily holding a handkerchief in his hand, and smiling coyly.


    She shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her skin.


    1. Makes you wonder if pure yang energy is just testosterone... ?

 Chapter 896: Fenghuangs Calamity

    <h4>Chapter 896: Fenghuang''s Cmity</h4>


    Blue Jade sobbed bitterly. Blue Lantern hugged and consoled her as he treated her wounds.


    Meanwhile, the golden cultivators rapidly took down the eight Golden Immortals and sent them flying.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Damn it, who are you?"


    "Did Blue Lantern bring reinforcements from the outside?"


    "Blue Lantern, didn''t you swear never to return? What are you doing here?!"


    The eight Golden Immortals shouted angrily as they attempted to retaliate, but the golden cultivators were particrly strong. They were forced to retreat time and time again.


    "Keep them engaged one-on-one! If you can''t find a target, help me!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Got it!" the golden cultivators chorused.


    Seven of the golden cultivators each took on one Golden Immortal, while the remaining five teamed up against thest one.


    "Take this!" Ye Dafu shouted, punching forward.


    "Die!" the other four golden cultivators shouted simultaneously.


    The five golden cultivators''bined attack unleashed a devastating burst of mes. The unfortunate Golden Immortal spat out a mouthful of blood as bones cracked all over his body. He fell unconscious instantly.


    "Senior Brother!" a Golden Immortal shouted.


    "Next one!" Ye Dafu shouted.


    "Understood!" the golden cultivators chorused.


    The Golden Immortals'' eyes widened. This wasn''t good. Blue Lantern had yet to make a move, and neither had the male and female duo standing to the side. If they were to keep fighting, they would all perish.


    "Run!" a Golden Immortal shouted.


    "As if we''d let you!" Ye Dafu and the others surrounded the Golden Immortals.


    Instead of flying away, however, the Golden Immortals simply raised their hands and summoned golden runes. They touched the runes and disappeared in a sh.


    "They escaped?" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "It''s a formation¡ªsome sort of spatial teleportation!" a golden cultivator shouted.


    "Damn it, the formations in here are all so odd! Search for them!" Ye Dafumanded, frustrated.


    Despite their efforts, the group couldn''t find any trace of the formations that the Golden Immortals had used. They simply didn''t understand such advanced formations. Blue Lantern, the only expert, was upied with Blue Jade.


    "At least we captured one. Seal his cultivation to make sure he can''t escape," Ye Dafu said.


    The golden cultivators rushed forward and sealed the Golden Immortal.


    By then, Blue Lantern had calmed Blue Jade down. After venting and being healed by Blue Lantern, she recovered enough to look around. When she noticed how many other cultivators there were, she blushed and pulled away from Blue Lantern, then stood to one side.


    "Blue Lantern, the others escaped," Ye Dafu groused.


    "It''s fine. Even if I had intervened, I couldn''t have stopped them. It doesn''t matter. We''ll find them eventually within the wild wastes hidden realm¡ªand none of them will escape my reckoning." His eyes glinted with cold determination.


    "You can track them? You should have said so earlier!" Ye Dafu rolled his eyes.


    "Blue Lantern, is this your junior sister? Won''t you introduce her to us?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "This is my junior sister, Blue Jade," Blue Lantern began at once. He turned to Blue Jade. "Blue Jade, this is my liege, Emperor Xiao Nanfeng of Dazheng, and his consort, Xia Yu''er. These are my colleagues, Ye Dafu, ..."


    Blue Jade nced at Blue Lantern in surprise. She remembered Blue Lantern as a proud and aloof individual. Countless Immortal Emperors had sought his aid, yet he never even spared them a nce. How could he be serving a mere ordinary emperor now?


    Nevertheless, she wouldn''t dare show disrespect to anyone Blue Lantern introduced.


    "I greet Emperor Xiao and everyone else present." She sketched a bow.


    "There''s no need for such formality, Miss. It''s our first meeting, so please ept this small gift from Yu''er and me." Xiao Nanfeng handed a treasure to Yu''er, who passed it to Blue Jade. "Please take it."


    Blue Jade instantly identified the treasure as a Golden Immortal treasure¡ªrare and precious, by her standards. Was Xiao Nanfeng giving them away so freely?


    She looked incredulously at Blue Lantern, who nodded.


    Blue Jade bowed again. "Thank you, Emperor Xiao, Miss Xia."


    Yu''er smiled in return, as did Xiao Nanfeng. A Golden Immortal treasure was still rather precious by his standards, but giving it to Blue Jade wasn''t a waste. For one, they would need Blue Jade''s help to acquire the fragment of the bronzepass for Blue Lantern.For another, Blue Jade seemed to harbor feelings for Blue Lantern. She might well join Dazheng herself as an official, and would use that treasure to benefit Dazheng.


    "Blue Jade, what''s been going on all these years? Why were those fools hunting you? What happened to our faction''s mountain? And where are the other disciples?" Blue Lantern asked.


    Tears welled up in Blue Jade''s eyes. "Many of our senior brothers and sisters are dead, and the mountain pass has been destroyed..."


    "It''s alright. Speak slowly," Blue Lantern murmured,forting her.


    Blue Jade had always been resilient, but for some reason, she couldn''t seem to hold back her emotions in front of Blue Lantern.


    "After you were expelled from the wild wastes hidden realm, the leaders of each faction gradually left as well. Some powerful cultivators from our sect remained behind, but five centuries ago, during our master''s birthday celebration, they suddenly attacked him in an attempt to seize his bronzepass. On that cmitous day, our mountain was utterly destroyed, and most of our faction was killed. It was only thanks to thepass that our master managed to save a few of us and escape."


    "But Father was more than a match for anyone else in the sect. How could he have failed to stop them?" Blue Lantern eximed.


    "There was a traitor in our sect. He poisoned Master, and Master didn''t expect that the other seven factions would be willing to cooperate against him," Blue Jade exined.


    "And didn''t Father take revengeter?" Blue Lantern asked.


    Blue Jade looked down. "Master was too badly injured. By the time he escaped with us, he was already..."


    "Already what?" Blue Lantern suddenly had a bad feeling.


    "He was dead, and his soul had dissipated. Only with tremendous willpower and fortitude did he manage to stabilize his truesoul. He''s been in aatose state all these years, immobile and barely regaining consciousness for brief moments every now and then."


    "What? How could this be? Isn''t Father in possession of the bronzepass? Even if he were to die, he should have been able to transform into a cursed effigy!" Blue Lantern cried out, shaken.


    "I don''t know. Over the years, the rest of us disciples have been hunted down one after the other. The seven other factions have been pursuing us ever since, and have even tried to lure us out with fake news. Many of the senior disciples have been caught¡ªtortured to death, or forged into puppets," Blue Jade murmured.


    "My father''s a living corpse, now?" Blue Lantern''s voice was trembling.


    He teared up. He still remembered his father''s disappointed and angry expression when he expelled him from the sect, a fateful meeting that he had now learned was thest time he would ever see his father alive. The grief of hearing this news overwhelmed him.


    "Senior Brother, I''ll take you to see Master," Blue Jade said.


    "Please," Blue Lantern said hoarsely, his eyes red.


    By the side, Xiao Nanfeng and the others nced at Blue Lantern gravely without speaking. They could all sense Blue Lantern''s grief.


    Blue Jade led the way through the wild wastes hidden realm.


    Meanwhile, back in the purple moon illusory realm, Shi Tianbei''s residence had been restored.


    Shi Tianbei sat cross-legged on a praying mat. A formation sent waves of roiling heat toward Shi Tianbei, but even that was insufficient to stop frost creeping over his body. He gave off an aura of intense chill that suppressed the heat from his surroundings.


    "Damn it¡ªthis pure yin energy can''t be countered even with quintessential voidme!" Shi Tianbei cursed.


    The next moment, his face went ck. His voice had somehow be androgynous.


    His expression darkened. He touched his throat, suppressing the yin energy in his body as his voice returned to normal. "Xia Yu''er, Xiao Nanfeng, once I recover my pure yang pir, I''ll make you both regret you were ever born!"


    Just then, Sage Qingyun shouted from outside, "Hierarch, I have urgent news to report!"


    "Speak," Shi Tianbei said, dispelling the formations around him and causing the doors to the hall to open up.


    Sage Qingyun rushed into the hall, not noticing Shi Tianbei''s irregrities. He began, "Hierarch, I have news about Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er''s whereabouts."


    "Oh?" Shi Tianbei frowned.


    "There''s been word from the wild wastes hidden realm. Blue Lantern has returned and saved Blue Jade. Xiao Nanfeng, Xia Yu''er, and twelve of Xiao Nanfeng''s Golden Immortal subordinates are present," Sage Qingyun reported.


    "They''re in the wild wastes hidden realm?" Shi Tianbei frowned.


    "Yes, Hierarch."


    Shi Tianbei suddenly stood up as he glowered. "To think Blue Lantern would be so skilled with formations. No wonder Xiao Nanfeng was able to discover my curse. Blue Lantern must have realized what was going on. Damn it!"


    "Hierarch, do you think they''re going after a fragment of the bronzepass to help Xia Yu''er dispel her curse?" Sage Qingyun asked.


    "Undoubtedly," Shi Tianbei replied.


    "What do we do now?"


    "Let them try. The other factions won''t sit idly by. The Fenghuang faction head is all but dead, and won''t be of any help. If Blue Lantern wants to dispel the curse, he has to attune to the fragment of the bronzepass. There will be a significant disturbance, and the other factions will surely make a move. The other faction heads are already heading toward the wild wastes hidden realm," Shi Tianbei said.


    "They''re returning? What about us?"


    "We''ll return as well."


    "But we''ve already established ourselves in the Yuqing holynd! If our identities are exposed..."


    "Blue Lantern has already recognized us. There''s no hiding our identities now. Forget all that," Shi Tianbei said brusquely.


    "Understood!"

 Chapter 897: Seven Factions Gather

    <h4>Chapter 897: Seven Factions Gather</h4>


    In the Eastern Sea, where the new draconic pce had just been erected, a group of sea spirits bowed respectfully to Ao Zhou, who was seated proudly on a draconic throne.


    "We greet the Dragon King! Long live the Dragon King!"


    "Haha, very good!" Ao Zhouughed in satisfaction.


    Nearby, smaller dragons guided the sea spirits to present their tribute and offerings in another area.


    Although the new draconic pce wasn''t very influential as yet, Ao Zhou now ruled a small patch of the sea as a self-proimed Dragon King. He reveled in the freedom of his domain, almost like a bandit lord up in the mountains.


    "This is the life! Someday, I''ll conquer a vast empire, one greater than Xiao Nanfeng''s! I''ll make him regret not choosing me as a guardian beast of Dazheng and not currying favor with me, haha!" Ao Zhou envisioned a grand future ahead of him.


    Just then, a small dragon rushed over. "Dragon King, a group of ck-robed figures has just appeared in the north. They''re setting up arge formation over an extensive area, and they''ve driven all the nearby spirits away. When I went to investigate, they beat me up and tossed me out."


    "What? Who dares cause trouble on my turf? Didn''t you mention my name?" Ao Zhou demanded.


    "I did, but they said that the Imperial Court is gone, that you''re just a relic of a bygone era. As for the new Eastern Sea Dragon King, they think it''s all a joke.


    "What? Take me there. I want to see who''s so brazen!" Ao Zhou roared in fury.


    He gathered a force of lobster soldiers and crab generals as he personally led the charge toward the ind on which the wild wastes hidden realm was located.


    Even before they could approach the area, they were faced with multipleyers of defensive formations illuminating the surface of the sea. Gold, green, and purple lights shimmered across the water. Numerous ck-robed cultivators hovered above the sea, maniptingpasses to send waves of energy toward the nearby ind and causing the surrounding void to tremble violently.


    Ao Zhou, surfacing from the water with his followers, was taken aback by the sight.


    "Look at their robes! It''s like they belong to several different factions. What are they doing on that ind?" a spirit murmured.


    "There must be some incredible treasure on that ind!" Ao Zhou''s eyes lit up with greed and excitement.


    The ck-robed cultivators noticed the arrival of the spirits, but ignored them and focused on their formations.


    "You there! You thieves dare steal from me, the Dragon King? Do you want to die?" Ao Zhou roared.


    The ck-robed cultivators turned to Ao Zhou for an instant, but the majority then ignored him and returned their attention to the ind. Only a few continued to keep their eyes on him.


    "Are you all deaf? Where did all of youe from?" Ao Zhou thundered again.


    "Scram!" one ck-robed cultivator shouted.


    Ao Zhou was entirely outraged. Even if they didn''t recognize his authority as Dragon King, they should know that he was once a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, a Golden Immortal in his own right! How dare these random ck-robed cultivators tell him to scram?


    "You insolent fools! Looks like I''ll have to teach you a lesson!" Ao Zhou thundered.


    He transformed into a massive ck dragon and unleashed a powerful roar. His draconic aura stirred up towering waves, which surged toward the group of ck-robed figures with overwhelming force.


    Confident in his power as a Golden Immortal, Ao Zhou believed that he could destroy the formation in one move and teach these intruders a lesson they''d never forget.


    To his shock, however, the ck-robed figures didn''t react defensively. Only one stepped forward and raised a hand.


    A gigantic palm-shaped construct of energy formed in the air and struck Ao Zhou''s body with incredible strength.


    "A Boundless Immortal?!" Ao Zhou eximed.


    The massive palm sent him flying. Blood spurted from his mouth; he fell, gravely injured.


    "King!" The spirits rushed over to his side in fear.


    "How can that be? Where did these Boundless Immortalse from?" Ao Zhou muttered in disbelief.


    The ck-robed figure who struck Ao Zhou appeared to be nothing but a subordinate. He turned and addressed another figure nearby. "Master, should I kill Ao Zhou?"


    Hearing this, Ao Zhou froze in terror. He observed the ind more carefully and noticed that the ck-robed cultivators were divided into seven distinct factions, each of which seemed to be on guard against the others. The figure who had just attacked him wasn''t even the leader of his faction. Just how many Boundless Immortals were gathered there?


    "Retreat!" Ao Zhou shouted. Without any hesitation, he dove into the sea and fled.


    The other sea spirits quickly followed suit and vanished into the depths.


    The ck-robed cultivators exchanged nces, but didn''t pursue him. They resumed their work on the formation.


    After some time, the void rippled as a portal emerged over the ind.


    The ck-robed cultivators collectively sighed in relief.


    "Everyone, the entrance to the wild wastes hidden realm has been opened. Who wishes to enter first?"


    The cultivators all hesitated.


    "Let the Golden Immortals test it first," another cultivator said.


    Two ck-robed cultivators from each faction cautiously entered the portal, flew about inside for a while, and then re-emerged unscathed.


    "Golden Immortals can pass through without issue," the cultivator confirmed. "Now, Boundless Immortals."


    A Boundless Immortal from each faction stepped forward. The first one entered the portal, but the moment he did so, a gigantic white hand materialized from within the wild wastes hidden realm and grabbed at him.


    "No good!" the Boundless Immortal hissed.


    He struck at the hand with all his might, but it didn''t budge. At thest second, he managed to flee from the portal just in time.


    "Heaven''s Hand? It looks like the restrictions on the realm haven''t been lifted. Boundless Immortals are still heavily suppressed within," someonemented.


    The other Boundless Immortals also tested the portal, but all suffered the same issue.


    "Now that the entrance is open, who intends to enter?" one cultivator asked.


    The factions all remained silent.


    "Blue Lantern has returned. His father, despite his stubbornness, is likely to leave the bronzepass to him. If Blue Lantern obtains it, we''ll lose the chance to seize it for ourselves for good. Isn''t anyone willing to challenge him?" another cultivator urged.


    "The faction leaders certainly won''t be able to enter. Boundless Immortals are suppressed within tnhis realm. Who would take the risk?"


    The cultivators fell silent. Just then, a female cultivator spoke up. "It''s not entirely impossible for a Boundless Immortal to enter. I have a protection token that can permit safe entry for a Boundless Immortal. Does anyone desire it?"


    She raised a piece of white jade in the air.


    "A protection token?" The ck-robed cultivators all turned to the woman.


    "It''s a token imbued with the aura of the heavens, one issued by a saint. Its wielder will be overlooked by the heavens when they summon a cmity to attack the world¡ªit''s a free pass to survival," the woman exined.


    "In other words, something granted to those who have be a saint''sckeys?" one cultivator asked.


    "More or less. We''ve tried it out, and these tokens can also safeguard their wielders from the heavens'' restrictions in certain hidden realms. I expect the same is true here. Allow me to demonstrate."


    She entered the portal with the token in hand. As she did so, the token shielded her in white light. Though she gave off a Boundless Immortal''s aura, no Heaven''s Hand emerged to suppress her.


    The woman walked back out. "As you can see, the protection token works. It permits a single Boundless Immortal to enter. Who is willing to do so and seize the bronzepass?"


    "Why not enter yourself?" one cultivator asked.


    "I''d like to, but my father won''t allow it. He wishes to leave the chance to the senior disciples gathered here today." The woman smiled.


    "You''re Su Qingchan, aren''t you? If I''m not mistaken, you were on good terms with Blue Lantern in the past. Don''t you want to see how he''s doing?" someone asked.


    "Senior Uncle, everyone was only able to leave the wild wastes hidden realm back then because of me. Isn''t it rather impolite of you to mock me over such matters now?" Su Qingchan retorted.


    "Chan''er, mind your manners," another ck-robed cultivator warned sternly.


    "Understood." Su Qingchan nodded. She turned to address the others. "Opening the entrance to the wild wastes hidden realm was a coborative effort. Whoever ends up with the bronzepass canpensate the other factions. Our faction will notpete for it."


    "That''s easy for you to say. Taking the bronzepass from the Fenghuang faction is equivalent to severing them from their inheritance and making them sworn enemies. You''re afraid they''ll curse you with their dying breaths, aren''t you? Those Boundless Immortals who enter will either fail or perish alongside the Fenghuang faction. You simply don''t want to die¡ªyou''re hoping others will do so for you while you wait out here to collect the spoils!" another ck-robed cultivator shouted.


    Su Qingchen replied calmly, "Senior Uncle, if you''re unwilling to enter, no one''s forcing you to do so."


    "Insolence," the ck-robed man replied with a snort.


    @@novelbin@@


    Su Qingchan ignored him and turned to the other cultivators. "Our faction will not take the lead. If no one else is willing to enter, let''s leave it at that."


    The cultivators exchanged nces. The factions were all hesitating. Gradually, they formed small clusters and erected soundproof formations to conduct private discussions.


    Among them were Shi Tianbei and Sage Qingyun, both garbed in ck.


    "Qingyun, you enter." Shi Tianbei sent Sage Qingyun a mental transmission.


    "Me? Hierarch, I''m not worried of Blue Lantern or Xiao Nanfeng, but I''m worried that the Fenghuang faction head will curse me," Sage Qingyun replied anxiously.


    "Don''t worry about securing the bronzepass. Simply catch Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er," Shi Tianbei replied.


    "Ah? That''s much better. I''ll do it!"


    "Speak up, then."


    Sage Qingyun nodded. "Hand me the token. I''ll go in."


    All the cultivators turned toward Sage Qingyun.


    Many wondered what he was doing, but now that someone had volunteered, they halted their discussions.


    Sage Qingyun flew toward Su Qingchan, who handed him the protection token. "In that case, we''ll count on you. We''ll send some of our cultivators to apany you."


    "Very well," Sage Qingyun replied.


    Several subordinates from each faction apanied Sage Qingyun through the portal.


    Wielding the protection token in hand, Sage Qingyun was immune from the restrictions in the hidden realm. They flew deep within.


    With a loud boom, the ck-robed figures outside withdrew their power, and the void portal sealed shut. They settled down and prepared to wait.

 Chapter 898: Acquiring the Bronze Compass

    <h4>Chapter 898: Acquiring the Bronze Compass</h4>


    In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfneg''s avatar was reviewing official documents when amotion arose outside.


    "I have to see Xiao Nanfeng! Don''t block my way¡ªI have urgent matters to discuss!" Ao Zhou shouted.


    "Dragon King Ao Zhou, please wait a moment. I''ll report your arrival."


    "Don''t! By the time you finish, my injuries will have healed. These wounds were inflicted as a result of my loyalty to Dazheng! Get out of my way!"


    "This is against protocol, Dragon King. Please wait a moment."


    The scuffle and argument outside grew louder.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and set down his brush. "It''s fine. Let him in."


    "Understood!" the guards replied.


    Momentster, Ao Zhou entered the study, his face slightly swollen and his body covered in blood.


    "What happened to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, puzzled.


    "Look at me! These injuries were all for the sake of Dazheng. You have to seek justice on my behalf!" Ao Zhou cried out.


    "What''s going on?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "A group of ck-robed cultivators came to the Eastern Sea, iming that they wanted to demolish the Eastern Sea Draconic Pce and set a trap to lure you there. Look what they did to me! It was all because I refused to cooperate with their plot against you!" Ao Zhou shouted indignantly.


    "They want to scheme against me? Who are they?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "How should I know? They''re still setting up a formation over there. They said that you''d be doomed this time! When I told them that you were once the Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court, they mocked you, saying that you were nothing, that they were intent on taking you down!" Ao Zhou continued, spinning up lies without batting an eye.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, sensing that Ao Zhou wasn''t being entirely truthful.


    "Why are you looking at me like that? Don''t you believe me? If you don''t,e with me and see for yourself! There''s a whole group of them, a coalition with seven factions and several Boundless Immortals. You''ll know when you see it," Ao Zhou urged, attempting to drag Xiao Nanfeng into the fray.


    He knew that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t particrly strong himself, but he knew two strong Immortal Emperors. It would be best if Xiao Nanfeng headed there with the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin to avenge him.


    "Where are they setting up this array?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Ao Zhou quickly described where he had been beaten up¡ªthe ind leading into the wild wastes hidden realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng immediately guessed the truth. They had to be the seven other factions of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes gathering for an assault, likely after sensing Blue Lantern''s return. Ao Zhou, that shameless liar, was just trying to bait him into the conflict.


    "Let''s go! They probably haven''t gone far. I''ll lead the way. Right, you''d better get the Divine Emperor, Liu Miaoyin, and Yang Chuan and the others to join you. They''re strong, I''m telling you. If they manage to flee, you''ll be done for!" Ao Zhou was clearly being very ''considerate'' of Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at Ao Zhou with a wry look on his face. Though Ao Zhou''s motives were self-serving, his information had been critical. The other seven factions of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes had indeed noticed Blue Lantern''s return and were preparing to attack.


    Within a fog-shrouded forest in the wild wastes hidden realm, Blue Jade brought Blue Lantern and the others toward the mouth of a valley.


    Within the valley were novish and ornate pces, just simple rural huts. There were farmers tilling fields and some children running around, like a small, rustic vige. Who would have guessed that this was the headquarters of the Fenghuang faction?


    Upon reaching the mouth of the valley, guards quickly noticed the group.


    "Senior Aunt, you''ve been injured!" the guards eximed, rushing over.


    Upon seeing the cultivators behind Blue Jade, they frowned in consternation. One asked, clearly on guard, "Senior Aunt, who are these outsiders? Are you betraying our faction?"


    Blue Jade shook her head. "Take a good look at him."


    @@novelbin@@


    Many of the guards were puzzled, never having met Blue Lantern, but the guard who had spoken suddenly widened his eyes.


    "S-Senior Uncle?!" the man eximed.


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    The other guards were still confused. What was the first guard talking about?


    "Senior Brother, let''s head inside," Blue Jade said.


    Blue Lantern nced at the valley before him and suddenly stopped short.


    "How often does my father awaken?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "It''s uncertain. Master has told us that we should handle regr matters without his oversight. If we are to consult him, we need to prepare to awaken him a day in advance. His awakening is incredibly taxing."


    "Please wake my father. I''ll wait here," Blue Lantern said.


    Blue Jade nodded. "Very well."


    Blue Lantern knelt at the mouth to the valley, his eyes red, his heart heavy.


    Blue Jade rushed into the valley and summoned the senior disciples within as they prepared to awaken their master.


    The guard who had addressed Blue Lantern as Senior Uncle nced at him with aplicated expression on his face. He immediately ordered the disciples in the valley not to disturb him.


    Xiao Nanfeng and the others waited in the distance, behind where Blue Lantern knelt.


    Before long, the most powerful cultivators of the valley learned of Blue Lantern''s return.


    "Has Senior Brother really returned? Wonderful!"


    "How dare that scumbag return? He ruined our faction!"


    "Nonsense! He wasn''t responsible for our suffering!"


    They emerged from the valley one after another. Some were thrilled by Blue Lantern''s return, and others infuriated.


    Upon seeing him kneel at the mouth of the valley, however, everyone paused.


    Those who had been upset with him suddenly recalled how much Blue Lantern had guided them in their youth. Their anger faded. Thinking about how much Blue Lantern had protected them from the disciples of other factions,they couldn''t bring themselves to hold onto their grudges. In the end, as they nced at each other, their emotions faded away.


    Meanwhile, Blue Jade activated a certain formation in the valley, which brimmed with blue light and seemed to stimte Blue Jade''s master''s awakening.


    A day wasn''t particrly long, but it was a grueling period for Blue Lantern.


    He had told Xiao Nanfeng that he wanted to reim the bronzepass of his faction, but now that he was face to face with his past, his repressed memories of guilt surged to the forefront of his mind. Upon hearing that his father had all but be a living corpse, grief lined his eyes.


    Finally, a dayter, the array deep within the valley suddenly dimmed. A weak cough emerged from a certain cottage.


    "Ahem!"


    "Master, I apologize for disturbing your rest," Blue Jade said, kneeling.


    "What is the matter?" the ancient, frail voice asked, tinged with exhaustion.


    Outside, everyone fell silent. They nced at Blue Lantern in worry.


    "What''s going on? Why isn''t anyone speaking?" the ancient voice asked once more.


    Outside the valley, Blue Lantern began to cry. He knelt down and shouted, "Father, I''ve returned."


    The house fell into an eerie silence. Everyone held their breath, knowing how much Blue Lantern''s father had once doted on him, how much hope he had ced on him¡ªand how profoundly disappointed he had ultimately been.


    Blue Lantern''s behavior had resulted in cmity to the sect. The Fenghuang faction had, for many years, been unable to face the other factions out of shame, and Blue Lantern''s act had ultimately caused the sect to fracture.


    Blue Lantern didn''t defend himself. He awaited judgment from his father whoy within the valley.


    Xiao Nanfeng bit his lip. If the master of the bronzepass had been an outsider, he could have made a move and imed the bronzepass for Blue Lantern, but how was he to attack Blue Lantern''s father? Blue Lantern would have to deal with matters himself.


    After a tense moment, a sigh came from within the house.


    Everyone rxed. The sigh seemed to release the tension in the air. It meant eptance, rather than anger.


    "Come in," the frail voice said.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern replied.


    He immediately stood up and rushed toward the house.


    An old man with disheveled hair and a translucent figure in green stepped out. He seemed ethereal, like a weakened soul or fading projection.


    The disciples of the Fenghuang faction were used to their master''s appearance by now, but Blue Lantern immediately knelt again. His eyes grew tearful. "Father, I''ve failed you."


    "You abolished your cultivation and started anew?" the old man eximed.


    "I headed to the undying realm and was imprisoned there for a thousand years. My cultivation was all but crippled. I''ve brought disgrace upon you," Blue Lantern said bitterly.


    The old man''s gaze softened as he gently ced a hand on Blue Lantern''s head.


    "You did, but I hope that you can reim the honor that we''ve lost." The old man''s eyes glistened as well.


    Blue Lantern''s head jerked up. Had his father forgiven him?


    "Of course. Father, I''ll do everything to reim our honor!" Blue Lantern vowed.


    "And avenge the disciples who perished because of you. Their blood debt must be repaid," the elder intoned.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern vowed, wiping away his tears.


    "Your junior disciples have suffered gross indignity and countless grievances. Help them reim their reputation."


    "Yes, Father!" Blue Lantern gritted his teeth.


    His juniors wiped at their eyes. They had suffered tremendously after Blue Lantern''s expulsion, and especially during thest five centuries. Would they finally be able to show themselves with their heads held high?


    The old man addressed the disciples gathered all around them. "I''ve waited years for someone worthy to inherit the bronzepass and lead the Fenghuang faction, but I have found no one qualified to do so. Today, I ask that you allow me an act of selfishness. Let me induct Blue Lantern back into the sect and have him lead all of you anew. Will you ept him?"


    The disciples, many of them in tears, bowed. "We will!"


    The old man smiled. "I don''t want to go against my vows, but I''m too weak to go on. The others have gone crazy. They''ll tear you apart without a new faction head¡ªbut Blue Lantern will protect you in the future. Be well, my dear disciples."


    "Master?" The disciples nced at the old man in shock.


    "Father, you can infuse your soul into the bronzepass and be apass cursed effigy! Why not do so?" Blue Lantern eximed.


    The old man shook his head. "Half my truesoul has already dissipated. If not for the bronzepass, I wouldn''t even havested this long."


    "No¡ªFather!" Blue Lantern cried out.


    "Blue Lantern, my greatest wish has ever been to revive the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes. You are my proud son. I entrust this wish to you."


    Then, with a wave of his hand, an ancient bronzepass emerged from his spectral figure as it dissipated.


    "Father, no! Don''t go!" Blue Lantern cried out in horror.


    "Now that you''ve returned, I need persist no longer. Blue Jade and the others are well equipped to handle matters of administration. Live well, and live on." The old man ced the bronzepass in Blue Lantern''s hands, then quickly faded away.


    "Master!"


    "Master!"


    "Father!"


    Tears flowed freely as the valley mourned his passing.

 Chapter 899: Guarding Blue Lantern

    <h4>Chapter 899: Guarding Blue Lantern</h4>


    Sage Qingyun led Golden Immortal cultivators from the seven factions into the wild wastes hidden realm. Though Sage Qingyun was the only Boundless Immortal present, who could suppress all other cultivators within the wild wastes hidden realm, everyone knew that the Fenghuang faction would be able to bring him down if it were to dedicate all its resources to killing Sage Qingyun. As a result, though they were all nominally cooperating with each other, they were actually intending to seize the bronzepass for themselves.


    Sage Qingyun, meanwhile, looked at the cultivators with disdain. He was uninterested in the bronzepass. His true goal was capturing Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er.


    Very quickly, they regrouped with the disciples from each faction who had remained in the hidden realm.


    In a certain hall, the cultivators discussed how to strategically search for the whereabouts of the Fenghuang faction.


    "Apologies, but we haven''t been able to locate them," a Golden Immortal said.


    "You''re saying there''s no way to find their whereabouts?" Sage Qingyun demanded coldly.


    "That''s right," the Golden Immortal replied.


    Sage Qingyun took a deep breath. The Fenghuang faction head is nothing more than a living corpse. His son, Blue Lantern, must have inherited his legacy. We''ll see amotion involving the bronzepass soon enough, once Blue Lantern starts to attune to it. His location will surely be revealed then."


    @@novelbin@@


    "Could Blue Lantern escape from the hidden realm with the bronzepass?" a Golden Immortal asked.


    "You all know what the situation outside is," Sage Qingyun replied, sneering. "The seven faction heads are waiting for him right outside. He won''t make it far if he attempts to escape."


    "That''s true. They can''t escape. Are we just going to wait, then?" the Golden Immortal asked.


    Sage Qingyun nodded. "Let''s keep searching while we wait. All our factions will devote all our resources to finding him. Share whatever news youe across."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Within the valley in which the Fenghuang faction was located, Blue Lantern led his junior brothers and sisters in conducting a funeral for his father. Everyone was beset with grief; the cries of mourning were deafening.


    Xiao Nanfeng, Yu''er, Ye Dafu, and the others likewise paid their respects and lit incense for Blue Lantern''s father.


    After a few days, following the funeral, Yu''er''s cultivation advanced to the fifth stage of the Golden Immortal realm thanks to the Yuqing yin pir that she had absorbed. The rate at which she was advancing left everyone else envious. Xiao Nanfeng even suspected that, at some point, Yu''er would advance to a realm that would allow her to cleanse her own curse.


    Of course, this was mere spection. Xiao Nanfeng was still hoping to acquire the bronzepass to remove the curse once and for all.


    Now that Blue Lantern had acquired thepass, they would simply have to wait patiently while he attuned to it.


    "Senior Brother, Master is gone now. You should start attuning to the bronzepass immediately. It''s a sinister artifact, and it might vanish from your possession if you leave it be for too long," Blue Jade urged.


    Blue Lantern nced at the bronzepass and frowned. "It''s not safe here. Attuning to the bronzepass will cause a massive disturbance. I should return to Dazheng before attempting it."


    "Dazheng?" everyone asked in confusion.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m afraid that won''t be possible at the moment. Outside the wild wastes hidden realm, there are seven faction heads of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes lying in wait for you."


    "Oh?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Will attuning to thepass be troublesome?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "It''ll cause a hugemotion. Thepass is the origin of countless formations. Once I begin the process of attunement, numerous surrounding formations will activate. My location will be impossible to conceal."


    "Attune to it. We''ll guard you," Xiao Nanfeng promised.


    "Very well. I''m counting on you, Your Majesty." Then, he turned to Blue Jade and the others. "Where is the Fenghuang faction''s pure yang pir?"


    "Master returned it to its original location," Blue Jade replied.


    "Oh? Why?"


    "The pure yang pirs were left by our founder to counteract thews of the heavens and conceal the auras of the fragments of the bronzepass. After you toppled one, thews of the heavens began to shift. Over time, these changes grew increasingly bizarre. Six hundred years ago, Master noticed that the heavens had managed to home in on thepass and were threatening to summon a tribtion. To mask thepass''s presence, he returned the pure yang pir to its original location."


    Blue Lantern sighed and eventually nodded. "I understand. We''ll leave the pirs be, then. Attuning to thepass will take a considerable amount of time."


    "We will guard you, Senior Brother!" the disciples shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled as well. "Take your time. It won''t be an issue."


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    He exined the process briefly to the disciples, then entered histe father''s quarters, deployed a series of formations, and began to attune to the bronzepass.


    With a hum, blue light enveloped Blue Lantern''s residence.


    From there, concentric waves of energy rippled outward, like the ripples of water from a stone thrown into a pond. Waves extended across the entire hidden realm.


    Blue Lantern''s juniors tried to stop the waves from propagating, but to no avail. Outside the valley, all sorts of golden runes began to glimmer with light, more and more of them lighting up as the ripples passed them by.


    All the formations in the wild wastes hidden realm began to reverberate.


    The cultivators of the seven factions, who had been searching fruitlessly for the Fenghuang faction''s whereabouts,immediately sensed themotion.


    "What''s going on?"


    "It''s the bronzepass! Blue Lantern must be attuning to it, after all."


    "Quick, inform Sage Qingyun! We have to stop Blue Lantern!"


    Sage Qingyun noticed themotion as well. His eyes shed, as if he were making some sort of calction. He stepped out of the hall and vanished in a puff of air.


    At the same time, within the Fenghuang faction''s valley, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Arge disturbance indeed. Do you have any defensive formations? Let''s start by protecting this valley."


    "We do," Blue Jade replied. She turned to the other disciples. "Everyone, prepare to activate our defensive formations."


    "Understood!" the Fenghuang disciples shouted.


    Before long, a huge golden barrier was erected around the valley.


    Soon, however, meteors began to rain down from the sky, crashing against the barrier and causing it to quake violently.


    "They''re here!" Blue Jade shouted, rmed.


    "Let''s take a look," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    He led the group to a nearby mountain peak, whereupon they spotted figures lurking in the distance. They were activating formations nearby to summon meteors to strike the valley.


    "There they are!"


    "Those Fenghuang rats were hiding here all along! I passed by several times, but I didn''t notice anything amiss at all. Damn it, they''re too good at hiding!"


    "They won''t be able to hide any longer."


    The intruders snarled, but they hesitated to attack directly. They were all waiting for Sage Qingyun to arrive.


    Within moments, almost a dozen Golden Immortals had gathered, causing Blue Jade and the others to grow anxious.


    "Attack!" Xiao Nanfengmanded. "Kill them!"


    "Understood!" the twelve golden cultivators replied.


    The twelve golden cultivators shot toward the gathered Golden Immortals.


    "These twelve again? Damn them!" the Golden Immortals cursed.


    They sent golden runes surging toward the twelve golden cultivators, but the golden cultivators easily made them explode with their punches.


    The golden cultivators closed in on the Golden Immortals. Intense fighting ensued.


    At the start, the twelve golden cultivators had the upper hand, but as more and more Golden Immortals arrived, their advantage narrowed.


    Eventually, as the Golden Immortals activated formations en masse, they were badly wounded by mes, hail, des of wind, and all sorts of elemental phenomena.


    "Ye Dafu and the others are losing. Will they be able to hold out against that barrage?" Yu''er frowned.


    "It''s fine. They''re enjoying it," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


    "Oh?" Yu''er was rather surprised by Xiao Nanfeng''s response.


    She examined the golden cultivators in more detail. Indeed, despite the fact that they were being beaten ck and blue, they all looked very excited at what was happening. Some were even reveling in the assault.


    Yu''er gaped. "Right. I''d almost forgotten that they were all perverse like that..."


    "We''ll have them drag things out for now," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er nodded and rxed.


    More and more Golden Immortals appeared, all of whom joined in attacking the twelve golden cultivators. Before long, the twelve golden cultivators were fending off thrice their number of Golden Immortals.


    "What? Why aren''t any of our attacks working? My de can y Golden Immortals, but it won''t even prate their flesh!"


    "It''s crazy. Do you see their expressions? It''s almost like they''re enjoying this beating. They can''t be, could they?"


    "Where''s Qingyun? Once he gets here, he''ll be able to finish them off in no time!"


    The Golden Immortals fretted as they waited for Sage Qingyun''s arrival.


    On a fog-shrouded mountain peak in the distance were Sage Qingyun and a few ck-robed subordinates of his.


    "Master, aren''t you going to make a move yet?" one of the ck-robed cultivators asked.


    "Wait a little."


    "Why?"


    "I''m not in a hurry. Why make a move now? It''ll only serve to benefit the other factions."


    His targets were Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er. He didn''t care about the bronzepass. Wouldn''t it be best if those cultivators from the other six factions fought and weakened them first? Of course, perhaps Xiao Nanfeng still had trump cards of his own. He wanted to see if the cultivators from the six factions would be able to force his hand before he stepped in to im victory while minimizing his risks.


    After all, as the sole Great Luo Golden Immortal in the secret realm, Sage Qingyun was confident he had nothing to fear.

 Chapter 900: Xiao Nanfengs Rampage

    <h4>Chapter 900: Xiao Nanfeng''s Rampage</h4>


    The twelve golden cultivators'' unique cultivation technique didn''t shine in terms of offense, but rather defense.


    Even when facing thrice their number of Golden Immortals, they were able to hold their ground. Though they were enjoying the savage beating, everyone else was certain that they were in dire straits.


    "They won''t be able to hold out any longer! Seniors, we have to activate the formation and save them," Blue Jade fretted.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Don''t worry. Just focus on maintaining the integrity of this barrier and protecting Blue Lantern."


    "But¡ª" Blue Jade murmured.


    "Don''t worry, Blue Jade," Yu''er said.


    Only then did Blue Jade and the others relent.


    Just then, a Golden Immortal shouted from afar, "These are twelve of Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinates. They''re particrly difficult to deal with, and we certainly won''t be able to kill them for the time being. We''ll leave a group of cultivators to hold them back. The rest of you, follow me and attack! We have to prevent Blue Lantern from attuning to the bronzepass!"


    The Golden Immortals nodded in assent. They barged forward, knocking aside the twelve golden cultivators. Twelve remained behind to take them on, while the remaining Golden Immortals shot toward the defensive formation.


    "Protect the formation at any cost!" Blue Jade shouted.


    By then, the Golden Immortals had closed in on them.


    "Break!" someone shouted.


    Twenty-four Golden Immortals struck the defensive formation simultaneously, causing it to shake violently from the assault.


    "Damn it, there are too many of them!" Blue Jade shouted.


    The twenty-four Golden Immortals were waving their arms and triggering offensive formations all around them. Tornadoes, meteors, and other disasters rained down on the valley.


    "Emperor Xiao, we won''t be able to defend the valley for long. Flee with Senior Brother!" Blue Jade shouted.


    "There''s no need. I''ll defend the valley," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What?" Blue Jade eximed, stupefied.


    How would Xiao Nanfeng take on twenty-four Golden Immortals by himself?


    "I''ll join you," Yu''er said."


    "Don''t worry. Stay on guard here. I''ll be able to finish off this rabble in no time."


    "But¡ª" Yu''er was still worried.


    "If I falter, you can step in then. Conserve your energy in case anything unexpected happens," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Fine¡ªbut be careful, alright?"


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the barrier.


    "It''s Xiao Nanfeng! Watch out. There''s something extraordinary about him," a Golden Immortal warned.


    "So what? Everyone''s a Golden Immortal in the wild wastes hidden realm. We have the numerical advantage. Kill him!" another Golden Immortal shouted.


    Three Golden Immortals charged confidently at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Fools," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly. He drew his divine undying de.


    "Formation of the ming Sea!" a Golden Immortal intoned.


    The three Golden Immortals activated a formation simultaneously, summoning a massive wave of me to engulf Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    "Damn it, that''s the Formation of the ming Sea! It''s a peak Golden Immortal formation! Be careful, Emperor Xiao!" Blue Jade called out.


    The three Golden Immortals sneered, confident that this attack would grievously injure Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared, swinging his de.


    A sh of blue light erupted from his de, slicing through the tidal wave of mes like it was nothing more than paper. With a thunderous crash, the wave was split in two. The sword energy continued onward, undeterred, straight toward one of the Golden Immortals.


    "What?" The three Golden Immortals nched. "Run!"


    Two of the cultivators were sent flying from the shockwave resulting from the attack, while the unfortunate attacker in the middle didn''t have time to get away at all. He was cleaved in two and died on the spot.


    Everyone nced at Xiao Nanfeng. They knew he was strong, but not this strong!


    "Is he a peak Golden Immortal?!" someone eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the shout and rushed toward the other two attackers.


    "Damn it, help me out!" they shouted.


    They didn''t have time to activate any of the formations around them, and were forced to draw their des.


    However, their des shattered instantly. With another sh, Xiao Nanfeng cleaved another Golden Immortal into two. He died on the spot.


    The final Golden Immortal, his face drenched with the blood of hispanions, turned to flee.


    "Ha! Don''t you think it''s toote to escape?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    With a third, diagonal sh, he killed the final cultivator.


    The Golden Immortals gaped in disbelief, as did the cultivators of the Fenghuang faction safely ensconced in the barrier.


    "This is impossible!" a Golden Immortal shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the remaining Golden Immortals. "It''s your turn. Who will challenge me first?"


    He flew toward where the majority of them were gathered.


    "No! Hurry up¡ªwe have to erect a formation, the Primordial Barrier! Hurry!" a Golden Immortal shouted.


    Twenty-one Golden Immortals struck simultaneously, manipting the golden runes around them and weaving together a formation, a gray, dome-like barrier intended to trap Xiao Nanfeng. When Xiao Nanfeng shed at the barrier, it absorbed the impact and quickly reformed.


    With a whoosh, Xiao Nanfeng found himself trapped within the gray dome.


    "He''s trapped! He won''t be able to escape!" the Golden Immortals shouted in glee.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed at the gray dome again, but any damage to the dome quickly regenerated.


    "Damn it, that''s the Primordial Barrier! He''s trapped for good now," Blue Jade fretted anxiously.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you won''t be able to escape unless you''re a Boundless Immortal. Surrender now!" a Golden Immortal called out, sneering.


    The next moment, red light shed by the side of the dome. Xiao Nanfeng emerged casually.


    "He escaped? Impossible!" a Golden Immortal shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng shed at him with his de, bisecting him.


    Then, he turned toward the other Golden Immortals around him.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    "Attack him, quickly! We have to work together. He''s just one man!" the Golden Immortals shouted.


    Two more Golden Immortals were beheaded in an instant. Blood fountained from their bodies.


    Arge number of swords shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, but his divine undying de easily defended against them all. With another sh, two more Golden Immortals fell.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s reign of terror caught everyone by surprise.


    The Fenghuang disciples were stupefied. They had never seen someone at Xiao Nanfeng''s level. Was he really still a Golden Immortal?


    They had been wondering why their proud senior brother had been willing to submit to an ordinary emperor¡ªand now, they had a faint idea as to why.


    What sort of ordinary emperor could fight at this level? Xiao Nanfeng was crazy!


    "No, no! Stay away!" another Golden Immortal shouted.


    The next moment, that Golden Immortal was decapitated, his soul sundered.


    In the blink of an eye, only ten Golden Immortals remained.


    The Golden Immortals hadn''t understood the extent of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength. How were they supposed to fight him now?


    @@novelbin@@


    "Run!" someone shouted.


    The Golden Immortals scattered.


    Not far away, the Golden Immortals fighting against the golden cultivators watched on with disbelief.


    They each took a blow from the golden cultivators as they turned to run.


    "I knew His Majesty was incredible, but to think he could have killed fourteen Golden Immortals in an instant..." Ye Dafu sucked in a deep breath.


    The golden cultivators swallowed a gulp of saliva. Thank goodness Xiao Nanfeng was on their side!


    Xiao Nanfeng nced coldly at the fleeing Golden Immortals. "Why run? Come on. I''ll even give you a chance to erect a formation. There are so many more of you¡ªwhat''re you afraid of? I''ll even call off Ye Dafu and the others. You cane at me together."


    By then, the Golden Immortals were already flying swiftly away. They knew better than to fall for Xiao Nanfeng''s trick.


    Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t in a rush himself. What he needed to do was stall until Blue Lantern attuned to the bronzepass; there was plenty of time to flush them out.


    "Ye Dafu, deal with the aftermath," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" Ye Dafu and the golden cultivators shot toward the Golden Immortals'' corpses.


    Some of the Golden Immortals were Immortal spirits, who could be made into pills.


    Just as everyone thought that the crisis had been resolved, a sh of blue light shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Be careful, Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    "A Boundless Immortal? How can this be? Aren''t Boundless Immortals supposed to be forbidden in this realm?"


    The Boundless Immortal was, naturally, none other than Sage Qingyun. He had been nning to wait until both sides weakened each other, but there was no chance of that now.


    Having learned his lesson, he didn''t intend to give Xiao Nanfeng any time to prepare. He would cripple Xiao Nanfeng with one blow.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng thundered, shing forward with his de.


    Sage Qingyun''s punch struck the de in a massive, fiery shockwave that sent Ye Dafu and the others flying.


    Even his charge had been stopped by Xiao Nanfeng''s swing. He gaped in disbelief. "What incredible strength."


    While his punch shattered Xiao Nanfeng''s sword technique, it failed to overpower Xiao Nanfeng. Sage Qingyun didn''t dare hesitate. He shed before Xiao Nanfeng to deliver another crushing punch.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes turned cold. "Imposing Avatar of Ri!"


    Golden light radiated from Xiao Nanfeng''s entire body as he braced against Sage Qingyun''s iing punch.


    The punchnded on Xiao Nanfeng''s golden body, unleashing a fiery shockwave that expanded in all directions.


    Even Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er cried out.


    "I''m fine. Stay in there."


    Xiao Nanfeng quickly stabilized himself. Hended on the ground, his face calm, not visibly injured.


    "What?" Yu''er eximed.


    "He blocked a blow from a Boundless Immortal?"


    "Impossible. Isn''t he a Golden Immortal? How can a Golden Immortal''s body withstand a Boundless Immortal''s strike?"


    "Is his physical body even stronger than that of those golden cultivators?!"


    The Golden Immortals watching the fight gaped at each other.


    Even the Fenghuang cultivators were caught by surprise. They still seemed stunned from the power that Xiao Nanfeng had revealed.


    Even Sage Qingyun nced subconsciously at his fist, as if he himself couldn''t believe that his empowered punch had been useless against Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 902: The Crown Princess

    <h4>Chapter 902: The Crown Princess</h4>


    After Xiao Nanfeng destroyed Sage Qingyun''s soul, he approached the remains of his body. A faint white glow still emanated from the rest of his corpse, as if some treasure were protecting it.


    At that moment, golden runes appeared around the corpse. The void trembled as a spatial portal opened. A giant hand reached out, aiming for Sage Qingyun''s remains.


    "How bold!" Xiao Nanfeng''s eye turned cold as he reached out to grab the body.


    Xiao Nanfeng managed to retrieve his remains, but the hand snatched a glowing token of white jade from the corpse. With a whoosh, the hand retreated into the portal, which closed instantly.


    "You''re unworthy of this protection token," a voice said from the void, neither demonstrably male or female, followed by a mockingugh.


    Xiao Nanfeng scanned his surroundings, his expression icy, but the speaker remained hidden from sight.


    Though Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t seen the speaker, he could deduce their intentions. The jade¡ªthis "protection token"¡ªmust have been how Sage Qingyun had bypassed the heavens'' restrictions. Clearly, the true mastermind behind his presence here was the mysterious speaker who had just retrieved the token. Sage Qingyun was nothing more than a pawn.


    He quickly returned to the protective barrier and asked Blue Jade, "Can you trace the person who just spoke and acted?"


    Blue Jade shook her head. "I can''t, but it''s obvious that someone must have tampered with that protection token. Otherwise, the area couldn''t have been suddenly sealed, and the token snatched away."


    Yu''er''s eyes widened in realization. "In other words, even if Sage Qingyun had managed to obtain the bronzepass, the mastermind could have removed the protection token, exposed Sage Qingyun to the heavens, and caused his death?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The mastermind is truly insidious."


    "Indeed, but even the mastermind didn''t dare face you, Emperor Xiao. Your strength is truly extraordinary. With you around, no matter what tricks that mastermind pulls, Senior Brother won''t be harmed."


    Just then, a coldugh echoed from the void. "Oh, little Blue Jade, aren''t you being overly confident?"


    "It''s the mastermind!" Xiao Nanfeng''s brows furrowed. He scanned his surroundings again.


    "You¡ªwho are you?" Blue Jade demanded, her tone sharp.


    Only a select few dared call her "little Blue Jade." Was this mastermind someone she knew?


    "I won''t waste my time. I want the bronzepass. Tell Blue Lantern to give up on attuning to it if he doesn''t want to die."


    "Dream on. Come seize the bronzepass yourself if you dare!" Blue Jade thundered.


    "It''s been quite a while, little girl, but your temper has only grown more feisty. Do you really think I can''t do anything against you? In that case, I''ll be making my move."


    Suddenly, a deafening boom erupted from afar. The void trembled as a massive golden pir appeared in the distance. The pir radiated dazzling golden light and stretched from the heavens to the earth.


    "The Fenghuang faction''s pure yang pir? How did you find it? What are you doing?!" Blue Jade shouted.


    "Toppling it, of course! Break!" the voicemanded.


    With a thunderous crash, the pure yang pir trembled violently and tilted to one side.


    Dark clouds rolled in from the heavens. An overwhelming aura of divine judgment descended on the realm.


    "The heavens are making a move! What a frightening aura!"


    "Heaven''s Hands¡ªand so many of them at once!"


    Everyone murmured to each other in shock.


    Over a dozen Heaven''s Hands had appeared, exuding an aura of annihtion as they descended.


    "What happened?!" someone shouted.


    "The pure yang pir has been toppled, exposing the bronzepass to the heavens! These Heaven''s Hands are here to target it!" Blue Jade cried out.


    "Senior Brother, toss the bronzepass away! That person''s insane!" someone urged.


    Even Xiao Nanfeng couldn''t withstand the assault of a dozen Heaven''s Hands.


    Just then, from a nearby house, Blue Lantern''s voice rang out, "Formations of the wild wastes hidden realm, obey me! Resonate!"


    @@novelbin@@


    A massive bluepass seemed to shimmer in the air above Blue Lantern''s location.


    Countless golden runes surged from the void, converging upon the bluepass.


    The first Heaven''s Hand struck, shattering the protective barrier that Blue Jade''s group had set up.


    The projection of the bluepass rose to block the hand. Though it trembled under the blow, it held firm.


    More and more golden runes surged into the bluepass, strengthening it as the second Heaven''s Hand descended.


    Thepass trembled but endured.


    Then, the third, fourth, and all remaining Heaven''s Hands descended at once.


    The bluepass shook wildly until it was on the verge of shattering.


    "Everyone, assist me with your lifepasses!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    The cultivators of the Fenghuang faction each spat out a transparentpass. They tossed it into the air, sending it into the blue projection. The bluepass radiated with light and stabilized.


    With the Heaven''s Hands descending all around the valley, those cultivators within couldn''t see what was happening outside. The bluepass continued to tremble and reverberate every now and then; the situation remained dire.


    "Has Blue Lantern managed to block all these Heaven''s Hands? He''s grown incredibly strong!" Ye Dafu eximed.


    "No. It''s only because we''re in the wild wastes hidden realm that I''m able to do such a thing. I''m using the bronzepass to activate all the formations in the realm that I can. Outside the realm, I would hardly be able to muster such a defense," Blue Lantern called out.


    "As long as you can hold them off for the moment," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Have you managed to attune to the bronzepass?"


    "Not yet. I''m only halfwayplete. If I move now, I''ll lose all my progress."


    "Can you continue attuning to it?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "It''s troublesome. The Heaven''s Hands are growing stronger. Even if I attune to it now, it''ll be difficult for me to handle the Heaven''s Hands. I''ll have to trouble Your Majesty to assist me," Blue Lantern said wryly.


    "What do you need me to do?"


    "It''ll be difficult for whoever''s manipting the pure yang pir from afar to im it quickly. If you head to where the pir is located and manage to gain control over it, you''ll be able to nullify the danger here, Your Majesty."


    "I''ll head out immediately. As for you, if you can''t hold off the Heaven''s Hands any longer, give up the bronzepass immediately. Don''t risk your life for it. Even if it''s destroyed, I can help you seize another piece."


    "Understood. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Blue Lantern eximed.


    Yu''er immediately said, "Nanfeng, letm e apany you!"


    The golden cultivators volunteered as well.


    "Yu''er, follow me. Everyone else, stay here and guard Blue Lantern and the Fenghuang cultivators, lest others strike while we''re weakened," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" the golden cultivators chorused.


    "Got it!" Yu''er''s eyes lit up.


    Xiao Nanfeng formed a red portal before him as he activated his candleme powers.


    "Let''s go!"


    He pulled Yu''er through the portal.


    As they emerged, they found dozens of Heaven''s Hands unleashing their wrath on the gigantic projection of a bluepass. All the golden runes of the wild wastes hidden realm were surging toward thepass. The void continued to vibrate and reverberate. If not for Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er''s outstanding cultivation, they might well have been killed from the void fluctuations alone.


    "One more Heaven''s Hand has formed," Yu''er murmured, ncing up at the heavens.


    "Don''t worry. Blue Lantern knows his limits. Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Yu''er nodded.


    The two cultivators rushed toward where the gigantic pure yang pir was located.


    There, a group of ck-robed cultivators surrounded the pir. As they channeled qi into a formation, the gigantic pir was growing smaller at a steady rate. Though it was still massive in size, only about half its bulk remained.


    "Xiao Nanfeng? How did they make it out?" a ck-robed cultivator cried out.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng roared, shing at them with his de.


    "No!" the cultivator shrieked, but he was killed in an instant.


    Xiao Nanfeng shot toward the other ck-robed cultivators. Some of themunched themselves at Yu''er, whose eyes grew cold. "Do you think I''m an easy target?"


    Yuqing waved a hand. Dozens of purple swords materialized around her, shattering the fist techniques directed her way and shooting toward one of the cultivators attacking her.


    "No!" the ck-robed man screamed.


    He was cut apart by the swords in an instant.


    "What? She can kill Golden Immortals that quickly too?"


    "Aren''t those Yu Fuli''s heart swords? They''re just different in color! How could she know that technique?"


    The other ck-robed cultivators reared back in shock, but Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t too surprised. Yu''er had told him that she had received the Yuqing Grandmaster''s inheritance, and she had an Yuqing yin pir in her body that she could control. As a result, she was able to manifest countless techniques that no one would have anticipated, such as the Yuqing purple swords that were reminiscent of Yu Fuli''s heart swords.


    "Die!" Yu''er shouted. The Yuqing purple swords, obeying hermands, scattered and shot toward the other ck-robed cultivators.


    Xiao Nanfeng, meanwhile, shed at one cultivator after another. The ck-robed cultivators found themselves being reaped like grain for the harvest.


    Meanwhile, the remaining ck-robed cultivators continued to infuse their energy into the formation around the pure yang pir.


    One of them called out to their leader, "Crown Princess, something''s wrong! Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er are too strong. We can''t hold them off!"

 Chapter 903: Fighting the Formation Beasts

    <h4>Chapter 903: Fighting the Formation Beasts</h4>


    The ck-robed figures manipting the formation all stopped and turned to Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er, who were ughtering their enemies with unmatched ferocity.


    "I''ve heard of how strong Xiao Nanfeng is¡ªand the rumors seem to underestimate his abilities. He''s using ordinary sword techniques to kill cultivators of the same realm with ease."


    "Crown Princess, if this drags out any longer, Xiao Nanfeng will kill us all and prevent us from extracting the pure yang pir!"


    "Crown Princess, what do we do?"


    The ck-robed cultivators all looked toward their leader as they awaited further instructions.


    The crown princess considered the situation for a moment. "In that case, we''ll send Xiao Nanfeng within the pure yang pir."


    "What? Within it?" the cultivators eximed.


    "Isn''t he able to take down Golden Immortals easily? Let''s see just how strong he really is, then. Each pure yang pir contains a subspace. We''ll send them in and have them die within."


    "Crown Princess, do you n to channel the pure yang energy within the pir to incinerate Xiao Nanfeng? Won''t that result in a dy in the extraction?"


    "Not for long. Prepare the formation," the crown princessmanded.


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    With a wave of their hands, the ck-robed figures arranged countless golden runes together to form a thick golden fog that surged toward Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er.


    "Nanfeng, we have to evade this fog!" Yu''er called out.


    "It''s toote. This is a formation. Come to me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Golden fog surged toward them from all directions, leaving no room for escape. Xiao Nanfeng abandoned his offensive against the ck-robed figures and focused on protecting Yu''er.


    The golden fog enveloped them, and the void began to tremble violently.


    "Void teleportation? This is aplex array..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, his face darkening.


    He quickly stabilized their surroundings. Though Yu''er''s curse prevented him from touching her, he could still create a protective barrier around her with his qi.


    With a hum, the vibrations in the void subsided. Everything seemed to calm down.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, dispersing the fog with a gust of wind. They had been transported into a vast, unfamiliar space.


    "Where are we?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered warily, scanning his surroundings.


    "Not far at all. You''re within the pure yang pir," a mocking voice said.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er turned toward the voice to see a group of ck-robed cultivators watching them intently.


    @@novelbin@@


    "And who might you be?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The leader of the groupughed. "You need not know my identity. You''ll never live to find out, after all."


    The crown princess waved her hand. A circr pattern emerged from the ground, inscribed with the twelve golden characters of the Earthly Branches. Each character radiated brilliant golden light and gave off immense energy.


    With a bestial roar, the golden characters transformed into twelve massive beasts: a rat, an ox, a tiger, and so on. Each one corresponded to an Earthly Branch.


    A ferocious aura surrounded all twelve beasts.


    "What are these monsters? They''re all Golden Immortals!" Yu''er eximed.


    "These are the formation beasts corresponding to the twelve Earthly Branches. They manifest from certain formations. In an illusory realm, they can form from spiritual power; in reality, they can be created using other forms of energy. Only top-tier formations masters can manifest them, and their strength depends on the materials used in the formation," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Oh? You''re quite knowledgeable," the crown princess said. "Consider yourself lucky. If not for the restrictions of the heavens present here, they would be far stronger than peak Golden Immortals." She turned to the beasts. "Now, attack!"


    The twelve beasts shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng eyed them coldly.


    The golden ox took the lead, roaring and sending a wave of destructive sound toward him.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, his de shing down.


    The golden ox roared, only to be cleaved in half. Its body exploded in a sea of mes.


    "Die!" Xia Yu''er echoed, joining the fray.


    Dozens of Yuqing purple des shot out from her hands and pierced through the golden rat, though it wasn''t quite dead. Yu''er waved her hands again and summoned a second wave of Yuqing swords to destroy it fully, causing it to explode into a sea of mes as well.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s de was as fierce as ever. He killed one beast with every sh¡ªthe golden tiger, the golden rabbit, the golden horse, the golden dragon...


    Each sh left destruction in its wake. Fire and heat surging through the void. Though Xia Yu''er was less formidable, she too contributed to a significant extent.


    When Xiao Nanfeng killed thest of the twelve beasts, another series of roars erupted. Twelve more beasts began to emerge from the ground.


    This time, the formation expanded like apass, with countless Earthly Branches characters arranged in concentric circles. Each character emitted golden energy and summoned its corresponding formation beast.


    Twelve beasts¡ªno, there were a hundred and twenty, and the number was still growing.


    "How can there be so many of them? Nanfeng, didn''t you say that they needed a massive amount of energy for this formation?" Yu''er asked anxiously.


    "They must be drawing from the pure yang pir," Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Indeed," the crown princess said, sneering. "Xiao Nanfeng, didn''t you boast about cutting down Golden Immortals readily? Go ahead¡ªkeep destroying them. I''ll enjoy watching you exhaust yourself.


    With a roar, another set of twelve beasts charged forward.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold as he released his ten golden crows.


    The resulting shockwave knocked down the formation beasts and sent them flying.


    The fierce crows roared and attacked, tearing into the beasts with ws as sharp as spears and feathers like des.


    The beasts were swiftly reduced to nothing more than debris.


    The ck-robed cultivators watching from afar gasped in disbelief.


    "Sky of Ten Suns? How can Xiao Nanfeng''s golden crows be this strong?"


    "He must have been deliberately hiding his strength! It''s more terrifying than we imagined!"


    "How has he managed to hide his power to this extent?"


    Even Yu''er was astonished by Xiao Nanfeng''s prowess.


    She stood by his side, watching as his ten golden crows obliterated wave after wave of beasts.


    "Without sunlight to empower his ten golden crows, he''ll eventually run out of strength. He won''tst long," the crown princess said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "We''ll see whether I run out of strength or your formation runs out of energy first."


    The battle raged on as more beasts swarmed toward Xiao Nanfeng. His ten golden crows continued their relentless assault. The intense mes turned the realm into a furnace, one that was unbearable even for the ck-robed figures.


    "I can''t take it anymore! There are too many pure yang mes in the vicinity. I''m going to melt!"


    "Me too! I can''t bear it any longer!"


    "The mes are too intense!"


    "Even a Boundless Immortal would be forced to avoid these mes, surely?"


    The ck-robed cultivators fretted anxiously. Some of their robes were already starting to burn.


    The crown princess frowned. "Very well. Let''s go. We''ll control the formation from the outside."


    "Understood!" the others replied.


    "Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted, rushing over.


    However, a group of beasts rushed toward him, blocking his way. The ck-robed cultivators vanished in a cloud of golden fog.


    Only Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er remained within the realm.


    "Nanfeng, now that they''re gone, can we escape as well?" Yu''er asked.


    "I''m worried about where we are. If I use my candleme powers at will, we might end up somewhere even more dangerous," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What should we do, then?" Yu''er asked, worried.


    "It''s not a problem. Leave it to me," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "What?" Yu''er was confused.


    "Hide in the Divine Seal of Dazheng. I''ll absorb these pure yang mes."


    "You''re... going to cultivate?" Yu''er eximed in shock.


    "I will. I can absorb these pure yang mes, and might even be able to take advantage of the opportunity to break through."


    "Really? That''s wonderful. Let me help guard you," Yu''er offered.


    "There''s no need. It''s too hot, and I''m afraid you won''t be able to stand it."


    "I''m fine. The Yuqing yin pir is a source of extreme cold. I can bear the heat¡ªI don''t even sense it at present."


    "Really?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Of course," Yu''er replied confidently.


    "Got it. Please guard me, then," Xiao Nanfeng said with a nod.


    He sat down cross-legged and began to absorb the mes, swallowing them into his mouth. His ten golden crows did the same even as they continued to fight.


    Xiao Nanfeng and his ten golden crows looked like whirlpools of me, devouring all the heat and fire that was in their vicinity.


    Although the ten golden crows were unable to replenish their energy from the sun, these pure yang mes served a simr purpose as sunlight. This realm was a haven for Xiao Nanfeng.

 Chapter 904: The Ferocious Golden Crows

    <h4>Chapter 904: The Ferocious Golden Crows</h4>


    In the wild wastes hidden realm, outside the pure yang pir, a group of ck-robed figures continued to chant and manipte formations. The pure yang pir was surrounded with countless golden characters representing the Earthly Branches. They were remotely activating the intricate formation within the pir''s subspace.


    The pir trembled violently.


    "Crown Princess, are you certain that this will kill Xiao Nanfeng?" one ck-robed cultivator asked anxiously.


    "I''m certain."


    "But Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows are immune to fire!"


    "The same doesn''t hold true for Xiao Nanfeng. As long as we continue to supply the formation with energy, the formation beasts will only keep growing in number. Either Xiao Nanfeng will die from exhaustion, or he''ll die from the mes."


    "Understood!"


    The cultivators continued to manipte the formation as they waited for the disturbance within the pir to subside.


    After two hours, one of the ck-robed cultivators frowned. "Crown Princess, something is wrong. Some of the golden characters in the formation have disappeared."


    "Xiao Nanfeng must be disrupting the formation from within," the crown princess replied, frowning.


    "In that case, what should we do?"


    "It matters not. The formation in the interior of the pir is vast, and he can''t destroy it all. Continue channeling energy into it."


    "Understood!"


    Two more hourster, another subordinate called out, "Crown Princess, almost half the golden characters are gone. The internal formation must be inplete disarray!"


    Another subordinate added, "Doesn''t the pure yang pir seem to have dimmed? Could something have gone wrong inside?"


    The ck-robed cultivators began to panic as they noticed more and more discrepancies.


    "If you''re so worried, why don''t you go inside and take a look for yourself?" the crown princess suggested coldly.


    The group exchanged uneasy nces before shaking their heads vigorously. "We don''t dare, Your Highness."


    They were already unable to bear the mes by the time they left; now that four more hours had passed, they would only be burnt to a crisp if they tried to enter the pir.


    "In that case, don''t talk nonsense. Continue to manipte the formation. This is Xiao Nanfeng''sst-ditch effort. Once he dies, all will be well."


    "Understood!" everyone replied.


    Two more hours passed.


    The crown princess suddenly called out, "Halt! Everyone, halt!"


    Her ck-robed subordinates stopped what they were doing and nced toward her.


    "How can this be? Only 30% of the golden characters remain! And why has the pure yang pir dimmed to such an extent?!"


    "We don''t know, Your Highness."


    @@novelbin@@


    "I told you to stop manipting the formation! Why are some of these golden characters still shing?!" the crown princess demanded.


    The cultivators nced at each other. "We''re not doing anything, Your Highness."


    The golden characters around them continued to sh, as if they were being guided by some unseen force.


    "Is Xiao Nanfeng responsible for this? Impossible!" the crown princess shouted.


    "Something must be going wrong within..."


    "One of you, enter and find out what''s going on." The crown princess pointed at one subordinate.


    "Crown Princess, I can''t bear the mes within!" the unfortunate subordinate eximed.


    "Don''t you have an avatar? Send him in, now!"


    "Yes, Your Highness." The cultivator had no choice but to ede.


    The cultivators worked together to summon a cloud of golden fog that surged toward the avatar and sent him within the pure yang pir.


    The moment the avatar entered, he saw an astonishing sight.


    The endless mes that had filled the interior of the pir had vanished entirely.


    Xiao Nanfeng was sitting cross-legged as Yu''er guarded him. His ten golden crows cawed loudly, having grown hundreds of meters tall. They opened their mouths wide, sucking in all the formation beasts that had just spawned.


    Though the golden characters had briefly vanished when the formation was stopped, they were being forcefully reactivated by the ten golden crows'' suction. As new formation beasts materialized, the golden crows consumed them immediately.


    The situation within the pir was shocking.


    It was less a fiery crucible and more a feast for the golden crows within.


    "Who''s there? Die!" Xia Yu''er shouted.


    Dozens of Yuqing swords shot toward the intruder.


    "No!" the man screamed.


    The swords shed at him just as he activated the formation and escaped, severing one of his arms before he managed to flee.


    Yu''er didn''t give chase. She continued to guard Xiao Nanfeng, who seemed to be at a critical period in his breakthrough.


    The ten golden crows took one final breath and absorbed all the formation beasts in their vicinity.


    Then, they flew back into Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian, releasing all the power they had absorbed.


    A wave of me emanated from Xiao Nanfeng''s body.


    "A breakthrough!" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "Indeed. I''m at the sixth stage of the Golden Immortal realm. There really is an incredible quantity of energy in here."


    All the golden characters and formation beasts in the vicinity had vanished, and their surroundings had grown cold.


    Just then, a cloud of golden fog manifested. The ck-robed cultivators from outside had rushed back in.


    The ck-robed avatar whose arm Yu''er had cut off immediately shouted, "See? It''s all gone! Xiao Nanfeng was absorbing the formation with his ten golden crows. He was leveraging the mes in here to advance his cultivation!"


    "That''s what I said! With the ten golden crows protecting him, he wouldn''t be scared of the mes at all! Was he just feigning his weariness all along?"


    "All our effort only served to help Xiao Nanfeng out!"


    "He''s a liar! We''ve all been tricked!"


    The ck-robed cultivators were all enraged.


    "Enough! Silence!" their leadermanded, livid.


    Only then did the cultivators stop shouting. They all turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "It''s your turn to die."


    With a wave of his hand, he sent his ten golden crows toward them.


    The leader of the ck-robed cultivators was incensed beyond measure. It was precisely because Xiao Nanfeng had killed a Boundless Immortal that she had been careful not to face him in directbat. She had intended to use the pure yang pir to slowly whittle Xiao Nanfeng to death, not expecting him to take advantage of the circumstances to cultivate instead.


    "Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" she roared.


    She unleashed a flurry of golden needles from her sleeves, directed straight at the ten golden crows.


    The ten golden crows spat out quintessential fire, burning the golden needles to a crisp.


    They charged toward the ck-robed cultivators, their sharp ws like divine spears.


    "Swell!" the crown princessmanded.


    The golden crows suddenly stopped short. The flurry of golden needles had merely been a ruse. There were ten purple-gold needles in their midst that had passed through the mes and shot straight into the crows'' bodies. Following the crown princess''mand, they swelled in size, pierced through their bodies, and pinned them in ce.


    "I should''ve made a move sooner. Your ten golden crows are pathetic. Kill them!"


    "Die!" the ck-robed cultivators shouted.


    With swords in hand, the cultivators charged toward the ten golden crows, who had been rendered defenseless.


    From afar, Xiao Nanfengmanded, "Explode!"


    He shielded Yu''er behind him as his ten golden crows self-destructed.


    "This isn''t good!" the ck-robed cultivators cried out.


    Even their leader was astonished. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you crazy? You''re destroying your own golden crows?!"


    The mes that resulted from the ten golden crows'' explosions overwhelmed all the ck-robed cultivators. The void shook as mes consumed the realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to protect Yu''er, ensuring her safety.


    The mes from the explosion rapidly surged back into Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian.


    The explosion had caused the pir''s subspace to be filled with cracks. The ck-robed cultivators were all dead, all safe their leader.


    She was a Boundless Immortal, and naturally able to withstand the explosion. Even so, she had been badly injured.


    She spat out a mouthful of blood. Her ck robes were ruined, revealing her bloodied body and face.


    "You''re the crown princess of the divine empire of Dachi, Su Qingchan!" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Su Qingchan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. "Xiao Nanfeng, were you trying to take me down with you? You''ve crippled your own technique!"


    "What nonsense," Xiao Nanfeng replied, sneering.


    He summoned another ten golden crows from his body, whounched themselves straight at Su Qingchan.


    "What? You have more golden crows? Impossible! Doesn''t the Sky of Ten Suns onlye with ten crows, all of which exploded? How did you revive them?!"


    By then, the ten golden crows had surrounded Su Qingchan once more.


    "Die!" Su Qingchan shed at one crow with her sword.


    "Explode!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The ten crows self-destructed once again. The frightening storm of mes engulfed Su Qingchan, leaving her stricken.


    "No!" she howled.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t stop there. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a beam of purple light.


    "Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The massive seal mmed down on Su Qingchan, pinning her to the ground.


    The golden mes all around her returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s body, revealing Su Qingchan''s prone body pinned by the seal.


    She tried to invoke a formation to escape. A cloud of golden fog had appeared before her like a portal, but she was mere moments toote. Pinned down by Xiao Nanfeng''s divine seal, she was unable to move from where shey.


    Above her, as the heavens sensed the Divine Seal of Dazheng, a fearsome aura began to descend.

 Chapter 905: Intent on Seeking Death

    <h4>Chapter 905: Intent on Seeking Death</h4>


    While the Divine Seal of Dazheng suppressed Su Qingchan, a wave of divine pressure surged around Xiao Nanfeng. He immediately realized that a Heaven''s Hand was approaching from the outside.


    Without any hesitation, he drew his divine undying de and rushed toward Su Qingchan, intent on killing her on the spot.


    "Don''t kill me!" My father is guarding the exit to the wild wastes hidden realm. You can use me as a hostage to escape," Su Qingchan pleaded.


    "That won''t be necessary." Xiao Nanfeng''s de was already descending.


    She would be useful, but he had no time to spare. Without any hesitation, he struck at her with his de.


    Su Qingchan nched. She then shouted, "I''m Blue Lantern''s fianc¨¦e! You can''t kill me!"


    The divine undying de halted briefly, inches from Su Qingchan''s neck. Xiao Nanfeng''s expression shifted slightly.


    Even so, the aura of the Heaven''s Hand grew stronger by the second. Xiao Nanfeng knew he couldn''t afford to dy.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Su Qingchan''s head was severed in a single stroke.


    Even in herst moments, Su Qingchan couldn''t believe that Xiao Nanfeng would be so ruthless.


    He quickly retrieved the Divine Seal of Dazheng. The pressure of the approaching Heaven''s Hand dissipated instantly.


    "Yu''er, let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    Su Qingchan''s death caused the portal of golden fog she had opened to destabilize. It was starting to copse.


    Xiao Nanfeng, carrying Su Qingchan''s severed head and body, grabbed Yu''er and dashed out of the portal. They emerged right as the portal copsed.


    Although Su Qingchan had been decapitated, she wasn''t fully dead.


    Her soul quickly emerged from her mindscape.


    Xiao Nanfeng threw a punch, forcing her soul back in.


    "Stay in there and wait patiently. Trying out again and I won''t be so kind," Xiao Nanfeng said coolly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re asking to die!" Su Qingchan''s soul shrieked.


    "If you hadn''t imed to be Blue Lantern''s fianc¨¦e, I would already have killed you in body and in soul. You had better not be lying to me," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    He swiftly sealed Su Qingchan''s head and body. Yu''er stepped forward and performed a second seal on Su Qingchan''s remains using a secret technique passed down by the Yuqing Grandmaster.


    "Is what she said true, Nanfeng?" Yu''er asked, puzzled.


    "I don''t know. We''ll take her back and ask Blue Lantern."


    "Very well!" Yu''er nodded.


    By then, all their enemies in the vicinity had been in, leaving only the pure yang pir. However, the pir''s light had dimmed considerably, and it had shrunk to only a few hundred meters tall.


    Xiao Nanfeng stored the pir within a storage treasure, then surveyed the area.


    Some Golden Immortals were watching nervously from a distant forest. When Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze fell upon them, they fled in terror.


    "That was Su Qingchan, wasn''t it? She''s a Boundless Immortal, but Xiao Nanfeng still managed to kill her! Her head''s gone!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s terrifying¡ªhe looked this way! Run! Flee before hees for us!"


    "Wasn''t Su Qingchan outside the wild wastes hidden realm? How did she suddenly make it in?"


    "Who cares? Run before that demon catches us!"


    The cultivators fled in panic.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the fleeing cowards. Alongside Yu''er, he headed directly to where Blue Lantern was.


    When they arrived, the Heaven''s Hands pressing against Blue Lantern''s bluepass had grown even stronger and more numerous. Thepass''s projection was trembling under the strain.


    "Candleme," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    A red sh of light appeared before him. Grasping Yu''er''s hand, he stepped through. They vanished in a sh, and the portail dissipated.


    Back within the valley, Xiao Nanfeng''s sudden reappearance brought shouts of joy and relief.


    "Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others shouted.


    "Emperor Xiao, did you manage to im the pure yang pir?" Blue Jade asked urgently.


    "The pure yang pir is here, but because of the circumstances, its power has diminished significantly. Will it still suffice?" Xiao Nanfeng handed over the storage treasure.


    Blue Jade immediately inspected the pir and gaped in surprise.


    "We''ll try it regardless," Blue Jade said.


    "Hurry, please," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    "Senior Brother, we have the pure yang pir. What should we do with it?" Blue Jade asked.


    "Fuse it with the bluepass. I''ll activate it," Blue Lantern called out.


    "Understood!" Blue Jade replied.


    She released the pure yang pir and allowed it to fuse with the bluepass.


    Thepass'' golden runes and symbols surged into the pir, which began emitting a radiant golden light that enveloped the valley and concealed thepass'' aura.


    The Heaven''s Hands that had been reaching out began to retreat back into the clouds.


    "We did it!" Blue Jade and the others shouted in relief.


    The disciples of the Fenghuang faction cheered as their efforts paid off.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath.


    Then, Blue Lantern called out, "The pure yang energy within the pir has been depleted, and we''ll need external support from the formations in the vicinity. Do your best to stabilize the pure yang pir for the time being so it can withstand the heavens'' surveince."


    "Understood!" the Fenghuang cultivators chorused.


    Using their own secret techniques, they stabilized the pure yang pir and prevented it from vibrating.


    Blue Lantern was finally able to focus on attuning to the bronzepass once more.


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng retrieved Su Qingchan''s body from another storage treasure.


    "Blue Jade, do you recognize this woman?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Jade nced at the body. She immediately grew enraged. "Qingchan? This vile vixen? I''ll kill her myself!"


    Though Su Qingchan''s cultivation had been sealed, she could still speak. She hurriedly said, "Blue Jade, I''m Blue Lantern''s fianc¨¦e. You can''t kill me!"


    "You dare call yourself Senior Brother''s fianc¨¦e? If you hadn''t tricked him into toppling a pure yang pir, he would never have been expelled from the sect! She''s a vixen. She doesn''t deserve to be Senior Brother''s fianc¨¦e! I''ll kill her and avenge him!" Blue Jade roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly gripped Blue Jade''s wrist.


    "Emperor Xiao, what do you want?!" Blue Jade shouted.


    "Hold it. Let''s wait for Blue Lantern to emerge first. Let him make a decision himself."


    "Blue Jade, please calm down. It would be best for Blue Lantern to handle this personally, lest it be a heart specter," Yu''er said, reaching out for Blue Jade''s hand.


    Only then did Blue Jade calm down. Even so, she looked at Su Qingchan with a look of seething hatred.


    The cultivators waited patiently for some time until a bright blue glow emerged from the house where Blue Lantern was. The blue glowsted for mere moments before vanishing; then, Blue Lantern let out a deep breath.


    "Senior Brother, did you seed?" Blue Jade eximed in excitement.


    Blue Lantern slowly emerged from the house. He exuded a transcendent aura that made him seem to blend into his environment.


    Blue Lantern bowed to Xiao Nanfeng. "Thank you for standing guard, Your Majesty."


    "Don''t mention it. You attuned to the bronzepass to help Yu''er out, after all." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "I''ll remove Xia Yu''er''s curse as soon as I can, Your Majesty," Blue Lantern replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then continued, "Blue Lantern, this woman imed to be your fianc¨¦e. Do you want to have a talk with her?"


    Only then did Blue Lantern turn to Su Qingchan, whom Xiao Nanfeng had beheaded.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Senior Brother, this vixen was trying to harm you! She..." Blue Jade exined everything that Su Qingchan had done.


    Blue Lantern frowned and walked toward her.


    When Su Qingchan saw Blue Lantern approach, she smiled. "Long time no see, Blue Lantern."


    "Did you try to kill me just now?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Kill? Hardly. If you had given up attuning to the bronzepass, the Heaven''s Hands wouldn''t have hurt you."


    Blue Lantern red at Su Qingchan. "Should I thank you, then?"


    Su Qingchan smiled. "You can consider it as me trying to harm you, I suppose. Do you want revenge? Come at me, then!"


    Blue Lantern red at Su Qingchan.


    "Blue Lantern, you aren''t still interested in me, are you? If you are, let me go," Su Qingchan said softly.


    Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Senior Brother, don''t go easy on her! If not for her, you would never have suffered to such an extent, and Master wouldn''t have had such a hard time. He wouldn''t have died! This vixen schemed against you, Master, and our whole faction. You can''t forgive her!"Blue Jade cried out.


    Blue Lantern''s gaze grew steely. He pointed a finger at Su Qingchan''s mindscape, a wisp of destructive power by his fingertip.


    However, Su Qingchan didn''t seem to resist. Her eyes shone with a mix of anticipation and calm eptance.


    A small explosion seemed to ring out within Su Qingchan''s mindscape. Her eyes dimmed lifelessly.


    "Good riddance! That vixen deserved it," Blue Jade spat out.


    Even so, Blue Lantern felt no satisfaction, only a deep sense of loss.


    "Blue Lantern, did you notice Su Qingchan''s expression? Something didn''t seem right. Is she not afraid of dying?"


    "This is only an avatar of hers. I doubt she cares very much for it," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned thoughtfully. "She wanted to die at your hands¡ªto atone, or to burden you with guilt?"


    Blue Lantern remained silent, his emotions unreadable.


    Blue Jade gasped. "That vixen¡ªshe wanted to harm Senior Brother even in death! I should have killed her!"


    Blue Lantern sighed. "Forget it. What''s done is done. I''ve broken off all rtions with her since what happened in the past."


    Blue Jade bit her lip, clearly still ill at ease.


    Xiao Nanfeng could tell that Blue Lantern still seemed to have lingering feelings for her as well.

 Chapter 906: The Seven Factions Flee

    <h4>Chapter 906: The Seven Factions Flee</h4>


    COn the Eastern Sea, outside the wild wastes hidden realm, the seven factions'' ck-robed cultivators had been waiting on the ind for news within the realm for several days. They were finally hearing back.


    Atop a mountain, Shi Tianbei listened to one of his subordinates'' reports.


    "What? Xiao Nanfeng killed a dozen Golden Immortals by himself, as easily as if he were chopping up vegetables?" Shi Tianbei eximed.


    "Yes, Hierarch! Sage Qingyun is fighting with him at the moment, but he can''t seem to do anything! Xiao Nanfeng''s able to block his blows without injury!"


    "Impossible. Xiao Nanfeng''s merely a Golden Immortal," Shi Tianbei murmured.


    "It''s true! And..." The subordinate continued to describe everything going on within the realm.


    Gradually, Shi Tianbei began to frown.


    After some time, the cultivator gasped. "Sage Qingyun is dead!"


    "What? How can this be? How can a Golden Immortal kill a Boundless Immortal?!" Shi Tianbei cried out.


    "It''s true! But someone else imed the protection token in the end..." The subordinate continued to describe what had happened within the wild wastes hidden realm.


    Shi Tianbei''s eyes turned cold. "Who else could it be? Someone must have tampered with the protection token. Emperor Dachi must have reimed it. His faction must have intended to swoop in and im the bronzepass."


    "What do we do now?"


    Shi Tianbei''s face darkened as he considered his options. With Sage Qingyun''s death, the rift between him and Xiao Nanfeng had deepened beyond repair.


    He knew that Xiao Nanfeng now held leverage against him. The Yuqing holynd had stringent rules for selecting its hierarch. Only Yuqing disciples without any other allegiance could ascend to that position; Shi Tianbei should have been ineligible. Years ago, he had resorted to underhanded means to seize the role of hierarch. If Xiao Nanfeng revealed this secret, his position would be at risk.


    Still, Shi Tianbei remained calm. Unless Xiao Nanfeng had irrefutable proof, he could deny everything¡ªbut if Xiao Nanfeng were to arrive on the ind with witnesses from the Yuqing holynd, the truth would undoubtedlye to light.


    "This ce is no longer safe. We must leave immediately," Shi Tianbei announced.


    "But what about those of our faction within the wild wastes hidden realm?"


    Shi Tianbei hesitated. Those cultivators from his faction could be used as pawns against him if they were left behind.


    "We''ll have to open up an exit to the realm and retrieve our people before we leave," Shi Tianbei said decisively.


    "But doing so requires thebined strength of all seven faction heads!"


    Shi Tianbei nced at the other ck-robed cultivators, thinking about how to phrase his request.


    Before long, even more startling news came from within the hidden realm.


    "Hierarch, the one who imed the protection token was actually Su Qingchan¡ªand Xiao Nanfeng just slew her!"


    "What?!" Shi Tianbei eximed.


    The cultivator immediately described what his avatar had witnessed.


    The other ck-robed cultivators were likewise made aware of what was happening within the hidden realm.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is truly remarkable."


    "To think he could have killed two Boundless Immortals, one after another... It''s no wonder he was able to be the Eastern Aspect of the former Imperial Court."


    "Senior Brother Su, it seems that you''ve lost both your daughter and your forces."


    "Not necessarily. Su Qingchan is engaged to Blue Lantern. He might not kill her."


    The ck-robed cultivators cast mocking nces at the Immortal Emperor of Dachi, but he remained silent.


    After some time, Su Qingchan''s other body spoke up. "Father, Blue Lantern has fully attuned to the bronzepass. My avatar was destroyed, soul and all."


    The group fell silent. Blue Lantern''s mastery of the bronzepass would be troublesome for them all.


    Shi Tianbei finally broke the silence. "Everyone, Xiao Nanfeng is now invincible within the wild wastes hidden realm, and Blue Lantern has the bronzepass. Can any of our people hide from them?"


    "If Blue Lantern uses thepass to track them, no one will be able to hide¡ªat least not within the hidden realm, where there are formations everywhere."


    "Given the Fenghuang faction''s enmity for us all, do you think any of our disciples stand a chance?" Shi Tianbei continued.


    The group remained silent, their faces grim.


    "What are you suggesting?" one of them finally asked.


    "We have to open a portal to the wild wastes hidden realm again and let our people escape. At the very least, we''ll avoid unnecessary losses," Shi Tianbei proposed.


    After some deliberation, everyone nodded in agreement. "Very well."


    "We''ll each inform our disciples to gather by the portal as quickly as possible. Once everyone''s there, we''ll open the portal up."


    "Very well!"


    Through their disciples'' avatars, the faction heads ryed their orders to the disciples within the hidden realm, urging them to head toward the exit. However, it would take some time for everyone to gather.


    Not long after, another ck-robed figure shouted, "Blue Lantern and Xiao Nanfeng are attacking my faction''s stronghold! Many of our people have been killed."


    "They''ve begun their assault," Shi Tianbei said grimly.


    The gathered ck-robed cultivators grew increasingly anxious and urged their disciples to hurry.


    Within the hidden realm, with Xiao Nanfeng''s full support, Blue Lantern and his junior disciples fought their way to a certain faction''s stronghold.


    Using the bronzepass, Blue Lantern activated a massive formation that enveloped the entire area. Those within were thrown into chaos.


    "Damn it, we can''t break out of Blue Lantern''spass-empowered formation!"


    "We''re trapped! We''ll have to fight them to the death!"


    "Kill them all!"


    The stronghold erupted into bloodybat.


    The disciples of the Fenghuang faction fought earnestly as they took their revenge. Xiao Nanfeng''s twelve golden cultivators joined in, as did Yu''er.


    "You vile demons, you ughtered my senior brothers and sisters! Today, none of you will escape!" Blue Jade shouted tearfully "Kill them all!"


    Blood sttered as the fierce battle raged.


    Blue Lantern frowned from where he stood beside Xiao Nanfeng. "Your Majesty, the bronzepass shows that members of all seven factions are converging near the exit to the realm.


    "They must have learned about the situation here. They''re trying to minimize their losses," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "They''re getting off too easily," Blue Lantern replied bitterly.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll deal with themter. Let your juniors vent their anger now. They''ve held it in for too long," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern nodded.


    "You might have bolstered that pure yang pir, but it won''tst for much longer, will it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "My father consumed a portion of the pure yang energy within the pir in the past, and Su Qingchan''s formations drained even more from it." Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Actually, I absorbed the pure yang mes within. There were extenuating circumstances," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I understand, Your Majesty. You aren''t to me, and you were the one who retrieved it in the first ce. Just having what''s left of the pir has been an incredible help," Blue Lantern said immediately.


    "About how much of the pure yang energy remains?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "About a tenth."


    "A tenth? Will you be able to advance to the Boundless Immortal realm using what remains?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "With the assistance of the bronzepass, I should be able to do so."


    "Good. Have all of it, then. I hope you''ll be able to advance to a Boundless Immortal quickly and take on the seven faction heads," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern replied gratefully. "Your Majesty, I found this on Su Qingchan''s avatar."


    Though Xiao Nanfeng had been the one to capture Su Qingchan, she was ultimately Blue Lantern''s fianc¨¦e. Xiao Nanfeng naturally left him to handle it.


    Blue Lantern passed Xiao Nanfeng a piece of white jade, on which was carved the words "protection token".


    "This is a protection token. I recently learned of what it does. Saints give them to theirckeys to ensure their survival during the cmity of the era," Xiao Nanfeng exined.


    "Oh?" Blue Lantern eximed in surprise. "In that case, Your Majesty, please have it."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I''ll be able to use this to target any remaining saints''ckeys."


    "It''s just that Sage Qingyun and Su Qingchan, both Boundless Immortals, should each have had their own protection token. I only found Su Qingchan''s."


    "Su Qingchan may have deposited the other elsewhere¡ªperhaps sent it out of the wild wastes hidden realm entirely. Don''t worry about it. Just this is good enough."


    "Understood!"


    The two cultivators waited for some more time as the fierce fighting in the distance finally ended.


    "Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, we''ve finally avenged you!" Blue Jade was sobbing despite the overwhelming victory.


    Blue Lantern dispelled the formations he was maintaining and stepped forward to console her.


    Yu''er patted her on the back. "Blue Jade, don''t cry. We still have more people to take vengeance on, right?"


    "Right!" Blue Jade wiped at her tears.


    Blue Lantern led the gathered cultivators toward a forest.


    "They''re right over there! They''re going to escape! Hold it!" Blue Jade thundered.


    "Don''t head over!" Blue Lanternmanded, forcing Blue Jade and the others back.


    High in the air, there was a void portal out of which the seven factions'' disciples were escaping. The portal was being guarded by a group of ck-robed cultivators on the other side.


    "The seven faction heads?" Blue Lantern narrowed his eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "They must not have dared to enter because of the heavenly restrictions on the hidden realm."


    @@novelbin@@


    "Will they try to attack us as we emerge from the hidden realm?" Blue Lantern asked anxiously.


    "It''s only to be expected, but don''t worry. I have my own ns, and will be able to remove them from the area. We''ll head out in a few days'' time. For now, arrange for the Fenghuang disciples to gather up what we can from this hidden realm. They can leave with us. Help Yu''er dispel her curse in the meantime as well," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "I understand." Blue Lantern nodded.


    Before long, the seven factions'' cultivators finished evacuating. The portal to the outside snapped shut.

 Chapter 907: War Once More

    <h4>Chapter 907: War Once More</h4>


    In the imperial study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar was reviewing a stack of documents while Wen Zhong stood by.


    After a moment, Xiao Nanfeng set the papers down and asked, "Have these reports been verified?"


    "I''ve double-checked them thoroughly, Your Majesty, and there are no errors I''m aware of. We have fully uncovered the subversion and infiltration of Dachi subordinates within our forty Immortal cities. Additionally, we''ve also monitored their subversive activities in neighboring empires under their influence," Wen Zhong replied.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi is ambitious, to say the least. To infiltrate and subvert so many distinct groups of people must have taken a great deal of effort. Let''s help them expose their ns, shall we?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    "Your Majesty, do you intend to act now?" Wen Zhong asked, his expression shifting.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Everything is in ce, and we have a solid foundation. Let''s dere war. It''s time for us to wage a campaign and gain the final resources we need for Dazheng to advance to a divine empire."


    "Understood! I''ll make the arrangements immediately," Wen Zhong replied.


    Before long, Wen Zhong had disseminated Xiao Nanfeng''s orders across the empire.


    All of Dazheng''s forces swiftly began to mobilize for war.


    Within the Immortal city of Zhenzhou, one of the forty Immortal cities in Dazheng''s control, a group of individuals was drinking and conversing within arge hall.


    "To think Xiao Nanfeng''s scheming went so deep! When Dazheng took over this city, we agreed that it would handle civil affairs while we, the major ns, handled military affairs. It seemed fair enough at the time, but it''s clear we were yed."


    "Dazheng''s civil administration is simply beyondpare. Over the years, the people havee to adore and revere Dazheng and its officials. Even though we control the military, no one will listen to us anymore."


    "If Dazheng decides to reim military authority someday, the people will surely side with them. We''d have no way to resist."


    As theints grew, one person frowned and asked, "What''s the meaning of this? Are you suggesting that we revolt against Dazheng?"


    "And so what if we do?" a red-robed man replied.


    Several people in the hall stood up and red at the red-robed man.


    "You intend to rebel?" one asked coldly.


    "Don''t act innocent, now. Everyone invited here for drinks today has received advance notice. We''re all on the same side." The red-robed man smiled.


    The other man frowned uncertainly.


    The red-robed man produced an imperial edict, along with certain scrolls, charms, and tokens. "Do you believe me now? I''ve received orders from the Immortal Emperor of Dachi. Tomorrow night, all forty Immortal cities will rise up against Dazheng simultaneously. Until then, no one is to spread any of this information lest it leaks."


    The others examined the edict, scrolls, charms, and tokens. Their expressions hardened. Many of them had received simr instructions.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi promised us that we would be granted full military and civil authority once we take over the city. Can we trust that promise?"


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi is a man of his word."


    "Let''s do it, then."


    "Agreed. We''ll act tomorrow. Let''s gather our men."


    "Remember, don''t tip off the authorities. We can''t let Dazheng catch wind of this."


    The conspirators left the hall, each preparing for the rebellion.


    The next evening, within the Immortal city of Zhenzhou, a loud promation echoed across the city. "People of Zhenzhou, hear me! Dazheng is unworthy of your loyalty. Our city shall join the divine empire of Dachi and embrace a brighter future. Any resistance will be met with death!"


    @@novelbin@@


    The deration caused an uproar throughout the city.


    "Who dares to rebel?"


    "Themander of the Eastern Gate! Is he crazy?"


    "This is chaos!"


    Battles erupted across the city as rebellious factionsunched attacks on government centers.


    "n Head Ling, are you crazy? You would dare rebel against Dazheng?"


    "Everyone, listen up! Kill all the dissidents!"


    "Protect Dazheng and eradicate the rebels!"


    Chaos reigned throughout the city, though the rebels weren''t given too much opportunity to act.


    At one location, an insurgent leader led his troops to storm a civil administration building. However, before he could issue anymands, one of his trusted bodyguards suddenly turned on him and drove a sword through his chest.


    "You¡ªI promoted you myself! Why would you betray me?!" the rebel leader gasped, coughing up blood.


    The bodyguard gave him a cold nce, ignoring the question, and barked at the other soldiers, "Clean this up. Kill everyone who participated in the rebellion!"


    "Yessir!" the soldiers responded.


    "What? You''re all spies? Impossible!" the rebel leader eximed. His eyes bulged in disbelief, even as he was beheaded.


    The same situation urred all over the forty Immortal cities of Dazheng. The rebel leaders had long since been pinpointed by Dazheng''s spectral guards, and they were systematically being taken down.


    "Impossible! How did you all know our ns? We made sure to hide everything!" another rebel leader cried out in despair before being executed.


    No one exined anything to them.


    Within just two short hours, another announcement rang out above the skies of Zhenzhou.


    "Citizens of Zhenzhou, I am your city lord. Rest assured¡ªthe rebels have been subdued. These traitors colluded with the divine empire of Dachi to sow chaos in our city. Their treachery is unforgivable!"


    The promation shocked the people. Had the rebellion ended that quickly?


    The agents from other forces were equally stunned. Some had just reported the city''s fall to their superiors, only to see it retaken in the blink of an eye.


    "Death to the traitors! We stand with Dazheng!" someone shouted.


    The cry ignited the crowd''s fury. The citizens, unwilling to let their newfound peace be disrupted, rallied together to aid officials in rooting out the remaining rebels.


    "Death to the traitors! We stand with Dazheng!" they echoed.


    Loud shouts rang across the entire city as the people united under this shared cause. They volunteered to join the officials, shocking the remaining rebels and the spies of various forces, who were afraid of revealing themselves and being torn apart by the crowd.


    Simr scenes yed out across all forty Immortal cities. Some rebellions had been fierce, others mild; all were swiftly suppressed as a result of Dazheng''s meticulous nning.


    With the rebels eliminated, Dazheng seized full control of the military in those cities, leaving no vulnerabilities.


    At the same time, on the Eastern Sea, outside the wild wastes hidden realm, a ck-robed man nched. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, something has happened."


    "What is it?" the surrounding ck-robed figures asked.


    "Just now, all our agents in Dazheng received orders tounch a rebellion. They acted simultaneously."


    Su Qingchan frowned. "Orders? Whose orders?"


    "His Majesty''s orders¡ªimperial edicts, coupled with documents from their handlers and various credentials."


    "Impossible!" Su Qingchan eximed.


    "It''s true. The operation was so secretive that even our own people weren''t aware of it beforehand. Someone even made it known that the divine empire of Dachi was the mastermind behind all these rebellions."


    "Father, you didn''t issue these orders, did you?" Su Qingchan asked, turning to the Immortal Emperor of Dachi.


    "What do you think?"


    "Of course you wouldn''t have, Father. It''s not yet the right time to do so."


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi grimaced. "How''s the situation?"


    "All the rebellions in Dazheng were quelled within two hours."


    Su Qingchan turned to the man in consternation. "Two hours? That''s ridiculous!"


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi was silent for a moment before he finallymented, "Xiao Nanfeng is truly cunning. Our agents were under his watch the entire time."


    "Are you saying that Xiao Nanfeng orchestrated this rebellion? That he forged your edicts and documents to lure our people into exposing themselves?" Su Qingchan asked, frowning.


    "Indeed, but we don''t know how far his surveince extends¡ªwhether it''s limited to agents within Dazheng, or even those outside its borders."


    "Could he really reach our agents beyond Dazheng? That''s impossible," Su Qingchan murmured.


    "Your Majesty, Your Highness, we''ve received more news. Rebellions have erupted in the other empires we''ve infiltrated. Just like in Dazheng, they all proimed loyalty to the divine empire of Dachi before being swiftly crushed. This seems to be Xiao Nanfeng''s doing as well."


    Su Qingchan and the Immortal Emperor of Dachi fell silent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is clearly dering war," Su Qingchan said grimly.


    "An excuse tounch a war, yes. And in doing so, he''s destroyed years of groundwork. Impressive," the emperor spat out.


    "Why start a war now?" Su Qingchan frowned.


    "Perhaps we forced his hand."


    "Oh?"


    "If Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern want to leave the wild wastes hidden realm, they''ll have to deal with us first. Byunching this war, he''s trying to pressure me into retreating."


    "As if we''d yield to his threats!" Su Qingchan said coldly.


    The emperor shook his head. "He''s not in a rush to leave. On the other hand, if we don''t, he''ll slowly devour our territory. This is a warning from him."


    "Father, Xiao Nanfeng won''t be able to threaten us like this! We can''t let him win," Su Qingchan urged.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi shook his head. "We will."


    "We will?" Su Qingchan eximed.


    "Staying here doesn''t benefit us," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi said, ncing around him.


    "Father, you mean we''ll leave matters here to the other factions and have them weaken Xiao Nanfeng on our behalf?" Su Qingchan murmured, following her father''s gaze.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi nodded.

 Chapter 908: Sowing Discord

    <h4>Chapter 908: Sowing Discord</h4>


    On the Eastern Sea, outside the wild wastes hidden realm, Shi Tianbei hurriedly departed even before the Immortal Emperor of Dachi could do so.


    "Everyone, I have some matters to attend to and must take my leave. I will no longer concern myself with the matter of the bronzepass. Farewell," Shi Tianbei said, bowing slightly.


    Then, without further exnation, he left in haste.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Su Qingchan exchanged nces with each other. "Xiao Nanfeng isn''t just targeting us, but Shi Tianbei as well. He''s truly swift and decisive," Su Qingchan remarked, frowning.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi didn''t reply. Instead, he turned to the gathered ck-robed figures. "Everyone, I must depart as well. Until another day."


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi swiftly left with his subordinates in tow.


    The other ck-robed figures were surprised by the sudden departures.


    "Why are they leaving so suddenly?" someone eximed.


    "Why else? Xiao Nanfeng forced their hand."


    "Xiao Nanfeng? Isn''t he within the wild wastes hidden realm?"


    "Are you out of the loop? Or have your subordinates just not informed you about recent developments yet?"


    "Oh?"


    rmed, the ck-robed figure pulled over a subordinate to inquire about these ''recent developments''. After a brief exchange, he learned of what was going on.


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi dered war on Dazheng? At such a critical moment?!"


    "Think again," someone nearby interjected.


    Realization dawned as the cultivator turned pale. "Are you saying that Dazheng started the war? Xiao Nanfeng''s forcing the Immortal Emperor of Dachi to return?"


    "What else could it be?" another ck-robed figure interjected.


    "And what about Shi Tianbei?"


    "My sources say that Xiao Nanfeng sent people to meet with Yang Chuan. He was in secluded cultivation, but suddenly emerged and stormed into the Yuqing holynd. He convened a meeting of the Mountain Lords and threw the entire sect into chaos."


    "You have spies in the Yuqing holynd?" someone else eximed.


    "I just heard the rumors. I could hardly have spies there," the person deflected,ughing awkwardly.


    Regardless, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng had to drive them away from the exit to the wild wastes hidden realm if he wanted to leave.


    Two of the seven factions had already been forced to retreat. Just five remained.


    "Do you think Xiao Nanfeng knows our identities? Has he prepared methods to deal with us?" one ck-robed figure wondered.


    "Oh? I''m intrigued. I''d like to see just how Xiao Nanfeng intends to force me to leave."


    At that moment, one of the ck-robed figures spoke up. "And here theye. Xiao Nanfeng''s already starting to move against us."


    The others followed his gaze to see a group of Dazheng officials flying toward them.


    The officials descended and turned to the gathered ck-robed cultivators. One smiled and bowed. "I am a representative of Dazheng''s Ministry of Rites. Greetings, everyone."


    "Did Xiao Nanfeng send you here? What do you want?" one ck-robed figure asked coldly.


    "His Majesty has a message to ry to you," the official replied.


    "Oh?"


    The Dazheng officialsnded on a mountain peak and began to set up a few treasures. Very quickly, a projection of Xiao Nanfeng appeared above the mountain peak.


    "Through this projection, our avatars will ry His Majesty''s words and actions from Yongding," the Dazheng official said.


    The ck-robed cultivators nced at the projection curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s projection smiled. "Everyone, now that Dazheng and Dachi are at war, I apologize for not being able to meet you in person. Allow me tomunicate with you in this manner."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice came from a certain treasure that the officials had synchronized with the transmission from Yongding.


    "And what''s there to discuss, Xiao Nanfeng? Are you here to beg for mercy?"


    "You mustn''t have considered this possibility when you led the Fenghuang faction to kill my disciples."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, it''s toote for apologies now!"


    The ck-robed figures hurled usations one after another.


    Xiao Nanfeng chuckled. "Everyone, don''t you think you''re overestimating yourselves?"


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    "What did you say?" one figure sneered.


    "Do you truly think you can trap me in the wild wastes hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Can''t we?"


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "If I really wanted to deal with you cowardly scoundrels, I could eliminate all of you today."


    "Insolence!" the ck-robed cultivators seethed.


    "Have I not made myself clear? It''ll be simple enough for me to kill you. You''re well aware that I have the means to summon more Boundless Immortals to assist me than are in your group."


    "Then do it," one ck-robed figure challenged.


    "You don''t believe me, do you?" Xiao Nanfeng smirked.


    He waved a hand. Two more delegations arrived, one representing Shenfeng and the other representing Dajing.


    A shadowy aura emanated from the Shenfeng officials, identifying them as shadow cursed effigies. They bowed deeply toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Emperor Xiao, Her Majesty instructed us to inquire if you need assistance. She is prepared to travel here immediately," the Shenfeng official began.


    The Dajing officials followed suit. "Emperor Xiao, Her Majesty is prepared to aid you as well."


    The two delegations treated Xiao Nanfeng with extreme deference, leaving the ck-robed figures visibly shaken.


    Xiao Nanfeng dismissed them both with a wave. "Stand by for now."


    "Understood!" the two delegations replied in unison as they stepped aside.


    Turning back to the ck-robed figures, Xiao Nanfeng continued, "I won''t waste words. You know that, as the former Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court, I''ll be able to summon my oldrades for assistance as well."


    The ck-robed figures fell silent.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, even if you call for the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin, we have more Boundless Immortals. You won''t be able to stop us," one of them said coldly.


    "Perhaps some of you might escape, but do you truly wish to risk mutual destruction?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    The ck-robed figures exchanged uneasy nces.


    "What do you propose?" one of them finally asked.


    "A truce," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Withdraw now, and we''ll settle this another time. You simply want the bronzepass, and I want to protect my subordinates. There is no great enmity between us. I did kill a fair number of your disciples, but I am as responsible for that as you are."


    "What''s the point of saying all this?" that ck-robed cultivator demanded.


    "The reason I didn''t summon the Immortal Emperors of Shenfeng and Dajing here outright is because I don''t believe there''s any need for a heated battle just yet."


    "Oh? You want a ceasefire?" the cultivator smirked.


    "No. I''m here to schedule a fight," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The ck-robed cultivators nced at each other in surprise, not understanding what Xiao Nanfeng meant. Didn''t he want to avoid fighting? What sort of fight did he intend to schedule?


    "You won''t be able to stop me or Blue Lantern today. I rmend that you retreat. We can challenge each other some other day. Whether you obtain Blue Lantern''s bronzepass then, or whether I obtain yours, will be up to our respective strength."


    "Xiao Nanfeng, dream on! You''re just trying to trick us into leaving, aren''t you?" one of the ck-robed cultivators scoffed.


    "Don''t interrupt. Let him finish," another ck-robed cultivator interjected. He turned back to Xiao Nanfeng. "Continue, please."


    Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "As you''ve seen, the war between Dazheng and Dachi has begun. I propose that you join in and reap the spoils of our fighting."


    "You want us to take advantage of the situation?" a ck-robed cultivator eximed.


    "No¡ªhow arrogant you are. You think you''ll be able to take down Dachi and the rest of us in one fell swoop!" another eximed.


    All the ck-robed cultivators nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock.


    "Precisely. Dazheng will take on all of you simultaneously."


    "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, do you think we''re that easy to trick?"


    "Whether or not I''m tricking you, you can judge for yourself. Either we fight to the death now and have the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei benefit, or I fight the Immortal Emperor of Dachi to the death and have the rest of you benefit. The choice is obvious."


    The ck-robed cultivators fell silent.


    Indeed, if Xiao Nanfeng really were to summon the two Immortal Emperors and gather hisrades from the Imperial Court, he would have sufficient strength to take on the gathered ck-robed cultivators. Not only might they fail to im Blue Lantern''s bronzepass, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei might take advantage of them while they were crippled.


    On the other hand, if they agreed to Xiao Nanfeng''s n, they would be able to leave with minimal losses and stand to gain significant profit as a result.


    They were tempted by Xiao Nanfeng''s offer.


    As for the Golden Immortal disciples of theirs who had perished, that was a loss they were able to ept.


    "Have you made up your mind?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.


    The ck-robed cultivators nced at each other, then had a rapid-fire exchange of mental transmissions.


    Finally, one of them stepped forward. "Very well. Xiao Nanfeng, we ept your challenge. We''ll have a showdown sooner orter."


    "Very well," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The ck-robed cultivators eyed Xiao Nanfeng before simultaneously taking flight and leaving the ind.


    All this was witnessed by spies from nearby forces situated on the inds in the vicinity, who quickly spread word of the news throughout the region.


    When the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Su Qingchan learned of what had happened, they too were shocked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng managed to force everyone to leave with just a group of ordinary officials?" Su Qingchan eximed.


    The Immortal Emperor of Dachi stopped short, then frowned. "We''ve been tricked. Xiao Nanfeng has sown discord among us."

 Chapter 910: Su Tianxin

    <h4>Chapter 910: Su Tianxin</h4>


    "The Immortal Emperor of Dachi, Su Tianxin, is as cruel as a wolf and vile as a fiend. On a day of chaos, he bribed traitors and incited rebellion across the empire in an attempt to invade ournds and annihte Dazheng. He is the sworn enemy of Dazheng! The divine empire of Dazheng hereby deres war against Su Tianxin to restore justice to the world!"


    The deration of war from Dazheng caused an uproar across thend.


    In Dachi''s imperial court, chaos reigned as ministers and officials angrily argued about the matter.


    "Shameless! Xiao Nanfeng is utterly despicable and conniving!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng was clearly the one who instigated the war. How dare he nder us!"


    "A day of chaos? If Dachi really were going to carry out something like this, it would have seeded easily!"


    The officials were all incensed¡ªthe rebellions that had urred all over Dazheng were no mystery to them.


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    The fact that Xiao Nanfeng had quelled them all within two hours clearly indicated that he knew about them in advance as well. Yet now, this deration of war was portraying Dazheng as an innocent victim, infuriating the officials of Dachi.


    What made matters worse was that Xiao Nanfeng had evidence that the traitors were being bribed by Dachi. That was an undeniable fact. Furthermore, simr uprisings had urred in other empires, lending credence to Xiao Nanfeng''s usations.


    This left the divine empire of Dachi in a precarious position and caused them to be the target of universal condemnation. Unable to refute the usations, the officials grew increasingly agitated.


    As they cursed and argued among themselves, they turned toward the throne.


    Seated there was a man in a golden draconic robe¡ªSu Tianxin, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi. A faint golden glow radiated from his dignified features. His calm gaze betrayed no emotion.


    When the court finally quieted down, Su Tianxin asked, "Has Dazheng deployed its armies?"


    An official stepped forward and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Dazheng''s forces aremanded by Ye Sanshui, and have already been deployed."


    "Where to?" Su Tianxin asked calmly.


    "The army has entered the border regions between Dazheng and Dazhi," the official reported with a frown. "The empires there are currently in chaos. Some forces within the empires have dered allegiance to Dachi and risen in revolt to seize power."


    The official avoided delving into specifics, as the situation was hardly ttering. The chaos in these regions was part of the same coordinated rebellion orchestrated by Dachi. While Dazheng had swiftly quelled its internal unrest, these smaller empires hadn''t been as fortunate. They were now embroiled in turmoil.


    "These empires were originally Immortal cities belonging to Dayin, weren''t they?" Su Tianxian asked.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. The forty Immortal cities of Dazheng used to belong to Dayin as well. However, the empires that eventually grew out of these other Immortal cities have proven ipetent. They were unable to suppress the chaos as quickly as Dazheng did. Dazheng''s army has entered the empires and are now battling the rebels who im to be loyal to Dachi."


    "And who do you think are these so-called loyalists who have dered allegiance to Dachi?" Su Tianxin asked.


    The officials frowned, deep in thought. They all knew that these so-called loyalists were the spies and insurgents that Dachi had nted itself. However, they had all been exposed by Xiao Nanfeng''s maneuvering. Admitting to this would be tantamount to acknowledging fault. It would undermine the moral high ground necessary for rallying troops to war. After all, Dazheng had framed its war as a righteous quest for justice, while admitting guilt would cast Dachi as aggressors and invaders. Without the banner of righteousness, how could they inspire their soldiers to fight and die for their cause?


    "Please enlighten us, Your Majesty," the official began.


    Su Tianxin nodded. "Long ago, the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, Yin Shenhua, entrusted me with a decree. Bring it forth and read it to the court."


    A nearby official stepped forward, holding an imperial edict in the style of Dayin. He unrolled it and began to read: "To my friend Su Tianxin: I, Yin Shenhua, have ruled the divine empire of Dayin for many years. Though I govern in peace, treacherous foes conspire against me, seeking my downfall. Today, I humbly beseech you to aid me in countering these vile enemies. Should I fall, I entrust the people of Dayin and its three hundred Immortal cities to your protection."


    The promation left the officials stunned.


    This was proof of Yin Shenhua''s trust¡ªproof that he had entrusted his empire to Dachi.


    But was it fake? Many officials suspected that the document was a forgery, but that didn''t matter.


    Its symbolic value was of utmost importance.


    If Dayin had truly been entrusted to Dachi, then the current revolts could be framed as acts of righteousness.


    They weren''t rebellions, but rather efforts to reim territories that rightfully belonged to Dachi in the first ce. The empires that had divided Dayin''snds, including Dazheng, were the true usurpers and thieves. Dachi, in contrast, was the aggrieved party seeking to restore justice.


    Upon realizing this, many ministers were awestruck by Su Tianxin''s cunning. He had turned an act of aggression into a moral crusade, justifying the actions of the Dachi insurgents and legitimizing them.


    "Yin Shenhua and I were close allies," Su Tianxin said. "I assisted him in secret, but unfortunately, he fell victim to the wrath of the Imperial Court. Before his demise, he entrusted the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin to me. Yet Xiao Nanfeng, abusing his position as a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, seized this territory for personal gain. I refrained from acting to prevent further suffering among the people. Now, however, I can stand by no longer while bloodsucking leeches upy thesends and oppress the people. I herebymand my loyal subjects to reim what is rightfully ours."


    "Your Majesty''s benevolence is unparalleled," the ministers said, bowing deeply.


    "These loyalists aren''t rebels, but heroes reimingnds that belong to Dachi! I hereby order the formation of a leech-extermination army to eradicate the leeches who intend to drain our empire''s resources! Let us restore our homnd!" Su Tianxin dered.


    "Restore our homnd! Exterminate the leeches!" the court thundered in unison.


    Dachi''s deration of war swiftly followed.


    Across the world, people were stunned to learn of Dachi''s side of the story.


    In the imperial study in Yongding, Wen Zhongughed at the deration. "Your Majesty, I have never seen such a shameless Immortal Emperor in my life."


    "Leech-extermination army? Very well. Let''s see whose army will prevail," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Wen Zhong smiled. "Your Majesty, Su Tianxin''s move might actually work to our advantage."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded, understanding what Wen Zhong meant. By framing the war as a conflict between Dazheng and Dachi, Su Tianxin had united the other empires that had divided Dayin''snds. These empires now had amon enemy in Dachi and would be less likely to turn against Dazheng.


    "Those empires might not amount to much, but this development is still useful," Xiao Nanfeng agreed.


    "However, I''m afraid that this might result in a prolonged war," Wen Zhong continued.


    "Not necessarily," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "This might just be Su Tianxin''s way of distracting us. He likely has other ns in motion."


    "Oh?" Wen Zhong asked.


    "This is a war between two empires, with the major factions of the wild wastes hidden realm watching from the shadows. Su Tianxin isn''t going to waste the opportunity to exploit their presence. He''s undoubtedly nning to use those wolves for his own benefit."


    "Indeed. I''ve analyzed Su Tianxin''s actions, Your Majesty. He''s ruthless and calcting¡ªa formidable adversary," Wen Zhong said.


    "Worry not. He''ll fall in due time," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied, nodding.


    Just then, a powerful aura emanated from the back of the pce, apanied by a huge gust of wind.


    "A Boundless Immortal''s aura? Has Blue Lantern broken through?" Wen Zhong eximed in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It''s not Blue Lantern."


    "What? Who is it?" Wen Zhong asked, puzzled.


    In a garden surrounded by formations at the back of the pce, Xiao Nanfeng''s main body stood guard around Yu''er. She had been the source of the disturbance.


    Yu''er slowly opened her eyes and examined her body in surprise. "Nanfeng, I''m a Boundless Immortal now! Look!"


    Xiao Nanfeng marveled at her rapid progress. How long had it been since she advanced to the Golden Immortal realm? He was overjoyed for her.


    "If I''m not mistaken, the Boundless Immortal breakthrough requiresprehension of naturalw. How did you do it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster''s inheritance included a section on the corresponding naturalws. I''ve understood them for quite a while by now," Yu''er replied.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Let''s not talk about such matters right now, alright?" Yu''er said, blushing. "Do you remember what you said the other day?"


    Xiao Nanfeng was momentarily stunned, but then broke into a smile. He stepped forward and swept Yu''er into his arms.


    "Wow, I didn''t think you''d be even more eager than me," Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "What do you mean, eager? You''re such a bad person! I was the first to meet you, but I feel like I''m the one you care for the least," Yu''er pouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the beautiful woman in front of him, at her delicate face tinged with frustration and her enticing lips. He couldn''t help leaning in and kissing her deeply.


    Yu''er let out a soft sound as her face flushed crimson. She seemed to forget where she was. After a long while, when she was nearly out of breath, Xiao Nanfeng finally broke the kiss.


    Yu''er''s eyes were glistening, filled with overwhelming tenderness and emotion.


    "Yu''er, will you be my empress, the empress of Dazheng? Don''t leave me again," Xiao Nanfeng asked earnestly.


    Yu''er smiled. "I will."


    With a sudden motion, Xiao Nanfeng scooped her up and carried her into his private chambers.


    In his arms, Yu''er seemed to sense what was about to happen. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her body trembling slightly. Her expression was filled with tenderness and anticipation.


    Xiao Nanfeng kissed her lips again. The doors to the chamber closed with a bang, glowing with light as multiple formations activated and sealed the room from the outside world.


    In the garden outside, a gentle breeze stirred. Flowers bloomed in abundance, releasing a sweet fragrance into the air. Their vibrant hues filled the scene with splendor.

 Chapter 911: Yuers Boldness

    <h4>Chapter 911: Yu''er''s Boldness</h4>


    The next morning, in Xiao Nanfeng''s bedroom in Yongding, Yu''er sat daintily by the window, dressed in vibrant red. Xiao Nanfeng was seated next to her, carefully painting her eyebrows with a fine brush.


    "You scoundrel! You didn''t even tell my parents before you did this to me," Yu''er pouted, feigning indignation.


    Afterst night''s events, the once sweet and innocent Yu''er now carried a hint of mature allure. Her expression was simultaneously pure and seductive, stirring up a fiery passion within Xiao Nanfeng.


    He was unable to hold back and picked her up once again.


    "Ah, don''t mess around!" Yu''er eximed.


    "I''m not messing around. I just want to hold you tightly," Xiao Nanfeng whispered gently.


    Yu''er hadn''t yet recovered from their exertionst night, so Xiao Nanfeng refrained from being reckless. He simply held her and nted a gentle kiss on her lips. He couldn''t help it¡ªhe loved her too much.


    Yu''er''s cheeks flushed, but she didn''t resist. She leaned into Xiao Nanfeng.


    Their lips parted after a long moment. Their gazes locked with deep affection and tenderness.


    "You insisted on doing such shameful things yesterday!" Yu''er eximed shyly.


    "That was a dual cultivation technique I learned from an evil monk¡ªbut didn''t it help you advance your cultivation quickly, too?" Xiao Nanfeng grinned.


    "Don''t bring it up!" Yu''er covered her face in embarrassment.


    "It''s fine. You''ll get used to it with time," Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    "Hmph!" Yu''er rolled her beautiful eyes at him in feigned annoyance. "Did you break through, too?"


    "I did. I''m a seventh-stage Golden Immortal now," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "You''re so slow! I''m already a second-stage Boundless Immortal."


    "That quickly?" Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "Of course! How else could I secure my position as your senior sister?" Yu''er replied smugly.


    Xiao Nanfeng knew that much of her progress had to be due to the Yuqing yin pir she had absorbed.


    "You are my senior sister," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her. "But be careful, alright? Advancing too rapidly isn''t necessarily a good thing."


    "Don''t worry! The Yuqing Grandmaster has bequeathed me his full inheritance. To help meprehend it all quickly, not only did he help me refine a Yuqing yin pir, he also granted me a massive amount of heart force."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.


    "The heart force elerates my understanding of the grandmaster''s techniques and the naturalws they''re aligned with. My rapid advancement won''t cause any issues," Yu''er promised.


    "Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "Nanfeng, do you think... I might get pregnant?" Yu''er asked nervously, wrapping her arms around Xiao Nanfeng''s neck.


    "If you do, we''ll wee the baby. If we get a baby boy, he''ll be the crown prince of Dazheng; if we get a baby girl, she''ll be the crown princess. When the timees, we can have Mother-in-Law help us take care of the child," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    Yu''er flushed red and lightly hit Xiao Nanfeng''s chest. "Are you crazy? You want my mom to help us? I don''t even know how to exin it to her!"


    "We''ll have to tell her eventually. Actually, your mother should be arriving in just a few days," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "What? My mother''sing?" Yu''er eximed, jumping to her feet in surprise.


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled her back into his arms. "That''s right. I''ve already sent someone to bring them here. All three of your mothers are on their way."


    "What are you nning? All my mothers?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Not only that, your father should be arriving in a few days too."


    "What? Why?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Isn''t it good that they''reing to visit?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Yu''er eyed Xiao Nanfeng, bewildered. "You''re joking, aren''t you?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I''m serious. They''re already on their way."


    "Why? Just what are you nning?" Yu''er asked, her voice filled with both annoyance and confusion.


    Although she didn''t regret what she had done with Xiao Nanfeng, they had just formalized their rtionship as a couple. Why were her parents already popping up?


    "Why, I''ve invited them to Yongding to stay for some time," Xiao Nanfeng replied, still smiling.


    Yu''er was speechless. She didn''t understand what Xiao Nanfeng was nning. Wouldn''t it be frustrating to have her parents here just as they were starting to develop their rtionship intimately?


    Given Yu''er''s nk look, Xiao Nanfeng decided not to tease her any longer. "I invited your parents here as a precaution¡ªto keep them safe."


    "To keep them safe? From what? Are my parents in danger?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Yuqing holynd is suffering from an internal schism, so I preemptively brought your parents out for their safety."


    "Oh? What''s going on?" Yu''er eximed.


    "It''s Shi Tianbei, of course. He joined the Yuqing holynd with ulterior motives. I initially sought Yang Chuan''s help to force Shi Tianbei to retreat from the wild wastes hidden realm, but his reaction was stronger than I expected. He''s now rallying support from the other Mountain Lords in an attempt to depose Shi Tianbei and unseal something in the Yuqing holynd. I realized that there was going to be a hugemotion, so I quickly made your mothers aware of what was happening. They agreed with my n and snuck away with my subordinates."


    "Does my father know?" Yu''er asked.


    "Naturally. He returned to the Yuqing holynd with a group of his subordinates, intending to discuss the matter with the other Mountain Lords. He''s in support of Yang Chuan, and there''s been conflict with Shi Tianbei''s faction. I even heard that things devolved into openbat."


    "It''s that serious?" Yu''er asked, astonished.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The twelve Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holynd have split into two factions. I fear Yang Chuan and your father might not gain the upper hand."


    "Why didn''t you tell me this sooner?" Yu''er eximed anxiously.


    "I didn''t have time. You were in secluded cultivation and were focusing on your breakthroughs as soon as you returned,"Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "But didn''t I finish up yesterday? Why didn''t you tell me then?" Yu''er eximed.


    "We didn''t have spare time yesterday orst night, did we?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.


    Yu''er blushed and thumped Xiao Nanfeng''s chest again. "It''s all your fault!"


    "Alright, alright, it''s my fault," Xiao Nanfeng said, his tone indulgent. "Don''t worry. Your mothers are still a few days away. They said that they wanted to visit your second and third brothers first. As for your father and Yang Chuan, their situation won''t be resolved overnight. We''ll still have another few days of peace."


    "You!" Yu''er pouted, then hugged Xiao Nanfeng tightly. "Fine, a few days it is¡ªbut over these next few days, you''ll have to listen to your senior sister!"


    Yu''er kissed Xiao Nanfeng passionately as the two of them enjoyed their privacy.


    A few dayster, Xia Xingchen''s three wives arrived quietly in Yongding with a group of trusted retainers.


    "Mother!" Yu''er eximed joyfully, rushing into Han Bingdie''s arms.


    "You little troublemaker, did you do something wrong? Why are you so enthusiastic to see me?" Han Bingdie teased as she patted her daughter.


    "I didn''t do anything!" Yu''er flushed.


    Her guilty conscience betrayed her, and her overly enthusiastic behavior only made Han Bingdie and the others more suspicious.


    The three women exchanged knowing nces. Their sharp eyes quickly caught subtle changes in Yu''er''s demeanor, confirming their suspicions.


    They couldn''t help but turn to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply. "Greetings, Senior Aunt. Greetings, Seniors."


    The three women scrutinized Xiao Nanfeng carefully, who smiled wryly. He could tell that they knew what had happened between him and Yu''er.


    "Rest assured, Senior Aunt. Yu''er shall be the empress of Dazheng. I''ve already written it into Dazheng''s code ofws, and a tether has been established between her and Dazheng''s sea of fortune. I am waiting to announce this to the world," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Nanfeng!" Yu''er eximed. She stomped her foot in embarrassment.


    "You little rascal, did you really think you could hide this from me?" Han Bingdie flicked her daughter''s forehead.


    "Mother!" Yu''er shouted.


    "You know I wouldn''t forbid you from being with Nanfeng. Why hide it from me?" Han Bingdie asked, exasperated.


    "Mother, you aren''t mad?" Yu''er eximed in surprise.


    "As if it''d make a difference!"


    The two women beside Han Bingdie began to chuckle.


    "Yu''er, this is a good thing. Why hide it from us?"


    "Right, Yu''er, you should be happy about this."


    @@novelbin@@


    Yu''er''s two other mothers teased her as well.


    "You, I¡ª" Yu''er''s face turned as red as her dress.


    Beside them, Xiao Nanfeng jumped in. "Senior Aunt, Seniors, I was the one who asked Yu''er not to reveal the news for the moment. Don''t me her."


    The three women smiled. Han Bingdie said, "That''s enough. You don''t have to hide the truth on Yu''er''s behalf."


    "To be frank, while Yu''er and I have consummated our marriage, I''ve refrained from publicizing it because I''m worried that some of my enemies will target Yu''er in order to get at me," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The three women nodded in understanding.


    Han Bingdie fell silent for a moment. "You''re right. She might well be a target, especially now, when the Yuqing holynd is fracturing from within. Shi Tianbei is undoubtedly going to make an example of her."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Please don''t worry, Senior Aunt. I intend to host a grand wedding with Yu''er once everything is settled. I will, of course, make Mountain Lord Xia aware of our arrangement as well."


    The three women nodded.


    "Mother, why isn''t Father here yet?" Yu''er asked curiously.


    "Your father''s supporting Yang Chuan at the moment. Yang Chuan''s trying to save his mother," Han Bingdie exined.


    "His mother?" Yu''er eximed.


    "Four centuries ago, Yang Chuan''s mother was a serious contender for the position of Yuqing hierarch, but some things happened that caused her to be sealed. No one was able to do anything about it until Nanfeng revealed Shi Tianbei''s identity. Yang Chuan has identified that the circumstances that caused his mother to be sealed were the result of Shi Tianbei''s conspiracy. He''s making a big fuss to clear her name."


    "To think Yang Chuan''s mother would be such a notable figure..." Yu''er murmured.


    "Not only that, Yang Chuan even suspects that Shi Tianbei was responsible for the previous hierarch''s death. The Mountain Lords of Yuqing are all in disarray now."


    "I see." Yu''er frowned. "Have theye to any conclusions yet?"


    "You''ll have to ask Nanfeng. I''m not aware of how the situation has developed," Han Bingdie replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng said, "My subordinates state that Mountain Lord Xia and Yang Chuan have left the Yuqing holynd with almost half the Yuqing disciples. Once they finish helping the disciples settle down, they''lle over."

 Chapter 912: Summoning Powerful Allies

    <h4>Chapter 912: Summoning Powerful Allies</h4>


    Two dayster, Xia Xingchen and Yang Chuan arrived in Yongding.


    Both men had grim expressions on their faces. Yang Chuan looked particrly anxious.


    "Father, I heard from Nanfeng that the Yuqing holynd is a mess right now. Did everyone really start fighting each other?" Yu''er eximed.


    Xia Xingchen nodded solemnly. "The Yuqing holynd has split into two factions. One side is led by Shi Tianbei, who has the support of five Mountain Lords. The other side consists of the rest of us Mountain Lords. The conflict escted into a fierce battle. In the end, we were outmatched and forced to escape."


    "Outmatched?" Yu''er eximed.


    Yang Chuan growled, "Outmatched? If I didn''t have to protect my mother, I would have fought that traitor Shi Tianbei to the death!"


    Xia Xingchen frowned. "You''re no match for Shi Tianbei."


    "Shi Tianbei might have opened his Heartgate, but I did the same recently! If you had helped me protect my mother, I could have fought him ande out victorious," Yang Chuan retorted indignantly.


    "You''ve just opened your Heartgate, and you''re far inferior to him when ites to heart refinement. Besides, Shi Tianbei has hidden much of his strength," Xia Xingchen replied.


    "How do you know that?" Yang Chuan frowned.


    "Nanfeng told me. Shi Tianbei was once in possession of a pure yang pir, which he likely used to secretly cultivate a group of powerful subordinates. If we had continued to fight, we might not have escaped so easily," Xia Xingchen warned.


    Yang Chuan''s expression darkened. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Is Xia Xingchen telling the truth?"


    After a brief pause, Xiao Nanfeng replied, "I suspect Shi Tianbei might still have some cards up his sleeve, but most of his power should have been exposed by now."


    Xia Xingchen nced at Xiao Nanfeng curiously. "Oh?"


    "The pure yang pir does contain a vast amount of pure yang energy that can help his subordinates reach the Boundless Immortal realm, but why would Shi Tianbei prioritize his subordinates over himself?" Xiao Nanfeng proposed.


    Xia Xingchen frowned.


    "If shi Tianbei truly had a hidden army of powerful subordinates, why would he leave you Mountain Lords in ce? Why wouldn''t he have eliminated you earlier and reced you with his own people? This suggests that the Mountain Lords supporting him are precisely those subordinates he endowed with strength," Xiao Nanfeng conjectured.


    "That makes sense. Shi Tianbei is merely putting on a tough front," Yang Chuan agreed.


    Xia Xingchen remained skeptical. "Even if Shi Tianbei is bluffing, we''re still no match for him. Have you forgotten about the five Mountain Lords supporting him? They''ve been slowly elevated to their positions over the years and are likely his loyal subordinates. Otherwise, why would they disregard thews of the Yuqing holynd?"


    Yang Chuan muttered angrily, "Damn it! How did such a scourge infiltrate the Yuqing holynd?!"


    Xiao Nanfeng cautioned, "You should be wary of the disciples you brought out of the sect, too. Some may well be Shi Tianbei''s spies."


    Both Yang Chuan and Xia Xingchen nodded, frowning.


    Xiao Nanfeng then turned to Yang Chuan. "Honestly, you were too impulsive. I had barely sent word to you before you acted¡ªright away, and without a proper n at that!"


    Yang Chuan frowned. "The matter concerned my mother''s safety. There was no time to waste. I was worried Shi Tianbei would kill her."


    "Oh? I heard Senior Aunt mention that your mother was once in the running for Yuqing hierarch," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "She was. My maternal grandfather had been the previous hierarch. Unfortunately, he suffered some kind of injury and had been in poor health for years. He had been grooming my mother to take over the role, and was in full support of her. She had earned the recognition of the entire sect by then. One day, however, my grandfather suddenly passed away. My mother was expected to seed him, but at that critical moment, she inexplicably went berserk. She was surrounded by an aura of cursed energy and began to attack and kill disciples. No matter what we did, we couldn''t wake her. That''s when Shi Tianbei stepped in and sealed her within the sect," Yang Chuan exined.


    "Sealed her?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.


    "Indeed. He didn''t dare kill her outright because my mother still had many followers even in her deranged state. The twelve Mountain Lords were different then; at the time, they unanimously agreed to seal my mother temporarily while an investigation was carried out to determine the cause of her madness. Publicly, she was announced dead, and Shi Tianbei seized this opportunity to seize the position of hierarch," Yang Chuan said.


    "Did you manage to rescue your mother in time?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "I did, but it was close. By the time I got to her, I found that the seal suppressing her had weakened. Someone must have recently tampered with it. If I had been mere momentster, she might have perished."


    "Thank goodness you managed to save her," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "I''d like to have your subordinate, Blue Lantern, inspect her condition," Yang Chuan continued.


    "Hm?"


    With a wave of his hand, Yang Chuan produced a jade coffin covered in restrictive seals.


    The coffin was open, revealing a woman with a fox''s head and a human body. Her eyes were open but lifeless, and her appearance was eerie and sinister.


    "Is this your mother? Do you suspect Shi Tianbei was responsible for leaving your mother in this condition?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "Shi Tianbei and Blue Lantern are from the same sect, so perhaps he may be able to help."


    "You''ll have to wait for some time, then. Blue Lantern is trying to break through at the moment," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "Very well. There''s no rush."


    The group settled in Yongding for the moment.


    Three dayster, a potent surge of energy erupted from the celestial observatory in Yongding, causing the city''s defensive formations to glow radiantly.


    At the entrance of a hall within the celestial observatory, Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Jade were waiting for the source of themotion to reveal himself. Soon, the doors to the hall opened, and Blue Lantern stepped out.


    "Senior Brother, are you a Boundless Immortal now?" Blue Jade asked anxiously.


    The Fenghuang disciples were likewise watching with anticipation.


    Blue Lantern smiled and nodded. "I seeded."


    "Congrattions, Senior Brother!" his juniors cheered.


    "Congrattions, Blue Lantern." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.


    Blue Lantern bowed deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty. As a formations master, I have to undergo rather strenuous breakthroughs. My sess was thanks to the pure yang pir you gifted me."


    "You''ve done well. Now, I have a task for you."


    "Yes, Your Majesty?"


    Xiao Nanfeng led Blue Lantern to another hall, where Yang Chuan and the others were waiting.


    "Sir Blue Lantern, this is my mother. Please examine her."


    Yang Chuan produced a jade coffin and exined his mother''s circumstances to him.


    Blue Lantern stepped forward before suddenly narrowing his eyes. "A curse of false transformation...?"


    "You recognize it?" Yang Chuan''s eyes lit up.


    After careful examination, Blue Lantern nodded. "Without a doubt. Shi Tianbei must have cast this curse, right?"


    "Indeed. Can you break it, sir?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    Blue Lantern frowned. "This is one of the most advanced curses in my sect. It requires at least two bronzepasses to cast¡ªand to break."


    "You can''t break it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "I''ll need another bronzepass to do so," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Another bronzepass? Doesn''t that mean that Shi Tianbei had an aplice while cursing my mother?" Yang Chuan furrowed his brows.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "That''s correct. I can''t do anything to resolve this curse at the moment."


    "Let''s wait, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "Dazheng is currently at war against Dachi. The Immortal Emperor of Dachi has his own piece of the bronzepass. If we win and gain his bronzepass, we may be able to break your mother''s curse."


    Yang Chuan grimaced, but could only nod reluctantly.


    "Why don''t you help us fight Su Tianxin, Yang Chuan?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested. "That way, we can save your mother more quickly."


    Yang Chuan frowned. "Are you just trying to get me to help you expand your borders?"


    "No¡ªto save your mother," Xiao Nanfeng corrected.


    Yang Chuan hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. I''ll do my best."


    He was intent on saving his mother as quickly as he could; there really was no other choice. He didn''t even bother to negotiate about the terms.


    Beside him, Xia Xingchen said, "Why don''t we take down Shi Tianbei instead? Won''t we get two bronzepasses that way, too?"


    Yang Chuan: ...


    Had he fallen for Xiao Nanfeng''s trap? He hadn''t even considered such an obvious possibility!"


    "I''m already facing Su Tianxin and a group ofpass-wielding enemies," Xiao Nanfeng began. "If I were to take on Shi Tianbei with you now, I''d be in greater danger¡ªand Su Tianxin might be able to take advantage of my distraction."


    "Father, don''t harm Nanfeng! You should stay and help him deal with Su Tianxin first," Yu''er immediately interjected.


    Xia Xingchen''s face darkened. Ever since discovering that Yu''er and Xiao Nanfeng had consummated their rtionship, he had found Xiao Nanfeng increasingly irritating. He had always known that this day woulde, but now that it had arrived, he couldn''t help but feel annoyed. Yu''er''splete devotion to Xiao Nanfeng only made things worse.


    "Hmph!" Xia Xingchen let out a low grunt of displeasure.


    The Yuqing holynd''s entrance was a mess, but Shi Tianbei seemed unbothered. He stood at the entrance of a grand hall as he waited.


    Before long, two groups of ck-robed cultivators arrived, flying through the air.


    "Shi Tianbei, what''s going on with the Yuqing holynd? How did it be such a mess?"


    "Has your identity been exposed? Why call us here?"


    The two ck-robed leaders smiled mockingly as they addressed Shi Tianbei, who nced at the two of them and replied coolly, "I have an extremely important task toplete. I''m worried that Yang Chuan, Xia Xingchen, and others may interfere at this critical moment. I''ve invited you two junior brothers to guard me."


    "To help you? And what''s in it for us?" one asked.


    "Afterwards, I''ll give you a bronzepass each," Shi Tianbei replied.


    "What?" the two cultivators eximed.


    "You might not be able to seize Blue Lantern''s bronzepass on your own, but once I aplish my task, I can help you do so," Shi Tianbei replied.


    @@novelbin@@


    The two ck-robed cultivators exchanged nces with each other. Their expressions began to brim with anticipation.

 Chapter 913: The Soul-Mended

    <h4>Chapter 913: The Soul-Mended</h4>


    One monthter, in a grand hall in Dachi''s capital, Su Tianxin hosted a banquet for three men dressed in ck robes.


    "Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, please enjoy the banquet," Su Tianxin said. He raised his cup of alcohol to toast them.


    "Su Tianxin, why have you only invited the three of us? Where are the others?" one of the ck-robed men asked coldly.


    "Shi Tianbei got to two other junior brothers first. They don''t care about Blue Lantern''s bronzepass anymore, so I didn''t bother inviting them," Su Tianxin replied, smiling faintly.


    "Oh?" The three men looked puzzled.


    After all, all those who had a piece of the bronzepass were aware of its power. Why would they give up on it so easily?


    "Isn''t that better for us?" Su Tianxin smiled.


    The three ck-robed men drank from their cups but didn''t express much emotion. In the end, they were stillpetitors with Su Tianxin.


    "Su Tianxin, your war against Xiao Nanfeng seemed to be progressing in a rather lukewarm fashion. That''s not like you," one of the ck-robed men remarked suspiciously.


    "Lukewarm? Over the past month, my leech-extermination army has captured fifty Immortal cities."


    "But Xiao Nanfeng''s army has seized fifty Immortal cities as well. You''re evenly matched. What was once Dayin has now been split equally among the two of you. Weren''t your goals to exterminate the leeches and to take revenge for grievances? It all seems like an excuse," the man said,ughing.


    "The decisive battle wille soon," Su Tianxin replied.


    "It can''t take much longer, after all. Your army is being led by Boundless Immortals, and their generals are Golden Immortals. You''ve been preparing to seize all these Immortal cities for years¡ªdealing with a few minor empires won''t be difficult at all," the ck-robed man surmised.


    "Indeed. I apologize for the wait," Su Tianxin replied.


    "Hm?" The three men frowned.


    "You''ve been waiting for Xiao Nanfeng and me to tear each other apart so you can reap the benefits of our mutual struggle, haven''t you?" Su Tianxin chuckled.


    The three men fell silent. They had indeed been waiting for such an event, but after over a month, their patience was wearing thin.


    "You''ve fallen into Xiao Nanfeng''s trap," Su Tianxin said, sighing.


    "What do you mean?" one of them asked, puzzled.


    "Xiao Nanfeng was capitalizing on a dy. He needed time, you see. Blue Lantern was a Golden Immortal a month ago; now, he''s a Boundless Immortal. You''ve already missed the best opportunity to deal with him."


    The three men fell silent again.


    "Did you really think Xiao Nanfeng and I would fight to the death so easily?" Su Tianxin continued.


    "We don''t need your concerns about what we''re thinking," one of them replied curtly.


    Su Tianxin shook his head. "You''re all sect masters now, and you naturally have your own considerations in mind. But have you considered what you''ll gain if I lose and Xiao Nanfeng wins?"


    "Are you thatcking in confidence?" one of them demanded.


    "It''s not about confidence. I''m justying out the facts. If I lose, given Blue Lantern''s vendetta against us, he''ll surely continue to seek revenge against you."


    "He doesn''t even know who we are," another retorted.


    "But I do. What if I tell Blue Lantern before my demise?" Su Tianxin smiled again.


    "Su Tianxin, are you threatening us?" the three men demanded coldly.


    Su Tianxin shook his head. "I''m just telling you that it''s impossible for you to simply sit back and reap the benefits of Dachi''s war against Dazheng. If I win, Blue Lantern''s bronzepass will be mine. If I lose, you''ll have to deal with Blue Lantern and Xiao Nanfeng''s revenge."


    "They can''t retaliate against us," one of them said dismissively.


    "If you''re united, you might be able to withstand their retaliation¡ªbut can you remain united forever? Are you always going to be bound together?"


    The three men fell silent again.


    "Think about it. Didn''t Xiao Nanfeng already try to sow discord among all of you? We''re the ones who should be on the same side."


    "Enough with all this, Su Tianxin. Cut to the chase," one demanded.


    "I''d like to request that the three of you help me take down Dazheng together."


    "Oh?"


    "If you support me wholeheartedly, I''ll forgo Blue Lantern''s bronzepass, as well as the treasures that Xiao Nanfeng wields. How about that?" Su Tianxin proposed.


    The three men hesitated, lost in thought.


    "Are you still intending to remain neutral? Do you think I''ll let you sit back and wait to reap the spoils of our fight? Xiao Nanfeng has already dered war against you. Cooperating with me will help you take down an enemy as well. Isn''t that so?" Su Tianxin cajoled.


    "Are you actually serious about cooperating with us?" one of them asked.


    "Rest assured. We''re from the same sect, aren''t we? I won''t let you down. When the timees, I''ll join the battle myself," Su Tianxin said.


    After some deliberation, the three men finally agreed. "Alright."


    "In that case, why not stay here in Dachi''s capital for the time being? We can discuss strategies to deal with Xiao Nanfeng in the meantime."


    "Fine," the three men agreed.


    After the banquet, Su Tianxin assigned officials to escort the three ck-robed men to the most luxurious mansions in the capital. Among the escorts was the omen of cmity, Tang.


    Xiao Nanfeng had naturally nted Tang in the divine empire of Dachi. He was now a minor official of the divine empire''s Ministry of Rites.


    "This way, esteemed guests. Your mansions are on the floating inds right ahead," Tang introduced.


    He guided one of the ck-robed men toward a floating ind. The man had summoned a group of disciples to join him in the mansion.


    Tang diligently gave them information about they of thend and was just about to leave when the ck-robed man in the lead frowned and called out, "Hold it!"


    Tang turned back. "Is something the matter, sir?"


    The man stared at Tang for some time. "When were you born? Date and time?"


    "I was orphaned, sir. I''m afraid I don''t remember these details," Tang replied.


    "Give me your hand," the man ordered.


    Tangplied and extended his hand. The man took out a bronzepass, which emitted a burst of blue light that flowed into his palm.


    Suddenly, a surge of ck energy erupted from Tang and swirled around him like a storm. The sight startled everyone nearby.


    "Just as I thought. There''s something special about you," the ck-robed man eximed.


    "What do you mean, sir? I''m afraid I don''t understand," Tang replied worriedly.


    "You don''t need to understand. Haha! Now,d, what''s your name? Who''s your master?"


    "I''m Tang, sir. My master found me as a child and taught me some cultivation techniques before passing away. I then joined Dachi through its imperial examinations," Tang replied.


    "Tang, are you interested in bing my disciple?" the man asked.


    "W-What, sir?" Tang was taken aback.


    The ck-robed disciples beside the man urged, "Our master wants to ept you as a disciple. Are you willing to join us?"


    "I don''t understand, sir. What about me could possibly have caught your attention?" Tang asked cautiously.


    "Don''t worry about that. I am a master of a great sect. I can guide you to be a Golden Immortal¡ªor even a Boundless Immortal. Refuse, and you won''t leave this ind alive. Su Tianxin won''t mind the loss of one of his minor officials," the man said coldly.


    Tang nched. He immediately knelt down. "Master, please ept this kowtow from your newest disciple."


    "Haha, good! From now on, you''ll be my disciple." The ck-robed manughed loudly.


    Tang seemed bewildered, but still nodded agreeably.


    Before long, news of Tang''s sudden induction as a disciple reached Su Tianxin.


    "What''s this about? Who''s this Tang?" Su Tianxin demanded.


    "I don''t know, Your Majesty. He''s just a minor official in the Ministry of Rites who passed the imperial examinations. We don''t know why the esteemed guest took such an interest in him," an official reported.


    "Bring Tang to me," Su Tianxinmanded.


    "We can''t, Your Majesty. The esteemed guest refuses to let him leave," the official replied wryly.


    Su Tianxin frowned. Why would his junior brother care so much about some minor official? Something had to be unusual about him.


    He left his hall and headed straight for the floating ind on which Tang was located.


    Very quickly, he encountered his other two fellow disciples there. Clearly, they had caught wind of the situation and were here to investigate themselves.


    "Junior Brother Ling, I heard you''ve kidnapped one of my officials. What''s going on?" Su Tianxin asked.


    "Right, Ling Tianyu, what''s up with thatd? Why are you so interested in him?" another man asked.


    Ling Tianyu, who had just imed Tang as a disciple, smiled and replied, "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. There''s nothing for you to worry about."


    "I don''t believe you. I can sense cursed spiritual power rushing into the air from your backyard through my bronzepass. That''s rted to your new disciple, Tang, isn''t it? Just who is he?" Su Tianxin replied.


    Ling Tianyu frowned. His three senior brothers were refusing to budge; he wouldn''t be able to hide things any longer.


    "He''s a soul-mender," Ling Tianyu exined.


    "A soul-mended? ording to old records from the sect, that''s the name given to past hegemons of the era who are killed by the heavens, but whose souls are reconstituted by an unknown force. Rather than transforming into a cursed effigy, these soul-mended simply reincarnate. Isn''t that so?"


    "Not necessarily a past hegemon. He might be an ordinary person entirely," Ling Tianyu replied, smiling.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Nonsense! Our sect has records of two soul-mended. Neither were ordinary at all. No wonder you''re paying so much attention to some nobody¡ªhe''s a diamond in the rough, isn''t he? You''re waiting for him to recover his past life''s memories¡ªor even to im any cursed effigy he might possess, aren''t you?"


    "He''ll need to be able to cultivate the heart at the very least before he can regain his past memories. It''s not something that''ll happen in the short-term," Ling Tianyu replied.


    "Hmph! Damn it, how lucky can you get?" one of the men groused.


    The other two nced at Ling Tianyu enviously as well.

 Chapter 915: A Hidden Plot

    <h4>Chapter 915: A Hidden Plot</h4>


    On a mountain peak outside Yongding, fog shrouded the summit where a group of ck-robed cultivators had gathered. At their forefront were three figures: Su Tianxin and his senior and junior brothers.


    "Su Tianxin, this is the extent of your brilliant n? Taking down Xiao Nanfeng in a direct confrontation?" his senior brother asked, clearly dissatisfied.


    "Senior Brother, this is the fastest and most direct way to end the conflict," Su Tianxin replied with a smile.


    "The fastest and most direct way? Su Tianxin, you were always a schemer who looked down on brute force. What changed?" his senior brother demanded.


    "You''ve misunderstood me, Senior Brother. Right now, all of Xiao Nanfeng''s strongest allies are tied up elsewhere, leaving Yongding essentially defenseless. If we don''t act now, when will we?" Su Tianxin smiled.


    "You''d better not be mistaken," his senior warned.


    "Don''t worry. I''m sure this n is sound. Let''s get going. Once we im Blue Lantern''s bronzepass and seize Xiao Nanfeng''s fortunes, this trip will be well worth it."


    "Very well, then¡ªbut look at all these formations that Blue Lantern hasid out around Yongding," his senior brother replied, frowning.


    "Would we need to worry about such formations?" Su Tianxin chuckled.


    "Indeed. We''re familiar with all formations in the world. Let''s not waste time!" his junior brother proimed.


    As they advanced toward Yongding, streaks of light suddenly appeared in the air. Golden runes emerged in concentric circles, forming an invisible barrier that blocked their path.


    Su Tianxin reached out and plucked at the golden runes, attempting and failing to dispel them. He remarked in surprise, "Impressive. To think Blue Lantern would be able to set up such formations so quickly after acquiring a piece of the bronzepass for himself."


    "Let''s break it with brute force," his senior brother suggested.


    Just then, a voice could be heard from high above them. "Zeng Tianqi, Su Tianxin, Hu Tianlong¡ªSenior Uncles, it''s been years. How have you been?"


    Everyone looked up to see Blue Lantern standing in the air, a portal of void swirling behind him.


    "You have reached the Boundless Immortal realm after all, Blue Lantern," Zeng Tianqi said coldly.


    "Does my achievement disappoint you, Zeng Tianqi? Even so, I have to show you some courtesy as guests from afar. Near the city of Yongding lies the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, where I''ve been setting up a major formation. Would you like to give me pointers on what I''ve wrought?" Blue Lantern said pointedly.


    The group tensed at his words. Hu Tianlong frowned and whispered, "Did Blue Lantern know that we wereing?"


    "No¡ªhe must have noticed us after we arrived. It''s normal for him to have been setting up formations. He emerged after sensing our presence," Su Tianxin replied.


    "Let''s head in together and teach him a lesson," Zeng Tianqi said.


    Su Tianxin was just about to nod when someone interjected, "Since you''re all senior cultivators from Blue Lantern''s sect, don''t you think it''s rather shameful to gang up on him? I think it best that you send just one cultivator in for a fair fight."


    The ck-robed figures looked down to see Xiao Nanfeng and his courtly officials emerging from his pce and ring at them.


    "Xiao Nanfeng?" The cultivators narrowed their eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "What''s the matter? Don''t you dare face one of your juniors one-on-one?"


    The ck-robed men exchanged nces.


    "I have a bad feeling about this," Zeng Tianqi said quietly.


    Su Tianxin shook his head. "What''s there to feel uneasy about? We knew that Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern would be here. It''s natural that they would want to confront us now that they''ve been alerted about our presence."


    "How should we proceed, then?" Zeng Tianqi asked.


    Su Tianxin evaluated the situation. "It''s not a big deal, is it? No one in the world can surpass us when ites to formations. Blue Lantern might be talented, but he only recently became a Boundless Immortal. He''s no match for us."


    "Walking into an obvious trap, are you?" Zeng Tianqi asked coldly.


    "How about this? I''ll head into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm to deal with Blue Lantern, while the two of you handle Xiao Nanfeng," Su Tianxin suggested.


    Both Zeng Tianqi and Hu Tianlong looked displeased by that suggestion.


    Between Blue Lantern and Xiao Nanfeng, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng was the greater threat. And if someone were to fight Blue Lantern alone and win, that someone would im the bronzepass¡ªthe main reason they hade in the first ce.


    "Why don''t we ignore Blue Lantern and handle Xiao Nanfeng together?" Zeng Tianqi suggested.


    Su Tianxin shook his head. "Blue Lantern controls the bronzepass, meaning that he can manipte the formations in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and bring them outside."


    "So you''re determined to fight Blue Lantern alone?" Zeng Tianqi asked.


    "Why not? I can end things quickly and return to help you deal with Xiao Nanfeng." Su Tianxin smiled.


    "Don''t forget, Su Tianxin¡ªit was your idea to target Xiao Nanfeng all along. This isn''t our fight," Zeng Tianqi said coldly.


    "Xiao Nanfeng issued a challenge to all of us. Besides, we''re all enemies to Blue Lantern. Why distinguish between you and me now?"


    Zeng Tianqi fell silent.


    "If you don''t want me to face Blue Lantern, one of you can go instead," Su Tianxin added.


    "I''ll deal with Blue Lantern," Zeng Tianqi said grimly.


    "Very well, Senior Brother. Given your skill, you''ll be able to escape unscathed even if unexpected dangers arise," Su Tianxin replied.


    "Hmph!" Zeng Tianqi snorted and turned to his disciples. "Follow me!"


    "Understood!"


    Three ck-robed disciples followed Zeng Tianqi toward Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern smiled. "Zeng Tianqi, I''ve been interested in your skills. Follow me."


    With a flick of his wrist, Blue Lantern flew into the portal.


    Zeng Tianqi paused to scan the portal with his bronzepass.


    "Zeng Tianqi, you''re as cautious as ever. No wonder the sect master once called you a coward incapable of great deeds, haha!" Blue Lantern''s mockingughter echoed from the other side.


    "You reckless brat, you''ve sealed your fate!" Zeng Tianqi replied.


    After confirming that the portal was safe, Zeng Tianqi and his disciples stepped through. The portal sealed shut behind them with a boom.


    "Junior Brother, let''s go. We''ll end things quickly," Su Tianxin said.


    "Very well," Hu Tianlong replied.


    Just then, Xiao Nanfeng chuckled from below. "Su Tianxin, are you sure you''re in a position to attack right now?"


    "Hm?" Su Tianxin frowned, puzzled.


    A ck-robed disciple hurriedly approached and reported, "Your Majesty, something''s wrong. Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar has reached Dachi''s capital. He somehow bypassed the city''s defensive formations and is rampaging through the imperial pce with his ten golden crows!"


    The ck-robed cultivators turned to Xiao Nanfeng in shock. He had outmaneuvered them entirely.


    "How did you know about our n?" Su Tianxin demanded angrily.


    He was here to attack Yongding; Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar had gone to attack Dachi''s capital. They seemed, strangely enough, to have synchronized.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him in favor of addressing his people. "Citizens of Dazheng, this is Xiao Nanfeng, your emperor! The Immortal Emperor of Dachi hase to raid us. I ask that you raise your right hand and lend me your strength to take him down!"


    A mighty draconic roar resounded as Xiao Nanfeng''s voice carried across the empire.


    People everywhere responded, raising their hands to channel their energy toward him. Streams of white light converged into Yongding''s sea of fortune overhead.


    "Quick¡ªkill Xiao Nanfeng, now!" Su Tianxin shouted.


    As he unleashed a fiery palm strike toward the city''s defensive formations, a brilliant sword technique, gleaming in purple, shot into the air.


    "Yuqing Swords, sh!"


    Xia Yu''er''s voice rang out as her sword technique shed with Su Tianxin''s attack.


    The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the city''s defenses.


    "The fourth stage of the Boundless Immortal realm? Impossible! Wasn''t Xia Yu''er still a Golden Immortal?!" Su Tianxin eximed.


    "Just how did she manage to break through so quickly?!" Hu Tianlong gasped.


    Meanwhile, the sea of fortune brimmed with thebined power of Dazheng''s citizens. With a draconic roar, all that power surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Don''t hesitate. Attack now!" Su Tianxin shouted.


    "Break!" his ck-robed subordinates cried out,unching a simultaneous attack on the city''s defensive formations.


    Yu''er sent another barrage of swords into the air. Her strength was formidable, but she still fell short. With a resounding crash, Su Tianxin shattered her technique.


    Terrifying shockwaves rippled through the entire city, but countless smaller formations protected the citizens within.


    Meanwhile, a vast sea of fortune surged into Xiao Nanfeng''s body. His entire being trembled as his power swelled. With a thunderous roar, he gave off an overwhelming aura.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s strength reached its peak as he soared into the sky to confront the group of powerful enemies alongside Yu''er.


    He unleashed a Hegemon''s Fist. A deluge of fists, resembling a tsunami, shot upward. His fists struck the group of enemies with a resounding explosion and ignited a storm in the void.


    "Is this the extent of Xiao Nanfeng''s strength even after invoking his imperial might?" Hu Tianlong sneered. "He''s barely as strong as Xia Yu''er."


    The other ck-robed figures nodded in relief.


    Suddenly, however, one of them shouted to Su Tianxin, "Your Majesty, something''s wrong! Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar has broken through the formations around the imperial pce. He''s at the imperial court now! Xia Xingchen is assisting him¡ªwe can''t stop them!"


    Su Tianxin panicked. He immediately said, "Junior Brother, I have to return now. I''ll leave things here to you."


    "What? Are you crazy? We''ll win if we just take down Yongding now!" Hu Tianlong eximed.


    "Neither Xiao Nanfeng nor Xia Yu''er are a match for you, and your subordinates are all here. I''ll leave my subordinates to assist you as well. Your victory is all but guaranteed. You''ll be able to win even without me¡ªthere''s something particrly important at Dachi''s capital that I have to protect. I''ll leave things to you, then!" Su Tianxin shouted.


    Then, he vanished across the horizon.


    Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow upon seeing Su Tianxin''s hasty departure. He considered Su Tianxin''s priorities thoughtfully.


    Meanwhile, though Hu Tianlong was momentarily taken aback, he quickly rallied. He had probed Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu''er''s strength, and everything was under control. He took a deep breath andmanded, "Kill Xiao Nanfeng."


    @@novelbin@@


    "Kill him!" his ck-robed subordinates chorused.


    "Die!" Xiao Nanfeng and Yu''er shouted, charging forward.


    The two sides began to sh in the skies above Yongding as a tempest bloomed.


    Far in the distance, Su Tianxin circled back, cloaking himself in fog. This time, rather than engage directly, he hid in the shadows and waited for an opportune moment to strike. A cold smile appeared on his lips.

 Chapter 916: Ive Been Waiting

    <h4>Chapter 916: I''ve Been Waiting</h4>


    On a mountain peak overlooking Shenfeng''s capital, three ck-robed individuals stood silently, their gazes locked on the capital down below.


    "Senior Brother, are we really going to keep watch over the Divine Emperor? Will we be able to handle her? She seems exceedingly strong," a ck-robed cultivator murmured, a note of worry in his voice.


    "Our mission is to ensure that she cannot leave Shenfeng¡ªnothing else," the leader replied.


    "That''s a relief. I would be scared of confronting her directly."


    "Don''t worry. As long as the Divine Emperor doesn''t head to Yongding to provide reinforcements, we won''t need to act."


    "But isn''t the Demon Child supposed to be stationed at Shenfeng, too? Why haven''t we seen him?"


    The leader paused for a moment. "Maybe he''s hiding inside one of the buildings."


    A simr scene was unfolding outside Dajing''s capital. Three ck-robed Boundless Immortals had been stationed there to ensure that Liu Miaoyin couldn''t assist Xiao Nanfeng.


    For the time being, Su Tianxin''s meticulous n seemed wless.


    @@novelbin@@


    Meanwhile, Dazheng and Dachi''s armies continued to sh fiercely, with heavy casualties on both sides.


    In the sky, Yang Chuan and Ling Tianyu were locked in a heated duel. Now that Ling Tianyu was no longer suppressing him with the bronzepass, Ye Sanshui finally broke out of his trap and rushed out.


    However, the three Boundless Immortals who had previously led the assault on Dazheng''s cities had returned by then. They intercepted Ye Sanshui and jointly attacked him. Despite being outnumbered three to one, Ye Sanshui''s superior strength gave him a significant edge¡ªthey were all just early-stage Boundless Immortals.


    Victory seemed to be tilting toward Dazheng¡ªand yet Su Qingchan merely wiped the blood from her lips and quietly retreated from the battlefield.


    Back in Yongding, Yu''er disyed her astonishing newfound strength. She had grown immensely in strength over the past few months, and Xiao Nanfeng could only hope to match her raw power by drawing on his imperial might. Together, they managed to hold off the ck-robed cultivators.


    Yu''er engaged four Boundless Immortals while Xiao Nanfeng fought Hu Tianlong. However, Hu Tianlong was incredibly strong, and he was slowly gaining the upper hand.


    "Heart Refinement Formation: Resurgence of Hell!" Hu Tianlong intoned.


    A beam of blue light pierced through the skies above Yongding, forming the illusion of a massivepass that enveloped both him and Xiao Nanfeng.


    Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng''s surroundings dimmed and filled with dense fog. Shadowy specters emerged from the mist, wing and howling like wraiths from the depths of hell.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes grew cold. He knew that these were illusions. The golden sapling within him radiated a brilliant light, absorbing them all. The next moment, his vision cleared. The specters disappeared, leaving only the bluepass-shaped glow behind¡ªand the ck-robed cultivators in the vicinity maintaining the formation.


    "Hegemon''s Fist: Skyshatter!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    Thousands of fists shot toward Hu Tianlong, causing the massive illusion of thepass in the air to break apart. Hu Tianlong stumbled back in shock.


    "How can you break through my formation?!" Hu Tianlong eximed in shock.


    "Your cultivation of the heart needs work," Xiao Nanfeng replied coldly.


    He shot forward andunched himself toward Hu Tianlong once more.


    "Since heart force doesn''t seem to work on you, I''ll just wear you down. Your imperial might is a limited resource. Once it''s exhausted, you''re certain to perish," Hu Tianlong replied, sneering.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and focused on the fight.


    As the fight wore on, Xiao Nanfeng''s energy loss became increasingly apparent. Hu Tianlong pressed his advantage and grew more aggressive.


    Suddenly, a white-robed figure emerged from Xuanhuang Hall. The figure took a single step, shed forward, appeared beside Hu Tianlong, and struck with a palm.


    "Who are you?!" Hu Tianlong shouted, startled.


    He tried to defend against the unexpected blow, but Xiao Nanfeng held him in ce and left him no room to maneuver. He desperately summoned his bronzepass in self-defense.


    The white-robed figure shattered thepass''s protective barrier with a single strike, then struck at Hu Tianlong''s head.


    "Heart force¡ªprotect me!" Hu Tianlong eximed.


    He failed to block the white-robed figure''s palm strike. The white-robed figure crushed his head and even captured his soul.


    "Damn it!" Hu Tianlong cried out in fear. "Compass, teleport me away!"


    Hu Tianlong''s soul shimmered. The void pulsed, as if the bronzepass was attempting to whisk him away, but the white-robed figure was simply too strong.


    Hu Tianlong''s soul shrieked in terror as it was crushed by the figure''s palms. A piece of the bronzepass fell out of the void.


    "Master!"


    "Senior Uncle!"


    The four ck-robed cultivators fighting Yu''er were horrified by what had happened.


    "Leave things to me. Go assist Blue Lantern¡ªquickly!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.


    The white-robed figure nodded, retrieving the bronzepass and stepping into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm to confront the cultivators within.


    Xiao Nanfeng then rushed to Yu''er''s side. His twin red and blue moons hovered above him. His red moon transformed into a red rope cursed king, while his blue moon transformed into a blue lotus.


    Xiao Nanfeng struck a Boundless Immortal with a powerful punch, then directed the red rope to immobilize him. Xiao Nanfeng sent imperial might into the red rope, reinforcing the bindings.


    Then, he struck another Boundless Immortal with a powerful punch, causing him to cough out blood. The blue lotusnded atop his head, causing him to groan in pain. Xiao Nanfeng sent a burst of imperial might into the blue lotus as well, rendering the unfortunate cultivator dazed and motionless.


    By then, Xiao Nanfeng had been drained of the majority of his imperial might. He was unable to pursue the other two Boundless Immortals, whose eyes widened in fear as they turned to run.


    "Not so fast!" Yu''er shouted.


    With a mighty sh, her sword cleaved through one fleeing Immortal, sending him crashing to the ground. He was grievously wounded. A second strike nailed him dead to the earth.


    Only one Boundless Immortal managed to escape.


    Xiao Nanfeng had taken down two Boundless Immortals, while Yu''er had handled one.


    Victory was decided in an instant, so quickly the people of Yongding were taken aback.


    Su Tianxin, hiding in the darkness, narrowed his eyes. "So Xiao Nanfeng did manage to summon an Immortal Emperor to assist him¡ªbut was it the Divine Emperor or Liu Miaoyin?"


    He didn''t intend to help out his and Hu Tianlong''s subordinates. Rather, he seemed to be patiently waiting for something.


    Just then, a huge explosion rang out from overhead. A hole had been torn out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. Zeng Tianqi rushed out, his body streaked with blood, his head caved in, and his face pulped. There was a hole in his chest, and he had broken an arm and a leg. His injuries were catastrophic.


    "Xiao Nanfeng summoned both the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin! Have the cultivators at Shenfeng and Dajing''s capitals attack immediately! Hurry!" Zeng Tianqi shouted weakly.


    The white-robed figure hadunched a sneak attack on him and almost killed him before he could react. He had barely escaped thanks to the fact that Xiao Nanfeng was in no condition to give chase.


    Even so, he had suffered gravely. He knew that the white-robed figure had to be either the Divine Emperor or Liu Miaoyin, and he had made his im in an attempt to take revenge on the figure.


    The white-robed figure gave chase, but Zeng Tianqi activated his bronzepass and vanished into the void.


    The white-robed figure gave chase, but failed to locate him.


    From the shadows, Su Tianxin''s eyes gleamed with malice. He smirked. "Senior Brother, you ended up severely injured after all. I''ve been waiting for this moment."


    With a faint hum, he disappeared into the void after Zeng Tianqi.


    A group of ck-robed cultivators waited in the forest in the distance. They weren''t particrly strong, but had avatars in convenient locations and could send word to others.


    Very quickly, the Boundless Immortals waiting outside Shenfeng and Dajing''s capitals received the news.


    Outside Shenfeng''s capital, the ck-robed cultivators nced at each other in surprise. "The Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin are both at Yongding?"


    "Your master''s dead? How can that be?"


    "My mastermanded us to attack Shenfeng''s capital. Hurry up and make a move!"


    The three Boundless Immortals all frowned upon hearing the news. Two of them charged straight toward Shenfeng''s capital, intending to exact revenge. The third, whose master was dead and who sensed that something was badly amiss, turned to flee instead.


    From high above Shenfeng''s capital, the two Boundless Immortals roared, "Break!"


    They shattered the defensive formations around Yongding.


    The capital shuddered as the citizens of Shenfeng cried out in terror.


    Just then, a figure appeared behind the two cultivators.


    "What audacity," a chilling voice hissed.


    The two cultivators turned and froze in shock. The Divine Emperor herself was eyeing them coldly.


    "Divine Emperor? You didn''t head to Yongding?"


    "No, please! Forgive us, we made a mistake!"


    The two Boundless Immortals stammered and tried to flee, but the Divine Emperor ignored their pleas. She reached out toward one of them.


    "No!" the man screamed.


    He tried to avoid the blow, but the Divine Emperor was too quick. She struck at his mindscape; his eyes shut as he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.


    The other Boundless Immortal tried to flee, but his opponent was none other than the Divine Emperor. He was caught in an instant. She struck the back of his head with a palm. His skull caved in as he lost consciousness and fell to the ground as well.


    The two Boundless Immortals were taken down within moments.


    Afar, the third Boundless Immortal, who had been flying away, trembled in fear and fled even more quickly.

 Chapter 917: All A Ploy

    <h4>Chapter 917: All A Ploy</h4>


    Outside Dajing''s capital, three ck-robed Boundless Immortalsy in wait.


    Another ck-robed cultivator rushed forward to deliver some news. "Senior Brother, Master was killed by a white-robed figure in Yongding!"


    "What?" the Boundless Immortal eximed.


    "What happened in Yongding?" the other two Boundless Immortals asked urgently.


    The junior disciple quickly recounted everything that had just transpired.


    Momentster, a disciple from another faction arrived and announced, "Mastermanded us to destroy Dajing''s capital immediately!"


    "Understood!" two of the Boundless Immortals replied.


    The final Boundless Immortal frowned. "My master has fallen¡ªI don''t have time for this right now. Farewell!"


    With that, he swiftly led his subordinates away.


    The remaining two Boundless Immortals exchanged nces with each other and ultimately decided to carry out their master''s orders. They rushed toward Dajing''s capital.


    As they flew into the sky and struck at the defensive formations around Dajing''s capital, two figures rushed out from the city¡ªthe Demon Child and Tu Feng.


    "You bastards dare show your faces? Take this!" the Demon Child shouted.


    A flurry of green lotus swords surged into the sky and shed with one of the Boundless Immortal''s palm strikes. The Demon Child shot forward, transformed into a green sword himself, and shed at one of the attackers.


    "Demon Child? What are you doing here?!" the Boundless Immortal eximed in shock.


    @@novelbin@@


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, nine ethereal fox tails materialized in mid-air and struck at the other Boundless Immortal.


    With a deafening st, the four powerhouses engaged in a fierce battle above Dajing''s capital. Fiery shockwaves illuminated the skies.


    Back in Dachi''s capital, Xiao Nanfeng''s ten golden crows detonated as his main body and Xia Xingchen escaped into the air, wounded.


    Roiling golden mes receded into Xiao Nanfeng''s dantian. Down below them, smoke cleared to reveal Dachi''s devastated imperial pce.


    Outside arge hall stood Su Tianxin, who had severely wounded them moments before.


    "What''s he doing here? Didn''t you say that he headed to Yongding?" Xia Xingchen asked Xiao Nanfeng.


    "This is his avatar," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xia Xingchen frowned. "His avatar? Why did he wait until now to show himself?"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "Su Tianxin was pretending not to be here. I suspect he''s scheming for more pieces of the bronzepass."


    "Oh?"


    "We need to leave now. Let''s go!" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    He activated his candleme powers. A portal of red light appeared before him as he and Xia Xingchen bypassed the defensive formations around Dachi''s capital.


    Understanding his urgency, Xia Xingchen whisked Xiao Nanfeng away at high speed. They vanished across the horizon.


    "Your Majesty, you''ve returned! Thank goodness!" A crowd of Dachi officials rushed toward Su Tianxin''s avatar.


    Su Tianxin ignored his officials as he watched Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Xingchen leave.


    "If I hadn''t prepared thoroughly, Xiao Nanfeng, you might have seeded in your scheme," Su Tianxin murmured to himself. "Hmph!"


    Back where Dazheng and Dachi''s armies were facing off, Ye Sanshui quickly beat back the three early-stage Boundless Immortals. He crippled one and sealed his cultivation; the other two took the opportunity to flee.


    Ye Sanshui didn''t give chase. He rushed to join Yang Chuan in taking on Ling Tianyu, who wielded a bronzepass of his own.


    "Hell''s Descension!" Ling Tianyu intoned.


    Blue light enveloped a field around him, apanied by a surge of heart force. Specters emerged in the form of malevolent ghosts from the depths of hell. They swarmed toward Yang Chuan.


    "Heavenly Eye of Yuqing!" Yang Chuan shouted.


    A massive purple eye appeared above his head, emitting a beam of purple light that shattered the blue glow and dispelled the specters.


    "You''ve opened your Heartgate too?" Ling Tianyu eximed.


    He coughed up blood as he suffered a bacsh from the failed attack. His spirit faltered.


    Seizing the opportunity, Ye Sanshui closed in on him and struck his chest with a devastating punch. Ling Tianyu spat out blood as his chest caved in and he was sent flying.


    "Die!" Yang Chuan''s fan shed downward.


    "Die!" Ye Sanshui''s fist followed suit.


    "No!" Ling Tianyu screamed in terror.


    With a thunderous explosion, thebined attacks sted Ling Tianyu into the ground, leaving him in a grievously wounded state.


    "Die!" Yang Chuan and Ye Sanshui dove toward him once more.


    Ling Tianyu''s eyes widened as he grabbed his bronzepass and shouted, "Teleport!"


    The void twisted around him. In a sh, he vanished.


    Yang Chuan and Ye Sanshui struck the empty ground where Ling Tianyu had been just moments ago, causing a massive crater to form.


    "Where is he? He''s gone!" Ye Sanshui eximed.


    "He must have activated a formation and teleported away," Yang Chuan murmured.


    "Search for him! We can''t let him escape!" Ye Sanshui called out.


    Yang Chuan activated his heavenly eye and scanned his surroundings.


    Ling Tianyu emerged in a remote forest.


    The formation he had invoked to escape hadn''t brought him to a random location¡ªhe had to set up the endpoint beforehand, and the formation could only be activated with the help of the bronzepass.


    Only he and a select few disciples were aware of where he had set up his formation. He hadn''t intended to use it¡ªhe never expected to be crippled to such an extent.


    Ling Tianyu dropped his guard as he found himself in the familiar forestndscape.


    "Thank goodness," he wheezed, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    The next moment, he tensed up again.


    Three swords hurtled toward him with overwhelming Boundless Immortal strength. Severely injured, Ling Tianyu was unable to block the blow.


    "No!" he screamed.


    He tried to defend himself, but it was useless. The swords pierced his defenses, cleaving his body and severing his head.


    His soul escaped, only to be impaled by another sword.


    Only then did he notice the bodies of his disciples among the carnage.


    Standing nearby were Su Qingchan and two of the Boundless Immortals who had fled from Ye Sanshui earlier.


    "Su Qingchan? You betrayed me!" Ling Tianyu roared.


    Of the three Boundless Immortals who had attacked Ye Sanshui, two were merely doing so as a facade. The moment things turned awry, they would leave immediately¡ªand Su Qingchan had apparently masterminded all this.


    Su Qingchan smiled. "Betrayed you? How did I do so, Senior Uncle?"


    "You and Su Tianxin were plotting against us all along! You used us to fight Xiao Nanfeng while you schemed to steal our bronzepasses. You''re despicable!" Ling Tianyu spat out.


    "You had an agreement with Xiao Nanfeng, didn''t you? You''d sit back and watch the war between Dachi and Dazheng unfold while you waited to reap the benefits. You tried to seize my father''s bronzepass, so you should have been prepared for this oue," Su Qingchan said with a cold smile.


    "How malicious you are¡ªhow malicious you all are!" Ling Tianyu cursed.


    "Malicious? As if you''re any better," Su Qingchan replied.


    He reached out and grasped the bronzepass that emerged from Ling Tianyu''s soul.


    "No, this doesn''t make sense! I set up a defensive formation in this valley. Only my official apprentices can enter it. How did you get in?" Ling Tianyu demanded.


    Suddenly, his gaze fell on Tang, who was standing silently nearby.


    "Tang¡ªyou? Were you the one who betrayed me?" Ling Tianyu eximed. "How dare you! I took you in as my disciple!"


    Tang took a deep breath. "Ling Tianyu, I served as an official of Dachi. Do you really think he failed to recognize my unique constitution?"


    Ling Tianyu''s eyes widened. "Was it fake? You must have approached me intentionally¡ªSu Tianxin nted you there!"


    Tang didn''t respond. He turned to Su Qingchan. "Your Highness, I''ve aplished my task."


    "Well done. I''ll ask Father to reward you," Su Qingchan replied with a smile.


    Ling Tianyu''s eyes widened in shock. A look of grief and rage overtook his face. "From the very beginning, it was all a trap... Su Qingchan, I curse you! May you meet a miserable end!"


    Su Qingchan shook his head and whispered coldly to him, "You brought this upon yourself, you fool. Back when you forced my hand, did you ever imagine that this day woulde?"


    Ling Tianyu''s head suddenly shot up. He stared at Su Qingchan in astonishment, as if she had uncovered some earth-shattering secret.


    But Su Qingchan didn''t intend to waste any more time with him. With a single sh of her sword, she obliterated Ling Tianyu''s shattered soul.


    In another valley, Zeng Tianqi had just used his own bronzepass to teleport out of Yongding.


    His injuries were severe¡ªso severe that he could barely move.


    "Master, what happened?" eximed several disciples guarding the array. They were ncing at him in rm.


    "I¡ª" Zeng Tianqi was just about to speak when his eyes widened.


    Su Tianxin had somehow arrived in the valley alongside him.


    "Su Tianxin, how did you bypass my formation?!" he eximed.


    "Was it supposed to be difficult?" Su Tianxin smiled.


    He waved his hand. des of me shot out in all directions, striking Zeng Tianqi''s disciples and sending them falling to the ground.


    Zeng Tianqi cried out in rm, "Su Tianxin, what''s the meaning of this?!"


    "I''m about to kill you, of course." Su Tianxin smiled coldly.


    Like a bolt of lightning, Su Tianxin shed forward and drew his sword. Zeng Tianqi''s head flew into the air, cleanly severed.


    His soul emerged from his mindscape and attempted to flee.


    "Senior Brother, as you well know, you won''t escape from me in your current condition. I''ll be taking your bronzepass and pure yang pir." Su Tianxin smiled as he reached out and grasped at Zeng Tianqi''s soul.


    "No!" Zeng Tianqi shrieked.


    With a resounding explosion, Su Tianxin crushed Zeng Tianqi''s soul to reveal a piece of a bronzepass.

 Chapter 919: The Void Saint

    <h4>Chapter 919: The Void Saint</h4>


    Back in Dachi''s capital, the devastated imperial pce was rapidly being repaired. Its primary halls had already been restored.


    After returning with Zeng Tianqi''s bronzepass, Su Tianxin retreated deep within the imperial pce to cultivate in seclusion.


    In another part of the pce, one of Su Tianxin''s avatars was conversing with two subordinates.


    "Did you manage to kill Ling Tianyu?" Su Tianxin asked.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. The crown princess led us in eliminating Ling Tianyu and retrieving his bronzepass. She is now in possession of it," one subordinate replied.


    "And where is Qingchan? Why didn''t she return with you?" Su Tianxin frowned.


    "We were on our way back when she suddenly said that the Void Saint had summoned her. She took Tang with her and instructed us to return and report to you."


    Su Tianxin''s frown deepened. "Are you certain it was the Void Saint?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "I see. Dismissed."


    Su Tianxin''s two subordinates bowed respectfully as they left the imperial study.


    Alone, Su Tianxin murmured to himself, "The Void Saint, summoning Qingchan now...? It''s a good thing, but I hope she won''t forget my instructions."


    Outside arge hall, Su Qingchan and Tang were standing respectfully. From within came the sound of bodies rubbing against each other that made Tang blush furiously. Meanwhile, Su Qingchan remained patient andposed.


    After a while, a man''s voice called out from within, "Enough. You may all leave."


    "Yes, my lord!" a group of women replied.


    The hall opened up as six stunning women with disheveled clothing and flushed faces emerged. They hastily left the hall.


    "I greet the Void Saint," Su Qingchan said, bowing respectfully.


    "I greet the Void Saint!" Tang mimicked her gesture.


    Momentster, a handsome man stepped out of the hall, d only in a loose robe that resembled a nightgown. His expression was arrogant and his gaze sharp as he appraised his two visitors.


    "Qingchan, it''s been a while since youst visited me. You only seem to do so to ask for things on your father''s behalf. What''s the matter this time?" the Void Saint asked slyly.


    Su Qingchan immediately replied, "Saint, you instructed me to report on our battle against Xiao Nanfeng. We were rtively equally matched, and both secured our own objectives. I also acquired a bronzepass in the process. In addition, this is Tang, whom I''ve mentioned before. He''s soul-mended."


    "Oh?" The Void Saint turned to Tang.


    Tang''s face turned pale as he knelt. Ever the tterer, he began, "Your humble servant, Tang, greets the Void Saint. It is an immense honor to be in your divine presence thanks to Her Highness'' grace. May your saintly blessings endure, and your life be as boundless as the heavens."


    The Void Saint chuckled, pleased by Tang''s ttery. "You''re not bad."


    "Thank you for your kind words, Your Eminence," Tang replied.


    "I hear all soul-mended have an unattuned cursed effigy hidden within them. Do you have one such?"


    "I am unaware of any such cursed effigy, Your Eminence, but I would be more than happy to submit to an inspection. I dly pledge my efforts to your divine will."


    The Void Saintughed. "Good. I like your attitude."


    "Thank you, Your Eminence," Tang said eagerly.


    "Show him his rooms," the Void Saint called out.


    Very quickly, the Void Saint''s servants emerged and led Tang away. Tang didn''t resist; he followed them obediently.


    After Tang departed, the Void Saint turned his gaze to Su Qingchan, a sly smile on his lips. "We''ll set aside your father''s request for now. Qingchan, it''s been quite a long time since youst apanied me. Since you''re here today, why not stay a while longer?"


    Su Qingchan''s brows furrowed briefly, but she ultimately stepped forward, her head bowed. "As you wish."


    The Void Saintughed heartily, wrapping an arm around Su Qingchan and leading her back into the hall.


    The doors to the hall mmed shut behind them.


    Several dayster, Su Qingchan returned to Dachi''s capital. She met with her father in his imperial study.


    "Didn''t Tang return with you?" Su Tianxin asked.


    "The Void Saint wants to study him to determine if he truly does harbor an unrefined cursed effigy. He refused to release him," Su Qingchan replied.


    Su Tianxin frowned. "How did he end up taking an interest in Tang?"


    "It''s impossible to hide his nature, after all."


    "Well, it''s fine. Tang can stay there," Su Tianxin said after a moment of thought.


    "Father, I''ve convinced the Void Saint to assist us," Su Qingchan continued.


    "Oh? Did he agree to help us take down Xiao Nanfeng?" Su Tianxin''s eyes lit up.


    "He didn''t make an explicit promise, but he said he woulde and assess the situation before making a decision."


    "Well done, well done! Qingchan, you''re always reliable. You''ve managed to persuade him to help each time."


    "I..." Su Qingchan hesitated, her expression conflicted.


    Su Tianxin, however, waved it off with augh. "There''s always a price to pay for benefits. Besides, the Void Saint is a saint. Being associated with him is no small honor for you."


    Su Qingchan''s eyelids twitched, but she refrained from pursuing the subject. Instead, she changed the topic. "The Void Saint also examined the bronzepass."


    "Oh?" Su Tianxin''s expression turned serious.


    "He helped me attune to thepass and then allowed me to use it. He said that the bronzepass would be mine."


    Su Tianxin frowned. "Why did he want to give it to you?"


    "I told him that it belonged to you, but he said that there would be a price to granting your request. He intended to take thepass for himself. It was only after extended pleading on my part that he reluctantly allowed me to keep it and attune to it. I was worried that outright refusal might provoke him to seize it for himself."


    Su Tianxin grimaced as he stared at the bronzepass in her hand. After a moment, he sighed. "So be it. As long as thepass remains in our possession, it''s not a big deal."


    "I''ll keep persuading the Void Saint if the opportunity arises, Father."


    "No need. Focus on learning how to use thepass yourself. By the way, did you retrieve Ling Tianyu''s pure yang pir?" Su Tianxin asked.


    "Here it is." Su Qingchan handed over the pir.


    Su Tianxin inspected it and frowned. "To think he depleted its pure yang energy to this extent¡ªit''s a pity, but certainly better than nothing."


    Half a monthter, within the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, Yang Chuan, Xia Xingchen, and three of Yuqing''s Mountain Lords had gathered to watch Blue Lantern set up a massive formation. At the heart of the formation was a jade coffin containing Yang Chuan''s mother.


    Yu''er stood to the side, holding onto Xiao Nanfeng''s arm. She remarked, "Blue Lantern is spending far more time attuning to this piece of the bronzepass than thest one."


    "I suspect that the first one had already been partially attuned by Blue Lantern''s father, making it easier to work with."


    Yu''er nodded in agreement.


    Just then, Blue Lantern performed an incantation. Two phantom images of bronzepasses appeared in the void.


    "Wind!" Blue Lantern invoked.


    With a hum, one of the phantompasses transformed into the character for wind, ·ç. It hovered in the air, pulsing with blue energy.


    "Water!" Blue Lantern invoked.


    Another hum followed as the second phantompass transformed into the character for water, Ë®. It too pulsed with blue energy.


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    "Wind and water, break the curse!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    With a sudden surge, the two massive characters shot toward the jade coffin.


    A brilliant green light burst forth from the coffin. Two massive blue characters emerged from within: mountain (ɽ) and earth (µØ).


    The mountain and earth characters shed violently against the wind and water ones, sending shockwaves rippling in all directions.


    Yang Chuan''s face was filled with anxiety. He worried for his mother''s safety, but refrained from interfering.


    The four characters smashed into one another for over an hour on end. Cracks began to spread across their surface.


    "Break!" Blue Lantern roared.


    With a thunderous explosion, the four symbols shattered into countless fragments.


    The jade coffin shattered as well, releasing a torrent of green bubbles that eveloped Yang Chuan''s mother. The bubbles burst one by one, transforming into swirling green energy that wrapped around her. After a long while, the turbulent green energy finally calmed down.


    With a deep breath, Blue Lantern ceased his incantations.


    "Blue Lantern, how is my mother?" Yang Chuan asked anxiously.


    Blue Lantern exhaled. "I''ve sessfully broken the curse. You may step forward and check on her. However, I suspect her memory has been frozen at the time the curse was initiallyid on her. Be careful."


    Yang Chuan rushed forward, brushing aside the lingering blue mist with a sweep of his arm. His mother''s face appeared in sight. The white fox head that she had borne for so long had finally reverted to the refined, human visage of a dignified woman.


    "Mother!" Yang Chuan cried out, overwhelmed with emotion.


    He gently cradled the woman''s head. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around at the gathered crowd. Her expression was dazed, as if she were struggling toprehend what had happened.


    After a moment, her expression shifted. A sh of anger crossed her face. "Insolence!"


    With a single palm strike, she sent Yang Chuan stumbling backward. Even so, Yang Chuan wasn''t angry. He was overjoyed.


    "Senior Sister, do you remember me?" Xia Xingchen stepped forward eagerly.


    The woman stirred. She stood up and scanned the crowd with a puzzled expression. "Xia Xingchen? Where are we? Shouldn''t you be preparing for the uing Yuqing convention? What am I doing here?"


    "Senior Sister!" the other three Mountain Lords all cried out, their eyes moist with tears.


    "What''s wrong with all of you?" she asked, visibly perplexed.


    Finally, her gaze fell on Yang Chuan. A flicker of familiarity crossed her face as she asked, "And who''s this?"


    "Mother, it''s me! I''m Yang Chuan!" Yang chuan eximed, tears streaming down his face.


    "What? That''s impossible," she said coldly.


    "Senior Sister, don''t act rashly! He really is Yang Chuan¡ªhe''s all grown up now!" Xia Xingchen stepped forward and blocked her way.

 Chapter 920: Yang Xingyan

    <h4>Chapter 920: Yang Xingyan</h4>


    Within the pce at Yongding, after Yang Chuan''s mother learned of everything that had transpired over the years, furiously eximed, "That despicable Shi Tianbei!"


    "Mother, having you back is already a great blessing. It''s just a shame that Shi Tianbei has sent several of the other Mountain Lords to their deaths over the years," Yang Chuan said.


    The woman turned to her son, her gaze softening. "I will avenge them. Chuan''er, I am so proud by how much you''ve grown."


    Beside him, Xia Xingchen smiled. "Senior Sister, Yang Chuan has really worked hard all these years. Not only that, his talent is extraordinary. He''s surpassed us all."


    "He even became the Southern Aspect of the Imperial Court. It''s truly impressive," another Mountain Lord added.


    The woman nodded in gratitude toward Xia Xingchen and the others. "Thank you for looking after my son."


    "No, no, we didn''t do much. It was all thanks to Yang Chuan''s own efforts," they replied modestly.


    The woman smiled faintly as she shook her head. Her son had been just a youth when cmity befell her. If not for the Mountain Lords'' protection, he would never have escaped Shi Tianbei''s schemes and grown into the man he was today.


    Although she didn''t continue to voice her thanks, she promised she would repay them one day.


    Then, the woman turned to Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern. She bowed deeply. "I am Yang Xingyan. I am grateful for your assistance, Emperor Xiao, Sir Blue Lantern."


    Blue Lantern returned the bow. Xiao Nanfeng quickly said, "Senior, there''s no need to be so formal. You''re Mountain Lord Xia''s senior sister, which makes you my senior aunt. It''s only right for me to help. Please, don''t call me Emperor Xiao¡ªXiao Nanfeng, or just Nanfeng, is more than enough."


    Yang Xingyan smiled warmly. "Nanfeng it is, then. I owe you a debt. If you ever need anything in the future, ask."


    "Understood," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.


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    Yang Xingyan then turned to Yu''er with a smile. "And you must be Xia Yu''er, the first person chosen by the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "I greet Senior Aunt," Yu''er said, bowing respectfully.


    "I''m afraid I don''t have anything suitable as a meeting gift for you, but I''ll make it up to youter. Once I reim everything that was taken from me, I''ll prepare a proper gift," Yang Xingyan promised.


    Having learned of what had happened, Yang Xingyan was grateful not just to Xiao Nanfeng, but also to Xia Xingchen for having protected her son all these years. As a result, she viewed Xia Yu''er with particr fondness.


    "Thank you, Senior Aunt," Yu''er replied with a smile.


    Yang Xingyan took a deep breath. "Shi Tianbei''s still trying to forcibly absorb a Yuqing yin pir, isn''t he?"


    Yang Chuan nodded. "I''ve had my subordinates keeping an eye on him. He wasn''t initially able to seed, but for some reason, over the past few days, all twelve Yuqing yin pirs have since been absorbed."


    "All twelve? How could that be possible? We failed to do so ourselves despite great effort. Just what did Shi Tianbei do thesest few months?" Xia Xingchen eximed in shock.


    "Perhaps it''s because of the bronzepass," Blue Lantern suddenly said.


    "Oh?" Everyone turned to him, puzzled.


    Blue Lantern continued, "I''m not privy to the details, but based on my observations of the Yuqing yin pir that Xia Yu''er absorbed, I suspect that Shi Tianbei may havebined the power of three bronzepasses and used a special secret technique to absorb them all."


    "Three bronzepasses can achieve such an effect?" Yang Xingyan eximed.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "Indeed. Their power is immense."


    Yang Xingyan turned to Yu''er. "Yu''er, you''ve absorbed one Yuqing yin pir. How does it feel? How much energy does one such pir contain?"


    Yu''er frowned. She thought for a moment. "I''m a fourth-stage Boundless Immortal now, but I can sense that there''s still an immense quantity of energy within the Yuqing yin pir I absorbed. I suspect it can boost me all the way to the peak of the Boundless Immortal realm."


    "What? A single Yuqing yin pir contains such vast reserves of energy? If Shi Tianbei really has obtained all twelve..." Yang Xingyan''s face darkened.


    "We can''t dy things any longer. We have to act swiftly to eliminate Shi Tianbei and reim the twelve Yuqing yin pirs. Otherwise, the consequences will be catastrophic," Xiao Nanfeng said gravely.


    "Ageed," everyone replied, nodding solemnly.


    "Let''s all make our own preparations, then. I''ll focus on recovering my strength. Then, we''ll move against him simultaneously," Yang Xingyan suggested.


    "Very well!" the others replied.


    In Dachi''s imperial study, an official reported, "Your Majesty, the cultivators whose Boundless Immortal avatars were captured by Xiao Nanfeng have sent word saying that their avatars have been killed.


    "Xiao Nanfeng killed them?" Su Tianxin eximed.


    "I don''t know, Your Majesty. At any rate, they no longer have a connection to their avatars."


    "That doesn''t make sense. Surely Xiao Nanfeng would have imprisoned them forter use rather than kill them outright. Just what is he doing?" Su Tianxin frowned.


    "I don''t know, Your Majesty."


    "Investigate!" Su Tianxin ordered.


    "Understood!"


    Within Yongding, in the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, Ye Sanshui rushed back from the frontlines and turned the nine captured Boundless Immortals into zombies, following Xiao Nanfeng''s orders.


    Dark winds howled. Cursed spiritual power surged as the nine Boundless Immortals were transformed into zombie kings.


    "It must have been exhausting to create nine zombie kings in one go," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Hardly, Your Majesty. This was nothing," Ye Sanshui replied, wiping sweat from his brow.


    "We''re on the verge of a major battle, so I needed additional reserves. You''ll have to participate as well," Xiao Nanfeng advised him.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied. "But what about the frontlines?"


    "Don''t worry. Mr. Wen is handling everything, and things are progressing as expected. You won''t be away from the frontlines for long, and I don''t expect Dachi to notice your absence."


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly.


    Within a certain hall, the Void Saint used a special technique to suspend Tang''s body in mid-air. ck fog poured out from Tang''s body, forming threads that extended into the void toward an unknown destination.


    The Void Saint stared at Tang. "You really are extraordinary."


    "Your Eminence, it hurts!" Tang whined in pain.


    The Void Saint ignored his pleas. He raised a hand and summoned a blue pir of light¡ªa pir of heavenlyw that he controlled. Strangely enough, the ck fog from Tang''s body seemed to be linked to his pir.


    "The cursed spiritual power in your body is tied to heavenlyw¡ªno, it must be from the cursed effigy you attuned to in your past life. Perhaps to other pirs of heavenlyw as well..." the Void Saint murmured.


    "Your Eminence, it hurts! Please, spare me!" Tang cried out.


    The Void Saint''s eyes shed with greed. He was certain that Tang was linked to a cursed effigy, one that was influencing him and which was linked to the pinnacle of heavenlyw. This cursed effigy went beyond the likes of anything he had seen to date.


    "Tang, are you willing to be my servant?" the Void Saint demanded.


    "Yes, Your Eminence! I am willing to serve!" Tang bowed, gritting his teeth against the pain.


    "Haha, very good!" The Void Saint roared inughter.


    He released Tang, who copsed to the ground and shuddered at the memory of pain wracking his body.


    He didn''t need to rush to figure out all of Tang''s secrets. He could afford to do it slowly.


    "Pack up. We''ll be heading to Dachi''s capital. The bronzepasses have mysteries I want to explore¡ªand we can use Su Tianxin''s threepasses to examine your body further," the Void Saint said.


    "Yes, Your Eminence!" Tang replied immediately.


    Dayster, in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar opened a portal glowing with purple light.


    "Everyone, I''ve opened a portal into the purple moon illusory realm. We can head in," Xiao Nanfeng''s main body said beside him.


    The crowd nodded. Yang Chuan and Xia Xingchen had opened portals of their own as well. Though the portals all led to the same location, the cultivators had done so in triplicate to ward against potential danger.


    The battle ahead was sure to be perilous. As such, only Boundless Immortals were entering the realm¡ªonly Xiao Nanfeng''s main body, Yu''er, Blue Lantern, Xia Xingchen, Yang Xingyan, Yang Chuan, Ye Sanshui, and five of the zombie kings were taking part.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t intend to bring all nine zombie kings with him. After all, they still needed some manpower to guard Dazheng and its army.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s main body and the eleven Boundless Immortals entered the purple moon illusory realm.


    With a hum, the portal to the realm closed behind them.


    As soon as the group entered, they were immediately greeted by swarms of purple-furred creatures rushing toward them.


    "Let''s go!" Xia Xingchen shouted.


    "Hold on," Xiao Nanfeng called out. Everyone paused.


    "What''s the matter?" The cultivators all turned to Xiao Nanfeng.


    Xiao Nanfeng looked at the replica of Yongding before him and narrowed his eyes. "I''ve only been away from the purple moon illusory realm for a few months, but look at the changes that have taken ce in the meantime."


    "Where? I don''t notice anything different," Yu''er murmured.


    "Doesn''t everything here look more refined to you? I recall that the Yongding of this illusory realm was far more crude in the past. It''s gotten significantly more intricate. Look at the dragon carvings, for instance."


    Everyone frowned.


    "Yu''er, the Yuqing Grandmaster forged this realm to be a replica of the real world. Could he be nning on recreating it in full?" Xiao Nanfeng conjectured.


    "A new world?" Everyone was visibly taken aback.


    "I''m not sure. There was nothing about the purple moon illusory realm in the inheritance I received," Yu''er replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "The Yuqing Grandmaster''s revival will surely be an extraordinary event."


    "We don''t have time to investigate this at the moment," Xia Xingchen warned. "We should move quickly."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The group flew into the sky, toward the mirrored Sieve of Heaven within the illusory realm.

 Chapter 921: Battle at the Sieve of Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 921: Battle at the Sieve of Heaven</h4>


    Xiao Nanfeng and his party quickly arrived at the replica of the Sieve of Heaven within the purple moon illusory realm.


    Theyy hidden among the clouds as they observed the Eastern Heavenly Gate from afar.


    Yuqing disciples flew toward the gate in small groups. The purple-furred monsters that had originally guarded the territory had been reced with Yuqing disciples. The purple-furred monsters all seemed to have been finished off.


    Just then, Yang Chuan returned from his reconnaissance.


    "Did you uncover anything?" Xia Xingchen asked.


    Yang Chuan nodded. "I disguised myself and headed into the Sieve of Heaven to investigate. Those Yuqing disciples supporting Shi Tianbei have all been summoned here. Allegedly, Shi Tianbei is granting them the Yuqing Grandmaster''s blessing¡ªthey''re all ecstatic."


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster''s blessing?" Xia Xingchen frowned. "As if Shi Tianbei would share it with all the disciples! What nonsense! How could those fools believe such lies?"


    "I''m not sure about the details," Yang Chuan continued.


    "It''d be best if we could sneak inside and have a look for ourselves," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    After some deliberation, the group nodded in agreement.


    "Follow me. I can get us inside unnoticed," Yang Chuan said.


    "Hold on," Blue Lantern suddenly eximed.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I''d like to set up a formation first as a precaution."


    "What formation?"


    "It''s rather unusual, and I don''t know for certain whether it''ll work within the purple moon illusory realm. Allow me to test it first. Your Majesty, could you follow me?" Blue Lantern asked.


    Xiao Nanfeng was a little perplexed, but nodded. "Of course."


    He turned to the group. "Wait here for a moment."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng followed Blue Lantern to a secluded area as the others waited patiently.


    A whileter, the two of them returned.


    "Alright. Let''s set off," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Let''s go!" Yang Chuan called out.


    As he spoke, a purple eye opened in the center of his forehead.


    The eye emitted a sh of purple light that swept over the disciples guarding the Eastern Heavenly Gate. They were instantly dazed, as if hypnotized, and ignored Xiao Nanfeng''s group as they passed through.


    Once inside the Sieve of Heaven, they headed straight for the towering Mt. Kunlun. However, the twelve Yuqing yin pirs that once encircled it had vanished.


    "This way," Yang Chuan said, leading the group into a fog-shrouded forest.


    Inside a grand hall at the foot of Mt. Kunlun sat twelve meditating individuals. Their powerful auras rippled through the air in terrifying waves.


    At the center was Shi Tianbei. One cultivator sat on either side of him¡ªGe Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu, two other faction heads of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes.


    "Well? How do you feel?" Shi Tianbei asked, ncing at his two junior brothers.


    The two men slowly opened their eyes.


    "These Yuqing yin pirs are extraordinary. It''s only been a few days, but my cultivation has already advanced significantly," one of them said.


    "You''re right, Junior Brother Zhang. They''re amazing. Senior Brother, if we hadn''t insisted, you wouldn''t even have shared these pirs with us, would you?" Ge Tianyu chuckled.


    Shi Tianbei furrowed his brows. "My single bronzepass wasn''t sufficient to absorb all these pirs, after all. I needed your twopasses as well. Naturally, I wouldn''t keep all the benefits for myself."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother." Zhang Tianshu smiled.


    "Senior Brother, now that we''ve absorbed the Yuqing yin pirs, will you return our bronzepasses to us?" Ge Tianyu smiled.


    "Don''t you think the six Yuqing yin pirs I gave the two of you are worth your two bronzepasses?"


    "What are you implying?" Zhang Tianshu frowned.


    "Of the twelve Yuqing yin pirs, I only kept six for myself. The remaining six were distributed among you and your disciples. You should know how precious these pirs are. Isn''t it a worthwhile exchange for your two bronzepasses?" Shi Tianbei said.


    "You don''t intend to return ourpasses to us?" Zhang Tianshu''s frown deepened.


    "I''ve already shared such incredible benefits with you. Don''t you think you should give something back to me in kind, too?"


    The two cultivators exchanged nces.


    "If you''re so attached to thesepasses, you can always retrieve more for yourself. You''ll both soon reach the peak of the Boundless Immortal realm. At that point, seizing other bronzepasses will be trivial. There are five more out there¡ªwhy focus on mine?" Shi Tianbei smiled.


    Though Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu were frustrated, Shi Tianbei wasn''t wrong. The Yuqing yin pirs were extraordinarily precious and would boost their cultivation to the peak of the Boundless Immortal realm in no time.


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    "Well? Don''t you think it''s a worthwhile trade?" Shi Tianbei continued.


    Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu eyed each other again. In the end, they nodded grudgingly. "Fine."


    "That''s the spirit. Once your cultivation grows stronger, you won''t have to worry about seizing a bronzepass for yourself."


    The two remained silent. After all, given the situation, they had no choice but to y along. It was better not to make a fuss¡ªat least for now.


    Suddenly, Shi Tianbei frowned. "They''vee after all."


    "Oh?"


    "A group of rats has arrived. Would you like to join me in testing the power of your newfound Yuqing yin pirs?" Shi Tianbei asked.


    His two junior brothers exchanged knowing nces and nodded.


    With a resounding boom, the doors to the grand hall swung open. The twelve figures stepped out.


    Deep in the forest, Yang Chuan led the group onwards as they concealed themselves in a cloud of fog.


    "Shi Tianbei and the others should be in the hierarch''s hall. Let''s approach quietly and assess the situation before we make a move," Yang chuan said.


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    Suddenly, Blue Lantern frowned. "Stop."


    "What''s wrong?" The group halted and turned to him.


    Blue Lantern waved his hand. Glowing blue threads appeared all around them, forming a web that stretched into the fog. After a moment, he released the threads, which disappeared.


    "There''s a high-level formation over this area, set up using a bronzepass. It''s sensitive to the presence of Boundless Immortals. It detected us as soon as we entered," Blue Lantern said grimly.


    "We''ve been exposed?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    Just then, a cold voice echoed from a distance, "Where are you, rats? Do you need me to drag you out myself?"


    The cultivators looked toward the source of the sound to see twelve figures standing in a grand za near the hall¡ªShi Tianbei and his group.


    "We''ve been discovered, after all," Yang Chuan muttered, his expression grim.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s group emerged from the fog as they dissipated the fog around them.


    "Shi Tianbei, how dare you defy the Yuqing Grandmaster''s decree and seize the Yuqing yin pirs for yourself! Where are the holy maidens?" Xia Xingchen demanded.


    Shi Tianbei ignored Xia Xingchen and instead turned to Yang Xingyan. He smiled. "Senior Sister, you''ve returned."


    "I''m unworthy of such a title. Tell me, Shi Tianbei¡ªdid you murder my father?" Yang Xingyan demanded.


    Shi Tianbei gave her a wry smile. "Does it matter?"


    "It was you, then!" Yang Xingyan thundered.


    Shi Tianbei turned to his two junior brothers. "Yang Xingyan is likely a mid-realm Boundless Immortal, and you know the rest. Have your disciples give their newfound strength a try."


    "Very well," Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu replied.


    They each motioned for two of their disciples to step forward.


    Purple energy crackled around the four cultivators as they advanced toward Xiao Nanfeng''s group.


    "Go test their strength," Ye Sanshui ordered.


    Four zombie kings roared in unison as they too charged forward.


    Over thest few days, they had learned about the remaining faction heads of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes. Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu''s four disciples were all just early-stage Boundless Immortals, and should have been on par with the zombie kings in strength.


    The cultivators and zombie kings exchanged blows.


    With a tremendous boom, the four zombie kings were struck down and sent flying. They crashed heavily to the ground.


    Xia Xingchen''s eyes widened. "How is this possible? They were unable to withstand even a single blow!"


    "These four cultivators are now mid-stage Boundless Immortals," Yang Chuan murmured, frowning.


    "They all seem to have Yuqing yin pirs embedded in their bodies¡ªbut they''ve only had theirs for a few days! How could they be growing stronger more quickly than I am?" Yu''er eximed.


    Just then, the four disciples all turned simultaneously to Xiao Nanfeng''s group.


    "Yang Chuan, Yu''er, Ye Sanshui, fight with me!" Yang Xingyanmanded.


    "Understood!" the three cultivators replied in unison.


    These four cultivators were all mid-stage Boundless Immortals themselves, and the strongest cultivators of the group. They naturally shot forward to protect the others.


    "Die!" the four disciples shouted.


    "Die!" Yang Xingyan''s group of four shouted back.


    They eachunched a fist or sword technique at their opponents in a tremendous sh of power that triggered a zing storm. The void rippled, forming shockwaves that disrupted the space all around them.


    Both sides were sted backwards by the impact. Their strength seemed to be evenly matched.


    "Die!" all eightbatants roared,unching themselves into battle once more.


    Fiery storms filled the sky. Thebatants'' attacks rippled through the void. For the moment, neither side seemed able to gain the upper hand.


    Afar, Shi Tianbei turned to Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu. "Junior Brothers, why don''t you test your own strength as well? You should be far stronger than your disciples. Besides, Blue Lantern is right up ahead. Don''t you want a bronzepass? His is right there waiting for you."


    Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu''s eyes lit up instantly.


    "Fine. I''ll go!" Zhang Tianshu dered.


    "No, I''ll do it!" Ge Tianyu replied eagerly.


    The two powerful cultivators leapt into action, charging toward Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern with overwhelming force.

 Chapter 922: The Blood Sacrifice

    <h4>Chapter 922: The Blood Sacrifice</h4>


    Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu''s assault caused Xiao Nanfeng no small amount of pressure.


    From a distance, Ye Sanshui shouted, "Protect His Majesty at any cost!"


    The zombie kings roared in unison.


    The four zombie kings that had just been knocked away now flew back and surrounded Xiao Nanfeng protectively.


    "Senior Brother, don''t fight me over Blue Lantern''s bronzepass. Let me have this one. I''ll help you get another one in the future," Zhang Tianshu murmured.


    Ge Tianyu shook his head. "This bronzepass is mine. You can wait for the next one."


    "We''ll see who takes Blue Lantern down first, then," Zhang Tianshu replied.


    "Very well!"


    The two cultivators charged forward.


    "Die!" Xia Xingchen roared.


    The five zombie kings joined the fray as well.


    Ge Tianyu sneered. "A group of early-stage Boundless Immortals? Ha!"


    His fists flew like lightning. He unleashed three massive attacks that flew toward three zombie kings, who had no time to dodge and were forced to meet the attacks head-on.


    The three zombie kings were sent flying. They coughed up ck blood.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Tianshu took on three other opponents with ease. Only Xia Xingchen managed to withstand the heavy blow, knocked back but uninjured. The other two zombie kings both spat out ck blood, heavily wounded.


    "The Yuqing yin pirs are truly incredible. I''m almost ate-stage Boundless Immortal," Ge Tianyu eximed with satisfaction.


    "This overwhelming strength does feel fantastic, doesn''t it?" Zhang Tianshuughed.


    The zombie kings, heedless of pain, charged forward once again. Even so, Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu were too strong. They tried out various techniques on the zombie kings, who were nothing more than training dummies to them, as they adapted to their newfound power.


    Perhaps due to their mutual suspicion of each other, they were watching each other closely. Neither made a move to target Blue Lantern or Xiao Nanfeng just yet.


    Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern frowned, their expressions grim. The battle was clearly turning against them, and Shi Tianbei''s group hadn''t even made a move yet.


    "Your Majesty, this isn''t looking good. In addition, I can sense the presence of an overwhelming formation here. If it''s activated, we''ll suffer heavy casualties," Blue Lantern warned.


    "In that case, we''ll have to retreat," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "We can''t. The formations in the vicinity have just been activated and reinforced with the might of three bronzepasses. The four heavenly gates have all been barred now.


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He immediately made a decision. "We''ll go with what you prepared in advance, then. I''ll give themand."


    "Got it!" Blue Lantern replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and shouted, "Senior Uncle, Yang Chuan, Yu''er, Ye Sanshui, Mountain Lord Xia, regroup around me! Quickly!"


    The cultivators fighting in the distance felt a surge of hope, thinking that Xiao Nanfeng might have a n. They were unable to take down their opponents; if the fighting dragged out, they would surely lose. After all, Shi Tianbei was still just watching the fight unfold.


    "Very well!" the others replied.


    They knocked their opponents aside as they headed toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    As they closed in on him, Shi Tianbei suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Junior Brothers, I suspect Xiao Nanfeng''s nning something. Finish him off quickly¡ªstop trying to outmaneuver each other."


    "Understood!" Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu replied in unison.


    They struck the zombie kings, sending them flying. Then, the two of them rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng''s group, quickly closing in on them.


    "Hold them back!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered the zombie kings.


    The five zombie kings formed a shield against the six Boundless Immortals.


    "Ha! As if these zombie kings can stop us," Zhang Tianshu sneered.


    The six elite cultivators nced at the zombie kings with disdain as they pped them aside.


    "Self-destruct! Blow them to pieces!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    "What?" The enemies froze.


    "Explode!" Ye Sanshuimanded.


    Without hesitation, the five zombie kings self-destructed in a massive explosion. The fiery st engulfed the elite cultivators.


    "Damn it!"


    "Bastard!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''ll pay for this! Such explosions won''t harm us!"


    Amidst their curses, the six cultivators retreated to avoid the full brunt of the explosion.


    As htey did so, two enormous blue beams emerged from the mes.


    "No¡ªthey''re trying to escape! Don''t let them run!" Shi Tianbei cried out.


    He charged forward with the Mountain Lords under hismand.


    "What?" Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu nched. They rushed through the mes, bracing against the aftermath of the explosion.


    As they did so, they saw the shadows of two bronzepasses surrounding Xiao Nanfeng''s group. Blue light glowed brightly around them.


    "Damn it, they''re using those bronzepasses to teleport!" Zhang Tianshu cried out.


    They punched at the group in desperation, but to no avail. Xiao Nanfeng''s group vanished in a sh.


    "How could they have escaped? It''s impossible. The bronzepass should only have been able to target Blue Lantern. How did they all make it out?" Ge Tianyu eximed.


    "There were two bronzepasses¡ªBlue Lantern must have gotten a second one somehow. But from where?" Zhang Tianshu eximed.


    "Damn it!" Ge Tianyu cursed.


    Just then, Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu, along with their four disciples, felt a chilling sense of danger.


    "What?" They whirled around to see Shi Tianbei and the five Yuqing Mountain Lords charging at them with their swords drawn.


    Still reeling from Xiao Nanfeng''s escape, the cultivators hadn''t expected such treachery from their own side.


    "Shi Tianbei, what are you doing?!" Zhang Tianshu shouted.


    They and their four disciples were simultaneously attacked in a calcted ambush. Blood sprayed everywhere.


    Shi Tianbei sent a sword through Ge Tianyu''s head, killing him instantly. A Mountain Lord sliced off one of Zhang Tianshu''s arms.


    Shi Tianbei sneered. "What am I doing? There are some treasures too good for the likes of you. Xiao Nanfeng really did provide the perfect opportunity. I was wondering when I''d have a chance to deal with all of you¡ªhe made it easy for me, haha!"


    "No!" the cultivators cried out.


    "Kill them!" Shi Tianbeimanded.


    "Die!" the Mountain Lords roared in unison.


    Another wave of fiery explosions erupted as the two sides shed viciously.


    @@novelbin@@


    On a small ind on the mirrored Eastern Sea within the purple moon illusory realm, Xiao Nanfeng and his group suddenly shed into existence, having been transported through spacetime.


    They crashed to the ground.


    "Where are we?" Yu''er eximed. After looking around, her eyes widened. "This must be what you and Blue Lantern were doing back then! You were setting up a teleportation array?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Blue Lantern created this array using his two bronzepasses. It was originally designed for the outside world, and we weren''t sure if it would work in the purple moon illusory realm. Thankfully, it does."


    "Good thing you nned ahead, or we would have been in serious trouble," Yang Xingyan said, exhaling in relief.


    "We suffered significant losses," Ye Sanshui said, frowning.


    Five zombie kings had self-destructed¡ªfive Boundless Immortals, wasted in an instant.


    "Surviving is what matters most. Better the zombie kings than us," Yang Xingyan consoled.


    Yang Chuan grimaced. "How are we supposed to fight back against someone like Shi Tianbei? He''s growing too strong too quickly. How are we supposed to win?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Perhaps things aren''t as bad as we expected."


    "Hmm?" Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng in surprise.


    "When Blue Lantern activated the teleportation array, I saw Shi Tianbei and the five Mountain Lords charging forward¡ªbut not at us," Xiao Nanfeng recalled.


    "They weren''t after us?" Yu''er eximed, surprised.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Shi Tianbei and his Mountain Lords were focused on Ge Tianyu''s group, and with killing intent at that."


    "An internal schism?" Yu''er eximed.


    "What? Infighting?" The cultivators'' eyes widened.


    "I don''t know what happened next, but it''s very likely. This is good news for us," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Let''s go back and have a look, then!" Yang Xingyan eximed.


    Everyone nodded.


    "Wait. Let Blue Lantern stabilize the teleportation array here first. If something happens, we may need it again."


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    Blue Lantern quickly reinforced the formation and reset it before the cultivators took to the air.


    They carefully cloaked themselves with fog and returned to the vicinity of the Eastern Heavenly Gate.


    By then, the guards around the gate had all vanished. Outside the gate was a blue membrane; in the distance, a group of Yuqing disciples were fleeing in terror.


    "Interrogate them!" Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Yang Chuan and Ye Sanshui rushed forward, quickly subduing the Yuqing disciples and bringing them over.


    "Don''t kill us! Don''t feed on us!" the disciples screamed, utterly terrified.


    "Look into my Heavenly Eye," Yang Chuanmanded.


    A third eye appeared on Yang Chuan''s forehead, glowing as it hypnotized one of the disciples.


    "What happened? Who''s trying to kill you?" Yang Chuan demanded.


    "The hierarch! He ate those Boundless Immortals and unleashed countless blue mes. He''s intending to burn all the Yuqing disciples in the Sieve of Heaven alive. I don''t want to die, I don''t!" the hypnotized disciple cried out, his voice trembling with terror as he recounted the horrifying scene.


    "Devoured several Boundless Immortals? Why would Shi Tianbei do such a thing?" Yang Chuan asked, stunned.


    "No, this is a blood sacrifice," Blue Lantern exined. His features were grave. "Shi Tianbei is using the souls of all the Yuqing disciples as a medium from which to draw power. He''s trying to absorb all the Yuqing yin pirs into his body."

 Chapter 923: The Invincible Shi Tianbei

    <h4>Chapter 923: The Invincible Shi Tianbei</h4>


    "A blood sacrifice?" everyone eximed.


    "That''s right. Only with three bronzepasses can a perfect blood sacrifice be carried out. I was wondering why Shi Tianbei summoned all the Yuqing disciples over. Now I understand¡ªhe''s after their lives," Blue Lantern murmured, sighing.


    "Mountain Lord Xia, Mountain Lord Yang, save us! We don''t want to die!" the Yuqing disciples beside them cried out desperately.


    @@novelbin@@


    Shortly thereafter, they all revealed expressions of despair. "Our avatars are all dead!"


    The disciples'' faces were filled with fear and hopelessness.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Blue Lantern. "Is there a way to use this opportunity to severely injure Shi Tianbei?"


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "A formation created by three of the bronzepasses would be imprable to me. I suspect no one here would be able to break through."


    "I might seed," Xiao Nanfeng said confidently.


    His candleme powers would allow him to enter the formation.


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "I believe in your abilities, Your Majesty, but Shi Tianbei will discover us the moment we enter the formation, and I won''t be able to defend against three bronzepasses. He will have the advantage of the formation he wields."


    "But if Shi Tianbei seeds in killing Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu, it''s very likely he''ll end up seriously injured in the process. We can''t afford to miss this chance," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Blue Lantern considered this for a moment. "Why don''t we have a look within the formation for ourselves? I can''t break Shi Tianbei''s formation, but I can peer through it with my bronzepass.


    Everyone nodded.


    The cultivators flew toward the Eastern Heavenly Gate, where a blue membrane blocked their way. Blue Lantern waved his hand, gathering the membrane''s energy and sending it into his bronzepass.


    The bronzepass trembled as it picked up vibrations from within the formation.


    Suddenly, horrific screams emerged from thepass.


    "Ah, don''t kill me! No, please!"


    "Master, spare me!"


    "Master, we helped you kill Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu! Don''t kill us!"


    "No, Master, don''t devour us!"


    Anguished cries echoed endlessly from within the formation.


    "Those are the voices of five Mountain Lords! Why would Shi Tianbei kill them?!" Yang Chuan eximed in disbelief.


    The five Mountain Lords present within the formation were Shi Tianbei''s own disciples, who had taken down Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu alongside him. Now, Shi Tianbei was even turning on them!


    "Just what is Shi Tianbei trying to do...?" Yu''er eximed.


    "He''s not satisfied with just the Yuqing yin pirs within Ge Tianyu and Zhang Tianshu. He wants to absorb the ones inside the five Mountain Lords'' bodies as well," Xiao Nanfeng said grimly.


    "How ruthless!" everyone eximed.


    "Blue Lantern, can you sense Shi Tianbei''s situation through the formation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern closed his eyes and concentrated. After a moment, he opened his eyes gravely. "I can sense the energy inside. Let me allow all of you to do the same."


    He retrieved another bronzepass and channeled energy from the blue membrane into it.


    An oppressive force surged outward and washed over everyone.


    Yang Xingyan''s eyes widened. "Five powerful sources of energy, one strong and four weak. They must be Shi Tianbei and the four Mountain Lords¡ªShi Tianbei''s now ate-stage Boundless Immortal, and his cultivation is still advancing!"


    "Don''t devour me!" a desperate scream echoed from within.


    One of the weaker sources of energy vanished, leaving just three behind.


    "Shi Tianbei ate another Mountain Lord, and he''s grown even stronger!" Yang Xingyan shouted.


    "Save me!" There was yet another shout as one more source of energy was snuffed out.


    "Another Mountain Lord dead..." Yang Xingyan murmured.


    The two remaining sources of energy vanished with two more screams, leaving only Shi Tianbei''s raging aura. Everyone shivered.


    "A peak Boundless Immortal... There''s no way we can fight him now," Yang Xingyan said in despair.


    "Shi Tianbei has gathered all twelve Yuqing yin pirs within his own body. Who can stop him now?" Xia Xingchen murmured.


    The cultivators nced at each other in dread. Shi Tianbei was now essentially invincible. Any attempt to face him would be suicidal.


    "Your Majesty, we should leave immediately," Blue Lantern suggested, sighing.


    "Hold on," Xiao Nanfeng said, narrowing his eyes. "Does this energy feel somehow... familiar... to you?"


    "Hm?" Everyone seemed puzzled.


    Yang Chuan''s eyes widened. "This aura..."


    "What''s the matter? Whose aura is this?" Yang Xingyan asked.


    "There''s a trace of the Heavenly Emperor''s aura in Shi Tianbei. I used to serve as the Southern Aspect of the Imperial Court, so I''m very familiar with the Heavenly Emperor''s aura. Somehow, it''s mingling with Shi Tianbei''s."


    "What?!" everyone cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Now that Yang Chuan has confirmed it, I''m certain. The Heavenly Emperor''s aura is intermingled with Shi Tianbei''s."


    "But how can that be?" Yang Xingyan eximed.


    "I might know why," Yu''er suddenly eximed.


    "Oh?" Everyone turned to her.


    "I was wondering why my cultivation wasn''t advancing as quickly as Zhang Tianshu and Ge Tianyu''s, despite having acquired my Yuqing yin pir sooner¡ªbut I understand everything now."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster passed down a secret technique to me, one specifically designed to purify the energy of the Yuqing yin pirs and remove the trace aura of the Yuqing Grandmaster embedded within, allowing their full power to be my own."


    Everyone listened intently as she continued.


    "The reason I progressed slower than they did was because this purification takes time. Shi Tianbei and his disciples didn''t use this technique. They rapidly absorbed the energy from their respective Yuqing yin pirs, concentrating the Yuqing Grandmaster''s aura within themselves. The more energy they absorbed, the stronger that aura became."


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "So what we''re sensing isn''t the Heavenly Emperor''s aura, but rather the Yuqing Grandmaster''s?"


    Yu''er nodded. "I don''t know what the rtionship is between the Heavenly Emperor and the Yuqing Grandmaster. Perhaps they''re the same person, perhaps not¡ªbut it''s clear they''re linked. I suspect their auras may be very simr as well."


    The cultivators nodded as they contemted this revtion.


    "If Shi Tianbeicks the secret technique the Yuqing Grandmaster imparted to you, will he be able to remove the Yuqing Grandmaster''s aura?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Yu''er shook her head. "He can''t. The more energy he absorbs, the more the Yuqing Grandmaster''s aura will concentrate in his body. Without this technique, he''s essentially a vessel for the Yuqing Grandmaster''s power."


    Beside him, Xia Xingchen interjected, "Even so, what does it matter? Shi Tianbei is overwhelmingly strong in his current state. We can''t defeat him."


    Yu''er frowned. "He''s our enemy, and he''s greedy and ruthless. He''ll definitely target my Yuqing yin pir next¡ªand the bronzepasses in Blue Lantern''s possession."


    Everyone frowned. They wouldn''t be able to avoid a fight.


    Shi Tianbei would only grow stronger. When he came for them, they wouldn''t be able to escape.


    "Your Majesty, what if I consume the final portion of ck blood?" Ye Sanshui suggested.


    His ancestral zombie''s body was formed from three portions of ck blood. If he consumed thest one, his power would increase dramatically.


    "No," Xiao Nanfeng said, shaking his head. "If you do, the cursed king you share your body with might awaken."


    "It doesn''t matter. I''d rather lose this body than let Shi Tianbei win. Besides, the chance of the cursed king awakening is slim," Ye Sanshui said resolutely.


    If the ancestral zombie cursed king were to awaken, Ye Sanshui''s soul would be irrecoverably lost. Even so, he was loyal to Xiao Nanfeng and was willing to sacrifice his life.


    Xiao Nanfeng was touched by his devotion, but he still shook his head. "That''s ast resort. We won''t take that route just yet. Shi Tianbei is now a peak Boundless Immortal. Even if you consume that final portion of ck blood, and even if the ancestral zombie cursed king doesn''t awaken, you might not be a match for him."


    "But if we dy, he''ll only grow stronger. Soon, we won''t stand a chance!" Ye Sanshui argued.


    "Wait," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly. He turned to Blue Lantern. "Is there any weakness to this blood sacrifice? Will Shi Tianbei be subject to any restrictions?"


    Blue Lantern thought for a moment. "There is. By devouring others and absorbing their energy, Shi Tianbei has flooded his body with foreign energies. With his bronzepasses, though, he''ll be able to purge foreign elements from his body and soul with about a month''s worth of effort."


    "In other words, for the short term, he''s forced to stay here and cleanse his body of impurities. Is that so?" Xiao Nanfeng rified.


    "Yes, Your Majesty¡ªbut even so, he''s all but invincible at the moment."


    Xiao Nanfeng hummed thoughtfully. "I may have a way to guarantee his death."


    "Oh?"


    The cultivators nced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock. Shi Tianbei was now a peak Boundless Immortal. Even the Divine Emperor or Liu Miaoyin wouldn''t dare make such a bold im.


    "It''s an exceedingly dangerous strategy, and I will need your assistance," Xiao Nanfeng told the gathered cultivators.

 Chapter 924: The Heavenly Emperor Wants to See You

    <h4>Chapter 924: The Heavenly Emperor Wants to See You</h4>


    Back in Dachi''s capital, the Void Saint arrived with Tang. Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan greeted him personally.


    Inside a grand hall, at the Void Saint''s request, Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan simultaneously activated their bronzepasses, emitting beams of blue light that enveloped Tang. At the same time, the Void Saint infused Tang with the heavenlyw that he controlled.


    ck energy once again seeped from Tang''s body, rising up into the air before disappearing mysteriously.


    "The cursed effigy connected to Tang seems to be extraordinary. Even with three bronzepasses, we can''t locate its exact position," Su Tianxin said.


    With a hum, the Void Saint withdrew his power. Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan put away their bronzepasses as well.


    "What will it take, then?" the Void Saint asked.


    "I''m not certain, but we may be able to find out if we can gather the other bronzepasses," Su Tianxin said.


    "Oh?" The Void Saint turned to Su Tianxin.


    "As you know, Saint, these bronzepasses were once part of a whole. With theplete bronzepass in hand, ny thousand years ago, our sect''s founder was able to calcte and track anything in the world. Thepass has since been split into eight pieces, significantly diminishing its power."


    "You dare y games with me, Su Tianxin?" The Void Saint sneered.


    "I would never, Saint. My words are the truth," Su Tianxin replied quickly.


    "Oh? And where are the remaining pieces of the bronzepass?"


    "They''re in the hands of my senior and junior brothers, as well as Xiao Nanfeng''s subordinate, Blue Lantern."


    "And how do you propose that we obtain them?"


    "I can persuade my fellow disciples to cooperate with you, but Xiao Nanfeng is my mortal enemy. He certainly won''t lend me the pieces in his possession, and Ick the means topel him to do so."


    "So you want me to deal with Xiao Nanfeng for you?" The Void Saint smirked.


    "Indeed, Saint. This task is insignificant for someone of your stature," Su Tianxin replied.


    "Is that so?" The Void Saint''s voice grew colder.


    Su Tianxin shot a nce at Su Qingchan, who immediately stepped forward, understanding her father''s intent. She took the Void Saint''s arm and said sweetly, "Please don''t be angry, Saint. My father isn''t trying to scheme against you. He''s simply stating the facts. We are ill-equipped to handle Xiao Nanfeng."


    Su Qingchan''s coquettish tone and pacifying gestures caused the Void Saint to relent.


    He nced at Su Qingchan, his expression softening. "Fine. For Qingchan''s sake, I won''t pursue this matter¡ªbut remember, Su Tianxin, if you ever try to scheme against me again, I won''t forgive you."


    "Of course, Saint," Su Tianxin replied immediately.


    He then gave Su Qingchan another look, as if signaling her to continue persuading the Void Saint.


    Though reluctant, Su Qingchanplied, her voice soft and alluring. "Saint, didn''t you promise to help my father deal with Xiao Nanfengst time? You can''t have forgotten."


    "That depends on how much you''re willing to offer," the Void Saint replied.


    "Saint, since you''re already here, why not stay here in Dachi''s capital for a little while? Allow me to fulfill my duty as host. Besides, Qingchan has always admired you. She can apany you around the capital during your stay," Su Tianxin suggested.


    "Very well," the Void Saint replied, pretending to agree reluctantly.


    He nced at Su Tianxin with disdain, recognizing his attempt to curry favor with him by offering Su Qingchan up as a pawn.


    Even so, the Void Saint didn''t mind epting the beauty. Whether he''d keep his promise to help Su Tianxin was another matter.


    Embracing Su Qingchan, the Void Saint smiled. "Qingchan, since your father insists, why don''t you show me around?"


    "Agree, Qingchan," Su Tianxin urged.


    Su Qingchan''s brows furrowed, but she nodded and replied with a smile, "Sure."


    Just then, a guard rushed into the hall. "An urgent report, Your Majesty!"


    "How dare you barge in like this?!" Su Tianxin roared.


    "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Xiao Nanfeng''s here!" the guard said, trembling with fear.


    "Oh?"


    "Interesting. What''s Xiao Nanfeng doing here in Dachi''s capital?" the Void Saint asked, intrigued.


    "Where is he? What does he want?" Su Tianxin demanded.


    "Xiao Nanfeng is right outside the capital. He''s asking to see the Void Saint," the guard replied.


    "Hm?" The cultivators in the hall were taken aback.


    "Did you reveal my presence here?" The Void Saint red at Su Tianxin.


    "I would never, Saint! Certainly not to the likes of Xiao Nanfeng, at that. He must have seen you arrive in the capital," Su Tianxin exined.


    The Void Saint frowned, but ultimately nodded.


    "How many people did he bring? Who are they?" Su Tianxin asked.


    "Xiao Nanfeng came alone, Your Majesty," the guard replied.


    "Oh? Interesting. Why would Xiao Nanfeng want to see me?" the Void Saint wondered.


    "Saint, what do you think we should do?" Su Tianxin turned to the Void Saint.


    "Since he''s here, I''ll entertain his request. Send him in." The Void Saint shrugged.


    There was no one in the world he feared at present, let alone Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Bring Xiao Nanfeng in," Su Tianxinmanded.


    "Understood!" The guard prompt left the hall.


    The atmosphere grew tense.


    Tang stood silently in a corner, while Su Qingchan withdrew from the Void Saint''s side to join her father. Only the Void Saint remained standing in the center of the hall, calm andposed.


    Everyone was wondering why Xiao Nanfeng would show up alone. Didn''t he fear death?


    Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng was brought into the hall.


    He walked forward with a calm demeanor and a hint of arrogance in his gaze, surveying the room before addressing the Void Saint.


    "You must be the Void Saint."


    "Show some respect. Kneel before the saint!" Su Tianxin snapped.


    The Void Saint scrutinized Xiao Nanfeng, puzzled by his audacity.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Su Tianxin and looked directly at the Void Saint. "I heard you were here, so I came immediately. Fortunately, I found you before you left. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome to locate you again."


    "What do you want?" the Void Saint asked imperiously.


    He nced at Xiao Nanfeng as if he were looking at someone about to die.


    "The Heavenly Emperor has ordered me to summon you for an audience," Xiao Nanfeng replied seriously.


    The cultivators in the hall froze. Their sneers and disdain vanished instantly.


    What did Xiao Nanfeng say? By whose orders?


    Even the Void Saint''s pupils contracted involuntarily.


    Su Tianxin was the first to break the silence, his voiceced with anger. "Xiao Nanfeng, what nonsense are you spouting? The Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli, is dead! If you''re going to lie, at leaste up with a better excuse!"


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored Su Tianxin once more. "Void Saint, are you avable? The Heavenly Emperor wishes to see you."


    The Void Saint''s eyelids began to twitch. "Which Heavenly Emperor are you referring to?"


    After all, there were plenty of Heavenly Emperors across all of history. Perhaps Xiao Nanfeng was referring to a cursed king from a previous era.


    "The only Heavenly Emperor of our era is none other than Yu Fuli. I have recognized no other Heavenly Emperor," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan were both dumbstruck¡ªsimultaneously out of fear and amazement at Xiao Nanfeng''s audacity.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you must have a death wish. What nonsense! Yu Fuli is dead. How could he summon me?" the Void Saint demanded.


    "He may have died, but nothing''s preventing him from resurrecting," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Tension filled the hall.


    "I am here by the Heavenly Emperor''s orders to summon you for an audience. Void Saint, will youe?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.


    The Void Saint felt a surge of unease. "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re lying! Yu Fuli never attuned to a cursed effigy. How could he revive?"


    He didn''t believe Xiao Nanfeng''s lies, but Yu Fuli had suppressed him for almost ten thousand years. He had developed a near-innate fear of Yu Fuli. Though he was certain that Xiao Nanfeng was lying, he couldn''t help but panic.


    "You shall see. There''s no need to waste time arguing about this at the moment¡ªor are you scared of meeting with him in person, Void Saint?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The hall was silent. Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng in shock. Indeed, whether or not Xiao Nanfeng was lying would be revealed immediately.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Saint, Xiao Nanfeng must be lying. He''s trying to trick you," Su Tianxin said.


    "Emperor Su, if you don''t believe me, you are wee to join me as well. As an Immortal Emperor, you too are a loyal subject of the Heavenly Emperor. It is only right that you obey hismands," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Su Tianxin: ...


    The Void Saint grimaced. Though he was a little flustered, he didn''t immediately believe Xiao Nanfeng. After all, everyone had seen Yu Fuli perish. How could he have revived out of nowhere?


    "Where is he now?" the Void Saint demanded.


    "I will lead the way and apany you, Void Saint," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Void Saint fell silent again. If Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t willing to apany him there, he would have deemed this farce all a trap of some sort. That Xiao Nanfeng would do so, however, lent credence to his im. After all, he could kill Xiao Nanfeng at any time.


    Xiao Nanfeng could hardly be trying to die. Could Yu Fuli really have revived?

 Chapter 926: This Isnt Important

    <h4>Chapter 926: This Isn''t Important</h4>


    The woman, of course, was none other than Shi Tianbei. After absorbing all twelve Yuqing yin pirs, he waspletely unable to withstand the intense yin energy they contained. Although his cultivation had been elevated to the peak of the Boundless Immortal realm, the overwhelming yin energy had warped his physical body in strange ways. Even possessing two pure yang pirs hadn''t made a difference.


    As he listened to Xiao Nanfeng''s nonsense, he immediately realized that Xiao Nanfeng must be deliberately misleading the cultivators around him.


    There was no reason to mislead Su Tianxin and his daughter, so his target had to be the unfamiliar man to his side.


    "Who are you?" Shi Tianbei asked the Void Saint.


    "Don''t you know who I am?" The Void Saint narrowed his eyes.


    Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Shi Tianbei, don''t lie! Don''t you know he''s the Void Saint?"


    "A saint?" Shi Tianbei eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Shi Tianbei, where is the Heavenly Emperor? Tell us everything!"


    Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes. He finally understood what Xiao Nanfeng''s n was. Xiao Nanfeng was going to frame him and then get the saint to finish him off.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, you''re trying to get the saint to take me down, aren''t you? Don''t you know the consequences of trying to trick a saint?" Shi Tianbei demanded.


    "Hm?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow, as if he had realized something critical. His eyes darted between the Void Saint and Shi Tianbei, and he gradually calmed down. He fell silent.


    Sensing that something was off, the Void Saint quickly asked, "You''re Shi Tianbei? Why do you have Yu Fuli''s aura on you?"


    Shi Tianbei immediately replied, "Saint, Xiao Nanfeng must be lying to you. My aura is from the twelve Yuqing yin pirs that I absorbed here. These pirs contain remnants of the Yuqing Grandmaster''s energy. Perhaps the Yuqing Grandmaster''s aura and Yu Fuli''s are somewhat simr."


    "Oh?" The Void Saint seemed doubtful.


    Shi Tianbei continued, "Su Tianxin should also be aware of the situation here. He once had spies in the Yuqing holynd, though I''ve since eliminated them. He certainly knows about the twelve Yuqing yin pirs."


    The Void Saint turned to Su Tianxin, who nodded. He briefly described what he knew. However, his knowledge was limited to earlier events; he hadn''t been aware of Xiao Nanfeng''s recent battle with Shi Tianbei.


    Shi Tianbei didn''t hide anything, either. He filled in the gaps in Su Tianxin''s knowledge, recounting how Xiao Nanfeng had attacked the area and fought against him.


    "Saint, Yu Fuli has long since fallen. How could he possibly have revived? These are all part of Xiao Nanfeng''s lies. He''s trying to trick you into killing me and make a fool of you," Shi Tianbei said.


    The Void Saint eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "Is Shi Tianbei telling the truth?"


    @@novelbin@@


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "He is."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s straightforward admission stunned everyone. Why would Xiao Nanfeng confess so easily?


    Even Shi Tianbei was left speechless. What was Xiao Nanfeng doing? This didn''t match his usual style.


    "Void Saint, this was all a personal grudge between Shi Tianbei and me. As he said, I was afraid he would harm me, so I tried to use you to eliminate him. I admit there was some deception involved. But now that the truth is clear, I have no excuses for myself. You''re right¡ªYu Fuli is dead and cannot be revived. I''m willing to apologize for my mistake," Xiao Nanfeng said sincerely.


    Even so, the more sincere Xiao Nanfeng seemed, the more wary the Void Saint became.


    Was Xiao Nanfeng admitting defeat because he couldn''t hide the truth anymore? Or was he deliberately couching the truth in lies?


    If it was because he couldn''t hide the truth, then Xiao Nanfeng''s ims about Yu Fuli''s revival were manifestly false¡ªbut why would Xiao Nanfeng tell such a lie when the truth could easily be revealed?


    On the other hand, if Xiao Nanfeng hadn''t been lying, his admission now was meant to protect Yu Fuli, who was indeed weak and hiding.


    Xiao Nanfeng had previously said that Yu Fuli had been severely weakened. Could this have been what allowed Shi Tianbei to take him down?


    Yu Fuli had survived a battle against even the heavens. Though Shi Tianbei had ambushed him, perhaps Yu Fuli would revive soon enough.


    Was Xiao Nanfeng hiding Yu Fuli''s existence in hopes that Yu Fuli would soon take down Shi Tianbei?


    The Void Saint''s doubts gradually resolved themselves.


    Most importantly, Shi Tianbei''s aura was simply too simr to Yu Fuli''s.


    The Void Saint turned to Shi Tianbei once more. "Shi Tianbei, are you telling the truth?"


    "Of course! Xiao Nanfeng admitted that he had lied," Shi Tianbei replied.


    "If I demand your loyalty, would you submit to me?" the Void Saint continued.


    Shi Tianbei frowned. Why would the saint suddenly request such a thing? His thoughts whirled. Though he was now a peak Boundless Immortal, he knew that the heavens would return soon enough. If he swore loyalty to the saint, he might be able to avoid the impending cmity.


    "I am willing to serve you, Void Saint," Shi Tianbei replied.


    He believed that he had earned the Void Saint''s recognition, not realizing that Xiao Nanfeng had sessfully nted a seed of doubt in the Void Saint''s mind.


    No matter how Shi Tianbei responded, the Void Saint''s doubts couldn''t be dispelled.


    "Oh? Is that so?" The Void Saint stared at Shi Tianbei as a cold smile gradually spread across his face.


    He didn''t care what the truth was. To him, even if there were only a one-in-a-hundred chance¡ªno, even a one-in-ten-thousand chance¡ªthat Yu Fuli had revived and been consumed by Shi Tianbei, he couldn''t take that risk.


    Shi Tianbei''s loyalty was irrelevant. He didn''t care about gaining another servant. What he cared about was obliterating any opportunity for Yu Fuli to return.


    Since that possibility existed, he needed to eradicate itpletely¡ªby killing Shi Tianbei and destroying all traces of energy within him.


    "As long as you protect me through the next cmity, Void Saint, I am willing to pledge allegiance to you," Shi Tianbei dered.


    The Void Saint approached him with a slight smile. "Good..."


    He trailed off, then suddenly struck forward with his palm.


    "Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out anxiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s feigned panic right then and there was a stroke of brilliance. He and Shi Tianbei were mortal enemies, so why would he care about Shi Tianbei''s life? Clearly, he wasn''t worried about Shi Tianbei but rather the potential for Yu Fuli to be resurrected within him.


    The Void Saint grew even more determined to kill Shi Tianbei.


    Shi Tianbei hastily raised a palm to defend himself, only to be sent flying by the force of the saint''s attack.


    "Void Saint, what are you doing? I''ve pledged my loyalty to you. You can''t seriously believe Xiao Nanfeng''s nonsense? He''s trying to frame me!" Shi Tianbei roared.


    "That''s irrelevant," the Void Saint replied coldly.


    He waved a hand. A pir of blue light that pierced the skies appeared behind him. With a wave of his hand, a blue ocean surged forth, filled with countless skeletal figures.


    "Void Saint, Xiao Nanfeng''s taking advantage of you to frame me! Can''t you tell? Are you crazy?!" Shi Tianbei roared.


    He was a peak Boundless Immortal; he wasn''t about to go down easily. He was simply indignant that he had been framed.


    "As I said, it''s irrelevant," the Void Saint replied coldly.


    The raging blue ocean surrounded Shi Tianbei. Scores of skeletal figures shot toward him.


    "You lunatic! You''re insane! You want to kill me? Dream on!" Shi Tianbei roared.


    He swung his fist, shattering scores of skeletal figures and sending colossal waves rippling across the ocean.


    Even so, the waves only grew more and more overwhelming.


    "Die!" the Void Saint dered coldly.


    "You''re the one who''s going to die! If you intend to kill me, I''ll make you pay. Break!" Shi Tianbei roared.


    A massive surge of mes erupted from within the ocean, incinerating countless skeletons. Shi Tianbei''s punches distorted the void itself, each strike bearing overwhelming force. Despite his power, however, the ocean grewrger andrger. It filled even the shattered void with water.


    "This is your limit as a peak Boundless Immortal? Ha! You''ve barely scratched the surface of cultivation. Physical strength is immaterial at your stage¡ªthe heart is everything. Die!"


    The raging ocean surged. Waves drowned everything around Shi Tianbei.


    From its depths echoed Shi Tianbei''s defiant voice. "Bronzepass, obey me! Heart Formation!"


    High in the sky above the Sieve of Heaven, the projections of three bronzepasses red to life. They activated all the formations in the vicinity, filling the sky with dazzling blue light. Blue swords descended over the ocean.


    The ocean surged even more violently than before. Countless skeletal figures erupted from the ocean and collided with the swords. The resulting shockwaves shattered the void itself, turning the battlefield into an apocalyptic storm of destruction. Even the rubble around the Sieve of Heaven was pulverized into dust that fell into the ocean. Only Mt. Kunlun remained, tall and towering.


    Far off in the sky, Xiao Nanfeng, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan continued to retreat as they observed the intense sh between two supreme powerhouses.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, did you lie about Yu Fuli''s resurrection?" Su Tianxin probed.


    He had the strong suspicion that Xiao Nanfeng was simply trying to get Shi Tianbei killed.


    "Of course I lied! I told you, it''s all fake. Yu Fuli didn''t resurrect at all. I just wanted to take advantage of the Void Saint to kill Shi Tianbei. You should talk to the Void Saint and convince him to let this go," Xiao Nanfeng said, immediately ying along.


    Su Tianxin grimaced. After a moment of silence, he shook his head. The more he asked, the more it felt like Yu Fuli really had returned.


    Just then, a colossal wave surged toward the three of them. It looked to beposed of water, but actually contained destructive energy that could obliterate anything in its path. Xiao Nanfeng, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan hurriedly retreated once again.

 Chapter 927: Yu Fulis True Revival

    <h4>Chapter 927: Yu Fuli''s True Revival</h4>


    Within the Sieve of Heaven, the furious ocean raged. Three colossal bronzepasses floated on top of the ocean, radiating waves of blue light and a flurry of swords.


    Shi Tianbeiy suppressed deep beneath the ocean, but his resistance caused monstrous waves to churn and storms to rage in all directions. The aftershocks alone forced Xiao Nanfeng, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan to retreat time and again as they were battered by wind and water alike.


    The battlefield was utter chaos. Su Tianxin''s eyes shed with murderous intent. Abandoning any thought of self-preservation, he stepped forward and headed deep into the storm.


    "Father, what are you doing?" Su Qingchan eximed in shock.


    "The storm just now separated us from Xiao Nanfeng. I''m going to seize this chance to kill him," Su Tianxin replied.


    Su Tianxin ignored his daughter and rushed into the heart of the storm.


    He could sense Xiao Nanfeng''s presence nearby.


    With a forceful strike, Su Tianxin shot forward, only to discover that Xiao Nanfeng had vanished.


    "He''s gone? Impossible. He must still be nearby," Su Tianxin muttered, scanning his surroundings.


    By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng was already far from the scene. He wasn''t particrly good at hiding; a portal had opened up beside him, and he had stepped through.


    Xiao Nanfeng left the purple moon illusory realm and returned to reality.


    Outside the portal was a group of white-robed cultivators, shrouding themselves in fog so that they could blend into the clouds.


    Xiao Nanfeng saw Xia Xingchen standing nearby and knew that he had him to thank for opening up the portal.


    "Thank you, Mountain Lord Xia. I might have been in trouble if you hadn''t intervened," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    "I received word from your avatar. If I hadn''t done so, my senior sister would have. What''s the situation like inside?"


    @@novelbin@@


    Xiao Nanfeng recounted everything that had transpired, leaving the cultivators amazed.


    "Did it work?" Xia Xingchen eximed in excitement.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It''s very likely that Shi Tianbei''s done for."


    "Thank goodness." The cultivators rxed.


    "Come on, let''s head back to the Eastern Heavenly Gate," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    The cultivators nodded and followed Xiao Nanfeng there.


    Yu''er asked in worry, "Nanfeng, not only is Su Tianxin targeting you, the Void Saint might also do the same. It''ll be dangerous if you head in again. Why don''t we just strike now? Sister Liu suggested doing the same."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head with a smile. "Don''t worry, I''ll be careful. Besides, I have to go back. I don''t want to destroy my rtionship with the Void Saint just yet. It''s possible that I may be able to continue deceiving him. Right now, timing is critical. I''ll keep you informed, so be ready to make a move as well."


    Yu''er seemed like she wanted to protest, but she reluctantly nodded upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s determined attitude.


    Xia Xingchen once again opened a portal into the purple moon illusory realm, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to step in.


    Back at the Eastern Heavenly Gate, massive blue waves roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t rush in immediately. He waited for the waves to abate before he finally entered.


    As he did so, he heard Su Tianxin''s voice ring out in the distance, "Saint, Xiao Nanfeng has run away! He must have been lying to you earlier!"


    The blue ocean swiftly retreated to reveal Shi Tianbei lying in a pool of blood, his limbs severed and his body mangled. He was barely clinging to life.


    The Void Saint hovered in mid-air above him, while Su Qingchan stood nearby with three bronzepasses. Su Tianxin was busy tattling to the Void Saint about Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Void Saint replied coldly, "Isn''t Xiao Nanfeng standing right there?"


    Su Tianxin turned to see Xiao Nanfeng approaching, his expression grim.


    Xiao Nanfneg ignored the stunned Su Tianxin and directed his attention to the gravely injured Shi Tianbei, his face filled with concern.


    "Void Saint, I think you should show some clemency. You may receive some in return," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "What are you talking about?" The Void Saint red at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Spare Shi Tianbei''s life," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Ha! Don''t you have a grudge against him? Why are you suddenly trying to protect him?" The Void Saint smirked.


    Xiao Nanfeng grew tense. "You figured out that I was lying earlier?"


    "What do you think?" the Void Saint replied coldly.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng admitted, "Fine. I admit I didn''t want you to kill Shi Tianbei earlier. Since you''ve seen through my deception, there''s no point in hiding it anymore. Let me ask you this: Do you really think that killing Shi Tianbei will prevent the Heavenly Emperor from returning?"


    "You''re still iming that Yu Fuli has resurrected?" The Void Saint snorted.


    "Why else would you target Shi Tianbei? If you truly don''t believe that Yu Fuli has resurrected, why bother?"


    "Does it matter?" the Void Saint replied disdainfully.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s gaze hardened. "I see. You don''t know whether the Heavenly Emperor has revived yourself. You''re just trying to eliminate any possibility."


    "As you say."


    "But even if you destroy Shi Tianbei and annihte the Heavenly Emperor''s power within him, can you guarantee that Yu Fuli won''t revive via some other means?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    The Void Saint narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°I admit I¡¯m trying to protect Shi Tianbei for the sake of the Heavenly Emperor. But the truth is, Yu Fuli might not even need my help to return. And if he does, wouldn¡¯t he hold a grudge against you forpletely obliterating Shi Tianbei? By breaking his ties to this world, you¡¯re ensuring he¡¯ll see you as his mortal enemy. Wouldn¡¯t it be wiser to leave some room for reconciliation?¡± Xiao Nanfeng argued.


    The Void Saint hesitated briefly, then shook his head firmly. ¡°Xiao Nanfeng, you¡¯re still ying games with me. Do you think you can trick me into believing Yu Fuli has returned?¡±


    "Hasn''t he?"


    "I don''t believe you. I''m killing Shi Tianbei only as a precaution. Since I''ve made up my mind, I won''t change it. Dream on. I will be extinguishing all traces of Shi Tianbei from this world."


    "But¡ª" Xiao Nanfeng was about to continue when the Void Saint broke him off. "No buts. Once I finish off Shi Tianbei, I''ll deal with you. How dare you scheme against me? Do you think I''m some sort of ything you can toy with?"


    "The Heavenly Emperor really has revived," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized again.


    "Even if that''s the case, I''ll kill him," the Void Saint replied coldly.


    Suddenly, Su Qingchan cried out. "Ah!"


    "Who''s making a fuss?" The Void Saint frowned.


    "L-Look over there! Who''s that? It''s..." Su Qingchan pointed at the peak of Mt. Kunlun, her face pale.


    Everyone else nced up. At the top of the mountain was a man dressed in purple robes, his features severe. He was ncing coldly at the cultivators at the foot of the mountain.


    Su Tianxin and the Void Saint reared back in shock.


    "Y-Yu Fuli?!" the Void Saint eximed.


    "The Heavenly Emperor?" Su Tianxin murmured.


    "Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t lying? The Heavenly Emperor really did revive?!" Su Qingchan shouted.


    Even Xiao Nanfeng was stunned. What sort of situation was this? Could this really be Yu Fuli?


    He had prepared various ns to deceive the Void Saint, including having someone impersonate Yu Fuli to scare him¡ªbut where had this Yu Fulie from?


    This wasn''t the calm and benevolent Yu Fuli of the past¡ªit was someone colder and more terrifying.


    How had Yu Fuli revived?


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He murmured to himself, "This isn''t Yu Fuli. It''s the Yuqing Grandmaster..."


    The Void Saint, on the other hand, was shaken. His voice trembled as he demanded, "Xiao Nanfeng, is this a trick?!"


    The Void Saint shook his head. He had had enough of skulking about in the shadows. How could Yu Fuli truly have revived?


    "This is not a trick. I don''t know what''s going on myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward the peak of Mt. Kunlun. "I greet the Heavenly Emperor."


    The Void Saint''s entire body tensed. His instincts screamed at him to flee.


    "It''s a trick! It has to be fake. I won''t be fooled!" the Void Saint shouted, summoning a massive blue ocean full of skeletons and sending it toward the figure up on the mountain.


    This was a test. How the figure responded would determine his attitude. He nced intently at how "Yu Fuli" would respond.


    At the peak of Mt. Kunlun, the Yuqing Grandmaster narrowed his eyes. He pinched at the void, causing it to fill with countless runes. From the heart of the runes came a giant white sword that shed at the blue ocean.


    "A heart sword? Impossible!" the Void Saint shouted.


    These heart swords were Yu Fuli''s signature technique. There was no mistaking it.


    The heart sword effortlessly cleaved through the blue ocean, reducing the skeletons within to ash. The ocean itself split apart before vanishing entirely.


    The heart sword hurtled toward the Void Saint, whose eyes widened in shock.


    "No!" he cried out.


    He hastily invoked his powers over heavenlyw to block it.


    The sh shook the heavens. mes erupted, forcing everyone to retreat.


    The Void Saint ultimately managed to block the heart sword, suffering nothing more than superficial wounds in the process, but his heart sank. He was now certain that the man before him was none other than Yu Fuli.


    How could Yu Fuli have revived? He was right before the Void Saint, and seemingly intent on killing him! The Void Saint shuddered and tensed.

 Chapter 928: The Yuqing Grandmasters Plans

    <h4>Chapter 928: The Yuqing Grandmaster''s ns</h4>


    The Void Saint broke out in a cold sweat. As a saint who wielded heavenlyw, he had been lording over the world¡ªbut only because the Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli, had finally perished.


    For nearly ten thousand years, all the saints had been forced to skulk in the shadows while Yu Fuli remained alive. Who would have expected that Yu Fuli could even take on the very heavens?


    If not for Yu Fuli''s demise, the saints would have been plunged into despair.


    But now, Yu Fuli was standing right before him. Should he take the risk of provoking him?


    "Heavenly Emperor, I meant no offense. You invited me here. Earlier, Shi Tianbei was spouting nonsense, so I merely stepped in to discipline him," the Void Saint hurriedly said, dropping his pride.


    Atop Mt. Kunlun, the Yuqing Grandmaster continued to stare coldly at the Void Saint. He said nothing.


    His silent gaze, however, was more oppressive than anything he could have said. The Void Saint felt the pressure around him mounting.


    His scalp tingled, his mind racing. He was certain that "Yu Fuli" was contemting how to kill him.


    His first instinct was to grab Xiao Nanfeng as a hostage and flee.


    When Xiao Nanfeng noticed the Void Saint''s gaze shifting toward him, he immediately grew vignt. He spoke loudly. "Your Majesty, what exactly happened earlier? Was Shi Tianbei acting on orders, or was this merely a test?"


    Xiao Nanfeng had a fair guess about the Void Saint''s intentions, but he didn''t dare expose the truth at the moment. Instead, he deliberately changed the topic. His primary goal now was to get the Void Saint to leave as soon as possible.


    With the Yuqing Grandmaster present, the Void Saint might even be too scared to flee. However, Xiao Nanfeng had a n to make him escape.


    He moved swiftly and positioned himself in mid-air at a specific location.


    The Void Saint''s eyes lit up. Beside Xiao Nanfeng was a spatial mark, an imprint left behind from when Xiao Nanfeng had first exited the purple moon illusory realm. Such spatial marks were imperceptible to most, but the Void Saint¡¯s profound cultivation allowed him to spot them easily.


    The mark indicated the residual traces of a portal leading out of the realm.


    Although the portal had since closed, traces of its formation lingered, offering a potential escape route for someone of the Void Saint¡¯s caliber.


    Filled with tion, the Void Saint wasted no time. He lunged toward Xiao Nanfeng. ¡°Xiao Nanfeng, since you brought me here, it¡¯s only right that you send me off.¡±


    The Void Saint struck the spatial mark with his palm, creating a massive rift in the void. With his other hand, he seized Xiao Nanfeng.


    "An exit?" Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan eximed in surprise.


    They rushed toward the rift and hurtled toward the outside world.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened. He shouted loudly, "Don''t attack! No one is to attack!"


    His cry resonated within and beyond the rift.


    The Void Saint grinned, assuming Xiao Nanfeng was pleading with Yu Fuli not to make a move. He remained unaware that Xiao Nanfeng¡¯s warning was actually directed at the ambushers lying in wait outside.


    Beyond the rift, several concealed cultivators, cloaked in fog to hide their presence, had been preparing to ambush anyone exiting the portal ording to the n from before.


    However, Xiao Nanfeng¡¯s shout made them hesitate. They chose not to act rashly.


    The Void Saint, still holding onto Xiao Nanfeng, sessfully emerged from the purple moon illusory realm, with Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan close behind.


    Once outside, the Void Saint, ecstatic at his sessful escape, sped away. Su Tianxin and his daughter followed him closely.


    After a short while, Xiao Nanfeng shouted, ¡°Enough, Void Saint! Do you truly think the Heavenly Emperor can be threatened? Release me now, or you¡¯ll embarrass the Heavenly Emperor further!¡±


    The Void Saint''s expression changed. He instinctively stopped in his tracks and loosened his grip.


    As soon as Xiao Nanfeng was free, heshed out with three lengths of red rope, targeting the three bronzepasses in Su Qingchan¡¯s hands.


    "Ah!" Su Qingchan eximed, barely maintaining her grip on them.


    ¡°Scoundrel! How dare you steal from us?¡± Su Tianxin roared, lunging at Xiao Nanfeng.


    The Void Saint intercepted Su Tianxin¡¯s attack with his palm and snatched the three bronzepasses from Su Qingchan.


    "Saint? You¡ª" Su Tianxin eximed, bewildered.


    He couldn''tprehend why the Void Saint was suddenly protecting Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Who told you to attack?" the Void Saint reprimanded Su Tianxin.


    "I..." Su Tianxin faltered. He fell silent.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to the Void Saint. "I''m going to return. Let me bring these three bronzepasses back."


    The Void Saint''s expression flickered with indecision.


    Su Tianxin¡¯s protest made sense: thepasses belonged to the Void Saint, not Yu Fuli. Why should Xiao Nanfeng take them? Yet Xiao Nanfeng¡¯s persistence and his earlier plea to Yu Fuli made the Void Saint wary.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s shout for the Heavenly Emperor not to attack had been a blessing for him; it would be better not to provoke the Heavenly Emperor further at present.


    "Saint, you were the one who obtained these three bronzepasses! Why should you give them to Xiao Nanfeng? Don''t do it," Su Tianxin shouted.


    He knew what the Void Saint was thinking, but he had already started thinking of the three bronzepasses as his property. How could he simply give up on them now?


    "Void Saint, I need to report back to the Heavenly Emperor. Don''t waste my time," Xiao Nanfeng urged.


    The Void Saint grimaced. Su Tianxin wasn''t wrong, either¡ªthese were his spoils, and Yu Fuli wasn''t the one requesting them outright. Why should he give them to Xiao Nanfeng? Even so, he didn''t dare make an enemy of Yu Fuli right now.


    "You can have one," the Void Saint said reluctantly.


    With a wave of his hand, he severed two lengths of red rope from Xiao Nanfeng''s hand, leaving onepass for him.


    "We''re leaving!" the Void Saint shouted.


    In a sh, he, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan disappeared into the distance.


    Xiao Nanfeng was left in mid-air, stunned by his sess. "I was just testing my luck. I can''t believe it worked. The Void Saint must have been utterly terrified."


    Pocketing the bronzepass, Xiao Nanfeng soared into the air and returned to the location corresponding to the Sieve of Heaven in the real world.


    The Void Saint had brought him an incredible distance in just a short period of time.


    He quickly returned to the void near the portal.


    "Nanfeng, what happened just now? How did you escape the Void Saint?" Yu''er asked, incredulous.


    "Those from the Yuqing holynd, head into the purple moon illusory realm with me right now. Everyone else, wait outside. My main body will exin things to youter," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    Though the cultivators were perplexed, they nodded and carried out his instructions.


    Xia Xingchen opened up a portal leading into the purple moon illusory realm as Yu''er, Yang Chuan, Yang Xingyan, Xia Xingchen, and Xiao Nanfeng stepped within.


    They immediately saw Shi Tianbei lying on the ground, bloodied and barely alive.


    @@novelbin@@


    Then, they looked up and saw a figure in purple robes at the summit of Mt. Kunlun.


    "The Heavenly Emperor?" Yang Chuan eximed.


    "No¡ªit''s the Yuqing Grandmaster!" Yu''er replied.


    Yu''er, having seen the Yuqing Grandmaster¡¯s projection before when she first entered the purple moon illusory realm, recognized him immediately. Despite his resemnce to Yu Fuli, this figure¡¯s demeanor was distinct.


    Xiao Nanfeng bowed. "I, Xiao Nanfeng, former Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court, master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and Emperor of Dazheng, greet the Yuqing Grandmaster. Thank you for your assistance earlier."


    "The Yuqing Grandmaster?" Yang Xingyan and Xia Xingchen murmured in shock.


    Yang Chuan also noticed the difference. Though this figure looked just like Yu Fuli, his bearing was entirely different.


    "Yuqing disciple Xia Xingchen greets the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "Yuqing disciple Yang Xingyan greets the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "Yuqing disciple Yang Chuan greets the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    "Xia Yu''er greets the Yuqing Grandmaster."


    The four cultivators bowed deeply.


    The Yuqing Grandmaster stood cold and impassive, his gaze sweeping over the gathered cultivators before settling on the near-dead Shi Tianbei.


    Shi Tianbei immediately reported, "Grandmaster, Shi Tianbei is an imposter from another sect. He murdered the previous hierarch and stole his position, then sacrificed countless disciples in a blood ritual to steal the Yuqing yin pirs..."


    The Yuqing Grandmaster''s gaze remained emotionless, as if he were looking at a dead man.


    With a wave of his hand, a burst of purple light enveloped Shi Tianbei. His qi was forcibly extracted from his body, leaving it frail and aged.


    The purple energy coalesced into a radiant sphere, the essence of the twelve Yuqing yin pirs'' energy.


    Instead of absorbing the energy himself, the Yuqing Grandmaster turned to Yu''er. "You''ve already absorbed the first pir''s energy, haven''t you?"


    "Yes, Grandmaster. The pir you bestowed upon me has been fully integrated into my body," Yu''er replied.


    "Well done. These thirteen treasures were meant for you. Since you''ve already absorbed the most important one, you''ll be able to handle the rest."


    With another wave of his hand, he sent the purple sphere into Yu''er''s body.


    Everyone watched in astonishment as all thirteen pirs'' power merged together.


    Momentster, a chilling aura burst forth from her, spiraling outward like a tornado and freezing everything in its path. In an instant, the entire area was encased in ice, and Yu''er herself froze into an ice sculpture.


    "Yuqing Grandmaster, will Yu''er be hurt?" Xiao Nanfeng called out anxiously.


    The Yuqing Grandmaster ignored Xiao Nanfeng. "Inform all Yuqing disciples to gather here for secluded cultivation. They will guard Xia Yu''er until she finishes absorbing all the energy within her body. Before she awakens, no outsiders are to enter the purple moon illusory realm."


    He eyed Xiao Nanfeng, as if pointing out that he was an outsider himself.


    "Understood!" Xia Xingchen, Yang Chuan, and Yang Xingyan chorused.


    His response also made it clear that Yu''er was alright, that she was simply in the process of absorbing all the energy from the Yuqing yin pirs.


    "I will leave the purple moon illusory realm at once, Grandmaster." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply.


    The Yuqing Grandmaster eyed everyone again, then headed deep into Mt. Kunlun and vanished from sight.


    Only then did the gathered cultivators feel the pressure surrounding them slowly fade away.

 Chapter 929: 90,000 Years of Fortune

    <h4>Chapter 929: 90,000 Years of Fortune</h4>


    Cold air emanated from Yu''er as an immense quantity of spiritual energy surged toward her from all directions. All the yin energy flowed into her body while the yang energy encircled the area, as if she were a massive formation for gathering spiritual aether.


    Xiao Nanfeng approached and called out to Yu''er for some time, but she remained motionless. If not for her powerful aura, he might have forcibly broken through the ice encasing her.


    "Don''t worry, Nanfeng," Yang Xingyan reassured him. "We''ll protect Yu''er. She''ll be fine."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. At present, the Yuqing holynd was being led by a coalition of its most powerful figures: Yang Xingyan, Xia Xingchen, Yang Chuan, and the three remaining Mountain Lords. The Yuqing Grandmaster had retreated into meditation atop Mt. Kunlun.


    With these three cultivators guarding Yu''er, her safety was all but assured.


    "Very well. When you recall the Yuqing disciples, please leave some with avatars in the outside world to keep me informed if anything happens," Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "Understood!" Everyone nodded.


    Xiao Nanfeng approached the frozen Yu''er one final time and whispered a few words to her, though whether or not she could hear him remained to be seen.


    As for Shi Tianbei, he was moments from death. Yang Xingyan showed no mercy, tormenting him for some time before finally ending his life.


    Unfortunately, Shi Tianbei''s storage treasure had been taken by the Void Saint, leaving them with nothing of value.


    Yang Xingyan and Xia Xingchen remained behind to protect Yu''er, while Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan left the purple moon illusory realm.


    As soon as they emerged, a group of white-robed individuals surrounded them¡ªXiao Nanfeng''s trusted subordinates, who had been informed of everything via his avatar.


    Two of the white-robed individuals unhooded themselves and revealed their faces. The Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin nced at Xiao Nanfeng in worry.


    "Don''t worry. The danger has passed. There''s no need to waste your charms of heavenlyw on the region," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.


    "Who cares about the charms? Don''t you know what danger you were in? You should have told me about all this in advance!" the Divine Emperor chided, her tone a mixture of reproach and deep concern.


    Xiao Nanfeng took her hand and smiled. "It''s fine now. The immediate danger has passed. The situation was urgent, so I couldn''t inform you beforehand."


    Only then did the Divine Emperor rx and nod in relief.


    "You should return for now. I''lle to you in a few days'' time," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Alright," the Divine Emperor replied gently. She nced at him with lingering concern, then at Liu Miaoyin, before vanishing into the fog.


    Liu Miaoyin smiled. "We really were fortunate."


    "Truly. The Yuqing Grandmaster''s appearance was a great help," Xiao Nanfeng agreed. "I''m sorry for bothering you so. Dazheng has encountered cmity after cmitytely, it seems."


    Liu Miaoyin shook her head and smiled warmly. "It''s nothing. You must have lots of work to do, so I won''t keep you. I''ll head back now."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well."


    Liu Miaoyin turned and flew toward Dajing''s capital, while Xiao Nanfeng gathered his subordinates and returned to Yongding with them.


    Back in Dachi''s capital, the Void Saint, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan had returned. They gathered in a grand hall.


    "I can''t shake the feeling that something''s off. Think it over¡ªwhat seemed strange today?" the Void Saint asked.


    @@novelbin@@


    Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan furrowed their brows in thought.


    "Could the Heavenly Emperor have been a fake?" Su Qingchan ventured.


    "Do you think I''m blind? How could he have been a fake? Neither could his heart sword," the Void Saint replied, shaking his head.


    "Was that really Yu Fuli? Why didn''t he pursue us?" Su Qingchan frowned.


    Su Tianxin spected, "Perhaps it was because you had Xiao Nanfeng as a hostage, Saint."


    The Void Saint shook his head. "No. If the Heavenly Emperor had wanted to kill me, he wouldn''t have hesitated regardless of what I did."


    "Maybe it''s as Xiao Nanfeng said¡ªhe was in a weakened state and didn''t have the strength to finish you off," Su Qingchan suggested.


    The Void Saint nodded seriously. "That must be it."


    He reflected on his earlier panic and concluded that the Heavenly Emperor had to have been severely weakened. Even so, if he were given the chance to redo the encounter, he would still have fled without hesitation.


    "Enough. I''ll continue investigating matters rted to the Heavenly Emperor. For now, I''ve acquired two bronzepasses. I need to uncover Tang''s secret as soon as possible," the Void Saint said.


    "Saint, I would be happy to assist you with the bronzepasses," Su Tianxin volunteered.


    The Void Saint frowned. "Qingchan also understands formations. She can attune to thepasses easily as well."


    Su Tianxin frowned and shot a re at his daughter.


    "Saint, my father''s expertise in formations far surpasses mine. The results will be better if he attunes to the bronzepasses."


    Su Tianxin exhaled and turned toward the Void Saint expectantly.


    "Why are you both acting like this? I''m only lending you the bronzepasses temporarily. It doesn''t matter which of you attunes to the bronzepasses. You can do it if you want, Su Tianxin."


    Su Tianxin''s heart sank. He didn''t want to have to attune to the bronzepasses just to return themter.


    "Saint, my daughter and I actually have about the same level of skill. Why not have each of us refine one? It''ll be faster," Su Tianxin quickly suggested.


    He reasoned that, since Su Qingchan was the Void Saint''s lover, the saint might not reim herpasster.


    Su Qingchan naturally guessed her father''s intent. She bit her lip and kept her head down without objecting.


    "Fine. Do it quickly," the Void Saint said impatiently.


    "Very well!"


    The Void Saint handed over the two bronzepasses, and the two cultivators began attuning to them immediately. Meanwhile, he left with Tang.


    After all, Yu Fuli''s revival remained a terrifying threat to him. Wary of exposing his whereabouts, he decided toy low for a while Within the pce at Yongding, in a grand hall, Xiao Nanfeng opened a portal to the purple moon illusory realm once more.


    "Senior Aunt, Seniors, please travel safely," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Yu''er''s three mothers nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Don''t worry. If anything happens with Yu''er, I''ll ensure you''re informed," Han Bingdie promised.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Apanied by their guards, the three women entered the purple moon illusory realm. Xiao Nanfeng sealed the portal and turned to Blue Lantern.


    "Blue Lantern, attune to this third bronzepass as quickly as you can."


    Blue Lantern epted thepass, a grateful expression on his face. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Given the impending battle, the number of bronzepasses in my possession may decide the oue of my sh against Su Tianxin and Su Qingchen. I also have a gift for you, Your Majesty."


    "Hm?"


    "Within these bronzepasses is sealed a void formation that holds vast fortune, umted from 90,000 years ago. In principle, all eight bronzepasses are required to unlock it, but my unique constitution allows me to extract it with just three," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Vast fortune from 90,000 years ago?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. The founder of the sect sacrificed everything to acquire the bronzepasses from the world away, but managed to amass vast reserves of fortune between the sacrifice and the subsequent descent of the heavens. I don''t know just how much fortune there is, but the records of my sect state that this fortune was sealed in thepasses for future generations to draw upon."


    "How do you know that three bronzepasses will be sufficient?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "Years ago, before being expelled from my sect, I had the opportunity to attempt it once by chance and seeded. I''ve told no one until now."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I will await the fortune."


    He did desperately need a reserve of fortune at the moment.


    "At once, Your Majesty. I will inform you when I''ve attuned to the third bronzepass."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Go."


    Then, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar remained in Yongding to oversee affairs, while his main body traveled to Shenfeng''s capital so he could spend some time with the Divine Emperor.


    Half a monthter, within a grand hall, Blue Lantern had since attuned to the third bronzepass. He suspended all threepasses in mid-air, releasing a flood of blue light with a single gesture. The next moment, his body began to tremble and transform into five blue runes. The five runes and threepasses formed a cohesive whole, which hummed and expanded until it was ten times its original size. A burst of golden light shot up from the heart of thepass.


    "All this fortune is to be bestowed upon the emperor of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng," Blue Lanternmanded.


    A torrent of fortune surged forth and rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, who absorbed it with his divine seal.


    Vast torrents of fortune shot into the Divine Seal of Dazheng, causing Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes to light up in wonder. It was so vast that it exceeded the quantity stockpiled in the Imperial Court''s treasury years ago.


    The transfer of fortunested half a day. By then, the Divine Seal of Dazheng was emitting a radiant golden light. It was dazzling beyond measure.


    Meanwhile, the enormouspass vibrated before reverting to its original form: three smaller bronzepasses and Blue Lantern''s physical body. Blue Lantern retrieved thepasses, then smiled. "I have fulfilled my task, Your Majesty."


    "What an incredible supply of fortune," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. "Blue Lantern, I can''t thank you enough."


    "There''s no need to thank me, Your Majesty."


    "No, I truly appreciate it. This fortune will enable a significant breakthrough on my part," Xiao Nanfeng said earnestly.


    "Then I wish you a swift and sessful breakthrough, Your Majesty." Blue Lantern bowed and retreated from the hall.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    After Blue Lantern departed, Xiao Nanfeng adjusted the formation within the hall, ensuring that it was secure. Then, he sat cross-legged in meditation, preparing to absorb and utilize the massive influx of fortune.

 Chapter 930: Realm of the Nine Heavens

    <h4>Chapter 930: Realm of the Nine Heavens</h4>


    Fortune yed a multifaceted role in cultivation. One of its primary functions was to cleanse karmic consequence, grant mental rity, and facilitate breakthroughs in bottlenecks.


    Ordinary cultivators who cultivated Body of Yin might need a significant sum of fortune to advance, but certainly not as much as Xiao Nanfeng did.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s cultivation of the Body of Yin was rooted in the countless star maps on the Dazheng Code of Laws. In order to advance, he would need to decode all those star maps to an adequate level, requiring amensurate expense of karmic consequence.


    Before long, he had absorbed a quantity of fortuneparable to that possessed by a regr divine empire, but had cleared away only a sliver of karmic consequence.


    More and more fortune gushed into his body. By then, he had switched to his yin body.


    The hall was tightly sealed. A blizzard formed around him, and his spiritual moon floated into the air. A deific domain unfolded, turning the hall into a unique, isted space.


    He sat like that for an entire day. Slowly, not far away from his spiritual moon, nine stars formed, each in a different color. The moment they appeared, his entire deific domain shuddered as nine-colored energy suffused it.


    Even the Superior was taken aback.


    "Just what are you cultivating? This isn''t like my Body of Yin!" the Superior eximed.


    "Senior, you should know better than anyone what I''m cultivating," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The nine stars continued to shine. More stars began to emerge around them. These new stars slowly revolved around the nine core stars in a deliberate, rhythmic motion imbued with a mysterious cadence.


    "Your Heavenly Dao Scroll...? You''re using the star maps on your scroll as a foundation for thews in your Deific Yin realm?" the Superior eximed.


    "Indeed," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "That''s impossible! The star charts on your Heavenly Dao Scroll merely record celestial and terrestrialws of antiquity. They cannot be fully replicated, or cultivators in antiquity would already have seeded!"


    "How will I know that I can''t seed unless I give it a try?" Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    "No! You¡¯re mistaken! Many extraordinary geniuses have attempted this throughout history, but all have failed. The star charts on the Heavenly Dao Scroll are divided into nine ster regions. While you may possess theplete charts for all nine regions, others have also acquired fragments of these star charts.


    "In the past, those who attempted to use these ster regions as the foundation for their deific domains, only to discover that it was impossible. Your truesoul will reject these foreignws. Forcing the integration of an entire ster region shatters not only the deific domain but also the soul itself.


    ¡°Even I, with my unparalleled power and the unique properties of the Body of Yin, barely seeded in fusing one ster region to forge my realm of superior ughter. The cost and agony of integrating even one ster region was beyond imagination.


    "And you¡ªyou''re trying to incorporate all nine ster regions into your divine domain!


    Can''t you feel the agony searing through your soul? Don''t you sense your primordial spirit tearing apart? You really are courting death!" the Superior eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng: ...


    In truth, he felt no pain at all. The process was undoubtedly taxing, but his soul felt surprisinglyfortable.


    Even so, there was no reason for the Superior to lie. Perhaps the difference was that his soul came from Earth.


    "Lad, if you don''t want to die, you had better stop now," the Superior warned.


    "If you can seed, can''t I? I''d like to give it a try. I don''t mind the pain," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    "You''re a fool!" the Superior shouted.


    Perhaps he was truly worried for Xiao Nanfeng''s safety, or simply wanted to have a vessel around to hide in. Regardless, his stance was clear.


    "Senior, I am grateful for your concern and suggestions, but my cultivation is my own. I intend to follow my own path," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    The Superior fell silent for a long moment before finally saying, "Fine! Do as you please. Die if you want!"


    Xiao Nanfeng continued to cultivate.


    The starry sky above his deific domain shimmered with increasing brilliance. Nine stars, then ny, then nine hundred, nine thousand, ny thousand, nine hundred thousand¡ªmore and more stars emerged, filling the deific domain.


    "You really are going to die!" the Superior hissed.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He drew more and more fortune into his body as he cleared his karmic consequence. He seemed to have entered a deeper state of meditation.


    Spiritual aether whirled around the hall, sucked into his ster domain and spiritual moon.


    In the hall, starlight and moonlight intertwined. Radiant beams from his spiritual moon enveloped his True Yin body, wrapping him in a cocoon of power.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, dazzling white light suddenly burst from Xiao Nanfeng''s True Yin body. A majestic aura erupted from him.


    His deific domain expanded, radiating ten-colored light¡ªsilver-white from his spiritual moon, and nine other colors from his nine core stars. The hall and its surroundings seemed to dissolve into an ethereal void, leaving only Xiao Nanfeng, his spiritual moon, and the nine ster regions.


    "A Deific Yin space... Did you reach the Deific Yin realm?!" the Superior eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng remained silent, focusing instead on the sea of stars within him.


    The myriad stars shone brilliantly for a moment before some of them dimmed and disappeared.


    @@novelbin@@


    "You''re deleting stars and simplifying the nine ster regions? It makes sense. You can''t handle all thatplexity. By simplifying them, you leave them more manageable¡ªthough deleting them haphazardly like what you''re doing will decrease your overall strength."


    Xiao Nanfneg ignored the Superior''smentary. He wasn''t deleting stars but rather concealing some of them, turning them into dark stars that were hidden from sight but remained present in the heavens.


    "What will you call this Deific Yin space?" the Superior asked.


    "The Realm of the Nine Heavens," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Nine Heavens? Ha! How arrogant. You dare im such a grand name with your iplete and disorganized ster regions?" the Superior mocked.


    "Senior, you seem particrly talkative today," Xiao Nanfeng said pointedly.


    The Superior: ...


    He had been in turn shocked, envious, and disappointed by Xiao Nanfeng''s audacity, causing him to let loose for a moment.


    He calmed down and spoke no more.


    Xiao Nanfeng exhaled deeply, a lingering sense of unease in his heart. He had drained all the fortune that Blue Lantern had gifted him to achieve this breakthrough¡ªthe entire sum of fortune that the world had generated 90,000 years ago. Even so, all that fortune had only gotten him through one major bottleneck.


    His Realm of the Nine Heavens might have countless stars, but the majority remained weak. They would require extensive nurturing to reach their full potential.


    Still, he was confident that its foundation was unparalleled in the world. Even the Superior''s realm had only incorporated a single ster region. His epassed all nine.


    Xiao Nanfeng didn''t leave seclusion. He continued meditating and delving deeper into the mysteries of his newly formed deific domain.


    Though he had managed to incorporate all the stars of the nine ster domains into his Deific Yin realm, that didn''t mean he yet understood all the heavenly and naturalws they pertained to in full. There was plenty of work that still had to be done.


    Now that the Realm of the Nine Heavens was fully incorporated into his body, however, he was able to contemte the star charts more deeply.


    He continued to meditate, ignoring what was happening in the world atrge.


    A month and a halfter, the world had changed greatly. Dazheng''s army won victory after victory; Dachi''s leech-exterminating army suffered defeat after defeat.


    By this point, the majority of the three hundred of Dayin''s Immortal cities had been imed by Dazheng.


    This decisive victory demonstrated Dazheng''s overwhelming might, leaving countless onlookers in awe.


    In Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng''s avatar continued to govern the empire. There were frequent civil exams attracting disciples from countless holynds and Immortal sects into Dazheng, causing Yongding to bustle with vitality.


    Meanwhile, Dachi''s capital was shrouded in gloom. A string of defeats had left its officials deeply troubled.


    In Dachi''s imperial pce, the Void Saint was examining Tang''s body once more. He was coborating with Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan to investigate the mysterious entity associated with Tang.


    The Void Saint unleashed the power of his heavenlyws, while Su Tianxin activated three bronzepasses and Su Qingchan two. Together, they cast spells on Tang, causing his body to glow.


    "It hurts! Saint, please have mercy!" Tang cried out, his body contorting in pain.


    After a while, the trio ceased their efforts.


    Tang copsed to the floor in relief, shuddering and not daring to speak.


    "Can''t you identify the cursed effigy associated with Tang?" the Void Saint demanded.


    The more the cursed effigy resisted identification, the stronger the Void Saint felt that it had to be.


    "We can''t," Su Tianxin admitted, shaking his head.


    "Yourpasses are worthless," the Void Saint criticized.


    "No, Saint. If we had all eight bronzepasses, we would surely be able to identify the entity. But we''re still missing three," Su Tianxin replied.


    The Void Saint narrowed his eyes. "And what do you mean by that? Do you intend to suggest that I should target Xiao Nanfeng again to retrieve them?"

 Chapter 933: Xiao Nanfengs Relentless Advance

    <h4>Chapter 933: Xiao Nanfeng''s Relentless Advance</h4>


    The Void Saint''s departure caused Su Tianxin to grow more and more anxious.


    "Saint, weren''t you nning to use all the bronzepasses to trace the cursed effigy associated with Tang? Without thepasses, your ns..." Su Tianxin quickly tried to dissuade him.


    "There''s no need. I''ll find another way," the Void Saint coldly interrupted Su Tianxin''s plea.


    Su Tianxin turned to Su Qingchan, urging her to persuade the Void Saint to stay.


    Su Qingchan stepped forward in a hurry. "Saint, could you take me with you?"


    The Void Saint raised an eyebrow at Su Qingchan.


    "Saint, if you leave, my father and I will surely fall prey to Xiao Nanfeng''s schemes. Please grant me the chance to serve you," Su Qingchan said, her face filled with hopeful sincerity.


    The Void Saint had no intention of taking Su Qingchan along. To him, she was merely a ything, a burden he had no desire to carry¡ªespecially one that might draw Yu Fuli''s attention.


    "You might not lose. Stay here," the Void Saint refused them decisively.


    "In that case, could you at least grant me something for protection in light of my service to you, Saint? I won''t ask for much¡ªperhaps the two pure yang pirs you obtained from Shi Tianbei?" Su Qingchan requested, kneeling.


    The Void Saint considered her request briefly before nodding. "Very well. Use them wisely."


    With a wave of his hand, the Void Saint retrieved the two pure yang pirs and handed them to Su Qingchan.


    "Thank you, Saint!" Su Qingchan eximed.


    The Void Saint flicked his sleeves, enveloping Tang in his aura as he vanished from the hall.


    Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan were left alone.


    Su Tianxin''s expression darkened as he stared at the vacated space. He had hoped to persuade the void Saint to intervene against Xiao Nanfeng, but that would clearly be impossible.


    "Why didn''t you ask for stronger treasures? Why settle for these pure yang pirs?" Su Tianxin scolded his daughter.


    "Father, as you saw, the Void Saint didn''t even want to take me along with him. He wants to steer clear from our feud with Xiao Nanfeng. Even if I asked for stronger treasures, he wouldn''t have given them to me. That''s why I chose the pure yang pirs. They might seem insignificant to him, but they''re enough for us to set up formations. In our hands, their utility might surpass that of more powerful artifacts," Su Qingchan exined.


    Su Tianxin suppressed his anger and examined the pure yang pirs, only for his expression to darken. "The pure yang energy remaining in these pirs is minimal."


    "There isn''t much, but they should suffice for our formations."


    Su Tianxin reluctantly nodded.


    In the imperial study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng sat at his desk, listening to a report from a spectral guard.


    "Your Majesty, this is what Marquis Tang reported," the spectral guard concluded.


    "Tell him to prioritize his safety. If his life is in danger, have him contact me. I will do my best to rescue him."


    "Understood!" the spectral guard replied.


    "Dismissed."


    The spectral guard bowed and retreated from the study.


    Only then did Xiao Nanfeng learn that the specter that had barged into his Deific Yin realm was the Void Saint.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Summon Mr. Wen," Xiao Nanfeng called out.


    "Understood!" came a respectful reply from outside the study.


    Wen Zhong quickly entered.


    "Your Majesty, I heard that an intruder broke into your chambers earlier. Was it the Void Saint?" Wen Zhong asked solemnly.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Indeed."


    Wen Zhong''s eyes lit up. "Were you able to deter him, Your Majesty?"


    "I''ve frightened him off. He won''t appear again during our campaign against Su Tianxin. He''s gone into hiding," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    "Wonderful!" Wen Zhong''s eyes lit up.


    "However, we have to remain vignt. Though the Void Saint has retreated like a cornered rat, he hasn''t given up entirely. He''s surely watching our war closely. If anything goes awry, he''ll likelye back to attack us," Xiao Nanfeng warned.


    "Rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as the Void Saint refrains from interfering in our war, Dazhi will be doomed," Wen Zhong said confidently.


    "Speed up the campaign against Dachi. The longer we dy, the more likely it is that the Void Saint will reappear," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. Su Tianxin''s downfall is inevitable¡ªnot because of ack of military strength, but because of morality. The fact that he''s being considered an aplice to the heavens is enough to ensure his destruction."


    "Then we''ll proceed as nned."


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied.


    Dayster, in the imperial study at Dazhi''s capital, a group of officials reported to Su Tianxin about the frontline.


    "Dazheng''s army¡ªthey''re continuing to push forward with all their might?" Su Tianxin frowned.


    "Yes, Your Majesty. They''ve reimed all the Immortal cities we''ve seized from Dayin, and are now invading our core territory. They have Golden Immortal generals, and asionally deploy Boundless Immortal zombie kings to the frontlines. We''re struggling to maintain our defenses," the official continued, his tone grave.


    "And are there no Boundless Immortals deployed in my leech-exterminating army?" Su Tianxin demanded.


    "When our Boundless Immortals appear, so does theirmander, Ye Sanshui. He''s a mid-stage Boundless Immortal whom we''ve fought three times already. We still haven''t managed to defeat him," the official admitted.


    Su Tianxin''s frown deepened.


    At that moment, another official rushed into the study, visibly flustered.


    "Immortal Emperor, Xiao Nanfeng has issued an announcement!"


    "An announcement? Read it," Su Tianxin ordered.


    The official hesitated, ncing nervously at the others in the room. He was clearly reluctant to read it aloud.


    "Read it!" Su Tianxin demanded.


    Since it was a public announcement, there was no point in keeping it a secret. The other officials would inevitably hear about it from other sources anyway.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the official stammered, then began to read.


    To the citizens of Dachi: On this day, Dazheng''s army has officially entered Dachi''s borders.


    I understand that war brings suffering in victory and in defeat alike. Themon people are those who bear the brunt of the suffering. Though I hold a personal grudge against Su Tianxin, I do not wish for all of you to suffer needlessly.


    However, I cannot stop this war, for within Dachi lies a monstrous evil¡ªSu Tianxin.


    Were he merely an Immortal Emperor protecting his people, I would respect his title and settle our grievances privately. But he is no guardian of his people. Su Tianxin is ackey of the saints, of the heavens'' underlings.


    I provide two pieces of evidence for my im. First, over two months ago, the Void Saint personally visited Dachi''s capital. Su Tianxin and his daughter received him as an honored guest. I personally witnessed this when I infiltrated the capital, and many others must have seen it too.


    Second, the saint granted Su Tianxin and his daughter protection tokens against the cmity of the heavens. Those who hold such tokens are surely servants of the heavens, who will be spared from destruction when cmity descends. I seized one such token from Su Qingchan''s avatar. I can present it to the world to expose Su Tianxin''s crimes.


    The Heavenly Emperor sacrificed his life to fight the heavens for the sake of all life.


    How can we, the people, allow ourselves to coexist with the saints'' underlings?


    The people of Dachi are being raised as livestock for the heavens, with Su Tianxin and his daughter as their caretakers.


    Su Tianxin, monstrous evil that he is, is unworthy of the title of emperor.


    For the people of Dazhi and for the good of the world, I, Emperor of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng, will stop at nothing to destroy this monstrous tyrant.


    I urge the people of Dachi to see Su Tianxin''s true colors and join me in eradicating the servants of the heavens, the enemies of all life in the world.


    Signed, Xiao Nanfeng, Emperor of Dazheng.


    The official finished reading the announcement. A heavy silence descended.


    The gathered officials looked toward Su Tianxin with mixed expressions. Some were filled with doubt, and others with fear. While some dismissed Xiao Nanfeng''s ims as nder, others believed them. Their hearts sank with unease.


    Su Tianxin''s face twisted with shock and anger. Xiao Nanfeng had upended the board,ying bare truths that no one dared to speak. Was he mad?


    "Father, Xiao Nanfeng is ndering us. We have to act swiftly to prevent these rumors from spreading," Su Qingchan urged.


    "Indeed, Your Majesty! We must counter this vile propaganda!" the officials echoed, moring for action.


    "We believe that you are innocent, Your Majesty. Xiao Nanfeng is attempting to lead the people of Dachi astray!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng is despicable. Your Majesty, we have to do something against him immediately."


    As the officials argued for action, Su Tianxin nodded grimly. "See to it that all officials are mobilized to suppress these rumors and reassure our citizens and troops. We cannot let Xiao Nanfeng¡¯s lies take root.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± an official replied, swiftly leaving to carry out his orders.


    Su Tianxin issued further instructions to the other officials, who quickly got to work.


    When the study was emptied, Su Tianxin was finally able to drop his facade.


    "How dare Xiao Nanfeng expose all this to the public? And he''s even insulting the saints and their tokens of protection. Is he insane? Doesn''t he fear any reprisal?" Su Tianxin muttered in disbelief.


    "He doesn''t, Father," Su Qingchan replied.


    "What?"


    "Have you forgotten? The Void Saint has withdrawn from our conflict."


    Su Tianxin''s eyes widened in realization. "You mean that Xiao Nanfeng intentionally scared off the Void Saint so that he could reveal the truth?"


    Su Qingchan nodded. "By driving away the Void Saint, Xiao Nanfeng created an opportunity to expose these secrets¡ªtruths that no one dared to speak of before."


    ¡°Even if the Void Saint is deterred by rumors of Yu Fuli¡¯s resurrection, what about the other saints? Doesn¡¯t he fear their retaliation?¡± Su Tianxin asked, his voice tinged with desperation.


    ¡°The other saints won¡¯t intervene,¡± Su Qingchan said, shaking her head.


    Su Tianxin¡¯s face grew grim. ¡°You¡¯re right. The other saints care even less about us and would rather avoid provoking Yu Fuli¡¯s wrath, especially if he really has revived. Xiao Nanfeng knew this too.¡±


    ¡°Father, we can''t suppress this announcement. We must act quickly. Only by defeating Xiao Nanfeng can we neutralize its impact,¡± Su Qingchan said.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already reached out to other Immortal Emperors and sect leaders for aid. But after this announcement, they may not dare help us. What can we do now?¡± Su Tianxin asked, his frustration mounting.


    ¡°If we can¡¯t rely on outsiders, we must handle this ourselves. Father, we should use that formation,¡± Su Qingchan suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s our trump card. We can¡¯t use it lightly,¡± Su Tianxin protested.


    "Xiao Nanfeng has forced our hand. If not now, then when?"


    After a moment of silence, Su Tianxin frowned and nodded. "That formation it is."

 Chapter 935: Mirror Images

    <h4>Chapter 935: Mirror Images</h4>


    Within the clouds, Xiao Nanfeng and a group of his subordinates flew toward the Immortal city of Tianyue.


    Blue Lantern, who was apanying him, frowned. "Your Majesty, Su Tianxin himself made a move against Ye Sanshui. My junior disciples wouldn''t have been able to stop him."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Worry not. Su Tianxin''s trying to get back at me for my promation. I''m not ming Blue Jade and the others. What you need to focus on is how to break their grand formation."


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    Before long, they reached the peak of a mountain overlooking Tianyue.


    From a distance, the massive city was enveloped in thick white fog.


    "What''s the situation inside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked one of his subordinates.


    "Everyone is trapped in the formation, and no one can escape. The interior of the formation is foggy. Anyone from Tianyue who steps outside its borders is attacked and killed by shadowy figures in the fog," the subordinate reported.


    "What about Ye Sanshui?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Commander Ye is outside the city and being chased by a group of shadowy figures. The military formations masters have advised him to stay away from Tianyue."


    "Just what sort of shadowy figures are these? How can they take on Ye Sanshui?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    "I don''t know, but they''re extremely powerful. There are many of them, each as strong as Commander Ye."


    "Impossible! Ye Sanshui is a mid-stage Boundless Immortal. If Su Tianxin had so many fighters at that level, he wouldn''t need to employ such tricks," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    "Your Majesty, it looks like Blue Jade''s hypothesis was right. This formation is the Formation of the Mirrored Heart."


    "The Formation of the Mirrored Heart?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "These shadowy figures that Ye Sanshui has encountered aren''t real. They must be mirror images."


    "Mirror images?"


    "The Formation of the Mirrored Heart observes all targets within it and projects duplicates of them¡ªmirror images¡ªwho replicate the target''s techniques and power. They''re identical to the original and will relentlessly pursue them until the target is killed. Blue Jade told Ye Sanshui to avoid Tianyue because his mirror images are too strong. If he enters the city, the ensuing battle will inevitably harm countless civilians," Blue Lantern exined.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Mirror images as strong as Ye Sanshui? Can''t he handle it?"


    "Perhaps he might be able to deal with one, but what if there are an army of such mirror images? Ye Sanshui won''t be able tost long," Blue Lantern warned.


    "How can such a formation exist? Just how much energy must it consume?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "Your Majesty, do you remember when I used three bronzepasses to retrieve the fortune stored from 90,000 years ago?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "Hm?"


    "My sect''s founder was a peerless genius who created many such realms to store special resources. The fortune from 90,000 years ago was stored in one such space, essible only with eight bronzepasses. I could open it with three because of my unique constitution. Another such space, requiring five bronzepasses, holds vast amounts of heart force, which Su Tianxin is now using to fuel the Formation of the Mirrored Heart."


    "Heart force?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. He''s depleting those vast reserves to maintain this formation."


    "How do we break it?"


    "There are three approaches: exhaust all the heart force, kill the formations master, or seize control of the formation."


    "Can''t we take down the formation from the outside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "We can''t. The Formation of the Mirrored Heart is different from ordinary formations. It''s far more insidious."


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned and pondered the situation.


    At that moment, a booming voice echoed from within the dense mist. "Xiao Nanfeng? Are you here?"


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression grew serious.


    "I know you''vee. Xiao Nanfeng, I''ll give you a chance to enter and face me directly. If you don''t, everyone inside this formation will die!" Su Tianxin roared, his voice shaking the heavens.


    The next moment, the agonized screams of the people of Tianyue filled the air.


    "Your Majesty, save us!"


    "Please, Your Majesty, don''t let us die!"


    "Don''t kill me! No!"


    "Do you hear them?" Su Tianxin''sughter reverberated through the mist. "Your people are begging for your help. Will you just stand by and watch them die? Haha!"


    Just then, Ye Sanshui roared, "Don''te in, Your Majesty! This is a trap! Su Tianxin is using us to lure you in and kill you. Don''t fall for it!"


    "Save us, Your Majesty!" the citizens cried out in terror.


    While most pleaded for help, a few voices urged Xiao Nanfeng to stay put and prioritize his own safety.


    Outside, the officials apanying Xiao Nanfeng grew rmed.


    "How vile Su Tianxin is! He''s using the people''s lives to ckmail His Majesty."


    "Your Majesty, Tianyue was only recently conquered. Its citizens are not yet truly loyal to our empire. There''s no need to risk yourself for them."


    "Your Majesty, this is clearly a trap. You can''t let Su Tianxin manipte you!"


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Blue Lantern. "Can you seize control of the formation?"


    Blue Lantern frowned. "It''ll be difficult. Su Tianxin is no weaker with formations than I am, and he has five bronzepasses. I will at least be able to defend myself, but seizing the formation¡ªI can''t imagine having more than a one-in-a-hundred chance at sess."


    "That''s good enough. I''ll enter with you. I''ll distract Su Tianxin while you focus on taking control of the formation. If things go badly, I''ll extract us both with my candleme powers," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "I understand." Blue Lantern nodded.


    "Your Majesty, you mustn''t!" the officials protested in rm.


    "Enough. Focus on guarding yourselves," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.


    Then, he grabbed Blue Lantern and headed deep into the fog.


    Within the Immortal city of Tianyue, with a deafening crash, the city''s defensive formation was shattered.


    Countless shadowy figures stormed into the city.


    Screams of terror echoed as soldiers and civilians alike fell victim to their mirror images, who mercilessly ughtered everyone in their way.


    "Hold the line! Dazheng will send reinforcements!" a city guard shouted.


    "Reinforcements? Our city was just conquered. Why would they care about us?"


    "We''re done for! These shadowy figures fight just like ourmander. Who''ll be able to stop them?!"


    "Su Tianxin, I curse you!"


    Cries of anguish filled the air.


    Su Tianxin smirked coldly from the depths of the fog. "This formation exists only to lure Xiao Nanfeng in. If you want to live, beg him toe save you."


    "Su Tianxin, you bastard! We were once citizens of Dachi. How can you massacre us like this? Don''t you fear the reckoning of the world?!" someone shouted.


    Su Tianxin sneered. "You are no longer my people. You belong to Dazheng now. I am merely killing Dazheng''s citizens. Who would condemn me for that? If you want to live, call for your emperor to save you."


    "You vile scoundrel!" the people cursed.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Don''t you think that you should be cursing Xiao Nanfeng instead? He''s the one who''s refusing toe in and save all of you."


    Su Tianxin was unfazed by their curses. To him, these people were nothing more than bait for Xiao Nanfeng.


    Of course, even if Xiao Nanfeng didn''t take the bait, this was still a win for Su Tianxin. After all, Ye Sanshui was trapped in the formation too.


    Afar, Ye Sanshui was forced back by a group of his mirror images. He continued to flee.


    If Ye Sanshui were to fall, Dazheng''s army would lose itsmander, and morale would fall sharply. It would be trivial for him to send this formation to Yongding next.


    "Su Tianxin, I am here. Dispel these mirror images," Xiao Nanfeng proimed.


    Everyone turned to see Xiao Nanfeng emerging from the fog, glowing with golden light.


    "His Majesty is here to save us!"


    "Kill Su Tianxin, that demon!"


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!"


    The people of Tianyue cheered, their despair giving way to hope.


    Many were certain that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn''t risk himself; this was clearly a targeted trap.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s arrival filled them with gratitude. It was clear that he was willing to put his own life on the line to rescue them.


    "Guards of Tianyue, activate the city''s defensive formations fully! Guard against the mirror images and protect the people. I will take control of the battlefield beyond the city," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the guards of Tianyue chorused.


    "Cultivators of Tianyue, assist the guards to the best of your ability. Protect your family and friends. After the battle, you will all be rewarded for what you''ve done," Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the cultivators in the city shouted.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s presence inspired newfound unity and resolve. The people of Tianyue, along with the city guards, blocked the first wave of mirror images.


    Su Tianxin''s smirk deepened. He waved a hand.


    Beside Xiao Nanfeng, ck fog swirled. It manifested into a certain figure, one whom Xiao Nanfeng knew intimately¡ªhimself.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s mirror image shot toward him.

 Chapter 937: Father and Daughter at Odds

    <h4>Chapter 937: Father and Daughter at Odds</h4>


    To others, the Formation of the Mirrored Heart might have consisted of fog and mirror images, but to Blue Lantern, it was awork of countless threads that enforced naturalw.


    Blue Lantern found a secluded valley, took out his three bronzepasses, and quickly began setting up his formation.


    With a hum, a blue barrier rose up around him. Within the barrier, countless threads of naturalw interfaced with those from the Formation of the Mirrored Heart as Blue Lantern attempted to seize control of the formation.


    It was an arduous task. If not for Xiao Nanfeng diverting Su Tianxin''s attention, Blue Lantern would have been discovered long ago.


    However, Blue Lantern''s unique constitution gave him a potent boost to his formations. Before long, he had found an opening and was ready to exploit it.


    "Compasses, activate. Seize the formation," Blue Lantern murmured.


    The Formation of the Mirrored Heart trembled violently as countless beams of blue light erupted from it. Its threads of naturalw were quickly revealed and made visible even to ordinary people.


    In Tianyue, countless citizens widened their eyes in shock as they observed the world outside.


    "The entire world is wrapped in threads..."


    "Is this really a formation? Are formations really made out of all these threads...?"


    The spectacle left countless people gasping in astonishment.


    Blue Lantern''s interference with the formation caused it to falter. Nearby, the mirror images attacking Ye Sanshui disintegrated into ck fog and retreated into the mirror.


    "Ahem!"


    Ye Sanshui wheezed and coughed as the mirror images pursuing him vanished. He was severely wounded and spitting out blood.


    Meanwhile, Su Tianxin turned his attention to the disturbance. He roared, "Blue Lantern, you dare try to sabotage my formation?!"


    Blue Lantern called back, "Su Tianxin, let''s see how you fare against my formation."


    Enraged, Su Tianxin was just about to attack when Ye Sanshui intercepted him despite his injuries. He was determined to rescue Xiao Nanfeng, who was trapped in the mirror, and buy Blue Lantern more time.


    "Die!" Ye Sanshui roared, charging forward.


    Su Tianxin whirled around. His expression darkened as he thundered, "Die, you bastard!"


    With a single punch, Su Tianxin sent Ye Sanshui flying. The resulting explosion of energy created a violent shockwave.


    Though grievously injured, Ye Sanshui charged forward relentlessly. Su Tianxin wasn''t injured, but he was distracted by the disturbance urring within the mirror and was unable to focus on Ye Sanshui. All he could do was send him flying.


    Indefatigable, Ye Sanshui rushed forward once more.


    "Li Three, Li Four, Li Five¡ªkill Ye Sanshui!" Su Tianxin howled.


    "Understood!"


    Three Boundless Immortals flew out of the fog and struck at Ye Sanshui.


    "Die!" they shouted.


    Ye Sanshui was sent flying.


    The three cultivators were only early-stage Boundless Immortals. They were no match for Ye Sanshui under ordinary circumstances, but he was currently badly injured. The three cultivators sent him flying deep into the fog, allowing Su Tianxin to focus on Blue Lantern.


    He suppressed the mirror as he summoned three of his bronzepasses.


    "Blue Lantern, as if you''d be able to steal my Formation of the Mirrored Heart! You''re still far too weak. I''ll teach you a lesson! Thunderme!" Su Tianxin shouted.


    Blue mes of lightning shot out of the three bronzepasses, arcing along the threads of naturalw as they made their way toward Blue Lantern.


    "Galewind," Blue Lantern shouted.


    His three bronzepasses took to the air. Blue wind trailed down the threads toward the thunderme.


    The two forces shed and spawned a massive storm of fire.


    Blue Lantern stood in full view, manipting hispasses as he seized control over more of the formation.


    "Galewind, advance!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    The wind shot forward, overpowering the thunderfire and encroaching on Su Tianxin''s territory.


    "Insolent fool!" Su Tianxin shouted, intensifying the power of his thunderfire.


    Thunderfire and galewind shed, vying for dominance as they attempted to seize control over the threads of naturalw. Where the galewind prevailed, Blue Lantern was able to gain control over the formation.


    As Blue Lantern''s influence expanded, Su Tianxin scowled.


    "Impressive, Blue Lantern. The power of your unique constitution is remarkable. If I only had three bronzepasses, you may have seeded¡ªbut unfortunately for you, I have more," Su Tianxin said coldly. "Qingchan, assist me!"


    Not far away, two more bronzepasses emerged, radiating beams of blue light. Another wave of blue energy surged into the formation.


    "Bluemud, advance!" Su Qingchan shouted.


    The bluemud clumped around the threads of naturalw and made its way toward the thunderfire and galewind.


    Su Tianxin smirked, while Blue Lantern narrowed his eyes in focus, preparing for the attack toe.


    Unexpectedly, however, the bluemud didn''t attack the galewind. Rather, it moved inexorably toward the thunderfire.


    Much of the thunderfire was quickly snuffed out.


    "Qingchan, are you blind? Blue Lantern''s galewind is over there. What are you doing?!" Su Tianxin thundered.


    Su Qingchan didn''t respond. She continued to marshal the bluemud against her father''s thunderfire, causing his mes to flicker.


    "You brat, didn''t you hear me? What are you doing?! Do you want to die?" Su Tianxin shouted in panic.


    Su Qingchan didn''t respond. Neither did she show herself. All she did was continuously send her bluemud creeping forward in assistance of Blue Lantern.


    Even Blue Lantern was taken aback. He didn''t understand why Su Qingchan would help him out.


    In a blink, Su Tianxin lost much of his control over the formation. His eyes zed viciously.


    "You wretched brat, you dare betray me? Have you forgotten the consequences of defying me? I''ll kill you!" Su Tianxin shouted. He formed aplex seal with his hands. "Soul Explosion!"


    A pained scream echoed from the fog¡ªSu Qingchan''s voice.


    Blue Lantern''s eyes widened in shock. "What? You ced a Soul Explosion curse on Qingchan? She''s your daughter! How could you bind her life with a curse?"


    "That ungrateful brat¡ªyou''re just as defiant as your mother. She betrayed me, and now you''re following suit! If you want to die that badly, I''ll grant your wish!" Su Tianxin roared, his voice filled with rage.


    Su Qingchan''s agonized cries filled the air.


    "Stop!" Blue Lantern roared, his eyes reddening with anger.


    Su Tianxin relentlessly infused the curse with energy. He had no intention of stopping.


    "Compass of mud,pass of mountain, to me!" Su Tianxin shouted.


    The two bronzepasses that Su Qingchan controlled released zing blue light. They shot toward Blue Lantern, who quickly caught them.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Impossible!" Su Tianxin cried out. "I ced a binding spell on thosepasses! How can Blue Lantern control them?"


    Blue Lantern nced at the twopasses in his hand, momentarily stunned.


    From the fog came Su Qingchan''s weak voice. "Your binding spell? Ha! I erased it long ago. You''ll never reim thesepasses¡ªnor the three you currently wield. Today, you''ll pay for your sins, Su Tianxin!"


    "You unfilial child! How dare you turn against your own father?!" Su Tianxin roared.


    "Father? You''re no father of mine! What kind of father uses his daughter as a tool to seduce saints? You''re nothing but a disgusting pimp¡ªa demon in human form! Today, your reign of terror will end! Blue Lantern will take you down!" Su Qingchan''s voice, filled with hatred, echoed through the mist.


    Enraged, Su Tianxin intensified his curse.


    Explosions erupted from the mist as Su Qingchan''s cries grew fainter.


    With Su Qingchan''s two bronzepasses, Blue Lantern gained an overwhelming advantage.


    "Compasses, merge with thepass of wind! Galewind, destroy him!" Blue Lantern shouted.


    The galewind surged with newfound strength, sweeping away the remaining thunderfire as it hurtled toward Su Tianxin.


    "No!" Su Tianxin screamed.


    Over four-fifths of the Formation of the Mirrored Heart was now under Blue Lantern''s control, leaving Su Tianxin with no hope of victory.


    "Kill Blue Lantern!" Su Tianxinmanded his subordinates. "Forget Ye Sanshui¡ªkill Blue Lantern!"


    "Understood!" His three Boundless Immortals subordinates abandoned Ye Sanshui as they rushed toward Blue Lantern.


    "You''re not getting away!" Ye Sanshui shouted, blocking their path with all his might.


    Meanwhile, Blue Lantern continued to use his galewind to weaken Su Tianxin further, obliterating his defenses. His three bronzepasses were sent flying. They spun toward Blue Lantern.


    "My bronzepasses! Those are mine. Return them to me!" Su Tianxin roared.


    He tried to retrieve them, only for a gust of galewind to st him back.


    His three bronzepasses, in conjunction with Su Qingchan''s two, flew toward Blue Lantern and orbited him. Blue Lantern quickly attuned to them.


    Blue Lantern''s unique constitution allowed him to attune to the bronzepasses rapidly once they were in his possession. The eight bronzepasses radiated blue light as they surrounded him.


    Hovering in mid-air, Su Tianxin''s face twisted with fury. "Ungrateful brat! I understand everything now. You nned to betray me from the very beginning. You sought out the Void Saint just to ensure that I couldn''t control thepasses you obtained. Even the five pure yang pirs in the cursed mirror¡ªyou must have tampered with them! That''s why I received bacsh from the mirror earlier. It was all your doing!"


    His voice echoed with venomous rage, but Su Qingchan never responded.


    Though shaken as a result of Su Qingchan''s plight, Blue Lantern focused on attuning to the bronzepasses as he steeled himself for a final confrontation.

 Chapter 938: A Thousand Years of Hatred

    <h4>Chapter 938: A Thousand Years of Hatred</h4>


    Within the Formation of the Mirrored Heart, after being rescued by Su Qingchan, Blue Jade encountered no further mirror images. She nced at the small box that Su Qingchan had handed her, a deeply conflicted expression on her face.


    Blue Jade hated Su Qingchan. As Blue Lantern''s former fianc¨¦e, Su Qingchan had caused him immense suffering. He had been expelled from his sect and forced to endure a thousand years of torment. He had almost lost his life in the process.


    She wanted to throw the box away, but in the end, her curiosity won out. Su Qingchan had saved her, after all.


    The box contained nothing more than a single letter.


    Perplexed, Blue Jade unfolded it and began to read. Her face quickly filled with shock.


    To Blue Jade:


    Blue Jade, you must have hated me for a thousand years. Don''t you wish you could skin me alive to vent your hatred? But a thousand years ago, we were still the best of friends. We shared everything¡ªour thoughts, our joys, even our love for the same person.


    Back then, we both loved Senior Brother Blue Lantern.


    You, as a direct disciple of Blue Lantern''s lineage, had the advantage of proximity. I, a disciple of the faction of fire, could only admire him from afar.


    When I became his fianc¨¦e, you envied me. But did you ever consider how I envied you, too? You envied me for holding the title of Qingdeng''s fianc¨¦e and receiving his affection. I envied you for being able to stay by his side without any constraints.


    You envied me, but you didn''t know my torment.


    My mother was a youngdy of a prestigious family, deeply in love with her betrothed. But on the eve of her wedding, she was abducted by Su Tianxin while boating on a lotuske. From then on, she became nothing more than his ything. If she hadn''t given birth to me, my mother would have long since sumbed to despair and died.


    As an illegitimate daughter, I was tormented and ostracized within my family. Once, my elder sister beat me nearly to death. If Blue Lantern hadn''t stepped in to save me, I would have been crippled¡ªor worse.


    Meeting you and Blue Lantern was the greatest fortune of my life. That time was the happiest I''d ever been. For the first time, I felt the warmth of the sun, the sweetness of the air, the hope of a future. For the first time, I saw light in my life¡ªI saw Blue Lantern.


    I knew you loved him. I loved him too.


    Blue Lantern, a peerless prodigy with an innate talent for formations, could freely traverse the wild wastes hidden realm. As the most gifted disciple of the sect, he was destined to inherit its legacy. He was to receive all eight bronzepasses from the sect''s founder.


    He treated us well, and he clearly bore us both affection. But I used a little cunning to confess before you, winning his heart.


    Blue Lantern, noble as a lotus, upheld his promise to me. After our engagement, he distanced himself from you, treating you only as a younger sister. My fortune was your misfortune¡ªthis is a debt I owe you.


    For me, Blue Lantern knelt before his father for three days and nights, begging for permission to formalize our engagement. That day, you drank yourself into a stupor and cried endlessly. Your love was no less deep than mine.


    But what happened thereafter, you do not know.


    Within the sect, many harbored malicious intentions. Only Blue Lantern''s father was righteous and wholly devoted to the sect. The other faction heads were cruel and treacherous, unwilling to relinquish their bronzepasses.


    The n to topple the pure yang pir, opening the way for the other faction heads to explore external opportunities, was a conspiracy. They colluded with Su Tianxin, promising him treasures to coerce me into tricking Blue Lantern.


    As Blue Lantern''s fianc¨¦e, I would rather have died than betray his trust. But Su Tianxin used my mother''s life to threaten me.


    I thought toppling the pure yang pir was the extent of the plot. I never imagined it would bring such catastrophe upon Blue Lantern.


    I failed him. I cannot even bear to speak of marriage anymore¡ªI am unworthy.


    I then devoted myself to cultivation, striving to atone for my sins. I hoped not to win him back, but to one day help him out¡ªto at least make up for my wrongs.


    But Su Tianxin''s cruelty didn''t stop there. He sought favor with the Void Saint and forced me to be the saint''s ything, destroying my dignity and purity.


    When my mother begged Su Tianxin to spare me, he killed her. To control me, he ced a soul-exploding curse on me.


    I hate him. I hate him so much.


    I was too weak to resist. I wanted to end my life but couldn''t bear to let this demon go unpunished. I vowed revenge¡ªfor Blue Lantern, for my mother. I buried my pain, holding onto my hatred to survive.


    One day, I learned Blue Lantern had returned. I was overjoyed, yet filled with despair. I wanted to see him, but I no longer had the courage to. What had happened to his father¡ªin some sense, I was the culprit.


    During the battle in the wild wastes hidden realm, I was captured by Xiao Nanfeng. Though outwardlyposed, I felt a flicker of hope.


    I hoped Qingdeng would kill me to avenge his suffering.


    This Formation of the Mirrored Heart is my attempt at revenge. Within this formation, I will do everything to make amends. The faction heads who stole from Blue Lantern¡ªI will help him reim what is rightfully his. Su Tianxin, who robbed Blue Lantern of everything¡ªI will make him return it all.


    What I do cannot erase Qingdeng''s pain, but it is the best I can offer.


    I know I will meet my end today. I trust no one in this world, except you, Blue Jade. You''ve loved Blue Lantern deeply, even after suppressing your feelings for so long. Now, you don''t need to suppress them anymore.


    Blue Jade, you are the only one who can warm his heart again. Please, don''t give up, no matter how cold he seems. He doesn''t deserve to live in loneliness.


    He deserves brilliance, glory, happiness, and a beautiful future.


    I have staked my life on today''s events. If you''re reading this, I ask that you not disturb my ns.


    Blue Jade, I''m counting on you.


    Blue Jade finished reading the letter, tears streaming down her face.


    A thousand years of misunderstandings had been cleared away. She couldn''t forgive Su Qingchan for what she had done, but she found that she could sympathize with the woman who had once been her best friend before things all went awry.


    All her past resentment melted away. She no longer envied Su Qingchan. Beneath Su Qingchan''s seemingly happy life was endless pain.


    For over a thousand years, Blue Lantern had suffered. Su Qingchan had suffered with him. She endured torment, humiliation, and inner turmoil. Yet, she remained steadfast, dedicating herself to redeeming Blue Lantern''s losses.


    She took a deep breath, wiped the tears from her face, and listened to the sounds of battle between Su Tianxin and Blue Lantern in the distance. Before long, Su Qingchan joined the fray. At the most critical moment, she turned against Su Tianxin, assisting Blue Lantern in seizing all eight bronzepasses.


    Su Qingchan''s scream sent a jolt through Blue Jade''s heart. Without hesitation, she flew toward the source of the sound.


    Blue Lantern quickly attuned to the five bronzepasses he had just obtained. Though it was impossible topletely attune to them so quickly, he managed to erase the traces left by others and imprint them with his own spiritual signature.


    "Give me back my bronzepasses!" Su Tianxin roared, charging at Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern avoided direct confrontation. Rather, he summoned a dense fog to hide him. Su Tianxin''s punch struck at the white fog and caused it to dissipate, but Blue Lantern was, by then, nowhere to be found.


    "Come out! Get out here now!" Su Tianxin bellowed in rage.


    His control over the formation was slipping, and panic quickly overtook him. Suddenly, he nched. He shouted, "Everyone, stop operating the formation! Destroy its foundations! We need to break out!"


    "Your Majesty, the foundations¡ªthey''re gone!"


    "Your Majesty, I was tossed aside by a strong gale. I can''t find the foundations of the formation anymore!"


    "The formation''s been disruptedpletely!"


    @@novelbin@@


    Shouts of confusion and distress echoed from the thick fog.


    Su Tianxin felt an ominous chill. Suddenly, he noticed that the mirror suspended at the center of the great formation was emittingrge amounts of ck energy, which surged in all directions. Soon, cries of rm rang out from all around.


    "Your Majesty, help! There''s a mirror image of me!"


    "Why are there mirror images of us? Save us!"


    "Don''t kill me! No!"


    Anguished screams could be heard from within the fog.


    "Blue Lantern, have you already taken control of the Formation of the Mirrored Heart? It can''t be!" Su Tianxin yelled in terror.


    "Now, it''s your turn." Blue Lantern''s cold voice came from the fog.


    The next moment, ck fog rapidly condensed around Su Tianxin, forming three mirror images of him.


    "Die!" Blue Lantern shouted coldly.


    "Die!" the three mirror images echoed in unison.


    With a thunderous crash, Su Tianxin was forced back by his mirror images'' coordinated attack. They showed no mercy. Their faces were twisted with aggression as theyunched another assault.


    "No!" Su Tianxin screamed.


    He waspletely overpowered by his mirror images.


    Elsewhere, the three Boundless Immortals that Ye Sanshui was stalling encountered mirror images of their own, who relentlessly dogged them.


    The tide of battle had turned. Despite his injuries, Ye Sanshui pushed on, assisting the mirror images in subduing the three Boundless Immortals. Soon, all three were defeated and had their cultivation sealed by Ye Sanshui.


    At that moment, Blue Jade suddenly shouted from the fog, "Senior Brother,e quickly!"


    Blue Lantern frowned. Thinking that Blue Jade was in danger, he rushed toward her location and found himself in a valley.


    There, Blue Jade was holding onto Su Qingchan, who was barely drawing breath.


    "Blue Jade? What are you..." Blue Lantern trailed off.


    He frowned. He was filled with questions. He still didn''t understand why Su Qingchan had helped him out.


    Su Qingchan gazed at him without speaking. Blue Jade''s eyes were red as she handed a letter to Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern took it with a sense of foreboding as he began to read. As he did so, his body trembled violently. The truth he had been seeking¡ªthe reason why Su Qingchan, once his fianc¨¦e, had betrayed him all those years ago¡ªwas finally before him. He now understood that Su Qingchan had suffered even more than he had. His heart felt as though it was being torn apart. Unbidden, his eyes grew moist.


    "Senior Brother, Qingchan''s soul has shattered, and even her truesoul is fading. She''s been hanging on because she has something she wants to say to you," Blue Jade said.

 Chapter 939: The Plea of the Buddhas Head

    <h4>Chapter 939: The Plea of the Buddha''s Head</h4>


    Blue Lantern had been imprisoned in the undying realm for over a millennium, consumed by torment and confusion. He couldn''t fathom why Su Qingchan, the love of his life, had betrayed him.


    The vows they had exchanged, the life-and-death struggles they had endured, the cherished memories they had created¡ªwere they nothing but lies?


    He had grieved, suffered, and despaired, but he had never hated Su Qingchan.


    It wasn''t until he returned to the wild wastes hidden realm and witnessed his father''s dying moments¡ªenduring unspeakable agony while waiting for his son¡ªthat Blue Lantern finally came to his senses. He discarded his affection for Su Qingchan, and his heart filled with hatred.


    The death of his father fueled Qing Deng''s determination for vengeance. When Su Qingchan''s avatar provoked him, he didn''t hesitate any longer and personally ended her life.


    But only now was the whole truthing to light. Su Qingchan had been coerced by her father all along. For the past thousand years, she too had suffered in endless torment in body and soul alike.


    She had sacrificed her own life to prove her innocence. For a thousand years, she had endured, waiting for Blue Lantern and seeking to make amends.


    How could Blue Lantern hate Su Qingchan any longer? All the hatred in his heart was reced by an overwhelming guilt. He med himself for being powerless, for failing to protect his fianc¨¦e and save his father.


    Tears filled his bloodshot eyes as he knelt before Su Qingchan. Grasping her hand, he poured his spiritual power into her body, desperately trying to heal her injuries.


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    Su Qingchan''s physical body bore no significant wounds, but her soul was utterly shattered and her truesoul badly damaged.


    "It was a Soul Explosion curse¡ªit detonates the soul, erasing body and spirit alike. How could Su Tianxin be so ruthless? How dare he call himself a father?!" Blue Jade sobbed beside him.


    "I can save you. I will save you," Blue Lantern cried out, his voice trembling.


    Eight bronzepasses appeared and orbited Su Qingchan''s body. Blue Lantern directed a torrent of blue energy into her body, attempting to stop her life force from seeping away.


    Su Qingchan, however, refused to ept the energy. She rejected it.


    "Don''t! Let me save you!" Blue Lantern shouted in desperation.


    Su Qingchan smiled gently and shook her head. She knew that her fate was sealed. Prolonging her life would only deepen Blue Lantern''s pain.


    "Don''t give up, Su Qingchan!" Blue Jade shouted.


    Su Qingchan didn''t respond. She reached out weakly to Blue Jade with a faltering hand.


    "I''m here. What''s the matter?" Blue Jade grasped Su Qingchan''s hand immediately.


    Su Qingchan didn''t reply. She then extended another hand to Blue Lantern.


    Seeing her gesture, Blue Lantern, choking back sobs, held Su Qingchan''s other hand tightly.


    Su Qingchan gently brought Blue Jade and Blue Lantern''s hands together.


    As their hands met, both Blue Jade and Blue Lantern seemed to realize something.


    "Qingchan!"


    "Su Qingchan!"


    Their voices quavered as they called her name.


    Su Qingchan nced at their sped hands with a mix of longing, relief, and satisfaction.


    She looked at them onest time, her eyes filled with fondness, before her pupils slowly dted and her smile froze in ce.


    "Qingchan!"


    "Qingchan!"


    Herpanions cried out for her, but there was no response.


    The me of Su Qingchan''s life had been extinguished, her soulpletely dispersed. The remnants of her truesoul fragmented into countless tiny stars that hovered around Qing Deng, unwilling to fade. Yet no power could restore her. The lingering specks of light, imbued with her unyielding affection, slowly dissipated as they rose into the vast heavens.


    "Qingchan!" Blue Lantern let out a heart-wrenching wail as he cradled Su Qingchan''s lifeless body.


    Not long ago, when Su Tianxin blocked Xiao Nanfeng''s attack with the cursed mirror, a gigantic, pitch-ck hand had emerged from the mirror and dragged him within.


    Within the mirror, Xiao Nanfeng found himself in a pitch-ck space filled with swirling ck fog and potent heart force. The massive hand clenched him tightly, so tightly he was unable to even struggle.


    The hand delivered Xiao Nanfeng to a monstrous maw.


    With a sudden sh of red light, however, Xiao Nanfeng broke out of the hand''s grip.


    He quickly turned to his captor, a towering two-headed, four-armed giant. One head had a benevolent expression, and its hands were sped in a gesture of prayer as if it were a Buddha. The other head bore a ferocious, demonic visage. Its ws swiped at him viciously.The demonic head had been the one that had seized him.


    Rather than continue chasing after Xiao Nanfeng, however, the demon reached into a mirror before it in an attempt to capture Su Tianxin from the outside world.


    Nearby, five massive pure yang pirsy scattered on the ground. A faint bluepass glowed beneath the giant''s feet, trapping its lower body and rendering it immobile. Only its upper body was free to move.


    Sensing danger, Xiao Nanfeng cautiously retreated into the ck fog.


    "Don''t leave, my friend. Stay and chat with me," the benevolent Buddha head suddenly called out, turning to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Senior, I have pressing matters to attend to. Please excuse me," Xiao Nanfeng replied warily, even as he continued to step back.


    "Why the rush? Surely you can spare a moment?"


    The Buddha smiled warmly. With a wave of its hands, Xiao Nanfeng found himself trapped within an enormous golden palm. The fingers rose like colossal pirs, enclosing him within a Buddha''s realm of the palm.


    "A realm of the palm?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    Indeed, the Buddha''s head appeared from the heavens, now even more massive in sizepared to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "You''re quite knowledgeable, my friend," the Buddha said, its voice calm andposed. "Now that we''re here, why don''t we have a little chat?"


    "Senior, why are you trapped here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked cautiously.


    "I am not trapped here. Rather, this is my domain. Some evildoer sealed my body and ced a soul-binding formation within it, imprisoning my soul upon my revival."


    "This mirror is a cursed effigy, and your double-headed giant form must be your cursed spiritual avatar. Now that you''ve been bound by thepass formation at your feet, are you unable to control this mirror of yours?" Xiao Nanfeng probed.


    The Buddha''s head nodded. "Indeed. I have suffered greatly and have been imprisoned for countless years after finally reviving. Don''t you pity me?"


    "You can''t manipte the heart force here either, can you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.


    The Buddha tilted its head. "How did you know?"


    "It''s quite obvious. If you could, you wouldn''t need to reach out and grab people with your physical body. The heart force dissipates into ck fog, which you can''t seem tomand."


    "You''re quite astute. I apologize for my demonic half''s earlier actions. Forgive me for dragging you in here."


    "You can''t control the other half of your body?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed.


    "It represents my evil side. I can hardly control it," the Buddha replied,ughing.


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned thoughtfully.


    "This meeting is an opportunity for you. I am willing to grant you several top-tier techniques, on one condition."


    "Hm?"


    "Stand on thepass formation on my behalf and relieve me of my burden. Are you willing to do so?"


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He neither epted nor rejected the offer immediately.


    "I possess several supreme Buddhist techniques: the Imposing Avatar of Ri, the Snowfield Buddha''s Form, and the Art of the Truegold Minuscule. Stand on thispass for me for just a moment, and I shall grant you these techniques. Have a look."


    Golden light shed before the Buddha, gradually resolving into a golden jade tablet.


    "Confirm the techniques in the tablet for yourself," the Buddha instructed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nced at the tablet. Indeed, within were several supreme Buddhist techniques, so precious that countless holynds would consider them among their most prized treasures. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t greedy.


    "I apologize, Senior. I''m not interested in these techniques, and cannot ept your request."


    "Why not? Aren''t they excellent techniques?"


    "They are, but I''m not interested in them."


    "What do you want? I can give you anything in my possession," the Buddha continued.


    "I apologize, but I''m not interested," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.


    "State your conditions. Anything will do."


    Xiao Nanfeng increasingly felt that something was off. He was convinced that this Buddha was plotting against him.


    "No need, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said with a slight shake of his head. "Since it was your evil aspect that captured me, I won''t hold it against you. Farewell."


    The Buddha immediately frowned bitterly. "Friend, I''ve been trapped here for what feels like eternity. I''m pitiful beyond words. Won''t you at least keep mepany and chat with me? Just humoring me will do."


    Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows.


    "Just pretend to agree with me to make me happy, won''t you?" the Buddha pleaded.


    Xiao Nanfeng stared at the Buddha''s head for a moment. A soft-hearted person might have felt pity and said a few kind words, but Xiao Nanfeng was extremely cautious, and he couldn''t shake off the feeling that the Buddha had ill intentions.


    "I apologize, but I must go," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    As he spoke, he activated his candleme powers, escaping from the Buddha''s realm of the palm and appearing outside its hands. Just as he was about to depart, the Buddha''spassionate expression was reced with a sinister, snarling face.


    "In your dreams!" it cried out.


    It pressed its palms together, forming two massive constructs of energy that trapped Xiao Nanfeng in their center. The collision of the palms unleashed a torrent of mes that caused the void to shudder violently.


    The immense force was terrifying. If not for Xiao Nanfeng''s Imposing Avatar of Ri, the attack would have turned him to pulp. However, Xiao Nanfeng emerged unscathed. He activated his candleme powers once more and escaped to a spot not far away, his body radiating with golden light.


    "The Imposing Avatar of Ri? No wonder you weren''t greedy for my techniques at all. You already possess one of the strongest ones," the Buddha murmured in astonishment. Then, with a cold voice, it asked, "How did you realize that something was wrong?"


    "I have heard of the rule of substitution, where verbal agreements can be enforced in the form of bound contracts. When word besw, one can transfer all sorts of bindings and geases to a scapegoat. I suspect I would have been bound by whatever is trapping you here had I agreed."


    "So you knew all along!" the Buddha eximed, its expression icy.

 Chapter 941: The Sagacious King

    <h4>Chapter 941: The Sagacious King</h4>


    The double-headed giant brimmed with killing intent. It was charging straight toward Xiao Nanfeng when the void suddenly shook and it lost its connection with its cursed mirror.


    "Where am I?" the double-headed giant eximed in rm.


    He looked up to see a luminous silver moon hanging high in the sky. Surrounding it were thousands of twinkling stars, radiating a majestic and oppressive strength that caused its heart to skip a beat.


    "A Deific Yin realm?" the double-headed giant eximed, its brows furrowing.


    Without any hesitation, it punched at the void. The void rippled and unleashed a storm of raging mes.


    "How can this be? I might not have recovered all my strength, but it should be trivial for me to break out of a Deific Yin realm. How can this one be so stable? Even a mid-stage Deific Yin cultivator shouldn''t be able to stabilize a Deific Yin realm to this extent!"


    At that moment, countless beams of starlight descended from the surrounding stars, forming a shimmering barrier of starlight around it.


    "Damn it, break!" it roared, throwing another punch.


    With an earth-shattering boom, the barrier of starlight ceased to be. The giant''s strength clearly exceeded that of the Void Saint''s avatar, which Xiao Nanfeng had encountered earlier.


    The next moment, more beams of starlight rained down. Another barrier formed around him.


    "Again? Break!" it shouted, unleashing another powerful punch.


    The new barrier shattered as well¡ªonly for it to reform once again. The barrier seemed to be able to regenerate endlessly, stalling it and preventing it from advancing further.


    "Show yourself! Are you intending to hide like a coward? Come out and fight me if you dare!"


    Xiao Nanfeng did not reply. More beams of starlight greeted him, along with a flurry of stardes.


    Trapped in the starry void, the double-headed giant found itself unable to escape.


    Two other cultivators were present deep in the realm: Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern was staring at his surroundings in shock, but he was too distracted to pay anything much attention. Su Qingchan''s death still weighed heavily on his mind.


    Xiao Nanfeng patted Blue Lantern''s shoulder. "Leave this giant to me. Don''t you want to kill Su Tianxin? He should be trapped within the giant''s formation now. Go on. Don''t take too long¡ªkill him immediately to prevent anything unexpected from happening."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Blue Lantern''s voice trembled with emotion.


    Xiao Nanfeng waved his hand and sent Blue Lantern out of the Realm of the Nine Heavens in the blink of an eye.


    Outside Xiao Nanfeng''s realm, Su Tianxin was trapped in the giant''s formation in its ce. The next moment, however, Xiao Nanfeng, Blue Lantern, and the double-headed giant all vanished. He frowned uneasily. He tried to free himself from his bindings, but to no avail.


    Just then, the void shimmered. Blue Lantern was back.


    "Blue Lantern, where are they?" Su Tianxin called out.


    Blue Lantern didn''t'' respond. Instead, he drew his sword, his gaze cold and brimming with killing intent. He approached Su Tianxin.


    "What are you doing? Blue Lantern, let''s talk this out. I''ll admit defeat. You now have all eight bronzepasses, and you haven''t suffered any real losses. Let me go. I''ll satisfy any of your demands," Su Tianxin said desperately.


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    Blue Lantern scoffed. "You''re trying to stall for time while waiting for your reinforcements to arrive, aren''t you? Don''t worry¡ªyou won''t get the chance."


    "Wait! Don''t you hate me? Don''t you want to torture me and make me suffer?"


    Blue Lantern plunged his sword into Su Tianxin''s forehead, killing him instantly.


    "I''d like to torture you, to cut you to pieces and make you feel the depths of despair¡ªboth for my father and for Qingchan. But I know you''ve likely summoned powerful reinforcements to save yourself, so I won''t give you the opportunity to turn the tables. Once I catch your main body, I''ll make you suffer properly," Blue Lantern said coldly.


    He turned to the nearby mirror, the exit to this space, and stepped out of the world of the mirror.


    Outside the mirror, Ye Sanshui rushed over. "Blue Lantern, how''s the situation inside? How is His Majesty?"


    "There''s no time to exin. I need to set up a formation immediately," Blue Lantern said.


    "Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded.


    Blue Lantern quickly activated three of the bronzepasses and triggered the formations in the vicinity. Dense fog enveloped the area as the Formation of the Mirrored Heart reactivated.


    Shortly thereafter, beams of light appeared in the sky above the formation.


    "This formation looks particrly dangerous. Brother, let me head in first," one figure said.


    The other figure shook his head. "There''s no need."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Su Tianxin just withdrew his request. His avatar is dead, and he''smanding us to stand down. The mission is canceled."


    "Canceled? How stingy he is. We''ve alreadye all this way! Did we waste our time?"


    "We''ll still get the deposit, at least."


    "True. Who would dare owe us money?"


    "Let''s go. This fight is no business of ours. Let Xiao Nanfeng and Su Tianxin keep tearing each other apart. When Su Tianxines crawling back to us, we''ll extort him then."


    "Haha, you''re right. They''re both walking treasure chests for us. We''d better not hurt them. Let''s head back and report to the Sagacious King, then."


    The figures disappeared over the horizon.


    Within the Formation of the Mirrored Heart, Blue Lantern sensed the group''s arrival and subsequent departure. Using his bronzepasses, he also managed to record their conversation and aura.


    Ye Sanshui gaped. "Who are those people? How arrogant they were! And they were all mid-stage Boundless Immortals? Who''s this Sagacious King they serve?"


    Blue Lantern shook his head, too preupied with his grief to respond.


    "Blue Jade,e over here and take charge of the Formation of the Mirrored Heart," Blue Lantern called out.


    In the distance, Blue Jade had just ced Su Qingchan''s body in a jade coffin. Though tears streamed down her face, she flew over and took over the formation.


    The next moment, Blue Lantern stepped back into the world of the mirror.


    Inside was Su Tianxin''s corpse. He vented his rage by stabbing the body repeatedly, then focusing on the pure yang energy that was quickly emitting from it now that Su Tianxin was dead.


    He turned his attention to the five scattered pure yang pirs and quickly attuned to them all. Then, he retrieved the two pure yang pirs in his possession and set up a formation around Su Tianxin''s corpse.


    The seven pure yang pirs had all beenrgely depleted of the pure yang energy they once held. As a result of Blue Lantern''s formation, they were now absorbing the pure yang energy that was dissipating from Su Tianxin''s corpse.


    A significant quantity of pure yang energy drained from Su Tianxin''s corpse into the pure yang pirs, leaving it little more than a shriveled husk. Only then did Blue Lantern carefully retrieve all seven pure yang pirs.


    He turned to the void. "Your Majesty, can you allow me into your Deific Yin realm?"


    With a hum, Blue Lantern vanished. He reappeared once more within the Realm of the Nine Heavens.


    Afar, Xiao Nanfeng watched on curiously as the stardes whittled down the double-headed giant, who had been badly injured by thebination of the starlight barriers and stardes.


    "You brat, get out here! Show yourself!" the double-headed giant roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored it. Why waste his own energy on a foe who couldn''t even bypass his defenses?


    "Your Majesty, though that giant forcibly absorbed the pure yang energy from within the pure yang pirs, it''s nothing more than a cursed spirit. It won''t be able to use that energy at maximum efficacy," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Oh?"


    "I can set up a formation to recharge the pure yang pirs with the pure yang energy that the giant dissipates. As long as you keep wounding it, Your Majesty, I can drain it of its pure yang energy and store it within the pirs for your subsequent use."


    "Very good. I have one pure yang pir here myself. You can have it for your formation." Xiao Nanfeng nodded and handed Blue Lantern the pure yang pir he had obtained from Hu Tianlong''s corpse.


    Blue Lantern quickly set up a formation. The eight pure yang pirs immediately created a mysterious suction that attracted the pure yang energy dissipating into the void.


    High in the air, as the double-headed giant sustained injury after injury, it grew weaker and weaker. It was now so weak that it couldn''t even break out of the barriers of starlight any longer.


    Countless stardes struck its flesh as pure yang energy drained from its body.


    "Stop! You can''t kill me. If I''ve revived, my king surely has as well! If you kill me, my king will kill you!" the double-headed giant threatened.


    "Who''s your king? Is your king male or female?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.


    He knew that Madam Rouge''s second incarnation had managed to obtain a mirror cursed effigy through the primordial altar, and he was worried that this giant was one of her subordinates.


    "How could my king be female? Haven''t you heard of his name? He is the Sagacious King," the double-headed giant dered.


    Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "If he''s male, then I have no reason not to kill you."


    "What? You can''t!" the double-headed giant roared.


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored the giant, sending a flurry of stardes to attack its body in a storm of blood and flesh.


    "No!" the giant cried out.


    In an instant, its body exploded, sliced apart into ribbons. Pure yang energy exploded from its body and surged into the pure yang pirs.


    Beside him, Blue Lantern frowned. "Your Majesty, Su Tianxin''s reinforcements arrived moments ago. After learning that Su Tianxin''s avatar was dead, they retreated. They mentioned that they served the Sagacious King."


    "The Sagacious King?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Yes, Your Majesty! Do you know who he is?"


    Xiao Nanfeng frowned thoughtfully. "In my position as Eastern Aspect, I oversaw countless intelligence reports that the Imperial Court prepared on worldwide affairs, but I don''t recall any such Sagacious King¡ªno, the crown prince, Yu Fuli''s eldest son, once used that title. Could it be him?"


    "Yu Fuli''s eldest son?" Blue Lantern eximed.

 Chapter 942: The Dust Settles

    <h4>Chapter 942: The Dust Settles</h4>


    Once all the pure yang energy was absorbed into the eight pure yang pirs, Blue Lantern stepped forward and disassembled the formation.


    "Your Majesty, please take these pure yang pirs," Blue Lantern said, handing the eight pirs to Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng epted them without hesitation.


    With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the Realm of the Nine Heavens as they returned to the world of the mirror.


    However, the reflective surface of the mirror, which led to the outside world, had developed countless cracks. The ck fog of heart force was leaking uncontrobly out into the world atrge.


    "The cursed mirror has shattered," Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    Blue Lantern quickly examined the mirror, then considered the formation where Su Tianxin''s corpse was located. He quickly understood what was going on.


    "Your Majesty, I believe my sect''s founder is responsible for this."


    "Oh? Your sect''s founder?"


    "He stored a vast reservoir of heart force within this cursed mirror for tens of thousands of years. Worried that the cursed effigy would eventually revive and steal it all for itself, he set up a formation to bind its cursed soul, as well as a contingency to shatter the mirror once the cursed effigy escaped or perished. The resulting heart force would dissipate to prevent it from being used by evil forces," Blue Lantern exined.


    "Your founder was thorough. This would certainly ensure that the heart force couldn''t be exploited by the cursed effigy and spare future generations from harm," Xiao Nanfeng remarked approvingly.


    Blue Lantern nodded.


    "Do you have a treasure for collecting this heart force?" Xiao NAnfeng asked.


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "If I had fully attuned to all eight bronzepasses, I would be able to aplish such a feat, but I can''t refine the five newpasses quickly enough. For now, I can only use the Formation of the Mirrored Heart to temporarily contain the heart force. If you can absorb it, Your Majesty, I will ensure that no heart force is lost from the outside."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    Blue Lantern bowed and stepped out of the world of the mirror to begin his preparations.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng switched to his physical body and stimted the golden sapling in his mind, which emitted a radiant golden light. A massive vortex formed around him and greedily drew in the heart force from his surroundings.


    Outside the world of the mirror, Blue Lantern emerged just in time to hear Blue Jade panic. "Senior Brother, there''s too much heart force leaking from the mirror! I can''t control it!"


    "Leave it to me."


    With a wave of his hand, Blue Lantern regained control of the Formation of the Mirrored Heart. Numerous mirror images manifested around him, each resembling a different cultivator. Their numbers were staggering. They surged toward Dazheng''s army in the distance.


    "Return to the mirror!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    The mirror images rushed back into the mirror, but the ck fog of heart force continued to spread. New mirror images were created as the fog billowed.


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    "Sir Ye, I''ll need your assistance," Blue Lantern called out.


    "Of course." Ye Sanshui agreed without any hesitation.


    Under Blue Lantern''s control, the mirror images resolved into Ye Sanshui''s form. Since Ye Sanshui boasted tremendous strength, these figures required a significant amount of heart force to create. Eight were created in all.


    They snarled and charged toward Ye Sanshui, who frowned and defended himself.


    "Return to the mirror!" Blue Lantern ordered.


    The eight mirror images retreated into the mirror, but heart force continued to leak out from within.


    Blue Lantern couldn''t prevent the heart force from leaking out of the mirror, but he could direct the mirror images back in. He repeated this process again and again as Xiao Nanfeng absorbed the heart force from the world of the mirror.


    As the heart force continued to flow into his body, the golden sapling in his heart grew taller and thicker. Its branches spread far and wide. Countless leaves sprouted, while its trunk turned thick and robust. As the sapling grew, a soothing golden light bathed Xiao Nanfeng, clearing his mind and granting him mental acuity¡ªjust like when the superior yin pearl had helped himprehend scriptures with heart force, but even more strongly.


    "This golden sapling can aid in enlightenment?" Xiao Nanfeng marveled.


    For an entire day, Xiao Nanfeng sat in meditation. With Blue Lantern''s help, he was able to absorb all the heart force.


    The golden sapling now resembled a small tree, one that stood over three meters tall. It possessed extraordinary vitality, despite the fact that it was still in a premature stage.


    The golden light from the tree no longer seeped out of his body but rather illuminated his heart, creating a domain of sanctuary and rity within. Inside this domain, Xiao Nanfeng''sprehension of naturalw seemed to be enhanced dramatically.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head, suppressing the urge to immerse himself in this newfound rity immediately. Rather, he retrieved the eight pure yang pirs.


    He had acquired one pir from his fight against Hu Tianlong, but had refrained from absorbing the pure yang energy within it because it would have been insufficient for a breakthrough. He had saved it until now.


    None of the eight pure yang pirs had all that much energy on their own, but theirbined reserves were staggering.


    He opened his mouth and swallowed all eight pirs, directing them into his dantian, where his ten golden crows rapidly began to absorb the pure yang energy.


    A surge of intense yang energy coursed through his body, advancing his cultivation.


    With his Realm of the Nine Heavens, he was hardlycking in insight and intuition. All he needed to advance his cultivation was energy.


    After meditating for the majority of the next day, just as he consumed all the pure yang energy within the pirs, he reached a new threshold.


    An immense aura erupted from Xiao Nanfeng''s body as he opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.


    "The eighth stage of the Golden Immortal realm... It''s unfortunate that I''ve used up all the energy from these pure yang pirs."


    He stood up and spat out the eight pirs, now entirely drained of energy.


    Cracks had propagated across the surface of the mirror. He finished cleaning up what remained of the mirror world, then stepped outside.


    The Formation of the Mirrored Heart was still in ce. Thick fog surrounded the region, though there were no more mirror images in sight.


    "Blue Lantern, I intend for these pure yang pirs to be safeguarded by the imperial astronomer. They will be yours for the time being," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    Blue Lantern epted the pirs with a bow. "Understood!"


    "Will this cursed mirror be useful for you?"


    Blue Lantern shook his head. "Without any heart force, the mirror is useless, especially given its current condition. I leave its disposal to you, Your Majesty."


    "Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stored the fractured mirror.


    Blue Lantern dispelled the formation, causing the surrounding fog to dissipate rapidly.


    Outside, countless civilians were eagerly awaiting Xiao Nanfeng''s return. They erupted into cheers upon seeing him emerge.


    "Thank you for saving us, Your Majesty!"


    "Long live His Majesty!


    "Your Majesty, we''re proud to be citizens of Dazheng!"


    Countless people called out in gratitude.


    Su Tianxin had nearly annihted Tianyue. Without Xiao Nanfeng''s intervention, all of them would surely have perished.


    Though Xiao Nanfeng had won, it had taken concerted effort over multiple days. Everyone understood what he had sacrificed to do so.


    How could they not adore and revere an emperor who was willing to do so much for his people?


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded in acknowledgment. "Officials of Tianyue, hear me!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the city''s officials responded in unison.


    "Document all damages to the city. Aid the wounded and afflicted. Record the contributions of all who acted in the city''s defense, including soldiers and civilians alike. Their deeds shall be rewarded. Honor fallen heroes with generouspensation to ensure that their families do not suffer. Your performance during this tribtion will be considered in your evaluations."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" the people of Tianyue shouted in gratitude.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded again, then departed with his entourage.


    The crowd watched him go, their hearts filled with admiration for the benevolent ruler who had risked everything to protect them.


    News of what transpired in Tianyue spread rapidly across thend, reaching not just Dazheng, but also Dachi. The world was filled with praise of Xiao Nanfeng''s ethical and righteous behavior¡ªand criticism of Su Tianxin''s.


    In an Immortal city of Dachi, members of a prominent n were abuzz in discussion.


    "n Head, my avatar was in Tianyue. Su Tianxin is truly a heartless demon! To lure Xiao Nanfeng into his trap, he was willing to ughter an entire city of innocents. We''re nothing but ants to him," one elder said.


    "Even his own daughter betrayed him. A man that cold-blooded isn''t worth following," another added.


    "My avatar heard Su Qingchan herself use Su Tianxin of forcing her to seduce the Saint. An Immortal Emperor stooping to such depravity, even involving his own daughter¡ªit''s beyond monstrous!"


    "Xiao Nanfeng''s promation was right. Su Tianxin is nothing but a pawn of the saints. Even his daughter confirmed it. Why should we continue to follow someone who would kill us without hesitation?"


    "Dazheng''s Ministry of Rites sent a delegation to visit us. Xiao Nanfeng is virtuous and just. How could Su Tianxin everpare to him?"


    The elders'' impassioned arguments caused the entire n to reach a consensus.


    "In that case, I am willing to lead the n in pledging allegiance to Dazheng. Are you all in agreement?" the n head asked.


    "Agreed!"


    "Agreed!"


    All the elders spoke up at once.


    "Does anyone object?" the n head continued.


    Silence filled the hall.


    "Then it''s settled. We shall formally align our family with Dazheng. Summon the envoy from the Ministry of Rites. Let''s discuss how to transfer this city to Dazheng''s rule," the n head dered.


    "Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

 Chapter 943: Chu Tianban

    <h4>Chapter 943: Chu Tianban</h4>


    The next day, Dazheng''s army officially made it into Dachi''s borders.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s promation and the events at Tianyue had spread throughout Dachi, and Dachi''s Immortal cities were all in turmoil.


    Thanks to Dazheng''s emissaries from its Ministry of Rites, key ns in Immortal city after Immortal city had chosen to side with Dazheng.


    Dazheng''s army advanced swiftly as the defenses of the major Immortal cities crumbled one after another.


    In Dachi''s capital, the imperial court was in turmoil. Fewer officials were present in court than usual.


    Su Tianxin''s main body sat on his draconic throne, brows furrowing as he listened to the officials'' arguments below.


    "Your Majesty, I request that we confiscate the property and execute the ns of those officials who are avoiding this session of court without reason. We who serve as officials in Dachi must repay your favor with loyalty¡ªyet these officials have abandoned Dachi after hearing mere rumors. They deserve to die!" an official dered angrily.


    Clearly, not all the officials believed Xiao Nanfeng''s promation. Even with the situation in Tianyue as evidence, some remained steadfast and loyal to Su Tianxin. Even so, many officials present were doubtful. While they still attended court, they were no longer unified.


    "Let''s start with the situation on the frontlines," Su Tianxin said.


    "All ten military encampments on the frontlines have experienced mutiny. It''s impossible for us to organize effective resistance against the enemy now. Only the garrisons of the individual Immortal cities are holding the line. However, those cities are also in chaos. Major ns have been swayed by Dazheng and are coborating with Dazheng''s army to help them breach the cities," an official reported.


    "Which cities have we lost?" Su Tianxin asked.


    "Over the past three days, we''ve lost about ten Immortal cities each day. Specifically, the lost cities are..." the official began.


    As the officials presented their reports, Su Tianxin''s expression darkened.


    He had anticipated that the breach in ethical conduct would lead to rapid defeat, but not this swiftly. This wasn''t a war; it was outright treason on a massive scale.


    "Your Majesty, if we allow this to continue unchecked, there may be even greater panic and mutiny," the official continued.


    Su Tianxin pondered for a moment before responding, "Continue to refute the rumors. Xiao Nanfeng''s promation is full of nonsense. As for the battle at Tianyue, I was not present. It must have been someone impersonating me, or perhaps Xiao Nanfeng staged the entire event to deceive and manipte public opinion."


    "Understood!"


    Even if the battle at Tianyue had been real, denying it outright was the best strategy¡ªand, by this point, his only option.


    "Your Majesty, we will do so at once, though such denials may have limited effect now. Do you have other strategies in mind to counter Xiao Nanfeng?" the official continued.


    Su Tianxin took a deep breath. "I have a n already in motion. It will yield results in just a few days'' time. Inform the cities and army to remain patient. The truth will soon be revealed."


    "Understood!"


    In the imperial study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng reviewed a batch of reports, satisfaction shing in his eyes. Officials stood nearby, filling in additional unstated details.


    "Mr. Wen, well done. The Ministry of Rites'' emissaries have brought us so much good news. This is all thanks to your efforts," Xiao Nanfeng praised.


    Wen Zhong smiled. "This is due to your excellent leadership, Your Majesty, and to Su Tianxin''s self-destructive actions. By bing a pawn of the Heavens, he has lost his moral standing, and the people cannot forgive him. Furthermore, the battle at Tianyue exposed his cruelty and heartlessness,pounded by his own daughter''s betrayal. All of this has only solidified the resolve of countless Dachi ns to sever ties with him. We are merely capitalizing on the situation."


    "Good. Keep it up. I want Su Tianxin to watch on helplessly as he loses everything he holds dear," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Understood!" Wen Zhong replied, nodding.


    "Also, spread the word that no one is to disparage Su Qingchan any longer. She is already dead. She suffered great tribtions in her lifetime and endured in silent agony even as her heart remained pure. Her noble character should not be insulted," Xiao Nanfeng dered.


    "Understood!" an official replied quickly. He was responsible for directing and controlling public opinion.


    "Your Majesty, ording to our reports, although Su Tianxin is furious, Dachi''s imperial pce remains unnervingly calm. He''s likely plotting something. We have to stay vignt," Wen Zhong advised.


    "I''ve been waiting for him to make a move," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.


    Wen Zhong bowed.


    At that moment, a guard rushed into the imperial study.


    "Your Majesty, Chu Tianban, former Northern Aspect of the Imperial Court, seeks an audience," the guard reported respectfully.


    "Hm?"


    The officials exchanged meaningful nces as they looked toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Send him in," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    "Understood!" The guard left hurriedly.


    "In that case, Your Majesty, allow us to take our leave," Wen Zhong said.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    The officials filed out of the imperial study.


    Xiao Nanfeng seated himself at his desk as he waited patiently. Before long, a man in golden robes entered the room. The man was tall and imposing, with a broad smile on his handsome face as he stepped into the study.


    "Haha, Eastern Aspect Xiao! Long time no see. Dazheng is more impressive than ever," the man said with a heartyugh.


    This was none other than the former Northern Aspect, Chu Tianban.


    "Northern Aspect Chu, long time no see. Please, have a seat." Xiao Nanfeng stood to greet his guest.


    The imperial study had a reception area, where pce maids had just prepared freshly brewed tea.


    Chu Tianban smiled and followed after Xiao Nanfeng.


    The two cultivators had been of equal rank within the Imperial Court. Though they hadn''t interacted much, they had had a cordial rtionship. Xiao Nanfeng invited Chu Tianban to have some tea.


    "What excellent tea! Eastern Aspect Xiao, you certainly know how to enjoy life. Where did you find such a fragrant brew? It leaves asting aroma," Chu Tianban murmured.


    "If you''d like, Northern Aspect Chu, I''d be happy to provide you with some tea leaves."


    His tea wasn''t particrly special; Chu Tianban was merely being polite. Xiao Nanfeng reciprocated the gesture.


    "In that case, I won''t stand on ceremony."


    "What brings you here today, Northern Aspect Chu?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, cutting to the chase.


    "I came at someone''s behest."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, are you familiar with the crown prince of the Imperial Court?"


    "The crown prince, Yu Banruo, was the heir to the throne and second only to the Heavenly Emperor himself. Despite his lofty position, I never had the opportunity to meet him, except when he made a brief appearance during the final assembly of the Imperial Court."


    Chu Tianban smiled. "Today, I havee on behalf of the crown prince to extend an invitation to a grand enterprise."


    "Hm?"


    "Crown Prince Banruo intends to seed his father, the Heavenly Emepror, restore the Imperial Court, govern the world, and challenge the heavens once more. He is currently recruiting the most capable Immortal Emperors and heroes from across the world. While Dazheng remains an ordinary empire, the crown prince believes that you, Xiao Nanfeng, are exceptionally talented and deserving of an invitation."


    "Restoring the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Indeed. As the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor and the crown prince, Banruo sees it as his duty to step forward, restore order to the world, and rebuild the Imperial Court."


    "How many have pledged their support?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "Immortal Emperors from all four continents have responded to the summons. This invitation is exclusive; few will be eligible. Only a handful of former high-ranking officials from the Imperial Court have been selected."


    "Should I feel honored, then?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, you boast exceptional skill. You are worthy of Crown Prince Banruo''s recognition. If you ept, we may be colleagues once more."


    "I appreciate the offer and wish you sess, Northern Aspect Chu, but I don''t intend to take part," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.


    "Why? Do you doubt Crown Prince Banruo''s sincerity? Or do you perhaps not know him well enough? I could arrange for a meeting," Chu Tianban urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It''s alright. I simply have my own ns for the future and no desire to serve under anyone at the moment."


    After a brief pause, Chu Tianban said, "Crown Prince Banruo''s grand endeavor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You may regret missing out on it in the future."


    "I won''t regret it," Xiao Nanfeng said, shaking his head.


    Chu Tianban sighed. "Very well. I won''t press further, Eastern Aspect Xiao."


    "Thank you for understanding," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    "That said, Eastern Aspect Xiao, there is one thing you should be aware of."


    "Hm?"


    "Yesterday, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi, Su Tianxin, submitted an application to pledge allegiance to Crown Prince Banruo. If he is epted by the crown prince, Dazheng''s army will no longer be able to attack Dachi."


    "Even Su Tianxin, a pawn of the saints, is an eptable candidate to the crown prince?" Xiao Nanfeng eximed in surprise.


    "Toy down the butcher''s knife is to attain enlightenment. If Su Tianxin is willing to repent, the crown prince may give him a chance. In the grand scheme of things, all avable strength must be directed against the heavens."


    Xiao Nanfeng''s expression turned dark instantly. "Lay down the butcher''s knife? Ridiculous! Do you really think the pawns of the saints, of the heavens, are forgivable? You may not care about them, but I do. If such traitors to humanity can be forgiven, then wherefore the Heavenly Emperor''s death? Wherefore humanity''s generations of struggle against the heavens?"


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, please don''t get so worked up. I''m simply giving you a heads-up," Chu Tianban said.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I hear you, Northern Aspect Chu, but as long as I have the power to cut down the pawns of the heavens, I shall not refrain from doing so for any reason. Even if Su Tianxin bes the crown prince''s subordinate, I will continue to target him," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.


    "You''re too extreme," Chu Tianban said, visibly displeased.


    "We simply view things differently. Thank you for meeting with me, Northern Aspect Chu," Xiao Nanfeng said calmly, lifting his teacup to indicate the meeting was over.


    Chu Tianban''s expression soured, but he had no choice but to rise upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng''s clear dismissal.


    "Don''t regret this, Eastern Aspect Xiao," Chu Tianban said with a flick of his sleeves as he left the imperial study.


    Xiao Nanfeng watched him go, his expression calm but his resolve unwavering.

 Chapter 944: I Advise You Not to Interfere

    <h4>Chapter 944: I Advise You Not to Interfere</h4>


    After Chu Tianban left, Wen Zhong and the other officials returned to Xiao Nanfeng''s study. They learned about the situation involving the crown prince of the Imperial Court from Xiao Nanfeng.


    "The crown prince of the Imperial Court, Yu Banruo¡ªand the cultivator who once went by the title Sagacious King, which the giant in the mirror world mentioned..." Wen Zhong said gravely.


    Zheng Qian, standing nearby, added, "It may be a coincidence, but his identity as the crown prince of the Imperial Court is extremely problematic. I worry that he might interfere in our war with Dach¨¬."


    "Your Majesty, we must strike Dachi at lightning speed and secure victory before Yu Banruo has a chance to intervene," Wen Zhong urged.


    Xiao Nanfeng pondered for a moment before responding, "We''ll proceed methodically. What of the crown prince of the Imperial Court? If he dares interfere, so be it. If we must oppose him, we will. Our path is righteous, and no one can stop us. Should he dare to side with those who betray all living beings, I''ll dly send him to meet the Heavenly Emperor."


    The officials solemnly nodded and responded, "Yes, Your Majesty!"


    Three dayster, within the imperial study in Dachi''s capital, several officials reported to Su Tianxin, "Your Majesty, over the past three days, Dazheng''s army has continued to attack our Immortal cities. They''re all in chaos, and we''re losing roughly ten a day. The situation at the frontlines is dire. Even with additional reinforcements, we can''t hold back Ye Sanshui and his zombie kings," one official reported grimly.


    "I understand," Su Tianxin replied, nodding.


    "Your Majesty, we''ve already lost sixty Immortal cities. Without a significant victory to boost morale, I fear that our troops'' spirits will plummet," the official continued.


    "Wait a little longer."


    Su Tianxin frowned. Of course he wanted to boost morale¡ªbut how was he supposed to do so? He had already lost the moral high ground. How many soldiers were still willing to fight for him. He still had a few loyal Boundless Immortal subordinates left, but so did Dazheng''s army.


    In thest battle at Tianyue, though Su Tianxin had managed to kill two of Ye Sanshui''s zombie kings, three of his Boundless Immortals had been captured. Ye Sanshui now had three more zombie kings in his employ.


    Dazheng''s army outmatched him in terms of military prowess. Themon people were restless, and power struggles among the higher echelons of the Immortal cities further weakened his position. He could hardly take to the battlefield himself. Was he supposed to personally lead his army and abandon the capital?


    He was waiting for an opportunity, one that might just resolve all his difficulties.


    Just then, a guard hurriedly entered the imperial study. "Your Majesty, Chu Tianban, former Northern Aspect of the Imperial Court, requests an audience."


    Su Tianxin''s eyes lit up. "Quick, send him in!"


    Amidst the officials'' confusion, Su Tianxin left the session of court. He walked up to his study to personally greet his guest.


    Soon, Chu Tianban was sent in.


    "Greetings, Immortal Emperor Su." Chu Tianban smiled.


    "Long time no see, Northern Aspect Chu. Please,e in," Su Tianxin said eagerly.


    Chu Tianban nodded and walked toward the reception area, where Su Tianxin had already arranged Immortal tea, wine, spiritual fruits, and Immortal delicacies.


    Seeing the prepared spread, Chu Tianban quickly understood how desperate Su Tianxin had been the past few days.


    "Northern Aspect Chu, may I ask what Crown Prince Banruo thinks of my application?" Su Tianxin asked urgently.


    Chu Tianban nodded. "His Highness has agreed."


    "Really?" Su Tianxin''s face lit up with joy.


    @@novelbin@@


    "However, he requires double the terms you initially offered," Chu Tianban continued.


    "Double? Very well. From today onwards, I and Dachi will be loyal only to His Highness. I will ensure that he ascends to the Heavenly Emperor''s throne as quickly as possible." Su Tianxin agreed without any hesitation.


    The Dachi officials in the distance were puzzled by this pronouncement.


    Su Tianxin then addressed them. "As you''ve heard, from today onwards, Dachi will support Crown Prince Banruo in inheriting the Heavenly Emperor''s legacy, re-establishing the Imperial Court, and leading all cultivators of the world to oppose the heavens."


    "Crown Prince Banruo? Reforming the Imperial Court?" The officials'' eyes lit up in surprise.


    Yu Banruo was the heir to the Imperial Court. With Yu Fuli dead, the blessings of the Imperial Court would naturally be bequeathed upon Yu Banruo.


    At this moment, the reverence that the people of the world held for Yu Fuli extended to Yu Banruo. As Yu Fuli''s son, he naturally stood against the heavens. No one doubted that the heavens would target Yu Banruo first upon their return.


    With Yu Banruo in the lead, Su Tianxin''s ties to the heavens would be utterly dispelled. Who would dare use him of being a pawn of the heavens then?


    Supporting Yu Banruo''s fight against the heavens would be a righteous cause, one that no one could oppose. Doing so would be equivalent to going against all of humanity.


    If Dazheng continued to attack Dachi, Xiao Nanfeng would essentially be challenging Yu Banruo and the good of the world.


    "Your wisdom is unparalleled, Your Majesty," the officials chorused, bowing deeply.


    Their worries were swept away in an instant.


    ted, Su Tianxin drank and conversed with Chu Tianban. The mood in the imperial study grew jovial.


    At court the next day, Su Tianxin officially announced that Dachi would support Yu Banruo''s ascension as Heavenly Emperor. Dachi formally aligned itself with humanity and dered enmity against the heavens.


    The news spread rapidly across the world, sparking heated discussions among the prominent ns of Dachi.


    The news also reached Yongding.


    Xiao Nanfeng sneered at Su Tianxin''s deration. "Dazheng''s army will not cease attacking Dachi. Continue iming Dachi''s Immortal cities."


    "Understood!" the Dazheng officials chorused.


    Three dayster, in the imperial study at Dachi''s capital, Su Tianxin grimaced. "Are we still losing cities?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty. We''ve lost even more cities over the past three days¡ªgoing from roughly ten a day to twelve or thirteen. Dachi has lost forty cities in three days, and over a hundred Immortal cities overall," an official reported.


    "How can this be?" Su Tianxin''s expression darkened.


    "I suspect that Dazheng has already persuaded many prominent ns to defect. These ns have pledged loyalty to Dazheng and passed the point of no return. Even if they wanted to renege on their pledge, they would only face bacsh from both sides. Instead, they''ve chosen to bet everything on Dazheng¡ªperhaps swayed by certain promises from Dazheng''s end," the official exined.


    Su Tianxin scowled. "Inform all Immortal cities and military encampments that anyone still loyal to Dachi will not be held ountable for past association with Dazheng¡ªnot now, and not ever."


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" the official stammered, Despite Su Tianxin''s offer of amnesty, he knew that it would be difficult to prevent the loss of more Immortal cities. He would have to end the war immediately.


    He hurried to find Chu Tianban.


    "Northern Aspect Chu, I am now under Crown Prince Banruo''s rule. I ask that the crown prince mediate the conflict between Dachi and Dazheng to stop the war," Su Tianxin said urgently.


    Chu Tianban nodded. "I''ve already informed the crown prince, and he hasmanded me to act. Be patient. I will be meeting with Xiao Nanfeng shortly."


    "Thank you," Su Tianxin said, breathing a sigh of relief.


    Chu Tianban nodded and flew toward Yongding with a group of subordinates in tow.


    The moment they arrived, a Dazheng official approached. "Northern Aspect Chu, His Majesty has been expecting you. I have been stationed here to await your arrival."


    Chu Tianban raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been waiting?"


    "Three days," the official replied.


    Chu Tianban frowned. In other words, Xiao Nanfeng had expected his arrival almost as soon as Su Tianxin made his promation about joining Yu Banruo.


    "Lead the way."


    "Please follow me," the official replied.


    Before long, Chu Tianban and his entourage arrived within the imperial pce, where he found Xiao Nanfeng sitting leisurely in a garden, sipping tea and gazing at the clouds. Gentle golden light radiated from his body.


    Chu Tianban noticed that Xiao Nanfeng wasn''t actively waiting for him but appeared to be in some enlightened state. Remarkably, Xiao Nanfeng seemed capable of exiting this state at will.


    As the golden light faded, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes and looked toward Chu Tianban.


    "You''vee again," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.


    Chu Tianban arched his head. "Xiao Nanfeng, do you intend to oppose Crown Prince Banruo?"


    "Please, have a seat."


    Chu Tianban frowned, but sat down nheless.


    "Last time, you mentioned that you enjoyed my Immortal tea and wanted to take some back to savorter¡ªbut you didn''t. Why not have another cup now?"


    "What do you mean by that?" Chu Tianban''s brows furrowed.


    "My tea isn''t for just anyone. This might be yourst chance to enjoy it¡ªso I hope it''ll be something to remember," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He smiled as he sipped at his tea.


    "Oh? Do you imply that I''ll lose the privilege of drinking it hereafter?"


    "That depends on the choice you make. If you side with those who have betrayed humanity, you will no longer be worthy of my tea."


    "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, you''re far too arrogant. Yes, you''ve aplished much over the years. You''ve managed to topple the Dayin, Hongyue, and Dahan empires¡ªbut to Crown Prince Banruo, those Immortal Emperors are insignificant. Do you truly believe you''re untouchable? Crown Prince Banruo has shown you respect, yet you refuse his offer. Do you intend to oppose him?" Chu Tianban said coldly.


    "I have no intention of opposing Crown Prince Banruo, but I cannot countenance his sheltering Dachi and Su Tianxin. He can be wrong, and I can ignore those wrongs, but I won''t bepelled to do things I don''t wish to do because of it," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Just what do you want?" Chu Tianban demanded.


    "Nothing much¡ªI just want Su Tianxin dead. I advise you and Crown Prince Banruo not to interfere."


    Chu Tianban froze in shock, uncertain if he had misheard. How dare Xiao Nanfeng speak with such defiance?

 Chapter 945: Troops Arrive at Dachi

    <h4>Chapter 945: Troops Arrive at Dachi</h4>


    Chu Tianban nced coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. "And if we insist on interfering in your war?"


    Although he had been courteous to Xiao Nanfeng before, it was only to help Crown Prince Banruo recruit a subordinate. He didn''t actually think highly of Xiao Nanfeng.


    To him, Crown Prince Banruo was the foremost figure of the era, and clearly destined to be the new Heavenly Emperor. Xiao Nanfeng''s disrespect toward the crown prince might as well have been a death wish.


    "You''re wee to try," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.


    "To try? Xiao Nanfeng, once we make a move, you''ll be done for. You won''t have an opportunity to regret your actions," Chu Tianban said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng scanned the group. "If you insist on stopping me, I''ll give you the chance to do so now. Considering that Yu Banruo is the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor, I''ll even grant you some dignity by allowing you to send farewells to your families."


    "What did you just say?" Chu Tianban stared at Xiao Nanfeng, stunned.


    He hadn''t expected Xiao Nanfeng to be so brazen.


    His expression turned icy. The group of followers behind him red angrily at Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Well? Aren''t you going to ept my offer? Very well. Let''s go. The Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm is right here, and we can settle things within. If you can''t kill me today, I''ll kill all of you instead. Consider it a warning to Crown Prince Banruo and a reminder that those who act against the world deserve to die," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.


    "Very well. I''ll test your skills myself," Chu Tianban said coldly.


    Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a token, waved his hand, and opened a portal to the void. Within was the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm.


    Xiao Nanfeng was just about to lead the group into the portal when he noticed a figure standing at its entrance.


    "Senior Miaoyin, what brings you here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.


    Somehow, Liu Miaoyin had arrived ahead of time at the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm and was seemingly waiting for them.


    "I recently woke from secluded cultivation and heard about the battle at Tianyue. I asked around and learned about the situation in Dazheng. In the past, when I established the empire of Dajing, you helped guard me. Now that Dazheng is ascending to a divine empire, it''s only fitting for me to return the favor. These minor obstacles don''t require your personal attention. Let me handle them¡ªit''s no big deal," Liu Miaoyin said with a smile.


    Chu Tianban froze.


    He was well aware of who Liu Miaoyin was. Setting aside her position as the Immortal Emperor of Dajing, she had once been personally received by Yu Fuli before his battle against the heavens. Moreover, she had been regarded as the most powerful individual of her time¡ªthe hegemon of her era. How could he fight against someone like her?


    "Immortal Emperor Liu, this is a personal matter between Xiao Nanfeng and us. I hope you won''t intervene," Chu Tianban said seriously.


    Liu Miaoyin ignored Chu Tianban and asked Xiao Nanfeng, "Shall I handle this for you? I''d like to do something for you. Otherwise, it would make me feel uneasy."


    Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. "Alright, but let me ask them first."


    Liu Miaoyin smiled charmingly.


    Xiao Nanfeng turned to Chu Tianban. "It seems I won''t be able to make a move. Would you prefer to die at Senior Miaoyin''s hands?"


    Chu Tianban: ...


    Chu Tianban''s group: ...


    "If you''re willing, follow me into the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm. This is, after all, my pce. I''d rather not have you breaking my things," Xiao Nanfeng said. He beckoned to them in clear invitation.


    Everyone: ...


    Wasn''t Xiao Nanfeng cheating? How were they supposed to handle a hegemon?


    They were confident that they could take on Xiao Nanfeng, but not Liu Miaoyin. Though she didn''t seem particrly strong, she was a Boundless Immortal cursed king. There had to be more to her than met the eye.


    "Eastern Aspect Xiao, let''s leave it at that for now," Chu Tianban gritted out.


    He had no desire to fight someone like Liu Miaoyin.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Why not give it a try? At the very least, you''d be probing my strength for Crown Prince Banruo. By dying, you would provide him with valuable intelligence. Isn''t that what you should be doing if you''re truly loyal to him?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.


    The cultivators scowled. What kind of twisted logic was this?


    "Farewell!" Chu Tianban said without hesitation.


    He and his entourage shot into the sky and disappeared in an instant.


    "They''re nothing but a group of cowards," Liu Miaoyin said disdainfully.


    "Bullying the weak and fearing the strong¡ªit''s human nature," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.


    Liu Miaoyin stepped out of the Spirit Emperor''s hidden realm, and Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the portal.


    "I heard from your men that this Crown Prince Banruo might be a cursed king reborn. How did he end up as Yu Fuli''s son?" Liu Miaoyin asked curiously.


    "I''m not sure, but it''s clear that they must have shed before, and the Heavenly Emperor came out on top. But I wonder why he was willing to take on the mantle of crown prince... Perhaps he''s seeking something from Yu Fuli," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Indeed. Yu Fuli was able to y the heavens, while Crown Prince Banruo was in by them. There''s a wide gap between them." Liu Miaoyin smiled.


    "Why did you leave secluded cultivation early?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.


    "I hit a bottleneck."


    "But you''re just trying to regain your former cultivation, aren''t you? How could you have experienced a bottleneck?"


    "I''ve been thinking about Yu Fuli''s advice of abandoning minor loves in favor of major loves. In the past, my tranquil heart allowed my cultivation to progress smoothly¡ªbut ripples are what I need to make further breakthroughs. Even if I regain my old strength, I would only have reached my limits without further room for growth. I''ve decided not to rush. I want to find something that stimtes me instead."


    "You intend to choose a different path than before?"


    Liu Miaoyin nodded. "The cultivation of the heart is mysterious. I''m not sure how to proceed just yet, but I know that I have to avoid repeating my past mistakes."


    "In that case, if you have no other ns in mind, would you guard me?" Xiao Nanfeng requested.


    "That''s exactly what I had in mind," Liu Miaoyin said with a smile.


    Chu Tianban''s group left Yongding, their faces dark.


    "Liu Miaoyin really is insane. Why is she helping Xiao Nanfeng out?" one cultivator cried out in frustration.


    "We need to report this to the crown prince immediately," Chu Tianban said.


    The rest of them agreed. One of their avatars reported the matter to the crown prince immediately.


    Before long, the cultivator ryed, "Crown Prince Banruo said that he''s trying to suppress a cursed king and cannot show himself just yet. Since Liu Miaoyin is guarding Xiao Nanfeng, then we won''t make a move. As for Dachi, it''s hardly significant in the grand scheme of things."


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    Three dayster, in Dachi''s imperial study, an official reported, "Your Majesty, Dazheng''s army is continuing to seize our Immortal cities. Your promation has been ineffective. We''re losing more than ten cities a day. With half our territory gone, morale in the remaining cities is plummeting."


    Su Tianxin grimaced. "How dare Xiao Nanfeng do this to me?!"


    "Your Majesty, what do we d o?" the official fretted.


    "Leave me alone for the moment," Su Tianxin said.


    Though confused, the officialsplied and departed.


    Su Tianxin immediately sent for his subordinates. "Have you made contact with Northern Aspect Chu, as I requested?"


    "No. We can''t contact him at all, Your Majesty," one of them reported.


    "And Crown Prince Banruo''s other subordinates? Have you contacted anyone else to ask why Xiao Nanfeng''s forces remain unchecked?" Su Tianxin demanded.


    "We can''t reach any of them."


    Su Tianxin''s heart skipped a beat. He felt a chill, a growing sense of dread. He suspected that Crown Prince Banruo had abandoned him.


    "You may go," Su Tianxin said.


    "Understood!"


    After everyone left the study, Su Tianxin could no longer suppress his anger. With a loud bang, he overturned his desk, scattering brushes, ink, and paper.


    "Crown Prince Banruo, I even severed ties with the saint for you. I doubled my pledge, nearly emptying all my empire''s resources to do so. How could you abandon me? Did Xiao Nanfeng agree to join you? How can you renege on your word? How can you betray my trust like this and still hope to be the Heavenly Emperor?" Su Tianxin roared, his voice full of rage.


    Yet no one could understand his anguish.


    He felt utterly abandoned. The saint no longer supported him, Crown Prince Pannuo had forsaken him, his daughter had betrayed him, countless officials in Dachi had deserted him, and he had lost his bronzepasses. It was as though the whole world had turned against him.


    "No! I am Su Tianxin, a veritable genius!" Su Tianxin shouted furiously. "No one will be able to defeat me!"


    The study echoed with the sound of furniture and objects being smashed.


    Though Su Tianxin had publicly dered his allegiance to Crown Prince Banro, but there was no response from the crown prince or his subordinates. This only deepened the belief among the people and officials of Dachi that Su Tianxin was lying. They increasingly believed he was a pawn of the heavens.


    With half of Dachi''s territory lost, the remaining half became even more vulnerable.


    Under the efforts of Dazheng''s Ministry of Rites, which actively sought to turn the popce against the dynasty, many cities surrendered without a fight. In many cases, by the time its army arrived at an Immortal city, the local aristocratic ns had already subdued any internal resistance and opened the gates to wee the imperial forces.


    Dachi crumbled like a house of cards.


    Almost all of its three hundred Immortal cities had been lost within a month. It wouldn''t even have taken the whole month if Dazheng hadn''t deliberately slowed down in order to digest its gains.


    Dazheng''s army continued to advance and eventually encircled Dachi''s capital.


    By then, the capital had descended into chaos. The sea of fortune in the sky had dissipated, and the popce was fleeing in all directions.


    Even the garrison stationed at Dachi''s capital had fled, leaving only a small group of Su Tianxin''s loyalists guarding the imperial pce.


    In the now-diminished imperial court, Su Tianxin sat on his draconic throne in golden robes, an imperial crown on his head. The once-thriving court was naught but a shadow of its former self, with only a handful of officials present.


    Su Tianxin, who had been restless over the past few days, seemed to have be eerily calm. His expression betrayed no emotion save a deep, cold indifference.


    Outside, a voice rang out. Ye Sanshui''s loud shout echoed across the capital. "Su Tianxin, Dachi is done for. Come out and face your death!"

 Chapter 946: Decisive Battle at Dachi

    <h4>Chapter 946: Decisive Battle at Dachi</h4>


    Dazheng''s army surrounded Dachi''s capital.


    Their overwhelming presence created a suffocating atmosphere in the city. The citizens and soldiers of Dachi''s capital were fleeing for their lives; everyone knew that a great battle was imminent.


    Dazheng''s army didn''t prevent the civilians from leaving the city. Rather, they allowed them to escape freely. Days earlier, Dazheng had given advance warning of the date on which they intended to execute the vile demon Su Tianxin, giving the citizens of Dachi the opportunity to seek refuge beforehand.


    "Su Tianxin, Dachi is done for. Come out and face your death!" Ye Sanshui shouted loudly.


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    "Su Tianxin,e out and face your death!" countless soldiers echoed.


    Their shouts surged like a tidal wave, striking fear into the hearts of those in the imperial pce.


    At this moment, Xiao Nanfeng stood atop a mountain outside the city, concealed by clouds and fog as he observed Dachi''s capital from afar.


    Beside him, Liu Miaoyin asked curiously, "Aren''t you nning to take action?"


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Blue Lantern requested to face Su Tianxin alone to avenge his blood feud and release the hatred in his heart."


    Liu Miaoyin frowned slightly. "It''s true. Blue Lantern has suffered greatly¡ªhis thousand-year ordeal, his father''s death, even the humiliation and death of his fianc¨¦e¡ªall of it because of Su Tianxin. He must despise him from the bottom of his heart..."


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "If Blue Lantern doesn''t kill Su Tianxin with his own hands, he''ll surely develop a heart specter."


    "But hasn''t Blue Lantern just be a Boundless Immortal? Su Tianxin''s a mid-stage Boundless Immortal. Can Blue Lantern handle him?"


    "Blue Lantern has already attuned to all eight bronzepasses and wields the perfected cursed artifact. Moreover, he has an innate constitution that boosts his affinity with formations. Without the support of imperial might and fortune, Su Tianxin shouldn''t be a difficult foe for him. Of course, if Blue Lantern struggles, we''ll step in," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Liu Miaoyin nodded. "That makes sense."


    "I''ve been investigating Yu Banruo recently. He''s a person who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and he cares deeply about his reputation. Last time, you scared off his men, which tarnished his image. I''m worried he won''t let it go and will cause trouble at a critical moment," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "You think he''ll disrupt things?" Liu Miaoyin asked seriously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded with certainty. "He will."


    "Let hime, then!" A cold glint shed in Liu Miaoyin''s eyes.


    At that moment, eight enormous golden beams of light suddenly shot into the sky from Dachi''s capital. These beams exuded a massive amount of fog, enveloping the imperial pce.


    "Has Blue Lantern made his move?" Liu Miaoyin eximed.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Dachi''s capital was already in chaos two days ago. Blue Lantern has been setting up his formation since. It specifically targets Su Tianxin."


    "Su Tianxin truly deserves this," Liu Miaoyin said coldly.


    At this moment, Blue Lantern walked slowly into the dense fog. With every step he took, a phantompass appeared beneath his feet, sending countless fine threads into the formation. The killing intent of the formation intensified with each step he took.


    Blue Lantern walked through the gates of the imperial pce and headed deeper within.


    "There''s something wrong with this formation. I can''t fly out of it!"


    "There''s lightning in the fog. My brother just entered the formation and was struck dead!"


    "Look! Someone''s heading into the pce over there!"


    Su Tianxin''s loyalists were starting to panic. They tried probing the formation but couldn''t discern its secrets. All they could see were blue, phantasmalpasses in the air, unleashing lightning that filled them with dread.


    "It''s Blue Lantern! He''s setting up a formation. Kill him!" someone shouted.


    "Die!"


    Hundreds of people armed with des and swords charged at Blue Lantern.


    His eyes glinting coldly, Blue Lantern waved a hand. The phantasmalpasses in the fog suddenly shone with countless bolts of lightning that struck down the attackers. With a deafening crack, hundreds of cultivators were instantly reduced to mutted corpses.


    The faces of those standing at the entrance of the grand hall turned pale.


    "The Wild Wastes'' Lightning Tribtion formation? Impossible! This was a formation passed down by the sect''s founder himself. No one has been able to replicate it since!" someone cried out.


    "Take him down, or we''ll all perish!" one of them shouted.


    He was the first to rush forward, his aura as vast and powerful as a mountain.


    "A Boundless Immortal? Hmph!" Blue Lantern snorted coldly and waved his hand once more.


    With a hum, countless blue threads suddenly appeared around the attacker, wrapping around him with a snap.


    "The Blue Cocoon Formation?!" the attacker cried out in rm.


    He threw a punch, breaking many of the threads. However, there were simply too many of them, and he was quickly encased in a giant cocoon.


    "Get me out of here!" the man shouted.


    "Seal!" Blue Lantern intoned.


    With a hum, the giant cocoon lit up with images of bluepasses that radiated dazzling light. The figure inside the cocoon fell silent.


    "Li Two!" the others shouted, rushing forward.


    Blue Lantern waved his hand. The cocoon flew into the fog, eluding their grasp.


    "This Boundless Immortal is now His Majesty''s property," Blue Lantern announced.


    The cocoon flew out of the formation andnded before Ye Sanshui with a thud.


    It unraveled to reveal a Boundless Immortal whose cultivation had been sealed..


    Dazheng''s army was astonished. Someone eximed, "Isn''t that the imperial astronomer fighting within? He''s incredibly strong!"


    Ye Sanshui stepped forward to reinforce the seals on the captured Boundless Immortal.


    "Blue Lantern, do you need our help?" Ye Sanshui shouted into the fog.


    "There''s no need!" Blue Lantern replied.


    Momentster, two more blue cocoons flew out andnded with a thud.


    They unraveled to reveal two more Boundless Immortals, their cultivation likewise sealed. Ye Sanshui quickly stepped forward to reinforce the seals and secure them.


    The Dazheng soldiers gasped.


    Boundless Immortals, captured so easily? These had to be Su Tianxin''s strongest remaining subordinates!


    More lightning crackled from within the fog.


    Blue Lantern annihted all of Su Tianxin''s loyalists in one fell swoop. They deserved no mercy given the extent of Su Tianxin''s crimes.


    After eliminating them all, Blue Lantern walked toward the grand hall, his voice icy. "Su Tianxin, you really are quite patient, aren''t you? I''ve killed all your subordinates, yet you still won''te out. Have you given up, or are you waiting for someone to save you?"


    As he spoke, more images of bluepasses unfolded beneath his feet, extending toward the grand hall and wrapping it in a web of light.


    The grand hall now resembled a cage, one that imprisoned Su Tianxin within.


    When he sensed no immediate danger, Blue Lantern stepped into the hall.


    Inside, Su Tianxin sat on his draconic throne.


    The two locked eyes across the hall.


    "All dressed up, are you? Su Tianxin, a man without virtue does not deserve to rule. Even if you managed to steal the mandate of heaven, you would have been destined to lose it. But I won''t waste words on a heartless scoundrel like you. I''m here today to seek justice for Qingchan and my father. You''ll pay for the sins you''vemitted!" Blue Lantern dered coldly.


    Su Tianxin showed no sign of panic. He furrowed his brows slightly. "I thought Xiao Nanfeng woulde to settle this. I didn''t expect you."


    "You thought the emperor would sully his own hands dealing with the likes of you? Dream on!" Blue Lantern sneered.


    With a wave of his hand, he enveloped the entire hall in a green glow. The surroundings vanished, leaving them in a vast space dominated by two colossal bluepasses¡ªone above, one below¡ªemitting killing intent that locked onto Su Tianxin.


    "Eightpasses, resolved into two that represent heaven and earth? Impressive. Though you might not be Xiao Nanfeng, you aren''t a bad substitute," Su Tianxin said, drawing a sword.


    "What are you talking about?" Blue Lantern asked, puzzled.


    Su Tianxin suddenly turned the sword on himself, driving it into his chest with a sharp thrust.


    Blood spurted from the wound, shocking Blue Lantern. He had envisioned many ways in which Su Tianxin might resist, but had never expected him tomit suicide.


    "What are you doing?" Qing Deng eximed.


    Su Tianxin smiled faintly and pulled the sword from his chest, then plunged it into his dantian.


    With a loud explosion, his dantian shattered, releasing a torrent of Immortal qi. His power and cultivation drained away.


    "What are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself?" Blue Lantern asked, his unease growing.


    "Does it scare you?" Su Tianxin asked with a smile.


    "Scare me? Why would I be afraid of your suicide?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Then watch closely. You don''t often get to see something like this. You might only witness it once in your lifetime," Su Tianxin said with a cold grin.


    He twisted the sword in his dantian and utterly destroyed it, reducing his cultivation to ruin.


    "Dream on! I''m not letting you die so easily. Seal him!" Blue Lantern shouted, activating thepasses.


    Thepasses began to rotate, generating immense pressure that concentrated around Su Tianxin.


    Just then, Su Tianxin spat a mirror out of his mouth.


    "I knew you''d resist, but you won''t get the chance!" Blue Lantern sneered.


    Thepasses began to rumble as they shot toward Su Tianxin, only for the mirror he spat out to fly into the air. It was mirrored on both sides, and both cultivators suddenly eyed their own reflections.


    Then, it suddenly shone with ck light, enveloping the area and engulfing both Su Tianxin and Blue Lantern.


    Blue Lantern felt a sharp pain spreading throughout his body and screamed in agony.


    As the ck light faded, the mirror shattered into fragments. The pressure from thepasses disappeared as well.


    Blue Lantern stood with a strange smile on his face. "It''s done. From now on, I am Blue Lantern."


    Across from him, Su Tianxin, still seated on his draconic throne, clutched his heart and dantian in horror. He nced at "Blue Lantern", then at himself. "No! How did I be you, and you be me? What have you done? How did we switch bodies? This is impossible!"

 Chapter 947: Targeting Blue Lantern

    <h4>Chapter 947: Targeting Blue Lantern</h4>


    Outside Dachi''s capital, Dazheng''s army stood poised for a final confrontation. Everyone knew that the army''s sole purpose was to eliminate Su Tianxin. The decisive battle was that very day¡ªonce Su Tianxin fell, Dachi would be consigned to history.


    Ye Sanshui stood at attention with his troops, aware of the hatred Blue Lantern harbored and the torment he was likely inflicting upon Su Tianxin. He understood Blue Lantern''s pain; anyone in his position would find it impossible to forgive Su Tianxin easily.


    The army waited. Far off on a mountaintop, Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin were also watching and waiting.


    "Any sign of Yu Banruo''s men?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Liu Miaoyin shook her head.


    "Something doesn''t feel right," Xiao Nanfeng frowned.


    "What''s wrong?" Liu Miaoyin asked curiously.


    "Blue Lantern is already dealing with Su Tianxin, but Yu Banruo''s forces haven''t made a move. It''s unusual," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "Perhaps Yu Banruo knows there''s nothing to gain here," Liu Miaoyin suggested.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head but said nothing more. He continued to wait patiently.


    After a while, with a deafening boom, the formations in the distance trembled. Thick fog scattered, gradually revealing the imperial pce of Dachi.


    Within, Su Tianxin''s loyalists had all been killed. Blue Lantern emerged from the entrance of the main hall, holding a severed head.


    As he stepped forward, he raised it high and dered loudly, "Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my duty. Su Tianxin is dead. Here is the proof!"


    Cheers erupted from Dazheng''s army.


    They recognized Su Tianxin''s head. With his death, everything was settled¡ªDachi was no more.


    "Enter the city!" Ye Sanshuimanded.


    "Enter the city!" countless soldiers echoed, their voices filled with excitement.


    With a thunderous rumble, Dazheng''s army poured into the city and officially took control of Dachi''s capital.


    The citizens of the capital breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had feared a brutal battle that might destroy the city, but to their surprise, the buildings were intact and the losses minimal.


    For a moment,ughter and joy filled the streets as the citizens returned to the city.


    At the entrance to the pce, Blue Lantern continued to hold Su Tianxin''s head up high. He nced coldly at the cheering people. When Ye Sanshui approached him, his expression slowly eased into calm.


    "Blue Lantern, you really are impressive. Even I wasn''t certain I''d be able to take down Su Tianxin, but you slew him easily," Ye Sanshui praised.


    Blue Lantern inclined his head. "I simply prepared a formation in advance and won because of luck. I apologize, but I''m not in a good mood right now. I won''t apany you for the celebration."


    Ye Sanshui nodded in understanding.


    Though Blue Lantern had managed to avenge Su Qingchan, the mental trauma from his fianc¨¦e''s death surely lingered. It was natural that he would be upset and not want to converse with others.


    Blue Lantern dismantled the formation before leaving in a hurry.


    On the mountaintop, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I have a sense of unease."


    "Isn''t Su Tianxin dead? Ye Sanshui checked his corpse himself. Surely he wouldn''t be mistaken," Liu Miaoyin replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I know, but this final confrontation went by too sessfully. It seems strange to me that Yu Banruo didn''t interfere."


    "You think he had some ploy in mind?" Liu Miaoyin asked curiously.


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Perhaps I''m being too cautious, but I trust my intuition."


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    "Hm?"


    "You need to leave immediately."


    "Leave?" Liu Miaoyin asked, perplexed.


    "Right. If you stay by my side, Yu Banruo''s subordinates surely won''t dare do anything to me."


    "You want me to pretend to leave and instead set up an ambush in the vicinity?"


    "Exactly. I''ll arrange for something to arise in Dajing that needs your immediate attention. Officially, you''ll leave to handle the matter. In reality, you''ll remain hidden here."


    "Very well." Liu Miaoyin agreed with a nod.


    The day after Dachi''s fall, news arrived of an invasion in Dajing to the north. Liu Miaoyin publicly announced her departure to address the threat.


    Soon after, there were reports that the invasion efforts had intensified. Liu Miaoyin, now stationed in Dajing''s capital, tookmand in quelling the invasion.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng hosted a grand celebration for Dazheng''s army tomemorate Su Tianxin''s defeat. The event, though festive, was only a prelude of things toe¡ªthe real des would be awarded once the empire was elevated into a divine empire.


    After the banquet, Xiao Nanfeng sought out Blue Lantern.


    "Blue Lantern, in one month, Dazheng will officially ascend into a divine empire. During this time, Yongding''syout needs to be restructured to reflect its future as the imperial capital. I need you to focus entirely on its defensive formations," Xiao Nanfeng said solemnly.


    "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I''ve already sent my juniors to redirect the draconic veins, and I''ve started setting up the formations myself. The city''s defenses will be ready ahead of schedule," Blue Lantern replied.


    "Thank you for your efforts." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "It''s no trouble," Blue Lantern replied before taking his leave.


    Over the next few days, Dazheng''s officials worked tirelessly as they managed their newly conquered cities and prepared for the empire''s ascension ceremony. Everyone was too busy to rest.


    Several dayster, Xiao Nanfeng, taking a rare moment of respite in the pce, surveyed the bustling city and let out a quiet sigh.


    Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes. He called out, "Summon You Jiu!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" a servant replied respectfully.


    Momentster, You Jiu arrived and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"


    "Bring me a map marked with the areas where Blue Lantern has been working on his formations. Also, investigate whether he''s been behaving unusually," Xiao Nanfengmanded.


    "Understood!" You Jiu replied, his tone serious.


    "You must handle this personally. Gather information discreetly¡ªno traces, no mistakes. Blue Lantern''s formations are intricate, and he tends to be secretive. Exercise utmost caution," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.


    "Understood!" You Jiu bowed and departed.


    Xiao Nanfeng returned to his study, acting as though nothing unusual had happened as he continued to review official documents.


    Half a dayter, You Jiu returned with a detailed report of Blue Lantern''s recent activities, including maps of his formation sites. Xiao Nanfeng studied them intently.


    As he analyzed the data, Xiao Nanfeng''s expression darkened. "Something has happened to Blue Lantern."


    "What do you mean?" You Jiu asked in surprise.


    "Blue Lantern once outlined his ns for Yongding''s formations. There''s a critical area he said would remain untouched¡ªbut now it''s been altered without exnation. Something is wrong. And the way Su Tianxin died... it''s far too convenient. He didn''t escape, didn''t resist, and didn''t even take down the pce during hisst stand¡ªit''s all highly suspicious. I suspect this Blue Lantern is fake," Xiao Nanfeng said.


    "But the investigation revealed no changes in his behavior," You Jiu protested.


    "Whoever has impersonated Blue Lantern must have extensive knowledge of his habits or conducted thorough research beforehand," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    "Could Blue Lantern be dead?" You Jiu''s face paled.


    "I don''t know," Xiao Nanfeng said grimly.


    "If something''s wrong with Blue Lantern, might others have suffered the same fate? This could be more serious than we think," You Jiu said, his tone heavy.


    "Where is Blue Jade?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    "She''s been sent out to redirect the draconic veins. She should return tomorrow."


    "Good," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Later that day, Blue Lantern was busy setting up formations outside Yongding City when a fellow formations master rushed over.


    Suddenly, one of his juniors rushed over to him. "Senior Uncle, bad news! Blue Jade has been ambushed and captured!"


    "What?" Blue Lantern''s eyes widened in rm.


    Suddenly, a spectral guard rushed over.


    "Sir Blue Lantern, we failed to protect Blue Jade. Someone ambushed her party and captured her. His Majesty is furious and has sent Sir Ye to investigate," the guard reported.


    Blue Lantern''s expression shifted between anger and frustration before heposed himself. "Where was she seized? Lead me there."


    "Understood!" the spectral guard replied.


    With anger glimmering in his gaze, Blue Lantern and a group of his subordinates followed the spectral guard to a forest in the distance. The scene was chaotic, and there were obvious signs that a struggle had taken ce.


    "Senior Brother, Blue Jade has been captured! Please save her!" a wounded disciple pleaded.


    "Who took her?" Blue Lantern demanded.


    "It was Hu Tianlong''s top disciple, Blue River! I saw it with my own eyes!" the disciple shouted, clutching his injured chest.


    "Blue River?" Blue Lantern was stunned.


    "Yes, Senior Brother! When you and His Majesty were setting up formations against Su Tianxin, Zeng Tianqi, and Hu Tianlong, Hu Tianlong perished in Yongding. His disciple, Blue River, is back for revenge. He can''t touch His Majesty, so he''s targeting you. Before leaving, he said, ''Blue Lantern betrayed his sect in favor of outsiders. I''ll make him regret it.''"


    Blue Lantern grimaced, but he remainedposed. He told his subordinates, "Don''t worry. It''s an old grudge of mine."


    Blue Lantern''s subordinates nodded silently.


    "Where did they go?" Blue Lantern asked.


    "They went that way. Sir Ye is already pursuing them, but their current whereabouts are unknown. Senior Brother, you should be able to find her with the bronzepass, right? Please, save her!" the disciple implored.


    Blue Lantern nodded. "I will search for her."


    He retrieved a bronzepass and activated it. A wisp of blue smoke pointed in a certain direction.


    "Let''s go! It''s that way!" Blue Lanternmanded.


    They followed the trail of smoke to a mountain forest where smoke and dust billowed thickly. Overhead, Ye Sanshui hovered with his troops, holding Blue River''s lifeless body.


    "Ye Sanshui?" Blue Lantern eximed as he flew over.


    When Ye Sanshui saw Blue Lantern arrive, he frowned bitterly. "I''m sorry, Blue Lantern. I came toote."


    "What''s wrong?" Blue Lantern frowned.


    "Blue River captured Blue Jade and vited her honor in order to take revenge on you. She''s currently in the valley in an emotionally unstable state. Even after I killed Blue River, it was no use¡ªshe''s intent on ending her life."


    "What?" Blue Lantern''s face twisted in shock.


    "We barely convinced her not to do so, but things are still risky. She insists on seeing you onest time, alone. Please, talk to her." Ye Sanshui sighed.


    "How could this happen? Where is she?"


    "Right in the valley. Go on¡ªwe''ll guard the area. Please, try to calm her down," Ye Sanshui urged.


    Blue Lantern''s expression darkened further, but he nodded. Turning to his subordinates, he said, "Wait here."


    With that, Blue Lantern stepped into the valley.


    As he entered it, every hair on his body stood on end.


    "Something''s wrong¡ªthis is a trap!" he shouted.


    Before he could warn his team, the scenery shifted.


    Blue Lantern found himself in another space.


    Here, a brilliant moon hung in the sky, with stars orbiting in intricate patterns.


    Beneath the moon, Xiao Nanfeng floated in the air, standing beside an unharmed Blue Jade. The entire scenario had been nothing more than an borate ruse.

 Chapter 948: Blue Lantern Returns

    <h4>Chapter 948: Blue Lantern Returns</h4>


    Within the Realm of the Nine Heavens, when Blue Lantern spotted Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Jade in the distance, his pupils contracted sharply. He quicklyposed himself and feigned surprise. "Your Majesty, what are you doing here? And Blue Jade, are you alright?"


    Blue Jade seemed spooked. Although she had chosen to trust Xiao Nanfeng, seeing Blue Lantern''s concerned expression made her waver. She hesitated, torn and unsure of whom to believe.


    Xiao Nanfeng''s voice turned cold. "You''re Su Tianxin, aren''t you?"


    Blue Lantern''s expression shifted, but he quickly replied, "Your Majesty, why would you suspect I''m Su Tianxin? I slew Su Tianxin with the help of the bronzepasses."


    Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Do you still intend to impersonate him? Do you think I''d set up a trap specifically targeting Blue Lantern if I weren''t confident?"


    Blue Lantern grimaced.


    "I''ve known Blue Lantern for many years. We''ve had countless private discussions. Unless you''ve fully absorbed all his memories, do you think you can wlessly answer every question about his past?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.


    Realizing he couldn''t keep up the act, Su Tianxin exhaled deeply. "How did you find out?"


    He admitted it: he was an imposter.


    Blue Jade''s eyes widened in terror. "Where''s Blue Lantern? Su Tianxin, what have you done to him?!"


    Su Tianxin sneered and ignored Blue Jade. Instead, he addressed Xiao Nanfeng. "How did you figure it out? I''m confident I didn''t expose any ws."


    Xiao Nanfeng said coldly, "I don''t have time to waste with you. Don''t bother trying to stall."


    As he spoke, the stars above shimmered. Beams of starlight descended and crashed down on him.


    Su Tianxin nched. He raised his hand, summoning a bronzepass to defend against the descending beams.


    The next moment, the bronzepass winked out of sight in a sh of red light.


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    "What?" Su Tianxin eximed.


    The bronzepass had somehow made its way into Xiao Nanfeng''s hand.


    "The Spirit Emperor''s technique from fifty thousand years ago?" Su Tianxin cried out.


    "You''ve seen it before. Why act surprised?"


    With a hum, countless beams of starlight enveloped Su Tianxin, forming a starlight barrier around him.


    "Break!" Su Tianxin roared.


    With an explosion, apass-shaped projection emerged from his body, shattering the starlight barrier.


    "Your Majesty, be careful! He has other bronzepasses," Blue Jade warned.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, so what if you''ve be a Deific Yin cultivator? Do you really think you can trap me? You''re not qualified!" Su Tianxin shouted defiantly.


    He raised his hand. A massivepass projection materialized in the void, pressing down toward Xiao Nanfeng.


    "Amitabha!" A solemn Buddhist chant suddenly began to resound in the vicinity.


    A towering eidolon appeared out of thin air¡ªLiu Miaoyin''s. With a single palm strike, thepass projection was knocked away.


    At the same time, her death chants began to resonate, causing Su Tianxin to momentarily freeze.


    In an instant, Liu Miaoyin appeared before Su Tianxin and struck his head with her palm. Apass projection emerged from within his body, attempting to block her strike. However, Liu Miaoyin''s profound strength was beyond what the projection could resist.


    With a loud explosion, Liu Miaoyin shattered thepass projection and delivered a direct blow to Su Tianxin''s head.


    He trembled and fell unconscious. Liu Miaoyin then reached into his forehead and pulled out a dazed soul.


    It was Blue Lantern''s soul, guarded by a bronzepass. The death chants seemed to have clouded his thoughts.


    "Senior Brother!" Blue Jade rushed over.


    "Examine Blue Lantern''s physical body first," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.


    Blue Jade nodded urgently and embraced Blue Lantern''s body, while Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin focused on Blue Lantern''s dazed soul.


    "The bronzepass in his soul will be problematic," Liu Miaoyin murmured.


    "Don''t worry. Just make sure he can''t resist and I''ll extract it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.


    Liu Miaoyin nodded and intensified her death chants. Blue Lantern''s soul began to convulse violently.


    With extreme caution, Xiao Nanfeng extended his hand and activated his candleme powers.


    In a sh of red light, he extracted the bronzepass from Blue Lantern''s soul.


    Liu Miaoyin then sealed the soul as she dispelled the death chants.


    Her eidolon and the projection of thepass vanished, leaving only the dazed soul behind.


    "What have you done to me?" the soul shouted.


    "Where is Blue Lantern''s soul?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded coldly.


    The soul''s expression shifted. He nced at Liu Miaoyin, then at Xiao Nanfeng. He growled, "All that about Liu Miaoyin pretending to return to Dajing was a lie, wasn''t it? This was all part of your n! Xiao Nanfeng, how sly you are!"


    "Answer the question. Where is Blue Lantern''s soul?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.


    "Dream on! Or try torturing me, perhaps," the soul sneered.


    Blue Jade frowned. She interjected, "Your Majesty, that must be Senior Brother''s soul. He wouldn''t be able to control the bronzepasses otherwise."


    "Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng''s expression darkened.


    "Xiao Nanfeng, if you kill me, you''ll kill Blue Lantern too. Go ahead, try it!" the soulughed maniacally.


    Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "In other words, Blue Lantern must still be alive."


    The soul sneered. "Figure it out for yourself. I now share a body with Blue Lantern. If you kill me, you''ll kill both of us."


    Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and turned to Blue Jade. "Blue Lantern is likely still alive. Blue Jade, can you examine these bronzepasses?"


    Xiao Nanfeng pulled out the two bronzepasses that he had seized from Su Tianxin.


    "But his soul is Senior Brother''s soul!" Blue Jade fretted.


    "Don''t worry about that for now. Do you know how to examine these two bronzepasses?"


    "Senior Brother once gave me a charm, saying that I should help him sort through his belongings if something were to happen to him. I didn''t want to hear anything of the sort at the time, so I didn''t pay attention. Let me try."


    She retrieved a blue token and pressed it against one of the bronzepasses.


    The two bronzepasses hummed. A sh of blue light enveloped Blue Jade and helped her take control of them.


    After a moment, Blue Jade waved her hand. A weakened soul emerged from one of the bronzepasses.


    "Su Tianxin?!" Blue Jade eximed.


    The soul belonged to Su Tianxin, who looked frail but also somewhat unusual.


    "Your Majesty? Blue Jade? Why are you here?" Su Tianxin''s soul asked, astonished.


    "Y-You''re..." Blue Jade stammered in disbelief.


    "You''re Blue Lantern?!" Xiao Nanfeng asked, pleasantly surprised.


    Su Tianxin''s soul grimaced. "Your Majesty, I was useless. Somehow, Su Tianxin swapped his truesoul with mine. At the time..."


    Su Tianxin''s soul recounted everything that had happened, leaving everyone shocked.


    Liu Miaoyin turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "He swapped his truesoul with yours? Su Tianxin intended to im everything that belonged to you, then?"


    Xiao Nanfeng nodded grimly. He hadn''t even known that something so sinister could happen. If not for his precaution, he might have lost his entire empire.


    "Blue Lantern, though I provisionally believe you, just in case, I''d like to confirm your identity," Xiao Nanfeng began.


    "You should, Your Majesty," Su Tianxin''s soul replied.


    Xiao Nanfeng posed a series of private questions to Su Tianxin''s soul, asking not just about his memories but also about his thoughts and personal beliefs. The soul answered wlessly, proving that Blue Lantern and Su Tianxin had indeed had their truesouls swapped.


    "Luckily, Su Tianxin didn''t kill you. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable," Xiao Nanfeng replied with relief.


    "No, no. He simply feared raising your suspicions, Your Majesty. After all, I am tied to Dazheng''s fortune. If you were to bestow fortune upon me after the downfall of Dachi, it would have revealed the truth. Fortune follows the truesoul, after all."


    "So that''s how it is." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.


    "What do we do now?" Blue Jade fretted. "Su Tianxin''s truesoul is in Senior Brother''s body. Can they be swapped back?"


    Blue Lantern''s truesoul shook his head. "It''s the power of the cursed mirror. The only way to reverse it is with another such mirror."


    "That cursed mirror was likely Yu Banruo''s scheme. Su Tianxin spent a month preparing for when Dazheng ascends into a divine empire. They nned for him to trap me and steal Dazheng''s fortune. Yu Banruo is truly cunning," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.


    Liu Miaoyin nodded. "Yu Banruo wanted you to submit. When you refused, he resorted to such vile methods¡ªit''s little wonder he didn''t act directly. He was waiting for this n to bear fruit."


    "Blue Lantern, don''t worry. They''ll use these mirrors again soon enough. When they do, I''ll help you im one and reverse the swap," Xiao Nanfeng assured him.


    "Understood!" Blue Lantern''s truesoul replied.


    At that moment, Liu Miaoyin spoke up. "No need. I can restore them. I can''t swap truesouls, but I can return a truesoul to its rightful body."


    "Oh?" Everyone looked at her.


    Liu Miaoyin raised her hand. A towering green pir of light appeared behind her.


    "Heavenlyw over reincarnation? How could this be?!" Su Tianxin cried out.


    Liu Miaoyin ignored him and began to invoke a certain technique, with Su Tianxin''s soul in one hand and Blue Lantern''s in the other.


    "Truesoul, incarnate!" Liu Miaoyin intoned.


    With a hum, green light enveloped both souls. They screamed in agony as the light subsided and the pir behind Liu Miaoyin vanished.


    Her face had turned pale from exertion. Clearly, manipting heavenlyw was still a significant challenge for her.


    Su Tianxin''s soul nced at himself and Blue Lantern in disbelief. "How could this be?!"


    On the other hand, Blue Lantern''s soul radiated with joy. He bowed deeply to Liu Miaoyin. "Thank you, Senior Liu!"


    "Senior Brother, you''re back!" Blue Jade cried out.


    Xiao Nanfeng felt a wave of relief but quickly turned to Liu Miaoyin with concern. "The toll on you¡ªare you alright?"


    "I''m fine. I just need some rest," Liu Miaoyin replied with a gentle smile.


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